Reshape ADF for relevance, departing president says

Departing Australian Dairy Farmers president Terry Richardson says the peak dairy body needs to be significantly changed to stay relevant and the states will need to help make it happen.
Egypt's security forces killed 12 terrorists in an exchange of fire on Thursday in North Sinai, the ministry of interior said.

The National Security Agency had received information that a group of terrorist suspects was using an abandoned yard in El-Arish city as a hideout, and a shootout broke out when security forces attempted to conduct a raid on the hideout.

Seven suspects were killed in the raid while five others who were attempting to flee on the ring road highway were killed in a shootout with security forces.

Weapons, ammunition and improvised explosive devices were found at the scene.

The raids are part of the comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018, a counter-terrorism campaign that involves the army, navy, air force and police.

The operation was launched in February to target terrorist and criminal elements and organisations in north and central Sinai, parts of the Nile Delta and the Western Desert.

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Azerbaijani Ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov, middle row center, speaks during a conference co-hosted by the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Korea and Korea-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Nov. 19. The conference, followed by a photo exhibition, celebrated the 100th anniversary since Azerbaijan was founded in 1918. / Embassy of Azerbaijan



By Yi Whan-woo



The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Korea and Korea-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group co-hosted a photo exhibition in Seoul, Nov. 19, to celebrate Azerbaijan's centenary.

The guests at the National Assembly looked at photos related to the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) and modern-day Azerbaijan.

Among the guests were Azerbaijani Ambassador to Korea Ramzi Teymurov, Lee Myoung-su and Na Kyung-won, both main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) lawmakers, former Korean Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lee Kwang-chul and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies professor Oh Chong-jin.

Lee Myoung-su is the president of Korea-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group comprised of active legislators from the two countries.

Lee Kwang-chul was Korea's first ambassador to Azerbaijan. The two countries established diplomatic relations in March 1992.

The exhibition was preceded by a conference, during which the participants shared thoughts on Azerbaijan's history and its relations with Korea.

Ambassador Teymurov underscored that his republic declared independence on May 28, 1918, as the first democratic state in the Muslim world and also the first secular state in Eastern Europe.

He said Azerbaijan's "estimable process of nation-building," despite its short existence, resulted in political and economic reforms, the establishment of democratic institutions, issuance of the national currency, establishment of the national bank, army building and creation of its national anthem, national flags and other symbolic attributes of the country.

"The idea of a free Azerbaijan never wavered," the envoy said, referring to the Soviet Red Army's invasion of the country before it restored independence in 1991.

He emphasized high-level relations between the assemblies of Azerbaijan and Korea, such as bilateral visits of the parliamentarian speakers and the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Reps. Lee Myoung-su and Na Kyung-won talked about significance of holding such events at the National Assembly, development strategy of Azerbaijan, achievements and perspectives of the bilateral relations.

Lee Kwang-chul and Oh Chong-Jin led a presentation and shared their views on the ADR's history and explained cultural similarities of the two countries.

A documentary, "Lifelong Mission" was featured at the closing session of the conference.

The film is about the Azerbaijani delegation to the Paris Peace Conference in January 1919.

The delegation was led by Alimardan bey Topchubashov, who served as the ADR's parliamentary speaker and foreign minister.

The documentary was filmed by the Baku Media Center with the support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation and was produced by Arzu Aliyeva, an Azerbaijani-born director and producer.
By Yi Whan-woo



The Seoul branch of Concern Worldwide, Ireland's largest humanitarian and development organization, released an annual report on global hunger, according to the Irish Embassy in Korea last week.

It described the 2018 Global Hunger Report as "a vital means of informing the ongoing work to tackle hunger and under-nutrition."

According to the embassy, Concern Worldwide's CEO Dominic MacSorley emphasized the roles of Ireland and Korea. He pointed out that both countries, after overcoming poverty, "wish to use their prosperity to help those in greatest need."

Founded in 1968, Concern Worldwide has more than 3,000 workers and offers humanitarian relief and sustainable long-term development programs in 27 countries.

Concern Worldwide Korea opened in 2015. It is led by Lee Jun-mo.

The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in Dublin. Among the invited guests were Irish President Michael Higgins, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.N. Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed.

The release of the 2018 Global Hunger Report was among the weekly events involving the Irish community in Korea.

On Nov. 24, a mass took place at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul to mark the conclusion of the celebration for the centenary establishment of the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

The celebration began last year in Gwangju.

The Missionary Society of St. Columban was founded in 1918. It takes its name from St. Columban, Ireland's sixth century missionary to Europe.

The embassy said the mass was "a fitting moment to reflect on the extraordinary dedication that our friends in the Columban Order have shown over decades of service in Korea."

In June, the Moon Jae-in administration honored Columban priest Fr. Patrick McGlinchey posthumously by awarding him honorary citizenship.

One of Ireland's most decorated missionaries, McGlinchey died here in April at age 89.

After coming to Korea in 1953, he fought poverty on Jeju Island and tried to improve conditions primarily through agricultural training.




Costa Rican Ambassador to Korea Rodolfo Solano Quiros, right, and honorary consul Kwon Soon-han, center, pose with Irene Saenz Pucci, second from left, and Francisco Ramirez Herrera, second from right, both board members of Costa Rican Coffee Institute, and its promotion manager Gustavo Gonzalez Mederas during the 17th Seoul International Cafe Show at COEX in Samseong-dong early in November. / Embassy of Costa Rica



Seoul cafe show offers chance to taste coffees from Central American country's eight regions



By Yi Whan-woo



Coffee is not just an agricultural product in Costa Rica. It is a product of fair trade, sustainable development and environmentally friendly farming.

To better promote cultural, social and historical aspects of Costa Rican coffee on top of its high quality, the Costa Rican Embassy in Korea and Costa Rican Coffee Institute recently joined the 17th Seoul International Cafe Show.

A total of 617 exhibitors from 40 countries and more than 148,000 visitors from 78 countries took part in the four-day event at COEX from Nov. 8 to 11.

"For my point of view, coffee is not just drink in Costa Rica. It is our culture and also value for families, democracy, peace and the environment," Costa Rican Ambassador to Korea Rodolfo Solano Quiros told The Korea Times.

He was accompanied by three Costa Rican Coffee Institute executives  Irene Saenz Pucci and Francisco Ramirez Herrera, both members of board of directors, and promotion manager Gustavo Gonzalez Mederas.

The ambassador pointed out that tax paid by coffee exporters was used to help found the country, education and for construction of the National Theater in San Hose from 1891 to 97.

Cafebritt.com, a coffee information website, attributes completion of the building to "the selflessness and vision of the coffee growers who generations later continue to produce world famous gourmet coffee."

"You can see how coffee, culture and democracy really integrated," the envoy said.

Costa Rica is ranked 15th in terms of coffee production, with 89,520 tons, according to the latest International Coffee Organization data released in March.

Many coffee lovers, however, say the country is among the top producers when it comes to quality.

And such success comes from the law and a system that ensures profits of farmers and the quality of the beans as well as environmentally friendly methods of harvesting, according to the Costa Rican Coffee Institute executives.

"For example, we have a law that makes sure the producers receive a fair price for the coffee he or she is selling," Irene said.

She referred to the "Law on the Regulation of Relations between Coffee Producers, Millers and Exporters," which is also called Law No. 2762.

She also pointed out the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, a non-governmental organization, was dedicated to supporting the country's entire process of research, coffee growing, milling, and export.

With such support, farmers can maintain the quality of the coffee, according to Gustavo.

"Our country controls and manages every actor of the chain (in the coffee industry), say toaster, producer, exporter and miller," he said.

Francisco said traceability was another factor that guaranteed the quality of Costa Rican coffee.

"We have a system that can trace the coffee back to the producers so we have a reliable quality level that is always the same," he said. "Then the buyers in the world know that we offer a good, consistent quality of coffee and that we're a reliable country to buy from."

Costa Rica ensures the quality of its coffee beans by banning any type of coffee other than 100 percent Arabica, which is considered the highest quality.

Costa Rica's dry and rainy seasons, along with mountainous regions, are ideal for coffee growing as well.

The temperature varies only about 10 degrees between 17 and 28 Celsius throughout the year.

More than 80 percent of the most popular coffee-growing areas are between 800 to 1,600 meters and the average rainfall is between 2,000 to 3,000 millimeters.

The beans are handpicked to ensure only the ripest are plucked and processed.

Meanwhile, the exhibition featured variety of beans grown in eight regions across Costa Rica  Turrialba, the Central Valley, Guanacaste, the West Valley, Brunca, Tarrazu, Orosi and Tres Rios.

Tarrazu is renowned for its acidic taste and heavy aromas. Brunca produces moderate flavors, while the West Valley is known for the subtle hint of peaches and apricots in its beans.

All coffee products from Costa Rica were winners of this year's Cup of Excellence, an annual award for highest-quality coffees around the globe.
Omani Ambassador to Korea Mohamed Alharthy, center, poses with other ambassadors during the country's national day reception at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, Nov. 22. / Embassy of Oman



By Yi Whan-woo



Many in Korea remember Oman as the country that provided assistance including medical support for rescue of a Korean-flagged freighter and its crew from Somali pirates near the Gulf of Aden in 2011.

Oman's foreign policy indeed has centered on cooperation with other countries and world peace, according to Ambassador to Korea Mohamed Alharthy.

The envoy encouraged Korean companies to capitalize on the increased number of investment projects and people-to-people exchanges to bolster bilateral ties on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of modern Omani renaissance.

"The Omani foreign policy principles are based on building bridges of friendship and cooperation with various world countries," Ambassador Alharthy said during a national day reception at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, Nov. 22.

He added his country is highly respected in the world for its "wise diplomacy" and this is why the nation has become "a meeting point and an oasis of dialogue and peace."

He said Korean enterprises' joining of investment projects in Oman helped develop bilateral relations.

In particular, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon's visit to Oman in July was "in the culmination of cordial relations" between the two sides. The visit was accompanied with a business forum as well as signing of memorandum of understanding to develop Oman's first smart city.

"There is no doubt that visit exchanges and the available projects and investment opportunities beside the encouraging incentives and the keenness of the two sides to the partnership represent a motive for expanding the horizons of cooperation and partnership to broader and more comprehensive areas," the ambassador said. "We hope that the Korean companies will take the initiative of these opportunities. The Embassy of Oman is keen to provide all necessary facilities."

The reception drew hundreds of distinguished guests from diplomatic corps and the public and private sectors.

They included First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, who spoke of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said as "a leader who always prioritizes the wellbeing of the Omani people."

"As a result, Oman has entered era of a Blessed Renaissance. With its neighbors, Oman plays the valuable role of mediator in the region. Korea is also honored to be a good friend of such a noteworthy nation," Cho said.

He assessed the Oman-Korea relations have been going beyond energy cooperation since they signed a diplomatic treaty in 1974.

Oman is Korea's third-largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Korea is Oman's third-largest export partner.
By Park Si-soo







A man has been found guilty of masturbating next to a sleeping woman at a house he had broken into.







Jeju Provincial Court sentenced the man, 33, to three years in prison. But it suspended the term for five years, meaning if he does not reoffend within that time, his jail term will be considered fulfilled.







The court also put him on three years' probation and ordered him to fulfill 80 hours of community services and receive 40 hours of sex crime education.







According to court documents, the man, surnamed Kim, a delivery man at a Chinese restaurant, broke into a house in Yongdam-dong at 3:30 a.m. on June 5. He found a sleeping woman, lay next to her, took off his pants and masturbated.







The woman woke and screamed, also waking her husband.







Prosecutors charged the man with housebreaking and attempted rape. The court rejected the attempted rape charge, saying there was no evidence of this.







The court said there was "no physical contact between the man and woman."







"The man and woman talked and reached an agreement to settle the case peacefully," a court official said. "The woman asked the court not to impose a punishment on him. The man had no convictions for any sexual crime."


Korean police, fire authorities and National Forensics officials inspect a KT facility in Ahyeon-dong, western Seoul, to find the cause of the fire, Monday. / Yonhap



By Jung Hae-myoung



Investigators from the emergency services conducted a second inspection of a KT facility in Seoul, Monday, to identify the exact cause of a major fire, which led to a massive internet and phone blackout in the capital area.



Officials from the police, fire service and National Forensic Service as well as the Korea Electric Power Corp. carried out the investigation.



On Saturday morning a fire started in the underground cable network of the KT property, damaging 8 billion won ($7 million) worth of equipment and disrupting communications the west of the city.



The fire which started around 11 a.m. and continued for nearly 10 hours  the cause is still unknown  burned 168,000 telephone lines and 220 bundles of fiber optic cables in a service tunnel in Ahyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu.



Science and ICT Minister You Young-min held an emergency meeting with CEOs of Korea's three major telecommunication companies  KT, SKT and LG Uplus  calling on them to enhance cooperation in the case of major communication emergencies in the future.






An Air Busan aircraft / Yonhap



By Lee Suh-yoon



Hundreds of passengers on several Air Busan international flights bound for Gimhae International Airport, Sunday, were stranded inside the plane for up to seven hours after bad weather forced a diversion to Incheon.



Passengers were not given sufficient food or water during the long wait inside the aircraft, they said. On one plane carrying 180 passengers from Cambodia, a 57-year-old man named Kim Sun-sik fainted from exhaustion and was escorted off the plane by an emergency ambulance crew.



"They did not provide any food, even after 2 p.m.," Kim told local broadcasters after he recovered.



The budget carrier kept passengers onboard the plane for hours rather than letting them wait inside the airport. Air Busan said they chose to standby expecting the fog over Gimhae Airport to clear up.



In the cellular footage taken inside the aircraft, agitated passengers can be seen demanding the stewardess to allow them off the aircraft.



"How many hours has it been already? This is urgent, I can't breathe in here anymore," one passenger said in the video.



Air Busan said it was working to prevent future complications.



"We were not sufficiently stocked for this long and unexpected delay so we had to ration the water and snacks," a PR officer at Air Busan told The Korea Times, Monday.



"The fact that Incheon Airport was not one of our main bases also made it difficult to arrange a temporary unloading at the airport. We plan to deepen our cooperation with Incheon Airport in the future to better respond to these situations."




Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Kang Jeong-sik, left, shakes hands with Massimo Aparo, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards, ahead of their meeting at the ministry building in Seoul, Monday. / AP-Yonhap



By Kim Bo-eun



The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is preparing to play an "essential role" in the verification of North Korea's nuclear program, its deputy director said Monday.



"We have intensified our efforts since last year to announce the agency's readiness to play an essential role in verifying North Korea's nuclear program if a political agreement is reached among countries concerned," Massimo Aparo, IAEA deputy director and head of the department of safeguards, said in a meeting with a senior foreign ministry official.



Aparo said the IAEA's preparation to verify North Korea's nuclear program has shown progress.



The deputy director also said South Korea is an important partner for the agency not only to safeguard affairs but in all areas of work for the peaceful use of nuclear technology.



Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Kang Jeong-sik said it was significant to hold the meeting amid the developments on the Korean Peninsula.



Referring to the three inter-Korean summits and the first between North Korea and the U.S., he said "At this political juncture, high-level policy consultations with the IAEA, which is the international organization that specializes in inspections and verification, has great significance."



Also present at the meeting was an IAEA official in charge of North Korea.



The foreign ministry has been holding consultative meetings with the IAEA since 2013 and the sixth meeting took place in March. The seventh meeting took place at the request of the IAEA. Aparo assumed his position in May.



The meeting was held while talks between Pyongyang and Washington are underway for the former's nuclear disarmament, after leaders of the two states affirmed this goal at their historic summit in June.



North Korea shut down its Punggye-ri nuclear test site and dismantled facilities at its Tongchang-ri missile facility but these measures have yet to be verified. North Korea stated at the third inter-Korean summit in September it would permanently shut down its Tongchang-ri site in the presence of nuclear experts. However, Pyongyang's denuclearization steps have been stalled due to a failure to reach an agreement with Washington over corresponding measures.



Attention is gathering on whether a postponed high-level meeting between North Korea and Washington will take place this week to discuss the matter, and lay the groundwork for a second summit between President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un.








President Moon Jae-in speaks during the ASEAN-ROK summit on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN summit in Singapore, Nov. 14. AP-Yonhap





By Kim Yoo-chul



President Moon Jae-in plans to tone down his drive to seek international understanding for easing sanctions on North Korea during his upcoming summits at this year's G20, a presidential aide said Monday.



This reflects concerns that there's some uneasiness between South Korea and the United States over the current pace of the latter's inter-Korean rapprochement projects.



"Moon will focus on his role as a mediator or a facilitator for the denuclearization process at G20," the aide told The Korea Times, asking not to be named.



Moon will travel to Argentina this week to take part in the annual Group of 20 summit. He will leave in the afternoon of Nov. 27 first heading to the Czech Republic before moving on to Buenos Aires on Nov. 29 for the G20 summit scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1. Moon will then make a three-day state visit to New Zealand from Dec. 2.



The main topics to be discussed at the meeting are how to create sustainable economic growth that benefits everyone, the responsibility to combat climate change by implementing the Paris Agreement, and the responsibility to promote innovation and the dissemination of knowledge and digital skills in the face of rapid technological advances.



But given the slow-moving nuclear negotiation progress due to "differing thinking" over how and when the process should be, expectations are that Moon's meetings with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and his South African counterpart may provide a new momentum of the stalled denuclearization talks.



"Instead of spreading a 'sanctions-easing' pitch, Moon will tell his Dutch counterpart of the needs for greater economic and other types of inter-Korean exchanges that don't violate the United Nations sanctions. The tone of messages to be passed to the Dutch Prime Minister Rutte won't be too strong," according to the Cheong Wa Dae official.



The Netherlands is the chair of a committee in the UNSC, which monitors economic sanctions on North Korea. Moon also takes a "low-key approach" of the North Korean issue at his planned summit with the state head of South Africa, a non-permanent UNSC member.



During Moon's earlier trip to European countries months ago, Moon pushed hard for his "sanctions-easing" agenda because he believed granting an easing of economic sanctions would be the "right incentive" for North Korea to move forward with the negotiations. But the efforts fell flat as the United Kingdom and France, which have permanent seats in the UNSC, remained skeptical about the pitch.



After Moon's arrival home from Europe, Washington asked Seoul to create a "working group" to jointly handle inter-Korean and other issues relating to the North's denuclearization as the United States said South Korea should move in tandem with U.S.-led efforts to denuclearize the North.



Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom claimed a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Moon "may happen," though the specifics have yet to be announced. Cheong Wa Dae has high hopes to make the Moon-Trump summit actually happen as it wants to surpass the country's hopes and expectations at upcoming second in-person meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.



The Cheong Wa Dae official said a decision by UNSC to grant an exemption to sanctions that will allow surveys on North Korean railroad sections the two Koreas want to connect with the South, has implications that inter-Korean business projects may be accelerated depending on further developments.



"Beyond surveys and congratulatory tape-cuttings, it's harder for the two Koreas to move further along without the lifting of economic sanctions against Pyongyang; however, this is quite a meaningful step. With a low-key approach, Moon will try to keep the momentum of the negotiations alive," said the official.


Two Swedish biodesigners came all the way to Egypt carrying a stuffed pink chicken this month, to shed light on new gene-editing technologies and their potential impact on the world.

Linnea Vaglund and Leo Fidjeland, both 28, are spearheading a project promoting debate and reflection on how the so-called "gene drive" technologies may be used, or misused.

They propose that by genetically modifying one domestic chicken to have pink bones and feathers, they could permanently alter the entire species in just 12-19 generations, resulting in billions of pink chickens.

Gene drive technologies modify DNA, causing genetic changes, but unlike previous kinds of gene editing, the inheritability of the changes is enhanced, meaning that they spread quickly through the species, and could mean it is permanently changed.

The powerful technologies involved have been a source of controversy, with particular concern about whether releasing genetically engineered organisms could alter ecosystems in unpredictable ways.

"We are trying to create a scenario that is somewhere between utopia and dystopia, something that can enable debate and make you think about the technology," Fidjeland told Ahram Online.

PC

The duo, part of an independent studio that examines future scenarios, are among thousands of delegates from over 200 countries currently taking part in the UN Biodiversity Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, which began last week. Besides the decline in the variety of plant and animal life on earth, the international gathering is discussing possible recommendations for governments, including one that would recommend that organisms carrying gene drives should not be released into the environment.

The two Swedes' Pink Chicken Project argues that just one gene-drive chicken is enough to alter the colour of the entire population.

"When a pink chicken mates with a white chicken for example, usually only 50 percent of the chickens inherit the pink gene because they are two chromosomes," Fidjeland explains as he holds the symbolic pink chicken. "But if you have a gene drive, 100 percent of the offspring would inherit the pink gene instead. This means that over generations you could take over the entire species."

The pink color would come from a gene taken from the cochineal insect, which produces a natural pigment that combines with the calcium in chicken bones.

A pink layer in the fossil record

The Swedes explain that domestic chickens, the world's most common bird, have a short lifespan (5-7 weeks) which makes them a good candidate for allowing a quick spread of changes across the planet.

In addition, the accumulation of bones of billions of chickens consumed every year worldwide would modify the future fossil record, leaving a pink trace for geologists of the future.

"Because chicken bones are covering the entire planet, those bones would become one of the main markers of our geological age," Vaglund said.

"We are suggesting to sort of change this trace that humanity is leaving behind. We are using it to enable a discussion on who has the right to change the geological record of humankind," Fidjeland added.

Pink Chicken Fossil

Despite the controversies involved, the pair--both graduates of University of Arts London--do not aim to oppose the technologies, but rather to encourage people to form their own opinions, and to redirect focus to the political and ethical issues which underlie them.

"We are trying to show that it is not black and white. It is more complex than that. We are trying to allow a complex issue to remain complex."

For Vaglund, if the scenario to modify pink chickens was possible, it would be about power structures.

"Those who have power over the traces we leave behind in the strata are only a small group of people with a lot of money or power," he said.

"Maybe with this project we could also have power over that signal we send into the future."

The two say a main reason for the rapid loss of biodiversity and climate change is the global structures of power and privilege, such as colonialism, patriarchy, and white supremacy, that allow a small portion of humanity to control people's lives.

A message encoded in the chickens DNA, as the project suggests, urges future generations to fight "this oppression."

Eating Pink Chicken

Pink Chicken in Factory Farm

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By Anne-Marie Slaughter and Elmira Bayrasli



WASHINGTON, D.C.  One thing missing from the recent U.S. midterm election campaigns was a focus on foreign policy. While much was made of the migrant caravan making its way from Central America through Mexico, issues such as trade with China, Iran, North Korea, and even Russia and cyber subterfuge didn't get much traction. With the Democratic Party having regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives, that will change.



A cornered President Donald Trump is likely to turn to a favorite tactic of autocrats everywhere: manufacturing foreign-policy crises to distract the public's attention from problems at home. Trump's determination to control media headlines makes him all the more likely, when it suits him, to call attention to the troubles in the Middle East, rediscover the North Korean nuclear threat, and force the Democrats to make a tough choice between being hard on Russia or getting into an arms race.



Trump may also decide to use Congress as a foreign-policy foil, tossing international challenges back into the lap of lawmakers, who will be hard-pressed to come up with good answers.



After all, in Trump's zero-sum "I win, you lose" view of the world, congressional failures that he can blame on the Democrats are almost as good as White House successes. With the U.S. House of Representatives under "new management," including a record number of Democratic women, Trump has a tempting target. He has every incentive to show the newcomers up by passing the ball and watching them fail.



In this new contest to pass the blame, Syria is ripe for the picking. Eliot Engel, the incoming chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has already said that the Democrats may seek congressional authorization for the use of military force in Syria.



But no one, Democrat or Republican, has a plausible plan either for ending the war in Syria or even for helping Syrian civilians in significant numbers, other than making it risky for Syria's ruler, Bashar al-Assad, to use chemical weapons too blatantly. Any move the Democrats make will be unpopular with their own voters and will simply shift attention from Trump's inability to solve the problem to their own lack of a plan.



Iran presents Trump with another opportunity to inflict political damage on the Democrats. Trump followed through on his threat in January to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal  formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)  if Congress didn't "fix" it. Specifically, he wanted the ability to reimpose sanctions on Iran, which he did earlier this month. Sanctions, Trump has long maintained, would force Iran to negotiate. That has not happened and is unlikely to happen.



To push Iran toward the negotiating table, and, more importantly, assert his authority and save face, Trump might be tempted to heighten tensions, if not provoke Iran into a confrontation. And here, Engel might be forced to play along.



Engel has said that Iran is the "most dangerous player" in the Middle East, and he was a vocal opponent of the JCPOA. Though he supported the deal after it was signed and opposed withdrawing from it, Trump could use Engel's own position on Iran to push him to adopt a more aggressive posture or risk appearing "weak" on national security. But the payoff is likely to be a foreign-policy crisis that produces no meaningful progress toward a new nuclear deal and plenty of blame to go around.



The Democrats also provide Trump an out on North Korea. Back in June, Engel introduced the North Korea Nuclear Baseline Act, which would require the White House to report on the status of North Korea's nuclear program and provide a "baseline" of progress for continued talks.



Engel has already said he will call a hearing on the talks. Whatever is said in that hearing could provide North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with a ready excuse to renege on his already-vague denuclearization agreement with Trump. The U.S. president, Kim could argue, can no longer be trusted with a hostile Congress at his back.



Perhaps in anticipation of a Democratic-led House and a subsequent Democratic pile-on regarding Russia, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) in October, citing Russian violations. Signed in 1987 by Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, the INF required both the U.S. and Russia to eliminate ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles. The U.S. withdrawal from it signals the start of a new arms race.



Trump has already called for an increase in defense spending and the launch of a "space force." As Democrats focus on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, Trump's ties to Russia, and the details of Trump's closed-door conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July, they will be faced with the prospect of signing off on increased defense spending or else appearing dithering and hypocritical on Russia.



Much of the world breathed a sigh of relief at the Democrats' recapture of the House, because it signaled a vulnerability in Trump's aggressively anti-liberal "America first" approach to the world order. But Democrats should resist the urge to try correcting Trump's perceived wrongs.



The House has just enough power to get into foreign-policy trouble and not enough to get out of it or to adopt and implement a coherent strategy. The Democrats' best bet is to let Trump take the lead on global affairs, however unsavory, and actively work to check and balance his actions. Oversight and the power of the purse will be their most powerful tools.



In the end, Trump will need House Democrats for money, sanctions, or approval of trade agreements. If they play their cards right, he will have to deal them in. If they don't, they will find that Trump still holds a much stronger hand.





Anne-Marie Slaughter, president and CEO of New America, is the author of "Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family." Elmira Bayrasli is co-founder and CEO of Foreign Policy Interrupted and the author of "From the Other Side of the World: Extraordinary Entrepreneurs, Unlikely Places." Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org)




By Doug Bandow





President Donald Trump doesn't understand his chief responsibility as president. It is not to make deals and create jobs. It is to protect the security and liberty of Americans. By that standard, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not a "truly spectacular ally," as he claimed.







Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, is a brutal, even sadistic, murderer. Worse for Washington is the affront to the U.S.







America protects the corrupt, licentious and oppressive Saudi royal family. Yet Riyadh did not hesitate to ostentatiously murder Jamal Khashoggi, who had taken refuge in the U.S.







Rated unfree by Freedom House, the kingdom allows not even a hint of political or religious liberty. There is not one church, synagogue, or temple in Saudi Arabia. Iran is a beacon of religious toleration in comparison.







Moreover, MbS has tightened political controls even as he has relaxed social strictures. Personally a big spender on yachts and chalets, he launched a supposed crusade against corruption, which turned out to be a revenue-raising expedition targeting potential critics among Saudi Arabia's elite.







Historically the kingdom has been a dangerous breeding ground for terrorists, funding fundamentalist Wahhabism around the globe and providing 15 of 19 9/11 hijackers. Saudi money enriched al-Qaida and other radical groups; the regime backed jihadists in Syria and through its invasion of Yemen freed up radical groups, including al-Qaida, in the Arabian Peninsula.







Riyadh's brutal aggression against Yemen created a humanitarian catastrophe and empowered Iran. Kidnapping Lebanon's prime minister benefited Hezbollah. Attempting to isolate, and then threatening to attack, Qatar pushed the latter toward both Tehran and Ankara.







In Syria, Riyadh backed radical forces which came to dominate the opposition. As for Iran, U.S. interests would be best served by a balance of power, not hegemony as sought by MbS.







Rarely has an assassination been carried out so incompetently yet ostentatiously. Even President Trump was forced to admit that the journalist was murdered, by a massive hit squad, in a brutal manner, by the Saudi government, in its diplomatic facilities.







Nevertheless, the president decided it does not matter if MbS was involved in Khashoggi's murder. Apparently based on the belief that the kingdom is a "truly spectacular ally," by which President Trump means it buys U.S. weapons and other products.







Yet America's chief executive is a pitiful negotiator. Saudi Arabia needs America far more than America needs the kingdom.







The Saudis' supposed $110 billion weapons buy has yielded little more than a 10th as much cash. In any case, the purpose of alliances should be to enhance U.S. security, not boost arms sales.







Still, Riyadh is going to continue purchasing American weapons for its own reasons. It could diversify suppliers, but for logistical reasons the kingdom has reason to continue its relationship with the Pentagon.







If nothing else the royal regime needs spare parts and training to maintain its forces. That need will only grow if Riyadh can no longer count on America to protect it from its own folly.







Commercial sales beyond weapons are even less important to America's $20 trillion economy. If MbS is serious about reforming his nation's energy-dependent economy, he is going to deal with American companies. Anyway, a presidential desire that the Saudis buy products as well as lobbyists and think tanks is not a good reason to insulate a murderous, irresponsible and reckless regime.







The administration should stop acting like it is beholden to MbS. The U.S. should end all support for the Yemen war. Weapons sales should be placed on hold.







This doesn't mean the administration need treat Saudi Arabia as an enemy and refuse to deal with MbS. After all, American presidents engaged Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong and Kim Jong-un.







In dealing with ugly, brutal and authoritarian regimes the president's transactional approach makes some foreign policy sense. However, there should be no exaggerated expressions of fervent friendship, no illusions about shared values, and no attempt to sugarcoat Riyadh's sustained assault on human rights and American interests.







In particular, the U.S. should indicate that while Washington recognizes the Saudis will choose their own leadership, the U.S. will be forced to look to its own interests. That means confronting MbS' irresponsible actions and aggressive reach for hegemony, which are destabilizing the region.







The kingdom is not a U.S. or Western ally in any real sense. Working together when appropriate should never be confused with endorsing or even accepting such a malodorous regime.











Doug Bandow ( chessset@aol.com ) is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is author of "Foreign Follies: America's New Global Empire."


A federal criminal-justice reform bill designed to make sentencing more rational and inmates' return to society more successful has bipartisan support and recently won the backing of President Trump. But in the current topsy-turvy political landscape, that may not be enough.



Continuing pushback from a key Republican lawmaker and an influential organization of sheriffs spotlights an essential element of the national criminal-justice debate: The fault line runs not between liberals and conservatives or Democrats and Republicans, but rather right through the conservative movement, the Republican Party and the president himself. It's not clear that Democrats will be able to do much to resolve it.



The bill, known as the First Step Act, would move federal sentencing laws and re-entry programs ever so slightly in the direction of reforms already adopted in many deep blue states such as California and many bright red ones such as Georgia.



Congress has already reduced sentences for crack convictions to bring them more in line with similar offenses involving powder cocaine, but the changes apply only to convictions handed down in 2010 or later. This bill would finally make those changes retroactive and would thus affect thousands of imprisoned, mostly African-American men sentenced under the unfair drug laws adopted in the crime panic of the 1990s.



It also would eliminate mandatory life-without-parole for repeat drug offenders and would reduce mandatory sentences for other drug offenses by a few years. It would reduce mandatory minimums for gun crimes (note  reducing mandatory minimums does not eliminate the availability of much longer sentences). And it would enforce laws and regulations that are already on the books but are not always followed  for example, applying good-conduct credits (although at a fraction of what is permitted in California and many other states) and providing rehabilitative services and education.



These changes are overdue. Long sentences keep thousands of Americans locked up well after the punitive or rehabilitative value of the incarceration has been exhausted. The bill returns some discretion to judges to make the sentence fit the crime.



Some of the more vocal opposition to the bill comes from the left and is of the "It doesn't go far enough" variety. And of course it doesn't. The bill is modest in the extreme. From 2015, when it was first introduced in Congress, to today, one state after another has eased three-strikes laws and reduced the toughest sentences for drug crimes short of major trafficking. The bill doesn't bring the federal system up to speed with the states.



For all its modesty, though, it's a good bill, and if they are smart, Democrats and Republicans, the House and the Senate, will join and adopt it during the lame-duck session before the new Democratic majority takes over in the House and members rejockey for position. After the election, Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell both trotted out calls for bipartisanship, so the bill gives them a chance to follow through.



Standing in the way is, among others, Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who recites criticisms that seem to come directly from the most panicky shadows of the 1990s, or for that matter, the 1950s. Cotton has called the effort the "jailbreak bill" because of the sentencing reforms.



Cotton's opposition to earlier iterations of the bill spotlight the conservative split. Many conservatives have come to question tough sentencing laws, seeing them as contrary to bedrock values of small government, fiscal discipline, personal responsibility and family preservation. The "Right on Crime" movement has worked to recapture from liberals the moral leadership on criminal-justice reform. At the same time, tough-on-crime Republicans like Cotton (and recently departed Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions) remain influential.



As for Trump, he has a foot in each camp. He campaigned as a traditional tough-on-crime conservative and backed Sessions on criminal issues. Earlier this year, he called for the death penalty for drug dealers  presumably some of the same people whose current mandatory life sentences could be reduced to 25 years under First Step.



But the bill has been strongly pushed by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the president has now signed on. Most of the signals are good. Congress would be wise to act quickly, before the notoriously mercurial president changes his mind.





The above editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Railway survey should speed up denuclearization talks



The United Nations Security Council's decision to exempt a joint inter-Korean railway inspection from its sanctions is a welcome move that could provide momentum for the stalled denuclearization talks between the United States and North Korea.



Seoul and Pyongyang are expected to begin the survey as early as this week, paving the way for reconnecting the severed railroads between the two Koreas. The UNSC decision came amid a prolonged impasse over the North's commitment to abandon its nuclear arsenal.



This indicates that the U.S., which was against a railway inspection before the North made substantial progress toward denuclearization, is taking a somewhat flexible attitude toward inter-Korean cooperation projects.



In this regard, the sanctions exemption is seen as a positive move by the Trump administration, which has complained about President Moon Jae-in's rush for inter-Korean economic collaboration. The U.S. has so far maintained its firm position that South-North detente should not move faster than denuclearization negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.



Yet the move does not necessarily mean that the UNSC, backed by the U.S., will allow a further exemption for starting construction work to re-link the railways of the divided peninsula. There is no doubt that substantial progress in the North's denuclearization should be made before such work begins as agreed by Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at their first summit in April.



In other words, the railway and other inter-Korean economic projects depend on the North's willingness to give up its nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles. Regrettably, the Kim regime is more interested in sanctions relief and inter-Korean cooperation than denuclearization.



Skepticism is therefore growing over Kim's promise to scrap his nuclear program. This skepticism is backed by a continued delay of high-level talks between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party.



The talks, which were to take place in the U.S., Nov. 8, were rescheduled to Nov. 27. But they have also been virtually postponed again because the North is noncommittal about holding talks. Of course, some technical issues could delay the talks. But the North's recent moves can be interpreted as an attempt to drag its feet on denuclearization. That is why we are concerned about what the Kim regime is up to.



We urge Pyongyang to build on the favorable atmosphere created by the international community. If it fails to do so, the North's nuclear talks with the U.S. may lose momentum. In that case, the North will face more pressure and sanctions, instead of peace and co-prosperity.




By John Burton





The headline does not refer to disagreements between the governments in Seoul and Washington, D.C., over North Korean policy. Rather it describes the running argument between my Korean wife and I about the respective merits of the two cities since we moved from Korea to the U.S. two years ago.



If you asked my wife, she would say she preferred to live in Washington. She enjoys the green suburban atmosphere of Arlington, Virginia, which lies just across the Potomac River from the nation's capital.



Arlington is becoming to Washington what Gangnam has become to Seoul  an area of rising prosperity. It is a trend that will accelerate now that Amazon has announced that it will put one of its second headquarters operations in the Crystal City area of the town.



We live in a four-room townhouse that is much more spacious than our previous, rather cramped apartment in Seoul, although the rent is not much more. Commuting into D.C. is a quick six stops away on the metro.



Moreover, my wife still has all comforts of home close by. She can buy Korean food products, from ramen and kimchi to snacks and Maxim instant coffee, at one of the Korean-owned H Mart grocery stores, named after the phrase "han areum" (one armful of groceries), that have spread across the U.S. and Canada.



Northern Virginia is also home to the largest Korean community in the D.C. area. My wife has made new Korean friends through church and community groups and they often gather at one of the numerous Korean restaurants in the area.



One sign of the increased Korean influence in Arlington is that the Republican congressional candidate in the recent midterm elections was a young Korean-American, although he lost in the heavily Democrat district.



I share some of my wife's favorable attitudes toward Washington. After all, I have lived here longer than any other place except for Seoul. I attended George Washington University and began my career as a journalist on Capitol Hill before leaving in the early 1980s to spend more than 30 years abroad, mainly in Asia.



So returning was a bit of a homecoming. In some ways, the city hasn't changed much. It retains its appealing European feel with its low-rise city landscape and greenery, while hosting some of the best museums in the U.S.



But it has become much more gentrified  and thus more expensive  since I left and in the process has lost some of its urban buzz. Washington has always been a rather conservative city in manner due to the predominance of government, but I feel it has become even more so over the years.



I was reminded of this when I recently made a brief return visit to Seoul, the first since I left two years ago. What immediately struck me was the vibrancy of the city, which I miss. Of course being home to 25 million people  compared to the 6 million or so in the greater Washington metro area  gives the Seoul region more scope in terms of activity, whether it is business, government or culture.



But Seoul also feels more alive and creative, thanks largely to the dynamic character of the Koreans themselves. I have watched the spectacular transformation of the city  another miracle on the Han  over the last 30 or so years.



When I first arrived in 1992, Seoul was rather a grey city that reminded me of Communist-era East European capitals, such as Warsaw. But it is now one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia  and indeed the world. It boasts a full range of cultural events and a bewildering multitude of innovative restaurants and bars that put those in Washington to shame. It is little wonder that almost anything Korean  whether it is food, TV dramas, pop music, fashion or cinema  has become trendy around the world.



What also makes Seoul so appealing  at least to foreigners like me  is the hospitality of Koreans, who treat guests, whether long-term or short-term, with respect. I contrast this with what I experienced when I returned from Seoul to the U.S., where I and other passengers were interrogated by surly immigration officials and then my luggage was roughly fought over by taxi drivers competing for my business. Welcome to America!



I realize that I have enjoyed in Seoul what amounts to a form of "white privilege" in the sense that a Westerner is granted an exemption from some of the stifling social rules that Koreans apply to themselves. It is for the same reason that my wife enjoys living in the U.S. since she can escape some of the conservative social conventions, including the status of women, that she had to live with in Korea. We prefer each other's country because we enjoy a greater sense of freedom in living outside our respective homelands.





John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is now a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant.


By Jun Ji-hye



Following a fire at a KT building that caused unprecedented internet and phone disruptions, safety experts said Monday that it was urgent to revise the Fire Services Act and establish a mutual cooperation system between the nation's three telecom companies to prevent a recurrence at nationally important communication facilities.



The fire broke out in the basement of the KT building in Ahyeon-dong, western Seoul, Saturday, and burned more than half of the equipment in a 150-meter-long tunnel, which housed underground network cables, until the fire was extinguished about 10 hours later.



According to fire authorities, there was only one fire extinguisher in the basement, which lacked fire-suppression systems such as sprinklers.



KT said it did not violate the Fire Services Act as the current law calls for the obligatorily installing of sprinklers only when a cable tunnel is more than 500 meters long.






Korail CEO Oh Young-sik during a National Assembly hearing on recent malfunctions and accidents of its trains at the Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap



By Nam Hyun-woo



Korail has been reeling from a series of safety-related accidents in recent weeks, which have raised grave concerns over the country's railway system, industry analysts said Monday.

Company CEO Oh Young-sik, who was appointed through political connections without any expertise in the field, has compounded the safety lapses dogging the state-run railway operator for years, they said.

The analysts noted that some of the train malfunctions were due to human error which could be related to poor discipline, while Oh is obsessed with political issues such as the joint rail project between South and North Koreas.

On Nov. 19, a high-speed train crashed into a forklift near Seoul Station injuring three people who were repairing the tracks. Though there were no casualties among the 149 passengers on board or the injured three, it could have been a huge accident as the KTX train's engine room was severely damaged.

Following the crash, five more train malfunctions were reported until Saturday.

On Tuesday, a KTX train stopped at Osong Station in North Chungcheong Province due to an electrical glitch. Two days later, the Bundang Line subway, operated by Korail, stopped for more than an hour.

The CEO issued a public apology Friday and Korail launched emergency safety check programs, but a Mugunghwa train stopped near Wonju, Gangwon Province, the same day due to electrical problems, and two malfunctions on KTX trains were reported Saturday.

As breakdowns continue, criticism rising over Korail staff's ability to cope with emergency situations, as some passengers were not informed properly about Tuesday's malfunction and tried to break the train's window to escape.

The criticism has led to questions on Oh's management capability, as incidents have continued despite his pledge to prioritize safety. Oh's appointment early this year raised complaints as the career politician beat a renowned railway specialist to become the head of Korail. He is a former lawmaker and was one of the core members of President Moon Jae-in's election camp.

One of the key tasks for him was addressing Korail's mounting debt, but the amount is still hovering over 14 trillion won and the debt ratio is over 300 percent.

While the company's finances are deteriorating, Oh appears to be obsessed with political issues, such as reinstating fired employees or stressing the importance of a joint railway project between the two Koreas, which are in line with the Moon administration's political direction.

"Linking South and North Korea via a railway could be a meaningful step toward denuclearization of the North," Oh said in a National Assembly audit last month. "We will continue making progress in consideration of sanctions on the North."

Also, his pursuit of a merger with Supreme Railways (SR), a private operator running SRT high-speed rail services, is creating controversy.

Oh is pushing forward with the merger saying it will garner publicity for the rail service and improve operating efficiency, while opposition lawmakers are concerned it will offset the improvements which Korail has made upon its competition with SR.

"It seems Korail is not concentrating on its core duty, while paying more attention on other issues," a railway industry official said.
If you had the chance to design a new off-road ready pickup truck from scratch, what would you come up with? A U.S. start-up thinks the answer is obvious  make it electric and fit it with four torque-happy electric motors, one at each wheel.

The R1T pickup is one of two vehicles that Rivian plans to bring to the market in 2020. The other is a seven-passenger SUV.

Rivian has its headquarters in Plymouth, Mich., and technology outposts in San Jose and Irvine. The vehicles will be assembled at a former Mitsubishi Motors factory in Normal, Ill., near Peoria  20,000 a year for the first two years, and ramping higher after that, the company said.

In stealth mode since its founding in 2009, Rivian is headed by 35-year-old R.J. Scaringe, graduate of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Sloan Automotive Laboratory.

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Rivian says it will pack the truck with up to 180kWhs worth of battery power, for a claimed range of more than 400 miles. Doing without a big internal combustion engine will provide more lockable storage space and more room for passengers.

A dedicated motor for each wheel creates precise torque control for everything from low-speed rock crawling to high-speed cornering, according to company marketers.

Prices will start at $62,000.

Electric vehicles have yet to prove themselves, even though all the big carmakers are jumping into the market, largely driven by government incentives and mandates in Europe, China and California. Teslas Elon Musk said the company is thinking about selling a pickup truck, but thats still at the concept stage.

If Rivian stays on schedule, itll have a head start in the electric adventure niche, hoping to take full advantage if that customer segment proves large enough.

russ.mitchell@latimes.com

Twitter: @russ1mitchell

UPDATES:

9:35 a.m.: The base price of the pickup truck was updated.
Ignoring empirical evidence that its fomenting a healthcare catastrophe, and a federal judges warning that its legally out of line, the Trump administration has quietly reapproved a punitive work requirement for Medicaid clients in Kentucky.

The approval came just before the Thanksgiving holiday. Thats timing you use only in the hope that youll be able to sneak through a policy without anybody noticing.

But this is such a cynical and malevolent policy that healthcare advocates did notice. That happened partially because data from Arkansas, the only other state given permission by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for Medicaid work requirements, show that its system is throwing residents off Medicaid by the thousands.

This demonstration is designed to extend coverage. Trumps healthcare officials lie flagrantly about their Medicaid work rules

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In its approval letter to Kentucky, the CMS gives no indication that it considered, much less cared about, the ever-mounting disenrollments in Arkansas, Andy Schneider, a healthcare policy expert at Georgetown University, observed Wednesday. Of course, this is hardly surprising, he wrote, because Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma have been thoroughly transparent about their intention to promote work requirements in Medicaid regardless of the coverage losses that such requirements cause.

The Kentucky reapproval is certain to be challenged in court, because the program is essentially identical to a program overturned by a federal judge in June, writes Judith Solomon of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The judges action was partially based on the recognition that Kentuckys rules undermine the legal objective of Medicaid, which is to bring coverage to its target population. The administration still didnt show how a waiver that would take coverage away from beneficiaries who dont meet a work requirement, pay premiums, or report changes or renew their coverage on time could possibly advance Medicaids objectives, Solomon notes.

Work requirements for Medicaid have become a favored weapon wielded against the program by conservatives. Their particular target is the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The ACA opened Medicaid to low-income childless applicants for the first time, as a means of bringing health insurance to the neediest Americans. If work requirements were imposed nationwide, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, as many as 4 million Americans could lose access to Medicaid  as much as 17% of the 23.5 million people covered by Medicaid expansion. Most of those are already working, but would lose eligibility because they cant navigate the red tape involved in reporting their work hours.

Kentucky, which stood as a success story for ACA-enabled health coverage expansion under Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, reversed itself after the election of tea party Republican Matt Bevin in 2015. Bevin campaigned on the promise to end Medicaid expansion, but he backed off once he took office and discovered that the program was more popular than he supposed. Instead, he moved to place onerous restrictions on Medicaid access for Kentuckians.

Beyond the work requirements, Bevins plan included several other provisions that had always been vetoed by previous federal Medicaid administrators. Among them were premiums of up to 4% of income and lock-out periods of up to six months for failure to meet the work rules.

As a team from the Kaiser Family Foundation reported in January, after Medicaid first approved Bevins plan, years of research showed that coverage expansion results when the enrollment process is simplified and streamlined, not when its made more opaque and complex, as Kentucky proposes. Under Beshear, the foundation reported, the uninsured rate for Kentucky adults below the age of 65 fell from 16.3% in 2013 to 7.2% in 2016, one of the largest reductions in the country. By fiscal 2016 nearly 462,000 adults were enrolled in expanded Medicaid, a success story Bevin evidently couldnt stomach.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia threw out Bevins plan in June, when he ruled that Azar had rushed approval of the work requirements without seriously considering the states projection that 95,000 of Kentuckys 1.2 million Medicaid enrollees would lose their eligibility within five years under the new rules.

Boasberg labeled Azars action arbitrary and capricious.

Still, the agencys reapproval, which went out under Vermas letterhead, addressed Boasbergs concerns cosmetically at best. Though the program is virtually identical to the one Boasberg rejected, Azar and Verma strained to show that they now had considered the prospect of 95,000 Kentuckians losing eligibility, and found that they didnt matter.

Their rationale is that Bevin had threatened to terminate Medicaid expansion if the work rules werent approved. The Governor has indicated  that Kentucky will reconsider the ACA adult eligibility expansion if the Commonwealth is unable to implement the demonstration project. That would mean the loss of coverage for 454,000 individuals, the government said. Even if 95,000 members lose their coverage because of the work rules, that figure is likely dwarfed by the 454,000 newly eligible adults who stand to lose coverage if Bevin makes good on his threat.

Theres a term for Bevins position. Its extortion.

Kentuckys program requires Medicaid enrollees to complete 80 hours a month of community engagement, which encompasses job-hunting or service with a nonprofit, but on the whole is merely a weasel term for work. Enrollees who fail to report the required hours will be locked out of coverage for anything from a week or so to as long as six months.

The HHS approval letter bristles with cynical subterfuge. It terms the Kentucky program a demonstration aimed at showing whether the restrictions work, a blunt admission that HHS is happy to place the states poorest citizens in the role of guinea pigs. Ludicrously, HHS declares that this demonstration is designed to extend coverage.

It repeats the canard that working promotes good health, so forcing people into the workforce is for their own good. The truth is just the reverse  good health enhances the ability to get and keep a job, so placing an obstacle in the path of people seeking medical care threatens their ability to enter and stay in the workforce.

Whats most significant about the approval document is what it doesnt say. The letter mentions that HHS received more than 8,500 comments on the Kentucky proposal in the 30-day comment period it opened after Boasbergs ruling, the vast majority of which opposed all or part of the Kentucky plan. The letter doesnt cite a single comment in favor of the plan.

Nor does the letter incorporate the experience of Arkansas, which implemented its work requirement June 1, while Boasberg was still pondering the Kentucky case. As I reported in September and has been confirmed repeatedly since then, the Arkansas program has been disastrous for that states Medicaid population.

The program is so bad that it alarms the Medicaid and CHIP Payment Access Commission (MACPAC), a government panel charged with making recommendations to federal and state governments about how Medicaid serves its target groups. MACPAC members asked Azar in a Nov. 8 letter to halt disenrollments in Arkansas, because the state program wasnt structured in a way that provides individuals an opportunity to succeed, with high stakes for beneficiaries who fail.

Azar effectively ignored the letter, bulling ahead with the Kentucky approval just two weeks later. In addition to Arkansas and Kentucky, HHS has approved Medicaid work requirements in Indiana, New Hampshire and Wisconsin, with approvals pending for Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, South Dakota and Utah.

As of Nov. 1, according to Arkansas officials, 12,277 Arkansans have lost coverage because of the rules, out of 321,000 adults in the expansion group and 69,000 specifically subject to the work reporting rules. Of the latter, about 54,000 were automatically exempted from reporting their work hours because the state had sufficient information about them in its databases, according to Georgetown.

That left about 15,000 required to report their work hours themselves, of whom 12,277 failed to make the reports. Theyve lost coverage until at least Jan. 1, because they failed to report for three months in a row. Worse, an additional 6,000 are on the cusp of losing their coverage because theyve missed two months of reporting already.

These people arent necessarily violating the rules because theyre slackers or layabouts. Most likely its because Arkansas has gone out of its way to make the reporting process difficult. As a lawsuit in federal court points out, Arkansans can report their work hours only through an online portal that requires an email address, password and a code provided to enrollees by mail. The portal operates only from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and is often shut down even during those hours for maintenance.

The state decided not to allow people to report their hours by phone or in person, the states Medicaid official said, because we would have to hire so many people  and that just doesnt make sense.

Indeed, the MACPAC letter was especially critical of the limitation to online reporting, the lack of outreach to the target population to make sure they understood the new rules, and the utter absence of job development or work programs in Arkansas to help residents meet the rules.

Even if the web portal were a model of efficient implementation, it would still bypass thousands of residents, because a large proportion of low-income Arkansans have no broadband service at their homes or are unfamiliar with online programs or both. (The state ranks 46th in the nation for internet access.)

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the mastermind of this benighted plan, blames the victims. Some simply chose not to comply, he has said. Personal responsibility is important.

Hes blowing smoke, as are Azar and Verma. Their programs arent designed to extend coverage as they claim, but narrow it. Their goal is to save money, and if that means sentencing the nations lowest-income residents to lives of poor health and joblessness, to them thats just gravy.

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.
General Motors Co. will cut as many as 14,000 workers in North America and put five plants up for possible closure as it abandons many of its car models and restructures to cut costs and focus more on autonomous and electric vehicles, the automaker announced Monday.

The reductions could amount to as much as 8% of GMs global workforce of 180,000 employees.



For the record: An earlier version of this article said GM would cut 14,700 jobs in North America. It plans to cut as many as 14,000.

The restructuring reflects changing North American auto markets, which have been shifting away from cars and toward SUVs and trucks. In October, almost 65% of new vehicles sold in the U.S. were trucks or SUVs. That figure was about 50% cars just five years ago.

GM is shedding cars largely because it doesnt make money on them, Citi analyst Itay Michaeli wrote in a note to investors. We estimate sedans operate at a significant loss, hence the need for classic restructuring, he wrote.

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The reduction includes about 8,000 white-collar employees, or 15% of GMs North American white-collar workforce. Some will take buyouts; others will be laid off. The automakers factory workers are also looking at thousands of job cuts, though some U.S. workers could transfer to truck or SUV factories that are increasing production.

The company also said it will stop operating two additional factories outside North America by the end of next year, in addition to a previously announced plant closure in Gunsan, South Korea.

GMs preemptive strike to get leaner before the next downturn is likely to be followed by Ford Motor Co., which has said it is restructuring and will lay off an unspecified number of white-collar workers. Toyota Motor Corp. also has discussed cutting costs, even though its building a new assembly plant in Alabama.

GM isnt the first to abandon much of its car market. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles largely got out of small and midsize cars two years ago, while Ford announced plans to shed all cars but the Mustang in the United States in the coming years.

General Motors  which is the largest U.S. automaker and sells the Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC brands  said the moves will save it $6 billion in cash by the end of next year, including $4.5 billion in recurring annual cost reductions and a $1.5-billion reduction in capital spending.

Those cuts are in addition to $6.5 billion that the company has announced by the end of this year.

The Detroit automakers stock climbed 4.8% to $37.65 a share Monday.

The layoffs come against the backdrop of trade conflicts between the United States, China and Europe that probably will lead to higher prices for imported vehicles and those exported from the United States. GM Chief Executive Mary Barra said the company faces challenges from tariffs, but she did not directly link the layoffs to them.

GM doesnt foresee an economic downturn and is making the cuts to get in front of it while the company is strong and while the economy is strong, Barra told reporters.

Factories that could be closed include assembly plants in Detroit; Lordstown, Ohio; and Oshawa, Canada, as well as transmission plants near Baltimore and in Warren, Mich.

Many of those who will lose jobs are working on conventional cars with internal combustion engines. Barra said the industry is changing rapidly and moving toward electric propulsion, autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing, and GM must adjust.

She said GM is still hiring people with expertise in software and electric and autonomous vehicles. The company has invested in newer architectures for trucks and SUVs so it can cut capital spending while still raising investment in autonomous and electric vehicles.

The company expects to take a pretax charge of $3 billion to $3.8 billion because of the actions, including up to $1.8 billion of asset write-downs and pension charges. The charges are to take place in the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of next year.

After the morning announcement, Barra was to head for Washington to speak with White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow in what was described as a previously scheduled meeting, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly.

President Trump, who has made bringing back auto jobs a big part of his appeal to Ohio and other Great Lakes states that are crucial to his reelection, said his administration and lawmakers are exerting a lot of pressure on GM.

Trump said he was being tough on Barra. He said he told the company that the United States has done a lot for GM and that if its cars arent selling, the company needs to produce ones that will.

At a rally near GMs Lordstown plant last summer, Trump told people not to sell their homes because the jobs are all coming back.

The area is a Democratic and labor stronghold, where Trump won over a surprising number of voters two years ago by reaching out to what he called Americas forgotten men and women.

Since the beginning of last year, the Ohio factory has lost two of its three shifts and 3,000 union jobs. The car produced there  the Chevrolet Cruze  is also built in Mexico, and Barra said Monday that the Cruze would no longer be sold in the United States.

Most of the factories to be affected by GMs restructuring build cars that wont be sold in the United States after next year. They could close, or they could get different vehicles to build. Their futures will be part of contract talks with the United Auto Workers union next year.

The Detroit-based union has already condemned GMs actions and threatened to fight them through every legal, contractual and collective bargaining avenue open to our membership.

Bobbi Marsh, who has worked assembling the Chevrolet Cruze compact car at the Ohio plant since 2008, said she cant understand why the factory might close given the strong economy.

I cant believe our president would allow this to happen, she said Monday.

Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) slammed the automakers decision to shut down the plant, saying the company is treating its workers poorly.

GM owes the community answers on how the rest of the supply chain will be impacted & what consequences its disastrous decision will have, Brown tweeted Monday.

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), whose district includes Lordstown, blamed Trump for the job losses.

The area has been yearning for the Trump administration to come here, roll up their sleeves and help us fight for this recovery, Ryan said in a statement Monday. What weve gotten instead are broken promises and petty tweets. Corporations like General Motors and the president himself are the only ones benefiting from this economy.

GM has been searching for ways to cut costs, as it has suffered sliding sales in recent years in two of its most crucial markets: China and the United States.

Last year showed signs of the first sustained slowdown since the global financial crisis, with U.S. auto sales falling about 1% in 2017, according to Kelley Blue Book. Continued declines of new car purchases have troubled auto companies, especially as they grapple with technology that may reshape the industry and brace for the impact of the Trump administrations trade dispute.

When Trump announced tariffs last summer, Detroits Big Three automakers  GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler  all trimmed their profit forecasts for the rest of the year, citing the rising commodity costs that would lead to increases in prices and manufacturing costs. GM took a hard stance, warning that there would be fallout in the auto industry and saying the tariffs risked undermining GMs competitiveness against foreign auto producers by erecting broad-brush trade barriers that increase our global costs in comments filed with the Commerce Department in June.

GM was one of a few large U.S. companies that didnt immediately benefit from Trumps tax cuts because the automaker had stockpiled deferred tax assets from its rocky performance in the lead-up to the financial crisis 10 years ago. Those deferred tax assets allowed GM to pay a low tax bill each year, and the tax law passed last year made them less valuable. Still, GMs top executives have said the company expects to benefit from the new tax law in the future, though some analysts estimated it could take several years.

Krisher writes for the Associated Press. Taylor Telford, who writes for the Washington Post, contributed to this report.

UPDATES:

4:05 p.m.: This article was updated with GM shares closing price, as well as comments from a White House official, President Trump and a GM factory worker.

12:30 p.m.: This article was updated with GMs stock movement, comments from the union and lawmakers, and additional information.

8:15 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with GMs announcement, comments by Chief Executive Mary Barra and additional details.

This article was originally published at 7 a.m.
Welcome to California Inc., the weekly newsletter of the L.A. Times Business section.

Im Business columnist David Lazarus, and heres a rundown of upcoming stories this week and the highlights of last week.

Today is Cyber Monday, which means the shopping spree that officially began on Black Friday continues. Millions of consumers are expected to head online in search of deals, particularly for tech and electronics. But dont fret if you miss out. There will be plenty of online bargains for the remainder of the year.

LOOKING AHEAD

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Home prices: The latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index of home prices will be released Tuesday. In August, prices rose 5.8% nationally compared with a year before. That was less than the 6% annual gain in July.

Economic growth: Third-quarter gross domestic product will be revealed by the Commerce Department on Wednesday. GDP rose at a 4.2% annualized rate in the second quarter, up from the 2.2% pace in the January-March period.

Consumer spending: Consumer spending in October will be spotlighted Thursday. Spending rose for a seventh straight month in September, but income recorded its smallest gain in more than a year because of tepid wage growth.

At theaters: Among movies opening this week, families may be interested in Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, the latest retelling of The Jungle Book, this time directed by Andy Serkis (who played Gollum in The Lord of the Rings). Then theres Anna and the Apocalypse, which is a Christmas movie. And a musical. With zombies.

THE AGENDA

In the United States more than almost anywhere else, wealth and income are concentrated among business owners and landlords. And that club is becoming increasingly difficult to join. Business owners and landlords tend to be about four times as wealthy as the average American. Thats more than in almost any other country, a new study has found. On the other end of the spectrum, U.S. renters tend to have about an eighth as much wealth as the average American.

STORY LINES

Here are some of the other stories that ran in the Times Business section in recent days that were continuing to follow:

Bearing down: There may not be an alert on your iPhone yet, but it looks as if the years-long stock market party might just be over  a victim of time, tariffs and growing anxiety that the economy has peaked. A plunge in technology shares early last week led to a broader rout and by Friday the S&P 500 index had fallen into correction territory, or a drop of 10% below its most recent all-time high in September.

Amazon effect: It turns out that not even Swedish retailing giant Ikea and its assemble-it-yourself furniture are immune to the online shopping revolution. The company said it will cut 7,500 jobs worldwide as part of a plan to cater more to online customers by opening 30 more convenient stores in urban centers and by investing in its e-commerce and delivery services.

Dimming star: There wasnt a bigger executive in the automotive industry: Carlos Ghosn, the jet-setting chief of a global alliance that spanned Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan and Renault. Then Ghosn was arrested and accused of underreporting his compensation to Japanese securities regulators and fired as Nissan chairman. Ghosn has not been convicted of any crimes and Japanese broadcaster NHK reported he has denied the allegations.

Real life disaster : Netflixs teen drama series 13 Reasons Why was shooting in Vallejo when the massive Camp fire broke out, forcing the show to halt production. Location managers say the scale of the recent statewide fires and their effect on production is unprecedented. Some prime locations in Southern California  including Paramount Ranch, which serves as a set for HBOs Westworld  experienced extensive damage.

Tight quarters: How bad is the housing shortage in Los Angeles and other booming cities? This bad: A growing number of companies are selling dividing walls or curtains to create new bedrooms. Others are filling rooms with bunk beds. And some  armed with Silicon Valley backing  are offering a variety of sleeping situations and services that make it easier to find roommates and live with them.

WHAT WERE READING

And some recent stories from other publications that caught our eye:

Petri dishes: Wired says airports were quick to realize that Uber and Lyft were totally screwing up traffic. Now they serve as models for how to deal with the ride-hailing services. These hubs, you see, are harbingers of traffic. Theyre busy, theyre chock-full of useful information on comings and goings, and theyre better about adapting to new technology than most of their public infrastructure brethren.

Deck the halls: The Wall Street Journal spotlights the growing trend of collecting skateboard decks as works of art. One art-market expert calls skateboards an affordable entry point to understanding and living with contemporary art.

Gossip Cop: The New York Times checks out Gossip Cop, a site that purports to debunk celebrity rumors. But whos keeping tabs on Gossip Cop? In an effort not to be spun, we have, for lack of a better phrase, a social contract with the stars, the reps and anyone else with whom we work, the site says. If you lie to Gossip Cop, we wont work with you again.

Smile: The Atlantic wonders who would spend $17 on a tube of luxury toothpaste. High-end toothpaste is just like any other entry-level luxury good: In addition to its straightforward use, any luxury product also serves as a status-signaler, whether guests spot your expensive toothpaste after excusing themselves to your bathroom or your followers see it in the corner of an Instagrammed skin-care collection.

Stage left: The New Yorker profiles Natalie Wynn of the progressive YouTube channel ContraPoints. She is one of the few Internet demi-celebrities who is as clever as she thinks she is, and one of the few leftists anywhere who can be nuanced without being boring.

SPARE CHANGE

In an extraordinary video posted on YouTube, hedge-fund manager James Cordier sits in a brown leather chair, stares into the camera and haltingly tells his clients that he likely lost all their money  maybe as much as $150 million. I am so sorry for not managing our ship and keeping her afloat, he says, his voice breaking. Bloomberg calls the recording the hedge-fund equivalent of a hostage video.

For the latest money news, go to www.latimes.com/business. Mad props to Laurence Darmiento for helping put this thing together.

Until next time, Ill see you in the Business section.
The California Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday to overturn the murder conviction of a Los Angeles man who became mentally unstable during his trial.

Domingo Rodas was convicted of killing Keith Fallin and attempting to kill two other homeless men in 2009 during a series of random stabbings on Hollywood streets over two months.

Rodas, who suffers from severe psychiatric disorders, was initially found incompetent to stand trial. He spent several months in a state psychiatric hospital receiving medication before his doctors said he was restored to competency.

They warned, however, that his symptoms would return if he stopped taking anti-psychotic and mood-stabilizing medications.

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In March 2013, after a jury had been selected but before opening statements, Rodas lawyer told L.A. Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry that she doubted whether her client was mentally fit to stand trial. Rodas appeared deluded and spoke in what his attorney called a word salad.

Perry briefly questioned Rodas, who admitted he had stopped taking his medication, and then allowed the trial to proceed. Rodas was sentenced to life without parole for the killing and two other life sentences for the attempted murders.

In a decision written by Justice Leondra R. Kruger, the state high court said Perry should have suspended the trial when doubts were raised about Rodas competency and conducted an evaluation.

When a formerly incompetent defendant is stabilized solely or primarily by medication, evidence that he or she has stopped taking the prescribed drugs and become unstable requires a investigation, the court said.

Given the circumstances, the trial court erred by proceeding with trial without undertaking the required formal inquiry into defendants competence, Kruger wrote.

The court said Rodas may be retried on the murder and attempted murder charges if he is deemed mentally competent.

maura.dolan@latimes.com

Twitter: @mauradolan
When Brook and Matt MacKay are asked how they fared in the Camp fire, they are sometimes unsure how to answer. Our house is still standing, they usually say. But we lost our home.

The husband and wife met as kids in Paradise and reconnected at Brigham Young University in Utah. They so believed in their hometowns inherent specialness that they moved back from Washington state eight years ago with their four children.

Now Paradise is gone. But their house, by some miracle, was spared. The Camp fire took everything else around it: all their neighbors homes, the corner store where theyd take their kids for candy, even the tree house in their backyard. It got that close.

They are acutely aware of their good fortune. But they also are suffering. Their home is inaccessible until who-knows-when. Their community of 17,000 has scattered to Sacramento, to Redding, to Idaho. Several people died in the blaze on the hill just behind their property. They are shouldering the grief of so many family members who suddenly have nothing.

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We technically have a home, yes. But I still feel like Ive lost it, said Brook MacKay as she sat with her family in the 400-square-foot RV they bought after the fire. I feel guilty for not being happier that its still standing. But what use is a home in a destroyed community?

As the national spotlight has turned to Butte County and its unfathomable plight, most attention and supportive resources have been funneled to those now without homes. Yet the relative few whose houses were not reduced to ash are confronting their own trauma. When they survey the devastation that surrounds them, it is easy to dismiss it. It is difficult to discuss their struggles openly without feeling insensitive.

Being in such a position can be incredibly isolating, said Mary Kearns, a chaplain and grief counselor in Chico. Shes met with many people dealing with these complicated emotions  which she considers to be a form of what mental health professionals call survivors guilt  in the past two weeks since the Camp fire took at least 85 lives and almost 19,000 structures.

Kearns herself is grappling with this guilt.

We feel that because they havent lost their homes, that we dont have a right to be sad, said Kearns, who has been counseling evacuees. But even if you werent trapped in the fire or burned out by it, you have a tremendous emotional investment in your friends, your community, your schools. Of course youre going to be impacted.

LIVE UPDATES: The latest on the California wildfires 

Post-disaster guilt manifests in different ways. For the MacKays, it has meant turning down gift cards handed to them at disaster relief events. It has meant going to an open house for a rental in Chico, only to find 15 other families in line who actually lost everything, and deciding to look for places farther away from Paradise. It wouldnt be fair for us to take this, they think. It has meant speaking of their grief only among themselves and a few others in similar situations.

At times, 18-year-old Jared MacKay has felt singled out for his relative good fortune. Were all homeless now  except you, one friend said recently, pointing to Jared. Another friend called him out for accepting free clothes at Goodwill, even though he, too, has been washing the same pairs of shirts and pants every couple days.

I feel like I lost almost as much as they have, said Jared, a Paradise High School senior. But because I still have a house, theres a barrier. I cant connect with them. I feel alone.

Just south of Paradise in Oroville, Megan Brown is sorting through her own guilt. In 2017, the Cherokee fire destroyed two family homes and all of the corrals on her 3,500-acre cattle ranch  $3 million worth of damage. Her property, passed down for generations, was unscathed this time. Yet she has woken up sick with anxiety every morning since the fire. She feels guilty that shes in her warm bed while so many friends are displaced, especially because she knows how they feel. She suspects she is still suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by barely making it out of last years blaze.

I self-correct when I start feeling down, said Brown, 37. There are others who are suffering more.

Brown said she knows she should probably speak to a counselor. But right now she doesnt want to take resources away from those who lost homes or loved ones.

To cope with these feelings, Brown has thrown herself into relief efforts. She brought several tons of hay and other farming supplies to the animal shelter in Gridley. Shes taking in old family friends from Paradise.

Megan Brown of Oroville evacuated at the last minute as flames from the Camp fire approached her property, but she stayed nearby to feed the animals she could not evacuate. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

An overwhelming desire to rush in and help is a common response among people dealing with survivors guilt, said Kearns, the grief counselor. Those who are vicariously traumatized look around and see that their world doesnt feel safe anymore. They want to help fix this broken world for their loved ones, of course. But they, too, want to feel safe again.

The best way to confront this trauma is to slow down, share your story, and make yourself available to those who want to share theirs, Kearns said. It is the only way to alleviate sorrow.

Its important to validate and normalize our reaction to this disaster so that we can then, in turn, be strong enough to help those who did lose everything, she said.

For Jon and Susie Warren, Paradise residents and friends of the MacKays, this is easier said than done. Their home was also spared, but Jons certified public accountants office was destroyed.

They are unsure the business will survive  there is no clientele left in Paradise. They are still paying a mortgage on a house they may never return to. They worry about the long-term effects this will have on their five kids. Even still, they do not feel like they can fully mourn their losses.

You just think, why me? Why was my home spared when everyone elses within a half-mile radius was gone? said Susie Warren, who grew up in the house. Sometimes I wish mine was gone, too, so it would be easier to relate to people. And then I feel guilty for even thinking that.

There is an image that the Warrens cannot shake. On the first Sunday after the fire, their church congregation in Chico was divided into two groups for counseling purposes: those who lost their homes and those who didnt.

The Warrens and the MacKays sat with a handful of others  the lucky ones  in a small room.

The rest filled the sanctuary.

laura.newberry@latimes.com
Authorities are trying to determine the motivations and background of a 32-year-old Seattle man who allegedly tried to run down two men outside of a synagogue in Hancock Park last week in an attack that police have described as a hate crime.

Mohamed Mohamed Abdi was arrested outside of Congregation Bais Yehuda in the 300 block of La Brea Avenue Friday night and held on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he yelled a number of anti-Semitic insults and barreled his car toward the two men around 9 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Horace Frank said.

Abdi was driving a rental car past the synagogue when he began yelling profanity at a group of worshipers near La Brea and Oakwood Avenues, Frank said.

Concerned by Abdis actions, two men walked away from the larger group but kept their eyes trained on Abdi, who then made a U-turn and ran a red light while accelerating toward them, Frank said. The two men managed to evade him, and Abdi crashed into a parked car a short time later.

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That monitoring, that vigilance, saved their lives, LAPD Chief Michel Moore said at a news conference Monday.

No one was injured at the scene, and Abdi is being held in lieu of $55,000 at Mens Central Jail downtown, police said. A knife was found in Abdis car, but Frank said police do not believe he owns any firearms.

Frank expects the LAPD will ask the Los Angeles County district attorneys office to pursue assault charges against Abdi. The department is working in conjunction with the FBIs Los Angeles field office to investigate Abdi, and federal prosecutors may consider possible hate crime or domestic terror charges against him.

Mohamed Mohamed Abdi was arrested for asault with deadly weapon with a vehicle. (LAPD)

The attack comes in the wake of increasing concerns about anti-Semitic vitriol and violence across the U.S. The number of hate crimes targeting Jewish victims across the nation rose by 37% in 2017, according to an FBI report published earlier this month, and in October a gunman shot and killed 11 people inside a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Earlier this month, the LAPD also arrested a man who was snatching coverings off the heads of Orthodox Jewish women in North Hollywood.

But hate crimes in Los Angeles are relatively static this year, Frank said. There were 223 reported hate crimes in the city at this time in 2017, compared with 231 this year, he said. Police have not established any links between Abdi and known terror or hate groups, but Frank cautioned the departments investigation was in its earliest stages.

Moore said the national uptick in hate and bigotry has become an increasing concern for law enforcement leaders, as they try to contend with what happens after a person decides to turn their racist thoughts to action.

Hate in America is on the rise. That has to change, Moore said.

A native of Mogadishu in Somalia, Abdi is a U.S. citizen who emigrated to the Seattle area several years ago, Frank said. He rented a car and drove to Los Angeles sometime last week, though it was not clear if he knew anyone in the area or why he came to the city.

Investigators did not say if Abdi specifically targeted Congregation Bais Yehuda. A call to the synagogue seeking comment Monday was not returned, and the Seattle Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what, if any, history they had with Abdi.

Frank said Abdis chosen method of attack  driving toward a crowd of pedestrians  and the fact that he was carrying a knife were very concerning. He noted that Abdis actions mirror those of other terror attacks in recent years, where so-called lone wolf assailants have used a rented vehicle rather than a firearm or explosive device to cause carnage in open spaces.

Last November, a man accused of supporting Islamic State extremists used a rented U-Haul truck to kill eight people near a bike path in New York City.

The spate of anti-Semitic attacks have left some in the citys Jewish community fearful.

Matthew Kest, the security coordinator for Young Israel of Hancock Park, said one of his congregants was riding a bicycle to the synagogue earlier this month when a man came up to him and shouted, The Jews wont be around for long.

Kest expressed concern that media coverage of one anti-Semitic attack might motivate other bigots to act on their hate.

Some of the things that they say we shouldnt be doing is releasing the perpetrators name, because they are looking for fame, he said.

james.queally@latimes.com

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT for crime and police news in California.

UPDATES:

4:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details of the incident and comments from Chief Moore.

This article first published at 3:10 p.m.
The Supreme Court long has struggled with the question of when religious symbols on public property violate the 1st Amendments ban on an establishment of religion. But in agreeing to consider the constitutionality of a giant memorial cross at a busy highway intersection in Maryland, the justices could be signaling that they are ready to broadly endorse such displays. That would be a mistake.

The so-called Peace Cross on a traffic island in Bladensburg, Md., near Washington, D.C., was erected after World War I as a memorial to the war dead. It was built with money from the community and the support of the American Legion, but in 1961, it was taken over by a public park and planning commission. Since then it has been maintained with public funds.

The cross is reminiscent of two memorial crosses in California that became embroiled in litigation: one in the Mojave National Preserve and another atop San Diegos Mt. Soledad. Lawsuits over those monuments were settled when the land on which they stood was acquired by private parties. The Peace Cross, by contrast, is on public property.

The court should recognize that exalting a symbol of a single faith on public property violates the 1st Amendment.

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Ruling in a challenge brought by the American Humanist Assn., the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the Peace Cross violates the 1st Amendment because it has the primary effect of endorsing religion and excessively entangles the government in religion.

Writing for the majority, Judge Stephanie Dawn Thacker wrote: The Latin cross is the core symbol of Christianity. And here, it is 40 feet tall; prominently displayed in the center of one of the busiest intersections in Prince Georges County, Md., and maintained with thousands of dollars in government funds. The cross, she wrote, says to any reasonable observer that the Commission either places Christianity above other faiths, views being American and Christian as one in the same, or both.

In dissent, Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory argued that the cross was constitutional because a reasonable observer would regard it not as an endorsement of Christianity but rather as a war memorial. Gregory also disputed the majoritys claim that the cross involved an unconstitutional entanglement of church and state. He said there was no evidence the parks commission consulted with churches to determine who would have access to the memorial.

Whos right? The Supreme Court has sent such mixed signals about the display of religious symbols on public property that the same decisions were cited by both the majority and the dissent on the appeals court. And even when justices have agreed on the result, they have offered different explanations.

In 2005, when the court upheld the display of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the Texas state Capitol, Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote an opinion for four members of the court emphasizing that having religious content or promoting a message consistent with a religious doctrine does not run afoul of the Establishment Clause.

But the fifth member of the majority, Justice Stephen Breyer, emphasized that the Ten Commandments were part of a display that also communicated a secular message. Noting that the Texas display had stood for 40 years without being challenged in court, he also worried that a court ruling dismantling it might create the very kind of religiously based divisiveness that the Establishment Clause seeks to avoid.

One might say the same of the Peace Cross. But, unlike the Ten Commandments, which are revered by Jews and Christians (and by some nonbelievers who see them as containing universal ethical precepts), the cross is a distinctively Christian symbol.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

In 2010, in a case involving the Mojave cross, Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote that a Latin cross is not merely a reaffirmation of Christian beliefs. It is a symbol often used to honor and respect those whose heroic acts, noble contributions, and patient striving help secure an honored place in history for this nation and its people.

Kennedy has retired, but supporters of separation of church and state worry that his successor, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, might also be receptive to the argument that a cross is not primarily a Christian symbol.

The appeals court majority got it right. As Thacker powerfully pointed out: Even in the memorial context, a Latin cross serves not simply as a generic symbol of death, but rather a Christian symbol of the death of Jesus Christ. At a time when America is becoming more religiously diverse, the court should recognize that exalting a symbol of a single faith on public property violates the 1st Amendment.

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Our democracy just won the trophy for Most Improved: The 49.4% voter turnout this month was higher than any midterm election in a century. But once we finish patting ourselves on the back, we need to look at the numbers again to take stock of whats missing: half of the eligible voters in the United States.

Were never going to see 100% voter turnout. But when half of the electorate is abstaining, we install elected officials who dont necessarily represent the majority opinion. We cant vote the bums out if we dont vote.

Writ large, the electoral choices were pretty stark. Would President Trump continue to govern with little check on his actions? Would the U.S. save health coverage for preexisting conditions? Stop imprisoning migrants seeking asylum? Take action on climate change or gun violence? More than half of eligible voters didnt record an opinion.

In California, where same-day registration makes it easy to cast a ballot, voters were weighing in on housing costs, water infrastructure, the governorship and congressional representatives. Still, of the 25.6 million Californians eligible to vote, 13 million sat on the sidelines.

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Of the 25.6 million Californians eligible to vote, 13 million sat on the sidelines.

Texas had a budding Democratic superstar challenging a former GOP presidential candidate in a $90 million Senate race. Outreach efforts were Herculean. The Beto ORourke campaign knocked on nearly 2 million doors and made more than 8.5 million phone calls to potential voters. ORourke told Rolling Stone, What we are doing is the bar-none largest grassroots registration, and contact, and conversation, and turnout operation that youve seen in the state of Texas. Ever. And yet, with 46.1% turnout, almost 10 million eligible Texans did not vote.

In Florida, where contests for governor and senator were so close they ended in a recount, turnout was better: 54.3%. Still, 6.9 million voters abstained.

Smarting from 2016, Rock the Vote, Vote.org, and other nonprofits and PACs used texts, social media, clever campaigns and partnerships to disseminate information about how to register and vote. Celebrities amplified the message to young people. Taylor Swift took a stand on social media. Rihanna wrote on Instagram, Who is awake this morning? And whos woke? Cause today is an extremely crucial day to the future of America!!! Today is the last day in 14 states to REGISTER TO VOTE Voting became cool, but still two-thirds of those 18 to 29 didnt heed the call.

Increasing turnout among young people is a conundrum: Research shows those contacted directly by candidates or other outreach campaigns are more likely to vote, but campaigns understandably focus their efforts on likely voters, not first-timers. Two-thirds of this age group were never contacted, according to researchers at Tufts University.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

Outreach to the Latino community did a little better. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent $30 million on reaching Latino voters this cycle. Voto Latino and other groups helped register voters. Univision, the largest media company serving the U.S. Spanish-speaking audience, launched Vota Conmigo (Vote With Me). Early voting figures showed Latino voter participation up 174% compared with 2014 midterms, according to the DCCC. A quarter of those voters in 2018 said they were participating in a midterm election for the first time. Its a step.

It doesnt make sense to simply blame apathetic citizens. In a Pew Research Center survey a month before this election, 91% of respondents said voting was important. At the same time, only 73% said it was convenient and 70% said it was straightforward. And sure enough, those concerns played out across the country. Some states dont allow early voting. Precincts were closed in some urban areas, or closed early, or ran out of ballots, or gave voters a hard time when their signatures werent an exact match. Machines were broken. Wait times could be hours long. Some potential voters were misinformed or confused about state-by-state ID requirements.

There is more work to do to make voting more accessible. The states with the highest turnout included two predominantly vote-by-mail states  Colorado (61.9%) and Oregon (61.3%)  so convenience certainly makes a difference. But even in perennial high-turnout Minnesota (64.3% this year), 1.4 million people out of 4 million eligible didnt vote.

The United States has long professed the merits of democracy around the world, but we need to do better ourselves. Truly, we should aspire to rank among the top in turnout in the field of developed countries run by democracy. Belgium delivered 90% turnout in its last election (but voting is compulsory there). Sweden (where voting is optional) had a turnout this year of 87%.

Of course, those countries are many, many times smaller than the U.S., and their populations are more homogeneous. But having 80% or more eligible voters cast a ballot is a reasonable goal for us. For the U.S. to deserve a Democracy trophy, and not just Most Improved, we must aim higher. Yes, more than 116 million voted, but almost 120 million didnt.

Amy Eskind is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook
One of the proudest days of my life was Dec. 16, 2015, when I became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

I shed tears of joy as I swore allegiance to the United States at the Los Angeles Convention Center, along with more than 3,000 other new Americans. I was celebrating a country that had welcomed me with open arms, treated me as one of its own and opened doors I hadnt known existed. Just a few years before, in the remote village in southern Italy where I grew up, this would have been unimaginable.

Another of my proudest moments came just a year later, when I was awarded a coveted position in the U.S. Department of Justice. This happened in late November 2016, a few weeks after President Trump was elected.

Like many, I harbored reservations about Trump. But I did not waver in my enthusiasm for the job. In law school, l had learned about the role of civil servants as nonpolitical government employees who work across administrations  faithfully, loyally and diligently serving the United States under both Republicans and Democrats.

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I couldnt stand by, or be complicit in, a mean-spirited and unscrupulous campaign to undermine the everyday work of the Justice Department.

I was designated an attorney-advisor and assigned to the Los Angeles immigration court. There, I assisted immigration judges with legal research, weighed in on the strengths and weaknesses of parties arguments and often wrote the first drafts of judges opinions.

Soon enough, however, the work changed. In March 2018, James McHenry, the Justice Department official who oversees the immigration courts as head of the Executive Office for Immigration Review, announced a mandate imposing individual quotas on all the judges. Each judge would be required to decide 700 cases per year, he said.

With these new quotas, which went into effect on Oct. 1, immigration judges must now decide between three and four cases a day  while also reviewing dozens of motions daily and keeping up with all their administrative duties  or their jobs will be at risk.

The announcement of the quotas in March was the first in a series of demoralizing attacks on immigration judges this year. In May, Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, since fired by Trump, personally issued a decision that placed limits on the ability of immigration judges to use a practice known as administrative closure, which allows judges to put cases on indefinite hold, and which, in immigration cases, can be a tool for delaying deportation orders.

The Justice Department enforced the decision in July by stripping an immigration judge in Philadelphia of his authority in scores of cases for continuing to use administrative closure.

All this was in addition to a barrage of disparaging comments made directly by the president. In June, Trump tweeted that there is no reason to provide judges to immigrants. He also rejected calls to hire more immigration judges, saying that we have to have a real border, not judges and asking rhetorically, Who are these people?

The demoralizing effect on immigration judges was palpable. Morale was at an all-time low. I was new to civil service, but these judges, some of whom have served continuously since the Reagan administration, made clear that this was an unprecedented attack on the justice system.

Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion 

Ive long admired the independence and legitimacy that the judiciary enjoys in the United States, so I found the attacks on judges deeply disturbing and troubling. They reminded me of Trumps Italian alter-ego, Silvio Berlusconi, who spent most of his tenure as Italys prime minister fighting off lawsuits by delegitimizing and attacking the judiciary, calling it a cancer of democracy and accusing judges of being communist.

I voiced my concerns to my supervisors and directly to Director McHenry in a letter. Seeing no opportunity to make a positive difference and unwilling to continue to lend credence to this compromised system, I submitted my resignation in July, explaining my reasons in a letter.

This was not how I wanted to end my career in government. I had hoped to serve this country for the long haul. But I couldnt stand by, or be complicit in, a mean-spirited and unscrupulous campaign to undermine the everyday work of the Justice Department and the judges who serve in our immigration courts  a campaign that hurts many of my fellow immigrants in the process.

Gianfranco De Girolamo was an attorney at the Department of Justice from 2017 to 2018.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
After 20 months of negotiations and more than four decades of membership, it ultimately took just one hour for European Union leaders to agree to the terms of Britains Brexit divorce deal.

Declaring it a moment of deep sadness, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European leaders appeared somber at the conclusion of their Brussels summit on Sunday. But they reiterated the message that British Prime Minister Theresa May has been hammering home for days: This is the best deal that Britain is going to get.

This is the deal, Juncker said. It is the best deal possible and the European Union will not change its fundamental position when it comes to this deal.

Sundays meeting of EU leaders brought an end to the often-fraught negotiations that began in March 2017 after Britains vote in a divisive June 2016 referendum to leave the bloc.

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I think we managed to make a diplomatic piece of art, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said of the deal.

The nearly 600-page withdrawal agreement lays out in intricate detail how Britain will extricate itself from the remaining 27-member bloc. It includes a nearly $50-billion divorce bill that Britain must pay to the European Union, and it secures the rights of the more than 3 million EU citizens living in Britain and 1 million British nationals living in Europe.

It also ensures that there will be no hard border for goods between Ireland, which will remain a EU member, and Northern Ireland, which will leave the bloc along with the rest of Britain, even if future trade talks stall.

Throughout the negotiations, the issue involving the Irish border proved to be the most contentious amid fears that creating any sort of checkpoint could put a strain on the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which brought peace to Northern Ireland after decades of conflict.

A separate 26-page political declaration also sets out what Britain and the EUs future trade and security relationship will look like, although the document is not legally binding.

Negotiations on the post-Brexit relationship will begin in earnest after Britain formally leaves on March 29, 2019. After that date, Britain will still have to follow EU regulations and will remain within the single market until the end of December 2020, when a deadline has been set for a future trade deal.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, right, with EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Nov. 25, 2018, in Brussels. (John Thys / AFP/Getty Images)

As the Brexit withdrawal deal was approved Sunday, May was wished luck by many EU leaders for the next hurdle she faces: getting Parliament to approve it, which is by no means guaranteed. Indeed, this negotiated settlement appears to have left no one in Britain satisfied.

Die-hard Euroskeptics feel that it keeps Britain too tied to the European Union and that leaving without any deal would be better than what is on offer. They want to sever all ties with the EUs bureaucratic system and think Britain would flourish if it was allowed to be independent and able to forge trade deals with whatever country it chooses.

Ardent remainers, meanwhile, still passionately do not want to leave the EU at all; a campaign for a second referendum on EU membership  a so-called peoples vote  has gathered steam in recent months.

Organizers behind the movement say that the public was asked to vote for Brexit based on hypotheticals and that now that an agreement is in writing, Britons should be able to decide whether to approve the deal or keep the status quo.

Despite voting remain herself, May is adamant that a second referendum is off the table and would be a disaster for democracy.

She took on the unenviable task of leading a divided country through the Brexit process when her predecessor, David Cameron, resigned after staking his political career on campaigning to remain.

As the country reeled from the vote, May emerged, promising together we will build a better Britain that worked for the many, not just the privileged few.

But the path has been rocky.

Her Conservative Party is fiercely divided over the Brexit issue.

Each time talks with EU negotiators hit a deadlock or it appeared as if Britain might crash out of the bloc without any deal whatsoever, the value of the pound plummeted in an ominous forewarning of what could lie ahead.

Since the terms of the Brexit agreement became known two weeks ago, May has faced threats of a leadership challenge, Cabinet resignations  including by Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab  and heated debates in Parliament.

On Sunday, Mays critics again lined up to denounce her once again. Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called the deal the worst of all worlds and said his party would vote against it.

Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon also called on Parliament to reject it, saying a better alternative should be considered.

And the Democratic Unionist Party, which Mays Conservative Party depends on for a parliamentary majority, has also expressed concerns about the so-called backstop plan that will guarantee no border will emerge between Ireland and Northern Ireland if a trade deal cannot be reached.

May has promised to put the deal to lawmakers for a vote before Christmas, describing it as one of the most significant votes that Parliament has held for many years.

On the eve of Sundays summit, the prime minister took the unusual step of penning a letter to the nation, which was published in all major British newspapers. In it, she pleads for public support and says leaving the EU next year will be a moment of renewal and reconciliation for our whole country.

It must mark the point when we put aside the labels of Leave and Remain for good and come together again as one people, she wrote.

Her strategy is clear: If she can turn the tide of public support in her favor, she hopes, lawmakers will be compelled to follow suit. She has taken part in two radio phone-ins in recent days and will spend the next few weeks traveling the length and breadth of the country trying to sell her deal.

If May fails and she cannot get her divorce agreement through Parliament in December, what lies ahead is the great unknown.

Brexit could be the undoing of a second British prime minister, but there are few politicians who would eagerly step into the void. Calls for a second referendum would undoubtedly gather renewed pace, but it is unclear if the country could stomach another bruising vote.

Aiming her comments directly at her colleagues in Westminster after leaving the Brussels summit Sunday, May said: The British people dont want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit. They want a good deal that fulfills the [referendum] vote and allows us to come together again as a country.

The deal on the table, the prime minister believes, is as good as it is going to get.

Boyle is a special correspondent.
Egypts Minister of Defence Mohamed Zaki left Cairo on Saturday for Sudan to hold important discussions with top officials in Sudan.

The visit aims to support aspects of cooperation and military relations between the armed forces of both countries, as well as discuss a number of issues of bilateral interest.

The talks will include conditions across the African continent in light of military cooperation between the armed forces, especially in the fields of training and the transfer and exchange of experience in a number of fields.

The visit will also include discussions on the efforts exerted to face challenges which aim to undermine security and stability of the region in light of threats faced by both countries on an Arab and African level.

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A winter storm blanketed much of the central Midwest with snow on Sunday at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing blizzard-like conditions that grounded hundreds of flights and forced the closure of major highways on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Its going to be messy, said Todd Kluber, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service who is based in suburban Chicago.

With much of the central Plains and Great Lakes region under blizzard or winter storm warnings, about 1,200 flights headed to or from the U.S. had been canceled as of Sunday evening, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

Most were supposed to be routed through Chicago or Kansas City, Mo.  areas forecast to be hit hard by the storm.

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Strong winds and snow created blizzard conditions across much of Nebraska and parts of Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. The National Weather Service was warning that those conditions would make travel difficult in places.

By midday, the blizzard warning was extended to parts of eastern Illinois near Chicago, where snow is forecast to fall at a rate of about 2 inches an hour.

Other parts of the central Plains and Great Lakes region were under a winter storm warning that could see a foot or more of snow dumped in some places by the end of the day.

In eastern Nebraska, part of Interstate 80 between Lincoln and Omaha was closed Sunday morning because of multiple accidents after snow blanketed that area. That included semitrailer trucks jackknifed across the highway. It was reopened by Sunday afternoon.

In Kansas, Gov. Jeff Colyer issued a state of emergency declaration. The action came as a large stretch of Interstate 70, spanning much of the state, was closed between Junction City and WaKeeney.

in Missouri, a portion of Interstate 29 was shut down near the Iowa border.

As much as a foot was expected in Chicago. Four to 6 inches of snow was expected in the Kansas City area. Forecasters predict more than a foot of snow is likely in southeastern Nebraska, northeastern Kansas, northwestern Missouri and southwestern Iowa.

By Monday morning, the storm was expected to hit parts of northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

Kluber said that the storm was expected to hit the Chicago region Sunday night and that rain will give way to heavy snowfall and near whiteout conditions that will make for dangerous travel.
The Supreme Court sounded open Monday to letting Apple stand trial in a civil suit alleging the maker of iPhones uses monopolistic power to unfairly profit from the sale of third-party apps offered on the devices.

The justices heard arguments in a potentially significant antitrust case that could determine whether other leading names in online shopping are also vulnerable to claims that they wield monopoly power in their market.

Lawyers for Apple, backed by the Trump administration, urged the justices to toss out a long-running antitrust claim filed in Northern California by several iPhone customers. The company relied heavily on a 1970s-era Supreme Court precedent that held that a manufacturer can be sued as a monopoly only by direct purchasers such as a wholesaler, not by a consumer who buys from a retailer.

But they ran into skeptical questions from the justices  both liberal and conservative  who said that rule seemed badly out of date at a time when online shoppers buy products from popular and dominant websites.

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This is a closed loop, Justice Sonia Sotomayor told a lawyer for Apple. It is dramatically different from when a manufacturer sold to a wholesaler, who sold to a retailer, who in turn sold to the consumer. Then it was hard to figure who, if anyone, was paying an unfair price. By contrast, an iPhone customer who buys an app is the first purchaser, she said, and the cost includes a 30% commission to Apple.

Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who taught antitrust law before becoming a judge, said it looked to be a simple case of a monopoly because iPhone customers can buy apps only through Apples App Store.

At times during the hourlong argument, Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr., Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh questioned the 1970s economic theory that blocked most antitrust suits against alleged price-fixing schemes that involved manufacturers and wholesalers.

U.S. Solicitor Gen. Noel Francisco, in support of Apple, said the court should hold the line and not permit antitrust suits to go forward based on a pass through theory that holds a dominant company liable for allegedly higher charges imposed by a retailer. In its brief, Apple said it operated like a shopping mall, where retailers set up a shop and sell to customers. Under this approach, Apples lawyers said, it is not fair to hold the company responsible for the prices charged by the retailer.

But Justices Elena Kagan and Kavanaugh took apart that theory. When you look at the relationship between the consumer and Apple, there is only one step, Kagan said. I pick up my iPhone. I go to Apples App Store. I pay Apple directly with the credit card information that Ive supplied to Apple. From my perspective, Ive just engaged in a one-step transaction with Apple.

Francisco disagreed. Apples monopolistic over-charge is not the direct cause of higher prices, he said The direct cause of the higher prices is the app makers decision to increase their prices.

How do we know that, Kavanaugh said, given that Apple really operates as a retailer in many respects here, as Justice Kagan points out? How do we know that the 30% charge is not affecting the price?

Kavanaugh also pointed to the words of the key antitrust law, which says any person injured may bring a claim. And the complaint in this case was brought on behalf of purchasers of apps who alleged they paid too much because of Apples control of the app store.

The outcome in Apple vs. Pepper is being closely watched because it could open the door to other anti-monopoly suits against platforms like Amazon.

The justices will not decide whether Apple must pay damages. At issue now is only whether the antitrust suit against Apple can proceed to further hearings and a trial on whether Apple wields monopoly power. If the high court rules against Apple early next year, the case would go back to a federal court in Oakland.

The suit began in 2011, and a federal judge ordered it dismissed on the grounds that purchasers of iPhone apps had no antitrust claim against Apple. But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 3-0 opinion, revived the claim and allowed the suit to proceed on the theory that Apple acted as a distributor with monopoly power over the sale of its apps.

Much of corporate America has joined in support of Apple and argued that such broad antitrust claims should be blocked at the starting gate.

During Mondays argument, only Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. argued for throwing out the claim. He has been steadily opposed to open-ended, class-action suits against corporations, and the Apple suit could ultimately have tens of millions of plaintiffs.

It will be several months before the justices hand down a ruling in the case.

The latest from Washington 

More stories from David G. Savage 

david.savage@latimes.com

Twitter: DavidGSavage

UPDATES:

2:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from the justices.

This article was originally published at 9:35 a.m.
On Sunday, about a dozen engineers and scientists gathered in the mission control room at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They listened intently through headsets while training their eyes on a curving wall of monitors to follow the progress of the InSight spacecraft as it made its final approach to Mars.

Had it received their message through 90 million miles of cosmic nothingness?

It had. Just before 2 p.m., InSight fired its thrusters and banked a hair to the southwest.

It would be a few more hours until the members of the InSight team would learn that their maneuver had worked as planned. Even so, the group gathered in La Canada Flintridge breathed a collective sigh of relief.

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We are going to hit Mars, no matter what, said JPLs Bruce Banerdt, the principal investigator for the InSight mission.

But thats not the goal. Banerdts team had been tweaking the spacecrafts trajectory throughout its winding, 300-million-mile game of interplanetary tag in hopes of guiding InSight to a carefully selected landing spot.

Its sort of like curling, he said. The stones moving on the ice, and we are sweeping at this point.

RELATED: NASAs InSight lander is about to touch down on Mars, and you can follow live right here 

A simulated view of NASAs InSight lander kicking up dust as it lands on the Martian surface. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

If the team nudges InSight just right, the lander will touch down around noon Monday on Elysium Planitia, a vast, featureless expanse of ancient lava a few hundred miles north of where the Curiosity rover landed in 2012. There, it will do something no previous mission has managed: Peer inside the red planet.

Armed with an arsenal of specialized instruments, InSight will take Mars temperature, monitor its seismic activity and investigate the nature of its core. Scientists hope the results will not only answer their questions about Mars, but about how planets in general work  how they form and evolve over time, and how deep geologic processes determine whether the surface of a planet might be habitable.

Thats what we need to be able to extrapolate from Mars to exoplanets, said geophysicist Suzanne Smrekar, the deputy principal investigator for the mission.

But before the science gets underway, the InSight team must pull off the equivalent of a gold medal curling match.

InSights interplanetary journey got off to a fine start when it launched from Californias Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 5.

InSight lifts off on May 5 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. (NASA/Cory Huston)

RELATED: Apollo missions to the moon set the stage for InSights mission to Mars 

The cruise has been going so smooth, Banerdt said. Its really been almost eerie.

His team even skipped one of the previous scheduled trajectory correction maneuvers. They didnt need it.

Still, Banerdt cant help feeling nervous about the complex choreography that comes next, even if its nothing new.

InSight will follow the same entry, descent and landing procedure as NASAs Phoenix lander, which safely touched down near the Martian north pole in 2008. Were not inventing anything this time, Banerdt said.

An illustration of NASAS Mars InSight spacecraft as it travels through the Martian atmosphere en route to its landing site in Elysium Planitia. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

On Monday morning  JPL time  the capsule containing the InSight lander will prepare for arrival by swinging its broad base toward the planets surface. The Martian atmosphere may be thin, but it will produce enough friction to heat the spacecrafts protective shield to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit, and to slow it from a cruising speed of 12,300 mph to a mere 850.

Thats when InSights giant parachute will deploy. Though the move has worked on many previous Mars missions, Banerdt still worries about the potential for a mishap.

At supersonic speeds, there are things in that regime that we dont quite completely understand, he said. And a parachute is a piece of cloth, for goodness sake.

A simulated view of NASAs InSight lander descending towards the surface of Mars on its parachute. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Next, the lander will discard its fried heat shield and stretch its three robotic legs for the first time in its long journey. Then, it will use radar to sense its altitude  another heart-stopping moment for the InSight team.

If the radar doesnt ever see the ground, then theres no way for the lander to know when to slow down, Banerdt said.

When InSight reaches an altitude of a few thousand feet, it will ditch the shell covering its precious payload. Finally, it will fire 12 retrorockets mounted on its underside, slowing the lander to approximately 5 mph so it can descend to the surface of Mars like a commuter stopping at a red light.

Just a touch faster than a curling stone coming to rest on Olympic ice.

InSights retrorockets will help the lander slow down as it approaches the Martian surface. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Banerdt and the crew at JPL intend to track InSights progress throughout the entry, descent and landing with the help of two experimental briefcase-size satellites that have accompanied the spacecraft on its mission. If these fail to relay signals for any reason, the team will get final confirmation of InSights arrival when sensors on the landers legs trigger a high-frequency beep, detectable by giant radio antennas on Earth.

Then the real work can begin.

InSight will operate for 728 days, a bit more than one Martian year, and perhaps longer (if NASAs long-lived orbiters and rovers are any guide).

Who knows what well find, Smrekar said. Itll be fabulous.

For Banerdt, the excitement began to build a few weeks ago, when the team started rehearsing for landing. It felt pretty real at that point, he said.

On Monday, the team will find out if they hit their target.
Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we shake our head at the size of the fields in Del Mars two stakes on Sunday.

Saturdays surprising news on the firing of Michael Wrona as track announcer at Santa Anita is certainly the buzz of the local racing world. He was popular with most, but some found his style of packing plenty of extra information into a race call as more than they wanted.

Tim Ritvo , the chief operating officer of the Stronach Group, told The Times on Sunday, It was not an easy decision. It was very, very hard to tell him. Hes a nice guy. It was strictly a business decision.

We had discussed it earlier during the meet, with Mikes contract about to end, Ritvo said. The team strategized about things and thought a different direction was the better avenue. Nothing against Mike and his calling abilities. We were looking for a fuller experience, someone who will be in front of the people more. We wanted to give Mike the respect of telling him before anything was announced.

Wrona did reach out to the Times late Saturday, saying he wasnt up for talking as my head is spinning and my gut wont stop churning. During his tenure, he was classy and friendly and, certainly, everyone wishes him the very best.

As we wrote on Sunday, speculation has Frank Mirahmadi on the short list for the job. He is a Southern Californian who left a good gig at Oaklawn to audition for the Santa Anitas job when Wrona got it 2016. Mirahmadi currently calls for Aqueduct and Monmouth. Other announcers at Stronach tracks that may have been talked about but were probably unlikely to come, were Pete Aiello at Gulfstream, Dave Rodman at Laurel and Pimlico and Matt Dinerman at Golden Gate.

(If the announcement comes before the next newsletter on Thursday, check latimes.com/sports for who the next announcer will be. Ill also have it on my twitter account @jcherwa)

Ritvo may take some heat over this move and be painted as an autocrat, and there is no doubt he has opinions on every aspect of how the track should be run. But, when you look at his first year as the hands-on guy at Santa Anita, he has not been an ax-wielder, preferring to make most of his changes in process and procedure to increase the tracks productivity.

Wronas firing and whoever replaces him will have absolutely no impact on if people will come to, or bet on, the track. This is just a case of Ritvo wanting to go in a different direction.

Ritvo came on the scene as a change agent, saying everything was on the table. He even said he was considering three-day racing. Many executives were fearful of their jobs, but most are still there.

Keith Brackpool , the former chairman of the track, left amid litigation with the Stronach Group. Joe Morris , who functioned as the general manager was fired, mostly because he and Ritvo were doing the same job.

But he has essentially kept his vice presidents the same. He has the same simulcast and ADW director, the same director of racing, same chief lawyer, same broadcasting director, who has added XBTV to her portfolio, and the same marketing manager.

Instead, Ritvo has instituted programs to grow the horse population, added a low takeout pick four, scrapped the traditional pick six for a low cost bet whose sole purpose is to lead to a giant mandatory payout day and he has made other small betting changes.

He has tried changing post times on Sunday and changed back when it didnt work. The track switched to a large format program, instead of the pocket-sized one for the fall meeting, and it was mostly panned by the racegoers.

There is a minority that like it, Ritvo said. But Im getting more complaints from people who hate it. We just wanted to get more people involved in handicapping by looking at past performances.  I wish we could do them both.

Ritvo has promised new barns and battled with trainers over stall space. He tried to strong-arm the CHRB, successfully, but thats mostly about Northern California. He has endured questionable stewards rulings, none of which were in his purview, but nonetheless soured customers.

Hes also truly the man in the middle, in litigation between founder Frank Stronach and his daughter and chief executive, Belinda Stronach , over control of the company. Thats a tough job for even the most adept politician. Add to that, hes trying to find a palatable way to move the Preakness from Pimlico to Laurel, unless Pimlico is completely rebuilt, but not on Stronachs dime.

Last years Dec. 26 opening day, his first running the track day-to-day, did not go well. A shortage of mutuel clerks angered bettors. There were other glitches that soured the on-track experience. In a month, the track gets another chance and were guessing things will be better.

As year two approaches, it seems as if hes looking at the people through which the customers consume the sport. In addition to Wrona being let go, the on-camera talent at XBTV, an arm of Stronach owned Xpressbet, was reduced as well as one of the paddock inter-track hosts.

 Amy Zimmerman is now charge of XBTV and she wanted to restructure for a different format with the cooperation of the marketing team, Ritvo said. It was Amys decision on the direction, and the shift in what we are doing. Were trying to figure out how we coordinate XBTV and the simulcast shows across the country by integrating the on-air hosts. We were a little talent [announcer] heavy and thats how it went.

But, Ritvo will remain in the hot seat, not for any personnel moves, but being charged with making this giant piece of real estate as profitable as possible. One way or another, that will be his legacy.

Me, as usual. Apologies to Bob Ike for listing his Sunday pick as being SA instead of DMR. But, Im guessing you folks figured that out. Had SA on the brain on Saturday.

Two decent stakes races and only eight horses. Thats combined. Both races. The Grade 3 $100,000 Native Diver Stakes, a 1 1/8 mile race I was looking forward too, turned into a travesty when three of the six horses scratched. You knew Kershaw would scratch because he ran on Saturday.

It was a good stretch drive between Battle of Midway and Dabster as Isotherm was content to collect purse money for third, or last. Still, match races are tactical, and, frankly boring. Battle of Midway won by a neck for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Flavien Prat . He paid $3.20 to win. Goes to say there was no place or show wagering. The $1 exacta paid $1.90. The .50 cent trifecta paid $1.10.

They made us work for it, Prat said. [Battle of Midway] does better with a target, but we had a three-horse field, so what are you going to do. He ran well, though, and got it done.

In the Grade 3 $100,000 Cecille B. DeMille Stakes for 2-year-olds going a mile on the turf, the favorite Flying Scotsman ran second until midway in the far turn and won easily by 4  lengths. It was the same winning connections of Hollendorfer and Prat in this one, too.

Hes done very well since weve had him, Hollendorfer said. Usually I like to sprint them twice, but he didnt seem to like that so we put him at a mile the second time out and he liked that. Since then hes trained very well and looks like a pretty good prospect. He rated perfectly today and he had a great trip. I think well stay on the grass with him in the future, if thats possible.

Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Cant beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you dont like it, then youre probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up . Remember, its free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com . You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

Del Mar Charts Results for Sunday, November 25. Copyright 2018 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, California. All finishes confirmed by Plusmic USA. Official program numbers may not correspond with post position. 11th day of a 16-day meet. Clear & Fast

FIRST RACE. 1 Mile. Purse: $28,000. Starter Allowance. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $12,500. Time 23.72 48.25 1:13.58 1:26.60 1:40.31

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Sweet Treat 119 5 1 11 1 12 12 1 Figueroa 3.20 2 Tizway That Way 124 2 3 31 33 2 21 2 Quinonez 1.30 7 Ipray 124 7 6 4hd 41 42 31 35 Bejarano 6.90 1 Princess Kendra 124 1 4 51 53 52 52 42 Fuentes 9.20 6 DHLea's Reward 124 6 5 22 21 31 41 515 Blanc 3.70 3 DHPrincess Leia 124 3 7 6hd 63 68 68 515 Pereira 11.60 4 Fellina 117 4 2 7 7 7 7 7 Fuentes 85.30

5 SWEET TREAT 8.40 4.20 3.40 2 TIZWAY THAT WAY 3.00 2.40 7 IPRAY 3.40

$1 EXACTA (5-2) $15.20 $2 QUINELLA (2-5) $12.80 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-2-7-1) $10.82 50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-2-7) $20.40

WinnerSweet Treat B.m.5 by Candy Ride (ARG) out of Sweet and Savory, by Storm Cat. Bred by Pam & Martin Wygod (KY). Trainer: Doug F. O'Neill. Owner: Besecker, Joseph E. and O'Neill, Doug. Mutuel Pool $143,317 Exacta Pool $63,480 Quinella Pool $3,215 Superfecta Pool $34,060 Trifecta Pool $44,702. Scratchednone.

SWEET TREAT had speed off the rail then angled in, set the pace inside, inched away again on the second turn, came out into the stretch, drifted out some from the whip in the lane and held. TIZWAY THAT WAY stalked inside, came off the rail on the backstretch, went outside a rival on the second turn, came three deep into the stretch and continued willingly late. IPRAY chased three wide then outside a rival or off the rail, also came three deep into the stretch and went on willingly in the late stages. PRINCESS KENDRA saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and into the stretch and lacked a rally. PRINCESS LEIA broke slowly, pulled her way along off the rail and steadied in tight into the first turn, chased outside a rival or off the inside, came out into the stretch and lacked a further response to share fifth. LEA'S REWARD stalked off the rail, bid outside the winner a half mile out, tracked that one again on the second turn, angled to the inside nearing the stretch and weakened. FELLINA between horses early, fell back a bit off the rail, gave way and was eased in the stretch.

SECOND RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $56,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $62,500. Time 23.32 47.64 1:11.68 1:23.33 1:34.60

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 6 Perfectly Majestic 120 6 2 42 41 41 31 1nk Van Dyke 1.60 4 Blackout 120 4 3 31 32 31 1hd 2 Prat 3.10 5 Eckersley 120 5 6 61 61 61 51 32 T Baze 8.00 1 Maestro Dearte 120 1 5 51 5 5hd 62 4hd Smith 3.70 7 Dreams of Valor 122 7 1 21 21 22 2 5 Maldonado 14.80 2 Any Questions 120 2 7 7 7 7 7 61 Bejarano 13.40 3 Sawyer's Hill 120 3 4 11 11 1hd 41 7 Pedroza 8.50

6 PERFECTLY MAJESTIC 5.20 3.20 2.40 4 BLACKOUT (FR) 3.60 2.80 5 ECKERSLEY 3.40

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-6) $31.80 $1 EXACTA (6-4) $8.70 $2 QUINELLA (4-6) $9.20 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (6-4-5-1) $12.22 50-CENT TRIFECTA (6-4-5) $19.20

WinnerPerfectly Majestic Ch.g.6 by Majesticperfection out of Skatesheba (FR), by Green Tune. Bred by Brereton C. Jones (KY). Trainer: Peter Miller. Owner: David A Bernsen, LLC, Rockingham Ranch and Littlefield, Chad. Mutuel Pool $231,290 Daily Double Pool $45,383 Exacta Pool $116,234 Quinella Pool $4,137 Superfecta Pool $39,874 Trifecta Pool $64,024. Scratchednone.

PERFECTLY MAJESTIC chased a bit off the rail then outside a rival, came out four wide into the stretch, bid outside foes in midstretch then alongside the runner-up under urging and got up nearing the wire. BLACKOUT (FR) stalked just off the inside, came three deep into the stretch, took a short lead between foes in midstretch and fought back inside the winner to the wire. ECKERSLEY in a bit tight just after the start, settled outside a rival, came out into the stretch and finished well. MAESTRO DEARTE saved ground chasing the pace to the stretch and lacked the needed rally. DREAMS OF VALOR had speed three deep then angled in and stalked just off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter leaving the second turn to take the lead into the stretch, fought back inside foes in midstretch and weakened late. ANY QUESTIONS saved ground off the pace, came out into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. SAWYER'S HILL had speed inside then inched away and set the pace along the rail, dueled inside leaving the second turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong.

THIRD RACE. 1 1/8 Mile. Purse: $100,000. 'Native Diver Stakes'. 3 year olds and up. Time 23.60 47.93 1:12.11 1:37.28 1:50.23

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 4 Battle of Midway 125 1 1 1 21 1hd 1hd 1nk Prat 0.60 6 Dabster 121 3 2 21 1hd 23 215 226 Talamo 1.10 5 Isotherm 121 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 Franco 8.10

4 BATTLE OF MIDWAY 3.20 6 DABSTER 5 ISOTHERM

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (6-4) $10.60 $1 EXACTA (4-6) $1.90 $2 QUINELLA (4-6) $2.20 50-CENT TRIFECTA (4-6-5) $1.10

WinnerBattle of Midway B.c.4 by Smart Strike out of Rigoletta, by Concerto. Bred by Thor-Bred Stables, LLC (KY). Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer. Owner: Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm LLC. Mutuel Pool $123,423 Daily Double Pool $25,147 Exacta Pool $30,549 Quinella Pool $1,719 Trifecta Pool $14,777. ScratchedGift Box, Kershaw, Roman Rosso (ARG). 50-Cent Pick Three (5-6-4) paid $13.10. Pick Three Pool $48,052.

BATTLE OF MIDWAY taken off the rail on a slim early lead, angled in a bit off the fence on the first turn, regained the advantage into the second turn, angled to the inside on that turn and held on gamely through a long drive under urging. DABSTER prompted the pace outside the winner, put a head in front on the backstretch, fought back alongside that one on the second turn and through the stretch and went gamely to the end. ISOTHERM pulled his way along to stalk the pace off the rail, dropped back into and on the second turn, came out some in the stretch and was not persevered with in the drive.

FOURTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $33,000. Maiden Claiming. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $80,000-$70,000. Time 23.59 49.30 1:14.35 1:26.41 1:38.28

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 6 Weekly Call 122 5 8 71 71 5hd 41 1nk Franco 3.50 1 Carbon Zero 122 1 6 61 51 4 2hd 2 Desormeaux 3.50 3 You Must Chill 122 2 2 1hd 2 1 11 3 Fuentes 6.60 7 Salah 122 6 7 8 8 7 5hd 41 Prat 7.20 8 Surprise Fashion 122 7 4 5hd 6hd 8 8 51 Delgadillo 10.00 4 Fortnite Dance 122 3 1 31 3hd 31 3 6 Van Dyke 2.60 9 Indy Jones 122 8 3 4hd 41 61 6 72 Quinonez 42.00 5 Gleyber 122 4 5 22 1hd 2hd 7hd 8 Bejarano 8.10

6 WEEKLY CALL 9.00 5.40 3.40 1 CARBON ZERO 4.00 3.00 3 YOU MUST CHILL 4.40

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (4-6) $20.00 $1 EXACTA (6-1) $28.10 $2 QUINELLA (1-6) $22.60 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (6-1-3-7) $64.05 50-CENT TRIFECTA (6-1-3) $66.75

WinnerWeekly Call B.c.2 by Will Take Charge out of Summer Soiree, by War Front. Bred by Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY). Trainer: Doug F. O'Neill. Owner: Zedan Racing Stables Inc. Mutuel Pool $293,422 Daily Double Pool $20,800 Exacta Pool $139,254 Quinella Pool $5,231 Superfecta Pool $69,973 Trifecta Pool $96,116. ScratchedKnight's Cross. 50-Cent Pick Three (6-4-6) paid $6.30. Pick Three Pool $31,522.

WEEKLY CALL bumped between horses after the start, angled in on the first turn, chased insider then between foes on the second turn, swung four wide into the stretch, rallied under urging and got up three wide late. CARBON ZERO saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch, bid between horses in deep stretch to put a head in front and was edged late. YOU MUST CHILL dueled inside, regained the advantage into the second turn, inched clear in the stretch, fought back inside in the final furlong and held third. SALAH bumped between horses early, chased off the rail then a bit off the fence leaving the backstretch, came out three deep into the stretch, angled inward in midstretch, advanced inside in the drive then went outside a rival late to just miss the show. SURPRISE FASHION came in and was bumped early, chased between horses then outside a rival, swung four wide into the stretch and was outfinished. FORTNITE DANCE stalked a bit off the rail, bid three deep between horses then three wide on the second turn, was fanned four wide into the stretch, drifted in and weakened some in the final furlong. INDY JONES stalked three deep, bid four wide a half mile out, fell back some on the second turn, was fanned five wide into the stretch and weakened. GLEYBER dueled outside a rival then between foes leaving the backstretch and on the second turn, drifted three wide into the stretch and weakened.

FIFTH RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $18,000. Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $8,000-$7,000. Time 22.82 46.43 1:12.14 1:19.07

Pgm Horse Wt PP St   Str Fin Jockey $1 8 Lucky Student 120 7 6 21 21 12 15 Van Dyke 1.70 9 Kristie's Heart 114 8 4 3hd 4hd 4hd 2 Figueroa 6.80 4 Sought More Pep 120 4 1 1 1 23 3 Franco 3.60 3 Swallows Inn Gal 118 3 8 5hd 52 3hd 43 Roman 7.20 1 Resky Business 120 1 3 7 61 62 5 T Baze 11.30 2 Devil's Beauty 113 2 2 4hd 31 51 6 Fuentes 3.80 6 Dressed in Prada 120 5 7 62 71 78 723 Quinonez 34.10 7 Honor Maker 120 6 5 8 8 8 8 Harvey 25.80

8 LUCKY STUDENT 5.40 3.40 2.80 9 KRISTIE'S HEART 5.20 4.20 4 SOUGHT MORE PEP 3.00

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (6-8) $34.00 $1 EXACTA (8-9) $14.80 $2 QUINELLA (8-9) $16.60 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (8-9-4-3) $28.60 50-CENT TRIFECTA (8-9-4) $28.00

WinnerLucky Student Ch.m.8 by Game Plan out of Corissa's Birthday, by Half Term. Bred by Academic Farms (CA). Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer. Owner: Hollendorfer, LLC, Team Green LLC and Todaro, George. Mutuel Pool $197,159 Daily Double Pool $26,420 Exacta Pool $107,006 Quinella Pool $4,326 Superfecta Pool $54,741 Trifecta Pool $76,523. ClaimedSought More Pep by Bill Dory. Trainer: Dallas Keen. ClaimedDevil's Beauty by A and J Racing and Tsujimoto, Stuart. Trainer: Vann Belvoir. ScratchedLovely Linda. 50-Cent Pick Three (4-6-8) paid $15.70. Pick Three Pool $36,108. 50-Cent Pick Four (6-1/2/3/4-6-5/8) 4 correct paid $26.95. Pick Four Pool $164,666. 50-Cent Pick Five (5-6-1/2/3/4-6-5/8) 5 correct paid $289.55. Pick Five Pool $457,323.

LUCKY STUDENT angled in and pressed the pace outside a rival, took the lead into the stretch, kicked away and won clear under urging and steady handling late. KRISTIE'S HEART stalked four wide then three deep on the turn, came out four wide into the stretch and edged rivals late for the place. SOUGHT MORE PEP had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail then inside on the turn and into the stretch and just held third. SWALLOWS INN GAL broke a bit slowly, was in a bit tight early, stalked between horses, came out three deep into the stretch and was edged for the show. RESKY BUSINESS saved ground chasing the pace throughout and lacked the needed rally. DEVIL'S BEAUTY stalked the pace inside, came out into the stretch and weakened. DRESSED IN PRADA bobbled at the start, stalked between horses then chased outside a rival on the turn and also weakened. HONOR MAKER settled outside then off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and gave way.

SIXTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $100,000. 'Cecil B. DeMille Stakes'. 2 year olds. Time 23.02 46.92 1:11.48 1:23.01 1:34.44

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 6 Flying Scotsman 120 5 5 23 22 21 11 14 Prat 1.00 2 Rijeka 120 2 3 4 5 31 33 2 Desormeaux 4.30 3 Vantastic 120 3 1 11 12 1 21 35 Smith 2.40 1 Takeo Squared 120 1 4 5 3hd 4 4 4 Bejarano 4.80 5 Sayin Grace 120 4 2 3hd 4hd 5 5 5 Van Dyke 20.40

6 FLYING SCOTSMAN 4.00 2.80 2.10 2 RIJEKA (IRE) 3.60 2.80 3 VANTASTIC 2.40

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (8-6) $10.00 $1 EXACTA (6-2) $7.30 $2 QUINELLA (2-6) $10.40 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (6-2-3-1) $2.06 50-CENT TRIFECTA (6-2-3) $7.65

WinnerFlying Scotsman Ch.r.2 by English Channel out of Padmore, by French Deputy. Bred by Calumet Farm (KY). Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer. Owner: Calumet Farm. Mutuel Pool $259,455 Daily Double Pool $23,212 Exacta Pool $93,559 Quinella Pool $4,371 Superfecta Pool $39,371 Trifecta Pool $60,999. ScratchedIrish Heatwave. 50-Cent Pick Three (6-8-6) paid $15.80. Pick Three Pool $50,609.

FLYING SCOTSMAN angled in and stalked a bit of the rail, bid outside the pacesetter on the second turn, took the lead in upper stretch and drew clear under urging. RIJEKA (IRE) saved ground chasing the pace, tugged his way up inside leaving the backstretch, came out for room into the stretch and edged a rival for the place. VANTASTIC sped to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the rail then inside, fought back along the fence leaving the second turn, was not a match for the winner in the final furlong and was edged for second. TAKEO SQUARED taken out into the first turn to stalk three deep, continued outside the runner-up on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and weakened. SAYIN GRACE stalked outside a rival then between foes on the first turn and backstretch, fell back and angled in on the second turn and also weakened.

SEVENTH RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $53,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies. 2 year olds. Time 22.65 46.25 58.30 1:10.59

Pgm Horse Wt PP St   Str Fin Jockey $1 9 Qahira 120 9 1 31 22 13 14 Van Dyke 1.30 10 Slewgoodtobetrue 120 10 2 51 52 31 25 Smith 3.40 1 Bizwhacks 120 1 3 2hd 1hd 21 32 Gutierrez 4.20 2 Claudelle 120 2 4 6 6hd 53 41 T Baze 10.90 4 Posit 120 4 5 4 3 43 51 Quinonez 14.60 8 Tizwellwithmysoul 120 8 7 8hd 81 83 65 Prat 15.30 7 Fight Night 120 7 6 1hd 4hd 6 7nk Talamo 61.20 5 To the Morning 120 5 10 7hd 72 71 8 Bejarano 26.80 6 Happy Tune 120 6 8 91 92 92 9 Blanc 18.20 3 Suprema 120 3 9 10 10 10 10 Desormeaux 34.10

9 QAHIRA 4.60 3.20 2.60 10 SLEWGOODTOBETRUE 3.20 2.60 1 BIZWHACKS 3.20

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (6-9) $9.80 $1 EXACTA (9-10) $6.80 $2 QUINELLA (9-10) $7.20 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (9-10-1-2) $5.85 50-CENT TRIFECTA (9-10-1) $11.50

WinnerQahira B.f.2 by Cairo Prince out of Motel Lass, by Bates Motel. Bred by Nekia Farm & Hunter Valley Farm (KY). Trainer: Bob Baffert. Owner: Baoma Corporation. Mutuel Pool $283,964 Daily Double Pool $32,619 Exacta Pool $131,330 Quinella Pool $6,159 Superfecta Pool $74,794 Trifecta Pool $99,378. Scratchednone. 50-Cent Pick Three (8-6-9) paid $8.90. Pick Three Pool $39,117.

QAHIRA had speed outside then dueled three deep, battled outside a rival leaving the turn, took the lead into the stretch and drew clear under some urging and steady handling late. SLEWGOODTOBETRUE stalked four wide then outside on the turn and three deep into the stretch and was clearly second best. BIZWHACKS went up inside to duel for the lead, battled inside on the turn, came a bit off the fence into the stretch and bested the others. CLAUDELLE chased a bit off the rail, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. POSIT close up stalking the pace a bit off the rail to the stretch, weakened in the drive. TIZWELLWITHMYSOUL chased outside on the backstretch and turn, came three deep into the stretch and lacked a further response. FIGHT NIGHT had good early speed a bit off the rail, dueled between horses, fell back some leaving the turn and weakened. TO THE MORNING broke slowly, went up between horses then angled in and chased inside and weakened in the stretch. HAPPY TUNE broke a bit slowly, chased between foes, angled in some on the turn and had little left for the stretch. SUPREMA a bit slow to begin, settled inside, came out on the turn and into the stretch and gave way.

EIGHTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $54,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. Time 23.89 47.93 1:11.27 1:23.13 1:35.10

Pgm Horse Wt PP St    Str Fin Jockey $1 8 The Hunted 120 6 7 2hd 21 1hd 13 11 Cruz 1.90 3 Acclimate 117 3 5 31 31 3hd 2hd 21 Figueroa 3.40 1 Hot Perfection 122 1 6 8 8 8 7 3 Quinonez 29.20 2 Push Through 120 2 2 61 6 5hd 41 4 Franco 3.10 7 Shaymin 120 5 8 71 73 62 5hd 51 Gutierrez 11.50 4 Six Point Rack 122 4 3 4hd 43 41 61 6 T Baze 6.80 10 Duke of Fallbrook 122 8 1 51 5hd 71 8 71 Fuentes 103.50 9 Carville 122 7 4 11 11 21 3hd 8 Pereira 6.90

8 THE HUNTED 5.80 3.80 2.80 3 ACCLIMATE 4.20 3.60 1 HOT PERFECTION 10.00

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (9-8) $12.20 $1 EXACTA (8-3) $10.30 $2 QUINELLA (3-8) $10.40 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (8-3-1-2) $72.70 50-CENT TRIFECTA (8-3-1) $79.70 $2 CONSOLATION DOUBLE (9-5) $4.20

WinnerThe Hunted Ch.g.3 by Unusual Heat out of Lethal Hunter, by Jade Hunter. Bred by M. Auerbach, L.L.C. (CA). Trainer: Richard Baltas. Owner: M. Auerbach LLC, Ciaglia Racing LLC and Little Red Feather Racing. Mutuel Pool $341,289 Daily Double Pool $32,542 Exacta Pool $145,454 Quinella Pool $5,266 Superfecta Pool $77,423 Trifecta Pool $93,681. ScratchedElwood J, Jet Set Ruler. 50-Cent Pick Three (6-9-8) paid $11.80. Pick Three Pool $41,432. 50-Cent Consolation Pick Three (6-9-5) paid $2.30.

THE HUNTED angled in and stalked outside a rival, bid alongside the pacesetter on the second turn, took a short lead leaving that turn, inched away into the stretch, kicked clear under some urging, drifted in a bit in midstretch then drifted out some in the final furlong and held. ACCLIMATE pulled along the inside early then saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and finished willingly. HOT PERFECTION settled off the pace inside, came out leaving the second turn and into the stretch, split rivals in the drive and got up for third outside a foe late. PUSH THROUGH saved ground stalking the pace, continued inside in the stretch and was edged late for the show. SHAYMIN broke a bit slowly, chased outside a rival, swung four wide into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor share. SIX POINT RACK pulled between horses then stalked outside a rival, came three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. DUKE OF FALLBROOK chased three deep then outside a rival on the backstretch, angled in on the second turn and did not rally. CARVILLE had speed outside foes then angled in and set the pace inside, dueled along the rail leaving the second turn and weakened in the drive.

NINTH RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $18,000. Maiden Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $20,000. Time 22.54 45.92 58.53 1:11.52

Pgm Horse Wt PP St   Str Fin Jockey $1 10 Littlebitamedal 122 8 7 3hd 2 12 13 Pereira 3.60 4 Iron Curtain 124 4 3 41 44 3 24 Quinonez 5.40 7 Moon Juice 122 6 8 2 31 46 32 Franco 5.30 6 Jonas 117 5 4 82 63 64 41 Fuentes 40.70 9 Astonishing Tweet 117 7 2 11 11 2hd 51 Figueroa 2.50 11 Malachim 124 9 6 71 52 5hd 64 Cruz 26.30 2 Sought Bai 122 2 5 6hd 8hd 7 7 Fuentes 2.90 3 Mikeys Glory 124 3 9 9 9 88 829 Vergara, Jr. 39.70 1 Fleetwood 112 1 1 5hd 7 9 9 Tellez 26.10

10 LITTLEBITAMEDAL 9.20 4.60 3.40 4 IRON CURTAIN 5.80 3.40 7 MOON JUICE 3.40

$2 DAILY DOUBLE (8-10) $30.60 $1 EXACTA (10-4) $21.20 $2 QUINELLA (4-10) $26.20 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (10-4-7-6) $66.98 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (10-4-7-6-9) $1,509.30 50-CENT TRIFECTA (10-4-7) $44.00

WinnerLittlebitamedal Dbb.c.3 by Violence out of Littlebitabling, by Carson City. Bred by Angie Gail Moore (MD). Trainer: Art Sherman. Owner: Akin, Zvika, Caples, Mika, Gumina, Jilda, Harkins, Robert, Myers, Gordon, Myers, Jeannetta Louise, S. Mutuel Pool $263,710 Daily Double Pool $83,274 Exacta Pool $135,482 Quinella Pool $5,400 Superfecta Pool $99,693 Trifecta Pool $110,052. ScratchedSpanish Bay, Thefourfortyfourth. $2 Pick Six Jackpot (6-5/8-4/6-9-5/6/8-10) . Pick Six Jackpot Carryover $155,879. 50-Cent Pick Three (9-8-10) paid $31.15. Pick Three Pool $104,186. 50-Cent Consolation Pick Three (9-5-10) paid $8.00. 50-Cent Pick Four (4/6-9-5/6/8-10) 4 correct paid $52.55. Pick Four Pool $566,060. 50-Cent Pick Five (5/8-4/6-9-5/6/8-10) 5 correct paid $157.75. Pick Five Pool $383,382. $2 Pick Six (6-5/8-4/6-9-5/6/8-10) 5 out of 6 paid $22.00. $2 Pick Six (6-5/8-4/6-9-5/6/8-10) 6 correct paid $1,523.40. Pick Six Pool $169,744. $1 Place Pick All 9 correct paid $159.20. Place Pick All Pool $21,733.

LITTLEBITAMEDAL stalked outside then four wide into the turn, bid three deep into the stretch, took the lead in upper stretch, kicked clear under urging, drifted to the inside in the final sixteenth and held sway. IRON CURTAIN close up stalking the pace a bit off the rail, angled in on the turn, came out into the stretch and bested the others. MOON JUICE stalked between horses then off the rail on the turn, angled to the inside nearing the stretch, came back out in upper stretch and picked up the show. JONAS chased off the rail, went outside a rival on the turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. ASTONISHING TWEET sped to a clear early lead, angled in and set the pace a bit off the rail, drifted to the inside in the stretch and weakened. MALACHIM chased outside then off the rail on the turn, came a bit wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. SOUGHT BAI stalked between horses then a bit off the rail, went three deep leaving the turn and into the stretch and had little left for the drive. MIKEYS GLORY broke a bit slowly, settled just off the rail, angled in leaving the turn and also had little left for the lane. FLEETWOOD saved ground chasing the pace, dropped back on the turn, was between horses a quarter mile out and gave way.
Cyber Monday is predicted to be the biggest online shopping event of the year, and airlines are doling out deals too. Check airline websites Monday for flash sales and other offers. Heres how some of the Cyber Monday discounts stack up so far.

More points for air miles: Several airlines will give you more than the usual points for dollars spent e-shopping at selected sites. Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have Web pages featuring partner retailers and the deadline for accruing extra points.

Air New Zealand: Los Angeles travelers can fly in economy seats round-trip from Los Angeles to London starting at $455, Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, from $545, Auckland, New Zealand, from $775, and Sydney, Australia, from $725.

Book starting Monday at Air New Zealand.

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Alaska Airlines: The carrier is offering discounted fares across 475 city pairs. Prices for economy seats start at $39 each way for some destinations. Here are some sample one-way sale airfares from Los Angeles: $49 to San Francisco, $69 to Seattle, $99 to Chicago, $119 to Boston and $119 to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Book starting Monday through Nov. 28 at Alaska Airlines.

Allegiant: The no-frills airline will offer up to 40% off airfares on all routes. Its also offering triple upgrades on rental cars and a third free night on vacation packages.

Book Monday only at Allegiant.

Air France: The airline promises reduced airfares to Europe that are good for travel between Jan. 16 and March 15.

Book through Nov. 28 at Air France.

Cathay Pacific: Save up to 60% on economy seats for flights between Los Angeles and Asia. Good for travel between Jan. 1 and May 15. Also, travelers can take $1,000 off business-class seats and $500 off premium economy seats by using the promotion code HOLIDAY.

Book by Nov. 27 at Cathay Pacific.

CheapOair: The online travel airfare seller shows deals on several international carriers, including Fiji Airways. Sample round-trip airfares from Los Angeles: $678 to Sydney, Australia; $687 to Wellington, New Zealand; and $725 to Nadi, Fiji. Travel dates vary.

Book at CheapOair through Nov. 27.

Delta Air Lines: Delta wasnt saying as of Sunday night what airfare discounts will be like. But the airlines Cyber Monday landing page says: From saving on flights abroad or booking that domestic flight at a discount, were here to help you save more on Cyber Monday. Go to Delta for details.

Expedia: The online travel retailer is offering some discount coupons for flights, hotels and vacation packages from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. PST Monday. Heres a sampling of coupons that will refresh every hour: Coupon 1, $100 off $200 flights and Coupon 2, 90% off in the Expedia App. Other coupons will be offered for hotels and vacation packages.

Book at the Expedia website or app until 11:59 p.m. PST Monday.

Fiji Airways: Fiji Airways launched a 48-hour sale that takes 56% off economy seats on flights between Los Angeles and Fiji. Round-trip tickets start at $729 between L.A. or San Francisco, and Fiji, and $749 to Australia or New Zealand. The offer is good for travel between Feb. 1 and May 31, and Sept. 1 and Nov. 10.

Book at Fiji Airways through Nov. 27.

Singapore Airlines: The airline is discounting airfares to Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Germany and other destinations.

Book Monday before Nov. 28 at Singapore Airlines.

Wow Air: The Iceland-based no-frills carrier is offering up to 40% all flights to all destinations. You have to use the promotion code WOWCYBERMONDAY and travel between now and April 2019.

Book Monday through Nov. 28 at Wow Air.

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Twitter: @latimestravel
Ukraine imposed martial law Monday in parts of the country subject to Russian aggression, ratcheting up tensions after a high-stakes clash between Russian and Ukrainian ships on the Black Sea near Crimea.

The measure passed by an overwhelming margin in parliament after President Petro Poroshenko said that Ukrainian intelligence services had uncovered evidence of a looming Russian ground offensive  a prospect that could plunge the two neighbors into open war.

Russia has been waging a hybrid war against our country for five years, Poroshenko said in an address to the nation. But with an attack on Ukrainian military boats, it moved to a new stage of aggression. This is a bold and frank participation of regular units of the Russian federation. This is a qualitatively different situation, and qualitatively different threat.

(Los Angeles Times)

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Poroshenko claimed to be holding intelligence documents showing the threat of a Russian land offensive against Ukraine but did not release any such materials or elaborate.

The incident seemed to play into a propaganda war being waged between the two countries, which had been the two biggest republics in the former Soviet Union.

Russias Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, pointed the finger at the Ukrainian president and hinted, without evidence, that the clash in the Kerch Strait was a provocation aimed at raising the public image of Poroshenko at home.

Literally the whole basis of the politics of Poroshenko and his regime is a provocation, Zakharova posted on her Facebook page.

Poroshenko earlier on Monday had announced a proposal for a 60-day period of martial law, but Ukrainian lawmakers appeared to scoff at the prospect amid concerns that the measure could be used to postpone Ukraines presidential election, scheduled for March 31. Poroshenko, whose approval ratings have plummeted recently, is at risk of losing reelection.

According to Ukrainian law, martial law prohibits elections and limits many civil liberties. Later Monday, Poroshenko offered the parliament a second proposal  the one that passed  calling for a 30-day period of martial law that would allow the presidential campaign to begin unaffected.

Martial law does not mean the declaration of war, Poroshenko said. It is introduced solely for the purpose of strengthening Ukraines defense against the background of growing aggressiveness from Russia.

Martial law will take effect Wednesday, but what it will look like is still unclear. The measure that passed imposes martial law in areas bordering Russia and Transnistria, a Russian-controlled area of Moldova. Poroshenkos decree is broad in scope, but he said it would not be used to infringe on any of Ukraines democratic institutions, such as a free press or upcoming elections. At the least, martial law would allow the Ukrainian government to allocate more funds to the military.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko leads the National Security and Defense Council meeting in Kiev, the capital, on Nov. 25, 2018. (Mykhailo Markiv / Presidential Press Service)

The emergency measures follow an incident Sunday on the Black Sea in which Russian coast guard vessels fired on and captured three Ukrainian naval vessels and their 23 crew members. The boats and their crews are being held in Kerch, a city in Russian-controlled Crimea. Poroshenko has called for their immediate release.

The incident marked the most serious crisis between Russia and Ukraine in several years and has drawn a slow but steady procession of condemnations from European leaders who have called for de-escalation. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has called for the release of the Ukrainian boats and sailors.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, delivered a stern message Monday to the U.N. Security Council, calling Russias behavior an outrageous violation of Ukraines sovereignty and calling on the Kremlin to back down.

RT @USUN: This is no way for a law-abiding civilized nation to act. Impeding Ukraines lawful transit through the Kerch Strait is a violation under international law. It is an arrogant act that the international community must condemn and will never accept.  Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) November 26, 2018

Asked about Russias actions, President Trump told reporters he was not happy about it. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo also condemned the Russian move.

Britain, France, Germany and five other European nations issued a statement at the U.N. reaffirming their recognition of Ukraines borders and calling for de-escalation. Like most of the international community, they refuse to recognize Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea.

A clash between the Russian coast guard and Ukrainian navy on the Black Sea has, in many ways, been a long time coming.

When Ukraines Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia, many feared that Moscow would make a push to seize swaths of the countrys eastern territories lining the Sea of Azov, providing a land bridge with easy access to the Kremlins new territory. But that never happened, and the war in eastern Ukraine eventually settled down into an uneasy stalemate.

Meanwhile, tensions have continued to flare in and around the Kerch Strait. In 2015, Moscow began construction of a $3.7-billion bridge spanning 12 miles of the strait to connect Crimea to mainland Russia. As construction progressed, Moscow began asserting itself as the local traffic authority and in the last year has stopped dozens of Ukrainian fishing boats.

A ship beneath a Russian-built bridge blocks passage to the Kerch Strait in Crimea on Nov. 25, 2018. (Associated Press)

The Kerch Strait is a vital economic artery for Ukrainian cities along the Sea of Azov coast. There is no other way into the sea, and the strait sees a lot of commercial shipping. Ukraine also has naval bases along the coast, including one at Mariupol  a major industrial center a stones throw from the Russia-controlled breakaway region of Donetsk.

Officially, the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov are internal waters shared by Russia and Ukraine, according to a 2003 bilateral treaty. Neither body of water is governed by international maritime law.

The 2003 treaty was not rescinded after Moscows annexation of Crimea, a territorial claim that is not recognized by Ukraine or the United Nations. But Moscow appeared to be altering the deal on Sunday, when the Russian coast guard attempted to stop three Ukrainian navy boats that were en route from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

The situation began to escalate when a Russian ship rammed one of the Ukrainian vessels, a tugboat, damaging its engine. Hours later, closer to the entrance to the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard opened fire on the three Ukrainian navy boats, damaging two of them and injuring six Ukrainian sailors. The boats were then boarded and seized. Pictures published by Russian media Monday show the boats tied up to a dock in Kerch.

Russia took other measures to ensure the boats wouldnt enter the strait. Hours before firing on the Ukrainians, the Russian coast guard moved a tanker into position below the bridge crossing the strait, blocking all traffic on both sides. Russia reopened the strait to traffic on Monday. So far there has been no official statement from Moscow on the 2003 treaty governing the strait.

Rather, Moscow has focused on painting the incident as a Ukrainian provocation. The Kremlin on Monday said that it believed the incident was orchestrated by Kiev to force Russias hand. Dmitry Kiselyov, a popular talk show host seen to exemplify the Kremlin line, said on his Sunday night news program that Poroshenko was trying to pick a fight with Russia.

Without his order, nothing like this would have happened, Kiselyov said. Poroshenko has already established himself as a proponent of war. By going to war with Russia on the Black Sea, he apparently hopes to improve his ratings.

Poroshenko has been running a reelection campaign under the slogan of Army. Language. Faith.

Moscow is paying close attention to Ukraines upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, and Sundays incident may have been part of the Kremlin playbook to destabilize Ukraine ahead of the vote, said Nina Jankowicz, a global fellow at the Wilson Centers Kennan Institute, a Washington-based think tank.

Its good old-fashioned election interference by Russia, Jankowicz said.

No matter what happens, Russia has nothing to lose in this scenario, she said. Moscow gains economically, militarily and politically unless there is a strong international response, Jankowicz said. Meanwhile, Ukraine is destabilized ahead of elections.

Russias timing of the incident also benefits the Kremlin: European leaders are distracted by the Brexit talks, and in the U.S., Trump has focused on the migrant caravan on the Mexican border and the transition in Congress.

Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to cross paths at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina this week.

Special correspondents Bodner and Ayres reported from Moscow and Washington, respectively.

UPDATES:

5:55 p.m.: This article has been updated with comments from Zakharova, Trump and Jankowicz and other details.

12:25 p.m.: This article has been updated with Nikki Haleys comments.

11:55 a.m.: This article has been updated with Parliament approving martial law.

11:05 a.m.: This article has been updated throughout with staff reporting.

This article was originally posted at 8:30 a.m.
Using tweezers with pointed tips, Mohamed Yosri slowly lifts a tiny bead from a petri dish of beads and examines whether its one that came off the partially disintegrated textile in front of him. He then reattaches it using a thermoplastic resin adhesive.

Yosri, one of 100 specialists in 17 labs at the conservation center of the new Egyptian national museum under construction, is restoring the colorful and intricately beaded fabric that tops a wooden footstool more than 3,000 years old. It was found in Luxor nearly a century ago in the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamen.

The footstool is one of about 4,000 artifacts from Tutankhamens tomb that have been transferred to the museums state-of-the-art laboratories in preparation for the planned opening in 2020 of what the museums director-general, Tarek Tawfik, says will without doubt be the museums most important collection.

Grand in size, cost and ambition, as well as name, the Grand Egyptian Museum, or GEM, just down the road from the Great Pyramids of Giza, is due to be the biggest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization, where, for the first time, all of the approximately 5,000 artifacts from Tutankhamens tomb will be showcased.

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Only a third of the treasures, including the boy kings funerary mask, have ever been on public display at the current national museum in central Cairo, known as the Egyptian Museum.

Some things with the artifacts of King Tut in the Egyptian Museum were not right, and we have taken them to restore, said Ahmed Sheikha, a conservator in the new museums organic materials lab.

Pharaonic statues and artifacts at the Grand Egyptian Museums conservation center in October 2018. (Jonathan Rashad / For The Times)

Problems with lighting, temperature and humidity  considered essential for preservation  have caused damage to many precious artifacts in the Egyptian Museum.

The damage was apparent on some of Tutankhamens most famous pieces, including his golden chariot. In the wood lab, conservator Gilan Mahmoud points to the back of the chariot, inlaid with blue, turquoise and orange stones, where, she said, there also used to be leather.

This is why we have transferred most of the organic material from the [Egyptian] Museum to the Grand Egyptian Museum and to the National Museum of Civilization, in Cairos Fustat district, as they are most sensitive to environmental conditions, Tawfik said.

The 116-year-old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square is often criticized for resembling a storeroom. A botched attempt by museum workers to repair Tutankhamens funerary mask with glue, when his beard was accidentally knocked off, made global headlines in 2014 and opened the museum to international ridicule.

But the building is an artifact in itself, Tawfik said, and will continue to exhibit collections.

What remains at the Tahrir museum are mostly stone and pottery artifacts, which are much less sensitive to damage, he said.

The new museum in Giza will show that Egypt is up to its role to provide the right and suitable archaeological environment to protect these artifacts for the future, Tawfik said. The ambitious plans call for an interactive experience focusing on the discovery of Tutankhamens tomb by a team led by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. Museum officials are also asking that the British Museum hand over the Rosetta Stone, on display in London for more than two centuries.

Construction continues on the Grand Egyptian Museum, down the road from the Great Pyramids of Giza. (Jonathan Rashad / For The Times)

Visitors keen to view the museums 100,000 artifacts, or seeking a sweeping view of the pyramids from the buildings glass facade, must wait two years before it actually opens.

Though the idea for a new national museum was conceived 18 years ago, the project has faced numerous delays. Plans for a partial opening this year were scrapped by Egypts political leadership in favor of a grand opening in 2020, according to Tawfik. The opening had previously been expected to be in 2022.

The cost too has soared to $1.1 billion, which is mostly financed by two loans from the Japanese government.

At a time when many ordinary Egyptians are financially squeezed, is the new museum too lavish an expense?

Tawfik doesnt think so.

This is a landmark; it is a place to protect Egypts heritage, which is an important part of humankind heritage, he says. And looking at it from this aspect, this is not lavish at all.

The project also appears to have broad support among international colleagues, says British archaeologist and Egypt specialist Nigel Hetherington.

There will always be critics of any sort of visionary plans, but the majority of archaeologists and Egyptologists are excited to see such a grand project come to fruition, he said.

The laboratories and conservation suites at GEM are world-class state-of-the-art facilities, something which Egypt has needed for many years, he added. The painstaking conservation work being carried out on the Tutankhamen collection will help ensure its survival for generations to come.

Islam is a special correspondent.
The Egyptian President's comments came at the opening of the 15th Arab International Mineral Resources Conference, which in Cairo on Monday

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed on Monday the need to protect and manage Egypt's rich mineral wealth for the sake of the present and future generations.



This should proceed as part of an integrated vision to promote the mining system to boost the national economy and raise the industrial potentials of the state to attract investments, he told the 15th Arab International Mineral Resources Conference that opened in Cairo on Monday and is to run for three days.



It must also conform to the goals of Egypt's strategy for sustainable development 2030, El-Sisi said.



Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said President El-Sisi toured the pavilions of the fair held on the sidelines of the conference such as the pavilions of Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.



At the wing of the Egyptian Petroleum Ministry, he was briefed on the nation's mineral wealth investment map, Radi added.

Egypt's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla told the conference attendees that Egypt will shed light on the threats and challenges of informal mining in the Arab world at the 15th International Arab Mineral Resources Conference in Cairo this week.

The three-day conference is being attended by a number of Arab officials, including Saudi Arabias Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khaled Al-Faleh, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit, Egypts Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal, and the Egyptian ministers of investment and planning.

The conference is being chaired this year by El-Molla, who took over the presidency of the conference from Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources Khaled Al-Faleh.

El-Molla added in his speech at the conference that there will be challenges in the coming two years to boost investments in the mineral resources sector.

Through cooperation we will be working on a long-term strategic plan as well as training to overcome the threats of informal mining, he said.

The Egyptian minister also highlighted the importance of petroleum resources, saying that they had contributed to a 15 percent increase in Egypts GDP.

Al-Faleh told attendees that Saudi Arabia and Egypt share strong ties, and also share the same a common vision of the economic, political, mineral and security fields in terms of bilateral cooperation.

Saudi Arabia is the second largest Arab country investing in Egypt, with total investments worth $27 billion, according to the Egyptian investment ministry.

The Saudi Arabian minister also announced the efforts made over the past two years which aimed at increasing investments in the mineral resources field in the Arab world.

The aim of the three-day conference, titled "Mining, investment and economic development in the Arab world, is to discuss mining prospects and to promote investment opportunities in the field.

Egypt first hosted the biennial event in 1999, the seventh conference.

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Thiruvananthapuram : State Water Resource Minister Mathew T Thomas on Monday handed over his resignation letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The move came after the party leadership asked Mathew T Thomas to quit to pave the way for Chittor legislator K Krishnankutty to assume the post of Water Resource Minister in the state.

However, Thomas said that some propaganda against him and his family, calling for him to be removed from the post, had hurt him and said this type of attitude was not good for left politics. Thomas has represented Tiruvalla assembly constituency for the last three terms

The JD(S) had last week handed over a letter to CM Vijayan regarding the party's decision to replace its cabinet nominee Mathew T Thomas.The Swearing in ceremony will be held on Tuesday
Washington : The United States on Monday announced a USD 5 million reward for the information in connection with any country or individual who committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 2008 Mumbai attack.

America announced the reward on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10-Pakistan based LeT terrorist went on a shooting rampage in India's Financial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity.
PTT opens 145th gas station in Philippines

posted November 26, 2018 at 07:05 pm by Alena Mae S. Flores November 26, 2018 at 07:05 pm

PTT Philippines, the local unit of Thailands largest oil and gas company PTT Public Co. Ltd., recently opened its 145th station in the country and its fourteenth in Metro Manila. PTT Philippines also bared its new service station in PTT Baesa (the Thai oil firms sixth station in Quezon City), combining the flame logo design with PTT Station wordings highlighted in dark and light blue colors. PTT Philippines president and chief executive officer Sukanya Seriyothin said the change in service station logo was part of the transition in PTT management of its oil business from PTTPLC to PTT Oil & Retail Business Co. The new design was not a total depart from our original station logo that had the flame and the PTT acronym beside it, Seriyothin said.The transfer of assets has began from PTTPLC to PTTOR in preparation for the planned initial public offering on the Thai exchange next year. Regulations for state-run enterprises in Thailand no longer applies to PTTOR.

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.
Jose Ma. Sison

branded the jointbetween China and the Philippines a clear act of treason by the Duterte administration but acting Chief JusticeThe signing and approval of the memorandum under the direction of Duterte is a clear act of treason, a blatant betrayal of the sovereign rights and national patrimony of the Philippines and the Filipino people, CPP founding chairmansaid in a statement. While it is still arguable that the memorandum is still merely an agreement to agree, the Philippines and the Filipino people must effectively reject the memorandum, he said, because it ignores the countrys legal victory in its arbitration case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016. READ: Joint oil-gas hunt with China illegal, acting chief justice says The document, which was signed during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, also puts China at par with the Philippines, despite its indisputable sovereign rights and sole ownership of and authority over the resources in the West Philippine Sea, Sison said. The Duterte administration, he charged, has done a significant amount of damage to the countrys sovereign rights as the deal would lead China to assume that the Philippines has junked the PCA ruling. To overcome the damage and counter the act of treason, the Philippines and the Filipino people must act immediately to nullify and waste-basket the memorandum. Otherwise, the traitor Duterte and his subalterns will commit more crimes of treason under the rule of confidentiality agreed upon in the memorandum, he said. But Carpio, who has been critical of the administrations actions on the South China Sea, saidin the governments plan for joint exploration and development of natural resources with China in the West Philippine Sea. Carpio said the memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries last week had safeguards to ensure that the sovereignty of the Philippines would not be compromised. I think were pretty safe. The government has included service contractors, so if we cooperate, if the cooperation with China on oil and gas activities will be through service contractors, were very safe, the acting top magistrate said, in an interview. Carpio, a known expert on issues pertinent to the Philippine claims in the South China Sea, explained that a service contract for the joint exploration of gas and oil in contested areas in the SCS could actually boost the countrys rights over its exclusive economic zones in the WPS. I dont have any objection with that kind of arrangement because if China comes in through our service contractors, those service contracts expressly recognize that the area falls within Philippine sovereignty or sovereign rights, he said. Carpio even suggested that the service contractor in the Philippines Recto Bank, otherwise known as Reed Bank, Forum Energy, could tap a Chinese firm as a subcontractor. Businessman Manuel V. Pangilinans PXP Energy Corporation, through its London-listed unit Forum Energy Plc, holds an exploration permit covering Recto Bank. Carpio said China can come in as a subcontractor of Forum Energy or it can buy into equity of Forum Energy, or it could do both. Thats okay because they (Chinese) are coming in to our service contractors, he said. Carpio also said the proposed 60-40 sharing scheme with Beijing in the possible exploitation of resources in WPS could also be pursued for as long as the government can again make sure that the countrys sovereignty would not be compromised. As long as the joint development complies with the Philippine Constitution and there is no waiver of our sovereign rights under the arbitral ruling, I have no objection, he said.Carpio, one of the five Supreme Court justices shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council for the vacant chief justice post, was referring to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in July 2016 in favor of the Philippines against Chinas claims over South China Sea territories. The PCA invalidated Chinas nine-dash line claim to the South China Sea. It also held that Beijing violated its commitment under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in building artificial islands within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. The MOU between China and the Philippines said an inter-governmental joint steering committee and an inter-entrepreneurial working group will be established and will be led by ministries of foreign affairs, as well as energy departments. The Chinese identified China National Offshore Oil Corporation as the Chinese enterprise for each working group, while the Philippines has designated the Philippine National Oil Company-Exploration Corp. as the Philippine enterprise. The MOU was also specific on the timeline of the agreement, stating that the two governments will endeavor to agree on the cooperation arrangements within 12 months. The joint exploration, upon bearing fruit, would pave the way for another cooperation agreement on the exploitation of resources found, according to the same document. But the MOU also specifically stated: This Memorandum of Understanding does not create rights or obligations under international or domestic law. An MOU, unlike a memorandum of agreement or an actual contract, is not yet legally binding on the parties. Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said Cabinet members who signed the 29 deals with China during Xis state visit could face a grilling once the Senate begins floor debates on the 2019 national budget next month. This is to serve notice to department secretaries that the issue of the 29 agreements may crop up in the course of the plenary examination of their budget, Recto said. So be prepared for queries. More so if the agreement binds us to a project which will be financed by loans, enlarges the national debt, or requires large budgetary counterpart requiring yearly appropriations, he said. The price tag of these commitments and the benefits that can be derived must be explained, Recto said. If these are grants and interest-free loans, then the Senate will be advised as well so that we can convey our thanks, said Recto, adding that a senator during the budget debate can focus a powerful spotlight on these agreements. But Senatoron Sunday said it is too early to draw any conclusions or make any comments on the deals because they have not been made public. He added that it was premature and cynical to conclude that the President had surrendered the countrys rights and sovereignty by signing the agreements. The senator also said the MOU with China merely states that two parties are willing to move towards a common direction and a common line of action. Lacson said copies of the agreements have already been sent to Senate President Vicente Sotto III. READ: Lacson snipes at Joma: Ignore him, hes out of touch with Reds
The EAS Congress is an intellectual marketplace to convene partners, collaborators, and stakeholders within and outside the region.

Starting today, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, and culminating on Friday, Nov. 30, the East Asian Seas Congress will convene in Iloilo City. The EAS plays a vital role as an intellectual marketplace to convene partners, collaborators, and stakeholders within and outside East Asia in sharing knowledge and experiences, in discussing trends, challenges, and developments, in building stronger partnerships, and in charting future and sustainable plans for ocean governance in the region. It is hosted by the Government of the Philippines, organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and supported by the Global Environmental Facility, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Provincial and City Governments of Iloilo. In addition, the Congress will have several partnership hub conveners, including the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM), Ocean Policy Research Institute- Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF), International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI), International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), RARE Philippines, Xiamen University, Florida International University, and others. The EAS Congress will celebrate 25 years of the leadership of the PEMSEA in ocean governance for the region. PEMSEA was created with and have lived up to its missionto foster and sustain healthy and resilient coasts and oceans, communities and economies across the Seas of East Asia through integrated management solutions and partnerships. A regional intergovernmental organization based in the Philippines, PEMSEA was funded by the Global Environmental Facility in the early 1990s. Dr. Chua, who is now the Chair Emeritus of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council, hired me to be the legal expert supporting PEMSEA in its earliest years and since then I have been involved with PEMSEA in various capacities, including as the current chair of the Partnership Council. For over two decades, PEMSEA has provided solutions for effective management of coasts and oceans across the shared seas of East Asia. We aim to proactively build effective intergovernmental and intersectoral partnerships and expand the capacities of countries and other stakeholders with innovative, cross-cutting policies, tools, and services for integrated coastal and ocean management. Among others, PEMSEA applies integrated coastal management (ICM) as our primary approach for generating and sustaining healthy oceans, people and economies. PEMSEA was built on partnerships. For over two decades, its Country and Civil Society Partners have worked together, planning and implementing strategies for the sustainable development of coasts and oceans across the region. Eleven governments are our official partners: Cambodia, China, South Korea, North Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. As our Executive Director Aimee Gonzales has pointed out, in June 2017, the United Nations gathered members of the international community to appeal for support in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. At this conference, PEMSEA was recognized as a significant regional body for its role in the East Asian region. PEMSEAs work in scaling up the integrated coastal management in East Asia and partnerships with national and local governments, international organizations, intergovernmental institutions, and other stakeholders were commended as relevant contributions to SDG 14. Carrying the theme, 25 Years of Partnerships for Healthy Oceans, People and Economies: Moving as One with the Global Ocean Agenda, the EAS Congress 2018 is open to a broad range of stakeholders including National and Local Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral projects, international financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, and other stakeholders. We are in Iloilo to share what actions weve taken, what good practices and lessons we can share, not only with each other, but to the rest of the world. The goals we set for ourselves include: (a) Mapping and aligning the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) and other sub-regional and regional strategies and action plans with the SDG 14 targets; (b) Sharing experiences and assessing challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of the SDS-SEA at the regional, national and local levels including innovative policies and technologies, good management practices, and investment opportunities; (c) Building on existing partnerships and achievements and promoting new initiatives, investments and partnerships to accelerate the achievement of national, regional and global targets for sustainable development of oceans and coasts; (d) Tracking blue economy development and growth across the region with the launching of national, sub-regional and regional State of Oceans and Coasts Reports; and (e) Contributing to the planning and development of an ocean investment facility to leverage increased public and private sector investments in ocean-based blue economy development and growth.These are all challenging tasks, but PEMSEA has proven time and again that it is well-equipped and more than capable of doing hard things. Through the years, PEMSEA has forged and strengthened partnerships with and between local and national governments, the academe, regional and global entities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, womens and youth organizations, donor agencies and others. By fostering relationships and engagement at the local level, this bottom-up approach has created real and lasting impacts on the ground, particularly in various ICM sites. Encouraging results on the local front motivate collaborators on the national level to adopt more measures on conservation and sustainability, resulting in better linkages with national government agencies and the utilization of country-specific SDS-SEA plans. The SDGs, in particular, have obvious synergies with the implementation of the SDS-SEA. Five of the 17 SDGs are aligned with what PEMSEA has been working towards. SDG 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities, SDG 13 on Climate Action, SDG 17 on Partnerships and SDG 14 on Life Below Water. PEMSEA countries respond to SDG 14, in particular, by establishing national ocean policy and legislation for the conservation and management of biological diversity, sustainable fisheries, management of habitats and protected areas, and safeguarding rare and endangered species. Efforts from ICM sites and the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments, or PNLG are contributing to all the same five SDGs, particularly to SDG 11 as they continue to implement and promote ICM and blue economy at the local level to promote sustainable cities and communities that are able to provide residents with safe water and sanitation services, climate-smart housing and transportation, and sustainable energy. Through the EAS Congress, as Ms. Gonzales emphasizes, we aim to advance and align our commitment to the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia with the global ocean agenda. Through the 6th Ministerial Forum, according to Ms. Gonzales, we hope to engage ministers and heads of international institutions in a high-level dialogue to tackle persistent and emerging issues and to adopt the regions next five-year plan of action in support of scaling up the implementation of the regions common sustainable development strategy. The EAS Congress 2018 is, of course, a great opportunity for knowledge and experience sharing, partnership building, and collaborative planning with various participants from governments, organizations, the academe, the private sector, youth and women. Among its highlights will be the Fifth East Asian Seas Congress Youth Forum (YF5) which serves as a platform for young leaders to engage in coastal and ocean sustainability. Recognizing the importance of continued and deeper youth engagement in our drive towards sustainable coasts and oceans, the YF5 aims to launch an EAS Youth Programme that enables the youth of the region to contribute to integrated coastal management (ICM) implementation at the local level, provides access to more learning opportunities and empowers youth to serve as ocean champions in their respective universities and communities. Facebook: tonylavs Twitter: tonylavs
Trumps Next Target: World Trade Organization

In the past few months, the Trump White House has started trade wars against its major trade partners, particularly China, and security allies. Without international opposition, the next target will be the World Trade Organization.



As the White House began to escalate the U.S.-Sino trade war last spring, President Trumps trade adviser Peter Navarro was asked on CNN whether the United States is planning to leave the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The controversial advocate of American neo-protectionism known for his China-bashing books and documentaries, Navarro said that a lot of problem has been the World Trade Organization, which is over 160 countries, and a lot of them simply dont like us and so we dont get good results there.When Navarro was asked whether the U.S. will ultimately leave the WTO, he dodged the question saying that it was a provocative question. But it was a fair question.At the turn of the 1930s, Washington opted for the Smoot-Hawley Tariff to re-energize the U.S. economy. In reality, the 1930 Act made the Great Depression even worse paving the way to World War II. In fact, if todays Trump tariffs were to prevail and broaden, they would be at the level of those U.S. tariffs that last prevailed around 1945. With its America First stance, the Trump administration aims to reverse seven decades of world trade expansion in just seven months ().Thats what Trumps trade hawks are after and thats why they are targeting the WTO (which contributed to the dead-end of the recent APEC Summit). The goal is to bury the WTO  or to reform and modernize it into an America First WTO.

Figure How Trump Tariffs Reverse 7 Decades of History in 7 Months







How Obama paved way to Trumps anti-WTO attacks



Ironically, the U.S. was the key architect of the WTO; the 164-member international organization established in 1995 that replaced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was created in 1948. Today, the WTO oversees global trade rules and resolves trade disputes on the basis of international trade law and practices. It covers some 98% of global trade.



In the postwar era, successive rounds of trade liberalization promoted great expansion of trade. As a result, the average most-favored nation applied tariff of WTO members fell from 25% in 1994 to less than 10% today - before the Trump era.



As president, Trump prefers bilateral agreements to exploit US economic might  not multilateral, international cooperation. As a candidate, he already called WTO trade deals a disaster urging the U.S. to renegotiate or pull out from such agreements. Along with the WTO, Trumps trade hawks targeted China. As Trump declared in Iowa in 2016, China is not a market economy. But whats less understood that he built his attack on his predecessors legacy.



Trumps attack against the WTO and China was preceded by the refusal of former President Obama, the EU and Japan to grant China its market economy status (MES) as the key clause in Chinas 2001 agreement to join the WTO expired on December 11, 2016. It is this distortion of market realities which paralleled the Obama-Clinton pivot to Asia - that now fuels Trumps tariff wars and the effort to undermine the postwar international trading regime. Trump has greatly benefited from the decisions of those who now criticize him.



When China joined the WTO on December 11, 2001, it was written into the agreement that member states could treat China as a non-market economy. Due to the size of the Chinese economy, government intervention, and state-owned enterprises, advanced economies argued that Chinese domestic price comparisons must be ignored and constructed values be used to gain a true picture of Chinas economy. Thats why, since the early 2000s, the surrogate figures have permitted wide discretion and manipulation of price data, which was then used as the basis for anti-dumping charges; i.e., tariffs up to 40% higher than normal anti-dumping duties. On the campaign trail, Trump exploited precisely such figures when he pledged he would introduce 45% tariffs against Chinese products.



In the Trump White House, not only China but all emerging and developing economies are potential targets, as evidenced by the Trump administrations criticisms of emerging economies claims of special treatment under WTO rules for developing countries.



The WTO is just the latest, though very symbolic, target of those who see America as a victim of "unfair" trade  in contrast to the historical record.

America First Versus WTO



Setting the scene, the White House has suggested that the U.S. may ignore WTO rulings that are not in its favor, amid alleged concerns that dispute settlement infringes on U.S. sovereignty. It is a curious premise: If every member country of the WTO would opt for a similar approach, a Hobbesian war of all against all would replace international cooperation  in the name of fair trade.



Starting already with the Obama administration, the U.S. has been blocking new appointments to the WTO's Appellate Body (AB), which is responsible for appeals. As more judicial terms are set to expire, AB may no longer meet its quorum after December 2019. The tactic basically exploits WTO to dig its own grave.



Unsurprisingly, the Trump administrations overall approach has sparked questions regarding the future of U.S. leadership and participation in the WTO, as well as the role of Congress in U.S. trade policy. Yet, although unease about the America First world trade is growing, many countries still seek bilateral deals with the U.S. Such opportunism enables the Trump administration to divide and rule over its allies.



In the absence of effective Democratic opposition, a sustained effort by President Trump to withdraw the U.S. unilaterally from the WTO  if legal under U.S. law  would devastate Americas foreign trade and debilitate the WTO. It would certainly accelerate the major U.S. contraction or severe recession that already looms in the horizon. The more global its impact, the greater the likelihood that it will herald the kind of headwinds and horrors that led to the postwar WTO in the first place.



There is a way to defuse such challenges, but that requires unity and cooperation among and between the major advanced and emerging economies  not against America, but with America (most Americans disapprove America First policies).



The world can live without America First supremacy. But the world cannot live without relatively open free trade.

Dr Steinbock is the founder of the Difference Group and has served as the research director at the India, China, and America Institute (USA) and a visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more information, see http://www.differencegroup.net/

 2018 Copyright Dan Steinbock - All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

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100 years ago, the world was shaken by the October Revolution. We rightly celebrate this heroic act as the first instance of workers power in history. But how exactly did the Bolsheviks and the working class exercise a power never-before wielded by the proletariat? What problems did they face  economic, administrative, political and military, from within and outside Russia  and how did they meet them? Derek Gunby provides an analysis and balance sheet of 1918: the first year of the Russian Revolution.

1918 proved to be one of the most tumultuous and violent years the world had ever seen. Not only were vast armies from all countries and continents fighting a gruesome World War but also the victorious Russian Revolution of October 1917 was facing a huge wave of internationally financed armies, Russian and Foreign, dedicated to its overthrow. By the end of the year the World War was over. The Bolshevik-led workers and peasants government of Russia had withstood all possible trials to secure a vital foothold for the revolution and begin the long task of defeating all the elements of armed counter-revolution. Much remained to be done and it wasnt until 1921 that Soviet power had been fully consolidated in all of Russia. This article traces the key events and identifies the main challenges facing the revolution in 1918, the decisive role of the Bolshevik Party and its leaders and the lessons that remain for us today.

The Bolshevik-led workers and peasants government of Russia withstood all possible trials to secure the revolution / Image: public domain

A revolution involves a tremendous clash of class interests, as has happened at various junctures throughout human history, such as the English Revolution of 1642, the French Revolution of 1789, the Paris Commune of 1871 and then the Russian Revolutions of 1917. These are rare events that are important to understand for all those interested in human affairs, but especially Marxist revolutionaries who seek to change the world bourgeois order to a working class order that will pave the way for a classless society.

Revolutions are the highest expression of historical change. They mark a qualitative change in the development of human society. During such revolutions the masses enter into direct political action. In the normal course of events politics is conducted by relatively small numbers of people representing class interests. But, in a major revolution, such as occurred in Russia in 1917, large numbers of ordinary people throw off such inhibitions and directly participate to achieve a transfer of power. However, it also requires a conscious and clear-headed political agency with a political programme to channel and direct this creative energy to transform society.

As revolutionaries, our aim is to be a part of that critical political agency. We need to arm ourselves with past experiences to guide future action. We need to understand the processes that occur during a revolutionary period. These lessons cannot be applied mechanically but must be refracted through the prisms of subsequent history and our current experience. Nothing is ever repeated exactly. We take from the past and test its relevance and application today to see how this may offer some guidance as to how to adapt effectively to our own age.

Russia at the end of 1917

The Russian Empire at the end of 1917 was a huge conglomeration of nationalities and ethnic groups covering millions of square miles from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Baltic and Black seas in the west. With a population of over 178 million people it was overwhelmingly a rural and agrarian society. Eighty percent of the population was composed of peasants living for the most part in scattered villages with poor communications between them. To the Russian peasants, the village and surrounding fields was, for all practical purposes, their world. Whilst in 1861 the peasants had been freed from serfdom, the legislation doing so had failed to modernise and develop agriculture and the conditions of the peasants still lagged way behind most other comparable European countries.

Russia in 1918 was mostly a rural and agrarian society / Image: public domain

Industry was concentrated in a few areas such as St. Petersburg and Moscow, with oil production in Baku in the south and coal mining in the Ukraines Donets Basin. A great proportion of the industrial capital was owned by foreign interests especially in St Petersburg, and the national capitalist class was both weak and divided, with much of it heavily dependent on the state. Some of its factories were very modern and even by world standards extremely large, especially in the capital St. Petersburg. This created a relatively compact and concentrated working class, much of it recruited relatively recently from the villages.

Nationalities

The Russian Empire consisted of a large number of different nations that had, over the years, been conquered and suppressed by the Russian Tsarist state. These comprised, among others, the Baltic States, Poland, Finland, the Ukraine, the various Caucasus States such as Georgia, Belorussia, Bessarabia, and a number of Asian States such as Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and others. Nationalism was, therefore, a potent force within Russia and something that required a response from all socialist parties.

This issue had provoked considerable debate in Marxist circles. It demanded creating federated socialist states on the basis of of international socialism in addition to the more immediate question of throwing off the yoke of Russian imperialism. Lenins approach was practical. He recognised, unlike Rosa Luxemburg, that in order for the working class to achieve victory in an empire of oppressed nationalities, they had to win over those masses, often peasants and other petty-bourgeois classes, by adopting the principle of the right of all nations to self-determination. Without this approach the task of the Socialist Revolution in Russia would have been impossible.

The Russian Orthodox Church

The power and wealth of the Russian Orthodox Church was considerable. But it was strongly linked to the Tsar and the old Imperialist order. Whilst it had held tremendous sway over the peasant masses, the experience of the First World War and the growing disapproval of the Tsar caused a significant loss of its authority. During the counter-revolution and civil war the Church unreservedly backed the reactionary forces, leading to an even greater weakening of loyalty from the masses. Its power, wealth and influence were considerably reduced by new Bolshevik government decrees confiscating Church land and privileges and restricting its operations and influence.

During the counter-revolution and civil war the Church unreservedly backed the reactionary forces, weakening the loyalty of the masses / Image: public domain

Classes and conditions in Russia in late 1917

Russia in late 1917 was clearly in crisis. The country had been involved in a devastating World War for three years. The soldiers were weary and rebellious, prone to mutiny, with many deserting and returning to their peasant homes. The Provisional Government that followed the February Revolution failed to tackle any of the acute issues of war, food or land and was plainly ineffective. The economy and general morale of the country was in tatters. The motor for change in Russia was the relatively small but powerful working class. They had organised themselves in Soviets that became a parallel power to the Government. The old governing structures of the State and local Dumas became the last redoubts of the bourgeois class, allied with some of the remnants of the old aristocracy.

The Provisional Government that followed the February Revolution failed to tackle any of the acute issues of war, food or land / Image: public domain

The bourgeois class  the bankers, capitalists, big business managers and senior civil servants  was small, though relatively wealthy and with access to resources. However, it lacked the weight and history of similar classes in Western Europe and the USA. The Russian bourgeois had been denied a full place in government due to the backward nature of the Russian state. Whilst they gained leading positions in the first Provisional Government after the February Revolution, they proved weak and ineffective. The vast peasantry was not homogenous but, rather, split into rich, middle and poor peasants with the poorest, often landless, by far the larger proportion. Most peasants were poorly represented in governing structures. Local administration remained in the hands of the large landowners and their supporters, including rural merchants and businessmen and kulaks (rich peasants).

The Red Guards

Armed workers militias, known as the Red Guards, had emerged at the time of the February 1917 Revolution, often in spontaneous form. Various factories and political parties sought to encourage and develop such units. The Bolsheviks were the most successful and ardent in promoting the idea of armed workers militias. There was a suppression of the Red Guards after the events of July 1917 but this was reversed in September in the face of the threat to the Provisional Government by General Kornilov, and the forces under his command, who were then threatening Petrograd. The Bolsheviks were entreated to assist the resistance and rapidly mobilised and armed 25,000 Red Guards. After that, the Red Guards remained a key feature of future struggles in all the major cities and at the moment of the October Revolution, numbered 200,000. After the revolution, the Red Guards performed the functions of the police and army until such times as new police and Red Army units were constituted, sometimes quite late into 1918.

After the revolution, the Red Guards performed the functions of the police and army until new police and Red Army units were constituted / Image: public domain

Political Parties and Leaders

By the autumn of 1917, the Bolsheviks had gained a majority following among the urban working class but had a minority position in the countryside. The Bolshevik Party had a number of strong distinguishing features that gave it a unique strength in the conditions of Russia in late 1917 and into the turmoil of 1918. They had a grounding in Marxist theory, especially dialectical thinking, which allowed them to analyse events from all angles and uncover the underlying forces that such events represented.

There was no culture of rigid and uniform thinking in the Bolshevik Party. In the heat of the revolution there were initially several splits and occasionally resignations and later re-joining. Lenin, outstanding as the most sober, the most realistic, the chief dialectician, and Trotsky, also a great dialectician, proved to be head and shoulders above all other Bolshevik leaders in their capacity to analyse events and urge decisive action. Within the Party there was a strong tradition of internal democracy and debate. Leaders were acknowledged but opposed if they were thought to be wrong. Conversely, leaders accepted decisions that went against them, even if continuing to oppose them in debate. This pertained even in the darkest hours and throughout 1918 and up to 1924, when Lenin died and Stalin took the reins and changed this key Party principle. Once Lenin arrived back in Russia in April 1917, the Party developed great elan and confidence, which they transmitted to the working class and spurred heroic efforts to protect and advance the revolution. The Bolsheviks embodied the aspirations of the most advanced layers of the working class and utilised their skills and energy. This convinced ever-widening layers of workers, soldiers and poor peasants of the value and aims of the Bolsheviks.

By the autumn of 1917, the Bolsheviks had gained a majority following among the urban working class but had a minority position in the countryside / Image: public domain

The Social Revolutionary Party (SR) was founded in 1902 and was a member of the Second International. The Party was an amalgam of various influences, including some Marxism and some of the ideas of the old populist and terrorist group the Narodniks, but were primarily a reformist party with a focus on land reform. Unlike the Bolsheviks, the SRs placed an emphasis on individual, rather than collective outcomes for successful land reform. It was essentially a peasant-based party and thus tended to vacillate between the classes in its positions, since the peasantry is composed of scattered and heterogeneous elements, some much richer than others. In 1917 it was the majority party of the countryside with strong support among ordinary soldiers, who were in the main of peasant origin. They played a major role in the formation and leadership of the Soviets, albeit in most cases playing second fiddle to the Mensheviks.

After the February 1917 revolution the SR Party became a major component of the new Provisional Government. As that Government moved to the right under the pressure of events and Kerensky took the reins of power, the left faction of the SRs, led by Maria Spiridonova, began to establish a separate position, more sympathetic to the Bolsheviks. At the Second Congress of Soviets in October 1917, when the Bolsheviks proclaimed the deposition of the Provisional government, the split within the SR Party became final. The Left SRs stayed at the Congress and were elected to the permanent Soviet Executive (initially refusing to join the Bolshevik government), while the Right SR Party and their Menshevik allies walked out. Later, the Left SR Party joined the Bolshevik government, obtaining three ministries. The Right SRs thereafter moved into opposition to the new Bolshevik-led government, eventually taking up arms and attempting uprisings and later linking with the reactionary White armies.

The Mensheviks were a socialist and Marxist party, but their Marxism was of a rigid and mechanistic form. Along with the Bolsheviks they had originally been part of the Russian Social Democratic Party. They split with the Bolsheviks over the definition of membership of the Party. But, in fact, the deeper cause for the difference between the two factions lay in the Menshevik belief that socialism could not be achieved in Russia due to its backward economic conditions, and that Russia would first have to experience a bourgeois democratic revolution and go through a capitalist stage of development before socialism was technically possible and before the working class could develop the necessary consciousness for a socialist revolution. Thus, the Mensheviks were opposed to the Bolshevik idea of the party and the pursuit of socialist revolution in Russia.

Their opposition to revolutionary Marxism led inexorably to a path of reformism and eventually, for most of them, opposition to the October Revolution. The Mensheviks gained a considerable following among the working class in the run up to the February Revolution and often held majorities in Soviets and a strong presence in local Dumas. But their support for the War and their participation in an increasingly unpopular Provisional Government saw their support melt away throughout 1917. Following the October Revolution they split between the majority right faction, led by Tsereteli, who favoured action against the Bolsheviks and the left faction, led by Martov, who tended to support the Reds in the civil war but refused to break completely with the right section. Many of the most militant Mensheviks joined the Bolsheviks.

The Anarchists were relatively small and unpredictable. At times supporting the Bolsheviks, at times opposing / Image: public domain

The Anarchists were relatively small and unpredictable. At times supporting the Bolsheviks, at times opposing. In the Spring of 1918 they were disarmed following attempts to stage an uprising within Russia. Initially the Anarchists were principally urban and drawn from the ranks of the intellectual and other petty-bourgeois elements, but in the Ukraine anarchist bands of guerrillas rested on the peasantry. There they eventually coalesced into a large force under Makhno, who fought all-comers, mainly the Germans, but later also the Whites and eventually the Reds.

The Constitutional Democratic Party (Kadets), formed in 1905, was the main bourgeois party, representing capitalist interests. They were broadly liberal, favouring a constitutional monarchy and bourgeois democracy. Following the February Revolution they held five portfolios in the first Provisional Government, including that of Prime Minister (Prince Lvov) and Foreign Minister (Miliukov). Their position steadily eroded as opposition mounted to the Provisional Governments War Policy. Following the October Revolution they called for the overthrow of the Bolshevik regime and supported counter-revolution. As a consequence they were banned in December 1917.

Consolidating gains, October to December 1917

It is not the task of this article to go into any detail of the seizure of power in October 1917. Leon Trotsky has brilliantly captured this event in his History of the Russian Revolution, John Reed in Ten Days that Shook the World and many other pieces, including recent articles from In Defence of Marxism. The fact of the matter is that the resounding slogan of the Bolshevik Party, "All Power to the Soviets! received an immediate and overwhelming endorsement from the soldiers and working class in virtually every town and city throughout the Russian Empire.

In fact, in Tallin, Estonia the Soviet seized power two days before the revolution in Petrograd, and on the day of that insurrection, successful transfers of power were also achieved in Minsk, Novorod, Ivanovo-Voznesensk and Tartu. Within eight days of the declaration of a new workers state, a further 21 towns and cities had achieved Soviet-led power. Resistance from either the Provisional Government forces or from hostile class forces was, initially, universally weak.

The exception to this was Moscow, where poor planning and preparation by the Bolsheviks and the local Soviet, coupled with a strong resistance from armed Kadets, meant that taking power involved some serious fighting over six days, leading to the loss of some 400 lives. But, by the end of 1917, most of the provincial areas of Russia had declared for Soviet power, usually under the leadership of the Bolsheviks. However, the separate nationalities in the Ukraine, the Baltic States and areas of southern Russia around the Don and in the Caucasus Region proved more resistant to socialist revolution and these were to be acute zones of struggle for years to come.

The first steps of the counter-revolution

While the taking of power proved relatively easy, the counter-revolution soon commenced and various attempts were made to turn back the tide of socialist revolution. In Petrograd, the first, ill-fated attempt to thwart the revolution was undertaken by military cadets, known as Junkers (sons of the bourgeois and middle class), who mounted an armed struggle against the Bolsheviks. After a short conflict, the Red Guards easily disarmed them.

More problematic for the new state was the effort by Kerensky, the former head of the Provisional Government, to wrest back control of the capital by using elements of the Cossacks. Having fled Petrograd in disguise, Kerensky tried to galvanise the Imperial Army from the Northern Front headquarters at Psov. However, the Imperial Army was divided and only General Krasnov agreed to organise an expedition against Petrograd. He set off with 700 Cossacks, hoping others would join him on the way.

These forces, lacking morale and any sizeable infantry support, were defeated by Red Guards, recruited from the Petrograd factories, on the Pulkovo Heights, just a few kilometres from Petrograd. These events occurred only five days after the successful revolution in Petrograd. This marked the end of Kerenskys direct role in Russian events and he fled to Paris. Krasnov was arrested but later released and went on to participate in the civil war on the side of White Russian counter-revolution.

Laying the foundations for a new socialist order

Following the defeat of these first attempted coups, the new Bolshevik Government was given some breathing space and proceeded to lay down the foundations for a new, socialist system. Lenin drove the pace of change relentlessly. Only a few months prior to the October Revolution, Lenin had completed one of his outstanding works, State and Revolution. This spelled out with great clarity the Marxist view of the state as an instrument of class domination and the need for a successful proletarian revolution to transform the machinery and practice of the state into a vehicle of working-class rule.

Lenin knew that it was vital to establish the outlines of a new workers state immediately after taking power / Image: public domain

Lenin knew that it was vital to establish the outlines of a new workers state immediately after taking power. Part of his thinking was that the revolution was unlikely to succeed unless and until revolution broke out in one of the advanced capitalist countries. It was therefore imperative to lay down all the markers of a new order so as to establish a guide for the future. Decree after decree was promulgated. By the end of 1917, just over nine weeks after the successful seizure of power, 25 major decrees had been passed, covering such issues as peace, land, the press, civic rights, abolition of estates and titles, right of recall of elected representatives, the judicial system, internal security, economic planning, workers control in industry, unemployment insurance, nationalisation of the banks, civil marriage and so on. Many more decrees followed in 1918. In December, the government established the Economic Planning Council to direct production and distribution.

Resistance to revolutionary change: the old classes and the reformist parties

Efforts to establish the new order were carried on amidst the mounting fury of the old order, frantically scrabbling to get a purchase on the situation. Unable, at this stage, to secure any military support against the new government, the old classes resorted to sabotage and non-compliance. Many of the higher-ranking civil servants refused to cooperate with the new powers unless forced at gunpoint.

The first Council of Peoples Commissars, established in late October 1917, comprised solely Bolshevik Ministers. The Left-SR Party was invited to take some government posts but refused on the grounds that they wanted a government that included all parties represented in the Soviets. This demand was taken up by the Right-SR Party and the Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks could not agree to this, as some parties were continuing to oppose the revolution and seek the overthrow of the government.

The Mensheviks used their dominant position in the Railway Workers Union Executive Committee to pressure the Bolshevik government to accede to the demands for a broad Coalition Government. This was no idle threat, as the railways were key to transport and the movement of arms, goods and other vital necessities. Moreover, they used this muscle to sabotage and disrupt the Bolshevik governments operations as much as they could. For instance, they refused to allow trains to send troops to assist the revolution in Moscow. They also sought to mobilise other trade unions against the Bolshevik government, many of whom had backward, bureaucratic structures led by Mensheviks.

12 Bolshevik members of the cabinet, including Zinoviev (pictured), argued for an all-socialist government in "broad coalition" / Image: public domain

While the majority of Bolshevik leaders rejected the idea of a broad coalition, Zinoviev, Kamenev, Rykov, Nogin and Milyutin  all members of the Bolshevik Central Committee  supported this demand, going so far as to resign from the committee when they lost the vote on 14 November.

Shortly afterwards, five out of the 12 Bolshevik members of the cabinet, including three of the above, resigned their posts and published a manifesto calling for an all-socialist government. Lenin responded robustly. He pointed out that the Left-SRs had been offered places in the government and had declined, and that the purely Bolshevik government had been created and unanimously ratified by the Congress of Soviets. Lenin denounced Zinoviev and Kamenev as deserters and pointed out that they had behaved in a similar strike-breaking fashion before the uprising. In the end, the reformist parties had no support among the broad mass of workers, nor in the Soviets, and the idea of a broad coalition collapsed.

While this set the scene for future battles with the Right-SRs and Mensheviks, the Left-SRs, under pressure from a Peasants Congress in late November, agreed to participate in the Bolshevik government and fuse with the Soviet Executive Committee. By the end of 1917, the Left-SRs received three places in the cabinet.

The Constituent Assembly and the issue of democracy

Holding elections for a Russian Constituent Assembly had long been a key demand of all socialists, including the Bolsheviks. It was seen as a popular demand to challenge the power of the aristocratic and upper-bourgeois classes entrenched in Dumas (the parliaments and city councils that operated prior to the establishment of the Soviets).

The Provisional Government endorsed the demand after the February Revolution and eventually set the time for elections in late 1917. After the October Revolution, when power had passed to the Soviets, Lenin took the position that the elections should be postponed. He argued that an elected Constituent Assembly represented the highest level of democracy in a bourgeois republic, but once power had been won by the workers on the basis of all power to the soviets, this new proletarian democracy represented a higher level still.

While socialists subscribe to democratic processes and indeed demand ever-improved ways of representing the mass of people, the precise form of democracy is not set in stone but must be chosen on the basis that the rights and needs of the exploited are fully and constantly represented. The new workers democracy that emerged in revolutionary Russia was not some formal, bureaucratic, once-every-five-years type of system, but a living, breathing, everyday democracy, where delegates were regularly changed in response to new events and new opinions. The right of recall meant that 50 percent plus one of the electorate could recall their delegate at any time.

Lenin was also against holding Constituent Assembly elections on very practical grounds, arguing that to hold the elections on the basis of out-dated electoral rolls did not reflect the split in the SR Party that had led to effectively two parties  Left-SRs-and Right SRs  and therefore could not accurately reflect political reality at that time. Moreover, he argued there was a need to lower the voting age to 18 and to outlaw counter-revolutionaries who were determined to overthrow the soviet government by force. Without these changes, the election would favour the declining forces of Right-SRs and Kadets. But he was out-voted by the other Bolsheviks, the majority still clinging to a formal notion of democracy.

As Lenin had predicted, the Constituent Assembly in the conditions of late 1917 was at best an irrelevance / Image: public domain

In the event Lenin was absolutely correct. The elections were held before the revolution had been consolidated. The result was that the SRs were by far the largest party, with the Bolsheviks some way behind in second place. But the result also confirmed two further facts. The first was that the whole country was overwhelmingly left oriented. Moderate socialists, including the SRs, gained 62 percent of the vote; and the Bolsheviks, as revolutionary socialists, around 25 percent. The main bourgeois party, the Kadets, achieved less than 5 percent and the Mensheviks, once so powerful, were reduced to 3.3 percent; much of this vote concentrated in the Caucasus, and Georgia in particular.

While these results seemed to show a powerful position for the SRs, it needs to be borne in mind that the Left-SRs were scarcely on the ballot, due, as Lenin said, to out-dated rolls and candidates. Had the Left-SRs been properly represented there is little doubt the result would have looked very different.

In addition, the Bolsheviks won overwhelmingly in all the urban areas and their immediate periphery, and among many of the key soldier and navy units based in the north. Socialist Revolutionaries who dominated the Constituent Assembly represented the political confusion and indecision of the petty bourgeoisie in the towns and the millions of peasants who were relatively distant from the capital and industrial centres. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many peasants were fully behind Bolshevik policies without realising they were Bolshevik, and also thought Lenin and other Bolshevik leaders were German spies. This latter, insidious lie was widely spread by the bourgeois and Right-SR leaders and their press to confuse peasant voters.

As Lenin had predicted, the Constituent Assembly in the conditions of late 1917 was at best an irrelevance and at worst provided another basis for seeking to overthrow the Bolshevik government. He set out his view with great clarity in an article in Pravda in December 1917. The Theses on the Constituent Assembly hammered home in 19 points the basic arguments Lenin had advanced to the Bolsheviks prior to the elections. He was to take up the issue of bourgeois and proletarian democracy again in a polemic he wrote to counter Kautskys revisionist pamphlet, The Dictatorship of the Proletariat, at the end of 1918.

Delegates to the Constituent Assembly began to arrive in the capital in December. Tension was high as the counter-revolution was underway in the Ukarine under General Kaledin and steps were also afoot to start a White Army in the Don region. The Kadets support for an armed counter-revolution led by Kaledin led the government to ban the party and the arrest of some of its leaders.

The Constituent Assembly met in January 1918. The Right-SRs were aware of the opposition they faced from the Soviets and the Bolsheviks and tried to prepare a defence, with a Military Organisation and a Committee for the Defence of the Constituent Assembly. They also had a paper (The Grey Overcoat) and the support of two regiments, plus other soldiers recalled from the front. They also had a strong terrorist group. Their main supporters, the peasants, did not seem very concerned about the outcome as they had primarily seen the SR Party and the Constituent Assembly as a means of getting land, which had already by then been promised by the Bolshevik Government through an important decree.

A Right-SR terrorist group had infiltrated the headquarters of the Bolshevik Party and laid plans to kidnap or assassinate its key leaders, Lenin and Trotsky. The leadership called this off when it became apparent that the plan had been leaked. A right-wing demonstration was held on 5 January, attended by the ranks of the citys petty bourgeois: clerks, intellectuals and so on. They were easily dispersed. It was a sort of botched insurrection. The two regiments that originally supported the SR Party came over to the Bolsheviks.

It was against this tense background that the first and only meeting of the Assembly took place. Sverdlov, on behalf of the Soviet Executive Committee, seized the presiding officers bell, declared the meeting open and proceeded to propose a long resolution endorsing all the actions and decrees taken by the Soviet government so far. This was ignored by the Right-SR majority, which proceeded to the election of a president.

Chernov, of the Right-SR Party, achieved 244 votes, as against 153 for Marie Spiridonova, the Left-SR, whom the Bolsheviks supported. Speeches were then made to a background of boos and catcalls from the soldiers in the gallery. When the Assembly refused to discuss Sverdlovs motion, the Bolsheviks withdrew. The Assembly rambled on, passing three laws on land, a similar one to the Bolsheviks on peace (agreeing to the armistice) and finally proclaiming a democratic federative republic. At 5am, the Assembly was ordered to close, as the guards were tired. It dispersed, never to meet again, as the All-Russian Soviet Executive Committee dissolved the Assembly, saying that it served only as a cover for the overthrow of the Soviets. There was popular indifference to this move and the Assembly faded into history.

By the end of 1917, the October Revolution had managed to survive and defeat all the initial forces ranged against it. Moreover, the spirit and mood of the workers and soldiers still coursed with energy. The flames of the revolution, far from sputtering into darkness were burning brightly. But major obstacles to a lasting victory remained. One of the most pressing in the new year of 1918 was the matter of how best to end the war with Germany and the Central Powers.

Taking control of finance and the economy

The Banks were the first important industries to be nationalised.

The state bank refused to pay out money to the new government and the managers went on strike. Eventually, after threatening the officials, the government managed to retrieve 5m roubles. Private banks also refused to assist the new government, leading to their forcible seizure and opening of their vaults. At end of December 1917, all banks were nationalised and fused with the state bank. Withdrawals were limited to no more than 250 roubles per week.

Large houses were taken into public ownership and industrial enterprises that refused to abide by workers management were generally taken over. All gold held privately was confiscated by the state. In January, all payments of dividends and dealings in shares were made illegal. In February, all foreign debts were repudiated. Big industry was not immediately nationalised but certain individual concerns of strategic interest were, such as the electricity industry, the Putilov munitions factories and the Belgian Metal Company.

Wages and salaries became the main source of income for all. The government took steps to equalize these. To establish a precedent, the salary of the Peoples Commissars was made equal to the average of a skilled worker (500 roubles a month), with an additional 100 roubles per month for each dependant. Lenin, Trotsky and other leading Bolsheviks set a strong example of austere living.

Proletarian organisation

Victor Serge in his book, Year One of the Revolution, mentions that Lenin had urged that miracles of proletarian organisation must be achieved in order to overcome the many-headed resistance of the bourgeois class. Only in this way, especially in these early stages, could their resistance and opposition be overcome.

Lenin urged that miracles of proletarian organisation must be achieved in order to overcome the many-headed resistance of the bourgeois class / Image: public domain

In fact, in the months after the revolution, the policy of the Soviet government consisted principally in awakening, stimulating, sometimes guiding, but more usually simply endorsing the initiative of the masses. The Peoples Commissars were ordered, by decree, to work in close contact with the mass organisations of working men and women, the sailors and soldiers. Workers took initiatives in many diverse ways. Certain trade unions, for example, undertook to organise sections of industries. In many enterprises, offices as well as factories, employees found that they had to manage their places of work as their superiors had abandoned their positions. This was regularised in a decree legalising the intervention of workers in the management of industry and other workplaces. Workers control of industry and offices became widespread.

Some degree of planning and coordination, however, was vital and in December the government established the Supreme Economic Council. This body had the task of coordinating all the activities of local and central organs, which managed and controlled production and distribution. This was the beginning of a centralised planning system that would supplant the rule of the capitalist market.

The press

The Bolsheviks, in common with many socialists, had called for the freedom of the press under the restricted and repressive conditions of the old order. Certainly, it was the early intention of the Soviet government to allow general press freedom. In an early decree on the press, reference was made to the fact that some suppression of the bourgeois press had been undertaken in the immediate period of the revolution. The slogan freedom of the press concealed the fact that it was freedom for the propertied class, as they had taken hold of the lions share of the press to poison, unhindered, the minds and obscure the consciousness of the masses.

The decree went on to state:

As soon as the new (socialist) order has been consolidated all administrative pressure on the press will be terminated and it will be granted complete freedom within the bounds of legal responsibility, in keeping with a law that will be broadest and most progressive in this respect.

Meanwhile the Bolsheviks reserved the right to suppress publications that called for open resistance to the new Government, used slander or distorted facts. In fact, the bourgeois press was operating, relatively freely, as late as May 1918, despite the pressures on the regime. This press remained vicious and slanderous. As conditions deteriorated, press freedoms were curtailed for a number of bourgeois publications and some of the SR publications. This was extended as the civil war intensified and foreign armies intervened in the civil war.

Later in July 1918, the new Constitution of the Soviet Union stated in article 14:

In order to ensure genuine freedom of expression for the working people, the RSFSR abolishes the dependence of the press on capital, and places at the disposal of the working class and the poor peasantry all the technical and material requisites for the publication of newspaper, pamphlets, books and all other printed matter, and guarantees their unhindered circulation throughout the country.

State security and the Cheka

As Lenin had spelled out in State and Revolution, the state is at root an instrument of class rule that depends on force to ensure its survival. In the last analysis, this is achieved through having available armed bodies of men, such as the army, police and security forces, to ensure the will of the ruling class. The transfer of one class rule to another is a process of immense struggle that has always involved armed confrontation. The new workers state therefore had to have its own bodies of armed men.

The Bolsheviks established the Extraordinary Commission for Struggle against Sabotage and Counter-Revolution, otherwise known as the Cheka, and placed in charge the Bolshevik leader Dzerzhinsky / Image: public domain

These took time to establish. In the first instance, they took the form of workers militias, which became known as the Red Guards. They acted as both the shock troops of the revolution and the upholders of order within the towns. In terms of internal security, every state deploys its own specialist services. The Bolsheviks established the Extraordinary Commission for Struggle against Sabotage and Counter-Revolution, otherwise known as the Cheka, and placed in charge the Bolshevik leader Dzerzhinsky. In the early stages this organisation proved relatively mild and in the first few months of the revolution there were remarkably few executions or instances of draconian action. However, as the struggle with the reactionary and imperialist forces intensified, the Cheka accrued additional powers and met force with force, achieving a formidable reputation.

Social and cultural changes

Early soviet decrees highlighted the desire of the new order to radically transform social, cultural and religious norms. Central to this was the release of women from their position of legal subservience and oppression in law. In future, only civil weddings were to be recognised by the state and divorce was to be made freely available to either partner. Men and women were given full juridical equality. Children born out of wedlock were to be given the same rights as offspring of marriages. The criminal code that outlawed homosexual activity was abolished, making Russia among the first in the world to do so.

Early in 1918, a law was passed that separated the church from the state. It declared the right of any citizen to profess any religion or none. Religious oaths were abolished, as were church schools. Churches were not allowed to own property and all such property was declared the property of the people, with local and state authorities having the right to hand over buildings of worship to religious societies for free use.

Under Lunacharsky, radical artists were promoted and Russia's rich cultural heritage was made available to the masses / Image: public domain

In further efforts to align Russia with the modern world, it was agreed to end the use of the Justinian Calendar and, from February 1918, to adopt the Gregorian and West European calendar. This added 13 days to the year and the Revolution of 25 October was subsequently celebrated on 7 November. The Cyrillic script used in printing materials was also simplified.

The orator and somewhat maverick intellectual, the Bolshevik Lunacharsky, was appointed Commissar of Education. His brief also included protecting and advancing the cultural heritage of Russia. He proved a brilliant choice for this office. He was able to cajole and persuade reluctant teachers and academics to continue their teaching and research work under the new regime, despite many of them opposing the new direction. Under his leadership, a major programme to combat illiteracy was embarked upon and he proceeded to reform teaching procedures in a progressive libertarian spirit. New ideas, including Marxism, were introduced into curricula. His approach aroused considerable international interest.

He sought to popularise the arts, taking music, drama, literature and the visual arts to the masses. He was not afraid of the avant-garde and promoted the likes of Chagall and Tatlin to key academies, alongside the work of Eisenstein, the radical filmmaker.

Justice and administration

Justice systems also reflect class rule and so there was an early wholesale change to the Russian justice system. All the general judicial institutions were abolished. Justices of the Peace (JPs) were replaced with local courts represented by a permanent local judge, elected on the basis of direct, democratic suffrage, and two alternate assessors selected by local Soviets. Former JPs and judges were not disbarred from standing for the new posts. Similar changes were made to district and higher courts. Other detailed changes were made to court procedure.

Local government had been largely run by city and council dumas and these were effectively replaced by local and regional soviets. Other local committees and structures also became important, especially the various peasant committees and later the committees of the poor. Local co-operative structures also gained more power after the revolution, although these waned somewhat during the harsh exigencies of 1918 when increased central control was exerted in all aspects of administration.

In July 1918, the All-Russian Soviet agreed a new constitution for The Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic. This was arranged into the following main articles:

Declaration of rights of the labouring and exploited people. General provisions, which set down a number of key principles. Organisation of Soviet power. The right to vote. The budget. The coat of Arms and Flag.

This is an important document as it marked the formal and encoded establishment of a new workers state with all its key principles and operating mechanisms. Although, given the acute crises facing Russia at this time, it was not possible to fully implement all its aspects, it nevertheless marked a highpoint of the struggle to overcome the old capitalist state. It was amended and enlarged in 1924 to take account of the creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other matters but its key principles remained, until amended by Stalin in 1936.

Peace and war

The Russian Revolution took place during World War One: war and peace were critical issues. The overthrow of the Tsar and the establishment of a democratic government in February 1917 were regarded by the Provisional Government, and by the SR and Menshevik majority in the Petrograd Soviet, as a justification for continuing the support of the war effort in the name of the defence of the revolution.

In practice, this meant defence of the bourgeoisie, since they were the class most empowered by the first Revolution in 1917. The Bolshevik Party insisted that war must end and peace must be achieved on the basis of no annexations or indemnities. Most Bolsheviks supported this. However, there were some in the party, notably Kamenev, who openly espoused the need for continuing the war on the basis of defending the revolution. Lenin opposed this position in his April Theses, recognising that the masses were desperate to see an end to war. He further argued that the position of revolutionary defencism within a bourgeois state was a confidence trick upon the workers and pandering to patriotism and jingoism. From April to October, the Bolsheviks maintained that a Bolshevik revolution, the ending of the war with a democratic peace and proletarian revolution in Europe, were all parts of a single process and in practice inseparable.

Internationalism and revolutionary war

The Bolshevik Party tradition was unreservedly internationalist in outlook. It believed that nationalism was part and parcel of the capitalist system and that wars were an inevitable consequence of that nationalism. They also took seriously the original Marxist international slogan, workers of the worlds unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains. In addition, the Bolsheviks were also strongly of the view that a Russian socialist revolution could not be sustained without one or more advanced capitalist countries also becoming socialist and linking up with the Russian proletariat.

Lenin opposed a 'revolutionary war', but was in a minority within the party leadership / Image: public domain

Bolsheviks believed that the ending of capitalism and landlordism in Russia would raise the morale of workers and peasants and make them stronger than any opponent. This new class war would rouse the masses internationally. This position was crucial to understanding why the party adopted various positions over the peace negotiations and the issue of revolutionary war. After the establishment of a workers and peasants state Lenin was not, in principle, against waging a revolutionary war against the imperialist powers but, looking at concrete reality, he understood the masses did not want to fight, even for a workers state, at this stage. In any event, the fledgling state had insufficient resources to wage a war of any kind and by December 1917 was faced with civil war. Therefore, Lenin implacably opposed a revolutionary war at this stage. But a majority in the party leadership did not. This set the scene for a prolonged and, in the end, damaging struggle within the Bolshevik Party, which was only finally settled in March 1918.

The peace decree and the armistice with Germany

One of the very first decrees, issued a day after the October Revolution, by the new government was on peace. It called upon all belligerent countries to halt the war immediately on the basis of a just and democratic peace with no annexations or indemnities, and to allow all nations the right of self-determination on a free vote. At the same time, the decree abolished secret diplomacy, calling for open and transparent negotiations, and annulled all secret treaties agreed by the old regime, stating that such secret treaties would be published. Finally, the government called for an immediate armistice.

A temporary armistice between Russia, Germany and her allies was agreed on 2 December 1917 / Image: public domain

After initial negotiations between the Soviet delegation and those of Germany and her allies, an armistice was agreed on 2 December. It allowed 28 days before full peace negotiations took place. It was agreed to maintain current military positions, and further agreed that Germany would not send troops to the western front because of the armistice and would allow a degree of fraternisation between troops.

Trotsky, after some resistance on his part, was appointed Commissar for Foreign Affairs and would eventually lead all negotiations, which were to take place in Brest-Litovsk: a small town on the Russian-Polish border, now in Belarus.

Foreign policy, under Trotsky, comprised largely of appeals to workers and revolutionary groups throughout the world to organise a world revolution. He paid scant attention to the traditional role of a Foreign Secretary, saying, My job is to publish the treaties, issue some revolutionary proclamations and shut up shop. Former secret treaties were quickly published, ambassadors recalled and new ones sent out. Money was made available for international revolutionary organisations. Agitational newspapers were published, aimed at foreign workers and prisoners of war. For their part, foreign governments rebuffed Russian attempts to obtain friendly responses and all countries opposed any rapprochement with the Bolsheviks. However, there were contacts between Russia and foreign ambassadors and initially the allies hoped to persuade Russia to continue fighting Germany. When this failed, their opposition to Bolshevik Russia noticeably stepped up.

Negotiations at Brest-Litovsk and Bolshevik splits

Following the armistice agreement, negotiations re-started at Brest-Litovsk, with Joffe initially leading the Russian delegation. These discussions were inconclusive. The Soviet delegation put forward their positions on annexations and the rights of nationalities to enjoy political freedom and ending colonies. The Central Powers (Germany, Austro-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria), led effectively by the German General Hoffman, played lip service to these demands as they had no intention of giving up Poland or those Baltic states under their control. Moreover, they now included in their delegation representatives of the Ukrainian Rada (a nationalist-led parliament), weakening the Soviet claim to represent all Russian territories. The Red offensive against the armed nationalists in Ukraine was only just underway.

Trotsky took over as leader of the Soviet delegation to the peace negotiations at Brest-Litovsk in 1918 / Image: public domain

Trotsky took over as leader of the Soviet delegation in the New Year, and hoping that delaying tactics would work in their favour, used the negotiations as a platform for propaganda. There were definite signs of revolt among workers in Austria and Germany and among their soldiers and sailors. Strikes occurred in Austria in mid-January and later in the month there were serious strikes in Berlin, Hamburg, Danzig and Kiel. Eventually, the Central Powers sought to break the deadlock by stating their demands for the Soviets to cede all territory currently occupied by Germany in the North and to negotiate the southern boundaries with the Ukrainian Rada. Trotsky decided that he now needed to return to Petrograd to discuss with the leadership the best response. There then began a series of debates and votes. In the first meeting, 63 leading Bolsheviks debated the issue of peace. Lenin argued for taking peace at any price to secure the bridgehead of the revolution and wait for better times. Despite Lenins prestige, he got only 15 votes. 32 votes, mainly Moscow Bolsheviks led by Bukharin, were for a revolutionary war against Germany and her allies rather than accepting their terms. Trotsky took a third position of neither war nor peace but to continue to delay the proceedings as long as possible in the hope revolution would break out in Germany of Austria and if necessary declare peace unilaterally when pressed. He got 16 votes.

A few days later the Central Committee of the party met and Lenin again called for immediate peace. Only Stalin was clear in his support so Lenin agreed to Trotskys delaying position and this passed 12-1. Only two, Bukharin and Dzerzhinsky, supported pursuing a revolutionary war.

Trotsky returned to the negotiations later in January, but after spinning it out as long as possible he made a unilateral declaration to end the war. He then walked out of the talks. Seven days later the German High Command announced it was going to resume hostilities. The Bolshevik unilateral declaration of peace was intended as a signal to all workers and soldiers involved in the war to rise up and oppose their leaders and join the struggle. This did not occur and the Central Powers immediately renewed hostilities. Meeting little resistance, they quickly advanced on all fronts.

Meanwhile, the Bolshevik Central Committee was in almost continuous session. Lenin again called for seeking terms with the Germans, but got only 4 votes against 6, with Trotsky voting against. Lenin then posed the question: what if the German army advanced and there was no revolution in Germany and Austria? By 6-1, with 4 abstentions (Trotsky went over to Lenin) it was agreed that, in that event, peace should be made. But the Germans were already advancing. The issue was debated the following day. Despite some movements, the vote for Trotskys hesitation again carried 6-5. But by evening it was clear the German advance was strong and Russia was threatened. At this point Trotsky went over to Lenin and the Central Committee agreed to ask for peace negotiations by 7-5. Other party and Soviet bodies rapidly ratified this decision, although not without division, and a telegram was sent off agreeing to a renewal of the peace negotiations.

The final Brest-Litovsk Treaty and its ratification

However, Germany was in no hurry to accept and took full advantage of its position, advancing deep into the Ukraine and other areas. Eventually, the Germans came up with new, much harsher terms than before: Soviet withdrawal from Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland and the ceding of territory to Turkey in the south. The treaty also demanded Soviet recognition of the Ukrainian Nationalist Government or Rada. The implications of the Treaty for the economy of Soviet Russia were immense. They lost some of the most productive areas of Russia, especially in the Ukraine with its large assets in coal, industry and agriculture. In all they lost 40 percent of industrial capacity, 45 percent of fuel, 90 percent of sugar, 70 percent of the metal industry and 55 percent of wheat potential. The demand to withdraw the Red Guards from Finland led to a German-backed counter-revolution of considerable ferocity.

So harsh were these terms that many leading Bolsheviks, especially in the Moscow Region, again resisted acceptance and ratification. There followed another heated debate in the Bolshevik Central Committee. Lenin moved acceptance, this time saying he would resign if he didnt gain the vote. Trotsky opposed but, in the end, abstained, as did Dzerzhinsky, Joffe, and Krestinsky, giving Lenin a 7-4 majority. In early March, the Soviet Government signed the new terms of Brest-Litovsk. Full internal ratification had to go through various bodies and the debates raged on. At the Seventh Bolshevik Party Congress in March 1918, Trotsky again reiterated his opposition to accepting such harsh terms but declared he would not vote against Lenin. This was then carried by 28 votes to 9. At the all-Russian Central Executive Committee, after a speech by Lenin it was carried 116 votes to 84. On 16 March, the All Russian Congress of Soviets, after two days of stormy debate, ratified the governments decision by 784-262.

The Germans demanded Soviet withdrawal from Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland, ceding of territory to Turkey in the south and recognition of the Ukrainian Nationalist Government or Rada / Image: public domain

These details are recounted to illustrate the tradition of debate and internal democracy within the Bolshevik Party and Soviet Russia at this time. This tradition, although necessarily curbed in the acute conditions of Civil War later in 1918, nevertheless remained at the heart of the Bolshevik Party as long as Lenin and Trotsky remained at the helm. It is instructive, in view of the later cult of the personality around Stalin, that Lenin, despite his immense standing in the party and among the workers, was consistently opposed by many leading comrades throughout this process. When he was defeated he accepted it and fought on with unflinching argument in meetings and in writing.

In fact, a notable feature of Lenin throughout is that at every stage and moment of the Revolution he was not only driving the process in practice, with attention to every detail, but also writing articles, resolutions and even longer works. It is true that, in the final stages of the debates on Brest-Litovsk, Lenin threatened to resign if his views were not accepted, but this was after months of exhaustive debate and at a critical moment for the survival of the revolution. Lenin always considered it vital, at this stage of world developments, to keep the core of the revolution secure.

The left wing of the party, around Bukharin, openly stated that they were prepared for a split in the party and were willing to sacrifice the revolution on the altar of an international revolutionary war. Lenin considered this absurd posturing and wrote a biting critique in February 1918, called Strange and Monstrous. In this piece Lenin shows how the process of debate within the party was carried out. He vigorously defends the left-wings right to express its view:

It is quite natural that comrades who sharply disagree with the Central Committee over the question of a separate peace should sharply condemn the Central Committee and express their conviction that a split is inevitable. All that is the most legitimate right of party members, which is quite understandable.

But, he did not fail to condemn their reasoning as strange and monstrous, nor hesitate to call them out for revolutionary phrasemaking. Immediately after the conclusion of this drawn out process of Peace he wrote a substantial text on the broader issues it raised and called it, Left-Wing Childishness and Petty-Bourgeois Mentality. He was to return to this theme two years later in 1920 when he wrote Left-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder.

Soviet foreign policy in 1918

Before returning to the immediate issues at home it is worth noting another issue that split the Bolsheviks at this stage and it again illustrates the division between the realists and what Lenin called a petty-bourgeois mentality. This occurred over the approach the Soviet Government should take in confronting the capitalist powers.

The left wing around Bukharin, stated that they were prepared for a split in the party over the question of revolutionary war / Image: public domain

The notion widely held at one time, that a workers government would have no truck with any capitalist power, proved untenable and unrealistic. The capitalist states were not a uniform bloc and divisions could be exploited. The leftists, led by Bukharin, refused to contemplate any deals with the capitalists. Lenin and Trotsky tended to operate on the pragmatic and realistic side, although, as we have seen, Trotsky sometimes took longer to reach the same conclusions as Lenin. Occasionally, it was the other way around, with Lenin acknowledging that Trotsky had been correct. In the Central Committee in February 1918, Trotsky argued in favour of accepting arms from any country, even capitalist ones, on the one condition that no political obligations were given to these countries in return. This was hotly debated and only carried 6-5 with Lenin not attending but supporting the proposal. In the end, this proposal was without effect because the vague offers of support from USA, Britain and France were predicated on keeping Russia in the war so as to keep Germany pinned down in the east. Once the Brest-Litovsk Treaty was finally signed the other imperialist powers declined Russia any assistance.

In the wake of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty a dual, inter-meshed foreign policy emerged: to promote world socialist revolution and defend the national security of the Soviet Republic. This would last as a consistent and integrated approach throughout the civil war and until the fight against the aggression of the allied powers finally ended in early 1921. Stalin later tried to portray a split between Lenin and Trotsky over the issue of world revolution or socialism in one country. In fact, this is entirely false and distorts the real split, which was between Lenin and the left communists that included Bukharin, Radek and Uritsky.

Lenin, like Trotsky, remained a powerful advocate of world revolution and indeed frequently said that it was the only hope for the long-term success of the Russian Revolution. Lenin said that if necessary he would be in favour of sacrificing the Russian Revolution for a German Revolution, if it occurred, which would be on a much higher level and would hasten world revolution. The difference between Lenin and Trotsky was essentially one of balance. Trotsky was slower than Lenin to realise that the German Revolution would take time to mature, over-estimating the prospects for revolution.

Early struggles on the periphery

The general headquarters of the Russian Army, a veritable citadel in a time of all-out war, was situated away from Moscow and Petrograd. Here the Bolsheviks were weak. The soldiers Committee of the Armies, which had been elected at the beginning of the February revolution, was controlled by the SRs and had a cosy relationship with the generals. Six days after the October Revolution, they decided to oppose the Bolsheviks and march on Petrograd. But the mood of the soldiers, who welcomed the revolution, prevented this. When Lenin then called on the soldiers to elect new delegates and organise for an armistice with Germany, the old army establishment was doomed. These elections were held on 18 November. Following these elections, General Dukhonin, the supreme army head, who had defied the Bolshevik Governments orders, was arrested and executed.

From October to March, the strong tide in favour of the Bolshevik-led Soviet Government had swept most urban and working-class areas of Russia. Even in the strongly nationalist areas of the Ukraine, parts of the Caucasus and the Don region, Red forces had been triumphant. Local soviets had sprung up everywhere. Most of the troops were with the Bolsheviks and the peasantry were broadly supportive as they saw their land needs being addressed. But from that point on the situation for the government became more and more difficult. The ending of the First World War proved a key factor in the west, as German troops occupied so much of the land that was highly productive for all parts of the economy. The Germans and their allies were keen to weaken Russia as far as possible and also to undermine Bolshevism by arming and encouraging nationalists and elements of the old order in Russia, principally the old Tsarist generals and officers, so that they could mount an effective counter-revolution. This, in effect, was the start of three years of brutal civil war.

Anti-Bolshevik, White forces in Russia, 1918 / Image: public domain

A number of generals and officers of the Imperial Army fled south to the Ukraine, where the Government was nationalistic and anti-Bolshevik. An Army of Volunteers, as the first White force was called, led by General Kornilov, gathered in the south, with more officers than men. Ukrainian nationalism, infused with certain elements of socialism, attempted a form of self-government under the old parliament, called the Rada. Eventually, struggles broke out between Bolshevik supporters in Kiev and the nationalists; the Reds took Kiev in January. Ukraine fell largely under Bolshevik control by February 1918.

After November there was a general strike in Finland. This was largely victorious but there was no revolutionary workers party prepared to take power. So, the workers took matters into their own hands and took power in Helsinki, driving out the bourgeois government. Still, the social democrat leaders failed to drive through a revolution and opted for radical but piecemeal change. The Russian Government passed a decree giving independence to Finland at the end of 1917. Momentum gathered in 1918 and by February a new constitution was established providing for an elected assembly every three years along with other highly advanced features.

The Finnish social democracy attempted the highest ever form of bourgeois democracy. But, in the circumstances, it was utopian and met with fierce armed reaction. The bourgeois launched a White terror, using a battalion of Finns in the German army. Red Guards and soviet supporters flocked to support the working class. Soviet forces had to withdraw under the terms of the Brest Litovsk Treaty. Vicious fighting then led to extreme white terror and the defeat of the Red forces. Up to a quarter of the proletariat were subsequently killed and murdered (100,000).

The Caucasus area was complex with many nationalities and conditions. This proved a difficult area for the pro-Bolshevik, revolutionary Red forces who were initially defeated by a combination of so-called socialist Georgians and reactionary Turks and Tartars.

In the Don region, another complex war occurred, involving several old imperial generals, complicated by divisions within the Cossacks population. The Cossack cavalry had traditionally been used by the Tsarist regime as a force for reaction. When the October Revolution, occurred the Don Cossack Council declared independence. General Kaledin welcomed former officers and some soldiers from the old imperial army and thus began the formation of a White army that was to play a lasting role in the ensuing civil war.

In December 1917, the Soviet government sent a Red Guard force to assert Soviet control. At this stage, the White forces were ill-equipped, poorly organised and unable to resist the Red forces. As a result, the Don Cossack Council agreed to yield to the Soviet forces, causing General Kaledin to commit suicide. The tide turned in May 1918 due to the German invasion in the west and the growth of the White forces under Generals Kornilov and Alekseev. The Cossack leadership rebelled against the Soviet administration and, with the improved White forces, armed and supplied by the French and British, were able to defeat most Red forces and resume control over large areas. In the process, there were many massacres and atrocities against Bolsheviks and the working class generally.

In Siberia and in the Central Asia regions Bolsheviks also achieved early success in the main centres, only to suffer reversals at a later stage.

The White Forces

The White movement and its armies were so-called because the colour white was associated with the Tsar. They represented the old defeated classes of the monarchy and the bourgeoisie. The movement, as such, did not have a strong social base. It drew in various elements dissatisfied with the Bolshevik regime, usually reactionary nationalist elements. Few wanted to see the Tsar restored, except the leaders and especially the army leaders, who became, in effect, petty dictators.

The Red Army, under Trotsky, achieved a strong, centralised leadership and had a clear purpose of defending the revolution / Image: public domain

In general, the White leadership was against separate national states and desired a return to a united empire. There was also a strong current of antisemitism within the White armies. Western sponsors expressed dismay at this, especially as the Bolsheviks had prohibited antisemitism and appeared more progressive. Winston Churchill personally warned General Denikin, whose forces effected pogroms against the Jews, that my task in winning support in Parliament for the Russian Nationalist cause will be infinitely harder if well-authenticated complaints continue to be received from Jews in the zone of the Volunteer Armies.

One of the abiding weaknesses of the White forces was their lack of unity. The leaders squabbled and there were many who joined the umbrella of the Whites simply because they opposed the Bolsheviks, rather than having a united vision of what they wanted. Ultimately, this played into the hands of the Red Army, which, under Trotsky's command, achieved a strong, centralised leadership, and, of course, always with the clear purpose of defending the revolution.

Backs against the wall

Whilst the broad mass of the working class continued to give their support to the Bolshevik Party, activists within the party were often split on crucial issues. The issue of whether or not to wage a revolutionary war against Germany and its forces of occupation proved one of the more divisive questions that very nearly led to a complete split in the party.

The division started in February, when the Moscow Region Committee took a left position and called for non-acceptance of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty and the heroic sacrifice of the Russian proletariat on the altar of internationalism. Lenin provided a powerful critique of this position, calling them Communists of misfortune and talking despair. By March this tendency had crystallised into an organised faction and were called Left Communists. They were led by Bukharin with the support of Radek and Uritsky, among others, and published a paper called the Kommunist. Several members of the faction were elected to the Central Committee but they refused to serve.

The two tendencies faced off at the 7th Party Congress in March 1918. Lenins position on peace was supported by Zinoviev, Smilga and Sverdlov. Trotsky also sided with Lenin but urged war in Ukraine against the German occupiers. Lenin, whilst not against such a move, argued for space and time to build up forces. It was at this Congress that the name Communist Party (Bolshevik) was adopted and it was agreed to review the Programme of the Party.

In April 1918 Lenin published The International Position of the Russian Soviet Republic and the Fundamental Tasks of the Socialist Revolution. In it, Lenin argued that at that time a brief respite existed when all efforts had to be made to tackle the issue of organising the new Soviet system in an administrative sense. This required honest accounting, no stealing and strict labour discipline. The most class-conscious workers must lead the drive to implement these slogans among the masses.

The aim was to establish a productive and efficient system that began to address the accumulated chaos of the war years and restore some order and benefits for people weary and close to despair. In the conclusion Lenin stated the situation clearly:

An extraordinarily difficult, complex and dangerous situation in international affairs; the necessity of manoeuvring and retreating; a period of waiting for new outbreaks of the revolution which is maturing in the west at a painfully slow pace; within the country a period of slow construction and ruthless tightening-up, of prolonged and persistent struggle waged by stern, proletarian discipline against the menacing element of petty-bourgeois laxity and anarchy: these in brief are the distinguishing features of the special stage of the socialist revolution in which we are now living.

Trotsky struck the same note in March when he gave a speech to a Party Conference. He emphasised the need for labour, discipline and order and urged that specialists be given a role in managing industry. In the same vein, he justified abandoning the principle of the election of officers in the Red Army, arguing that it was now a proletarian army and the need to challenge the Imperial officers through elections no longer applied. They needed the best, most-skilled and experienced to fill officer roles. The Left Communists published a critical response in their paper, Kommunist, which opposed the army reforms and at the same time called for the faster expropriation of capital and the cooperative organisation of production and distribution based on full workers control and management. Lenin replied in a series of articles in Pravda in May 1918, called Left Infantilism and the Petty-Bourgeois Mentality.

Lenin replied to the Left Communists in a series of articles in Pravda in May 1918 called 'Left Infantilism and the Petty-Bourgeois Mentality' / Image: public domain

The major debates that ensued through the Spring and Summer within the Party are important and instructive but require a more detailed analysis than can be offered here. Suffice it to say that, having lost the vote at the March Congress the Left Communists then lost their positions on the Supreme Council of National Economy and shortly afterward lost their control of the Moscow and Urals regional organisations. When the Soviet government, under different conditions, nationalised all large industrial enterprises in late June, many Left Communists considered this to be a correct economic policy and shifted their support back to Lenin. By the end of the summer, the Left Communists no longer existed as a distinct opposition group.

Political opposition outside Bolshevism

Efforts to overthrow the Bolshevik Government at home had not disappeared. In fact, in the harsh conditions of spring and summer 1918, when famine stalked the land, their efforts grew. Although the bourgeois parties, such as the Cadets and the Octobrists, had little support, there was lots of intrigue and rumour with foreign powers seeking to find suitable organisations to back. Several right-wing organisations and conspiracies were attempted. The Right or Moscow Centre (businessmen, landowners and conservative and liberal politicians) had a military department but was weak and disorganised. The National Centre, which split off from the Right Centre in June 1918, was a rallying point for the Cadet Party. Overall there was no real drive or unity between any of them and they were easily and, relatively leniently, dealt with by the Cheka.

The petty-bourgeois parties, which included the SRs of Left and Right, the Anarchists and the Mensheviks, did have a potential mass base given the weight of the peasantry in the country, and could have posed a serious problem for the Bolsheviks. But, as Lenin pointed out, the petty-bourgeois parties, like the class they represented, wavered and vacillated at every turn, becoming revolutionary one moment and, when things got difficult, siding with the bourgeoisie, or turning to terrorism. Not surprisingly the mass of peasants was largely uninterested.

The Right SR Party, lacking their base in the Constituent Assembly, had nowhere to go except an alliance with the White forces. This they did in a more and more overt fashion. In the spring of 1918 Savinkov, a veteran SR conspirator, helped to establish the Union for the Defence of the Motherland and Freedom. It claimed to have 5,500 members, but they were scattered all over the country. Its objective was to overthrow Soviet power and establish a military dictatorship. They had financial support from several imperial powers, notably France. Several leading members were arrested in May 1918 and its planned actions were foiled. Savinkov and others remained at large and tried to organise armed uprisings in several towns in July 1918, but these were easily overcome and the organisation faded away. Savinkov and other Right SRs re-emerged in the short-lived Samara Government on the Volga (described in more detail below).

The All-Russian Soviet Executive had representatives of all parties that participated in local and regional Soviets. Thus it had left Mensheviks, Left SRs and others. But in June, as the struggle for survival became paramount it was agreed to expel all those parties who were instigating civil war against the Soviets. This was both logical and necessary. This removed Right SRs and Mensheviks and left only Left SRs and Bolsheviks.

The terrorist wing of the Right SR Party, the so-called Battle Organisation, had one last throw of the dice at the end of August 1918 when they sought to assassinate a number of leaders, including Lenin and Trotsky. Lenin was shot by Fanny Kaplan and was lucky not to have been killed. Although struck in his shoulder and neck he survived and recovered after the operation and a short convalescence. The plot to kill Trotsky failed when he altered his planned route to Kazan at the last moment. Uritsky, the President of the Petrograd Cheka, was less lucky and was killed.

The Left SR Party ostensibly represented the poor peasantry but in practice tended to base themselves on the middle peasantry. They had a significant position in the Soviets. They left the government over the Brest-Litovsk Treaty in March 1918 but continued to offer critical support to the Bolsheviks for a period.

At the Fifth All-Russian Congress of Soviets in early July 1918, the Left SRs had 353 delegates out of 1,164. Nothing illustrates the vacillating and intemperate nature of petty-bourgeois revolutionaries better than the debates at this Congress, where the Left SRs hysterically attacked the Bolsheviks for their determination to maintain discipline in the Red Army on the border with Ukraine. The Left SRs had been agitating amongst these units, inciting them to join guerrilla bands inside the Ukraine and attack the German occupiers. Calling for discipline, Trotsky asked for approval of an order to shoot those responsible for fomenting such division and adventurism. The Left SRs erupted with fury but were soundly defeated in the vote.

When Dzerzhinsky, the Cheka leader, confronted the Left SR Committee in Moscow they arrested him and proceeded to use Cheka forces they controlled to occupy key parts of Moscow. With this act, they effectively 'committed suicide' / Image: public domain

Later, one of their leaders, Maria Spiridonova, made wild accusations against the Bolsheviks and was calmly rebutted by Lenin. Then news arrived at the Congress that Left SR agents had infiltrated the German Ukraine headquarters and assassinated the German ambassador, Count Mirbach. When Dzerzhinsky, the Cheka leader, confronted the Left SR Committee in Moscow they arrested him and proceeded to use Cheka forces they controlled to occupy key parts of Moscow. In the event, they lacked any popular support and the rebellion was put down in a day. Arrests and some executions followed. As Victor Serge says in Year One of the Revolution, The Left SR Party had committed suicide.

Anarchist groups were also present in most towns, but many were self-styled and close to banditry. They had gained some support, generally fighting with the Reds in November. They had their own Black General Staff, and were armed. In the period after March, they assumed a more anti-Bolshevik position and moved to violence. However, disarming them proved easy as they had little broad support. Hundreds were arrested but most of those who were genuine anarchists by conviction were released and allowed to operate more or less freely with their organisations, press and clubs. The anarchist movement in the Ukraine led by Makhno is a different story and is dealt with in a later installment.

After the October Revolution, the Menshevik Party became a shadow of its former self and had split into left and right factions. The weakness of the Mensheviks is revealed in the elections for the Constituent Assembly, when they only managed 3 percent of the vote. However, they were relatively strong in the Caucusus region, where they had taken a strongly pro-nationalist line. They had a majority position in Georgia and from May 1918 led an independent government, under the general permission of the Germans, known as the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Nationally, most Mensheviks who had not joined the Bolsheviks increasingly sided with counter-revolutionaries. Martov and the left faction continued to operate in a more principled fashion but became increasingly hostile to the Bolsheviks.

The end of the Romanovs

A brief mention should be made of the denouement of the Tsar and his family, the Romanovs, which occurred in the summer of 1918.

In July 1918, Ekaterinburg (where the Romanovs were being held) was virtually encircled by White forces and the Urals Soviet decided to execute the Tsar and his family / Image: public domain

After February 1917, the Romanovs had been held in comparative ease at the imperial palace at Tsarskoe Syelo. But after the July 1917 days of upheaval, the Provisional Government decided to place the family deeper into Russia in the remote Siberian town of Tobolsk. After the October Revolution, the question of what to do with the Tsar and his family became a more burning topic, as they clearly provided a rallying call for the counter-revolutionary forces. After a White Army approached the Tobolsk in April 1918, the Bolsheviks moved the imperial family west to Ekaterinburg in the Urals. In July, Ekaterinburg was virtually encircled by White forces and the Urals Soviet decided to execute the family.

The economic crisis and feeding the urban population

Prior to Brest-Litovsk and the German occupation of Ukraine, the Russian economy was already in a poor state. The effects of years of war and then the upheaval of revolution meant that production and distribution were massively disrupted. Moreover, as in all belligerent countries, the economy had become heavily oriented to the needs of war and the millions of troops that were required. The loss of the valuable economic areas of Ukraine, Caucasus and later the Don region provoked a major crisis after March 1918.

The primary and immediate problem was the need to obtain sufficient grain to feed the people, especially in the urban areas. The harvest was still to come. People were hungry and desperate. Riots and uprisings over lack of bread were not uncommon. Lenin said at this time, To get bread, that is the basis of socialism today. This called for desperate measures. The first of these was the creation of the Food Commissariat with sweeping powers (decree of 27 May) to supply the population with objects of primary necessity. The Food Commissar was Tsurupa, and among his powers was the ability to remove local commissars, override local soviets and in certain circumstances institute court proceedings against disobedient representatives of local soviets.

What ensued was a battle between the consuming, needy provinces and the producing provinces that held surpluses of food, often hoarded. Special armed detachments, recruited predominantly from Bolshevik-supporting factories, were attached to local food committees in the producing districts. Wealthy peasants, known as kulaks, were those mainly responsible for hoarding grain and other food resources. On 11 June, the Soviet regime set up Committees of the Poor all over the country. These committees were empowered to distribute grain, products of prime necessity and agricultural machines and to cooperate with local food brigades in taking surplus grain away from kulaks and other richer peasants. Incentives were offered to the poorer peasants to participate in this process. There was provision to exclude from any expropriation the slightly better-off peasants who possessed just a few livestock and hired one or two labourers, as long as they were basically self-sufficient. This was reinforced in August 1918 when a letter was circulated to try to prevent the alienation of middle peasants.

Certainly, there were many excesses and ferocious battles. 26 peasant uprisings were recorded in July, 47 in August, and 26 in September. In some cases, old scores were settled. In some instances, bandits and thieves joined the committees; and in some, genuine local communists were driven out of important and potentially lucrative posts such as the collection of local taxes. But, the tactic of splitting the villages on class lines was broadly successful. In regions where there was much poverty among the peasants the actions against kulaks and others were more severe. In areas closer to the big cities, there was greater control and order.

At their height, the Committees of the Poor numbered tens of thousands and as a policy they prevented a complete breakdown of society. There was famine and great hunger but it would have been much worse without such drastic, organised intervention. By November 1918, the crisis was passing and the Committees of the Poor were dissolved and there were new elections for local soviets, which included the best representatives of the old Committees. The two bodies were in effect fused. On 8 November 1918 Lenin declared Soviet policy in the village would be:

To reach an agreement with the middle-class peasantry, not relaxing for a moment the struggle against the kulak and relying firmly only on the poor.

The impact of the continuing food shortages can be seen in the major loss of population suffered by the towns and cities where people moved to the countryside to find food. Petrograds population, for example, declined from 2.3m in November 1915 to 1.4m in July 1918.

Meeting the military threat: Trotskys role as head of the army

The first soldiers of the revolution were the Red Guards, largely recruited from the working-class and Bolshevik soldiers and sailors. But in order to bring order and unity, a stronger and larger force was necessary. In the first stages of the revolution, no conscription was possible. The Bolsheviks had pledged peace and the old army was disintegrating and going home.

A decree on 28 January 1918 laid down the basis for recruiting a voluntary Red Army. There was an Initial sign-up for three months, and a salary of 150 rubles a month, along with some privileges and exemptions for the family. More than 100,000 recruits signed up in the next two and half months but efficiency and quality were often very low. The troops were liable to be ill-disciplined, to endlessly debate orders and make impossible demands. In addition, some criminal elements joined. This early Red Army was capable of defeating poorly organised, internal dissidents but no match for the German Army in Ukraine, nor the emerging White armies.

The Supreme War Council was set up on 1 March 1918 and took over the organisation of the Red Army. On 5 March, Trotsky was appointed chair. In early April, Trotsky was also appointed Commissar of War. He got to work immediately, determined to create a disciplined armed forces, in sufficient numbers and led by competent officers, with good planning and organisation. In these aims, he met plenty of opposition both from within and outside the Bolshevik Party.

In April, Trotsky was appointed Commissar of War. He was determined to create a disciplined armed forces, in sufficient numbers and led by competent officers / Image: public domain

Trotskys immediate task as the new Commissar of War was to conjure a new army out of practically nothing. Of the Imperial Russian Army, only the division of Latvian Riflemen was useful and reliable, and thus retained. The remnants of Red forces opposing the Whites on the various fronts often acted as scattered bands of partisans with little control and discipline. Red forces generally were poorly trained, equipped and led. But Trotsky rapidly transformed the Red Army into a disciplined, effective fighting force comprising several Red armies fighting on multiple fronts.

Trotskys first pronouncements on military policy in March 1918 were directed primarily at the party and the Soviets and called for Work, discipline and order. He noted that, in its first assault on power, the Bolsheviks had necessarily been anti-militaristic and had pressed for democracy in the army, electing commanders and challenging orders etc. But the new situation required a new approach that would enable the workers to defeat the enemy. This meant accepting former Tsarist officers who pledged to assist the Soviet government. Not only were they skilled in leadership but also often possessed technical and military knowledge lacking in the largely working-class layers that formed the Red Guards.

However, many within the Bolshevik Party, especially the Left Communists, fiercely resisted Trotskys proposals. Stalin, and some of the established Red military leaders, also opposed these ideas. Lenin and a majority of party leaders understood the necessity of adopting Trotskys position. Indeed Lenin took Trotskys theme of discipline, order and utilising skills from the within the old classes and adopted it in a much wider social and economic context, supporting the use of managers, professional and technical experts in running factories and other vital parts of economic life. For Lenin, as with Trotsky, the politics of the moment dictated the course of action.

Lenin laid his plans before the All-Russian Soviet Executive in April and they agreed on proposals for military training, new disciplinary codes and utilising the skills and expertise of former Tsarist officers. On 22 April, the government set out the policies in a Decree. Under this policy, all workers and peasants who did not hire labour would receive 12 hours of training over an 8-week period every year. The practice of electing officers was abolished and refusing to obey orders became a punishable offence and capital punishment was reintroduced for the most serious breaches of discipline. In seeking to improve army organisation, Trotsky created provincial, county and township war commissariats responsible, among other things, for the general military training of the adult population.

Trotskys scheme for a new Red Army did not pass without serious opposition. In April 1918, when he laid his plans before the All-Russian Soviet Executive, he met with opposition from many quarters. His decision to recruit former army officers provoked much outrage from Mensheviks and Left SRs. Martov accused Trotsky of paving the way for a dictator. More seriously, there was opposition from within the Bolshevik Party. The Left Communists rejected the idea of a centralised standing army and saw the recruitment of former officers as a compromise with the old regime.

Although the partys Central Committee backed Trotskys plan it was not without misgivings and much behind-the-scenes complaining. Trotskys position on the issue of hiring former officers and specialists touched on a wider issue of relations with the old order. Trotsky and Lenin recognised the reality that the new state lacked skilled professionals, technicians and managers from among the working class. The choice was to ignore the resources available and build from scratch, or to employ such resources on behalf of the revolution and use such people to help train new generations.

However, utilising these elements, who were inevitably conservative in outlook and sceptical of the revolution, carried dangers. Some officers were White sympathisers and later defected. But, in the crisis situation of the summer of 1918, the young new state had little practical alternative. To help offset the bias or deviation of the officer corps, political commissars were attached to all the levels of command in a form of dual power. To prevent officers from sabotage or deserting to the Whites, a register was kept of the officers families to be held as possible hostages.

The first to volunteer from the old Imperial Army was General Bonch-Bruevich, who was made head of General Staff. Trotsky discussed with other officers and they came over later in April. At the same time, Trotsky always sought to appoint communists and revolutionaries as officers if they had proven to be effective and disciplined leaders in military combat. Nevertheless, eventually the majority of officers were from the old army, and by the end of 1918, 30,000 former officers of the Tsarist Army were serving in the Red Army. Some proved to be traitors or unreliable and Trotsky used serious disciplinary measures if they stepped out of line, including the death penalty and using the officers family as hostages.

As well as creating a strong and centralised army, Trotsky set about establishing improved administration, equipment and supplies. In the conditions of 1918, this was difficult but gradually began to have an impact. This was greatly aided by the fact that Trotskys Deputy at the Supreme War Council, directing its day to day activities, was the brilliant organiser Sklyansky, whom Trotsky described as the Carnot of the Russian Revolution (Lazare Carnot was dubbed the Organiser of the Victory in the French Revolutionary Wars following the French Revolution of 1793).

By mid-1918, efforts to re-organise and invigorate the Red Army were still on-going and meeting resistance / Image: public domain

Finally, Trotsky laid great store in developing intensive educational and propaganda programmes to instil into the new army conscripts a spirit of commitment and devotion to the cause of the revolution. Agitprop techniques in drama, poster art and other methods were an integral element in creating a determined mood in a fighting, disciplined Red Army.

Forging an effective army was one matter but Trotsky also succeeded in reorganising the whole supply and administrative apparatus; again, not without struggle. Once the scale and urgency of the situation was realised, he was able to convince the government of the need to ensure the army was properly equipped and armed. This took time, but the process was started as soon as he took over as amy supremo. It was also quickly realised that a volunteer army was going to be insufficient to build the army rapidly to the level needed. This became apparent by the summer of 1918 and measures of conscription were introduced for working class and peasants only. Before conscription, Trotsky made appeals, especially to the Petrograd and Moscow workers, to volunteer, and many did so. These layers formed the heart of the new army, as they were committed and had self-discipline.

In May 1918, the Soviet government resorted to partial mobilisation as a response to the crisis caused by the Czech Legion turning against the Bolsheviks. The country was still war-weary and most of the peasants could not be relied upon, so the order applied only to conscript workers in Moscow and Petrograd, plus some in the regions most affected, such as the Don and Kuban areas; 51 counties in Siberia; the Urals and in the Volga Provinces. In July, orders were made to force those from bourgeois backgrounds aged 18-45 to undertake hard and dirty, non-combative tasks on the home front. This was sometimes carried out harshly. The formerly well-to-do classes in towns and countryside were forbidden to bear arms. Eventually, the principle of mobilisation was extended to young workers and peasants throughout the country. In August 1918, the Red Army numbered 331,000. This increased to 550,000 by September and 800,000 by end of the year. In October Lenin, foreseeing the end of the First World War, called for an Army of 1 million.

By mid-1918, efforts to re-organise and invigorate the Red Army were still on-going and meeting resistance. Luckily, the White forces were also ill-organised and fractious, whilst the imperial powers were still locked into the First World War. The initial foreign interventions were all peripheral at Murmansk, Archangel and Vladivostok. In central Russia, the Bolsheviks were able to consolidate their power in comparative safety.

The Czech Legion and the deepening civil war

By the end of March, Germany and her allies had occupied all the areas ceded under the Brest-Litovsk Treaty. There was no certainty they would stop at the agreed treaty line. Feeling that Petrograd was threatened, the Soviet government was moved to Moscow. One fall-out of the peace agreement was the position of a Czech nationalist force, augmented by 30,000 Czech prisoners of war, that had fought with the Russian army. They were now trapped in Russia.

Masaryk, the Czech nationalist leader, wanted to deploy them in France, so as to gain allied support for an independent Czechoslovakia after the war. To that end, he ordered them to make their way across Russia by the Trans-Siberian railway to Vladivostok for embarkation. Until this point, the relationship between Bolsheviks and the Czechs was reasonably good and there had been some collaboration against the advance of Germans into the Ukraine. But, despite an agreement on partial disarming and passage through Russia to the East, relations deteriorated. The more reactionary elements of the Czech leaders, urged on by Russian army officers who also served in the Czech army, led to resistance and a revolt by the Legion in May 1918. The British and French were only too eager to exploit Czech discontent to spark opposition to the Bolsheviks and thus establish new White fronts in the central and eastern areas of Russia. In this they succeeded. A plan by the Soviet Government to split the Czech forces as they made their way to the east led to tension, which boiled over in late May, and the Czech forces revolted, easily taking over several key towns along the Trans-Siberian railway. In many areas the Soviet power was weak and the Red forces lacked discipline and strong leadership.

In May, the Czech forces revolted, taking towns along the Trans-Siberian railway / Image: public domain

By June 1918, the French had moved from apparent neutrality to actively encouraging the Czech forces to stay and assist anti-Bolshevik elements. They saw the role of the Czechs to secure the Trans-Siberian railway in advance of a Japanese intervention from the East. By July, the Czech force had declared itself to be a new eastern front against Bolshevism. Resistance by Red forces in far eastern Siberia was stronger and the Czechs only managed to secure the areas around the railway near Vladivostok.

Two quasi-governments emerged following the success of the Czechs. The Western Siberian Commissariat announced its existence on 1 June. It derived its claim to authority from SRs who had been members of the Constituent Assembly. They declared for democracy, goods exchange and the re-establishment of the Constituent Assembly; and the autonomy of Siberia with its own flag. The general assessment of Siberia is that the peasants and workers were largely passive, not having the main concerns of war, hunger and so on of their western counterparts. They were not especially hostile to the Bolsheviks, but Bolshevism was weak in these territories. The initial Western Siberian Government, which had a radical tinge, was soon replaced by more conservative and reactionary elements and by July a purge and oppression of soviets and left elements began in the areas under its control.

The second quasi-government to emerge in the central/eastern region became known as the Samara Government, after a town in the Middle Volga where it was set up. Initially comprising SR Party activists it joined up with parts of the Czech Legion and rapidly
The rise of automation and artificial intelligence is keeping many Americans up at night, worrying about their jobs, and certainly those of their children. The World Bank predicts that 57 percent of all jobs in developed countries could be automated in the next two decades. Some studies suggest that almost half of all current jobs will be made redundant while others suggest that past technological innovation created enough new jobs to make for those lost.

by Joel Kotkin

http://www.newgeography.com/content/006151-the-gig-economy-americans-and-the-future
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.
Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will arrive in Egypt on Monday for a two-day visit, part of a tour of several Arab countries, Egypts presidential palace said.

The prince is expected to hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to discuss bilateral relations.

El-Sisis spokesman Bassam Rady added that "means of boosting cooperation in various fields as well as political issues of common concern within the strategic framework between Cairo and Riyadh," will also be discussed.

The Saudi royal visited the UAE on Thursday and travelled to Bahrain on Sunday.

He is expected to visit Tunisia on Tuesday, following his stay in Egypt.

At the end of the month, he is also expected to participate in a G20 meeting in Buenos Aires, which will be attended by other G20 state leaders, including those from the United States, Turkey and several European countries.

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Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawki Allam said on Monday that granting women and men equal inheritance rights across the board violates Islamic law and the consensus of Islamic scholars throughout time.

The Mufti  who is in charge of issuing religious edicts  explained that the concept of general equality between men and women in inheritance is against Islam's teachings. All inheritance laws are detailed in the Quran in a clear way, he said.

Islamic Sharia generally stipulates that males inherit double the share of females, but allows women to inherit the same as, or more, than men in some cases.

"Religious texts have ordained a man's right to inherit twice that of a woman in certain cases. The division of inheritance in these cases has been decided by definitive and conclusive Quranic verses," the Mufti said.

The Mufti's comments come two days after the Tunisian cabinet approved on Friday a law on gender equality in inheritance.

The legislation will be sent to the Tunisian parliament to be further discussed and ratified before becoming effective in the country.

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Trade turnover between Russia and the UK may reach $14 billion by the end of 2017, according to Boris Abramov, a Russian trade representative in the UK. Businesses are clearly shrugging off the singularly fraught relationship.

The volume of mutual trade has nearly reached $10 billion from January through September of the current year, marking a 29 percent growth compared to the same period a year ago, Abramov said at the 4th Russian-British Business Forum, kicking off in London.

The Russian official added that non-resource exports had increased by eight percent during the indicated period.

By the end of the year, we expect mutual trade to reach $14 billion, Abramov said.

Also on rt.com Make Moscow evil again! UK general claims Russia is worse than ISIS

The comments come amid steadily escalating diplomatic conflict between Moscow and London. Russian-British relations have sunk to historic lows this year after the UK government blamed Russian military intelligence of poisoning former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

The incident, that is still being investigated, evoked a wave of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions between Russia and the Western countries, including toughening of US sanctions.

Last week, the new head of the British army General Mark Carleton-Smith said Russia posed a bigger threat to the UK national security than Islamic terrorist groups such as al-Qaida and Isis.

For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
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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,
Italian police say they have detained five Egyptians accused of smuggling a boatload of 264 migrants from Libya to Sicily.

The overloaded fishing boat pulled into the Ragusa port Saturday, its third day at sea, and the migrants disembarked and were registered.

Police said Monday that the migrants, most of them from Eritrea, identified the five Egyptian crew who charged them 1,500 euros apiece for the passage.

While most migrants are rescued at sea before reaching Italy, some do occasionally make it if their original boat is sturdy enough.

Overall, migrant crossings to Italy began decreasing in 2017, after Italy's previous government negotiated deals with Libyan leaders and militias. The numbers have dropped further after the current government cracked down on humanitarian groups operating rescue missions in the Mediterranean.

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Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity
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Chadian President Idriss Deby will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday, the first such visit by a leader of the central African nation which severed bilateral ties in 1972, Netanyahu's office said.

Two N'Djamena government sources confirmed Deby's trip.

"The visit is focused on security," one source told Reuters, adding that Israel has supplied the Chadian army with weaponry and other equipment this year to help in its fight against northern rebels.

"This is the first visit of a Chad president in Israel since the establishment of the state (of Israel). It follows many diplomatic efforts led by Prime Minister Netanyahu in the last few years," the statement said.

The Netanyahu government has been investing in outreach to Africa, where some countries previously warm to Israel have kept their distance since its occupation of the Palestinian territories in the 1967 Middle East war.

In July 2016, Deby hosted the then-director of Israel's Foreign Ministry, Dore Gold, for exploratory talks on improving bilateral relations. Gold told Israel Radio on Sunday that his Chadian hosts told him that they had cut off ties 44 years prior under Libyan pressure, a factor removed with the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

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For over three decades the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill have turned on for the holiday season brightening the lives of kids of all ages. Folks in these parts know all about us, but now we have an opportunity to spread our Christmas Holiday tradition with the entire country through USA Todays 10 Best Public Holiday Lights Display.

Just visit this link https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-public-holiday-lights-display/legendary-lights-of-clifton-mill-clifton-mill/

You can vote every day through December 15. Lets do this Ohio and Miami Valley!

The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mills 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. The lights come 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.

MostMetro.com is making it east to see the lights with our Hoiliday Beer & Light Tour! Board the 937 Party Bus at Dayton Mall, Elder Beerman parking lot and well treat you to a holiday beer tasting as we ride out to Clifton, well drop you off to take a walking tour through the grounds and then well get back on the bus and head back to the South Suburbs. Your$35 ticket will include the beer, the bus ride and your ticket into Clifton Mill. Reservations Required.
Senior Shuffle for Kantar Australia

Kantar Australia will move Alistair Leathwood, Jonathan Sinton and John Evans into new senior roles in January next year, as Chief Commercial Officer, head of Kantar TNS and Head of Operations respectively.



Kantar's Insights Division in Australia comprises TNS and Millward Brown.



Leathwood (pictured) leaves the role of Executive Director of Kantar TNS Australia for the newly created CCO role, focused on driving growth via development and conversion of new commercial opportunities, partnership and new revenue streams. His experience spans twenty years in the UK, USA and Australia: he worked at UK firms Thomson Publishing and Datamonitor, then served as MD at UK firm FreshMinds Research before moving to Australia and joining Colmar Brunton as Joint MD. He joined TNS Australia in early 2014 as Executive Director in charge of the Sydney team, replacing Sinton.



Sinton now returns from the US to step into Leathwood's shoes at the helm of Kantar TNS, having spent the last five years in New York as Kantar's Global Digital Director. Earlier in his career he worked at Frank N. Magid Associates and then at Research International.



Evans will assume responsibility for all of Kantar Australia as Head of Operations, and brings more than 25 years of experience, the last thirteen of them with Kantar Millward Brown and National Field Services in Australia. He has particular expertise in combining more traditional IT software programming skills with market research software to automate data delivery.



Leathwood remains on the Kantar Australia board and will be joined by both Sinton and Evans. According to Kantar Australia CEO Jon Foged, the appointments 'will positively impact our people, drive the evolution of how we work and strengthen our client development immeasurably'.



Web site: www.kantaraustralia.com/insights .






'E-levy is retrogressive, can't be used ...
An assault by the Islamic State (IS) militant group in eastern Syria has killed at least 92 US-backed fighters in three days, a war monitor said Monday.

It was the highest death toll the jihadist group has inflicted against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in a single offensive, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

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By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Following several operational creditors challenging the decision of Essar Steels Committee of Creditors (CoC) to sell the debt-ridden steel major to ArcelorMittal at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) has followed suit.

The bank has filed an interlocutory application in the bankruptcy court saying the decision was illegal and was taken without considering its claims.

Last month, a committee of Essar Steel lenders picked ArcelorMittals Rs 42,000-crore proposal to take over the debt-laden company as the winning bid. ArcelorMittal had proposed paying Rs 41,987 crore out of Rs 49,395 crore in total dues owed to financial creditors. Operational creditors, under the plan, are to get just Rs 214 crore against the outstanding of Rs 4,976 crore.

Aggrieved by the decision over two dozen operational creditors filed separate interlocutory applications in the Ahmedabad-bench of NCLT. Their petition had demanded that ArcelorMittal pay in full all dues of operational creditors, or that the CoC consider a Rs 54,389 crore proposal made by Essar Steels owners.

Others like GAIL India Ltd and Gujarat Energy Transmission Corp (GETCO) had also filed separate applications seeking rejection of ArcelorMittals bid.

SCB, for its part, has more than 7.5 per cent weightage in the Committee of Essar Steel Creditors, and has pleaded before the NCLT that ArcelorMittals revised bid of Rs 42,000 crore was never considered by the CoC. The manner of conducting the 21st CoC meeting dated October 22, 2018 and e-voting on the voting resolutions approved on October 24, 2018 and October 25, 2018 is non transparent, flawed and illegal and was carried out with an intention to deny legal right to (SCB) to take an informed decision on the Revised Resolution Plan (of ArcelorMittal), the banks petition said.

SCB had lent Essar Steel a principal amount of Rs 2,646 crore but the CoC admitted only Rs 60.71 crore for repayment out of the auction proceeds, SCB stated. Consequently, SCB has pleaded for the quashing of the decision of CoC which had passed with 92 per cent of creditors of Essar Steel voting in favour of handing over the company to ArcelorMittal.

SCB also said the details of the Rs 42,000 crore revised resolution plan of ArcelorMittal, including the distribution among the creditors, was not circulated along with the agenda of the meeting. It is an admitted position that the Revised Resolution Plan was never discussed in the CoC meetings, since there have been no CoC meetings on or after October 23, 2018 (when the Revised Resolution Plan was received), it said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The government plans to complete the sale of Air India ground handling subsidiary AIATSL by March 2019, an official said.

Air India is reeling under a huge debt burden of over Rs 50,000 crore and the government is planning to sell its non-core subsidiaries of the national carrier.

"We are looking to conclude a strategic sale of Air India Air Transport Services Limited (AIATSL) in current fiscal. We will soon invite bids from merchant bankers for managing the sale process," the official told PTI.

The sale proceeds would add up to the government's disinvestment kitty.

The government has so far has raised over Rs 15,200 crore from CPSE stake sale in current fiscal as against the budgeted target of Rs 80,000 crore.

The government is launching a follow-on public offer of CPSE Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) on November 27, targeting to raise up to Rs 14,000 crore.

As part of its plans to take forward the strategic sale of non-core assets of CPSEs, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has already identified assets of loss-making Air India which are to be hived off.

As per the latest data, in 2016-17, two subsidiaries of Air India - AIATSL and Air India Express Ltd - posted profits. While AIATSL earned Rs 61.66 crore profit in the financial year 2016-17, another subsidiary AI Express earned a profit of Rs 297 crore.

Some of the other subsidiaries of Air India include Air India Charters Ltd, IAL Airport Services Ltd, Airline Allied Services Ltd, Air India Engineering Services Ltd and Hotel Corporation of India Ltd.

Besides, catering services provider AISATS - a 50:50 joint venture between Air India and SATS Ltd - too posted a profit of Rs 66.06 crore in 2016-17.

Under the administrative control of Ministry of Civil Aviation, AIATSL is 100 per cent subsidiary of Air India and was incorporated in June 2003 with the objective of carrying on the business of providing all types of services at the airport.

Industrial / Business operations of AIATSL include rendering airport ground handling services, including passenger, ramp, security and cargo handling for Air India.

The strategic sale plan follows the decision by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley led ministerial panel in June to make Air India competitive, by way of cutting down debt and raising resources by selling land assets and other subsidiaries.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) had decided to revive Air India after the government's offer to sell 76 per cent stake in the airline failed to attract any bidder earlier this year.

The government had originally proposed to offload 76 per cent equity share capital of the national carrier as well as transfer the management control to private players.

However, the stake sale failed to attract any bidders when the bidding process got completed on May 31. In June, the GoM then decided not to go ahead with Air India stake sale in an election year.
By Express News Service

JAIPUR: Mahindra and Mahindras (M&M) Korean subsidiary Ssangong Motor Company (SMC) will not be foraying into the United States (US) market anytime soon, with the Indian auto major deciding to hold back plans to introduce Ssangyong products to the US.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Mahindras new SUV  Alturas G4  M&M managing director Pawan Goenka responded to queries on Ssangyong by disclosing that there were no plans to change the Korean brands name.

If we had done the launch of SsangYong in the US we probably would have launched it with a different name...in fact we have decided right now to put it on hold (US launch), Goenka added. M&M had acquired SMC in 2011.

Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra had last year indicated that M&M might introduce SMC models to the American market, while inaugurating a new $230 million plant in Detroit.

As far as the name change is concerned, Goenka observed that the jury was still out for now. Our global distributors are against it. As of now we have not decided on it, as this matter is not in our priority list right now, he said.

The company is also not considering launching Ssangyong in India anytime soon. In the short term to medium term horizon we dont see SsangYong brand coming here.... As long as we are able to get the connect with Korean manufacturing and engineering, I dont think we need to bring SsangYong brand here, Goenka noted.

M&M currently sells the Alturas G4 in Korea under Ssangyongs Rexton brand, but has launched the product under the M&M badge here. The company is also planning to launch the upcoming compact SUV code-named S201, based on SsangYong Tivoli, under the Mahindra brand.

To establish a new brand in any new market is huge effort and not something that can easily work. Many well known big SUV brands have not been able to sell (in India). It is a wise thing for us to do, Goenka said.
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON: To hear President Donald Trump tell it, he was made for a moment like this: A high-stakes face-off. A ticking clock. A cagey adversary.

The man who calls himself a supreme dealmaker will have the opportunity this week to put himself to the test. The question is whether he can defuse a trade war with China that is shaking financial markets and threatening the global economy  and perhaps achieve something approximating a breakthrough.

Trump is to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, during the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday and Saturday. Unless the two leaders can achieve a truce of sorts, their conflicts will likely escalate: On Jan. 1, the tariffs Trump has imposed on many Chinese goods are set to rise from 10 percent to 25 percent, and Beijing would likely retaliate.

ALSO READ | China-backed trade deal pushed back to 2019

Most analysts have said they doubt Trump and Xi will reach any overarching deal that would settle the dispute for good. The optimistic view is that the two sides may agree to a cease-fire that would buy time for more substantive talks and postpone the scheduled escalation in U.S import taxes.

Yet no one really knows. Each side seems prepared to wait out the other in a conflict that could persist indefinitely.

In advance of the meeting, Trump has sounded his usual note of boastful confidence. Speaking to reporters on Thanksgiving Day, he said:

"I'm very prepared. You know, it's not like, 'Oh, gee, I'm going to sit down and study.' I know every stat. I know it better than anybody knows it. And my gut has always been right."

Most trade analysts are skeptical that any significant agreement is likely this week.

"Expectations should be very low," said Wendy Cutler, vice president of the Asia Society Institute and a former U.S. trade official who negotiated with China. "We need to be very clear-eyed. It's going to be a very difficult negotiation. The issues at hand don't lend themselves to quick solutions."

The trade war erupted last fall after Trump imposed import taxes on $250 billion of Chinese goods, and Beijing retaliated with tariffs on U.S. exports. The justification for the U.S. move, according to Trump, is that Beijing has long deployed predatory tactics in its drive to supplant America's technological dominance. The administration alleges  and many trade experts agree  that Beijing hacks into U.S. companies' networks to steal trade secrets and forces American and other foreign companies to hand over sensitive technology as the price of access to China's market.

Beijing disputes those allegations and asserts that Trump's sanctions are merely an effort to hinder an ambitious rival.

Besides the scheduled escalation in U.S. tariffs on USD 200 billion in Chinese goods  an additional USD 50 billion in Chinese imports already face the higher tax  another threat looms: Trump has threatened to tax USD 267 billion more in Chinese imports. At that point, just about everything Beijing ships to the United States would face a higher import tax.

Growing concerns that the trade war will increasingly hurt corporate earnings and the U.S. economy are a key reason why U.S. stock prices have been sinking. As of Friday's close, the Standard & Poor's 500 index has shed roughly 10 of its value since setting a record high Sept. 20.

Joining other forecasters, economists at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development last week downgraded their outlook for global economic growth next year to 3.5 percent from a previous 3.7 percent. In doing so, they cited the trade conflict as well as political uncertainty.

Some big U.S. companies, in reporting quarterly earnings in October, warned that they were absorbing higher costs from Trump's increased tariffs, which have been imposed not only on Chinese goods but also on imported steel and other goods from other countries.

"We need some certainty," said Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council and a former American diplomat. "The U.S. and China cannot go into a trade war and not affect global markets ... We need to resolve our differences."

Yet as Trump and Xi prepare to meet, the backdrop is hardly encouraging. Acrimony between the two sides disrupted this month's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Papua New Guinea. The 21 APEC countries, torn by differences between Beijing and Washington, failed to agree on a declaration on world trade for the first time in nearly three decades. Vice President Mike Pence and Xi sniped at each other in speeches.

Then last week, U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer issued a report charging China's efforts to steal U.S. trade secrets have "increased in frequency and sophistication" this year despite American sanctions.

"China fundamentally has not altered its acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation, and indeed appears to have taken further unreasonable actions in recent months," the report concluded.

The tenor of the report suggested that the United States would take a hard line into this week's talks. In the meantime, "the amount of uncertainty is unprecedented and very disquieting to the markets," said Allen of the U.S.-China Business Council.

ALSO READ | Trump thinks US will have a trade deal with China

Clouding the outlook is are mixed messages from the Trump administration itself. The White House appears divided between hawks like Trump's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, and free traders like the top White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow. On Nov. 9, Navarro delivered a combative speech suggesting that Trump didn't care what Wall Street thought of his confrontational China policy.

Four days later, Kudlow went on CNBC and dismissed Navarro's remarks as "way off base."

"They were not authorized by anybody," Kudlow said. "I actually think he did the president a great disservice."

Regardless of which approach Trump takes to Buenos Aires, Trump and Xi don't have to resolve their differences this week. A cease-fire that suspends any further escalation of the U.S. tariffs wouldn't be unprecedented. The administration and the European Union, for instance, reached a truce last summer that suspended threatened U.S. tariffs on European auto imports.

ALSO READ | China open to trade talks with US

"My personal guess  and I'm sticking my neck out here  is that there will be some kind of cease-fire agreed to," said Matthew Goodman, a senior adviser on Asian economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Goodman noted that Trump appears concerned about tumbling stock prices, and Xi is contending with a decelerating Chinese economy. A truce would bring at least a temporary calm.

"No one is expecting they will come out with a solid agreement," said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial. "What the market wants  what the market needs  is a sense that they are negotiating and that the negotiations will continue."
Samuel Merigala By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Infra Projects (EIF) to hand over the keys of Vengadamangalam waste management facility, which handles the wastes of Sembakkam, Pallavaram and Tambaram municipalities. In the termination notice accessed by Express, failure to begin electricity production from municipal waste has been cited as the primary reason behind the decision to pull the plug.

The move comes even as the Central Electricity Regulation Commission is in the process of resolving a dispute between the company and the State Electricity Regulation Commission over tariffs for the power that would be generated in the 50-acre facility. Essel Infra Projects has been ready to initiate the waste to energy process (Phase 2) if Rs 7.5 is paid for every unit of electricity produced. But, it is learnt that Tangedco is adamant about paying not more than Rs 6.16 per unit.

How can we invest in infrastructure if the second phase is not viable with the tariff offered, argued a representative of the company, claiming that the company is suffering a loss of Rs 30 lakh every month to keep the plant operational. In the termination letter, the acting commissioner of the municipality claims that the construction of the waste to energy plant is very minimal and the insistence on the tariff being fixed prior to even starting the construction is not agreeable.

However, representatives of EIF claimed that the government has already violated the agreement by stopping waste from Pammal and Anakaputhur and continuously defaulting on the minimum daily waste load of 270 tonnes.

Tambaram, Pallavaram and Sembakkam municipalities have begun sending high calorific non-recyclable waste directly to cement factories by cutting us out of the mix, said the representative, claiming it is part of the attempts to strongarm EIF out of the facility by making it to incur losses.

While it is unclear if the termination notice is going to be challenged in court and whether the taxpayer will have to cover for the Rs 54 crore investment that has gone into the plant, a halt in operations is sure to leave the suburbs teaming with garbage.
By IANS

NEW DELHI" Demanding an amendment in the Constitution, the Delhi Assembly on Monday passed a resolution moved by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain to bring Delhi Police under the elected government and to make it accountable to the Legislative Assembly like in other states.

Jain, through the resolution moved and passed during a special session of Delhi Assembly, demanded that "necessary steps be initiated by the Government of India to devolve certain powers to the elected Government so that it is in a position to have control over Delhi Police in implementing its decisions" while the amendments were pending.

The demands came after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was attacked with chilli powder in the Delhi Secretariat last week, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blaming the BJP and Delhi Police for the attack.

"The Union government take immediate steps, in large public interest, to initiate necessary steps to bring the police in Delhi under the control of the elected government of Delhi and to make it accountable to the Legislative Assembly as in the case with any other state in India, by way of amending the Constitution and relevant laws," Jain said in the Assembly.

Jain said that Delhi had became totally "unsafe for its inhabitants".

"The elected Chief Minister and Ministers can be attacked in their own office and at public events hosted by the elected government. Those who attack the CM have the audacity to file complaint against the elected CM and pressure Delhi Police to register FIR against the Chief Minister."

He also said that in spite of Delhi Police officials on duty being the witnesses to such attacks, the police "tries to hush them up with grossly illogical arguments which have turned the Delhi Police sadly in to a butt of ridicule".

He also said that Police were not accountable to the elected government, the Legislators and the Assembly who were charged with the responsibility of looking after the overall well-being of the people.

The elected government, Jain added, was not in a position to remove deficiencies in the service of people on account of certain limitations imposed by the Constitution which kept "police out of the purview of the elected government".

He also said that it was necessary for the elected government to have certain degree of control over law enforcing agencies to ensure that decisions taken by it in public interest were implemented.

Kejriwal, supporting the resolution, added that, "due to subversive, disruptive and anti-people instructions given to Delhi Police by Union Government through Lt. Governor, the elected Government is not in a position to enlist any support from Delhi Police even in enforcing central laws such as Essential Services Maintenance Act when needed.

"It has become a huge and unassailable challenge for the elected Government to discharge its functions and to look after public interest in the absence any control whatsoever over Delhi Police," he said.

While Jain was presenting the resolution, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and MLA Kapil Mishra were marshalled out for creating ruckus in the Assembly on different issues. Meanwhile BJP MLAs Jagidish Pradhan and Om Prakash Sharma walked out of the Assembly.

"This is 19th time I am marshalled out from Delhi Assembly within five minutes of start of session. My fault - I demanded discussion on Contract employees, Pollution and Bangladeshis," Mishra tweeted.

The AAP MLAs also demanded the exclusion of Delhi Police from the Rs 1 crore compensation policy for martyrs.

The Chief Minister had rejected the demand earlier and also rejected it in the House.

During the discussion, party MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said the money was paid from the taxpayers money and the government should think about it.

Speaking in the House, Chief Minister Kejriwal said he will not oppose the money as, he feels, "over 95 per cent of the police force is not corrupt and are hard working and deserve the respect and money".

The Assembly also passed a resolution "to abolish the National Pension System and reinstate the old Pension System in the interest of lakhs of government servants.

"The pension, which the employees get, is from the Centre. If we had the power, we have would changed the law in just 24 hours. I want the Centre to change the policy for the Delhi government employees and to restore the old Pension System," Kejriwal said.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University on Sunday rejected the allegation by its students union that it had not released merit-cum-means (MCM) scholarships worth Rs 50 lakh to BA and MA students for the past eight months.

There is no provision for MCM funds in the annual grants received from the University Grants Commission. Therefore, the JNU has been giving MCM scholarship from the tuition fees collected from its students, read a statement from the office of the varsitys finance officer.

The total fees collected from the students is only Rs 1.90 crore yearly. But JNU has been disbursing, on an average, Rs 3.50 crore every year, which far exceeds the amount collected in fees from JNU students. With the current fee structure in JNU, meeting the cost of the MCM scholarship is becoming very difficult. Moreover, with the rise in the number of students in the university, the number of applications for MCM has also increased, it added.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union had alleged that the money for MCM was allocated from the universitys funds, and if the administration did not have money to release to students, it meant the money was being illegally diverted for other purposes.

Majority of the students submit their scholarship forms for MCM only once or twice in a semester, not each month, and so the disbursal of money, too, is done accordingly. The forms for MCM scholarship until November 2018 are being processed and the students will get their money shortly. There is no delay in disbursing scholarships, the statement read.
Princy Alexander By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Aruna Sankaranarayanan first shot to fame when she and her friend developed the Chennai Flood Map in 2015. The app, which had gone viral, was recognised by the United Nations and exhibited at the UN-Habitat III conference in Ecuador. The engineering wizard who was in the city for a talk organised at Cochin University of Science and Technology says she is also focusing on making classical music more accessible to the public.

Through this project, people will have easier access to sound recordings of Indian classical music on Wikipedia (under the Wikimedia Commons, a website of the Wikipedia Foundation), which are not under a strict copyright.

Such a system becomes useful when offline copies of Wikipedia/Commons are taken to areas where there is no access to the Internet, like on a CD or another storage device. Further, the recordings themselves will improve the richness of the content on Wikipedia.

Indian Classical music has always been quite elitist in India. The availability of recordings in the public domain, free of any charge, will help in making classical music more accessible and enable anyone with an Internet connection to access them, she said.

Right now, she has been uploaded over 50 Indian classical songs on to the Wikimedia Commons and is getting like-minded classical music enthusiasts to do the same.

My father has always been a huge Carnatic music afficionado. I have often accompanied him to a blink-and-miss shop in a hidden alleyway in Malleswaram in Chennai from where he sourced new audio cassettes to add to his ever-growing collection. My interest in Carnatic music peaked when I was about 17. The lyrics of the various songs  spiritually rich and full of stories from Indian mythology caught my fancy, she said.

She came across the dearth of sound recordings of Carnatic and Indian classical music when she was associated with editing articles for Wikipedia.

She is pressing forward with her project and hopes that more recordings can be brought under the platform, using the open source software. In India, classical music recordings came to the public domain 55 years from the date of recording. Those interested in contributing recordings to Wikipedia can reach Aruna at aruna.evam@gmail.com.
Britain Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman welcomed the pardon of British academic Matthew Hedges by the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned and released Hedges, jailed for life on spying charges, by granting a request for clemency.

UAE President and Abu Dhabi ruler Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued the clemency for Hedges on Sunday, along with over 780 others to mark the country's forthcoming National Day.

Emirati officials insisted they had developed a strong case against Hedges.

At a meeting of journalists convened in Abu Dhabi on Monday, the UAE capital, officials showed short video clips of Hedges purportedly acknowledging his intelligence work.

``He was a part-time PhD researcher, a part-time businessman, but he was a 100-percent a full-time secret service operative,'' said Jaber al-Lamki, an official with the UAE's National Media Council.

``Mr. Hedges has been found guilty of espionage,'' al-Lamki added. ``He was here to steal the UAE's sensitive national security secrets for his paymasters.''

In his statement, al-Lamki said Hedges had routine access to doctors and lawyers, while British Embassy officials attended his court hearing.

Daniela Tejada, Hedges' wife, told the BBC she couldn't wait to have him back, calling the time since his May 5 arrest at Dubai International Airport ``an absolutely nightmarish seven months.''

``In my heart, I know that he isn't a spy,'' she said.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also welcomed the decision on Hedges, tweeting it was ``fantastic news.''

He said Britain did not agree with the charges against Hedges but added that it is ``grateful to UAE government for resolving issue speedily.''

``We've seen no evidence to support these accusations,'' Hunt said, adding that the U.K. is ``deeply perplexed'' by the charges.

The Emirates' state-run WAM news agency alleged Hedges sought information for British intelligence on weapons systems, economic data, details about the UAE's war in Yemen and ``sensitive information on key government figures, including members of the UAE ruling families and their networks.''

Hedges' research for Durham University focused on security issues.

On Wednesday, a closed session of the Federal Appeals Court of Abu Dhabi found Hedges guilty and sentenced him to life in prison.

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By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The transport department's plan to hike auto fares has irked both passengers and a section of auto drivers who say the decision will discourage people from opting the three-wheeler mode of public transport.

Transport Minister AK Saseendran who held a meeting with the auto unions informed that they would consider the recommendations made by Justice Ramachandran committee, a state fare revision committee headed by former High Court judge M. Ramachandran. A decision will be taken in this regard before December 1. The committee report will be sent for the cabinet consideration and a final decision taken at the next cabinet meeting.

As per the current rate which was fixed in 2014, the base price for a 1.5 km auto ride was fixed at Rs 20. The passenger will be charged Rs 10 for every subsequent kilometre. A few auto drivers have expressed anger over the decision to hike the fares. " If the concerned authorities had considered a Rs 5 hike, it was more reasonable. However, a Rs 10 hike will affect our patronage as people won't opt for our services citing it is costly," said Ramesh Kumar (name changed), an auto driver who operates in Pattom.

"Auto drivers who only operate from their respective stands will be happy with the move. However, drivers like us who are willing to ferry passengers en route trips will have to bear the brunt of the hike," he added.

There have been several complaints in the past where auto drivers charge exorbitant fare from the passengers citing fuel price hike. The drives always charge extra and we have no choice but concede to their demand, said Ragani Sanal, a housewife.

Pattom Sasidharan, AITUC state secretary of Kerala State Private Motor Thozhilali Federation said they had called off the strike called by autorickshaw and taxi drivers and owners on November 18, demanding a hike in fares. "The decision was taken after the meeting with the Transport Minister who conceded to our demand. We have asked him to increase the fares based on the Ramachandran Committee. He said the final decision will be taken after the cabinet meeting," said Pattom Sasidharan.

The committee report recommends raising the minimum fare of autorickshaws from Rs 20 to 30 while the minimum fare for taxis will be raised from Rs 150 to Rs 200. For each subsequent kilometre, the rates will increase by Rs 12.

"Charging passengers based on metre readings does not give us beneficial remuneration. The fuel prices are increasing. We are looking forward to a favourable decision from the government, said an auto driver from Sasthamangalam.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD/VIJAYAWADA: Former Union minister and Rajya Sabha MP YS Chowdary, popularly known as Sujana Chowdary, came down heavily on Enforcement Directorate (ED) and accused it of falsifying facts and involving his name in an unrelated issue.

Two days after the ED raids on eight premises, including his house and his fathers residence and seized six high-end cars, and asked him to appear before the agency on November 27, Chowdary spoke with the media on Sunday at his Jubilee Hills residence in Hyderabad.

The ED has named me without verifying the facts and issued a note stating that the companies have done a fraud of 5,700 crore, which seems like a falsification, Chowdary said. The TDP MP said the allegations made by the ED that there is a fraud of 5,700 crore by Sujana Group of Companies, involving 120 shell companies, and attributing it to him, are all false.

I have not taken part in any of the companies matters ever since I entered politics in 2010, he clarified. Taking the side of Sujana Group of Companies, Chowdary said, I believe the companies I established will not indulge in any illegal activities and do not involve in frauds. There is no rule that one cannot establish 120 companies. I have spoken to the Sujana Group directors and they said they have not involved in any fraud, he said.

The ED claimed the searches were in connection with a case booked at Chennai, following a banks complaint on Best & Crompton Engineering Projects Ltds fraud. It is no crime to take loans from banks. If any fraud has been committed by any company, how can the ED sleuths attribute it to me and the companies of which I was a part earlier. The ED has given judgement before conducting a trial, Chowdary said.

On the ED summoning him to appear for questioning on November 27, Chowdary said he told the ED officials that he can attend the questioning only after the Parliamentary sessions starting on January 9 next year. After becoming a Rajya Sabha MP from TDP in 2010, Chowdary said he had resigned from the post of director of the companies and now the ED without knowing the facts released false statements.

He said that Best & Crompton firm was established by his friend. He like several businessmen visited him seeking suggestions to develop his businesses.

After I entered politics and moved out from the Sujana Group of Companies, I have not taken salary from the companies. My legal team is looking into the aspects of the note issued by the ED mentioning that the fraud is done by me and also if ED can do searches and seizures under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, said Chowdary, challenging the ED to prove the allegations against him.

With regards to the six cars seized from his residence, he said three of the six cars were registered on his sons name and two cars were registered on his wifes name and an old car, which is not worth `3 lakh was brought from Delhi, to keep it as a memory.

Meanwhile, another TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas, also known as Nani, too came out in Chowdarys support and said the BJP-led Centre is witch-hunting Chowdary.

Srinivas challenged will the Income Tax dare to raid BJP national president Amit Shah, whose son Jay Shahs name cropped up in a case related to income tax.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Hitting back at Congress leader and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi who had expressed her sadness over the alleged lack of development in the State, TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao wondered what saddened her.

Speaking at a public meeting in Shadnagar on Sunday, the TRS chief sarcastically questioned Sonia Gandhi: Unlike during Congress rule, there are no farmer and weaver suicides now. Is that what saddens you? There are no power cuts today unlike during Congress rule. Is that what saddens you? Are you sad to know that around 50,000 people are taking Rs 5 meals in Hyderabad? Are you sad that we (TRS) have provided potable water to people under Mission Bhagiratha? Some newspapers reported that Sonia Gandhi had a sinking feeling. I do not know whether she really said that or if reporters misquoted her, Rao said and asked Gandhi whether the implementation of Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima schemes disappointed her.

Not ending his sarcastic queries, the TRS chief launched an even more scathing attack, saying: Are you sad about not getting monthly mamools as you did in undivided AP? Perhaps it saddened that you are not getting bagfuls of money like in the past?

Claiming that separate Telangana developed one crore times more than it did in undivided Andhra Pradesh, he said: It is the nature of the Congress to hoodwink people. You promised to waive crop loans in Punjab, but after coming to power, the Chief Minister (Amarinder Singh) said the State has no funds and waived only Rs 1,400 crore, so far. We will not cheat the public like you do.

On Sunday, the TRS chief addressed six election meetings at Tandur, Parigi, Narayanpet, Devarakadra, Shadnagar and Ibrahimpatnam, and during all these meetings he took on Sonia Gandhi for claiming Telangana was underdeveloped.

Sonia had made those remarks at a public meeting in Medchal on November 23. Rao was also upset with Sonia for assuring special category status to AP if Grand Alliance comes to power, and that too during an election meeting in Telangana.Who wrote the script for you? Some useless fellows wrote the script and Sonia read out the same, Rao said.

The TRS chief also threw a challenge at AICC president Rahul Gandhi. Next time, you visit Telangana to address an election meeting give a clarity before seeking votes, he said.Congress may accord special status category (SCS) to AP. Or you may drown in Ganga. Let there be clarity. Rahul gives a clarity on whether the same benefits given to AP will be extended to Telangana too or not. Prove your sincerity by spelling out your stand on Telangana. Seek Telangana votes only after clarifying this, Rao demanded. The TRS chief told the voters that extending industrial sops to AP would pose a grave threat to the very existence of industries in Telangana. Rao did not spare the Telangana Congress leaders too.

When the Telangana was merged with AP when Sonia delayed the formation of Telangana for 14 years and now when Sonia talked about SCS to AP in Telangana, the State Congress leaders did not utter a single word. The Telangana Congress leaders are spineless and they are cowards, Rao thundered.

Like in the previous public meetings, Rao termed TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu as mental. Naidu says he constructed Hyderabad. Quli Qutb Shah will commit suicide if he heard Naidus words. When Naidu constructed Hyderabad, why he failed to construct Amaravati in the last five years, Rao said.

Additions to manifesto

Hyderabad: TRS manifesto committee chairman K Keshava Rao on Sunday morning submitted, representations received from various groups for inclusions in the manifesto, to TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao. The manifesto committee, based on the representations, made a few suggestions for inclusions, which will be released soon. Meanwhile, several Seemandhra associations in the city announced their support to the TRS. Also, several BJP leaders, including BJP city vice-president Govind Rati, from Goshamahal Assembly segment joined TRS in the presence

of TRS leader KT Rama Rao.
V Nilesh By

Express News Service

SIDDIPET: Walking around Siddipet, ask anyone about their MLA and its almost unlikely that you will hear something bad. A case in point is the story that 25-year-old washerman Lakshmipati has to tell. A resident of Chinna Kodur, Lakshmipati says the dhobi ghat built for them by the government was not in a desirable location following which they approached their MLA and Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao.

We told him that we had a problem with the location and he immediately helped us get a new one constructed where we wanted it. Thats not all. An association of washermen met Harish Rao and sought help to build a community building; he immediately sanctioned Rs 5 lakh and said we could meet him if more support was required, says Lakshmipati.

His house is near the Siddipet bus stand, says auto driver Mallesham. If you have any grievance you can go there straight and he himself will address the issue. What if Rao is unavailable? His wife tends to the grievances and they are addressed once Rao returns. Of late, Rao has been very busy and the complaints are diverted to municipal chairman Rajanarasu.

If its a serious issue, one can expect Harish Rao to pay a visit to the aggrieved, he adds. From what people say, their MLA is literally just at an arms distance from them, always accessible, even though he handles a heavyweight portfolioas a minister - irrigation.

The development and beautification of the Siddipet town is visible. We met V Satyanarayana along the banks of Komati Cheruvu.This park has proven to be useful for senior citizens like myself, says Satyanarayana. Its a spot for families to unwind over weekends.Mahesh, another visitor in the park, was quick to point out that the park gets crowded as it was the only such facility in town.

There are other developments too, underground drainage works have been taken up in Siddipet municipality, a government medical college is being constructed there on a sprawling 50-acre site and roads, for most part, are well maintained. But, its not like there are no complaints.

Where are the jobs, please?

Youngsters are with Harish Rao as residents of my village have benefitted from various schemes started by the TRS government. But now, the focus should be on bringing factories and industries to Siddipet so that we get jobs. Currently, educated youngsters have to go to Hyderabad to find jobs. If Harish Rao ensures that, he will win elections forever, says Raju, a youngster from Chinna Kodur village.

In the rural areas where a majority of people are dependent on farming, the flagship scheme of TRS government, Rythu Bandhu and expectations of plentiful water through construction of reservoirs taken up by the TRS government have become strong factors in favour of the sitting MLA.

R Karunakar, working for a government organisation on contract basis in Siddipet says: Even if people want to give a chance to someone else, where are the leaders from opposition parties who can stand a chance to win against Harish Rao? For the last 35 years, Siddipet has been represented in the Assembly by TRS strongmen, first by the party supremo K Chandrasekhara Rao and later by Harish Rao.

In 2014 elections, Rao won with a record majority of 93,328 votes. This election, the Congress has cleverly avoided fielding anyone from its party in Siddipet and has allotted the constituency to TJS that has fielded a rookie, Bhavani Reddy, who had earlier worked in Siddipet as a TSRTC employee. The BJP has fielded Naini Narotham Reddy. Many in Siddipet did not even know name of the BJP candidate.
A Sharadhaa By

Express News Service

Ambareesh, the Rebel Star of the Kannada industry, earned the reputation of being a problem-solver. Also known as the Ajatha Shatru (a man without enemies) of the industry, the 66-year-old gave a voice to each and every actor, director and technician, without emphasising his superstar status.

When he signed Ambi Ning Vayassaytho, despite his standing in the industry, Ambareesh continued to be a directors actor. In an earlier interview with CE, he had said, The first lesson to learn is that an actor needs to respect the directors chair. Off the sets, they may be friends, but when it comes to work, remember that they are the captains. A Sharadhaa speaks to Sandalwood actors who share the same sentiment  that of having lost a father figure

Kannada industry has become an orphan today

Having grown up meeting Ambareesh regularly, Shivarajkumar addressed the actor-politician as uncle. The Kannada industry has lost another pillar. He saw me growing up, and was more like a father-figure not just to me, but to my entire family. The last time I met uncle was at an event for The Villain in Dubai, after which, we had stayed in touch over the phone. Its hard to digest the fact that he is no more. With the passing of stalwarts like Appaji (Dr Rajkumar), Vishuvardhan and Shankarnag, I feel that the industry has become an orphan.  Shivarajkumar, actor

Sudeep pays tribute to the person who lived life king-sized

Sudeep took to social media to share his grief over the loss of Ambareesh. In a post where he addressed the Rebel Star as mama, Sudeep said: Its one of those days where you have a bad dream and you tell yourself, lemme please wake up so that the nightmare stops. The world of cinema received another big blow, once again a bad one.

We lost another Legend. With him, We lost our Leader, a parent, a guide, a blessing hand, a voice, a strength, a power, a shoulder, a friend, we have lost a beautiful soul. The news was heartbreaking, but seeing the Legend sleeping like this is heart tearing. We all have known him and seen him as one Dynamic personality who commanded respect every place he was present at and an Unmatchable Aura. A person who had no boundaries n lived life KING SIZE. I always felt he was a blessed child. Felt this way coz I rarely saw anyone not liking him, I havent yet come across someone who could avoid or ignore him. He earned friends every place he went and that still remains a mystery as to how he only had friends n not a single FOE. In short, a completely rare human, one of a kind.

We always feel Certain stories or certain lives shouldnt end n he falls in both these categories. I wish I could rewind a few situations,, I wish I could turn back the clock, I wish I could go back to that day when I gave my 1st ever shot in cinema(falling to his feet), I wish I go back to the first ever time I saw him where I hear the doorbell in Shimoga, I run to open the door n find this tall dark man standing with a sling bag, wearing a white Kurtha, n I hear my fathers voice from behind me saying volage baarayya Ambi. Will miss u mama.  Deepu (sic)

He will live in us forever

Director Yogaraj Bhat fondly recalled the making of the song, Bombe Adsonu, for the film Drama. Good memories will never die, and he will live in us forever, he said.

 Yogaraj Bhat, director

Hard to digest that Rebel Star is no more

Today, we witnessed a tragic moment in the Kannada film industry, an actor who played diverse characters, someone who set a base and continuously kept inspiring the whole film industry. My deepest condolences to this great man and his family may his soul rest in tranquil. Its hard to digest this since I met him a week ago. he was giving me a rose that day its time for me to put one on him. RIP, THE REBEL STAR (sic)

 Sreeleela, actor

Unfortunately, I didnt have opportunity to work with sir

For Dhananajay, Ambareesh was a role model, whom he wished to emulate. He is an example of how one should lead a good life, as an actor, politician, family person and friend. He was a good human being and an all-rounder, says the Bhaivara Geetha actor, adding, Its unfortunate that I did not have the opportunity to work with Ambareesh sir.

 Dhananjay, actor

Left us too soon

I have been thinking all day what to write a send or message to you. Words dont come out, the heart sinks, I dont want to believe ur not around any more. The endless coversations meets and memories cannot end like this in a flash. U left us too soon. An era has ended this empty space that has formed can never been (sic)  Ragini Dwivedi, actor

Our house is named after Ambi

Senior Kannada actor, Sudhir, looked up to the star to an extent that he named his house Ambi Nilaya after Ambareesh. Sudhirs son, Tharun Sudhir recalls the years 83-84 when his father, a character artiste, told Amabareesh that he was building his own house. So impressed was he that he invited my father to Chennai when he got to know about it.

My parents went to meet him, and spent the entire day with the actor, who even booked a return flight for both of them. At the end of the day, Ambareesh handed over a cheque to my mother. When she came back and opened it, she read the amount on the cheque as 5,000, which was a big amount those days. But when my father went to deposit the cheque, he realised it was not 5,000, it was 50,000. And it wasnt a loan. In gratitude, my father named the house after the star. We later built a house on the top floor, which was named Amar Villa (Ambareeshs original name was Amarnath). To this day, we still live in the same house.

 Tharun Sudhir, director

Unable to come to terms with Appajis loss

I have lost my father, and I am in shock, said the actor, who had just left for Sweden to shoot a song sequence for his upcoming film Yajamana. Post the news, Yash is said to have cancelled the schedule. The entire cast and crew will be returning to Bengaluru today. I am not able to come to terms that Appaji is no more, Yash said, ahead of boarding his flight back to the city.  Darshan, actor

News hasnt sunk in

Young director Gurudatha Ganiga had the opportunity to direct veteran star Ambareesh in Ambi Ning Vayassaytho, which released in September. I have spent at least a year with Ambareesh sir working on the project. Over time, I became close to him. I cant believe what has happened. People are discussing his death, but I still feel he is alive. It hasnt sunk in  Gurudatha Ganiga, director

Our friendship goes back 60 years

Director Rajendra Singh Babu and Ambareeshs friendship goes back 50 years. In fact, my brother, Sangram Singh spotted him, which is how he got into acting. He left home, stayed with my brother and me at our cottage in Mysuru for three years. I had a Java motorcycle and the three of us would ride that. From brothers, we became colleagues. We remained close till the end, says Rajendra Singh Babu, who directed 10 to 13 films of Ambareeshs. He has enjoyed every minute of his life, but its sad that he never took care of his own health.  Rajendra Singh Babu, director

Ambareesh was admired for his personality

Normally, actors are admired for their characters or films. But Ambareesh was admired across the country for his personality. He was like a father figure who used to chide everyone. But we knew it was for our good. Truly, he lived up to his title Ajatha Sathru. Rishab had made an appearance in Ambareeshs last film Ambi Ning Vyashtayto, where he played the role of a film director. I used to get nervous in front of him, which he taunted me about. I spent a day with him, and it was a total fanboy moment for me. I used to hesitate sitting next to him, but he put me at ease. A few months ago, there was a rumour about Ambareeshs death, but it turned out to be false. So this time too, we thought it to be the same. Unfortunately, it turned out to be true. He was the Yajamana (the head) of the industry, who solved everyones problems. Every actor had some haters, but Ambareesh was a person with no enemies.

 Rishab Shetty, director and actor

We are children left without a father

Ambrish uncle is not with us. He was our true father figure icon of our Kannada film industry. We r children left without the guidance of his fatherhood with this irreplaceable loss. He stood like my own father come what may & sorted out the situation for me that I had gotten into, No one in todays era takes so much stress or responsibility of other pain. he was the most noble man & also a very helping politician the industry has seen. We have lost a father in him being a younger generation of the film industry. (sic)

 Sanjjanaa Galrani, actor

Shocked and saddened

Im honoured and blessed to have known you uncle Ambi. Truly you were a blessing in my life and I will miss you always. @sumalathaA May care and love of those around you provide comfort and peace to get you through the days ahead. My most sincere condolences. #RIPAmbareesh (sic)  Harshika Ponacha, actor
Ashwini M Sripad By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Every time there was a crisis in the Kannada film industry, Ambareesh would intervene. People would consider him as the last resort to get issues solved in the industry and he would help them in most cases.

Noted Kannada cinema producer Sa Ra Govind recalled how his intervention would solve crises. He would lend his ear and make sure justice was done. His words had the power and everyone listened to him. He was the Supreme Court of Kannada cinema industry, he said.

In 2011, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) banned Actress Ramya for a year from acting in Kannada cinema industry after there was an issue between Ramya and producer of Dandam Dashagunam, A Ganesh. Thanks to Ambareeshs intervention, which saw the issue resolved at his residence by just talking to them. He was successful in lifting the ban on her.

READ | 'Ajatha Shatru' Ambareesh's demise leaves Kannada film industry orphaned

In 2012, when producers K Manju and Munirathna, who had produced God Father and Katarai Veera Sura Sundarangi, respectively, both starring actor Upendra had an issue about releasing both the films on the same date, the matter came to Ambareesh, who solved it amicably.

The recent #MeToo incident, involving actors Arjun Sarja and Sruthi Hariharan, too, saw Ambareeshs intervention  which was the very last time he did. He had advised both the actors not to go to court and the media. This was among the rare cases with Ambareeshs intervention which remained unresolved.

Not just the professional crises, even if there were personal issues involved, Ambareesh would intervene. When there was a tiff between actor Darshan and his wife Vijayalakshmi, it was Ambareesh who stood by them and made an attempt to solve the problem.

Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) president Chinnegowda, who knew Ambareesh for several decades, said Ambareeshs first love was cinema, and then politics. He, therefore, would rush whenever there was a crisis in the film industry.

Actor-turned-director DP Raghuram recalled that a few years back there was cinema workers federation dispute. The workers had decided to boycott the shooting. But Ambareeshs one phone call changed the scenario.
By PTI

VADODARA: Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who appeared as the special public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, on Sunday blamed the Pakistan government for delay in the trial against masterminds of the attack.

On the eve of 10th anniversary of the terror attack, he accused the neighbouring country of providing patronage to those accused in the case.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists had sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks, killing 166 people and injuring over 300.

Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was awarded death sentence by a court.

Dubbing LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as the "real terrorists" behind the attack in Mumbai in 2008, Nikam said the authorities in Pakistan should make efforts for cancellation of the bail granted to them.

"Still, a decade after the terror attack, there's little to show that Pakistan has acted against the masterminds," Nikam said.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a conference on law and justice organised here.

"The Pakistan government is responsible for delay in the trial (against the masterminds)," he said, adding that the neighbouring country needs to fight terrorism emanating from its soil.

In order to bring the guilty to book, the Indian government had in the past written to Pakistan, suggesting ways in which the trial could be expedited by cooperation through the legal channel, he added.

Hafiz Saeed was earlier put under house arrest after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack but was freed by a court in Pakistan in 2009.

He carries a reward of USD 10 million on his head, announced by the authorities in the US for his role in terror activities.
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: Police Monday arrested n accused in the 2002 Akshardham temple terror attack case, moments after he alighted from a flight here.

Mohammed Farooq Shaikh was nabbed by the Crime Branch from Ahmedabad airport, soon after his arrival from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhagrithsinh Gohil told PTI.

Two armed terrorists had attacked the temple in Gandhinagar, killing 30 people and injuring eight on September 24, 2002.

The attack followed the Godhra riots in the same year.

"Shaikh lived in Juhapura before he fled to Riyadh in 2002 after the temple attack," the police official said, adding Shaikh had arranged funds for the attack.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The CBI Monday informed a Delhi court that it has procured the requisite sanction from the authorities concerned to prosecute former Union minister P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case.

The court, however, extended till December 18 the protection granted to Chidambaram and his son Karti from arrest after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it needed two weeks to get sanction against other accused in the case.

The CBI is probing alleged irregularities in grant of FIPB approval in Aircel-Maxis deal, while the ED is probing alleged money-laundering related to the deal.
By PTI

LUCKNOW: The Bhim Army Monday said it will not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and instead support the candidates fielded jointly by the opposition parties against the BJP.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekar alias Ravan called for Dalits and Muslims of the country to unite under one banner to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "which talks of changing the Constitution".

"Neither are we going to constitute a (political) party nor will we contest (Lok Sabha elections). We will make 'Bahujan Samaj' aware and unite them against the BJP," he told reporters.

READ| Bhim Army to launch nation-wide stir from December 6 to seek release of 'wrongly' jailed leaders

"The BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) is strong and I want a strong alliance of other parties with it. I also appeal to all (non-BJP parties) to contest the elections under the leadership of (BSP supremo) Mayawati. I ask all Dalit organisations to unite," he said.

He further claimed to have the support of the country's "Muslim brothers" and said everyone was uniting against the BJP.

"We will uproot the BJP, which talks of changing the Constitution," he said.

The Bhim Army chief further accused the saffron party of taking refuge in issues like Ram Temple whenever elections approach but this time, he said, even Lord Ram will not save them.

Asked about the purpose of his Ayodhya visit, Chandrashekar said he came to find out the "reality" after receiving reports that Muslims were migrating from the temple town.

"I have got some messages that Muslims are migrating. I have realised that there is no such situation here," he said.

"I met officers and they assured me that they will not let any such thing (migration) happen and yesterday's event also passed off peacefully," he said referring to Vishwa Hindu Parishad's 'Dharam Sabha' to press for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
British Prime Minister Theresa May and her top team of ministers agreed on Monday to continue making preparations for the risk of leaving the European Union without a deal, her spokesman said.

After clinching a divorce deal with the EU on Sunday, May now faces the difficult process of trying to win over her critics and get the agreement approved by the British parliament.

"Cabinet ... held a discussion on the preparations which are taking place in the unlikely event the UK leaves without a deal being ratified," May's spokesman said following a meeting of her cabinet on Monday.

"The cabinet agreed that the government would continue to act responsibly by taking all necessary action to prepare for a no deal in March 2019."

May will make a statement to parliament on Monday afternoon as she seeks to sell the deal to lawmakers. She will then host a reception of more than 100 leaders from Britain's biggest employers and investors at her Downing Street office on Monday evening.

"She will be updating them on the outcome of the EU council and they will have the chance to ask questions," the spokesman said.

Those attending will include chief executives from sectors including manufacturing, retail, food and drink and financial services.

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Harpreet Bajwa By

Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday hit out at Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, blaming him for terror activities in the State and killings of Indian soldiers at the border.

He made the remarks at function where he laid the foundation stone along with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu for the religious corridor at Dera Baba Nanak. "I want to say something to their (Pakistan) army chief. I have also been in the army and General Bajwa is very junior to me in service. Does the army teach (you) to kill our jawans at the border? You kill them with snipers. Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot and Dinanagar?" Singh said.

He called for the immediate removal of General Bajwa and said the Pak army should learn the message of love and brotherhood propounded by Guru Nanak Dev.

Amarinder vowed to protect his State and its people "from the terror unleashed from across the border" till the last drop of his blood, and warned Pakistan of "serious consequences" if it did not put an end to the violence perpetrated against India.

Even as he thanked Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan for reciprocating India's move on developing the Kartarpur corridor, he was scathing in his criticism of Pak army Chief General Bajwa for "promoting State-sponsored terror through brutal killings" of Indian soldiers and innocent citizens.

He urged the Pakistan prime minister to rein in his army and bring an immediate end to the terror activities against Indian armed forces and citizens.

Lashing out at those who felt he should have accepted Pakistan's invitation to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony for Kartarpur corridor on the other side of the border, Amarinder asked how could he go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed by them everyday. "I want to go to Kartarpur and also visit Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib gurdwaras again, but cannot go there as I will have to enter Pakistan, which is killing my people every day," he asserted.

Amarinder recalled the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as a grim reminder of Pak-sponsored terrorism in India. He further pointed out that the Dina Nagar and Pathankot attacks in Gurdaspur district also stood out as major examples of the terror unleashed by Pakistan in this part of Punjab.

Describing terror as madness, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said he fully endorsed Amarinder's views and vowed that India will not allow its people to be killed. While India wants peace and promotes friendship, it will not allow terrorism to breed on its soil, he said, urging countries that support terror to shun this path.

Peace is the requisite for progress, said the Vice President, asserting that India wants peaceful relations with its neighbours and wanted them to change their mindsets to embrace peace.

Amarinder suggested that there should be no visa or passport for travel via the corridor, also announced his government's decision to construct a grand Kartarpur Gate, which he said would stand out as a monumental symbol to commemorate the 550th Prakash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev.

He also said Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to go to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor was "his way of thinking" but he personally could not think of going there while Indian soldiers and civilians were being killed by bullets from across the border.

As for the Central government's decision to send its ministers to the ceremony in Pakistan, he said it was for them to do as they deemed it fit. The Centre cannot close its eyes to what is happening in India as a result of Pakistan's policy and support to terrorist groups, said Amarinder and announced infrastructure works worth Rs 965 crore to ensure holistic development of Dera Baba Nanak.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The opposition Congress and NCP stalled proceedings of the Maharashtra Assembly on Monday, demanding immediate tabling of reports recommending quota for the Maratha and Dhangar (shepherd) communities in the state.

Amid the din, the House was initially adjourned for 10 minutes and later for the rest of the Question Hour.

The opposition members were on their feet, saying they will not allow the House to function till the demand was met.

When Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde called for the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil asked why the government was running away from a debate in the House on the State Backward Class Commission's recommendations over the Maratha quota issue.

"We want to discuss the quota issue. What do we discuss if we don't know what is mentioned in the report?" he asked.

The Maharashtra government had last week announced that 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.

Vikhe Patil said the city-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) had also submitted its report on quota for the Dhangar community and that the reservation for Muslims in education was upheld by the high court.

"We want the government to announce its stand on reservation for Muslims and table the reports on quota for Marathas and Dhangars in the House for discussion," he said.

The Congress leader also reiterated the party's demand for a compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for farmers in the state's drought-hit areas and Rs 1 lakh per hectare for horticulture crops.

He accused the government of not allowing Maratha organisations to hold protests in Mumbai over the demand for tabling the Backward Class Commission's report in the House.

"The House will not be allowed to function till the demand is met," Vikhe Patil said.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar also supported the Congress leader's demand.

However, state Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil rejected the allegation that the government was preventing Maratha organisations from holding protests.

"We just said that today is a sensitive day in Mumbai since it is the anniversary of the 26/11 terror attack. We told them to consider postponing the protest by a day in view of the law and order situation," Patil said.

He also said that there was no need of protests since the government had accepted the recommendations of providing reservation to Marathas under the socially and educationally backward category.

The reservation will be given within the legal and constitutional framework without hurting the existing quota, the minister said.

On the issue of quota for Muslims, he said reservation on the basis of religion given in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala did not stand in court.

"All backward communities among Muslims are given reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

If more castes need to be added, the State Backward Class Commission should be approached," he said.

Ajit Pawar objected to the minister's comments, saying the court had accepted reservation for Muslims in education.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashish Shelar then questioned why the Congress and the NCP had not tabled the Rane committee's report on Maratha reservation in the Assembly, when the two parties were in power.

He accused the two opposition parties of shedding "crocodile tears" over the issue.

"Their only agenda is to divide the society," Shelar charged.

Amid the uproar, the House was first adjourned for 10 minutes and later till the end of the Question Hour.

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.

The state government had last week said it was also committed to provide reservation to the Dhangar community under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
By Online Desk

Ten years to the day after the Mumbai terror attacks, India accused Pakistan of "showing little sincerity" in bringing to justice the perpetrators and urged the neighbouring country to give up its double standards.

"It is a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 years of this heinous terror attack, the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe still await closure, with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice. The planners of 26/11 still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity," MEA said in a statement.

The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistans soil, the MEA added.

We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice. This is not just a matter of Pakistans accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation, it said.

EAM @SushmaSwaraj : I welcome the statement made by US Secretary of State @SecPompeo on the 10th anniversary of #MumbaiTerrorAttacks calling upon Pakistan to bring to justice perpetrators of the attack. pic.twitter.com/dNrnlXmGXp  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 26, 2018

The 26/11 attack case has completed its 10th year but none of the seven suspects in Pakistan has been punished yet, showing that the case had never been on its priority list.

READ HERE | US asks Pakistan to act against 26/11 perpetrators

Mumbai came to a standstill on this very day in 2008 when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who came to India's financial capital via the sea route from Pakistan carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city.

The attacks took place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, Cama Hospital, Nariman House business and residential complex, Leopold Cafe, Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower, and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel over a span of four days, killing 166 people and injuring over 300.
By PTI

BHILWARA: The Congress was in power when the Mumbai attacks took place but questioned the BJP government's surgical strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Monday, hitting out at the opposition party on the issues of terrorism and Naxalism.

The prime minister was addressing an election rally here on the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror strike when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai, killing 166 people over 60 hours.

In a broadside against former Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, he said New Delhi was at the time being governed by "madam" through remote control.

"I remember the slightest criticism over the attacks used to rile the then ruling party," Modi told the gathering in this textile city ahead of elections in the state on December 7. The Congress, he added, taught the lesson of patriotism.

But when the Army carried out a surgical strike by crossing over the border, the party questioned it and asked for video proof.

"The soldiers have their lives in hands and not a camera," Modi said.

India, he said, will never forget the 26/11 terror attack or its perpetrators.

"Justice will surely be done, I want to assure the country," he added while expressing solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives.

"A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," Modi said.

The prime minister said his government had responded to terrorists and Naxals in their own language.

Claiming that terror strikes had come down under BJP rule, the prime minister said terrorists now find it difficult to go beyond Kashmir.

"On the one hand, there is terrorism and, on the other, Maoism and Naxalism. They are giving guns in the hands of children and killing innocent people but Congress leaders and close aides of 'naamdaar' are calling Naxals revolutionaries and giving them certificates," he said.

Modi has frequently referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi as "naamdar" (dynast).

He also attacked the Congress for its alleged casteist remarks and said issues relating to the people do not bother the party.

"As the elections are approaching, Congress asks for my caste and are curious about my father," he said.

When the Indian prime minister visits America and meets the president, they talk about welfare, Modi said.

"Does the president ask him his caste before any discussion? The prime minister represents the caste of 125 crore people of India," he said.

Modi said he was nothing but a workaholic.

"I am a workaholic (kaamdaar) who has 125 crore people of the country standing behind him. Have you ever heard that I took a holiday? Have you ever heard that I went somewhere for leisure or was missing for a week? I give an account of each and every decision I take and the work that I do," he said.

Braving threats, people in Jammu and Chhattisgarh came out to vote in large numbers with voting percentages remaining 70-75 per cent, Modi added.

While people in Chhattisgarh voted for a new assembly earlier this month, panchayat elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir.

On the occasion of Constitution Day on Monday, Modi recalled the stellar contribution of B R Ambedkar.

"We are proud of our Constitution and reiterate our commitment to uphold the values enshrined in it," he said.

In Modi's view, even a month would not be enough to give an account of work done by BJP governments at the Centre and state.

Before the BJP came to power in 2014, even 40 percent villages did not have toilets, he claimed.

However, in four years, 95 percent villages have toilets.

"This is called work. They will not give an account of work done but will continue to ask about caste," he said in another jibe at the Congress.

In 2014, only 50 per cent people of the country had bank accounts and 55 per cent LPG connections in 2014.

Now, every India has his bank account and 90 per cent families have LPG connection, he said.

The prime minister also spoke about developmental works by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

He said 36,000 km of new roads were constructed in last five years and 50 lakh young entrepreneurs in Rajasthan received loans under Mudra Scheme.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The staccato bursts of gunfire, smoke plumes billowing out of the iconic Taj Mahal hotel, bullet-riddled bodies at local hospitals and cries of the victims' kin still flash through Vijay Vaidya's mind.

Ten years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed 166 lives and left over 300 injured, the 78-year-old senior journalist recalls the stories of valour by security personnel and the resilience shown by Mumbaikars.

Ten terrorists, armed with automatic weapons and grenades, went about firing indiscriminately, carrying out bomb explosions and holding innocents hostage as a fightback by security forces continued for the next 60 hours.

Vaidya, who lives in north Mumbai suburb Borivali, said he was at his home when he learnt about the terror attack.

He rang up then Opposition leader in State Assembly and present Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam and together they headed t south Mumbai from Kadams Kandivli residence.

Vaidya said they saw a taxi damaged in a blast in Vile Parle.

They headed towards the GT Hospital in south Mumbai, where bodies of policemen killed in the attack were kept.

The duo was joined by BJP leader and now Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde and proceeded towards the Gateway of India, near the Taj hotel.

"All the street lights there were off. The Taj was engulfed by fire. Police had cordoned off the area. The injured in the hotel attack were being taken to Byculla-based JJ Hospital," Vaidya recalled.

From the Gateway, the trio moved towards Nariman House in Colaba, where terrorists were suspected to have holed up.

The scene at the JJ Hospital was heart-wrenching with bodies of victims lying there and their kin mourning the dead, he said.

Many people had queued up at the hospital to donate blood to victims, he added.

Vaidya said it was a noisy scene at their next stop, the Oberoi Hotel at the Nariman Point which was also a scene of the terror attack.

The hotel premises were cordoned off for security purposes, he said.

The journalist, who also recalled the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, said 26/11 helped change the public perception about Mumbai police.

"People started looking at cops as heroes for the way they battled the trained terrorists," he said.
By PTI

GURDASPUR: Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Monday laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab.

Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the banks of the Ravi river, about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.

ALSO READ | Kartarpur corridor: Punjab minister Sukhjinder Randhawa threatens boycott over credit war

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said the corridor construction work will be completed within four months.

Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Hardeep Singh Puri and Vijay Sampla were also present at the event.

The Punjab government had launched year-long celebrations to commemorate the 550th 'Parkash Purb' (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev on November 23.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: Twenty-month-old Hiba Nisar, from the volatile Shopian village in south Kashmir, has become the youngest pellet gun victim in Kashmir. Doctors are worried that she may never be able to see again with her right eye, as it has been damaged by pellets fired by security forces.

"I, Hiba and my son were sitting in a kitchen on Sunday morning, as we felt suffocated due to heavy tear gas shelling by security forces outside. As we tried to move out of the kitchen and open the door of our house, a pellet hit Hiba in the eye and she cried in pain," Marsala Jan, the victim's mother, said.

Hiba's family lives in Kaprin village of Shopian, about a kilometre from the Batagund village where six militants and a soldier were killed in a gunfight on Sunday morning. During the encounter, clashes broke out between local youths and security men forcing the troops to fire pellets, bullets and tear smoke shells to disperse stone pelting protestors.

A young boy was killed and 18 others were injured in the retaliatory action by the forces. Among the injured, about a dozen, including Hiba, sustained pellet injuries.

"We weren't pelting stones on the forces. Why did they fire pellets at us? Why did they have to target my 21-month-old daughter? Don't they have children at home?" Marsala said.

Doctors at SMHS hospital in Srinagar, where Hiba was referred from the District Hospital in Kulgam on Sunday morning, performed a surgery on her.

"They performed one surgery yesterday and told us that another surgery will be done after a few days," Hiba's father Nisar Ahmad Bhat said.

He said Hiba screamed in pain through the night and couldn't sleep. "It was a struggle for me and my wife to calm her. Other patients and their attendants in the ward watched helplessly and couldn't fight back tears," Nisar, a daily wage worker, said.

"She is too young to realise what has happened to her. We're all praying that her vision is restored," Nisar said.

A senior eye specialist at SMHS hospital, however, wasn't optimistic about little Hiba seeing again with her right eye.

"The retina and lens in her right eye have been damaged. She may need more surgeries," the doctor said, adding that the pellet is still lodged in her eye. He said chances of her seeing again with her right eye are minimal.

"I wish the pellet had hit me. What was my daughter's fault?" Hiba's mother said.

Thousands of people were injured in pellet firing by security forces during five month long unrest in Kashmir after killing of Hizb commander Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8, 2016. Many including a 13-year-old girl Insha Mushtaq, who became face of pellet victims, lost their eye sight because of pellets.

Since then there has been repeated calls to end use of pellet guns in Kashmir but security forces continue to use it to deal with protestors during law and order situations.

===Ends===
By UNI

PATNA: A special court constituted for hearing the cases relating to MPs, MLAs and MLCs, today framed charge against former Bihar Chief Minister and president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) Jitan Ram Manjhi for violation of law during 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Special court judge Parshuram Singh Yadav read out the charges against Mr Manjhi in his presence, which he denied.

After that Mr Manjhi requested for hearing of the case saying he had not committed any thing wrong as mentioned in chargesheet.

The court ordered the prosecution to present witness in this case to prove the charges framed against Mr Manjhi.

According to the prosecution, Mr Manjhi had used flags of two parties on his vehicle during campaigning in 2014 Lok Sabha elections under Kotwali police station area in Gaya district.

An FIR in this connection was registered against him at Kotwali police station on March 30.
Sujata Anandan By

In the years when the BJP was finding no allies and no political party would touch Atal Bihari Vajpayees 13-day government in 1996 with even a barge pole, L K Advani was wont to use the term political untouchability to describe how his party was being discriminated against.

A political analyst I knew at the time was not amused. He had no dispute with what Advani was saying but his use of the word untouchability was highly objectionable, he said. Dalits in this country had recently risen above centuries of social untouchability, and to use the word loosely to describe how other political parties distanced themselves from an essentially privileged upper caste one completely failed to understand the isolation, ostracism, discrimination and, indeed, cruelty of a practice like untouchability, he said.

There were communities which had practised not just untouchability but also unseeability and unapproachabilityDalits had to get out of the way of approaching Brahmins so that they may not be polluted by their sight and proximity. If they did not, they were beaten to the bone and subjected to all sorts of unmentionable atrocities. Only someone who had gone through such discrimination would understand how painful even the mention of untouchability was to such communities, the analyst said. Advani was doing them and himself no favours by loosely bandying about a term of cruelty and distress, he said.

I was reminded of that lesson in cavalier patriarchy when a Twitter storm erupted last week over its CEO Jack Dorsey holding up a poster, given to him by a Dalit woman activist, asking to smash Brahminical patriarchy. It brought forth a range of reactions across the board, including from Congress leaders who should have known better.

In recent years, many social scientists have associated Hindutva and patriarchy with Brahminism and upper caste privilege and hegemony and they have not been far wrong. Since the propagation of Hindutva has largely been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its affiliates, we tend to forget that discriminatory attitudes run across the board and Brahminism is not restricted to a particular party in the modern eraincluding Communist parties whose tallest leaders in both Kerala (EMS Namboodiripad) and Bengal (Jyoti Basu and Buddhadeb Bhattacharya) ruled with a confidence and authority that could only have been bolstered by the circumstances of their birth.

But more than 70 years after Independence, with a non-Brahmin prime minister in residence, things should have been different. Yet while most of those trolling Dorsey for holding the poster were clearly patriarchal bigots leaning towards one particular political dispensation, I was startled to come across a tweet by a former Congress minister who said Brahmins of this country were the new Jews. That statement was as cavalier as Advanis untouchability terminology more than two decades ago and completely failed to understand both the pain and horror of the Jewish holocaust as well as the atrocities and unbearable cruelty suffered by Dalits because of Brahminical patriarchy even today.

No wonder Australian activist Asher Wolf promptly responded that she had lost many family members in the German pogroms and just because feminists were demanding an end to patriarchy, it did not mean Brahmins had the right to compare themselves with Jews.

I have not seen many articulate responses from within the country on the issue but writing in 1916, Dr B R Ambedkar described caste discrimination and Brahminism as a local problem, but one capable of much wider mischief. In the era of social media it is indeed globalising the mischief.

What Dr Ambedkar said years before Independence holds true even today. He wrote that in his time no civilised society of today presents more survivals of primitive times than does the Indian society  its tribal code, in spite of the advance of time and civilisation, operates in all its pristine vigour even today.

He could have been saying this in 2018 instead of a century earlier. For we continue to be tribal and primitive or else why would educated, seemingly secular and liberal Congress men identify themselves with just a tribe and imply that Narendra Modi cannot talk about Hinduism because is not a Brahmin?

All those years ago, Dr Ambedkar had said India still favoured the clan system although the country had no clans on the lines of American Indians or Scottish Highlanders. Indeed, we continue to be clannish but in India it is not just a case of simple clans or dynasties. When clannishness translates into caste discrimination and the resultant patriarchy, we condemn whole tribes (and here I use the word not in its constitutional interpretation) to being children of a lesser god, rendered unable to rise above their circumstances because of that patriarchy and destined to remain poor and underprivileged all their lives.

So if a Dalit woman activist had a poster that asked to smash Brahminical patriarchy, she was doing no more than seeking equality and justice for the double discriminationher being a Dalit and a woman (for even upper caste women can be victims of Brahminical patriarchy).

That Dorsey and Twitter could not understand that caste discrimination is the equivalent of racism is pardonable. That progressive Indian liberals should exhibit a singular lack of sensitivity by claiming reverse discrimination for themselves smacks of a wider mischief afoot.

Sujata Anandan

Senior journalist and political commentator

Email: sujata.anandan@gmail.com
Kiran Prakash By

Men dont cry, they say. Thats a lie. Truth is, men fear being seen as weak and girly if they cry. But not H D Kumaraswamy, the 58-year-old seasoned politician who has been an MP twice, MLA four times and chief minister twice. He is known to get emotional in public often  his eyes welling up and, occasionally, tears rolling down his cheeks.

But, thats Kumaraswamy  an emotional man who is not afraid of showing his sensitive side.

His most talked-about emotional moment happened a few weeks after he took over as head of Karnatakas present coalition government -- put together from the debris of an election with no winners. He broke down as he spoke about his pain of running a coalition government. While his supporters sympathised, his detractors called it a drama. There were a few other occasions after that when the CM took matters to his heart, the latest coming during the agitation by sugarcane farmers.

Asking farmers what is his fault, he complained he is being unfairly targeted. He seemed deeply hurt by TV visuals of agitators ill-treating his effigies, but not so much by the anguish of farmers who wanted to be paid for their toil.

Not difficult to understand. For a man who claims to be the champion of farmers, who made the generous gesture of waiving ` 49,000-crore crop loans, and whose party depends solely on the votes of farmers for its survival, becoming the target of farmer ire could be a painful experience.

But, crying doesnt make Kumaraswamy weak. Touchy? Maybe. But not weak. Politics aside, scientifically speaking, crying has many benefits, and that could make Kumaraswamy a better leader than many others. Heres a look.

1. Crying helps get rid of toxins and kill bacteria: Tear contains chemicals that otherwise would raise stress levels, and has enzyme lysozyme that can kill bacteria. While its a fair assumption that being emotional is helping the CM health-wise, the trait might also be helping him get rid of, indirectly at least, certain political toxins  the kind that could be plotting his downfall.

2. Improves vision: With the coalition not having a common minimum programme, though one was promised six months back when the deal was sealed, the chief minister needs a clear sight of his governments goals. As his vision improves further, it will probably help him see beyond media for the cause of his troubles.

3. Relieves stress: Being a CM under the circumstances is not easy. As both partners and opponents are working against him, he has little to cheer him up. With the cabinet expansion getting delayed, the CM is under tremendous pressure handling multiple portfolios. Crying releases endorphins -- feel-good chemicals. Other ministers who handle more than one department can their take cue from him.

4. Helps to bond and rally support: Tears are a proven social networking tool. Crying lets others know youre in need of support, and can be used very effectively to gain sympathy, and in politics, votes as well. With his farm loan waiver yet to take off, the CM needs other means to keep the farmer sympathies on his side.

5. Crying also demonstrates the strength of character, they say, and they are right this once. What makes people who cry stronger is the fact that they are confronting their emotions, rather than hiding them. Now, all those people who think Kumaraswamy as weak must rethink. Heres a thought. While Kumaraswamy might be benefitting from his emotional episodes, politically and wellness-wise, those who poke fun at him might actually be becoming weaker.

There are other benefits of crying, all scientifically proven, but the point is, its not only okay for men to cry, its also very useful, especially if you are a politician. While crying certainly helps, keeping promises and promising only what is deliverable, making government machinery efficient, ensuring development and solving peoples problems without bias will also deliver some of the benefits.

Kiran Prakash

Resident Editor, Karnataka

kiranprakash@newindianexpress.com
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday proposed that France and Germany mediate a major crisis between Moscow and Kiev after Russian vessels boarded and captured three Ukrainian ships.

Speaking on a visit to Madrid, Maas said that France and Germany would "strive together, and if needed as mediators, to avoid the conflict leading to a serious crisis" as country representatives met with their Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in Berlin.

Foreign ministry officials from all four countries were due to meet in Berlin on Monday in talks that had been planned before the crisis erupted on Sunday with Russia seizing the Ukrainian ships, accusing them of illegally entering Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov.

Maas said this would be "the first opportunity to gather together all parties in the conflict."

Ukraine's military was on high alert and its parliament was to vote Monday on a request from President Petro Poroshenko to impose martial law for 60 days.

The incident has raised fears of a wider military escalation and the UN Security Council was to hold an emergency session Monday. NATO also called an emergency meeting on the incident.

Maas said the long-running conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country was "a danger for the security of Europe and we will both endeavour to finally find a political solution which we should have found a long time ago."

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By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: With the design of Andhra Pradesh Legislature Complex almost finalised, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) to submit the plan of execution with definite milestones to ensure speedy completion of the tallest government structure (250 metres) in the country.

Terming the assembly a Peoples House, Naidu told the officials to expedite the tendering process and launch the works at the earliest. According to a press release issued on Sunday, the Chief Minister held a teleconference in which he stressed the need to complete the construction of the major structures soon.

The officials briefed Naidu that the total area of legislature building, a three-storeyed structure with a tall spire, is on 3,56,603 square feet area.

Principal Secretary (APCRDA) Ajay Jain and APCRDA commissioner Cherukuri Sreedhar said the major facilities such as assembly, legislative council and central hall would be located on the first floor. The second floor will lead to the galleries for the public. On the third floor, a city museum, a cafe, a gift shop and two viewing terraces overlooking the main houses will be built.

From the third floor, two panoramic lifts will lead the public to the three viewing platforms on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors. From there, it will be possible to reach the top of the spire (250 metre) in a panoramic movable capsule that will allow people to have an uninterrupted 360-degree view of Amaravati, they said. The ground floor will have common facilities, administrative sections, committee halls and accommodation for party offices.

While the assembly hall can host 250 members, with a possibility for future expansion up to 300 seats, the council hall allows a future expansion of up to 125 seats. The central hall can accommodate as many as 400 people. Ajay Jain informed Naidu that a fresh water lake will be present around the structure. Municipal Administration minister P Narayana said a public forum, at the bottom of the spire, could be used to host public events and installations to show the history of the State and the country.

The Chief Minister said, Though the officials have done the ground work to prepare the best designs (for the structure), the execution is more important. The officials should expedite the tendering and other administrative procedures and start the construction.

He said that the structure should reflect the traditions and culture of the State and be accessible to citizens. He suggested that priority be accorded to locally available materials, crafts and workforce in the construction to reduce cost and provide employment to locals.
By Express News Service

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has promised to allocate Rs 2,500 crore for the welfare of Brahmin community once his party comes to power in the State.

In an interaction with members of the Brahmin community in Rajamahendravaram on Sunday, he said action would be taken against those insulting the language and accent of Brahmins in any manner. My party will strive to protect the self-respect of Brahmins, he said, and observed without them, India could not have achieved its Independence. Representatives of various Brahmin associations explained the difficulties being faced by the community.

READ: Tribals pour out woes to Pawan Kalyan, hit out at government

Though the priests pray for the well-being of all, they languish in poverty, political and social backwardness, they said. They complained that they are not benefiting from the government welfare programmes either. They also urged retirement for priests at the age of 65 years be done away with. Stating that Jana Sena was a unity of castes, he said he was pained to witness the insults and humiliation heaped on Hinduism in the country.

Later addressing a meeting in Ravulapalem, he said the TDP is looting every natural resource, including sand. It is not leaving even burial grounds and is encroaching them in its thirst for land.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Union Ministry for Human Resource Development (MHRD) has now issued an order asking all schools across the nation to reduce the weight on the shoulders of students.

In the recent circular issued to all states and union territories, the department has instructed to formulate guidelines to follow the same. It has also directed all states to strictly follow the same and submit a report.

Following the communication from MHRD, issued during October 2018, the state Department of Primary and Secondary Education is all set to issue guidelines on the same, which will be followed by all private, aided and government schools.

Reacting to it P C Jaffer, commissioner for Department of Public Instruction said, We have already conducted a study on this and a discussion with school management was also conducted. The guidelines will be issued shortly.

According to officials from the department, it will be enforced in the state from the 2019-20 academic year.

However, based on the circular issued by MHRD, the state governments have been given a free hand to formulate their own guidelines. Following this, Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT) has conducted a study by taking feedback from students directly. Now, after the outcome of the study, the state is framing final guidelines which will be notified soon.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: A late-night trunk call to New Delhi in November 1969 went on to define the political career of CK Jaffer Sharief. The eight-time MP from Karnataka, who carved a niche for himself as a Minister of State for Railways, started with humble beginnings. Hailing from an economically backward family from Chitradurga, Shariefs tryst with politics began when he joined as an office assistant in former Chief Minister S Nijalingappas office. From doing odd jobs at a party office to connecting cities with the conversion of railway lines to broad gauge, Sharief went a long way.

Despite working closely with Nijalingappa, Sharief pledged his support to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi when the Congress split into two factions, one led by Gandhi which was referred to as Indicate and another by K Kamaraj referred to as Syndicate.

Many contemporaries of Sharief even credit him with raising an alarm to alert Indira Gandhi when Syndicate faction leaders, including Nijalingappa, Kamaraj, Morarji Desai, decided to oust Indira Gandhi from the Congress party that eventually led to the split of the party. He was a Congress party loyalist. People may criticise him without proper understanding but what he did was for the party, said former Karnataka Chief Minister and current Congress MP Veerappa Moily.

After joining Indira Gandhis Congress, Sharief was given a ticket to contest from Kanakapura constituency in the 1971 Lok Sabha polls as a mark of appreciation for his loyalty to Indira Gandhi. After registering a victory in his debut election, he shifted to Bengaluru North Constituency where he won consecutive till 1996 when he lost to C Narayanaswamy who was then with the JD(S). Sharief wrested the seat back in 1998 only to lose it again to HT Sangliana in 2004. After this defeat, Shariefs political career never recovered. In fact, his last few years in the Congress were spent in disgruntlement. The loss of his son and wife in back-to-back election years, took a toll on Shariefs public life, according to those close to the veteran leader.
By Express News Service

HUBBALLI: It was sort of a warning for the Supreme Court of India by sadhus gathered at Janagraha Sabha held here on Sunday by Vishwa Hindu Parishad to give a push for construction of Ram temple, rather than pressuring the Narendra Modi government to explore an alternative route to end the dispute over Ram Janmabhoomi.

The October 29 observation of the Supreme Court on hearing this long pending issue earned the wrath of every sadhu and they questioned priorities of the highest court of law. They, however, expressed their regard for the judiciary and the Constitution but said the court should not test their patience as the country was waiting for a grand Ram Mandir for years.

Mahamadaleshwar Akhileshwaranandagiri Maharaj of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh insisted on early disposal of the case in the Apex court and said: Let the verdict come in favour or against the Ram Lalla. But the countrys sadhus are committed to building Ram temple at Ram Janmabhoomi itself. Expressing concern over the priority, the seer said the court has time to hear the case that will hurt sentiments of Hindus like Sabarimala, but not for Ram temple.

He openly said they are against the observation of the Chief Justice of India, but not the judiciary or the Constitution. Should we appeal before the court seeking installation of Shivalinga at Jama Masjid, then will the chief justice hear it? he questioned and warned,If the judges decide priority correctly, the movement can turn against them only.

Akhileshwaranandagiri Maharaj said no one should doubt or question the commitment of the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi and added the Congress party has been creating one or other problem in the way of getting this dispute resolved and cited how Kapil Sibal argued before the court for deferring the hearing until general election is over. He called upon public not to allow the Congress to hold reigns of power.

Except Akhileshwaranandagiri Maharaj, every other seer appealed to the Modi government to bring an ordinance to express its commitment for building Ram temple. His argument was that as the NDA government has no majority in the Rajya Sabha, the proposal will be defeated and it will be a great insult to Ram Bhakts.

However, Gangadharendra Sarasaswati Swami of Sonda Swarnavalli Mutt said the courts deliver verdicts within the ambit of existing laws. But the Parliament has the power to create law, so special ordinance should be brought to find a permanent solution for this dispute. He also warned courts that if patience of crores of people exceed the limit, it can cause social disturbance.

Jainamuni Hemachandra Sureshwaranandji, Basavanand Swamiji of Managundi Basava Mahamane and Sidda Shivayoga Swamiji of Devarahubballi Siddasevashram also spoke. Later, a memorandum was submitted to MP Pralhad Joshi seeking his help to bring an ordinance to build the temple. Joshi said he will convey their sentiments in the house and strive more than his capacity in realising the dream of a grand temple at Ram Janmabhoomi.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Even while some of Rebel Star Ambareeshs fans are arguing that his cremation should take place at Abhiman Studio, where his Diggaraju friend and co-star Vishnuvardhan was cremated, the state government has decided to cremate the actor at Kanteerava Studios, near the legendary actor Dr Rajkumars memorial, with full state honours on Monday morning. The cremation will happen at 10 am following a procession from Kanteerava Stadium to Kanteerava Studios.

Arrangements are being made at the place selected for the cremation, which is in front of Dr Rajkumars memorial. Kanteerava Studios is predominantly used for Kannada language movies and is located in Nandini Layout on the Laggere Outer Ring Road. Spread across 20 acres of land, the studio was established in 1966. The studio is called an iconic place as it was developed by veteran theatre and film personalities like Gubbi Veeranna, Tiptur S Karibasavaiah, K V Shankaregowda, Andanappa Doddameti, Rathnavarma Hegade, S Nijalingappa and D Kemparaja Urs.

Ambareesh will be cremated in this iconic place, which was a platform for legendary stars such as Dr Rajkumar, Dr Vishnuvardhan, Shankar Nag, Balakrishna, Kalpana and Manjula among others. It is considered to be one of the oldest and largest film enterprises in the country. Now, the studio provides space for shooting of television serials and movies. There are four shooting floors named Kaveri, Shankar Nag, Manjusha and Gubbi Veeranna. The memorials of Dr Rajkumar and his wife Parvathamma are located here.

An advocate has approached the High Court by submitting a letter stating that the studio should not become a place for celebrity memorials only. However, CM H D Kumaraswamy told the media, All arrangements have been made at the Kanteeerava Studios. Here, all his fans can pay tributes to him and spend some time near the memorial.
Sreekantswamy B By

Express News Service

VADESAMUDRA (MANDYA DISTRICT): A pall of gloom descended on Vadesamudra village in Pandavapura taluk where last rites of eight of the 30 people killed in Saturdays bus accident were performed on Sunday.

A private bus carrying 34 people plunged into a canal after the bus driver allegedly lost control over the steering and ploughed into the link canal of Visvesvaraya Canal at Kanaganamaradi village in the same taluk. While the driver and the cleaner and two passengers had a miraculous escape, the remaining 30 met with watery grave.

Many visit the bus accident spot on Kanaganamaradi-Vadesamudra Road on Sunday

On Sunday, heart-rending scenes were witnessed, as the mortal remains of the accident victims were cremated en masse at the graveyard on the outskirts of the village. Those cremated wereKariyappa and his grandson Prashanth, Ratnamma and her daughter Shashikala, Kamalamma, Pavitra, Chikkaiah and Ravikumar.

While some preferred to carry the mortal remains on their own in tractors to the graveyard, an ambulance attached to the taluk hospital at Pandavapura was also deployed to carry the bodies for the funeral. Though the deceased belonged to different castes, the villagers decided to perform their last rites together. As the pyres arranged in a row were lit, the grief-stricken relatives could not control their emotions and were seen shedding tears for their near and dear ones.

Prior to that, tahsildar Hanumantharayappa who represented the taluk administration paid his last respects to the departed souls.

B Chinnaswamy from the same village told The New Indian Express that wooden logs belonging to different species of trees like banyan and neem and also dried coconut fronds were collected from a saw mill to make arrangements for the last rites. In addition to that, kerosene and ghee were also used. While the rituals were performed at the houses of the victims, the pyres were lit by one of the male members from each of the families of the victims.

It seems the fate had brought Kariyappa and his grandson Prasthanth together, in what turned out to be their last journey as it was just by a mere coincidence that both had got on to the same bus. Kariyappa who was not feeling well, had gone to a hospital in Pandavapura and was returning in the same bus that was boarded by his grandson Prashanth at the bus stop outside his school at Kanaganamaradi, said another villager. It was also for the first time that the village had witnessed such a grave tragedy; the one reason that had brought all together in the hours of grief.

Parents of deceased sisters fall ill

Mandya: A couple who lost their two daughters in the accident have taken ill and are admitted to a hospital. Pavitra and Devaraju of Kodishettypura lost their two children-- Kalpana (11) and Sowmya (5). Even as the last rites of the sisters were conducted on Saturday night itself at their native, their mother collapsed and was rushed to a hospital.

She is diagnosed with low BP and is under treatment at the district hospital. Devaraju, the girls father, fell ill on Sunday morning and is also admitted to the same hospital. According to the first information report (FIR number 0414/ 2018) registered at Pandavapura police station, a case of negligence and rash driving has been registered against the driver, under various IPC sections.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: JD(S) leader Mathew T Thomas resigned as water resources minister on Monday. The decision comes after the party national leadership asked him to relinquish the post to make way for Chittur MLA K Krishnankutty, who will be sworn in on Tuesday at Raj Bhavan at 5 pm.

With Krishnankutty joining the state cabinet, the Mathew Thomas faction has been pitching for the position of party state president for the outgoing minister.

Its the second time that Mathew Thomas is stepping down before his tenure is completed. On Monday morning, he submitted the resignation letter to Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Cliff House. Both of them held discussions for about half-an-hour. Later Mathew Thomas held discussion with minister-designate Krishnankutty at the Guest House.

Speaking to media, Mathew Thomas said his resignation is unconditional. He also expressed satisfaction over the departments performance during his tenure. Replying to a specific question, Tiruvalla MLA pointed out that he had held the post of party state president and was not after positions in the party. Decision on partys new state president will be taken by the central leadership, he added.



Mathew Thomas offered his support to the new minister. Though it cant be said that Im fully satisfied with the performance so far, Im happy that we could carry out major work during my tenure, he said. For the first time, the water resources department was able to take up works to the tune of `9,500 crore. I could do many things during this tenure. Of course, there are a few things that I would still like to have done, he said.

The JD(S) leader said as of now theres no situation for a division in the party. He also made clear that he would not move to the UDF side. Those following Socialist ideals usually stay with the Left front, he added.

With Krishnankutty joining the Pinarayi cabinet, the Mathew Thomas faction is of the view he should be given the party state presidents post. However, Krishnankutty faction favours senior leader Neelalohithadasan Nadar as state president. There are also demands that JD(S) Parliamentary party leader and partys third MLA C K Nanu should be given the opportunity. JD(S) national leadership is expected to take a call on this by next week.




By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the tussle between the police force and right-wing Hindu organisations over the issue of womens entry into Sabarimala shows no signs of letup, a section of the officers think of taking a legal route and approach the Supreme Court to apprise it of the difficulties they face while enforcing the verdict. Sources said South Zone ADGP Anil Kanth, who is in Delhi, has been entrusted with the task of liaisoning with senior apex court advocates and getting their opinion. The decision is said to have the Police Departments patronage as the senior officers felt the department as such moving the court might backfire.

The Chief Ministers Office told Express it was seeking legal opinion on the police moving the Supreme Court, but added no decision has been taken.As many as 32 writ petitions have been filed in the High Court against police who were trying to implement the Supreme Court order. The petitions are being dismissed, but should that trend of filing petitions be promoted? Wholl approach the Supreme Court --- the officers or the department --- is a legal issue and is under discussion, the sources said.

Meanwhile, sources in the State Police Chiefs office said the decision to knock the Supreme Court doors was not taken up by the department.We havent formally taken up the matter until now. We are not aware either if any individuals have decided to move the court, a source said. A senior officer whom Express contacted said if individual officers approach the Supreme Court, then it will not be without the departments nod.

Frequent petitions and certain observations from the High Court have hindered smooth functioning of the police in Sabarimala. The department is trying to implement the Supreme Court order and if theyre facing any issue in that, the best avenue to knock for help and guidance would be the apex court itself, the officer said.
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has issued legal notice to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Kerala government, which has proposed to construct a new reservoir at Mullaiperiyar in Idukki district, while decommissioning the existing 123-year-old dam operated by Tamil Nadu under an inter-state agreement.

On October 25, Express had reported that the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydro Electric Projects under the Union Environment Ministry, at its 18th meeting on September 27, recommended grant of terms of reference (ToR) to Keralas proposal to conduct Environment Impact Assessment study for building the new dam. There was huge uproar in the State with political parties calling it a contempt of Supreme Court verdict.

ALSO READ | Keralas new Mullaiperiyar dam plan may mean no water for Tamil Nadu



A highly placed government source said legal notices were served after receiving no response from the Centre to the letter written by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to seek the direct intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and withdraw the ToR. Confirming the development, R Subramanian, chairman, Cauvery Technical Cell, told Express that the notices were served upon EAC, MoEF&CC and Chief Secretary to the Kerala government.

One month time has been given to send in their replies after which Tamil Nadu will explore the possibility of filing a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, he said.

As per the Supreme Court verdict dated May 7, 2014, for the construction of a new dam, there has to be agreement of both parties. The offer made by Kerala cannot be thrust upon Tamil Nadu. In August 2014, Kerala stealthily obtained clearance for such a study for the construction of a new dam without informing or consulting Tamil Nadu or obtaining its concurrence on the matter following which the Tamil Nadu government had issued a contempt notice against the member-secretary of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife and Wildlife Preservation Officer. Subsequently, the Centre de-listed Keralas proposal in July 2015.

The CM had said that the Kerala government approaching the Centre on the issue and the latter entertaining it were in gross violation of the decree of the Supreme Court on the inter-state dispute.

Though the Kerala government in pre-feasibility report and letters sent to the Union Environment Ministry claims that it does not desire to deprive Tamil Nadu of the Mullaiperiyar waters, officials in the Public Works Department said Keralas proposal will put five southern districts - Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramnad - in misery.

The five districts squarely depend on the Vaigai river to meet drinking and irrigation needs. The Vaigai gets major feed from the Mullaiperiyar dam via a tunnel through the western ghats. Keralas proposed dam planned in the downstream will deprive Tamil Nadu of current benefits, a senior official said.

On August 23, KH Shamsudeen, chief engineer, Irrigation Department of the Kerala government, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of Union Environment Ministry, said, Despite the strengthening measures taken by Tamil Nadu, the Mullaiperiyar dam has not gained adequate strength to function further. The dam has outlived its useful life and consequences of any failure could be catastrophic and hence requires urgent decommissioning.
The United States on Monday warned Russia that "outlaw actions" like the seizure of Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov are preventing normal relations from developing between Washington and Moscow.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that "the United States would welcome a normal relationship with Russia. But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible."

Tensions have flared after the Russian navy on Sunday boarded and seized three Ukrainian ships off the coast of Crimea, accusing Ukraine of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov.

The confrontation at sea raised fears of a wider military flareup.

Haley put the blame firmly on Russia for the clash, calling the seizure of the ships an "outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory" and slamming "yet another reckless Russian escalation."

But she did not specifically threaten further sanctions, instead calling for a de-escalation of tensions over Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 in a move never recognized by the international community.

"The United States will maintain its Crimea-related sanctions against Russia. Indeed, further Russian escalation of this kind will only make matters worse," said Haley.

"It will further undermine Russia's standing in the world. It will further sour Russia's relations with the US and many other countries. It will further increase tensions with Ukraine. "

Haley said her remarks followed conversations with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and reflect "concerns at the highest level of the American government."

The US warning comes ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina later this week.

Russia denies 'mythical' aggression

Russia's envoy accused Ukraine of provoking the confrontation to justify the imposition of martial law and a delay of elections as polls show Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko faces possible defeat.

Ukraine's parliament was to vote Monday on a request from Poroshenko to impose martial law for 60 days.

Denouncing a "mythical Russian aggression," Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council: "Our country has never caused the first blow, but it knows how to protect itself."

Ukraine called for a toughening of sanctions against Russia, with Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko warning that "if unopposed, the Kremlin regime will take another and another aggressive act" leading to wider conflict.

The Ukrainian ambassador cited audio recordings of communications among Russian vessel commanders that showed they were given orders to attack the ships after they had changed course and were returning to their Ukrainian port.

France and Germany, which lead European diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, urged Russia to hand over the seized ships and release the seamen.

At the outset of the meeting, Russia suffered a setback in the council after it sought to discuss the clash in the Azov under an agenda item that described the incident as a violation of Russia's borders.

This was rejected in a procedural vote, with only China, Bolivia and Kazakhstan siding with Russia. The council then discussed the clash under a less contentious agenda item.

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By Associated Press

ISLAMABAD: The assault on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi was the latest in a series of attacks on China's growing influence in Pakistan, where Beijing is financing tens of billions of dollars' worth of megaprojects that critics fear will plunder the country's resources and leave it with crippling debt.

ALSO READ | Pakistan will provide 'robust security' to Chinese, Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi assures China

Friday's attack, which killed two police and two Pakistani civilians, was claimed by ethnic Baluch separatists who have long accused the federal government of unfairly exploiting the oil and mineral-rich Baluchistan region. But concern about China's growing involvement in Pakistan is more widespread.

The relationship has come to be defined by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, a sprawling package that includes everything from road construction and power plants to agriculture  and has an estimated cost of up to USD 75 billion. The largest component is a 3,200-kilometer (2,000-mile) road linking China to Pakistan's deep-water port of Gwadar on the Arabian Sea, a highway running directly through Baluchistan.

ONE ROAD, MANY PROJECTS

CPEC, also known as the One Road Project, is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, a global endeavour aimed at reconstituting the Silk Road and linking China to all corners of Asia. In Pakistan, it has been billed as a massive development program that will bring new prosperity to the South Asian nation, where the average citizen lives on just USD 125 a month.

Chinese firms have been contracted to build a number of coal-fired and hydroelectric power plants, as well as wind and solar projects. Other firms will be building new road and rail links between Pakistani cities and mass transit systems within them. China is also helping to expand and develop the Gwadar port.

In addition to the big-budget items, China is also installing cross-border fibre-optic cables, an early warning system for the Pakistan Meteorological Department and experimental agricultural projects.

The full cost of all the projects and the exact terms of the Chinese loans have never been made public. A recent report in the English-language Dawn Newspaper raised the estimated cost of the power and infrastructure projects from USD 46 billion to USD 57 billion.

ALSO READ | Brave Pakistan lady police officer prevented terrorists from reaching Chinese consulate staff

Pakistan is already mired in a financial crisis and is seeking a USD 8 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund. The United States, which exerts heavy influence on the global lender, has said it will not support a bailout package that feeds Chinese coffers. Weeklong talks with the IMF in Islamabad earlier this month ended without a deal being reached, although negotiations are ongoing.

Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan, who visited China earlier this month, has acknowledged the balance of payments crisis and vowed to renegotiate agreements that are not favourable to his country. But it's unclear if China is willing to extend more favourable terms.

LOCAL ANGER

The projects have inflamed longstanding grievances in Baluchistan and other areas, where residents accuse the central government of favouring the country's Punjab province. Punjab is home to some 60 per cent of the country's 200 million people and is home to most of the political elite.

Baluchistan has long been the scene of a low-level insurgency by ethnic Baluchs, who want autonomy or outright independence.

The attack on the Chinese Consulate was claimed by the Baluch Liberation Army, which has carried out a dozen attacks against Chinese-linked projects this year alone. Earlier this year its gunmen opened fire on two Chinese nationals in Karachi, killing one. In an August letter, the group threatened more attacks if China does not halt "the exploitation of Baluchistan's mineral wealth and occupation of Baluch territory."

Other militant groups have also issued threats, and in October 2017 the Chinese Embassy requested additional security after a threat against the ambassador.

A SECURITY CHALLENGE

China's footprint has grown considerably in Pakistan, with some estimates saying about 700,000 Chinese nationals are currently in the country, directly or indirectly connected to the One Road Project.

The International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, says a special security division comprising 15,580 soldiers and a maritime force has been tasked with protecting Chinese workers and Chinese projects. But that too could end up angering local residents.

ALSO READ | Pakistan: Two suspects arrested in Chinese consulate attack

"From the project's entry point, Gwadar, to its exit point, in Gilgit-Baltistan, the state's response to local dissent and alienation has been an overbearing security presence, marked by army checkpoints, intimidation and harassment of local residents and crackdowns on anti-CPEC protest," the Crisis Group said in a June report.
By Online Desk

All is not great with China's Great Wall. Built between the 5th century BC and the 16th century AD, some portions of the wall have started to collapse.

The monumental structure along the northern borders of China is a defensive wall built with bricks and stones. The wall stretches from Korea in the east to the Gobi Desert in the west. It's high time the protective wall of China is protected before it loses its glory.

A report by National Geographic says that 50 per cent of the original ancient structure has already disappeared while another 30 per cent is 'crumbling' into ruins.

As access has been cut off to most of the unsafe portions of the wall, China has deployed drones for aerial surveillance to examine the extent of damage done. With the help of data fetched from the drones, architects are rebuilding vulnerable sections of the wall, South China Morning Post reported. According to the report, Intel's Falcon 8+ drones have been deployed to capture high-definition 3D images of the destroyed sections of the wall.

In a video posted by BBC News, workers can be seen carrying materials to the damaged portions with the help of donkeys. Architect Zhao Peng told BBC that they're literally saving history by restoring the 'complex structure.'

Thanks to technology, the greatness of the wall will remain intact forever.
By AFP

KABUL: At least 22 police officers were killed in a Taliban ambush in western Afghanistan, a health official said Monday, in another blow to Afghan forces already suffering record casualties.

The attack on the police convoy in Farah province follows a wave of violence across Afghanistan in recent weeks, including a suicide bombing inside an army base mosque on Friday, and intensifying efforts to convince the Taliban to end the 17-year war.

At least two police officers were wounded in Sunday's ambush, said Shir Ahmad Weda, director of the public hospital in the provincial capital.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message, saying 25 police were killed and four wounded.

"Four vehicles were destroyed and a large quantity of weapons were seized," Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the militants, added.

Provincial police spokesman Mohibullah Mohib said the convoy had been travelling from Farah city to Juwain district when it came under attack.

Mohib put the death toll at five with another seven wounded.

Afghan government and military officials often downplay the casualty toll of security forces, while the Taliban frequently exaggerates the number its fighters have killed or wounded.

The Taliban and its smaller rival the Islamic State group (IS) have been inflicting record casualties on local forces this year.

At least 27 soldiers were killed in Friday's suicide attack in a mosque on an army base in the eastern province of Khost.

IS claimed responsibility for the explosion, which also wounded at least 79 service members.

That came days after a suicide assault on a religious gathering in Kabul that killed at least 55 people and wounded 94.

Since the start of 2015, when local forces took over from US-led NATO combat troops to secure the country, nearly 30,000 Afghan soldiers and police have been killed, President Ghani revealed this month -- a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged.

Experts have warned the attrition rate is unsustainable.

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul earlier this month that a peace deal to end the war could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April 20.

His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for such a deal to be done quickly.

But Afghan election organisers said Monday they were considering delaying the poll for three months amid fears the ballot could derail efforts to persuade the Taliban to talk.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: The US on Monday announced a USD 5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 2008 Mumbai attack.

The Trump administration announced this major reward (of over Rs 35 crore) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10 Pakistan-based LeT terrorists went on a shooting rampage in India's financial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans.

The move comes less than a fortnight after Vice President Mike Pence had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised this issue and ruled that even 10 years after the Mumbai terrorist attack its perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

READ: Hospital watchman recalls mayhem by terrorists during 26/11 Mumbai Attack

State Department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) programme on Monday said it is offering a reward of up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack.

From November 26 to 29, 2008, 10 terrorists associated with the LeT carried out a series of coordinated assaults against multiple targets in Mumbai, it said.

"The United States is committed to working with our international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack," it said. Today's announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack.

READ: How the secret operation to shift Ajmal Kasab for hanging unfolded

In April 2012, the Department of State announced reward offers for information that brings to justice LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior LeT leader. In December 2001, the Department of State designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

This designation plays a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business, the State Department said.

READ: 26/11: Cops were afraid, let Ajmal Kasab flee from CST station, says photojournalist

In May 2005, the United Nations (UN) 1267 Sanctions Committee added LeT to the Consolidated UN Security Council Sanctions List.

The State Department said anyone with information on this incident can contact the RFJ office via the website, e-mail (info@rewardsforjustice.net), phone (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 US embassy or consulate.

ALSO READ: Moshe's nanny wants 26/11 'scars' wiped from Nariman House

"All information will be kept strictly confidential," it said. The RFJ programme is administered by the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service.

Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid over USD 150 million to more than 100 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asked Pakistan to act against those responsible for the barbaric 2008 Mumbai attacks as Washington announced a new reward of USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of those involved in the carnage.

The Trump administration offered the new reward (of over Rs 35 crore) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10 Pakistan-based LeT terrorist went on a shooting rampage in India's financial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans.

Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a "barbarity", US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliates.

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement, making it clear to Islamabad that the Trump administration was not not happy with the slow pace of the trial involving seven LeT suspects, including its operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, who is out on bail.

"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates," Pompeo said.

"The US Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a reward of up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack," the State Department said in a statement on Sunday.

"Key members of this heinous plot remain at large, and this investigation remains active and ongoing.

This reward offer extends to any individual who bears responsibility for this act of terror," the RFJ said in a separate statement.

The move comes less than a fortnight after Vice President Mike Pence had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised this issue and rued that even 10 years after the Mumbai terrorist attack its perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

From November 26 to 29, 2008, a total of 10 terrorists associated with the LeT carried out a series of coordinated assaults against multiple targets in Mumbai, the State Department statement said.

"The United States is committed to working with our international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack," it said.

The State Department's new announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack.

In April 2012, the Department of State announced reward offers for information that brings to justice LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior LeT leader.

Under this, Washington announced a USD 10 million bounty for information leading to Saeed's arrest and conviction but, despite periods of detention over the years, he has remained free in Pakistan.

In December 2001, the Department of State designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

This designation plays a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business, the State Department said.

In May 2005, the United Nations (UN) 1267 Sanctions Committee added LeT to the Consolidated UN Security Council Sanctions List.

The State Department said anyone with information on this incident can contact the RFJ office.

Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Officer at the nearest US embassy or consulate.

"All information will be kept strictly confidential," it said.

Since its inception in 1984, the RFJ programme has paid over USD 150 million to more than 100 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.

Meanwhile, a senior Trump administration official has said that except for designating Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism, the United States is looking at all possible tools at its disposal to convince Islamabad that it is in its interest to crush terrorist groups.

"The focus of the discussions has not been on designating Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, rather how to use other tools at our disposal to convince Pakistan that it is in its interest to crack down on terrorist groups," the administration official told PTI.

"Pakistan has a stark choice: Cooperate and enjoy the benefits of close relationship with the US and the rest of the world, or face international isolation if it chooses not to change its behaviour," the official said in response to a question.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, Trump administration officials say they are looking at ways through which they can convince Pakistan to change its behaviour.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: A senior Chinese diplomat on Monday said that some Chinese citizens have donated money for the families of two Pakistani policemen killed in the terror attack on China's consulate in Karachi.

At a ceremony here alongside Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Lijian Zhao, said the Chinese citizens had donated money on their own.

ALSO READ | Brave Pakistan lady police officer prevented terrorists from reaching Chinese consulate staff

Three heavily-armed suicide bombers on Friday stormed the Chinese consulate in Pakistan's largest city, killing four people, including two policemen, before being shot dead by security forces.

The attack was claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

Lijian said one Chinese citizen had donated a month's salary to support the families of the slain policemen.

He said the donors believed that the Pakistan-China friendship was not simply empty words but "rooted in the hearts of the people of the two countries".

"We want to give a message to the terrorists that their efforts at sabotaging Pak-China friendship will never succeed," he said.

ALSO READ | Pakistan will provide 'robust security' to Chinese, Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi assures China

Earlier Lijian tweeted that the donations by the Chinese showed the depth of bilateral relations between the two nations.

"Chinese donations for Pakistan police have shown that China-Pakistan friendship is higher than mountains and deeper than the seas.

The friendship has never been empty talks, but deeply imprinted in hearts of Chinese and Pakistani people," he said.
By PTI

UNITED NATIONS: The US on Monday warned Russia that "outlaw actions" like the seizure of Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov are preventing normal relations from developing between Washington and Moscow.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that "the United States would welcome a normal relationship with Russia.

But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible.

ALSO READ | Russia seizes three Ukrainian naval ships near Crimea

" Tensions have flared after the Russian navy on Sunday boarded and seized three Ukrainian ships off the coast of Crimea, accusing Ukraine of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov.

The confrontation at sea raised fears of a wider military flareup.

Haley put the blame firmly on Russia for the clash, calling the seizure of the ships an "outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory" and slamming "yet another reckless Russian escalation.

" But she did not specifically threaten further sanctions, instead calling for a de-escalation of tensions over Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 in a move never recognized by the international community.

"The United States will maintain its Crimea-related sanctions against Russia. Indeed, further Russian escalation of this kind will only make matters worse," said Haley.

"It will further undermine Russia's standing in the world. It will further sour Russia's relations with the US and many other countries. It will further increase tensions with Ukraine". adds Haley.

Haley said her remarks followed conversations with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and reflect "concerns at the highest level of the American government.

" The US warning comes ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina later this week.

Russia's envoy accused Ukraine of provoking the confrontation to justify the imposition of martial law and a delay of elections as polls show Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko faces possible defeat.

Ukraine's parliament was to vote Monday on a request from Poroshenko to impose martial law for 60 days.

ALSO READ | NATO Urges Russia to release all Sailors, Ships detained in Kerch Strait Incident

Denouncing a "mythical Russian aggression," Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council: "Our country has never caused the first blow, but it knows how to protect itself.

" Ukraine called for a toughening of sanctions against Russia, with Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko warning that "if unopposed, the Kremlin regime will take another and another aggressive act" leading to wider conflict.

The Ukrainian ambassador cited audio recordings of communications among Russian vessel commanders that showed they were given orders to attack the ships after they had changed course and were returning to their Ukrainian port.

France and Germany, which lead European diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, urged Russia to hand over the seized ships and release the seamen.

At the outset of the meeting, Russia suffered a setback in the council after it sought to discuss the clash in the Azov under an agenda item that described the incident as a violation of Russia's borders.

This was rejected in a procedural vote, with only China, Bolivia and Kazakhstan siding with Russia. The council then discussed the clash under a less contentious agenda item.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

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Rain. Low 39F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Jordan's Minister of Energy Hala Zawati said on Monday that Egyptian natural gas is expected to reach Jordan in January 2019, Reuters reported.

According to Zawati, the experimental pumping of natural gas between the two countries started in September 2018.

Zawati's statements came on the sidelines of the Arab Mineral Resources Conference currently being hosted in Cairo.

The Jordanian minister added that Egypt and Jordan are holding talks to agree on a price for the Egyptian natural gas.

She also said that Jordan aims to increase its imports of natural gas from Egypt to meet its demand.

Jordan needs nearly 330 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to generate electricity.

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Chief Executive Carrie Lam

At last count, more than 8,700 overseas and Mainland companies maintain an office in Hong Kong. Among them, 1,530 have chosen to set up regional headquarters here, representing an increase of 8% over a year ago. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's ranking in the World Bank's latest Doing Business Report has risen from the fifth to the fourth. That is testimony to Hong Kong's business-friendly environment, from our simple and competitive tax regime to the level playing field we offer all business, whatever they do and wherever they come from.

No less important, business works best when government is small and the environment encouraging. Hong Kong, built on free enterprise, inspires business confidence. As J P has just noted, the Washington-based Heritage Foundation has named Hong Kong the freest economy in the world for the past 24 years in its annual Index of Economic Freedom report. In explaining our top ranking, the Heritage Foundation said of Hong Kong, and I quote, "an exceptionally competitive financial and business hub" with "little tolerance for corruption", adding that "a high degree of transparency enhances government integrity". I do like those words, and what they say about Hong Kong. And I'm determined that my Government will continue to live up to them.

What makes Hong Kong unique is more than our business environment, as enabling as it may be. Our singular strength is the "one country, two systems" framework Hong Kong enjoys under the Basic Law. We will continue to take full advantage of this fundamental strength while at the same time play a more proactive role in functioning as a "facilitator" and a "promoter" and striving to expand our connections with the world.

A little over a week ago, I attended this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and met with a number of leaders. It was my 11th overseas trip and the 12th country visited since I took office last July. All these trips have been fruitful, allowing us to tell the world about the successful implementation of "one country, two systems", to explore new markets and to raise Hong Kong's profile in the world.

Less than two weeks ago, we concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement and a related investment agreement with Australia. That agreement and another with the Maldives which has also been concluded bring the number of free trade agreements we've signed or are about to sign to nine, involving 21 global economies. And in January next year, our free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, signed last November, will begin to take effect.

Opportunities brought by "one country" are all but boundless, thanks to the Belt & Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This Greater Bay Area, encompassing Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong Province, will create an enormous regional economy, one boasting nearly 70 million people and a GDP worth US$1.5 trillion. The infrastructure connecting Hong Kong to the Greater Bay Area is world-class, with the opening of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge last month and the commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link in September.

The Belt & Road Initiative, designed to boost connectivity between the Mainland of China and countries spanning three continents, also offers unparalleled opportunities for Hong Kong business. Our financial and professional services sector, in particular, stands to gain, given the overwhelming need for investment capital that big-ticket infrastructure development demands.

We are also committed to promoting Hong Kong as an international dispute resolution centre for the Belt & Road, as I noted in my Policy Address in October. Our plans include developing a Belt & Road Dispute Resolution Centre, providing a wide range of services to resolve cross-border disputes.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the International Chamber of Commerce - Hong Kong's 20th Anniversary Reception.
More than 150 000 vehicles whose owners failed to renew their licences for two years as of July 31 this year face de-registration once the notice has been published in the Government Gazette, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza has said.



Once a vehicle is de-registered, technically it becomes valueless as the owner would lose valid title to it. To re-register the car, one has to pay outstanding arrears and penalties owed, including insurance and get clearance from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority that the vehicle was legally imported into the country.



Further, the car has to be cleared by the Vehicle Theft Squad and the Vehicle Inspection Department before it can ply the countrys roads again.







In a statement, Minister Matiza said: It has come to the attention of Government that there are numerous vehicles that are either plying our public roads or simply parked in backyards, but not been licensed for more than two years without official exemptions. The behaviour is contrary to the countrys statutes and has to be corrected without further delay.





In terms of Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act (Chapter13:14) it is illegal to use such a vehicle on a public road unless it meets the registration and licensing requirements enshrined therein. In particular, section 12 of the said Act states that, the owner of every registered vehicle shall keep such vehicle licensed in terms of this Act.





Section 12 of the said Act empowers the registrar of vehicles to cancel the registration of a vehicle if according to his records, a registered vehicle has not been licensed or exempted for a period exceeding two years.





Minister Matiza continued: My ministry is reliably informed that at the beginning of the month, there were more than 150 000 vehicles sitting in the vehicle licensing database whose licences had expired for more than two years without exemptions.





This is not only unnecessary, but unacceptable. The responsible motorists should have simply renewed their licences or obtained exemptions on time. The affected motoring public, therefore, should urgently regularise their vehicle licences.





Minister Matiza said the cancellation of the registration of unlicensed vehicles was not a punitive

measure, but was intended to bring about compliance with the legal framework and update the national vehicle database.





Said Minister Matiza: I urge all motorists to comply with all the rules of the road. Innocent precious lives are being lost on our public roads due to reckless and negligent driving and unroadworthy vehicles. My ministry is determined to put a stop to this trend. We are building a new Zimbabwe and all of us should be ready to play a positive role as we strive to enjoy an era of peace and prosperity. Herald
MDC-Alliance president Mr Nelson Chamisa has made a major climbdown after he was forced to abandon conditions he had set to testify before the Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 Post-Election Violence that rocked central Harare and killed six people and left a trail of destruction.



Mr Chamisa, together with MDC-Alliance deputy national chairperson Mr Tendai Biti, is set to give evidence today before the commission chaired by former South African president Mr Kgalema Motlanthe and respond to allegations that he incited the violence.



Representatives from the commission recently held a meeting with the MDC-Alliance where Mr Chamisa agreed to abandon some of the conditions, most of which had been described as untenable.



Some of the demands included a request to have the right to cross-examine Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda, Presidential Guard commander Anselem Sanyatwe; Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba and police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, who all accused him of fanning post-election violence.







Other demands were to have the commission invite President Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga whom Mr Chamisa said had equally been mentioned by witnesses.





In response, the commission told the MDC-Alliance that it was its prerogative to invite witnesses.





MDC-Alliance spokesperson Mr Jacob Mafume confirmed yesterday that Mr Chamisa and Mr Biti would be in attendance at todays hearings.





We have had a dialogue with the commission and we are satisfied with the explanation that they gave us, he said.





We are now clear as to how we will give our testimony and the issues at hand.

Commission spokesperson Mr John Masuku said todays hearings were earmarked for Mr Chamisa and Mr Biti.





We are still expecting them to testify tomorrow (Monday) at 1400hrs and there is nothing that has been placed before the commission to suggest that they were not coming, he said.

Mr Masuku said it was up to the cmmission to exercise its discretion whether to call President Mnangagwa and VP Chiwenga. Herald
NASA Rocket

Is Now On

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Related Award winning director Billie August to head jury of Cairo International Film Festival

Danish director Bille August, one of the great directors of our time, held a discussion with the audience at the Opera House's Hanager Theatre on 26 November.

August has been chosen to head the jury at the ongoing Cairo International Film Festival's 40th edition (CIFF 21-29 November).

August is also the winner of an Academy Award for artistic and technical merit, two Palm dOr awards at the Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Globe.

He has had a career full of distinguished movies over the past 50 years.

During the discussion at the Hanager Theatre, August explained to the audience his vision in making movies.

"A director is simply a storyteller who uses images and scenery to pass along his message, portraying the drama between human beings while engaging the audience in the story. A director should use drama as a tool to relay an important message to his audience, that is his philosophy," August said during the discussion.

August revealed that what pushed him towards the world of cinema was Fellinis movie La Strada, which he watched in school at a very young age.

Before that movie, the school's cinema showed dull movies that did not interest me, but once I saw La Strada, I knew what I wanted to do in life, thats where I wanted to be and I knew that moviemaking was all about creating magic, he said.

After he received his first Palm Dor in 1987 for 'Pelle the Conqueror,' offers poured in for August from everywhere, Hollywood included.

He visited Hollywood, studied the offers, and decided that Tinseltown was not for him.

In Hollywood, moviemaking is an industry, it is about the plot, while I think that filmmaking is mainly about relationships between human beings. To work in Hollywood, you simply have to abandon your integrity, he explained.

For August, life is too short to do something that he does not like. He actually said that he once made a movie that he did not like, and the result was that he shied away from movies for two years to try to forget the mistake.

When asked about the online film and series streaming service Netflix, August surprisingly said that he thinks it is good for the cinema industry. He said that production companies now know that they can recoup online the money they do not make in the movie theatres, which gives filmmakers more freedom to produce what they want without being tied down by many financial and production constraints.

He also spoke to the audience about a technique he uses to get actors in the right mood.

When shooting a movie we actually live in a bubble, so I try to provide the right surroundings, get the actors interested in the subject matter, and build up their awareness and concentration in the scene to finally produce a few seconds of magic that cannot be reproduced.

August revealed that he asks the technicians to leave the space, discusses the scene with the actors, rehearses with them if they ask for it, and when he feels that the moment is right, the shooting starts.

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

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(Newser)  A woman learned the limits of GPS Wednesday when she turned off a road onto railway tracks and got stuck thereparallel to the tracks, USA Today reports. To make matters worse, cops gave her a ticket. "The GPS told me to do it..." quipped the City of Duquesne Police Department in a Facebook post about her driving mishap. Seems police found her white sedan at about 10pm stuck along the tracks and said "the female was 100% sober and had no medical conditions affecting her decision-making. The vehicle was towed from the scene and the driver was cited for careless driving."

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As WFLA notes, police made clear in the comments section that she hadn't turned onto a road by the tracks. "Just to be clear," the department writes. "This vehicle was going straight on a highway and veered off. There was no turn involved here." Otherwise, the comments section is littered with people griping about that location ("seems like a common occurrence at that same spot"), GPS ("My GPS tells me wrong directions as well"), and the unlucky driver ("And I'll bet she votes"). The police didn't get off so easy either: "She was sober and the GPS directed her that way and instead of helping her the police did what????!!!??" (One woman spent months in jail over a cotton-candy mixup.)
(Newser)  Russia's coast guard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine's vessels Sunday, wounding two crew members, after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula, the Ukrainian navy says. Russia blamed Ukraine for provoking the incident, which sharply escalated tensions that have been growing between the two countries since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and it has worked steadily to bolster its zone of control around the peninsula, the AP reports. Earlier in the day, Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over a separate incident involving the same vessels, prompting Moscow to block passage through the narrow Kerch Strait, which separates the peninsula from the Russian mainland.

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The Ukrainian navy says two of its gunboats were struck and Russian crews boarded and seized them and an accompanying tugboat. Russia's Federal Security Service, known as the FSB and which oversees the coast guard, says there was "irrefutable evidence that Kiev prepared and orchestrated provocations ... in the Black Sea. These materials will soon be made public." The FSB confirmed early Monday that it fired on the vessels to force them to stop, and then seized them. The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides and for Moscow to restore access to the strait, which Ukraine uses to move ships to and from ports on either side of the peninsula. Ukrainian authorities say they gave advance notice to the Russians that the vessels would be moving through the strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. (Allegedly hidden beneath a Russian's coat: an antenna.)
(Newser)  The family of a man used for medical practice by 11 fire department employees as his body lay on the station floor is suing the city of Bellingham, Wash., for more than $15 million. The employees have admitted practicing intubation, the insertion and removal of breathing tubes, on the body of Bradley Ginn, the Bellingham Herald reports. The procedure was carried out without permission from Ginn's family as the fire station employees waited for the man's body to be transported to a funeral home. The workers who practiced on Ginn's body included two office workers as well as paramedics, the AP reports. A total of 12 employees were disciplined over the incident and a division chief resigned.

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An attorney later determined that "tube checks" on recently deceased patients were considered an acceptable way for paramedics to gain certification, though the rules were changed last month to ban performing procedures on deceased patients without the consent of next of kin, the Herald reports. Ginn's wife, Jai Ginn, has filed a $15 million suit, saying she was distressed by the "intentional and negligent care of a body." Children Aurieona Ginn and Bradley Ginn Jr. are suing for $350,000 and $200,000 respectively. Ginn Jr.'s lawyer says the "reprehensible" treatment of the body occurred when Ginn's family members were trying to find him. (These Canadian paramedics were charged over their treatment of a Good Samaritan.)
(Newser)  NATO ambassadors and a Ukrainian envoy are due to hold emergency talks Monday amid an escalating crisis that has brought Ukraine and Russia close to war. The Ukrainian Navy says Russia's coast guard seized three of its vessels Sunday after a standoff near the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, has asked the country's parliament to introduce martial law in response to what he calls "an act of aggression against our state and a very serious threat," the AP reports. He added: "Unfortunately, there are no 'red lines' for the Russian Federation." There are fears, however, that Poroshenko will use martial law to delay March elections that he had been expected to lose, reports the New York Times.

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Ukraine says six of its seamen were wounded when Russians fired on the three vessels near the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, where Ukraine has several ports. Russia resisted Western calls Monday to free the three ships and their crews, reports Reuters. Russian authorities said they were opening a criminal case on what they called an illegal intrusion into their territorial waters. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Vladimir Putin, said the move to introduce martial law "clearly smacks of electoral intrigues." In the western Ukraine city of Lviv, meanwhile, dozens of far-right protesters burned tires outside the Russian consulate, the Guardian reports. (Read more Ukraine stories.)
(Newser)  If Kirsten Gillibrand decides to run for president, Politico reports that she shouldn't expect help from several big Democratic donors during the primaries. The reason? Her role in forcing Al Franken to resign last year. The website talks to more than a dozen big donors and bundlers on both coasts who say they will not donate to the New York senator or help her raise money. If Gillibrand ends up as the nominee, that would change, but she won't be getting any help before then. The gist of the sentiment is that Gillibrand led a rush to judgment on Franken before the sexual harassment allegations against him were properly vetted. I do hear people refer to Kirsten Gillibrand as opportunistic and shrewd at the expense of others to advance herself and it seems to have been demonstrated in her rapid treatment of her colleague Al Franken, donor Susie Tompkins Buell tells Politico.

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"I know [Gillibrand] thought she was doing the right thing, but I think she will be remembered by this," she adds. Gillibrand, for her part, has staunchly defended her role. When George Soros voiced a similar complaint against her in August, she responded, If standing up for women who have been wronged makes George Soros mad, thats on him. A post at Jezebel suggests it's unfair for the likes of Tompkins Buell to punish Gillibrand, whose call for Franken to step down was quickly joined by other female lawmakers. "That Democratic donors are now withholding their money from Gillibrand is a reminder that there are costs for speaking upand powerful people ready to enforce them," writes Clio Chang. (Gillibrand seems to be extending her reach nationally.)
(Newser)  The United Arab Emirates insisted he was spyingand still does. But 31-year-old British academic Matthew Hedges says he was merely researching his Ph.D. Regardless of which side is right, Hedges is going home after about seven months in custody. Hedges received a life sentence in the UAE last week, but the government has since announced a presidential pardon, reports the Guardian. It's "the best news we could've received," tweeted his wife, Daniela Tejada. "I've been brought back to life." After his arrest, Hedges maintained that he was researching the nation's security arrangements for his doctorate at Durham University. In announcing the pardon, however, a UAE government spokesman said Hedges is "100% a secret service operative," per the BBC. (Hedges' wife says he'd been suffering panic attacks in prison.)
(Newser)  A hiker on a New Zealand island stumbled upon a distressing sight this weekend: dozens of pilot whales, dead on the beach after getting stranded there. Per the Guardian, the nation's Department of Conservation fielded a call Saturday from the hiker, who'd been camping on secluded Stewart Island, and staff rushed to Mason Bay to see what could be done. However, by the time they arrived, half of the 145 or so whales were already dead, and the other half had to be euthanized due to "the remote location, lack of nearby personnel, and the whales' deteriorating condition," the DOC said in a statement, per the BBC. "It's always a heartbreaking decision to make." Two separate pods were found, beached about 1.2 miles apart along the shoreline.

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New Zealand is considered a "hot spot" for the stranding of marine creatures, though it's typically single animals that are found, not multitudes of them. Researchers are still trying to fully understand what causes the whales to wash up on shores there, and so far the DOC suspects factors that include "sickness, navigational error, geographical features, a rapidly falling tide, being chased by a predator, or extreme weather." Stewart Island in particular could be "confusing" for the whales, the manager of a whale rescue group says, messing with their echolocation-dependent communications system due to its "gently shelving waters," per Stuff.co.nz. Plans for the whales' bodies include a blessing by a local Maori tribe, followed by a burial coordinated with the DOC. (More than 140 whales died after getting stranded in Australia earlier this year.)
(Newser)  A San Diego businessman is donating $1 million in the wake of Northern California's devastating Camp Firebut he's doing so in an unconventional way. Bob Wilson, 89, plans to pass out $1,000 checks on Tuesday to each of the 980 students and 105 staff members from Paradise High School. Much of the town of Paradise was destroyed in the blaze, the high school was closed, and evacuated students scattered, their lives "upended." Wilson was heartbroken when thinking back on his own "idyllic" high school days and realizing Paradise High students are missing out on making those same memories, he tells NBC Los Angeles.

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Wilson plans to travel more than 500 miles to the other end of his state to personally deliver the checks, the Los Angeles Times reports. There will be an assembly somewhere in Chico, though it's not yet clear exactly where they'll gather, the Paradise Post reports. "I thought about, 'OK, do you go to the Red Cross? How do you do this?'" Wilson says, per the Times. "Then I thought, 'No, its too slow, too bureaucratic. What I want to do is I want to give every one of those kids $1,000.'" He says he doesn't care what they do with the money, he just wants to "lift their spirits." (In California last week, an example of "what Thanksgiving's about.")
Western societies underestimate the deceitful lengths to which the Muslim Brotherhood is prepared to go in its expansionist goal of reaching world domination

I want to call attention to an extremely important book by an Egyptian now living in Sweden, Sameh Egyptson. Holy White Lies: The Muslim Brotherhood in the West, which appears to have been published at the authors own expense by Dar Al-Maaref, is an exhaustive study of the Muslim Brotherhood organisations designs to assert its influence over major governmental and non-governmental institutions in the West.

Its plans and strategies towards this end rely on lies, deception and doublespeak. The author uses Sweden as a case study representative of other Western countries.

The title of the book is taken from a fatwa issued by Sheikh Youssef Al-Qaradawi and posted on his personal webpage, telling Muslims that it is okay for them to lie: Among the properties of Islam is that it combines idealism and pragmatism.

Islam is the method of God who knows from the nature of life and the needs of the people that which made Him licence the telling of lies in certain situations out of consideration for human nature and appreciation for their pressing needs and urgencies.

In Maqasid Al-Sharia (The Intents of Islamic Law), Al-Qaradawi holds that the best argument on the question of lying was that proposed by Abu Hamed Al-Ghazali in his encyclopaedic Revival of the Theological Sciences: I know that lying is not a sin in and of itself but because of what it inflicts on the interlocutor or others.

In its least harmful degree, the informant believes the opposite of what is true. He is ignorant. Often there is gain and benefit in ignorance. Lying is the outcome of that ignorance and, as such, it is permissible and, perhaps, necessary.

The Muslim Brotherhoods other main strategem for acquiring influence in the West is gradualism. Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan Al-Banna was the first to formulate this strategy for attaining the movements political ends.

Egyptson cites Al-Banna, in his letter to Muslim Brotherhood youth, saying that the ultimate end is to control and rule the world or, to use Al-Bannas term, to attain worldwide mastery.

Al-Qaradawi also stresses the need to observe the principle of gradualism: By gradualism, here, we do not just mean delay and procrastination of execution, or using the word gradualism as a means to put camouflage the urgent demand to establish Gods rule and apply his law.

Rather, by this term, we mean specifying the aim, drawing up the plan and designating the stages whereby each stage leads to the next through planning, organisation and design.

Because of the Muslim Brotherhoods central planning organisation, the directives of which must be followed by all branches throughout the world, we hear the same arguments reiterated by Muslim Brotherhood leaders everywhere. Holy White Lies cites the following excerpt from an interview with Chakib Benmakhlouf, president of the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe, published in the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat: We have a programme.

We have an agenda for the next 20 years and a short-term plan, a middle-term plan and a long-range plan. He adds: Our presence in Western Europe is not so deeply rooted.

I reckon it is only about 50 years old. Muslims should not accelerate things. It is sort of difficult to jump from the first to the tenth gear. We begin at the ground level.

Taking Sweden, for example, we find that the government gives assistance to mosques, funds Islamic schools, and gives you the right to sit in municipal councils and parliament. The Jews only got to where they are today after a long history.

They say that they are jealous of Muslims because Muslims managed to accomplish more in a short time than they could accomplish in hundred years.

The book details the stages of Muslim Brotherhood infiltration of Sweden which began with an electoral alliance with the Swedish Social Democratic Party after which it infiltrated the Green Party, the Moderate Party and the Centre Party.

The process has also engaged various Islamic organisations such as the Muslim Association of Sweden and its subsidiary associations and allies, as well as the Muslim Youth of Sweden, the Association of Islamic Schools, the Hajj and Umra Company, the Swedish Muslim Scouts, the Muslim Womens Association, the Swedish Muslim Students Federation, the New Crescent Cultural Organisation, the Society of Quran Reciters, the Muslim Council of Sweden, etc.

Egyptson brilliantly links these organisations with international Islamic organisations that serve as branches of the International Muslim Brotherhood, such as the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe (FIOE), the European Council for Fatwa and Research, the Muslim World League, the Milli Gorus, Taqwa Bank, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Munich Mosque, the European Institute for Human Sciences and the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisation (FEMYSO).

What emerges is a clear picture of a highly centralised organisation, linked through a massive web to hundreds of regional and local organisations all collectively bent on a single aim: tamkin (empowerment).

According to Egyptson, one of the most significant Islamic theological research works into the subject of empowerment is that of Mohamed Al-Sallabi, a member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research. In Enlightening the Faithful on the Jurisprudence of Victory and Empowerment, the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood leader writes that among the diverse means to attain empowerment are for the people of the true faith to reach power and to control government, to defeat heretics and save the faithful in battles, and to inherit the earth and empower the religion of God.

Al-Sallabi goes on to maintain that one of the avenues to empowerment is to share power in non-Muslim countries, which is to say for Muslims to participate in governments with non-Muslims with the ultimate aim of defeating the non-Muslims in the end and taking control using, of course, democratic means towards this end.

In other words, as Holy White Lies makes palpably clear, the Muslim Brotherhoods ideology and strategy is founded on the arts of deception.

This is something not yet realised by Western societies, which have opened their doors to those organisations that work so stealthily to eliminate non-Muslim societies.

As for the author, just as Sameh Egyptson benefited from his familiarity with Swedish society and its institutions, so too did he benefit from the practical experience he gained with Muslim Brotherhood ideas and modus operandi in his country of origin where he grew up, and from where he migrated to Sweden as a young man.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 22 November, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: The Muslim Brotherhood in the West

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(Newser)  On Sunday, there was "mayhem" at the US-Mexico border as pedestrian crossings at the San Ysidro port of entry, one of the country's busiest, were suspended by Customs and Border Protection, and US agents shot tear gas at migrants near the border after a few tried to breach a fence. Politico reports the port of entry was reopened Sunday evening, but President Trump made clear Monday morning he doesn't want to admit the asylum-seeking migrants still waiting for entryand he issued a warning to Mexico on what he might do to keep any more people from entering. "Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries," he tweeted.

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"Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A.," he continued. "We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!" Politico notes the president has offered no evidence there are criminals en masse among the migrant groups. A deal was said to be in the works between the US and Mexico on having those seeking US asylum wait in Mexico while their cases are being processed, but USA Today reports on "conflicting statements" from Mexico's incoming interior minister, Olga Sanchez Cordero. In a Washington Post story on Saturday, Sanchez Cordero said that "for now, we have agreed to this policy of Remain in Mexico." Later, however, she noted: "There is no agreement of any sort between the incoming Mexican government and the US government." (More on what happened at the border Sunday here.)
(Newser)  "Misinformation," as opposed to "disinformation," was chosen Monday as Dictionary.com's word of the year on the tattered coattails of "toxic," picked earlier this month for the same honor by Oxford Dictionaries. Jane Solomon, a linguist-in-residence at Dictionary.com, says that her site's choice of "mis" over "dis" was deliberate, intended to serve as a "call to action" to be vigilant in the battle against fake news, flat-earthers, and anti-vaxxers, among other conduits. The company wanted to highlight the idea of intent, whether to inadvertently or intentionally mislead. "Misinformation has been around for a long time, but ... the rise of social media has really, really changed how information is shared," Solomon tells the AP. "Understanding the concept of misinformation is vital to identifying misinformation as we encounter it in the wild, and that could ultimately help curb its impact."

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In studying lookups on the site that trended this year, Dictionary noticed "our relationship with truth is something that came up again and again," she says. For example, the word "mainstream" popped up a lot, spiking in January as the term "mainstream media," or MSM, grew to gargantuan proportions, wielded as an insult by some on the political right. Other words swirling around the same problem included a lookup surge in February for "white lie" after Hope Hicks, then White House communications director, admitted to telling a few for President Trump. The word "Orwellian" surfaced in heavy lookups in May, after White House press secretary Sarah Sanders accused China of "Orwellian nonsense." Dictionary.com has busied itself adding new entries for "filter bubble," ''fake news," ''post-fact," ''post-truth," and "homophily," among others. Dictionary.com chose "complicit" as last year's word of the year. In 2016, it was "xenophobia."

(Read more Word of the Year stories.)
(Newser)  Meet Judge JerryJudge Jerry Springer. Yes, the former daytime talk show host has a law degree, and he'll be putting it to good use back in daytime syndication. Springer is returning to the small screen for Judge Jerry, a daily, first-run half-hour court program debuting in national syndication in the fall of next year, Deadline reports."For the first time in my life, I am going to be called honorable," says Springer, who got his J.D. degree from Northwestern University. "My career is coming full circle and I finally get to put my law degree to use after all these years." Springer, who is reteaming with NBCUniversal TV Distribution for the show, worked for two law firms before getting into politics (he was also mayor of Cincinnati) and then TV.

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A statement promises Springer will preside over cases and then "render a verdict with a fair yet firm hand and always leave litigants with a dose of classic Springer wisdom," Variety reports. "Judge Jerry will merge Jerrys talent for connecting with people, his incredibly relatable and funny personality, and his legal training and governing experience to bring viewers a more entertaining court show," an exec adds. (The Jerry Springer Show had its final show this summer after more than 4,000 episodes.)
(Newser)  "It's like a nightmare you don't wake up from." So says the mother of a North Dakota man who was killed along with his wife and their two daughters in a car crash Thanksgiving morning. Leslie Dean-Webb tells KTVB the family had moved from Caldwell, Idaho, to North Dakota earlier this year and they had returned to Idaho to visit family for the holiday. After seeing Dean-Webb Wednesday, Anthony Dean, wife Chelsi, 5-year-old Kaytlin, and 20-month-old Avri left to visit more family in Montana; they stopped in Billings, Montana, to rest that night, the Billings Gazette reports. The last anyone heard from them was Thursday morning when Chelsi texted her grandma to say the family was on their way and would be to her house for Thanksgiving dinner around 11am, Dean-Webb posted on Facebook. They never arrived, and their relatives had no idea of their fate for more than 24 hours.

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On Friday night, authorities in Montana found the family's Toyota 4Runner, which had come to rest nose-down in a creek after veering off Interstate 94, hitting a median, going off an embankment, and hitting a concrete bridge support pillar, the Idaho Statesman reports. The vehicle was towing another vehicle on a trailer at the time. Authorities believe speed was a factor in the accident, which is estimated to have occurred around 7am Thursday, just 30 minutes after Chelsi texted her grandmother. Anthony was an Air Force staff sergeant stationed at the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. "Words are not enough during a time like this," said a commander from the base in a statement. "AJ's family brought a light to our community, and this loss strikes each of us deeply. May their friends and family be granted strength and serenity to get through this sorrowful time." (A man who was shot while checking on his neighbor's home died on Thanksgiving.)
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His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has asserted that every phase in Bahrains national march is laden with achievements and gains, adding that thanks to the determination and resolve of the leadership and the people, the future is promising and landmark achievements lie ahead.

HRH the Prime Minister stressed that cooperation has always characterised the governments relations with the Legislative Branch, noting that the Executive-Legislature partnership will certainly deepen with the new Council of Representatives as its members enjoy the confidence of the government and the citizens who elected them to be their representatives in the House of the People and by an unprecedented popular participation. HRH Premier called for the need to always be united, and to avoid division through removing its causes, including the misuse of social media networks.

The Prime Minister made the statements while receiving, at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday, senior officials, intellectuals, cultural figures, journalist, media personnel and scores of citizens, with whom he reviewed local and international issues. HRH the Premier praised the democratic atmosphere in which the first round of the parliamentary and municipal elections took place, hailing the Bahraini peoples great keenness to vote, which, he said, reflects the extent of the Bahraini citizens awareness and loyalty to the homeland.

I would like to say thank you to the people of Bahrain from the bottom of my heart for their stances and support for their country under all circumstances. Indeed, Bahrainis have always done the same, and we hope that every new phase is better than the previous one. We hope that the next phase will be richer, brighter and safer for Bahrain and its people, he said.
Nearly 68 per cent of the voters came to polling booths to exercise their democratic rights on the elections day. This shows the seriousness a large number of citizens attach to the democratic process. These successful elections will undoubtedly add one more feather to Bahrains cap.

I am pretty sure that the country will see more success in terms of voters and participating candidates in turn fostering the democratic process. It is a matter of fact that a large number of voters were unhappy with the previous term lawmakers, simply because they failed to address or attend to the issues faced by the voters in their constituencies.

I hope it wont happen this time. With many youthful and women faces among the winners, the fresh blood infused into the parliament will make it more accountable and dynamic. Parliamentarians should be aware that their jobs are not mere jobs, but an act of service through which they should aim at bringing prosperity and welfare to the society.

I wish all the winners the very best to carry out their duties in turn bringing smiles in the faces of people, who voted for them, after bestowing huge trust.
President Muhammadu Buhari will be joining over 80 Heads of State to attend the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP24.The conference is organized by the Bonn-based UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC/ UN Climate Change) and is presided over by Poland.The key objective of the meeting is to adopt the implementation guidelines of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.Climate experts say the meeting is crucial because it ensures the true potential of the Paris Agreement can be unleashed, including ramping up climate action so that the central goal of the agreement can be achieved, namely to hold the global average temperature to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius.In 1992, countries joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as a framework for international cooperation to combat climate change by limiting average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change, and coping with impacts that were, by then, inevitable.By 1995, countries launched negotiations to strengthen the global response to climate change, and, two years later, adopted the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds developed country Parties to emission reduction targets. The Protocols first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012. The second commitment period began on 1 January 2013 and will end in 2020.There are now 197 Parties to the Convention and 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.The 2015 Paris Agreement, adopted in Paris on 12 December 2015, marks the latest step in the evolution of the UN climate change regime and builds on the work undertaken under the Convention. The Paris Agreement charts a new course in the global effort to combat climate change.
Any African, who hates Nigeria, probably hates the entire black race. We are very unique in multiple nuances. In academics, various fi...





Any African, who hates Nigeria, probably hates the entire black race. We are very unique in multiple nuances. In academics, various fields of specialties have the impressive footprints of Nigerians.





In crimes, we have proved again and again that its sophistry is our exclusive reserve. We have gone to bestial limits where we proudly delight in plotting mass murders of our own kith and kin, or extermination of whole communities for political gains. We no longer dread the sight of blood.





We go paranoid in the worship of God; but demonstrate through words and actions, the unbridgeable gulf about the basic tenets of religiosity. Very richly endowed in politics, we experiment democracy in a manner that compels political scientists around the world into weekly researches to demystify our complex political mysteries.





Nigerians are world acclaimed masters of partisan politics. But, we loath progressive democratic traits and concepts, such as development or issue-based campaigns, innovative ideas, positive leadership character and integrity. But we endlessly adore the negative concepts, with edifying slogans.





So, opponents are only good for application of negative partisan concepts like physical or character assassination, arm-twisting, thuggery, blackmail, political vendetta, mudslinging, sentimentalism, ethnicity, sectionalism, regionalism, religiosity, hate speeches and campaigns of calumny.





Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is once again under the fire of opposition politicians, partisan spin doctors, Mr. fixers and their minions. Now, like in 2014, the heat against President Buhari in 2018 is not on what else he would do for Nigerians, if reelected in 2019. It is not about his WAEC certificate. So, every Nigerian has become a WAEC or INEC officer.





And we have demonstrated enough of our very poor grasp of the issue. While we are asking PMB for WAEC certificate he obtained in 1961 from Government College, Katsina. But the real nomenclature of the certificate is Cambridge West African School Certificate, (WASC). He also earned it from Provincial Secondary School, Katsina; not Government College.





However, it is part of the deliberate confusion, we create to religiously exploit the system and extort money from our unconscionable pay masters. We insistently drum into their ears, how we have launched the "battles" against their rivals and such debasing blathers.





It's all more interesting, the progression of this ranting about Buhari's certificate. In 2003, when PMB vied against former President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ), Buhari's WASC ( or is it WAEC) certificate was not a sentimental issue. Same in 2007 and 2011. In 2014 it became an issue because Buhari was contesting against a PDP incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who felt chillingly intimidated and threatened by Buhari's presidential candidature.





Therefore, we exhumed it and made a mountain out of a molehill. But it was Buhari's saving grace. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, had all the powers and authority in the world to expose Buhari's "faked"or non-possession of a secondary school certificate, to shame and ridicule him out of the contest. But both open and secret investigations, failed to yield the fruitful results pleaded.





Some PDP hirelings and apologists went to court and challenged Buhari over his 1961 WASC qualification. A legal practitioner, Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe played the spoil master. But as the case progressed in an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, the plaintiff voluntarily withdrew the suit. And it was struck out for obvious reasons.





This action was initiated after the Buhari's alma mater, Government College, (formerly, Provincial Secondary School), Katsina officially confirmed that he indeed, sat for WASC exams in 1961 and obtained a certificate. It was released with grades.





A Premium Times exclusive report, dated January 21, 2015 explicitly states that the medium, "... obtained the computer printout from Cambridge University as well as a statement of result, signed by the current principal of Katsina College, dated January 21, 2015... The Cambridge print out also shows the result of 17 other candidates at the centre, including Shehu Yar'Adua, a former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters."





The antagonists' could not go any further. These are facts in public domain; trashed and conclusively confined to the dustbin of history more than four years ago.





But we are back at it again just to keep ourselves excitedly busy on the politicking plane, poking at hard facts, we can never ever crack. The failure of Buhari's traducers to claim Mr. President has presented a forged certificate has spurred fresh anger, just to find something to hold against him.





They have wonderfully ignored the strength of submissions of Nigeria's legal luminaries, affirming and reaffirming the qualification of PMB to vie for the office of President of Nigeria in 2019.





Provisions of the 1999 Constitution on who is qualified to vie for the office of President of Nigeria are contained in Section: 131 and the issue of academic or other qualifications are clearly defined in Section: 318 (1) of the same Constitution, which have not passed a verdict of guilt on Buhari.





It therefore, changed the narrative from legal requirements to morality. I imagine who has vetoed PDP from approaching WASC successor body in Nigeria, WAEC , to confirm the truth or falsehood of the certificate? There are a dozen emergency activists and artificial organizations' they would have hired to execute the assignment. But they are hesitant. Why? Is PDP not prepared to present incontrovertible evidence that PMB has no certificate?





These critics know, when the military junta of IBB ousted Buhari as Nigeria's military Head of State in 1984, he was dumped into detention for months, by orders of the military government. His private residence was raided and personal documents, including certificates' carted away by the military government.





The action was spurred by the zeal to find something incriminating against Buhari. They found nothing, but never returned his seized documents.





PDP and its acolytes are free to make all the noise on certificate. But PMB has not applied to serve as PDP's BoT chairman or its President. He is seeking to continue leadership of Nigeria and Nigerians. This propaganda has failed flatly like others before now.





Only PDP knows PMB is too old, frail and weak with health challenges to continue to lead Nigeria.





Those who chant PMB's religious fanaticism and bigotry to indict his character and integrity are usually dumfounded when he pays a visit to the Anglican Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, each time he is in United Kingdom (UK).





There are more Muslim Mayors in UK than you can find Emirs in Nigeria. But he visits none, preferring to hobnob with a Christian cleric, who is also his best of personal friends around the world.





As a Nigerian and like millions of others, we prefer to again, vote for a leader of integrity, even if he flaunts NEPA bill as certificate. Its better than mortgaging our destinies and future in the hands of known capitalist cum political ones, whose only occupation is feasting on national treasury. PDP! May you know that in 2019, and in spite of your noises, we will still overwhelmingly vote for President Buhari.





By Josephine Odoh
Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works, and housing, says the Muhammadu Buhari-led government is repairing the road to former pre...





Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works, and housing, says the Muhammadu Buhari-led government is repairing the road to former president Olusegun Obasanjos house.





Fashola disclosed this in a recent interview with Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, stating that he is firmly behind the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari.





Speaking on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Fashola said the first thing is that Buharis government has started work there, after it was ignored by past governments, including Obasanjos government.





We have started work o, some people wey dey write letter since, e dey there, na the road to their house, them no do anything, Fashola said in pidgin English.





And all the money wey you say them spend, now make you ask, them spend money there? Them no spend money now, the money waka. Na Buhari come do am, after 16 years wey them dey government, he told TheSheet in an interview.





Even the one wey them con endorse now, he no dey there that time? Make I tell you one thing, there is no state wey dey this country, wey this government no dey do one road.





Fashola said the government was fixing as much as five roads in some states, while some other states had three to four roads currently being fixed.





Asked if he would be running for president in the future, Fashola said let us leave the future in the future, that he is currently running with President Muhammadu Buhari.





He said previous governments owed contractors many billions of naira, but the Buhari-led admin has been faithful with contractors and paying in time.




President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday promised to increase the salary, allowances and pensions of the Nigerian Police force and tasked th...

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday promised to increase the salary, allowances and pensions of the Nigerian Police force and tasked them to do more in the protection of human life.





He assured that his administration will continue to give attention to the welfare and operational needs of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with a view to restoring its lost primacy in the internal security framework of the country.









According to the President, From Taraba to Sokoto, to the South-South, people dont feel secure until they see the military. I am pleased to make the increase in salary and allowances in the hope that it will increase the performance index of the police and strengthen Nigerias internal security system. Speaking during an audience in State House, Abuja with members of the Nigeria Police Service Commission and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force on a Thank You visit following his approval of Rank Salary Structure Adjustment, by which salary, allowances and pension of policemen will be increased, President Buhari regretted that the inability of the police in their constitutional role as the frontline force in the prevention of crime, had led to military involvement in the maintenance of law and order throughout the country.According to the President, From Taraba to Sokoto, to the South-South, people dont feel secure until they see the military. I am pleased to make the increase in salary and allowances in the hope that it will increase the performance index of the police and strengthen Nigerias internal security system.

President Buhari observed that the more efficient the police is, the more confident the government and citizens will be.









There is a need to amplify the question of more men of the police, especially given the condition we are in  emergency in the North-East, pervasive insecurity and abduction for ransom and banditry in many parts of the country. I congratulate you on the success you recorded against criminals taxing people and stopping them from their farms. We are expecting more from you, the President told the police. According to him, The military should be reserved for higher tasks. The police should be able to cope well with the challenges of armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom and such crimes. In every town and village, there is the presence of the police. From all these places, they should be able to forward first class intelligence to you on which to act.There is a need to amplify the question of more men of the police, especially given the condition we are in  emergency in the North-East, pervasive insecurity and abduction for ransom and banditry in many parts of the country. I congratulate you on the success you recorded against criminals taxing people and stopping them from their farms. We are expecting more from you, the President told the police.





Full-time Commissioner in the Nigeria Police Service Commission, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (rtd), who represented the chairman, Musiliu Smith, had informed the President that the Rank Salary Structure Adjustment would enhance police welfare and morale.




Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has clarified that he did not defect to the All Progressives Congress, A...





Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has clarified that he did not defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, but only moved to the party.





Akpabio said he was surprised that the same people who founded the ruling party were the ones pulling it down.





The former Governor, who represents Akwa Ibom North-West at the National Assembly, told Vanguard that the same people were determined to ruin the party to bring down the government of President Muhammadu Buhari just because of their selfish interests.





Asked why he defected to the APC, Akpabio sais, I did not defect, I moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the national interest especially if you look at what is happening at the national level.





I was surprised that people who founded the APC were the same people determined to ruin that party, to bring down the government of President Buhari just because election is approaching, so that they could go and contest under another platform.





I felt there is need for us to have a country before we talk about elections. People say statesmen think about the next generation while politicians think of the next election.





I saw a trend where a lot of us are now becoming politicians thinking only of the next election without thinking of the next generation.





I moved in the national interest, to stabilize the polity and in order to support the current administration.





And I thin that, to a large extent, my intention was achieved and so it was referred to as uncommon defection because it was one defection that stopped a lot of defections.





I was not thinking whether I will win election in 2019 when I was moving because, at that time, my state was totally PDP; when I moved, people were shocked but today, less than two months after, the entire state, 98%, has turned APC.





Speaking further on the forthcoming general election, the former governor said there will be no war in the country and added that only people who want war will see war.





He said, There will be no war in Nigeria in 2019, people should not think of election as war. Election should not be war.





I appreciate that question because recently I made a statement which I love to make.





I said, Warsaw saw war because the political leadership in PDP in Akwa Ibom had said that the current administration should recruit people and prepare for war, that 2019 will be war and that only the fittest would survive.





So, the youths and some elders of the APC met me to say that people are calling for war.




Festus Keyamo, the spokesman of the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, says the Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya did not debate, yet he wo...





Festus Keyamo, the spokesman of the Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, says the Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya did not debate, yet he won the presidential elections.





Keyamo said Buharis campaign war room will be the ones to decide, collectively with the president, if he would be debating ahead of the 2019 presidential elections.





In the past, Buhari has taken active part in televised debate, so nobody can argue that he is somebody who is camera shy, Keyamo said, while speaking on Arise TV on Monday.





So the decision, whether he would take part this time must be a collective decision of the entire war room. Giving, for example, those who are organising it and all the circumstances taken into consideration.





I do take as a basic rule that the Nigerian people must hear from their candidates, but the decision as to yes or no cannot be my sole decision.





The advice will be a collective decision, it is not my advise alone. Dont forget that you cannot take these things in isolation of the circumstances.





For instance, it happened in Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta refused to take part in debate December last year. Why? He felt the process was skewed.





At times, some things are designed and you know that they are core people there, who are hostile to government or who are hostile to your candidate as the case may be.





Either way, Uhuru Kenyatta did not take part in the debate, but he won. He won resoundingly. So, as important as that is, at times the people may also understand.





APC DEBATED IN OSUN, PDP RAN TO DANCE

(PDP) counterpart danced his way to 250,000 votes. Speaking about the Osun state Guber elections held in September 2018, Keyamo said the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate debated, while his Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) counterpart danced his way to 250,000 votes.





Look at Osun state recently, I mean, there was a neck-to-neck race and the candidate of the PDP ran away, he was only dancing, and dancing took him to over 250,000 votes, almost becoming governor, Keyamo added.





He said Buharis strongest campaign point is his ability to squeeze water out of stone.





The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said Nigerians trust President Buhari, and if the PDP puts this in perspective, Atiku Abubakar would quit his campaign and concede the 2019 election tonight.




President Muhammadu Buhari has said that education was the key element needed for the development and industrialization of the country.The President, who was represented by Prof Ishaaq Oloyode, Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), made the remark weekend in Benin during the 44th convocation ceremony of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).The president who noted that there was a great disconnect between education and industry in the country, said that the difference between industrialized economy and non industrialized economy was education.He said, We must not fail to realize that the key elements of the countrys industrialization is education. The difference between industrialized and non industrialized economy is education. As it is in Nigeria today, there is a great disconnect between education and industry. This should not be so.The president, while highlighting the Federal government and its agencies interventions in the funding of tertiary institutions especially universities, however charged managers of universities to ensure due diligence and probity in the management and disbursement of resources.He said, their actions should be geared towards promoting quality teaching and purposeful research in the areas of comparative advantage and entrenched academic integrity,,eliminate poor attitude to work and stamping out cultism and gangsterism in their campuses.He assured that his administrations determination to work assiduously within the limit of its resources to bring about the desired transformation in the educational sector.The president, however, appealed to parents and guardians as well as alumni of the university to assist the administrators in creating the right atmosphere conducive for scholarship and academic excellence.Earlier, the Chancellor of the University, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, commended the present Federal government for providing the enabling environment for the enthronement of peace and uninterrupted academic calendar in the nations universities.He also commended the federal government for its sustained interest in the development of the education sector, especially tertiary education.He, however, appealed to the federal government to fulfill all its obligations to the university staff unions to forestall future disruption of the academic calendar.He however used the ceremony to call on parents and guardians to join hands with the university administration in its quest to discourage youths from being used as thugs to rig the 2019 general elections for politicians.According to him, we are all aware that during the first quarter of next year, elections to various offices will,be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). With the benefit of hindsight, we all know that it has become the norm for many politicians, in their desperation to win elections at all cos, to resort to tertiary institutions to recruit our youth to serve as political thugs.Our youths must not allow themselves to be used in illegal activity that endanger their lives and the lives of innocent citizens, he stated.In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Faraday Friday Orumwense, said a total of 11,832 graduates were presented with various degrees and certificates.Orumwense, said a total of 134 bagged first class, 2,122 bagged second class upper, 4,864 second class lower, 1,156 third class, one with pass, 240 with PhD, 2,207 masters, 559 with PGD among others.
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the recent visit of the South-East Govern...





The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the recent visit of the South-East Governors Forum to President Muhammadu Buhari.





MASSOB described the governors visit to thank President Buhari for the purported constructing of 2nd Niger Bridge as an act of inferiority complex.





Leader of MASSOB, Mazi Uchenna Madu, who spoke, on Sunday, at a special church thanksgiving to commemorate Odumegwu Ojukwus Memorial Day at St. Paul Catholic Church, Olori, Awgu in Awgu Council Area of Enugu state, charged Biafrans to keep faith in the struggle for Biafra.





MASSOB also wondered whether other regional governors have also visited the president to thank him for attempting to construct any project in their regions.





Why must you thank Buhari because of the 2nd Niger Bridge; something that is your right, something by now that supposed to have been done?





You are thanking him for a project that was not funded in the last three years and in the next ten years is not going to be materialistic? That is to show you the inferiority complex of our leaders, he said.





Madu said that the thanksgiving was to commemorate the memorial of late MASSOB leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, which was celebrated by pro-Biafra struggle across the Biafraland and a remember of the priceless contribution of the late Ojukwu to the freedom of Biafrans.





Today we are in the church to celebrate our hero, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, who joined his ancestors some years back.





MASSOB is very much hopeful in Biafra restoration because when we started the journey we believe that we must actualise Biafra.





Our faith is still strong in the struggle and we are being motivated because this is a foundation being led by our leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.





He left a legacy that we must actualize. It is a dream that we must actualise though we believe in none violence.





We still apply every other diplomatic approach but for now we have resolved not to take up arms against the state of Nigeria.





The current happening shows that the exit of Biafra from Nigeria is near. In Nigeria today nobody is talking about Nigeria; the Hausa man is not talking about Nigeria, the Yoruba man is not talking about Nigeria, Igbo man is not talking about Nigeria, and everyone is now talking about individual tribes and regions that is to tell you our mindset.





We keep on saying that 2019 election will be the end of Nigeria and Buhari still remain the last president of Nigeria because we are not seeing Nigeria progress again because every segments of Nigeria is tired of Nigeria, Madu said.




Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti state, has clarified his stance on the fate of Ayodele Fayose, his predecessor. Speaking with sta...





Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti state, has clarified his stance on the fate of Ayodele Fayose, his predecessor.





Speaking with state house correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, Fayemi explained that there was never a time he said he would probe Fayose.





According to him, reports of such probe are on the table of anti-graft agencies.





Well, I am sure I have never said anything about probe, and I do not say anything about probe. Looking into books is the duty of any new governor, you need to know what you found in place, I just talked about visitation panel into the education sector in the state, he said.





There are other sectors in the state, and it will be remiss of me not to check what we found when we came into office and share that with the citizens of the state.





It is just accountability not probe. I am not EFCC, I am not ICPC, there are institutions that are charged with the responsibility to do that and its entirely up to them if they want to probe the governor or not.





It is not my business, I leave Fayose to God, I have said that before.





Fayose is currently being prosecuted by the EFCC over an 11-count charge of alleged conspiracy and money laundering.





Speaking on the state of education, Fayemi said Ekiti had a tradition of being the intellectual capital of the country but it seemed to have lost that edge lately.





He said his government was working toward repositioning the sector, particularly at the basic and tertiary levels.





The governor said he had set up visitation panel in all the tertiary institutions in the state to review and recommend what the critical and challenging issues were and how government should respond to the yearnings of the sector.





He said the government was taking specific steps to address access to education in the basic education sub-sector.





Before now, Ekiti used to be the leading state in terms of school enrollment in the country but the latest figures we received from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) makes it clear that we are lagging far behind, he said.





We have moved from 96 per cent enrollment in the entire country to about 45 per cent meaning that about 55 per cent of our school age children are of school.





That is unacceptable in a state like Ekiti and we need to find out what has happened between 2014 and 2018 leading to this appalling figure in terms of school enrolment.





And one of the very first things we are doing to improve enrolment is to make sure that all fees and levies in the primary and secondary sector are removed, so we have removed that.





We have returned free compulsory and qualitative education to our basic education sector.




The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has expressed consternation, dismay and shock over the killing of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram te...





The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has expressed consternation, dismay and shock over the killing of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram terrorists.





Boko Haram terrorists on Monday overran the 157 Task Force Battalion at Metele Village in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.





Over seventy Nigerian soldiers allegedly lost their lives during the encounter.





The high death toll has already caught the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari who summoned top brass in the Nigerian military command to review the situation..





MURICs reaction was contained in a press statement signed and made available on Monday, by the groups director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.





It read: This is audacious, benumbing and preposterous. We are nonplussed. This is a national tragedy of no little proportion. We join millions of other patriotic Nigerians to mourn these fallen heroes. Our hearts go to those gallant soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice for their country in active service. We ask Nigerians to pray for them and their families. We also implore our religious leaders to organize special prayers for total victory over the insurgents.





But we must not spend all the time on our mats and knees praying. We must, in the spirit of ora et labora, work more and pray less because it is our handiwork that Allah will crown with glory. Allah himself confirmed this position when He said, Tell them to work and Allah will see (i.e. He will reward you for) your work (Glorious Quran 9:105).





The question that arises here is how much work did we do? How well did we prepare for the insurgents? There are allegations that neglect and sabotage caused the Metele fiasco. Soldiers in that axis reportedly complained of poor weaponry but nothing was done about it.





We are therefore demanding a probe of events which led to the overrunning of Metele and the merciless killing of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents.





MURIC recalls a similar situation in 2014 when 54 Nigerian soldiers complained to their commander that their weapons were too poor to confront better equipped Boko Haram fighters. They had earlier lost 23 men and four officers due to poor equipment when they advanced on Damboa on 9th July, 2014. This made them to demand better supplies but they were rounded up instead. They were consequently tried and sentenced to death but this was later commuted to ten years imprisonment. They are still in jail as we speak.





What kind of people are we? Why must those who work for us suffer unnecessary hardship on account of the services they render? Why must soldiers who are defending our territorial integrity be punished unjustly? Those 54 soldiers would have been slaughtered like rams in 2014 if they had not raised objection and refused an illegal order.





Their refusal to march on insurgents with bare hands created the awareness of the existence of massive fraud in the army. Why must they still be in jail today? MURIC therefore calls for presidential pardon for the 54 soldiers. They should be treated as whistle-blowers and heroes for exposing graft.





MURIC also descended on Western powers for delaying the supply of sophisticated weapons to Nigeria and for playing tortuous politics with the issue.





We are bemused that strange conditionalities are pushed forward each time the issue of supplying better weapons to Nigeria in its fight against terrorism is raised before Western countries. They raise baseless issues of human rights and tie remote incidents to the supply. Those countries are not behaving like friends at all.





But what moral right do we have to blame outsiders when Nigerian lawmakers are the countrys worst enemies?





They have never displayed any unity of purpose when the presidency requests funds to purchase sophisticated weapons. We recall the National Assemblys strong objection and procrastination when President Muhammadu Buhari asked for $1 billion for more arms in February 2018. It is paradoxical that the same unpatriotic elements are now blaming the presidency for the Metele tragedy.





We urge Nigerians to open their eyes. We must never surrender the national mandate to shenanigans, egocentric and unpatriotic politicians in 2019. Never again, never again must we allow those who supervised the debilitation and emaciation of Nigerian troops to occupy the seat of power.





They diverted huge amounts of money meant for arms for our soldiers to the extent that our soldiers started running each time they saw Boko Haram fighters. It is a shame that some of the drammatis personaecan still blame the current administration for what happened at Metele. It is also a manifestation of gross insensitivity for anyone to politicize the disaster.





This is food for thought for the Nigerian civil society. We are particularly miffed by the silence of powerful groups like the Nigerian Labour Congress on the moral debauchery, open blackmail and daylight robbery of our common patrimony going on in the NASS. The latter armtwisted the executive in virtually every aspect of administration yet nobody spoke out. Revelations were made about their illegal and atrocious salaries and unlawful emoluments. Nobody did as much as whisper.





NASS delayed the 2018 budget for seven months and nobody did as much as whimper. The same NASS cut allocations to vital areas in the budget and added the deductions to its own in brazen exploitation and legislative rascality.





Yet the same NLC ignored this and went on strike to put additional pressure on an overstressed administration. Silence is not golden in moments like these.





Nonetheless, Metele or no Metele, we assert clearly, emphatically and unequivocally that Boko Haram remains technically defeated. A group of terrorists who once occupied 17 local governments, terrorized three North Eastern states (Adamawa, Borno and Yobe) and extended its tentacle of bombing terror to Kano and Abuja has been reduced to a shadow of itself.





It is now restricted to acts of cowardice, hiding behind little girls who play the role of suicide bombers, engaging in seasonal guerilla warfare and disguising as friendly soldiers to gain access into the camps of gallant Nigerian soldiers.





MURIC also sent a strong message to Nigerian soldiers fighting Boko Haram in the North East.





To our gallant soldiers, both officers and other ranks, we salute you all. You have done well and many of you deserve medals. We are proud of you. We know all about your sacrifices for the sake of our dear country.





You are on sentry all night so that we can sleep peacefully. You face hardship so that Nigeria may remain one indivisible entity. Boko Haram would have taken Abuja but for your gallantry.





You are our heroes. We are with you in your advance on the enemy. We assure you that you are not alone. We share your pains. Your victories gladden our hearts.





We are with you in the trenches. Come rain, come shine, we will never abandon you. We are on our prayer mats in the mosques and on our knees in the churches as you battle the enemy. We charge you to forge forward. To flush out Boko Haram is a task that must be done.





As we round off, we charge the Federal Government to quickly institute a probe of the Metele fiasco. We plead for presidential prerogative of mercy for the 54 soldiers. We call on Nigerians to treat those responsible for diverting arms money to their personal pockets like political lepers in 2019. They should not touch them with a long pole.




The Northeast Intellectuals Forum, NIF, a group of academics in the region, has lambasted former President Goodluck Jonathan on his at...





The Northeast Intellectuals Forum, NIF, a group of academics in the region, has lambasted former President Goodluck Jonathan on his attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Kashim Shettima.





Their position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the forums Secretary, Dr Stephen Yunusa.





Jonathan had alleged that Shettima was one of those working towards rubishing his new book, My Transition Hours, launched in Abuja on Tuesday.





Responding, NIF said after reviewing the book, it expected the former leader to more concerned by damning reaction from one of his Ministers, Mohammed Bello Adoke, (former Attorney General of the Federation) who, on behalf of two other former Ministers, publicly issued a statement saying Jonathan told lies in his book.





Adoke wrote on behalf of former Ministers of Finance and Transport (Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and Chidoka) and he said as published in the front page of The Nation Newspaper last Thursday, that Jonathan misrepresented facts in his book in which he claimed that the three former Ministers under him, Adoke, Ngozi and Chidoka, were against him (Jonathan) conceding defeat to then candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Adoke clearly spoke the position of his two colleagues because he mentioned them in his statement and none of the two other ministers have so far distanced themselves from the statement by Adoke.





We expected President Jonathan to be seriously worried that his own very senior Ministers, amongst his closest appointees, are discrediting his book. In fact, in one media report, Adoke has promised to provide information that will correct Jonathans falsehood in his own account when he releases a book soon.





We think there is no bigger discredit to Jonathans book that such a statement by three of his own Ministers. The fact is there are sharp inaccuracies in Jonathans especially on page 31 in which the former President said the Boko Haram demanded that he denounces his Christian faith in preference for a Muslim President. We have thoroughly cross-checked and found that at no time did Boko Haram ever made such a demand.





Besides, as Governor Shettima rightly observed, the first attack by the Boko Haram in both Bauchi and Borno States took place in July 2009 under late President Umaru Yaradua, who was a Muslim from the northwest. We therefore urge Jonathan to do a critical reflection on his book and issue apology.





As academics, we avoid getting involved on fights between politicians because somehow, worst enemies amongst politicians end up becoming friends when interests realign. However, we are constrained to interject on the ongoing relaunch of media fight between former President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor of Borno, Kashim Shettima from the Northeast because of two reasons. Both of them were academics who had worked as University lecturers and also, the issue in question concerns a book authored by former President Jonathan. Books are our natural areas of interest.




Specialised Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection International (STTEP), a South African mercenary company, says President Muhammadu...

Specialised Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection International (STTEP), a South African mercenary company, says President Muhammadu Buhari rejected intelligence warnings about operations of Boko Haram in Borno state.





STTEP was employed by former president Goodluck Jonathan in January 2015 to assist the Nigerian army in the war against the insurgents.





In a Facebook post on Sunday, Eeben Barlow, STTEP chairman, said Nigerian soldiers have been reaching out for help since his companys services were terminated.





Barlow is speaking out in the wake of the deadly killing of Nigerian soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents.

The latest attack in Melete village, Borno, is believed to have led to the death of no less than 100 soldiers.





Weighing in on the development, Barlow said Buharis administration did not allow his company to complete the objective of degrading and destroying Boko Haram in Borno.





He wrote: There is, in a purely military sense, no such thing as a technical defeatsomething the President, as an ex-military man ought to know. Sadly, he also chose to make the successes of 7 Infantry Division and 72 Mobile Strike Force (MSF) his own, when it wasnt.





President Buhari and his team were, however, part of the political leader group that led the vocal charge about STTEPs presence in Nigeria. Indeed, they made it known that the companys presence would not be tolerated under his office.





The initial 3-phase campaign strategy (known as Operational Anvil) to degrade and destroy BH in Borno State, was rejected by his advisors.





Many of the men we trained as part of 72 Mobile Strike Force have remained in contact with us (STTEP), pleading for our return to Nigeria. They have also told us that they have been used to a point of exhaustion.





Prior to, and following our departure from Nigeria, we issued numerous intelligence warnings to his government. These intelligence warnings were all rejected in favour of a false belief. Neighbouring countries were advised not to listen to us as it was claimed to be a cheap attempt to get a contract. Chad, Cameroon and Niger are now also reaping the benefits of rejecting intelligence in favour of an agenda-driven narrative.

In a statement released on Saturday by his media team, the president described the attack as a national tragedy and warned Nigerians against politicising it.




All Progressive Congress(APC) governors from the north-east say President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term based on his perform...





All Progressive Congress(APC) governors from the north-east say President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term based on his performance in office.





They gave the endorsement at the end of a two-day APC north-east zonal meeting in Bauchi on Sunday.





The governors who attended the meeting in Bauchi include Kashim Shettima of Borno, Bindow Jibrila of Adamawa, Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Isa Yuguda of Bauchi and Modu Sheriff of Borno, among others.





Governor Shettima of Borno said the president has done extremely well as the sub-region has benefitted from his administration.





We all know the sorry state of the country, we are the net beneficiaries of President Muhammadu Buharis administration in terms of appointment, securing lives and properties and projects, he said.





Because the Mambilla hydropower project in Gembu Taraba alone is game changer in this part of the world.





Therefore north-east is Buharis territory, believe me the sub-region will solely back him in 2019 general elections, he reiterated.





Mustapha Salihu, APC national vice-chairman for north-east, said the president has done much for the sub-region in terms of providing infrastructural development as well as the fight against insurgency.





He said: I want to say that this gathering is mainly an endorsement meeting to show appreciation to Buharis administration for salvaging us from the shackles of insurgency, no single kilometre is now under Boko Haram.





The meeting is also to reiterate our support come 2019 by giving him triple number of votes as against what was given to him in 2015.





On the whole, the meeting is to map out strategies with the stakeholders to see how we will go about the forthcoming general elections to re-elect Buhari for a second term.





On his part, Ahmed Lawan, senate leader, said senators of APC are more united after the defections and will continue to support the present administration on efforts to provide development in the country.





He said: We are committed, loyal, patriotic and we will continue to support the president to actualise the wishes of Nigerians, and we will be committed party members who are supporting the continuity of the present administration.





The 2019 general elections will be determined by integrity, history of candidates we know how they destroyed the resources. People should remember where we are coming from and where we are, right now.





Buhari has done a lot of very good programmes and projects. Some have been concluded but there is still a lot that needs to be done.




The national chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has rebuffed claims of highhandedness against the ...





The national chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has rebuffed claims of highhandedness against the ruling administration saying that President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced the phenomenon.





Oshiomhole spoke in Kano on Sunday when he received erstwhile governor of the state, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and other defectors into the ruling party.





They wrote a letter to the UN, who will carry it there? Was it not President Olusegun Obasanjo that introduced the politics of do or die under the PDP? But we thank God we went through but we did not die he said.





Condemning those who left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP the APC national chairman said they left the APC and joined what he described as the trickiticians in the PDP.





Oshiomhole said the APC is moving to the Next Level, and that never again would Nigeria be governed by opportunists who he claimed looted the countrys treasury for 16 years.





What they didnt do in 16 years cannot be fixed in three and a half years he declared in response to accusations of poor performance by the opposition.





Today Buhari has good 16 million votes after the primary elections and that is just a tip of the ice bag and Nigeria would never go back to the era of those who looted the nation dry he said.





Speaking on former Shekaraus defection, Oshiomhole said the former governor was a good asset to Nigeria who would contribute more towards the development of the country.





He assured the defectors that the APC as a ruling party would treat them equally as bonafide members which reflected the decision of the party to give the Kano Central Senatorial ticket to Shekarau.





Also speaking at the occasion, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje reiterated that Kano state will give President Muhammadu Buhari more than five million votes in the 2019 elections declaring that APC is the only party in Kano State.





He added that very soon the state shall host a rally for about 55 members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement who he said would soon join the APC adding that Kwankwasiyya is no more.





He declared that the APC has taken away more than 50% of the PDP in Kano as Shekarau joins APC.

In his speech, Shekarau explained that his coming to APC was history repeating itself as in 2014 he had reasons to step aside and today he has even greater reasons to step back to APC.




The police have paraded suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) in connection with the killing of a police inspecto...

The police have paraded suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) in connection with the killing of a police inspector in Nnewi, Anambra state.





The IPOB members were said to have been involved in an attack on police patrol teams, which led to the death of the inspector.





A divisional police officer (DPO) and some other personnel were also wounded while a patrol van was set ablaze during the incident on Friday.

The suspects were paraded on Sunday.




















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Orchids Paper Products Company Announces Amended Agreement with Its Creditors Orchids reached an agreement with its creditors, amending its credit agreement. In addition, the company won a significant bid with a new customer to supply 100% recycled ultra-premium quality tissue. Nov. 26, 2018 - Orchids Paper Products Company on Nov. 21 announced that it has reached an agreement with its creditors, amending its credit agreement. The company also announced that it has won a significant bid with a new customer to supply 100% recycled ultra-premium quality tissue. Jeff Schoen, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our lenders continue to support and maintain access to the liquidity needed to operate our business. On November 20, we executed modifications to our credit facilities to increase the amount available under our revolving line of credit by $5.9 million and to defer future principal and interest payments to December 31, 2018. In addition, the amended agreement extends the milestone dates to execute a transaction to December 31, 2018. At the end of the third quarter, the company had $5.1 million of cash on hand. "Additionally, we recently won a significant bid from a national supercenter retailer as the sole supplier of 100% recycled ultra-premium kitchen towel and bath tissue supporting the sustainable product channel, which will be serviced out of our Barnwell facility using QRT paper. We expect this business to begin shipping in March 2019 and to make a significant contribution to the overall profitability of the company." Orchids Paper Products Company is a national supplier of high quality consumer tissue products primarily serving the at home private label consumer market. The company produces a full line of tissue products, including paper towels, bathroom tissue and paper napkins, to serve the value through ultra-premium quality market segments. To learn more, please visit: www.orchidspaper.com . SOURCE: Orchids Paper Products Company
A new, wide-ranging profile of Lena Dunham dismantles one of the internet's favorite (of many) conspiracy theories about the HBO writer and actress: that she mistreats animals, and is directly responsible for the deaths of multiple pets.

Online articles such as this one, unsurprisingly from Babe.net, comprehensively detail the admittedly large number of animals Dunham has owned over the years  she has a penchant for Yorkshire terriers, miniature poodles, and hairless cats. Some of them definitely have died under her care, but apparently of natural causes. Related | Lights, Camera, Lena!

Speaking to The Cut's Allison P. Davis, Dunham provides a reasonable explanation for the deaths: she tends to adopt older animals from shelters, so they aren't always in the best of health to begin with. And given most celebrities tend to adopt young cute puppies, not 13-year-old terriers with chronic conditions, maybe we should all just cut her some slack.

See on Instagram "You can say a lot of shit about me, but I am a very committed pet owner," Dunham insists. "Ask anybody who works with me on a pet level."



Dunham is also upfront on the subject of her dog Lamby, who she made headlines for adopting then re-homing again, citing behavioral issues. You might recall that an employee at Lamby's original shelter criticized Dunham in the media, saying that Lamby was well-behaved before entering her care.

"What animal-shelter guy is like, 'I'm an electronic DJ, and I'm also looking to talk to Yahoo! Celebrity'? But dragging him through the court of public opinion like that doesn't get me anywhere," Dunham tells Davis. 'It's better just to kick back and be like, 'Okay, sir, you can extend your career by telling people what a bad dog owner I was.'"

So there you have it. Put those particular rumors to rest. Speaking of internet theories though, the profile also provides some interesting (and frankly extremely sympathy-inducing) insights into what it's like to watch your ex-boyfriend flirt with Lorde in front of the entire world.
Iconic collabs are proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy (or at least feels the need distract us from all this other shit she's been pulling). A freshly leaked trailer has confirmed that Glover and Rihanna will co-star in a new film which appears to be set in Cuba and titled Guava Island  and also revealed that the powers above know we have a lot to take our minds off of.

The trailer was privately screened this weekend at Donald Glover's PHAROS Festival, which the rapper-actor-comedian-producer-director hosted in New Zealand this weekend. According to Dazed, PHAROS attendees' phones were confiscated and locked away at the door. Luckily, one brave and resilient fan, committed to getting some blurry iPhone shots of Glover for her Instagram story, managed to sneak in a phone and capture bootleg footage of the trailer.



Rihanna and Glover appear to play a couple: Glover a slacker, head-in-the-clouds musician, and Rihanna, his exasperated girlfriend. The chemistry is real in the opening scene, which features Rihanna teasing Glover about his guitar skill. Also teased are lots of glorious daily life shots of a Cuban city, Glover running through the streets, people dancing and playing instruments, as well as laborers at work at a textile factory.

The trailer doesn't give much away as far as the plot, but hints that the film will tackle the island's class politics. At one point Glover vents to Rihanna: "What's wrong with me is that we live in paradise, but none of us have the time or the means to actually live here."

Glover has been a formidable force in TV, music and comedy since his Community days, but this year he's emerged as a one of the most powerful creative voices on 21st century politics and racial identity, with Atlanta and "This Is America." Rihanna starred in her biggest Hollywood role to date this summer with Oceans 8. Knowing them both, Guava Island is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing films (presumably) of next year.

A photo of the pair apparently in Cuba circulated this summer, launching rumors of a film collab, and now Cuban magazine Vistar confirms that they spent August holed up in Havana filming. The local reporting also confirms Guava Island as the film's title, which doesn't appear in the trailer.

The trailer also reveals that Guava Island will co-star Black Panther breakout star Letitia Wright and British actor Nonso Anozie. The film is billed as "A Childish Gambino Film," though it's not clear what his directorial or production role will be beyond starring in the film. Glover has directed on Atlanta, however the trailer lists "This Is America" director Hiro Murai as the director.

We can't really imagine that it'll be anything other than... a masterpiece? Visionary? Visually stunning? Stocked with a stellar cast and killer soundtrack a la Childish and RiRi? Equal parts incisively political and darkly hilarious?
In late October, Twitter quietly updated its rules to explicitly address rampant trans harassment. Last week, users started to take note after PinkNews and other sites reported on the changes. The social media giant now explicitly prohibits the transphobic practices of deadnaming (deliberately using a trans person's previous name) and misgendering.

The widely expanded "Hateful Conduct Policy" offers a broad definition of hateful conduct, and promises that promoting violence against or attacking "people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease" can now lead to permanent suspension.

The explicit language intended to protect trans users reads:



The expanded policy, and explicit pro-trans language appear to be Twitter's attempt to clean up its act after years of failing to effectively address hate speech, and especially anti-trans rhetoric.

Although Twitter has long prohibited "targeted harassment," it was the lone tech giant that refused to ban Infowars' Alex Jones for promoting violence and hate speech.

In August, YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and Apple removed all of his and Infowars' content from their platforms, while Twitter's CEO Jack Dorsey claimed that Jones' content, which, as PinkNews documents, has included calling for drag queens to be burned alive, describing trans rights activists as "mentally ill" "cyborgs," naming the Pope a "demon-possessed creature" after he expressed pro-gay ideas, and more.

Several weeks after other tech platforms took action over Jones' dangerous conspiracy theories, Twitter eventually penalized Jones, but did not permanently ban him until early September.

In particular, Twitter has historically failed to protect trans users from hateful speech, and sometimes even punished their responses to transphobia.

Thorne N. Melcher wrote a New York Times op-ed last year, describing how, after responding to an account that launched slurs at them like "tranny" by calling the transphobic user "garbage," Melcher ended up being suspended, while Twitter said that their harasser had violated no rules.

In addition, this summer a wave of trans Twitter users had their accounts suspended, after being successfully reported by by other users for using the term "TERF," an acronym used to call out transphobic feminism, or "trans-exclusive radical feminists."

All tech giants are scrambling to meet users' demands to protect marginalized groups and effectively remove hateful language, and many apps are rolling out revamped anti-bullying and anti-discrimination guidelines.

However, Twitter's reputation for failing to protect marginalized users means it will be particularly challenging for the company to regain users' trust and good faith. Some are celebrating Twitter's efforts and emphasizing their importance:

Meanwhile others are claiming that the updated Terms of Service still don't go far enough, and expressing skepticism that Twitter will fully enforce the new rules.
VP For Legal Affairs Says Iran Needs Transparency Laws To Rein In Dirty Money

11/25/18

Source: Radio Farda

Laila Joneydi the Vice President for Legal Affairs has weighed in on Iran's money laundering legislation controversy. According to ISNA, Joneydi said that money from "organized crime" enters the Iranian financial system because there is "no data about the source and destination" of money transfers.



Laya Jonaidi

Vice President of Iran for Legal Affairs

In the past months the ratification of anti-money laundering legislation, demanded by the international community, has pitted the hardliners and reformists against each other.

Known as the Palermo bills, the legislation would address the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crimes (UNTOC), Combatting Financing Terrorism (CFT).

If not approved Iran could face further complications in international financial operations. Some of the legislation was approved by the Iranian parliament but rejected the Guardian Council and also the Expediency Council.

On November 11 Zarif decried the extent of efforts that is being put up to defeat the legislation saying "the amount spent for creating an atmosphere against these bills is equal to the Foreign Ministry's budget."

This statement was quickly met with strong reactions by Iran's conservatives, followed up by the head of Iran's Judiciary Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani who dismissed Zarif's statement as "stab right into the heart" of the Islamic Republic ruling system.

Many hardliners including the Supreme leader fear that the legislation would limit or complicate support for groups like Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies.

In the interview with ISNA on November 22nd Joneydi also noted that Iran needs to "have full control to prevent organized crime money, and funds related to smuggling and terrorist activities, from entering our banking system."

Joneydi went on to explain why the FATF legislation would be necessary, saying that finances "resulting from organized crime and drug smuggling enter the banking system because of the lack of transparency about source and destination of funds."



Source: Al-Arabiya, ISNA
Voters in Taiwan have rejected legalising same-sex marriages in a series of referendums on Saturday.



They backed the definition of marriage as the union of a man and woman.



Last year a high court had ruled in favour of same-sex unions, ordering legislation. The government has said it will still press on with new laws but they may now be weaker.



Meanwhile, President Tsai Ing-wen quit as leader of Taiwan's governing party after defeats in local elections.



Her pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost more than half of the 13 cities and counties it won in 2014.



Taiwan's relations with China have deteriorated since Ms Tsai came to power in 2016.



Read Full Story .... HERE >>> :

















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Management of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has initiated processes to seek strategic partners to help build a modern greenfield refinery to refine 100,000 barrels of oil per day.



The new refinery, to be located at Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, is expected to cost about $3.5 billion.



It forms part of governments efforts to position Ghana as the petroleum hub in the sub-region in terms of infrastructure to attract the right investors.



Currently, TOR has a total capacity of about 45,000 barrels per day, which fall short of the countrys requirements of 70,000 barrels daily.



This was made known when Energy Minister John Peter Amewu toured the company in Tema.



The Manager Director of TOR, Isaac Osei, disclosed that his outfit had already spent a lot of money to rehabilitate and maintain their plants as a result of failure to conduct four rounds of maintenance since 2009.



According to him, the first has to do with the integrity of the plant.



The plant has not been shut down for maintenance since 2009 so we missed the opportunity to shut down in 2011, 2013 and 2015. So once the furnace blew, we had the duty to close the refinery and do a major rehabilitation of the entire plant from utility to CDU and to the RFCC, the minister revealed.



He mentioned that as part of the maintenance process, TOR would start building a new water treatment plant instead of spilling the chemicals into the drains.



Touching on financial and administrative situations of the company, the MD stated that the state refinery is bedeviled with a lot of legacy debts.



Mr. Amewu revealed that the company was in arrears when the new management took office in January and that steps were being taken to return it to profitability.



Apart from the huge backlog of legacy debts, the government has supported us which has improved our balance sheet but not cleaned it entirely because not everything has been taken off our balance sheet. As a result of the impaired balance sheet and the fact that there was no audited account since 2012, we could not do any business because nobody will give you money or offer you facility so management and board decided that the best thing for us to do was to try to do update, he explained.



He continued, Through our auditors KPMG, we have completed and signed off from 2013, 2014 and finished the 2015 to be signed off. In this month when will have our board meeting. The 2016 accounts are being prepared so that before the end of next year we can finish the 2017 and work on the 2018. So I can assure Hon. Minister, by next year we will be current without account.



He said TOR would install flow metres to know what is coming in and what is being taken out in order to help rake in the accurate revenue.



After touring the facility, the minister assured management that strategic partners would come on board, adding, We want to see TOR back not on paper, we want to see TOR back in reality. We want TOR to work and the balance sheet of TOR to reflect the reality and not make any propaganda of the current situation.



But this government, this current president believes that we should be able to turn the situation around; that I can give you the assurance. That is why we have no other person but Isaac handling this particular position. My appeal to the workforce here is to give him the maximum collaboration and support, Mr. Amewu added.

Source: Daily Guide









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A delegation from Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Youth and information led by the Chairperson of the Regional council of Namibia, Joyce Namuhula, paid a one day working visit to the National Youth Authority (NYA) in Accra.



Accoridng to Joyce Namuhula, the aim of the team's visit is to learn and adopt some policies and interventions by the Authority to help their country, Namibia.



Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Operations and Programmes at the NYA, Mr. Bright Acheampong welcomed the delegation and mentioned some initiatives undertaken by the Authority which include youth leadership and skills training, establishment of Regional and District committee, construction of 10 youth resources centers, and Steps Towards Employment and Productivity Project (STEP) which has seen over 3000 young people undergo digital and entrepreneurship training among others.



He called on the youth to take particular interest in government programmes and to dedicate themselves to their own positive growth and development as well as that of their communities.



Mr. Acheampong also stated that the NYA is in a process of reviewing its national policy which was launched in 2010, adding that a consultative process is currently ongoing to catch up with current trends in youth development.



The Namibian delegation expressed profound gratitude to the NYA for their warm reception and sharing their best practices in youth development with them.



Present at the meeting were all the Directors at the national secretariat of the NYA.

Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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A Ghanaian bus driver based in Finland, Benjamin Ofori, has broken his silence on the death of his friend whom compatriots believe was manhandled by police in Finland.



Speaking to 3news.com, a visibly shaken and passionate Benjamin Ofori recounted how the incident unfolded.



He said his friend, Samuel Dolphyne, who was a resident in Austria, had come to visit him in Finland and the pair decided to attend a party on Saturday, November 17, 2018.



But on their return the unfortunate happened.



According to Benjamin, there have been speculations and accusations concerning the death of his friend especially from people with no idea of what happened.



This incident is really sad and I only wish that people and the Finnish media will look and ask for the facts of the incident rather than fabricating stories just to suit their own interest, he said.



Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat reported that the deceased was aggressive when arrested by the police though they tried to resuscitate him when he fell unconscious after he was cuffed.



I find it necessary to come out now and tell the story as it is and this is not to accuse anyone of anything, but just to say it as it was.



Sammy, the guy who died, and I were driving home from a party on Saturday when police stopped our car.



He continued that they asked Sammy to blow the alcohol meter two times and he did that and asked him how much alcohol he had consumed.



The deceased replied that he had just a bottle of beer, he narrated.



According to him, they were still sitting in the car when Sammy decided to get down and approach the police.



I asked him to sit down but he went anyway so I assumed that he wanted to plead with the police but after sitting in the car for about 3 minutes, I came down to check why Sammy hasnt come back.



When I got down, I saw Sammy on the floor and the police trying to handcuff him. He was shouting for help and he called my name and said they are killing me. I cant breathe, I have asthma.



From where I was standing, I was shouting at the police to leave him but they asked me to leave the scene because I was obstructing them. They continued to cuff him until he was not moving anyway. I dont know for sure why the police did not stop cuffing him [when] he lamented.



They may have their own reasons but after failing to revive him they called the paramedics who rushed him to hospital.



I did not see what happened before he was put to the ground. All I know is that he was not aggressive when the police checked his alcohol level, and he was not aggressive when I saw him on the floor. From what I saw on the floor, I can only say that he was struggling and fighting for his life.



SPECULATIONS



He pointed out that he doesnt usually go to parties in his own car as using public transport is free for him as a driver.



I dont take my car because I know that I may be tempted to drink. For me, I dont drink and drive.



However, on the fateful day, his guest wanted to drive the car and he was enjoying driving it, he said.



That is the main reason why we went with a personal car in the first place. Speculations that I was the one driving the car and quickly gave it to Sammy when the police stopped us are all lies aimed at tarnishing my name. Other speculations that Sammy sped off when the police stopped the car are also false and lie.



I want to strongly say that any other story related to this incident that deviates from what is said here is not accurate. The only part of the incident I cant comment on is what actually happened between Sammy and the police before they pinned him down. And what happened when the ambulance took him to the hospital.







Source: Nana Afrane Asante|Helsinki, Finland|3news.com









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The 1D1F is what we are all seeing over here. Before my tenure comes to an end in 2020, you will all realize the good things I did for this great nation. I didnt come to tell lies. I will fulfill all my promises before my tenure ends with regard to the 1D1F, 1V1D and so forth.



The above are the words of President Akufo-Addo who is promising to to fulfill his promises by the end of his tenure.



Mr Akufo-Addo said he intends to make sure he disappoints the blind naysayers in the opposition National Democratic Congress by fulfilling all his promises without leaving any of them out.



The President, who said his political opponents are blind, for which reason they cannot see the good things he is doing to develop the country, vowed to make sure all the outstanding promises he made including 1D1F, 1V1D, 1C1m among others are fulfilled even as the already fulfilled ones like Free SHS are being perfected.



He questioned the vision of his political opponents.

The things my opponents say sometimes make me wonder if they are blind or deaf. They always rain insults on me for doing nothing They are always accusing me of wrongdoing but take the credit when something is right. They once said free SHS cannot happen in Ghana, but it is happening and they are benefiting from it. he said.



The President was speaking at a ceremony at Sedom in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region where he inspected the removal of timber from Volta Lake by Kete Karachi Timber Recovery Limited (KKTR) under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) policy.



He bragged that by the end of his term, the good people of the country would realize that he didnt lie to them for votes.



The President told the gathering that before the end of his first term of office all the promises made to the Ghanaian people in the run-up to the 2016 election would be fulfilled.



He commended the Kete Karachi Timber Recovery Limited for the role its playing to effectively develop the country, urging all Ghanaians to support his administration to build a better country.



I am going to make sure Ghanaian enterprise and industry take pride of place in the movement of our country. Akosombo Textiles, which was in jeopardy, has begun rising again and we will keep on reviving it he said of the company he opened.





Paramount Chief of Akwamufie Traditional Council, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto II, who was at the ceremony called on government to construct the roads at Sedom. President Akufo-Addo had an assurance for him:



That is the main reason the Minister of Roads and Transport, Amoako Atta, is with me. I take him wherever I go so that he can have a fair idea about roads in the country. So I am sure he will work on it. We all saw the bad nature of the road.

Source: ghanaweb.com









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The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is under pressure to demonstrate its inclusiveness after key leadership positions fell to persons within Ghanas largest ethnic group, Akans.



Welcome Karma, veteran journalist Kweku Baako has remarked indicating it serves the NDC right.



He said for years, the NDC has mischievously branded its rival the New Patriotic Party as an Akan party. Top NDC officials have pointed out that in the NPP, persons from minority ethnic groups  Gas, Ewes, Northerners are routinely excluded from occupying top leadership positions.



The NDC had laughed off the chances of a Northerner and former Vice-President Aliu Mahama ever succeeding Akan president, John Kuffuor after his term expired in 2009.



In more recent times, the NPPs 2016 running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was told by no less a person as former President John Mahama, if ever his Presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo becomes president, the NPP will never allow him to take over after Akufo-Addo when he leaves office.



John Mahama in November 2016, weeks away from the December 2016 general elections said;



I am a boy from Bole born in Damango, who am I to stand here and call myself president of the Republic of Ghana?



The NDC is the party that opens its opportunities to all Ghanaians irrespective of what your ethnic affiliation is. Sometimes I feel sad when I see some of our northern brothers running around and also doing this.  They will use you and dump you.



Before Mahamas comment in November 2016, the NDC General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia had used this rhetoric earlier in October 2016 while on the campaign trail in the Upper East region.



"Bawumia is not a bad person but he is in bad company. The NPP are not truthful to certain classes of people. They use people for their own benefits. And when it comes to a time to recognise the importance of the same people they have used, they ignore them.



The NPP picked Aliu Mahama as a running mate to create an impression that they also respected northerners. When Kufuor finished his term and Aliu Mahama, who automatically should have succeeded Kufuor, wanted to become president, he was strongly opposed, he was contested, and he was booted out, Mr Asiedu Nketia said.



"Again, Bawumia is being used today to get votes from the north as Aliu Mahama was used. But let it come to a time Bawumia may want to take over the NPP's flag bearership, they will not allow him. The NPP, by their tradition, are very selective.



Kweku Baakos Karma



But the NDC last Sunday, emerged from a 48-hr National Delegates Congress, clearing out several non-Akans from important positions.



Although the partys stronghold remains undoubtedly the Volta region, no member of the region won a commanding role in the party.



Asiedu Nketia shrugged off a challenge from Voltarian and Deputy General Secretary Koku Anyhidoho while another Voltarian Dan Abodakpi seeking National chairmanship position failed to an Akan  Samuel Ofosu Ampofo.



But it was a former National Vice-Chair Anita Desooso who drew attention to the electoral clear-out of Voltarians after she lost her bid to become the first female National Organiser.



Her observation was re-echoed by the partys founder, charismatic leader and former President Jerry Rawlings who hails from the Volta region.



The dominance of Akans in the NDC became a topic of discussion on Joy News political analysis show Saturday, Newsfile.



Kweku Baako who has political sympathies with the NPP said the elevation of ethnic considerations over competence was stoked by the NDC.



All this would have been needless if the NDC had not embarked on a certain crusade to tag the NPP as an Akan party.



He observed that anything the NPP held internal party elections, the NDC would predictably and consistently read ethnocentric meanings into the results of the polls.



The New Crusading Guide Editor-In-Chief suggested a party can be tagged as ethnic if leaders were handpicked from a particular tribe.



But once democratic competition takes place in selecting the leaders, it amounts to mischief to play identity politics.



When you introduce mischief you pollute the environment They have been responsible for polluting this environment for a very, very long time.



The 1992 constitution which directs political parties to have a national outlook was not referring to choosing leaders from a wide variety of ethnic groups, he explained.



The constitution meant that parties must have a presence in all regions across the country. Kweku Baako explained, all political parties try to create balance within the ethnic make-up of the elected national executives by appointing persons of other ethnic groups into deputisation positions.



Mr. Baako said the Akan dominance within the NDC is not a big deal. If it is, then its because the NDC has been paid back with its ethnocentric rhetoric employed against its rival, the NPP.



NDC MP for Builsa North James Agalga, a former deputy Interior minister explained, the tagging of NPP as an Akan party is not mischief but a reference to history.



The forebears of the NPP is the NLM. There is no denying the fact.



The History



The Nationalist Liberation Movement (NLM) was formed in 1954 as a party for Asantes. The Asantehene appointed his Chief linguist Baffour Akoto as the founder of political party based in Kumasi, the Ashanti region.



The NLM was also called Mate - Meho as it advocated federalism as opposed to unity government. But the NLM was not the only discriminatory party. In the 50s identity politics was rife.



There was the Muslim Association Party, The Northern Peoples' Party, The Anlo Youth Organisation, The National Alliance for the Liberals, (NAL) The Ga Shifemokpee.



There was also The Togo land Congress Party (TCP) based in the then Trans-Volta Togo land now (Volta Region) and the Oman Party for Fantes with its headquarters in Cape Coast  Central Region.



The Convention Peoples Party led by the prime minister Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was seen as the only truly national party.



Rallying the Gold Coast to his vison and slogan One Nation, One people, One destiny, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah sent the Avoidance of Discrimination Bill to Parliament which prohibited the formation of political parties on tribal, regional and religious grounds.



The bill passed in 1957, the year in which the British colony, the Gold Coast became independent Ghana, was a game-changer as it compelled all such parties to forge alliances.



The United Party was formed after five proscribed parties the Northern Peoples Party, Musim Association PARTY (MAP), the National Liberation Movement (NLM), Anlo Youth Organisation (AYO), the Togoland Congress and the Ga Shifimokpee merged.



The new party which became the opposition to the CPP in Parliament was under the leadership of Kofi Abrefa Busia, the NLM leader. After Dr. Busia was forced into exile, Mr. S. D. Dombo from Lawra in the then Upper Region took over as the opposition leader.



Baako pointed out that NPP cannot be tagged as an Akan party when several regional, ethnic, religion-based parties came together to form its forebears the UP.



I am really amazedincredible. I cannot digest it, Baako found James Algagas analysis distasteful.









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Frank Asiedu-Bekoe, a former Constituency Secretary of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency says he is not interested in contesting the vacant seat of the late Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko.



Agyarko who was the MP for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency passed last week in America after a short illness.



The New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator had gone to the United States to seek medical care after an undisclosed medical condition was determined by doctors at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.



But even before his one week could be observed, fliers are already making the rounds of a possible contestant to the Seat.



A statement issued by Asiedu-Bekoe aka Protoza said My attention has being drawn to a flier purporting to have come from me campaigning to replace my late MP Hon Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko.



He added: I must say this is not the time to think about who replaces my departed MP but rather time to mourn him.



Protoza also a former constituency Secretary insisted: I have no idea about such a campaign flier and do state unequivocally that i would not contest this by election.

Source: The Publisher









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The Alliance for a Better NPP Government has issued a statement warning persons in the ruling party with an agenda to undermine the office of the Chief of Staff.



According to Gabby Nkansah Djan, who is the Secretary of the group, certain elders in the New Patriotic Party have become insensitive and are scheming to start an internal following the death of the late former Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kyerematen Agyarko.



Full statement below...



Barely seventy two (72) hours after sad news on the sudden death of the honorable Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, Emmanuel Kyerematen Agyarko, broke out, certain elements identified as mercenaries of some "self serving" elders of the New Patriotic Party have desperately been launching unjustified attacks premised on 'wicked lies' directed at certain hardworking staffs at the forceful office of the Chief of Staff.



One Nana Yaw Boampong, has according to unimpeachable evidence available, been suggesting machevilian plots and ploy with the prime motive of tainting black the integrity of certain hardworking staffs such as Frank Asiedu Bekoe known in Political circles as "Protozoa".



Few Months ago, there was a report on how a "supposed" party elder who met certain NPP party members in the United States, dedicated his time in lambasting and peddling outright lies against the office of the Chief of Staff.



However, keen political observers have established that the main target of these "sour grape" party elders is to use the able Chief of Staff as their "punching bag" via indirectly targeting her staffs as objects for their misleading tales like they're known to have done in the past to people they didn't like inter or outer NPP.



In the insensitive and mischievous state of mind of these party elders and their lackeys, they have sought to put out fictional untruthful articles and deceptive images suggesting false claims .



In as much as Frank Asiedu Bekoe, has debunked those stories and having expressed in the strongest of words his unwillingness to express his inalienable right in the contest of this constitutionally required "by-elections", it's important to remind these party elders who ought to know better, about the essence of President Akufo-Addo's passionate appeal on the NPP to remain together for the success of our prosperous Ghana agenda.



These elders may not like the persons occupying certain positions in this goverment, but they should learn to accept that their singular view should not make them think they're too wise than our President Nana Akufo-Addo, in whom rest the power of appointments/ dis-appointments.



The NPP is less than two years in office, our strong appeal particularly to these selfish elders is to jettison out the negative thoughts of putting spanners into the works of hardworking folks who work their heart's out in other to see the NPP and President Nana Akufo-Addo succeed and be able to look beyond people they may not like in this government.



Rather they should direct their efforts on how to promote the good works of the visionary President Akufo-Addo and this government.

Source: Alliance for A better NPP Government / Secretary: Gabby Nkansah Djan / Tel: +2332476162945









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After years of criticism from Ghanaians about films produced in the country, actress, Lydia Forson has finally responded by saying the dying and low patronage of Ghanaian films now can simply be attributed to the fact that people do not respect film making.



According to the outspoken actress its not up to just us, we have the actors guild, there are several guilds, there is an assumption that we dont do anything creative but it is hard; when we say Government should help, there is always a misconception that government should say come take this money and do this, the truth is people do not respect film making in Ghana.



Speaking in an exclusive interview with AJ Sarpong on Hall of Fame on Citi TV, the Keteke actress said companies call film makers to be their brand ambassadors and to do them other favours but refuse pay them for their services.



She noted a lot of the blame falls on us but I am not completely washing our hands off, we have to work at it but is frustrating when you are sitting with politicians, CEOs and they dont respect what you do until they need something.



Lydia Forson registered her dissatisfaction, bemoaning how demeaning it is when film makers strive to produce movies but Ghanaians refuse to go to the cinemas to watch it.



Commenting again on Gabby Otchere Darkos recent critique of Ghanas movie industry Lydia Forson, blasted the leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) saying his argument was unqualified.



I dont want to completely dismiss Gabby's comments on the industry but it is how unqualified his statement was and the assumptions that it is as easy fixing the industry like electricity in Ghana. Lydia Forson added.



Gabby on Facebook lately expressed his disappointment at some Ghanaian movies, asking the public to help make the creative arts part of the development agenda. According to him, after watching 10 Ghanaian movies he was appalled by the quality.



Some creatives including actress Lydia Forson, Adjetey Annang, Yvonne Nelson replied Gabbys post, suggesting that Gabbys judgement on creative arts was disappointing.

Source: Ghanaweb.com









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Holy Cross teacher Michele Cumberland addresses Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who surprised the group of teachers with a visit. Cumberland joined 69 other teachers from across the country for a trip to Ottawa and Parliament for a week-long educational experience.
Turkish police arrive to search villas near the town of Termal, in Yalova province in northwest Turkey, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Turkish police, aided by sniffer dogs, searched two adjoining villas in northwest Turkey on Monday, as part of an investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, officials and news reports said. (DHA via AP)
Somali men stand amidst the wreckage after a car bomb attack at a busy junction in the Wadajir district of the capital Mogadishu, Somalia, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Somalia was hit by two violent attacks Monday, one killing an Islamic cleric in the northern city of Galkayo, and a second killing at least six people in a car bomb blast in Mogadishu, police said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
KAMPALA  Capping an eventful week, at least 30 people are now known to have died after a cruise boat carrying party revellers capsized on Lake Victoria, Ugandan police say.

The vessel was carrying close to 100 people when it sank on Saturday near in Mpatu Mukono in the outskirts of capital, Kampala.

Lake Victoria sees regular accidents, often involving overcrowded vessels.

Scores of people died when a ferry sank on the lake off Tanzania in September.

Deputy police spokesman Patrick Onyango told journalist: The boat was overloaded and secondly there was bad weather.

More than 20 people have been rescued from the water, police say, but an unknown number remain missing.

The families and friends of some of the people involved gathered by the shoreline. They sat under trees, looking through the wire fence and every time a body was pulled out of the water, there were screams and cries as some people recognised their loved ones.

On the grass some personal items were laid out  shoes, sweaters, wallets, keys  anything that could be used to identify the victims. Overhead the police deployed a helicopter to help search for more bodies that might have washed up by the shoreline  but they have given up hope that they will find any more survivors.

Among those rescued was Prince Daudi Kintu Wasajja, a brother of the king of Ugandas largest traditional kingdom, Buganda.

Musical artist Iryn Namubiru also survived.

In a statement issued Sunday afternoon, President Yoweri Museveni said the ill-fated boat was unregistered, unlicensed and maybe an uninsured boat.

Mr Museveni said the private boat owned by one Templa Bissase and his wife was seemingly overloaded because whereas it had capacity for 50 people only, it had about 120 passengers on board.

Bissase and his wife are among the 30 people whose bodies have so far been retrieved from the water.

The President in a statement he issued Sunday said:Apart from the anti-bad fishing campaign which the UPDF has been carrying out for some months now on the lakes, the government has also ordered the electronic registration and monitoring of all the boats so that we can know who is where on the lake and why.

Survivors ordeal!

Francis Ssenkezzi, a survivor of the Lake Victoria boat cruise accident, recounts the dock-off minutes before the ill-fated boat capsized.

We set off at around 4 Oclock, in the afternoon, for nearby Mutima Island with a bunch of people aboard and an hour later..

He made the revelations at KK beach after being rescued; in the company of Muhammad Nsereko, MP Kampala Central Division via his official Facebook Page

A two-time survivor of the tragedy, Ssenkeezi, in his early 30s, further recounted the last moments revealing that the boat turned upside down, covering the revellers under it.

He refuted claims that the revellers did not have life-jackets on, adding that only about vividly 16 people.

The boat overturned covering all over underneath; I tussled out through the waters to the boat, standing on top of it before calling out for help, terrified Ssenkezzi said.

Ssenkezzi further revealed that another boat came to their rescue but capsized moments later

When the boat arrived, we tumbled to get onto it and the numbers overwhelmed it; sending it into the waters, drowning more. he added

Finally, another rescue boat surfaced after over 25 minutes as revellers struggled for their lives.

Several other politicians and senior government officials have since reacted to the incident.

Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has expressed shock at the Saturday Lake Victoria boat accident that has so far claimed over 30 people, with the death toll rising.

Bobi Wine, who is in Ghana for AFRIMMA music awards, said it is unbelievable for the country to lose such big number of people in an accident and called for national unity.

The news coming from home is very sad. I still cannot believe that we lost so many young people on that boat. My heart is heavy. I lost several personal friends in the accident and it is extremely painful. We continue to pray for the families of all who lost loved ones, and for a quick recovery to those who are nursing injuries, he said in a statement issued on his Facebook page on Sunday afternoon.

He said when he learnt of the incident, he requested a team from his One Love Beach in Busabala to dispatch boats to help out with the rescue mission, and recovery of bodies.

Last night when we learnt of the tragedy, I requested my team at One Love Beach to dispatch our boats to help out with the rescue mission, and recovery of bodies. I also encourage all of us to use all our abilities to help the victims of this tragedy. We must always be united in grief as we do in times of joy. Kitalo nnyo dala!

Bibi Wine further thanked Ugandan Musicians including his rival Bebe Cool for emerging victorious in Afrima awards.

These include Irene Namatovu (Best artist in African Traditional), Bebe Cool (Best Male, East Africa) and Sandra Nankoma (Best Female Artist, African Inspirational Music).

As I leave Ghana for home, I am very pleased that Uganda performed exceptionally well at Afrima 2018 where I was invited as a panellist and special guest. I congratulate fellow Ugandan artistes who won awards- Irene Namatovu (Best artist in African Traditional), Bebe Cool (Best Male, East Africa) and Sandra Nankoma (Best Female Artist, African Inspirational Music). Thank you for raising our flag high, he said.

In other news, Pope Francis on Friday appointed Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok of Nebbi, as the new Bishop of Lira, replacing Bishop Joseph Franzelli who has retired.

Msgr. John Baptist Kauta, the Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference told PML Daily.

The Apostolic Nunciature has the joy to announce that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanoka as the new bishop of the diocese of Lira transferring him from the diocese of Nebbi and thus accepting the resignation rendered by Rt. Rev. Guiseppe Franzelli, MCCJ from the pastoral care of the diocese, Msgr. Kauta said.

Bishop Franzelli, who hit retirement age on April 9 last year, will remain, apostolic administrator of Lira, until Bishop Wanock is installed, Msgr. Kauta told PML Daily.

In other events that shaped an eventful week, the COSASE probe into Bank of Uganda mess has unearthed the rot and the impunity of central bank officials.

MPs discovered that central bank officials used British law to close the defunct banks. The probe will Monday enter day four as MPs threaten to arrest some officials over the failure to respond to critical questions.

Related
An officer with the Daytona Beach (FL) Police Department was shot late Sunday after police said he and other officers responded to a call of a suspicious person with a rifle.

Officer Kevin Hird was struck in the right arm during a confrontation with the suspect, according to WFTV News.

Citizens immediately rushed to Hird's aid, applying pressure to his wound until EMS responders arrived. Hird was then transported to a nearby hospital where he was said to be in good spirts and expected to make a full recovery.

The suspectidentified as 40-year-old Raymond Robertswas taken into custody just minutes after the shooting.

Roberts reportedly has an extensive criminal record.

"He's a convicted felon, a typical street maggot out here committing crimes shooting randomly especially at police officers," Police Chief Craig Capri said.
Officer Leann Simpson was en route to the scene when her vehicle left the roadway, hit a light pole, and flipped several times, causing her to suffer fatal injuries. Image courtesy of ODMP.

A 23-year-old officer with the Philadelphia (MS) Police Department was killed in a vehicle collision on early Saturday morning while responding to assist deputies with the Neshoba County Sheriff's Office on a traffic stop.

Dispatchers were unable to establish contact with the deputies on the stops, and requested that officers from the Philadelphia Police Department respond to check on them, according to WTOK.

Officer Leann Simpson was en route to the scene when her vehicle left the roadway, hit a light pole, and flipped several times, causing her to suffer fatal injuries.

The street surface was reportedly wet at the time of the incident.

Officer Simpsonwho has also served in the United States Armyhad served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 15 months.
Krzysztof Szczerski  Secretary of State  Chief of the Cabinet of the President

During a telephone conversation with President Andrzej Duda, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko described the current situation in the Sea of Azov as serious and dangerous for Ukraine, Polish president's aide Krzysztof Szczerski has said.

On Sunday, two Ukrainian ships and a tugboat, which were travelling from Odessa on the Black Sea to Mariupol on the Sea of Azov, were shelled and later seized by Russian special services.

Russia said the three Ukrainian vessels made an unauthorised passage through Russian territorial waters. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed that it fired on the vessels to force them to stop, and then seized them.

Presidential aide Krzysztof Szczerski said at a press conference in Warsaw that President Duda and President Poroshenko on Monday discussed the situation in the Sea of Azov, over the phone. During the half-hour telephone conversation, held on the initiative of the Ukrainian leader, he briefed the Polish president on Sunday's events in Ukraine and possible development scenarios in the coming days.

"Ukraine's president assessed and described the situation as serious and dangerous for the country. In Poroshenko's opinion, Russia's actions are clearly marked by acts of aggression, as defined by international law," he added.

Szczerski reported that according to Poroshenko, the Ukrainian vessels were "attacked" in neutral waters and that there was no military response from Ukraine.

Referring to the current situation in the Sea of Azov, Polish President's aide Krzysztof Szczerski declared on Monday that increasing the sanction regime against Russia should be considered and discussed with allies in the international forum.

Krzysztof Szczerski told reporters that President Poroshenko's motion to impose martial law in Ukraine was another subject of the phone conversation held by the two heads of state.

"(...) The Ukrainian president assured President Duda that this is an extraordinary measure, which is limited in time and which will have no influence on the course and schedule of democratic procedures, including elections, in Ukraine," minister Szczerski underlined. (PAP)
When Donald Unis died Nov. 24, 2018, while being treated at the Henry Ford Village Rehabilitation Facility, the Arab community lost one of its earliest leaders.

He was fighting a heart condition that was continually deteriorating when he died. Mr. Unis was 79 years old.

Mr. Unis frequently spoke out on issues facing the local Arab population, immigrant population in general, and anything else he saw a need to address.

He rose to national prominence when he was featured in a New York Times article following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001.

In an excerpt from that article, Mr. Unis brought to attention the fact that not all people who look foreign are immigrants.

When do I become an American? Mr. Unis, whose grandfather came to the U.S. from Lebanon in 1896, asked. I dont want my kids to live the life Ive had to lead, always apologizing for who I am. I can either be an American or I can be an Arab, but I cant be both. You know what? I am both.

Throughout his life, he fought for the right to be both an Arab and an American.

Dont let them hate you for what you are. Like yourself for what you are, he wrote in an Op/Ed submission to the Detroit Free Press in 1990.

Mr. Unis, born Jan. 19, 1939, was the grandson of Lebanese immigrants. His parents, Sam Unis and Zainab Tyranni Abraham, raised him in southeast Dearborn, near the Ford Rouge Plant.

Mr. Unis followed his fathers footsteps and joined the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany for a time.

When he returned home, he hired on to the Dearborn Fire Department, rising to the rank of captain. He worked there from 1966 until 1997.

He helped to found both the Arab American Political Action Committee and the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). Both organizations continue to operate and help those who need it in Dearborn and the surrounding areas.

He also was a founding member of the Arab American Political Action Committee in the 1990s.

He worked both through those groups, and on a one-on-one basis, to help immigrants pursue citizenship and to acclimate to the United States.

He oftentimes is remembered for helping to fill out Social Security and other forms for those who found it difficult.

Throughout his life, Mr. Unis continually fought for equality, and to disprove the perception that being Muslim was bad.

Dont be ashamed of the fact that youre a Muslim, that you believe in God. Look at your history and your people; they taught the world how to read and write, chemistry, science. You have a history second to none. Be proud of it, he wrote in a letter to the Free Press, also in 1990.

One of his earliest submissions to local media was a column submitted to The Press & Guide in 1977. He was writing in opposition of a story from a previous edition of the paper. The headline referenced a fight between white children and Arab children.

Rather than just being upset at the story, which he felt cast dispersion on Arabs, he wrote a column that both condemned the piece, and helped to explain to people why the language used in it was done so poorly.

He said the newspaper was negligent, not in covering the story, but for quoting police officers who were racist in nature and not providing proper context to the statements.

He ended his piece by saying: We feel that we are part of the promise of America because it is intuitive in our culture. As Americans we ask for nothing more. As Arab Americans our heritage and legacy commands us to accept nothing less.

Mr. Unis, continued to fight for the Arab population right up to the end. In a video shared from his hospital bed in the days leading up to his death, he gave an inspirational message to the community.

I just want to say to everybody, our time has come, he said.

The video was recorded by Arab American News Publisher Osama Siblani.

Mr. Unis became the first Arab American in Dearborn to have a school named after him. The McCollough-Mr. Unis School was originally going to be named for former state Rep. Lucille McCollough. After a debate, the school board chose to name the elementary portion after her and the middle school side of the building for Mr. Unis.

The school sits on Maple Street in Dearborn.

Mr. Unis is survived by his wife, Nancy; the couples daughters, Lisa, Juli and Tamara; son, Derek; brothers, Ron (his twin), Tom and Chuck; sister, Wanda; and several grandchildren.

Mr. Unis will be interred at St. Hedwig Cemetery on Ford Road in Dearborn Heights.
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China's made-for-export attack helicopter Z-10ME is equipped with a new infrared depressor that renders it more capable of evading enemy missiles, according to its manufacturer.

The Z-10ME, an independently developed medium-size attack helicopter intended for the international arms market, has recently passed a domestic technology inspection, China Aviation News reported on Saturday.

Among several selling points including a sand filter, bullet-proof armor and crash resistance seats for pilots, it also boasts an infrared depressor, the report said.

The infrared depressor was recently developed, according to a statement from the helicopter's manufacturer Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) released on Wednesday.

AVIC said that the biggest threat a helicopter faces on the modern battlefield is infrared homing missiles, which can lock on an aircraft's emitted infrared radiation.

The suppressor is capable of greatly reducing that radiation, making the helicopter invisible to infrared homing missiles, the statement said.

The six-ton-class Z-10ME can fly with high maneuverability at very low altitudes, making it able to provide strong firepower while maintaining high survivability, reads a separate statement AVIC sent to the Global Times.

It can carry various types of guided and unguided air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions and is capable of fighting at both day and night, the company said.

Military experts said that many countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and South America are in need of medium-size attack helicopters cheaper than the US-made AH-64 Apache but with sufficient firepower, which makes the cost-effective Z-10ME a favorable choice.

A Z-10ME was on exhibit at the Airshow China 2018 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province in early November.
The Globe and Mail, November 8, 2018

By Robert Fife, Michelle Zilio

Billions of dollars in Western foreign aid to Afghanistan, including from Canada, has been lost to widespread waste, lax oversight and endemic corruption, a U.S. watchdog agency says.

The U.S. Special Inspector-General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in a report to Congress that aid money has gone to build medical clinics without electricity or water, schools without children and buildings that literally melted away in the rain. Also, corrupt local officials who were in charge of paying workers with some of the funds created what the audits called ghost workers, civilian bureaucrats, police and soldiers who did not exist, then kept or diverted money recorded as being paid to them.

There is a lot of corruption, [but] most of what we have identified are just head-smacking stupid programs and really poorly managed and no accountability. Nobody is really held accountable for wasting the money, Special Inspector-General John Sopko said in an interview with The Globe and Mail.

Unlike the United States, Canada does not independently audit the money it puts into Western trust funds for international aid. But Mr. Sopko said he is certain the problems he identified for U.S. taxpayers are the same for Canadian taxpayers.

Nearly 2,400 U.S. soldiers have been killed fighting the Taliban, and 158 Canadians died before Canada pulled its combat troops out of Afghanistan in July, 2011. The Afghan government is still fighting intense battles across most of the country and millions of Afghans have been displaced.

As the country became increasingly dangerous, Western countries pooled their aid dollars into trust funds managed by the World Bank, the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The recent reports by Mr. Sopkos office found a troubling lack of financial oversight and far-reaching mismanagement of two Western trust funds  the World Banks Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund and the UN-administered Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan, used to train and equip Afghan security forces.

According to the Library of Parliament, Canada has donated more than $3-billion in foreign aid to Afghanistan since 2002, including US$850.9-million, to the two funds. (Foreign aid money is delivered in U.S. dollars.)

The United States is the largest donor to the two funds. Canadian contributions include US$763.7-million to Afghanistan reconstruction from 2002-2018, and US$87.2-million to train Afghan police. Another US$212.9-million went to a NATO fund to train the Afghan army.

He said local officials questioned the usefulness of some of the programs that were funded.

Our findings are that basically the World Bank did not know how the money was being spent and even the Afghans were saying some of the programs were really stupid, but there was no way to stop them, Mr. Sopko said.

Mr. Sopko, a former prosecutor who took on the mafia in Cleveland, found the World Bank could not monitor US$10-billion for reconstruction. The United States also provided more than US$1.3-billion to the UNs law and order fund to train and equip the Afghan police.

Neither the World Bank nor the UN could assure Mr. Sopkos office that much of this money had not gone to ghost workers.

It has been a concern for years. I have chased more ghosts in Afghanistan than probably those comedians in Ghost Busters have done, Mr. Sopko said. We are talking millions if not billions of dollars that may have been diverted to ghosts.

Canadas department of foreign affairs insisted that the World Bank and UN conduct comprehensive monitoring to ensure that Canadian funds are not wasted in Afghanistan and noted Canada has seats on the funding boards. The World Bank restricts donors' access to information on how it monitors and accounts for this funding.

Maegan Graveline, a spokesperson for the department, said the UN plans to use an electronic payroll system and biometric identification cards for 97 per cent of police by the end of November.

This has contributed to resolving the problems of 'ghost police in the Afghan police force, with associated salary expenditure savings, Ms. Graveline maintained.

Mr. Sopko said that last month on a trip to Afghanistan, a senior U.S. official asked him to conduct yet another audit of ghost police officers.

Mr. Sopko said the 97 per cent goal is unrealistic because only 44 per cent of the police officers on payrolls actually exist.

I hope to God that your Canadian sources are absolutely correct," he said, "but  I am a little skeptical and that is why we are checking.

Mr. Sopko said there is anecdotal evidence some aid money ended up in the pockets of the Taliban. In areas they control, the Taliban are believed to tax workers at foreign-funded projects, and that corrupt warlords have taken bullets, fuel and food that was bought for the Afghan army with Western money and given them to insurgents.

The lesson learned from all the billions of dollars spent in Afghanistan is not to spend so much money so fast with so little oversight and accountability, especially in a country where warlords rule by fear, he said.

We went to bed with a lot of warlords, corrupt mafia figures and now we are stuck with them. We are identified with them. We are identified in essence with the bad guys with a lot of Afghans, he said.

Former Canadian diplomat David Mulroney, who was the deputy minister in charge of overseeing all aspects of Canadas engagement in Afghanistan, said Ottawa was under heavy pressure from the UN and Europe to cut big cheques to the two funds. In effect, he said, Canada contracted out its management responsibility for spending taxpayers money in a country devastated by three decades of war, and with a system of governance more medieval than modern.

Glenn Davidson, Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan from 2012-13, said it is not easy to deliver foreign aid in a war-riven country where it is dangerous or impossible to travel because of the threat of attacks.

Still, Mr. Davidson said he was shocked and disappointed that effective means for monitoring and holding to account those who are corrupting the system havent been put in place by the World Bank and UN.

Mr. Davidson and Mr. Mulroney said Canada had much more success in smaller projects over which it had direct control, such as working with the World Health Organization on polio eradication, midwife training and initiatives for newborn children, as well as training for farmers.

The corruption issues and the fund management issues get the headlines, but there are really good and decent hardworking people in Afghanistan who needed our help and we did help, Mr. Davidson said.
Al Jazeera, November 25, 2018

"Every woman in this country has a hundred owners. Its always been like that. Fathers, brothers, uncles, neighbours. They all believe they have the right to speak on our behalf and make decisions for us. That's why our stories are never heard but buried with us underground." - Sahra Mani Mosawi, filmmaker

But what if the stories of Afghan women were heard? What if they succeeded in fighting the cultural, familial and legal forces that strive to keep them silent? And what if the words they spoke were a demand for justice?



Khatera fears for the future of her daughter Zainab. (Photo: Al Jazeera) Khatera fears for the future of her daughter Zainab. (Photo: Al Jazeera)

Twenty-three-year-old Khatera finds out when she goes on national television to accuse her father of physically and sexually abusing her.

For 13 years, he'd raped her, resulting in numerous pregnancies. Most of them had ended abruptly when he forced her to abort, but two were carried to term.

He took one of the babies into the desert, where he left it to die.

Khatera's three-year-old daughter, Zainab, was spared that fate. But, once again pregnant by her father, she fears for the future of her daughter and unborn child if she cannot persuade the authorities to press charges against him.

It isn't the first time she has tried. The television show is a desperate attempt that she knows could have severe consequences in a country where the judicial system often incriminates the very women seeking its protection.

But being prosecuted for "moral crimes" isn't the only risk she faces in speaking out.

Khatera's uncles believe she has brought shame upon the family and that the solution lies in her death and the death of her daughter.

In the award-winning A Thousand Girls like Me, Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani Mosawi follows Khatera as she lives in hiding, moving from house to house whenever she fears her identity might have been exposed or that her uncles might be closing in on her.

But, despite the fear, the danger and the uncertainty, she is determined to bring her father to justice, to protect herself and her children and to set an example for all other girls like her.

FILMMAKER'S VIEW

By Sahra Mani Mosawi

I am part of a society that has the highest rates of domestic violence and gender inequality in the world. I can see it. I can feel it. And I can expose it in a way that others can't.

What's important to me is to not only focus on the suffering but on how that suffering can be a rallying cry; how we, as women, are fighting for change.



Khatera lives with her mother and kids in safe houses. (Photo: Al Jazeera) Khatera lives with her mother and kids in safe houses. (Photo: Al Jazeera)

I make films to give hope to the women of my country and to give guidance to those who want to know my country better. I make films to help build a safe society for the next generation and to record our journey to that point.

Nearly every day in Afghanistan there are stories about the rape and murder of women. Some cases are covered by the media but many remain unknown.

A Thousand Girls like Me highlights the need to make the "unknown" cases known.

The Afghan legal system today is complex, confusing and corrupt. The formal state justice system is still under construction and operates only in those urban areas where there is less instability and better security - but there are fewer and fewer of those.

For three years, I was given unreserved access to the most private parts of Khatera's life and that of her family - for up to three days a week, often until late at night. The only way I could achieve this was by shooting and recording sound myself.

Gradually, Khatera, her mother and her daughter started to forget that I was even there. Through their everyday talks, their more intimate conversations and even their silences, we get an insight into the complex bond between the three of them.

Being constantly there allowed me to just let them be. I didn't ask questions. I didn't stage reality. My "cinema direct" let the narrative strength of real life take its own path. I shot long takes, in medium shots, which allowed me to keep my characters' surroundings as a constant reference in the frame, so as to never forget how deeply rooted in Afghan society these women are.

By "erasing" my presence and getting rid of all the usual shooting tricks, I had one: focusing on the most important thing - the words of these women and the message they convey, thus making it even stronger.

There were risks in shooting this documentary - for Khatera, for her mother, for her children and also for my crew and me. Danger could lurk anywhere - from within Khatera's family but also from others who view women like Khatera as the devil incarnate.

Shooting in public places, therefore, had to be done with a great sense of urgency. This helped the film, by allowing us to show just how critical it is that Khatera gets justice and how determined she is, despite the danger to her life.

I was granted exceptional permission to record sound during the trial of Khatera's father, Halim, which allowed us to hear his voice. But the film is about the consequences of his deeds, so I didn't want to show his image. He is a character in the background, a shadow over my tale. Apart from his voice, his portrait is drawn from the testimony of the three female characters.

The scenes shot in public places offer a startling visual but also a symbolic contrast with those shot in the privacy of Khatera's home.

The chaos of an overcrowded Kabul, the media attention generated by the trial, the malevolent stares of men watching one woman film another woman, the invisible but constant threat of family retaliation that forces Khatera to relocate with utter discretion - all these sequences that were shot with the required speed give way to the seeming quietness of Khatera's home, where time passes more slowly. In these moments, my shots were longer and more composed.

Being able to shoot their daily routines revealed another contrast - between the normal and the abnormal.

On the one hand, Kathera and her mother doing household chores shows their determination, for the sake of the children and also themselves, to keep things as normal as they can. But, on the other, we can hear through their voices the extraordinary - the monstrosity of the crime that binds them together.

I was given the opportunity to watch German director Helen Simon's documentary No Lullaby (Nirgendland). This film also tells the tragic tale of repeated incestuous rapes through two generations of women. I feel a strong connection with the director's approach to the issue. The emotion created by Simon's description of these harsh facts is emphasised by her own neutral stance and her use of daily life sequences as soothing intermissions.
Source: VNS

VietNamNet Bridge  Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh speaks to Vietnam News Agency about the fifth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange, which took place recently.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence, General Ngo Xuan Lich and his Chinese counterpart Senior Lieutenent General Wei Fenghe planted a tree at the historical site Pak Bo in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, Vietnam, as part of the fifth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange.  VNA/VNS Photo Duong Giang

How did the fifth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange go?

Like the previous editions, the event this year was designed to solidify defence ties between the two armies, contributing to boosting relations between the two Parties, States and nations.

On November 19, a delegation of the Viet Nam Peoples Army led by Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich participated in exchange activities in Long Zhou, including talks between the two defence ministers and visits to Chinese military units, local schools and a memorial site dedicated to Vietnams late President Ho Chi Minh.

The next day, the Chinese delegation led by Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe arrived in Cao Bang, where they attended a joint drill on disaster and disease relief aid, visited military medical units and joined a discussion and art exchange.

Defence ministers of the two countries agreed on the need to make the exchange an official event in bilateral defence ties.

The event this year was also attended and welcomed by the people from both countries: from Phuc Hoa District of Vietnams Cao Bang Province and from Long Zhou in Chong Zuo City of Chinese Guangxi Province. Why did they participate?

It was a delight to us to see the enthusiastic participation of the people from both countries in the exchange, who joined in activities with the armed forces instead of being just audiences. Thanks to the involvement, local people have become aware of the importance of defence co-operation from the high level down to the grassroots level through practical and useful activities such as joint work in search and rescue and military medical care.

On that basis, relations between border localities will grow across many aspects.

Especially, the Vietnamese defence ministry was given assistance in building a new culture centre for Phuc Hoa District with the hope it can contribute to the development of the area.

How will the success of the event contribute to defence relations between Vietnam and China?

There are many things to do to enhance defence ties between Vietnam and China, with the defence border friendship exchange just one of them. The exchange is unique to Vietnam and China, due to the fact the two countries share a border along with time-honoured solidarity and friendship.

The exchange has its origin in the common perception of the two parties and states on optimising the favourable conditions of adjacent locations and similarities in political regimes.

Therefore, the exchange will contribute positively to bilateral defence relations, and more should be done to strengthen national defence while enhancing bilateral defence ties with China and maintaining peace and friendship with neighbouring countries.

It is important to underline the central role played by the border guard force in the defence border friendship exchange. The force has a special role in enforcing law, safeguarding national sovereignty and maintaining peace and friendship with our neighbouring countries China, Laos and Cambodia.

This force also greatly supports local people, as they can either be teachers for small kids, or they can be nurses to help local residents with medical issues. I want to praise them and thank them for the efforts they have made not only in defence but in the task to preserve peace.

Disclaimer: This article was originally produced and published by VNS. View the original article at VNS.
Indian shares rebounded on Monday after a string of declines last week as tumbling oil prices and a strengthening rupee helped lift investor mood.

The benchmark 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 373.06 points or 1.07 percent to 35,354.08, snapping a three-day losing streak. The broader Nifty index ended up 101.85 points or 0.97 percent at 10,628.60.

Asian Paints, Axis Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Wipro and Hero MotoCorp jumped 3-6 percent in the Nifty pack while Coal India, Vedanta, Yes Bank, Sun Pharma and ONGC lost 2-3 percent.

The rupee was a tad higher in the afternoon, extending gains for the eighth straight session.

Oil prices were up more than 1 percent in European trade after plunging nearly 8 percent in the previous session on concerns over surging supply and a slowdown in demand growth.

Globally, Asian turned in a mixed performance as investors kept a close watch on the developments on the U.S.-China trade front ahead of the upcoming G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the end of the week.

Traders also looked ahead to remarks by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and the minutes of the Fed's latest monetary policy meeting later this week for clues on U.S. monetary policy.

European stocks were sharply higher in early trade after EU leaders approved an agreement on the U.K.'s withdrawal and future relations, and Italy reportedly agreed to fine-tune its deficit goal.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Paychex Inc. (PAYX), a payroll processor and human resources services provider, said Monday that it has agreed to acquire Oasis Outsourcing Acquisition Corp, the nation's largest privately-owned professional employer organization or PEO and a provider of human resources outsourcing services.

The company noted that the total cash purchase price is $1.2 billion, subject to working capital and other adjustments. The acquisition is expected by the company to be financed through a combination of cash on Paychex's balance sheet and borrowings under existing credit facilities or new debt.

Headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, Oasis has approximately 1,100 employees. The company serves more than 8,400 clients across all 50 states with its HR solutions, employee benefits, payroll administration, and risk management services.

Paychex said it will see a number of revenue and cost synergies as a result of this transaction. Excluding transaction costs, the acquisition is expected to have minimal impact on the company's fiscal year 2019 earnings per share.

Paychex noted that the acquisition will significantly advance its position in HR outsourcing, leveraging the scope of its platform and providing new clients access to Paychex's products and technology-enabled services.

Paychex will now serve more than 1.4 million worksite employees or WSEs through its HR outsourcing services.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The 21st round of talks between Chinese and Indian special representatives on boundary issues was held in Chengdu, capital of southwest Chinas Sichuan Province on Saturday. The press release stated that the meeting reached an important consensus, the tone of which is positive, constructive and forward-looking.Public opinion has noticed that compared with previous announcements, which were mostly diplomatic rhetoric, the content of this communique is relatively comprehensive and new.

Obviously, the meeting atmosphere was friendly and led to fruitful results.

The Meeting on China-India Boundary Issue was launched in 2003 and has been going on for 15 years, but its overall progress has not been impressive. However, the meeting is of great practical and symbolic significance as it has been aiming to address the most complicated and sensitive border disputes in China-India relations.

With such a working mechanism, soldiers stationed on the China-India border line would exercise self-restraint when dealing with differences on the frontlines, so as to possibly avoid conflicts, which was absolutely a matter of great importance for two neighboring countries.

The Chengdu meeting was the first China-India boundary negotiations after the border stand-off between the two neighbors and also the first negotiation held after leaders of the two sides met in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province.

During the tense confrontation of troops in the Dong Lang area, both Indian and Chinese public opinions have voiced radically. Imagine what kind of situation would China-India relations be like today if the two sides really came into fighting? It has been proven that the decision makers in both China and India are strategically calm, which is good for the two countries and the overall region.

The interdependence of China and India in areas of economic and trade is not heavy. Culturally, there are existent barriers between the two sides, while they harbor historical animosity against each other. Besides, in reality, they have border disputes. Mutual trust between the two sides is weak, and there are many external forces hoping for China-India conflicts out of various psychological needs. It is conceivable that in this case, China and India are prone to being at logger heads with each other, and their peaceful co-existence in absolute terms is not easy.

Given the present situation, it is vital for China and India to remain calm and rational. The Indian public opinion has always been more prone to being irritable, which in turn stimulates Chinese public opinion and creates a harmful, negative atmosphere for interactions, inevitably increasing the pressure and cost of rational decision-making by both sides.

Its not only a matter of whether Chinese and Indian policymakers can remain calm in the face of their direct differences, but also whether these differences can be alleviated among both countries soldiers on the border, journalistic circles, and everyone involved in China-India relations.

Secondly, China and India always need to insist on independent judgment. This is particularly true in the current external environment of China-India relations, characterized by extreme complication, and due to the subtle influence of both Europe and the United States on China-India relations.

Both China and India are not only big countries, but also developing countries, which are late comers in the current round of modernization. The basic structure of the global discourse power features a weak East and a strong West. Therefore, Western public opinion is willing and has the ability to shape social cognition of non-Western countries in a subtle way.

For example, the so-called theory of The Chinese Dragon vs. the Indian Elephant, which was a hot topic in the past few years, was clearly made up by the West. China and India must maintain a high degree of vigilance, abstain from provocations and avoid falling into traps set by others for China and India.

Thirdly, China and India must have the patience and wisdom to deal with thorny issues. Just like boundary negotiations, China and India have met and talked 21 times in the past 15 years. China and India today have reached an important consensus, but this is merely a preliminary result. Such agreement is still far from realizing the real settlement of their border disputes. There is no urgency of accomplishing the whole work all in one try.

To look at China-India relations requires a strategic vision and a future perspective. China and India will achieve mutual benefits and win-win results in all fields, just like seeds invigorated by sunlight and rain and growing rapidly, only if both sides could properly control their direct disputes, strengthen the building of confidence measures, and work to develop bilateral relations at the political level. In such case, we can absolutely expect a future scenario of the Indian Elephant dancing with the Chinese Dragon.

Disclaimer: The author of this article is from the Global Times. The article is published in Chinese on opinion.huanqiu.com. It is translated from Chinese into English and edited by China Military online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. Chinamil.com.cn does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same. If the article carries photographs or images, we do not vouch for their authenticity.
After a clash between border patrol agents and members of a caravan of thousands of Central American migrants, President Donald Trump threatened in a post on Twitter on Monday to "permanently" close the U.S.-Mexico border due to the threat posed by illegal immigrants.

Trump urged Mexican authorities to deport the migrants "back to their countries," declaring the asylum-seekers would not be allowed into the U.S.

"Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A.," Trump tweeted. "We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!"

The tweet from Trump comes after border patrol agents fired tear gas on a group of migrants who attempted to rush the border near San Diego.

In response to the altercation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials temporarily suspended all northbound and southbound crossings for both pedestrians and vehicles at the San Ysidro port of entry.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the port of entry was closed to ensure public safety after a large number of migrants attempted to breach the fence along the border and threw projectiles at border patrol agents.

"@DHSgov will not tolerate this type of lawlessness & will not hesitate to shut down POEs for security reasons," Nielsen said in a post on Twitter on Sunday.

She added, "We'll seek to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who destroys federal property, endangers our frontline operators, or violates our sovereignty."

Attacks on illegal immigrants played a big role in Trump winning the White House, and the president ramped up his rhetoric ahead of the midterm elections earlier this month.

Trump described the migrant caravans headed to the U.S. border as an "invasion" and sent more than 5,000 troops to the border in what some criticized as a "political stunt."

Last week, Trump told reporters there could be a government shutdown in December over the issue of funding for his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

"Could happen, yeah. Over border security," Trump said when asked if there will be a shutdown next week. "The wall is just a part of border security  a very important part. Probably the most important part."

"But could there be a shutdown? There certainly could," he added. "And it will be about border security, of which the wall is a part."

Democrats have generally opposed providing full funding for the border wall, which Trump claimed throughout his presidential campaign would be paid for by Mexico.

The president has backed down from previous threats to shut down the government over border wall funding, although lawmakers face a December 7th deadline to reach a spending agreement and prevent a shutdown.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
New Zealand will on Tuesday release October numbers for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

In September, imports were worth NZ$5.89 billion and exports were at NZ$4.33 billion for a trade deficit of NZ$1.56 billion.

Japan will provide October figures for producer prices, with forecasts suggest no change at an annual 1.2 percent.

China will see industrial profit data for October; in September, profits were up 4.1 percent on year.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Cannabis Consumption During Pregnancy May Lead To Anxiety, Aggression Among Children Pregnant women and those who have just given birth are sometimes known to consume marijuana to relieve themselves of terrible morning sickness and stress. They also intake marijuana to get a high from all the stress and tension surrounding their pregnancy/childbirth. Latest research has revealed that...

Bazelet Enters Licensing Agreement With Floresta For Non-physoactive Cannabis Plantation Bazelet health system announced earlier this week that it has entered into a partnership with Florida-based company Floresta, LLC to manufacture Panakeia, a patented cannabis plant of Bazelet in Floresta's breeding and greenhouse facility in Florida. Panakeia is a licensed cannabis because the...
Yemen condemns killing prisoner in Saudi-led mercenaries' jail in Jawf [26/November/2018] SANAA, Nov. 26 (Saba)  The ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday condemned strongly in a statement obtained by Saba killing of prisoner of the army and popular forces by the mercenaries of US-backed Saudi-led aggression coalition in their jail in Jawf.















The ministry affirmed that crime contradict all the charters and international law and oppose to all religious and humanitarian principles.















He referred to torture and execution, bad health and food conditions practiced by the mercenaries amid of which the prisoner miss even the possibility to communicate with their relatives.















The statement affirmed that crime came in the time when the UN envoy to Yemen seek to treat with prisoners file as a step to re-build mutual confidence paving the way to upcoming peace consultation of Geneva which will result negatively.















The ministry recalled to form an international independent committee charged to investigate into these crime to punish the actors.























Amal/AA

















SABA
Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Sydney, Australia

Like all the most challenging offshore races, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race requires determination, courage and commitment. The 74th edition of this annual institution starts on Wednesday, 26 December 2018.

Some 92 yachts, ranging from 9.2 metres to 30.48 metres (30.5 feet to 100 feet), will compete for the most sought-after prizes, including the coveted Rolex timepieces awarded for line honours and to the overall winner, determined on International Rating Certificate (IRC) handicap.



Rolex has maintained a commitment to yachting that now spans six decades. Uniting the world's finest yacht clubs, most revered regattas and demanding races, this continued association helps perpetuate the spirit of races such as Rolex Sydney Hobart. The 628-nm voyage from Sydney Harbour to Hobart, Tasmania, was first organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) in 1945 and the Rolex partnership dates back to 2002, when the Swiss watchmaker became Title Sponsor.



LINE HONOURS: ACCOMPLISHMENT AND REWARD

There is no other race of this distance or calibre that gathers so many of the world's most powerful 100-ft monohull yachts. The rivalry between these seaborne goliaths is intense, each craft crewed by highly skilled professional sailors from around the world. To prevail in such a talented field is a major accomplishment.



Five 100-ft Maxis will contest line honours in 2018. Wild Oats XI, owned by the Oatley family and skippered by Mark Richards, will aim to extend her record of successes to nine. Jim Cooney and Samantha Grant's Comanche will hope to repeat the success of last year which led to a new race record time of one day, nine hours, 15 minutes and 24 seconds. Christian Beck's InfoTrackand Peter Harburg's Black Jack may not appear as favoured in the pre-race title claims, but both have tasted victory under previous names and owners. Completing the line-up is Seng Huang Lee's Scallywag from Hong Kong, one of 13 overseas entrants



While this select group has more advanced equipment and technology at its disposal than the nine entrants in the original race, the commitment required of the 2018 frontrunners remains true to John Illingworth's founding idea to "make a race of it".



OVERALL VICTORY: ASPIRATION AND REALIZATION

Taking on a 628-nm race demands preparation and planning, along with a willingness to confront all possible adversities. The course's critical points include the mass start from Sydney Harbour, the eastern edge of the formidable Bass Strait and the notoriously fickle Derwent River on the approach to Hobart.



Experience and skill matter, as does perseverance, but there is no single guarantee for success in such a complex race, especially when so much relies on the weather. It took 28 attempts for Matt Allen, a past Commodore of the CYCA and current president of the Australian sailing federation, to skipper a yacht to overall victory and receive the famous Tattersall Cup and Rolex timepiece. "The Rolex Sydney Hobart is the premier event. Everyone follows it and everyone knows the winners of this race," said Allen, after winning with Ichi Ban in 2017. "This has been a lifetime effort. It's every sailor's dream to win it."



Among the 92 entrants are yachts from the six Australian states, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Yachtsman Tony Ellis, from Australia, is set to equal the existing record of 51 "trips south" when he takes part on Triton.



AN ESSENTIAL CHALLENGE

Fifty years ago, in November 1968, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston crossed Bass Strait midway through his pioneering solo non-stop navigation around the globe. By the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart that year, he was well on his way to Cape Horn. Some aspects of sailing have evolved considerably since that epic voyage, when one of Knox-Johnston's navigational aids was a Rolex timepiece. Innovation in technology and materials has transformed yacht racing, yet elements remain the same. Before taking part in his third Rolex Sydney Hobart in 2017, Knox-Johnston expressed how races like this one and the Rolex Fastnet help preserve the essential spirit of the sport: "This is how yacht racing should be - challenging for the offshore yachtsman, combining an attractive mix of professionals and Corinthians."



Whether they win or simply complete the course, every participant will uphold the traditions and values of a sport that continues to inspire and to offer opportunity for individuals to test themselves, physically and mentally. In this regard, the Rolex Sydney Hobart is more than just a yacht race. One of the greatest offshore contests, it is a perpetual guardian of the traditions and time-honoured values of the sport.
The Ministry of Police has arrested a 24-year-old man in connection to a double murder in Leulumoega over the weekend.

Preliminary police reports indicate that the two deceased persons are relatives from Leulumoega and alcohol was a factor in the incident.

They were found dead at the three-corner in Lefaga and the suspect took off in the vehicle, which was later discovered in Leulumoegauta.

The murder suspect has now been arrested, said the police officer.

The Police Deputy Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Keti, did not respond to emails and phone calls from the Samoa Observer to confirm the deaths at the weekend.
Chief Justice, His Honour Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu, has expressed concern at the rise in crime targeting Chinese nationals in Samoa.

The concerns were raised when Esau Mikaele Esau of Toamua and Leone, appeared before the Supreme Court for sentencing on the charges of burglary and theft.

According to the prosecutions summary of facts, the accused entered the house of the complainant while it was locked and stole $155.

The accused is an 18-year-old male of Leone, is single and currently unemployed. The pre-sentence report states that the accused finished school at Year 8 and was then employed by a Chinese building construction company for some time before he decided to stay home.

His Honour Patu noted the accused told the probation service as shown from his pre-sentence reportthat he was at a house at Lotopa with two of his friends, who pressured him into burgling the house next door belonging to a Chinese national.

They then went to that house, pulled back the sliding door and took money from inside the house. Part of the money was given to one of the accuseds friends and the rest of the money was used by the accused to buy food and cigarettes. A few days later, the accused was apprehended by the police.

Esau informed the probation service that he is remorseful for his actions and hopes for a second chance from the Court.

During sentencing, it was also revealed that the defendant is remanded in custody on another charge of causing damage to a motor vehicle.

On the aggravating features relating to the offending, the Chief Justice noted the home invasion, burglary and theft of the house of a foreigner, namely a Chinese national.

Criminal offences which involve Chinese nationals as victims has been at an alarming increase in the recent past, particularly burglary and theft. But there have also been other kinds of offences.

This is becoming of serious concern that soon the Courts are going to impose heavy sentences if this trend does not cease.

The Chinese are contributing in a significant and substantial way to the development of Samoa, but people like the accused with their actions are likely to undermine the good relationship that the rest of Samoa has with the Chinese, said His Honour Patu.

He emphasised that the continuing rise in the level of criminal offending against Chinese nationals in Samoa is a concern to the Court.

Not only does this involve burglary and theft but also the use of violence in such cases. I have been giving serious consideration whether to impose a term of imprisonment in this case to serve as a deterrent not only to the accused but others of like mind.

However, given the mitigating features and the relatively small amount of money involved, I have decided to give priority to the rehabilitation requirements of sentencing. But the accused should be warned that if he appears again in the future on similar circumstances, then he is likely to go to prison, the Chief Justice added.

The accused was then convicted and sentenced to 10 months supervision and ordered to perform 40 hours of community work as directed by the probation service.
Samoas medicinal plants and flora and fauna should be subject to more scientific investigation as they have the potential to be turned into pharmaceuticals.

That is the conclusion of Dr. Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni, who is manager of plants and postharvest technology, at the Scientific Research Organization of Samoa (S.R.O.S).

She was quoted in a publication titled ABs is genetic resources for sustainable development, which was launched recently by the United Nations Development Programme (U.N.D.P) at the 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-14) in Egypt.

According to Dr. Seeseei, the S.R.O.S has done five years of work on Samoas medicinal plantsand together with other scientific work with a particular focus on Samoathey believe there is a lot of potential.

With our five years of research, together with previous scientifically robust accounts, we are of the opinion that Samoan medicinal plants, together with our other diverse fauna and flora, warrant further scientific investigations, as potential sources of unique bioactive natural products that can be utilized for pharmaceuticals, she said in the U.N.D.P publication.

As an example, Dr. Seeseei talked about a 2013 study which the S.R.O.S undertook that identified 11 plants which were collected and studied.

Interestingly enough, our 2013 study identified that of the 11 plants we collected, the plant with the most bioactivity against the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was Psychotria insularum. The leaves and bark of P. insularum are crushed and made into a potion in Samoan traditional medicine to treat supernaturally attributed ailments, as well as fever, abdominal distress, abscesses, incontinence, skin infections and wounds, general body aches and swellings, as well as vomiting.

Samoans see land and traditional knowledge as important parts of their lives, according to Tessa Tafuawho is the programme analyst at the environment and climate change unit at the UNDP Office in Samoaand was also quoted in the same publication.

The people of Samoa hold its land and traditional knowledge at the highest importance and will do anything to protect this knowledge and resources for the future generations. The Government of Samoa looks to formalize the process to protect the genetic resources of Samoa and its traditional uses, she added.

Tessa also said Samoan traditional healers are careful who they share their knowledge with.

The traditional healers of Samoa are often careful with whom they speak regarding the methods and mixtures that they use for medicinal purposes in the communities, because they have had experiences where their knowledge is exploited by some researchers. This was a general feedback when this project on ABS was introduced in the country at its inception workshop.
Minister of Finance Sili Epa Tuioti says he is extremely disappointed with the increasing number of public funds misuse cases within Government ministries.

He said it is time for the Chief Executive Officers of the Government different ministries and agencies to be held accountable for money missing from their budgets.

Samoa Observer recently reported on allegations of misappropriation totaling $100,000 by a senior official working in the Ministry of Justice Courts and Administration.

In June this year, a cashier working with the Ministry of Finance, was investigated for allegedly misusing public funds to the tune of $2400.

Public monies lost is very concerning for me, as Minister of Finance and we will do what it takes to recover those monies, he said.

The address the problem, Sili said the CEOs should take responsibility to ensure that processes for the accounting of funds are intact.

There is also a need for the C.E.O.s to reported to the M.O.F. once they suspect of missing funds. I am extremely disappointed, he added.

The Ministry of Finance, according to the Minister, has been directed by the Government to take responsibility and hold officers to account to ensure money taken is repaid.

And to also make sure that internal control in place are adhered and those who are taking public funds must stop. You may not get caught today, but you will be caught sooner. No public servant should be taking money it is a problem and we are working on to address it, he said.

Another misappropriated casewhich was reported in June this yearrelates to public funds where is $17,135 allegedly went missing from Ministry of Prime Minister and Cabinet and was confirmed by the Ministrys CEO Agafili Shem Leo. Furthermore, the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment and Works Transport and Infrastructure also reported similar cases.

At the time the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Chief Executive Officer Ulu Bismarck Crawley confirmed the investigation with the missing funds amounting to over $7,000 while $12,000 was allegedly misappropriated at the Ministry for Works Transport and Infrastructure.

In June, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Finance, Lavea Tupaimatuna Lavea, also expressed concern at alleged misappropriation of Government funds.

He said the irregularities have been reported to the Ministry of Police for their investigation and appropriate action, he said.

And yes it very much concerns us, the Internal Audit Officers carry out spot checks and that assists with Internal Controls, which in turn picks up on unaccounted Government funds.

The Ministries have also reported these irregularities to our office as indicated under the law; the Ministries are obligated to report such incidents immediately.

And that is why we are highly concerned because of the excessive effort we put in to investigate these matters; given these types of incidents puts a huge negative exposure on the Government when monies are unaccounted for, said Lavea at the time.
By Yan Meng





BEIJING, Nov. 26 (ChinaMil) -- The Sixth Young Scholars Forum in Chinese Studies was held on Saturday. During the forum, Guo Xiaobing, Deputy Director of Institute of Security and Arms Control Studies of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said that the international arms control is currently going through a great transitional phase, and explained its tremendous changes in nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear security.

Firstly, the nuclear arms control, narrowly defined as the nuclear disarmament, is presently entering into the phase of aggressive major power competition. The original international arms control system is collapsing. The new system would be completely different from the previous ones.

Secondly, the nuclear non-proliferation is entering into a plateau period. The period of horizontal proliferation has passed. Although the diplomatic struggle can be very aggressive, many countries have technically capped it.

Lastly, the nuclear security has entered into a subdued and stable period since last year.

In addition, Guo said that the US nuclear policy has also made some important adjustments this year. Firstly, its major objects of nuclear deterrence have changed a lot. Nuclear terrorism used to be the biggest threat to the US. However, now the US new policy said that Russia, China, the DPRK and Iran are its major four threats. Secondly, the application of nuclear weapons is getting wider. The US announced for the first time that nuclear weapons will be used to retaliate against air attacks, space weapon attacks and cyber weapon attacks. Thirdly, the US is developing low-yield nuclear weapons in some regions, which increases its means of nuclear deterrents.
For Maika and Margaret Felise their union as man and wife was 13 years in the making.

Last Friday evening the couple returned to where it all began: Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. It was there where they were officially wedded by a Government official, in a simple ceremony witnessed by family and friends.

Maika, 44, is the son of Vino and Tupai Felise and Margaret,42, is the daughter of Elisapeta and Sala Johnny Silva. They have three daughters and are currently staying at Nuu.

Thirteen years ago Margaret was working at the museum and her husband-to-be Maika went there for the Digicel opening. They met and exchanged pleasantries, had lunch and their relationship blossomed.

We first met each other 13 years ago when I was working at this very museum at the time. He came for the opening of Digicel and it started with talking and then we had lunches together and then the rest is history, she said.

The couple are devout Roman Catholics, but the decision to have a simple weddingminus the excesses of large Samoan family weddingswas deliberate.

We always wanted a small wedding and in the end we fulfilled that wish today. To us, we think that it is a big hassle for families when it came to preparing big weddings, she said.

And even the decision to get their nuptials blessed by a government official was deliberate.

The couples 13-year journey has had its challenges, admits Margaret, but it was worth the wait as they both wanted to be sure they were meant for each other.

Throughout our 13 years together, I can honestly admit that there were no challenges and difficulties. We may have disagreed sometimes, when it came to our kids, but I am happy to spend the rest of my life with him.

The next step is more like I am officially a Felise before, I waited for the right time and I guess it was on this very day. It is better to be sure than to get divorced after marriage, so we waited and along the way we had children. I vowed to love him for the rest of my life the same way that I love my children, she added.

Maika vowed that his heart would always belong to her and their children.

So far my heart has never changed ever since the first day I laid eyes on her, I knew she was the one I would grow old with and spend the remaining days of life with.

I love everything about her and I feel different than not being married and being married is like saying shes officially my girl, he said.

Margaret said her husband is reliable and she is fortunate and blessed to have found someone as caring and loving as him.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A massive wildfire that killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes in Northern California has been fully contained after burning for more than two weeks, authorities said Sunday.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the Camp fire had been surrounded by firefighters following several days of rain in and around the devastated town of Paradise.

The nation's deadliest wildfire in a century killed at least 85 people, and 249 are on a list of those unaccounted for. The number of missing dropped in recent days as officials confirmed that more people were alive.

Crews continued sifting through debris and ash for human remains.

"It's certainly good to be done with the containment of this fire, even though there's still a lot of work to be done moving forward," fire spokeswoman Jennifer Erickson said.

The blaze began on Nov. 8 in the parched Sierra Nevada foothills and quickly spread across 240 square miles (620 square kilometers), destroying most of Paradise in a day.

Nearly 19,000 buildings, most of them homes, are gone.

The firefight got a boost last week from the first significant winter storm to hit California. It dropped an estimated 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain over the burn area during a three-day period without causing significant mudslides, said Hannah Chandler-Cooley of the National Weather Service.

In Southern California, more residents returned to areas evacuated in a destructive fire as crews repaired power, telephone and gas utilities.

Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said they were in the last phase of repopulating Malibu and unincorporated areas of the county. At the height of the fire, 250,000 fled their homes. The fire was fully contained Nov. 21 after burning for two weeks.

Three people died, and 1,643 buildings, most of them homes, were destroyed, officials said.
BRUSSELS (AP)  After months of hesitation, stop-and-start negotiations and resignations, Britain and the European Union on Sunday finally sealed an agreement governing the U.K.'s departure from the bloc next year.

So much for the easy part.

British Prime Minister Theresa May must now sell the deal to her divided Parliament  a huge task considering the intense opposition from pro-Brexit and pro-EU lawmakers alike  to ensure Britain can leave with a minimum of upheaval on March 29.

It's a hard sell. The agreement leaves Britain outside the EU with no say but still subject to its rules and the obligations of membership at least until the end of 2020, possibly longer. Britons voted to leave in June 2016, largely over concerns about immigration and losing sovereignty to Brussels.

EU leaders were quick to warn that no better offer is available.

"I am totally convinced this is the only deal possible," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said. "Those who think that by rejecting the deal that they would have a better deal will be disappointed the first seconds after the rejection."

For once, May was in complete agreement.

"This is the deal that is on the table," she said. "It is the best possible deal. It is the only deal."

Acknowledging the vast political and economic consequences of Brexit, May promised lawmakers their say before Christmas and said that it "will be one of the most significant votes that Parliament has held for many years."

She argued that Parliament has a duty "to deliver Brexit" as voters have demanded.

"The British people don't want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit," she said. "They want a good deal done that fulfils the vote and allows us to come together again as a country."

Not all agree. Main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called the deal "the result of a miserable failure of negotiation that leaves us with the worst of all worlds," and said his party would oppose it. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose Scottish National Party is the third-largest in Parliament, said lawmakers "should reject it and back a better alternative."

Pro-Brexit former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said May should insist on new terms because the deal "has ceded too much control" to Brussels.

On the EU side, the last big obstacle to a deal with Britain was overcome Saturday when Spain lifted its objections over the disputed British territory of Gibraltar.

So it took EU leaders only a matter of minutes at Sunday's summit in Brussels to endorse the withdrawal agreement that settles Britain's divorce bill, protects the rights of U.K. and EU citizens hit by Brexit and keeps the Irish border open. They also backed a 26-page document laying out their aims for relations after Brexit.

Still, the event was tinged with sadness on the European side at Britain's departure, the first time a country will leave the 28-nation bloc.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her feelings were "ambivalent, with sadness, but on the other hand, also some kind of relief that we made it to this point."

"I think we managed to make a diplomatic piece of art," she said.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the deal  the product of a year and a half of often- grueling negotiations  was regrettable but acceptable.

"I believe that nobody is winning. We are all losing because of the U.K. leaving," Rutte said. "But given that context, this is a balanced outcome with no political winners."

May said she wasn't sad, because Britain and the EU would remain "friends and neighbors."

"I recognize some European leaders are sad at this moment, but also some people back at home in the U.K. will be sad at this moment," she told reporters, but insisted that she was "full of optimism" about Britain's future.

The European Parliament, meanwhile, will be in full campaign mode a few months ahead of the EU elections when Europe's lawmakers sit to endorse the agreement, probably in February, but perhaps as late as March, according to the assembly's president, Antonio Tajani.

Still, Tajani said a "large majority" of European parliamentarians support the deal.

Many predict it will fail in the British Parliament. No one can be sure whether that would lead to the fall of the government, a new referendum, a postponement of Brexit or a chaotic "no deal" exit for Britain.

But Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said he thought May's chances of getting the agreement through Parliament were strong.

He said British lawmakers would see that "the alternative is a no deal, cliff-edge Brexit, which is something of course that we all want to avoid."

"Any other deal really only exists in people's imaginations," he added.
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwan's ruling party was handed a major defeat in local elections Saturday that were seen as a referendum on the administration of the island's independence-leaning president amid growing economic and political pressure from China.

Soon after the results came in, President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as head of the Democratic Progressive Party. She will remain as president and her resignation will have no direct effect on the business of government, although the results bode ill for her re-election chances in two years.

Rival China said the results reflected a desire of Taiwanese for better relations with the mainland. Ma Xiaoguang, the spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, said his government will continue to treat Taiwan as part of China and "resolutely oppose separatist elements advocating 'Taiwan independence' and their activities," according to the official Xinhua news agency.

In another victory for China, voters rejected a proposal to change the name of its Olympic team to Taiwan from the current Chinese Taipei. They also approved a referendum opposing same-sex marriage in a setback to LGBT couples, though ballot initiatives in Taiwan are non-binding.

The DPP lost the mayoral election to the Nationalist party in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, where it had held power for 20 years. The Nationalists also defeated the DPP in the central city of Taichung, home to much of Taiwan's light industry, while Ko Wen-je, the independent mayor of Taipei, the capital, narrowly won a second term. The Nationalist candidate in Taipei has asked for a recount.

At a brief news conference at DPP headquarters late Saturday, Tsai announced she was stepping down as DPP chair and said she had refused Premier William Lai's resignation, saying she wanted him to continue her reform agenda.

"Today, democracy taught us a lesson," Tsai said. "We must study and accept the higher expectations of the people."

The elections for mayors and thousands of local posts were seen as a key test for Tsai's 2-year-old administration, which has been under relentless attack from Beijing over her refusal to endorse its claim that Taiwan is a part of China.

Tsai and the DPP won a landslide victory in 2016, but China swiftly responded by cutting all links with her government. Beijing has been ratcheting up pressure on the island it claims as its own territory by poaching its diplomatic partners and barring its representatives from international gatherings, while staging threatening military exercises and limiting the numbers of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan.

The Nationalists, known also as the KMT, had campaigned on their pro-business image and more accommodating line toward Beijing.

Since her election, Tsai has walked a fine line on relations with China, maintaining Taiwan's de facto independent status that the vast majority of Taiwanese support, while avoiding calls from the more radical elements of her party for moves to declare formal separation from the mainland.

Taiwanese officials had warned that Beijing was seeking to sway voters through the spread of disinformation online similar to how Russia was accused of interfering in U.S. elections.

Although domestic concerns were in the foreground, China played a major factor in voter sentiment, analysts said.

"I think part of the reason for the vote on Saturday was concern about relations between Taiwan and mainland China," said Huang Kwei-bo, vice dean of the international affairs college at National Chengchi University in Taipei. "Their relations have slid backward."

Saturday's results also throw Tsai's political future into question. While the DPP still controls the national legislature, local politicians are crucial in mobilizing support among grass-roots supporters.

"I'm afraid it will be a big challenge for her in 2020," said Gratiana Jung, senior political researcher with the Yuanta-Polaris Research Institute think tank in Taipei.

Economic growth, employment and pension reforms were among key issues in the elections, which drew high turnout from the island's 19 million voters. Government employees who feel slighted by pension cuts that took effect in July probably mobilized against Tsai's party, Jung said.

Nationalist Party Chairman Wu Den-yih told reporters Saturday that his party would keep trying to avoid diplomatic friction with China and ensure smooth two-way trade.

"We hope the two sides will soon go back to a peaceful and stable trend in relations," he said.

Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists rebased their government to Taiwan in 1949 amid the civil war with Mao Zedong's Communists. They ruled under martial law until the late 1980s, when the native Taiwanese population began to take political office, mostly through the DPP.

The vote against changing the name used in international sporting events to Taiwan was seen as a test of support for independence. It was symbolic in nature, as the International Olympic Committee had ruled out a name change, which would be opposed by China.

Though referendums are only advisory, the vote in favor of restricting marriage to male-female couples will likely put lawmakers in a difficult position. They face both a court order to make same-sex marriage legal by 2019 and elections in 2020.
Perhaps it is not a coincidence that a sub-regional intellectual property workshop convened at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel concluded at the end of last week.

The workshopwhich was facilitated by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) and hosted delegates from a few Pacific Island nationswas funded by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

A week earlier the Cook Islands and Samoa were featured in the new publication ABS - Genetic Resources for Sustainable Development, which was launched on the sidelines of the 14th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP14) in Sharma El Sheikh, Egypt.

The publication had stories from across 27 different countries, which focused on how their genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, have helped people by implementing the principles of the CBD Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization.

The Samoa case study focused on work by the Scientific Research Organization of Samoa (SROS)in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)researching Samoan medicinal plant materials to provide scientific evidence that they can help prevent certain illnesses.

And as I intimated earlier, it is perhaps not a coincidence that Samoa now finds itself at a crossroadundertake more research through the work of the SROS, MNRE and various partners to find out the medicinal value of its flora and faunawhile MCIL and its local and international partners begin the groundwork to put in place a framework for an intellectual property regime that is best suited to Samoa and its people.

A lot of research work that organisations such as SROS and its partners have undertaken in recent years, have been done in consultation with the local communities in Samoa. The link between the Government of Samoarepresented by State entities such as SROS and international partners such as the United Nationswas confirmed when Tessa Tafua, a programme analyst at the environment and climate change unit at the UNDP Office in Apia, made reference to how Samoans see land and traditional knowledge as important parts of their lives. She was quoted in the same publication which was launched last week in Egypt.

Samoas commitment to achieving its Sustainable Development Goals requires the involvement and contribution of its entire people. The way we engage with the people on the areas they prioritize drives the success of these SDGs.

The people of Samoa hold its land and traditional knowledge at the highest importance and will do anything to protect this knowledge and resources for the future generations. The Government of Samoa looks to formalize the process to protect the genetic resources of Samoa and its traditional uses, she said.

Which brings us back to the work that the MCIL and its partners have begun on developing an intellectual property framework for Samoa.

The MCIL-facilitated workshop last week had a particular focus on the private sector, as is confirmed by the Ministrys C.E.O. and registrar, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling.

The most important objective is to provide that knowledge and information to our business operators, in terms of the intellectual property concepts.

Because you understand there is very strong competition in our own region in the Pacific, in terms of the innovations and similar products that are produced by our people in the Pacific, and so in order for our businesspeople to meet that competition, they need to understand how they can take advantage of the intellectual property concept, he said last week.

While we acknowledge the opportunities that lie ahead for Samoas private sectorin terms of protecting their innovative products and serviceswe also note the huge potential of traditional knowledge and what it can bring to the table for Samoans.

There is a growing movement to get global recognition and protection for traditional knowledge, genetic resources and traditional cultural expressions (folklore).

Close to 20 years ago members of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) agreed to set up an Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) according to the WIPO website. In 2009 they agreed to develop an international legal instrument (or instruments) that would give traditional knowledge, genetic resources and traditional cultural expressions (folklore) effective protection. Such an instrument could range from a recommendation to WIPO members to a formal treaty that would bind countries choosing to ratify it.

According to the UN publication, Samoas terrestrial biodiversity consists of over 300 terrestrial species. The Samoan flora contains about 500 native flowering plants such as Piper graeffei, piperaceae and Diospyros samoensis, ebenaceae which are two of the most commonly used medicinal herbs. There are more than 200 species of ferns in 96 families and 298 genera which makes it the second largest diversity of native flora in tropical Polynesia. In total, 25% of terrestrial plant species are endemic to Samoa such as Psychotria bristolii, rubiaceae and Manilkara samoensis, sapotaceae.

Traditional knowledge associated with above God-given natural resources is yet to be harnessed, and Samoa can be thankful for having an organisation such as SROS, which is leading the way in research to enable the country to get the best of its resources.

What do you think? Have a wonderful Tuesday Samoa and God bless.
The Minister for Finance Sili Epa Tuioti has assured the public that Samoas debt levels are manageable and there is nothing to worry about.

Pacific Island nations debts to foreign donors have made headlines in recent weeks and caught the eye of various international commentators. But Sili appeared unfazed by the controversy and told Samoa Observer in an interview yesterday that the country can afford to repay the loans.

As Minister of Finance, I can confidently say that Samoa can afford to pay off their loans, he said.

To date the Governments total debt stands at $1.1 billion with $416 million out of that total owed to China. This makes China the countrys biggest creditor with the debt higher than what Samoa currently owes the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and Japan.

The debt figures were released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (S.B.S.) Financial Statistics for the December 2017 quarter and made public by the Central Bank of Samoa.

The Minister told this newspaper that funds are set aside by the Government annually to go towards debt servicing.

Our budget every year we have set aside funds to pay on interest on all our loans with A.D.B., World Bank and China,

There is no reason why we should not be able to pay and for Samoa as well, we only borrow for the essential need, such as the economical social infrastructure that is going to help us for the social economic wellbeing of our people to try and drive our economy's growth.

The key question has always been one of affordability, but Sili yesterday put that issue to bed when he said the Government is monitoring its debts and making payments.

For me as Minister of Finance, where we are today, we are able to pay the debts. What about the next 20 years? It will be the same and it would be irresponsible for us to borrow beyond our means certainly as Minister of Finance, we are keeping a close eye on the debt level.

Were not going to borrow money for something we dont need, we are also keen to make sure we borrow for what we need, not what we want, he added.

Long-term planning is essential for Samoa's government, which the Minister says is the reason why they have plans for the next 20-30 years.

We consider what the future holds, what would Samoa be like in the next 20-30 years, and we build the infrastructure that is going to cater for and meet that demand.

Like the airport, we dont want to spend millions and then next five years tear it down and rebuildthat is not proper planning. We are looking at the long run, be confident in what we can do, and we borrow what we can afford, he added.
An expert on foreign aid in the region says fears of Pacific Island nations getting caught in debt traps is overstated.

The statement comes on the back of the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (A.P.E.C) Leaders Summit in Port Moresby, P.N.G.where both Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence warned Pacific Island governmentsagainst getting foreign loans from China.

Jonathan Pryke, the Pacific Islands Program director at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, told Samoa Observer he is not convinced that Pacific Island governments can get caught in debt traps put in place by foreign aid donors.

He said data collated in the Lowy Institutes Pacific aid map showed that between 2011 and 2016 Samoa received a total of $US834 million in foreign aid, which equated to about 17 per cent of the countrys gross domestic product over that same period.

About two thirds of Chinas aid to Samoa was in the form of loans, added Mr. Pryke, and that is on top of loans that the country took from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and Japan, as well as domestic debt.

When he was asked on debt traps and if he saw that impacting the Samoan Government over the long-term period, he said: While Chinas debt is a nice piece of economic leverage, I am not convinced about the argument of debt traps caused by foreign donors.

Samoa is still in a position to pay back their loans, as PM Tuilaepa stressed at his address at the Lowy Institute in August.

A paper published early this month by researchers Rohan Fox and Matthew Dornan at the Australian National Universitys Development Policy Centre argued that the debt-trap diplomacy argument was without foundation.

Mr. Pryke, when asked by this newspaper what he thought of their proposition, said: Yes, I think their analysis is legitimate. Debt is an issue for Pacific nations, and many of the smaller countries have been pushed to their debt limits by a number of donors, including China. But the narrative on debt traps is, in my opinion, overstated.
The Ministry of Police has arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with the murder of two men in the weekend.

The bodies of two men were discovered in an open outdoor kitchen area at Leulumoega-uta. The Police believe their brutal murder occurred on Friday, November 23 at around 7.05am.

"The two deceased were identified as a male 69 years of Leulumoega uta/Lufilufi and New Zealand and his son-in-law, 42 years of Savaia Lefaga and Leulumoega uta.

"Evidence of alcohol was also found at the site with the bodies in badly slayed conditions.

"Due to the horrific scene, a search was immediately executed to locate a third person who was believed to be at the site," stated a police statement.

The Police said the Criminal Investigation Division responded to a homicide case. The defendant has since been charged with murder and has been remanded in custody to await Court mention scheduled for December 10, 2018.
Renovation work on the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S)-owned John Williams building in Apia is ongoing but at a slow pace.

Recent attempts by the Samoa Observer to get an update on the progress of the renovation work and the overall cost of the project has been unsuccessful, with top church hierarchy members not responding to phone calls or emails.

Repeated attempts to get comments from chair of the finance committee, Le Mamea Ropati Mualia and Secretary General Reverend Vavatau Taufao were unsuccessful.

They did not respond to questions sent through email as well as phone calls.

In March this year, the Komiti o Feau Eseese asked the churchs general assembly for an additional $2 million to complete the projectthis request was revealed in a copy of a report that was furnished in the 2018 conference. According to the report released in March by the Komiti o Feau Eseese, the repairs are underway with two different companies contracted to work on the body, the plumbing and the ceiling of the multistory building.

This work was to be funded with $3 million which was already approved for the renovation.

An elevator servicing company also recommended that the building is fitted with elevators, which will require additional funding by the church.
The Race for Water vessel is in the country to raise awareness on the importance of preserving water.

The futuristic-looking ship is powered by a solar-hydrogen-kite and belongs to the Race for Water Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based in Switzerland that promotes water preservation, especially that of oceans.

Eric Loizean, the Foundations ambassador, told Samoa Observer that they can help people save the ocean by educating them on what to do best.

We are here because we want to share with the people that plastic is the worst problem in the worlds ocean and we want to raise awareness about the fact that there are solutions for preventing the plastics from entering the ocean and encourage the less use of plastic around the world, he said.

Mr. Loizean said the Foundation doesnt necessarily collect plastics, but instead identify people from certain countries they visit who can cooperate and collect plastics from beaches, which can be used in producing energy.

To help their work in trying to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean, the Foundation uses a technology that can transform plastic waste into energy resourceseither gas or electricity.

The foundation believes the sale of the energy will allow street collectors to earn an income and it would motivate them to collect more plastics.

Conservation International marine programme director and Samoa Voyaging Society president, Schannel van Dijken, told this newspaper how his organisation is working with the Foundation.

My organisation, Conservation International, we are an environmental organisation that looks at helping nature thrive because when nature thrives, human thrives. If we are choked by plastics, nature cant thrive, humans cant thrive. So thats our mission.

My other hat is with the Samoa Voyaging Society and our mission is through traditional culturealso raise awareness of our past and how were very proud Polynesian explorers and voyages that had very close strict values with our landlooking after what we had, and with the arrival of the Race for Water it aligns very much with what we are trying to do, he said.

Conservation International will work in partnership with Race for Water to promote their mission, and assist in educating the public on the objectives of the visiting ship and its crew.

Leota Kosi Latu, the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme director general, welcomed the visit by the vessel and said the work of his organisation aligns with the work Samoa is carrying out.

They (Samoa) made a political commitment last year when Forum Leaders meeting happened here in Samoa, our own Prime Minister had spoken about the importance of this issue, he said.

Next year theres a new legislation thats coming into force and will ban single use of plastic so we have been supporting the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in terms of developing that mission.

So, its just good to see that there are other people that are thinking about it, just the way which the message has been carried through this interesting boat, I think its a good way of communicating messages about the importance of addressing plastic, he added.

The Race for Water Foundation will host a learning exchange this week with local schools and organisations before they leave Samoa on Friday.
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe (3rd R) meets with a visiting delegation of the Permanent Representatives of the UN Security Council member states in Beijing on Nov.26, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/Li Xiaowei)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (ChinaMil) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe met here with a visiting delegation of the Permanent Representatives of the UN Security Council member states on Monday morning.

Wei said that the present world needs multilateralism and a strong United Nations (UN) more than ever before, China firmly upholds the international system with the UN as its core and firmly safeguards the key role of the UN in international affairs.

China has always pursued a defensive national defense policy and firmly safeguarded international and regional peace and stability, Wei said.

China will uphold the security concept that is common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable as always and work with all countries to build a security structure featuring fairness, justice, joint efforts and shared benefits, Wei told his guest from the UN.

He expressed that the Chinese military has taken an active part in UN peacekeeping operations and is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with all nations in the deployment of peacekeeping forces, security defense, logistics support, and equipment supply, so as to promote the continuous advancement of UN peacekeeping operations.

The Permanent Representative of France to the UN Francois Delattre and Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the UN Taye Atske Selassie Amde spoke on behalf of the delegation that China has always pursued multilateralism and advocates the vision of a community of shared future for mankind, which is deeply appreciated, and they look forward to China playing a greater role in international affairs.

Shao Yuanming, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) was also present at the meeting.
Samoa will host the 11the Asia Pacific Telecommunity Policy and Regulation Forum in Apia from November 27-29.

The three-day conference was preceded by a internet connectivity workshop on ensuring sustainable connectivity in the Pacific yesterday.

Samoan Regulator, Auelua-Fonoti, said she was pleased that Samoa is hosting the conference and looked forward to the outcomes.

As the Regulator, I am pleased to see this Forum being hosted by Samoa, and look forward to the positive outcomes that will result from the discussions and workshop next week, she said.

The workshop will be facilitated through collaboration between the Asia Pacific Telecommunity, Internet Society, Asia-Pacific Network Information Center and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

The three-day conference will conclude with a e-application workshop organised by the International Telecommunication Union and the Pacific Islands Telecommunication Union in partnership with the Asia Pacific Telecommunity.

According to a statement from the Government, the events will provide a common platform for the nations of the region to discuss issues and suggest feasible solutions. This will be done through dialogue on trends of the ICT Policy, regulation updates of the Pacific, artificial intelligence and internet of things as well as internet connectivity in the Pacific Islands and beyond.

A total of 70-80 participants are expected to participate in the conference which starts today. These will include representatives from the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation, ITU, Facebook and others.
One of the last industrial anchors in what was once Ohio's manufacturing core is now on life support, just a little over a year after President Donald Trump told people not to leave and promised that jobs would come back to the area.

General Motors announced Monday it will stop small-car production at its assembly plant near Youngstown and consider closing it for good. Labor union leaders and others behind a campaign to save the plant in Lordstown are holding onto hope that they can persuade the automaker to find another use for the factory.

But its outlook is bleak after GM announced production of the Chevy Cruze would stop in March, halting work at the assembly plant that already had lost two shifts and 3,000 union jobs since the beginning of last year.

GM said Lordstown is one of five factories up for possible closure as it restructures to cut costs and focus on autonomous and electric vehicles. What happens to those plants will be discussed during contract talks with the United Auto Workers union next year.

The once-bustling GM operation in northeastern Ohio's Mahoning Valley is one of the few remaining ties to an era when thousands worked in steel plants and factories in Youngstown and surrounding communities.

"That plant is the economic lifeline of the whole valley," said Lordstown Mayor Arno Hill. "When we lost steel, that plant carried us through."

Bobbi Marsh, who has worked at the Lordstown plant since 2008 and whose father was there 42 years, said so many other jobs depend on the plant.

"I can't believe our president would allow this to happen," she said Monday.

"It's like we're in a limbo now," said Marsh, a single mother who said she has a teaching degree to fall back on if the plant is closed. "But it's nowhere near the money I was making,"

Youngtown is in a Democratic and labor stronghold, where President Donald Trump won over a surprising number of voters two years ago because of his promise to bring work back to the U.S.

At a rally near the plant last year, Trump talked about passing by big factories whose jobs "have left Ohio," then told people not to sell their homes because the jobs are "coming back. They're all coming back."

Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown called GM's announcement move "corporate greed at its worst."

Brown, a longtime labor union ally, said in a statement that "the company reaped a massive tax break from last year's GOP tax bill and failed to invest that money in American jobs."

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat who represents the Youngstown area, called on the president to take action.

The two Democrats also pointed out that taxpayers bailed out the automaker a decade ago and have expressed frustration during past months over their attempts to talk with GM CEO Mary Barra about how to keep the plant running.

Just last week, politicians and union leaders kicked off a campaign to keep the Lordstown plant operating.

UAW Local 1112 President Dave Green said Monday that there's still hope. "We are determined to do everything we can to convince General Motors to make Lordstown part of the future of auto manufacturing," he said.

Ohio's incoming governor, Republican Mike DeWine, said he plans on meeting with GM officials and make a case for the plant after he takes office in January.
WASHINGTON (AP)  To hear President Donald Trump tell it, he was made for a moment like this: A high-stakes face-off. A ticking clock. A cagey adversary.

The man who calls himself a supreme dealmaker will have the opportunity this week to put himself to the test. The question is whether he can defuse a trade war with China that is shaking financial markets and threatening the global economy  and perhaps achieve something approximating a breakthrough.

Trump is to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, during the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Friday and Saturday. Unless the two leaders can achieve a truce of sorts, their conflicts will likely escalate: On Jan. 1, the tariffs Trump has imposed on many Chinese goods are set to rise from 10 percent to 25 percent, and Beijing would likely retaliate.

Most analysts have said they doubt Trump and Xi will reach any overarching deal that would settle the dispute for good. The optimistic view is that the two sides may agree to a cease-fire that would buy time for more substantive talks and postpone the scheduled escalation in U.S import taxes.

Yet no one really knows. Each side seems prepared to wait out the other in a conflict that could persist indefinitely.

In advance of the meeting, Trump has sounded his usual note of boastful confidence. Speaking to reporters on Thanksgiving Day, he said:

"I'm very prepared. You know, it's not like, 'Oh, gee, I'm going to sit down and study.' I know every stat. I know it better than anybody knows it. And my gut has always been right."

Most trade analysts are skeptical that any significant agreement is likely this week.

"Expectations should be very low," said Wendy Cutler, vice president of the Asia Society Institute and a former U.S. trade official who negotiated with China. "We need to be very clear-eyed. It's going to be a very difficult negotiation. The issues at hand don't lend themselves to quick solutions."

The trade war erupted last fall after Trump imposed import taxes on $250 billion of Chinese goods, and Beijing retaliated with tariffs on U.S. exports. The justification for the U.S. move, according to Trump, is that Beijing has long deployed predatory tactics in its drive to supplant America's technological dominance. The administration alleges  and many trade experts agree  that Beijing hacks into U.S. companies' networks to steal trade secrets and forces American and other foreign companies to hand over sensitive technology as the price of access to China's market.

Beijing disputes those allegations and asserts that Trump's sanctions are merely an effort to hinder an ambitious rival.

Besides the scheduled escalation in U.S. tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods  an additional $50 billion in Chinese imports already face the higher tax  another threat looms: Trump has threatened to tax $267 billion more in Chinese imports. At that point, just about everything Beijing ships to the United States would face a higher import tax.

Growing concerns that the trade war will increasingly hurt corporate earnings and the U.S. economy are a key reason why U.S. stock prices have been sinking. As of Friday's close, the Standard & Poor's 500 index has shed roughly 10 of its value since setting a record high Sept. 20.

Joining other forecasters, economists at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development last week downgraded their outlook for global economic growth next year to 3.5 percent from a previous 3.7 percent. In doing so, they cited the trade conflict as well as political uncertainty.

Some big U.S. companies, in reporting quarterly earnings in October, warned that they were absorbing higher costs from Trump's increased tariffs, which have been imposed not only on Chinese goods but also on imported steel and other goods from other countries.

"We need some certainty," said Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council and a former American diplomat. "The U.S. and China cannot go into a trade war and not affect global markets ... We need to resolve our differences."

Yet as Trump and Xi prepare to meet, the backdrop is hardly encouraging. Acrimony between the two sides disrupted this month's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Papua New Guinea. The 21 APEC countries, torn by differences between Beijing and Washington, failed to agree on a declaration on world trade for the first time in nearly three decades. Vice President Mike Pence and Xi sniped at each other in speeches.

Then last week, U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer issued a report charging China's efforts to steal U.S. trade secrets have "increased in frequency and sophistication" this year despite American sanctions.

"China fundamentally has not altered its acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation, and indeed appears to have taken further unreasonable actions in recent months," the report concluded.

The tenor of the report suggested that the United States would take a hard line into this week's talks. In the meantime, "the amount of uncertainty is unprecedented and very disquieting to the markets," said Allen of the U.S.-China Business Council.

Clouding the outlook is are mixed messages from the Trump administration itself. The White House appears divided between hawks like Trump's trade adviser, Peter Navarro, and free traders like the top White House economic adviser, Larry Kudlow. On Nov. 9, Navarro delivered a combative speech suggesting that Trump didn't care what Wall Street thought of his confrontational China policy.

Four days later, Kudlow went on CNBC and dismissed Navarro's remarks as "way off base."

"They were not authorized by anybody," Kudlow said. "I actually think he did the president a great disservice."

Regardless of which approach Trump takes to Buenos Aires, Trump and Xi don't have to resolve their differences this week. A cease-fire that suspends any further escalation of the U.S. tariffs wouldn't be unprecedented. The administration and the European Union, for instance, reached a truce last summer that suspended threatened U.S. tariffs on European auto imports.

"My personal guess  and I'm sticking my neck out here  is that there will be some kind of cease-fire agreed to," said Matthew Goodman, a senior adviser on Asian economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Goodman noted that Trump appears concerned about tumbling stock prices, and Xi is contending with a decelerating Chinese economy. A truce would bring at least a temporary calm.

"No one is expecting they will come out with a solid agreement," said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial. "What the market wants  what the market needs  is a sense that they are negotiating and that the negotiations will continue."
For about 150 years, non-compete agreements generally have been unenforceable in California, unlike in most other states. Beginning at Section 16600, the California Business and Professions Code says that, with few exceptions, every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is to that extent void.

In a 2008 ruling, the California Supreme Court rejected a federal judge-made carve-out enforcing contractual non-competes that prohibited a worker from competing in only a limited slice of a business. California courts have been clear in their expression that Section 16600 represents a strong public policy of the state in favor of employee mobility which should not be diluted by judicial fiat.

Employers headquartered or incorporated outside California circumvented this prohibition by having their California-based employees agree that the law of a state that enforces non-competes governs the contract and, often, that employment disputes had to be resolved in that other state. In 2016, the California Legislature almost entirely eliminated the availability of choice-of-law and choice-of-forum provisions to avoid recognizing California employment rights. Almost.

Under Labor Code Section 925, a California employee may now void any employment term that: (1) requires the employee to bring a claim arising in California someplace other than California; or (2) deprives an employee of his substantive rights under California law -- which includes the right to compete against his former employer -- for disputes arising here. The provision applies to contracts effective on or after Jan. 1, 2017.

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Yet Section 925 has an exception. It does not apply where an employee is individually represented by legal counsel in negotiating the terms of an agreement to designate either where a contract dispute must be decided or which states law should be applied to the dispute. A legislative analyst explained: Californians should be bound by potentially one-sided terms only if the Californian knowingly and voluntarily agrees to such terms.

Does that exception mean a California employee who has his lawyer negotiate the terms of his agreement to work for a company incorporated outside California may be bound by a non-compete provision that would be unenforceable against a Californian who does not have a lawyer negotiate the terms of employment?

Yes, said a judge of the Delaware Chancery Court in a Sept. 28 ruling against San Diegan Patrick Miles, an executive who left San Diego-based, but Delaware-incorporated, spine device company NuVasive to work for NuVasive competitor Carlsbad-based spine device company Alphatec Spine. Miless 2016 contract with NuVasive prohibited Miles from competing against NuVasive for one year after his employment ended. The contract said Delaware law governed the enforceability of the contract and that disputes between the parties would be resolved in Delaware.

NuVasive argued that, since a lawyer had negotiated the terms of Miless agreement with NuVasive, the parties agreement to have Delaware law apply should be respected, even though: (1) California had a greater interest in this dispute than Delaware; and (2) Section 925 was not in effect when Miles signed his NuVasive contract. All that mattered was that, as of 2018 when the Delaware court had to choose between applying California law banning non-competes or Delaware law permitting reasonable non-competes, California law allowed an employee to forego his rights under California law if a lawyer negotiated the employees contract, as Miless lawyer allegedly did.

The Delaware court agreed. In Section 925, I find, the California legislature has stated strongly its general view that the prohibition of covenants not to compete (as well as other requirements of its labor law) cannot be evaded by choice of law provisions, but has made a policy decision that when contracting parties rights are protected by representation, freedom of contract trumps this interest.

In response to my emailed questions, Alphatec Executive Vice President and General Counsel Craig E. Hunsaker challenged the judges reading of Section 925. That measure was enacted to enhance employee protection against [non-California] choice of law and forum selection provisions in employee agreements. ... It did not dilute Californias strong public policy against non-compete agreements.

That [Section 925] was interpreted by the Chancery Court to reflect a policy decision by the California Legislature to effectively nullify generations of fundamental California policy favoring free employee movement in the labor market  particularly with respect to a California resident, employed in California, by California-based companies, said Hunsaker, is very surprising.

On Nov.1, just over a month after the Delaware court ruling, the San Diego division of the California Court of Appeal applied Section 16600 to invalidate a non-solicitation provision in the employment agreement of AMN Healthcare employees who recruited nurses for temporary assignments in medical care facilities. These temporary travel nurses were considered AMN employees while they were on assignment. The invalidated contract provision barred the recruiters, for at least a year after their employment with AMN ended, from trying to persuade any travel nurse on assignment with AMN to leave AMN.

The AMN provision did not on its face bar competition, just solicitation of employees. The restriction on the former AMN recruiters nonetheless amounted to an invalid non-compete, said the San Diego appellate court, because solicitation, or recruiting, of travel nurses was the recruiters very profession.

The upshot of the Delaware and San Diego cases -- decided about five weeks and 2,600 miles apart -- is this: Factual variations may render Californias strong public policy against non-compete agreements less  or more  than meets the eye.

Dan Eaton is a partner with the San Diego law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek where his practice focuses on defending and advising employers. He also is an instructor at the San Diego State University Fowler College of Business where he teaches classes in business ethics and employment law. He may be reached at eaton@scmv.com. His Twitter handle is @DanEatonlaw.
A proposal to install fencing along the railroad tracks in Del Mar has residents saying dont fence us out.

Del Mar has only one place in town, near Seagrove Park, where people can legally cross the tracks to get to the beach.

As a result, the bluffs south of the park are crisscrossed with goat trails where people cross the tracks illegally. They could be ticketed for trespassing, but the law is rarely enforced.

Use of the unauthorized trails contributes to the bluffs erosion, which occurs naturally and has threatened the coastal tracks in Del Mar for years.

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A bluff collapse in August came too close for comfort, and North County Transit District halted all trains for hours until inspectors determined it was safe to resume traffic.

Soon afterward, the transit district announced it would fence the railroad right-of-way to keep people off the bluffs and allow vegetation to grow as part of ongoing stabilization efforts.

Beachgoers were not happy.

I have used the access path at 7th Street for close to 40 years to safely reach the beach to surf my local breaks between 6th and 8th streets, Stratford Court resident Daniel Jensvold wrote in a letter to the Del Mar City Council.

This is the most critical issue facing the council, Jensvold said. Our beach access is the reason we live here  (and) a simplistic fencing proposal to satisfy safety and erosion issues is totally unacceptable.

An NCTD safety chief was unavailable to discuss the issue on Tuesday, but Del Mar found hope in the districts recent announcement that before installing any fencing it would complete a feasibility study and consider other alternatives.

Mayor Dwight Worden said the city hopes to collaborate with the transit district on its study.

Id hate to see a fence, Worden said. We may need to hire our own experts, do our own analysis and really stand our ground  to make sure all the options for safety are covered and not just fencing.

Most of the recent Del Mar bluff collapses have occurred between 9th and 11th streets, which are popular places to cross the tracks.

NCTD has completed three separate bluff stabilization projects in Del Mar since 1998 at a total cost of about $5 million, according to a recent district newsletter. In some areas, that included the installation of concrete, steel-reinforced piles, 3 feet in diameter and 50 feet deep on the west side of the tracks to increase slope stability.

Other efforts included the installation of additional storm drains and underground pipes to better control stormwater runoff, and sensors to monitor ground movement.

Del Mar formed a committee 20 years ago to look at locations where legal pedestrian crossings to the beach could be added. They agreed on four possible locations: the Torrey Pines State Reserve bridge at the citys southern border, Eighth Street, 11th Street, and 29th Street on the northern border.

Those suggestions were presented to NCTD at the time, said Councilman Dave Druker, who served on the committee. But the transit district said the city would have to pay for any new crossings, and the city didnt have the money, which ended the discussion.

Legal crossings are expensive. Federal transit authorities prefer overpasses or underpasses which carry huge planning and construction costs. At-grade crossings are considered less safe and are rarely approved.

This has been an issue that has concerned me for 20 years, Druker said Monday. It turns out that 11th Street is the most crossed area illegally on the track in the entire county. Thats a spot where we want to have a crossing.

A better solution would be to move the entire southern Del Mar segment of the railroad track east of the bluff, another idea that has been talked about for years.

That probably would require tunneling under portions of the city, with years of environmental studies followed by lengthy construction. Current estimates of the total costs are between $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion.

The alternate route is being considered by the areas regional planning agency, the San Diego Association of Governments, as part of long-term efforts to double-track the entire San Diego County coastal railway. More than half the route has been completed, and Del Mar could be the last piece with a single set of tracks because of the narrow bluff-top passage.

Del Mars 2.5-mile section of track carries 45 passenger trains and six freight trains a day, said Councilman Terry Sinnott, and those numbers are increasing.

We cant move the tracks immediately, but we should be moving the tracks eventually, Sinnott said.

The Del Mar section will become more of a bottleneck as train traffic increases, he said.

We cant rely on a single track segment that goes on an unstable bluff that is eroding more rapidly than ever, Sinnott said. From a transportation standpoint, we need to begin working right now to solve that problem.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
Top performers headed to San Diego this week include Wasted Penguinz, Carnage and Mark Farina.

11.29: Julien Baker + Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus

While the term super group is overused these days, theres just no other way to describe the potent combination of Baker, Bridgers and Dacus. The trio will release a six-song EP under the name Boygenius this month, but have already released three of the tracks early.

@ Observatory North Park, observatorysd.com

(Lera Pentelute)

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11.30: Wasted Penguinz

Swedish DJ duo Wasted Penguins (aka Jon Brandt-Cederhall and Ponutz Bergman) released their second album, Clarity, in 2016. But 2018 has been a busy year for the pair, as they have released four new singles so far  The Lights, Euphoria, Cant Stay and Augusts This Is The One with Adrenalize.

@ Bassmnt, bassmntsd.com

(Kasimir Szekeres )

11.30: Carnage

Guatemalan-born, L.A.-based producer and trap DJ Carnage (aka Diamante Blackmon) released his full-length debut, Papi Gordo, in 2015. After a couple of EPs, Blackmon followed it in August with his sophomore full-length, Battered Bruised & Bloody. The new album features appearances from Migos, Lil B, MadeinTYO, Mac Miller, Lockdown and more.

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com

11.30: Mark Farina

After performing at the Music Box in June, the veteran house DJ again teamed with producer Homero Espinosa on the new single, Your Fantasy, after releasing music with him earlier this year. Farina recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of his long-running Mushroom Jazz club nights and the acid jazz compilation series with the same name. Read more about Farina and his humble beginnings in Chicago, here.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com

12.1: Two Friends

L.A.-based DJ duo Two Friends (Matt Halper and Eli Sones) have remixed Steve Aoki, 3LAU, Audien, and more. After dropping their latest single, Bandaid, in June, Halper and Sones have seen their song remixed by Bad Color and Castion in recent months.

@ OMNIA, omnianightclub.com

Two Friends. (Courtesy photo)

12.1: DAY MVS

Petco Park provides the backdrop for this all-day, 21+ CRSSD event that features sets from Jai Wolf, Lane 8, Snakehips, Hotel Garuda, Kill Frenzy, Phantoms and more.

@ The Park at Petco Park, petcoparkevents.com

Jai Wolf. (Dash Grey)

12.1: Brockhampton

Back on the road after outing main rapper Ameer Vann amid multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, the self-professed boy band (aka Texas-based rap collective) seemingly hasnt missed a beat. Their September-released fourth album, Iridescence, debuted at the top spot of Billboards Top 200 Albums chart.

@ Valley View Casino Center, valleyviewcasinocenter.com

Brockhampton. (Ashlan Grey)

12.2: Old 97s Holiday Extravaganza

Bandleader Rhett Miller was here at the Soda Bar in March, but returns with his long-running band for this special Christmas-themed show. The group is winding down their 25th year together and released their 12th studio album, Love the Holidays, last month.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

Old 97s Holiday Extravaganza. (Will Byington Photography)

12.3: Dweezil Zappa

The torchbearer of the Zappa legacy has performed his fathers music as Zappa Plays Zappa for years, but recently has gone with his full name on the marquee. The Grammy-winning scion is still playing family tunes, however, and calls this tour Choice Cuts.

@ Belly Up, bellyup.com

12.4: Mac DeMarco

The singer/songwriter and current indie-rock class president released the demos to his 2017 third full-length album, This Old Dog, earlier this year. Although he usually performs with a band, this will be a solo set from the Canadian multi-instrumentalist.

@ Music Box, musicboxsd.com
The government of the United Arab Emirates said Monday that it has pardoned British academic Matthew Hedges, sentenced to life in prison for spying, and that he will be set free.

The announcement came after authorities showed journalists a video of Hedges purportedly saying he was a captain in British intelligence. The news conference was hastily called in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital.

Emirati authorities had come under increasing international pressure over Hedges life sentence, handed down last week.

According to the announcement, UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued the clemency for Hedges on Sunday, with hundreds of others. Authorities said Hedges will be allowed out of the country once procedures securing his release are complete.

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An Emirati official giving the news conference declined to take any questions from journalists.

In the video, Hedges, a 31-year-old doctorate student in Middle Eastern studies at Durham University, is seen describing himself as a captain in MI-6 during what appears to be a court hearing in the Gulf Arab country.

Another clip appears to show Hedges speaking to someone in an office and saying: It helps the research to go in in an easy way.

Then, Hedges is seen snapping his fingers and adds: Then it becomes MI-6.

Emirati officials did not allow journalists to record the video.
November 26, 1956 The San Diego Union

The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year.

Monday, November 26, 1956

In 1956, 11 firefighters  including seven inmates from the Viejas Honor Camp  lost their lives in the 43,611-acre Inaja Forest fire near Julian.

Those killed were U.S. Forest service employees Albert Anderson, Forrest Maxwell, and Carl Lingo, 19, a tank truck operator from Descanso, as well as Miles F. Daniels, William D. Pallin, George R. Garcia, Virgil L. Hamilton, Joseph Patrick O'Hara, Lonnie L. Shepherd, Joseph A. Tibbetts, and LeRoy Wehrung, an honor camp guard.

The deadly tragedy helped lead to the adoption of the Ten Standard Firefighting Orders, rules that changed how wildland fires are fought in America.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the story:

11 Killed As County Forest Blaze Traps Firefighters In Bed Of River

17 In Party Caught By Sudden Flareup In Eagle Peak Area

8 Prisoners From County Honor Camp Reported Dead; 33,000 Acres Blackened

By Alfred JaCoby and E.G. Martin

Eleven men fighting the Inaja forest fire in northeastern San Diego County burned to death last night when they were caught in a sudden flareup of flames about 8 p.m.

None of the dead had been identified early today.

Six other men fighting the fire managed to escape when the flames turned toward the party.

The flareup occurred two or three miles above the El Capitan Reservoir along the dry bed of the San Diego River near the Eagle Peak truck trail.

Walter Puhn, supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest, said first reports indicated eight of the dead men were prisoners of the countys Viejas Honor Camp who had been pressed into service as firefighters.

FOREST RANGERS

Two were U.S. Forest Service rangers from the Shasta-Trinity Forest in Northern California, Puhn said. These men had come here to help fight the fire.

The 11th man dead was believed to have been a ranger for the Cleveland National Forest, possibly from San Diego.

Puhn said the area was extremely rugged. It was in a section of the 33,000 acre fire that earlier had been believed under control.

Puhn said a radio message was received at the Pine Hills guard station, a firefighting camp, from one of the survivors. The message said the flames came up with lightning speed.

CORONER CALLED

The survivors were taken to the Pine Hills Fire station Puhn said. San Diego County Coroner Gallagher and Deputy Coroner McFadden were at the scene. The bodies were brought out to the guard station where they were examined for positive identification.

The tragedy came after more than 1,400 firefighters had fought the blaze since Saturday morning.

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.
Like a brisk walk after a gut-busting Thanksgiving dinner or a closet purge after a Black Friday or Cyber Monday spending spree, giving back on #GivingTuesday is a restorative tonic for all the excess that came before and an atonement for whatever mischief you might get into later.

Held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving  Nov. 27 this year  this global day dedicated to philanthropy is also a reminder that giving back is one of the most satisfying gifts you can give. To yourself.

Giving is everything, said Mia Roseberry, executive director and co-founder of Wounded Warrior Homes, a San Diego-based nonprofit that provides transitional housing to single post-9/11 veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I think there is something in our DNA that makes us want to give and to help others. It not only does something for the people you choose to support, it does something for your heart.

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The event was launched in 2012 by New Yorks 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. The idea was to use the power of social media  hashtags, postings, photos, likes and loves  to turn the Tuesday after Thanksgiving into the charitable equivalent of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

In 2017, #GivingTuesday raised more than $300 million online, a big jump over 2016s total of $177 million.

On #GivingTuesday, donors are encouraged to post their giving-back stories on social media, which helps make philanthropy feel like a group activity, rather than the solitary act of clicking a Donate button. It can also turn a one-day act of kindness into a giving-back habit.

We find that a lot of new donors come in on Giving Tuesday, said Barry La Forgia, executive director of San Diegos International Relief Teams, which provides food, medical supplies and other resources to poverty- and disaster-stricken areas here and around the globe.

Some of them we dont hear from again, but some of them have gotten to know our organization through Giving Tuesday, and then they support us regularly during the year. Giving Tuesday builds awareness.

In addition to amping up the donor-incentive part of the philanthropic equation, #GivingTuesday gives participating nonprofits a tool kit that includes social-media guides, planning timelines and promotional ideas to help raise their profiles on this high-traffic day.

Some organizations take advantage of the extra eyeballs by aiming the #GivingTuesday spotlight on special projects. Others sweeten the pot with matching grants. International Relief Teams is doing both.

All of the organizations #GivingTuesday proceeds will go to the Kids Kingdom orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico, which IRT began supporting in 2011. The local organization provides the funds for all of the orphanages food and education on a monthly basis. It pays for school uniforms, tuition, books and transportation for about 40 abused, abandoned and neglected children.

This year, #GivingTuesday donations to International Relief Teams will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000.

At the San Diego Foundation, the #GivingTuesday focus is on the foundations Needs-Based Scholarship Fund to help low-income, first-generation students get into college and stay there. And as they do year-round, the San Diego Foundation will be a clearinghouse for donors in search of more information about how and where to donate and how to make the most of their gifts.

Just hit the Donate button on the foundations website, and you can add your donation to the foundations pre-existing programs or funds, which are devoted to everything from arts and culture to the environment and youth and aging.

You can also donate to the many vetted local nonprofits that have funds with the foundation, including ARTS A Reason to Survive, ElderHelp, the Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Living Coast Discovery Center and the Words Alive Book Fund. Absolutely any amount is welcome.

We know that everyone wants to give back, but for some people, the challenge is how to do it, said Brian Zumbano,the San Diego Foundations vice president of development and stewardship. If you you have a dollar, you can give back. Any dollar amount you can give to a program at the foundation or anywhere can help.

And if you cant give money, #GivingTuesday is a reminder that your time and knowledge are invaluable, too. Think about the issues and communities that interest you and find out how you can give your time and expertise to organizations that support them.

People can donate their time on our work days, when we are doing repairs or yard cleanup at our houses. Even if you only have four hours, you can get a lot done, said Roseberry of Wounded Warrior Homes. Time and talent can help us. We can all give something somehow, and I think that is something we need to remember.

On #GivingTuesday, your options are as wide open as your heart.

Twitter: @karla_peterson

karla.peterson@sduniontribune.com
May now faces the tough task of selling the deal to a skeptical U.K. Parliament. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said now that the first phase was done, Britain and the EU needed to work for "an ambitious and unprecedented partnership." "Now is the time for everybody to take their responsibility -- everybody," he said.

He told reporters that deal was "the best possible," but the summit "is neither a time of jubilation nor of celebration. It's a sad moment, and it's a tragedy."

British Prime Minister Theresa May hailed the deal as the start of a new chapter for Britain, but European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the U.K.'s departure was a tragedy. "It's a sad day," Juncker said as he arrived.

At a summit in Brussels, the leaders were preparing to endorse a withdrawal agreement that would settle Britain's divorce bill, protect the rights of U.K. and EU citizens hit by Brexit and keep the Irish border open. They will also rubber-stamp a 26-page document laying out their aims for future relations after Britain leaves at midnight Brussels time March 29.

European Council President Donald Tusk says the European Union has approved a Brexit deal with Britain. Tusk tweeted that 27 EU leaders meeting in Brussels "endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future EU-U.K. relations."

In a bittersweet landmark, European Union leaders gathered Sunday and sealed an agreement on Britain's departure next year, the first time a member country will have left the 28-nation bloc.

 'Nobody Is Winning'

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the deal, the product of a year and a half of often grueling negotiations between Britain and the EU, was regrettable, but acceptable. "I believe that nobody is winning. We are all losing because of the U.K. leaving," Rutte said. "But given that context, this is a balanced outcome with no political winners."

The last big obstacle to a deal was overcome Saturday, when Spain lifted its objections over the disputed British territory of Gibraltar.

 EU, British Parliaments

The deal must still be ratified by the European Parliament, something parliament President Antonio Tajani said was likely in January. More dauntingly for May, it also needs approval from Britain's Parliament.

May is under intense pressure from pro-Brexit and pro-EU British lawmakers, with large numbers on both sides of the debate opposing the divorce deal and threatening to vote it down when it comes to the House of Commons next month. Brexiteers think it will leave the U.K. tied too closely to EU rules, while pro-Europeans say it will erect new barriers between Britain and the bloc, its neighbor and biggest trading partner.

May insists her deal delivers on the things that matter most to pro-Brexit voters -- control of budgets, immigration policy and laws -- while retaining close ties to the U.K.'s European neighbors. She plans to spend the next couple of weeks selling it to politicians and the British public before Parliament's vote in December.

 Working with 'Heart and Soul'

In a "letter to the nation" released Sunday, May said she would be "campaigning with my heart and soul to win that vote and to deliver this Brexit deal, for the good of our United Kingdom and all of our people."

"It will be a deal that is in our national interest, one that works for our whole country and all of our people, whether you voted 'Leave' or 'Remain,'" she said.

She said Britain's departure from the EU "must mark the point when we put aside the labels of 'Leave' and 'Remain' for good and we come together again as one people." "To do that we need to get on with Brexit now by getting behind this deal."
Being new on campus can be hard for any college or university student.

Imagine also being newly released from prison, unsure of your place at school or even in society, while trying to navigate class schedules, student benefits and graduation requirements.

The first month of college, I wanted to quit, said San Diego City College student Ryan Flaco Rising. Im super tatted up. Ive got tattoos all over the place, and I didnt feel like I belonged there.

Rising had enrolled at City College in 2016 after eight years in prison and said he stuck it out partly because of encouragement from an acquaintance at the UC Berkeley-based Underground Scholars Initiative, a support group for formerly incarcerated students.

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He soon discovered the very thing that made him uncomfortable on campus also helped him connect with other students.

I stand out because I have all these tattoos, he said. People were coming up to me and saying, Oh, you just got out? I just got out a few months ago, too. I started to recognize there was a lot of formerly incarcerated at the school.

Realizing there was strength in numbers, Rising and fellow student Maria Morales in 2016 founded the Urban Scholars Union, a City College support group for students who had been in prison. Since then, an Urban Scholars Union has opened at Southwestern College and a new one began holding meetings this semester at Miramar College.

Its exciting that schools are responding to this need and recognizing that this is an issue, said Miramar sociology professor Laura Pecenco, who has run the art program Project Paint for inmates at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay Mesa for five years.

It has been a shifting tide, said Pecenco, adding that the issue was discussed two years ago at the Senate of California Community Colleges. People are recognizing that we have to take a look at our criminal justice system and do something.

In a similar effort, the local nonprofit Inspired Innovation was launched last year by City College student Cierra Robinson. The off-campus nonprofit helps formerly incarcerated people interested in higher education navigate the college system and runs support groups for students already enrolled.

Besides the community college groups, the similar Project Rebound program is on its third year at San Diego State University under public affairs and criminal justice professor Alan Mobley.

Theres tremendous stigma with having a criminal record, said Mobley, who once was incarcerated.

Besides that stigma, formerly incarcerated students often are the first in their family to attend college and likely have a distrust of institutions, including school, Mobley said.

Even when support services are available, they tend to not go out and sign up because of past trauma and past experiences, he said.

With all those issues combined, formerly incarcerated students have a high risk of failing to complete their graduation requirements within a targeted time of four to six years, making the need for a support group even more pressing, Mobley said.

The university and community college groups have different roots and serve different populations, but share a similar mission. Both have weekly meetings where students offer one another practical and emotional support, and the groups recently got together for a screening of Life After Life, a documentary about men recently released from prison.

While the local groups are relatively new, the original Project Rebound was launched at San Francisco State University in 1967 by sociology and criminology professor John Irwin, who had earned college credits through a university extension program while serving five years in state prison in Soledad, Calif. in the 1950s.

The program has been credited with helping hundreds of formerly incarcerated students earn four-year degrees, and in 2016 Project Rebound expanded beyond San Francisco State University to San Diego State University, Fresno State University, Sacramento State University, Cal Poly Pomona and CSU Bakersfield, Fullerton and San Bernardino.

Mobley learned about Project Rebound in the 1990s when he met Irwin, who died in 2010.

The 90s were much different from today, Mobley said. A time where it was a tough law-and-order sentiment in society, where prisons were being built and were overcrowded.

That sentiment began to change with the realization that a high percentage of people coming into prisons were there for parole violations rather than new criminal offenses, Mobley said. Gradually, more focus was given to helping former inmates stay out of prison.

Symbolically, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger changed the name of the Department of Corrections to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in 2005.

Mobley, who had worked on substance-abuse treatment programs inside prisons, came to San Diego State in 2006 and soon began thinking of bringing Project Rebound to the school.

Ten years later, the program was launched at the university with two students, including one undergraduate who wore an electronic monitor on her ankle. Mobley said they told him they heard he was offering support to formerly incarcerated students, and they wanted to help.

From his experience working with prisoners, Mobley wasnt surprised by the offer.

Its very common among inmates that they want to give back to the community while theyre inside and when they get out, he said. Many prisoners want to mentor young people so youth can avoid the same type of mistakes they made in their lives.

Besides working with students on campus, Mobley also does outreach to jails and prisons in the SDSU service area to let prisoners know there is a program that could help shepherd them into higher education.

The outreach helps prisoners pick the right school, understand requirements needed to be accepted and fill out enrollment applications, he said.

At City College, students at a recent weekly Urban Scholars Union meeting discussed plans for an upcoming dinner and other events, while Rising told members of his plan to create a book with tips for future formerly incarcerated students at the school.

Student Amber Miller told other members what the group has meant to her during the meeting.

USU has held my hand when I didnt know what avenues to take, she said. When I first stepped on campus, I was in foreign territory.

Miller said Morales, Rising and other students were there to help her find resources. That help lead the once formerly homeless single mother to $10,000 in scholarships, which allowed her to move out of a shelter and into a home.

It seemed each member had some kind of resource and solution for each problem I was facing, said Miller, who will begin an internship as a substance-abuse counselor in January.

Barbara Lasure, vice president of Urban Scholars Union, refers to the organization as a family rather than a student club.

When I came here, I didnt have a voice, said Lasure. Id lost my family, every possession I owned, and basically I had been beaten down by society. But I refused to accept that anymore.

Returning to school in her 50s, Lasure said she began to wonder what she she gotten herself into when she first stepped on campus and saw so many young faces. She began to feel comfortable after joining the Urban Scholars Union.

I would have dropped out of school and just given up on even life if it hadnt been for this group, she said. Theyre constantly checking on me.

Lasure, who is planning to become a substance-abuse counselor, said the group has opened many doors for her and helped her in her personal and academic life.

First of all, I got my voice back, she said.

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
They trudged single file up a dirt trail to a hillside shoulder of open land in Rancho San Diego. It was a clear midweek morning, blue skies, with views to San Miguel Mountain and the Sweetwater Reservoir.

Nobody in the group of about 15 people admired the scenery.

Their heads were down, looking at a patch of parched coastal sage scrub where, if all goes well, 20 years of thinking, hoping and planning will take wing.

Two wings, actually. Theyre trying to save a tiny butterfly from extinction.

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Paige Howorth arrived carrying a large plastic bin filled with rice-sized Quino checkerspot caterpillars hatched in a lab at the San Diego Zoo, where she is curator of invertebrates.

Precious cargo, she said.

The caterpillars, tucked inside cones made from blue paper towels, rested in a state called diapause. Theyll sleep until the winter rains come and nature takes its course. The rain will prompt a small grass-like herb, California plantain, to sprout, and thats like a loud dinner bell to the insects. Theyll wake up to eat, fueling their metamorphosis into butterflies.

Thats the idea, anyway.

Howorth and her colleagues  scientists with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Conservation Biology Institute, the U.S. Geological Survey, and other agencies  have had some success with this approach on other nearby sites. But theres still much they dont know, and theyre constantly tweaking their methods and their equipment.

Howorth pulled the lid off the storage bin and gingerly removed a small plastic cup similar to what you would use for salsa at a take-out Mexican restaurant. Inside were several of the paper-towel cones, each holding a dozen or so caterpillars.

Using a pair of tweezers, she tucked the cones one by one into a softball-sized metal cage, or pod. When it was manufactured, the pod was painted red or green and sold as a seed-feeder for birds. Now it was a makeshift ark, lined with peat moss and painted beige to blend in with the shrubs.

Howorth kept the pod upright so the caterpillars wouldnt spill out of their cones. She put the lid on and wired it shut.

The first one is ready! she called out.

Canary in the coal mine

Why should we care about a butterfly with a wingspan of less than two inches? What difference does it make if it disappears?

The world would be less beautiful, for one thing. The Quino has dramatic markings, a checkerboard of orange, white and black on its wings that sometimes makes people mistake it for the larger and more famous Monarch butterfly.

And it plays an important role in the wild, pollinating plants and becoming meals for birds and reptiles. Butterflies react quickly to fluctuations in the environment, which is why scientists have long watched them as indicators for the overall health of an ecosystem, even more so now amid ongoing climate change.

We start losing insects and everything gets out of synch, said Susan Wynn, a Fish & Wildlife biologist. The Quino checkerspot is a canary in the coal mine.

The effort to save it comes amid what scientists have identified as the sixth wave of mass extinction in the Earths history and the first since the loss of the dinosaurs. Dozens of species disappear every day. Across the globe, groups are working to buck that trend.

Well into the 1970s, the Quino checkerspot was among the most abundant butterflies in Southern California, with a range that stretched from the coast near Ventura County, east to the Tehachapi Mountains, and south to northern Baja. Millions of them flitted about every spring.

Construction projects  houses, business parks, shopping malls, freeways  destroyed many of the habitats and fragmented others. Non-native plants choked off the vegetation used by the butterflies for shelter and feeding. Fire and drought worked their own mayhem.

Paige Howorth, in dark shirt, and other Quino team members prepare caterpillars for release. (Joanna Gilkeson/U.S. Fish & Wildlife)

By the late 1990s, about 75 percent of what the butterfly used to call home was gone. It disappeared from Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties, barely holding on in pockets of southwestern Riverside and southern San Diego counties.

The overall population fell an estimated 95 percent, and in 1997 the Quino was added to the federal endangered species list.

Around the same time, Wynn and other scientists were assessing the environmental impacts of what would become state Route 125, the north-south highway that runs from Otay Mesa to Santee.

Among the species directly affected was the Quino checkerspot. It lived along the freeway route in Otay Mesa, one of just six places in the county where it was then known to exist.

To offset the loss of that site, a mitigation program was adopted that included raising caterpillars in captivity, restoring habitat, and developing a management plan to keep the Quino population from dwindling further.

In took two decades to put everything in place  the funding, the land, the science  but thats what brought the group to the hillside in Rancho San Diego earlier this month.

Sleepy caterpillars

Wynn walked over to where Howorth was sitting and reached down for the beige pod and its cargo of Quino caterpillars.

She took it to a buckwheat plant several yards away and knelt to get close to the ground. Using strands of wire, she attached the pod to the plant on two sides to keep it from tipping over.

John Martin, another Fish & Wildlife biologist, arrived with a second pod and secured it to another branch of the same plant.

The pods protect the caterpillars from lizards and birds until its time to emerge, which they do by crawling through small openings in the sides.

The buckwheat where Wynn and Martin had tucked the pods was chosen because of its proximity to patches of plantain, the annual herb that is the meal of choice for the caterpillars.

As the other pods were being put in place  35 of them on this day  Spring Strahm, an ecologist with the Conservation Biology Institute, pulled out handmade laminated signs to be attached to the buckwheat, too.

Sleepy caterpillars, the signs read. Please do not disturb.

In the middle of each sign is a drawing of a caterpillar wearing a night cap. It looks like it was done by a child, which is intentional, Strahm said. Experience has shown that signs drawn by children are less likely to be removed by vandals.

Vandals?

They may turn out to be a problem at this release site, one of four in the 12,000-acre San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Its right next to a trail. There are broken bottles and other human debris nearby.

The Quino team arrived to find that small flags stuck in the ground days earlier to pinpoint where the pods should go had been yanked out of the ground.

Martin suspected the culprit was someone mistakenly believing that the flags belonged to a surveyor marking the boundaries for a new house.

There was no way to know for sure, though, which didnt seem to bother anybody. Theyre used to uncertainty.

Two years ago, when they released the first group of caterpillars, we were taking a big leap of faith, Wynn said  faith that was rewarded when a strong rainy season led to hundreds of butterflies flying around.

We were giddy, Wynn said.

Some of the butterflies were captured and taken to the zoo to deliver more eggs  so many eggs, 5,100, that the team added additional sites for last years caterpillar release. Everyone was eager for another, even larger bounty.

But the winter was dry, and there were hardly any butterflies this spring.

The good news is that Quino checkerspots have the ability to remain in diapause for longer than a year if they sense the conditions arent right to emerge. That, apparently, is what most of them did. They could still take flight.

Fingers crossed

The scientists were optimistic as they came back down from the hillside last week. A new batch of caterpillars was in place, another step in the process of creating a core population that can survive the boom-and-bust cycles that are a part of nature.

In the coming weeks, the pods will be monitored regularly to make sure no vandalism or other problems have occurred.

Wynn was smiling as she made her way to the cars. In her job as a government biologist, she spends a lot of time in meetings, sitting at tables with developers, lawyers, and city planners. This was not like that.

Were outdoors, putting a plan into action that weve worked hard on for a long time, she said.

Like the others, she had her fingers crossed, figuratively if not literally.

Fingers crossed for good rainfall, and for plentiful plantain, and for a spring full of winged wonder.

Now, she said, we wait.

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
A pokey, pudgy three-person submarine will soon go on display in San Diego, and people who peer through its hatch are likely to ask:

Do scientists really explore the ocean in that?

The observatory on the deep submergence vehicle Alvin is barely six-feet wide. The portholes are about the size of dinner plates. Theres no central heating, no kitchen, and no bathroom.

But in the age of marine robotics, scientists still jockey for the right to descend miles deep in Alvin, one of the few vehicles in the world that lets people directly examine the life and landscape of the deep blue sea.

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Its the old school way to explore, and Lisa Levin gets rhapsodic when describing what shes observed through the subs little windows.

You see a fantasy land with Dr. Seuss-type animals, said Levin, a marine ecologist at UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography. There are bushes of tube worms 10-feet long, and yeti crabs that dance and wave.

If somebody put those in a storybook, nobody would believe it.

Lillian McCormick, a doctoral student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, recently descended 1,351 feet in the ocean off Costa Rica in the mini-submarine Alvin.

The image is fresh in her mind; Levin is one of eight Scripps scientists and students whove recently taken trips in Alvin, helping push the sub toward its 5,000th dive, a milestone that it reached on Nov. 25.

Researchers will celebrate the achievement on Dec. 22 when Alvin is put on public display for the day at the B Street Pier in San Diego. Later on, the sub will enter a Bay area shipyard for upgrades in preparation for the 2019 dive season, which includes an expedition off California.

Alvin is owned by the Navy operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Massachusetts, which has overhauled and improved the sub many times since it entered service in the mid-1960s.

It has done nothing to make Alvin more glamorous. Collectively, the subs titanium sphere, two hydraulic arms and boxy super structure is reminiscent of a 1950s sci-fi movie.

But scientists from throughout the world have used it for decades, often with spectacular results.

The self-propelled sub, which moves about as fast as people walk, proved that researchers could safely plumb the deep ocean, opening a window on one of the least understood regions of the Earth.

Scripps postdoctoral researcher Natalya Gallo takes notes while descending more than a mile deep off Costa Rica in the research submarine Alvin. (Courtesy of Natalya Gallo)

Alvin also showed that much of the seafloor is filled with exotic forms of life, and that it is dotted with breathtaking structures, including a 15-story geologic chimney off Washington state that was given the name Godzilla.

The sub helped prove that continents move, or drift. And in 1977, a Scripps graduate student directed Alvin to a spot at the bottom of the Pacific where observers discovered enormous worms that appeared to be living without the benefit of sunlight.

It was eventually shown that the worms draw life from chemical energy, not sunlight  giving science quite a jolt.

Alvin has had comparatively few safety issues along the way, although its had its moments.

The sub was accidentally dropped in the ocean and sank without its crew. It briefly got wedged in a crack on the seafloor. Its electricity has gone out, leaving the crew in the dark. It was jostled by an earthquake. And its been struck by big creatures, notably a swordfish and a marlin.

(Left-to-right) Postdoc Natalya Gallo, doctoral candidate Lillian McCormick, Masters student Olivia Pereira, and marine ecologist Lisa Levin recent made dives in Alvin. (Gary Robbins/UnionTribune)

The simple experience of descending in Alvin can be nerve-wracking  and thrilling  as the Union-Tribune learned by talking to Levin and three other Scripps aquanauts: postdoctoral researcher Natalya Gallo, doctoral candidate Lillian McCormick, and Olivia Pereira, who is seeking her Masters degree.

All four women used Alvin to study methane seeps off Puntarenas, Costa Rica, during dives that lasted 9 to 10 hours.

Gallo tossed and turned the night before she descended 6,256 feet.

My primal brain and my rational brain battled it out, Gallo said. I ended up practicing things in my head: You walk up the stairs, wave, get in the hatch, fill out your data sheets.

Once I actually got in the sphere, I wasnt worried.

Scripps Masters degree student Olivia Pereira had to bundle up during her dive in Alvin. The temperature in the passenger sphere drop to 45-50 degrees during deep dives. (Courtesy of Olivia Pereira)

Pereira was more nervous as Alvin dove 3,307 feet. She recalls thinking, Is this really happening? I dont know what Im doing here. When I saw the bottom I thought it was fake.

But I ended up completely fine. I enjoyed it.

McCormick, who descended 1,351 feet, had a different concern, saying, I was worried about collecting the correct science and taking notes well enough so that other people could use them.

I was not worried that Alvin was going to implode.

The ocean fades to darkness when the battery-powered sub goes deep. But through the portholes, you often can see bioluminescent organisms that emit their own light.

You look through the tiny little windows and the only thing you see are these beautiful sparks, Gallo said. At that point, youre enraptured with the experience.

Theres little sense of motion during descent. But you know youre going down.

You feel it getting colder and colder and colder, Gallo said. The cold radiates inward, through the windows.

Alvin drops to where the ocean is about 35 degrees. The subs interior falls to the 45 to 50 degree range. Typically, Alvins pilot and two observers huddle under blankets and work by the glow of video screens and electronics.

I get very cold, said Levin, a veteran of 53 Alvin dives. By the end Im wearing a wool hat, a scarf, leggings under my jeans, a blanket, about three sweaters. I look like I just came out of the Arctic.

But oh the view through those five portholes.

You dont think of the deep sea as having structure, McCormick said. But we went over this small ridge and, all of a sudden, you could see these huge mattes of bacteria. It was incredible.

Gallo said, I looked out the window and realized how much I had been missing by just looking at the deep ocean on video cameras from (unmanned) submersibles.

Levin smiled and said,I see different things on every dive and I know Im looking at species that no one has ever seen before, or that havent been described, and that we wont be able to describe them all.

Its important that we realize what an amazing world it is down there.
If the sidewalks arent the citys job, what is?

Re San Diego may require property owners to fix damaged sidewalk before they can sell (Nov. 18): While I dont believe government should have an unending list of responsibilities, fixing sidewalks should be one of them.

In most localities sidewalks are located in the public right-of-way and are maintained by the local government. Many governments have a yearly funding plan for sidewalk repair. In addition, where I lived previous to San Diego, residents could submit work orders when they noticed unsafe sidewalk conditions. This was a help to the locality so it could address the very issues that are resulting in large legal costs to San Diego.

Even if home owners wanted to fix a sidewalk the cost to fix one area would be extremely expensive as compared to a yearly contract that could be secured by the government or by using city personnel. I would also suggest homeowners verify their property lines as generally sidewalks are not on private property so requiring owners to fix sidewalks they dont own may not be legal.

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Adrian Fremont

Downtown

Sidewalk repair should be paid for by the city

I am a believer in the idea that property taxes should be a local tax only, and limited to financing public services to owners of property.

With that in mind, what is the problem in your article on repairing sidewalks? I should think the cost would come from the property tax, and automatically finance city repairs without asking the property owners.

Saul Harmon Gritz

Hillcrest

City must work with, not against, citizens

I received a notice to fix my sidewalk and when I found someone for the project it was going to cost about $9,000 just for the permit to do the work.

Permit? Why dont they just let a person fix the problem? Needless to say my pavement is still a danger to my neighbors and a lawsuit risk for me  but I dont have money to donate to the citys bureaucracy. My tax payments (which are always paid on time, with no regrets) have already served that purpose.

This is sad and unnecessary because there are people available to me who can fix the problem. This situation cements a feeling Ive had for a long time: our city desperately needs to be more citizen friendly.

Ernie McCray

San Diego

City should warn pedestrians that they are on their own

Here is a simple solution for the citys sidewalk problem. Post signs saying Pick up your feet. If you trip and fall, pick yourself up and continue on.

P.S. No devices with wheels allowed, except wheelchairs and walkers.

Allen Stanko

Alpine

Letters and commentary policy

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The Christmas miracle returns! Kicking off its second year of holiday festivity, Polite Provisions hosts Miracle on 30th, a Christmas pop-up bar guaranteed to get locals in the spirit. Launched Nov. 23 and running through Dec. 24, the annual event known for vintage decor, clever cocktails, and kitschy glassware is shared with prominent bars around America and world, including locations from Los Angeles to London.

We caught up with bartender Elliott Mizuki between shifts to find out more about this years Miracle, new goodies to try, and his favorite gift for cocktail lovers.

PACIFIC: How many bars are involved in the Miracle pop-up this year? Is Polite Provisions the only one in San Diego?

ELLIOTT MIZUKI: (Polite Provisions is) one of 82 bars worldwide doing the Miracle popup this year. Its been growing every year, with last year having 50 bars worldwide. Last year was our first year doing Miracle and are excited to participate again this year being the only bar in San Diego to do it.

Inside Polite Provisions during Miracle on 30th. (Courtesy photo)

Whats old favorites are returning this year?

The Christmapolitan and Snowball Old Fashioned will be making a return this year, which were two of our top sellers from last year. The Chrismapolitan combines vodka, St. Germain, dry vermouth, a house-made spiced cranberry sauce and fresh lime with an absinthe rinse. The Snowball Old Fashioned is a spirit-forward cocktail with bourbon, a house-made gingerbread syrup and wormwood bitters.

Whats new and exciting on the menu this year?

We have nine new cocktails this year. Two of the drinks that will shine are the Partridge In A Pear Tree with reposado tequila, mezcal, pear liqueur, ginger, brown sugar, Peruvian and Angostura bitters. The other one projected to sell well is the Gingerbread Flip with bonded bourbon, East India sherry, housemade gingerbread syrup and a whole egg with nutmeg and cookie crumbs garnish.

Miracle on 30th Street. (Melissa Hom)

Who invents the drinks?

This menu was sent to us through Cocktail Kingdom in New York and every bar puts their own twist on the drinks submitted to us.

Favorite cocktail on the list?

My personal favorite is a holiday inspired Mai Tai called the Yippi Ki Yay Mothef**ker. It combines a sweet potato-infused white rum, overproof rum, Jamaican rum, with marshmallow orgeat, house curacao, and fresh lime. Its a perfect blend of tropical, rich and earthy. Basically a holiday-tiki wet dream.

Best Christmas present for a cocktail lover?

Oh man. Where to start? I always love when someone gives me a new book. I love to pour myself something neat, sit down, and nerd out on cocktails. Im currently devouring the Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald and Dave Kaplan, which came out last month. Its a great read that blends spirits history, cocktail knowledge, and ethos when trying to create your own cocktails, as well as many classic cocktail recipes and originals.

The outside of Polite Provisions during Miracle on 30th. (Courtesy photo)

Best thing about the holidays in San Diego?

As cliche as this sounds, going to the beach and watching the sunset has been a holiday tradition for me. Its 70 and sunny on Dec. 25? Why not grab yourself the best box of wine that Wal-Mart or your local liquor store offers and enjoy that sunset with a friend  remember no glass on the beach. San Diego is a magical and unconventional city with lots of transplants from all over the world, everyone has their own traditions and beliefs, but its also a tight-knit community, and this community loves the beach.

Festive glassware will also be on sale during the event with 10% of sales going to Action Against Hunger. To view other locations around the world, visit miraclepopup.com/locations-2018

Miracle on 30th Street

When: 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday

Where: Polite Provision, 4696 30th St., North Park
A group of about 100 people trying to illegally cross the border Sunday near the San Ysidro port of entry threw rocks and bottles at U.S. Border Patrol agents, who responded by using pepper spray and other means to force the crowd back into Mexico, federal officials said.

The incident has raised concerns among advocates on both sides of the immigration debate, as well as Border Patrol representatives.

Immigrant-rights groups in San Diego said they didnt know beforehand about the plan to rush the border, and they worry that desperation is driving homeless deportees to make a bold bid to rejoin their families in the United States.

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Border-security groups see this situation as evidence that the border remains unsecured, something they said should be fixed before Congress considers proposals to grant legal status to unauthorized immigrants.

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And Border Patrol representatives worry that Sundays confrontation could be a political protest, which they said agents want to avoid  especially when it involves the potential for loss of life.

The incident occurred about a quarter-mile west of the San Ysidro border crossing in the Tijuana River channel. No one was seriously injured, no shots were fired and no arrests were made, said Mary Beth Caston, a Border Patrol spokeswoman.

The group first approached a lone agent stationed about 1/8 of a mile north of the border. They ignored his commands to stop, so he fired pepper balls to try to stop them and protect himself, Caston said.

As the crowd kept advancing and throwing rocks and bottles, she said, more agents came to the scene and used other intermediate use-of-force devices to push back the group. The agents also contacted Mexican law enforcement.

Tijuanas top police officer, Public Safety Secretary J. Alberto Capella, said There is no information that we can provide. He referred questions to the U.S. Border Patrol.

The spokesman for Tijuana police, Rafael Morales, said the agencys officers did not intervene and had no knowledge of the incident.

Caston said several agents were struck in the arms and legs with rocks, and that one agent was hit in the head with a filled water bottle.

While attacks on Border Patrol agents are not uncommon, the agents showed great restraint when faced with the dangers of this unusually large group, and fortunately no one was serious injured, said Paul Beeson, San Diego sector chief for the Border Patrol.

The agency did not specify the time of Sundays incident.

This type of rush on the border has not been seen since the late 1980s and early 90s, when groups of border-crossers would run into the U.S. while agents tried to apprehend as many people as possible. The practice mostly disappeared after Operation Gatekeeper began in 1994 and brought with it tall fences, walls and more agents.

If it was a protest, it was a really stupid way to go about it because there were individuals who started throwing rocks and other projectiles, said Shawn Moran, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council. Its not the right venue; agents do not enact legislation, dont write laws or write polices. If protesters want to address Congress and try to change laws, so be it.

Local border-security advocates were on edge Monday about the incident.

Obviously, these attempted mass crossing and attacks on our border agents show that our border is not secure, said Jeff Schwilk of the San Diegans for Secure Borders Coalition. All the talk in Washington this year of another amnesty for 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants is just encouraging more desperate foreigners to enter our country illegally.

Immigrant-rights advocates said they doubt the mass rush was organized.

Christian Ramirez, human rights director for the Southern Border Communities Coalition, said he does not believe the move could have been a strategic protest. He views it as an act of desperation on the part of deportees who have been pushed to live around the river in makeshift camps or those who are set up in other migrant camps in the city.

These are deportees who face the most challenging situations, he and other immigrant advocates said. Many do not speak Spanish, have no roots in Mexico, have criminal records or tattoos and cannot find jobs or get registered in Mexico. Most are homeless and live in makeshift camps that have sprouted up in and around the river.

The incident raises questions again about how Border Patrol responds in such situations and if it adheres to its use-of-force policies. The agency has not released its policies despite numerous requests to do so after several high profile deaths.

Because of the growing instances in which Border Patrol has been involved in this sort of use-of-force that its important for the agency to be transparent, Ramirez said. To report to the public exactly what went on and to report what weapons were used.

Advocates acknowledge the restraint agents used under the circumstances but they still have concerns given the agencys recent decision to continue to use deadly force against rock throwers. This despite an outside review that recommended the agency rethink that approach.

On Monday, a group of congressional members sent a letter to the agency asking for more clarity regarding use-of-force policies.

Staff writer Sandra Dibble contributed to this story.
Battle of Midway could have a very different life right now.

If his stud career had worked out as his owners hoped, the champion of the 2017 Breeders Cup Dirt Mile would be grazing on grass in Kentucky, waiting for his next date to arrive.

He wasnt the most fertile of suitors, however, and in a sport always in need of some older heroes, Battle of Midway is delivering again in an impressive comeback.

In his second appearance on the Del Mar track after capturing his Breeders Cup title here last November, the 4-year-old trained by Jerry Hollendorfer faced only two other challengers in the $100,000 Grade III Native Diver Stakes on Sunday. It became a virtual match race between him and the Bob Baffert-trained Dabster.

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It was a dramatic duel over 1 1/8 miles, with favored Battle of Midway ($3.20) keeping a stalking pace with Dabster before overtaking him in the stretch. They strode powerfully together, with Battle of Midway and jockey Flavien Prat winning by a neck at the wire.

Baffert (Roman Rosso), John Sadler (Gift Box) and Phil DAmato (Kershaw) each scratched horses from the race, and DAmatos one starter, Isotherm, was basically a spectator, finishing 26 lengths out of second.

It was a pleasingly good day for the 72-year-old Hollendorfer, who won three races in the card and doubled down in stakes when his highly touted 2-year-old, Flying Scotsman, cruised to victory in the Grade III $100,000 Cecil B. DeMille at 1 mile on turf.

Its been a while since Ive done that, Hollendorfer, the winner of 35 Del Mar stakes, said of the days hat trick, which put him at eight wins for the fall meet  four behind leader Peter Miller.

The Battle of Midway return just keeps getting better.

After the Breeders Cup triumph, the horse was retired by Don Alberto Stable to stud in Versailles, Ky., at WinStar Farm. His owners were to receive $20,000 for every live foal, but of the 60 mares he was bred with, only five produced foals. Testing concluded that Battle of Midway was missing a gene to fertilize the eggs.

For me and everyone in our stable, its going perfectly, Hollendorfer said of the comeback. Im sorry the horse didnt come through in his stallion venture, but as far as our stable goes, its been going good for us.

Describing the colt as very laid back around the barn, but also businesslike, Hollendorfer said he saw no hesitation from him after the cushy time off.

He was the same any horse coming off a layoff, Hollendorfer said. We liked to jog him quite a bit. We got him galloping and working. He was telling us with his works how he wants to do it. When he was ready, we had him ready just in time to run him.

The winner of four races in nine career starts before his retirement, Battle of Midway made his return on Aug. 25 at Del Mar and was second to Catalina Cruiser in the Grade II Pat OBrien. He was shipped to Belmont and ran fifth in the Grade II Kelso, then returned to California and won the $78,000 Comma to the Top at Santa Anita on Oct. 28.

Hollendorfer said Battle of Midway likely would be pointed to the Grade II San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

In the DeMille, Hollendorfers favored Flying Scotsman ($4) faced four others horses, with all the starters having won a single race.

The trainer spoke highly of his horse, owned by Calumet Farm, since its debut with a third-place finish at 5 furlongs on Aug. 8 at Del Mar. In a second start at a mile on Sept. 29 at Santa Anita, Flying Scotsman beat Omaha Beach by a nose.

The DeMille wasnt as close, with Flying Scotsman and Prat beating Richard Baltas Rijeka by 4 lengths.

Notable

Drayden Van Dyke won the second (Perfectly Majestic, $5.20), fifth (Lucky Student, $5.40) and seventh (Qahira, $4.60) to have a meet-leading 15 wins, with Prat trailing by two.

tod.leonard@sduniontribune.com

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tod.leonard@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutleonard


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The South Korean government held a working-group meeting with U.S. officials in Washington D.C. last Tuesday and promised to conduct the survey in a manner that does not violate sanctions against the North.

The UNSC's sanctions committee on North Korea, which made the decision, consists of 15 member nations and a unanimous decision is required for an exception.

The UN Security Council has given South Korea the green light to survey sections of North Korea's railroads that are to be connected with the South. The exemption from international sanctions applies only to the survey, not actual repairs until North Korea scraps its nuclear weapons.

The measure is thought to be a nudge to get North Korea to resume high-level talks with the U.S., which Pyongyang called off on Nov. 8. "The U.S. found it hard to refuse a railroad survey that an ally was seeking," a diplomatic source in Washington said. It "appears to have allowed the survey to draw North Korea back to the negotiating table."

Seoul believes it can wrap up the survey by the end of this year if it gets started within this month. But actual work to modernize the decrepit railways will have to wait.

South Korea will start negotiations with North Korea this week over the scheduling. A government source said, "It should be possible to start the joint survey this week." Oil and other supplies necessary for the survey can now be brought into North Korea despite the sanctions. That includes equipment containing more than 10 percent of U.S. components. Seoul hopes to wrap up the survey in two to three weeks.

Cheong Wa Dae welcomed the decision, but it suggests that inter-Korean projects require U.S. approval at each stage.

The UN Command, which is headed by the U.S. Forces Korea commander, refused to authorize the survey in late August. The Unification Ministry said at the time that survey should not be subject to sanctions, but continued problems in gaining approval prompted it to seek UNSC authorization.

Shin Beom-chul at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies said, "The survey of inter-Korean railway projects and the following ground-breaking ceremony are not huge violations of sanctions and could have begun if there had been prior consultation with the U.S. But the U.S. will increase its calls for denuclearization if the project is to progress to the next stage."
A fire at a local office of telecom provider KT on Saturday morning caused hundreds of thousands of mobile phone and Internet service users to suffer outages. Half of telecom cables buried 4 m under the surface and stretching 150 m were burnt, and 2,833 relay stations in central and western Seoul and 215,000 users suffered stoppages, especially in the trendy Hongik University and Myeong-dong areas, on Saturday and Sunday.



People queue to use payphones in Seoul on Saturday.

For the first time in many years long lines of people formed in front of public telephone booths at Sinchon and Hongik University subway stations, while people unable to pay for services and goods because credit card terminals became useless had to line up in front of ATMs. Subway storage lockers, parking lot gates and other facilities connected wirelessly were rendered useless. Park Jong-won (26), a university student in Mapo said, "I couldn't contact my girlfriend because of the stoppage. I felt like I had flown back to the analogue age." Some effects were serious. Police said some emergency hotlines were unreachable due to the stoppage and the problem lasted until Sunday afternoon. Lee Yoon-ho at Dongguk University said, "The problem is that the public was unable to make emergency calls. This could have led to serious consequences."

KT's underground telecom cables are burned out in Seoul on Saturday.

KT has decided to waive one month of fees for affected customers. A KT staffer said users who do not live in the affected areas but happened to be staying there could also be compensated. KT is also apparently considering additional compensation for around 170,000 affected businesses, but there are no clauses in contracts obliging it to do so. The mobile provider said it had fixed about 97 percent of Internet connections and some 63 percent of the mobile network as of Sunday evening but it will take a couple of days until complete recovery.
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/26/2018 -- Adiponitrile or hexanedinitrile is a colorless organic liquid compound. It finds its major application as a precursor for polymer nylon 6-6 which is known for its high mechanical strength and hence finds an array of applications including conveyor belts, carpet fibers, and electro-insulating elements amongst others. Adiponitrile also finds its application, though to a much smaller extent as an intermediate for synthesis of corrosion inhibitors and rubber accelerators. The major market for adiponitrile is governed by its application in Nylon6-6 whose demand continues to sore across North America and Europe primarily due to automotive applications. Also the market for adiponitrile finds upward trend in Asia pacific countries like China, Malaysia and other south-east Asian countries chiefly due to availability of cheaper production facilities.



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Adiponitrile is largely prepared by most common industrial route which was revealed by Dupont involving nickel-catalyzed hydrocyanation of butadiene. This process involves series of sub-products to finally produce adiponitrile as the outcome. Adiponitrile is then hydrogenated to produce hexamethylenediamine which is a vital component of Nylon6-6. Nylon 6-6 is prime substitute for Nylon 6 which finds applications requiring fittings in automotive applications, strings for musical instruments, ropes and tire cords. However Nylon 6-6 has better properties in high temperature applications and hence makes in suitable over nylon 6 in various applications. The major applications which necessitate high temperature and strength include that of carpet manufacturing, hosiery and knitted garments (textile sector), tire ropes, gear wheels, plug parts, hydraulic brake lines and radiator housings for automotive industry. As Nylon 6-6 is light in weight and waterproof in nature it makes it appropriate for swim-wear. Adiponitrile is also used in production of adipic acid which is used in polyurethane applications like auto seating, footwear, thermal insulation amongst others. However adipic acid can be cheaply manufactured by other ways making adiponitrile a weaker option for this segment.



Almost all the adiponitrile goes into production of Nylon 6-6 fiber and hence requirement of Nylon 6-6 drives the market. As Nylon 6-6 finds wide array of applications in manufacturing and automotive sector, growth of these sectors would fuel the need of adiponitrile. The requirement in this sector is largely dominated by the U.S., followed by developing countries like China and Malaysia. The requirement of Nylon 6-6 resin grows wider across Europe and the U.S. as a major engineering resin; this would enhance market for adiponitrile. The tyre-cord requirement would continue to grow as the automotive segment seems to grow at steady pace across Asia-pacific countries and developed countries. This makes the market for adiponitrile even more lucrative. Application for carpets, rugs and clothing fibers which belong to textile sector are likely to continue the growth owing to strengthening in textile industry. This will certainly act as a major driver in the requirement for adiponitrile in near future. However this market faces a stiff price competition due to cut-throat price rivalry and hence the major players in this segment are shifting their production sites to Asia-pacific countries. This has propelled to a large extent demand in China which would even advance further with tyre-cord requirement.



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Some of the key participants in the adiponitrile market include Dupont, Solvay, Rhodia group, Invista,BASF, Lyondellbasell Industries, LG Chem, Ineos, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Braskem, Evonik Industries, The dow chemical company, JSR Corporation, Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Basic Industries Corporation amongst others.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/26/2018 -- Assisted living technologies deal with improving quality of life with the help of a group of service providers. This group is responsible for providing personal services, round the clock supervision, and assistance in the area of health care related services. With the onset of Medicare and Medicaid, there is beginning of long term service delivery which consists of nursing care at home facilities. In order words, assisted living technologies is an integration of standalone assisted technologies with elements of smart home and telehealth services.



Assisted technology services deal with information and communication technologies which are used for diagnosis, treatment, consultations, and patient education. The European Union funded project SOPRANO (Service-Oriented Programmable Smart Environments for Older Europeans) is a renowned international consortium consisting of corporations, service providers, academic institutions, and partners with countries such as Greece, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Ireland, and Canada. The Cambridge Assisted Living Technologies (Cambridge ALT) is developed with the aim of encouraging older people to live in their own homes for a longer duration.



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Also, students of EPSRC Center for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sensor Technologies and Application have developed an innovative platform for technology with an aim to revolutionize home care for older citizens. The basic activities included in assisted living technologies are 24*7 home care service for protection, emergency service, inclusion of three meals daily, encouragement of social gatherings, continuous supervision for physical or mentally disabled individuals, facilities such as housekeeping, and maintenance and transportation.



The global assisted living technologies market is driven by increase in aging population, innovation in technology, and rise in awareness among the population. Life expectancy of people has increased in the last decade. This has led to a large population above reproducible age. The ability of a person to work and carry out daily activities decreases with age. Hence, rise in geriatric population has led to increase in demand for using assistance for many activities.



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According to the National Institute of Aging, in 2010, 8% of the world's population, about 524 million, was aged 65 years or older. Between 2010 and 2050, the geriatric population in less developed countries is projected to increase by more than 250% as compared to 71% in the developed countries. With increasing age, there is increasing in incidence of chronic diseases leading to hospitalization and thus will require assistance at hospitals or at home care facilities. However, high cost associated with these technologies and budget constraints are the major restraints of the global assisted living technologies market.



The global assisted living technologies market can be segmented into devices used in residence and devices used at institutions. In terms of region, the global market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe are highly potential markets for assisted living technologies.



Awareness among the population, government investment in improving the quality of life, increase in disposable income, advancement is technologies and technological knowhow by citizens in the country are major factors contributing to the growth of the assisted living technologies market in these regions. Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa are emerging markets for assisted living technologies due to slow growth of technology, lesser disposable income, and less awareness.



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Key players in the global assisted living technologies market are Assisted Living Technologies, Inc., CareTech AB, Chubb Community Care, GreenPeak Technologies BV, Koninklijke Philips N.V., OBS Medical Ltd., Possum Ltd., Telbois, TeleAlarm S.A., Tunstall Healthcare Ltd., Tyco Security Products, and Tynetec, among others.



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Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/26/2018 -- According to MarketsandMarkets analysis, the Power Sunroof Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.81% from 2017 to 2025, to reach USD 11.60 billion by 2025.The advancements in glass technology and increasing consumer preference towards power sunroof are leading to the increased penetration of power sunroof in automobiles. Additionally, factors such as growing need to control light inside vehicle, growing demand for premium vehicles, and greater glass surface area in automobiles are driving the growth of the power sunroof market.

Consumers now expect an increasingly high level of comfort in their cars. As the automotive industry is becoming increasingly competitive, vehicle manufacturers are using power sunroofs and other roof systems such as semi-convertible roof to help differentiate the product offerings to customers. The continuous advancement in automotive technologies due to heavy investment in research and development by auto manufacturers worldwide is the major factor responsible for the expected growth of power sunroof market. The consistent increase in the demand for premium segment passenger vehicles and integration of comfort features are further anticipated to boost the growth of power sunroof market.



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Europe is estimated to lead the power sunroof market, by value, in 2017. It is followed by North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). The region is a hub for automotive giants and premium vehicles. Germany houses the largest automotive industry in Europe and is home to major automobile manufacturers such as Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, and Daimler. The current demand for luxury cars is high in countries such as Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, and France. Moreover, Germany is the hub of technological innovations of several OEMs, thereby encouraging the substantial market growth of luxury vehicles. Additionally, the players started expanding their plants to strengthen their presence in Europe. For example, Webasto expanded its sunroofs and panorama roofs plant in the Romanian city of Arad, and Inteva opened its second manufacturing facility in Oradea, Romania, for producing roof systems.



PANORAMIC SUNROOF: HIGHEST GROWTH IN POWER SUNROOF MARKET



Panoramic sunroof is a multi-panel sunroof that offers openings above both the front and rear seats. Its glass panel can be fixed or operable. It is designed to cover more of the roof than other sunroofs do. It allows passengers in both the front and rear seats to enjoy the benefits of fresh air and sunlight. The advancements in glass technology has made panoramic sunroof more practical. It is expected to lead the power sunroof market by 2022 as it filters out ultraviolet rays and reduces heat load, lowering the demand for air-conditioning systems. For example, the Octavia comes with panoramic sunroof with tinted glass, which is electronically operated and features a bounce-back system.



The new SLC 300 roadster vehicle features the magic sky control panoramic sunroof which uses SPD (Suspended Particle Device) smart glass technology. It becomes more important when a car uses large surface areas of glass, especially in warm climates. It also makes the front and rear passengers more comfortable and creates a safe and efficient travel environment. Other benefits include significant heat reduction inside the vehicle by up to 18F, UV protection, glare control, reduced noise, and reduced fuel consumption.



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Alzheimers disease is the most well-known and most common type of age-related dementia. Amyloid plaques and tau tangles are both pathological hallmarks of the disease. A new study in mice shows that a novel DNA vaccine delivered to the skin prompts an immune response that reduces buildup of tau and beta-amyloid proteins.

The new vaccine is on a shortlist of promising antibody treatments aimed at protecting against both types of proteins that kill brain cells as they spread in deadly plaques and tangles on the brains of Alzheimers disease patients.

Our study is the culmination of a decade of research that has repeatedly demonstrated that this vaccine can effectively and safely target in animal models what we think may cause Alzheimers disease. I believe were getting close to testing this therapy in people, said study lead author Dr. Roger Rosenberg, founding Director of the Alzheimers Disease Center at the University of Texas Southwestern.

Although earlier research established that antibodies significantly reduce amyloid buildup in the brain, Dr. Rosenberg and colleagues needed to find a safe way to introduce them into the body.

A vaccine showed promise in the early 2000s, but when tested in humans, it caused brain swelling in some patients.

The teams idea was to start with DNA coding for amyloid and inject it into the skin rather than the muscle to produce a different kind of immune response.

The injected skin cells make a three-molecule chain of beta-amyloid (A42), and the body responds by producing antibodies that inhibit the buildup of amyloid and indirectly also of tau.

The study  consisting of four cohorts of between 15 and 24 mice each  shows the vaccine prompted a 40% reduction in beta-amyloid and up to a 50% reduction in tau, with no adverse immune response.

If amyloid and tau are indeed the cause of Alzheimers disease, achieving these reductions in humans could have major therapeutic value, Dr. Rosenberg said.

If the onset of the disease could be delayed by even five years, that would be enormous for the patients and their families. The number of dementia cases could drop by half, said study senior author Dr. Doris Lambracht-Washington, also from the University of Texas Southwestern.

Allowing the body to produce its own antibodies through active immunization would be the preferable strategy, if it can be done safely. Among the advantages, the vaccine would be more accessible and less expensive, Dr. Rosenberg added.

It also produces a wider variety of antibody types than the preformed antibodies containing only one specific antibody.

The findings are published in the journal Alzheimers Research and Therapy.

_____

Roger N. Rosenberg et al. 2018. Active full-length DNA A42 immunization in 3xTg-AD mice reduces not only amyloid deposition but also tau pathology. Alzheimers Research & Therapy 10: 115; doi: 10.1186/s13195-018-0441-4
NASAs Mars Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander is scheduled to touch down on the Red Planet at approximately 3 p.m. EST (12 p.m. PST, 8 p.m. GMT) on November 26, 2018.

Blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Central California on May 5, 2018, InSight marks NASAs first Mars landing since the Curiosity rover in 2012.

The landing will kick off a two-year mission in which InSight will become the first spacecraft to study Mars deep interior. Its data also will help planetary researchers understand the formation of all rocky worlds, including our own.

Landing on Mars is hard. It takes skill, focus and years of preparation, said Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Keeping in mind our ambitious goal to eventually send humans to the surface of the Moon and then Mars, I know that our incredible science and engineering team  the only in the world to have successfully landed spacecraft on the Martian surface  will do everything they can to successfully land InSight on the Red Planet.

Engineers at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory are preparing for the spacecraft to enter the Martian atmosphere, descend with a parachute and retrorockets, and touch down today at around 3 p.m. EST (12 p.m. PST, 8 p.m. GMT).

InSight will hit the top of the Martian atmosphere at 12,300 mph (19,800 kph) and slow down to 5 mph (8 kph) before its three legs touch down on Martian soil.

Theres a reason engineers call landing on Mars seven minutes of terror, said Dr. Rob Grover, InSights entry, descent and landing (EDL) lead, based at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

We cant joystick the landing, so we have to rely on the commands we pre-program into the spacecraft. Weve spent years testing our plans, learning from other Mars landings and studying all the conditions Mars can throw at us.

And were going to stay vigilant till InSight settles into its home in the Elysium Planitia region.

Before InSight enters the atmosphere of the Red Planet, there are a few final preparations to make.

At 4:47 a.m. EST (1:47 a.m. PST, 9:47 a.m. GMT) engineers successfully conducted a last trajectory correction maneuver to steer the spacecraft within a few miles of its targeted entry point over Mars.

About two hours before hitting the atmosphere, the EDL team might also upload some final tweaks to the algorithm that guides the spacecraft safely to the surface. These will be the last commands issued to InSight before it robotically guides itself the rest of the way.

Its taken more than a decade to bring InSight from a concept to a spacecraft approaching Mars  and even longer since I was first inspired to try to undertake this kind of mission, said InSight principal investigator Dr. Bruce Banerdt, of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

But even after landing, well need to be patient for the science to begin.

It will take two to three months for InSights robotic arm to set the missions instruments on the surface.

During that time, engineers will monitor the environment and photograph the terrain in front of the lander.

Weve studied Mars from orbit and from the surface since 1965, learning about its weather, atmosphere, geology and surface chemistry, said Dr. Lori Glaze, acting director of the Planetary Science Division in NASAs Science Mission Directorate.

Now we finally will explore inside Mars and deepen our understanding of our terrestrial neighbor as NASA prepares to send human explorers deeper into the Solar System.
The report said 23,791 Koreans lost their nationality as they adopted another between January and October, and 6,493 renounced it.

More than 30,000 Koreans gave up their nationality in the first 10 months of this year, the highest number in a decade, a Justice Ministry report said Sunday.

The figure is a stark rise over the annual average of around 20,000 in the past 10 years. Those who renounced their passport had dual nationality but gave up their Korean passport, while the rest lost it automatically as they became naturalized somewhere else.

The Justice Ministry said the surge was mostly due to the enactment in May of a stronger law that forced many men to give up their Korean passports or face the military draft here.

But emigration also increased. In the January-October period, 21,022 Koreans obtained foreign citizenship, up 3,305 from last year and 2,097 more than the annual average in the last decade.

Song Hee-kyeong, the floor leader of the opposition Liberty Korea Party, blamed the government. "As the government's income-led growth policy has backfired and led to low growth, dwindling jobs and a harsher reality, more Koreans are seeking to start over abroad," she said.


PR summit pursues global excellence

From:Shanghai Daily | 2018-11-26 03:29

The 2018 Shanghai International Public Relations Summit, themed by Development of a modern, socialist, international city and promotion of Shanghais image around the world, was held yesterday at Shanghai International Convention Center.

The summit was organized by Shanghai Public Relations Association, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai United Media Group and Shanghai Media Group.

In the keynote speech, Li Zhaoxing, former Chinese foreign minister, spoke about Chinas foreign policy.

Qiu Baoxing, counselor of the State Council, talked about building a safe city, stressing strengthening the citys capacity to face natural disasters.

If a city aims to become a global city, it has to be safe, green, recyclable and sustainable, Qiu said.

John Ross, the former director of Economic and Business Policy of London, shared Londons success in becoming a global city. He believes if a city wants to promote its image, it must have a clear vision.
Home  Just In  Baburam Bhattarai provides Rs 100,000 to parents of Nirmala Pant

Kathmandu, November 26

Former Prime Minister and Naya Shakti Party Nepal chief Baburam Bhattarai has provided Rs 100,000 to the parents of Nirmala Pant, the 13-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Kanchanpur of farwestern Nepal around four months ago.

Bhattarai says his cadres living in Australia collected the fund for the Pant family as the parents are fighting against the state for justice.

The leader went to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital on Monday and handed over the money to the victims father, Yagya Raj Pant.

Yagya Raj is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital after he reportedly developed some symptoms of mental illness while staging an indefinite sit-in in Mahendranagar.

On the occasion, Bhattarai said he was in solidarity with the victims family as Nirmala Pant was the daughter of everyone.
Home  Just In  Four Jhapa locals killed in late night house fire

Jhapa, November 26

Four members of a family were killed when their house caught fire in Shivasatakshi of Jhapa district in eastern Nepal, on late Sunday night.

The victims have been identified as Laxman Khanal (35), his wife Radhika (32), their four-year-old daughter Chandra and four-month-old son Tika Ram.

Their house in Laljhoda, Shivasatakshi Municipality-7, had caught fire at around 10:45 pm yesterday when everyone was asleep, informs DSP Mahendra Kumar Shrestha, spokesperson of the District Police Office.

Meanwhile, Khanals neighour, Geeta Dhungel (37), sustained injuries. She has been taken to Biratnagar-based Nobel Hospital for treatment.

A fire brigade, police and locals contained the fire within next few hours.

The two-storey house with roofed with zinc sheets was completely destroyed in the incident.

Police say they are calculating the amount of loss and investigating into the case.
The opening of the new facility also marks the 10th anniversary of the joint investment between Dubais Albwardy Investment and Hollands Damen Shipyards Group into Albwardy Damen.

The new site at DMC is considered a state-of-the-art facility in a strategic location at the heart of Dubai. Albwardy Damen believes this will benefit not only its customers but also contribute to the local economy.

Read more: Albwardy Damen expands afloat repairs business to Sohar Port and Freezone

Since 2008, Albwardy Damen has grown in size and capability to become one of the leading new build and ship repair yards in the Gulf region. In the first half of 2018 alone, it repaired and built over 100 vessels across its facilities in Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah.

Lars Seistrup, managing director of Albwardy Damen, said: Our new Dubai facility allows us to deliver the same exceptional levels of safety and quality as our yard at Sharjah. In addition, Dubai Maritime City is strategically located at the heart of Dubai, making it a highly convenient destination for our customers and one from where we can deliver a second-to-none service.
Press Release

November 25, 2018 Message of Senator Loren Legarda*

Philippine Pavilion Finissage

November 25, 2018 | Fava Church, Venice, Italy *

Delivered by Ambassador Domingo Nolasco, Philippine Embassy in Italy Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. First, let me say that I regret missing the finissage today. But I am happy and proud that our fourth consecutive national participation at the Venice Biennale since 2015 is a success. When I initiated our return to the Venice Biennale after 51 years of absence, I envisioned it to be permanent. A Philippine Pavilion at the Venice Biennale is a way for Filipinos to enter the minds of other people and cultures, thus expanding our horizons and helping much to bring about international understanding, harmony and peace. In the same way, through our pavilion, we tell the countries of our 'now', as we mirror our political and cultural realities. The Venice Biennale is only one of the many global expositions that our artists and curators can engage in. My greater vision is for our government to continuously support the development of Philippine arts and culture. We should encourage our art--whether it be painting, sculpture, architecture, film, dance, music, theater or performance, and poetry--to flourish. We need thinkers, visionaries and those that nurture the soul as much as we need workers, doctors, engineers and public servants. Art fosters patriotism and nationalism. It is an enabler of development. We hope to institutionalize the participation of our country in the International Exhibitions of the Venice Biennale so that more Filipinos will not only be encouraged to exhibit their expertise and craft but also help in promoting the importance of arts in nation building. I also wish to emphasize that our participation in the Architecture Biennale has been particularly relevant in confronting challenges in our built environment. The City Who Had Two Navels, juxtaposed with the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale theme Freespace, revealed the impact of architecture not only in our nation's history and in our communities but also in every person's life. Today, we celebrate not the end of an exhibition, but another milestone in our country's history of Philippine contemporary architecture. I wish to express my gratitude to everyone who helped make this possible. Thank you to the Department of Foreign Affairs for the untiring support. To Ambassador Domingo Nolasco and to Consul General Irene Susan Natividad, maraming salamat. This exhibit, I hope, has given our countrymen pride and glory in our identity as Filipinos. I hope it has nurtured, among our people, greater consciousness and appreciation of our heritage. I would also like to thank Chairman Virgilio S. Almario of the NCCA and our Commissioner for the Pavilion. His passion and his continued leadership continue to ignite the spark to develop and promote the richness of our arts and culture. My gratitude goes to Edson Cabalfin and to the entire team of exhibitors, Yason Banal, the University of the Philippines - Mindanao; the University of San Carlos in Cebu City; the University of the Philippines - Diliman; and De la Salle - College of Saint Benilde and TAO-Pilipinas Inc., a non-governmental organization of architects and planners. Our narrative as a community is strongly represented in our built heritage and in the souls and realities that we live in. The discourse does not end with this finissage. The Philippines will continue to make its mark, in art, in architecture, in film, in the artistic arena. We strive to make a mark and become a resounding voice in the vast relevant expanse of art. Thank you and see you all next year at the Philippine Pavilion in Arsenale. Mabuhay!
Press Release

November 26, 2018 De Lima seeks Senate probe on Duterte's militarization of BoC Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called for a Senate inquiry into Mr. Duterte's unconstitutional move of ordering the military to temporarily take over the Bureau of Customs (BoC) while the agency is hounded with corruption issues. In filing Senate Resolution (SR) No. 949, De Lima expressed concern over the adverse effect of appointing military personnel on the regular functions of the agency. "The militarization of the BoC may impede the operations of the BoC and as a result, may gravely affect collection of revenues, the lifeblood of government," she said. The functions of the BoC, as per Republic Act No. 10863, include "assessment and collection of customs revenues from imported goods and other dues, fees, charges, fines and penalties; border control to prevent entry of smuggled goods; and prevention and suppression of smuggling and other customs fraud," among others. Last Oct. 29, amid the P11-billion worth of shabu shipment that slipped into the BoC through magnetic lifters, Duterte has unprecedentedly put the agency under the control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), reasoning that it was "part of his declaration of a state of lawlessness in the country." Mr. Duterte transferred former Customs Chief Isidro Lapena to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and replaced him by retired AFP Chief of Staff and head of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) Rey Leonardo Guerrero. Later denying his order, Duterte said appointment of an active-duty soldier to a post in the BoC and "takeover" of the military merely means that heads of offices and sections within the bureau would be placed on floating status and the military called in to merely assist them. The Senator from Bicol maintained that Duterte should follow the Constitution which provides that military officers in active service cannot be appointed to a civilian position in the government especially because there is no "state of lawlessness" in BoC. "The operationalization of the military take-over of the BOC threatens to violate the provisions of the Constitution on the proscription against the assumption by active military officers of civilian functions and civilian offices, aside from other basic principles of a republican and democratic government as enshrined therein," she said. In her Dispatch from Crame No. 417, De Lima said the President's response to ask the military to solve every problem of the country also reflects his predisposition to ultimately have a military junta take over the country.
Press Release

November 26, 2018 De Lima seeks Senate probe on influx of Chinese nationals in PH Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has sought for a Senate inquiry into the influx of Chinese nationals employed and residing in the Philippines which not only steals jobs away from ordinary Filipinos but also triggers property surge on many developed areas. De Lima filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 751 urging the appropriate Senate committee to assess the effective implementation of existing immigration and labor laws to ensure that Filipinos are protected against adverse effect caused by immigration surge. "The increasingly laxed control mechanisms over the influx of Chinese nationals in the Philippines have led to concerns on whether we have enough capability to properly enforce our immigration and labor laws to the detriment of our national interest," she said. In the Department of Tourism's Annual Visitor Sample Survey of 2017, the number of Chinese travelers to the Philippines grew by 54.43 percent last year, resulting to 371,429 visitors in the first quarter of 2018 alone. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also noted an increase of 33.4 percent in the Alien Employment Permit (AEP) granted to foreign nationals intending to engage in employment in the Philippines, rising from 28,371 in 2015 to 41,993 in 2016. Chinese nationals consistently comprised most of the AEP holders from 2013 to 2016 - growing to 45 percent (18,920) in 2016 from 23.7 percent in 2013, she noted. According to De Lima, in the past 19 months since the Duterte administration has awarded licenses, more than 50 offshore gambling companies catering to overseas Chinese punters have received permits to operate in Manila, employing about 200,000 predominantly Chinese workers who have been arriving since late 2016. "The surge of AEP issuance means there is a number of available jobs in the Philippines, even while Filipinos continue to seek opportunities abroad and unemployment remains a concern," she said. De Lima also took note of reports that of the 1,508 foreigners deported by immigration authorities in 2017, 1,248 were Chinese nationals, most of whom were arrested at the Fontana Hotel in Clark, Pampanga for purportedly engaging in illegal online gaming operations. She also noted the arrest of 10 foreigners, mostly Chinese, who were caught in the act of operating a dredging vessel that was drawing lahar and black sand from Macolcol River in San Felipe, Zambales without permits from concerned government agencies. The former justice secretary said it is important to review the government's capability to enforce immigration and labor policies to promote mechanisms that will address labor constraints by improving Filipino competency and discontinuing those that are not good to national interest. "With the influx of Chinese nationals employed and residing in the Philippines, there is a dangerous possibility of the real estate market pricing out Filipinos out of their homes, especially in areas near businesses that heavily employs Chinese nationals, like casinos and resorts," she said. "There is also the danger of our economy being too dependent on Chinese tourists and clients where any change in policies by the China government could effectively stall, if not cripple, our local economy," she added.
Home  Just In  From the Kathmandu Press: Monday, November 26, 2018

Major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu Valley on Monday have given the priority to a host of issues from political, sociocultural and economic spheres. Kantipur and Nagarik have reports about recent misunderstandings surfaced between Nepal and Malaysia over the implementation of a memorandum of understanding they signed to facilitate the employment of Nepalis there.

Likewise, many newspapers have published reports about the statement of Public Accounts Committee chairman over the disputed purchase of two wide body aircraft of Nepal Airlines Corporation on their front pages. Discussions at the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee meeting about the party statute amendment have also received significant coverage.

Meanwhile, Yagya Raj Pant, the protesting father of Nirmala Pant, has been brought to Kathmandu as he recently developed some symptoms of mental illness and the newspapers have covered the issue on the front pages. Some papers also carry his photograph on the covers.

Important

Problem in implementing Nepal-Malaysia labour agreement

Kantipur and Nagarik say Malaysia wants to mobilise already existing private companies to facilitate the visa application procedures of Nepali workers. However, the Nepal government views that companies cheat the workers; hence they should not be given the responsibility.

Meanwhile, Nagarik claims some interest groups are offering financial benefits to persuade the government to change the companies responsible for the procedures.

Whats wrong with Nirmala Pants dad?

The Kathmandu Post and Kantipur have published reports about the undergoing treatment of Yagya Raj Pant. Kantipur says doctors in their preliminary investigation have suspected tachycardia while further investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, the medical personnel have dismissed reports that he had mental illness, according to The Kathmandu Post.

The CT scan report didnt show any problems in his brain, said Tirtha Man Shrestha, emergency faculty chief at the hospital, He has gone through a difficult time; he might be transferred to the Intensive Coronary Care Unit for a psychiatric consultation.

TU VC, 42 others likely to face action

After months of its submission, the government is preparing to implement recommendations of the report of high level National Medical Education Commission led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, The Himalayan Times reports in lead story.

Implementing the report means taking action against 43 individuals including Tribhuvan University Vice-Chancellor Tirtha Raj Khaniya as they were found involved in awarding affiliations to medical institutions that had breached the criteria set by the government.

Ignored

Gautam extends support to dissident NCP leaders

A three column story in Nagarik says influential leader of Nepal Communist Party, Bamdev Gautam, has extended his support to 21 leaders who had collectively issued a memorandum to the party leadership demanding an early meeting of the Central Committee.

Whereas the leadership has proposed forming the partys politburo after finalising the work responsibility of the Central Committee members, the 21 leaders want the other way around, the report adds.

Minister directs state media not to give Nirmalas news

Communications Minister Gokul Prasad Banskota has directed state media not to publish or broadcast news reports about Nirmala Pants rape and murder, Republica reports in its three column story.

Minister Banskota issued the directive in a recent meeting with the heads of the agencies including Gorkhapatra, Rastriya Samachar Samiti, Radio Nepal and Nepal Television, according to the report.

NEB officials deprived of responsibility

The Chairman of National Examination Board has deprived three high officials of their responsibility citing they did not meet required work competence, Nepal Samacharpatra reports in its lead story.

The officials, however, have said no one has right to question their competence.

Interesting

Sarus crane to be declared as Bird of Lumbini

Sarus crane, a species of bird, holds a special status in the ancient tradition of Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, and Buddhism. However, it has been facing further threat in areas around Lumbini, The Kathmandu Post reports in its anchor story.

Therefore, officials are preparing to declare this bird as Bird of Buddhism to promote its conservation efforts, according to the report.
Press Release

November 26, 2018 Dispatch from Crame No. 423:

Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on Duterte's Attack on Bishop David 11/26/18 Duterte's attack on Bishop Pablo "Ambo" David is nothing but slanderous. It is vintage Duterte. He destroys the reputation of those who oppose him and those who fight for the victims of his rule. Bishop Ambo is his latest victim. Aside from tending to the relatives of EJK victims in his diocese, Bishop Ambo drew the ire of Duterte for his rebuke on the President's latest attacks on the Catholic religion and the Church. Bishop Ambo is one of the most respected figures in the Catholic Church. He is also a dutiful shepherd of his flock, doing all that is within his power to protect them amidst the murderous onslaught of Duterte's drug war that has left a lot of children orphans. He has been successful in condemning the endless killings under Duterte, to the point that he has now become the newest target of Duterte's intrigues, lies, and slanders. As a Catholic, I am proud that there are leaders of the Catholic Church, like Bishop Ambo, who continue to have the courage and fortitude to defend the poor from the extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the government. It takes a different kind of courage to stand up against the powerful, and a psychotic tyrant at that, and to fight for the powerless. This is the kind of courage that continues to give hope to our people, and by doing so will deliver them from the evil that envelops the country. We must all stand behind Bishop Ambo, and all Filipino men and women of courage who remain steadfast for all of us, bearing the hope that one day this darkness too shall end.
Press Release

November 26, 2018 Drilon: Korean EXIM bank gives green light to P11.2-B Jalaur Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Monday announced that the Korea Export-Import Bank has given its concurrence on the contract agreement between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. for the construction of the P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-purpose Project Phase II (JRMP II). "This is an early Christmas gift for Ilonggos. They believe in this project and have been very vocal in their support for this significant undertaking," Drilon said. "The long wait is over. Despite the delays, we will soon see one of the biggest dams in the country being constructed right in Iloilo," he said, adding, "this project will beneift our economy and eco-tourism industry, and generate jobs for our kasimanwa." Drilon said that NIA will finalize the schedule for the project groundbreaking. In a letter sent to NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya last November 19, Yang Hye-Young, director of Asia Team 2 of the KEXIM bank, said that the contract was concurred in by KEXIM bank . "We kindlly notify you that the subject contract has been approved by us in accordance with Section 6.03 of the General Terms and Conditions Applicable to EDCF Loan Agreement," according to the letter. The letter aslo requested NIA for its "continuous support for the monitoring of environment and social requirements during the construction phase of the project." It also said that the bank "is "looking forward to smooth and successful implementation of the project." It was Drilon who initiated the project in April 2011 when he met with the Korean government for the funding requirement. Once completed, the first large-scale reservoir dam outside of Luzon will provide uninterrupted irrigation water supply to 32,000 hectares of farmland, benefit more than 24,000 farmers and increase annual production of rice to 300,000 metric tons from 140,000 in Iloilo. The project will also generate approximately 17,000 local jobs equivalent to P1.3 billion in basic wages per year, he added. JRMP II includes the construction of 109-meter Jalaur high dam, 38.5-meter afterbay dam, 10-meter Alibunan catch dam, 80.74-kilometer high line canal; generation of new areas for irrigation; and rehabilitation of existing irrigation system. Drilon said that agriculture in Western Visayas has suffered a decline for the past years, citing the contribution of agriculture (in real terms) to the gross regional domestic output of Western Visayas on a downward trend from 14.1 percent in 2010 to a negative 3.3 percent in 2013 brought about by a sharp decrease in sugarcane and palayproduction. JRMP II was first implemented by NIA in 1960s after the fourth Congress passed Republic Act 2651, which provides for the construction of the JRMP in Iloilo. Its first phase was completed in 1980s but its second phase was derailed for over five decades.
Press Release

November 26, 2018 NFA execs must answer for 'bringing country to its knees' due to rice price spikes: Kiko MANILA - Officials of the National Food Authority must be held to account for the effective theft of government rice that resulted in spikes in rice prices, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said Monday. "Are we just going to forget it? We would like to know. If these are allegations, you have to look into it," Pangilinan told government officials during the NFA budget hearing. In previous Senate hearings, when commercial rice prices reached P70 in some parts of the country, traders and other stakeholders exposed the diversion of NFA rice, a clear violation of the law. "The entire country was brought to its knees when rice prices went sky high due to massive corruption and incompetence in the NFA and no one gets punished. Billions of pesos of NFA rice where either diverted and billions of pesos worth of import quotas manipulated to favor select traders that led to the shortage of rice and no one is charged," Pangilinan said. "This reminds me of the billions of pesos worth of shabu smuggled through the BoC and no one is held to account," he added. Pangilinan explained that repackaging NFA rice as commercial rice and selling them at higher prices deprives consumers of available and affordable rice, a mandate of the NFA. The presidential adviser on food security and agricultural modernization in the previous administration, Pangilinan pointed out that this is not simply mismanagement or negligence. He said diversion can only be done when traders are in cahoots with NFA officials. "Is there an investigation on this matter? The report that favored traders were given accommodations in Bulacan, ano ang ginawa ng NFA rito? Ano'ng gagawin sa nangyaring hindi maganda?" he asked. Pangilinan said manipulated rice price spikes cannot simply end with the resignation of former NFA Administrator Jason Aquino in September. "May problema sa diversion and rebagging, sa MAV, binago pa raw ang country of origin para ma-accommodate ang iilan. Maraming concerns. Wala na si Mr. Aquino, pero ganoon na lang ba?" he said. (Diversion means NFA rice is diverted to commercial traders, while MAV refers to the minimum access volume of rice that the NFA is allowed to import.) During his time as Chairman of the NFA Council, Pangilinan said the NFA's Legal Department worked tirelessly to file cases against abusive and illegal rice traders. "We sent a signal that rebagging is not allowed. We sent a signal that we buy low. This was an effort to do away with the abuses that a regulator like NFA can do -- when they abuse their power to regulate," Pangilinan said. In order to have a clearer picture of what happened, Pangilinan also requested for the NFA's Security Services and Investigation Department (SSID) to submit to his office by Friday a report detailing the alleged malpractices. "Let us inform Secretary [Manny] Pinol that we will raise this in plenary. We can speed up the [budget] deliberations only when these matters are addressed," he said. This is the second hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance on the NFA budget. Before the Senate session adjourned in October, senators expressed their concern over malpractices in the NFA. Pangilinan was chairman of the NFA Council from May 2014 to September 2015.
Press Release

November 26, 2018 SUMMARY OF POINTS RAISED BY SEN. POE AT THE SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE HEARING Sen. Grace Poe today raised concern over the growing number of undocumented Chinese working in the Philippines as this denies Filipinos to get jobs.

Poe said Chinese and other foreigners should not come in the Philippines "under false pretenses" as she urged the Labor department and the Bureau of Immigration to be more careful in issuing visa extensions to tourists if it meant that they would actually work.

For one, Poe said some Chinese citizens are using illegally obtained Philippine passports to make their way into the Philippines to work.

Atty. Homer Arellano, head of the Immigration bureau's prosecution and legal assistance section, said there were "instances but not that many." He said the government had also even charged some Chinese for illegally using Philippine passports.

The Department of Labor and Employment said Chinese are entering the Philippines as tourists but later obtain special working permits.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said that they have no record of the number of Chinese citizens working in online gaming firms that cater to the mainland even though majority of special work permits the government has issued were for Chinese workers in Philippine offshore gaming operations.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, for its part, said 1.66 million tourist visas were issued to Chinese nationals this year, but only issued 18 employment visas to them.

Poe called on authorities to conduct an investigation within their agencies and "visit" offices that employ Chinese to check if they are properly documented.

Poe said she received reports that Chinese are to be employed as construction workers or contractors in the war-torn Marawi. She insisted Filipinos should come first.

Poe also urged concerned state agencies to tighten regulations on issuance of tourist and work visas to foreign citizens. She warned that if the economy is heavily dependent on the Chinese, the economy may be in peril in the event they pull out of the country.

She said the Philippine government should coordinate with the Chinese government to ensure that people who are entering the country have no criminal record.

On influx of Chinese driving up property prices, Poe said there were superficial market conditions because of the demand for space, particularly for condominiums.
Press Release

November 26, 2018 Senate passes measure extending the availability of funds for HR victims 'til end of 2019 Voting 16-0-0, the Senate on Monday, November 26, approved on third and final reading Senate Joint Resolution No. 13 extending the availability of funds for victims of human rights violations during the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Senate Justice and Human Rights Committee chair Sen. Richard Gordon has endorsed for plenary approval without amendments Committee Report 495 containing the joint resolution filed by Senator Francis Escudero and Senate President Protempore Ralph Recto extending the availability of funds for the indemnification of human rights victims until December 2019. The House of Representatives approved its counterpart House Joint Resolution 26 in August this year. The resolution seeks to extend the maintenance, availability and release of billions of funds deposited at the Land Bank of the Philippines. This will also authorize the Commission on Human Rights to administer the effective distribution of funds to qualified human rights victims or their heirs or representatives until the end of next year. Section 7 of Republic Act 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, states that more than P10 billion, which has been ordered forfeited and adjudged as Marcos ill-gotten wealth by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court in December 10, 1997 in favor of the Republic of the Philippines, as the principal source of funds for the implementation of this Act. In April, 2016, a law was passed extending the effectivity of RA 10368 until May, 2018. However, as of May 11, 2018, the Human Rights Victims Claims Board had been able to approve and duly recognize only 11,103 claimants out of more than 75,000 applicants. The board was able to completely resolve 6,737 appeals before the deadline. The measure seeks to ensure that all legitimate claimants under RA 10368 will be able to get their monetary reparations, particularly those who were issued checks by the Land Bank of the Philippines. Escudero noted that as of June 28, 2018, the Human Rights Victims Claims Board account with the LBP reported a balance of P792.629 million. The amount, Escudero said, can only be maintained until August 11, 2018, after which the balance would be reverted to the Bureau of Treasury. However, there were reports from several approved claimants' relatives that they were not able to encash the checks even with the issuance of Special Powers of Attorney. "It is the sense of the Senate and the House of Representatives that the funds be effectively distributed, especially to the approved and qualified claimants," the joint resolution stated, stressing that the Commission on Audit, the LBP and Bureau of Treasury should coordinate with the Commission on Human Rights to ensure the distribution of valid claims.
Press Release

November 26, 2018 Villanueva slams agencies' inaction, negligence in monitoring influx of illegal foreign workers The Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development chairperson Senator Joel Villanueva slammed government agencies on Monday for their lack of monitoring and negligence in allowing the influx of illegal foreign workers, mostly Chinese nationals, in the country. Villanueva underscored that there is a clear neglect on the part of government agencies in promoting the preferential use of Filipino labor as mandated by the Constitution. "Kahit maka-ilang raid pa tayo ng marami pang illegal Chinese establishments na may illegal Chinese workers kung hindi naman maresolba ng proper government agencies ang animo'y pagdagsa nila sa bansa sa mga ilegal na paraan, magpapaikot-ikot lang po tayo dito. How can we not urge our government agencies to act fast and not turn a blind eye to this issue?" Villanueva said. Last November 22, 93 illegal Chinese workers were arrested in an illegal online gaming facility in Pasig City. Just weeks prior to the incident, 34 Chinese nationals were caught working in a construction site near SM MOA along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue. Last year, May 23, 2017, 9 Chinese nationals and an Indonesian was caught operating in a dredging vessel loading lahar and black sand in Macolcol River, San Felipe, Zambales without having the necessary permit. Villanueva shared that this situation is ironic as adult joblessness in the country increased to 22% or equivalent to 9.8 million unemployed Filipino adults in September this year. The senator also noted that Alien Employment Permits (AEPs) must only be issued to those jobs that cannot be performed or executed by Filipino workers. "Diinan ko lang po - sobra-sobrang pang-aabuso na ang dinaranas natin sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, hindi po lingid sa kaalaman natin iyan, pati ba naman sa sarili nating bansa papayag pa rin tayong apihin ng mga dayuhan?" the senator said. Villanueva said that the problem is rooted from the complex processes in issuing AEPs by the Department of Labor and Employment and the labor market test which is only published in the newspaper of general circulation During the hearing, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) admitted that they issue Special Work Permits (SWP) to foreign workers without AEPs. Based on the data submitted by DOLE, there were 115,652 AEPs issued by the Labor Department to foreign nationals from 2015 to 2017. Almost half or 51,980 AEPs were issued to Chinese nationals. "Nakaka-alarma po dahil nasa 24,000 out of the 52,000 AEPs ay na-issue for just one year, noong 2017. Gusto po nating klaruhin 'yan kung bakit may immigration surge o may sudden influx ng Chinese nationals dito sa atin," Villanueva emphasized. "Klarong-klaro po: itong mga Chinese nationals, ninanakawan ng trabaho ang mga Pilipino, inaagawan ng tirahan, at kinukupitan ng oportunidad ang mga Pilipino," the senator further lamented. Villanueva also reacted to the argument of Atty. Homer Arellano, BI Chief of Prosecution and Legal Assistance, that Chinese nationals are hired in the country for their Mandarin language skills. "Kung sinasabi ng Bureau of Immigration na hindi karamihan ang mga Pilipino na marunong mag-Mandarin, eh ano po ang ginagawa ng mga Language Skills Institute natin sa TESDA?" the senator asked. Villanueva shared that TESDA has more than 40 language institutes across the country that can train Filipino workers to meet the demand for Mandarin speakers. "Kaya po nating mag-train ng skills, wala namang hindi kakayanin ang mga Pilipino kaya nga po in-demand ang mga Filipino workers kahit saang bahagi ng mundo," the senator stressed. "I think it's about time to put in place protective measures to ensure that Filipino workers are prioritized in their own country and will always have a fighting chance in this age of rapidly shrinking global economy. Kailangan po natin ang ganitong batas dahil hindi po dapat ninanakawan ng trabaho ang ating mga manggagawa," Villanueva said.
Imports into New Zealand topped $6 billion for the first time in October with goods from China rising a record amount as the two nations mark 10 years of free trade.

The October deficit was $1.3 billion, Statistics New Zealand said. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected a deficit of $850 million. The annual deficit was $5.8 billion versus an expected $5.1 billion shortfall. It was the widest annual deficit since the October 2007 year.

October imports rose 14.1 percent on the year to $6.2 billion and petroleum and products were the main contributor, up $257 million or 68 percent.

Imports from China rose $430 million or 41 percent on the year to $1.5 billion, led by cranes and cellphones. This is the largest dollar value increase for monthly Chinese imports on record, Stats NZ said.

October 2018 marks the 10-year anniversary of the New ZealandChina free trade agreement, international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said. New Zealand was the first developed country to ink a free trade deal with China in 2008. China is now New Zealands largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at more than $28 billion in 2018.

Two-way goods trade with China is continuing to strengthen. On an annual basis, imports from China are twice the value they were in the October 2008 year, while exports have more than quadrupled," Islam said.

That relationship is coming under closer scrutiny as tensions between China and the US leave New Zealand stretched between an increasingly important trading partner and a traditional security ally respectively. Trade Minister David Parker this month said New Zealand was trying to position itself as a link between world's two biggest economies which are locked in a trade war.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is coming under pressure to act as academic Anne-Marie Brady has faced multiple break-ins since writing a paper on China's use of soft power, and ministers are considering excluding Chinese technology firm Huawei from building 5G telecommunications networks.

Today's data showed exports were up 6.6 percent to $4.9 billion, which Islam said were led by fruit and reflected "unusually high kiwifruit exports for an October month.

Kiwifruit exports are typically low in October, so both value and quantity in October 2018 were up sharply when compared with the same month last year. The total value of fruit rose $118 million or 137 percent to $204 million, led by kiwifruit, which was up $112 million.

Milk powder, butter, and cheese fell $43 million or 3.3 percent to $1.2 billion. Quantity fell 6.3 percent. Milk powder led this fall, down $45 million or 6.8 percent. Quantity was down 12 percent.

(BusinessDesk)

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Fisher & Paykel Healthcare reported a record $97.4 million interim profit on record sales across its two divisions.

Net profit rose 20 percent in the six months through September, and was 14 percent higher on a constant currency basis, the Auckland-based maker of hospital equipment and personal sleep apnoea products said.

That beat the firms $95 million forecast and saw it raise its interim dividend by 11 percent. Its shares rose 1.1 percent to $13.20.

Fisher & Paykel, which employs almost 4,200 people in 37 countries, is benefiting as ageing populations and changes in medical thinking increase demand for its products.

While just over half its staff are in New Zealand, only about 1 percent of its sales are in local currency, with about half in US dollars and almost 20 percent priced in euros.

The company reiterated its full-year earnings forecast at $205 million to $210 million. The forecast assumes exchange rates of 67 US cents and 60 euro cents for the period, from 72 US cents and 59 euro cents for the prior March year.

It also allows for an expected $20 million to $30 million spend on litigation for the full-year and a moderate flu season in the Northern Hemisphere. Last year the flu season there had been very strong, meaning more people got sick.

Fisher & Paykel has been locked in patent disputes with rival ResMed since 2016 and in September trimmed its earnings forecast after its San Diego-based rival lodged complaints with the US International Trade Commission.

Fisher & Paykel spent $15.6 million on litigation in the year ended March 31, down from $20.7 million a year earlier. Litigation cost it about $7.7 million in the six months through September.

Managing director Lewis Gradon noted the lumpy nature of legal action, and the fact the ITC action and a Federal Court action in Australia would cause big spending by company later in the second half.

He urged analysts not to try and forecast a litigation spend for the coming year based on the second-half rate.

Operating revenue for the six months through September climbed 12 percent to a record $511.3 million, up 8 percent on a constant currency basis.

Operating revenue for the hospital product group, which includes products used in respiratory, acute and surgical care, increased 13 percent to a record $297.3 million and was up 11 percent in constant currency.

Homecare product revenue  which includes sleep apnoea and respiratory support equipment - rose 10 percent to $211.1 million, up 6 percent in constant currency.

Our devices and systems used for nasal high flow therapy continue to drive much of the growth in our hospital business, Gradon said. Our new F&P 950 heated humidification system for neonates is performing well in New Zealand and Australia, and we are looking forward to the release of the 950 in Europe next year.

Growth in hardware devices used in the home was robust and the company experienced strong demand for its myAirvo and SleepStyle devices, he said. Sleep apnoea masks and accessories growth of 2 percent in constant currency terms was as expected, as the company anticipates the launch of new masks.

Minor changes had been needed to the manufacturing process for its new mask, which will now be introduced early in 2019, followed by further new masks during the year, Gradon said.

Fisher & Paykel is forecasting about $160 million of capital expenditure this year, mostly for construction of a fourth building in Auckland and a second in Mexico.

Gradon noted that while the new Mexican building should be completed in December, production wont start until the new financial year. The Auckland building wont be completed until late 2020 and consideration of other processing sites is probably several years away, he said.

The company noted that its full-year earnings forecast assumes a moderate flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, and that it had experienced a very strong flu season there last year.

Gradon said that, on a full-year basis, the difference between a strong and moderate flu season could be 2 to 4 percent of sales growth for the firms hospital division.

It was hard to be that precise on the earnings impact, he said, noting that in the past seven years the company had experienced two strong flu years, three moderate years and two weak ones.

The company will pay an interim 9.75 cents per share dividend on Dec. 21.

(BusinessDesk)

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ANZ Bank New Zealand has compensated about 86 percent of the 100,000 customers affected by its faulty loan calculator from March 2015.

The remedial payments, expected to total close to $10 million, should be 95 percent complete by Christmas and the bank expects the remediation to be finished early in the new year.

National Business Review revealed the problem with the loan calculator in May this year.

The problem affected mortgage customers, personal loans and business loans and the faulty calculator meant ANZ had undercharged interest on these loans affecting about 30 percent of 350,000 customers.

ANZ hadnt planned to make the problem public until a whistle-blower within the bank contacted NBR, forcing the bank to answer questions.

The faulty calculator was introduced before consumer lending legislation changed in June 2015 and was supposed to help frontline staff comply with the new legislation.

It took a year for ANZ to discover that the calculator was faulty and that was after six customers in the course of a couple of weeks contacted the bank about why their loan repayments had unexpectedly changed.

It took ANZ another 15 months after that to notify the Commerce Commission which says it still has an open investigation into the matter.

The bank introduced a new independently tested calculator in May 2016.

It hired accounting firm Deloitte to review the matter and to help the bank implement a plan to put things right for affected customers.

It also hired Northington Partners to check its calculations before writing to affected customers.

The credits to most customers accounts have been relatively modest but for some business customers the amounts were expected to run into the thousands of dollars.

The letters to customers say: Were really sorry this happened. We work hard to make sure our systems are working well and have fixed the calculator. We think it only right that youre not disadvantaged.

(BusinessDesk)

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The Financial Markets Authority says it continues to find inconsistencies in audits of listed and other companies that sell financial products to the public.

However, as usual, the FMA is keeping mum on which audit firms are transgressing, although it assures us its reviews are resulting in higher standards.

At least one case of poor auditing has come to light in the last year or so, the EY audit of the New Zealand arm of Fuji Xerox.

The new auditor, KPMG, reported accounting irregularities going back to 2011 that, when corrected, meant the New Zealand subsidiary had negative equity of $336 million.

The change in auditor followed a National Business Review investigation into Fuji Xerox that found the company had inflated its revenue, incorrectly reported third-party and related-party income and had generally engaged in creative accounting.

Audit firms need to consider why audit quality varies significantly across individual files, even though the same policies and procedures are applied across all of the firms audits, the FMAs report said.

We expect firms to invest more time to analyse the detail that underpins areas where we have found non-compliance, it said.

The FMAs capital markets director, Garth Stanish, says the regulator has no plans to name and shame and thats always been our practice and thats in keeping with the practice of regulators internationally.

FMAs latest review of audits and audit firms covers five domestic registered audit firms, each of which have been previously reviewed, and 24 audit files, including nine of listed companies out of 190 NZX-listed companies and 1,300 other firms subject to Financial Markets Conduct Act audits.

It found only 23 percent of audit firms fully addressed previous findings of areas needing improvements.

Another 33 percent showed significant improvement and another 40 percent showed some improvement while 4 percent showed no improvement.

Asked whether he is happy with this rate of progress, Stanish says that a number had shown significant improvement and that the relatively low percentage of fully addressed previous findings probably speaks more to the standards were expecting than shortcomings of the firms involved.

Of course, you would always like to see every single thing was addressed, but there has been a notable improvement in terms of the quality of the framework around auditing, he said.

Asked whether investors deserved to know when there are shortcomings of the audits of the firms they invest in, Stanish said I dont necessarily think thats the case that investors are being deprived of information they should have.

The report found that since the FMA began monitoring audits in 2011, the number of registered audit firms has dropped to 19 from 40, although the number of licensed auditors has remained at about 140-150.

The main reason for the drop in firms was some firms voluntarily cancelling their registration due to an inability to comply with changes in assurance standards and the requirement that each audit of a company covered by legislation must have a least two licensed auditors.

But the FMA says it hasnt been alerted to any FMC Act reporting entities having difficulties finding suitable auditors.

It notes that the disciplinary tribunal of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand has investigated and censured one licensed auditor following a referral from the FMA. That auditor has voluntarily cancelled their licence and is prohibited from reapplying for a licence in the next two years. CAANZ sought to recover the $24,000 cost of its proceedings.

That was Auckland-based accountant Shane Matthew Browning who was charged with negligence or incompetence in a professional capacity in his audit work and of breaching the CAANZ code of ethics.

The FMA says that while audit firms play a significant role in providing comfort on the quality and accuracy of financial statements, directors and management have primary responsibility for ensuring financial statements are compliant.

(BusinessDesk)

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AMMA President Mohanlal has reiterated the star organizations stance that the actresses who have resigned will be taken back if they want so.

He was talking to the media before the AMMA executive meeting held on Saturday (November 24) in Kochi.

On being asked if they need to apologize to consider their request to take them back to AMMA, Mohanlal said it has already been made clear that they need not apologize.
Kathmandu, November 26

The Nepal Communist Party has postponed its Secretariat meeting scheduled for Monday citing lack of preparations.

The meeting will not be held on Tuesday, according to the party sources.

It has been learned that the top leadership decided to defer the meeting so as to finalise the list of responsibilities to all 441 Central Committee members. The top leaders have planned to table it in the Secretariat meeting seeking endorsement.

Some leaders of the party, especially those close to senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, had demanded that the politburo be formed before the work division of central leaders. However, two chairsKP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahalare not in the mood to form the politburo anytime soon, according to a leader.

Once the Secretariat will endorse the names with their respective new responsibilities, the decision will be forwarded to the Standing Committee and this committee also has to pass the decision, informs leader Krishna Gopal Shrestha.
The young man later identified as Yog Vedan Poddar, said to be in his twenties, had covered his face with a handkerchief and taken a picture. He captioned the photograph, Terrorist on flight, I destroy womens hearts.

: A youth was deplaned and taken into custody by Central Industrial Security Force personnel at Kolkata airport on Monday morning after he allegedly uploaded a social media post from inside the aircraft that contained the word terrorist.

A co-passenger who saw his post, promptly informed the crew of the Kolkata-Mumbai flight that the youth made the post.

The incident triggered panic especially in view of the anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks.

The pilot contacted the air traffic control and took the plane back to the tarmac.

The flight, 9W472 that was supposed to take off at 8:30 am, was delayed by an hour.

The youth was taken to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport police station for questioning.

Police officers at Kolkatas airport , speaking on conditions of anonymity, said, After the crew were alerted by the co-passenger, the youth Yog Vedan Poddar refused to show his mobile phone to the air hostess. Then, the CISF personnel found that he indeed made the post, where he took a selfie with his face covered and wrote those words. We are now checking his antecedents.

The youth lives in Beliaghata area of east Kolkata. He told the police officers that he was merely indulging in a prank with his friends.

He was indulging in a prank, said his father Nirmal Poddar, who rushed to the airport police station.
New Zealand pressured to defend rights of China researcher



Wellington, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2018



Prominent New Zealand researchers called on Wellington Monday to defend academic freedoms following the harassment of a university professor investigating Beijing's foreign policy.

The open letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern from 29 university academics and human rights campaigners, including Amnesty International New Zealand, was triggered by the alleged intimidation of prominent China researcher Anne-Marie Brady.

Brady has gained international attention for her work, notably a paper on China's political influence activities under Xi Jinping using New Zealand as a case study.

Her home and office were burgled in February, and her car was tampered with this month.

The letter noted suggestions that Brady was targeted because of her China research.

Police have only described their investigation as a "complex case" and confirmed Interpol was involved.

But in their letter to Ardern, the academics -- including two from the United States and Britain -- noted suggestions the harassment of Brady was related to her work on "overseas influence campaigns" by China, New Zealand's largest trading partner.

"We have been shocked and disturbed by the reports of intimidation and harassment suffered by Professor Anne-Marie Brady," the letter said, calling on the prime minister to be "transparent about the outcome of any investigation".

"Attempts to intimidate and harass one academic in New Zealand have implications for the freedoms of all the others -- and indeed, for the freedoms of all who live here," it added.

"We also urge Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern... to be very clear that any intimidation and threats aimed at silencing academic voices in this country will not be tolerated."

Ardern has been reluctant to discuss the issue saying it was a police matter and she would not comment until their investigation was completed.

In a recently published paper, Brady noted China's foreign policy impinged on New Zealand's national interests "in a peaceful environment in Antarctica, the South Pacific, and the Indo-Asia-Pacific".

Meanwhile, the United States' China policies under the Trump administration were also posing difficulties for New Zealand-US relations, Brady wrote.

"The New Zealand government has to try to balance its economic security against security interests and sovereignty -- but if national security is seriously challenged, then economic security becomes a secondary concern," she added.

"In a time of global economic uncertainty and geopolitical flux, getting the China-and US-relationship right is one of the biggest challenges in New Zealand foreign policy."
China urges UK to 'support' foreign media amid CCTV complaint



Beijing, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2018



Beijing urged London on Monday to support the work of foreign news outlets after a British citizen called on Britain's media regulator to revoke the broadcast license of China's state television.

Peter Humphrey, a UK fraud investigator, said that China Central Television (CCTV) helped Chinese police stage his allegedly forced confession and subsequent jailing in China in 2014.

He sent the British watchdog Ofcom a letter of complaint accusing CCTV journalists of cooperating with Chinese police to "extract, record, make post-production and then broadcast" Humphrey's confession.

Ofcom has the power to fine broadcasters for breaching British rules, and can revoke their licenses in the most serious cases.

"I hope Britain can support and facilitate the reporting work of international media in the UK," said Chinese foreign ministry official spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing in Beijing Monday.

"I think news organisations are a bridge and bond to promoting mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the people of each country," he added.

A spokesman for Ofcom confirmed it had "received a complaint which we are assessing as a priority".

"If, following investigation, we find our rules have been broken we would take the necessary enforcement action," he added.

Geng said Humphrey pleaded guilty during his sentencing and "repented".

"China's judicial departments handle cases according to the law, and safeguard the legal rights and interests of foreigners in China," Geng said.

Humphrey and his wife Yu Yingzeng, a naturalised US citizen, were linked to a corruption case in China involving pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

The couple ran an investigative firm which was hired by GSK to probe a sex tape of the company's then China boss and other issues shortly before the British pharmaceutical company itself became the target of a Chinese government investigation.

In Humphrey's letter of complaint, he accuses Chinese authorities of drugging him and locking him in a chair inside a small metal cage to conduct the confession.

In 2014, Humphrey was sentenced to over two years in prison by a Shanghai court for breaching privacy laws.

He was released seven months early and deported in 2015.

Humphrey told AFP this was the first legal action he has launched against any of the Chinese entities involved in his incarceration.

"It will not be the last," he added.

ewx/lth/je
China bars US citizens from leaving over 'economic crimes'



Beijing, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2018



China on Monday said that it has barred three reported US citizens -- a woman and her two grown children -- from leaving the country because they are suspected of "economic crimes".

According to the New York Times, Chinese-born mother Sandra Han and her children, Cynthia and Victor Liu, were prevented from leaving the country after they arrived in June.

The children say police are preventing them from returning home to compel their father, a former executive at a Chinese state-owned bank, to return to China to face criminal charges, according to the Times.

Their mother is allegedly being held in a secret site known as a "black jail", the Times reported.

The siblings told American officials and family associates that they were prevented from flying home despite not having been charged with a crime, the newspaper said.

China's foreign ministry on Monday defended the decision.

"As we understand it from the relevant authorities, these people you have mentioned all have legal and valid identity documents as Chinese citizens," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular press briefing.

"They are suspected of having committed economic crimes and have been restricted from leaving China by Chinese police."

Chinese law does not recognise dual citizenship.

While China is known to bar naturalised foreign citizens who are former Chinese nationals from leaving, it is rare that one of those being held was born in the United States.

The US State Department issued a travel advisory in January, warning its citizens about the use of "exit bans" to compel American nationals to resolve disputes or compel family members or colleagues to cooperate with Chinese authorities.

US-born Victor, 19, was set to start his second year at Georgetown University while his sister, Cynthia, 27, was heading back to work with consulting firm McKinsey & Company, according to the Times.

They have unsuccessfully tried to leave three times and have been moving between cities and living with an uncle, the paper reported.

The siblings claim they are innocent and are being used to pressure their father, Liu Changming, a wanted man in China.

A former executive at the Bank of Communications, Liu is accused of helping to carry out one of the country's biggest bank frauds, in which $1.4 billion in illegal loans were issued to property developers.

He fled China in 2007 and his children say he is estranged from the family, cutting off ties in 2012.

The US embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

el/lth/fa

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
Kathmandu, November 26

Whereas the report prepared by a government committee to investigate into the smuggling of 33.5 kg gold by a gang led by Chudamani Upreti aka Gore gathers dust at the Prime Minsters Office, the chief of Nepal Police was found to have attended a retreat function with a suspect of the case.

IGP Sarbendra Khanal is learned to have attended the event along with Thakur Dhungana hosted by the Non-Resident Nepali Organisation during his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Dhungana, a permanent resident of Nilakantha Municipality in Dhading district, is accused of partnering with Gore for illegal hundi transactions that helped the gang in the smuggling of precious metal as well. Currently, he has some businesses in the UAE.

The NRNA committee in the UAE had taken IGP Khanal among other delegates to a retreat in a hilly side on Thursday last week, an NRNA official informs Onlinekhabar. Dhungana was also there.

The NRNA had its meeting the next day. Dhungana, as an NRN businessman, had sat behind Khanal during the meeting. He had also delivered a speech at the function.

During the function, NRNA UAE President Ramesh Shrestha had repeatedly requested the participants not to capture photographs citing it was just an informal event.

Meanwhile, some Nepalis in the UAE had claimed they were planning to tip off the IGP about Dhungana, and they were sad when the IGP was seen with the suspect.

Another source informs that IGP Khanal also held a meeting with businessman Deepak Manhotra, whom trader Bimal Poddar named as another member of the smuggling racket.

Khanal was in Dubai to attend the 87th Interpol General Assembly last week.
EU's UN envoys urge Russia to restore free passage at Kerch Strait



Beijing, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2018



The European Union's UN Security Council envoys urged Russia on Monday to "restore freedom of passage" in the Kerch Strait, where Russia has seized three Ukrainian ships.

The diplomats from France, Britain, Sweden, Poland and The Netherlands issued a statement voicing "concern about the recent escalation of tension in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait", and they urged Russia to release detained Ukrainian soldiers and return captured vessels.

The group of EU envoys met for an "informal exchange of views" on the Russia-Ukraine standoff on the sidelines of the UN Security Council's planned trip to Beijing to visit peacekeeping training centres.

They will hold another meeting on November 26 in New York to continue discussions, the statement said.

In an unprecedented incident, the Russian navy fired on and seized Ukranian ships in the Kerch Strait off the coast of Crimea, raising fears of a wider military escalation.

Russia accused the ships of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov.
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Kathmandu, November 26

A central leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party has demanded that convicts of certain rape cases be killed in punishment so that it would deter others from the crime.

NCP Central Committee member and lawmaker Amrita Thapa Magar says political parties will be forced to think of capital punishment if the number of rape cases continues to increase.

In general, our legal provisions are not sufficient, Magar tells Onlinekhabar in an interview, The provisions should be strictly implemented. But, for cases involving infants, adolescent girls and elderly women, very strict provisions should be established. The constitution should be amended

She adds, If such cases continue increasing, we will be forced to think about capital punishment. You cannot expect this provision to come into effect immediately. But, everything thinks that death sentence is necessary when they see such heinous cases.

Magar argues that the provision of death sentence would not be against the principles of human rights because another persons right should not be violated while ensuring the other persons right.

But still, our priority is ending the crime, not criminals, she maintains, Awareness is a must.
Israel cabinet approves appointment of new army chief of staff



Jerusalem, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2018



Israel's cabinet on Sunday approved the appointment of Aviv Kochavi, a former military intelligence head, as the army's new chief of staff, a government source said.

Kochavi will take up his new position at the start of 2019, succeeding General Gadi Eisenkot.

He was selected for the job by now former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman in October.

Kochavi has served as head of the army's northern command and as military intelligence chief during the 2014 war against the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza.

He was also deputy chief of staff since 2017.

Kochavi, 54, is a graduate of the prestigious universities of Harvard and John Hopkins in the United States and holds a degree in international relations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had welcomed the choice of Kochavi after his selection by Lieberman in October, saying he was "the most worthy candidate" to become the next chief of staff.

And Eisenkot had also congratulated him at the time and described him as "a distinguished officer with extensive combat experience from multiple combat theatres".
General denies leading Burkina Faso coup



Ouagadougou, Nov 26 (AFP) Nov 26, 2018



A general denied leading a deadly 2015 coup attempt in the West African state of Burkina Faso, in his first trial testimony on Monday.

"I neither ordered, nor planned, nor organised, nor executed what some people are calling a coup d'etat on September 16, 2015," Gilbert Diendere told a military court in the capital Ouagadougou.

"I just faced up to a given situation on the advice of mediators and by agreement with the military hierarchy," said Diendere, who appeared in the packed courtroom in a red beret and military fatigues.

Diendere is the former head of the elite Presidential Security Regiment (RSP) that guarded president Blaise Compaore, who was ousted in a popular uprising in 2014.

Compaore ruled the former French colony for 27 years after himself coming to power after a military coup.

The trial opened in February over the coup bid staged by Diendere's elite unit against the interim leadership that took over after Compaore was driven from power.

The violence left 14 people dead and 270 injured.

Diendere is charged with treason, murder and threatening state security.

During the coup attempt, Diendere took the helm of a junta dubbed the National Council for Democracy before stepping down under pressure from the regular army as well as public opinion.

Diendere is among 84 defendants in the trial including another general and suspected ringleader, Djibrill Bassole, who served as foreign minister under Compaore.

Diendere testified Monday that on the day of the attempted coup, former RSP guards burst into a cabinet meeting and arrested the interim president, the prime minister and two ministers, then sequestered them in the presidential palace.

"In the face of this situation, a meeting was set up between the military leadership and the mediators -- former president Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo and Cardinal Paul Ouedraogo," he said.

Those two sides then wanted to meet with the RSP "to resolve the crisis", Diendere said.

"The armed forces chief of staff said... it was up to those who had launched the movement to do so," he said. "I found myself under an obligation to step forward even without having been behind" the movement, he testified.



- Co-defendants point finger -



Co-defendant Boureima Kere, a colonel who was chief of staff under transitional president Michel Kafando at the time of the coup, testified against Diendere on November 12 and accused army chiefs of passivity.

"Even if the army was not behind the coup d'etat it backed General Diendere's movement," he told the court.

Kere said Diendere had warned military brass that they would be "considered enemies and treated as such" if they opposed the coup.

Two other co-defendants had testified against Diendere in July.

Eloi Badiel, considered the operational chief of the failed coup, told the court he had acted under the "indirect" orders of Diendere, who he said wanted the arrest of the transitional authorities.

Jean-Florent Nion, a member of the commando unit that arrested transition authorities, testified that Diendere called the shots in the attempted putsch.
Kathmandu, November 26

Student union leaders affiliated to the main opposition Nepali Congress and the Naya Shakti Party Nepal greeted Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari with a black flag in his home city, Pokhara, on Monay.

The demonstrators demanded that the Minister launch an independent probe into suspected irregularities in the purchase of two wide body aircraft for the national flag carrier, Nepal Airlines Corporation.

On Friday, Minister Adhikari had expressed a commitment that he would submit all documents related to the deal to the International Relations Committee of Parliament within 24 hours. However, there is not any report on if he submitted the papers.

Meanwhile, police detained six demonstrators for showing the black flag to the minister. SP Om Rana, Chief of the Kaski District Police Office, says further investigation is underway whereas the students are in police custody.

The detainees have been identified as Netra Chapagain, Resham Sapkota, Bishal Timsina, Narendra Basyal, Krishna Adhikari and Tejendra Kumar Bhatta.
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Shaheed Alhafeed, November 26, 2018 (SPS) - The Permanent Bureau of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front has reiterated the commitment of the Sahrawi party and its readiness to engage in a negotiation process in good faith and without preconditions.



In a statement following its meeting today, Monday, chaired by President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, the Permanent Office confirmed the importance of this stage in the negotiation process between the parties to the Western Sahara conflict, Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco, which is being conducted under the auspices of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, President Horst Koehler.



The statement expressed the hope of the Polisario Front that the efforts of the international community in this regard would be successful, by enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.



The renewed commitment of the Polisario Front comes prior to the departure of the Sahrawi negotiating delegation to Geneva in December, in response to the invitation of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Horst Koehler, to the parties to the conflict, the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco, with a view to finding a solution guaranteeing the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. (SPS)



062/SPS/TRA
Shaheed Alhafed, November 26, 2018 (SPS) - The Council of Ministers has condemned the maneuvers carried out by European bodies aimed at circumvention the ruling of The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), which nullify any agreement with the Moroccan occupation state that includes the natural resources of Western Sahara.



In its meeting today, Monday, chaired by President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, the Council stressed that these maneuvers are clear complicity with the Moroccan occupation and a real obstruction of the efforts of the international community aimed at decolonization of the last colony in the African continent.



The Council commended the African Union's adherence to its founding charter based on respect for the right of peoples to self-determination and independence, and the sanctity of the borders inherited from independence, valuing the unity of its members in the face of maneuvers aimed at dispersing the African continent and weakening its position.



It reiterated the willingness of the Sahrawi party to enter into the round of negotiations to be held in Geneva, on the basis of United Nations resolutions affirming the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence. (SPS)



062/SPS/TRA
EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Ceva Logistics AG / Key word(s): Acquisition

CEVA Logistics upgrades its 2021 expectations. Strategic partnership with CMA CGM - Acquisition of CMA CGM Log



26-Nov-2018 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Baar, Switzerland, 26 November, 2018 - CEVA Logistics AG ("CEVA" or the "Company") announced today its revised strategic plan which includes three key levers to accelerate top-line growth and improve profitability: the launch of a strategic partnership with CMA CGM and the acceleration of turnaround efforts with the support of CMA CGM's corporate transformation expertise, the leveraging of the CMA CGM's overall platform to accelerate revenue growth, and the acquisition of CMA CGM's freight management activities ("CMA CGM Log").

Key highlights of the revised strategic plan:



CEVA's 2021 revenue target above US$ 9 billion, reflecting a 5% average annual organic growth and the contribution of CMA CGM Log of US$ 630 million

Stronger footprint in Ocean Freight Management

Upgraded 2021 management expectations on Adjusted EBITDA raised from US$ 380 million to US$ 470-490 million

Acquisition of CMA CGM Log for US$ 105 million (cash free/debt free) paid in cash

Appointment of Nicolas Sartini as Chief Ope Rating Officer and Deputy CEO as of 1 January, 2019

Officer and Deputy CEO as of 1 January, 2019 Intensified business relationship with CMA CGM while keeping an arm's length governance

"With the support of our strategic partner CMA CGM, I am proud to open a new chapter for CEVA Logistics and announce that we can accelerate our transformation and turnaround action plan in the next three years and beyond. This can be achieved by a combination of our commercial and sales focus, cross selling with CMA CGM customers, our own productivity actions, the integration of CMA CGM Log within CEVA and sharing resources with CMA CGM in the field of procurement and administrative functions. I am very happy to welcome Nicolas who has successfully turned around the APL shipping company as my Deputy and COO." says Xavier Urbain, CEO of CEVA Logistics.



A Realistic Enhanced Margin Improvement Trajectory

CEVA has been on a transformation journey since 2014 with a commitment to strengthening its approach to new business development, transform its IT infrastructure and improve the company's operational performance and productivity through increased standardization and streamlined processes. At the time of the IPO, CEVA had been halfway through this journey and has continuously been pursuing these actions since. The strategic partnership with CMA CGM now opens up significant opportunities to accomplish this journey more rapidly, secure a more robust execution and take advantage of CMA CGM's customer base and turnaround expertise.

The combination of CMA CGM's and CEVA's expertise in corporate transformations is expected to deliver faster and more sustainable efficiency.

The revised management expectations rely on the following three key initiatives:

Acceleration: Accelerate CEVA's transformation by leveraging CMA CGM's operational and commercial expertise and benefit from cross-selling opportunities

Accelerate CEVA's transformation by leveraging CMA CGM's operational and commercial expertise and benefit from cross-selling opportunities Efficiency: Leverage CMA CGM's platform to generate cost efficiencies in terms of back-office optimization

Leverage CMA CGM's platform to generate cost efficiencies in terms of back-office optimization CMA CGM Log: Strengthen CEVA's footprint in Ocean Freight Management through the acquisition of CMA CGM's Freight Management activities.

CEVA will remain an independent and standalone listed company. This strategic partnership is aligned with CMA CGM's strategy to offer end-to-end logistics solutions to its customers, pioneering the development of integrated logistics solutions, while retaining an arm's length business relationship with CEVA.

Management expects that these three key initiatives will result in an incremental US$ 100 million of Adjusted EBITDA by 2021 compared to the objective set at the IPO. As a result, management expects an Adjusted EBITDA range of US$ 470 to 490 million by 2021. In terms of EBITDA margin, the objective remains to achieve more than 5% in the longer term when full benefits materialize.

CEVA's Board of Directors will formally confirm these management expectations when the Public Tender Offer prospectus presented by CMA CGM is issued.



Acceleration

CEVA expects to accelerate its transformation and will introduce value-enhancing initiatives, most notably:

Cross-selling with CMA CGM, strengthen key account relations and increase "share of wallet", while diversifying to medium and small size customers, focus on the value-add segments like cold chain logistics and LCL (Less Than Container Load), develop fast-growing sectors (E-commerce, Retail) organically and penetrate new geographic areas with strong growth potential (Asia, Middle East, Africa)

Reinforcing CEVA's management with some of CMA CGM's highly experienced managers in the field of company turnaround, a streamlined organization simplifying the current matrix organization, with increased control from the central level

Improving operators' productivity as a result of process improvements and technology, accelerated SG&A efficiency, leverage shared service centers across functions/geographies, accelerated deployment of IT tools (WMS-Warehouse Management System, TMS-Terminal Management System).

Efficiency

CEVA expects to leverage CMA CGM's overall platform to realize efficiency improvements. Back-office functions synergies have been already identified, including savings on current outsourcing contracts, transfer of functions to shared service center and more efficient billing and cash collection. On the procurement side, savings on services and consumables are also expected to contribute to savings.

CMA CGM Log

CEVA has agreed in principle, subject to regulatory approvals, confirmatory due diligence and legally required consultation processes, to acquire 100% of CMA CGM's freight management activities for a total consideration (cash free/debt free) of US$105 million paid in cash. Closing of the CMA CGM Log acquisition is expected in the second quarter of 2019 following completion of the Public Tender Offer by CMA CGM for CEVA.

CMA CGM Log expects to generate revenues of US$ 630 million and an EBITDA of US$ 16 million. The company has 1,200 employees in 32 countries via directly-owned entities and has cooperation agreements in 26 additional countries. CMA CGM Log has a significant presence in high growth markets including India, China, Australia and the US.

The integration of CMA CGM Log into CEVA Freight Management Business line is expected to significantly reinforce CEVA's footprint in Ocean Freight Management with 170,000 additional controlled TEUs, addressing CEVA's target to reach close to 1,000,000 TEUs and enable expansion of its product offering in the field of Sea FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load), Customs Clearance, carrier haulage and Air freight Forwarding. The combination of CMA CGM Log and CEVA's Freight Management Business is expected to result in significant cost synergies.

Appointment of Nicolas Sartini

Nicolas Sartini has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO as of 1 January, 2019. He has been acting as CEO of APL since CMA CGM's takeover of APL in June 2016. In this role, Nicolas Sartini has been instrumental to the quick turnaround of APL between 2016 and 2018 and will bring to CEVA a wealth of expertise in the field. Prior to joining APL, he held various positions within CMA CGM as Group Senior Vice President. Nicolas Sartini graduated from the Paris-based Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales business school in 1983.



Update on the Public Tender Offer

On 26 November, 2018 CMA CGM has published its pre-announcement for the Public Tender Offer on CEVA shares. CMA CGM will offer to CEVA shareholders to either:

Remain invested in CEVA, capturing the expected significant value creation potential embedded in the new strategic plan or

Exit in the context of CMA CGM's public tender offer at a value of CHF 30 per share in cash.

Publication of the prospectus including the report of the board of directors of CEVA, which will include its recommendation to all shareholders, is expected in mid-January 2019.

It is CEVA's and CMA CGM's objective to maintain CEVA's listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange with a significant free float and with governance principles in line with best practices for Swiss listed companies. The Public Tender Offer process is expected to close in April 2019.

Documents

CEVA Logistics investor presentation are available under:

http://www.ir.cevalogistics.com/websites/ceva/English/3000/results-centre.html

For additional information please contact:

Investors:

Pierre Benaich

SVP Investor Relations

pierre.benaich@cevalogistics.com

+41 41 547 0048



Media:

Matthias Hochuli

Group Head of Marketing and Communications

matthias.hochuli@cevalogistics.com

+41 41 547 00 52



Cathy Howe

Pilot Marketing

ch@pilotmarketing.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)208 941 5381

CEVA - Making business flow

CEVA Logistics, a global asset-light third-party logistics company, designs and operates industry leading supply-chain solutions for large and medium-size national and multinational companies. Its integrated network in Freight Management and Contract Logistics spans more than 160 countries. Approximately 56,000 employees are dedicated to delivering effective solutions across a variety of industry sectors where CEVA applies its operational expertise to provide best-in-class services. CEVA generated revenue of $7 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $280 million in 2017. CEVA Logistics is listed on SIX Swiss Exchange under ticker symbol CEVA. For more information, please visit www.cevalogistics.com .

Safe Harbour Statement:

This news release contains specific forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, discussions regarding the proposed refinancing described above, its guidance for 2018 and beyond, discussions regarding industry outlook, CEVA's expectations regarding the performance of its business or joint ventures, its liquidity and capital resources, and other non-historical statements. These statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes" "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "continues," "estimates," "predicts," "projects," "forecasts," and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs only as of the date of this news release and, in addition to the assumptions specifically mentioned in the above paragraphs, there are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including the effect of local and national economic, credit and capital market conditions, a downturn in the industries in which we operate (including the automotive industry and the air freight business), risks associated with CEVA's global operations, fluctuations and increases in fuel prices, CEVA's substantial indebtedness, restrictions contained in its debt agreements and risks that it will be unable to compete effectively. Further information concerning CEVA and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect CEVA's financial results, is contained in the annual and quarterly reports of CEVA Logistics AG (and its predecessor CEVA Holdings LLC), available on the Company's website, which investors are strongly encouraged to review. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialise or the consequences of such a development worsen, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those forecasted or expected. CEVA disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Owen Scott, pictured holding a photo of his younger self, was one of the last surviving pilots of the Lancaster bomber

World War II RAF hero Owen Scott, one of the last surviving Lancaster Bomber pilots, has died aged 96.

Owen Scott pictured during his appearance on ITVs This Morning in 2013, with presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield

With the poignancy of the Armistice commemorations still resonating it seemed appropriate to dedicate our front story to this hero from another deadly war.

Owen moved to Stratford with his wife Nancy (Nan) in retirement, and the couple lived at The Hill  a listed building that once belonged to the local brewers, the Flowers family  for the last 25 years. Latterly the couple had moved to Priors House care home in Leamington.

They were married for 72 years. Nan died earlier this year, and was buried on what would have been the couples 73rd anniversary.

Speaking to the Herald, the couples daughter, Nicky Selby, who lives in Stratford, told us about her fathers amazing war career.

Born in 1922, he went into the Merchant Navy at 14 having never been on a ship. On his first trip he went to Russia, South Africa and then ended up in Saigon. He had so many adventures between the wars.

He enrolled for the RAF and was sent to Pensacola in Florida and trained on flying boats. Eventually he was posted back to England to serve with Bomber Command  and was one of the last surviving Lancaster pilots.

He earned his wings and became Flight Lieutenant Owen Scott and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944. The pilot served in the RAF for three years  taking part in over 30 missions, including raids on Berlin and Dresden, and flying 27 different aircraft during his career.

Owen and Nan first met on the dance floor at their local town hall in Loughborough, Leicestershire. It was the height of World War II, and Owen was completing his conversion training to heavy bombers at RAF Wymeswold. Nan joined the RAF soon after, as a radar operator. She became responsible for plotting Owens bombing runs, which meant she knew exactly where he was going every time he took off, and the dangers he faced there.

Nicky says her father had lots of tales, and recalls one particular hair-raising one.

On one bombing raid during the war he and the crew realised the bombs had got stuck in the bomb bay  they couldnt drop them, even though Dad tried various aerobatic loops over the North Sea. So he radioed back to base, asking what he should do.

He was told they had two choices: bail out or try and land it. The crew trusted Dad to try and land the plane  which he did, with the bomb bay door open and a 2,000lb bomb [known as a cookie] hanging out, and seven other 500lb bombs behind it he managed it though.

Speaking to the BBC in 2005, Owen gave a stark account of the dangers that the Lancaster crews faced. He said: Ninety per cent of our operations were at night, flying over enemy territory in the dark, dependent on maps and instruments, aware that enemy fighters would be on our tail. We flew manually and rolled the 37-ton loaded plane to see whether any enemy fighters were underneath us. To avoid fighter attack, we performed a corkscrew operation. Being caught in a searchlight was a terrifying experience as it made our plane an easy target for enemy shells.

Recalling the devastation of the air raids, Owen poignantly added: I have vivid memories of the night we bombed Dresden. We had no idea then of the damage our bombs had done but I shall never forget the sight of the city in flames.

It wasnt all bombing raids however, Owen also took part in dropping food parcels over cities in Holland in the final days of World War II. The effort, called Operation Manna, meant the starving population, who had been cut off by the conflict, could eat and survive until more help arrived.

Nicky remembers her dad telling her about how he had to fly very low over Rotterdam in order to drop the food parcels.

Owen has shared his fascinating stories on various documentaries, and appeared on ITVs This Morning in 2013, talking to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield about his war years.

Holly was amazed to hear he was a pilot with Bomber Command aged only 22.

Owen explained: It was terrifying. Seven thousand Lancasters were lost during the war, with 55,000 men killed... I was caught in searchlights a couple of times.

He finished his appearance on the show, on which he was joined by his granddaughter and two young great-grandchildren, by saying: I dont want to appear a hero, but I did do it, and I can never forget it, never, and I still have nightmares.

Owen and Nan had two daughters and a son, plus four grandchildren. In later life the couple ran a holiday letting business. Nicky recalled a happy childhood. Before moving to Stratford the family home was Talland House in St Ives, where the writer Virginia Woolf had lived, and which was an inspiration for her novel To The Lighthouse. We had so many happy Christmases there, said Nicky.

The Royal Airforce Benevolent Fund continues to give couples like Owen and Nan support in times of financial need. Find out more at www.rafbf.org
OTT Leadership Summit: The IAB on Server-Side Ad Insertion

Server-side ad insertion (SSAI) technology is a game-changer for online content owners, allowing them to deliver a smoother experience for viewers while avoiding ad-blockers. During Streaming Media West's OTT Leadership Summit, SSAI expert Amit Shetty will join a panel discussing the technology's future. He shared a few thoughts in advance of the conference.

Streaming Media: Why is SSAI so useful for content owners?

Amit Shetty: SSAI is a solution that addresses a few issues for content owners.

First is user experience: It allows ads to be delivered with the same quality assurance as video content regardless of device and bandwidth variations.

Second is its ability to support more devices, including devices that have very little capabilities beyond playing video. For client-side ad insertion, the devices need to be a bit more sophisticated and allow code to be executed/support ad SDKs.

Third is ad blocking: With SSAI, publishers can deliver ads without being blocked.

Are there new developments coming for SSAI that will make it even more effective?

As companies understand the benefits of SSAI, there has been more investment in improving standards like VAST to ensure that SSAI use cases are better supported. This includes support for a UniversalAdID, guidance for handling headers correctly, separation of media file from executable code, and so onfeatures that are critical to ensuring that SSAI can be better supported.

What are the special technical requirements with SSAI?

The ability to seamlessly stitch ads requires the ability to transcode and deliver the ad streams as needed by the end-users environment. In addition, vendors have been working on technologies to improve the delivery of adsfor example, via ad clouds."

Are VOD providers just starting up with SSAI? What is holding them back from adopting it?

While these are still early days, there are signs that a majority of ads delivered on OTT platforms are server-side inserted. It does, however, take a lot of changes in the ecosystem to support SSAI. Ensuring that the right file formats are delivered, ensuring that the VAST tags for the ads do not contain VPAID, and confusion around the state of verification are all factors that might be holding providers from adopting SSAI.

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Central Ohio Dragon Lights Ticket Giveaway 2018

Update: This giveaway is closed. Winner is #10, Lawanna! Congrats!

Central Ohio Dragon Lights Ticket Giveaway 2018

If you live in Central Ohio and are looking for something fun to do this holiday season, be sure to check out Dragon Lights, the Ohio Chinese Lantern Festival! I have been want to to go to this for a couple of years, and Im excited that my family is finally going to check it out this week. I have heard great things!

Dragon Lights will be held at the Ohio Expo Center through January 6, 2019. The festival will celebrate Asian folk culture with 40 all new lanterns (including some very cool, interactive ones) with professional acrobat performances, a panda-themed marketplace and Chinese handicraft arts that cannot be found elsewhere in the United States! Hours are 5:30-10PM with a couple of exceptions.

You can learn more, and purchase tickets HERE.

I am excited that I have a family 4 pack of tickets to give away to one lucky winner! You must live in Central Ohio and be able to attend this event in Columbus to enter! Details below.

What am I giving away?

4 tickets to attend Dragon Lights in Columbus Ohio, through December 1, 2018.

How can you win?

You can enter up to 5 times:

1) Leave a comment letting me know your favorite holiday tradition. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post and click Post Comment. You must be on my site  you cant do this through a reader.)

2) Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (click on the image below to go to Twitter):

3) Fans of the Stretching a Buck Facebook Page automatically earn an entry. Just be sure to leave a comment here letting me know that you are a fan!

4) Subscribe to my feed or email newsletter and stay on top of all of the deals that I write about each week! If you already subscribe, please leave a separate comment letting me know that you are currently a subscriber (thank you!).

Who is eligible?

You must have a valid US address to be eligible and be able to attend the show in Columbus, OH.

When does this giveaway end?

Tuesday, November 27 at 5PM EST.

The winner will be chosen via the random number generator at random.org and will be notified via email. Please note that if I do not hear from the winner within 2 days that another winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are strictly my own. View my disclosure policy here.

If you find this information useful, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed or email newsletter. Also, be sure to check out Stretching a Buck on Facebook. Thanks for visiting! Note: This post may contain affiliate links. View my disclosure policy here.
The lost lessons of World War I By Dominique Moisi, exclusive to the Sunday Times, Sri Lanka View(s): View(s):

PARIS  It has been 100 years since World War I ended, and the centenary was commemorated this month with great pomp in Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. Germany sent high-level authorities to France to mark the occasion, reaffirming the reconciliation between the two countries. But the fact that Franco-German reconciliation did not occur until Europe had suffered another devastating war demonstrates how fragile peace can be, especially when political leaders are as shortsighted as they often are.

The Cambridge historian Christopher Clark aptly titled his 2012 book on the origins of WWI The Sleepwalkers. Through a combination of willful blindness, utter complacency, and intense stubbornness, Europes leaders subjected their countries to a conflict that shattered an entire generation.

By the time WWI erupted, it should have been clear that industrialisation and the transportation revolution had transformed warfare. The Crimean War of 1853-1856 had over one million casualties; the American Civil War of 1861-1865 resulted in over 600,000 deaths.

Despite these experiences, Europes leaders clung to the nineteenth-century military theorist Carl von Clausewitzs dictum that, War is the continuation of politics through other means. So politics continued in the form of war, resulting in 20 million military and civilian casualties.

Yet not even that was enough to wake up the sleepwalkers. In the years following the Armistice, Europes leaders failed to transcend the divisions that WWI had laid bare, with the tensions between the French and Germans being particularly destabilising.

This failure was reflected in the Armistice itself, which imposed excessively harsh requirements on Germany, including billions of dollars in reparations payments, due at a time when the country faced a deep economic crisis. Meanwhile, international oversight was too weak, with the League of Nations remaining largely silent in the face of dangerous developments, such as Adolf Hitlers remilitarisation of the Rhineland. The US Senates rejection of the League of Nations in 1919  and thus of the principles of internationalism and multilateralism that President Woodrow Wilson had promoted  certainly didnt help matters.

More fundamentally, WWII erupted because nationalism was allowed to continue to fester. French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, for one, remained deeply nationalistic and, in particular, vehemently anti-German. But while behaving like Clemenceau might win the war (especially if a power like the United States shows up to offer crucial help), it cannot win the peace; hard nationalism naturally leads to conflict.

Yet, today, a major world leader, US President Donald Trump, is behaving very much like Clemenceau. This holds serious implications not just for the US, but also for Europe. To be sure, French President Emmanuel Macron embraces the Wilsonian principles that Trump rejects. But, as the interwar period starkly showed, if core rules and principles are not accepted by all, the institutions they underpin cannot be sustained.

WWII accomplished what even WWI could not: it ended the era of European global dominance. While Europe has grown and prospered since 1945, it has not regained the global leadership status its major countries once possessed. This leaves todays European Union at the mercy of a US that has rejected multilateralism and embraced nationalism.

Of course, plenty of the risks Europe faces lie within its own borders. In France, for example, many are brushing off the warnings issued by Macron  or, more concretely, by their history books  as they push back against their presidents efforts to take up the mantle of multilateralism.

The risk today is that generations that have not known war will reproduce the chain of events that lead to it. This risk is exemplified by the recent yellow vest protests in France against an environmental tax on fuel. The protests were also intended to be a broader rebuke of Macron, whom many blame for their declining spending power.

The protesters probably think that they are acting in the spirit of the 1789 French Revolution, a spirit that the French periodically revive in their countrys politics. But they are actually reenacting the 1930s, with its right-wing protest movements and militias.

This is not to say that French citizens  and, in particular, young people  have nothing about which to complain. Unemployment has remained too high for too long, and while France has largely escaped the spike in income inequality seen in other countries, such as the US, systemic inequalities are pervasive.

But the fact is that the emotional rejection of any person or institution even remotely associated with established elites  including mainstream political parties and trade unions  lends itself to exploitation by populist demagogues. And history could not be clearer about the risks generated when such demagogues secure power.

The world has changed profoundly over the last century. Our economies are more deeply intertwined than ever before, and the sheer scale of destruction that could be wrought by todays weaponry may invite some semblance of restraint.

But, as Trumps erratic presidency  including his challenges to longstanding alliances and reckless nuclear posturing  starkly demonstrates, the structures we have created to preserve peace are far from foolproof. With populations across the West embracing nationalistic and populist ideas, we are again dancing on the rim of a volcano.

(Dominique Moisi is Senior Counselor at the Institut Montaigne in Paris. He is the author of La Geopolitique des Series ou le triomphe de la peur.)

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018. www.project-syndicate.org
A student from a secondary school in Mijas has been given a six-month suspended jail sentence and told to pay damages and legal fees after being found guilty of assaulting and wounding her English teacher.

The sentence concluded that the girl had tried to boycott her test, undermined her teacher's authority, then kicked a chair at her before saying "I haven't done anything yet".
The seventh annual Gran Recogida, the massive annual collection for foodbanks, is soon upon us and will be taking place in supermarkets across the region on 30 November and 1 December.

THE GRAN RECOGIDA When. Friday 30 November and Saturday 1 December. The challenge. Bancosol aims to collect 600 tonnes on non-perishable foods in this, its seventh edition. Volunteers. Four thousand people, including those who speak English, French or German, are needed. Stores. Around 15 supermarket chains are taking part with a total of 330 shops. Beneficiaries. 45,000 people through 234 NGOs. Sign up. Call 952 179 579 or email malaga@bancosol.info.

The collection in the province of Malaga is organised by the foodbank Bancosol, and the event coincides with collections all over Spain, organised by the foodbank federation.

Malaga hosted the official presentation of the campaign at an event in the Andalusian central government delegate's office on Wednesday, attended by Francisco Fernandez Espana, provincial delegate of the Junta de Andalucia; Raul Jimenez, deputy mayor of Malaga; Jacob Hachuel, representative from the autonomous city of Ceuta; and the president of the Food Federation of Andalucia, Ceuta and Melilla, Pedro Mariscal. In total, it is hoped that 2,700 tonnes of food can be collected across Andalucia, Ceuta and Melilla in order to exceed last year's record.

In the province of Malaga, the challenge is to collect 600 tonnes of food in more than 300 establishments to bring a dish to the table to 45,000 people with limited resources.

To this end, 4,000 volunteers are needed in Malaga.

Action still necessary

The financial crisis may be officially over, but poverty is still a part of everyday Spanish life. The major challenge that faces Bancosol today is convincing the general public that such action is still necessary.

"That is the feeling that we are constantly trying to fight against," says Bancosol president Joaquin Jimenez. "In 2008, we served 24,000 people. Now we have a list of 45,000 beneficiaries so that shows we have not returned to pre-crisis levels. That's why I think the Gran Recogida is more important than ever now. There are still many people who are having a hard time."

Pre-made meals

The focus of this year's collection will be different to previous years, said Jimenez. "We are going to ask for milk, oil and pre-made meals that don't need to be kept refrigerated."

Having collected an abundance of rice and pasta over recent editions, "we hope to cover the needs of the organisations we serve", he says. That means ready-made products that are high in quality.

That said, "everything is welcome... except money. In the past when people have wanted to give money, we have used it to buy food".

Volunteers still needed

An additional challenge is finding the 4,000 volunteers necessary to staff the posts in the supermarkets. "We still need volunteers in the Churriana, Fuengirola, Mijas and Torrox Costa areas," says Mari Carmen Chamizo, leader of the Gran Recogida campaign in Malaga and the Costa del Sol.

To publicise the campaign and to attract volunteers, this year Bancosol has once again prepared posters and leaflets in French, English and German, aimed mainly at the coastal areas with the largest foreign-resident populations.

Volunteers who speak foreign languages are especially wanted in order to spread the message of the campaign and explain to shoppers how it works.

This year, Antonio Banderas joins the Unicaja Foundation in support of the event and his image is being used to encourage people to take part.

Organisers of the Gran Recogida want age to be no barrier and are encouraging everyone to take part, from school children to retirees, and foreign residents are welcome.
All3Media is providing three new National Film and Television School (NFTS) scholarships for students from a BAME background on the two-week Writing the TV Pilot course at NFTS and NFTS Scotland.



All3Media will continue to provide a scholarship for a student from a BAME background for the TV Drama  Creating the Bible certificate course.



Writing the TV Pilot creates the reality of a writers room where ten students write and complete a pilot episode of a drama series in just two weeks. The course will run at NFTS Scotland in June 2019, and at the NFTS in October 2019.



TV Drama  Creating The Bible runs for eight-weeks and aims to equip writers and producers with the skills required to write and complete a full bible and pilot episode for a high-end TV drama series that has the potential of running over several seasons. The course will run at Beaconsfield in April 2019.



As part of the partnership, All3Media will get first refusal on all scripts produced by students on both courses.



The courses are led by NFTS Head of Short Courses, Peter Ansorge who was previously Head of Drama at Channel 4 where he commissioned the BAFTA award-winning drama series A Very British Coup, The Politicians Wife, GBH, and Traffik on which the Oscar-winning film Traffic is based.



Peter Ansorge said: We are delighted that All3Media is providing scholarships for these two courses. Its been enthralling to have leading producers and Heads of Development at All3Media, from companies like Neal Street Productions, Lime Pictures and Company Pictures, coming to advise and encourage our course participants. As a result, writers have found agents, producers and companies interested in developing their work.



Alison Goring, Head NFTS Scotland said: We are absolutely delighted that All3Media is supporting students in Scotland by partnering with us on our Writing the TV Pilot course. Connecting with industry is a vital element of the training we offer and having All3Media on board for this course is the perfect pairing to support the professional development of writing talent in Scotland.



Sara Geater, All3Media COO: At All3Media we are committed to nurturing new talent. The NFTS has an incredibly impressive track record in producing the stars of the future so we are extremely pleased to be moving our partnership forward. We are committed to increasing diversity amongst the creators and producers of our content, which is why we are announcing three new scholarships for students from a BAME background for the Writing the TV Pilot short course. Both Writing the TV Pilot and TV Drama  Creating the Bible courses are increasingly recognised as a great source of new writing talent within the industry at a time when TV drama is booming.

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Scripted indie Bryncoed Productions has optioned the screen-adaptation rights to C L R James The Black Jacobins: Toussaint LOuverture and the San Domingo Revolution.

The book, which was written in 1938 by the Afro-Trinidadian historian, charts the history of the Haitian Revolution of 1791-1804.



Playwright, director, actor and broadcaster Kwame Kwei-Armah has signed up to adapt the project for television. The 10-part series, which will start with the first slave revolt of 1791 and end with the Haitian declaration of independence in 1804, will explore the nature of leadership, its compromises, its glories and the range of personal cost it claims.



After a seven-year stint as artistic director of Baltimores Center Stage theatre, Kwei-Arma has recently become artistic director of Londons Young Vic Theatre. His latest play, Marley, based on the life and music of reggae legend Bob Marley, debuted in 2015.



Kwei Armah said: Some books change you; other books change everybody who reads them. The Black Jacobins is one such book. By introducing me to the Haitian Revolution, to a man, to a people and to a time that redefined the way the mighty military nations of Europe saw see themselves in relation to the rest of the world, viscerally tilted my axis and changed the way I see the world we live in today. Bryncoeds rock-solid production team, experience and expertise put this generation-defining story in the best hands for dramatic interpretation for global audiences.



Foz Allan, founder and creative director of Bryncoed added: C L R James unflinching analysis of the Haitian Revolution captures what, in those days, must have been unthinkable  the liberation of the largest slave colony in the Americas and its transformation into a new nation. When I set up Bryncoed, my vision was to produce drama that reminds us of our humanity and shows us that there is more that unites than divides us. The Black Jacobins is exactly that drama.



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Strong earthquake rocks western Iran



Tehran, Nov 25 (AFP) Nov 25, 2018



A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Iran's western province of Kermanshah late Sunday, the country's institute of geophysics said, with local officials reporting some 260 people injured.

The epicentre of the quake was 17 kilometres southwest of the city of Sarpol-e Zahab, according to the institute, which said it struck at a depth of 7 kilometres.

At least 260 people were injured in Sarpol-e Zahab and the neighbouring city of Gilan-e Gharb, close to the Iraqi border, Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told state television.

"We've had no reports of fatalities so far. The situation is currently under control," Bazvand said.

"There were power and water cuts in both cities, but they lasted only a few minutes."

The head of Iran's emergency medical services Pirhossein Kolivand said in televised comments that most of the injuries were due to "people panicking and fleeing their homes".

The number of those hurt could rise as 18 emergency teams dispatched from neighbouring provinces were still assessing the damage, he said.

Sarpol-e Zahab resident Fariba Babayi described the fear that swept the city when the quake hit.

"Lights went out, walls looked as if they were going to fall and all the neighbours were screaming," Babayi, 36, told AFP by telephone.

"I didn't run this time, even though my mother was out calling to me."

Those living in the city are all too familiar with the devastation earthquakes can bring after it bore the brunt of a 7.3-magnitude termor last November that killed 620 people and injured thousands more.

Partial rebuilding work on Babayi's house finished just a month ago after it was razed in that quake and her family are still paying construction costs.

"We cannot go back to normal life anymore. There are all the bad memories, the trauma people live with," she told AFP.

There were no official details of any damage to buildings and infrastructure after the latest earthquake.

The region was rocked by seven weaker aftershocks an hour after the initial tremor, the strongest of which was magnitude 5.2, the geophysics institue said.

There were also reports that the initial quake was felt across the border in Iraq.



- 'Just reconstructed' -



Morteza Salimi, an official with the red crescent society of Iran, told semi-official news agency ISNA that the quake rocked areas "just reconstructed" after the tremor a year ago.

The quake last November damaged some 30,000 houses, with huge numbers made homeless at the start of the cold season in the mountainous region.

Local officials said the estimated cost of reconstruction would be billions of dollars, at a time when Iran was struggling to cope with a tanking economy.

There was criticism that new social housing built as part of a scheme championed by ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had failed to withstand the tremor.

The western province of Kermanshah was also hit by a 6.0-magnitude quake in August that killed two people and injured more than 250.

Iran sits on top of two major tectonic plates and sees frequent seismic activity.

In 2003, a 6.6-magnitude tremor struck the southeast of the country, decimating the ancient mud-brick city of Bam and killing at least 31,000 people.

The country's deadliest was a 7.4-magnitude quake in 1990, that killed 40,000 people in northern Iran, injured 300,000 and left half a million homeless.
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 08:30 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dc7d69 4 Editorial #Editorial,corruption-case,corruption,graft,corruption-eradication-commission,KPK,integrity-index Free

Last week, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) released the findings of the 2017 Integrity Perception Survey (SPI) involving employees and public users of the services of six government institutions and the administrations of 15 provinces and 15 municipalities and regencies.



The institutions averaged 66 out of 100 points. In a grueling battle, we must take to heart each sign of progress  the historically infamous customs and excise body topped the list of government bodies with a score of 76.54, followed by the Health Ministry and the Transportation Ministry. Customs and Excise Director General Heru Pambudi was a co-laureate of last years prestigious Bung Hatta Anticorruption Award; a previous co-laureate was his boss, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.



Another heartening survey result is the ranking of employees and users of the services of Banda Aceh municipality. It was ranked the highest among local administrations at 77.39, even though Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf was named a corruption suspect.



The annual survey, which questioned 2,084 civil servants and 2,142 members of the public, including businesspeople, further revealed one major problem of the deep-rooted corruption. With hundreds of politicians and regional heads having been arrested over the years, there is a culture of corruption within the bureaucracy, as politicians know the mandarins largely expect bribes.



Even young executives, such as non-active Jambi Governor Zumi Zola, who tearfully admitted in court last week to accepting bribes from the legislative council, have been sucked into a political web that feeds on korupsi berjamaah (systematic corruption). In this form of corruption, as one does not act alone, one will not go down alone when caught. Snitchers must prepare for the end of their career, face harassment or worse.



In the KPK survey, respondents across government institutions reported the existence of middlemen. One in 10 civil servant respondents said they had witnessed or heard of their colleagues receiving bribes or gratuity.



Among civil servant respondents, around 30 percent [] tend to believe bribes/gratuity influences policies over their careers []. Two out of 10 employees among the respondents witnessed informants of corruption in their units being ostracized, punished or having their careers obstructed in the last 12 months, the KPK report said. Over 35 percent of respondents among civil servants in North Sumatra, West Papua and Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan said they believe budgets were marked up in their institutions.



In an effort to prevent corruption, the KPK will partner with the Home Ministry next year to help local governments make self assessments involving public servants, the public and local experts. Dont expect fast results  internal attempts to stop corruption first began during the New Order.



The KPK has called for more e-government and e-procurement solutions and other ways to cut graft and the role of middlemen. Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has urged for consistency in the earlier introduced Online Single Submission channel for the expedient issuance of business permits.



President Joko Jokowi Widodo has urged governors, mayors and regents to step up efforts to welcome investors. They all know this means summoning up all their courage and willingness to fight temptation and pressure.
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Linkedin Imanuddin Razak (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 13:03 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ddcd88 1 Opinion TNI,Indonesian-Army,military,Indonesian-Military,army,andika-perkasa Free

Picking a trusted person to lead a strategic institution like the Army is absolutely the privilege of the President.



Last Thursday, President Joko Jokowi Widodo installed Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Andika Perkasa as the new Army chief of staff.



Jokowi said his choice of Andika, a 1987 graduate of the Military Academy, was solely based on professional considerations and that the new chief of staff had served in combat and military operations, military education and training, territorial command, as well as military communication and information posts. Those posts and university degrees have frequently been described as key prerequisites for eligible candidates to win key or top military positions, including in the Army.



However, it would be too naive to disregard widespread claims that Andikas appointment has political motives, as it is obvious that politics matters in any policies or decisions made by the President. After all, subjectivity of the President in appointing persons for key positions in the military is granted by the Constitution.



A total of 10 active Army personnel of three-star rank of different classes 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987  were initially designated as eligible candidates for the number one post in the Army. Preliminary screening of their ages, chiefly to rule out those nearing the mandatory retirement age of 58, and their career path in the military immediately halved their number to only five. After that, it was personal consideration and the calculation of the President  certainly after input and insights from within and outside his circle  that played the key role in his eventual decision to appoint Andika to replace Gen. Mulyono as the Army chief.



There have been controversies surrounding the selection process and particularly on Andikas military career record and profile, including the fact that he is the son-in-law of AM Hendropriyono, the former chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), who has long been a close confidant and chief supporter of Jokowi. But the complex selection process has finished and the new Army chief has been appointed. The decision is final, unless something extraordinary happens or is revealed that could invalidate his appointment, it is therefore irrelevant to question Andikas eligibility as Army chief.



It is perhaps more noteworthy to anticipate Andikas future military career. Upon his appointment as the new Army chief, Andika has immediately been tipped as a strong candidate to be the next Indonesian Military (TNI) commander.



As the Army chief, Andika is granted the privilege by the 2004 TNI Law to be nominated as the TNI commander. Paragraph 4 of Article 13 limits the race for the TNI commander post to active four-star generals who have served as chief of any of the three military branches  the Air Force, the Army and the Navy.



However, as with the selection process for Air Force, Army and Navy chiefs, the final say on who will be the next TNI commander rests with the President. And as the simultaneous presidential and legislative elections are only five months away, it is very unlikely that the President, who is seeking reelection, will replace the incumbent Air Chief Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto as the TNI commander due to security and strategic considerations.



If anything, replacement of the TNI commander looks like it will happen only after the new government is established. If a new president is elected, the nation will likely see a completely different scenario for the posts of TNI commander and chiefs of the Air Force, Army and Navy.



If Jokowi is reelected as president, it will then be up to him to decide whether he will retain Hadi as the TNI commander until the latters retirement in November 2021, or have another plan for Hadi.



In both scenarios, Andika seems to be in a great position to replace Hadi. If Jokowi decides to maintain Hadis TNI leadership until he retires in November 2021, Andika still has the opportunity to lead the TNI as he will only retire a year later. And if Jokowi decides to replace Hadi before his retirement day, the chances are even greater for Andika to replace him due to the aforementioned capacity, plus his ascribed advantage that eludes other candidates.



The only obstacle will derive from a stipulation in the 2004 TNI law that suggests rotating the post of TNI commander among the chiefs of the three branches of the military. If the President takes the advice, the next TNI commander should then come from the Navy.



Should Jokowi be reelected, he would very likely choose Andika as the next TNI commander. But if he takes harmony within the TNI into consideration, the next person at the TNIs helm could be from the Navy.
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Linkedin Inforial (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta, Indonesia  Mon, November 26, 2018 11:53 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dd8968 4 Inforial Free

Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade, Arlinda and her Algerian counterpart, Director General of the National Agency for Foreign Trade Promotion (ALGEX), Chiti Chafik, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on promoting exports between the two countries in Algiers on Nov. 22 during the Indonesian trade mission to Algeria.

The MoU is expected to be a stepping-stone for improving access to Indonesian products in African markets, especially Algeria.

Arlinda expressed hope that the MoU would help kick-start efforts to enhance Indonesia-Algeria trade ties.

"Both countries will attempt to promote and develop exports between Indonesia and Algeria, such as through exchanging information on economy and trade, she said.

. (Courtesy of Ministry of Trade/.)

As the initial step to implementing the three-year agreement, information sharing will allow the two countries to gain better understanding of each other and in turn benefit both countries, whose export products complement, rather than compete with, each other.

Chafik regarded Indonesia as an important trading partner to Algeria, and also appreciated Arlindas initiative to establish the agreement.
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Linkedin Stanley Widianto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 09:10 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dd0f39 4 Art & Culture Chinese-Indonesian-residents,minority-groups,history,persecution,discrimination Free

The kaleidoscopic history of Chinese-Indonesians is one of seamless hybridity.

In the wake of periods of discrimination against the ethnic group  in 1740, 1965, 1998  this hybridity is pushed aside in favor of political othering, according to Yudi Latif, a researcher and intellectual.

Yudi spoke about this othering at an event titled Peranakan Tionghoa Dalam Kebhinnekaan Bangsa Indonesia (Ethnic Chinese in Indonesias Diversity) that was recently held by the group Komunitas Lintas Budaya Indonesia at the Bentara Budaya cultural center in Jakarta.

[Indonesians] are a melting pot of many races, Yudi said, before adding that the mongoloid races also belonged to Indonesia.

So, the truth is, Ahok and [Anies] are basically the same. Nobodys stupider, he said, referring respectively to Jakartas former and current governors, Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and Anies Baswedan.

But segregation sharpens these lines and history would attest to that.

In 1959, president Sukarno enacted a law that mandated that Chinese families from rural areas move to bigger cities. And the most glaring form of discrimination happened in the New Order era, when  in the late 1960s  president Soeharto forbade Chinese schools, language and any form of public cultural expression. The wounds would later heal in future administrations  but some of them remain.

After the process of affirmation [such as through president Abdurrahman Wahids recognition of the Chinese New Year celebration], the othering erased any imagination of the Chinese-Indonesians; they didnt go through the process of familiarization, Yudi said.

Chinese batik: Visitors look at batik influenced by Chinese design during the exhibition at the Bentara Budaya arts center in Jakarta. (Courtesy of Bentara Budaya Jakarta/-)

This proves that the normality of a Chinese Indonesia has been sullied, reconfigured to the point of unfamiliarity. And it runs counter to research by Eijkman Institutes Herawati Sudoyo that disproves the purity of the Indonesian DNA and lineage.

This impurity lends itself to mixed marriages, subtle cultural harmony and more.

Citing census results, researcher Didi Kwartanada, who has studied the topic of Chinese-Indonesian heritage on Java Island, said mixed marriages between indigenous and Chinese Indonesians in Yogyakarta had been accounted for. There is a community thats not Javanese enough nor Chinese enough, he said.

Then the issue of Chinese-Indonesian identity stretches into politics. In the early 19th century, the Dutch settlers enacted a stratification of ethnicities through its Indische Staatsregeling article: The first one is the Caucasian, the second one is that of foreign orientals (Arabs, Chinese, Indians) and the third one indigenous Indonesians, known as bumiputera at the time.

But upward social mobility for the Chinese existed: A Chinese-Indonesian could move up the ladder through certain means.

Chinese journey: Researchers (from left to right) Yudi Latif, Ariel Heryanto and Didi Kwartinada discuss the cultural and political journey that Chinese Indonesians took throughout the years. (Courtesy of Bentara Budaya Jakarta/-)

Despite their political participation  Chinese-Indonesians have had their own political movements through, say, Partai Tionghoa Indonesia or PTI or organizations such as the BAPERKI or the LPKB  some stereotypes against the ethnic Chinese persist.

[Chinese-Indonesians] were seen as the middlemen, the extension of the Dutchs outreach to sell European products, Didi said. His statement would perhaps be akin to Soehartos Chinese conglomerates  purported to be cash cows or a source of political security.

Ariel Heryanto, a professor at Monash University in Australia, said the problem with the persistence of these stereotypes went back to the nation that fomented them. The purity of races can be equivalent to the purity of the nation.

There are many people who believe that a nation was built naturally  that it has always been around, he said. So, we tend to look back more. There are groups who feel like theyre the rightful owners of this country.

It didnt use to be this way. Ariel cited the national anthem, Indonesia Raya, as an example. It says, thats where I stand, not this is where I stand, he said. Indonesia, according to Ariel, used to have a knack for looking forward.

And the Chinese-Indonesian life stands at any intersection of Indonesias political maturity. There is virtually still a long way to go to completely purge Indonesia of its social ills.

And one way to do that, according to Yudi, is participation. We have to step out of this [obsession] with identities, whether in politics or culture, Ariel said.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Luxor, Egypt  Mon, November 26, 2018 12:02 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dd93e3 2 Art & Culture Egypt,Luxor,ancient-tomb,sarcophagi,archaeology Free

Egypt on Saturday unveiled an ancient tomb, sarcophagi and funerary artifacts discovered in the Theban necropolis of Al-Assasif in the southern city of Luxor.

In a ceremony in front of the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani announced that French and Egyptian archaeologists had discovered "a new tomb... with very nice paintings".

Located between the royal tombs at the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings, the Al-Assasif necropolis is the burial site of nobles and senior officials close to the pharaohs.

Among the finds in the tomb are sarcophagi, statues and some 1,000 funerary figurines called "Ushabtis" made of wood, faience and clay.

This picture taken on November 24, 2018 shows a man using a cell phone to take a picture of a group of mummies stacked together at the site of Tomb TT28, which was discovered by an Egyptian archaelogical mission at Al-Assasif necropolis on the west bank of the Nile north of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor. Located between the royal tombs at the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings, the Al-Assasif necropolis is the burial site of nobles and senior officials close to the pharaohs. (AFP/Khaled Desouki)

The tomb dates back to the Middle Kingdom, which spanned the 11th and 12th dynasties, and belonged to "Thaw-Irkhet-If", mummification supervisor at the Temple of Mut in Karnak, according to the ministry.

Separately, archeologists from the French Institute of Eastern Archeology (IFAO) and the University of Strasbourg have discovered two sarcophagi dating back to the 18th dynasty, Anani told a news conference.

One of the two contains the "well-preserved" mummified remains of a woman named Thuya, the antiquities ministry said in a statement.

But ministry spokeswoman Nevine Aref told AFP later that work was still ongoing to definitively identify the name of the mummy.

This picture taken on November 24, 2018 shows a carved black wooden sarcophagus inlaid with gilded sheets, dating to Egypt's Late period (7th-4th century BC), lying in a burial chamber decorated with colored scenes depicting the owner with members of his family, discovered by an Egyptian archaelogical mission at the site of Tomb TT28 at Al-Assasif necropolis on the west bank of the Nile north of the southern Egyptian city of Luxor. Located between the royal tombs at the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings, the Al-Assasif necropolis is the burial site of nobles and senior officials close to the pharaohs. (AFP/Khaled Desouki)

Egyptian authorities regularly announce archaeological discoveries with great fanfare, although the country is often accused of a lack of scientific rigour and neglect of its antiquities.

Archaeological sites, particularly in Luxor, make Egypt a major draw for foreign tourists.

Hit by the turmoil that enveloped Egypt after the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime president Hosni Mubarak, the tourism sector has picked up this year.
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Linkedin Novi Djami Raga (The Jakarta Post) Kupang  Mon, November 26, 2018 13:27 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ddd192 3 Books #bookreview,#books,Book,nonfiction,Hans-Rosling,data,Factfulness Free

Thanks to the advances in technology, any information can be consumed at a single click. However, this does not guarantee that our perspective on the world relate to actual global conditions.

The late Swedish physician and statistician Hans Rosling gives us an eye-opening insight to how ignorant we are in the way we see global progress in his latest and posthumously published book, Factfulness, co-authored by Ola Rosling and Anna Rosling Ronnlund.

Factfulness debuted at its April 2018 launch at number 5 on The New York Times Best Seller List for hardcover nonfiction. The book has been translated into 11 languages, and will soon be available in 36 languages. Millions of readers were captivated by Rosling's fascinating ability to make the data sing, primarily thanks to his billionaire friend, Bill Gates, for his never-ending promotion and support.

Rosling's vast experience in medicine and statistics  and, curiously, his long journey to become a sword-swallower  are well-thought out to make the book even more appealing to read. Before he began writing this book, Rosling was already widely known for his phenomenal TED Talks, viewed more than 35 million times. This led him to be honored as one of Time Magazines 100 Most Influential People of 2012.

Factfulness is mostly written from Rosling's standpoint and his journey from a young physician in northern Mozambique to a global health expert, and refers mainly to UN data. His son Ola and daughter-in-law Anna finished the book after his death in February 2017. Ola played a major role in developing the Gapminder tool that was Rosling uses throughout nearly the entire book..

Annas project, Dollar Street, is also presented as another form of data visualization, which uses photographs to develop a fact-based worldview. Her approach to combating world ignorance is to present 264 photographs of homes in 50 countries, including up to 135 objects in a single house, to help us gain a better understanding of actual world conditions.

Rosling's vital instrument in fighting ignorance is his "little experiment", called The Ignorance Project. He conducted the project in dozens of countries, which involved thousands of people with backgrounds in various fields of expertise. The result paints a portrait of disturbing truths on how we have underrated improvements in the world by relying only on our preconceived ideas.

Our minds have tricked us into setting our sights on the spotlight rather than on seeking the realities behind the media curtain. This unwitting habit has lured us into maintaining our preconceived ideas instead of updating them to match new and actual conditions. Unintentionally, our global knowledge is still based on our own biases rather than the facts on the slow but steady world progress through data reports  reports that get much less attention in mainstream media.

Todays world has now reached "peak child", a term Rosling coined to describe the moment in global demographic history at which the world population of children stops growing. Nonetheless, this amazing development has not received any attention in mainstream news, merely because of its slow progression. At the same time, the news that a man refuses to use contraceptives although he has already produced eight living children will draw much more attention than the fact that the global total fertility rate (TFR) is declining. This is one example of how ignoring the facts will eventually lead many to have a distorted view of developments in the world.

Although Factfulness is based heavily on data and statistics, Rosling's skill in storytelling allows us to see the data in a funner and lighter way, bringing his own nuance to the way rigid numbers are visualized. Its easier to interpret 3-dimensional data, even on a global scale, through Ola's a Gapminder bubble. The tool's central idea is to use the bubble as the population size and plot it on a chart that can only contain two variables. This brilliant tool has been widely adopted by many researchers and renowned companies, like Google.

You dont have to be a number geek to read this book. Rosling successfully interprets "boring" numbers into interesting facts that are worth knowing. While giving us an insightful world-based view, Factfulness also teaches us a valuable life's lesson from a humble world expert who devoted his life to studying hunger in Africa for almost 20 years. (kes)

***

The writer is a statistician who is currently working at a regional statistics bureau in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and is a proud member of the Aksi Untuk NTT youth organization.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) London  Mon, November 26, 2018 16:06 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de7c1d 2 People Prince-Harry,Meghan-Markle,Windsor Free

Prince Harry and his pregnant wife Meghan Markle will move into a historic cottage on the royal family's Windsor Estate early next year, Kensington Palace said on Saturday.

The couple, given the titles the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after marrying in Windsor in May, will live in Frogmore Cottage, a two-storey stucco-faced house in Windsor Home Park close to the castle.

They will relocate to their new home, around 20 miles (32 kilometres) southwest of London, "as they prepare for the arrival of their first child," the palace said in a statement.

"Windsor is a very special place for their royal highnesses and they are grateful that their official residence will be on the estate," it added.

Prince Harry and Meghan, who returned earlier this month from a 16-day tour Pacific tour, currently live in Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace in west London.

Described as cosy and "modest", it consists of two reception rooms and two bedrooms.

The Palace said the couple's office would remain there.

Read also: Royals Harry and Meghan go barefoot on Bondi

It provided no further details on the new official residence.

Historic England, a public body which maintains a register of old buildings given special protections, lists Frogmore House in its Grade II category.

The status is awarded to just 5.8 percent of approximately 500,000 listed buildings in England, marking them out as particularly important sites.

The organisation dates the cottage back to the early 19th century but does not detail how many bedrooms it contains.

It sits on the grounds of the far grander Frogmore House, built in 1680-84 and a royal residence since 1792 -- and where Harry and Meghan had their evening wedding reception.

"The name derives from the preponderance of frogs which have always lived in this low-lying marshy area," according to the royal family's website.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Seoul  Mon, November 26, 2018 18:06 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dedf57 2 Entertainment South-Korea,rapper,Iron,assault Free

An appeals court has upheld rapper Iron's 2016 sentence of eight months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, after a lower court found him guilty of multiple counts of assault.

The Seoul Central District Court found Iron, 26, guilty of assaulting his girlfriend on several occasions, including an attack during a sexual encounter, reported The Korea Herald.

He was also ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.

Iron was booked without detention in September 2016 after punching his girlfriend in the face while they were having sex. The police report said he had done so for "not listening to his requests".

The following month, when she tried to end the relationship, he strangled her and hit her in the face multiple times.

Read also: 'Blue is the Warmest Colour' director accused of sexual assault

The police found that he issued threats to stop her from reporting his violence to the authorities, at one point injuring himself with a kitchen knife and saying he would blame it on her.

The court also censured Iron for revealing her identity in media interviews and publicly calling her a masochist.

"The victim is suffering tremendous psychological pain, on top of the physical ordeal she has undergone," the court said. "She continues to appeal for severe punishment."

Iron was convicted in November 2016 and the prosecution appealed the sentence, seeking a year of actual prison time.

Topics :

This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin Eric Buvelot (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar  Mon, November 26, 2018 09:38 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dd25cf 4 Books bali,#books,#bookreview,Jean-Couteau,Book,history,culture Free

When one thinks Bali has no more secrets to reveal, one should read one of Jean Couteaus books. Whether because of its meddling with foreign values through tourism or the fact that Bali in modern times may have lost parts of its mystery, it would still be silly to believe that we could know everything about the so-called Island of the Gods.

In fact, there are very few people in the world who know about Bali. Even fewer know of the stature of Couteau, a doctor of art history in Bali, an ethno-sociological researcher from lEcole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales de Paris and definitely a Bali expert in his own right.

I have happened to know this elegant fellow countryman for more than 20 years. Back then, he had successfully filed for years a weekly column to the Bali Post: An English Corner, in which he had narrated and compiled an abundance of short stories about Bali, later to be published in book form with the title Bali 2day: Modernity.

Couteaus obsession for rendering the intimate veracity of the soul of Bali was already to be found in these early writings. Although a man of great knowledge, an academic and a doctor, he has always had this ability to translate the endless richness of what he knows about Bali through simple folks stories, appealing to anyone.

Myth, Magic and Mystery in Bali, his new reiteration of this great idea of sharing the complicated matters of Balis sophisticated culture, customs and behaviors, is no exception to this trend he pioneered almost 30 years ago.

Indeed, this new opus covers all the themes that typify his unique style of storytelling, linked as always to the earthly matters that make humans more human and twisted together with the highly hermetical Balinese psyche: hermetical to foreigners obviously, but not to Couteau, our own private guide to this land of myth, magic and mystery.

One has to know that Couteau set foot on the island of Bali for the first time in 1972. Question yourself first: How old were you? Where were you? What was your center of interest back then? Since then, Pak Kadek (Jean Couteau under his Balinese name) has never stopped to wander around the island, looking for stories, but not researching, like he prides himself to differ from the usual academic way.

According to him, if you research, you might already know what you are going to find, but if you listen and learn, you might come up with interesting accounts. Indeed, this is what he did, talking to simple folks in the village, picking up languages and stories at the nearby warung, accumulating knowledge. In the end, he was looking for the sameness in others differences. This is what makes reading his books something easy to grasp for any reader, from Balinese and other Indonesians to foreigners.

After all, nothing will stop Couteau from meeting new human beings. He never fails to recall a simple statement: We are all the same. As he says all the time: I tried to have friends belonging to all walks of life, from the poor to the king, to even the president.

To get a good understanding of Bali, you have to go into the languages, Indonesian, Balinese and even Javanese. To discover and understand the past stories of Bali, Couteau documents a fair quantity of myths and legends of Bali, this island that venerated ancestors long before constructing a Hindu identity, by analysing traditional Balinese paintings.

The identity issue is what seems to worry Couteau lately. He explains: When I arrived in Bali, I understood the notion of truth didnt matter. Religion did but not truth  different from our Western culture. What mattered was ones deeds or karma. People did have beliefs but didnt have a credo until recently. Now, they have acquired one through education, politics and social media. Sadly, the young generations dont learn any more who they are from the myths and symbols displayed in the wayang theater. This will have political consequences, he warns.

In this book, we discover the intimate psyche, unfortunately withering away, of a great culture, through its myths, magic and mysteries.

Couteau wants us to get an insight into what Balinese culture is at its most intimate levels. He takes us along his wanderings through the island, giving us an idea of the religion of water, the Balinese cosmology, the story of Markandaya, Kebo Iwa and Garuda and the elixir of life.

He initiates us into the Balinese taksu and the balian as healer. We also learn about Naur Sot, the wandering of the Balinese soul and even about the seven Muslim saints of Bali  not to forget the Balinese obsession with sex, love and laughter in the last chapter.

Throughout his new book, Couteau also draws readers attention to the fact that the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005 unified Bali as a single entity through identity and Hinduism. Before, the consciousness of belonging didnt go further than the village. I would like the reader to get an understanding of what was Balinese culture, now that it is changing rapidly through education, social media and a political rhetoric constructing an identity unknown before, he says in conclusion.

__________

Myth, Magic and Mystery in Bali

by Jean Couteau,

PT Phoenix Communications, 2017

120 pages
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Linkedin Sophie Bouillon and African bureau (Agence France-Presse) Lagos, Nigeria  Tue, November 27, 2018 03:08 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dfe4fa 2 Art & Culture artifacts,artworks,Africa,France,Museum,restitution Free

The debate over the restitution of thousands of African cultural artifacts from France has become heated, but in West Africa conservators prefer to call it "collaboration" and are preparing for their return.

The French presidency announced on Friday night that it was restoring "without delay" 26 works plundered by the French army in 1892 and claimed by the authorities in Benin.

The recommendations come with the delivery of a non-binding report that proposes a change in legislation and urges the return of museum artefacts to Africa from France.

Alain Godonou, a Beninese conservator responsible for heritage at the new national agency for tourism promotion in Benin, has been working on this issue for more than 30 years and says now is the time for reflection.

The small West African country of Benin, formerly Dahomey, was home to the kingdom of Abomey (1600-1894) and priceless wealth.

But instead of sitting in the capital of Porto-Novo, the throne of King Glele from 1858 is one of the centrepieces of the 70,000 African objects kept at the Musee du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris.

"To keep war booty in countries that are now friends and collaborate doesn't make sense," Godonou told AFP.

"It's a relief but it's only the beginning. There is still so much to be done so that our youth can access this heritage that will make them proud."

Sensitive question

"We don't want them to have our objects just for the sake of it," Godonou continues.

"The cultural education of African youth is important and these objects will help to root them."

This includes a rehabilitation of museums. For years, Europeans have justified keeping the treasured artefacts by arguing that African countries didn't have the facilities to take care of their cultural heritage.

But in many countries -- including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Benin -- plans are underway new museums have been built and plans are underway for yet more.

Beninese President Patrice Talon, whose goal is to make tourism one of the pillars of the national economy, has approved the sites for five museums that will open in 2020 to honour the kings of Abomey and the Amazons, the all-female military regiment in Dahomey.

Read also: Art repatriation: Colonial ghosts haunt Europe's museums

The country's minister of foreign affairs Aurelien Agbenonci told AFP on Saturday the government is "delighted" with the decision, which he said was "an invitation to get to work quickly."

Ousmane Aledji, in charge of heritage for the Benin presidency, welcomed the "new form of cultural exchange" with France.

"We're not for a violent claim, but we want to put in place measures for progressive restitution," he says.

His sentiment was echoed in Abidjan, where the director of the museum of civilisation of Ivory Coast Silvie Memel Kassi said "it's not a bad thing in itself that they were preserved and indexed in France."

"Ancestral pieces"

The national museum of Abidjan was renovated last year, but a larger museum is sill in the works.

In this case, said Kassi, "we could start talking about a definitive restitution."

She added that "the important thing is to work together, we want to have access to these objects, we need this memory, these objects are a memory."

In Dakar, the museum of black civilisation, whose inauguration is scheduled for December 6, will be ready one day to house the objects, pledges Kassi.

"We have operational reserves that can accommodate such objects," said the Senegalese museum director Hamady Bocoum, stressing the works may not necessarily end up in museums and could go back to communities who may "decide to put them in the altars of the ancestors."

"These works came from our ancestors," said Taho Toubo, a traditional leader from Ivory Coast.

"I pray for the ancestors that their pieces are returned."
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 16:32 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de8729 1 Lifestyle Shopee,discount,e-commerce,online-marketplace,blackpink Free

Online marketplace Shopee Indonesia is currently holding its 12.12 Birthday Sale, which opened on Nov. 19 about a week after its 11.11 Big Sale and runs through Dec. 12.

Various offers are available throughout the program, including up to 120 percent cashback, a Shopee quiz with prizes worth a total of Rp 12 billion and free shipping without minimum purchase.

Potential shoppers can visit a special page for daily vouchers and offers, such as a "mother and baby" sale and brand discounts.

Read also: Shopee Indonesia's 11.11 promo records 'biggest sales ever'

On the sale's Nov. 19 launch, Shopee Indonesia named BLACKPINK as its first regional brand ambassador. The K-Pop girlband performed at the "Road to Shopee 12.12 Birthday Sale" event in West Java on the same day.

Shopee CEO Chris Feng said that the e-commerce platform, which is available in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, had taken a giant step in the past year to strengthen its position.

Were honored to welcome BLACKPINK as part of our family. [] We hope to collaborate with BLACKPINK and YG Group to create an interesting initiative that unites all of our customers from different countries, Feng said in a press release. (wir/mut)

Editor's note: The first version of this article noted that Shopee is a Singaporean e-commerce platform, and that it had taken a giant step in the past six years to strengthen its position. It has been corrected that the e-commerce platform is available in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, and that it had taken a giant step in the past year to strengthen its position.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 17:34 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de9e8c 4 Lifestyle Miss-Universe,beauty-pageant,Sonia-Fergina-Citra Free

Sonia Fergina Citra is set to represent Indonesia at the Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Bangkok.

Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant where participants from various countries contest their beauty, wits and good manners.

The contest lasts for two weeks in December, allowing time for rehearsals, appearances and preliminary competition.

Sonia was set to represent Indonesia after winning the regional pageant, Putri Indonesia 2018. She will leave for Bangkok on Nov. 28, while the final competition will be held on Dec. 17.

Read also: Woman with Malaysian roots wearing hijab is Miss Universe New Zealand finalist

According to Antara, she will showcase attire by Indonesian designers Ghea Panggabean, ANAZ, Tommy Pancamurti, Anne Avantie and Dynand Fariz.

ANAZ designed the main dress, a combination of Palembangs songket fabric with pearls and peafowl-shaped embroidery. Meanwhile, Dynand designed the national costume, a tricolor dress inspired by Papuas bird of paradise.

Indonesias Elvira Devinamira won the Best National Costume award at Miss Universe 2014 in Florida, United States. Two years later, Kezia Warouw placed in the top 13, the highest ever for Indonesia. (iru/kes)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 09:17 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dd1901 2 Business coffee,aceh,Canada,exports Free

A Canadian and Indonesian government trade program has helped Acehnese coffee producers secure US$2.6 million in trade deals to supply several roasters and importers in Canada.

The Trade Ministrys exports director, Arlinda, said in a statement on Friday that the program highlighted a plantation tour in the coffee-producing town of Takengon, Central Aceh, in an effort to build consumer trust with Canadian buyers.

The plantation tour showed the buyers that gayo coffee is top quality, she said as reported by kompas.com.

Arlinda was referring to Acehnese gayo, a distinct Arabica-type coffee revered for its strong-bodied and complex flavors. The variety is one of Indonesias most well-known single-origin coffees aside from Toraja and Wamena.

She added that, outside of the trade deal, the Canada-Indonesia Trade and Private Sector Assistance (TPSA) program, which is a joint effort between the Trade Ministry and Canadian Global Affairs Department, had helped Indonesia secure up to $4 million in direct exports to Canada and the United States.

She expected that direct export value would double to $8 million by the end of the five-year trade program in 2020.

The TPSA team, which is composed of Indonesian and Canadian members, has repeatedly expressed an interest in boosting Indonesian coffee export to Canada. (brf)
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Mon, November 26, 2018 10:21 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dd510f 4 National wifi,aceh,cafe,students,pornography,sharia-law Free

Village leaders of Curee Baroh in Simpang Mamplam district, Bireun regency, Aceh, have issued a circular that calls on all cafes to remove access to free Wi-Fi, which they have blamed for distracting children from their studies and Quran recital sessions.



The circular, the sharia-abiding provinces first, was issued on Nov. 13 as a result of discussions among village officials who have attributed the low interest in studying and reciting the Quran to the fact that more young people are crowding such hangout spots.



We have delivered the circular to the cafe owners so that they can cut the Wi-Fi connection, said Curee Baroh village head Helmiadi Mukhtaruddin.



The village leaders said they found that children and teenagers in the area went to cafes during school hours and claimed some opened sites containing pornography.



There is a growing concern about Wi-Fi access. We have six cafes in the village and it is getting harder for parents and teachers to control the children, said Helmiadi.



He said children often left home telling their parents that they would attend Quran recital sessions at mosques or musholla (prayer rooms), but they actually went to cafes and surfed the internet.



Despite upholding regional autonomy principles, sharia implementation in Aceh has been condemned and criticized over alleged human rights violations.



Previously, the Bireun administration was criticized for issuing a circular asking coffee shops, cafes and restaurants to ensure that male and female customers who are not married or related to one another do not sit at the same table together.



The circular is meant to serve as a guideline for business owners to abide by sharia, which prohibits khalwat (physical displays of affection between unmarried couples).



Bireun Communications and Information Agency head M. Zubair said many cafes in the regency now provided Wi-Fi access to visitors, and only in Curee Baroh was it now denounced. He said the regency administration respected the villages decision.



We support the Wi-Fi ban as long as it benefits the young generation, Zubair told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.



He said the village regulation did not contravene higher law in the regency and allowed other villages to follow suit. He, however, said there would be no legal consequences for ignoring the circular.



[The circular] has no legal consequences. But, ideally, residents should comply with the circular, said Zubair.



The circular came along with the village leaders statement conveying their commitment to eradicate drug trafficking, especially for crystal metaphetamine and marijuana.



Bireun Sharia Agency head Jufliwan said he had yet to receive the village circular, but he said he basically supported any regulation that was in line with sharia implementation in Aceh.



But it does not benefit [the residents]; there is no need to issue the ban, he said.

This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Nov. 26, 2018, with the title "Aceh village leaders issue circular on Wi-Fi ban at cafes".
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 13:51 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ddf5ba 4 Business bank-indonesia,QR-code,cross-borders,regulation Free

Bank Indonesia is preparing a cross-border regulation on QR code transactions that is expected to come into effect early next year.

The cross-border regulation is for regulating QR code transactions in rupiah made by foreign players, a BI source said as quoted by kontan.co.id on Sunday.

The unnamed source said the regulation would facilitate domestic financial institutions to cooperate easily with foreign platforms like WeChat and Alipay that offer QR code payment options.

Banks and other financial institutions have supported BIs move. Information technology and operations director Dadang Setiabudi of state-owned lender PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) said that cooperation with foreign QR Code payment service providers would be easier with the regulation.

It will be easier because there will be a clear procedure. We simply follow the procedure [in the planned regulation, he said.

Meanwhile, business director Anthoni Morris of switching company Artajasa Pembayaran Electrinic (ATM Bersama) expressed the hope that the planned regulation would provide clear rules on cross-border payments.

Cross-border transactions are still new among switching companies, particularly non-card based payment services like QR code transactions that also involved merchants.

Meanwhile, BI policy and payments head Onny Widjanarko said the planned regulation would support the central bank's existing regulation on electronic money (e-money). (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 16:53 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de8b39 1 Business BPS,integrated-statistics-data-system Free

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has launched an integrated statistical data system (Simdasi) to support an initiative for a unified national database (SDI) aimed at synchronizing data collected by different government institutions.

There is still some inconsistency of data issued by regional governments and the central government, BPS head Suhariyanto said in Jakarta on Monday at an SDI coordination meeting to support the so-called Industry 4.0.

He explained that there were three classes of statistical data in Indonesia  basic statistics produced by BPS, sector-specific statistics issued by ministries and other government institutions and special statistical data issued by academics or members of the public.

Data from the three classes were often contradictory, he said, adding that that created difficulties for policymakers.

He said the SDI infrastructure was being prepared, while a presidential regulation would serve as the legal basis for the system.

Meanwhile, BPS methodology and statistics head Ari Nugraha, who is in charge of establishing the system, told The Jakarta Post that the Simdasi would incorporate two key processes  automated data collection and collective data review.

A computer network would automate the collection of raw data and detect mismatches, after which representatives of all institution involved would come together in a forum to review the data and fix mismatches before publication, Ari added.

Of course, do not expect all mismatched information to be fixed once we launch the program. The system will have to be gradually improved. he said. (nor/bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 15:49 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de679a 1 City Tanah-Abang-skybridge,toilets,e-KTP Free

The Jakarta administration plans to allow the use of electronic ID (e-ID) cards, locally called e-KTP cards, to access public toilets on the Tanah Abang Skybridge in Central Jakarta, which is to open soon.

Research and development assistant manager Johan Sufandi of city wastewater management company PD PAL Jaya, which is providing the smart toilets, said the system would allow people easy access to the toilets.

The card system will automatically record the number of people who tap their IDs on the door to enter the public toilet facilities.

Johan said the e-ID card system would be more efficient than using the electronic cash (e-money) cards issued by banks.

"Using [e-money] cards from banks would be more complicated and require a large investment, too," Johan said on Monday as quoted by tempo.co.

City-owned developer PD Sarana Jaya Pembangunan had asked PAL Jaya to provide four smart toilets along the skybridge on behalf of state railway company PT KAI.

KAI had requested the city administration to provide additional toilet facilities, because the existing public toilets at Tanah Abang train station would not be enough to accommodate the needs of vendors and customers at the skybridge. (cal)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 14:41 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de4903 4 Business fintech,illegal-operation,Communications-and-Information-Ministry Free

A Communication and Information Ministry official has said that debtors of illegal financial technology (fintech) companies do not need to repay their loans.

Borrow as much [money] as possible. [] Dont repay [the loan] because they are illegal, said Samuel Abrijanti Pangerapan, the ministrys information application director general, on Sunday as quoted by kontan.co.id.

He also called on the public to report illegal fintech companies to authorities such as the ministry, the Financial Service Authority (OJK) or the police.

So if illegal fintech companies collect their money, just report them. The authorities will arrest them for operating without licenses. They should suffer the losses, Samuel added.

He said the publics participation in reporting illegal fintech companies would help end their operation.

He called on the public to review the list of fintech companies issued by the OJK before making a deal with a fintech company.

Currently, 73 fintech companies are registered with the OJK. (bbn)
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Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 08:44 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dc8a55 1 National minority-rights,intolerance,mobile-application,religious-freedom,minority-groups Free

The launch of a mobile application that allows members of the public to report beliefs they consider to be misguided or heretical has sparked fears that it could lead to increased persecution of minority groups in the country.



The app, called Smart Pakem (monitoring religious beliefs), was launched by the Jakarta Prosecutors Office (Kejati) and includes features such as a list of forbidden beliefs and banned mass organizations, a directory of fatwas issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and a form to report complaints or information about religious beliefs or sects.



If there are reports from the public, we can immediately act on them. Before, people needed to write a letter, which was troublesome. Through this application, we will immediately know where the reports come from, Kejati Jakarta assistant for intelligence matters Yulianto said at the apps launch on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.



National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner Choirul Anam said the app could potentially lead to the violation of religious freedom.



[The app] can result in persecution, violence and criminalization, he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. It is contradictory to the governments desire to create a culture of mutual respect and tolerance, which is why I have asked the government and the attorney general to take it down.

Smart Pakem (monitoring religious beliefs) was launched by the Jakarta Prosecutors Office (Kejati) and includes features such as a list of forbidden beliefs and banned mass organizations, a directory of fatwas issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and a form to report complaints or information about religious beliefs or sects. (JP/File)

Setara Institute researcher Halili Hasan echoed Choiruls sentiments, saying the app further marginalized followers of minority religious beliefs, especially those who adhered to new or indigenous faiths.



It is not up to the public to decide whether a belief is misguided or not, he told the Post. The app just serves to widen divisions in communities and legitimizes people who believe its okay to persecute groups that are outside of the mainstream.



Indonesia has been widely criticized for its failure to protect its minorities, particularly followers of the smaller Islamic denominations considered heretical, such as Ahmadiyah and hundreds of indigenous faiths.



The launch of the application will make the public more distrustful of one another, increase the potential for horizontal conflict and damage the dialogue about differing religious beliefs that has already started in the community, Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI) spokesperson Yendra Budiana said.



Attorney Generals Office (AGO) spokesperson Mukri acknowledged that some might find fault with the app but said it was intended to help educate and inform the public about heretical and banned groups.



You have to understand the philosophy behind the creation of this app. It is meant to educate the public and it is within the AGOs authority.



We want to create an inventory to make it easier for the public to check whether a group is banned or not, Mukri said.



Also, if someone reports a group through the app, it doesnt mean that it will be destroyed immediately. It just helps the AGO to investigate further.



As of Monday morning, the app is still available on the Google Play Store.

A 2004 law gives the AGO the authority to conduct oversight over religious beliefs that can endanger the community and the country.



A 2015 regulation further specifies that the AGO can form central, provincial and municipal Pakem teams that are authorized to analyze reports about indigenous faiths and other religious beliefs as well as judge the impact that those faiths have on public order and peace.



In recent months, Pakem teams have been formed in Enrekang, South Sulawesi, Brebes, East Java, and Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, among other places.



Choirul said the AGOs role in overseeing religious beliefs should be abolished.



If the AGO wants to create a peaceful climate, it should not criminalize differences in beliefs and respect the right to be different, he added.



Halili agreed, saying judging a religious belief or sect was outside the governments domain.



What is so wrong about people seeking spirituality in their own way? Pakem teams result in majoritarianism, where the many decide on what is good for the few, he said.



Mukri said he respected the right of people to criticize the teams, adding that they remained within the AGOs authority. We are only applying the authority that is given to us by the law.

This article was originally published in The Jakarta Post's print edition on Nov. 26, 2018, with the title "Fears grow over app to police minorities".
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Ankara, Turkey  Mon, November 26, 2018 22:40 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dfcc86 2 World #Turkey,#FreedomOfExpression,George-Soros,foundation,end,activities Free

The Open Society Foundation of US billionaire George Soros on Monday said it would cease its activities in Turkey after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit out at the Hungarian-born philanthropist last week.

Erdogan on Wednesday accused Soros of supporting the jailed Turkish financier and philanthropist Osman Kavala who organised civil society events.

Kavala has been in prison for the past year awaiting trial. Without directly naming him, Erdogan claimed Kavala "financed the terrorists" during anti-government protests in 2013.

In a statement, the Soros foundation said that new investigations by Turkish authorities were trying to create a link between it and the 2013 demonstrations.

"These efforts are not new and they are all completely false," the foundation added.

The executive board also pointed to the recent "increase in the number of baseless accusations and unbalanced speculations in the media against Open Society Foundation" which led the board to conclude that "continuing (its) work has become impossible".

The foundation said it would apply for its closure to the court "immediately", but insisted it conducted each operation in Turkey in compliance with the country's laws.

Erdogan previously said Kavala was the representative in Turkey of the "famous Hungarian Jew Soros" whom he accused of trying to "divide and tear up nations".

Funding philanthropic projects across the world, Soros has become a favourite target of far-right extremists in many countries.

Activists have condemned the lack of an indictment over a year after Kavala's detention.

Turkish authorities suspect Kavala of "attempting to remove the constitutional order" and "attempting to overthrow the government" by "force or violence".
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Linkedin Richard Carter (Agence France-Presse) Tokyo, Japan  Mon, November 26, 2018 16:04 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de7b54 2 Business #Japan,#Mitsubishi,Carlos-Ghosn,fired,Chairman Free

Top executives from Mitsubishi Motors met Monday to sack Carlos Ghosn as chairman over alleged financial misconduct that the once-revered tycoon denies, as further allegations leaked out against him.

At an emergency meeting in Tokyo, "it is to be proposed to the Board of Directors to promptly remove Ghosn from his position as... chairman," said the Japanese firm, the third company in the powerful alliance also involving Nissan and Renault.

Following his stunning arrest last Monday, the 64-year-old Brazil-born Frenchman began his second week in a Japanese detention centre facing allegations he under-reported his salary to the tune of $44 million over several years.

He has not been formally charged and denies the allegations, telling prosecutors he had no intention of under-declaring his compensation.

Fellow executive Greg Kelly, described as the mastermind behind the alleged misconduct, has also reportedly denied the allegations, stressing that his boss's compensation was paid in an appropriate fashion.

The board of Nissan decided unanimously on Thursday to oust Ghosn as chairman, a spectacular fall from grace for the dynamic businessman credited with turning around the firm's once-flagging fortunes by tying its fate to Renault.

The executives made their decision "based on the copious amount and compelling nature of the evidence of misconduct presented," said a company spokesman.

According to local media, Nissan formed a "secret" cell within the firm to look into the alleged financial misdeed.

Executives accelerated the probe amid concerns Ghosn was working on a fully fledged merger between Nissan and Renault, Kyodo News said without naming its sources.

Renault is the dominant partner in the alliance, holding 43 percent of the shares in Nissan, but the Japanese firm outsells its French counterpart -- sparking concern in Tokyo about the balance of power.

Together, the three-way alliance is the world's top-selling car company, with some 10.6 million vehicles rolling off the production line. It employs around 450,000 people worldwide.

Renault, which is 15-percent owned by the French state, has decided to stick by Ghosn for now, appointing an interim boss while the current CEO and chairman is "incapacitated."

- 'Conspiracy theory' -

France's economy minister Bruno Le Maire has urged the Japanese firm to share "quickly" whatever evidence it has gathered and stressed Ghosn will stay at the helm of Renault "until there are tangible charges."

However, Le Maire also said "I do not believe in a conspiracy theory" amid talk of a so-called "palace coup" within Nissan to prevent Ghosn merging the firm with Renault.

Nissan's CEO Hiroto Saikawa spoke to staff on Monday to address the issue. Saikawa, who rose through the Nissan ranks under Ghosn's wing, repeated his "shock" at his former boss's alleged misconduct.

At a 45-minute meeting attended by hundreds of staff at the firm's Yokohama HQ and broadcast internally to other sites, Saikawa stressed that day-to-day operations should not be affected by the scandal.

Saikawa has already spoken of his "great resentment and dismay" at the allegations and told staff he felt a "sense of powerlessness" in the current situation.

Meanwhile, further claims continued to leak out in the Japanese media of Ghosn's alleged misconduct.

Officially, prosecutors are looking into allegations that he understated his income by around five billion yen ($44 million) between June 2011 and June 2015.

But the Asahi Shimbun said authorities are planning to re-arrest him on charges of understating his income by a further three billion yen -- for a total of $71 million -- for the following three fiscal years.

Under Japanese law, suspects can face additional arrest warrants, which can result in heavier penalties. The current allegations could see Ghosn facing 10 years behind bars and/or a 10-million-yen fine.

Separately, Kyodo has reported that Nissan paid $100,000 annually since 2002 to Ghosn's sister for a fictive "advisory" role.

And the Mainichi Shimbun reported on Monday that Ghosn used Nissan's corporate money to pay a donation to his daughter's university and also charged family trips to the company.

Investors appeared to be recovering from the initial shock of the arrest, which sent shares in all three firms tumbling.

At the Tokyo close, Nissan was up nearly two percent and Mitsubishi Motors enjoyed an even sharper bump -- up more than three percent just ahead of the board meeting.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 12:51 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ddc3b5 4 Business Merpati-Nusantara-Airlines,privatization,team,establishment,State-owned-Enterprises-Ministry Free

The government has announced its plan to establish a team that will be tasked with preparing for the privatization of state-owned airline PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines, following a decision made by the Surabaya Commercial Court that ordered airline creditors to come to a solution.

Yes, in the near future, we will set up a Merpati privatization team, State-Owned Enterprises Ministry business restructuration and development undersecretary Aloysius K. Ro said as reported by kontan.co.id on Monday.

The Surabaya Commercial Court decided earlier this month to let Merpati seek a solution with its creditors. The court's panel of judges also noted there were new investors, with the airline recording Rp 10.95 trillion (US$720.73 million) in total debt.

Previously, Merpati management assured that there was an investor who was ready to invest Rp 6 trillion so that the airline, which had not operated for about two years, could fly again.

Currently, the government has 96.99 percent of Merpati shares, while the remaining shares are owned by flag carrier Garuda Indonesia.

Aloysius said the team would be tasked with selling the shares owned by the government to the new investors.

However, he could not confirm whether the government would sell 100 percent of its shares as the decision would be made by the coordinating economic minister. We have not talked about the shares and how the new structure will look, he added.

Previously, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said: Anyone who wants to enter Merpati should not only take the name, but also expertise, technology and money.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Mogadishu  Mon, November 26, 2018 12:25 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dda869 2 World murder,Somalia,religious-attacks,violence Free

Al Shabaab gunmen attacked a religious center in central Somalia on Monday, killing a cleric and 10 of his followers, a spokesman for the militant Islamist group said.

"A car bomb rammed into the center of the man who insulted the prophet. Our militants are now inside and fighting goes on," Al Shabaab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters.

He later said the cleric Abdiweli was killed in the attack along with 10 of his followers.

The casualties could not be independently confirmed.

Residents of Galkayo, where the center is located, and a regional official said Abdiweli may have been targeted because his center hosts mostly youths who play music and dance.

Al Shabaab said last year the cleric had referred to himself as the Prophet, an accusation denied at the time by Abdiweli.

"We cannot know the figure of casualties right now. Al Shabaab had threatened him many times," Abdirashid Hashi, the governor of Mudug region, told Reuters.

Al Shabaab is fighting to topple the Somali government and establish its own rule based on its harsh interpretation of Islamic law. The group controls small sections on Mudug region, but it does not include Galkayo.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 10:01 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dd490f 1 National #JusufKalla,#extremism,government,officials,lead,mosques,radicalism Free

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has urged high-ranking government officials who have a deep understanding of Islam to lead government office mosques, following a recent study that found that dozens of mosques at government offices in Jakarta have been promoting extreme Islamic teachings.

Kalla, who also serves as the chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI), said the appointment of high-ranking officials would prevent the spread of extreme teachings. At present, low-ranking officials lead most government office mosques in Jakarta.

These appointments will serve as a filter [of the teachings of each mosque], Kalla said during the councils meeting in Jakarta on Sunday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Earlier this week, State Intelligence Agency (BIN) spokesman Wawan Hari Purwanto, revealed that imams at 41 places of worship in government offices in Jakarta alone were preaching extremism to their congregations, who are mostly civil servants, AFP reported.

The number was based on a study released in July by the Nahdlatul Ulamas association of Islamic boarding schools and social development (P3M).

According to the report, at least 17 clerics were found to be expressing support or sympathy for the Islamic State (IS) movement, and were encouraging their congregations to fight for the Islamist group in Syria and Marawi, the Philippine city that was overrun by foreign IS fighters last year.

Responding to the report, Kalla said the council would ask for more information from representatives of the mosques. We will ask each mosque, especially the ones located at government offices, to evaluate [their system]. (kuk)
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Linkedin (Reuters) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 08:16 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dc7374 2 Business IE-CEPA,agreement,Enggartiasto-Lukita Free

Indonesia has wrapped up negotiations for a free trade and investment pact with members of the four-nation European Free Trade Association, and a final agreement is due to be signed in December, Indonesias trade minister said.

Negotiations on the Comprehensive Indonesia-European Free Trade Association Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IE-CEPA) between Indonesia and EFTA members  Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland - have taken seven years.

This settlement is a milestone for Indonesias relations with the four EFTA countries, Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said in a statement released after Fridays signing in Geneva, Switzerland.

Indonesia will get better access to export products such as coffee, palm oil, fisheries, textile and furniture, the statement said.

Members of the EFTA will gain access to investment in Indonesia, including in the energy and mining sectors.

The next step is for legal scrubbing and translation so the agreement is ready to be signed in Jakarta in December, the statement said.

In 2017, Indonesia-EFTA trade was worth US$2.4 billion, with Indonesia having a trade surplus of $212 million. (brf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 12:12 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dd9ceb 1 National #election,#MurderCase,presidential-candidate,debate,Sparks,duel,killing Free

A challenge on social media related to the 2019 presidential election has led to a death of one man in Sampang regency, East Java.

Suspect Andika allegedly shot Subaidi to death on Nov. 21 with a homemade pistol in a duel, following a heated exchange over a challenge issued in connection with the upcoming presidential election, kompas.com reported.

The duel was triggered by a photo Subaidis teacher had uploaded, showing the teacher armed with sharp weapons and a caption challenging supporters of the "other" presidential candidate. Andika accepted the challenge in the photo's comments thread.

A few days later, Subaidi uploaded a video accusing Andika of cowardice for failing to meet his teacher's challenge. He also threatened to kill Andika if they met.

The incident occurred when Andika, a dental technician, apparently cancelled a visit to one of his patients in a local village to meet Subaidi in Sampang. Andika arrived armed with a homemade pistol and Sandika with a bladed weapon. Andika allegedly shot Sandika in the chest and killed him.

Sampang police officers apprehended the suspect [Andika] mere hours after the incident, East Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Frans Barung Mangera said on Saturday. It is still unclear which candidate Andika supported.

The Police are charging Andika with premeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty. (kuk)
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Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 18:32 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dee75e 1 National aceh,irwandi-yusuf,KPK,bribery-case Free

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors indicted suspended Aceh governor Irwandi Yusuf on Monday in three separate corruption cases.

In the indictment presented at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday, KPK prosecutors accused Irwandi of accepting bribes from Bener Meriah Regent Ahmadi totaling Rp 1.05 billion (US$72,480) in exchange for a number of infrastructure projects in the regency.

The defendant, through his aides Hendri Yuzal and Teuku Saiful Bahri, allegedly directed Acehs procurement unit to give a number of projects in Bener Meriah funded by the 2018 provincial special autonomy funds to certain companies in the regency, KPK prosecutor Ali Fikri read out the indictment.

In 2018, Aceh received Rp 8 trillion in special autonomy funds to be used for the regions development, around Rp 108 million of which was allocated for Bener Meriah.

Apart from the bribery case, prosecutors also accused the former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leader of allegedly accepting unlawful gifts in two separate cases. One of the cases alleges the governor accepted between Rp 8.7 billion between May 2017 and July 2018.

Another case pertains to unlawful gifts in connection to botched pier construction in Sabangs free-trade area. Irwandi, along with businessman and right-hand man Izil Azhar, is suspected of accepting illegal gratuities totaling Rp 32 billion in relation to the project between 2006 and 2011, while serving his first term as Aceh governor.

The governor allegedly failed to report the unlawful gifts to the KPK.

Irwandi and his legal team did not raise any objections to the indictment. (swd)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Tangerang  Mon, November 26, 2018 12:52 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ddca22 1 City Tangerang,administration,green-city Free

The Tangerang City administration has planned to conduct all administrative work in its government offices without using paper starting in 2020.

Tangerang Mayor Arief R. Wismansyah said the program would benefit Tangerang residents as it would provide more efficient services.

We set a target to be totally paperless in 2020. We want all services in the city to be integrated and paperless. Thats why in 2019 we are pursuing the regulation and legal framework for it, Arief said on Sunday, kompas.com reported.

He said all administrative work that used paper would be replaced with an app, through which residents would need to upload documents, such as family cards or IDs. After that, residents would receive a notification from a subdistrict or district office confirming that they have verified their data via the app.

Arief, noting that the city was currently drafting a mayoral regulation for the app, added that the administration, along with several tech companies, was currently developing an app to support the program.

We are currently digitizing our archives. In the future, residents will no longer have to carry their ID cards or copies of them [to receive government services], Arief said.

I want bureaucracy in Tangerang to no longer be out of date." (ami)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Tangerang  Mon, November 26, 2018 13:49 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877dded03 1 City car-accident,traffic-accident,police,Tangerang Free

A pickup truck carrying 23 santri (Islamic boarding school students) who were coming home from a religious event on Sunday evening hit a road divider and fell on its side, killing three of its passengers and injuring 20 others in Cliedug, Tangerang in Banten province.

Tangerang Police traffic unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ojo Ruslani said that the truck driver, identified as 18-year-old Rizki Fahmi, was speeding and lost control of the vehicle.

The driver is among those receiving medical treatment for their injuries.

The Toyota Kijang Super truck was driving at high speeds and when it arrived at a curve in the road, it hit a road separator and flipped over on its side, Ojo said on Sunday as quoted by tempo.co.

The dead victims identified as Syaif Ali Maulana, 14, resident of Kampung Wadas, Kalideres, West Jakarta; Mahmud Hanafi, 16, resident of Kampung Cibadak of Pabuaran District, Sukabumi in West Java; and Sofyan, 15, resident of Karang Tengah, Tangerang.

The boarding school students were on their way home after attending a commemorative event celebrating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad, known as Maulid Nabi. The national holiday fell on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

The police have yet to name any suspects in the incident, pending an ongoing investigation. (fac)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 17:26 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de9b9c 1 City ETLE,ticketing,violation,water-supply,electricity-supply Free

As the Jakarta Polices Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (E-TLE) gains praise as an effective means of disciplining unruly motorists in the city, deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen Ari Dono Sukmanto has suggested an integration between the ticketing system and the electricity and water supply.

He said that through the integration it would be possible for state electricity company PLN to cut off the electricity supply to traffic violators recorded in the police database.

We can [cooperate] with PLN and if the [violators] refuse to pay, they will have their electricity or water supply cut. This is aimed at minimizing the contact between violators and police officers, he said on the polices official Twitter account, referring to a prevailing practice where violators only need to bribe police officers to get off from a fine.

The CCTV cameras used in the ETLE system, which is able to detect the license plate numbers of vehicles, caught over 2,438 motorists violating traffic rules, 26 days after the system started its trial run on Oct. 1.

Many netizens have condemned the harshness of the proposal.

Wow so thats the fine for common residents. But what about corruptors? Their water and electricity supplies are fine and live in a good house. Enjoy that commoners! tweeted Sugeng SJ on his twitter handle @SjSugeng.

You are so fierce Mr. Policeman. Why dont [you] remove them [violators] from their jobs as well? Sometimes one mistake causes you 100 troubles, added Tjahjo Aza on his handle @Laskar_Satria.
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 27 2018

Indonesia and Poland have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation as the partners ride on the momentum of increased trade and investment, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said after bilateral talks on Monday.

The minister met with her Polish counterpart, Jacek Czaputowicz, in Jakarta in the first visit of a Polish foreign minister to the capital in 21 years.

Poland is an important partner for Indonesia in Central Europe. Indonesia-Poland economic cooperation continues to grow. In terms of trade, for instance, there has been an increase of 24.8 percent from January to August in 2018 compared to the same period last year, Retno told reporters.

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Linkedin Setiono Sugiharto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, November 27 2018

Higher education: A lecturer explains a subject in a university in Jakarta. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)

In commemorating Teachers Day, which falls on Nov. 25, it is very opportune to reminisce about Henry Girouxs long-proposed coinage  teachers as transformative intellectuals, the revolutionary idea that is hardly articulated in the countrys pedagogical landscape. Implied in this term is the predisposition every individual teacher has to critically engage with the social realities they are facing in their everyday life.

The term also suggests that teachers are intellectuals who have the capacity to interrogate and shape the social and educational conditions to fit their pedagogic purposes. They certainly have their rightful place to voice their own ideas by virtue of their experiences, skills and engagements with their social conditions. Their responsibility is thus beyond simply teaching, knowledge transforming, and conforming to educational policies and agendas one-sidedly imposed in a top-down fashion.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, November 26, 2018 15:31 1094 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877de6059 1 News Tourism-Minister-Arif-Yahya,Tourism-Ministry,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,#tourism-industry,tourism,#tourism,Indonesian-cuisine,Indonesian-culinary,Indonesian-restaurant,diaspora,#diaspora,food,#food,travel Free

In an attempt to promote culinary tourism and achieve the target of attracting 20 million foreign tourists by 2019, the Tourism Ministry is collaborating with 100 diaspora restaurants across the globe through Wonderful Indonesias co-branding program.

To kick off the program, the ministry hosted the Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy Forum 2018 on Thursday and Friday, inviting 250 tourism stakeholders, including businesspeople, government officials, communities, academics and the media.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said in a statement that the ministry supported the co-branding program, and hoped that the diaspora restaurants would continue to grow.

The minister also said Indonesian cuisine should be able to compete with Thai cuisine, explaining that Thailands tom yam, which has become the countrys national food, was promoted by more than 16,000 Thai diaspora restaurants across the globe.

Arief mentioned that the Thai government also supported the rapid growth of Thai restaurants overseas by giving them soft loans.

Read also: Ten diaspora restaurants set to promote Indonesian tourism

Due to budget constraints, we cannot follow Thailands [strategy]. As a solution, were partnering with 100 Indonesian diaspora restaurants for Wonderful Indonesias co-branding [program], he said.

Tourism Ministry culinary and shopping tourism acceleration team head Vita Datau Messakh explained that diaspora restaurants were located in various countries, including the United States, Australia, China, ASEAN countries and more.

To be able to join the co-branding program, the restaurants need to meet several criteria, including being located in big cities, being easily reachable, having been around for more than three years and having a minimum rating of 3.5 stars on popular food and travel websites, such as Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp and Zomato.

Moreover, the restaurants also need to offer a minimum of two out of five national dishes designated by the Tourism Ministry, namely rendang (beef simmered in coconut milk), nasi goreng (fried rice), sate (grilled meat skewers), soto (aromatic soup) and gado-gado (mixed vegetable salad with peanut sauce), and be willing to promote Wonderful Indonesia. (jes/kes)
Sean Creaney, Edge Hill University

Its widely reported that theres been an increase in street violence, particularly in London - with the number of knife and gun crimes rising. While the causes are complex and multifaceted, victims and perpetrators of serious youth violence often lack a relationship with a trusted adult.

crime

ex-offenders,

Positive peers

diculties,

marginalised

unless youve experienced that, you cannot tell themyou cannot relate to them. Unless its happened to you, or someone that you know, theres no way you can fully understand how theyre feeling.

crime

worker

non judgemental

empathise

worker

worker

inspirational,

Id love to do his job. He sort of inspired me. Cos I know about his past, he knows about mine. And its pretty similar, do you know what I mean? Grew up on a bad estate, got into drugs.

The right choice

system
The grand opening of The Compound Detroit gave families a new opportunity to workout together while being dared to take on the Metal Monster.

Two Downriver families came together through their childrens wrestling community to open a youth athlete training facility in Flat Rock.

Danielle and Todd Smith from Lincoln Park have two sons who compete in national youth wrestling tournaments across the country. Sara and Tod Fuchs of Brownstown also have a son wrestling in those tournaments and a daughter involved in gymnastics.

The Smiths and Fuchs were regularly traveling across state lines to visit specialty trainers for their children while also maintaining home gyms for their family and friends.

Thats one of the reasons both of our families came together to buy this, Danielle Smith said. This is what we were doing with our own children already in our own homes. We had a miniature Compound already running in our basements.

A wrestling family in Pennsylvania started the first Compound youth training facility built around their own training philosophies two years ago. Now there are 12 Compound locations around the country, with Compound Detroit being the first to open in Michigan at 24641 Gibraltar Road in Flat Rock.

Some kids have never been able to do a pushup, Danielle Smith said. They come in here and theyve never been introduced to how to do a proper squat. After class, we preach that a lot of what we do here can be done at home or at work. Were just promoting that healthy lifestyle.

Workouts like tire flips, squats and box jumps are favorites at the facility and build leg muscles, which helps develop acceleration and speed, according to Sara Fuchs. Some upper body workouts at The Compound include rope climbing, pull-ups and the 42-foot long Metal Monster horizontal bars course.

Kids cry when they leave, Sara Fuchs said. Not because the workout made them cry. They just want to come back.

The Compound is a youth-based facility, but they are working on expanding toddler and adult classes at the Flat Rock location while also bringing in professional trainers on weekends to lead clinics focused on building specific skills.

If teams bring their athletes here and are consistent then they will improve in their sports, Sara Fuchs said. Strength matters  thats one of our mottos. We could have a very strong community of awesome athletes and teams. Im not sure people understand how much cross training helps in a sport.

A Woodhaven first grader who began training at The Compound after its soft opening in August was wrestling in the finals of a national tournament in Cincinnati during the facilitys official grand opening. The tournament was being streamed live during the event so his trainers could celebrate his success.

You learn your habits young, Todd Smith said. If you have bad habits when youre a young kid, its way harder to change them when youre 20.

When Todd Smith was in the military, he noted that the first month of basic training was really difficult, but after he acclimated, his body didnt feel right unless he started the day with a run.

His experience in the military also helped mold his training style. Sometimes hes the bad cop drill sergeant and sometimes hes all about enthusiastic encouragement.

Trenton resident Neil Egan began bringing his 6-year-old son Easton Egan to The Compound in August.

I think hes definitely gotten stronger, Neil Egan said. He enjoys coming here to work out and hes got more motivation than before. He looks forward to coming here. Theyre great with kids and I think the workouts are great.

Easton Egan started wrestling last year and his father wanted him to advance in his sport while also connecting with other kids his age. Dad liked the atmosphere at The Compound enough that he started bringing his 2-year-old daughter Austyn Egan to toddler classes, as well.

I think its very important for long term health, Neil Egan said. Them being active now and striving to excel will go a long way in the future just in everyday life. To instill it at such a young age will make it become second nature for them. Itll become habit.
If you live in Taylor and one of your New Years resolutions is to become more politically active, youre in luck.

The city of Taylor is accepting resumes for a City Council member. A vacancy was created once Alex Garza was elected to the state legislature on Nov. 6.

Garza, the current council chairman, formally submitted his resignation at a Nov. 20 meeting. The resignation is effective at the end of the year.

Garza, a Democrat, secured 21,099 votes in the November election for the 12th District state representative seat over Republican Michelle Bailey, who had 10,567.

Garza was first elected to the Taylor City Council in 2013 and re-elected in 2017. He earned his associates degree in business from Baker College and his bachelors degree in political science from the University of Michigan  Dearborn.

I am running because I have the right experience, a solid track record of getting things done for my community and am most qualified to hit the ground running for District 12 residents in Lansing, Garza said in a previous interview.

Prioritizing road and infrastructure funding must be a top priority for an incoming legislature.  Michigan must look to a structure that allows for those who put the most wear and tear on our roads to pay more to maintain them. As we look to fixing the roads across the state of Michigan, we must be innovative in the way we approach road funding and how the current gas tax revenue is invested in our roads.

Those interested in replacing Garza on the Taylor council should submit a resume and cover letter by 5 p.m. Dec. 17. Individuals can submit both in-person at the city offices at 23555 Goddard Road or via an email to mchinavare@ci.taylor.mi.us.

For more information, call 734-374-1320.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 9, 2018,-- African high-tech player Mara ( https://Mara.com ) on Friday announced the production of their newest product the Maraphone  the first made-in-Africa, full-scale smartphone, soon to be manufactured in plants across Africa.



China has Huawei, Xiaomi; the U.S has iPhone and finally Africa has Maraphone, Ashish Thakkar, founder of Mara Group told a press conference on the final day of the Africa Investment Forum, currently underway in Johannesburg, South Africa.



This project will show the potential and ability that Africa can produce high quality and affordable smartphones in Africa, by Africans, for Africans and for the rest of the world. We are extremely grateful for the African Development Banks push in this sector which greatly encouraged our progress, Thakkar said.



The Maraphone phone, a first-of-its-kind in the history of Africa, will produce high quality and affordable smartphones to primarily serve the population of Africa and also with the aim to export to other continents such as Europe.



This is going to be totally transformative and create thousands of direct jobs, Thakkar said.



While global manufacture of phones is on the rise and expected to hit a billion in the next few years, none of them are produced on the continent, Thakkar said. The initial target market for the phones would be first-time African smartphone users, while the first manufacturing plants are to be located in Rwanda and South Africa.



Thakkar commended the African Development Bank for its push to support industrialization of Africa through its High 5s strategy under which the Maraphone had received support.



Attending the ceremony, Bank President Akinwunmi Adesina said: By 2020, the value of Africas mobile money industry is projected to top $14 billion. We need African-developed mobile phones to leverage this potential."



Africa is bold, strong and innovative. Africa's time is now, Adesina said.

About Mara: Mara Corporation ( www.Mara.com ) is an African Group headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda, started from a small IT business in East Africa to the globally recognized multi-sector investment group that exists today. Through its investments, Mara Corporation now employs over 14,000 people across 26 African countries in sectors spanning technology, financial services, and energy. Maras key focus is to do good & do well at the same time.
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MBABANE  TQM Textile Swaziland (PTY) Limited, one of the countrys largest textile firms, has reportedly been sold to a South Africa- based company.



There is now a confusion regarding the amount of money to be paid to former employees of the company after the court ordered that they be paid underpayments dating back to 2010.



The employees have run to court where they seek an order directing the deputy sheriff to attach assets belonging to the company to be kept as security for their claim.



This was after they learnt that TQM Textile Swaziland (Matsapha) has allegedly been sold to the South Africa-based company, having not fully complied with the court order to pay the former employees.

The name of the South Africa-based company was, however, not disclosed in the court papers.



In their application, Thembi Dlamini of Logoba, submitted that the judgment of the Industrial Court which ordered that they be paid the underpayments read; The underpayments from December 9, 2010 going back to the period when the respondent started to operate is to be negotiated and agreed upon by the parties with the assistance of the office of the Commissioner of Labour.



Dlamini alleged that the calculations made by the Commissioner of Labour showed that the underpayments were a sum of E350 000.

She said TQM Textiles Swaziland allegedly contended that the amount due to the former employees was E181 380.04.



Dlamini informed the court that the former employees calculations showed the amount due to them was E700 000.



Calculations



I wish to point out that the difference between our calculations and those of the Commissioner of Labour is the dates of employment. The Commissioner of Labour used dates which were not correct, she said.

According to Dlamini, they requested to meet the Commissioner of Labour in a bid to sort out the issue of the differences.



She submitted that their representatives proposed to meet the commissioner in July 2018 at the company premises to finalise the steps required for the judgment to be complied with fully.

Dlamini alleged that the meeting did not take place since the commissioner did not respond to their correspondence.

She stated that they learnt about the differences in the calculations during a previous meeting. Dlamini added that they recently learnt that the company had allegedly been sold before the issue of the underpayments had been finalised.



This I learnt through a letter which was shared to me by a former colleague and friend of mine who is still in the employ of the respondent.

She said in the present matter they were seeking an order directing and authorising the deputy sheriff in any region where assets of TQM Textiles Swaziland could be located, to attach them for safe-keeping as security for their claim.



Dlamini told the court that there was a prima facie case for the relief they were seeking in that there was a judgment of the court in their favour which ordered that they be paid. The matter is awaiting judgment.

When the employees initially went to court, they were 355 and 51 of them were dismissed while the rest were re-engaged by the company.



Judgment



On July 23, 2014, the Industrial Court issued a judgment in which it ordered that the correct applicable wages order was the Regulations of Wages (Manufacturing) Industrial Order.

The company was paying the employees according to the Wages Regulation for the Textile and Apparel Industry.

The court also ordered that the company should pay underpayments going back to December 9, 2010 with immediate effect and those of the period before the aforementioned date to when the company started operating, be negotiated and agreed upon by the parties with the assistance of the Commissioner of Labour. The former employees were represented by Alex Fakudze.
HLATIKHULU  It has emerged that an alleged dispute over a farm resulted in the horrendous slaying of KaMfishane Bucopho Thoko Maseko.



The disappearance of the 70-year-old woman last Sunday, November 18, 2018 filled the small community of KaMfishane with horror. On that sunny Sunday afternoon, an abandoned house in the area was turned into a slaughter house, where the woman was allegedly slain after being intercepted by a young man, while on her way home from church, in an inexcusable act of wickedness.



As the 38-year-old Sonnyboy Shane Harris would later confess to sleuths, he stopped the woman in order to have a conversation with her relating to some strange happenings that have allegedly dogged his life lately. The young man related to detectives that his family had of late been haunted by bad luck and reportedly blamed the elderly woman for his troubled life after a traditional healer he went to laid bare his misfortunes.



tragic



The genesis of Harris grudge with the woman began many years before that tragic afternoon, with an alleged sale of a farm in the area. According to Harris, the farm belonged to his family but had been sold under unclear circumstances and he believed that the 70-year-old woman, who was also related to his family, had a hand in its sale.



The matter had been contested through attorneys hired by the Harris family, but there had been no amicable resolution.

From then on, as the young man would tell the investigators, he had a grievance against the elderly woman. It gradually grew into a bitter hatred, which culminated into thinking that she was also responsible for his misfortunes.



friction



Harris was a college student but his obsession about the farm issue brought him into a friction with the woman, whom she later allegedly intercepted on her way home from church on the tragic Sunday.

He reportedly told investigators that on the day he came across Maseko, he was carrying an axe and a rope, all of which he alleged he was going to use for ferrying some trees.



He said when he saw the woman approaching in a pathway leading to her homestead, he decided to face her. He recalled how she saw the woman cowering into a nearby abandoned homestead, and tried to open the gate.



trembled



He said he greeted her but she did not utter a single word. Instead, he narrated that she trembled and tried to fiddle with something inside her bag. Later, Harris, who described himself as almost petrified with fright, from the awkward encounter, also tried to hold the womans hands and got scratched as she tried to push him away.



He told the detectives that, because there had already been a struggle between the two of them, he felt it would be unsafe for him to let the woman go.

He said he thought it would have been a good plan to just finish her off there and then, because he didnt know how she would react to the incident.



strangulation



So, he allegedly caused Thoko Masekos death by strangulation. He told investigators he used his bare hands to asphyxiate the elderly woman. Then he said he tried to drag the womans body to the abandoned house, where he had intended to hang it in order to make it appear like a suicide.
MBABANE  The procurement of furniture for schools by government for 2018/2019 has been thrown into disarray. Government has withdrawn its intention to award the tender to ERG Swaziland (PTY) Limited after it was discovered that it allegedly submitted a fraudulent Labour Compliance Certificate during the tendering process.



The now contentious tender is worth over E800 000. The Independent Review Committee of the Swaziland Procurement Regulatory Agency, however, ruled in favour of ERG Swaziland (PTY) Limited. This was after the Labour Commissioner re-issued the company with another Labour Compliance certificate which was, this time around, authentic.



The committee further set aside the awarding of the tender to another company, Marithas Investment (PTY) Limited. The decision by the independent review committee has resulted in government filing an application at the High Court. Government is now seeking an order reviewing and setting aside the decision of the chairman of the Independent Review Commission of the Swaziland Public Procurement Regulatory Agency.



Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training Dr Sibongile Mtshali submitted that the High Court had the inherent jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter. The Eswatini Government has an obligation to provide school furniture timeosuly to schools without prejudicing learners at school, argued the PS.



Giving a background of the matter, Mtshali stated that earlier this year, the Ministry of Education sought to procure furniture needed in schools around the country. She said due to the urgency thereof, the ministry sought permission from the Government Tender Board to use the Limited Tender process of acquiring the furniture. This meant that the tender would not be advertised in the media, but the ministry had to prepare the tender documents as well as invitations to suppliers they had worked with before, said the PS.
MBABANE  Governments short term solutions are quite costly. The cost of running external examinations this year has set government into a deficit of about E40 million.



This amount was used to cater for the external examinations since the beginning of October.

In haste, the Ministry of Education and Training roped in security personnel to invigilate and transport external examination papers to various schools and further submit them to various offices of Regional Education Officers (REOs) in the country, daily.



This impromptu decision coerced government to rent 400 vehicles from Woodford Car Hire. These cars were part of the 507 vehicles used during the National Elections.



They were initially rented by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) from June 1 until September 30, 2018.

The 400 cars were rented at E660 000 per day.



This follows that each car cost the taxpayer E1 650 per day just to be under the authority of government. The vehicles were with the Ministry of Education and Training for 46 days. This is so, as external examinations started on October 1, 2018. The vehicles were returned to the car hire service provider on November 19, 2018.



For this period, government will pay E30 360 000.

Most of the cars that were rented by the EBC during the elections were Isuzu double cab bakkies. According to auto trader, a car dealership website, the vehicles have a capacity of 80 litres of fuel.



A litre of diesel retails at about E12.86 which translates to E 1 028.95 per full tank. On average, each car was fuelled twice a week. This means that about E6 585 292.80 was spent on fuel over the 46 days.

Further, government spent E2 484 000 on refreshments. The refreshments were offered to security personnel who were manning schools during the external examinations.
By Azernews





By Kamila Aliyeva

Azernewss interview with Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Darius Skusevi?ius

Question: How do you assess the current state of political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Lithuania?

Answer: Lithuanias relations with Azerbaijan has sustained history - this year our countries celebrated the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the democratic state. In 2019 we will also mark 100 years since we have first established diplomatic relations - in mid-war period there was a consular section of the Republic of Lithuania in Baku.

Lithuania and Azerbaijan are engaged in a close political dialogue, we share mutual respect and understanding. We have intergovernmental commission as well as regular exchange of visits and consultations at different levels, including between ministers of foreign affairs, where we discuss a wide range of issues of common interest.

Parliaments are also well involved in the political dialog between our countries. The group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan in Lithuanian Seimas is one of the biggest and consists of members of different factions.

Cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan is yet another important aspect of our political dialogue. We are pleased that the EU and Azerbaijan have recently agreed on Partnership Priorities. We also look forward to a successful conclusion of the negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement that will open new avenues for engagement. We attach great importance to the EU Eastern Partnership initiative and are interested in Azerbaijans active participation in implementing its ambitious work plan, 20 Deliverables for 2020. That would bring tangible benefits to Azerbaijans citizens and create further incentives for our cooperation.

In the framework of our political dialogue, we also encourage Azerbaijan to intensify its efforts in ensuring respect of fundamental human rights and liberties, based on Azerbaijans international commitments.

Q: What is your vision of the future cooperation in the economic field between the two countries? What measures should be taken to increase the trade turnover between the two countries?

A: Azerbaijan is one of our main trading partners in South Caucasus and we see a potential to deepen our economic and investment cooperation. Being on the EU border with CEE and the CIS, Lithuania delivers access to huge potential markets. Moreover, with the EUs most Northerly Ice Free Port in Klaip?da this access becomes truly global. The best way to foster our economic and trade cooperation is by exchanging our business delegations and encouraging direct B2B contacts.

Q: What areas of Azerbaijani economy are of particular interest for Lithuanian businessmen?

A: The information technology, transport and logistics, furniture, electronic equipment, medicine and food industries could be the most potential to expand bilateral cooperation. Lithuania could be a gateway to the EU for Azerbaijan producers. We offer attractive conditions for investing in free trade zones, engineering, industrial equipment, automotive, electronics, biotech, clean-tech, ICT, R&D, transportation sectors. Ranked 4th in the world for fulfilling business needs for ICT, Lithuanian companies can offer innovative IT solutions for Azerbaijan institutions and private companies. Lithuania takes a leading place in the EU according to the implementation of e-government services. We can efficiently contribute implementing cyber security solutions in Azerbaijan. Renewable energy could be another field of interest (solar panels, biomass energy). Lithuania is becoming the European hub for block chain technologies and fintech industries so we offer Azerbaijani business to utilise our favourable legislative and business environment in the EU.

Q: What are the plans for further development of cooperation in transport field between Azerbaijan and Lithuania?

A: 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. Therefore, our country can offer Azerbaijan a safe, fast and inexpensive transportation of Azerbaijani cargo to Europe and the Scandinavian countries.

Additional cooperation possibilities are offered by the accession of Azerbaijan to the international combined train project the Viking Train, which links the network of sea container lines of the Baltic and the Black seas, Mediterranean and Caspian seas.

We also see cooperation possibilities in the Europe-China cargo transportation chain through the Eurasian transport multimodal corridor of TRACECA as well.

Q: What is done to further develop humanitarian aspect of bilateral relations? What can be done to expand cooperation in tourism sector between the two states?

A: Lithuania and Azerbaijan are the countries of beautiful nature, rich history and culture. Lithuania may offer for Azerbaijani tourists medical and health services. Also, we may invite you to spend some quiet time in Lithuanian countryside or enjoy baroque old town of Vilnius.

Currently, the main challenge for expanding tourism is the connection between Azerbaijan and Lithuania. We anticipate that with the conclusion of the negotiations on the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan more itineraries emerge and we will witness an increase in the number of Lithuanian tourists visiting Azerbaijan and vice versa.
The tourist industry in Cyprus is on the rise President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has noted, pointing out that it can face all the challenges that arise and can strengthen its competitive advantages, CNA reports.

He also expressed his confidence that the growth rate of 4% recorded will remain high. The President addressed on Saturday evening an event held by the Association of Hotelier Managers (PASYDIXE) in Limassol.

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: European People's Party License: CC-BY-SA
Event focused on new technologies, investments and the all latest developments in the fields of Hospitality & the Tourism Industry

The 2nd International Hospitality Forum was concluded with great success. The Forum was organized by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) and was focused on new technologies, investments and the all latest developments in the fields of Hospitality & the Tourism Industry.

This years 2nd ospitality Forum took place on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at the C1 Conference Hall of the Metropolitan Expo exhibition center and within the framework of the Xenia 2018 Exhibition, which was also a Gold Sponsor for the event. International and Greek experts from the tourism industry, prominent representatives of the academic community, as well as high profile consulting companies discussed the latest trends and developments in the global hospitality industry.

The President of the HCH talked about the future of the sector

Mr Alexandros Vassilikos, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, referring to the 2nd International Hospitality Forum, addressed a full to the brim C1 conference room, and talked about the new era in Greek tourism and the need for bold new decisions and actions: Today is a very special day. Leaving behind the difficult years of the crisis, Greek hoteliers are now present and willing to highlight the fact that the future belongs to those who dare claim it, visualize it and are not afraid to make it happen, he stated. Mr Vassilikos also stressed the point that change does not happen overnight nor without effort. We must leave behind dated habits and practices. Nobody can claim a stake at the future by moving backwards.

Nobody can claim a stake at the future by moving backwards, stated Mr Alexandros Vasilikos during the 2nd International Hospitality Forum.

Greek Tourism Minister addressed the Forum

The leading event of the hospitality sector also took place in the presence of the Tourism Minister, Ms E. Kountoura who addressed the Forum and among others remarked that 2018 is an historic moment for Greek tourism and represents the sum of all the efforts and exploits of the last four years. The Minister expressed the opinion that Greece is the only country in Europe with so many islands and that Athens was recently recognized as the best tourism destination. After briefly discussing the governmental actions of the last years, Ms Kountoura thanked hoteliers for their valuable contribution, promised that she will continue to be on their side in the future, and wished every success to the 2nd International Hospitality Forum.

A new era for the hospitality industry

The 2nd International Hospitality Forum proved once again an excellent initiative, shedding light on the changes and the developments in the hospitality industry and its future. Specifically, this year four topics were discussed with the active participation of top Greek and international players in the Tourism sector. These topics were centered around new hotel investments, the use of data to boost guest experience and hotel revenues, the ways to maximize new digital sales and distribution channels, and finally what hotels can learn from the sharing economy.
The global contemporary reality of digital technologies as a strategy, sales and marketing tool is thoroughly mapped and presented at this years Xenia 2018.

Xenia Digi Hotel, one of the main events of the largest trade show for the hospitality industry in Greece, taking place at a specially-designated area in Hall 3 of the Metropolitan Expo exhibition center, showcases the latest international trends, while educating and informing hoteliers on everything they need to know about todays digital world.

At the first discussion panel, participated Ms Dorothea Dede (Backbone) and Mr Kyros Asfis (Nea Mesa), while the talk was moderated by Mr Dimitris Serifis (Nelios). The speakers mapped all the modern tools that a hotel must have in order to cope with the digital age. Thereafter, Ms Dede highlighted issues regarding a hotels good internet presence. The value and importance of the blog on a hotel site, as an optimal selling tool, discussd Mr Kyros Asfis from NeaMesa. In addition, Irini Tzirvelaki (Electra Hotels & Resorts) referred to the Mobile App as the customers personal butler.

How hotel analytics can help businesses better understand their customers was the topic analyzed by Ms Eleni Liogka (Mitsis Hotels), while Mr Nikolas Zartaloudis (City Never Sleeps) referred to Google My Business as a hoteliers free SEO ally. At the end of the first section, hotel Du Lac in Ioannina was presented as a case study.

Comprehensive presentations from leading experts at the second section of the event

The second section of the day was entitles Hotel Digital Marketing & Advertising and was presented by Mr Themis Sarantaenas, Marketing Consultant, and Mr Konstantinos Androutsos, Digital Strategist & Analyst.

The second section, which highlighted hotel digital marketing and advertising, was moderated by Mr Apostolis Aivalis of aival.com. Speakers analyzed the peculiarities of the hotel market, the costs and all good practices. In this particular section, Google search Ads were also discussed by Digital Strategist, Mr Alexandros Rasoulis. In addition, Panos Melissaropoulos (Moosend) elaborated on the topic of GDPR and how it can make Email Marketing more efficient.

How a hotel can effectively target customers by using social media advertising platforms to its benefit, was presented by Mr Christos Ditoras of Hilton Athens, whereas Mr Kostas Fronimos talked about the future of digital advertising. Ms Eleni Stasinopoulou (The Hotel Trotter) elaborated on the subject of travel bloggers and influencers, and Vassilis Dimarakis (Private Review) raised the subject of customer reviews. The very first day of the Xenia Digi Hotel ended with the case study of Kalisti Hotel in Santorini.
Society for the Preservation of the Greek Heritage (SPGH) presents An American in Epirus: A Southern American Listening to Northwestern Greek Blues (Moirologia)

WASHINGTON, DC  The Society for the Preservation of the Greek Heritage (SPGH) presents An American in Epirus: A Southern American Listening to Northwestern Greek Blues (Moirologia) on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 6:30-8 PM at Squire Patton Boggs, 2550 M Street Northwest in Washington, DC, with Christopher King, a music collector, scholar, and Grammy-winning producer from southern Virginia.

King will share his transformational encounter with Epirotika moirologia,  , (laments from Epirus) and his falling in love with the music and people of the land. He will also talk about the connection of these northwestern Greek blues to American southern blues and discuss his recent book, Lament from Epirus with SPGH Chairman Dr. Vassilis Koliatsos and members of the audience. King will play many rare examples of southern blues music and demotika from the original 78 rpm discs for the audience. Copies of his book, as well as CDs and LPs will also be available for sale at the event.

Dress code: Jacket and tie for gentlemen, business attire for ladies.

Christopher C. King has studied philosophy and music theory and curates a boutique, Grammy-nominated and winning label, Long Gone Sound, specializing in remastered pre-war rural American music and Eastern European and Balkan recordings. His Lament from Epirus was reviewed in The National Herald as well as the New York Review of Books, Wall Street Journal, and The Wire, among others.

RSVP for the free event on Eventbrite, search: An American in Epirus.

Read more at thenationalherald.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: thenationalherald.com
On Thursday, November 1, the National Hellenic Museum was filled with hundreds of foodies who enthusiastically sampled Chicagolands finest Greek cuisine at Kouzina 2018, according to greekreporter.com.

The annual event, in its eleventh year, is aimed at connecting new generations of people in the Greater Chicago area with Greek culture, Greek food and Greek-American history.

Kouzina offers special twists on Greek cuisine, as well as classic dishes and a wonderful wine selection to complement the dishes.

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: GreekDude1 License: CC-BY-SA
The fact that seven cosmonauts have chosen Crete shows trust for the level of services provided at the island and speaks well for both Crete and the country

Crete has all the potential to be a great cosmonaut rehabilitation centre, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev said on Friday during a meeting with Crete Regional governor Stavros Arnaoutakis, ANA reports.

Artemyev is the seventh cosmonaut to visit Crete since 2015, when a series of rehabilitation programs commenced on the island at the initiative of Greek journalist in Moscow Thanassis Avgerinos. Artemeyev arrived on Crete with his family and a scientific rehabilitation team.

According to the Crete Region statement, Artemyev returned from his second spaceflight at the International Space Station on October 5, 2018. After concluding the first stage of rehabilitation at the medical base in Star City Moscow, he and his medical team travelled to Aegeo Spas in Heraklion, already registered with the Cosmonaut Training Centre from previous rehabilitations. Recently, Russia's Centre for Aerospace Medicine signed with Aegeo Spas a protocol of further cooperation, the announcement continued.

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: NASA License: CC-BY-SA
Bahrain-based AlMabarrah Al Khalifia Foundation (MKF), a non-profit foundation registered and licensed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Development, has signed up leading business advisory boutique Vanguard Group for provision of integrated strategic, administrative and financial advisory solutions.



Established in 2011, MKF is run by an independent council of secretaries with a long standing expertise in community service. It aims to empower Bahraini youth to succeed through launching comprehensive programmes.



As per the deal, Vanguard will provide advisory services through guidance sessions. The strategy will be developed in line with Bahrains economic vision and sustainable development objectives of the United Nations.



In order to achieve this strategy, the foundation will study the current market conditions, providing the skills and expertise that the labor market lacks in order to ensure the development of youth capacities and developing a sense of social responsibility within them to help lead charitable projects and initiatives in the interest of the community and the public.



Since its establishment in 2007, Vanguard has been expanding its services to the GCC and parts of Europe as a consultancy specialising in providing professional advice to start-ups, growing businesses, as well as further developing business opportunities by using successful strategies.



MKF Chairperson Shaikha Zain bint Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, lauded Vanguard for its co-operation in provision of integrated strategic, administrative and financial advisory solutions.



She thanked Hazem Janahi, the founder of Vanguard, and and shared her high aspirations for further development within the foundation.



"We will continue to work towards empowering young Bahrainis with a wealth of education and a set of personal skills which will allow them to exploit their maximum potential for Bahrain and its development," she added.-TradeArabia News Service
Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE), was recognised for its localisation efforts at Saudi Aramcos In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) Forum in Dhahran.

The company also announced a series of agreements at the forum. The agreements are in line with Saudi Aramcos 2030 vision and IKTVA programme, said a statement from the company.



BHGEs support for the advancement of Saudi local suppliers and development of in-country expertise was formerly recognised at the forum, as the company received the 2018 IKTVA Excellence Award for Best in Supplier and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development.



BHGE has more than 1,350 Saudi suppliers in its supply chain and has helped create more than 5,300 indirect jobs.



BHGE signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Aramco highlighting the companys five-year IKTVA roadmap to expand BHGEs footprint in the kingdom.



This MoU supports its efforts to drive local job creation and develop a broader base of local suppliers with the capabilities necessary to meet the demand. This supports Saudi Aramcos IKTVA programme which aims to achieve 70 per cent local content, create thousands of new jobs and increase exports by 2021.



BHGE also carried out the official inauguration of its 30,000-sq-m multi-modal facility, located in the 2nd Industrial City in Dammam (Modon). It will support manufacturing, assembly, packaging and testing of turbomachinery equipment and components and is the first facility of its kind outside of BHGEs Turbomachinery & Process Solutions headquarters in Florence, Italy.



Today, the multi-modal facility has over 90 per cent Saudisation and is working with more than 20 local suppliers to support its operations. The majority of the components are being localised for the first time ever not only in the Kingdom, but also within the entire region.



Today, the facility supports the needs of the Haradh and Hawiyah gas compression project in Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand in the future to serve the Middle East. The facility can accommodate the assembly of any size and kind of turbomachinery equipment including heavy duty and aeroderivative gas turbines, steam turbines and centrifugal compressors. In addition, a high-pressure testing bunker is built within the facility for hydrostatic and leakage tests.



Rami Qasem, president and CEO of BHGE Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and India, said: Saudi Arabia is diversifying and strengthening its oil and gas ecosystem with a focus on significant long-term value creation.



With our presence in the Kingdom for over 80 years and playing a vital role in the countrys oil and gas industry, we understand the need to build the skills of Saudi talents to lead and serve the diverse initiatives. Our efforts in the region help create a vibrant local supply chain; from drilling services to manufacturing, we are covering the entire bandwidth of the oil and gas sector in the kingdom, he added.



With over 2,700 employees, BHGE has more than 10 facilities for manufacturing, maintenance and R&D in the kingdom.



BHGE's footprint includes an assembly, maintenance and overhaul workshop; a drill bits manufacturing facility that exports to over 40 countries; a completions and well intervention facility; a pressure control facility that is the largest and one of the most advanced by BHGE in the region with the manufacturing done entirely in the kingdom; the Dhahran Technology Center that has over 15 R&D projects and has filed over 30 patents; an artificial lift facility that partners with 120 local suppliers; a turbomachinery processes and services facility; and one of the first and largest chemical blending plants in the kingdom.  TradeArabia News Services
Emerico, a world leader in banking and retail technology, unveiled its latest technological innovation, R35 Self-Service Robot at the World Islamic Banking Conference 2018 (WIBC), which opened its door in Manama, Bahrain, today (November 26).



The WIBC, the longest and largest Islamic Banking conference, is back in Bahrain, the Islamic financial hub of the Mena region, to celebrate its 25th edition at the Art Rotana Hotel and Resort which runs till November 28.



The R35 is the latest addition to Emericos line of products which aims to further assist customers in all service-oriented industries.



Emerico is an ISO9001 company with eight international awards and accolades in the field of banking and customer service solutions. It operates in three continents with four regional offices.



The R35 is produced as an endeavour to further redefine and improve the customer experience, focusing on providing a more seamless process for various customer-centric tasks. As a result, it is highly customizable to suit the needs of businesses from any customer-centric industries, said a statement from the company.



Outfitted with an ultrasonic sensor on each side coupled together with an internal GPS tracker, the R35 is able to maneuver intelligently across the floor and greet patrons to assist them with various tasks.



As it is constantly on the move, the R35 is self-reliant where it utilizes rechargeable 12V batteries and safely returns to the charging position when required. It has a standby duration of 48 hours and 12-hour battery life when in constant use.



The R35 is also equipped with a keypad with a secure card reader and an in-built printer for receipts amongst other features. It also comes equipped a 12.3 display, ideal for quick assistance via video conference with a customer success officer to attend to patrons in completing their errands, it added.



Emerico CEO Francis Lai said: "The conception of the R35 was an incentive at Emerico to further advance and enhance the customer experience in the financial industry. By doing so, this ensures a more seamless and improved customer experience and concurrently saving much storage space."



"We strive to be the leading innovators for customer solutions in the ever-changing industry," he added.



Emerico is also launching a mobility version customised for the Windows Surface. Previously only available for the iPad, the latest version will provide businesses which uses Windows Surface tablets to further expand into a more integrated ecosystem to interact with their customers and complete transactions on-the-go.



This is possible through the implementation of the latest EMV (Europay, Mastercard and Visa) and a fingerprint scanner to ensure compatible and seamless transactions anywhere in the world, said the top official.



Among other smart solutions provided by Emerico include the flagship product Emerico Cockpit Smart VTM, the Emerico Smart VTM with iPad which is a more compact version and the Emerico Mobility with iPad for those who are constantly on-the-go, stated Lai.



Emericos solutions have won major awards including the Bizz Worlds Inspirational Company Awards, BID World Quantity Commitment Award, Europe Business Assembly Best Enterprises Award and ESQR European Award for Best Practices Award," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Abu Dhabi Government and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) have added Wintershall Holding to the Ghasha ultra-sour gas mega-project with a 10 percent stake.

The Ghasha concession consists of the Hail, Ghasha, Dalma and other offshore sour gas fields, including Nasr, SARB and Mubarraz. Wintershall will contribute 10 percent of the project capital and operational development expenses, said an Adnoc statement.

Germanys largest crude oil and natural gas producer  and a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF, the worlds largest chemicals company by sales  joins Italys Eni as partners with Adnoc in the project. Eni was awarded a 25 percent stake in the Ghasha concession earlier this month.

The agreement marks the first time a German oil and gas company has been awarded a stake in an Abu Dhabi concession area and underscores Adnocs objective to expand and diversify its strategic partnership base, it said.

The concession agreement, which has a term of 40 years, was signed by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Adnoc Group CEO, and Mario Mehren, CEO of Wintershall.

The announcement builds on the momentum generated by the Supreme Petroleum Councils (SPC) approval of Adnocs new integrated gas strategy, targeted to unlock and maximize value from Abu Dhabis substantial, available gas reserves, as the UAE moves towards gas self-sufficiency and aims to transition from a net importer of gas to a net gas exporter.

Dr Al Jaber said: Development of the Ghasha concession area is a strategic priority for Adnoc. The gas, extracted from the concession area, at commercial rates, will make a significant contribution to fulfilling our commitment to ensuring a sustainable and economic gas supply and achieving our objective of gas self-sufficiency for the UAE.

In common with Adnoc, Wintershall has extensive experience of appraising and developing ultra-sour gas resources in technically complex fields. It is a partnership in which each company will benefit from the experience of the other as, together, we optimize costs and ensure we extract the maximum value from all the available gas resources. It builds on our long experience of sour gas production and strengthens our ambition to establish a center of excellence, in Abu Dhabi, for sour gas development.

The Ghasha ultra-sour concession will tap into the Arab basin, which is estimated to hold multiple trillions of standard cubic feet of recoverable gas. The project is expected to produce over 1.5 billion cubic feet of gas per day when it comes on stream, around the middle of the next decade, enough to provide electricity to more than two million homes. Once complete, the project will also produce more than 120,000 barrels of oil and high value condensates per day.

Over the projects life-time, substantial benefits will flow back into the UAE economy under Adnocs In-Country Value programme, which is designed to stimulate commercial opportunities for local businesses, catalyse socio-economic development, develop an ultra-sour gas hub for the region and create additional employment opportunities for UAE nationals.

Mehren said: We are delighted to be partners in this project, supporting Adnocs 2030 smart growth strategy. The project also fits excellently with our strategy. We have been working since 2010 on strengthening the Middle East region by investing here and developing it into another growth region for Wintershall. And we achieved that goal today by signing the contract. We are proud that Adnoc is placing its trust in Wintershall as a partner. We want to establish a strong and long-term cooperation in Abu Dhabi. Together with Adnoc, we will build up substantial production.

In addition to developing the Ghasha concession area, Adnoc plans to increase production from its Shah field to 1.5 billion cubic feet per day and move forward to develop the sour gas fields at Bab and Bu Hasa. Adnoc will also unlock other sources of gas which include Abu Dhabis giant Umm Shaif gas cap and the emirates unconventional gas reserves, as well as new natural gas accumulations, which will continue to be appraised and developed as the company pursues its exploration activities.

As a technology-driven exploration and development specialist, Wintershall has more than 40 years of experience in the production of sour gas. It has developed 16 fields in Germany, produced 30 billion cu m of sour gas and built four gas purification plants. The company has been active in the extraction of natural resources for 120 years, and in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas for over 85 years.  TradeArabia News Service
Turkish Airlines has launched flights to Banjul, the capital city of Gambia, from today (November 26) with flights operating twice per week and in connection with Dakar flights.



Banjul is located alongside with the Atlantic Ocean. With Banjul flights, Turkish Airlines has increased its flight network to 54 in Africa by strengthening its presence in the continent. Following the addition of Banjul, Turkish Airlines now reaches 123 countries with 305 destinations worldwide.



At the opening ceremony, senior vice president of Sales Kerem Sarp said: We believe that the Africa will increase its importance for world tourism and trade in medium and long-term and we also keep to invest to potential of Africa [sic].



Banjul is the 54th destination of our network in Africa. So, we believe that Banjul flights will contribute to discover the potential of Gambia for world. As a flag carrier of Turkey and airlines that flying to the more destinations in Africa , Turkish Airlines keeps to present its service quality to all over the Africa .



Introductory round trip fares are available from Istanbul to Banjul starting at $548.2 (including taxes and fees) and from Banjul to Istanbul starting at $649.2, an airline statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
From November 26-28, Kenya will host the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi. This conference represents an important opportunity to take stock of both the opportunities  and the challenges  which the Blue Economy concept presents, in the context of SDG14 - Life Below Water.

As the single largest natural asset on the planet which represents some 99% of the earths living volume, the ocean delivers numerous benefits to humanity.

The ocean is responsible for the oxygen in every other breath we take. It supplies 15 percent of humanitys protein needs.

It helps to slow climate change by absorbing 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.

It serves as the highway for some 90 percent of internationally traded goods, via the shipping sector.

If the ocean were a country, at several trillion dollars per year of economic activity, the ocean would rank 7th on the list of largest nations by GDP.

It is the source of hundreds of millions of jobs, in fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, tourism, energy production and other sectors.

It is also the source of some 30 percent of the worlds oil and gas resources but this equation must change if we are to succeed in the necessary transition to a low carbon development pathway.

Millions of the worlds poorest people depend heavily on the ocean and coastal resources for their sustenance and livelihoods.

Small-scale fishing provides about half of the worlds harvested seafood  but provides 44 times as many jobs per ton of fish as industrial fisheries do!

For the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Blue Economy paradigm is a natural next step in the overall conceptualization and realization of sustainable human development. It mirrors our long-accepted definition of sustainable development as one that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Simply put, it is the utilization of ocean resources for human benefit in a manner that sustains the overall ocean resource base into perpetuity.

As for terrestrial ecosystems, marine ecosystems can only provide their myriad ecosystem services to humanity if they are governed and managed sustainably through an effective ocean and coastal governance. UNDPs Ocean Governance Programme works towards helping countries achieve this - from local level through initiatives like the Global Environmental Facilitys (GEF) Small Grants Programme, to regional efforts such as UNDPs Large Marine Ecosystems programme, and global efforts on sustainable shipping in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and GEF.

In simplest terms, there are two elements for the Blue Economy. The first is the necessity of protecting  and restoring where needed  the existing ocean resource base that already supplies food and livelihoods to billions of people. Depleted fish stocks that are permitted to recover can ultimately deliver higher, sustainable fish yields and associated jobs. If protected and restored, coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs and mangroves can deliver increased coastal protection benefits from storm surges and sea level rise. Coastal areas that reduce nutrient pollution and eliminate hypoxic areas can, in turn, enjoy higher fish yields and increased tourism revenue.

The other side of the Blue Economy is where opportunities may exist for enhanced or new sustainable economic activity derived from the ocean. Progress and prospects for ocean-related energy, such as offshore wind and tidal energy, appear promising. Opportunities also exist to monetize the value of highly effective coastal carbon stocks such as mangroves and seagrasses into carbon finance markets, or blue carbon. Globally, aquaculture has been growing at a compounded rate of almost 9% since 1980, and now supplies nearly half of the worlds consumed fish protein. However, much of it remains unsustainable in terms of pollution and impacts on species diversity, making this a critical Blue Economy opportunity to introduce more sustainable practices, such as integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. With support from GEF and UNDP, the IMO and the global shipping sector are taking pro-active steps to minimize the sectors contribution to climate change through improved energy efficiency, which can, in turn, enhance the sectors profitability, a true Blue Economy approach.

This weeks Sustainable Blue Economy Conference represents a unique opportunity for stakeholders at all levels, public and private, to share ideas and opportunities, create innovative new partnerships, and work together towards turning the Blue Economy concept into tangible actions, which will deliver sustainable economic development.
GloFouling Partnerships: A new collaboration between the GEF, UNDP and IMO to address bioinvasions through ships hulls and other marine structures

New York, Nov 26 - A new international effort to combat the negative environmental impacts of the transfer of aquatic species through ships has been launched this week. The GloFouling Partnerships project - a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) - will address the build-up of aquatic organisms on a ships underwater hull and on other marine mobile infrastructure.

The introduction of invasive aquatic organisms into new marine environments not only affects biodiversity and ecosystem health, but also has measurable impacts on a number of economic sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture and ocean energy. Therefore, addressing invasive aquatic species is not only a matter of ensuring the health and integrity of marine ecosystems, but ultimately about safeguarding ecosystem services that sustain the livelihoods of coastal communities across the globe.

The GloFouling project will drive actions to implement the IMO Guidelines for the control and management of ships biofouling, which provide a globally-consistent approach on how biofouling should be controlled and managed to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species through ships hulls. The project will also spur the development of best practices and standards for improved biofouling management in other ocean industries.

Twelve countries, representing a mix of developing nations and Small Island Developing States, have been selected to spearhead the work of the GloFouling project: Brazil, Ecuador, Fiji, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tonga.

The GEF is providing a US$6.9 million grant to deliver a range of governance reforms at the national level, through numerous capacity-building activities, training workshops and opportunities for technology adoption to help address the issue of invasive species. Strong participation from private sector stakeholders is also expected, replicating the successful public-private sector partnership model used by IMO in previous projects.

While IMO will focus on shipping, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) will join the three main partners (GEF, UNDP, IMO) to lead the approach to other marine sectors with a view to developing best practices that may address the transfer of invasive aquatic species through improved biofouling management. IOC-UNESCO will work hand in hand with the GloFouling project to increase awareness of this environmental challenge among key stakeholders.

Contributing to the efforts of IOC-UNESCO, the World Ocean Council (WOC) has been selected to engage and channel the participation of private sector companies for the development of best industry practices in non-shipping sectors such as aquaculture and oil and gas extraction. WOC will be working with the private sector to spur business action and encourage investment in biofouling solutions through dedicated sessions of the WOC Ocean Investment Platform.

Hiroyuki Yamada, Director of the Marine Environment Division, IMO, praised the commitment of the twelve developing countries that have taken the global lead towards the achievement of the project objectives. He stated, This joint effort to implement the IMO Biofouling Guidelines and best practices for other marine industries will help nations to deliver essential contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

He further highlighted the additional contribution of biofouling management to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from shipping through energy-efficiency gains resulting from clean hulls.

The GloFouling Project has already received endorsement from over 40 major stakeholders, representing academia, industry associations, technology developers and private sector companies covering a broad spectrum of the blue economy.

Andrew Hudson, Head, UNDP Water & Ocean Governance Programme, said, We know with high certainty that biofouling of ships and other mobile marine infrastructure is a serious environmental issue that can lead to the introduction of invasive species around the world. UNDP is very pleased to collaborate once more with the GEF and IMO to take steps to address this important issue through a project that brings numerous environmental benefits.

Chris Severin, Senior Environmental Specialist from the GEF, said, The implementation of the GloFouling Partnerships will be instrumental in battling aquatic invasive species, and will not only lead to healthier more robust marine ecosystems, but also offer an opportunity to unlock blue economy potentials through the stimulation of public-private sector investments.



About the Partner Organisations:

UNDP  the United Nations Development Programme  partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

www.undp.org

For further information please contact:

Sangita Khadka, Communications Specialist, on +1 212 906 5043 (sangita.khadka@undp.org)

___________

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our planets most pressing environmental problems. Since then, the GEF has provided over USD 17 billion in grants and mobilized an additional USD 88 billion in financing for more than 4000 projects in 170 countries. Today, the GEF is an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector that addresses global environmental issues.

www.gef.org

For further information please contact:

Robert Bisset, Head of Communications, on +1 202 4159646 (rbisset@thegef.org)

___________

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO supports ocean science and services worldwide by enabling its 149 Member States to work together to better understand and improve the management of the ocean, coasts and marine ecosystems. By helping countries to build their scientific and institutional capacity, the IOC is contributing to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 and UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

http://ioc.unesco.org

For further information please contact:

Vinicius Grunberg Lindoso, Communications Officer, on +33 145681170 (v.lindoso@unesco.org)



IMO  the International Maritime Organization  is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

Web site: www.imo.org

Photo collection:

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/imo-un/collections

Join us on our social media sites:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/imohq

Twitter: http://twitter.com/imohq you can also find us: @imohq

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/IMOHQ

For further information please contact:

Lee Adamson, Head, Public Information Services on 020 7587 3153 (media@imo.org)

Natasha Brown, Media and Communications Officer on 020 7587 3274 (media@imo.org).


Register all eligible workers including temporarily engaged in Govt sector: J&K Chief Secy 25 Nov 2021 | 2:45 AM Jammu, Nov 24 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta on Wednesday asked the Department to register all the eligible workers including the temporarily engaged workers in the Government sector; on the portal and extend the benefits of workers welfare schemes to them within one month. see more..

Under Smart City Mission, JSCL to expand free Wi-Fi service in Jammu city 24 Nov 2021 | 11:27 PM Jammu, Nov 24 (UNI) To attract tourist footfall and benefit students as well as the business community, the Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) has decided to expand its free Wi-Fi service to 20 more locations under the Smart City Mission.

JSCL on Wednesday has signed an agreement with LMES to provide the Wi-Fi hotspots at 20 more locations under Phase-II. see more..

Course for J&K Cops on Drug Law Enforcement begins, discusses factors responsible for growing drug menace among youth 24 Nov 2021 | 11:21 PM Jammu, Nov 24 (UNI) A three-day special course on the theme Drug Law Enforcement commenced on Wednesday here at Police Auditorium, Gulshan Ground.

The capacity building programme for JKP officers is being organized by the Narcotics Control Bureau to improve the investigation skills. see more..

Promotional events at Basholi on Nov 27 to showcase 75 off-beat destinations: Jammu Tourism 24 Nov 2021 | 11:20 PM Jammu, Nov 24 (UNI) To revive the tourism industry and celebrate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, is organizing a one day promotional events on November 27 at Purthu Beach in Basholi tehsil of Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. see more..
Chad President wants to restore diplomatic relations with Israel

Tel Aviv, Nov 26 (Sputnik) President of the Republic of Chad Idriss Deby has said during his historic visit to Israel he wants to open a new chapter in bilateral ties between the two nations that have not had diplomatic relations more than 40 years.

On Sunday, Deby held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.

"We need to melt the ice if it is possible to say so. The future is important, including the future of our relations, the future of our peoples, the future of Israel and Africa. We are here and we want to resume diplomatic relations. Your country is an important partner for us," Deby said at a meeting with Netanyahu.
India carefully examining its options on trade, investment ties with Beijing following border tensions: Foreign Secretary 24 Nov 2021 | 11:52 PM New Delhi, Nov 24 (UN) In the wake of Chinas aggressive posture and its attempts at multiple transgressions along the border last year, India is very carefully examining its options with regard to its trade and investment ties with Beijing to ensure that New Delhis integrity and security remain intact, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Wednesday. see more..

PVR takes safe entertainment to next level, installs first-ever indoor air purification system in India 24 Nov 2021 | 11:46 PM New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, PVR Ltd, known for providing opulent cinematic experience to the viewers, has joined hands with UFO Moviez, to install anti-viral cinema air purification system at its pan India locations, taking the safety of audience to the next level. see more..

Taliban have been 'very reassuring' in our conversations with them: Foreign Secretary Shringla 24 Nov 2021 | 11:26 PM New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The Taliban have been very reassuring during Indias conversations with the Islamist group that is ruling Kabul, and they recognise that India has contributed greatly to the people of Afghanistan, and they have good things to say about India, which is a good start, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Wednesday. see more..

Thoroughly investigated Gujarat riots: SIT to SC 24 Nov 2021 | 11:21 PM New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was constituted by the Supreme Court to inquire into the complaint of Zakia Ahsan Jafri, the wife of slain MP Ehsan Jafri, on Wednesday told the Apex Court that it had "thoroughly investigated" the riots cases in Gujarat in a detailed and proper manner. see more..
Japanese PM set to begin South American trip on Monday

Moscow, Nov 26 (Sputnik) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will go on a trip to South America on November 26-December 4 visiting Argentina to attend the G20 summit, as well as Uruguay and Paraguay, local media reported on Monday.

The G20 summit will be held in Buenos Aires on November 30-December 1, bringing together the leaders of the worlds 20 largest economies.

According to the Nikkei newspaper, Abe is expected to hold talks with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the G20 sidelines. In his talks with the US leader, Abe will reportedly reaffirm Japan's belief in the importance of free trade amid the ongoing US-China trade wars, and address the upcoming talks on the US-Japan Trade Agreement on Goods (TAG) slated to start in the beginning of the next year.
Lao PM calls for collective action to end violence against female

VIENTIANE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called for everyone to join together in ending violence against women and girls, saying that this kind of pernicious violence continues to exist.

Thongloun issued his message when joining other countries around the world in marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Sunday.

Countries across the globe are marking the day under this year's theme "Hear Me Too" from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, according to local daily Vientiane Times on Monday.
Pakistan informs India of decision to allow transit of humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan 25 Nov 2021 | 12:31 AM Islamabad, Nov 24 (UNI) With Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan giving the green light for the transit of 50,000 MT of wheat and life-saving medicines from India as humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, the Pakistan Foreign Office formally conveyed the decision to the Indian Charge d Affaires on Wednesday. see more..

US blacklists 27 entities including 12 in China over National Security concerns 24 Nov 2021 | 10:26 PM Washington, Nov 24 (UNI/Sputnik) The United States has blacklisted 27 foreign entities, including 12 from China, over national security concerns, the Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) said on Wednesday. see more..

Japan, Vietnam to step up security co-operation 24 Nov 2021 | 9:48 PM Tokyo, Nov 24(UNI) Japan and Vietnam on Wednesday agreed to step up security co operation, while sharing security concerns regarding the regional waters. see more..

Russia-Islamic World meeting opens in Saudi's Jeddah, highlights cooperation 24 Nov 2021 | 8:46 PM Riyadh, Nov 24 (UNI/Xinhua) The meeting of the Group of Strategic Vision "Russia-Islamic World" opened on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia's city of Jeddah, during which Russia and Islamic states vowed to strengthen cooperation in various fields. see more..
Romania concerned by Ukraine-Russia naval tensions in Azov Sea, Kerch Strait

Chisinau, Nov 26 (Sputnik) Romania is worried about the situation in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait amid Russian-Ukrainian naval tensions, the Romanian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"Deeply concerned about the developments in #AzovSea & #KerchStrait. Aggression & violation of international law undermine the security of the whole region. #RO fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and its rights to use its territorial waters," the ministry said via its Twitter account.

On Sunday, three ships of the Ukrainian Navy, in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, crossed the Russian sea border, entered the temporarily closed area of the Russian territorial waters, and were moving from the Black Sea toward the Kerch Strait, according to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
Russia, EU Should Cooperate, Unite Potentials in Volatile Environment - Envoy to EU

BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Sputnik) There are no reasonable alternatives to cooperation between the European Union and Russia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said Monday.

"In todays volatile and highly competitive world, where Russia and the European Union objectively complement each other, there are no wise alternatives to cooperation and unification of potentials," Chizhov said during the European Russian Forum in the European Parliament.

Chizhov noted that previously there were numerous channels through which Russia and the European Union could directly discuss different issues.
Saudi Arabia had sought Israeli hacking tech : report

Jerusalem, Nov 25 (UNI) Israeli daily Haaretz on Sunday has claimed in its report that Saudi Arabia has allegedly negotiated with an Israeli firm to buy an advanced system that hacks cell phones.

The newspaper said two representatives of Herzliya-based NSO Group Technologies met Saudi officials in Vienna in 2017 to promote the Pegasus 3 software, Anadolu Agency reported.

Haaretz identified the two Saudi officials as Abdullah al-Malihi, an associate of Prince Turki al-Faisal  a former head of the kingdoms intelligence services  and Nasser al-Qahtani, who presented himself as the deputy of the current intelligence chief.
Spanish ship intervened in migrants rescue operation: Libyan navy

TRIPOLI, Nov 26 (Xinhua) Libyan navy on Sunday said that a Spanish ship intervened in a rescue operation of illegal migrants on Saturday off Libyan coast.

"When the coast guards vessel approached the migrants' boat, a foreign bulldozer was found in the area. After declaring the patrol's identity and mission, it was asked to leave immediately, but it refused to respond," the Libyan navy said in a statement.

It turned out later that it was a Spanish ship, added the statement.
Syrian truce guarantors, Damascus, armed opposition to attend Astana talks

Astana, Nov 26 (Sputnik) The guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire Russia, Turkey and Iran, along with delegations representing Damascus and the country's armed opposition, have all confirmed their participation in the 11th round of Astana-format talks on the Syrian settlement, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Aibek Smadiyarov, said on Monday.

The next meeting on Syrian crisis settlement is set to take place in the Kazakh capital on Wednesday and Thursday.

"As of now, the Astana guarantors  Iran, Russia and Turkey  delegations representing the Syrian government and the armed opposition, along with Jordan as observer have confirmed their participation [in the upcoming consultations]," Smadiyarov told reporters.
Ukraine preplanned provocation in Kerch Strait with approval of west - Russian Envoy

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 26 (Sputnik) Ukraine premeditated its recent provocation in the Kerch strait with the approval of its Western supporters, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Monday.

"This provocation was preplanned, that is obvious. It was okayed by the Western states," he said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

The Russian diplomat said the current crisis was part of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's effort to cancel the upcoming presidential election in the country next year.
Ukraine Urges Security Council to Tighten Sanctions Against Russia - Envoy to UN

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 26 (Sputnik) The United Nations Security Council should tighten sanctions against Russia in the wake of the incident involving Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Kerch Strait over the weekend, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko said on Monday.

When asked what the next steps should come next following the incident, Yelchenko told reporters, "Tightening of the sanctions. This is the only way. Russia doesnt understand any other language, unfortunately."

On Sunday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) detained three Ukrainian Navy ships after the vessels violated Russia's sea border while moving from the Black Sea into the Azov Sea.
UNSMIL deplores deadly attack against police in Libya

United Nations, Nov 25 (UNI) The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned a terrorist attack on a police station in Tezirbu, an oasis town in south-east of the country.

At least eight civilians were killed and nine wounded in the attack, on Friday, which local authorities say was carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh) terrorist group.

Three people have also been abducted and a nine more are said to be missing, also believed to have been kidnapped.
US supports Ukraine amid Kerch Strait incident - Ambassador Haley

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 26 (Sputnik) The United States voiced its support for Ukraine after the incident involving Russian and Ukrainian naval forces in the Kerch Strait over the weekend, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council on Monday.

"I make the statement on behalf of the United States, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. We stand united in opposing Russias attack," Haley said. "We strongly support Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders extending to its territorial waters. We express our deep concern over the incident which represents a dangerous escalation and violation of international law."

On Sunday, Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said it intercepted three Ukrainian naval ships that illegally entered Russian territorial waters in violation of international law while moving from the Black Sea into the Azov Sea. The FSB said the Ukrainian vessels failed to respond to warnings and instead made dangerous maneuvers, prompting the agency to detain the ships.
United Nations, Nov 26 (UNI) Terming violence against women a mark of shame on all societies, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for greater effort around the world to fight the evil.

In a message on the International Day for the elimination of violence against women, Mr Guterres also underscored that such violence and abuse is a major obstacle to inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

Not until the half of our population represented by women and girls can live free from fear, violence and everyday insecurity, can we truly say we live in a fair and equal world, said the Secretary-General.

Core, violence against women and girls, he noted, is the manifestation of a profound lack of respect  a failure by men to recognize the inherent equality and dignity of women  and that it is tied to the broader issues of power and control in societies.

Asserting We live in a male-dominated society, he said, adding that women are made vulnerable to violence through the multiple ways in which they are kept unequal, harming the individual and has far-reaching consequences for families and society.

The violence, he said, can take many forms: domestic attacks to trafficking, from sexual violence in conflict to child marriage, genital mutilation and femicide.

Mr Guterres said violence against women and girls is also a deeply political issue.

Increasing public disclosure by women from all regions and all walks of life of the sexual harassment they faced is galvanizing power of womens movements to drive action to eliminate harassment and violence everywhere.

This year, the global United Nations UNiTE campaign to end violence against women and girls is highlighting our support for survivors and advocates under the theme Orange the World: #HearMeToo.

With orange as the unifying colour of solidarity, the #HearMeToo hashtag is designed to send a clear message: violence against women and girls must end now, and we all have a role to play, said Mr Guterres.

UNI XC SB 1918
UW Holiday Market Set Nov. 30

Nearly 50 vendors will sell a wide assortment of products at the University of Wyoming Holiday Market Friday, Nov. 30.

Staff Senate sponsors the market, which runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. The event is free and open to the public.

This years market will feature local vendors who will offer a variety of items for sale, including homemade craft items, handmade soaps and lotions, jewelry, baked goods, housewares, local meats, and wood and textile crafts.

Staff Senate will sell tickets to its fall meat raffle and holiday cash 50/50 raffle. The proceeds will support staff scholarships, the Employee of the Quarter program and other staff activities.

In addition, the Wyoming Center on Aging will host its 2018 Santa for a Senior tree at the market. Attendees can stop by the tree to learn more about the program.

Free parking will be available in A and C spaces in the lots directly north and east of the Performing Arts Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Metered parking also will be available. In addition, attendees can use the free shuttle service. For more information about campus parking and shuttle services, visit www.uwyo.edu/tps.

UW President Laurie Nichols has granted two hours of release time for UW employees to attend the market. The scheduling of release time should be a collaborative discussion between employee and supervisor to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the unit.

For more information about the UW Holiday Market, call market coordinators Heather Earl at (307) 766-6883 or Brandon Helvie at (307) 766-6165.
UW in the News

State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent articles:

Wyoming Public Media reported that UW and state officials recently broke ground for the Science Initiative facility. The $100 million facility is scheduled to be completed in 2021 and will contain a 200-seat classroom and research facilities.

A second search by UW to hire a new dean of the College of Health Sciences has failed, reported The Casper Star-Tribune and Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

High Country News quoted UW Professor Merav Ben-David about the increased number of river otters in the Beartooth Mountains.

The Gillette News Record reported that two local teachers were among state educators who participated in UWs Robotics, Applied Mathematics, Physics and Engineering Design (RAMPED) II program this summer. The program incorporates concepts of computer science, computational thinking and cybersecurity into the classroom.

The Laramie Boomerang featured the UW Department of Musics popular communitywide Chorale by Candlelight program this week at St. Matthews Cathedral.

Among UW releases printed on Sheridan Medias website were: UW Research Scientist Ramesh Sivanpillai who is heading the coordination of satellite image acquisition and distribution activities for the California wildfires that have claimed more than 80 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes; UW law Professor Darrell Jackson and UW Art Museum Assistant Director Nicole Crawfords research project that intersects criminal law and museums; and UWs Panhellenic Council approved a new sorority, Alpha Phi.

Wyoming Public Media reported that UW approved a construction management program as a major and a minor, as well as a certificate for non-degree seeking students who want to enhance their construction management skills.

The UW Board of Trustees recently delayed making a decision about closing the Biodiversity Institute until January, noted The Gillette News Record and Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

BEEF Magazine quoted UW agriculture economist Tex Taylor on the price of sustainability efforts in the beef industry.
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Chesterfield Township will likely soon join the growing number of Michigan communities moving to ban marijuana establishments within their borders.

The township board of trustees Nov. 19 approved an introduction and first publication of an ordinance prohibiting the establishment and operation of all marijuana-related businesses in the community. The approval followed the creation of a five-member cannabis committee tasked with providing recommendations related to marijuana to the board.

You will see that many, many other surrounding municipalities in Michigan  all over the state of Michigan  pass similar ordinances, Supervisor Dan Acciavatti said. This does not by any way, shape or form mean that Chesterfield will not participate with this program. This can be revisited or relooked at.

Nearly 56 percent of Michigan voters supported the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act at the polls Nov. 6. A similar percentage of Chesterfield Township voters supported the ballot initiative, the supervisor said.

The act allows Michigan residents ages 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, as well as grow up to 12 marijuana plants and up to 10 ounces of marijuana, with any amount greater than 2.5 ounces stores under lock and key, in their residences.

Members of the cannabis committee will include the townships planning administrator, board liaisons to the planning commission and the zoning board of appeals, one full-time member of the township board and a member of the public safety department. The advisory committee will meet periodically for 24 months unless the term is extended by the township board.

I anticipate (the committee) will be ongoing until the end of this term, at least for the next two years, to sort out all of the issues that this is going to present, from a land use issue to zoning to code enforcement to public safety, making sure that we are making the best possible decisions moving forward, Acciavatti said. I expect this committee to be busy and to get a whole lot of information.

The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act permits municipalities to completely prohibit or limit the number of marijuana establishments within their boundaries. If ultimately adopted by the board, the ordinance will ban all marijuana-related establishments, including microbusinesses, retailers, processors, secure transporters, safety compliance facilities and commercial growers.

I would like this to be very clear to businesses and to the residents that we would not approve any type of retail establishment for any purpose that was approved under the recently passed ballot initiative until this committee has completed its work, Trustee Kathy Vosburg said.

The election results are expected to be certified Dec. 6.

It wont affect the average citizen once the act is ratified, Trustee Hank Anderson said. There will still be those out there that want to toke in the township legally. This doesnt affect that.

Board members voted unanimously to establish the cannabis committee and approve the first publication of the ordinance. Trustee David Joseph was absent from the meeting.

Katelyn Larese is local news editor of The Voice. She can be contacted at 586-273-6196 or klarese@digitalfirstmedia.com.
The Foreign Ministry hereby issues a strong protest against the gross violation of the rules of peaceful passage in the territorial waters of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea by Ukrainian naval ships, that took place on November 25, 2018. Russia has lodged a demand for an urgent UN Security Council meeting to discuss the current situation.

Russia has repeatedly warned the Kiev regime and its Western patrons about the danger of inflating artificial hysteria in connection with the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Clearly, this is a well-thought-out provocation that took place in a predetermined place and form and is aimed at creating another hotbed of tension in that region and a pretext for stepping up sanctions against Russia. Clearly, all of this was also designed to distract attention from the domestic political problems that exist in Ukraine. This assumption is further corroborated by Kievs plans to impose martial law in the country, a move which is odious in the light of the upcoming presidential elections in the spring of 2019.

We are also outraged by the Ukrainian radicals unleashing another attack on Russias diplomatic missions, and the damage it caused. We demand that Kiev bring those responsible to justice and ensure the unconditional inviolability of the Russian Embassy and Consulate Generals in Ukraine in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.

We are hereby issuing a warning to Ukraine that Kievs policy, pursued in coordination with the United States and the EU, that seeks to provoke a conflict with Russia in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea is fraught with serious consequences. The Russian Federation will firmly curb any attempts to encroach on its sovereignty and security.
Congratulations after Dolphin Rescue Attempt

The Minister for the Environment the Hon John Cortes met with Liam Santos and Nick Garcia, who were recently involved in an attempt to rescue a striped dolphin near Sandy Bay.

The Minister was accompanied by Dr Liesl Mesilio, CEO of the Department of the Environment, and Stephen Warr, Senior Scientific Officer.

Despite the bad weather, Liam entered the water to protect the dolphin from banging against the rocks while Nick called for help, through GONHS, which came in the form of the Department of the Environments Environmental Research and Protection Unit (EPRU).

Sadly, the dolphin could not be saved, although the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic collected and prepared samples for analysis to try and determine the cause of death.

Later, the Minister, Department officials and the two young men discussed matters related to environmental protection, and Liam and Nick were presented with a collection of publications on the environment, and, in the near future, they will accompany the EPRU on board one of the Departments vessels.

John Cortes commented, Not everyone would dive into a wintry sea to try and save a dolphin, and these young men deserve the highest praise for their initiative. The team from the Department of the Environment and Climate Change and I wanted to thank them personally, and greatly enjoyed talking to them about matters of common interest.
Gibraltar Rejects Claim Made by Spanish Foreign Minister

Government says it rejects the view expressed by the Foreign Minister of Spain, Josep Borrell, that the United Kingdom has lost a measure of sovereign capacity over Gibraltar because it is no longer free to negotiate a future relationship with the European Union.

"This is certainly not the case." reads a statement released by the Gibraltar Government today.

"In the first place, the Prime Minister has made it abundantly clear that the United Kingdom Government will be negotiating for the whole UK family of nations and that this includes Gibraltar.

Secondly, the document that Mr Borrell refers to is a political document of zero legal value.

Thirdly, in the negotiation that follows about the post-Brexit future, the truth is that all Member States of the European Union will not only have a veto over absolutely everything but, in addition to this, the different national and in some cases even regional Parliaments of the different Member States will be required to approve every aspect of the future relationship.

The talk of vetoes and exclusions is extremely unhelpful. It simply serves to generate uncertainty among the people in the neighbouring region of Spain. It is important to recall that over 14,000 people live in Spain and work in Gibraltar. Economic studies have shown that businesses in Gibraltar purchase some  400 million a year from businesses on the Spanish side of the border. Gibraltar residents spend  70 million a year in the hinterland. Indeed, Gibraltar accounts for 25% of the GDP on the Spanish side of the border. This is part of the shared prosperity that Gibraltar generates and which already exists.

The reality is that over the last year as we prepared to leave the European Union, the United Kingdom and Gibraltar have held discussions with different Member States, including Spain, as our nearest EU neighbour. This has led to a number of agreements across a number of given issues. It has also led to Gibraltars inclusion in the Withdrawal Agreement and in the transition period which is now until the end of 2020. The basis of transition is that things will remain largely as they are for a fixed period while a future long-term relationship is negotiated and concluded.

That future is about the relationship that the United Kingdom family, including Gibraltar, and the EU will have as from 1 January 2021. Gibraltar has always been ready and willing to discuss that relationship, in a friendly and constructive manner, in the same was as we have discussed our terms of exit from the European Union. What we are not ready or willing to do is to give up any part of our sovereignty as the price to pay."
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The United Nations marks The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women annually on 25th November. Violence against women and girls is one of the most persistent issues affecting this gender and it is a devastating and fundamental violation of womens human rights.

One woman in every three will experience violence in their lifetime and this issue cuts across social status, class, race, country or age group.

Building upon the success of recent years celebrations to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women The Ministry of Equality continues to develop its work in this area together with other stakeholders.

In collaboration with the Department of Education, last week and this week the Ministry of Equalitys Policy Development Officer, Marlene Dalli, delivered a series of presentations entitled Respect and Healthy Relationships, to all Middle Schools in Gibraltar. These talks, which form part of the Ministry of Equalitys domestic abuse prevention strategy, were attended by over 500 students. The sessions, which were interactive, saw all children participating in a number of exercises aimed at helping them to learn about the fundamental principle of respect.

Minister for Education, Dr John Cortes said, Education is about preparing young people to take their place in a responsible, caring society, and so this initiative is vitally important in achieving this.

Minister for Equality, the Hon. Samantha Sacramento MP, said, It is crucial that we continue to address violence against women and domestic abuse generally. Prevention through education and awareness forms part of our national strategy and I am delighted that our co-ordinated approach with the Department of Education grows from strength to strength with each passing year as educating the younger generation is key. It is important that we work collectively to end all forms of violence, particularly violence against girls and women, and it is vital that this work begins from an early age so that the key concept of respect is firmly embedded in the young members of our community.
The 28th WCO Asia/Pacific Regional Contact Points Meeting was held from 14 to 16 November 2018 in Jaipur, India. The objectives of the meeting were for the delegates from the Asia/Pacific region to discuss issues of common interest of the region and to exchange their views and experiences to further enhance cooperative and inclusive approach for the priorities of the region.

Delegates from 20 Members in the Asia/Pacific region, representatives from the WCO Secretariat, Asia/Pacific Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB A/P), Asia/Pacific Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO A/P) participated in the meeting.

The meeting was inaugurated by Mr. S. Ramesh, Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Government of India and Vice-Chair for the Asia/Pacific region. Mr. Ramesh welcomed all delegates to Jaipur and stressed his vision as the Vice-Chair in the form of strategic guiding principles such as greater communication and connectivity within the region, harness technology advancements, inclusive approach, and consensus on core issues. He urged all the Members in the region to work collaboratively to take steps forward on regional priorities through existing strong cooperative relationship.

Mr. Ricardo Trevino, Deputy Secretary General of the WCO delivered the keynote address. He emphasized the importance and relevance of information and communication technology which has huge impact on implementation of essential areas of Customs such as single window, e-commerce and risk management, and also touched upon ongoing work of comprehensive review of Revised Kyoto Convention. He welcomed the region to take up key issues for the region and global Customs community, especially on active engagement to the issue of Small Island Economies. He thanked contributions made during the Strategic Plan Workshop held before the meeting and wished productive discussion and concrete outcome through the meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. P.K. Das, Member Customs of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Government of India and discussed a number of topics including E-commerce, Small Island Economies, Security, Trade Facilitation, Digital Customs and review of Revised Kyoto Convention, which are high and common interest of the region. The delegates shared their views and experience on relevant initiatives to make way forward. The region has been implementing its new regional strategic plan for 2018-2022 from this July and the meeting also discussed the way to effectively monitor the progress to consider possible actions to be taken by the region.

The WCO Secretariat contributed to the discussion through providing updates on strategies and initiatives under the six priority areas and a couple of emerging issues to be tackled such as Small Island Economies, Special Customs Zones and Strategic Review of Harmonized System. The Secretariat also shared information on available tools and programmes to support organizational development of Customs administration. The ROCB A/P, the RILO A/P and the RCLs in the region reported on activities conducted, all of which contributed to the lively exchange of views on the focus areas of the region.
At the invitation of the National Tax and Customs Administration (NTCA) of Hungary, the WCO participated in the inaugural ceremony of the WCO Regional Dog Training Centre (RDTC) in Hungary on the occasion of a Sub-Regional Dog Handler Workshop held in Budapest from 14 to 16 November 2018. This is the thirteenth such RDTC to be accredited by the WCO.

On the second day of the Workshop, delegates from the following Customs administrations in the Europe region, namely Azerbaijan, Serbia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Russian Federation and Turkey, attended the RDTC inaugural ceremony. Delegates also visited the RDTC facilities and were treated to demonstrations by detector dogs.

During their opening remarks, Mr. Kristof Peter Bakai, Deputy Director General of the NTCA of Hungary, and Mr. Oguz Onal, Acting Deputy Director, WCO Compliance and Facilitation Directorate, highlighted the importance of training in Customs work in general, as well as the need for Customs to use technology and tools, including detector dogs, to identify attempts at Customs fraud and smuggling.

Detector dogs in Hungarys RDTC are trained in a range of specific areas, accompanied by dual training so they can detect more than one commodity. Following on from this approach, a project has been launched this year to teach dual-trained dogs to search for banknotes as well.

In addition, the RDTC has developed close ties with the other Customs administrations in the region. It not only sends delegations to share best practices and expertise, but also provides professional assistance and advice to other administrations when they are purchasing and training dogs.
The WCO with the support from the China Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF China) conducted a National Workshop on Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme from 19 to 21 November 2018 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Happias Kuzvinzwa, Commissioner of Customs underlined the importance of the AEO Programme to secure supply chain and to enhance facilitation of legitimate trade, given that Zimbabwe had submitted a letter of intent to implement the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards in 2005, as well as ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in October 2018. He noted the ongoing Customs reforms in collaboration with other government agencies and private sector stakeholders and thanked the WCO for organizing this timely Workshop.

The WCO has been providing a comprehensive support to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) with the TFA implementation under the Mercator Programme. This Workshop was aimed at assisting ZIMRA with the development of an AEO Programme intending to enhance supply chain security and facilitation. The Workshop was designed in terms of one of the key recommendations under the Mercator Implementation Plan For Zimbabwe 2017  2020 to support the implementation of Article 7.7 of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA), by strengthening and expanding ZIMRAs AEO and post-clearance audit programmes to include a broader range of compliant traders.

Experts from the WCO and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) presented various WCO instruments and tools relating to the SAFE Framework and AEO implementation, elaborated the concept of AEO programme, AEO criteria, requirements and benefits, and its similarities and differences with Article 7.7 of the WTO TFA, and provided international, regional and national experiences and good practices for a harmonized and standardized implementation.

Facilitated by the experts, participants carried out a legal and procedural gap analysis of the ZIMRAs current AEO programme (that is focused on compliance with 7 certified companies) vis-a-vis the SAFE AEO Programme and developed a set of recommendations to bridge the identified gaps through a time-bound Action Plan 2020. The intended goal is to launch a full-flagged AEO-programme in line with stakeholders needs and expectations, which would also help fulfill the obligations Article 7.7 of the TFA.

Through practical exercises, case studies and simulation scenarios, participants were guided through the AEO validation, implementation and post-validation processes.

Over 20 participants from Customs, Cross-border regulatory agencies (e.g., Medicine Control Authority, Port Health, Veterinary Services, Police, and Biotechnology Authority) and the private sector (e.g., National Chamber of Commerce, Freight Forwarders Association, Shipping and Forwarding Agents' Association) benefited from the workshop.

The participation of other government agencies had been found very useful in engaging them at this stage and clarifying their concerns for enhancing the Programme with additional benefits from those agencies, as well as identifying challenges for the implementation of this project in a timely and coordinated manner. The WCO is committed to providing all necessary support to Zimbabwe, as may be needed, going forward.

There are 79 AEO programmes and 60 Mutual Recognition Arrangements/Agreements (MRAs) that are currently being implemented by WCO Members.

For further information, please contact facilitation@wcoomd.org.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Nov. 26, 2018 | PADUCAH

By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 26, 2018 | 06:18 AM | PADUCAH

Three men were arrested in McCracken County on drug and other charges after a traffic stop early Sunday morning.



The McCracken County Sheriff's Department said deputies stopped a vehicle shortly after 12 a.m. on John Puryear Drive for equipment violations. They said the driver, 18-year-old David Darnell of Paducah was driving without a license. Deputies searched Darnell and reportedly found hydrocodone tablets for which he did not have a prescription. They said Darnell also had a handgun that had been stolen in the Paducah area in May.



During a search of Darnell's vehicle deputies said they found two more handguns, a large quantity of Xanax tablets, more than 15 ounces of marijuana, LSD, and drug paraphernalia. Deputies said the items belonged to one of the passengers, 22-year-old Alec Vaughn of Paducah.



Another passenger, 19-year-old Anthony Walker of Grand Rivers had an active bench warrant, and also had LSD.



All three were arrested and taken to McCracken County Regional Jail. Darnell was charged with receiving a stolen firearm, possession of a controlled substance, and driving without a license. Vaughn is charged with two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, trafficking in marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Walker is charged with the McCracken County bench warrant and possession of a controlled substance.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 25, 2018 | 08:56 PM | WESTERN KENTUCKY

FNB Bank is proud to announce that they have donated over $17,000 back to Mayfield, Graves County and Trigg County Schools through their Spirit Debit Card Program. These donations to the school systems are a result of FNBs 3rd quarter Spirit Debit Card Reward Program.

We are proud to offer our exclusive FNB Spirit Debit Card Program to our local schools, stated Brooke Wiles, FNB Marketing Director. Our customers have pride in knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of our youth by simply swiping their Spirit Debit Cards at the checkout. The donated funds allow the school systems the opportunity to do more for their students and staff, which is an invaluable asset to our community.

The FNB Spirit Debit Card Rewards Program allows FNB and their customers the opportunity to give back to their local schools when they use their FNB debit card. FNB currently offers Spirit Debit Cards for Mayfield, Graves County and Trigg County Schools.



The Spirit Card works like a traditional debit card and for each signature-based transaction (not using your PIN), FNB donates $0.10 to the corresponding school. The tracking process is hassle free for the card holder, as FNB does all the tracking and submits the check to each school on a quarterly basis. The donated funds are utilized at the schools discretion.

In 2017, FNB donated over $57,000 to their participating schools through the Spirit Debit Card Program.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 24, 2018 | 09:54 PM | GOLDEN POND

Folks who like the smell and feel of a traditional Christmas tree, and those who like getting a tree for free can satisfy both desires at Land Between the Lakes.LBL is once again offering free cedar trees to anyone who gets a permit between now and December 24.LBL Public Affairs Specialist Emily Cleaver told WKDZ that trees must be cedar, less than 10 feet tall, and stumps must be less than 4 inches tall.There are other guidelines as well. Anyone who is interested can begin the process by visiting the permit page on LBL's website (see link below).Anyone who has previously purchased a permit made camping reservations may have an online account already, but if not, it's easy to set up.For more information can call 270-924-2065 or 270-924-2000.

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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Nov. 25, 2018 | WEAKLEY COUNTY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 25, 2018 | 08:44 PM | WEAKLEY COUNTY

West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications will receive a $3 million grant to construct a 1 gigabit per secondcapable broadband network that will be accessible by more than 406 unserved homes and businesses in Weakley County, Tennessee.



Weve been working with Weakley County officials to develop ways we can expand much-needed broadband service in the rural areas, said WK&T CEO Trevor Bonnstetter. This grant gives us that opportunity to extend service further in Weakley County. It will make a significant impact on the lives of these residents.



For over two years, WK&T has worked closely with the Weakley County mayors office, as well as the communities of Martin and Dresden, to identify ways for WK&T to expand its gig capable fiber network into parts of Weakley County.



With this announcement, we are one step closer to having broadband access to all citizens regardless of where they live, Weakley County Mayor Jake Bynum said. I am proud of the leadership that WK&T brought to this process, and I look forward to Weakley County governments continued support and partnership in this endeavor.



WK&T, which will contribute $450,000 to the fiber-to-the-home project, was chosen from 124 applications for the Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Rural Utilities Service. The grant is competitive and includes a lengthy application process.



As part of the grant, a new community center will be established to give residents free access to computer terminals and Wi-Fi. The grant will serve the areas outside the community of Dukedom, Tennessee. This project will allow the residents and businesses to access high-quality voice, video and broadband services, which will benefit the economy, health care, education and overall quality of life.
Detective mission to characterise and trace the history of a new African meteorite

Wits researchers go on a mission to describe, classify and trace the 4.5 billion-year-old history of a meteorite that landed in Madagascar.

Researchers from Wits and colleagues from the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar are on a detective mission to describe, classify and trace the history of a meteorite that landed in and around the small town of Benenitra in southwestern Madagascar shortly before the lunar eclipse on 27 July 2018.

News of the event in this remote area was brought to the attention of a Wits Geosciences graduate, Tim Marais, who was travelling in the area a few days after the meteorite fall. He collected some preliminary eyewitness accounts that reported a bright meteor fireball, a loud explosion and a rain of rock fragments that fell in and around Benenitra that, fortuitously, appear to have missed all people and buildings, and he was able to acquire several small fragments that residents had managed to locate. He delivered these to Professors Roger Gibson and Lewis Ashwal in the School of Geosciences at Wits and asked them to verify their extra-terrestrial origin. The signs of a dark fusion crust and small spheres in the rock matrix that were visible on broken surfaces appeared promising and the Schools Senior Technician, Caiphas Majola, was immediately commissioned to prepare a thin section of one of the fragments for microscopic analysis.

Tracing the history

Assessment of the thin section confirmed that it was, indeed, a meteorite and, more specifically, a relatively common type called a chondrite, referring to the small spherical chondrulesthat it contains. This established that the meteorite dates from the formation of our Solar System about 4.56 billion years ago.

At the same time, a news report appeared in the local Triatra Gazettenewspaper on 4 August regarding the eyewitness reports and showing a large specimen with a similar black fusion crust. To corroborate the event scientifically, the team approached Dr Andry Ramanantsoa of the Laboratory of Seismology and Infrasound at the Institute and Observatory of Geophysics at the University of Antananarivo to investigate if there was any evidence that a significant explosion occurred in the atmosphere above Madagascar sometime in the evening of 27 July. Ramanantsoa was able to confirm, using infrasound data from the international Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Infrasound Station IS33 outside Antananarivo, that there had, indeed, been an upper atmosphere energy release event at 5.16 p.m. GMT (7.16 p.m. local time). Furthermore, he was able to identify that it occurred in a direction south-southwest of Antananarivo  the exact bearing of Benenitra.

The next step was to see if the blast wave from the atmospheric detonation was sufficiently large to have caused a ground vibration that could be detected by geophysical seismometers. For this the team turned to Dr Andriamiranto (Ranto) Raveloson, a Postdoctoral Fellow and Technical Manager of the Africa Array Seismic Network that is co-ordinated from Wits. He was able to confirm a very faint seismic tremor at 5.17 p.m. GMT on the same night. The final confirmation that the fragment was related to a fall on 27 July was obtained from Dr Matthias Laubenstein from the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso at the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare in Italy, who measured the meteorite for rare cosmogenic nuclides that are created when an asteroid in Space is bombarded by high-energy cosmic rays. His measurements showed high levels of cosmogenic nuclides, consistent with the meteorite having entered Earths protective atmosphere only within the past few months.

Based on these findings, the team has submitted a request to the international Meteoritical Society to officially name and register Africas newest meteorite  Benenitra - on its database.

Classifying Africas newest meteorite

Ashwal and Gibson have refined the meteorite classification as an L6 chondrite. The name refers to the fact that it contains a low amount of iron (the L), and that it contains recognizable chondrules. Chondrules are the original building blocks of rocky bodies  such as asteroids and the Inner Planets  in Space. As these bodies grew larger, heat built up inside them  partly through gravitational collapse and partly because of radioactive elements  which caused the metals and chondrules to recrystallise and maybe even melt. Where temperatures were sufficiently high to melt the body, the denser metals were then able to settle towards the core of the body, with the less dense silicate melts rising towards the surface. Eventually the body would have cooled down sufficiently to solidify. The Benenitra meteorite appears to have got quite hot (the number 6 refers to the high amount of recrystallisation that occurred within the chondrules owing to this heating process) but only melted partially, allowing some of the chondrules to survive.

Poor Mans Space Probe

The meteorite also has a thin shock-melt vein that is most likely related to a collision with another asteroid that shattered the original body and sent the fragment spinning off on its eventual collision course with Earth.

Meteorites are commonly called The Poor Mans Space Probe, because they deliver rocks from Outer Space to our door for free, where we can study the birth and history of other parts of our Solar System says Gibson. The Benenitra meteorite fragment is being subjected to a range of other tests to establish properties such as its density and magnetism, and the team plans to write the results up soon in a scientific paper.

The Benenitra meteorite is a new Space rock, but it is also a witnessed fall, which makes it part of special group of meteorites. It is part of our collective heritage as a species, planet and Solar System. It fell in a remote area that will henceforth be recognised internationally for the event on the evening of 27 July. Our project provides an opportunity to further strengthen scientific collaboration in the SADC region. Ultimately, one of our goals is to inform the people of Benenitra about the significance of what they witnessed and thus build greater awareness of science, says Gibson.




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According to new data from Florida Realtors, Florida's housing market reported more closed sales, rising median prices and more new listings in October 2018 compared to a year ago. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 22,272 last month, up 8.5 percent compared to October 2017.



"Florida's housing market showed a rise in new listings in October, which is a good sign for potential homebuyers," said 2018 Florida Realtors President Christine Hansen, broker-owner with Century 21 Hansen Realty in Fort Lauderdale. "New listings for existing single-family homes rose 9.5 percent compared to a year ago and new listings for condo-townhouse properties increased 7.9 percent from last October.



"At the same time, the median time for a sale to go to contract is getting shorter: For single-family homes, it was 40 days, down 7 percent from the same time last year; for condo-townhouse properties, it was 44 days, down 12 percent. With such a quick turnaround time to contract, buyers and sellers can benefit from the expertise of a Realtor who understands their local markets."



October marked 82 consecutive months (more than six and a half years) that statewide median sales prices for both single-family homes and condo-townhouse properties increased year-over-year. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes was $253,853, up 7.6 percent from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research Department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. The statewide median price for condo-townhouse units in October was $180,000, up 5.9 percent over the year-ago figure. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.



According to the National Association of Realtors, the national median sales price for existing single-family homes in September 2018 was $260,500, up 4.6 percent from the previous year; the national median existing condo price was $239,200. In California, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in September was $578,850; in Massachusetts, it was $390,000; in Maryland, it was $287,700; and in New York, it was $270,000.



Looking at Florida's condo-townhouse market, statewide closed sales totaled 9,270 last month, up 14.1 percent compared to a year ago. Closed sales data continued to reflect fewer short sales and foreclosures in October: Short sales for condo-townhouse properties dropped 45.2 percent and foreclosures fell 28.2 percent year-to-year; while short sales for single-family homes declined 31.5 percent and foreclosures fell 21 percent year-to-year. Closed sales may occur from 30- to 90-plus days after sales contracts are written.



"Closed sales of single-family homes were up 8.5 percent in October compared to last year, thanks in large part to a level of inventory that has been on the rise since July," said Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O'Connor. "As of the end of the October, in fact, the inventory of active single-family home listings was up 9.8 percent year-over-year. If this trend continues into the new year, and should mortgage rates continue to climb as well, we might eventually see less vigorous price growth - but for now, price growth remains robust.



"Inventory levels in the condo-townhouse category have also been on the rise as of late, with active condo and townhouse listings up almost 5.4 percent statewide compared to last year. This rise in inventory has been good for sales, as Florida Realtors' data shows."









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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Just over three weeks ago, a gunman opened fire at a Tallahassee yoga studio.

He killed a Florida State University student and a faculty member and injured five others.

Monday night, FSU is continuing to help the victims of the Hot Yoga Tallahassee shooting.

FSU President John Thrasher is hosting a Tallahassee Strong fundraiser. The event kicked off at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for students and $25 for everyone else.

Money raised through the Florida State Foundation Monday will go to the families of the victims.

That money raised is intended to relieve some of the financial burdens the victims and their families now face.

There's food, music, and performances by the FSU Golden Girls and the Seminole Dance Force.

The event will be taking place at the FSU President's House on 1000 West Tennessee Street.

Parking is available at the Alumni Association and the parking garage at Woodward and Tennessee.

You can buy tickets online here.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida State University family is coming together Monday to continue to help the victims of the shooting at a yoga studio earlier this month.

WTXL's Jada Williams was live Monday morning to explain how FSU is continuing its support.

FSU President John Thrasher is hosting the Tallahassee Strong Fundraiser at the President's House on Monday.

Money raised through the Florida State Foundation at Monday's fundraiser will be donated to the families of the victims.

A gunman opened fire at a Tallahassee Yoga Studio on November 2, killing an FSU student and faculty member and injuring five others.

The money raised Monday night is intended to relieve some of the financial burden's those people now face.

There will be food, music and performances by the FSU Golden Girls and the Seminole Dance Force.

It's $15 for students to attend and $25 for the general public.

It starts at 5 p.m. at the President's House on West Tennessee.
SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - Sunday marked two years since a Suwannee County man went missing.

The family of Cole Thomas hasn't stopped looking for him while calling for justice.

Thomas was last seen November 25, 2016. in Benson, North Carolina.

He had found work in Minnesota but was traveling with two others in Benson when he disappeared.

Since then, local authorities, volunteers and family have searched for Thomas several times in that area.

Last year, four men were arrested in North Carolina and charged with felony concealment of a death.

However, all of them were later released from jail.

On Sunday, Thomas' friends and family released balloons in Benson to remember him.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (The News Service of Florida) - A proposal that would allow law-enforcement officers to pull over motorists for using cell phones while driving will be back before lawmakers in 2019.

Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, has filed a measure (SB 76) called the Florida Ban on Wireless Communications Devices While Driving Law, which would prohibit texting, reading data or talking on wireless handheld devices while behind the wheel.

Currently, texting while driving in Florida is prohibited, but it is enforced as a secondary office. That means motorists can only be cited if they are stopped for other infractions, such as running a stop sign or speeding.

The House during the 2018 legislative session approved a proposal that would have made texting while driving a primary offense, allowing police to pull over motorists for tapping away on phones. But the measure failed to advance in the Senate amid concerns about issues such as minority drivers facing increased racial profiling.

Simpsons new proposal, which is filed for consideration during the 2019 session, would impose a broader ban on use of cell phones by drivers and allow enforcement as a primary offense.

It would allow drivers to communicate hands-free on wireless devices. Also, motorists would be allowed to use handheld devices for such purposes as getting safety-related information or for navigation.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 00:37:52|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NICOSIA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Four Mediterranean countries, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Israel are close to an agreement to construct the world's longest undersea pipeline to transfer natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean energy fields to Europe, a Cypriot government source was quoted as saying on Sunday.

"An agreement is expected to be reached soon among the countries involved in the project. After the deal is concluded, it will take about five weeks for its provisions to be examined by the European Union", the government source told Cyprus state broadcaster.

The source was commenting on a report by an Israeli newspaper which said that the deal has already been struck.

The Cypriot government source said that Cyprus is also looking into all possible alternatives.

"A lot will depend on the results of the drilling of ExxonMobil that is currently underway", the source added.

The European Union has funded a 100 million euro (113 million U.S. dollars) feasibility study and has voiced its backing to the project.

The drilling is carried out by ExxonMobil in association with Qatar petroleum in Cyprus' offshore block 10, within the island's exclusive economic zone,some 95 nautical miles off its south shores.

The consortium has planned two more drillings after the current one, also within Cypriot block 10.

One of the alternatives Cyprus is examining is building a two-train liquefaction plant, a much more expensive project of 10 billion euros, compared to a cost of up to 6.2 billion euros for the building of the pipeline.

A possible discovery of a sizeable gas field will boost Cyprus' plans for a liquefaction plant along with its participation in the East Med project.

Cyprus has discovered two gas fields of a total capacity of 10 to 12 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Israel has tapped four gas fields, with a total capacity of over 40 trillion cubic feet.

The planned undersea pipe to take the gas to Europe will be 2,200 kilometers long. It will start from a point 170 kilometers off the Cypriot south shores and will extent to Cypriot territory, then to Greece, with its terminal planned close to Otranto in southeast Italy.

It will be the longest but also the deepest pipeline, according to gas industry sources.

It will have a capacity of up to 20 billion cubic meters of gas annually and can cover about one fifth of Europe's need in gas, which is estimated to rise to 100 billion cubic meters by 2030.

Reports in Israeli media have said that the project is expected to begin within a few months. (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollars)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 01:28:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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FUZHOU, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Seven people have been arrested for a chemical leak on Nov. 4 in the city of Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, local authorities said Sunday.

Six people from Fujian Donggang Petrochemical Industry Co. Ltd., which caused the leak when loading C9 aromatic solvent into a tanker at a local port, as well as four crew members on the vessel have been put under criminal coercive measures. Seven of them have been arrested.

In China, criminal coercive measures may include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention or arrest.

Investigation showed that violation of operation rules led to a total leakage of 69.1 tonnes of chemical. The Donggang company's failure in repairing the crane that had been in a breakdown status for some time is also a cause.

Yan Chaohui, deputy party chief of Quangang district under Quanzhou, and several other officials in transport, production safety and port authorities were also punished.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 02:28:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Ministry of Finance announced on Sunday that an agreement was signed for the sale of the state-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) to Israeli defense electronics company Elbit Systems.

The deal was worth of 1.8 billion new shekels (about 481 million U.S. dollars).

The decision to privatize IMI was made by the government in 2013. After two years, at the end of a competitive process for the sale of the company, Elbit remained the only candidate.

According to the negotiations, 1.4 billion new shekels (375 million dollars) would be paid on the signing date and the remaining will be paid in 2020 and 2022.

IMI was founded in 1933 and headquartered in the city of Ramat Hasharon in the center of Israel. It manufactures weapons, munitions and military technology, mainly for Israel Defense Forces.

Elbit Systems was founded in 1966 and located in the northern city of Haifa. It operates in areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, intelligence surveillance and so on.

The IMI compounds in the center and north of Israel will be cleared and tens of thousands of housing units will be built.

In another IMI compound in southern Israel's Negev Desert, new factories will be established to promote employment and development in the area.

"The sale will facilitate the advancement of the Israeli defense industry, leverage Israel's technological capabilities and increase defense exports," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said that "this is an important day for the defense industries in Israel. Its citizens will benefit from this move in the coming years."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 02:58:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Council Donald Tusk and the European Union's (EU) chief negotiator Michel Barnier (from L to R) attend a press conference at the end of a special Brexit summit in Brussels, Belgium, Nov. 25, 2018. The European leaders on Sunday endorsed the Brexit deal at the European Union (EU) summit, a major breakthrough since the lengthy Britain-EU Brexit negotiation started one and half years ago. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)

LONDON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The deal that will see Britain ending its membership of the European Union (EU) was approved in Brussels Sunday at a special summit of the European Council.

There was a stark message from Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, to British politicians who have threatened to reject the deal.

He said: "Those who think that by rejecting this deal will have a better deal will be disappointed within seconds the rejection of this deal."

Juncker described Britain's decision to leave the EU as a sad moment and a tragedy, but he added that he did not think Britain would be a third country (non-EU member) like any other third country.

EU Council President Donald Tusk added: "This is the only deal possible."

Leaders of EU member states backed both the 585-page withdrawal agreement setting out the terms of Britain's exit from the bloc, as well as the political declaration detailing what the UK-EU relationship may be like after Brexit.

The first confirmation of the decision in Brussels came in a one-sentence social media message from the President of the EU Council, Donald Tusk. He simply said: "EU27 has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future of EU-UK declarations."

The stage is set for Britain to end its membership after 45 years on March 29 next year, though the following day an implementation period will start meaning there will be no changes until the end of 2020.

At the Brussels' press conference Tusk said the EU and Britain would remain friends until the end of days, and one day longer.

He added: "Ahead of us is the difficult process of ratification as well as further negotiation."

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, said at the conference: "Now is the time for everyone to take responsibility."

There was immediate reaction from opponents of the deal, indicating that British Prime Minister Theresa May will struggle to win vital backing for today's deal when the British House of Commons has its say around Dec. 10. That decision could see Britain crashing out of the EU next March with no deal.

Opposition members of parliament, as well as MPs from May's own Conservative Party have threatened to reject the deal.

May, speaking at a media conference, said today's decision marks the culmination of talks with the EU, but also the start of a crucial national debate.

MPs in Britain, she added, will vote whether to support the deal before Christmas.

Asked if she had a plan B if the deal is rejected by MPs, May said EU leaders had said this was the only possible deal.

"It's not the case that there is another negotiation to be done. This is the deal that's been agreed, it's the only deal that's on the table," May said.

May would not be drawn when asked by several journalists if she would resign as prime minister if the House of Commons rejected her deal.

Keir Starmer, Brexit spokesman for Britain's main opposition Labour Party, said: This is a bad deal for our country. It's a failure of negotiation by a Prime Minister who has spent more time arguing with her party than working in the national interest. The result is a deal that no-one supports. Labour will vote against it."

Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), described May's proposals as worse than no deal, and worse than staying in the EU.

May relies on the 10 DUP votes at Westminster to give her minority government its slender majority.

Dodds said in a BBC radio interview: "The government is going to spend the next fortnight engaged in all sorts of project fear initiatives in order to try to get MPs to vote for something that is clearly unsatisfactory."

He added the DUP would not be bought off, saying there is absolutely no way the deal can go through.

In an attempt to win public support for the deal Britain's main national Sunday newspapers published a direct plea from May to the British public.

May said in her letter: "It will be a deal that is in our national interest, one that works for our whole country and all of our people, whether you voted 'Leave' or 'Remain'," adding it will honor the result of the 2016 referendum when British people voted by a 52-48 margin to leave the EU.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, in a London television interview, described the deal as a compromise, saying it was not perfect, but it could be a staging post to a situation giving Britain 100 percent of what it wants.

Britain's mainland Europe neighbors lamented the departure. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "This is a historical day, which leaves mixed feelings. It's tragic that the UK is leaving the European Union."

Merkel refused to be drawn on the consequences of the deal being rejected by the British parliament.

May will get a sense of Westminster politicians Monday when she addresses the House of Commons.

Conservative party managers hope that enough MPs will rally around May to ensure the parliamentary green light is given.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 03:48:24|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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People load a casket of boat accident victim in Kampala, capital of Uganda, on Nov. 25, 2018. The death toll from a weekend boat accident that capsized on Lake Victoria in central Uganda rose to 35, a military spokesperson said here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Joseph Kiggundu)

KAMPALA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a weekend boat accident that capsized on Lake Victoria in central Uganda rose to 35, a military spokesperson said here on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki, deputy military spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that search and rescue operation will continue but there are little hopes of finding survivors since the boat capsized on Saturday night.

"We don't believe any person is still alive. The last person were rescued alive was on Saturday night," said Akiiki.

"We shall continue with the recovery of the bodies until we are told to stop. We believe it will take us a week or so," he added.

Two boats capsized and completely submerged in deep waters at Mutima Island on Saturday evening, which police has blamed on overloading and bad weather.

The second boat that was on rescue mission for the partygoers submerged due to overloading.

According to police, so far 27 people have been rescued. Local media reports indicated that there were over 120 partygoers on the boat.

The government on Sunday formed a team headed by Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, to investigate the fatal incident.

The government also began handing the bodies of the deceased to their relatives for burial.

Boat accidents on Ugandan lakes are common due to overloading and strong winds.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 06:43:57|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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LOS ANGELES, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. border patrol on Sunday suspended all traffic at a busy crossing between San Diego, California and Mexico's Tijuana, where thousands of migrants are massing in a makeshift shelter to apply for asylum.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency in San Diego said in a series of tweets that traffic and pedestrian crossings in both directions were suspended at the San Ysidro port of entry.

At least 1,800 Central American migrants, mainly from Honduras, have arrived in groups in the Mexican border city of Tijuana last week, and more are expected to come, authorities said.

On Sunday, police in Tijuana reportedly broke up a protest of migrants, setting up chaotic scenes of protesters running in different directions.

However, the CBP tweets didn't confirm reports that migrants had pushed through a blockade trying to cross the border post.

The incident came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed threats that the United States would close the U.S.-Mexico border "if for any reason it becomes necessary."

"Migrants at the Southern Border will not be allowed into the United States until their claims are individually approved in court," he tweeted Saturday evening. "All will stay in Mexico."

The tweets came after The Washington Post reported earlier on the day that Mexico's incoming government has agreed to support the U.S. government's plan to remake U.S. asylum policy.

However, Mexico's incoming Interior Minister Olga Sanchez Cordero, who will take office next month, denied any type of agreements between the two sides in a statement on Saturday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 07:04:00|Editor: ZD

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MOSCOW, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russian forces opened fire on and seized three Ukrainian naval ships in Russia's territorial waters in the Black Sea on Sunday after they violated the Russian border, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said early Monday.

The Ukrainian ships Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu breached the Russian border on Sunday morning and attempted to conduct more illegal actions at around 7 p.m. Moscow time (1600 GMT) defying orders of accompanying vessels of the FSB and Russia's Black Sea Fleet, it said.

Weapons were used to force the three Ukrainian ships to stop and then they have been held in Russia's territorial waters in the Black Sea, the FSB said.

Three wounded Ukrainian servicemen have received medical assistance and their lives are not threatened, it said, adding that a criminal case has been launched over the Ukrainian violation of the Russian border.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Navy said it has informed Russia in advance about the passage of Ukrainian vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait separating the two seas.

Three Ukrainian naval ships entered the temporarily closed waters of the Russian territorial sea circa 7:00 a.m. Moscow time (0400 GMT) and were sailing toward the Kerch Strait, the FSB Border Service in Crimea said in a statement earlier on Sunday.

The vessels aimed to create a conflict situation in the region, it said, adding that the Border Service was taking all measures to stop this "deliberate provocation" and ensure security of navigation and regulation of maritime traffic in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

The Kerch Strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov has been closed to civil ships over security concerns, Russian media reported, citing sources in transport authorities.

Ukraine has accused Russia of "aggressive actions" in the Sea of Azov after Russia inaugurated a bridge over the Kerch Strait earlier this year and started inspecting commercial ships sailing through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Moscow rejects such accusations, saying that Crimea is part of Russia, which can exercise its sovereign rights in nearby waters, and the Kerch Strait is not an international passage.

Crimea declared to be part of Russia following a local referendum in March 2014, but Kiev and Western countries rejected the results. Russia-Ukraine relations have been filled with disputes and tensions since then.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 07:39:04|Editor: Yamei

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SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The donations from the Chinese community in the San Francisco Bay Area will soon reach victims of the deadliest wildfire in California, so that they would not feel "too cold" in this coming winter, an organizer of a fundraising event said Sunday.

"No money is too little," said Arthur Dong, one of the organizers of "We Are Together" 2018 California Camp Fire Fund-raising Event, which was held Saturday night in Palo Alto in northern California.

"As of Saturday, the Chinese community from the Bay Area has raised more than 76,600 U.S. dollars in cash for the Camp Fire victims in less than eight days, and it's amazing," Jenny Huang, director of Silicon Valley Youth Orchestra, one of the leading organizers of the event, told Xinhua Sunday.

"Every penny matters for the victims who lost everything in the Camp Fire", which has killed at least 85 people and destroyed more than 13,972 residences, 528 commercial structures and 4,293 other buildings, she said.

After more than two weeks of a raging inferno, a total of 153,336 acres (620 square km) have been scorched and at least 249 people remained unaccounted for in the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the history of California.

Jerry Johnson, concert coordinator of the First United Methodist Church in Palo Alto, a northern California city, where the event was staged, said the church hosted many benefit concerts every year, but the fundraising concert by the Chinese community is "the first known one held this year" for the Camp Fire victims.

"I really appreciate your efforts to do whatever you can for many people who have lost everything and members of family" in the northern California blaze, said Johnson, who said her nephew is also one of the victims in the blaze.

Captain David Dahl, a fireman from the Palo Alto Fire Department, who was invited to the event with his two other colleagues, shared with the audience the stories of how they combated the wildfire in the past 14 days in northern California.

"This is an amazing event ... it is really heartwarming and just shows how much we can get done if people can work together and take care of each other," said Dahl, who came back three days ago from the blaze-hit town of Paradise devastated by the Camp Fire.

"We were away from family and friends for 14 days, just working hard to protect what you can and save what you can, and we tried to do the best we can with the resources to bring the fire under control. It's a big task," he said.

The fundraising event received extensive support from more than 80 various organizations, businesses and associations from the Chinese community in the Bay Area, including San Francisco (Silicon Valley) Photographers' Association, We Are Together Foundation, Silicon Valley Youth Performing Arts, and Quantum Auxilia Leo Club.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 08:14:10|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three workers died after inhaling poisonous gas inside a coal mine in Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan, police said.

Local police officer Ghulam Ali said on Sunday that five miners who were working hundreds of meters deep inside a mine fell unconscious in Chamalang area of Dukki district of Balochistan.

"All the fainted miners were shifted to the nearby hospital where three of them were declared dead by doctors," said the police official.

A fellow coal miner told media that it took them five to six hours to shift the affected workers to the hospital, adding that the better and quick rescue work might save the lives.

According to the Pakistan Central Mines Labor Federation, over 100 workers die due to accidents in coal mines in the country every year.

At least 50 miners have died in Balochistan province during the first eight months of this year, said the federation, adding that at least 20,000 laborers are employed in 2,500 mines across Balochistan without proper safety facilities.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 08:29:14|Editor: Yamei

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by Xinhua writers Tian Zijun, Wang Linyuan and Liu Gaoyang

ZHENGZHOU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- "The rice we grow here is one of the most sought-after varieties in the market," said Zhu Zhongmin, a farmer from Yuanyang County of central China's Henan Province.

"Apart from the use of high-quality seeds and fertilizers, the most crucial element of the 'formula' that allows each mu (0.067 hectares) of my family's paddy field to produce more than 650 kg of rice per year is the irrigation water sourced from the Yellow River," he said.

In Henan, one of the most populous provinces in China, agriculture has been the main driver of economic growth for centuries.

Over 40 years of reform and opening-up, the farmland in Henan benefiting from the water diverted from the Yellow River has expanded from 96,700 hectares to 906,700 hectares.

In the past, most attempts to rechannel the middle and lower reaches of the country's second-longest waterway had caused massive flooding, inflicting great environmental and economic pain on the central plain regions.

Historically, the flood contributed to several catastrophic famines and forced migrations as the ensuing intrusion of salinity decimated the soil's ability to grow crops.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, water diversion projects like the People's Victory Canal that aimed to increase grain production were built and won the applause from ordinary farmers like Zhu.

He views the use of more nutrient-rich Yellow River water to irrigate crops as more cost-effective than using local ground water which would rack up a big electricity bill.

Farmers in Yanjin County, Henan Province, tend to grow their signature produce wheat by using Yellow River water and their alkali-rich groundwater alternately.

"The first time to irrigate crops after the spring planting must be done by Yellow River water if we expect the yield to be somewhere between 600-700 kg per mu. Otherwise, the yield could fall to 300 kg," said Li Shijun, head of the People's Victory Canal Management Bureau.

Since being put into use in 1952, the canal has diverted 38 billion cubic meters of water from the Yellow River and helped generate 40 billion yuan (5.8 billion U.S. dollars) in additional returns.

Over the past four decades, places like the counties of Yuanyang and Yanjin have been transformed from a hostile environment for agricultural production to home to some of the most recognizable brands of farm produce in the country.

Some credit goes to a sophisticated digital control system that improves the efficiency and sustainability of the water diversion operations.

Statistics from the province's water resources department show that the areas can save 813 million cubic meters of water per year with the irrigation cycle being reduced by four to six days.

Weishi county is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the sprawling network of water pipelines. After achieving smart control over the irrigation water, farmers are able to choose between Yellow River water and groundwater based on a real-time display of the volumes of water they have in store.

"Now, pumping water out of a well can be easily done by a simple swipe of an IC card," said Shi Changsuo, a local farmer. "This is different from the past when a whole family was needed when it comes to irrigating crops."

Salinization has been abated considerably and the grain output has increased by nearly four times-over, according to the Yellow River Conservancy Commission.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 08:44:19|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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CANBERRA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Australia's National Cyber Security Adviser, Alastair MacGibbon, has attacked technology companies for their "absurd" opposition to proposed encryption laws.

Technology giants including Apple, Google and Facebook have condemned the proposed laws, which would grant law enforcement agencies the power to access encrypted messages, as a threat to privacy and security.

Responding to those claims in a newspaper column on Monday, MacGibbon said that the technology companies had been invading the privacy of Australians for their own gain for years.

"Remember, to the companies lining up to criticise this bill, we Australian consumers are already their product," he wrote in The Australian.

He rejected the notion that the laws would introduce "backdoors into systems" for law enforcement or that private data could be accessed without judicial oversight.

"The draft bill explicitly states that technical assistance and technical capability notices must not require providers to implement or build systemic weaknesses in forms of electronic protection, nor can they prevent providers from fixing an identified weakness or vulnerability," he said.

"As a former eSafety Commissioner, I know the bill has the potential to catch more child sex offenders using encrypted devices.

"As the National Cyber Security Adviser, I am confident that this bill will not systemically weaken Australia's cyber security."

The government is racing against the clock to pass the new laws before the end of the year with Monday marking the beginning of Parliament's final sitting fortnight of 2018.

However, the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence must deliver its report on the bill before it can be taken to a vote.

The committee met on Monday and heard submissions from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and Home Affairs Department.

Peter Dutton, the Minister for Home Affairs, wrote a letter to the committee earlier in November demanding that it immediately report its findings and allow the bill to progress to Parliament.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 08:49:21|Editor: xuxin

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Guests take part in the launching ceremony of the Savanakhet road upgrading project in Savannakhet Province of Laos, Nov. 24, 2018. The China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) has launched the upgrading project for a Savanakhet road in central Laos. The Savanakhet road upgrading project includes construction of 88.2-km road, bridge and culvert, as well as installation of traffic signs and fence. The design speed of the upgraded road will be 80 km per hour. (Xinhua/Liu Ailun)

VIENTIANE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (NORINCO) has launched an upgrading project for a Savanakhet road in central Laos.

Dong Jifeng, the assistant general manager of NORINCO International, the business sector of its parent company NORINCO, said at a ceremony on Saturday at the project site, some 430 km southeast of the capital Vientiane, that this is the first road construction project undertaken by NORINCO in Laos.

The project will greatly improve the road infrastructure in the central and southern Laos and promote local social and economic development, said Dong.

According to the business contract, NORINCO will complete the construction and hand over the relevant facilities to the Lao government within 36 months.

Santiphab Phomvihane, the Savanakhet provincial governor, believed the project will help enhance the traffic convenience significantly, since the poor road conditions hampered the transportation especially during rainy seasons.

Minister of Lao Public Works and Transport, Bounchanh Sinthavong told the ceremony that the project is of great significance to Laos, especially to the economic development of Savannakhet Province, and will facilitate the transportation of local people and promote production, tourism and commercial development.

The Savanakhet road upgrading project includes construction of 88.2-km road, bridge and culvert, as well as installation of traffic signs and fence. The design speed of the upgraded road will be 80 km per hour.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 09:04:28|Editor: Liangyu

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Technicians work on the filling line for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rail tanker at the port of Alataw Pass, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 29, 2016. China's petroleum and chemical industry has generated some 712.1 billion yuan in total profit over the first nine months of 2018, up 45.2 percent from the same period of last year. With a total asset of 12.75 trillion yuan, up 6.1 percent over the same period last year, the sector has seen its asset-liability ratio fall by 1.16 percentage points to 54.19 percent. The sector's profit rate climbed up by 1.56 percentage points to 7.43 percent, thanks to the solid improvement in the operation efficiency of petroleum and natural gas exploration business as well as the good development momentum in oil refining and chemical industry. The overall prices of petroleum and natural gas surged by 24.6 percent during the January-September period, while those for chemical raw materials and chemical products jumped by 7.2 percent. The industry's total exports during the same period went up by 22.8 percent to 521.66 billion yuan. The growth rate was 8.6 percentage points higher than the same period of last year. Fixed assets investment in chemical raw materials and chemical manufacturing rose by 1.7 percent, the first increase since the end of January but lower than the 5.4-percent national average growth for industrial investment, according to the figures of the National Bureau of Statistics. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's petroleum and chemical industry has generated some 712.1 billion yuan in total profit over the first nine months, up 45.2 percent from the same period of last year, official data showed.

The figure took up 14.3 percent of the total profits generated by domestic industrial enterprises that each has an annual main operation income of more than 20 million yuan, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

With a total asset of 12.75 trillion yuan, up 6.1 percent over the same period last year, the sector has seen its asset-liability ratio fall by 1.16 percentage points to 54.19 percent.

The sector's profit rate climbed up by 1.56 percentage points to 7.43 percent, thanks to the solid improvement in the operation efficiency of petroleum and natural gas exploration business as well as the good development momentum in oil refining and chemical industry.

The overall prices of petroleum and natural gas surged by 24.6 percent during the January-September period, while those for chemical raw materials and chemical products jumped by 7.2 percent.

The industry's total exports during the same period went up by 22.8 percent to 521.66 billion yuan. The growth rate was 8.6 percentage points higher than the same period of last year.

Fixed assets investment in chemical raw materials and chemical manufacturing rose by 1.7 percent, the first increase since the end of January but lower than the 5.4-percent national average growth for industrial investment, according to the figures of the National Bureau of Statistics.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 09:14:30|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Libya's navy on Sunday announced it rescued 113 illegal immigrants, including women and children, off the country's western coast.

The navy said in a statement that coast guards patrol, in cooperation with a ship belonging to a gas field, rescued the immigrants who were on a rubber boat.

The rescue operation took place some 75 km off the capital Tripoli's coast. The immigrants are from different African countries.

The rescued immigrants were taken to a reception center in the nearby city of Zawiya, some 45 km west of Tripoli, the statement said.

Thousands of illegal immigrants choose to cross the Mediterranean toward European shores from Libya because of the chaos in the country following the 2011 uprising.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 09:54:38|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Interior Minister Fat'hi Bashagha met with German Ambassador to Libya Oliver Owcza here on Sunday to discuss bilateral security cooperation.

Bashagha said that his ministry is "seeking full security cooperation with Germany in training, information technology, crime control, national safety, and other security fields," according to the ministry's statement later on Sunday.

He also stressed the importance of securing southern Libyan border against illegal immigration, "which has become a concern for Libya and the world."

Owcza confirmed that Germany seeks to strengthen security collaboration with Libya through the UN Mission in Libya, by helping solve all Libyan security issues, the statement said.

Libyan security services struggle to train and equip their personnel amid years of turmoil.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 10:04:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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YANGON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will pay an official visit to Nepal soon and attend the Asia-Pacific Summit-2018 to be held in Kathmandu, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

Suu Kyi will make the trip at the invitation of Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

Suu Kyi's visit to Nepal will be the first in the capacity of state counselor since June 2014 when she visited Kathmandu as then opposition leader.

The theme of the Asia-Pacific summit is to address the critical challenges, including independence, mutual prosperity and universal values.

It will be attended by heads of states and governments, lawmakers, businessmen and leaders of civil society of the Asia Pacific region and the summit will have discussions on such topics as climate change, peace and development, good governance, conflict resolution as well as strengthening marriage and family institutions with the aim of supporting the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.

Suu Kyi's trip also followed that of President U Win Myint to Nepal in August on the occasion of the 4th Summit of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in the Nepalese capital.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 11:54:58|Editor: Yamei

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MEXICO CITY, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Scores of Central American migrants seeking to cross the U.S.-Mexico border ran from tear gas fired by U.S. border agents near U.S. border fence, Mexican Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said on Sunday.

Navarrete said a group of asylum-seekers on Sunday tried to break through to the other side, leading Mexican authorities to reinforce police presence at several border points in the northwestern city of Tijuana, located some 3 km from the United States.

"It will be a police operation. We are in no way going to deploy military troops, because that is not President Enrique Pena's order or conviction," he said during an interview with television news channel Milenio.

The instigators of the incident will be deported back to their countries once identified, the minister said.

Earlier, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said in a statement that the port of entry was closed "to ensure public safety in response to large numbers of migrants seeking to enter the U.S. illegally."

"That is not the way to do it, and they somehow knew they were not going to be able to get into U.S. territory like this," Navarrete said.

On Friday, the mayor of Tijuana, Juan Manuel Gastelum, declared a humanitarian crisis, saying the city lacks the infrastructure to handle the influx of 5,000 migrants.

Mostly from Honduras, but also El Salvador and Guatemala, the migrants have trekked thousands of kilometers to reach Tijuana.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 12:10:20|Editor: Yamei

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TOKYO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks advanced Monday morning after Osaka being selected to host the World Expo 2025 lifted service sector and construction issues.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 169.00 points, or 0.78 percent, from Thursday to 21,815.55.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile rose 4.54 points, or 0.28 percent, at 1,633.50.

Pulp and paper, rubber product, and warehousing and harbor transportation service-linked issues led gainers by the morning break.

Markets here were closed Friday for a national holiday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 12:20:22|Editor: Yamei

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VIENTIANE, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has called for everyone to join together in ending violence against women and girls, saying that this kind of pernicious violence continues to exist.

Thongloun issued his message when joining other countries around the world in marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Sunday.

Countries across the globe are marking the day under this year's theme "Hear Me Too" from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, according to local daily Vientiane Times on Monday.

In his message, Thongloun underlined the need for all countries to continue their collective effort to reduce and eliminate violence against female.

Globally, one in every three women, or 35 percent of all women, have suffered some form of physical or sexual violence at the hands of their partners, Thongloun noted, citing statistics from the World Health Organization.

In the context of Laos, he said Laos attached great importance to implementing the Plan of Action aimed at battling violence against women and girls.

Over past years, Laos has actively participated in regional and international frameworks to end this type of violence.

This is reflected in Laos' becoming a state party to core human rights conventions drawn up by the United Nations, Thongloun said.

These include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

Laos, together with other members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the 10-member regional bloc, also adopted the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and Violence against Children.

"It can be seen that Laos has made fundamental achievements in fulfilling its obligations together with the international community," Thongloun said.

To implement the international conventions, the Lao government has incorporated them into the country's constitution, laws and policies.

Strategic plans and plans of action have been drawn up and projects have been introduced to realize these policies with the goal of empowering women, promoting gender equality, and eliminating violence against women and girls.

This year, Laos presented its national report under the CEDAW and CRC conventions to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, according to the report.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 13:15:31|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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KABUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left here on Monday morning for Switzerland's Geneva to attend a key meeting on Afghanistan, the Presidential Palace said.

Ghani will deliver a speech during Geneva Conference on Afghanistan to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, the palace said in a statement.

The Afghan leader will also be having bilateral meetings with the high representative of the participating countries and organizations, the statement added.

Focusing on development and economy of the war-hit country, the event will bring together representative from some 70 countries and international organizations.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 13:40:36|Editor: Yamei

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MADRID, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Spain supports multilateralism and that makes the country an important actor in deepening the relations between China and the European Union (EU), two former senior Spanish officials have told Xinhua.

"I appreciate that China has a multilateral vocation," former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on the sidelines of the China-Europe Forum on Reform and Globalization held recently in Madrid.

"We have to build a community that perceives itself in that way, because more than ever in history we share a common destiny," he added. "Spain has great assets because being an unequivocally pro-European country, it has great capacity to have an open and multilateral vision."

Echoing Zapatero, Javier Solana, a former secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), told Xinhua that Spain can be a very important actor in China-EU relations against the backdrop of impending Brexit and divergencies among European countries.

"China and Europe will work towards the same direction. We want multilateralism. China also wants it. We do not want protectionism," he said, adding that from a broader perspective, globalization benefits both China and Spain.

Solana, who served in the Spanish government as foreign minister between 1992 and 1995, stressed that in today's interconnected world, problems are no longer up to a single country or a single region.

Therefore, it is necessary to change from a tactical vision to a strategic vision that allows perceiving problems in a longer term, he said.

"Trying to resolve today's conflicts by looking only at the present is not a solution," he said. "You have to deal with the current problems by looking at what can be done, strategically observing. It's not about winning elections here or there. It's about saving the world."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 13:40:36|Editor: xuxin

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Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky, director of Chabad House, walks in the destroyed Jewish center in Mumbai, India, Nov. 25, 2018. India on Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks with ceremonies at sites across the city. (Xinhua/Stringer)

NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- India observed the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on its financial capital Mumbai on Monday as the U.S. administration announced a 5-million-dollar award for information leading to the arrest, or conviction, of the perpetrators.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks.

"On behalf of all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the #MumbaiTerrorAttack. We stand with the families and friends of the victims, including six American citizens," he tweeted.

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that after ten years those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement."

The top U.S. diplomat said, "The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to 5 million dollars for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi paid homage to the families of the victims of the terror attacks.

"Tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Our solidarity with the bereaved families. A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," he tweeted on Monday.

On Nov. 26, 2008, militants carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, leaving 166 people dead and over 300 others injured in the four-day siege.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 13:55:39|Editor: Yamei

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MADRID, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Spanish companies can collaborate with Chinese partners to expand cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), said experts in the European country.

The modern Silk Road initiative "offers many opportunities for the Spanish business," Juan Lena, a former Spanish ambassador to Beijing, told Xinhua at a recent event held at CEU San Pablo University in Madrid and focused on Spain's role in reviving the ancient trade routes.

"It is interesting that Spanish companies come to China, collaborate there and seek opportunities in third markets such as North Africa," said Lena, noting that construction and infrastructure companies are the ones that can benefit the most from this collaboration in North Africa.

Enrique Fanjul, a professor of international relations at CEU San Pablo University, said that Spain, through its sea ports, can help China extend BRI cooperation to the other side of the Mediterranean Sea.

He encouraged all actors of Spanish society to find ways to take part.

Jose Maria Beneyto, director of the University Institute of European Studies, said that Spain should seek mutual benefit with the BRI, noting that if Spanish companies increase their presence in China, bilateral relations would be enhanced.

"Spaniards have a great interest in China," he said. "But we should have a greater presence there because there are Spanish companies that are leaders in sectors such as infrastructure, construction and renewable energies."

China-Spain trade has registered rapid growth in recent years. Now China is Spain's largest trading partner outside the European Union, and Spain is the sixth largest trade partner of China within the bloc.

Bilateral trade rose from 12 million U.S. dollars in 1973, when the two countries established diplomatic ties, to over 30.94 billion dollars in 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 13:55:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's presidential Blue House said Monday that it had yet to decide on a date for the reciprocal visit by Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), to Seoul.

Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-keum told a press briefing that it faced a moment to determine when Kim's visit to Seoul would be better - before or after the second DPRK-U.S. summit - to bring a more effective peace and prosperity to the Korean Peninsula.

"(We) are discussing it with various possibilities being opened," Kim said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in traveled to Pyongyang in September for his third summit with the DPRK leader, who promised to visit Seoul at an early date. The Blue House had expected visit to be made this year.

Kim's reciprocal visit to Seoul could be delayed to next year as the Blue House indicated the visit can be made after the second DPRK-U.S. summit.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would hold his second summit with the DPRK leader early next year. The first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit between Trump and Kim was held in Singapore in June.

The Blue House spokesman expressed his anticipation that the high-level talks between Pyongyang and Washington could be held at an earliest possible date.

The senior-level DPRK-U.S. dialogue, originally scheduled to be held in New York earlier this month, was postponed.

Asked about whether South Korea was still aiming to declare an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War by the end of this year, the Blue House spokesman said there has been no change.

However, the spokesman noted that it cannot be decided upon only by the South Korean government, saying that discussions were still underway to achieve the goal.

The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war as the Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 14:15:46|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were in talks to set the schedule for a joint railway inspection to modernize and connect railways across the inter-Korean border, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday.

Baik Tae-hyun, unification ministry spokesman, told a press briefing that South Korea was consulting with the DPRK on schedule for the joint survey of railways across the border.

The consultation began as the United Nations granted a sanctions exemption over the weekend to the joint railway inspection between the two Koreas.

The U.S.-led UN Command disapproved a plan in August to conduct the joint inspection on the railway from Seoul in South Korea to Sinuiju in the DPRK.

The UN Command handles military affairs inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has left the Korean Peninsula divided since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with armistice.

Baik said it was forecast to take about 20 days to conduct the joint railway inspection.

The spokesman noted that the two Koreas would set the detailed schedule first and then discuss relevant procedures with the UN Command.

South Korea reportedly planned to launch the joint railway inspection within this week.

The inspection would be a part of efforts to implement the Pyongyang Declaration, which South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un signed in their third summit in the DPRK's capital.

The two leaders agreed to hold a groundbreaking ceremony within this year in a bid to modernize and eventually connect railways across the border along the eastern and western Korean Peninsula. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 14:15:48|Editor: ZD

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FARAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 Afghan police personnel were killed after Taliban ambushed a police convey in restive western Farah province, local officials said Monday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 14:40:53|Editor: Yamei

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FARAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 Afghan police personnel were killed after Taliban ambushed a police convoy in restive western Farah province, a local official said Monday.

"Militants attacked a police logistic convoy in Juwayn district Sunday evening. The initial information found that 18 police personnel were killed," the official who declined to be named told Xinhua.

He said several police officers went missing after the clashes which occurred in Kora Gaz locality of the remote district.

Several militants were also killed and wounded during the gun battle, but their number could not be exactly specified as the militants evacuated their casualties after the fighting, he said.

The province has been the scene of heavy clashes between Taliban and security forces since early this year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 14:45:55|Editor: Xiang Bo

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SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cigarette sales in South Korea kept falling this year on higher price and the government-led anti-smoking campaign, a government report showed Monday.

The number of 20-cigarette packs sold here was 2.9 billion for the first 10 months of this year, down 1.9 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

The monthly average cigarette sale tumbled from 363 million in 2014 to 277 million in 2015 as the cigarette price rose by 80 percent to 4,500 won (4 U.S. dollars) per pack.

The monthly average figure gained to 305 million in 2016, but it declined to 294 million in 2017 as the government ordered tobacco companies to put graphic warnings on the upper part of both cigarette packs beginning December 2016. The reading shed to 290 million in the January-October period of this year.

Despite the lower tobacco sale, the government collected 9.7 trillion won (8.6 billion U.S. dollars) in taxes from sales of cigarette for the first 10 months of this year, thanks to higher cigarette price. It was up 2.6 percent from the same period of last year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 15:11:01|Editor: xuxin

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LONDON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The British government's Brexit deal would cost the country 100 billion British pounds (about 128 billion U.S. dollars) per year by 2030, according to media reports on a research institute's latest estimates.

The report, produced by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) and commissioned by the People's Vote campaign, modeled different Brexit scenarios against a baseline of staying in the EU, the BBC reported early Monday.

"Our key finding is that if the governments proposed Brexit deal is implemented so that the UK leaves the EU customs union and single market in 2021, then by 2030 GDP will be around 4 percent lower than it would have been had the UK stayed in the EU," NIESR noted in the report, according to British pro-am newspaper The New European.

"This is equivalent of losing the economic output of Wales or the City of London," BBC said, quoting the report.

GDP per head would fall by 3 percent a year, amounting to an average cost per person a year of 1,090 pounds at today's prices, NIESR added.

"This is largely because higher impediments to services trade make it less attractive to sell services from the UK. This discourages investment in the UK and ultimately means that UK workers are less productive than they would have been if the UK had stayed in the EU," NIESR commented on the findings of its report.

Total trade between Britain and the EU would fall by 46 percent, BBC quoted the report's figures. In addition, foreign direct investment would fall by 21 percent, while tax revenue would drop 1.5-2 percent.

The report also modeled alternative Brexit outcomes against staying in the EU. This showed that remaining in a customs union beyond the transition period, possibly through invoking the so-called Irish "backstop", would still mean a hit of 70 billion pounds a year.

Another scenario, favored by some Brexit supporters, of an "orderly no deal" departure from the EU would reduce GDP by 5.5 percent, or 140 billion pounds a year, it said.

Leaders of EU member states on Sunday endorsed the Brexit deal at a summit in Brussels, a major breakthrough since the lengthy Brexit negotiations started in March 2017.

The stage is set for Britain to end its EU membership on March 29, 2019 and enter a transition period until the end of 2020.

Prime Minister Theresa May will now need to persuade Members of Parliament to back her deal, but some think she will struggle to get it through.

"I will take this deal back to the House of Commons," May said in a Twitter post, adding that she is "confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country."

European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: "Ahead of us is the difficult process of ratification as well as further negotiations. But regardless of how it will end, one thing is certain: we will remain friends until the end of days, and one day longer."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 15:31:07|Editor: xuxin

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FARAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 police personnel were killed after Taliban militants ambushed a police convoy in west Afghanistan's Farah province, a local official said Monday.

"Militants attacked a police logistics convoy in Juwayn district Sunday evening. The initial information found that 18 police personnel were killed," the official who declined to be named told Xinhua.

He said several police officers went missing after the clashes which occurred in Kora Gaz locality of the remote district.

Several militants were also killed or wounded in the gun battle, but their number could not be exactly specified as the militants evacuated their casualties after the fighting, he said.

A newly appointed district police chief for Juwayn travelling in the convoy was also killed and four police were wounded, the source added.

The province has been the scene of heavy clashes between Taliban and security forces since early this year.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 16:06:14|Editor: Li Xia

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SHANGHAI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ), with an area of 120 square km, generated 42.9 percent of the total import and export of the municipality in the first 10 months, local authorities said Sunday.

The data came days after the State Council, China's cabinet, released a raft of measures supporting pilot FTZs to deepen reform and innovation.

According to the Shanghai Customs, more than 19,000 new enterprises have been registered since the FTZ was founded five years ago, bringing the total number to 28,000.

The total import and export volume in the first 10 months in the Shanghai FTZ has reached 1.21 trillion yuan (about 174 billion U.S. dollars), up by 5.8 percent year on year.

The Shanghai FTZ was China's first pilot FTZ set up in 2013. Since then, China has set up a total of 12 FTZs, with the latest addition being the island province of Hainan, the country's largest FTZ.

Pilot FTZs have become pioneers in promoting the country's reform and opening-up. Up to 153 practices piloted in the FTZs have so far been replicated in other regions or sectors.

On Friday, China released a document that included more than 50 measures to create a more favorable investment environment in the FTZs, especially on trade facilitation, financial innovation and advancing the human resource sector.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 16:41:24|Editor: Li Xia

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MACAO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of 311 meetings, conferences and exhibitions were held in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) in the third quarter this year, the SAR's statistics service said on Monday.

Information from the Statistics and Census Service indicated that among those events, there were 283 meetings and conferences, as well as 19 exhibitions and nine incentives. The number of participants and attendees rose by 19.9 percent to 697,000.

The overall average duration of the meetings and conferences went down by 0.1 day year-on-year to 1.4 days. The total floor area used dropped by 32.5 percent to 187,000 square meters. The overall average duration of the exhibitions was 3.3 days, down by 0.1 day year-on-year, and the total floor area used rose by 8.1 percent to 56,000 square meters.

The exhibitions in the third quarter attracted 1,503 exhibitors. Among them, 50.1 percent were from the Macao SAR and 21.3 percent from the Chinese mainland. Professional visitors totalled 25,000, and 71.8 percent of them were local residents.

Meanwhile, information from 878 interviewed exhibitors in the third quarter indicated that 94.6 percent of their receipts came from sales of products, whereas rental paid for exhibition booths accounted for 65.1 percent of their expenditure.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 17:11:36|Editor: xuxin

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A passenger flight belonging to a private airline in India returned to the parking bay following a scare that a terrorist was on board, said local media reports on Monday.

According to an India Today report, the flight from the eastern city of Kolkata to the southwestern city of Mumbai was taxiing towards the runway when a passenger saw his co-passenger typing on his mobile phone that there was a terrorist on board the flight.

The passenger immediately informed the flight crew, who in turn conveyed the message to the pilot. The pilot immediately returned the flight to the parking bay.

The passenger who allegedly typed the message on his phone was taken into custody and detained at the Kolkata airport. He was subsequently handed over to the local police where he was being questioned till the last reports came in.

Due to the incident, the flight 9W 472 was delayed by around one hour.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 17:31:46|Editor: xuxin

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MOSCOW, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia is willing to work with the United States to preserve the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, if the United States strictly complies with the agreement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Monday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 17:36:49|Editor: xuxin

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DUBAI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Monday the country has pardoned British student Matthew Hedges who was sentenced to life in prison for spying.

Hedges will be set free and be allowed to leave the UAE, according to Emirates News Agency.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said that the decision to grant a pardon underlies fundamental strength of UAE-Britain ties.

The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals last week sentenced Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student at Durham University, to life in jail on charges that he was spying for Britain.

He was arrested at Dubai airport on May 5 and referred to trial in October.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 17:41:53|Editor: xuxin

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NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Eight Naxals and two policemen were killed on Monday in a gunfight between them in central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said.

The gunfight broke out inside a forest area of Kistaram of Sukma district, about 500 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

"A gunfight broke out when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation in the area," local media quoted a senior police official Abhishek Meena as saying.

"In the gun battle eight Naxals were killed and two personnel belonging to District Reserve Guard (DRG) also lost their lives fighting them."

Authorities have rushed additional contingents of government force personnel to the area.

On Sunday, two Naxals were killed in adjacent Bijapur district.

DRG is a special police unit raised to counter Naxals in Chhattisgarh.

Currently Naxals are active in more than a third of India's 600-odd districts across central and eastern India.

India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh once termed the Naxalite movement as India's "greatest internal security challenge."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 17:46:55|Editor: xuxin

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen will visit Nepal from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, said a foreign ministry's statement on Monday.

Hun Sen is scheduled to pay an official visit to Nepal on Nov. 29-30, and to attend the Asia-Pacific Summit 2018-Nepal in Kathmandu from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, the statement said.

During the visit, the Cambodian prime minister will hold bilateral talks with Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli before the two leaders preside over the signing ceremony of a number of documents on bilateral cooperation, it said.

At the Asia-Pacific Summit 2018-Nepal, Hun Sen will deliver a keynote address on the theme "Addressing the Critical Challenges of Our Time: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values," it added.

Hun Sen's entourage will include Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, and other members of the government as well as a delegation from the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said the statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 17:56:57|Editor: xuxin

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DUBAI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brands staged around half of the total 28 fashion shows at the Dubai Fashion Days of 2019, a prominent fashion event at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which lasted from Nov. 21-28.

The event was co-organized by Arab Fashion Week, Hala China Initiative, an initiative aimed at exploring opportunities to attract Chinese visitors, and JollyTrust, a fashion culture industry operator.

The eight-day celebration is showcasing design talents from the Middle East, China and the rest of the world, enabling Chinese brands to make their presence in the Arab world, said Majid Al Mualla, chairman of Hala China.

"With a strong offline and online presence, we are confident that Dubai Fashion Days will enable Chinese brands to explore the Dubai market and provide them with international exposure," he said.

On the other hand, it is also an opportunity to establish links between UAE-based designers and Chinese fashion industry, Mualla added.

"Fashion is an expression of culture and a way to seek resonance. It is also an exploration of the future," said David Ding, co-founder and executive president of Jollychic, the strategic partner of Dubai Fashion Days and leading mobile e-commerce platform in the Middle East.

"Emerging designers in China and the Arab world are becoming increasingly influential. Their voices are being heard and ambitions understood. We are very glad to support them on this journey as they seek to gain visibility on the international fashion stage and shape the future of our industry," said Ding.

For the first time, Jollychic is presenting and live streaming their closing show at Arab Fashion Week, via their app, so that those unable to attend the show can still see the show and purchase directly from the catwalk, Ding said.

"We aim to provide a seamless user experience to our clients. We are honored to work with all our partners to make Arab Fashion Week and Dubai Fashion Days a world-class event infused with creativity and technology, leveraging our position as a leading e-commerce platform to close the distance between couture, catwalk and consumer," said Ding.

Aligned to Dubai Fashion Days, "China's Textile Exhibition" this year is also presenting 20 exhibitors from China, connecting Dubai-based designers with fabric suppliers and manufacturing facilities from China. It will also provide an ideal platform for designers from the two countries to network and exchange experiences and best practices through a series of talks and workshops led by industry experts.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 18:07:00|Editor: xuxin

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese real estate developer on Monday launched a tuition-free tourism and hospitality school here, aiming at providing high-quality education to poverty-stricken youths in Cambodia.

Not-for-profit World Youth Tourism and Hospitality School (WYTHS) would offer a one-and-a-half-year training course on hotel and hospitality as well as English and Chinese languages to Cambodian poor students, said WYTHS's principal Li Yanhui.

"We only hope to give them an opportunity to change their fate and to contribute to the development of tourism industry in Cambodia," he said during the school launching ceremony.

Students would have chances to join internships at high-end hotels, restaurants, real estate firms and travel companies, he said, adding that after graduation, qualified students would be granted jobs.

Yang Shuo, chief executive officer of Guangzhou Yuetai Group in Cambodia, said the school's purpose was to help train "professional workers" for Cambodia's tourism industry.

"We have been doing business here for seven years now, and the difficulty we face in doing business here is the lack of Cambodian professional workers, so with the school, we hope that there will be more Cambodian professional workers," he said.

"In the future, our corporation plans to lower as many as possible the number of Chinese workers or management, and at the same time, we will increase the number of Cambodian professional workers or management," he said.

According to Yang, the school would provide free education to about 100 high-school graduates this year and up to 400 students next year.

Mean Vandet, director of Cambodian Tourism Ministry's Tourism Professional Training Department, said the ministry fully supported the WYTHS, saying that it would importantly contribute to human resource development in the tourism sector.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. According to a tourism report, the Southeast Asian country received 4.37 million foreign tourists during the January-September period this year, up 11.8 percent over the same period last year.

The number of Chinese tourists was 1.44 million during the first nine months of this year, up 71 percent, accounting for 32.9 percent of the total foreign visitors to the kingdom.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 18:22:03|Editor: xuxin

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SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A grassroots rights advocacy group based in the U.S. state of Washington on Sunday called for a probe into the death of a Russia immigrant detained in a detention center in Tacoma city.

Mora Villalpando, a leader of the Northwest Detention Center Resistance group, said that her organization wants state and Tacoma officials to open an investigation into the death of Amar Mergensana, who had been kept captive in a facility in Tacoma since he arrived in the United States last December.

Mergensana's death was confirmed Sunday by the state's Pierce County Medical Examiner office, and an examination is scheduled for Monday, the Tacoma-based public radio station KNKX reported.

The 40-year-old Russian immigrant died after he staged an 86-day hunger strike to protest conditions at a privately-run detention facility licensed by Tacoma while he was put on a deportation list. The center operates under a contract with the U.S. immigration and border control authorities.

Villalpando and other immigration advocates blamed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Northwest Detention Center for Mergensana's death.

Villalpando said Mergensana was kept in solitary confinement at the detention center rather than at a medical facility where he could have been better monitored and observed.

Mergensana is the second detainee to have died in the 14-year history of the Northwest Detention Center, one of the largest facilities in the United States for people facing deportation.

Villalpando said the group is planning a vigil for Mergensana at the detention center on Monday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 18:32:06|Editor: xuxin

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GENEVA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Six people, including children, were killed and some 20 people were hospitalized in the early hours Monday in an apartment fire in the northwestern Swiss city of Solothurn, local media reported.

The Swiss public broadcaster RTS reported that the fire broke out shortly after 2:00 a.m. (0100 GMT) in one of the lower floors of the apartment. The extent of the damage is unknown at this time.

Such a deadly accident in Switzerland has been rare in recent years.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 18:37:09|Editor: Li Xia

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KIEV, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko early Monday proposed parliament impose martial law in the country, while saying "Ukraine does not plan to fight anyone" over tensions with Russia in the Sea of Azov.

At an emergency meeting of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Poroshenko said that the introduction of the 60-day martial law does not mean that Ukraine will carry out any offensive actions.

"The introduction of the martial law does not mean a declaration of war, Ukraine does not plan to fight anyone. It is introduced exclusively for defense," Poroshenko said.

Yakiv Smoliy, head of Ukraine's central bank, who also attended the NSDC meeting, said that the possible introduction of the martial law would not affect Ukraine's banking system.

Petro Tsygykal, head of the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) of Ukraine said the SBGS would tighten up border control after the introduction of martial law.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Navy said that Russian forces opened fire on Ukrainian vessels near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, damaging two vessels and forcefully stopping another one.

Six Ukrainian military sailors were wounded in the attack and two of them were in serious condition, the Ukrainian Navy said.

The Russian Federal Security Service said that three Ukrainian ships, namely Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu, breached the Russian border, and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of Russia's orders.

The Ukrainian Navy said it had informed Russia in advance about the passage of Ukrainian vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait.

Ukraine said Russia's actions were an "act of aggression" which "violated freedom of navigation by unlawfully using force."

Earlier this year, Ukraine accused Russia of "aggressive actions" in the Sea of Azov after Russia inaugurated a bridge over the Kerch Strait and started inspecting commercial ships sailing through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Moscow rejects such accusations, saying that Crimea is part of Russia, which can exercise its sovereign rights in nearby waters, and the Kerch Strait is not an international passage.

Crimea was incorporated into Russia in March 2014 following a local referendum, but Kiev and Western countries rejected the results.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 18:47:12|Editor: xuxin

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MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least six militants have been killed and 10 others wounded as clashes erupted in Afghan northern Balkh province, an army spokesman said Monday.

The clashes, according to Ghulam Hazrat Karimi, erupted after the government forces stormed Taliban hideouts in Zekzak area of Char Bolak district Sunday evening and so far six militants have been killed.

Ten militants and a security man have been wounded in the fighting, the official added.

Taliban militants have not commented yet.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 19:02:17|Editor: xuxin

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ISTANBUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Monday that a military helicopter crashed during an emergency landing in a residential area in Istanbul, killing four soldiers and critically wounding another.

"Our heroic pilots have tried to make an emergency landing due to an unknown reason," Akar told reporters on the scene. "They showed a great effort not to harm any civilians on the ground."

The chopper fell at around 11:00 a.m. local time on a street filled with houses in the Sancaktepe district on the Asian side of Istanbul.

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a written statement that "the military helicopter crashed during a training mission for unknown reasons."

He said an investigation into the accident has started.

According to preliminary press reports, the copter went down after hitting the roof of a four-storey building while trying to land on the street due to a malfunction.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 19:17:21|Editor: xuxin

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DHAKA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Eight militants have been indicted over the 2016 cafe terror attack in Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka.

A court in Dhaka on Monday filed charges against the militants of Neo-JMB (an offshoot of banned militant outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh or JMB) over the terror attack that killed 22 people, mostly foreigners.

Of the accused, six are now in jail while the two others are still on the run.

Judge Mujibur Rahman of the Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal of Dhaka read out the charges to the six militants who pleaded not guilty to the terrorist attack.

The court fixed Dec. 3 to start trial of the case after the incitement.

Monirul Islam, chief of Bangladesh's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit, had earlier submitted the charge sheet against the accused.

Five gunmen stormed the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka's diplomatic area Gulshan on July 1, 2016.

Those killed in the attack include nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, an Indian and a Bangladeshi-born U.S. citizen.

The gunmen also killed two Bangladeshi police officers in the early hours of the attack.

About 12 hours after the attack, the Bangladesh army stormed the restaurant, killing the five attackers.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack.

But Bangladeshi authorities rejected the claim, saying members of the banned local militant outfit plotted the attack.

Since the deadly cafe attack, Bangladeshi police have stepped up anti-militant drive and conducted series of large-scale operations against militants, killing and arresting scores of them.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 19:22:23|Editor: xuxin

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KABUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces waged an anti-drug operation and destroyed a large amount of narcotics in eastern Paktia province overnight, the country' Ministry of Interior Affairs said Monday.

"The Counter-Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA) and Afghan Air Force carried out a special operation in Gul-e-Surkh locality of Jaji Aruob district of Paktia province Sunday night, destroying over 72 tons of hashish," the ministry said in a statement.

The destruction of the drugs was a heavy blow for insurgents and anti-government militants as they have been using profits from the illegal drugs to fund insurgency, the statement noted.

The CNPA forces also arrested five suspected persons and seized 26 rounds of weapons, nine communication radios, 18,000 rounds of bullets together with ammunition following the raid in the province, 100 km south of Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, according to the statement.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 19:27:24|Editor: Li Xia

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BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a message to Fiji's Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama to congratulate him on winning a second term as the head of government last Thursday.

In the congratulatory message, Li said that bilateral relations between China and Fiji have seen significant progress since the two countries established diplomatic ties 43 years ago.

Li said that China regards the Pacific island country of Fiji as a sincere friend and cooperation partner. China appreciates the firm adherence of the prime minister and Fiji government to the one-China policy.

Li also added that he would work together with Bainimarama to enhance political mutual trust and expand practical cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, thereby building upon the China-Fiji comprehensive strategic partnership, which would benefit the two countries and peoples.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 19:37:28|Editor: xuxin

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli troops after allegedly carrying out a car-ramming attack in the West Bank on Monday, injuring three soldiers, authorities said.

The Palestinian District Coordination and Liaison Office, an official Palestinian Authority body, said the man was shot and sustained fatal injuries. He was later announced dead by the army.

A military spokesperson told Xinhua that the driver dashed his vehicle at the soldiers at the Gush Etzion Junction, near the village of al-Arroub, south of Jerusalem.

"A terrorist hit three IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers with his vehicle while they were performing engineering work on a route between Beit Ummar and Al-Arroub," a military statement said.

"An IDF soldier on patrol fired towards the terrorist and neutralized him," the statement added.

The emergency medical service said one of the soldiers sustained moderate injuries and the other two were lightly wounded.

The soldiers were taken to the hospital to receive further medical treatment.

The incident was part of a wave of attacks by Palestinian individuals, which included knife wielding, shooting, and car-ramming attacks, usually carried out against Israeli soldiers, police officers and settlers.

Last Wednesday, five Israeli policemen were lightly injured amidst a knife attack carried out by a Palestinian man inside a police station in East Jerusalem. The perpetrator was arrested.

The violence is part of the struggle against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, lands that Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 19:47:32|Editor: xuxin

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LAGOS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Police in Nigeria on Monday confirmed the shooting to dead of a renowned medical doctor Andrew Malgwi and his wife in northeast city of Yola.

State police spokesperson Othman Abubakar told Xinhua that Malgwi and his wife were on Sunday shot by unknown gunmen in his farm at Boggare area, located on the outskirt of Yola, capital of Adamawa.

Abubakar said investigation was still on to ascertain whether it was a case of assassination or kidnapping.

Some residents of Boggare observed that the incident could not be unconnected with kidnappers that have been on prowl in the area.

There were gun shots and it was learnt that the elderly doctor and his wife who were at the farm to supervise harvest sensed danger and ran into their car in an attempt to run but the gunmen opened fire on them, a resident who preferred anonymity told Xinhua.

The late Malgwi was a former state commissioner of health and the proprietor of a private clinic.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 19:57:35|Editor: xuxin

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DUBAI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- With just under 700 days to go until Expo 2020 Dubai's opening ceremony, a total of 190 countries and regions have confirmed their participation in the event.

The announcement comes on the opening day of Expo 2020's third International Participants Meeting (IPM), which will see the gathering of hundreds of delegates from around the world to receive information and updates on the delivery of the expo.

Reem Al Hashimy, UAE's minister of state for international cooperation, said that the confirmation of 190 international participants demonstrates the world's confidence in the country's ability to bring the world together.

Taking place from Nov. 26-27, this year's IPM will cover a wide range of topics concerning the design, delivery and content of country pavilions.

"As the first World Expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, the UAE and Dubai have been working to create a platform to foster creativity, innovation and partnership globally," said Vicente G Loscertales, secretary general of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the governing body of World Expos.
People load a casket of boat accident victim in Kampala, capital of Uganda, on Nov. 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Joseph Kiggundu)

KAMPALA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan government has launched investigation into the cause of the Saturday night boat accident on Lake Victoria.

Moses Ali, first deputy Prime Minister, said in a statement issued on Sunday that the aim of the investigation is to ensure that such an incident does not occur again.

He said the country would be briefed as soon as the investigation report is out.

He said the government has also formed an inter-ministerial committee headed by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda to handle the tragedy.

"Government has decided to release the bodies that have been cleared by police and identified by families and relatives," he said.

President Yoweri Museveni in a condolence message on Sunday said preliminary information shows that the boat was unregistered and unlicensed.

Museveni said the boat had a capacity for 50 people only but there were about 120 passengers on board, who also seemed to be partying with a lot of music.

He said the tragedy should be a warning to everybody not to board boats that are overloaded, without life jackets and reliable navigation.

Museveni said the government has ordered the electronic registration and monitoring of all the boats so that authorities know who is on the lake and why.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 20:12:40|Editor: Li Xia

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BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China hopes that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) and the European Union (EU) will finally reach a consensus on Brexit, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

The European Council on Sunday endorsed the agreement and Political Declaration on the UK's exit from the EU, as well as on a framework of the future relationship between the EU and the UK.

"Both the EU and the UK are China's Comprehensive Strategic Partners," spokesperson Geng Shuang told a daily press briefing, adding that a prosperous, stable and open Europe and the UK are in the interest of all parties.

Geng said China's established policy of promoting parallel development of China-EU and China-UK relations will not change, and China stands ready to work with the EU and the UK to make new contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 20:32:44|Editor: Li Xia

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NANNING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police handed over a suspected drug trafficker to Vietnam Monday.

Nong Van Khoi, the plotter of a major cross-border drug trafficking case, was transfered to Vietnamese police via the Friendship Pass in the city of Pingxiang, a busy border pass in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

In February, Vietnamese police busted a gang smuggling drugs from Laos to China via Vietnam's northern Cao Bang Province and seized 288 blocks of heroin, weighing over 100 kg in total. But the main plotter fled to China.

Vietnamese police reported the case to Chinese police. In September, Interpol also issued a red notice for Nong Van Khoi.

Chinese police caught Nong Van Khoi in the city of Huizhou in south China's Guangdong Province on Oct. 25.

China and Vietnam have conducted joint anti-drug operations in border areas since 2014.

"The joint operations have yielded remarkable results since they were launched," said Yan Qiwei, director of the anti-drug team of the regional public security department. "The two sides have strengthened exchanges and information sharing this year."

As of Nov. 1, the joint anti-drug operations in Guangxi had cracked a total of 536 cases, 30 of which involved Vietnamese, and seized 741 suspects, including 43 Vietnamese suspects, and over 250 kg of drugs.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 20:54:44|Editor: Li Xia

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This combination photo shows Jino women separating grain seeds with their feet in 1984 (left, file photo); and Jino villager Li Xiuzhen showing a WeChat group for sales of local specialty goods in Baka Village of Jino Ethnic Township on Jino Mountain, Nov. 20, 2018 (right, photo by Lin Yiguang). With a population of slightly over 20,000, the Jino people had only been officially acknowledged in 1979 as an independent ethnic group of China. Until 1949, most of them had lived for generations in primitive mountain tribes in southwest China's Yunnan Province. Over the four decades since it embraced the reform and opening-up policy, China has spared no effort to support ethnic groups with smaller populations. Life on Jino Mountain, where most Jino communities are located, saw positive changes in parallel with improvements in local politics, economy, technology, education, culture, health care, ecology, ethnic development and other social undertakings. Just like its 55 ethnic brethren, the Jino people also benefit from China's reform and opening-up in seeking a prosperous life. In Jino Ethnic Township on the Jino Mountain, residents now have direct access to road, water, electricity, TV and radio, as well as the mobile network. Ninety percent of the residents have moved into new houses. Most residents own motorcycles and tractors, and some of them have purchased cars. More people have increased their income by selling local specialty products via the internet, whereas in the past, doing business was perceived as a shame. Currently, the primary education in Jino Ethnic Township achieved 100 percent coverage for all school-age children. More than 99 percent of residents have joined the rural cooperative medical insurance programme. The Jino ethnic culture undergoes protection and inheritance: the great drum dance of the Jino people has been listed as one of China's national intangible cultural heritages. (Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 20:57:51|Editor: xuxin

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BAGHDAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi forces on Monday launched several military operations to track Islamic State (IS) militants in areas in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala, a provincial security source said.

"A joint force from the Iraqi army and police, backed by aircraft, began multiple operations today to hunt down IS militants in seven agricultural areas in northwest of Diyala's capital Baquba," Lt. Gen. Mizher al-Azawy, commander of Diyala Operations Command, told Xinhua.

The operations aimed to end the presence of IS militants and destroy their hideouts, in addition to capturing some wanted suspects over criminal and terror charges, Azawy said.

The targeted areas by the operations are dense orchards and farms, which enable the extremist militants to hide in, Azawy added.

Despite repeated military operations in the Diyala province, remnants of IS militants are still hiding in some rugged areas near the border with Iran, and in the sprawling areas extending from the western part of the province to the Himreen mountainous area in north of Baquba, which itself is located some 65 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

On Dec. 9, 2017, Iraq officially declared full liberation of its territories from IS militants after Iraqi forces recaptured all the areas once seized by the extremist group.

However, some IS groups and individuals regrouped in desert and rugged areas and are carrying out attacks against the security forces and civilians despite operations from time to time to hunt them down.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:02:51|Editor: xuxin

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DOHA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Qatar National Tourism Council (NTC) has discussed the country's tourism projects and initiatives, particularly amid the ongoing siege, said state-run Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Monday.

The discussion came during the first meeting of NTC since its establishment in November, chaired by Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of State for Internal Affairs Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani.

During the meeting, the board of the NTC reviewed the summary of the National Tourism Sector Strategy 2017-2023 and the governance of the new tourism sector.

Al Thani also stressed the need to continue to complete the legislative and administrative procedures for the full establishment of the NTC.

Last year, Qatar announced many policies to promote and boost tourism growth in Qatar by opening up new markets such as China, India and Russia.

The measures adopted by Doha to facilitate tourists included the launch of the electronic travel authorization, a 96-hour transit visa, an online platform for processing visa applications and visa waiver for nationals of more than 80 countries.

Qatar has been under a siege by some of its powerful Arab neighbors, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, since June 5, 2017.

The four countries accused Doha of funding "terrorism" and fermenting regional instability, cutting all land, air and sea links to the country.

Qatar, however, has denied the charges.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:02:51|Editor: xuxin

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KIEV, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian armed forces were put on full combat alert over the situation in the Sea of Azov, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said Monday in a statement on Facebook.

Ukraine brought the units of its army into full combat readiness in line with the possibility of declaring a state of martial law in the country, the statement said.

Earlier the day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko proposed parliament impose martial law in the country for 60 days over the tensions with Russia.

At an emergency meeting of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, Poroshenko said the introduction of martial law does not mean that Ukraine will carry out any offensive actions.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Navy said that Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Six Ukrainian military sailors were wounded in the attack and two of them were in serious condition, the Ukrainian Navy said.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said that three Ukrainian ships, namely Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu, breached the Russian border and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of orders of the accompanying vessels from the FSB and Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

The Ukrainian Navy said it has informed Russia in advance about the passage of Ukrainian vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait, calling Russia's actions an "act of aggression."

The Ukrainian parliament will decide whether to impose martial law in the country during its emergency meeting, which is set to start at 4 p.m. local time (1400 GMT) Monday.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:12:54|Editor: Li Xia

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HAMBURG, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Policy-makers, entrepreneurs and scholars from China and Europe gathered in the German city of Hamburg on Monday for a high-profile conference on international economic cooperation against the backdrop of rising protectionism.

The eighth Hamburg Summit "China Meets Europe" is scheduled to run on Monday and Tuesday. Participants will discuss topics such as geopolitics, the world economy, the Belt and Road Initiative, challenges presented by digitalization and artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.

Delivering the opening speech at the conference, Gerhard Schroeder, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and Honorary Chairman of the Hamburg Summit, called on China, the EU, and Germany to work together during a profound time of global uncertainty.

He said Germany is an important partner in Europe for China and that a solid relationship between the two countries can help strengthen multilateralism and fend off new threats.

Li Yizhong, Chairman of China Federation of Industrial Economics, called on China and EU to stick to open innovation.

Li called on EU and China to enhance coordination in fields such as electronics, aerospace, life sciences and digital economy, adding that the two highly complementary economies have bright prospects for cooperation.

Initiated by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce in 2004, the Hamburg Summit is focused on China-EU cooperation. The biennial summit serves as an important platform for discussing China-EU economic relations.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:17:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2018 shows the site of a car bomb in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia. At least 10 people were killed and six others injured in a car bomb explosion in a busy market in Mogadishu's Wadajir district, police and witnesses said Monday.(Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

MOGADISHU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and six others injured in a car bomb explosion in a busy market in Mogadishu's Wadajir district, police and witnesses said Monday.

A police officer who did want to be named told Xinhua that the car was parked near the busy market in Kawa Godey village in Wadajir district and exploded, resulting in the death of 10 people.

"I can confirm to you that 10 people died in the blast which also damaged buildings at the area. Those killed in the blast were civilians," the officer said.

Witnesses reported the blast saying it sent black smoke into the sky.

"It was huge and caused panic among the people, police arrived at the scene, preventing the public from approaching," Abdirrahman Moallim, a resident, told Xinhua.

No one has claimed responsibility for the latest attack. The incident comes after militant group al-Shabab on early Monday struck a religious center in Galkayo in central Somalia, killing at least 25 people.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:38:01|Editor: xuxin

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BANGKOK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has decided not to join any political party ahead of a general election early next year.

Asked by reporters at the Government House whether he was joining a party, given Monday as the deadline for him to enroll himself as a member of one party in order to contest for an MP seat in the nationwide election, tentatively scheduled for February 24, the premier only suggested them to look into the law.

All contestants for MPs are legally obliged to enroll themselves into a specific political party for no less than 90 days ahead of the election date, thus they must do so before November 26.

But anyone including Prayut may be eligibly named by a certain party as a candidate for the head of a post-election government without the needs for him to enroll himself as a member of that party, according to the organic law of the 2017 constitution governing the election.

Each contestant party may eligibly name a maximum of three candidates for premier, with the first name being the most favorite.

In an alleged bid for Prayut to prolong his rule following the election, the Palang Pracharath (power of people of state) Party, led by Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana, will very likely name Prayut as its top candidate for premier.

Nevertheless, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam earlier commented that Prayut will not be legally allowed to help the Palang Pracharath Party with its electoral campaigns anywhere though he may continue to run the country as head of the caretaker government, pending the setting up of a post-election government.

Meanwhile, Prayut, who concurrently heads the ruling National Council for Peace and Order, is scheduled on December 7 to hold talks with various political parties about the electoral campaigns in regards to the election law as well as public peace and order.

Government spokesman Phutthipong Punnakan said the National Council for Peace and Order will not lift all restrictions to political activities to the extent that they be able to woo votes from constituents nationwide until the royal decree for the election has been promulgated some time next month.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:38:02|Editor: xuxin

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COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal on Monday accepted a legal challenge against newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet, deepening the political crisis that enters its second month in the island country, local media reported.

The court accepted the petition filed by 122 legislators against Rajapaksa and 48 others who have been named as ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers in the new government appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena.

The case is to be taken up for preliminary hearing on Friday.

The petitioners are seeking an interim order preventing Rajapaksa and his government from exercising any authority of a legitimate cabinet.

The legislators who have filed the petition are from ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's party, the United National Party, the Tamil National Alliance and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

They argue that a "state of anarchy and chaos" would ensue in the country given that Rajapaksa's cabinet had lost two votes of no-confidence motions and does not command a majority in the parliament.

Sri Lanka has been embroiled in a severe political crisis after President Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister on Oct. 26.

The president appointed a new caretaker government thereafter.
A model displays a Chinese kid brand during the Dubai Fashion Days in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Mahmoud Khaled)

DUBAI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese brands staged around half of the total 28 fashion shows at the Dubai Fashion Days of 2019, a prominent fashion event at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which lasted from Nov. 21-28.

The event was co-organized by Arab Fashion Week, Hala China Initiative, an initiative aimed at exploring opportunities to attract Chinese visitors, and JollyTrust, a fashion culture industry operator.

The eight-day celebration is showcasing design talents from the Middle East, China and the rest of the world, enabling Chinese brands to make their presence in the Arab world, said Majid Al Mualla, chairman of Hala China.

"With a strong offline and online presence, we are confident that Dubai Fashion Days will enable Chinese brands to explore the Dubai market and provide them with international exposure," he said.

On the other hand, it is also an opportunity to establish links between UAE-based designers and Chinese fashion industry, Mualla added.

A model displays a creation of a Chinese brand during the Dubai Fashion Days in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Mahmoud Khaled)

"Fashion is an expression of culture and a way to seek resonance. It is also an exploration of the future," said David Ding, co-founder and executive president of Jollychic, the strategic partner of Dubai Fashion Days and leading mobile e-commerce platform in the Middle East.

"Emerging designers in China and the Arab world are becoming increasingly influential. Their voices are being heard and ambitions understood. We are very glad to support them on this journey as they seek to gain visibility on the international fashion stage and shape the future of our industry," said Ding.

For the first time, Jollychic is presenting and live streaming their closing show at Arab Fashion Week, via their app, so that those unable to attend the show can still see the show and purchase directly from the catwalk, Ding said.

A model displays a Chinese kid brand during the Dubai Fashion Days in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Nov. 24, 2018. (Xinhua/Mahmoud Khaled)

"We aim to provide a seamless user experience to our clients. We are honored to work with all our partners to make Arab Fashion Week and Dubai Fashion Days a world-class event infused with creativity and technology, leveraging our position as a leading e-commerce platform to close the distance between couture, catwalk and consumer," said Ding.

Aligned to Dubai Fashion Days, "China's Textile Exhibition" this year is also presenting 20 exhibitors from China, connecting Dubai-based designers with fabric suppliers and manufacturing facilities from China. It will also provide an ideal platform for designers from the two countries to network and exchange experiences and best practices through a series of talks and workshops led by industry experts.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:48:06|Editor: Li Xia

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BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has issued a trial regulation on the work of Party branches to improve their quality.

According to a statement from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, this was the first basic and major regulation on the work of Party branches in the Party's history and basic guideline of the building of Party branches in the new era.

According to the CPC Constitution, Party branches are the basic organizations of the Party; they are responsible for directly guiding, managing, and overseeing Party members and for organizing, communicating with, uniting, and serving the people.

"The regulation has clarified the function and position of Party branches, standardized the setup, listed the basic work and key tasks of Party branches in different areas, improved the working mechanism and other rules of the Party branches," the statement said.

The statement said the regulation not only pays attention on the creation of Party branches in traditional areas, but also expands Party building in new fields.

The regulation also makes detailed rules to strengthen the competence of the chiefs of Party branches and requires Party committees and leading Party members groups to enhance the creation of Party branches.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:48:07|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Xu Jinghu, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African affairs, delivers a speech at the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, on Nov. 26, 2018. China will rally behind global efforts to promote growth of blue economy in line with sustainable development agenda, said Xu Jinghu on Monday. (Xinhua/Yang Zhen)

NAIROBI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The inaugural blue economy conference kicked off in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Monday, calling for prioritizing sustainable management of water resources to boost food security, climate mitigation, industrial growth and employment creation.

More than 1,700 delegates from 183 countries, including heads of state and government, ministers, industry executives, representatives of multilateral agencies, scientists and green campaigners, are attending the first ever blue economy summit to be held in Africa.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in his address said that a vibrant blue economy is key to promoting inclusive growth, climate resilience, cross border trade and advanced manufacturing.

"The sustainable harnessing of maritime resources is key for job creation, poverty eradication and economic growth," said Kenyatta, adding that Kenya aims to become a blue economy powerhouse through promoting investments in aquaculture and maritime transport.

Dozens of heads of state and government drawn mainly from Africa are attending the 3-day blue economy summit that seeks to strengthen the link between maritime resources and sustainable development.

The Nairobi conference will discuss challenges hampering sustainable utilization of marine and fresh water resources like pollution, climate change, piracy and illegal fishing and explore durable solutions.

Seychelles President Danny Faure said that blue economy is at the heart of global efforts to achieve shared prosperity, peace and security.

"This conference will showcase the enormous opportunities in the blue economy that we can seize upon to achieve sustainable development," Faure said.

Kenya is co-hosting the inaugural blue economy conference with Canada and Japan amid concerted efforts to protect the planet's water resources to achieve the green agenda.

Pavan Sukhdev, president of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) International, said that action on plastics and other non-bio degradable waste choking the oceans should be intensified to unlock their potential.

"We have an opportunity to grow fisheries sector by ensuring plastic waste is removed from our oceans," Sukhdev remarked, adding that placing a monetary value to marine and inland fresh water resources is key to enhancing their conservation.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 21:53:07|Editor: xuxin

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Airplanes perform during an air show in Kish Island, southern Iran, on Nov. 26, 2018. Iran is ready to export indigenous fighter jets, a senior Iranian army commander said Monday. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

TEHRAN, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran is ready to export indigenous fighter jets, a senior Iranian army commander said Monday.

"We have already taken necessary steps to export (our) products," Abdoklarim Banitarafi, head of Iran Aviation Industries Organization, was quoted as saying by Press TV.

Iran plans to sell its trainer jets as well, he added.

Banitarafi made the remarks ahead of the opening ceremony of an air show in Iran's southern Kish Island on Monday.

Iran unveiled its first indigenous fighter jet, Kowsar, in August.

The fighter jet is equipped with "advanced avionics and fire control systems" and can be used for short aerial support missions.

It also uses digital military data networks, multi-purpose digital monitors, ballistic calculation computers and smart mobile mapping systems.

The jet has an advanced radar system, enabling it to detect enemy targets. It is also equipped with a head-up display (HUD), which promotes precision targeting.

The plane can be manufactured in both single and double cockpit types, the latter of which can be used for advanced pilot training missions in addition to its combat capability.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 22:03:09|Editor: xuxin

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RIGA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis on Monday designated political newcomer Aldis Gobzems as the Baltic country's next prime minister, giving him a fortnight to put together a coalition government.

Gobzems from KPV LV party, is the second prime minister-designate to be nominated this month. Janis Bordans of the New Conservative Party, who was designated on Nov. 7, proved unable to secure sufficient parliamentary support to form a government.

Since negotiations among six center-right parties did not produce any coalition deal by Monday, the deadline set by the president to form a government, Vejonis took initiative in his hands and picked Gobzems as candidate for prime minister.

"The rules of the play have not changed -- I expect the nominee to report on support for his government, distribution of ministerial portfolios and of course, the government's main tasks within two weeks," said the president.

Gobzems is now expected to start active consultations with the political parties to shore up support for his would-be coalition cabinet and him as Latvia's next prime minister.

Gobzems' KPV LV party does not plan to start formal talks with other parties but instead will prepare to ensure that the coming talks are successful.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 22:38:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ARUSHA, Tanzania, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania on Monday launched electronic visa and residence permit services for foreign nationals wishing to visit or live in Tanzania, aiming to enhance efficiency and boost security as well as revenue collection.

Speaking during the launch, Tanzania's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa urged the beneficiaries of the new e-documents to abide by the laws of Tanzania and conditions of their visit or residence, according to a statement availed to the media yesterday.

"Electronic visas and residence permits launched on Monday are parts of efforts made by the government to ease access to the country with the view to promoting investment especially in the industrial sector," the Tanzanian premier said.

The e-immigration service started immediately after the launch, meaning all foreigners wishing to visit or reside in Tanzania can make such applications online from all corners of the globe.

E-documents brings an end to unnecessary bureaucracy and consequent delays that foreigners travelling to Tanzania grappled with before, Majaliwa said, adding that the new technology is also meant to enhance security in the country.

He said the decision to go electronic in the immigration department is in line with the government's policy to adopt information and communication technology in its operations which popularly known as e-government.

Majaliwa said the switch to e-immigration is also set to boost government revenue as all related fees will be paid by applicants electronically through government's e-payment system.

"I call upon all immigration officers and employees of the immigration department to take care of the new system and its infrastructure," the statement quoted the PM.

He said the introduction of the technology is part of the government's commitment to deliver services to both Tanzanian citizens as well as foreign nationals visiting the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 22:38:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIRUT, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Belgian Parliament Speaker Siegfried Bracke said on Monday that his country will support Lebanon on international forums, Lebanon's Presidency website said.

"Belgium will become a member in the UN Security Council in January which will enable it to support Lebanon on international forums," said Bracke.

His remarks came during his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace.

Aoun told Bracke that Lebanon's current priority is to secure a safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

"We do not want to link the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland to a political solution in Syria," said Aoun.

The Lebanese president called upon the international organizations to support Syrian refugees upon their return home.

More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, while the government estimates the true number of Syrians in the country at 1.5 million.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 22:38:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NAIROBI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The plant with beautiful red flowers, somewhat shiny green leaves and brown pods with tiny red seeds stands out on various farms at the Coast in Kenya.

The export crop, known as bixa, has been grown in the region for years and farmers love it because of its economic benefits, with some growing it on over ten acres.

Over the years, farmers have been selling their produce to brokers and to a single company in the region, which processes and exports the high-value seeds.

While the firm buys the produce at fairly better price of 80 shillings (0.78 U.S. dollars) per kilo, the brokers get produce at even half the price, exploiting farmers.

But this is set to change following the signing of export agreements between Kenya and China last month at the International Import Expo in Shanghai.

Bixa, a valuable crop but little known in Kenya, is one of those that the east African nation would start to export to the Asian nation once the deal between the two countries is concluded.

The others are avocado, herbs, peanuts, meat, hides, French beans, pulses (beans, peas and green grams), vegetables and fruits, flowers, skins, macadamia and gum Arabic.

"Kenya will start to export these agricultural products to the Chinese market. We have already signed phytosanitary agreements, what is remaining are tariff agreements.

"Technical teams from China and Kenya will start the process of setting inspection criteria for each product category," Nzioka Waita, Chief of Staff in President Uhuru Kenyatta office said recently.

For bixa, the Chinese market would be a game-changer because the crop's market has been limited, undermining its value.

Bixa is grown for its high-value seeds that contain bixin, which is globally used in food coloring and cosmetic industry.

Farmers of the crop at the Coast in Kenya are optimistic of the new prospects that China offers and are ready to seize the opportunity.

"I am happy of the new market and once we start selling, it would be a good thing for us. Currently, I sell to a firm in Kwale County where I farm, but I believe with the new market, our earnings can grow," Michael Kasonga, a bixa farmer, said Monday.

Kasonga noted that the beauty of bixa farming is that it is not labour-intensive, and the crop is also pest-resistant and requires little fertilizer.

"From my five acres, I harvest up to 200,000kg of bixa annually and sell at between 0.68 dollars and 0.83 dollars a kilo, normally according to the quality of the crop," he said.

"After harvesting the seeds, we keep the produce in a dark store so that it can mature. Thereafter, we remove it and winnow it to separate the seeds from the pods before delivering it to the factory," explained Kasonga, adding the crop at the Coast is called mrangi (colour).

Kasonga said he loves the crop because in the initial stages, one can intercrop it with others including vegetables and maize.

"I normally plant it with maize or traditional vegetables, then harvest the fast-maturing crops and leave bixa. I would then prune it as it continues to produce," he said.

Bernard Gambi, another bixa farmer in Kwale, said the crop is profitable because it can be harvested for up to 20 years.

"It all depends on how you take care of the tree. You give it fertilizer and prune for it to produce quality seeds that you harvest and sell," said Gambi, noting the Chinese market brightens prospects for the crop.

Over 20,000 farmers at the Coast grow the crop that was introduced in early 1970s in Kenya in Kwale, Lamu, Msambweni and Malindi.

Hosea Machuki, the chief executive officer of the Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, in a recent interview, noted that besides bixa, other crops that are not consumed locally but which they hope to sell in the Chinese market are herbs like basil, rosemary, chives, tarragon, mint, parsley and thyme.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 22:48:21|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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BERLIN, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon) is strengthening its existing long-term cooperation with Japanese DENSO Corporation, the German semiconductor producer announced on Monday.

As part of the intensified collaboration, DENSO has already bought an equity stake in Infineon in the range of a "mid-double-digit million euro" amount. Infineon explained that the aim of the joint venture was to enhance system knowledge in established and new technologies such as automated driving and electric mobility.

"Our collaboration with Japan's largest and world-leading automotive system supplier is strengthening our links with the Japanese industry as well as our position in the Japanese and global semiconductor market. We welcome DENSO becoming a shareholder," read a statement by Reinhard Ploss, chief executive officer (CEO) of Infineon.

The move to partner with DENSO in the production of parts for automated and electric mobility comes shortly after Infineon unveiled plans to open a brand-new facility to manufacture energy-efficient chips used to control current flows in electric-powered devices at one of its plants in Villach, Austria. The company said earlier that it would invest 1.9 billion euros (2.16 billion U.S. dollars) in the project to develop the next generation of semiconductor technology.

Infineon described DENSO as a global supplier of advanced automotive technology, systems and components which could help bolster its own activities as a leading manufacturer of semiconductors for international carmakers. Based in Kariya, Japan, DENSO has approximately 220 subsidiaries in 35 countries and employs around 170,000 people across the world. The publicly-listed company recorded total sales of 48.1 billion dollars in the 2017/18 fiscal year.

Infineon recently published strong earnings figures for the final quarter (Q4) of its 2017/18 fiscal year which underscored high global demand for its semiconductor solutions. Gross revenue exceeded its own annual target at 7.6 billion euros (plus eight percent) in 2017/2018. The DAX-listed company employs around 36,000 staff in total.
Not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction

Oslo, 26 November 2018 - DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced the terms of an offer to be made by DNO ASA for the whole of the issued and to be issued share capital of Faroe Petroleum plc (other than the 105,247,866 Faroe Shares already held by DNO, representing 28.22 percent of Faroe's issued share capital).

The Offer will be 152 pence in cash for each Faroe Share, valuing Faroe's existing issued and to be issued share capital at approximately 607.9 million.

Of the Offer value of approximately 443.8 million on a fully diluted basis, 402.6 million is attributable to the current issued share capital of Faroe (other than those Faroe Shares already held by DNO and the Faroe Employment Benefit Trust) and the balance 41.2 million is attributable to DNO's understanding of the number of outstanding share options and awards granted by Faroe to its directors, management and employees, representing approximately 7 percent dilution of Faroe's current issued share capital.

The Offer Price represents a premium of 44.8 percent to Faroe's share price of 105 pence at the close of business on 3 April 2018, the last business day before DNO announced its first acquisition of shares in Faroe and a premium of 20.8 percent to Faroe's share price of 125.8 pence at the close of business on 23 November 2018, the last business day before this announcement.

Commenting on the Offer, Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, Executive Chairman of DNO, said:

"We are pleased now to engage directly with the Faroe shareholders with a proposed all-cash voluntary offer of 152 pence per share which represents a premium of 44.8 percent to the closing price of 105 pence on the day before DNO announced its first acquisition of Faroe shares last April, and a premium of 20.8 percent to the closing price of 125.8 pence last Friday. In the period between our first acquisition, triggering significant bid speculation, and this offer, the price of Brent crude has dropped 13 percent and oil and equity markets have entered a period of great uncertainty.

For those shareholders who wish to exit, DNO is therefore offering a considerable premium.

For those who wish to remain, there is no assurance of Faroe achieving its full value potential in a volatile commodity and financial markets environment as a relatively small scale, financially constrained UK-AIM listed company whose share price performance has remained stubbornly disappointing, with the very notable exception of short-term spikes following the sale of a particular large block of shares by one investor to another (most recently to DNO) and the attendant speculation about an impending takeover premium with each such transaction.

We firmly believe that Faroe's assets, the substantial part of which are Norwegian, are better placed in the bosom of DNO, Norway's oldest independent oil and gas company, currently operating gross production of 125,000 barrels per day which compares with the 7,500 barrels of oil equivalent a day of gross production operated by Faroe. DNO's proven and probable reserves were nearly four times those of Faroe's as reported at 31 December 2017.

Whether the offer achieves DNO's minimum acquisition target or the acquisition of all of Faroe's shares, we attach great importance to retaining the skills, knowledge and expertise of Faroe's operational management and employees. We intend to retain Faroe's Aberdeen head office and each of the other offices."

This stock exchange notice should be read in conjunction with, and is subject to, the full text of the announcement on the offer (including its Appendices) (the "Offer Announcement") which will be made available in a separate stock exchange notice today and, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on DNO's website at www.dno.no/en/investor-relations/offer_announcement_26November (for the avoidance of doubt, the contents of such website are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement). The Offer will be subject to the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix 1 of the Offer Announcement and to the full terms and conditions to be set out in the Offer Document. Appendix 2 to the Offer Announcement contains the sources and bases of certain information contained herein and in the Offer Announcement. Appendix 3 to the Offer Announcement contains the definitions of certain terms used herein and the Offer announcement.

DNO ASA

Media: media@DNO.no Tel: +47 911 57 197

Investors: ir@DNO.no

Brunswick

Patrick Handley Tel: +44 20 7404 5959

Lambert Energy Advisory Limited

Philip Lambert Tel: +44 20 7491 4475

David Anderson Tel: +44 20 7491 4475

Pareto Securities AS

Petter Sagfossen Tel: +47 228 78 748

Further information

This stock exchange notice and the information included herein are subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, an offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, pursuant to the Offer or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of Faroe in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. The Offer will be made solely by means of the Offer Document (and (in respect of Faroe Shares held in certificated form) the acceptance forms accompanying the Offer Document, which will, together, contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer including details of how it may be accepted.

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by Faroe Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Faroe may be provided to DNO during the offer period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with Rule 2.11 of the Code.

Lambert Energy Advisory Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FCA, is acting exclusively for DNO and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than DNO for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lambert Energy Advisory Limited nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement.

Pareto Securities AS is acting exclusively for DNO and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than DNO for providing the protections afforded to clients of Pareto Securities AS nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement.

Overseas jurisdictions

The availability of the Offer to Faroe Shareholders who are not resident in and citizens of the UK or the United States may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or of which they are citizens. Persons who are not resident in the UK or the United States should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdictions. Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders will be contained in the Offer Document.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into jurisdictions other than the UK may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the law of any jurisdiction other than the UK or the United States should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable requirements. Any failure to comply with the applicable restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies and persons involved in the Offer disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person. This announcement has been prepared for the purposes of complying with English law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of England.

The Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in, into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Accordingly, copies of this announcement and formal documentation relating to the Offer will not be and must not be, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction.

Notice to US Faroe Shareholders

The Offer is being made for the securities of an English company and is subject to UK disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. The financial information included in this announcement has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and thus may not be comparable to financial information of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

The Offer will be made in the United States pursuant to the applicable US tender offer rules and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the Code. Accordingly, the Offer will be subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments, that are different from those applicable under US domestic tender offer procedures and law. If the Offer is instead implemented by means of a scheme of arrangement as provided for under English law it will not be subject to the tender offer rules of the US Exchange Act. Accordingly, the Offer would be subject to disclosure requirements and practices applicable in the UK to schemes of arrangement which differ from the disclosure requirements of US tender offer rules.

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a US Faroe Shareholder will likely be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable state and local, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each holder of Faroe Shares is urged to consult his or her independent professional advisor immediately regarding the tax consequences of acceptance of the Offer.

It may be difficult for US Faroe Shareholders to enforce their rights and any claim arising out of the US federal securities laws, since DNO is located in a country other than the United States, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the United States. US Faroe Shareholders may not be able to sue a non-US company or its officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of the US securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a US court's judgement.

In accordance with normal UK practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the US Exchange Act, DNO or its nominees, or its brokers (acting as agents), may from time to time make certain purchases of, or arrangements to purchase, Faroe Shares outside the United States, other than pursuant to the Offer, before or during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website, www.londonstockexchange.com.

Forward looking statements

This announcement (including information incorporated by reference in this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Offer, and other information published by DNO contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of DNO about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement include statements relating to the expected effects of the Offer on DNO and Faroe, the expected timing and scope of the Offer and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "is subject to", "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", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Although DNO believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, DNO can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the satisfaction of the Conditions, as well as additional factors, for example, oil and gas operations, particularly those relating to development stage assets which are subject to varying inputs that may impact timing, including, inter alia, permitting; environmental regulation; changes to regulators and regulation; third party manufacturers and service providers; the weather and asset partner and operator actions. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should therefore be construed in the light of such factors. DNO, its associates, directors, officers and advisers provide no representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations DNO is under no obligation, and DNO 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.

No profit forecasts or quantified benefits statement

No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast, profit estimate or qualified benefits statement and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings per Faroe Share or DNO share for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the respective historical published earning per Faroe Share or DNO share or to mean that the enlarged group's earnings in the first 12 months following the Offer, or in any subsequent period, would necessarily match or be greater than those of DNO or Faroe for the relevant preceding financial period or any other period.

Dealing disclosure requirements

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1 percent or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1 percent or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel . org.uk , including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Publication on website and hard copies

A copy of this announcement and the documents required to be published by Rule 26 of the Code will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on DNO's website at www.dno.no/en/investor-relations/offer_announcement_26November . For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of such website are not incorporated into and do not form part of this announcement.

You may request a hard copy of this announcement by contacting Equiniti Limited on 0333 207 6399 or +44 121 415 0973 (if calling from outside the UK). Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (UK time) Monday to Friday (excluding English and Welsh public holidays). Calls to the +44 121 415 0973 from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate. Please note that calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Please note that Equiniti Limited cannot provide advice on the merits of the Offer nor give financial, tax, investment or legal advice. Alternatively, you may request a hard copy of this announcement by submitting a request in writing to Equiniti Limited at Corporate Actions, Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA. If you have received this announcement in electronic form, copies of this announcement and any document or information incorporated by reference into this document will not be provided unless such a request is made.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 22:58:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KIEV, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have called for a de-escalation of the tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the Sea of Azov.

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU, urged all to act with "utmost restraint" to de-escalate the situation immediately.

"The events in the Sea of Azov are a demonstration of how instability and tensions are bound to rise when the basic rules of international cooperation are disregarded," Kocijancic said in a statement.

According to Interfax-Ukraine news agency, member of the European Parliament Rebecca Harms said that the parliament is discussing the possibility of imposing new sanctions on Russia.

NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said that the alliance is closely monitoring developments in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

"We call for restraint and de-escalation," Lungescu tweeted.

She called on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced that the UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting over the escalated tensions in the Sea of Azov.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Navy said that Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, injuring six Ukrainian military sailors.

Russia's Federal Security Service said that the Ukrainian ships breached the Russian border, and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of Russia's orders.

Relations between Russia and Ukraine have been deteriorating since Crimea was incorporated into Russia in March 2014 following a local referendum that was rejected by Kiev and Western countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 22:58:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TOKYO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that its board of directors had voted to dismiss Carlos Ghosn as chairman of the board.

Ghosn was arrested last week for alleged financial misconducts at Nissan Motor Co. and has been removed as chairman of Nissan, Mitsubishi's largest shareholder.

He is alleged to have instructed a close aide and ally to doctor reports regarding his remuneration and have under-reported his pay package by five billion yen (44.26 million U.S. dollars) over five years from the business year ending in March 2011 among other misconducts.

Ghosn, a French citizen who was born in Brazil, joined Nissan in 1999 and brought the ailing automaker out of its financial difficulties under a capital alliance with Renault. He became Renault's CEO in 2005.

Renault, while not officially firing Ghosn, has named an interim chairman and a deputy CEO last week to lead the company temporarily.

Mitsubishi Motors joined the Nissan-Renault alliance in 2016. Renault owns a 43.4 percent stake in Nissan, and Nissan, for its part, holds a 15 percent stake in Renault and a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 22:58:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SANAA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's health authorities on Monday launched a national polio immunization campaign targeting over 5 million children across the war-torn country.

Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the UNICEF and other agencies, the campaign was inaugurated simultaneously in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other provinces.

The three-day vaccination process went from house to house to immunize children under the age of five.

"The campaign aims to keep Yemen polio-free," WHO said in a statement.

The impoverished Arab country has been devastated by deadly war and all-out blockade since March 2015.

The war pits the Yemeni internationally recognized government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, against the Iran-allied Shiite Houthi rebels who seized control of the capital Sanaa and much of the country's north in late 2014.

The war has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million others, triggering the world's biggest humanitarian and economic crisis that pushed over 25 million people to the brink of famine, according to UN humanitarian agencies.

Meanwhile, the cholera epidemic has infected more than 1.2 million Yemenis since April 2017, killing 2,515, mostly children, according to the latest WHO data.

Some 1.8 million Yemeni children are malnourished and vulnerable to diseases, with nearly 400,000 of them at risk of death from acute malnutrition, said UNICEF.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:08:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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HAMBURG, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU), China and Germany should work together to maintain an open global economy, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Monday.

The world is in an era of uncertainty "more profound than any uncertainty for decades," said Schroeder in an opening speech at the Hamburg Summit, calling on China and Germany to strengthen political and economic cooperation.

The biennial Hamburg Summit, which was initiated by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce in 2004, serves as an important platform for discussing China-EU economic cooperation. Schroeder is the forum's honorary chairman.

"The 'America First' stance will bring about changes for all of us -- in trade policies, as well as in foreign and security policies," Schroeder told the two-day event.

Schroeder stressed that the rules-based international order that has been built up since World War II is under strain.

"We have witnessed attacks on international trade and the system that supports it, which is based on the free flow of goods and capital," Schroeder said.

Schroeder said China and Germany should stay committed to the multilateral trading system.

"Because we have learned that economic exchange between equal partners and on the basis of fair agreements is in the interest of both countries," Schroeder said.

Speaking of China's efforts in promoting globalization and open trade, Schroeder said the opportunities created by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since it was launched in 2013 will bring people and businesses in Asia and Europe closer together.

"This initiative has been received with great interest all over the world -- including Germany and Europe. It is a strong signal that China wants closer, faster, better connections with its main trading partners," Schroeder said.

The Hamburg Summit this year will feature panel meetings, keynote speeches and discussions focusing on topics such as the global geopolitical landscape, the world economic order, the Belt and Road, challenges of digitization and artificial intelligence as well as sustainable growth.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:13:28|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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MOSCOW, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday strongly protested against what it called "a gross violation of the rules of peaceful passage" by the Ukrainian Navy in the Sea of Azov.

"Obviously, it was a well-thought-out provocation carefully devised in terms of place and form, aimed at inciting another hotbed of tension in this region, creating a pretext for toughening sanctions against Russia," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

On Sunday, Russian border guards opened fire at Ukrainian military vessels near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, saying the Ukrainian navy breached the Russian border, and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of Russia's orders.

Six Ukrainian military sailors were wounded in the attack and two of them were in serious condition, the Ukrainian Navy said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday proposed parliament impose a 60-day martial law in the country, while saying "Ukraine does not plan to fight anyone" over tensions with Russia.

Russia demanded an urgent convocation of the UN Security Council to discuss the incident, the Russian ministry said in the statement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the UN Security Council will meet to discuss the incident later in the day.

Ukraine has accused Russia of "aggressive actions" in the Sea of Azov after Russia inaugurated a bridge over the Kerch Strait earlier this year and started inspecting commercial ships sailing through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Moscow rejects such accusations, saying that Crimea is part of Russia, which can exercise its sovereign rights in nearby waters, and the Kerch Strait is not an international passage.

The Russia-Ukraine relations have been souring since Crimea, formerly part of Ukraine, was incorporated into Russia following a local referendum in March 2014, which Ukraine and Western countries refuse to recognize.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:18:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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By Eric J. Lyman

ROME, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Italian cities are increasingly faced with the dilemma of developing tourism for revenues or offering its residents a high quality of life. Data show that they cannot have both.

Tourism is a major industry in Italy, which contributes to a steady growth in an otherwise slow economy. Italy is the world's fifth most visited country.

According to analytics firm Statistica, tourism today accounts for around 11 percent of Italy's economy, a figure expected to rise to around 15 percent within a decade. It is therefore a much-needed source of tax revenue for a perennially cash strapped Italian government.

But the impacts are not always positive. Latest ratings of Italian cities and towns on the basis of quality of life continue to illustrate a trend, that the municipalities with the best results are small and wealthy, with few tourists. Meanwhile, the country's main tourist centers, led by Florence, Rome and Venice, fare poorly.

The rankings are based on 84 different criteria, including environmental health, cultural offerings, infrastructure, crime and corruption, employment rates, traffic, and health services.

Complied by news outlet "Italia Oggi" along with La Sapienza University in Rome, the rankings show that Florence fell 17 places from last year to 54th, Rome slipped 18 places to 85th, and Venice retreated 21 places to 62nd.

Those cities are the three most important destinations in Italy's 200 billion euro (around 230 billion U.S. dollars) annual tourism industry, one of the biggest in the world.

And the top cities on the index for quality of life turned out to be Trentino and Belluno, both in northeastern Italy. Neither is a popular choice for tourist guide books.

"Once the number of tourists grow to a certain point, there isn't a way to cater to them and provide quality services to residents," said Mariarita Signorini, president of Italia Nostra, an organization that focuses on protecting Italy's artistic and cultural heritage, to Xinhua.

"Tourists produce garbage and add to traffic, but don't pay for the infrastructure to confront those issues," she went on. "They force governments to focus on the parts of the city that attract tourists at the expense of the periphery of the cities or on areas like health care or air quality."

Signorini comes from the northern city of Cremona, one of the highest-ranked Italian cities in terms of quality of life, but now lives and works in Florence, a city straining under the stress of too many tourists.

"Florence is a city of 350,000 residents that attracts an unsustainable 20 million tourists a year," she said. "The gap in the quality of life where I'm from and where I live grows every year. All of the so-called 'cities of art' in Italy are in steep decline. There is no easy solution."

Giuliano Nuvolati, a sociologist specializing in environmental and urban issues at Milano Bicocca University, noted that cities that focus on the needs of tourists over their residents risk becoming open-air museums.

"As businesses focus on high profit services for tourists, it raises the cost of living and creates incentives for residents to rent their apartments to tourists and move somewhere with a better quality of life," Nuvolati said in an interview.

The Italian city that has done the best job at managing the needs of visitors and residents is probably Milan, the country's capital of finance and fashion, second in population only to the political and tourist capital of Rome. Though Milan, where Nuvolati works, is still ranked in the middle, it differs from Florence, Rome and Venice in that it has climbed up slightly in the latest rankings, moving up two spots to 55th.

Though Milan is not much of a tourist attraction like the other cities, it does draw millions of visitors a year, many for business reasons. With a high tax base, it has been able to afford investments in waste disposal and infrastructure, while maintaining green areas -- unaffordable options for many other large cities. But even Milan is struggling to maintain the quality of life for its residents.

"Every city that seeks to attract tourists will eventually face the same challenges," Nuvolati said. "Some may delay a crisis through good management. But none can avoid the problems."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:18:31|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with a visiting delegation of permanent representatives of the U.N. Security Council members in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 26, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with a visiting delegation of permanent representatives of the U.N. Security Council members here on Monday.

Calling the U.N. a symbol of multilateralism, Wang stressed that all parties should adhere to international rules such as the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter to maintain the healthy development of multilateralism.

He said that international society needed the U.N. to play a stronger role, and the Security Council, with the responsibility of maintaining international security and stability, should jointly safeguard multilateralism and international rules.

"China firmly upholds the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, determines its position on the merits of each case, and is committed to boosting cooperation among the members of the Security Council," Wang said.

The permanent representatives said they appreciated China's safeguarding of multilateralism, its support to the U.N., and its outstanding contribution to U.N. peacekeeping operations and to promotion of global development. They expressed willingness to work with China to safeguard international peace and security.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:28:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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AMMAN, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Senate on Monday endorsed the controversial income tax bill, which is part of the fiscal reforms the country is working on to offset its budget deficit.

The Senate's endorsement comes days after the bill passed through the Lower House.

Before the endorsement, the Senate and the Lower House agreed to add a new article about increasing the income tax on the industrial sector, a decision slammed by industrialists saying it will affect the competitiveness of Jordan's industries.

The income tax bill exempts households earning less than 20,000 Jordanian dinars (28,189 U.S. dollars) per year in 2019. In 2020, the exemption level will be lowered to 18,000 dinars.

For individuals, the lower house decided to exempt those with annual income of less than 10,000 dinars in 2019 and less than 9,000 dinars in 2020.

The bill, which is part of the reforms under a program with the International Monetary Fund, has been under national debate for a long time.

The government is expected to generate around 200 million dinars in additional revenues in 2019 after the bill was endorsed.

The popular backlash against the previous drafts of the bill led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Hani Mulki in late May.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:38:39|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SANAA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A mother and her five children were killed in a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah on Monday, local residents and medics said.

Three others from the same family were wounded in the air raid which hit their house in Yamanah village of Haradh district in the morning.

A day earlier, four people were killed and five others injured when a coalition airstrike hit a fuel station in Mastaba district in the same province, which borders Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa.

The four-year-long war has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced 3 million others and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

The UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths left Sanaa on Saturday after a visit, during which the rebels pledged to attend the upcoming peace talks in Sweden.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:48:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The trial procedures for the case against an Ohio man accused of perpetrating the deadly car attack at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last year are set to begin on Monday.

The procedures are scheduled to begin with the selection of a jury starting on Monday. The jury selection is expected to last around two days, while the full trial is expected to take up to three weeks.

The suspect, James Fields Jr., is charged with first-degree murder and other crimes after investigators said he rammed his car into a group of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring many others.

Fields, 21, faces between 20 years and life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.

Described by a former teacher as an admirer of Adolf Hitler, Fields was separately charged with federal hate crimes including one offense which carries the death penalty. A trial date has not yet been set for that case.

The "Unite the Right Rally" on Aug. 12 last year was intended as a protest against cities taking down Confederate statues.

Multiple groups and individuals chanted white supremacist and racist slogans before violently clashing with counter-protesters in the rally in downtown Charlottesville.
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "India Outbound Tourism Market, Tourists Purpose of Visit, Countries & Forecast" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Indian Outbound Tourism Market is expected to surpass US$ 42 Billion by the end of the year 2024

India is the second largest most populous country in the world with the tag of fastest-growing major economy globally. Due to this economic growth, its people are earning more year on year and their disposable income is also growing. Air connectivity from India to foreign locations has also improved significantly over a period of time. First-time Indian visitors generally prefer to visit Asian countries due to their proximity to India and being less expensive compared to western destinations. In the case of long-haul travel Indians prefer going to United States (US), Australia, Europe, New Zealand etc.



Thailand, Singapore and United States are the most favorite Tourist Destination for Indians



In this report, we have done a comprehensive analysis of the top 11 destinations for India outbound tourist. We have also studied the number of separate factors that affect Indian outbound tourist to each of 11 destinations. In addition, we have done a detailed analysis of growth drivers.



Number of Indian Business Tourists visited Japan is bigger than Holiday Tourists Number



According to this research analysis, the number of business tourist from India visited Japan is larger than the number of holiday tourist. Indian outbound business tourist to China is also showing positive trend and will continue in forecast period of time. Indian tourists visit Thailand in huge numbers because of its affordability and proximity. Thailand currency (Thai Baht) gaining the benefit of tourism arrival due to a strong position against Dollar and Euro.



The United States is Prime Destination for Higher Spending



The United States is the prime destination for Indian outbound travelers in the world. Around more than 1/3rd, the total worldwide expenditure by Indian tourist is spent in the United States alone. United States is a popular destination for the entire segment like holiday, VFR, Business and Others.

Market Dynamics

Growth Drivers



Foreign Tourism Boards Encourage Indian Outbound Travelers with Incentives

Countries Tourism Board Opening Tourism Offices in India

Growing Middle Class Population with Higher Disposable Income in India

Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI) & Proliferation of the Internet Promoting Quality Tourism

Challenges



Indian Travel Agencies Facing Issues

Rupee Depreciation Hits Outbound Tourism Sector

Visas & Cuisine

Destination Brand Awareness

This market research report provides a complete analysis of the top 11 countries of India outbound tourism market. All the country in the report has been studied from 5 view points



India Outbound Tourists Numbers

India Outbound Tourists Market (Spending)

India Outbound Tourists Tourism Types (Business, Holiday/Leisure, VFR & Others)

India Outbound Tourism Types Market (Business, Holiday/Leisure, VFR & Others)

Growth Drivers and Challenges Analysis

Top 11 Countries Analysed



Singapore

Thailand

United States

Hong Kong

United Kingdom

Australia

China

Canada

Japan

South Africa

South Korea

Tourism Types (Purpose of Visit) - Tourists Numbers & Market for Each Country

Holiday

VFR (Visit Friends & Relatives)

Business

Others

Key Topics Covered:



1. Research Findings



2. India Outbound Tourists Numbers & Forecast



3. Tourists Share - India Outbound Tourism (2012 - 2024)

3.1 By Country

3.2 By Tourism Types (Holiday, Business, VFR, Others)



4. India Outbound Tourism Market & Forecast



5. Market Share - India Outbound Tourism (2012 - 2024)

5.1 By Country

5.2 By Tourism Types - (Holiday, Business, VFR, Others)



6. Countries Tourists Share - Tourism Types (2012 - 2024)

6.1 Holiday

6.2 VFR (Visiting Friends & Relatives)

6.3 Business

6.4 Others



7. Countries Market (Spending) Share - Tourism Types

7.1 Holiday

7.2 VFR (Visiting Friends & Relatives)

7.3 Business

7.4 Others



8. Tourism Types - India Outbound Tourists Numbers (2012 - 2024)

8.1 Holiday

8.2 VFR (Visit Friends & Relatives)

8.3 Business

8.4 Other



9. Tourism Types - India Outbound Tourists Market (Spending) (2012 - 2024)

9.1 Holiday

9.2 VFR (Visit Friends & Relatives)

9.3 Business (Meetings Incentive Conferences Exhibitions)

9.4 Other



10. Australia - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2010 - 2024)



11. Canada - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2011 - 2022)



12. Japan - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2010 - 2024)



13. South Korea - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2010 - 2024)



14. China - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2010 - 2024)



15. Singapore - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2010 - 2024)



16. Thailand - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2012 - 2024)



17. United States - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2011 - 2024)



18. Hong Kong - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2011 - 2024)



19. United Kingdom - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2010 - 2024)



20. South Africa - India Outbound Tourists Visits, Market (Spending) (2010 - 2024)



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9djf7r/india_outbound?w=12







Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:58:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A man and woman have been shot dead and a third person was left seriously injured following a shooting that took place at the Durban's magistrate court on Monday.

Kwazulu-Natal police spokesperson Tembeka Mbele told Xinhua that the shooting occurred in the divorce court just before lunch when a man opened fire on his wife and her brother.

"There was a court case taking place in the divorce court between the deceased and the suspect. In the morning the court adjourned, just before the court resumed, the suspect began shooting his wife and the wife's brother," she said.

Mbele further said that after shooting his wife and brother in law, the suspect turned the gun on himself.

"The suspect is now in a critical condition in hospital after turning the gun on himself. He is under police guard and he will appear in court when he is medically fit," Mbele said.

The suspect will be charged with double murder. Police are still investigating the motive of the killings.

Garrith Jamieson of Rescue Care Paramedics said that their paramedics were the first at the scene when the shooting occurred. He said that a fourth person got injured as a result of broken glasses after the shooting.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-26 23:58:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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MADRID, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- As the first airliner running direct flight routes between China and Spain, Air China has helped facilitate exchanges between the two countries and is ready to do more, said Han Pengyu, head of Air China in Spain.

As China's flag carrier for civil aviation, Air China opened its Beijing-Madrid-Sao Paolo air route in December, 2006, the first direct flight route linking China and Spain. It was also the company's first direct flight crossing three continents.

Han told Xinhua in a recent interview that as China-Spain ties have been booming in all areas, the company is ready to do more based on the demands of the Spanish market.

The company may use more advanced planes to fly its Spanish routes and will increase passenger volume, said Han.

Apart from Beijing-Madrid direct route, Air China has also opened direct routes linking Beijing and Barcelona, as well as Shanghai and Barcelona.

Since 2015, over 620,000 passengers have flown with Air China's Spanish routes, according to Han.

In recent years, Air China has strived to improve its quality of service for a better passenger experience. In addition, the company has put the Boeing 787-9 on the route, enabling a shorter flying time and more comfortable flight experience.

"As a major tourist destination in the world, Spain hopes to attract more Chinese travelers. With the direct routes between China and Spain, Air China has facilitated touristic and cultural exchange," said Han.

In 2010, Air China received Spain's highest tourism industry award, the "Plaque for Tourist Merit." It is the first time that the Spanish government gave a Chinese airline the award to honor its contributions to promoting tourism in Spain.

"We will do our best to facilitate trade, tourism and cultural exchanges between China and Spain," said Han.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 00:03:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A senior security official of Israel's leading airline El Al was arrested along with three others over suspected involvement in cocaine smuggling, the Israeli police said Monday.

The main suspect, Rami Yogev, serves in a classified and sensitive security position in El Al, with responsibilities including coordination between Israel's Shin Bet security agency and the company's overseas missions. He has been working at El Al for 25 years.

Yogev was arrested on Sunday at his office in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, after which a large amount of cocaine was found in the suitcase of one of the other three suspects arriving at the Ben Gurion Airport from Johannesburg, South Africa.

The suspicion arose that Yogev took advantage of his position and the company's aircraft in heading a smuggling network.

Shalom Beno, one of the suspects, had served as officer of Israel's Shin Bet and secret intelligence service Mossad, and head of security for the Prime Minister's Office.

Yogev has denied the allegations.

"Because of his classified security role, we will not be able to elaborate further. We are certain that the police will release him soon," his attorney said.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 00:18:53|Editor: Lu Hui

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The Confucius Museum opens for trial operation in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 26, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

JINAN, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Mysterious relics from the Confucius Family Mansion can be seen by the public for the first time from Monday, after being kept as a private family collection for centuries.

The Confucius Museum in Qufu, in east China's Shandong Province, birthplace of Confucius, began trial operation Monday, exhibiting 2,000 relics from the historical residence of the direct descendants of Confucius since the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Over the years, the Confucius Family Mansion, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has received many visitors from home and abroad. But few people have glimpsed the treasures that have waited for centuries to tell the history of the family.

"This is the first move to a new home for the Confucius family relics and will also be the largest exhibition open to the public," said Kong Deyong, 93 and a 77th-generation descendant of the revered Chinese philosopher.

Teachings and philosophy of Confucius (551-479 BC) have deeply influenced the Chinese and east Asians. He was also the first Chinese person to set up private schools and enroll students from all walks of life.

TREASURE RELICS

The museum, 5 km from the mansion, was designed to house 690,000 cultural relics from the Confucius Family Mansion. The remaining relics will be transported to the museum and displayed later.

The relics, including ceramics, jadeware, bronzeware, gold and silver objects, books, drawings, clothing and family archives, are believed to embody the family tradition of Confucius valuing ritual and education, and show the ups and downs of the family as well as social changes over the centuries.

Thirty-one generations of Duke Yansheng, a title bestowed on the eldest male in each generation of the main line of descent of Confucius in accordance with an imperial tradition dating back to 1055, had lived in the mansion.

The first group of relics, including a set of bronze sacrificial utensils from the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1600-256 B.C.) and well-preserved imperial robes from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), has an estimated value of more than 400 million yuan (about 57.6 million U.S. dollars).

The ancient sacrificial utensils, considered a national treasure, were a royal gift from Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), after he attended a worshiping ceremony at the Confucius Family Mansion, according to Chu Hongxuan, a museum staff worker.

"The emperor's gift, which the family took great pride in, had been well stored and never been shown to others," said Kong, who lived at the mansion between 1937 and 1945. "It was once buried underground to escape the plundering of the invading Japanese army during wartime."

"Bronzeware of the Shang and Zhou dynasties boast high quality and rich patterns, and this set of sacrificial utensils was well-designed and decorated, thus being of great archaeological significance," said Kong Xiangjun, director of the cultural relics protection department of the Confucius Museum.

Among the first group of items on display are 60 pieces of well-protected Ming Dynasty clothing, mostly official costumes, and portraits of Duke Yansheng from many generations.

"Such a large amount of exquisite Ming Dynasty clothing can only be found in the Confucius Family Mansion," said Kong Xiangjun. He said rulers in the following Qing Dynasty had banned official costumes of the Ming Dynasty, but allowed the Confucius family to retain them.

Other existing clothes of the Ming Dynasty are mostly from excavated tombs and have faded and been damaged, he said.

PROTECTION & INTERACTION

"It was impossible to keep all relics properly preserved in the smaller archive at the Confucius Family Mansion, and the much bigger and more modern museum will better meet the needs of protection, restoration and exhibition and scientific research of the relics," Kong Xiangjun said.

The museum, which took five years to build, covers an area of 55,000 square meters. The main museum complex consists of a 17,000-square-meter display area, 7,000 square meters of warehouses and a 1,000-square-meter cultural heritage restoration center.

"The museum employs latest technologies in acoustics, light and electronics to make some of the relics come alive and thus strengthen interaction with the public," said Zhang Lie of the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University, who is in charge of the exhibition design.

For example, with several touches on a wall equipped with AR technology, classic words from the Analects of Confucius -- a collection of ideas and sayings from the Chinese philosopher -- will pop up with graphic stories behind them at the same time.

"People will get to understand that if one wants to learn traditional Chinese culture, he should first get to know Confucius," said Yang Jinquan, deputy curator of the museum.

"I've gotten to know how Confucius spent his life and how he taught. Now I have a better and more vivid understanding of Confucius," said Kong Lingying, a local fifth grader who toured the museum with her classmates Monday.

(Video reporter: Wang Huan; Editors: Geng Linlin, Liu Xiaorui)
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 00:34:01|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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LONDON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May faced her toughest test yet Monday as she started her task of "selling" her Brexit deal to disgruntled MPs in the House of Commons.

She told lawmakers that the choice was accepting the deal signed in Brussels Sunday or going back to "square one" with no certainty about the future.

Main opposition leader, Labour's Jeremy Corbyn said May's deal was a "botched" job, saying the negotiations between Britain and the European Union had failed.

He said the Brexit deal, endorsed Sunday by EU leaders in the special Brexit summit in Brussels, betrayed the Brexit people voted for in the 2016 national referendum, adding that the House of Commons would have to reject her deal.

MPs from other parties were also lining up to condemn the Brexit deal during the debate, which is seen as a curtain raiser to a debate in mid-December when MPs will vote on a legally binding Brexit deal.

May said the deal, which took EU leaders just 38 minutes to agree Sunday, was the right deal for Britain because it delivers on the democratic decision taken by British people in the referendum in June 2016.

In her statement, May said she recognized the concerns over the backstop, a measure included in the agreement to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish republic.

The backstop would only ever be used if no permanent trading deal was in place by Jan. 1, 2021. May said if it were to be implemented, it would only be temporary.

Telling MPs that both sides have had to make compromises, May added: "The backstop is essential. Without a backstop, there will be no agreement."

She added that under the deal, for the first time in 40 years Britain will be able to open up new trade deals around the world.

Insisting what was agreed in Brussels was the best deal available, May said no one knows what would happen if it does not pass.

With so many MPs from May's own Conservative Party as well as opposition MPs saying they will vote against her deal, political commentators are already predicting a possible defeat for the Brexit deal next month.

But May remained determined to see the deal through. "The British people want MPs to get on with a deal and allow the country to come together," she said.
File Photo: Wu Haitao (Front), China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, addresses a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, Aug. 23, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for restraint to avoid further escalation of tension between Russia and Ukraine.

Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council that China has noted the altercation between Russian and Ukrainian naval ships in the waters near the Kerch Strait, adding that China is "concerned with the tension arising thereof."

"China hopes and calls for the relevant parties to exercise restraint to avoid any further escalation of tension and properly resolve the relevant issues through dialogues and consultations," said Wu.

An emergency meeting of the Security Council was called for on Monday morning over the escalating situation, which was chaired by Wu.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Navy said that Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Six Ukrainian military sailors were wounded in the attack and two of them were in serious condition, the Ukrainian Navy said.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said that three Ukrainian ships, namely Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu, breached the Russian border and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of orders of the accompanying vessels from the FSB and Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
File Photo: A shop assistant explains the function of a rifle at a gun shop in Chantilly, Virginia, the United States, on Jan. 10, 2013. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- A lawmaker of the U.S. state of New York is proposing a bill which would require social media and online search history checks before any gun licence approval or renewal, according to local media reports seen on Monday.

The bill, submitted by Democrat State Senator Kevin Parker on Nov. 14, would require a person applying for or renewing a gun licence "to consent to having his or her social media accounts and search engine history reviewed and investigated for certain posts and/or searches over a period of 1-3 years," the draft bill stated.

People would be forced to hand over their login details on Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram and provide access to search histories on Google, Yahoo and Bing, according to the bill.

Local media said the bill is intended to keep guns out of the hands of people who are potentially violent.

The bill is also regarded as a response to several mass shootings around the country in the past few years which involved gunmen who had posted messages of violence, racial slurs or threats on social media platforms, such as a Florida school shooting in February and another one in Texas in May.

The vote for the bill is not yet scheduled.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 03:54:47|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Participants attend a panel discussion at the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) Forum in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, on Nov. 26, 2018. Saudi oil company Aramco Monday signed deals worth 27.5 billion U.S. dollars with local and international suppliers at the fourth In-Kingdom Total Value Add Forum and Exhibition in eastern Saudi Arabia's city of Dhahran. (Xinhua/Tu Yifan)

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Saudi oil company Aramco Monday signed deals worth 27.5 billion U.S. dollars with local and international suppliers.

The company signed the deals at the fourth In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) Forum and Exhibition in eastern Saudi Arabia's city of Dhahran.

The annual event supports the IKTVA program and Saudi Aramco's localization strategy, to build a world-class supply chain and establish Saudi Arabia as a globally-competitive energy hub in line with Vision 2030, the kingdom's economic diversification program.

"Our 2018 IKTVA Forum marked the half-way point to our local-content goals, and the event has underlined the win-win nature of our program with many of our international suppliers increasing their market share or moving their manufacturing to the kingdom," said Saudi Aramco President Amin Hassan Al-Nasser.

Saudi Aramco launched the IKTVA program in December 2015 in order to benefit from its relations with service providers and manufacturers to develop the Saudi Aramco's goals of raising local content to about 70 percent by the end of 2021.

Held on Monday and Tuesday, this year's IKTVA Forum and Exhibition attracted more than 1,000 local and international energy-sector service and equipment suppliers and manufacturers.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 04:09:51|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Wanhua Chemical Group will invest 1.25 billion U.S. dollars to develop a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) complex in the southern U.S. state of Louisiana.

Wanhua has selected Convent in Louisiana's St. James Parish for its new MDI plant, according to a latest statement by the company. The project is set to start construction in 2019 and is expected to go into operation in 2021.

With a capacity of 400 kilotons per year, the new MDI plant will generate 1,000 construction jobs at peak activity and create 170 new direct jobs with another 1,060 indirect jobs.

MDI is commonly used for polyurethane automotive parts, foams and elastomers, with applications in such consumer areas as appliances, electronics, spray-foam insulation, furniture, textiles and footwear.

"The investment in Louisiana has strategic significance to Wanhua's position as a global supplier for the polyurethane industry," Weiqi Hua, vice president of Wanhua Chemical, said in the statement.

"Our goal is to ensure our supply security and flexibility as well as higher-level services that the customers expect from us. We strive to achieve our goal of becoming North American customers' preferred local isocyanates provider, starting from local production," he added.

Wanhua has had a presence in the United States for over a decade. It established a U.S. sales and marketing office in 2006 in Philadelphia to serve and expand the North American market. In 2014, the company set up its U.S. regional headquarters and North American technical service center, with more local hires.

Foreign direct investment has become an essential part of economic growth in Louisiana, and China is among the fastest-growing sources of foreign investment in the state.

Chinese commerce has already been a transformative force in Louisiana's economy, with extensive trade and cross-border investment linking the two more strongly than ever, according to the Louisiana Economic Development website.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 04:40:05|Editor: Liangyu

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British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) leaves 10 Downing Street following a cabinet meeting in London, Britain, on Nov. 26, 2018. British parliament vote on Brexit deal will be held on Dec. 11, Theresa May confirmed on Monday. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

by Larry Neild

LONDON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May faced possibly the toughest two and half hours of her premiership Monday after waves of British MPs spoke against the deal she had brokered for Britain's departure from the European Union (EU).

AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION?

Media reports say around 90 of the Conservative backbench MPs have so far said they will vote against her deal, essentially making it an impossible mission unless they change their minds.

Even normally loyal Conservative MPs told May they could not support the agreement and political statement endorsed by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.

With confirmation that the so-called Meaningful Vote on Brexit is slated for Dec. 11, May seems to be staring defeat in the face if Monday's reaction across the political divides is the litmus test.

House of Commons officials say the big debate, expected to be bloody fierce, will span five full days, starting on Dec. 4.

A vote against the deal would plunge the whole Brexit scenario into unchartered water, including the prospect of Britain leaving the bloc with no deal, relying on WTO terms for its future trading with its former EU member states.

May defended the deal during an intense and often angry debate in the chamber of the House of Commons, lasting two hours and 36 minutes. Only a handful of MPs supported her deal, while dozens speaking against it.

Still, May insisted the deal was good for Britain, and delivered the result of the June 2016 referendum when Britain voted to end its EU membership.

WHAT IF A NO VOTE?

The prime minister has started the week on a so-called charm offensive to "sell" her deal to the people of Britain. But the big question remains what would happen if, as now seems possible, there is a No vote on Dec. 11?

May has refused to answer when asked if she would quit Number 10 if there is a vote against her deal.

Political experts say options could include Britain asking for an extension of the Article 50 period which set a two-year timetable, ending next March for the so-called divorce. British negotiators could ask for the deal to be tweaked to make it more palatable to British MPs. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker insisted in Brussels Sunday that there would no changes to the deal.

Speaking in the House of Commons, May said she did not pretend that either Britain or the EU are entirely happy with the arrangements.

May said there was no alternative deal that honors the government's commitments to Northern Ireland which does not involve an insurance policy over the issue of the border with Ireland.

Looking towards Dec. 11, May said there is a choice the House of Commons will have to make.

"We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people," she said. "Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one. Because no-one knows what would happen if this deal doesn't pass. It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail."

WILL MAY TURN OPINION AROUND?

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, told May that ploughing on with a deal opposed by the public and MPs was an act of national self-harm.

Politicians from all of the other parties, the Liberal Democrats, Scottish and Welsh Nationalist parties, the Democratic Unionist Party, all indicated strong opposition.

May's newly appointed Brexit Secretary, Steve Barclay, the third politician to hold the job this year, warned the Dec. 11 date for the big vote would be a challenge.

If Parliament rejects the deal, the country would enter "unchartered waters," Barclay said.

The Guardian newspaper commented Monday night: "The scale of the opposition made it extremely hard to see how she (May) could turn opinion around in time for the vote, now scheduled for a fortnight tomorrow."

The Daily Telegraph meanwhile said Brexiteers from May's Conservative Party said she hadn't a prayer of winning the vote, with one saying her deal's as dead as a dodo, while another MP said May needs a Plan B.

May's Conservative Party holds 316 seats in the House of Commons, relying on support from the 10 Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MPs to give her a potential of 326 votes, a majority of one.

If the 10 DUP politicians and the 90 Conservative MPs vote with opposition parties on Dec. 11, it could see May losing by a brutal landslide, leaving her more than 100 short of a majority.

Still, May remained determined to see the deal through. "The British people want MPs to get on with a deal and allow the country to come together," she said.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. ("Barkerville" or the "Corporation") (TSX-V:BGM) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by Haywood Securities Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters"), pursuant to which the Underwriters have agreed to purchase, on a "bought deal" private placement basis, 14,706,000 common shares of the Corporation (the "Common Shares") at a price of C$0.34 per Common Share, and 40,000,000 common shares of the Corporation that will qualify as "flow-through shares" (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) (the "Flow-Through Shares") at a price of C$0.50 per Flow-Through Share, for total gross proceeds of C$25,000,040 (the "Offering").

The Corporation has granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the Offering in any combination of Common Shares or Flow-Through Shares (the "Underwriters' Option), exercisable in whole or in part at any time prior to 48 hours prior to the closing date.

The Corporation intends to use the gross proceeds from the sale of the Flow-Through Shares for "Canadian exploration expenses" (within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada)), related to the Corporation's Cariboo Gold Project in British Columbia. The Corporation has also agreed to renounce such Canadian exploration expenses with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2018. The net proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares will be used for exploration and development of the Cariboo Gold Project, as well as working capital and general corporate purposes.

The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about December 18, 2018 and is subject to the completion of formal documentation and receipt of regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Flow-Through Shares issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory four month hold period in accordance with applicable securities legislation. In consideration for their services, the Corporation has agreed to pay the Underwriters a cash commission equal to 5.0% of the gross proceeds from the Offering, excluding gross proceeds received from the sale of Securities to Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd and Osisko Mining Inc.

About Barkerville

The Corporation is focused on developing its extensive mineral rights package located in the historical Cariboo Mining District of central British Columbia. Barkerville's Cariboo Gold Project mineral tenures cover 1,950 square kilometres; along a strike length of 67 kilometres which includes several past producing placer and hard rock mines, making it one of the most well-endowed land packages in British Columbia. Since the management change in mid-2015, the Corporation has unlocked the fundamental structural controls of gold mineralization. The Corporation's Brownfield's exploration team is focused on developing and delineating a mineable resource within the 7 kilometers of principle project area located near the town of Wells, British Columbia. The Corporation's Greenfield's team is developing quality exploration assets throughout the remaining land package through systematic, scientific, exploration. The operation's team is focused on developing and mining the Bonanza Ledge and BC Vein deposits on Barkerville Mountain. This operation allows the company to generate near term cash flow, train a local work force, keeps the present mining permit active, and de-risk's the project through staged production growth. Processing of material from these deposits is processed at the QR mill. QR is a fully owned, permitted mill and tailings facility, located approximately 110 kilometres away from Wells, and can be accessed by an all-season road.

For more information on Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd., please contact:

Chris Lodder

President and Chief Executive Officer

155 University Avenue, Suite 1410

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

clodder@barkervillegold.com

416-775-3671

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Although the Corporation believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by 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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 05:00:12|Editor: Yamei

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Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops near the maritime border with Israel, in the northern Gaza Strip, Nov. 26, 2018. At least three Palestinians were injured on Monday and dozens suffered suffocation after inhaling tear gas in clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip, medics said. (Xinhua)

GAZA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least three Palestinians were injured on Monday and dozens suffered suffocation after inhaling tear gas in clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in northern Gaza Strip, medics said.

Israeli soldiers stationed on the border between the northern Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire and wounded three people by gunshots, said Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the Health Ministry in Gaza.

He also said that the three wounded Palestinians were referred to the hospital in Gaza, adding that dozens fainted after they inhaled tear gas fired by the Israeli soldiers and the Palestinian demonstrators in northern Gaza Strip.

Clashes broke out on Monday afternoon between dozens of demonstrators close to the border between northern Gaza Strip and Israel. The clashes erupted during the weekly maritime rallies held every Monday.

The rallies and marches that are organized on Friday and Monday are part of the "Great March of Return" which started on March 30, calling for ending Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Al-Qedra said that since the beginning of the marches, the Israeli army has shot dead at least 223 Palestinians and wounded more than 24,000.

Organizers of the event, which comprises several Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, said the marches will go on until the siege is lifted.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 05:10:14|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Oil prices jumped on Monday, as U.S. largest online shopping day boosted stock markets and investors anticipated an OPEC meeting next week to cut output worldwide.

Oil prices tumbled to the lowest level since last October due to overwhelming fears of oversupply. Yet crude futures were driven up by the rallying equities market, as Cyber Monday kicked off, with shoppers expected to pack online sites.

Besides, investors are widely expected output cut as OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, plans to hold a meeting on Dec. 6 to reverse falling oil prices amid possible supply surplus and softening demand.

Goldman Sachs said Monday in a research report that an agreement is possible between OPEC and other nations, which will bolster Brent crude, which is more closely linked to OPEC output.

During the G20 Summit scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 1, leaders of world's top oil producers, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. President Donald Trump, are largely expected to meet in Argentina.

Goldman regarded the G20 meeting this week as a possible "catalyst for a rebound in commodities prices," which might as well ease U.S.-China trade frictions and push for a pullback in future oil productions.

The West Texas Intermediate for January delivery was up 1.21 U.S. dollars to settle at 51.63 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for January delivery rose 1.68 dollars to close at 60.48 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 05:20:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Photo taken on Nov. 26, 2018 shows the United Nations Security Council holding an emergency meeting on the situation on Russia and Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York. UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo on Monday urged both Russia and Ukraine to step away from further confrontation at sea. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo on Monday urged both Russia and Ukraine to step away from further confrontation at sea.

Briefing the Security Council, in the wake of Sunday's confrontation between vessels from the two neighboring countries off the coast of Crimea, DiCarlo urged them "to refrain from any ratcheting up of actions or rhetoric."

An "immediate de-escalation" of tensions is needed in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, she said, underlining the importance of "earnest attempts" to find a peaceful resolution to years of simmering conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"(We) remind both (Russia and Ukraine) of the need to contain this incident so as to prevent a serious escalation that may have unforeseen consequences," she said.

DiCarlo also recalled her previous calls on all parties to avoid any unilateral steps that could deepen the divide or depart from of the spirit and letter of the Minsk Agreements, which set out the necessary steps to restore peace in eastern regions of Ukraine.

DiCarlo noted that the UN fully supports regional efforts to find a peaceful settlement, and that the "renewed and constructive action" was needed by all concerned to overcome the apparent impasse in diplomatic negotiations, she added.

The Security Council meeting followed a procedural vote rejecting the agenda of the day's first meeting on the issue, requested by Russia, which argued that its borders at sea had been violated by Ukraine.

Dmitry A. Polyanskiy, the first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, argued that Ukrainian naval vessels had "illegally' crossed into Russian territory and did not acknowledge efforts made by Russian ships to warn them off.

Such actions were in violation of the UN Charter and norms of international law, he said.

He said responsibility was "borne by those people" who gave the Ukrainian crew "the illegal command." Polyanskiy told Security Council members that the Ukrainian ships were being held in Russian ports, pending an investigation.

In a second meeting the same day, Volodymyr Yelchenko, the permanent representative of Ukraine to the UN, informed the Security Council of his country's account of events, stating that what the Russian representative spoke earlier were an "outright lie."

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Navy said that Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Six Ukrainian military sailors were wounded in the attack and two of them were in serious condition, the Ukrainian Navy said.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said that three Ukrainian ships, namely Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu, breached the Russian border and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of orders of the accompanying vessels from the FSB and Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
File photo provided by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (R) shaking hands with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Pyongyang, DPRK, Oct. 7, 2018. (Xinhua/KCNA)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently emphasized the role of a working group set up by the United States and South Korea in coordination of the Korean Peninsula-related issues including peace mechanism and denuclearization.

According to a transcript provided by the State Department on Monday regarding Pompeo's interview with KFDI News on Nov. 21 via teleconference, Pompeo confirmed that the working group aims to make sure that the United States and South Korea work together on such issues as inter-Korean cooperation and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The group was important as it had been designed to make sure that the effort to restore peace on the peninsula "moves in parallel with the denuclearization discussions," the U.S. top diplomat added. "We are in lockstep with our Republic of Korea partners and we want to make sure we stay that way."

The U.S. State Department said on Nov. 20 that U.S. special representative on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)-related issues, Stephen Biegun, and Lee Do-hoon, South Korean special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, co-chaired a bilateral working group in Washington earlier on the same day.

Also on Nov. 20, Pompeo said that the working group "formalizes" the processes of dealing with inter-Korean cooperation and the Peninsula denuclearization so that the U.S. and South Korean sides don't "talk past each other" or "take an action that the other is unaware of or hasn't had a chance to comment on or provide their thoughts."

Pompeo noted that Washington views efforts to propell peace and the denuclearization as "tandem" and shall move forward together.

"We view them as important parallel processes, and that working group is designed to make sure they continue to remain that way," he added.

After the two nations' leaders met in June in Singapore, the negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have been stuck due to bilateral differences on key problems like the pace and manners of the DPRK's denuclearization, the timing and condition to sign a peace treaty, and the U.S. economic compensation in return, among others.

On Nov. 7, the State Department announced that Pompeo's meeting with Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, which had been scheduled for Nov. 8 in New York, would "take place at a later date."

While speaking about these issues in the interview with KFDI, Pompeo said that "we are prepared to be patient, but all the while... we're working to make sure that North Korea (DPRK) has continued to stop its missile tests, continued to stop its nuclear tests, the economic sanctions which have caused North Korea to engage with us will remain in place."
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 06:00:25|Editor: Liangyu

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RAMALLAH, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian city of Ramallah celebrated Monday the launch of a massive China-funded project to build ring road connecting the growing city towns and its center to ease traffic problem.

The project, funded with over 8 million U.S. dollars, is going to pave nine roads over 7.5 km in length, of which the construction is expected to start by the end of this year and be ready in 14 months.

"With this road, we will be opening room for many Palestinians to make this area available for investments, construction, expanding the city area and increasing jobs in it," Ramallah mayor Mousa Hadid said.

Hadid explained that this project comes as a medium-term solution to the city's growing traffic problem until a larger road network plan is put into action, which requires Israeli permits.

The project was studied by technical experts from China, and will be a solution to open access to all services in the growing city. It is part of another plan to construct a wider road network to serve the city and its residents.

The funding agreement between the Chinese side and the Ramallah municipality was signed in April 2017.

However, the Israeli authorities have still not granted the Palestinian side permission to build this road since it is partially in places classified as Area C, which is under full Israeli control, under the Oslo Accord signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in 1993.

Ramallah city is 19 square km in area and is home to a population of almost 70,000. It is considered the political and economic hub for the Palestinian Authority and developing economy.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 06:00:26|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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U .S. President Donald Trump waves to reporters before departing from the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Nov. 26, 2018. Donald Trump said here on Monday that he hopes the current confrontation between Ukraine and Russia will get "straightened out." (Xinhua/Ting Shen)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said here on Monday that he hopes the current confrontation between Ukraine and Russia will get "straightened out."

Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House for campaign rallies, Trump said that "we do not like what's happening either way. And hopefully it will get straightened out."

He added that European leaders and the United States were working on the situation, noting "they're not thrilled. They are working on it. We're all working on it together."

Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin were set to meet later in Argentina on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Argentina.

The Ukrainian Navy said on Sunday that Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

Six Ukrainian military sailors were wounded in the attack and two of them were in serious condition, the Ukrainian Navy said.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said that three Ukrainian ships, namely Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu, breached the Russian border and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of orders of the accompanying vessels from the FSB and Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was called for on Monday morning over the escalating situation.

Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations who chaired the meeting, told the UN Security Council that China has noted the altercation between Russian and Ukrainian naval ships, adding that China is "concerned with the tension arising thereof."

"China hopes and calls for the relevant parties to exercise restraint to avoid any further escalation of tension and properly resolve the relevant issues through dialogues and consultations," said Wu.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 06:15:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. dollar rose against other major currencies in late trading on Monday, as uncertainty lingers following a draft Brexit deal inked on Sunday between Britain and the EU.

Political instabilities continue to weigh on the euro. Despite the EU support, doubts are growing over whether British Prime Minister Theresa May could win over a divided parliament for her plan for future ties between Britain and the bloc.

The British parliament will hold a vote on the deal "likely to take place in mid-December," according to local media.

Due to objections by critics in May's Conservative Party and opposition parties, investors have been concerned about the reaction of the global financial markets if the parliament rejects the Brexit deal under discussion.

In late New York trading, the euro was unchanged at close to 1.1329 dollars from 1.1329 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound increased to 1.2811 dollars from 1.2808 U.S. dollars in the previous session. The Australian dollar was up to 0.7228 dollar from 0.7226 dollar.

The U.S. dollar bought 113.64 Japanese yen, higher than 112.88 Japanese yen of the previous session. The U.S. dollar was up to 0.9991 Swiss franc from 0.9974 Swiss franc, and it increased to 1.3241 Canadian dollars from 1.3230 Canadian dollars.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 06:45:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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NICOSIA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Just one application for natural gas exploration licensing was received when Cyprus invited bids for an offshore block off its southwestern shores, state television reported on Monday.

It quoted a Ministry of Energy statement as saying that the application for block 7 of the Cypriot exclusive economic zone was submitted by a consortium made up by the Cyprus subsidiaries of France's Total and Italy's ENI.

Block 7 is one of few Cypriot offshore energy blocks on which Turkey has not laid any claims.

Ankara has objected to the licensing of several other blocks, claiming that they are within its own continental shelf or within the exclusive economic zone of a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state which the United nations have declared to be illegal and non-existent.

Turkey does not recognize Cyprus as a state and does not accept its exclusive economic zone demarcated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Cypriot Energy Ministry said in its statement that it will soon submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers so as to proceed with the licensing of block 7.

The ENI/Total consortium has obtained licenses for gas exploration in two other blocks, while ENI on its own or in association with South Korean Kogas has concessions in four more blocks.

The United States based ExxonMobil is currently drilling in a block close to Egypt's giant Zohr gas field.

Cyprus has discovered two medium-sized gas fields off its south shores and if the ExxonMobil drilling proves successful it will definitely place the eastern Mediterranean island among energy producing countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 06:50:43|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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ROME, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's cabinet was considering amendments to the draft budget, the government said in a statement after a meeting late on Monday.

The possible changes to the financial plan would aim at easing an ongoing deadlock between Rome and the European Union (EU) over the country's deficit targets.

Conte discussed the topic with Economy Minister Giovanni Tria, and the two Deputy Prime Ministers Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio, leaders of the two governing parties.

"It is not a matter of decimals. The government's goal is to revamp growth and development," they said in a statement after the meeting.

"As for the dialogue with the EU, we have agreed on waiting for the technical reports about those planned reforms that have a wider impact on society, in order to precisely assess the costs," the statement added.

No further details were provided with regard to how much Italy's deficit target might be reduced for the next two years, in order to find a compromise with Brussels.

Earlier in the day, however, local media reported the deficit might be cut from a planned 2.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 down to 2.2 percent or 2.0 percent.

The cabinet will have to specify and quantify the possible amendments before Dec. 5, when the draft budget will begin its approval path in the lower house of the parliament.

Rome's decision to partially soften its position came after Conte met with EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker on Saturday, after weeks of standoff.

On Oct. 24, in fact, the EU Commission rejected the Italian budget for "particularly serious non-compliance" with EU fiscal rules.

The Italian government refused to modify its draft, and the EU executive body last week formally warned a disciplinary procedure for excessive deficit would be open against the country. Such procedure would give way to fines.

On Monday morning, PM Conte had already signaled his government -- made of a coalition between rightwing League and populist Five Star Movement (M5S) -- was reconsidering its position.

"We are working on the budget with a constructive spirit, and there is no unusual distance between the government forces," Ansa news agency quoted Conte as saying.

Conte's mention of the two governing parties was because the draft budget was overall outlined to deliver measures both League and M5S had pledged in election campaign.

Among such promises were a universal income of about 780 euros (883 U.S. dollars) to poor households, a rollback from a 2011 pension reform that raised retirement age, and an increase in public spending.

Such proposals drew support among many Italians, and voters in March chose largely in favor of the two parties, which at the time were not running as allies.

The planned expansive measures resulted in a deficit target at 2.4 percent of GDP in 2019, and at 2.1 percent in 2020.

Yet, the EU Commission argued that Italy's growth projections were too optimistic, and forecast the deficit-GDP ratio would reach 2.9 percent in 2019, and 3.1 percent in 2020 (beyond the 3.0 percent EU ceiling).

Such path would affect Italy's public finances, considering the country's debt is over 131 percent of GDP, the second largest in the bloc after Greece.

Under EU fiscal rules, a progressive decline path of public debt is required from each member country, if the debt is above 60 percent of GDP.
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-27 06:50:44|Editor: Liangyu

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Chairman of CITIC Construction Chen Xiaojia (L) and CEO of Algerian energy giant Sonatrach Abdelmoumen Ould Kaddour shake hands after signing cooperation documents in Tebessa, Algeria, on Nov. 26, 2018. Algeria and China on Monday signed cooperation documents for the implementation of a mega integrated project worth 6 billion U.S. dollars for the exploitation of phosphate in the eastern region of Algeria. (Xinhua)

ALGIERS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and China on Monday signed cooperation documents for the implementation of a mega integrated project worth 6 billion U.S. dollars for the exploitation of phosphate in the eastern region of Algeria.

The deals were signed by CEO of Algerian energy giant Sonatrach Abdelmoumen Ould Kaddour and Chairman of CITIC Construction Chen Xiaojia in province of Tebessa in east Algeria.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and his cabinet officials, in addition to prefects of four eastern provinces involved in the project.

The two parties are due to meet again in December to sign the shareholder pact for the establishment of the consortium group, as a final step that precedes the start of the construction stage of the project due early 2019. The production phase is planned for 2022.

The project will be realized in partnership between CITIC Construction and three Algerian groups, namely Sonatrach, Asmidal and Manal.

Ouyahia hailed the project as "the largest industry project in the last decade in Algeria, as it marks the beginning of a real partnership between Algeria and China."

Chen said that "the project reflects a profound wisdom of Algeria in terms of serving its people, and we are proud to be selected to contribute in this process."

For his part, Kedour said that "the sharp fall of oil prices forced Algeria to adopt a new strategy that is based on diversifying its oil-dependent economy, and this mega phosphate project is in big step toward reinforcing this strategy."

"This is not the project of Sonatrach or CITIC; it is rather a federating project that will reinforce our partnership," he added.

It will enable Algeria to increase its phosphate output to 10 million tons a year, thus becoming the third largest phosphate reserves in the world.

China's share in this mega project is estimated at 49 percent, while the Algerian party will hold the majority share of 51 percent, in accordance with investment law of the North African country.

This integrated phosphate project is spread through four main places, namely El Hadaba mine in the easternmost province of Tebessa with an investment budget worth 1.2 billion dollars, "Sulphur Stone" area in the easternmost province of Souk Ahras with an investment worth 2.2 billion dollars, "the Black Stone" area in the north-eastern province of Skikda with an investment worth 2.5 billion dollars, and the extension of the port of the northeastern province of Annaba with an investment worth 200 million dollars.

The project will include the duplication of the railway connecting the production site to the port of Annaba, and connecting the sites with industrial water, gas and power.

In its construction stage, the project is due to generate more than 14,600 direct jobs.

Algeria aims through this project to be able to export annually fertilizer quantities worth 2 billion dollars, and gradually manage to increase its phosphate and natural gas reserves through the establishment of structured transformation and wealth-generating industry, which would pave the way for Algeria to become the third largest exporters of fertilizer in the world.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arch Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: ARTH) ("Arch" or the "Company"), developer of novel liquid, gel and solid hemostatic and wound care devices, will be featured as a presenting company at the LD Micro Main Event XI. The conference is being held on December 4-6, 2018 at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, California.



Chief Executive Officer, Terrence W. Norchi, MD will deliver a corporate presentation on Tuesday, December 4 at 12:00 PM Pacific Time in Track 1.

The presentation will include an update on the CE mark application that Arch plans to file for AC5 Topical Hemostat in Europe during the current calendar year, as well as the 510(k) notification for AC5 Topical Gel1 that Arch submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the third calendar quarter of 2018. As previously disclosed, the 510(k) notification is under review at the FDA. The company still anticipates that the 510(k) notification will be cleared approximately by the end of this calendar year.

Dr. Norchi will be available to meet with investors who are registered to attend the conference. If you are an investor and wish to attend the Companys presentation or schedule a meeting, please click the following link: https://www.ldmicro.com/events .

To access the live webcast, please visit: http://wsw.com/webcast/ldmicro15/arth/ .

The presentation will be available at: https://www.archtherapeutics.com .

About Arch Therapeutics, Inc.

Arch Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotechnology company developing a novel approach to stop bleeding (hemostasis), control leaking (sealant) and manage wounds during surgery, trauma and interventional care. Arch is developing products based on an innovative self-assembling barrier technology platform with the goal of making care faster and safer for patients. Arch's development stage product candidates include AC5 Topical Gel1 and AC5 Surgical Hemostatic Device1.

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 an event platform hosting several influential conferences 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 microcap universe.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, references to novel technologies and methods, our business and product development plans and projections, or market information. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and operating as a development stage company, our ability to retain important members of our management team and attract other qualified personnel, our ability to raise the additional funding we will need to continue to pursue our business and product development plans, our ability to obtain required regulatory approvals, our ability to produce commercial quantities of our products within projected timeframes, our ability develop and commercialize products based on our technology platform, and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the reports and other documents we file with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov.

Source: Arch Therapeutics, Inc.

Contact

ARTH Investor Relations

Toll Free: +1-855-340-ARTH (2784) (US and Canada)

Email: investors@archtherapeutics.com

Website: www.archtherapeutics.com

or

Richard Davis

Chief Financial Officer

Arch Therapeutics, Inc.

Phone: 617-431-2308

Email: rdavis@archtherapeutics.com

Website: www.archtherapeutics.com





1. AC5 is currently an investigational device and is limited by federal law to investigational use.
Bills submitted to parliament recently that would amend laws on competitiveness in the agriculture sector and the sale of farmland would drastically devalue the assets of some 1.5 million landowners, a Socialist Party leader told a press conference over the weekend.

The amendments would allow the National Agriculture Chamber, rather than the ministry, to decide on fundamental matters, Gabor Harangozo said. The government wants to give the right to determine who can purchase farmland, and under what conditions, to the chamber which is controlled by Fideszs people everywhere, he said.

The amendments would also eliminate the right of judicial appeal against decisions taken by the chamber, he added.

According to the bill, local chambers would take decisions based on criteria that are so subjective they cannot even be inscribed in an itemised manner in the law, Harangozo said. If the bill is passed, the market price for farmland will no longer matter, he said.

They want to make the lands yield potential the sole basis for its value, regardless if the parcel is near Budapest or in Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen County, in underdeveloped eastern Hungary, he added.

Harangozo said he had asked the bills authors to withdraw the proposed legislation. If they fail to do so and the bills are approved, the Socialists will initiate a probe as they violate the constitution on a number of points, he added.
EIT Healths Joint Grand Final for startups took place in Budapest on November 16, with 40 finalists and 22 top winners, who received a total of EUR 200,000 for their developments in the areas of healthcare, raw materials, and food, according to a press release.

Some 400 innovators applied for the competition earlier this year, three times more than in 2017. The finals came after six months of training and mentoring.

Hungary-based healthcare startup HepC managed to clinch third place, winning EUR 15,000. The startup is working on superinfection therapy (SIT), a biological therapy that stimulates the hosts innate immune system.

The event concluded the final stage of three EIT Health InnoStars startup competitions and the Joint Business Ideas Competition by EIT Health, EIT Raw Materials, and EIT Food.

According to the press release, EITs main goal is to boost innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe, helping innovators and entrepreneurs turn their ideas into products and services for the market.

A live survey which ran during the finals revealed that 57% of respondents believe the most valuable tool EIT Health offers is training and mentoring, while 50% underlined the value of networking.

"Startups get help from us to develop themselves and we give them training to be able to pitch for venture capital and investors," explained Balazs Zoltan Furjes, director of EIT Health InnoStars.

"After the pitch education, they get individualized mentorship. We help them to define their business model, we introduce teams to partners, to VCs and regulatory bodies. We also introduce them to companies that can produce their products, their first buyer or a test site.

They meet major innovation hubs in Europe consisting of the EIT Health community, which is important when they want to enter foreign markets. If startups really deploy successful services, it is also good for the citizens of Europe, because they can live healthier, longer lives," he added.

The winner of the health section of the Joint Business Ideas Competition was a team from Portugal, called Nebula X Medical, which aims to end the fear, embarrassment, and discomfort of colonoscopies. They are developing a PillScope, a swallowable capsule that scans the surface of the patients colon.

"The Joint Grand Final was a good opportunity to see and meet new talents and new ideas," said Peter Bencsik, consortium research leader at GE Healthcare.

"The most important challenges for healthcare companies like GE Healthcare are the rising costs of healthcare, the growing number of the human population on Earth, and the number of chronic diseases we have to treat day-by-day.

The challenges for us are to find the most cost-effective treatment options for hospitals, so these startups may find good solutions to these problems that we can use in our technology, and make a more sustainable healthcare system together."
Prime Minister Viktor Orban bemoaned the endorsement on Sunday by EU leaders in Brussels of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, calling the day "a real Black Sunday" and "a sad day for the European Union".

Speaking in Brussels, Orban told Hungarian public television that Hungary had tried to convince the UK to remain in the EU, even intervening in the Brits campaign, but to no avail. Now we have no other choice but to acknowledge the decision that has been taken, he said.

The UKs divorce is a great loss, Orban said. In addition to the political and economic loss for the EU, the UK, which is a rich country, will also take much money with it, he said.

The EUs current leadership bears responsibility for Brexit, electing a European Commission president to whom Brits were opposed and letting in migrants while failing to keep the UK in the bloc, he said.

The responsibility of these leaders will be one of the most important issues weighed when the five-year mandate of the European Parliament ends in the spring, he added.

Orban said the Hungarian governments goal of protecting the interests of Hungarians working in the UK had been achieved. Those Hungarians who are in England today, theyre safe, their situation has not worsened, he said.



MTI Photo: Szecsodi Balazs
The Hungarian president observed the operation of a Hungarian developed biological waste water treatment plant at the abbey in Koningshoeven on Friday, wrapping up his visit to the Netherlands.

Using plants and algae in an alternative technology, the facility has capacity to filter the waste water of a community of 20,000 residents, Janos Ader told journalists at the site.

It can also be used for filtering out residues of drugs and chemicals in industrial waste water in a process faster and more effective than conventional ones, he said.

Ader hailed that Biopolus, the Hungarian project company, has entered with its innovation the market of a country that had amassed hundreds of years of experience in water purifying technologies.



MTI Photo: Kovacs Tamas
Tsihanouskaya: Nu-l numiti pe Lukasenko presedinte

Liderul opozitiei din Belarus in exil, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a cerut ca institutiile de presa sa inceteze sa-l mai descrie pe liderul contestat al tarii sale, Alexander Lukanshenko, drept presedinte, in timpul unui discurs la Parlamentul European de la Strasbourg miercuri. Numirea lui presedinte [citeste mai departe]
Abdulhadi Al-Karfawi, right, who recently moved from Iraq to the the United States, leads a tour in the Middle East galleries at the Penn Museum in Philadelphia, PA on November 3, 2018. Read more

The Middle East Galleries at the venerable Penn Museum are full of light now after extensive renovation. The collection on view of 1,200 artifacts from civilizations spanning millennia can now be seen like never before.

Cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia, ceramics from ancient Persia, all manner of funerary objects, and decorative royal gold and jewelry are arrayed to dazzle visitors.

>>READ MORE: Penn Museums Middle East Galleries reopen: Behold, the queens beer straw

But these objects, as wondrous as they might be, may seem inscrutable to many, and their antiquity lends a remoteness to them. What relevance could a 4,000-year-old clay tablet have in the zippy, evanescent world of the 21st century?

A lot, said Abdulhadi Al-Karfawi, who grew up in Iraq.

This clay tablet was retelling an argument between a father and his son thousands of years ago, Al-Karfawi said recently as he enthusiastically crossed the gallery and pointed to a tablet about the size of a small paperback book. When I saw this, I went back home and called my father and told him, Im sorry I gave you a hard time! 

That call was to Baghdad, where Al-Karfawis family still lives, and his response to the tablet is exactly why the Penn Museum hired him to lead tours of the Middle East Galleries.

What may be ancient and remote to most museum visitors is, for Al-Karfawi and three other museum Global Guides (two others born in Iraq and one in Syria) a transporting journey back to their families and homelands, and a testament to the persistence of daily culture through millennia. Empires come and go, but arguments between fathers and sons persist.

Al-Karfawi, 40, grew up in Iraq, largely in Baghdad, but he often summered in the south near the great ancient city of Ur. He immigrated to the United States last year.

This [Global Guides] program builds on the history at the museum of hiring people from other countries, said Ellen Owens, museum director of learning programs. She characterized the effort as cross-cultural communication and breaking down stereotypes.

Were seeking to promote empathy and greater understanding, she said.

Kevin Schott, the museums educational programs manager, said the museum perceived a big need for Global Guides.

People are always asking us, Well, what is it like today?  he said. We wanted to give a fuller picture of that.

Al-Karfawi, who worked as a translator in Iraq, joined Global Guides after arriving in the U.S. with his wife and children last year.

When I moved here, I felt so isolated, he said. He was overjoyed when the opportunity at the Penn Museum opened up.

Everything in this gallery is so personal, he said. I feel this is my life. This is what Ive been through.

Al-Karfawi demonstrated the point to about two dozen visitors who signed up for his tour on a recent Saturday.

He paused by the installation focusing on the ancient town of Tepe Gawra, a small settlement that flourished in northern Iraq 7,000 years ago. He told the visitors about the heat of the country and how people sleep on rooftops, how, as a boy, he lay on his back and studied the beauty of the stars. He showed pictures. This is what Tepe Gawra was like, he said. This is what nighttime is like in the heat of the summer to this day, he said.

When Al-Karfawi and his group approached the gold-bedecked headdress of Queen Puabi, who ruled in the royal city of Ur 4,600 years ago, he became even more personal.

Every time I stand next to Queen Puabi, I feel like Im standing next to my grandma, he said. My grandma arranged her scarf similar to this, the same thing.

Al-Karfawi pointed to the 20-foot-long black scarf elaborately wrapped around and around the manikin head of Puabi. He showed pictures on his iPad of Iraqi women wearing the same kind of headdress today. Once the scarf is in place, it can be decorated with ornamentation  exactly in the manner of Puabi.

To me, its not just an object, he said. It reminds me of something I was born and raised with. My grandma was not an educated person, but she arranged the scarf similar to Puabi, and then they roll it over and tie it with a golden clip.

When Al-Karfawi got to the clay tablet, he connected his childhood to 4,000 years of arguing between father and son. What does the tablet say? According to a translation, it is a dialog. The father asks his son, Where are you going? The boy says, Nowhere. To which the father says, If you arent going anywhere, why are you wasting time? Get to school! Apply yourself at school!

Its an argument about homework.

I was amazed! Al-Karfawi tells his group. Its an argument that happened thousands of years ago. I was so annoyed as a child  I thought I was the only one going through this. Now Im going through the same process. I have a son. He gives me the same exact answers. Thats why, to me, these are not just objects sitting in the Middle East gallery. These are my life. It is amazing to be close to all these pieces.

Al-Karfawi has held the attention of his group through the entire tour.

Laura Foose, 19, a second-year archaeology student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, said she enjoyed that he was relating it to his own experience and bringing it into today.

Its not just what happened thousands of years ago, she said. A lot of the culture is translated over time and is still very present. You can learn anything from a textbook; its very different when youve learned it from someone firsthand.
From left: Dr. Krishna P. Singh, chief executive of Camden-based Holtec; Holtec Sr. Vice President Dr. Jyoti Chatterjee (behind Singh); Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis; state Minister for Industries Subhash Desai; state Chief Secretary of Industries Satish Gavai; CEO of MIDC Dr. P. Anbalagan; and Bushan Gagrani, principal secretary to Fadnavis, at what Holtec called "festive ceremonies" advancing the company's plan to supply India with a factory to make nuclear power plants. Read more

On a flower-decked table in Mumbai, India, last week, a Holtec International delegation led by Krishna P. Singh, the India native and triple-degree Penn grad, joined with a group headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, of Maharashtra, India's second-most populous state, to sign a memo of understanding allowing Holtec to build a factory the company says will "give India autonomous capability" to make systems and parts for "the country's planned expansion of nuclear generation."

Besides "complex" nuclear plant equipment, the Holtec Heavy Manufacturing Division plant could also weld heavy equipment for India-based oil and gas, chemical, and aerospace industries, Holtec said in a statement.

The company didn't provide a proposed timetable or the cost of the plan. The Indian Express newspaper said Holtec "is keen to invest $680 million," or 48 billion India rupees. "The objective is to build a facility on the lines of the capacity and capability of Holtec's plant in the U.S.," the Express added. Holtec has two newly-constructed factories on the Camden waterfront, and a former Westinghouse plant near Pittsburgh, among other U.S. facilities.

The agreement sounds "consistent with the US-India nuclear relationship in general," said Michael Horowitz, political science professor at Penn. "The US-India civil nuclear agreement, signed in 2005, removed constraints on nuclear trade between the US and India" and encouraged people in both countries who hoped to build and supply nuclear power stations.

"That was an extraordinarily consequential agreement for U.S.-India relations," said Ben Schwartz, the Main Line native who heads the Defense and Aerospace Program at the U.S.-India Business Council, and wrote the book Right of Boom, about nuclear terrorism. India and the U.S. agreed that country's civilian nuclear authorities would oversee nuclear-power cooperation, without involving the military. "To India's credit, it has since then become much more involved in the international non-proliferation regime," Schwartz added. "They have added import and export procedures that have bolstered their reputation as a trusty steward" of civilian technologies. As a result, India was recently granted special status allowing import of U.S. industrial materials, including nuclear materials, without special licensing.

Singh has worked for years to win nuclear power contracts in India, a fast-growing nation with twice the population of Europe, which also maintains an arsenal of nuclear weapons. In 2014, Singh praised the election results that brought Narendra Modi to power as India's prime minister, predicting Modi would stimulate India's industrial growth.

U.S.-India relations have improved in recent years. Before his election, Modi had been barred from visiting the United States because of State Department questions on Modi's role in Hindu-nationalist riots in the early 2000s in Gujarat, where both Singh's and Modi's families originate. After Modi's victory, then-President Obama visited Modi in India and called for closer ties. Under the Trump administration, the granting of U.S. visas to Indian citizens rose last year over 2016 levels.

After Modi became prime minister, Singh cheered what he called "a seismic shift in the Indian democracy with significant consequences to the rest of the world" and a victory for capitalism against "filthy" government bribe demands, ineffective socialism, and China-style one-party rule. Singh noted at that time that Holtec was then close to finishing a small plant in Dahej, a port in Gujarat, and that Modi's state government had cleared the way for its construction.

Singh said then that he hoped to install, in the Philadelphia area, "large capital equipment" to be used "for building nuclear plants in India to meet that nation's exploding need for clean energy." Singh is now prepared to go further, building heavy equipment in an India factory.

At the Nov. 21 meeting, Maharastra minister Fadnavis said Holtec's factory plan fits with Modi's "Make in India" campaign. Singh echoed the praise for Modi and "Make in India" and added that his planned "state-of-art plant, infused with Holtec's know-how and expertise," will make India "a global provider of sophisticated capital equipment."

He also said "the plant will help realize our goal to bring United States and India into a cooperative compact" to build Holtec's vision of a new generation of turnkey small nuclear power plants.

Holtec in recent years has moved its operating offices to a former shipyard site in Camden from Marlton and built two factories there with $260 million in state tax incentives.

But Holtec executives are also among the Philadelphia-area employers who have complained that it's tough to find reliable skilled workers near their plants. The company resisted Sheet Metal Workers Union attempts to organize new staff; workers at its Pittsburgh-area plant, a former Westinghouse facility, are members of the United Steelworkers.

Singh, whose principal residence is in Hobe Sound, Fla., works with politicians in the United States as well as India. George Norcross, the insurance broker, Cooper Health chairman, and South Jersey Democratic leader, sits on Holtec's board. And former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican who recently announced that she was stepping down as ambassador to the United Nations, was a special guest at the 2014 dedication of the Singh Nanotechnology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. At that event, Haley told me that her family and Singh's were friends, both tracing their roots to Gujarat.

Singh, a former co-owner with Norcross of The Inquirer, had previously given $50,000 to the Movement Fund, a group backing Haley's political campaigns. Other donors included Trump, who gave $5,000, and Foster Friess, a former Chadds Ford resident and founder of the Brandywine growth-stock mutual funds, who gave $250,000. Friess was defeated in the Republican primary for governor of his adopted state of Wyoming in August.

Holtec has in the past gotten so close to government that the company got hurt. In 2010 the U.S. government-owned Tennessee Valley Authority assessed Holtec a $2 million "administrative fee" after a TVA employee pleaded guilty to failing to report $54,000 that he had collected from a Holtec subsidiary at the company's direction, the industry publication Platt's Nuclear Fuel reported at the time.

TVA also temporarily barred Holtec from competing for federal contracts, the first time the agency did that to a contractor since its founding in the 1930s. But two years later the authority awarded Holtec a 10-year, $298 million contract to continue supplying the agency with uranium-fuel casks, after the company agreed to implement a new ethics program. (Project price and third-party comments added Nov. 27, 2018)
MINNETONKA, Minn., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Built on 30 years of innovation and leadership in healthcare imaging, Vital, a Canon Group company, is returning to the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago, November 25  30 in booth #2538 with the latest additions to our enterprise imaging portfolio. Visit vitalimages.com/events to schedule a demonstration with Vital at RSNA to see how we help hospitals deliver meaningful information to achieve better patient care.



Global Illumination

New this year, we are introducing Global Illumination within the existing Vitrea Advanced Visualization workflows. Global Illumination delivers 3D renderings that provide more photorealistic views of the human anatomy and includes sharing the renderings as images, batches and movies. During RSNA 2018, get a hands-on demonstration of this highly responsive technology and see how Global Illumination is easy to use and offers real-world rendering that enriches communication among specialists, clinicians and patients.

Automated Stroke Processing

Automated Stroke Processing is a fast, accurate and affordable solution that streamlines acute care patient stroke protocols with a fully automated CT and MRI post-processing application. Learn about Automated Stroke Processingpowered by Olea Medicalat our booth #2538 and see customizable reports containing instant volumetric estimation of brain tissue with abnormal hemodynamics, that may be delivered directly to your email.

Encounters-Based Imaging Workflow

Visit the Vital booth to see how the new Encounters-Based Imaging Workflow augments the traditional orders-driven imaging workflow. This advancement helps providers secure exam images acquired at the point of care to complete the patients clinical record and increase charge-capture. This new workflow standard is fully supported by Vital's Enterprise Imaging solution.

Advanced Analytics Platform

This year at RSNA, Vital is introducing Codex, a platform component of the Vitrea Intelligence solution. With the addition of Codex, Vitrea Intelligence becomes an even more powerful tool by providing visual analysis of the data that is generated by your imaging equipment. Unlocking the DICOM metadata provides the most comprehensive and accurate view of imaging operations available. Data stored in Codex version 1.1 visualizes using a new and flexible data visualization tool, enabling customers to create customized cockpit views of multiple KPIs simultaneously.

As a pioneer in the industry, Vital is celebrating 30 years of leadership in advanced visualization technology. Vitals extensive library of image analysis applications allows us to easily embed artificial intelligence within existing algorithms and processing to increase efficiency and accuracy. This integration enriches Vital's current enterprise imaging portfolio and provides more meaningful data to our customers. These features will be demonstrated in Vital's RSNA booth #2538.

At Vital, we strive for a simplified, patient-centric approach to enterprise imaging, said Jim Litterer, President and CEO of Vital. Simplicity is our focus. Our comprehensive enterprise imaging solutions help healthcare organizations improve access to clinical images, streamline workflow and gain operational insights to maximize imaging investments. Vital is shaping how healthcare leverages technology, with a proven legacy of challenging what is possible in healthcare imaging."

About Vital

Vital, a Canon Group company, has a legacy of leadership in healthcare imaging using smart algorithms and techniques of innovation spanning 30 years. As the premier provider of an Enterprise Imaging (EI) solution focused on interoperability, Vital transforms and seamlessly connects disparate PACS and other data into an efficient, perceptive and interoperable EI solution. Through modular and scalable enterprise message orchestration, enterprise visualization and enterprise analytics solutions, Vital's Vitrea Enterprise Imaging solution makes data accessible across the entire enterprise anytime, anywhere, and in any standardized form. Leveraging decades of smart algorithms gives clinicians the ability to make real-time precise decision-making for today's empowered healthcare consumer while delivering an exceptional patient care experience. For more information on how Vital is shaping the future of healthcare technology, visit www.vitalimages.com, or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.

Vital Images and Vitrea are registered in the U.S. and may have protection in other countries. Olea Medical is registered in the U.S. and may have protection in other countries. Marks not owned by Vital Images, Inc. or Olea Medical are the property of their respective holders.

For more information contact:

Melissa Faith

(952) 270-8128

mfaith@vitalimages.com

www.vitalimages.com
Where are the workers?

That's the question business groups say they'll be focused on in 2019, as they seek to address workforce development issues that range from how the opioid crisis threatens would-be employees' ability to pass drug screens, to the need for technical talent, laid bare by the Amazon HQ2 bidding war.

"One of the biggest problems businesses face is workforce," said Gene Barr, president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry. "We're going to be making a major effort on that." The results of the group's annual economic survey drove that point home: 14 percent of employers cited difficulties finding qualified employees as their No. 1 concern, making it the most common problem, above concerns over taxes and health insurance.

Barr cited several underlying problems that are making it harder for employers to find workers with the right skills. For one, "the opioid crisis is having an impact," he said. To get hired, prospective employees commonly have to pass a drug test.

Addressing how those with criminal records can reenter the workforce is another priority. "Changing how we view people who've had a brush with the criminal justice system is going to be important," Barr said.

Filling jobs is an issue small businesses are confronting, too. "Folks tell me they get virtually no applicants for new positions," said Gordon Denlinger, Pennsylvania state director for the National Federation of Independent Business.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation is hosting a roundtable discussion next Monday on how businesses can tackle talent shortages. A report that the group sponsored found that "middle-skill" jobs that require more than a high school diploma and less than a four-year college degree, make up the biggest portion of the state's labor market  but that only 37 percent of New Jersey's workers have the skill sets to match those jobs.

As the dust settles on the midterm elections, a business group in Pennsylvania is making plans for the next legislative session. The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia is already working with the General Assembly on bills that center on the chamber's "Grow PA" initiative, which advocates for modernizing the state's infrastructure, facilitating health-care innovation, creating new pathways for higher education, and reforming the state's corporate tax code.

Job readiness cuts across all of those areas, said chamber chief executive Rob Wonderling. "We need to modernize our workforce development broadly, but with an eye toward really propelling our health-care sector," he said.

The Grow PA strategy is meant to address what Wonderling described as decades of economic decline, coupled with the outflow of Pennsylvanians to other states, and a coming retirement wave. The chamber estimated that over the next seven to 10 years, the state will add a paltry 100,000 to 115,000 new, nongovernment jobs  while, during that same time, it will also add 877,000 retirees to the rolls.

"You just can't generate enough economic activity to sustain the population," Wonderling said. Grow PA started as a discussion through an online forum and a weekly newsletter in fall 2017, and the chamber has been working to build a network of supporters. So far, it has engaged more than 70 local chambers of commerce and 200 interest groups, including alumni and higher-ed associations, around the state.

Even in a polarized political environment, Wonderling views the agenda as "really practical and nonideological."

The Pennsylvania Chamber is also focused on higher-ed issues, and not just at the state capitol. "Part of it is letting students and parents and guidance counselors know that there are options other than a four-year degree," Barr said.

That message is not intended to discourage students from going to college, he said, but rather to address a stigma attached to getting other types of degrees. "We've done a great job of denigrating trade and technical schools," Barr said.

Philadelphia's loss in Amazon's HQ2 made clear that the region has to address its Achilles' heel for current and future employers, Wonderling said: "We have deep reservoirs of talent. We don't have technical talent."

Barr said it is worth examining Pennsylvania's corporate tax rate  one of the highest in the country  in light of Amazon's decision to invest elsewhere. "Certainly the 9.99 [percent] rate would not have attracted them," he said.

For small businesses, tax credits could be part of a solution that allows enterprises to train more people on the job. "You would hire someone who doesn't exactly match your criteria, do some training, and get them into a role that would fit them best," Denlinger said.

Small businesses are also looking for fixes in health-care costs that are "impacting their ability to survive and be profitable," said Denlinger, acknowledging that the issue is "bigger than a Pennsylvania problem."

"Pieces of the Affordable Care Act have been removed over the last two years," he said. "We need our Washington-level legislative leaders to come together and stabilize the marketplace so the costs are predictable."
Campbell Soup Co. and activist investor Dan Loeb reached a deal Monday that will give Loeb's Third Point LLC two seats on the Camden company's board and allow Third Point input on the selection of Campbell's next chief executive and a third new director to be appointed by May.

The agreement also increases the size of the Campbell board from 12 to 14. The deal ends a months-long proxy fight between the billionaire New York hedge fund manager and billionaire heirs of the condensed-soup inventor and takes the edge off Campbell's annual meeting scheduled for Thursday in Mount Laurel.

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Third Point that is in the best interests of Campbell shareholders," the company's interim chief executive, Keith McLoughlin, said in a release.

Loeb also expressed confidence that Campbell will find "a world-class CEO."

A new Campbell CEO, expected by the end of the year, will face challenges that are endemic to old-line packaged food companies: declining sales of soup, breakfast cereal, and dozens of other decades-old products that are typically sold in the center aisles of supermarkets.

During a conference call last week on Campbell's earnings for the three months ended Oct. 28, Kenneth Goldman, senior analyst at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., expressed skepticism to McLoughlin and other Campbell executives that the company had a viable ideas for reviving the soup business.

"I'm trying to figure out what is the plan to spark sustained consumer interest in the core Campbell's soup red and white can as well as Chunky" Goldman said.

McLoughlin's immediate answer did not involve soup but general mealtime problem solving: "How do you take away that 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. nightmare that happens in every household, like what's for dinner?"

The scenario that McLoughlin then described sounded similar to what Campbell already offers with its Skillet sauces, which were launched under former CEO Denise Morrison as part of a bid for millennials but have not taken the world by storm.

"Here's an easy way to take some chicken or salmon," McLoughlin said, describing a possible marketing avenue for Campbell, "and with these ingredients, with these capabilities, make a healthy meal for your family."

Christopher R. Growe, an analyst at Stifel, on Monday described the compromise with Loeb as a negative for the stock because it likely takes a break-up or sale of Campbell off the table. He also said, "The company is more likely to entertain an external candidate now that Third Point is involved in the process."

Luca Mignini, elevated in April to the position of chief operating officer and the official charged with the integration of this year's $6.1 billion Snyder's-Lance Inc. acquisition, had been considered a leading internal candidate.

Campbell's shares closed down $1.51, or 3.7 percent, to $39.02 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Loeb targeted Campbell after Morrison's abrupt departure in May after an ill-fated move into fresh food with the purchases of fresh carrot and beverage firm Bolthouse Farms in 2012 for $1.55 billion and salsa maker Garden Fresh Gourmet for $232 million in 2015.

But Loeb, who was allied with George Strawbridge Jr., a member of the controling Dorrance family, ran up against other family members, including three board members, who collectively represent 41 percent of the company's stock and were opposed to selling their stock. Because the company's charter says two-thirds of votes cast by shareholders must favor a sale, that outcome could not happen without their support.

Despite that difficult backdrop, Loeb initially sought to replace Campbell's entire 12-member board, asserting in August "that the only justifiable outcome of the strategic review" then underway was the sale of the company, which, he said, could fetch $52 to $58 per share.

After hearing from other outside investors that gaining "meaningful representation" on the board would be good for both sides, he scaled his slate down to five, before finally settling for two directors in a deal first reported Sunday by the Wall Street Journal.

The agreement calls for Campbell to expand the number of directors on its board initially to 14 from 12. The two new directors from Loeb's proposed slate are Sarah Hofstetter, president of comScore, a media and advertising data company, and Kurt Schmidt, former chief executive of Blue Buffalo Co. Ltd., a pet food manufacturer.

As part of the arrangement, Third Point agreed to drop its proxy fight for 12 months and to withdraw a lawsuit in New Jersey state court that sought more information for shareholders before they voted at Thursday's meeting.
Senator Bob Casey at the senatorial debate with Congressman Lou Barletta at WPVI/6ABC, on October 20, 2018. BASTIAAN SLABBERS / For the Inquirer Read more

In case you missed it  which you easily could have, with the Thanksgiving holiday and attendant travel, eating, drinking and such  Bob Casey says he might run for president.

Yep. Our Bob Casey. Former state auditor general, former state treasurer, current U.S. senator, firstborn son of the late Gov. Bob Casey.

And where'd this come from?

Maybe Casey got riled when President Trump labeled him "Sleepin' Bob." Maybe a campaign TV ad portraying Casey snoozing on the job got him woke.

Anywho, he's in the mix  with no fanfare and little notice.

The week after his reelection to a third six-year term, having easily dispatched GOP opponent Lou Barletta, Casey was asked by NBC News if he plans to run for president in 2020.

He didn't say no. He said, "We'll see what happens."

That didn't exactly set off fireworks across the national (or even state) landscape. So, Casey upped the ante.

Last week in Scranton, he told a local TV station he has "an obligation" to consider running.

Interesting choice of words. Here's the context.

"Because of what's at stake for our country, because of what's ahead of us, anyone who can win a statewide election, I've won three Senate races in Pennsylvania, I think I have an obligation to consider it. We have to make sure the nominee of the Democratic Party wins Pennsylvania, because you cannot get elected president if you cannot win Pennsylvania. I've shown I can do that. I've won by an average of 13 points over three elections, so it's something I'm considering."

OK, a little disjointed. And sometimes you cannot get elected president if you do win Pennsylvania. Just ask Al Gore or John Kerry. But I get what Casey's saying. He's running for vice president.

The idea of Democrats nominating an antiabortion presidential candidate, even one less antiabortion (if there is such a thing) than when he first was elected to the Senate in 2006, seems more than a tad far-fetched.

Plus, given a growing field of candidates (current count's around three dozen), many with a national base and access to major funding, a Casey play for the top of the ticket is, as one of his longtime allies put it, "just like playing the lottery."

But. One could make a case. Abortion does not define Sen. Casey in ways it defined Gov. Casey. Sen. Casey, though an opponent of Roe v. Wade, doesn't openly push for its overthrow, and has a 75 percent Planned Parenthood rating. So, the bottom half of the ticket maybe isn't an impossibility.

St. Joseph's University adjunct poli-sci prof Joe Powers, who spent a career in Pennsylvania government and politics, suggests Casey is similar to fellow Scranton native Joe Biden. If Biden is not the presidential nominee, Casey can appeal to the same middle- and working-class demographic Biden does  a demographic critical to Democratic hopes.

"If I was running a presidential campaign and Casey was the VP candidate," says Powers, "I'd have him in Big 10 states  Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan  talking economic issues."

In other words, boost Democratic turnout in a region critical to Trump's 2016 win.

Others argue Casey is scandal-free, pragmatic, viewed as decent and likable, if not inspirational. And perhaps the country's ready for a milder brand of politics.

A Democratic campaign adviser with clients throughout the country (but no connection to Casey) says "there's no chance" the 2020 ticket is two white men. So, if a woman or person of color heads the ticket, Casey, based on his electoral record in a key state, could end up vetted for VP.

Ah, but Democrats, as always, have internal snags. Direction of the party, old vs. new, left vs. lefter, progressive, moderate, socialist, whatever. And abortion rights remains as much a litmus test on the left as on the right.

That's a problem for Casey, says Rebecca Katz, a Philly native with strong national Democratic ties, a partner at New York-based Hilltop Public Solutions, a progressive campaign group.

When I ask if Casey for VP helps Democrats, Katz says, "No. You know what's not going to help Dems turn out in 2020? An anti-choice white male political legacy."

But, hey, they probably said similar stuff about the only Pennsylvania VP: George Dallas, a former Philly mayor, elected vice president just 174 years ago.
An 8-year-old boy inside a West Philadelphia house was hit in the face by a stray bullet Sunday night in a street shooting that also left two teens wounded, and the area's state representative says it's no longer a safe neighborhood.

State Rep. Joanna McClinton, who has an office near the shooting scene, said she had noticed an increase in gun violence in her district and no longer believes it is a safe place to raise children.

"I look at it not as a politician, but as a neighbor," McClinton, a Democrat whose 191st District includes parts of Delaware County and Philadelphia, said Monday.

"I live a few blocks from here. I work as the state rep here. I've lived here for ages. I can quickly name several people I grew up with who were killed by gun violence. My brothers and my family were shot at when I was in elementary school. So it's not a foreign issue to me. Absolutely not."

The gunfire erupted about 7:50 p.m. on the 6000 block of Ludlow Street, police said.

A gunman fired as he chased two boys, hitting a 15-year-old in the hip and a 16-year-old in the right foot, police said. A bullet slammed into a house, striking the 8-year-old boy in the right side of the face.

All three were taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where officials said the 15-year-old was in critical condition and the 8-year-old and 16-year-old were in stable condition.

At least nine shots were fired, police said.

"Fortunately, everyone is going to survive, but you have three gunshot victims and no one over the age of 16. It's very sad," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross told 6ABC.

Takia Harrison later told reporters at the scene that her 8-year-old son had suffered a graze wound to the cheek and had been released from the hospital. She said she wants to leave the city.

Investigators were seeking witnesses and a possible motive in the shooting.
Mark D'Amico, accused of creating the false GoFundMe account to help homeless veteran Johnny Bobbitt Jr., appeared Monday before a Florence Township Municipal Court judge to face a criminal charge that he is illegally living in the home he once shared with Kate McClure, his former girlfriend and his co-defendant in the donation scam.

"I am not trespassing," said a soft-spoken and sullen D'Amico, 39, who appeared in court wearing a black North Face jacket, wrinkled work pants, and tattered tan boots.

McClure's grandmother, Leslie A. DeAngelo, identified herself as the landlord when she filed a complaint on Nov. 7 to evict D'Amico. He told the judge Monday that he wanted to settle the issue with the prosecutor. In the meantime, D'Amico said, his mail should be sent to the Florence house.

Judge Corey Ahart rescheduled the hearing for Dec. 17, giving D'Amico time to resolve the charges or return to court. The judge also noted that D'Amico has outstanding charges of driving with a suspended license that could be addressed at the hearing as well. Those charges, D'Amico said, have been resolved.

The once-confident and media-friendly D'Amico, who last year appeared on national news shows to promote the scheme with Bobbitt and McClure, shied away from reporters on Monday, saying little about the allegations that the trio scammed donors. The couple painted Bobbitt as a Good Samaritan who gave his last $20 to McClure after she ran out of gas on I-95 in Philadelphia. The story was fabricated, prosecutors say, and authorities charged the three this month with theft and related offenses.

McClure and D'Amico are free on bail. Bobbitt is in a Philadelphia jail awaiting an extradition hearing.

"I didn't steal from him," D'Amico said Monday of Bobbitt, who sued the couple in August, alleging they had squandered most of more than $400,000 raised a year ago on buying a BMW, taking elaborate vacations, and gambling. The couple, in turn, alleged that Bobbitt blew through much of the money, including using some to buy drugs.

Prosecutors in Burlington County say the three concocted the story to prey on the emotions of donors, who gave generously to help get Bobbitt off the street and turn his life around. Prosecutors say the trio agreed to share the money, but then began bickering about how to split it.

A GoFundMe spokesman said on Monday that all donors had received refunds.

As the trio's close bond deteriorated and they publicly blamed one another, McClure and D'Amico split up. She moved out of the small house they shared on Cedar Lane Extension in rural Florence.

After Monday's hearing, D'Amico said he will move out, but did not specify when. He dismissed as "nonsense" allegations he is there illegally.

In her complaint, which charges D'Amico with trespassing, DeAngelo said D'Amico was given notice on Oct. 2 that the month-to-month lease was terminated and he had to leave immediately. DeAngelo said D'Amico responded that he would be out by Nov. 1. He then refused to leave.

D'Amico missed a previously scheduled hearing earlier this month on the eviction notice.

McClure and her attorney say that D'Amico and Bobbitt created the scam and that she believed she was helping Bobbitt. However, in text messages detailed in court documents released this month, McClure wrote to a friend that the story was made up to make people feel sorry for Bobbitt.

D'Amico, who in August told an Inquirer and Daily News reporter that he would "do anything" to protect McClure, said Monday he would not respond to McClure's recent allegations that he masterminded the plan and was abusive in the relationship.

"I'm not going to stoop to that," D'Amico said while waiting for his ride after the hearing. "The truth will come out. It always does."
A former strategist for U.S. Rep. Bob Brady testified Monday that he helped the congressman and his top political guru illegally funnel $90,000 to a campaign opponent six years ago and then helped them cover it up.

Donald "D.A." Jones  a veteran of dozens of Philadelphia Democratic campaigns, including several for the 11-term congressman  said Brady knew campaign finance laws barred him from directly sending a sum that large to his 2012 primary opponent, former Municipal Court Judge Jimmie Moore, to persuade him to drop out of the race.

So, Jones said, they concocted a story to disguise the payoff as a series of legitimate campaign expenses.

"I was asked the question, how can they move money to Jimmie Moore legally?" Jones said, recalling a meeting with the congressman and his strategist, Ken Smukler, after Moore had suspended his campaign. "I told them I had no idea."

Jones' testimony came as federal prosecutors wound down their case in Smukler's ongoing trial for alleged violations of campaign finance law. It also provided the most direct evidence to date suggesting that both Smukler and Brady knew their 2012 transaction with Moore was improper.

And yet, only one of them is charged with a crime.

Several government witnesses have implicated Brady in six days of testimony, saying that although Smukler carried out the details of getting the $90,000 to Moore, the congressman at least had broad knowledge of the transaction.

But while prosecutors indicted Smukler and Jones last year, they allowed the statute of limitations to run out on Brady and have declined to discuss that decision.

Brady, who is set to retire next month after two decades in Congress, has remained silent since Smukler's trial began. It remains uncertain whether Smukler intends to testify as the proceedings enter the defense stage on Tuesday.

Outside court, both men have consistently maintained that they did nothing wrong. They claim that the $90,000 they paid Moore's campaign was not an illegal campaign contribution and instead was meant in large part to buy exclusive access to polling that the former judge had commissioned before dropping out of the 2012 race. They hoped to suppress its findings, which highlighted Brady's weaknesses with African Americans in his district.

But prosecutors have sought to poke holes in that theory, stressing throughout the trial that Brady had already had the poll slipped to him months before Moore suspended his campaign. Moore testified last week that Brady and Smukler never raised the idea of exclusivity when they were negotiating the $90,000 payment.

And in several hours of testimony that began Wednesday, Jones, 63, of Willingboro, backed up that story, saying he never heard any mention of exclusivity either. Jones told jurors he couldn't fathom why Brady would have felt threatened by Moore, no matter what the poll said.

"He had no political juice within the district," Jones said of the former judge. "He couldn't raise money. I thought he was a clown."

While much of what Jones said during his two days on the witness stand seemed to cast doubt on Brady, the implications for Smukler remain uncertain.

In cross-examination Monday, Smukler's lawyer, Brian McMonagle, repeatedly pointed to instances in Jones' account that he claimed showed his client intended to do things the right way.

For instance, when the Brady campaign wrote Jones a check to pass on to Moore's campaign manager  a transaction that prosecutors say was meant to cover unpaid work she had done for Moore's campaign  Smukler advised Jones to give the woman a consulting job and find her a way to legitimately earn the money, McMonagle said. It was Jones who refused and sent the check to her anyway.

"She didn't do any work for it," Jones said. "I didn't have anything for her to do, and I was not going out of my way to find something."

McMonagle also sought Monday to deflate the impact of Jones' guilty plea last year, a decision that made the campaign strategist the only member of the Brady camp to admit he committed a crime tied to the 2012 race.

Under the terms of his deal with prosecutors, Jones pleaded to one count of lying to the FBI about employing Moore's campaign manager. In exchange, the government agreed to dismiss all other charges  including the same campaign finance violation counts for which Smukler is on trial.

(Jones also has admitted his guilt in an unrelated case in which he confessed to illegally lobbying members of Congress on behalf of a Missouri-based nonprofit.)

But McMonagle stressed Monday that , Jones has never entered a legal admission of guilt to any count that would confirm that he, Brady, and Smukler conspired to violate campaign finance laws.

As if anticipating that attack, Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gibson began his questioning of Jones with a simple question: "Did you commit crimes with Ken Smukler?"

"Yes," Jones replied. "I did."
Southbound traffic on NJ Turnpie backed up couple miles before Exit 2 as people need to exit there because Delaware Memorial Bridge closed on November 25, 2018 Read more

A chemical leak near the Delaware Memorial Bridge closed the dual span for more than 6  hours on Sunday, one of the busiest travel days of the year, causing backups and snarling traffic on both sides of the river.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority said the twin spans were closed due to a "gas leak" about 4 p.m., at the height of the post-Thanksgiving rush.

The leak occurred at the Croda chemical production facility at Atlas Point, located near the bridge on a major route between Washington and New York City, said George Greenley, public information officer for the Holloway Terrace Fire Company in New Castle.

Police on the scene began allowing motorists back onto the bridge around 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

The leaked chemical was ethylene oxide, a highly flammable gas that is a finished product stemming from methanol, Greenley said.

"If that flame would have had an ignition source, it could have been catastrophic with the bridge traffic," he said. The Wilmington News Journal reported that police were using reverse 911 to tell residents in New Castle to stay in their homes. The Delaware River and Bay Authority, which maintains the bridge, and New Castle County police had no immediate reports of injuries.

Operators of the 140-acre Croda site requested the bridge be shut down, the Delaware River and Bay Authority tweeted.

Greenley said fire officials were waiting for pressure to dissipate in the pipes at the facility before reopening the bridge. He said the chemical was dissipating fairly quickly from the pipes. The state Division of Natural Resources and Environmental Control also was on scene at the leak.

Travelers were being warned to avoid the bridge.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority estimates that up to 90,000 motorists use the bridge daily.

If you were stuck on the bridge, we would like to hear from you. Send an email to citydesk@phillynews.com.

Southbound traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike backed up couple miles before Exit 2 as people need to exit there because Delaware Memorial Bridge closed on November 25, 2018.

Editor's note: This story was revised to reflect that the bridge was closed about 5 p.m., not 4 p.m.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, left, and Players Coalition Co-Founder and Philadelphia Eagles Safety Malcolm Jenkins, right, host a press conference to address the injustices with the money bail system in Philadelphia, November 26, 2018. Read more

On Sunday afternoon, defensive back Malcolm Jenkins made a red-zone interception that could turn out to be a season-saving play for the Eagles. By Monday morning, he had turned his attention to a more serious matter  if such a thing is even possible in Philadelphia.

Jenkins, a cofounder of the social-justice advocacy group the Players Coalition, was at the Kensington nonprofit Impact Services to call for reforms to the city's money-bail system, which he called unjust and racist. Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Jenkins and other Eagles players posted $25,000  matched by $25,000 from the Eagles Social Justice Fund  to bail out nine Philadelphians so they could be home with their families.

"This is easier to do after a win. I will say that," said Jenkins, who spoke alongside District Attorney Larry Krasner and Chief Public Defender Keir Bradford-Grey, as well as community activists and members of the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, which handled the bailout.

He said the convening of officials and organizers was meant as a model that can be replicated around the country for community-led reform of the criminal justice system, beginning with its front door. The bailout was paired with a resource fair, so those who were released could gain access to workforce training and social services, which he said are vital to the success of the initiative.

"The cash bail system punishes poverty and  punishes people of color at a grossly disproportionate rate," Jenkins said. "Some people say we need the system to make our community safe  but as you can see here with these groups, we have everything we need to make our community safer, when we decide to invest in people and wrap our arms around people, as opposed to locking them up."

The Thanksgiving bailout was part largesse, part protest  against pretrial detentions that critics say are destabilizing and traumatic, and that have been found in Philadelphia to push poor defendants into guilty pleas at a rate that's 13 percent higher than those released before trial. For those who are sentenced, pretrial detention correlates with a 42-percent increase in the length of incarceration.

"This should not be a country where you sit in jail because you are poor," Krasner said. "That has to end."

Researchers who've analyzed Philadelphia bail decisions have found black defendants are subjected to bail at higher rates than white ones, even in cases where they are less likely to be arrested again while awaiting trial.

Krasner  who after taking office this year published a list of 25 types of offenses that would no longer be subject to cash bail  said his policy has helped reduce the jail population by more than 1,500 people.

"We did a comprehensive study of those people who were given on our recommendation no bail to see if they were showing up in court [they were] and to see if they were committing new crimes [they were not]," he said.

The officials acknowledged that in order to dismantle the money-bail system, Pennsylvania legislators would have to follow the lead of other states, including New Jersey, and enact reform at the statewide level. Jenkins, who this year successfully championed the Clean Slate Act to automatically expunge some criminal records, said he has not begun those conversations with state lawmakers but is willing to return to Harrisburg to lobby for bail reform if necessary.

To roll back the use of bail locally without legislative action would require support from leadership of the Philadelphia courts, which was not present at the event.

Still, Krasner said, conversations with the courts have been positive. He added, "I think that the more any of us including the courts see where the popular will is, the more we'll all be able to work together."

Reuben Jones, a bail fund organizer, declined to identify the individuals whose bails were posted with Eagles' funds, the charges they faced or their bail amounts. They had been incarcerated anywhere from a few weeks to several months. One was just 17 years old.

Jones said their families, by and large, had not held out hope of scraping together money for bail in advance of the holiday. "Once people get assigned a bail they know they can't afford, they resign themselves to staying in jail until their case is resolved," he said.

"A big part of our work is helping people restore their dignity," added Bethany Stewart, another bail fund organizer.

After the news conference, organizers hosted a services fair for the people who were bailed out, to connect them with reentry organizations such as Menzfit, which provides suits and job-readiness training, and Philadelphia Auto and Parole, a nonprofit that trains aspiring auto mechanics.

The Center for Returning Citizens also had a table at the event, but its founder, Jondhi Harrell, surveyed the room skeptically.

"Here, you have more organizations than folks who were bailed out," he said. "We need to scale it up."

He applauded what the Players Coalition accomplished  but wants it to think bigger. Though the Philadelphia jails have started running buses to connect people released to homeless shelters, Harrell thinks there's far more to be done. Everyone released from jail should have access to this buffet of opportunities, he said.

"People get out of jail at 2 or 3 in the morning, and there's no one waiting for them. They're at the bus stop across the street with barely enough money to get home, and when they get home, who knows what's there for them. We need to make sure they have support."
State Rep. Chris Rabb, a Democrat from Northwest Philadelphia, was also nominated by the Working Families Party but the state denied the second nomination. State law forbids multiple nominations of the same candidate for the same office, a practice that Rabb and the WFP are suing to allow. Read more

Say you're frustrated with Democrats and Republicans, and think a third party platform is more your style.

But you also want your vote to really count  not just as some act of protest, but to actually elect someone.

What if you could support a third-party agenda while also voting for a Democrat or Republican?

Voters in New York can, and often do. It's called electoral fusion, and it used to be commonplace across the country.

And if a Democratic Philadelphia state representative and an allied third party are successful, it would become legal once again in Pennsylvania, potentially helping boost third parties' profile and shaping the agendas of the two major parties.

"In a one-party town, how do you really express yourself in a meaningful and nuanced way?" said State Rep. Chris Rabb, the Democrat who in 2016 was elected to represent part of Northwest Philadelphia, including Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill.

But Rabb was also nominated by the progressive Working Families Party, and the Department of State blocked it. State law forbids electoral fusion, among other restrictions on third parties.

Rabb and the Working Families Party sued, saying the ban violates their constitutional rights by preventing parties from nominating the candidates they choose. Now, two years later, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is poised to release a decision: Is the state ban on electoral fusion constitutional?

What electoral fusion is and what it could change

The practice is fairly straightforward: Multiple parties can nominate the same candidate and list the person on their "lines" on the ballot. All votes for that candidate are combined when determining the winner.

It was done regularly before most states banned it at the end of the 19th century. Teddy Roosevelt won Pennsylvania's votes in the 1912 presidential election, for example, on a three-way ticket of the Bull Moose, Washington, and Roosevelt Progressive Parties. (Woodrow Wilson, a Democrat, won the election, defeating Roosevelt and ousting Republican President William Howard Taft.)

Today, fusion is legal in only a handful of states, and even then is often not used. One notable exception is New York, where minor parties can play an influential role.

Proponents say fusion allows voters to support a third-party agenda without "spoiling" the election or "wasting" votes, since they can vote for a major-party candidate while casting a ballot for a third-party platform.

"It would be another way to let people know what you stood for ideologically," said Robin Kolodny, a Temple University political science professor who has written about electoral fusion and third parties.

The minor parties also gain some negotiating power, Kolodny said, because Democrats and Republicans will want their nominations. They can thus influence Democratic and Republican platforms.

"Of course you want to be able to recruit your own people and do those kinds of things," but sometimes other parties' candidates are good matches, said Brandon Evans, head of Pennsylvania's Working Families Party. "In terms of taking someone else's person, we're saying, 'Actually, that person is our kind of person, reflects our kind of values.'"

Why Rabb and the Working Families Party sued

Rabb, a longtime Philadelphia Democratic committee person who portrays himself as anti-establishment, beat a machine-backed candidate in the 2016 primary.

Shortly after, he said, the Working Families Party approached him to be its nominee.

"I kind of scratched my head and said, 'Well, the Democrats kind of took care of that,'" Rabb said, laughing. He eventually said yes, and the WFP filed papers to nominate him, only to have the Department of State reject the attempt.

The party asked Rabb whether he'd join a lawsuit.

"I said, 'You're kidding me, right? You're really trying to get me in trouble,'" Rabb said. "I just beat the establishment candidate and now you want me to sue the state that I'm going to be working for in the state legislature."

He said yes. In Working Families Party v. Commonwealth, he joined the party and two voters in arguing that the ban on fusion voting violates the state and federal Constitutions.

The law, they argue, violates the Pennsylvania Constitution's guarantee that "elections shall be free and equal" and its protections for free speech and association.

"The party is denied its right to nominate the candidate of its choice, the candidate that best reflects its values, and the candidate that can provide it a pathway to power," said Jordan B. Yeager, the attorney representing the plaintiffs. "And it means the party's voters are likewise prevented from expressing themselves fully at the ballot box."

How the state is defending the anti-fusion laws

The state Attorney General's Office, which is handling the defense of the case, deferred response to the Department of State, which declined to comment.

In legal filings and court appearances they've argued the anti-fusion provisions in the Election Code are reasonable and legal because they prevent electoral chaos. In addition, they argue, the regulations do not stop the Working Families Party from supporting Rabb.

Unlike in other states where fusion means the candidate would appear on the ballot multiple times, the current system in Pennsylvania simply places multiple party labels next to the candidate's name, e.g. "Christopher M. Rabb (Democratic Party/Working Families Party.)"

Because the state uses election results to classify political organizations into different levels  political party, minor political party, and political body  with different requirements for placing a candidate on the ballot, fusion would disrupt the system.

"Permitting the Working Families Party to cross-nominate Rabb as its candidate, and allowing his candidacy to be the determinant of whether the Working Families Party qualifies as a 'political party' for the next election cycle, would permit the Working Families Party to leverage Democratic Party support to benefit itself," the state wrote in a brief before the state Supreme Court.

The Department of State also warns of a hypothetical situation where Democrats or Republicans could falsely circulate petitions to nominate a candidate of their choice under the third party's name.

"Election officials accept the first valid set of nomination papers bearing the name of any particular political organization, and reject any others filed later," they wrote.

Asked about those arguments, Yeager said they are minor and could be worked around.

The Working Families Party is willing to forgo the vote count for political party categorization, he said, and the state could also move to a ballot system where the candidate would be listed multiple times with different parties, the way other states do.

In the case of the state's hypothetical concern that major parties would interfere with the minor parties, Yeager dismissed it as paternalistic.

"There's no evidence that that's an actual problem," he said. "And if we're going to deny constitutional rights, we shouldn't do it based on unsubstantiated fears."

What comes next

The case was appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after the state won in Commonwealth Court. The court heard oral argument in September and could rule at any time.

If it upholds the Commonwealth Court decision, the ban on electoral fusion will stand.

If it overturns the decision, that could boost third parties' roles, Kolodny said, though she cautioned that other barriers remain, especially signature requirements to nominate a candidate.

Still, Rabb and Yeager said they were optimistic.

"It's a Hail Mary," Rabb said. "But the reason we run a Hail Mary play is because sometimes they work."
The round-the-clock coverage of November's midterm elections focused almost exclusively on the size of the blue wave, now 38 congressional seats and growing. But I was looking for a different wave that Tuesday night, a green one, evidence of a groundswell of support for climate change and other green initiatives that have suffered greatly in the last two years.

As I sift through the tea leaves of the election, the climate change takeaway seems mixed, more like two steps forward, one step back. But it's progress.

In the House, many of those 38 incoming representatives campaigned openly on climate change, few more so than New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a veteran of Standing Rock pipeline protests who ran on a "Green New Deal" and believes America can wean itself off fossil fuels by 2035. Ocasio-Cortez, on her first trip to Washington, for her orientation, visited 200 protesters outside likely House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office to support their demand that Democrats step up action on climate change. The press loved her appearance, but somehow Pelosi did, too, which bodes well for the young, rising Democratic star.

Speaking of Pelosi, she has already talked about reinstating the select panel on global warming, dismantled in 2011. In addition, Eddie Bernice Johnson, the reelected Texas Democrat expected to chair the House Science Committee, has promised to "address the challenge of climate change, starting with acknowledging it is real." Here's a radical notion: Good science should inform sound policy.

The tsunami of more than 100 women winning elections for Congress will also make a difference in the congressional response to climate change, as men have clearly dropped the ball. "Along with better health care," wrote correspondent Mary Jordan in the Washington Post, "other key issues that helped propel women were their pledges to better protect the environment and to help stop the rising incivility and divisions among Americans." This is true of Reps.-elect Mary Gay Scanlon in Delaware County, Chester County's Chrissy Houlahan, and Madeleine Dean of a Montgomery-Berks district, all of whom won calling for action on climate, among other issues.

On the negative side of the ledger, a majority of the Republican members of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus will not be returning to Congress, making bipartisan action on this issue  a necessity at some point in our history  even less probable than now. On the red-blue divide, climate change got bluer that Tuesday, if you can believe that.

At the state level, things seem even more promising. Incoming governors in seven states from Maine to New Mexico pledged action on climate change, some of them even promising to move their states completely to renewable energy. Janet Mills of Maine  no radical at all  vowed to reduce her state's greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2030, and Wisconsin's Stephen Evers pledged to join 17 other states committed to keeping the goals of the Paris climate accord, the one that Trump famously walked away from. A majority of states electing attorneys general chose Democrats, candidates more likely to challenge Trump's anti-environmental and anti-climate initiatives in the court system.

That's all good. But it wasn't a green wave. Beto O'Rourke in Texas and Andrew Gillum in Florida, running for senator and governor respectively, both talked about climate change openly and candidly, counterpoints to their anti-climate opponents, but both lost by razor-thin margins. Gillum's opponent, former Rep. Ron DeSantis, said during the election,"I am not in the pew of the global-warming leftist," and won, in a state clearly showing signs of climate stress from toxic algae and sunny-day flooding from a rising ocean.

Among the many state ballot initiatives across the country, Nevadans approved a measure requiring electric utilities to get 50 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2030, up from around 25 percent today, but neighboring Arizona's similar initiative lost, and the voters of Washington state turned aside a carbon tax initiative. While new stormwater and flood protection measures also passed in many states, initiatives given immediacy by climate change, new fracking restrictions lost in Colorado.

So a green wave did not materialize. But as Ocasio-Cortez, Scanlon, Dean, and Houlahan join 100 other women marching into Washington, there was definitely a ripple. And as 2020 bears down on us like a freight train, as our climate continues to crumble, as California horrifically burns, watch for this issue to erupt in the presidential election. It's about time.

In fact, it's 30 years overdue.

Mike Weilbacher directs the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education in Upper Roxborough. @SCEE Mike mike@schuylkillcenter.org.
HERNDON, Va., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unissant was awarded the five-year follow-on for the Defense Human Resources Activity/Defense Manpower Data Center (DHRA/DMDC) - Fourth Estate Manpower Tracking System (FMTS) contract for another 5 years.



FMTS is a transactional manpower system with integrated functionality to support workforce management. The goal of FMTS is to provide the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) leaders visibility of organizational force structure, improve workforce accountability, and serve as the Fourth Estate authoritative data source for Global Force Management Data Initiative (GFM-DI) data.

We are extremely proud to have been awarded the follow-on contract for this important DoD program, said Manish Malhotra, Unissant CEO. FMTS is one of the largest manpower systems and plays a very critical role in the distribution and mobilization of DoD personnel. We look forward to continuing to work closely with OSD on this mission critical program and bring additional operational efficiencies and innovation to the program over the next five years.

Over the last six years, Unissant supported the OSDs strategic vision to create a system of systems and provide an authoritative system of record for data requests rather than redundant IT systems. In addition, Unissant staff bring pure domain expertise in Manpower management and provide a standardized way to collate organizational structure and billet data.

About Unissant Inc.

Unissant is an advanced data analytics and business transformation services provider with expertise in healthcare and health IT, finance, national security, and energy. The company delivers innovative solutions to assist government agencies and private sector businesses in tackling their biggest challenges. Founded in 2006, Unissant is a prime contractor on various government vehicles such as CIO-SP3, GSA PSS, GSA HealthIT SIN, and GSA 8(a) STARS II and is a CMMI Level 3, ISO 9001 & 27001 certified company headquartered in Herndon, Virginia with a satellite office in San Antonio, Texas. In March 2017, Unissant received the Government Project of the Year award by Small and Emerging Contractors Advisory Forum (SECAF).

Contact:

John Meagher

jmeagher@unissant.com

1 703-889-8500 135
BHOPAL: A whopping 90 per cent residents of Jait, the native village of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, are living below the poverty line (BPL), the Congress claimed on Monday.

The main opposition party further claimed there has been a 27 per cent increase in BPL population in the BJP-ruled state between 2006 and 2016, citing figures from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-2017. However, the BJP refuted the statements made by the Congress, calling them "an attempt to misguide the people".

Addressing a press conference here, just two days ahead of the assembly polls, Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge of the AICC communications department, accused Chouhan, who is seeking a fourth term in office, of making "misleading" statements about his government's achievements.

"Mama has given the deceitful slogan 'Swarnim se Samraddhi' (from golden days to prosperity). But, 90 per cent people in Chouhan's home village - Jait - are living below the poverty line.

"Out of 327 families of the village, 294 are living below poverty line, according to the government's `Samagra' portal," he said.

Chouhan, popularly known as 'mama' (maternal uncle), is a resident of Jait, which is part of the Budhni assembly seat in Sehore district. The BJP CM, who assumed the top post in 2005, is seeking a re-election from Budhni.

Asked about the Congress' claims on poverty, BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha said Surjewala was giving "false" data to "misguide" people and added he was not well versed with the situation in Madhya Pradesh.

When pointed out that Surjewala had claimed he have taken data on Chouhan's village from the government's own portal, Jha said in contrary 90 per cent of people in Budhni were "prosperous".

Quoting another report, Surjewala said 2.34 crore people, which is 33 per cent of Madhya Pradesh's population, are living in poverty as per the RBI's Statistical Handbook-2017.

Moreover, the wealth index, presented on February 2 in the Lok Sabha, says only 15.8 per cent people of MP are under its purview, he said.

The Congress spokesman said the BJP government has failed to properly implement the Ladli Laxmi Yojana, its flagship scheme for girls that seeks to secure their educational and economic future.

Accusing the Chouhan government of curtailing the education budget, Surjewala claimed there was no electricity connection in 72 per cent of the schools in the state.

Besides, the number of schools having only one teacher went up to 19,132 in 2016-17 from 18,915 in 2015-16, the Congress spokesman said.

Surjewala said though Chouhan claims to be a farmer's son, he has never been to a 'mandi' (wholesale market of farm produce).

Highlighting the plight of farmers in the state, he said cultivators, especially in Mandsaur, are forced to sell their onion and garlic crops at just 50 paise per kilogram.

The Congress leader said Chouhan's claims about his government's achievements are "misleading" and "hollow".

Madhya Pradesh will vote on November 28 to elect a new 230-member Assembly. Counting of votes will be held on December 11.

The BJP is seeking a fourth straight term in office in the state, while the Congress is making a renewed bid to come back to power after 15 years.
New Delhi: The Congress on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he criticised the party on issues of terrorism and Naxalism, alleging he was playing politics on matters of national security and had "compromised" the country's interests.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that lack of political action on the part of the BJP-led central government had led to disquiet at the border and an alarming security situation. He said that "16 major terror strikes" were held on security installations during the last 54 months.

The Congress' attack came after Modi said at a poll rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan that the party, which was in power when 26/11 Mumbai attacks took place, had questioned the BJP government's surgical strikes in Pakistan.

Modi said when terrorists struck the country's financial capital 10 years ago, the country was governed by "madam" through remote control, an oblique reference to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Condemning Prime Minister Modi's remarks, the Congress spokesperson alleged that "one person who played despicable politics during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack was Shri Narendra Modi".

"Politicizing of national security and sacrifice of our jawans is intrinsic to BJP.

"The truth is - Modi Government has compromised our national security and in the last four and a half years. Lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation," Surjewala alleged in a statement.

"Even as our soldiers fought inside and the nation was united in battling its consequences, the then CM of Gujarat, was standing outside at one of the attack sites, addressing the media and blaming the then UPA Government for the attack," he alleged.

He said the BJP released "blood-stained ads in newspapers for Delhi elections, opportunistically politicizing the sacrifice of our soldiers".

"Today in a public rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, PM Modi turned history on its head and said that he never played politics on national security. We condemn and reject the utter falsehood...," he said.

The Congress leader alleged that the prime minister and the BJP have always used the "blood and sacrifice of our jawans as a vote garnering tool".

He alleged that BJP President Amit Shah dishonoured the valour of the armed forces on October 7, 2016 by "disregarding the supreme sacrifices made in the five wars and numerous surgical strikes".

Surjewala said the BJP went to the extent of organizing events felicitating the PM in Agra and Lucknow and said, "It is intriguing and disappointing that Modi Government did not celebrate the first anniversary of surgical strike and started limited celebrations only in the second year".

Surjewala asked a set of 15 questions, including whether "it is true that in last 54 months of Modi Government, in Jammu and Kashmir alone, 426 jawans have been martyred and 278 civilians have lost their precious lives, in Pakistan sponsored terrorism".

"Is it not true that 16 major terror attacks have taken place on our security installations that include CRPF Camps, Army Camps, Air Force Station and Military Stations- Pampore, Uri, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amarnath Yatra attack, Sunjwan Army Camp, where scores of our precious lives have been lost.

"Is it not true our jawans like Shaheed Mandeep and Shaheed Narender Singh were beheaded and bodies mutilated by Pakistan, as Modi Government remained a mute spectator," he asked.

Surjewala claimed that there is 500 per cent increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan, since May 2014.

"Where is the '56-inch chest' missing as Pakistan commits more than 3,000 ceasefire violations at the LoC and International border.

"Why did PM Modi invite the rogue ISI to investigate the Pathankot terror attack on March 27, 2016, " he asked.
Bhopal: All eyes would be on the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections this Wednesday as the state gets ready to vote in a contest that has been billed as a BJP vs Congress battle. While several political analysts have said that the assembly elections here could reflect the mood ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, others mostly agree that it could be the toughest test yet for BJP - a party that has been in power for 15 years here.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has been a force to reckon with in the state since the early years of 2000. Despite controversies and alleged scandals galore, Shivraj Singh Chauhan himself has been a popular face since taking over as CM in 2005. At the ground level though, there are strong indications of anti-incumbency making its presence felt and that is exactly what the Congress is banking upon.

(Also read: 167 recontesting MLAs had 71% growth in average assets since 2013 elections)

The outcome of the largely binary contest rests upon 5.03 crore eligible voters across 230 seats in the state. Of these 35 seats are for reserved candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes while another 47 are reserved for candidates from Scheduled Tribes.

In the previous elections - back in 2013, BJP rode home on the back of 165 seats while Congress had 58 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won four seats while the Independents secured three. At the time, BJP had a vote share of 44.88 per cent while it was 36.38 per cent for the Congress. The contest could be a whole lot closer this year even if the 'dream union' between Congress and BSP remained but a dream.

Both BJP and Congress have left no stone unturned to woo voters - highlighting their achievements and throwing muck at rivals in equal measure. While PM Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath - apart from Shivraj himself - have held rallies across the state, Congress' charge has been led by party president Rahul Gandhi and Raj Babbar. Both sides have questioned each other and made promises galore.

The main highlights of BJP's manifesto for MP are the creation of 10 lakh jobs annually, Rs 40,000 crore loans to farmers, Rs 2 lakh crore for developing urban infrastructure, scooties for meritorious girls and doubling of women hired in educational institutions. The Congress, on the other hand, has promised to build gaushalas in every gram panchayat, establish a department for spirituality, loan-waiver for farmers, Rs 2.50 lakh for construction of homes for landless persons, a new youth policy and a new industrial policy for the betterment of locals.

With the model code of conduct coming into effect in the state from Monday, the battle lines are drawn clear and the political temperature is reaching its absolute peak. How MP votes could well decide on which way the entire country is headed ahead of 2019.
BIKANER: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday claimed that Rahul Gandhi's election meeting in any constituency was the guarantee of Congress candidate's defeat.

"Wherever Rahul Gandhi will go, the party candidate will face defeat. No candidate wants Rahul Gandhi's meeting in his constituency. Rahul means guarantee of defeat," the UP CM said in an election rally in Churu district's Ratangarh constituency.

"Nothing can be expected from Congress. The party lacks leadership and Congress leaders say this, not me or anyone else," he said.

Adityanath said that BJP governments be it in Centre or states have accelerated growth and pushed development.

"There cannot be any alternative to development and good governance, which the BJP governments have delivered. A widespread change is visible in Uttar Pradesh while Raje government in Rajasthan has also done good work, 3.5 lakh youths were given government jobs and several other works were also done for the development of the state," he said.

Adityanath appealed voters to vote for Abhinesh Maharshi, the BJP candidate from Ratangarh.

The constituency with 2.47 lakh voters is facing triangular contest where BJP's rebel candidate and former minister Rajkumar Rinwa is also contesting election as an independent candidate.

The Rajasthan BJP had suspended 11 rebel leaders, including Rinwa, for six years over their decision to contest elections against party candidates.

As many as 2,294 candidates, including 189 women candidates, are contesting on 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan which is going to poll on December 7.
New Delhi: A crucial Parliamentary standing committee meeting to discuss the impact of demonetisation is scheduled for Tuesday.

As per Zee Media, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel will also attend the meeting. He is expected to apprise the Parliamentary standing committee regarding the impact of demonetisation on Indian economy.

The standing committee is also expected to disuss administrative reforms that should be implemented at the Central Bank.

Among other issues to be discussed include the mounting NPAs (Non performing assets) being faced by the banks, impact of demonetisation on Indian farmers.

It may be recalled that a crucial board meeting was held last Monday to discuss the liquidity crisis that allegedly triggered a tiff between the government and the central bank last month.

In its last board meeting, RBI decided to form an expert committee to examine the economic capital framework of the central bank, which will decide the amount of reserves it can maintain, handing over the balance to the government.

The board also considered other issues related to the liquidity crunch in the economy and decided that the matter of relaxing the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) norms to clean up the balance sheet of banks burdened with bad loans will be looked into by RBI`s Board for Financial Supervision (BFS).

With Agency Inputs
New Delhi: Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha is often in limelight owing to her social media posts. The actress took to Instagram recently and shared a picture from a magazine shoot in which she looks no less than a princess! We love the outfit and Sonakshi's look in the pic.

Check it out here:

The caption says, Rebel princess vibes for @perniaspopupshop magazine! Shot by @vijitgupta, styled by @mohitrai @aakrutisejpal, hair by @themadhurinakhale and makeup by @mehakoberoi

Sonakshi has an ocean of fans who have already started showering love on the actress's look.

Earlier this month, the actress stunned us all when she appeared on Brides Today magazine cover along with Vicky Kaushal. In a vibrant, indo-western outfit, she looked every bit glamorous.

In October, Sinha turned showstopper for ace designers Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna at the Lotus Make-Up India Fashion Week Spring Summer 2019. The actress dazzled the runway in a glittering black gown and left everyone awe-struck.

On the work front, Sonakshi was last seen in 'Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi' which hit the theatres on August 24 and received a thumbs up from the audience. Sonakshi's dance moves on the song 'Swag Saha Na Jaye' had left us all bewildered!
New Delhi: Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the cowardly Mumbai attacks which left 166 people dead. The ghastly act was carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists and India once again put pressure on the country to punish the people behind the attack.

The attacks carried out on November 26 of 2008 was one of the worst terror-related incidents in the country and the terrorists were given instructions by their handlers based in Pakistan.

India has since repeatedly urged Pakistan to bring the culprits to book, even sharing evidence of their involvement. Pakistan, however, continues to act at snail's pace.

On Monday, India once again reminded Pakistan to act, act swift and act tough against the perpetrators of the heinous attacks. "The international community stands united with India in its fight against terrorism. We call upon Pakistan to expedite the process of bringing the terrorists involved in 26/11 to speedy justice," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs.

A decade on, a nation mourns and the world awaits justice

#2611Attack #MumbaiTerrorAttacks pic.twitter.com/Tccf3f59Kr  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 26, 2018

India has been repeatedly backed by the international community in its fight against terror. On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a fresh reward of US $5 million for anyone who helps secure the capture of terrorists involved in the 26/11 attacks. He also urged Pakistan to act against the culprits. (Read full report here)

It was a move that was much appreciated by Sushma Swaraj. "I welcome the statement made by US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on the 10th anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks calling upon Pakistan to bring to justice perpetrators of the attack," said the External Affairs minister. "I urge Pakistan to heed the call of international community and fulfill its international obligations by implementing sanctions against those responsible for this horrific act of terror."
NEW DELHI: The Army is capable of taking action whenever told to do so, Army chief General Bipin Rawat has said, asserting that there will never be a situation where it will not be able to tackle a big terror attack like 26/11.

Rawat said the Army was now much more prepared to take action based on the directions given by the government.

"If we are told to take some action, we are capable and ready for it. So, there is never going to be a situation where you will not have options to tackle something like a big terrorist attack," Rawat told the India Today magazine in an interview.

He was responding to a question that if there was another attack like 26/11 today, what will be the Army's response.

Asked about the recent beheadings in the Valley, Rawat said in the last year-and-a-half, terrorists had targeted policemen, burnt the houses of panchayat members and school buildings.

"Now, they are targeting the unemployed, alleging that they are police informers. Locals now feel (militants) aren't acting in the best interests of the people of Kashmir. What we are seeing are acts of frustration in the final stages of an insurgency. It will lead to an uprising from the people who will then shun the militants," the Army chief said.

Asked about his recent comments that attempts were being made through "external linkages" to "revive insurgency" in Punjab, Rawat said the statements were based on intelligence inputs.

"We saw a terrorist act in Pathankot in 2016. We have seen some movements by terrorists taking place in areas bordering Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, especially the northern parts of Punjab. I was only reading the writing on the wall and warning the Army to be alert, because there might be a possible terrorist attack on our cantonments in Punjab," he added.
The Pune Sessions court on Monday granted 90 days extension to Pune police for filing charge sheet against four accused Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves.

The Pune Police had on Friday moved an application in Sessions court to seek an extension of 90 days to file charge sheet against four accused in Bhima Koregaon case.

The last date for filing the charge sheet is November 25 while the date fixed for hearing in the court is November 26, news agency ANI reported.

Earlier on Thursday, the Bombay High Court on Thursday extended interim protection to activists Gautam Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde and Stan Swamy.

The court has ordered an interim protection to the activists till December 14. A bench of Justices BP Dharamadhikari and Sarang Kotwal extended the interim protection and also asked the Pune police to file an affidavit of its probe in the case by December 5.

The bench's direction came after the state's counsel, additional government pleader Aruna Pai opposed a plea filed by Navlakha seeking that the FIR in the case against him be quashed. The court had slammed Pai asking her to bring the relevant materials which they want to produce before the court by December 4.

Activist Varavara Rao, who under house arrest in connection with Bhima Koregaon case, was on November 18 sent to police custody till November 26 by Pune Sessions Court.

Rao was arrested by Pune police from his residence in Hyderabad on Saturday after his house arrest ended on November 17. He was under house arrest since August for having alleged links with CBI (Maoist) in connection with Bhima Koregaon violence.

In August, police arrested five left-wing activists, after raiding their homes in several states for suspected Maoist links over the Elgar Parishad meeting which was held a day before the violence.

The police raided the homes of the activists and lawyers from five states - Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, Bharadwaj in Faridabad and Gautam Navalakha in Delhi.

In a media briefing, the police had released details of seized letters related to five activists arrested in June in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence.

The police also claimed they have "conclusive proof" to link Left-wing activists arrested in June and this week to Maoists, saying one of them spoke of a "Rajiv Gandhi-type event to end Modi-raj".
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Uma Bharti on Sunday said that Bharatiya Janata Party does not have a patent on Ram Mandir and that all parties should come together to build the temple in Ayodhya. "BJP does not have a patent on Ram Mandir, Lord Ram belongs to everyone. I appeal to everyone including SP, BSP, Akali Dal, Owaisi, Azam Khan, etc to come forward and support the construction of the temple," the minister said.

She also lauded Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for visiting Ayodhya and pressing for the demand to build the temple. "I appreciate Uddhav Thackeray for his effort," she added.

An ally of the NDA but often openly vocal against the BJP, Shiv Sena said the BJP government at the Centre "may not last" if the temple was not constructed in Ayodhya. The Sena chief demanded that an ordinance be brought in and warned that emotions of Hindus should not be taken for granted.

"The Shiv Sena has been supporting (them) on the issue of Hindutva and will continue to do so. Bring ordinance or a law but construct temple ...The emotions of Hindus should not be taken for granted," he said.

He dared the BJP to admit the Ram temple issue was "election rhetoric", saying if the matter was to be left for the court to decide, then it should not be brought up during poll campaigning.

The Shiv Sena chief, who offered prayers at the Ram Lalla temple, noted that Lok Sabha elections are around the corner and only one session of Parliament remains, he asked the government to bring an ordinance.

Thackeray said that during election campaigning the BJP manifesto had said that possible solutions to the Ram temple will be searched while remaining in the ambit of the Constitution.

"In the last four years how many possibilities did you come across? Did you not get one based on which the temple could be constructed? For how long will we continue to search the possibilities," he asked.

Sharpening his attack, Thackeray said, "If the matter is to be left to court, then it should not be used be used during election campaigning. And tell us that it was a 'chunaavi jumlaa' (election rhetoric)."
TUSTIN, Calif., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, MEGAComfort , a health and wellness company that provides footwear accessories to proactively combat pain and fatigue, announces the winner of their third annual Hardest Worker Contest . Rogers Blanco from South Carolina has been voted as the Hardest Worker, alongside Brent Wilmot from Florida and John Tucker from Texas, the second and third place winners, respectively.



For the third consecutive year, MEGAComfort has hosted their Hardest Worker Contest, encouraging individuals to submit stories that highlight an unsung hero in their workplace, family or local community. Once again, the entire MEGAComfort team was blown away by the intimate heart felt stories shared from across the country. Each year the company receives inspiring tales of heroism, dedication and hard work. These local heroes then have a chance to win a variety of prizes after a panel of judges reviewed all of the nominations, ten finalists were selected for the public to vote on who they felt should be given the title of the Hardest Worker. Now, all three winners can proudly hold the title that their communities have given them and collect the following:

First Place Prize - $5,000 + insole supply for ten years

Second Place Prize - $2,500 + insole supply for five years

Third Place Prize - $1,000 + insole supply for two years

Seven Remaining Finalists - $200 gift certificate + insole supply for one year

Rogers Blanco was selected as the first-place winner out of the ten finalists because of his determination, relentless work ethic and devotion. Nominated by Denise Blanco and voted on by the public, Mr. Blanco has shown all of the qualities of what it means to be a hard worker. Rogers works 12 hour days as a garbage truck driver in South Carolina. After working these tiring days in the blistering heat, he continues to serve his family and community. Hurricane Matthew devastated their community and he selflessly gave his time and energy to help them rebuild. Last year his family welcomed their baby boy into the world. Unfortunately, their son sustained several injuries to his brain during birth and spent his first month in the NICU, which was 4 hours from his home. After working long days, Rogers still ensured he and his wife visit their son daily. His sacrifices for his family, community and workplace definitely make him a deserving winner of the Hardest Worker Contest.

MEGAComfort was founded with the hope of creating a more comfortable and ergonomically sound environment for hard workers everywhere. So much of our product line was inspired by people who do physically challenging work. We created this contest so that our team could learn about and share our customers stories around the world, said Dr. Kevan Orvitz, Founder and President of MEGAComfort. Our annual Hardest Worker Contest has taken on a life of its own, as it allows people to spread gratitude and appreciation for the hard-working coworkers, friends and family members that deserve recognition. Our team feels privileged to honor these individuals while also providing them with the much-needed comfort and prize money they deserve. The nominees, finalists and winners were each so outstanding, and we are honored to serve them with this title, as well as inspire others by sharing their stories.

For more information on MEGAComfort, visit http://www.megacomfort.com .

About MEGAComfort

MEGAComfort is an innovative work-life wellness solutions company. They provide clinically proven and field-tested footwear accessories including patented ergonomic anti-fatigue insoles and orthotics to proactively combat pain and fatigue, while concurrently increasing wearer comfort and productivity.
New Delhi: A Commandant-Wing Commander level meeting was held between Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers on Monday along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Ramgarh area.

The BSF delegation was led by BSF Commandant M K Yadav while the Pakistan Rangers delegation was led by Wing Commander Mehran.

The BSF and the Pakistani troops and discussed various border-related issues including firing on IB.

The two sides met on Sunday too, a BSF officer said.

The Monday meeting was held in Ramgarh forward area from 1230 hours to 1300 hours on the request of Pakistan Rangers, he said.

"During the meeting, commanders of both the border guarding forces, inter alia, discussed various issues including firing on IB, the presence of suspects in border areas and other routine issues related to border management," he said.

One such meeting was also held Sunday at Marh-Gajansu area on the same matters, he said.

Last Friday, the Indian and Pakistan armies also held a brigade commander level meeting at a border crossing in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector to adhere to ceasefire.

(With inputs from agencies)
The attack by Shiromani Akali Dal leader and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu over the latters visit to Pakistan in August for the swearing-in ceremony of cricket-turned-politician Imran Khan as the Prime Minister of the country is back to haunt her.

With the government deciding to send Harsimrat Kaur Badal to Pakistan to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor, the Punjab government has targeted the Union minister, asking as to what face she has to go to the neighbouring country.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Punjab minister Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa said, Harsimrat Kaur Badal had called Navjot Singh Sidhu a 'qaum ka gaddar'. Now she herself is going to Pakistan, with what face will she go?

The Punjab minister also attacked the Shiromani Akali Dal, alleging that they never took up the Kartarpur Corridor issue even once when they were in power.

Pakistan had extended an invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, among others, to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor on Wednesday.

While the Punjab Chief Minister declined the invite, citing terrorism emanating from Pakistan and killing of Indian soldiers by their army, Sushma Swaraj too expressed her inability to attend the event, which is expected to be hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan himself.

The External Affairs Minister, however, declared that two ministers, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri, would be going to Pakistan for the event as representative of the Indian government.

The move has been welcomed by Pakistan, with countrys foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi terming Indias response of the Kartarpur corridor issue as positive.

The Pakistani media quoted countrys foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as saying that Indias Ministry of External Affairs had responded well to Pakistans initiative to bring the Sikh community closer.

Cricket-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has also been invited for the event, and is currently awaiting a response from the Ministry of External Affairs for the same.
NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at fine-tuning joint war-fighting capabilities and enhancing operational synergy, a largescale tri-service exercise involving the assets of the Navy, the Army and the Air Force was conducted at sea off Goa and Karwar from November 17-23, the Navy said on Monday.

Besides the deployment of naval assets such as Kolkata-class destroyers, landing ships, fleet support ship with ship-borne helicopters, Marcos and other force levels from all the three maritime commands of the Navy, the exercise saw participation of amphibious troops, special forces, engineers along with support elements from the Army, C-17, C-130J, IL-76, AN 32 aircraft and Garud special force of the IAF.

Major activities conducted during this exercise included amphibious landing operations, air-landed operations, helicopter-borne insertion of special forces from sea, combat free fall by the tri-service special forces teams culminating in tactical follow-on operations on land.

This exercise was coordinated by the Indian Navy's Western Naval Command in consultation with Head Quarters of the Integrated Defence Services (HQIDS).

"The exercise was conducted as part of the biennial calendar of tri-service exercises steered by HQ IDS, which aims to fine-tune joint war-fighting capabilities and SOPs towards enhancing operational synergy," the statement said.
A man travelling on a Jet Airways flight has been detained for allegedly threatening to blow up the flight. According to news agency ANI, the man was speaking on phone, wherein he threatened to blow up the plane, which was slated to fly from Kolkata to Mumbai.

The accused has been identified as J Poddar. He was detained by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel.

The incident occured at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose airport in Kolkata. As the Jet Airways flight 9W0472 was preparing to for take off at around 8.15 am, the suspect was heard saying on phone that he would kill all the passengers and blow up the aircraft.

According to sources, he was covering his face with a piece of cloth.

As some fellow passengers heard the conversation, they rushed to inform the pilot and crew members, who then informed the Air Traffic Control about the issue.

The aircraft was then turned towards the taxi bay and stationed at a secluded spot. All the passengers were asked to de-board the flight and thorough check was conducted.

CISF personnel were interrogating the suspect till last reports came in.
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down if he cannot ensure Delhi chief minister's security, days after a man flung chilli powder at him inside the Delhi secretariat.

Speaking at the one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly, which was extended by a day till Tuesday, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was behind the November 20 attack as it was "baffled" by the "good work" done by his government in the national capital.

"Narendra Modi should resign if he cannot protect Delhi's Chief Minister," Kejriwal said in the House which had met to discuss the attack on him and the alleged deletion of names from the voters list.

Referring to a phone call from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after the incident outside his office, Kejriwal claimed, "I said either you are worthless or colluding".

Speaking on a government resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of the Delhi government, Kejriwal said 95 per cent policemen were good but "they are being made to do wrong things by the BJP".

"If Delhi Police comes under the elected government of Delhi, it will start working for the good of the people," he asserted.

The resolution, moved by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain and later adopted by the Assembly with voice of votes, also stated that in view of pending such amendments, necessary steps should be initiatied by the Centre to devolve certain powers to the elected government so that it is in a position to have control over the Delhi Police.

Referring to the recent attack on him, Kejriwal said, "In the last three years, four attacks were made on me. These attacks could not happen if I was not the chief minister of Delhi.

"These attacks are not on me, but on the people of Delhi instead... Modi ji is taking revenge from Delhiites for voting the AAP to power in the city," the chief minister said.

Kejriwal also hit out at Lt Governor Anil Baijal for "creating hurdles" in the functioning of the AAP dispensation.

Talking about recent strike by DTC employees, Kejriwal alleged that the LG did not give appointment to his Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot for two days to resolve the issue.

"LG has time for BJP workers, (AAP rebel MLA) Kapil Mishra, but he does not have time to meet the Transport minister to end the strike... How would we run the government?," Kejriwal asked.

The chief minister also advised his party MLAs to withdraw their proposal demanding the exclusion of the Delhi Police from the government's compensation scheme.

Following the attack on Kejriwal, AAP legislators had urged Kejriwal to remove the Delhi Police from the list of beneficiaries of the Delhi government's compensation scheme under which Rs 1 crore is awarded to the kin of slain security personnel.

The AAP MLAs argued that the city's police force had "betrayed" the people of the country.
GURDASPUR: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday issued a stern warning to Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa against violating ceasefire and vitiating the atmosphere in India. "I am warning you (Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa). We are also Punjabis, you will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere," the Punjab CM said.

Questioning the Pakistan Army Chief as a military man, Captain Singh referred to the act of violating ceasefire as cowardly. "Which Army teaches to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the other side? Which Army teaches to send people to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is cowardness," he said while speaking at the ground laying ceremony of Kartapur corridor on Monday.

Amarinder Singh had on Sunday rejected Pakistan's invitation to attend the foundation ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor on November 28 on their soil. The Chief Minister cited continued terrorist attacks in Punjab and the killings of Indian soldiers by Pakistani armed forces as the reason for his refusal to attend the event.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had extended an invite to him to visit Pakistan. Along with the Punjab CM, Pakistan had also sent invites to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

While Sushma Swaraj rejected the offer, Sidhu accepted the invite and is awaiting a nod from the External Affairs Ministry to travel to Pakistan. This will be Sidhu's second visit to Pakistan this year after he attended the oath ceremony of Pakistan PM Imran Khan in Islamabad.

Sushma Swaraj had told Pakistan that Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri will travel for the groundbreaking ceremony.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a fresh petition on Article 370, which gives special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. The apex court said that the issues raised in it were already part of the pending pleas.

The petition was filed by advocate Vijay Mishra and Sandeep Lamba. In their petition, Mishra and Lamba had sought a declaration that Article 370 of the constitution had lapsed with the dissolution of constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on January 26, 1957 and it cannot be treated as mandatory for exercise of powers of the President.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Ajay Rastogi had asked the petitioner as to why he wanted to increase the number of petitions on the issue.

"We have heard the petitioner. The issues raised in the petition are part of the petitions pending," said the bench.

The plea has also sought that the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir be declared as "arbitrary, unconstitutional and void", claiming that it was against the supremacy of the Indian Constitution and contrary to the dictum of "One Nation, One Constitution, One National Anthem and One National Flag".

It has sought to declare as arbitrary some provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, which deals with permanent residency and flag of the valley among other issues, for being violative of the Preamble and the Indian Constitution.

The petition has said that continuance of two parallel constitutions, one for the Centre and other for the state of Jammu and Kashmir, "reeks of a weird dichotomy" as most of the provisions of the Indian Constitution has already been extended to the state.

It has alleged that due to vote bank politics, successive governments did nothing to repeal Article 370 and the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir was adopted much after the Indian Constitution came into force.

It also added that the instrument of accession of October 26, 1947 does not talk about separate Constitution or constituent assembly for the state.

Earlier on November 16, the Supreme court had said that it will hear a plea challenging the validity of Article 370 of the Constitution in April.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and M R Shah said it will hear the matter in the first week of April 2019 after Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, sought adjournment on the ground that the current situation is very sensitive.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi and advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for Jammu and Kashmir said that a letter has been circulated seeking adjournment due to the ongoing nine-phase Panchayat polls in the state.

To this, the bench said that it can tag the matter along with a batch of pending petitions challenging Article 35A of the Constitution, under which special rights and privileges are granted to the "permanent residents" of the state.

The suggestion of the bench was opposed by the counsels for the state saying that the two issues are different entirely and the plea should not be tagged along with Article 35A pending petitions.

The bench then posted the matter for further hearing in the first week of April, 2019.

On April 3, the apex court had said that Article 370 of the Constitution is not a temporary provision.

The top court had said that in its earlier verdict of 2017 in the SARFESI case, it has been already held that Article 370 was "not a temporary provision".

"The issue concerned is covered by the judgement of this court in the 2017 SARFAESI matter, where we have held that despite the headnote of Article 370, it is not a temporary provision," the court had said.

The court was hearing an appeal filed by petitioner Kumari Vijayalakshmi Jha, against the Delhi High Court's April 11, 2017 order dismissing the plea seeking a declaration that Article 370 is temporary in nature.

The petitioner had claimed before the high court that Article 370 was a temporary provision that had lapsed with the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in 1957.

The petition had said that the continuance of the temporary provision of Article 370 even after dissolution of Constituent Assembly of J&K, and that of J&K Constitution which has never got the assent of the President of India or Parliament or the government of India, "amounts to fraud on the basic structure of our Constitution"

(With PTI Inputs)
Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a "barbarity", the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the state department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program offered a new reward for up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates," Pompeo said.

Some 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was handed down death sentence by an Indian court.

The United States, Pompeo said, is committed to seeing that those responsible for the attack face justice.

The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to USD5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack," Pompeo said.

"We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world," said the top American diplomat.
Tokyo: Mitsubishi Motors Corp`s board will meet on Monday to remove Carlos Ghosn from his role as chairman after his arrest and ouster from alliance partner Nissan Motor Co last week for alleged financial misconduct.

A removal of Ghosn by Mitsubishi`s eight-member board, which meets at the automaker`s Tokyo headquarters at 1630 (0730 GMT) would see an end to his chairmanship of Japanese automakers amid discontent over French partner Renault SA`s role in the 19-year alliance.

Renault and Nissan sealed an alliance in 1999, when the Japanese automaker was rescued from near-bankruptcy. It was enlarged in 2016 to include Mitsubishi and enabled the members to jointly develop products and control costs. The alliance vies with Volkswagen AG and Toyota Motor Corp for the ranking of the world`s biggest automaker.

Even as Nissan has recovered and grown rapidly, it remains a junior partner in the shareholding structure. Renault owns 43 percent of Nissan and the Japanese automaker holds a reciprocal 15 percent non-voting stake in the French firm. And Nissan is almost 60 percent bigger than Renault by sales.

Top alliance executives are meeting this week in Amsterdam, aiming to shield their joint operations from the fallout of Ghosn`s arrest as a power struggle between Nissan and Renault looms. Renault has refrained from firing him as chairman and CEO.

Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa told staff on Monday that the concentration of power in Ghosn meant there was a lack of direct communication between the other alliance board members, a person familiar with the contents of the town hall said.

Nissan said it does not disclose details of internal events or communications to employees.

Ghosn was pushing for a deeper tie-up, including potentially a full merger between Renault and Nissan at the French government`s urging, despite strong reservations at the Japanese firm.

Nissan removed Ghosn at a high stakes board meeting on Thursday after allegations of understating his income and using company money for personal use.

Ghosn has denied the allegations, public broadcaster NHK reported on Sunday.

His firing from Mitsubishi Motors would mark the removal of the man credited with stabilising the company after it was rocked by a cheating scandal in 2016.

Nissan holds a controlling 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi Motors and has two executives on the board. The other representative director is CEO Osamu Masuko, who said last week the alliance may be hard to manage without Ghosn.

While the automakers have stressed that operations and business are proceeding as normal, Nissan has postponed the launch of its high-performance Leaf electric car "to ensure that this important product unveiling could receive the coverage it merits", a Nissan spokesman said.

Shares in Mitsubishi Motors rose 3.3 percent, while Nissan climbed 1.8 percent, outperforming the broader market`s 0.8 percent gain.
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia raised oil production to an all-time high in November, an industry source said on Monday, as US President Donald Trump piled pressure on the kingdom to refrain from production cuts at an OPEC meeting next week.

The meeting, at which OPEC members will consider how to arrest a decline in oil prices, comes days after leaders of top global oil producers - Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump - travel to Argentina for a G20 summit this week.

Saudi Arabia agreed to raise supply steeply in June, in response to calls from consumers, including the United States and India, to help cool oil prices and address a supply shortage after Washington imposed sanctions on Iran.

But the move backfired on Riyadh after Washington imposed softer than expected sanctions on Tehran. That triggered worries of a supply glut and prices collapsed to below $60 per barrel on Friday from as high as $85 per barrel in October.

The industry source, who is familiar with the matter, said Saudi crude oil production hit 11.1-11.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in November, although it will not be clear what the exact average November output is until the month is over.

Those levels are up around 0.5 million bpd - equal to 0.5 percent of global demand - from October and more than 1 million bpd higher than in early 2018, when Riyadh was curtailing production together with other OPEC members.

Non-OPEC Russia, which teamed up with Saudi Arabia in the first OPEC joint production cuts since 2016, has also raised production steeply in recent months to a post-Soviet high of 11.4 million bpd.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs, one of the most active banks in commodities, said the G20 meeting could be a catalyst for prices to rebound.

"We expect an OPEC cut and its announcement to lead to a recovery in (Brent) prices," the bank said in a note.

KHASHOGGI FACTOR

Saudi oil industry sources have signalled they wanted prices to stay above $70 per barrel and Saudi energy minister Khalid al Falih said this month global oil supply could exceed demand by over 1 million bpd next year, requiring OPEC to take action.

Falih said earlier this month that state oil giant Saudi Aramco would ship 0.5 million bpd less crude in December than in November as demand from customers was lower.

Possibly complicating Saudi decisions on oil output is the crisis around the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh`s consulate in Istanbul last month.

Trump stood behind Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite calls from many US politicians to impose stiff sanctions on Riyadh. Prince Mohammed is the ultimate Saudi oil policy maker and Saudi watchers have said the Prince will try to avoid confrontation with Washington, including on oil prices.

The United States is not a member of OPEC and is not participating in the output reduction. Trump has repeatedly called on OPEC to refrain from cuts and has raised pressure on the group in the last few days.

On Sunday, Trump thanked himself for lower oil prices and compared it to a big tax cut for the US economy.

"So great that oil prices are falling (thank you President T)," Trump tweeted, referring to himself.

Last week, Trump tweeted: "Oil prices are getting lower... Thank you Saudi Arabia but let`s go lower".
FRANKLIN, Ind., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. (TSX-V: IB; OTCQB: IAALF) (IBC or the Company) a leading beryllium and copper advanced alloys company, announced today that it will release its financial results for the quarter ended on September 30, 2018 after market close on Thursday, November 29, 2018.



CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Major General Duncan Heinz (USMC, ret.), IBCs President and CEO, will host a conference call and webcast on Friday, November 30, 2018, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern to discuss the Company's fiscal 2018 annual financial results. To register for the webinar and conference call, and receive instructions on how to call in or connect via the internet to the webinar, please go here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4573616922886120961

On Behalf of the Board of Directors:

"Duncan Heinz

Duncan Heinz, President, CEO and Director

Contacts:

Duncan Heinz, President and CEO

Jim Sims, Investor and Public Relations

IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.

+1 (303) 503-6203

Email: jim.sims@ibcadvancedalloys.com

Website: www.ibcadvancedalloys.com

@IBCAdvanced $IB $IAALF

About IBC Advanced Alloys Corp.

IBC is a leading beryllium and copper advanced alloys company serving a variety of industries such as defense, aerospace, automotive, telecommunications, precision manufacturing, and others. IBC's Copper Division manufactures and distributes a variety of copper alloys as castings and forgings, including beryllium copper, chrome copper, and aluminum bronze. IBC's Engineered Materials Division makes the Beralcast family of alloys, which can be precision cast and are used in an increasing number of defense, aerospace, and other systems, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. IBC's has production facilities in Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. The Company's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "IB" and the OTCQB under the symbol "IAALF".

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Karnataka government for "doing nothing and just fooling around" in the investigation of killing of noted scholar and rationalist M M Kalburgi in 2015 at Dharwad.

The top court indicated that it may transfer the case to Bombay High Court for supervision of investigation after looking into the status report of Karnataka government.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Navin Sinha asked the Karnataka government to file its status report in two weeks on the investigation done so far in the case.

"What have you (Karnataka government) done so far? Nothing. You are just fooling around. How long will you take for completing the investigation? Tell us or we will pass orders," the bench said.

Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Karnataka government said that he will have to take instructions on the time period for completing the investigation.

"You take instruction. Then we will send the matter to Bombay High Court where a similar matter is pending. You people are just doing nothing," the bench said.

77-year old Kalburgi, the former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University and a well-known scholar and epigraphist, was shot dead in broad daylight at his residence in Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad, Karnataka, on August 30, 2015. Born in 1938, he was a Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer of old Kannada literature.

The court was hearing a plea of Uma Devi Kalburgi, the widow of the slain scholar, seeking a SIT probe into the sensational murder.

Counsel, appearing for Kalburgi said that it will be better if the case is transferred to Bombay High Court for further supervision.

On March 23, the Centre had told the apex court that the NIA, being a special agency to probe national and inter-state terrorism cases, cannot investigate the killing of M M Kalburgi.

The Centre has referred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act and said the instant offence did not fall under the category of 'Schedule offence' under the law and hence, the probe agency cannot investigate it.

The court had earlier asked the CBI and the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to file their responses in the case.

The top court had on January 10 sought the response of probe agencies NIA and CBI and the two state governments on the allegation of Uma Devi that no substantial investigation has been carried out so far in the murder case.

Kalburgi's wife, in her petition filed through advocate Krishna Kumar, has alleged that there was common link between the murder of her husband and that of intellectual activists, Narendra Achyut Dabholkar and Govindrao Pansare, who too were assassinated in August 2013 and February 2015 respectively.

Dabholkar was shot at on August 20, 2013 in Pune, while Pansare was killed in Kolhapur in Maharashtra on February 16, 2015.

She alleged the investigations in Dabholkar and Pansare murder cases were in a "sorry state" and no progress has been made in bringing the killers to book.

The petition said that in 2016, the then Karnataka Home Minister had in a statement claimed that as per the forensic analysis of cartridges recovered from the three separate crime scenes, the three murders were linked.

It alleged that one of the weapons used in the murder of Pansare was used to kill Kalburgi and therefore coordination between Maharashtra police and Karnataka police, besides the CBI and the NIA, was required.

"Although sketches of suspects were released after four days of Kalburgi's murder and statement was issued by Karnataka government that conclusive evidence of nexus of murders of all three activists was found, there has been no progress in the investigation till date," the plea has said.
New Delhi: Chinese handset maker OPPO is expanding the R series phone in India by bringing its flagship R17 Pro.

The company is all set to launch the R17 Pro in India on December 4. The phone was launched in China in August at CNY 4,299 (approximately Rs 44,000). The final India price of the phone however will be made clear on the launch day.

The phone features a 6.4 inch Screen Size with 91.5 percent Screen Ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 6. In lab tests, Gorilla Glass 6 survived 15 drops from one metre onto rough surfaces whereas competitive glass compositions, such as soda lime and aluminosilicate, did not survive the first drop.

Under the hood, the phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 chipset clubbed with 8GB RAM.

The R17 Pro comes packed with a 3700mAh bi-cell design for up to 50-watt charging power. Oppo says that the SuperVOOC Flash Charge is capable of reaching 40 percent charge in just 10 minutes, and with five  core smart protection providing all-round monitoring, its built to run safely at top-speed.

You can unlock your R17 Pro instantly just by touching the screen on the hidden fingerprint sensor. An ultra-photosensitive sensor under the display ensures crystal-clear fingerprint images, Oppo said. The R17 Pros notch is inspired by a droplet of water captured at the moment before it fall, it added.

Oppo R17 Pro with triple cameras at the back with F1.5/F2.4 Smart Aperture camera. There is also a 25MP front camera.
The United Nations Sunday selected Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Greater Noida to participate in its Global Sustainable Cities 2025 initiative, officials said. The twin-cities in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, adjoining the national capital, have been selected in the "University City" category ahead of Mumbai and Bengaluru as the only invitee from India, a senior UN official said.

A total of 25 cities from across the world have been selected in five categories by the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) cities initiative, Senior UN Advisor and CEO UN Global Sustainability Index Institute Roland Schatz told reporters in Noida.

Schatz formally extended the invitation Sunday to Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh in the presence of Shubhro Sen, the principal advisor, India, SDG Initiative.

The SDGs, otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

"This is a proud moment for Noida and Greater Noida to be selected for this exciting global showcase. Now I will forward this invitation to the Uttar Pradesh government which is very positive about development works," Singh said.

In the "University City" category, Noida-Greater Noida will be competing with elite university cities such as Cambridge, Palo Alto and Heidelberg.

UNGSII's Sustainable Development Goals Commitment Report (SCR) overcomes the limitations of current evaluation systems, such as inadequate transparency on evaluation criteria and methodology, inexperienced analysts, backward looking analysis with limited prognosis, and potential conflicts of interest.
New Delhi: Bollywood's 'It' couple, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are the talk of the town these days owing to their dreamy Italy wedding. The couple entered matrimony on November 14 in a traditional Konkani style ceremony. A day later, on November 15, 'Deepveer' solemnized their wedding as per the Sindhi tradition. Their wedding venue was well guarded which is why no pictures from the ceremonies made their way on the internet.

The only pics we have from the wedding and mehendi ceremonies are the ones that the actors shared themselves. After their wedding in Italy, the couple hosted a reception in Bengaluru in which both looked regal.

Yet another reception is yet to take place, on December 1 in Mumbai. It is here that we will see Bollywood biggies in attendance, congratulating the newly-wedded couple.

As per a report in SpotboyE.com, actress Katrina Kaif has also been invited to the reception. It is no secret that Katrina and Deepika shared a cold equation ever since the latter started dating the former's ex, Ranbir Kapoor. The two actresses were quiet open about their cold relationship but it looks like both have decided to let bygones be bygones.

A source revealed to SpotboyE.com that Katrina has received the invite and is looking forward to attending the party with superstar Salman Khan and Ali Abbas Zafar. The report further added that Ranveer had sent a personal message to Katrina, inviting her to the reception.

Well, that is good to know!

We can't wait to see pictures from the Mumbai reception already! Can you?
Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Mexico should send migrants seeking asylum in the United States back to their home countries, a day after US authorities shut the country`s busiest southern border crossing and fired tear gas into the crowd.

US officials on Sunday reopened the crossing at the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, the most heavily trafficked land border in the Western Hemisphere after shutting it down for several hours.

Trump has vowed the asylum seekers would not easily enter the country and on Monday threatened again to shut down the US-Mexico border, which stretches 2,000 miles (3,200 km).

The president repeated his call on Congress to fund his long-promised border wall as US lawmakers return to Washington on Monday after the US Thanksgiving holiday break with federal government funding set to expire on Dec. 7. He has repeatedly threatened to shut down the federal government unless the wall is funded.

The showdown on Sunday took place at part of the border where there is already a physical barrier.

"Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the USA. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!" Trump tweeted.

Hundreds of caravan members including women and children protested peacefully on Sunday with chants of "We aren`t criminals! We are hard workers." As they neared the US border, they were stopped by Mexican authorities, who told them to wait for permission.

The migrants who are mostly Honduran are fleeing poverty and violence and have said they would wait in Tijuana until they could request asylum in the United States.

For weeks before the Nov. 6 congressional elections, Trump raised alarm about the caravan of Central American migrants headed for the United States and ordered some 5,800 US troops to the border to support US Customs and Border Protection.

Trump has just a few weeks left to push his fellow Republicans who control both chambers of Congress to make good on the wall before Democrats take control of the US House of Representatives in January following their election gains.

Democrats have urged more comprehensive immigration reform in addition to additional border security, but have fiercely opposed the wall.

US and Mexican negotiators on Sunday also discussed a plan to keep the migrants in Mexico while their asylum claims are heard. Asylum seekers typically announce their intention at US ports of entry or after crossing the border illegally.
Russia stopped three Ukrainian navy vessels from entering the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait on Sunday by placing a huge cargo ship beneath a Russian-controlled bridge, with officials from both countries accusing the other of provocative behaviour.

A bilateral treaty gives both countries the right to use the sea, which lies between them and is linked by the narrow Kerch Strait to the Black Sea. But tensions around the sea have escalated since Russia annexed Ukraine's nearby Crimea in 2014.

Moscow is able to control access between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea after it built a bridge that straddles the Kerch Strait between Crimea and southern Russia.

A Reuters witness said on Sunday that a bulk cargo ship had been used to block the channel beneath the bridge and that he had seen two Russian Sukhoi Su-25 warplanes flying overhead. Russian state TV said Russian combat helicopters had also been deployed to the area.

Tensions surfaced on Sunday after Russia tried to intercept the three Ukrainian ships - two small armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat - in the Black Sea, accusing them of illegally entering Russian territorial waters.

The Ukrainian navy said a Russian border guard vessel had rammed the tug boat, damaging it in an incident it said showed Russia was behaving aggressively and illegally.

It said its vessels had every right to be where they were and that the ships had been en route from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol, a journey that requires them to go through the Kerch Strait.

Russia's border guard service accused Ukraine of not informing it in advance of the journey, something Kiev denied, and said the Ukrainian ships had been manoeuvring dangerously and ignoring its instructions with the aim of stirring up tensions.

It pledged to end to what it described as Ukraine's "provocative actions", while Russian politicians lined up to denounce Kiev, saying the incident looked like a calculated attempt by President Petro Poroshenko to increase his popularity ahead of an election next year.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said in a statement it wanted a clear response to the incident from the international community.

"Russia's provocative actions in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov have crossed the line and become aggressive," it said. "Russian ships have violated our freedom of maritime navigation and unlawfully used force against Ukrainian naval ships."

Both countries have accused each other of harassing each other's shipping in Sea of Azov in the past and the US State Department in August said Russia's actions looked designed to destabilise Ukraine, which has two major industrial ports there.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on Monday to introduce martial law for 60 days, a statement on his website said, though it needs parliamentary approval to come into force.

The decision came a day after Russia fired at and captured three Ukrainian vessels, triggering a sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries.

Parliament was expected to debate the decree later on Monday through a televised session of a parliamentary committee unanimously supported it.

Ukrainian legislation on martial law allows for a slew of curbs, including restrictions on movement and peaceful assembly, curfews, and restricting the media, though Poroshenko`s decree made no specific references to such restrictions.

Eleven measures outlined in the decree provide for mobilizing reserve forces, organizing the air defence of important state facilities and taking urgent steps to bring in enhanced cybersecurity measures and ensure public order.

There was no mention of a presidential election due to be held in March. Poroshenko`s move has prompted speculation by critics and opposition politicians that he might use it to delay the vote.

A twelfth provision of the decree was not published.
However, for Germany, as for any other country, it is impossible to be a stable supporter of Ukraines integration into the EU and a good friend of Russia at the same time

Over the last years and particularly since 2014, observers have noticed a growing German activity in and around Ukraine. What are the causes of such interest? So, how to explain the roots of Germanys geopolitical interest towards Ukraine?

The first aim is mainly of a geopolitical nature; Germany wants to attain a role of Mitgestalter, co-manager along with the EU, the US and Russia, of a key European state.

The underlying motives are multi-layered and multi-dimensional: Russias absorption of Ukraine would have been potentially dangerous for the EUs and Germanys security as it would put a heavy pressure on its Eastern flank, especially on Poland. Poland is, not by chance, a great supporter of Ukraines aloofness from Moscows political and economic sphere of influence.

At the same time, for Germany, Ukraine heavily dominated, militarily or economically, by the US could severely strain EUs geopolitical expansion plans. Plans that seek Ukraines transformation into a ruleand value based country pursuant the EUs model of Wertgemeinschaft or value based community encompassing the substantial respect of human rights and freedom of expression and into a new economic hub with important technological skills, cheap labour and substantial commercial ties through the Black Sea and its energy related sources from the Caspian Sea.

The second reason for its commitment to Ukraine is that Germany does not want the US to manage a political process of transformation imprinted exclusively on a US based model. Above all, Germany does not want the US to spark off a military conflict, even by accident or following an incident, nor, at best, a confrontational approach with Russia on Ukrainian soil that would be dangerous for Germany itself. This explains Germanys rather cautious approach to the security-military integration of Ukraines into Euro-Atlantic structures and, namely, Ukraines absorption into NATO. This is true especially for the SPD.

The US are not always happy with Germanys autonomous stance in Ukraine and, more in general, with its realm of foreign policy, especially when conducted vis a vis with the Russian Federation.

One of the motives of the US intervention in Ukraine was to hinder the possible rapprochement of Germany and Russia in terms of investments and energy cooperation)and to weaken an increasingly assertive Russia on the international stage(for instance the developing of the Eurasian Union, a mainly Russian sponsored project). From the USs point of view, this closeness is very detrimental as it represents a welding together or tight economic cooperation between the major powers on the European and Eurasian continent, as Russia is, fundamentally and very specifically, a country of European culture but with a Eurasian geopolitical projection.

The third reason for Germanys strong commitment to the Ukrainian crisis is its important role as mediator and chief manager of the crisis (Vermittlerrolle-Fuhrungsrolle). Germany thus embodies the EUs commitment towards a solution of the Ukrainian crisis and represents the interest of the Eastern European countries and in particular Poland, the Baltic States and Romania that, being nearer to Ukraine, are more directly involved and concerned about the possible outcomes of the crisis especially, for the latter one, as far as the Black Sea is concerned. The achievement of the role of leader in the EUs foreign policy -or in its acronym CSDP- is a very important goal for Germany.

Therefore, Germany is trying to create a foreign policy stand that is an autonomous from the position of US on Ukraine, attempting at the same time to mend, somehow, its relations with Russia; the outcome of this course chosen by the German Chancelor Angela Merkel with her Russian counterpart, though, is still uncertain or faltering as the Ukraine crisis has hardened or stiffened the resilience of Russian political thinking and way of acting on the international scene, a fact that is well understood and of concern for Merkel herself from the very onset of the Ukrainian crisis in 2013.

Overall, Germany dominates the EU from the economic point of view and would like to mediate -to a certain extent- relations between the US and Russia and their severe geopolitical feud through the management of Ukraines crisis and political transformation in order to play in the first league of world powers.

The fourth reason of interest lies is Ukraines good profitability for German investments, especially in the manufacturing and in the agrarian sector, in particular in the so called Black lands of Western Ukraine. During the Cold War, Germany was an object of international politics (machtgeschutzte Innerlichkeit or inwardness protected by someone elses power) more than a full-fledged player, wholly capable of political actorness and clout in Europe and in the world. The Ukraine crisis has allowed Germany to return to the role of power that defines the developments of regional and continental politics (Ordnungsmacht).

However,it is impossible for Germany, as for any other country, to be a staunch supporter of Ukraines EU integration and a good friend of Russia at the same time. On this issue, Germanys political spectrum is divided between centre-winged parties on one side and the Russia leaning extreme right-winged (AfD) and left-leaning parties(die Linke)-plus the powerful German business community- on the other. The first are in favour of an integration of Ukraine; the latter would prefer mending relations with Russia. The cultural reason behind this derives also from Germanys dichotomous self-perception as Abendland (with a strong ancient Roman, Greek and Christian cultural legacy) with a leaning to Russian culture seen ideologically as an alternative to the soulless market economy, or as a purely Western-democratic and market oriented society, like the US or Great Britain. It would be necessary for the two sides to strike a deal and make an ultimate commitment to either one choice or the other in order to take a straight stance on the lingering, wearying feud between Russia and the West over the complex and articulated Ukrainian issue.
Of course, in paragraph four of the first part of Article 19 of the Law of Ukraine "On the legal regime of martial law" it is provided that during the period of martial law, elections wont be held in Ukraine. It is known, perhaps, by all Ukrainians.



However, I dare say that the Constitution of Ukraine (as an act of higher legal force), in contrast to the above-mentioned law, is not so categorical in this matter.



Therefore, the possibility / impossibility of holding the next presidential election of Ukraine on March 31, 2019 will be understandable only after familiarization with the presidential decree of Ukraine on the imposition of martial law in Ukraine or in certain localities approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, including taking into account the provision of the second part of Article 64, paragraph 31 of the first part of Article 85,and paragraph 20 of the first part of Article 106 of the Constitution of Ukraine.



First, it will be necessary to find out: is martial law introduced throughout the territory of Ukraine or only in its individual areas?

Read original article at 112.ua
Conflict in Sea of Azov TASS

Permanent representatives of member countries of the EU in the UN Security Council expressed grave concern due to the situation escalation in the Sea of Azov and called Russia to release the Ukrainian sailors. The claim was published on the website of French mission in the UN.

The Permanent Representatives of the Members from the European Union of the Security Council at informal exchanges of views, held on their request, of the members of the Security Council during their visit to Beijing, expressed grave concern about the recent escalation of tension in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, reads the message.

It is claimed that the permanent representatives approved full recognition of the territorial integrity, the independence and the sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Detained Ukrainian sailors should be freed and captured vessels returned, reads the statement.

The permanent representatives have also urged Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov, as well as restore freedom of navigation in the Kerch Strait. Diplomats called on everyone to act with the utmost restraint, for the immediate de-escalation of the situation.

The UN Security Council blocked Russian-initiated consideration of the issue of the alleged violation of borders during the emergency session regarding the aggressive acts of the Russian Federation conducted against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov.

As it was reported, Viktor Muzhenko, Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told the entire course of events which lead to the escalation of the crisis in the Sea of Azov at the National Security and Defence Council session. The coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.

Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.

It is specified that Don border guard cruiser rammed the Ukrainian armored artillery boat, which led to the damage of the main engine, planting and accommodation rail, life float is lost. The Ukrainian Navy states that "the dispatcher service of the occupiers refuses to ensure the right of freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements."

Thus, according to the Ukrainian side, Russia has once again demonstrated its aggressive nature and complete disregard for the norms of international law.


How Not to Fight Income Inequality



Trying to combat income inequality through mandated wage compression is not just an odd preference. It is a mistake, as Mexico's president-elect, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, will find out in a few years, after much damage has been done.



Ricardo Hausmann









CAMBRIDGE  Suppose two people hold different opinions about a policy issue. Is it possible to say that one is right and the other wrong, or do they just have different preferences? After all, what is the difference between an odd preference and a mistake?



A preference influences a choice that is expected to deliver the goal the chooser wants to achieve. A mistake is a choice based on a wrong belief about how the world works, so that the outcome is not what the chooser expected. Unfortunately, this may be a costly way to learn. It also may be inconclusive, because it is always possible to attribute the mistakes bad consequences to other factors.



A case in point is the decision by Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), to lower the salaries of the higher echelons of the civil service, including himself, capping them at $5,707 per month. Many greeted the decision, announced in July, with glee. It showed that AMLO was committed to fiscal austerity and income equality.



But what appears to be a well-articulated preference will prove to be a serious mistake.



Unfortunately, AMLO will find out only in a few years, by which point the damage inflicted on Mexico will be huge.



Interfering with market prices to achieve fairness  an idea that harks back to St. Thomas Aquinas and even Aristotle  is probably one of the worst economic policies ever. Governments in many countries regularly set prices  especially for energy, foreign exchange, or credit  artificially low, leading predictably to under-investment and shortages. Venezuela is an extreme case that dramatizes the consequences. But are public sector wages another example of this practice?



The answer is more nuanced. In general, governments pay their employees significantly more on average than the private corporate sector, because government services such as education, health care, justice, and administration are on average more skill-intensive. As a result, government employees have significantly higher levels of schooling  four more years, on average, in Mexico. But even controlling for this, a study by the CAF Development Bank showed that average wages are higher in the public sector in Latin America. In Mexico, government employees wages were about 13.5% higher than private-sector wages in 2012.



The same study also showed that wages in the public sector are significantly less unequal than in the private sector. This means that while the public sector pays more than the private sector at the median, the situation is reversed at the top end of the pay scale. This was not the case in Mexico, where the public-sector premium fell to zero but did not become negative. AMLO now wants to join the rest of the continent.



The compressed wage structure that AMLO will introduce typically means that, at the low end, public sector jobs are highly coveted: they offer higher pay, shorter hours, better benefits (such as pensions and health insurance), and greater stability. Turnover tends to be very low and political parties try to make sure that jobs go to their supporters.



By contrast, at the high end, governments often struggle  and often fail  to attract and retain talent. As a consequence, government agencies never develop the deep knowledge, institutional memory, and competence they need to perform their functions effectively. Central banks, with their separate pay scale, often are the exception that proves the rule.



To cope with this competence deficit in their client countries, multilateral development institutions, such as the World Bank, often create project-management units run by higher-paid consultants, and dismantle them when the project is completed. These workarounds are not ideal, because they dont develop long-term institutional capabilities. To a large extent, Mexico had been an exception, because it paid salaries that enabled the government to attract and retain highly educated career bureaucrats.



Politicians such as AMLO should ask themselves why profit-maximizing firms believe that they cannot boost their bottom lines by saving on senior management salaries. As firms compete for skills, they bid up wages, leaving the public sector with less qualified employees. Clearly, many young people want to work for the government out of an idealistic commitment to public service and as a learning opportunity. But when public-sector wages are depressed, they usually do so for just a few years, before they start a family, and certainly not for a lifetime, which is what many complex public-sector agencies often require.



Is this a problem? Good governments rightly want major firms and the rich to pay their fair share of taxes. They want corporations not to abuse their market power, pollute the environment, or sell unsafe products. They want to protect people from criminal gangs. They want the currency to be stable and financial institutions to be safe, so that peoples savings are secure and taxpayers do not have to bail out the banks. They want public projects that are well conceived and structured, and procurement processes that protect the budget from opportunistic or corrupt suppliers. They want oil and mining concessions to be allocated efficiently and to maximize government revenue.



Trying to accomplish these valuable tasks while paying below-market salaries is penny wise but pound foolish. Tax collectors, regulators, and prosecutors need adequate resources to win their difficult battles.



AMLOs decision to lower the wages of public employees has already led many high-ranking officials to seek employment elsewhere. Those who are entitled to early retirement are taking it, rather than waiting for AMLOs cut. Many in AMLOs own party will celebrate, because they can fill the vacancies with loyalists. But these benefits will come at the cost of a less capable state that is less able to deliver on AMLOs most cherished goals.



Trying to achieve greater equality through mandated wage compression is not just an odd preference; it is a mistake. It will deliver a state less able to contribute to a more just society.





Ricardo Hausmann, a former minister of planning of Venezuela and former Chief Economist of the Inter-American Development Bank, is Director of the Center for International Development at Harvard University and a professor of economics at the Harvard Kennedy School.
The Russian government allowed the movement to resume at about 4 a.m. Monday; it was imposed on Sunday evening due to the attack on Ukrainian vessels

The Russian Federation has lifted the restriction of movement of civilian vessels across Kerch Strait. The ships already cross it, TASS news agency reported with the reference to Aleksei Volkov, the Director General of Crimean Sea Ports enterprise.

According to the official who represents the Crimean occupant authorities, the decision took effect movement at about 4 a.m. Monday.

The restriction was imposed on Sunday evening due to the attack on Ukrainian vessels, as Russian naval group fired on Ukrainian Navy ships, ramming one of them and eventually capturing the vessels. Six Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the attack.

As is known, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The incident took place on November 25. The press office of the Ukrainian Navy reported this on Facebook.

November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.

Related: UN Security Council to hold urgent session due to Azov crisis

Related: Ukraines parliament to consider imposing of martial law at 16:00
The police opened criminal case; the protesters oppose the new law on the cut of excise taxes

EU license plate car owners protest, police Open source

The protest actions on the Ukraine-EU border continue, owners of the imported cars with EU license plates are blocking three border checkpoints. The overall number of protesters makes approximately 200 drivers, a correspondent of 112 Ukraine TV channel reported.

The vehicles' movement near the checkpoints is blocked. Every 30 minutes, the activists pass several vehicles, including three vans, passenger buses, emergency service vehicles and transports with minors onboard. They burn tires, opposing the payments for the car transit procedure.

The patrol police of Volyn region (northwestern Ukraine) reported that the number of protesters at Yahodyn checkpoint keeps growing, with people blocking hundreds of meters of Kyiv-Kovel-Yahodyn roadway. The law enforcers opened a criminal case in this regard; the protesters may face either a fine, correction works or detention.

The movement is also blocked at Chop checkpoint; currently, about 150 people block the traffic. They only agreed to let one car across the checkpoint.

About 50 people blocked Rava-Ruska checkpoint in Lviv region. They burned tires in front of the checkpoint; vehicles move across the checkpoint every 15 minutes, but there's still a considerable queue.

On November 23, President Petro Poroshenko signed the law that foresees cutting the excise taxes on the cars with EU license plates. The bill also foresees more control over the movement and the use of cars with foreign registration. The respective statement appeared on the president's official Facebook page.

'I signed bills No.No. 8487,8488, which legalize the cars with European license plates, brought to Ukraine with the breach of the customs and tax legal framework. All funds, every last hryvna, will go to the Pension Fund, making up for its deficit, the indexation of retirement wages, the payments - above all, to those who get the minimum retirement wage. This is foreseen by the law - clearly and explicitly', Poroshenko wrote.

The president called passing the law 'a tough middle ground between the state and the actual car owners - between those who accepted the taxes as granted and those who only got the chance to become a decent taxpayer'. 'The Pension Fund will have to regularly report on the volumes of costs acquired from legalization of the cars,' Poroshenko marked.

The draft law No.8487 was meant to solve the problem of the vehicles with European car plates which were not custom-cleared. It provides 50 Euros of excise tax basic rates for automobiles with petroleum engines up to 3,000 cubic centimeters, and 100 Euros-rate for the cars with engine volume over 3,000 cubic centimeters; 75 Euros for the cars with diesel engine up to 3,500 cubic centimeters, and 150 Euros for those over 3,500 cubic centimeters.
According to Viktor Muzhenko, the scheduled transfer began on November 24. During the transfer, they received a message which said that the passage zone in Kerch Strait was closing

Viktor Muzhenko, the Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 112 Agency

Viktor Muzhenko, Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told the entire course of events which lead to the escalation of the crisis in the Sea of Azov at the National Security and Defence Council session, broadcasted by 112 Ukraine.

According to him, the scheduled transfer began on November 24. During the transfer, they received a message which said that the passage zone in Kerch Strait was closing.

The International Centre located in Spain has never confirmed information on the closure of this area. On November 25, at around 4 am, the senior of the passage made two requests to Kerch dispatching office to find out whether it is possible to pass and to clarify the passage schedule in Kerch Bridge area. No information and response received, they continued moving, he said.

Later, the Ukrainian vessels received a message that they had to move to the waiting area, where the order of the passage under the Kerch Bridge would be defined.

At 11 am, on November 25, we received a message on the closure of the passage zone, the international control center also revealed this data, which did not correspond to reality, as at 1.40-1.50 pm Kyiv time or at 2.40-2.50 pm Moscow time, one ship and two counter-terror boats of the Russian Federation passed under the Kerch Bridge. Though, it was informed that the passage was impossible," he stressed.

The Russian side opened fire, captured the Ukrainian vessels. Six military men out of 23, who were on the vessels, got injured during confrontations.

As we reported earlier, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.

Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.

Related: Russian MFA comments on situation in Sea of Azov

It is specified that Don border guard cruiser rammed the Ukrainian armored artillery boat.

The Ukrainian Navy states that "the dispatcher service of the occupiers refuses to ensure the right of freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements." Thus, according to the Ukrainian side, Russia has once again demonstrated its aggressive nature and complete disregard for the norms of international law.
Official Brussels notes that the events in the Sea of Azov are a demonstration of how instability and tensions are bound to rise when the basic rules of international cooperation are disregarded

Open source

The European Union calls on Russia to restore the passage of ships through the Kerch Strait and reduce the degree of tension. This is said in the EU foreign service emergency statement.



"The tensions in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait have increased dangerously today, after an incident this morning between Russian and Ukrainian naval vessels as the latter were attempting to pass through the Kerch strait as well as subsequent developments, including the closure of the strait for traffic by Russian authorities and reported seizures of Ukrainian vessels and shots being fired at them," said the speaker of the EU diplomatic service.



Official Brussels notes that today's events in the Sea of Azov are a demonstration of how instability and tensions are bound to rise when the basic rules of international cooperation are disregarded.



The illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge, which is another violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in parallel with the militarization of the Sea of Azov, led to a tightening of control over the naval movement in the strait. The European Union expects Russia to stop checking ships.

#NATO is closely monitoring developments in the #AzovSea & #KerchStrait, & we are in contact with the #Ukrainian authorities. We call for restraint & de-escalation. Read my full statement: pic.twitter.com/DDtfvNLa4K  Oana Lungescu (@NATOpress) November 25, 2018

Meanwhile, the HQ of the Ukrainian Navy reported that the number of wounded Ukrainian sailors increased to six; the servicemen were wounded during the attack of Russian naval group in Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov.

Earlier, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The press office of the Ukrainian Navy reported this on Facebook.

November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.
Ukraine and Germany coordinated the actions on the preparation for the European Council session, which is to be held in Brussels in December

Open source

During a phone conversation of the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko expressed concern about the escalation of Russian armed aggression and stated that she would do everything for de-escalation, as Svyatoslav Tseholko, the Spokesperson of the Head of the State, said.

Petro Poroshenko informed about a severe aggression act of Russian against Ukraine in Kerch Strait and Ukraines reaction, including the imposition of martial law. Angela Merkel expressed concern about the escalation of the Russian armed aggression and informed that she would do everything for de-escalation, Tseholko wrote.

According to him, during the conversation, Poroshenko also stated that Russias aggressive actions were unacceptable and urged the international community to enhance pressure on Russia for the immediate release of the Ukrainian sailors and ships.

The interlocutors coordinated the actions on the preparation for the European Council session, which is to be held in Brussels in December. Besides, they have reached an agreement to prolong the Ukrainian-German consultations to solve the situation, Tseholko added.

Earlier today, Poroshenko had some phone conversations with the EU member states leaders. The main topic is the current situation in the Sea of Azov due to the Russian aggression and seizure of the Ukrainian ships along with the crew.

Related video:
It was also reported that the Russian Armed Forces is drawing up forces

Open source

Military units of the occupied Donbas territories are placed on high alerts, as Vadym Skybytsky, Chairman of the Main Intelligence Department of the Defence Ministry, said at the briefing, broadcasted by 112 Ukraine.

For today, all the units of the first and the second army corps are placed on high alert, Skybytsky noted.

He added that Russian Armed Forces are drawing up 250 T-62 tanks from the eastern Russian regions to Rostov region.

As it was reported, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed an order on the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose a martial law in Ukraine.

National Security and Defence Council proposed the President to introduce the martial law from 2 pm on November 26 till January 25, 2019. Poroshenko has approved the proposal with his decree.

As we reported earlier the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.

Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.

Related: Attempt to get out of situation, - Russian MFA on martial law in Ukraine

It is specified that Don border guard cruiser rammed the Ukrainian armored artillery boat, which led to the damage of the main engine, planting and accommodation rail, life float is lost.

The Ukrainian Navy states that "the dispatcher service of the occupiers refuses to ensure the right of freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements." Thus, according to the Ukrainian side, Russia has once again demonstrated its aggressive nature and complete disregard for the norms of international law.
A video of the moment when the Russian Border Guard ship rams the Ukrainian tug at Sea of Azov is spread in the social media. Ukraine's Internal Minister Arsen Avakovwas posted this on his Twitter.



The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine got access to a video of provocation - Russian border ship Don rams Ukrainian ship. The video was filmed by the Russians, we hear their commands - this will be the proof in the international court! Avakov wrote.

Earlier the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The press office of the Ukrainian Navy reported this on Facebook.



Related: Entire Ukrainian fleet scrambled on red alert, Ukraine calls urgent UNSC session

Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.



Russian authorities said that three Ukrainian warships in the Sea of Azov illegally entered the territorial waters of the Russian Federation and headed to the Kerch Strait. The Federal Security Service border guards in Crimea stated this, TASS reported.
According to the President of the country, "Ukraine demands to immediately pass them to the Ukrainian side with the vessels"

Open source

The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko demanded the Russian authorities immediate release of the Ukrainian military taken captive along with the vessels in Kerch Strait evening before, as the Head of the State said at the session of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council.

I appeal to the authorities of the Russian Federation demanding to immediately release the Ukrainian military who were brutally detained in violation of international law, whose destiny remains unknown. Ukraine demands to immediately pass them to the Ukrainian side with the vessels, the President said.

Poroshenko also urged the Russian side to the de-escalation of the situation in Azov Sea and in other directions. He also called Russia for immediate reaction to this message.

As it was reported, Viktor Muzhenko, the Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told the entire course of events which lead to the escalation of the crisis in the Sea of Azov at the National Security and Defence Council session

As we reported earlier the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.

Related: Russian MFA comments on situation in Sea of Azov

Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.

It is specified that Don border guard cruiser rammed the Ukrainian armored artillery boat, which led to the damage of the main engine, planting and accommodation rail, life float is lost. The Ukrainian Navy states that "the dispatcher service of the occupiers refuses to ensure the right of freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements.

Related: Russia blocks movement of civil vessels in Sea of Azov, - media

The Ukrainian Navy states that "the dispatcher service of the occupiers refuses to ensure the right of freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements." Thus, according to the Ukrainian side, Russia has once again demonstrated its aggressive nature and complete disregard for the norms of international law.
According to the National Security and Defense Council decision, the President was offered to introduce a martial law from 2 p.m. on November 26, 2018, until 2 p.m. on January 25, 2019

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed an order on the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose a martial law in Ukraine, reads to the order of the President published on the website of the Presidential Administration.

From November 26, 2018, the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC, - Ed.) of Ukraine on emergency measures to ensure the state sovereignty and independence of Ukraine and the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, reads the order.

According to the NSDC decision, the President was offered to introduce a martial law from 2 p.m. on November 26, 2018, until 2 p.m. on January 25, 2019.

It is noted that the martial law is being introduced for opposing the armed aggression and provision of the national security and lifting threats of the state independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The decision of the NSDC introduced by the President is also providing a number of necessary actions for governmental organizations and agencies:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is commissioned to appeal the countries, which have signed the Memorandum on security assurances in connection with the accession of Ukraine to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of December 5, 1994, with a proposition to immediately organize consultations on the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine;

- to immediately initiate the convening of the UN Security Council and Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe;

- to organize consultations for the President of Ukraine and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with the leaders of the ally and partner governments, the European Union, the leadership of the UN, OSCE and other international organizations.

The Ministry is also commissioned to create an information campaign for the leadership of governments about Russian aggression.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to urgently define the mobilization plan of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular, the volumes of conscripts kept in reserve.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is commissioned to provide the President with suggestions on the introduction into force the documents on the use of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations.

- to organize the air defense of Ukraine in order to cover important state facilities, industrial areas, administrative centers of the state and the groups of troops (forces) from air strikes.

-to submit for the consideration of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine proposals on the involvement of other military formations and law enforcement agencies in the implementation of measures of the legal regime of the martial law.

-to envisage measures for partial mobilization, to form and hold training with the reservists of the operational reserve in the required volumes.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Service of Ukraine are commissioned to take urgent measures, in order to maintain a public order, protection, and defense of important infrastructure facilities, protection of foreign diplomatic missions.

The Security Service of Ukraine needs to take measures to enhance counter-intelligence, anti-terrorism and counter-sabotage regimes, and information security.

The Security Service of Ukraine, the Administration of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine and the other facilities for cybersecurity to take measures to ensure cybersecurity.

The Administrations of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has to reinforce the protection of the state border with the Russian Federation and the administrative border with the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Maria Zakharova, official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, commented on the situation in the Sea of Azov, where Russian ships seized three Ukrainian ships. Ukraine has provoked the Russian Federation, exercised pressure, and then accused it of aggression, Zakharova wrote on Facebook.



Having torn Ukraine apart, Poroshenko and the whole Maidan company will then travel the world with lectures on the benefits of democracy (just as Saakashvili does now). They have already established peace in Donbas. Now they have taken om the Kerch Strait. They use the gang methods: first, they provoke, then impose pressure, and then charge with aggression," Zakharova wrote.



"Three vessels of the Ukrainian Navy, which previously departed from Berdyansk towards the Kerch Strait, set off on the opposite course and returned to Berdyansk," as said in the report of Russia's Federal Security Service.

Earlier, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.



Related: Russian forces captured three Ukrainian ships, two sailors wounded

Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.



Russian authorities said that three Ukrainian warships in the Sea of Azov illegally entered the territorial waters of the Russian Federation and headed to the Kerch Strait. This is particularly stated in the message of the Federal Security Service border guards in Crimea.

The boats of the Russian Border Guard Service opened fire on the ship group of the Ukrainian Navy, which was moving towards the exit from the Kerch Strait.



'After leaving the 12-mile area, gunboats of the Border Guard of Russian Federal Security Service fired on the naval group of the Ukrainian Navy of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Berdyansk, small armored gunboat, was damaged,' the message says.


Japan risks repeating some old mistakes



The central bank is muddying its commitment to easy monetary policy



Robin Harding







In April 1997, Japan raised consumption tax and a promising economic recovery ended in recession. In August 2000 and again in July 2006, the Bank of Japan raised interest rates, only to cut them again as the economy slid into recession. Undeterred, prime minister Shinzo Abe raised consumption tax in April 2014. The result: another recession.



There is something of a pattern here. Yet Japan is once again flirting with making the same mistake.



Mr Abe came to office in 2012 on a pledge to revive the economy and end the deflation that has plagued Japan since its bubble burst back in 1990. He appointed governor Haruhiko Kuroda to the Bank of Japan and together the two men launched the stimulus known as Abenomics.



The BoJ has purchased assets equal to 100 per cent of Japanese output, delivering a weaker yen, five years of strong economic growth and a drop in the unemployment rate to 2.3 per cent.



Now there are signs of stimulus fatigue. Mr Abe has a maximum of three years left in office. Before leaving, he is eager to declare victory for Abenomics and defeat for deflation. The prime minister insists he will go ahead with another rise in consumption tax next autumn, albeit offset with some dubious stimulus schemes.



Meanwhile, Mr Kuroda says Japan is no longer in a situation where decisively implementing a large-scale policy to overcome deflation was judged as the most appropriate policy conduct. To an extent little recognised outside the country, the BoJ is muddying its commitment to easy monetary policy, and edging away from further stimulus.



This stance would make sense if deflation truly were defeated. But it is not. Japans economy is doing much better, but underlying inflation, up by 0.4 per cent on a year ago, is still far below the BoJs 2 per cent objective.



At some point the long global expansion will end. If Japan has truly escaped deflation, it will endure the resulting shock without a fall in prices. Few would bet on that outcome today.



The clearest sign of waning commitment to Abenomics came with the BoJs move this summer to raise its effective cap on 10-year bond yields from about 0.1 per cent to about 0.2 per cent. The BoJ said this was necessary to enhance the sustainability of what will otherwise be a policy of continued easing. Nonetheless, it amounted to a tightening of financial conditions at a time when the central bank is still far from its inflation goal.



That decision adds to a tangled mess of promises. The BoJ continues to state it is buying government bonds at an annual pace of 80tn, even though it has tapered the actual pace of buying down to about 45tn.



It has an inflation-overshooting commitment, which sounds tough, but will actually allow it to raise interest rates well before inflation hits 2 per cent. Then there is its new vow to keep interest rates on hold for an extended period of time (in the English version of the statement) or for the time being (in the Japanese).



Mr Kuroda says the BoJs intended meaning is closer to the English phrase. Nonetheless, the overall impression is of a deeply conflicted central bank that no longer seems certain what it is trying to achieve. So far, the BoJ has been lucky: rising interest rates in the US have helped to keep the yen under control. It cannot count on this luck continuing, especially if it were tempted to raise the yield curve cap again.



Such contortions from the BoJ would be easier to accept if there was more evidence of negative side-effects from its huge bond purchases, but the central banks own financial stability report finds no signs of overheating. It is certainly true that Japans banks struggle to make money with such a low level of interest rates. That, however, is because Japan has far too many banks. It is not the central banks task to make them profitable.



The temptation to step off the accelerator is understandable. Why, after all, is it necessary to reach 2 per cent inflation when profits are high and unemployment is low? Is the current situation not rather desirable?



But that is like saying you feel better so forget about the rest of the antibiotics. Halting stimulus halfway caused all the previous failures and it will never be possible to control Japans public debt unless investment and consumption are strong enough to replace government spending.



That is the whole point of Abenomics.



The right path forward is clear. The Bank of Japan should stop mucking about and clearly state its intention to maintain stimulus until inflation is above 2 per cent. The prime minister should cancel his tax increase until the same goal is achieved.



Together, Mr Abe and Mr Kuroda have achieved great things. They have a duty to continue.



This may be Japans last chance to escape the debilitating effects of economic stagnation and falling prices  it is hard to imagine anybody finding the political will to try again.



To give up now, or claim a false victory for political convenience, would be a tragic mistake.
All three vessels of the Naval Forces of Ukraine, which violated the Russian border, were detained in the Black Sea; weapons were used to force them to stop. It was reported by TASS, referring to the Center for Public Relations of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSS).



The ships of the Ukrainian Navy - "Berdyansk," "Nikopol," and "Yany Kapu," which violated the state border of Russia this morning on November 25, at 19:00 Moscow time, made another attempt of illegal actions within the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. They did not react to the legal requirements of the Russian border guard service to stop; they made dangerous maneuvering," Russian FSS reports.



Weapons were used to stop the Ukrainian warships. Three wounded servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received medical help. There is no threat to their lives.

Earlier the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The press office of the Ukrainian Navy reported this on Facebook.



Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.



Related: Six Ukrainian sailors wounded during shelling and capturing of ships by Russians, - Ukraine's Navy

Russian authorities said that three Ukrainian warships in the Sea of Azov illegally entered the territorial waters of the Russian Federation and headed to the Kerch Strait.



The boats of the Russian Border Guard Service opened fire on the ship group of the Ukrainian Navy, which was moving towards the exit from the Kerch Strait. 'After the exit from the 12-mile area, gunboats of the Border Guard of Russian Federal Security Service fired on the naval group of the Ukrainian Navy of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Berdyansk, the small armored gunboat took damage,' the message says.
The issue of imposing of the martial law will be considered in closed session

The extraordinary plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, during which the issue of the imposing of the military law, will take place on November 26, at 16:00, as the press service of the parliament reported, citing speaker Andriy Parubiy.

Pursuant to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and appeal of the President of Ukraine, on Monday, November 26, 2018, at 16:00, I announce holding the extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the message said.

The speaker did not specify the regime (opened or closed), the session will take place. However, the press service of the President of Ukraine reported that the MPs will consider the imposing of the military law in the closed session.

All actions of the Russian aggressor, which were committed against the Ukrainian ships at Kerch Strait, are the violation of the norms of the UN Charter and UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Parubiy reported on Facebook.

The whole world saw the evidence of the Russian military aggression, and no one would be able to argue with this. The whole world saw the video where the Russian military vessels attack Ukrainian ones. Obviously, that the front of the Russian aggression was extended and it reaches the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, Parubiy wrote.

As it was reported earlier, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.

Russian authorities said that three Ukrainian warships in the Sea of Azov illegally entered the territorial waters of the Russian Federation and headed to the Kerch Strait.

The boats of the Russian Border Guard Service opened fire against the ship group of the Ukrainian Navy, which was moving towards the exit from the Kerch Strait.

Related: Video of Russians' ram Ukrainian Navy tugboat appeared on Web

Given the tough situation in the area of Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov, President Petro Poroshenko supported the offer of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council; it stipulates that the Ukrainian Parliament should consider the option to impose the martial law in Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities convened a meeting of the UN Security Council after the shelling and the capture by Russia the ships of Ukraine's Armed Forces, which have been performing a transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port. The meeting to start at 6 p.m. Kyiv time

The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting regarding the aggressive acts conducted by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in the Sea of Azov, according to the official UNSC website.

Ukrainian authorities convened a meeting of the UN Security Council after the shelling and the capture by Russia the ships of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Berdyansk, Nikopol, and Yany Kapu, which have been performing a transition from Odesa port (the Black Sea) to Mariupol (the Sea of Azov) having moved through the Kerch Strait. The information about 23 Ukrainian sailors, who have been captured by the occupiers during the attack, is still unknown. Six Ukrainian militaries are injured and located on the Russian territory.

Ukrainian authorities feared that Moscow opened a new frontline at the Sea of Azov. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko commissioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform the G7 and the members of the UN Security Council about the actions of the Russian Federation in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Moscow also made a similar appeal to consider a maritime conflict at the UN Security Council. It claims that the Ukrainian ships violated its maritime border.

As it was reported, Viktor Muzhenko, Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told the entire course of events which lead to the escalation of the crisis in the Sea of Azov at the National Security and Defence Council session

As we reported earlier the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.

Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.

It is specified that Don border guard cruiser rammed the Ukrainian armored artillery boat, which led to the damage of the main engine, planting and accommodation rail, life float is lost.

The Ukrainian Navy states that "the dispatcher service of the occupiers refuses to ensure the right of freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements." Thus, according to the Ukrainian side, Russia has once again demonstrated its aggressive nature and complete disregard for the norms of international law.
U.S. Congress urged Trump to bring Putin to justice for the situation in the region

Open source

The U.S. Special Representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker commented on the escalation of the situation in Sea of Azov, as he wrote on Twitter.

Russia rams Ukrainian vessel peacefully traveling toward a Ukrainian port. Russia seizes ships and crew and then accuses Ukraine of provocation???  Kurt Volker (@SpecRepUkraine) November 26, 2018

Viktor Muzhenko, Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, told the entire course of events which lead to the escalation of the crisis in the Sea of Azov at the National Security and Defence Council session.

As we reported earlier, the coast guard ships of the Russian Navy acted aggressively against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, which have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov.

Related: Russian media reveal names of three wounded Ukrainian sailors, detained in Sea of Azov

Today, November 25, the ships of the Ukrainian Navy with two armored gunboats and a sea mule tugboat have been carrying out a scheduled transition from Odesa port to Mariupol port in the Sea of Azov. The intention to make the transition was informed in advance in accordance with international standards in order to ensure the safety of navigation. However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, the Russian coast guard ships - Sobol class patrol boat, Don border guard cruiser, Mangust class patrol boat and Suzdalets anti-submarine warfare ship performed blatantly aggressive acts against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy, reads the message.

Related: Ukraine's Armed Forces General Staff Head tells about course of Azov crisis escalation

It is specified that Don border guard cruiser rammed the Ukrainian armored artillery boat, which led to the damage of the main engine.

The Ukrainian Navy states that "the dispatcher service of the occupiers refuses to ensure the right of freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements." Thus, according to the Ukrainian side, Russia has once again demonstrated its aggressive nature and complete disregard for the norms of international law.
A meditation and sharing support group focused on the practice of Buddhist teachings and the 12 steps of recovery while integrating the Dharma and the basic goodness of meditation.

The Heart of Recovery is a meditation and sharing support group with the purpose of bringing together the practice of meditation, the Shambhala and Buddhist teachings, and the Twelve Steps of Recovery with the goal of integrating the basic sanity of the Dharma and the basic goodness of meditation with our commitment to abstinence. We welcome all those who wish to share in these common interests.

The Heart of Recovery is a meditation and sharing support group with the purpose of bringing together the practice of meditation, the Shambhala and Buddhist teachings, and the Twelve Steps of Recovery with the goal of integrating the basic sanity of the Dharma and the basic goodness of meditation with our commitment to abstinence. We welcome all those who wish to share in these common interests.
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.


Teddy Roosevelt Goes to Panama



For the U.S., the Panama Canal symbolized the expansion of its geopolitical power.



By GPF Staff



In November 1906, Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting U.S. president to make a diplomatic visit outside the continental United States. On Nov. 9, he sailed for Panama to view the construction of the Panama Canal, a symbol of the expansion of U.S. geopolitical power, for himself.

At its narrowest point, the isthmus of Panama separates the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by a mere 30 miles (50 kilometers). Since the 1500s, explorers and entrepreneurs had dreamed of a path that would drastically cut the time and resources required to cross from one ocean to the other: Sea transit between the U.S. east and west coasts was a weekslong, 13,000-mile journey.

Control over such a path gave Washington a valuable source of revenue and immense geopolitical influence. Alfred Thayer Mahan, the great naval and geopolitical writer, knew that U.S. control of the Central American isthmus, and the possibility of a trans-isthmus canal, would be pivotal for the projection of U.S. military and commercial power. Roosevelt, too, was keenly aware of this; he had served as secretary of the Navy under President William McKinley, who had bolstered U.S. influence in international affairs by extending the U.S. Navys geographic reach.
Few crimes in recent New York City history have provoked as much outrage as the murder of 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz.

The grim facts of Juniors bloody murder were captured on video and widely shared on social media before they were broadcast on the evening news: A group of young men pull the teen from a Bronx bodega, then stab and slash him to death with knives and machetes on the sidewalk outside. It was a tragic case of mistaken identity.

Governor Andrew Cuomo called it a terrible, horrendous act, and set aside $19 million to pay for "anti-gang" programs in the Bronx. Mayor Bill de Blasio said it felt very personal to have lost an exemplary young man; and Cardi B re-posted a photograph to her Instagram account of the dead boy being hugged by his mother, commenting These Bronx streets are ruthless.

Fourteen men, ranging in age from 18 to 29, have been charged with second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons offenses. Five of the 14 also face first degree murder charges, for allegedly wielding the weapons that killed Junior. The remaining nine are alleged to have acted in concert with the five.

With their trials set to start in February, new revelations cast doubt on whether one of those nine belongs to the gang police say carried out the killing.

Danilo P. Pacheco was granted bail in October by the judge presiding over the case, Robert A. Neary. Pachecos lawyer, Donald Vogelman, told the court Pacheco was not a member of the gang, the Trinitarios, and prosecutors did not dispute it.

The only defendant in the case granted bail, Pacheco remains jailed in lieu of $500,000 dollars cash or bond.

Justice Nearywho served as a prosecutor in Westchester for 28 years, and who as a judge was once censured for calling a defense lawyer a "clown" in front of a jurytold lawyers for the defendants that he intends to try the case in February. Pre-trial hearings, he said, start in January.

How Pacheco was indicted along with 13 alleged Trinitariosa gang born on Rikers Island, long-known for meting out street justice with the edge of a bladeraises questions about the evidence against him, and shows how people can be pulled into gang violence, as both victims and perpetrators, even though they are not gang members.

The inquiry also spotlights a 15th suspect originally sought by police, but not publicly charged with a crime, who appears to be cooperating with investigators. Michael Sosa Reyes was captured on surveillance video entering the bodega, part of the group hunting for Junior. (A spokesperson for the Bronx DA declined to say whether Reyes has been charged.)

Rival Trinitarios factions Los Sures and Sunset were at war on June 20th, 2018. Late that evening, in the Bronx, Los Sures members were hunting for Sunset members in a convoy of four cars. Spotting Junior, they mistook him for a Sunset member and chased him into a bodega, prosecutors say.

Junior, an NYPD Explorer who police said wanted to become a detective, wasnt in a gang, but had friends who were, and may have spent time with them at Adams Place, the popular neighborhood hangout he had been headed to when he was targeted, according to the New York Times.

While only five are charged with wielding the knives and machetes that killed Junior, the remaining nine, including Pacheco, are alleged to have assisted the five, by either chasing Junior into the bodega or pulling him from it.

Meanwhile, a new court filing by prosecutors details some of the evidence police and prosecutors have gathered in the case, including six vehicles, statements by five of the defendants, four knives, a silver box-cutter, DNA, dried blood, cellular telephones, EZ pass records, videos and photographs.

Some of the accused suggest that while they may have agreed to beat up rivals, they did not agree to murder anyone.

Defendant Danel Fernandez, for example, told police, Check the video. You wont see me with a knife in my hand. I didnt stab him, according to the new court filing.

Defendant Kevin Alvarez said I thought it was just going to be a fight when I came out the store and I turned around and saw the machetes, the New York Daily News reported.

I didnt know that, he said. I only saw (the knives) when I came out of the store. I backed up and put my arms up. I yelled at them to stop, Alvarez claimed.

Pacheco, 21, surrendered on July 6th. His family said he had never been arrested before.

Laughing all the time. He makes a lot of jokes. Thats Danilo, his older sister Daniella Payamps Pacheco explained.

Hes never been in any gang, she said. Hes never even been suspended from school. I wouldve known. Hes my baby brother.

Pachecos wife, Lisandy, who, at 27, is five years older than him, described her husband as affectionate. Hes playful and he doesnt bully anyone. He doesnt like having enemies. Hes just a nice person.

But Pacheco was riding in Sosa Reyes car the night Junior was killed, and is alleged to have been among the group that chased the boy into the bodega.

Vogelman, his lawyer, told Gothamist Pacheco was merely at the scene of a gruesome crime, and did not participate.

Pacheco did not plan this,"Vogelman said. "He did not go to the meeting beforehand or afterward. He was not armed. He did not chase Junior into the bodega. He did not stab Junior. He did not pull Junior from the bodega."

Pacheco isnt a Trinitarios, or a member of any gang, Vogelman added.

When asked whether prosecutors consider Pacheco a Trinitarios member or not, Bronx DA spokesperson Patrice O'Shaughnessy hedged, quoting language in the indictment alleging he killed Junior because of his membership in the gang, or affiliation with it.

The NYPD did not respond to a request to disclose whether Pacheco is listed in its gang database as a Trinitarios member.



Still from surveillance video showing the bodega owner allowing Lesandro to hide behind the counter

If prosecutors cant prove Pacheco is a Trinitarios, their case against him could falter, according to Kevin McCarthy, professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former head of the Organized Crime Strike Force for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Newark.

If the heart of the conspiracy is conduct by a gang, then not being a member of that gang would mitigate against the charge, McCarthy said.

Still, in this case, as with any serious criminal case with multiple defendants guilty to different degrees, if at all, the least guilty can be convicted of the worst crimes because of what McCarthy called spillover effect.

Highly incriminating proof against one defendant tends to spill over to other defendants, despite judges instructions that the proof must be considered against each defendant individually, McCarthy explained.

Daniella, Pachecos sister, said her brother met Sosa Reyes in high school, and stayed friends after. Sosa Reyes had a car; her brother did not, she explained, a calculus familiar to any teenager. The evening of Juniors murder, Sosa Reyes picked Pacheco up at home and drove the two to a nearby park, where they hung out.

Around 11:00 p.m., they got back into Sosa Reyes car and were headed to what Pacheco thought was another park, Daniella said, but Sosa Reyes joined a convoy of cars. When Sosa Reyes spotted Junior, he pointed to the boy and told Pacheco he beat-up an old lady, Vogelman says.

Pacheco hopped out of the car and moved toward the boy, but stopped when he saw a man armed with a machete, Vogelman said, and retreated to the car. By his account, Pacheco was out of the car for about 10 seconds.

After Pacheco got back in the car, Sosa Reyes sped forward past the bodega, parking up the block from it. When Sosa Reyes left the car and went inside the bodega, Pacheco remained with the car, either sitting inside or standing beside it, video shows.

At one point, he got out of the car, stood next to its rear bumper, raised a hand in the air and signaled, then went back into the car.

Vogelman said Pacheco signaled to Sosa Reyes to get back in the car, because Pacheco wanted them both to leave, but at Pachecos bail hearing prosecutors said the signal pointed to the bodegamarking it for Juniors killers as the place he could be found.

A Bronx jury will decide which version is true, absent a plea-bargain.



Leandra Feliz, far left, hugged by Rev. Chaplin Carlos Baez, after leaving her home a block from where her son was killed in June (Bebeto Matthews/AP/Shutterstock)

I just need justice for my son, Leandra Feliz, Juniors mother, told Gothamist outside court after the defendants October hearing. Keep me in your prayers, and Justice for Junior, she added.

Earlier, inside the courtroom, Feliz hissed "asesino"Spanish for killer or assassinat Kevin Alvarez, who allegedly dragged Junior from the bodega to his knife-wielding killers outside. She did not appear at Pachecos bail hearing.

Pachecos due back in court December 21st, when Judge Neary is expected to set a trial date.


When the MTA invites the public to weigh in and offer feedback on its fare hike proposals, it's like an invitation to a pie-throwing contest.

But that's what's happening for the next four weeks in all five boroughs, Long Island, West Chester and the Lower Hudson Valley. Here are the subway and bus fare proposals (PDF):



(MTA)

Governor Andrew Cuomo said he's against the fare hikes, and recently suggested that the MTA could save money by fixing its own culture. "The MTA's first job is to look within," he told Brian Lehrer earlier this month. "There is waste, there is inefficiency, that currently goes on at the MTA that has to end."

Cuomo suggested congestion pricing coupled with more efficient construction practices could stave off a fare hike.

"The MTA has be to be restructured, fundamentally, from the board down, and the way they contract and procure... they're too tolerant of delays. A deadline is a deadline. You can't move a deadline," Cuomo said, speaking on WNYC.

The MTA's financial plan update in November showed the agency looking at a possible deficit of more than $1 billion by 2021. The agency said there's a variety of reasons for a decrease in revenue, including competition from Uber and other ride hailing apps; as well as fare evasion, although it provided no evidence of this (that data is promised at the December board meeting).

The agency is also guilty of contributing to revenue issues: It has ongoing track closures and weekend work, which reduces service, which reduces ridership which reduces revenue, which reduces service, which...got us to a deficit in the first place.

New York City Transit President Andy Byford said the question is not when to raise fares, which he seems to fully expect will happen next year, as scheduled, but by how much.

"If we don't have a fare rise it makes things even worse, the hole gets even bigger," he said, speaking on WNYC last week about the MTA's budget.

If the agency can't close the budget gap, there could be an additional 10 to 15 percent increase in MetroCards fares over the next four years, which could also be accompanied by cuts in service.

"I will not preside over draconian cuts in service, which is exactly the wrong thing to do just as we're trying to get people back onto transit," Byford said.

Disability rights advocates plan to protest outside Tuesday's hearing demanding no fare hike until the MTA makes the entire system accessible. Under one of the MTA's fare hike proposals, Access-A-Ride users face a .25 cents increase.


by Shafique Khokhar

Extremists are affiliated with the Taliban. There is still no news on the fate of the Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. Pope Francis offers his prayers. For activist, Pakistans parliament must change the law.

Islamabad (AsiaNews)  If Asia Bibi is released, the justices will meet a "horrible end, according to Muslim radicals.

Everyone is waiting for the Supreme Court of Pakistan to announce the fate of the Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy and held in solitary confinement in prison since 2009.

On Wednesday Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP), a hardline religious political party, has announced protests across the country. On social media, extremists are calling for the Bibi to be hanged.

Christians, for their part, are praying for her release with Pope Francis leading the way.

During a brief conversation with Daniel Bashir, representative of young Pakistanis at the Synod underway in the Vatican, the pontiff told him that he was praying for her every day. God bless you".

Michelle Chaudhry, president of the Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF), told AsiaNews that she was disappointed by the trials delays.

"However, we wait with optimism for the decision of the Supreme Court and hope for a fair and impartial decision.

Asia Bibi was wrongly convicted of blasphemy. She has spent nine years in prison, most of which on death row. The rule of law must prevail and justice has to be done."

For Chaudhry, Asia Bibi is not the only victim of laws that punish insults against the Prophet Muhammad.

Asia Bibi is certainly not the first to fall victim to Pakistans blasphemy laws; numerous people both Muslims and non-Muslims have been accused under this Law.

Some accused persons have been killed even before the courts could hear the cases registered against them. Many have been killed in custody. Hundreds of blasphemy accused are languishing in prisons across Pakistan; it is imperative that this law be revisited.

Dil Nawaz, a research officer at Interfaith Affairs Liverpool Hope University and Trustee of Hope Heritage UK, has confidence in the justices.

I am hopeful that the current Supreme Court will hear Asia Bibi plea on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

According to Zafar Iqbal, another activist, Asia Bibis case "is the one of the false cases in the country targeting poor Christian women.

There are many social and human rights activists who want justice for her, but there are numerous extremists [who are] against her without knowing the facts.

Zafar believes that the Christian woman should be released from prison; nevertheless, there will be no peace for her and her family. She must be sent abroad if she wants a future".

Attorney Bilal Warraich agrees. Asia Bibis trial shows how the justice system works in Pakistan.

The real question is: Would Bibi be able to be safe in Pakistan. Until parliament deals with the laws brought in by Zia ul-Haq, innocent lives will continue to be threatened.
Earlier this year, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a one-year pilot program to bring four supervised injection sites to New York City. The facilitiesin which heroin users can shoot up with clean supplieshad long been pushed for by harm reduction advocates and drug policy experts, who note that the strategy has reduced overdose rates and disease transmission when implemented in other countries. Following a year in which 1,487 New Yorkers suffered fatal drug overdoses, the mayor's announcement was hailed as a major victory in the fight against the city's increasingly deadly opioid epidemic.

But more than six months later, progress on the injection sites seems to have stalled. The culprit for the delay, according to advocates, is Governor Andrew Cuomo and the State Department of Health, which has not yet signed off on the pilot. Neither the Governor's Office nor the DOH responded to inquiries about the holdup. But Marcy Miranda, a spokesperson for the Mayor's Office, told Gothamist: "We are ready to work with providers to move forward as soon as the State gives approval."

On Monday, in an effort to nudge the state toward supporting the pilot, activists with VOCAL-NY erected a pop-up safe injection room in front of the governor's midtown officea tactic once deployed against de Blasio prior to his endorsement of the sites. This time around, the demonstrators were joined by artist and photographer Nan Goldin, who founded the group P.A.I.N Sackler to hold the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma responsible for their central role in the epidemic.

We took this model safe consumption site all over the state, to cities big and small, to talk to people about saving lives. Everyone wants to save lives. #endoverdoseny @NYGovCuomo pic.twitter.com/QdUtPyydSO  VOCAL-NY (@VOCALNewYork) November 26, 2018

In a statement, Goldin accused Cuomo of intentionally blocking the life-saving public health solution, even after signaling his support during a gubernatorial debate earlier this year. "We consider this the most effective method to immediately save lives within the communities hardest hit," she said. "We demand the Governor live up to his word and make this real. The time is now. We cannot wait."

Activists with VOCAL-NY also blamed the governor for not caring about the black neighborhoods impacted by the opioid crisis, and accused him of backing a law enforcement approach that they say disproportionately criminalizes nonwhite users. Last year, overdose rates among black New Yorkers surpassed rates among whites and Latinos for the first time in a decade, due in large part to growing fentanyl usage. "Its about healthcare," the group said. "This is not a police issue!"

We need to call a spade a spadeyall have never responded to the opioid crisis in black neighborhoods, @NYGovCuomo. You locked us up. Its time to step it up for real! #endoverdoseny pic.twitter.com/Glyq3IXUx3  VOCAL-NY (@VOCALNewYork) November 26, 2018

The proposed sites in New York City would be located at existing needle exchange facilities in Washington Heights, Midtown West, Longwood, and Park Slope. In addition to the State Department of Health, the facilities will need the approval of the district attorneys in each borough, the relevant city councilmembers, and a community advisory board.

Even if the injection sites get the green light from city and state authorities, some legal observers warn that they could face federal legal challenges under the so-called crack house statute, which makes it illegal to knowingly operate a location for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using a controlled substance.

Advocates, meanwhile, point to needle exchange programswhich were once criminalized and are now widely seen as a public health solutionas a precedent for defying federal law. According to a letter sent by Deputy Mayor Herminia Palacio to State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker earlier this year, the state should be permitted to at least authorize the facilities, since they're part of a "research study." At that point, enforcement would fall to President Trump's Justice Department.

While the DOJ has warned that they won't tolerate the safe injection sites, advocates are urging the state to push forward anyway, and say they can deal with federal pushback later.

"It doesn't make sense that we're beholden to a federal statute, when there are ways to navigate around it, while our governor continues to say he's going to stand up to Trump by any means necessary," Jasmine Budnella, Drug Policy Coordinator at VOCAL-NY, told Gothamist. "The issue for us is that there are literally people dying while we wait for this."

UPDATE: After this story was published, a spokesperson for Governor Cuomo, Hazel Crampton-Hays, issued the following statement to Gothamist:

Governor Cuomo has long championed a multi-faceted response to the opioid crisis with a focus on prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery and law enforcement and we remain committed to exploring every option to reduce opioid deaths. We are actively working with stakeholders and the City on their proposal while addressing potential law enforcement concerns and the threat of legal challenges. Above all, our chief concern is protecting the lives of New Yorkers.

On Tuesday, VOCAL-NY, in collaboration with Housing Works and Drug Policy Alliance, unveiled a series of billboards in Times Square featuring Cuomo's face next to a real-time counter showing overdose rates in New York. "Tell Governor Cuomo to take action now on overdose prevention centers," one read, while another asked: "How many deaths will it take?"



Melissa Moore, End Overdose NY.





Melissa Moore, End Overdose NY.


A body found in a Staten Island park this weekend was "partially burned" and decomposing, authorities said.

The deceased, a female who has not yet been identified, was discovered by two teenagers in a wooded area of Long Pond Park, near Bartow Avenue and Eugene Street, around 1 p.m. on Sunday, police said. According to reports, she was lying face down and only partially clothed.

A source told the Staten Island Advance that the woman's upper back, hair and arms were charred," and that an accelerant was recovered in the area.

Neighbor Ronnie Ribaudo told PIX11 that he "spoke to detectives to see what was going on and they said the body was there for two weeks." Ribaudo also informed the Times that he spotted a suspicious white pickup truck parked in the vicinity two weeks ago. If youre going to do something illegal, I guess the woods are right here," he said.

Police are investigating the death as a homicide, and have not identified any suspects. The office of the New York City medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death.

UPDATE: Police have identified the woman as 30-year-old Staten Island resident Yelena Rabkina. She was reported missing on November 18th, according to the Daily News.

Friends and family members mourned the news, with one writing on Facebook, "Im fighting tears back and refuse to believe that this wonderful soul is no longer with me." Rabkina's cause of death is unknown, and an investigation remains ongoing.


It's a story every native New Yorker knows well: on the night of July 13th, 1977the same night of the infamous 1977 Blackoutthe tugboat "Maria 120" was patrolling Upper New York Bay between Battery Park and Liberty Island when an unidentified aircraft fell from the sky into the water. When two Coast Guard boats arrived to help with the recovery, they discovered that there was no trace of the aircraftand the entire six-person crew of "Maria 120" had vanished. To this day, no one knows exactly what happened to them, though most historians agree it was an honest-to-goodness alien abduction.

Of course, none of that is trueit's the work of artist Joe Reginella, who has made a hobby of producing elaborate hoaxes like this to have fun with tourists and naive NYers. His latest creation, a memorial to the "NYC UFO Tugboat Abduction," can be spotted on certain days in Battery Park: a bronze statute of a man looking toward the sky with an alien at his feet. According to the plaque on the pedestal (see below), it was erected in 1982 by Local 333 and the "honorable Mayor Edward I. Koch" in honor of the missing tugboat crew.



(Joe Reginella)

"I love to see the reactionsmost people believe them," Reginella told Gothamist. He said the difference between a good prank and a lame one is "having layers and layers of facts to back it up. When people Google the monuments when they are first unveiled and there are no articles in the way, I have a spider's web of facts for them." Because it's not just the 300-pound monument: he's also created an elaborate website, souvenirs and fliers (which advertise a $25 "Harbor Mystery Cruise" to visit the site of the crash) to sell the story. He even created a documentary to go with it:

Reginella has been bringing the monument to Battery Park every weekend morning since September (despite its weight, it comes apart easily and fits on a hand truck). He said it takes him nearly nine months to put one of these projects together. "I start in late January and unveil in September, and there are many facets to the project," he told us. "I have four to six talented people working on the multimedia aspect of the project that I direct as I'm making the sculpture."

For his day job, Reginella is a sculptor who creates props and statues for movies, TV shoots, department stores and amusement parks. But it seems what he really enjoys is creating these memorials to disasters that never happened, and as the Times wrote, "eavesdropping on viewers conversations, often while pretending to fish nearby. He frequently poses with tourists, imitating the sailors stance. At times, he offers offhand remarks that support the absurd narrative."



(Joe Reginella)

Reginella told us that when he's brainstorming for one of these projects, he starts by picking memorable news days: "I pick a date where something could happen and be overshadowed by the disaster or event of a date," he said. "I love the 1970's so I picked the Blackout of the summer of 1977, then my story grew from that and was made to fit into the setting of Battery Park."

In 2016, he unveiled a monument to the Staten Island Ferry Disaster Memorial Museum, which honored the 400 victims who died when a giant octopus attacked the Cornelius G. Kolff, a Staten Island Ferry boat, on Nov. 22nd, 1963. You may not have heard about it because the event was overshadowed by the assassination of JFK that same day.

And last year, he followed that up with a monument in Brooklyn Bridge Park that memorialized a Brooklyn Bridge elephant stampede (which happened the same day as Black Friday).

As for whether he will do any more of these in the future, Reginella said he'd like to, but it is quite expensive putting them together. "Maybe, ya know these things are super expensive to do and are paid for with T-shirt sales," he said. "So visit the gift shop before you leave please."
News

Dubai ranks first in Arab world, finds latest Innovation Index

The Index report, bearing the theme The Road to Recovery Through Resilience and Innovation, analysed a total of 39 cities. Seven new cities were added to the latest edition of the Index, which was developed by Dubai Chamber in collaboration with PwC.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chery Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Co., Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement on November 22 with Changshu Economic and Technological Development Zone for the automaker's program of new energy vehicle (NEV) and R&D center.

Involving a total investment of RMB7 billion, the new program will build a new energy powertrain plant and a brand-new vehicle body workshop based on the existing annual capacity of 200,000 fossil fuel-powered vehicles for Chery Jaguar Land Rover's Changshu plant, along with a new R&D center outfitted with relevant facilities and a track for vehicle tests.

According to Jaguar Land Rover's planning, the company aims to make all vehicles electrified from 2020, including BEVs, PHEVs and mild hybrid electric vehicles. As the car manufacturer's first complete vehicle plant outside UK, the Changshu plant operated by Chery Jaguar Land Rover is playing a role of pioneer in the UK-based automaker's vehicle electrification strategy.

Established in November 2012, Chery Jaguar Land Rover is a 50:50 independent joint venture formed between Chinese auto manufacturer Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. and Jaguar Land Rover. The joint venture boasts a planned annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles in total with the first phase of 130,000 units completed in 2014 and the balance of 70,000 units to be finished this year.

Jaguar Land Rover China and Chery Jaguar Land Rover showcased quite a few models at the Auto Guangzhou 2018 closed on November 25, including the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY all-electric racing car, the Jaguar I-PACE pure electric SUV, the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover, the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, the 2019 Land Rover Discovery, the 2019 Jaguar XFL and XEL, etc.
After Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday. The Tuesday following Thanksgiving has become the unofficial launch of the charitable season, when many people around the globe focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving.

The outpouring of generosity during the giving season raises the question of why all charity cant be funded privately. Do we even need a government social safety net anymore?

Before we can answer that question we must first determine the replacement cost of the safety net. What percent of federal budget goes to programs that provide aid (other than health insurance or Social Security benefits) to individuals and families facing hardship? Forty percent? Thirty percent? Twenty percent?

The actual answer is 9 percent, or $366 billion.

Could the amount of money donated to private charities cover the substitution cost for the social safety net? The short answer is: its not even close. As Arthur C. Brooks explains,

It would be wonderful if America could solve all problems of poverty and need through private charity. We can and should give even more, and conservatives must continue to lead by example. But even in this remarkably charitable countrywhere voluntary giving alone exceeds the total GDP of nations such as Israel and Chileprivate donations cannot guarantee anywhere near the level of assistance that vast majorities of Americans across the political spectrum believe is our moral duty. Consider the present total that Americans give annually to human-service organizations that assist the vulnerable. It comes to about $40 billion, according to Giving USA. Now suppose that we could spread that sum across the 48 million Americans receiving food assistance, with zero overhead and complete effectiveness. It would come to just $847 per person per year. Or take the incredible donation levels that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2011. The outpouring of contributions exceeded $3 billion, a record-setting figure that topped even the response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. But even this historic episode raised enough to offset only 3 percent of the costs the storm imposed on the devastated areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. Voluntary charity simply cannot get the job done on its own.

In 2017, an estimated $274 million was raised online in the U.S. during the sixth annual Giving Tuesday. To cover just the cost of the safety net provided by the federal government ($366 billion) wed need to raise 3.5 times more than was donated on Giving Tuesday every single day throughout the entire year.

The unfortunate reality is that Americans donate to private charity less than 10 percent of the amount provided by the governments social safety net. But lets assume that state-based welfare is rife with fraud and abuse and that after reforms we could cut the amount spent in half. Even then private charity would only cover 20 percent of the original amount needed.

Some people might argue that charity would be funded if the government wasnt already taking the money from citizens. But last year Americans were given a tax cut equal to about $550 billion a year. Thats more than enough to pay for the safety net ($366 billion) and still have half a billion dollars in leftover tax cuts for every man, woman, and child in America. Yet we are not expected to see $366 billion in directed charitable giving to alleviating poverty.

There are a lot of conservatives (including me) who think our neighbors in need would be better off if most or all of the safety net was funded by charity. But the sobering reality is that we have a long, long way to go before that is even in the realm of possibility. Americans only currently give a combined total of $390 billion a yearand thats for every form of charity (churches, education, non-profits, animal shelters, arts programs, etc.).

If we are going to convince our fellow Americans that government should get out of the welfare business, we need to figure out a way to close the charity gap and show the private sector truly can take care of the poor and needy.




"From foreign investors' point of view , Peru is pursuing a proactive policy. They rarely go into much detail, but they see there is willingness (of the country) to engage in a process to improve institutions, which have always been the major weakness of Peru's sovereign credit profile and which potential investors take into account before investing in the country," the officer told Andina news agency.





"There are plenty of sectors that may benefit from the improvement of institutions and the justice reform ," Reusche added.





Peru has a good opportunity in the forestry sector , whose largest long-term investments are concentrated in Chile and Uruguay.





"Those countries offer lower-quality produce compared to Peru, due to our variety of wood. However, investments do not take place here because they lack legal certainty and contracts are not respected, unlike in countries such as Uruguay or Chile," he affirmed.





However, the economist said there are seven bills that complement the justice reform to be debated at Congress although they do not speed up the processes.





"The lack of urgency seen at courts and in the judicial system is very frustrating. Never-ending processes do not encourage them (entrepreneurs) in order to provide them with legal certainty for their investments ," the officer stated.





"It ( the justice reform ) is a good step, but I think we are actually missing a little bit of the chance to go beyond what is proposed," he concluded.





(END) CNA/RMB

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The justice reform promoted by Peru is seen as favorable by a group of foreign investors, Moody's Investors Service Vice-President Jaime Reusche affirmed on Monday.Publicado: 26/11/2018
Within this framework, the current Head of State pointed out his administration defends the stance presented in the documentation handed over to Lima-based Uruguayan Ambassador Carlos Barros , which rules out any political persecution against the former President

separation

"Here in Peru, there isof powers, there is a true rule of law. For that reason, and with that report, we leave the decision to Uruguay . We wait calmly," he affirmed.
??Ahora | Para impulsar la competitividad en el pais y promover el desarrollo del capital humano, @MEF_Peru, @SECO_Peru y @apciagencia suscriben segunda fase del Acuerdo Interinstitucional para desarrollar programa #SeCompetitivo. @EmbSuizaPeru#ElPeruPrimero pic.twitter.com/Z0cLcfB6Hz
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Russia has asked the UN Security Council to convene an emergency meeting on the situation in the Sea of Azov on November 26, Russias First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said, TASS reported.

In connection with the dangerous developments in the Sea of Azov and subsequent events, Russia requested an urgent convocation of an open Security Council meeting in the morning of November 26 on the maintaining international peace and security agenda item, he said. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for 19:00 Moscow time.

On November 25, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) border directorate for Crimea reported that three Ukrainian warships had illegally crossed Russias state border in the Black Sea and entered Russias territorial waters performing dangerous maneuvers. Later on, the FSB said that two more Ukrainian warships had sailed off from Berdyansk to join the three vessels. However, they later turned back.

All three Ukrainian Navy vessels, which violated the Russian state border, were detained in the Black Sea, with weapons used to force them to stop. Three wounded Ukrainian military servicemen received medical care, the FSB said, adding that there was no threat to their lives. A criminal case has been initiated over violation of Russias state border.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Investigative Committee president Hayk Grigoryan held a meeting with the families of non-combat military casualties.

Pashinyan listened to the concerns and issues raised by the families of the victims regarding the process of the investigations and judiciary.

At the caretaker PMs recommendation, the meeting resumed at the Investigative Committees headquarters, where an in-depth discussion over the criminal cases took place for nearly 6 hours.

Based on the concerns and issues raised by the families, Grigoryan issued concrete tasks to investigative bodies. Grigoryan assured that authorities are focused on all types of criminal manifestations during military service, especially fatal incidents.

The death of any serviceman is a tragedy, and I want you to know that we are taking all possible actions on any case to determine the true circumstances of the given case, he said.

Investigations are underway on all possible versions regardless under which article the criminal probe was launched initially, he added.

Grigoryan suggested the families of the victims to cooperate with detectives.

The Investigative Committee president also recommended to hold individual meetings, given that each case includes specificities and also personal and private information. The families welcomed the suggestion and reached agreements.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan will be on an unpaid leave from November 26 to December 5, the PMs office said.

Yesterday, Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he will take a vacation from Monday to campaign for his Im Kayl (My Step) bloc for the upcoming general election.

Pashinyan is member of the board of Civil Contract, a party that is within the Im Kayl bloc.

Im taking a vacation from tomorrow to fully participate in the campaigning, Pashinyan said on Facebook.

Im Kayl will hold campaigning events today in four Armenian towns: 11:00 in Talin (Aragatsotn Province), 13:30 in Maralik (Shirak Province), 15:00 in Artik (Shirak Province) and 17:00 in Gyumri (Shirak Province).

Armenia will vote to elect a new parliament on December 9.

Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resigned on October 16 to trigger the process of disbanding the parliament.

Pashinyan took office after massive protests in April forced president-turned PM Serzh Sargsyan to resign. But Sargsyans Republican Party (HHK) still has most seats in the 105-seat parliament. Since taking office, Nikol Pashinyan has numerously said that the incumbent parliament doesnt represent the people and that early elections should take place as soon as possible.

In accordance to the Constitution, when a Prime Minister resigns the parliament must elect a new PM within two weeks. Lawmakers deliberately failed to elect a new PM as a formality in order to pave the way for dissolution.

The last round took place on November 1 and the parliament was dissolved by virtue of law.

Later on the same day, President Armen Sarkissian signed an order on dissolving the parliament and calling early elections on December 9.

The parliament will function until the new parliament is elected.

The government is formally a caretaker government until a new government is formed after the election.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Prosperous Armenia Party has presented its program during a press conference today, the official launch of the campaigning period.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Michael Melkumyan (Tsarukyan faction  includes Prosperous Armenia) told a news conference today that two main principles exist in the basis of their program. First, we are going to be coherent toward all our previous programs. Second, the post-revolution period, when a new situation has been created in the republic, requires adequate response, he said.

Speaking about the economic development issues and their priorities, he said: We know how to bring the country out of this difficult social-economic situation.

He said that the political revolution must be followed by an economic revolution. A growth of 3-4% shouldnt be talked about, we must have a double digit economic growth. 2-3 billion dollars must enter Armenia yearly, he said.

We must ensure a drastic change of branch structure in the economy. Meaning, the traditional industrial branches will remain where they are, but we must be able to change the technological structure, Melkumyan said, adding that an economic breakthrough wont happen unless the economy isnt brought to a new technological level.

He said their party also plans to raise pensions and salaries if elected.

Speaking about businesses, he said that SMEs having up to 30 million drams in annual turnover should be exempt from taxes. According to Melkumyan, their program also includes lowering the gas and electricity tariffs.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Citizens Decision social-democratic party will tour electoral districts to interact with voters and distribute booklets about their programs, as well as mandarin oranges  the symbol of their party.

The party is running for parliament with its The Future is Yours motto.

Citizens Decision Executive Body member Michael Nahapetyan told ARMENPRESS that the mandarin orange symbolizes the values of justice and unity of the equality of those alike.

Asked why they are starting the campaigning from the Mashtots Park in Yerevan, Nahapetyan said they have returned to where they started from. The Mashtots Park is a place where the representatives of the civil society that are today participating in formal political processes have developed. It is here that in 2012 the struggle for the public area began, he said.

Nahapetyan said citizens who highlight public solidarity and social justice will vote for them.

The social-economic condition of Armenia speaks about the fact that those who should raise the issue of social justice are in the hundreds of thousands in Armenia, he said.

Nahapetyan said they even if they dont overcome the threshold for passing to parliament they will still be actively engaged. Its not a problem for us to work outside the parliament, the parliament is an additional tool for us. If citizens of Armenia will find it appropriate for us to possess this tool, we will take the pathway of utilizing it, if not, we will struggle for our ideas through the extra-parliamentary pathway, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian today signed the law adopted by the Parliament, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The law concerns ratifying Public Efficiency and Financial Markets Program (Subprogram 2) loan agreement signed between Armenia and the Asian Development Bank on November 9, 2018.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko appealed to the Russian leadership with a demand to release the Ukrainian sailors and ships detained in the Kerch Strait, according to the official website of the Ukrainian presidency.

"I appeal to the leadership of the Russian Federation with a demand to immediately release the Ukrainian servicemen who were brutally detained in violation of international law and whose fate is unknown," the Head of State stressed during the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, according to the website.

"We demand to immediately transfer them to the Ukrainian side along with the ships and ensure de-escalation of the situation in the Sea of Azov - as a first step, and de-escalation in other directions," he further said.

The Ukrainian armed forces have been put on full combat alert by the decision of the chief of the countrys General Staff, the press service of Ukraines Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

"In accordance with the National Security and Defense Councils decision on imposing martial law, the chief of the General Staff and commander-in-chief of Ukraines armed forces ordered to put the Ukrainian armed forces units on full combat alert," the press service said, according to TASS.

Due to the situation in the Kerch Strait, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Alexander Turchinov earlier voiced the initiative on imposing martial law in the country for 60 days backed by the Ukrainian president. Now this bill is to be considered by Ukraines Verkhovna Rada (parliament). According to its speaker Andrei Parubiy, its meeting will be convened on Monday at 16:00 local time (17:00 Moscow time).

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that he will propose declaring martial law in the wake of an altercation in the Black Sea that saw Russian military seize Ukrainian vessels for breaching Russian territorial waters, RT reported.

On Sunday, three Ukrainian vessels were sailing between two Ukrainian ports: from Odessa in the Black Sea to Mariupol in the Azov Sea. The only waterway that connects these is the Kerch Strait between Crimea and mainland Russia. Kiev says it notified Moscow in advance that its navy ships would be sailing through the area. Moscow denies that it was given proper warning.

Russian ships opened fire to stop the three Ukrainian boats after they ignored "legal demands to stop" and performed "dangerous maneuvers," said the Russian Security Service (FSB). The ships were then seized and towed to the Crimean port of Kerch.

Around midnight, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko instructed the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) to convene for an emergency meeting proposing to impose martial law.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Sasna Tsrer Pan-Armenian Party kicked off its election campaign today from the park outside the parliament building in Yerevan.

The partys motto is Its Time.

Sasna Tsrer spokesperson Varuzhan Avetisyan told reporters that starting the campaigning from this very park bears a special symbol.

Finally, after our many years of struggle, we are able to run for parliament. This election is very encouraging and promise to be very legitimate and to reflect the Armenian peoples will to a significant extent, Avetisyan said.

He expressed conviction that the people will be active in this election and that all kinds of electoral fraud will be ruled out.

Law and justice, state administration and staffing policy, social-economic development, security and defense, Artsakh unification, foreign relations and Fatherland-Diaspora are the main directions of the partys campaigning program.

Asked about which specific economic issues are on the agenda for the party, Avetisyan pointed out reduction of tariffs, the true calculation of the minimal consumer basket, which are the systematization components of the economy.

These two steps are sufficient for the domestic economic structure to be improves and for us to start breathing. For resolving these issues, a respective decision must exist in the parliamentary format, in order for state bodies to begin calculations. After all this it will be possible to present a strategy on how these issues must be resolved, Avetisyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Without the clarification of Artsakhs status no settlement of the NK conflict can happen, caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a speech during the campaigning rally of Im Kayl (My Step) bloc in Ani, Shirak Province.

The Karabakh side must return to the negotiations table. There cant be a settlement of the Karabakh issue without a clarification of the status of Karabakh. There is no difference up to even a millimeter in the desires and intentions between our people and the government in the Karabakh issue. This is a matter of pan-national responsibility, Pashinyan said.

He said that first of all it is necessary to create a respective budget for solving numerous issues.

We cant solve the issue of Armenia, the issue of Artsakh and other issues with the budget that we have today. Our country is a home, we are one family, when a family has financial limitations, it sits down and makes a decision, and they decide to work together. We must work together for the revenues of our family and country to grow. We must be a strong and happy people, Pashinyan said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has expressed the military alliances full support for Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law, according to the readout of NATO Secretary Generals phone call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

At the request of President Poroshenko, the Secretary General agreed to convene an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at Ambassadorial level in Brussels this afternoon to discuss the current situation, NATO said on its website.

Meanwhile, Moscow has protested Kievs planned breach of Russian waters in the Kerch Strait and cautioned Ukraines foreign backers against blowing the incident out of proportion. Russia will strongly respond to similar provocations, according to RT.

Three Ukrainian military boats on Sunday tried to pass through the Kerch Strait apparently without prior warning, but were ordered to stop by Russian border guards. A confrontation ensued, ending with the three ships being seized by the Russian side.

The actions of the Ukrainian Navy violated the rules of passage through Russian territorial waters, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday, adding that Moscow has summoned an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the incident, RT reports.

Russia has repeatedly warned the Kiev regime and its Western supporters that fanning up the hysteria over the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait was dangerous. Its obvious that there was a provocation, carefully planned in terms of location and form, which is aimed at flaring up yet another point of conflict in the region and creating a new pretext to impose more sanctions against Russia.

Kiev has used the clash to justify declaring martial law  something Moscow says only benefits Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ahead of the March elections.

Moscow also said its outraged by vandalism attacks targeting Russian diplomatic missions in Ukraine following the Kerch standoff. Further incidents of a similar nature may have serious consequences, it said, pledging to strongly counter any attempt to violate Russian sovereignty.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. President of the European Council Donald Tusk condemned Russias use of force in the Sea of Azov, Interfax reported.

I condemn Russian use of force in Azov Sea. Russian authorities must return Ukrainian sailors, vessels and refrain from further provocations, Tusk said on Twitter.

The European Council President said he discussed the situation with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and will meet his representatives later today.

Europe will stay united in support of Ukraine, Tusk said.

According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), on Sunday morning, three ships from the Ukrainian Navy - the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yany Kapu - illegally crossed Russias border and tried to carry out some illegal actions in Russian territorial waters on Sunday night. The three vessels were detained in Russian territorial waters. Three Ukrainian military servicemen suffered light wounds and were provided with medical assistance. A criminal investigation has been launched into the incident.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The election campaigning program of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) is summed up in its motto  If you are concerned [worried], vote for Republicans, HHK Vice President, MP Armen Ashotyan told a news conference when introducing the partys program.

Ashotyan is running for parliament as number 5 of the HHK electoral list.

What should the citizen of the Republic of Armenia be concerned about. We are sure that the citizen of the Republic of Armenia must be concerned over Armenias security, Artsakhs future, the [militarys] combat-readiness, strong borders, new price hikes, social problems and the threat of losing jobs. We believe that people will also [seek] an idea and a team in politics apart from emotional reflections, that people will [seek] experiences figures, who not only are capable of working in the future, but who were also able to revise their past, to get positioned as principled [loyal] professional people, and, who are ready to also have their clear stable role in building Armenias future, Ashotyan said.

He said that the programs component part is comprised from the latest statement of the HHK Council, that was the basis for refining the program, as well as the campaigning program for the 2017 parliamentary election.

Asked why citizens should vote for the HHK, Ashotyan replied: Why vote for Republicans? Because we have a history, knowledge, experience, and we know and have admitted our mistakes. We are ready to serve our country.

According to Deputy Speaker of Parliament Arpine Hovhannisyan, the number 2 candidate on the HHK list, their party doesnt want to be in the status of an observer, on the contrary  they feel responsibility toward processes in the country.

When you are in the status of an observer, you are again responsible. We dont want to be in a status of observer. Secondly, we have fully realized our political path  the flaws that we had, and the achievements that we had. We have knowledge, we have experience, we have readiness for serving the Republic of Armenia. We want to allow ourselves to voice the issues that we see in terms of both what we have done, and what we havent done, she said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan says China is a key partner for Armenia, reports Armenpress.

China is a very important partner for us. We in fact have very good relations, but I think that our relations must be more active and developed. And we hope to see new investments from China in Armenias economy, Pashinyan said in an interview with the Chinese Phoenix TV.

Asked in which sectors Armenia expects investments from China, the acting PM said the Chinese businessmen can make investments in the construction of new roads, textile industry and high technologies.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed hope that some Armenian products will also be available in the Chinese market. I think there is a very great potential to further develop our relations, he said.

Pashinyan noted that the development of political relations with China is also very important for Armenia. We have discussed this issue also with the Chinese Ambassador to Armenia. I have invited the President of China to Armenia, and I will visit China with a great pleasure, he said.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The situation over the Kerch Strait doesnt affect preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to TASS.



"This meeting is being prepared," he stated, answering a question whether the Kerch Strait incident may have an impact on the corresponding plans.

The Kremlin Spokesman added that the Russian President "also prepares for his forthcoming official visit to Argentina, scheduled for November 30, as well as for participation in the G20 summit and bilateral meetings that are set to be held on the sidelines of the summit, including with US President Trump, TASS reported.

The G20 summit will take place in Buenos Aires November 30-December 1.

Peskov previously called the Sunday incident involving Ukrainian naval ships a very dangerous provocation.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has expressed the military alliances full support for Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law, according to the readout of NATO Secretary Generals phone call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

At the request of President Poroshenko, the Secretary General agreed to convene an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission at Ambassadorial level in Brussels this afternoon to discuss the current situation, NATO said on its website.

Meanwhile, Moscow has protested Kievs planned breach of Russian waters in the Kerch Strait and cautioned Ukraines foreign backers against blowing the incident out of proportion. Russia will strongly respond to similar provocations, according to RT.

Three Ukrainian military boats on Sunday tried to pass through the Kerch Strait apparently without prior warning, but were ordered to stop by Russian border guards. A confrontation ensued, ending with the three ships being seized by the Russian side.

The actions of the Ukrainian Navy violated the rules of passage through Russian territorial waters, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday, adding that Moscow has summoned an emergency UN Security Council meeting to discuss the incident, RT reports.

Russia has repeatedly warned the Kiev regime and its Western supporters that fanning up the hysteria over the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait was dangerous. Its obvious that there was a provocation, carefully planned in terms of location and form, which is aimed at flaring up yet another point of conflict in the region and creating a new pretext to impose more sanctions against Russia.

Kiev has used the clash to justify declaring martial law  something Moscow says only benefits Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ahead of the March elections.

Moscow also said its outraged by vandalism attacks targeting Russian diplomatic missions in Ukraine following the Kerch standoff. Further incidents of a similar nature may have serious consequences, it said, pledging to strongly counter any attempt to violate Russian sovereignty.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has imposed martial law after the countrys vessels faced off with Russian ships near Crimea, RT reports.

The measure is expected to last for 60 days and was earlier approved by Ukraines Security Council.

Martial law is scheduled to be in place from November 26 to January 26. It still requires final approval from Ukraines parliament. However, the Ukrainian General Staff was already tasked with beginning partial troop mobilization, according to media reports.

The Ukrainian army was put on full combat alert even before the martial law was declared. The parliament is expected to vote on the motion later on Monday.
YEREVAN, 26 NOVEMBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 26 November, USD exchange rate up by 0.22 drams to 484.69 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.06 drams to 551.29 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.09 drams to 7.29 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.39 drams to 622.25 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 44.31 drams to 19068.31 drams. Silver price down by 4.02 drams to 222.14 drams. Platinum price down by 103.11 drams to 13058.67 drams.
So in 2005, he began New Dawn FM.

Some people have a radio and as a result, radio is one of the best ways to share important news.

The conflict years Bougainville left parts of Bougainville underdeveloped and many people do not have access good roads, electricity or communication systems.

NEW Dawn FM is a community radio station on the island of Bougainville that provides informative programming to listeners.

Unfortunately New Dawn FMs broadcasts only reach Buka and some regions in the North of Bougainville, for the time being at least.

This could soon change though, as the Autonomous Bougainville Government and Bougainville Copper Limited jointly fund an upgrade to radio transmission infrastructure.

Founder and station manager of New Dawn, Aloysius Laukai, has stated that one of the stations objectives is to bring the people of Bougainville together.

New Dawn FMs aim is to make sure that North Bougainville understands what is happening in South Bougainville, Mr Laukai said.

This objective leads New Dawn to take a special interest in reporting local reconciliation events, which build peace between people who were divided by the conflict.

This can be difficult after many years of fighting, but the people of Bougainville are trying to build a peaceful island and broadcasting can provide the information to solve difficult situations

Social change is a serious business and New Dawn is about serious business happening daily in Bougainville.

The crisis divided many people and now Bougainvilleans want to use freedom of expression to help bring people together after the conflict.

New Dawn has three main types of programming that cover local events, community programs and peace & reconciliation.

For local events New Dawn broadcasts programs about local weather, traffic, health and politics, both at a local and national level.

New Dawn also brings people together through programs that build community, with the aim to educate and empower people in Bougainville.

For example there are programs that give information about farming or health. Another program is called Bougainville women today, a learning program for communities that address womens health issues, such as pregnancy in very young women and malaria.
Atrocities like the shooting of university students protesting against corruption have led to PNG's reputation on basic freedoms being downgraded globally

JOSEF BENEDICT | Civicus Monitor | Edited

JOHANNESBURG  People Power Under Attack, a report released today by Civicus Monitor and which tracks respect for fundamental freedoms in 196 countries, depicts the dismal state of civic freedoms in the Asia-Pacific region.

The report categorises civic space as either closed, repressed, obstructed, narrowed or open depending on a countrys approach to freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression.

In the Pacific, Papua New Guinea and Nauru have been downgraded to join Fiji in the obstructed category.

A staggering 94% percent of people in the Asia Pacific region live in countries with closed, repressed or obstructed civic space.

Activists are facing increasing levels of persecution and the media is under assault.
EMTV which is a free-to-air TV station operates as Media Niugini Ltd and was acquired by Telikom, which is now Kumul Telikom Holdings and is part of the governments portfolio of state-owned assets under Kumul Consolidated Holdings.

The Media Council said Mr Waide, EMTVs Lae bureau chief, was suspended for airing a story considered by the Media Niugini Ltd board, the Kumul Telikom Holdings Ltd board and the Kumul Consolidated Holdings Ltd board, to be negative.

TIPNG unequivocally supports the call by the Media Council of Papua New Guinea for the reinstatement of EMTV journalist Scott Waide after allegations that Mr Waide was suspended by his employer because of his reports on government failings.

PORT MORESBY  Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) believes firmly that the democratic freedoms that allow journalists and citizens to question those in power must not be curtailed.

Lawrence Stephens - "In the past year PNG has had indications of the curtailing of freedoms"

Mr Waides silencing by the state apparatus is unfortunately the culmination of a series of attacks on Papua New Guineans constitutional freedoms, particularly section 46 which provides freedom of expression, said TIPNG chairman Lawrence Stephens.

If Mr Waide has not violated his employment conditions, the Media Niugini Ltd board may be in breach of his section 46 right as a citizen and a journalist by suspending him for his reporting.

The minister for communication must be clear and advise the general public and the international community on what the government will do to rectify this violation of journalistic integrity.

Media outlets and journalists are guaranteed under the constitution to publish without fear or favour, Mr Stephens said.

In the past year, PNG has had indications of the curtailing of freedoms with the passing of the Cybercrime Act. That legislation was used to charge a blogger for calling the electoral commissioner a tomato- luckily the courts threw the case out.

In 2018 the state threatened to shut-down social media platforms, which led to derision in the lead up to an APEC 2018 agenda which pushed inclusivity and the digital future.

Earlier this month local media personnel were reportedly barred by a foreign government, with mute acquiescence by our own government, from reporting on a state visit to the national parliament.

The penultimate insult came from rampaging police and correctional officers last week, who assaulted journalists with impunity.

TIPNG backs the Media Council and urges all Papua New Guineans to demonstrate their support of Mr Waide and our media organisations.

Papua New Guinea must not tolerate bullies with thin skins lashing out when their wrongs are pointed out by the media for the public good.

Mr Waides suspension and the other instances of media repression should cause all citizens to reflect fundamentally on the kind of democracy we want in Papua New Guinea.
This was the third meeting of leaders of the four democratic Asia-Pacific states known as the Quad, and, while the structure has not been institutionalised into an alliance, American strategists have called for the crystallisation of an archipelagic NATO.

Just two days before the opening of the Port Moresby summit, an informal meeting took place in Singapore. There, US vice-president Mike Pence met the leaders of India, Japan and Australia.

As the two powers increasingly see issues in terms of security, there is a real danger of matters escalating into a strategic competition for regional alliances.

HONG KONG - The recent war of words between China and the US at the APEC summit in Papua New Guinea stunned geopolitical pundits around the world and attests to ominous dynamics in the Asia-Pacific.

China's president Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in Port Moresby where the US prosecuted a fightback on what it termed the 'Indo-Pacific' region

American strategists contend that never has the US faced a challenger with the geo-economic and military might of China.

As Beijing positions itself strategically, arming islets in the South China Sea and developing advanced missiles which could bar the entry of US aircraft carriers to the second island chain (the Japan-Guam-Indonesia line), Americans cannot follow their old strategy from the days when Soviet forces in Siberias far east could easily be neutralised by the US forward-deployed forces.

This time, more structured defence cooperation is necessary, following the NATO model but in an archipelagic calibration to meet the needs of war at littoral environments in the South and East China seas.

Washington has thus pushed for enhanced security cooperation with Japan, India and Australia and doubled down on its economic and security engagement with the Quad.

Japan was quick to support the Quad and urged the US to adopt the term Indo-Pacific to attract India. India has joined the talks but carefully preserved its strategic autonomy, opposing a military alliance.

Meanwhile, Australia sees the Quad as a means to push against Chinas influence in its northern region and send a clear signal to Beijing that its economic dependency on China will not limit Canberras protection of its core national interests.

While Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi mocked the Quad as an idea that would dissipate like the sea foam, China should not underestimate US determination to form a balancing coalition.

The evolution of the Quad into an archipelagic NATO would be the strategic climax of Americas new formative security architecture in East and Southeast Asia, complementing Washingtons designs for the joint concept for access and manoeuvre in the global commons as a counter to Chinas rising techno-military power in the region.

According to that doctrine, US forces would have to penetrate Chinese airspace, take out Chinese air defences and offensive missile capabilities, and then move US aircraft carrier battle groups closer to Chinas shores.

As China has marched on, technologically, faster than expected, some Americans now urge much closer security cooperation.

Undoubtedly, countries in the region have viewed a US-led alliance with fear and scepticism. Lee Kuan Yew  who turned Singapore into a staunch US security ally  even declared that Asian nations must never be asked to choose between Beijing and Washington but always cooperate with both.

Meanwhile, Yan Xuetong, a strategist at Tsinghua University, foresaw the US effort for a new institutionalised net of alliances, arguing that China should pre-emptively abandon its non-alignment principle and provide credible security assurances to regional partners. Wallet diplomacy alone cannot build a coalition countering US containment.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has declined that call. He may have overseen strong security cooperation with Moscow and, to some extent, Pakistan but he has not gone so far as to implement a security alliance.

Xi has also been cautious on the global outreach of the Chinese military, preferring to outsource security tasks to private contractors instead.

Unlike Chinas grand declarations about the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijings security policy has been low-key, reflecting the imbalance of military power with Washington.

Americas strategic capital in terms of creating and managing alliances far outranks Chinas, as Washington has multiple security pacts and more than 800 military or naval bases across the world. China has one - in Djibouti.

The US has 11 fully operational aircraft carrier battle groups to Chinas one  with another on the way.

When the US calls for an open Indo-Pacific and performs freedom of navigation operations, France, the UK and others immediately endorse the message. When China makes a case for the nine-dash line, no one echoes it.

To be sure, the formation of an archipelagic NATO is not inevitable. India and Japan will be pivotal powers to catalyse or forestall such an alliance.

Thus, Beijing needs to provide Tokyo and Delhi with the appropriate strategic signals and reassurances that, as Chinas power rises, its demands for a revision of the regional order will not be expansive.

China should now give priority to ending the long-time dispute with India over the Aksai Chin border area. The relationship with Tokyo is more challenging as wartime historical rhetoric remains deleterious, but does Japan deserve a life sentence without parole for past crimes?

Comprehensive Sino-Japanese engagement would bring enormous benefits to Asia and the world.

Australia is not a lost cause for China, either. However close the Australians have been to the Anglo-Saxon world, they still have a positive image of China. Careful engagement could help heal some recent wounds.

US president Donald Trump avoided the recent APEC summit, sending in his place vice-president Pence, who concluded his diatribe against China by referencing the Bible  a book that is not part of the heritage of this part of Asia.

America has competent bureaucrats but with its ahistorical message and Trumps mercurial character, the future of Asia may be in Chinas hands. If it can tame its own hubris and reassure wary neighbours, a peaceful, cooperative and flourishing regional order awaits.

Vasilis Trigkas is an Onassis Scholar and research fellow in the Belt and Road Strategy Centre at Tsinghua University
BRYAN KRAMER MP | Pacific Media Watch

MADANG - Papua New Guineas ONeill government has taken revenge against senior EMTV reporter Scott Waide, who was suspended over his broadcasting of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns comments about the Maserati scandal.

I was informed soon after APEC that ONeill planned on sacking Waide. However, there was pushback from EMTV management and staff so they decided to instead suspend him and order that he go on leave.

I suspect given the recent unrest in Port Moresby involving security forces they had to be careful not to trigger another incident.

So the real question is, who was behind the decision calling for Waides sacking/suspension, prime minister Peter ONeill himself or the usual suspects such as ONeills chief media officer Chris Hawkins or APEC minister Justin Tkatchenko?
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his deputy Josh Frydenberg will hold crisis talks with Victorian federal MPs on Monday, after the rout of the Liberal Party in Saturday's state election raised fears that up to six federal Coalition seats in and around Melbourne could be lost.

With the state Labor government of Daniel Andrews forecast to win 55 of the state's 88 lower house seats following Saturday's landslide, moderates, shocked at the scale of the swing towards Labor in safe inner-Melbourne seats, blamed the dumping of Malcolm Turnbull for contributing to the result.

They demanded the Morrison government change tack and dial back its hard-right approach to issues such as climate change.

Internally, the party was riven with bickering, with former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett demanding the resignation of his factional enemy and party president Michael Kroger.

Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg, the most senior Victorian Liberal, will use Monday's meeting, which coincides with the resumption of Federal Parliament for the final fortnight this year, to call for calm and to stress the need for a unified message based on the strong economy and other policy achievements.

A significant contributor to Saturday's result was state Labor's relentless focus on transport, health and education and a superior campaign on the ground, in contrast to the Coalition leader Matthew Guy's heavy focus on crime and terror to the exclusion of bread and butter issues.

The 6 percentage point primary swing to Labor swept up a swag of eastern suburbs Liberal seats not expected to be in play, such as Burwood, Box Hill, Mount Waverley and Ringwood.

It left Forrest Hill and the blue-chip inner-suburban seats Hawthorn, Caulfield and Brighton hanging in the balance. Undecided voters swung to Labor in the last days of the campaign, giving the party a likely 56 per cent share of the two-party preferred vote.

With 71 per cent of the vote counted, Labor had a certain 52 seats in the 88 seat Legislative Assembly and was expected to emerge with 55, up from 45 going into the election. The Coalition had a likely 28 seats, down from 37.

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'It is no longer the Menzies era'

The size of the swing and its strength in traditional Liberal seats had federal Liberals making comparisons to the October Wentworth byelection in which progressive Liberal voters turned on the party.

"They assured us Wentworth was unique," said one Liberal moderate. "It seems like the state of Victoria is also unique."

Writing in today's The Australian Financial Review, Victorian Liberal senator Jane Hume said Liberals could no longer rely on guaranteeing economic prosperity but had to be less ideological towards climate change, social issues, crime and race.

"It is no longer the Menzies era, no longer the Howard era. Generating prosperity is an expectation, and on its own it is not enough to earn the right to govern," she said.

"If we allow good policy to be infiltrated by even the perception of an ideological crusade, Labor will win the messaging war."

She said an energy policy that lowered prices was "imperative" but "we underestimated our electorates; Victorians place a high value on their environment".

Similarly with the right-wing attacks on the safe schools program to help children suffering with their sexuality.

"An education policy that focuses on outcomes, values teachers, provides choices and opportunities will always be compelling to voters. But our good policies were drowned by our ideological opposition to an anti-bullying program;" she said.

"We underestimated our electorates  parents want their kids to grow up kind as well as clever."

Analysts on both sides agreed the bulk of the outcome was driven by state issues.

Premier Andrews outgunned Mr Guy in the presidential-style election, hammering home his government's main campaign of "the things that really are of concern to hard-working families right across our state  jobs, skills, hospitals, schools, road, rail and the cost of living."

Mr Andrews took aim at Mr Guy's campaign and the federal coalition's record of broken promises, saying Victorians had rejected "the negativity, the fear, the spite, that small brand of nasty politics" of Mr Guy's campaign on youth gangs and terror "in record terms".

"I think that what Victorians have shown is that they want a government that makes commitments and then gets on and delivers those commitments. To that extent I would have thought that a federal government that said they wouldn't cut hospitals and wouldn't cut schools and proceeded to do exactly that and to this day refuse to admit it  there's a few lessons there for them I think."

'It's an unmitigated disaster'

Liberal Party members reeled from the shock. "It's an unmitigated disaster and no one should sugar-coat it. That's how many many people feel. There is a huge measure of goodwill towards Matthew Guy but the campaign was a disaster," said John Roskam, executive director of the Institute of Public Affairs and longtime Liberal Party member.

"The identity crisis that is engulfing the federal Liberal Party had now reached the Victorian Liberal Party. Are they going to keep arguing about what they believe in?"

The outcome puts the Coalition in a weak position from which to fight the next election and calls into question the decision to double down on crime and terror after the deadly Bourke Street terror attack.

"They talked about the cost of living and decentralisation but it was drowned out by law and order, and clearly it didn't resonate and if anything seemed to have jarred with the Victorian community," said Monash University political scientist Paul Strangio.

Labor held just one seat in the east before Saturday, Deputy Premier James Merlino's seat on Monbulk. Voters in the eastern suburbs seats where Labor made ground said on Sunday it was all about roads, level crossing removals, hospitals, schools and police stations.

Meanwhile, in the Labor "sandbelt" marginals that were supposed to be in play - Bentleigh, Carrum, Mordialloc and Frankston - Labor won thumping swings of 9 per cent to 12 per cent.

Mr Frydenberg accepted the "noise" created by dumping Mr Turnbull was a hindrance while federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, one of the key assassins, played down any federal input into the result.

'Liberals have lost the ability to speak Victorian'

Federal Victorian Labor MP Richard Marles said the Labor campaign deliberately used Mr Morrison, Tony Abbott and Peter Dutton in its advertising because party research showed them to be unpopular in Victoria and associated with dumping Mr Turnbull.

"It is really clear that the Liberals have lost the ability to speak Victorian. I mean the federal Liberals are toxic in Victoria," he said.

He said in their quest to appeal to conservative voters, the party had alienated Victorians, "opened a huge flank in Victoria and put at risk such seats as Corangamite, Chisholm, La Trobe, Deakin, Dunkley, Aston, and Casey".

A voter called John in the seat of Forrest Hill has three teenage children and normally votes Liberal but voted Labor this time because he says people are focused on liveability.

"Nunawading station got done, four weeks ago they said they would do level crossing removal and new stations at Surrey Hills and Mont Albert, a new police station in Forrest Hill and one planned for Burwood" he said.

"As soon as Guy came out and started rattling the sabre on crime and said we need to get back in control I thought he has lost, sack your campaign manager."

A retired couple from Ringwood who vote Liberal were impressed at the infrastructure achievements of Mr Andrews.

"Everywhere you go there is work being done," they said.

"In Heatherdale they have taken out the level crossing and put the rail under the road, the Ringwood station, shopping centre and pool has changed the whole environment, it's unbelievable. The demographic is also unrecognisable from what it was with more young families.

"I think there is also a backlash against removing Turnbull. He was loved in Victoria."

This article was originally published by the Australian Financial Review. Read the original article here.
Their marriage has been going strong for 14 years, but could it be that the relationship between Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik of Denmark is on the rocks?

New Idea magazine has sparked concern for the royal couple after a palace insider repeated rumours that they may be heading for a divorce.

There are a lot of rumours of tension between Mary and Fred, the insider told the publication.

Rumours are swirling that the Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederiks relationship is on the rocks. Source: Getty

There are whispers running wild of a divorce or possible split and its become very stressful for the whole palace  trying to work out whats going on.

The truth is that like any married couple, Fred and Mary are having a tough time of it at the moment, the source said.

The 46-year-old Tasmanian is rumoured to be feeling the strain after picking up additional royal duties since her father-in-law passed away earlier this year, meanwhile Frederik, 50, has been recovering from a back surgery he had in September.

Body language experts have even gone so far as to say that Mary appears disinterested in her royal duties as of late, but were not quite sure if we agree.

Body language experts have claimed Princess Mary appeared disinterested in her recent royal duties. Source: Getty

However tough a time Mary may or may not be currently going through with Fred, its hard to see her calling it quits on her relationship anytime soon.

Not only are the pair committed parents to their four children, Prince Christian, 13, Princess Isabella, 11, and seven-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, but Fred and Mary are soon set to take on their biggest roles yet, as King and Queen of Denmark.

However, it is unlikely the pair are headed for a divorce as they are committed to their four children, and set to take on the roles as King and Queen of Denmark. Source: Getty

Its a responsibility the couple have been gearing up for since their wedding day, and one that Mary would not be willing to give up as she knows Fred couldnt do it without her.

Mary loves Fred, she wants to be queen and she knows theyre going to be wonderful monarchs for Denmark, added the source.

Just recently, the pair were seen putting on a united front as they were snapped together at the Presentation of The Crown Prince Couple Awards in Aalborg, Denmark.

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Mary was resplendent in white, and she and Fred looked very much like the perfect couple.

The Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary at the Presentation of The Crown Prince Couple awards in Aalborg, Denmark Source: MEGA

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Afghanistan's embattled election organisers are considering delaying April's presidential ballot by three months, officials said Monday, as they struggle to tally votes cast in the recent legislative poll and resolve thousands of complaints. The remarks come as the United States spearheads international efforts to engage the Taliban in peace talks to end the 17-year war that some had feared could be derailed by the April 20 presidential vote, which is expected to fiercely contested. The ballot could be pushed back to July 13, spokesmen for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) told reporters. "There are legal and technical issues that should be addressed properly (if the vote is to be delayed)," ECC spokesman Ali Reza Rohani said. "We have to see if the proposed new date of July 13 is practical and whether we have to hold four elections at once." Presidential, provincial council and district council elections are scheduled to take place across the country in 2019. A parliamentary ballot, which was held in 33 out of Afghanistan's 34 provinces last month, also needs to be carried out in Ghazni where voting was delayed following protests. The Afghan constitution requires the presidential election take place no later than April 22. But IEC chief Abdul Badi Sayyad told reporters that a "practical timeline" was needed. "The economic, security and weather situations are forcing us to make some changes to the timeline of elections," Sayyad explained. President Ashraf Ghani, who was elected in a fraud-tainted poll in 2014 that was only resolved in a US-brokered power-sharing deal, confirmed earlier this month that he would seek re-election. It is not certain who will challenge Ghani, but potential rivals are jockeying for the top job. Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan's de-facto prime minister, former national security adviser Mohammad Haneef Atmar -- who quit in August -- and former Balkh provincial governor Atta Mohammad Noor are among potential contenders. Last month's shambolic parliamentary election, which was more than three years late, was marred by chronic disorganisation and deadly violence. Voting was extended over three days instead of one due to many polling stations failing to open on time, problems with untested biometric verification machines, and incomplete or missing voter rolls. Preliminary results for 10 provinces have been released. Recounting is underway in Kabul, the most populated province in the country. The proposed election date would fit with US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad's hopes of the Taliban and Afghan government striking a peace deal before the summer. After a second round of regional meetings that included the Taliban's political representatives in Qatar this month, Khalilzad said he was "cautiously optimistic" for an end to the conflict. Khalilzad's November 18 comments in Kabul came as the Taliban step up attacks on Afghanistan's beleaguered security forces, which are suffering an unprecedented level of casualties. At least 22 police were killed in a Taliban ambush in western Afghanistan in western Afghanistan, a health official said Monday. The attack was on a police convoy on Sunday. Last month's shambolic parliamentary election was marred by chronic disorganisation and deadly violence
Once dubbed 'Kosovo's Che Guevara', Albin Kurti has led street riots, unleashed tear gas canisters in parliament and served time as a political prisoner. Today Kurti wears a slick suit and has rebranded himself as a social democrat as he dreams of becoming Prime Minister. The former student activist made his name on the streets, where he organised protests in the late 1990s against former Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, whose troops waged a bloody campaign against Kosovo's Albanian majority. Kurti spent two years in a Serbian jail for his activism. Twenty years later he is the leading opposition politician in Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The 43-year-old commands huge rallies of supporters of his Vetevendosje (Self-determination) party. An anti-government protest on September 29 was one the largest in a decade. Some Vetevendosje protests, however, have veered into violence with instances of Kurti supporters lobbying Molotov cocktails at parliament and overturning UN and EU-owned cars. The September crowd was large but orderly, helping rework the reputation of a radical leader who is hoping to take the baton from politicians he has long criticised. "I would be just. Neither strong nor weak," Kurti, who peppers his speech with pithy slogans, told AFP. - Leftist nationalists - Analysts say a snap poll could come soon in Kosovo, where there is currently a deadlock in parliament. That may provide an opening for Kurti, whose party won the most seats in 2017 elections but was outmanoeuvred by an alliance of former independence fighters, the so-called "war wing" that forms Kosovo's political elite. Kurti's shot at prime minister depends on his ability to find consensus with the rest of the opposition, said Ramush Tahiri, a political analyst. "It is not enough to put on a tie, change his image, and be clean of corruption," Tahiri told AFP. Kurti needs to "become a modern politician" without the "nationalist lines." Vetevendosje pushes what can be a perplexing brand that marries hardline ethnic Albanian nationalism with a far-left platform skewering Kosovo's corrupt elites. Some of the movement's contradictions were on display at the most recent rally, where Albanian flags were waved alongside America's stars and stripes. While the movement is fiercely anti-imperialist, many Kosovans retain a fondness for the US for its role in severing the former province from Serbia through NATO bombing. Kurti is hoping President Hashim Thaci's fragile hold on power will be weakened by his controversial calls for "border changes" with Serbia in exchange for its recognition of Kosovo's independence. Kurti is fiercely against ceding any ground to Serbia and, in one of his more controversial views, is an open proponent of uniting Kosovo and Albania. The proposal is one close to the hearts of many Kosovans, who suffered as a minority under Serbian repression. But it is perceived as highly provocative and menacing elsewhere in a region, where the repeated redrawing of borders has resulted in bloodshed. "We want to have the right of Kosovo to join Albania," Kurti reaffirmed from his party headquarters in Pristina. "But we would not start the third Balkan war for this goal." - Tear gas 'debate' - Vetevendosje's radical antics are not limited to the streets. As recently as March 2018, Kurti was urging fellow MPs to throw tear gas inside the assembly in protest at various votes, a tactic they have employed numerous times. Kurti rejects the "radical" and "nationalist" labels, saying his group has reoriented to a Social Democrat outlook since 2013. "One could say that I am a romantic person but I am not a chauvinist," he added. But the transformation has not convinced all. "They behave like leftists, with their appearance, but on the other hand their political programme is mostly rightest," said Migjen Kelmendi, a political analyst and owner of the independent television channel Rrokum. Another critic is Vetevendosje's former president Visar Ymeri who recently defected to found a Social Democratic party, saying Kurti's movement had become "a one man show". But for Afrim Berisha, 21, a young community activist who came to listen to Kurti on 29 September, the graft-free politician represents an opportunity for change in a government hobbled by corruption and disfunction. He "is the only person we have never tried to have in power yet," the supporter said. The 43-year-old commands huge rallies of supporters of his Vetevendosje (Self-determination) party Albin Kurti can command huge rallies of supporters Albin Kurti the leader of Vetevendosje (Self-determination) party, The former student activist made his name on the streets, where he organised protests in the late 1990s against former Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic
A 10-week-old truce deal in northern Syria looked as precarious as ever Monday after an alleged chemical attack, which has already drawn retaliatory raids despite its origins being unclear. The exact circumstances of the purported attack on three districts of the government-held city of Aleppo Saturday are murky and bitterly disputed. In little doubt, however, is the strain the incident will put on an already fragile agreement reached in mid-September to fend off a fully-fledged assault on Idlib. What happened on Saturday? Syrian state media accused "terrorists" of carrying out a "toxic gas" attack in Aleppo late Saturday, using a term that it uses to mean both rebels and jihadists. State news agency SANA said 107 people were hospitalised with breathing difficulties, after what health official Ziad Hajj Taha said it was a "probable" chlorine attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the number of people affected slightly lower at 94, and said over half had been discharged by the next morning. The Britain-based monitor, which says it gathers its information from people inside Syria, said its sources reported "the smell of chlorine". An AFP reporter saw dozens of civilians carried or helped into a hospital, appearing to be dizzy and breathing with difficulty. Staff gave them oxygen masks. The regime has been blamed for most deadly chemical weapon attacks in Syria's seven-year war, but official media has recently accused fighters in Idlib of planning a chemical attack. What's the context? Aleppo city lies just east of the country's last major rebel bastion of Idlib, which a Russian-Turkey deal has protected from a massive regime offensive since September. More than half of that region is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a powerful alliance led by the jihadists of Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, who have not commented on the Aleppo attack. But the National Liberation Front (NLF), a coalition of Turkish-backed rebels who hold most of the rest of the region, have denied any involvement. The Islamic State group and the Al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen organisation are also present in the area. In September, regime ally Moscow and rebel backer Ankara agreed to set up a U-shaped buffer zone around Idlib to keep pro-government forces outside the region of some three million. But implementation has stalled since jihadists refused to leave the planned demilitarised zone by a mid-October deadline, and sporadic clashes and bombardment have since rocked the area. Jihadists including HTS control around 70 percent of the planned buffer, according to the Observatory. On Sunday, Russia said "terrorist groups" inside a part the planned demilitarised area held by HTS had shelled Aleppo. It said its war planes carried out air strikes against those groups, the first such raids on the planned buffer since the Russian-Turkish deal more than two months ago. What's the outcome? Sunday's air strikes have piled additional strain on the Idlib deal. "The attack and then the Russian bombardment clearly demonstrates the weakness of the Idlib agreement," said Aaron Stein, a fellow at the Atlantic Council. "The Russian response clearly shows that they will not be restrained by the ceasefire with Turkey when its interests are threatened," he said. Regime forces control around two-thirds of the country, after winning back large parts of it with Russian support since 2015. Damascus has repeatedly said the Idlib agreement was only a temporary measure until the northwestern region on the Turkish border reverted to government control. Analyst Julien Theron, from Sciences Po university in Paris, pointed to several possible outcomes. "This affair could be used by the regime, with tacit support or military support from its ally Russia, to retake the whole of Idlib," he said. "But Idlib is a very complex region to retake and the risks are high," he warned. Instead, Russia may seek to keep the agreement alive by "forcing Turkey to intervene" against HTS, he said. "But that would imply Ankara eventually being in control on the ground," he said, a scenario likely not to please Damascus. Nawar Oliver, an analyst with the Omran Center, said he did not expect a Russia-backed regime ground assault. "They don't have the luxury to launch a ground attack because they simply don't have the ground forces," he said. A Syrian woman receives treatment at a hospital in Aleppo after the attack with "toxic gas" on three districs of the government-held city, but the exact circumstances of the attack are murky and bitterly disputed Map locating Aleppo, where around 100 Syrians have been hospitalised with breathing difficulties The positions of different military forces in Idlib province and the proposed buffer zone, a deal that appears more strained after the air strikes
US-backed fighters in Syria suffered record fatalities in an assault by the Islamic State group, a war monitor said Monday, as holdout jihadists kept up a fierce defence of their last Syrian redoubt. It said a total of more than 200 people have been killed since around 500 IS fighters burst out of the fog shrouding the area in eastern Syria near the border with Iraq to launch their deadly assault on Friday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 92 of the dead were fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led ground units that have spearheaded the US-backed fight against IS in Syria. At least 61 jihadists and 51 civilians, mostly their relatives, also died in the violence which saw US-led coalition air strikes help the SDF recover positions it had briefly lost. The jihadists used suicide bombers, suicide commandos and sleeper cells in the countryside around their bastion of Hajin to inflict maximum damage, it said. "It's the largest number of SDF fighters killed (by IS) in a single battle since it was founded" in 2015, said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman. The SDF, an alliance of fighters from the main Syrian Kurdish militia known as the People's Protection Units and anti-jihadist Arab fighters, rarely releases full casualty figures. - Mounting toll - Abdel Rahman said the latest deaths brought to 452 the number of SDF fighters killed since the start of their offensive on the Hajin pocket on September 10. The jihadists have been putting up fierce resistance from their remote Euphrates strongholds, the last rump but also the hard core of a once sprawling "caliphate" that straddled Iraq and Syria. Most of their recent forays and their deadliest attacks have come as a result of weather conditions hampering the coalition's ability to launch air strikes. The coalition said in a statement on Saturday that its strikes had been limited due to the weather. Abdel Rahman said local tribal fighters opposed to IS also helped the SDF take back the positions they had lost on Friday. The Observatory, which relies on a vast network of local sources, said the death toll continued to soar on Sunday as many bodies were discovered. The IS propaganda agency Amaq had released a statement Saturday claiming to have killed 60 enemy fighters and captured 30. According to the Observatory, a total of 284 civilians have been killed since the start of the attacks on the IS pocket two and half months ago. Most of them have died in air strikes, the Britain-based group says. The coalition usually only admits to a fraction of the civilian deaths it is believed to have caused. The SDF is fighting to retake areas which have no Kurdish presence even as Turkish forces attack its own heartland further north. - IS heartland - Resentment over the failure of their US ally to stop Turkish military action has slowed their advance against IS, whose eradication is proving long and costly. "The area is mixed between desert and smaller cities like Hajin which makes it tremendously difficult to isolate and contain IS fighters," said Syria analyst Tore Hamming. He said IS units there could not be surrounded as easily as they were during operations last year against more confined areas like the city of Raqa. The jihadists have more knowledge and local support than the Syrian government or the Kurds, Hamming said. He said most IS fighters there were seasoned fighters made even more dangerous by the knowledge they were making a last stand. "They know that they will either be killed by an airstrike or captured and put into prison if not sentenced to death," said Hamming from the European University Institute. Kurdish media reported the capture a day before the IS attack of the organisation's second-in-command, but the Observatory could not say if there was any link. An SDF spokesman contacted by AFP declined to comment on the reported capture of a man named as Osama Abu Zeid and described as IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's deputy. Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), hold a military parade during the funeral of a fellow fighter, killed during a military mission, in the northeastern Syria on November 11, 2018 Map locating Syrian Democratic Forces bastion of Hajin Coalition forces and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at their operation room near the village of Susah in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, near the Syrian border with Iraq A file picture taken on October 29, 2018 shows a fighter from the Syrian Democratic Forces attending the funeral of a commander, killed a day earlier in the town of Hajin during battles against the Islamic State group
The former Trump campaign aide whose Russia contacts set off the investigation over collusion in the 2016 US president election began a two-week jail sentence Monday over lies he told to the FBI. George Papadopoulos entered the minimum security unit of the Oxford, Wisconsin federal prison more than one year after pleading guilty in one of the first cases brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the Bureau of Prisons confirmed. He was the second figure in the Mueller probe to be sentenced to jail, after Alex Van Der Zwaan, a London lawyer who got 30 days for lying about his work with Paul Manafort, chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016. Manafort meanwhile faces more than a decade in jail when he is sentenced in February on multiple charges related to money laundering and illegal lobbying. Papadopoulos was an obscure oil industry analyst when he joined the Trump campaign's foreign policy advisory team in March 2016. Based in London, he made contacts with what he believed were important Russian and Russia-linked officials, who through him offered the Trump campaign a meeting between candidate Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. One, a mysterious professor Joseph Mifsud, also told Papadopoulos that Moscow had dirt on Trump's election rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton. After an allegedly drunken Papadopoulos related the conversation to an Australian diplomat who passed the information on through intelligence channels, the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened a probe into contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia. Emails and testimony by other witnesses showed that Papadopoulos had repeatedly reported his Russia contacts and meetings to the Trump campaign, raising suspicions of collusion. One week after Trump took office in January 2017, the FBI interviewed Papadopoulos. During that interview, he lied about his contacts including with Mifsud, according to federal charges. On October 5, 2017, he pleaded guilty and pledged to cooperate with the probe. At the time, Trump branded him a "young, low-level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar." He was sentenced on September 7 this year after expressing his remorse that he "lied in an investigation that was important to national security." But immediately after that, Papadopoulos declared he had been entrapped by US and foreign intelligence services and alleged that Mifsud was a CIA operative who was part of a broader campaign to damage Trump. "I was framed in many ways," he said in an interview last month with Fox News, calling his Russia contacts "completely orchestrated." He tried to delay his prison sentence, claiming in a court filing that the Mueller investigation was illegal, a claim Trump himself has made. On Sunday, a judge rejected that last-ditch move. Former Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos, seen here with his wife Simona Mangiante, is serving a 14-day sentence in federal prison for lying to the FBI in the Russia collusion investigation
The US captain of a P&O cruise ship found to be burning fuel with excessive sulphur levels was fined 100,000 euros ($114,000) in a Marseille court Monday, the first such ruling in France. The prosecution was intended by authorities to signal a new intent to tackle pollution from cruise ships after a spot check in March on the Azura, operated by P&O Cruises, found it contained unauthorised bunker fuel. The case has shone a spotlight on practices in the multi-billion-euro cruise industry, with prosecutor Franck Lagier saying P&O "wanted to save money at the expense of everyone's lungs". Captain Evans Hoyt knew the fuel was illegal -- it contained 1.68 percent sulphur, surpassing the 1.5-percent European limit, Lagier said during the trial. The judge handed Hoyt, 58, a fine of 100,000 euros, but specified that P&O's parent company, US-based cruise giant Carnival, should pay 80,000 euros of the sum. Bunker fuel, also known as heavy fuel oil, is one of the most polluting transportation fuels and is high in sulphur, which when burnt can cause respiratory problems and acid rain. Regulations on the amount of sulphur authorised vary internationally, with ultra-clean fuel mandated in areas such as the North Sea and Baltic Sea in Europe, as well as around North American ports. The European Union introduced new continent-wide norms in 2015, but their enforcement is patchy. - Tightening regulations - Marseille, France's biggest port, is locked in fierce competition for cruise business with other destinations along the Mediterranean coast in Spain and Italy. But the city has struggled with increased smog in recent years and shipping is thought to be responsible for a large part of the pollution, which can cause lung disease. The Azura, one of the largest ships operated by P&O capable with passenger capacity of 3,100, had taken on 900 tonnes of fuel in Barcelona in March before heading to Marseille. Prosecutor Lagier calculated that the company had saved 21,000 euros by buying higher-sulphur diesel. "The cruise market is expanding fast, in particular in the Mediterranean, creating increasingly large problems," Lagier said. French environmental groups France Nature Environnement, the Surfrider Foundation and the League for the Protection of Birds each obtained 5,000 euros in damages in Monday's ruling. Lawyers for P&O had attacked allegedly grey areas in French legislation during the trial, saying there were different rules depending on the type of vessel and the route it was using. Under new international regulations organised by the International Maritime Organisation, only fuel with 0.50 percent sulphur will be permitted for ships from 2020. For ships operating outside designated emission control areas the current limit is 3.50 percent. Rules have been progressively tightened since 2005. The P&O cruise ship Azura, whose sister ship Ventura is seen here, was involved in a landmark French ruling on the use of unauthorised heavy fuel oil
In a massive restructuring, US auto giant General Motors announced Monday it will cut 15 percent of its workforce to save $6 billion and adapt to "changing market conditions." The moves include shuttering seven plants worldwide as the company responds to changing customer preferences and focuses on popular trucks and SUVs and increasingly on electric models. Wall Street cheered the actions, while US and Canadian leaders expressed outrage. The closures also drew sharp criticism from the US and Canadian labor union representing GM workers, which accused the company of shifting production overseas at the expense of North American workers. The job cuts from GM's current 180,000-strong work force will be particularly stinging in politically crucial areas of Ohio and Michigan, a region US President Donald Trump has promised to revive. "The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to be highly agile, resilient and profitable, while giving us the flexibility to invest in the future," GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. "We recognize the need to stay in front of changing market conditions and customer preferences to position our company for long-term success." Trump expressed dismay at the plan and said he was "very tough" with Barra when they discussed the reorganization. "I spoke with her when I heard they were closing and I said, 'You know, this country has done a lot for General Motors. You better get back in there soon,'" he told reporters at the White House. "They better put something else in." Barra also met at the White House with Trump's senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow, in what officials said was a previously scheduled meeting. Trump's aggressive trade policies have been aimed specifically at saving US manufacturing jobs, including the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which took aim at rules governing auto trade to favor the US industry. Still, GM will shutter three North American auto assembly plants next year: the Oshawa plant in Ontario, Canada; Hamtramck in Detroit, Michigan and Lordstown in Warren, Ohio. In addition, GM will close two US propulsion plants -- which produce batteries and transmissions -- in Baltimore, Maryland and Warren, Michigan, as well two unidentified plants outside of North America. The company already had announced plans to cease operations at its Gunsan, South Korea plant. While the company said in its quarterly earnings late last month that it saw costs jump by $400 million due to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum, a spokeswoman said the latest decisions "are not related to any recent trade or tariff decisions." - 'Deep disappointment' - Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, lambasted GM's move as "corporate greed at its worst" and also took a swipe at the 2017 tax cut favored by Trump which was touted as a jobs winner. "The company reaped a massive tax break from last year's GOP tax bill and failed to invest that money in American jobs," Brown said on Twitter. In Canada, Prime Minster Justin Trudeau expressed "deep disappointment" with the plant closure. Workers at the Ontario plant staged a wildcat strike to protest the closure. The job cuts will include a 25 percent reduction in executive-level employees to "streamline decision making," the company said. According to reports, the five North American plants concerned employ nearly 7,000, including 3,000 workers in the Ontario plant. GM shares jumped after the announcement, closing up 4.8 percent on the day. Analysts were generally upbeat about the news. "In contrast to times past, General Motors under CEO Mary Barra is trying to get ahead of a potential crisis by making cuts now," Michelle Krebs of Autotrader said in a client note. While GM has been increasing its focus on highly popular trucks and SUVs, the company said it would also prioritize investment in "next-generation battery-electric architectures." In an investor call, Barra said some GM cars would no longer be available in North America, including the Chevrolet Cruze. - 'Slap in the face' - UAW, the autoworkers union, blasted GM's decision, saying the company was just looking for cheaper workers, and vowed to fight back. "This callous decision by GM to reduce or cease operations in American plants, while opening or increasing production in Mexico and China plants for sales to American consumers, is, in its implementation, profoundly damaging to our American workforce," said UAW vice president Terry Dittes. China has become an increasingly important market for the automaker and in the first nine months of 2018, it sold 2.7 million cars in China compared to 2.6 million in all of North America. However, spokeswoman Julie Huston-Rough denied the charge, telling AFP that "these products will not be manufactured in other locations for the North American market." She also said the company remains committed to its facilities in Ohio, despite the closure of the Lordstown plant, with six other locations and 4,000 employees, as well has hundreds of suppliers and dealers. Jerry Dias, president of Unifor, the Canadian labor union, said he "will vigorously fight again to maintain these good-paying auto jobs." Huston-Rough said the job cuts will be accomplished through "a combination of retirements, layoffs and work relocations." Canadian auto workers were outraged by GM's decision The job cuts from GM's current 180,000-strong work force will be particularly stinging in politically crucial areas Trump told reporters he had been "very tough" with GM CEO Mary Barra Carl Dillmam, who has worked at the General Motors plant for 37 years, sits with union members in Oshawa, Ontario on Monday
India marked the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks Monday with ceremonies at sites across the city that became battlegrounds in the wave of violence that killed scores and dealt a critical blow to relations with neighbouring Pakistan. Armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades, 10 Islamic militants killed 166 people and injured hundreds more in a three-day rampage through India's financial capital which started on Wednesday November 26, 2008. A decade on, the United States offered a new $5 million reward for the capture of the remaining attackers and called on Islamabad to cooperate with the hunt for the planners of the assault. The attackers belonged to Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). At a solemn ceremony Mumbai's police remembered more than a dozen officers and commandos killed in the operation against the militants. Relatives of the victims and local dignitaries laid wreaths and sprinkled rose petals at a police memorial honouring the dead while the force's brass band played the "Last Post". "A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the attacks "gruesome". Played out on TV news channels around the world, the bloody events -- widely known as 26/11 -- have been compared in India to New York's suffering on September 11, 2001. The co-ordinated attacks on the city of nearly 20 million people hit luxury hotels, the main railway station, a restaurant popular with tourists and a Jewish centre. - Wanted leader - Residents and railway officials also paid their respects at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station where Mohammed Kasab, the only gunman caught alive, and another attacker killed almost 60 people and wounded at least 100 others. The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel held a private service to remember the 31 people who died there. Over 60 hours, four attackers shot dead guests and hotel staff, detonated explosives and set ablaze parts of the building -- including its famous dome. Dramatic scenes of Indian commandos battling the heavily armed gunmen, and guests tried to escape from windows down bedsheet ropes were beamed around the world on live television. Indian security forces only retook control of the hotel on the morning of November 29. More than 30 people also died at the Oberoi and Trident hotels in a 42-hour siege involving shootings, explosions and hostage-taking. Six hostages -- including a rabbi and his pregnant wife -- were killed at Nariman House, a Jewish cultural and religious centre. The current rabbi, Israel Kozlovsky, unveiled a new memorial listing the names of all those who died in the 26/11 attacks. "Those who gave their life for the country, those who gave their life for us, they deserve to be remembered and they deserve to get their honour and tribute," he told AFP. Kasab, the gunman caught at the railway station, was executed by India in 2012 after being found guilty of charges including murder and waging war against India. The LeT called him "a hero" in a comment that highlighted the deep-rooted rivalry between India and Pakistan since their division in 1947. Indian politicians and officials routinely condemn Pakistan for not taking action against LeT leader Hafez Saeed who remains free even though he is designated a terrorist by the United Nations. Pakistan says that evidence provided by India against Saeed is too vague. Six Americans were among the Mumbai victims and the US State Department announced a $5 million prize for the capture of the remaining planners of the attacks. The United States already has a $10 million bounty offered for Saeed and $2 million for Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior group leader. "It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates." Ceremonies were held at sites across India to commemorate the tenth aniversary of the Mumbai attacks Map and factfile on the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people and injured hundreds more Almost 60 people were killed at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station on November 26, 2008 Mumbai police band members sounded bugles as part of the city's commemorations
At least 22 police officers were killed in a Taliban ambush in western Afghanistan, a health official said Monday, in another blow to Afghan forces already suffering record casualties. The attack on the police convoy in Farah province follows a wave of violence across Afghanistan in recent weeks, including a suicide bombing inside an army base mosque on Friday, and intensifying efforts to convince the Taliban to end the 17-year war. At least two police officers were wounded in Sunday's ambush, said Shir Ahmad Weda, director of the public hospital in the provincial capital. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message, saying 25 police were killed and four wounded. "Four vehicles were destroyed and a large quantity of weapons were seized," Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the militants, added. Provincial police spokesman Mohibullah Mohib said the convoy had been travelling from Farah city to Juwain district when it came under attack. Mohib put the death toll at five with another seven wounded. Afghan government and military officials often downplay the casualty toll of security forces, while the Taliban frequently exaggerates the number its fighters have killed or wounded. The Taliban and its smaller rival the Islamic State group (IS) have been inflicting record casualties on local forces this year. At least 27 soldiers were killed in Friday's suicide attack in a mosque on an army base in the eastern province of Khost. IS claimed responsibility for the explosion, which also wounded at least 79 service members. That came days after a suicide assault on a religious gathering in Kabul that killed at least 55 people and wounded 94. Since the start of 2015, when local forces took over from US-led NATO combat troops to secure the country, nearly 30,000 Afghan soldiers and police have been killed, President Ghani revealed this month -- a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged. Experts have warned the attrition rate is unsustainable. US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul earlier this month that a peace deal to end the war could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April 20. His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for such a deal to be done quickly. But Afghan election organisers said Monday they were considering delaying the poll for three months amid fears the ballot could derail efforts to persuade the Taliban to talk. Afghan government and military officials often downplay the casualty toll of security forces, while the Taliban frequently exaggerates the number its fighters have killed or wounded
As authorities formulate a plan to retrieve the body of the American evangelist killed by North Sentinel Islanders, a local police chief has recalled the horrific fate of the remote tribes two previous victims.

Two fishermen who strayed onto the island in 2006, were killed and their bodies were never recovered. Dependra Pathak, the director general of police in Andaman and Nicobar, told the AFP news agency their bodies were hooked to stakes and displayed like scarecrows.

An Indian coast guard helicopter sent to retrieve the bodies was repelled by a volley of arrows from the community.

We are studying the 2006 case, Mr Pathak told AFP.

John Chau was killed by North Sentinelese islanders. Source: Instagram/John Allen Chau

We are asking anthropologists what they do when they kill an outsider.

It comes after 26-year-old John Chau was killed earlier this month by a tribe of hunter-gatherers, who he was reportedly trying to convert to Christianity.

He visited one of the islands in Indias remote cluster of Andaman and Nicobar.

The North Sentinel Island, which is out of bounds for visitors, is home to the Sentinelese community, believed to be the last pre-Neolithic tribe in the world.

Mr Chau was shot and killed with bow and arrows after being illegally ferried to the island by fishermen. He was then dragged across a beach and buried in the sand, police say.

Police director Pathak said a Coast Guard vessel with police and experts on the tribe had gone to scout the island and work out a plan to recover Mr Chaus body.

A Sentinel tribal man aims with his bow and arrow at an Indian Coast Guard helicopter on December 28, 2004. Source: Reuters

Mr Chau had made two or three trips to the island by canoe from November 15, making contact with the tribe but returning to his boat.

He told the fishermen one day later that he would not come back from the island and instructed them to return home and pass on some handwritten notes he had made to a friend.

The next morning they saw his body being dragged across a beach and buried in the sand.

This was a misplaced adventure in a highly protected area, Mr Pathak said.
Central American migrants who ran into walls of security personnel, razor wire and tear gas at the US border in Tijuana, Mexico on Sunday chose possibly the hardest place to pass. Just a few miles (kilometers) away high walls and dense patrolling give way to relatively easily scaled fencing. But even then, they would have faced rugged terrain and a stepped-up presence by US Border Patrol agents. The 2,000 mile (3,200 kilometer) border from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico has long defied efforts to seal it off, due to a mix of politics and sheer geography. In the 12 months to September 30, the US Customs and Border Protection apprehended or blocked 521,090 people from entering the country illegally. There are no good estimates of how many get through, but it is likely hundreds per day. President Donald Trump has demanded the whole border be fenced, a near-impossible task. Since 2006 the government has fenced off around 700 miles with vehicle barriers and fences, from eight to 30 feet (2.4 meters-9.1 meters) high. Nearly all of that is in three states: California, New Mexico and Arizona, where the border is relatively straight and most of the land on the US side is government-owned. The longest stretch, the Mexico border with Texas, is marked by the sinuous Rio Grande River, whose loops and bights make a border-hugging fence impractical. Moreover, most of the land along the border is privately owned, and many landowners object to fencing off their property from the river. In addition, in some urban areas there is heavy traffic by people who cross the border every day for school, work and family business. - Into a no-man's land - Nevertheless, at the beginning of 2018 Trump demanded Congress budget $25 billion to fence the entire border. So far $1.6 billion has been allocated for new walls to be constructed in two areas with the heaviest populations. One is at Tijuana, Mexico, where the caravan of several thousand Central American migrants is trying to pass to the San Diego, California area on the north side. That is already one of the most difficult sections of the border to cross successfully, with two and sometimes three parallel fences, now reinforced with razor wire. The 42 people US officials said were arrested Sunday crossing the border only breached a primary fence into a kind of no-man's-land on the US side, never reaching a second fence. The second section being reinforced under Trump's wall program is the Rio Grande Valley, the easternmost stretch of the border near McAllen, Texas. In between are large areas with no effective barriers. But searing deserts, towering mountains and brutal drug smugglers make passage a highly risky undertaking. Increasingly, too, instead of walls the US has installed border lights and cameras and deployed drones for monitoring, increasing the chance of being caught. The border at Tijuana, Mexico, is already one of the most difficult to cross, with two and sometimes three parallel fences, now reinforced with razor wire The existing border wall, which acts as a levee with bollard fencing on top, pictured in March 2018 in the Rio Grande Valley sector near McAllen, Texas
The quick actions of a Good Samaritan saved the life of a baby girl who was choking on mashed potatoes while eating with her family at a restaurant.

Mum Hannah Marie Jarvis was celebrating Thanksgiving at a North Carolina family restaurant on Thursday with family, when her seven-month-old daughter Calli started to choke on her dinner.

She just started gagging all of a sudden. She was choking, Ms Jarvis told local news station WLOS.

Good Samaritan Deborah Rouse (right) saved baby Calli who was choking at a restaurant. Source: Hannah Marie Jarvis / Facebook

A waitress first attempted to help, but then yelled out for someone in the restaurant to assist. Thats when fellow diner Deborah Rouse stepped in and saved Callis life.

This lady named Deborah intervened, and she started performing the Heimlich manoeuvre on her, Ms Jarvis said.

She held her down taking multiple blows to her back. It was miraculous, she started breathing again.

Later, Ms Jarvis took to Facebook to send her thanks to the kind stranger, not having her contact information.

She posted a photo of Ms Rouse holding Calli, who wore a pink jumper and headband while smiling.

If anyone knows who Deborah Rouse is, this lady is a hero! If it werent for this angel, my daughter probably would have been wheeled away in an ambulance today, Ms Jarvis wrote.

Thank you for saving my daughters life and thank you Trish from Golden Corral who helped intervene as well! My family and I cant thank you enough for helping.

Ms Jarvis followed up by saying that her daughter had been evaluated at the hospital, and was doing well.

I will never forget the many tears that were shed today in Golden Corral as this angel stepped in to perform the Heimlich manouevre that saved my baby from choking to death, she wrote.

The post caught Ms Rouses attention, who later responded.

Good evening Mrs Hannah, I saw the news article and I messaged you my number! the woman wrote.

Im elated that Callie is doing well, yall have been on my mind since yesterday! Love you all and take care.

Ms Rouse added: Im soooooooo THANKFUL to God for having me in the right place at the right time!!! God, You are WORTHY.
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos was under fire Monday after a photo emerged of him meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been tainted by the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The photo, which was released on the Twitter account of the Saudi foreign ministry (@KSAmofaEN), was published in several Spanish newspapers. Conservative daily El Mundo ran it along with the headline: "The photo of shame". A spokesman for the royal family said the former king shook hands with the de facto Saudi ruler at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday in what was a "greeting required by protocol, with no institutional significance and no previous meeting." Far-left parties Podemos and Izquierda Unida which oppose the monarchy criticised the unexpected greeting. "It is humiliating Spain and Spaniards," wrote Pablo Echenique, a leading member of Podemos, on Twitter. Izquierda Unida leader Alberto Garzon questioned the Spanish royal family's friendships, saying on Twitter they are a "faithful reflection of an era that has to end". "The Spanish monarchy is a problem not just for the Spanish people as this photograph shows. It's not a simple photo, it is a symbol," he added. Juan Carlos, 80, has long had close ties with the Saudi royal family which has helped Spain to land lucrative contracts in the oil-rich kingdom. He abdicated in 2014 after several scandals in favour of his son Felipe VI, who has tried to restore the monarchy's reputation. In an online article, El Mundo said the former monarch "is obliged to... have a vision of the state and a sense of opportunity. And right now it is not appropriate to be photographed with the Saudi crown prince." Saudi Arabia has faced intense global criticism over the killing of insider-turned-critic Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate on October 2. He was reportedly dismembered in what Saudi Arabia said was a "rogue" operation but CIA analysis leaked to the US media has pointed the finger at Prince Mohammed. Riyadh has repeatedly and insistently rejected any suggestion the prince was connected to the killing. Spanish former King Juan Carlos I, pictured February 2018, has come under fire after a photo emerged of him shaking hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which a spokesman for the royal family said was purely "protocol", not political
Spain has found Ryanair guilty of violating cabin crews' right to strike and work safety regulations as well as obstructing labour inspections, threatening to fine the low-frills airline for 16 infractions, unions said Monday. The labour ministry found that the company, by emailing or calling employees to see if they would stop work before planned strikes on July 25 and 26, and September 28, had infringed on their right to strike, the USO and Sitcpla unions said. The labour ministry confirmed to AFP that it had "given the company notice of infractions," but refused to reveal further details. Europe's biggest low cost airline has been clashing with worker representatives for close to a year over contracts, pay and work conditions. In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers. Then on September 28, cabin crew walked out again in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain and in some countries pilots' unions also took action. A resolution emitted by the Spanish ministry's labour inspection department on November 22, seen by AFP, said that some of those responsible for Ryanair bases in Spain had "obstructed" the work of inspectors when they showed up to investigate accusations the airline had violated the right to strike. "Those responsible for the bases -- or those acting as such -- told the inspectors that they did not have the necessary information to duly attend to the labour inspection, having obstructed, in some cases, their verification work," the resolution said. It added that based on those interviews it had managed to conduct with employees, it concluded that the company had violated workers' right to strike by asking them via email whether they planned to stop work, and in some cases following up by phone. It also said the company put more staff on airport or home standby than normal, which meant there was not enough space and furniture for the higher number of employees on standby in airports, violating work safety rules. As such, it proposes to fine them for a total of 16 infractions -- 15 serious and one very serious -- although the exact amount is not stipulated. Ryanair can appeal this. The company was not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP. Ryanair staff held a 24-hour strike at Frankfurt airport in September
Taiwan's government said Monday speeding was the main cause of a train derailment that killed 18 people last month in the first official report on the incident. The crash on the popular east coast line also injured more than 200 people and left the Puyuma Express lying zig-zagged across the tracks in the island's deadliest rail accident for a quarter century. The dead included eight members of a family returning from a wedding and three school children returning from an exchange program in South Korea. The report, released by a special cabinet taskforce probing the crash, said the train was travelling at 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour, nearly double the speed limit imposed due to a curve in the track as it approached Xinma station, the crash site. "Speeding is the direct cause of this accident," Railway Bureau deputy director Yang Cheng-chun told reporters. "Indirect causes" that led to the speeding included mechanical problems with the train's main air compressor and the driver turning off the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system used to monitor speed in a bid to try to fix the problems, he added. "A string of protective measures in the whole process failed one by one, and as a result the train was travelling at excessive speed at the curve," said Yang. The driver was still communicating with dispatchers about the mechanical problems and did not slow down or hit the brake two minutes before the train flipped, according to the report. When asked about the driver's responsiblity, Yang said the cabinet probe was aimed at clarifying the cause rather than "assigning blame." In a separate, ongoing criminal investigation into the crash, prosecutors have said the driver is suspected of "professional negligence" over speeding and for switching off the ATP. Wu Tse-cheng, a minister without portfolio who heads the taskforce, said there had been problems with the compressor since May but the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) has yet to clarify the cause. "As to TRA's responsibility, the authorities will be investigating. My view is that there will be administrative responsibilities as well," Wu said. Passengers recalled how the train had been shaking intensely during the journey and was going "too fast" before it derailed. According to TRA, a Puyuma Express train also derailed last year on the same line but no one was injured. In total, Taiwan has a fleet of 19 Puyuma Express trains, all made in Japan. Eighteen people were killed and more than 200 injured when the Puyuma Express derailed in Taiwan


Students fear mould in their dormitories may have contributed to the death of one of their classmates.

Olivia Paregol, 18, was studying at the University of Maryland before she died from pneumonia on November 18, Fox News reports. She was living on campus.

The 18-year-old was diagnosed with adenovirus, which causes pneumonia and various respiratory problems. The virus killed 11 children in New Jersey earlier this month, according to the states health department.

Ms Paregol also had a weakened immune system due to Crohns disease.

There are fears mould may have contributed to the death of University of Maryland student Olivia Paregol, 18, who died from adenovirus. Source: Fox 5 DC/ Ian Paregol

Her father Ian told the Baltimore Sun every kid in that dorm is sick. Hes devastated by his daughters death.

Its just killing me, he told The Sun.

The father said hes spoken to the university to find out whether mould on campus may have contributed to his daughters death.

He told WBAL TV the university failed his daughter.

Five more students, not including Ms Paregol, have been diagnosed with adenovirus and many claim its being caused by mould in the dorms.

Students who live in the campus dorms said mould has been an issue and believe its caused five more students to fall ill with adenovirus. Source: CBS/ Jessica Thompson

Student Jessica Thompson told CBS she and her roommate found mould on their shoes and clothes in August. She claims this has caused her to become ill.

You cant sleep at night because the pillow is right next to mould and youre up all night coughing, Ms Thompson told CBS.

We got to go home on the weekends and we would be totally fine at home, and we would come back and would be sniffling and coughing and then have headaches.

She added university officials have been told about the issue and about 500 students have been moved out to temporary accommodation while the dorms are cleaned.

An email sent to students on September 19 from the university blamed the mould build up on high humidity and heavy rain.

The universitys Dr David McBride told CBS campus staff have stepped up cleaning efforts and are on high alert.
Hundreds of female protesters took to the streets of the Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli on Sunday to call for an end to violence against women. Some banging large drums and others ululating, they marched through the streets, an AFP correspondent said. "Underage marriage is a crime," said one sign held up by a protester, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Another demonstrator held up the picture of a woman with a swollen eye, her mouth covered with one hand. "We must take part in this day in large numbers," said Hanifa Mohammed, 47, wearing a green jumper and a dark-coloured headscarf. "Women must organise and reach decision-making positions," she said. "They must determine their future." Women of all ages carried the portraits of fighters in the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), the all-female branch of the Syrian Kurdish militia. Syria's Kurds have largely stayed out of the country's seven-year war, instead setting up semi-autonomous institutions in areas they control in its north and northeast. Local institutions are usually co-directed by a man and a woman. Syria's Kurds pride themselves in promoting equality of the sexes even in combat, as the YPJ play a key role in the battle against the Islamic State jihadist group. Some protesters lashed out at neighbouring Turkey, which considers the Syrian Kurdish militia to be "terrorists". Ankara and its Syrian proxies have led two campaigns inside Syria against the Kurds, most recently seizing the northwestern enclave of Afrin in March. Organisers dedicated the protest to the women of the enclave, now under control of pro-Turkey rebels. A Syrian Kurdish woman bangs drums as she marches with others during a demonstration in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on November 25, 2018 to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Syrian Kurdish women raise a banner reading in Kurdish and Arabic "woman's freedom is by revolution, protect your revolution" during a demonstration in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on November 25, 2018
An 18-year-old girl has been found dead in the Paraguayan prison cell of a Brazilian crime lord, in what local authorities say was an attempt to prevent his extradition.

Marcelo Pinheiro, better known as Marcelo Piloto, was already incarcerated in the federal prison of Catanduvas, Paraguay, when he was visited by an 18-year-old girl named as Lidia Meza Burgos.

The teen had asked to visit Pinheiro  a request that was authorised given he was not listed in solitary detention.

Paraguayan authorities claim Pinheiro stabbed the teenager several times in a bid to bring a new case against him, thus postponing his extradition to Brazil where he had escaped from a prison while serving a 15-year sentence on assault and death charges.

Marcelo Pinheiro, better known as Marcelo Piloto is accused of murdering 18-year-old Lidia Meza Burgos in his prison cell. Images: Twitter/Susana Balbuena & AFP

Ms Meza was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. In the aftermath of her death, Pinheiros lawyer immediately called for his client to face the murder charges in Paraguay.

Following her death, Paraguayan President Mario Abdo fired his security chief and announced a restructuring of the police leadership.

We made the decision to replace the commander and deputy commander of the National Police, the head of state wrote on Twitter.

Despite his efforts, Pinherio was expelled from the country last week, with the Justice Ministry saying Pinheiro can respond in Brazil for the crime committed in Paraguay and that the case will be in the hands of the Brazilian Federal Police.

Pinheiro was attempting to stop his extradition to Brazil, authorities say. Image: AFP

Pinheiro is considered one of the leaders of the Red Command and a major supplier of drugs and weapons to the faction. He was detained in Paraguay in December 2017 after a decade on the run.

Women demanding Justice for Lidia

Women across Paraguay have expressed their outrage following the teenagers death, demanding a full review of the prison system and justice for Lidia.

The State must investigate the crime of #LidiaMeza. It is not enough to expel your murderer! #JusticiaParaLidia, one woman wrote.

Lidia Meza was selected for being the object of less value and greater benefit, she was used as bait. When a woman is considered an object, or given a utilitarian value, we are using the same patriarchal logic present in the power relations in our culture, another wrote.
Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval ships in waters near Moscow-annexed Crimea, raising fears of military escalation and prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday. In an unprecedented incident, Russia used weapons against the Ukranian ships which it claims illegally entered its waters before boarding and searching them, the country's FSB security service confirmed. The crisis unfolded on Sunday as two Ukrainian small warships and a tugboat were heading through the Kerch Strait, a narrow waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov that is used by Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat in "openly aggressive actions" and then fired on the ships, immobilising all three. It said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area. The confrontation at sea is a dangerous development in the long-running conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the escalation, US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said. The meeting was requested by both Russia and Ukraine, diplomatic sources told AFP. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked parliament to vote Monday on whether to impose martial law on the country for 60 days, after his Military Cabinet recommended the move in a late-night meeting. Throwing his weight behind the measure, which is not guaranteed to pass, he said it "in no way means that Ukraine will carry out any offensive actions". "I want to emphasise separately that we have all irrefutable evidence that this aggression, this attack on the Ukrainian Navy's warships was not a mistake, not an accident, but a deliberate action," he said in a statement. Ukraine said six of its soldiers were injured, two seriously, but Russia's FSB reported only three had suffered non-life threatening injuries and were given medical treatment. Protesters, some armed with flares, rallied outside the Russian embassy in Kiev on Sunday night in response to the latest development. - West urges restraint - The seizure has sparked alarm among Kiev's Western allies. "We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately," the European Union said in a statement. NATO also urged "restraint and de-escalation", and called on Russia "to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law". Ukraine's foreign ministry said the "aggressive actions" were a violation of international law that would be met with "an international and diplomatic legal response". Russia claims the waters off Crimea after annexing the peninsula in 2014. "Having breached this morning the Russian border, the three Ukrainian ships -- the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yani Kapu -- tried again on November 25 at 19:00 (Moscow time) to conduct illegal actions in Russian territorial waters," the FSB said on Sunday. The FSB, which oversees the border guard service, also said the Ukrainian ships had failed to respond to the "legal demands" of the Russian authorities. Russian politicians accused Ukraine of acting at the behest of its Western allies and deliberately attempting to escalate the conflict. Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Facebook that he "was sure the Western masters of the Kiev regime are behind this act of provocation". Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy speaker of the Russian parliament, warned on Facebook that "the Ukrainian puppet authorities... are risking unleashing a large military conflict". "One thing is clear: Russia won't allow military provocations in its territorial waters." - Increased Russian controls - Ukraine said it gave Russia advance warning of its ships' route, which its vessels are obliged to take to reach the Sea of Azov. In September, the Ukrainian navy complained about "acts of provocation" by Russian border guards against its ships taking the same route. Ukraine has increased the number of navy ships and border guard patrols in the Sea of Azov after Russia deployed five more warships. Kiev says its naval buildup is due to Russia stepping up controls in the area this year and carrying out lengthy checks on commercial shipping that were very costly for freight and port companies. Kiev and the West have accused Moscow of deliberately blocking ships from accessing Mariupol, which has vital access to heavy industry in the region. Mariupol is close to the region of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has caused at least 10,000 deaths since 2014. The United States, a key ally of Ukraine, is opposed to Russia's takeover of Crimea and is looking to reduce Ukraine's dependency on Russian gas pipelines. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked parliament to vote Monday on whether to impose martial law for 60 days Police officers stand in front of the Russian Embassy in Kiev, where protesters rallied after the dangerous development in the Kerch Strait A map shows the Kerch Strait where the latest confrontation erupted Russia has stepped up controls on Ukrainian commercial ships, causing costly delays for freight and port companies
Ukraine demanded the release of its sailors and more sanctions against Moscow on Monday after the Russian navy fired on and seized three Ukrainian ships off the coast of Crimea. In a sharp escalation of tensions between the ex-Soviet neighbours, Russia boarded and seized the three ships on Sunday, accusing them of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov. The confrontation at sea has raised fears of a wider military escalation and the UN Security Council was to hold an emergency session later Monday to consider a response. NATO also called an emergency meeting on the incident. Ukraine's military was on high alert and parliament was to vote Monday on a request from President Petro Poroshenko to impose martial law for 60 days. In a statement early Monday, Ukraine's foreign ministry denounced "another act of armed aggression" by Russia. It demanded "the return of the captured navy ships" and urged its Western allies "to take all necessary measures to deter the aggressor... by applying new and strengthening existing sanctions." Moscow blamed Kiev for the incident, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accusing Ukraine of a planned provocation and of using "dangerous methods" that put ships in the area at risk. Moscow summoned a senior Ukrainian diplomat to the foreign ministry to complain over the incident. The crisis unfolded as two small Ukrainian warships and a tugboat were heading through the Kerch Strait, a waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea and which is used by both Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat and then fired on the ships, immobilising all three. It said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area. - Tensions over sea access - Russia's FSB security service, which oversees border forces, confirmed weapons had been fired and the vessels seized, accusing the Ukrainian ships of "violating the Russian border". Ukraine said six of its servicemen were injured, two seriously. The FSB said only three had suffered non-life threatening injuries and were given medical treatment. Russian news agencies quoted port officials in Crimea as saying the strait was reopened to traffic early on Monday. The confrontation is a dangerous development in the long-running conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country. Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014. Kiev has accused Moscow of blocking access for Ukrainian ships though the strait, the only way in and out of the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea. In recent months both sides had deployed more naval and border vessels to the area. Kiev and the West have also accused Moscow of deliberately blocking ships from accessing the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, which has vital access to heavy industry in the eastern part of the country. Mariupol is close to the region controlled by Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has caused at least 10,000 deaths since 2014. The European Union and NATO on Sunday urged restraint, with the Western military alliance calling on Russia "to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law". Black Sea power Turkey expressed concern on Monday while Germany said a Russian blockade of the Sea of Azov was "unacceptable". - 'Significant escalation' - "The incident marks a significant escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," research firm Eurasia Group said. "Western governments will side with Ukraine against Russia over the incident... making new sanctions against Russia likely." The United States and Europe have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Moscow for its actions relating to Ukraine. Poroshenko held a late-night meeting of his military cabinet, proposing the imposition of martial law in Ukraine "to ensure the security and safety of its citizens". It was not immediately clear what measures could be imposed, but the general staff said in a statement that the military was already at "full combat readiness". Eurasia Group said martial law could have wide-ranging domestic consequences, especially with a presidential election due in March and Poroshenko behind in opinion polls. "Poroshenko did not take this kind of action during the worst of the conflict in 2014 and 2015. This raises concerns that... it could lead to postponement of the presidential election," it said. A few dozen protesters rallied outside the Russian embassy in Kiev late on Sunday, setting off flares and laying down paper boats in the snow as Ukrainian police looked on. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko held a meeting of his military cabinet after the clash with Russia in the Kerch Strait A map shows the Kerch Strait where the latest confrontation erupted Russia has stepped up controls on Ukrainian commercial ships, causing costly delays for freight and port companies Police officers guarded the Russian Embassy in Kiev, where protesters rallied over the Kerch strait incident
United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths met Yemeni officials in Riyadh on Monday as part of efforts to kick-start peace talks next month between Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government. The visit comes as a tenuous calm settles over Yemen's rebel-held port city of Hodeida, a vital lifeline for imports and aid that had seen fierce clashes in a renewed offensive by a Saudi-led military coalition. Under heavy international pressure, the Yemeni government and the coalition have largely suspended their five-month-old battle to seize Hodeida. Griffiths, who is spearheading efforts to hold peace talks in Sweden in December, met Yemen's Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani in the Saudi capital, the Yemeni state-run news agency Saba said. The Yemeni leaders discussed with Griffiths arrangements for the upcoming negotiations and possible "confidence building measures" to test the "rebels' seriousness" about peace efforts, Saba reported. The UN envoy, who visited Hodeida last week to assess the humanitarian situation, was also expected to meet with Yemen's internationally recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, a Saudi government source told AFP. Fighting in the Red Sea city intensified in early November as coalition-backed loyalist forces attempted to enter the city, but calm returned after Griffiths arrived in Yemen on Wednesday. Griffiths has urged the warring parties to "keep the peace" in Hodeida. While the loyalist advance there has largely stalled, minor clashes have continued. Military officials quoted by Saba on Sunday evening said the loyalists had foiled a Huthi "infiltration attempt" into a camp in Hays, a district about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Hodeida. The rebels said they had detonated an explosive device near the eastern entrance of Hodeida, "destroying a (pro-government) military vehicle... killing and wounding soldiers inside", Huthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Monday. Loyalists did not confirm the attack. But pro-government military officials told AFP on Monday that their operations in the east and south of the Red Sea city had been suspended. - Desperately needed respite - Both warring sides have expressed support for the UN envoy's current effort to hold talks, which marks the biggest push for a peace deal in Yemen in two years. But in a sign of lingering distrust, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters in Riyadh on Monday that efforts to hold the Sweden talks were progressing "despite Huthi efforts to obstruct them". President Hadi -- whose UN-recognised government was pushed out of Sanaa by rebels who overran the capital in 2014 -- has said he backs peace efforts but has vowed to "liberate" Hodeida. In September, a previous round of UN-led peace talks faltered when the Huthis refused to travel to Geneva, accusing the world body of failing to guarantee their delegation's return to Sanaa or secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman. Previous talks broke down in 2016, when 108 days of negotiations in Kuwait failed to yield a deal and left rebel delegates stranded in Oman for three months. The heads of the UN's humanitarian and children's agencies have said the recent de-escalation in fighting in Hodeida is providing a desperately needed respite to hundreds of thousands of civilians. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led intervention began, though some rights groups estimate the toll could be five times higher. Humanitarian organisations are desperate to see the current peace push translate into a more permanent halt to the conflict. UN agencies say 14 million Yemenis are at risk of starvation and the closure of Hodeida port would further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. burs-ac/hc Bodyguards escort the motorcade of the UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, following his meeting with a Huthi rebel leader in the capital Sanaa, on November 24, 2018 A Yemeni child receives a polio vaccination during an immunisation campaign at a health centre on the outskirts of the capital Sanaa on November 26, 2018
US prosecutors said Monday they have charged Juan Antonio Hernandez, the brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, weapons offenses and making false statements. The former Honduran congressman, who also goes by the name Tony, was arrested in Miami on Friday, the day after the US public holiday of Thanksgiving, and appeared in Miami federal court Monday. US prosecutors said Hernandez was a large-scale drug trafficker who worked from 2004 to 2016 with other drug traffickers in Colombia, Honduras and Mexico, to import cocaine into the United States. In Manhattan, where the charges were unveiled, US Attorney Geoffrey Berman accused the 40-year-old of being "involved in all stages" of trafficking tons of cocaine through Honduras destined for the United States. "Hernandez allegedly arranged machinegun-toting security for cocaine shipments, bribed law enforcement officials... to protect drug shipments and solicited large bribes from major drug traffickers," said Berman. The charges run to four counts. If convicted, he faces anything from five years to life in prison. Hernandez allegedly had access to cocaine laboratories in Honduras and Colombia, where some of the cocaine was stamped "TH" for his initials. He is accused of meeting Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, the former leader of the country's Cachiros cartel, agreeing to help facilitate Honduran government payments to cartel front companies and pocketing $50,000. US prosecutors have aggressively pursued current or former Honduran public officials and their relatives over drug trafficking. In July, the United States charged in absentia another member of congress in Honduras, Midence Oqueli Martinez Turcios, with accepting more than $1 million in kickbacks to help fund his political career. In 2017, Fabio Lobo, son of former Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, was sentenced to 24 years in a US prison for conspiring to smuggle cocaine. That same year, a US judge sentenced Yani Rosenthal, a two-time former presidential candidate and an ex-congressman from Honduras, to three years in prison for laundering drug proceeds from the Cachiros cartel. Juan Antonio Hernandez, the brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, is accused of being involved in trafficking drugs to the United States
A pungent chemical stench has been infiltrating homes in Brisbanes south, leaving some residents feeling nauseous, sleepless and scared for their familys wellbeing.

Residents in Moorooka and Salisbury, who say the cat urine like odour is filling the neighbourhood, are now losing patience, claiming a nearby factory is to blame.

Liz ONeill says her family are among those who have fallen victim to the stench, leaving her sons eyes bloodshot, irritated and burning.

The concerned mother said a three-week trip to Caloundra saw the symptoms disappear but they quickly resurfaced upon their return home.

Liz ONeill says the stench is coming from the EGR plant has caused considerable irritation to her sons eyes. Images: 7 News

On Sunday, residents took to the streets with their neighbours to rally against the owners of the EGR manufacturing plant  a company they are blaming for the stench.

In 2014, the manufacturing company was ordered to move certain operations to Darra and install a large fan, but now residents say the smell is back.

Local mother Samantha Arbuthnot said she too has concerns for her children.

Some mornings, I feel nauseous, it just worries me, I wonder what the contents of the emissions are, she told 7 News.

The children have seen several skin specialists, who confirmed that they have been exposed to something, Ms ONeill claims. Image: 7 News

Fed up residents took to the streets to protest the stench, demanding the state government take action. Image: 7 News

I woke up vomiting from it at 1:30am this morning, one resident wrote on Facebook.

It gives me a headache and it blocks my nose, another wrote.

The state government is now investigating and threatening action over a matter that local residents say has plagued their neighbourhood on and off for the past 16 years.

This has been an issue that has occurred before, its regrettable that is has flared again and if there are offences that are being committed then I absolutely support penalties being handed out, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.

EGR failed to return Yahoo7 News request for comment.
A woman left brain damaged by plastic surgery has died after being in a medically induced coma for almost a month.

US woman Laura Avila, 36, travelled from Texas to Juarez in Mexico for the surgery on her nose on October 30, according to New Orleans-based news outlet WDSU 6.

However, she was placed in a medically induced coma after suffering complications, a heart attack and brain damage, following the procedure.

Her familys attorney confirmed the womans death in a statement to local outlet WFAA.

Laura was a beautiful woman powerful and full of life, family attorney Larry Friedman said.

She had the best of life in front of her until this tragic unfortunate and senseless death.

Laura Avila, 36, died after complications with rhinoplasty in Mexico. Source: WFAA

Lauras sister posted a touching tribute to her over the weekend.

My angelic sister/second mom/best friend & Heartbeat left us today, Lauras sister Angie Avila posted on Facebook over the weekend.

My heart aches and I truly dont know how or if Ill ever overcome this pain.

Shes the love of my life, and I know she will continue to watch over me and guide me just as she always has.

Thank you for being the best sister in the world.

Angie had previously set up a GoFundMe page which raised more than $110,000 to date to support her sisters recovery and spoke of the surgery complications.

Ms Avila (pictured) was remembered in a touching Facebook post by her sister. Source: Facebook/Laura Avila

Laura suffered a cardiac arrest for four minutes, Angie wrote.

She was then placed into a medically induced coma to prevent further damage to her brain that was caused by the complications she experienced during anesthesia (sic).

Mr Friedman urged the public to be cautious about overseas plastic surgery.

So that her death is not in vain, people should think of Laura before they look for cross-border discount surgery, he told WFAA.
As Democrats prepare to take control of the House of Representatives in January, Gov. Andrew Cuomo hopes the New York delegation will prioritize two issues important to the state.

In a letter to incumbents and four representatives-elect released Monday, Cuomo urged the New York Democratic members to advocate for the restoration of the state and local tax deduction and federal funding for the Gateway Tunnel project.

Cuomo has been one of the most vocal critics of the federal tax law the GOP-led Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed in December 2017. The measure placed a $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions. Before the change, there was no limit on how much a taxpayer could deduct.

The state and local tax deduction cap has been described by Cuomo as an "economic missile" aimed at New York and other blue states. The SALT deduction, as its known for short, is typically used by filers in high-tax states, such as New York.

While there are some residents in upstate New York who benefited from the state and local tax deduction, it was mainly used by residents in downstate where property tax bills tend to be much higher.

New York and three other states are suing the federal government to challenge the constitutionality of the tax law and the provision related to state and local tax deductions.

Cuomo wrote in his letter that the cap on state and local tax deductions makes New York less competitive.

"The financial penalties commence this year," he explained. "The pain will be real. Home values could drop. Equity will be lost. I would urge you to stand together and rally the other members in state delegations and demand that the SALT deduction is fully restored."

The Gateway Tunnel project is also a concern for Cuomo. There is an existing tunnel that allows trains to travel between New Jersey and New York. That pathway is important for Amtrak trains and other rail travel in the Northeast.

An agreement was reached in 2015 that called for the federal government to fund 50 percent of the $30 billion project, which includes nearly $13 billion to replace the tunnel linking New York and New Jersey. New Jersey and New York would cover the remaining costs of the project.

But the Trump administration has reneged on the agreement. They oppose using federal funds for the project. It has raised questions about whether the Gateway project will advance.

Cuomo recently toured the tunnel and sent the video to Trump and U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. The video shows the damage to the existing Hudson River tunnel.

"This should not be a partisan issue," Cuomo wrote in his letter to New York's Democratic delegation. "To adapt a great New York phrase, 'There is no Democratic or Republican way to fix a tunnel.'"

The letter was sent to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Reps. Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey, two of the senior members of the state's congressional delegation.

Carbon copies were sent to new U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle, a Rochester-area Democrat who won a special election to fill the remainder of the late U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter's term and a two-year term of his own. Reps.-elect Anthony Brindisi, Antonio Delgado, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Max Rose also received the governor's letter.

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Bob Antonacci was the apparent winner of the 50th Senate District on election night. Now, the Republican is officially the senator-elect.

Following the absentee ballot count in Cayuga and Onondaga counties, Antonacci finished with 62,333 votes. His Democratic opponent, John Mannion, netted 60,010 votes.

Mannion received more absentee votes in Onondaga County, 3,845 to Antonacci's 3,300. But it wasn't enough to erase Antonacci's narrow election night.

Antonacci tweeted last week that he is "humbled by the opportunity to represent the 50th." He announced a series of meet-and-greets in the district. The first is 6 p.m. Monday at DeWitt Town Hall. Other forums will be held Dec. 3 in Clay and Dec. 7 in Skaneateles.

In a statement, Mannion said, "People took the time to complete absentee and provisional ballots. Those votes count just as much as those cast on Election Day. I am very proud of the work of our campaign team and our amazing volunteers that were a force for making sorely needed positive change in our country's politics."

Both candidates had a strong showing in Onondaga County, which covers a vast majority of the 50th district. Antonacci won many of the county's rural areas and some of the suburbs. Not to be outdone, Mannion won parts of Camillus, Geddes, Lysander and Manlius.

Mannion also won all but one election district in the city of Syracuse.

In Cayuga County, Mannion won the city of Auburn. But he couldn't overcome Antonacci's performance in the county's rural areas. The GOP candidate won by wide margins in the towns of Brutus, Cato, Ira and Sennett.

SD-50 Antonacci (R) Mannion (D) Cayuga 5,579 4,414 Onondaga 56,754 55,596 TOTAL 62,333 60,010 PERCENTAGE 50.95% 49.05%

The 50th district race was one of the most expensive state Senate contests in New York. As of late October, more than $2 million was spent on the Syracuse-area race. The candidates accounted for about half that sum, with the remainder coming from outside groups.

Fighting For Our Future, a super PAC affiliated with the New York State United Teachers union, was the biggest spender in the race. The teachers union backed Mannion, an Advanced Placement biology teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus, in the 50th district campaign.

The Democratic and Republican Senate campaign committees also invested heavily in the race.

While he awaited the final results of the race, Antonacci was in the midst of preparations for his transition to the state Senate. Not long after the election, he attended a Senate Republican meeting in Albany. He supported state Sen. John Flanagan, the current majority leader, to remain as Senate GOP leader.

When Antonacci heads to Albany in January, he will be part of the Republican minority in the state Senate. Democrats won control of the chamber and will hold 40 of the body's 63 seats.

Antonacci won't be the only newcomer from central New York. State Sen.-elect Rachel May, a Democrat, will represent the 53rd Senate District, which includes all of Madison and parts of Oneida and Onondaga counties.

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AUBURN  It took her and her husband four hours to reach Auburn.

On Sunday, Maggie Vanderweit, an award-winning quilter who's been practicing the craft for 40 years, made an appearance at the Schweinfurth Art Center to explain her quilting approach.

Vanderweit, an Ontario, Canada resident, has work displayed and sold in Houston, Chicago, England and Johannesburg. Her piece "All of Us and Aliens, Too" won the Shirley Hastedt Award and is featured in the Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit at the Schweinfurth. This year the exhibit features 59 artists from around the world.

Although she's skilled in traditional patchwork quilting  sometimes involving thousands of tiny fabric fragments  Vanderweit certainly isn't afraid to give a go at abstract work.

A master at hand-painting and dying fabric, Vanderweit pieces together simple patterns. Then, like butter, she melts in elaborate designs to her quilts.

"Allowing," a scarlet-stained piece Vanderweit presented Sunday, reflects her belief that people were meant to live joyfully.

"We have to get out of our own way to allow good things to come," Vanderweit said.

Cheryl Davids, of Auburn, a frequent Schweinfurth visitor, said she was very impressed with Vanderweit's presentation.

"It's great to see all the different designs," Davids said. "Her (Vanderweit) quilts and the others in the exhibit give off strong tone."

A recipient of many awards, Vanderweit said being in Quilts=Art=Quilts at Schweinfurth is a real "thrill."

"This is a very good gallery," said Vanderweit. "It's been at the leading edge of great textile art for a really long time."

The Schweinfurth Art Center' Quilts=Art=Quilts will continue to be on display until Jan. 6, 2019.

Staff writer Dan Orzechowski can be reached at (315) 282-2239 or dan.orzechowski@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @OrzechowskiDan

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Stormy Daniels attorney, Michael Avenatti, will not face felony domestic violence charges over an incident in which he had what his attorneys described as an argument with actress Mareli Miniutti in his Los Angeles apartment on Novmebr 14, as AVN.com reported. But though Avenatti still faces a potential misdemeanor charge in the incident, he took to Twitter on Friday to tout his record of representing women in their causes.

I have been successfully advocating for women and womens rights my entire career (nearly 20 yrs). I have repeatedly agreed to represent women in their causes when nobody else would touch their case, Avenatti wrote. I am innocent and will not be intimidated into stopping speaking truth to power.

The Los Angeles County District Attorneys office on Tuesday said it would not pursue a felony charge against Avenatti, but added that the case had been referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney for a possible misdemeanor charge against the high-profile lawyer, who has parlayed his representation of Daniels in her lawsuit against Donald Trump into a seemingly relentless series of TV appearances and nationwide fame.

As AVN.com reported earlier this week, according to statements in a court filing by Miniutti, Avenatti became verbally abusive during the argument, struck her with pillows and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her out of the apartment in the citys high-end Century City district.

Miniuttis account, however, differed sharply and in important respects from the initial media account of the incident by the gossip site TMZ, which claimed that the victim suffered significant facial bruises, and that Avenatti claimed, She hit me first, before chasing her inside the building.

Those reports are contradicted by Miniuttis own sworn account. Nonetheless, Avenattis own lawyers appeared to cast blame on Miniutti for the incident in a statement.

"Ms. Miniutti and Mr. Avenatti had an argument while in Mr. Avenatti's apartment during which Ms. Miniutti behaved in a volatile, agitated and irrational manner, lawyers Evan Jenness and Richard Beada said. However, Mr. Avenatti did not inflict any corporal injury or cause any traumatic condition upon Ms. Miniutti.

But Miniuttis lawyer, Michael Bachner, said that the actress stands by her sworn account.

"Given the nature of Ms. Miniutti's injuries, we are not surprised by the decision not to bring felony charges," Bachner said in a CNN interview "However, we are confident that misdemeanor charges are warranted."

Avenatti on Friday continued to allege that 20-year-old right-wing conspiracy theorist Jacob Wohl was behind what Avenatti has called a political set-up that resulted in his arrest. Wohl was earlier part of a scheme to fabricate sexual assault allegations against Russia investigation Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Jacob Wohl is a complete fraud who will ultimately be prosecuted for fabricating allegations against me and Mueller, Aevantti wrote on Twitter. He deserves to be incarcerated to the fullest extent of the law. And he will be.

Photo by Joe Flood / Flickr Creative Commons
Net neutrality advocates have set a new Day of Action for November 29, to support a Congressional Review Act petition that would force the United States House of Representatives to vote on overturning the Federal Communications Commission repeal of the 2015 open internet rules. The Senate voted in favor of putting the rules back in place in May, a month before the repeal took effect.

But in the House, Republican Speaker Paul Ryan refused to place the net neutrality issue on the floor for a vote.

The Congressional Review Act requires that a majority of House members signed what, in effect, is a petition demanding a vote of the entire House, whether the speaker wants one or not. With 218 signatures needed to approve the petition and force the vote, House Democrats have so far gathered 177including just one Republican, Mike Coffman of Colorado.

Its time for House reps to get off their butts and take concrete action to save the open internet, Josh Tabish of Fight for the Futurethe group behind the Day of Actiontold the Daily Dot news site. Passing the CRA before the end of this session is Congress last best chance to restore net neutrality.

The deadline for assembling the final 41 signatures stands at December 10. But the task might be difficult with Republicans maintaining a 43-seat majority in the House during the current lame duck sessionand, according to Fight for the Future, 16 Democrats oppose the measure. Those 16 include Arizonas Kyrsten Sinema, who will leave the House January 1 after being elected to the Senate in the midterm elections.

To get the CRA petition approved during the current session of Congress would require all 193 Democrats to sign, joined by 12 Republicans.

As part of the November 29 protest, individuals are being encouraged to upload pictures of themselves wearing an I Support Net Neutrality badge, to bombard lawmakers social media feeds with pictures, so if they decide to vote against the open internet we will make them look us in the eye as they do it, Tabish said.

Photo by Slowking / Wikimedia Commons
Massachusetts on Tuesday became the first state on the East Coast of the United States to sell recreational cannabis legally, and with only two dispensaries open in the commonwealth of neatly seven million people, consumers in the state spent $440,011 purchasing 10,700 individual cannabis items, according to state data cited by the Boston Globe.

Lines were lengthy on Tuesday morning as the shops prepared to open. In Northampton, Mass., the towns mayor David Narkewicz made history by recording the first purchase of legal marijuana there, selecting an edible itemspecifically, a cannabis-infused chocolate barwhich he claimed that he had no plans to actually eat.

I am actually going to probably preserve it and display it, because it is historically significant, Narkewicz told reporters.

Massachusetts passed a ballot measure legalizing recreational marijuana in the November 2016 election. More than two years later, stores opened in Northampton and in Leicester, Mass., a city in central Massachusetts about an hour west of Boston.

Northampton is located in western Massachusetts about two hours to Bostons west, and is best-known as the heart of the Five Colleges area, with the University of Massachuetts-Amherst, Amherst College, Smith College, Mount Holyoke College and Hampshire College all in close proximityperhaps making the town an ideal location for recreational weed sales.

Long lines continued on Wednesday at the shop Cultivate in Leicester, according to MassLive.com. Lines at the dispensary New England Treatment Access in Northampton were shorter than on Tuesday, but still numbered in the hundreds of cannabis-craving customers, MassLive reported.

In Leicester on Tuesday, MassLive reported, the most popular items were gummy cubes, containing 5 milligrams of THC each, and the chocolate OG strain.

The pot sales appear to be proving lucrative for Massachusetts state coffers already, with the state levying an additional 10.75 percent excise tax on legal marijuana, on top of the 6.25 percent sales tax Massachusetts already charges consumers on most purchases of anything. The combined 17 percent tax would have netted the state almost $75,000 on Tuesday alone from just two stores, The Glove reported.

Marc St. Gil / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
Ahram Weekly and Ahram Online, by Azza Radwan Sedky

Is todays divisive political rhetoric in the US, much of it used by US President Donald Trump, fostering hostility or criminal acts

In October this year, 15 potentially explosive devices, or what are known as pipe bombs, were sent to prominent and high-ranking Americans including the Obamas and the Clintons.

Film star Robert De Nero, former vice-president Joe Biden, Eric Holder, former US attorney-general, and billionaire George Soros were amongst those who received the bombs.

A pattern emerged whereby all those targeted were critics of US President Donald Trump or had been slighted or defamed by him.

The US then went on the defensive as the authorities asked anyone who had been a critic of Trump, or whom Trump may have publicly slandered, to remain vigilant.

Once the suspect, Cesar Sayoc, was caught, his partisanship surfaced. His van, which doubled as his base, was festooned with stickers that supported Trump and denounced his critics. He had also plastered red targets over the faces of those he construed as enemies in the van.

Trump has had altercations with most of the bomb recipients. He has denigrated Democratic Party presidential elections candidate Hillary Clinton, for example.

He listened to and chuckled at the lock her up rants during his campaign rallies, he said that the Second Amendment people, those who believe in the right to keep and bear arms in the US, should do something to Hillary, and he dubbed her crooked Hillary.

The same thing goes for all those who were targeted.

Later, in a shoot-out on 27 October a gunman, Robert Bowers, a white supremacist, killed 11 Jews at a synagogue in Pittsburg in the US. He had targeted Jews on social media and made anti-Semitic statements during the shooting.

For much of the media, Trumps behaviour and rhetoric had egged on Bowers and his like. During an earlier white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia, a civil rights protester was killed, and Trumps comment then was that there were very fine people on both sides, equating white supremacists with ordinary Americans.

In a petition, thousands asked Trump not to visit Pittsburg after the shooting unless he denounced white nationalism ahead of it.

The question today is whether the divisive political rhetoric in the US fosters hostility or even criminal acts. In other words, was Sayoc a by-product of Trumps rhetoric? Was Bowers a consequence of the same? And is this rhetoric reshaping American politics as well as Americans at large?

Trumps rhetoric is indeed divisive and racially charged. It has polarised Americans and fed partisanship, stoking hatred and empowering the heartless.

According to Trump, no one is above defamation. Envision the message that Trump supporters receive when they hear the following: the Democrats will give illegal immigrants free cars; the Democrats will abolish American borders; the Democrats want to open our borders to a flood of deadly drugs and ruthless gangs, the Democrats want to turn America into a giant sanctuary for criminal aliens dont kid yourself. That whats going to happen, for example.

Does this kind of crassness pass unnoticed by Americans, or will grudge-bearing pro-Trump individuals follow suit in tone and standards? Knock the crap out of him, would you? I promise you, I will pay your legal fees; Id like to punch him in the face; Ill beat the crap out of you; maybe he should be roughed up; we are tired of the garbage; get out of here; and part of the problem is that no one wants to hurt each other anymore are samples of Trumps outbursts.

Trump is also bringing out the worse in those who dislike him, for partisan infighting rules in the US today.

Robert De Nero slammed Trump on the US TV programme Saturday Night Live, and Soros described Trump as a danger to the world.

Holder used a sentence from former US first lady Michelle Obama, when they go low, we go high, but then kicked it up a notch by saying when they go low, we kick them.

Can such ranting go unnoticed and not leave its mark on Americans? I doubt it. Moral and ethical standards are sinking and losing ground; vulgarity rules; trifling sacred beliefs is taken lightly; and wishing others ill has become the norm.

The end result is that Americans will change, as this rhetoric provides a green light to the Sayocs and the Bowers of the world.

When asked if he plans on toning down or softening his rhetoric, Trump said that his intention was to tone it up. He has no intention of restraining himself, for Trump is at the most Trumpish when he is combative.

* The writer is a political analyst.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 22 November, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Braving the rhetoric
A week ago, I visited Dealey Plaza in Dallas, the place where John F. Kennedy as assassinated so brutally on November 22, 1963. We will celebrate the 55th anniversary in 4 days. At the end of the tour of the Texas Book Depository Building, where Oswald supposedly shot from the 6th floor window, there was a memorial plaque dedicated to Kennedy asking "What Might Have Been." He brought out the best in young Americans, he energized them, called them to serve the country, he dared them to dream, he inspired them to be the best versions of themselves in order to inspire the rest of the world to be like America. This is what the assassination has galvanized in our collective memory, at least according to the Museum at Dealey Plaza.Author Walter Lippman observed thatI thought that was a powerful statement.Kennedy's assassination certain made him a legend in the people's mind. In American history. After his death, his widow Jackie Kennedy was heartbroken that his dreams would likely be forgotten. And to a great extent, with the Vietnam War (a conflict Kennedy was determined to avoid), the political turmoil of the 60's, the race riots, the continued assassinations of popular figures (like Martin Luther King Jr and Robert Kennedy), his ideals became obscured and forgotten.To her credit, Jackie created an image of Jack Kennedy's presidency to help people, to help the country, remember - and that was CAMELOT. She did this within days of her husband's assassination. In interviews, she compared Jack's 3 years in office to Camelot - King Arthur's kingdom.Camelot, the musical about King Arthur and Guinevere, created by Lerner and Loewe in 1961, was Jackie's favorite. She loved the music and loved the story. What prompted Jackie to make the analogy to "Camelot" was that the story hit so close to home. Like King Arthur's kingdom, she wanted the country to remember Jack's presidency as one built on lofty principles, hoping to build an idyllic America. And yet, like story plot, it all came undone by the forces set out to destroy Camelot.Ronald Reagan was a leader like Jack Kennedy, in that he continues to inspire others to carry out his convictions for smaller, less intrusive government and the ability of the people to make their own decisions over their lives, their property, and their businesses. Rather than youthful age, it was Reagan's gentle nature and good-hearted humor that endeared him to the American people. And yet he was strong and forceful when he needed to be - when the country needed him to be.Barack Obama at first embraced an almost Kennedy-like persona - youthful, energetic, connecting to the people. But he was flash over substance. His promises were empty and instead of inspiring Americans to be their best and do their best, he inspired groups to retreat into their racial identity and to hate one another.Enter Donald Trump. He brought energy, common sense, expertise, vision, and a sense of purpose when he ran. Brass, often crass, arrogant and perhaps narcissistic, he brought to the public forum everything that was on the forgotten man and woman's mind. He spoke their language and connected with the people like no candidate had done before. His rallies were a testament to the absolute gratitude of the people to finally have a candidate they could rally around, someone who might actually address their concerns and do what he promised.And in an almost "Dewey Wins" moment (that is, defying all the polls and all the predictions), Trump won the presidential election in 2016. The question, of course, would be whether he would keep his promises and be the president the people hoped he would be.In taking the oath of office that gloriously warm January day (my husband and I were in attendance), Donald Trump spoke words reminiscent of Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan, and set the tone for what his vision of government would be:I want us all to remember his words and use them, like food and water, to nourish our political souls and remind us why we do what we do, why we should try to do more, and why we must not let our president down. To let President Trump down is to abandon our own movement.And so, I think when we reflect on that final test of a leader, of which author Lippman spoke, Donald Trump will be remembered and thought of as one of our greatest presidents ever. His conviction to make America Great Again is already contagious and inspiring others to serve with that same mindset. And I have a feeling that his ideals, his dreams will not only leave a conviction in others to carry them on, but I think they will re-define the conservative movement and maybe even the Republican Party.
Should Beaufort County elected officials demand that every alleged incident of Child Rape be investigated in Beaufort County?

Yes, without fail, irrespective of the parties involved; this heinous crime must be investigated, and the truth be known, and responsible parties prosecuted.
Here are a few facts about America.The unemployment rate among those with a high school education is 3.9 percent. The poorest quintile of Americans have seen their post-tax incomes increase 80 percent since 1979, according to Congressional Budget Office data, and post-tax and transfer income for that quintile has skyrocketed 32 percent since 2000. The upper-middle class in America constituted 13 percent of the population in 1979; as of 2014, it constituted 30 percent. According to Pew Research from 2015, when it comes to standard of living,Fantastic products are cheaper than ever. Human Progress investigated the amount of time Americans must spend to earn enough money to buy key products and found that since 1979, the amount of time spent to earn a refrigerator had dropped 52 percent, 95 percent for microwaves, 65 percent for gas ranges and 61 percent for dishwashers. Between the mid-1960s and 2007, Americans were able to work less and leisure more: They worked nearly eight hours fewer per week, according to The Heritage Foundation. The wage gap is almost entirely a myth: Women who work the same jobs as men for the same number of hours, and have the same work history and same education as men make the same as men. The chief obstacles to income mobility in the United States are related to personal decision-making, not racial discrimination: As the Brookings Institution points out, of the people who finish high school, get a full-time job and wait until age 21 to get married and have children, nearly 75 percent join the middle class, and just 2 percent remain in poverty.What of freedom? In America, people of all religions practice freely, so long as the government isn't attempting to cram social justice down on them. People are free to speak, so long as government actors aren't utilizing the heckler's veto. We are free to use the press, free to associate and free to protest.All of this is the result of the greatest governmental philosophy ever committed to paper: God-given individual rights protected by limited government. We haven't always lived up to that philosophy - in some areas, we've progressed mightily, and in others, we've regressed. But the overall success of the United States should be ringing proof that at the very least, we should be grateful and proud to live here.Yet as of July 2018, fewer than half of Americans surveyed by Gallup said they are extremely proud to be American. Just 32 percent of Democrats, down from 56 percent in 2013, said they are extremely proud to be American; only 42 percent of independents said are were extremely proud to be American. That's ridiculous. Regardless of political affiliation, we should be proud to live in a society founded on eternal truths, in which we have the ability to thrive based on our own choices.In 1789, as America struggled to find her footing after a revolution against the most powerful military and economic engine in the world, then-President George Washington issued a proclamation. He thanked God forforIf Washington could urge gratefulness in 1789, we'd be fools not to do so now, when our lives are so much better in every material way. This Thanksgiving, let's remember what we have - and let's remember the eternal ideas that provide the groundwork for our prosperity.
What's next in the Mueller investigation?



"I think the report is going to be devastating to the president," Harvard Law Professor Emeritus @AlanDersh says. "And I know that the president's team is already working on a response to the report" https://t.co/P6iz1j1VA4 #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/1qlJ5Ngduz  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 25, 2018

ABC chief anchor George Stephanopoulos was thrilled to hear Alan Dershowitz - who has often defended President Trump regarding the Russia probe - predict that special counsel Robert Mueller's report will be "devastating" to the president. But as he's often done, the famous Harvard Law professor disappointed the network with some important qualifiers.Speaking with Stephanopoulos onhe said. When the report is finally released by the new attorney general,Dershowitz said,he added.In response, Stephanopoulos, smiling ear to ear, exclaimed, "For you to say it's 'devastating' is really something."ABC was so excited about the moment that it tweeted out the exchange (below).However, Dershowitz followed up the comment with a clarification, which took some of the thrill out of his prediction for ardent Trump critics.said Dershowitz, in comments not included in the clip, but noted by ABC online.Dershowitz also frustrated Stephanopoulos' line of questions earlier in the conversation, when the anchor suggested that Jerome Corsi and Roger Stone could "perhaps become a witness" against Trump." said Dershowitz, emphatically, referencing Corsi.Watch the exchange below via ABC:What's next in the Mueller investigation?Harvard Law Professor Emeritus @AlanDersh says.Last week, Trump submitted written answers to questions by Mueller regarding the Russian election interference investigation. According to multiple reports, Corsi is currently is working out a plea deal with Mueller, as have several other "questionable" witnesses, as Dershowitz described them.Pressure to wrap up the probe has escalated after Trump asked Jeff Sessions to step down as attorney general and appointed as Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who has been publicly critical of the probe.
The Biodiversity Heritage Library is pleased to welcome the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira as a new Affiliate. Auckland Museum is BHLs first partner in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Tracing its roots back to 1852, Auckland Museum was one of New Zealands first museums and is regarded as one of the finest in the Southern Hemisphere. Renowned for its collection of Maori and Pacific treasures along with significant natural history resources, the Museum tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people. It is also a war memorial for the province of Auckland.

The Museum is home to one of New Zealands finest heritage research libraries. Serving the Museum since 1867, the Librarys key focus is caring for and providing access to the Museums Documentary Heritage collections, including manuscripts, photographs and artwork, ephemera, oral histories, rare books, and serials. The Librarys collections have an overarching focus on the Auckland province and te ao Maori (the Maori world), and its natural history collection strengths include botany, and academic and general-interest works related to the natural sciences.

Auckland Museums long natural history specialism has resulted in a world-class collection of New Zealand specimens of flora and fauna. Coupled with published research and a wealth of untapped curatorial correspondence, our holdings will be a valuable addition to the BHL community, affirmed Adam Moriarty, Head of Information, Library and Enquiry Services at the Auckland Museum. As the first New Zealand-based institution to join the BHL, we can dramatically increase what the world knows about Aotearoas unique natural environment.

BHL representatives Constance Rinaldo (Ernst Mayr Library, Harvard and Chair of the BHL Members Council) and Dr. Elycia Wallis and Nicole Kearney (BHL Australia) traveled to the Museum in early September to welcome the Library and provide an orientation to the BHL program. In late October, Kearney, manager of the BHL Australia program, and Cerise Howard, digitization coordinator for BHL Australia, returned to provide an intensive three-day training workshop to Library staff covering a broad range of topics from metadata requirements to digitization workflow processes.

Following the workshop, staff digitized the Librarys first contribution to BHL: An epitome of the natural history of the insects of New Holland, New Zealand, New Guinea, Otaheite, and other islands in the Indian, Southern, and Pacific oceans (1805) by Edward Donovan. This rare work includes hand-colored drawings and descriptions of over 100 species from Australia, New Zealand, and neighboring islands. The title is the first of many currently being digitized for BHL from the Librarys collection.

We are delighted to see our partnerships in Australasia expand to New Zealand through the Auckland Museum and look forward to seeing many more fascinating contributions to the BHL collection in the future. We also extend our thanks to our BHL Australia colleagues for providing training and support to our newest Affiliate.

We are thrilled to welcome the Auckland Museum as our first partner in New Zealand, affirmed Martin R. Kalfatovic, Program Director for the Biodiversity Heritage Library. We have long desired to establish a partnership in the country, and we look forward to working with our colleagues in Auckland to share their collections with global audiences and foster new relationships with other institutions across the New Zealand.

The BHL Consortium now includes 20 Members, 22 Affiliates, and over 80 partners globally. Learn more.
MOSS POINT, Miss. -- A home invasion attempt in Moss Point has left one man dead and another in serious condition, according to Chief Brandon Ashley.

Just after 8 a.m. Sunday morning, police were called to 4618 Frederick St. in Moss Point after an occupant of the home, 25-year-old Michael Richardson Jr., reported seeing an unknown person knock on his door and leave in a grey Toyota Camry, police say.

According to Ashley, 10 minutes later, Richardson was awakened after hearing a loud noise near his garage. Believing someone was trying to break into his home, police say Richardson armed himself.

Richardson told police as he approached the front door, he heard a male say, "nobody's home." Seconds later, the front door burst open and two men ran inside towards him.

Richardson opened fire on both men, now identified as 18-year-old Titus Kelly Jr., of Ocean Springs and 19-year-old Antonio Jackson of Gulfport.

Kelly was pronounced dead near the entrance of the home by Acadian Ambulance and Jackson fled the scene on foot and was dropped off in the Camry suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest.

Jackson was airlifted to USA Medical Center in Mobile, Ala., where he is in serious condition.

The case is still under investigation and no charges have been filed against Richardson at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact Det. Kimberlee Snowden or the Moss Point Police Department at 228-475-1711.

You may also contact Crime Stoppers at 800-787-5898 or visit the Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers website at mscoastcrimestoppers.com.


China-watchers observed the rise-and-rise of Chinese premier Xi Jinping with caution and sometimes alarm, but also held out some hope that despite his authoritarian tendencies and thin skin, Xi was genuinely committed to rooting out the rampant corruption that has plagued the country since its rapid industrialization under Deng Xiaoping: the creation of an untouchable elite and a hereditary princeling class immune to civil justice; looting by respected members of the business community; and a sense that the looters are exfiltrating their money, bypassing currency controls, and stashing the booty in apartments overseas, fueling both the Bitcoin and real-estate bubbles worldwide.



Xi, after all, has pretty impeccable revolutionary credentials, having marched with Mao and then serving seven years in a forced-labor camp during the Cultural Revolution, sleeping on a bed of bricks in a cave, shitting in a bucket, and living on thin rice-gruel.





But when Xi secured a second term and embarked on a purge of "corrupt" elements, many worried that he'd learned the wrong lessons from the Cultural Revolution, and had seized on the pretense of corruption to clear the political ranks of his challengers. The fact that an early arrest included Bo Xilai, the charismatic (and very, very corrupt) official seen as a potential successor to Xi didn't assuage the fears  and then when Xi delighted President Trump by effectively declaring himself Chinese President For Life, people really started to worry.

Were they right to worry?

A new paper called Personal Ties, Meritocracy, and China's Anti-Corruptionby USF economist Peter Lorentzen and NUS political scientist Xi Lu (presented at the University of Chicago's East Asia Workshop on Politics, Economy and Society) takes a fascinating, data-driven approach to answering this question.





The Chinese Communist Party (which conducted the purges) has been extraordinarily forthcoming in the data they published on the corruption cases they prosecuted, and the Chinese press has taken the convictions as leave to do deep and excellent investigative work on the bosses who have been brought low, departing from the received wisdom of, "it's okay to swat flies, but don't hit a tiger."

The authors cross-reference the legal data with the investigative data and then again with economic data from each region, reasoning that officials who were promoted after their areas of responsibility had declined economically were likely the recipients of patronage appointments, while those who were promoted after gains in their spheres of responsibility were likely the recipients of bona fide promotions.





From all this data, the authors ask some really interesting questions, like "Were the close associates of the party leadership spared from investigation?" and "When an official is convicted or corruption, did the data from the areas they oversaw support the conclusion that they were not good at their jobs?" and "When a big boss was targeted by investigators, was that boss's immediate circle also targeted (which would suggest a decapitation strike against a political rival), or was the purge limited to officials against whom the data supports a charge of corruption).

The conclusion is mixed. Xi's own personal associates and those in his power structure were reportedly completely spared from any investigation (so either he protected them or they were uniformly honest and upright), but the rest of the politburo was not so lucky, with investigations ranging almost uniformly through China's party power structure. High profile corruption convictions, like Bo Xilai, appear to have been legitimate anti-corruption actions and not attacks on a political rival, and overall, the anti-corruption effort mostly targeted genuinely corrupt officials.





So maybe a summary would be, "Xi took on an honest effort to purge the part of corruption wherever it was to be found, unless it was to be found in his immediate circle; the anti-corruption effort therefore did remove a large number of corrupt officials and mostly spared innocents from politically motivated attacks, but it also allowed Xi to consolidate power by removing key rivals' lieutenants, while leaving Xi's social graph undisturbed."



Our analysis helps us evaluate two competing interpretations of Xi Jinping's wide-ranging corruption crackdown. One interpretation is that it is largely a sham exercise masking an attempt to destroy the support networks of political competitors and consolidate power in one set of hands, and undermining the increasingly meritocratic and pragmatic governance introduced under Deng. The other interpretation views Xi's crackdown as reaffirming the party's commitment to improving governance within the framework of a Leninist authoritarian hierarchy. In this interpretation, the increasingly egregious and extravagantly public corruption of the post-reform era had eroded the regime's support and hampered its ability to achieve its policy goals. In a time when China could no longer rely on the easy gains to be had from its initial process of economic reform and opening up this change had become imperative. This study finds support for both claims. In section 2 we showed that local governments perceived as corrupt by private firms tended to have higher rates of indictments. We also showed that the largest network of indicted officials was not centered around Xi's most likely competitor for party leadership, but rather around three other high-level leaders who were already on their way out of power. In section 3 we offer an explanation for this targeting. In the provinces where these three tigers were most influential, promotions appeared substantially less meritocratic than elsewhere, and instead appeared to be a reward for corruption. Moreover, we find that individuals who appear to have been promoted for the wrong reasons were much more likely to have been were more likely to later be indicted in the crackdown. Finally, in section 4, we find evidence that Xi Jinping protected individuals close to him, while his fellow members of the Politburo Standing Committee were unable to do the same.

Personal Ties, Meritocracy, and China's Anti-Corruption [Peter Lorentzen and Xi Lu]

(via Naked Capitalism)
Akaya Kunugi makes a nice living entertaining women at a host bar in Tokyo. One of his clients even bought him a $370,000 car. In this Asian Boss video, Akaya, who was formerly homeless, describes his duties as the number one host at the largest and most prestigious club of its kind in Japan.

They also interview one of his 19-year-old clients, who said an evening with Akaya at the club costs at least $700. She once bought a crystal magnum decanter of Louis XIII cognac at the club for $110,000.

Image: Asian Boss/YouTube
I never saw The Lion King when I was growing up. I was a little on my way out of high school by the time that it popped. But I know a lot of folks adore the film. Despite having never watched it, somehow, I know a reference to it when I see it on TV or in films. It's a cultural touchstone. It's a hell of a big deal, so much so that, instead of letting it stand as a classic, It's being remade.

The animation in the trailer of Jon Favreau's rehash of the Lion King looks outstanding. It's got a blend of realism and cutesy cartoon going on that I think both kids and grownups will dig. But I have to wonder why this thing exists. Disney's well-known for pulling their intellectual property out of cold storage from time to time, making a bundle of money off of Blu-ray sales and digital downloads and then stashing it away again until for another decade. It's absolutely genius: who wouldn't want to share the films they adored when they were children with their own children. If you saw the original Lion King in a theater with your family, how excited would you be to share that experience with your own child? I'd imagine it'd feel pretty good. Currently, the Lion King is available to download from iTunes. I'd be very interested to understand the financial soothsaying that goes into determining that a whole new imagining of a classic film You can it from Amazon, too. Both sell for under $20. If the kids watching the original version of the film are anything like my nephew, they'll watch it until their TV catches fire at home and then giddly give it another go on the big screen. Throw the original back on the big screen. It's already paid for. It'll pretty much print its own money.

I'm a long way from poo-pooing this remake. I may go and see it if I'm near a theater when it comes out. I love Favreau's work (Chef? Iron Man? Rudy? I mean c'mon) and want to see more of what he has to offer. More than this, the world needs joy. This is the sort of film that can, hopefully, supply some of that. But I'd love to understand the thinking behind how spending millions of dollars and years of time retreading something that so many people feel is wonderful could ever make more moneythat's the point of a re-make when it comes down to itthan the original that it's based on.
Business / Local

by Mandla Ndlovu

pronounced Smart-One

Zimbabweans importing motor vehicles from the United Kingdom have an opportunity to meet the January 3 2019 deadline of paying duty in RTGS and Bond notes if they use a facility offered by SmartWuhn Logistics LTD ().SmartWuhn Logistics has announced that they have containers which will be arriving in Zimbabwe from the United Kingdom just after Christmas.SmartWuhn Logistics assures its customers that great care will be taken to safely load their motor vehicles so that they remain well secured for the duration of shipment to destination and does not move within the container either while at sea or being loaded and unloaded from the ship.To secure your your space in the container contact: +447496794627 (app/call) / +447948531772 (app/call) www.smartwuhn.com On Sunday the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority announced that individuals whose cars are scheduled to arrive in Zimbabwe on or before January 3, 2019 can also pay duty through RTGS, bond notes or foreign currency.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Government will continue catering for the welfare of Zimbabwe's founding father, former President Mr Robert Mugabe, and accord him the respect he deserves, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.A year after Mr Mugabe resigned in the face of impeachment for reneging on his constitutional mandate by allowing a clique of power-hungry politicians to usurp his authority, and in the former leader's home district of Zvimba, President Mnangagwa said his predecessor could not be written out of history.President Mnangagwa was addressing thousands of people at a Thank You Rally at Murombedzi growth point.The rally was organised to express appreciation for the overwhelming support Mashonaland West province gave to him and his Zanu-PF party in the July 2018 harmonised elections.The President revealed that Mr Mugabe, who is 94-years-old, had been facing health challenges and had undergone treatment in Singapore over the past two months."We want to thank you, vaGushungo, Mambo Zvimba, you gave us your son. Ndimi makabereka mwana uyu. Ndiye akatifambisa muhondo tikasunungura nyika kudzamara tasvika gore rapfuura iri vakomberedzwa nezvimwe zvivanhu. Zvimhandu zvazvavakomberedza tikazvitakanyira kure."Tinotenda Mambo Zvimba, tirikuvachengeta, vava mutana wedu, vakura iko zvino vava nemwedzi miviri yadarika vari kuSingapore."He said Mr Mugabe was supposed to return to Zimbabwe on October 15, but Government received a message that he was not yet feeling well enough and extended his treatment.Mr Mugabe, President Mnangagwa said, was now expected home on November 30."He is the founding father of the nation of Zimbabwe. He is our founding father of a free Zimbabwe. There could be others who would want to distort our history, but they should also know that Zimbabwe's founding father is Gushungo," he said.President Mnangagwa said his predecessor was now out of the clutches of those who had captured him."We are moving on with the revolution because those who had captured the former president had little knowledge of the revolution," he said."The birth of our Independence was a result of a struggle with a revolutionary purpose; to liberate ourselves, to grant ourselves an independence and destiny determined by our own people."The President said those who failed to follow the principles of the liberation struggle would fall by the wayside.Mr Mugabe was among the first people to formally congratulate President Mnangagwa's electoral victory after having earlier declared he would not vote for him.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Anyone harbouring Presidential ambitions should sit back, relax and leave the ruling party and State President to mend the economy without disturbances, Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.Introducing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at a Thank You rally at Murombedzi Growth Point in Zvimba yesterday, VP Chiwenga said it was folly for anyone to think the Head of State and Government was leaving his post anytime soon. He said focus should be on economic development.The rally coincided with the first anniversary of President Mnangagwa's ascendancy to the Presidency, and was organised to thank the people of Mashonaland West for voting backing Zanu-PF and its Presidential candidate in the July 2018 harmonised elections.VP Chiwenga said, "In all the coming elections, no one is going to remove Shumba Murambwi (President Mnangagwa). We are here until he feels it is the time to go and when we have fully restored our country to its former glory and when everything is in order. No one must dream of being the President. We want our country to prosper and it is time to move the country forward. It's no longer time for bickering and politics. From here going forward, we are now talking of politics of development, of building the country and moving the country forward," said VP Chiwenga.The VP added: "Politics of child's play will not help us in any way. Shumba Murambwi is there to stay because he is an anointed one from the King. Never ever dream that after so and so years it will be your time, there is no vacancy, there is nowhere to get in. Listen and listen very carefully. To those who were howling in these last days, keep quiet and keep quiet forever. We want to build a strong Zimbabwe that can move forward. There is nothing he has done wrong, the son from the Shumba clan," he said.President Mnangagwa, VP Chiwenga said, was a God-fearing man. He said despite many challenges, the President never betrayed the struggle and never sought revenge. VP Chiwenga urged Zimbabweans to unite in support of President Mnangagwa's vision for development. The VP said it was no coincidence that the first Thank You rally was in Mashonaland West, where the Second Chimurenga for Zimbabwe's Independence started in Chinhoyi in 1966."So today on the 24th of November, he (President Mnangagwa) is here in Murombedzi to thank you firstly VaZvimba and your family for voting resoundingly for Zanu-PF. You voted for our President overwhelmingly here . . . Here in Zvimba President Mnangagwa garnered 55 000 votes and this unsettled little bishop (opposition leader Mr Nelson Chamisa) who got 26 000 votes."Speaking at the same occasion, Zanu-PF National Chair, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, who is the Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister, said the professionalism of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in last year's Operation Restore Legacy was exemplary. Prior to President Mnangagwa's speech, Muchunguri-Kashiri said through Operation Restore Legacy, the military had upheld its constitutional duty of protecting Zimbabwe and its citizens. Muchinguri-Kashiri also applauded Vice-President Dr Chiwenga for his role during and after the liberation struggle."During the liberation struggle, he led sons and daughters from this area (Mashonaland West) and around Zimbabwe, guiding them. After Independence, he climbed up the ladder until he attained the rank of Commander Defence Forces, a post he held until November last year. In November last year, after the country had been captured, he resolved to retain the sovereignty of the country in a peaceful manner, where there was no bloodshed; the most peaceful takeover by professional and disciplined soldiers. Soon after Operation Restore Legacy, countries such as South Africa emulated our peaceful transitional process."
News / National

by Staff reporter

MDC Member of Parliament Lynette Karenyi, who was injured during last week's chaos in Parliament, says the national assembly risks losing its integrity by allowing violence to be perpetrated against women.Karenyi, who sustained injuries on her left arm and leg, said their treatment by the police was disrespectful and as women they felt violated."The speaker (Jacob Mudenda) failed us by allowing the police to come into parliament to forcibly remove us. There is no section of the law which says police should be called in if people refuse to stand up in the presence of the President," she fumed.The outspoken legislator said she was targeted because she had earlier raised an issue about alleged sexual harassment of female MPs by their male counterparts."The police were targeting specific people and I felt that it was because of the issue I had raised which exposed some male MPs," she said, adding that the Zanu-PF legislators were not happy that she had exposed the rot.Karenyi said female MPs were constantly harassed by some male legislators."The young and new female members are now scared to even contribute because they will be harassed," she said.The legislator said at times they would shout obscenities and harangue the female legislators."I am one of the few who are not afraid to stand up and speak and that is why I raised the issue," she said.Karenyi said when President Emmerson Mnangagwa walked into the National Assembly for the budget presentation on Thursday, the MDC legislators remained seated."As usual, we did not stand up and the Speaker said because we had disobeyed orders to stand up, he was calling in the police," she said.Karenyi said there was no justification for Mudenda to call in the police because they were not making any noise and were calm."The police came in targeting people and I was also picked on," she said. "They dragged me around and in the process my dress was drawn up exposing my legs. That is just plain disrespectful.Karenyi claimed that she was stamped on and some people fell on top of her as she sat on the floor resisting being forced out.She was taken to Avenues Clinic along with another female legislator, Tabitha Khumalo, who had collapsed during the melee.A video which has since gone viral shows Khumalo losing her balance before collapsing on the ground.
News / National

by Ndou Paul

A retired Col,Elliot Piki was allegedly abducted 2day arnd 4:30pm by yet unknown pple.He was pencilled 2 testify b4 the Mothlante Commission tomorrow. Piki contested Tongai Mnangagwa in the Zanu-PF primaries leading to the 30 July elections but was later expelled from Zanu-PF  mawarire jealousy (@mawarirej) November 25, 2018

There are reports that retired Col, Elliot Piki was allegedly abducted on Sunday. Piki is supposed to testify before the Mothlante Commission tomorrow [Monday].National Patriotic Front (NPF) spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire tweeted: "A retired Col,Elliot Piki was allegedly abducted 2day arnd 4:30pm by yet unknown pple. He was pencilled 2 testify b4 the Mothlante Commission tomorrow. Piki contested Tongai Mnangagwa in the Zanu-PF primaries leading to the 30 July elections but was later expelled from Zanu-PF."
News / National

by Staff reporter

Some of the wishes of the late vice president Joshua Nkomo are finding no takers as witnessed by the Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo which has been lying idle for the past 17 years.Ekusileni Medical Centre has been lying idle since 2004 when it was forced to shut down by government after it was discovered that equipment worth millions of dollars acquired by the Zimbabwean Health Care Trust (ZHCT) was obsolete.The upmarket 369-bed hospital facility was built with funding from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA). It is fast turning into a white elephant.Many dates have been given for the re-opening of this state-of-the-art medical facility which is the brainchild of Dr Nkomo but there are no indications it will open soon. The late Vice President, who died in 1999, was not happy that the country did not have a health facility that provided specialist healthcare services despite the fact that it had the required specialists.This is forcing Zimbabweans to seek such services outside the country and the costs in most cases are very prohibitive. The continued closure of Ekusileni is therefore a cause for concern. The failure by the Zimbabwe Health Care Trust (ZHCT) to re-open Ekusileni prompted Cabinet to resolve that the government should take over the institution.The move is, however, being resisted by the trust which argues that the government is largely to blame for the delay in re-opening the hospital. The hospital's interim managing director, Rodney Dangarembizi said equipment and drugs worth more than $5 million meant for operationalisation of the hospital were stuck at the Harare International Airport awaiting a duty waiver since February this year.The hospital has been declared a national project because of the specialist nature of its services hence its eligibility to benefit from government support such as duty waiver on equipment and drugs.Several attempts to lure investors to operate the hospital have failed and it has over the years become one of those Bulawayo development projects the ruling party dangles at the electorate during elections.There are conflicting ownership claims by several groups including Nssa, some medical doctors and the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo's family.The Nkomo family had indicated that they own the land on which the medical facility was built.
News / National

by newzimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Devine Destiny Network leader Bishop Ancelimo Magaya says President Emmerson Mnangagwa must own up to his and his party's past evils as this was the only way their hurting victims could forget the transgressions and start charting a path into the future.The outspoken cleric was addressing journalists in Harare on Saturday.In his comments, Bishop Magaya urged President Mnangagwa to emulate Kunaka who has admitted and shown regret for his past wrongs.Magaya said this was the first step towards repentance."Kunaka set the bar quite high for his erstwhile colleagues in the former party by clearly telling the nation that he regrets his involvement in cruel and dastardly acts in which violence was unleashed on civilians."We urge the President to emulate the once junior member of his party."Kunaka's recent admissions at the Commission of Inquiry over his dark past while in Zanu-PF need to be applauded," said Magaya.Magaya said it was not easy to forget about the mass killings of the 1980s and the recent shootings when those who killed continued to deny any involvement.President Mnangagwa has often told the nation that it must forget about past transgressions and "let bygones be bygones".Bishop Magaya was quick to trash the statements."Such a statement is highly unacceptable, mischievous and a failure on his (President Mnangagwa) part to own up to past evils," he said.
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

Kindergarten politics 101...Zwizwai is always at VPs farm who whips him? If I were @EngMudzuri I would just resign from this outfit than to be humiliated day in and day out by these clowns pic.twitter.com/0QOHhfJYhn  Linda T. Masarira (@lilomatic) November 26, 2018

MDC Vice President Engineer Elias Mudzuri has courted controversy after his appearance at a meeting where Presiding officers from parliament were meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House on Monday.MDC officials have come out in full condemnation of the Mudzuri.Watch the video below:MDC Youth Secretary General Lovemore Chinoputsa has declared that Mudzuri has self expelled himself from MDC.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Government is working on measures that will allow citizens to obtain passports and other official documents at post offices across the country, it has been learnt.The latest development is likely to bring relief to millions of people living in rural and marginalised areas, who are usually forced to travel to towns and cities to secure official documents such as identification cards.Gift Machengete, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) director-general, said the move will not only accelerate government's e-commerce project but will also ensure that post offices remain relevant to consumers' constantly changing needs."Potraz, in partnership with government's designated postal operator, Zimpost, is working on a model post office project, where post offices will be transformed to offer e-government and e-commerce services all under one roof."Instead of incurring transport costs to the Registrar General's office, under the project, communities will be able to apply for passports, birth and death certificates and other government services at postal outlets," he said.This comes as fears are abound that the post office is dying a natural death following a significant decline is postal services.Machengete noted that mail volumes are decreasing significantly annually in many countries, hence postal services should reinvent themselves and become multifaceted delivery and information companies tailored to the virtual age."As we move from the past into the future, posts will continue to play a significant role in our lives," he said during the World Post Day commemorations in Mudzi on Friday."But this depends on how much they will be able to transform themselves from the traditional mailing business to a more robust business model based on e-commerce leveraging on the wide geographical spread of the postal network," he said.Zimpost's managing director Chief Moyo said the organisation has taken note of developments around technology disruptions and opportunities it presents. "Zimpost has over the years diversified its product portfolio from being predominantly traditional parcel and mail business by adapting to technology in order to meet the ever changing customer needs," he said.Over the past few years, Zimpost has come up with a variety of innovative value added products and services to meet consumer needs such as financial services, Zimpost mall, Post insurance, Postlife funeral cash plan and communication information centres among other things."Zimpost is playing an important role in the economy by enabling financial inclusion of Zimbabweans from all walks of life," Moyo said.The company has transformed its money transfer services from being telegraphic to electronic."This low cost money transfer service called Zipcash covers domestic and selected international destinations such as Bostwana, Lesotho, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa and Nigeria.ICT deputy minister Jerifan Muswere, who was guest of honour at the event which was running under the theme "The post: delivering goods to the world", said government was committed to ensure universal access to communication channels.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Some MDC Alliance legislators have confronted their vice president Senator Elias Mudzuri for participating at a State House function this morning where Parliament Presiding Officers were presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.Senator Mudzi is the leader of the opposition in the Senate, hence his attendance.In a video clip that has gone viral, the MPs, who included Murisi Zwizwai and Charlton Hwende, among others, queried why Mudzuri went to State House, saying to them it was tantamount to endorsing President Mnangagwa.Zwizwai and Hwende said Mudzuri should have realised that he was the only MDC Alliance member attending the function, citing the fact that the party's chief whip Mr Prosper Mutseyami did not attend.The two also referred to last Thursday's chaotic incident in parliament when the opposition lawmakers were ejected from parliament by the Speaker for disrespecting President Mnangagwa as he entered the august house to listen to the 2019 budget presentation.The MDC Alliance has refused to endorse President Mnangagwa's victory in the July 30 harmonised elections, even after the Constitutional Court upheld the results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
News / National

by newzimbabwe

MDC legislators publicly heckled party vice president Elias Mudzuri Monday for attending a State House event presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.The opposition party's vice president was however defiant, declaring in a statement that "if am wrong and they are right, I would be proud to be fired from the party".In line with Parliamentary rules and orders, the Senate President and Speaker of Parliament, along with their deputies, presented themselves to President Mnangagwa at State House on Monday.Mudzuri said he attended the event at the invitation of the Senate President in my capacity as the leader of the House.Outraged MDC colleagues, among them Charlton Hwende and Murwisi Zwizwai confronted Mudzuri over the issue at a post-budget event for legislators in the capital.In a video widely shared on social media, Hwende and Zwizwai hectored Mudzuri, demanding to know why he was the only MDC legislator to attend the event."What were you doing at State House? You are endorsing Mnangagwa; you and to State House and endorse him after he rigged the elections," charged Hwende.Zwizwai added; "Our MPs were beaten up by the police and ejected from Parliament last week because of Mnangagwa but you are attending his event at State House."The MDC has refused to recognise Mnangagwa's victory in the July 30 elections, accusing the Zanu-PF leader of rigging the vote with the connivance of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).During last week's presentation of the 2019 budget, the opposition party's MPs refused to rise as Mnangagwa entered parliament and were forced out by the police.The MPs said they were beaten up by the police as they were ejected from the House with two of them being hospitalised afterwards.Mudzuri was defiant however, accusing his colleagues of playing "petty politics"."It is with sadness and unfortunate circumstances that my fellow junior parliamentarians would want to play petty politics on something that is part of my terms of reference as a party deployee," he said in a statement."My confusion to all this stems from the fact that, if what I did was illegal' to my fellow parliamentarians, then I want to understand what we are still doing in parliament as a Party and wasting taxpayer's money.He rejected suggestions by Hwende and Zwizwai that his presence at State House represented an endorsement of Mnangagwa."I went to State House not to appease President Mnangagwa, but to respect the office of Parliament," said the former Harare mayor."If am wrong and they are right I would be proud to be fired from the Party because I represented the Party in Parliament business."It's sad that my very colleagues, were fully engaged in parliament business at HICC on post budget consultations, a budget presentation that saw MPs under attack from police. What hypocrisy!"He added; "I believe that I went to State House not to betray anyone; nor did I do it nicodemusly, but in the full knowledge of my colleagues who then faked theatrical accusations."The nation is faced with acute economic challenges under a failed leadership of Zanu-PF. That must be our focus, but to abuse my person this way is very unfortunate."
News / National

by Mandla Ndlovu

Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko's fight for the control of Choppies has been joined by workers who have taken a stand to fight on the side of the under fire former ZANU PF leader.On 19th November Botswana-based Choppies group CEO Ottapathu Ramachandran wrote a letter to all Choppies employees advising them not to engage in dealings with the Mphoko family.But Ramachandran's memo angered the Choppies national workers' committee and their representative trade union, Commercial Workers' Union of Zimbabwe (CWUZ)."Your email does not address the bread and butter hostile issues that workers have been subjected to from unprofessional Indian managers. In our view, your email also threatens the workers just like the managers," Zwelithini Malinga, the chairperson of the Choppies national workers' committee, wrote in a letter dated November 20 addressed to Ramachandran that is also copied to the Choppies board of directors"The Indian managers practice racism, sexual harassment of female staff, and vulgar language like Africans are baboons and monkeys, which is a violation of labour laws of Zimbabwe."Malinga on Friday said the workers' committee wanted the directors to stop harassing employees in their boardroom war with the Mphokos, adding "as far as we are concerned, we know the Mphokos have 51% shareholding".The CWUZ weighed in with a statement: "We will not, as a trade union, tolerate that behaviour. The employees have a right to approach the Mphokos until the ownership dispute is resolved."The action by the workers' committee to approach the Mphokos is correct since they are also the directors of the business as things stand."
News / National

by Staff reporter

The MDC Alliance leadership has disowned demonstrators who went on the rampage in Harare's CBD on 1 August, resulting in the death of six people.MDC Alliance President, Nelson Chamisa and his vice chair Tendai Biti today appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into the post election violence.The party leadership and supporters came in their numbers to witness their leaders testify.Chamisa told the commissioners that the people who participated in the demonstrations that turned violent were not members of his party.Asked on what he meant by 'Kudira jecha muSadza,' Chamisa said this referred to the deliberate delay of the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa by approaching the Constitutional Court.Biti, who testified earlier, told the commission that they conducted 87 star rallies in Zimbabwe's rural areas for the first time in history."We genuinely believe we won the election," he added.Biti was asked to clarify what he meant by saying they were not going to accept any election outcome if their leader was not declared winner.The commission of enquiry headed by former South African president Kgalema Mohlanthe was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to investigate into circumstances that led to the death of six people in violent clashes after the harmonised elections.
Opinion / Columnist

In a love affair between a man and a woman, they live each day seeing themselves as soul mates without thinking anything sinister would happen to their till death do us part vow. The same scenario happens in politics where a person joins a political party of one's choice without any intention of being chucked out. Like in a love affair, in politics usually there are fallouts for one reason or the other.This was exactly what happened to Paddington Japajapa and Jimu Kunaka. Owing to their greediness and failure to tow the Party line, the two found themselves in the cold.Last week the two made some dramatic comments about ZANU PF when they appeared before the Kalema Motlanthe led Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 disturbances in what could best be described as a case of sour grapes.Japajapa in his bid to tarnish the ZANU PF party, alleged that the party was the perpetrator of violence in this country. He incoherently spewed gibberish utterances which were miles away from what the Commission was looking at. He chose to narrate what he thought happened during the liberation struggle blatantly ignoring the glaring terms of reference of the Commission that it was dealing with issues closely linked to the August 1 disturbances.He is a "political prostitute" who hopes from one party to the other seeking greener pastures. Japajapa blatantly lied that MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa had well attended rallies of up to 40 000 people.Nothing like this ever happened during Chamisa's provincial rallies.This was simply done to spite ZANU PF in his bid to get recognition by Chamisa in return for his daily bread.On 2 February 2018 during a rally in Dzivarasekwa Japajapa was fraternising with Dr Joice Mujuru's National People's Party (NPP) masquerading as a pastor for that matter. He offered a meaningless and politically laced prayer in a bid to land an influential post, but soon he found himself on slippery ground and nowhere close to that party's echelons of power.In the Biblical twinkling of an eye, Japajapa is now vouching for the MDC. It is this same Japajapa who left the MDC in a huff in 2013 after the late party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai blocked him from being its representative in 2013. He saw that as trampling on democracy, but today he is coming back to fight in the corner of that same political outfit who could not give him any time of day in the past.Japajapa is clutching at straw and wants to use anything he could lay his dirty hands on to spite ZANU PF.Kunaka on the other hand after realising that he had been chucked from ZANU PF and his chances of making a living were gone is on revenge path with his former party. Remember Kunaka became a Mbare market baron by asking people to pay him daily tokens so that the vendors would continue to use Harare City Council vending stalls.It is the same Kunaka who blocked businessman, Alex Mashamhanda from constructing a service station in Mbare claiming that the land had been reserved for vendors. Kunaka was actually milking these vendors and was afraid his cash cow was about to be taken from him. During those days, Kunaka accused Mhashamhanda of being aligned to the MDC-T, now who belongs to that same political outfit- none other than Kunaka himself.How the MDC decided to embrace Kunaka into their fold is something that boggles the mind as from his testimony he persecuted and killed MDC supporters. The MDC hated Kunaka with a passion, but suddenly he is their messiah for purportedly exposing ZANU PF violence. Little does Chamisa and crew knew that the hooligan simply wants to exploit them for his own selfish ends.Kunaka hobnobs from one political entity to the other. In 2014, he found himself at the receiving end after former president Robert Mugabe found out that his deputy Dr Mujuru was creating another centre of power with the likes of Kunaka as the foot soldiers of the Mujuru faction. Like his boss Dr Mujuru, Kunaka was chucked out into political oblivion.Without batting an eyelid Kunaka was wooed by the G40 cabal, after G40 kingpin; Saviour Kasukuwere dangled him a wad of greenbacks.When that faction was booted from the revolutionary Party, Kunaka jumped ship and joined National PatrioticFront (NPF), but did not last long after failing to swindle that party and getting an influential post.This time around Kunaka has landed himself in hot soup. When he was hoodwinked by the MDC to testify against ZANU PF during the Commission of Inquiry, he thought he would nail the revolutionary Party, little did he know he was digging a grave for himself. The long arm of the law is finally going to catch up with him as the relatives of the people he claims to have beaten or killed will soon come after him seeking justice.In short Japajapa and Kunaka are prodigal sons who are singing for their supper and will dance for anyone who pipes for them only to get their two seconds of fame. Any serious thinking person in his or her right mind would not even give these two an ear.
Opinion / Columnist

Telecommunications giant and Econet Wireless Group founder and Executive Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa, recently came out in full and solid support of the country's political and economic interests through condemning the ruinous sanctions imposed on the country by the powerful Western political and economic forces under the guidance of the United States Government. Speaking during a discussion with the pan-African CNBC television news channel, Masiyiwa said "I have invested in Zimbabwe in the last 10 years, $1.5 billion, okay, and I am committed to investing in Zimbabwe as I have always been, come rain come shine. But concerning the change that has taken place, I believe it is real. I believe President Mnangagwa is sincere in the things he wants to do."Masiyiwa added that "I think that Zimbabwe needs to be given a chance. We got to stop the politicking and focus on rebuilding this country and I am right up thereI think the sanctions should be removed; there is no justification for them anymore. I have been on record to say the sanctions are not justified and now we are almost 20 years into the sanctions and you can't have one country operating with its hands tied behind the back."Masiyiwa rightly observed that, while the sanctions were targeted at Zimbabwe, they were having a regional impact. The sanctions have resulted in the displacement of thousands of Zimbabweans into regional neighbours and into the Diaspora, a development that has at times strained relations between Zimbabwe and its neighbours. Reports of xenophobic treatment of Zimbabweans in South Africa and Botswana are a matter of public record. Trade patterns have been distorted as neighbours have sought to exploit the sanctions-induced difficulties in Zimbabwe to flood their products into the country, at the expense of local industries, jobs and livelihoods.Back here in Zimbabwe, political protagonists have sought to exploit the sanctions for political mileage. The main opposition party, the MDC Alliance has garnered political mileage through accusing ZANU PF of authoring the economic challenges resultant from the sanctions. This accusation has found a willing audience in urban areas where ZANU PF has struggled to mobilise support since 2000.On its part, ZANU PF has attributed the economic challenges to the Western sanctions. In all these accusations and counter-accusations, the ordinary citizen has been ravaged by the ruinous sanctions.What Masiyiwa has done is to stake his painstakingly built reputation and business interests on the block to speak out against the evil nature of the sanctions. Readers may remember that Masiyiwa has spread his business empire to Australia, New Zealand, Botswana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Asia, North America, South America and Europe. He has operating units in some of the countries that maintain sanctions in one way or the other against Zimbabwe. Masiyiwa sits on several boards of philanthropic and development organisations, including the American Council on Foreign Relations. It is therefore clear that the bold stance he has taken to denounce and call for the removal of sanctions is at a significant risk to his personal business interests in the countries he is operating in. Herein, lies the boldness, patriotic and humane gesture from his call: subjecting your personal interests to the national interest.Masiyiwa could stay and enjoy his wealth from any of the first class cities of this world. He has made it in life. He has, however, identified himself with the predicament of his fellow countrymen and threw in his lot for their welfare. Back here in Zimbabwe, opposition politicians actually make political mileage from the suffering of the public, as epitomized by the current MDC mantra that "hayivhiyiwe" and "zvadirwa jecha", in open reference to fact that economic challenges would remain until they get into power. This is actually a celebration of the public's suffering upon which they intend to ride on to win State power. Such a naked_celebration of public suffering has been identified as one of the primary causes of the disconnection between the MDC Alliance and the generality of voters, which explains that party's failure to win national elections since its formation in 1999. Zimbabwe voters are wise enough to identify the sources of their predicament.Masiyiwa should be commended for lending his significant weight and personal social capital from his business standing/reputation to highlight the plight of Zimbabweans on the international stage. Hopefully, other Zimbabweans will take a leaf from this noble gesture to speak with a common voice on the issue.The unconditional removal of sanctions should remain on the country's agenda for the realisation of a middle-income economy by 2030 as articulated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The President's recent visit to Guinea was also partly to mobilise international support on need for removal of the ruinous sanctions.
The plausibility of second medical use inventions - why is it necessary?





"Section 14 of the Patents Act and the corresponding provisions of the EPC assume that an invention will be sufficiently disclosed if the specification enables it to be performed. In the case of a patent for a new product or process, that assumption is almost always correct. But the assumption is not correct in the case of a second use patent. The invention is not the compound or the process of its manufacture. The skilled person already knows how to make the product from the prior art disclosed in the original patent. The invention consists in the new purpose for which the product is to be manufactured. If sections 14(3) and 72(1)(c) are read literally and as an exhaustive statement of the requirement of sufficiency, all that needs to be disclosed is the new purpose, which is enough to enable it to be administered to a patient suffering from the relevant condition. The skilled person does not need to know how or why the invention works in order to replicate it. The result would be that the knowledge which made the identification of the new purpose inventive need not be disclosed at all."







An armchair inventor Lord Sumption then reviewed the UK case law and the Technical Boards of Appeal (TBA) of the EPO cases dealing with plausibility. Of crucial importance to the case in question was Lord Sumption's interpretation of Salk Institute (T 609/02). In this decision, the Board of Appeal (BoA) held that the specification must disclose the suitability of the drug for the claimed therapeutic application. Clinical trials were deemed not necessary, but a mere assertion of efficacy was not enough. In vitro tests could suffice if the skilled person would know that the in vitro effect shown has a direct mechanistic bearing on the disease in question.



Positive and negative plausibility



Warner-Lambert argued that the lessons to be taken from only when the skilled person reading the patent would be skeptical about it in the absence of such a disclosure ("negative plausibility"). However, Lord Sumption thought that, whilst this reading was consistent with the turns of phrase in the case, "it would have been a strange thing for the Technical Board of Appeal to have meant". This was because it would be inconsistent with the whole reason behind the necessity of the plausibility test: "it would mean that if nothing was known either for or against the claimed therapeutic effect, no disclosure need be made in support of it". Lord Sumption thus interpreted the principle laid down by the specification must disclose some reason for supposing that the implied assertion of efficacy in the claim is true " (paragraph 36) ("positive plausibility").



Lord Sumption's reading of T 609/02 was key to how he decided on the appropriate requirements for plausibility. However, other judges voiced some concern with the reasoning.



Following the standard interpretation of T 609/02 as requiring negative plausibility, does it follow that in a case where nothing is known either for or against a claimed effect, no disclosure need be made in support of it? Some would argue that, on the contrary, that in the empirical sciences completely new assertions (i.e.those lacking any evidence either way for their truth) must be backed-up with some form of empirical evidence before they are considered remotely plausible. In fact, the more disconnected an assertion is with that which has gone before, the greater the need for evidence. Negative plausibility thus may not enable someone to claim something for which there is no evidence whatsoever. Lord Sumption's interpretation of the EPO approach to plausibility is therefore controversial.



Plausible over the entire scope of the claim? Thus, reasoned Lord Sumption, if only the classical insufficiency test is applied, a patent could be obtained for a second medical use on a wholly speculative basis, by an arm-chair inventor. The plausibility test is designed to prevent this. According to the plausibility test, a skilled person must not only be able to perform the claimed invention, but it must be plausible to a skilled person, at the filing date, that the invention works.Lord Sumption then reviewed the UK case law and the Technical Boards of Appeal (TBA) of the EPO cases dealing with plausibility. Of crucial importance to the case in question was Lord Sumption's interpretation of. In this decision, the Board of Appeal (BoA) held that the specification must disclose the suitability of the drug for the claimed therapeutic application. Clinical trials were deemed not necessary, but a mere assertion of efficacy was not enough.tests could suffice if the skilled person would know that theeffect shown has a direct mechanistic bearing on the disease in question.Warner-Lambert argued that the lessons to be taken from T 609/02 were that it is necessary for the patentee to disclose reasons regarding the claimed therapeutic effect as plausible("negative plausibility"). However, Lord Sumption thought that, whilst this reading was consistent with the turns of phrase in the case, "". This was because it would be inconsistent with the whole reason behind the necessity of the plausibility test: "". Lord Sumption thus interpreted the principle laid down by T 609/02 as being that "" (paragraph 36) ("positive plausibility").Lord Sumption's reading of T 609/02 was key to how he decided on the appropriate requirements for plausibility. However, other judges voiced some concern with the reasoning.Following the standard interpretation of T 609/02 as requiring negative plausibility, does it follow that in a case where nothing is known either for or against a claimed effect, no disclosure need be made in support of it? Some would argue that, on the contrary, that in the empirical sciences completely new assertions (i.e.those lacking any evidence either way for their truth) must be backed-up with some form of empirical evidence before they are considered remotely plausible. In fact, the more disconnected an assertion is with that which has gone before, the greater the need for evidence. Negative plausibility thus may not enable someone to claim something for which there is no evidence whatsoever. Lord Sumption's interpretation of the EPO approach to plausibility is therefore controversial.





In their appeal to the Supreme Court, Warner-Lambert took issue with the Court of Appeals requirement that plausibility must be demonstrated for everything falling within the scope of the claim. Lord Sumption roundly rejected this argument:





Where a feature of the claim is an assertion of therapeutic efficacy for a given condition, a monopoly is being claimed for the process of manufacturing the compound for the treatment of that condition. This does not mean that it must work for all patients suffering from that condition, or work on every occasion when it is applied by way of treatment. But it does mean that where the condition identified embraces a number of different pathologies, and the claim is construed as asserting the efficacy of the product for each of them, the assertion must be plausible in relation to them all. 





This appears to provide a clear test as to the meaning of "the entire scope" of a second medical use patent. For example, if you claim a composition for use in the treatment of cancer, this must be plausible for breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic and all other types of cancer.



However, it could be argued that the distinction is perhaps not quite as clear as it first appears. If a patent specification provides data demonstrating that a drug only works in 95% of patients suffering from HIV infection, following the Supreme Court's reasoning, it is sufficiently disclosed for a drug for use in the treatment of HIV infection. However, the reason the treatment does not work in the 100% of HIV patients will be due to differences in the underlying pathology of the disease, the mechanisms of which have just not been identified.



By contrast, if a patent specification only provides data showing that a drug works with respect to patients shown to have HIV-1 infection (e.g. representing 95% of HIV infections) but is not sufficiently disclosed with respect to the treatment of HIV-2, it is not enabled across the entire scope of a claim to a drug for use in the treatment of HIV. The patent would only be sufficiently disclosed for a drug use in the treatment of HIV-1.



The only difference between the former and latter examples is that in the latter the reason for the drug not working in all patients (95% of patients versus HIV-1 but not HIV-2 infected individuals) is known. It can be asked therefore, whether there is a distinction between a treatment that only treats a proportion of patients suffering from a condition and a treatment that only treats a sub-type of patients suffering where the condition? (except that the sub-type has been identified).



Personalized medicine takes these issues to the extreme. In personalized medicine, conditions can be said to embrace an ever increasing number of causative pathologies, potentially each unique to an individual. Whilst this is an extreme example, it demonstrates that achieving plausibility for the use of a drug to treat a disease having potentially many distinct (and as yet potentially unknown) underlying mechanisms of pathology may not be a trivial task. It also raises the question of how the plausibility test should be applied when the the distinct causative pathologies are identified after the filing date for a patent application.



What about first medical use claims?



Lord Sumption appears to restrict the plausibility test to second medical use claims. This seems to be because he believes the invention underlying a first medical use patent to be the provision of the compound, as opposed to it use in a treatment. However, an inventor could make a new (but e.g. obvious) compound and speculatively claim from the comfort of their armchair that it could be used to any number of diseases. Following Lord Sumption's logic for the need for the plausibility test, should the specification of a patent claiming a first medical use also be required to make the assertion plausible to all conditions falling under the scope of the claim? Particularly, if in a hypothetical world, the patent in suit was the first to disclose pregabalin, and included a broad claim to the use of pregabalin in the treatment of pain, would this be deemed sufficiently disclosed?





A question of pain





Returning to the case in question, Lord Sumption disagreed with the Court of Appeal that the specification sufficiently disclosed the use of pregabalin for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain. Lord Sumption, applying his test for plausibility, reasoned that the rat models used to obtain the data provided in the specification were only relevant to inflammatory pain.





Inflammatory pain is an immuno-pathology resulting from activation and dysregulation of the immune system. Neuropathic pain occurs following dysfunction or injury of nerve fibres and is characterised by the lack of conversion of nociceptive stimuli into electrical impulses. It can be caused by an altered sensitivity of the peripheral and central nervous system or by damage of peripheral nerve tissue.









However, Lord Sumption argued that just because central sensitization may be involved in both peripheral neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain does not prove that they have a common cause and does not suggest that there may be a common metabolic mechanism at work. [the phrase "metabolic mechanism" is quoted from the TBA law, but does not make sense in this context; "common mechanism of action" may have been a better choice of phrase]. Arguments had been presented in court that the data provided using models of inflammatory pain provided in the specification, were relevant to peripheral neuropathic pain because peripheral neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain share the unifying principle of "central sensitization". Central sensitization is the process by which chronic pain signals in the periphery (from inflammatory of neurological causes) sensitize the central nervous system to pain, leading to pain hypersensitivity.However, Lord Sumption argued that just because central sensitization may be involved in both peripheral neuropathic pain and inflammatory pain  and . [the phrase "metabolic mechanism" is quoted from the TBA law, but does not make sense in this context; "common mechanism of action" may have been a better choice of phrase].



Lord Sumption disagreed with the Court of Appeal that the plausibility test could be satisfied by the slimmest of evidence from which a therapeutic effect could be plausibly predicted. Lord Sumption instead identified the principle as being that the specification must disclose some reason for supposing that the implied assertion of efficacy in the claim is true. Given that the specification in the present case says nothing about neuropathic pain of any kind . Furthermore, the specification did not refer to the central sensitization as a mechanism of action of the drug , " there is nothing to suggest, even as a hypothesis, that pregabalin works with peripheral neuropathic pain by blocking central sensitisation". Additionally, whilst the specification provides mouse models that may be used to test for the efficacy of a drug in peripheral neuropathic pain, it does not directly suggest doing so.



Lord Sumption thus ruled that the requirement for plausibility was not satisfied, as the specification did not provide a full disclosure of its contribution to the art: " The disclosure did not contribute any knowledge of the art capable of justifying a claim to a monopoly of the manufacture of pregabalin for the treatment of neuropathic pain of any kind".



By requiring explicit disclosure of a mechanism of action of a claimed therapeutic effect that is predictive across the entire scope of the claim, Lord Sumption therefore arguably establishes a prima facie test for the plausibility of the therapeutic efficacy of a composition. This test seems to go beyond that usually applied by the EPO, in that positive reasoning is required as to why the claimed effect is plausible given the data provided in the specification.



Lord Hodge and Lord Mance



Lord Hodge and Lord Mance disagreed with the approach taken by Lord Sumption on the issue of plausibility. Lord Mance argued that Lord Sumption's analysis "imposes too high a threshold, and imposes a burden on a patentee which the case law of the Board of Appeal of the EPO does not justify". Particularly, the requirement for the specification to disclose some reasoning for supposing the implied assertion of efficacy in the claim is true "risks being read as a requirement that the plausibility of the claim must appear to be established prima facie through scientifically cogent reasoning".

Has the right balance been struck?



The disagreement among the Judges on whether negative or positive plausibility should be the test for second medical use claims, has been reflected in the responses to the decision since it was handed down. There are diverging opinions as to whether the Supreme Court (and particularly Lord Sumption) places the bar for plausibility too high. Is the requirement for positive reasons for the plausibility of a claimed therapeutic effect necessary to prevent speculative inventors obtaining unfair monopolies? Would the EPO's test for negative plausibility have ensured that the right bargain had been struct between the patentee and the state?



In the follow-up next post on the case, IPKat will look at the court's reasoning on the issue of infringement. ". Additionally, whilst the specification provides mouse models that may be used to test for the efficacy of a drug in peripheral neuropathic pain, it does not directly suggest doing so.".The disagreement among the Judges on whether negative or positive plausibility should be the test for second medical use claims, has been reflected in the responses to the decision since it was handed down. There are diverging opinions as to whether the Supreme Court (and particularly Lord Sumption) places the bar for plausibility too high. Is the requirement for positive reasons for the plausibility of a claimed therapeutic effect necessary to prevent speculative inventors obtaining unfair monopolies? Would the EPO's test for negative plausibility have ensured that the right bargain had been struct between the patentee and the state?In the follow-up next post on the case, IPKat will look at the court's reasoning on the issue of infringement.

The dust has started to settle following the Supreme Court decision inhanded down recently (IPKat post here ). Much of the commentary has focused on the infringement aspect of the decision. In this first of IPKat's follow-up posts, this Kat delves deeper into the court's take on the issue of plausibility.In the Supreme Court decision, Lord Sumption began his discussion of plausibility by considering the problem raised by determining the sufficiency of Swiss-style second medical use claims.
Baby Piper-Kohl Kelly had surgery on her spine in the womb. [Photo: SWNS]

A baby who was diagnosed with spina bifida after an ultrasound was born without any sign of the condition after surgery in the womb.

Piper-Kohl Kelly, who is named after Professor Thomas Kohl, the surgeon who operated on her, was born prematurely at 30 weeks and four days to parents Georgia Axford, 19, and Tyler Kelly, 21.

A 20 week scan showed Georgia and Tylers unborn baby had spina bifida, a gap in her spine.

This condition can leave sufferers with paralysis in their lower limbs, and often dependent on crutches or a wheelchair for life.

The couple opted to travel to Germany for a 9,000 surgery performed in the womb, which took place on 13 June this year. The operation involved attaching a 3.5cm collagen patch used to treat burns victims over Pipers spine.

A scan showed Georgias baby had a gap in her spine. [Photo: SWNS]

Six weeks later, on 28 July, Piper-Kohl was born nine weeks premature weighing 3lb 10oz.

Doctors looking after Piper-Kohl can so far seen no signs of a birth defect, and have deemed her totally healthy.

Mother Georgia, from Yate in South Gloucester, says: She was covered in wires when she was first born but it was just the best feeling to see her. She was just so tiny.

You could really see the mark on her spine when she was first born. It really makes you think how incredible the procedure was.

I would honestly recommend the surgery to anyone who is a similar boat to us.

It was a bit scary at the time and was a lot of money but it was absolutely worth it. Im just so happy shes here.

Parents Georgia and Tyler with daughter Piper-Kohl. [Photo: SWNS]

Recounting the birth, Georgia adds it will be a couple of months before they are sure the surgery has worked.

She says: I woke up about 11pm and just thought it was back ache so went back to bed. But by 12:30am I was having full blown contractions. Tyler drove me to the hospital and he was great because he just remained really calm.

It was weird because we had a scan that day and she was right up in my rib cage.

Looking back on it she was probably getting herself ready to come out!

I didnt get to hold her until 5pm that evening as the nurses said I needed to get some rest.

Story continues

We wont know if the operation completely worked until she starts walking, but all looks good at the moment.

In a couple of months shell be able to sit up by herself so that might help show if it worked.

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UPDATE | Syrian refugee stranded in Malaysian airport lands in Vancouver after lengthy ordeal

The Syrian refugee who spent seven months living in limbo at a Malaysia airport has announced on social media that he is on his way to Canada.

"For today, I am in Taiwan international airport. Tomorrow I will be reaching my final destination Vancouver, Canada," Hassan Al Kontar said in a video posted on Twitter Monday.

Laurie Cooper, part of a group in Whistler, B.C., that has been raising money to sponsor the 37-year-old, said she learned a few days ago that his release from Malaysia was imminent.

"It's unbelievable after all these months," said Cooper. "There's a lot of tears and a lot of joy."

Al Kontar, who is from Dama, Syria, worked as an insurance marketing manager in the United Arab Emirates from 2006 to 2012. He eventually lost his work permit after the Syrian conflict broke out in 2011, and was left scrambling to find a country that would issue him a visa so he would not have to return to Syria.

Hassan Al Kantor/Twitter

In March, he was turned away from a Turkish Airlines flight at the Kuala Lumpur airport, causing his three-month Malaysian work permit to expire.

Unable to find a country that would issue him a visa and unwilling to return to Syria, he became stranded in the transit area of the airport where he started documenting his existence on social media with posts that were sometimes funny and sometimes heartbreaking.

In April, Al Kontar told CBC News he couldn't return to Syria because he is wanted for military service and fears he'll be arrested upon landing. He's also Druze, a minority religious group in Syria that has been targeted by extremist groups.

On Oct. 1, he was arrested by Malaysian authorities at the airport and moved to an immigration detention centre where he's spent the past two months, raising fears he would be deported to Syria.

Cooper said she didn't have many details about how officials at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada came to secure his release, other than staff from the Canadian High Commission in Singapore had been involved.

Story continues

"They did send someone, at least twice, to undertake all the interviews and medical tests that were required for him to meet the criteria for sponsorship," said Cooper. "I'm very grateful for everyone who stepped up to handle a really difficult situation."

Hassan Al Kontar/Twitter

Al Kontar was co-sponsored to come to Canada as a refugee through Cooper and the B.C. Muslim Association.

Upon arrival he will initially be living at Cooper's home. He has also been offered a full-time job at a Whistler hotel.

"I'm not sure what his mental and physical state will be when he arrives, so the first thing will be to give him a few days to rest and recuperate and then we'll talk about what his next steps are," said Cooper.

In his Twitter video, Al Kontar apologizes for his overgrown beard and hair and says he is looking forward to the future.

"For the last eight years it was [a] hard, long journey. The last 10 months was hard. I could not do it without the help of my family, my Canadian friends, family and my lawyer," he said.

"Thank you all. I love you all."
Migrant families, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America, look to cross the border into the United States from Tijuana, Mexico Migrant families, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America, look to cross the border into the United States from Tijuana, Mexico November 25, 2018. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

By Susan Heavey and Lizbeth Diaz

WASHINGTON/TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday Mexico should send Central American migrants seeking asylum in the United States back to their homelands, a day after U.S. authorities shut the country's busiest border crossing and fired tear gas into a crowd there.

Sunday's incident happened after a group of migrants in the Mexican border city of Tijuana rushed at the border fencing.

It was the latest chapter in a saga that has pitted Trump's tough immigration line against thousands of migrants who have made their way north through Mexico from violent and impoverished Central American countries.

Tensions had been growing in Tijuana, and Trump said on Saturday the migrants would have to wait in Mexico until their individual asylum claims were resolved in the United States. That would be a significant shift in asylum policy that could keep Central Americans in Mexico for more than a year.

Trump went further on Monday, saying Mexico should send the Central Americans, mostly Hondurans, back home.

"Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!" Trump tweeted.

Mexican government officials had no immediate response.

Mexico has been in negotiations with the United States over a possible scheme to keep migrants in Mexico while their asylum claims are processed.

The team of Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who takes office on Saturday, says no deal has been agreed on the migrants. But officials are hinting they could remain.

"We should be objective, whatever happens they will stay in Mexico," said Alejandro Encinas, an incoming deputy interior minister. "Migrants have rights and we will respect them."

Story continues

CRITICISM

U.S. government agencies defended the response to Sunday's incident at the San Ysidro crossing south of San Diego. News pictures showing children fleeing tear gas prompted sharp criticism from some lawmakers and charities.

British aid group Oxfam said in a statement the use of tear gas was shameful.

"Images of barefoot children choking on tear gas thrown by US Customs and Border Patrol should shock us to our core," Vicki Gass, Oxfam America Senior Policy Advisor for Central America said.

Democrats and other critics called the use of tear gas an overreaction, and questioned the idea of keeping the migrants in Mexico to make asylum claims there.

Some rights advocates and legal experts were concerned that the Trump administration was seeking to exploit the melee.

Geoffrey Hoffman, a professor and director of the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic which represents migrants applying for asylum, said the government would use it to push the argument that the migrants should remain in Mexico.

Still, Rodney Scott, chief U.S. Border Patrol agent in San Diego, told CNN the vast majority of those assembled at the border were economic migrants who would not qualify for asylum, and said there were few women and children.

"What I saw on the border yesterday was not people walking up to Border Patrol agents and asking to claim asylum," Scott said, adding that authorities had arrested 42 people.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers were struck by projectiles thrown by caravan members. U.S. officials reopened the San Ysidro crossing after closing it for several hours.

U.S. Republican Senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham said the border "chaos" had to be dealt with "properly".

"Showing the American people we will take a tough line on future waves of illegal immigration helps build the necessary political support to deal fairly with the problems created in the past," Graham said in a statement.

WAITING GAME

Tijuana police chief Mario Martinez told a news conference on Monday that 194 Central Americans had been arrested in the 15 days the caravan has been in the area.

Separately, Mexico Immigration Authority Director Gerardo Garcia told television channel Televisa that 98 people were in process of deportation as of Sunday night.

The migrants have travelled through Mexico in large groups, or caravans. There are more than 7,000 at the U.S. border in Tijuana and the city of Mexicali, with more than 800 others still moving toward the border.

Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum, who has said his city is facing a humanitarian crisis, told a local radio station the United States would take 2-1/2 to three months to start processing asylum requests, meaning the some 5,200 people currently packed into a shelter in the city could wait three months for their cases to be heard.

Many of those in Tijuana have said they will wait there until they can seek asylum. If they enter the United States, legally or illegally, they have a right to seek asylum.

Melkin Gonzalez, a 26-year-old Honduran man, recounting Sunday's tear gas firing, said: "I fell in dirty water when I was running (away) and I still don't have any clothes to change into. Even so, I'm not going back to Honduras, I want to go to the United States."

The U.S. military said it had shifted about 300 service members from Texas and Arizona to California in recent days.

In a statement, U.S. Northern Command said these forces would include military police, engineering and logistics units. It added that less than 200 troops had been sent home from the border mission, meaning that in total about 5,600 troops active-duty troops are on the border with Mexico.

U.S. military officials have said they expected troops to be repositioned as the situation developed and changed.

Trump has said the migrants should not easily enter the country and on Monday he threatened again to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border, which stretches for 2,000 miles (3,200 km).

U.S. lawmakers face a deadline to approve funding for the federal government by Dec. 7. Trump has threatened to shut down the government unless Congress pays for his planned border wall.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Lizbeth Diaz in Tijuana; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu and Idrees Ali in Washington and Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Writing by Susan Heavey and Frances Kerry; Editing by Alistair Bell and James Dalgleish)
By Andrew Chung

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday appeared open to letting a lawsuit proceed against Apple Inc <AAPL.O> that accused it of breaking federal antitrust laws by monopolizing the market for iPhone software applications and causing consumers to overpay.

The nine justices heard an hour of arguments in an appeal by the Cupertino, California-based technology company of a lower court's decision to revive the proposed class-action lawsuit filed in federal court in California in 2011 by a group of iPhone users seeking monetary damages.

The lawsuit said Apple violated federal antitrust laws by requiring apps to be sold through the company's App Store and then taking a 30 percent commission from the purchases.

The case may hinge on how the justices apply one of the court's past decisions to the claims against Apple. That 1977 precedent limited damages for anti-competitive conduct to those directly overcharged rather than indirect victims who paid an overcharge passed on by others.

Apple was backed by Republican President Donald Trump's administration. Some liberal and conservative justices sharply questioned an attorney for Apple and U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco, who argued on behalf of the administration on the company's side, over their argument that the consumers were not directly affected by purchasing the apps from Apple.

Liberal Justice Elena Kagan, explaining how an App Store purchase is handled, said, "From my perspective, I've just engaged in a one-step transaction with Apple."

Some conservative justices, including Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch, wondered whether the 1977 ruling was still valid in a modern marketplace.

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts' questions suggested he agreed with Apple's position. Roberts expressed concern that, for a single price increase, Apple could be held liable by both consumers and App developers.

Story continues

The iPhone users, including lead plaintiff Robert Pepper of Chicago, have argued that Apple's monopoly leads to inflated prices compared to if apps were available from other sources.

Though developers set the prices of their apps, Apple collects the payments from iPhone users, keeping the 30 percent commission on each purchase. One area of dispute in the case is whether app developers recoup the cost of that commission by passing it on to consumers. Developers earned more than $26 billion in 2017, a 30 percent increase over 2016, according to Apple.

Apple spokeswoman Rachel Wolf Tulley said in a statement after the arguments that the App Store has fueled competition and promoted innovation in software development, leading to millions of jobs in the sector.

"We are hopeful the Supreme Court will recognize Apple's critical role as a marketplace for apps, and uphold existing legal precedent by finding in favor of Apple and the millions of developers who sell their apps on our platform," Tulley said.

CLOSING COURTHOUSE DOORS

Apple, also backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce business group, has argued that a ruling siding with the iPhone users who filed the lawsuit would threaten the burgeoning field of e-commerce, which generates hundreds of billions of dollars annually in U.S. retail sales.

The plaintiffs, as well as antitrust watchdog groups, said closing courthouse doors to those who buy end products would undermine antitrust enforcement and allow monopolistic behavior to expand unchecked. The plaintiffs were backed by 30 state attorneys general, including from Texas, California and New York.

The plaintiffs said app developers would be unlikely to sue Apple, which controls the service where they make money, leaving no one to challenge anti-competitive conduct.

Along with Gorsuch, conservative Justice Samuel Alito raised the reluctance of app developers to sue Apple in questioning the 1977 precedent.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, another conservative Trump appointee, pushed back against Francisco's contention that Apple's actions are not the direct cause of higher prices for consumers, because app makers set the final prices. Kavanaugh pointed out that "consumers are harmed then, too."

Kavanaugh later suggested that the plaintiffs would have a more clear-cut right to sue if Apple bought the apps from the developers and sold them to consumers with its 30 percent commission.

Apple has said it is acting only as the agent for app developers who sell the apps to consumers through the App Store.

Liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer seemed certain that the iPhone buyers' claims should go forward.

"They're claiming their injury is a suppression of a cheaper price," Sotomayor told Apple's attorney, Daniel Wall.

The company sought to have the antitrust claims dismissed, arguing that the plaintiffs lacked the required legal standing to bring the lawsuit. A federal judge in Oakland threw out the suit, saying the consumers were not direct purchasers because the higher fees they paid were passed on to them by the developers.

The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived the case last year, finding that Apple was a distributor that sold iPhone apps directly to consumers.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham)
Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

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..JNS.org26 November '18..BDS activists who think they are succeeding in isolating the State of Israel arent paying attention to the news. On Sunday, reports surfaced that negotiations about building a gas pipeline that connects Israels natural-gas resources to Cyprus, Greece and Italy have finally succeeded. The pipeline network will reportedly be the longest and deepest ever built. Initial estimates of the cost build it start at $7 billion.And the good news for friends of Israel doesnt stop there. And that should influence the way we think about BDS and its purpose.Part of the background to this deal is the fact that the European Union invested $100 million in a feasibility study about importing Israeli natural gas to the continent. Thats why the plan, dubbed the EastMed Pipeline Project, will give both Cyprus and Israel preference over other potential importers of gas into Europe.The project, which will hopefully be completed over the next five years, will provide Israels already prosperous economy with another boost. But the preference for Israeli imports also signals that Arab influence over Europe that is rooted in its ability to export oil and gas is waning. With Europeans wanting alternatives to both Arab and Iranian oil, as well as Russian natural gas, Israel will not only profit from the transaction; its standing as an important economy and a military power to be reckoned with will also grow.The fact that Italy, Greece and Cyprus are now prepared to join Israel and Egypt in joint military and civil exercises to protect both the pipeline and regional security is equally important. Despite continued threats from Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas, the notion that the Jewish state stands alone no longer can be sustained.
A few years back, when the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, portrayed Muhammad naked, rioting around the globe was ignited. The ensuing Muslim mass protests demonstrated to the world that they found this depiction of their prophet seriously insulting, and evinced their determination to see the honour of their prophet restored.

But what will Christians do about this repugnant, (yet to be aired) TV advert?

The writer Will ORouke and director of the What would Jesus do advert, Richard Bullock, present a smiling Jesus, hanging on a cross engaged in playful banter with the Roman soldiers who are in charge of his crucifixion. The soldiers ask Jesus to donate his organs after his death, in order to save the earthly lives of others. Jesus agrees and signs off on a smart phone. Then the soldiers take a selfie with Him hanging on a cross, ending with the distasteful hashtag #nailedit.

Awake O Sleeper, Rise From the Dead

Im not sure how repugnant, an insult to the most important person and event in the history of the world needs to be, before it would awaken us and our church leaders? Personally, I think this would come close.

So far the only voice from a church leader (that Im aware of) has been that of from Anglican Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead, who told 10 Daily that some people "might be offended by the Monty Python-esque humour" but "it uses the self-sacrificial example of Jesus to communicate an important message."

Lets hope we can do better than this. Turning a travesty, into an endorsement, wont cut it.

It Appears Some Christians Have Risen to Support our Cause.

In church were told week after week, year after year that the Cross is the very centre and foundation of our faith, that in those august hours where Jesus bled and died for our sin, he restored our relationship with the ineffably glorious God of the universe. So unless Im missing something, this tasteless and contemptible depiction of the pinnacle of our faith, should not be met with indifference by those follow Jesus.

If Muslims can rise to the occasion when Muhammad is insulted. Then Christians can do the same when their Saviour, the Son of God is blasphemed.

Fortunately the malaise of indifference hasnt sent all of us into some type of enchanted sleep from which well never recover. Initiatives have been taken by ACL (you know that extreme right wing Christian organization fighting for Christian values to be upheld in our nation), and theyve established a petition, to be presented to the director of the advertisement. They have just over 6,000 signatures from concerned Christians. They need 10,000 to present it

And also a concerned sister, Dane Craill from W.A, has done a sterling job promoting a petition with Change.org, which calls on the Australian Communications and Media Authority to block the broadcast of the profane advertisement. With over 23,000 signatures achieved, my heart is gladdened that many my brothers and sisters share the same to zeal to see Jesus, honoured and not derided.

I urge you not stay in a state of somnolence. Take action by clicking the links, let Australia know, that you believe Jesus is worth defending. Stop this advertisement in its tracks.

Before his death Jesus was beaten, spat upon and mocked by his enemies, while his followers were in hiding for fear of the Jews. However, after Pentecost that all changed. His followers went to their deaths, gladly testifying to their Saviors majesty.

Today, we need to decide whether well speak for Him, or die from a shameful death of indifference.

Vic Matthews, has three degrees B.Optom, B.Arts & B. Christian Studies. He is a kiteboard tragic, who now works as a Christian Copywriter. He can be found at http://trustworthycopywriter.com/writing-services/christian-copywriter/

Vic Matthews' previous articles may be viewed http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/vic-matthews.html
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- A new government study finds that roughly 1 in 40 American children has autism, a huge jump from the previous estimate of 1 in every 59 children.

The survey asked parents of more than 43,000 children between the ages of 3 and 17 whether or not their children had ever been diagnosed with autism or an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and whether the child in question still struggled with an ASD.

Study author Michael Kogan offered several explanations for the discrepancy between the previous figure from the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the new figures from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health.

First, he noted that "because there is no biological test for ASD, it is difficult to track." And he added that different data collection methods can produce very different results.

For example, Kogan pointed out that the CDC only collected information on 8-year-olds living in 11 residential areas. By comparison, the latest survey looked at a far wider age range, and is the first such effort to be national in scope.

The latest figure is also based on a more recent time frame than the CDC's last review in 2014, he noted. And his team's conclusions stem from information collected from parents, while the CDC conducted a review of medical and school records.

"I don't know if 'surprised' is the word I would use," Kogan said about his team's findings. "We began the study knowing that the prevalence of ASD had been increasing for the last 30 to 40 years."

Kogan serves as director of the Office of Epidemiology and Research in the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration.

Apart from arriving at an estimate for autism prevalence, the investigators noted that more than a quarter of children with ASD (27 percent) were taking some type of medication to tackle the disorder's symptoms. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) had been receiving behavioral treatment in the year leading up to the survey.

But parents of children with autism indicated that their children had greater care needs -- and had more trouble getting that care -- relative to those struggling with other comparable conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and anxiety, Down syndrome, behavioral or conduct problems, intellectual or learning disabilities, and/or Tourette syndrome.

Specifically, parents said they were 44 percent more likely to have trouble getting mental health care, 24 percent less likely to get care coordination help, and 23 percent less likely to have a "medical home" for their child, meaning a single team of caregivers.

The findings were published online Nov. 26 in the journal Pediatrics.

Thomas Frazier, chief science officer at Autism Speaks, expressed little surprise at the findings.

"They are generally consistent with previous parent surveys and other direct prevalence studies where researchers directly screen for and attempt to identify autism," he said, adding that the CDC numbers are "probably a bit conservative."

As to why estimates have generally been rising in recent years, Frazier dismissed the idea that the overall share of American children who have autism is growing that rapidly, suggesting instead that analysis methods have become "more liberal and inclusive."

As to the broader question of access to care, Frazier agreed that there is an urgent need to provide better access to early screening and subsequent treatment, particularly for low-income families.

"At Autism Speaks, we have attempted through our Autism Treatment Network to increase pediatricians' and family practice doctors' awareness and ability to screen," in addition to providing "gold-standard" medical care, he said.

And Frazier added that "early, intensive developmental and behavioral interventions are effective," especially when parents get the training they need to be better positioned to help their child.

According to Autism Speaks, autism spectrum disorder refers to a "broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication."

More information

There's more on accessing autism care at Autism Speaks.
MONDAY, Nov. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Millions of American kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have a genetic vulnerability to the disease, a new study suggests.

Researchers analyzed data from more than 55,000 individuals and identified 12 gene regions linked with ADHD. These regions probably affect the central nervous system, the study authors said. The discovery might help scientists develop new treatments for ADHD, which affects more than 9 percent of American children.

"We all carry genetic risk variants for ADHD," explained researcher Anders Borglum, a professor of biomedicine at Aarhus University in Denmark. "The more we have, the greater our risk for developing ADHD."

Those same genetic areas share a connection with 200 other diseases and traits, he said. The investigators also found that 44 gene variants implicated in ADHD are linked with depression, anorexia and insomnia.

"We now understand better why some individuals develop ADHD, and begin to get insights into the underlying biology, paving the way towards new and better treatment of ADHD," Borglum added.

The genetic areas his team uncovered show that this is primarily a brain disorder, Borglum said.

The researchers also found genes that may be linked with ADHD have a role in how brain cells interact and also affect speech development, learning and regulation of dopamine (a chemical messenger that carries signals between brain cells).

Still, the vast majority of ADHD genetics is still undiscovered and will require larger studies, Borglum said.

Study author Stephen Faraone noted that the team "found 12 of the very many -- we don't know how many -- probably thousands of genes related to ADHD." Faraone is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, N.Y.

The researchers don't expect to discover just one, two or even 10 genes that each have a dramatic effect on causing ADHD and can be used to diagnose the disorder or quickly develop a treatment, he said. Most likely, a combination of genes and environmental factors trigger ADHD, the study authors said.

Environmental factors may include being born prematurely and underweight or suffering from developmental problems, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, Faraone said.

Interestingly, he added, even though medications work in treating ADHD, they don't target the genes that the investigators found were linked to the condition. None of the genes affected by the drugs showed up in their analysis of genes tied to ADHD, Faraone said.

The report was published online Nov. 26 in the journal Nature Genetics.

Ronald Brown, dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, said, "This is a promising investigation, as it provides further evidence that ADHD is likely an inherited disorder." Brown was not involved with the study, but was familiar with the findings.

It's been clear for years that ADHD runs in families, he said. These findings are also important because they suggest that certain therapies effective for one family member are likely to be effective for other family members who are diagnosed with ADHD, he added.

This study is also important because it shows that several psychological disorders are likely tied to these genes, though no cause-and-effect relationship was proven in the study. This information could help families with prevention and early intervention efforts, Brown said.

More information

Visit the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health for more on ADHD.
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Mr. Richard Anthony Fadullon

Prosecutor General

Department of Justice

Ermita, Manila 1000

Republic of the Philippines

Via email: communications@doj.gov.ph

Dear Prosecutor General Fadullon,

We at the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters without Borders, two independent non-profit press freedom organizations, ask that you and your office end the politicized persecution of Philippine news site Rappler.

The Department of Justice earlier this month said that it planned to file tax evasion charges against Rappler and the websites founder and executive editor, Maria Ressa. The charges relate to a company bond sale in 2015 that, according to reports, resulted in 162.5 million pesos (US$3 million) in financial gains. The Justice Departments statement did not indicate how much Rappler and Ressa allegedly owed in taxes.

Ressa has denied the allegation and said that Rappler is compliant with all Philippine tax laws, including the transaction in question. She said she believes the legal threat is an attempt to silence her news outlets critical reporting on President Rodrigo Dutertes government. CPJ has documented in the past year how authorities have retaliated against Rapplers coverage, including by banning its reporters from the presidential palace and referring to the site as fake news and biased.

The Department of Justices announcement that it will seek to file tax evasion charges is strikingly and worryingly similar to previous legal harassment of Rappler. The news site is still fighting a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) order to revoke its registration. The Court of Appeals ruled in July that the SEC had erred in its move to revoke Rapplers certificate of incorporation, but the outlets motion to fully annul the order is still pending.

We view the tax evasion charges, which carry potential 10-year prison penalties under local law, as a clear and present threat to press freedom. As Ressa has pointed out, the charges could potentially threaten foreign investors who use similar mechanisms, and could thus damage the Philippine economy

We urge you to cease this campaign of intimidation and harassment against Rappler, both for the sake of respecting press freedom and for your governments international credibility.

Sincerely,

Joel Simon

Executive Director

Committee to Protect Journalists

Christophe Deloire

Secretary General

Reporters Without Borders
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Beirut, November 26, 2018The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the imprisonment without charge of Abdel Hafez al-Houlani, a correspondent for the Syrian pro-opposition news website Zaman al-Wasl in the northeastern Lebanese city of Arsal, and called on Lebanese authorities to immediately disclose charges against him or set him free.

Lebanese State Security, one of Lebanons four main intelligence and security agencies, summoned Al-Houlani for interrogation to their offices in the northeastern city of Hermel, 144 kilometers (89.4 miles) northeast of Beirut, upon his return from Syria on November 21 and has since held him there without informing him of any charges against him, according to his employer, the Syrian Journalists Association, and news reports.

Fathi Ibrahim Bayoud, editor-in-chief of Zaman al-Wasl, told CPJ that the summons to Al-Houlani followed the publication of an article with his byline dated November 18, 2018, saying that 20 pregnant Syrian refugee women living in Arsal had miscarried after drinking polluted water that allegedly carried a deadly virus.

The article, which cited unnamed medical sources, said the women didnt have any previous conditions and hadnt experienced any previous miscarriages. Citing the Lebanese Minister of State for Refugee Affairs Mouin Merehbi, the article attributed the problems facing Syrian refugees in Lebanon to the lack of coordination between another security agency, General Security, and the Ministry of State for Refugee Affairs.

We are alarmed by the jailing without charge of Syrian journalist Abdel Hafez al-Houlani and call on Lebanese authorities to release him immediately, said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour from Washington, D.C. Reporting on refugee matters is not a crime. Rather than jailing journalists, Lebanese authorities should do everything in their power to guarantee their safety.

The Lebanese State Security didnt immediately reply to CPJs emailed request for comment.

Lebanese intelligence agents in May 2018 arrested Al-Houlani at his tent in the Wafa al-Umani refugee camp in the northeastern Lebanese city of Arsal, 123 km (77 miles) northeast of Beirut, and took him to the Defense Ministry prison in Beirut without informing him of any charges, according to CPJ research. CPJ could not determine which security agency had arrested him. He was released a day later.

In 2012, al-Houlani began contributing to Zaman al-Wasl, which was founded in 2005 by activists in Homs opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and became a staff reporter in 2013. He mainly covers human interest stories and social issues involving refugees, Mohammad Hamdan, Zaman al-Wasls managing editor, told CPJ in May 2018.

Al-Houlani, who is originally from Homs and moved to Lebanon in 2012, also works as a social worker and runs a small care center for elderly people in Arsal, according to news reports.
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On November 20, 2018, five police officers seized a desktop computer, mobile devices, and laptops from the Singapore home of Terry Xu, chief editor of the independent news website The Online Citizen, according to news reports. Xu was summoned to the city-states Cantonment Complex at 3pm that day, where authorities interrogated him for over eight hours as part of a criminal defamation complaint, before releasing the editor without charge, news reports said.

The criminal investigation stems from a readers letter published on The Online Citizen on September 4, 2018 that was critical of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongs Peoples Action Party-led government, the reports said.

The letter, published under the name Willy Sum, alleged there was corruption at the highest echelons of government and that Lees administration was tampering with the Constitution.

On September 18, the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), a statutory board under the Ministry of Communications and Information, ordered The Online Citizen to remove the letter within six hours, a takedown request that the site obliged, Xu wrote in a post on the news sites Facebook page on November 21, 2018.

However, on October 4, 2018 the IMDA filed a criminal defamation report with police against The Online Citizen Xu wrote in the same Facebook post. Criminal defamation convictions carry possible two-year prison sentences and fines.

CPJ could not determine if authorities had also filed a legal complaint against Sum.

An IMDA spokesperson quoted by The Straits Times newspaper acknowledged his agency filed the criminal complaint, and said that the readers letter made serious allegations that undermine the publics confidence in the governments integrity.

Xu said in the Facebook post that authorities denied a request for the confiscated equipment to be returned, and told him the devices can only be returned after the investigation has been completed. The Online Citizen, established in 2006, is one of Singapores few independent news sites, staffed mainly by volunteers.

In a statement published November 26, 2018, The Online Citizen said that the investigation was ongoing but that it had resumed publishing after a nearly week-long hiatus after purchasing new hardware to run the site.
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Beirut, November 26, 2018The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the assassination of prominent radio host Raed Fares and photographer Hamoud al-Jnaid and urged local authorities in the northwestern Syrian city of Kafranbel to investigate the murder and bring those responsible to justice.

Unknown gunmen killed Fares, founder and director of the independent radio station Radio Fresh and the Kafranbel Media Center, and al-Jnaid, a reporter and photographer for Radio Fresh, as the journalists were on their way to cover a protest in Kafranbel on November 23, according to news reports, the Syrian Journalists Association, the journalists employer, and the regional press freedom group Skeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom.

Even as the international spotlight on the Syrian conflict continues to dim, journalists like Raed Fares and Hamoud al-Jnaid continue working, at the gravest possible risk, to inform the global public of the violence and turmoil in their homeland, said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour from Washington, D.C. We condemn their murder and call on all sides to the conflict to do their utmost to allow journalists to report safely and without fear of retaliation.

Ali Dandoush, a journalist and photographer for Radio Fresh who was in the car with Fares and al-Jnaid when they were gunned down, told CPJ that they had left the radio station in eastern Kafranbel and, after driving 100 meters, they passed a silver van with tinted windows.

The van followed us and when we were near the house of a relative of Fares, the van came closer and stopped about two meters to our left. The gunmen subsequently opened fire with their machine guns at us. Three of them got out and shot us again when Fares and al-Jnaid were trying to get out of the car and then they left. I was sitting in the back seat of the car and miraculously wasnt injured, but I saw three attackers. Their faces were not covered, but I didnt know them. Al-Jnaid died immediately of his injuries and Fares was rushed to the Kafranbel hospital where he died of his injuries shortly afterward. Over the past two months we have been receiving threats at our office from armed groups, including the Al-Nusra Front, Dandoush told CPJ.

Fares, an activist as well as a journalist who founded Radio Fresh in 2013 and was also the director of the Union of Revolutionary Bureausan umbrella group of civil society organizations in Kafranbelhad previously survived an assassination attempt by men who Fares identified as Islamic State gunmen in January 2014, according to a New York Times report. He was known for his witty protest banners and for creatively defying armed demands from Islamist factions, including the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front (currently known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham), that Radio Fresh stop playing music on air or get rid of female news readers by playing animal sounds or distorting the voices of female news readers to make them sound like robots, according to news reports.

In his last Facebook postdated October 5, 2018Fares posted a video of a demonstrations in Kafranbel calling for the downfall of the regime and wrote, The people of Kafranbel are in Freedom Square and voices are chanting: The people want the downfall of the regime. We started this in 2011 and we carry on. Our loyalty to the martyrs and detainees has increased our determination.

Al-Jnaid, a media activist who had been working for Radio Fresh as a photographer and reporter since its inception in 2013, covered the demonstrations against the Bashar al-Assad regime and the airstrikes and bombings by al-Assad-aligned forces on Kafranbel, according to the Syrian Journalists Association and his employer.

Syria is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. At the time of CPJs most recent prison census, at least seven journalists were in Syrian state prisons; many others are missing. At least 124 journalists have been killed covering the Syrian conflict, according to CPJ research.
The first-ever India Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue was held at St. Petersburg in Russia. Indian side was led by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar and Russian delegation headed by Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin.

Key Facts

The two-day forum provided participants platform to discuss development of bilateral ties in trade, investment, technology and industry. It was aimed to bring together key business figures from both countries. Transport, agriculture and agro-processing, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), digital transformation and frontier technologies and industrial cooperation were some of the key areas of focus of the forum.

Indo-Russian Strategic Economic Dialogue

It was created by PM Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin in their informal summit (held at Sochi in May 2018) to give big push to economic partnership between both countries that has started to gain momentum since 2017. It aims to focus on macro picture of economic partnership and also explore partnership and joint ventures in services and IT sectors. It seeks to put in place mechanism for partnership between resource-rich Russian regions and Indian states. In effort to boost bilateral trade to $30 billion by 2025, both countries have agreed to give high priority to removal of obstacles to trade in order to improve upon 21.5% growth in two-way trade recorded last year. India has already launched Strategic Economic Dialogue with China.
Torreira has been excellent for Arsenal this season and was named man-of-the-match in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Bournemouth.But the Uruguayan was surprisingly taken off in the second half as the Gunners defended their lead.Torreira had a busy international break, playing both games for Uruguay.And Emery says he wanted to protect the midfielder by resting him for the closing stages.Arsenal goal hero Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: This was the key to winArsenal boss Unai Emery: This is why I dropped Mesut Ozil'He said to us that he was a little tired and that there was a possibility [he could get injured],' said Emery.'He was giving us good balance but also we have to be clever because he played with the national team for two matches and sometimes you need to listen to the players when they sometimes need rest.'Matteo is working very well and also I think we need every player."This change was because we needed to give him a rest.'Alexandre Lacazette was a shock absentee from the Arsenal squad which travelled to Bournemouth and Emery said: 'Yesterday, Lacazette felt a small injury.'Arsenalfacea long trip to Ukrainian side FC Vorskla on Wednesday before facing Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday.But despite the huge game next weekend, Emery says he wants his players to focus on Thursday's Europa League clash.He said: 'I want to give respect to the competition.'We are going to think about it and decide on Tuesday how we can prepare to win.'And then think about Sunday.'
HAZARD, Ky.  Convicted of a crime he didn't commit, Gary Drinkard spent six years on death row before the truth was revealed. And today, he's in Kentucky to talk about his experience.





Drinkard was sentenced to the death for a 1993 Alabama murder, and was eventually exonerated due to prosecutorial misconduct. He may be a free man now, but Drinkard explained the capital murder conviction shattered his relationships with his family and have made it difficult to find a decent job.





"The cost of it overall extremely outweighs keeping a person in prison for life, Drinkard said. And like one of our members said, you can release a man from jail, but you can't dig him out of a grave, an innocent person. And there's a lot more innocent people on death row - I mean, people don't realize it, but there are."





A total of 164 people in the U.S. have been exonerated from death row, including Larry Osborne of Kentucky.





Drinkard is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. at the Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Hazard. The event is free and open to the public.





As a volunteer with Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Helen Brunty pointed out 30 states still use the death penalty - down from 37 in 2004.





"We're moving away from the death penalty across the United States. And studies indicate that the elimination of the death penalty actually reduces crime rather than the opposite, Brunty said. It's a cruel and unusual punishment; there is no humane way to kill somebody."





Brunty said she also believes the use of capital punishment in the criminal justice system is deeply flawed.





"It is not a deterrent, she said. It is unfair to minorities and the poor because they can't afford someone to defend them, and therefore, they're wrongly convicted sometimes."





Drinkard shares his experience as part of "Witness to Innocence" tours around the country. He said he thinks most people don't realize how false convictions are ruining innocent lives.





"Amazingly enough, people don't know. They think if you're accused of something, you had to do something, Drinkard said. They ought to have an open mind when it comes to it, instead just believing that the powers that be - the police officers and the prosecutors - because anything that involves politics, there's corruption."





More than 2,700 people are on death row in U.S. prisons, including more than 30 in Kentucky.

 | 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



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
Spains Fersa Bearings takes control of Austrias NKE

The Spanish bearings manufacturer Fersa Bearings has acquired 100% of the Austrian bearings-maker NKE, completing a process that started in in 2016, when the Fersa bought 49% of NKEs shares. With the acquisition of the remaining 51%, NKE is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Fersa and there are two commercial brands: Fersa for the automotive sector; and NKE for the industrial sector. Fersa has not ruled out adding further brands to its portfolio in the near future.

The merger strengthens the groups presence in central Europe  part of Fersas commitment to the internationalisation that began in 2002 when the investment capital firm Going Investment took a stake in the business. Since then, Fersa has evolved into a group with four production centres, six distribution centres and four r&d centres  two in Europe and two in Asia  supporting a presence in more than 95 countries with a global workforce of more than 500 people.

The two brands are expected to generate a turnover of more than 80m in 2018 with an Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) of more than 9m. In 2020, we expect to reach a turnover of more than 110m and an Ebitda of 15% on sales, adds Fersa's CEO, Carlos Oehling.

Fersa has had a positive effect on the NKE business since its initial investment, with earnings rising from from 17m in 2015, with a negative Ebitda, to an expected 25m in 2018, with an Ebitda of almost 2m. This momentum has been driven by strong investment in NKEs engineering capacity and its presence in Asia, which has consolidated its image as a premium-level manufacturer.

The bearing manufacturers are positioning themselves as strategic suppliers to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and distributors in their particular markets. Fersa plans to invest further in its facilities worldwide, especially in digitisation and expanding its production and logistics capacities.

NKE has been investing in its production facilities in Steyr, Austria

Investments in the NKE facilities in Steyr, Austria, include a new fully automated production line to meet the demands of European OEMs with a philosophy of production in the region for the region, reports NKEs managing director, Thomas Witzler.

Fersa is expanding its headquarters in Zaragoza, Spain, including the construction of a new 5,000m2 warehouse with two new automated manufacturing lines, with investment expected to reach 16m by 2020.
A strong flow of Chinese goods can make the market more fierce for many Vietnamese enterprises. Photo by AFP

Experts said the U.S.-China trade war puts Vietnam at risk of fraud as capital moves into the country to avoid U.S. sanctions.

Vietnamese products would face tough competition from China in both the domestic and overseas markets, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industrys (VCCI) WTO Center, said at a recent conference on the impact of the Sino-American trade spat.

In the domestic market, China might seek to dump its goods on Vietnam to avoid Donald Trumps tariffs. Cheaper Chinese goods competing with Vietnamese goods will not benefit Vietnams economy.

In overseas market, China might borrow the "made in Vietnam" label to dodge U.S. tariffs.

If this cannot be controlled, there could be grave consequences for Vietnamese firms since the U.S. might apply the same tariffs as they have done on China, according to industry insiders.

Ho Duc Lam, chairman of the Vietnam Plastics Association, said his industry has been impacted by having to compete directly with Chinese companies as China might borrow the "made in Vietnam" label to dodge U.S. tariffs.

Tran Dinh Thien, an economist and member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Group, noted that the trade war brings both opportunities and challenges for Vietnam, but it is up to local companies to identify the opportunities.

He said the trade war has hit investors confidence causing them to pull out of emerging markets including Vietnam. The global supply chain is badly disrupted as a result, and the investment environment has become uncertain, he said.

Lam argued that to protect domestic companies the government should consider import taxes if there are signs of a safeguard action.

It should not issue licenses if there is no guarantee that more than two thirds of the production chain would be in Vietnam, and should promote free trade agreements with Europe and others to reduce Vietnams dependence on the U.S. and China, he added.

Trang of the VCCI said since the trade war shows no signs of ending soon production enterprises should monitor the situation to respond nimbly to changes and should know where and how to take advantage of potential opportunities.

It is known which goods face sanctions, so businesses should research about customers for those goods and offer them a better deal, she said.

The U.S.-China trade war escalated in September with the U.S. levying an additional 10 percent tariff on about $200 billion worth of Chinese products. Washington is set to raise the tariffs to 25 percent in January if there is no agreement between the both sides, according to Reuters.

China retaliated with 5 and 10 percent tariffs on $60 billion worth of U.S. products.
Mark Lockwood and his son Nate in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Givealittle

A Kiwi expat succumbed Sunday morning at a Ho Chi Minh City hospital to head injuries sustained in a motorbike accident.

Mark Lockwood had been in a coma for more than a week after fracturing his skull in the accident, which appears to have happened in Nha Trang resort town in central Vietnam, where he was running a bar.

The NZ Herald reported Lockwoods death, citing his sister Wendy Turner via a Givealittle page, a crowd funding website for New Zealanders.

"After a brave fight, Mark passed away this morning (November 25)," she wrote. "The family are grappling with the loss of a husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin and a friend in such tragic circumstances."

The crowdfunding page was created by Turner to support Lockwood, who had neither insurance nor savings to cover his medical costs.

Lockwood is survived by his Vietnamese wife Chi and 3-year-old son Nate in Vietnam, as well as his adult children in New Zealand. The Givealittle page, which has raised over $6,000, would remain open to support them instead, Turner announced.

The New Zealander had lived in Vietnam since 2012 with his Vietnamese wife and son. He set up a bar in Nha Trang last year.

Last month, a French woman and a Spanish man were killed in a road accident in the northern province of Ha Giang when a truck trailer collided with their motorbike.

Road crashes are a leading cause of deaths in Vietnam, killing almost one person every hour. More than 9,000 traffic accidents occurred in the first half of this year, killing nearly 4,100 people and injuring over 7,000, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.
Planes were unable to land or had to hover for a long time before touching down at Tan Son Nhat airport in Saigon Sunday night.

Tropical storm turned depression Usagi unleashed gusty winds and heavy rain on Saigon Sunday, causing air traffic bedlam at the Tan Son Nhat airport.

Around 40 flights were affected.

Passengers on a Thai Airways flight that had to return to Bangkok after failing to land in Tan Son Nhat on Sunday. Photo by VnExpress/Ha Nguyen

Many incoming and outgoing flights were delayed or diverted at the international airport Sunday night. These included those operated by Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Pacific airlines.

It was reported that aircraft had to hover for a long time before landing, while some had to land at different airports.

A Thai Airways flight departing from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City returned to Thailand after it was not able to land even after hovering for 40 minutes above the airport.

Ha, the director of a communication company in Saigon who was a passenger on that flight, said: "Thai Airways arranged hotel and food for hundreds of passengers and re-scheduled the flight to 8:30 a.m. the next day."

An AirAsia flight from Bangkok that reached the Tan Son Nhat Airport at 9:00 p.m. also had to head back to Bangkok.

Data from Flightrada24, a Swedish service that shows real-time commercial aircraft flight information, shows air traffic congestion at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport Sunday night. Photo by VnExpress/Xuan Thang

A Vietjet Air representative said many flights to and from Cam Ranh Airport near Nha Trang, Lien Khuong Airport near Da Lat, and Tan Son Nhat International Airport were affected by storm Usagi.

The representative added that to ensure safety, flight Hanoi to Nha Trang flight was diverted to Da Nang. The plane continued its journey after the weather got better and landed in Nha Trang at 5:05 p.m.

Due to heavy rain in the airport, a Vietjet flight from Hanoi and two flights from Hai Phong to Ho Chi Minh City were diverted to Da Nang and Can Tho, to wait for better weather to resume their journey.

A representative of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport said ensuring flight safety would be top priority. Air traffic congestion was inevitable because of the heavy rainfall.

Some places in the city received the record rainfall of 400mm Sunday night. HCMC's Tan Binh District, where the Tan Son Nhat airport is located, received rainfall of 407mm, the heaviest in the city's history, weather reports said.

Usagi, the ninth storm of the year to hit Vietnam, devolved into a tropical depression around Sunday noon after making landfall in Vung Tau, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, which neighbors HCMC.

One man was killed by a fallen tree in HCMC while more than 50 houses were collapsed and 46 boats were sunken or damaged across the southern region.

As of Sunday evening, rains triggered by Usagi had uprooted around 100 trees in Vung Tau and flooded many places in the central provinces of Ninh Thuan and Khanh Hoa. A part of the North-South Railway line in Ninh Thuan has been damaged by erosion, which has also caused landslides that have paralyzed traffic to Khanh Hoa's Cam Ranh International Airport.

This is Saigon on Sunday afternoon.
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, a teacher in central Vietnam who punished her student with a series of slaps for using foul language. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Tao

In a throwback to medieval cruelty, a teacher asked 23 classmates of a sixth grader to slap him ten times each.

At the end of 230 slaps, when the boy said he hated her, the teacher slapped him again.

The traumatized boy had to be hospitalized for four days and treated for a badly swollen face.

The incident, which has evoked widespread outrage and prompted the education ministrys intervention, took place at the Duy Ninh Secondary School in the central province of Quang Binh on November 19.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, the teacher, had her student Hoang Long Nhat suffer the punishment because he used "foul language."

School principal Pham Thi Le Anh said the teacher has been suspended for 15 days pending further enquiries.

She has since been placed under official investigation for "humiliating or applying corporal punishment to subordinates," a crime punishable by up to seven years under Vietnams penal code.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Nghia had said Saturday that whatever rule the student had broken, the punishment "was completely wrong and unacceptable."

The ministry had ordered education officials to investigate the case and take disciplinary action against the teacher.

Media reports said Thuy has admitted to school leaders that her actions were wrong. She attributed them to the pressure of educational achievements demanded by the school.

Teachers are traditionally held in very high regard in Vietnam, but teaching is no longer seen as a rewarding vocation. Teachers get paid very little, and are usually overworked.

A report presented to the National Assembly in September last year showed that teachers with many years of experience received just VND3-3.5 million ($132-154) a month, including bonuses, roughly the nations mandated minimum wage.

The same study found that 40 percent of the teachers interviewed said they would choose another job if they had the chance.
For many foreigners and visitors, the heavy rains and flooding of Saigons streets proved to be an unexpected treat.

Saigons Bui Vien Walking Street, where most foreigners and visitors tend to converge, was not spared the heavy rain and flooding that many parts of the city were subjected to last weekend, but it did not faze many of them.

Instead, they found it "exciting" and fun, and enjoyed the photographical bonanza it offered.

The Bui Vien Walking Street was inundated by the torrential downpours brought by Usagi, the tropical depression that swept the city since Sunday afternoon.

Two foreigners wear the flimsiest of raincoats that are sold on the street and laugh the rain off.

Peter, a tourist from England, shoots videos with his smart phone, umbrella in hand.

"I've been to Bui Vien a few times before but I've never seen it so flooded, which is exciting," he said.

Three foreigners from Japan and Malaysia enjoy walking in the pouring rain and take selfies in the middle of the street.

A foreigner sits on the edge of the street and sips a beer, watching the unusual scenes unfold in front of him.

Three tourists from Hanoi wear the flimsy raincoats and enjoy walking on the flooded street.

A couple of foreign customers pose for the camera in a flooded bar. Many bars and restaurants remained open in Saigon despite the inclement weather.

On Huynh Tan Phat Street in District 7, a Filipino man and his Australian friend sailed a kayak and made the flooding memorable. Video by Hanh Pham.

Tourists enjoy heavy downpours, flooding in Saigon Foreigners sail kayak as Usagi drenches Saigon street

Storm Usagi made landfall in southern Vietnam's Vung Tau City before devolving into a tropical depression Sunday. It triggered gales and heavy rains in several places like Vung Tau and Saigon.
Tran Tien Hung (L), 26 and Do Quang Thanh, 22, have been ranked among worlds top 100 Microsoft security researchers.

Tran Tien Hung and Do Quang Thanh rank 88th and 97th in a new list of top security researchers by Microsoft.

The two work at the Viettel Network Security Center on detecting vulnerabilities in the companys system.

Hung has found three new weak points in the Windows platform, including one in the operating system which allows hackers to take control of the computer and collect user information.

This vulnerability affects both Windows 7 and Windows 10, the two most popular operating systems in the world today and used on billions of installed devices. According to Microsoft, this is a near-fatal flaw, just below the "Critical" rating on its four-tiered risk hierarchy.

Thanh, a student of a technology university, discovered an "error in the graphical interface of Windows" which is related to the display image on the user's screen. The vulnerability makes it easy for hackers to break into the user's computer to get important information such as personal information, bank accounts, social networking accounts, etc.

According to Microsoft, the error in the graphical interface of Windows is highly dangerous. If hackers exploit this, they can quickly attack and take control of the entire computer operating system.

Tran Tien Hung is ranked 88th and Do Quang Thanh, nickname Nyaacate, 97th.

At the annual Black Hat Conference, Microsoft announced its top 100 security researchers. It also has thousands of others at the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC).

Microsofts Technet blog, where the top 100 was announced, expresses the tech giants appreciation of all the work and partnerships of the researchers with the security community over the years.

The announcement said: "This is a good annual reflection point on the past years contributions. Keep up the great work and we look forward to hearing from you this year too."

To create the list, Microsoft started evaluating all submissions from July 1 last year to June 30 this year based on which severity levels were assigned as criteria. Security impacts are calculated on a scale of 1-20 and severity, 1-3.
A man stand near flight information boards at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) outside Kuala Lumpur. Photo by Reuters/Samsul Said

Two Vietnamese women will stand trial for claiming at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur airport that they were carrying bombs.

While getting ready to board a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi last Thursday, the two women told the airport crew that they were carrying bombs in their luggage.

One of the women, who were traveling together on Vietnamese flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, made the statement about bombs twice.

Airport authorities isolated the two passengers and their luggage for checking and questioning. No bomb was found.

As of Monday morning, the two women were still in custody and no date had been announced for their trial.

Vietnam Airlines said false threats usually force carriers to delay flights and even evacuate passengers. Apart from other punitive measures, such passengers are usually banned from flying for a year.
Vietnam could lose long holiday tourists to Indonesia and Thailand because of its complicated visa procedures, industry insiders say.

Frenchman Thomas and Thai girlfriend Araya had big plans for Vietnam.

Their first visit to the country in August had impressed them so much that they wanted to return for a much longer trip.

The first trip happened after theyd traveled from France to Bangkok to visit Araya's parents. As they socialized with Vietnamese people and learnt about different places in the country, they regretted not visiting Vietnam sooner.

After the trip, Thomas researched more information about other travel destinations in Vietnam. Fond of motorbikes, he planned to enjoy exploring the northern mountains on one, apart from a leisure trip to Nha Trang, a resort town in central Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City for Araya.

Vietnams beaches are a popular draw among foreigners, but those who want long holidays in the country face complicated visa rules and procedures. Photo acquired by VnExpress

The plan was to spend the entire month of November exploring Vietnam, before Thomas starting a new job in December back home.

All their plans came to naught, however, as Thomas ran into visa hassles. He found that he no longer had the visa exemption that had been applied to his first visit.

The policy is that citizens of those countries that are exempted from visas can only use the exemption 30 days after the date of their last departure from Vietnam

Furthermore, French citizens only enjoy a 15-day visa exemption.

Therefore, if Thomas and Araya wanted to spend November in Vietnam, he would have to go through the visa process and pay the visa fees. Thomas was none too pleased by a barrier he rarely encountered when traveling through Asia.

"I planned to go to Vietnam for a whole month, but within this time, I also have to fly to Pattaya (Thailand) for a wedding. If this is the case, I wont have a visa exemption and have to go through all the procedures. I find this costly and time-consuming and am afraid that it will create issues for my trip."

Eventually, Thomas and Araya decided on a vacation in Bali, Indonesia, a place theyd already visited.

"Bali has many fun spots, convenient and exotic resort facilities, there are many beautiful routes to drive on. Not only that, the entry procedures are easy so if we feel like it we can just pack and be on our way," said Thomas. Indonesia grants a 30 day visa exemption for citizens from the European Union.

Open visa policy impacts

Vu The Binh, vice chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association, said visa procedures were one of the most important factors for tourism industry as it demonstrates the countrys openness. Having an open visa policy can by itself lead to a significant increase in the number of visitors, he said.

In 2017, the number of international visitors to Vietnam was nearly 13 million. This was a result of favorable policies, including visa exemptions for 24 countries, including Russia, Japan, South Korea and five Western European countries; and acceptance of electronic visas from citizens of 46 countries.

However, the number of visitors coming to Vietnam is still quite low compared to other countries in the region. Each year, Thailand has 35 about million international visitors, while Malaysia gets 25 million.

Two Swiss citizens, Emanuel Hansenberger and Fabian Seiler traveled across Vietnam on motorcycles for a month. Photo courtesy of Hansenberger and Seiler.

The benefits of a more relaxed visa policy have been obvious since Vietnam began to offer unilateral visa exemptions more than 10 years ago. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the number of South Korean visitors rose 10 times, from 230,000 in 2004 to 2.4 million in 2017. In the same period, Japanese visitors increased from 267,000 to 700,000.

A similar upward trend has also been observed in visitors from countries like Britain, Germany and Spain. This marks an increase of 15 percent after the visa exemption took effect.

Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, deputy general director of Vietravel, said that the visa exemption helps international visitors save time and money, and enhances the attractiveness of Vietnam's tourism. Studies have shown that countries can attract more than 20 million visitors each year with a visa-free policy, he said.

"If we have oriented tourism to be a leading economic sector and also want to bring in a large amount of foreign currency to Vietnam, shouldnt we open doors to visitors?" The number of international visitors and their spending on services will be much higher than the visa fees paid to us," Hoang added.

Policy hiccups

Thomas would be able to travel in Vietnam without paperwork and visa fees as long as he only spends 15 days in Vietnam. But many citizens of other European countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal still have to apply for visas at Vietnams representative offices abroad, or register online for an on-arrival visa.

Vietnam offers visa exemption to 24 countries, while it is 61 for Thailand, 158 for Singapore, 155 for Malaysia and 169 for Indonesia. The competitiveness index of Vietnam in the category of visa requirements is very low: 116 out of 136 surveyed countries.

Lack of incentives

In addition, visitors who are typically big spenders from Europe or America do not enjoy significant incentives.

With several Southeast Asian countries sharing similar characteristics including long coastlines, mountain scenery and affordable prices, foreign visitors can easily switch to other destinations that offer more convenient entry and exit procedures.

Meanwhile, South Korea, Japan, China and other Southeast Asian nations who have long enjoyed preferential visa treatment from Vietnam typically make short trips and are not big spenders.

Hoang Nhan Chinh, head of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), feels Vietnam should focus on attracting foreign visitors from Europe, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand who tend to travel longer and spend more on holidays.

The TAB has been proposing visa policy changes for many years so that the tourism industry can achieve its goal of welcoming 18.5 million visitors and earning $35 billion by 2020.

It has asked that the visa exemption period be increased to 30 days and that the rule about having to wait for 30 days after the last date of departure from Vietnam to enjoy the exemption again be removed.

TAB has also proposed that more countries are added to the visa exemption list, like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium, and that citizens of more nationalities are allowed to apply for electronic visas.

It hopes by 2020, Vietnam will exempt visas for 60 countries and allow electronic visa applications for 80 countries.
Russian jet fighters fly over a bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula after three Ukrainian navy vessels was stopped by Russia from entering the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea, Crimea, November 25, 2018. Photo by Reuters/Pavlishak Alexey

Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea on Sunday after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors.

This is considered a move that risks igniting a dangerous new crisis between the two countries.

Russias FSB security service said early on Monday its border patrol boats had seized the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop, Russian news agencies reported.

The FSB said it had been forced to act because the ships - two small Ukrainian armored artillery vessels and a tug boat - had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted illegal actions, and ignored warnings to stop while maneuvering dangerously.

"Weapons were used with the aim of forcibly stopping the Ukrainian warships," the FSB said in a statement circulated to Russian state media.

"As a result, all three Ukrainian naval vessels were seized in the Russian Federations territorial waters in the Black Sea."

The FSB said three Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the incident and were getting medical care. Their lives were not in danger, it said.

With relations still raw after Russias annexation of Crimea and its backing for a pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, the incident risks pushing the two countries toward a wider conflict.

Ukraine denied its ships had done anything wrong, accused Russia of military aggression, and asked for the international community to mobilize to punish Russia.

The U.N. Security Council will meet on the latest developments at the request of Russia and Ukraine, diplomats said.

Poroshenko proposes martial law

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met his top military and security chiefs. Poroshenko said he would propose that parliament impose martial law.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and then built a giant road bridge linking it to southern Russia that straddles the Kerch Strait - a narrow stretch of water that links the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, which is home to two of Ukraines most important ports.

Russias control of Crimea, where its Black Sea Fleet is based, and of the bridge mean it is able to control shipping flows.

The crisis began on Sunday after Russia stopped the three Ukrainian ships from entering the Sea of Azov by placing a cargo ship beneath the bridge.

A Reuters witness said Russia backed its blockade with at least two Sukhoi Su-25 warplanes that screeched overhead. Russian state TV said Russian combat helicopters had been deployed in the area.

The Ukrainian navy said on social media six Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the subsequent seizure of its ships, which appear to have been rammed and boarded, and that the Russian attack on them had occurred after they had retreated and headed back toward Odessa, the Black Sea port from where they had begun their journey.

"After leaving the 12-mile zone, the Russian Federations FSB (security service) opened fire at the flotilla belonging to ... the armed forces of Ukraine," it said in a statement.

The European Union said in a statement it expected Russia to restore freedom of passage via the Kerch Strait and urged both sides to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation. A NATO spokeswoman issued a similar appeal to both sides.

Risk of wider conflict

A bilateral treaty gives both Russia and Ukraine the right to use the Sea of Azov, which lies between them and is linked by the narrow Kerch Strait to the Black Sea. Tension has risen since Russia annexed Crimea, with both countries complaining about shipping delays and harassment.

Russias border guard service accused Ukraine earlier on Sunday of not informing it in advance of the three ships journey, something Kiev denied.

Russia said the Ukrainian ships had been maneuvering dangerously and ignoring its instructions with the aim of stirring up tensions.

Russian politicians denounced Kiev, saying the incident looked like a calculated bid by Poroshenko to increase his popularity ahead of an election next year.

In another sign of rising tensions, Russias state-controlled RIA news agency reported on Sunday night that Ukrainian forces had started heavy shelling of residential areas in eastern Ukraine, which is controlled by pro-Moscow separatists.

Reuters could not independently confirm that and the Interfax news agency cited separatists as denying there had been any unusual escalation.
IMF has no legal restrictions to cooperation with Ukraine amid martial law  statement

The IMF says it hopes for the prompt de-escalation of the situation.

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Faced with the caravans of migrants who are traveling through the country headed to the United States, the incoming Mexican government has admitted that for now, a containment policy is not viable. In a bid to find a solution to the phenomenon, the administration of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado , who will be sworn in to his role next Saturday, is negotiating a kind of Marshall Plan for Central America. Sources from the Mexican Chancellery with knowledge of the conversations say that the aim is to achieve a paradigm shift as well as to increase investment in the south of the country, with the help of the United States, which will also boost assistance to countries in the north triangle of Central America and increase the flexibility of the administrative processes for migrants in Mexico. The goal is for the deal to be done by May at the latest, so that it produces tangible results in 2020.

Migrant caravan en route to the US. HECTOR GUERRERO

With US President Donald Trump ever more belligerent against the wave of migrants arriving at the northern border of Mexico, Lopez Obrador has proposed a change of policy to address an unstoppable phenomenon that is feared to become a new problem of internal security. The future administration is trying to reach a deal with the United States whereby Mexico will take in the migrants who want to request asylum in their territory, for as long as the process lasts. Sources consulted by EL PAIS say that so far no procedure has been established and that it is a plan that will not just affect the northern border with Mexico. The same sources argue that, in practice, this is something that is already happening. The government of Lopez Obrador calculates that there are currently around 9,000 migrants stranded at the border, a number that no doubt will increase as the months pass.

The objective is to secure more than $20 billion during the six-year presidential term

In exchange, Mexico is looking to secure a double commitment on the part of the government of Donald Trump. According to information EL PAIS has secured from sources at the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and from one of the Central American governments involved, the plan includes a development and investment plan with the United States in the south of Mexico, the area of the country that has been most forgotten. The objective, according to these sources, is to secure more than $20 billion during the six-year presidential term, mainly in private investment, with the agreement or the promotion of the United States. Sources consulted for this story believe that Trump is not displeased with this plan, although they are aware that they will also have to deal with the toughest branch of the administration, the one that is in favor of the construction of a border wall, and that considers that the migration crisis is not an issue for the United States. On Sunday, Trump added fuel to the fire by insisting that Mexico should be intelligent and put a stop to the migrant caravans.

Members of the migrant caravan from Central America in Tijuana. David Guzman (EFE)

Whats more, the plan includes the United States increasing aid to the countries in the northern triangle of Central America. Until now, $600 million has been allocated to the Central America Prosperity Project, which was born out of the migrant children crisis in 2014, but in practice only $200 million was received. The other $400 million never arrived, mainly due to the complex way in which the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) operates. According to the plan that Mexico has put on the table for the United States, and about which the Central American governments are aware, the aid will rise to $1.5 billion. The conversations, which have been taking place since September and are headed up by the future foreign affairs secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, should come to fruition between December and May of the coming year, the sources consulted explain, so that the investments will start to materialize between 2019 and 2020. Otherwise, the whole plan could founder.

The government of Lopez Obrador trusts that it will be able to absorb a large part of the nearly 200,000 migrants who cross through Mexico every year headed for the United States. The model will have two strands. The internal one is related to the so-called development curtains that the new government wants to establish from Chiapas, in the south of the country and one of the most underdeveloped areas of the country, to the countrys capital.

The development curtains will be the focal points of huge amounts of public investment in public works. Until now, Lopez Obrador has been emphasizing three plans. One in Chiapas, which is related to the reforestation of the south of the country, a government plan which includes planting a million hectares of fruit trees and creating 400,000 jobs, according to the new head of state. The second focal point is the southeast of Mexico, where the construction of the so-called Mayan train is being planned. Its a 1,500-kilometer rail line that will run through the states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. And the third major project will be another train, the transistmico, a rail line that will connect the Pacific (Oaxaca) with the Atlantic (Veracruz).

According to the Mexican government, there are currently around 9,000 migrants stranded at the border

The plan also includes an external facet, which will make the migratory administrative procedures more flexible to facilitate access to permits for Central Americans. The visa plan for foreign workers is inspired by the model put in place for Haitians in Brazil. According to sources from the Senate Foreign Committee, these will be humanitarian visas that last a year but that can be renewed. Initially they will be grouped together in shelters, but once they start to have a fixed income they will be gradually moved to conventional housing, sources explain.

Those who are more skeptical about the plan see it as an improved version of the Puebla Panama Plan, the free-trade area from Panama to the United States the former president, Vicente Fox (2000-2006), tried to implement, but that was abandoned due to a series of problems. To ensure the United States signs up to the project and raises its funding, Mexico has a card to play: slowing down illegal immigration, preventing the country becoming an easy corridor for migrants and stopping the problem taking root on the border.

Within Obradors circle there is the belief that the country has the capacity to assimilate the exodus of the Central Americans. The figures show that Mexico has barely given papers to refugees in relation to its size. In Lebanon, the top country in the world in terms of the number of refugees, there are 170 refugees for every thousand inhabitants; in Jordan, 91, and in Turkey, 44. In Mexico, although applications have shot up in the last year, the numbers are still insignificant, and there are only 0.0071 refugees for every thousand inhabitants and it is number 127 on the global list, according to UNHCR, the United Nations agency for refugees.

Although applications for asylum in Mexico have shot up in the last year, the numbers are still insignificant

That said, in the last year requests for asylum in Mexico have risen by 1,000%, and more than 90% of these applications came from people in the northern triangle of Central America  Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala  and who are fleeing from cities such as San Salvador (El Salvador) and San Pedro Sula (Honduras), which are considered to be among the most violent in the world. UNHCR compares the current situation with the exodus of Central Americans during the wars of the 1980s.

Since then, one of the priorities of the United States has been to keep this humanitarian crisis far from its borders. After the crisis of the migrant children on its border, Barack Obama signed a deal to put a virtual wall in place in Mexico, which included a network of police and military on the border with Guatemala. The launch of the plan, within the framework of the Merida Initiative signed in 2008, includes the collaboration of the United States, in terms of cash funding and arms and scanners, and has seen the number of arrests and deportations rise. However, this containment wall has run into trouble since October with the appearance of the migrant caravan from Honduras.

During the first year, the Merida Initiative provided Mexico with $400 million in equipment and training. Neither the Merida Initiative nor the border plan are in danger, say sources from the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs who have knowledge of the plan with the United States. The problem is not one of control, but of opening up new possibilities, they say.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Brussels. PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW (REUTERS)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has celebrated as a clear victory for Spain the last-minute political agreement reached on Gibraltar in the negotiations over the United Kingdoms withdrawal from the EU, known as Brexit.

With Brexit we all lose, especially the United Kingdom, but when it comes to Gibraltar, Spain wins, said Sanchez on Sunday after the Withdrawal Agreement was ratified by EU leaders in Brussels.

Sanchez avoided specifying whether he plans to bring up the issue of co-sovereignty over Gibraltar

On Saturday, Sanchez secured a joint declaration from the European Council and European Commission that guarantees that the political, legal and even geographical relationship of Gibraltar with the EU will pass through Spain after Brexit.

The road to the Brexit deal has been a difficult one, but the one that lies ahead is even tougher, noted the leader of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE).

Sanchez avoided specifying whether he plans to bring up the issue of co-sovereignty over Gibraltar, a disputed territory located in the south of the Iberian peninsula and ceded to Great Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht.

We shouldnt get ahead of ourselves, he said. We will talk about everything. The goal is to solve, once and for all, a conflict that has lasted 300 years.

The Spanish leader believes that this dialogue with the UK will be possible thanks to Spains new position of strength now that EU institutions have said in writing that Spain will have a say in Gibraltars future.

That document will be the basis of any future negotiation with the UK, and Gibraltar will never be included

High-ranking EU official

Sanchez insisted that resolving this issue is not an emotional issue or one of national identity. Instead, he underscored that Spanish demands are about securing a shared prosperity with Campo de Gibraltar.

Asked whether the EUs assurances were legally binding, Sanchez said there was no question about the validity of the statement assuring Sanchez that Spains prior agreement would be needed on matters concerning Gibraltar.

That document will be the basis of any future negotiation with the UK, and Gibraltar will never be included; Spains approval will always be required, confirmed a high-ranking EU official.

Spain wants to use this leverage to achieve what it sees as a more balanced relationship between the Rock and the surrounding Campo de Gibraltar, an economically depressed area of Andalusia, after the Brexit transition period ends in January 2021.

Recent bilateral negotiations resulted in several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering specific issues of interest to both communities, including the situation of cross-border workers and taxation  Spain believes Gibraltar engages in unfair competition through very low taxes.

English version by Susana Urra.
When you have money, you can set up whatever you want in any part of the world, says Jorge, a 28-year-old from Venezuela, matter-of-factly.

Jorge, who declined to provide his last name and did not wish to be recognized in photographs, has been in Spain for three months but he already has a residency card and a job.

Besides the fundamental ethical question of selling passports, there is also a sinister side to those programs

Daniel Amoedo, Transparency International

He is one of 5,778 foreigners to have obtained in the first 10 months of the year what is commonly known as a golden visa in Spain. Known formally as the Law to Support Entrepreneurs and their Internationalization, this piece of legislation has allowed Jorge to get his legal papers after investing more than 500,000 in real estate.

From January to October, 546 individuals obtained residency by purchasing property, according to Foreign Ministry figures. Investing in business projects is another way to secure residency through this program.

Statistics suggest that Spain will end the year 2018 with a new residency-by-investment record. From January to October the figure already nearly matches the number for all of 2017 (5,876 visas, 563 of them for investing in property).

Ever since the program was launched in 2013 to attract investment during the economic crisis, the number of visas issued has continued to grow each year.

Many golden visa applicants are Chinese nationals who invest in real estate. Atlas

Spain is not the only country in the world to offer this kind of advantage to the wealthy. In the EU alone, 13 member states offer the possibility of obtaining residency  and even citizenship in some cases  through investment.

Transparency International has criticized this practice. In a report released last month, titled European Getaway: Inside the Murky World of Golden Visas, the group finds that Spain has granted the highest number of golden visas in the EU in the last 10 years, to the tune of 24,095 according to official data. It is also one of the countries to have made the most money from the scheme.

European residency and nationality have become luxury goods, notes Daniel Amoedo, of Transparency International Spain.

Besides the fundamental ethical question of selling passports, there is also a sinister side to those programs, he adds, alluding to applicants who have been linked to corruption cases in Brazil, Russia or Ukraine.

Russians go to the Costa del Sol The latest official statistics on golden visas do not detail where applicants finally settle down, but people familiar with the process said that Barcelona and Madrid are favorite destinations. And certain communities show a preference for specific areas of Spain. "The Russians opt for Marbella and the Costa del Sol," says Pura Strong, noting that the coast of Alicante has seen a rise in Russian residents in recent months. Official data do show the countries of origin of successful applicants, and Chinese nationals have headed the list every single year except for 2013, when the program went into effect. A total of 4,640 golden visas have been issued to Chinese citizens throughout this time. Russians come in second place overall with 1,997 residency permits, but applications have been dropping and in 2017 they had retreated to the fifth spot. Americans hold the third spot overall, followed by citizens of Brazil, India, Venezuela and Mexico.

Amoedo says that Cyprus, Malta and Portugal have the least stringent standards when it comes to granting these visas.

In Portugal its caused quite a scandal, but in Spain the authorities have delegated the policing work to private groups, adds the lawyer Cristobal Carretero. His law firm, CC Sociedad de Abogados, has processed around 100 golden visas in the last five years.

Anti-money laundering laws make everyone who participates in the process responsible, which provides an incentive to report suspicious activity. The investor must justify the origin of every last euro, and banks have gotten very strict, says Carretero. While your papers are being processed, you cant even make cash deposits.

Pura Strong, a partner at Strong Abogados, a firm specializing in foreign clients, agrees.

It is practically impossible to launder money this way, she says, noting that there are easier ways to do it than through a golden visa. Applicants are also required to have a clean criminal record. Some Americans have been left out because of drunk driving.

But Amoedo, of TI, believes that current regulations are not enough because they dilute the responsibility of due diligence processes between the banks and intermediaries. He says the Spanish state should conduct more stringent additional checks. Right now, notes Amoedo, it takes less than a month to receive a golden visa once the investment has been justified.

A change in applicants

Both lawyers consulted for this story said that the applicants background has changed significantly in recent years. We are seeing a lot of families, says Carretero.

Eduardo Salamanca, a consultant at the real estate agency Engel & Volkers, has provided advice on three golden visa applications this year. Because they are financially well-off individuals, they seek out expensive, pleasant places to live, he notes.

In Madrid, for instance, clients favor the upscale Salamanca district. Clients, notes this consultant, often praise the Spanish lifestyle but complain because it sounds easy, but in the end there are a lot of regulatory requirements.

It is practically impossible to launder money this way

Pura Strong, lawyer

Colleen Sun, a 45-year-old US citizen, is a nurse by training who has spent the last few years investing in business and real estate. After her divorce, she decided to leave China and move to Spain because of its culture and its beauty.

Sun bought a house in Madrid in September, but she has yet to apply formally for a golden visa. One of the privileges of this program is that it is possible to apply directly from Spain, unlike other types of permits. Still, this takes nothing away from many legalization and translation procedures, in her case from original documents in both English and Chinese.

For Jorge, the Venezuelan immigrant, the process felt a lot easier. It was very comfortable, he says, looking at his lawyer, Carretero. The shared language was a determining factor, but so was the fact that his sister was already living in the Spanish capital, or that he happens to be Real Madrid's number-one fan.

Jorge would rather not disclose how much he has paid for his apartment or for his ongoing investment in a chain of beauty treatment clinics. He does reveal, however, that he has spent 3,000 on legal fees. Despite his own smooth experience, Jorges assessment is not completely optimistic: Dont think its not hard: with cash or without it, emigrating is incredibly difficult.

English version by Susana Urra.
Spanish King Felipe VI (l) with NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg. STEPHANIE LECOCQ (EFE)

Forty years ago the Spanish monarchy, and more precisely Juan Carlos I, the king at the time, provided political guidance during the transition that moved our country from a dictatorship to a democracy such as existed in Western Europe at the time. That political process, which we all refer to as the Spanish Transition, was the result of the combined forces  or weaknesses as writer Vazquez Montalban put it  of political and social actors from both the dictatorship and the democratic resistance. The former had almost all the power but no legitimacy; the second had all the legitimacy and scarcely any power.

The monarchy is no longer a symbol of unity and harmony

The result of the transition disappointed some sectors of the democratic resistance. Some of its most active members who were at the heart of the fight against [Spanish dictator Francisco] Franco, a fight filled with heroism and sacrifice, were disappointed to see that there was no democratic break with the dictatorship, but instead negotiations with members of the dictatorial regime who understood that Spains modernization could only come about through democracy and by being a part of Europe.

There was no Portuguese-style revolution [the Carnation Revolution of 1974] or a break with the past, and many militant anti-Francoists, who were republican by definition and tradition, were disillusioned, feeling betrayed by the leaders and the main parties on the left. They had been the heroes and heroines of the struggle against Franco, but they were in a minority. It would have been difficult for things to have unfolded much differently. The referendum on political reform was a success for Adolfo Suarez [the first elected prime minister of the democratic era] against the democratic opposition, and the electoral results from 1977 to 1982 left no doubt that most citizens were in favor of the political forces who had accepted (the Communist Party of Spain included), with a greater and lesser degree of enthusiasm, the central role of the monarchy in guiding the democratic process in Spain.

The Spanish Royal Family. JAVIER LIZON (AFP)

In Catalonia and the Basque Country, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and Convergence and Union (CIU) soon became the hegemonic parties in their respective regions and they ended up accepting the monarchy  CIU almost right from the start and the PNV later  focusing their efforts instead on negotiating territorial rights, which paved the way for the system of devolved powers known as el estado autonomico. The only electorally relevant force in the Basque Country and Navarre that remained outside of this consensus were the far-left radicals known collectively as izquierda abertzale. Today, this group has admitted that [Basque terror group] ETA caused terrible suffering  the wounds are still raw  and it is evident to all Basque sectors that ETA did not achieve even one of its main political goals.

The monarchy and Juan Carlos I, whose status as Francos heir was initially questioned by the left, did not convince everyone to the same degree, but they did have the implicit support of a pragmatic population, the majority of whom voted for the 1978 Constitution.

It is true, as Suarez said to journalist Victoria Prego off the record in an interview dug up by La Sexta TV channel, that his government did not want to risk a referendum in which the Spanish might opt for a Republic. But it is no less true that there was no anti-monarchy movement in Spain as a consequence of not holding such a referendum. Spain put up with Francos heir in exchange for democracy and, bit by bit, the heir was loved by a broad section of the population with the help of the mainstream media.

Our country needs institutional republican tools to guarantee social justice and recognize the diversity of the people of Spain

The attempted coup of February 23, 1981, in spite of lingering doubts over the real role played by Juan Carlos, helped to consolidate the opinion that only the king could avoid a coup that would return power to the military  a military that was then clearly still in favor of Franco and irked by the changes that were taking place in the country. However, 40 years on, it is perhaps time to ask whether the monarchy is still of use to our democracy?

In a recent editorial in this paper, it was said that we shouldnt change the monarchical system on account of electioneering or opinion polls, thereby recognizing that the opinion of the Spanish people might not be favorable to a monarchy predominantly associated with privileges and corruption, while suggesting that a proposal to get rid of the monarchy could swing the vote. The fact that the Center for Sociological Investigation (CIS) always refrains from asking the question in its surveys is very significant.

But the editorial did come up with a very convincing argument: A monarchy is as democratic as a republic, as long as it guarantees freedoms.

Undoubtedly, the democratic nature of a political regime is defined by the degree to which freedoms are guaranteed, not whether the head of state is elected or not. The quality of a democratic system can, however, be measured. It would be absurd to say that a system that forbids same-sex marriage is as democratic as one that allows it.

There are different degrees of democracy and all democrats know that equal rights for heterosexuals and homosexuals and for men and women are an advance in the depth and quality of democracy. Similarly, democracy would be deepened with a head of state who is elected to the role, not one who inherits the position. The moment the monarchy stops being the price we have to pay for a system of liberty  the Spanish Army is no longer the threat to democracy that it might have been 40 years ago  its relevance to Spanish democracy is lost.

The moment the monarchy stops being the price we have to pay for a system of liberty, its relevance to Spanish democracy is lost

The fact that the monarchy has become a symbol that increasingly appeals only to the more conservative members of the population while increasingly disturbing liberals and triggering outright rejection among a majority of people in the Basque Country and Catalonia, means that it is no longer a symbol of unity and harmony. If the coup of February 23 strengthened Juan Carlos, the address that King Felipe VI made on October 3 [in response to the unauthorized independence referendum in Catalonia last year] weakened him. Felipe VI was unable to come across as a symbol of dialogue and instead became a symbol of authority for a government that failed to achieve a political solution to a conflict which was in large measure fueled by its own ineptitude.

Our country now needs to be equipped with institutional republican tools, far removed from uniformity and Caesar-antics; tools that will represent fraternity; that will guarantee social justice and which will recognize the diversity of the people of Spain as a [collective] identity to be protected and respected. The driving force behind the Indignados movement, which today drives the feminist movement, moves us in a republican direction, creating institutions that protect the people before they protect intransigent figures of authority.

The plural nature of Spanish politics and Spanish identity is a now a reality in a society that has had 40 years to mature democratically. To normalize this plurality and avoid tension and conflict between Spaniards means leaving divisive symbols behind, and equipping ourselves with the tools that will help us walk forward together as a country. A new republic will be the best guarantee for a Spain united on a foundation of respect and the freedom of its people to decide.

Pablo Iglesias is the secretary general of Podemos.

English version by Heather Galloway.
Comedian and TV presenter Dani Mateo on Monday outside a court in Madrid. Rodrigo Jimenez (EFE)

More information In defense of clowns: the Dani Mateo case

The Spanish comedian and television host Dani Mateo appeared in court on Monday as part of an investigation into a joke he made on the satirical news show El Intermedio, during which he blew his nose on the Spanish flag. The hearing began at 11.30am in the courts at Plaza de Castilla in the north of Madrid. The presenter exercised his right to not make a statement, meaning the session lasted barely 10 minutes.

I am very serious, he told reporters outside the courthouse, where he had arrived an hour before his hearing. We have all talked a lot about the limits of humor. But now we are entering into the area of justice. As a citizen of this country, Im worried because we are taking a clown to court for doing his job; and that worries me due to the image it creates of my country and my flag.

We are taking a clown to court for doing his job; and that worries me due to the image it creates of my country and my flag Dani Mateo

The court hearing was scheduled after a judge agreed to accept a complaint filed against Mateo by the organization Alternativa Sindical de Policia  a labor union representing members of the National Police force  on the basis that the comedian had offended Spain, its symbols, and thereby, the entire democratic society.

The judge is investigating whether Mateo committed the crime of offense or public affront to the symbols of Spain, which is covered by Article 543 of Spains Criminal Code and is punishable with a fine to be paid over a 12-month period; and for a hate crime, which is covered by Article 510 and is punishable by up to four years in jail.

The moment on El Intermedio when Dani Mateo blew his nose on the Spanish flag.

The incident took place on the popular show , aired by La Sexta on October 31. Mateo appeared in a sketch in which, he explained, he was going to read the only text that genuinely creates consensus in Spain: the patient guidelines in a packet of [cold remedy] Frenadol. As he read out the instructions for the pharmaceutical, Mateo pretended to sneeze and blew his nose on the Spanish flag. Christ, sorry! he joked. I didnt want to offend anyone. [] I didnt want to offend Spaniards, nor the king, nor the Chinese who sell these rags. Not rags, I didnt mean rags, he continued.

The joke sparked a wave of criticism and the comedian was soon a trending topic on social media. In response, Clinica Baviera opticians canceled an advertising campaign in which Mateo appeared, while the Civil Guard publicly criticized his actions. Not respecting the flag is not a joke, it is gratuitously offending those who feel proud of it. Mateo later denounced the fact that he had received threats and insults.

Mateo is being investigated for a hate crime, which is covered by Article 510 and is punishable by up to four years in jail

La Sexta decided to pull the sketch from its webpage the next day, after becoming aware that people had been upset and offended by the show. There was no political intention or editorial position behind it, it was just a joke, said the shows star and director, Jose Miguel Monzon, known as El Gran Wyoming. He added that if the joke didnt work, by creating social conflict instead of a laugh, then it was simply a gag that fell flat.

The Olympia Theater in Valencia also canceled a show in which Mateo was due to appear, claiming that it did so after receiving threats of a boycott and threatening messages. The show did go ahead in the province of Ciudad Real earlier this month, although a group of around 60 people with Spanish flags protested against Mateos presence outside the theater.

Mondays appointment with the justice system is not the first that the comedian has had to face due to his work on El Intermedio. He previously appeared before a judge over a joke he made about the Valley of the Fallen, the controversial mausoleum in the northwest of Madrid where the body of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco is buried. The case, in which he was facing charges of offending religious feelings and a hate crime, was eventually shelved.

Other actors and comedians in Spain are also awaiting decisions from the legal system. A court in Madrid is currently hearing a case against Spanish actor and activist Willy Toledo for offending religious feelings, after he made comments on Facebook insulting God and the Virgin Mary. Another judge in Santiago has accepted a case against the playwright Carlos Santiago, for alluding to the balls of Saint James the Apostle in the opening speech of the Carnival celebrations.

English version by Simon Hunter.
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 Resident Representative Office of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Ukraine has reserved their position in comments to Interfax-Ukraine on Monday over the possible introduction of martial law in the country until the official decree is published.

However, the office reminded the position about the absence of formal legal bans for continuation of cooperation announced by the resident representative of the IMF in Ukraine.

As for the possible introduction of martial law, the IMF does not have formal legal bans hindering the continuation of cooperation in these conditions, Jerome Vacher, who was Resident Representative of the IMF in Ukraine, said at the end of October 2014.

He then said that the IMF cooperated with some countries, on the territory of which military conflicts were seen.

As reported, on October 19, 2018, the International Monetary Fund and Ukraine had reached an agreement on a new 14-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) that is to replace the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) that was approved in March 2015 and is coming to an end in March 2019. Ukraine expects that the Executive Board of the IMF will approve the decision in December 2018.
Three Ukrainian military boats seized by Russia's special forces in the Kerch Strait, two Ukrainian troops wounded  Ukraine's Navy

Three military boats of the Ukrainian Navy have been captured by Russia's special forces in the Kerch Strait, two Ukrainian troops are wounded, the press service of the Ukrainian Navy reported on Facebook on Sunday evening.

"The vessels have been captured by special forces of the Russian Federation. There is also information about two wounded Ukrainian military sailors," it said.

The Navy's Command also reported that the small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats had come under enemy fire and lost their course. The 'Yany Kapu' tugboat was forced to stop.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko says he will hold consultations with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and world leaders on Monday in connection with Russian aggression in the Kerch Strait.

"We're appealing to our partner countries under the Budapest Memorandum, who committed themselves to ensure the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity and independence of our state. We're appealing to the countries of the European Union, including the participants in the Normandy format [Germany and France] ... so that we can coordinate our actions that would ensure the protection of Ukraine. And we're appealing to the entire pro-Ukrainian world coalition: we must join forces. I've placed a request for talks with the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, for tomorrow morning [November 26]  these talks will be held, this has already been confirmed. Tomorrow [November 26] there will be consultations with the leaders of other countries," Poroshenko said at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council in Kyiv in the early hours of Monday, November 26.
The North Atlantic Alliance urges Russia and Ukraine to show restraint in connection with the events in the Kerch Strait, NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu told Interfax.

"NATO is closely monitoring developments in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, and we are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. We call for restraint and de-escalation," Lungescu said.

"NATO fully supports Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters," she said.

"We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law," she said.

"At the Brussels Summit in July, NATO leaders expressed their support to Ukraine, and made clear that Russia's ongoing militarization of Crimea, the Black Sea and the Azov Sea pose further threats to Ukraine's independence and undermines the stability of the broader region, " Lungescu said.
The unlawful actions of Russia in the Sea of Azov were condemned in the Congress of the United States of America, the press service of the Ukrainian Embassy to the U.S. has reported.

"Russia's blatant violation of international law in the Sea of Azov and their provocative attack against Ukraine's sovereignty are totally unacceptable. Russia must immediately restore the freedom of navigation through the Kerch Strait to allow Ukrainian vessels to freely use Ukrainian ports," a statement by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus reads posted by Ukrainian diplomatic mission on Facebook.

"We cannot ignore Russia's aggression against Ukraine," the congressman added.
Ukrainian ships were shelled when they left the Kerch Strait accompanied by Russian ships after being denied permission to cross under the bridge to the Sea of Azov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko has said.

"During the scheduled voyage on November 24, 2018 we received a message about closing the passage zone in the Kerch Strait area. Confirmations through the international control center, which is located in Spain, did not have information about this zone closure," Muzhenko reported at a meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on Monday night.

Muzhenko said this was a planned transfer of Ukrainian ships, boats and ships from a permanent base station in Odesa to Mariupol.

"On November 25 at about 4:00 a.m., the senior officer made two requests to the control tower in Kerch regarding the possibility of passage and specifying the passage schedule in the Kerch bridge zone. No information was received. No reply was received. The ships continued their voyage. They later received a message directing them to the waiting area, where the order of passage under the arch of the Crimean bridge would be determined," Muzhenko said. He added that on Sunday at 11:00 a message was relayed about the closure of the passage and the relevant information appeared at the international control center.

Muzhenko said this information was not true, because two Russian anti-sabotage boats later passed under the arch of the Kerch bridge.

Russians said it was impossible for Ukrainian vessels to pass under the bridge because a cargo ship was stranded there, Muzhenko said, adding that Ukrainian Navy ships decided to return to Odesa after not receiving additional information by 5:00 p.m.

"As the ships left the waiting area and began their voyage back to their permanent base [in Odesa], somewhere at a distance of 13-14 miles from the coast of Crimea, about 40 kilometers southeast of Kerch, Russian Navy ships blocked the Ukrainian vessels and opened fire," Muzhenko said, adding contact with the Ukrainian vessels was subsequently lost.
Russian-backed militants have launched 16 attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in Donbas over the past day, wounding two Ukrainian servicemen, the press service of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported.

"The invaders opened fire on the positions of our troops 16 times. The enemy used armaments prohibited by the Minsk agreements nine times. Two soldiers of the JFO were wounded during the fighting," the JFO staff said on Facebook on Monday morning.

Illegal armed formations fired at Ukrainian positions in the areas of Troyitske, Luhanske, Travneve, Pisky, Krasnohorivka, Chermalyk, Pavlopil, and Lebedynske.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, four militants were killed and six wounded.
Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi has said that new sanctions against the Russian Federation are needed for aggressive actions against Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait.

"We urge EU&member states resolutely react to Russia's blatant use of military force in #AzovSea We need new sanctions agnst #Russia. We must stop Kremlin's war agnst Ukraine," he wrote in his Twitter microblog.

Tochytskyi also called on High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to raise the issue about the situation in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the EU on Monday, November 26.

The ambassador also said that Ukraine calls on the EU and member states that they should proceed with strong and harsh response to the use of military force by the Russian Federation in the Azov Sea.
The UN Security Council will convene an urgent meeting on the situation in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has said.

"An emergency Security Council meeting has been called for tomorrow at 11:00 am," Haley wrote on Twitter.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its strong protest to the Russian Federation in connection with the armed attack and capture of the Ukrainian navy ships Berdiansk, Nikopol and the tugboat Yany Kapu, as well as the wounding and capturing of members of their crews, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said.

"The attack on Ukrainian ships that was carried out during a sea crossing from the port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol, in accordance with the provisions of all effective multilateral and bilateral international treaties and navigation rules, is nothing but another act of armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as defined, in particular, in Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of UN General Assembly Resolution 29/3314 of 14 December 1974 on the definition of aggression. Russia has de facto expanded its military aggression against Ukraine to the sea," the ministry said.

The press service reports Ukraine's demands for immediate medical assistance to the wounded soldiers, ensuring their immediate safe return to the territory of the Ukrainian state, as well as returning the captured military equipment and compensation to the Ukrainian side for the damages.

"It is Kremlin's regime who bears full responsibility for further aggravation of the situation in the Azov and Black Seas and for undermining the peaceful settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict," it added.

Ukraine urges its allies and partners to take all necessary measures to deter the aggressor, i.e. by applying new and strengthening existing sanctions, as well as by providing Ukraine with military assistance to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders.
The European Parliament will discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions on Russia because of the aggression against Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait, European Parliament deputy Rebecca Harms has said.

A week ago, the European Parliament held discussions on the possible escalation of the situation in the Sea of Azov, in particular in the Kerch Strait, Harms said at a press conference at the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine agency on Monday.

She said that her colleagues and she discussed that in the event of a possible escalation, it is necessary to introduce new, tougher sanctions. Because of what happened yesterday and today, this discussion will take place again in a few days, she said.

Harms said that it is impossible to do nothing in response to violation of international maritime law.
Former acting head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine Myroslav Prodan, suspected of embezzlement, has said that he returned to Ukraine after treatment in Germany.

"I just returned to Kyiv... Thanks to the doctors of the Bavarian Bayreuth clinic and personally to the chief medical officer, Dr. Oliver Ponsel. The diagnosis of Ukrainian specialists, whom I have repeatedly visited, turned out to be partially erroneous," he wrote on his Facebook page.

According to Prodan, he underwent three surgeries requiring general anesthesia, but the German specialists managed to find the true cause of the chronic disease and prescribe the appropriate treatment, which continues, but not in a medical institution.

"Confirmation from the clinic regarding the disease was sent to the SAPO [the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office]," the former head of the State Fiscal Service said.

Prodan reiterated that the charges against him were fabricated and that he was not hiding from the investigators.

"Those who ordered the case are powerful smuggling clans that have grown together with high-ranking law enforcement officers, politicians... The case against me is their answer, but these people miscalculated. I returned, something they did not expect it. And sooner or later I will prove my case," the ex-acting head of the State Fiscal Service said.
Ukraine's Air Force has confirmed information about the flight of a U.S. unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle in the area of the Black Sea.

"They submit applications in accordance with all the norms of international law through Ukraerorukh. They also inform the Armed Forces that they will conduct a reconnaissance flight in the waters of both the Black Sea and over Ukrainian territory. That is, all this is legal under all the norms of legislation, international law, and this was known in advance," Ukrainian Air Forces Spokesman Dmytro Strutynsky told the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Monday.

Strutynsky said such flights take place periodically in the airspace of Ukraine in accordance with international standards.

Media reported earlier that on Monday morning at 7:50 a.m. Kyiv time a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft of the U.S. Air Force Boeing RC-135V with the call sign BASTE41 took off from Souda Bay airbase in Crete, Greece and headed toward the Black Sea.
Tension in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait area must not be escalated, Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said.

"Free passage of the Kerch Strait is guaranteed by the Agreement between the Russian Federation and Ukraine about the cooperation on the usage of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. It was signed in 2003 and came into force in 2004," Jagland said in a statement shared with Interfax by the Council of Europe on Monday.

"According to this Agreement, the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait are shared territorial waters. The Agreement must be respected. It is of utmost importance to avoid any further escalation in the region," he said.
The declaration of martial law does not mean that Ukraine will launch an offensive, according to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

"There is no way the declaration of martial law entails any offensive operations of Ukraine; all Ukraine will do is defend its territory, and protect and ensure security of its citizens," Poroshenko said at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) in the early hours of Monday.

"It will not change the situation on the contact line in Donbas and other areas, either," Poroshenko said.

The NSDC has backed the declaration of 60-day martial law, and Poroshenko urged the Verkhovna Rada "to pay attention to this decision and hold an extraordinary meeting."

Martial law "does not stand for the declaration of war or [...] the rejection of the political-diplomatic settlement process," he said.

"We intend to observe all diplomatic obligations, including the Minsk Agreements," Poroshenko said.

The decision does not imply immediate mobilization, either, however, relevant work will be done with the first-order reserves, he said.

"We must take all necessary measures as soon as possible," Poroshenko said.

According to him, the declaration of martial law will not restrict constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens.
The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Estonia, Denmark and Romania have condemned Russia's aggressive actions in the Kerch Strait against the Ukrainian ships.

"We strongly condemn Russia's aggressive actions and call on its authorities to respect international law. We urge both sides to show restraint in the current situation, which may pose a threat to the stability of European security," the Polish Foreign Ministry said in its statement on Monday.

"Dangerous incidents today in the Sea of #Azov due to aggressive Russian actions. Russia must restore free passage at the Kerch strait. Important to de-escalate the situation now," Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said on Twitter.

Also, the Estonian Foreign Minister called for the liberation of Ukrainian ships.

"Estonia condemns Russia's attack against Ukrainian vessels in Azov Sea and Kerch Strait and calls on immediate release of the ships. These actions violate both international law and Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, a conscious act to escalate tension," Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser was quoted as saying by the Estonia's Foreign Ministry.

Romania expressed concern over the events in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait: "Deeply concerned about the developments in Azov Sea and Kerch Strait. Aggression and violation of international law undermine the security of the whole region. Romania fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and its rights to use its territorial waters," the Romanian Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.
Play fair may be one of the earliest lessons of preschoolperhaps even before the ABCs and 123sand a new study suggests cementing that skill early can make for more just adults decades later .

A new study in the journal Nature Communications looks at students who participated in the landmark Abecedarian project, a large longitudinal study of pre-K programs in North Carolina in the 1970s. Participating students in the original study were randomly assigned to either a control group that recieved basic food, health care, and family social support, or an intervention group that received five years of intensive academic and social skills instruction. The current follow-up study, led by Yi Luo, a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Read Montagues Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, suggests that experience may prime them to take a more just approach to social situations.

In the study, 42 of the original 111 Abecedarian intervention students (now in their 40s), 36 of the original Abecedarian control group, and a new control group of 220 similar adults from the nearby city of Roanoke, Va., who had not received early-childhood education played the ultimatum game. Its a common test in economics and psychology in which one player is given $20 and decides how to split it with another player. The second player can accept or reject the deal; if it is rejected, neither player gets any money. In this study, the offers were randomly generated by a computer algorithm rather than by another player.

Over time, research has found that players often walk away from an unfair split like $16/$4 if it benefits the other person, but accept the split if it benefits themand players in the control group followed this trend. But former Abecedarian students were significantly more likely than others to reject offers that were unfair to either sideeven when that meant turning down a a big share of the money.

In fact, the more money offered to former Abecedarian students in an unfair exchange, the more likely they were to reject it. Since rejecting offers in the [game] is akin to punishing the proposer , this rejection pattern can be considered a strong social signal aimed at enforcing equality during exchanges, the researchers wrote. They suggested early childhood experiences may have led to a stronger belief in reciprocity, making the former Abecedarian students focus less on immediate benefits of an unfair split and more on the need to pay back a favorable split later.

The Abecedarian project is one of the most rigorous and longest-running studies of the immediate and longterm effects of high-quality preschools, and follow-up studies have found benefits for students in terms of their college-going and choosing tp parent at later ages , among other things. These new findings suggest that some of the earliest preschool lessons in sharing and social-emotional development may also have long-term benefits for students.

Photo Source: Getty

Chart Source: Nature Communications

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Want more research news? Get the latest studies and join the conversation.
Clause-wise discussion on Natl Medical Education Bill concludes

The sub-committee of Education and Health Committee under federal parliament on Monday concluded the clause-wise discussions on the National Medical Education Bill.
Putin was informed about Ukrainian ships when they appeared in neutral waters near Crimea - Peskov

Russian President Vladimir Putin began receiving information about the Ukrainian vessels near the Kerch Strait as soon as they appeared in neutral waters not far from Crimea, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"The president was informed about the movement of vessels immediately after they appeared in neutral waters opposite Crimea yesterday afternoon, and then he received information on a continual basis," Peskov told journalists on Monday.

Asked to comment on the future of the vessels and crews detained by the Russian border guard, Peskov said, "You and I know that a criminal case has been opened over the violation of the Russian Federation's border. I don't know the details."

Asked whether Putin himself made the decision to attack the Ukrainian vessels, Peskov replied, "This was not an attack, but actions necessary to prevent the violation of Russia's state border."

"Border guards have a scenario in this regard, which they follow in such situations," he said.
Tusk promises Poroshenko to try to consolidate EU position on support for Ukraine, prolongation of sanctions against Russia

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has discussed the consolidation of EU countries in support of Kyiv in a telephone conversation with European Council President Donald Tusk.

Poroshenko informed Tusk about the situation in the Kerch Strait, the Ukrainian presidential press service said on Monday.

"The European Council president said he will do everything possible to consolidate the positions of the countries of the European Union in support of Ukraine in its resistance to Russian aggression and on further sanctions policies," the press service said.
President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine has said martial law will be introduced in the entire territory of Ukraine starting from 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 28.

"According to the NSDC's decision as the president and the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, I have performed my constitutional duty and issued a decree a few hours ago to introduce martial law in the entire territory of Ukraine starting from 9 a.m. on November 28," he said in a televised address to the nation on November 26.

The president stressed that his decree does not provide for any measures leading to any restrictions of citizens' rights and freedoms or introduction of censorship.

"I hope politicians and the media will act responsibly and appropriately under the current circumstances and will not attack Ukraine with the theses borrowed from Russian propagandists," he said.

Poroshenko said his decree only includes those options that mostly relate to military measures, such as human, military, and financial resources, which, in case of the aggressor's invasion, will allow Ukraine to mobilize all of its resources quickly. He said he is not going to make use of full or limited mobilization; however, he said that such a possibility will continue to be open only if the Russian Federation decides to further escalate the situation.

"Martial law does not mean the declaration of war. It is introduced only to strengthen the defenses of Ukraine in view of the growing aggression from Russia. Martial law does not mean any refusal to discontinue the settlement of the situation in the east by political and diplomatic means. I have informed our Western partners about it today," the head of state said.

"Early in the morning today I held talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Poland's President Andrzej Duda. Poland is now representing Ukraine's stance and it has done arrangements for this issue to be considered by the UN Security Council. I have also held talks with Germany's Counsellor Angela Merkel and many others. The consultations will continue tonight," Poroshenko said.

The Ukrainian head of state said Ukraine's Western partners have started paying much more attention to the situation in the east of Ukraine in general and in the Sea of Azov in particular. "Today we are being heard much better than yesterday and the day before yesterday," he said.
The OSCE Special Representative to the Trilateral Contact Group, Martin Sajdik, and the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), Ertugrul Apakan, have expressed concern about the situation in the Kerch Strait and urged the sides to exercise restraint.

"Speaking following recent developments that have raised tensions between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, Sajdik and Apakan called for restraint and for the parties to refrain from aggravating the situation," the OSCE said in a statement on Monday.

They added that the situation should be resolved through political and diplomatic means, the statement said.
KYIV. Nov 26 (Interfax-Ukraine)  The European Parliament will discuss the possibility of imposing sanctions on Russia because of the aggression against Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait, European Parliament deputy Rebecca Harms has said.

A week ago, the European Parliament held discussions on the possible escalation of the situation in the Sea of Azov, in particular in the Kerch Strait, Harms said at a press conference at the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine agency on Monday.

She said that her colleagues and she discussed that in the event of a possible escalation, it is necessary to introduce new, tougher sanctions. Because of what happened yesterday and today, this discussion will take place again in a few days, she said.

Harms said that it is impossible to do nothing in response to violation of international maritime law.
For the 24th time since last March, the facilities diverting water from the city of Isfahan, central Iran to the neighboring Yazd Province, have been sabotaged on Sunday, November 25, the Islamic Republic's official news agency (IRNA) reported.

Meanwhile, videos circulated on social media show police and security forces attacking farmers allegedly responsible for the disruption.

Three small reservoirs in the village of Qarneh, east of Isfahan, have been destroyed and transferring water to Yazd disrupted, IRNA cited Yazd Water Company's PR director, Alireza Karbalaei Akrami as saying.

After bringing back peace, security and order to the area, Karbalaei Akrami noted, the damage and the ways to address it will be assessed.

His comment implicitly acknowledges that angry protests by farmers in the area have not yet subsided.

The voice on this video speaks of clashes with security forces and says "farmers need help".

Furthermore, videos on social media also show that clashes between security forces and enraged farmers were still going on later on Sunday.

Some other images show that farmers from Isfahan, assembled around the pipes, destroyed the facility, using loaders.

Based on information on social media, furious Isfahan farmers have given the authorities 48 hours to address their demands; otherwise, they will totally destroy the whole facility.

Transferring water from Isfahan to its arid neighboring province, Yazd, was vandalized and disrupted by unknown attackers on Friday November 16, but the facilities were repaired, and the operation went back to normal on Saturday, November 17.

Eastern parts of Isfahan province, with a population of 300,000 who are mainly farmers, has been hit by a severe water scarcity since the project for transferring water to Yazd has become operational.

The person addressing the crowd tells security forces to defend the rights of the farmers.

The farmers held several rounds of protests in March and April, demanding action by the government, arguing they have been unable to plant crops for a few seasons.

Struggling with hardship, they have repeatedly accused a number of former and current officials, including Energy Minister, Reza Ardakanian and pro-reform former President Mohammad Khatami, of discrimination against Isfahan in favor of their place of birth, Yazd.

Responding to the protests, the government has promised to tackle the farmers' demands, immediately after the project for Third Koohrang Tunnel becomes operational. That is a project to transfer more water from the mountainous region west and southwest of Isfahan to more arid eastern regions.

A large group of farmers protesting on Friday, wearing white shrouds, which symbolize martyrdom.

Meanwhile, thousands of the people in the province of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari have repeatedly held protests against transferring their provincial water to the neighboring province, Isfahan.

Furthermore, other water transfer projects across the country have led to enraged protest rallies, including in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan.

Provinces of Bushehr, Fars, and Kohgilouyeh and Boyer Ahmad have also been the scene of protest rallies against the government's "water mismanagement".

In the meantime, the Islamic Republic's minister of Interior, Abdor-Reza Rahmani Fazli has warned that Iran's profile will be totally changed in five years if the current drought continued.

"If the drought continues, Iran will be facing a great disaster", Rahmani Fazli has ominously predicted.

Echoing Rahmani Fazli's comments, the minister of Energy, Reza Ardakanian has also admitted that Iran is struggling with the "monster" of water shortage.

"334 cities with 35 million people across Iran are currently struggling with water stress, said Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian April 21 in a speech to top members of President Hassan Rouhanis administration.

Former U.N. Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Iran Gary Lewis has also warned, The water shortage is currently Irans most important humanitarian challenge."
Hundreds of demonstrators protesting against the detention of a Shi'ite Hazara militia commander have clashed with police in the Afghan capital.

Reports said that at least one officer was wounded in the clashes, which saw protesters throwing stones at police. Officers reportedly fired into the air to disperse the crowd.

A number of police checkpoints were also said to have been torched.

The demonstration erupted in the Dasht-e Barchi district, a predominately Hazara neighborhood in Kabul, after security forces in the city arrested Alipoor.

It was not immediately clear what the man, who leads a Shiite militia in central Afghanistan, is accused of.

With reporting by AP, Khaama Press, and TOLOnews
DUBAI, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways will add more flights to Iran from January, the state-owned Gulf airline announced on Monday just weeks after the United States re-imposed sanctions aimed at crippling Tehran's economy.

President Donald Trump has threatened to bar companies that continue to do business with Iran from the U.S. market.

Qatar Airways will add two weekly flights to its existing Doha-Tehran route and add three weekly flights on its Shiraz service in January. It will also launch two weekly flights to Isfahan in February.

These latest launches are further evidence of Qatar Airways commitment to Iran, as well as the expansion of our network in this thriving market ...," Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said in a statement.

European carriers Air France and British Airways halted flights to Iran this year. Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways has also stopped flying to Iran, while Dubai's Emirates and flydubai have consolidated some routes as part of a partnership led by their shared state owner.

Washington announced on Nov. 5 a series of sanctions targeting Iran's banks, oil and shipping sectors, national airline and 200 individuals after Trump pulled the United States out of an international nuclear deal with Tehran.

The United Arab Emirates, a U.S. partner in the Gulf region that staunchly opposes Iranian foreign policy and swiftly backed Washington's decision, has said it is fully complying with the sanctions.

The sanctions are aimed at forcing Iran to further curb its nuclear work, to suspend its ballistic missile program and its influence in the Middle East.

Qatar has forged closer economic ties with Iran since June 2017 when neighbors Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut political and economic ties with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism and cozying up to Tehran. Qatar denies the charges.

Egypt and Bahrain also cut ties with Qatar.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Adrian Croft)
LONDON/WASHINGTON, Nov 26 (Reuters)

With offers from four American universities, Mani Rezaei Rad gave up his well-paid job with a Siemens affiliate company in Tehran last year and proposed to his girlfriend so they could be together while he studied in the United States.

Getting a U.S. student visa normally takes a few months, but 16 months later, he was still waiting. The uncertainty and lack of work took its toll on the relationship and the couple split.

"I was sliding into depression. I felt hollow and useless," said Rezaei Rad, who had won places to study for a post-graduate degree in electrical engineering. Eventually he gave up his American dream and got a place at a European university instead.

Thousands of Iranians study in the United States each year, one of the few gates that has been kept open since the two countries cut diplomatic ties in 1980 after Iran's Islamic Revolution the year before.

Iranian students are exempt from a travel ban initially introduced by President Donald Trump in 2017, which largely bars citizens of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as a small number of Venezuelans.

Data from the Institute of International Education (IIE), which tracks foreign students in the United States, shows that the number of Iranians studying in the country is the highest in decades, at 12,800. But there are signs it is on the wane.

State Department data showed that 355 fewer F1 student visas were granted to Iranians from March-October than the same period last year, a 23 percent drop; it compares with a five percent drop for foreign students overall, a more normal fluctuation.

A wider total incorporating visas for Iranian students and their dependents has fallen for the past three school years. Meanwhile, several European universities said the number of Iranians studying there had gone up.

Reuters has found more than two dozen cases where Iranian U.S. student visa applications were subject to delays. Asked about such delays, a State Department official said security was paramount.

IRANIANS, EVERY ONE

Trump withdrew this year from an international deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme and re-imposed sanctions, signalling the end of a wary detente between Washington and Tehran and a new phase of confrontation.

Visa ban exemptions, such as the one covering Iranian students, were cited by the Trump administration in the Supreme Court this year in countering allegations the policy constituted a "Muslim ban" akin to what Trump had called for during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Lawyers for the government argued in one brief to the Supreme Court that Trumps policy "does not impose blanket bans but allows entry of some classes of nationals from the covered countries." The Supreme Court, in a 5 to 4 split, allowed the ban to go forward in June.

The State Department does not publish visa application numbers, making it hard to assess how much of the drop in the number of study visas granted to Iranians is due to rejections or delays and how much is because fewer of them are applying.

American universities enjoy an elite reputation in Iran and welcome its students, many of whom take courses in engineering and go on to fill skills shortages in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Back in Iran, they counterbalance powerful conservative religious forces and provide a bridge to the West for future rapprochement. In the lead-up to the 2015 international nuclear deal, six out of 25 members of President Hassan Rouhani's 2014 cabinet held U.S. degrees.

Twelve Iranians with places at U.S. universities told Reuters their visa applications were under administrative processing for extended periods, a term that generally refers to extensive background checks.

Separately, around 15 Iranians hoping to study at Oklahoma State University this fall had visa delays, a university official said.

Regina Henry, the immigration coordinator at OSUs international students office, said she wrote letters giving them permission to arrive two weeks late. But that window was not enough for any of the 15. Typically, Henry has to write a maximum of five such letters each semester.

"This is the first time Ive ever had to write so many and they were all Iranians, every one of them," she said.

Some department heads at the university were becoming more hesitant to grant coveted graduate assistant positions to Iranian applicants, she said, even if they were their first choice, given the visa trouble they face.

A State Department official at the Bureau of Consular Affairs, when asked about the delays, said on condition of anonymity that national security was the top priority when adjudicating visa applications.

"We are constantly working to find mechanisms to improve our screening processes and to support legitimate travel and immigration to the United States while protecting U.S. citizens, the official said.

TIPPING POINT?

Historical data, which tracks the wider F category of visas granted to students and their dependents, shows that issuance of such visas to Iranians began falling in the year to end-Sept 2015 after rising several years in a row. After a one percent drop that year, it fell by 17 percent and 16 percent respectively the two following years.

Washington has placed restrictions on Iranian students for years: a 2012 law signed by former U.S. President Barack Obama barred granting visas to Iranians to study fields that would prepare them for working in Irans energy sector, nuclear science, or nuclear engineering.

Yet the school year after that saw a 17 percent jump in the number of Iranian students in the United States, IIE data show.

European signatories of the nuclear deal are still committed to the accord and are trying to create a financial mechanism to protect trade with Tehran against U.S. penalties.

Security concerns are less of a problem for Iranians in Europe. After he gave up on a U.S. visa, Rezaei Rad got one from Spain in just four weeks to study at a university in Barcelona.

Dutch universities admitted 82 more Iranian students in 2017, data from educational non-profit group Nuffic showed, while Germany's Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich said it had 20 more Iranians enrolled this year.

Uppsala University in Sweden said 135 more Iranians applied in 2018 compared with 2016, and Humboldt University of Berlin and Eberhard Karls University of Tubinge in Germany also said numbers had risen.

Some people are still holding out for a U.S. place. Tehran resident Abbas was admitted to an American university and applied for a U.S. visa last year, but was still waiting when this year's enrolment came and went.

"I have lost two years of study so far," the 31-year-old said by telephone, withholding his full name for fear his comments might affect his application.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Yeganeh Torbati, additional reporting Michael Holden in London; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

Bakcell, the First Mobile Operator and the Fastest Mobile Internet Provider of Azerbaijan has taken an active part in at the job fair, held within the frames of the Enhancing Employability Skills of People with Disabilities project.

This programme is part of BP and its co-venturers social investment portfolio and is being implemented by the British Council Azerbaijan with the support of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. The project aims to increase employability prospects and the skills of people with disabilities living in Baku, Azerbaijan. This is achieved by enhancing the English language, computer and soft skills of the selected project participants. The main target is to make young people with disabilities more employable equipping them with skills necessary for the world of work.

During the event Bakcell representatives have provided extensive information about the job openings and internship opportunities at the companys sales and marketing departments, and held job interviews with the potential candidates.

Well-known for its large-scale corporate social responsibility activities, Bakcell keeps the education and professional development of Azerbaijani youth in a constant spotlight, and contributes largely to increasing the employment rate among the young specialists and people from economically disadvantaged families and other sensitive groups of population. As a part of this activity, last year, Bakcell together with the British Embassy in Azerbaijan have supported a conference on enhancing employability prospects for people with disabilities, organized by the British Council. The event has drawn the attention of business companies to the issue of employment of people with disabilities and relevant steps that shall be made towards raising awareness on the matter as well as increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Azerbaijan.

It should be also noted that earlier this year Bakcell and the Center for Social and Social-Psychological Studies (CSPS) have announced the launch of a new social project. This project focused on creation of the "Web-portal for developing Social Entrepreneurship skills among vulnerable groups of population. The main goal of the project is to create opportunities for socially disadvantaged individuals with entrepreneurial and practical skills to find a job or offer their services and products by creating and promoting their profiles at a website that will eventually help improve their economic conditions and integrate to society. Thus, http://www.destekolaq.az/ website created within the frames of this project has also been presented at the job fair. Project representatives have provided the participants of the fair with information about the newly created website.

Bakcell will continue its successful activities, aimed at supporting younger generation in their education and career building, thus contributing to bright future of Azerbaijani youth.

Bakcell, the First Mobile Operator and Leading Mobile Internet Provider of Azerbaijan, offers a wide range of products and Services to users of modern mobile communications Services. The company provides its customers with the best-in-class 4G mobile internet.

The 4G services of Bakcell are already available in Baku and Absheron peninsula, as well as central parts of more than 40 regions of Azerbaijan.

With more than 7000 base stations, Bakcell network covers 99% of the population and 93% of the land area of the country (except for the occupied territories). In 2017, Bakcell network has been recognized as the Best in Test in Azerbaijan by P3 Communications, being one of the most trusted independent authorities in mobile benchmarking. Bakcell has also been recognized as the Fastest Mobile Network in Azerbaijan. This award, presented by world-famous Ookla company, recognized Bakcells commitment to delivering fastest speeds to customers all across Azerbaijan.

For more information about Bakcell products and services, please visit www.bakcell.com or call 555. For press releases please see www.bakcell.com/az/news (or www.bakcell.com/en/news for press releases in English).

If you are not a Bakcell subscriber, but wish to find out about Bakcell and its products and services, please call 012 498 89 89.
Congress proposes more central members in its draft statute

A committee formed to suggest amendments to the Nepali Congress statuehas recommended increasing the number of central committee members from 85 to 141.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

Armenian prisoner of war, soldier Arsen Baghdasaryan, has sent an appeal to acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for releasing prisoners of war and hostages upon "all to all" principle, the Azerbaijani State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People said in a message on Nov. 26.

Baghdasaryan was detained in Azerbaijans Aghdam district while trying to make a provocation on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, and was sentenced by Ganja Heinous Crimes Court to 15 years in prison.

Baghdasaryan asked the Azerbaijani State Commission for Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People to make his appeal public.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
Details added (first version posted on 12:22)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received renowned US religious figures - Rabbi Abraham Cooper and representative of the evangelical community Johnnie Moore.

Abraham Cooper noted that during his visits to Azerbaijan back in the Soviet era he saw the conditions created by national leader Heydar Aliyev for religious communities to freely carry out their activities.

Cooper hailed the fact that excellent conditions were ensured in Azerbaijan for peaceful and free activities of all representatives of religious communities, including the Jewish community, under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.

Ilham Aliyev pointed out that all nationalities and religious communities have historically enjoyed peaceful coexistence in Azerbaijan.

He noted that these traditions have centuries-old history, adding that multiculturalism has been one of the key priorities of the state policy and national and religious tolerance have been highly ensured in the country during the years of independence.

The head of state said that all this reflects the policy pursued by the state and the will of the people. Emphasizing that representatives of different nationalities and religions live in a friendly environment as one family in Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev noted that they contribute to the overall development of the country.

The head of state expressed hope that the visit of Rabbi Abraham Cooper and representative of the evangelical community Johnnie Moore to Azerbaijan will contribute to the strengthening of cooperation and mutual understanding.

The successful development of Azerbaijan-US bilateral relations in a variety of areas was hailed during the meeting.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

Chairman of the Russian Union of Journalists Vladimir Solovyov has shared his impressions of the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Azerbaijan on November 20.

Solovyov said he witnessed how well President Aliyev understands what is happening in the media of Russia and Azerbaijan.

He said that during the conversation, President Aliyev mentioned the names of many journalists from different countries, including Russia.

I felt that he is well informed about the news daily, Solovyov said. It is noteworthy that he watches and reads western news in English, ours in Russian, Turkish in Turkish. He has no problems as he knows these languages very well.

Solovyov also stressed similar features in the characters of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia.

They have incredible political views, he said. Other presidents are unlikely to be at such a level.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

A military junta that is on the path of aggression will bring only misfortunes to its people, and Armenia can be cited as an example, said Azerbaijani Presidents Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov.

Hasanov made the remarks on Nov. 26 at an official opening ceremony of the 9th Bosphorus Summit in Istanbul, held under the motto "Sustaining Peace and Development for All".

Hasanov expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey for organizing such an event that is of great international importance.

Speaking about the current bitter realities, Hasanov stressed that some countries have chosen the path of occupation, aggression and arming themselves, rather than achieving sustainable development in conditions of cooperation.

"Such an anti-human policy today runs through the geopolitical axis of the whole world  beginning from the borders of Central and North America to the borders of Syria and Turkey, Myanmar and Bangladesh, he said. This tragedy exists in the South Caucasus for about 30 years.

The aggressive policy pursued by neighboring Armenia in the first years of independence of Azerbaijan, territorial claims to Azerbaijan without any historical and legal right led to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories, and as a result, over one million Azerbaijani citizens became refugees and internally displaced people, Hasanov said.

An OSCE assessment mission confirmed that the ancient Azerbaijani religious and historical monuments were destroyed on these lands, he said. More than 10 countries and numerous international organizations have recognized the Khojaly Genocide committed against Azerbaijanis."

Hasanov stressed that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict threatens not only the fragile peace in the South Caucasus, but also the security of Europe and the whole world.

This is due to non-recognition of international law, territorial integrity of other countries and peaceful appeals of religions, delusion of grandeur, claims to possess territories from sea to sea, the use of any falsification and committing crimes against humanity for the sake of fulfilling this claim, he said.

"Despite aggression, today thanks to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs policy, Azerbaijan has been able to ensure not only its dynamic development, but has become a country playing a special role in the economic and cultural integration of Europe and the Middle East, ensuring Europes energy security," Hasanov said.

The global projects being implemented by Azerbaijan together with its partners are not just communication projects and energy security projects - they are making great contribution to security, connect the continents and renew geo-economic map of the world," he added.

"As President Aliyev said, all member states, especially neighboring countries, benefit from the projects initiated by Azerbaijan, Hasanov said. It is enough to mention the benefit the recently commissioned STAR refinery will bring.

However, Armenias criminal regime as a medieval usurper willing to enrich itself in an easier way - by occupying another countrys lands - is now isolated from all the regional initiatives, he said. A military junta that is on the path of aggression may bring only misfortune to its people, rather than prosperity, and Armenia can be cited as an example.

Azerbaijan is remarkable for its activity in peacekeeping operations, Hasanov said. The country is an active participant in the cooperation programs of NATO, EU, OSCE and CIS.

"Azerbaijan is developing cooperation with all its neighbors in bilateral and multilateral cooperation, except for aggressive Armenia, he said. Of course, if there was no military aggression against our territorial integrity and if our countrys financial and human resources were not directed at eliminating the occupation, then the development of Azerbaijan and the region would be at another level."

"We want to see such a region, such a world where people with the same or close cultures are not forced to migrate, so that they stay in their historical lands, live and develop," he said. Everyone must have the courage to say no to the aggressor, support all initiatives put forward in this direction and unite efforts.

In this regard, over the past nine years, the Bosphorus Summit has been contributing to sustainable development for all, seeking peace, Hasanov added. Turkey has done tremendous work in settlement of conflicts and in restoration of sustainable peace in the region.

The policy of Turkey, which has become an important geopolitical actor in the world under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, its peacekeeping operations, tense diplomatic struggle are a great activity aimed at fair settlement of regional conflicts, as well as fair settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order appointing Hikmet Hajiyev as head of the foreign policy department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration.

The order comes into force from the date of its signing.
Details added (first version posted on 17:56)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

A military junta that is on the path of aggression will bring only misfortunes to its people, and Armenia can be cited as an example, said Azerbaijani Presidents Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov.

Hasanov made the remarks on Nov. 26 at an official opening ceremony of the 9th Bosphorus Summit in Istanbul, held under the motto "Sustaining Peace and Development for All".

Hasanov expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey for organizing such an event that is of great international importance.

Speaking about the current bitter realities, Hasanov stressed that some countries have chosen the path of occupation, aggression and arming themselves, rather than the path of achieving sustainable development in conditions of cooperation.

"Such an anti-human policy today runs through the geopolitical axis of the whole world  beginning from the borders of Central and North America to the borders of Syria and Turkey, Myanmar and Bangladesh, he said. This tragedy exists in the South Caucasus for about 30 years.

The aggressive policy being pursued by neighboring Armenia in the first years of independence of Azerbaijan, territorial claims to Azerbaijan without any historical and legal right led to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories and as a result, over one million Azerbaijani citizens became refugees and internally displaced people, Hasanov said.

An OSCE assessment mission confirmed that the ancient Azerbaijani religious and historical monuments were destroyed on these lands, he said. More than 10 countries and numerous international organizations have recognized the Khojaly genocide committed against Azerbaijanis."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Matanat Nasibova - Trend:

The permission for the "head" of the illegal separatist regime, established in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, to enter the Russian Federation is contrary to Russia's mediation as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Fikrat Sadikhov, a well-known Azerbaijani political analyst, former diplomat, told Trend Nov. 26.

Armenian media had earlier spread information that the "head" of the separatist regime, Bako Sahakyan arrived in the Russian Federation.

Sadikhov noted that this fact negatively affects the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"At the same time, this contradicts the legal framework of the bilateral relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. As we know, there is a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to which the parties pledged not to support the separatist movements, as well as to stop the activities of individuals against the state sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the other party. Russia, as a supporter of the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, should stop Bako Sahakyan's dubious visits to its territory," Sadikhov said.

Sadikhov said Sahakyan's visits to any of the countries that have pledged to carry out the mediation mission are unacceptable.

"Sahakyan's illegal visits to each of the countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group are directed against the conflict's settlement since the visits violate the norms and principles of international law and at the same time question the mediation efforts of the countries involved in the negotiations," Sadikhov added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova
Details added (first version posted on 17:56)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

A military junta that is on the path of aggression will bring only misfortunes to its people, and Armenia can be cited as an example, said Azerbaijani Presidents Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov.

Hasanov made the remarks on Nov. 26 at an official opening ceremony of the 9th Bosphorus Summit in Istanbul, held under the motto "Sustaining Peace and Development for All".

Hasanov expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey for organizing such an event that is of great international importance.

Speaking about the current bitter realities, Hasanov stressed that some countries have chosen the path of occupation, aggression and arming themselves, rather than achieving sustainable development in conditions of cooperation.

"Such an anti-human policy today runs through the geopolitical axis of the whole world  beginning from the borders of Central and North America to the borders of Syria and Turkey, Myanmar and Bangladesh, he said. This tragedy exists in the South Caucasus for about 30 years.

The aggressive policy pursued by neighboring Armenia in the first years of independence of Azerbaijan, territorial claims to Azerbaijan without any historical and legal right led to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories, and as a result, over one million Azerbaijani citizens became refugees and internally displaced people, Hasanov said.

An OSCE assessment mission confirmed that the ancient Azerbaijani religious and historical monuments were destroyed on these lands, he said. More than 10 countries and numerous international organizations have recognized the Khojaly Genocide committed against Azerbaijanis."

Hasanov stressed that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict threatens not only the shaky peace in the South Caucasus, but also the security of Europe and the whole world.

This is due to non-recognition of international law, territorial integrity of other countries and peaceful appeals of religions, delusion of grandeur, claims to possess territories from sea to sea, the use of any falsification and committing crimes against humanity for the sake of fulfilling this claim, he said.

"Despite aggression, today thanks to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs policy, Azerbaijan has been able to ensure not only its dynamic development, but has become a country playing a special role in the economic and cultural integration of Europe and the Middle East, ensuring Europes energy security," Hasanov said.

The global projects being implemented by Azerbaijan together with its partners are not just communication projects and energy security projects - they are making great contribution to security, connect the continents and renew geo-economic map of the world," he added.

"As President Aliyev said, all member states, especially neighboring countries, benefit from the projects initiated by Azerbaijan, Hasanov said. It is enough to mention the benefit the recently commissioned STAR refinery will bring.

However, Armenias criminal regime as a medieval usurper willing to enrich itself in an easier way - by occupying other countrys lands - is now isolated from all the regional initiatives, he said. A military junta that is on the path of aggression may bring only misfortune to its people, rather than prosperity, and Armenia can be cited as an example.

Azerbaijan is remarkable for its activity in peacekeeping operations in the region, he said. The country is an active participant in the cooperation programs of NATO, EU, OSCE and CIS.

"Azerbaijan is developing cooperation with all its neighbors in bilateral and multilateral cooperation, except for aggressive Armenia, he said. Of course, if there was no military aggression against our territorial integrity and if our countrys financial, human resources were not directed at eliminating occupation, then the development of Azerbaijan and the region would be at another level."
Details added (first version posted on 17:56)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

Trend:

A military junta that is on the path of aggression will bring only misfortunes to its people, and Armenia can be cited as an example, said Azerbaijani Presidents Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov.

Hasanov made the remarks on Nov. 26 at an official opening ceremony of the 9th Bosphorus Summit in Istanbul, held under the motto "Sustaining Peace and Development for All".

Hasanov expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkey for organizing such an event that is of great international importance.

Speaking about the current bitter realities, Hasanov stressed that some countries have chosen the path of occupation, aggression and arming themselves, rather than achieving sustainable development in conditions of cooperation.

"Such an anti-human policy today runs through the geopolitical axis of the whole world  beginning from the borders of Central and North America to the borders of Syria and Turkey, Myanmar and Bangladesh, he said. This tragedy exists in the South Caucasus for about 30 years.

The aggressive policy pursued by neighboring Armenia in the first years of independence of Azerbaijan, territorial claims to Azerbaijan without any historical and legal right led to the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories, and as a result, over one million Azerbaijani citizens became refugees and internally displaced people, Hasanov said.

An OSCE assessment mission confirmed that the ancient Azerbaijani religious and historical monuments were destroyed on these lands, he said. More than 10 countries and numerous international organizations have recognized the Khojaly Genocide committed against Azerbaijanis."

Hasanov stressed that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict threatens not only the fragile peace in the South Caucasus, but also the security of Europe and the whole world.

This is due to non-recognition of international law, territorial integrity of other countries and peaceful appeals of religions, delusion of grandeur, claims to possess territories from sea to sea, the use of any falsification and committing crimes against humanity for the sake of fulfilling this claim, he said.

"Despite aggression, today thanks to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs policy, Azerbaijan has been able to ensure not only its dynamic development, but has become a country playing a special role in the economic and cultural integration of Europe and the Middle East, ensuring Europes energy security," Hasanov said.

The global projects being implemented by Azerbaijan together with its partners are not just communication projects and energy security projects - they are making great contribution to security, connect the continents and renew geo-economic map of the world," he added.

"As President Aliyev said, all member states, especially neighboring countries, benefit from the projects initiated by Azerbaijan, Hasanov said. It is enough to mention the benefit the recently commissioned STAR refinery will bring.

However, Armenias criminal regime as a medieval usurper willing to enrich itself in an easier way - by occupying another countrys lands - is now isolated from all the regional initiatives, he said. A military junta that is on the path of aggression may bring only misfortune to its people, rather than prosperity, and Armenia can be cited as an example.

Azerbaijan is remarkable for its activity in peacekeeping operations, Hasanov said. The country is an active participant in the cooperation programs of NATO, EU, OSCE and CIS.

"Azerbaijan is developing cooperation with all its neighbors in bilateral and multilateral cooperation, except for aggressive Armenia, he said. Of course, if there was no military aggression against our territorial integrity and if our countrys financial and human resources were not directed at eliminating the occupation, then the development of Azerbaijan and the region would be at another level."

"We want to see such a region, such a world where people with the same or close cultures are not forced to migrate, so that they stay in their historical lands, live and develop," he said. Everyone must have the courage to say no to the aggressor, support all initiatives put forward in this direction and unite efforts.

In this regard, over the past nine years, the Bosphorus Summit has been contributing to sustainable development for all, seeking peace, Hasanov added. Turkey has done tremendous work in settlement of conflicts and in restoration of sustainable peace in the region.

The policy of Turkey, which has become an important geopolitical actor in the world under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, its peacekeeping operations, tense diplomatic struggle are a great activity aimed at fair settlement of regional conflicts, as well as fair settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Taleh Mursagulov  Trend:

Lithuania is interested in Azerbaijans active participation in EU's 20 Deliverables for 2020, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Darius Skusevicius said in an interview with Trend and Azernews.

He said that the implementation of the plan would bring tangible benefits to Azerbaijans citizens and create further incentives for cooperation with Lithuania.

"Cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan is yet another important aspect of our political dialogue," Skusevicius said. "We are pleased that the EU and Azerbaijan have recently agreed on Partnership Priorities. We also look forward to a successful conclusion of the negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement that will open new avenues for engagement."

"Lithuanias relations with Azerbaijan have sustained history - this year our countries celebrated the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the democratic state," he said. "In 2019 we will also mark 100 years since we have first established diplomatic relations - in mid-war period there was a consular section of the Republic of Lithuania in Baku."

"Lithuania and Azerbaijan are engaged in a close political dialogue, we share mutual respect and understanding," Skusevicius said.

"We have intergovernmental commission as well as regular exchange of visits and consultations at different levels, including between ministers of foreign affairs, where we discuss a wide range of issues of common interest," he said.

"Parliaments are also well involved in political dialog between our countries," Skusevicius said. "The group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan in Lithuanian Seimas is one of the biggest and consists of members of different factions."

Lithuania anticipates that with the conclusion of the negotiations on the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan more itineraries emerge and we will witness an increase in the number of Lithuanian tourists visiting Azerbaijan and vice versa," he said.

According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Lithuania amounted to $19.12 million in January-October 2018. At the same time, $1.5 million accounted for the export of Azerbaijani products. The trade turnover between the countries increased by 39 percent compared to the same period of 2017.

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Dr KC issues ultimatum to govt; warns of resorting to 16th hunger strike

Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC has warned of staging another round of hunger strike from December 17 if the government failed to implement the agreements signed with him.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Rashid Shirinov  Trend:

The changing dynamics in global energy markets are likely to put pressure on fossil fuel exporters such as Kazakhstan, reads a report by EBRD titled "The fiscal implications for Kazakhstan of worldwide transition to a greener global economy".

The report notes that these dynamics include the development of alternative energy sources, the falling costs of cleaner energy technologies, and countries commitments to achieving global climate goals.

"This will mean that export revenues may fall  due both to lower exports and lower oil prices  by up to 40 percent in the next 20 years, leading to unsustainable levels of public debt in Kazakhstan," EBRD said.

The Bank added that as oil is a major source of government revenue, this may in turn put pressure on the state budget. Therefore, good risk management on the fiscal side will be an important priority for fossil fuel-exporting countries.

The report looks at three possible scenarios: business as usual, a partial green transition and a full transition to a low-carbon economy across the globe.

"The first two scenarios would mean that the world falls far short of the goal to contain global warming to 2C; however, this may also mean that oil demand remains buoyant in global markets, in which case Kazakhstans fiscal position would not be under threat," reads the report.

However, if there is a worldwide shift to a greener economy, and oil prices settle at about $65, then over the course of the next decade this could lead to depletion of the countrys national savings from oil.

"The most significant fiscal impacts are projected to occur in the late 2020s, suggesting that there is a window of opportunity of around a decade in which Kazakhstan could take action to address these impacts," EBRD noted.

EBRD is a leading investor in sustainable energy and green economic transition in its regions, with over 26 billion euro committed to projects in this area since 2006. The green economy is one of the Banks priorities in Kazakhstan.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @ShirinovRashid
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Rashid Shirinov  Trend:

Greek company Soldatos has launched an asphalt plant in Kazakhstans Turkistan region, Turkistan Invest company said in a statement.

Investments in the plant construction project amounted to 300 million tenge.

"The enterprise is located on 3 hectares of land in the industrial zone of Turkistan region. The capacity of the plant is 20,000 tons per year," reads the message.

Thanks to the launch of the enterprise, 30 people were provided with permanent jobs. The company plans to sell its products within Kazakhstan.

Soldatos company was founded in 2017. The main activity of the enterprise is production of asphalt concrete.

Turkistan Invest is the regional office of the Kazakh Invest national company. The main activity of the company is attracting investments and support of investment projects.

Official exchange rate on Nov. 23 is 367.27 KZT / USD.

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Fikret Dolukhanov  Trend:

The European Union may grant Uzbekistan right to export over 6,200 types of goods to the European market duty free, Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan said referring to the visit of the governmental delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov to Brussels.

The Uzbek delegation took part in the 14th meeting of the Uzbekistan-EU Cooperation Council and the next EU-Central Asia inter-regional meeting, held bilateral talks with a number of representatives of the organization.

The EU confirmed its readiness to assist Uzbekistan in getting unilateral tariff benefits within the framework of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus, which will facilitate the duty-free export of over 6,200 types of Uzbek goods to the EU market, the Foreign Ministry said.

During the visit, the Uzbek delegation also signed agreements on EU funding for joint projects Developing the livestock sector, Improving the quality of public services provided by the justice authorities in the regions of the republic with a total budget of 25 million euros.

Representatives of the Central Asian countries and the EU agreed to develop and adopt by mid-2019 an updated EU Strategy for Central Asia, which will become the new road map for deepening interregional cooperation. The European side emphasized that the document will focus more on the priority areas of development of the Central Asian states.

In the first nine months of 2018, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the EU countries increased by 17 percent and amounted to $2.23 billion.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Fikret Dolukhanov  Trend:

The European Investment Bank (EIB) may open a regional office in Uzbekistan, Uzbek media reported referring to a meeting of Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the State Investment Committee of Uzbekistan Sukhrob Kholmuradov with EIB Vice-President Vazil Hudak.

During the negotiations, the EIB proposed to open a regional office of the bank in Uzbekistan.

Hudak noted that the EIB is ready to cooperate with Uzbekistan in other areas, including environmental protection, support for small and medium-sized businesses and the social sector.

He reminded that the parties are currently working on two projects  to improve energy efficiency and water supply.

The energy efficiency project aims to ensure that both private and state-owned companies can take measures to reduce electricity costs as part of their production, their activities, as well as in public institutions. The EIB will allocate 100 million euros for the project. The project will be implemented jointly with the World Bank.

The project to improve water supply, where the partner is the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of Uzbekistan, covers introduction of new technologies in water management and water supply. The EIB will allocate 100 million euros for this project.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov
Tehran, Iran, Nov.26

Trend:

The official import of clothes into Iran last year amounted to $59 million, which is a small part of foreign clothes in the local market, member of the board of directors of Iran Textile Exports and Manufacturers Association Majid Nami told reporters in Tehran.

"We have nearly $3 billion worth of smuggled clothes," he said. "Easy and high profits make smuggling of clothes economically beneficial."

He said currently there are some 300,000 people working in Iran's clothing industry, and the figure has the potential to increase to 1 million.

"But now our concern is the loss of 200,000 jobs," said Nami.

"Another problem is the flow of liquidity and circulating capital. Nothing can be done overnight by a producer, due to the rise in the price of currency and the fall in the value of the national currency, he added.

Referring to the currency supply problem, Eftekhari said that now, for one month, no currency has been given to anybody in the clothing industry. "Before that, we were importing major raw materials from China through the Kunlun bank of China, but with the imposition of sanctions, China was the first country which announced that they will not provide us with textile raw materials anymore."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkey is starting new oil and gas exploration in the Black Sea, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey told Trend Nov. 26.

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Donmez will take part in a ceremony on this occasion on Nov. 26.

Donmez said earlier that oil and gas exploration will begin in Turkeys Mersin province.

On October 30, Turkey embarked on oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean Sea.

A new seismic survey vessel entitled as Fatih, was set afloat in order to begin oil and gas exploration.

The law permitting oil exploration in forests and national parks came into force in Turkey in April 2014. The ministry said that a total of 56 wells have been drilled as part of exploration of new oil and gas fields in Turkey since 2014, of which 54 are onshore, and two are offshore.

In 2017, 1863 exploration projects were carried out in Turkey to search for new oil and gas fields.

Turkey also plans to establish a new company for the exploration of oil and gas abroad.

The new company is expected to be engaged in oil and gas exploration in Central Asia and Africa.

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Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.26

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Construction of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria, is an irreversible process, said Bulgarias Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova.

She made the remarks during the round table entitled "Risks and Prospects for the Energy Security of Southeast Europe, said a message from Bulgarian Energy Ministry.

The construction of IGB is an irreversible process, since all the key public procurement processes for the project are underway, said the minister.

Petkova pointed out that this project is of great importance for diversification of natural gas supply sources not only for Bulgaria but also for the whole region.

She reminded that the project was identified by the European Commission as one of the seven top priorities in the field of energy.

IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets.

The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas.

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Tehran, Iran, Nov.26

Trend:

The Supreme Economic Coordination Council has approved the Central Bank of Iran's suggestions for more transparent banking transactions and combating money laundry.

The council session led by President Hassan Rouhani, attended by Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani has reviewed the CBI chief's report on currency market that included central bank efforts to more transparent currency market and creating confidence in real value of foreign currency rate, Tasnim reported.

The Iranian currency (rial) has rebounded recently due to CBI interventions on foreign currency prices. The devaluation of rial has previously led to frenzy in the currency market, where people invested their money in gold, foreign currencies and other properties. The rise of basic goods prices was the result of turbulence in the market.

The head of Plan and Budget Organization of Iran, who was also present at the session, has discussed the general resources and budget expenditures for the upcoming Persian new year (March21).

The new budget would focus on providing social justice, attention to people's incomes and living conditions, the growth of employment and support for domestic production.

In this regard, policies such as the allocating official rate currency for supply of basic goods, increase of salaries for the employees and pensioners, as well as the provision of support packages to low income families were emphasized by the council.

The council insisted on attention to people's needs, specially the low income class in the new budget plan.
All parties invited to the Astana meeting on Syria, scheduled to take place on November 28-29, have confirmed their participation, Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov told reporters on Monday, TASS reports.

"The guarantors of the Astana process (Iran, Russia and Turkey), the Syrian government and the armed opposition, as well as Jordan - an observer country - have confirmed their participation. A confirmation is expected to be made concerning the participation of United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura," Smadiyarov said.

According to the Kazakh foreign ministry spokesman, the sixth Astana meeting will deal with issues related to the release of hostages and detained persons, the handover of bodies and the search for missing people. The event will "involve representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross."

The international meeting on resolving the situation in Syria will take place on November 28-29. On November 28, the guarantor countries will hold bilateral and trilateral consultations, as well as meetings with observer countries, while a plenary meeting is scheduled for November 29.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan received a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, kabar.kg reports.

The press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that in a note, the Uzbek side notifies the Kyrgyz side about the conduct of an inspection of the combat readiness of the troops of the Republic of Uzbekistan on November 26, 2018. The test is aimed at assessing the combat readiness of the troops and forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

As noted in the note, the events are held in strict accordance with the previously accepted obligations of Uzbekistan towards other states and are not directed against their interests.

The ministry promptly informed the leadership and the relevant state authorities of the country about the received note.
Anil Giri is a reporter covering diplomacy, international relations and national politics for The Kathmandu Post. Giri has been working as a journalist for a decade-and-a-half, contributing to numerous national and international media outlets.
Minister of Internal Affairs Kashkar Dzhunushaliev held a meeting with Head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek, Ambassador Pierre von Arx. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek Valeriu Kiver, Head of the Judicial Support and International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Mirlan Karachalov, kabar.kg reports.

The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that during the meeting, Dzhunushaliev noted that the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek is one of the most reliable, long-term, and stable partners of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.

I would like to note that you provide us with high-quality, advisory, methodical and material and technical support in many areas of the work of the internal affairs bodies, Dzhunushaliev stressed.

During the meeting, the sides discussed topical issues of cooperation and interaction in the framework of ongoing programs and projects on reforming the internal affairs bodies in Kyrgyzstan. They also considered the possibilities of joint implementation of a number of projects, future programs and plans for 2019 aimed at increasing the efficiency of law enforcement activities of the internal affairs bodies in the regions to combat crime and ensure public order, and to work together to improve the interaction between the population and the police.

Dzhunushaliev thanked the head of the OSCE Program Office in Bishkek for the long-term cooperation with the ministry and expressed confidence for the successful implementation of joint projects.
Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Mukhamedkalyi Abylgaziev arrived in Minsk (Republic of Belarus) on a working visit. During the visit, the head of government will participate in a regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on November 26-27, kabar.kg reports.

The meeting participants will consider issues of further deepening cooperation of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union.

In particular, discussions on such topics as implementation of the Unions digital agenda, development of a draft financial market concept are expected, the EAEU budget for 2019 will be reviewed, and a report on the removal of obstacles in the domestic market in 2017-2018 and other relevant issues will be considered. .

Following the meeting, signing of a number of documents is expected.

The visit of the prime minister involves his participation in the opening ceremony of the memorial sign of the park named after Aitmatov, familiarization with the activities of Dzerzhinsky Agrokombinat OJSC, Administration of High-Tech Park and visits to the China-Belarus Industrial Park The Great Stone.
Defense Minister of Tajikistan, Colonel-General Sherai Mirzo, has built a health center in the village of Doshmandi in the Baljuvon district of the Khatlon province for his money, news.tj reports.

The center, which consists of six departments (admission department, diagnostic room, medical treatment room, maternity ward, circumcision room), is reportedly provided with all necessary medical equipment.

The health center has been built in the native village of Sherali Mirzo upon the agreement with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

Besides, Sherali Mirzo has donated an ambulance to the health center in the village of Doshmandi.

Sherali Mirzo was born on May 24, 1967 in the Moskovskiy district (present day Hamadoni) in the Khatlon province. He graduated from the Perm High Military School, Russia 1994. In 2002-2004, he studied at the M.V Frunze Military Academy of the Armed Forces of Russia in Moscow.

In 20052006, Sherali Mirzo served as Tajikistans deputy minister of defense before being moving to the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), which succeeded the KGB of the Tajik SSR. On December 5, 2006 he was appointed Commander of the Border Troops of Tajikistan also first deputy chief of the SCNS. On October 3, 2013 by presidents decree he was appointed Minister of Defense, replacing Sherali Khayrulloyev who resigned as Minister of Defense due to health reasons.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has nothing to do with politics and it shouldnt be considered as a control mechanism, Austrian Ambassador to Tehran Stefan Schulz said in an interview with ILNA.

This mechanism is related to Iranian banks and financial channels, he said.

He said that the FATF is a mechanism to control money laundering and terrorism financing. In Europe, everyone voluntarily joins this mechanism, he noted.

Iran should also have a positive attitude to FATF, he added.

If Tehran wants to be a part of the worlds financial mechanism and to integrate into the global system, it must accept the laws adopted by its trading partners, he said.

If, for example, Iran doesnt agree with the air safety mechanism, no airline company will pass through this country, he noted.

Referring to Irans and Austrians relations and financial exchanges despite the US sanctions, the ambassador added that Austria and Iran have very specific relations based on transparency and trust.

Austria has established a network of regional cooperation with Iran in Europe, he said.

Through this network, efforts are being made to boost cooperation between the EU and Iran in foreign policy, he noted.

The Austrian ambassador also spoke about Irans fulfillment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The Iranians have turned these sanctions into an opportunity to open their economic doors wider to the world, he noted.
Egypt and Sudan, which face cross-border threats from militias operating in Libya, agreed on Sunday to set up joint military patrols on their border, Sudans chief of staff said following talks between the countries defense ministers, Al Arabiya reports.

Libya, with which Egypt and Sudan have a joint border, has been riven by internal strife since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011 and a power vacuum has grown that has allowed rival militias and armed Ismalist groups to grow.

It was agreed to establish joint military patrols between the two countries borders, establish mechanisms to control the border and establish future joint forces on the border to combat terrorism, cross-border crimes, control the border and combat all manifestations of evasion, Sudanese Chief of Staff Kamal Abdul Maarouf told reporters.

He said the two militaries would form a strategic partnership in all fields, especially intelligence and operational cooperation and training.

Joint investments were also agreed, Abdul Maarouf said, as well as allowing Egypt to establish agricultural and animal production projects in Sudan.

Relations between Egypt and Sudan have improved markedly over the past year despite persisting tensions over a Nile dam which Ethiopia is building. Egypt sees the project as a threat to its water supply but Sudan backs it because of its need for electricity.

The two countries have also long been in a standoff over the disputed Halayeb Triangle, which they both claim as their territory but Egypt controls. Sudan renewed a complaint at the UN in January demanding Egypt hand over control of the border area.
Qatar expects the first six F-15 fighter jets to be delivered to the countrys air force by March 2021, a military official said on Monday, TASS reports.

An additional six fighter jets will be delivered two to three months after the initial batch is received and then four more every three months, Brigadier General Issa al-Mahannadi told reporters at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar.

Qatar signed a deal to buy 36 F-15 war planes from the United States in 2017.
Beijing already has two aircraft carriers that have already undergone all the necessary trials prior to duty. The first carrier, the CNS Liaoning, has even participated in its first war games, which took place in disputed areas of the South China Sea, Sputnik reported.

China has launched the construction of a third aircraft carrier, Xinhua News Agency reported on 25 November 2018. The news outlet noted that with the first two carriers having completed sea trials, the construction of a "new-generation" carrier is already underway and added that it would be delivered on schedule.

At the same time, Xinhua didn't give any specifics about how the new carrier would differ from the first two and when it is expected to enter into service. The online outlet China News Service (ECNS) noted that several Chinese weapons enthusiasts have predicted the construction of a new, "bigger and mightier" carrier than the first two.

The first Chinese aircraft carrier, the CNS Liaoning, was based on an unfinished Soviet Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier and was declared combat-ready in 2016. It has already taken part in military exercises that took place in the South China Sea on 18 April 2018. In August, the Liaoning reportedly received upgrades to its radar and air traffic control centre.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire will meet retailers and insurers on Monday to assess the economic impact of nationwide protests against rising fuel costs, he said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Protesters clad in fluorescent jackets, dubbed yellow vests, have blocked highways across France since Nov. 17, setting up burning barricades and deploying convoys of slow-moving trucks, often denying access to shopping centers and some factories.

French retailers have warned that prolonged protests could hit the Christmas shopping season and threaten jobs, while President Emmanuel Macron has shown no sign of backing down on taxes introduced last year on diesel and petrol to encourage people to switch to cleaner forms of transport.

The unrest reached new heights in Paris on Saturday, when police clashed violently with thousands of demonstrators on the Champs-Elysees.

Tomorrow I will bring together at the Economy and Finance Ministry representatives from retailers, merchants, craftsmen, chambers of commerce and employers federation Medef to assess the economic situation, its impact on sales and on our economy and the consequences we must draw, Le Maire told BFM TV.

Police detained 101 people in Paris and there 24 people were injured in the clashes on the Champs Elysees.

I saw a violence that is not acceptable. It is urgent to rebuild the nations unity and restart a dialogue, Le Maire said.

Some yellow vests have called for a third weekend of protests on the Champs Elysees via a Facebook page called Act 3 Macron resigns!
Israel has reportedly closed a deal with Greece, Italy and Cyprus to build a 2,000-kilometer underwater gas pipeline from its Leviathan and Aphrodite offshore gas fields, Sputnik reported citing local Israeli media.

The pipeline, almost twice as long as Russia's Turk Stream pipeline, is estimated to cost $8 billion, and is said to be world's deepest underwater gas pipeline.

Israel believes the construction of the pipeline will "forge strategic ties" within the region, according to a report by Hadashot. Israel also believes gas exports will decrease the influence of Arab nations in Europe.

"For decades, we have complained about the Arab influence in Europe due to oil and gas. The export of gas to Europe will moderate this influence to a certain extent and be a counterweight to Arab power," Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said in an interview.

Egypt, the only Muslim nation besides Jordan which has a peace treaty with Israel, also seeks to export its newly discovered gas reserves, and has expressed interest in joining the project. Prior to the discovery of the Mediterranean gas fields, Israel bought gas from Egypt, but the land portions of the pipeline have been frequently targeted by Egyptian jihadists in 2011-2012.

Earlier last week, Steinitz disclosed that the proposed pipeline will have a capacity of 12 billion cubic meters per year  which is approximately half of what Turk Stream can provide.

The Leviathan gas field, discovered in December 2010, is one of the largest young gas reserves in the world. According to the US Geological Survey, Leviathan's volume of undiscovered reserves amounts to some 620 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the visiting Chadian President on Sunday that he expects to make more trips to Arab countries in the near future after going to Oman last month, Reuters reported.

Israel has diplomatic ties with just two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, though Netanyahu has hinted at warmer relations with Gulf Arab states that Israel views as natural allies against regional powerhouse Iran.

Netanyahu and his ministers have visited a number of Gulf states in the past few weeks. Although the he did not specify his next planned Arab destination, local media said Israel was already talking to Bahrain about establishing official ties, making it a likely port of call.

Chadian President Idriss Deby arrived in Israel on Sunday for the first official visit by a leader of the Central African country that severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 1972.

We discussed ... the great changes that are taking place in the Arab world in its relations with Israel, Netanyahu said, adding there will be more visits to Arab countries soon.
Fire destroys 30 homes in Baglung

A massive fire in a high altitude settlement in Dhorpatan Municipality-9, Baglung, destroyed 30 houses on Sunday morning.
Libyan Interior Minister Fat'hi Bashagha met with German Ambassador to Libya Oliver Owcza here on Sunday to discuss bilateral security cooperation, Xinhua reported.

Bashagha said that his ministry is "seeking full security cooperation with Germany in training, information technology, crime control, national safety, and other security fields," according to the ministry's statement later on Sunday.

He also stressed the importance of securing southern Libyan border against illegal immigration, "which has become a concern for Libya and the world."

Owcza confirmed that Germany seeks to strengthen security collaboration with Libya through the UN Mission in Libya, by helping solve all Libyan security issues, the statement said.

Libyan security services struggle to train and equip their personnel amid years of turmoil.
The Japanese government has not changed its stance on a peace treaty with Russia, which Tokyo believes should be signed after resolving the Kuril Islands issue, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during the debate in the lower house of parliament on Monday, TASS reports.

"We are in favor of resolving the territorial issue with Russia and signing a peace treaty with it after that," he said answering a question from a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. "Our stance on that issue has remained unchanged."

"At the same time, I am in favor of a new approach towards negotiations with Russia," the prime minister went on to say. "We should not cling to history only. We need to look for a mutually acceptable future-oriented solution."

Russia and Japan have been in talks to sign a peace treaty since the mid-20th century. The main stumbling block to achieving this is the ownership of the southern Kuril Islands. After the end of World War II, the Kuril Islands were incorporated into the Soviet Union. However, the ownership of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan Islands and the Habomai Islands is being challenged by Japan. Moscow has stated on numerous occasions that Russias sovereignty over the islands is beyond doubt.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed at a meeting in Singapore on November 14 to intensify Russian-Japanese negotiations on signing a peace treaty on the basis of the Joint Declaration of October 19, 1956.

The Joint Declaration signed on October 19, 1956 ended the state of war between both nations. The two countries resumed diplomatic and consular relations, but no peace treaty has been signed so far. Under Article 9 of the declaration, the Soviet Union agreed to hand over Shikotan and Habomai as a gesture of good will once a peace treaty is ultimately signed. The declaration was ratified by the two countries parliaments in December 1956.

However, in response to Japans signing a security treaty with the United States in 1960, the Soviet Union revoked its liabilities on the transfer of the islands. The Soviet government said back then that the islands would be handed over to Japan only when all foreign forces were withdrawn from its territory.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 27

Trend:

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted on Monday a resolution on holding the next presidential election on March 31, 2019, according to TASS.

298 deputies voted for the decision. We made a decision, said Speaker Andrei Parubiy after the vote.
Moscow stands for keeping the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, if Washington strictly complies with it, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Monday, TASS reports.

"We stand for preserving the INF Treaty, if the US side strictly complies with it. In this context, we are ready to confirm again with all the responsibility that we reject any speculations to the effect that we allegedly violated this treaty," the Russian high-ranking diplomat said at a special news briefing devoted to the INF Treaty.

"Both the US unfounded accusations against us and the categorical manner of voicing them are absolutely unacceptable," Ryabkov said.

US President Donald Trump said on October 20 that his country would quit the INF Treaty because Russia was allegedly in breach of that agreement. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov described this as a dangerous move. Washington was also criticized in Berlin and Beijing. In the meantime, London came out in support of the United States and NATO placed the responsibility for Trumps decision on Russia, because in its opinion Moscow had apparently violated the treaty.

The INF Treaty was signed on December 8, 1987 and took effect on June 1, 1988. It outlawed deployed and non-deployed intermediate range (1,000-5,000 kilometers) and shorter range (500-1,000 kilometers) ground-based missiles.

In recent years, Washington has repeatedly alleged Russia was in breach of the agreement. Moscow emphatically dismissed the charges and countered them with its own claims over the United States non-compliance.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

The Turkish Armed Forces have resumed operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist group in the countrys eastern Diyarbakir province, Turkish media reported Nov. 26.

The operations are carried out in four settlements of the province, and 3 strongholds of PKK terrorists have been destroyed, according to the report.

On Nov. 15, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu stated that from early 2018, 87,838 operations have been carried out against the PKK terrorist organization in Turkey.

Soylu noted that 289 PKK terrorists were killed during the operations carried out in Turkey.

The minister also noted that in 2017, the PKK terrorists planned 965 attacks, while this figure dropped to 677 in 2018.

"In 2017, 380 PKK terrorists and in 2018, 343 terrorists surrendered to Turkish law enforcement agencies," Soylu said.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist group shelled a military unit from mortars on the Turkish-Iranian border in the Igdir province, Turkish media reported Nov. 26.

After that, a shootout began between the terrorists and the Turkish servicemen.

One soldier was injured, according to the report.

On Nov. 15, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu stated that from early 2018, 87,838 operations have been carried out against the PKK terrorist organization in Turkey.

Soylu noted that 289 PKK terrorists were killed during the operations carried out in Turkey.

The minister also noted that in 2017, the PKK terrorists planned 965 attacks, while this figure dropped to 677 in 2018.

"In 2017, 380 PKK terrorists and in 2018, 343 terrorists surrendered to Turkish law enforcement agencies," Soylu said.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 26

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Some 33 illegal immigrants, who were heading to Turkey's western provinces, were detained in the country's central province of Malatya, Turkish police said in a message on Nov. 26.

Reportedly, the majority of detainees are citizens of Afghanistan.

There was one Iranian and one Pakistani citizen among the detainees.

"All of the detainees will be deported from Turkey," the police said.

The Turkish Coast Guard had earlier detained 223 illegal migrants in the country's Edirne province on the border with Greece.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
All border traffic was halted temporarily on Sunday at a crossing between San Diego, California and Tijuana, in the Baja California state of Mexico, the US Customs and Border Protection agency said, Sputnik reported.

US President Donald Trump threatened on Saturday to close border checkpoints with Mexico, as a means of fighting illegal immigration.

"If for any reason it becomes necessary, we will CLOSE our Southern Border. There is no way that the United States will, after decades of abuse, put up with this costly and dangerous situation anymore!" Trump tweeted.

Trump reiterated in his tweets that only those already eligible for refugee status would be allowed into the United States.

The Washington Post reported that Mexican authorities had agreed to Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" proposal. According to the proposal, migrants who wish to seek asylum in the United will stay in Mexico until a decision on their request is made.

On Tuesday, the Mexican Interior Ministry said around 5,600 migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador were staying near the border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali. According to official figures, an estimated 2,600 migrants have settled near Tijuana.

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Worth mention here as many as 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack that was carried out by 10 Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. Nine of the attackers were gunned down by police, while the lone survivor, Ajmal Kasab, was caught and hanged to death after trial by an Indian court.

The perpetrators of the 26/11 attack, including instigator and banned Jamat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, keep on to move freely in Pakistan and it clearly shows that Islamabad is not keen on bringing them to justice.

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Open Journal of Nursing Vol.08 No.11(2018), Article ID:88712,12 pages

10.4236/ojn.2018.811062 Maternal Death and Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) in Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 2000 and 2014 Mara Beatriz Conceicao1, Carmem Regina Delziovo1, Maria de Lourdes de Souza2*, Fiona Ann Lynn3, Katia Cilene Godinho Bertoncello4, Ariane Thaise Frello Roque4, Sabiha Khanum5, Cheila Bentes6  Abstract  Full-Text PDF  Full-Text HTML  Full-Text ePUB  Linked References  How to Cite this Article 1State Secretariat of Health of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil 2Nursing Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina (PEN/UFSC) and REPENSUL Institute, Florianopolis, Brazil 3School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland 4Nursing Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina (PEN/UFSC), Florianopolis, Brazil 5KMU Institute of Nursing Sciences, Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar, Pakistan 6DINTER PEN/UFSC/UEA, Florianopolis, Manaus, Brazil Copyright  2018 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Received: October 18, 2018; Accepted: November 23, 2018; Published: November 26, 2018

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Indicators of maternal health are often used to evaluate the social development and overall health of a population, as well as the accessibility of health services. Among these indicators, the Potential Years of Life Lost, which is associated with maternal deaths, is useful for the definition of priorities, monitoring, evaluation, and intervention, identifying the highest risk groups. Objective: To analyze the Potential Years of Life Lost by maternal death in Santa Catarina in 2000 and 2014. Method: An Ecological study with exploratory spatial analysis was conducted with data obtained from the Information System on Mortality and Live Births. Results: In the Information System, 35 maternal deaths in the year 2000 were identified and 24 in 2014. The total estimated years of life lost were 845 years in 2000 and 780 years in 2014, dominated by direct obstetric causes. In 2000, women who died lost, on average, 39.8 years of life; and 41.5 years in 2014. Conclusion: The spatial pattern observed in 2000 highlights areas of high risk in different regions of Santa Catarina. The greatest loss of years occurred in younger women, confirming the need to prevent and control maternal mortality and review strategies for compliance with public policies in the State.

Keywords:

Maternal Mortality, Potential Years of Life Lost, Causes of Death

1. Introduction

Maternal health indicators, particularly those related to mortality, are used to assess the degree of social development and whether reproductive rights of women are being upheld [1] [2] . In 22 European countries where data are available, the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) was recorded as, on average, 6.3 per 100,000 live births, ranging from 0 to 29.6. The highest MMR was reported in Estonia, with 29.6 per 100,000 live births and the lowest was in Malta with zero. For Austria, Belgium, France and Hungary, the MMR was around the EU average (6.2 per 100,000 live births), while Sweden and Greece had 2.0 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births [4] .

Among the causes of maternal deaths, severe bleeding during pregnancy or childbirth occupies the first place. Between 2003 and 2009, hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and sepsis were responsible for more than half of all maternal deaths worldwide [3] ; while pre-existing diseases such as diabetes, AIDS, malaria, and obesity caused 28% of maternal deaths [3] [5] .

In Brazil, the reduction of maternal mortality (MM) over the years has slackened. The factors that have contributed to its decline include the improvement in womens education, increased urbanization and changes in the role of women in society, with greater access to the job market, and the reduction in the number of children per woman. In addition to these, there is the expansion of basic health services, with increased coverage of family planning and prenatal services, which have been accompanied by excessive medicalization of pregnancy and child birth contributing to high cesarean section rates, episiotomies and multiple ultrasound examinations [6] .

While estimates suggest a decline, over the years, information on maternal mortality in Brazil indicates an under-registration of maternal deaths due to the inadequate completion of registered causes of death [7] .

Maternal mortality in Brazil has been directly associated with living conditions, with differences between socioeconomic regions observed [8] [9] . In addition, obstetric complications are the main cause of hospitalization for women of reproductive age, accounting for 26.7% of all admissions in 2008 [6] .

The reduction in maternal mortality may be related to underreporting and the low number of investigations into maternal deaths. This is also due to a lack of financial resources, aggravated by inadequate management of the applications to investigate deaths, a discontinuation of relevant programs, inadequate training and management of health workers, and difficulties in securing professionals in regions that are most in need [9] [10] .

To reduce mortality rates further, it is necessary to analyze and gain a better understanding of premature mortality. This parameter is very useful for planning and setting priorities in health, monitoring, and evaluating intervention programs and identifying groups of women at greater risk [9] .

Premature mortality can be analyzed using the Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) indicator. In the calculation of the PYLL, greater weight is attributed to

the deaths of younger people. Thus, its use provides a better comparison in causes of death [11] [12] [13] .

Therefore, with the PYLL, deaths occurring premature are quantified, which provides an important social indicator [14] . When a death occurs at a stage of life when greater productivity and creativity can occur, it not only deprives the individual, but the collective society, as a whole.

In the state of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 43.3/100,000 live births, from 1996 to 2005 [15] . From 1996 to 2002, there were 294 maternal deaths. In this period, the average MMR rose from 44.7 to 71 deaths per 100,000 live births, when the correction factor of 1.83 was applied. This historical series analysis showed that there was no downward trend of the MMR in the period, but an increase in the last two years [16] .

In this study, the authors analyze the Potential Years of Life Lost by maternal death in Santa Catarina in 2000 and 2014.

2. Methods

This is an ecological study with an exploratory spatial analysis, in which the data of maternal deaths occurring in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in the years 2000 and 2014 are compared, with gross and smoothed rates of PYLL calculated.

The spatial distribution was disaggregated [17] [18] [19] . The instability of the gross rates was corrected to help overcome less populated areas using spatial smoothing by the empirical Bayesian estimator [20] . Thus, municipalities with smaller populations will have a greater correction and cities with larger populations will have little change in their rates [21] .

The 2000 and 2014 data analysis also include a comparison of the number of maternal deaths, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR), the total number of maternal PYLL, the mean number of PYLL and the mean age of women at death, with the percentage differences observed across the period. The indicators were grouped by direct and indirect causes of maternal death, as well as unspecified causes, since identifying their causes is essential to defining strategies to target their reduction [3] . Causes were grouped according to the classification of the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of DiseasesICD 10 [22] .

The following variables from the death certificate of women were extracted: age at death between 10 and 49 years [23] 1, place of residence in Santa Catarina, and the underlying cause of death. Deaths with the age of the woman and/or place of residence missing were excluded from the analysis.

The maternal mortality records of the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Information System on Live Births (SINASC) of the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian National Health System (DATASUS) were used to calculate the MMR [24] .

The potential years of life lost were calculated for each group studied, using the traditional estimation technique [14] :

PYLL =  i = lowerlimit upperlimit a i  d i

where:

ai = the number of years of life remaining up to the upper limit considered, when death occurs between the ages of i and i = 1 years;

di = number of deaths occurring between the ages of i and i + 1 years, using the adjustment of 0.5 when it is estimated that all deaths occurred in the middle of the year.

The PYLL was calculated for each age group, multiplying the number of deaths by the average number of years of life remaining up to the age of 70 years. Total PYLL was obtained by the sum of the potential years of each age group, for each proposed group: deaths due to direct, indirect and unspecified obstetric causes.

The mean number of PYLLs (PYLL/death) was also calculated to express the average number of years lost per death by a given cause. The number of PYLL for each type of cause was divided by the number of deaths due to this type of cause. The PYLL rate was obtained by the quotient of the total number of PYLL and the population of women of childbearing age (WOCBA) in a given period, multiplied by 100,000. The gross PYLL rate expresses the number of years lost for every 100,000 women of childbearing age.

The units of spatial analysis were the 293 municipalities of the state of Santa Catarina.

3. Results

The total number of maternal deaths in the state of Santa Catarina in 2000 and 2014 was 35 and 24 deaths, respectively. Table 1 shows the data obtained in the descriptive analysis and the PYLL for each group of deaths due to obstetric causes.

At the time interval studied, there were no changes in the ranking of the causes of death, with direct maternal death being the main cause of the loss of PYLL, totaling 845 years in 2000 and 780 years in 2014. Hypertensive disorders, termination of pregnancy, and hemorrhage were the main causes that led to death. The proportion of deaths from unspecified causes fell by 50%, from 8.6% in 2000 to 4.2% in 2014.

The municipalities of Criciuma, Chapeco, and Itajai (with more than 100,000 inhabitants each) had the highest total number of PYLL in 2000. The same occurred in 2014, particularly in the municipalities of Itajai, Blumenau, and Joinville (with more than 100,000 inhabitants each) and Cacador with approximately 80,000 inhabitants.

The average age of women at death occurred earlier, from 30.2 years in 2000 to 28.5 years in 2014, considering all groupings of causes. However, deaths from indirect causes occurred at the lower average maternal age of 27 years in 2014.

The PYLL/death revealed an increase in the average number of years lost

Table 1. Indicators grouped by direct, indirect and unspecified maternal causes of death in 2000 and 2014, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

across all three groupings of causes. In 2000, women lost 39.8 years; while in 2014, there were 41.5 years lost, on average.

The rate of PYLL decreased by 40%, from 79.1 years in 2000 to 47.7 PYLL per 100,000 women of childbearing age in 2014. Direct causes remained the most significant cause of death in the population.

In Figure 1, State maps displaying the Gross PYLL Rate for the years 2000 and 2014 are presented. 268 (91.46%) municipalities were found to have a zero rate. Subsequently, the rate was calculated for only 25 municipalities where maternal deaths occurred in 2000. In 2014, there were 277 (93.89%) municipalities with a zero rate, and 18 with the occurrence of maternal death.

The gross PYLL rates that stood out for the high values in the year 2000 were municipalities with a small population: Bela Vista do Toldo, Nova Itaberaba,

Figure 1. Spatial distribution of PYLL rates for maternal deaths in women of childbearing age in 2000 (a) and 2014 (b), Santa Catarina.

Guaruja do Sul, Timbo Grande, and Lontras. In 2014, the municipalities of Caxambu do Sul, Ouro, Monte Castelo and Monte Carlo also maintained high values.

In Figure 1, a spatial pattern can be observed in 2000 in the municipalities of the Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe (Curitibanos, Fraiburgo, Santa Cecilia, Timbo Grande and Lontras); while in the year 2014, a random distribution of rates was identified.

The PYLL rates smoothed by the local Bayesian method demonstrate a regional pattern for 2000 and 2014. After spatial smoothing, the municipalities no longer presented zero values, as they incorporated in their estimated rates the underlying pattern of the region in which they are inserted. Figure 2 shows the smoothed rates, ranging from 7.84 to 4.316.82 PYLL/100,000 women of

Figure 2. Spatial distribution of local Bayesian rates of PYLL for maternal deaths in women of childbearing age in 2000 (a) and 2014 (b), Santa Catarina.

childbearing age in 2000 and from 19.82 to 3.522.95 PYLL/100,000 in 2014. The spatial pattern in 2000 is highlighted by the increase in areas with a high risk of PYLL in different regions of the State.

4. Discussion

The results reported herein show that, in Santa Catarina, there was a reduction in maternal mortality between 2000 and 2014, which was lower than estimates presented in a previous Brazilian study [2] . Despite the downward trend in the period 1990-2011, the results indicate that the MMR values in Brazil are still high, being 3 to 4 times higher than estimates reported in comparable developed countries at the beginning of the 2010 decade.

Reducing maternal mortality is a policy commitment in Brazil, given that its government endorsed an agreement to target its reduction and in so doing, the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals and subsequent Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, maternal and child health indicators should be analyzed through government actions to promote social and economic development [6] .

The reduction of MM observed in the state of Santa Catarina requires further research in the form of surveys and time series analysis, for an in-depth assessment and further investigations. Among these investigations there is the life history of women and the occurrence of diseases that may adversely impact on their health in the pre-conception period and may not receive adequate attention, with adequate diagnosis and ongoing treatment before, during and after gestation. It is also necessary to consider whether maternal deaths are associated with a low demand for health services by women leading up to death, a low capacity of health services in the 293 municipalities in the State, a low quality of health records and minimal investigation into the cause of death in women of child bearing age.

It should be noted that the Death Certificate, in Brazil, is completed by a doctor who often did not care for or treat the woman during pregnancy, which may be a determining factor in the lack of recognition of the antecedent causes leading to death [25] . In addition, the quality of clinical data and diagnoses recorded in medical-hospital charts and maternity records does not necessarily match the physicians statement n the death certificate [26] . Although, it is recognized that the quality and validity of mortality data depends primarily on the quality and accuracy of the death certificate [13] .

Ongoing efforts to qualify birth registries, and thus increase reliable data on pregnancy-related mortality, with the use of household surveys and censuses should be encouraged and, thus, improve global indicators of maternal mortality. It is also necessary to monitor female mortality from all causes to help track maternal mortality [27] .

Despite the coverage of the health services, maternal deaths, related to the prenatal, childbirth and postpartum period, did experience a reduction (9.5%) in the time period studied. The causes of death (hypertensive disorder, termination of pregnancy and hemorrhage) continued to be observed. These causes are considered to be avoidable through adequate attention to women during pregnancy and the puerperal period. This situation demonstrates the need for a review and appropriate changes to the schedule and model of prenatal care and delivery offered in the State. The prevalence of direct obstetric causes, represented by arterial hypertension and hemorrhage, followed by puerperal infection and termination of pregnancy has also been identified in other Brazilian States [28] [29] .

In order to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, well-structured maternity services must be ensured, with the implementation of planned interventions, based on scientific evidence and applied in practice by health institutions and regulatory agencies, by trained and competent health care professionals [30] [31] .

Every maternal death must be understood as a failure of the health system and as a violation of human rights [2] . The potential years of life lost identified in this study demonstrates that women are dying younger of maternal causes. In Brazil, from 2000 to 2009, a higher frequency of maternal deaths was identified in the age group 20 - 29 years (41.85%), followed by the age range between 30 and 39 years [32] . The average age of maternal death in the State of Santa Catarina follows the same trend reported in the country, that is, women are dying prematurely, thus increasing the PYLL.

Studies have also reported an association between the risk of premature death and the socioeconomic characteristics of the place of residence [33] . Therefore, the PYLL calculation provides an overview of premature deaths in a population and is also an important component in identifying diseases and areas that require greater attention from health policy makers when dealing mostly with preventable deaths [13] [34] .

The absolute numbers of PYLLs were concentrated in more densely populated municipalities, confirming the premise that areas of higher population density have higher PYLL values when compared to areas of smaller population density, justifying the need to calculate and analyze PYLL rates.

The rate of PYLL decreased by 40%, from 79.1 to 47.7 PYLL/100,000 women of childbearing age in the study period. The proportion of deaths that occurred due to direct obstetric causes highlights the potential for preventing maternal deaths and reflects the high socioeconomic cost, which is in line with the assertion that maternal mortality is mostly preventable and represents a violation of human rights [2] [6] [7] .

Among the limitations of this study is the exclusive use of PYLL, as non-fatal cases, even with high frequency, are not represented, since only the cause-of-death statistics were used. In addition, the quality of mortality data was not controlled, as the secondary data was accessed and was susceptible to the completion of the death certificate by the reporting physician. It is also important to consider the possibility of incorrect and/or incomplete death certificates, as the physician may not attribute the importance of the womans condition in the period leading to the time of death; indicated infields 43 and 44 of the death certificate, as well as the non-completion of the time interval between childbirth and death, if relevant. There may also be errors in data entry, with coders assigning the basic cause of death [6] [9] [25] [26] .

In comparing the years studied, maternal deaths in Santa Catarina have occurred in younger women, increasing the potential years of life lost. In addition, the high variability in the data calculated by the PYLL rate, with high standard deviations, indicates that new analyses should be carried out, especially with a historical case series, in order to identify regional differences.

Acknowledgements

Thanks for the FAPESC 2016TR 2211, Public Call N. 10/2015-FAPESC/MS-DECIT/CNPQ/SES-SC. This study was financed in part by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior-Brasil (CAPES)-Finance Code 001.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Cite this paper

Conceicao, M.B., Delziovo, C.R., de Souza, M.L., Lynn, F.A., Bertoncello, K.C.G., Roque, A.T.F., Khanum, S. and Bentes, C. (2018) Maternal Death and Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) in Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 2000 and 2014. Open Journal of Nursing, 8, 823-834. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojn.2018.811062

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14. Romeder, J.M. and Mcwhinnie, J.R. (1978) The Development of Potential Years of Life Lost as an Indicator of Premature Mortality. Revue dEpidemiologie et de Sante Publique, 26, 97-115. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Eiko_Takahashi/publication/225750155_Years_of_potential_life_lost_as_the_indicator_of_premature_mortality_in_occupational_medicine/links/0912f5081ef5e8ef1c000000/Years-of-potential-life-lost-as-the-indicator-of-premature-mortality-in-occupational-medicine.pdf

15. Saviato, B., Knobel, R., Moraes, C.A. and Tonon, D. (2008) Maternal Death Due to Hypertension in the State of Santa Catarina. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina, 37, 16-19. http://www.acm.org.br/revista/pdf/artigos/604.pdf

16. Peixoto, H.C.G., Martins, H.E.L., Gregorio, V.R.P. and Knobel, R. (2006) Profile of Maternal Delivery-Related Death in Santa Catarina. Enfermeria Global, No. 8, 1-11. http://revistas.um.es/eglobal/article/viewFile/326/434

17. Carvalho, M.S. and Souza-Santos, R. (2005) Analysis of Spatial Data in Public Health: Methods, Problems, and Perspectives. Cadernos de Saude Publica, 21, 361-378. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2005000200003

18. Santos, S.M. and Noronha, C.P. (2001) Mortality Spatial Patterns and Socioeconomic Differences in the City of Rio de Janeiro. Cadernos de Saude Publica, 17, 1099-1110. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2001000500012

19. Elliott, P. and Wartenberg, D. (2004) Spatial Epidemiology: Current Approaches and Future Challenges. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112, 998-1006. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.6735

20. van de Schoot, R., Kaplan, D., Denissen, J., Asendorpf, J.B., Neyer, F.J. and van Aken, M.A.G. (2014) A Gentle Introduction to Bayesian Analysis: Applications to Developmental Research. Child Development, 85, 842-860. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12169

21. Silva, S.L., Fachel, J.M., Kato, S.K. and Bassanesi, S.L. (2011) Patterns of Variation in the Infant Mortality Rate in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil: Comparison of Empirical Bayesian and Fully Bayesian Approaches. Cadernos de Saude Publica, 27, 1423-1432. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2011000700017

22. World Health Organization (WHO) (2018) The 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) Is Due by 2018! World Health Organization, Geneva. http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/revision/en/

23. Ribeiro, C.M., Costa, A.J.L., Cascao, A.M., Cavalcanti, M.L.T. and Kale, P.L. (2012) Strategy for the Selection and Investigation of Deaths of Women of Reproductive Age. Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia, 15, 725-736. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1415-790X2012000400005

24. Ministerio da Saude (BR) (2016) Datasus, Informacoes em Saude. Brasilia. http://www.datasus.gov.br/DATASUS/index.php/index.php?area=0205

25. Laurenti, R., de Mello Jorge, M.H. and Gotlieb, S.L. (2008) Underlying Cause-of-Death Mortality Statistics: Considering the Reliability of Data. Revista Panamericana de Salud Publica, 23, 349-356. http://www.scielosp.org/pdf/rpsp/v23n5/a07v23n5.pdf

26. Laurenti, R., Jorge, M.H.P.M. and Gotlieb, S.L.D. (2000) Maternal Deaths and Mortality Due to a Maternal Underlying Cause of Death. Epidemiologia e Servicos de Saude, 17, 283-292. http://scielo.iec.pa.gov.br/pdf/ess/v17n4/v17n4a05.pdf

27. Hogan, M.C., Foreman, K.J., Naghavi, M., Ahn, S.Y., Wang, M., Makela, S.M., et al. (2010) Maternal Mortality for 181 Countries, 1980-2008: A Systematic Analysis of Progress towards Millennium Development Goal 5. The Lancet, 375, 1609-1623. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60518-1

28. Moura, E.R.F., Ponte, M.S.R., Silva, R.M. and Lopes, M.V.O. (2007) Maternal Mortality in Ceara-Brazil (1998-2002): Retrospective Study. Cogitare Enfermagem, 12, 44-51. http://www.redalyc.org/pdf/4836/483648982006.pdf

29. Martins, A.C.S. and Silva, L.S. (2018) Epidemiological Profile of Maternal Mortality. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 71, 677-683. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0624

30. Cecatti, J.G. and Parpinelli, M.A. (2011) Maternal Health in Brazil: Priorities and Challenges. Cadernos de Saude Publica, 27, 1256. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2011000700001

31. David, E., Machungo, F., Zanconato, G., Cavaliere, E., Fiosse, S., Sululu, C., et al. (2014) Maternal near Miss and Maternal Deaths in Mozambique: A Cross-Sectional, Region-Wide Study of 635 Consecutive Cases Assisted in Health Facilities of Maputo Province. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 14, 401. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-014-0401-3

32. Ferraz, L. and Bordignon, M. (2012) Maternal Mortality in Brazil: A Reality in Need of Improvement. Revista Baiana de Saude Publica, 36, 527-538. http://files.bvs.br/upload/S/0100-0233/2012/v36n2/a3253.pdf

33. Duarte, E.C., Garcia, L.P., Freitas, L.R.S., Mansano, N.H., Monteiro, R.A. and Ramalho, W.M. (2012) Ecological Association between Characteristics of the Municipalities and the Risk of Homicide in Adult Males Aged 20 to 39 in Brazil: 1999-2010. Ciencia & Saude Coletiva, 17, 2259-2268.

34. Penner, D., Pinheiro, P. and Kramer, A. (2010) Measuring the Burden of Disease Due to Premature Mortality Using Standard Expected Years of Life Lost (SEYLL) in North Rhine-Westphalia, a Federal State of Germany, in 2005. Journal of Public Health, 18, 319-325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-010-0322-1



NOTES

1BRASIL. Ministerio da Saude. Gabinete do Ministro. Portaria N 1.119, de 5 de junho de 2008. http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/BVS/SAUDELEGIS/GM/2008/PRT1119_05_06_2008
'Corporate greed at its worst': Ohio officials slam GM's move out of an area Trump pledged to revive

General Motors' move to slash production at five facilities could have political implications in swing state Ohio.

President Donald Trump pledged to revive manufacturing in Lordstown Ohio, one of the areas where GM plans to lay off workers.

Democratic and Republican officials in Ohio, including Gov. John Kasich and Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, are criticizing GM's decision.

One of the plants where General Motors GM plans to slash production and lay off workers next year sits in an area that President Donald Trump promised to revive, within a swing state that will help to decide his bid for a second term in the White House.

The Detroit-based automaker announced restructuring plans Monday that could result in the closure of five North American plants in Michigan, Ohio, Maryland and Canada . GM plans to lay off as many as 14,000 or more factory and white-collar workers. The company said it will cut about 15 percent of its salaried staff.

The factories, most of which build vehicle models that will not be sold in the U.S. after next year, may not close entirely, depending on United Auto Workers union negotiations. They could end up with different models to build.

Still, the move is a gut punch to one area in Ohio that Trump pledged to boost last year. GM plans to cut as many as 1,600 factory jobs at a Lordstown, Ohio plant when it winds down production there in March. Last year, Trump  speaking about 20 miles away in Youngstown  said he saw too many empty factories in the area and promised to revive manufacturing there.

"I said, those jobs have left Ohio. They're all coming back. They're all coming back. Don't move, don't sell your house," he said at a rally in July 2017, according to The Columbus Dispatch .

Democratic officials in the state saw a betrayal Monday from both GM and the president, who won Ohio in part on his pledges to renegotiate trade deals and push American companies to make products domestically. The president's opponents will likely seize on the job losses ahead of a pivotal 2020 election, when Trump may need Ohio's 18 electoral votes to win re-election.

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In a sign of the White House's possible unease with the move, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow will meet with GM CEO Mary Barra on Monday, CNBC confirmed.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat whose district includes Lordstown, excoriated GM and Trump on Monday. In a statement, he called the move a "bad combination of greedy corporations and policy makers with no understanding of economic development." He asked Trump to "keep his word" from when he came to Ohio's Mahoning Valley last year promising jobs would return.

"He promised us that his massive corporate tax cut would lead to dramatic reinvestments in our communities. That clearly is not happening," Ryan added. "The Valley has been yearning for the Trump Administration to come here, roll up their sleeves and help us fight for this recovery. What we've gotten instead are broken promises and petty tweets."

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, a potential Democratic presidential candidate, called the decision "corporate greed at its worst." He called it "clear" that GM "doesn't respect" the Lordstown workers, and hit the company for not doing enough to reinvest the savings from its tax cuts.

Republicans took issue with the move, as well. Ohio Gov. John Kasich  another possible Trump challenger  called the move "painful" and said he would work with GM about possible ways to save the plant. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, also said he was "deeply frustrated" with the decision, adding that he has and will continue to work with GM to find a way to keep the factory workers employed.

The White House and GM did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the criticism from lawmakers. The Trump administration has repeatedly pointed to strong job creation and gross domestic product growth as evidence of the president's success.

Lordstown sits in Trumbull County, which Trump carried by about 6,000 votes as he won Ohio in 2016. Ohio has supported the presidential election winner in every contest since 1964.

It's not just Ohio where GM's move could reverberate politically. The company plans to cut as many as 1,800 factory jobs at two facilities in Detroit and Warren, Michigan. Most will come from the Detroit plant.

In 2016, Trump became the first Republican to win the state since 1988, in part because of his trade and manufacturing rhetoric. But the state moved away from Trump in this year's midterms, as Democrats won both its gubernatorial and Senate races while flipping two U.S. House seats.

Trump has targeted specific companies before over their restructuring or relocation plans as he tries to follow through on his campaign pledge to boost American manufacturing. He has cheered firms such as Foxconn for hiring in the U.S., and criticized companies such as Harley-Davidson for moving operations overseas.

Automakers in particular have earned Trump's ire over the years, as many have moved operations to lower-cost Mexico. Shortly before he took office in 2017, Trump targeted GM itself and threatened a "big border tax" if it did not make its Chevy Cruze model in the U.S.

Trump tweet

Ford also announced an $11 billion restructuring plan recently , but has given little detail about what the overhaul will entail. Trump has repeatedly commended GM's rival for its plans to invest in Michigan plants .

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FILE PHOTO: The logo and ticker for Campbell Soup Co. are displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss and Greg Roumeliotis

(Reuters) - Campbell Soup and Third Point LLC are close to settling a bitter proxy contest by adding two of the hedge fund's nominees to the U.S. food company's board and giving the activist investor a say in selecting Campbell's next CEO, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

A deal between Campbell Soup and billionaire investor Daniel Loeb's Third Point would end one of the most acrimonious U.S. proxy battles only days before investors were scheduled to vote on Thursday at Campbell's annual meeting.

Under the deal being negotiated, Campbell Soup would expand its board, naming two Third Point nominees, the sources said. These people will provide input on appointment of another director, expanding the board to 15 members. The hedge fund would promise to refrain from running a proxy contest in the next year, the sources said.

Through the directors it nominates, Third Point will have a say in naming the company's next CEO. Denise Morrison stepped down from the post last May. Campbell Soup director Keith McLoughlin has filled the vacancy on an interim basis and has said he does not want the position permanently.

The company aims to name a permanent CEO before year end. Chief Operating Officer Luca Mignini is one contender, sources have said, but Third Point has said an insider would be unacceptable. The hedge fund has been courting its own candidate, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The proxy fight between Loeb and Campbell Soup has been one of the year's most bitter. Third Point, which owns about 7 percent of Campbell Soup, was lining up support from other investors, but it was becoming increasingly clear the fund could not beat a bloc of heirs to the Campbell fortune who control 41 percent of the company and have three board seats.

The potential settlement looks similar to an offer Campbell proposed to Third Point earlier this month. Third Point had rejected the company's offer to name as directors marketing expert Sarah Hofstetter, president of Comscore Inc <SCOR.O>, and former Blue Buffalo CEO Kurt Schmidt, who brings operational experience. The two are now expected to join the board.

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Campbell Soup and Third Point did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the potential settlement earlier on Sunday.

Third Point surfaced as an investor in Campbell Soup over the summer, criticizing the lagging share price and spree of costly acquisitions and asking management to explore a sale. Campbell's stock has lost about a third in value over the past two years.

One of Third Point's main criticisms has been the board's lack of succession planning to replace Morrison, who pushed for acquisitions, including the purchase of Snyder's-Lance, which added to Campbell's debt load.

When Third Point launched the proxy contest, its first since taking on Sotheby's four years ago, it sought to oust Campbell Soup's entire board, including three descendants of John Dorrance, inventor of condensed soup who ran Campbell's a century ago.

It allied itself with Campbell heir George Strawbridge. Third Point later scaled back its demands and got backing for its five nominees from proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services Inc.

This year activist investors have launched 42 proxy contests at U.S.-based companies and 13 have been settled, data from Activist Insight show.

STRATEGIC REVIEW

Third Point pushed to put one of its partners on the board, saying Campbell needed financial expertise. As part of the settlement, it will now make periodic presentations to the board on financial matters, a person familiar with the negotiations said.

After Morrison departed, Campbell Soup went through a strategic review and announced in August plans to sell its international and refrigerated foods business and explore the possibility of a full sale. McLoughlin said the company had lost focus within its brands and did not do enough to keep its soups business relevant to modern consumers.

Campbell had maintained that Third Point lacked a smart plan to improve the company's fortunes. On Tuesday, the company's hand looked stronger when it reported a smaller-than-expected decline in quarterly earnings.

Also last week, McLoughlin met with Loeb in an effort to reach a deal, one of the sources said.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss in Boston and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by David Gregorio)
By Allison Martell and Allison Lampert

TORONTO/MONTREAL (Reuters) - Hundreds of workers walked off the job and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed "deep disappointment" after General Motors Co (GM.N) on Monday announced the closure of its Oshawa plant, catching governments and employees by surprise.

Canadian officials, briefed on the plan on Sunday, promised to aid those affected by the December 2019 closure, part of a wider restructuring that will cut production of slow-selling models and slash GM's North American workforce.

GM said the closure affects 2,973 assemblyline jobs in the Ontario city, out of the automaker's Canadian workforce of 8,150.

"I spoke with GM (Chief Executive) Mary Barra to express my deep disappointment in the closure," Trudeau tweeted on Monday. "We'll do everything we can to help the families affected by this news get back on their feet."

The end of automotive production in Oshawa is a blow to workers in Canada's manufacturing heartland and comes as Trudeau's Liberal government is trying to head off the economic impact of low oil prices in Western Canada. Trudeau is up for re-election next October.

"The families in Oshawa need to hear that the Prime Minister hasn't already given up on a century of the auto industry in our community," said Conservative member of parliament for nearby Durham Erin O'Toole, speaking in the legislature.

GM told the provincial government nothing could be done to keep the plant - located about 37 miles (60 km) east of Toronto - open, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said.

"The first thing I said is, 'What can we do? What do we have to do?'" said Ford, referring to a Sunday call with GM Canada's president, Travis Hester. "He said the ship has already left the dock."

The Canadian and Ontario governments joined the United States in supporting GM with billions of dollars in aid after the automaker filed for bankruptcy protection during the 2009 global economic downturn.

"We are not going away without a fight," Jerry Dias, National President of Unifor, told a news conference in Oshawa.

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Unifor, a successor to the United Auto Workers breakoff Canadian Auto Workers, represents most of the country's auto workers and more than 250,000 in other sectors.

'IT'S TERRIBLE'

Canada's auto industry has struggled to attract new investment in recent years, and the latest closure will ripple through the company's supply chain.

Canadian auto parts maker Martinrea International Inc (MRE.TO) will close a plant that supplies the Oshawa facility, said Executive Chairman Rob Wildeboer in an interview.

Wildeboer said the announcement affects only about 1 percent of revenue for Martinrea, whose shares fell 6.8 percent on Monday. Shares of peers Magna International (MG.TO) and Linamar Corp (LNR.TO) pared early losses to close up.

Ford Motor Co (F.N) has no plans to close a plant in Canada, President Mark Buzzell told reporters after meeting with Trudeau on Monday.

The new trade agreement struck by the United States, Mexico and Canada in September leaves significant room for Canadian plants to increase duty-free exports. USMCA, as the new NAFTA is called, is expected to be formally signed this week.

But a former Canadian auto executive said it would be difficult for Canadian government officials to persuade GM to keep the plant open.

"The government has done everything they could to keep them afloat. Obviously incentives by themselves don't keep a car plant open," said the executive, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Members of Unifor walked out of the Oshawa plant "in protest," ahead of a meeting with GM about the announcement, a union spokeswoman said.

"I've moved my family twice for this company and they do this to me. It's terrible," a tearful worker told CBC TV as he left the plant.

BMO Capital Markets estimated that the closure would reduce Canadian gross domestic product by between 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent over a full year.

(Reporting by Allison Martell in Toronto, Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Richard Chang and Matthew Lewis)
Connecticut Supreme Court in Hartford.

Connecticut Supreme Court in Hartford. Courtesy Photo



By a narrow 4-3 ruling, the Connecticut Supreme Court has clarified a law related to the sovereign immunity of the state when dealing with highway-related injuries.



On Nov. 20, the state's high court reversed in part and affirmed in part the judgment of the Connecticut Appellate Court, which had granted summary judgment in favor of the Commissioner of Transportation in a case brought by motorist Barry Graham. It found that Graham's personal injury action was barred by sovereign immunity under the state's Highway Defect Statute.



Graham, who was seriously injured on Interstate 95 when his pickup truck slid on black ice and crashed into a structure on a state bridge in 2011, had sued the state Department of Transportation.



But the state Supreme Court held that Commissioner James Redeker couldn't be held liable for the state police's failure to close the bridge.



In its 21-page ruling, the high court said there was no evidence the requisite relationship existed between the commissioner and the state police, and therefore the commissioner and the Department of Transportation aren't liable.



"We disagree with the plaintiff's argument that the waiver of sovereign immunity under Connecticut General Statutes 13a-144 extends to the actions of any state employee without regard to that employee's relationship to the commissioner," Chief Justice Richard Robinson wrote. "Extending 13a-144 to include the negligence of any state employee, not otherwise engaged in highway maintenance ... constitutes an expansion of potential liability on the state that is not within the clear reach of the statute."



Robinson wrote that the "floodgates would open, and the commissioner could well be held liable for the actions of any state employee regardless of his or her affiliation with the department" if the statutes were to take away sovereign immunity for the commissioner with regard to any state employee that the commissioner oversees. "That would be far too broad," Robinson wrote.



Graham's lawsuit, though, alleging negligence by the DOT, is not affected by the state high court's ruling and is still pending.



In the dissent, Justice Gregory D'Auria wrote: "Although the majority indicates it is reaching only the first certified questionsovereign immunityand not the second certified questiondutyI believe it has mixed the concepts of sovereign immunity and duty."



D'Auria continued: "I believe blending these distinct doctrines will thwart injured parties seeking to vindicate statutory rights in a way the Legislature did not intend."



Graham was represented by Ralph Monaco and Eric Garofano, both with the New London-based Conway, Londregan, Sheehan & Monaco. Neither Monaco nor Garofano responded to a request for comment.



The Commissioner of Transportation was represented by Lorinda Coon, of Hartford's Cooney, Scully & Dowling. Coon did not respond to a request for comment.



Judd Everhart, director of communications for the state Department of Transportation, did not respond to a request for comment Monday.




Attorneys Joe Andrew and Elliott Portnoy, who together oversee Dentons worldwide operations, hold passports that would be the envy of any aspiring globehopper. But after marching into far-flung jurisdictions like Indonesia, Uganda, Peru and the Netherlands in recent years, Dentons leadership sees inviting new terrain for the firms growth: a nearly 4-million-square-mile market thats home to more than 325 million people.



When we created Dentons, if you looked at the trajectory of growth within the global legal market, one would have thought that the United States share of the global legal market would begin to decline, U.S. CEO Mike McNamara says. To the contrary, here in 2018, its increased. The United States is now over 50 percent of the global legal spend, and it truly has solidified itself, despite all the ebbs and flows of the global business economy, as the legal market most interconnected in global transactions and disputes.



Emerging markets were ascendant in 2013, when the global behemoth took on its current name following a three-way merger. Dentons has continued to ride that wave, boasting TKTKT combinations and mergers bringing it into TKTKTK new countries in the past five years.



To be clear, the 9,000-attorney firm is already well entrenched in the U.S., with 24 offices around the country and a presence in 9 of its 10 largest metropolitan areas (Philadelphia being the exception). But, when the firms global management committeewhich includes the global leadership team and CEOs of individual regionssits down, its agreed that the U.S. is the No. 1 target for expansion.



Of course, all of my colleagues have priorities for where they want to grow talent and where they want to grow geographic presence and grow client capabilities in their market, McNamara says.



But growing the United States market remains at the top of the list because so many of the client relationships that they enjoyso many of the panel appointments and panel processes that are now a key driver of business in the legal marketplacereally depend on a U.S nexus, he explains. Having the vibrancy of the team and depth of talent that we have in the U.S. is not just for the benefit of our fine partners in the U.S., but it really is for the benefit of my colleagues around the world.



In addition to making the case that access to global panels opens doors for American attorneys, and vice versa, McNamara highlights client service advantages that come with being part of a worldwide team.



Were able to be more efficient for our clients because we know their business and were able to work more closely with colleagues in London or Berlin or Guangzhou or Dubai on a client matter without that lawyer outside the U.S. having to learn the clients from scratch, he says. The client gets the seamlessness of connectivity. They dont have to worry about managing multiple law firms or multiple service providersall they know is they get to call their lawyer in Kansas City, who suddenly has and is managing this tremendous team around the world.



Zeughauser Group consultant Kent Zimmermann is not surprised by Dentons aims, pointing to the persistence of high rates in the U.S. compared with other jurisdictions, and the vibrancy of its litigation market.



I give a lot of credit to the global firms that have rapidly built international practices, he says. I think, for many of them, growing in the U.S. is a high priority, but its not that easy to do.



In many conversations with partners at firms contemplating mergers, Zimmermann first finds resistance to joining larger firms, out of the fear of lost independence. In other cases, theres a willingness to consider a similar-sized firm. And, on the occasions when partners say theyd be willing to join a larger firm if its really a compelling proposition, they say they dont want to join a mega firm. Asked for examples, they begin listing different global law firms.



Theres an underappreciation of the strengths that the global firms bring to the table and the benefits and the advantages that they have, he says. These include the strength of their brands and their deep pool of resourceswhich make it easier for them to compete with the Big Four as technologies like artificial intelligence become an increasingly important component of legal service delivery (see page TKTKT.)



McNamara says the combination already has paid off for attorneys who came aboard in Hawaii earlier this year. Dentons first encountered Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing on the opposite side of the table in litigation and determined the local firms heft in that field matched Dentons national strength. The movewhich made Dentons the first national, let alone global, firm in Hawaiigives it a presence in the heart of the Pacific Rim, where it already has offices in East and Southeast Asia, Australia and North and South America.



Just last week, one of our newest partners in Hawaii was sending emails around the firm on behalf of an existing client that shed been doing work for for probably 10 years at her prior firm, McNamara recounts. Theyd identified a need in four countries and, with two emails, she identified a lawyer to help the client in those countries to jump in and help a transaction that she was in the middle of. In a prior life, she would not have been able to help the client with the global issues, and it was like there was a green light coming on for her.



The firm is also committed to building depth in existing American markets, following recent additions of a technology-focused intellectual property team on the West Coast, a federal regulatory team specializing in transportation on the East Coast and an IP litigation team in the Midwest.



And McNamara hopes to be able to announce a brand new set of locations in 2019.



From a macro perspective, important business centers where we are not yet physically present include the Pacific Northwest, the Upper Midwest and along the Acela corridor, he says, naming Pennsylvania in particular. The firm is also undersized for the marketplace in Florida, Texas and the Southwest, he adds.



But he acknowledges that U.S. expansion turns on identifying talented groups of attorneys who aspire to build global connections for their practices.



While you can say one should have a ranked list by size of legal markets in the U.S. where we are not, one of the most important elements for us is finding lawyers who are of the highest quality, highest integrity, highest caliber, who are really looking to transform their practice and benefit from the connections that Dentons has now created for lawyers around the world, he says.



Email: dpackel@alm.com
There is a "70 percent" probability Elon Musk will personally go to Mars, the SpaceX CEO said in an interview with Axios.

Musk said in September that he might join Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa on a trip around the moon in 2023.

SpaceX has "recently made a number of breakthroughs that I am just really fired up about," Musk said.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said there is a "70 percent" likelihood that he will personally go to Mars, speaking in an interview with Axios published Sunday.

Musk's rocket company has "recently made a number of breakthroughs that I am just really fired up about," he said. He did not elaborate on those new developments, instead focusing on his Mars colonization effort.

"I'm talking about moving there," Musk said.

Musk recently began speaking about his personal aspirations to fly in space, as he said in September he might join Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa on a trip around the moon planned for 2023. When SpaceX announced Maezawa as the first person to sign with the company for a private flight, Musk said he was "not sure" when he would go.

"Maybe we'll both be on it," Musk said in September, after Maezawa repeated that Musk should join him on the lunar visit.

SpaceX's plans for taking humans to the moon and Mars hinge on its development of Starship: A massive rocket the size of a 32 story building and capable of carrying dozens of people.

Starship, formerly known as Big Falcon Rocket (BFR), is the key to Musk's vision of creating a permanent, self-sustaining human presence on Mars .

Musk said in the Axios interview that he would probably go once SpaceX gets "the price per ticket to maybe around a couple hundred thousand dollars." Despite the high fare price, Musk laughingly denied that the colonization of Mars would serve as an escape from Earth for rich people.

"Your probability of dying on Mars is much higher than Earth," Musk said.

Story continues

He compared a Mars trip to signing up for Ernest Shackleton's journey to the Antarctic in the early 1900s.

Watch: This small-rocket unicorn wants to be the FedEx of space

"It's gonna be hard, there's a good chance of death, going in a little can through deep space, you might land successfully, once you land successfully you'll be working non-stop to build the base  so not much time for leisure  and once you get there, even after all this, there's a very harsh environment, so there's a good chance you'll die there. We think you can come back but we're not sure," Musk said.

"Now does that sound like an escape hatch for rich people?" he added.

Asked why he would still go, Musk compared it to the adventurous desire to climb the world's highest mountain, even at the risk of death.

"People die on Everest all the time. They like doing it for the challenge," Musk said.

Watch Elon Musk's interview with Axios here.





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Elon Musk announcing his first private moon flight passenger at SpaceX HQ in September 2018 - AFP

Elon musk has declared that there is a "70 per cent chance" he will personally visit Mars within his lifetime despite a "good chance" of death.

The SpaceX founder told reporters that travel to Mars might be possible within seven years for a few hundred thousand dollars per ticket, saying: "I'm thinking about moving there."

Mr Musk, who endured multiple scandals this year over his drug use, and stewardship of his electric car company, Tesla, has been working towards colonising the red planet since 2001, believing it to be essential insurance against a global disaster on Earth.

Asked by the American news website Axios whether a Mars colony would simply be "an escape hatch for the rich," Mr Musk said: "No! Your probability of dying on Mars is much higher than Earth.

"Really the ad for going to Mars would be like Shackleton's ad for going to the Antarctic. It's gonna be hard. There's a good chance of death, going in a little can through deep space. You might land successfully.

"Once you land successfully you'll be working nonstop to build the base. So, you know, not much time for leisure, and once you get there, even after doing all this, it's a very harsh environment, so there's a good chance you die there.

"We think you can come back, but we're not sure. Now does that sound like an escape hatch for rich people?"

Nevertheless, he said, he would go without hesitation, arguing: "There's lots of people who climb mountains. Why do they climb mountains? People die on Mount Everest all the time."

Mr Musk is not the only one interested in Mars. On Monday, Nasa's Insight probe will land on the planet and dig beneath the surface to measure its internal heat and monitor earthquakes and meteorite strikes via vibrations.

The space agency is working with SpaceX to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station starting next June, but recently launched a review of the company's drug policies after Mr Musk smoked marijuana on a podcast.

Last month, Mr Musk settled with US financial regulators over a tweet in which he claimed that he had "funding secured" for a deal to take Tesla private, increasing the company's share price, when in fact he had no such thing.
DUBAI, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Private equity firm General Atlantic has led a $120 million investment and acquired a minority stake in Middle East real estate classifieds website Property Finder.

Property Finder's chief executive told Reuters the money would be invested in product and technology.

"We want to continue building the best product and data information available to the public," Michael Lahyani said at the company's headquarters in Dubai.

The proceeds will also be used to expand the brand in its existing markets of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon and Morocco, he added.

The company is likely to add about 200 staff to its 450-strong workforce by the end of 2019, Lahyani said. He did not disclose the exact size of the stake acquired by New York-based General Atlantic.

General Atlantic's Chris Caulkin, the firm's head of technology for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, is joining Property Finder's board after the investment round.

The other investors were non-profit organisation Endeavor and existing investor Vostok New Ventures.

Property Finder is now valued at close to $500 million, Lahyani said, declining to disclose an exact figure.

The classifieds website was valued at $200 million in 2016 when it sold a 10 percent stake to Stockholm-listed Vostok for $20 million.

Property Finder, founded in 2007, has been profitable for the past four years and generates six million monthly website visits across its Middle East and North Africa markets, Lahyani said

In Turkey, Property Finder is a minority shareholder in website Zingat.

Property Finder was advised by TAP Advisors. (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell Editing by David Goodman)
Property worth millions gutted in Buddhanagar blaze

Property worth millions of rupees was destroyed when a fire broke out at the Gaurishankar furniture showroom at Buddhanagar in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu on Monday.
FILE PHOTO: A Canadian Natural Resources pump jack pumps oil out of the ground near Dorothy, Alberta, Canada, June 30, 2009. REUTERS/Todd Korol/File Photo

By Henning Gloystein

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The steep plunge in crude futures in the last few weeks was triggered by a nascent glut as supply-growth started to outpace demand, but it was also part of a broader pullback from risky emerging market assets such as Asian currencies and stocks.

Those assets had done well in recent years, boosted by economic growth in nations such as China, India and Indonesia.

But bulging debt across many Asian economies, tightening U.S. fiscal policy and the Sino-U.S. trade war have driven investors to vote with their feet, pulling their money out of assets such as oil or Asian stocks and instead turning to safe-havens like the U.S. dollar.

As part of that shift, oil markets have lost a third of their value since early October.

"Anything denominated against the USD is under pressure right now," said Gregg McKenna, an independent cross-asset market analyst based in Australia.

GRAPHIC: Oil vs Dollar https://tmsnrt.rs/2R8L4ih

Billions of dollars have been pulled out of crude futures.

"Traders reported capitulation and liquidation," ANZ bank said in a note on Monday.

It added that net long positions for crude futures, which would profit from increasing oil prices, "were reported to be cut to their lowest level in three years".

And traders seem to be preparing for further falls.

Managed short positions in front-month U.S. crude oil futures, which would profit from further price declines, have surged from record lows of around 14,100 lots of 1,000 barrels each in July, to almost 110,000 lots by mid-November, exchange trade data showed. That is the highest number of short positions since October 2017.

GRAPHIC: U.S. crude oil price short positions https://tmsnrt.rs/2Rjq7Sc

What's more, the number of puts - which give a trader the option though not obligation to sell a financial instrument at a certain price - in February Brent crude oil futures at $55 and $50 per barrel has surged to record levels since October.

Equally, the price to buy such an option has jumped as demand for them has increased.

Story continues

GRAPHIC: Brent put options https://tmsnrt.rs/2R9W1jK

BROAD DOWNTURN

The same pessimism can be seen in broader Asian markets.

"2018 clearly marked the end of the 10-year Asia credit bull market due to tightening financial conditions in Asia (especially China)," Morgan Stanley said in a note released on Sunday.

"We don't think that we are at the bottom of the cycle yet," the U.S. bank said.

Its peer J.P. Morgan said on Friday that the "slide in U.S. and global equity markets shifts the balance of risks more clearly to the downside".

J.P. Morgan said the parallel slump in equities and commodities, including crude oil and industrial raw materials like iron ore and metals, was concerning.

ANZ bank said "steel futures in China posted their fourth weekly decline as investors become increasingly worried about weak economic growth".

GRAPHIC: Oil prices vs Asian stock market https://tmsnrt.rs/2R8dwku

Beyond financial markets, there are also signs of a downturn in global trade.

More than 90 percent of all products are taken from producer to consumer by ship.

Here, rates for containers, which carry finished goods, and rates for dry-bulk vessels carrying raw materials like coal or iron ore, have slumped by 26.4 percent and 38.35 percent respectively from their 2018 highs as shipping stalls amid the economic headwinds.

"Slowing U.S. growth would dampen demand for exports from Asia ... possibly weighing on freight," Singapore shipping brokerage Eastport said on Monday.

GRAPHIC: Shipping rates have declined since August 2018 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RdZv4G

(Reporting by Henning Gloystein; Additional reporting by Gavin Maguire; Editing by Joseph Radford)
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / Luxoft Holding, Inc (LXFT), a global IT service provider, today announced that it will be participating in two upcoming investor conferences:

Tuesday, November 27th, 2018:

Dmitry Loschinin, Chief Executive Officer, and Tracy Krumme, Vice President, Investor Relations, will be conducting one-on-one meetings at the UBS Global Emerging Markets One-on-One Conference in New York, NY.

Tuesday, December 4th and Wednesday, December 5th, 2018:

Evgeny Fetisov, Chief Financial Officer, and Tracy Krumme, Vice President, Investor Relations, will be conducting one-on-one meetings at WOOD's Emerging Europe Conference in Prague, Czech Republic.

About Luxoft

Luxoft (LXFT) is a global IT service provider of innovative technology solutions that delivers measurable business outcomes to multinational companies. Its offerings encompass strategic consulting, custom software development services, and digital solution engineering. Luxoft enables companies to compete by leveraging its multi-industry expertise in the financial services, automotive, communications, and healthcare & life sciences sectors. Its managed delivery model is underpinned by a highly-educated workforce, allowing the Company to continuously innovate upwards on the technology stack to meet evolving digital challenges.



Luxoft has approximately 12,900 employees across 42 offices in 22 countries within five continents, with its operating headquarters office in Zug, Switzerland. For more information, please visit www.luxoft.com.



Investor Inquires

Tracy Krumme

Vice President, Investor Relations

212-964-9900 ext. 2460

IR@luxoft.com

Media Inquiries

Robert Maccabe

Director, Public Relations

+44 (0)20 3828 2346

Press@luxoft.com

Twitter: @Luxoft


ohio bitcoin

Ohio will become the first state in the US to officially accept tax payments in bitcoin, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Beginning this week, businesses who plan to make settlements for their taxes with bitcoin can visit OhioCrypto.com and register to pay all their corporate taxes to the government in BTC. The state government has partnered with crypto payment processor BitPay to handle the payment in crypto and conversion to dollars for the tax office.

The idea was birthed by the current state treasurer, Josh Mandel, who sees accepting cryptocurrency as a great way to rebrand the Buckeye State by enabling forward-thinking tech ideas. Bitcoin has been used for speculative purposes in most cases in the US, as it hasnt picked up as a means of payment for goods and services for several reasons. One key reason for this is the massive price volatility, which makes many merchants nervous to accept it  even though this is generally not something that they should worry about when using a payment processor such as BitPay or Coinbase.

Mandel, who has been interested in bitcoin since he was appointed in 2011, said he sees the flagship cryptocurrency as a legitimate form of currency.

While Ohios move wont do much to affect the free fall of cryptocurrencies at the moment, its still a win for bitcoin and a form of government approval, which the cryptocurrency has been lacking in the United States.

The WSJ quoted Jerry Brito, the director of Coin Center, a crypto research and lobbying firm, who said that he believes a government institution like the state treasury accepting tax payments in bitcoin sends a message that bitcoins a technology that can be used by anybodyby bad guys but also by the government. Other states in the US who have considered bitcoin payments for taxes includes Arizona, Georgia, and Illinois, but the bills were met with resistance at the legislative level.

Story continues

Earlier this month, the Ohio-based Great Lakes Science Center announced its decision to accept payments in bitcoin, a move which the museum hopes will help develop the blockchain industry.

According to Kirsten Ellenbogen, the CEO of Great Lakes Science Center, visitors can pay for their admission tickets into the museum with BTC.

There is a lot of excitement around the conference. Accepting bitcoin is just a small part of the momentum to grow a blockchain ecosystem in Cleveland, Ellenbogen said at the time.

Featured Image from Shutterstock



The post Mainstream: Ohio Businesses Can Now Pay Taxes with Bitcoin appeared first on CCN.


NEWS RELEASE REGULATED INFORMATION

IRVINE, CA, and HERSTAL, BELGIUM - 07.00 CET, 26 November 2018 - MDxHealth SA (MDXH.BR) today announces that the New York State Department of Health has approved its SelectMDx test for Prostate Cancer. This completes MDxHealth`s state licensing requirements for SelectMDx, allowing the Company to offer the liquid biopsy test in all 50 states across the US.

SelectMDx is a proprietary, non-invasive urine-based molecular diagnostic test to identify men at increased risk of harboring aggressive prostate cancer, who may benefit most from earlier detection. Studies have shown that the test can reduce the need for unnecessary invasive biopsies and MRI procedures by up to 50%. A prospective clincal utility study recently published in the journal Urology Practice clearly demonstrated the value of SelectMDx in guiding urologists with their initial prostate biopsy decision-making. Similarly, a US based study published in the Journal of Urology assessing the cost-effectiveness of SelectMDx projected potential annual healthcare cost savings of over $500 million.

"We`re thrilled to receive this approval from New York State which means SelectMDx will now be widely available to all physicians and their patients throughout the United States," said Dr. Jan Groen, MDxHealth`s CEO. "This is a major milestone for our SelectMDx reimbursement and commercial strategy. It will support the growth of our test volumes for SelectMDx in the US, an important market, as well as in other territories."



The New York State Department of Health`s Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (CLEP) regulates and oversees clinical diagnostic laboratories that test specimens from New York State residents, including Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs). The CLEP seeks to ensure the accuracy and reliability of test results in clinical laboratories located in, or accepting specimens from, New York State residents. It is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous review processes due to its stringent quality standards.

The MDxHealth laboratory has been accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) since 2012, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CLIA) since 2011. In addition, the laboratory is licensed by the California Department of Public Health, Pennsylvania State Department of Health, State of Rhode Island Department of Health and Maryland Department of Health.

Story continues



About SelectMDx for Prostate Cancer

SelectMDx for Prostate Cancer is a proprietary, urine-based molecular diagnostic test that offers a non-invasive `liquid biopsy` method to assess a man`s risk for prostate cancer. SelectMDx helps identify men at increased risk of harboring aggressive, potentially lethal, prostate cancer who may benefit most from a prostate biopsy and earlier detection. The test helps to reduce the need for MRI procedures and invasive prostate biopsies by up to 50%, thereby improving quality of life and lowering healthcare costs per patient. SelectMDx is available in the US and all EU member states. Since the introduction of the SelectMDx test in mid-2016, over 23,000 patients have been tested and 15 commercial contracts have been signed with US based insurance companies. The test has been included in the 2018 European Association of Urology (EAU) clinical guidelines.

About MDxHealth

MDxHealth is a multinational healthcare company that provides actionable molecular diagnostic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company`s tests are based on proprietary genetic, epigenetic (methylation) and other molecular technologies and assist physicians with the diagnosis of urologic cancers, prognosis of recurrence risk, and prediction of response to a specific therapy. The Company`s European headquarters are in Herstal, Belgium, with laboratory operations in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and US headquarters and laboratory operations based in Irvine, California. For more information, visit mdxhealth.com and follow us on social media at: twitter.com/mdxhealth, facebook.com/mdxhealth and linkedin.com/company/mdxhealth.

For more information:

MDxHealth



Dr. Jan Groen, CEO



US: +1 949 812 6979



BE: +32 4 257 70 21



info@mdxhealth.com



LifeSpring LifeSciences Communication



Leon Melens



NL: +31 6 538 16 427



lmelens@lifespring.nl Consilium Strategic Communications

David Daley, Chris Welsh, Jonathan Birt

UK: +44 20 3709 5701



mdxhealth@consilium-comms.com













This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates with respect to the anticipated future performance of MDxHealth and the market in which it operates. Such statements and estimates are based on assumptions and assessments of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which were deemed reasonable but may not prove to be correct. Actual events are difficult to predict, may depend upon factors that are beyond the company`s control, and may turn out to be materially different. MDxHealth expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this release to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required by law or regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of MDxHealth in any jurisdiction. No securities of MDxHealth may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. securities laws.

NOTE: The MDxHealth logo, MDxHealth, ConfirmMDx, SelectMDx, AssureMDx, PredictMDx and UrNCollect are trademarks or registered trademarks of MDxHealth SA. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Click here for pdf







This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.



The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: MDxHealth (R) via GlobeNewswire

HUG#2226833


The Federal Government of Nigeria is finding it difficult to raise money to fund its operations and its various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are beginning to feel the pain.

Sources have confirmed to Nigerias English-language business paper, Business Day, that most federal government agencies are currently operating on shoe-string budgets, struggling to pay salaries and have not accessed more than 10 percent of their budgeted capital expenditure for the year.

The precarious state of the government agencies piles pressure on an economy still recovering from a recession.

Nigerias economy is forecast to expand by only 2 percent in 2018, below an average population growth rate of about 3 percent.

The public sector is a catalyst for business activity in Nigeria, so when the agencies are hampered by lack of funds in performing their critical functions, it affects business and the private sector, and rubs off negatively on the economy, said Taiwo Oyedele, a partner and head of tax and regulatory services at Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC).

One of the critical agencies struggling for funds is the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which has not been able to release unemployment numbers since the last quarter of 2017 because it has not received enough funding to collate the data. As seen in its data release calendar, the agency, was scheduled to release the Q4, 2017 labor force report on January 19, 2018 but has not even commenced the survey due to lack of funds.

A paucity of the NBS reports will make it difficult for evidence-based decisions that guide policy implementation and evaluation as well as business decisions by investors. Sources at the statistics office say only 25 percent of their funds have been released to the statistics office for this years capex, while overheads have not been paid for about five months now.It is not an NBS issue alone, it is across the agencies, but we hope that things will be sorted out soon by government, one source explained to Business Day.

Story continues

As of October, total releases for capital expenditure stood at just N486 billion, as against the budgeted N2.86 trillion.This figure represents a mere 17 percent outturn, as low revenue means the government lacks the cash to implement its budget. The third quarter economic report of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) shows the federal government is experiencing a significant shortfall in revenues, which has been compounded by the fact that it is spending more money paying its creditors than running the government. Total federal government revenues for the first nine months of 2018 stood at N2.75 trillion, just about half of projected revenue.

The federal governments expenditure for the same period stood at N3.7 trillion, which also represented a 27 percent shortfall (N1.34 trillion) compared to the N5.04 trillion that should have been spent within the period, as the government cut back on its expenditure because it is not able to raise enough revenues.

A further breakdown of the federal governments expenditure for the period shows that 82.4 percent of the total expenditure was recurrent, while 12.5 percent went into statutory transfers. Only 5.1 percent of government expenditure for the period went into capital expenditure, the data from CBN shows.

In addition, of the 82.4 percent of recurrent expenditure incurred by the federal government in the third quarter, more than half, 59.1 percent went into debt service payments, leaving only 40.9 percent for non-debt recurrent expenditure, a situation which explains why many government agencies, including the military, are now complaining of lack of funds to run their operations effectively.

The third quarter trend is not a one off, considering that in the first half of 2018, debt servicing accounted for 58 percent of recurrent expenditure, which was higher than budgeted and was the single largest item the government was spending on.

At N1.24 trillion, debt service or interest payments was 12 percent higher than the proportionate budget estimate of N1.1 trillion and gulped 68.9 percent of the Federal governments retained revenue.

Of this amount, N1.18 trillion (95.2 percent) was expended on domestic debt service, while the balance of N58.93 billion (4.8 percent) was for external debt service.

Non-debt recurrent expenditure, which comprises allocations to government MDAs, paid part of the price for lower than planned revenues and higher cost of borrowing, as it was below the proportionate budget estimate by 63.6 percent, a pointer that the MDAs are operating on shoe-string budgets. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently disclosed that the agency is facing significant funding challenges. Adeyeye was quoted to have said on November 19 that 80 per cent of the NAFDAC equipment can no longer function due to lack of funds to fix them and even to recruit more staff.

Even the military are feeling the pain of poor funding, a report by International news agency Reuters on September 19 disclosed. The Reuters report claimed that soldiers have been left with too little equipment, and many vehicles are broken and gathering rust as soldiers complain of poor funding for their operations.

In recent weeks, there have been reports of hundreds of Nigerian soldiers being killed in their fight with Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast. This has been largely blamed on the fact that the army has been poorly equipped to fight the insurgents who look to be better armed and more motivated. Ken Goodluck, an Abuja based political economist, who spoke to Business Day, confirmed the challenging environment within which agencies operate presently, further disclosing that even contractors are not being paid for jobs already completed, while new contracts cannot be funded.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who seeks a second term at next years polls, signed off on a N9.120 trillion 2018 budget in June, after six months of appropriation delays by the National Assembly.

The budget has a deficit slightly in excess of N2 trillion and the federal government plans to borrow N1.643 trillion to fund the deficit and equally hopes to raise N306 billion from privatization and another N5 billion from the sale of government property in order to finance the deficit.

Apart from borrowings, questions are being raised on how the government is deploying billions of naira it claims to have recovered from looters, collections from revenue generating agencies, as well as oil earnings especially as crude prices have well exceeded the $51 budget benchmark for much of the year.

The Nigeria Custom service for instance said it has already made N784. 88 billion between January and August 2018 and hopes to exceed its N1.3 trillion target for the year. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), announced it recorded N4.3 trillion between January and October, which translates to 64.2 percent of its N6.7 trillion targeted for the 2018 fiscal year and is the largest amount raised by the Nigerian equivalent of the US IRS in four years, according to data compiled by Business Day Nigeria.

The 2018 appropriation bill, the largest in the nations history, was premised on key revenue assumptions of oil price benchmark of $51 and 2.3 million barrels per day. Although average oil output for the year has not reached the target, average oil price at over $70 per barrel so far in the year has well exceeded the $51 benchmark.

The post Nigerias Government Agencies Bear Burden Of Governments Cash Crunch appeared first on Emerging Market Views.
Press Release

26 November 2018

Espoo, Finland - Nokia announced that it has signed a patent license agreement with OPPO.

Under the agreement, OPPO will make payments to Nokia for a multi-year license period.

"OPPO is one of the leaders in the smartphone industry and we are pleased to welcome them as a Nokia licensee," said Maria Varsellona, Nokia Chief Legal Officer and President of Nokia Technologies. "This agreement further validates our global licensing program."

The terms of the agreement remain confidential between the parties.



About Nokia

We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry`s most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing.

We adhere to the highest ethical business standards as we create technology with social purpose, quality and integrity. Nokia is enabling the infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things to transform the human experience. www.nokia.com



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

It should be noted that Nokia and its businesses are exposed to various risks and uncertainties and certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Nokia`s current expectations and views of future developments and include statements regarding: A) expectations, plans or benefits related to our strategies and growth management; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses; C) expectations and targets regarding financial performance, results, operating expenses, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, cost savings and competitiveness, as well as results of operations including targeted synergies and those related to market share, prices, net sales, income and margins; D) expectations, plans or benefits related to changes in organizational and operational structure; E) expectations regarding market developments, general economic conditions and structural changes; F) our ability to integrate acquired businesses into our operations and achieve the targeted business plans and benefits, including targeted benefits, synergies, cost savings and efficiencies; G) expectations, plans or benefits related to any future collaboration or to business collaboration agreements or patent license agreements or arbitration awards, including income to be received under any collaboration or partnership, agreement or award; H) timing of the deliveries of our products and services, including our expectations around the rollout of 5G services; I) expectations and targets regarding collaboration and partnering arrangements, joint ventures or the creation of joint ventures, and the related administrative, legal, regulatory and other conditions, as well as our expected customer reach; J) outcome of pending and threatened litigation, arbitration, disputes, regulatory proceedings or investigations by authorities; K) expectations regarding restructurings, investments, capital structure optimization efforts, uses of proceeds from transactions, acquisitions and divestments and our ability to achieve the financial and operational targets set in connection with any such restructurings, investments, capital structure optimization efforts, divestments and acquisitions; and L) statements preceded by or including "believe", "expect", "expectations", "commit", "anticipate", "foresee", "sees", "target", "estimate", "designed", "aim", "plans", "intends", "focus", "continue", "project", "should", "is to", "will" or similar expressions.

Story continues

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are based on management`s best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and views of future events and developments and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to: 1) our strategy is subject to various risks and uncertainties and we may be unable to successfully implement our strategic plans, sustain or improve the operational and financial performance of our business groups, correctly identify or successfully pursue business opportunities or otherwise grow our business; 2) general economic and market conditions and other developments in the economies where we operate, including the timeline for the deployment of 5G and our ability to successfully capitalize on that deployment; 3) competition and our ability to effectively and profitably invest in new competitive high-quality products, services, upgrades and technologies and bring them to market in a timely manner; 4) our ability to maintain our existing sources of intellectual property-related revenue through our intellectual property, including through licensing, establish new sources of revenue and protect our intellectual property from infringement; 5) our global business and exposure to regulatory, political or other developments in various countries or regions, including emerging markets and the associated risks in relation to tax matters and exchange controls, among others; 6) our ability to successfully realize the expectations, plans or benefits related to any future collaboration or business collaboration agreements and patent license agreements or arbitration awards, including income to be received under any collaboration, partnership, agreement or arbitration award; 7) Nokia Technologies` ability to protect its IPR and to maintain and establish new sources of patent, brand and technology licensing income and IPR-related revenues, particularly in the smartphone market, which may not materialize as planned, 8) our dependence on IPR technologies, including those that we have developed and those that are licensed to us, and the risk of associated IPR-related legal claims, licensing costs and restrictions on use; 9) the impact of litigation, arbitration, agreement-related disputes or product liability allegations associated with our business; as well as the risk factors specified on pages 71 to 89 of our 2017 annual report on Form 20-F published on March 22, 2018 under "Operating and financial review and prospects-Risk factors" and in our other filings or documents furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unknown or unpredictable factors or underlying assumptions subsequently proven to be incorrect could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.



Media Inquiries:

Mark Durrant

Nokia Technologies communications

Phone: +44 7875 276867

Email: mark.durrant@nokia.com

Nokia

Communications

Phone: +358 10 448 4900

Email: press.services@nokia.com







This announcement is distributed by West Corporation on behalf of West Corporation clients.



The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: NOKIA via GlobeNewswire

HUG#2226728


The Buckeye State is set to become the first state in the nation to accept cryptocurrency for tax bills.

Beginning this week, Ohio businesses will be able to use bitcoin to pay for everything from cigarette sales taxes to employee withholding taxes by registering on the website OhioCrypto.com. The state plans to eventually expand the option to individual filers.

The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Monday.

According to the new website, the idea came from Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who has held the office since 2011.

Treasurer Mandel believes in leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide Ohioans more options and ease while interfacing with state government, the website said.

The state also said it hopes to become a national leader in blockchain technology and is excited to become one of the first governments in the world to accept digital currencies as a form of payment. The site, however, did not list any other forms of crypto payments, such as Litecoin.

And this isnt Mandels first rodeo in leveraging technology in the state either. In 2014, he launched OhioCheckbook.com, which put all the state spending information on the internet and boosted its ranking around the country for its transparency.

The news comes as bitcoin and other notable cryptocurrencies have lost significant value over the last week  and year  from its big rally last year. On Monday, bitcoin traded below $4,000, down more than 80 percent since its all-time high of $20,000 in December 2017.

Despite the ups and down, Mandel told the Journal, he sees bitcoin as a legitimate form of currency and hopes other states will follow his lead.

And while Ohios move wouldnt give bitcoin legal status, it does send a message that its technology can be used by anyone.

Arizona, Georgia and Illinois have also considered using bitcoin for taxes, but bills addressing the issue have stalled in their state legislatures.

For Ohio business filers looking to use the new service to pay taxes, they will technically send their tax payments to an Atlanta-based payments processor called Bitpay, which will convert the bitcoin to dollars for the states treasurers office, the Journal said.

Story continues

Mandel is expected to make an official announcement on Monday.

Related Articles
Nov 26 (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.

- Campbell Soup Co is on the verge of a truce with activist hedge fund Third Point LLC by adding two of the fund's nominees to its board. Campbell would later appoint a third new director with input from Third Point, and seek the fund's advice in selecting a new chief executive. https://nyti.ms/2P2JtZw

- Blizzard-like conditions in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois caused a flurry of cancellations and delays on Sunday at Kansas City International Airport and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, creating a Thanksgiving weekend travel nightmare. https://nyti.ms/2BvQcYG

- British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday obtained the approval of the other 27 European Union members on a formal divorce pact from the bloc, a consequential step intended to take the country on a new, if unclear, path. (https://nyti.ms/2r6LDhu)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
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

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Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi.







This could get ugly for Goldman Sachs.



On the heels of criminal charges by the Justice Department against two former Goldman Sachs executives, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivans Michael Carlinsky is leading a related civil suit against the investment bank and other defendants.



This action seeks redress for a massive global conspiracy on the part of the defendants to defraud and injure plaintiffs, wrote Carlinsky, who heads Quinns complex litigation practice, in the suit filed last week in New York state court.



According to the complaint, Goldman and others conspired to embezzle billions of dollars from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Malaysias investment development fund, and to launder the proceeds of that theft through New York and elsewhere.



Those are some serious allegations, though the actual details are complicated to untangle.



Carlinsky represents the International Petroleum Investment Company, or IPIC, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund that was a longtime Goldman client.



According to The Wall Street Journal, IPIC entered into a series of deals with 1MDB that purported to invest in Malaysian development projects, such as real estate and power stations. Prosecutors in the U.S. and Malaysia allege the deals were elaborate scams to siphon money away for the benefit of individuals involved.





Two former IPIC executives (who are also named in the new complaint) were allegedly part of the scam, taking bribes and abusing their authority to further the business of Goldman Sachs and 1MDB at the expense of IPIC, according to Quinn Emanuel.



IPIC blames Goldman Sachs for playing a central role in a long-running effort to corrupt the former IPIC executives.



(Which to me sounds a bit like blaming your teenagers friend for getting your teen drunki.e. its the fault of the bad kid with the pilfered vodka, as opposed to your own kid for doing the drinking  but I digress.)



A Goldman spokesman told Reuters We are in the process of assessing the details of the allegations and fully expect to contest the claim vigorously.



For IPIC, a key objective is to protect a massive arbitration settlement that the fund won last year from 1MDB and the Malaysian Ministry of Finance.



Per Quinn Emanuel, the settlement was implemented by an award from internationally renowned arbitrators, with $1.2 billion paid at the end of 2017.



The problem? On October 30, 2018, Malaysia's attorney general announced that 1MDB and the government of Malaysia were filing an application in the United Kingdom to set aside the award.



Suffice to say, Carlinsky and his team wont make that easy.



According to Quinn Emanuel, IPIC plans to contest the application, to take steps to reaffirm the validity of the settlement and to protect its rights under both the settlement and the arbitration award.



The New York suit appears to be one piece of that strategy, with legal action also pending in the United Arab Emirates.



IPIC will take any and all legal action necessary, now and in the future, to protect its business interests against the financial exposure and damages it has suffered as a result of this international conspiracy, Carlinsky said.













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(Adds details, background, Google declined comments)

MOSCOW, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Russia has launched a civil case against Google, accusing it of failing to comply with a legal requirement to remove certain entries from its search results, the country's communications watchdog said on Monday.

If found guilty, the U.S. internet giant could be fined up to 700,000 roubles ($10,450), the watchdog, Roscomnadzor, said.

It said Google had not joined a state registry that lists banned websites that Moscow believes contain illegal information and was therefore in breach of the law.

A final decision in the case will be made in December, the watchdog said. Google declined to comment.

Over the past five years, Russia has introduced tougher internet laws that require search engines to delete some search results, messaging services to share encryption keys with security services, and social networks to store Russian users' personal data on servers within the country.

At the moment, the only tools Russia has to enforce its data rules are fines that typically only come to a few thousand dollars, or blocking the offending online services, which is an option fraught with technical difficulties.

Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday that Russia planned to impose stiffer fines on technology firms that fail to comply with Russian laws.

The plans for harsher fines are contained in a consultation document prepared by the administration of President Vladimir Putin and sent to industry players for feedback.

The legislation, if it goes ahead, would hit global tech giants such as Facebook and Google, which - if found to have breached rules - could face fines equal to 1 percent of their annual revenue in Russia, according to the sources.

($1 = 66.9670 roubles)

(Reporting by Polina Ivanova; additional reporting by Maria Kolomychenko; Writing by Tom Balmforth and Katya Golubkova; Editing by Louise Heavens and Mark Potter)
SAO PAULO (AP)  Scientists warn that Brazil's president-elect could push the Amazon rainforest past its tipping point  with severe consequences for global climate and rainfall.

Jair Bolsonaro, who takes office Jan. 1, claims a mandate to convert land for cattle pastures and soybean farms, calling Brazil's rainforest protections an economic obstacle.

Brazilians on Oct. 28 elected Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate who channeled outrage at the corruption scandals of the former government and support from agribusiness groups.

Next week global leaders will meet in Poland for an international climate conference to discuss how to curb climate change, and questions about Brazil's role in shaping the future of the Amazon rainforest after Bolsonaro's election loom large. New Brazilian government data show the rate of deforestation  a major factor in global warming  has already increased over the past year.

Brazil contains about 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest, and scientists are worried.

It's nearly impossible to overstate the importance of the Amazon rainforest to the planet's living systems, said Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist at the University of Sao Paulo.

Each tree stores carbon absorbed from the atmosphere. The Amazon takes in as much as 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year and releases 20 percent of the planet's oxygen, earning it the nickname "the lungs of the planet."

It's also a global weather-maker.

Stretching 10 times the size of Texas, the Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. Billions of trees suck up water through deep roots and bring it up to their leaves, which release water vapor that forms a thick mist over the rainforest canopy.

This mist ascends into clouds and eventually becomes rainfall  a cycle that shapes seasons in South America and far beyond.

By one estimate, the Amazon creates 30 to 50 percent of its own rainfall.

Now the integrity of all of three functions  as a carbon sink, the Earth's lungs, and a rainmaker  hangs in the balance.

Story continues

On the campaign trail, Bolsonaro promised to loosen protections for areas of the Brazilian Amazon designated as indigenous lands and nature reserves, calling them impediments to economic growth. "All these reserves cause problems to development," he told supporters.

He has also repeatedly talked about gutting the power of the environmental ministry to enforce existing green laws.

"If Bolsonaro keeps his campaign promises, deforestation of the Amazon will probably increase quickly  and the effects will be felt everywhere on the planet," said Paulo Artaxo, a professor of environmental physics at the University of Sao Paulo.

Bolsonaro's transition team did not respond to an interview request from the Associated Press.

Brazil was once seen as a global environmental success story. Between 2004 and 2014, stricter enforcement of laws to safeguard the rainforest  aided by regular satellite monitoring and protections for lands designated reserves for indigenous peoples  sharply curbed the rate of deforestation, which peaked in the early 2000s at about 9,650 square miles a year (25,000 square kilometers).

After a political crisis engulfed Brazil, leading to the 2016 impeachment of president Dilma Rousseff, enforcement faltered. Ranchers and farmers began to convert more rainforest to pastureland and cropland. Between 2014 and 2017, annual deforestation doubled to about 3,090 square miles (8,000 square kilometers). Most often, the trees and underbrush cut down are simply burned, directly releasing carbon dioxide, said Artaxo.

"In the Brazilian Amazon, far and away the largest source of deforestation is industrial agriculture and cattle ranching," said Emilio Bruna, an ecologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Now observers are parsing Bolsonaro's campaign statements and positions as a congressman to anticipate what's next for the Amazon.

Bolsonaro  who some call "tropical Trump" because of some similarities to U.S. President Donald Trump  is a former army captain with a knack for channeling outrage and generating headlines. As a federal congressman for 27 years, he led legislative campaigns to unravel land protections for indigenous people and to promote agribusiness. He also made derogatory comments about minorities, women, and LGBT people.

Much of his support comes from business and farming interests.

"These farmers are not invaders, they are producers," said congressman and senator-elect Luiz Carlos Heinze, a farmer and close ally of Bolsonaro. He blamed past "leftist administrations" for promoting indigenous rights at the expense of farmers and ranchers.

"Brazil will be the biggest farming nation on Earth during Bolsonaro's years," said Heinze.

Indigenous-rights advocates are worried about the new direction signaled. "Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that indigenous territories in the Amazon should be opened up for mining and agribusiness, which goes completely in the opposite direction of our Constitution," said Adriana Ramos, public policy coordinator at Social Environmental Institute in Brasilia, a non-governmental group.

In a Nov. 1 postelection interview with Catholic TV, Bolsonaro said, "We intend to protect the environment, but without creating difficulties for our progress."

Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that Brazil should withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, a treaty his predecessor signed in 2016 committing to reduce carbon emissions 37 percent over 2005 levels by 2030. After the election, he has publicly wavered.

Meanwhile he has named a climate-change denier, Ernesto Araujo, to become the next foreign minister.

Nelson Ananias Filho, sustainability coordinator at Brazil's National Agriculture and Cattle Raising Confederation, which backed Bolsonaro's campaign, said, "Brazil's agribusiness will adapt to whatever circumstances come."

Whether or not Brazil formally remains in the Paris Climate Accord, the only way for the country to make its emission targets is to completely stop deforestation by 2030 and to reduce agricultural emissions, said Nobre, the climate scientist. "If Bolsonaro keeps moving in the current direction, that's basically impossible."

There's another danger lurking in deforestation.

Aside from the oceans, tropical forests are the most important regions on the planet for putting water vapor in the air, which eventually becomes rainfall. "It's why we have rain in the American Midwest and other inland areas  it's not just the Amazon, but it's the largest tropical rainforest," said Bill Laurance, a tropical ecologist at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia.

Carlos Nobre and Thomas Lovejoy, an environmental scientist at George Mason University, have estimated that the "tipping point for the Amazon system" is 20 to 25 percent deforestation.

Without enough trees to sustain the rainfall, the longer and more pronounced dry season could turn more than half the rainforest into a tropical savannah, they wrote in February in the journal Science Advances.

If the rainfall cycle collapses, winter droughts in parts of Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina could devastate agriculture, they wrote. The impacts may even be felt as far away as the American Midwest, said Laurance.

Bolsonaro's rhetoric about potentially dismantling the environmental ministry and rolling back indigenous rights worries Nobre who says, "I am a scientist, but I am also a Brazilian citizen, and a citizen of the planet."

___

AP Science writer Christina Larson reported from Washington, D.C.

___

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
President Donald Trump tears into General Motors for its newly announced plan to halt production at multiple plants in the U.S. and Canada, telling reporters that he warned GM CEO Mary Barra that her company was "playing around with the wrong person."

Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he told Barra on Sunday night that GM should stop making cars in China and open a new plant in Ohio, saying, "They better damn well open a new plant there very quickly."

GM's plan to cease operations at plants in Ohio, Michigan, Maryland and Ontario by next year  and to cut back production at two other plants, as well  will cost up to $3.8 billion and shrink the Detroit-based car maker by more than 14,000 jobs, or about 15 percent of its total workforce.

President Donald Trump on Monday tore into General Motors for its newly announced plan to halt production at multiple plants in the U.S. and Canada , telling reporters that he warned GM CEO Mary Barra that her company was "playing around with the wrong person."

GM's plan to cease operations at plants in Ohio, Michigan, Maryland and Ontario by next year  and to cut back production at two other plants, as well  will cost up to $3.8 billion and shrink the Detroit-based car maker by more than 14,000 jobs, or about 15 percent of its salaried staff.

Trump told The Wall Street Journal in an interview Monday that he spoke with Barra on Sunday night to discuss the downsizing plan. He told her that GM should stop making cars in China and open a new plant in Ohio to replace the ones being closed.

"They better damn well open a new plant there very quickly," Trump told the Journal. "I love Ohio," Mr. Trump said. 'I told them, 'you're playing around with the wrong person,'" he added, according to the newspaper.

The president, who had lamented the empty factories and depressed rural towns when he visited the state in July 2017, had promised the state's residents that their jobs are "all coming back." He won the state in 2016 by more than eight percentage points.

Story continues

Trump joined Ohio leaders, including several Democrats, in blasting the move. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a potential 2020 rival for Trump, called the decision "corporate greed at its worst."

Barra insisted that GM's restructuring was a preemptive step to take during strong economic times to protect her company through a future economic slowdown while continuing to invest in new technologies, the Journal reported.

The Journal's interview was published shortly after Trump told journalists outside the White House that he wasn't happy with GM's plan. He also noted that the Chevrolet Cruze was not selling well, and urged the company to put something else in its place. GM killed the Cruze and several other passenger cars as part of its cost-cutting plan, USA Today reported Monday .

Meanwhile, Barra met with Trump's top economic advisor , Larry Kudlow, on Monday at the White House.

The president's remarks came as he was headed to Mississippi, where he plans to host two rallies in support of GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who has come under fire  including from former corporate donors  for remarks viewed as racially insensitive.





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By Jeff Mason and David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump demanded General Motors Co <GM.N> add a new product to replace a plant in Ohio that the company said it planned to close next year due to lagging small-car demand.

The largest U.S. automaker said on Monday it would cut thousands from its North American workforce, slash production and eliminate some slow-selling car models. GM also plans to close an assembly plant and a transmission plant in Ohio, along with an assembly plant in Canada.

Trump told reporters he was not happy with GM's decision to idle a plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

"I have no doubt that in the not too distant future, they'll put something else. They better put something else in," Trump said.

GM did not immediately comment on Trump's remarks, but the company noted it has other facilities in Ohio including a transmission plant in Toledo and metal centre in Parma.

Ohio lawmakers urged GM to reconsider. Republican Senator Rob Portman told GM chief executive Mary Barra on Monday that the company should bring a new product to the plant and he also urged GM "to at least reallocate some of the production and employees to the Toledo GM plant."

In July 2017, Trump made a speech in Youngstown, Ohio near the GM plant and vowed jobs were "all coming back." He told local residents: "Don't move. Don't sell your house."

Representative Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat, seized on Trump's 2017 remarks. "So far President Trump has been asleep at the switch and owes this community an explanation," Ryan said Monday. "What we've gotten instead are broken promises and petty tweets."

Trump separately told the Wall Street Journal on Monday that General Motors Co <GM.N> should stop making cars in China and make them in the United States instead.

Trump told reporters he told Barra he was unhappy with the announcement. He said the decision to halt sales of the Chevrolet Cruze had "nothing to do with tariffs" but was because of poor sales. "Get a car that is selling well and put it back in," Trump said.

Story continues

GM currently builds just one vehicle in China that it exports to the United States - the Buick Envision. The company has sold about 22,000 through September and in August sought an exclusion from 25 percent U.S. tariffs imposed on Chinese vehicle imports. The Trump administration has not yet ruled on the request.

GM sold nearly 2.7 million vehicles in China through September, nearly all of them built in China for the market.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and David Shepardson; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Susan Thomas and Nick Zieminski)
The naval standoff in waters off the Crimean Peninsula marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.

Western governments are widely expected to side with Ukraine over the incident itself, with the reaction from Washington and Brussels likely to come in the shape of targeted economic sanctions.

The Ukrainian Parliament is due to consider a proposal to impose martial law for a period of 60 days later on Monday.

Ukraine is on the cusp of bringing in a sustained period of martial law after the Russia military opened fire on three of its ships over the weekend, wounding several sailors.

However, analysts have warned that the prospect of martial law is likely to add further "instability to the situation."

The naval standoff in waters off the Crimean Peninsula marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.

As a result, the United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting on Monday.

The former members of the Soviet Union have been locked in an undeclared war for almost five years, with Ukraine's military fighting two separatist movements against forces widely thought to have been backed by Russia. The Kremlin has formally denied any direct military intervention.

What happened?

Russia's Federal Security Service, a law enforcement agency more commonly known as FSB, said Monday that its border patrol boats had seized three Ukrainian navy vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop, according to local media reports .

In a statement provided to local media, the FSB said such force had been necessary because the ships had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted unlawful actions, and repeatedly ignored warnings to stop.

Russia's navy had previously blocked the Kerch Strait  near Russia-annexed Crimea  citing security reasons. This prevented two small Ukrainian armored artillery vessels and a tug boat from passing from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.

Story continues

After it annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, Moscow claims territorial waters off the peninsula's coast that Ukraine does not recognize.

"Even at this early stage, the incident marks a significant escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," Alex Brideau, director of the program covering Russia, Eurasia and Ukraine at Eurasia Group, said in a research note published late Sunday.

"Furthermore, the Russian government is not denying its role in the fighting, unlike in past cases. The incident in the Kerch Strait and the Ukrainian reaction so far carry geopolitical implications, as well as effects on Ukraine's domestic politics," Brideau said.

Tweet 1

Western governments are widely expected to side with Ukraine over the incident itself, with the reaction from Washington and Brussels likely to come in the shape of targeted economic sanctions.

The naval incident also triggered protesters to gather outside the Russian embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev overnight, where an embassy car was set on fire.

Rising tensions

Ukraine said six sailors had been injured on Sunday, in what it described as an attack by jet fighters. The country's defense ministry has since announced orders to put the military on full combat readiness .

Ukraine accused Russian navy vessels of illegally trying to intercept their ships, ramming its tug boat in the process. It added their vessels attempted to continue towards the Kerch Strait, which is the only access they have to the Sea of Azov, but were eventually thwarted by a Russian tanker placed underneath a bridge.

"Politically, Russia is interested in sowing disarray in Ukraine and aims to undermine the incumbent president in his attempts to be re-elected in 2019," Orysia Lutsevych, a research fellow with the London-based Chatham House think tank, told CNBC via email on Monday.

"This act of aggression is testing the resolve and capabilities of Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend territorial integrity of Ukraine," Lutsevych said.

Russia's FSB confirmed one of its patrol boats had used force to seize three Ukrainian shipping vessels but claims only three sailors were injured in the process.

Russia's foreign ministry said Monday that Ukraine had most likely planned the incident in advance, accusing its neighbour of trying to provoke a reaction. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, told state television a senior Ukrainian diplomat would be summoned to discuss the standoff, according to Reuters.

The Kerch Strait was re-opened by Russia in the early hours of Monday morning.

Martial law

Pending parliamentary approval, Ukraine is poised to introduce martial law for two months from Monday. It comes after President Petro Poroshenko met with top security and military chiefs overnight.

"The martial law declaration adds further instability to the situation, especially since the Ukrainian parliament will most likely approve it, if with some reservations about its potential effect on domestic politics," Eurasia Group's Brideau said.

"Russia could use it to justify stronger military action, arguing that Kiev is moving to a war status. But we expect the Kremlin won't want to absorb escalating sanctions if it were to do so," he added.

Critics of Ukraine's president fear he could be using the naval incident to postpone a presidential election scheduled for March, as polls currently indicate he is unlikely to win.

Martial law would provide state institutions with greater power, while restricting civil liberties such as public gatherings, media freedoms and free movement in Ukraine.

"Events of this kind are likely to reinforce support for Poroshenko, as one of his main campaign strategies has been to emphasize security concerns about Russia and the importance of upgrading the Ukrainian military," Emily Ferris, a Russia expert at think tank the Royal United Services Institute, told CNBC via email on Monday.

"It is unclear whether martial law would extend across Ukraine or would only be confined to the southern Azov region," Ferris said.





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United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley criticizes Russia at an emergency Security Council meeting Monday, calling for the release of Ukrainian ships and crew members who were harassed, rammed and seized by Russia over the weekend.

"What we witnessed this weekend is yet another reckless Russian escalation," says Haley, 46, who is resigning from her UN post at the end of the year.

Haley does not say whether the U.S. would consider ramping up sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its "violation under international law."

United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley tore into Russia's "outlaw actions" at an emergency Security Council meeting Monday, calling for the release of Ukrainian ships and crew members who were harassed, rammed and seized by Russia over the weekend.

"What we witnessed this weekend is yet another reckless Russian escalation," said Haley, 46, who is resigning from her UN post at the end of the year . "The United States continues to stand with the people of Ukraine against this Russian aggression," she added in her remarks.

Haley's heated comments offer some of the most direct criticism of Russia yet by the Trump administration, which has been open to warming relations with President Vladimir Putin's regime even as U.S. intelligence agencies blame Russia for meddling in the 2016 election.

Three Ukrainian ships passing from one port to another through the Kerch Strait of the Black Sea  as they routinely do, Haley said  were blocked and fired upon by Russians on Sunday.

The action sparked an international outcry and calls for more sanctions against Russia.

Tusk tweet

But the Kremlin's foreign ministry blamed Ukraine for the incident , saying Kiev concocted a "painstakingly thought-through and planned provocation" that was "aimed at igniting another source of tension in the region in order to create a pretext to ramp up sanctions against Russia."

Story continues

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Monday that he will impose martial law across Ukraine for 30 days , beginning Wednesday, Nov. 28.

Haley noted during the Monday meeting that President Donald Trump 's administration "would welcome a normal relationship with Russia."

Trump has complimented Putin before and after becoming president. During a joint news conference in Helsinki in July, Trump even appeared to side with Putin over the conclusions of his own U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia had interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Haley did not say whether the U.S. would consider ramping up sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its "violation under international law."

But the U.S. will maintain existing sanctions slapped on Russia for its annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, she said, and "further Russian escalation of this kind will only make matters worse."

The "outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory is part of a pattern of Russian behavior that includes the purported annexation of Crimea, and abuses against countless Ukrainians in Crimea," Haley said, "as well as stoking a conflict that has taken the lives of more than ten thousand people in eastern Ukraine."

She added: "It shows no signs of decreasing."





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Venezuela managed to retain ownership of Citgo, the big U.S. refining and gasoline marketing company that is one of its few remaining sources of hard currency, according to a report.

In August, Canadian mining company Crystallex International got a court order authorizing the sale of Citgos U.S. parent to satisfy a $1.2 billion debt of the cash-strapped country, Reuters said Sunday.

But late last week a Canadian court approved a settlement between Petroleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) and Crystallex, one of Pdvsas creditors, that entails the Venezuelan company paying Crystallex.

Among terms of the settlement is a $425 million payment by Pdvsa to Crystallex, which has been completed. The rest of the amount due, which has grown to $1.4 billion since the August order, will be paid in installments by 2021. However, if Pdvsa doesnt post collateral by Jan. 10, Crystallex may restart legal action against the Venezuelan company.

The clash between Venezuela and Crystallex arose from the socialist governments expropriation five years ago of the Canadian companys gold mining project in the South American country.

The governments failure to compensate Crystallex for the asset opened the way for legal action.

Houston-based Citgo owns three large U.S. refineries, which have the capacity to refine as much as 749,000 barrels of crude oil per day, and much of the crude oil they refine comes from Venezuela.

Citgo also owns 48 terminals, nine pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants and employees approximately 3,400 employees.

In addition, Citgo supplies a network of approximately 5,200 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

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It has been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Thats certainly true for the wealth of breakfast-focused restaurants and daytime eateries  both new and old  in the Colorado Springs area.

The fast-food sector has been seen as driving increased restaurant breakfast business in recent years. McDonalds introduction a few years ago of all-day breakfast gave a hefty boost to the chains sales.

But if you think people in this frenetic, on-the-go society only have time to grab an Egg McMuffin or other quick breakfast snack, think again. Sit-down restaurants are getting their share of the morning crowd.

We have a lot of regular customers who eat with us three or four times a week, says Randy Price, who owns three Urban Egg, a Daytime Eatery (formerly Over Easy) restaurants in the Springs as part of his Rocky Mountain Restaurant Group. They go to the office, drop their briefcase, then might grab a colleague and come down for a business meeting. Instead of in a conference room, they like to do it over breakfast and a cup of coffee.

The National Restaurant Association says breakfast offers huge potential for repeat business, because many people get entrenched in morning routines. Becky Fairchild, the marketing storyteller for Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, says the Denver-based chain is finding that more and more people who didnt used to make breakfast a priority are doing so now.

People are really starting to focus on how they start their day, she says. Snooze, which plans to open a location on the north side of Colorado Springs next spring, is a place where they can gather their thoughts in the morning and really connect with other humans before they start their day.

At Sandys Restaurant on the east side of the Springs, which serves breakfast and lunch, were super busy on the weekend, says owner Connie Crippen. But that doesnt mean youre guaranteed a quick seat during the week.

On any given day, we can be super busy, too, Crippen says. You never know.

Crippen was just 13 when she started working at Sandys in the early 1980s; she bought the business in 2001. The secret to her success? Basically trying to keep prices as low as possible, she says. And everything is made in-house, including the bread and the cinnamon rolls and the biscuits and the chilies and soups and gravy.

At Western Omelette, which has operated near downtown for 27 years, owner Bill Borders also has a simple formula for success.

The people of this town have been very good to me, he says. We try to give them quality food at a good price with good service.

Though hes changed a couple of little things, like adding a bar for bloody marys and stuff like that, the menu has stood the test of time largely unaltered. Weve basically stayed the same, Borders says.

At The Omelette Parlor on Fillmore Street, we havent changed a lot, but we definitely add what we see our customers are wanting, says general manager Susan Whitlock. So several years ago, we added hash browns instead of just our round sliced potatoes. Weve added gluten-free items. We try to keep up with the times. But people come here for certain items, and weve kept those.

One of those favorites: a homemade pork green chili. Another thing that doesnt change: half-price omelettes every morning from 6 to 7.

Other restaurants are trying to blaze new trails in breakfast fare. When Price opened the first Over Easy in downtown Colorado Springs in 2012, we didnt feel like the breakfast options that were on the market at that time were really doing anything that innovative. We really wanted to come in with an innovative, locally sourced, organic, kind of upscale menu  gourmet pancakes, build-your-own bloody mary bar, unique and interesting Benedicts.

That concept, he says, really struck a nerve with the Colorado Springs market. Because of that following, he maintained the Over Easy name in the Springs even after learning there were other restaurants across the country with that same name. But he adopted the name Urban Egg as he expanded outside of the Springs to Denver and Fort Collins. This month, the three Springs restaurants became Urban Egg.

We just need to be united under one brand, Price says. But other than the new name and some new menu items to mark the rebranding, nothing has changed, he said. Its still the same outstanding service and the same local ownership.

Operating a daytime eatery has advantages over an all-day restaurant or dinner destination, Price says. While those working in the restaurant industry typically work a lot of late nights, Urban Egg employees can enjoy time with their families in the evening. And retail centers benefit from breakfast business, he says.

I think we bring a lot of energy into the centers early in the morning. I think thats great from a retail perspective.

First Watch, a Florida-based chain that bought the Egg & I chain in 2015, converted two of the three Springs Egg & I locations into First Watch this year. Like Urban Egg, First Watch also stresses innovation, says spokeswoman Eleni Pierce  from restaurant design to technology to the menu, which includes everything from classic favorites to a kale tonic juice and a Power Breakfast Quinoa Bowl.

We now have five different seasonal menus throughout the year, available about 10 weeks at a time, Pierce says. That really gives us a chance to introduce new ingredients, funky things that our customers maybe wouldnt normally try, especially during the breakfast hours. Like quinoa for breakfast, who would do that? But its such a success.

Snooze, meanwhile, touts fresh twists on Americas favorite classics.

Its not one of those brunch places where you feel intimidated by the menu, Fairchild says. There are things that are familiar, but then you get these surprising little twists that make it exciting. Were constantly innovating with seasonal menus.

But its the employees, known as Snoozers, who really make the chain stand out, Fairchild says.

We really think of our Snoozers as our family. We have found that by allowing them to be themselves and comfortable and be the hospitality piece for Snooze, they make these connections, not just with each other but with guests.

While Snooze is focused on opening the one location, in the new Chapel Hills East development under construction at North Academy Boulevard and Agora Point, it is not out of the question to look for a second, Fairchild says. We have a whole real estate team that is constantly looking at places in Colorado Springs.

Similarly, while theres no property secured for more First Watch locations in the Springs, Pierce says, theres definitely room for more development there.  Typically we dont stop growing a market with two restaurants, so dont be surprised if in a few years you start to see more First Watches popping up in town.

Crippen, of Sandys Restaurant, doesnt fret about the new competition that also includes Denver Biscuit Co., which opened this year as part of the Atomic Cowboy bar-and-restaurant complex on South Tejon Street.

You cant worry about people coming and going, she says. We do what we do and we hope the best for everybody around us. Theres enough people in this town to spread it around. I need places to go to eat, someplace different, too, so I appreciate the fact that there are other places opening up.
Dick Janitell flies his T-6 Texan over Black Forest as the warbirds fly back from Denver after promoting the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow in September at the Colorado Springs Airport.
Questions about accessibility standards, missing ramps, busted sidewalks and more can be raised Tuesday at Colorado Springs first community forum on the 28-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act.

City officials agreed in September to hold quarterly meetings as a part of a lawsuit settlement on reported ADA violations, which have bedeviled the city for decades. The first forum will be from noon to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Independence Center, 729 S. Tejon St.

In the settlement, the city also agreed to pay $19,000 to the plaintiffs, disabled veteran Chris Sweeney and his wife, Nikole, without admitting wrongdoing or liability.

The Sweeneys are dropping the lawsuit against the remaining defendants, Diversified Property Management and the Stetson Hills Master Home Owners Association, said their attorney, Julian G.G. Wolfson. The couple claimed their neighborhood for years lacked ramps and sidewalks needed to reach public accommodations.

At the forum, city officials also will request comment on a transition plan that the city is developing to identify obstacles to accessing city programs, buildings and activities. Part of the long-overdue plan will be published before the end of the year, said city ADA Manager Rob Hernandez. The current plan hasnt been updated since 1995.

The city and El Paso County fell well short of ADA requirements, leaving buildings and pathways inaccessible to the countys then-estimated 66,000 residents with disabilities, The Gazette reported in 2015. Many of those shortcomings fell into an unquantified backlog of noncompliance.

This year, the city has worked on diminishing that backlog. The City Council in August unanimously voted to appropriate $300,000 to hire four inspectors and an administrator to identify and resolve violations.

The citys 2019 budget also has an extra $1.36 million for Colorado Springs ADA program.

For more information on local accessibility standards, visit coloradosprings.gov/ada.

conrad.swanson@gazette.com @conrad_swanson
By Moses Kyeyune.

President Yoweri Museveni has urged regional economic players to foster water conservation as a major undertaking towards environmental protection.

Museveni has this morning been speaking at the Blue Economy summit currently underway at the Kenya International Conference Center in Nairobi.

Museveni has said that 60 percent of the rain enjoyed within the East African region comes from the ocean, while only 40 percent comes from the local wetlands and rivers.

Citing Ugandas case, Museveni says that the country has started war against bad fishing and that smarter ways such as the installation of surface radars on the lake shores have created results, and that this, added to the electronic registration of boats operating on the lakes, a lot more will be achieved.

His Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta has said that oceans are the heart of the planet and that there must be deliberate undertakings to safeguard them.

The summit seeks to draw actions against illegal fishing and marine conservation strategies.
If youre getting ready to buy a home or know someone who is, please, please warn them about the growing crime of real estate wire fraud. I ju
Colorado Politics senior political reporter

Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist.
While voters dismissed two ballot measures this month intended to fund billions of dollars in transportation projects, the Colorado Department of Transportation did get a $545 million boost in its funding on Sept. 26, on top of $500 million funded in the 2018 legislative session. And they're ready to spend it.
Note: I heard ThinkGeek is having a sitewide 50% CyberMonday sale today only when using coupon code DOTCOM at the checkout. Do what you want with that info (personally I looked around for five minutes, added a few things to my cart, then closed the browser window forever). This concludes my CyberMonday coverage.

Aaaaand we're back. Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving break? I feel like I gained twelve pounds. Get it? "Because you ate so much?" No, I adopted another small dog. Or did I? I don't know anymore, it's hard to keep my lies straight. Her name is Eleanor, and she's 100% cuddlebug when she doesn't have the zoomies. This is the $34 officially licensed Han Solo frozen in carbonite power bank available from Merchoid. Unfortunately, I don't think Jabba is going to fall for this. "Because it's so small?" I didn't even think of that. I mean because it's obviously plastic. Carbonite has a certain sheen to it.

We all know it's a pain when your battery is running low on the go, so this convenient little device is the power bank of choice for the demands of the modern age: it carries 8000mAh of power which equates to up to two full charges for the average mobile device, and is designed to work with Bluetooth speakers, PlayStation controllers and almost any device that can be charged via USB, including the main brands of smartphone.

So it's a $34 power bank that has a 3-D Han frozen in carbonite on one side so you can't easily stack things on top of it, which is probably a good thing since that's how my last power bank set a stack of nudie magazines on fire. "Wait, what?" I meant Architectural Digests and Mensa Bulletins.

Thanks to Tom and JD, who agrees the best power bank has been and always will be having an electricity based superpower.
TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wayland Group (CSE:WAYL) (FRANKFURT: 75M) (OTCQB:MRRCF) (Wayland or the Company) is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement to acquire 51% of UK based Theros Pharma Ltd. ("Theros"), an early stage company that has successfully imported cannabis to the UK for patients with a prescription for medical cannabis.



This transaction enhances Waylands global growth strategy and will provide the Company with access to the UK market for sale and distribution of its products. Recent UK legislation allows for the prescription of cannabis from a medical specialist via a regular pharmacy model. Access to this burgeoning market, with National Health Service insurance coverage for medical cannabis to ensure patient outcomes, is a key strategic element of Waylands global platform.

Were proud to join with Theros on the journey to enhance lives through cannabis, now in the UK. Theros dedicated team of professionals and advocates, who were instrumental in achieving cannabis legalization in the UK will work with Wayland to create access to cannabis for patients and further advocate for personalized medicine, Declared Wayland Chief Executive Officer Ben Ward.

I am very pleased that Wayland is working with Theros, to bring good quality medical cannabis into the UK. I hope this supply will bring benefit to many thousands of people in the UK who deserve a chance to use this medication to alleviate so many disabling symptoms, stated Hannah Deacon, mother of Alfie Dingley who received the first medical UK cannabis license.

Professor Mike Barnes, neurologist and medical cannabis campaigner who helped to obtain the first UK license for Alfie said, It will be a pleasure to work in collaboration with Wayland. I look forward to a fruitful partnership so that medical cannabis can be brought to so many people who deserve it.

Pursuant to the terms of the agreement the Company has agreed to make an initial payment of 3,800,000GBP followed by a second payment of 24,000,000GBP following certain milestones being achieved, including issuance to Theros of a license to cultivate cannabis in the UK or a license to import medical cannabis for use in the UK.

Both payments will be satisfied by the issuance of common shares of the Company based on then-current market prices, but subject to a floor issue price of $1.65 per Common Share.

The payments are conditional on receipt of applicable stock exchange approval, approval of holders of at least two-thirds of the Company's outstanding debentures and any other applicable approvals.

Maricann Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, is operating under the Wayland Group name. For further details see the press release dated September 24, 2018.

About Wayland Group



Wayland is a vertically integrated cultivator and processor of cannabis. The Company was founded in 2013 and is based in Burlington, Ontario, Canada and Munich, Germany, with production facilities in Langton, Ontario where it operates a cannabis cultivation, extraction, formulation, and distribution business under federal licenses from the Government of Canada. The Company also has production operations in Dresden, Saxony, Germany, Regensdorf, Switzerland and Ibague, Colombia. Wayland has also announced transactions that will expand its global footprint to include operations in Italy and the UK. Wayland will continue to pursue new opportunities globally in its effort to enhance lives through cannabis.

Forward Looking Information

This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding or inferring the future business, operations, financial performance, prospects, and other plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Such statements include statements regarding the Company's plans for the UK market and the Company's continued global expansion, including with respect to the terms of the proposed transaction, its effect on the Companys global platform and the number and price at which common shares are expected to be issued. Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Such assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, that the proposed transaction will be completed on the terms and timelines anticipated by the Company or at all, that Theros will obtain the applicable licenses in the UK on the terms and timelines anticipated or at all, the effect that the proposed acquisition, when completed, will have on the Companys global platform, that all necessary stock exchange, securityholder, regulatory and other approvals will be received in connection with the proposed or potential issuances of Common Shares under the proposed transaction on the timelines anticipated or at all and that all other conditions to closing will be satisfied in the manner and on the timelines anticipated. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release

For more information about Wayland, please visit our website at www.waylandgroup.com

Contact Information:

Investor Relations

Graham Farrell

VP, Communications

Graham.Farrell@waylandgroup.com

647-643-7665

Media Inquiries: media@waylandgroup.com

Corporate Headquarters (Canada)

Wayland Group Corp. (Toronto)

845 Harrington Court, Unit 3

Burlington Ontario L7N 3P3

Canada

289-288-6274

European Headquarters (Germany)

Maricann GmbH

Thierschstrasse 3, 80538 Munchen, Deutschland
Press Release

Telecom Egypt upgrades existing Nokia 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) backbone network to offer higher-speed services to both broadband and mobile customers

Nokia doubles Telecom Egypt's existing backbone capacity on Delta Region DWDM backbone network, marking the first 200G long distance, single carrier transmission service in Africa

26 November 2018

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced that Telecom Egypt has adopted Nokia's Photonic Service Engine (PSE) technology to double backbone capacity on its Delta Region DWDM backbone network. Commercial deployment of the new high-speed service started in June and represents the first 200G long distance, single carrier transmission service in Africa.



With growth in demand for mobile video and ultra broadband services, Telecom Egypt worked closely with its partner Nokia to upgrade its current Nokia 1830 PSS backbone network. The network capacity increase brings higher-rate broadband services to fixed customers, as well as higher data rates for LTE mobile subscribers. Upgrading its existing Nokia PSS 1830 switches with Nokia's PSE technology enables Telecom Egypt to double its capacity while reducing operating costs.



Telecom Egypt is upgrading its backbone network using the Nokia 500G DWDM Muxponder, a programmable card that provides wavelength capacities from 50G to 250G per line port. Based on Nokia's Photonic Service Engine (PSE) coherent digital signal processor, this programmability will allow Telecom Egypt to provision and tune the wavelength capacity per optical route to ensure that its network is operated at peak performance, capacity and lowest cost-per-gigabit.



Ahmed El-Beheiry, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for Telecom Egypt, said: "Doubling capacity on our existing backbone allows us to offer high-speed broadband and LTE services in addition to 100GE services for mobile operators, while reducing costs. As our long-term partner, we are confident that Nokia's proven optical network technology will help us maintain our leadership position in offering the latest and best-in-class technology solutions to our customers."



Amr El-Leithy, head of the MEA Market for Nokia, said: "We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking agreement for the continent. We have a longstanding partnership with Telecom Egypt and are pleased to see the growth in demand for both their broadband and LTE services. This is exactly what we had in mind when we designed the 1830 PSS platform. Its flexibility and easy upgradability will allow them to proactively manage the data explosion and develop new revenue streams - all the while improving the experience for their customers."



Resources

About Nokia

We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing.



We adhere to the highest ethical business standards as we create technology with social purpose, quality and integrity. Nokia is enabling the infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things to transform the human experience. nokia.com.

Media Inquiries:

Nokia

Communications

Phone: +358 10 448 4900

Email: press.services@nokia.com
Pre-feasibility study expected by Q1 2019



Lithium carbonate pilot plant built and has commenced operation

Environmental Impact Assessment to be submitted to authorities in Q1 2019, which, once approved, represents the final approval allowing for mine construction

TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Neo Lithium Corp. (Neo Lithium or the Company) (TSXV: NLC; OTCQX: NTTHF; FSE: NE2) is pleased to announce that it has contracted GHD, which is a well-recognized engineering firm with particular expertise in lithium brines, to complete a pre-feasibility study (PFS) at the 3Q Project by Q1 2019. GHD successfully completed the previous preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the 3Q Project, filed on SEDAR on December 13th, 2017.

The decision to complete a PFS has been taken as a result of the significant technical progress achieved on many fronts post-PEA, including advancements in brine processing and engineering, and a significant increase in the size and grade of the resource estimate of the project.

The increase in the size of the mineral resource estimate that occurred after publishing of the PEA, and particularly the discovery of a high-grade zone with over 1,000 mg/l Lithium (see the Companys technical report filed on September 5th, 2018 on SEDAR), is expected to reduce the size of the ponds required and consequently, reduce the capital expenditures for the project, as pond construction is the major cost for lithium brine projects. This new resource estimate is also expected to have a significant effect on the mine plan and mine life.

In addition, the discovery that calcium precipitates as calcium chloride without the use of any costly reagents has a potentially significant impact on operating cost, since there should be material savings in reagent costs.

The results of the environmental base line study and the results of the hydrogeological model showed that the extraction of brine from the salar will cause no material environmental issues that would impede the development of the 3Q Project. Furthermore, this work showed that there should be minimal impact on the brine level of the salar, even under extraction scenarios of up to 60,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year. This finding indicates that the 3Q Project has a significant recharge system that would allow extraction rates significantly higher than the PEA proposal of 35,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year. The Company, together with its engineering advisors, is currently analysing the most suitable production size scenario including a staged approach as well as diversifying the final product offering to include both lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. These results would be included in the PFS.

In addition, the PFS is expected to assist with the ongoing discussions concerning the strategic partner selection process to develop the 3Q project.

As a result of the numerous material advancements at the project, a PFS is now required to provide the market and potential strategic partners a more developed technical analysis and updated economics on the 3Q project, said Dr. Waldo Perez, President and CEO of Neo Lithium Corp. We can complete this work in a very short period of time since all the background work has been completed and it is now only a matter of compilation work and economic re-valuation.

The Companys balance sheet remains strong with approximately C$45 million of net working capital to fund the ongoing work at the 3Q Project.

Pilot Plant

The pilot plant, built by the Instituto de Investigaciones Tecnologicas from Universidad de Concepcion, Chile, has been commissioned and is operating. The pilot plant has the capacity to produce 100 tonnes per year of battery grade lithium carbonate. This is a major milestone as production of lithium carbonate at a pilot plant scale is a fundamental step ahead of full production, and, in addition, will allow the Company to provide detailed specifications of the product, along with product samples, to the industry participants. We continue producing highly concentrated lithium brine at the project of approximately 4% in order to accumulate stock for the pilot plant operation. Please see pictures and a short video at our website at http://neolithium.ca/project/default.aspx#section=pictures .

Environmental Impact Assessment

With the various changes adopted in the engineering plan, that will be clarified in the PFS, the environmental impact assessment report (EIA) is expected to be presented to the authorities for approval in early Q1 2019. We expect approval to be granted in the first half of 2019 since the authorities have been kept up-to-date on progress at the project. Approval of the EIA is the final approval required to permit construction of a commercial scale mine.

The Company is pleased to announce that it has hired the environmental engineer Florencia Cambeses, as Environmental Manager of the project. She will be leading the environmental approval process in the Province of Catamarca.

Drilling Program and New Production Well Program

The Company has started a drilling program in the northern high-grade zone of the project to build two new production wells.

As previously reported in the Companys technical report filed on September 5th, 2018 on SEDAR, this zone contains 746,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in the measured and indicated resource categories at a grade of 1,007 mg/l Lithium plus 186,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in the inferred resource category at a grade of 1,240 mg/L Lithium.

The production well that is already built in the central zone of the project has a flow rate of approximately 100 liter per second (this central zone containing 4 million tonnes of lithium carbonate in the measured and indicated categories at an average grade of 614 mg/L Lithium, plus an additional 3 million tonnes of lithium carbonate in the inferred category at an average grade of 584 mg/L Lithium). Based on the latest pump tests carried out this year, the expectation is that the new pump wells being built in the high-grade zone will be as productive as the completed central zone production well. If this is the case, the Company estimates that very few wells will be required for full commercial production - between 5 and 15 wells, depending the size of the final mine output under evaluation. This is important as generally, the fewer production wells that are required at a project, the lower the capital costs will be.

New Board Member

The Company is pleased to announce that Mr. Estanislao Auriemma has joined the Company's Board of Directors. Mr Auriemma brings more than 20 years of experience in the mining and energy sectors, and is currently the CEO and Director of Fredonia Management Limited which is actively involved in gold exploration in the Santa Cruz Province in Argentina. Prior to his tenure at Fredonia Management Limited, Mr. Auriemma held numerous executive and director positions at Grupo Minero Aconcagua S.A., SAMCO Gold Ltd, Andean Geothermal Ltd, and Andean Wind Power Ltd. with focus on transaction negotiations in the mining and energy sectors. Mr. Auriemma also was interim President of the Mining Chamber of Santa Cruz, and also specialized in the evaluation and financing of mining projects while working at Barclays Metals Group.

I would like to welcome Estanislao to Neo Lithiums board of directors and look forward to working with him, said Constantine Karayannopoulos, Chairman of Neo Lithium Corp. Estanislaos experience and knowledge will be invaluable as we continue to develop the 3Q Project.

About Neo Lithium Corp.

Neo Lithium Corp. has quickly become a prominent new name in lithium brine exploration by virtue of its high quality 3Q Project and experienced team. Already well capitalized, Neo Lithium is rapidly advancing its newly discovered and wholly owned 3Q Project - a unique high-grade lithium brine lake and salar complex in Latin Americas Lithium Triangle.

The 3Q Project is located in the Province of Catamarca, the largest lithium producing area in Argentina. The project covers approximately 35,000 ha and the salar complex within this area is approximately 160 km2. Exploration results confirm a high-grade lithium resource in the central and northern portion of the salar complex (with the northern portion showing an elevated lithium concentration of over 1,000 mg/l), as well as very low combined magnesium and sulphate impurities. Low impurities are a key factor in traditional low-cost evaporation techniques for final lithium carbonate production. Hot springs on the property with elevated lithium content are part of the recharge system of the salar complex.

The technical team that discovered this unique salar complex is one of the most experienced in lithium salars, having discovered and led the technical work, including resource definition and full feasibility study, that established the Cauchari lithium salar as one of the largest lithium brine resources in the world.

Additional information regarding Neo Lithium Corp. is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile and at its website at www.neolithium.ca, including various pictures of ongoing work at the project.

Waldo A. Perez, Ph.D. and P.Geo., and a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101, supervised the preparation of and approved the contents of this news release.

For further information, please contact:

Neo Lithium Corp.

Carlos Vicens

cvicens@neolithium.ca

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements as to lithium brine grades at depth being consistent with surface results, the potential for resource expansion at depth, the potential of the northern salar sediments, and deeper sediments, for hosting brine, the ability to proceed to technical studies quickly, proceeding with continued work for additional economic studies the potential for production expansion in the Companys assessment of the economic potential of the 3Q Project, that the pilot plant will work as planned, that test results are indicative of future results, and that a strategic partner will agree to help finance the project and on terms that are attractive. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or is expected, scheduled, estimates intends, anticipates, believes, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results can, may, could, would, should, might or will, occur or be achieved, or the negative connotations thereof. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, which could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. These risks include, without limitation, risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms, political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration activities, including environmental regulation, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill and sample results, risks related to the uncertainty of cost and time estimation and the potential for unexpected delays, costs and expenses, risks related to metal price fluctuations, the market for lithium products, competition for experienced directors in the junior mineral exploration and development sector, and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Companys disclosure record. Although the Company believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions and 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 and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Dublin, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Outbound Tourism Market, Purpose of Visit, Tourists Visits, Spending Top 10 Countries & Forecast" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering

China Outbound Tourism Market is expected to surpass the milestone of US$ 500 Billion mark by the end of the year 2024

The major driving factors for China outbound tourism market are; rising disposable income of the middle-class population, liberal tourism policy like Approved Destination Status (ADS) policy, government support and rising number of Chinese passport holder will foster the China outbound tourism market during the forecast period. China has evolved as a major source of outbound tourism in the world and has become one of the biggest tourism markets across the world with high per capita tourist expenditure.



How Countries are attracting Chinese Travelers



In order to attract more and more Chinese tourists, every country is tweaking its visa policy. Such as the United States begin a 10-year mutual visa validity policy with China in November 2014. As per this new policy Chinese tourist gets a valid visa to travel to the USA, and this visa can remain valid for a period of up to ten years. This new visa policy proved to be a game changer and it accounted for nearly 53% increase in Chinese visa application in the first year of the program compared to last year. In addition to this opening of new air routes from China to the USA by both Chinese and United States airline companies further expanded traveler number to the United States.



Tourism Types: Holiday, Visit Friends and Relatives (VFR), Business (MICE) & Others (Education, Medical Treatment)



Holiday segment is one of the most popular tourism segments among other segments of China Outbound Tourism. The other 3 segments covered in the report are Visit Friends and Relatives (VFR), Business (MICE) & Others (Education, Medical Treatment). This report provides you in-depth analysis of tourism type from various perspectives like the market, visitor numbers, market share, visitor share etc by country wise.



Country Analysis: China Outbound Tourists Visits



In this reports, we have covered the top 10 destinations for China outbound tourism. Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea are most preferred by Chinese tourist because of cultural similarity, affordability and accessibility. In this report, we have done a comprehensive analysis of each country in terms of a number of Chinese tourist visit, market & forecast and number of associated factors that impacted China Outbound Tourism. The ten countries studied in the report are as follow: Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, and Hong Kong



Country Analysis: China Outbound Tourists Market (Spending)



The United States has one of the largest Tourism Receipt from China. This report covers various share analysis of China outbound tourism like china outbound visitor market share & forecast by country, China outbound tourist market share by tourism type (Holiday, VFR, MICE & Others).



Market Dynamics



China Outbound Tourism: Growth Drivers



China's Approved Destination Status (ADS) Policy Stimulate Chinese Travel Abroad

ADS Approved Countries

Impact of ADS on Chinese Outbound Travel

GDP Growth Rate Development

Growing Middle Class and Rich Class Population in China

Strong Government Support

New National Tourism Strategy of China will Augment Outbound Tourism

Opening of China's Outbound Travel Sector to Foreign Capitalized Tour Companies

Challenges in China Outbound Tourism



Challenges Chinese Travelers Face (NEW)

Restrictions and Changes

Negative Influence:

Chinese Outbound Tourists Concerns Before Departure

Tourism Types Covered in this report



All countries have been analyzed with consideration of following key travel segments

Holiday Tourists Arrivals & Market (Spending)

Visit Friends and Relatives (VFR) Arrivals & Market (Spending)

Business (MICE) Arrivals & Market (Spending)

Others Arrivals & Market (Spending)

Key Topics Covered:



1. Market Definition



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. China Outbound Tourism

4.1 Tourists Numbers

4.2 Tourists Market



5. Tourists Share - China Outbound Tourism

5.1 Countries

5.2 Tourism Types - Holiday, VFR, Business & Others

5.3 By Countries - Tourism Type Share

5.3.1 Holiday

5.3.2 Visit Friends & Relatives (VFR)

5.3.3 Business - MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)

5.3.4 Others (Education, Medical Tourism)



6. Market (Spending) Share - China Outbound Tourism

6.1 Countries

6.2 Tourism Types - Holiday, VFR, Business & Others

6.3 By Countries - Tourism Types Market Share

6.3.1 Holiday

6.3.2 Visit Friends & Relative (VFR)

6.3.3 Business - MICE (Meetings, Incentive, Conferences & Exhibitions)

6.3.4 Others (Education, Medical Tourism)



7. Tourism Types - China Outbound Tourists Numbers

7.1 Holiday

7.2 Visit Friends & Relatives (VFR)

7.3 Business (MICE)

7.4 Others



8. Tourism Types - China Outbound Tourist Market (Spending)

8.1 Holiday

8.2 Visit Friends & Relatives (VFR)

8.3 Business (MICE)

8.4 Others



9. Australia



10. Canada



11. Japan



12. South Korea



13. New Zealand



14. Singapore



15. Taiwan



16. Thailand



17. United States



18. Hong Kong



Companies Mentioned



Biogen Inc.

Cytokinetics Inc

Novartis AG

Roche AG

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9p9n29/china_outbound?w=12





Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wealth Minerals Ltd. (the Company or Wealth) - (TSXV: WML; OTCQX: WMLLF; SSE: WMLCL; Frankfurt: EJZN) announces it will be presenting at the 11th annual LD Micro Main Event on Tuesday, December 4 at 2:00PM PST / 5:00PM EST. Tim McCutcheon, President of Wealth Minerals, will be presenting and meeting with investors.



Tim McCutcheon said, "We are very excited to participate at the LD Micro event. It is a great forum for us to show investors our company and projects."

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 Wealth Minerals profile here: https://www.ldmicro.com/profile/WML.V

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.

About Wealth Minerals Ltd.

Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile. The Companys main focus is the acquisition of lithium projects in South America. To date, the Company has positioned itself to develop the Aguas Calientes Norte and Quisquiro Salars in Chile (the Trinity Project), as well as to work alongside existing producers in the prolific Atacama Salar, in addition to the Laguna Verde lithium project acquisition. The Company has also positioned itself to play a role in asset consolidation in Chile with the Five Salars Project.

The Company is transitioning from an asset acquisition phase to developing its current high potential portfolio. Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. The Company also maintains and continues to evaluate a portfolio of precious and base metal exploration-stage projects.

For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of

WEALTH MINERALS LTD.

"Hendrik van Alphen"

Hendrik van Alphen

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact: Marla Ritchie Phone: 604-331-0096 Ext. 3886 or 604-638-3886 E-mail: info@wealthminerals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, the Companys expectation that it will be able to enter into agreements to acquire interests in additional mineral properties, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/reserves, the closing and amount of the Placement, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in the Placement, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including acceptance by the TSX-V, required for the Placement, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Companys latest interim Management Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Companys Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Companys mineral properties.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.
RevoluFIN Inc. Signs two-year office lease in the upmarket Marbella Financial District of Panama City.

RevoluFIN Inc. Approved for operations after receiving Panamanian RUK and DGI approval for commencement of operations.

Panamanian Citizen and, Certified CPA, Jorge Alvarado Joins the CUV RevoluFIN Advisory Board.

RevoluPAY QR Code payment activated across +400 Proprietary Retail Websites.

CUV Begins negotiations with an entity active in 80 remittance countries, derived from CUV CEOs presentation at IMTC in Miami.

Negotiations with Top 40 World Bank advances to contract proposal stage.

VANCOUVER, B.C., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CUV Ventures Corp. (TSX-V: CUV) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has begun operations of the wholly owned subsidiary RevoluFIN Inc., from its new offices in the Marbella Financial District in the Republic of Panama. RevoluFIN Inc. has now complied with Panamanian legislation and received RUK and, DGI approval, for commencement of commercial activities. Panamanian Citizen and, Certified Accountant, Jorge Alvarado begins advising RevoluFIN Inc. QR Code based sales through RevoluPAY activated across +400 of the companys 614 websites. IMTC contact and multinational remittance purveyor in 80 countries begins negotiations with wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY S.L. Negotiations with top 40 World Bank progresses to final contract analysis phase.

About RevoluFIN Inc.

RevoluFIN Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CUV Ventures initially presented to shareholders on March 8th 2018 and, subsequent launch of the RevoluFIN web based platform on March 21st 2018. CUV signed a definitive agreement with Vesilen Investments to facilitate an initial seed capitalization of 40 million Euros (approx 60 million CAD) to provide, both private and corporate, short to medium term loans and factoring for transactions. On May 22nd 2018, the company concluded the 100% acquisition of the mercantile entity now named RevoluFIN inc., domiciled in the Republic of Panama. On November 23rd 2018, the Panamanian wholly owned subsidiary begun operations from its new offices in Marbella Financial District of Panama City. The Panamanian subsidiary will now be directly involved in certain aspects of the RevoluFIN platform, guaranteeing through CUV Subsidiaries and banking partners, fiduciary and other services to lending partners. Panama has the most modern and successful international banking center in Latin America, with more than 85 banks from 35 countries, furthermore, 60 of these banks are located within 4 blocks of the new RevoluFIN offices in Panama. The RevoluFIN finance platform intends to provide payment facilities for commercial Letter of Credit (LC) holders, and short-term financing requirements. Secondly, the platform will focus upon stimulating the nascent self-employed economies around the world, in travel related services, sold through the company's and partner websites, giving entrepreneurs access to much needed capital, while securitizing loans through pre-booking retentions in synergy with RevoluPAY and RevoluVIP. Through RevoluFIN, CUV Ventures Corp hopes to assemble numerous deals it has identified over the past 14 months, which could directly impact the company's revenues, especially in the; Hospitality, Travel & Media sectors. Additionally, the RevoluFIN platform hopes to enable third party financiers to directly finance outstanding secured receivables, while obtaining above market interest returns of between 8 and 9.5%. RevoluFIN should appeal to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking for an improved way of working capital financing by selling their outstanding means of payment collection from sales in international markets (typically LC and Secured Drafts) by transferring the credit rights to RevoluFIN and, its financiers, while at the same time handling daily consumer transactions through the companys RevoluPAY e-wallet. RevoluFIN Inc Panama will also be involved in Panamanian tourism promotion through the companys vertical RevoluVIP, including the potential leased use of a network of +50 websites currently promoting the Central American nation.

Jorge Alvarado Joins RevoluFIN Advisory Board

CUV Ventures is delighted to have a qualified CPA and, Panamanian national, Jorge Alvarado, join its RevoluFIN advisory board. Jorge Alvarado, CPA, has more than twenty-five years experience in the upper echelons of Panamanian accounting. Mr Alvarado is an Authorized Public Accountant and, has worked extensively for both private multinational companies and, as an accountant for the government in the Republic of Panama. Mr. Alvarado worked as chief Accountant for the Panamena de Motores Company, S.A., the national wholly owned Nissan importer. Further, Mr. Alvarado worked as fiscal auditor for the Municipality of Panama City. Jorge currently provides accounting and finance consulting services to several companies in Panama City.

RevoluPAY QR Code payment activated

The companys tech team have concluded and deployed a RevoluPAY API (application program interface) across an initial group of +400 of the 614 proprietary retail websites. This API allows payment, via QR code, using the proprietary iOS and Android RevoluPAY app, on any proprietary website, third-party website or, mobile app, worldwide. The company expects this API payment mechanism to be deployed across numerous third-party platforms, including the upcoming potential DA with NUKONDO. Furthermore, those parties who request financing from RevoluFIN will be urged to allocate all or part of their day-to-day retail operations through RevoluPAY, thus adding a layer of secondary loan securitization to the RevoluFIN factoring platform.

IMTC Conference Miami Generates Notable Lead

After the initial encounter with CEO Steve Marshall at the IMTC conference in Miami, CUV company director and, CEO of the wholly owned subsidiary RevoluPAY S.L, Alfredo Manresa, has begun dialogue with an entity that is a major purveyor of remittances in +80 countries. These discussions are progressing very positively, both parties having begun the initial phase of due diligence. Shareholders will be closely informed of any advancements in this new and interesting synergy.

Negotiations with Top 40 World Bank

On June 29th 2018, the company signed a binding NDA with a Top 40 ranked world bank to study the deployment of RevoluPAY for remittance deliveries in 16 South/Central American and Caribbean nations. These negotiations continue to progress favorably and, the company is happy to advise that it is studying an eventual contract at this time. Shareholders will be closely informed of any advancements if or when they occur.

Strategy of CUV Ventures Revenue Verticals

As should now be apparent, CUV is deploying numerous revenue verticals intrinsically linked to its proprietary, banking licensed, RevoluPAY app. As the central hub of these verticals, it is the mechanism by which the company will generate revenue through a closed loop environment. For instance, RevoluFIN lenders, especially those who generate revenue through retail activities, will be urged to permit RevoluPAY as a payment mechanism for their products or services, thus providing RevoluFIN with an added layer of securitization via the revenue flowing through the RevoluPAY app. Likewise, RevoluCHARGE, the companys proprietary worldwide phone top-up service, which has already begun generating revenue, exclusively allows said top-ups to be sent via RevoluPAY. Meanwhile, RevoluVIP, the upcoming travel Club, further requires the RevoluPAY app for any financial interaction with the Clubs 613 GDS powered travel websites. This centralized closed loop revenue flow is thus, exclusively through CUVs different divisions and subsidiaries. Essentially, the mantra at CUV is to encapsulate its revenue streams into an entirely closed system which favors specific divisional subsidiaries, depending upon their relevant licensed activity. Further, any third-party synergy, such as the proposed NUKONDO activity, or others, will invariably impose RevoluPAY as settlement medium by which any and all payments must be conducted. The company feels that a closed loop system of this nature is the way of the future, where cross-use of retail platforms allow an accumulation of users, who are later exposed to other valuable services, despite having entered the network to conclude a single transaction. An example would be an individual who merely recharges a family members mobile phone, who later discovers that RevoluPAY will also allow remittance sending and, then that RevoluVIP will allow him/her to make the annual trip to see family. Further, through third party arrangements, possibly, supermarkets or stores in the users hometown may now also accept RevoluPAY. The company firmly believes that a gradual but, persistent, roll out of this nature should foster increased user adoption and cross-use transactions within the varied network services offered under the cited or, future, Revolu verticals.

About CUV Ventures Corp.:

CUV Ventures Corp. is a multi-asset, multidivisional publicly traded Canadian company deploying advanced technologies in the; Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Mobile phone top-ups, Invoice factoring, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors.

Our flagship technology is RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational leisure payments and remittance app, powered by blockchain protocols, and aimed at the worldwide + $595 billion family remittance market. Click here to read more.

For further information on CUV Ventures Corp. (TSX-V: CUV) visit the Companys website at www.cuvventures.com. The Company has approximately 123,200,000 shares issued and outstanding.

CUV VENTURES CORP.

STEVE MARSHALL

______________________________

Steve Marshall

CEO

For further information contact myself or:

Nick Findler

CUV Ventures Corp.

Telephone: 604-639-3850

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@cuvventures.com

NEITHER THE 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.
English French

TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yesterday, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Lisa MacLeod announced a series of reforms to the provinces social assistance system, which supports almost 1 million Ontarians per year. These reforms include significant changes to both Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).



As part of the reform, recipients of OW will soon see an increase of $100 in monthly earnable income, including a 25 per cent exemption on any additional earnings. Whereas, under the previous Liberal government, this threshold was set to increase by $200, including a 50 per cent exemption on additional earnings.

The government has also indicated that it will be changing its definition of disability to align with the definition used by the federal government.

As it stands, the federal government has no single definition for what constitutes a disability. However, when looking at federal social assistance programs such as the Canada Pension Plan, the threshold to qualify for disability benefits is significantly higher than the current definition under ODSP. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the new definition of disability adopted by the Ontario government will in fact mean less people will qualify for ODSP.

Todays announcement raises more questions than answers, specifically regarding who will or will not qualify for ODSP moving forward, said Nour Alideeb, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. It was disappointing to see this government for the people impose a series of reductions to social assistance dressed up as a meaningful reform. Minister MacLeod touted the need for social assistance rooted in compassion which gives dignity to users. However, what these changes do is further entrench a system that forces people who rely on social assistance to live in poverty.

A significant aspect of these reforms focused on supporting people on social assistance to find employment. This part of the plan includes offering incentives to reward staff and service providers who find employment for ODSP and OW recipients. The plan also aims to create a new government website that will serve as a job database.

Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Merrilee Fullerton was present at yesterdays announcement to emphasize the governments focus on ensuring access to employment is seen as the ultimate goal of the Ontario social assistance system.

It was disappointing to see Minister Fullerton reiterate the importance of connecting job-seekers with the required skills for employment but make no mention of the crucial role that colleges and universities play in this process, said Alideeb. It seems redundant that more money would be invested in creating incentives to connect job-seekers with employers, rather than ensuring all Ontarians have access to the education they need to find work in todays economy.

For more information contact:

Ian McRae, Government Relations and Policy Coordinator: 416-925-3825 or 306-852-0128

Nour Alideeb, Chairperson: 416-925-3825


CLEVELAND, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovest Global Inc. (OTC Markets: IVST) (the Company or Innovest), a conglomerate with operations in commercial and industrial products and services, biotechnology, and construction & building materials, is excited to announce that Chagrin Safety Supply (CSS), an Innovest Global Company , just closed a four-year contract extension providing safety supplies to the University Hospital and Case Medical Center administration buildings in Cleveland, Ohio. This contract will further boost revenue for Innovests Commercial & Industrial Division and creates a stepping stone for additional business in 2019. CSS revenue for 2018 exceeds 2017 revenue, and has benefited from larger contracts, including the recently announced six-figure order of HAZMAT boots delivered to the United States Navy.



For Innovests acquired companies, 2018 has been marked by high-revenue contracts with large and very notable clients. Increased revenue after acquisition is a result of both successful integration into the Innovest business model, and Innovest being very appealing as a vendor to large clients.

University Hospitals are ranked number 2 in Ohio and consistently rank in the Top 50 nationally, according to the organization U.S. News which evaluates each hospital in up to 16 medical specialties. In most specialties, the top 50 hospitals nationally are numerically ranked and the University Hospitals Cleveland are ranked in the top 50 in almost all categories.

Case Medical Center is a great client and Im thrilled that since coming under the Innovest umbrella, they added two more facilities in addition to the buildings we already service. This contract represents the confidence and satisfaction of our supply agreement and Im pleased that they have extended our relationship four years, said Chagrin Safety Supply president, Bill Oler.

The fact that University Hospitals and in particular, Case Medical Center trust us to maintain the new standards set by OSHA in 2015 for workplace first aid requirements illustrates the credibility of our Safety Group. The burden and liability is on the employer to identify workplace hazards and they trust our team to maintain these high standards. It's exciting that our commitment to excellence is rewarded, and that they have expanded the contract and renewed for a four year term, said Dan Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Innovest. Bill Oler and his team continue to set the bar high, and we would not have grown at such a tremendous rate in 2018 without them. They are highly regarded professionals with decades of experience, and it shows.

About Innovest Global, Inc.

Innovest Global, Inc. (OTC Markets: IVST ) is a conglomerate with operations in three divisions, which include commercial and industrial products and services, energy, biotechnology, health sciences, construction, and building materials. The primary growth strategy of Innovest Global Inc is to acquire existing companies in a select few industries and attract new customers in cost effective ways. Currently, Innovest Global Inc has a Commercial & Industrial Division, a Biotechnology & Health Services Division, and a Construction & Building Materials Division.

For more information, please visit: http://www.innovestglobal.com , and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @innovestglobal .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to the Company's future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could impact the Company and the forward-looking statements contained herein are included in the Company's filings with the OTC Markets. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Contact Information

Corporate Office:

(216) 815-1122

info@innovestglobal.com

Twitter @innovestglobal

Investor Relations:

Hayden IR

(917) 658-7878

hart@haydenir.com
CALGARY, Alberta and BRAMPTON, Ontario, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eguana Technologies (TSX.V: EGT) (OTCQB: EGTYF) and Frankensolar Americas Inc. (FSA) are pleased to announce that, effective immediately, their Evolve and Elevate energy storage systems will be available to Frankensolar Americas' extensive network of solar contractors in Canada. The primary applications for the Evolve and Elevate systems in the Canadian market are solar self-consumption, demand charge management and backup power.



The Eguana storage solutions are competitively priced, turnkey battery storage solutions, that are made in Canada and available today, stated Danny Mueller, VP Sales and Marketing. We are seeing an increase in demand for cost-effective AC-coupled solutions for a growing number of applications from coast to coast, and we are now well positioned to bring such solutions to our client base.

As a long-standing Canadian clean technology company, it is important to establish a strong distribution network for our innovative products in our home market. We believe our outdoor rated, factory built and tested, AC-coupled product portfolio offers solar contractors a complete turnkey solution with the highest degree of functionality, design, and installation flexibility available in the market today, said Livio Filice, Director of Residential Sales, North America. With the addition of Frankensolar, Eguana now makes both the Evolve and Elevate products available through Tier 1 Solar Wholesale Distributors in every major market in North America and the Caribbean.

Evolve  Home Energy Storage Systems

Evolve is a fully-integrated residential energy storage system that includes the companys proprietary power electronics system, LG Chem low-voltage battery modules, and a comprehensive user interface. The system is rated at 5KW AC output with a modular battery design based on a 6.5 kWh battery, which is scalable from 13 to 39kWh in storage capacity. The NEMA 3R wall-mounted package is suitable for indoor and outdoor installations. The package is backed by a 10-year standard warranty.

The Evolve supports grid-connected solar self-consumption, time of use, and backup power. It is now available in the United States and in Caribbean markets, with certification standards matching UL1741, Californias Rule 21, and Hawaiis Rule 14H.

Interested parties may contact:

Eguana Technologies

Livio Filice

Director of Residential Sales, North America

Livio.Filice@EguanaTech.com

+1.905.929.7522

Frankensolar

Alexander Wolf

Products & Solutions Engineer

Alexander.Wolf@Frankensolar.ca

+1.289.276.5276

About Frankensolar Americas Inc.

Frankensolar was originally established in 1990 in Nuremberg, Germany. Frankensolar Americas ( www.frankensolar.ca ), which was established as a subsidiary of Frankensolar in 2011, is now the leading supplier of solar energy products to professional solar installers and EPCs in Canada exceeding 100 MW of solar equipment supplied within Canada. It offers a very wide line of products and has extensive support and knowledge it provides its partners with. http://frankensolar.ca

About Eguana Technologies Inc.

Based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Eguana Technologies (EGT: TSX.V) (OTCQB: EGTYF) designs and manufactures high performance residential and commercial energy storage systems. Eguana has two decades of experience delivering grid edge power electronics for fuel cell, photovoltaic and battery applications, and delivers proven, durable, high quality solutions from its high capacity manufacturing facilities in Europe and North America.

With thousands of its proprietary energy storage inverters deployed in the European and North American markets, Eguana is one of the leading suppliers of power controls for solar self-consumption, grid services and demand charge applications at the grid edge.

To learn more, visit www.EguanaTech.com or follow us on Twitter @EguanaTech

Company Inquiries

Justin Holland

CEO, Eguana Technologies Inc.

+1.416.728.7635

Justin.Holland@EguanaTech.com

Forward Looking Information

The reader is advised that some of the information herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning assigned by National Instruments 51-102 and other relevant securities legislation. In particular, we include: statements pertaining to the value of our power controls to the energy storage market and statements concerning the use of proceeds and the Company's ability to obtain necessary approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or future events or developments, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. Readers are also directed to the Risk Factors section of the Companys most recent audited Financial Statements which may be found on its website or at sedar.com. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under 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.




CORONA, Calif., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meraki Salon will donate 2 percent of proceeds in November from their Giv hair care line to Gear Up, an organization at California State University, San Bernardino that provides underserved high school students with access to tutoring, college entrance exam preparation, academic advising, summer workshops, and mentoring.



The Giv products were created by Meraki Salon as a way to give back to the local community. Each product is paraben-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free and vegan. Every month, Meraki Salon chooses a different local charity to support.

We support Gear Up because each person in our community deserves the opportunity to reach their goals of getting a higher education, said salon co-owner Kate Sparks.

ABOUT MERAKI SALON: Meraki Salon provides every customer with exceptional service by staying up-to-date with the latest techniques and trends. Meraki Salon is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community, a value that inspires the Giv product line which is vegan, paraben, sulfate and cruelty-free. Meraki Salon offers services to women, men, children of all ages and specializes in hair color, extensions, blowouts, braiding, highlights, fantasy colors, and bridal parties.

https://merakisaloncorona.com

https://www.instagram.com/meraki-salon-corona

https://www.yelp.com/biz/meraki-salon-corona-corona-4

ABOUT GEAR UP: Gear Up at California State University, San Bernardino is partnered with the San Bernardino Unified School District and committed to supporting and serving the local community. Gear Up aims to teach students in the San Bernardino Unified School District the importance and benefits of higher education.

https://www.csusb.edu/gearup

MEDIA CONTACT: Jess Block Nerren - jess@feltenmedia.com - 909-706-8525
I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission.

A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it.

Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Womens Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy.
Japan.

Its one of the worlds highest-value markets, meaning that U.S. dairy farmers and processors can realize high returns when selling products there.

However, Japan is also one of the worlds most discriminating markets. Those high-value sales require quality product and a much deeper insight to the origin of that food. That means animal identification and product tracking all the way through the food chain are a must.

Meeting these demands can return good value to those marketing products in Japan. With 127 million people . . . equivalent to 40 percent of the U.S. population living in an area the size of California . . . the Southeast Asian nation must import a grand majority of its food. That makes farm land precious. So precious that Japan imports 60 percent of its calories.

Land scarcity can be detailed by its average farm size.

Japan farms, on average, have 3.7 acres, and its number one crop is rice. For perspective, the average-sized U.S. farm has 434 acres.

On Japans northern island of Hokkaido, farm size creeps up to 54.4 acres. That island is home to its largest share of dairy farmers who fulfill fluid milk, butter, and yogurt sales. That region also generates some cheese, but not nearly enough to meet its citizens demands, as Japan is the worlds largest cheese importing nation.

Its dairy sector is also in decline as some dairy farmers are using Wagyu semen and embryos in dairy cows to meet demand for the worlds highest-priced beef category. As that happens, its dairy herd continues to shrink.

This spells opportunity for U.S. dairy and beef

Next to the U.S. and China, Japan has the third-largest gross domestic product. That means its citizens have money. And they spend 25 percent of their income on food, but not just any food.

In stores and restaurants, consumers can ask for and even demand tracking information on meats. Thats right, national identification allows customers to receive printouts by scanning codes on food packages. Those codes follow product all the way to the grocery store or restaurant. That insight came as a result of an in-person visit during a recent U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) Trade Mission to Japan.

When dining in Tokyo, we received one such tracking printout on a pair of Wagyu beef entrees. It included every stop that the animal made from birth to slaughter. Of course, Japanese diners translated the document for us since it was in their native language.

The same goes for dairy products.

Customers could scan products and learn more about each food at the Azabu store. The dairy case even included a map of the regions of Japan so discerning shoppers could learn more about each product. In watching activity at the dairy case, a number of Japanese shoppers were doing just that.

As consumers around the world learn more and have greater access to smart phone technology, these trends will only grow. Information is one click away.

The question is, Will U.S. dairy farmers, and beef farmers for that matter, meet the consumer demand?

If the dairy and beef groups do so, they will have continued and even greater access to the highest-margin food sales in the world. And thats money in ones pocket during these difficult times on U.S. farms. If the U.S. does not meet that challenge, they will cede sales to other export countries.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2018

November 19, 2018
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The domestic unrest is something that relates to all sectors of society in Iran. The ethnic minorities are being particularly outspoken after decades of suppression and discrimination.

The United States is using sanctions to cut the regime off from the funding that it uses to finance terrorist activities and proxy groups and militias across the region. The Trump administration has said that it is trying to squeeze the Iranian regime until something gives so that its malign behaviour ends.

The Iranian regime has been backed into a corner by the United States and by the people of Iran. It has nowhere else to turn and it is reacting by lashing out at the people. Protesters are at more risk than ever of being arrested, imprisoned, tortured or even executed for carrying out activities in which the regime sees as a threat.

Many of the protests across the country have been driven by minorities such as the Baluch community, the Ahvaz Arabs and the Kurds. As well as calling for regime change, they are making their specific demands known  such as the right to use their language in native schools.

It must be noted that around half of the citizens of Iran are from non-Persian minority groups and many of them live in communities that border and share ties with Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.

As the international sanctions really take hold, the Iranian Regime will gradually face more and more difficulties and it is likely that this will result in further protests and anti-government demonstrations.

The people are supported by the main opposition, the Iranian Resistance, that is working towards a future free and democratic Iran. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has a ten-point plan for a brighter future for the people of Iran. She indicated that the Resistance is dedicated to having a legitimate political system in place where there is freedom of parties and assembly.

She said that the Resistance wants the death penalty abolished and believes in a legal system that is based on the principles of presumption of innocence, the right to defense, effective judicial protection and the right to be tried in a public court.

With regards to the discrimination against minorities, Mrs. Rajavi emphasises that everyone will be treated as equals. We are committed to the Universal Declaration of Humans Rights, and international covenants and conventions, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.

We are committed to the equality of all nationalities. We underscore the plan for the autonomy of Iranian Kurdistan, adopted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran. The language and culture of our compatriots from whatever nationality, are among our nations human resources and must spread and be promulgated in tomorrows Iran.
First, it will help to go back and look at the pillars of the Iranian Regimes foreign policy when the mullahs first came to power in 1979, which were:

 opposition to the West, especially the US

 anti-Semitism, particularly aimed at Israel

 asymmetrical warfare, which was achieved by funding, training and arming terrorist groups and militias to act as proxies for the Regime

Since then, undermining the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become another pillar and its easy to see why. After all, the West supports Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia is not attacking Israel, and many of the Regimes proxies are fighting Saudi Arabia in various conflicts across the Middle East, most notably in Yemen.

In the Yemeni civil war, Iran backs the Houthis rebels through its Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its elite branch, the Quds Force, providing the rebels with weapons, money, and training to defeat the Saudi-led Arab alliance. This includes providing the Houthis with the ballistic missiles fired at Saudi Arabia, which broke two UN resolutions.

Meanwhile, in Iranian state-owned media outlets or social media accounts, both English-language and Arabic, anti-Saudi propaganda is rife. This is not just coming from the so-called hardliners, but from the so-called reformers as well, highlighting that there is really no difference between the two camps; something the Iranian people have been telling us for a long time.

Dr Majid Rafizadeh wrote: When a military parade was attacked in the Iranian city of Ahvaz at the end of September, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei immediately and absurdly blamed Saudi Arabia and the UAE without providing a shred of evidence. Yet evidence of the Iranian regime using its proxies to attack Saudi Arabia has been documented by credible international organizations, including the UN.

It is doubtful that those in the Arab world will be duped, as Iran lost whatever credibility it may have had thanks to its role in many of the major conflicts plaguing the region, including Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iraq.

We can see that Irans antagonism is directly linked to its dream of export its regime across the Middle East and the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia is refusing to back down and allow Iran to create a Shiite Crescent across the region, so Iran sees it as its main rival.
According to the statement, individuals in Bahrain and Iran hacked servers in order to carry out this crime, while the Iranian Regime was the main source behind 40,000 emails designed to disrupt Bahrains parliamentary and municipality elections.

Not the first time

Earlier this year, the three biggest social media parent companies, Twitter, Facebook Inc., which owns Facebook and Instagram, and Alphabet Inc., which owns YouTube and the now-defunct Google+, removed hundreds of accounts and millions of comments, updates, and other content that was linked to paid Iranian Regime hackers.

Facebook removed 254 pages and 392 accounts on Facebook and Instagram that pretended to be ordinary Western citizens but were fake accounts posting pro-regime propaganda. While Twitter deleted 10 million tweets that may have been the product of state-backed operations by Russia and Iran, with 770 accounts traced back to Iran.

Ben Nimmo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab, said: The Iranian operation was clumsy. It tried to use social media to draw people towards pro-regime messaging sites.

Iranian Resistance response

The Iranian Resistance welcomed the decision by these social media giants to hit back against the Iranian Regimes propaganda campaign, with is designed to destabilise the rest of the world and make it easier for Iran to take control in the Middle East and eventually across the world.

They wrote: [This] emphasizes the need to comprehensively confront the regimes Internet terrorism. [We] call on social networks and other Internet organizations like Wikipedia to completely clean up their networks from the agents of the mullahs regime who used the previous policy of appeasement to infiltrate these networks and misuse their services.

Such action is needed to guarantee the free flow of information and the fight against state terrorism, the epicentre of which is the religious fascism ruling Iran.

Irans cyberwar apparatus

The Iranian cyber army is run by the Revolutionary Guards and the Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) and their mission is to mislead, spread disinformation, demonize the Iranian Resistance, and prevent the free flow of information. The ultimate goal of the cyber army is to fuel the appeasement policy and dissuade the international community from taking appropriate action against the mullahs, while also setting the scene for terrorism against the Iranian Resistance.
- President Rodrigo Duterte renews his tirades to the Catholic Church

- He also let the public to choose on whether to support the religious people or him

- The President also urges the public to build their own chapel at home

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President Rodrigo Duterte attacked the Catholic Church once again. KAMI learned that during his speech in the groundbreaking of Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project on Monday, the President urged the public to build a chapel in their own house and pray there.

You dont have to go to church to pay for these idiots, the President added.

President Duterte also stated that the teachings of Catholic Church are archaic as reported by ABS-CBN News.

"Ang mga tao noon nomads. What do they know about the world today? Tapos pasundin niyo sa mga sinusulat ninyo? Totoo. How can people 3,000 years ago predict or project what is happening today?"

However, the President shared that he is friends with some priests while he discourages the giving of money to bishops. He also mentioned about a bishop wanting to borrow a car from the government knowing fully well that it is corruption because there is separation of Church and state.

"You have the balls, brave as you are, to ask for property of the government tapos magsalita kayong mga p******a ninyo, kala mo kung sino kayo, Duterte added.

The President also accused some priests and bishops for pocketing money from those who attend mass and for asking money for some ceremonies.

Pagka baptism bayad...pagka namatay bayad, Duterte stated as reported by Rappler.

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Duterte also let the public decide on which side are they going to choose.

Yung maniwala sa inyo [Catholic Church] at gusto nang walang patayan at maraming durugista, diyan kayo sa mga religious. Pero kung gusto niyo, walang durugista, patay lahat at wala naman maghohold-up sayo, wala naman magsaksak sayo, dito kayo sakin, sabay tayo sa impyerno, Duterte said.

"It is not true that I said I do not believe in God. I was answering to an incessant attack na demonic daw ako. Kasi diyan sa patayan, he quipped.

Sabi ko: 'I do not believe in your stupid God.' I have my own god, in my estimation. Hindi 'yan nangongolekta nang pera," Duterte stated.

Philippines is a predominantly Catholic country. Even before, the President had left a remark saying that God is stupid which drew flak to the netizens.

POPULAR: Read more news about President Duterte!

Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news!

Tricky Questions: What Color Is This Word? | This game appears simple: you should name the color of the word appearing on the screen. Let us see if you can pass it!  on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: Kami.com.ph
- Coco Martin and PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde just met in Camp Crame along with one of the executives in ABS-CBN, Cory Vidanes

- The Kapamilya actor shared it on his Instagram account

- The clip just showed how the meeting turned out so well

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Coco Martin showed everyone that they had a very peaceful and fun encounter with the PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.

The 'FPJ's Ang Probinsyano' lead star was also with Cory Vidanes.

The video shows that they attended the flag raising ceremony of the entire PNP. They were also able to witness the Awarding of Winners in the 2nd National SWAT Challenge.

It can be heard from a few lines of the PNP Chief's speech wherein he addressed Coco as his idol.

It also gave a glimpse of the most important part which was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between the PNP and the ABS-CBN Corporation.

Watch the video here:

Furthermore, the netizens were really happy about it.

Here are some of their reactions:

"Bravo! Nagkasundo na rin sila! Yehey!!!! #Idol"

"Gusto lang magpapicture ni Abalde"

GodBless idol.., yan dapat nagkakasundo ang lahat walang awayan.. Congratulation sayo

Lumabas ang totoo na Avid Fans lang talaga ng PNP at Albayalde si @mr.cocomartin ...

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In a previous report by KAMI, Coco Martin met the PNP Chief.

Ang Probinsyano is a primetime drama series that has been airing in the Kapamilya network for more than three years already. It remains as the number one show in Philippine television as of today.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news!

The topic of this episode is a day we are waiting for the whole months. Yes, Im talking about the PayDay in the Philippines. Have you ever promised yourself to start making savings? Click Play to watch our hilarious expectations vs. reality video about PayDay in the Philippines. - on KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: Kami.com.ph




Particularly during my sojourns in South Africa, it may not be possible for me to perform the moderation function speedily. I regret the necessity of moderation but it has been rendered inevitable by the behaviour of a particular commentator whose contributions will always and without exception be rejected.





No correspondence will be entered into regarding moderation decisions.

Readers are invited to comment on blog posts. All comments require to be pre-moderated by me, and I shall reject all (a) that are not related to the Lockerbie disaster or (b) that fail to meet my -- perhaps idiosyncratic -- standards of courtesy towards other contributors. Comments will not be rejected simply because I disagree with them or because I, or other contributors, find them irritating. But comments will be rejected if they distort or misrepresent the evidence; are defamatory; or if they risk embroiling me, as publisher, in defamation proceedings. I am perfectly relaxed about being sued in respect of material which I personally have posted -- but not in respect of material that others wish to post as comments and which, in any case, I often strongly disagree with.
Lunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. The content of posts on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original poster and are in no way representative of or endorsed by the owners or administration of this website. The posts on this website are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or factual information on behalf of the owner or administration of LunaticOutPost.Com. The owners or administration of this website can't be hold responsible for content hosted on sites that posters link to in; including, but not limited to, posts, signatures, private messages and such. This site may contain content not suitable for minors and if you feel you might be offended by such content, you should log off immediately.This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Users may make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of issues relating to civil rights, economics, individual rights, international affairs, liberty, science & technology, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss (no more than 50% of the source material) provide a link back to the original articleIf you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright please contact [email protected] This website is owned by :Marco ZwaneveldDrijfriemstraat 522516 XR The HagueNetherlands.I will not rent, sell, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party.We might contact you from time to time regarding your purchases or the services (like forums and announcement lists) you have subscribed to.Some of the 3rd party advertisers on lunaticoutpost.com may use cookiesto track peformance and/or to serve relevant ads.If you wish to read more and/or opt out of such cookies, please visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/
17-Year-Old Female Wanted in Fatal Baldwin Hills Stabbing

Los Angeles police are reportedly searching Friday for a 17-year-old girl in connection with the stabbing death of a man in an alley behind a Baldwin Hills apartment.

The stabbing was reported at 7:15 p.m. Thursday on the 4000 block of Nicolet Avenue, said Sgt. G. Garcia of the Los Angeles Police Departments Southwest Station.

Witnesses told police the man got into an argument with a female, and they went outside an apartment before he was stabbed in the chest, Garcia said. Paramedics took the man to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

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According to media reports, the victim was 21 years old. It is unclear what, if any, relationship he had with the 17-year-old.

She was the last person who was seen with him, police said, but she left the scene.
Teen Arrested in Killings of Sisters in Westchester

Authorities Wednesday arrested a 17-year-old boy suspected in the shooting deaths of two sisters found Saturday in a burning Westchester apartment, and another juvenile was in custody on suspicion of being an accessory to the killing.

The shooting suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, was the boyfriend of one the victims, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

He was arrested about 9:45 a.m. in the 1900 block of 22nd Street in South Los Angeles by an LAPD-FBI fugitive task force, police said.

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Uniek Atkins, 27, and Sierra Brown, 16, were found dead after firefighters put out the blaze, which was reported about 9:05 a.m. Saturday in the 8600 block of Belford Avenue.

Both victims had been shot, police said.

This crime was domestic-violence related, according to an LAPD statement announcing the arrests. The juvenile murder suspect was a boyfriend of one of the victims.

The victims vehicle was recovered Wednesday afternoon in the 1300 block of West 35th Place in South Los Angeles, police said.

Relatives who gathered Sunday at a vigil in memory of the victims said they were both mothers and had recently moved into their apartment in a two-story building at 8650 South Belford Ave. The family members told reporters they had no idea why anyone would want to harm either victim.

The case remains under active investigation and will be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office on Monday.

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Anyone with information about the killings was urged to call LAPD West Bureau Homicide detectives at (213) 382-9470.

After hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-247.
Monday, November 26, 2018

From The New York Times:

A former Ohio judge who served nine months in prison for brutally beating his wife in 2014 in front of their children, punching her 20 times and fracturing a bone in her face, was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of fatally stabbing her at her suburban Cleveland home, the authorities said.

The police encountered the former judge, Lance Mason, Saturday morning as he was driving a sport-utility vehicle away from her house in Shaker Heights and slammed into an officers patrol car, the authorities said. It was not clear whether the officer was responding to a call when Mr. Mason struck the car.

Mr. Mason, 51, a former high-ranking Democratic state lawmaker and a top county prosecutor, had not been formally charged as of Monday morning in the death of his wife, Aisha Fraser Mason, 45.

Read more here

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/family_law/2018/11/ex-ohio-judge-arrested-in-connection-to-murder-of-ex-wife.html
Monday, November 26, 2018

New reports of border tensions led to the closure of a major border crossing yesterday. Expect President Trump to make a statement about the Central American "caravan" in coming days.

Sarah Kinosian and Joshua Partlow for the Washington Post report that

"U.S. authorities closed off the busiest port of entry along the U.S. border with Mexico on Sunday and fired tear gas at members of a Central American migrant caravan who had rushed the fencing that separates the countries. Although the number of people at the border was relatively small, the unrest  with migrants attempting to climb fences and run through car lanes to reach the United States, and scenes of mothers and children choking on tear gas  represented a serious escalation of the crisis." (emphasis added).

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who, according to rumors, might soon be replaced, tweeted the following about developments on the border:

Today @CBP personnel were struck by projectiles thrown by caravan members. Such actions are dangerous & not consistent w peacefully seeking asylum. The perpetrators will be prosecuted. I will continue to aggressively support DHS personnel as they work to safely secure our border.  Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) November 26, 2018



#CBP along with other #DHS, federal, state & local law enforcement, & the @DeptofDefense, have a robust presence along the SW Border and at our POEs. We remain in close contact with Mexican authorities and are committed to resolving this situation safely in concert with them.  Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) November 26, 2018 KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2018/11/usmexico-border-tensions-escalate-major-border-crossing-closed.html
This may seem impossible, but an American company is seeking to change farm animals by cutting or adding to their genes.

By using a process called gene-editing, the company, Recombinetics, says it may be able to remove problem-causing genetic traits from some animals.

Recombinetics says it can produce cows born without horns  those sharp objects on top of their heads. By using the editing process, the company says it can also breed cows that survive in hot weather. With gene-cutting, it says, pigs could live and never fully grow up. Why would that be a good idea? When male pigs reach puberty, their meat can have an unpleasant smell.

The company must first persuade United States government officials that gene-edited animals are safe, and no different than ones bred the traditional way.

To date, no gene-edited animals are sold in the country. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a kind of salmon genetically engineered to grow fast, but those fish are not yet available.

There has been debate as to whether people would want to eat food that comes from gene-edited animals.

Last month, the FDA announced an action plan that described the steps it will take to support both plant and animal biotechnology, while safeguarding public health.

To make this technology more acceptable, Recombinetics is not yet changing animals genes to greatly increase their growth or productivity. That could make the animals seem too strange to people. Instead, the company says it is adding gene-edited traits to ease animals suffering.

Its a better story to tell, Tammy Lee told the Associated Press. She is chief executive officer of the company, based in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Cow horns can hurt other cows, animals and people. Animal rights activists criticize the way farmers currently remove cow horns. They use hot irons or a caustic, burning substance to remove the bone.

Gene-editing

This is how Recombinetics says gene-editing works: In a laboratory, workers use an instrument called a molecular pencil to erase, or cut, re-write, remove, or add genes. This newly edited gene then would be included when an animal is impregnated.

Recombinetics solves the cow horn problem by cutting out the gene for growing horns, ending the need for painful removals. Once the gene is taken out, all future generations after that first animal will also lack the gene -- and would not develop horns.

Last year, the company had a gene-edited male cow without horns. It fathered several cows. They were also all born hornless and are being raised on the grounds of the University of California, Davis. When the female offspring grow up and begin producing milk, the milk will be tested for any problems.

Recombinetics is also developing cows that are less likely to suffer in high temperatures, so they can live in hotter climates.

When it comes to raising pigs for their meat, Recombinetics is working with ones that will not go through puberty. When male pigs go through puberty, their meat can develop an unpleasant smell. Currently, farmers castrate the males, removing their sex organs. Animal rights activists say the treatment is painful because it is usually done without medicine to kill the pain. Editing genes to stop pigs from experiencing puberty would make castration unnecessary.

The company says that it is doing the work of traditional animal breeders, only much faster and with the exact science of cutting and editing genes.

Recombinetics Tammy Lee said she thinks if the public accepts gene-editing, farmers would be interested in traits that increase productivity in the animals. For example, she said, pigs would edited to have larger number of babies for each pregnancy.

Change the animal or change the system?

Critics question whether using this technology is playing God, doing something that is not natural.

Paul Thompson is a professor of agriculture at Michigan State University. He told the Associated Press that gene-editing may serve as evidence of how modern food production already treats animals.

Thompson said there has been a debate for at least 20 years, of whether you need to change the animal or change the system.

Support for changing the genes may also depend on how the technology is used. For example, will it be used to help the animals, prevent disease, or increase productivity?

A Pew Research Center study last August found 43 percent of Americans supported genetically engineering animals for more nutritious meat.

The Humane Society of the United States works for better treatment of animals. The society supports gene-editing to end castration of pigs and removing cows horns. But the group has yet to give the technology its complete approval.

Im Anne Ball.

The Associated Press reported this story. Anne Ball adapted the AP story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

Quiz - Farm Animals May Soon Get New Qualities With Gene-Editing Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz



_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

trait - n. a quality that makes one person or thing different from another

bred - adj. to keep and take care of animals or plants in order to produce more animals or plants of a particular kind

puberty - n. the period of life when a person's sexual organs mature and he or she becomes able to have children

impregnate - v. to make (a woman or a female animal) pregnant

pencil - n. an instrument used for writing and drawing that has a hard outer part and a black or colored center part

iron - n. a heavy type of metal that is very common, occurs naturally in blood, and is used to make steel and in many products
The United States Capitol is one of the most famous buildings in Washington.

The Capitol building is also one of the best-known symbols of the U.S. government. And it has been around for almost as long.

The countrys first president, George Washington, set the cornerstone for the building in 1793. At the time, the countrys government was only about five years old. And the capital city was Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.

But national leaders were preparing to move the capital to the District of Columbia. They identified a hill on which to build a new home for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The area around it was mostly grass, trees and water  in other words, a swamp. But the countrys leaders imagined that one day it would be crowded with people and buildings. And they were right.

A slow beginning, then a fire

Yet efforts to set up the Capitol building were slow. Several architects were asked to work on the project and later dismissed. The design of the building kept changing. Finally, lawmakers began meeting in one side in 1800, and in the other side in 1807. They passed from one side to the other on a wooden walkway.

Then, in 1814, British troops set fire to the Capitol building. Only rain from an unexpected storm put out the fire.

After the war with the British ended, workers made repairs and began to improve the building. They enclosed the center of the Capitol and added a dome on top. It was made of wood and covered in copper.

As the nation grows, so does the Capitol

For some years, improvements to the Capitol were small: running water, then gas lighting. But major changes to the country were taking place. New states were joining. The United States was expanding. And more lawmakers needed to meet in the Capitol.

By 1850, lawmakers agreed that the building was too small. Architects and builders set to work again. In time, they would double the length of the two sides of the Capitol. But the increase caused a new problem: now the dome looked too small.

However, the nation was facing more serious troubles. The southern states were threatening to withdraw from the Union. They objected to the power of the federal government, especially its efforts to control  or end  slavery.

By 1861, the country was fighting a civil war. Most work on the Capitol came to a stop. At times during the Civil War, the building served as a place for soldiers to sleep, a hospital, and even a place where baked goods were made.

But even before the war ended, then-President Abraham Lincoln urged that improvements to the Capitol be finished. He reportedly said if people saw work continue on the Capitol, they would accept that the Union would go on.

In 1863, a formerly enslaved man helped add a statue to the top of the new dome. Philip Reid was one of many enslaved workers who had built the Capitol. Over the years, they dug the stone, cut pieces of wood, and laid down the bricks, among other jobs. Reid was an expert in shaping metal. He was able to solve the problem of how to get a large statue out of its plaster cast so it could be forged. The figure, called the Statue of Freedom, still stands on top of the Capitols white, iron dome.

Modernization

The Civil War ended in 1865. As Lincoln hoped, the Union continued. And the Capitol building was slowly modernized. Elevators, electric lighting, and more rooms were added.

In the 20th century, the Capitol was equipped with televisions, computers, and a voting machine. And a large visitor center was added so the public can learn more about its history.

Today, the area around the Capitol is completely different than it was in 1793. Washington, D.C. is now a major city. And other government buildings stand near the Capitol. They include the U.S. Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and even the Voice of America.

But the Capitol remains the seat of U.S. lawmaking, and a well-known symbol of the federal government.

Im Kelly Jean Kelly.

Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

symbol - n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality

swamp - n. land that is always wet and often partly covered with water

architect - n. a person who designs buildings

dome - n. a large rounded roof or ceiling that is shaped like half of a ball

brick - n. a small, hard block of baked clay that is used to build structures

cast - n. a hard covering

forge - v. to form something by heating and shaping metal

elevator - n. a machine used for carrying people and things to different levels in a building


Scientists are trying to save Puerto Rico's endangered Amazon parrots after Hurricane Maria destroyed the birds' habitats and food sources.

El Yunque is a large national forest on the eastern part of Puerto Rico. Just two of the 56 wild parrots that once lived there survived Maria. The Category-4 storm struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. Scientists report other forests have seen great drops in parrot populations, as well.

In the 1800s, there were more than a million of the bright green parrots living in the wild in Puerto Rico. By the 1970s, the number was down to just 13 birds after years of forest clearing.

The U.S. and Puerto Rican governments launched a special program in 1972 to help increase the parrot population. That led to the creation of three breeding centers.

Just weeks before Hurricane Maria hit, scientists counted 56 wild parrots at El Yunque. That was the highest number in the programs history.

Scientists say that even though several parrots have been born in captivity and in the wild since Maria, the species is still in danger.

Marisel Lopez oversees the parrot recovery program at El Yunque for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She says she is worried about the disappearance of parrots in El Yunque. She said, It was devastating, after so many years of having worked on this project.

The Puerto Rican Amazon is the island's only remaining native parrot. The birds only reproduce once a year.

More than 460 of the birds are kept inside the breeding centers at El Yunque and the Rio Abajo forest. Scientists have not released any of the birds since Hurricane Maria. A third breeding center, in a forest in the western area of Maricao, has not been in operation since the storm.

How to bring back the species

Federal and local scientists plan to meet next month to discuss how best to bring back the species.

Scientists are considering whether to capture some of the remaining wild parrots and put them in the same cage as the birds that are set to be released. This way, the captive birds can learn from the wild birds how to survive in the forests.

Another consideration is to release some captive parrots in Maricao, which was not as heavily damaged by Maria.

But first, scientists need to make sure the forests can offer food and safe shelter for the birds.

Jessica Ilse works at El Yunque for the U.S. Forest Service. She says scientists are studying the amount of fruit falling from trees and the number of leaves the trees have dropped.

Many of the large trees where the parrots used to build nests are now gone. Without these trees, the parrots could become easy targets for their predators.

Ilse does not know how long the recovery program will take. She said the damage from Hurricane Maria has caused a complete change to the ecosystem.

Gustavo Olivieri works in the parrot recovery program for Puerto Ricos Department of Natural Resources. He said, We have a lot of work to do.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Associated Press story by Danica Coto. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

habitat - n. a place where a plant or animal normally grows or lives

breeding - n. the process by which young animals, birds, etc., are produced by their parents

captivity - n. the state of being kept in a place

species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants

devastating - adj. causing great damage or harm

predator - n. an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals
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Page: 1 2 Return Alaska to Russia! TheKeyling

lop guest

User ID: 444579

11-26-2018 12:49 PM











Post: #1 Return Alaska to Russia!

Advertisement It was stolen - and needs to be returned! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 461243

11-26-2018 01:49 PM











Post: #2 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

It was sold not stolen LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 461243

11-26-2018 01:50 PM











Post: #3 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 01:49 PM) It was sold not stolen

Although, maybe the Eskimos have a different perspective. Although, maybe the Eskimos have a different perspective. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 475269

11-26-2018 02:12 PM











Post: #4 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

abduction land.how many missing persons are they up to now? LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 474903

11-26-2018 03:43 PM











Post: #5 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

That would entail giving Russia complete control over 80% of the Arctic Ocean. That would secure Russia's military supremacy over the region! lol LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 473031

11-26-2018 03:55 PM











Post: #6 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 03:43 PM) That would entail giving Russia complete control over 80% of the Arctic Ocean. That would secure Russia's military supremacy over the region! lol

So let me get this straight, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden Finland and Norway have less than 20% between them... LOL..



Maybe Iceland, the UK and Greenland should close the GIUK gap to Russia eh. that'd be fun, close the Northwest passage to Russia ;)



It's like in either American or Russia heads no one else exists in the world... So let me get this straight, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden Finland and Norway have less than 20% between them... LOL..Maybe Iceland, the UK and Greenland should close the GIUK gap to Russia eh. that'd be fun, close the Northwest passage to Russia ;)It's like in either American or Russia heads no one else exists in the world... LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 474903

11-26-2018 04:03 PM











Post: #7 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 03:55 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 03:43 PM) That would entail giving Russia complete control over 80% of the Arctic Ocean. That would secure Russia's military supremacy over the region! lol

So let me get this straight, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden Finland and Norway have less than 20% between them... LOL..



Maybe Iceland, the UK and Greenland should close the GIUK gap to Russia eh. that'd be fun, close the Northwest passage to Russia ;)



It's like in either American or Russia heads no one else exists in the world...

the closer to the Arctic circle the tighter it gets! lol Russia is on the move on all fronts! Your reply seems to border on support for such actions! lol the closer to the Arctic circle the tighter it gets! lol Russia is on the move on all fronts! Your reply seems to border on support for such actions! lol LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 473031

11-26-2018 04:38 PM











Post: #8 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 04:03 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 03:55 PM) So let me get this straight, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden Finland and Norway have less than 20% between them... LOL..



Maybe Iceland, the UK and Greenland should close the GIUK gap to Russia eh. that'd be fun, close the Northwest passage to Russia ;)



It's like in either American or Russia heads no one else exists in the world...

the closer to the Arctic circle the tighter it gets! lol Russia is on the move on all fronts! Your reply seems to border on support for such actions! lol

If you are either American or Russian then again, you'll be blinded by a deep dislike for the other that demonstrates no one else exists in such a landscape, the world has been made up of the big blocks, the US and it's sphere on one side, the Soviet Union and it's sphere on the other.... now we are in different territory and the landscape has changed even if the bumping heads between the US and Russia hasn't.



Most nations seem to recognise the big blocks are not the way to go and are forming up smaller more flexible alliances of like minded nations and this is what has happened here, if Sweden and Finland joined Nato that would mean 7 of the 8 would sit under US/NATO oversight... what point would there be for Russia in such a group? and what point for the smaller members bar be bullied by the bigger powers.



This way, 5 of the 8, the 5 smaller member sits under an alliance of like minded nations... and it is worth pondering that point, this shows just how the world is changing from the big block 29 in NATO, 28(27) in the EU will always get bogged down in bureaucracy should anything actually kick off, these smaller alliances are not stuck with the big block bureaucracy and they can defend their regions..



This is how the landscape is changing.... hence my comments that Russians and Americans seem to continue their p*ssing match as if only they exist, while the world changes around them.



That does not mean advocating conflict, perhaps the opposite... a changing landscape might mean the US and Russia stop bashing each other as much as the big blocks evaporate away... If you are either American or Russian then again, you'll be blinded by a deep dislike for the other that demonstrates no one else exists in such a landscape, the world has been made up of the big blocks, the US and it's sphere on one side, the Soviet Union and it's sphere on the other.... now we are in different territory and the landscape has changed even if the bumping heads between the US and Russia hasn't.Most nations seem to recognise the big blocks are not the way to go and are forming up smaller more flexible alliances of like minded nations and this is what has happened here, if Sweden and Finland joined Nato that would mean 7 of the 8 would sit under US/NATO oversight... what point would there be for Russia in such a group? and what point for the smaller members bar be bullied by the bigger powers.This way, 5 of the 8, the 5 smaller member sits under an alliance of like minded nations... and it is worth pondering that point, this shows just how the world is changing from the big block 29 in NATO, 28(27) in the EU will always get bogged down in bureaucracy should anything actually kick off, these smaller alliances are not stuck with the big block bureaucracy and they can defend their regions..This is how the landscape is changing.... hence my comments that Russians and Americans seem to continue their p*ssing match as if only they exist, while the world changes around them.That does not mean advocating conflict, perhaps the opposite... a changing landscape might mean the US and Russia stop bashing each other as much as the big blocks evaporate away... LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 475280

11-26-2018 04:39 PM











Post: #9 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

Purchased dumbass, not stolen LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 452455

11-26-2018 04:43 PM











Post: #10 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 03:55 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 03:43 PM) That would entail giving Russia complete control over 80% of the Arctic Ocean. That would secure Russia's military supremacy over the region! lol

So let me get this straight, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden Finland and Norway have less than 20% between them... LOL..



Maybe Iceland, the UK and Greenland should close the GIUK gap to Russia eh. that'd be fun, close the Northwest passage to Russia ;)



It's like in either American or Russia heads no one else exists in the world...

The UK can't even close the English channel to the rusty old Soviet navy.







I'd love to see the Russians steam right up the Thames.



The UK can't even close the English channel to the rusty old Soviet navy.I'd love to see the Russians steam right up the Thames. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 475280

11-26-2018 04:46 PM











Post: #11 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 04:39 PM) Purchased dumbass, not stolen

twice in point if fact...two received payments for this land twice in point if fact...two received payments for this land LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 475232

11-26-2018 04:53 PM











Post: #12 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

Give Alaska to Canada, makes perfect geographical sense. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 397180

11-26-2018 04:55 PM











Post: #13 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 04:53 PM) Give Alaska to Canada, makes perfect geographical sense.

Let's conquer Canada instead.



United American Empire!



Long live King Trump! Let's conquer Canada instead.United American Empire!Long live King Trump! LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 473031

11-26-2018 04:59 PM











Post: #14 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 04:43 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (11-26-2018 03:55 PM) So let me get this straight, Canada, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden Finland and Norway have less than 20% between them... LOL..



Maybe Iceland, the UK and Greenland should close the GIUK gap to Russia eh. that'd be fun, close the Northwest passage to Russia ;)



It's like in either American or Russia heads no one else exists in the world...

The UK can't even close the English channel to the rusty old Soviet navy.







I'd love to see the Russians steam right up the Thames.





Erm the Russians have a right of transit... you do know that don't you, you are not that silly are you? or do you think those straits can just be closed?



and you probably know that given Dover is one, if not the busiest straits in the world so that virtually all military ships are escorted through the strait... I mean you wouldn't be that silly now would you... Russia, China, US military are not going to want the publicity of sailing through a group of swimmers going from Dover to Calais...



unless you think the Russians etc are that stupid they want to chop up some swimmers or small pleasure craft for fun... you probably might enjoy that, but I doubt the Russians would. Erm the Russians have a right of transit... you do know that don't you, you are not that silly are you? or do you think those straits can just be closed?and you probably know that given Dover is one, if not the busiest straits in the world so that virtually all military ships are escorted through the strait... I mean you wouldn't be that silly now would you... Russia, China, US military are not going to want the publicity of sailing through a group of swimmers going from Dover to Calais...unless you think the Russians etc are that stupid they want to chop up some swimmers or small pleasure craft for fun... you probably might enjoy that, but I doubt the Russians would. LoP Guest

lop guest

User ID: 429847

11-26-2018 05:47 PM











Post: #15 RE: Return Alaska to Russia!

NO..........................No.............&.................NO!

The RUSSIANS Can Kiss Everysingle AmericanAss!

..........Still Not Going to Happen "EVER"!............. Advertisement



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Dharmavidya:

Religion as a Vehicle

The Sanskrit word yana means vehicle. Buddhism is broadly divided into yanas. A yana may encompass a variety of denominations, orders or sects. Different yanas are characterised by some common broad orientation, so the term can sometimes be used for the attitude rather than for the grouping.

The two best known yanas are Hinayana and Mahayana. Sometimes a third, Vajrayana, is added. Ambedkar, leader of the untouchables, also spoke of a Navayana, or new vehicle.

I will say something about the yanas in Buddhism and also extend the term to a more general consideration of inter-religious study.

Loose Definition

Hinayana and Mahayana are are generally distinguished by the attitudes they represent and these are two of the fundamental options in the spiritual life, whether Buddhist or any other. These options are (1) salvation as purity and (2) salvation as altruism.

In Hinayana there is an emphasis upon the necessity to take personal responsibility and walk the path alone whereas in Mahayana there is an emphasis upon generosity of spirit and altruism. The latter has further developed into an emphasis upon being saved by the Buddhas rather than saving oneself. After all, if the aim is altruism and if the Buddhas are the supreme examples, then they must be busy helping us. In a way, this development represents a third attitude. One could, perhaps, consider the other power approach to be a distinct yana.

Other Yanas

Vajrayana is basically Mahayana plus Tantra. Tantra is the idea that all human energies can be transformed into elements of the spiritual path. It is thus a yoga of sublimation. Navayana is the term given by Bimrao Ambedkar to the movement that started in the 1950s to convert untouchables in India to a new form of Buddhism that was as much concerned with social emancipation as with spiritual salvation.

This suggests at least five different basic orientations that a religion might have: purity, altruism, entrustment, sublimation and social emancipation. No doubt there are others, but not an unlimited number. There are, surely, only a certain number of options.

Classification of Schools

Buddhist schools are often classified as being either Hinayana or Mahayana. In this case, Theravada is the primary Hinayana school. It has as its ideal the arhat, a saint who has overcome all spiritual obstacles and thus gone beyond desire. In the orient, the Vinaya School and some other small schools are also classified as Hinayana. Thus there are Hinayana schools in all the Theravada countries: Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, where they are the predominant, and also in China and Vietnam where they are less major. Hinayana in Japan and Korea is purely academic. Tibetan Buddhism is virtually all Mahayana (or Vajrayana, which can be seen as a sub-category of Mahayana) and most of the Buddhism of China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan is Mahayana. In India Buddhism of both types has been reintroduced in the twentieth century.

It can also be clarifying to classify schools as belonging to the Indian cultural world or to the Sino-Japanese. This would give us a broad classification as follows:

INDO SINO HINAYANA Theravada Vinaya, etc. MAHAYANA Tibetan Pureland, Zen, Hua Yen etc.

Vehicles

Vehicle is a useful idea. Whatever system one follows, it is a vehicle. Some vehicles go faster than others, some are more comfortable than others, but most will get you there. This is quite a good way of regarding different spiritual systems, both Buddhist and non-Buddhist. Religions are artificial. Like cars, they are created by humans. They are human attempts to reach toward what is beyond our mundane, conditioned, materialistic existence. This is true even if one believes that at the centre of ones religion there is an omnipotent power, still the religion itself is our attempt to reach, serve or worship that power.

The spirit attempts to go beyond. Certain individuals in history have become exemplars and each has spoken of their experience in terms more or less accessible to the culture that they lived in, Jesus among the Jews, Buddha among the Indians, Lao Tze among the Chinese and so on. Traditions then form around their words, different ones emphasising different dimensions, and these traditions become useful vehicles for later seekers and practitioners. Buddha no doubt taught purity, altruism, faith, sublimation and emancipation and for him they were all part of a single vision, but we followers tend to separate the strands of the plait out and see contradictions where he saw facets of a unity.

The words can never be more than an aid, a vehicle, but they are useful nonetheless. We may each be on our singular journey, but sharing travellers' tales is an essential element in the art of navigating the mountains.

Skilful Means

In some Mahayana literature we encounter the idea of three vehicles called the shravaka vehicle, the bodhisattva vehicle and the Buddha vehicle. This approach is most developed in the Lotus Sutra, which is often seen as the pinnacle of Mahayana. Evidently, the shravaka and bodhisattva vehicles are Hinayana and Mahayana respectively. This then is an attempt to say that these two are only provisional steps toward a higher vehicle, that of the Buddhas themselves. This idea then becomes the foundation for a theory of skilful means that suggests that everything that Buddhas do and teach is to be thought of as skilful means toward the liberation of beings.

My idea in this article is essentially the same. Extending it to all religions, we can see that each religion or each major section of any great religion, constitutes a yana. One could make such an analysis of Christianity, with its protestant, catholic and orthodox yanas. The tragedy has been that too often in history people have fallen to fighting and cruelty through a failure to see that these are all just skilful means.

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Chinese leader Xi Jinping outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on Aug. 31, 2017. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

Xi to Visit Portugal, Spain to Advance Chinas Geopolitical Goals

Chinese investments part of Beijing's push for Europe to embrace One Belt, One Road

The One Belt, One Road initiative is Chinas signature project for building international clout as it seeks to establish global trade routes and set up investments that benefit its interests.

Across Southeast Asia and some South Pacific islands, China-financed OBOR infrastructure projects have recently come under scrutiny for burdening countries with enormous debts.

And so, China has set its sights on Europe. But as some European countries and the European Union grow increasingly wary of Chinese acquisitions in critical industries such as tech and auto manufacturing, China is pushing for economic ties with countries with a smaller footprint, such as Portugal and Spain.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will visit Spain on Nov. 27 to 29, and Portugal on Dec. 4 to 5, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua.

In Spain, China will sign joint agreements aimed at exploring third-party markets, while in Portugal, China will boost cooperation in a variety of sectors such as science and tech, water conservancy, energy, infrastructure, and finance, Xinhua reported Nov. 24.

Observers anticipate that China will aggressively push for the two countries to sign onto OBOR. Chinas investments are not only part of an agenda to target and gain access to sensitive technology developed by these countries private sectors, but also to use economic deals to win political support.

Portugal

In Portugal, China has made great strides. Amid a financial crisis in 2008, Portugal was desperate for foreign capital, and China swooped in. Direct foreign investment from China grew from zero before 2010, to 5.7 billion euros ($6.45 billion) in 2016, according to a December 2017 report by the European think tank Network on China, a consortium of research institutes in different European countries.

Today, Chinese firms own 25 percent of Portugals national grid, 27 percent of its largest listed bank, and all of its largest insurer and private hospitals operator, according to Reuters.

A number of major deals related to renewable energy technology, including Chinese state-owned hydropower giant China Three Gorges Corporations (CTG) acquisition of Energias de Portugal (EDP) in 2011, granted CTG access to state-of-the-art knowledge and expertise in the field, the report said.

CTGs purchase of one of Portugals largest energy operators enabled the former to expand into global markets in Africa, South America, and the United States. For example, through the partnership with EDP, CTG acquired eight hydropower stations in Brazil, making it the second-largest private energy producer in Brazil.

Another focus of Beijings investments is in the countrys ports. Xi himself said, China supports Portugals participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and encourages both countries to cooperate in maritime research and port logistics.

In particular, China is eyeing an opportunity to develop Portugals port of Sines as part of its OBOR initiative of creating new maritime trade routes. In a 2017 document, Beijing had called for developing three new sea passages to boost Chinas trade.

But as Chinese firms have steadily acquired stakes in ports across Europe in recent years, European authorities are raising concerns that these companies may be allowing Chinese goods to illegally skirt import dutiesas in the case of an ongoing investigation into the Chinese-owned port of Piraeus in Greece.

For now, the Portuguese government seems eager to welcome such investments. Prime Minister Antonio Costa told the countrys parliament in May that changes made to a Portuguese takeover law last year were meant to encourage Chinese investors.

It was my initiative and aimed to ensure that Portugal would offer the same conditions to foreigners, namely Chinese, as Europeans, Costa said.

Spain

According to the European think tank report, investments in Spain are still relatively small by volume. But they have grown exponentially as in Portugal, from less than 10 million euros (about $11.4 million) per year before 2012, to more than 1.6 billion euros in 2016, according to research by Rhodium Group.

But in 2016, Chinese firmsone of them state-ownedmade two big acquisitions into Spanish engineering firms Aritex and Eptisa, indicating Beijings desire to acquire high-tech. Aritex focuses on aeronautics, autos, and renewable energy, while Eptisa has projects in IT and transportation infrastructure: all fields that Beijing has listed as a priority for development in the Made in China 2025 blueprint for China to become a tech manufacturing powerhouse.

Also, in June 2017, Chinas state-owned shipping company COSCO bought majority stakes in Noatum Port Holdings, the operator of two container terminals in the ports of Valencia and Bilbao, illustrating Beijings hopes to pull Spain into its OBOR paradigm. Noatum is Spains largest maritime terminal operator.

While the Spanish government is eager to receive such investment largess, citizens are warier. A 2015 poll conducted by the Elcano Royal Institute think tank found that most Spaniards perceived Chinese investment negatively. When respondents were asked, Which countries would you like to see invest more or less?, China received the worst assessment of all countries, with 24 percent wanting less investment. By comparison, 6 percent said they wanted less investment from Germany, with 48 percent saying they wanted more.

Last week, the European Union reached a consensus on investment screening rules that would apply to all EU member states if approved. The move was aimed at countering deals that would pose national security risks. The new rules could potentially hurt Chinas investment plans in Europe.

Political Influence

Beijings monetary influence in European countries has another side effect: It can sway governments to comply with Chinas political agenda. In Hungary, for example, Chinas economic ties have led the country to stay silent on the Chinese regimes wrongdoing.

In March 2017, Hungary reportedly pressured the EU bloc to not add its name to a joint letter by international embassies to denounce the reported torture of detained lawyers in China.

In April, Hungary was the sole EU country that didnt sign its name to a report by EU ambassadors criticizing Chinas OBOR for flouting norms of international transparency, while furthering the interests of the communist state.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) has accepted the explanation offered by the architecture firm of Carlos Marreiros and will now resume with the project plan. Following a brief investigation, the IC has concluded that there is no evidence that the bidding firm has violated the terms of the tender. Therefore, the department will continue with the project as planned. On November 17, it was announced that MAA Marreiros Architectural Atelier Limited had won the tender to design the New Central Library at a tender price of MOP18.68 million. Days later the firm was accused of plagiarism, with critics highlighting similarities between the New Central Library project and an award-winning auditorium in the Spanish city of Leon. Marreiros denied knowing about the Spanish auditorium and said that there were many buildings around the world that have similar components but are unique when seen holistically.

Pang Chuan supports embalming bear Bobo

Lawmaker Pang Chuan supports the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) in embalming the bear Bobo, who died last week. In Pangs opinion, its good that IACM has proposed to embalm Bobo. He commented that in many other regions, animals are frequently embalmed to promote scientific education, and that many of the local schools have embalmed and placed animals on display. IACM president Jose Tavares said that the bureau will deal with Bobo respectfully, and will find experts and scholars to embalm Bobo. Jose Tavares emphasized that he hopes people will still be able to see Bobo in the future and learn about his history.

Two locals arrested for drug trafficking

The Judiciary Police arrested two local male residents (34 and 43 years old) for drug trafficking, according to a PJ report released last week. The two suspects were active in selling drugs to people who frequently visited casinos. The police seized drugs worth MOP180,000, according to market prices. One of the suspects had already been sentenced to jail in the past for drug trafficking. 156.9 grams of drugs were seized from hotel rooms as well as drug packaging tools that belonged to the two suspects. The police believe that the duo was packing the drugs to look like tea in order to sell them.
A British corporate investigator filed a complaint Friday to U.K. regulators about Chinas state TV channel, saying its British license should be revoked because it aired his forced confession when he was imprisoned in China.

Peter Humphrey submitted the complaint against China Central Television and its international division, China Global Television, for violating British broadcasting rules.

Humphrey and his wife, Yingzeng Yu, a Chinese-born U.S. citizen, spent two years in prison after being convicted of illegally acquiring personal information of Chinese citizens.

The couple, who ran a corporate investigation firm, had been hired on contract by pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline to look into a security breach, but became collateral damage when the Chinese government began investigating GSKs alleged bribery practices.

The pair was shown separately on Chinese television purportedly confessing their crimes, but Humphrey said it was done under duress and that he was sedated.

CGTN is available on free and pay television channels in Britain. The broadcaster is reportedly expanding its presence in Europe with a new studio and production center set to open in London by the end of the year.

Humphrey says he was forced to confess twice. It always happened after or amid a massive wave of international press coverage of our case, so it was part of a propaganda war, he said.

Humphrey got help with his case from Peter Dahlin, a Swedish activist who was also detained in China and allegedly forced to confess on air after authorities cracked down on his human rights group.

Dahlins new rights group, Safeguard Defenders, says it has documented more than 100 forced confessions shown by CCTV. At least eight were broadcast on British airwaves, he said.

Many people think CCTV merely broadcasts these, theyre made by police and [the station is] forced to broadcast them, but its journalists are actively engaged in these reports, Dahlin said.

By filing the complaint, Dahlin said they want to influence the broadcasters behavior, so it will abide by basic standards, both regulatory standards in Britain but also journalistic ethical standards.

Britains communications regulator, Ofcom, said it was assessing the complaint as a priority and would take necessary enforcement action if it found any rules had been broken.

In 2012, Ofcom revoked Iranian state-owned Press TVs license following a complaint by Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari that the station aired an interview with him while he was detained. Bahari said he was forced to do a scripted interview with his captors, who threatened him with execution. Kelvin Chan, London, AP
Polytec Groups lawsuit against local newspaper Son Pou was described by the defendant as the real estate company taking advantage of the case in order to achieve objectives beyond bringing down the newspapers columnist.

Last Friday, before the final judgment session, the last trial session was carried out at the Court of First Instance. During the session, no witnesses were called. Second defendant Chou Chong Peng, director of Son Pou, accused the Pearl Horizon developer of deliberately having had clients sign contracts with the company despite knowledge that the company would not be capable of eventually delivering the units to the purchasers, thus creating an unfair situation for buyers.

[A long time] after the Son Pou articles were written, Polytec hadnt reached out to Son Pou. However, once the case had already gained judicial status, Polytec asked us to clarify, said Chou.

Polytec probably did not want to solve the issue [concerning the articles], but it [the company] is systematically making plans for other purposes, said Chou.

In his final statement, Chou noted that, in recent years, many news stories about Pearl Horizon were published, and that the newspaper just wanted to report the case as [the] incidents were occurring, not targeting [any parties].

In Chous opinion, Polytecs loss of reputation is mainly due to the failure of the company to deliver the residences on time, and because of that the media should not be held accountable for it.

In first defendant Lei Kongs column, he used phrases such as bossy terms to describe the Pearl Horizon contract made with buyers.

In Chous opinion, individuals have their own interpretation of bossy terms and, for that reason, Chou thinks that Polytec has biasedly judged the term.

In conclusion, the articles were not written out of personal interest. They were written in the publics interest and were made to protect the residents freedom: the freedom of speech, declared Chou.

The Son Pou columnist, first defendant Lei Kong, said in his final statement that this case is being called, by foreign media, the biggest slander lawsuit since the handover.

The Pearl Horizon case is a public issue. It has an important relationship with public interest, said Lei, who added that the defendants should not be convicted of crimes since they did not violate the law, and since the [articles] did not violate any law, Lei said.

In Leis opinion, the case has shown that Macau press environment is deteriorating more and more.

Powerful parties in society are becoming more and more outrageous towards the government and towards the media. The bigwigs are asking the media to shut up. [] It is common for the media to write something wrong. [When the media write things wrong], the situation should be solved through communication, not through lawsuits. As a commentator, I feel terrified, said Lei.

Later, prosecuting lawyer Leonel Alberto Alves stated that actually, the media is a kind of weapon. The media is a very dangerous weapon.

If such defamation is not opposed, I dont know how the company could survive in this society, said Leonel Alberto Alves.

Defendant Lei Kongs lawyer then commented on individual freedom of speech and the freedom of press.

Individuals have the freedom to express thoughts, and media is also protected [for their freedom of speech]. [Freedom of speech] is a basic right of each individual, and it is a basic right of a society. It is not just in Macau, it is around the whole world, said the lawyer, adding that it is not the writers obligation to testify [for Polytec for the Pearl Horizon case]. It is Polytec which thinks the company does not need to fulfill its obligations in explaining things to the public.

The court will deliver the sentence on December 17, at 5 p.m.
Police used tear gas and water cannons to control thousands of protesters on the Champs- Elysees in Paris, some of whom were setting fires, as a week-long series of demonstrations against higher gasoline taxes converged on the French capital.

Among the protesters were members of far-right political movements who confronted riot police, according to Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. Police kept demonstrators away from French President Emmanuel Macrons office and residence.

The social-media-driven movement, which branded itself gilets jaunes  after the yellow safety vests drivers need to keep in their cars  began a week ago, when almost 300,000 protesters threw up some 2,000 roadblocks. The protests are knitting together disparate groups united not just by their opposition to gas taxes, but anger at the president himself. Their complaints range from vanishing local services to the abolition of a wealth tax to the rising cost of living.

Its just taxes, taxes, taxes, said Marianne, 51, who declined to provide her last name because she works for a local government near Paris. Everything is expensive. We cant get to the end of the month. This goes way beyond just diesel.

Authorities had made a downtown park available for Saturdays demonstration. Instead, protesters headed mainly to Avenue des Champs- Elysees, Pariss most famous street. There were about 8,000 protesters in the city, Castaner said. The national turnout was about 106,000, significantly lower than on the previous Saturday, he added.

There were two types of demonstrators today, Castaner said distinguishing between protesters looking to send a message and what he termed members of far- right groups who deliberately attacked riot police.

Over the course of several hours, demonstrators set up multiple barricades on the avenue, lit fires, and dug out cobblestones to use as projectiles. The majority of protesters moved on and off the Champs-Elysees, retreating from the smoke or tear gas and returning when riot police pulled back.

The governments response to roll back the tax plan has so far been ineffective. Offers of aid for cleaner vehicles and home-heating systems havent calmed the protesters, and Macrons administration has refused to back down from a tax plan thats aimed at reducing fuel consumption and cutting harmful emissions.

On Tuesday, the government is scheduled to make policy announcements to try to address the issue.

More than three-quarters of the public support the protesters, according to polls. The standoff has pitted Macrons mostly urban supporters  many of whom dont rely on cars  against Frances rural and small town populations, who do.

The government raised diesel and gasoline taxes at the start of this year, and a further increase is scheduled for 2019. Taxes account for about 60 percent of the price at the pump.

Macron, in a tweet, thanked the police for their courage and said, shame on those who attacked them. Gregory Viscusi, Alan Katz, Bloomberg
After coming face to face with unpredictable gun-waving children almost 25 years ago, the former commander of the failed U.N. peacekeeping mission during the Rwandan genocide dedicated his life to eliminating the use of children as weapons of war.

In an interview with The Associated Press in civil war-torn South Sudan, Romeo Dallaire, who is widely known for warning the U.N. about Rwandas massacre in 1994, said the current approach to combatting child soldier recruitment is not sufficient. Local security forces must be part of the solution, he said.

My personal experiences of having to negotiate with, having to face children with weapons  may not have been the right way of doing it, Dallaire said.

His visit marked the launch of a three-year-program by the Canada-based Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. The USD2.2 million project funded by Global Affairs Canada aims to work with at least 1,200 South Sudanese soldiers, police and prison personnel. The first round of training will include 50 senior army officers.

With 19,000 children associated with armed groups, South Sudan has one of the worlds highest rates of child soldiers, according to the U.N. Almost 6,000 child soldiers were recruited by government and opposition forces in the past four years of fighting, according to a U.N. report released in September.

The figures are unacceptably high, Virginia Gamba, the new U.N. chief for children and armed conflict, said during a recent visit.

South Sudan leads the world with the highest number of child soldiers released, but rapid rates of recruitment are stifling progress. In the last two years UNICEF facilitated the release of over 900 child soldiers yet more than 1,650 children were recruited by armed groups over approximately the same period, according to the U.N.

These kids families were poor when they left and theyre still poor when they go back, so kids return to the army once released, William Deng Deng, chairman for South Sudans national disarmament, demobilization and reintegration commission, told AP. While its not government policy to recruit children, Deng said it happens because youth socialize with armed groups in their communities.

In an attempt to break this cycle, the Dallaire initiative keeps in mind the realities that both soldiers and children face in conflict. By providing guidance to soldiers on how to interact with children in specific scenarios, the training focuses on behavior change, said Shelly Whitman, the executive director.

We dont come in to do the finger-pointing. We come in to say, How can we help change that? Whitman said.

One expert said that while persuading armed groups not to recruit children is an important step, the issue can only be addressed as part of a broader protection strategy.

Thats the mistake that international donor governments continue to make, to believe that complex development challenges like the phenomena of child soldiers can be addressed with one-off interventions and innovations over a short funding cycle. It cant, said Samantha Nutt, founder of War Child USA, an organization that supports children and families in war zones.

The Dallaire initiative comes during South Sudans latest fragile attempt at peace, with opposition leader Riek Machar once again to serve as President Salva Kiirs deputy in their third attempt at working together since the country gained independence in 2011.

Dallaire said he hopes his initiative, which already operates in several countries and plans to launch in Nigeria, Sudan and Congo, will advance the peace efforts. He said any force in South Sudan that even considers working with child soldiers should instead see children as a liability to their engagement in the peace process. Sam Mednick, Juba, South Sudan, AP
Malaysian financier Low Taek Jhos appearance at a 1MDB board meeting was scrubbed from a governments audit report on the troubled state firm, the auditor general said.

The removal was done at the request of the then-principal secretary to former Prime Minister Najib Razak, a week before the document was presented to a select parliamentary committee in March 2016, Madinah Mohamad said in a statement yesterday.

The rationale was that mentioning Low would be sensitive, and omitting the information would prevent the opposition from using it against the government, Madinah said. Najib also ordered that paragraphs containing two versions of 1MDBs financial statements for the year ending 2014 be removed from the document, which was prepared by Madinahs predecessor Ambrin Buang.

In its initial form, the government categorized the 1MDB audit report as a crisis, Madinah said. A number of changes were made in late February 2016 following discussions between the audit team and representatives of the government and 1MDB, including then president and CEO Arul Kanda.

The final report was presented to a select parliamentary committee in March of that year but it remained protected by the Official Secrets Act until Najib was defeated at the May 2018 general election. Days after he was sworn in as prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad ordered a renewed probe in 1MDB and declassified the document.

The report showed investigators expressed concern about anomalies in 1MDBs accounts, and that officers on several occasions undertook investments without the full knowledge of the board and at other times acted against their advice. Anisah Shukry, Bloomberg
On the second day of the policy address for the Secretariat for Administration and Justice, Secretary Sonia Chan announced the governments intention to restructure more than a dozen public departments next year. The Secretary also said that the government will establish several new organizations in 2019.

Combined, the two proposals will lead the government to hire roughly 100 additional civil servants to fill positions.

The restructuring of public departments involves a total of 13 existing bodies, including the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, the Office for Personal Data Protection and the Financial Intelligence Office.

Apart from that, we are going to restructure the supporting offices of the Forum Macau and the Cultural Industry Fund, said Chan during the plenary session, as cited by public broadcaster TDM.

It will also involve the establishment of three companies in 2019, namely the Macau Investment and Development Limited Company, the Macau Urban Renewal Limited Company and the LRT Company. to operate the Light Rail Transit project currently under-construction.

This is to go in line with our goal to speed up our urban renewal process and the replacement housing bill sent to the legislature, the Secretary explained.

The new organizations and the restructuring of existing entities will require the hiring of some 100 new civil servants. However, several lawmakers, including Wong Kit Cheng, expressed concern over what they termed the high number of government employees.

Among the other proposals outlined for the upcoming year, Secretary Chan stated she wanted to draft a new law to better regulate online shops and unlicensed food providers.

The proposed bill will seek to improve food safety and prevent the operation of unlicensed food service providers.

However, it will also require online stores dealing in the food and beverage sector to have a physical location so that they can be randomly inspected. The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau says that there are 37 online shops currently operating in Macau without a physical store.
Taiwans ruling party was handed a major defeat in local elections Saturday that were seen as a referendum on the administration of the islands independence-leaning president amid growing economic and political pressure from China.

Soon after the results came in, President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as head of the Democratic Progressive Party. She will remain as president and her resignation will have no direct effect on the business of government, although the results bode ill for her re-election chances in two years.

Rival China said the results reflected a desire of Taiwanese for better relations with the mainland. Ma Xiaoguang, the spokesman for Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office, said his government will continue to treat Taiwan as part of China and resolutely oppose separatist elements advocating Taiwan independence and their activities, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

In another victory for China, voters rejected a proposal to change the name of its Olympic team to Taiwan from the current Chinese Taipei. They also approved a referendum opposing same-sex marriage in a setback to LGBT couples, though ballot initiatives in Taiwan are non-binding.

The DPP lost the mayoral election to the Nationalist party in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, where it had held power for 20 years. The Nationalists also defeated the DPP in the central city of Taichung, home to much of Taiwans light industry, while Ko Wen-je, the independent mayor of Taipei, the capital, narrowly won a second term. The Nationalist candidate in Taipei has asked for a recount.

At a brief news conference at DPP headquarters late Saturday, Tsai announced she was stepping down as DPP chair and said she had refused Premier William Lais resignation, saying she wanted him to continue her reform agenda.

Today, democracy taught us a lesson, Tsai said. We must study and accept the higher expectations of the people.

The elections for mayors and thousands of local posts were seen as a key test for Tsais 2-year-old administration, which has been under relentless attack from Beijing over her refusal to endorse its claim that Taiwan is a part of China.

Tsai and the DPP won a landslide victory in 2016, but China swiftly responded by cutting all links with her government. Beijing has been ratcheting up pressure on the island it claims as its own territory by poaching its diplomatic partners and barring its representatives from international gatherings, while staging threatening military exercises and limiting the numbers of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan.

The Nationalists, known also as the KMT, had campaigned on their pro-business image and more accommodating line toward Beijing.

Since her election, Tsai has walked a fine line on relations with China, maintaining Taiwans de facto independent status that the vast majority of Taiwanese support, while avoiding calls from the more radical elements of her party for moves to declare formal separation from the mainland.

Taiwanese officials had warned that Beijing was seeking to sway voters through the spread of disinformation online similar to how Russia was accused of interfering in U.S. elections.

Although domestic concerns were in the foreground, China played a major factor in voter sentiment, analysts said.

I think part of the reason for the vote on Saturday was concern about relations between Taiwan and mainland China, said Huang Kwei-bo, vice dean of the international affairs college at National Chengchi University in Taipei. Their relations have slid backward.

Saturdays results also throw Tsais political future into question. While the DPP still controls the national legislature, local politicians are crucial in mobilizing support among grass-roots supporters.

Im afraid it will be a big challenge for her in 2020, said Gratiana Jung, senior political researcher with the Yuanta-Polaris Research Institute think tank in Taipei.

Economic growth, employment and pension reforms were among key issues in the elections, which drew high turnout from the islands 19 million voters. Government employees who feel slighted by pension cuts that took effect in July probably mobilized against Tsais party, Jung said.

Nationalist Party Chairman Wu Den-yih told reporters Saturday that his party would keep trying to avoid diplomatic friction with China and ensure smooth two-way trade.

We hope the two sides will soon go back to a peaceful and stable trend in relations, he said.

Chiang Kai-sheks Nationalists rebased their government to Taiwan in 1949 amid the civil war with Mao Zedongs Communists. They ruled under martial law until the late 1980s, when the native Taiwanese population began to take political office, mostly through the DPP.

The vote against changing the name used in international sporting events to Taiwan was seen as a test of support for independence. It was symbolic in nature, as the International Olympic Committee had ruled out a name change, which would be opposed by China. Ralph Jennings, Taipei, AP
Armed separatists stormed the Chinese Consulate in Pakistans southern port city of Karachi on Friday, triggering an intense hour-long shootout during which two Pakistani civilians, two police officers and all three assailants were killed, including one who was wearing a suicide vest, Pakistani officials said.

The brazen assault, claimed by a militant group from the southwestern province of Baluchistan, reflected the separatists attempt to strike at the heart of Pakistans close ties with major ally China, which has invested heavily into road and transportation projects in the country, including in Baluchistan.

The Baluch Liberation Army said it was fighting Chinese occupation and released photos of the three attackers.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China would not waver in its latest big project in Pakistan  the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor  and expressed confidence that Pakistan could ensure safety. Still, China asked Pakistan to beef up security at the mission.

Authorities said the dead civilians were a father and a son who were picking up their visas for China. The consulates diplomats and staff were unhurt and were evacuated to a safe place, senior police official Ameer Ahmad Sheikh said. A spokeswoman at the Jinnah Hospital said a consulate guard was wounded and was being treated there.

The attack began shortly after 9 a.m. when the consulate was open for business. The militants fired at consulate guards and hurled grenades, breaching the main gate and entering the building, said Mohammad Ashfaq, a local police chief.

Pakistani security forces quickly surrounded the area. Local TV stations broadcast images showing smoke rising from the building, which also serves as the residence of Chinese diplomats and other staff.

Multiple blasts were heard soon afterward but Sheikh could not say what they were. The shootout lasted for about an hour. Because of a quick response of the guards and police, the terrorists could not reach the diplomats, Sheikh said after the fighting ended. We have completed the operation.

He added that authorities would try to identify the assailants through fingerprints.

Geng, the Chinese spokesman, said the attackers did not get into the consulate itself, and that the exchange of fire took place outside the building. The discrepancy with the Pakistani officials reports could not be immediately reconciled.

Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi by phone and assured him that a thorough investigation will be carried out to apprehend the perpetrators their financiers, planners and facilitators linked to the attack on consulate, according to a foreign ministry statement. It quoted Yi as saying that the attack was an attempt to impact Pakistan China relations and to harm the two countries economic pact.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack and praised the Karachi police and the paramilitary rangers for their courage. He ordered an investigation and vowed that such incidents would never be able to undermine relations with China, which are mightier than the Himalayas and deeper than the Arabian Sea.

So far this year, the Baluch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for 12 attacks against security personnel guarding projects linked to the Chinese Pakistan Economic Corridor and its infrastructure. In a letter dated Aug. 15, the group released a letter warning China against the exploitation of Baluchistans mineral wealth and occupation of Baluch territory. The letter was addressed to Chinas ambassador to Pakistan.

Amir Rana, executive director of the independent Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, said he didnt think Fridays attack would have much of an impact on Chinese projects in Pakistan, as both countries have calculated the security risks. These threats were already on Pakistan and Chinas threat radar, Rana said.

Still, the attack will compel China to step-up security in Pakistan and increase cooperation with local authorities, said Zhao Gancheng of the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Studies.

As more and more Chinese people go abroad, and more and more Chinese investment goes overseas, the security situation of the destination countries has become a very important element for consideration, Zhao told The Associated Press.

The Baluchistan separatists have for years fought a low-level insurgency in Pakistan, demanding a greater share of the provinces wealth and natural resources. Karachi, the capital of Sindh province, borders Baluchistan and is home to several militant groups, including the Baluch separatists.

In a rare statement about attacks in Pakistan, neighboring India condemned the assault on the Chinese Consulate, saying that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.

New Delhi also said perpetrators of this heinous attack should be brought to justice expeditiously.

Pakistan has long accused India of supporting Baluch separatists. The two countries have a history of bitter relations and have fought two of their three wars over the disputed region of Kashmir since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

Elsewhere in Pakistan on Friday, a powerful bomb at an open-air food market in a province that borders Afghanistan killed 35 people and wounded dozens, said police official Tahir Ali.

Most of the victims in the attack in the town of Klaya in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province were minority Shiite Muslims. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. Orakzai has been the scene of several militant attacks in recent years, mostly by Pakistani Sunni militants, who revile Shiites as apostates. Adil Jawad, Karachi, AP
A British monarch is to pay income tax for the first time since the 1930s.

The Prime Minister, John Major, told the House of Commons the Queen had informed him earlier this year that she wished to make changes to her tax arrangements.

She will also take responsibility for the working expenses of most of her family under changes Mr Major said should be implemented in April 1993.

The decision has been broadly welcomed by Westminster and is fully supported by the Prince of Wales, who already pays some tax on his income.

Buckingham Palace has denied the announcement is related to growing public concern about the rising cost of the monarchy.

Questions have been raised about who will foot the bill for repairing Windsor Castle, which was severely damaged in a fire last week.

But a palace spokesman said the Queen and Prince Charles had made their decision before the July summer recess of Parliament.

Under the new arrangement the only royals who will be paid for by the public will be the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen Mother.

Chairman of the influential Tory backbench 1922 Committee Sir Marcus Fox said public pressure should now come off the monarchy.

And constitutional expert Lord St John of Fawsley said the decision proved the Queen was in tune with public opinion.

Shes a wise woman  shes known nine prime ministers and shes been on the throne for 40 years, he said.

But historian David Starkey told the BBC even bigger changes were needed.

This is not the solution, this is simply addressing the symptom  the solution is to find something positive for the monarchy to do, he said.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Since 2001 the monarchy have published their annual accounts in an attempt to make royal finances more transparent.

The Queens duties as head of state continue to be funded with public money.

In the financial year 2003-2004 this amounted to 36.8m.

Her personal fortune is estimated to be about 275m.
New Macau Association has released an eight- point statement laying out arguments for lawmaker Sulu Sous new minimum wage bill that will be submitted to the Legislative Assembly (AL) for consideration. The association says that Sou expects quicker implementation by directly submitting the bill to the AL.

The democrat association says that the government has stalled repeatedly on this matter and that it has failed to honor a 2015 pledge to implement a minimum wage prior to 2019. A consultation conducted one year ago also showed broad support among the public for the economic measure.

It is already November of 2018, one year after the consultation, notes the statement. It is already too late to pass the legislation before 2019.

When the Government is stalling, it is the responsibility of deputies to introduce the bill themselves, it continues, citing the right afforded to lawmakers to introduce legislation to the AL instead of relying on the government.

Sous bill will call for a minimum hourly rate of MOP38, a daily wage of MOP304, a weekly wage of MOP1,824 and a monthly wage of MOP7,904. The lawmaker says that the hourly rate is reflective of Macaus socio-economic status and in line with, nearby jurisdictions such as Hong Kong (HKD37.5) and Taiwan (NTD150).

In the statement released yesterday, New Macau argues that Macau has a constitutional obligation to introduce a minimum wage. It says that minimum wages constitute a basic right and are required by the Basic Law, local laws and international treaties. Yet, Macau [has] never legislated on this matter of human dignity.

According to New Macau, there are about 20,000 people in the city with an extreme low salary of less than MOP30 per hour.

However, Sous bill will not address some of the most vulnerable among Macaus working population  domestic workers and disabled workers  citing a lack of consensus on this matter. New Macau insists that there must be other special wage protection for these workers.
The New York trial of a prominent Hong Kong businessman charged in a United Nations-linked bribery conspiracy is set to begin with jury selection today.

The trial of Dr. Chi Ping Patrick Ho begins a year after he was arrested on charges accusing him of paying bribes so a Chinese energy conglomerate could secure business advantages. He has been held without bail.

His lawyer has said Ho is looking forward to clearing his name. Ho was once Hong Kongs home affairs secretary.

Ho has insisted he is not guilty of charges that he conspired in October 2014 to bribe the president of Chad and the Ugandan foreign minister.

Prosecutors say Hos former co-defendant, Cheikh Gadio, will testify at trial that Ho arranged a USD2 million bribe to be delivered to Chads president in gift boxes.

Last Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska overruled defense objections, saying Gadio can testify that he understood Hos $2 million cash payment to President Idriss Deby to be a bribe.

Hos lawyers had argued that Gadios testimony as to whether the $2 million was a bribe was lay opinion and should be kept out of evidence the jury can consider.

Preska said she agreed with arguments by prosecutors that it would be difficult for Gadio to convey his understanding about the payment to the jury without using the word bribe.

She said banning him from use of the word would risk confusing the jury.

The judge said she will also let prosecutors show jurors evidence that Ho would only contribute money to a former U.N. official if the official agreed to take actions to benefit the energy conglomerate. And she said shell let jurors see evidence of Hos brokering Iranian transactions and arms transactions.

She said shell ban other evidence though, including arguments about the merits of projects Ho sought to advance through bribery or good causes toward which the officials he bribes could have used the bribe payments.

Preska also noted that defense lawyers have said they will not try to argue that the U.S. brought the case against Ho as part of a broader campaign against China or that the timing of the prosecution was part of a broader political agenda. AP
THAILAND Police have arrested two brothers from Britain wanted on drug trafficking charges in their homeland.

INDIA Tens of thousands of Hindus gathered in northern India yesterday renewing calls to build a Hindu temple on a site where a 16th century mosque was attacked and demolished by Hindu hard-liners in 1992, sparking deadly Hindu-Muslim violence.

SRI LANKAs president yesterday assured non-interference in ongoing investigations into abductions, killings of journalists and other crimes allegedly committed by those connected to the new prime minister and his Cabinet.

SAUDI ARABIA A prominent Saudi royal said Saturday that whether or not heads of state gathered in Argentina for the Group of 20 summit warmly engage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is someone that they have to deal with.

TURKEY Authorities detained two people following a drive-by shooting near the Austrian Embassy in capital Ankara early yesterday.

SYRIA Russian warplanes attacked rebel-held areas in northern Syria for the first time in weeks yesterday, as Syrian officials said more than 100 people were treated at hospitals for what they allege was a poison gas attack by rebels in the northern city of Aleppo.

ZIMBABWEs 94-year-old former president Robert Mugabe is no longer able to walk as his health declines, his successor said.

UGANDA Diving teams are retrieving bodies from Lake Victoria where police say at least 30 people died in a boat accident near the capital, Kampala.

SWITZERLAND Voters yesterday rejected a national referendum on a cattle farmers proposal to have the government subsidize herders of goats and cows if they let their animals keep their horns, according to projections.

FRANCE President Emmanuel Macron has condemned violence by protesters at demonstrations against rising fuel taxes and his government. At least 20 people were hurt in the protests, including one with more serious injuries. Dozens of people have been arrested.

BRITAIN European Union leaders yesterday sealed a divorce deal with Britain, and issued a warning to U.K. politicians who within weeks will approve or reject it  this offer is as good as it gets. For once, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May was in complete agreement.

BRAZILs federal police issued 22 arrest warrants as part of a probe into a corruption and money laundering scheme involving construction of the new headquarters of the state oil company in the northeastern city of Salvador.
Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc., a joint venture between Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. and J.V. Angeles Construction Corp., has started construction of a P12.6-billion bulk water supply project in Davao City. Aboitiz Equity said in a statement it held a ceremonial construction kick-off for the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project Monday to signal the start of the projects three-year construction phase that began with engineering design works early this year. Apo Agua plans to start operations by the first half of 2021. The bulk water project is a strategic infrastructure initiative that will shift the dependence of Davao Citys main water supply from groundwater wells to the more sustainably-sourced surface water from the Tamugan River. Set to be the largest private bulk water supply facility in the country, the P12.6-billion project will provide the Davao City Water District with over 300 million liters per day of safe water. The treated water will be distributed to over one million residents through the DCWDs five water systems, namely Dumoy, Calinan, Tugbok, Panacan and Cabantian, as well as three additional new water systems in Talandang, Mandug and Indangan.As a long standing partner of Davao City for over 70 years, we at Aboitiz are excited to be working with JVACC in order to provide current and future generations of Davaoenos with a sustainable, safe, and dependable source of bulk water supply. Our proven partnership with the Davao City Water District has led us to todays momentous event where we celebrate the start of construction of our project, Apo Agua president Roman Azanza III said. The projects water treatment facility will be powered by renewable energy from a hydroelectric power plant. By tapping the Tamugan River, the project will provide quality and ample quantity of water that will enable the DCWD to temporarily shut down many of its groundwater well sources. Aboitiz Equity said the new source would ensure the preservation of the citys water table and save it from irreversible environmental degradation such as land subsidence and saltwater intrusion.
St. Lukes Medical Center has launched the latest premium 1,152-slice computed tomography scanner from Siemens Healthineers. Dr. Arturo de la Pena, SLMC president and chief executive officer, said the Somatom force dual-source dual-energy CT scan is the first-of-its-kind in health-care that could challenge the conventional CT scan system. St. Lukes is proud to introduce yet another marvel in the health-care industry. As the first health-care institution to bring the high-powered 1,152-slice CT scanner from Siemens Healthineers in the country, we are redefining CT exams through gentler imaging procedures with highly reliable results taken at unparalleled speed, he said. In an interview, Oliver Perez, Siemens Healthineers business development manager, told the Manila Standard that De la Pena welcomed the new technology that could view 1,152 pictures of a whole body CT scan than the conventional CT scans 526 pictures. Dr. De la Pena wants a better, faster, safer and cheaper CT scan technology, he said. Patients are afraid to go through a CT scan because of its radiation. The conventional one for a cardiac scan emits 20 to 30 milliziber, while the new technology can only generate less than one milliziber. You dont need a high dose of radiation to have a clear image, Perez said.The hospital management is studying the costing. I think there will be an additional of 1,000 to P1,500 fee, he noted. In January next year, Siemens Healthineers will be installing another premium 1,152-slice CT scanner at St. Lukes in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, he said. The latest CT scan, which is manufactured in Germany, can scan three times faster than the conventional one, he said. He, however, declined to tell how much the machine cost.
President Rodrigo Duterte will be the guest of honor in todays inauguration of the newly-built Bohol-Panglao International Airport, the countrys first eco-airport and dubbed the Green Gateway to the World. The new facility will replace the Tagbilaran Airport. Eric Apolonio, spokesman of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said Duterte will be attending the event together with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and CAAP director general Jim Sydiongco. Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto, Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and National Economic and Development Authority chief Ernesto Pernia will also grace the event. Apolonio said the P8.9-billion airport will be launched in cooperation with the Japanese government and Japan International Cooperation Agency. He said the new facility features green and sustainable structures such as solar panels and motion sensor lighting, among other things. A total upgrade from the Tagbilaran Airport nearby, the new Bohol-Panglao International Airport was built in a 220-hectare site on Panglao Island and is 10 times bigger than Tagbilaran Airport, which has a 22-hectare land area. Compared to Tagbilaran Airports capacity of 400 passengers, the new Panglao Airport can hold up to 650 passengers during peak hours, Apolonio said.Panglao is one of the fastest-growing holiday destinations in the Philippines as a result of its beaches and diving spots. The airport is expected to accommodate more than two million passengers in its first year, and that compares with the 800,000 passengers being accommodated by the Tagbilaran airport. Tugade recently led the inspection of the facility and checked the progress of its construction to ensure it is completed on schedule. Tugade said the airport could accommodate seven aircraft at one time. Tagbilaran Airport was placed under preventive maintenance, repair and patching work due to degradation caused by continuing rain. The government is also rehabilitating and expanding eight other provincial airports: Naga, Tuguegarao, Cauayan, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Cotabato, Pagadian, and Ozamiz.
November 26, 2018 15:29

A baby who had pioneering surgery on her spine while still in the womb to stop her being disabled has been born completely healthy.

Georgia Axford, 19, and Tyler Kelly, 21, discovered their daughter Piper-Kohl had spina bifida - a gap in the spine - during the 20-week scan.

The couple, from Yate, South Gloucestershire, were told the only treatment available in the UK was surgery by a doctor who'd never performed the op before, so they paid 9,000 to have it done in Germany.

Piper-Kohl Kelly was born prematurely at 30 weeks and four days - and now shares a birthday and name with Proffessor Thomas Kohl, the surgeon who did the operation.

They won't know for certain whether the operation has been a complete success until she starts to walk - but so far doctors can't see any signs of a problem and she's totally healthy.

Spina bifida causes weakness or paralysis in the lower limbs, leaving sufferers dependent on supports or crutches and in severe cases wheelchair-bound.

Proud mum Georgia said: 'She was covered in wires when she was first born but it was just the best feeling to see her. She was just so tiny.

'You could really see the mark on her spine when she was first born. It really makes you think how incredible the procedure was.

'We named Piper after the surgeon as a thank you for all he has done.

'I would honestly recommend the surgery to anyone who is a similar boat to us.

'It was a bit scary at the time and was a lot of money but it was absolutely worth it.'

Medics told Georgia and Tyler treatment was available in the UK, but the procedure would be carried out by a surgeon who had never done the operation before.

In a race against time they took out a 9,000 loan and travelled 570 miles to Germany for the intricate operation, which has to be carried out before 26 weeks.

The three-hour operation saw surgeons insert a 'fetoscope' - a small telescope with a camera and light and two instruments - through a hole in Georgia's abdomen.

Surgeons attached a 3.5cm collagen patch used to treat burns victims over Piper's spine when she was just 2.1oz.

The patch covered the exposed nerves and will repair cognitive and lower limb development, to stop the baby being paralysed.

After the successful operation on June 13 the couple returned home where Georgia was told to rest up until her due date on October 2.

But on their day of their follow-up scan, six weeks later, Georgia went into an early labour.

She was rushed to Southmead Hospital, Bristol, where doctors performed an emergency C-section delivering Piper-Kohl at 9:31am, on July 28, weighing 3lb 10oz.

Born nine weeks premature she spent the next two months in intensive care, before being allowed to go home.

In a touching nod to Professor Thomas Kohl the first-time parents named their daughter after the pioneering doctor.

Proud mum Georgia, who was also born early, said: 'I woke up about 11pm and just thought it was back ache so went back to bed.

'But by 12:30am I was having full blown contractions. Tyler drove me to the hospital and he was great because he just remained really calm.

'It was weird because we had a scan that day and she was right up in my rib cage.

'Looking back on it she was probably getting herself ready to come out.

'I didn't get to hold her until 5pm that evening as the nurses said I needed to get some rest.

'We won't know if the operation completely worked until she starts walking, but all looks good at the moment.

'In a couple of months she'll be able to sit up by herself so that might help show if it worked.'

Proud dad Tyler said: 'We were a bit anxious when Georgia went into labour but Piper was actually a lot bigger than we were anticipating.

'When she was first born there was a little open red wound from the operation.

'It wasn't until we took her home that we felt like proper parents. Beforehand we had all the nurses around us so we didn't feel alone.

'Professor Thomas Kohl is an amazing bloke. She was also born on his birthday so it all just fell into place.

'We're still in contact with him and keep him posted on Piper's progress. We'd love to take Piper to Germany so she could meet him.'

Georgia and Tyler have set up a fundraising page to help pay off the loan they took out for the operation.

Source and images: dailymail.co.uk

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An international team of researchers has identified a gene that regulates how quickly the body metabolizes alcohol as a key risk factor for alcohol dependence. The researchers, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and several other institutions, also linked genetic factors associated with alcohol dependence to other psychiatric disorders. Credit: Michael Worful

In the largest study of genetic factors linked to alcohol dependence, an international team of researchers identified a gene known to affect risk, and they determined that many other genes also contribute to risk for alcohol dependence to a lesser degree. In addition, the study linked genetic factors associated with alcohol dependence to other psychiatric disorders, such as depression, and showed that genetic factors associated with typical drinking sometimes are different from those associated with alcohol dependence.

The new analysis, from the Substance Use Disorders working group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, adds to the current understanding of alcohol dependence, a complex disorder influenced by genes, environment and their interactions.

The gene that was conclusively associated with risk of alcohol dependence regulates how quickly the body metabolizes alcohol. The effects of other genes weren't big enough to reach statistical significance individuallyeven though this study involved more than 50,000 peoplebut their combined effects were significant.

The goal of the research is to better understand how genes may contribute to alcohol problems as a way to develop improved and more personalized treatments.

The study is published online Nov. 26 in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

"The current estimate is that one in eight Americans suffers from alcohol dependence," said senior author Arpana Agrawal, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "And the gene we identified has a protective effect, but by no means is it the only thing affecting risk of alcohol dependence. We know environmental factors also play a role. We also think the genetic susceptibility to alcohol dependence stems from the small, cumulative effects of a very large number of variants across the genome."

The analysis compared genetic variants from nearly 15,000 individuals diagnosed with alcohol dependence to nearly 38,000 people who did not have that diagnosis.

To gather such a large sample, Agrawalwith colleagues from the Yale University School of Medicine, the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Broad Institute, and other centers around the worldanalyzed data from 28 genetic studies of alcoholism in eight countries. But the researchers believe even larger studies will be needed in the future because genetic studies of other psychiatric disorders have required DNA from between 40,000 and 100,000 patients to allow researchers to isolate dozens of gene variants related to conditions such as schizophrenia and depression.

"As we analyze additional alcohol-dependent individuals, we should be able to find additional genomic regions affecting risk for alcohol dependence," said first author Raymond Walters, of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. "We know there are other DNA regions that have small effects on risk, but it's going to take a large increase in our sample size before we can robustly identify those variants."

The one gene that did stand out, called ADH1B, regulates how the body converts alcohol to a substance called acetaldehyde. Variants in the gene speed the conversion to acetaldehyde, an unpleasant compound, and that has a protective effect, making people less likely to drink heavily or become alcoholics. A current drug, Disulfuram (Antabuse) works on the same metabolic processes as the gene variants identified in this study.

The researchers found that the genetic risk factors related to alcohol dependence also were linked to risk for other psychiatric disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, ADHD and the use of cigarettes and marijuana. They plan to continue investigating those links between genetic susceptibility to alcohol dependence and risk for other types of psychiatric illness.

"There were genetic links both to other psychiatric disorders, such as depression, and to use of cigarettes and other drugs like cannabis," said Joel Gelernter, MD, of Yale University School of Medicine. "As we study larger numbers of people, we expect to be able to determine at least to some extent how much of this correlation, or shared risk, is attributable to alcoholism, and how much may be the consequence of these other disorders."

A key aspect of the new study is that it included genetic data from people of European (46,568) and African (6,280) ancestry. Although the same ADH1B gene was linked to alcoholism risk both in people of European ancestry and African ancestry, the researchers found that different variants in the gene altered risk in the two populations. Other research has revealed that the same variation in the same gene as occurs in Europeans also influences risk in people of Asian descent, but that data was not included in this study.

"There have been very large genetic studies of Europeans, but not as much research in African populations to try to understand what genetic factors underlie risk for alcoholism," said Howard J. Edenberg, Ph.D., of Indiana University School of Medicine. "In the future, we need to study much larger numbers of people from non-European populations because we don't know as much about genetic factors that affect their risk. As our study showed, these factors can differ from population to population."

The researchers also found that the genetic factors related to simply drinking alcohol were a little different from the genetic factors that contributed to alcohol dependence. In other words, at least at the genetic level, there's a difference between simply drinking alcohol, even large amounts of alcohol, and becoming dependent on it.

"People suffering from alcohol dependence generally drink a great deal, but they also experience other problems related to their drinking, like losing control over when and how much they drink," Agrawal explained. "I think it's likely that as the sample sizes of our studies increase, we may find new DNA variants related to these problematic aspects of alcohol dependence but possibly not related to typical drinking."

She said those larger samples of individuals with and without a diagnosis of alcohol dependence will be key to future discoveries about genetic contributions to alcoholism.

"The risk conferred by the ADH1B gene is one of the strongest single-gene effects seen in people with a psychiatric illness, but overall, it explains only a small proportion of the risk," Agrawal said. "Many additional gene variants are making small contributions to alcoholism risk, but to find them, we'll need to study more people."

Explore further Alcohol abuse linked to newly identified gene network

More information: Transancestral GWAS of alcohol dependence reveals common genetic underpinnings with psychiatric disorders, Nature Neuroscience (2018). Journal information: Nature Neuroscience Transancestral GWAS of alcohol dependence reveals common genetic underpinnings with psychiatric disorders,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-018-0275-1
At higher-than-prescribed doses, pregabalin causes sedation and euphoria. Credit: Bruno van der Kraan

Pregabalin (sold under the brand name Lyrica) is prescribed as an anti-epileptic and a painkiller for nerve pain. Australian prescriptions of pregabalin have risen significantly in the past five years. It's now in the top ten most expensive medications for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

We've also seen a rise in "off-label" prescription of pregabalin. This means it's being prescribed for conditions for which there is limited evidence of effectiveness. Pregabalin is often prescribed for chronic or persisting pain, for example, even when there is no clear nerve-related cause.

Pregabalin is thought to have effects in the brain similar to those of benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) by indirectly increasing levels of the neurotransmitter GABA.

Until recently, researchers and doctors did not think pregabalin was addictive. But now studies suggest pregabalin may also have an indirect effect on the brain's reward chemical, dopamine.

Our research, published today in the Medical Journal of Australia, shows ambulance call-outs associated with the misuse of pregabalin have increased tenfold in Victoria since 2012. This mirrors an increase in prescription rates.

Growing evidence of misuse

In 2010, the first study was published that reported on a trend of pregabalin misuse.

Since then, several international research articles have documented misuse, including using higher doses than are recommended. At higher-than-prescribed doses, pregabalin causes sedation and euphoria.

People who use opioids  painkillers like oxycodone, or illicit opioids such as heroin  have a particularly high risk of misusing pregabalin. So do those with a history of substance use problems.

People who use illicit drugs report often using pregabalin in combination with other drugs. Pregabalin has been implicated in drug-related deaths in individuals who weren't prescribed the medication, and often in combination with other sedative medications or illicit drugs.

High rates of pregabalin use are also reported in secure environments, such as prisons, in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

What did we find?

We analysed a unique database (the Ambo Project) that documents all ambulance attendances related to alcohol and drug use and mental health in Victoria.

We found pregabalin-related ambulance attendances increased tenfold between 2012 and 2017, from 0.28 cases per 100,000 population to 3.32 cases per 100,000. Pregabalin misuse contributed significantly to 1,201 call-outs from 2012 to 2017.

Pregabalin has a sedative effect, which can be compounded when used with other drugs that cause sedation, including alcohol, or other prescribed medications such as benzodiazepines and sleeping tablets (such as Valium).

More than two-thirds of pregabalin-related ambulance call-outs were for people who also used other sedatives. Almost 90% required transport to hospital. In some situations, such sedation could be life-threatening.

Our findings of rising harms, especially from co-use with other drugs, echo findings from a New South Wales research group that used data from poisons hotline calls, hospital admissions, and coronial reports from drug-related deaths.

How to reduce the harms

Doctors need to ensure patients are provided with the opportunity for careful and considered informed consent.

Pregabalin is a high-risk medication, especially when used with other sedatives. Although some doctors are aware of the side effects and harms associated with pregabalin, many are not.

The Royal College of General Practitioners recently warned doctors to carefully assess the risks when prescribing these medications, particularly for people who are also prescribed opioids or benzodiazepines. NPS MedicineWise also recently highlighted the need for prescribers to exercise caution.

Better regulation is also needed.

Some Australian states including Victoria plan to implement real-time prescription monitoring (RTPM). This would allow authorities to monitor and regulate access to high-risk medications such as opioid painkillers (oxycodone or similar) or benzodiazepines.

But pregabalin is not on the list of medications that will be captured by real-time prescription monitoring. To reduce the high risk of harm from pregabalin misuse, we should consider adding this drug to the list.

In the United Kingdom, pregabalin will become a "scheduled" or controlled medication from April 2019. This means doctors will need to apply for a permit before prescribing it.

If this is found to be successful, Australia should consider following suit.

Explore further Odds of death up with exposure to pregabalin, opioids

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: University of Manitoba

There's a photo of a bright-eyed baby in a knitted owl toque. Another shows a toddler plunked down between Halloween pumpkins. And then there's the awkward smiles of the first school portraits.

The images posted to the walls of the lab at the Manitoba site of the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study, or CHILD, provide a snapshot into the growth of its 1,000 local participantsan evolution that is being carefully captured and analyzed.

The eldest of the children are now eight years old but more than 40 researchers across Canada, within the national AllerGen Network, have been tracking their environments since before they were born. Among the valuable samples collected: their first dirty diapers and their mother's breastmilk, which are now opening new doors of study for one of the world's largest birth cohorts on the origins of allergy and asthma.

CHILD researcher Meghan Azad, a University of Manitoba pediatrics and child health assistant professor, is breaking new ground with her findings on how breastmilk affects the baby's gut flora.

She believes the complex interactions between microbes in a mother's breastmilk and her baby's gut microbiome (the bacteria that live in the digestive tract)and its link to our immune systemscould reveal why a growing number of kids in North America need epi pens and puffers.

About 2.5 million Canadians live with food allergies, while asthma remains the number one reason kids visit the emergency department.

"The big question is, 'Why do we have more asthma and allergy now than we did 40 or 50 years ago?' We know our genes are important but our genes have not changed as a human race in 50 years. However, our environment has changed a lot," says Azad, who is a Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease, and a research scientist at the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.

Our gut microbiome trains our immune system to distinguish between normal, friendly bacteria and bacteria that make you sick, she explains.

"Right now, we know [the microbiome] is important but we don't fully understand how these millions of microbes develop in the bellies of babies, and how they influence our health. We are just scratching the surface," she says. "We don't know what to recommend yet, in terms of how to modify or 'optimize' the microbiomebut we know it's a critical part of human health."

Her team is studying components found within breastmilkincluding probiotic bacteria, food antigens, immune factors, and prebiotic sugars. They compare this data with health outcomes of the CHILD study kids over time to find out how breastmilk protects against allergy and asthma, as well as obesity and diabetes.

"We want to find specific components of breastmilk that are important, and figure out what they are doing to the gut microbiomeand understand how all of this affects the health and development of children. With the wealth of information captured in the CHILD study, we can really grasp the big picture, which is exciting," she says.

So far, her findings show a link between a specific profile of complex sugars in breastmilkknown as oligosaccharidesand a lower rate of food sensitization during infancy. These bioactive molecules feed good bacteria.

Her team also discovered a different bacterial composition among breastfed babies who were supplemented with formula, compared to those exclusively breastfed.

Another study revealed a reduced risk of breastfed babies becoming overweight by their first birthdaythe longer they fed, the better this protection.

"Every feed counts," says Azad.

As the co-lead for population health within the Manitoba Developmental Origins of Chronic Diseases in Children Network (DEVOTION), she sees the University of Manitoba becoming a world leader in lactation research. Together with fellow DEVOTION researcher Nathan Nickel, she is establishing a new breastfeeding research program: the Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre, or MILC, that will look at breastfeeding from all angles.

Azad calls breastmilk "fascinating," noting how it's now being considered as treatment for bone marrow transplant patients to rebuild their immune system. And she uses the word "dosage" to describe a feed.

"There is a quote I love which frames breastmilk as 'personalized medicine'. When people hear this buzzword, I think they tend to imagine pharmaceuticals that are personalized to their genetics or lifestyle. But human milk is the ultimate personalized medicine," Azad says.

The antigens found in human milk differ based on the genetics of the mom, whether or not she's battling a virus, and the foods she's eating. The first feeds have higher concentrations of antibodies and oligosaccharides, which help kickstart the immune system and establish friendly gut bacteria.

Its components change over the course of a day (nighttime milk has tryptophan to help the baby sleep) and even over the course of one feeding (the end of a feed has a higher fat content to signal to babies they're full.) All of this means that breastfed babies receive exactly the right nutrition and bioactive elements, at exactly the right time.

Azad wants to know how environmental factorslike pumping and bottle feeding, versus feeding at the breastaffect a child's health. In the U.S., where maternity leave is a mere six weeks, 85 per cent of breastfed babies are consuming pumped milk. "If that's just as good, great, but if it's not, then we should know that and understand why," she says.

Azad grew up with asthma and as a 10-year-old kid took part in a U of M-led study of a new asthma drug. Later in life, her research journey took root in biochemistry and medical genetics (she earned her Ph.D. from the U of M in 2010). She felt the pull towards epidemiology, where she could study the health of people and populations, rather than cells and mice in a lab.

She sought training in Alberta before returning to the University of Manitoba because of its collaborative research community, as well as its access to not only the CHILD study but an important neighbouring resource: the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.

"They have administrative data from everyone in the whole province of Manitobaincluding hospital records, prescription records, physician billing records and education records. From that, we can do really powerful studies with the whole population," she says, noting that breastfeeding data will soon be added to this list, facilitating research that is not possible anywhere else in the world.

Another important topic to tackle: social stigma. Azad's recent research cast a lens on how breastfeeding is portrayed on Instagram. Scores of images posted by moms and more than 8,000 commentsoverwhelmingly supportiverevealed a new support network and vehicle to normalize breastfeeding. Worldwide, less than 40 per cent of babies are breastfed exclusively for the recommended six months.

"I think a lot of it has to do with sexualization of breasts. There are other societies where breastfeeding is totally normal and no one gives it a second look. Breastfeeding rates are higher in these countries because people just don't feel weird about it," she says. "So how can we make Manitoba more like that? I think you have to start young so that kids grow up knowing that this is normal."

Azad leads a project looking at how breastfeeding is discussed in Manitoba schools, and how the topic can be integrated into curriculum. Right now, students learn little to nothing.

"They might learn about it in high school if they take family studies, which is an optional class taken primarily by girls," she says. "We're not reaching everyone and it really needs to be everyone. From a young age, everyone should learn that it's not a big deal [to breastfeed in public]it's just how we feed babies."

The stigma

2 in 5 moms say they have been openly criticized or experienced prejudice while breastfeeding in public

59 per cent of moms said breastfeeding in public is natural; 20 per cent said it's unavoidable; and 17 per cent called it embarrassing

When asked what are the most challenging places to nurse, 26 per cent of moms said while traveling; 20 per cent said while shopping; and 7 per cent said while at work

56 per cent of moms said they would feel more confident about breastfeeding if celebrities were doing it

The numbers

The World Health Organization recommends babies be exclusively breastfed for six months and then continue to be breastfed, along with eating complementary food, up to age two or older. Statistics Canada's most recent report on breastfeeding trends showed:

89 per cent of mothers in Canada breastfed their baby, but only 26 per cent did so exclusively for six months

Mothers who achieved this milestone tended to be in their 30s and have post-secondary qualifications

The most common reason for stopping before six months was "not enough breast milk" and "difficulties with breastfeeding technique"

Explore further Milk straight from breast best for baby's weight
Warren Bickel (left), a professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, collaborated with Christine Sheffer (right, on the computer screen), an associate professor at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, on a research study investigating the decision processes underlying health behaviors in cancer survivors. Credit: Virginia Tech Carilion Research Instiute

Recently diagnosed cancer survivors are more likely to drink alcohol, use tobacco, and frequent tanning beds than people in later stages of recovery, according to a research team from the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Published in an early online edition of the journal Cancer, the study describes how the same people with a recent diagnosis of cancer are less likely to be physically active, to eat vegetables, and to participate in health screenings.

"There are a number of unique factors that can complicate the future for people with cancer, such as stage of disease, their treatment status, the years since they were diagnosed," said Warren Bickel, an author of the study and a professor at the VTCRI. "We found that, for people who are closer in time to their original diagnosis, they tend to discount the future more."

Researchers surveyed 1,000 people who had been diagnosed at different times with a variety of cancer types at various stages. Across the board, the participants who were most recently diagnosed were more likely to make unhealthy choices, reflecting a devaluation of the future. This inability to value the future as much or more than the present is referred to as delay discounting.

The study offers insight into the decision processes underlying health behaviors of people who have uncertain futures compounded by the physical and emotional trauma cancer can cause, according to Bickel, who is also a professor of psychology in Virginia Tech's College of Science, director of the VTCRI Addiction Recovery Research Center, and co-director of the VTCRI Center for Transformative Research on Health Behaviors.

Bickel began collaborating with Christine Sheffer, the lead investigator on the study, when they both served as faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Sheffer is currently an associate professor of oncology in the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park, a comprehensive cancer center in Buffalo, New York.

"Among cancer survivors, healthy lifestyle behaviors are linked with improved cancer outcomes and enhanced quality of life," Sheffer said. "But a cancer diagnosis can make people feel uncertain about the future, which can contribute to discounting the positive impact of healthy behaviors like quitting tobacco, physical activity and healthy eating."

While this is the first time that researchers have observed people with cancer demonstrating behaviors consistent with a devalued view of the future, Bickel's team at the VTCRI has spent years studying the phenomenon in people with substance use disorders, such as addictions to alcohol, drugs, and smoking.

They've also documented the behavior in other populations, including people with obesity and/or prediabetes, where people devalue the future in favor of immediate satisfactions. In other words, a person with a high rate of delay discounting values an alcoholic drink or fatty food now, more than the possibility of sobriety or better health in the future.

"This valuation process doesn't keep to one area; it permeates a person's life. A person with an addiction to opioids, for example, will most likely take $50 dollars now over $500 in two weeks," Bickel said. "This person discounts the future so much that $500 in two weeks doesn't even seem like a real optionthey can't plan that far in advance when they're trying to navigate the present."

The researchers saw the same kinds of health choices made by the cancer patients who were most recently diagnosed, suggesting that pervasive delay discounting of the future actually functions as a trans-disease process. The time window also suggests that this trans-disease process manifests as a result of particular life events.

"We're seeing that within an individual with a disorder, if they discount the future a lot, this discounting is not manifested in one particular area of their life; rather, discounting becomes a part of how they approach all things," Bickel said. "A high delay discounting rate has become a trans-risk factor that cuts across multiple behaviors."

The identification of delay discounting rate as a risk factor across disorders suggests that it might also be a potential therapeutic target for changing multiple unhealthy behaviors, according to the researchers.

"In part, this identification of a trans-risk factor is exciting for diagnostics. Take a patient with cancer. It's not a good health plan for them to drink, smoke, or go tanning. Their doctor could identify if they're more likely to do those things and, if so, provide additional interventions beyond medical monitoring," Bickel said.

He pointed to therapeutic interventions, such as non-invasive brain stimulation techniques and cognitive reframing of the context in which a decision is viewed, that show promise in decreasing delay discounting rates for people who smoke cigarettes and people who overeat.

"If all these behaviors are related to discounting in an individual, and we find a way to intervene and significantly modify this phenomenon, would the effects be specific to one behavior or broad across many behaviors?" Bickel asked. "We don't know the answer yet, but we think that if we develop a way to make individuals value the future more, the effects would be broad."

The most recent study extends Bickel's work of more than 30 years beyond addiction to a new domain, and offers a new understanding of a broad range of challenging health behaviors.

"We're building a scientific understanding of an important and poorly recognized decision process," Bickel said. "We still have a lot of work to do. As we learn more, we're beginning to understand that this is at least a part of the process that underlies more and more behaviors."

Explore further Leading addiction experts call for more neuroscience research on long-term recovery

More information: Christine E. Sheffer et al, The treasure of now and an uncertain future: Delay discounting and health behaviors among cancer survivors, Cancer (2018). Journal information: Cancer Christine E. Sheffer et al, The treasure of now and an uncertain future: Delay discounting and health behaviors among cancer survivors,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/cncr.31759
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

While more research is needed, scientists say the brightest prospects for the medicinal benefits of cannabis so far may lie in more complex combinations of its compounds.

CBD, the non-psychoactive medicinal ingredient found in the marijuana plant, has been credited with relieving pain and inflammation, reducing epileptic seizures, quelling anxiety and insomnia, combatting some forms of cancer and even tempering acne.

Discovered in 1940 and thought at first to have no pharmaceutical value, today CBDshort for cannabidiolcan be found in everything from topical creams to capsules, tinctures to lip balm, infusing knee braces to beer.

But is there any scientific substance behind the hype?

"The problem for me is there are so many outrageous claims being made," said Timothy Caulfield, University of Alberta health law expert, health trend tracker and host of the television series A User's Guide to Cheating Death.

"Even GOOP (Gwyneth Paltrow's health and wellness company) has jumped on the cannabis bandwagon, and they're pushing it as a wellness thing that we should all be taking for our general well-being.

"There isn't research to back that up right now, and I remain quite skeptical it will ever emerge," said the author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?

When asked whether an abundance of encouraging anecdotal reports should count for something, Caulfield is unequivocal.

"Nope," he said. "Testimonials and anecdotal reports may suggest research, but it's never good evidence. The scientific process is specifically designed to overcome the biases inherent in anecdotal evidence.

"Anecdotal data is just a bunch of stories. It happens so often that when you do the actual clinical trials on this stuff, the results are underwhelming."

Evidence so far 'underwhelming'

Underwhelming is exactly what Michael Allan, director of evidence-based medicine in the U of A's Department of Family Medicine, found after completing a review of scientific literature for Canadian Family Physician.

While conceding there is "reasonable evidence" that cannabis can help with nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy and may improve spasticity in conditions like multiple sclerosis, there is little to suggest cannabinoids help with pain, and "if they do, it is neuropathic pain and the benefit is likely small.

"Medical cannabinoids have been advocated for an extensive variety of conditions, from glaucoma to cancer," wrote Allan. "Unfortunately, bias is pervasive throughout the medical cannabinoid literature, including in randomized controlled trials.

"This is compounded by poor reporting in the media, with 79 per cent of medical cannabinoid newspaper stories providing inappropriate information, most of which was sensationalism."

However, some researchers say the anecdotal promise of medical cannabis is too strong to ignore, and are poised to go after supporting evidence. Some of that clinical proof is already starting to emerge as more researchers take up the quest.

As yet, there are no known side-effects or indications of dependence.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the CBD-based drug Epidiolex, used to treat severe epilepsy, especially Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome, two of the most debilitating forms of the disease in children.

More to it than CBD

U of A pharmacy researcher Raimar Loebenberg said he is eager to contribute to the nascent body of clinical data. He has started exploring the analgesic properties of CBD topical creams to see whether the hype is justified.

Producers of the cream claim it relieves muscle soreness. Some reports even suggest it can be effective in combatting skin cancer, said Loebenberg.

One big problem with unregulated CBD products, he said, is unreliable quality and inconsistent dosing. Some producers may also fail to recognize the pharmaceutical complexity of the marijuana plant, and the way in which its cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid receptors in our bodies.

It could prove that isolating any one cannabinoid for medical purposes is in some cases self-defeating.

"With legalization I hope that research will pick up and we get more good products on the marketnot just CBD by itself but CBD/THC combinations," he said. "It seems that a combination of the two is most effective," even if just a small amount of THC is combined with CBD.

Medical researcher Jason Dyck has recently acquired the largest known database of medical cannabis users in the world, containing information on about 40,000 medical cannabis patients in Ontario, and has just begun searching for patterns.

An expert on the medical properties of plants, Dyck agrees the brightest prospects for cannabis lie in more complex combinations of its compounds. Other bioactive agents, such as terpenes, responsible for marijuana's flavour and odour, may play a significant part in targeting whatever ails us, he said.

"While a purified cannabinoid may be of benefit, the benefits are enhanced when there is a broad spectrum of (the plant's) chemicals involved," he said, noting that one reason producers isolate CBD from hemp is to bypass regulatory hurdles, because the hemp plant has no THC.

"We're most interested in a broad-spectrum plant extract, because the general feeling, so far backed by science, is that CBD and THC are not the only bioactive agents with benefits, whether they work alone or synergistically with other components," said Dyck.

Different combinations of those agents "could change things drastically," he said.

Method of ingestion can also make a difference in the efficacy of the drug, said Loebenberg. Oils, capsules and sublingual tinctures are popular, but not necessarily the most reliable way to deliver potency.

Powder or mist inhalers, similar to Ventolin dispensers used for asthma, allow for CBD delivery with precise dosing, relying on neither heat (vaping) nor combustion (smoking). So far, however, the devices are unavailable in Canada.

Looking ahead, Loebenberg added the potential benefits of medical cannabis have been neglected for far too long, and that it's high time science caught up with cannabis culture.

"The science and knowledge about cannabis has been totally distorted by politicians who had their own agenda from the 1930s on, calling it a dangerous plant simply because of this one part that gets you stoned," he said.

"No other plant has been treated in this way. They gave a very important medical plant away to criminals."

Dyck agrees Canada has a chance to lead the world in medical cannabis expertise.

"What an opportunity," he said. "Whether good, bad or indifferent, we should be the first country to know this. That's why I'm shifting a lot of my research in this direction, because the opportunity is just too good."

Explore further Q&A: Treatment with medical cannabis

More information: Systematic review of systematic reviews for medical cannabinoids. Canadian Family Physician February 2018. Systematic review of systematic reviews for medical cannabinoids.February 2018. www.cfp.ca/content/64/2/e78.full
In dromedary camels, MERS infection only leads to harmless cold symptoms. In humans they can lead to a serious illness. Credit: Katiekk, Shutterstock

What causes only a harmless cold in camels can be fatal for humans: an infection with the MERS virus. Since its discovery in 2012, the virus was detected in approximately 2,000 patients and 36 percent of them have not survived the severe lung disease known as MERS. Until now, humans are mainly infected through contact with camels in the Arabian Peninsula and human-to-human transmissions are rare. However, this could change due to the virus acquiring mutations. A team of scientists headed by Stefan Pohlmann, Hannah Kleine-Weber and Markus Hoffmann from the German Primate CenterLeibniz Institute for Primate Research in Gottingen investigated virus mutations and found that certain mutations made the virus more resistant against the human immune system. The analysis of mutations is essential for predicting the risk of a pandemic. Moreover, the MERS virus may serve as a blueprint for other zoonotic viruses that can be transmitted from animals to humans (Journal of Virology).

Just like the dreaded SARS virus, the MERS virus and several usually harmless common cold viruses belong to the coronaviruses. Some coronaviruses can be transmitted from animals to humans. The MERS virus infection in dromedary camels causes only a mild cold. In contrast, human infection can lead to a severe respiratory disease, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which is often fatal. The disease is most prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula where people are infected by dromedary camels that are kept for food and racing. The virus's potential to spread worldwide became apparent in 2015 when an infected person who had previously visited the Arabian Peninsula travelled to South Korea and transmitted the virus to others, resulting in 186 infections and 38 fatal MERS cases.

Virus mutations

The MERS outbreak in South Korea was associated with the emergence of a previously unknown viral mutation that reduces the ability of the virus to enter host cells. As this process is necessary for the multiplication of the virus in the body, the mutation is supposedly not beneficial for the virus. However, a mutation would not have prevailed if it would not be associated with an advantage for the virus. Stefan Pohlmann, Hannah Kleine-Weber and Markus Hoffmann of the German Primate Center in Gottingen searched for this effect. They found that the mutation makes the MERS virus more resistant to antibodies produced by the body as a result of the infection. "In South Korea, a mutant of the MERS virus arose that that showed increased resistance against the antibody response. This finding shows that the planned use of antibodies for MERS therapy could lead to the development of resistant viruses," says Hannah Kleine-Weber, the lead author of the study.

Pandemic potential

A more efficient human-to-human transmission due to mutations of the MERS virus could cause an imminent pandemic. Credit: Markus Hoffmann

The MERS virus is mutating and one of the next changes could make it easier for the virus to spread from person to person. An infected traveler could trigger a chain of infections that could potentially lead to a pandemic. "We must develop systems that help us to predict whether a new mutation will have an impact on the transmissibility of the virus, i.e. whether there is an increased pandemic potential," says Markus Hoffmann. As with any other viruses with a pandemic potential, it is important to assess the risk of the MERS virus. "Our study was conducted in the BMBF funded research network RAPID that aims to predict the potential risk of new MERS virus variants and to make recommendations regarding diagnostics, vaccines and behaviors," says Stefan Pohlmann, head of the Infection Biology Unit at the German Primate Center.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: Hannah Kleine-Weber et al. Mutations in the spike protein of MERS-CoV transmitted in Korea increase resistance towards antibody-mediated neutralization, Journal of Virology (2018). Journal information: Journal of Virology Hannah Kleine-Weber et al. Mutations in the spike protein of MERS-CoV transmitted in Korea increase resistance towards antibody-mediated neutralization,(2018). DOI: 10.1128/JVI.01381-18
An honest worker at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport returned a pouch containing more than P120,000 owned by a Korean tourist, airport authorities said Monday. Hwang Sung Ha, who arrived via Asiana flight OZ703 on Oct. 31, unknowingly dropped his pouch at the UBE Express counter at the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 1. The pouch, which contained an Asiana Club Visa card; Shinsegae Duty Free card; $2,056; 31,000 Korean won; 6,020 Thailand baht, and P20, was found by Judith Mertola, an employee of Lucky Jet Travel and Tours around 12:30 pm the next day. Mertola immediately informed her co-worker Pinky Rose Canicosa who accompanied her to the Intelligence and Investigation Division-Lost and Found Section of the Manila International Airport Authority to surrender the pouch. IID personnel, with the help of Asiana Airlines station manager Alvin Suarez, contacted the foreigner through his given phone number but to no avail. Airport officials decided to wait for Huwang Su Ha at the airport when they learned he was scheduled to depart via flight OZ-702 on Nov. 26. After checking in for his flight, the foreigner was approached by Asiana ground handling agents and invited him to the IID office to claim his pouch.Mr. Ha was speechless after seeing his pouch and all its contents intact, authorities said. He admitted that when it was lost, he got dismayed and would have left with a bad impression about the Philippines. This experience is worth sharing with my colleagues and relatives. I will tell them that Filipinos are honest and hospitable, he said as he promised to visit the Philippines again. MIAA general manager Eddie Monreal praised Mertola for her honesty and for not taking interest in what she found. I admire her for choosing to do good, he said. Monreal appealed to all airport workers to follow the gesture of Ms. Mertola. He also commended the joint effort of the MIAA-IID, Lost and Found section and Asiana Airlines for this achievement.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

"Not in front of the kids." It's an age-old plea for parents to avoid showing conflict and strong negative emotions around their children.

But new research from a Washington State University scientist disagrees, showing that it's better to express negative emotions in a healthy way than to tamp them down.

Sara Waters, an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development on the WSU Vancouver campus, and co-authors from the University of California, Berkley and the University of California, San Francisco, write about their findings in the journal Emotion.

"We wanted to look at how we suppress emotions and how that changes the way parents and kids interact," Waters said. "Kids pick up on suppression, but it's something a lot of parents think is a good thing to do."

The study was conducted on 109 mothers or fathers with their children in San Francisco. The sample was split almost evenly between mothers and fathers, as the scientists wanted to see if any differences existed in the results between genders.

First, the researchers gave the parent a stressful task: public speaking with negative feedback provided by the audience. Then, the parents were given an activity to complete with their children, with some randomly told to suppress their emotions. The others were told to act naturally.

The activity was the same for all pairs, working together to assemble a Lego project. However, the kids, ages 7-11, received the paper instructions, but weren't allowed to touch the Legos. The parents had to assemble the project, but couldn't look at the instructions. This forced them to work together closely to succeed.

"We were interested in behaviors," Waters said. "We looked at the responsiveness, warmth, quality of the interactions, how the parent provided guidance for the child."

Waters and her co-authors had a team of undergraduate research assistants from WSU Vancouver watch all 109 videos of the interactions to mark every instance of warmth, guidance, and other emotions.

Both the parent and the child were also hooked up to a variety of sensors, to measure heart rate, stress levels, etc. The study authors combined that data with the coding done by the assistants to get their results.

"The act of trying to suppress their stress made parents less positive partners during the Lego task," Waters said. "They offered less guidance, but it wasn't just the parents who responded. Those kids were less responsive and positive to their parents. It's almost like the parents were transmitting those emotions."

Gender differences

Since the team made such an effort to get an equal mother/father split, they were able to make further discoveries. It turns out that emotional suppression made kids more sensitive to their mothers. The children showed less change in their responses when a father was suppressing his emotions, Waters said.

For now, there isn't enough data on fathers and their children in emotion studies to say why that is.

"We just don't have much research on dads because it's really hard to get dads to participate in research projects," Waters said. "It took a LOT of work to get enough dads in this study."

In previous research, it has been found that, in general, men are more likely to suppress their emotions. Waters suspects that it's possible a father suppressing his emotions isn't unusual, so it didn't have as much impact on the kids in this study.

Kids pick up emotional residue

Waters said there are dozens of studies that show kids are good at picking up "emotional residue" from their parents.

"Kids are good at picking up subtle cues from emotions," she said. "If they feel something negative has happened, and the parents are acting normal and not addressing it, that's confusing for them. Those are two conflicting messages being sent."

Rather than suppressing emotions in front of your children, Waters suggests the best course of action is to let kids see a healthy conflict, from start to resolution.

"Let them see the whole trajectory," she said. "That helps kids learn to regulate their own emotions and solve problems. They see that problems can get resolved. It's best to let the kids know you feel angry, and tell them what

Explore further Should you hide negative emotions from children?
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University of Stirling experts have discovered new evidence of the link between air pollution and cancer as part of a new occupational health study.

The team, from the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, analysed the case of a woman who developed breast cancer after spending 20 years working as a border guard at the busiest commercial border crossing in North America.

The woman was one of, at least, five other border guards who developed breast cancer within 30 months of each other and, at another nearby crossing, a cluster of seven other cases was noted.

Dr. Michael Gilbertson, who worked with colleague Dr. Jim Brophy, said their findings "infer a causal relationship" between breast cancer and very high exposures to traffic-related air pollution containing mammary carcinogens. A link between nightshift work and cancer was also identified.

Dr. Gilbertson said: "This new research indicates the role of traffic-related air pollution in contributing to the increasing incidence of breast cancer in the general population.

"With this new knowledge, industry and government can plan for new designs for industrial and commercial facilities to cut down on the occupational exposures to traffic-related air pollution and for scheduling shift work to minimise disruption of sleep patterns."

Drs Gilbertson and Brophy focused on the worker compensation case of the woman, who was employed by the Canada Border Services Agency for two decades at the Ambassador Bridge, which crosses the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan.

The bridge  the busiest commercial border crossing in North America  carries 12,000 trucks and 15,000 cars each day. The air pollution is severe and border guards in the traffic booths inhale many carcinogens, including those that result in breast cancer.

The woman  one of at least five colleagues who developed breast cancer within 30 months of each other  was diagnosed with her first bout of breast cancer at the age of 44 and second at 51. Notably, another cluster of seven cancer cases occurred at a second crossing point, the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, which lies four miles from the bridge.

The cluster of cases in staff at the bridge was 16 times higher than the rate in the rest of the country  there is less than a one in 10,000 probability that this could have occurred by chance. In addition, the clusters were characterised by breast cancer cases that were early onset and premenopausal with recurrences.

The scientists analysed the circumstances of the case  heard by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT)  by applying the Bradford Hill criteria  a group of nine principles that are useful in establishing epidemiologic evidence of a causal relationship between a presumed cause and an observed effect. The criteria considers strength, consistency, specificity, temporality, biological gradient, plausibility, coherence, experiment and analogy.

The case focused on whether the woman had a genetically inherited predisposition to develop breast cancer because of dysfunctional BRCA1/2 tumour suppressor genes. It was found that her BRCA1/2 tumour suppressors were not working  but that was not connected to her inherited genes. This condition is known as "BRCAness" and is sporadic, rather than an inherited breast cancer.

The Stirling team investigated whether the dysfunction was potentially caused by occupational exposures to pollution. A review of previous research confirmed that BRCA1 can be "silenced" by exposures to dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons  both found in exhaust fumes.

In addition, other research has shown that BRCA2 is rapidly degraded in the presence of aldehydes  also components of exhaust fumes.

"There is much more research to be undertaken," Dr. Gilbertson said. "But we now have plausible mechanisms for inferring how the BRCA1/2 tumour suppressors in this highly-exposed border guard became dysfunctional and likely contributed to the ongoing epidemic of sporadic, early onset, premenopausal breast cancer among her colleagues.

"These outbreaks of breast cancer represent a new occupational disease that we are provisionally calling 'occupational BRCAness'."

The front-line workers also identified nightshift work as a potential contributing factor to their high incidence of breast cancer.

Drs Gilbertson and Brophy considered whether nightshift work might exacerbate the exposures to mammary carcinogens in traffic-related air pollution.

They pointed to a previous study involving rats that found those exposed to continuous daylight developed tumours 36 per cent faster  and had 60 per cent more tumours  than those subjected to a normal photoperiod.

Significantly, the WSIAT rejected the woman's case.

Reflecting on the findings, Dr. Gilbertson continued: "Reweighing the scientific evidence using a consensus medico-legal framework  the Hill Bradford criteria  enabled us to show the amount of evidence that the WSIAT had ignored in dismissing this worker compensation case."

He added: "This kind of forensic research depends on asking new questions based on conclusions from the existing evidence and a willingness to follow leads into unfamiliar areas of science.

"The gratifying part was to find that other scientists in other disciplines had already supplied credible answers that could then be assembled into the Hill's framework of indicia for this specific case which can explain the clusters."

Explore further Does your job increase your breast cancer risk?

More information: Michael Gilbertson et al. Causality Advocacy: Workers' Compensation Cases as Resources for Identifying and Preventing Diseases of Modernity, NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy (2018). Michael Gilbertson et al. Causality Advocacy: Workers' Compensation Cases as Resources for Identifying and Preventing Diseases of Modernity,(2018). DOI: 10.1177/1048291118810900
Illustration of the experimental procedure. The Schulte test is a 5x5 table of random numbers from 1 to 25. The subjects have to find the numbers in descending order, first the largest number (25), then the next largest number (24), etc., up to (1). During the active phases, the subject has to note down each number. Credit: A. Pisarchik et al

An international team of researchers has developed a new method to assess the intelligence and personality by analyzing neurophysiological data of the human brain. Researchers with Universidad Politecnica de Madrid are among the international team.

Researchers from the Centre for Biomedical Technology (CTB) at UPM and from Yuri Gagarin State Technical University (SSTU) have assessed electroencephalograms (EEGs) recorded during elementary cognitive tasks and have found a link among EEG characteristics, mental abilities and personality traits. The results, which have been published in the PloS ONE journal, can be useful in the trials and the diagnosis of personal skills to perform complex operational tasks.

The reliable and objective assessment of intelligence and personality has been a topic of increasing interest in contemporary neuroscience and psychology. It is known that intelligence can be measured by estimating the mental speed or velocity of information processing. This is usually measured as a reaction time during elementary cognitive task processing, while personality is often assessed by means of questionnaires.

Human personality affects the way a subject accomplishes elementary cognitive tasks, and therefore, some personality features can define intelligence. It is expected that these features, as well as mental abilities in performing cognitive tasks, are associated with the brain's electrical neural activity. Although several studies have reported a correlation between event-related potentials, mental ability, and intelligence, there is a lack of information about time-frequency and spatio-temporal structures of neural activity that characterize this relation.

The researchers analyzed human electroencephalograms (EEG) recorded during the performance of elementary cognitive tasks using the Schulte test, which is a paper-pencil-based instrument for assessing elementary cognitive ability or mental speed.

Co-author Alexander Pisarchik, a researcher from the Ageing Lab at CTB, says, "According to particular features found of the EEG structure, we divided the subjects into three groups. For subjects in each group, we applied the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) to assess their personality traits. We found that each group reached a different score on the personality scale, such as warmth, reasoning, emotional stability and dominance."

Relation between energies of high- and low-frequency spectral components in the left, calculated for active and passive experimental phases. Credit: Universidad Politecnica de Madrid

Subjects from the group I could immediately perform unknown tasks and maintain their working efficiency at a relatively high rate, above a medium-low level. The psychological decryption of the tests included the remarks about the creativity in the test performance and fast switches to new tasks.

In the personality test, such subjects had a pronounced tendency to work alone, high intellect, analytical mind, critical thinking, intolerance to uncertainty, and a delay in decision making. Moreover, they exhibited self-control, a lack of anxiety, a pronounced leadership, and a desire to dominate in the group. These results suggest that the creativity and the attempt to optimize their work led to a decrease in their working efficiency.

The subjects from group II tried to develop a strategy to simplify the task performance. During the accomplishment of the first task, a maximum lateralization of high-frequency activity was considered, for instance, the activity in the right hemisphere was much more pronounced. This means that during the first task, the strategy was not yet developed. During subsequent tasks, the burden in the right hemisphere in these subjects was reduced. As a result, the subjects from the group II demonstrated higher working efficiency than the subjects from group I.

These subjects needed little time for adaptation and did not get tired, being able to maintain a high working efficiency for a long time. Their personal profiles harmoniously combined high scores in intellect, emotional maturity and self-control.

Unlike group II, the subjects from group III accomplished the task without any attempts to develop a strategy to simplify it. This was confirmed by the psychological test. Researchers assume that the subjects from this group have difficulties to maintain high working efficiency for prolonged time. Their personality tests showed a pronounced preference to work alone with low self-control, intolerance to uncertainty, and a delay in decision-making that can be manifested by anxiety. They also demonstrated high intellect, analytical mind, critical thinking and a spirit for experimentation.

"Summing up, we found a link between EEG features, mental abilities, and personality traits. It is remarkable that intelligence, which was lower in the subjects from group II and which did not reflect the creativity in the development of new strategies, resulted in very high work performance," concludes Pisarchik. The obtained results can be of great interest for testing human personality to create automatized intelligent programs which combine simple tests and EEG measurements for real estimation of human personality traits and mental abilities.

Explore further Diagnosing and treating personality disorders needs a dynamic approach

More information: Vladimir A. Maksimenko et al. Human personality reflects spatio-temporal and time-frequency EEG structure, PLOS ONE (2018). Journal information: PLoS ONE Vladimir A. Maksimenko et al. Human personality reflects spatio-temporal and time-frequency EEG structure,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197642
Close-up of a 3D printed scaffold, a plastic bone-shaped frame that will help replace missing bone. Credit: John Szivek, Ph.D. / UA College of Medicine - Tucson

Not all broken bones heal. But one scientist at the University of Arizona hopes to remedy that problem using a combination of 3-D printing and adult stem cells.

"Imagine an impact that causes half of a long bone to shatter so that it can't be put back togetherno current surgical treatment can ensure that kind of injury will heal," explained John A. Szivek, Ph.D., a scientist at the UA College of MedicineTucson. "This is a really big problem for the military, where explosions or combat injuries can cause big bone defects."

To help military personnel with these devastating injuries, Dr. Szivek, a biomedical engineer and professor of orthopedic surgery, has received a five-year, $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to launch a study to determine how to heal bone fractures using a combination of 3-D printing and adult stem cells.

With the help of clinical partners in the UA Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Szivek's lab plans to 3-D print scaffoldsplastic bone-shaped framesthat can replace large, missing or broken bone segments. These scaffolds will be filled with calcium particles and adult stem cells, two key elements that lead to much faster healing and bone growth.

Once implanted, the scaffold will serve as a template for the bone to grow on.

Pilot studies in Dr. Szivek's lab have shown this technique works well. "We achieved complete bone formation, covering a large bone defect in about three months. Now we want to make that healing process even faster," he said.

The team will test whether exercise early in the healing process can help speed up healing and recovery.

"Studies have shown that exercise makes your bones grow, so maybe we can make bone on our scaffolds grow even faster with exercise," Dr. Szivek said.

To test this theory, the 3-D implants will be embedded with tiny sensors that can wirelessly transmit exercise activity. These sensors will analyze loading, or how much weight is being put on the scaffold, and for what length of time.

Bone size changes in an active group that regularly exercises will be compared with an inactive group. Dr. Szivek's team expects to see that the active group that regularly put weight on their healing limbs will show much quicker bone growth. His team hopes to develop guidelines for post-surgical physical therapy by demonstrating that exercise leads to better bone formation.

If the study is successful, Dr. Szivek anticipates the clinical trials will take place in military personnel.

Current treatment of these traumatic injuries usually fails and requires repeated surgeries.

"Patients often re-break the damaged bone area after surgeons try to repair it and the limb will eventually be amputated," Dr. Szivek explained. "There's just no good way of regenerating or re-growing long bone segments right now."

The human body will attempt to re-grow missing or damaged bone for a few months after an injury, but it eventually gives up on the process. At that point, scar tissue fills the defect instead of bone.

"That's why we need to develop a way to grow bone as quickly as possibleto help the body while it is still able to grow and replace the bone," Dr. Szivek said.

UA President Robert C. Robbins, M.D., commended Dr. Szivek's lab.

"This is an incredible example of the kind of innovative research that is made by possible by technological advancement through the convergence of the biological, physical and digital worlds, and exactly the kind of project that demonstrates how the UA is a leader in cutting-edge solutions to difficult challenges," Dr. Robbins said. "The work that Dr. Szivek and his team are doing to help these individuals is a great example of using new technology to significantly improve quality of life for patients. I am confident their unique research will lead to the development of more effective treatments to repair critical bone injuries."

Dr. Szivek hopes the potential therapy also will help patients with bone cancers that are removed operatively.

This work is supported by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, Defense Medical Research and Development Program.

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The role of people with their own experience of suicidal ideation is an important topic in suicide prevention work. This role is corroborated by the recently conducted study, which is the largest so far with a total of 545 participants. Working with colleagues from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich and Leuven University in Belgium, study authors Benedikt Till and Thomas Niederkrotenthaler from the Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine at MedUni Vienna's Center for Public Health have now shown that expert interviews about suicide prevention can reduce suicidal ideation, irrespective of whether the expert in question mentions their personal experiences of suicidal ideation in the article or not.

It has long been known in suicide research that, when reporting on suicidal tendencies, it is all comes down to the "how." For example, sensational articles about suicides can encourage imitation. This phenomenon is referred to in medical literature as the "Werther effect."

"However, when the media focus on strategies for overcoming suicidal thoughts, this has a positive effect and can increase knowledge about prevention and reduce suicidal ideation," say Till and Niederkrotenthaler. The Papageno effect is named after one of the principal characters in Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute, in which Papageno, believing he has lost his beloved Papagena, entertains thoughts of suicide but is dissuaded from committing the deed by three boys.

Experts as prevention workers?

It is often discussed whether and to what extent experts, who have themselves previously had suicidal thoughts and have overcome their suicidal crisis, bring their own personal experience to the table and can speak openly about it and how helpful that can be for prevention. "Our question is therefore: can one bring about a Papageno effect by means of newspaper articles, in which an expert is interviewed about suicide? And is this effect stronger or weaker depending upon whether the interviewed expert speaks about suicidal ideation from personal experience?" This is the researchers' premise.

Five hundred forty-five adults were asked to read a newspaper article. Group No. 1 read an article in which an expert spoke educatively about suicide and suicide prevention, without mentioning any personal experience of suicidal ideation. Group No. 2 read the same article, but this time the expert talked about overcoming a suicidal crisis in her youth. Group No. 3, on the other hand, read an interview about a health-related topic not connected with suicide. Psychological tests were performed immediately before and immediately after reading the newspaper article.

The result of the study, which has now been published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. In line with the "Papageno effect," suicidal ideation was reduced by this newspaper article and knowledge about suicide prevention increased. It was found that educative input from experts with and experts without personal experience of suicidal ideation was equally effective.

The Papageno effect in suicide research

Since Thomas Niederkrotenthaler's team first described a possible Papageno effect in 2010, it has intensified its collaboration with the media on the subject of suicide prevention as part of the Austrian Suicide Prevention Plan (www.bmgf.gv.at/home/suizid) by media recommendations for reporting about suicide. Since 2017, the Papageno effect has also been part of the WHO media recommendations. MedUni Vienna's Center for Public Health recommends the new website www.suizid-praevention.gv.at in the Austrian health portal operated by the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection to affected individuals or other interested parties.

Explore further Prescription opioid and benzodiazepine misuse linked with suicidal thoughts

More information: Benedikt Till et al. Effect of Educative Suicide Prevention News Articles Featuring Experts With vs Without Personal Experience of Suicidal Ideation, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2018). Journal information: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Benedikt Till et al. Effect of Educative Suicide Prevention News Articles Featuring Experts With vs Without Personal Experience of Suicidal Ideation,(2018). DOI: 10.4088/JCP.17m11975
In an online survey developed by the Society for Women's Health Research, a majority of school nurses reported that the pre-K-12 schools they work for do not have written policies on student bathroom use and do not have education for students and teachers on bladder health.

The survey, created by SWHR's Interdisciplinary Network on Urological Health in Women and distributed by the National Association of School Nurses, garnered responses from 362 school nurses, covering pre-K/elementary, middle, and high schools across rural, suburban, and urban areas.

Less than 8% of nurses reported that their schools have a written policy on student bathroom use (64% reported no policy, 28% were unsure). Nearly half said students have free bathroom access, with permission required only as a formality, while others reported varying timed and supervised bathroom breaks.

School nurses reported the following as the top reasons teachers give for restricting bathroom access for students during class:

Students are leaving the classroom for reasons other than to use the bathroom (84%).

Students will misbehave in the bathroom (58%).

Students have adequate time to use the bathroom during class breaks (57%).

However, more than a third of middle and high school nurses said they do not believe the break period between classes is long enough for students to use the bathroom. Three-quarters of all nurses surveyed said they are aware of students with bladder or bowel problems at their school and 42% are aware current concerns from teachers, parents/guardians, or students about student bathroom access.

"Restricting access to the bathroom forces students into unhealthy toileting habits, such as holding in urine, which may create health problems that will follow students into adulthood and decrease their quality of life," said Rebecca Nebel, Ph.D., SWHR's director of scientific programs.

For example, research has shown holding in urine can weaken bladder muscles, causing leakage and increased susceptibility to urinary tract infections, among other issues. To maintain a healthy bladder, children should use the toilet every two to three hoursnot wait until their bladders are so full they are in pain or the urge is suddenly uncontrollable.

Bathroom access is a problem for some teachers and nurses as well, with 37% of nurses reporting that teachers have discussed their need for better bathroom access and 20% of nurses reporting inadequate time for bathroom breaks for themselves.

While the vast majority of school nurses reported bathrooms are clean, odor-free, and well-stocked with toilet paper, paper towels and soap for all or part of the day, 75% said bathrooms are not well-stocked with menstrual products.

When students do not have access to menstrual products, they may be forced to miss class, negatively affecting their education, or to use the same sanitary product for a long period of time, which can result in health issues such as yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and, in rare cases, toxic shock syndrome.

"Female students are distinctly disadvantaged by restrictive bathroom policies and the lack of free and easily available menstrual products in school bathrooms," Nebel said. "Some students may not be able to afford menstrual products or they may not be prepared for their period to start at school. Providing these products in school bathrooms can help avoid uncomfortable, embarrassing situations as well as serious health concerns."

In addition to revealing bathroom access and use issues, the survey showed that students, teachers, and even most school nurses are not receiving education on bladder health. Respondents reported:

2% of schools included bladder health education in the student curriculum (67% did not, 31% unsure)

3% of teachers received educational training on bladder health for students (70% did not, 26% unsure)

34% of school nurses received educational training on bladder health for students (62% did not, 4% unsure)

"Educating students, teachers, and school nurses about bladder health will help ensure students are learning healthy toileting habits and hopefully lead to the elimination of restrictive bathroom policies that are harming the health and education of students," Nebel said.

Explore further Lack of bathroom breaks hurts children

Provided by Society for Women's Health Research
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About half of American teenagers have never visited doctors without a parent or guardian present, despite recommendations that such visits begin about age 13, a study led by a Chicago researcher shows.

Dr. Jon Klein wanted find whether the American Medical Association's 1992 recommendation had any effect on teenagers taking an active role in their health care. The study showed that little has changed in 25 years.

"When we launched, we really were going back to that question of has it gotten any better," said Klein, head of pediatrics at the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center. "It's still only about half who have had private one-on-ones with a clinician."

The studypublished in the Journal of Adolescent Healthsurveyed adolescents and their parents, exploring at what age they think children and teenagers should begin to meet privately with doctors. He realized early on that key to a parent's understanding of why doctors want to speak with teenagers alone is explaining that it's so teenagers can take some ownership of their health.

"They still need their family's involvement, but a good way of phrasing it might be, 'When do you think your son or daughter will be ready to have some responsibility surrounding his or her medical care?'" Klein said. "When you put it that way, most parents are less oppositional about it because you've identified an opportunity for their child to grow."

The most surprising finding for Klein was that both teenagers and parents seem open to private or semi-private visits between doctor and teenager. They even agree as to the age this should happen, often suggesting either at 16 or 18 years old, Klein said.

"That is in contrast with what clinicians would prefer, which is about 13 years old, on average," he said.

Klein believes most survey respondents say 18 is the ideal age to make this shift because of the importance placed on the age in legal definitions in the U.S. But it is an arbitrary age, he said. An 18-year-old is not suddenly more mature, he said.

On the contrary, there are many reasons a doctor would want to begin discussing topics such as mental health, sexual and reproductive health and exposure to drugs, alcohol or tobacco as early as 11 or 12 years old, Klein said.

"It really is about prevention," he said.

"Eighteen is not a magic number in terms of physical or cognitive development," he said. "Fourteen or 15 is more often when a teenager exhibits the ability to think about things differently and to understand long-term consequences to actions. The ability to then make good decisions continues to evolve even through the 20s."

Dr. Cora Breuner of the Seattle Children's Hospital and a chairwoman for the Adolescence Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics agreed. She said doctors need to talk with teenagers earlier, not just to ask questions and provide information, but at a key point.

"Let's face it, kids have done some stupid things before they turn 16. It's not best to do it after the horse is out of the barn," she said.

Both Klein and Breuner want parents to understand doctors are having age-appropriate conversations. When discussing HPV vaccinations, which can help prevent certain types of cancer, it is imperative to give the vaccine before a teenager is potentially infected, meaning well before the child is thinking about having sex.

"I think there's a myth that the provider is going to tell the kid it's OK to have sex or drink, and that's not what we're saying to them at all. We actually discuss how much sleep they're getting versus what they may need at any given age, texting and driving and how it is never OK, how many hours they spend in front of a screen, what to do if they forget to wear their bike helmet, or are being bullied or cyberbullied," she said.

In his experience, Klein said, only about 1 in 100 or 1 in 200 parents will speak out against a private visit between teenager and doctor or a semi-private visitsay the parent is present for the physical exam, and then asked to step out of the room.

Few teenagers share their decision to become sexually active with a parent, he said. But to ensure that they have the information they need about preventing an unwanted pregnancy or avoiding a sexually transmitted disease, it is important that doctors properly educate teenagers on their reproductive health. Klein said the study shows parents and teenagers are more often on the same page about that need than one might expect.

"Most parents and teenagers kind of do see it the same way," Klein said. "Teenagers learn values from their family, so families where there's good communicating, teenagers are likely to have absorbed some of that."

Breuner is a professor, making her partially responsible for some of the dozens of hours of study medical students will dedicate to learning how best to speak with teenage patients. They can spend up to 30 hours in one year going through role-playing scenarios with hired teenage actors, she said.

It's a good idea to post a sign in a doctor's office lobby indicating that teenagers will start having one-on-one time with doctors, to make parents aware of what's coming.

"There's nothing more frustrating than to be blindsided," Breuner said. "It's really not cool, so we have to, as teachers of doctors, teach them how to do this without alienating and terrifying the kids.

"There is a lot at stake in us getting it right. They deserve to be heard, they deserve to have a voice and they deserve to be able to talk to their provider alone," Breuner said.

Explore further Parents, kids actually agree about confidential medical care

2018 Chicago Tribune

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A group of professors and students in Filipino and Philippine Literature courses on Monday asked the Supreme Court to reverse its ruling last month that upheld the exclusion of the two subjects from college curriculum. Members of the Alyansa ng Mga Tagapagtanggol ng Wikang Filipino (Tanggol Wika Network) trooped to the SC compound in Padre Faura Street in Manila and filed their motion for reconsideration of the decision that upheld the Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Circular No 20-2013, which reduced the general education curriculum to a minimum of 36 units. They assailed the finding of the SC that there was no removal of the two subjects in school curriculum as the changes in the General Education curriculum only ensured that there would be no duplication of subjects in grade school, high school, and college. Petitioners showed in their petition that when Filipino in the core curriculum of basic education [senior and junior high school, in particular] is put side-by-side with Filipino in the general education curriculum in the tertiary level, it can be seen that there are matters covered in the latter which are not covered in the former, the motion for reconsideration stated. The group also again argued that the assailed CHED order violated Section 6, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, which provides for the use of Filipino language as a medium of instruction.The language of our fundamental law is mandatory, with its use of shall, which leaves neither Congress nor any part of government to which the mandate is directed any choice as to whether to take steps or not, appellants said. The Court may have cited an exchange in the constitutional deliberations to declare that Section 6 is not self-executory. However, there are mutilple references in the debates to support the conclusion that the Framers intended not to leave the matter entirely to Congress or government. Several commissioners enunciated the position of the committee and the plenary that the mandates in the language provisions are to be self-executory, they added. With these arguments, Tanggol Wika Network asked the SC to reverse its Oct. 9 unanimous decision on the CHED order. The SC decision upheld the constitutionality of the controversial K-12 program of the Department of Education.
The House of Representatives has recommended for Senate action a bill providing support for the members of the judiciary by granting benefits to the surviving heirs of judiciary members who are killed intentionally while in the performance of their duties. This came after the House unanimously approved House Bill 8121 which encourages what the bill describes as young idealistic judges and justices to remain in the service and to dispense justice without fear. The bill amends Republic Act 910, as amended, titled An Act To Provide For The retirement Of Justices Of The Supreme Court And Of Court Of Appeals, For The Enforcement Of The Provisions Hereof By The Government Service Insurance System, And To Repeal Commonwealth Act Numbered Five Hundred And Thirty-Six. House Deputy Speaker Rep. Raneo Abu, principal author of the bill, expressed hopes that the Senate will pass the measure in the same enthusiasm as that of the House. He said throughout the years, the country has experienced judiciary officials being assassinated, brutally killed, and assassinated by criminals in the hopes of obstructing the ends of justice. He cited a report by the Amnesty International which states that from 1992 to 2015, some 22 judges were murdered or assassinated in the country. This translates to two judges being killed annually. Abu said that as stipulated in Section 2 of the Republic Act No. 9946, as amended, when a judge or justice is intentionally killed while in service, the presumption is that the death is work-related. The risk alongside the job of these judiciary officials should be counterbalanced by providing them with a grant that will encourage them to fully perform their duties and responsibilities. Abu said.Hence, this bill seeks to support the judiciary by granting benefits to their surviving heirs in case they are killed while dispensing justice. The bill amends Section 2 of RA 910, as amended, which carries the provision that states: When a justice or judge is killed by reason of the performance of official duty, or when such justice or judge is killed intentionally while in service, regardless of age at the time of death or the number of years served in government or the judiciary, the surviving spouse and the surviving children of the slain justice or judge shall also be entitled to receive during the residue of their natural lives also in the manner hereinafter provided, the salary plus the highest monthly aggregate of transportation, representation and other allowances such as PERA and additional compensation allowance which are received by an associate justice of the Supreme Court. Amendment to Section 3 of the same Act also states that If the justice or judge is killed by reason of the performance of official duty, the surviving spouse and children of the slain justice or judge shall receive all the benefits provided in this Section when applicable, plus a gratuity equivalent to ten (10) years salary, lump sum, to be computed based on all the salaries and other benefits of an associate justice of the Supreme Court. Furthermore, the amended section provides that Upon the death of the surviving spouse, the benefits such spouse was receiving under the Section shall be transferred to the surviving children of the slain justice or judge. The proposal also seeks to amend Section 3-A of RA 910, as amended, so that If the surviving spouse and children of a slain justice or judge have not received the full lump sum due them within one year from the death of the justice or judge, any lump sum still to be granted to the surviving spouse or surviving children of the slain justice or judge shall be computed based on the difference between the amounts already received and the ten (10)-year lump sum based on the current rates of salaries, benefits, allowances and other grants given to an associate justice of the Supreme Court. Abu said the approval of the bill will embolden the justices and judges, especially the young idealistic judges and justices, to dispense justice without fear knowing that the government has their back and will support them, and their family, as they uphold the rule of law.
Oklahoma City, OK  A prominent Oklahoma doctor turned himself in after prosecutors charged him with second-degree murder.

We are just trying to deal with everything right now and hopefully, at the end of the day, everything will be fine, said Scott Adams, the attorney for Dr. Bryan Perry.

On Wednesday (Nov. 21), Dr. Bryan Perry turned himself in to authorities at the Oklahoma County Jail.

It just goes to show he has taken responsibility for what has happened now. He has no independent recollection of hitting anyone or doing anything like that, said Adams.

Just before 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 12, emergency crews were called to I-35, between 15th and 33rd, following a deadly crash. Authorities say Bryan Frank Perry was driving a 2013 Mercedes northbound when he hit a motorcycle, killing 31-year-old Nicholas Rappa.

Officials with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol say the cardiologist did not stop after he hit Rappa. Instead, he kept driving until he ran off the side of the road and hit a light pole.

When police arrived at the disabled car, investigators say a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was detected.

Perry now faces a charge of second-degree murder.

Typically, what you see in something like this is manslaughter in the first-degree charges. For whatever reason, they have ramped it up to murder two, said Adams.

This isnt Perrys first run-in with the law.

In 2012, Perry was arrested for reckless driving after he allegedly hit an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper. Court documents state that Perry was extremely unsteady on his feet, had a very strong odor of alcohol on his breath and person and had extremely slurred speech.

There are a lot of people out there that have prior arrests, and thats the Litmus test that we use, Adams said. He has been convicted of nothing.

Prosecutors didnt return our phone calls for comment but they are asking that Perry be held without bond. Adams says he is in the process of filing a motion to have Perry out on bond.

Right now, he is taking a sabbatical so he can deal with all this and I would hope that here in the near future he would be back practicing medicine, said Adams.
Fresno, CA - Deputies have arrested a California mother and her boyfriend over the death of a little boy.

The murder and child endangerment charges come two weeks after 4-year-old Kyis Conrady was rushed to the hospital.

When you lose someone so close, words can be hard to find. For Chad Meza, his 4-year-old great nephew was his life.

"I just got to keep him in my heart you know," said Meza.

Meza chauffeured the little boy between his mother and father's home every week. He was about to pick him up to spend a weekend together when he got a call from the hospital.

"I think I ignored a lot of the signs because I'm not a professional on that," Meza said.

Kyis' mother, Chanish Conrady, told the family her son had suffered a seizure, but an autopsy painted a more violent picture.

Deputies have since arrested her on charges of child endangerment. They say her boyfriend, Steven Perez Jr., committed murder.

"All I got to say is he's going to meet his maker," said Meza. "You don't take someone's life and then not meet your maker."

Family members say Kyis was a happy child who loved to smile. But there were hints he dropped that showed not all was well at his mother's house.

"He would cry, please don't take me, it's like taking a toy from a kid, he'd throw a fit. That's what it came down to," said Meza.

Deputies say Child Protective Services had been called on the suspects before.

"I want everyone to know, hug your young ones, love them. Let them know you love them, they didn't ask to come here," said Meza.

And pay attention to the signs so no other family has to endure the same pain.
ARCHIVED - Eight arrested after drug-related murder of a Swede in Mijas



The arrests were made in the Costa del Sol and in Sweden as the killers headed for Morocco

The fight goes on to halt the drug-related international crime wave which has affected the Costa del Sol in recent months, and the Guardia Civil have confirmed that eight people have been arrested, six in Spain and two in Sweden, in connection with the recent murder of a Swedish man in Malaga and the torture to which his companion was subjected.

All eight are part of a drug trafficking group active not only in Spain but also in other European countries, and were detained following an investigation which also resulted in the confiscation of two AK-47 assault rifles, a large amount of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, over 15,000 euros and 13,000 Swedish krona, three watches with a value of 120,000 euros and various other items.

The murder in question took place at a chalet in Mijas, where the two victims were tied up with rope and tape and tortured for hours in an attempt to force them to disclose information about a large shipment of drugs. However, one of them was able to escape from the property, at which point the attackers killed the other and made their getaway in the dead mans car. They later abandoned the vehicle and set fire to it in Fuengirola, but the Guardia soon identified the killers, who had arrived from Sweden just the day before, and they were arrested in San Roque, in the province of Cadiz, while heading to Algeciras to catch the ferry to Morocco.

Another member of the group, of Moroccan nationality, was taken into custody in Benahavis, and one of the ringleaders was later arrested in Marbella while in Sweden the two other detentions were made.

Image: the Guardia Civil examine a drugs shipment intercepted in Andalucia

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ARCHIVED - Prime Minister says Spain wins in Brexit Gibraltar deal



Spain will have the final word on EU policy regarding Gibraltar after Brexit

On Sunday the EU approved the terms of the Brexit deal reached after a week of frantic negotiation and re-negotiation, with Spain agreeing not to use its right to veto the deal having won concessions regarding any future discussions concerning the status of Gibraltar, which at present remains a British Overseas Territory.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned repeatedly during the course of last week that he was ready to bar the deal of no specific assurances were granted, but on Sunday afternoon, while stating that the agreement by which Brexit will be government represents a sad landmark for both the EU and the UK, he also affirmed that as far as Gibraltar is concerned, Spain wins. This is due to the issuing of a statement by the remaining 27 Member States of the EU to the effect that from next March onwards Spain will have the last word regarding the Unions policy towards Gibraltar on all matters, including co-sovereignty.

When Spain joined the EU (then the EEC) in 1986 the UK had already been a member for 13 years, and as such had defined European policy regarding Gibraltar for over a decade. Now, though, this aspect will be determined almost entirely by Spain, and although on Sunday Sr Sanchez was reticent with regard to the possibility of co-sovereignty demands this cannot be ruled out as he attempts to resolve what he calls 300 years of conflict.

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Gumtree announced it has partnered with property technology company HouseME to offer improved house rental services on its online platform.

As a result of this collaboration, Gumtree is now able to verify prospective tenants through a rigorous vetting process and reduce the risk for property owners.

HouseME uses smart technology to connect and verify tenants, collect rent, and digitally coordinate the complete viewing, administration and payment process.

These services can cost landlords as little as 2.5% of rental, and the company offers a three-month rental guarantee.

HouseME is excited to extend further value to South African landlords and assist in reducing the risks associated with property rental  of which late payments, defaulters and managing deposits are just a few, said HouseME CEO Ben Shaw.

We are excited about this collaboration, and look forward to working with Gumtree as we serve a broad part of the market together, Shaw said.

Gumtree said that this partnership would greatly assist landlords in connecting with legitimate tenants through the platform.

We have more than 36,000 property rental listings and we know that linking up with HouseME will make life a lot easier, and more profitable, for many of the landlords who use Gumtree, said Gumtree SA GM Director Claire Cobbledick.
A Palace official backed President Rodrigo Dutertes call to revive the Reserved Officers Training Corps, as this will instill discipline and nationalism to the youth. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that Duterte wants to bring back the ROTC program in academic institutions to discipline students and teach them the concept of nationalism. The President wants ROTC revived because of the discipline, the ideals of being a nationalist, Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Monday. Moreover, we have to prepare ourselves. We are the only unprepared country given to many war. We had our ROTC, I learned a lot, and I think the students will learn a lot from having a training, he added. The Palace official made the remark after youth groups voiced its opposition to the Presidents wish to revive the ROTC as a mandatory subject in senior high school, citing the culture of violence and student rights violations that occured in the past upon its implementation. Salinlahi Alliance for Childrens Concerns said its revival would only instill brutality, fascism, corruption, and impunity, stressing the Duterte administration does not have an ounce of moral ascendancy to teach the youth about respect for human rights. Anakbayan-Cebu and Akbayan-Cebu also echoed Salinlahis sentiment, saying that the ROTC might only lead to abuses perpetrated by those who are in power. Duterte, meanwhile, remained firm in his decision to call for the programs revival.I encourage Congress to enact a law that will require mandatory ROTC for Grades 11 and 12, so we can instill patriotism and love of country among our youth, Duterte said in his speech in Tanza Cavite on Thursday. When asked if Duterte needs to issue an executive order (EO) to finally move for the programs revival, Panelo said no as the Congress will do the work. No, the position of the President is, the Congress should pass a law and I think there are already many House backers, said Panelo. At the House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker and Batangas Rep. Romeo Abu said his House Bill No. 5113 seeks to make ROTC mandatory for Grades 11 and 12 students in public and private schools. I appeal to the House leadership to pass the ROTC bill in line with President Dutertes desire to revive this aimed at promoting the prime duty of the government to serve and protect the people, he said. At the Upper House, Senator Richard Gordon filed Senate Bill No. 1417 proposing to establish a Citizen Service Corps to create a pool of trained members who can render personal military or civil service in times of war, lawlessness, and calamities and disasters. The Constitution recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and seeks to promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It also seeks to inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs, Gordon said.
With Telkoms mobile data bundles now offering extended validity periods, users being able to transfer data to one another, and a new 4G roaming agreement with Vodacom in place, Telkom offers excellent value in South Africa.

Telkom announced today that it is the first mobile network in South Africa to comply with ICASAs End-User and Subscriber Service Charter Regulations.

The companys mobile customers across all plans can now transfer data to other users, and subscribers will now also enjoy extended data validity periods.

The company said that 25MB to 500MB prepaid data bundles will now last 6 months. The validity period of bundles larger than 500MB is two calendar months.

In an interview with MyBroadband about the new data rules, Telkom mobile products and services executive Andrew Dawson said the move is one that will offer customers great benefits.

Data bundles

Dawson said in implementing the new data rules, Telkom looked at what ICASA wanted to accomplish  and that was providing affordable data which did not expire quickly to the mass market .

This was the reason for Telkom giving its smaller data bundles a 6-month validity period  while not changing its current data prices.

What we did not want to do is make data more expensive, and we made sure that we give customers benefits, and enough time to use these benefits, said Dawson.

He added that customers will not be affected in any way from a price perspective.

The extended data validity has been implemented for all primary data in data bundles or package bundles like FreeMe.

For FreeMe bundles, for example, the primary data in the bundle will be valid for two months. Promotional data, such as that for WhatsApp and Facebook usage, will remain valid for 31 days.

Data transfer

In terms of the data transfer service, Dawson said it will be available via multiple channels. This includes the Telkom portal, the Telkom app, and USSD menus.

Data transfers will let prepaid customers send data to both prepaid and post-paid users, and post-paid users can send data to both prepaid and post-paid users.

The only limit is on SmartBroadband plans, where SmartBroadband users can only send data to other SmartBroadband users.

There are also rules around the transfer of data, which are:

Users can send up to 1GB per day.

Users can send up to 10GB per month.

Sending increments are 25MB, 50MB, 100MB, 250MB, 500MB, 1GB.

You cannot transfer promotional data (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc).

You cannot transfer data which was transferred to you.

The validity period of the transferred data is linked to the original bundle it was sent from.

Best value in South Africa

The new data rules from Telkom follow a recent announcement that it had secured roaming rights on Vodacoms 3G and 4G networks.

The terms of the agreement will allow Telkom customers to roam on Vodacoms 2G, 3G, and 4G networks with full effect from June 2019. This will include seamless handover technology.

With its data bundles cheaper than its rivals, longer validity periods and data transfer now in place, and with support for roaming on Vodacoms 4G network, Telkoms value proposition in South Africa is excellent.

Dawson said that at Telkom they truly believe they lead the race in terms of data, and it is part of their strategy to be the value leader in the mobile market.

Their products are built to provide great benefits to customers and work on their network and their roaming partners networks, without customers having to pay a premium, he concluded.
The Department of Mineral Resources has initiated a ground stability study to be undertaken in Johannesburg to assess whether there is any long-term damage to critical infrastructure installation as a result of illegal mining activities.

The study, which will is due to commence shortly, will be carried out through the departments entity, the Council for Geoscience (CGS).

While there is no immediate threat to critical infrastructure as has been claimed, government wants to confirm this assertion scientifically, and proactively deal with this matter not only in Johannesburg, but in other areas where illegal mining occurs, said the department on Monday.

This after media reports emerged at the weekend stating that experts have sounded the alarm bell that illegal miners are blasting near highly flammable gas and fuel lines in the Johannesburg area.

The CGS is expected to provide a preliminary report on the matter within two weeks.

The department further emphasises the importance of active participation by all stakeholders in the established Gauteng Illegal Mining Forum. The forum, among others, deals with immediate pressing matters on illegal mining.

This forum is empowered to suggest and/or take appropriate remedial action in addressing critical concerns. The department will continue to work through the National Co-ordination Strategic Management Team (NCSMT), which in turn reports to the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cabinet Committee, on how matters of illegal mining are addressed.

The NCSMT consists of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), the South African Police Service (SAPS) [i.e. Directorate for Priority Crimes and Investigation (DPCI)], Visible Policing (VISPOL) and Crime Intelligence (CI)], the National Intelligence and Co-ordinating Committee (NICOC) and the State Security Agency (SSA), among others.

The NCSMT was established specifically to co-ordinate governments efforts to fight illegal mining and the trafficking of precious metals.

There are several measures that have been implemented to eradicate illegal mining operations.

These include:

Promotion of legitimate mining

Rehabilitation of derelict mines and sealing of holes

Law enforcement and forensic analysis

Policing and law enforcement

Law enforcement training workshops on illegal mining

Physical monitoring by the police will also be encouraged to deal decisively with illegal mining.

SANews

Now read: Joburg on the brink of massive disaster as illegal miners set off explosives at will
'Account for monies you have received ...
As departing mayor, indulge me in a farewell letter  one much shorter than President Washingtons farewell address.

1. Police Department: The overriding issue here is liability. We cannot rule out an officer involved shooting. The risk is avoided it we contract out police services to the Sheriffs Department. Yes, we would like to maintain our own police force, but, sadly, the financial risk to the city and its General Fund is too large. We need to acknowledge reality. There are other sound reasons to contract out to the Sheriffs Department (as Yountville and American Canyon have done, and to my understanding is under evaluation in Calistoga). Liability risk is the one that has me the most concerned.

2. A School Resource Officer: We have no police officer assigned to our schools, as we have had in the past. Earlier this year, I caused discrete inquiry to be made of the St. Helena Unified School District, and was advised that there was no interest. This is a huge mistake (Congressman Thompson agrees with me). A dedicated Resource Officer is a full-time job, with his/her own specialized training. The school district picks up the entire cost. Sadly, we live in a world where it is irresponsible not to have such an officer. The school district needs to rethink its position.

3. Fire Department: Our Fire Department model, so inexpensive to our town in the past, is under siege, as we move, perhaps rapidly, to more full-time firefighters. This places a significant new burden on the General Fund. The council needs to be realistic in projecting the likely future cost in the Long Term Financial Forecast.

4. Pension Liability: We are substantially underfunded (not unique here). This is a serious liability, with near term impact on our General Fund. The council needs to adopt a strategy that substantially reduces this persistent actuarial accrued liability. Failure to do so will in the not distant future jeopardize discretionary services (library, parks, recreation) that we so value.

5. General Plan and EIR: Unfortunately, the city has not accumulated the cost of this 10-year plus project in a project account. My best guess is that the accumulated cost is now well north of $1.3 million. This is an enormous waste of General Fund resources. The Planning Commission and Council, without further ado, should adopt the General Plan and EIR now in circulation. Sure, each of us can passionately argue for policy changes, but the cost and time are not worth it. Changes in the General Plan can always later be made by amendment.

6. The Water & Wastewater Enterprises: Mandated improvements to both Enterprises present large challenges. For the Water Enterprise, these include removal of York Creek Dam, a new Intake Tower at Bell Canyon, and a host of other significant capital improvements. As to the Wastewater Enterprise, we are under a state cease and desist order requiring large outlays to be accomplished within a fixed schedule. There are real risks from rising engineering design and construction costs that current rates, including scheduled increases, will prove to be insufficient. This is especially true concerning on the wastewater side. Raising rates, if they become necessary, are a true test of the mettle of the leadership of the council and mayor..

7. Point 6 leads to Point 7. If current rates are not sufficient, there will be great pressure to contribute General Fund funds to the Enterprise funds to avoid or mitigate rate increases. This must be resisted. The Enterprise Funds are fee based, not tax based. It is improper financial management to subsidize ratepayer users with taxpayer dollars, as doing so misallocates public resources. In accordance with this accepted principle of proper financial management, the council recently adopted a policy that strongly cautions against taxpayer subsidy of the fee-based Enterprises. (A council majority committed a total of $1.6 million in General Fund dollars to the Water Fund in the current and last fiscal year, against strong outside expert advice, with councilmember Peter White and myself in dissent. This public policy transgression reduced our capacity to deal with significant General Fund funding issues  like roads, sidewalks, unrestored library hours, accrued pension liability, and so on.)

8. Downtown Revitalization: We will not accomplish much in the way of filling empty storefronts if we continue to cling to the nostalgia of local serving downtown uses. The council must resist pressure to maintain barriers to downtown uses, which includes, for example, a new policy of allowing formula retail (not restaurants) as a permitted use, as opposed to a discretionary use, in the Central Business District.

9. Whatever the cost, the council must proceed with the downtown bathrooms behind Telegraph Alley. This is an essential component of downtown revitalization.

10. As the City Council proceeds with a new City Hall, renovation of the Library, and perhaps a new building for Parks and Recreation, it must candidly advise that existing revenues are not sufficient to support these projects. Further, it should acknowledge that taxes to generate needed revenues are most likely not a realistic option, as they will draw substantial organized opposition and hence will not pass. This means that the city-owned Adams Street property, even if the Ted Hall lodging project proceeds, must remain on the table for a hotel development (with its attendant TOT revenue) that helps to provide the cash flow to finance new or renovated city buildings, as well as more foot traffic to support downtown retail.

11. Finally, there is the difficult problem of housing that is affordable (meaning not just regulated affordable housing but marketplace housing affordable to the middle class). We cannot continue to delude ourselves into thinking that small infill projects (Brenkle Court, Turley Flats, the McGrath project) are our salvations. We need larger projects.

In his run for mayor, my successor stressed our opportunities and what he would accomplish in the near term, including adding meaningful (modular) affordable housing units. I respectfully suggest that he and the council be graded on the basis of the progress that is made with respect to the foregoing 11 items, mostly all of very long standing.

Alan Galbraith is currently the mayor of the City of St. Helena. He lost his bid for re-election and his term will end next month, after the election results are made final.
This is the second in a series of stories profiling a Napa woman, Margaret Keane, and her experience with aging and hospice care. To read the first story, visit napavalleyregister.com.

Margaret Keane may be 91 years old and wheelchair-bound, but according to Keane I feel stronger every day.

Keane has congestive heart failure. Shes also faced a number of health issues including pneumonia, circulation problems and various infections.

Earlier this year, her primary care doctor convinced Keane to accept hospice care services from Collabria Care in Napa.

Hospice care is designed to serve those facing transitions of aging, Alzheimers disease and other serious illness or the end of life.

After becoming a hospice patient, Collabria Care hospice providers visit Keane, providing medical care, emotional and psychological support and other services. They include doctor house calls at her Napa home, an oxygen tank to help her breathe and regular pain medication.

In an interview for a story about Keane in the Napa Valley Register on Sept. 29, her son-in-law, Don Swigert, said that hospice care has made a big difference.

It worked out great, said Swigert, who is married to Keanes daughter, Jane. Frankly, I think her health has improved on hospice.

Yet Keane recently faced a few bumps in the road. In early and mid-October, Jane and Don Swigert said Margaret, who lives with them, seemed to be declining. Mentally, she seemed to be a little out of it, they said. She had some digestion problems and suffered from nosebleeds.

We were concerned, said Don Swigert.

After consulting with hospice doctors, adjusting her pain medication and other changes, Keane recovered.

Shes the bounce-back queen, said Don Swigert.

I am just feeling great, said Keane, during a visit at her Napa home on Nov. 5. I have more time to do my Bible reading and painting.

Her art and her faith are both important to Keane.

The painter is best known for creating the renowned Big Eyes paintings. In 2014, her story was made into a feature film called Big Eyes, starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz.

Shes also a devote Jehovahs Witness.

Besides her daughter and son-in-law and hospice staff, a significant portion of Keanes care comes from a paid caregiver.

Two of her most recent attendants have been women from the island of Fiji, in the South Pacific. Her current caregiver is Ina Vosaicake.

Vosaicake came to the United States several years ago via an immigrant visa. Before that, I worked at a hotel back at home and met American people, Vosaicake said in a soft voice.

It was her first time to visit the U.S., she said. Compared to how large America is, Fiji is just a dot on the map.

Vosaicake also has friends and a niece who live in the Bay Area and provide in-home care services, she said.

In the Fijian culture it is common for family members to care for elders, said Vosaicake.

Thats the way we live, she said. We love people. Back home we stay with our parents as they age, she said.

Vosaicake said shes happy to be living in California  especially Northern California. I love it, she said.

The people in Napa are beautiful and friendly, she said.

She joked about one Napa drawback  unlike from her home in Fiji, she cant see the ocean. I dont like it, she said with a smile.

Vosaicake had only been Keanes caregiver for about three weeks but the two seemed to have already bonded.

Vosaicake is teaching Keane Fijian words like hello, thank you, the food is good, beautiful, and please.

The caregiver attends to many of Keanes needs including toileting, sponge baths, eating and taking her medicine. She helps wheel Keane around the house in her wheelchair, making sure the long oxygen cords attached to a central tank dont get tangled up.

Between baths and meals and other daily tasks, We have a lot of laughs, said Keane.

Vosaicake also reads scriptures to Keane. The two live in Keanes large artist studio, which is an addition to the Swigert home.

The studio includes a small kitchen, large bathroom, painting table and room for a hospital bed for Keane and bed nearby for Vosaicake.

Vosaicake said before she met Keane had no idea she was a famous painter.

The artist said shes encouraged Vosaicake to draw along with her. Vosaicake showed a painting she did of a dolphins and fish in the sea. I used to love to draw when I was a little girl, she said.

On her days off Vosaicake said she likes to walk and use an exercise bike on the patio. I love to sing hymns, she said. Vosaicake is Methodist.

Keane said the first thing she does when she wakes up each morning is I thank Jehovah I made it through the night.

Then, she goes right to her table to paint, Vosaicake said of Keane.

For breakfast, Vosaicake will make Keane her favorite soft-boiled eggs. Don Swigert brings her favorite cold-brewed coffee.

During the day she enjoys a snack of popcorn with some lime juice sprinkled on it.

Keane said she doesnt experience much pain unless I try to lie down flat. Then I cant breathe and I get panicky, she said. At night, she sleeps with her head elevated.

She sleeps well, Vosaicake said of Keane.

She takes pain medication every four hours. Vosaicake keeps a notebook noting each dose and time.

Jane Swigert said lately her mother has taken to telling stories of her family from long ago. Those memories are particularly vivid, she said.

My whole family was peculiar, said Keane.

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With the weather no longer frightful, Napa County shoppers turned their attention on Sunday to decking their halls  with fresh Christmas trees going on sale at various lots around the valley.

The segue from bountiful Thanksgiving dinners to holiday greenery appeared swift at some Napa tree lots, whose owners reported brisk sales with Christmas exactly a month away. Those looking to adorn their living rooms with firs or spruces, however, were advised to shop earlier than usual, amid shrinking supplies due to drought conditions in the Pacific Northwest forests where many of the trees are born.

Tree inventories in Washington state and Oregon are smaller, and wholesale costs higher, this year as scant rainfall has killed or stunted seedlings that otherwise would grow into display trees, according to several local sellers.

I had 2,800 trees out of 5,000 (sought), and then I got a call from a guy who lost his place in Oroville, said Steve Arampatzis in between greeting midday customers at Steves Trees, his annual tree lot at the Napa Valley Expo. I went there and bought another 1,200 trees from him, so Ive got 4,100 now  but Im still short this year.

Arampatzis began his 34th tree-selling season Nov. 17 amid conditions made tougher by more than just constricted inventory. Windblown smoke from the massive Camp Fire in Butte County triggered an extended air-pollution alert in Napa and the Bay Area, while a change of weather last week that finally cleansed the air also drenched the valley with three days of rain, including on Thanksgiving.

However, neither foul air nor rainstorms appeared to seriously crimp early tree sales, according to Arampatzis.

The smoke had an effect on us, trying to work in that environment, but it didnt have much effect on the people coming to buy trees, he said. We were working in air at 190 (air-quality index, in which levels above 100 are unhealthy for people with respiratory problems), but I cant just sit idle. It is what it is, and I love to see children having a good time. It means a lot to me, to make a child happy for the time theyre here.

At Steves Trees, a steady flow of seniors, children and young couples perused the rows of Douglas, noble and grand firs on display, their wintry and forest-like feel contrasting with the cloudless sky and temperatures in the mid-60s.

Ive always picked natural trees  it has the smell, said Taylor Martin of Napa. Its always been part of the family tradition to get a tree.

Jamie Nelson of Napa, inspecting trees with her husband Tyler, mused about her familys childhood custom of traveling from Cupertino to the Santa Cruz Mountains to cut their own Christmas tree. While less exotic, the tree lot  and the newly clear conditions  were a literal and figurative breath of fresh air.

I appreciate it a thousand times more, she said. Thats what I told my husband: we need to get outside, get our tree now that its not smoky.

On the north side of Napa, shoppers streamed toward another, smaller tree lot at Vintage Farm, where Vintage High School students were spending their Sunday taking orders, checking inventory and boosting firs into and onto customers cars. The student farm at the end of Sierra Avenue began its sale the day after Thanksgiving with 228 trees and will steer its proceeds into the Napa FFA farming education program, according to Rori Bohan, an agricultural instructional assistant at Vintage.

The hours would be long for the student staff  perhaps 10 hours a day on weekends and from 3 to 8 p.m. after school days  but Vintage junior Hannah Madole treated it as an education, not only in salesmanship but also in how valued their stock is.

Its nice to see how excited people get, especially the younger kids, and be a part of that, she said.

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Local nonprofits worry that a growing number of foreign-born residents are forgoing health care, fearing medical help could jeopardize their immigration status.

Its difficult to quantify the number of immigrants who are choosing to decline health care because evidence is anecdotal. But OLE Health, the Napa Valleys second-largest health care provider behind Kaiser Permanente, says it may have statistics that offer a glimpse into the problem. The organization serves many immigrants.

More than 900 OLE Health clients have disenrolled from Partnership Health Plan, a Northern California health care organization that manages benefits for 560,000 low-income residents on the state-run insurance plan Medi-Cal. Most of those patients were children.

If youre a citizen, thats great, said Elia Rubio, who educates patients for OLE Health. But if youre not, you will not access any kind of public benefit out of fear of hurting yourself in the long run for citizenship.

Legal and health care professionals who work with local immigrants say the anxiety around obtaining public benefits, such as government-run health care, started to grow after the election of President Donald Trump in 2016.

Trump campaigned on commitments to crack down on people who cross the Mexican border illegally and made it a priority to reform immigration policy.

Local health care professionals say the anxiety has grown significantly worse since October, when the Trump administration proposed to change the public charge rule that helps the government decide whether a person trying to enter America or obtain a green card may primarily rely on public dollars.

As a result of this proposed change, roughly a dozen clients visit Community Health Initiative Napa County each week wanting to withdraw from public benefits or seeking more information about the proposed public charge rule change, said Elba Gonzalez, head of the organization.

The office, which offers help to patients seeking health insurance, is usually busy around the time of open enrollment for health care benefits. Fewer people seem to be enrolling in Medi-Cal this year, she said.

Every client who seeks more information about the proposed change is misinformed, Gonzalez said. The rules are confusing, especially for people who dont speak English as a first language. Sometimes, clients are so scared that they dont seem to be listening to the advice she offers, she said.

To see that fear, and that theyre having to make a decision that puts their health at risk, its just really concerning, said Gonzalez, who has worked in the health care resources field for 13 years.

Trying to redefine public charge

The public charge rule exists to help the government determine how big of a charge, or cost, an immigrant could pose to taxpayers. Currently, the rule targets immigrants who receive benefits through Supplemental Security Income and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, but the proposed change to the rule would expand the range of public benefits.

If approved, the government would take into account immigrants receiving housing assistance, non-emergency Medicaid benefits, Medicaid benefits for certain low-income patients who need prescription drugs, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Most immigrants who use such services for at least nine months within a three-year period would be considered a public charge.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which proposed the rule change, says the policy will give the government a more comprehensive set of tools to decide whether immigrants will be self-sufficient.

The changes would mostly affect immigrants who use family connections to obtain a green card, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. A much larger pool of immigrants may also be affected, as some may pull out of public programs because they are confused or scared of risking their chance at staying in America, according to researchers.

An estimated 875,000 to 2 million children of noncitizen parents could lose Medicaid coverage if the policy change caused 15 to 35 percent of those patients to disenroll, Kaiser Family Foundation researchers found.

Theres so much fear

Kids are the fastest-growing group of patients disenrolling at OLE Health, according to Alicia Hardy, head of OLE Health. Some children of undocumented parents have even asked to stop receiving public benefits to avoid jeopardizing their parents immigration status.

People disenrolling in great numbers could ultimately reduce the availability of services OLE Health can offer to the broader community, officials said.

OLE Health saw a 20 percent increase in clients who became insured when the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was implemented in 2013, Hardy said. Clients have started disenrolling in the last two years. And for every one percent of clients who drop coverage, OLE Health loses nearly $200,000 in revenue, officials said.

Such a change would not hamper OLE Healths plans to expand into its future south Napa campus, but could affect ongoing operations.

The public charge proposal has yet to be approved, but Hardy said it will be a matter of time until the change becomes law. The organization is bracing itself for the possibility that people will disenroll at an even faster rate by trying to educate as many patients as it can.

The public may submit comments on the proposal until Dec. 10 to www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCIS-2010-0012-0001.

Patients seem to be coming in less often or only when theyre in an emergency situation, Hardy said.

With the current political environment, theres so much fear of government and fear of anything that could jeopardize someones ability to obtain legal permanent residency, said Hardy, even though some of the (anxiety behind the) decision-making is unfounded.

The proposal prompted some who were considering disenrolling from benefits to reach out to the International Institute of the Bay Area, a nonprofit that offers legal help to immigrants.

Karla Marquez, who works in the organizations Napa office, encouraged immigrants who are considering disenrolling to speak to their eligibility case worker and connect with a legal service provider. The case worker can help their client understand how they determine whether someone is eligible for a public benefit, while a legal service provider can help the client understand how receiving a benefit could affect their specific case.

Its better to go to trusted organizations than to live in fear, she said.

This is really about making a decision, Marquez said. We want people to be well-informed so that they can  not be overwhelmed by the fear that other neighbors might be feeding to them, or the fear thats being distributed over the television or the radio.
The True Life Companies (TTLC), is a residential real estate development firm based in San Ramon. Since our founding in 2010, our mission has been to generate and implement innovative solutions to the Bay Area housing crisis. Especially now, in the aftermath of the Tubbs Fire last year and todays devastating fire headlines in Butte County, new housing is not becoming a reality fast enough to meet historic and current urgent needs.

Working closely with cities and communities, TTLC creates opportunities for sustainable housing, focusing on underutilized property such as Yellow Rose Ranch and Bay Area infill locations. Visit our website (thetruelifecompanies.com), and you can see examples of our approach and successful partnerships.

Last spring, TTLC approached the city to discuss housing on the 46-acre Yellow Rose Ranch site. Current zoning permits one-acre lots; meaning 46, $2-plus million homes, which would do nothing to provide workforce housing for locals at an affordable entry point. In that light, City staff encouraged us to develop a maximum proposal to which we responded with 210 market-rate homes with 40 to 50 below-market-rate apartments.

It was not well received at the April 2018 City Council meeting where citizens and council members alike expressed concerns about traffic impacts at Foothill Boulevard and Petrified Forest Road and ruining Calistogas rural character. That evening was a real wake-up call for TTLC. Its clear we needed to do more due diligence, more listening, and come up with an alternative plan.

On June 18, TTLC submitted a reduced proposal that included 121 market-rate homes and 54 affordable apartments, which provides housing options for all economic levels.

We sponsored a community forum on Sept. 5 where I discovered the community had little information about how new subdivisions are created and the considerations and protections that are taken into account. I immediately realized more education and discussion was necessary and began a once-monthly Discussion Series to zero in on specific aspects of the proposal to learn how we could adapt it to Calistogas needs.

Those discussions began on Oct. 3, where we discussed the development process and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). On Nov. 7, we looked at proposed architectural options for the project. I was gratified that more than 40 people attended.

What were discussing in these meetings reflects TTLCs first proposal. The current mix includes 54 rent-restricted apartments; 442,800-square-foot small lot single-family homes; 505,400-square-foot average lot single-family homes; and 2718,000-square-foot large lot single family homes. Weve incorporated open space and trails and are preserving the on-site wetland.

Were all concerned about traffic impacts, especially at Foothill Boulevard and Petrified Forest Road. The city has commissioned a traffic study (TTLC is paying the bill) so everyone can see the same baseline numbers, to understand the impacts of the 175-unit proposal, and to consider plan adjustments based on the data. We expect the results by February 2019 and will share this information with the community once the city receives it.

Weve heard questions about the density of the project, how many units will go there, what the housing mix might look like; will accessory dwelling units be incorporated, and how many units will be affordable or available for local the local workforce? Weve heard concerns about preserving the rural feel of the Yellow Rose Ranch property, how the height of the affordable apartments could impact views and character and the status old Red Barn that sits there. We have heard concerns about trees and wildlife. We seek to preserve as many trees as we can while we look at different configurations of the proposed lot sizes. Our intent is to preserve the Red Barn in place and are currently studying its structural integrity to determine its feasibility as a community amenity.

Upcoming discussions are scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 5 to discuss utilities; Jan. 7 to discuss biology and drainage; Feb. 6 to discuss findings from a project level traffic study and March 6 for a follow-up/progress report. These meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at 1307 Washington St. Everyone is invited.

At its best, Yellow Rose Ranch can offer a unique residential opportunity in Calistoga: Something for Everyone. Idealistic, maybe, but we believe that through continued dialogue with the community, it is possible.

I look forward to your participation and welcome your questions and suggestions any time. Please feel free to contact me at lbeniston@thetruelifecompanies.com.

Leah Beniston

Vice President of Entitlements, The True Life Companies
Nima and Dawa, the two 15-month-old Bhutanese girls, who earlier remained conjoined from the lower chest to just above the pelvis and shared a liver, left Melbournes Royal Childrens Hospital after they were successfully separated.

In a report published on Monday by South China Morning Post stated that Nima and Dawa were separated during an operation at Melbournes Royal Childrens Hospital on November 9 that lasted for almost six hours.

There had been a major challenge to reconstruct the abdomens of the twins.

The report quoted the grateful mother of the twins, Bhumchu Zangmo, as saying: Thank you, everyone, as she wheeled her daughters from the hospital where their lives have been transformed since their arrival on October 2.

The report also quoted the hospitals head of paediatric surgery, Dr Joe Crameri, as telling media persons that the twins had made an excellent recovery and were acting independently.

Crameri said: I think to the staff on the wards  theyve seen a remarkable two girls, girls that weve watched over this journey who started off really attached and bonded to one another, but ultimately frustrated with one another.

The twins from Bhutan had become incredibly anxious after the separation when they became aware that they were no longer in front of each other, said Dr Crameri.

Over the last couple of weeks, weve seen them gain confidence, weve seen them gain independence, weve seen them gain a lot of strengths, Crameri further said.

It has been reported that before they return to Bhutan, the girls will continue their recovery at a retreat in the town of Kilmore outside Melbourne run by the charity that brought them to Australia, the Children First Foundation.

After their separation in the hospital, the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, wrote an appreciation letter to Hospital CEO John Stanway where he expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne and to Dr Joe Crameri and his team for the successful surgery in separating the conjoined twins. The successful surgery has made it possible for Nima and Dawa to enjoy a happy and meaningful life in Bhutan.
Satellite-tagged female Amur falcon Tamenglong, eponymously named after Tamenglong district of Manipur which was among tens of thousands of Amur falcons after taking shelter in north east states, reached her stop-over site in Somalia after five days eight hours of non-stop flight covering about 5700 km from northeast India, scientist Dr R Suresh kumar of Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun said.

Also read: Satellite-tagged Amur falcons begin their non-stop flight from Northeast

Terming Tamenglongs flight was an epic journey, Dr Suresh Kumar who had been tracking the bird through the satellite data when contacted said Tamenglong reach in Somalia around 1 pm (Indian time) on Saturday (November 24).

Now she must be exhausted and likely to spend few days there in Somalia, he said. I am hoping that she will continue to transmit data that is her location and keep us all excited.

A WII team in collaboration with Forest department and biologists from Hungary fitted radio transmitters to Tamenglong along with Manipur, a male bird for the first time at a roosting site at Chiuluan village in Tamenglong district of Manipur on November 5, started non-stop migratory journey from November 19.

But Manipur could not join the trip to Somalia after he was killed by unidentified miscreants somewhere in Tamenglong district on November 9.

Tamenglong being an adult female and she must have made the Arabian Sea crossing many times before. So is Longleng, another satellite fitted female Amur falcon who made her fifth flight over Arabian sea after fitting the satellite transmitter in November 2016.

Longleng which started her journey from Assam-Meghalaya border on November 19 reached Somalia around 5 pm on Friday(November 23), the WII scientist who had so far tagged ten birds since 2013 said.

However, she continues to move and is currently located close to the famous Tsavo East National Park (one of the oldest and largest National Parks) in Kenya where she is likely to spend some days.

From now on, the two falcons will make regular pit stops during their next phase of migration that will be another 5000 km journey to their wintering destination in South Africa, the scientist said, adding that tracking of migratory birds particularly the Amur falcon helps to understand the bird and conservation activities because through its migratory route one can study the environmental cue including wind pattern etc.
With the midterm elections a few months away, intelligence reports indicate that some local officials have linked up with kidnap-for-hire gangs, presumably to raise funds for their campaign.The intel reports, although still to be verified, have prompted the national police leadership to monitor the situation, especially in Mindanao, where kidnappings are rampant. According to PNP chief Director General Oscar Alabayalde, the PNP is still validating reports of active collusion by some local politicians who may be engaged in such activities presumably for fund raising purposes. Reports of this nature have been monitored in some parts of Mindanao, particularly in known areas of operation of kidnapping gangs, Alabayalde told reporters in a press briefing. This is quite dangerous because of upcoming elections, especially in Mindanao where kidnapping still happening, he added. Albayalde, however, said that it is difficult to conclude that there was collusion among politicians and criminal element but stressed that there was still a need to monitor their activities.-establish na there is collusion.but sometimes you just have reason to believecollusionphysical evidence,magli-linkpolitical or local chief executive, (We havent established that there is collusion. Its very difficult to dod that, but sometimes you just have reason to believe there is collusion. Sometimes getting physical evidence that would link a political or local chief executive is very difficult.) he said. The PNP chief added that even the exact number of those who have alleged links with criminal elements are still being verified. But he assured the public that they will only build a case against politicians based on intelligence reports gathered and validated by the PNP. Meanwhile, the PNP said it will go after police personnel who will be found inside casinos or any gambling places in the country.Albayalde said those who will be caught will face outright dismissal from service at the very least, The PNP chief made the announcement in response to President Rodrigo Dutertes warning the police not to enter Okada Manila, a casino in Paranaque City which he described was a place for the lowlife in society. They will face dismissal... from the service because that is a violation of a direct order, Albayalde told reporters. The PNP chief also reminded police that aside from Dutertes warning, existing laws prohibit police officers and uniformed personnel from entering casinos or gambling establishments. He cited the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, various presidential decrees, and Memorandum Circular 6 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea in 2016, as among the pertinent laws on the ban. Albayalde, however, said that he does not know of any specific incident of violation on the part of uniformed personnel in recent times, but added that the PNP continues its monitoring of its personnel. Sometimes kasi meron kasing namomonitor despite the cautions, despite these reminderskung minsan, in spite of these reminders meron talagang matigas ang ulo, he said. (Sometimes there are those we monitor despite the cautions, despite the reminders in spite of these reminders, sometimes there are those who are just hard-headed.) President Duterte earlier said he would also send soldiers to patrol the area (Okadas casino) should he lose his patience.
EU, WHO provide Yerevan's Surb Grigor Lusavorich Medical Center with state-of-the-art X-ray machine

Armenian soldier found dead on Armenia's border in Tavush Province had been drafted in February (PHOTO)

What Speaker of the Parliament of Armenia really said in response to Russian journalist's question

Analyst: Iran's accession to EEU will create serious counterbalance to Turkey and strengthen Armenia's positions

Armenia FM holds phone talks with Iranian counterpart

Firefighters put out fire in Range Rover Sport near night club in Yerevan

Putin discusses current situation in Karabakh during phone talks with European Council President

Armenia's Liberation Movement holding march after rally, calling on citizens to join

Greek City Times: Azeri military captured the historic Armenian city of Shushi

Georgia says it's not considering possibility of joining '3+3' regional format

Union of Armenia National Security Service's Reserve Officers in favor of fulfillment of Liberation Movement's demands

Armenia, Russia FMs hold phone talks

Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of another serviceman found in Mataghis

Armenia's ex-Ambassador to Iran appointed Advisor to PM

Armenia's Pashinyan receives Russia Deputy PM, unblocking of communications discussed

Armenia FM presents situation created after Azerbaijani aggression during phone talks with Tajik counterpart

Armenia convict dies from COVID-19 at medical center

Armenia Syunik Province's community heads: Nikol Pashinyan said there won't be corridor

NEWS.am daily digest: 24.11.21

Newly appointed Ambassador of Germany to Armenia presents credentials to Armen Sarkissian

Armenia Armavir Province governor sacked

Armenia MOD: Conscript's body found at combat position, with lethal firearm injury in head area

US has invited 110 countries to Summit for Democracy in December, including Armenia

Requiem Service for Armenian statesman Vano Siradeghyan to be held on Dec. 3

Armenia Parliament Deputy Speaker meets with Argentina Ambassador

Armenia FM presents situation created as a result of Azerbaijan's aggression to Germany's new Ambassador

Armenia PM receives community heads of Syunik Province

Armenia ex-deputy economy minister appointed member of Eurasian Economic Commission's Advisory Board

Exchange rates in Armenia

Another plane heads to Baku through Armenian airspace

Ambassador: Armenia may play major role in development of Iran-Eurasian Economic Union cooperation

Details of Overchuk-Aliyev meeting reported

3 children hospitalized in Yerevan with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

UAE-Iran-Turkey corridor to officially start functioning after visit of Emirates officials to Tehran

Sweden elected a female PM for the 1st time in history

Konstantin Ishkhanov: EUFSC determined to continue presenting very best in classical music

Trade Representative of Russia in Armenia: Eurasian Union and Iran are interested in using North-South direction

Human Rights Watch calls on Poland to end violence against migrants

Apple confirms: Eavesdropping is carried out by Pegasus spy program in Armenia

WTI crude oil prices rise by close of trading in US

COVID-19 in Armenia: 28 new deaths

Policemen apprehend protesters who close Yerevan subway entrances

Apple suspends sales of devices in Turkey due to collapse of local currency

Court session kicks off as Serzh Sargsyan sues Khachatur Sukiasyan

Russian peacekeepers clear nearly 2 hectares of land in Nagorno-Karabakh

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
MILITARY CADENCE. Special Action Force teams from the National Police Command have been deployed to areas in Samar, Bicol and Negros following President Rodrigo Dutertes new Memorandum Order against lawlessness.

READ: CHR wary of troop deployment in south
The European Commission has announced today an additional 5 million in support of concrete projects of the two 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Nadia Murad and Dr Denis Mukwege maintaining its commitment to women who are victims of sexual violence.

This new support was announced today in Brussels as High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, met with Nadia Murad and Dr Denis Mukwege. The two winners were invited to discuss the eradication of violence against women and its impact on development, together with EU development Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council.

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "As the European Union, we admire the immense courage and tireless work of Nadia Murad and Dr Denis Mukwege, who often put their own lives at risk. We have a duty to support their work and all the people they represent, as we are doing, and this is also the best way to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women."

Commissioner Neven Mimica added: "Violence against women and girls is one of the most horrendous crimes, one of the greatest injustices of our time, and an obstacle to the development of any society. I am very pleased to be able to strengthen our support for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureates. This is how the European Union can help put an end to sexual violence, once and for all, everywhere in the world."

The EU plans to strengthen its ongoing stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in the Sinjar region in Iraq through a 1 million contribution to Nadia Murad's "Sinjar Action Fund" initiative. European development cooperation in the liberated areas of Da'esh in the country supports in particular the needs of displaced populations, vulnerable groups and local communities.

A further 4 million will support Dr Mukwege's work to ensure the continuity of support programmes for victims of sexual violence and women suffering from gynecological conditions at the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Posted by PickupTrucks.com Staff | November 26, 2018





The 2019 model year is shaping up to be quite interesting for pickup trucks. Two old friends are returning to the mid-size pickup class: the 2019 Ford Ranger and 2019 Jeep Gladiator. We're also expecting to see new versions of heavy-duty models from Chevrolet, GMC and Ram at one of the upcoming major auto shows. For new truck buyers that means lots of choices, especially given how much change and improvement we've seen in the new half-ton pickups from those manufacturers. Regardless of what 2019 brings for pickup trucks, attending an auto show is a good way to see what's available and what the future holds as well as figure out what you like and don't like.

Related: More 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show Coverage

The Los Angeles Auto Show is the unofficial start of the auto show season  assuming you don't count the State Fair of Texas  and we'll be ready for it. So far, the only rumors we've heard regarding pickup truck debuts at the 2018 L.A. auto show are the Jeep Gladiator and an all-new electric pickup, the R1T from Rivian Automotive. From what we understand, the latter was created by a team with lots of electric vehicle experience and the former is likely to be the vehicle of the show if Jeep does it right. We'll know more in a couple days.

The 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show kicks off with a media preview Wednesday and Thursday, and we'll be reporting straight from the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St. The show will be open to the public Friday through Dec. 9. Hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Dec. 2 and Dec. 7-8; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 3-6; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 9.

General admission is $20 for visitors age 13-64 ($15 if purchase in advance online), $10 for senior citizens age 65 or older and $5 for children age 6-12; kids younger than 6 get in free. Dec. 3 through Dec. 6, general admission is discounted to $15 at the door and $12 in advance online. Early entry tickets, group discounts and guided tours are also available; visit the show's website for more ticketing info.

Cars.com photo by Evan Sears
What better way to escape a hectic December than on a diving liveaboard? Diving in warm waters in December will certainly brighten up any winter with a number of spectacular marine life events taking place during the month.

What can you see in December?

Pelagics in The Maldives

As the monsoon season finishes, liveaboards in the Maldives can once again offer divers warm tranquil waters and impressive marine encounters. The weather may have calmed by December, but the plankton blooms are still in full force bringing hundreds of mantas to the Maldives atolls. Divers drift on strong currents through the channels and around coral covered pinnacles and reefs. The current and plankton mean plenty of pelagic fish as well as beautiful coral reefs brimming with interesting marine life.

The best diving in the Maldives is done on the many and varied atolls, mostly from diving liveaboards. In December the Baa Atoll is one of the best spots for diving with mantas. These giants, as well as the occasional whale shark, gather in Hanifaru Bay on the eastern side for the atoll. Hanifarus position makes it a veritable bowl of plankton, a feeding frenzy for big pelagics and a sight to behold for divers.

Whale sharks are also a highlight at South Ari Atoll. Not only is this a site for research into the worlds biggest fish but also a marine protected area. Although whale sharks can be found here throughout the year, December is one of the best times for great water conditions and weather.

With a host of Maldives liveaboards available in December and throughout the year, divers are sure to find the perfect trip to this marine haven. The Fun Azul III liveaboard has safaris to Vaavu Atoll in December, including night diving at Alimatha Reef, where youll be surrounded by numerous inquisitive nurse sharks, stingrays and massive jacks.

Big Barracuda & Grouper Gatherings in Belize

A beautiful and warm winter diving destination, Belize liveaboard diving has so much to offer divers, with a diverse range of marine life and underwater topography. The conditions in December are excellent with warm waters, in the high 70s, and brilliant water conditions. By December, the rainy season is well over meaning glorious sunny days and underwater visibility can be 20m plus. A trip to the Blue Hole and Belize Barrier Reef is spectacular at any time of the year but with calm, clear conditions it is even more beautiful.

December also offers a very special event in the spawning of the Nassau groupers. Night dives on the full moon mean seeing huge number of groupers as they gather at Glovers Reef for the mass spawning. Divers can witness groupers in the act, circling each other in an enchanting dance, releasing their spawn as they go. It is not uncommon for thousands of groupers to gather for these events, a spectacular sight for any wildlife enthusiast.

The Belize Aggressor III and Belize Aggressor IV offer Belize Exploration safaris all year.

Mating Turtles & Schools of Hammerheads in the Galapagos

A spectacular parade of marine wildlife at any time of the year, diving the Galapagos in December is made extra special by the presence of mating sea turtles and warmer water conditions. Divers can witness floods of green sea turtles which, like so many other creatures, flock to the Galapagos in search of a mate. The act of mating can be seen underwater, taking place in the currents or over the reefs.

The current channels in the Galapagos are famous for big life and the chances of seeing pretty much anything. At Darwin Island and Wolf Island in December, the channels are full of schools of passing scalloped hammerheads, silky sharks and Galapagos sharks. Keep an eye out for dolphins and even the occasional orca also using the currents to travel and feed.

December is also the last month of whale shark season for liveaboards in the Galapagos. There has even been some recent speculation that Wolf Island might be their mating spot. These beautiful giants can be seen at the outer islands of Darwin and Wolf and very occasionally the inner islands such as Isabella.

Galapagos liveaboards offer itineraries that take in both the remote and central islands, each with unique wildlife, including some only found on the Galapagos archipelago. The Nortada liveaboard and Majestic Explorer both offer safaris to the best dive areas of the Galapagos, including Wolf and Darwin islands.

This article was written by divers and writers at LiveAboard.com
Clark, PampangaThe claims that the Philippines is in danger of drowning in Chinese debt are unfounded, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said here Monday. There is no danger of us being drowned from Chinese debt, Dominguez said in a speech before the business community during Sulong Pilipinas 2018. He made the statement even as Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the public did not know that the country owed $1.75 billion in five loan packages. As a result, he stressed the importance of a Senate-approved bill mandating four Cabinet men to make two national fiscal status reports before a House-Senate oversight panel in a year. Recto said this was also needed with the national debt meter moving up but without us knowing the details. If the President has a report to the country, his people should also have report on the public debt, Recto said.Dominguez, citing data from the Department of Finances International Finance Group, said the loan from China accounted for only 0.11 percent of the countrys total debt. We borrow with great prudence, aware that it is the taxpayer who ultimately pays for the debt, Dominguez said. Thus we take care that the funds we borrow are wisely used and produce sufficient economic benefits to make the debt service easier down the road. The Philippines finalized two loan agreements with China: $72.49 million for the Chico River Irrigation project and P18.724 billion for the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project during Chinese President Xi Jinpings state visit on Tuesday.
The number of new print magazines started in the U.S. fell by more than half in 2020 to 60, compared t
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Leg-spinner Yasir Shah put Pakistan in control of the second test on Monday with a career-best 8-41 as New Zealand rallied to 131-2 in its second innings after being forced to follow-on.

The tourists were dismissed for only 90 runs in the first innings to give Pakistan a massive lead of 328 on the third day.

Shah claimed both New Zealand wickets in the second innings to become the first Pakistani bowler to claim 10 wickets in a single day of a test match.

New Zealand, which narrowly won the first test by four runs, still trails by 197 runs with Ross Taylor not out on 49 off 53 balls and Tom Latham, dropped on 19, remaining unbeaten on 44 at stumps.

Shah removed opener Jeet Raval (2) for the second time in the day before having captain Kane Williamson (30) caught behind through a television referral off his sharp leg-spin in the last session.

Earlier, six New Zealand batsmen were dismissed for zero in the first innings while Williamson was left unbeaten on 28 as Shah struck four times each on either side of the first two sessions.

New Zealand were going along at 61-1 in 27 overs but lost nine wickets for 29 runs against Shah to get bowled out in only 35.3 overs after the lunch break.

Shah extracted sharp bounce and turn from the wicket that included three wickets in five deliveries in his last over before lunch.

The leg-spinner then claimed four more wickets after the break in quick succession with B.J. Watling getting run out and Colin de Grandhomme trapped leg before wicket by Hasan Ali.

Unusual rain showers in Dubai delayed the start of day's play for an hour before New Zealand resumed on 24-0.

Fast bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Hasan tied down both openers with their impressive swing and seam bowling before Shah ripped through the top order.

Asad Shafiq spilled a low catch at second slip off Hasan's delivery that could have dismissed Raval (31) on his overnight score of 17. But Pakistan didn't have to wait long to get the breakthrough when the left-handed Raval played on while attempting an ambitious reverse sweep shot to Shah.

Story continues

Shah's triple strike then ignited the New Zealand collapse in the penultimate over before lunch.

Latham (22), one of the three batsmen to reach double figures, was caught close to the wicket by Imam-ul-Haq on the leg side.

Taylor's struggles continued in the series when, one ball later, he was bowled after playing around Shah's sharp leg-spin.

Shah also bowled the left-handed Henry Nichols to leave New Zealand in deep trouble at lunch at 63-4. He then ran through the lower-order and bamboozled the tail-enders with his top spinners to leave Pakistan with a chance to level the three-match series.

Shah's first innings figures were the second best by a Pakistan spinner in the country's test history. Leg-spinner Abdul Qadir holds Pakistan's record of most wickets in an innings when he claimed 9-56 against England in Lahore in 1987.

New Zealand won the first test by four runs when Pakistan capitulated for 171 runs while chasing a 176-run target.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
The Palace on Monday named Marcelino Escalada Jr. as the new secretary-general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, replacing Falconi Millar, who was sacked after he was accused of extortion. Before his appointment, Escalada was acting general manager of the National Housing Authority. As HUDCC secretary-general, he will also take charge of the Marawi rehabilitation project. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Millar was removed after a company, to which HUDCC owes money, accused him of demanding money in exchange for the release of the payment. Panelo said an investigation ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte showed that the allegation was valid. There was a complaint. There was a sworn statement and the President ordered its investigation. And there was a credible basis that validated the complaint, Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Monday. He said the complaint came from a representative of the company that had receivables from HUDCC. According to that sworn statement, the complainant was asked to give money for its release. It happened to him twice, but the affiant refused. Instead of giving, he executed an affidavit, he filed a complaint, Panelo said, adding he could not identify the company of the specifics of the project it was undertaking with the HUDCC. Asked if the government would support the filing of charges against Millar, Panelo said yes. Definitely, we will. Thats the policy of the government [against corruption], he added.On Thursday, the President, who admitted that he is having a hard time combatting corruption in his administration, said he dismissed Millar because of corruption. Millar denied the allegations against him, and labeled the complaint an obvious demolition job. In protecting the interest of the government, I have annoyed some personalities. I filed my resignation this morning. It is the governments loss, not mine, Millar said in a statement. The Palace assured the public that the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City would still continue despite Millars dismissal as HUDCC chief and the head of Task Force Bangon Marawi. In March 2017, Duterte said Escalada tried to resign because of intrigues in the NHA. The President, however, convinced him to stay. Prior to his appointment to the NHA, Escalada served as administrator of Davao City where Duterte served as mayor for multiple terms. He also served as City Planning and Development Office, City Cooperative and Development Office and Special Projects in a concurrent capacity He also held three positions at the University of Mindanao as a college instructor, training officer, and personnel officer two decades ago. Escalada has a doctoral degree in Human Resource Management, a masters degree in Public Administration Major in Organizational Studies, and an AB Classical Majors in English and Philosophy.
Im finishing up the bone witch and Ive got the other two books for the series in my wishlist. Ill be jumping to It after this, I think. I missed reading so much I cant believe my ass neglected it and I let my undergrad take my love of reading away

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Would you recommend The Bone Witch? I've been eying it for ages.

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I would! Its a fantastic read and the writing is just beautiful. It is in first person, but it isnt as flowery as The Song of Achilles in terms of writing (which was the last book I read).



The characters are wonderfully written and I wish theyd make a movie/mini series out of this book. Fox, the brother, might be my favorite character so far.

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I would like to second The Bone Witch. The world that the author created is detailed and fleshed out and I loved reading about it. I actually liked the second book better, its nice to have a series that seems to get stronger the farther you go.

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The Bone Witch is good! i really liked it

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I really didn't like The Hate U Give, but I think it's just that I don't like YA novels.

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I still haven't picked out or read November's book, this month got away from me.

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Oooooo Paperbacks From Hell sounds super interesting.



So I finished up Becoming by Michelle Obama recently and its a 100/10 for me. I listened to the audiobook and it made me cry but there were also a lot of times I couldnt stop laughing. I really cannot recommend it enough.



Im finished up Kindred for school tonight and then I think Im gonna start A Winters Promise and Im gonna start the audiobook for Flame in the Mist.



Also I went to my local bookstore yesterday to celebrate a late small business Saturday and picked up two Brandon Sanderson books (Elantris and Mistborn), Never Caught, Annotated (new and expanded!) Pride & Prejudice (because owning 10 copies of it wasnt enough), Renegades, Bone Witch and a signed copy of There There (gonna donate my not signed copy cause I think everyone should read it)!

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I cant wait to talk about Bone Witch with youuu!!!!!!!!!!

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i'm about 300 pages into becoming, and ;___; it's so good. i love michelle so much.

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Same ;_; I listened to the audiobook on scribd but Im gonna need to buy it on audible or get a physical copy or both so I can always have it around lol. There were so many sad parts but there were also so many uplifting moments that I just want to have it around for days I need a reminder lol.



Edited at 2018-11-26 03:33 pm (UTC)

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I think the only 2017 award winner I read this year was Bear Town which I'd recommend to literally everyone because it was amazing. I got frustrated with Backman's writing style at the beginning but by halfway I was crying all over the pages.



I haven't been good at keeping with the themed reading challenge since my reading is kind of predicated on what library holds fill when or what books people toss me. I'm working through Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey right now, and will be picking up The Overstory soon.

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I'm in a slump. Sort of reading The Favorite Sister but it hasn't caught me yet, and The Dark Tower is pummeling me with descriptions of pus filled pimples and death. I want a book that enraptures, leaves me staying up late to read another chapter.

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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine sounds really interesting. Thanks OP!

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it's a wonderful book, I read it last year and highly recommend it

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A woman I used to work with LOVED LOVED LOVED it, so it seems to have a fairly wide appeal.

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I'm currently reading "Gun Love" by Jennifer Clement & "Milkman" by Anna Burns, and really liking both so far.



I'm also still working my way through "The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart" by Holly Ringland. It's not bad, it just never really grabbed me.



My TBR-list is always wayyyy too long. I didn't get anywhere as much off my list this year as I'd hoped it. I just didn't take/make enough time for reading, also because it was a very stressful year and my health wasn't so great (and I watched too much Supernatural, to be honest).



I'd started Lincoln in the Bardo, but couldn't get into it. My mother loved it so much however, that I'll try again.

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Milkman won the Booker, so you're already doing this month's challenge ;)



everyone says such great things about Lincoln in the Bardo but I haven't been tempted to pick it up. I wonder if you have to care about Lincoln to like it? I don't even care about the presidents of my own country

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You don't need to care about Lincoln at all, I think. I just had a lot of trouble with the multiple person perspective/voices, but maybe I just need more time to get into it.





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i hope you love The Changeling

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I only have time for audiobooks lately, but I did listen to Eleanor Oliphant earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! Most recently I finished Kristin Lavransdatter which is stunning, and I'm re-listening to the Mists of Avalon because why not.



Next up I want to listen to Michelle Obama's book, and then My Brilliant Friend.

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Since I mentioned it for November, I think we need to see how many people we can get to read All Systems Red this month, lol. I think it was maybe 2-3 people so far who mentioned, and I haven't gotten to it this month, so what the hell, let's make it 3-4 people, ha.

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so, I'm reading A Very English Scandal, which is a non-fictional account of this totally bonkers scandal that happened involving members of parliament in the 70s



like, every sentence of the book is a trip. you couldn't make it up. if anyone likes true crime and/or political scandals, this book is a real page turner

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I didn't know there was a book about that. I really want to watch the miniseries (mostly because Ben Whishaw is in it).

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I want to watch it too (bc I love Hugh Grant) but only after I finish the book, so I know if they've changed anything major

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Eleanor Oliphant was a pleasant (and sad) surprise, but even reading the other blurbs make me slightly angry, gosh this is a stupid mood.

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I'm interested in The Ninth Rain, I might have to check if it's been translated yet

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I'm reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine for December. I wanted to read it earlier in the year never got around to it so I'm glad I'm finishing up the year with it.



My suggestions for a theme next year:

- modern retellings of classic books/myths

- I looooooooooove books set in New England or at a boarding school or college (like The Secret History)

- a story that spans several decades/jumps around different timelines

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modern retellings of classic books/myths



Ohhh I second this!

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can you think of any ontd-y titles for these? i've been thinking about a retelling month too

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The only one I can think of is "this has already been posted"

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lol I thought she was releasing a line of hair products

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Same lol

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lmaooooooooooo

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Bleach is the devil. Also, wearing wigs with wig glue or any kind of adhesive for a long period will mess with your edges..so :/



Edited at 2018-11-26 09:50 pm (UTC)

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her natural color ain't bad.

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I dont doubt that bleaching has fucked her hair for years but also in that blurry photo you cant see any of the baby hairs bc they blend with her face so I bet its not as bad as it appears.

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I think we need a pic not taken with a potato to say anything definitive about her hair, but I am curious as to why she's in WV.

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She is going to lose more hair if she keeps bleaching it



Wear lacefronts, Stefani!

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Gluing down lacefronts can also be v hard on the hairline tho

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#Relatable

Megamind Army, RISE UP!! Megamind Army, RISE UP!!

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HAIR ON THE DEEP END, WATCH AS IT DIVES IN



HAIR LINE SHA HA- SHA HA LOWWW HAIR LINE SHA- SHA- LA LA LOWWWW

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omfg nnnnn

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Lol

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NNNNNN

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lmao

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Sis ...LOL

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nnnnn

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Dead 

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lol

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bitch 

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Triple threat do it for ya



But ngl Im worried my hairline looks like this my edges have taken a beating this year

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Jojo Siwas IMPACT!

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that poor child is gonna be bald by 30

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this picture triggered a migraine

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I find myself creeping her Insta ever since ONTD started mentioning her hairline. Lordt.

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smh bleach is so bad in the long term, guys it's just not worth it!!!

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Lmao poor dat, but watch her milk this to her ever growing list of ailments

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nnnnn tea

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this is some Poot Lovato 2.0 realness



or rather, Goot?

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LMAO

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Over the past few years, Brazil has held several very successful oil auctions under production-sharing contracts in its pre-salt layer, attracting major oil companies to its prized offshore oil area.

Now President-elect Jair Bolsonaro wants to open more of the pre-salt assetsan area currently exclusively in the hands of state oil firm Petrobrasto private investors, hoping to earn US$31 billion (120 billion Brazilian reais) that could help narrow Brazils massive budget deficit.

However, as Bolsonaro prepares to take office on January 1, 2019, his transition team may need to negotiate how different Brazilian states and municipalities could divide the revenues from the potential sale of stakes in more pre-salt fields to foreign oil firms. This uncertainty is not welcome news for Big Oil, which has expressed interest in the area that has been explored to some extent and proven to hold much more oil than initially thought.

The area at stake is the so-called transfer of rights area, where Petrobras holds 100 percent of the rights to produce 5 billion barrels of oil. The state oil firm has explored the area and found that a lot more oil lies in this low-risk offshore zone. There are estimates that the transfer of rights area could hold up to 15 billion barrels of oil in excess of the 5 billion barrels to which Petrobras is entitled to produce when the government transferred the area to the state firm in 2010.

Brazil has been looking to pass legislation to remove the obligation that only Petrobras can produce oil in the transfer of rights area. Far-right President-elect Bolsonaro, who had supported state control over the oil assets in the past, now plans to sell oil and other energy assets and supports the bill to allow foreign participation in the currently Petrobras-only transfer of rights area, Bolsonaros advisor Luciano de Castro told Bloomberg earlier this month. Related: India Looks To Double Its Natural Gas Usage

But last week, the head of Brazils Senate Eunicio Oliveira put on hold a bill authorizing oil auctions in the zone, dealing a blow to the president-elect and potentially stalling the bill further. At a meeting with mayors on Friday, Oliveira said that the bill to authorize the sale of stakes in the transfer of rights area to foreign firms would be approved if it guarantees that part of the revenues would go to states and municipalities.

Bolsonaros plan for the oil auction in this area hit a snag even before the President-elect takes office. Bolsonaro is the third Brazilian president looking to authorize sales to foreign firms in the transfer of rights area. But his transition team will probably have to negotiate with various states and municipalities how future revenues would be divided, if the plan is to pass in Parliament.

In the past, Bolsonaro favored state control over energy assets, but he has changed his stance before the presidential election race and now he is lining up a pro-business team to lead the country and picked a privatization advocate, Roberto Castello Branco, to be Petrobrass new chief executive officer.

If Bolsonaro and his team manage to push the transfer of rights area bill through Brazilian politicians from all sides, the potential resources opening for Big Oil to bid are huge.

The area is low-riskPetrobras has explored parts of it and has found much more oil than originally thought. According to UBS analyst Luiz Carvalho, projects in the area can be viable even if oil prices were to drop to $20 a barrel, Bloomberg quoted the analyst as saying at an event in Rio last week.

Brazil can become an even more attractive destination for Big Oil than it is now if it manages to remove regulatory and political hurdles to auctioning more of its coveted pre-salt oil fields.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Oil prices continue to plumb new depths, but some analysts think the selloff has gone too far.

Brent prices fell to $62 per barrel by mid-week, hitting nearly a one-year low. The bearish narrative has taken hold in a big way, with rising U.S. shale production, record output from Saudi Arabia, rising inventories and faltering demand growth all combining to drag down crude prices. The bears still have the oil market firmly in their grip, Commerzbank said in a note on Thursday. No end to the downswing is in sight for the foreseeable future.

But are prices dropping too far, too fast? Some analyst think so. [T]he oil market sell-off has overshot current and forward fundamentals, Goldman Sachs wrote in a note on November 20.

Goldman Sachs believes that the most recent selloff, which saw Brent drop below $60, came with no new fundamental data, suggesting that the drop reflects a confluence of factors including expectations of a glut in 2019, speculative trading, low trading activity ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday as well as the broader selloff in global equities.

Still, the fundamentals have been trending in a bearish direction. And even though OPEC+ has sent signals that a production cut is on the table, other bits of news have been negative. Libya expects to be exempted from the production cut, and its output continues to rise steadily. Venezuelas output fell by less than expected in October. Iraq and Kurdistan just agreed to allow for some oil  up to 100,000 bpd initially  to resume flowing through a Kurdish pipeline. If the tentative agreement holds and the two sides build on it, another 200,000 bpd could follow.

It will take a fundamental catalyst for prices to stabilize, Goldman argues. While we expect prices to eventually recover, we continue to expect high price volatility until evidence that the oil market fundamentals are improving, requiring a decline in OPEC production and signs that demand growth is resilient. Related: Plunging Oil Prices Weigh On Saudi Bonds

The Brent futures curve has flattened significantly, and Goldman argues that for spot prices to rise, the futures curve will have to move back into a stronger backwardation  a situation in which near-term prices trade at a premium to longer-dated oil futures. The good news for oil prices it that the current data does not justify the recent and sudden flattening of the curve, Goldman analysts argue. That is because inventories are not elevated, demand growth is likely to beat low expectations, Iran exports will decline further and ultimately core OPEC will reduce output in our view.

But prices are also down because of expectations of a growing supply glut in 2019. U.S. shale continues to surprise the market, beating even optimistic forecasts of production growth. Supply disruptions continue to decline, most notably in Libya. Meanwhile the expected output cut form OPEC+ will also allow for a rebuilding of spare capacity, reducing supply risks going forward. This effectively reverses the perceived need since May for high-cost marginal barrels to compensate for Permian bottlenecks and Iran export losses, Goldman Sachs wrote. Related: Does The U.S. Really Need Saudi Oil?

The investment bank said that its expectation that prices will recover could be wrong due to two factors. First, the global economy could enter a downturn and demand collapses. Or, OPEC+ decides not to cut at all at the upcoming meeting, which leads to a significant supply glut heading into 2019.

Looking out over the next year, OPEC+s problems get even trickier. They could decide to flood the market, which would likely crash prices, but that would crush their own budgets. Meanwhile, U.S. shale is poised to add a flood of new supply next year. As Bloomberg notes, the shale industry has already vastly exceeded expectations in 2018, and shale companies have not slowed down. They are drilling new wells now, but only completing some of them. E&Ps are keeping some wells uncompleted, awaiting new pipelines in 2019. When those projects come online, another wave of fresh supply could be unleashed. Were going to see a re-acceleration of well completions in the Permian in the second half of 2019, Corey Prologo, head of oil trading in Houston at commodity merchant Trafigura Group Ltd., told Bloomberg. The pipelines are going to fill up very quickly.

OPEC+ could decide to cut output in December to stop the slide in oil prices. But their task gets no easier as we head into 2019.

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabias oil production has been at a record high this monthat between 11.1 million bpd and 11.3 million bpd in some days in November, an industry source familiar with the output told Reuters on Monday, but whether the Saudis pumped an all-time average monthly high will be known once November ends.

While the Kingdom has been pumping in record amounts, U.S. President Donald Trump had been using Twitter this month first to express hope that Saudi Arabia and OPEC wont cut production to prop up oil prices, then to thank Saudi Arabia for the lower oil prices, and most recently, to thank himself for the falling oil prices in a tweet on Sunday.

The Saudis, together with the leader of the non-OPEC nations part of the production cut dealRussia, started to increase oil production in June to offset what the market expected to be a drop-off of Iranian oil supply once the U.S. sanctions return.

Saudi Arabias crude oil exports hit their highest in 20 months in September, according to data by the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI) database, which collects self-reported oil figures from 114 countries. The Kingdoms production in early November appears to have hit the highest on record, on the back of high customer requests made in early October when the market feared a hefty loss of Iranian supply this month, industry executives tracking Saudi output told Bloomberg last week. Related: Legendary Oil Trader Expects Crude Prices To Rebound

Russias oil production set a new post-Soviet record high of 11.41 million bpd in October, up from 11.36 million bpd in September.

As U.S. sanctions on Iran returned in early November, with waivers for eight key Iranian oil customers, the market was gripped by fears of oversupply and slowing global economy and oil demand growth, sending oil prices into a bear market.

Oil prices are now more than 25 percent off their four-year high from early October, with WTI Crude holding just above $50 and Brent Crude barely clinging onto $60 early on Monday.

OPEC is widely expected to announce a new production cut at its meeting next week. Yet, the U.S.-Saudi relationswith President Trump standing by Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid the global backlash over the killing of Jamal Khashoggimay complicate Saudi Arabias decision to lead a decisive and sizeable OPEC production cut, according to Saudi watchers quoted by Reuters.



By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Venezuelas state-owned oil company PDVSA has settled an arbitration case brought against it by Canadian miner Crystallex and has paid the company US$1.4 billion to avoid having its most precious business, U.S. downstream operator Citgo, auctioned off so Crystallex can collect what the court awarded it for the nationalization of its Venezuelan operations.

Reuters cited court documents revealing that had already made one payment under the arbitration case, of US$425 million, most of it in liquid securities and the rest in Venezuelan and PDVSA bonds. The rest will be paid by early 2021.

A U.S. federal judge in August awarded Crystallex the right to approach Venezuelas U.S. oil unit to seek its compensation of US$1.4 billion. The ruling by Chief Judge Leonard P. Stark was unique: government assets such as Citgos parent, PDVSA, are as a rule protected from lawsuits targeting a state. Yet in Starks ruling, the judge said that Venezuela had blurred the lines between the government and the state oil firm, with a military official at the helm of PDVSA.

Crystallex is also not the only one eyeing Citgo as a means of getting what it claims it is due for the nationalization of its assets. ConocoPhillips also won a case against Venezuela and earlier this year stepped up its efforts to receive its dues by seizing PDVSA assets in the Caribbean. The strategy worked and PDVSA coughed up US$345 million as the first part of a US$2-billion settlement.

And then there is another Canadian mining company, Rusoro, which is also seeking compensation, to the tune of US$1.3 billion, for the forced nationalization of its assets in the troubled South American country, home to the worlds largest oil reserves.

In the meantime, Caracas has defaulted on debts worth tens of billions of dollars, squeezed between falling oil production and revenues, and U.S. sanctions.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Rosnefts chief executive, Igor Sechin, last week flew to Caracas to have words with President Maduro regarding delays in the shipments of Venezuelan crude that Caracas had agreed to send to Russia as a repayment for cash, Reuters reports, citing sources close to the talks.

He brought information showing that they were meeting obligations with China but not with them, one of the sources told Reuters. Theyre running around in PDVSA because of this.

Whats more, another source said the Russian delegation was not the only one visiting Caracas: a Chinese delegation was also there.

Russia and China are pretty much the only countries left that are willing to lend Caracas a hand amid U.S. sanctions and falling oil production that have combined to create a severe economic crisis. China is the bigger benefactor, having poured as much as US$50 billion into Venezuela since its troubles began, which could explain why Caracas is giving priority to shipments to China.

Yet Russia has also been generous: Reuters has calculated that Moscow has lent Caracas some US$17 billion since 2006. Whats more, Rosneft has an option to purchase a majority stake in the crown jewel of PDVSA, Citgo, which the Venezuelan company used as collateral for one of the latest loans granted by the Russian company.

More Reuters calculations show that PDVSA has been falling behind in its shipments to China as well. At an average daily rate of shipments at 463,500 for the period between January and August, PDVSA was about 60 percent compliant with the terms of its contracts. Daily shipments to Russia averaged 176,680 bpd over the same eight-month period, which constituted a compliance rate of 40 percent, Reuters noted.

Meanwhile, oil production in Venezuela is falling relentlessly. Over the past 12 months, it shed 37 percent and now stands at 1.17 million barrels daily.



By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Russia seized on Sunday three Ukrainian ships near Crimea, in an incident that risks spilling to a wider conflict between the two countries and to exacerbate the disputes between Moscow and Kiev over oil and gas resources and infrastructure.

Russiawhich annexed Crimea in 2014, for which the U.S. and the EU imposed sanctions on Moscowsaid on Monday that three Ukrainian vessels had violated its state border in waters near Crimea early on Sunday. Russia used weapons to force the Ukrainian warships to stop, Russian media quoted a statement from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) as saying.

All three vessels were detained in the incident, in which three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded, according to Russia.

Ukraine, for its part, says that it had informed Russia about the plans for the ship movements and said that the seizing of the vessels was another act of armed aggression by Russia, as quoted by the BBC.

The Sunday incident is the first open conflict between Russian and Ukrainian militaries in recent years. Tensions have been rising lately over the access to the Kerch Strait, where the incident took place, and the Sea of Azov.

Russia and Ukraine are disputing not only land and maritime territories, but also the rights to oil and gas resources in the area. The two countries also continue their years-long dispute over gas deliveries and payments.



Related: Plunging Oil Prices Weigh On Saudi Bonds

Russia is disputing the jurisdiction of The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Russia-Ukraine dispute over rights to oil and natural gas resources off Crimea. Ukraine served the Russian Federation with a claim at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in September 2016, referring to a dispute between the two countries over the coastal state rights in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Kerch Strait. Ukraine claims that it has the right to resources in those areas, which were violated by Russia with the annexation of Crimea. Russia is contesting the jurisdiction of the court in the dispute, saying that the arbitrators in The Hague-based court shouldnt rule on a case that Russia says is about Ukraines claim to sovereignty over Crimea.

Russias Gazprom and Ukraines Naftogaz are also locked in a bitter dispute over payments for gas supply, with a court battle still going on. Gazprom appeals a ruling to pay Naftogaz US$2.56 billion for failing to supply Ukraine with the agreed amount of natural gas over a period of several years and also for failing to pay the full transit fees for the gas it did pump in that direction.



By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Gary Anderson to lead animal health, food security efforts with KC industry

Monday, Nov. 26, 2018



OLATHE  Gary Anderson, D.V.M., Ph.D., joins the faculty team at Kansas State University's Olathe campus in a new role.



Anderson, who has served as a professor of diagnostic medicine/pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University since 2005, has been named the director of the International Animal Health and Food Safety Institute at the university's Olathe campus.



In this new role, Anderson, who has graduate teaching status, is working to strengthen the animal health, food safety and food security research programs at the Olathe campus. He also is working to foster industry relationships that lead to joint research and industry-funded projects for workforce development, graduate students and faculty researchers at Kansas State University.



"I am extremely pleased to join the team in Olathe," Anderson said. "Having worked in both industry and academia, I have seen so many wins for both sides when there is a true collaboration between businesses and universities. I look forward to aggressively pursuing partnerships in animal health, food safety and food security that create substantial benefits for Kansas State University and industry in Greater Kansas City."



Anderson's appointment at the Olathe campus is made possible by the university's College of Veterinary Medicine. The college, which spearheaded the effort, frequently collaborates with faculty, staff and students at the Olathe campus on academics, professional development offerings and research.



"Kansas State University is committed to enhancing animal health, food safety and food security efforts in Greater Kansas City," said Ralph Richardson, dean and CEO of the K-State Olathe campus. "Dr. Anderson's appointment at the Olathe campus reaffirms that commitment and helps address industry needs in these areas with research and a more highly trained workforce."



Anderson brings a wealth of industry and academic experience to the new role.



Prior to joining Kansas State University in 2005, Anderson served on the University of Nebraska's faculty and later worked in the private sector, during which he co-founded the startup company ImmTech Biologics LLC. It was later acquired by Novartis Animal Health Inc., a company that specializes in diagnostics, clinical research and autogenous vaccine development for cattle and swine.



At Kansas State University, Anderson directed the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, or KSVDL, mentored graduate students and provided oversight for new test development. The lab offers a complete range of diagnostic services for all species that help clients identify, treat and prevent animal illnesses. The lab also aids in graduate student development.



Anderson is no stranger to the Olathe campus. He, Brian Lubbers, D.V.M., Ph.D., clinical associate professor in diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, and Merck Animal Health established the Microbial Surveillance Laboratory at the Olathe campus in 2013. The lab has worked closely with the College of Veterinary Medicine in Manhattan to provide diagnostic support and disease surveillance information to veterinarians, animal owners and animal health, pharmaceutical and biological companies across the nation.



In 2013, Anderson received the prestigious E.P. Pope Award from the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The award recognizes members who have made noteworthy contributions to the association and have advanced the use and recognition of veterinary diagnostic medicine. He also received the KSU Distinguished Service Award from the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association in 2008 and the KSU Entrepreneurial Award in 2009.



Anderson earned his bachelor's degree in microbiology from South Dakota State University in 1975, his doctor of veterinary medicine and his master's degree in veterinary pathology from Kansas State University in 1979, and his doctorate in comparative pathology with a minor in immunopathology/immunovirology from the University of California, Davis, in 1983.




"Four in five Filipinos distrust China. Do you?"

There have been a lot of controversial reactions to the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week and to the signing of 29 deals, especially that on the joint exploration for oil, gas, and minerals. Most of the Western press calls the deals part of the Chinese debt colonialism or Chinas debt expansionism as they cite countries that are highly indebted to ChinaSri Lanka, Pakistan, some countries in Africa and even far off Fiji Islands in the South Pacific. Here in the Philippines, we are assured that the controversial memorandum of understanding was drafted by no less than Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin and yet to be implemented after a year. This is to the advantage of the Philippines, conforming with the 60-40 ownership provision of the Constitution. This assurance is further bolstered by the Senate, which still has to review not only the MOU on the joint exploration but the other 28 deals as well. Thus, things are still up in the air! The contents, the amount of indebtedness, the firms and agencies implementing the deal and the benefits we are supposed to derive from the deal are still subject to speculation. The Duterte administration should also make the other deals public to assure us that our President did not sacrifice sovereignty in exchange for loans, grants, investments, and other accommodations. Filipinos are suspicious of Chinas real motives because President Duterte does not protest Chinas militarization and occupation of the islands and shoals within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. Eight in 10 Filipinos do not trust China, according to a recent survey. Do you? *** Despite the noises and chest-beating by the militant and Left-leaning party-list representatives, I am all for it! I refer to the move of President Duterte to deploy more members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to Bicol, Samar, and Negros in the wake of increasing violence perpetrated by the New Peoples Army. The communists are expected to protest such moves. They say its a prelude to martial law. I dont agree. I am all for military and police presence in areas where there appears to be lawless violence, especially with the upcoming midterm elections. Their presence is needed to curb guns-for-hire, private armies, and loose firearms. We all know that in the local level, candidates for governor, mayor, and vice mayors take elections so seriously that its a matter of life and death. Thats why we see local officials fielding family members and other relativesto prevent their rivals from sharing the power. Thats how it is here.I cant forget that time in my hometown in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, where competing politicians control opposite sides of the national highway, so much so that companies of soldiers were sent to guard the town. In Abra, where I was born, politicians take elections seriously so that somebody gets killed every now and then. In line with the Presidents desire to suppress lawless violence, I would even recommend that the President should send more soldiers and cops in so-called election hotspots. In these places, local police can no longer be trusted because they may have become the private army of some politicians. *** Despite the fact that Makati Mayor Abby Binay is doing an excellent job for the citizens of the richest city in the Philippines, there are still some efforts to derail her projects. My gulay, I am referring to the fact that benefits for senior citizens like me and my wife are being held hostage by majority of the policy-making body of the city council. Mayor Abby had plans on granting centenarians like me (I am now 91) P10,000 annually on top of the P5,000 we receive every year. Those who are holding the plan hostage want Abbys brother to replace her. The real reason is that on cleaning up the mess left by her predecessor, she has had to include some of the councilors who have abused city funds by hiring ghost employees. They are now the same people egging Junjun to run against his sister. A proof of Abbys good performance is the endorsement of their father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay. I have been following Abbys performance as mayor and I say she is really doing a good job. She takes care of us senior citizens. She also plans to build a 10-kilometer subway around the city. I think the choice is clear. *** Despite the fact that Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio is not on the same page as President Duterte on the issue of the West Philippine Sea, he still deserves to be chief justice. Carpio has been bypassed at least twice as chief justice. He has probity, integrity, and independence. In fact he praises the President when the latter deserves it. *** I cannot end this column without commiserating with the family of Metrobank founder and chairman emeritus George SK Ty, a good friend. He was a banker of note. He was also a cut above the rest in his vision and philanthropy. www.emiljurado.weebly.com
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the western coast of Taiwan Monday, the US Geological Survey said, and was felt hundreds of kilometres away in Hong Kong. The quake hit around 100 kilometres (60 miles) off the island of Penghu in the Taiwan Strait on Monday morning, at a depth of 13 kilometres. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake, which the USGS had initially reported at 5.6-magnitude. Residents in the city of Magong on Penghu island ran outside screaming "earthquake" after the tremor hit, Taiwan media reported. Hong Kong residents reported feeling the quake, and some took to social media to discuss the rare event. "I did (feel it)! I thought I was dizzy, I saw the clothes that were hung up swaying around," wrote one Facebook user in a discussion group for Hong Kong's Tai Po district. The Hong Kong Observatory said it had received nearly 1,000 reports of the the quake being felt, with a duration of a few seconds. "Initial estimate gave a local intensity of IV (four) on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, that is hanging objects swing. Windows, dishes, doors rattle," it said in a statement. Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes. In February, its eastern Hualien city was hit by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake which killed 17 people. The island's worst such disaster in recent decades was a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 1999 that killed around 2,400 people.
India marked the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks Monday with ceremonies at sites across the city that became battlegrounds in the wave of violence that killed scores and dealt a critical blow to relations with neighbouring Pakistan. Armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades, 10 Islamic militants killed 166 people and injured hundreds more in a three-day rampage through India's financial capital which started on Wednesday November 26, 2008. A decade on, the United States offered a new $5 million reward for the capture of the remaining attackers and called on Islamabad to cooperate with the hunt for the planners of the assault. The attackers belonged to Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). At a solemn ceremony Mumbai's police remembered more than a dozen officers and commandos killed in the operation against the militants. Relatives of the victims and local dignitaries laid wreaths and sprinkled rose petals at a police memorial honouring the dead while the force's brass band played the "Last Post". "A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the attacks "gruesome". Played out on TV news channels around the world, the bloody events -- widely known as 26/11 -- have been compared in India to New York's suffering on September 11, 2001. The co-ordinated attacks on the city of nearly 20 million people hit luxury hotels, the main railway station, a restaurant popular with tourists and a Jewish centre. - Wanted leader - Residents and railway officials also paid their respects at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station where Mohammed Kasab, the only gunman caught alive, and another attacker killed almost 60 people and wounded at least 100 others. The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel held a private service to remember the 31 people who died there. Over 60 hours, four attackers shot dead guests and hotel staff, detonated explosives and set ablaze parts of the building -- including its famous dome. Dramatic scenes of Indian commandos battling the heavily armed gunmen, and guests tried to escape from windows down bedsheet ropes were beamed around the world on live television. Indian security forces only retook control of the hotel on the morning of November 29. More than 30 people also died at the Oberoi and Trident hotels in a 42-hour siege involving shootings, explosions and hostage-taking. Six hostages -- including a rabbi and his pregnant wife -- were killed at Nariman House, a Jewish cultural and religious centre. The current rabbi, Israel Kozlovsky, unveiled a new memorial listing the names of all those who died in the 26/11 attacks. "Those who gave their life for the country, those who gave their life for us, they deserve to be remembered and they deserve to get their honour and tribute," he told AFP. Kasab, the gunman caught at the railway station, was executed by India in 2012 after being found guilty of charges including murder and waging war against India. The LeT called him "a hero" in a comment that highlighted the deep-rooted rivalry between India and Pakistan since their division in 1947. Indian politicians and officials routinely condemn Pakistan for not taking action against LeT leader Hafez Saeed who remains free even though he is designated a terrorist by the United Nations. Pakistan says that evidence provided by India against Saeed is too vague. Six Americans were among the Mumbai victims and the US State Department announced a $5 million prize for the capture of the remaining planners of the attacks. The United States already has a $10 million bounty offered for Saeed and $2 million for Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior group leader. "It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates."
CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma has urged the faithful to pray for the blessings they received in 2018 and for President Rodrigo Duterte.He appealed to the public not to cheer on the chief executives unflattering

THE administration of President Rodrigo Duterte will not allow the Chinese to harass Filipinos in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Malacanang said Monday, November 26.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the vow during a press conference with Palace reporters, following reports that the personnel of the Chinese Coast Guard barred the crew of a Philippine television network from making a documentary at the Panatag Shoal.

"Nevertheless, hindi tayo papayag syempre na iha-harass yung ating mga kapwa Pilipino (we will, of course, not allow that our fellow Filipinos get harassed)," the Palace official said.

"Hindi tayo papayag na hina-harass tayo kahit na saang lugar, que sa bansa natin o sa bansa nila (We will not allow that we're being harassed anywere, be in our country or in their country)," he added.

Panelo, however, said the administration will have to investigate first the China's Coast Guard men's reported harassment of the crew of GMA-7's Reporter's Notebook.

GMA-7 News reporter Jun Veneracion had reported that the China Coast Guard prevented his team from filming in early November at the Panatag Shoal, a traditional fishing ground that lies 124 nautical miles from Zambales and within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

Veneracion said they were told that "without the permission of China," his team "cannot carry out the interview" in the Panatag Shoal.

Panelo said the government would verify if China has such a policy.

He added that the Duterte administration will let Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. act on the alleged bullying of Filipinos in the Panatag.

"You know there is an investigation. First, we have to validate what happened there... Imbestigahan muna natin kung totoong may policy (Let's investigate first if there's such a policy)," Panelo said.

"Kaya kung totoo man 'yung policy nila, ade bahala na si (And if there is indeed such a policy, it will be up to) Secretary Locsin. That's his turf," he added.

Story continues

In June, Veneracion reported that it has become a habit of the Chinese Coast Guard to take the catch of Filipinos fishing in Scarborough Shoal.

The report prompted China to assure the Philippine government that it would impose appropriate sanctions on members of the Chinese Coast Guard who would be proven harassing Filipino fishermen.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the Philippines last week, the Chinese leader pledged before the leaders of the Philippines' Congress that he will push for a "maritime mechanism" that ensures fishermen will not be harassed in the disputed South China Sea. (SunStar Philippines)
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and ABS-CBN have ironed out issues with regard to the Ang Probinsyano following the signing of a memorandum of understanding Monday, November 26.PNP officials,

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and ABS-CBN have ironed out issues with regard to the Ang Probinsyano following the signing of a memorandum of understanding Monday, November 26.

PNP officials, including PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, and the producers of the Ang Probinsyano met Monday in Camp Crame in Quezon City where they formalized the salient points of their dialogue last week.

Until the succeeding season of 'Ang Probinsyano,' we hope to put all the animosity and clashing opinions behind us, and introduce to our countrymen the true-to-life Filipino police officers imbued with the finest tradition of valor, service and sacrifice for God, country and people, said Albayalde.

Earlier, Albayalde and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano scored the show due to the "bad and unfair" portrayal of police forces, including that of the chief PNP, which according to them affects the image of the national police agency.

The PNP withdrew its support and banned the show from using its personnel and equipment.

But Albayalde reiterated that they just wanted a fair portrayal of the policemen and not to totally change the flow of the show.

Basically, we did not ask for any assurance kasi ayaw naman nating totally baguhin yung kanilang script kung talagang ganun. With the understanding that we had, basically, magbabago yun (there will be some minor revisions) and we also pledged our full support to them, if they will really portray the true story about the PNP. Actually, the national headquarters are open for them if they need to use the facilities if only, para mapalabas kung ano talaga yung totoong nangyayari, he said.

"Ang request sa atin kung pwede daw makagamit yung talagang pulis especially sa mga police operations para talagang realistic yung kilos and we said yes, provided na hindi naman makaapekto sa pagseserbisyo nila," he added.

The PNP chief said they will provide police officers to serve as advisers and consultants to ensure that the portrayal of the police force in the show is realistic.

The "Ang Probinsyano," which was aired since in 2015, is about a decent police officer named Cardo Dalisay, portrayed by actor Coco Martin, who was engaged in a series of events that later on led him to joining a rebel group named Vendetta.

Members of Vendetta are going against the illegal activities of government leaders, including the President Lucas Cabrera played by Edu Manzano and PNP Chief Alejandro Tarante played by actor Soliman Cruz. (SunStar Philippines)
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted a provisional authority (PA) that will allow 40 new public utility vehicles (PUVs) to ply the streets of Cebu City even though the

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted a provisional authority (PA) that will allow 40 new public utility vehicles (PUVs) to ply the streets of Cebu City even though the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has yet to prepare a travel line for them.

As far as we are concerned, as long as there is a provisional authority, the new PUVs can start operating, LTFRB 7 Chairman Martin Delgra said in Cebuano.

The PA is good for 90 days.

Delgra said the operators can use this period to secure a certificate of public convenience from the LTFRB.

On Monday, Nov. 26, only 12 of the 40 new PUVs arrived in Cebu, said Cebu Integrated Transport Multipurpose Cooperative (Citrasco) chairman Jericho Mari Jumapao.

For his part, Vigor Mendoza, chairman of Persano Corp., which owns the new PUVs, said they will secure a travel line from the Cebu City Government.

Mendoza said Citrasco, which will manage the new PUVs operations, is coordinating with the Cebu City Government.

Mendoza also clarified they wont start operations until the new PUVs drivers finish their training, which include proper handling of passengers.

He said they will hold a dry run on Thursday, Nov. 29, or Friday, Nov. 30.

For now, the new PUVs will charge P8 as minimum fare and will accept cash. Soon, passengers will have to use a card to pay their fare.

The new PUVs, which are worth P2.6 million each, were manufactured in China and Russia.

The white Russian-made PUVs can accommodate 30 passengers, while the blue Chinese-made PUVs can accommodate 34 passengers.

This is the first of its kind in the entire Philippines. Dito po magsisimula sa Cebu (It will start here in Cebu). Weve got the best of Europe and the best of China and we brought it down here in Cebu, Mendoza told reporters.

Routes

The new PUVs will have two routes.

The first one will start at the Cebu City Hall to Robinsons Galleria to the Cebu Business Park and to Asiatown IT Park and vice versa.

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The second route will start from Paseo Arcenas in Banawa to Happy Valley, B. Rodriguez St., Fuente Osmena, Ramos St., D. Jakosalem St., Gorordo Ave., Ayala Center Cebu, Sitio Panagdait in Barangay Mabolo to Sykes Philippines on F. Cabahug St. and vice versa.

Mendoza said they still have to identify the designated stops.

Meanwhile, Francisco Ouano, CCTO operations chief, said he would rather the operator of the new PUVs secure an approved travel line before starting operations even though this is not required by law.

Although it is the LTFRB 7 that determines the route description, it is the CCTO that will identify the travel line, which will include drop-off and pick-up points, among others, he said.

Since it is the CCTO that is managing the traffic situation in the city, we would appreciate it if the LTFRB and the operator of the modern PUVs will coordinate with us first, Ouano said.

But before a travel line is issued, Ouano said, they will need to conduct an ocular inspection and a feasibility study on how many passengers the new PUVs can accommodate and the roads that will be covered by the route, among others.

As of noon Monday, Nov. 26, Ouano said his office had yet to receive a copy of the proposed route description for the PUVs.

These modern PUVs are quite big since they are coaster-type. We have to check first and find a way how it can effectively operate in the city without worsening the current traffic situation, he said.

Since the citys roads are narrow, Ouano said they are thinking of asking the LTFRB 7 to limit the number of buses operating in major thoroughfares to avoid aggravating the traffic situation.

In a related development, City Call Center Program head Nanette Garong said the operation of PUVs in routes where Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies are located will not affect the Citys free bus ride program.

They are actually coordinating with us and we appreciate that because we have a lot of late night commuters, aside from call center agents, she said.

Garong said they are just pilot-testing these routes until interested private firms will take over the operation.

The City Council authorized Mayor Tomas Osmena last Nov. 20 to enter into and sign the memorandum of agreement with the Metro Rapid Transit Service Inc. (MRTSI) for the provision of free shuttle services for BPO workers from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The MRTSI, the operator of MyBus, will provide an initial three units that will travel from the Asiatown IT Park to a chicken restaurant on Juan Luna Ave. corner M.J. Cuenco Ave. in Barangay Mabolo. (from SCG of SuperBalita Cebu, RTF)
Singapores tree-lined streets may provide much-needed shade and respite from its unrelenting heat, but the same green cover is making it tougher for mapping companies like NavInfo to create the sort of precise maps that cars can use to drive themselves in future.

The tree cover obscures satellite imaging, while wayward tree branches and leaves may block road signs and make it harder for the roof-mounted cameras from capturing the surroundings needed to create a 3D hi-definition map, according to NavInfo.

Still, the Tencent Holdings-backed company is working with the authorities in Singapore on the mapping exercise, which is expected to be completed 2019, Li Yang, deputy manager of NavInfos automated driving research department, said in an interview last week in Beijing.

Facial recognition start-up SenseTime branches into AR and autonomous driving

Singapore would be the first overseas market for NavInfo, which has mapped 210,000 kilometres of motorways at home in China, or about five times the circumference of Earth. HD mapping is crucial for autonomous driving because radars and sensors built into self-driving cars have a limited range of 100 to 300 metres.

Besides its core mapping and navigation services, NavInfo is also developing autonomous driving software for carmakers and robotaxi operators, Li said. The companys maps can support levels of driving automation, he said.

In November, Singapore unveiled a mini-town to test driverless public transport. Self-driving buses will also operate around the campus of the National University Singapore starting from March next year.

Many Chinese artificial intelligence start-ups are setting up in Singapore as a first step for overseas expansion.

China shows off self-driving technology in Spring Festival Gala

In June, facial recognition company SenseTime signed separate deals with Singapore Telecommunications, Nanyang Technological University and the National Supercomputing Centre in Singapore to advance AI research. Another Chinese start-up, Yitu Technologies, has also set up a branch in Singapore as a regional base.

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NavInfo itself has established a subsidiary in Singapore this year. The company formed a joint venture with HERE Technologies, an Amsterdam-based mapping giant, before its offer to acquire a 10 per cent stake in the company with Tencent and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC failed to win approval from US regulators.

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Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval ships in waters near Moscow-annexed Crimea, raising fears of military escalation and prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday. In an unprecedented incident, Russia used weapons against the Ukranian ships which it claims illegally entered its waters before boarding and searching them, the country's FSB security service confirmed. The crisis unfolded on Sunday as two Ukrainian small warships and a tugboat were heading through the Kerch Strait, a narrow waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov that is used by Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat in "openly aggressive actions" and then fired on the ships, immobilising all three. It said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area. The confrontation at sea is a dangerous development in the long-running conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the escalation, US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said. The meeting was requested by both Russia and Ukraine, diplomatic sources told AFP. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked parliament to vote Monday on whether to impose martial law on the country for 60 days, after his Military Cabinet recommended the move in a late-night meeting. Throwing his weight behind the measure, which is not guaranteed to pass, he said it "in no way means that Ukraine will carry out any offensive actions". "I want to emphasise separately that we have all irrefutable evidence that this aggression, this attack on the Ukrainian Navy's warships was not a mistake, not an accident, but a deliberate action," he said in a statement. Ukraine said six of its soldiers were injured, two seriously, but Russia's FSB reported only three had suffered non-life threatening injuries and were given medical treatment. Protesters, some armed with flares, rallied outside the Russian embassy in Kiev on Sunday night in response to the latest development. - West urges restraint - The seizure has sparked alarm among Kiev's Western allies. "We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately," the European Union said in a statement. NATO also urged "restraint and de-escalation", and called on Russia "to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law". Ukraine's foreign ministry said the "aggressive actions" were a violation of international law that would be met with "an international and diplomatic legal response". Russia claims the waters off Crimea after annexing the peninsula in 2014. "Having breached this morning the Russian border, the three Ukrainian ships -- the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yani Kapu -- tried again on November 25 at 19:00 (Moscow time) to conduct illegal actions in Russian territorial waters," the FSB said on Sunday. The FSB, which oversees the border guard service, also said the Ukrainian ships had failed to respond to the "legal demands" of the Russian authorities. Russian politicians accused Ukraine of acting at the behest of its Western allies and deliberately attempting to escalate the conflict. Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Facebook that he "was sure the Western masters of the Kiev regime are behind this act of provocation". Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy speaker of the Russian parliament, warned on Facebook that "the Ukrainian puppet authorities... are risking unleashing a large military conflict". "One thing is clear: Russia won't allow military provocations in its territorial waters." - Increased Russian controls - Ukraine said it gave Russia advance warning of its ships' route, which its vessels are obliged to take to reach the Sea of Azov. In September, the Ukrainian navy complained about "acts of provocation" by Russian border guards against its ships taking the same route. Ukraine has increased the number of navy ships and border guard patrols in the Sea of Azov after Russia deployed five more warships. Kiev says its naval buildup is due to Russia stepping up controls in the area this year and carrying out lengthy checks on commercial shipping that were very costly for freight and port companies. Kiev and the West have accused Moscow of deliberately blocking ships from accessing Mariupol, which has vital access to heavy industry in the region. Mariupol is close to the region of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has caused at least 10,000 deaths since 2014. The United States, a key ally of Ukraine, is opposed to Russia's takeover of Crimea and is looking to reduce Ukraine's dependency on Russian gas pipelines.
Mexico deported scores of Central American migrants arrested after hundreds forced their way through a Mexican police blockade and headed for the United States but were met with tear gas and rubber bullets. Around 500 men, women and children, part of a caravan of roughly 5,000 mainly Hondurans who have been trekking toward the US for weeks, scrambled over a rusted metal fence and surged into a concrete riverbed toward San Diego on Sunday. The group was stopped by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire and US Border Patrol agents firing tear gas and rubber bullets. At least one man was wounded. Chief Patrol Agent Rodney Scott told CNN that "numerous" migrants -- mainly men -- had made it across, however, and 42 of them were arrested. Mexico's National Institute of Migration Commissioner Gerardo Garcia confirmed the 98 arrests on his country's side, saying there were "instigators" in the migrant caravan pushing people to illegally cross the border. The incident was the most serious flashpoint in a weeks-long crisis that US President Donald Trump used to drum up support in this month's midterm elections. Trump hit out again by threatening a permanent closure of the frontier, and defended the use of tear gas by US border patrol, saying it was "very safe." "They had to use (it) because they were being rushed by some very tough people and they used tear gas and here's the bottom line: nobody's coming into our country unless they come in legally," Trump told reporters. "The tear gas is a very minor form of the tear gas itself. It's very safe," he later added. Mexico sent a diplomatic note requesting that US authorities "conduct a thorough investigation of the events during which non-lethal US weapons were used in Mexico." Trump also claimed, without providing evidence, that some people at the border he dubbed "grabbers" clutch unrelated children to make it safer for themselves and increase their chances of getting into the US. "They grab a child because they think they'll have a certain status by having a child. You know, you have certain advantages in terms of our crazy laws that frankly Congress should be changing," he said. - 'Broken hearts and hopes' - Most of the migrants stumbled back into camp in the northwestern Mexican city of Tijuana, dirty, scared and with ripped clothes. "We're here with broken hearts and hopes," said Andy Colon, a 20-year-old woman who traveled from Honduras with her sister and two children. "We were deluded into believing that we had already reached the United States, and that they would grant us asylum," Colon told AFP. The San Ysidro border post across from Tijuana -- the busiest crossing on the US-Mexico border -- was closed to traffic and pedestrians for several hours following the incident. Trump, who for weeks has been condemning the caravan, lashed out once more. "Mexico should move the flag waving migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries," he tweeted. "Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!" Trump said, referring to his central election pledge to build a wall across the US-Mexico border. - 'Lots of kids fainted' - Many of the migrants say they are fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras in search of asylum north of the border. Around 1,000 migrants, including women and young children, had been holding a peaceful midday demonstration in Tijuana when half of the group bolted toward the border. The sudden rush overwhelmed the Mexican police, who were deployed with full riot gear. Several hundred made it over the first barrier, with video clips posted on Twitter showing crowds of people dashing across a shallow concrete riverbed toward the United States. When they neared the second fence, US border agents fired tear gas and rubber bullets at them as helicopters buzzed overhead. People covered their faces to protect themselves from the acrid gas, as mothers clutched their young children and fled back to Mexico for safety. "We were told that if we crossed (the first barrier) they would give us asylum, because we were already in the United States," said Flor Jimenez, a 32-year-old Honduran woman who was among those who turned back along with her husband, sister and young daughter. "But now it seems that they want to kill us, and we got very scared." US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen accused the migrants of seeking to harm US border patrol personnel "by throwing projectiles at them." But one Honduran man, who did not give his name, told AFP that American officers had "got upset because we were close to the border." "The alarm went off and they began throwing tear gas at us. A lot of people started to go down. A person got hit and lots of kids fainted. So some people got rocks and threw them because many kids were fainting," he said. Another Honduran who gave his name as Wilmer said "they started throwing tear gas and they hit a journalist in the head." A third man, who requested anonymity, showed AFP what he described as injuries from rubber bullets. He had two fresh round bruises in his abdomen. - Asylum demands - Trump has deployed nearly 6,000 troops to the border, on top of more than 2,000 members of the National Guard, but Scott said the Department of Defense was not involved in Sunday's engagement. To enter the US legally, migrants must apply for asylum, but the wait for those requests to be processed can last up to a year. The Washington Post reported Saturday that the Trump administration had gained the support of Mexico's incoming government for a plan to require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their applications to be processed.
Some of history's most notorious unsolved murder crimes could be laid bare thanks to new forensic research led at Northumbria University, in Newcastle.

Dr. Matteo Gallidabino, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science at Northumbria University, working with colleagues at King's College London and the Universities of Lausanne, Santiago de Compostela and Rome (La Sapienza), have revealed that machine learning  a field of artificial intelligence  could be used to determine which ammunition, and ultimately which firearm, was responsible for a particular gunshot from the residue it left behind.

Their findings have been published in the Royal Society of Chemistry's Analyst journal  the home of fundamental discoveries, inventions and applications in analytical and bioanalytical sciences.

"Machine learning uses a series of algorithms to model complex data relationships" explains Dr. Gallidabino. "Through careful fine-tuning, these can be applied to predict important characteristics of the ammunition used in a particular shooting event from those of the respective gunshot residue (GSR) deposited on surrounding surfaces or items, such as spent cases, wounds and, potentially, also the shooter's hands."

This is a ground-breaking progression when compared to techniques currently available in GSR analysis. Indeed, the complex computer statistics implemented by the research team allow identification of the ammunition responsible for the different gunshot traces left at a crime scene and eventual association of such traces, with unprecedented accuracy. Both capabilities are currently challenging using traditional forensic methods.

With further developments of the suggested approach, new investigative leads could be rapidly pursued to avoid similar unsolved murders of the past, like Jill Dando in 1999 and the notorious Bloody Sunday killings of 1972.

"After Bloody Sunday, the problem was to determine if gunshots were fired by civilians or military staff" states Dr. Gallidabino. "The investigators found large amounts of GSR all over victims and concluded that these resulted from shooting activities. It was later established, however, that these were likely due to the secondary, post-event transfer of contaminations from military staff  whose hands were rich with GSRs  to dead bodies. Small amounts of GSR, indeed, may be transferred by prolonged contacts with contaminated surfaces, such as those that took place when soldiers helped transport victims to the hospital after the event.

"If techniques such as those we are developing now were available at the time, they could have been used to determine if GSRs came from civilian ammunition or military fire, which would have been a critical piece of evidence."

Dr. Gallidabino specialises in statistical modelling and machine learning techniques for forensic applications. He personally developed and tested both the innovative chemical technique and the mathematical models used in the approach, after firing a range of ammunition. After collecting the gun cartridges, he analysed them, and particularly the volatile part of the GSR, before turning his attention to the original smokeless powders. From here, he was able to establish a relationship between the ammunition and the residue, with the same statistical methods used by computer scientists to train robots.

Following on from this, the research team has called for this unique method to be applied much more widely in the field of forensic science and, more generally, analytical chemistry. "The benefits are countless" Dr. Gallidabino said. "They may even extend to other fields in analytical sciences that routinely encounter changeable chemical traces, such as the analysis of improvised explosive devices, arson accelerants and environmental pollutants."

Dr. Leon Barron, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science from King's College London, added: "The fusion of state-of-the-art laboratory analysis with computer-based machine learning will enable us to capitalise on the vast amounts of data we now generate to make ground-breaking advances like this more frequently. In forensic science, and often given the varied scenarios and sequences of events involved, machine learning represents one of the most promising ways to make sense of evidence more rapidly to support the Criminal Justice System."

Jill Dando

On April 26, 1999, the 38-year-old BBC star was shot dead on the doorstep of her home in Fulham, West London in what remains one of the UK's most high-profile unsolved murders. Barry George, who lived a few minutes from Jill's house, was jailed for eight years for her murder but was cleared after a retrial in 2008 following concerns raised over forensic evidence. The case remains open.

Having more knowledge about the source of GSR at the time of the murder could have been useful, according to Dr. Gallidabino and the rest of the research team.

"One single GSR particle was found in the pocket of the coat of Barry George (the suspect)" he says. "This particle was shown to have a really similar composition to those found on the victim, Jill Dando, according to techniques available at time. As no approved method existed to compare GSR compositions on different surfaces, however, this evidence was strongly contested. With our approach, we hope in the future to provide robust tools to law enforcement agencies to more efficiently address this kind of situation."

Explore further New forensic method could help police solve crimes

More information: Matteo D. Gallidabino et al. Quantitative profileprofile relationship (QPPR) modelling: a novel machine learning approach to predict and associate chemical characteristics of unspent ammunition from gunshot residue (GSR), The Analyst (2018). Journal information: Analyst Matteo D. Gallidabino et al. Quantitative profileprofile relationship (QPPR) modelling: a novel machine learning approach to predict and associate chemical characteristics of unspent ammunition from gunshot residue (GSR),(2018). DOI: 10.1039/C8AN01841C
An example of a bright single pulse, integrated between 1,1001,900 MHz, together with the average profile obtained by summing 5,000 spin periods around the bright pulse. The intensity of the average profile has been multiplied by a factor of 10. Credit: Bilous et al., 2018.

Astronomers have conducted a study of unusually bright single pulses (BSPs) from the millisecond pulsar PSR B174424A. The new research, which determined properties of these pulses, could contribute to understanding the nature of BSPs. The study is presented in a paper published November 5 on arXiv.org.

Located some 19,200 light years away in globular cluster Terzan 5, PSR B174424A, or B174424A for short (also known as Ter5A), is an eclipsing millisecond pulsar in an ablating binary system. The pulsar has a spin period of 11.56 milliseconds and has a relatively low-mass companion around 10 times less massive than our sun.

Observations of PSR B174424A have shown that it has highly variable radio eclipses and unusually bright pulses, with intensities up to 40 times the average pulse intensity, and pulse widths similar to that of the average pulse profile. The BSPs from PSR B174424A were detected in 2009 by 100-m Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT). These pulses were observed in the vicinity of the eclipses - in time near eclipse ingress and egress.

Unusually bright single pulses are an unexplained phenomenon. Researchers debate whether BSPs are a new, distinct population of pulses, or the result of a propagation effect. The properties of such pulses, like these detected in PSR B174424A, make them difficult to classify as a separate emission mode or a giant pulse.

In order to learn more about unusually bright single pulses, a trio of researchers led by Anna Bilous of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, has re-investigated observational data of PSR B174424A collected by GBT. They have analyzed eight multi-orbit observations of this pulsar to better determine the properties of its pulses.

"We present a study of unusually bright single pulses (BSPs) from a millisecond pulsar in an ablating binary system, B174424A, based on several multi-orbit observations with the Green Bank Telescope," the astronomers wrote in the paper.

In general, the scientists found that the properties of BSPs in PSR B174424A are difficult to explain by scintillation in the interstellar medium, by a separate emission mode, or by conventional giant pulses. These unusual properties are: clustering close to eclipses, unchanging average pulsed intensity or profile shape during BSP outbursts, widths similar to the width of the average profile, intensities up to 40 times the average pulse intensity, and correlated structures in dynamic spectra spanning several pulses.

According to the study, BSPs from PSR B174424A are similar to strong pulses observed from the so-called Black Widow binary pulsar (or PSR B1957+20). Given that the pulses from the Black Widow pulsar were found to be strong lensing by the intrabinary material, the authors of the paper suggest the same explanation in the case of PSR B174424A.

"We argue that the strong lensing likely occurs in B174424A as well," the researchers noted.

Assuming that strong lensing can explain, at least qualitatively the unusual properties of BSPs from PSR B174424A, the researchers calculated that the proposed lens could be even as small as five to 280 kilometers, and residing as close as 0.06 to 160 orbital separations from the pulsar.

The astronomers added that further observations of BSPs from pulsars could be helpful in examining the physical conditions in the intra-binary plasma and providing insights into the emission region within the pulsar magnetosphere.

Explore further Mode changing and giant pulses found in a millisecond pulsar

More information: Anna Bilous et al. Unusually bright single pulses from B1744-24A binary: a case of strong lensing? arXiv:1811.05766 [astro-ph.HE]. Anna Bilous et al. Unusually bright single pulses from B1744-24A binary: a case of strong lensing? arXiv:1811.05766 [astro-ph.HE]. arxiv.org/abs/1811.05766

 2018 Science X Network
The three branches of government are equal and similarly independent. This is how the Constitution guarantees checks and balances in the system. This is how a government of one is prevented, and how a healthy exchange of varying, if not diverse, opinions are encouraged. Excesses are capped, the best arguments win, and criticism is given and taken constructively to help each department do its job well.

All these sentences, however, are in the realm of the ideal. In real-life politics, government officials are keen on appointing like minds and allies to work with them. This is not altogether illogical: We normally work best with people we trust and have a history with. Because we share the same vision and agree on methods, we get rid of resistance and opposition and thus get things done faster. But that is also where the danger lies. To be fair, the predisposition for appointing only officials who hold back opposite views and outright criticism is not unique to this President. Predecessors have done the same, and have exhibited a low tolerance for those who do not think as they do. Remember how former President Benigno Aquino III castigated the media who do not report favorably on him or sidelined other elected officials who did not sport the same affiliations as he did. In this administration, we have seen how loyalty is rewarded and how articulating opinion arrived at independently can cause people their jobs, even their good name. This comes to mind as President Duterte prepares to choose from the Supreme Court justices short-listed by the Judicial and Bar Council. The next Chief Justice is expected to be named in the next few weeks.The leading candidate is acting Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, the most senior among the magistrates, who has been bypassed more than once. The last time he was considered for the post, Carpio declined his nomination. He had just voted against the quo warranto petition that eventually ousted then-Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, and he said he did not want to benefit from a decision to which he disagreed. To say that he and the President are not on the same page in a fundamental national issue would be an understatement. Carpio is known for his judicial activism in asserting our claim in the South China Sea, while the President has bent over backward to avoid offending Beijing. There are assurances, of course, from the presidential spokesman that this will not prevent the President from acknowledging the fact that Carpio deserves the post. Unfortunately, we have trouble taking the spokesmans words seriously. If at all, there must be a distinction between criticism for politics sake, and substantive criticism. One creates noise and discord; the other elevates the discourse. We hope the President will be able to tell the difference.
Participants from communities along the coast of East Africa discuss fishing regulations at a recent fisher forum. CREDIT: Credit: E. Darling/WCS.

A study of 89 fishing communities in East Africa has found that good neighbors who agree with common proposals to improve shared fisheries management are uncommon, illustrating that the "tragedy of the commons" dilemma is alive for many fisheries facing sustainable use challenges.

Fortunately, the authors of the newly published paper also discovered that neighborliness appears to depend on predictable factors such as activities being proposed, the perceptions of the costs and benefits, and the national historical context of development and conflicts. And, the researchers say, some proposals for improving fishing can probably be handled by friendly get-togethers while others will require larger scales of governance and less-friendly enforcement. The implication is that achieving global fisheries sustainability will need some combination of informal agreements and consequential enforcement for those failing to comply.

The study titled "Demographic variability and scales of agreement and disagreement over resource management restrictions" appears online in the journal Ecology and Society. Authors Dr. Tim McClanahan and C.A. Abunge from the Wildlife Conservation Society based the study on interviews with nearly 2000 marine fishers in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar.

This study is a first-of-its kind to look at the perceptions of fisheries restrictions between neighboring communities in four African countries that share fishing grounds. The study was stimulated by the ever-increasing responsibilities put on communities to manage their fisheries resources in the context of historical failures by national governments.

From previous work, researchers knew the perceptions of restriction benefits within fishing communities could be strong for some types of low-cost restrictions such as minimum sizes at capture and allowable fishing gears. The question being addressed in this study was whether these same perceptions would match when looking at a community's nearest neighbors and for larger-scale management recommendations such as restrictions of species capture and protected areas.

The researchers found that members from different communities shared more positive outlooks on lax restrictions but still less agreement than among their own community members. Among stricter and large-scale restrictions, agreements between neighbors were uncommon. The levels of agreement on restrictions between different communities depended on numbers of people, economic development, communication capacities and past histories of resource management conflictsall of which led to less agreement among neighbors. This finding suggests there are limits on how much communities can manage fisheries through agreed-on behaviorsa critical element in the smooth functioning of societies.

The researchers suggest that more agreements can be reached by first finding common ground between communities and their preferences. To do this, polling people and finding their preferences can avoid unworkable plans or outcomes that only benefit a few.

"Our investigations of these communities tells us that perceptions of fairness and justice were at the core of disagreements," said McClanahan, Senior Conservation Scientist for WCS and a co-author of the study. "Transparent justice procedures should be promoted to improve compliance with proposed fisheries restrictions."

The authors also noted that the scales of human agreement and governance are smaller than the scales at which resources for many marine animals depend. A mismatch between scales of human responsibility and the resource needs of animals creates a great challenge for promoting fisheries sustainability in coral reefs and global fisheries.

Explore further Surveys find that despite economic challenges Malagasy fishers support fishing regulations

More information: Tim R. McClanahan et al, Demographic variability and scales of agreement and disagreement over resource management restrictions, Ecology and Society (2018). Journal information: Ecology and Society Tim R. McClanahan et al, Demographic variability and scales of agreement and disagreement over resource management restrictions,(2018). DOI: 10.5751/ES-10544-230433
Artistic representation depicting a cleaner environment within the combustion cylinder of a vehicle engine highlighting the link between clean combustion and a sustainable future. Credit: KAUST; Xavier Pita

A compound made from the glycerol by-product of biodiesel production could promote cleaner burning in vehicle engines.

The potential of glycerol waste from biodiesel production to be simply converted into a clean-burning sustainable fuel is being explored by scientists at KAUST's Clean Combustion Research Center.

"As one of the world's leading teams in combustion research and innovation, we are always looking into new fuels and additives that help maximize engine efficiency and minimize environmental pollution," says research scientist Binod Giri.

Concern over diminishing fossil fuel reserves and the environmental damage caused by current fuel technologies is driving interest in more sustainable and cleaner fuels. One major avenue to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels is by producing biodiesel from waste vegetable oils and animal fats. Burning glycerol carbonate generated from the excess glycerol produced by biodiesel production offers the extra advantage of greatly reducing emissions of the sooty particulates that cause respiratory disease.

This work on glycerol carbonate also supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify the Kingdom's economy from its current reliance on the oil industry.

Giri explains that this research stems from the idea that some of the hydrocarbons derived from crude oil, which contain only hydrogen and carbon, can be replaced with compounds that also contain oxygen. As well as reducing particulate emissions, burning these oxygenated compounds generates less carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to global warming.

Oxygenated compounds are known to burn with near-zero soot emissions if the oxygen content is in excess of 33 percent by mass. The oxygen content of glycerol carbonate is 59 percent. The researchers used computational analysis to explore the effect of differing pressures and temperatures on the combustion reactions. This allowed them to identify conditions in which glycerol carbonate will burn cleanly, while also generating the compound 3-hydroxypropanal, which is known to greatly reduce the production of soot.

"Our results show that glycerol carbonate has great potential to promote cleaner combustion as a fuel additive," Giri concludes.

Investigating the chemistry of fuels under engine-relevant extreme temperatures and pressures is a significant challenge. The KAUST researchers are collaborating with Milan Szori and Bela Viskolcz at the University of Miskolc in Hungary, which "brings together two world-leading teams with the expertise to understand the complexities of combustion chemistry," Giri explains.

Further research aims to reveal how to optimize blending glycerol carbonate with conventional fuels. "This work has the potential to change the future directions of fuel-engine research," says Aamir Farooq who supervised this work. He and his colleagues are excited about their possible contribution to developing cleaner and greener transportationsystems worldwide.

Explore further Fueling a cleaner combustion

More information: Milan Szori et al. Glycerol carbonate as a fuel additive for a sustainable future, Sustainable Energy & Fuels (2018). Milan Szori et al. Glycerol carbonate as a fuel additive for a sustainable future,(2018). DOI: 10.1039/C8SE00207J
A worker during a union session in Oshawa, Ontario on November 26, 2018 after General Motors announced plans to close its plant in the Canadian city

Canadian auto workers walked off the job in protest Monday as General Motors said it would shutter a plant that has been a fixture of Oshawa, Ontario since 1953drawing protests from union bosses and the country's prime minister.

News of the pending shutdown came as part of a massive restructuring announced earlier by the US auto giant that includes cutting thousands of jobs and closing seven plants worldwide to save US$6 billion.

Workers put down their tools at the start of their shift, forcing assembly lines to shut down for the day.

In a press release, GM touted its "transformation for the future," focused on new electric and self-driving vehicles, while only mentioning the plant closures in short bullets.

Outside the front gate of the Oshawa plant, some gathered in the freezing rain to block trucks from delivering parts and to express their outrage over what they saw as a betrayal, by a company that in 2009 received billions from the Canadian and Ontario governments to maintain operations in Canada.

"It's a slap in the face," said one employee of seven years, who gave only her first name Jackie.

"I just bought a brand new truck, I'm kind of worried for my family. If GM leaves, I don't know what's going to happen," echoed Karin Wright, raising the prospect of having to sell her home and relocate.

An auto union member in Oshawa, Ontariowhere General Motors has announced plans to shutter its plant next year

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expressed his "deep disappointment" to General Motors chair and chief executive Mary Barra over its decision to halt production in Oshawa in December 2019.

Trudeau said the plant east of Toronto and its workers had been "part of the heart and soul" of the community for generations and pledged government support for their families.

In parliament, the prime minister said the move would have a "significant impact on the full community, as well as the network of suppliers."

'One hell of a fight'

GM employs 23,000 workers in Canada, including at this and two other car and engine assembly plants, research facilities and its Canadian subsidiary's headquarters.

The Oshawa closure will directly affect more than 2,500 workers who produce the Chevrolet Impala and the Cadillac XTS, as well as Silverado and Sierra heavy duty pick-up trucks.

General Motors announced the closure of a factory in Oshawa, in the Canadian province of Ontario, affecting more than 2,500 workers

Production began in 1953 and at its peak in the 1980s, the plant employed roughly 23,000 people. The plant recently underwent a retooling with the help of a Can$500 million federal grant.

Its operations even became a talking point for US President Donald Trump during tense Canada-US negotiations to revamp a continental trade pact.

"Every time we have a problem with a point, I just put up a picture of a Chevrolet Impala," Trump said in off-the-record comments to Bloomberg that were reported by the Toronto Star.

Federal Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, speaking to reporters in the House of Commons foyer, signaled the government's intention to "continue to defend the automotive sector."

"There is a long-standing, proud history in terms of General Motors's presence in Oshawa, so now to see this plant close... is incredibly devastating," Bains said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford vowed to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with affected workers. "We'll do whatever it takes to make sure they get back on their feet and they get proper (re)training."

General Motors workers left the plant in Oshawa, Ontario, on November 26, 2018, after the company announced its closure

When pressed about trying to get GM to reverse course, he replied: "that ship has already left the dock."

But Jerry Dias of Unifor, the Canadian autoworkers union, said promised to fight a shutdown that "makes no sense," noting workers had signed a contract with GM that guaranteed no Canadian plant closures until at least 2020.

"We told them, they are not closing our damn plant without one hell of a fight," he told members after meeting with GM executives.

 2018 AFP
Vesicle and AFM tip. Credit: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Cells communicate by sending little fat balls to one another. Wouter Roos, professor of Molecular Biophysics at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, together with colleagues from Amsterdam and Utrecht, is the first to describe the mechanical properties of such fat balls, called exosomes. By studying exosomes of patients with a blood disorder, the researchers obtained unexpected results.

"Exosomes from their blood cells have very different properties than those from healthy individuals," Roos concludes. "That offers new possibilities in diagnosis and nanomedicine." The results were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications on 23 November.

That little balls made of fat and proteins move in and out of cells has been known for a long time. Cells compose those balls using a small part of the cell membrane, the outer wall of the cell. For a long time, it was thought that these exosomes mainly cleaned up waste from the cell. But for about 15 years, researchers have known that these exosomes are important for the communication between cells.

"So far, we have only studied them in groups to discover their properties. But thanks to a special microscope, we could now study and describe one single exosome," says Roos.

Playing with a needle

Roos started the research a few years ago in Amsterdam together with professor in physics of life processes Gijs Wuite and finished it after his arrival in Groningen. "We first looked at the red blood cell exosomes with a touch microscope," says Roos. "This AFM feels over the surface with a needle to discern what the surface looks like."

This is a bit like how a blind person feels braille letters. "We then tested the mechanical properties by pressing these small fat balls. This provides an idea of the firmness and flexibility of the exosome." By doing so, the researchers were the first to map the properties of exosomes from red blood cells.

"Next, we looked at red blood cells of people with spherocytosis. Patients with this condition have red blood cells that are far too round and stiff. We expected that their vesicles would be harder, too. But to our surprise, they turned out to be softer."

That observation led to the insight that the soft parts of the cell form the vesicles. "We knew that people with spherocytosis make more vesicles, but we never thought that they would show such unexpected behaviour. That insight leads to many new questions, which might help to understand the genesis of the stiff red blood cells in spherocytosis, and may lead to new diagnostics."

There are still many mysteries left. "What exactly is inside such an exosome, for example? What information do they transfer? And how do they know to which cell they should transfer that information? Once we know this for healthy cells, we can also better understand how the communication in spherocytosis and cancer progresses. And then we can also develop techniques to better detect those exosomes and make medicines that influence their communication."

There is an important reason that Roos and others delve into the properties of exosomes. "Not only do healthy cells communicate with exosomes, but so do tumour cells. If we understand them better, we may be able to discover differences between exosomes of healthy cells and exosomes of tumour cells. We may then be able to use them in diagnostics and in the development of anti-cancer drugs," explains Roos. In the Netherlands alone, there are nine research groups working on this subject, organised in the Cancer-ID partnership.

Explore further A new approach to developing a vaccine against vivax malaria

More information: Daan Vorselen et al. The fluid membrane determines mechanics of erythrocyte extracellular vesicles and is softened in hereditary spherocytosis, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Daan Vorselen et al. The fluid membrane determines mechanics of erythrocyte extracellular vesicles and is softened in hereditary spherocytosis,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07445-x
Some police reform efforts encourage stations to hire more educated officers. Credit: vchal/shutterstock.com

In the wake of controversial and widely publicized incidents involving the use of deadly force by the police against racial and ethnic minorities, President Obama appointed the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing in 2015 to propose ways to improve policing in the U.S.

One of the task force's many recommendations called for efforts to encourage higher education for police officers. Underpinning this recommendation was an optimistic assumption that having a college education makes police officers more sensitive and responsive to the distinctive needs of the communities they serve. But is this true?

Despite the fact that the proportion of college-educated officers has risen 11-fold since 1960, researchers know surprisingly little about whether and how such officers differ from their less educated peers in their day-to-day encounters with citizens.

To find out, we collected data on more than 63,000 traffic stops made by 842 officers in St. Louis, Missouri during 2013 to see if those made by officers with a college degree  a little less than 30 percent of the total  differed significantly from those made by others. We chose traffic stops because they are the most common point of contact between police and citizens, and often have served as flashpoints for community unrest.

Officers with college degrees were significantly more likely to pull over drivers for less serious violations. For example, they were 50 percent more likely than officers without a college degree to stop drivers for a moving violation other than speeding, such as failure to signal when changing lanes. They were three times as likely to perform consent searches of drivers or their vehicles, and twice as likely to make arrests on discretionary grounds.

These findings are in line with a study of racial profiling in St. Louis in 2007. That study also found college-educated officers were more likely than others to search the vehicles they pulled over.

Do such differences reflect attitudes that predate the officers' college degree or somehow were acquired during their pursuit of that degree? That cannot be determined from the data available to us.

Our preliminary interpretation is that having a college degree is a proxy for ambition, which expresses itself in the officers' routine enforcement practices.

College-educated officers may be more focused than their peers on achieving promotions and so are more closely attuned to the traditional reward structure of policing, which is based primarily on stops, finding contraband and arrests. A study of American officers' promotional aspirations shows that those with a bachelor's degree are almost twice as likely to covet promotion as officers with only a high school diploma.

Whatever the explanation, the fact that college-degreed officers appear to be more zealous than others in enforcing the law in traffic stops calls into question the effectiveness of simply hiring more of them as a way to improve police-community relations.

We are not suggesting that departments should avoid recruiting college-educated men and women. Far from it. A savvy reform-oriented police manager might be well-advised to capitalize on college-degreed officers' apparently greater ambition, using it as a vehicle for implementing change.

They could start by taking a page out of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's book. The agency recently has introduced a scheme that expands the performance measures by which patrol officers are evaluated, requiring them to document their community engagement. So instead of being rewarded solely for enforcement activities, such as number of arrests and traffic stops, officers are rewarded for activities such as attending neighborhood meetings or volunteering for a community organization.

Once that is done, our study suggests that college-educated officers will be first to recognize and adopt the new set of policy priorities.

Explore further Why it's hard to tell where police are treating minorities unfairly

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
A composite image of the Western hemisphere of the Earth. Credit: NASA

A Washington State University researcher has found that one-fourth of the carbon held by soil is bound to minerals as far as six feet below the surface. The discovery opens a new possibility for dealing with the element as it continues to warm the Earth's atmosphere.

One hitch: Most of that carbon is concentrated deep beneath the world's wet forests, and they won't sequester as much as global temperatures continue to rise.

Marc Kramer, an associate professor of environmental chemistry at WSU Vancouver, drew on new data from soils around the world to describe how water dissolves organic carbon and takes it deep into the soil, where it is physically and chemically bound to minerals. Kramer and Oliver Chadwick, a soil scientist at the University of California Santa Barbara, estimate that this pathway is retaining about 600 billion metric tons, or gigatons, of carbon. That's more than twice the carbon added to the atmosphere since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

Scientists still need to find a way to take advantage of this finding and move some of the atmosphere's extra carbon underground, but Kramer says the soils can easily retain more. For starters, a new understanding of the pathway is "a major breakthrough" in our understanding of how carbon goes underground and stays there, he said.

"We know less about the soils on Earth than we do about the surface of Mars," said Kramer, whose work appears in the journal Nature Climate Change. "Before we can start thinking about storing carbon in the ground, we need to actually understand how it gets there and how likely it is to stick around. This finding highlights a major breakthrough in our understanding."

The study is the first global-scale evaluation of the role soil plays in dissolved organic carbon and the minerals that help store it. Kramer analyzed soils and climate data from the Americas, New Caledonia, Indonesia and Europe, and drew from more than 65 sites sampled to a depth of six feet from the National Science Foundation-funded National Ecological Observatory Network.

"These data show what kind of big science you can do when you have a national ecological observatory," Kramer said. For one thing, they let the researchers construct a global-scale map for this pathway of soil carbon accumulation.

Comparing different ecosystems, Kramer saw that moist environments sequestered far more carbon than dry ones. In desert climates, where rain is scarce and water easily evaporates, reactive minerals retain less than 6 percent of the soil's organic carbon. Dry forests are not much better. But wet forests can have as much as half their total carbon bound up by reactive minerals.

Wet forests tend to be more productive, with thick layers of organic matter from which water will leach carbon and transport it to minerals as much as six feet below the surface.

"This is one of the most persistent mechanisms that we know of for how carbon accumulates," Kramer said.

But while climate change is unlikely to directly affect the deep mineral-bound carbon, it can influence the pathway by which the carbon is buried. That is because the delivery system depends on water to leach carbon from roots, fallen leaves and other organic matter near the surface and carry it deep into the soil, where it will attach to iron- and aluminum-rich minerals eager to form strong bonds.

If temperatures near the surface warm, there can be less water moving through soils even if rainfall amounts stay the same or increase. More of the water that does fall can be lost to evaporation and plant respiration, making less water available to move carbon for long-term storage.

Explore further Researcher sees huge carbon sink in soil minerals

More information: Marc G. Kramer et al, Climate-driven thresholds in reactive mineral retention of soil carbon at the global scale, Nature Climate Change (2018). Journal information: Nature Climate Change Marc G. Kramer et al, Climate-driven thresholds in reactive mineral retention of soil carbon at the global scale,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-018-0341-4
Europes Vega small launcher is set to demonstrate its extended capability to deploy multiple light satellites using its new versatile Small Satellites Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser, mid-2019. Credit: European Space Agency

Vega is proving its reliability. Based on this heritage, ESA and European industry are building new elements that will increase Vega's performance, capabilities and flexibility from mid-2019.

A proof of concept flight on Vega of the Small Spacecraft Mission Service is planned for mid-2019.

It offers more low cost ride-share launch opportunities into low Earth orbit for small satellites below 500 kg, from CubeSats to microsats and minisats, technology demonstrators to mega-constellations.

This service is based on a range of specially developed dispensers which will allow launch operator Arianespace at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana to optimise Vega launch capacities.

This is expected to bring socio-economic benefits to Europe, particularly in the light satellite applications business.

Following this, a consolidated Vega, Vega-C will take its first flight at the end of 2019 to carry larger, heavier payloads up to 2300 kg.

It has new more powerful first and second stage motors, the P120C and Zefiro-40 respectively, providing the thrust at liftoff. Both motors were successfully tested this summer.

Vega-C's enhanced liquid-fuelled fourth stage with improved avionics, greater capacity and main engine reignition capability will give more flexibility for multi-payload missions.

Space Rider aims to provide Europe with an affordable, independent, reusable end-to-end integrated space transportation system for routine access and return from low orbit. It will be used to transport payloads for an array of applications, orbit altitudes and inclinations. Credit: ESA-Jacky Huart. Credit: European Space Agency

This Attitude Vernier Upper Module+, or AVUM+, was tested recently at ESA's Technical Centre in the Netherlands to prove it can withstand the forces of launch.

A larger, lighter fairing has been developed with new materials and manufacturing techniques.

ESA's Space Rider reentry vehicle will be launched on Vega-C. It will provide an in-orbit platform for payloads of up to 800 kg.

Its Orbital Service Module, a modified version of the Vega-C AVUM+, extends the time that can be spent in orbit by at least two months before Space Rider returns with its cargo to Earth to land on ground.

The maiden flight is planned for 2021.

A Vega electrical nudge upper stage, Venus, will transfer one-tonne satellites into higher orbits and will be used on Vega-C to extend its market reach to more complex scientific missions and for constellation replacement services.

Credit: European Space Agency

It shares development with Space Rider's orbital service module thereby minimising recurring costs whilst achieving new applications.

An evolution of Vega, Vega-E, with a family of configurations based on common building blocks will further increase competitiveness beyond 2025.

Recent tests have included the hot firing of the subscale thrust chamber of the upper stage M10 engine. Tests of the fullscale thrust chamber are planned for next year.

Details of Vega's developments were presented at the 69th International Astronautical Congress on 15 October 2018, in Bremen, Germany (www.iafastro.org/). Download the presentation here (.pdf) and paper submitted to the IAC here (.pdf).

These Vega developments are the result of the vision set out at the ESA Council Meeting at Ministerial Level in 2014. In November 2019, the Ministerial Council will meet again to discuss Space19+ to direct Europe's 'next generation' ambitions in space, and address the challenges facing not only the European space sector but also European society as a whole.

Explore further Vega launches Earth observation satellite for Morocco
In this undated photo provided on Nov. 26, 2018, by Seeker, Ben Lecomte swims in the Pacific Ocean. (Seeker via AP)

A French-American man has given up his attempt to swim across the Pacific Ocean after a storm broke the mainsail of his support ship, organizers said Monday.

Ben Lecomte, who had completed about 1,500 nautical miles (2,780 kilometers) of the 5,000-mile (9,260-kilometer) journey, called the premature end to the swim a deep disappointment.

"We've faced treacherous winds, rain and ocean swells that have forced us to alter our course, and the irreparable damage to the sail is an insurmountable blow," he said in a news release.

The announcement was made by Seeker, a San Francisco-based online science publisher that partnered with Lecomte and has been documenting his attempt.

He had set out on June 5 from Japan's Pacific coast and was swimming an average of eight hours a day. Violent storms had already forced him to interrupt the swim after 500 nautical miles and return to Japan in late July. The mainsail broke on Nov. 10.

The damaged ship and Lecomte are slowly making their way to Hawaii. They are collecting data on plastic pollution in the ocean, one of the scientific aims of the swim.

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Credit: The Astrophysical Journal

Brazilian astronomer Denilso Camargo has recently discovered five new globular clusters in the Milky Way's bulge that could offer essential clues on the formation and evolution of our galaxy's innermost regions. The newly identified clusters, which are old and metal-poor, have also the potential to improve our understanding of the structure as well as kinematics of the galactic bulge.

Globular clusters (GCs) are spheroidal collections of tightly bound stars orbiting galaxies perceived as natural laboratories enabling studies on stellar and chemical evolution. These objects are relatively rare, as there are just over 200 such clusters so far identified in the Milky Way. Therefore, expanding this currently short list of GCs is of high importance for astronomers.

Given that the formation and evolution of the inner Milky Way still baffles scientists and remains the subject of intense debate, finding new GCs in the galactic bulge could be much helpful in resolving these uncertainties.

Denilso Camargo of the Colegio Militar de Porto Alegre, Brazil, in June 2018 reported his discovery of five new globular clusters in the galactic bulge. The newly detected GCs, designated Camargo 1102 to 1106, were found by analyzing images collected by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft. The cluster nature of the objects was confirmed by photometric data from the 2MASS survery and ESA's Gaia satellite (second data release or DR2).

According to Camargo, the new clusters could provide some hints into the nature of the Milky Way's central region.

"The discovery of a globular cluster is in itself a fact of great importance for the astronomy. In addition, they were the first stellar systems formed in the early Universe and may be considered true living fossils from which the galaxies like Milky Way were built. Then, they are a powerful tool to study the formation and early evolution of galaxies, especially the Milky Way," Camargo told Astrowatch.net.

He noted that the new finding can help us answer some questions that remain open about the structure and kinematics of the galactic bulge.

"They present ages and metallicities consistent with the galactic halo globular clusters and therefore may represent an extension of the halo in the Galaxy central region. On the other hand, the new findings present Gaia-DR2 velocities consistent with bulge globular clusters, or very inner halo, thus, they may be part of a classical bulge galactic component," Camargo added.

The new clusters have ages ranging from 12.5 to 13.5 billion years and metallicities between 1.5 and 1.8 dex. Camargo 1102 is situated over the galactic bar on the far side of the Milky Way's center, at a distance of about 27,000 light years from the Earth, and some 2,800 light years from the galactic center. Other four clusters are located in the near side of the Milky Way, from 14,700 to 18,900 light years away from our planet and within 17,600 light years from the galactic center, but closer to the galactic plane.

Parameters of these five GCs suggest that they were formed before the universe had been enriched in metals by supernovae (SNe). In general, SNe create, fuse and eject chemical elements produced by nucleosynthesis. All elements heavier than iron are believed to be formed as a result of SNe explosions.

While Camargo currently continues his ongoing search for new GCs by analyzing data from Gaia, WISE and 2MASS, he encourages astronomers to conduct further studies of the newly found clusters.

"Deeper photometry like that from the ESO's Very Large Telescope could provide more accurate parameters for the new findings," he concluded.

Explore further Seven new embedded clusters detected in the Galactic halo

More information: Denilso Camargo. Five New Globular Clusters Discovered in the Galactic Bulge, The Astrophysical Journal (2018). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Denilso Camargo. Five New Globular Clusters Discovered in the Galactic Bulge,(2018). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/aacc68

Provided by Astrowatch.net
Hellisheii Geothermal Power Plant, Iceland. Credit: Shutterstock

The recent IPCC report has made it clear that we need to change our energy supply from fossils to renewable energy if we want to avoid catastrophic climate change. This transition has to happen now and it has to happen fast.

The good news is: renewable energy is a wonderful thing. As countless studies have shown, it can be cheap, low-carbon, good for regional development, and bring about great benefits for local people.

But, our new research cautions that these benefits are not inherent to renewable energy development and that each project needs to be carefully assessed on its merits.

Through a case study in Iceland, we show how the "green" image of renewable energy sometimes makes the public overlook the negative impacts of these technologies.

As a result, some of Iceland's renewable energy resources have been misused to generate private profits for companies outside of the country. While, the benefits for the local population are, at best, questionable and large areas of unique nature have been lost forever.

A developmental model based on heavy industry

In the study, which was recently published in the journal Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, we investigated the impacts of two large-scale power projects built recently in Iceland: the Karahnjukar hydropower project in east Iceland, and the Hellisheii geothermal plant in the southwest. They are the biggest power plants of their kind in the country.

For our investigation, we analysed scientific literature, and we looked at homepages, reports and statistics. Finally, we interviewed 18 actors from the Icelandic energy sector (5), politicians (5), and experts from NGOs (3) and academia (5).

We found that the two projects were the outcome of an aggressive industrialisation strategy driven by successive Icelandic governments over a number of decades, which have essentially used the country's renewable energy sources to prop up other environmentally damaging industries.

This strategy entailed minimum environmental regulations, guaranteed low-energy prices, and an industry-friendly tax regime, designed to attract heavy industry, in particular power-intense aluminium smelters to Iceland.

As an incentive, the Icelandic government, together with the country's publically owned power company Landsvirkjun, promised to provide the required energy from renewable sources, namely hydro and geothermal, to companies that agreed to set up factories in the country.

This "clean" energy option was offered at very competitive rates and with a guarantee of supply for several years.

Let's look at each project in turn to see what went wrong and what lessons can be learnt.

In the study, we investigated the impacts of two large-scale power projects in Iceland: the Karahnjukar hydropower project in east Iceland, and the Hellisheii geothermal plant in the southwest. They are the biggest power plants of their kind in the country. Credit: Forskerzonen / ScienceNordic. With graphics from Vecteezy.com

1: A mammoth hydropower project in a small country

In the early 2000s, large amounts of public money went into the energy sector to live up to the promises made to private sector investors.

One of the following projects is the the Karahnjukar hydropower project. It consists of several reservoirs, tunnels, and the Fljotsdalur power station. It generates approximately 5,000 GWh per year, accounting for more than one fourth of all electricity produced in Iceland in 2016. All of this energy is used to power a big aluminium smelter built by the global company, Alcoa, on the east coast of the country.

The project serves as an illustrative case for two phenomena: First, it shows how the green label of renewable energy can be misused to justify a costly and arguably quite destructive industrialisation. Second, it shows what can go wrong if a small country makes deals with a big transnational company whose decisions are predominantly driven by the hunt for economic profits.

Destruction in the name of progress

The power plant and the power-intense aluminium smelter must be seen as interlinked projects, because Alcoa's commitment to build the smelter was the precondition for the power project going ahead, and vice-versa.

The Icelandic government at that time hoped that the development would boost the regional economy in the East of the country. To support this goal, the minister of the environment overrode the environmental impact assessment that vetoed the hydro energy project because of its destructive impact on the local environment.

With the Karahnjukar project, unique geological formations and landscapes in and along the Hafrahvammagljufur canyon were irredeemably lost and downstream ecosystems suffered negative impacts that are yet to be fully understood. For example, the local fish population in Lake Lagarfljot collapsed and Iceland's wild reindeer population lost part of its grazing and breeding grounds.

Who benefited from the projects?

The contract between Landsvirkjun and Alcoa turned out to be unfavourable for the state-run energy company. The energy prices paid by Alcoa are extremely low and tied to the volatile global market prices for aluminium. This makes revenue for Landsvirkjun very low and unpredictable.

In addition, Alcoa practiced a model of transfer pricing in Iceland to avoid paying the dues taxes in Iceland. This means that the local operation owes a great deal of money to its parent company based in Luxembourg. And so far, the local smelter has not generated any taxable profits, as all revenues are used to pay off the immense debt.

As a result, Iceland has not yet benefited from tax revenue from the smelter. This is particularly scandalous, as Alcoa has described the smelter in its 2012 annual report as a "profit leader" due to the low local energy prices.

2: Rapid expansion of geothermal power meets natural limits

While the Karahnjukar hydropower project shows what can go wrong when the green label of renewables is uncritically accepted, the Hellisheii geothermal plant shows what can happen when aggressive expansion ignores scientific concerns.

Iceland features many spectacular waterfalls and river canyons, which have been subject to renewable energy development for decades. Credit: Henner Busch

The plant is owned by a subsidiary of the publically owned power company Reykjavik Energy (OR) that operates in the capital region of Reykjavik. OR started constructing the plant in 2006. The plant was expanded to its full capacity of 303 MWe and 130 MWth by 2011 against scientific advice, which cautioned against excessive extraction rates.

Two years later, OR announced that the geothermal field decreased in activity due to excessive extraction of heat and that the plant would not be able to run at full capacity. In 2013, the plant ran at roughly 90 per cent of its capacity.

Output from the field is expected to decrease further by a few percent every year, resulting in big financial losses for OR.

Was it all just hot air?

Similar to the Karahnjukar project, the Hellisheii plant was established to meet the needs of heavy industry and in this case short-sighted political interests forced its rapid expansion beyond its environmental limits.

Not only did the plant lead to a big financial loss for OR and thus the municipalities that owned it, it also caused environmental and health-related problems.

For example, when geothermal energy is harnessed, water is extracted from hot geological formations. When the hot water or steam come to the surface, it often carries contaminants with it, such as sulphur or nitrogen. These elements are then emitted into the atmosphere as gasses or find their way into the waterways.

Sulphuric acid, in particular, is known to cause damage to the local environment and worsen respiratory conditions among local inhabitants. Studies show that health problems in the capital region of Reykjavik can be traced back to the emission of these gases from geothermal sources, including the Hellisheii geothermal plant.

What can we learn from Iceland?

To make it crystal-clear, we see a transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy as the only acceptable way forward. But the success of renewables is also dependent on the political framework that we set.

These two cases show what can go wrong when short-sighted strategies to foster industrial development dictate a country's political decision making.

The expected economic gain led to decisions that have degraded the natural landscape of Iceland, and have led to health hazards, with small economic benefits or even losses for the state in return.

Iceland demonstrates that renewable energy is not always beneficial and that we always need to ask questions about the purpose of our energy production.

In particular, there are two questions, which we should always keep in mind when assessing any new energy project: Who benefits from using a country's natural resources? And who bears the burden if it doesn't go to plan?

Asking these questions should help us to design the coming energy transition in a manner that really serves our societies as a whole.

Explore further Ethiopia opens plant to turn waste into energy

This story is republished courtesy of ScienceNordic, the trusted source for English-language science news from the Nordic countries. Read the original story here.
An ice-sheet in Greenlands Inglefield Land is hiding the Hiawatha crater. Credit: Natural History Museum of Denmark, Cryospheric Sciences Lab, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA

Scientists have discovered a 31km wide impact crater beneath the Hiawatha glacier in Greenland. The discovery, published in Science Advances, was made using airborne radar surveys which unveiled a circular bedrock depression beneath the ice. The presence of quartz and other grains and features on the ground helped the team confirm the finding  these showed signs of having been subjected to large shock pressures.

Analysis of the grains also shows that the impact was most likely made by an iron meteorite more than 1km wide. It would have occurred during the Pleistocene, between about 12,000 and 3m years ago. This is by no means the only large impact crater on Earth, and research shows just how much such features can teach us about the history of our planet  including the evolution of life. So how could the Greenland impact have changed our planet?

Many of the oldest impacts from space occurred on our planet's most ancient crusts and in the centre of its large, continental tectonic plates. Unfortunately, this crust is continually renewed  older rocks are destroyed by weathering processes and the remains are recycled into new rocks. This process destroys evidence of early impacts from large bodies. Also, many impact craters (often initially mistaken for extinct volcanic craters) have formed circular lakes, meaning that many features have been lost due to water erosion.

Despite this lack of evidence, we know that meteorite impacts can produce dramatic changes to the local environment. Larger ones can even have a drastic effect on the global environment  bringing about mass extinctions. The huge Chicxulub crater in Mexico, for example, is believed to have contributed to killing the dinosaurs.

An ice-sheet in Greenlands Inglefield Land is hiding the Hiawatha crater. Credit: Natural History Museum of Denmark, Cryospheric Sciences Lab, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA

But how can one localised impact wipe out entire species? The initial impact and shock wave from an asteroid can wipe clear life within a substantial radius. Everything gets scorched from the heat of the impact  producing a desolate barren landscape. Shock waves passing through the body of the planet can also give rise to destructive earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes.

But it is the lasting effects of the impact that has the potential to cause the most serious changes. A large volume of debris ejected from the crater can travel far and spread all over the world. As a result, an increased number of particles in the atmosphere can block out sunlight, changing the climate and preventing photosynthesis  ultimately having a devastating effect on the food chain. Eventually the particles in the atmosphere fall back to Earth and light returns, along with life. The species that survive may be better able to prosper in a new world where many larger creatures, as was the case with the dinosaurs, have become extinct.

Clearly, such impact events have redirected the history of the Earth and paved the way to aid in the evolution of our own species. It is interesting to think about whether the world would be the same as it is today if the Chicxulub impact never happened  or even the impact found in Greenland.

Barringer crater. Credit: D. Roddy (LPI)/NASA

Greenland extinction?

There is evidence that three impacts are possibly related to mass extinction events, including the Cretaceous-Palegene events caused by Chicxulub. We also know that the majority of marine species and terrestrial vertebrates became extinct during the Permian Triassic event some 252m years ago, thought to be caused by the asteroid impact leaving behind the Wilkes Land Crater in Antarctica. Meanwhile, the Popigia impact in Siberia about 35m years ago is linked with the Eocene-Oligocene event, which wiped out many marine species.

All these impacts created craters a whopping 100km across or more (170km for Chicxulub), suggesting that the 31km crater in Greenland may not have been as devastating to the Earth. However, it would have drastically changed the local environment and reset the life race within that area.

If it is really true that the Greenland crater was created 12,000 years ago or more, it could explain a mysterious feature called the Younger Dryas event. This was a sudden and dramatic change in climate  a glacial period about 12,900 to 11,700 years ago, followed by gradual climatic warming. Previously, scientists believed that this event was caused by a meteor exploding before impact, which would also have caused changes to the local environment.

Kurt Kjr collecting sand samples at the front of Hiawatha Glacier. Credit: Svend Funder

The abrupt climate change is thought to have had a drastic effect on the large mammals of North America. For example, it is believed to have helped cause extinction of the mammoths and mastodons. We know that most woolly mammoth populations disappeared between 14,000 and 10,000 years ago. Early human hunter gatherers may have also had to adapt to cope with the change in climate from this event by changing hunting habits or even migrating to more suitable areas.

Clearly impact from space can have devastating consequences for life on Earth. So what if one hit today? The Minor Planet Centre in Massachusetts, US, has been collecting and cataloguing the orbits of asteroids and comets since 1947, and NASA has a similar Near Earth Objects programme. If a body is discovered to be on an intercept course there are prevention plans in place, ranging from deflection and launching spacecraft to move the asteroids to a new orbit to blowing the asteroid up. Unfortunately, all these have their drawbacks and take years to plan  meaning this work may be too little too late.

Indeed, the late physicist Stephen Hawkins stated that an asteroid collision "is the biggest threat to our planet" and one that we cannot have control over. Despite all our monitoring and preparation, a large body may sneak up quickly. And, as previous impacts have taught us, while the damage may not be enough to destroy the world, it could drastically change it  maybe even for the better.

Explore further Crater that killed the dinosaurs reveals how broken rocks can flow like liquid

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Lions, and the Serengeti as a whole, are under increasing pressure. Credit: Dr Colin Beale

Experts in conservation and environmental change at the University of York comment on the human interactions with the wildlife of the Serengeti, following the story of the Maasai Mara lion pride in the BBC's Dynasties.

Dr. Colin Beale, savannah ecologist and conservation biologist at the Univeristy of York's Department of Biology, said: "The latest BBC's Dynasties episode shows the challenges Charm and Sienna from the Masai Mara's famous Marsh Pride face as they seek to raise their cubs.

"Setting out to tell new stories about this pride, perhaps the Kardashian's of the wildlife documentary world thanks to their starring role in Big Cats Diaries, would have been a major challenge for the film crew. Filming in one of the best known protected areas in the world, none of them can have imagined the pervading influence of humans on their story, until disaster struck in December 2015.

"The Masai Mara Reserve is the smaller, Kenyan part of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, home to an iconic migration of around two million large mammals and the conservation focus of one of the largest contiguous collections of protected areas on the planet. Yet as Dynasties shows all too tragically, even here lions are threatened.

Greatest threat

"The IUCN, the World Conservation Union, identifies the two greatest threats to lions is the decline of natural prey and conflict with people, such as the poisoning we saw depicted on Dynasties.

"In fact, the two are related: as larger mammals are removed from the landscape by a combination of hunting for bushmeat and competition over grass with growing livestock numbers, lions turn to cattle when wildlife is in short supply, exacerbating conflicts.

"In the case of the Marsh pride poisoning, December is always a lean time for the pride, with the wildebeest herds far away in Tanzania, and a shortage of grass in village areas forcing pastoralists to bring large numbers of cattle into the reserve (often at night to avoid detection, but exactly when lions hunt) to find forage.

Critically endangered

"This poisoning was typical; the lions killed a cow during the night and the next day the carcass was poisoned by a herder in 'revenge'. When the lions returned the following night to finish their meal they were poisoned. Bibi, an older female not shown in the film, Sienna and the young male all died, alongside six African white-backed vultures, themselves categorised as Critically Endangered thanks to the same threats faced by lions.

Professor Rob Marchant photographed one of the lions of the Maasai Bomas pride during his field work. Credit: University of York

"Such encroachment into the Mara Reserve by cattle is reducing the grass available for wildlife such that the wildebeest migration now routinely spends a month less than in Kenya than it used to a decade ago, and most other large animal populations are falling.

"In Tanzania too the Serengeti is under increasing pressure; poisonings, such as those shown with such tragic consequences for Charm's pride are far too common. We we encountered seven poisoned carcasses while walking transects across the reserves in 2015 and 2016, and our research shows that bushmeat hunting removes a huge number of large mammals each year.

Complex issue

"Tackling these challenges is an extremely complex issue; we can't simply blame the people who live nearby, without recalling that when these reserves were created, people were removed by a colonialist government from their traditional grazing areas. While livestock grazing may squeeze wildlife into smaller areas today, conservationists have equally squeezed people out of their preferred areas before.

"Solving this is complex, but I share the optimism of Dr. Bhalla featured in the programme that, with political will, appropriate financial resources, and an evidence-based approach the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem can remain a global treasure for future generations.

"Right now it is one of the most extraordinary natural history sights in the world; ecotourism is the primary source of funding in the area, so I would encourage people to visit and enjoy."

Professor Rob Marchant, from the Department of Environment and Geography, said: "Communities in East Africa have always had to deal with human-wildlife conflict and adapted their homes with Acacia thorn fences to protect livestock from predation.

"As populations grow, development and transition to sedentary agriculture, communities begin to settle around National Parks, increasing the potential for conflict with wild animals.

"I am currently working in East Africa on a project investigating land, people, conservation, and environment interactions across the Serengeti landscape.

"We are focusing on charting the past 300 years so that we can build land-use scenarios for the next 50 years to help create plans that allow space for development and conservation, which could hopefully reduce human-wildlife conflicts."

Explore further India probes death of 12 endangered lions
Panoramic view of Deception Island. Credit: Antonio Alvarez Valero

A large volcanic eruption shook Deception Island in Antarctica 3,980 years ago, and not 8,300, as it was previously thought, according to an international study published in Scientific Reports, in which researchers from the Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera (ICTJA-CSIC) have participated. This event was the largest eruption in the austral continent during the Holocene (the last 11,700 years after the last great glaciation on Earth), and was comparable in volume of ejected rock to the Tambora volcano eruption in 1815. The eruption formed the caldera of the volcano, one of the most active in Antarctica, with more than 20 eruptions registered in the last 200 years.

According to the new study, a volcanic caldera collapse took place 3980 years ago. The emptying of the magmatic chamber, the zone of magma accumulation that fueled the eruption, during this violent eruptive event caused a sudden pressure drop, triggering the collapse of the upper part of the volcano. As a result, a depression between eight and 10 kilometers in diameter was formed, which now gives Deception Island its particular horseshoe shape. The caldera collapse would have caused a seismic event of great magnitude, the traces of which were recorded in the sediments accumulated in the lake bottoms of Livingstone Island.

The lacustrine sediment cores were recovered during the antarctic campaigns of the HOLOANTAR project, between 2012 and 2014. This fieldwork was led and coordinated by Marc Oliva, then researcher at Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento of the University of Lisboa, and now Ramon y Cajal researcher at University of Barcelona (UB). Oliva is coauthor of this study.

"The initial objective of the study was purely climatic, since we wanted to reconstruct the climate fluctuations of this region for the last 11,700 years using different proxies found in the sediments of the Byers Peninsula lakes, about 40 kilometers north of Deception Island. However, the presence of a different sediment layer in all lakes of the same age after a thick layer of tephra surprised us," said Sergi Pla, researcher at CREAF and coauthor of the study.

"Later geochemical and biological analyses indicated that these sediments had terrestrial origin and were deposited abruptly in the lake's bottom. These results suggested the occurrence of a major earthquake that affected the entire area, and put us on the track that, perhaps, we were not facing a common earthquake but one generated by the collapse of the caldera of the Deception Island volcano. From here on, we pulled the thread," said Santiago Giralt, researcher at ICTJA-CSIC and co-author of the study.

The exact date of the eruption was obtained using geochemical, petrological and paleolimnological techniques applied on the sediment cores from four lakes of the Byers Peninsula from Livingston island.

Panoramic view of Byers Peninsula, Livingstone Island. Credit: Santiago Giralt

These sedimentary records contained several direct and indirect pieces of evidence of the volcanic event that occurred on Deception Island. "The recovered sedimentary records showed a common pattern: First, the volcanic ash from Deception Island eruption, overlaid by a sediment layer almost one meter thick composed by material dragged from the lakes' shores to their bottom due to the large earthquake, and finally, the common lake sediments, which are characterized by an alternation of clays and mosses," said Santiago Giralt.

One of the challenges was to characterize the origin of the ashes produced during the volcanic eruption. For that, pressure and temperature conditions of the magmas that caused this eruption were calculated using the ashes present in the sediment cores. "Using this methodology, we were able to estimate the depth of all studied samples and to determine if they were part of the same magma and eruptive episode," said Antonio Alvarez Valero, researcher from the University of Salamanca (USAL) and coauthor of this study.

The study also estimates that the eruption had a volcanic explosive index (VEI) around six, which possibly makes it the largest known Holocene eruptive episode in the Antarctic continent.

"This colossal episode of eruptive caldera collapse ejected between 30 and 60 cubic kilometers of ash, comparable in volume to the eruption of the Tambora volcano in 1815, an event that is attributed to a global temperature cooling that resulted in a series of bad harvests in Europe, in what is known as the 'year without summer,'" explains Adelina Geyer, ICTJA-CSIC researcher and co-author of the study.

"It is very important to be able to date this type of eruption to understand the climatic changes caused by volcanic eruptionsin this particular case, at high austral latitudes," adds the Geyer.

As suggested by the study, this eruption could have had significant climatic and ecological impacts in a large area of the southern region, although more studies and new data are needed to precisely characterize what the real effects on the climate of this large eruptive event.

Explore further Ash clouds of Antarctic volcanoes may disrupt air traffic in the southern hemisphere

More information: Antoniades, D., Giralt, S., Geyer, A., Alvarez-Valero, A.M., Pla-Rabes, S., Granados, I., Liu, E.J., Toro, M., Smellie, J.L. and Oliva, M. (2018). The timing and widespread effects of the largest Holocene volcanic eruption in Antarctica. Scientific Reports. (8) 1. Journal information: Scientific Reports Antoniades, D., Giralt, S., Geyer, A., Alvarez-Valero, A.M., Pla-Rabes, S., Granados, I., Liu, E.J., Toro, M., Smellie, J.L. and Oliva, M. (2018). The timing and widespread effects of the largest Holocene volcanic eruption in Antarctica.. (8) 1. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35460-x
Lindsey the Robot at The Collection Museum in Lincoln, UK. Credit: University of Lincoln

A 5ft 2ins tall magenta robot, equipped with sensors and cameras, will guide visitors through exhibitions at a Lincoln museum from today.

Programmed by robotics experts from the University of Lincoln, Lindsey will be giving tours at The Collection, which is run by Lincolnshire County Council, for the next three years.

She will find the best routes around the museum, pausing at exhibits to offer facts and take basic questions from visitors. Her functionality will develop autonomously over the three years as she learns new behaviours and trends from the people she interacts with.

Lindsey is the latest in a family of robots developed by the Lincoln Centre for Autonomous Systems, with others working in warehouses, on farms, and care homes. The robot employs the latest Artificial Intelligence and robotics technologies, advanced in research projects by the researchers at the University's School of Computer Science. They have programmed the robot to be able to navigate the museum on its own and recharge itself, accounting for potential obstacles such as people, exhibits and bags left on the floor, while learning from interactions to develop a better understanding of what visitors are interested in.

These advances are part of the wider project to develop robots which can operate autonomously around humans, and build upon outcomes of the collaborative EU-funded 7.2 million STRANDS project which created the technologies for mobile robots that are able to operate independently. The project is the beginning of a long-term partnership between Lincolnshire County Council and the University of Lincoln, to advance robotics technology to support education of the public and allow them to engage with the latest digital advances.

Professor of Intelligent Robotics & Interactive Systems, Marc Hanheide, who is leading the project commented: "Despite all the progress in robotics research in the past years, taking a robot out of the lab and 'into the wild' of public space like 'The Collection' museum is still a most challenging endeavour. Lindsey will operate entirely autonomously and navigate the gallery on its own. We hope to learn a lot about the requirements for robots engaging with the public and the specific ways visitors are interacting with the robot. I helps us tremendously to further develop the long-term autonomy and adaptation of our AI-enabled robots."

James Sharples, Business Transformation Manager at Lincolnshire County Council said of the project: "The Collection Museum is excited to be involved in this long term project with Lincoln University. Combining history and technology Lindsey will add a unique experience for people of all ages visiting the site, making learning about the past more engaging and interactive."

Explore further Shape-shifting modular robot is more than the sum of its parts
Workers are increasingly monitored, tracked and surveilled. Credit: Vasin Lee/Shutterstock

It's not often trades unions and employers are equally worried about an issue threatening workers' rights. But recently, the UK's Trades Union Congress and the main body that represents British businesses, the CBI, have both voiced concerns about the budding practice of implanting employees with microchips.

Initially, the chips are being used in place of ID cards as a way of opening secure doors. But there's good reason to think the use of implants could expand to more sinister purposes, giving employers much greater control over their workers and raising serious concerns over issues related to human dignity, ethics and health.

Businesses often do need some way to monitor employees to be sure they are completing their work and how much they should be paid. But in recent years, we've seen some more extreme monitoring methods that push at the boundaries of personal privacy. These include surveillance of employee emails, wearable technology that can track employee movements, and radio tags on factory products that allow bosses to monitor how fast workers on an assembly line are operating. But implanting microchips in employees creates a new level of monitoring and control simply because workers can't easily remove them or turn them off.

Microchip implants are typically the size of a grain of rice inserted under the skin between the thumb and the forefinger. They can allow people to enter buildings or use vending machines with just the swipe of their hand. Proponents say this makes life more convenient as employees don't have to carry ID badges or key fobs. Organisations that deal with sensitive information also say that such chips allow them to set restrictions on who can access this information.

Not so innocuous

Most companies using these chips present them in this fairly innocuous way and think the fear surrounding their use arises from misplaced suspicions. But too much monitoring can make employees feel spied on, damaging their productivity, creativity and motivation as well as their personal well-being.

Some research also suggests that implanted chips are susceptible to security risks and increase the potential for identity theft given that it is relatively easy to hack a microchip implant. So employees could be subjected to something that actually threatens their personal security.

What's more, employers' motivations for introducing chip implants are unlikely to be entirely altruistic. There is nothing to stop them from using the technology to track employees' whereabouts or activities outside work. The chips can be reprogrammed while inside the body, modifying their use and purpose from what might have initially been agreed between the employer and the employee. And this ability to track an employee's location without their knowledge raises serious ethical concerns regarding their right to privacy.

We've already seen how employers can use data ostensibly gathered for benign purposes to discriminate against workers. For example, personality tests designed to assess what job someone is most suited to have come under scrutiny for discriminating against people with mental health issues. Microchip implant data recording where employees go outside of work could be used to discriminate in similar ways.

Even if implants are technically voluntary, it's not hard to imagine situations where employees might feel pressured to accept the chips by their managers or warned of unfavourable consequences if they don't agree. Other increasingly intrusive forms of monitoring are already seen as an inescapable reality within many workplaces. For example, remote access to emails means some workers are expected to be on call at any time. This increases pressure on employees to work longer hours at the expense of their private lives, as well as creating another way for employers to track their activities.

Employees who choose to opt-out of company monitoring programs can also suffer real financial costs. In 2013, a pharmacy company launched a controversial health-screening program that allegedly required employees to disclose personal information to their insurance provider and threatened to charge them US$600 a year if they refused. This kind of pressure can mentally condition workers to think that constant monitoring is the way forward.

Health risks

There is also limited information about the safety and health risks associated with the use of chip implants. As well as potential physical health risks, it is equally important for employers to understand the risks that microchip implants might pose to mental health. Employees receiving an implant might feel coerced to modify their usual behaviours because they know they are always being monitored and so experience high levels of stress and anxiety. Plus we don't know very much about what kind of surgical intervention might be required to safely remove a chip, especially if it moves away from its initial implant site.

The good news is that in many developed countries, companies are expected to afford employees some level of privacy. In the EU, new data protection legislation (GDPR) means employers are expected to conduct privacy impact assessments when they engage in processes that represent a high risk to the rights of data subjects. Covert monitoring should only be carried out in exceptional cases when there is no other reasonable way to monitor employees.

This means that due to the concerns about the risks to privacy as well as health and security posed by chip implants any attempt to introduce them on a larger scale would likely face strong legal challenges. But that probably won't stop some employers seeing what they can get away with at a time when it's increasingly common to let private companies know almost everything about us.

Explore further Cyber staff: Wisconsin company offers to microchip employees

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
While no significant change in household income was seen, farmers were able to allocate more time to self-employment activities Credit: Kyoto University/Malek Mohammad Abdul

In the developing world, access to credit can lead to higher productivity and an increase in living standards, but the ability to have this access is not universal. Formal financial institu-tions are reluctant to lend to households with low-incomes or which lack collateral.

This is where 'microfinance institutions'or MFIsplay a role.

MFIs extend small loans, called microcredits, to individual households. While standard microloans tend to be geared toward business and entrepreneurial endeavors, in recent years Bangladesh has made a name for itself internationally by providing microcredits to tenant farmers.

Now, in a collaborative study with institutions in the United States and Bangladesh, a team led by Mohammad Abdul Malekof Kyoto University's Graduate School of Agriculture and the Research and Evaluation Division of BRAChas conducted a study examining the impact of agricultural microcredits on the livelihood of these farmers.

Writing in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the researchers analyzed vari-ous outcomes of these loans, such as: adoption of high-yield or hybrid rice, overall rice yield, and household income.

"The agricultural microcredit program Borgachashi Unnayan PrakalpaBCUPbegan in 2009 with a primary objective of increasing the credit access of tenant farmers to formal financial institutions," explains Malek. "So we conducted two surveys in 2012 and 2014 to see how households receiving this financing changed over time."

The Bangladesh Bankthe central bank of Bangladeshstarted BCUP with a low-interest revolving fund, as part of its financial inclusion strategy. The average loan amount was equal to the production cost of rice for one hectare of land.

The team's results show that BCUP helped increase rice yield as well as overall crop farm income, and additionally the probability of adopting hybrid and higher yield rice. Further, there appeared to be a somewhat positive effect on the cultivation of owned land and live-stock ownership.

"BCUP has had a number of positive effects," continues Malek. "And while we did not find a change in household income, we noticed that the farmers were able to allocate more time to self-employment activities."

While several studies have examined the role of agricultural credit on the livelihood of farm households, this is the first to examine the impact of a program designed specifically to in-crease the financial inclusionin the broader economyof tenant farmers.

The team hopes to continue their inquiry into the effects of microcredits in order to better inform future policy decisions, while acknowledging that other interventions, in combina-tion with microcredit, may be necessary if the program is to be scaled up in Bangladesh or elsewhere in Asia.

Explore further Microcredits no shortcut to happiness

More information: Marup Hossain et al, Agricultural Microcredit for Tenant Farmers: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Bangladesh, American Journal of Agricultural Economics (2018). Marup Hossain et al, Agricultural Microcredit for Tenant Farmers: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Bangladesh,(2018). DOI: 10.1093/ajae/aay070
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A mysterious "translucent egg case" found last week off an uninhabited island near Puerto Rico has been identified by NOAA explorers as something few scientists had seen.

"Upon zooming in on this egg case," says a NOAA mission report, "we were able to clearly see the embryo ... actively swimming within the case."

This embryo was a "very rare sighting" of a developing catshark, a little understood species of shark named for their bugged-outand hauntingfeline eyes.

Catsharks are notoriously "shy and nocturnal and often hide in crevices," reports National Geographic. And they're small, typically growing about 20 inches in length in the ocean off Puerto Rico, says NOAA.

"Most catsharks live in seas above the upper continental slope, a location that makes it difficult to observe these sharks and collect specimens. Therefore, much information about catsharks remains to be discovered," reports AnimalDiversity.org.

They are not considered a danger to humans, despite having a mouth full of teeth, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

The egg casing was observed on Nov. 15 during a NOAA exploration off "unknown and poorly understood deepwater areas" near Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The expedition began Oct. 30 and ended Tuesday.

NOAA scientists used a roving camera to see the egg, which was attached to a coral branch more than 820 feet down, off mountainous Desecheo Island. The island, 13 miles off Puerto Rico, remains uninhabited by federal law "due to unexploded military ordinance," according to IslandsofPuertoRico.com.

The ocean floor in the area is full of "overhangs, crevices, and large boulder-like features," where all types of sea life can easily hide, said the NOAA report.

Explorers reported seeing spotted catsharks multiple times during the expedition, some at depths of more than 1,500 feet. This species of cat shark is typically seen at depths of 360 feet, but has been spotted as low as 1,300, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. That would make the one spotted at 1,500 a little deeper than the norm.

The scientists also documented creatures that they couldn't easily identify, including a long, black-eyed shark photographed resting on the ocean floor 2,100 feet down in the Ines Maria Mendoza Nature Reserve, said a NOAA report.

Explore further Scientists wind up deep-water probes in Caribbean waters

2018 The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

On Sunday, about a dozen engineers and scientists gathered in the mission control room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They listened intently through headsets while training their eyes on a curving wall of monitors to follow the progress of the InSight spacecraft as it made its final approach to Mars.

Had it received their message through 90 million miles of cosmic nothingness?

It had. Just before 2 p.m., InSight fired its thrusters and banked a hair to the southwest.

It would be a few more hours until the members of the InSight team would know whether their maneuver had worked as planned. Even so, the group gathered in La Canada Flintridge breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"We are going to hit Mars, no matter what," said JPL's Bruce Banerdt, the principal investigator for the InSight mission.

But that's not the goal. Banerdt's team had been tweaking the spacecraft's trajectory throughout its winding, 300-million-mile game of interplanetary tag in hopes of guiding InSight to a carefully selected landing spot.

"It's sort of like curling," he said. "The stone's moving on the ice, and we are sweeping at this point."

If the team nudges InSight just right, the lander will touch down around noon Pacific time Monday on Elysium Planitia, a vast, featureless expanse of ancient lava a few hundred miles north of where the Curiosity rover landed in 2012. There, it will do something no previous mission has managed: Peer inside the red planet.

Armed with an arsenal of specialized instruments, InSight will take Mars' temperature, monitor its seismic activity and investigate the nature of its core. Scientists hope the results will not only answer their questions about Mars, but about how planets in general workhow they form and evolve over time, and how deep geologic processes determine whether the surface of a planet might be habitable.

"That's what we need to be able to extrapolate from Mars to exoplanets," said geophysicist Suzanne Smrekar, the deputy principal investigator for the mission.

But before the science gets underway, the InSight team must pull off the equivalent of a gold medal curling match.

InSight's interplanetary journey got off to a fine start when it launched from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on May 5.

"The cruise has been going so smooth," Banerdt said. "It's really been almost eerie."

His team even skipped one of the previous scheduled trajectory correction maneuvers. They didn't need it.

Still, Banerdt can't help feeling nervous about the complex choreography that comes next, even if it's nothing new.

InSight will follow the same entry, descent and landing procedure as NASA's Phoenix lander, which safely touched down near the Martian north pole in 2008. "We're not inventing anything this time," Banerdt said.

On Monday morningJPL timethe capsule containing the InSight lander will prepare for arrival by swinging its broad base toward the planet's surface. The Martian atmosphere may be thin, but it will produce enough friction to heat the spacecraft's protective shield to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit, and to slow it from a cruising speed of 12,300 mph to a mere 850.

That's when InSight's giant parachute will deploy. Though the move has worked on many previous Mars missions, Banerdt still worries about the potential for a mishap.

At supersonic speeds, "there are things in that regime that we don't quite completely understand," he said. "And a parachute is a piece of cloth, for goodness' sake."

Next, the lander will discard its fried heat shield and stretch its three robotic legs for the first time in its long journey. Then, it will use radar to sense its altitudeanother heart-stopping moment for the InSight team.

"If the radar doesn't ever see the ground, then there's no way for the lander to know when to slow down," Banerdt said.

When InSight reaches an altitude of a few thousand feet, it will ditch the shell covering its precious payload. Finally, it will fire 12 retrorockets mounted on its underside, slowing the lander to approximately 5 mph so it can descend to the surface of Mars like a commuter stopping at a red light.

Just a touch faster than a curling stone coming to rest on Olympic ice.

Banerdt and the crew at JPL intend to track InSight's progress throughout the entry, descent and landing with the help of two experimental briefcase-size satellites that have accompanied the spacecraft on its mission. If these fail to relay signals for any reason, the team will get final confirmation of InSight's arrival when sensors on the landers' legs trigger a high-frequency beep, detectable by giant radio antennas on Earth.

Then the real work can begin.

InSight will operate for 728 days, a bit more than one Martian year, and perhaps longer (if NASA's long-lived orbiters and rovers are any guide).

"Who knows what we'll find," Smrekar said. "It'll be fabulous."

For Banerdt, the excitement began to build a few weeks ago, when the team started rehearsing for landing. "It felt pretty real at that point," he said.

Explore further Five things to know about InSight's Mars landing

2018 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Outward and inward opening structures of KdpFABC in the cell membrane. Credit: Inga Hanelt research group. Credit: Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main

For decades, it was assumed that protein channels and protein pumps fulfilled completely different functions and worked independently of each other. Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt and University Groningen have now elucidated the transport path of a protein complex that combines both mechanisms: it first receives potassium from the channel and then transfers it to the pump, from where it is transported to the cell.

A balanced potassium household is critical for the survival of both people and bacteria. As bacteria are exposed to much greater fluctuations in environmental conditions, the controlled intake of potassium often poses a particular challenge. Since the cell membrane is impenetrable for potassium ions, it has to be translocated through specific membrane transport proteins.

On the one hand, potassium channels enable the rapid, but passive influx of potassium ions. This stops as soon as an electrochemical equilibrium between the cell and its environment has been reached. To attain intracellular concentrations beyond this, potassium is transported into the cell actively through potassium pumps, with energy being consumed in the form of ATP.

Since both protein families  channels and pumps  carry out very different functions, they have always been described as separate from each other. This, however, is contradicted by the observation that KdpFABC, a highly affine, active potassium uptake system of bacteria, does not represent a simple pump, but is constructed of a total of four different proteins. One of these is derived from a typical pump, while another one resembles a potassium channel.

Inga Hanelt, Assistant Professor for biochemistry at Goethe University, and her colleague Cristina Paulino from University of Groningen, the Netherlands, therefore decided to take a closer look at the membrane protein KdpFABC through the microscope  or, more specifically, the cryo-electron microscope. They were surprised by the result: "All earlier hypotheses were wrong," states Inga Hanelt. "Although we had all the data in front of us, it took us a while to understand the pathway potassium takes through the complex into the cell."

First, a channel-like protein binds the potassium and transports it through the first tunnel to the pump. Once it has arrived, the first, outward-facing tunnel closes, while a second, inward-facing tunnel opens. This tunnel also extends between both proteins and ultimately ends in the interior of the cell. "The complex essentially combines the best qualities of both protein families," explains Charlott Stock, doctoral candidate in Inge Hanelt's research group. "The channel-like protein binds potassium, at first very specifically and with high affinity, while the pump enables an active transport that can enrich potassium in the cell by 10,000-fold."

The data, recently published in Nature Communications, impressed the scientists with how diverse transport through membranes can be. "We have learned that when investigating various membrane transport proteins, we shouldn't rely on seemingly incontrovertible mechanisms, but have to be ready for surprises," summarises Inga Hanelt.

Explore further New insight into a central biological dogma on ion transport

More information: C. Stock et al. Cryo-EM structures of KdpFABC suggest a K+ transport mechanism via two inter-subunit half-channels, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications C. Stock et al. Cryo-EM structures of KdpFABC suggest a K+ transport mechanism via two inter-subunit half-channels,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07319-2
Social robots are one way to provide lonely seniors with companionship. Credit: Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz/ Shutterstock

The film Robot and Frank imagined a near-future where robots could do almost everything humans could. The elderly title character was given a "robot butler" to help him continue living on his own. The robot was capable of everything from cooking and cleaning to socialising (and, it turned out, burglary).

This kind of science fiction may turn out to be remarkably prescient. As growing numbers of elderly people require care, researchers believe that robots could be one way to address the overwhelming demand. But while robots might be able to provide care and, in some cases, social interaction, many wonder if they really are the right solution to this uniquely human issue.

One recent survey found that while 68% of people agree robots are beneficial because they can help people, only 26% surveyed said they'd be comfortable with a robot providing help and companionship for them if they were in hospital or care. Commentators in the media have also echoed these concerns, with some even arguing that robots can't provide those living in care with the empathy and altruism that human caregivers do.

Loneliness and social isolation are already problems for many seniors and are even linked to cognitive decline and a higher death rate. With the population of seniors expected to rise, many worry that experiences of loneliness will increase, especially if access to care is even more limited.

But despite concerns, early studies already show that social robots  autonomous robots trained to interact and communicate with humans  really could address issues of care and social interaction. The majority of robotics researchers are largely in favour of introducing robotic technology on a wider scale and believe it could reduce loneliness and increase independence in elderly patients. The Japanese government even supports introducing robots in care homes to solve the country's ageing population problem. However, many strongly recommend carefully balancing the care benefits against the ethical costs.

A class of social robots  mobile robotic telepresence (MRT) systems  have already been shown to generate positive social interactions with elderly patients. MRTs are essentially video screens on wheels raised to head height that can be controlled remotely using a simple smartphone app. They allow relatives and social workers to "visit" elderly people more often, even if they live in rural or distant places. The elderly patient doesn't need to operate the device, leaving them free to interact with their social worker or family.

Communication still happens through a computer screen, but the robot's physical presence mimics face-to-face interaction for elderly people. Research has shown that people reacted more positively when talking with someone through an MRT than through a regular video call or computer avatar  especially lonely people. However, MRTs still require a human operator, which limits the amount of social interaction seniors can have daily.

Carers of the future?

To tackle this, developers worldwide have started creating robot companions programmed with advanced artificial intelligence (AI), which can interact with people on their own. Some examples include pet-like companion robots including Aibo and Paro, which are made by Japanese developers, and MiRo, which is manufactured in the UK. Other humanoid robots, such as the Care-O-bot and Pepper, are able to provide more complex and comprehensive care.

Though "pet" robots offer limited interaction, they have proved as effective  or even more so  than real pets in reducing loneliness for elderly people in care homes. Robotic dogs introduced in one UK care home this year were reported to bring happiness and comfort to residents.

On the other hand, humanoid robots are already advanced enough to provide much-needed care to elderly people. These robots can pick things up and move independently, and have a more natural, human way of interacting (for example, using arm and hand gestures).

More advanced versions have additional sensors and devices, including touchscreens. Many elderly people, finding the touchscreens hard to use, preferred giving spoken commands to the robot and reading its response off the screen. But for those with age-related hearing loss or vision impairment, having the option to use the touchscreen was indispensable.

Humanoid robots are still being developed, so their capabilities are still limited. And studies of humanoid robots have mainly focused on evaluating how well the technology functions without really considering the social impact. There is also a general assumption that it will naturally reduce loneliness.

Though research into social robots is just beginning, we do know they can provide some solutions to the challenges mounted by ageing populations, and could even help reduce social isolation and loneliness. At this point, humans are still better in providing care and social contact to the elderly, but robots might be able to fill any gaps, especially as technologies continue to improve.

However, before social robots can be fully integrated into care homes, researchers and service provides must address public anxiety and make it clear that robots are designed to assist social workers, not replace them. As long as humans remain in full control to prevent any danger, robots might well be the future of care.

Explore further Culturally competent robots  the future in elderly care

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) would wrap up its operations in the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza next year and began laying off part of its workers.

The State Department has handed to the agency a list of 60 percent of its staff who will be laid off, Israeli media, Haaretz reported on Sunday, adding that the agency is also set to end its operations in the West Bank and Gaza in 2019.

USAID has been a vital humanitarian partner in support of the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories. The agency has invested $5.5 billion since 1994 in the construction and maintenance of schools and roads and in providing health service as well as training to teachers, doctors and community workers.

The agency is also helping build up a desalination plant for Gaza, which has been under Israeli Egyptian blockade for several years.

The downsizing and planned end of operations is coming as part of President Donald Trumps punitive policy to squeeze Palestinians and force them accept his so-called deal of the century between Palestinians and Israelis. Palestinians have so far brushed aside the deal, which took off the table Jerusalem. Palestinians hope to make of the citys Eastern part the capital of their future state.

As part of squeezing policy, Washington has sliced substantially its critical contribution to the UN aid agency the Palestinian territories, UNRWA.
Credit: Rockwell Mcgellin

You don't have to leave Australia to be a rocket scientist. In fact, you might not even have to leave your job.

Your local mining companyyep, regular old Woodsidehas been quietly backing researchers from Monash University and a 3-D printing company called Amaero as they work on the rocket engine that could bring people back from Mars.

Under the code name Project X, they've been working on a 3-D printed, methane-fuelled aerospike rocket engine. That's a little bit of a mouthful, so let's dig into exactly what that means and why it's so cool.

Print previews

At this point, you've probably heard of 3-D printing. You might even have seen a printer in action. But this kind of project pushes 3-D printing to its limits.

Rather than layering hot plastic filament, parts can be printed by melting layers of metal powder together with a laser.

Now that the technology is maturing, parts printed in this way are getting surprisingly strong.

In fact, 3-D printed parts are now getting so strong that they can withstand massive temperatures and pressures. Temperatures and pressures that you might encounter when harvesting natural gas from thousands of metres below the ground's surfaceor perhaps when sending a rocket into space.

Metal parts can now be printed by melting layers of powder together with a laser. Credit: IMPERIAL MACHINE & TOOL CO.

A spike in interest

Not only are they strong, they're quick to make. With 3-D printed parts, we can finally start to experiment with designs and materials for rocket engines that we couldn't make (or couldn't test) before.

One of those is the aerospike design the Project X team are using.

Rockets need to keep their thrust pointed at the ground to move upwards. Traditional rockets have a shaped bit of metal at the bottom of the engine to keep that jet of fire moving in the right way. If you've ever watched a rocket launch, you probably recognise it. It's the bit at the bottom that looks kind of like a bell.

Aerospikes don't have those metal bits. They have a pointy, plug-like shape instead.

These different engine shapes contain and control the thrust from burning rocket fuel in different ways.

Credit: NASA

Aerospike engines rely on the surrounding air pressure to keep everything flowing the right way, rather than relying on a wall of metal around the edge of the engine. It's kind of like one of those bladeless fans, only much hotter.

Aerospikes aren't just a neat physics trick. They're theoretically way more efficient than regular rockets.

If we can get it working, it could be up to 10% more efficient than the rockets of today, one Project X engineer estimates. That's 10% less fuel we need to carry and 10% more cargo than the rockets of today.

That may not sound like much, but once we're sending hundreds of tonnes (or hundreds of people) into orbit, it adds up pretty quickly.

Hitting the gas

So far so good, but the real kicker is that the Project X rocket runs on natural gas.

Aerospikes have a pointy, plug-like shape. Credit: Gbleem

The current gold standard for rocket fuel is hydrogen. Unfortunately, it's pretty difficult to store. It's got to be kept under pressure at -253C. You need a pretty strong tank to keep it aroundand even then, it tends to leak out.

While hydrogen is easy enough to make on Earth, we can't exactly store it and ship it a long way. But what about natural gas, more commonly known as methane? We're already experts at storing and shipping that.

Methane fuel doesn't need to be kept as cold or under as much pressure. That means rockets could have much lighter tanks, and fuel can be stored for longer. We may even see fuel depots orbiting the Earth, allowing us to top up our rockets the same way we refuel cars.

Perhaps most excitingly, methane is a simple enough chemical that we can synthesise it using a little water and a little carbon dioxideboth things we can find across the Solar System, including on Mars.

What is thisa rocket for ants?

The Project X rocket is nowhere near being flight hardware yetit'll only lift about 400kg.

It's not the first aerospike or the first 3-D printed engine or the first methane engine, but it is a successful combination of all three. It's real, cutting-edge rocket sciencethe kind we need to explore Marsand it's happening right here in Australia.

The Amaero aerospike rocket runs on natural gas. Credit: Amaero Engineering

Explore further Enhanced liquid oxygen-propylene rocket engine patent reflects company vision in orbit attempts

This article first appeared on Particle, a science news website based at Scitech, Perth, Australia. Read the original article.
Water quality is compromised by cultivation, pesticides, household waste and clothes washing. Credit: Martchan/Shutterstock

For rural communities in the highlands of eastern Africa, water for domestic use is not piped. They have to collect, or use it from springs or rivers and it's accessible to anyone. Increasingly, highland communities in Tanzania and Ethiopia face challenges when it comes to water quantity and quality.

Poor agricultural practices, deforestation and land clearing have led to soil erosion and excessive rainfall runoff which means underground water reservoirs are not recharged. Springs, once surrounded by trees and other vegetation, have dried out after land was cleared due to rising populations.

The water's quality is also compromised, due to cultivation, the use of pesticides, household waste and clothes washing. This often leads to high incidences of waterborne diseases.

Declining water quantity and quality means people have to travel further to find good water sources  wasting time and energy.

This issue can't be solved by individual households and weak enforcement of bylaws, due to corruption and weak leadership, mean it's not being managed by the state either.

As part of the African highlands initiative, we carried out projects in three areas of Ethiopia and Tanzania to see if collective action  carried out by groups of people working together toward common goals  could work. These projects aimed to restore water resources and construct water points to give communities a clean water supply. In the past, households worked together, but these traditions have broken down over the years.

Two years later, the projects have been a success and there is increased water supply near homesteads. This has greatly saved time and improved the health of the communities.

Creating a strategy

Three areas, two in Ethiopia (Galesa and Gununo) and one in Tanzania (Baga) were selected for water source rehabilitation. This affected over 10,000 people in Tanzania alone. These areas had high population densities and were showing signs of water stress like decreasing crop and livestock production, fragmentation of land to small plots and increasing numbers of rural poor.

Research teams analysed historical trends  for instance how water quality has changed over time  using simple indicators like the time it takes to collect water, physical appearance and presence of pollutants in water.

A variety of farmers were then selected for interviews and they were asked about why the water sources had deteriorated and how they think the trend could be reversed.

For the three areas, a team of researchers and development workers came up with a strategy. We then implemented these same steps for all the areas:

Created awareness on the situation and emphasised the need for collective action

Set up water user committees  entrusted with the management of the water sources  to oversee the implementation of agreed plans

Identified and consulted with different stakeholder groups. Each was allocated a role

Developed by-laws with the participation of all stakeholders, and got them validated by communities to validates

Developed the skills of water committees and local leaders on water source management

Implemented agreed tasks

Took part in monitoring and evaluating targets

As much as possible, local materials and local artisans were used. For instance, local communities contributed labour, collecting stones and sand. They also managed the land around water sources to minimise the effect of contamination from soil erosion by planting water-friendly trees or vegetation around springs.

There were challenges. We had to convince donors to support domestic water supply because they believe it should be the role of a government ministry. Another challenge was that there were incidents where crops would get destroyed when people went through farms to collect water.

But these were overcome and the collective action approach was successful.

The results

Five years later about 84% of farmers confirmed that time for fetching water had gone down. And 82.9% responded that the prevalence of waterborne diseases had gone down.

At the Baga site in Tanzania, communities said that their time collecting water went down from an average of five hours to five minutes per day. During dry seasons women and children used to have to walk huge distances.

The number of patients treated for ailments related to unclean water also went down, from 77 in 2006 to 22 in 2007.

The collective action approach worked because the management structure was solid and the community were involved in enforcing the bylaws. For instance, if someone is destroying a water source, community members would take them to the authorities.

Collective action also increased confidence and trust among community members so they are more willing to interact to address a common problem.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Luke Novack, a senior majoring in biology and sociology, and Joseph Jochman, a doctoral candidate in sociology, break down the findings in their latest research, published in the Sociological Quarterly. Credit: Greg Nathan | University Communication

The public's trust in, perception and understanding of science seems to be eroding, according to popular media and some recent studies, but little is known about what may be driving that change.

Sociology researchers at the University of NebraskaLincoln published research in the Sociological Quarterly that examined how science knowledge and curiosity are associated with both religious beliefs and political ideologies. They found neither religiosity nor political affiliation was related to overall scientific curiosity, but differences were found when looking at scientific knowledge.

Researchers culled data from 2011, 2014 and 2015 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Surveys, which had asked questions relating to such topics as evolution, disease, microbes, vaccinations, science identity and scientific curiosity, among others.

Joseph Jochman, lead author of the paper and doctoral candidate in sociology, said the most salient effects of religious affiliation were found regarding scientific knowledge.

"In line with past studies, we found certain science knowledge questions have strong religious associations," Jochman said. "People of conservative Protestant faiths tend to answer questions such as humans and apes share a common ancestor or death is a part of the biology of life with less accuracy than people who identify as mainline Protestant, Catholic or other religious faiths or no religion."

Political affiliation associations with scientific knowledge were split on specific topics. For example, liberals in Nebraska were more than four times as likely to answer accurately how vaccinations work than conservatives, but those with other political ideologies were less likely to answer accurately that a vaccine helps rather than harms.

On the flip side, conservatives were more likely to answer accurately that disease can result from interactions between genes and environment.

"The results show a very complicated picture, but that's understandable because science is many different facets," Jochman said. "As do religion or politics."

Julia McQuillan, professor of sociology and co-author of the paper, said the results demonstrate that science has been politicized.

"Scientists hope that science is apolitical," she said. "But we take in and code information based on our perspectives  including political ideology and religious beliefs."

McQuillan said the communicating scientific knowledge to the public is increasingly important, but that this research demonstrates the need for scientists to be aware of predispositions and biases in the audiences with whom they are communicating.

"People do have these filters and if we want to share evidence-based information, we need to pay attention to those filters, often based in religion and politics," she said.

The study was also authored by Alexis Swendener, a recent doctorate in sociology, and Luke Novack, a senior majoring in sociology and biology.

Explore further Exploring the ideological antecedents of science acceptance and rejection

More information: Joseph C. Jochman et al. Are Biological Science Knowledge, Interests, and Science Identity Framed by Religious and Political Perspectives in the United States?, The Sociological Quarterly (2018). Journal information: Sociological Quarterly Joseph C. Jochman et al. Are Biological Science Knowledge, Interests, and Science Identity Framed by Religious and Political Perspectives in the United States?,(2018). DOI: 10.1080/00380253.2018.1481726
This May 8, 2018 photo released by the Brazilian Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources Institute (Ibama) shows an illegally deforested area on Pirititi indigenous lands as Ibama agents inspect Roraima state in Brazil's Amazon basin. Scientists warn that Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro could push the Amazon rainforest past its tipping point by loosening environmental protections, with severe consequences for global climate and rainfall. (Felipe Werneck/Ibama via AP)

Scientists warn that Brazil's president-elect could push the Amazon rainforest past its tipping pointwith severe consequences for global climate and rainfall.

Jair Bolsonaro, who takes office Jan. 1, claims a mandate to convert land for cattle pastures and soybean farms, calling Brazil's rainforest protections an economic obstacle.

Brazil contains about 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest, and scientists are worried.

It's nearly impossible to overstate the importance of the Amazon rainforest to the planet's living systems, said Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist at the University of Sao Paulo.

Each tree stores carbon absorbed from the atmosphere. The Amazon takes in as much as 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year and releases 20 percent of the planet's oxygen, earning it the nickname "the lungs of the planet."

It's also a global weather-maker.

Stretching 10 times the size of Texas, the Amazon is the world's largest rainforest. Billions of trees suck up water through deep roots and bring it up to their leaves, which release water vapor that forms a thick mist over the rainforest canopy.

This mist ascends into clouds and eventually becomes rainfalla cycle that shapes seasons in South America and far beyond.

In this March 10, 2018 photo released by Ibama, the Brazilian Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources Institute, agents from Ibama measure illegally cut timber from Cachoeira Seca indigenous land in Para state in Brazil's Amazon basin. The Amazon takes in as much as 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year and releases 20 percent of the planet's oxygen, earning it the nickname "the lungs of the planet." (Vinicius Mendonza/Ibama via AP)

By one estimate, the Amazon creates 30 to 50 percent of its own rainfall.

Now the integrity of all of three functionsas a carbon sink, the Earth's lungs, and a rainmakerhangs in the balance.

On Oct. 28, Brazilians elected Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate who channeled outrage at the corruption scandals of the former government and support from agribusiness groups. His election came weeks before an international summit in December where leaders will discuss how to curb climate change.

On the campaign trail, Bolsonaro promised to loosen protections for areas of the Brazilian Amazon designated as indigenous lands and nature reserves, calling them impediments to economic growth. "All these reserves cause problems to development," he told supporters.

He has also repeatedly talked about gutting the power of the environmental ministry to enforce existing green laws.

In this May 4, 2018 photo released by Ibama, the Brazilian Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources Institute, members of a specialized inspection group of Ibama walk with their weapons up through an area affected by illegal mining, after landing in helicopters in Munduruku indigenous lands in Para state in Brazil's Amazon basin. On the campaign trail, President-elect Jair Bolsonaro promised to loosen protections for areas of the Brazilian Amazon designated as indigenous lands and nature reserves, calling them impediments to economic growth. (Vinicius Mendonca/Ibama via AP)

"If Bolsonaro keeps his campaign promises, deforestation of the Amazon will probably increase quicklyand the effects will be felt everywhere on the planet," said Paulo Artaxo, a professor of environmental physics at the University of Sao Paulo.

Bolsonaro's transition team did not respond to an interview request from the Associated Press.

Brazil was once seen as a global environmental success story. Between 2004 and 2014, stricter enforcement of laws to safeguard the rainforestaided by regular satellite monitoring and protections for lands designated reserves for indigenous peoplessharply curbed the rate of deforestation, which peaked in the early 2000s at about 9,650 square miles a year (25,000 square kilometers).

After a political crisis engulfed Brazil, leading to the 2016 impeachment of president Dilma Rousseff, enforcement faltered. Ranchers and farmers began to convert more rainforest to pastureland and cropland. Between 2014 and 2017, annual deforestation doubled to about 3,090 square miles (8,000 square kilometers). Most often, the trees and underbrush cut down are simply burned, directly releasing carbon dioxide, said Artaxo.

"In the Brazilian Amazon, far and away the largest source of deforestation is industrial agriculture and cattle ranching," said Emilio Bruna, an ecologist at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

In this Aug. 25, 2016 photo released by Ibama, the Brazilian Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources Institute, members of the National Center to Prevent and Combat Forest Fires (PREVFOGO), fight a forest fire in the Xingu Indigenous Park in Mato Grosso state in Brazil's Amazon basin. If the rainfall cycle collapses, winter droughts in parts of Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina could devastate agriculture, and the impacts may be felt as far away as the American Midwest. (Vinicius Mendonca/Ibama)

Now observers are parsing Bolsonaro's campaign statements and positions as a congressman to anticipate what's next for the Amazon.

Bolsonarowho some call "tropical Trump" because of some similarities to U.S. President Donald Trumpis a former army captain with a knack for channeling outrage and generating headlines. As a federal congressman for 27 years, he led legislative campaigns to unravel land protections for indigenous people and to promote agribusiness. He also made derogatory comments about minorities, women, and LGBT people.

Much of his support comes from business and farming interests.

"These farmers are not invaders, they are producers," said congressman and senator-elect Luiz Carlos Heinze, a farmer and close ally of Bolsonaro. He blamed past "leftist administrations" for promoting indigenous rights at the expense of farmers and ranchers.

"Brazil will be the biggest farming nation on Earth during Bolsonaro's years," said Heinze.

In this Aug. 25, 2016 photo released by Ibama, the Brazilian Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources Institute, a forest fire burns in Xingu Indigenous Park in Mato Grosso in Brazil's Amazon basin. The "tipping point for the Amazon system" is 20 to 25 percent deforestation, according to Carlos Nobre and Thomas Lovejoy, environmental scientists at George Mason University. If a quarter of the rainforest is cut down, they believe there won't be enough trees to sustain the rainfall, and a more pronounced dry season could turn more than half the rainforest into a tropical savannah. (Vinicius Mendonca/Ibama via AP)

Indigenous-rights advocates are worried about the new direction signaled. "Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that indigenous territories in the Amazon should be opened up for mining and agribusiness, which goes completely in the opposite direction of our Constitution," said Adriana Ramos, public policy coordinator at Social Environmental Institute in Brasilia, a non-governmental group.

In a Nov. 1 post-election interview with Catholic TV, Bolsonaro said, "We intend to protect the environment, but without creating difficulties for our progress."

Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that Brazil should withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, a treaty his predecessor signed in 2016 committing to reduce carbon emissions 37 percent over 2005 levels by 2030. After the election, he has publicly wavered.

Meanwhile he has named a climate-change denier, Ernesto Araujo, to become the next foreign minister.

Nelson Ananias Filho, sustainability coordinator at Brazil's National Agriculture and Cattle Raising Confederation, which backed Bolsonaro's campaign, said, "Brazil's agribusiness will adapt to whatever circumstances come."

In this June 24, 2017 photo released by Ibama, the Brazilian Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources Institute, agents from the institute navigate the Novo River where they set fire to a structure that was being used by people mining illegally, behind, as they work to combat mining and deforestation in Jamanxim National Forest in Para state in Brazil's Amazon basin. Jair Bolsonaro, who takes office January 1, claims a mandate to convert land for cattle pastures and soybean farms, calling Brazil's rainforest protections an economic obstacle. (Felipe Werneck/Ibama via AP)

Whether or not Brazil formally remains in the Paris Climate Accord, the only way for the country to make its emission targets is to completely stop deforestation by 2030 and to reduce agricultural emissions, said Nobre, the climate scientist. "If Bolsonaro keeps moving in the current direction, that's basically impossible."

There's another danger lurking in deforestation.

Aside from the oceans, tropical forests are the most important regions on the planet for putting water vapor in the air, which eventually becomes rainfall. "It's why we have rain in the American Midwest and other inland areasit's not just the Amazon, but it's the largest tropical rainforest," said Bill Laurance, a tropical ecologist at James Cook University in Cairns, Australia.

Carlos Nobre and Thomas Lovejoy, an environmental scientist at George Mason University, have estimated that the "tipping point for the Amazon system" is 20 to 25 percent deforestation.

Without enough trees to sustain the rainfall, the longer and more pronounced dry season could turn more than half the rainforest into a tropical savannah, they wrote in February in the journal Science Advances.

In this June 4, 2014 photo released by Ibama, the Brazilian Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources Institute, illegally cut trees lie on the ground near forest area on Novo Progresso indigenous lands in Para state in Brazil's Amazon basin. Stretching 10 times the size of Texas, the Amazon is the world's largest rainforest where trees suck up water through deep roots and bring it up to their leaves, which release water vapor that forms a thick mist over the rainforest canopy and eventually becomes rainfalla cycle that shapes seasons in South America and far beyond. (Vinicius Mendonca/Ibama via AP)

If the rainfall cycle collapses, winter droughts in parts of Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina could devastate agriculture, they wrote. The impacts may even be felt as far away as the American Midwest, said Laurance.

Bolsonaro's rhetoric about potentially dismantling the environmental ministry and rolling back indigenous rights worries Nobre who says, "I am a scientist, but I am also a Brazilian citizen, and a citizen of the planet."

Explore further Jair Bolsonaro's Brazil would be a disaster for the Amazon and global climate change

 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
(a) This is a baleen whale and its baleen; (b) baleen plate and a schematic showing orientation; (c) micro-CT and optical images of baleen in transverse section; (d) the hollow medullae aligned longitudinally; (e) optical micrographs at the tip regions after fracture toughness tests in transverse and longitudinal loadings; (f) structural model of baleen plate, with a 3D printed one; (g) structural models I, II, III and IV with corresponding compressive behavior tested at a loading rate of 0.28 s-1. Credit: SIAT

Chinese scientists working with other researchers have for the first time uncovered the underlying mechanisms of the hierarchical structure of whale baleen, with an eye toward developing advanced engineered materials. In a recent publication, Dr. Bin Wang from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and American collaborators have revealed how underlying mechanisms of the hierarchical structure of baleen contribute to its unique fracture behavior.

The ocean possesses a cornucopia of organisms that thrive through ingenious strategies, thus providing a wealth of inspiration for innovation. Baleen whales are particularly notable due to the many important properties of their characteristic baleen, the filter-feeding apparatus inside the oral cavity of mysticetes (baleen whales). It consists of a series of parallel plates suspended from the palate down both sides of the mouth and is the most mineralized material of the keratins. Baleen allows for efficient feeding on great quantities of small zooplankton. This filtering mechanism has enabled mysticetes to evolve into the largest living creatures on earth.

Taking the place of teeth, baleen withstands a lifetime of forces generated by water flow and prey without fracturing. Indeed, fracture toughness, which measures structural integrity for reliable functioning, is a crucial material property for baleen as well as for materials utilized in marine applications. Although rarely studied, baleen has long been known to be both strong and flexible. It was a popular material used in corsets from the 11th to the 20th centuries and has been used in Alaskan Native basketry.

Research by Prof. Wang and colleagues shows that the nanoscale structure of baleen's intermediate filaments and mineral crystals, which are embedded in an amorphous matrix, increases its stiffness and strength. Furthermore, microscale tubular lamellae control the direction of crack propagation in case of fracture, and buckle and shear under compression. In addition, baleen's sandwich-tubular structure boosts flexural stiffness and strength with a favorable weight saving.

"Baleen has a highly anisotropic toughness," said Prof. Meyers. "In the longitudinal direction, cracks propagate with ease, leading to desirable delamination, fraying, and formation of bristles, necessary for the filtering action, while in the transverse direction, crack propagation is resisted by the tubular structure, providing the required resistance to water flow and prey impact."

Quasi-static and dynamic experiments, which support the anisotropic fracture behavior of baleen, showed a ductile-to-brittle transition, with a strain rate increasing in the dry condition but absent in the hydrated condition.

Related analysis incorporating the water plasticizing effect and strain-rate stiffening provided new information on baleen behavior under competing factors of hydration and dynamic loading, which is a key consideration for designing new engineering materials for the marine environment.

Prof. Wang said it is "amazing and exciting" to study baleen from a material engineering perspective. Wang emphasized that new findings in material design related to baleen can help achieve the "ultimate goal" of developing advanced engineered materials.

Explore further Peptide mass fingerprinting can identify whale species based solely on their baleen

More information: Bin Wang et al, Lessons from the Ocean: Whale Baleen Fracture Resistance, Advanced Materials (2018). Journal information: Advanced Materials Bin Wang et al, Lessons from the Ocean: Whale Baleen Fracture Resistance,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/adma.201804574
Cybersecurity professionals work in software development, network testing, incident response and policy development. Credit: Shutterstock

Cyber crime is a threat to every organisation that operates internet-connected devices. It's highly profitable, highly disruptive, and hard to police due to the transnational nature of cyberspace.

Incidences of cyber crime might include fraud, identity theft or privacy breaches, which can have a high personal impact. Ransomware, which locks a system and demands payment, can have widespread economic or healthcare implications.

In the past year, 25% of the Australian adult population was impacted by cyber crime. If we want a robust and resilient society, we need cybersecurity professionals defending every organisation from cyber attack.

Cybersecurity professionals might work in software development, network testing, incident response, or policy development to ensure the security of an organisation.

In popular culture, these experts are often portrayed as lone hackers in hoodies. But in reality, cybersecurity professionals must regularly communicate with a variety of audiences. They must also display a high degree of personal integrity.

What cybersecurity professionals do

To ensure our cybersecurity classes are teaching skills relevant to industry, we consult with security professionals about the skills they are looking for.

As well as technical skills, they tell us they want those they hire to have communication skills, work well in teams, and show empathy and integrity.

The following scenarios show what cybersecurity professionals do on a daily basis. (Names and details have been changed.)

Ensuring systems are compliant

Anna is a software developer for an online retailer. She notices that one of their systems is processing credit card transactions in a way that does not comply with the Payment Card Industry Standards.

The technical project leader does not understand the legal jargon of the PCI standard. The business and legal staff do not understand the software processes behind credit card transactions.

It's Anna's job to bring together technical, legal, and business operations staff to discuss the resources required to fix this problem.

Identifying vulnerabilities

Basim is a security specialist working for a consulting company. His team has been contracted by a superannuation fund to conduct a simulated attack on the fund's network.

Basim's team grabs a round of coffees and sits around the whiteboard to develop a plan. That afternoon they find a way to change the password of every customer, using a commonly known vulnerability.

Basim immediately calls the super fund to notify them of the dangerous vulnerability. He then spends the rest of the afternoon working with the super fund's IT team to begin to fix the issue.

The team continues with the simulated attack for three more days and finds a few (less urgent) vulnerabilities. The team collates the attack notes and writes a comprehensive report. The next day Basim hands over the report and delivers a presentation to key members of the super fund.

Monitoring and responding to attacks

Chiyo works in the Security Operations Centre of a university. Her team has set up monitoring systems that alert them to any malicious software (malware) on the university network.

The monitoring system alerts her to some unusual activity with a staff email account, and automatically disables that account. She investigates and finds that a staff member has opened an email attachment containing malware.

Chiyo calls the staff member to notify them that their account has been disabled and discusses the process to regain access. A member of Chiyo's team configures the email filter and firewall to block the source of malware.

Meanwhile Chiyo walks over to the staff member's office and erases all data on the infected computer. She then works with the staff member to reinstate the email account, set up software, and retrieve documents from backup storage.

Preventing data breaches

Dimitry works in the cyber security team for a government department. His team is asked to analyse the policies, procedures, and structures of the department to look for risks to citizens' privacy. He discusses the current laws and best practices with a colleague from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

Dimitry's team identifies five processes where there is a high risk for personal data to be leaked. They analyse each process, determine the likelihood of each type of problem, and examine the possible outcomes of each risk scenario. Dimitry develops a plan and budget to reduce each of the risks. He presents a report to the Minister and the Department Secretary.

The Department Secretary determines that there is a strong case to implement the plan for two of the risky procedures immediately. The other three risky procedures are deemed low-priority, and will be re-examined in six months' time. Dimitry sets up a team to implement the remediation plan.

Integrity and communications skills are essential

These scenarios highlight that, in addition to their technical skills, cybersecurity professionals need to work in teams and communicate with a variety of people.

In each case, the security professional had access to information that could easily be sold on the black market, or exploited for personal gain. Anna could have stolen credit card details. Basim's team knew about some vulnerabilities three days before they informed the super fund. Chiyo had access to a staff member's entire email history. Dimitry knows about three vulnerable processes that will not be changed for six months.

Personal integrity is crucial to maintain the security of these highly sensitive systems.

Communication with non-technical staff is essential to ensuring that best practice is implemented across an organisation. A strong ethical framework is an absolute necessity for security staff. The best technical staff will only build a safer organisation if their communication skills are strong and their personal integrity is unwavering.

Explore further Researchers enable real-time forensic analysis with new cybersecurity tool

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ultramicroscopy: Brain and optial system of drosophila melanogaster. Credit: Vienna University of Technology

The nervous system of an animal can be studied by cutting it up into thin layershowever this inevitably leads to the destruction of the cellular structures in the tissue. Analyzing complex nerve connections is then hardly possible. The far more elegant method is the so called optical "clearing" of the various tissues using chemical processes that make the animal transparent. Interesting structures in the tissue may then be selectively marked and analyzed.

At the Vienna University of Technology, a clearing method has now been developed that can be applied to insects, which is a particularly difficult task. With an improved light-sheet microscope (a so-called ultramicroscope), it is now possible to image large nerve tissue samples and take high-resolution pictures of complex neural networks that have been labeled with fluorescent molecules. The new method has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Fluorescent Molecules

"We can learn a lot about the nervous systems of animals by using genetic engineering to insert special molecules into the nerve tissues, which can then be made to fluoresce," says Marko Pende, a Ph.D. student at TU Wien (Vienna). The big question is how these fluorescent molecules can be imaged without damaging the tissue.

One method that has been used with great success is ultramicroscopy. Transparent tissue is illuminated with a laser beam, which is widened by special optical elements, creating a two-dimensional flat surface of light. This surface penetrates the tissue and illuminates those fluorescent molecules that lie exactly in that plane. Layer by layer, the tissue can be analyzed with this light-sheet, creating a three-dimensional model from the two-dimensional frames on the computer.

Drosophila's headwith fluorescent molecules. Credit: Vienna University of Technology

"We focused on the fruit fly drosophila melanogaster because it is of particular interest for research into the nervous system. Unfortunately, it is particularly difficult to develop a suitable clearing method for insects, "explains Marko Pende."For the tissue to become transparent, it has to be treated with special chemicals, and in insect tissues these chemicals have always destroyed the fluorescent molecules until now." In addition, insect tissue contains chitin, which can hardly be made transparent. Also, drosophila has particularly robust pigments in it its eyes.

The team at TU Wien (Vienna), together with the University of Vienna and the Medical University, succeeded in finding a way to make drosophila flies completely transparent without destroying the fluorescent marker molecules. This was achieved with the help of improved chemical mixtures. "It is an important step forward for the drosophila research community," says Prof. Thomas Hummel from the Department of Neurobiology (University of Vienna).

The pictures were made possible by pioneering optical research by Saiedeh Saghafi (TU Wien). She was able to significantly improve the ultramicroscope: The light-sheet, with which the plane is illuminated layer by layer, used to be about 10 microns thick. The improved ultramicroscope now produces uniform light-sheets of only 3 m thickness over a large area. In addition, the microscope was equipped with an additional lens, which changes the focal point, much like to a pair of glasses: "So far, we could only focus on the outer area of the tissue, now we can take a centimeter-deep look into the tissue and still get sharp images," says Prof. Hans Ulrich Dodt, Head of the Department of Bioelectronics (TU Wien). "It will enable impressive, high-resolution images that will give us important insights into the way the Drosophila nervous system works."

Left: The chemically cleared fly, middle: the fluorescence-image, right: ultramicroscope image. Credit: Vienna University of Technology

The Connectome and Fruit Fly Behavior

The new technique should now help to study the so-called connectome of drosophila. The connectome is the arrangement of interconnections throughout the nervous system, the "electrical circuit diagram" of the animal. This circuit diagram can then be related to behavioral patterns of drosophila.

In addition, drosophila is ideal for analyzing genes that lead to neurodegenerative diseases in humans, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Transparent flies now provide a unique opportunity to understand the complex changes in various areas of the nervous system during neurodegeneration.

More information: Marko Pende et al. High-resolution ultramicroscopy of the developing and adult nervous system in optically cleared Drosophila melanogaster, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Marko Pende et al. High-resolution ultramicroscopy of the developing and adult nervous system in optically cleared Drosophila melanogaster,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07192-z
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Researchers at the University of Tubingen and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have achieved a breakthrough in the decoding of multi-resistant pathogens. The team led by Professor Andreas Peschel and Professor Thilo Stehle was able to decode the structure and function of a previously unknown protein used by dreaded pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus like a magic cloak to protect themselves against the human immune system. The study was published in Nature on Wednesday.

Infections caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus cause many deaths worldwide. Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to the antibiotic methicillin (MRSA for short) are particularly feared in hospitals. According to a study published at the beginning of November, there were around 670,000 diseases caused by multi-resistant pathogens in the EU alone in 2015 and 33,000 patients died.

Normally, our immune system copes well with pathogens such as bacteria or viruses. However, sometimes the defensive strategies of the human body fail, especially in immunocompromised patients. Most antibiotics are meanwhile ineffective against resistant pathogens. Effective replacement antibiotics and a protective vaccine against MRSA are not yet in sight. A precise understanding of the defense mechanisms could therefore lead to new therapies against the bacteria.

Researchers at the University of Tubingen have now described how MRSA bacteria become invisible to the immune system. They were able to show that many of the particularly frequent MRSA bacteria have acquired a previously unknown protein that prevents the pathogens from being detected by antibodies. The Tubingen scientists gave the protein the name TarP (short for teichoic acid ribitol P).

"TarP alters the pattern of carbohydrate molecules on the pathogen surface in a so far unknown way," explained Professor Andreas Peschel from the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine at the University of Tubingen. "As a result, the immune system is unable to produce antibodies against the most important MRSA antigen, teichoic acid," said Peschel. "The immune system is 'blinded' and loses its most important weapon against the pathogen."

Reprogrammed by phages

The researchers from Tubingen assume that the bacterial camouflage is the result of an exchange between the pathogens and their natural enemies, known as bacteriophages. Phages are a class of viruses that attack bacteria, use them as host cells and feed on them. In this case, phages seem to have reprogrammed their host using the TarP protein and thus altered the surface of the bacterium.

The first authors of the study, David Gerlach and Yinglan Guo, succeeded in clarifying the mechanism and structure of TarP. "We now have a detailed understanding of how the protein functions as an enzyme on the molecular level," said Gerlach. The structure-function analysis of TarP forms an excellent basis for the development of new drugs that block TarP allowing the immune system to detect the pathogens. An interdisciplinary approach, involving scientists from Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and South Korea, was particularly important for the success of this work.

"The discovery of TarP came as a complete surprise to us. It explains very well why the immune system often has no chance against MRSA," said Professor Thilo Stehle from the Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry. "The results will help us to develop better therapies and vaccines against the pathogens." Peschel referred to the recently approved Tubingen Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" and the close cooperation with the German Center for Infection Research: "These outstanding networks will help us to further advance the research of MRSA and TarP."

Explore further Scientists decipher a mechanism in serious skin infections

More information: David Gerlach et al. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus alters cell wall glycosylation to evade immunity, Nature (2018). Journal information: Nature David Gerlach et al. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus alters cell wall glycosylation to evade immunity,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0730-x
Urgent and radical change in urban transport policies and practices will benefit the planet and future generations. Credit: blurAZ/Shutterstock

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently warned that global warming could reach 1.5 as early as 2030. The landmark report by leading scientists urged nations to do more to avert an impending crisis.

We have 12 years, the report said, to contain greenhouse gas emissions. This includes serious efforts to reduce transport emissions.

In Australia, transport is the third-largest source of greenhouse gases, accounting for around 17% of emissions. Passenger cars account for around half of our transport emissions.

The transport sector is also one of the strongest factors in emissions growth in Australia. Emissions from transport have increased nearly 60% since 1990  more than any other sector. Australia is ranked 20th out of 25 of the largest energy-using countries for transport energy efficiency.

Cities around the world have many opportunities to reduce emissions. But this requires renewed thinking and real commitment to change.

Our planet can't survive our old transport habits

Past (and still current) practices in urban and transport planning are fundamental causes of the transport problems we face today.

Over the past half-century, cities worldwide have grown rapidly, leading to urban sprawl. The result was high demand for motorised transport and, in turn, increased emissions.

The traffic gridlock on roads and motorways was the catalyst for most transport policy responses during that period. The solution prescribed for most cities was to build out of congestion by providing more infrastructure for private vehicles. Limited attention was given to managing travel demand or improving other modes of transport.

Equating mobility with building more roads nurtured a tendency towards increased motorisation, reinforcing an ever-increasing inclination to expand the road network. The result was a range of unintended adverse environmental, social and economic consequences. Most of these are rooted in the high priority given to private vehicles.

What are the opportunities to change?

The various strategies to move our cities in the right direction can be grouped into four broad categories: avoid, shift, share, and improve. Major policy, behaviour and technology changes are required to make these strategies work.

Avoid strategies aim to slow the growth of travel. They include initiatives to reduce trip lengths, such as high-density and mixed land use developments. Other options decrease private vehicle travel  for example, through car/ride sharing and congestion pricing. And teleworking and e-commerce help people avoid private car trips altogether.

Shanghai's Hongqiao transport hub is a unique example of an integrated air, rail and mixed land use development. It combines Hongqiao's airport, metro subway lines, and regional high-speed rail. A low-carbon residential and commercial precinct surrounds the hub.

UberPool is available in inner Melbourne suburbs. Trip must begin and end in this area. Credit: Uber

Shift strategies encourage travellers to switch from private vehicles to public transport, walking and cycling. This includes improving bus routes and service frequency.

Pricing strategies that discourage private vehicles and encourage other modes of transport can also be effective. Policies that include incentives that make electric vehicles more affordable have been shown to encourage the shift.

Norway is an undisputed world leader in electric vehicle uptake. Nearly a third of all new cars sold in 2017 were a plug-in model. The electric vehicle market share was expected to be as much as 40% within a year.

Share strategies affect car ownership. New sharing economy businesses are already moving people, goods and services. Shared mobility, rather than car ownership, is providing city dwellers with a real alternative.

This trend is likely to continue and will pose significant challenges to car ownership models.

Uber claims that its carpooling service in Mumbai saved 936,000 litres of fuel and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2,662 metric tonnes within one year. It also reports that UberPool in London achieved a reduction of more than 1.1 million driving kilometres in just six months.

Autonomous vehicles can offer first- and last-kilometre solutions, especially in outer suburbs with limited public transport services. Credit: Monopoly919/Shutterstock

Improve strategies promote the use of technologies to optimise performance of transport modes and intelligent infrastructure. These include intelligent transport systems, urban information technologies and emerging solutions such as autonomous mobility.

Our research shows that sharing 80% of autonomous vehicles will reduce net emissions by up to 20%. The benefits increase with wider adoption of autonomous shared electric vehicles.

The urgency and benefits of steering our cities towards a path of low-carbon mobility are unmistakable. This was recognised in the past but progress has been slow. Today, the changing context for how we build future cities  smart, healthy and low-carbon  presents new opportunities.

If well planned and implemented, these four interventions will collectively achieve transport emission reduction targets. They will also improve access to the jobs and opportunities that are preconditions for sound economic development in cities around the world.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Figure: Three species in the White-browed Shortwing (Brachypteryx montana) complex that were previously considered to be a single species. (a) Chinese Shortwing (Brachypteryx sinensis), adult male, Jiangxi, China, 25 April 2013; (b) Himalayan Shortwing (B. cruralis), adult male, Yunnan, China, 5 May 2016; (c) Chinese Shortwing (B. sinensis), immature male, Sichuan, China, 19 June 2015; (d) Himalayan Shortwing (B. cruralis), immature male, Sichuan, China, 19 June 2015; (e) Taiwan Shortwing (B. goodfellowi) Taiwan Island, 4 May 2004 (Chengte Yao); (f) Himalayan Shortwing (B. cruralis), immature male, Sichuan, China, 14 May 2015 (Tang Jun/China Bird Tour). Credit: Per Alstrom, except where noted

The White-browed Shortwing (Brachypteryx montana) has been considered to be a single species distributed from the central Himalayas to the southeast Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia. The mainland and Taiwan Island populations have recently been studied by an international team of researchers from Sweden, China, the UK and the USA. They analysed DNA, plumages, structure, songs and geographical distributions, and concluded that the continental and Taiwanese populations are actually three rather than one species.

These three species differ in all analysed aspects. In particular, in the two mainland species males are blue-grey in colour, whereas in the Taiwanese Island species males are brown like females of all three species. In one of the two continental species, immature males resemble adult males, whereas in the other one immature males are similar to females.

The songs are markedly different, especially between the mainland species. The two continental species were also found to breed in the same area in central China, where only one of them was previously known to occur.

The genetic analyses indicate that the three species have evolved separately for 4.15.8 million years. The same analyses revealed that the Javan population is more distantly related, and accordingly should be treated as a fourth species. Future studies are required on the remaining Philippine and Indonesian populations. Perhaps there are even more species involved.

This study, which concludes that the White-browed Shortwing is at least four different species, supports the view that although birds are better known than any other group of organisms, the number of bird species is underestimated.

Explore further Hundreds of babblers' DNA analysed

More information: Per Alstrom et al. Taxonomy of the White-browed Shortwing (Brachypteryx montana) complex on mainland Asia and Taiwan: an integrative approach supports recognition of three instead of one species, Avian Research (2018). Per Alstrom et al. Taxonomy of the White-browed Shortwing (Brachypteryx montana) complex on mainland Asia and Taiwan: an integrative approach supports recognition of three instead of one species,(2018). DOI: 10.1186/s40657-018-0125-6
Saudi Prince and former Intelligence Chief, Prince Turki Al-Faisal has brushed aside the report by US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that the Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman (MbS) is linked to the killing of Saudi journalist and critic Jamal Khashogg in the Saudi consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul on October 02.

MbS has come under international pressure and accusations since Khashoggis killing was confirmed by Turkish authorities.

Turkish authorities did not name the Crown Prince but said the killing was ordered from the highest levels of the Saudi top leadership.

Khashoggis employer, The Washington Post, the New York Times and several other media outlets have reported that the CIA, after listening to audio tapes of the killing provided by Turkish authorities, believes MbS has ordered the assassination of his critic and renowned journalist.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, a former Chief of the Saudi intelligence and former ambassador to the US and the UK, in an interview in Abu Dhabi, where the Saudi Prince was on an official visit, casted doubts on the CIAs report noting that the US agency showed in the past that it is cannot be trusted.

The CIA has been proved wrong before, Just to mention the invasion of Iraq for example Prince Turki Al-Faisal said.

The CIA is not necessarily the best measure of credible intelligence reporting or intelligence assessment, Al Faisal said.

The Prince said assertions that were made before the 2003 invasion of Iraq by ex US Secretary of State Colin Powell, with former CIA head George Tenet sitting right behind him, that the countrys manufacturing of chemical weapons was a slam-dunk conclusion proved to be absolutely false.

The Kingdom has stood firmly behind the crown prince over the mounting international pressure.

Riyadh has also found a strong international backing from US President Donald Trump who also disputed the CIAs assessment, saying it is not a final one. The US leader maintained that whatever the CIAs conclusion he will not change his policy towards the Saudi kingdom that he views as a key ally in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East region.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has pardoned British student Matthew Hedges who was sentenced to life imprisonment Wednesday for spying for a foreign country after the Britons family appealed for clemency in a letter to the Emirati leader.

UAEs ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Monday said Sheikh Khalifa has granted clemency to Hedges with immediate effect.

The customary National Day Presidential pardon includes Hedges as part of a tranche of clemency orders issued on the occasion of the UAEs 47th National Day anniversary. Hedges will be permitted to leave the UAE once formalities are completed, a statement from the ministry said.

Hedges, from Durham University in northern England, was sentenced last week to life imprisonment for spying for a foreign country during a research visit. He was arrested in May at Dubai airport as he was departing for the UK.

The condemnation drew consternations and pressure on the British government which the Hedges believe is putting diplomatic interests over Matthews right.

UK Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt however warned that the condemnation will bear repercussions for the relations between the two countries.

British Prime Minister Theresa May told a session of parliament she was deeply disappointed and instructed the Foreign Office to continue to press this matter at the highest level with the UAE.

UAE minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash said the pardon will help defuse the row nearly birthed by the condemnation.

British universities where jailed British PhD student Matthew Hedges schooled have cut off ties with the Gulf country in protest to his condemnation to life in jail.

Durham University has suspended all fields of research in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), The New Arab reports.

We are advising a moratorium on all travel to the United Arab Emirates for our non-UAE staff and students until Matt is safely back home, vice-chancellor, Prof Stuart Corbridge is quoted as saying in an email.

Lecturers at the University of Exeter, where Hedges earned his Masters degree, have voted in favor of an academic boycott and called on the vice-chancellor to suspend all business partnerships with the Gulf state.

University of Birmingham earlier on cut ties with the Arab country as lecturers voted to refuse to teach at the institutes Dubai campus or provide course materials and exam marking.
11 hours ago

Is Deere & Company About To Run Higher?

Deere & Company Exit Uncertain Times After several quarters of range-bound trading and market uncertainty, it looks like shares of Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) are about to run higher. Not only has the company exceeded its fiscal 2021 expectations but a major strike has been resolved and the guidance for next year is very favorable.

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Euthanasia legalized in Australia: State of Victoria will allow assisted suicide beginning mid 2019

Victoria has become the first state in Australia to legalize assisted dying. The final ratification of the bill concludes more than two and a half years of intense debate and controversy. Premier Daniel Andrews, who heavily lobbied for the law, calls the decision a victory for those who are terminally ill  one that signals a humane release of intense pain and suffering. As he puts it, legalized euthanasia gives those with terminal conditions the compassion and dignity they deserve at the end of their lives.

Legalized euthanasia in Victoria will start in mid-2019 and will only accommodate Victorians who are diagnosed with a terminal, incurable illness.

The Australian state follows the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Colombia, and Luxembourg in making assisted dying legal. In the U.S., some states also allow for this, including California, Washington, D.C., and Oregon. These laws allow doctors to prescribe a way for patients to end their own lives, without directly assisting them.

Advocates for assisted dying argue that the decision to end ones life should be granted to those who are physically suffering and are terminally ill. They base their arguments on the grounds of compassion. Even so, many groups say that legalizing euthanasia would only encourage more suicides. There is also evidence to suggest that despite the many regulations that govern these laws, many safeguards are still largely ignored or transgressed. In particular, statistics on the subject conclude that euthanasia laws are a slippery slope wherein government officials constantly change laws to accommodate peoples wishes to die. In the Netherlands, for example, a terminal illness is no longer necessary to request for an assisted suicide. Anyone over the age of 70 and is tired of living can ask for their right to end their own life. (Related: Canada legalizes euthanasia for ARTHRITIS whats next?)

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Still, Premier Andrews says that the passing of this new law heralds a new age of compassion in Australia. He has also ensured that amendments are included in the law to make legalized euthanasia more restrictive. One of these amendments includes only allowing those who have resided in Victoria for one year to be eligible.

James Merlino, Premier Andrews own deputy, remained concerned. My concern is proponents of this legislation will come back some time in the future and seek to expand it, he announced in a news conference.

There are also other issues to consider. Medical doctors in the state need to align themselves on the proper procedures and protocols that would allow their patients to request for a euthanizing drug. Of more concern to Dr. Lorraine Baker, President of the Victoria branch of the Australian Medical Association, however, is the acceptance of doctors to willingly end a life.

Historically, for the medical profession, everything is about preserving life. That is such a fundamental ethical principle over centuries. However, were living in a society where now, in first world countries, life can be prolonged. Therefore, by default, apparent suffering can be prolonged.

Dr. Baker though acknowledged that assisted dying can benefit many people who are currently suffering. She says that the bill was passed without strong criticism from the medical community because of the supposedly heavy restrictions that came with the legislation.

She did mention that there could be unexpected consequences that could result from the law, but these should be handled whenever (and if ever) the time comes.

In response to opponents of the bill who said that euthanasia should be left to those in the medical profession, she says ultimately, its a matter for society and the government.

See Euthanasia.news for more news coverage.

Sources include:

NYTimes.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov
November 26, 2018 in Promotions (E)

[prMac.com] Perg, Austria - Ergonis Software extends their Black Friday promotion for Typinator, KeyCue, and PopChar until Cyber Monday. If you missed Ergonis' Black Friday promotion, this is your chance to save time and money! This is your last chance to get additional Ergonis productivity boosters at an unbeatable price and thus SAVE TIME AND MONEY! But hurry, this offer is time-limited. It ends at the end of Cyber Monday and will not be further extended. The offer is good for all purchases except upgrades.



Typinator boosts your productivity and eliminates errors by automating the insertion of frequently used text and graphics. Typinator also corrects common typos and misspelled words for you. Just define abbreviations and their replacement text or picture. Whenever you type one of these abbreviations, Typinator inserts the corresponding replacement.



KeyCue helps you to learn and remember the keyboard shortcuts of the applications you are using. Over time, you will automatically remember frequently used shortcuts and start working more efficiently. KeyCue also has a bunch of other productivity features beyond keyboard shortcuts. For example, you can use KeyCue to quickly and conveniently insert Emoji characters in any application.



PopChar makes "typing" of unusual characters easy without having to remember keyboard combinations. Whenever you need a special character, PopChar is there to help. With PopChar, you can also take a look at fonts from a designer's perspective " see a font preview, check out what a given text fragment looks like in a certain font, and print beautiful font sheets. PopChar is available for Mac OS and Windows.



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Customers visiting the company's online store on Cyber Monday, November 26th 2018, can enter the coupon code "CyberMonday18P" during checkout to get a 30% discount. Orders can be placed securely on the Ergonis Software online store. For information about purchases, including enterprise licenses, volume discounts, and upgrade pricing offers, see the company's web site.

Ergonis Software develops ergonomic and intuitive software that boosts the productivity of Mac and PC users. Ergonis Software, a privately held company founded in 2002, is headquartered in Perg, Austria. Copyright 2002-2018 Ergonis Software Gmbh. All Rights Reserved. Ergonis products are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Ergonis Software GmbH. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Seventeenth Special Report

On 6 July 2018, the Foreign Affairs Committee published its Tenth Report of Session 201719, on Global Britain and the Western Balkans (HC 1013). The Government response was received on 5 September 2018 and published as the Committees Fourteenth Special Report  Global Britain and the Western Balkans: Government Response to the Committees Tenth Report (HC 1572). On 15 November 2018 the Committee received a supplementary response. This response is appended below.

Appendix

This report sets out the Governments response to the Foreign Affairs Committees conclusions and recommendations on Macedonia found in their report on Global Britain and the Western Balkans published on 6 July 2018. The Committees text is in bold and the Governments response is in plain text. Paragraph numbers refer to the Committees report.

(1)The problems facing the Western Balkans are deeply-rooted and intricately interwoven. Its path to European integration will be long and halting and there is no guarantee of success. It is vital that the UK and its EU and NATO partners maintain their commitment to the region, but they must acknowledge the difficulties and risks involved and recognise that it will likely take a long time to make a substantive difference. (Paragraph 11)

(2)Russia is willing to do what it can to disrupt the Western Balkans path to stability and democracy. This is demonstrated by Russias support for an attempted coup in Montenegro in 2016 and reports of Russian attempts to supply arms to militant groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Similarly, there is a risk that Russia will try to subvert or stop the ratification of the agreement recently reached between Greece and Macedonia to end their long-running name dispute, particularly in any referendum that may be held in Macedonia. (Paragraph 12)

(3)It is not for the UK to say whether the people of Greece and Macedonia should ratify the agreement recently reached between the two governments to resolve their name dispute. However, as one of the leading powers resisting Russian aggression, it is vital that the UK does what it can to help ensure that a decision can be made in a free, fair and open way. The FCO should tell us what the UK has done and will do, in concert with its regional, EU and NATO partners and allies, to ensure that the ratification process is not disrupted by malicious outside interference. (Paragraph 13)

The Government shares the Committees concern about increased Russian interference in the Western Balkans, seen most starkly in the Montenegro attempted coup plot. This behaviour by Russia is destabilising for the region and for European security. While we cannot rule out further Russian interference in the region, the Government remains committed to supporting the Western Balkans to make progress on its Euro-Atlantic accession path and to increasing its resilience to malign external influence.

Ahead of the referendum, and at the request of the Macedonian Government, the Government funded a small team of independent experts to offer technical advice in support of the referendum on issues such as strategic communications. These experts were a resource for the Referendum Taskforce and operated independently of the UK Government.

In addition, the Government deployed two long-term and twenty short-term observers to the observation mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the OSCE. These observers helped confirm that the vote was generally calm and well-organized, and procedures were administered professionally and transparently, as stated in the preliminary conclusions of the mission. Our Embassy in Skopje also co-funded the independent tabulation of results by a local NGO to help ensure the impartiality and objectivity of the vote.

The referendum required a turnout threshold of over 50% for the outcome to be binding. Although turnout was below expectations at 36% (largely due to an over-inflated electoral list and an effective boycott campaign), the referendum was still a positive step for Macedonia, with over 90% of those who did vote making clear their support for the Prespa Agreement and their wish to be part of the Euro-Atlantic community.

In light of this outcome, we welcome Prime Minister Zaevs decision to seek parliamentary approval for the Prespa Agreement and for the constitutional changes needed to amend Macedonias name. The Parliamentary vote on 19 October in favour of opening the constitution was a positive first step and we now anticipate further votes, first to amend the language of the constitution and then to close the constitution.

The Greek Parliament will also need to vote to ratify the Prespa Agreement, once the constitutional process in Macedonia has concluded. The Greek government has stated that it is confident it can secure the votes to pass the Agreement, in spite of significant popular opposition in Greece.

The Government is clear that the implementation of the Prespa Agreement has the potential to be transformative in Macedonia and to give impetus to resolving other disputes in the wider region. It offers the prospect of greater security and prosperity and better opportunities for Macedonias young people. We encourage both sides to seize the historic opportunity that the Agreement presents.

The UK is proud to be a longstanding friend and partner of Macedonia and Greece; something the Prime Minister reiterated to both Greek Prime Minister Tsipras and Macedonian Prime Minister Zaev at the Western Balkans Summit in London in July. The Prime Minister and the Minister for Europe and the Americas Sir Alan Duncan have both visited Macedonia this year in a demonstration of the UKs support and we look forward to this partnership enduring and strengthening in the future.
NGO: People Convicted of Corruption, Fraud Mustnt Participate in Public Procurements

By Gvantsa Gabekhadze

Transparency International Georgia says that despite positive moves in Georgias public procurement, the system still requires further improvement, as people convicted of corruption or fraud are still able to participate in public procurements.The NGO says that currently blacklisting remains the only way of preventing such problems.The blacklisted companies are not allowed to participate in public procurement for a year. However, blacklisted companies are allowed to establish other companies and participate in public procurement.Other companies who are not blacklisted can also subcontract them. Bad subcontracting practice is another problem for Georgias public procurement, TI Georgia says.The NGO says that unlike good international practice, individuals convicted of corruption and fraud are no restricted from participating in Georgias public procurement, even in case of breaking procurement legislation.The NGO says that in Georgia companies (for instance, Green Service, Geo-Group and Ibolia) linked with former or acting public officials convicted of corruption in public procurement receive millions of GEL.This contradicts with good international (including European) practice in regulating public procurement and recommendations of international organizations.The NGO says that it is necessary to amend Georgias public procurement legislation which will restrict the participation of those companies in public procurement, owners of which were convicted of fraud or corruption in public procurement. This restriction should last for at least the period when a status of conviction is active.TI Georgia states that public contractors should be prohibited to sign subcontracts with such companies the owners of which were convicted of fraud or corruption.
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Vinod Thomas is author of a 2018 book "Climate Change and Natural Disasters" (Routledge) and a former senior vice president at the World Bank. This was written for the Baltimore Sun.
" " Modern elevators have mechanisms in place to prevent elevators from falling to the ground if the cable breaks. Entienou/Getty Images

In November 2018, six people boarded an elevator at the former John Hancock Center in Chicago for the ride down from the Signature Room bar on the 95th floor to the lobby. But the long ride got a lot worse when one of the cables snapped and the elevator plunged 84 floors to the 11th floor.

"At the beginning I believed we were going to die," one of the passengers told CBS Chicago. "We were going down and then I felt that we were falling down and then I heard a noise  clack clack clack clack clack clack."

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Amazingly, none of the passengers had to be hospitalized and there no serious injuries. The passengers thought they had only fallen a few floors. However, they did have to wait three hours to be rescued by firefighters because there were no openings between the floors [sources: CBS Chicago, Leone and Sobol].

So, how was it possible that one of the worst things that can happen to people in an elevator occurred and everyone survived? Action movies often show the hero getting in an elevator after the evil villain has cut the cables  and disaster ensues.

Fortunately, elevators in the real world have so many safety features that this kind of stuff usually never happens. Here's the breakdown:

Snapping Cables

In a cable elevator system, steel cables bolted to the car loop over a sheave. A sheave is a pulley with a grooved rim surface, at the top of the elevator shaft. The sheave's grooves grip the steel cables. So when an electric motor rotates the sheave, the cables move, too. The cables that lift the car are also connected to a counterweight, which hangs down on the other side of the sheave. The car and the counterweight both ride along on steel rails.

Each elevator cable is made from several lengths of steel material wound around one another. These cables very rarely snap, and inspectors regularly look at them for wear and tear. But even a steel cable can break. So what happens then?

" " Steel cables are bolted to the car loop over a sheave. HowStuffWorks

Almost all pulley elevators have multiple cables -- between four and eight total. Even if one cable snapped, the remaining cables would hold the elevator car up. In fact, just one cable is usually enough.

Safeties and Governor

But let's say all the cables did snap. Then the elevator's safeties would kick in. Safeties are braking systems on the elevator car that grab onto the rails running up and down the elevator shaft. Some safeties clamp the rails, while others drive a wedge into notches in the rails. Typically, safeties are activated by a mechanical speed governor.

" " If one or more cables did snap, the elevator's safeties would kick in. HowStuffWorks

The governor is a pulley that rotates when the elevator moves. When the governor spins too fast, the centrifugal force activates the braking system.

At the Bottom

If the safeties failed, you would be plummeting rapidly, but you wouldn't quite be in a free fall. Friction from the rails along the shaft and pressure from the air underneath the car would slow the car down considerably (you would feel lighter than normal though). On impact, the car would stop and you would keep going, slamming you into the floor.

" " A built-in shock absorber at the bottom of the shaft would cushion the blow. HowStuffWorks

But two things would cushion the blow. First, the elevator car would compress the air at the bottom of the shaft as it fell, just as a piston compresses air in a bicycle pump. The air pressure would slow the elevator car down. Second, most cable elevators have a built-in shock absorber at the bottom of the shaft  typically a piston in an oil-filled cylinder. That would cushion the impact too. With all these features in place, you would have an excellent chance of surviving any elevator mishap.

In the case of the Chicago elevator incident, once the firefighters figured out where the passengers were, the crew put up struts to make sure the elevator did not drop any further. Then they broke a wall, forced the elevator door open and put a ladder into the elevator to help people up and out.

"We don't like to have to go through walls unless it's absolutely necessary," Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford told the Chicago Tribune. "The only other way to get to the elevator would have been ropes from the 97th floor, and that would not be safe. We don't come down like Batman so we must go through the wall."

Don't Bother Jumping You sometimes hear that you should jump immediately before the elevator crashes, so you would be "floating" at the second of impact. Would it work? Nah. Even if you could perfectly time such a leap, it wouldn't help. Let's say you and the elevator are falling at 100 mph (161 kph). When you jump up in the elevator, you would still be going about 100 mph. You would hit the ground at 100 mph, just like the elevator. Ouch! Your best bet would be to lie flat on the floor. This would stabilize you and spread out the force of the impact so that no single part of your body would take the brunt of the blow. But, it's still gonna hurt!
Ransomware attacks continue to threaten the healthcare industry, the last incident in order of time impacted the Ohio Hospital System.

The ransomware attack infected computer systems at the East Ohio Regional Hospital and Ohio Valley Medical Center reportedly caused the disruption of the hospitals emergency rooms.

The malware hit the Ohio Hospital System on Friday, Nov. 23, evening, according to The Times Leader newspaper, the hospitals were not able to accept ER patients via emergency responders.

Emergency squad patients are being diverted away from East Ohio Regional Hospital and Ohio Valley Medical Center this weekend because the hospitals computer system has been attacked by Ransomware. reads The Times Leader newspaper.

Area emergency squads began transporting patients to other area hospitals after receiving notification of the full diversion.

The patients were diverted to other area hospital emergency rooms.

Karin Janiszewski, director of marketing and public relations for the hospitals, explained that the two hospitals were able to handle walk-in ER patients.

At the moment, our emergency rooms are unable to take patients by E-squads, but we can take patients by walk-in, Janiszewski said. Our IT team is working around the clock right now and we expect to have the issue resolved by (Sunday).

The IT staff plan to completely restore normal operation by Sunday, November 25. The good news is that no data was exposed due to the ransomware attack.

We have redundant security, so the attack was able to get through the first layer but not the second layer, she added. There has been no patient information breach.

Pierluigi Paganini

( Security Affairs  ransomware, Ohio Hospital System)

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 "The Racial Politics of Mass Incarceration" | Main | Lamenting a "liberal tilt in criminology" 

September 5, 2017

Split Tenth Circuit panel finds mandatory five-year prison term for violation of supervised release itself violates Fifth and Sixth Amendments

I just saw that an interesting and important constitutional procedure opinion was handed down by the Tenth Circuit last week in US v. Haymond, No. 16-5156 (10th Cir. Aug 31, 2017) (available here). Here is how the panel's majority opinion gets started and some of the opinion's substantive analysis:

The district court revoked Andre Ralph Haymonds supervised release based in part on a finding that Haymond knowingly possessed thirteen images of child pornography. The district court imposed the mandatory minimum sentence required by 18 U.S.C.  3583(k). Haymond appeals and argues that the evidence was insufficient to support a finding by a preponderance of the evidence that he possessed child pornography, and that 18 U.S.C.  3583(k) is unconstitutional because it violates his right to due process. We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support the district courts finding that Haymond violated the conditions of his supervised release, but we agree that 18 U.S.C.  3583(k) is unconstitutional because it strips the sentencing judge of discretion to impose punishment within the statutorily prescribed range, and it imposes heightened punishment on sex offenders based, not on their original crimes of conviction, but on new conduct for which they have not been convicted by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, we affirm the district courts revocation of Haymonds supervised release, but we vacate Haymonds sentence and remand for resentencing.... We conclude that 18 U.S.C.  3583(k) violates the Fifth and Sixth Amendments because (1) it strips the sentencing judge of discretion to impose punishment within the statutorily prescribed range, and (2) it imposes heightened punishment on sex offenders expressly based, not on their original crimes of conviction, but on new conduct for which they have not been convicted by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt and for which they may be separately charged, convicted, and punished.... By requiring a mandatory term of reimprisonment, 18 U.S.C.  3583(k) increases the minimum sentence to which a defendant may be subjected. For example, when Haymond was originally convicted by a jury, the sentencing judge was authorized to impose a term of imprisonment between zero and ten years. See 18 U.S.C.  2252(b)(2). After the judge found, by a preponderance of the evidence, however, that Haymond had violated a particular condition of his supervised release, the mandatory provision in  3583(k) required that Haymond be sentenced to a term of reincarceration of at least five years, up to a maximum term of life. This unquestionably increased the mandatory minimum sentence of incarceration to which he was exposed from no years to five years, yet the jury did not make the factual finding required to change his statutorily prescribed sentencing range. Instead, that finding was made by a judge by only a preponderance of the evidence. This violates the Sixth Amendment.... In Johnson v. United States, 529 U.S. 694 (2000) , the Supreme Court made clear that, in order to avoid serious constitutional concerns, revocation of supervised release must be viewed as punishment for the original crime of conviction, not as punishment for the violation of the conditions of supervised release.... Regardless of the nature or severity of the defendants original crime of conviction,  3583(k) imposes a mandatory minimum five-year term of imprisonment for only those specific offenses enumerated, while all other violations are subject to the maximum terms set in  3583(e)(3). By separating these crimes from other violations,  3583(k) imposes a heightened penalty that must be viewed, at least in part, as punishment for the subsequent conduct  conduct for which the defendant has not been tried by a jury or found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This, the Court has said, is not permitted. To be sure, the sentencing judge can and, according to the Sentencing Guidelines, should consider the severity of the conduct by which a defendant violated the conditions of his or her supervised release. A more serious violation might well recommend a longer term of reimprisonment. But, if we wish to maintain the premise that revocation of supervised release is a punishment for the original crime of conviction, Congress must set the authorized term of reimprisonment based on the severity of that original crime.

Notably, Judge Kelly dissents in part because he is (reasonably) concerned that the majority's reasoning might impact any and all judicial fact-finding supporting the revocation of supervised release:

Were the court correct [in its constitutional analysis], the problem it identifies seems like it would be true of all revocation proceedings: if a defendant is sentenced to any term of supervised release, the fact that the release can then be revoked and the defendant be sent back to prison for an additional term means that the penalty to which a defendant may be subjected has been increased based on facts not found by a jury. Id. (emphasis added). In other words, unless either (a) all revocation proceedings must empanel juries for fact-finding (which the Supreme Court, with good reason, has told us is not the case) or (b) the revocation proceeding is treated as a new criminal prosecution (which the Supreme Court also has told us is not the case), it is hard to understand why under current precedent Booker would apply but Apprendi and Alleyne would not. While postrevocation penalties might be considered attributable to the original conviction, the revocation proceeding is neither part of that criminal prosecution nor is it a new criminal prosecution. See Johnson, 529 U.S. at 700.... [According to the majority], the distinction, apparently, is that the terms of revocation differ based on what kind of new crime the defendant committed. But I see no reason why Congress cannot make that distinction. As the Sentencing Guidelines explain, under the breach of trust theory applicable to the revocation of supervised release, the nature of the conduct leading to the revocation [can] be considered in measuring the extent of the breach of trust. U.S. Sentencing Guidelines Manual  7A3(b) (2016). In my view, Congress can determine that the commission of certain crimes constitutes a more serious breach of trust warranting a longer term of revocation. Doing so does not thereby make the revocation proceeding a new criminal prosecution.... Ultimately, we should not jump ahead of the Supreme Court when it has already spoken on this issue. Any tension between the supervised release scheme approved in Johnson and the rationale of the Apprendi / Booker line of cases is for the Supreme Court itself to resolve.

Ever since the Supreme Court got serious about applying its Apprendi doctrine to various sentencing determinations in cases like Blakely and Booker, I have thought the judicial fact-finding that takes place in federal supervised release proceedings were on constitutionally shaky grounds. Or, to parrot Judge Kelly's final statment, I have long believed that there is significant tension between the supervised release scheme approved in Johnson and the rationale of the Apprendi / Booker line of cases. But, in various settings, various lower federal courts have found various ways to uphold the judicial fact-finding involved in supervised release revocations  revocations that result in a significant number of federal defendants getting sent back to prison. (This 2010 USSC report found that roughly 1/3 of all released federal prisoners get revoked and sent back to prison, and that 6% of the federal prison population are serving revocation terms.)

It will be very interest to watch if the Justice Department seeks en banc or SCOTUS review of this Tenth Circuit ruling. I hope they will, in part because this case seems like it might just get SCOTUS to finally take a look at what its modern Fifth and Sixth Amendment doctrines should mean for supervised release revocation proceedings.

September 5, 2017 at 10:17 AM | Permalink

Comments

While I still disagree with the SCOTUS holding regarding an increased floor being the relevant inquiry when it comes to a jury verdict I am actually not so concerned here because the upper end was extended as well.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Sep 5, 2017 11:28:23 AM

Defense attorney here. This area of law is a mess and it needs sorting out.

The real tension I think is not just between Apprendi/Alleyne and Johnson, but between the 5th/6th Amendment line of contempt cases classifying fixed imprisonment terms in response to disobeying court orders as criminal punishment under the 5th and 6th Amendments: "A fixed sentence of imprisonment is punitive and criminal if it is imposed retrospectively for a completed act of disobedience." Intn'l Union of United Mine Workers of America v. Bagwell, 512 U.S. 821, 828-29 (1994); United States v. Dixon, 509 U.S. 688, 696 (1993)(holding that fixed term imposed for violation of pre-trial release condition not to commit a crime was criminal sanction, double jeopardy precluded subsequent prosecution for substantive offense). The only principled distinction between the defendant in Dixon and a modern supervised release revocation defendant is that the orders derive from a prior conviction; but no court has ever really explained how that changes the character of the term of imprisonment to remove it from the contempt line of cases. It's especially confusing since the Sentencing Commission approved the use of a term of imprisonment as a "sanction" for breaching the court's trust, under Chapter 7.

Also it's interesting that they take that part of Johnson "approving" the revocation scheme as a holding. A couple other courts have held it's just dictum, as it was never litigated before SCOTUS. United States v. Kumar, 617 F.3d 612, 630 n.17 (2d Cir. 2010); id. at 643 n.8 (dissent).

Posted by: Joseph Camden | Sep 6, 2017 1:12:31 PM

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 "Layers of Bias: A Unified Approach for Understanding Problems With Risk Assessment" | Main | Senator Tom Cotton continuing to do everything he can to try to keep the FIRST STEP Act from moving forward 

Ken Cuccinelli, the former Attorney General of Virginia, has this lengthy new commentary at The American Spectator headlined "Three Myths From Critics of Criminal Justice Reform: They need to be knocked down." I recommend the piece in full, and here are some excerpts:

Criminal justice reform  thanks, in part, to an overwhelming 360-59 vote in the House on the FIRST STEP Act  has quickly gained momentum, championed by conservatives as a down payment towards ensuring that prisoners re-entering society do so with the tools they need to succeed. President Trump, who campaigned on restoring law and order, has been a vocal supporter of prison reform since earlier this year, and has recently signaled support for various sentencing proposals, as well.

But not everyone agrees. Senator Tom Cotton, a long-time skeptic of criminal justice reform, penned an article in the Wall Street Journal this summer in which he generally praised rehabilitation efforts in federal prisons but took sentencing reform to task, calling it a foolish approach that would endanger communities. Meanwhile, now-former Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been critical of reform efforts as well, claiming that changes in drug sentencing risks allowing violent crime to run amok. Research and, most importantly, experience  particularly in southern red states  inform us that both arguments lie on shaky, outdated foundations. As the Senate appended modest sentencing proposals to the FIRST STEP Act, it is worthwhile to separate facts from fiction.

Myth #1: Drug crimes are inherently violent.

Among the subtler tactics that critics of federal sentencing reform employ is a simple progression: begin with discussion of Americas real, ongoing problem with drugs; immediately shift the focus to violent crime, as if the two issues are self-evidently identical; and then argue that the reason for Americas historical reduction in violent crime can be traced to the adoption of lengthy mandatory sentences for drug dealing.

This may make for a neatly packaged argument, but reality spins a far more complicated tale. First, plain observation of drug overdoses and violent-crime trends simply doesnt lend itself to correlation. Between 1999 and 2016, drug overdose death rates increased by over 200 percent, while violent crime rates fell by over 26 percent. These skyrocketing overdose deaths occurred despite an entire bevy of mandatory sentencing tools available to federal authorities that were ostensibly enacted to curb the worst consequences of drug crimes. Instead, such sentences have had no discernible effect on deaths caused by drugs....

Myth #2: Longer prison sentences equals less crime....

While a simple fact is that research has yet to pinpoint the factor(s) most responsible for our historic reduction in crime, the weight of evidence is clearly against those theories which emphasize imprisonment  particularly imprisonment meant to discourage drug use.

According to a comprehensive analysis of the dramatic rise of incarceration rates and its affects by the National Research Council, there is an outward plausibility to the belief that putting many more convicted felons behind bars would reduce crime. However, the authors explain that even a cursory examination of the data reveals the complexity of drawing meaningful correlations between crime and incarceration rates:

Violent crime rates have been declining steadily over the past two decades, which suggests a crime prevention effect of rising incarceration rates. For the first two decades of rising incarceration rates, however, there was no clear trend in the violent crime rate  it rose, then fell, and then rose again. While incapacitation effects may be effective when targeted towards very-high rate or extremely dangerous offenders, the authors conclude that the incremental deterrent effect of increases in lengthy prison sentences is modest at best....

Criminal justice reform is engineered to incentivize participation in substance-abuse treatment and other recidivism-reduction programs, or otherwise to curb overly-punitive sentences which may extract their pound of flesh but also rapidly lose their effectiveness as one moves down the offense severity ladder.

To summarize, weightier factors besides simply locking up criminals must be at play to account for crime reduction. Ascribing that reduction solely to lengthy sentences is a theory that doesnt play well with the data  especially given the fact that thirty states have recently experienced crime rate reductions while simultaneously reducing their prison populations.

Myth #3: No one goes to federal prison for low-level, non-violent drug offenses.

It is easy to produce a statistic that there are relatively few people incarcerated for federal drug possession offenses and then brush ones hands together with satisfaction, believing that the we overincarcerate canard has just been dispelled. But while this immediate fact is indeed true, putting it into context makes this line of argument less salient.

First, consider the composition of all federal drug offenders. In 2017, about 48 percent of drug offenders sentenced at the federal level  a majority of whom are trafficking offenders  were in the lowest criminal-history category, having been previously sentenced for, at most, one low-level offense. Roughly 60 percent were in the lowest two categories. To be sure, drug trafficking, which includes street-level dealing, involve more serious offenses. Even so, there are still tens of thousands of federal inmates being incarcerated  for historically longer periods of time  for lower-level drug offenses. Recidivism is a real problem, but federal prison is a big stick, and shouldnt be the front-line corrective for every offense. Too often it is, even for simple possessors (over 80 percent of whom receive a term of imprisonment)....

We must begin shifting the paradigm away from using mandatory sentences as the obvious tool against lawbreaking  as states such as Florida, South Carolina, and Texas have done. Crimes should be punished, but the law loses its legitimacy when it punishes disproportionately. The FIRST STEP Act  along with modest sentencing reforms  will help regain the laws moral force and make us safer at the same time.
 "Paroling elderly inmates is humane solution to costly mass incarceration" | Main | "Layers of Bias: A Unified Approach for Understanding Problems With Risk Assessment" 

In this post last year I noted the interesting constitutional procedure opinion handed down by the Tenth Circuit in US v. Haymond, No. 16-5156 (10th Cir. Aug 31, 2017) (available here), and in this post last month I noted that the Supreme Court accepted the petition for certiorari filed by the federal government in the case. I am very lucky to have a great student, Jim McGibbon, who is very interested in the Haymond case, and he has agreed to draft a series of preview posts on the case. Here is this first one:

The Supreme Court, on October 26, 2018, granted certiorari in United States v. Haymond. The case concerns the constitutionality of a federal statutory provision which imposes a mandatory minimum prison sentence for federally-convicted sex offenders who commit another sexually-related offense while serving a term of supervised release.

A federal district court, in 2010, convicted Haymond of possessing child pornography and sentenced him to thirty-eight months of prison and ten years of supervised release. A sentencing judge is authorized to impose a supervised release sentence based on 18 U.S.C.  3583(a), a provision of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. Supervised release has long been considered, in the words of the Tenth Circuit, part of the sentence for the original crime as are the various terms and conditions that an offender must comply with during the period of supervised release. Violation of the conditions of supervised release sometimes can result in revocation and additional prison time, but the Supreme Court in Johnson v. United States, 529 U.S. 694 (2000), described postrevocation sanctions as part of the penalty for the initial offense. Id. at 700.

On April 24, 2013, Haymond was released from prison, and he began serving his 10-year term of supervised release. Two years into his supervised release, Haymonds probation officers conducted a surprise search of Haymonds apartment. The officers seized a password-protected cellphone and a personal computer belonging to Haymond, as well as other computers belonging to a roommate or in the apartment. Finding images of child pornography on the phone, the probation officers alleged Haymond violated his terms of supervised release on various grounds.

Haymond was subject to a supervised release revocation hearing before a district judge, a unique hearing generally considered comparable to parole revocation in which the "full panoply of rights due a defendant ... does not apply. Morrisey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471, 480 (1972). The district court found by a preponderance of the evidence that Haymond had violated 18 U.S.C.  2252 by possessing child pornography. Based on this finding, the court revoked Haymonds supervised release and sentenced him to a mandatory five years in prison pursuant to  3583(k) and an additional five years of supervised release. The relevant portion of 18 U.S.C.  3583(k) provides that sex offenders on supervised release who commit any criminal offense under chapter 109A, 110, or 117, or section 1201 or 1591, for which imprisonment for a term longer than 1 year can be imposed, the court shall revoke the term of supervised release and require the defendant to serve a term of imprisonment  not less than 5 years.

Haymond appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that (1) that the presence of images in his phone cache was insufficient to show by a preponderance of the evidence that he knowingly possessed child pornography, and (2) that 18 U.S.C.  3583(k) is unconstitutional because it deprives him of due process. The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district courts finding of child pornography possession and the revocation of Haymonds supervised release, but vacated the mandatory sentence and remanded the case back to the District Court for resentencing.

A split panel of Tenth Circuit held that 3583(k) was unconstitutional for two reasons. The majority first asserted that the statute impermissibly strips the sentencing judge of discretion established under Booker and its progeny because it imposes a mandatory minimum sentence. The court also asserted that it unlawfully imposes heightened punishment using a preponderance of the evidence standard based on new conduct which contradicts the requirements of Apprendi and Alleyne.

The government filed a petition for a writ of certiorari on June 15, 2018 posing this question for review:

Whether the court of appeals erred in holding unconstitutional and unenforceable the portions of 18 U.S.C. 3583(k) that required the district court to revoke respondents ten-year term of supervised release, and to impose five years of reimprisonment, following its finding by a preponderance of the evidence that respondent violated the conditions of his release by knowingly possessing child pornography.

With certiorari granted last month and the briefs forthcoming, this case poses the potential to impact not only the operation of federal supervised release revocation, but also the future of Apprendi rights.

In coming posts, the briefs filed by the parties and potential amici will be discussed.
China is planning to build a deep sea base for unmanned submarine science and defence operations in the South China Sea, a centre that might become the first artificial intelligence colony on Earth, officials and scientists involved in the plan said.

The project  named in part after Hades, the underworld of Greek mythology  was launched at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing this month after a visit to a deep sea research institute at Sanya, Hainan province, by Chinese President Xi Jinping in April.

Xi urged the scientists and engineers to dare to do something that has never been done before. There is no road in the deep sea, we do not need to chase [after other countries], we are the road, he said.

The idea of an outpost for deep sea exploration has been a favourite of scientists, engineers and fiction writers for hundreds of years, while the Greek allegory of Atlantis has inspired many city beneath the sea stories.

The Hadal zone that would be home to the base is the deepest part of an ocean  typically a V-shape abyss  at a depth of 6,000 to 11,000 metres (19,685 to 36,100 feet).

The project will cost Chinese taxpayers 1.1 billion yuan (US$160 million), the scientists said. That is half as much again as the cost of the FAST radio telescope  the worlds largest  in Guizhou province, southwest China.

Like a space station, the undersea complex will have docking platforms. Project engineers will need to develop materials to withstand the water pressure at such great depths.

It is as challenging as building a colony on another planet for robotic residents with artificial intelligence, said a scientist who has taken part in the project. The technology can change the world.

Robot submarines will be sent to survey seabeds, record life forms for cataloguing and collect mineral samples. As a self-contained laboratory, the station will analyse those samples and send reports to the surface.

Story continues

While the base will depend on cables connected to a ship or platform for power and communication, its powerful brain and sensors will allow it to carry out autonomous missions.

Other scientists are sceptical about the project and think politics and technology will present big challenges.

The South China Sea is probably the most disputed waterway on the planet, with seven territories making conflicting claims over it. However, Beijing might share data and technology with neighbours to win their support, supporters said.

The deep sea floor is an extreme environment, where high pressure, erosion, volatile geology and quakes could threaten any structure on the seabed. That means the cost of such an ambitious programme could far exceed any estimates.

Dr Du Qinghai, associate researcher at the Hadal Science and Technology Research Centre at Shanghai Ocean University, said the 1.1 billion yuan budget, although unprecedented for a deep sea research facility, might be tight.

Facing enormous water pressure, the station will need to be significantly stronger and more compact than an equally costly land facility.

It can be more difficult than building a space station. No other country has done this before, said Du, is was not involved in the project.

Much of the budget would be used to develop technology and materials, he said. For instance, sealing materials for the docking platforms must be extremely strong yet flexible.

The base would also throw up challenges for AI technology, he said.

About 99 per cent of the ocean floor, which covers more than 70 per cent of the Earths surface, remains unexplored, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Professor Yan Pin, researcher at the Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Guangzhou, said the site of any subsea base needed to meet several requirements.

It must be sufficiently deep, with abundant geological activities for scientific studies but not too active or the base could be destroyed by a volcano eruption and landslide.

One candidate location is the Manila Trench, according to Yan, who has spent decades studying the South China Seas floors.

It is the only place in the South China Sea with a depth exceeding 5,000 metres, he told the South China Morning Post.

The Manila Trench is where the southeastern part of Eurasian plate meets the Pacific plate. Its deepest sea floor goes down 5,400 metres.

This presents problems  there was a lot of volcanic activity within the trench, Yan said. However, chemicals from as deep down as the Earths mantle are carried up by thermal vents and they could contain geological information.

The Manila Trench is also one of the worlds biggest quake zones. A study by the Institute of Geology, at the China Earthquake Administration in Beijing, this year estimated that a large quake in the trench could send a tsunami as high as four metres towards the Pearl River Delta area, including Hong Kong, within three hours.

The Manila Trench also lies close to Scarborough Shoal, where China and the Philippines had a stand-off two years ago.

Although politically sensitive, it was not impossible that the unmanned subsea base would be built near the shoal, Yan said.

China and the Philippines should sit down and discuss it. A tsunami [warning] is a big selling point. Data collected by the station would benefit all countries in the region. It could save many lives, he said.

China is proposing several marine facilities, including the worlds first manned deep sea station, a habitat capable of housing dozens of people for up to a month at a time at 3km (1.9 miles) beneath the sea.

Beijing also plans to build 20 floating nuclear power plants, with the first expected to be sent into the South China Sea by 2020, to support commercial and military activities.

During his visit to the deep sea research institute in Hainan, Xi told scientists that China was a big ocean country with vast claimed waters, and there was a march into the ocean to accelerate the build-up of maritime power.

Taking up that theme, Du said: The project will make China stronger, more advanced. It will boost the material sciences, stimulate innovation and make Chinese manufacturing more competitive.

It will make China a world leader in some critical areas.

This article Beijing plans an AI Atlantis for the South China Sea  without a human in sight first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.
Reuters

Bharat Biotech's vaccine was only 50% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 in a high-risk population during a devastating second wave of infections in India this year, data gleaned from hospital workers showed. The real world study for Covaxin, conducted April 15-May 15, compares with a 77.8% effectiveness rate in a late-stage trial of more than 25,000 participants that was conducted November 2020 to January 2021. The much lower effectiveness rate for the two-dose shot seen in the new study can possibly be attributed to the fact that the study was restricted to hospital employees who had a higher risk of being infected than the general population, that it was conducted during a surge in infections and also to the prevalence of the Delta variant at the time, the study concluded.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen announces her resignation as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after local elections in Taipei Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen announces her resignation as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after local elections in Taipei, Taiwan November 24, 2018. REUTERS/Ann Wang

By Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Chinese state media heaped pressure on Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday after her ruling pro-independence party suffered heavy defeats in local elections at the weekend, as party officials sought to work out what went wrong.

Tsai, who faces a presidential election in a little over a year, resigned on Saturday as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after losing key battleground cities in mayoral polls to the China-friendly Kuomintang.

The DPP now only controls six cities and counties to the Kuomintang's 15.

Han Kuo-yu, the Kuomintang's mayor-elect in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, and the most high profile of the party's winners, said he would open the door to contacts with China.

Beijing has refused to deal with Tsai's administration since she took office in 2016, accusing her of pushing for the island's formal independence.

That is a red line for China, which considers the democratic island sacred Chinese territory.

Tsai has said she wants to maintain the status quo with China but will defend Taiwan's security and democracy, especially in the face of ramped up Chinese pressure such as whittling down Taiwan's dwindling band of diplomatic allies.

In the run-up to the elections, Tsai had warned against Chinese efforts to interfere and urged that people must stand up for democracy.

The official China Daily said in an editorial Tsai had ignored Beijing's "cooperative stance" and forced relations into a deadlock, and that "her separatist stance has lost her the support of the people on the island".

"Cross-Straits communication and cooperation between local governments are expected to be strengthened as a result of the election, which will bring more opportunities and help deepen mutual understanding," it wrote.

The Kuomintang has sent delegations to China since Tsai took office, where they have been warmly received, and that contact is now likely to increase.

Story continues

Hung Mong-kai, a Kuomintang spokesman, said he was "certain" there would now be more interaction with China.

'NO EXCUSES'

Chiu Chui-cheng, deputy minister of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, told Reuters the government had always welcomed exchanges with China, but Beijing's "political preconditions" had hindered such contacts.

"We are always positive on city-to-city exchanges with mainland China, but it's them who set a limit: they treat blue and green differently," he said, referring to the colours representing the Kuomintang and DPP.

Another state-run Chinese paper, the widely read tabloid the Global Times, said in an editorial that the DPP's "radical thinking" had led it astray, though the same paper last week had called Tsai's China policies "measured".

Close Tsai aide Chen Chu, secretary general of the presidential office, said there were "no excuses" for the poor performance and that they had to think deeply.

"The one who really needs to change is me," Tsai wrote on her Facebook page, adding that the administration would take a thorough look at major policies and personnel. She did not elaborate.

Senior DPP member and legislator Lo Chih-cheng told Reuters the party had failed to please anyone with its moderate approach to both China and domestic issues, and the DPP needed a re-think and maybe a more radical agenda to reach its core supporters.

"The party is in turmoil," Lo said, suggesting one way to please people would be to try to win back some of the smaller countries with which China has ties.

"We've been pushed into a corner, without fighting back. And that again disappointed our supporters," he said.

Still, Taiwan's stock market was cheered by the Kuomintang's gains, on expectations of better ties with China, closing up more than one percent. The Taiwan dollar also strengthened.

China has done little to hide its glee at the DPP's poor showing.

One source with ties to China's leadership, asked how Beijing felt about the outcome, told Reuters simply: "They're really happy."

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Jess Macy Yu and Jeanny Kao, and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Editing by Paul Tait and Nick Macfie)
The company responsible for a chemical spill that left dozens ill in east China "deliberately concealed" the extent of the leak, which was 10 times worse than reported, authorities said. The spill in Fujian province happened in the early hours of November 4 when a tube transferring the chemicals from a wharf to a tanker broke, spilling 69.1 tonnes of C9 aromatics into the sea. Fujian Donggang Petrochemical Company, the firm responsible for the incident, had previously reported just 6.97 tonnes. "From the start, Donggang Petrochemical deliberately concealed, maliciously colluded, and forged evidence," said a statement released by the local Quanzhou city government on Sunday. According to local authorities, mid-level and higher-up employees were told to keep the real volume of the chemical spill secret at a meeting following the incident in order to "escape" the legal consequences. Later, the company under-reported the spill and blamed the hose rupture on old and damaged parts. The local government also accused the petrochemical firm of disorderly management and weak safety protocols. So far, authorities have arrested seven people over the incident. Three are employees of the Fujian Donggang Petrochemical Company, which operates the wharf, and four are crew members of the tanker involved in the leak. Earlier this month, residents near the coast who had come into contact with the C9 reported dizziness, nausea, and breathing difficulties. C9 is typically used to produce adhesives, printing ink and paint, and is toxic. A total of 69 residents were hospitalised after the leak, though all are now in "good condition", the state-run China Daily reported Monday. It is the latest alleged corporate cover-up to make waves in China. In October, Chinese authorities slapped penalties totalling a whopping $1.3 billion on a pharmaceutical company that fabricated records for its rabies vaccines. Though authorities said the suspect vaccines did not enter the market, the case provoked outrage from consumers fed up with recurring product-safety scandals, particularly in the drug sector. In 2008, China was hit with one of its most explosive health scandals when 300,000 children fell ill and six were killed by milk powder laced with the chemical melamine to give the appearance of higher protein levels. Melamine is usually used to make plastic.
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Egypt and Sudan, which face cross-border threats from militias operating in Libya, agreed on Sunday to set up joint military patrols on their border, Sudan's chief of staff said following talks between the countries' defence ministers.

Libya, with which Egypt and Sudan have a joint border, has been riven by internal strife since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011 and a power vacuum has grown that has allowed rival militias and armed Ismalist groups to grow.

"It was agreed to establish joint military patrols between the two countries' borders, establish mechanisms to control the border and establish future joint forces on the border to combat terrorism, cross-border crimes, control the border and combat all manifestations of evasion," Sudanese Chief of Staff Kamal Abdul Maarouf told reporters.

He said the two militaries would form a strategic partnership in all fields, especially intelligence and operational cooperation and training.

Joint investments were also agreed, Abdul Maarouf said, as well as allowing Egypt to establish agricultural and animal production projects in Sudan.

Relations between Egypt and Sudan have improved markedly over the past year despite persisting tensions over a Nile dam which Ethiopia is building. Egypt sees the project as a threat to its water supply but Sudan backs it because of its need for electricity.

The two countries have also long been in a standoff over the disputed "Halayeb Triangle," which they both claim as their territory but Egypt controls. Sudan renewed a complaint at the U.N. in January demanding Egypt hand over control of the border area.

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Yousef Saba; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg declined to face questioning at Tuesdays International Grand Committee hearing in the UK. Photo: Marlene Awaad/Getty Images

Prepare for political fireworks on Tuesday as politicians from around the world gather for an unprecedented hearing into disinformation, fake news and privacy on Facebooks platform, hosted by the UK parliament.

UK and international parliamentarians from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Latvia and Singapore are gathering to grill Facebooks vice president of policy solutions, Richard Allan, at 11:30am local time (6:30am ET).

The group, called an International Grand Committee, tried to bring in Facebook (FB) CEO Mark Zuckerberg to answer questions, but he declined twice.

The UKs Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is leading the hearing, is seeking more information about Facebooks data privacy, safety, security and sharing features as concerns grow about how the social media platform has mishandled foreign interference, user privacy and the spread of fake news.

The recent New York Times investigation raises further questions about how recent data breaches were allegedly dealt with within Facebook, and when the senior leadership team became aware of the breaches and the spread of Russian disinformation, the committee said in a written statement ahead of the hearing.

MPs will be fishing for whatever they can get on Facebook, Alex DeGroote, media analyst and founder of DeGroote Consulting, told Yahoo Finance UK.

I would expect some political grandstanding tomorrow and I would expect Facebook  to resist any provocations, he said.

The event is being held just days after Britains parliament seized confidential Facebook documents from the developer of a now-defunct tech firm, a move that was considered unusually aggressive.

Damian Collins, in charge of the hearing and committee, said in a Sunday tweet that he had reviewed the documents.

Under UK law & parliamentary privilege we can publish papers if we choose to as part of our inquiry, he said.

The @CommonsCMS has received the documents it ordered from Six4Three relating to Facebook. I have reviewed them and the committee will discuss how we will proceed early next week. Under UK law & parliamentary privilege we can publish papers if we choose to as part of our inquiry  Damian Collins (@DamianCollins) November 25, 2018

Facebook has cautioned Collins that these documents, from 2013 and 2014, were compiled as part of a meritless legal case that the small tech company was bringing against Facebook, and the documents were sealed by the American courts, meaning they werent supposed to be seen by outsiders.

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DeGroote said he didnt expect the committee would publish the documents on Tuesday as they would need more time to digest and analyse the information.

The UK and European Union have aligned in their desire to rein in the powers of big tech in recent years, with both sides speaking out on issues related to privacy, disinformation and tax dodging.

Europe is having a nightmare with tech right now  We love them as consumers, but dont know how to deal with them in terms of capitalism and societal change, said DeGroote.

With files from the Associated Press
A village in a conservative region of Indonesia is pulling the plug on wireless Internet after children were caught accessing porn sites instead of going to Koran study class, officials said Monday. Aceh province -- the only region in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country that imposes Islamic law -- has drawn fire in the past for publicly whipping people found guilty of a range of offences including homosexuality, gambling and drinking alcohol. Curee Baroh village has ordered half a dozen local cafes to shut their cheap WiFi service immediately. It is located in the district of Bireun, which made headlines this year when it banned men and women from dining together unless they were married or related. Officials defended the new edict by saying the service, which cost the equivalent of 21 US cents for five hours' use, was damaging local children's morals. "In the past, kids would recite the Koran after evening prayers but since WiFi has become available, they're hanging out in these shops instead," village head Helmiadi Mukhtaruddin told AFP. "They're accessing pornographic images and other sites, which is very damaging to their morals." The village of 900 people has not yet decided on a punishment for cafe owners who refuse to comply with the order, which was announced on Friday.
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Tear gas unleashed by police caused protesters to pour into the streets in the chaos of 2014s Occupy movement, a Hong Kong court heard on Monday at the trial of leaders behind the civil disobedience campaign.

The suggestion by lawyers representing nine Occupy leaders at West Kowloon Law Courts drew rebuttals from a testifying police superintendent, who called protesters unpeaceful and unreasonable during a tense court session.

Senior officer Wong Kei-wai slammed the protest theme  called Occupy Central with Love and Peace  during his testimony, earning the ire of supporters in the court gallery who showed up to root for the defendants.

Mondays court drama was kick-started by defence barrister Hectar Pun Hei SC when he cross-examined Wong, who was in charge of an affected area four years ago.

The 79-day movement for greater democracy sparked clashes between police and protesters, bringing parts of the city to a standstill.

I would like to put it to you that it was the use of excessive force by police on the evening of September 28, which incited people to occupy the public road of Central, Pun said.

It was the use of excessive force by police ... which incited people to occupy the public road of Central

Defence barrister Hectar Pun

He was referring to 87 rounds of tear gas he said police had fired that day, the first salvo against a sit-in calling for universal suffrage. The Occupy movement was sparked by frustration with what was perceived as Beijings restrictive proposals for Hong Kongs leadership election.

Officers were attempting to disperse crowds at the time.

Wong, who has more than 30 years of police experience, vehemently denied Puns version of events in the witness box, insisting his colleagues had always exercised professional judgment on the level of force used.

I believe any police officer at the scene would have had no choice but to fire tear gas to stop violent protesters from their unpeaceful, vigorous and unreasonable charging at our defence line, he said.

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Prosecutors blamed the chaos that night on the nine leaders currently standing trial. They said by inciting others to block major thoroughfares connecting Wan Chai and Central  two busy business districts  the nine intended to force authorities to respond to their political demands.

Any police officer would have had no choice but to fire tear gas to stop violent protesters

Wong Kei-wai, superintendent

Campaigners were pushing for an open nomination for the citys leadership race. Beijing had turned down the requests.

Three Occupy founders, academics Benny Tai Yiu-ting, 54, and Dr Chan Kin-man, 59, as well as Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, 74, have pleaded not guilty to three joint charges: conspiracy to cause public nuisance; inciting others to cause public nuisance; and inciting people to incite others to cause public nuisance.

Lawmakers Shiu Ka-chun, 49, and Tanya Chan, 47, and former student leaders Tommy Cheung Sau-yin, 24, and Eason Chung Yiu-wa, 26, have all denied the two incitement charges, as has Raphael Wong Ho-ming, 30, vice-chairman of the League of Social Democrats.

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Wing-tat, 63, has denied one count of incitement to commit public nuisance.

Officer Wongs criticism on Monday drew anger from supporters in court. How wrong is that? one man was heard saying, sparking a sharp glare from the veteran policeman.

Wong also made clear that although he worked that day, he was never at the scene, despite making the observations in court. He gathered his opinions from news footage, he said.

The superintendent said he was not involved in the decision to fire tear gas. Nor was he consulted about it in advance  something which invited a fresh round of questions from Edwin Choy Wai-bond SC, another defence barrister.

Choy was curious why Wong was not consulted even though he was the assistant district commander at the time. The latter said it was because he was not at the scene that day.

But you were on duty at the time, were you not? Choy countered.

The trial continues before Judge Johnny Chan Jong-herng on Tuesday.

This article Police tear gas sparked street chaos, Hong Kong court told in trial of nine Occupy leaders first appeared on South China Morning Post

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A needle has been found in a strawberry in New Zealand, police said Monday, the second incident to hit the country two months after a contamination crisis erupted in Australia. The needle was found in a punnet sold in the small South Island town of Geraldine over the weekend, a New Zealand police spokesman said. The supermarket owner Garry Sheed said he had since taken all strawberries off the shelves but would not comment on whether the punnet was from Australia or New Zealand. This is the second such incident in New Zealand since the scare was sparked in September, when more than 200 reported incidents of needles hidden in strawberries were reported in Australia. Some of those cases were found to be hoaxes or false complaints. A 50-year-old woman who worked at one of the strawberry farms where the tampered produce was grown has since been arrested in Queensland and charged with contaminating goods. The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said the person who found the needle in Geraldine was not harmed. "The matter has been referred to the police who are leading the criminal investigation," a ministry spokesman told reporters. "At this stage, MPI does not have any reason to believe this is more widespread than the single discovery. However, as a precautionary measure the store has removed strawberries from shelves."
Its a question that is as old as time (or at least, as old as the time when we separated from our neighbors up north)  who would win if the Singapore Armed Forces and the Malaysian Armed Forces went head to head?

The answer (and perhaps a biased one) is that Singapore will triumph in this hypothesized situation, wrote Bill Chen in a highly-voted response to the question posted on Quora. The Singaporean based his conclusion on pretty sound logic, in that the focus on systemic efficiency, the constant readiness for a military response, the quality of equipment and training of soldiers, as well as the military expenditure here should mean that the SAF has the extra edge.

We overshadow the Malaysians in most metrics, including the size and training of our recallable forces and the quantity and quality of the equipment. Over the past half-century, Singapore has spent a whole lot more on defense (in absolute terms) than Malaysia, despite break-neck growth and a much smaller population. To quote just one data point, our military budget is almost double Malaysias in 2018, despite the huge disparity in size, Chen wrote.

He also pointed out the strategic shopping Singapore made in terms of arms.

The SAF shops judiciously, and invests in indigenous R&D. We train and deploy as an integrated combined arms force. All the pieces fit together, and we punch well above our weight with cutting-edge equipment wherever you look.

Beyond military might

Be that as may be, but another Singaporean countered that we shouldnt be underestimating Malaysia at all, despite our theorized superiority in logistics and organizational efficiency. Colin Chua points out that Malaysian forces are far more skilled in jungle warfare, are actually self-sustainable with natural resources, bigger land, and more airbases.

I am not trying to berate Singapores military capability here. I once served in the Singapore military and am proud of it, wrote Chua. However, when judging military strength we must go beyond military equipment totals, technology superiority, budget size and perceived fighting strength.

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Singapores defense policy

The fact that the Singapore government invests more money in its military (3.2 percent of its GDP in 2017) than its regional neighbors is no accident  the country is minuscule in size and is more vulnerable to external forces. Singapore utilizes a forward-thinking military doctrine, relying heavily on a pool of highly-trained career soldiers as well as conscripts and in both active and reserve forces. If the capability to deploy over a million military personnel isnt enough, Singapore has the help of US forces thanks to the governments strong support of American military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The post The question of the Singapore Armed Forces strength over the Malaysian military gets debated on Quora appeared first on Coconuts.
A participant poses next to a wedding studio during a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride parade to support same-sex marriage in Taipei, Taiwan on 27 October, 2018. (PHOTO: Reuters)

This is the first of four stories based on the responses by Singapore residents to questions in a Blackbox Research survey related to Section 377A of the Penal Code.

Singapore residents are divided on whether a repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code would lead to a breakdown of the family unit, according to a survey conducted by market research consultancy Blackbox Research.

Section 377A criminalises sex between men but authorities in Singapore have said it is rarely enforced.

One of the questions posed by a recent survey commissioned by Yahoo News Singapore was: Repealing Section 377A would lead to the breakdown of the family unit in Singapore. Do you agree?

Of the 1,000 respondents, 36 per cent strongly agreed or agreed with the statement while some 28 per cent strongly disagreed or disagreed with it. The remaining 36 per cent of respondents were neutral on the issue.

By age group, fewer respondents aged 15-24 years old agreed with the statement, compared with those from the older age groups. Only 25 per cent from the age group strongly agreed or agreed with the statement, followed by 35 per cent who were neutral and 40 per cent who strongly disagreed or disagreed with it.

Among those aged 50 years and above, 41 per cent agreed that the removal of the law, first introduced during the British colonial era, would be detrimental to the Singapore family unit. About 33 per cent of the respondents in the age group were neutral on the statement and 26 per cent strongly disagreed or disagreed with it.

The respondents in the Blackbox poll, which was conducted from 12-19 October this year, are Singaporeans and permanent residents.

(INFOGRAPHIC: Blackbox Research)

The debate over Section 377A, introduced in Singapore in 1938, was reignited after the Supreme Court of India ruled on 6 September that consensual gay sex was not a crime in the country following a two-decade legal battle.

The landmark ruling stirred heated discussions between LGBT activists in Singapore, who argue for a repeal of the law, and those who are against such a move.

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Veteran Singapore diplomat Tommy Koh waded into the debate when he encouraged Singapores LGBT community to bring a class action to challenge the constitutionality of Section 377A in a Facebook post.

Walter Woon and V K Rajah, both former Attorney-Generals (AG), have pointed out that Section 377A poses a constitutional problem given that the government had stated that the authorities will not proactively enforce the law. Woon said 377A sets a dangerous precedent whereby the political authorities are informing the public prosecutor  who is supposed to be independent  not to enforce some laws.

But current AG Lucien Wong said his office has discretion on whether to initiate proceedings for any offence under 377A.

The views among the leaders of the different faiths are somewhat divided on the issue, with most taking a firm stance in urging Singapore to keep the law.

The president of Buddhist Fellowship (Singapore) Lim Phang Hong, had signed the petition to repeal Section 377A and written on Facebook in support of such a move.

On the other hand, religious bodies such as the National Council of Churches, Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas) and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore have strongly urged the authorities to retain the law in order to safeguard the traditional family unit.

Related stories:

Most Singapore residents agree religious views shouldnt influence the law: survey

33% of Singapore residents say no law criminalising sex between women harmful to society, 41% neutral: survey

Repeal 377A organisers urge supporters to reach out to their MPs

K Shanmugam answers queries on Section 377A by church leaders at briefing
The huge defeat of Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the islands local elections on Saturday cannot be interpreted as Taiwanese endorsement of the pro-Beijing stance of its rival Kuomintang (KMT), voters and analysts said.

In the latest nine-in-one elections, Kuomintang mayoral candidates won in Taiwans three largest cities  New Taipei City, Taichung and Kaohsiung, which has been the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Partys (DPP) power base for two decades.

For all the 912 local legislature seats across Taiwan, KMT gained 20 to pocket 394 seats, while DPP lost 70 seats to hold 238.

But candidates outside the two political parties won 280 seats in the local legislature, up from 221 from the last election in 2014, when the total number of seats was 903.

In the capital Taipei, Ko Wen-je  the citys independent mayor and one of the most popular politicians in the self-ruled island  narrowly won re-election against Kuomintang opponent Ting Shou-chung.

Ting refused to accept the result and took the case to court, asking for the election to be invalidated.

Cross-strait relations have been tense since 2016 when the DPPs Tsai Ing-wen became president. Beijing responded by poaching Taiwans diplomatic allies and demanded Tsai accept the 1992 consensus, which says both Taiwan and the mainland belong to one country but both sides could have different interpretation about what is China.

The DPP and Tsai have blamed Beijing for posing a threat to Taiwans democracy.

But some voters have said they cared more about the candidates capabilities than their political background, even though cross-strait ties are worsening.

In the past two years, Tsais domestic reform initiatives, from the islands pension scheme to labour laws, have proved unsuccessful.

Tsai vowed to improve worker benefits by giving employees two mandatory days off per week, plus seven statutory holidays.

But, in amending the labour bill, the DPP-dominated legislature not only tried to axe the seven statutory holidays, but also wanted to allow just one fixed day off, giving employers the option of asking employees to work on the other rest day, for which they would be paid overtime.

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Mark Chen, 31, who voted for Ko, said he favoured capable candidates who could outline feasible plans to relieve peoples real concerns.

I dont think we can interpret from KMTs big win in this election that Taiwanese are trusting KMT more. Rather, its because the DPP did so badly after Tsai became the islands president. The DPP government cannot fulfil its promises, Chen said.

I am not influenced by the downward spiral of cross-strait relations, although Beijing did use some administrative measures to punish Taiwan, such as limiting tourists. The mayoral election is more inwardly focused, said another man surnamed Chan, 30, in Taipei.

Another voter, surnamed Yen, said mayoral elections need not take cross-strait ties into consideration, since thats a matter for presidential elections.

In the islands south, people voted for KMT rising star Han Kuo-yu, previously head of a Taipei-based farm produce marketing association, who was described by news media as a vegetable vendor.

Hans grass roots background is believed to have resonated with residents in the port city of Kaohsiung. Analysts said Han was not seen as a traditional KMT politician with close ties with the party top leadership.

His election manifesto said he would make Kaohsiung an attractive city so that young people would not have to go to Taipei for jobs.

People voted for the candidate, not the political party behind him, said Chang Wu-ueh, a diplomacy and international relations expert from Tamkang University in Taiwan.

This article Taiwan election lost on local issues, not relations with mainland first appeared on South China Morning Post

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From Kuomintang outsider to the man who broke the Democratic Progressive Partys grip of more than two decades on Kaohsiung, new mayor Han Kuo-yu is enjoying the spotlight and he owes much to his daughter, Coco Han, for that success.

Coco, a 23-year-old senior university student who majored in sociology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, campaigned for her father on the streets and behind the scenes, prompting some to draw parallels with Ivanka Trumps role in helping her father, Donald, to the US presidency.

Coco managed social media accounts for her fathers election campaign and, when Hans victory was declared at the weekend, she said she would lend my father to Kaohsiung.

I finally got to sleep for eight hours, she said after the polls. I will go back to continue my studies and hope Han will work hard, and not disappoint peoples expectations of him.



Kaohsiung was a traditional stronghold for the DPP, which was chaired by the self-ruled islands pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen before the election. Han, who vowed to make the city rich enough to stop young people from going to Taipei for jobs, became a figurehead for the defeat of the DPP.

During the election campaign, Coco Han was busy like her father, visiting and shaking hands with Kaohsiung residents from street to street, attending television shows, answering questions from reporters, building her fathers social media campaign and winning over supporters.

Coco built a digital team whose members were, on average, 23 years of age. They fostered an affable, avuncular image of their candidate for consumers of smartphone politics and sold his policies  hard.

Hans followers on Line, Taiwans most popular instant messaging app, increased to more than 140,000, surpassing Tsais following in a matter of weeks. Coco also managed her fathers live feeds to prospective voters and replied to messages on Facebook, taking Han closer to as many people, especially young voters, as she possibly could.

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In Hans campaign rally, a short video message from his wife, Li Chia-fen, said: You [Han] are the real hero in my eyes and to our children regardless of the election outcome. It moved many to tears and it was their daughters idea.

Cocos personality also helped bring Han more followers.

In May last year, when Han joined the race to run for KMT chairman, father and daughter appeared on television together.

Will you dislike me if I fail? Han, then 60, asked his daughter. No, Daddy, she replied. I will raise you.

That warm response touched the hearts of many people and the video went viral on the internet after Han tide swept Taiwan.





This article At the Taiwan polls, social media-savvy daughter turns her outsider father into KMTs brightest hope first appeared on South China Morning Post

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A toxic chemical leak in southern China which put 52 people in hospital and has cost affected fishing villages millions of dollars in lost revenue was 10 times worse than previously reported.

Quanzhou city authorities on Sunday confirmed that 69 tonnes of the petrochemical C9  a by-product of the oil refining process  had spilled into the local seawater, far in excess of the originally claimed seven tonnes.

Two officials have been sacked for negligence, in addition to the arrests of seven people for their roles in the incident.

Fishermen in Xiaocuo, the coastal village where the leak occurred, have consistently questioned the official version of events which began on November 4 when a tube carrying the toxic liquid from a local petrochemical plant to a tanker came loose.

Quanzhou is the most populous city in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian and its Quangang district is well known for its fishing industry. Petrochemical plants have been built near many of its fishing villages.

Four days after villagers were woken by a strong chemical odour, they were told by the authorities that around seven tonnes of the C9 chemical mix had been spilled.

Residents reported dizziness, nausea and vomiting from inhaling the fumes, while others received contact burns when they tried to salvage fishing equipment from the poisoned seas.

They were assured by the local authorities that chemical levels in the affected area were within safe limits and that the clean-up had been completed by November 9, five days after the incident.

Now the Quanzhou city government says senior executives at Fujian Donggang Petrochemical Company deliberately deceived local authorities about the extent of the contamination.

Three of those arrested are employees of Donggang Petrochemical while the other four were working on the tanker, the Tiantong No 1.

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Chen Xiangcheng, a member of the local party standing committee of Quangang, the district of Quanzhou city where the incident took place, has been sacked for negligence. Lian Jianxing, deputy head of administrative affairs for the local port, was dismissed for failing to carry out adequate safety checks.

The incident was mainly caused by the negligence of the petrochemical company that led to a failure of chemical safety regulation, the Quangang government said.

According to the governments latest investigation, Donggang Petrochemical failed to mention that the tube connecting the tanker and the refinery was full the night before the leak and all of its contents  around 32 tonnes  had ended up in the sea.

The government investigation also found the petrochemical firm had lied about how much C9 was in the tanker, adding another 30 tonnes to the total contamination.

Based on the very visible oil stains in the fish farms and nearby seawater, I think tens of tonnes of C9 were leaked, Xiao Renhong, a resident of Xiaocuo village, said after the government released the seven-tonne figure.

Xiao, who farms edible seaweed, believes the new figure is still an under-estimation.

I think the amount is around 80 tonnes. Its still 10 tonnes short, he said.

Xiao Liangping, a fisherman in Xiaocuo village, said he believed the new figure was about right but wondered why it took the government so long to announce it.

The latest investigation said they removed 40 tonnes of chemical using oil sponges a few days after the incident. Why didnt they correct the number then?

Fisherman and villagers such as Xiao Renhong are still waiting for compensation.

This article Toxic chemical spill in southern China 10 times worse than previously disclosed first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Tunisian unions and civil society groups called for protests on Monday against a planned visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Tunisia's presidency has said the de facto Saudi ruler will visit the North African nation for several hours on Tuesday as part of a regional tour, without providing details on the programme. A demonstration is planned for Monday at 5 pm (1600 GMT) in the centre of Tunis, organised by the National Union of Tunisian Journalists and several NGOs and civil society organisations. Other protests -- organised by student bodies -- are planned for Tuesday morning in Tunis and the city of Sfax. Saudi Arabia has faced intense global criticism over the killing of insider-turned-critic Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate on October 2. He was reportedly dismembered in what Saudi Arabia said was a "rogue" operation, but CIA analysis leaked to the US media pointed the finger at Prince Mohammed. "No to the desecration of Tunisia, country of the revolution" read a large banner displayed over the weekend at the journalists' union, depicting a man in traditional Saudi dress holding a chainsaw with his back to the camera. In an open letter to Tunisia's presidency, the journalists' union slammed "the visit of the Saudi crown prince, which constitutes a danger for the safety and the peace of the region and the world, and a real threat to freedom of expression". His arrival, the union said, would be "a flagrant violation of the principles of our revolution". Tunisia's 2011 uprising deposed longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and triggered the Arab Spring. The Saudi crown prince is on his first foreign tour since the Khashoggi affair erupted, taking in the UAE and Bahrain ahead of Tunisia. Saudi Arabia has warned criticism of Prince Mohammed is a "red line".
The United Nations' Yemen envoy is expected in Riyadh on Monday as part of efforts to convene December peace talks between Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government. Martin Griffiths' visit comes as fighting eased around the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, a vital lifeline for imports and aid which has been the target of a fierce Saudi-backed government offensive. Under heavy international pressure, the Yemeni government and a Saudi-led military coalition have largely suspended a five-month offensive against the Red Sea city. Fighting had intensified in early November as coalition-backed loyalist forces attempted to enter Hodeida, but calm returned after Griffiths arrived in Yemen on Wednesday. The UN said the envoy, who also visited Hodeida last week to assess the humanitarian situation, is due to hold talks with Yemen's internationally recognised government in Riyadh on Monday. While the loyalist advance on Hodeida has largely stalled, minor clashes have continued. Military officials quoted by the state-run Saba news agency on Sunday evening said the loyalists foiled a Huthi "infiltration attempt" into a camp in Hays province, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Hodeida. The rebels said they had detonated an explosive device near the eastern entrance of Hodeida, "destroying a (pro-government) military vehicle... killing and wounding soldiers inside", Huthi-run Al-Masirah reported on Monday. Loyalists did not confirm the attack. But pro-government military officials told AFP Monday that pro-government forces' operations in the east and south of the Red Sea city had been suspended. According to UN figures, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the coalition joined the conflict in 2015 to back up the government after rebels ousted it from swathes of Yemen including Sanaa. The intervention has triggered what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Rights groups fear the actual death toll far exceeds UN estimates.
US prosecutors said Monday they have charged Juan Antonio Hernandez, the brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, weapons offenses and making false statements. The former Honduran congressman, who also goes by the name Tony, was arrested in Miami on Friday, the day after the US public holiday of Thanksgiving, and appeared in Miami federal court Monday. US prosecutors said Hernandez was a large-scale drug trafficker who worked from 2004 to 2016 with other drug traffickers in Colombia, Honduras and Mexico, to import cocaine into the United States. In Manhattan, where the charges were unveiled, US Attorney Geoffrey Berman accused the 40-year-old of being "involved in all stages" of trafficking tons of cocaine through Honduras destined for the United States. "Hernandez allegedly arranged machinegun-toting security for cocaine shipments, bribed law enforcement officials... to protect drug shipments and solicited large bribes from major drug traffickers," said Berman. The charges run to four counts. If convicted, he faces anything from five years to life in prison. Hernandez allegedly had access to cocaine laboratories in Honduras and Colombia, where some of the cocaine was stamped "TH" for his initials. He is accused of meeting Devis Leonel Rivera Maradiaga, the former leader of the country's Cachiros cartel, agreeing to help facilitate Honduran government payments to cartel front companies and pocketing $50,000. US prosecutors have aggressively pursued current or former Honduran public officials and their relatives over drug trafficking. In July, the United States charged in absentia another member of congress in Honduras, Midence Oqueli Martinez Turcios, with accepting more than $1 million in kickbacks to help fund his political career. In 2017, Fabio Lobo, son of former Honduran President Porfirio Lobo, was sentenced to 24 years in a US prison for conspiring to smuggle cocaine. That same year, a US judge sentenced Yani Rosenthal, a two-time former presidential candidate and an ex-congressman from Honduras, to three years in prison for laundering drug proceeds from the Cachiros cartel.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday urged Pakistan to take action against those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks as Washington offered a new reward of $5 million for helping secure their capture. The announcement came on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the assault, which left 166 people dead and hundreds injured after Islamist militants from Pakistan unleashed a wave of violence across India's financial capital lasting three days. "It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement. "We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates." "We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens," he added. The Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program meanwhile said it was offering up to $5 million "for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted" the execution of the attack. It is the third such reward offered by the US after the State Department announced bounties of $10 million for Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and $2 million for Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior leader of the group. Saeed, who is also designated a terrorist by the United Nations, has denied involvement in terrorism and the Mumbai attacks. A party linked to the charitable wing of the LeT contested Pakistan's national elections in July, failing to win any seats but winning more than 435,000 national and regional votes.
Why Taiwan is likely to remain an important card for US to play against China

Taiwan is expected to remain a major flashpoint for China and the US despite the election defeat of the independence-leaning ruling party over the weekend.

Analysts said the self-ruled island was still seen as an important card for Washington to play against the mainland, while there was no sign that President Tsai Ing-wen would bow to pressure from Beijing by accepting the one-China policy.

After Saturdays election, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was left in control of just six cities and counties on the island, while the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), widely seen as more friendly towards Beijing, was in control of 15 cities and counties.

Its gains included the DPPs traditional stronghold of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan and the second largest city of Taichung, home to the islands light industry.

Tsai, who has resigned as DPPs chairwoman on Saturday, will remain as the president, while her premier William Lai, who had offered to quit on Saturday evening, said on Monday that he had agreed to stay on to help stabilise political situation.

Although Chinese state media attributed the poll results to Tsais separatist stance most observers said the result was more likely a reflection of voter anger over economic stagnation.

Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East-West Centre in Honolulu, said he did not think the DPPs losses would cause the party of any formulation implying that Taiwan is part of China, adding: that is the pivot on which cross-strait relations will either improve or not improve.

Washingtons increasingly antagonistic mood towards Beijing also reduces the prospect that Donald Trumpss administration, which has stepped up its military and diplomatic support for the island, will make any major changes in policy.

I dont sense that Washington has seen Tsais cross-strait policy as unreasonable, said Roy.

Some in the US policy-making community might see the election result as a welcome swinging of the pendulum in Taiwan back toward a cross-strait policy that lowers tensions with China, but others think the real troublemaker is China rather than Taiwan.

Story continues

Xin Qiang, a specialist in Sino-US relations at Fudan University in Shanghai, said the Trump administrations growing view of China as a rival to be confronted could increase the temptation to use Taiwan as a bargaining chip.

The US may be more proactive in playing the Taiwan card  and because of the escalating tensions, the US would be unlikely to make any major changes in its Taiwan policy.

Taiwan may be one of the issues raised during Trumps meeting with Xi Jinping in Argentina over the weekend, and Beijing has previously warned that relations between the two sides would be jeopardised if this core interest is infringed.

In breach of diplomatic protocol Trump had a phone conversation with Tsai before he took office, which triggered a furious response from Beijing.

Zhu Songling, a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies in Beijing Union University, said while the election losses were a blow to the DPP, the mainland authorities should not expect major shifts in policy from Tsais government.

Despite the current trade war, Beijing has said it regards Taiwan as the most important and sensitive are in its relations with the US.

Yen Chien-Fa, a professor of business administration from Taiwans Chien Hsin University of Science said Taiwan would ultimately pick Washington over Beijing if forced to choose.

In reality Taiwan has been influenced by the US at every level and China is only limited to some talks, Yen said.

Taiwan must choose to side with the US though its economic ties with [mainland] China would be virtually cut off.

Additional reporting by Sarah Zheng and Kristin Huang

This article Why Taiwan is likely to remain an important card for US to play against China first appeared on South China Morning Post

For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018.
The feature-film finale of cinemas most-beloved comedy duo, Atoll K marked Laurel and Hardys long-delayed big-screen return.

The two great clowns, lured back to film amid the extensive stage tours of Europe that were the poignant coda to their career, embark here on a ramshackle voyage to save Stans Pacific-island inheritance. This ambitious attempt to invest their time-honed slapstick with a satirical edge is a testament to the duos indefatigable comic antics.

The BFI is proud to release the longest-ever English-language cut of this historically important film, presented for the first time in High Definition and showcasing a new 2K restoration by the BFI using original 35mm nitrate film elements. Packed with special features, this release includes rare early solo shorts and amateur footage of Stan and Ollie, alongside new audio commentaries and contextual writing by internationally acclaimed experts on the life and work of The Boys.

Special features:

Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition

Mother's Baby Boy (1914, 4 mins)

Something in Her Eye (1915, 11 mins)

Do You Love Your Wife? (1919, 14 mins)

Somewhere in Wrong (1925, 23 mins)

Should Men Walk Home? (1927, 27 mins)

Laurel and Hardy in Tynemouth, aka Grand Hotel (1932, 11 mins)

Laurel and Hardy in Scotland (1947, 3 mins)

Railway Birthday Party (1947, 2 mins)

Laurel and Hardy Return to the UK (1952, 2 mins)

US trailer (c1954)

German trailer (c1951)

Interview With Stan Laurel (1957, 80 mins, audio only): Stan discusses his life and work with Arthur B Friedman in a recoding made a week after Ollie's death



Plus

The Boys Stay in the Picture: New Laurel and Hardy video essay by Chris Seguin, using rare images, scripts, letters and promotional materials from around the time of Atoll K(2018, 13 mins) New feature-length commentary on Atoll K and new commentaries on the amateur films by Laurel and Hardy expert Glenn Mitchell (2018) Illustrated booklet with new essays and notes by Laurel and Hardy authorities Glenn Mitchell, Norbert Aping and David Wyatt, new writing by Alan and Vic Pratt, plus full film credits

France, Italy | 1951 | black and white | 98 minutes | English language with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles and audio description | original aspect ratio 1.37:1 | BD50: 1080p, 24fps, 2.0 PCM mono audio (48kHz/24-bit), region B | DVD9: PAL, 25pfs, Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio (48kHz/16-bit), region 2
The newest Coen brothers movie, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, is an anthology film that draws heavily from two sources: Hollywood westernsincluding the long-abandoned singing cowboy genreand the 19th and early 20th century adventure stories. As a framing device, a hand turns the pages of a beautifully illustrated 19th century short story collection between chapters. Ostensibly published by Mike Zoss & Sons in 1873, the fictional book The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Other Tales of the American Frontier has no credited author for any of its six stories. But two of the films chapters are adaptations of works that do have an author: All Gold Canyon, which is based on a 1904 short story by Jack London of the same title, and The Gal Who Got Rattled, an adaptation of Stewart Edward Whites 1901 short story, The Girl Who Got Rattled. Both stories were first published in The Century Magazine. Please note that both spoilers and late 19th century ideas about race and gender (i.e., extremely racist and misogynistic ones) follow.

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While the Coens version of All Gold Canyon is a faithful adaptation, their take on The Girl Who Got Rattled is a complete teardown. For starters, the Coens changed the main character: their version is about Alice and Gilbert Longabaugh (Jefferson Mays and Zoe Kazan) a brother and sister travelling with a wagon train to the Willamette Valley where Gilbert hopes to marry Alice off to a businessman hes trying to partner up with. Kazans character is naive but not stupid, and over the course of the story, she becomes romantically involved with Billy Knapp (Bill Heck) one of the wagon trains guides. The short story, which evinces an attitude towards women that could politely be described as proto-incel, is instead about the other guide, Alfredrenamed Mr. Arthur (Grainger Hines) in the filmwho is ill-at-ease around women, but still manages to find his voice in a crisis. As for the storys version of Alice, shes no longer a milquetoast getting pushed around by her brother but Miss Caldwell , a spoiled rich kid who has forced her father to send her west to see Deadwood. Shes accompanied by her obnoxious fiance, a fellow city-slicker, and the couple both delight in teasing and tormenting the tongue-tied Alfred. In other words, its about a hypercompetent man who has secret strengths that women dont appreciate because he is socially awkward, preferring instead to date jerks, and it is structured so that Alfred gets a chance to show off his skills before the woman who has been rude to him receives her comeuppance. Thered be no way to faithfully adapt that to the screen in 2018, so the Coens instead recentered their story on Kazans character and turned her from a cartoon into someone with an inner life.

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The main thing that remains of Whites story in the film is the ending, an attack from Native Americans depicted in both versions with the subtlety of a Hollywood Western, but the Coens have changed what that ending means. In print, theres some sense of poetic justice: Alice takes neither Alfred nor the wilderness seriously, and this is what inevitably happens. On film, the Coens Alice is more or less blameless, and the filmmakers spend a sadistic amount of time showing her come into her own, going so far as to establish a possible future for her before she encounters the Native Americans, who serve roughly the same structural purpose (and get the same level of characterization) as the wood chipper in Fargo. In other words, the Coen brothers substituted nihilism for the original recipes misogyny, while keeping the levels of racism about the same. Despite all the changes, however, reading the original story makes it clear that this is not a Starship Troopers-style adaptation made by someone who hates the source material: Whites prose mixes violence and dark humor in a very Coen-brothers-y way on the sentence levele.g., Alfred would simply have bashfully killed him.

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Heres The Girl Who Got Rattled, first published in The Century Magazine in 1901. You can also read Jack Londons All Gold Canyon here.

Matthew Dessem

This is one of the stories of Alfred. There are many of them still floating around the West, for Alfred was in his time very well known. He was a little man, and he was bashful. That is the most that can be said against him; but he was very little and very bashful. When on horseback his legs hardly reached the lower body-line of his mount, and only his extreme agility enabled him to get on successfully. When on foot, strangers were inclined to call him sonny. In company he never advanced an opinion. If things did not go according to his ideas, he reconstructed the ideas, and made the best of itonly he could make the most efficient best of the poorest ideas of any man on the plains. His attitude was a perpetual sidling apology. It has been said that Alfred killed his men diffidently, without enthusiasm, as though loth to take the responsibility, and this in the pioneer days on the plains was either frivolous affectation, or elseAlfred. With women he was lost.

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Men would have staked their last ounce of dust at odds that he had never in his life made a definite assertion of fact to one of the opposite sex. When it became absolutely necessary to change a womans preconceived notions as to what she should doas, for instance, discouraging her riding through quicksandhe would persuade somebody else to issue the advice. And he would cower in the background blushing his absurd little blushes at his second-hand temerity. Add to this narrow, sloping shoulders, a soft voice, and a diminutive pink-and-white face.

But Alfred could read the prairie like a book. He could ride anything, shoot accurately, was at heart afraid of nothing, and could fight like a little catamount when occasion for it really arose. Among those who knew, Alfred was considered one of the best scouts on the plains. That is why Caldwell, the capitalist, engaged him when he took his daughter out to Deadwood.

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Miss Caldwell was determined to go to Deadwood. A limited experience of the ladys sort, where they have wooden floors to the tents, towels to the tent-poles, and expert cooks to the delectation of the campers, had convinced her that roughing it was her favorite recreation. So, of course, Caldwell senior had, sooner or later, to take her across the plains on his annual trip. This was at the time when wagon-trains went by way of Pierre on the north, and the South Fork on the south. Incidental Indians, of homicidal tendencies and undeveloped ideas as to the propriety of doing what they were told, made things interesting occasionally, but not often. There was really no danger to a good-sized train.

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The daughter had a fiance named Allen who liked roughing it, too; so he went along. He and Miss Caldwell rigged themselves out bountifully, and prepared to enjoy the trip.

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At Pierre the train of eight wagons was made up, and they were joined by Alfred and Billy Knapp. These two men were interesting, but tyrannical on one or two pointssuch as getting out of sight of the train, for instance. They were also deficient in reasons for their tyranny. The young people chafed, and, finding Billy Knapp either imperturbable or thick-skinned, they turned their attention to Alfred. Allen annoyed Alfred, and Miss Caldwell thoughtlessly approved of Allen. Between them they succeeded often in shocking fearfully all the little mans finer sensibilities. If it had been a question of Allen alone, the annoyance would soon have ceased. Alfred would simply have bashfully killed him. But because of his innate courtesy, which so saturated him that his philosophy of life was thoroughly tinged by it, he was silent and inactive.

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There is a great deal to recommend a plains journey at first. Later, there is nothing at all to recommend it. It has the same monotony as a voyage at sea, only there is less living room, and, instead of being carried, you must progress to a great extent by your own volition. Also the food is coarse, the water poor, and you cannot bathe. To a plainsman, or a man who has the instinct, these things are as nothing in comparison with the charm of the outdoor life, and the pleasing tingling of adventure. But woman is a creature wedded to comfort. She also has a strange instinctive desire to be entirely alone every once in a while, probably because her experiences, while not less numerous than mans, are mainly psychical, and she needs occasionally time to get thought up to date. So Miss Caldwell began to get very impatient.

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The afternoon of the sixth day Alfred, Miss Caldwell, and Allen rode along side by side. Alfred was telling a self-effacing story of adventure, and Miss Caldwell was listening carelessly because she had nothing else to do. Allen chaffed lazily when the fancy took him.

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I happened to have a limb broken at the time, Alfred was observing, parenthetically, in his soft tones, and so

What kind of a limb? asked the young Easterner, with direct brutality. He glanced with a half-humorous aside at the girl, to whom the little man had been mainly addressing himself.

Alfred hesitated, blushed, lost the thread of his tale, and finally in great confusion reined back his horse by the harsh Spanish bit. He fell to the rear of the little wagon-train, where he hung his head, and went hot and cold by turns in thinking of such an indiscretion before a lady.

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The young Easterner spurred up on the right of the girls mount.

Hes the queerest little fellow I ever saw! he observed, with a laugh. Sorry to spoil his story.

Was it a good one?

It might have been if you hadnt spoiled it, answered the girl, flicking her horses ears mischievously. The animal danced. What did you do it for?

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Oh, just to see him squirm. Hell think about that all the rest of the afternoon, and will hardly dare look you in the face next time you meet.

I know. Isnt he funny? The other morning he came around the corner of the wagon and caught me with my hair down. I wish you could have seen him!

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She laughed gayly at the memory.

Lets get ahead of the dust, she suggested.

They drew aside to the firm turf of the prairie and put their horses to a slow lope. Once well ahead of the canvas-covered schooners they slowed down to a walk again.

Alfred says well see them tomorrow, said the girl.

See what?

Why, the Hills! Theyll show like a dark streak, down past that butte therewhats its name?

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Porcupine Tail.

Oh, yes. And after that its only three days. Are you glad?

Are you?

Yes, I believe I am. This life is fun at first, but theres a certain monotony in making your toilet where you have to duck your head because you havent room to raise your hands, and this barreled water palls after a time. I think Ill be glad to see a house again. People like camping about so long

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It hasnt gone back on me yet.

Well, youre a man and can do things.

Cant you do things?

You know I cant. What do you suppose theyd say if I were to ride out just that way for two miles? Theyd have a fit.

Whod have a fit? Nobody but Alfred, and I didnt know youd gotten afraid of him yet! I say, just lets! Well have a race, and then come right back. The young man looked boyishly eager.

It would be nice, she mused. They gazed into each others eyes like a pair of children, and laughed.

Why shouldnt we? urged the young man. Im dead sick of staying in the moving circle of these confounded wagons. Whats the sense of it all, anyway?

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Why, Indians, I suppose, said the girl, doubtfully.

Indians! he replied, with contempt. Indians! We havent seen a sign of one since we left Pierre. I dont believe theres one in the whole blasted country. Besides, you know what Alfred said at our last camp?

What did Alfred say?

Alfred said he hadnt seen even a teepee-trail, and that they must be all up hunting buffalo. Besides that, you dont imagine for a moment that your father would take you all this way to Deadwood just for a lark, if there was the slightest danger, do you?

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I dont know; I made him.

She looked out over the long sweeping descent to which they were coming, and the long sweeping ascent that lay beyond. The breeze and the sun played with the prairie grasses, the breeze riffling them over, and the sun silvering their under surfaces thus exposed. It was strangely peaceful, and one almost expected to hear the hum of bees as in a New England orchard. In it all was no sign of life.

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Wed get lost, she said, finally.

Oh, no, we wouldnt! he asserted with all the eagerness of the amateur plainsman. Ive got that all figured out. You see, our train is going on a line with that butte behind us and the sun. So if we go ahead, and keep our shadows just pointing to the butte, well be right in their line of march.

He looked to her for admiration of his cleverness. She seemed convinced. She agreed, and sent him back to her wagon for some article of invented necessity. While he was gone she slipped softly over the little hill to the right, cantered rapidly over two more, and slowed down with a sigh of satisfaction. One alone could watch the directing shadow as well as two. She was free and alone. It was the one thing she had desired for the last six days of the long plains journey, and she enjoyed it now to the full. No one had seen her go. The drivers droned stupidly along, as was their wont; the occupants of the wagons slept, as was their wont; and the diminutive Alfred was hiding his blushes behind clouds of dust in the rear, as was not his wont at all. He had been severely shocked, and he might have brooded over it all the afternoon, if a discovery had not startled him to activity.

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On a bare spot of the prairie he discerned the print of a hoof. It was not that of one of the trains animals. Alfred knew this, because just to one side of it, caught under a grass-blade so cunningly that only the little scouts eyes could have discerned it at all, was a single blue bead. Alfred rode out on the prairie to right and left, and found the hoof-prints of about thirty ponies. He pushed his hat back and wrinkled his brow, for the one thing he was looking for he could not findthe two narrow furrows made by the ends of teepee-poles dragging along on either side of the ponies. The absence of these indicated that the band was composed entirely of bucks, and bucks were likely to mean mischief.

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He pushed ahead of the whole party, his eyes fixed earnestly on the ground. At the top of the hill he encountered the young Easterner. The latter looked puzzled, in a half-humorous way.

I left Miss Caldwell here a half-minute ago, he observed to Alfred, and I guess shes given me the slip. Scold her good for me when she comes inwill you? He grinned, with good-natured malice at the idea of Alfreds scolding anyone.

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Then Alfred surprised him.

The little man straightened suddenly in his saddle and uttered a fervent curse. After a brief circle about the prairie, he returned to the young man.

You go back to th wagons, and wake up Billy Knapp, and tell him thisthat Ive gone scoutin some, and I want him to watch out. Understand? Watch out!

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What? began the Easterner, bewildered.

Im a-goin to find her, said the little man, decidedly.

You dont think theres any danger, do you? asked the Easterner, in anxious tones. Cant I help you?

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You do as I tell you, replied the little man, shortly, and rode away.

He followed Miss Caldwells trail quite rapidly, for the trail was fresh. As long as he looked intently for hoof-marks, nothing was to be seen, the prairie was apparently virgin; but by glancing the eye forty or fifty yards ahead, a faint line was discernible through the grasses.

Alfred came upon Miss Caldwell seated quietly on her horse in the very center of a prairie-dog town, and so, of course, in the midst of an area of comparatively desert character. She was amusing herself by watching the marmots as they barked, or watched, or peeped at her, according to their distance from her. The sight of Alfred was not welcome, for he frightened the marmots.

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When he saw Miss Caldwell, Alfred grew bashful again. He sidled his horse up to her and blushed.

Ill show you th way back, miss, he said, diffidently.

Thank you, replied Miss Caldwell, with a slight coldness, I can find my own way back.

Yes, of course, hastened Alfred, in an agony. But dont you think we ought to start back now? Id like to go with you, miss, if youd let me. You see the afternoons quite late.

Miss Caldwell cast a quizzical eye at the sun.

Why, its hours yet till dark! she said, amusedly.

Then Alfred surprised Miss Caldwell.

His diffident manner suddenly left him. He jumped like lightning from his horse, threw the reins over the animals head so he would stand, and ran around to face Miss Caldwell.

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Here, jump down! he commanded.

The soft Southern burr of his ordinary conversation had given place to a clear incisiveness. Miss Caldwell looked at him amazed.

Seeing that she did not at once obey, Alfred actually began to fumble hastily with the straps that held her riding-skirt in place. This was so unusual in the bashful Alfred that Miss Caldwell roused and slipped lightly to the ground.

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Now what? she asked.

Alfred, without replying, drew the bit to within a few inches of the animals hoofs, and tied both fetlocks firmly together with the double-loop. This brought the ponys nose down close to his shackled feet. Then he did the same thing with his own beast. Thus neither animal could so much as hobble one way or the other. They were securely moored.

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Alfred stepped a few paces to the eastward. Miss Caldwell followed.

Sit down, said he.

Miss Caldwell obeyed with some nervousness. She did not understand at all, and that made her afraid. She began to have a dim fear lest Alfred might have gone crazy. His next move strengthened this suspicion. He walked away ten feet and raised his hand over his head, palm forward. She watched him so intently that for a moment she saw nothing else. Then she followed the direction of his gaze, and uttered a little sobbing cry.

Just below the sky-line of the first slope to eastward was silhouetted a figure on horseback. The figure on horseback sat motionless.

Were in for fight, said Alfred, coming back after a moment. He wont answer my peace-sign, and hes a Sioux. We cant make a run for it through this dog-town. Weve just got to stand em off.

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He threw down and back the lever of his old 44 Winchester, and softly uncocked the arm. Then he sat down by Miss Caldwell.

From various directions, silently, warriors on horseback sprang into sight and moved dignifiedly toward the first-comer, forming at the last a band of perhaps thirty men. They talked together for a moment, and then one by one, at regular intervals, detached themselves and began circling at full speed to the left, throwing themselves behind their horses, and yelling shrill-voiced, but firing no shot as yet.

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Theyll rush us, speculated Alfred. Were too few to monkey with this way. This is a bluff.

The circle about the two was now complete. After watching the whirl of figures a few minutes, and the motionless landscape beyond, the eye became dizzied and confused.

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They wont have no picnic, went on Alfred, with a little chuckle. Dog-holes as bad fer them as fer us. They dont know how to fight. If they was to come in on all sides, I couldnt handle em, but they always rush in a bunch, like damn fools! and then Alfred became suffused with blushes, and commenced to apologise abjectly and profusely to a girl who had heard neither the word nor its atonement. The savages and the approaching fight were all she could think of.

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Suddenly one of the Sioux threw himself forward under his horses neck and fired. The bullet went wild, of course, but it shrieked with the rising inflection of a wind-squall through bared boughs, seeming to come ever nearer. Miss Caldwell screamed and covered her face. The savages yelled in chorus.

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The one shot seemed to be the signal for a spattering fire all along the line. Indians never clean their rifles, rarely get good ammunition, and are deficient in the philosophy of hind-sights. Besides this, it is not easy to shoot at long range in a constrained position from a running horse.

Alfred watched them contemptuously in silence.

If they keep that up long enough, the wagon-train may hear em, he said, finally. Wisht we werent so far to nor-rard. There, its comin! he said, more excitedly.

The chief had paused, and, as the warriors came to him, they threw their ponies back on their haunches, and sat motionless. They turned, the ponies heads toward the two.

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Alfred arose deliberately for a better look.

Yes, thats right, he said to himself, thats old Lone Pine, sure thing. I reckon we-alls got to make a good fight!

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The girl had sunk to the ground, and was shaking from head to foot. It is not nice to be shot at in the best of circumstances, but to be shot at by odds of thirty to one, and the thirty of an outlandish and terrifying species, is not nice at all. Miss Caldwell had gone to pieces badly, and Alfred looked grave. He thoughtfully drew from its holster his beautiful Colts with its ivory handle, and laid it on the grass. Then he blushed hot and cold, and looked at the girl doubtfully. A sudden movement in the group of savages, as the war-chief rode to the front, decided him.

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Miss Caldwell, he said.

The girl shivered and moaned.

Alfred dropped to his knees and shook her shoulder roughly.

Look up here, he commanded. We aint got but a minute.

Composed a little by the firmness of his tone, she sat up. Her face had gone chalky, and her hair had partly fallen over her eyes.

Now, listen to every word, he said, rapidly. Those Injins is goin to rush us in a minute. Praps I can break them, but I dont know. In that pistol there, Ill always save two shotsunderstand?Its always loaded. If I see its all up, Im a-goin to shoot you with one of em, and myself with the other.

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Oh! cried the girl, her eyes opening wildly. She was paying close enough attention now.

And if they kill me firsthe reached forward and seized her wrist impressivelyif they kill me first, you must take that pistol and shoot yourself. Understand? Shoot yourselfin the headhere!

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He tapped his forehead with a stubby forefinger.

The girl shrank back in horror. Alfred snapped his teeth together and went on grimly.

If they get hold of you, he said, with solemnity, theyll first take off every stitch of your clothes, and when youre quite naked theyll stretch you out on the ground with a raw-hide to each of your arms and legs. And then theyll drive a stake through the middle of your body into the groundand leave you thereto dieslowly!

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And the girl believed him, because, incongruously enough, even through her terror she noticed that at this, the most immodest speech of his life, Alfred did not blush. She looked at the pistol lying on the turf with horrified fascination.

The group of Indians, which had up to now remained fully a thousand yards away, suddenly screeched and broke into a run directly toward the dog-town.

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There is an indescribable rush in a charge of savages. The little ponies make their feet go so fast, the feathers and trappings of the warriors stream behind so frantically, the whole attitude of horse and man is so eager, that one gets an impression of fearful speed and resistless power. The horizon seems full of Indians.

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As if this were not sufficiently terrifying, the air is throbbing with sound. Each Indian pops away for general results as he comes jumping along, and yells shrilly to show what a big warrior he is, while underneath it all is the hurried monotone of hoof-beats becoming ever louder, as the roar of an increasing rainstorm on the roof. It does not seem possible that anything can stop them.

Yet there is one thing that can stop them, if skillfully taken advantage of, and that is their lack of discipline. An Indian will fight hard when cornered, or when heated by lively resistance, but he hates to go into it in cold blood. As he nears the opposing rifle, this feeling gets stronger. So often a man with nerve enough to hold his fire, can break a fierce charge merely by waiting until it is within fifty yards or so, and then suddenly raising the muzzle of his gun. If he had gone to shooting at once, the affair would have become a combat, and the Indians would have ridden him down. As it is, each has had time to think. By the time the white man is ready to shoot, the suspense has done its work. Each savage knows that but one will fall, but, cold-blooded, he does not want to be that one; and, since in such disciplined fighters it is each for himself, he promptly ducks behind his mount and circles away to the right or the left. The whole band swoops and divides, like a flock of swift-winged terns on a windy day.

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This Alfred relied on in the approaching crisis.

The girl watched the wild sweep of the warriors with strained eyes. She had to grasp her wrist firmly to keep from fainting, and she seemed incapable of thought. Alfred sat motionless on a dog-mound, his rifle across his lap. He did not seem in the least disturbed.

Its good to fight again, he murmured, gently fondling the stock of his rifle. Come on, ye devils! Oho! he cried as a warriors horse went down in a dog-hole, I thought so!

His eyes began to shine.

The ponies came skipping here and there, nimbly dodging in and out between the dog-holes. Their riders shot and yelled wildly, but none of the bullets went lower than ten feet. The circle of their advance looked somehow like the surge shoreward of a great wave, and the similarity was heightened by the nodding glimpses of the light eagles feathers in their hair.

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The run across the honey-combed plain was hazardouseven to Indian poniesand three went down kicking, one after the other. Two of the riders lay stunned. The third sat up and began to rub his knee. The pony belonging to Miss Caldwell, becoming frightened, threw itself and lay on its side, kicking out frantically with its hind legs.

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At the proper moment Alfred cocked his rifle and rose swiftly to his knees. As he did so, the mound on which he had been kneeling caved into the hole beneath it, and threw him forward on his face. With a furious curse, he sprang to his feet and levelled his rifle at the thick of the press.

The scheme worked. In a flash every savage disappeared behind his pony, and nothing was to be seen but an arm and a leg. The band divided on either hand as promptly as though the signal for such a drill had been given, and swept gracefully around in two long circles until it reined up motionless at nearly the exact point from which it had started on its imposing charge. Alfred had not fired a shot.

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He turned to the girl with a short laugh.

She lay face upward on the ground, staring at the sky with wide-open, horror-stricken eyes. In her brow was a small blackened hole, and under her head, which lay strangely flat against the earth, the grasses had turned red. Near her hand lay the heavy Colts 44.

Alfred looked at her a minute without winking. Then he nodded his head.

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It was cause I fell down that holeshe thought theyd got me! he said aloud to himself. Pore little gal! She hadnt ought to have did it!

He blushed deeply, and, turning his face away, pulled down her skirt until it covered her ankles. Then he picked up his Winchester and fired three shots. The first hit directly back of the ear one of the stunned Indians who had fallen with his horse. The second went through the other stunned Indians chest. The third caught the Indian with the broken leg between the shoulders just as he tried to get behind his struggling pony.

Shortly after, Billy Knapp and the wagon-train came along.
Bernardo Bertolucci, who defined the art-house cinema of the 1960s and 70s and won numerous Oscars for The Last Emperor in 1988, died today at his home in Rome at the age of 77. His wife and artistic collaborator, Claire Peploe, confirmed his passing in a statement. Although no cause of death was given, Bertolucci was known to have cancer.

Bertloucci burst onto the scene in 1964 with Before the Revolution, the story of a young, middle-class Italian man torn between the Catholic ideals of his youth and the increasing appeal of radical Marxism. Although Bertolucci was only 23 when the film was shotit was his second, after the previous years La Commare Seccahe had already fastened onto the theme that would go on to define his career, the interplay between political ideology and tradition on the one hand, and erotic desire on the other.

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Bertolucci directed his last film, 2012s Me and You, from a wheelchair, which he had used for more than a decade after failed surgery for a herniated disc left him with back pain. Even before then, confinement had been a recurring subject of his films, from 1968s Partner, a fusion of Dostoevskys The Double and the essay films of Jean-Luc Godard, through 2003s The Dreamers, in which young intellectuals retreat from the political turmoil of 1968 to explore their own sexuality, only to have the revolution come literally crashing through their windows.

Confinement and obsession was also at the heart of Bertoluccis Last Tango in Paris, the story of an all-consuming sexual relationship that Pauline Kael famously likened to Stravinskys The Rite of Spring.* It was during the making of that film that Bertolucci and actor Marlon Brando conspired to film a scene in which Brandos character anally rapes the character played by Maria Schneider, only informing the 19-year-old Schneider shortly before the scene was filmed. Schneider said in 2007 that she felt humiliated  and a little raped by the experience, and in 2013, two years after Schneiders death, Bertolucci admitted he had been, in a way, horrible to Maria, although he added, I feel guilty, but I do not regret.

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Both Bertolucci and Schneiders remarks resurfaced in 2016, at which point the outrage that had failed to greet either on first airing finally emerged, although in their rush to justly condemn Bertoluccis behavior, many lost sight of Schneiders actual words; although she confirmed in her initial remarks that she and Brando never had intercourse, forcible or otherwise, numerous accounts echoe that of actress Jenna Fischer, who tweeted that the film contains an actual rape and sexual assault. As Lindsay Zoladz wrote in The Ringer, You are watching an actresss trust being breached, but not necessarily in the way the headlines imply. It is possible to acknowledge and honor Schneiders trauma while still knowing that.

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Bertoluccis The Last Emperor won nine Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, in 1987, but none of the films he made after it, including The Sheltering Sky, Little Buddha, and Stealing Beauty, equaled it in popularity or critical acclaim, and his last film was virtually ignored, which means there is effectively an entire generation for whom he exists only as an sometimes-sensationalized headline. (Perhaps the people confident tweeting that Last Tango contains an actual rape think theyre doing the Lords work, but disregarding Schneiders actual words in the name of posthumously defending her is at least a little ironic.) Schneider certainly deserved better, both during the making of Last Tango and afterwards, when she struggled with the intense attention brought on by the films scandal-driven success; she became a drug addict, attempted suicide, and eventually became an advocate for better working conditions on-set. And Bertolucci, public apology notwithstanding, never fully reckoned with the damage that hed done. With Bertolucci, Schneider, and Brando all dead, that reckoning falls to us, and at least for now, Schneider looms as large in Bertoluccis legacy as he did in hers.
Rabbit Holes is a recurring series in which writers pay homage to the diversity and ingenuity of the ways we procrastinate now. To pitch your personal rabbit hole, email humaninterest@slate.com.

The troll is giant. His nose is an eggplant the color of pus. His voice jeers just one line: Im warning you for the last time. An animatronic robot inside the Ye Olde Mill at Rye Playland in New York, the troll comes to me at my desk, a menace on my laptop, where I watch footage of dark water rideswhere a boat enters a tunneled track sunk in a murky pool, encountering a View Master deck of sceneson YouTube.

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Like many people, I enjoy numbing myself out, blanking, getting spacey, letting my thoughts loll. This is why people meditate or smoke pot or fast or fuck, to dip a toe in the pool of oblivion, and I have done all those things. But when I find myself on the Internet and I need to get back to a place where I can work (which means write), I ride Old Mills, Tunnels of Love, River Caves.

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I could claim to be an expert on dark water rides, but I am not. Really, I should admit, Im neither a coaster enthusiast nor an ardent parks-goer. I dont hold dear any steamy make-out sessions or cheery friend dates that sent ripples down the river of a dark water ride. In fact, I harbor absolutely no direct memories of dark water rides, other than those Ive seen on-screen or found in the news.

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Even if you havent ridden one, youve seen them: the cartoons, Daffy Duck paddling after a pink swan boat in a Tunnel of Love and wrecking Daisys date; the films, like Hitchcocks Strangers on a Train, where a loose young woman boards a Tunnel of Love rowboat with two men and, under the cloak of manmade midnight, endures a fondling prelude to her murder; the Springsteen video; the horror stories, a small boy gone overboard on Ye Olde Mill at Playland and drowning in the shallow pool.

Dark water rides carry this media-constructed patina of menace and hush-hush sex, yet on YouTube they film surprisingly chaste. Visit Ye Old Mill at Playland (like 27,000-plus other viewers), and for 7 minutes 50 seconds youll see wood planks, many trolls, dumping buckets, trees being felled but stopping mid-TIMBER, signs cautioning Turn back! or Beware!and water, lots of water. Water spattered with Gatsby-an green light, water raining down on the patient ship, water invisible to the eye but alive to the ear, sloshing, pouring, present even during the periods of subtly shifting blackness when the craft navigates the track and finally, a shaft of sunlight gasps into frame.

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However theyre intended, I find these videos terrifying. In real life, dark water rides exist at fairs, carnivals, and amusement parks, places akin to the arcades Walter Benjamin describes in The Arcades Project, [worlds] in miniature, in which customers will find everything they need. (Though with their giant stuffed animals, soda troughs, and fried Oreos, maybe amusement parks provide everything customers dont need.) In his 1919 essay The Uncanny, Freud wrote: These themes [of the uncanny] are all concerned with the idea of a double in every shape and degree. Perhaps its the aggressive miniaturizing of these worlds thats so dreadful. Ye Olde Mills are replicas inside replicas, nesting doppelgangers, each remove from the real getting creepier than the last.

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To me, anyhow. The comments on these videos remind me that, for many, amusement parks are not sites of uncanniness. For many, dark water rides are, well, dull. I climb aboard the 100-year-old River Caves ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England and drift through centuries on grainy vintage film. Glimpses of parents and children, a head of tense ringlet curls. How old these riders must be now, I think; do they remember this? And yet a commenter notes: On river caves it was so long I got so bored. I never even looked at the stuff. Another? My friends and I got a bit bored on this, so we started splashing each other and dancing around.

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Does boredom spring from mundaneness put to some test? What makes one persons boring anothers unnerving? Take, for instance, the grotto, a common feature of dark water rides. Even a wordgrottoinvokes an otherworldly feeling in me. A small picturesque cave, especially an artificial one, the term first appears in the 17th century. The Italian is grotta, ferried into usage from the Greek krupte, the word denoting vault that brings us crypt.

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A fake points to its original, life to death, and the chance to enter into a sloshing haunted house, alone, is a weird foray into morbid thought. The uncanny  arouses dread and creeping horror, Freud wrote. It tends to coincide with whatever excites dread.

The dark water ride is the Styx of spectacles, a memento mori in our midst: not intrinsically gruesome, yet suggestive of mortality in the way that all decrepit things, decaying things, manmade objects dying do. Perhaps its the stagnant water. The smell (I imagine) of stale carnival food and body odor. The riders, ferrying toward a trip thats guaranteed to end. Or just the creaky ache of once-new mechanical elves mining fake mills. I tour dead malls. Break into shuttered schools. Scope out condemned churches that are being sold as re-purposable homes.

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According to Freud, writing about something as ineffable as the uncanny requires submitting to it. Early in his essay, he admitted that it is long since he has experienced or heard of anything which has given him an uncanny impression, and he will be obliged to translate himself into that state of feeling. This is what dark water rides allow me to do. When I go around the world at River Caves, drifting through vintage footage of jungly verdure and hieroglyph-carved columns, stalagmites and stalactites pincushioning manmade vistas, I translate myself into that state of feeling. It is uncomfortable, eerie-ing and yet, still, I fiend for it. I sail toward it in the dark.
In a move that some worry may embolden Border Patrol agents to use force more often, an Arizona jury ruled last week that an agent was not guilty of manslaughter for fatally shooting a Mexican teenager 10 times through the border fence in 2012. The teenager had allegedly been throwing rocks.

On Wednesday, Lonnie Swartz won his latest victory in Tucson, months after being acquitted of second-degree murder by another jury in the killing of 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez. The ruling came before a Thanksgiving weekend marked by reports of agents firing tear gas at migrants approaching the border from Mexico. Critics have expressed outrage at images of young children fleeing the attack.

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President Trump, while stoking fears about the migrant caravan traveling from Central America, also said in November that American agents would be justified in shooting a migrant who throws rocks. They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back, he told reporters. I told them to consider it a rifle. When they throw rocks like what they did to the Mexican military and police I say consider it a rifle.

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The case has gone through a rare but lengthy court battle, as Elena Rodriguezs grandmother, with the help of former Nogales, Arizona, district judge Roberto Montiel, has pushed tirelessly for justice. It took two and a half years for Swartz to get indicted, according to NPR.

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After the verdict Wednesday, protesters complained that former Customs and Border Patrol Internal Affairs Officer James Tomsheck, who reported that he saw a video showing Elena Rodriguez was not throwing rocks, did not testify during the trial, according to NPR. Tomsheck left CBP in 2014 after filing whistleblower complaints.

Swartzs defense has said that he was following training, arguing that a thrown rock can be deadly. People sometimes throw rocks from the Mexican side of the border to distract agents from smugglers attempting to cross the border. According to the Associated Press, the prosecution in the murder trial did not contest that Elena Rodriguez had been throwing rocks while smugglers crossed the border into Mexico, but they did argue that it did not justify deadly force. Swartz fired at the teenager 16 times, hitting him 10 times in his back and head. Elena Rodriguez family has a civil case pending before the Supreme Court.

The Guardian reported in May that American border agents have caused the deaths of more than 90 people since 2003, including at least six children and at least 28 U.S. citizens. Most of the deaths were caused by shootings, and some happened far from the border, up to 160 miles inland, and in states like Florida and Minnesota. While the U.S. government has paid out millions in a small number of settlements, only two other cases examined by the Guardian have resulted in jury trialsneither of which led to convictions.
In recent days, collective action by workers at companies like Facebook and Google has pressured these companies to back away from requiring mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment claims, allowing workers to have their day in court instead of forcing them to arbitrate these claims behind closed doors.

Workers across the country can and should build on this inspiring example, challenging mandated arbitration not only of sexual harassment claims but also of other claims of wrongdoing. In a time of vast economic inequality, where worker power is waning and employer power is growing, arbitration clauses are part of the problem. By exercising their right of collective action enshrined in federal labor law, workers can challenge the use of arbitration clauses and shift this imbalance of power.

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The problem is that since the early 1990s, employers have frequently placed mandatory arbitration clauses in employment contracts. Many judges and scholars (myself included) read the federal statute dictating that courts enforce these clauses to explicitly exempt workers. But a narrow Supreme Court majority disagreed in 2001, opening the floodgates for potentially any dispute a worker has with her employer to be arbitrated if the contract says so.

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This backdrop has allowed for secretive sexual harassment settlements to be awarded in arbitration, where proceedings arent public, where arbitrators need not give reasons to the public, and where privacy is the coin of the realm.

But the dramatic rise of worker arbitration has created many more problems. One study indicates that workers bringing claims against their employers in arbitration tend to fare worse than they do in courts, and another study indicates that parties use arbitration less than they would use courts to ferret out wrongdoing. It makes sense: Companies are repeat customers for arbitrators, whereas individual employees are not.

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The solution to this problem is worker collective action.

Theres another problem with keeping lawsuits out of court. Lawsuits in courts are part of how the public comes to understand and account for pervasive wrongdoing. Lawsuits also help to flesh out the vague words of statutes protecting workers, creating precedent that puts wrongdoers on notice. Finally, even lawsuits that fail because the law doesnt reach the alleged wrongdoing can spark legislative reform to expand the scope of liability.

Thus, today, inequality is magnified by employers, who through arbitration can escape either liability or public reckoning not only for sexual harassment but also wage theft and the types of discrimination that leave workers jobless or in lower-paying positions.

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The solution to this problem is worker collective action. Unfortunately, a narrow Supreme Court majority foreclosed one path of collective action this summer. The case was about how the federal arbitration statute intersects with the National Labor Relations Acts protection of worker collective action. The plaintiffs argued that contracts denying them the right to arbitrate or litigate collectively denied them their right to engage in concerted activities  for mutual aid or protection under the NLRA. With Justice Neil Gorsuch writing the opinion, the 54 conservative majority disagreed, opining that the NLRAs protection of collective action generally did not conflict with contracts banning collective arbitration or litigation.

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The result is that courts must generally uphold arbitration contracts mandating that workers arbitrate disputes with their employers individually. This outcome is troubling because sometimes it can be difficult to be the lone voice alleging wrongdoing. And if the wrongdoing results in small damages for an individual employee but larger damages across employees, workers have a better shot of getting legal representation if they can sue or arbitrate together.

The courageous workers at Google and Facebook reveal another path, however. The path is not to challenge arbitration clauses at the time of hire, when most workers have no say over take-it-or-leave-it arbitration provisions in contracts. Instead, it is for existing workers together to employ the pressure to get the companies to back away from arbitration provisions. And to turn the tide against employer-mandated arbitration generally, it will take more than tech workers.

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To be sure, it may be easier for 20,000 highly skilled Google employees to walk out over or protest arbitration clauses. After all, their talents protect them to an extent from being fired and make them marketable even if they are fired.

Less-powerful workers, however, are still protected in exercising collective action. The NLRA may not protect their ability to arbitrate together once the arbitration clause says otherwise. But it certainly and inarguably does guarantee workers rights to act collectively for mutual aid and protection.

The seminal examples of workers acting collectively for mutual aid and protection involve workers coming together to make demands to their employers about the conditions of employment. The National Labor Relations Board and courts have protected workers who leave work when the factory is freezing, who challenge their employers calculation of benefits, and who band together to argue for paid sick leave.

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Nowadays, a core condition of the employment contract is whether workers can have their day in court when they believe their employer has violated the law. Right now, that condition all too often pushes workers out of court and into arbitration. But workers who come together to demand that mandatory arbitration be stripped out of their contracts are exercising basic rights of collective action that are protected by the NLRA. And employers are legally prohibited from firing or even disciplining those workers.

So workers, uniteto demand that your employers stop mandating arbitration. Your right to act together has long been enshrined in federal law. And by exercising that right, you can hold your employer to account publicly both for sexual harassment violations and other forms of discrimination and disempowerment.
Sen. Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, joined the ranks of GOP lawmakers who are criticizing President Donald Trump for his decision to defend Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. I disagree with the presidents assessment, Lee said on NBC. Its inconsistent with the intelligence Ive seen. Lee said that the intelligence he has seen suggests the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was ordered by the crown prince.

EXCLUSIVE: On Jamal Khashoggis killing, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) tells Chuck Todd that the intelligence Ive seen suggests that this was ordered by the Crown Prince #MTP@SenMikeLee: I disagree with the presidents assessment pic.twitter.com/kBJ62VfwWP  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 25, 2018

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This isnt the first time Lee has split with Trump when Saudi Arabia is concerned, particularly relating to the U.S. support for the military campaign in Yemen. And he made it clear that his views on the Yemen conflict certainly affected how he saw the Khashoggi killing. Now look, I dont have access to everything the president sees. Im not sure what hes relying on. Intelligence Ive seen suggests that this was ordered by the crown prince, and is yet another reason why Ive been pushing  to get us out of fighting Saudi Arabias civil war effort in Yemen against the Houthis, Lee said.

Lee, who said he was certain the next Congress will look into Trumps ties to Saudi Arabia, wasnt the only Republican who spoke up against Trumps steadfast support for the Saudi ruler. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa told CNN that while Saudi Arabia is a great strategic partner, the United States commitment to human rights and the rule of law means means that Congress must absolutely  consider further action.

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If there are indicators that the prince was involved in this murder, then we need absolutely to consider further action, GOP Sen. Joni Ernst says about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/ilexZiQJyq  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 25, 2018

Democrats, meanwhile, directly questioned whether Trumps financial ties with Saudi Arabia were driving his response to the murder. I have been briefed by the CIA, Schiff told CNN. And while I cannot discuss the contents of the briefing in any way, I can say that I think the President is being dishonest with the American people.

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A brief, dangerous confrontation between Ukrainian and Russian armed forces around a disputed waterway appears unlikely to escalate into a major armed conflict. But it tells us a lot about Russias paranoia, the state of Ukraines democratic institutions, and the ability of the West to discourage and deter Russian aggression. None of these takeaways are encouraging.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning, when the Russian coast guard opened fire on three Ukrainian navy ships near the Kerch Strait, between the Crimean Peninsula and the Russian mainland, and seized them. Ukraine says six of its seamen were injured; Russia says it was only three. The Russians had prevented the Ukrainian ships from crossing the strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, by placing a large cargo vessel beneath a recently constructed bridge. Ukraine is now demanding the release of its sailors and vessels and is planning to impose martial law. Russia says the ships entered Russian territorial waters as a provocation. The incident is particularly notable in that its a rare incident of unambiguous violence between Ukrainian and Russian forces, rather than shadowy, deniable Russian separatists or rebels.

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Tensions have been building around the Sea of Azov for months. Ukraine claims the right to free navigation under a 2003 treaty, which designated the sea as jointly controlled territory. That, of course, was before Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, giving Russia control of both sides of the narrow entrance to the sea. In 2016, Russia began construction of a controversial $3.7 billion bridge across the strait. The bridge was a political statementphysically connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland in defiance of most of the worlds refusal to recognize the peninsula as Russian territoryand it allowed the transfer of more Russian military equipment to Crimea. Just 33 meters high, it also had the effect of limiting the amount of cargo that could pass through the strait to the Ukrainian ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk. Ships passing through the strait have been facing lengthy checks from Russian border guards, putting significant economic pressure on shipping companies. Ukraine has denounced this as an illegal blockade and has responded by increasing the number of small naval vessels in the areaa mosquito fleet. This build-up, combined with Russias paranoia about attacks on its flagship bridge, dramatically increased the risk of open confrontation, as happened Sunday.

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(Beyond the naval confrontation, both countries have also been on edge this month since the Ukrainian Orthodox Church formally broke away from the control of Moscow, a decision that enraged Russian church leaders who have close ties to the Kremlin.)

Theres been some speculation that Russias increasingly aggressive posture toward Ukraine lately has something to do with President Vladimir Putins sagging poll numbers. Its possible: Crimea, and conflict with the West, have been winning issues for the Russian president in the past. But Russia wont have another presidential election until 2024, and in the meantime, Russias posture is likely to be self-defeating. The confrontation will probably result in more Western sanctions and will do little to improve Russias position in Ukraine.

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Its not like Ukraine is going to collapse because of this blockade, says Balazs Jarabik, a Ukraine specialist at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Whats interesting is that the blockade is really hurting [the port cities of] Mariupol and Berdyansk where there is still a lot of sympathy toward Russia. So from a political viewpoint, this is a suicidal tactic for Russia. Theyre squeezing their own sympathizers.

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One president who does have to worry about the polls is Ukraines Petro Poroshenko. Hes up for re-election in March, and polls show him trailing nemesis Yulia Tymoshenko. Poroshenko had initially planned to call for 60 days of martial law, which could have derailed the official beginning of the election campaign in December. Its since been reduced to 30 days. Still, as Jarabik notes, his original proposal really sends a bad message about Ukraine just four months before the elections. It doesnt look good or bode well about Ukraines democratic institutions. While Western countries have generally backed Ukraines government in its confrontation with Russia and Russian-backed separatists, Poroshenkos martial law proposal wont ease existing concerns about his governments corruption and the role of far-right militias. The imposition of martial law is likely more of a symbolic gesture than anything elsetheres not much else Ukraine can do to punish Russia militarilybut theres legitimate cause for concern about how the government might use its powers.

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As for Western countries and NATO, their response to Russias aggression is likely to be limited to statements of condemnation and perhaps more sanctions. As the Guardians Julian Borger notes, the White House has been conspicuous in not issuing a statement about the Azov Sea incident, though Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and outgoing U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley have both condemned Russias actions. Instead, President Trump apparently thought Sunday would be a good time to issue one of his trademark twitter fusillades against Russia rival NATO.

In fairness, despite the messages coming out of the White House, the U.S. under Trump has been providing military aid to Ukraine, including some offensive weapons systems that the Obama administration declined to provide. Earlier this month, the U.S. slapped new sanctions on Russian officials over the annexation of Crimea.

Sundays flare-up, however, suggest that those actions have had little to no impact on Russian foreign policy.
This is not how it was supposed to go for Republicansnot in Mississippi, a state that hasnt sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in more than three decades. And especially not after Election Day, when state Sen. Chris McDaniel, a proudly politically incorrect conservative firebrandwho GOP leaders had long feared would gaffe away an otherwise safe seatcame up well short in a four-way special election. McDaniels defeat was supposed to clear the way for interim Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith to coast to victory in her Nov. 27 runoff against Democrat Mike Espy.

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Supposed to is the key phrase there. Pretty much everyone involved now believes Espy has a real chance to pull off a special-election stunner on Tuesday. The reason? Ironically, a pair of caught-on-camera gaffes from Hyde-Smith, whom Republican Gov. Phil Bryant had tapped to replace retired Sen. Thad Cochran earlier this yearin no small part because Bryant thought he could trust her to not put her foot in her mouth.

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Hyde-Smith made the controversial comments in the lead-up to Election Day, but both went unnoticed until a week later, when the publisher of progressive Louisiana publication the Bayou Brief shared them on social media. Speaking at a campaign stop in Tupelo on Nov. 2, Hyde-Smith decided that the best way to describe her loyalty to one of her supporters was with what sounded like an allusion to lynching: If he invited me to a public hanging, Id be on the front row. Then, at an event at Mississippi State University the following day, Hyde-Smith spoke fondly of voter suppression on campuses, in a state with more than a half-dozen historically black colleges and universities: Theres a lot of liberal folks in those other schools that maybe we dont want to vote. Maybe we just want to make it a little more difficult.

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The GOP s margin of victory in recent Mississippi elections has been considerably smaller than it has been in Alabama, where Doug Jones beat Roy Moore last year.

Mississippi has the highest share of black Americans in the nationmore than 37 percent of the states residents. If mobilized and able to vote, that population represents a potent political force. Once Hyde-Smiths inflammatory remarks became public, they did what Mississippi Democrats struggled to accomplish beforehand: put the media-averse Hyde-Smith on the defensive. National Democrats including Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and Joe Biden all quickly lent their support to Espy, while Republicans have strained to come to Hyde-Smiths aid.

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Hyde-Smiths attempt to clean up her own mess was anything but smooth. Her campaign tried to explain away the public hanging comment as an exaggerated expression of regard (huh?) for her friend and the voter-suppression quote as nothing more than an innocent joke. Then there was a press conference where the candidate refused to elaborate on what she said, and Gov. Bryant tried to change the conversation to one about black women who have abortions or, as he put it, the genocide of 20 million African American children.

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Hyde-Smith finally offered a tepid apology during last weeks debate to anyone that was offended by my comments, only to quickly imply that she had said nothing that warranted apologizing. This comment was twisted, and it was turned into a weapon to be used against me, a political weapon used for nothing but personal and political gain by my opponent, she said.

No one twisted your comments because your comments were liveyou know, they came out of your mouth, responded Espy, who if elected, would become the states first black senator since Reconstruction. I dont know whats in your heart, but we all know what came out of your mouth.

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Cindy Hyde-Smith says her "public hanging" comments were "twisted" by Espy "for political gain" and that she has no ill will in her heart.



Espy responds: "I don't know what's in your heart, but we all know what came out of your mouth." #MSSen pic.twitter.com/aRBcdblLJD  Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) November 21, 2018

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Remarkably, that was just the beginning. In the past week, reporters who went digging into Hyde-Smiths past discovered one example after another of her embracing Confederate history and its racist legacy, often in her role as an elected official: She pushed a revisionist history of the Civil War while a state lawmaker; she posted photos to Facebook of herself posing in Confederate garb while she was state agriculture commissioner; and as the Jackson Free Press documented, as a child she attended an all-white private academy created specifically in response to the desegregation of public schools, and then later enrolled her own daughter in another such school, from which she graduated in 2017.

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Hyde-Smith remains the heavy favorite in a state Trump won by 18 points two years ago, but strange things can happen in one-off elections, and Democrats hope Hyde-Smiths remarks convince black voters to turn out in full force for Espy while also alienating some slice of moderate Republicans who could decide to stay home. Its conceivable: The two finished within 1 percentage point of each other on Election Day, 41 percent for Hyde-Smith and 40 percent for Espy. McDaniel finished a distant third with about 17 percent of the vote, enough to block Hyde-Smith from the majority she needed to win the election outright. A large share of McDaniel supporters would theoretically be enough to put Hyde-Smith over the top. But theres reason to doubt theyll all turn out for the establishment-approved Hyde-Smith, who lacks the in-your-face, Tea Party style McDaniels been running on for years. Alternatively, McDaniel supporters could now rally around Hyde-Smith following the controversy, but those numbers would have to be high enough to offset Hyde-Smiths losses among her own base and any boost to Espys.

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The GOPs margin of victory in recent Mississippi elections has also been considerably smaller than it has been in Alabama, where Democrat Doug Jones beat Roy Moore in last years special Senate election. That race was dominated by accusations that Moore was a sexual predator, but Jones wouldnt have won without black voters who also listened as Moore fondly recalled the days of slavery.

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Last weeks debate also offered many Mississippians their first long look at Hyde-Smith, who was a little-known public official before being appointed to the Senate. She refused to take part in debates before the midterms and reportedly only agreed to this one after her campaign negotiated a set of ground rules it believed would be favorable, including the use of notes. Those turned out to be of limited value to Hyde-Smith, who in the course of an hour still managed to mangle the name of a fellow GOP senator (that would be North Carolinas Thom Tillis, not Thom Thompson), vastly overstate how long ago Espy served in Congress (he took office in the late 1980s, not nearly a century ago), declare she would protect those with pre-existence conditions (while looking directly at her notes), complain Espy wanted to help illegal aliens who arent even American citizens, reference the two clearly different opposite differences between me and my opponent, and get the date of the runoff wrong more than once. (It is Nov. 27, not Nov. 22, aka Thanksgiving.)

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And even as the debate moderator enforced strict time limitssome as short as 30 secondsHyde-Smith struggled to fill her allotted time. Here, for instance, was her answer to a question about whether there was any specific issue she would reach across the aisle on if elected:

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Absolutely, but only if its good for Mississippians. I work across the aisle. I was known for that in the state Senate in my three terms as state senatorwhen I was there, I was known for working across the aisle with everybody. You know we are all Gods children and I treat everybody like that, but only if its good for Mississippians. For things that matter? You bet. Id work across that aisle all day longif its good for Mississippi. For those that are not good for Mississippi, I will not be there with them. I will oppose them, and do the things that I am supposed to do to be the U.S. senator from the great state of Mississippi, protecting our Mississippians.

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One Mississippi, two Mississippi 

Espy wasnt perfect, often struggling to finish his answers before his time was up. And it remains an open question whether he was able to convince enough GOP voters that hes the moderate his record suggests he is, as opposed to the Chuck Schumer puppet Hyde-Smith has painted him as. The Democrat also struggled to explain his past lobbying work for an African despot now on trial at the International Criminal Court. But he repeatedly took advantage of the opening Hyde-Smiths comments created, accusing her of giving the state another black eye that we dont need and potentially hurting the states economy. We got a senator here talking about public hangings and talking about voter suppression, he said in his closing statement. Ladies and gentleman, I am not going back to yesteryear. We are going to move forward.

Moments before, Hyde-Smith also suggested she was looking forwardto Donald Trumps visit to the state on Monday, for two get-out-the-vote rallies on her behalf. You can go to Donaldjtrump.com to get those tickets, she said for the second time in the debate. For a candidate trying to win a surprisingly close, nationally watched election after a series of controversial and indelicate remarks, highlighting the presidents support may have been the most coherent thing she said all night.
I grew up in Bedford, New Hampshire, an extremely Republican town of about 23,000 people that hadnt elected a Democrat to state office since before World War II. That is, until earlier this month, when my middle school guidance counselor won her very first political campaign.

Sue Mullen, 62, bested six Republicans, five other Democrats, and one libertarian to become one of Bedfords 6 (its complicated) representatives in the state House. Despite the conservatism of my hometown, I wasnt surprised to hear shed won. Everyones kids know and love her, which means their parents know and love her, too.

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Mullen also happens to be one of the first gay people Id ever met, and certainly the first gay person I saw in a position of authority. To me, she represents the kind of small-time Democrat that can make a big difference in state and local politics: a leader with an intimate knowledge of her community and the ability to command respect and gain the trust of her constituents, regardless of their political party. (Im not the only one who thinks so: She got a nice shoutout from Seth Meyers and Sarah Silverman, who also grew up in Bedford, on Late Night With Seth Meyers last week.) I spoke to Mullen about what New Hampshirites look for in a state rep, what she hopes to achieve in office, and what it was like running as a gay candidate in a Republican district. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Christina Cauterucci: When did you decide to run for office?

Sue Mullen: The Bedford Democrats got a hold of me in 2016 because they wanted me to put my name on the ballot, but I was working full time. [They] said, Well, youre not gonna win. Were just looking for credible candidates. And I said, If I run, I wanna run. And if I run, I wanna win. You need to wait until I retire. I retired in June of 2017. Even before I retired, people were saying to me, What do you think youre going to do with your time? And I said, I think Im gonna run for political office.

What job were you working when you retired?

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I was the school counselor at the middle school. Probably the backstory of why I won is because I spent 39 years working for the school system, which means that literally three generations of voters in town knew me. But I also knew that I couldnt win with just Democrats alone because there arent enough Dems in Bedford to support a winning candidate. You have to be a moderate, and you have to be able to work across the aisle with independents and Republicans. And I think that people believe that I have the capacity to do that, given the fact that in 39 years of working in the school system, no ones political party ever came up.

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How did you figure out how to run a campaign for the first time?

In September of last year, I went to a daylong symposium that was sponsored by the New Hampshire Womens Foundation and an organization called VoteRunLead. They had a daylong workshop in Manchester, and my cousin who lives in Manchester sent me the link and said, Hey, if youre serious about running, maybe you ought to go talk to these folks. It was super helpful, because what it did was give me a recipe for how to set up my campaign and what I needed to know in order to run. And because they are cultivating women for all kinds of officesfrom local school board elections to senatorial campaignsthey basically gave you the advice to go find a campaign manager, to make sure you have a fiscal agent, to put somebody in charge of your social media, to have somebody in charge of mailings and signswhich are totally time-consuming, to be able to locate people who want them in their yards, get em up, and then get em down after the election.

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We ran this campaign probably a little more zealously than anybody has ever run a New Hampshire state rep campaign. Everyone in town has laughed and said that it was as if I was running for president.

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What was your involvement in politics before this?

Not much, other than Im a pretty stalwart voter and I follow politics like everybody else does, through the media. I think youd have to be living under a rock not to be committed to some sort of political awareness at this point in our history. But Ive never held a political office before. Ive never run for anything. My family was politically aware. The first time that I knew anything about politics was when John Kennedy was running for president. My mom worked on his campaign. I was 5 or 6 years old at the time.

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Was there anything about Donald Trumps election or the rise of Trumpism that compelled you to run?

There are two things that compelled me. One was that I have been heartsick over what I have considered to be an erosion of civility and respect among politicians. This idea that somehow or another the best route to get someone to appreciate your position is through intimidation or name calling, public shaming, bullyingthat is so counter to my belief system in being able to use a measured response to problem solving that I actually ran on the platform of trying to do my part to bring civility and respect back to the process. And I think that resonated with people. Blind partisan politics was in existence way before Donald Trump was in anybodys conscious mind. This adherence to blind partisan politics, I think, in some respects, has gotten us into this mess were in. And I think both parties own a certain amount of it.

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Even in the Republican stronghold of Bedford, New Hampshire, when it came right down to it, they voted for a person, not for a party.  Sue Mullen

And then in New Hampshire, weve had a lot going on. The House leadership in New Hampshire, which was Republican, proposed a bill to establish what they called an educational savings account, but in reality it was an opportunity for parents who did not send their children to public school to be rebated the amount of money that the state was contributing to each childs education. Of course, that takes the money out of the public school budget. That was a huge issue for me. I want to do everything I can to make sure that public schools arent being shortchanged by shortsighted decision-making. Theres also the opioid crisis. New Hampshire has the second-worst problem with opioidsI think were second to West Virginia. Weve got to be looking at coordinated efforts between medicine and mental health to provide services for people who not only are addicted but to their families and also to develop prevention programs.

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How many volunteers did you have?

Hundreds. I raised over $18,000 from 200-plus contributors. I spent a considerable amount on the campaign, because its super costly to get signs printed. We had somewhere between 250 and 300 signs up on peoples lawns. And I did two townwide mailers, postcards that went into every single home in town. The truth is, I sent out one mailer to family and friends in January indicating that I was going to run and asking them to donate. And I never again asked for any money. I never again brought it up at a meet-and-greet. People just responded to that one mailer, which was super helpful, because once I had that money, then I could really go at it aggressively in terms of marketingyou know, branding myself to the town.

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What was election night like for you?

We had let people know that we were going to Chen Yang Li. Do you know where Chen Yang Li is?

Hell yes, favorite restaurant in Bedford!

Right, so Kimmy Chung, who owns Chen Yang Li, is a friend of mine. So my family and workers went to Chen Yang Li, and by 8:15, I knew that I had won it. I was interviewed by BCTV, Bedford Community Television. And when I walked into that restaurant, the crowd exploded. There were probably, Im gonna say 85 to 100 people there at Chen Yang Li. It was surreal. But it was incredibly exciting to recognize that even in the Republican stronghold of Bedford, New Hampshire, when it came right down to it, they voted for a person, not for a party. For me and I think for a lot of people like me, its hopeful. Its hopeful that were not all going to become just blind and jaded by the current political climate, that we can still hold onto the hope that people can run on a platform thats based on decency and fellowship, and have people respond to it.

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What kind of time commitment does your new job require?

The official legislative session runs from January to June. You have to be on-site every Wednesday. And depending on the committee work youre doing and the status of the bills that relate to that committee, it could be a day or even two days more per week. And the salary, by the way, is $100 a year, lest you think that Im getting rich on taxpayer dollars. [Laughs.]

Is there something about your experience as a guidance counselor that you think will prepare you to be a legislator?

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When youre a school counselor and youre involved with teachers, parents, and kids, youre sort of juggling the perspectives of those three constituent groups. Problem solving, generally, around issues at school has to do with compromise more than anything else. Making sure that everybody could live with a decision but nobody got everything they wanted at the expense of someone else.

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Was there any part of you that felt you were fighting an uphill battle as a gay woman in a district dominated by members of the party that opposes gay rights?

Oh, certainly. I dont think you can be running for office as a member of a minority group without thinking about whether or not that minority status is going to have a negative impact on you. But I thinkI dont know, Christina, you can probably answer this question more than I can, but because I worked in town for 39 years, I dont think I was perceived as being a gay threat. You know, all those people that are afraid were going to push our personal agenda and somehow or another suck unsuspecting people into the tribe or whatever.

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I do know that there was some chatter about it. Weve got some conservative Christian groups up here. It was kind of veiled criticism. When they were talking about candidates, they would refer to me and my wife, yet they would not refer to other candidates and their spouses. You know what Im saying? There has been some speculation on whether or not that was sort of a conservative alarm bell. But things have evolved and changed in such dramatic ways since I started teaching in Bedford in 1978. I think Bedford reflects the same kind of attitudes as the rest of the country, and that was that my sexual orientation was just not an issue.

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How does your wife feel about being a political spouse?

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She was the first person that I discussed this with, and obviously it had to be a joint decisionbecause she was indefatigable on the campaign trail, was with me at virtually every meet-and-greet and every event that I attended. And she has not stopped telling me how proud she is of me for doing this.

[My wife] Sue and I had a civil union when civil unions became legal in New Hampshire in 2008. We actually had a civil union on Jan. 1 in our dining room with a friend of ours who is a justice of the peace. We didnt have the actual wedding until July. The reason we did that was we were so fearful that something would happen in the New Hampshire Legislature that would reverse the decision, that we felt like we had to jump on it as soon as we could on Jan. 1, 2008. I think its ironic that Ive just been elected to the same body that I was fearful might in fact renege on my civil union, which is now a marriage.
The Trump administration has ramped up the drone war started by the Obama administration, according to new analysis and reporting by the Daily Beast.

The quicker pace of airborne, remote-controlled assaults was driven most immediately by strikes in Yemen, where the U.S. launched 130 drone attacks in 2017, more than a threefold increase, according to the Daily Beast. A large portion of those strikes came in just two months of the year, compared with only 36 strikes in 2018 so far.

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In total, the Trump administration has been responsible for 238 drone strikes in the three centers of the drone war: Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, the Daily Beast reported, citing data from the U.S. military and the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

The military under Trump has been given the green light to engage in more strikes of all kinds against a wider scope of targets, including attacks using droneschanges that have drawn ire from human rights groups who say they will lead and have already led to more civilian casualties. One major change is that the certainty commanders need to authorize an attack has been relaxed from near certainty to reasonable certainty that a suspected terrorist is present at the targeted site.

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The drone strikeswhich sometimes targeted groups only tangentially related to the branch of al-Qaida that organized the Sept. 11, 2001, attackswere some of the most controversial military and intelligence decisions of the Obama era. While the administration largely prided itself on tamping down military entanglement overseas (with some notable exceptions), it also turned overhead drone flights and strikes into a fact of life in some of the most wartorn and unstable countries in the world.

While the Trump administration is torn about the need to ramp up or tamp down on military engagements, the president himself has sometimes been a vocal advocate for doing less but at the same time has been tempted by the seemingly low-risk (to the U.S.) nature of drone strikes. Trump has also been an indulgent supporter of the militarys wish for new hardware and equipment, which extends to armaments for drones.

Under the Trump administration, the Air Force is spending more on the Hellfire missiles used by armed drones, the Daily beast reported. Even as the wars in Iraq and Syria wind down, the Trump administration has sought to purchase more drone missiles. Air Force budget documents show a 63 percent increase in Hellfire purchases in Trumps 2017 budget and another 20 percent increase in the most recent budget request.
Ed Stetzer is grappling with a moral crisis. Stetzer, the director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, is preaching the Gospel to his fellow Christians. And theyre not listening. White evangelicals are highly motivated to support President Donald Trump around the issue of immigration, Stetzer, a Trump critic, wrote in Vox on the morning of the midterms. The next day, after reading exit polls, Stetzer lamented that the presidents scare talk about migrants had proved once again to be a winner with white evangelicals. Id hoped it wouldnt be, Stetzer told NPR. But it was.

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Stetzer and other evangelical leaders are in the business of saving souls. But today, the souls in peril are in their own flock. Nationalism, tribalism, and a corrupt, ruthless Republican president are reviving old demons and summoning new ones. The family values concerns of 10, 20, or 30 years agohomosexuality, premarital sex, women in the militaryhave been overtaken by a different set of moral issues, often derided by the right as social justice. On these emerging issues, white evangelical Protestantsfor simplicitys sake, Ill call them WEPsare, more than any other religious constituency, standing on the wrong side. The problem isnt that theyre imposing their morality on others. The problem is that what theyre imposing isnt morality. Its wickedness.

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This isnt true of all white evangelicals, much less all Christians. It would be false and reckless to condemn all WEPs, just as its false and reckless to condemn all Muslims or Jews. The people doing the best work against perversions of Islam are Muslims, and the people doing the best work against perversions of evangelical Christianity are evangelicals like Stetzer. Ive met some of them through the Faith Angle Forum, a project of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. At a conference last week, I sat with them as we studied surveys of religious voters. Stetzer is right to worry. The numbers are bad.

WEPs are one of Trumps most loyal constituencies. Eighty-one percent of them voted for him in 2016. Thats 20 percentage points higher than Trumps vote share among any other religious group. Its higher than the percentage of WEPs who voted for George W. Bush, John McCain, or Mitt Romney. The wide gap between WEPs and other faith communities in support for Trump persists to this day. Every other group, on balance, views Trump unfavorably. WEPs, by a ratio of 2 to 1, view him favorably.

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Many Americans reject Trump because of his meanness, his misogyny, his ethnic demagoguery, and his squalid and abusive personal behavior. But most WEPs dont. In a September poll for the Public Religion Research Institute, two-thirds of white Catholics and white mainline Protestants agreed that Trump had damaged the dignity of the presidency. Most WEPs said he hadnt. In an ABC News/Washington Post survey taken in August, most whites agreed that Trump was guilty of a crime if it was true that he had directed his then-lawyer Michael Cohen to influence the 2016 election by arranging to pay off two women who said they had affairs with Trump. Trumps core constituency, white men without a college degree, also agreed. But most WEPs didnt.

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To accommodate Trump, white evangelicals have retreated from moral judgment of him.

In 2011, a PRRI survey asked whether an elected official who commits an immoral act in their personal life can still behave ethically and fulfill their duties in their public and professional life. At that point, two years into Barack Obamas presidency, only 30 percent of WEPs said yes. But in October 2016, after the release of Trumps infamous Access Hollywood tape, 72 percent of WEPs said yes. The reversal among WEPs was twice as big as similar shifts among Catholics and white mainline Protestants. In a May poll commissioned by the Billy Graham Center, nearly half of black evangelicals said personal character had influenced their voting decisions in the 2016 presidential election. Fewer than 30 percent of white evangelicals said the same.

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Many white evangelicals see their religion not as a universal calling but as a heritage that sets them apart.

Many WEPs havent just surrendered moral judgment. Theyve abdicated social responsibility. Compared with other whites, theyre more resistant to federal spending on poor people. The charitable explanation for this gap is that white evangelicals are skeptical about federal spending, not about helping the poor. But even when survey questions focus on help, not on spending, theyre unmoved. The BGC poll asked respondents to choose, from a list of 12 issues and traits, which was most important in determining how they voted in 2016. Among black and Hispanic evangelicals, a candidates ability to help those in need was the second or third most commonly named factor. Among white evangelicals, it ranked almost dead last.

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WEPs are also reluctant to acknowledge racism. The September PRRI poll asked whether recent police shootings of black men were isolated incidents or part of a broader pattern of how police treat African Americans. Seventy-one percent of WEPs said such killings were isolated incidents, compared with 63 percent of white Catholics and 59 percent of white mainline Protestants. In the BGC survey, 59 percent of non-evangelical whites agreed with the statement, I am disturbed by comments President Trump has made about minorities. But a plurality of white evangelicals disagreed with it.

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Trumps connection with WEPs on racial issues goes deeper than indifference. Its based on shared identity. In the words of Christian essayist Michael Gerson, evangelicals have degenerated into an anxious minority, defining themselves as an interest group in need of protection and preferences. Stetzer, based on his analysis of survey data, finds that race and ethnicity, not faith, are driving much of this process. Many white evangelicals see their religion not as a universal calling but as a heritage that sets them apart. They fear people of other creeds, colors, and languages.

The conventional explanation for Trumps support among WEPs is that they like what he gives them on social policy: conservative judges, opposition to abortion, and a bulwark against transgender rights. But that doesnt explain why theyve supported Trump more than they supported Bush, McCain, or Romney. If anything, youd expect them to support Trump less, given his history of accepting gays and abortion rights.

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The mystery dissolves when you look more closely at their priorities. In the BGC survey, when white evangelicals were asked to name all the factors that influenced their votes in 2016, fewer than half mentioned abortion or the Supreme Court. Their top issues were the economy, health care, national security, and immigration. The biggest gap between pro-Trump evangelicals and other evangelicals, when they were pressed to name the most important voting issue, was on immigration. That issue was more important to Trump supporters in the BGC survey, and its a big winner for Trump among WEPs in other polls. White evangelicals overwhelmingly back more hardline positions on immigration, with three-fourths wanting a reduction in legal immigration, Stetzer reports.

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The enthusiasm for Trumps hard line on immigration isnt just about terrorism or enforcing laws. Its about fear of immigrants per se. In the Pew Research Centers 2014 Religious Landscape Study, non-evangelical Republicans and Republican leaners said, by a margin of 35 percentage points, that a growing population of immigrants was a change for the worse, not for the better. Among Republicans who identified themselves as evangelical or born-again, the margin rose to 48 points. In a survey taken after the 2016 election, 50 percent of white evangelicals, compared with 33 percent of white non-evangelicals, agreed that immigrants hurt the economy. The 2018 PRRI survey asked whether the growing number of newcomers from other countries  strengthens American society or threatens traditional American customs and values. Only one religious group said the newcomers were a threat. You guessed it: WEPs.

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Muslims, in particular, are a target of white evangelical suspicion. In a February 2017 Pew survey, WEPs were more likely than white Catholics or white mainline Protestants to worry about Islamic violence in the United States. Most WEPs, unlike members of other religious groups, said they believed that among U.S. Muslims, there was a great deal or a fair amount of support for extremism. Fifty percent of white Catholics and white mainline Protestants endorsed Trumps executive order to prevent people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. Among WEPs, 76 percent endorsed it. The 2018 PRRI poll found a similar discrepancy.

Initially, when Stetzer diagnosed race and ethnicity as sources of the white evangelical backlash against immigration, he was talking about gaps between white and nonwhite evangelicals on poll questions that were open to interpretation. But PRRI, in its 2018 survey, proved that race and ethnicity were factors. The survey informed respondents that by 2045, African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and other mixed racial and ethnic groups will together be a majority of the population. Then came the query: Do you think the likely impact of this coming demographic change will be mostly positive or mostly negative? After listening to this question, most white Catholics and most white mainline Protestants said the change would be positive. Most WEPs said it would be negative. A PRRI/Atlantic poll taken in June found the same result.

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In his warning on Election Day, Stetzer faced the bitter truth: It is hard not to conclude that far too many white evangelicals are motivated by racial anxiety and xenophobia.

Trump has signaled, through references to Norway, Haiti, and Africa, that he wants to let more whites and fewer nonwhites into the United States. He has advocated political violence and war crimes, and he has tried to consolidate power by firing or attempting to fire officials who investigate him. As he works to corrupt the country, theres reason to worry that WEPs will stick with him. The BGC survey offered respondents this statement: When a political leader is making important decisions I support, I should also support the leader when they say or do things I disagree with. Non-evangelical whites overwhelmingly rejected the statement, but a plurality of white evangelicals endorsed it. In the September PRRI survey, 19 percent of white Catholics and 22 percent of white mainline Protestants said there was nothing Trump could do to lose their support. Among WEPs, the number was 25 percent.

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Trump has already proved, by breaking up immigrant families explicitly to frighten other families, that more than a third of WEPs will stand with him, and others will stay neutral, as he attacks basic values. In a PRRI poll taken in June, 74 percent of Catholics and 60 percent of white mainline Protestants said they opposed an immigration border policy that separates children from their parents and charges parents as criminals when they enter the country without permission. Only 51 percent of WEPs said they opposed that policy; 36 percent supported it.

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Some analysts are skeptical that Trump has a particular hold on WEPs. At the Faith Angle Forum, Alan Cooperman, the director of religion research at the Pew Research Center, argued that what attracts white evangelicals to Trump is their Republican partisanship, not their faith. Thats a good point, and a lot of data support it. But in some ways, its a restatement of the problem. Christianity says you should love the stranger, respect families, honor your wife, and treat all people as children of God. WEPs, more than any other constituency, are choosing to ignore those values at the ballot box.

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I take two lessons from these studies of white evangelicals. One is that the Christian right, as represented by Trump apologists, has betrayed Christianity. Trump presents a new, or in some cases newly revived, set of moral issues. Theft, open bigotry, race-baiting, explicit discrimination, boastful misogyny, sexual abuse of minors, the promotion of political violence, and the deliberate killing of innocent people are now on the table. Jerry Falwell Jr., Robert Jeffress, Franklin Graham, and others who stand with Trump in these fights should no longer be taken seriously as spokesmen for a faith. Theyre purveyors of evil.

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The other lesson is not to condemn all evangelicals. Like other faith communities, they have moral sickness in their ranks, and theyre working to heal it. For every Falwell, theres a Stetzer, a Gerson, a Michael Cromartie. Evangelicals specialize in reflection, reform, and revival. Theres nothing wrong with evangelicalism that cant be cured by whats right with it.

The first step is to puncture the racial bubble around WEPs. Thats what Stetzer learned in his research: Perspectives that white evangelicals need to hear can be found in evangelicals of other colors. White evangelicals would do well to turn off cable news and listen to their sisters and brothers in the increasingly diverse pews of evangelical churches, Stetzer wrote in his Election Day message. By connecting with others who look different but share a common faith, white evangelicals will learn to reject Trumps message that our love for others is conditioned by country, race, or ethnicity. They will come to see this culture of fear of others for what it is: un-Christian.
But Krajan said he was pleased to be proved wrong as Coric delivered a near-perfect display on the claycourt constructed inside the cavernous Stade Pierre Mauroy.

Meanwhile, Coric's compatriot Marin Cilic was expected to claim Croatia's second point in the next match against French player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

He played out the rest of the contest, but Cilic clinched the victory with an overhead victor on match point.

No amount cajoling from Noah or the blue-clad fans could help former world number five Tsonga fend off the giant Croat.

"I am able to play all three days". Playing in his first Davis Cup final, Chardy was demolished by Coric. Find us on Facebook too!

A glimmer of hope remains with Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who reached the final at the ATP Finals last week, favoured against Mate Pavic and Ivan Dodig.

Victory for Croatia would give them their final Davis Cup crown since 2005, in the final staging of the historic team competition before a controversial change of format comes into place next year.

With the French missing their three highest-ranked players  Richard Gasquet pulled out injured while Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon were overlooked  Noah made a decision to open with Chardy instead of Lucas Pouille, who clinched the 2017 final.

Coric played in the first singles match against Chardy on the French clay - a surface chosen by the hosts in the hope it gives them an advantage. Again Noah got in Chardy's ear but to no avail as Coric returned to finish the job.

He broke serve after an 11-minute opening game in which Chardy led 40-0 and won 15 points in a row on his way to taking the first set in emphatic fashion.

"I didn't expect to be so tense after so many Davis Cup matches", the 31-year-old said of his 6-2 7-5 6-4 loss.

Earlier, the 12th-ranked Coric was flawless and Chardy was powerless to counter his deep groundstrokes in the first set, dropping 14 consecutive points at one point to trail 4-0. With the home crowd noisily cheering Chardy, Coric held his nerve and his serve to take the set 7-5.
At least 31 people in Uganda have died after a party boat in poor condition capsized on Saturday in Lake Victoria. Authorities are still searching the lake for more victims and the death toll is expected to rise.

According to the Associated Press, there were thought to be around 100 revelersthough some have said the number was closer to 120on a boat meant to hold half the number of people. The owners of the boat, who also died in the accident, according to the Washington Post, did not have a license to operate the boat. The unsteady and overloaded boat was met by rough weather and overturned around 7 p.m. Many of the partygoers were not wearing life jackets.

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At least 27 people were rescued overnight on Saturday. Several locals attempted to rescue people in fishing boats, and two of the boats also became overcrowded and sank, according to the BBC. At least one man who braved the waters to rescue victims drowned, the AP reported.

A Ugandan recording artist and a prince, the brother of the king of Buganda, Ugandas largest traditional kingdom, were among those who died, according to the BBC.

In September, a ferry carrying hundreds of people in Lake Victoria capsized on the Tanzanian side of the lake, killing more than 200 people. After Saturdays tragedy, Ugandas president is calling for more thorough safety regulations for vessels on the lake.
Unchristian: White evangelical Protestants, Will Saletan writes, are contorting themselves and their values, particularly on immigration, race, and poverty, to support politicians like Trump. Saletan digs into the polling data to see where things went wrong.

Roll on, Mississippi: Tuesday is the runoff election between Mississippi Senate candidates Cindy Hyde-Smith and Mike Espyand its closer than expected. The state hasnt elected a Democrat (in this race, Espy) to the Senate in three decades, but things arent looking great for Hyde-Smith following a series of racist, Confederacy-embracing comments. Josh Voorhees breaks down how this election could look a lot like last years attention-grabbing Alabama Senate race between Doug Jones and Roy Moore.

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They voted for a person, not for a party: Christina Cauterucci sat down with her middle school guidance counselor, Sue Mullen, who just became the first Democratic state rep elected in Bedford, New Hampshire, since 1934. How was this political newcomer able to flip such an extremely Republican town?

Workers united: Recent employee walkouts at companies like Google and Facebook have caused both companies to rethink their policies on forced arbitration, allowing their staffers to litigate sexual harassment claims in court instead of within company boundaries. Luke Norris says this is an example that should be taken up by workers across the country in standing up for their labor rights.

For fun: What message is Melania Trump sending with her red Christmas trees of death?

Casting menacing shadows,

Abby
On the day before Thanksgiving, Facebook published a blog post in which COO Sheryl Sandberg and outgoing head of communications Elliot Schrage admitted to lapses in their work with a Republican opposition research firm called Definers. The New York Times had reported in a bombshell investigation the week before that the company hired Definers to create media narratives linking anti-Facebook protestors to liberal billionaire George Soros and criticizing competitors for unsavory business practices. Facebook severed its ties with Definers after the story, but the company pushed back on the investigation by arguing that it contained a number of inaccuracies.

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The company is now confirming that much of what the Times reported is true, at least when it comes to Definers. In the post, Schrage disclosed that he had decided to hire Definers and was partially directing its efforts on behalf of the company. Some of this work is being characterized as opposition research, but I believe it would be irresponsible and unprofessional for us not to understand the backgrounds and potential conflicts of interest of our critics, Schrage wrote. This work can be used internally to inform our messaging and where appropriate it can be shared with reporters. In the immediate aftermath of the Times article, Sandberg and CEO Mark Zuckerberg both claimed that they didnt know that Facebook had hired Definers. Zuckerberg further sought to distance Facebook from Definers by labeling it as a typical D.C.-type firm and implying that he did not approve of its tactics. However, Schrage asserted in his post, Mark has asked us to reevaluate how we work with communications consultants. Its not about Definers. It is about us, not them.

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Schrage, who had announced his departure in June, also admitted that Facebooks communications team had in fact asked Definers to do work on George Soros, a common target of anti-Semitic attacks from the far right. The Times had reported that Definers pressed journalists to look into financial connections between the Soros family and Freedom from Facebook, an advocacy coalition that has called for the government to break up the social network. Schrage claimed that Facebook asked Definers to look into the liberal billionaire in reaction to a speech he gave at Davos in which he called the company a menace to society. He also noted that the communications team also asked Definers to look into Freedom from Facebooks funding in an attempt to prove that the coalition was not simply a spontaneous grassroots movement.

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Schrage finally hinted that he was unhappy with how Facebooks communications team had been scapegoated in the aftermath of the Times piece. Many people on the Communications team feel under attack from the press and even from their colleagues, he wrote. Im deeply disappointed that so much internal discussion and finger pointing has become public. This is a serious threat to our culture and ability to work together in difficult times.

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Sandberg appended a short note at the bottom of Schrages post in which she also vouched for the communications team and took responsibility for its work with PR firms, writing, I truly believe we have a world class Comms team and I want to acknowledge the enormous pressure the team has faced over the past year.

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Sandberg additionally elaborated on the extent to which she knew of Definerss work. The day after the Times published its investigation, Sandberg wrote in a Facebook post, I did not know we hired [Definers] or about the work they were doing, but I should have. In the Thanksgiving-eve blog post, however, Sandberg clarified that she did not remember working with Definers, but that some of its materials had crossed her desk. Some of their work was incorporated into materials presented to me and I received a small number of emails where Definers was referenced, she disclosed.

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Sandberg also emphasized that the Facebook-directed work on Soros was not meant to be anti-Semitic. Being Jewish is a core part of who I am and our company stands firmly against hate, she wrote. The idea that our work has been interpreted as anti-Semitic is abhorrent to meand deeply personal.

Companies and politicians often release potentially damaging news during the holidays, when journalists and their audiences are likely to be distracted. On Friday, for example, the Trump administration released a report detailing how climate change will cost the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming decades.
There are about 800 electric vehicles in Slovakia.

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One cleantech solution involves the development and use of low-emission vehicles (LEVs), including electric and plug-in hybrid cars.

Some Slovak-based firms are considering the concepts of LEVs, but the development of these vehicles is a domain of large manufacturers like Volkswagen, said Radoslav Mizera, partner at Solved  The Cleantech Company, a Finnish-Slovak cleantech advisory service.

Nevertheless, the interest in using these cars is going up in Slovakia, albeit slowly, according to Aaron Fishbone from the GreenWay Infrastructure company, which operates 113 electric charging stations in Slovakia and Poland.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are more expensive than traditional cars with internal combustion engines (ICEs), including gasoline and diesel, he said. There are not many models to choose from in Slovakia.

There are only a few for sale here, such as the Nissan LEAF, Volkswagen eUP, Hyundai Ioniq and BMW i3, Fishbone told The Slovak Spectator.

Read also:

Read also: The rise of clean technologies in Slovakia Read more

The availability and endurance of such cars is growing and prices are falling, according to Fishbone. Air pollution is worsening and regulations are getting tighter, so the push for low emission vehicles is strong and will continue.

The trends are positive, especially considering what is going on around us in the rest of Europe, Fishbone said.

About one half of companies

By now, there are about 800 EVs in Slovakia, according to the statistics of Greenway Infrastructure. While the company has around 1,000 customers, slightly less than half of them are firms.
Some areas have revived on their own.

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It was the end of November 2004 when a devastating gale swept through the High Tatras, destroying 12,000 hectares of forest and claiming one human life, Spis Korzar reported.

The calamity was linked to the transition of a cold front that brought hurricane-force arctic winds to the Slovak area. The mountain storm named Alzbeta left an indelible imprint on the countryside of the Tatras that is still visible 14 years later.

The wind at Lomnicky peak reached a speed of 170 kilometres per hour, at Skalnate Pleso mountain lake it was 200 kilometres per hour. The Strong winds left a 50-kilometre long zone of uprooted trees, damaged through-ways, railways and houses at the southern part of the Tatras. In a few hours the Tatra forest, recognized by generations, was destroyed.

Nor were other gales avoided in the following years. For example, the one in May 2014 hit Horehronie, Orava and the Tatras where 100,000 trees fell.

Calamity provoked quarrel

More than the calamity resonated in the media, as a quarrel between state organizations, foresters and representatives of environmental associations broke out. Slovaks saw in practice that even though the area is part of a national park, this does not exclude human intervention.

Two groups of people faced off. The foresters and the owners of the forest talked about the necessity to harvest the wood after the calamity to avoid the spread of bark beetle, prevent wildfire and last but not least to sell the wood.

The other side, consisting of environmentalists, claimed that humans should not intervene. They wanted to leave the wood in the national park and let nature do its thing.

Clear rules are missing

The so-called zonation of the Tatra national park, to set clear boundaries where human activities are allowed, has not been introduced yet.

The Environment Ministry claims a lack of money to compensate the economic loss of private owners of the soil and forests, prevents the completion of the zonation. The state company Lesy Slovenskej republiky (Forests of Slovakia) has a clear mission statement even after 14 years: it wants to harvest everywhere there is some forest left.

The visiting order of the TANAP has been invalid for 15 years now, as the law has changed. This document should state what human activities are allowed and where.

After agreements, a large proportion of the fallen trees was harvested but also non-intervention zones were set aside for natural renewal. Foresters, however, still said that the green activists and the bark beetles would destroy three times more trees than any storm.

Environmentalists, on the other hand, consider the catastrophic scenarios presented by the foresters, detailing the liquidation of healthy Tatra forests, to be a pretext for another intensive harvest. Bark beetles belong to a natural process that nature will regulate on its own, according to environmentalists.

Proof can be found in the Ticha and Koprova valleys that are home for unique biotopes despite the bark beetle. Research carried out by the State protection of nature SR and scientists from the Institute of Forest Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences proves this.

Their research showed that spruce necrosis was confirmed in a non-intervention zone in only nine out of 117 cases. In fact, it is more likely that a bark beetle infestation will spread from areas where there has been human intervention.
This is partly due to demographic and macroeconomic factors, say analysts.

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Slovak households are increasing their debts at the quickest pace in the whole European Union, and the second quickest among the central and eastern European countries.

This is partly due to strong demographic and macro economic factors, such as the increase in the population of 30-year-olds and the dynamics of income that surpasses GDP growth, as stems from the analysis issued by the Institute for Finance Policy (IFP), running under the auspices of the Finance Ministry.

However, part of the debt growth remains unexplained. If this trend continues, it may start accumulating risks which the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS), the countrys central bank, is already trying to reduce through regulation.

From the point of public policy, the more developed market with subsidised rental housing might also contribute to mitigating any potential imbalances, the analysis reads. Shorter processes in building proceedings would also help reduce the price shocks generated by the late response of new construction to the demand for flats.

The reasons for increase in debts

Back in 2016, the total debt of Slovak households amounted to 40 percent of GDP, which is the second highest share in the CEE countries, after Estonia. Ten years ago, the share was one half lower and was the lowest in the EU.

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This is why several national and foreign institutions have started to describe the indebtedness of Slovak households as a potential risk if the current trend doesnt slow down, the IFP analysis reads.

Although the international comparisons suggest that the change has been caused mostly by the burst of a pre-crisis bubble in some countries of the region and the increase in debt is driven by home loans with relatively low risk of the lack of ability to repay them, the concerns might by justified. The expected increase in non-repaid loans during the crises has a higher impact on economies with high indebtedness and can deepen its negative effects, IFP analysts said.

Young people have impact too

Meanwhile, the steep increase in debt is partly driven by the younger generation seeking their own housing, as well as positive macroeconomic development, particularly the difference between the increase in salaries and GDP growth.

Slovakia currently has the highest share of young people of an age when they seek their own housing in the EU. It also belongs among the countries where young people still live with their parents, which often results in overcrowded households where one person has only 1.1 rooms.

Although the share of 30-year-olds has been decreasing in past years, the strong demand for properties is probably still driven by 40-year-olds. However, this still does not explain the unbalanced increase in debts, the analysis reads.

NBS regulations have a reason

The most important factor impacting the dynamics of the increase in debt is the excess of compensations over GDP. Compared with the unemployment rate, it better mirrors the purchasing power of people. Households still make decisions based on the expectations from their incomes that might grow quicker than GDP.

As a result, even the balanced debt of households might surpass the GDP dynamics, the IFP analysis reads.

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At the moment, the unbalanced increase in household debt is only slightly reflected in property process, mostly due to the NBS regulations and the stagnating prices of family houses. The increase in property prices culminated in the first quarter of 2017, when it amounted to 7.6 percent, mostly due to the late response to the demand for flats.

Since the beginning of this year, the dynamics of price increase has been slowing down as a response to the equalisation of supply and demand, partly in connection to NBS measures that came into force on January 1, 2017.

Also the fact that we aren't witnessing strong speculation of investment demand for flats, as before the crisis, helps the situation, the analysis reads.
Lawyers will determine if Slovakia's presence in Marrakesh would show support for this.

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Slovakia has officially joined the countries who oppose the global migration pact, also known as the Marrakesh Pact.

Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini confirmed this in front of journalists in Brussels on Sunday, following the EU summit about Brexit.

Slovakia has a problem with the way the UN pact has been worded and the way it has been drafted, Pellegrini said as quoted by the Sme daily.

"As the prime minister, I reject the wording of the compact on migration and I reject its validity in Slovakia," he said.

Slovakia will not sign the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and might not even send its representative to Marrakesh on December 10. Upon Pellegrini's request, lawyers will analyse whether Slovakia's presence at the meeting would be a sign of support for the document, and if so, the government will opt to stay out of it.

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Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko was the first to mention last week that Slovakia should not even attend the Marrakesh meeting. Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak then said he considered this absurd.

Will Lajcak go?

The government's stance towards the migration pact might cause a quake in the Slovak government.

Lajcak, who wrapped up his term as the UN General Assembly president in September 2018, has been defending the pact that Smer and the SNS have rejected. He threatened he will leave his post if Slovakia refuses to sign the document.

Pellegrini told journalists on November 23 that he had spoken with Lajcak, and noted that it would be a shame for Slovakia to lose such a good minister now that the country has the presidencies of the OSCE, OECD and the V4 coming up.

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"I trust that as the prime minister I will manage to persuade the minister to reconcile himself with the government's decision and elevate his service to the Slovak Republic above his personal opinions," Pellegrini said as quoted by Sme.

Lajcak has not reacted so far.

Economic migration is harmful

Several countries around the world, including the US and Australia, have refused to join the pact that was passed in July. All the countries of the Visegrad Group, as well as Austria, can now be included.

"Slovakia does not believe that there is no difference between legal and illegal migration," Pellegrini said. "We consider economic migration illegal, harmful, and a security risk."

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Read also: New rules for employing immigrants to be adopted Read more

At the same time, amid the discussions about the pact, the Slovak government passed draft legislation on November 20 to ease the rules for employing foreigners in the country, with Pellegrini saying that the situation with the lack of labour force was urgent and thus he will ask the parliament to pass the new rules in a short-tracked legislative process. As of January, it should be easier for foreigners to be hired in Slovakia.
Steps leading to the escalation of tension in the annexed Crimea undermine the security and stability in the wider region, Foreign Ministry stated.

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Russia tried to block the Kerch Strait on November 25 by positioning a ship under the bridge. (Source: AP/TASR)

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Slovakia's Foreign Ministry has called on Russia and Ukraine to avoid a further escalation of tension in its official reaction to the situation in the Sea of Azov and in the Kerch Strait, where Russia shot at and seized three Ukrainian boats on the morning of November 26.

"Steps leading to the escalation of tension in the annexed Crimea, in the Azov and Black seas, violate the sovereignty of Ukraine and undermine security and stability in the wider region," the ministry stated and expressed "serious concerns" over the rise in tensions.

Slovakia supports the sovereignty of Ukraine

Slovakia does not recognise the annexation of Crimea and supports the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity within internationally recognised borders.

"We, therefore, call on the Russian Federation to allow free access through the Kerch Strait and to the Ukrainian ports on the banks of the Sea of Azov in line with international law," reads the statement released by the ministry on November 26.

The ministry stressed that Slovakia is due to take over the OSCE presidency come January and the situation in Ukraine will be one of the presidency's priorities.

Kiska and Pellegrini are concerned

President Andrej Kiska considers the increasing tensions in the annexed Crimea and in the Sea of Azov unacceptable, according to his spokesperson Roman Krpelan.

PM Peter Pellegrini wrote on Facebook that he has been concerned about the information coming from Kiev, such as that about martial law, not just as part of the international community but also as a direct neighbour of Ukraine.

"This is not good news," Pellegrini wrote and expressed a wish that the situation would calm down.

"Nobody wants an armed conflict and it is necessary to do everything on the diplomatic level to preserve peace in Europe," Pellegrini wrote.

A new dimension to the war in Ukraine

Of the ruling coalition parties, only Most-Hid reacted through its state secretary (deputy minister) at the Defence Ministry, Robert Ondrejcsak, who in his Facebook status earlier in the day accused Russia of dramatically escalating the conflict with Ukraine, following the illegal annexation of Crimea and military operations in the east of Ukraine.

"The war thus acquired a new dimension," Ondrejcsak wrote and added that he hopes this will "wake to reality" the people who "still dream of the eternal friendship with Moscow or about building 'bridges' between east and west".

Ondrejcsak has repeatedly clashed with the nominees of the ruling Slovak National Party (SNS) that controls the ministry based on the Coalition Agreement. The SNS leader, Parliament Speaker Andrej Danko, has repeatedly met with Russian representatives and advocated lifting Russian sanctions.

In the wake of the recent incident, only SNS MP Jaroslav Paska has reacted so far, labelling it an "unpleasant event", as quoted by the TASR newswire. He stressed that an independent investigation should show whether it was intentional on either side.

We stand by Ukraine

Most-Hid's Katarina Csefalvayova, who heads the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, also labelled the incident in the Sea of Azov as another act of Russian aggression and stressed that Slovakia, the EU, and the international community need to stand by Ukraine.

"Escalation of tension is sad news for the global community," she said as quoted by TASR.

Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) stated through its MP in the foreign affairs committee, Martin Klus, that Russia has no right to prevent the access of Ukrainian ships to the Sea of Azov shores and ports. He called for observation of the Minsk Agreements, TASR reported.

It could happen to any country

Slovak analyst Alexander Duleba from the Slovak Foreign Policy Association (SFPA) think tank believes that the situation is a Russian attempt to show that they control the Sea of Azov despite the 2003 agreement that says that all ships flying the colours of Ukraine and Russia can move in the waters of the sea freely.

"It is a clear violation of this agreement," Duleba told the Sme daily and explained that, in his opinion, Russia is trying to limit the strategic importance of Mariupol and close the sea to commerce.

Duleba expects stricter and wider sanctions against Russia as a response from western countries.

"If we do not agree with one country taking over the territory of another - which could happen to Slovakia too - and we do not agree with the annexation of Crimea, we need to respond with measures," Duleba said.
You can still enjoy the atmosphere through the pictures.

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The traditional Charity Christmas Bazaar organised by the expat and diplomatic community in Slovakia, took place in Bratislavas Old Market Hall for 27th time.

In the past 26 years, the International Womens Club of Bratislava (IWCB) Charity Christmas Bazaar has raised over 1 million, helping hundreds of charities across the country, as IWCB informed on its website.

The Christmas Bazaar provides a unique opportunity for countries to introduce themselves to the local community through vibrant and informative stalls. The event comes alive with colourful national costumes, a vast array of international products, delicious flavours, enticing scents and a spectacular display of flags.
In 2015, a former spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee called for an investigation into the Nasa moon landings.

Russian Federation said it will use a planned trip to the moon to "verify" whether the United States had ever actually landed there, settling once and for all the conspiracy theories regarding the 1969 moon landing.

Rogozin was answering the question in question whether NASA had actually gone to the moon some 50 years ago.

Responding to a question, Rogozin said that the task was to fly to check if they were there.

While it is widely believed that the 1969 Apollo 11 mission did successfully deliver the first people to the Moon, many still claim that the famous moon landing was faked.

In a Moscow Times translation of the Op-Ed, Markin claimed that an global probe could explain the disappearance of film footage from the original moon landing in 1969 and the whereabouts of lunar rock that has been brought back to Earth.

The Soviet Union abandoned its own lunar programme in the mid-1970s after four experimental moon rockets exploded.

A total of 12 American astronauts walked on the moon, conducting scientific research and studying the lunar surface.

Rogozin made the statement when asked about the conspiracy theory that claims that the United States never actually landed on the moon.
Slovakia moved up in the evaluation of tax payment systems.

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Slovakia took 48th place in the ranking for Paying Taxes 2019. It moved up by one position in comparison with last year, the TASR newswire reported.

The 10th highest tax burden within the EU and the European Free Trade Association countries negatively influenced Slovakias position in the ranking. Slovakia also lost its position as leader among the Visegrad Group (V4) countries. It was replaced by the Czech Republic which moved from 53rd to 45th position thanks to the shortening of the time it takes to fulfil tax liability there and a slight lowering of the tax and levy burden.

Slovakia improved its position by lowering the tax and levy burden by 1.9 percent, from 51.6 percent to 49.7 percent. Poland dropped by 18 positions to 69th place and Hungary scored 86th.

The distribution of the tax burden for work and income tax for an ordinary person in Slovakia is very uneven, according to Christiana Serugova, leader of the tax consultancy PwC Slovakia.

Besides the continuous introduction of electronic devices in financial administration, lowering the tax and levy burden and simplifying the tax system would improve the overall tax grade for Slovakia, Serugova opined, as quoted by TASR.

Azerbaijan scored better

Slovakia should take an example from the Baltic countries that are leading the ranking thanks to reforms and electronic systems in financial administration. To compare, while companies in Estonia need 50 hours to fulfil their tax duties, in Slovakia it is 192 hours, even though this is the least amount of time among all V4 countries. Ireland, Denmark and Finland are the most successful countries in the EU, research indicated.

The comparison of our position with countries that scored in better positions thanks to reforms of financial administration and tax systems, such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Macedonia and Moldova, is alarming, Serugova noted, as quoted by TASR.

The ranking monitors the system of paying taxes in 190 countries compared to an example of a model company in home ownership in each country, according to the law valid at the end of 2017.

The ranking of the countries is based on four parameters  the overall tax and levy burden, the total time needed to fulfil tax and levy duties, the number of payments and the post-filing index that reflects processes when submitting tax returns.
Raed al-Faris was a prominent activist who founded Fresh Radio and was well known for the posters that he produced writes The Syrian Observer.

A calm winter night was shattered by the sound of bullets in the eastern district of the city Kafranbel in the southern Idleb countryside.

Minutes later, the shocking news spread among residents, They killed Raed  they killed Raed and Hammoud. Two hours later, the activist Raed al-Faris, who had been known as Kafranbels poster engineer and the founder of Fresh Radio along with his friend Hammoud Janeed, known as the barrel bombs photographer, were buried in the cemetery of Kafranbels martyrs.

Raed al-Faris was born in 1972 in the city of Kafranbel, which is about 35 kilometers south of the center of Idleb province. When he turned 18, he finished high school and started studying medicine at Aleppo University, before leaving his studies and heading to work in Lebanon, which was common for the residents of Kafranbel.

In the mid-1990s, while moving between the city he loved and Lebanon where he worked, he married and fathered three children. He later settled in Kafranbel, where he worked in the real estate sector, conducting transactions.

When the Syrian revolution began in 2011, he was among the first young men in his city to organize peaceful protests, while the regime was still present in Idlebs cities, including a base in the center of Kafranbel.

The Revolution Years

Raed al-Faris along with a number of his friends kept away from Kafranbel in 2011 and took the village of Jabla and the surrounding villages, near Kafranbelwhich were relatively far from grip of regime security agenciesas a place in which they could spend most days of the week, preparing for the protests which were limited to Friday at that time, until Kafranbel finally fell outside Syrian regime control in the second half of 2012.

Kafranbel began to appear at one of the most important cities in Syria, distinguished by its organized protests, and began to appear as the civilian face of the revolution in Syria, with its posters for which Raed al-Faris was one of the most important minds. The posters were circulated by many Syrian activists opposed to Bashar al-Assads regime and became famous in Western media because some of them directed messages towards the international community in English.

Faris attracted the young men of his area and others from Idleb and other Syrian cities to contribute work to Fresh Radio, which he established in Kafranbel, as well as other activities for which he became prominent. He was known for pushing forward the civilian face of the Syrian revolution at a time when the influence of radical groups was growing in Idleb at the end of 2013 and the beginning of the following yearmost infamously the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (ISIS), which saw the activities of Faris and his friends as a threat to their influence.

As a result of his open and aggressive opposition to extremist groups, Faris was arrested by these groups and was also subjected to an assassination attempt in 2014, which he survived after being severely wounded by a bullet to the chest.

When ISISs influence in Idleb ended in 2014 and while the whole province was subjected to near-daily regime aerial bombardment, with repeated massacres occurring, al-Nusra Front harassed and pursued Faris and a number of his friends, with the last arrest he was subjected to occurring in 2016, along with the Syrian activist Hadi al-Abdullah, when al-Nusra stormed the Fresh Radio headquarters in Kafranbel.

Last Friday in Kafranbel

According to eyewitness accounts and some of his close friends, Faris and his friend Hammoud Janeed were living semi-permanently with others in a building in the eastern district of Kafranbel. The building, which in addition to hosting Fresh Radio, also included the Revolutionary Offices Federation, headed by Faris, and the al-Mantara magazine and the Aish Campaign (Live Campaign) for writing wall murals, and a center for a number of other rights activities and for recreational and educational activities for children.

On Friday afternoon, Nov. 23, 2018, Raed al-Faris left this building with the photographers Hammoud Janeed and Ali Dandoush in a car. Faris was driving and Hammoud sat beside him in the passenger seat, while Dandoush was sitting in back. The three noticed that a silver van was following them.

Raed took the car onto a dirt road in an attempt to mislead the van by taking a road further away from his original destination. The van monitored them from the corner of the road, which they followed east of Kafranbel, and then blocked off the road, before four masked gunmen opened fire with machine guns, emptying their chambers in under a minute and fleeing the area.

Residents who heard the sound of the bullets ran toward the car to find that Janeed had been killed instantly. He had been known as the barrel bomb photographer for his bravery in rushing to the scenes where regime helicopters had dropped barrel bombs and photographing the scene from up close as well as the victims of the bombardments.

Janeeds body was removed and Faris was brought to the Kafranbel hospital, where he breathed his final breaths, after being wounded by a number of bullets including some close to his heart. He died as doctors tried to save his life by transferring blood to his body to make up for the huge amount that he lost from his wounds.

Dandoush survived the attack. He had been sitting in the rear seat of the car, where he lowered his head and hunched into a ball to protect himself from the bullets which were flying toward the car.

Mohamed al-Salloum, a friend of Raed al-Faris, told the newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed in over the past three days Raed had been very cautious in his movementsmore so than beforeand that he had planned to travel to Turkey on Saturday.

Raed died before he could leave. On Friday evening, about two hours after the attack, hundreds of residents and friends of Raed and Hammoud carried their bodies from the Kafranbel hospital to their main mosque, and from there to the eastern district cemetery in Kafranbel, from which Raed had refused to depart, and insisted on staying, despite knowing the dangers, and knowing that they could end his life at any moment.

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.
Attacks in Idleb, returning Syrians from Jordan, airstrikes in Deir ez-Zor and Turkish complaints over US observation posts. Catch up on everything that happened over the weekend.

1. On Saturday, Syrian regime shelling killed three children and two women in rebel-held northern province of Idleb, where Russia and Turkey previously agreed on a buffer zone, a monitoring group said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said shells hit Jarjanaz village which lies on the inner edge of the 15-20 km (9-13 mile) buffer zone. The deal to create the demilitarized zone, running along the contact line between insurgent and government territory staved off an army offensive against Idleb.

2. On Saturday, more Syrians returned via the Nasib Border Crossing to areas that the Syrian army retook earlier this year. Over the past four days, the returnees numbered 400 and crossed using temporary passage tickets that were provided by the Syrian embassy in Jordan, after they lost their official documents, SANA reported. The Head of the Immigration and Passports Center at the Nasib Border Crossing, Mazen Ghandour, told SANA that the Center has offered all the necessary facilitations for the returnees as quickly as possible, upon the directives of the Syrian government, to ease the return of the displaced at all border crossings with neighboring countries.

3. Twenty civilians, including nine children and eight women, were killed Saturday in a new massacre committed by the US-led International Coalition in Deir ez-Zors eastern countryside. Local sources told SANA that warplanes of the US-led International Coalition carried out airstrikes on the al-Souk area in Hajin city.

4. Thousands of people have fled the town of Hajin, as clashes intensified between the Islamic State (ISIS) and US-backed forces in eastern Syria, local activists said Saturday. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have pressed to uproot ISIS militants from their last pockets near the Iraqi border in a major offensive this week, Zaman Al Wasl reported. The radical group has shown stubbornness and has advanced into SDF areas, killing dozens of US-backed fighters.

5. On Saturday, Turkey sharply criticised a US plan to put observation posts in northern Syria designed to help prevent clashes between Turkish forces and Kurdish militias backed by Washington. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted by the state-run news agency Anadolu as saying, We have told our American counterparts about our unease several times. He added that he recently raised the issue with Joe Dunford, the Head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. On Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said that Washington wanted the observation posts along Syrias northern border with Turkey to help minimise tensions between the Turks and Washingtons Kurdish allies in the fight against the Islamic State.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Following reported chemical attacks in residential neighborhoods of Aleppo, 107 civilians were admitted to hospital suffering from asphyxiation writes SANA.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that attacks on residential neighborhoods in Aleppo City by terrorist organizations were a result of some states facilitating access to chemical substances by terrorists, and called for deterrents and punitive measures against states and regimes that support and fund terrorism.

In letters sent to the UN Secretary-General, the Security Councils President and the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Ministry said,On Nov. 24th 2018, armed terrorist groups attacked safe residential neighborhoods in Aleppo city with toxic gases. They targeted the neighborhoods of al-Khalidyia, al-Hamadanyia, al-Shahba, al-Neel Street and Jamayat al-Zahra, with tens of mortar shells filled with chlorine, which led to 107 civilians suffering from suffocation and very dangerous cases of poisoning. Most of the victims were women, children and elderly people. Additionally, public and private properties in the targeted areas were damaged.

This terrorist act comes as a result of facilitating the access to chemical substances for terrorists by some states, with the aim of using them against the Syrian people and accusing the Syrian Government. These scenarios have been prepared in the backrooms of the intelligence services of some states that sponsor terrorism and these performances are carried out by the terrorist White Helmets, who are also involved. The shells were fired from areas where the White Helmets are active and in particular from the southeastern area of al-Braikyiat village in the Aleppo countryside, the Ministry added.

On Saturday evening, residential neighborhoods in Aleppo City were targeted with explosive rocket shells that contained toxic gases.

Director of the Health Directorate in Aleppo, Ziad Haj Taha, said that 50 civilians including children and women suffered from asphyxiation due to the terrorist attack.

He indicated that the number of civilian casualties in the attack is not final and it is expected to rise, adding that the gas used by the terrorists is likely to be the chlorine gas due to the symptoms shown by the hospitalized civilians.

Later, medical sources at al-Razi Hospital and the University Hospital said that 107 civilians suffering from asphyxiation cases of various degrees ranging from light to medium were admitted. Some of them were admitted to the intensive care units.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The US has said that the observation posts are designed to protect the SDF from Turkish attacks, while they engage against Islamic State forces reports Asharq al-Awsat.

The United States of America has begun to establish monitoring points on the Syrian-Turkish border, with the aim of strengthening the US presence in northern Syria and protecting the Kurdish militias from any military operations carried out by Turkey in the region.

Yesterday, the US military began to set up three points in Tel Abiyad and two points in Ain al-Arab (Kobani) on the Turkish border, a Kurdish militia commander told Asharq al-Awsat.

According to the leader, this measure by the US aims to protect the rear of Kurdish militias in their war against the Islamic State (ISIS), especially after Kurdish units in Deir ez-Zor suspended their military operations because of Turkish bombing that targeted their posts.

Washington will establish five observation points spread across Ras al Ain, Amouda and Derbasiya, the commander added.

This comes within the framework of military and diplomatic steps to implement US strategy, which includes the retention of two thousand US soldiers in order to fight ISIS and prevent its return, and to drive Iran out and push for a political solution in Syria, the commander explained.

The commander revealed that a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the International Coalition, who will train 30,000 fighters that will be added to the existing 60,000. The agreement can be extended to the end of 2019.

Turkey had announced that the monitoring point has no significance.

Turkey will not hesitate to take action on the other side of the border to address the risks and threats that could arise, said Turkish Defense Minister Khulosi Akar.

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.
Cases of sexual assault in Syria are on the rise, among both male and females, with the highest numbers in Aleppo reports Damas Post.

The Director of the General Commission of Forensic Medicine in Syria, Zaher Hajou, has revealed that about 363 cases of sexual violence against males and females have been documented across six provinces in the country, adding that Aleppo had the highest figures with 165 cases, while Damascus came in second with 11048 of them in its countryside.

Hajou added, Hama province has recorded 58 cases, occupying the third place, while in Lattakia there were 13, and Suweida there were six, with the same number in Homs. He said that these cases were recorded in the cities and did not include the countrysides.

Hajou told Al-Watan that about 90 percent of cases were not reported because of the fear of residents and issues of shame and honor. He said that recently cases of violence against children had increased, even against some males, in light of the war, although it remained among the lowest rates in the world, in addition to the fact that these crimes are rarely detected.

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.
Activists have taken to social media to protest against the use of masks, following the murder of Raed al-Faris and Hammoud Janeed writes Alsouria Net.

On Saturday, Syrian activists launched a campaign on social media sites against the use of masks in Idleb province, a day after the death of two prominent activists, Raed al-Faris and Hammoud Janeed, by masked men who opened fire on them and fled.

The activists wrote tweets and posts, using the hashtag #remove_masks, calling for a ban on masks in Idleb due to the repeated killings of activists and Syrian opposition commanders by masked men.

Syrians said on social media that members of Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham were the most prominent users of masks in Idleb province. On Friday activists accused the group of killing Faris and Janeed, while there had been no comment as of Saturday evening about the incident.

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.
Officials said Saturday that the couple will move from Kensington Palace in central London to Frogmore Cottage, a house on the grounds of Windsor Estate, early next year.

From what we see, Nottingham Cottage has only two rooms as compared to the ten-room set up at Frogmore on the Windsor estate.

After Kensington Palace confirmed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be moving to Frogmore Cottage, a residence in Berkshire on the Windsor Castle grounds, it seems as though the couple will be making room for the Duchess' mother, Doria Ragland. The statement also clarifies the residence is a special place for the couple, and they are thrilled to call it home.

"Kate and Meghan are very different people".

It was reported the pair were to move into an apartment in the Palace, next door to William and Kate.

Prince Harry is undertaking a short visit to the African nation of Zambia to promote a cause that's dear to the heart of wife Meghan Markle - who was originally scheduled to accompany him, but pulled out at the last minute after advisers told her to stay put.

It came as a shock to everyone when the Kensington Palace announced that recently married Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are shifting homes.

"But there has been a bit of tension between the brothers".

Prince Charles just gave some insight into possible baby names for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's upcoming baby!

Before Harry and Meghan can move into the 10-bedroom cottage, it will need substantial renovations since it's now used housing for staff.

According to reports, the cottage is now undergoing a large refurbishment to transform it from staff accommodation to a family home.

An extensive security upgrade is expected to form part of the upgrade before Meghan and Harry arrive.

But the couple were gifted Frogmore Cottage by the Queen instead.

But they moved back to London in early 2017 to make Kensington Palace their official home.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As onshore and offshore wind energy farms have proliferated globally in recent years, new research led by the University of Colorado Boulder highlights a previously underexplored consequence: a wake effect from upwind wind farms that can reduce the energy production of their downwind neighbors.

The study, undertaken in collaboration with the University of Denver (DU) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), combines legal and economic analysis with atmospheric modeling to demonstrate that wake effectswhich occur when groups of turbines reduce wind speed for up to several miles behind themare measurable and predictable, yet remain largely unaccounted for in current U.S. property law.

The research appears today in the journal Nature Energy.

"The findings highlight the need for coordinated development and awareness of the big picture in order to maximize wind energy generation nationwide," said Julie Lundquist, lead author of the study and an associate professor in CU Boulder's Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC).

Wind energy developers seek out sites with reliable wind resources as well as convenient access to electrical transmission lines, leading to dense turbine deployment in choice areas with little coordination between competitors. Nearly 90 percent of U.S. wind farms are located within 25 miles of another wind farmand often much closer.

Yet much like a homeowner whose once-unimpeded views are blocked by new construction, the study shows that existing wind farms stand to lose valuable energy production if they suddenly find themselves downwind of a new neighbor and its wind- and energy-reducing wake.

Using publicly-available data on monthly energy generation and dominant wind direction, the researchers modeled the wake effect on a pair of West Texas wind farms, using a third as a control. They found that wind speed reductions due to the establishment of the upwind farm reduced generation at the now-downwind farm by 5 percent from 2011-2015, an estimated revenue loss of around $3.7 million.

"Just as upstream water users can knowingly or unknowingly impose additional costs downstream, the same effect is in play here," said Daniel Kaffine, a co-author of the study and a professor in CU Boulder's Department of Economics. "We had a general sense of this interaction before and wanted to explore it further using a mix of social science and atmospheric data."

Kaffine and Lundquist, both fellows in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), noted that Texas made for a good case study because of its current and future stake in wind energy development, as well as historical parallels concerning usage rights for the state's oil and gas resources.

Over a century ago, oil and gas law recognized the "rule of capture," which allows a landowner to capture a neighbor's oil resources by sucking them from an adjacent well. This resulted in poor well-field recoveries and waste, so states intervened to regulate production through well-spacing, pooling and other coordination measures. Similarly, states have developed water law regimes that protect rights for prior users. But current U.S. property law contains no such provisions for wind energy.

"It took oil and gas and water law decades to create these legal regimes," said K.K. DuVivier, a co-author of the study and a professor at DU's Sturm College of Law. "It appears that wind energy has not yet reached a similar stage of maturity. I hope this research will help raise awareness about the extent of the waking problem and educate those seeking a legal remedy."

Turbine wakes have been observed to extend up to 25 miles, potentially spanning multiple state and county jurisdictions and complicating matters even further.

"In the immediate future, some business incentives might change," Kaffine said. "Energy firms might put more emphasis on securing leases upwind to ensure they have enough of a buffer."

But while legal guidance may lag behind, Lundquist emphasized that the team's sophisticated atmospheric science simulations show the wake effect is a highly predictable atmospheric phenomenon that can be modeled and planned for in light of the new data.

"It's encouraging that the wake effects seen in the economic analysis are captured by the atmospheric simulations," said Jessica Tomaszewski, a graduate student in ATOC who co-authored the new study.

"The strongest wakes occur at night, when the atmosphere is stable and wind speeds and directions meet specific criteria," said Lundquist. "Out of the month of wakes simulated, only 28 hours, or less than 4 percent of the time, had wakes in excess of 20 percent of the downwind farm's capacity, suggesting this episodic issue can be predicted and managed."

"Owners and grid managers can use this information to get ahead of the issue. New research at NREL in manipulating wakes might be helpful," said Tomaszewski. "Ultimately, however, better coordination will be necessary to maximize the public benefits of wind energy."

Taking the wake effect into account will be especially crucial for the large number of offshore wind farms currently in development off the U.S. east coast, Lundquist added.

"Offshore wind farms are important, but they are expensive to build and mistakes will be equally expensive," she said.

"This project explores the links among economic, legal, and social issues and the geophysical processes in wind energy production," said Tom Baerwald, program director for the National Science Foundation's Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems program, which funded the research. "These findings advance our understanding of these interactions, and provide guidance for successful development of renewal energy for the future."

The researchers hope to expand their efforts to measure wind farm wake effects by incorporating aircraft measurements as well as capturing data on a more frequent timescale from other sites around the country.

Explore further Making wind farms more efficient

More information: J. K. Lundquist et al, Costs and consequences of wind turbine wake effects arising from uncoordinated wind energy development, Nature Energy (2018). Journal information: Nature Energy J. K. Lundquist et al, Costs and consequences of wind turbine wake effects arising from uncoordinated wind energy development,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41560-018-0281-2
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The European space Agency (ESA) presented a timelapse video of the flight of the space truck "Progress" to the worldwide space station.

Armed with a camera, European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst shot the video while inside the European-built Cupola module.

This extraordinary timelapse shows the launch of a Russian Soyuz rocket that took flight on November 16, 2018 from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The pictures are then played quickly after each other at 8 to 16 times normal speed. As it passes through the atmosphere, you can see the cone-shaped haze it creates in its wake just before separation of the rocket stage from the core.

Progress MS-10 was carrying 5,653 lbs.

The first ISS component was launched November 20, 1998, and the entire structure today boasts nearly a million tons of mass, spreading itself out in low Earth orbit at dimensions comprising some 239 by 356 feet.

The spacecraft delivered food, fuel and supplies, including about 750 kg of propellant, 75 kg of oxygen and air and 440 l of water. After its November 16 launch, it caught up with the orbital outpost to dock two days later. This gives the Soyuz 2 the capability to launch from a fixed platform, whereas the Soyuz-FG has to be physically turned and alighted because of its incapability to do a roll maneuver after liftoff.
This is Canada's third postal strike in two decades.

NDP MPs voted against the motion as a caucus.

"They can still pull a deal off", she said.

Bill C-89 spells out the process for the postal workers to return to the job "without delay" while continuing negotiations with a new, independent mediator-arbitrator.

Canada Post says rotating strikes have created massive backlogs of letters and parcels.

The 79 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are on picket lines in Timmins, South Porcupine, Cochrane and Chapleau.

The lingering news of Canada Post striking has definitely left some residents with sour tastes in their mouths.

The US Postal Service extended contract negotiations with the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), with no disruption to delivery. "Manufactured crisis", read another.

McAlister blamed the rotating mail strikes for a 40 per cent decline in the number of donations its direct mail program has received so far.

CUPW has warned of a legal battle if the federal government passes the back-to-work legislation, calling such a move unconstitutional and noting that a judge ruled as illegal a similar bill introduced in 2011 by the previous Conservative government.

John Cameron is the president of the local branch of CUPW.

With files from the Canadian Press.

In response to this, immediately after the vote on the motion passed, Justice Minister Jody Wilson Raybould stood in the House and tabled a Charter statement on the legislation, outlining her department's argument for why the bill is compliant with the Constitution.

Canada Post workers held one of their rotating strikes in the eastern city of Halifax on November 13, 2018.

"How dare she get up in this place and say she's hopeful they're going to reach a deal when she's been threatening for weeks to legislate those workers back to work and taking away their leverage at the bargaining table?" he said.
Numerous passengers were stuck at Tan Son Nhat International Airport as departing flights were delayed, while arriving planes were not able to land at the Ho Chi Minh City airfield due to heavy and prolonged downpours caused by storm Usagi, which downgraded into a tropical depression on Sunday afternoon.

Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Pacific all announced delays of several flights departing from Tan Son Nhat on Sunday night due to bad weather caused by the ninth tropical storm that hit Vietnam this year.

Dao Thi H. had already completed check-in procedures for her Vietnam Airlines flight VN1266 from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh, the capital of the north-central province of Nghe An, scheduled for departure at 4:20 pm, when she learned that the flight was delayed.

The passenger had to spend the night at the airport until the morning of Monday creeped in, she told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Another Vietnam Airlines passenger, Ho Duc T., also had to sleep at Tan Son Nhat as his Da Nang-bound flight VN140 was delayed from 8:00 pm on Sunday to 6:00 am the following morning.

At the domestic terminal, the departure lounge was filled with passengers, leaving almost no space, while some flyers even had to sit on the ground.

Passengers wait for the departure of their flight at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, on November 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Several passengers were apparently exhausted over the hours-long wait for departure.

They had to open and spread their raincoats and clothes on the floor to take a rest as no flight could take off earlier than 1:00 am Monday.

At the same time, passengers had to queue to change their flight tickets to match with the new departures.

Arriving flights delayed, diverted

Heavy rains also prevented multiple flights from arriving at Tan Son Nhat on time. The planes had to either keep flying around the Ho Chi Minh City airdrome before landing were allowed or land at an alternative airport.

Passengers on Jetstar flight BL555 of from Vinh to Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday night told Tuoi Tre that the airline had announced the flight would take off hours behind schedule due to the heavy rains at Tan Son Nhat.

Many passengers of the delayed flights were worried that they could not be in Ho Chi Minh City on time to attend important events, such as the weekly meeting at their companies.

Passengers take a rest on raincoats at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on November 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Similarly, a flight from the Phu Bai Airport in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to the southern metropolis was also delayed, while the Vietjet flight VJ199 from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City had to divert to Da Nang.

Two Vietjet flights from the northern city of Hai Phong, VJ281 and VJ279, were re-routed to Da Nang and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, respectively, waiting for better weather to turn back to the destined city.

Flight VJ261 from Dong Hoi Airport in the central province of Quang Binh to Ho Chi Minh City changed direction to Da Nang, waiting for better weather to continue the journey.

International flights also failed to land at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport several times on Sunday.

The Malaysia Airlines flight MH766 that left Kuala Lumpur at 5:10 pm was unable to land in the Vietnamese city at 6:05 pm as scheduled. The Airbus A330 eventually had to fly to Bangkok after two failed attempts of landing at Tan Son Nhat.

Passengers wait for the departure of their flight to Tan Son Nhat International Airport at the Vinh Airport in the north-central province of Nghe An, on November 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Similarly, many passengers on the flight TG556 of Thai Airways from Bangkok-based Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Tan Son Nhat said that the aircraft could not land in Ho Chi Minh City after 40 minutes of flying around since the captain announced that they arrived at the airport.

Thu Dung, a resident in Phu Nhuan District and one of the passengers on this flight, told Tuoi Tre that the plane returned to Thailand and would fly back to Ho Chi Minh City on another flight at 8:00 am Monday.

A representative of Tan Son Nhat International Airport said that the flight congestion was unavoidable because of torrential rains that lasted a whole day in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday.

The flights were delayed to ensure flight safety, the representative said.

Not only Tan Son Nhat, the Cam Ranh Airport in Nha Trang and Lien Khuong in Da Lat also denied departure and landing for a number of flights on Sunday due to the storm, according to a representative of Vietjet.

For instance, Vietjet flight VJ779 from Hanoi to Nha Trang had to change direction to land in Da Nang.

Passengers change their flight tickets at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on November 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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The company's main competitor, Ford, said earlier this month that it would reduce its salaried workforce by the second quarter of 2019.

The US$6-billion in savings includes cost reductions of US$4.5 billion and lower capital expenditure annually of nearly US$1.5 billion, GM said.

On Monday morning, dozens of workers were seen walking out of the assembly plant, with some saying they were very unhappy with news of the planned closure.

First, for those who work in the auto industry, I want you to know that today's news has nothing to do with the quality of the work you do.

"It's hard, it's awful?" With plant's history goes back to 1876, when it was known as the McLaughlin Carriage Company, the automobile industry became the Canadian city's calling card much like that of Detroit in the US. "It's a kick in the nuts".

"While the union does not have complete details of the overall announcement we have been informed that, as of now, there is no product allocated to the Oshawa Assembly Plant past December 2019", Unifor said in a statement.

We are also asking the federal government to work with their USA counterparts to remove all tariffs so that impacted auto parts suppliers can remain competitive after the Oshawa Assembly Plant closes its doors.

GM employs about 2,500 union staff in Oshawa which produces both the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac XTS sedans.

As initially reported by CBC News, then Bloomberg, GM will end production at the plant in Oshawa, Ontario.

Along with Oshawa, the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly in Detroit and Lordstown Assembly in Warren, Ohio, the Baltimore Operations in White Marsh, Maryland and Warren Transmission Operations in Warren, Michigan will be left "unallocated". GM says it will allocate future products to fewer plants next year amid "changing customer preferences in the USA and in response to market-related volume declines in cars".

On top of the previously announced closure of the assembly plant in Gunsan, Korea, GM will also cease the operations of two additional plants outside North America by the end of next year.

The closures come as North American automakers feel pressure from US tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

"I talked to the president of GM last night". Ford said in April it planned to stop building almost all cars in North America.

The plans stand to affect 50,000 employees across the US, Canada and Mexico.

According to the company website, that single shift has a workforce of 1,435 hourly employees, as well as 183 salaried employees.

In October, GM offered buyouts to 18,000 white-collar workers as part of a cost-cutting initiative.

GM doesn't foresee an economic downturn and is making the cuts "to get in front of it while the company is strong and while the economy is strong", Barra told reporters.

In July GM said these tariffs, combined with other trade actions, could be "detrimental" to the company.

"Oshawa is building the previous generation trucks that are very helpful in the crossover period..."

The company, she said, has invested in newer architectures for trucks and SUVs so it can cut capital spending while still raising investment in autonomous and electric vehicles. "Oshawa built GM", French added in a tweet.

Amid anxious calls on Twitter for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford to do something save the plant, two local Tory MPs vowed to investigate. GM expects to spend $1 billion on Cruise this year to build the auto of the future.
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Many college students volunteered to take care of patients at a hospital in a major city of Vietnams Mekong Delta, a collective action that those in medical care greeted with gratitude.

Over the past month, more than 200 students from the School of Social Sciences and Humanities under Can Tho University in Can Tho City, took turns in walking in small groups to different areas of a local hospital in the hope of lending a helping hand.

With basic training in medical care, they came to sickbeds, assisting patients in taking medicine, dabbing forehead sweat of those with fever, and engaging them in friendly conversations.

The students also helped patients family members handle procedural documents for medical treatment at the infirmary, the Can Tho Oncology Hospital, which could be very confusing to people first visiting the facility.

A student shows a woman how to fill in a form at the Can Tho Oncology Hospital in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The benefits from the effort were heart-warming to both the receivers and givers.

I was very happy to be helped by the students in recent days, said Tran Van Hoai, a 65-year-old patient.

Their thoughtfulness in helping me take medicine and feeding me has worked a lot for my illness.

One of the students joining the activity, Diep Chi Cuong, said tending patients here gave him valuable experiences about life in general.

However busy I was with schoolwork, I tried to come here to talk with the patients. They are as old as my parents, so I willingly help them whenever possible, said another participant, Pham Hai Dang.

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A retired teacher in Vietnams Mekong Delta has been committed to soliciting donations from the public to have complimentary meals given to the poor for years.

In an early recent morning, Nguyen Van Mot completed his yoga exercise and rode his old Honda Super Cub to the Sa Dec General Hospital in Sa Dec, a city of Dong Thap Province.

The 80-year-old usually comes here to see how food is prepared in the infirmary kitchen and provided to diners.

Years ago, Mot persuaded others to chip in money to begin a service of offering meals gratis to poor patients.

The charitable work then extended help to school children from disadvantaged family backgrounds and latterly to lottery ticket vendors.

You cant do anything with an empty stomach. Thats why Ive tried to maintain the free-meal service to people in hardship, Mot said.

Im happy when theyre full.

Over a thousand servings accompanied by warm drinking water are provided daily to the patients.

More than 600 members from charities inside and outside the province cook food for the hospital-based service, which has been available every day during the past 26 years, even in major national holidays.

Thousands of people who are school children and lottery street sellers have benefited from the second service of the same nature that Mot set up.

Mot tasks himself with seeking donations to the effort while other former teachers handle the cooking.

Everyone here all admires Mots charitable deeds, said Dang Thi Be, one of the cookers.

The elderly man is inclined to make any donation transparent by requiring contributors to sign documents showing the amount of money they have given.

He usually carries in his bag information of the plight of poor students so that he can conveniently show it to anyone willing to help.

Tran Thi Lan Phuong, head of the municipal student assistance society, said Moi is highly dedicated to improving the well-being of underpriviledged members of the community.

His private philanthropy as a retired school teacher is exemplary, Phuong added.

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Police in the north-central province of Quang Binh on Monday launched legal proceedings against a case of a local middle school teacher asking classmates of a student to slap him 230 times for swearing in class.

Police are investigating the case for suspected torturing, said Doan Thanh Tuyen, police chief of Quang Ninh District in Quang Binh, on Monday.

A sixth grader at Duy Ninh Middle School in Quang Binh was hospitalized last week after he was repeatedly slapped in the face by his classmates as a punishment from his teacher for allegedly using foul language in class.

The math teacher, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, asked the whole class to give the student ten slaps each after he was accused of swearing by another classmate.

In total, the boy suffered 230 slaps to his face, with the 231st coming from Thuy herself after he responded to the punishment by saying I hate you, teacher.

Thuy has been suspended from work pending disciplinary action from her school.

The boy was discharged from the hospital with soft-tissue injuries including swollen cheeks and difficulty chewing and opening his mouth.

His family said Thuy had visited and apologized to the student after the incident.

As per the school regulations, any class whose students are found swearing will lose five points in the internal awards system, so Thuy must have acted under pressure, according to the headmistress of Duy Ninh Middle School.

The headmistress has asked for the familys sympathy over the teachers inappropriate way of handling the situation.

According to her students, Thuy had set the rules for the bizarre punishment from the start of the school year and made it clear that whoever violated school regulations would be slapped by their classmates.

Before last weeks incident, other students had also fallen victim to the harsh punishment but none had suffered from as many slaps as the boy did.

Still, Thuy insisted that her punishment is a way of deterring bad behaviors.

Im aware that my method is flawed, but it was due to pressure from the grading system, she said on Sunday.

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Ho Chi Minh City was turned into a giant swamp on Sunday as torrential rains that lasted the whole day flooded streets and houses, immobilizing traffic and giving residents a sleepless night as they battled with the water for survival.

Waist-deep floodwater was reported on multiple key roads in the southern metropolis after over 24 hours of nonstop rain that began on Saturday evening and last well into Monday morning.

Rainfall was at a record level of 234 millimeters as of 8:30 pm on Sunday, as experts forecast that total rainfall can top 300mm with wet weather entering day two in the city.

The flooding situation is even worse in the citys network of hundreds of small alleys, where residents spent the whole Sunday evening and early Monday morning trying to prevent flood water from entering their homes.

Commuters push their scooters through the floodwater in Ho Chi Minh City on November 25, 2018. Video: Tuoi Tre

On various key roads in all districts of Ho Chi Minh City, cars and motorcycles could be seen grappling with the water at 3:00 am on Monday.

Some car drivers gave up trying and abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the road to walk home instead.

Motorbike repair shops stayed open all night on Sunday to provide service to flood-damaged vehicles, as their owners rested under the porch of nearby houses.

A motorbike repair shop in Ho Chi Minh City is busy with customers on November 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A man sleeps sitting under a porch near a motorbike repair shop in Ho Chi Minh City on November 25, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

People who went to work on Sunday became trapped at the workplace and had to spend the night at the office instead of braving the rain and flood water to try and get home.

Those who were already outside in the rain opted to drop by at a friends or relatives house for the night after seeing they could not get any further in the flood.

On Monday morning, a drove of cars could still be seen abandoned on flooded streets in Ho Chi Minh City, as some traffic lights malfunctioned after being submerged underwater for too long.

Cars are abandoned on a flooded street in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Although all students in the city have been given a full day off on Monday, roads were still congested during the morning rush hours as floodwater showed no sign of retreating.

Many office workers were barred from leaving for work on Monday as their residence was still surrounded by water.

Vehicles plough through the floodwater in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Pedestrian walk in flood water in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A motorbike repair shop in Ho Chi Minh City is busy with customers on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Pedestrian walk in flood water in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Commuters push their scooters through the floodwater in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A pedestrian walks in flood water in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A resident builds a barricade to prevent floodwater from entering her house in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A commuter pushes their scooters through the floodwater in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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Officers in the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa have initiated legal proceedings against three men who assaulted a female employee at a local airport last week.

The three suspects are Le Van Nhi, 41, Le Trung Dung, 34, and Pham Huu An, 28, who all reside in Thanh Hoa Province.

They are being investigated for disturbing public order after attacking a female ground service staff of low-cost carrier Vietjet at Tho Xuan Airport, located in the namesake district in Thanh Hoa, on November 23.

At around 2:20 pm that day, Nhi, Dung, and An took their friend to the airdrome, who was scheduled to board a flight to Ho Chi Minh City at 3:05 pm.

The three then asked Le Thi Giang, the Vietjet employee, to take a photo of them.

They went on to invite Giang to join them for a group photo, but the woman refused.

The men started verbally abusing the victim before attacking her.

Footage of the incident

Le Thi Hien, a representative of the airline attempted to interfere and also received a slap in her face and a kick to her abdomen.

Dung also hit two airport security officers.

The attackers were eventually arrested when airport security was reinforced by police from Tho Xuan District.

The Civil Aviation Authorities of Vietnam previously announced they had imposed a 12-month flight ban upon the men.

The ban starts from November 26, 2018 to November 25, 2019.

Flowing the period, they will be put under compulsory visual inspection whenever they use services at Vietnamese airports for another 10 months.

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An 11-year-old Vietnamese boy has become an inspiration to others with his optimism and positive way of thinking despite losing one leg to his bone cancer.

Hailing from the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau, Lu Phu Loc would be just like other sixth graders if his serious health condition had not changed his life completely.

Loc was previously diagnosed with bone cancer and had to have his left leg amputated when he was seven years old, forcing him to drop everything at school.

Locs father helps him tie his shoe.

The young boy then came to Ho Chi Minh City with his father to seek further treatment for the illness at the Oncology Hospital.

It has been two years since Loc started his treatment at the infirmary.

The young boy has been staying and studying with other young patients at the facility.

Loc is seen enjoying a lesson with other young patients at the Oncology Hospital.

He used to be quiet, stubborn, and easily upset when he first came here, said Dinh Thi Kim Phan, who teaches children at the Oncology Hospital.

We tried to talk to him regularly and he finally opened up, Phan continued.

Loc is now very sweet, friendly, and sociable, the teacher added.

The young boy assists a magician with his tricks in the classroom.

I only lost one leg. I still have the other, Loc said.

Having just one leg only makes walking a bit difficult. It doesnt define how my life is going to be."

Loc walks with a pair of crutches at the hospital.

Loc is pictured during a treatment session at the infirmary.

The boy walks around the hospital with his right leg.

Dinh Thi Kim Phan, a teacher at the Oncology Hospital, talks with Loc.

Loc and his friend at the hospital

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Rome is well-known for its many attractions and sights, including the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, St. Peters Basilica and the Pantheon. The Italian city also has a more hidden side, known well to the Romans, but not so overcrowded with visitors to the city.

The following are five such places in Rome, Italy, including an unlikely cat sanctuary, an ancient lie detector which featured in a Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn film, an underground temple of a mysterious cult, the skull of St. Valentine and an unusual keyhole with a view.

1 Torre Argentina Roman Cat Sanctuary, 1-41 Via di Torre Argentina, Rome, Italy Among the ruins where Caesar saw his end, dozens of cats are having much better luck. The site is Largo di Torre Argentina, which was excavated when Mussolini began rebuilding the city in 1929. Workers found four Republican victory temples lying 20 feet under the ground. It also contains a portion of the famous Pompey portico on the steps where Julius Caesar was killed in 44 BCE. Nowadays, volunteers care for around 130 feral cats. This is one of several cat colonies in Rome. 2 The Mouth of Truth, Piazza della Bocca della Verita 18, Rome, Italy Bocca della Verita, or Mouth of Truth, is an ancient lie detector. According to superstitions, if a liar puts their hand into the mouth on the frieze, that hand will then be bitten off. The stone disc dates back to around the 1st century CE and no one is sure why it was created. Some say it is a ceremonial well cover or decoration, but others say it represents the face of a pagan god. It featured in an amusing scene in the 1953 film Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. 3 The Mithraeum at Circus Maximus, Piazza Bocca della Verita 16, Rome, Italy 4 St. Valentine's Skull, 1 Via della Greca, Piazza della Bocca della Verita, Rome 5 The Aventine Keyhole, Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta 3 Rome, Italy

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In an interview to a British newspaper, General Carleton-Smith said that Russian Federation was now a "far greater threat" to the United Kingdom's (UK) national security than the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.

"Russia today indisputably represents a far greater threat to our national security than Islamic extremist threats such as al-Qaida and Isil", he said, using another name for Isis.

"Russia has demonstrated that it is prepared to use military force to secure and expand its national interest".

Carlton Smith explained that the threat from Islamists after the defeat of the Islamic state in Iraq and Syria decreased, while Russian Federation began to "systematically examine the vulnerability of the West, especially in non-traditional fields - cyberspace, outer space and under water".

The pair were found passed out on a bench in Salisbury after coming into contact with the chemical but despite allegations that the pair were targeted by Russia, Vladimir Putin said the idea that the Kremlin had anything to do with the attack was "nonsense".

Russian Federation denies any involvement in the spy poisoning and has described the cyber-attack accusations as a "rich fantasy". "Particularly in some of the non-traditional areas of cyberspace, undersea warfare". The Russians seek to exploit vulnerability and weakness wherever they detect it'. Between 2012 and 2015 he served as head of British Special Forces. He has spent the last two decades focused on fighting Islamic extremism.

He said: "The physical manifestation of the Islamist threat has diminished with the complete destruction of the geography of the so-called Caliphate".

Countering Russia's suspected efforts to destabilise the established world order has led to debate over the role of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - including president Donald Trump's threats over the US' contribution - and suggestions of other means of worldwide cooperation. The most important conventional military response to Russia is the continued capabilities and coherence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alliance.' He was speaking after visiting British troops based in Estonia tasked with deterring Russian aggression against the Baltic states. President Donald Trump has criticised the alliance since his election, claiming the U.S.is paying too much into North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and is being exploited by its allies.

The head of the British army has warned that Russian Federation now poses the biggest threat to Western security as it has no qualms in using its military to pursue its national interests.

"I would not support any initiative that diluted the military effectiveness of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation", he said.
An agonised debate has been raging for several years about how to tame the power of the big four audit firms  EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC.

The debate has taken on greater urgency following a series of high-profile corporate collapses, including those of Carillion (Frankfurt: 924047 - news) and BHS, which raised questions about the role of their auditors .

The Competition and Markets Authority is now investigating competition in the sector, while separately the function of the industry watchdog, the Financial Reporting Council, is being reviewed by Sir John Kingman, the chairman of Legal & General (LSE: LGEN.L - news) and a former Treasury mandarin.

MPs (BSE: MPSLTD.BO - news) on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee are also looking into the future of auditing.

A number of proposals have been put forward to boost competition in the sector, including forcing companies to change their auditor more frequently, imposing 'joint auditor' appointments on quoted companies or introducing a cap on the number of FTSE 350 companies that any firm may audit.

Today brought another potential solution, however, with news that BDO and Moore Stephens, respectively the sixth and eighth largest players in the audit market, are in advanced merger discussions.

The combined business will have 5,000 staff and annual revenues of 560m, making it the fifth largest player in the market, leapfrogging Grant Thornton.

It is the latest in a string of mergers involving both parties.

BDO joined forces with PKF in 2013 while Moore Stephens merged with Chantrey Vellacott in 2015 and last year acquired the consulting firm James, Brennan & Associates.

The enlarged business, which will trade under the BDO banner, will be the leading player in advising mid-sized companies, while the tie-up will entrench BDO's position as the biggest auditor of companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), the junior market on the London Stock Exchange (Other OTC: LDNXF - news) .

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But both sides are also clear that the combined firm will, in their words, "challenge its larger competitors for more complex, audit, tax and advisory work".

That means that the enlarged BDO will undoubtedly be pushing for more mandates from FTSE 100 companies.

It currently has one client in the Footsie, the gold miner Randgold Resources, which is about to lose its London listing following its merger with Canadian giant Barrick Gold (Hanover: ABR.HA - news) .

This is in stark contrast to Grant Thornton, whose former chief executive, Sacha Romanovitch, told Sky News earlier this year why the company had stopped tendering for such business.

Ms Romanovitch, the first woman to lead a top UK auditing firm, stepped down last month after clashes with a number of senior colleagues over changes to the way the business was being run.

The BDO-Moore Stephens merger will pose a particular challenge to Grant Thornton.

It has long prided itself on being the biggest player outside the big four but may now be forced to look for merger partners of its own in an effort to bulk up.

The big question is whether this combination will be sufficiently big as to trouble the big four.

Even (Taiwan OTC: 6436.TWO - news) after this deal, the enlarged BDO's annual revenues will still be almost a quarter of the size of those at KPMG, currently the smaller of the big four.

And some will argue that removing one player from a market scarcely makes it more competitive.

So, of itself, it is unlikely to dampen the demands in some quarters for the big four to be broken up.

But the merger will undoubtedly be of interest to the regulators and politicians currently poring over the audit market.

And it will be fascinating to see how competitors of BDO and Moore Stephens in the so-called mid-market react.
ATHENS (Reuters) - Eurobank <EURBr.AT>, Greece's third-largest lender, will acquire real estate company Grivalia Properties <GRIr.AT>, a Eurobank official told Reuters on Sunday.

The deal will be a share-swap transaction and boost the lender's capital base by about 1 billion euros (884.2 million), the official said without giving the value of the deal.

Grivalia is currently owned by Canadian investment company Fairfax Financial Holdings, which focuses on property and insurance. Fairfax owns a 51.4 percent stake in Grivalia and 17 percent of Eurobank.

A Grivalia representative was not immediately available for comment outside business hours.

Greek banks have been looking to bolster capital ratios as they contend with the challenge of reducing non-performing loans in a sector hit hard by the euro zone's debt crisis and years of recession.

Eurobank last week reported a sharp rise in third-quarter net profit on higher fee revenue and gains from international

operations.

(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; Writing by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by David Goodman)
Press release

NNIT wins contract with state-owned holding company focusing on new technology

World class infrastructure calls for utilization of new technology, which the IT-platform must embrace. The state-owned holding company will therefore upgrade its ERP-system to the cloud and has signed a contract with NNIT and subsidiary SCALES.



Copenhagen, November 26, 2018  NNIT A/S has signed a contract with Sund & Blt Holding A/S on preparing the companys IT-platform for digital transformation.

The Danish, state-owned holding company, who owns and operates the bridges across Storeblt and resund including BroBizz[i] and eventually Femern Belt wishes to digitalize operations of the large infrastructure facilities in collaboration with external technology partners.

Use of Big data, Artificial intelligence, sensor technology and robot technology requires an IT-platform that embraces digital innovation. The holding companys ERP solutions therefore require an update to the latest cloud based version with integration of third party products.

According to the agreement, Sund & Blt will put the responsibility for upgrading, development, maintenance and operations of the companys IT-platform in the hands of NNIT for the next up to four years.

In the Danish IT landscape the agreement is a special one because it involves close cooperation between two different units: NNIT as a large and consolidated supplier of digital innovation and robust IT-operations, and SCALES, its fast-growing subsidiary company who focuses 100% on Microsofts cloud based Enterprise Ressource Planning (ERP)-systems.

NNIT acquired SCALES in May 2017 to become Denmarks leading partner and provider of services around Microsoft Dynamics 365. SCALES has won several Microsoft Partner Awards and was nominated repeatedly during the past five years.

Throughout the tender process, Sund & Blt placed great emphasis on the description of the team who will be doing the job. The employees have therefore played an important role for Sund & Blts choice of NNIT, explains Jacob Hahn Michelsen, Senior Vice President, NNIT:

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In a market challenged by scarcity on skilled IT-people, we can guarantee a strong team of subject matter experts with deep insight in the business critical systems. Having the right, qualified people remain an important factor for digital transformation, innovation-ready platforms and robust IT.

Mikkel Hemmingsen, CEO, Sund & Blt, says about the agreement:

Our ambition is to set new standards for efficient operation of user-paid infrastructure, utilizing the latest technology for the benefit of travelers. Therefore, it is crucial to keep our IT platform up to date so we have high expectations of the value that the upgrade will create and look forward to working with NNIT.



The tender process began in June 2018 and four suppliers were prequalified. NNITs offer provided the best balance between price and quality. The contracts estimated value reaches a lower two-digit DKKm amount. The duration of the contract is 24 months and the framework agreement can be prolonged for a maximum total of four years.

As a leading provider of IT services and consultancy NNIT A/S focuses on innovative and robust solutions to the life sciences sector internationally and to customers in the private as well as the public sector in Denmark, including operation of the third generation of the public digital infrastructure backbone, which makes Denmark one of the world's most digitized societies. NNIT A/S has more than 3.100 employees globally.

********

More information

Helga Heyn, NNIT Communications, +45 30 77 81 41, hhey@nnit.com

Lene Gebauer Thomsen, Head of Communication, Sund & Blt, +45 21 70 44 50, lgt@sbf.dk

About NNIT

www.nnit.com

About Sund & Blt

https://sundogbaelt.dk/en/sund-baelt-holding-as/







[i] BroBizz is the company responsible for automatic payment solutions applied to the major bridges linking Denmark together https://brobizz.com/en/about-brobizz-as







Attachment
FILE PHOTO: An Aramco oil tank is seen at the Production facility at Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield in the Empty Quarter, Saudi Arabia May 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

By Rania El Gamal

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia raised oil production to an all-time high in November, an industry source said on Monday, as U.S. President Donald Trump piled pressure on the kingdom to refrain from production cuts at an OPEC meeting next week.

The meeting, at which OPEC members will consider how to arrest a decline in oil prices, comes days after leaders of top global oil producers - Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump - travel to Argentina for a G20 summit this week.

Saudi Arabia agreed to raise supply steeply in June, in response to calls from consumers, including the United States and India, to help cool oil prices and address a supply shortage after Washington imposed sanctions on Iran.

But the move backfired on Riyadh after Washington imposed softer than expected sanctions on Tehran. That triggered worries of a supply glut and prices collapsed to below $60 per barrel on Friday from as high as $85 per barrel in October.

The industry source, who is familiar with the matter, said Saudi crude oil production hit 11.1-11.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in November, although it will not be clear what the exact average November output is until the month is over.

Those levels are up around 0.5 million bpd - equal to 0.5 percent of global demand - from October and more than 1 million bpd higher than in early 2018, when Riyadh was curtailing production together with other OPEC members.

Non-OPEC Russia, which teamed up with Saudi Arabia in the first OPEC joint production cuts since 2016, has also raised production steeply in recent months to a post-Soviet high of 11.4 million bpd.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs, one of the most active banks in commodities, said the G20 meeting could be a catalyst for prices to rebound.

"We expect an OPEC cut and its announcement to lead to a recovery in (Brent) prices," the bank said in a note.

KHASHOGGI FACTOR

Saudi oil industry sources have signalled they wanted prices to stay above $70 per barrel and Saudi energy minister Khalid al Falih said this month global oil supply could exceed demand by over 1 million bpd next year, requiring OPEC to take action.

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Falih said earlier this month that state oil giant Saudi Aramco would ship 0.5 million bpd less crude in December than in November as demand from customers was lower.

Possibly complicating Saudi decisions on oil output is the crisis around the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul last month.

Trump stood behind Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite calls from many U.S. politicians to impose stiff sanctions on Riyadh. Prince Mohammed is the ultimate Saudi oil policy maker and Saudi watchers have said the Prince will try to avoid confrontation with Washington, including on oil prices.

The United States is not a member of OPEC and is not participating in the output reduction. Trump has repeatedly called on OPEC to refrain from cuts and has raised pressure on the group in the last few days.

On Sunday, Trump thanked himself for lower oil prices and compared it to a big tax cut for the U.S. economy.

"So great that oil prices are falling (thank you President T)," Trump tweeted, referring to himself.

Last week, Trump tweeted: "Oil prices are getting lower... Thank you Saudi Arabia but let's go lower".

(Reporting by Rania El Gamal; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Dale Hudson and Kirsten Donovan)
By Ori Lewis

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the visiting Chadian President on Sunday that he expects to make more trips to Arab countries in the near future after going to Oman last month.

Israel has diplomatic ties with just two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, though Netanyahu has hinted at warmer relations with Gulf Arab states that Israel views as natural allies against regional powerhouse Iran.

Netanyahu and his ministers have visited a number of Gulf states in the past few weeks. Although the he did not specify his next planned Arab destination, local media said Israel was already talking to Bahrain about establishing official ties, making it a likely port of call.

Chadian President Idriss Deby arrived in Israel on Sunday for the first official visit by a leader of the Central African country that severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 1972.

"We discussed ... the great changes that are taking place in the Arab world in its relations with Israel," Netanyahu said, adding there will be more visits to Arab countries soon.

The Netanyahu government has been investing in outreach to Africa, where some countries previously warm to Israel have kept their distance since its occupation of the Palestinian territories in the 1967 Middle East war. Israel has diplomatic ties with 32 of the continent's 54 countries.

Deby said his visit was "historic" for both countries and that it "could facilitate the turning of a new page in relations between us" but added that even with a renewal of ties, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could no be ignored.

"Of course, the renewal of diplomatic ties between us, which I very much want, is not something that can make the Palestinian issue disappear," Deby said in French through a translator.

Unofficial contacts between Israel and Chad have been ongoing for an extended period, Deby said. One source told Reuters the visit is focussed on security, adding that Israel has supplied Chad's army with weapons and equipment this year to help fight rebels.

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Wasel Abu Youssef, a senior Palestinian official, voiced displeasure over Deby's visit.

"All countries and institutions must boycott the extremist government of Israel and impose a siege on it because of its settlement activities, its occupation of Palestinian land," Youssef said.

Deby, 66, has been in power since 1990 and has been an ally of the West in a fight against Islamist militants in West Africa. However, impoverished Chad itself faces destabilising forces on multiple fronts, including jihadists with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State.

He is also trying to prevent an influx of militants fleeing the Libyan conflict and in January closed Chad's border with its northern neighbour.

In July 2016 Deby hosted the then-director of Israel's Foreign Ministry, Dore Gold, for exploratory talks on improving bilateral relations. Gold said on Israel Radio on Sunday that his Chadian hosts told him they had cut off ties in 1972 under Libyan pressure, a factor removed with the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

(Additional reporting by Dan Williams and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Madjiasra Nako in N'Djamena; Writing by Jeffrey Heller and Ori Lewis; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky, David Goodman and David Gregorio)
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Scotland made the plea ahead of the Scottish Budget on December 12.

Business leaders are calling on the Scottish Government to set up a 75 million fund to help companies deal with Brexit.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland made the plea ahead of Finance Secretary Derek Mackay setting out his Budget to Holyrood on December 12.

The FSB is also pressing Mr Mackay to commit 100 million to helping Scotlands town centres, to adapt the governments existing rates relief scheme to help more businesses, and to reject calls from local councils to bring in a Tourism Tax, which would impose a levy on the cost of hotel rooms.

With Brexit looming, FSBs Scotland policy chair Andrew McRae said the top priority for business north of the border was avoiding a chaotic no-deal, no-transition Brexit.

But he added: The fact we need a deal doesnt mean that Scottish firms welcome every dot and comma in the current proposals.

Mr McRae called on the UK Government to pay Scotlands business community greater heed when considering key issues, such as designing a new immigration system for when the country leaves the European Union.

The Scottish Government meanwhile was urged to follow the example of Wales, where ministers have announced a 50 million EU Transition Fund to help businesses.

FSB calls for Scottish business Brexit fund https://t.co/Yqvv5zC8fo pic.twitter.com/U7tHCdfU7q  FSB Scotland (@FSB_Scotland) November 26, 2018

In his letter to the Finance Secretary, Mr McRae said additional support could be required by firms to help them adapt to the reality of post-Brexit Britain.

He said: In particular, smaller firms may need financial assistance to enable them to make necessary adjustments, whether accessing technical or expert information on trading, dealing with increased or different bureaucracy, or addressing skills or staffing issues.

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We therefore submit that the Scottish Government should establish a Brexit resilience fund, similar to that introduced in Wales.

He made the plea after FSB research found only a minority of Scottish businesses have started to prepare for Brexit.

Mr McRae added: While few would blame firms when they still dont know exactly what theyre preparing for, we cant see good businesses overwhelmed by a rapidly changing trading environment.

Calling for 100 million to be put into a new Town Centre Diversification Fund, he said: The high street is known as the home of independent retail. But if were to turn around some of our town centres, we need to make them attractive to the next-generation of businesses.

We want the Scottish Government to build on the success of its town centre regeneration fund with a new high street diversification programme.

Such a fund could help convert empty high street stores for different uses, as well as help build more housing in town centres, he added.

Mr McRae also urged Mr Mackay to tweak the landmark Small Business Bonus scheme, so businesses outside the scope of full relief get extra help.

FSB Scotland wants firms with a rateable value of between 15,001 and 16,500 to get 50% off their rates bill, saying such a change could benefit around 3,500 business at a cost of less than 5 million.

This simple move could reduce the total volume of rates appeals, relieving pressure on the wider tax system, Mr McRae said.

Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell said: We agree with the concerns being expressed here by Scottish businesses about how damaging Brexit will be  especially their warnings over the threat of a no-deal outcome and the dangers posed to the Scottish economy by restricting migration.

The Scottish Government has already launched an initiative to help businesses prepare for Brexit, with grants of up to 4,000 available  but of course, the best way to mitigate the worst impact, short of staying in the EU, is continued membership of the European Single Market and Customs Union.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon has accepted a Russian aid offer comprising millions of bullets that will be given to its police force, the office of the caretaker prime minister said on Monday, denying reports an offer of Russian military aid had been turned down.

News that the Russian offer had been rejected was first reported by the Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar on Monday, which said the ammunition had been offered to Lebanon's U.S.-backed army and had been turned down.

A military source confirmed the army had declined the offer, saying this was for technical reasons linked to the types of weapons used by the Lebanese military and had nothing to do with politics.

The media office of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said the al-Akhbar article was "devoid of truth".

"The Press Office clarifies that this is not true and that the Russian side was informed of the acceptance to receive the donation, from which the Internal Security Forces in the Ministry of Interior will benefit," it said in a statement.

Al-Akhbar, which is supportive of Lebanon's Hezbollah, the heavily armed Iranian-backed Shi'ite group, said the army's decision to rebuff the Russian offer was political, saying the United States was against the army accepting Russian aid.

A senior Lebanese political source told Reuters that while the type of weapons and ammunition used by the Lebanese army had been cited as the reason for turning down the Russian offer, U.S. pressure could have been a reason.

The United States is the biggest donor to the Lebanese army, providing more than $1.5 billion in support since 2006.

Washington says the support has aimed to strengthen the army as "the sole" military force defending Lebanon, where Hezbollah holds significant sway, and to counter threats from neighbouring Syria.

Russian forces are widely deployed in neighbouring Syria, where they have been fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad since 2015 alongside Iranian-backed groups including Hezbollah - which is listed as a terrorist group by Washington.

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Earlier this year, Russia tabled what appeared to be more wide-ranging military cooperation with Lebanon.

A draft military accord published by the Russian news agency TASS in February set out a five-year renewable agreement included general aspirations of improving information exchanges, developing military training and fighting terrorism.

Local media and a Western diplomat said Russia was offering a $1 billion line of credit to the Lebanese military for arms and other military purchases.

The military source noted Lebanon still maintains military ties with Russia, saying the army signed a deal with Moscow in 2017 to purchase 104 military transport vehicles and that Lebanese military officers still undergo training in Russia.

The United States has been increasing pressure on Russia globally through sanctions in recent years over actions including its role in annexing Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014, a nerve agent attack in Britain, allegations of meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, and its role in Syria.

Under a 2017 law, the United States can impose sanctions on countries that engage in "significant transactions" with the Russian military.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Laila Bassam; Editing by Mark Heinrich/Tom Perry)
David Mundell has urged MPs to support the the Prime Ministers EU Withdrawal Agreement.

A rejection of Theresa Mays Brexit deal threatens chaos or more division, according to David Mundell.

The Scottish Secretary has urged MPs to support the EU Withdrawal Agreement when it is put to a vote in the House of Commons.

More than 80 Tory MPs so far have publicly declared they intend to vote against the plan.

EU leaders signed off on the deal in Brussels on Sunday, following extensive negotiations.

There is no credible alternative Deal on offer, only the threat of chaos or more division. And thats what @theSNP want as the backdrop for their #indyref2 agenda. So No Deal Brexit wouldnt just be a disaster for Scotland but also threatens integrity of the UK #BackTheBrexitDeal  David Mundell (@DavidMundellDCT) November 25, 2018

Mr Mundell wrote on Twitter: There is no credible alternative Deal on offer, only the threat of chaos or more division.

And thats what @theSNP want as the backdrop for their #indyref2 agenda.

So no-deal Brexit wouldnt just be a disaster for Scotland but also threatens integrity of the UK.

The Prime Minister made clear earlier today, the UK will be an independent coastal state once again, in full sovereign control of our waters, able to decide for ourselves who we allow to fish in them, with that access not tied to any other aspect of our economic partnership.

The key point is that we are NOT leaving the EU with a deal on fisheries already in place. There will be a future deal on fishing to be agreed.

The PM has been clear that she will defend UK fishing interests robustly in that negotiation, just as she has in the Brexit Deal.

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Mr Mundell has been criticised in recent weeks after he threatened to quit the Cabinet if the UK remains tied to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) at the end of the Brexit transition period.

Ill be interested to hear David Mundell explain how this  existing reciprocal access and quota shares  can be squared with the promises made to the Scottish fishing industry. (Hint  it cant). https://t.co/9sO8TBsLVh  Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) November 25, 2018

Scottish Conservative MP Ross Thomson earlier this month called for Mr Mundell to join other senior Conservatives in quitting the Cabinet over the deal, telling him no unionist could support the proposal.

Mr Thomson described the EUs position on a new fisheries deal with the UK as deeply troubling.

Speaking on BBC Sunday Politics Scotland, he said: That (EU statement) does deeply trouble me.

The current arrangement is very good for the EU, the arrangement we have on fisheries has been devastating for fishing communities across Scotland and the UK.

Its in the interests of the EU to keep it going and they want to build on those existing arrangements so to my mind that can only mean the continuation of some form of the CFP.

It may not be called that but if it looks like the CFP and behaves like the CFP then it is the CFP and thats why we need to resist it as we go into these negotiations.
By John Irish

PARIS (Reuters) - North and South Korea joined forces to get their ancient wrestling tradition onto a U.N. list of cultural treasures on Monday - a step forward in their rapprochement as their governments grapple with deeper divides.

Ssirum in North Korea or Ssireum in South Korea has a history stretching back around 1,800 years and draws huge audiences with national and international contests broadcast on television.

The neighbours - still technically at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce not a peace treaty - initially submitted separate bids to get the sport on the U.N. cultural agency's list of so called "intangible assets".

But after months of shuttle diplomacy by UNESCO, both agreed to a joint application which got approved at a ceremony in Port Louis, Mauritius.

"The joint inscription ... becomes the opportunity to clearly demonstrate that the Korean people is one nation of peace and prosperity, once we join our ideas, powers and wisdoms," North Korea's representative, Jang Myong Ho, said at the event.

"This is sending a common, joint symbolic message before the international community. Two Koreas will work together to consolidate peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula," South Korea's Lee Byong Hyun added.

The cultural diplomacy had to get round a few obstacles - including a letter's difference in the transliteration of the sport's name into English.

But the countries eventually settled on the classification: 'traditional Korean wrestling (ssirum/ssireum)' - with the North's version listed first as it had made the first application.

TENSIONS

The entry describes the sport as a contest in a circular ring, where the wrestlers start by kneeling and grabbing a belt - known as a satba or satpa - wrapped around the opponent's waist and thigh.

The winner is the first to force "the other contestant to touch the ground with any part of his body at knee level or higher," reads the officially agreed description.

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Tensions over North Korea's tests of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles spiked on the Korean peninsular last year and there were fears of a U.S. military response to North Korea's threat to develop a weapon capable of hitting the United States.

Talks in June between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have allayed those concerns, and a detente between Pyongyang and Seoul has opened the door to closer ties.

"We're at a point where sanctions are still in place, we can't move forward on economic questions and much remains blocked. So in areas where UNESCO works, which aren't subjected to sanctions, we can push ahead quickly and with determination," said a UNESCO source.

The two nations have indicated they want to focus on what they can work together on, from heritage sites to education and science to sport, the UNESCO official said.

"UNESCO is ready to play a supporting role," the source added.

(Reporting by John Irish; editing by Richard Lough and Andrew Heavens)
Russia has opened fire on Ukrainian ships and captured three vessels in a major escalation of tensions off the coast of Crimea.

Three sailors have been wounded after the Ukrainian navy said two artillery boats were hit by the strikes in the Black Sea.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko called an emergency session of his war cabinet and has asked parliament to vote on whether to impose martial law on the country for 60 days.

Throwing his weight behind the measure, which is not guaranteed to pass, he said it "in no way means that Ukraine will carry out any offensive actions".

"I want to emphasise separately that we have all irrefutable evidence that this aggression, this attack on the Ukrainian Navy's warships was not a mistake, not an accident, but a deliberate action," he added.

:: Politics at play in row between Ukraine and Russia

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it used weapons after the Ukrainian ships ignored demands to stop and that it impounded three vessels which had illegally crossed the border.

The three injured sailors are receiving medical treatment and their lives are not in danger, the FSB said.

Ukraine's ambassador to the UK said Russian special forces had captured two armoured artillery boats and a tugboat in an "act of aggression".

"Today's dangerous events in the Azov Sea testify that a new front of Russian aggression is open," Ukrainian foreign ministry spokeswoman Mariana Betsa said.

"Ukraine is calling now for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council."

The FSB claimed it had "irrefutable evidence that Kiev prepared and orchestrated provocations... in the Black Sea".

"These materials will soon be made public," it added.

Earlier on Sunday, Ukraine accused a Russian coastguard vessel, named the Don, of ramming one of its tugboats, damaging its engine, hull and side railing.

Ukraine's minister of internal affairs posted footage on Twitter purportedly showing the incident.

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It allegedly took place as three Ukrainian navy boats - including two small warships - headed for the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, an area of heightened tensions between the countries.

Russia - which claims the waters off Crimea after annexing the peninsula in 2014 - accused Ukraine of illegally entering the area and deliberately provoking a conflict.

It placed a huge cargo ship beneath the Russian-controlled Kerch Strait Bridge to block Ukrainian boats from access to the sea.

"Their goal is clear - to create a conflict situation in the region," the FSB said in a statement.

The Ukrainian navy insisted Russia had been informed in advance about the planned journey.

"Russian coastguard vessels carried out openly aggressive actions against Ukrainian navy ships," it said.

The European Union called on Russia and Ukraine to "act with utmost restraint to de-escalate" the situation in the Black Sea.

It urged Russia to "restore freedom of passage" through the Kerch Strait after Moscow blockaded it.

NATO also demanded Russia ensures "unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law".

A 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters but Russia has been asserting greater control over the area since 2015.

In September, the Ukrainian navy accused Russian border guards of "acts of provocation" against its ships taking the same route.

Ukraine has increased the number of navy ships and border guard patrols in the Sea of Azov, which is reached via the Kerch Strait between Crimea and Russia.

Kiev says its naval build-up is due to Russia stepping up controls in the area this year and carrying out lengthy checks on commercial shipping.

Mariupol is close to the region of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has caused at least 10,000 deaths since 2014.
Indian officials have travelled repeatedly in recent days near the remote island where an American missionary was killed by people who have long resisted the outside world.

Though Chau's death is officially a murder case, anthropologists say it may be impossible to retrieve the American's body and that no charges will be made against the protected tribe. The fishermen accompanied the police teams to the island to help efforts to pinpoint where Chau was killed.

The police team, who took a boat just off Indian-owned North Sentinel island yesterday, spotted men from the Sentinelese tribe on the beach where John Allen Chau was last seen, the region's police chief Dependra Pathak told AFP.

The police have again made an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve the body of American national John Allen Chau, who was allegedly killed by Sentinelese people in North Sentinel island in Andamans on November 17, after a nervous long-distance face-off with the tribe, officials said on Sunday.

Six fishermen and one other person have been arrested over the incident.

Using binoculars, officers - in a police boat about 400 metres from the shore - saw the men armed with bows and arrows, the weapons reportedly used by the isolated tribe to kill Chau as he shouted Christian phrases at them.

"We have more or less identified the site and the area in general", he said.

"But we can not say they will be postponed because this is something at an initial stage", she said.

He also wrote of maneuvering to avoid the Indian authorities who patrol the waters near North Sentinel Island.

Officials typically do not travel to the North Sentinel area, where people live as their ancestors did thousands of years ago.

With help from the friend, Chau paid fishermen $325 to take him there, according to Pathak.

In 2017, Indian officials enacted a new law punishing anyone who took photos or videos of the tribe with up to three years prison, in order to further protect their fragile way of life.

They and another local tribe, the Jarawa, are hunter-gatherers whose isolation renders them very vulnerable to common diseases such as flu and measles. "Their neighbours, the Jarawa, have been treated like safari animals by tourists for years". She doesn't know yet whether it will be possible to recover Chau's body.

The organisation which trained Mr Chau and sent him on his mission said it had discussed the risks of approaching the island.

Meanwhile, Chau's family say they forgive the tribe for their actions and are not pushing for retribution.
Spain has signalled it is preparing a fresh push over the sovereignty of Gibraltar as the Brexit talks enter a new phase of negotiations.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez claimed the Withdrawal Agreement, signed off by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday, represented a win for his country in the 300-year-old dispute over the Rock.

With the departure of the UK we all lose, especially the UK. But in relation to Gibraltar, Spain wins, and Europe wins, he told an end-of-summit press conference.

Mr Sanchez had earlier threatened to scupper the special summit to approve the deal unless he received fresh assurances on the status of the Rock in the forthcoming talks on a free trade deal between Britain and the EU.

The Spanish leader was pressing for Madrid to have a veto over how any UK-EU trade deal applies to Gibraltar.

In an effort to resolve the row, the UKs ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow issued a letter on Saturday confirming the Withdrawal Agreement imposed no obligations regarding the territorial scope of future agreements.

Theresa May has said Gibraltar will remain British (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)

Theresa May again insisted that it made no difference to constitutional status of the Rock.

Let no one be in any doubt. For the future partnership the UK will be negotiating for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar, she said.

I am proud that Gibraltar is British and its constitutional position will not change.

But asked whether Spain would now seek co-sovereignty of Gibraltar during the negotiations, Mr Sanchez said that his government planned to talk about everything.

There were signs of irritation among other EU member states at the way Mr Sanchez had raised the issue at the eleventh hour, threatening to derail Mrs Mays hopes of putting the deal to Parliament before Christmas.

The move came ahead of elections in Andalusia, southern Spain, in December with speculation that Mr Sanchez was trying to use the situation for internal political reasons.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker acknowledged they had had a difficulty with our Spanish friends at the end of the process.

He added: The agreement we have obtained here today is an agreement which is good for Spain, so we are with Spain.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the colours on the Irish flag are white, orange and green in equal measure after a meeting with the Orange Order.

The Irish leader and Minister for European Affairs Helen McEntee met with the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, Reverend Mervyn Gibson and a delegation of Orange Order members from south of the border in Government Buildings in Dublin on Monday.

During the meeting, they discussed issues affecting Orange Order members in Ireland, including Protestant schools and education in general, infrastructure and the cultural needs of Protestant communities in border counties.

Lovely to meet some Cavan members of the @OrangeOrder prior to their meeting with @campaignforleo today in Govt buildings. My late grandfathers membership of the order in Cavan is a distinct part of my heritage and indeed the countrys. pic.twitter.com/NcIx0hADGG  Sen. Neale Richmond (@nealerichmond) November 26, 2018

The government reports they also discussed support for tourism projects including further development of the Battle of the Boyne site, the possibility of a Williamite Trail from Antrim to Aughrim, and Second World War commemorations.

Speaking after the meeting the Taoiseach said: The colours on our flag are white, orange and green in equal measure.

Sometimes I feel that we havent fully lived up to that.

The Good Friday Agreement acknowledges that people in Northern Ireland have the right to be British, Irish or both, and accepted as such.

We should acknowledge that there are many people in our State that feel themselves to be both British and Irish.

Story continues

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with Grand Secretary of the Orange Lodge, Reverend Mervyn Gibson (Niall Carson/PA)

Its something that we should accept too.

On many occasions, I have said that our job should be to build bridges, not borders.

I strongly believe that States can best be judged on how they treat minorities.

This visit today is another step in an ongoing engagement between the Government and the Order.

We must always keep channels of communication open as a basis for respectful discussion on matters of common interest.

I look forward to ongoing dialogue between the Government and the Orange Order.

Mr Varadkar recently became the first serving Irish head of government to visit the Orange Heritage Museum in Belfast in June and went on to provide funding for the rebuilding of a fire damaged Orange Hall in Co Donegal after an arson attack this year.

In recent months he has been keen to reiterate his understanding and sympathy for Northern Ireland unionists, using his speeches to reiterate that the Republics government would respect the Good Friday Agreement.

Mondays meeting also touched on Brexit, the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration agreed at the European Council meeting in Brussels last weekend.

Orange Order regalia (Julien Behal/PA)

The meeting comes as the political positions of the DUP and Mr Varadkars office have been at odds in recent weeks as the Irish government backed Theresa Mays draft agreement, which the DUP has flatly rejected.

Arlene Foster strongly reiterated DUP rejection of the EU-UK Brexit withdrawal agreement at her party conference over the weekend.

The choice is not between this deal and no deal despite what the government spin machine may say, she said.

We cannot wish away the fact that the draft withdrawal agreement contains arrangements that we believe are not in Northern Irelands long term economic or strategic interests.

After the meeting Mr Gibson said: This was a useful exercise, following on from the Taoiseachs visit to the Museum of Orange Heritage earlier this year.

Then, Grand Master Edward Stevenson highlighted our intention to continue meaningful engagement with the Irish Government on matters of mutual interest  todays meeting was another positive step in this regard.

Members of the institution from the border counties of the Republic of Ireland raised a number of issues with Mr Varadkar, including education, culture and tourism.

On behalf of the institution, I would like to thank the Taoiseach for hosting this afternoons meeting.

We look forward to building on such conversations with the Irish Government, allowing for ongoing representation on matters relating to our members and the Orange fraternity in the Republic of Ireland.
Jaydon Washington James, 16, died after being stabbed in the Wood End area of Coventry (left) on Saturday night. (PA/West Midlands Police).

A teenage boy stabbed to death in an horrific attack in Coventry was killed because of his postcode  his sister has claimed.

Jaydon Washington James, 16, died in hospital a short time after being stabbed in the Wood End area of the city late on Saturday.

Police said two friends who were with Jaydon were also seriously injured and remain in hospital.

A forensic officer near the scene in Deedmore Road, Wood End, Coventry, after a a 16-year-old was stabbed to death (PA)

In a post on Facebook thanking the local community for their support, Jaydons sister, Jayda James, described him as the sweetest, funniest most kind hearted boy who was friends with everyone and tried to keep the peace whenever he could.

She said: Jaydon was stabbed to death because of his postcode, because he was a Wood End boy. I cant believe someone took my brothers life simply because of the neighbourhood he lived in.

On behalf of me and my family I would like to thank everyone for all the kind posts and messages we have read them all and it has brought us some happiness to know how loved Jaydon was.

Jaydon Washington James, 16, who died after being stabbed in the Wood End area of Coventry on Saturday. (PA).

A statement released by West Midlands Police, his family said: The family are deeply saddened by what has happened, we urge anyone to come forward with any information regarding the person responsible for taking our boy JJ.

Thank you for all the support we have received.

Detective Chief Inspector Edward Foster, from the forces homicide unit, said: We have officers working around the clock to find those responsible for this horrific and deeply tragic attack.

Jaydon had only just turned 16 with his whole life ahead of him. Words cannot describe the anguish that his family are going through, and we will leave no stone unturned in the hunt for his killer.

We have several lines of enquiry, but I would still urge anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible.

Police activity near the scene in Deedmore Road, Wood End, Coventry, after a a 16-year-old was stabbed to death. (PA)

Police forensic and search teams examined drains, as well as areas near bins and vehicles in Deedmore Road, Wood End, on Sunday.

Searches also took place in the grounds of the nearby St Patricks Catholic Church  where bunches of flowers had been left against a wall  and close to the nearby Moat House and Castle Wood schools campus.

Story continues

A woman who visited the scene, Rebecca Rushton-Nesbitt, described Jaydon as a lovely boy.

The 18-year-old said: I heard about what happened. Its so sad, I cant believe hes gone to be honest.

He was just an ordinary young boy. He wouldnt do anything to hurt anybody.

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Nelson Chamisa, the MDC leader, called for a collective approach to move the country forward. Photograph: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters

Opposition leaders in Zimbabwe say they will launch a new attempt this week to put pressure on the president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, and his ruling Zanu-PF party to share power.

Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party in the former British colony, said a rally on Thursday in Harare would call for a transitional authority to move the country forward.

Chamisa reiterated his rejection of the results in presidential polls held four months ago. Mnangagwa was declared winner of the vote, the first after the ousting of Robert Mugabe in a military takeover last year.

We need a collective approach ... the people voted and that has to be respected, Chamisa told the Guardian.

Mugabe, 94, has been receiving medical treatment in Singapore for the last two months. He is unable to walk because of ill health and old age, Mnangagwa said on Saturday.

He is now old. Of course, he now is unable to walk but whatever he asks for we will provide, Mnangagwa told hundreds of supporters in Mugabes home area of Zvimba, about 60 miles (100km) west of the capital, Harare.

We are looking after him. He is the founding father of the nation of Zimbabwe. He is our founding father of free Zimbabwe.

Mugabe, who took power in 1980, is expected to return to the country this week.

Mnangagwa has made strenuous attempts to convince the international community that Zanu-PF has forgone the repression and brutality that characterised its 38 years in power. He has vowed to revive Zimbabwes ailing economy by attracting much needed foreign direct investment.

Although the elections in July were not marred by the type of systematic violence experienced under Mugabe, alleged irregularities during the count and violent repression following the vote have resulted in lukewarm support for Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu-PF party from major international powers.

The shooting by soldiers of six unarmed civilians in Harare during opposition protests also made endorsement of the new government difficult, officials privately admit.

Story continues

To deflect some of the criticism, Mnangagwa set up an inquiry commission into the killings headed by the former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe.

Senior military commanders have told the inquiry their men were not responsible for the killings, despite widely published photographs and video footage showing Zimbabwean army soldiers firing on people in Harares streets.

Brig Gen Anselem Sanyatwe, the commander of the elite presidential guard, told a hearing in Harare of the special inquiry investigating the killings that if any gunshot wounds were sustained by the victims, it was not from my men.

Officials have suggested that unidentified opposition activists were responsible for the deaths and have alleged that Chamisa incited violence. The MDC leader, 40, dismissed the accusation as bizarre.

Chamisa has been invited to appear before the inquiry but said he was concerned about its impartiality and was still to take a decision.

It would frankly be embarrassing for me to come to answer wild assertions made by a member of the state, not a court of law, not an ordinary person  How do you appear before a panel appointed by a political competitor? Chamisa said. A response from the inquiry to a letter Chamisa sent outlining his principal concerns had been unsatisfactory, he said.

Zimbabwe faces a deepening economic crisis as hopes fade of a new wave of international investment and aid. Fuel has run short and prices are soaring. Despite the hardship, mobilisation for opposition protests has remained at relatively low levels.
Jerome L'Hostis Crowned 2018 GUKPT Grand Final Champion (140,445)

November 26 2018 Matthew Pitt

Frenchman Jerome L'Hostis secured his second six-figure score of 2018 and the largest live poker tournament cash of his career when he topped a field of 325 entrants in the 400,000 guaranteed Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) Grand Final Main Event.

2018 GUKPT Grand Final Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Prize 1 Jerome L'Hostis 140,445* 2 Tamer Kamel 110,000* 3 Ben Morrison 123,155* 4 Julien Sitbon 46,800 5 Paul Barnes 31,800 6 Ludovic Geilich 23,400 7 Carlos Sanchez Diaz 18,200 8 Matas Cimbolas 15,000 9 Tarjei Forus 12,300

*reflects a three-handed deal

Some 115 players navigated their way through the two starting flights to take their seats on Day 2. Only 20 of those 115 returning players had chips in front of them when the curtain came down on the Day 2 proceedings.

Bubble Bursts

The top 30 finishers received prize money for their effort and he bubble burst almost exactly at midnight on Day 2. David Clarkson committed his last four big blinds with ace-nine and Julien Sitbon looked him up with queen-jack. Sitbon spiked a queen to bust Clarkson in 31st place, bursting the money bubble; Sitbon went on to finish fourth.

Former GUKPT Grand Final Main Event champion Kevin Allen was one of the first players to collect some prize money, banking 4,600 for his 26th place finish. Others who reached the money including Grosvenor Poker sponsored pro Katie Swift, last years runner-up Jamie OConnor, GUKPT Blackpool champion Yiannis Liperis, Alli Mallu, Andrew Stato_1 Hulme, Tom MacDonald, and Ben Jenbizzle Jones.

Final Table Set

The nine-handed final table got underway with Sitbon as the chip leader and Tarjei Forus being the short stack with only 14 big blinds to his name. Those chips went into the middle of the felt with Sitbon holding . Ludovic Geilich called with the dominating and when the board ran out it was game over for Sitbon.

A huge hand saw the dangerous Matas Cimbolas bust in eighth-place. With blinds at 12,000/24,000/3,000a, L'Hostis opened to 50,000 on the button, Cimbolas called from the small blind only to see Ben Morrison squeeze to 240,000 from the big blind. L'Hostis folded, Cimbolas tanked for three minutes before moving all-in for 1,300,000 only to be snap-called by Morrison. Cimbolas showed and was in a whole world of trouble against the of Morrison. No eight appeared on the community cards, Cimbolas busted and Morrison clawed in the massive pot.

Seventh-place when to Carlos Sanchez Diaz after a clash with L'Hostis didnt go to plan. Diaz open-shoved for nine big blinds with and L'Hostis called with . No help arrived for Diaz and the final table lost another player.

The final six became five with the elimination of partypoker sponsored pro Ludovic Geilich. After losing a big coinflip with pocket sevens against the ace-king of Tamer Kamel, Geilich was forced to move all-in with for three big blinds. Geilich hand lost to the of L'Hostis to bust.

Geilich was joined on the sidelines, and perhaps the bar, by Paul Barnes whose proved no match for Kamels before Sitbon pushed his last five big blinds into the middle with only to lose to the of Morrison courtesy of a six on the turn.

Deal Struck

The final three players went on a 45-minute dinner break and came back with full bellies having struck a deal for the remaining prize pool. Kamel claimed 110,000, L'Hostis 120,445 and Morrison 123,155; the deal left the trophy and an additional 20,000 for the eventual champion.

Making a deal turned out to be a good business decision for Morrison because he busted in third-place shortly after the restart. Morrison first lost a five million chip pot to Lhostis to be left with a shade over eight big blinds. These went into the middle holding and Kamel called with . The flop was joined by the on the turn to gift Morrison two pair. The on the river, however, improved Kamel to a straight and sent the tournament into the ads-up stage.

Kamel trailed L'Hostis by 6,200,000 to 2,000,000 chips going into heads-up and it proved a gap too far to bridge. Kamel was down to 800,000 chips and moved all-in with . L'Hostis called with . The flop fell followed by the turn and the river, meaning Lhostis ace-kicker came into play, winning him the pot and the 2018 GUKPT Grand Final Main Event title.

Another fantastic result for L'Hostis who won 155,000 in Aug. 2018 when he finished fifth in the 1,100 EPT National Event at EPT Barcelona.

The GUKPT now goes on hiatus until Jan. 27, 2019 when it returns to The Poker Room in London for the first of nine legs of the 2019 GUKPT. Win your seats to GUKPT events online at Grosvenor Poker where new depositing players receive a 200 percent up to 700 first deposit bonus.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr will be the keynote speaker for the 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, commencement, while University System of Georgia Board of Regents member Erin Hames will speak at the 3 p.m. ceremony the same day. Both events will be held at the Convocation Center on the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Dahlonega Campus.

Carr was appointed attorney general by Gov. Nathan Deal in November 2016, and he won re-election earlier this month. Soon after becoming attorney general, he was appointed to the National Association of Attorneys General's Human Trafficking and Substance Abuse Committees.

State Attorney General Chris Carr will speak at the 10 a.m. Dec. 15 commencement ceremony.

Carr served as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development from 2013 to 2016, and during his tenure Georgia was named the No. 1 state for business three years in a row. He has also served on the state's Judicial Nominating Committee, the group charged with recommending judicial nominees to the governor, since 2011.

Carr is a graduate of the University of Georgia's (UGA) Terry College of Business and Lumpkin School of Law.

Hames is the president of ReformEd, a firm focused on improving educational opportunities and outcomes for children and students. Prior to this role, she was Deal's chief of staff for policy, former Gov. Sonny Perdue's policy director, and chief of staff at the Georgia Department of Education.

University System of Georgia Board of Regents member Erin Hames will speak at the 3 p.m. Dec. 15 commencement ceremony.

She started her career as a public school teacher and serves as a commissioner for the Education Commission of the States. She received the 2016 Professional Achievement Award from UGA's College of Education, was a member of the 2013 40 Under 40 Class by UGA's Alumni Association and was selected as a 2010 Henry Toll Fellow by the Council of State Governments.

She earned a degree from Georgia State University College of Law and her undergraduate degree in education from UGA.

Graduates of UNG's Mike Cottrell College of Business, College of Science and Mathematics, College of Health Sciences and Professions, and Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis will walk in the 10 a.m. ceremony. Graduates of the College of Arts and Letters, College of Education and University College will be honored at the 3 p.m. ceremony.

Separate commissioning ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. Dec. 14 for members of the Corps of Cadets entering the U.S. Army as second lieutenants. Individual commissioning ceremonies for the cadets will recognize their service and leadership and formally mark their entry into the military.

A new element for UNGs commencement ceremonies is electronic ticket distribution. UNG has moved to an online ticket system for the first time, replacing the need for graduates to receive printed tickets in their graduation packets. For those who applied for graduation by the Oct. 2 deadline, electronic tickets must be claimed by Dec. 6. Electronic tickets may be printed ahead of time for scanning to gain entry to the event, or a mobile option is also available.

Graduates who need assistance claiming their tickets are encouraged to attend Graduation Celebration events at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 4 on the quad at the Gainesville Campus or 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 5 at the UNG Bookstore in the Chestatee Building on the Dahlonega Campus.

Graduates who do not need all of their tickets may donate their unclaimed tickets through the online ticket system. Graduates who need additional tickets may sign up for a waitlist after claiming their allotted tickets. On Dec. 10, unclaimed tickets will be allocated to graduates on the waitlist until the supply is depleted. These graduates will have 48 hours to claim waitlist tickets once they are allocated.

Any graduates who apply for graduation after the application deadline are not guaranteed tickets for their guests, but may request unclaimed tickets by notifying the Division of University Relations of their need for tickets and being placed on the waitlist by phoning 706-864-1950. These tickets, if available, will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis until depleted.

Graduates should arrive at least 45 minutes prior to graduation to prepare and line up for the ceremony. Graduates and guests should allow extra time for traffic and parking when arriving for the ceremony in the Convocation Center on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

Graduates and guests are invited to share their success via social media using #UNG18grad; posts and photos using the hashtag can be viewed before, during and after the weekends ceremony at UNG18grad.

To find more information about commencement, including details and instructions for graduates and guests, visit UNG's commencement webpage.
UNG alumnus John Dees decided to take charge of his academic future at the age of 33.

"To be perfectly honest, I had gotten really off track in my 20s," said the 2015 University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus.

He had dropped out of high school, and only had a GED and good SAT scores. After a brief first stint at college, he worked a variety of jobs. After overcoming struggles with substance abuse in his late 20s, he spent four years in his first career working for a manufacturer of custom toolkits for military, government and industrial customers. But, at age 33, he decided to change the direction of his future and pursue a degree at UNG.

"I had a lot of professors who saw that I worked hard and took time to cultivate me and gave me a lot of special attention," Dees said. "They helped me find skills that I didn't know I had. My experience at UNG allowed me to see what was possible."

He credits most of his academic success to his professors, including Peggy Strickland and Dr. Anastasia Lin, who helped him realize his writing potential. Strickland is a former professor of English, and Lin is assistant vice president of Research Engagement at UNG.

For three years, he served as a tutor in the Writing Center, which allowed him to develop a meaningful relationship with the UNG community and realize his desire to teach.

He enrolled as an environmental spatial analysis major, a program that combines the use of geographic information systems and mapping to analyze environmental data while taking space into account, because of his inclination to work for the benefit of the environment.

"As I dove into it, I realized how much this was being utilized and thought that it was probably a really strong career path with a lot of growth," he said. "I think I initially chose it because it made a lot of practical sense. There's a lot of hiring going on in that field."

He also appreciated the interdisciplinary flexibility of the program. Through this major he could take courses ranging from environmental studies to law and philosophy. The broad experience prepared him for his graduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley.

"It prepared me for the graduate program that I'm in, because I was exposed to a lot of things besides mapping," he said. "I just finished my master's degree in energy and resources, and I've just completed my first year of my Ph.D., also in energy and resources. I'm starting my second year soon. I study renewable energy politics and policy."

Ideally, Dees hopes to complete his doctorate and become a professor. He wants to help cultivate successful students, just as he was during his time at UNG.

"I learned that I was capable of a lot more than I originally thought I was. UNG was a good place for that," he said. "It (UNG) gave me a space to stretch out and realize what was possible."
[November 26, 2018] Technology Services Industry Association Honors Fuze with Second Support Staff Center Excellence Award

Fuze, the leading cloud-based communications and collaboration platform provider for the modern global enterprise, today announced it has been designated by the Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) with Certified Support Staff Excellence Center status in recognition of the company's superior customer service capability and completion of Level I and II recertification. In meeting TSIA's rigorous training and performance requirements, Fuze is the only company in the Unified Communications (News - Alert) as a Service (UCaaS) industry to receive both certifications and this prestigious distinction. Since receiving the initial certifications and going through the recertification process, Fuze demonstrated measurable improvements to the customer support experience, improving initial response times by 62 percent and overall customer satisfaction by 55 percent. The Certified Support Staff Excellence Center certification is a staff development program designed to enable a superior customer support experience through world-class frameworks and industry best practices. This designation leverages performance metrics that ensure the entire service organization's staff applies key elements of the training program to improve their interactions with customers on a sustained level. "At Fuze, it is our mission that every employee is empowered to do their best work by utilizing our technology," said Vice President of Global Customer Support, David Donatelli. "This award serves as a testament to our teams' hard work and commitment to our customers as we continue to strive for the best customer experience available in the industry." Focusing on th evolving needs of its customers, Fuze recently announced new mobile enhancements that will improve the experience for on-the-go users. The updates feature network prioritization, which intelligently monitors for connectivity and quality issues to notify users when to switch between Wifi and cellular networks. Additionally, Fuze provides a number of options for personalization, including customized shortcuts and widgets. These additions enable workers to control how and when they stay connected, allowing them to do their best work on their own terms.



"We're honored to publicly recognize and congratulate these leading organizations at TSW for their outstanding achievements, both this year and for several years running," said Thomas Lah, executive director of TSIA. "By going through these rigorous evaluation and certification programs, these companies have proven their dedication to excellence and their unwavering commitment to their customers." To learn more about Fuze Worldwide Support Services, visit: www.fuze.com/worldwide-support-services.

About TSIA

The Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) is the world's leading organization dedicated to advancing the business of technology and services. Technology services organizations large and small look to TSIA for world-class business frameworks, best practices based on real-world results, detailed performance benchmarking, exceptional peer networking opportunities, and high-profile certification and awards programs. TSIA corporate members represent the world's top technology companies as well as scores of innovative small and mid-size businesses in four major markets: enterprise IT and telecom, consumer technology, healthcare and healthcare IT, and industrial equipment and technology. About Fuze

Fuze is a global cloud communications and collaboration software platform for the enterprise. Through an innovative and consumer-inspired unified experience, Fuze enables seamless transition between voice, video, messaging, and content sharing. Fuze empowers the digital workforce anytime, anywhere, and across any device. Headquartered in Boston, MA, Fuze has additional locations including New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Ottawa, London, Amsterdam, Aveiro (Portugal), Paris, Munich, Zurich, Copenhagen, and Sydney. For more information, visit www.fuze.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005091/en/

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Separated Bhutanese twins Nima and Dawa have left hospital, appearing for the first time in public as individual girls.

Conjoined twin girls Nima and Dawa have been showing off their cheeky side since last week's surgery.

"The two remarkable girls were recovering well and somewhat smiling".

The hospital's head of pediatric surgery Dr Joe Crameri thanked the surgical, nursing and physiotherapy teams.

Fifteen-month-old Nima and Dawa - whose names mean "Sun" and "Moon" - were separated on Nov 9 at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, a month after arriving in Australia with their mother Bhumchu Zangmo.

"Girls who started off really attached and bonded to another, but ultimately frustrated with one another", Dr Crameri said.

The twins had become "incredibly anxious" after the separation when they became aware that they were no longer in front of each other he said. They have "embraced The Wiggles in a big way".

"But ultimately over the last couple of weeks we've seen them gain confidence, we've seen them gain independence, we've seen them gain a lot of strength".

Hospital CEO John Stanway displayed the letter signed by the Fourth King of Bhutan, hand-delivered by an envoy.

While the pair were recovering their strength and movement at a different pace, their scars were healing well and they were "looking strong", he said, adding that they were "cheeky" and like to mimic The Wiggles children's music group.

"The successful surgery has made it possible for Nima and Dawa to enjoy a happy and meaningful life in Bhutan", Jigme Singye Wangchuck wrote.

The twins and their mother are set to move to a town north of Melbourne, where the charity Children First Foundation - which helped them get to Australia - has a retreat.

'What the two girls need is stimulation of other children being around to challenge them, to give them interest and that will do wonders for the girls, ' Dr Crameri said, noting one more wound check and a review was expected.

As she wheeled the babies out of the hospital - where they have been since October 2 - their mother Bhumchu Zangmo said: 'Thank you, everyone'.
The arrival of a migrant caravan from Mexico at the San Ysidro border crossing and the rush of people trying to enter the US has forced the Border Police to take strong measures. They resorted to firing tear gas to deter the migrants who attempted to climb fences and use the car lanes. The caravan crowd pelted the CBP personnel with rocks and bottles and tear gas was an unexpected development. It led to a chaotic situation with women and children choking on the gas. These persons were in Tijuana for several days, and have now gathered at the border fence in a desperate attempt to enter America.

New Zealand Herald reports the US-Mexico border crossing at San Ysidro handles around 100,000 visitors per day. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen clarified that closure of this entry point was necessary "to ensure public safety in response to large numbers of migrants seeking to enter the US illegally."

It is a humanitarian crisis

In the opinion of the mayor of Tijuana, this as a humanitarian crisis. The caravan migrants began their journey in Honduras and traveled across Mexico to arrive in Tijuana about two weeks ago. The numbers kept swelling to more than 8,000. The US border officials have limitations. Their capacity is limited and the list is a long one. Hence, delays will be there and the migrants decided to express their frustration and highlight the conditions in which they were living.

BREAKING Tear gas in the air at the San Ysidro crossing between Mexico and California where some migrants tried to breach the border, which has been closed.

by @hannahmckay88 and @topixkim for @Reuters pic.twitter.com/5SYYUpNfx4  James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) November 25, 2018

The border crossing at San Ysidro is a large complex.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

There are multiple lanes of vehicles apart from pedestrian access points. Duncan Wood, an official in Washington, has expressed concerns about the closure of the border. He sees it as a drastic response to a serious incident. Authorities in Mexico are worried about the economic fallout of such an action because it will have an effect on trade and tourism.

US takes a tough stand on caravan migrants

According to CNN, US Border Patrol agents resorted to firing tear gas at a group of migrants who tried to rush the border from the Mexican side. It seems a huge crowd of migrants, including families with young children, rushed towards police blockades near the San Ysidro Port of Entry. They threw projectiles and the US authorities reacted by using tear gas to disperse them and ensure the safety of their personnel.

President Donald Trump has threatened to close the US-Mexico border to migrants while the mayor of Tijuana has called on the Mexican government and the international community for help. The mayor is worried because residents of the city have close contact with the US and go there every day for work or for studies and closure of the border will affect them.
American Missionary John Allen Chau was reportedly killed by inhabitants of Sentinel Island, whose existence dates back to the Stone Age. Chau visited the forbidden island multiple times between 2015 and 2018. His most recent visit before Thanksgiving turned fatal when he was allegedly attacked by tribesmen wielding bows and arrows.

Recovery of remains elusive

Police had a standoff with the natives on November 24, according to The Telegraph (UK). Progress in recovering Chaus body proved elusive. The Indian police could only approach the island and, from a distance, use binoculars to observe the inhabitants, who stared down the officers in a boat that belongs to a marine unit, News Corp Australia reported.

#Andaman

Handling challenging North Sentinel Island case. Most challenging ever. Consulting Anthropologists/Psychologist/locals. Hopeful.  Dependra Pathak (@Dependra_Pathak) November 24, 2018

The recovery efforts pose risks to the officers, as well as to the Sentinelese people. The tribes immune system could be compromised by other non-islanders. As well, the officers could be attacked in the same manner as John Chau was reportedly killed.

Officers retreated to avoid confrontation

Dependra Pathak, Director General of Police, described looking at the tribesmen, who stared at the officers. The officers avoided confrontation, deciding to retreat to safety. Police have not confirmed that Chau was killed, however, since they do not have his body.

Fishermen are the source of the story.

The seven fishermen who allegedly assisted Chau in making his way onto the island, more than once, accepted bribes for taking him nearby. Fearing for their own lives, they towed a kayak near the island, which Chau used to paddle himself inland. After he made it ashore, according to the fishermen, the tribesmen took aim with their bows and arrows. Chau was reportedly buried in the sand.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

An American man described in local media as either an adventure tourist or a Christian missionary has been killed by tribesman on North Sentinel island, Indian police said. https://t.co/biaASGiEhI  NPR (@NPR) November 21, 2018

One-man mission to convert tribesman was deadly

Chau ignored the Indian governments Travel ban affecting the island.

He was on a one-man mission to convert the Sentinelese to Christianity, according to numerous news agencies in the days since his death. Police have done their utmost to avoid endangering the islands inhabitants.

Expert say leave islanders alone

Anthropologists have warned that even a common cold or flu could wipe out the entire population of the tribe, according to Global News (Canada). Authorities hope to recover Chaus remains without confronting the tribe, Global News noted.

They are the indigenous people of North Sentinel Island in the Andaman Islands of India. One of the Andamanese people, they resist contact with the outside world. pic.twitter.com/AP01Td4dsl  Bayi  (@Gerald_Huggins) November 21, 2018

While often it is difficult to find multiple sources who agree on a given subject, the topic of recovering Chaus body appears to be shaping a consensus among experts.

The resounding advice is to just leave the tribe alone since no one really knows much of anything about the people, their culture, and their method of communication, according to Global News. Disrupting them could actually motivate the tribesmen to become more aggressive, anthropologist Anup Kapoor, of New Delhi, stated.

Sentinelese protecting what is theirs

In the 1970s, one anthropologist named T.N. Pandit, now 83, frequently went to Sentinelese Island. He even befriended some of the tribesmen, Global News relayed. When Pandit traveled to the island, however, so did other scholars and officials.

The tribesmen, Pandit explained, have protected status according to Indian statutes. Attempting to prosecute any of the tribesmen for the death of Chau would be pointless, he added.

The laws that would seek to prosecute them are not their laws, Global News pointed out. Pandit said, They were protecting what is theirs.

Be sure to follow Blasting News for updates and for the latest information.
After the ice was broken between the two Koreas, North is trying to cozy up to the South. With this in mind, Kim Jong-un sent across a pair of hunting dogs to Moon Jae-in. These are Pungsan hunting dogs and the female has given birth to six puppies, three of them are female and three male. President Moon Jae-in has shared photos of the new arrivals on the official Blue House Twitter feed. It is obvious that Kim wants to use dog diplomacy to tighten the bonds of friendship with the South.

The Independent UK reports that after the puppies were born, Seoul dispatched tangerines to Pyongyang in response to a load of pine mushrooms that the North had sent.

The exchange of gifts is significant, as these are believed to be the result of three historic meetings between Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in in the recent past.

The Koreas are busy mending fences

Moon Jae-in deserves credit for his efforts to reduce tension in the Korean peninsula. Soon after taking over the reins, he began to talk about the reunification of Korea and normalizing relations with the North. That led Kim Jong-un to extend an olive branch by reactivating the hotline followed by Norths participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Then came the summit in Singapore between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un where the two leaders discussed denuclearization. This appears to have gone to the back burner.

South Korea's president has revealed the first pictures of puppies born to a "peace gift" dog given to him by North Korea https://t.co/24PrIey3aK  Sky News (@SkyNews) November 26, 2018

Right now, North and South are busy mending fences. In September, Moon Jae-in gave a speech to the North Korean public. It was a first for any South Korean leader.

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The occasion was the Arirang Games of the North. He also played a major role in bringing Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump to the table in Singapore in June. The South Korean president also expressed confidence that the long pending issue of the 1950-53 Korean War could soon be resolved.

North Koreas nuclear programs

According to Sky News, there is a growing goodwill between north korea and South Korea through an exchange of gifts.

Kim had sent a pair of dogs to Moon. The dogs belonged to a rare breed unique to North Korea. These canines are loyal and courageous and love to remain outdoors busy with hunting. Incidentally, this is not the first time that North Korea gifted a pair of these dogs to the South. They had done it in 2000 after the first inter-Korean summit.

Moon Jae-in had also given two of Souths indigenous Jindo dogs to Kim Jong-un. It seems the two leaders are concentrating on breaking down the decades' old barriers. These have kept hundreds of their families separated for years. However, there appears to have been no breakthrough in efforts to get Kim Jong-un to abandon his nuclear programs.
China will remain steadfast and active in addressing climate change and implementing the Paris Agreement, a senior envoy said Monday.

Photo shows the scene of Huangbai mountain national forest park in Henan Province on August 15, 2017. [File Photo: VCG]

"The country will deliver its promises 100 percent and even better; no matter how other countries change their position or attitude," China's Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua said at a press conference.

Xie made the remarks ahead of the Katowice Climate Change Conference, which includes the 24th session of the conference of the parties to the UN framework convention on climate change.

Speaking on expectations for the conference slated for early December in Poland, Xie said China hoped due negotiations on rules for the implementation of the Paris Agreement can be concluded at the meeting.

"It will be a landmark conference for global climate governance," he said. "We hope it could send a positive signal to the international community in implementing the agreement, promoting the shift to green and low-carbon development, and building a community of a shared future for mankind," said Xie.

He said China will continue to play a positive and constructive role to strive for a successful conference with all other parties.

The Paris Agreement, agreed on by almost every country in the world in 2015, aims to tackle climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and sets a global target of keeping the average temperature rise no higher than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Angie Avila told CBS News that while some may have seen her sister's decision to go to Mexico as risky, Mexico was familiar territory as they had often visited growing up.

"My heart aches, and I truly don't know how or if I'll ever overcome this pain", Angie Avila said in the post, noting that her sister Laura Avila died shortly after 8 a.m. Texas hospital doctors confirmed that Avila was brain dead. "Thank you for being the best sister in the world". Since we have been together, it has been a tradition for us to go to the beaches every year for our birthdays in January (mine on the 9th and hers on the 18th). She's the love of my life, and I know she will continue to watch over me and guide me just as she always has.

Laura was kept in an Intensive Care Unit in Mexico for six days before she was allowed to get back into the United States. The anesthesia reportedly travelled to her brain, instead of downward throughout her body.

"My next mission is justice for Laura".

Doctors allegedly began the operation on October 30 by administering Avila anesthesia via her spine. After protests from Cruz, he said his fiancee was transferred to a Mexican hospital for treatment and doctors told him she had suffered "global brain damage and had gone into cardiac arrest", Inside Edition reported. However, her family said officials at the Juarez Rino Center tried to stop them from leaving with Avila because they didn't pay the bill. "We have reason to believe that anesthesia was added to the wrong place".

A GoFundMe account her family created for Avila's hospital expenses had raised more than $80,000 as of Saturday, though it had hoped to raise as much as $150,000.

"I was kind of getting upset and anxious they would not let me see her or anything", said Cruz, who added he was told her blood pressure dropped and they could not perform the rhinoplasty.

"We have hired attorneys in Juarez, Mexico, who are assisting us in our quest for her medical records so she can be better assisted".

Angie Avila posted a recent update about the clinic on Facebook from their attorneys.
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Paris-based architecture firm Hamonic Masson & Associes has released images for its new residential tower in Limassol, Cyprus, the tower is wrapped by a series of patelliform pool terraces, acting like a bunch of flower in an urban context.

Called Clelia Tower, the firm's proposal won the second prize in a competition. The tower is situated in a plot of Cyprus, which is described as "an exceptional territory" by the architects.

"Sea, sun and beauty adorn its landscape and provide the opportunity for unique housing," said the architects. The firm's proposal for the Clelia Tower seeks to capture this natural splendeur for future inhabitants.

Image  Raphael Petit

The architects are inspired by the city's nature, and the design is echoed by the corolla-shaped balconies found in each apartment. Home to private swimming pools and planted green areas, they are like an independent island, but simultaneously have a direct link to the apartment.

Image  Raphael Petit

The tower, covering a total of 6,000-square-metre area, includes 19 luxury apartments, swimming pools, retail space and other services.

"This creates a luxurious living experience, where exterior meets interior. The corolla system is also found on the ground floor green landscape; round platforms and sunshades engender a distinctive architectural concept," added the firm.

Image  Jean-Charles Augier

Through these patelliform balconies and terraces, the architects are trying to create full transparency by providing unobstructed sea views that are maximized in design.

A sliding glass door is the only element separating living areas from the balconies, meaning the feeling of being outside is possible simply by opening the window.

Image  Jean-Charles Augier

On the ground floor, a regal entrance opens the doors to a unique living experience. The architects seek to enhance quality of living by offering a range of amenities: an underground fitness zone illuminated by natural sunlight, an art gallery on the ground floor and a premium spa on the first floor, all with independent entrances. Wellbeing and luxury combine to create an exclusive living experience.

Image  Jean-Charles Augier

Image  Jean-Charles Augier

Project facts

Name: Clelia Tower

Programme: 19 luxury apartments + swimming pools + retail + services

Location: Limassol, Cyprus.

Calendar: Competition 2018 (2nd place)

Developer: The Land

Co-developer + development manager: Masharii

Architecture team: Architect: Hamonic+Masson & Associes. Project manager: Bastien Capon

Surface: 6 000m2.

Top image  Raphael Petit

All drawings  Hamonic+Masson & Associes

> via Hamonic+Masson & Associes
Officials reopened the crossing at the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana on Sunday after shutting it down for several hours.

President Trump has threatened to "permanently" shut the border down if Mexico doesn't deport the migrants back to their countries of origin.

On Sunday, the situation at the border devolved after a large group marched to the US border to appeal for the U.S.to speed processing of asylum claims for Central American migrants marooned in Tijuana.

He tweeted: "Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries".

However, groups grew frustrated after realizing they wouldn't receive permission, so they headed toward the border fence - with U.S. CBP responding with tear gas.

"If for any reason it becomes necessary, we will CLOSE our Southern Border."

"Congress, fund the WALL!"

He said the people "coordinating" the caravan intentionally display the women and children prominently, and the media runs with those images "to pull the heartstrings of America". As they neared the US border, they were stopped by Mexican authorities, who told them to wait for permission.

The migrants who are mostly Honduran are fleeing poverty and violence and have said they would wait in Tijuana until they could request asylum in the United States.

Mexico looked set to shore up security near its border with the United States on Monday, and local authorities said that 39 migrants were arrested after a peaceful march devolved into mayhem when US agents fired tear gas into Mexico to stop some migrants who tried to breach the worldwide line.

Trump has just a few weeks left to push his fellow Republicans who control both chambers of Congress to make good on the wall before Democrats take control of the U.S. House of Representatives in January following their election gains. More police carrying plastic riot shields were on the other side, but migrants walked along the river to an area where only an earthen levee and concertina wire separated them from U.S. Border Patrol agents.

The situation devolved after the group began a peaceful march to appeal to the U.S.to speed the processing of asylum claims for Central American migrants marooned in Tijuana.

The Trump administration has said asylum claims from members of a series of caravans originating in Central America must be processed outside the US, and that all those entering illegally will be denied.


From Al Jazeera:

Born to affluent parents in Palestine under the British mandate in 1935, Edward W Said devoted his adult life to raising awareness of the Palestinian cause on the world stage. A literature professor at Columbia University and celebrated intellectual, he was a scholar and an ordinary mans person, according to the Independents Middle East correspondent, Robert Fisk.

A fatal diagnosis with leukaemia in 1991 prompted him to start working on Out of Place: A Memoir, a coming-of-age story of exile and a celebration of his irrecoverable past. In this masterpiece, Said rediscovers the lost Arab world of his early years in Palestine, as well as in Lebanon and Egypt.

Raised as a Protestant in a predominately Eastern Orthodox community in Jerusalem, he realised early in life that he had something of a split identity. His first name was British, his last name Arabic and he carried an American passport through his fathers US army service in the first world war.

More here.
by Joshua Wilbur

I first encountered a Big Dumb Object (BDO) in an underfunded school library in rural East Texas. Sitting cross-legged on the carpeted floor, I held a battered paperback just a few inches from my face, periodically turning it over to inspect the image on the books cover.

Rama.

I was twelve years oldthe real golden age of science-fictionand Arthur C. Clarkes Rendezvous with Rama captivated my imagination. The novels premise is simple: an alien starship, a massive cylinder of unknown origin and construction, has entered the solar system, and a crew of scientists must investigate. Thin on plot (and even thinner on characterization), Rama lingers in my memory not for whats hidden within the vessel but for whats kindled from without, from the mere suggestion of a colossus come from the stars. It stirred in me what sci-fi critics have called the sense of wonder, a feeling of awe that courses through the heart of the genre.

Nothing better epitomizes this sense of wonder than Big Dumb Objects, a term coined by Roz Kaveney and lovingly adopted by fans of the science fiction genre. BDOs, as youll have guessed, are really big, dumb in the old sense of mute, silent, refraining from speaking, and usually serve as a focal point for narrative action. Mysterious thing is discovered; mysterious thing is explored. In a Weird Things column for The Guardian, Damien Walter defines the BDO:

  the Big Dumb Object (BDO) is a unique selling point of the sci-fi genre. It can be a broad term  usually, theyre alien architectures, ranging from the man-sized to the planetary. BDOs either look extreme or unusual, and can often do extreme or unusual things: everything from lurking on a horizon to creating worlds. Usually, BDOs are plonked into plots to awe us with their majesty and mystery  really, theyre science fictions equivalent of a MacGuffin.

BDOs participate in J.J. Abrams often maligned mystery box approach to storytelling. For Abramsthe creative force behind Lost, Cloverfield, Super 8, and the Star Trek and Star Wars rebootsstories are mystery boxes, containers of infinite possibility and [the] sense of potential. Like a Kinder Surprise Egg (a chocolate treat once amusingly deconstructed by Slavoj Zizek) or the loot boxes now so prevalent in videogames, the feeling of anticipation far surpasses the eventual discovery of whats inside, which explains why Abrams conclusions sometimes fall flat. The riddle is better than its answer.

Big Dumb Objects are physical promises, harbingers of something more. And their physicality comes in several geometric forms. There are hulking cylinders: Clarkes Rama, the whale-seeking probe of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and the hollowed-out asteroids of Kim Stanley Robinsons 2312 and Greg Bears Eon. There are foreboding spheres: Michael Crichtons Sphere, the Death Star (Thats no moon!), and the Dyson Sphere, a hypothetical megastructure surrounding a star and sapping its energy, first imagined by Olaf Stapledon in Starmaker and later included in a number of space opera novels. There are gigantic rings (in Stargate, Ringworld, Halo) and mysterious cubes (in Star Trek, Cube, even Fortnite).

In all mixed shapes and monstrous sizes, BDOs populate the sci-fi landscape. They tantalize us with the Lovecraftian unknown, with hints of a long-lost creator or unfathomable motivating force. The truth is in there.

This notion of a hidden, higher truth is what attracted me to BDO stories as an adolescent. Rama withheld more enticing secrets than my towns cattle-filled pastures, piney woods, and red-brick churches. In Science Fiction in the 20th Century, Edward James writes that [science fiction] can create a rival sense of wonder, which acts almost as a replacement religion: a religion for those deprived of all traditional certainties in the wake of Darwin, Einstein, Plank, Godel, and Heisenberg. In lieu of the gods, Big Dumb Objects point to a deeper meaning concealed somewhere within the universe itself, a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.

In the realm of fiction, BDOs satisfy our basic desire for mystery. But what about the real world? If I were to go looking for a Big Dumb Object, could I find one?

Nature, of course, offers no shortage of giant, unspeaking stuff. Our planet boasts volcanic mountains, redwood trees, and tabular icebergs. Seeing such things affects us deeply. Like the speaker of Wordsworths Tintern Abbey, we encounter beauteous forms and experience a sense sublime of something far more deeply interfused [] a motion and a spirit, that impels all thinking things, all objects of all thought, and rolls through all things. Weve all felt this Romantic rush at some time or another. But, as a rule, BDOs imply design. A mountain is not a Big Dumb Object (unless its an artificial mountain, secretly housing an imprisoned creature or a terrible weapon or a reclusive tribe). A mountainhowever inspiring it may beis an aimless mass of rock and earth. No doubt, there is mystery in the objects of the natural world (especially if ones doors of perception are opened wide), but no apparent design.

What about man-made objects? What of 747s, skyscrapers, oil tankers, religious statues, megamalls, and nuclear reactors? In cities, we are dwarfed by immense structures made of brick, concrete, and steel. I sometimes ask myself how do they build these things, how is it possible to construct something so tall? But then I know that theres really no secret to it: the highest high-rise is born of well-trained architects, intricate blueprints, an abundance of materials, plenty of workers, and lots of time. And the purpose of most structures is also obvious. Buildings hold people, just as planes fly and boats float. There is design but no mystery.

If Im to discover a real life Big Dumb Object, then Ill need to find something that conveys both purpose and secrecy, which is no easy task. The Pyramids come to mind, but theyve been well-studied by now, confirmed as tombs, rendered historical. There are the Pictish stones in Scotland, which are covered in strange symbols and reminiscent of the monolith in Arthur C. Clarkes other great BDO story, 2001: A Space Odyssey. But, again, my sensawunda is stifled by the knowledge that the passage of time has obscured what in all likelihood is a perfectly logical explanation for their existence. The same goes for ancient temples, old artifacts, and abandoned buildings. The past is a foreign country (and endlessly fascinating for that reason), but a true BDO strikes us in the present and pulls our imaginations into the future.

Ive already mentioned skyscrapers as fairly obvious objectstransparent symbols of financial expansion and office culturebut there is a strange exception jutting from lower Manhattans TriBeCa neighborhood. It is a faceless block, a building without windows, an extreme example of the Brutalist style of architecture that dominated during the mid-twentieth-century. The AT&T Long Lines Building at 33 Thomas Street, located between Thomas and Worth Streets, is a forbidding structure, and I cant see it without imagining whats inside and wondering what deep forces operate outside of my awareness. In other words, its a Big Dumb Object.

Completed in 1974, the AT&T Building at 33 Thomas has ostensibly served as a telecommunications hub for more than forty years. The concrete, windowless structure is far from usual, however: it was built to withstand a nuclear blast. 33 Thomas originally contained telephone switches and coordinated phone calls, but today it houses one of the worlds most secure data centers and maintains mysterious ties to the NSA. A 2016 report from The Intercept tells the story of the NSAs Spy Hub in New York, Hidden in Plain Sight, codenamed TITANPOINTE. The article notes:

It is not uncommon to keep the public in the dark about a site containing vital telecommunications equipment. But 33 Thomas Street is different: An investigation by The Intercept indicates that the skyscraper is more than a mere nerve center for long-distance phone calls. It also appears to be one of the most important National Security Agency surveillance sites on U.S. soil  a covert monitoring hub that is used to tap into phone calls, faxes, and internet data.

The report (which is well worth reading) goes on to include details from whistleblower Edward Snowdens released documentsas well as architectural plans, public records, and interviews with former AT&T employeesin making the case that 33 Thomas is first and foremost a surveillance facility. The building certainly looks the part. But the truth is that we, the general public, cannot know for sure. 33 Thomas is a giant question mark in the middle of downtown Manhattan. And in spite of whatever insidious actors might reside within, I cant help but appreciate the structure, its looming presence a constant reminder that theres still uncharted territory in our world.

And far beyond. Outer space, as Star Trek tells us, is the final frontier. For months, Ive followed the observations of and speculations about Oumuamua, the first interstellar object detected passing through our solar system. The object is peculiar for several reasons: its unclear origins, its elongated shape, its unusual shininess. Harvard researchers have speculated that Oumuamua may be an artificial object, a light sail created by an alien civilization. Its a tantalizing suggestion, but, again, we cannot know without more information. Oumuamua is a potential BDO on the move, tumbling through the solar system at more than twenty-six kilometers per second and frustrating efforts to learn more about the object. And yet, with more than one hundred billion stars in our Milky Way Galaxy alone, there is endless possibility for more. For now, we wait and dream.

In the meantime, Ill continue my search for BDOs closer to home. If nothing turns up, then I can always adjust my manner of looking and adopt a beginners mind. The world teems with Big Dumb Objects for young children, for example, who experience everything for the first time. Childhood proves that finding mystery in the mundane is always a matter of perception. This was a fundamental truth for the poet William Blake, who, in a letter to Reverend John Trussler, suggests a possible path forward in our pursuit of higher meaning, as we hold out hope that big answers exist underneath the surface of things:

[] I know that this world is a world of imagination and vision. I see every thing I paint in this world, but everybody does not see alike. To the eyes of a miser a guinea is far more beautiful than the Sun, and a bag worn with the use of money has more beautiful proportions than a vine filled with grapes. The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity, and by these I shall not regulate my proportions; and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself. As a man is, so he sees.
Jacob Weisberg in the New York Review of Books:

Facebook is a company that has lost controlnot of its business, which has suffered remarkably little from its series of unfortunate events since the 2016 election, but of its consequences. Its old slogan, Move fast and break things, was changed a few years ago to the less memorable Move fast with stable infra. Around the world, however, Facebook continues to break many things indeed.

In Myanmar, hatred whipped up on Facebook Messenger has driven ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya. In India, false child abduction rumors on Facebooks WhatsApp service have incited mobs to lynch innocent victims. In the Philippines, Turkey, and other receding democracies, gangs of patriotic trolls use Facebook to spread disinformation and terrorize opponents. And in the United States, the platforms advertising tools remain conduits for subterranean propaganda.

Mark Zuckerberg now spends much of his time apologizing for data breaches, privacy violations, and the manipulation of Facebook users by Russian spies. This is not how it was supposed to be. A decade ago, Zuckerberg and the companys chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, championed Facebook as an agent of free expression, protest, and positive political change. To drive progress, Zuckerberg always argued, societies would have to get over their hang-ups about privacy, which he described as a dated concept and no longer the social norm.

More here.
Eight games set for this weekend at Dacotah Bank Classic

sports
Over her 30 years as a University of New Mexico biology professor, Maggie Werner-Washburne has seen hundreds of students leave the state to further their education and pursue careers in Science, Technology, Math and Engineering fields.

So when she heard business leaders last year bemoaning the scarcity of local STEM-trained professionals available for New Mexico-based jobs, her creative instincts clicked into high gear for a new initiative to repatriate some of the states lost talent.

That initiative, now called STEM Boomerang, aims to connect local business and government leaders with STEM professionals who left New Mexico but want to return, as well as local talent who lack connections with potential employers here.

Businesspeople were complaining that they lacked a high-tech workforce to recruit from, Werner-Washburne said. They didnt think it existed, but I realized they simply didnt know who or where the professionals are.

Likewise, former students who left the state and might want to come back had no easy way to search for career opportunities here.

I realized we needed to introduce people and bring everyone together to meet, because we didnt have some great web page or other vehicle for people to connect, Werner-Washburne said.

Her efforts culminated in a two-day STEM Boomerang event last December that brought more than 200 people together, including 115 STEM professionals plus dozens of business leaders, public officials, academics, economic development professionals, and companies seeking trained employees.

About 175 young people wanted to come, but not everyone could make it, and 34 companies showed up, Werner-Washburne said.

That led to nearly a dozen out-of-state professionals finding local jobs. That includes Marriah Tomar, whom the state Economic Development Department hired this year as director for the Office of Science and Technology, said Lisa Kuuttila, UNMs chief economic development officer and head of the Science and Technology Corp., the universitys tech-transfer office

Through STEM Boomerang, we helped connect her with the Economic Development Department, and she got the position, Kuuttila said.

Now, STEM Boomerang is preparing for its second annual career fair at UNM Dec. 18-20, and those involved are working to turn the initiative into a year-round, sustainable program to provide the connections needed to reverse some of the states brain drain.

A broad range of public and private sector representatives are involved, including all of the states national labs, research universities, business associations, private companies, and economic development professionals from the state, and from the city governments in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Its a great initiative, Kuuttila said. Theres a huge need for our laboratories and private companies to recruit talent, and what better talent to draw from than those who went to school here. They can build their careers in New Mexico.

Among others, the New Mexico Biotechnology and Biomedical Association and the states newly-formed Bioscience Authority are working closely with STEM Boomerang.

Were really behind this, said association Executive Director Greg Byrnes. It serves the long-term needs of the bioscience industry, which is trying to attract talent. The timing is great, because we have a number of firms in New Mexico on the verge of breakout success.

To recruit prospective professionals, Werner-Washburne mined UNMs database of former students who received mentoring and training through the universitys pre-PhD program, a 45-year-old project funded by the National Institutes of Health that Werner-Washburne has directed for 14 years. She used some NIH grant funds to organize last years STEM Boomerang event, including a survey of hundreds of STEM professionals and New Mexico employers to determine their needs and match them up at the annual event.

The NIH grant is ending, and so STEM Boomerang now needs New Mexico sponsors and organizers to turn it into a sustainable program.

Im stepping down from my lead role this year, but theres a lot of potential for it to go forward, Werner-Washburne said. With the right groups leaning in on it, this could be great for the state.

A lot more people are expected to attend this year, with about 150 STEM Professionals coming to town and possibly up to 50 companies participating.

The events pre-Christmas program is by design, Werner-Washburne said. Christmas is best, because people are already coming home to visit and be with family.

Werner-Washburne calls the states young STEM professionals the seed corn of New Mexico.

We want them to go out, see the world, network, and learn all that they can, she said. But then we want them to come back and bring all that home with them.

For more information, visit stemboomerang.org.
From November 26 to 29, 2008, 10 terrorist associated with the LeT carried out a series of coordinated assaults against multiple targets in Mumbai, it said.

He added that a grateful nation bowed to its fearless police and security forces who had valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.

As Mumbai on Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the attacks that killed 166 in India's financial capital, the United States offered a new reward for information about the 2008 siege.

In a sharp remark on Pakistan for hanging fire on the trial, which has been going on since 2009, the MEA stated the plotters of the attack were roaming the streets with impunity. "We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates".

India marks the 10th anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks today on 26/11 that left 166 people dead and over 300 people injured.

"We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice". "The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world".

The gunmen targeted two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, a tourist restaurant and a crowded train station during the three days of carnage in 2008.



A policeman checks the site of a shooting at the Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus railway station in Mumbai

India blamed the attack on the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, throwing relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours into a tailspin.

"A grateful nation bows to our courageous police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks", said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the attacks "gruesome".

Over 60 hours 4 attackers shot dead the guests and hotel staff, detonated the explosives and set parts of the building including its famous dome on fire.

The focal point of the assault was the iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel.

In December 2001, the Department of State designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Six Americans were among the Mumbai victims and the US State Department announced a $5 million prize for the capture of the remaining planners of the attacks.

In 2012, the Department put a bounty of $10 million on LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and $2 million on his deputy, Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki.
Editors note: This story is part of a collaboration between the Center for Public Integrity, The Texas Tribune, The Associated Press and Newsy.

CARLSBAD  Wayne Smith was hardened to a certain level of chaos here, on land the American public owns. But even he was incredulous as he surveyed an area he leases for grazing, now cleared of grass and cluttered with above-ground pipelines, a drill pad for multiple wells and other oil and gas infrastructure.

I still pay a grazing lease right there, Smith said in May, pointing to a government map showing there should be no more than 17 acres of development on the site instead of the 125 acres he saw in front of him. Now, whats my cow going to eat?

This isnt whats supposed to happen on publicly owned land the federal government oversees. The Bureau of Land Management can lease the same property to more than one party at once, but if New Mexico ranchers request it  as Smith did  the agency has instructed its field offices to contact them before such a build-up occurs. Smith said no one notified him.

Violations, from oil spills to haphazard land restoration, are becoming more common in this hotbed of oil and gas activity, according to ranchers and conservation groups. One sign of the areas increasing appeal for drilling: A September federal oil and gas lease sale brought in a record-breaking $972 million. Jim Stovall, a local BLM official, admitted at a meeting in May that his team doesnt have the resources to enforce all the rules on the books, according to five people who heard his remarks.

But the Trump administrations priority is to speed up oil and gas permitting and to open tens of thousands of additional acres to drilling here. For years, the industry in New Mexico has had outsize access to local BLM officials  federal employees relying on the private sector for everything from money to expertise. Now, its getting assistance from Washington.

We want to make the BLM a better business partner for the oil and gas industry, Michael Nedd, then-acting director of the agency, said last year at the Carlsbad Mayors Energy Summit.

The BLM declined to answer specific questions, instead releasing a general statement saying the agency is committed to sustainably developing our Nations energy and natural resources.

Conservationists, ranchers and others worry that allowing more drilling without addressing the problems already created by ramped-up production could threaten one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the world, put local water supplies and the global climate at risk and scar the land so it cant be used for other purposes afterward.

The conflict is happening against a backdrop of record U.S. production of oil and gas, and the Permian Basin in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico is in the heart of that boom. The Permian includes about 2 million acres of land and 3 million acres of minerals managed by the BLM around Carlsbad. In New Mexico, production is occurring ever closer to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a United Nations World Heritage Site.

Government officials say accelerating permitting will bring much-needed jobs and money. The permitting process, some say, had been hijacked by anti-development interests.

Texas was blessed, not just with a larger portion of the basin, but also with no federal lands, New Mexico Energy Secretary Ken McQueen told Congress in June. In Texas you can have a permit and a rig on location quicker than you can fill out the paperwork to drill a well on federal acreage in New Mexico.

The Trump administration eliminated a required 30-day public comment period before land is leased and directed BLM employees to skip in-depth environmental assessments for oil and gas projects whenever possible.

Robert McEntyre with the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association said those moves simply require BLM to follow the law, a prudent step. But for Brent Keith with The Nature Conservancy, it calls into question how much they are putting a thumb on the scale in terms of energy dominance.

Some here fear their way of life will become collateral damage. Leasing public land is a key part of the Smith familys cattle operation  true of many ranchers. Before Wayne Smith died in October at age 47, he kept calling the BLM for help.

It didnt work.

We cant stop anything thats happening now, he said about five months before his death from undetermined causes. We can only survive. And theres a point where survival is not there anymore.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

A new Permian Strategic Partnership encompassing 17 oil companies will invest $100 million in community development efforts to improve quality of life in the Permian Basin in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico.

The group, which announced its creation and goals on Nov. 19, includes some of the worlds largest producers, such as Chevron, ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell. The partnership aims to alleviate the strain on local resources that has accompanied a years-long boom in the Permian, including housing shortages, traffic congestion, overtaxed healthcare, overcrowded schools and labor shortages.

Chevron and our peer companies came together some time ago to discuss the challenges our employees and communities were facing in the Permian, and what has emerged is a unique partnership aiming to help the Permian region thrive, said Jeff Gustavson, Chevron Mid-Continent Business Unit vice president in an email to the Journal. This partnership will help us collectively work with local, state and national officials, nonprofit organizations and other leading institutions to strategically plan for the regions growth in a way that improves quality of life in the region for years to come.

The rush to drill in the Permian has generated unprecedented production on both sides of the state border. But its has stressed infrastructure in the region.

To address those issues, the partnership will open a local office with leaders and staff in early 2019, and then launch community meetings to gather input for a multiyear effort to help ensure safer roads, superior schools, quality healthcare, affordable housing and a trained workforce.

As employers, we want workers to move here with their families, build careers, and become part of the community, the partnership said in its public announcement.

Thats critical for continued growth and prosperity in the oil patch, which the group believes will withstand market ups and downs to sustain production for years to come.

While the oil and gas business is inherently cyclical, we are convinced that what is happening in the Permian today points to resilience that is different from the boom and bust cycles of the past, the partnership said. Advances in technology and improved operating efficiencies have helped us produce safely and profitably even when prices are relatively low. We have analyzed various scenarios and believe that, even in a downturn, Permian production will continue to grow in the coming years.

The partnership did not specify how spending will be divided between New Mexico and Texas.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico is riding another record year in oil production, fueled by an industry stampede to pump crude in the Permian Basin.

Output is expected to sail past 200 million barrels by year end, up from last years record production of 171 million barrels, and more than twice the 85 million barrels produced in 2011.

Thats good news for state coffers, with an expected $1.2 billion in new money that could well hit $1.5 billion by the time the new legislative session starts in January.

Still, the oil and gas industry is notoriously volatile, and many things could easily turn todays boom into tomorrows bust. That includes a precipitous drop in prices since late October, thanks largely to surging U.S. output thats feeding world oversupply at a time when the global economy appears to be slowing and demand is declining.

In addition, the oil gusher in southeastern New Mexico is stretching local infrastructure to the limit, substantially slashing income for local producers who pay premium prices to transport crude from field to market through jammed-up pipelines. That, plus the prospect of greater environmental regulation as newly elected officials take office next year, is feeding uncertainty about the future.

For now, however, industry representatives and government officials are celebrating New Mexicos good-news gusher.

Were on pace this year to leap past last years record oil production, said New Mexico Oil and Gas Association Executive Director Ryan Flynn. We continue to see unprecedented industry growth and strength.

The numbers game

Legislative Finance Committee Vice Chair Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said the state could earn between $200 million and $300 million more in new money through the U.S. Bureau of Land Managements next oil lease sale in December. During the last sale in September, New Mexicos share of auction proceeds generated $467 million in new revenue for the state.

Weve been anticipating $1.2 billion in new money for next year, but we could get another shot in the arm from next months lease sale, Smith said. Im guessing it could generate $250 million more for New Mexico, putting us near the $1.5 billion ball park.

New Mexico oil production jumped by 38 percent in the first eight months of 2018, from 108.2 million barrels in the January-August period last year to 148.8 million barrels this year, according to the state Oil Conservation Division.

That reflects immense productivity in New Mexicos side of the Delaware Basin, an oval-shaped rock formation within the Permian that protrudes from southwest Texas northward into Lea and Eddy counties. The area has become one of the countrys most prolific oil and gas zones, generating some of the highest returns for oil firms operating in the U.S., and making New Mexico the third-largest oil-producing state in the nation as of last year.

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have cracked open difficult-to-reach pools of hydrocarbons trapped in hard shale rock, inspiring a California-style gold rush in the Permian and some other basins, such as the Bakken in North Dakota.

But its a double-edged sword. Ballooning U.S. output contributed to global overproduction in 2014 that slashed prices from above $100 per barrel to below $30, causing a three-year industry bust that ended in fall 2017, after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed to collectively cut production by 2 million barrels per day.

The OPEC cut helped raise prices for U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate to a range of $65 to $75 per barrel for most of this year. But in late October, prices crashed again, dropping to about $51 per barrel on Friday.

The latest decline again reflects expanding U.S. production, plus a recent increase in output by OPEC countries and Russia to offset a decline in oil from Iran after President Donald Trump reimposed sanctions on that country.

The U.S. reached an all-time high of 11.6 million barrels per day in early November, according to the Energy Information Administration. Its now the worlds No. 1 oil producer.

The EIA expects daily U.S. production to climb above 12 million barrels next year, raising concerns that prices could drop more, even if OPEC cuts output again at its next meeting in December, said Daniel Fine, a long-time oil industry consultant in New Mexico.

The global economy is slowing and demand is sluggish, Fine said. We could be looking at oversupply next year thats even greater than in 2014. I see prices touching down at $50 a barrel rather quickly, and maybe even slightly lower at $48 or $49.

During the last downturn, producers cut costs through technical and operational efficiencies, allowing them to continue producing profitably even when prices ranged between $45 and $50 a barrel.

The break-even point varies company by company, but I dont see production dropping now based on current prices, Flynn said. Were still in a strong position, even with the recent price dip

Other uncertainties

Lack of adequate infrastructure complicates things because extra transportation costs have sliced as much as $16 or $17 per barrel from the final price local producers receive for crude, and sometimes more, said long-time oilman and former Lea County commissioner Gregg Fulfer.

With the pipeline issues, some of us are taking a $20 hit on the price per barrel, Fulfer said. Thats a lot. All our tanks are backed up waiting on oil haulers to get crude moved out of here.

A number of large pipeline projects are under construction, which could significantly increase capacity by late 2019. Service companies are also hauling more crude by truck and rail, Fulfer said.

Apart from prices and logistics, industry is also concerned about forthcoming environmental regulations under governor-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham and incoming State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard. Both have called for state-level restrictions on methane emissions, and environmental groups are ready to lobby for more aggressive regulation in general, said Jon Goldstein, the Environmental Defense Funds director of regulatory and legislative affairs.

They ran on pro-environmental platforms, and they received strong mandates for more regulation of oil and gas activities, Goldstein said. Come January, I believe well see a number of state initiatives to address issues.

Industry wants to work with officials to find common ground on environmental concerns, but overzealous regulation could drive investment away, Flynn said.

Were at a pivotal moment now with the political climate in New Mexico and what choices the state will make, Flynn said. New Mexicos unique geology offers some of the best-producing wells in the Permian, but industry here has to compete for capital, and adverse decisions can drive production and investment over the border to Texas.

Despite all the uncertainties, business remains brisk in southeastern New Mexico, said Larry Scott, owner of Lynx Petroleum in Hobbs and a Republican state representative.

Things are still very busy here, Scott said. We have about 100 rigs running and generating a lot of new production. With a reasonably stable market, we expect that to continue.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.  A Grand Junction woman is at odds with school officials after an administrator asked her to cover up while she was nursing her child at an elementary school.

Kelly Johnson said she was breast-feeding her 18-month-old daughter in a hallway at Thunder Mountain Elementary last week, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported Friday. She was waiting for one of her other children, who attends private school but was in a speech therapy session at Thunder Mountain.

A staff member asked her to cover herself because students would be finishing classes soon, she said.

Johnson said she was trying to be discreet but the administrator made her feel she was doing something wrong.

I was very upset by it, Johnson said. It felt very shameful, like I was doing something wrong and it shocked me. Ive breast-fed all over my childs private school and all over Grand Junction. I know the laws.

Colorado law allows women to breast-feed in public.

School District 51 spokesman Charles Delano said Johnson was not asked to stop breast-feeding, only to cover up. Delano said the administrator offered to get her a covering.

Delano said the school district fully supports the rights of mothers to nurse their children.

Johnson said her children wont breast-feed if they are covered.

She said she called school officials afterward to explain her concern and was told she could breast-feed in the school nurses office.

Their idea of fixing it was sticking me in a room where sick kids have been all day, she said.

Johnson said she wants to make people aware that breast-feeding in public is protected by state law.

This really needs to be a teachable moment for everyone, that whether you support breast-feeding or not, this is the law, she said.

___

Information from: The Daily Sentinel, http://www.gjsentinel.com
The Albuquerque Journal reported Sept. 17 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warnings to 22 New Mexico businesses and fined one of them this past summer for selling electronic cigarettes to minors. It is, of course, illegal to sell e-cigarettes and tobacco to people younger than 18. Since the perpetrators include some of the nations largest mainstream retailers and convenience stores, including Walmart, Walgreens and 7-Eleven, it should illustrate to policy makers and citizens alike why tough, urgent action is needed at the state and local level.

Earlier, federal FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb stated e-cigarette use, or vaping, among teenagers nationally now has reached an epidemic proportion. New Mexicos youth are no exception. He subsequently announced new, sweeping government enforcement to halt sales to minors, targeting both manufacturers and retailers.  Much more help is needed.

E-cigarette devices heat liquid  frequently infused with nicotine  into an inhalable vapor. They are sold in more than 7,000 sugary flavors targeted to kids, like mango, cherry, strawberry and cotton candy. New high-tech, high-nicotine vaping products like Juuls and Blu are addicting a whole new generation of young people, (and) more than 30 percent of teens who use electronic cigarettes go on to smoke traditional tobacco within six months of beginning to use the electronic versions.

In addition to the harmful effects of nicotine on youth brain development, e-cigarettes pose other health risks for kids. While e-cigarettes do not contain all of the harmful substances of deadly combustible cigarettes, they do possess dangerous substances, such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and other toxic chemicals. Some of these substances are known and some are not. Many of the flavorings have never been tested, for example, and e-cigarette makers do not list their ingredients.

There has been a 75 percent increase in e-cigarette use among high school students in the U.S. in the past 12 months alone, according to the latest data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey.  Manufacturers are never truthful about their marketing targeting teenagers. Millions of teenagers have seen these ads that have made e-cigarettes extremely popular.

Smoking costs our state $844 million in direct health care and Medicaid every year, and it results in countless deaths, diseases and cancers. The overall cost to our state is an astronomical $1.4 billion. This is a tax on all of us that we pay one way or another  all for profits for the tobacco companies. We can no longer afford to idly sit by as a younger generation is tricked into nicotine addiction.

 That is why, in the coming New Mexico Legislature, I will sponsor several preventative measures to keep kids safe.

We should increase the tax on cigarettes, and especially e-cigarettes, by $1.50. The tax would increase from $1.66 to $3.16 in New Mexico, generating $90 million annually. The connection between the price of cigarettes and people actually smoking is well established. It would keep thousands of kids from ever taking up smoking or e-cigarettes and save the state millions of dollars in public health, insurance, lost wages and all the other associated costs. We have seen this legislation before, but now is the time to enact it.

 The real health dangers of second-hand smoke from traditional cigarettes is well known, but less discussed is the danger from being in the proximity of vaping substances. Reform is needed to prohibit e-cigarette use in all public places in New Mexico, including government buildings, public schools and universities, and health care facilities.

Without a change to the policy that ignores the use of kid-friendly flavorings in vapor products, the soaring growth in the use of dangerous e-cigarettes by children will continue. Our state must ban the flavored liquids used in electronic cigarettes once and for all.

New Mexico, with its high rate of poverty and large population of at-risk children, is on the front line of the growing threat to public health caused by e-cigarettes. We cannot wait for the FDA or Congress to address every problem associated with it and we cannot cede authority to the industry to police itself.

Epidemics demand strong action. If we care about the children of New Mexico as much as we say we do, then lets put the brakes on vaping now.
On Nov. 5, the American Academy of Pediatrics took a decisive step forward in an effort to assure the well-being of children. In this latest statement, pediatricians warned against the practice of hitting children as a form of discipline. They cited consistent research indicating that physical discipline harms children, does not improve their behavior and eventually makes them more aggressive. Its a truth we have known for a very long time. There are over 1,500 studies on the effects of corporal punishment going back as far as the 60s, and the overwhelming majority of them directly link physical punishment of children with lower IQ scores, more delinquency, a greater incidence of anxiety and depression, more aggression and more eventual substance use. If you think that children are hit less often these days, you are right, but only barely. The national endorsement of hitting children for disciplinary reasons has decreased from more than 80 percent to around 70 percent over the past 30 years. But is that really something to brag about? In fact, 65 percent of children under 3 are still regularly hit by their caretakers.

Many parents believe that if they surrender the option to hit their children, they might lose control of them altogether. But this is simply not the case. There are any number of better skills to manage young children, and parental authority depends upon love and attachment rather than the threat of being hit. While physical punishment might be more likely to immediately interrupt a childs misbehavior, it also results in increased eventual behavior problems and defiance. Children fear and resent the caretakers who hit them and studies document the negative impact of physical punishment on the child-parent relationship. What we should be seeking as parents is not immediate compliance purchased with fear, but rather the building of character and the consolidation of attachment.

Over the course of 30 years treating New Mexico children of all ages, it has become clear to me that whether they are seen in a clinic, a hospital or a jail, the reason is more likely than not related in some sense to abuse and neglect rather than actual psychiatric disease. Most childrens trauma comes at the hands of the primary caretakers. Even parents who seriously harm their children are, unbelievably enough, frequently trying to teach, correct or discipline them, usually in the same way they themselves were disciplined. Social research proves repeatedly that 75 percent of reported abuse begins with the intention to physically discipline a child or to teach them a lesson.

The general child protection standard in this county is to intervene only when there is obvious physical damage. Unfortunately, this standard has no relation to the actual research on neurodevelopment, where it is clear that emotional abuse, slaps and threats cause as much or more damage than bruises. The point is to protect our children, not see how far we can take discipline.

In an era when spousal abuse is condemned and even animal cruelty is prosecuted, its time that our own children had at least as many protections as farm animals. The most common justification given by adults for hitting children is, I was hit as a child, and I turned out just fine. Except that they didnt. People who are disciplined physically show nearly the same long-term brain and behavioral changes as those who are outright abused. A 2009 study by Tamoda in Neuroimage revealed children subjected to harsh physical punishment had 19 percent less gray matter in brain areas critical for self-control. Its no wonder that countries with the most physical punishment also have higher rates of adult violence and criminality. In a time when cruelty and violence are prevalent, and even accepted as a social norm, you can do something in your own home to change the future for the better. Love your children more and love them better  stop hitting them.
WASHINGTON  According to lore or rumor, some ancient tribes used to place the old people on an ice floe and shove them into the frigid ocean. Whether this is true, I know not, but it is essentially what some 16 House Democrats want to do with Nancy Pelosi. Here the legend ends differently: She aint going.

Why she should be denied another term as speaker of the House is not entirely clear. One of those who wants Pelosi out is Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., who promised her constituents that she would oppose Pelosi as speaker, expounding her reasoning in a Washington Post op-ed. It came down to this: She had promised her constituents she would do so. This is a tautology, not fresh thinking.

Oh, Rice had other reasons. Its time for a change, she said. She used the hopeless word hope. A new generation needed to rise. Pelosi is exceptionally experienced and knowledgeable, Rice wrote, but others could do the job. I diligently read to the end of the piece. Rice named no one.

There are commanding institutional reasons why it is just plain dumb to dump Pelosi at this point. Such a move would push the House into chaos, which most Americans might think is just another word for the status quo, but it is not. Pelosi in the past has been an effective leader. The proof of that is the constant use by her opponents of the word retribution. If you strike at her and fail, you will be punished. This is how the House works when it works. This is how politics works.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Pelosi for three reasons. The first is that the ongoing pillorying of her is firmly rooted in sexism. A man would never have become the GOPs perennial bogeyman/bogeyperson? Longtime speakers become adorable icons. Tip ONeill, who said Ronald Reagan knows less than any president Ive ever met, nevertheless got along famously with him, the two of them wallowing in Irish kitsch. The storied Mister Sam  Sam Rayburn of Texas  served three times as speaker between 1940 and 1961 and escaped vilification. Lyndon Johnson used to kiss his bald pate.

Second, Pelosi represents San Francisco. Like New York, it has long been caricatured as the capital of un-American ideas and lifestyles. There is no analogous city for conservatives  Tulsa, Lubbock? San Francisco was first disparaged in this way by Jeane Kirkpatrick at the 1984 Republican National Convention. She used the refrain San Francisco Democrats not merely because the party had recently held its convention there, but because the City by the Bay had come to represent gaudy non-conformity  drug usage, free love and some pretty wonderful music. Kirkpatrick, who became Reagans U.S. ambassador to the U.N., could not easily be envisioned with a bong.

Third, Pelosi is a pure politician. Its her lifes blood  literally. Her father was the mayor of Baltimore. Her brother was the mayor of Baltimore. They were both named Thomas  Big Tommy and Little Tommy, as they were known on the street. Baltimore, where I trespassed for The Washington Post, was partly in the South, partly in the North, totally in the Democratic Party and a feast for a political reporter. It had clubs and alliances and curious folkways, such as the distribution of walking around money on Election Day. Baltimores politics were shady and colorfully corrupt, but they taught the virtues of close contact, counting votes and the unassailable importance of loyalty.

The Democratic leadership of the House is old. Pelosi is 78, her No. 2, Steny Hoyer of Maryland, is 79, and James Clyburn of South Carolina, the third ranking member, is the same age as Pelosi. The optics are poor, downright unappealing to some. This is a problem, and it is more of one because Pelosi is not only old, she is a woman. Years of incessant misogynistic attacks have fabricated Pelosi into a political version of some sort of Shakespearean crone. Its appalling that some Democrats now give it credence.

That Kathleen Rice felt obliged to essentially validate Republican slander and promise her Long Island constituents that she would oppose Pelosi speaks volumes about Rice and nothing at all about Pelosi. Shes been a remarkably effective fundraiser and legislator who, among other things, salvaged Barack Obamas reluctantly named Obamacare. Without her, it never would have become law.

Instead of genuflecting to Pelosis sad polls, it would have been downright bracing for Pelosis House critics to have stood up for her. They, not Pelosi, deserve the political ice floe.

Bon voyage.

E-mail cohenr@washpost.com. (c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group.
WASHINGTON  One of the worst things about our awful political moment is its historical forgetfulness. Many Europeans seem to have forgotten where chauvinistic nationalism and the demonization of minorities can lead. Many Americans seem to have forgotten that a foreign policy of America First allowed international malignancies to grow that made war inevitable and resulted in the deaths of tens of millions. And many in Western countries seem to have forgotten the difficult, desperate project of building a moral and legal structure around the principle of human dignity in the aftermath of World War II.

Anti-Semitic attacks in Europe and the U.S. are both atrocities and reminders. They ring with distant but unmistakable echoes of the nightmarish events of the 1930s and 1940s: the racial purity laws, the economic indignities, the despairing suicides, the liquidation of the disabled, the digging up of Jewish graves in cemeteries, the deportations, the ghettos, the shootings in batch after batch, the pits of corpses, the emptied orphanages, the terrified walk to the gas chamber.

It is worth trying to recall how shocking these events were to the conscience of the world. The institutions of the modern state  bureaucracy, propaganda, military power  had been harnessed to the purposes of sadism and mass murder. This indicted a highly sophisticated and educated European society  along with the very idea of sophistication and education as brakes on evil. It indicted other nations who did little, even after the crimes became obvious. It indicted many German Christians who were indifferent or complicit. For some, it even indicted God, who seemed uncaring on a distant throne.

But the response was ultimately an idealistic one. The Allies would institute a new order of justice and human rights. The Tokyo tribunals and the Nuremburg trials were both legal and moral enterprises. The chief council for the prosecution, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, said he would not seek convictions for mere technical or incidental transgression of international conventions. We charge guilt  that involves moral as well as legal wrong.  It is their abnormal and inhuman conduct which brings them to this bar.

The moral response to World War II-era crimes found expression in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which speaks of inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights. There were many influences on this document, from President Franklin Roosevelts Four Freedoms to the Declaration of Independence. But the theory was simple: The Axis powers not only lost, they were wrong. Their vision of nation, race and culture would be replaced by an assertion of universal human rights and dignity.

It was, however, more of an assertion than an argument. French Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain, who was involved in the debates surrounding the Universal Declaration, said, We agree on these rights, providing we are not asked why. With the why the dispute begins.

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 only with 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.

But the most urgent, comprehensive attack on the universality of human rights now comes from the nativist right. In places such as Hungary, Romania, Germany, Poland and the United States, politicians are attempting to define nationality based on the dehumanization of cultural outsiders  Muslims, migrants and refugees. This type of politics is dangerous wherever it is practiced. In the United States, it also requires the renunciation of responsibilities rooted in the post-war acceptance of human dignity as the basis of global order and peace.

This is the cost of historical amnesia  the cost of electing an American president who is both ignorant of and indifferent toward the lessons of the last century, or any century. A president who always turns, by feral instinct, to an organizing message of bigotry and exclusion. A president who is throwing away an inheritance he does not value and unleashing forces that can easily move beyond control.

E-mail address is michaelgerson@washpost.com.
ART HAS LEFT-TURN DRIVERS STUCK: Mike Osborn reports via email that often while traveling northbound on Carlisle (I) need to turn left onto Central. I find that the left-turn arrow sometimes does not function or, if it does, only for a very brief time.

This situation is even worse driving westbound on Central and trying to turn left (south) onto Carlisle. When the left-turn light there does work, it usually stays on just long enough for one car to make it through the intersection, most often turning yellow before even that one car completes its full turn. This is frustrating because I then have to sit through another cycle of lights, hoping all the while that the turn light will function the next time. It is especially maddening because I know that these often malfunctioning changes were made to accommodate the ART buses, which of course are delayed yet again. In days past, I could always make both of these turns in one green light cycle, but now  well, see above.

Anything you can do to check on and help would be appreciated.

Johnny Chandler, public information coordinator for Albuquerques Department of Municipal Development, explains that the traffic signals along the Albuquerque Rapid Transit corridor are currently set at the recommended intervals per the ART consultant to accommodate traffic, pedestrians and the buses. The Department of Municipal Development was then going to study how traffic flowed on Central Avenue once the buses were running and make changes as necessary. Now that buses along the ART corridor will not be running for some time, DMD is going out to each signal and changing the timing along the entire corridor to maximize efficiency for vehicles and pedestrians. As part of the upcoming signal timing changes, we will be making an effort to increase left-turn arrow times. This should be completed by Christmas.

WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE ADAPTIVE SIGNALS ON ALAMEDA? That question came up after traffic delays the first day of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Signals were reportedly flashing red on Alameda, the main road into and out of the park, as lanes of confused drivers missed the morning mass ascension.

Adaptive signalization reacts in real time to traffic patterns, mitigating traffic jams by clearing backed up lanes as they are happening. Bernalillo County has installed adaptive signals on Alameda from Coors to Second in two phases. The city was supposed to continue it to Interstate 25, but put its stretch of Alameda on hold until the Paseo del Norte interchange was rebuilt.

That was finished in 2014  four balloon fiestas ago.

Chandler says DMD has a project underway along Alameda Boulevard from Second Street to Interstate 25 that will work similarly to the adaptive signalized system Bernalillo County currently has. The system that DMD will use is called the Advanced Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPMs). ATSPMs is a data collection and data analysis system designed to improve the safety, mobility and efficiency of signalized intersections for all users. While this is not the exact same system as Bernalillo Countys, it is similar and will allow us to adjust traffic and pedestrian flow along Alameda based on real-time data.

Stay tuned to see if the two systems interface.

Chandler adds, This system is currently being utilized on Coors Boulevard in Northwest Albuquerque with plans to expand to Alameda, East Central and Zuni Road in Southeast Albuquerque. This system should be up and running on Alameda Boulevard in about a year.

Fingers crossed, in time for fiesta 2019.

COORS AT RIO BRAVO GETS SOME TLC: A caller reported around Election Day that Coors south to Pajarito is in bad shape, especially at the Rio Bravo intersection, and asked if re-paving is planned.

Kimberly Gallegos of the New Mexico Department of transportation says, Our in-house paving crew was doing a project at the intersection of Coors just south of Rio Bravo (last week). Work was completed just before the holiday, on Nov. 20.

Editorial page editor DVal Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays. Reach her at 823-3858; dwestphal@abqjournal.com; or P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M., 87103.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

The New Mexico Board of Dental Health is seeking records from a dentist accused of practicing without a license.

The board filed a motion through Assistant Attorney General Lori Chavez in Bernalillo Countys 2nd Judicial District Court on Nov. 15 ordering William Gardner to comply with a Sept. 4 subpoena.

According to the filing, the board received a formal complaint July 9 stating Gardner was practicing dentistry without a license. The complaint identified 82 people believed treated by Gardner without a license.

The filing claimed Gardner admitted during a May 11 deposition to practicing dentistry without a license while his license was suspended, but the board received a response from Gardner on July 27 denying all allegations.

In connection with its investigation, the board issued an investigative petition requesting Gardner provide all records in his possession relating to the 82 people he allegedly treated during the time his license was suspended.

According to a letter from Delta Dental to New Mexico Board of Dental Health Care compliance officer Vanessa Montoya dated July 9, Gardners license was suspended April 17 through June 7, when the dental board issued its Agreement to Lift Suspension.

During that time, Gardner submitted 82 claims of reimbursement for services performed, according to the letter from Delta Dental general counsel Sue E. Jenkins.

The dental board is seeking complete patient records to include clinical notes, consent forms/waivers, patient instructions, exam information, treatment plans, periodontal charts, patient correspondence, fee schedule, ledgers, billing, consent forms and all pre- and post-operative radiographs and photos.

Gardner, through his attorney Michael L. Danoff, filed a motion to quash and an objection to the subpoena Sept. 24.

The filing called the subpoena overly broad and did not seek specific information. It said the subpoena posed an undue burden on Gardner.

It said the subpoena requested information that may lead to disclosures of privileged or otherwise protected information that would not be fair to the patients involved to be released without their permission.

Gardner also voiced concerns about potential problems with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

The board voted 5-0 to deny Gardners motion to quash.

Danoff said he could not comment on the case because it was pending.

Attempts to reach Chavez on Friday were unsuccessful.
But so far, neither Trump nor Pompeo have directly addressed the crisis, although Pompeo met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin last week to reaffirm the two countries' strategic partnership.

Sunday's incident was a dramatic increase in tensions between the two countries, almost five years after Russian Federation invaded and seized the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea and began sending arms and troops to lead a separatist movement in eastern Ukraine.

In an interview with news channel Rossia 24, the Moscow-installed leader in Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said the conflict is being provoked by "psychologically abnormal people" in Ukraine who have no concern for the fate of their citizens.

The developments are seen as a Russian strategy to block Ukraine from the Azov Sea and global shipping, and from transforming it into a military outpost.

Not long after, Russian soldiers crossed the border into Crimea, the peninsula in the Black Sea that became part of Ukraine after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

There are fears Sunday's confrontation in the Black Sea could lead to a wider conflict.

"For geological reasons the passage to Azov sea through Kerch-Yenikale canal is a hard task because this canal is narrow, and it has to be regularly deepened - That's why the ships sail there in convoys escorted by Russian coast guard vessels of Russia", Vladimir Chizhov remarked.

Instead, the US "will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine against the Russian aggression", she said, including through sanctions on Russia for its illegal annexation of Crimea.

They then boarded and seized all three vessels, capturing 23 Ukrainian sailors, in an operation involving attack helicopters and fighter jets. Their lives were not in danger, it said.

Ukraine's representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) for the Donbas settlement and First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Gerashchenko has said martial law does not mean an automatic cancellation of elections in Ukraine. There will be calls for additional support for the Ukrainians; Nato countries provide training for Kiev's military - they could presumably do more.

The martial law imposed by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was a "worrying" step, Kneissl said. "Exactly in light of the upcoming [presidential] elections in Ukraine, nothing should be done to negatively impact a free and democratic process", she argued.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Foreign Ministry, said in a Facebook post that Ukraine was employing "the methods of banditry".

Russia's coast guard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine's vessels Sunday, wounding two crew members, after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula, the Ukrainian navy said.

Russia said Ukrainian Navy broke into Russian territorial waters and Russian inner sea meaning Azov sea, both statements being glaring lies. At the moment, they are heading at full speed in the direction of the Kerch Strait to the zone where provocation was organized by the Ukrainian side. A North Atlantic Treaty Organisation spokeswoman issued a similar appeal to both sides.

"Today at 11.30 [08:30 GMT] the border guard service of Russia's FSB registered the advancement of two Gurza-class artillery armored boats from the port of Berdyansk".

A Reuters witness in Kerch, a port in Crimea, said the three Ukrainian vessels were being held there on Monday.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

This weeks #GivingTuesday falls on the exact date eight years ago when a car crash left Matt Olson with a traumatic brain injury and changed his familys lives forever.

But inspired by the progress the Las Cruces father has made and the dedication of student speech therapists, the Olson family is establishing a $25,000 endowed scholarship Tuesday at New Mexico State University for graduate students who help patients like him.

The beauty of the program is that every semester we get a new teacher, said Patty Olson, Matts wife, noting he gets speech therapy twice a week at NMSU. We get somebody who is excited about learning in their field.

#GivingTuesday, observed each year on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, was established in 2012 as a way to mark the start of the charitable giving season. It encourages people to give to the charity of their choice.

On that day, NMSU will open a giving headquarters from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Corbett Centers Aggie Lounge, where it will match donations up to $500 per household to the Matts Journey Endowed Scholarship and others at the university. Donations can also be made online.

Its to inspire all of our donors, anyone, our students, our alumni, our friends at any level anywhere on campus, said Leslie Cervantes, NMSU associate vice president for alumni engagement and participation.

In 2010, a head-on collision injured Matt, his wife and two children.

Were so lucky hes alive, and hes lucky hes able to do some of the things he can, said Patty Olson.

Matt Olson sustained a traumatic brain injury that makes it difficult for the 51-year-old to speak. During therapy he is learning to speak slower, enunciate and focus his attention during conversations.

Prior to the accident, he was employed as a partner at a Las Cruces insurance agency.

To see whats happened to them that day and where Matt is now, that therapy has been a real value to their family, just a blessing all the way around, said Cervantes, who has become a family friend. Both of the Olsons children are NMSU students. According to his family, Olson loves to make people laugh and in his free time reads about New Mexico history.

The Matts Journey Endowed Scholarship will help students in NMSUs Department of Communication Disorders, which has been doing community outreach for more than 50 years.

Each student works with patients under the supervision of an NMSU clinical educator licensed in the state as a speech-language pathologist.

Graduate students receive training so they may provide therapy in a variety of specialties, including traumatic brain injury, like what Matt is dealing with, as well as autism, Alzheimers disease, stroke, child developmental delay, speech disorder and others, said Alfred Valdez, interim department head, in a news release announcing the endowment.

Through this scholarship, the Olsons are not just supporting students, but also the thousands of lives each of those students will touch and change once they graduate from NMSU and work in the community.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

Out of 71 cities across the country, Albuquerque has one of the highest numbers of urban Native American women and girls who had been reported missing or were murdered, according to a recently published report by the Urban Indian Health Institute in Seattle.

According to the report, 37 indigenous women and girls have been reported missing or murdered in Albuquerque since 1996, making the city second only to Seattle.

In urban New Mexico  that includes Albuquerque, Farmington, Gallup and Santa Fe  78 women and girls were reported missing or murdered since 1956, making it the state with the highest instances of violence against that demographic.

Gallup  a much smaller city than Albuquerque  had 25 cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, making it sixth in the nation.

Although the researchers requested statistics dating back to 1900 from police departments across the country, the majority of the reported cases occurred after 2010.

Since each city was able to provide statistics starting from a different date, the time frames do not neatly match up.

A total of 506 cases of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls were counted nationally, although the report states that the number is likely an undercount due to sporadic data collection by law enforcement and the institutes limited resources.

Annita Lucchesi, a doctoral research fellow at UIHI who co-authored the report, said out of the 37 indigenous women in Albuquerque, three are still reported missing, 16 were murdered and the status of the remaining 18 are unknown  meaning they no longer show up on the missing persons databases but its unclear whether they were found.

Albuquerque had the highest number of unknown cases.

(The data) comes from a variety of different sources. We did use the New Mexico state missing persons database and we also used NamUs  the federal missing persons database, Lucchesi, who is a descendent of the Southern Cheyenne, said in a phone interview this week. We have news article coverage  In some cases families do volunteer information as well.

For Albuquerque, however, the data did not come from the police department.

Lucchesi said she filed a records request with the Albuquerque Police Department on July 7, 2018, but it was never acknowledged or completed.

We sent seven follow-ups to the request and never got a response to any of those either, she said.

Gilbert Gallegos, an APD spokesman, said the department does not have any record of a request from the Urban Indian Health Institute.

Gallegos said APD homicide Sgt. Dennis Tafoya told him the unit does not keep track of the race of homicide victims. He didnt know if the missing persons unit does.

Even though APD did not provide records, Lucchesi pointed out that there have been a handful of slayings of Native American women over the past couple of years.

One of the most high-profile cases was the stabbing of Audra Willis, of Tohajiilee, whose body was found decapitated in an arroyo in Four Hills last December. No one has been arrested and police have not publicly identified a suspect or a motive.

We cant respond to violence we dont track, Lucchesi said. So if were wanting to make sure our cities and communities are safe for all of our community members, we need to have some open dialogue on how to address the violence. We cant do that if we dont understand whats even happening. Not just the number of cases, but the dynamics of them.

Lucchesi said she and co-author Abigail Echo-Hawk of the Pawnee tribe focused on women and girls because they experience violence specifically related to their gender.

While it is true indigenous men and boys experience high rates of violence as well, that was outside the scope of this study, she said. If anything, that shows that there is much room for continued research on these types of issues, that needs some sustained support.

The researchers zeroed in on Native Americans living in cities because while approximately 71 percent of indigenous people live in urban areas, most research is centered on reservation land, according to the report.

To counteract this imbalance, the report recommends allocating additional funding and resources to studying violence against urban Native populations in the future. It also recommends diversifying media outlets so they are better equipped to fairly and accurately report on the Native American communities without relying on stereotypes or harmful language.

In response to questions about what Albuquerque and APD have done to address violence against Native American women and girls, Gallegos said police are putting together an outreach effort to increase communication with tribal communities and build trust.

The city is in the process of expanding the Commission on Indian Affairs and changing its name in city ordinance, Gallegos wrote in an email. This commission will re-establish a task force or subcommittee to look into the homelessness issues and violence, among other areas of priority.
Copyright  2018 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexicos judiciary is asking the state Legislature to approve a constitutional amendment that would relieve some of the immediate political pressure on newly appointed judges.

In a recent legislative hearing, Judith Nakamura, chief justice of the state Supreme Court, said the amendment would allow judges to serve on the bench for at least a year before they have to run in a partisan election.

New Mexico has had trouble attracting qualified judicial candidates, Nakamura said, especially in election years, when someone could be appointed to the bench, then lose an election just a few months later.

In some jurisdictions, she told lawmakers, our court was dialing for judges, calling local attorneys begging them to apply.

The salaries of District Court judges also hurt recruitment, Nakamura said, especially among attorneys in private practice. In New Mexico, district judges make a little less than $120,000 a year, low enough to rank 50th out of 51 jurisdictions  50 states and Washington, D.C.  even after adjusting for the cost of living, according to the National Center for State Courts.

The proposed amendment on partisan elections would have to win approval from both chambers of the Legislature and then go before voters, probably in 2020.

Arthur Pepin, director the state Administrative Office of the Courts, said the one-year period would ensure voters have a chance to evaluate a judges actual performance on the bench.

It gives (voters) at least a year to see what they need to see about a persons service as a judge, their judicial temperament, their ability to move cases, Pepin said.

Ensuring that newly appointed judges spend at least a year on the bench would also reduce transition costs for courts and minimize the disruption to litigants who might otherwise have their cases reassigned when a judge loses an election, according to documents the judiciary submitted to the Legislative Finance Committee.

New Mexico already has a hybrid system intended to dampen partisanship and boost public confidence in the judiciary. But it doesnt entirely insulate judges from political pressure.

As things stand now, a nonpartisan judicial nominating commission screens applicants and forwards the names of qualified candidates to the governor, who then appoints someone.

But the appointee has to run in the next election  with party labels under the candidates names  to keep the seat. If successful, the judge is then up for retention periodically in following elections, without party labels attached.

This years judicial campaigns took a partisan turn when a political action committee funded largely by trial lawyers launched attack ads against five Republican judges who had been appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican.

In a TV ad, the judges were depicted as puppets of Martinez, with her pulling the strings.

All five judges lost in this months general election.

Two of them were appointed just this year. Under the proposed constitutional amendment, they wouldnt have been on the ballot this time.

The courts havent lined up a sponsor for the legislation yet. The Legislature meets for a 60-day session, starting Jan. 15.
Theres another one! Tom would tell Maddie and me as we were driving down the interstate in Georgia this summer. By the time it registered we needed to look outside our car going some 70 miles per hour we missed seeing anything. Tom was keeping his eye out for armadillos and, actually, roa
President Donald Trump is seizing on an attempt by 500 migrants to rush the southern border to use immigration as an issue to bolster his presidency at a critical political moment.

Trump spent weeks ahead of the midterm elections warning that the United States was about to experience an invasion from a migrant caravan trekking north across Mexico, and sent troops to the border in what critics branded a political stunt.

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He seized on unrest at the frontier on Sunday to hike pressure on Mexico and to squeeze his political opponents in Washington as he demands financing for his border wall in a looming government funding showdown.

"Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries," Trump tweeted early Monday morning.

"Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!"

Trump was reacting to reports that a group of migrants overwhelmed both Mexican federal and local police blockades and rushed towards the border at one of the busiest crossings between Tijuana in Mexico and San Diego. US authorities said several Border Patrol agents were hit by rocks, prompting the use of tear gas. Border crossings were closed in both directions for several hours, and it did not appear that any migrants breached the frontier.

The situation appeared to fall well short of the mass invasion by a caravan of thousands of migrants conjured up by Trump before the midterms.

Sunday's events will further electrify political tensions in Washington as it gets to work after the Thanksgiving holiday and ahead of a month of transition and increasing vulnerability for the President.

Trump and Congress are already facing a two-week deadline to fund the government or risk a partial federal shutdown. Trump's White House is on edge as he mulls the fate of key players ahead of a staff reshuffle. The President is also keen to make the most of his final month of a GOP monopoly on power in Capitol Hill, and finally win funding for his border wall. He is also pushing an apparently reluctant Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to act on a criminal justice bill -- one of the few bipartisan initiatives this year.

Trump is also set to travel to another big international summit this week -- the G20 in Argentina -- that carries the habitual possibility that he could again fall out with other world leaders. The trip will also bring him face-to-face with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the most contentious moment in US-China relations for decades as a trade war rages between the two powers.

Democrats lining up investigations

Most ominously for Trump, Democrats are positioning themselves to unleash an unprecedented regime of investigation and oversight against his White House as soon as they take the reins of power in January, while special counsel Robert Mueller grinds away ever closer to the President's inner circle.

Just how miserable things could get next year for the President was revealed by incoming House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. The California Democrat vowed to bring acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker before Congress to probe whether he was appointed with the express purpose of disrupting the Mueller investigation.

He said the President was not being honest in casting doubt on the CIA's conclusion that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Schiff also said the new Democratic House would investigate whether the President's response to this and other foreign policy questions was being influenced by a "hidden hand" of investments or past or business ties.

"Is his personal financial interest driving US policy in the Gulf? Is it driving US policy vis-a-vis the Russians? We don't know, but it would be irresponsible not to find out," Schiff said.

On NBC's "Meet the Press," Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, who will head the House Oversight Committee, vowed proportionate investigations.

"The American people said to us through this election, 'We want accountability. We want to check on this President of the United States.' But they also said something else. They said, 'We want you to solve our problems,'" Cummings said.

A glimpse of how Washington will change

The prospects of flying subpoenas and administration officials being hauled up to Capitol Hill points to crucial dynamics ahead of the 2020 elections.

How will the President react? Will Democrats overreach and play into McConnell's warnings of "presidential harassment?" Can the President leverage Democratic opposition to court suburban voters who deserted him in the midterms? Or will any revelations either from congressional probes or Mueller prove to be so serious that they bury his White House in scandal and put his entire presidency at risk?

Trump could emerge from a period of retooling in his administration facing even fewer restraints from subordinates than has already been the case.

Key officials like Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and White House chief of staff John Kelly are waiting to see if they will be retained. And Trump denied a Wall Street Journal report that he's getting irked by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin over recent stock market losses.

Mnuchin is not currently thought to be threatened, but the report, and the President's frequent tweeting about oil prices and the markets, does appear to hint at some nervousness over the future of the economy, which in its currently roaring state is the best argument for his 2020 re-election hopes.

In a glimpse into the feudal nature of life in Trump's orbit, his former political aide Corey Lewandowski writes in his new book that enemies of the President are "embedded" in the White House and government agencies and trying to thwart his agenda, according to The Washington Post.

Trump has often embraced moments of converging threats and challenges to stoke an atmosphere of chaos in Washington that bolsters his standing with his political base and puts his opponents off balance.

But he now faces a test of his political strategy since his method -- for instance, using inflammatory rhetoric about immigration -- appears to have hurt Republicans in House races, even if it boosted Senate contenders.

For now, there is no sign of an adjustment: Trump broke convention in his Thanksgiving calls with troops by injecting political rhetoric about immigration and trade and boasting about his success.

His recent behavior, including a feud with Chief Justice John Roberts, either betrays an inability to rein in his relish for confrontation or a strategic decision that the wrecking ball approach is the best way to ensure his re-election.

Back on the border

Trump spent part of the weekend highlighting the migrant caravan.

"If for any reason it becomes necessary, we will CLOSE our Southern Border. There is no way that the United States will, after decades of abuse, put up with this costly and dangerous situation anymore!" Trump tweeted Saturday.

He may return to the topic on Monday in a pair of rallies for Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is facing a runoff amid controversy over her past racially-tinged comments and actions.

The Washington Post reported that the incoming administration in Mexico has agreed to allow asylum seekers to remain south of the US border while their applications were processed, in what would be seen by Trump as a victory.

The new government, however, denied in a statement to CNN that a deal had been done.

The politics of immigration will bear watching in the weeks ahead since they are crucial to Trump, who tends to resort to extremes, and Democrats who do not wish to come across as soft on border issues.

One Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst, who faces a potentially tricky Iowa re-election race in 2020, hinted at the delicate nature of an issue that electrifies Trump's base but can alienate more moderate voters on "State of the Union."

She said she would prefer that Trump not follow through on his threat to close the US border, though pointed to the reports from Mexico to argue his rhetoric could be working.

"I certainly think the President sees results any time that he does bring up an issue, and he does lay down certain reasons why he's doing what he's doing," Ernst told CNN's Dana Bash.

Ernst also said she hoped that Trump would not honor threats to partially shutter the government if he does not get his border wall funded.

Trump said last week that if there was ever going to be a shutdown over the border wall, now would probably be the time to do it.

Congress averted a shutdown in September by passing a massive spending bill to fund a large portion of the government. The package did not, however, include money for Trump's wall. Instead, lawmakers passed a shorter-term spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, among other agencies, until December 7.

It's not clear either side really wants a shutdown. If precedent is any guide, it's also possible the funding crunch could be put off by short-term deals that run until the end of the year or beyond.

The calculations could also influence other priorities in the mix, including disaster funding requests for fire-ravaged California, and a drive by Democrats and some Republicans to shield Mueller.

Bipartisan anger over Trump's approach to Saudi Arabia could also complicate deal making, with both sides conscious of how actions now could play out in the new political reality next year.
MediaCom has appointed Christine Fang as its new Global Chief Financial Officer. Christine, who is currently CFO of GroupM China, will relocate to MediaComs London HQ in March 2019.

Christine, who has more than 20 years of experience in financial management roles at agencies and brands, joined GroupM in 2016. Previously, she was Head of FP&A at Mondelez China, and before that, spent more than six years at PepsiCo China as CFO Beverages. Christine has also worked at Gillette China and Carrefour China.

On her appointment, Christine said: I am excited to further my career at GroupM, and I am looking forward to joining MediaCom and its strong management team. I believe that by drawing on my local market knowledge and brand experience, we can continue to strengthen our financial and commercial excellence at a global level.

Stephen Allan, MediaCom Worldwide Chairman & CEO, added: Christine has a rare skill set, marrying her client and agency commercial knowledge. Her knowledge of our industry and our clients businesses gives her a broader business perspective that will be invaluable for our teams. Were delighted to have her join us at MediaCom.

Stuart Diamond, GroupM CFO said: This is a great opportunity for Christine and we are delighted that she has accepted the opportunity and continues to grow her career within the Group. Christines talent and experience are unprecedented in our industry, and her knowledge of both agencies and brands will give MediaCom a unique advantage. We wish her the very best of luck.
At a time when every brand is diverting its attention to digital and also strengthening its focus on television, Traworld, the premium luggage brand from High Spirit Commercial Ventures, has rolled out a print-focussed campaign.

Featuring actor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, The World is Your Ramp campaign reinforces the positioning of the brand as a fashion brand rather than a plain luggage brand. The campaign is aimed at tapping the consumers who are regular travellers for many occasions and also look for fashionable luggage bags.

The entire advertisement strategy has been conceptualised and driven by Makani Creatives, who are positioning the brand for premium customers reflecting upon their needs as per their lifestyle and choices.

The brand is focussing on print ad-campaign across national and other regional dailies spread across 10 leading cities, reaching out to consumers across India. Besides, several BTL activities have been planned with all the MBOs across India to deliver the essence of the brand and enhance visibility. After looking at the success of the campaign, the company may also look at TV campaign in the years to come.

Speaking to Adgully on the latest campaign, Tushar Jain, Founder and Managing Director, High Spirit Commercial Ventures, elaborated, The World is Your Ramp campaign is to break the clutter of what other people are doing. Actually, if you look at other brands, they all are mostly focusing on durability of the product, whereas we want our product to be related to fashion as well.

The fashion factor has been captured well in print images that give a luxurious look to the brand, while at the same time the price has been kept at a reasonable level.

On the choice of Sonam Kapoor Ahuja as the brand ambassador for Traworld, Jain remarked, As our brand relates to eye and imagery. Sonam Kapoor is known as a fashion diva. So, we felt that she can be the best person to create aspirations for the people. While luggage brands mostly choose male brand ambassadors, we have taken a woman as our brand ambassador, which is first of its kind for an Indian luggage brand to do so. Fashion goes well with women consumers and this would give us an edge over others in the industry.

When asked why the brand went for print medium instead of high visibility on TV or digital, Jain replied, Since the brand is new and is available only in 6-7 states and not pan-India, we thought it would not be right to directly put it the ad on TV. We are currently focusing on print and digital, as well as the outdoor media. In OOH, you can see a lot of traffic outside Mumbai and Delhi airports, so it can be the best opportunity for us.

He added that the brand would be looking at TV after 1 or 2 years, after it has established itself in the market.

In print, the brand has started out with the Times Group publications, and as it expands to the South markets, especially Tamil Nadu, it will engage The Hindu as well. Given the high traffic at airports, Traworld is also looking at in-flight magazines and travel-focussed publications.

Traworld has chalked up an aggressive growth target of 50 per cent per annum. Jain informed, Traworld will be a Rs 150-crore brand this year, and as it is just one and a half years old. In the first year, we were Rs 45 crore, but this year we are targeting Rs 120 crore as our company value, excluding the retail business. Jains ambitious are huge as he plans to make Traworld a global brand in 10-15 years.

Jain is not deterred by the strong competition in the luggage space from players like Samsonite, VIP Industries, Skybags. You can see the difference by just looking at the structure and the pricing, because we are focussed on quality and stress that the price must be the wow factor for everyone, Jain maintained.

Speaking on the changing consumer preference in the luggage market, Jain said, Everyone actually likes fashionable, lightweight bags. No one likes the old fashioned bags any more. A huge number of customers are shifting to hard case luggage.

The creative push

The creative brief for Makani Creatives, which has conceptualised the campaign, was to execute a photoshoot that made the luggage luxurious and fashionable. The idea was to create a good-looking campaign and make the brand aspirational for people. As Jain reiterated, The Traworld campaign is all about fashion, as we consider the world as a ramp.
However, the determined dad is now free to speak out after winning an extraordinary High Court battle.Bethany has been locked in a secure unit in Northampton for nearly two years, where her father has been forced to kneel down and talk to her through a metal hatch.

Health Secretary to probe council gagging order on father of autistic teenager The Health Secretary has vowed to investigate the care of a severely autistic teenager whose father was gagged by council after speaking out...The 50-year-old former college lecturer launched a social media campaign after growing frustrated at his daughter's plight. His complaints attracted the attention of Walsall Council, who tried to silence him by slapping a gagging order.

That sounded a bit like PANDAS and PANS, something we are familiar with here in the states. I looked some more and found these:

He had been diagnosed with pathological demand avoidance (PDA), a rare form of autism that can lead to excessive mood swings, anxiety and, in his case, violent behaviour. The behaviour is not the fault of the children with PDA, as it is the condition that prompts them to behave this way. In some cases, they do not know what they are doing.

Kate, from Suffolk, has had to spend nearly 10,000 getting a private consultation after a long wait to get a diagnosis for son Jamie. Jamie was just three years old when he started becoming violent. Now seven, he is prone to kicking, punching and spitting at his mother during his frequent meltdowns.

By Teresa Conrick I recently came upon an article from the UK that had me wondering. I have always thought of PDA to mean public display of affection, a cutesy term for kissing or showing affection in public, but this article is showing a way different meaning -- I cant do this anymore says mum of autistic boy as she films violent outburst

He insists the setting is not suitable for Bethany and that being there is only making her scared and anxious due to her condition, PDA (pathological demand avoidance).

Jeremy admitted to shedding a tear on hearing the top Government minister was getting personally involved in his daughter's case. He said he had spoken to Mr Hancock to arrange a meeting.

That sounds horrible! So then I had to see what this PATHOLOGICAL DEMAND AVOIDANCE really was.

Dimensions of difficulty in children reported to have an autism spectrum diagnosis and features of extreme/pathological demand avoidance

A subset of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) resemble descriptions of extreme/pathological demand avoidance, displaying obsessive avoidance of everyday demands and requests, strategic or socially manipulative behaviour and sudden changes in mood.A range of factors, including a negative emotional response to demands, but also phobias, novelty, and uncertainty, were perceived to play a role in triggering extreme behaviour.

Some of this sounds like PANDAS and PANS but nowhere could I find any evidence that anyone was looking into that or if any of these children were being evaluated for inflammation of the brain, infection, or autoimmune encephalitis. In the States, this has become more and more prevalent so it is being investigated more. Where are the cases in the UK of PANS/PANDAS or are they being called PDA? How about this for irony? The symbol for PDA is the PANDA!

Just like individuals with PDA, giant pandas need very specific accommodations in order to thrive and may often suffer without appropriate support; are extremely sensitive to their environments; are very vulnerable; and show how an integrated approach to their care is essential for success. Please share the image and our animation widely to help spread the word

Here in the USA , PANDAS and PANS are both medical conditions that are affecting upward numbers of children and MANY in the autism world.

PANDAS is an abbreviation for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. The term is used to describe a subset of children and adolescents who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and/or tic disorders, and in whom symptoms worsen following strep. infections such as "Strep throat" and Scarlet Fever.

PANS is a newer term used to describe the larger class of acute-onset OCD cases. PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and includes all cases of acute onset OCD, not just those associated with streptococcal infections.

The original PANDAS criteria specified that the associated symptoms were hyperactivity (ADHD) or other motor symptoms, but experience has shown that the list is longer.

Severe separation anxiety (e.g., child can't leave parent's side or needs to sleep on floor next to parent's bed, etc.) Generalized anxiety. which may progress to episodes of panic and a "terror-stricken look" Motoric hyperactivity, abnormal movements, and a sense of restlessness Sensory abnormalities, including hyper-sensitivity to light or sounds, distortions of visual perceptions, and occasionally, visual or auditory hallucinations Concentration difficulties, and loss of academic abilities, particularly in math and visual-spatial areas Increased urinary frequency and a new onset of bed-wetting Irritability (sometimes with aggression) and emotional lability. Abrupt onset of depression can also occur, with or without thoughts about suicide. Developmental regression, including temper tantrums, "baby talk" and handwriting deterioration (also related to motor symptoms)

5) Association with streptococcal infection.

At initial onset, the symptoms may have followed an asymptomatic (and therefore untreated) streptococcal infection by several months or longer, so the inciting strep infection may have gone unnoticed. However, on subsequent infection recurrences, the worsening of the neuropsychiatric symptoms may be the first sign of an occult ("hidden") strep infection. Prompt treatment of the strep infection is often effective in reducing the OCD and other neuropsychiatric symptoms.

The diagnostic criteria for PANS are as follows:

1) Abrupt, dramatic onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder or severely restricted food intake

2) Concurrent presence of additional neuropsychiatric symptoms, with similarly severe and acute onset, from at least two of the following seven categories:

Anxiety (particularly, separation anxiety) Emotional lability (extreme mood swings) and/or depression Irritability, aggression and/or severely oppositional behaviors Behavioral (developmental) regression (examples, talking baby talk, throwing temper tantrums, etc) Deterioration in school performance Sensory or motor abnormalities Somatic signs and symptoms, including sleep disturbances, bedwetting or increased urinary frequency.

3) Symptoms are not better explained by a known neurologic or medical disorder, such as Sydenham chorea, systemic lupus erythematosus, Tourette disorder, or others.

NOTE: The diagnostic work-up of patients suspected of PANS must be comprehensive enough to rule out these and other relevant disorders. The nature of the co-occurring symptoms will dictate the necessary assessments, which might include MRI scan, lumbar puncture or electroencephalogram (EEG) in some cases. More often, laboratory studies will be warranted and should include tests to determine if there is a current infection or ongoing immunologic dysfunction.

But where is the research and the medical testing to show what PDA really is? What is causing it? I found NO medical research about it but isnt it possible that many of these cases could be related to what so many of our kids are suffering here in the states? -- INFECTIONS that cause an abnormal immune response which in turn affects the brain yet we could also say an abnormal immune response that causes INFECTIONS to affect the brain. I could not find any research or studies that looked at biological mechanisms or evaluated their medical histories in these children but look what popped up searching the news in the UK:

Ruth Langsford shocked by story of boy, 7, turned evil by infection from household mould

Parents Joanne and Jez appeared on This Morning to raise awareness for the link between infections and psychological disorders. Their son William, now eight, started exhibiting aggressive behaviour and suffered hallucinations, thought to have been triggered by mould. Mum Johanne, 43, said: It was almost over night. It was on the 13th September last year. It was out of the blue. Hed had a fever the week before and he just started hallucinating and screaming, it was horrid. Dad Jez added the personality change had been significant: He was always happy, always smiling. He was a very loving little boy, very affectionate and very bright. Johanne said as things progressed he started to say worrying things.

In the March he started to say things like why am I here mummy, my brains confused, Im not sure Im enjoying life, which was very deep for a seven year old at the time. By June he wasnt eating the things he would normally eat. He developed a button phobia. It had been a big shock for the parents, whose son had been placid before becoming like something from the exorcist. He got so strong, and was literally trashing the house, Jez explained. There were times hed be crawling around the house on the floor on his fingers and toes like an animal and he would just jump onto a sofa. He confessed that William had physically attacked them many times. Dr Tim Ubhi appeared on the show to explain what the child had been suffering.

He explained hed contracted paediactric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, or PANS, which is associated with Strep. A child will get some kind of infection, the body creates anti bodies and then they attack the brain and cause inflammation in a particular part of the brain that result in ticks, and obsessive compulsive behaviours, and sometimes food aversion and problem with going to the toilet, Dr Ubhi explained. Joanne and Jez explained that prior to diagnosis theyd been told William might have autism or pathological demand avoidance. Prognosis is good if treated quickly, sometimes with antibiotics, Dr Ubhi said, explaining that mould could indeed have been the trigger. So if we go on the basis this is a immune system disorder, then anything that stimulates the immune system may make things worse. So it does make sense.

The doctors and evaluators who keep calling this PDA should be investigating and asking questions about the medical histories of these children. PANS needs to be on their radar. I hardly think that the UK is immune to PANS, in fact, there looks to be a parent-driven movement to get more help for families. Not one piece of medical testing, no labs of blood, and not a shred of immunological searching, seems to have ever been done on many of these children. Shame on the doctors there who have dismissed them or worse, locked them in state hospitals where a father has been forced to kneel down and talk to her [his daughter] through a metal hatch.

Both UK and USA doctors need to know this:

Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) is a clinical diagnosis given to children who have a dramatic  sometimes overnight  onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms including obsessions/compulsions or food restriction. They are often diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or an eating disorder, but the sudden onset of symptoms separates PANS from these other disorders. In addition, they may have symptoms of depression, irritability, anxiety, and have difficulty with schoolwork. The cause of PANS is unknown in most cases but is thought to be triggered by infections, metabolic disturbances, and other inflammatory reactions.

Like PANS, children with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) have an acute onset  within 2 to 3 days  of neuropsychiatric symptoms, specifically OCD or tics (involuntary, purposeless movements). However, PANDAS patients test positive for a recent streptococcal infection, such as strep throat, peri-anal strep or scarlet fever. Like PANS patients, they also may suffer from uncontrollable emotions, irritability, anxiety and loss of academic ability and handwriting skills. Although PANDAS was identified as a medical syndrome more than a decade before PANS, it has been classified as a subset of PANS. To date, PANDAS is the only known subset of PANS, but we may discover more causes in the future.

These very ill children and their families deserve so much more. The lack of proper medical questions and investigations because the word, AUTISM might be attached to a child, has gone on for far, too long.
By Kim Rossi (formerly Stagliano)



Yo Ho Ho and a vial of poison, dead children TELL NO TALES! But their parents do. Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriter Terry Rossio Tweeted the LOGICAL thought that I have had on many occasions and is now having to walk the media plank. By coincidence, I watched his Pirates movie on Saturday night.



He compared calling a person an anti-vaxxer to calling a person the N word. (Insert horror scream here.)



He's right. There's no way around it. Anti-vaxxer is an EPITHET - a word used to denigrate. I would have Tweeted "N word" and not spelled the word out. But I'm a middle aged white woman in Connecticut. This in no way compares the history of treatment of African Americans to the treatment of the vaccine safety community. Not for a second. I and I believe Mr. Rossio, are talking about the USAGE of the word - the intent by which it is written on the page. The intent in the media and by politicians and public health officials is to brand, literally and figuratively, anyone who speaks about vaccination safety concerns a heretic.



The reports will focus on the word he used, not the fact that a successful Hollywood screenwriter sees through the draconian crackdown on ANYONE who questions vaccine safety. I'll assume he lives in California where vaccine rights are being stomped upon by the like of Senator King Pan. The reporter glibly writes off vax safety concerns as the result of "talking too long to Jenny McCarthy." Ah a new twist on an old talking point for the Pharmedia.



Decide for yourself what you think about this. But remember, young men go to WAR and kill when they perceive their neighbors, brothers and sisters as ENEMIES. It's the seed warlords plant to foment rage and hatred. And I see it happening right here in America for those of us who choose not to follow the CDC schedule for our children and who speak out loudly. Calls for punishment. A restaurant that will not serve the undervaccinated. A gym that wants to see... "pediatric papers please." This is a very real trend to violence.

You may not know the name Terry Rossio, but you definitely know his work. Hes one of Hollywoods most prolific screenwriters, his name often buried in large writer clumps on many-tentacled blockbusters like Shrek, the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Disneys original Aladdin, Deja Vu, Antz, Small Soldiers, The Legend of Zorro, Little Monsters, and so on in that fashion. Hes also, apparently, what they call anti-vax, spreading the gospel that vaccinating kids is bad because of some stuff he read on Google or because he talked too long to Jenny McCarthy.
The Aiken City Council meets Monday, Nov. 26 to discuss myriad topics, arguably the most contentious being the prospective rezoning of the Waterloo Street neighborhood.

City Council first meets at 5:30 p.m. for a work session. City Council's full, regularly scheduled meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

Between the two, an executive session  to discuss a potential lease agreement, according to a public notice  is planned.

City Council meets at the Municipal Building, 214 Park Ave. SW.

At the full meeting, City Council is expected to take up the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone 11 lots fronting Waterloo Street, which lies just west of the downtown area.

Aiken planning panel recommends rezoning Waterloo Street neighborhood Despite some public pushback, the Aiken Planning Commission has given its go-ahead to rezone a collection of properties situated between Richl

The rezoning ordinance, should it pass, would change the properties from limited professional to limited business.

Ordinances require two approvals to go into effect.

The Planning Commission recommended rezoning the 11 lots during a mid-November meeting. A total of 13 properties were under consideration at the time; the Planning Commission ultimately exempted two general business lots from the action.

The Planning Commission advises City Council.

City Council's consideration comes after a monthlong process: Multiple public hearings  punctuated by some neighborhood and resident outcry  have been held in the run-up to Monday.

"We've done our due diligence on this," Jack Hunter, the Planning Commission's interim chairman, has said.

Members of City Council have previously expressed interest in the Waterloo Street area because of its underutilization and chance for greater growth, to use their words.

Other items on City Council's Monday night agenda include:

Accepting the fiscal year 2017-18 financial audit.

The sale of multiple properties.

Consideration of annexations and other rezonings.

Amending the fiscal year 2018-19 budget for Winter Storm PAX money.
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The decision by the online rental giant Airbnb to remove its listings in the West Bank settlements puts the company in the forefront of major US companies that are feeling international pressure to stop legitimizing and profiting from Israel's occupation. The major question now is whether other tech giants will follow suit.

In its Nov. 19 announcement, Airbnb said that despite the fact that US law allows for business as usual in Israeli settlements, We must consider the impact we have and act responsibly.

After listing a five-point framework for evaluating what to do on a case-by-case situation, the rental giant concluded, We should remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians.

What Airbnb didn't say was that its announcement came on the eve of the publication by Human Rights Watch of a 65-page investigation titled Bed and Breakfast on Stolen Land. The report gave detailed documentation of homes listed by Airbnb and Booking.com that are built on confiscated private Palestinian land.

In its Nov. 20 report, the US-based HRW said Airbnb listed at least 139 properties in settlements, excluding East Jerusalem, between March 22 and July 6, 2018. HRW also said Booking.com had 26 such properties listed as of July 2018.

Among those interviewed by HRW researchers was a US citizen  Awni Shaaeb  a 70-year-old resident of the Palestinian village of Ein Yabroud. Shaaeb told HRW that Israeli settlers began to seize Palestinian villagers' land in 1975 to establish the exclusive Jewish settlement of Ofra. HRW said aerial photos obtained by the Israeli nongovernmental organization Kerem Navot show that rental property on his land now listed on Airbnb was built in 2006 or 2007.

Shaaeb added that he has never been given the opportunity to consent to rentals on his land or profited from them. The report concludes that despite being a US citizen who lived in the US for more than three decades, Shaaeb cannot enter Ofra to visit the rental property because he holds a Palestinian ID. For someone to occupy your land, thats illegal, he said, adding, But for someone to build on your land, rent it out, and profit from it  that is injustice itself.

Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, told Al-Monitor that the decision of Airbnb to pull out of settlements is significant, arguing that by doing so, the online giant is adhering to international law and responsibilities.

Shakir hopes that the decision sends a clear message to other companies that continue to profit from the Israeli illegal settlements.

Shakir was referring to a report HRW produced in January 2016 entitled Occupation Inc.: How Settlement Businesses Contribute to Israels Violations of Palestinian Rights.

While the HRW reporting might have pushed Airbnb toward this significant decision, what Airbnb doesn't admit to is the huge international solidarity force that the Palestinian-led boycott and divestment movement (BDS) has had.

BDS activists around the world have been targeting Airbnb and others for some time. This is reflected indirectly in the online giant's statement, which notes that Airbnb is a global platform operating in 191 countries and regions and more than 81,000 cities. Airbnb continued that "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.

In a Nov. 22 statement, the Palestinian BDS National Committee welcomed the Airbnb decision, calling it an important first step but saying it was not comprehensive. The committee said the decision by Airbnb doesnt include occupied East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian territory, referring to the Golan Heights, which Israeli unilaterally annexed; no country in the world has recognized the annexation.

The BDS committee noted, however, that Airbnb is contradicting its own statement by failing to delist properties in illegal Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, including the Old City. All Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian  and Syrian  territory constitute war crimes under international law. East Jerusalem is no exception.

Unlike the BDS committee, the Palestinian leadership was strangely quiet. Nabil Shaath, a senior adviser to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, was the only exception. Shaath told Al-Monitor that BDS is the only effective weapon against the Israeli occupation, its war crimes and its discrimination policies.

Shaath argued that BDS has a strong chance to turn our case to one like that of South Africa, where international sanctions produced impressive results.

Shaath said that while he is a strong supporter of BDS, Abbas and the government are tied down by the Oslo and Paris agreements, which bar the Palestinian Authority from supporting boycotts and sanctions against Israel. But the commitments made by the Palestinian National Authority are not obligatory on the Fatah movement, Shaath added.

Shaath said both Fatah and the PLO's Palestine National Council have supported the international boycott movement, but noted that these decisions are not receiving the necessary backing. When I was head of the international affairs in Fatah, I used every occasion I had internationally to call for boycotts of the Israelis, he said.

Still, international pro-Palestinian movements continue activities seeking solidarity and pushing individuals, companies and governments around the world to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel.

Airbnb's decision will no doubt push others to do the same under pressure from BDS activists, who will undoubtedly continue in their activities regardless of what the Palestinian president and government ultimately decide. But it is becoming clear with every passing day that the Palestinian Authority, an organization mandated under Oslo, is becoming more of a liability than an asset in terms of its role in speeding up international solidarity and support for the cause of freedom and independence that Palestinians yearn for.
The Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF) celebrates women directors this year with a special section featuring films by Arab women and screenings of films by non-Arab women from around the world.

Big Dreams, the 40th edition of Egypt's oldest film festival, runs Nov. 20-29. According to festival director Mohammed Hefzi, this year's event will screen more than 160 movies from 59 countries, with 15% of the films directed by women.

It is not a small percentage compared to European festivals, Hefzi told the Al-Watan newspaper. For example, in the Venice film festival, there is only one film by a female director in the official competition with 19 films for male directors.

CIFF organizers said that the Arab Female Directors section was developed with the aim of making the presence of women more visible. The directors featured are Hala Khalil and Hala Lotfy from Egypt, Mai Masri and Annemarie Jacir from Palestine, Haifaa Al-Mansour from Saudi Arabia, Kaouther Ben Hania from Tunisia, Nujoom Alghanem from the United Arab Emirates and Sofia Djama from Algeria.

Highlighting the works of women filmmakers is important, Magda Morris, a veteran film critic, told Al-Monitor. They do a great job, and its time for them to claim [recognition]. People, filmmakers, actors and producers should know these great works, so women directors can get more opportunities and enrich Arab cinema. All the movies in the special section are critically acclaimed and important movies. Morris pointed out that most of the films in the section had already received international awards.

It is not the first time that CIFF has shone a spotlight on women or women's issues. Last year's festival hosted a seminar on fighting violence against women, which Morris moderated.

I see that this year there are more efforts exerted in the festival [to focus on women filmmakers], Morris remarked, adding that women are staking more rights not only in Egyptian cinema, but internationally as well.

The movies featured in Arab Female Directors mostly look at womens issues, drawing realistic portraits of women from different walks of life. Hala Khalils Nawara (2015) tells the story of a young woman who works as a maid in the villa of a former minister during the 2011 revolution that toppled President Hosni Mubarak. Menna Shalaby won Best Actress at the 2015 Dubai International Film Festival and the 2016 Malmo Arab Film Festival for her portrayal of Nawara.

Hala Lotfys Al-Khroug lel-Nahar (Coming Forth by Day, 2012) portrays the struggle of a poor family living in Cairo. Lotfy won Best Director in the Arab World for it at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Film Festival.

Another notable movie being screened at CIFF is 3000 Nights (2015) by Mai Masri, who won the Audience Award at Spain's Valladolid International Film Festival the year it was released. The film is about a Palestinian schoolteacher who is detained in an Israeli prison for a crime she did not commit, and under pressure, becomes an informant against her fellow prisoners.

Annemarie Jacirs Wajib (2017), which won the Festival Director's Award at the 2018 Cinetopia Film Festival in the United States is a disturbing, but often-funny family drama, while Haifaa Al-Mansours Wadjda (2012) tells the story of a schoolgirls effort to buy a bike.

The controversial Tunisian film Beauty and the Dogs (2017), directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, is also among the films in the Arab women's section. Tunisia selected it as its 2018 Oscar nominee for Best Foreign-Language Film. Based on a true story, the film opens with a rape and goes on to dissect efforts by the police, the society at large and at times even the victim herself to cover up the crime.

Sofia Djama's The Blessed (2017), which received three awards at last year's Venice International Film Festival, examines life in the 1990s during the Algerian civil war. The only documentary in the Arab women's section, Sharp Tools (2017), by Nujoom Alghanem, focuses on the controversial Emirati artist Hassan Sharif.

In addition to providing space for female Arab directors, CIFF is also highlighting woman directors from around the world in the International Competition, which features 16 films. A week before the festival opening, organizers included two more entries in the category to boost women directors participation to seven movies.

Mamang (2018), director by Denise O'Hara of the Philippines, narrates the story of a woman struggling against aging. Crystal Swan (2018), by Belarus director Darya Zhuk, shows how a typo interferes in a young woman's attempt at achieving the American dream.

The main standard for choosing the movies was the quality, Marwa Abu Eish, a film critic and CIFF program coordinator, told Al-Monitor. Our aim is not just to increase the number of women directors. We want to screen high-quality films directed by women.

Abu Eish noted that while the special section focuses on Arab women who have already achieved success, the International Competition highlights new works by women.

If there are no movies by Arab female directors in the International Competition, that is because there were no new good works that could be shown in the competition for this year, Abu Eish explained.

Other films directed by women in the International Competition include Birds of Passage (2018), co-directed by Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra and co-produced by Colombia, Denmark, Mexico and France. The film looks at drug trafficking in Colombia.

Euphoria by Italian director Valeria Golino, One Day by Hungarian director Zsofia Szilagyi, Pause by Cypriot director Tonia Mishiali and The Third Wife by Vietnamese director Ash Mayfair, all released this year, are also competing for awards.

Will Arab women directors have a lasting impact on the regions film industry? That will be the topic of a Nov. 28 panel discussion, Wonder Women: How Can Female Filmmakers in the Arab World Have a Lasting Impact on the International Festival Circuit?.
CAIRO  As Egypt vigorously pursues diplomatic efforts to reach a lasting truce on the Gaza-Israel border, Cairo's delegate to the Arab League, Yasser al-Atwi, confirmed recently that his country will continue to support the Palestinian people and work to stabilize the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Atwi spoke at a Nov. 15 meeting of the Arab League council in Cairo, where members discussed recent Israeli-Hamas clashes in Gaza.

More than 200 Palestinians have been killed since the weekly Great March of Return protests began in March on the Gaza Strip border with Israel. In mid-November, the fighting reached its worst level in four years.

Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip accepted an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Israel on Nov. 13, when Egypt's Foreign Ministry warned of serious potential consequences of continuing the vicious circle of escalation in the Palestinian territories. Egypt called on Israel to immediately halt all military actions in the Gaza Strip.

Egypts new ambassador to Israel, Khaled Azmi, had met Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Nov. 8 at the latters residence in Jerusalem. Azmi stressed during the meeting his countrys continued efforts to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation in the Palestinian territories. He also emphasized the need to find a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

On Nov. 5, Egypts government had postponed an official visit by Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunez Ferreira. The visit was scheduled for Nov. 8-11. This came after Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro recently pledged to transfer his countrys embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the US move in May. The postponement was interpreted as an overt Egyptian objection to the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, though the Egyptian Foreign Ministry gave no official reason for the decision. Egypt also canceled a series of business activities of two Brazilian businessmen in Cairo on Nov. 12, citing conflicting dates.

Tarek Fahmi, director of the Department of Israeli Studies at the National Center for Middle East Studies, said Egypt has adopted a direct political approach to obstruct efforts to transfer foreign embassies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In a phone interview with Al-Monitor, Fahmi said, Cairo lacks the necessary means to block US and Israeli efforts to see Jerusalem recognized as the capital of Israel, but is trying to employ its diplomatic tools to stop the ongoing Judaization process in the Palestinian territories. Egypt is doing this without directly confronting Washington and Tel Aviv, in light of its common interests with the two countries.

Fahmi said Egypt is moving along different tracks to thwart Israeli moves, but still needs Arab support, which seems unlikely in the short term. Arab capitals have opened their doors to Israeli officials, he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Oman on Oct. 26. A number of Israeli officials were welcomed in Dubai on Oct. 29.

Fahmi further added, The US administration made a breakthrough in the Gulf-Israeli relations, as a prelude for [its pending peace plan]. Egypt has its reservations about this.

Commenting on the Israeli officials visits to Arab capitals, he said, Cairo was never consulted about these visits. This angered the Egyptian political leadership. Egypt has a great history in negotiations with Israel. Its presence in any diplomatic negotiations confers to the Arab movement an important political dimension.

Al-Monitor also spoke with Mohamed Orabi, a former Egyptian foreign minister and a current member of parliament's Foreign Relations Committee. He said Egypt is exerting political pressure on countries seeking to transfer their Tel Aviv embassies to Jerusalem. He believes Egypt's efforts may push some of these countries to renounce their decisions.

Brazil and Australia say they haven't decided yet on whether to relocate their embassies, despite earlier indications they would.

Asked why Egypt objects to Brazil possibly moving its embassy, but hasn't condemned the US move, Orabi said, We have close and intertwined interests with the US. Egypt didn't take a hard-line stance toward Washington for many considerations.

As for resolving Israeli-Palestinian issues, he said Egypt might take a new approach, namely reconciling all Palestinian factions and mobilizing an international and Arab public push to compel Israel to grant Palestinians the rights they demand. Egypt can't allow [the US peace deal] to pass. This would make it responsible to the Arab people for the ensuing situation of the Palestinians.

From the little that Arab countries' officials have learned about the deal, many say it greatly favors Israel at Palestinians' expense.

Meanwhile, Rakha Hassan, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, contended that Egypt's leading role in the Middle East has significantly declined amid its internal economic crisis. Egypt is burdened by its needs of aid from Gulf countries. It is unable to impose its vision on the Arab scene, he told Al-Monitor in a phone interview. Saudi Arabia now acts as the leader of the Arab world. The kingdom has tied the hands of the Arab League, and sidelined Egypts regional role.

Like Hassan, Azmi explained Egypt's failure so far to complete reconciliation among the Palestinian factions by citing Egypts economic deficit. We can't afford to pay the salaries of Gazas employees. Meanwhile, Qatar sent its ambassador loaded with millions of dollars into the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian administration policy is now shackled by the countrys need for aid from oil-rich countries, Egypt ambassador to Israel said.

On Nov. 10, Qatar announced it had brought $15 million in aid to pay the Gaza Strip workers.

Azmi pointed out that Egypt's political leadership is frustrated with the US administration under President Donald Trump. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was betting on the strong support of the US under Trump. He was initially enthusiastic to complete [a US peace plan], but Egypt was disappointed when Washington decided to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem.

Egypt might not be strong enough to bring about any change on the Palestinian issue, according to Gilan Jaber, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs. Yet, it's still able to mediate among the Palestinian factions, as well as between the Palestinians and the Israelis, due to its geographic location and also given its long history of negotiations with Israel, he told Al-Monitor. Jaber praised Egypt for brokering the recent cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

In April 2017, Sisi visited the White House and told Trump, You'll find me supporting you very strongly and very earnestly in finding a solution to the problem of the century through the deal of the century, which is what Trump has dubbed his administration's yet-to-be-unveiled peace plan. But when Sisi met Nov. 5 with foreign media representatives in Egypt, on the sidelines of the 2018 World Youth Forum in Sharm el-Sheikh, he said he had no information on the deal, adding that he won't negotiate something that's not acceptable to the Palestinians.

The Palestinian Authority and Hamas both reject the Trump administration's deal, which Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described in January as the slap of the century. Abbas reiterated his opposition to any US peace proposal following Washington's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  In cooperation with armed factions in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security services are cracking down on Palestinians suspected of providing field and logistics services to Israeli special forces. Those forces entered the southern Gaza Strip on Nov. 11, but armed Hamas fighters exposed the incursion.

Nearly all the Israelis managed to escape in a helicopter after heavy clashes with Hamas. One of the Israelis was killed; seven Palestinians died.

Security forces then launched the crackdown Nov. 13 and began seeking leads into the Israelis' mission. Investigators found sophisticated communications and electronic devices near a vehicle the invaders had abandoned. Israel had tried to destroy the evidence of the undercover raid by shelling the vehicle.

The Israeli special force apparently was seeking to collect intelligence information on the Palestinian factions military capabilities and to place a spying device in Khan Yunis. The crackdown has focused on the eastern parts of Khan Yunis near the border with Israel.

A senior Palestinian security source who declined to be named told Al-Monitor that security services have apprehended Palestinians suspected of helping the Israeli special forces. He said other suspects are also being pursued in the large-scale crackdown.

He added that two suspects were apprehended Nov. 13 as they tried to flee the southern Gaza Strip into Israel. The source stressed that those arrested are being investigated and anyone proved innocent will be freed.

The security official refused to divulge how many Palestinians have been implicated; he also would not provide any information about any confessions that might have been obtained. He said such serious information will remain confidential until security finishes the investigation, particularly since the surveillance cameras helped identify the forces route and stops along the way.

However, on Nov. 15, Lebanons Al-Akhbar newspaper cited an anonymous Palestinian faction source as saying that suspects being questioned have revealed past incursions well inside the Gaza Strip. The source also said the Israeli force members had spent more than 24 hours at a collaborator's house before the mission.

Iyad al-Bozm, a Gaza Interior Ministry spokesman, told Al-Monitor the ministry has been on alert and has set up more checkpoints on main and non-principal roads. Security forces have also been searching vehicles, believing that other collaborators or Israeli special force members are still in the Gaza Strip.

Bozm wouldn't comment on how many people have been apprehended on suspicion of assisting the special force.

The competent security services, which have strived and taken various measures, are following up on a security matter and this shall not be disclosed to the media, he said, adding that the ministry will make the probes outcome known once it's been wrapped up.

Abu Mujahid, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, told Al-Monitor that Palestinian factions armed wings had joined Hamas and Gaza Strip security services in the probe.

Aside from the current incident, the latest known Israeli breach of Gaza Strip security came May 5 in western Deir el-Balah governorate, where Hamas security members said they found a sophisticated Israeli spying device placed to tap Hamas private telecommunications network. The device exploded while being disassembled.

Previously, Gaza Strip security services and Palestinian factions managed to dismantle multiple intelligence cells and Israeli devices through repeated crackdowns. Most notable among those efforts was one that disclosed which cell killed Hamas leader Mazen Faqha in Gaza City in March 2017. In May of that year, Hamas executed three Palestinians it said were responsible.

Professor Ibrahim Habib of the Palestine Academy for Security Sciences in Gaza told Al-Monitor he believes Palestinian security services  whether affiliated with the government or the factions  are making headway in their current investigation.

He said Palestinian collaborators play a major role in the Israeli armys numerous operations in the Gaza Strip, and the Interior Ministrys ongoing security measures have aborted multiple Israeli schemes.

It seems Israel will not refrain from conducting operations in the Gaza Strip, despite the failures and arrests of collaborators. For Israel, such operations are crucial in identifying the enemys intentions and undercutting its military capacities before they can be used in future confrontations.
Iranian social media users attacked a meme by government-run media quoting Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying that Iran will survive the US sanctions reimposed after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal.

At Rome Med 2018Mediterranean Dialogues, a conference held Nov. 22-24, Zarif was reminded, Youve insisted many times that Iran has survived since 1979, which prompted him to respond, We havent survived since 1979, weve survived 7 millennia. To the laugher and applause of the audience, he added, jovially, Im in Italy, so I can say that Italians and Iranians have had empires that have lasted longer than the entire life of some countries.

In a more serious tone, Zarif continued, Weve survived, and weve progressed. Come to Iran today and see that we have progressed in many areas. Of course, we lack in some areas. There has been pressure on Iran. There are problems, economic problems, economic hardship for our population. Sanctions, as you know, always target ordinary people. At the end of the day, those are the people who suffer from sanctions. And that is the purpose of these sanctions, and that is the purpose of the previous sanctions. Weve been under sanctions for 40 years. And that point that I made about the depth of our history gives us this perspective that we should not submit to bullying.

The response by Zarif, who has been traveling extensively trying to salvage the nuclear deal with European countries while simultaneously projecting a brave face on sanctions, might have been quickly forgotten or buried by other stories from around the world, but Pad, the official Twitter account of the media office of President Hassan Rouhani's administration not only tweeted a video of that segment of the Rome Med conference but also posted a picture of a defiant and stoic Zarif with the text, Well survive.

As is often the case with government-handled messaging, the effort by the administration to highlight Zarifs comment backfired. Social media users soon began tweeting variations of the hashtag Well survive, applying it to any number of situations and issues. Some used it to raise awareness about the Haft Tapeh sugarcane factory workers and Ahvaz steel workers, who are currently on strike. Others used the hashtag to highlight womens rights protests and opposition to mandatory veiling.

A number of anonymous accounts tweeted with the hashtag in support of regime change. Even those not supportive of regime change conceded that the attempt to turn Zarifs statement about surviving into a meme had gone awry.

Its understandable why some who are also patriotic object to well survive, tweeted one user. In this very administration next to Zarif are people like [Mohammad Reza] Nematzadeh and [Mohammad] Shariatmadari. Nematzadeh, a former minister of mines, industry, and business, and Shariatmadari, current minister of cooperatives, labor, and social welfare, have both had accusations of corruption leveled against them, and Rouhani has continued to stand by them.

BBC News Persian addressed the survival issue in a segment, inviting two guests from Iran to comment on Zarif's remarks. Both agreed that although Iran will survive, and indeed had survived worse during the Iran-Iraq War, domestic conditions today are different from what they were in the 1980s.
Iranian conservatives appear to be planning to undermine the national parliament's power as an institution, which would thereby undermine the elected bodys position within the countrys political system.

When a bill is passed in Iran's parliament, it is sent to the Guardian Council to see whether it is in accordance with the Iranian Constitution and Islamic law. If the council approves the bill, then it is officially a law; if it rejects the bill and finds it in violation of the constitution and Islamic law, the bill is sent back to parliament for revision.

Should parliament insist on its decision and the Guardian Council keeps rejecting the bill, then the bill is handed over to the Expediency Council to issue a final ruling. But in recent months, the Expediency Council has become part of the problem rather than the solution.

The Expediency Council has a subordinate division named the Supreme Group of Supervision, which came into existence in 2013 by the order of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In fact, Khamenei delegated his own duties under the constitution to the group to monitor whether bills are moving in accordance with the "macro policies of the establishment."

The final decision to form this group was made in 2013 when late moderate Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was chairman of the Expediency Council. However, the 15-member group, whose members were appointed under the current chairman of the council, has lately started to directly declare its views on parliament's bills. Of note, conservative Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi was appointed as chairman of the council in 2017 and has been mostly absent in the council's meetings because he has cancer. Two hard-line 2017 presidential candidates Ebrahim Raisi and Mostafa Mirsalim, as well as conservative Mohammad-Reza Bahonar and Ahmad Tavakoli, are among the members of the group.

The spotlight on the Expediency Council was turned on last month when the Guardian Council's spokesperson, Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei, tweeted that the Guardian Council's issues with two of the four bills related to Irans action plan to permanently exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) have been resolved. However, it added that the bills would nonetheless be sent back to parliament because of issues the Expediency Council had found in the bills. The FATF is an intergovernmental organization created in 1989 to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Iran's presence on the FATF blacklist was suspended in 2016 with the implementation of the nuclear deal with six world powers. At its latest meeting in October, FATF gave Iran until February to undertake reforms that will bring it in line with global banking norms.

In reaction to Kadkhodaeis statement, a number of parliament and government members raised their voices against this new "negative change."

Hesamoddin Ashna, the president's cultural adviser, tweeted on Oct. 19, "Apparently, in the absence of its chairman, some have the tendency to put the Expediency Council in the position of the Senate." By "some," he was referring to Mohsen Rezaie, a rival of Rouhani in the 2013 presidential elections who has long served as secretary of the council.

Ashna then sarcastically added, "Dont make haste; put these initiatives away until the amending of the constitution." It should be noted that Iran had a senate prior to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but that it was abolished under the Islamic Republic. Under the current situation, the Guardian Council effectively acts as a constitutional court as well as a second chamber of parliament.

Furthermore, Ali Motahari, the outspoken deputy parliament speaker, stated on Oct. 23, "A new [negative] change has come into existence in the legislative process. After a bill is passed in parliament and sent to the Guardian Council, concurrently with the Guardian Council reviewing the bill in terms of being in accordance with Islamic law and the constitution, the [Supreme Supervision] Group reviews the bill in terms of being in accordance with the macro policies [of the establishment] and sends its comment to the Guardian Council."

He then noted that the new group in the Expediency Council is acting like a second Guardian Council, which is in "clear and explicit violation of the constitution." Pointing the finger at Rezaei, Motahari further remarked, "We shouldnt ignore the role of the dear secretary of the Expediency Council in this [negative] change. He is  increasing the authority of the council and entering the legislative area, and he also has taken advantage of the absence of Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani."

Meanwhile, the parliament speaker seems unwilling to acknowledge the role assumed by the Supreme Supervision Group. For instance, without paying any attention to the "errors" the monitoring group had found in the FATF-related bills, Speaker Ali Larijani recently sent them to the Expediency Council to decide about their fate since both parliament and the Guardian Council insist upon their viewpoints. However, a group of hard-line parliament members then wrote an open letter to Larijani on Oct. 26, criticizing his actions and defending the role of the Supreme Supervision Group.

Moreover, Heshmatollah Falahatpishe, chairman of parliament's foreign policy and national security commission, stated Nov. 11, "The Expediency Council is basically in no position to find an error in the parliament's bills."

However, hard-line members of the Expediency Council have fiercely defended the role of the Supreme Supervision Group, while the few moderates of the council have signaled their opposition.

Nonetheless, the Expediency Council's recent policies may be stemming from both the plans of Ayatollah Shahroudi's  who has shown his interest in empowering the institution he is chairing  and the hard-liners, who would like to see parliament's power diminish.

In 2017, Shahroudi stated that the Expediency Council acts like a senate in Iran's political structure. He said he believes that after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had assigned some of the key duties of the old senate to the Expediency Council so that, if need be, the council could participate in the legislative process, and that thus there is no need for a senate.

This line of thinking has not gone unchallenged. Parliament member Motahari, who has come out to defend parliament's powers, believes that the Iranian Constitution allows the Expediency Council to monitor the "enforcement" of the macro policies of the establishment and doesn't state that it ought to participate in the legislative process. Speaking of the Supreme Supervision Groups duties, Motahari has said, "The existing laws should be assessed, and those which are in violation of the macro policies [of the establishment], should be [noted] to the government, parliament and the judiciary  so in case of a need for a new law, a new bill should be presented."
According to Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, her main mission is staffing the Israeli courts with those who share her worldview: conservative, religious and pro-settler judges. This became clear at the end of a pathetic Nov. 19 press conference in which she and Education Minister Naftali Bennett announced that they had no plans to quit the coalition. She ended her remarks by saying that she will attend a meeting of the Committee for the Appointment of Judges this Friday, though none of the journalists asked what she was planning to do next.

Shaked makes no effort to hide that she has sought to fill the courts  the Supreme Court in particular  with conservative and traditional justices. Her main goal is to pack the court so that it will not block the political right from annexing the West Bank when that becomes feasible. I hope that we never reach that point, and if we do, that the Supreme Court would oppose this clear violation of international law and of Israels international commitments.

Both Israeli society and Israeli democracy have already suffered severely from Shakeds appointments. Last week, the Supreme Court adopted a ruling by the Great Rabbinical Court that denied a woman who had an extramarital affair her half of the apartment she shared with her husband. The ruling runs counter to the common practice of applying civil law to the division of assets in cases of divorce.

In Israel, only religious courts rule on marital status; only rabbinical courts can validate Jewish marriages or divorces. But divorcing couples can choose between a religious or civil court for the division of assets and the court approached first will rule in the case. Even if the case is treated wholly by a rabbinical court, the separation of assets must follow Israeli civil legislation.

In the case at hand, two justices supported the rabbinical ruling, with one justice dissenting. These two judges, David Mintz and Alex Stein, were appointed by Shaked (who by law heads the Committee for the Appointment of Judges). As such, she bears personal responsibility for the enormous damage caused by this ruling to the lives of free people in Israel. Nevertheless, I still want to believe that she did not take a strange ruling like this into consideration in her frenzied rush to appoint conservative justices. I want to believe that she clenched her fists in frustration when she saw the disgraceful outcome of her hard work. Still, it will be hard to turn back the wheel.

There is just one democratic country in the entire world in which all legislation pertaining to marriage and divorce are based on religious law. That country is Israel. It is inherently detrimental to the rights of women (since religious laws were written by men who, for example, considered a womans infidelity to be a grave crime, whereas infidelity by a man is not a sin at all, unless his transgression involves a married woman). Until now, the Supreme Court has used its authority to apply civil law to the division of assets in divorce cases. Over the years, in a concerted effort, the court was able to reduce the scope of this chilling discrimination against women.

For example, a ruling from almost a quarter century ago, Bavli vs. High Rabbinical Court, determined that when dealing with the division of assets in cases of divorce, rabbinical courts must base their decision on civil law exclusively. Another ruling determined that even though assets acquired by one of the partners before their marriage would not normally be divided in divorce proceedings, such properties would be divided between the couple if the plaintiff can prove they were clearly intended for use by both.

By knocking down these two rulings last week, the Supreme Court gave religious courts wide leeway to reinstitute discrimination against women.

The case in question involved a couple that had been married for 30 years. For the past 20 years, they lived together in a home built on a plot of land that the husband inherited. It doesnt take judicial expertise to know that if a couple gets married, has children and lives together for decades, their original intent was to share their property. Today, in the 21st century, the fact that one of the partners had an extramarital affair is no business of the state. It is an issue for the couple to deal with. The cheated-on partner could decide to forgive or to end the marriage. At that point, the offended partner could sue for divorce. What that partner cannot do is take revenge on the spouse, deny the spouse a roof or even an equitable share of their common property.

Dissenting Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Amit followed the Bavli precedent and ruled that the Great Rabbinical Courts decision was based on religious law and therefore violated the Supreme Courts ruling that civil law alone would be the basis for the division of assets. Amit made it clear that a decision that accepted the rabbinical courts ruling could lead to women being subjected to tracking, even stalking, in an effort to prove that they cheated on their husbands in order to deny them their share of jointly held property.

The rulings of the other two justices are extremely problematic. After prevaricating at length, Mintz reached the conclusion that while the womans infidelity should not affect her rights to any commonly held assets, the rabbinical courts ruling was based on other considerations rather than her infidelity per se.

Stein took the issue further, returning us to the dark days in which according to Jewish law, an act of infidelity would be grounds to deny women rights to jointly held property, since property obtained by her husband before she married him is a kind of prize that is awarded to her as a result of her marriage. Such an award, he continued, should not be granted to women who cheat on their husbands.

Is there anything that can be done about this, apart from separating religion and state? This will not happen, given the structure of the coalition and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dependence on ultra-Orthodox parties to preserve his majority. One option is to pass new legislation encoding the Bavli ruling into law. That way, there would be no question of the rabbinical courts using religious law when dividing a couples assets in divorce proceedings. This point-specific solution, however, would run into countless problems. Regardless, the religious parties would put up a fierce fight against any such move.

A second option would be easier and more inclusive: increase the number of justices once the next government is formed, allowing the appointment of more liberal justices. It could even be done as a provisional measure to restore a little light in these benighted times.
The premeditated murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month was an act of terrorism. The Saudis are desperately trying to salvage the reputation and credibility of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who undoubtedly ordered the assassination. The Donald Trump administration is colluding with Riyadh. But revelations about the prince continue to emerge, further sullying his brand. At home there is unease in the royal family about what his tarnished reputation means for the kingdom.

The prince has done a tour of the kingdom with his father to shore up support at home. It concluded in Tabuk near the Gulf of Aqaba with billions of dollars in new projects and investment promised for the remote province. It is rumored in Riyadh that King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud may retire to Tabuk if his health deteriorates further. He has recently built a new palace in the region.

Next is a regional tour starting in Abu Dhabi with a visit to the prince's closest ally, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayid. MBZ, as he is called, has staked the Emirates future on the Saudi crown prince, who is also known as MBS. The Emirates is potentially the biggest loser if his Saudi protege continues to implode. Already Saudis have become resentful of the outsize influence the Gulf leader has in the kingdom.

The prince is also visiting two Saudi clients, Bahrain and Egypt, both with horrendous human rights records. Bahrain has been occupied by the Saudi National Guard since 2011. The Saudis played a key covert role in the 2013 coup that brought Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to power. MBS is assured of fawning receptions on the tour. Stops elsewhere are likely to be less harmonious.

The prince is also scheduled to represent the kingdom at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires at the end of the month. The Americans, Russians and Chinese are sure to fawn as well but the Europeans will be colder audience. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will keep his distance.

Desperately seeking rehabilitation, the crown prince is hoping the world will forget about Khashoggi and move on. So is Trump. But the reality is that the Saudi leader has a closet full of skeletons and horrors that wont be shut.

The war in Yemen tops the list. After more than three years of war, 18,000 coalition airstrikes and the crippling blockade, 18 million Yemenis are at risk of malnutrition and disease. Save the Children estimates that more than 85,000 children under the age of five have already starved to death in the war. The coalition is pouring weapons in to the country, arming various fractious militias. There are so many weapons in the country that Yemen is an exporter of small arms to other countries in the region.

The Yemeni catastrophe is MBS's signature policy initiative, and he has been the biggest obstacle to a cease-fire. According to several sources, MBS threw a temper tantrum when the British suggested a truce earlier this month. His outburst did not stop London from proposing a new UN Security Council resolution and pressing for a cease-fire. The Labor opposition wants to go further and bring war crime charges against the Saudi and coalition leaders, specifically naming MBS as the man most responsible for the war and the humanitarian catastrophe.

At home, new revelations about the torture of female dissidents and advocates of gender equality were uncovered last week by several human rights groups. The exposure is undermining the prince's carefully crafted image of a reformer who gave women the right to drive. Some human rights advocates say that they have deliberately held back some details of the abuses for now. The truth is bound to leak.

In the United States, Trump has tried to exonerate the prince by claiming that the evidence of his involvement in the murder is not conclusive. Few believe him. Congress is looking for ways to distance the country from the Saudi prince and his policies. One that is likely to enjoy widespread support is to deny the kingdom access to nuclear power.

The crown prince has publicly said he would pursue nuclear weapons if Iran does. Since the Saudis encouraged Trump to violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that curbs Irans nuclear arms project, his statement should be taken as an admission of intent. Moreover, the idea of nuclear weapons in the hands of a reckless and impulsive murderer is unthinkable.

Despite the campaign to rehabilitate MBS image, there is mounting evidence that the royal family is concerned about how his actions have damaged the kingdom. The mass incarceration of royals and entrepreneurs last year at the Ritz-Carlton shakedown alienated important branches of the family, including the sons of former Kings Fahd and Abdullah. The clerical establishment is also uncertain about the crown prince's behavior. His intense anti-Shiism is a plus but some of his reforms are the opposite.

The security establishment has been embarrassed by the failure in Yemen. The all-powerful Interior Ministry was the stronghold of the Nayef wing of the family and now former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is under house arrest. The foremost counterterrorism leader in the country is incommunicado.

The crown prince rules by terror, not consensus. His ascent to power has been entirely the work of his father, and the king seems determined to stick with his son. Nonetheless, the region is rife with speculation about the kingdom's future and how it will play out. Will the king retire early? Will the family accept MBS? Will the security apparatus turn on the crown prince if he executes officials who were doing his bidding?

The only certainty is that the crown prince is likely to remain a reckless and dangerous player. Istanbul will not be the last debacle he leads the kingdom into.
The US-led coalition will press ahead with the establishment of observation posts to deconflict Turkish and Kurdish forces along the Syrian-Turkish border despite Turkish objections, according to sources with intimate knowledge of coalition planning.

Speaking to Al-Monitor on the condition they not be identified, the sources recalled that Turkey had justified its military buildup along the Syrian border facing territory controlled by Syrian Kurdish forces and its plans to invade on the grounds that the militants known as the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) were firing at Turkey all the time. The sources asserted that with coalition forces deployed in the border area, they would be in a position to ascertain where the Turks are being shot at and prevent the YPG from doing so. The reality, however, in the words of one of the sources, is that the YPG is not firing across the border.

Turkey continues to exert pressure over the US administration to scotch its partnership with the YPG because of the groups tight links with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants, who are fighting a bloody insurgency within Turkey. To Ankara the deployment of coalition forces along the border looks more like protecting the militants against Turkey than the other way round.

The United States Central Command, which oversees operations in Syria, did not respond to Al-Monitors request for comment. But a commander in the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces told Al-Monitor via WhatsApp, US forces have already done reconnaissance work along the border. No observation posts have yet been established but there are 12 being planned in Kobani, Tell Abyad, [Ras al-Ain] and Amude. The places he mentioned all lie within the US-protected zone and close to the Turkish border. The commander added, Construction is expected to start very soon. Previous media reports citing Syrian Kurdish officials put the number of planned observation posts at five.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told the state-run Anadolu news agency on Nov. 24 that he had conveyed Turkeys unease to US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum the week prior. He had told Dunford the observation posts would have a negative impact and create the impression that US soldiers are somehow protecting terrorist YPG members and shielding them. The move would make an already complex situation much more complex.

That is something of an understatement. The US partnership with the YPG has, to Moscows delight, driven already troubled US-Turkish ties to the brink of collapse. In January, Turkish forces invaded mainly Kurdish Afrin, which lies outside the US-protected zone to the west of the Euphrates River. The operation dubbed Olive Branch undermined the coalitions ongoing campaign against the Islamic State as YPG fighters redeployed to Afrin to help defend the hilly enclave where much of Syrias olive oil is produced.

The YPG briefly paused anti-IS operations again in Deir ez-Zor after Turkey began shelling its positions in the Kobani region in late October, killing at least one militant. A $12 million bounty placed on the heads of three top PKK commanders based in Iraqi Kurdistan has done little to calm Turkish jitters. Nor has the long delayed launch at the start of November of joint patrols by Turkish and US forces northwest of the contested town of Manbij along the demarcation line dividing Turkish-controlled territory in Syria from the area run by the YPG-friendly Manbij Military Council.

President Donald Trumps special envoy to Syria, Ambassador Jim Jeffrey, has been trying to mend ties with Turkey over Syria and Manbij is being touted as a laboratory where Turkish and US interests can somehow be reconciled. Manbij has been an abiding source of friction between the NATO allies since August 2016, when the YPG backed by coalition airpower seized the town from IS. Washington had promised Turkey that the YPG would withdraw from Manbij, which lies to the west of the Euphrates River, as soon as it was liberated. But that never happened.

Sources familiar with the administrations thinking told Al-Monitor that that the envisioned Manbij model keeps Turkey out of the town but gives it full visibility into it, with YPG sympathizers being weeded out of the local governing and military councils. Over time, Turkeys aid agency TIKA, which operates in Turkish-controlled zones, could move in to help rebuild the town, encouraging refugees from Manbij currently residing in Turkey to return. This template could be then replicated in other parts of the US-controlled zone, where ethnic Arabs constitute a majority as is Manbij.

The trouble is that Jeffrey has also stated that the US military mission in northeast Syria is both ensuring the enduring defeat of IS and contesting more actively Irans activities, particularly in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. And this means, he said, we are not in a hurry to pull out. This, in turn, means that US forces will need to continue to rely on the YPG, which remains the most effective partner force for the coalition. How this squares with a reset with Turkey remains a mystery, particularly since Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shown absolutely no interest in resuming peace talks with the PKK.

Fabrice Balanche, a French academic at the University of Lyon II who specializes in the Middle East, aired skepticism over the continued US presence in northeast Syria. The problem is that the United States cannot deploy forces the full length of the Turkish-Syrian border, he told Al-Monitor. Two thousand men isnt much, he said, referring to the estimated number of US special operations forces in northeastern Syria. And in case of a fresh Turkish attack, which most likely would target Tell Abyad, I dont see how the YPG can continue to fight IS on behalf of the United States. That may well be Erdogans calculation as well.
Florida-based CenterState Bank Corp., today announced its acquisition of Birmingham-based National Commerce Corp., the holding company of National Bank of Commerce.

The all-stock merger will create a regional bank in Florida, Georgia and Alabama with about 75 percent of its deposits in Florida. Its total assets will total $16.4 billion. with gross loans of $11.5 billion, deposits of $12.8 billion and a market capitalization of approximately $3.2 billion.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019.

CenterState CEO John Corbett said the company is excited to welcome a seasoned team of Alabama bankers with a proven record of success.

National Bank of Commerce has seven full-service banking offices in Alabama, twenty-five full service banking offices in Florida and five full-service banking offices in the Atlanta metro area. National Bank of Commerce also has several names unique to certain markets, such as United Legacy Bank, Reunion Bank of Florida, Private Bank of Buckhead, Private Bank of Decatur, PrivatePlus Mortgage, Patriot Bank, FirstAtlantic Bank, Premier Community Bank of Florida and First Landmark Bank. It also owns a majority stake in Decatur-based Corporate Billing, LLC.

National Commerce Chairman and CEO Richard Murray IV will be CEO of CenterState Bank upon the mergers completion. William E. Matthews V, president and CFO of National Commerce, will join CenterState as CFO of both the bank and the holding company. Three National Commerce directors will also join both the company board and the CenterState Bank board, and one additional director will join the CenterState Bank board.

For years, we have had great respect and admiration for CenterState and we are thrilled to play an important role in helping build upon our common culture and values, Murray said in a statement.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. served as financial advisor and Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough LLP served as legal counsel to CenterState in the transaction. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. was the financial advisor and Maynard Cooper & Gale, P.C. served as legal counsel to National Commerce in the transaction.
General Motors kept the time of speculation short as it announced those rumored company-wide changes that it will close three assembly plants in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, Canada by the end of 2019.

The Detroit-based automaker confirmed the measures in a Monday morning, Nov. 26 news release in saying these moves "will accelerate its transformation for the future." That future is an all-electric one, and GM says in the release that these "proactive steps" will help improve overall business performance and internal organization.

GM reports that closing the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant, Lordstown Assembly Plant in Warren, Ohio and Oshawa Assembly plant in Ontario will increase its cash flow by $6 billion by the end of 2020. The Associated Press reports the move will see 14,700 employees laid off, including 8,100 salaried, white-collar workers.

Mary Barra, the automaker's CEO and chairman, said that these measures will continue GM's transformation into a "highly agile, resilient and profitable" company with some needed investment flexibility.

"This morning I spoke to Mary Barra and she advised me for the first time of the situation at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant. The news is troubling," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in an emailed statement.

"I have spoken to UAW President Gary Jones and the city's economic development team. They are working together to come up with a solution that works for GM and the employees. We all know there is strong demand for manufacturing space in Detroit and we are willing to work with GM to fill all the available manufacturing space at Poletown with either GM-related entities or other companies."

A.P. reports that the reductions in salaried employees represents a 15 percent reduction to GMs North American workforce. The automaker says that some of the U.S. employees will have the option to transfer to plants that will see an increase in volume.

Nathan Bomey, of USA Today, reports that GM has killed production of its Chevy Volt and Impala in North America with these plant closures. On top of this, the automaker is believed to be eyeing the Cadillac XTS, CT6 and Buick LaCrosse for the chopping block as Americans continue their intense love of trucks and SUVs.

The automaker cites transforming product development, optimizing product portfolio, staffing transformation and increasing capacity utilization as the three core reasons behind the cuts. In addition to the three assembly plants closing, GM will also unallocate the propulsion plants in Warren, Michigan and White Marsh, Maryland in the same timeframe. AP said work on six-speed transmissions made at the Warren, Michigan, transmission plant would stop Aug. 1, while the Baltimore transmission plant would stop production April 1.

"This is a warning and we all must be concerned about protecting jobs and keeping them in this country. I care deeply about working families hearing this news right now," U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, said in her own emailed statement.

"If we want our auto industry to continue to be the global leader in transforming mobility, federal policy must ensure we keep them at the forefront of innovation and technology. Congress must work together on bipartisan policies that keep manufacturing jobs in this country, develops clean energy, and supports infrastructure to transform our mobility future."

North America isnt the only area feeling cuts, as GM also says it will close the assembly plant in Gunsan, Korea in addition to two other non-North American plants by the end of next year.

The automaker says these measures are part of its plan to reduce its salaried workforce by 15 percent its executives by 25 percent.

"In contrast to times past, General Motors, under CEO Mary Barra, is trying to get ahead of a potential crisis by making cuts now. A confluence of factors has triggered GM's actions: a downturn in the important China market as well as a potential downturn in the North American market - the two are GM's biggest markets; the dramatic shift by consumers from traditional cars to utility vehicles; and the impact of tariffs and trade issues," Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Autotrader, said in an emailed statement.

GM is actually a tad late to adjusting its product line and production capacity to the dramatic car to utility shift. Ford and Fiat Chrysler already revealed their plans to largely abandon traditional cars. We had expected GM to follow suit, especially in light of 2019s labor talks with the UAW.
Atlantas Scofflaw Brewing Co. is introducing three of its beers into the Alabama market, with events in the Birmingham and Mobile areas scheduled for next week.

Scofflaw today announced it will be releasing a select draft and a small amount of packaged beer in the Birmingham and Mobile markets, beginning next Monday.

The three initial offerings will be:

Basement IPA: A citrus India Pale Ale with a 7.5 percent ABV.

POG Basement IPA: Combining passion fruit, orange and guava with a 7.5 percent ABV.

Dirty Beaches: Featuring tropical wheat, fruit aromas and flavors with a 6.3 percent ABV.

Scofflaw launched in Georgia two years ago, and founder and CEO Scott Shirah said some of the companys original backing came from Alabama.

When we go into a market, I want to be sure that we have a real connection to that market," he said. We really wanted to share the Scofflaw experience with 'Bama  I knew the state had a great potential beer market, and is in close proximity to the brewery. It all just made sense.

The beer is being distributed in state by United - Johnson Brothers of Alabama.

Scofflaw has scheduled several promotional events next week:

Monday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m.  Slice Pizza, Birmingham.

Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m.  Hop City Craft Beer & Wine, Birmingham.

Thursday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m.  The Beer Hog, Pelham.

Friday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m.  Loda Bier Garten, Mobile.
A Daleville man has been arrested in the shooting death of his brother, according to police.

Thomas Michael Goulart was arrested Sunday on charges of murder, attempted murder, and first-degree burglary.

Daleville Police Chief William Powell told local media that Chris Goulart, 52, was shot dead by his brother Thomas after an argument began between them on Saturday night.

The brothers lived in adjacent homes on Richardson Drive. Police said that during the fight, Goulart ran back to his home, retrieved a gun, then returned and shot his brother, reported WTVY.

The shooting occurred near the gates of the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, but outside of the base.

Thomas Goulart was later arrested without incident and is being held in the Dale County Jail.
A man and a woman are dead and two other men were hospitalized after shots were fired Sunday morning at an intersection in Demopolis, according to Demopolis Police.

Officers initially responded to a report of shooting on Floyd Street shortly after 9 a.m.

They found Laderrus Gilbert, 27, and Jasmine Washington, 24, in a vehicle that had crashed into several parked vehicles near the intersection of Floyd and Field Streets. Gilbert and Washington had been shot, police said.

The two were taken by ambulance to Bryan Whitfield Hospital and were later pronounced dead.

Anthony Collier, 21, and Tramaine Irby, 26, also suffered gunshot wounds. They were taken by private vehicle to the hospital where they are in stable condition. Officers have been assigned to the ICU for security precautions throughout the night, police said.

Demopolis police are interviewing possible witnesses and the investigation is ongoing.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved Alabamas plan for spending $192 million from settlement funds from the 2010 BP oil spill on 15 projects in Baldwin and Mobile counties, Gov. Kay Iveys office announced.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council developed the list of projects under guidelines established under a law Congress passed in 2012 called the RESTORE Act, which came in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

This is a watershed day in the reinvestment of Alabamas Gulf Coast communities, Ivey said in a press release. The members of the Council have worked long and hard over the past year to get us to this point; at long last, oil spill funds guaranteed to the people of Alabama through the RESTORE Act are about to be invested."

The next steps include grant applications for each project before work can begin.

The projects:

The Aloe Bay Harbour business district project on Dauphin Island.

Redevelopment of the Bayou La Batre city docks to support Alabamas seafood industry.

Upgrading water distribution lines in Bayou La Batre.

Improving water and sewer service access in Satsuma.

Upgrading the water treatment plant in Mount Vernon.

Development of a comprehensive Mobile County Blue Way Trail, a system of water trails for paddlers.

Acquisition of land for a 24.5-mile connector from Interstate 65 to the Baldwin Beach Express at Interstate 10.

Five road projects to add lanes and traffic capacity on three major state routes in Baldwin County.

A new roll on-roll off facility for handling cargo in the port of Mobile to help support Alabamas automotive industry and other industries.

The Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability, to be built on 12 acres next to Gulf State Park.

Development of a welcome center for Africatown, site of the landing of the last slave ship to enter the United States.

Upgrades to the St. Louis Street area in Mobile, including draining, paving and streetscape improvements.

Design and construction of six segments of the Three Mile Creek Greenway Trail in Mobile.

Improvements to the shoreline and bluffs on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay at the Fairhope Municipal Pier site.

A grant to pay for planning for possible amendments to the multi-year plan.

Read the entire plan.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council is made up of the governor, who serves as chair; the director of the Alabama State Port Authority, who serves as vice-chair; the chairman of the Baldwin County Commission; the president of the Mobile County Commission; and the mayors of Bayou La Batre, Dauphin Island, Fairhope, Gulf Shores, Mobile and Orange Beach. Former Congressman Jo Bonner serves as Iveys representative in her absence.

The RESTORE Act funds are one pot of money available to Alabama as a result of the oil spill.

The state was also awarded about $1 billion in a settlement intended to compensate for tax revenues lost because of the spill. The Legislature approved a plan to use that money to pay off state debt, help fund the Alabama Medicaid Agency for two years and support road projects in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
In the small Alabama town of Castleberry, once a highly profitable speed trap where the police department was five times larger than the national average, a lawsuit accusing the former police chief of theft, false imprisonment, and enforcing a made-up law, may about to be resolved.

More than 20 months have passed since local attorney Richard Nix filed suit against former police chief Tracy Hawsey and the town. During that time the contentious town law, or ordinance, that enabled Hawsey and his officers to pull people over and tow their vehicles for $500 each has been shelved and the police department shrunken from five full-time officers to two part-time officers that work on their days off from their regular jobs.

But the lawsuit, which is expected to be mediated before Christmas, according to Hawsey, remains. And while it may bring restitution to the plaintiffs in the case, some of which have never had their cars or cash returned, it also has the potential to devastate an already struggling Castleberry.

Were still terrible financially, said Mayor Buddy Kirksey, who narrowly beat out the former mayor by just 30 votes during an election a little over two years ago. The town cant afford anything like this so right now were depending on the insurance companies to pay for it.

In Oct. 2017, AL.com told the story of Trey Crozier, who was pulled over by Hawsey after improperly backing out of a driveway. Hawsey searched his vehicle and took $1,750, which he later claimed in Facebook posts was cash derived from illegal felony drug dealing or activity. No charges were ever filed against Crozier and Hawsey did not follow any kind of civil forfeiture procedure, according to court filings.

"The cops took every penny I had," Crozier said. "I have no idea where my money is now. I've tried to get it back for almost a year."

Croziers story is one of more than a dozen in court filings where Hawsey or one of his officers is accused of taking money and belongings on the basis that they were from the proceeds of drug crime. Hawsey is also accused of raiding peoples homes in Castleberry without the correct warrants and confiscating money and drugs while ultimately never filing charges. Most of Hawseys exploits were detailed in Facebook posts. Those have since been removed.

Hawsey has history of erratic behavior as a law enforcement officer dating back more than 15 years.

In 2002, Hawsey saw multiple drug bust cases thrown out of by judges after he and his deputies used improper police procedure when entering suspects properties, according to AL.com reporting from the time. Four years later, he stepped down as Conecuh County Sheriff two months before his second term was up, according to the Evergreen Courant. He had just lost a run-off. The resignation was seen at the time as being unprofessional given that deputies under him lost their arresting powers. A new Sheriff was sworn in immediately, only to find that food for inmates at the county jail had run out. New Sheriff, Edwin L. Booker, was forced to use his own money to feed inmates.

In Nixs court filings, Hawsey is again accused of using improper procedures when entering the homes of local Castleberry suspects, and the cars of those that he pulled over.

Ashley Delassandri was pulled over by Hawsey for speeding in Aug. 2016. She received a ticket and was not charged with any other crime. Nevertheless, she was unlawfully detained, arrested and taken into custody by Hawsey, according to court documents. Her car was towed and she was placed in a cell. No charges were ever filed against her.

Miranda Mathis, who was added to the suit more recently had a similar experience to Dalessandri, except Hawsey offered to return her $500 provided Mathis traveled back to Castleberry to have lunch with him, according to court filings. This happened in March 2016. While seemingly innocent, attorney Nix told AL.com in an interview that this behavior could be the most alarming of all.

Its inappropriate in that he was in a position of authority over her and had her fate was in his hands, said Nix. She later lost her job over this.

Over the last year, the lawsuit filed by Nix was severed into four different suits, allowing the accusations against Hawsey and the town to be categorized.

How Did this happen?

In 2009 Castleberrys former Mayor J.B. Jackson hired Hawsey, who for a time was the only officer on duty.

"We didn't have much so Hawsey come to me and said 'There is a lot of crime in this town and a lot of drugs coming through this town,'" Jackson told AL.com "So he said why don't we set up a court system to get some money coming in."

And that's exactly what happened. "We hired our own DA and own judge," Jackson added. "The revenues started to grow and we built out the police department."

Jackson said that before they set up the court system cases from the town went to Evergreen, a larger town about 15 minutes north that is home to about 4,000 people. He said the Castleberry cases would get thrown out regularly because Evergreen was so busy. So Jackson made the suggestion to the Castleberry city council. They agreed.

"At first I didn't think catching people speeding would last more than six months before they got the idea and slowed down," said Jackson. "It actually got worse."

Jackson died on May 21st, according to Mayor Kirksey. Financial documents from 2015 and 2016, the only records made available after repeated requests by AL.com, showed the importance of the police department and court system on Castleberrys finances.

In 2016, revenues from the court system and the drug towing law, brought in more than $546,000, approximately double from the year before. At the same time, however, payroll for the cops and court quadrupled, according to financial documents.

The city began to accrue new debts, which was compounded by debts incurred by Hawseys ambitious plan to grow the police department with personnel, dispatchers, new equipment and at one point five cops cars. We had to let two of the cars go back, said Nix. They were bought by Hawsey and Jackson two months before I took office. Were still paying for what we couldnt get back on them.

Nix said he not yet sure how the lawsuit will work out for the plaintiffs, some of whom may not be content to mediate the issue. But regardless of what does happen, Nix is pleased that his work has achieved so much already.

This lawsuit has already served a valuable purpose to the community at large: that being the fact that Tracy Hawsey no longer is patrolling the highway running through Castleberry, AL, said Nix.
For the second time since restarting cruise service from Mobile in 2016, Carnival has signed a one-year extension of its contract to operate from the citys cruise terminal.

Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Mobile City Council members were all smiles Monday as Stimpson announced the extension and shortly thereafter signed the agreement. "This has made a huge financial impact on the city of Mobile," the mayor said.

Carnival Fantasy Captain Arik Mazzi speaks at the Mobile Alabama Cruise Terminal on Nov. 26, 2018, as city leaders celebrated a one-year contract extension with Carnival. From left are Visit Mobile chief David Clark; Mobile City Council members Bess Rich, Gina Gregory and Fred Richardson; Carnival official Tony Becker; and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson.

Carnival sailed from Mobile prior to 2011, but abruptly left the city that year. Stimpson said that during the years in which the terminal sat mostly unused, debt service on the building continued to cost the city around $2 million a year.

Since Carnival returned, he said, that $2 million annual loss had been transformed into $6.5 million in revenue, more than enough to pay the debt service. Profits of about $2 million were being plowed back into maintenance of the terminal, he said.

The mayor said that the city still owes about $18 million on the facility. Meanwhile Mobile leaders continue to hope for bigger and better things based on information that the Carnival Fantasy is usually booked at full capacity and passenger satisfaction is high. In response to media questions, Stimpson said he would be "glad to sign a 2- or 3-year contract" should Carnival ever opt for a longer-term deal.

Councilman Fred Richardson said "we're going to assure you that if we bring that ship here we're going to pack it out." He also referred to the chance of a second ship being added to Mobile service, joining the Fantasy, and to the possibility that by next year cruise passengers currently flying into Downtown Mobile Regional Airport would be able to use the much closer Mobile Airport at Brookley.

Stimpson said the second ship was "a hope-for" rather than a development actively in the works. But the Mobile Airport Authority is working to develop a passenger terminal for low-cost carriers at Brookley, a first step on its ambition of moving all commercial passenger service to that airfield. That terminal is projected to be in service by late spring.

Stimpson said the Carnival extension would go on the council agenda this Tuesday. "I hope that it will pass," he said. "It's very important that it does."

"This helps us as a city become recognized as a destination city," Stimpson said.

David Clark, head of Visit Mobile, said that some 360,000 passengers had come through the cruise terminal since Carnival renewed service from Mobile, and that economic impacts included 55,000 hotel bookings. He said having active cruise service from Mobile was a "catalyst for other things to come" along the Mobile waterfront, and mentioned that a riverboat, the Perdido Queen, will begin offering local cruises in January.

Arik Mazzi, captain of the Fantasy, said that customers cruising out of Mobile tended to be really great, really easy to get along with.
A body that apparently washed up from a Jackson County creek has been identified as James Michael Eakin, a man reported missing months ago, authorities said.

James Michael Eakin was found dead along a Jackson County creek, the sheriff's office said. (Photo courtesy of Jackson County sheriff, via WHNT News-19)

Eakins body was found on the edge of Robinson Creek on the afternoon of Nov. 18, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies were called to the scene off Jackson County Road 33, north of Hollywood.

Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences used dental records to determine the body was that of Eakin, a 53-year-old who was reported missing from the Pikeville community in August.

Harnen said the cause and manner of death werent available for release. The case is being investigated as a homicide.
From the moment he left the Justice Department, talk about former U.S Attorney General Jeff Sessions has centered on the possibility of him running for his old seat in the Senate.

That doesnt mean hes a lock to win the seat back for Republicans, however, as Politico reported in an examination of the 2020 race.

Sessions main liability would be his strained relationship with President Trump, according to political insiders. Once one of the Trumps key supporters, the two fell out after Sessions became AG and recused himself from the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. What followed were two years of public criticism directed at Sessions.

Terry Lathan, chair of the Alabama Republican Party, told Politico Sessions is beloved in the state but the relationship between him and Trump could create an unusual circumstance" if he does run.

The president is highly appreciated for his conservative policy. He's just slaying it as far as we're concerned, Lathan said. But I also know how much people admire and respect Jeff Sessions."

Sessions has not said publicly he will run for the seat he held from 1997 to 2017.

Who else could be running?

Democrat Doug Jones, who beat out Republican Roy Moore in December 2017 to win the seat in Republican-strong Alabama, is seeking a second term.

On the Republican side, Rep. Bradley Byrne said he is considering running for seat. Other names mentioned in the Politico report were State Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh; U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks; and newly elected Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth.

That list could shrink if Sessions throws his hat in the ring, Lathan said.

There could be a real reset and folks who were thinking about running could take a second look, she said.

You can read the complete Politico story here.
A man and woman died in an apparent murder-suicide in Jackson County over the weekend, authorities said.

Deputies were called to a home on County Road 131 in the Bryant community late Saturday.

Joey Wayne Hollis and Kathryn Nichols were both found dead, according to the sheriffs office. Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said investigators believe 36-year-old Hollis fatally shot 48-year-old Nichols before turning the gun on himself.

Hollis is originally from Talladega, Harnen said, but had been living with his girlfriend in Bryant.

Further details havent been released.

Here are warning signs to watch for if you fear someone is suicidal and resources that can help those thinking of harming themselves or who fear a loved one might harm themselves.

WARNING SIGNS

 Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself.

 Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means.

 Talking or writing about death, dying, ''ending the pain'' or suicide.

 Feeling hopeless.

 Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities - seemingly without thinking.

 Feeling trapped - like there's no way out.

 Increasing alcohol or drug use.

 Withdrawing from friends, family, social support and society.

 Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep or sleeping all the time.

 Experiencing significant mood changes.

 Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life.

 Feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge.

HOW TO HELP

 Ask the person directly if he or she is having suicidal thoughts, has a plan to do so, and has access to lethal means.

 If you think the person might harm him- or herself, do not leave the person alone.

 Take seriously all suicide threats and all past suicide attempts, even if he or she minimizes your concerns.

 Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.

 Be willing to listen and be non-judgmental. Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don't lecture on the value of life or whether suicide is viewed by some as a sinful, selfish or angry act. Respect that suicidal feelings are most likely related to ending emotional or psychological pain.

 Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support. Take into account other trusted friends, family members or allies who can be a part of a supportive team.

 Don't dare him or her to do it.

 Don't act shocked. This may translate as criticism or judgment and weaken trust between you.

 Don't be sworn to secrecy. Acknowledge that all suicidal risk is to be taken seriously and firmly and gently explain that you are seeking support.

 Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance.

 Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.

 Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

Resources in Alabama

 Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition

 Crisis Center, Inc. (Birmingham) Phone: (205) 323-7777 Kids Help Line: (205) 328-KIDS (5437) Teen Link: (205) 328-LINK (5465) Senior Talk Line: (205) 328-TALK (8255) Hours of Operation: 24/7

 Crisis Services of North Alabama (Huntsville) Phone: (256) 716-1000 Toll Free: (800) 691-8426 Hours of Operation: 24/7

 Lifelines/Family Counseling Center of Mobile Phone: (251) 431-5111 Toll Free: (800) 293-1117 Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (CST) Monday-Friday

Sources: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and The Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resource Coalition
MSNBCs Morning Joe co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough wed Saturday, according to Vanity Fair.

The wedding took place in Washington, D.C. at the National Archives, a location Brzezinski said was selected because it makes sense now more than ever, given what we stand for as a couple, what we do for a living, and what were worried about as a country.

The ceremony was officiated by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland.

Scarborough and Brzezinski are vocal critics of the Trump White House and the president has often fired back at them, once calling them clowns. Scarborough and Brzezinski has been engaged since May 2017.

Scarborough is a 1985 graduate of the University of Alabama. That fact became an issue during the failed campaign of U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore during a stump speech on his behalf by former presidential advisor Steve Bannon.

Appearing in Midland, Alabama, the Breitbart News executive chairman mocked Scarborough by telling the crowd he went to much better schools - Georgetown and Harvard - than the former Florida Congressman. Scarborough responded with a jibe of his own, telling Bannon he only went to Harvard because (he) couldnt get into Alabama.
A man who died Thanksgiving Day from crash injuries sustained in a Birmingham interstate shootout was charged with capital murder before his death, and a third suspect also has been charged.

Birmingham police on Tuesday announced the capital murder warrants against 25-year-old Tavalues Andarius Johnson. Johnson died Nov. 22, 12 days after he was injured in the Nov. 10 incident. The Jefferson County Coroners Office announced dead a couple of hours before police announced the warrants against him.

The shootout happened that Saturday afternoon on Interstate 59/20 in eastern Birmingham. Birmingham police and fire medics responded about 3:30 p.m. to the Shell service station on Oporto-Madrid Boulevard and Fifth Avenue North.

Once on the scene, they found 29-year-old Edward Tyurri Matthews - a passenger in an SUV - suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to UAB Hospitals Trauma Center where he was pronounced dead the next day.

Johnson and Patrick Dewayne Webb, 21, were charged in Matthews death.

Also Tuesday, Sgt. Johnny Williams said 21-year-old Gabrielle Lashay Moore is charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. Moore, Johnson and Webb were all in the gray sedan together, Williams said.

Birmingham police said it appeared it started with shots fired between two vehicles on Interstate 59/20. The SUV then exited the interstate and stopped at the Shell for help. Despite widespread talk on social media that Matthews was found with a bag over his head, police and Jefferson County coroners officials said that report is untrue.

Police have not released a motive in the shootout and subsequent slaying but there had been an ongoing dispute between the two, possibly over a female. Prior to the deadly shooting, police were already investigating Webb for the Metro PCS robberies after receiving several tips following the release of surveillance photos from the holdups.
Mobile police say a 9-year-old girl hit by gunfire on I-10 Sunday evening while riding in her mothers car was shot by her father.

The incident occurred along eastbound I-10 near the Broad Street and Virginia Street crossings. According to information released Monday by the Mobile Police Department, the investigation began at about 8:30 p.m. at University Hospital.

The 9-year-old was a passenger in her mothers vehicle when a known male subject fired repeatedly into the vehicle. That male subject was the childs father, police have specified. The girls injuries were not life-threatening, according to police.

A police spokesman declined to comment on efforts to make contact with the man, who has not been publicly identified. The investigation is ongoing, according to police. Potential charges include domestic violence, shooting into an occupied vehicle and reckless endangerment.
John Meredith, of Huntsville, is a former Capitol Hill lobbyist who was recognized as one of the countrys 100 most influential Black Republicans.

The American political system has failed. Congress, under GOP leadership, has ceded significant portions of its constitutional responsibility to the executive branch of government. Not content with simple dereliction of duty, Republican-controlled congresses then subverted democracy itself by altering Senate rules to force through legislation and confirmations via simple majorities. This means fewer citizens are needed to support passage of new laws.

John Meredith is a contributing columnist for AL.com.John Meredith

In the House, Republicans follow the so-called Hastert rule that has effectively made every vote in that chamber one that puts party over people. Allegiance to party rather than constituents among elected officials was ensured by GOP statehouses that gerrymandered competitive races out of existence.

The current Administration is eroding whats left of public confidence in our judicial system, law enforcement, the intelligence community, the media and common decency.

Consequently, despite moderate figure heads, both parties are led from the extremes. Neither has shown any willingness to serve the interests of constituents nor have they fulfilled their constitutional obligations to govern.

Instead, they grandstand making political points as the free market collapses, European powers fill the void of global leadership and the gulf between the haves and have nots here at home grows wider every day. Worse for Americas racial minorities, white supremist groups are now as much a threat to America as Islamic extremists, according to documented FBI testimony.

This inconvenient truth doesnt concern our nationalist President. Theres no surveillance of nationalist hate groups by any law enforcement agency in America but fear of non-existent black extremists warrants 24-hour monitoring of black neighborhoods and at least one very contentious congressional hearing.

The solution to Americas most troubling issues are easily solved. Gun issues will be resolved with public financing of all elections. Illegal immigration will disappear overnight once American employers are jailed for hiring them. Voter suppression ends with universal suffrage for all citizens 18 years of age and older.

Solutions are easy. Only the political hubris of our legacy parties stand in the way of making America great again. Republicans and Democrats have proven they can no longer effectively govern. Therefore, its time for a viable third party to bridge the current political divide and create functional governing coalitions that allow our elected officials to once again put people over party.

A new party filled with Americans whose kitchen table issues been ignored for generations could turn any election. It could enact policies that valued an individuals quality of life more than a multi-national corporations ability to exploit American consumers. It would be a cultural oasis that applauds diversity by bringing rural whites, Latinos and blacks under the same political umbrella.

These groups, perhaps joined by the LGBTQ community, would mean the end of Democrats or Republicans governing through simple one party majority rule. While legacy parties continue their ideological battle between socialism and nationalism, the new party would ensure rural America finally got universal broadband. Small town hospitals and ancillary services from which country folk get their healthcare would finally achieve parity with those in cities.

New party Latinos would guarantee a resolution to current immigration woes with sensible country quotas and family reunification policies moving forward. Their dependence on service sector jobs would lead to better pay and working conditions for all employed in that sector.

Reformation of the criminal justice system is assured when blacks exercise their political prowess for the first time since the end of Reconstruction. Police will finally be held accountable once black lives are no longer sacrificed for higher prioritized issues of the Democratic Party or the criminalization of black victims by the GOP. Blacks, who make up the majority of low-wage hourly workers, would force a rise in the minimum wage, benefiting all wage earners.

A new party, remaining moderate and willing to build on incremental successes, will always be on a governing coalitions leadership team. They will always be part of negotiating viable legislation and easily pick up enough Ds and Rs to pass common sense laws that improve the lives of everyday Americans, not just the top one percent.

The American political system no longer serves the people. Both legacy parties have turned their backs on the voters they claim to represent. A new party that advances the concerns of Americas politically ignored populations is the only path to restore representative government in todays America.
Researchers, police, coroners and an imam in Sicily work hard to identify dead refugees and give them a proper burial.

Catania, Sicily  On All Souls Day, around three kilometres from the port in the Sicilian city of Catania, the paupers grave at the Monumental Cemetery is unusually well-tended, with fresh flowers and beads wrapped around cross-shaped headstones.

Many belong to refugees and migrants who died at sea while trying to reach Europe. Sicilian cemeteries currently host the remains of more than 2,000 of them.

The Mediterranean route is fraught with danger. So far this year, more than 2,000 people have died while crossing the sea, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Local authorities here recover on average only one in 10 bodies, which usually remains unidentified.

An overall indifference has led to a higher non-identification rate of most bodies, says Giorgia Mirto, a Sicilian anthropologist and founder of Mediterranean Missing, a database project collecting names of the identified dead refugees and migrants. They just become statistics instead of humans.

After spending her time in cemeteries across the island, Mirto has identified a trend.

Here, migrants become part of the community. I noticed average citizens bringing flowers and praying over their graves, she says. [It is] part of a Catholic mindset that instils the idea of taking care of the dead, in place of those who cant afford or arent able to pay a visit.

Aid workers of Proactiva Open Arms recover dead bodies of refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean [File:Santi Palacios/AP Photo]

In August, local policeman Angelo Milazzo accompanied a Jamal Mekdad, a Syrian man and his two children who had travelled from Denmark, to the cemetery of Melilli, a port village in Syracuse, eastern Sicily.

They were visiting the grave of their wife and mother, who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean in 2014.

Remembering that day still brings me tears, Milazzo says.

He is part of a police unit trying to prevent undocumented migration and was present on the day the Syrian woman perished, that day he saw the bodies of 24 people.

From that moment, his work went well beyond the duties of his job as he made it his mission to try and identify the dead  often outside his working hours  spending time in port towns, cemeteries and searching on Facebook.

Most victims do not carry identification documents, such as passports, so the first step is collaborating with coroners who examine the bodies and provide forensic police with information about the refugees DNA, origin, height, weight and gender, as well as pictures of clothing and notes of distinctive features or objects they had.

These reports are sent to our police unit, as well as to migrant help centres hosting survivors of shipwrecks, who can help identifying some of the victims, as usually, they travel with family members, Milazzo says.

I think it's a doctor's duty, actually any human being's duty, to give back dignity, importance and most of all an identity, to those who've represented something in someone else's life. It's called Mediterranean compassion, and we Sicilians know that well. Antonella Argo, coroner

Some of the coroners in charge of examining bones and clothes were, like Milazzo, touched on a personal level by the tragedy.

Antonella Argo, a coroner in Palermo, Sicilys capital, examined the bodies of several drowned migrants.

The frustration in this job can be tough. I remember one time, during a major shipwreck in 2016, my team and I were in charge of helping provide information about 52 bodies. We only managed to identify 18, Argo explains.

I think its a doctors duty, actually any human beings duty, to give back dignity, importance and most of all an identity, to those whove represented something in someone elses life. Its called Mediterranean compassion, and we Sicilians know that well.

Milazzo, the policeman, began his work in identification in 2014, having received reports from Argos colleagues, by visiting several towns in the province.

One of his first stops was La Zagara, a migrant centre in Melilli.

With the help of an Arabic-speaking interpreter, he began talking to survivors, mostly Syrians, showing them pictures of clothing and giving them details.

Many provided him with the information he was looking for, as they were also searching for the missing.

A young Syrian woman, simply identified with the number 23, was on his list.

At La Zagara, he showed a man who had lost his wife the womans pictures.

Angelo showed me a face close up from the autopsy. It was her, my Sireen, says Jamal Mekdad, the Syrian refugee father, explaining he hadnt recognised her at first.

Now living and working as a photographer in Denmark with his two children, he says hes grateful for those who helped identify his wife.

They do an important job of giving back dignity to the victims families, as well as the disappeared migrants themselves, he said.

It took Milazzo a year, two months and 10 days to file a complete report identifying all the victims from the 2014 shipwreck, allowing Italian authorities to issue official death certificates.

He runs a Facebook page, posting details about the dead and exchanging messages with people searching for answers.

Facebook has been crucial in collecting information about the disappeared and to get in touch with relatives, Milazzo says.

Death certificates are fundamental for the relatives to move on and think about the future, carry on their lives, be entitled to inheritance and get peace of mind.

They deserve to rest in peace

The 2014 case was, however, an exception.

Most families remain in the dark about their relatives.

But once an identity is settled, the search for a burial site begins.

Abdelhafid Kheit, an imam, gives refugees who have died a Muslim burial ceremony [Stefania DIgnoti/Al Jazeera]

As most victims are Muslim, it falls on Abdelhafid Kheit, an imam in the community, to take care of the bodies.

When the refugee crisis began, I had the impulse to help, to do something not only as a spiritual leader but as a human being, Kheit says, holding back tears.

Overcrowding in cemeteries, however, is a challenge.

For years, Ive asked Sicilys president to buy a piece of land and open a cemetery of the sea deaths. So far, my request hasnt been answered. But I dont give up, and will continue my advocacy to reach this goal, says Kheit.

Mekdad remembers speaking on the phone in 2014 with Kheit, who he describes as a gentle imam with a North African accent.

I entrusted my wifes soul to him for her funeral, as I wasnt able to attend, he says.

Kheit supervises the various stages of burial: washing the deceased migrants body, wrapping it in a white shroud and leading the burial prayer.

These experiences have been the most challenging of his career, he says.

On certain occasions, I was asked to do these rituals on bodies which were so decomposed that I almost refrained from doing my job, he says, but then I continued because they deserved to rest in peace.
Ten years on, the group suspected to be behind the deadly Mumbai attacks is still operating freely in Pakistan.

Ten years ago today, Indias financial capital Mumbai was rocked by gunfire and explosions. The attack lasted four days and left over 160 people dead. In the subsequent investigations, Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed, two leaders of Pakistan-based armed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were named as the suspected masterminds of the attack.

In December 2008, the Pakistani authorities arrested Lakhvi and kept him behind bars until 2015, when a local court released him on bail due to insufficient evidence provided against him.

Saeed was put under house arrest following the Mumbai attacks but was set free in 2009. In 2012, the United States announced a $10m reward for any information that leads to his capture.

Over the past decade and a half, LeT has gone through various transformations as it came under international and domestic pressure. Organisations affiliated with LeT include Jamat-ud-Dawa, Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation and Tehreek-e-Azadi Jammu and Kashmir  all led by Saeed.

Despite all these name changes, the core of the LeT is very much alive and its activities extend across the country. So 10 years after the Mumbai attacks, why is Pakistan still unable to contain the movement?

Secret ties

Many believe the secret relationship between the Pakistani intelligence and the LeT  which was exposed during the subsequent investigations in India and the US  is the main reason behind Pakistans reluctance to stamp out the movement. It is alleged that because of the support of the security apparatus for the group, no solid action has been taken against LeT. And there is very little the civilian authorities can do, even if they want to take action against the group.

The former head of the Federal Investigation Authority of Pakistan, Tariq Khosa, wrote in 2015 that even though his agency had uncovered enough evidence to prove the LeT was behind the Mumbai attacks, the courts had failed to convict anyone for the crime.

Politicians who have tried to push for the organisation to be held accountable have gotten in trouble. After Pakistans former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif implied that the LeT was behind the Mumbai attacks in an interview with local newspaper Dawn earlier this year, a Pakistani court initiated a treason case against him and the journalist who published the interview for defaming national institutions.

While those who question the groups actions and ability to operate with impunity are being harassed, the LeT continues to expand its footprint in the country under different guises, using charity organisations as fronts.

One such front, Jamat-ud-Dawa recently launched a political party called Milli Muslim League, allegedly as part of a military plan to push such groups into mainstream politics.

The party has not secured official registration with the Election Commission of Pakistan, but it openly backed candidates that contested the July general elections and performed much better than traditional political parties in some areas of the country  such as in Lahore where Sheikh Muhammad Yaqoub secured more votes than the Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Zubair Kardar. So how did the LeT manage to gain the trust of so many Pakistani citizens?

LeT recruitment among Pakistans poor

The tacit support LeT receives from the powerful military, which in many ways runs a parallel government in Pakistan, allows the organisation to operate freely in all corners of the country. The group focuses its efforts on areas where vulnerable Pakistanis are looking for help with subsistence.

I have followed the group closely during my reporting missions in the country, and have seen how they run an expansive network of charity organisations. While this is a front that they use to justify their continued presence, it is also a way to win hearts and minds of Pakistanis, who they recruit for their political causes.

I saw this happening multiple times, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. The Pakistani state lacks the infrastructure to help its population in the aftermath of such disasters and it appears to have outsourced this role to such charity groups.

During a reporting trip to south of Punjab province following a flood in 2014, I witnessed members of the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation helping out the affected population by bringing them food and providing them with shelter. When I asked one of them about their motives, he told me that their primary aim was to find new recruits for their movement.

It is unlikely that the Pakistani authorities, and particularly the military, are unaware of LeTs recruitment activities among the poor. But the group is perceived to be focused on external enemies  i.e. to be practising its militancy elsewhere  and hence to pose no immediate threat to Pakistan.

This is why the LeT is allowed to operate freely to this day. And this is why we are yet to see any concrete action taken against those who are known to be masterminds of the Mumbai attack.

But this policy of allowing outward-looking militancy to continue to exist might soon backfire. In recent times, many former LeT operatives have joined other armed groups, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), that consider Pakistan an enemy and carry out attacks on Pakistani soil against the Pakistani population.

Furthermore, we cannot possibly expect that instability and militancy in neighbouring countries will not eventually cross back into our territory and affect us as well.

A decade after the Mumbai attacks, it really is time for Pakistan to change its policies and stop allowing hate groups to prosper within its borders. If it fails to take action, the likes of the LeT will continue to radicalise the Pakistani youth, push them towards violence and eventually harm the Pakistani society itself.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
The late Jamaican-British intellectual Stuart Hall liked to describe the entanglement of the United Kingdom with the peoples of Africa and the Caribbean with the provocation: I am the sugar at the bottom of the English cup of tea. I am the sweet tooth, the sugar plantations that rotted generations of English childrens teeth.

Halls special preoccupation was with England and Englishness, but we can also say that it was enslaved people and their ancestors who have lent the sweetness to the tasty shortbread still eaten and exported by Scots today.

Although a perception exists of Scotland as a victim of English domination, in fact Scots played a major and highly lucrative role in colonial expansion, the transatlantic slave trade and the Caribbean plantation economy.

Earlier this month, the BBC screened a two-part documentary, Slavery: Scotlands Hidden Shame, which offered a thorough and critical expose of an aspect of Scottish history that has often been ignored or else reduced to little more than a footnote beneath grander and more comfortable narratives about Scotlands distinctive scientific and intellectual contributions to modernity.

The actor David Hayman made a compelling presenter, repeatedly contrasting cherished notions of the Scots as an especially humane and egalitarian people with the concrete reality of Scotlands role in perpetrating, and profiting from, one of our worlds greatest evils. Can you imagine? Hayman asks, standing grim-faced at a dock where enslaved people were offloaded in Jamaica following the Middle Passage from West Africa. I cant even imagine.

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Until recently, there has been an emphasis on Scottish participation in the abolition of slavery and the slave trade. Perversely, this has come at the expense of a proper understanding of the ways in which Scottish institutions and elites were enriched by chattel slavery.

Far from an innocent omission, this structural amnesia compounds the original injury and extends the contempt for black life that made the transatlantic slavery economy possible to begin with. After all, we know from scholarship such as the Legacies of British Slave-ownership project at University College London that reparations were assured for slaveholders who lost their property with abolition from 1833.

Scots received a major share of indemnities paid out by the Slave Compensation Commission, while the freed people and their ancestors got nothing by way of material or symbolic compensation for neither the extreme abuse they had suffered nor the value extracted from their labour. The capital received by Scottish slaveholders in compensation for the loss of human assets was invested in business, real estate and agricultural improvement, as well as in many Scottish institutions. It is now the established consensus among historians that the development of modern Scotland owed much to the slavery economy. Undoubtedly Scottish elites were most culpable, but we are complicit as a whole society.

The crimes at issue can never be undone. But this isnt an excuse to offer nothing by way of remedy. Rather, the appalling and irreparable nature of the violation makes the case for reparations an unanswerable one. Scots should understand historical reparations not as a final settling of scores, but rather as a beginning  an opening on our true history that can help ground a better politics. For example, the recent Windrush scandal, in which the UK government deported and denied medical care to large numbers of elderly people who came to Britain from the Caribbean many decades ago, showed the impact of our continuing disregard for Britains deep historical entanglement in the region. If this history were properly acknowledged and engaged through formal apology, financial compensation, memorialisation and programs of education, such basic disrespect would scarcely be plausible, since our specific responsibility towards people from the Caribbean would be clearly understood.

The BBC film follows the 2015 publication of a major book edited by Tom Devine, Scotlands most prominent historian, titled Recovering Scotlands Slavery Past. This year, The University of Glasgow announced its decision to pursue a programme of reparative justice after its own study showed the institutions historical links with slavery and the slave trade.

Principal Anton Muscatelli said it is now clear we received significant financial support [in the 18th and 19th centuries] from people whose wealth came from slavery. The measures announced by the university include a new centre for the study of slavery, a memorial within the campus grounds, and the cultivation of ties with the University of the West Indies.

While these efforts are commendable, much more can be done in the education sector. In England, it is a legal requirement that schoolchildren learn about the Holocaust. A similar norm should be applied to teaching on transatlantic slavery, which in Scottish schools might focus on the many different ways in which Scotland became involved with that atrocity. Scotland also needs its own international slavery museum, along the lines of the excellent facility that opened in Liverpool in 2007.

But even ensuring that the young generation in Scotland grows up informed about the Scottish role in transatlantic slave trade is not enough in itself. It is time that we also start thinking about making other types of reparations.

The Scottish experience provides a compelling example for thinking through the different possibilities open to a society that would seek to redress major historical injustices from which it has benefitted. There is no single normative model for making historical reparations. Efforts at redress may happen at national, social and institutional levels and can take many different forms in addition to the financial compensation that is undoubtedly owed.

Glasgow Universitys inquiry into its own history and commitment to making amends should be replicated by other Scottish institutions. Nicola Sturgeons government should also take the initiative and engage immediately with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Reparations Commission which has issued a 10-point plan for reparatory justice from European governments. The CARICOM proposal clearly delineates the harms for which European governments bear responsibility and puts forward a practical and constructive agenda for redress. It includes formal apologies, funding of cultural institutions in the Caribbean, contributions to alleviating public health crises in the region, literacy programs and debt cancellation.

The UK government has bizarrely refused to meet with Caribbean leaders to discuss the issue, and failed even to acknowledge the CARICOM proposals. It is unacceptable for Scotland to hide behind the UK government on this issue, especially as our governing party is seeking independence on the promise of a Scotland that can better pursue social justice outside the UK.

Scotland can and should unilaterally seek to make amends as best we can. The country is undergoing an unprecedented public reckoning with its role in the transatlantic slave trade. As we Scots gain a better understanding of ourselves as the beneficiaries of racial capitalism, we need to take responsibility for our history in a proactive way and act to redress this enduring violation.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Convoy of police officers was on its way to a district in western Farah province when it came under attack.

At least 20 police officers have been killed in a Taliban ambush in Afghanistans western Farah province, an official said.

Dadullah Qaneh, a member of the provincial council in Farah, said four policemen, including the deputy provincial police chief, were wounded in the attack on the police convoy on Sunday afternoon near Lash wa Juwayn district.

Qaneh said the newly appointed chief of the district was also killed.

Another council member, Abdul Samad Salehi, said the convoy was on its way to the district to introduce the new district police chief when it came under attack.





The Taliban, which in recent years has taken nearly half of Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the attack.

It was the latest in a series of brutal, near-daily Taliban assaults on Afghan security forces throughout the country. On Friday, an explosion hit a mosque inside an army base in eastern Khost province, killing at least 26 and injuring dozens of others.

A recent report by the US watchdog, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), said that since 2015, nearly 30,000 Afghan soldiers and officers have been killed, contributing to the high rate of attrition and low morale among the security forces.

In the third quarter of 2018, the number of soldiers and police personnel deployed across Afghanistan fell to 312,328  nearly 9,000 fewer than only a year ago and the lowest level for any comparable period since 2012.

Estimated figures for 2015 show 5,000 were killed that year, with the remaining 28,529 casualties occurring since then.

Casualty figures for Afghan forces have been kept under wraps since 2017 at the request of Kabul, but NATOs Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan recently told SIGAR that this summers toll was worse than ever.
Beijing, China  Hopes this weeks meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the G20 in Argentina will achieve a trade breakthrough are fading with analysts and business leaders expressing disappointment over intensifying tensions in the lead up to the summit.

The high-stakes encounter between the two leaders in Buenos Aires is seen as the last ray of hope that Beijing and Washington will resolve trade differences and avert additional US tariffs on Chinese exports in the new year.

So Henry Wang, president of the Beijing-based think-tank Center for China and Globalization, was surprised when last week US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer released a statement saying China had failed to alter unfair, unreasonable, and market-distorting practices.

Its not appropriate to publish this negative report prior to the summit. Its not conducive to constructive dialogue, and it just doesnt look good, said Wang.

The findings are part of an update of the US Trade Representatives Section 301 investigation into Chinas intellectual property and technology transfer policies.

They give the impression that things arent well coordinated, said Wang.





President Trump says something, Lighthizer says something different, and so does [economic adviser Larry] Kudlow etc. China has maintained a message of wanting to seek dialogue and resolve the issue. That should be the attitude on both sides.

Mutual mistrust

Officials in Beijing have gone on the offensive with Chinas Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng telling reporters on Friday the Trump administration had made totally unacceptable and groundless new accusations against the Chinese side.

The ministry is also assessing the potential effect from a separate US proposal to tighten control over technology exports, saying it would take the necessary steps to protect the interests of Chinese firms.

These moves by the US are only diminishing trust, said Liu Zhiqin, a senior fellow at Renmin Universitys Global Governance Research Center.

Right now the US has no trust in China and unfortunately many in China now are doubting the sincerity of the Trump administration in wanting to reach a real solution. Does Trump really want to improve our trade relationship, or is China just part of his political sideshow?

This mutual mistrust was on show on Wednesday at a World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Geneva, where envoys from China and US accused each other of hypocrisy and flouting WTO rules.

Deputy Trade Representative of the US and WTO Ambassador Dennis Shea said China was using the world trade body to promote nonmarket policies, while a Chinese representative said Washington was only blaming Beijing to disguise its own violations of rules.

Fairness and clarity

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President of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, William Zarit, said Washington has simply lost patience with Beijing.

Many years of discussions with the Chinese government have yielded only marginal progress, he told Al Jazeera by email.

Regulations are still proceeding in a direction that appears contrary to the values of fairness and clarity. We would like to see the Chinese government offer reciprocal treatment to US companies so they feel welcomed in China in the same way that Chinese companies have been welcomed in the US, said Zarit.

The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on $250bn of Chinese imports to try force concessions from Beijing. The tariff rate on $200bn worth of Chinese exports to the US is set to increase to 25 percent from 10 percent on January 1.

Despite recent bitter exchanges, Trump expressed confidence in Washingtons punitive approach. On Thursday he spoke to reporters in Florida saying China wants to make a deal very badly  because of the tariffs.

That confidence, however, is not shared by Zarit who said tariffs alone are not the best way to address trade concerns. Applying pressure without also engaging in negotiations is unlikely to yield the optimal outcome, he said.

Souring relations between China and the US have not been confined to trade. At the 2018 APEC conference in Papua New Guinea earlier this month, President Xi and US Vice President Mike Pence exchanged thinly veiled attacks. Xi criticised the US unilateral winner takes all mentality, while Pence doubled down on Chinas militarisation of the South China Sea and Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

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The open hostility has led to speculation that the upcoming G20 meeting would result only in confrontation, not in collaboration.

It will come to a head at the G20, top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters last week.

Worrying uncertainty

Global markets have slumped with Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks the hardest hit as investors brace for a trade war blow-out.

Wang and Liu both dismissed the idea that the Xi-Trump meeting would resemble a dramatic showdown, saying hope for a solution in China hasnt been extinguished entirely.

We shouldnt underestimate the gesture of having this important high-level meeting. Both sides have shown strong support for it and it has been planned for a long time, said Wang.

It shows both leaders have willingness and determination to resolve these issues.

Liu, however, took a slightly less optimistic tone.

Of course we always hope for a positive result, he said, but we have to acknowledge that there are so many difficulties and uncertainties here. And we wont be able to solve them in just one week.
Egypt creates agency to protect itself as rights organisations continue to blast state over poor human rights record.

Egypt has created a human rights watchdog to protect the state from allegations of rights abuses and defend it on the international stage.

The creation of the High Permanent Commission for Human Rights comes at a time when Egypt has been under scrutiny over its poor human rights record.

The new body reflects an attitude of the state under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that has perceived criticism over human rights as intended to undermine the government as it tries to rebuild the economy and carry out the so-called fight against terror.





Officials have already started a campaign against false rumours and fake news and have arrested some of those who speak out.

The government has also sought to redefine and broaden human rights, declaring new rights to combat terrorism and protect the state. Critics see it as an attempt at legitimising alleged abuses by security forces.

The body does not include any rights activists and its main members are representatives of the foreign ministry, military, intelligence agencies and the interior ministry, which oversees a police force accused of torture and forced disappearances by international human rights organisations including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International.

Confuse the scene

The objectives of the agency, according to a statement, is to respond to claims made against Egypts human rights record and formulate a unified Egyptian vision to be stated in regional and international forums.

One key role will be to deal with the United Nations Human Rights Council, which is set to review the situation in Egypt in late 2019.

This is a body that will seek to improve the image of the country, not actual human rights, said Gamal Eid, a human rights lawyer.





Rather than fight the root causes of human rights violations, it has been customary for Egypt to set up committees to confuse the scene. Egyptian diplomacy has been effective at drawing attention away from violations.

In mid-2013, the military overthrew the democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood movement, in a large-scale crackdown.

The state has since arrested thousands of dissidents, including activists and journalists, as well as Muslim Brotherhood supporters.

Human rights groups have also been critical of an Egyptian law that heavily regulates the operations of 47,000 non-governmental organisations and charities and of ongoing attacks against press freedom.

In a report last week, HRW said at least 40 rights lawyers and political activists have been arrested since October. The government has dismissed such reports, saying they are based on misinformation.
Government sources confirm Israel and Bahrain are in talks to establish official relations, as Netanyahu visit looms.

Israel is seeking to establish official relations with Bahrain, Israeli media has reported.

According to Israeli Channel 2, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his willingness to open diplomatic relations with Bahrain, during an unannounced visit of the Chadian President Idriss Deby to Jerusalem on Sunday.

In a news conference with Deby, Netanyahu said they had discussed the changing attitudes of some Arab countries towards Israel.

This was a manifest in my recent visit in Oman, he said, referring to his trip last October, where he met Sultan Sayyid Qaboos at the royal palace in the coastal city of Seeb near the capital, Muscat.

There will be more such visits in Arab countries very soon, the Israeli prime minister added.

Netanyahus trip was followed by the attendance of Israeli Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz at an international transport conference in Oman earlier this month, where he pitched a railway project that would link the Gulf countries to the Mediterranean via Israel.

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Hani Marzouk, spokesperson for the Prime Ministers Office for Arab media, said in remarks to the Israeli Broadcast Authority last Friday that it was the beginning of new relations and an indication that we are on the right track to correct history, without giving further details on the visit.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is the next destination for Netanyahu, Marzouk said.

Israel sees the Arab world is large, diverse and has rich human potential and it wants to establish great relations with it at the scientific and academic level, he added.

Meanwhile, Bahrain has invited Israels economics minister, Eli Cohen, to an economic start-up conference next April, organised by the World Bank.

According to Israeli media reports on Sunday, the three-day conference will discuss methods to promote economic growth with the participation of decision-makers, entrepreneurs and investors from 170 countries.

Israel has diplomatic relations with only two Arab countries  Egypt and Jordan  but Netanyahu has hinted at improved relations with Gulf states, which his country considers natural allies in confronting Iran.
Morocco has urged Algeria to respond officially to the proposal solemnly made by King Mohammed VI on November 6 for a direct and candid dialogue between the two neighboring countries in order to dispel the transient and objective differences that are impeding the development of bilateral relations.

This came at a meeting held Monday in Rabat between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Algerias Ambassador to Morocco.

A Statement released by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry after the meeting said Morocco remains open and optimistic about the future of relations with Algeria and reiterates its request to Algerian authorities to make known, officially, their response to the Royal initiative for the establishment of a joint political mechanism for dialogue and consultation to break the stalemate in bilateral relations.

Morocco can only regret that this invitation has not yet received the expected response, even though it has always been requested by Algeria itself.

Despite this situation, Morocco remains open and optimistic about the future of relations between the two brotherly countries. At a time when other approaches (regional framework, intermediaries, etc.) have proved unsuccessful, Morocco still hopes that direct human contacts will provide the appropriate response to bilateral differences, the statement said.

The meeting with the Algerian diplomat takes place after several formal and informal moves to establish contact with Algerian authorities at ministerial level proved unsuccessful, the statement said.

Nasser Bourita reiterated to his interlocutor Moroccos wish to know the official reaction of the Algerian authorities to the royal initiative to establish a political mechanism for dialogue and consultation with Algeria, an initiative that has been commended by several countries and regional and international organizations.

The Moroccan top diplomat underlined that the royal initiative translates a sincere willingness to create a framework for direct and inclusive bilateral dialogue, to resolve all disputes between the two countries, relaunch their cooperation and consult each other on regional and transnational challenges, the statement added.

It recalled that as the King has pointed out in his November 6 speech, marking the celebration of the Green March, Morocco is willing to consider the proposals or initiatives Algeria may want to offer regarding the level, format, agenda, modalities and pace of this bilateral dialogue.

The Foreign Ministry statement added that Morocco took note of the letter dated 23 November from the Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) about the Tunisian and Algerian requests to hold a meeting of the AMU Foreign Ministers Council, and that in this regard, Bourita made it clear that the Algerian request is unrelated to the Royal initiative.

The royal initiative is related purely to Moroccan-Algerian bilateral relations, while the Algerian approach is part of the relaunch of the AMU regional edifice, Bourita said.

He added that the state of lethargy that has been affecting AMU for years is essentially due to the abnormal nature of Moroccan-Algerian relations, which can only be addressed through bilateral, direct dialogue, without intermediaries.

Furthermore, until last week, the Maghreb Union and its member States have persistently called for a Moroccan-Algerian dialogue in order to transcend their differences in a spirit of neighborliness and a common aspiration to raise themselves to the level of the expectations of the five brotherly Maghreb peoples.

Morocco, which remains committed to relaunching the Maghreb Union on sound and solid foundations, has no objection, in principle, to holding a meeting of the AMU Council of Foreign ministers and has reacted constructively to Tunisias proposal.

Nevertheless, Morocco doubts that this 35th ministerial meeting can achieve any tangible results, different from the 34th meeting, in the absence of a good preparation and a responsible direct dialogue between two AMU member States.
Oscar-winning director of films such as Last Tango in Paris and The Last Emperor died at his home in Rome.

Bernardo Bertolucci, the Italian director famous for movies such as Last Tango in Paris and The Last Emperor, has died at 77, Italian media reported on Monday.

Bertolucci had been ill and died at his home in Rome, media reports said.

Considered as one of the giants of Italian and world cinema, he won an honorary Palme dOr for his lifes work at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

Bertolucci was the only Italian ever to win the Oscar for best film, snapping up the award in 1988 for The Last Emperor.

The biographical masterpiece about the last Chinese emperor won a total of nine Oscars, all of those for which it was nominated.

But he acquired notoriety for his 1972 erotic drama Last Tango In Paris starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider which featured a controversial rape scene.

Born in Parma, northeastern Italy, in 1941, Bertolucci made films that were often highly politicised, dealing with workers struggles in 1900 or the fate of left-wingers in fascist Italy in The Conformist.

Dont care attitude

Bertolucci frequently courted controversy, not just with his films.

This year he said that director Ridley Scott should be ashamed for replacing Kevin Spacey in a film after the actor was accused of sexual assaults against multiple men.

Bertolucci also helped organise a petition against the extradition of Roman Polanski to face rape charges in the United States in 2009.

He however said that he supported the #MeToo movement, which he praised for bringing awareness to violence against women around the world.

When asked in 2013 how he would like to be remembered, Bertolucci told AFP: I dont care.

I think my movies are there, people can see them, he said at a presentation of a 3D version of The Last Emperor to mark the 25th anniversary of its international release.

And sometimes I laugh, thinking I will be remembered more as a talent scout of young girls than as a film director, he said.
James Alex Fields Jr faces several charges, including the murder of Heather Heyer at the 2017 Unite the Right rally.

Jury selection in the trial of a man accused of killing Heather Heyer during an August 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia is slated to begin on Monday.

James Alex Fields Jr, a 21-year-old Ohio resident, will stand trial for murder and a spate of charges stemming from the deadly car ramming during the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville on August 12, 2017.

During the incident, prosecutors say, Fields slammed his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing 32-year-old Heyer and injuring dozens more.

Earlier in the day, Fields was photographed marching with Vanguard America, a neo-Nazi group, during the rally. Throughout the day, rally participants clashed with community members, anti-racists and anti-fascists across the city.

Unite the Right, called to oppose Charlottesvilles decision to remove a Confederate statue, was the largest white nationalist rally in the US in recent decades.

A counterprotester holds a photo of Heather Heyer on Boston Common at a Free Speech rally organised by conservative activists on August 19, 2017 [Michael Dwyer/AP Photo]

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The rally brought out thousands of supporters of the alt-right, a loosely-knit coalition of white supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis.

In Virginia, prosecutors charged Fields with 10 offences, including first-degree murder, five counts of malicious wounding, failure to stop an accident and three counts of malicious assault. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence.

Federal charges

Those charges came in addition to dozens of federal charges. In June, the US Department of Justice slapped Fields with 30 federal charges, among them hate crimes, which could result in the death penalty.

In the wake of the deadly Charlottesville protest, several articles investigating Fieldss history found a lengthy social media trail of neo-Nazi content and racist posts.

Following the rally, far-right participants from across the country faced legal backlash, with a slew of civil suits targeting organisers.

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White nationalist, neo-Nazi and far-right groups that took to the streets in Charlottesville saw permits for a spate of subsequent public events pulled or denied, while hosting services, social media outlets and tech companies cracked down on far-right individuals and groups.

Heyer was among 18 people killed by white supremacists in the US last year, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Earlier this month, the Federal Bureau of Investigations released its annual hate crimes report for 2017. According to the reports findings, hate crimes grew for the third consecutive year, increasing by 17 percent.
A two-day international conference in the Swiss city comes at a time when US is seeking a peace deal with the Taliban.

Geneva, Switzerland  Afghanistans President Ashraf Ghani is heading to Switzerland to hold high-level talks with international diplomats during a key summit focused on the development and the economy of a country wracked by years of war that have claimed thousands of lives.

Starting on Tuesday, the two-day summit in Geneva is billed as a platform for the Afghan government to renew its commitment to reform and discuss aid contributions in its bid to achieve stability and security.

The United Nations, which is co-hosting the summit at the citys Palais des Nations with the Afghan government, says the conference will also be crucial in measuring results against the $15.2 billion committed by the international community for Afghanistan in 2016.

The Afghan delegation is expected to present its growth strategy, ranging from maintaining security and building infrastructure to fighting corruption and female empowerment.

They also plan to emphasise the continued need for constructive contribution from the international community.

We have had at least 60 percent progress  we still have two more years for the completion  in mutually agreed upon indicators, which include expanding the private sector, increasing exports, reforming the security sector and making the Afghan government more gender inclusive, Haroon Chakhansuri, spokesperson to the president of Afghanistan, told Al Jazeera.

For example, for the first time in our history, we have a female judge nominated for Supreme Court. We have female representation in the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) as well. There are at least 30 women in leadership positions in the Ministry of Interior.

The Afghan Ministry of Finance said in a statement that foreign ministers from 62 nations and delegations of 35 assisting organisations would take part in the conference.

It also said that the summit will give a chance to the Afghan government to call on the international community to support an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process.

The conference comes at a time when the US administration is holding direct talks with the Taliban, Afghanistans largest armed group which was toppled following a US-led invasion in 2001.

The Taliban wants to drive international forces out of the country and establish a legal system based on a strict interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence.

This month, Taliban officials have held three days of talks with Zalmay Khalilzad, Washingtons special representative for Afghanistan in Qatar, aimed at renewing the peace process.

The Afghan government has not been involved in these talks.

Last week, a five-member Taliban delegation headed to the Russian capital, Moscow, to attend for the first time an international conference to discuss the Afghan peace efforts.

A second phase (of discussions) should be held among Afghans (themselves) on how to bring about peace and form a government in Afghanistan, Sohail Shaheen, a Qatar-based spokesperson for the Taliban, told reporters in Moscow last week.

Last year, US President Donald Trump increased the number of US forces in the country as part of a new strategy against the Taliban. There are now about 14,000 US soldiers in the country. The Taliban has previously said the presence of foreign troops was the biggest obstacle to peace in Afghanistan.

According to the latest figures released in July by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), 1,692 civilians were killed during the first six months of 2018  the most recorded in the period over the last decade since the agency began documentation.
The Maldives top court has cancelled the 13-year prison sentence of former President Mohamed Nasheed following a review of his controversial conviction on terrorism charges.

Nasheed, who recently returned home after years in self-exile, was elected president in 2008, becoming the island nations first democratically chosen leader.

But he was toppled in what he called a coup in 2012, and found guilty of terrorism three years later over the arrest of a top judge during his tenure.

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that 51-year-old was wrongfully charged and the criminal court should not have proceeded to trial.

Nasheed welcomed the news in a post on Twitter, expressing his deepest gratitude to the people of the Maldives.

The ruling came 10 days after the inauguration ceremony of recently elected President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who defeated former leader Abdulla Yameen in a September 23 vote.

The presidency of Yameen, who assumed office in 2013 after winning a controversial runoff against Nasheed, was marked by political intrigue, turmoil and allegations of corruption.

Nasheeds trial in 2015 was declared unfair by the United Nations, prompted widespread protests and resulted in the arrest of hundreds of dissidents.

In the years that followed and until the recent elections, almost all key opposition leaders were either jailed or gone into exile. In 2016, Nasheed also sought political asylum in the UK after travelling there on medical leave from prison.

Speaking after the courts ruling, Hisaan Hussein, Nasheeds lawyer, called the former presidents entire trial  a politically-motivated sham.

It is appalling that an innocent man was unjustly forced to spend a year in jail, 35 months in exile, and was prevented from standing for political office.

Nasheed was expected to contest the September poll but was barred on account of his terrorism conviction.

Pres. @MohamedNasheed was today finally cleared of terrorism charges. SC in delivering its judgement noted tht PN was wrongfully charged& tht it was wrong of Crim Crt to accept the charge & proceed with the case.The Court struck down the terrorism charge & squashed his conviction  Hisaan  (@hisaanhussain) November 26, 2018

Nasheeds party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), also welcomed the ruling.

The MDP has always maintained that President Nasheeds arrest, trial, conviction, and detention were politically motivated.

Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the Maldives for 30 years but lost the countrys first multiparty election to Nasheed, also took to Twitter to say that justice has prevailed.

I am so happy that President @MohamedNasheed has been freed by the Supreme Court. Justice has prevailed. Congratulations and good luck!  Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (@maumoonagayoom) November 26, 2018

Many others also took to Twitter to express joy at the ruling.
Pakistan finally grants full rights to Pashtuns who have been governed by colonial-era laws for more than a century.

Up to five million Pakistanis living on the Afghan border areas were officially given full rights as citizens this year, after being governed by British-era laws for nearly 150 years.

An overwhelming majority of the population in these border areas, known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) until May, are Pashtuns who live on the margins of the Pakistani society.

Instability and conflict in the region coupled with massive protests led to reforms this year, but decades of violence, discrimination and lack of development have negatively affected the area and displaced millions.

FATAs unique geostrategic location on the border of Afghanistan along with its isolation from mainstream society has made it a breeding ground for foreign fighters since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

Since then, shifting allegiances, the so-called war on terror, and proxy wars in Afghanistan have worsened conditions for the local people, who have been subjected to security crackdown and enforced disappearances by Pakistani forces.

Al Jazeera takes a look at the history of the area and tries to understand if the new reforms will bring peace.
Fighters of armed group storm religious centre in Galkayo city, killing controversial scholar and 14 others.

At least 15 people have been killed, including a controversial religious scholar, and 10 others wounded after a car bomb exploded followed by heavy gunfire in central Somalia, police and officials said.

Attackers of the armed group al-Shabab stormed into the religious centre of Sheikh Abdiweli Ali Elmi Yare in the north-central city of Galkayo in Mudug region, attacking the Sufi leader and his followers.

The attackers used a vehicle loaded with explosives to make their way into the compound before shooting indiscriminately at people inside, Abdirahman Mohamed, a security officer, told AFP news agency.

The targeted cleric was killed in the attack together with some of his followers, Mohamed said.

Captain Nur Mohamed, a police officer, told Reuters news agency that the security operation is now over.

Three militants who stormed the centre were also shot dead, he said.

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Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda linked armed group based in Somalia, took responsibility for the attack and put the number of dead at 26.

It said some soldiers who responded to the first attack also died as they tried to remove a second car bomb.

We killed 26 people including the owner of the centre, his followers, his bodyguards and soldiers, Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shababs military operation spokesperson, said.

The owner of the centre was the man who abused the prophet, he added.

Residents of Galkayo, where the centre is located, and a regional official said Abdiweli may have been attacked because his centre hosts mostly youths who play music and dance.

Abdiweli had set up his own breakaway sect in Galkayo, attracting hundreds of followers who would play music and sing songs in praise of Prophet Muhammad, a form of worship abhorred by the armed group.

Al-Shabab said last year the scholar had referred to himself as the prophet, an accusation denied at the time by Abdiweli.

Abdirashid Hashi, the governor of Mudug region, told Reuters that the armed group had threatened Abdiweli on numerous occasions.

Al-Shabab, which has launched several attacks in Somalia and neighbouring countries, is fighting to topple the Somali government and wants to impose a strict version of Islamic law in the Horn of Africa country.

The group used to control most parts of the country, but since 2010, the fighters have been removed from most major towns and cities.

The group controls small sections of Mudug region, but it does not include Galkayo.
On the 10th anniversary of Mumbai attacks, also called 26/11, some wonder if public memory is selective.

Mumbai, India  It was a regular hot afternoon on this day 10 years ago in western Indias financial hub, Mumbai. The place was abuzz with tourists outside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and the iconic Gateway of India across the street.

But everything changed hours later, when 10 gunmen entered the city from the sea overnight to unleash nearly 72 hours of mayhem, an event that is commonly known in India as the 26/11 attacks.

Armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades, the attackers belonged to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba armed group.

The 26/11 attacks began at the massive Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, one of the worlds busiest, and soon spread to the Taj and Oberoi hotels, Leopold Cafe, Nariman House  home of the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach group, Chabad Lubavitch  and many other locations across Mumbai.

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The attacks, which played out on TV news channels around the world and dealt a major blow to Indias relations with Pakistan, left 166 people, including nine attackers, killed and wounded hundreds of others.

Ten years later, on yet another hot afternoon in Mumbai, the Gateway of India was cordoned off for a memorial event, which was attended only by invited dignitaries.

The 2008 attacks were not the first time Mumbai had suffered from large-scale violence.

Communal riots in 1992-1993 claimed around 700 lives, mostly Muslims, and the perpetrators have still not been brought to justice. Weeks after those riots, a series of blasts at important locations in Mumbai killed nearly 250 more in 1993. In 2006, there were serial bomb blasts on the citys crowded local trains, which claimed 209 lives and injured about 700 commuters.

As India marks the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai attacks, Al Jazeera speaks to a cross-section of people in the city to get a glimpse of the idea of selective memory and justice:

Naseem Ahmed, real estate businessman from Lucknow, visiting Mumbai

Ahmed is now a visitor to the city, but he used to live here until 2004 [Priyanka Borpujari/Al Jazeera]

I have been reminded since this morning in various ways that today marks 10 years of the 26/11 attacks. And it is good that we remember such incidents: hundreds of people died, including tourists.

But there is a difference when we compare it with other incidents of violence, which are not remembered. Maybe there is a political reason behind it. I am not sure.

We used to live in Mumbai when the attack happened, and moved out in 2004. We were also witness to the riots of 1992-1993, but that is never remembered by the city at all.

Our judicial system is slow. Cases drag on for decades in courts. That is what happened in case of the riots. By the time there is a court decision, both the victims and the perpetrators are dead. So, even if we think about justice, it feels bleak.

Shiv Choudhary, street photographer outside Gateway of India

Choudhary has been working outside Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and Gateway of India for 20 years [Priyanka Borpujari/Al Jazeera]

I am happy that the attack is being memorialised through big events. Yes, the authorities need to cordon off the space, but we can still listen to the performers from a distance. We must cooperate with the authorities if they want to keep the city safe.

If we want to remember all the instances of violence, we should demand this from our government. Of course, hanging Ajmal Kasab (lone attacker caught alive and later hanged) delivered justice, but, after all, it is for the courts to decide.

Too often, we bring religion into every discussion and that threatens the idea of India. We are one country of all religions, and even a true Muslim Indian patriot will not have any qualms about shouting Bharat Mata ki jai (a nationalist slogan).

In any case, our country is safer than Pakistan. We should not believe in rumours about any community.

Sushma Khandekar and Ranjita Patil, students from a university close to Taj Hotel

Patil, left, and Khandekar take a ferry every day to reach their university [Priyanka Borpujari/Al Jazeera]

We were in the seventh grade when the attacks happened. We watched it all on TV. We wonder if that day also was as crowded as today  just another regular day with people enjoying themselves near the Gateway of India, and nobody knowing what would happen in the evening.

We also wonder if Mumbai can be truly safe. We talk about Mumbai spirit: the city is always running, nothing stops. Is that good or bad? We dont know.

No concrete action is ever taken, even when the city witnesses floods every year. So, what can we do, really? Successive governments havent been able to do much.

Bernard Coelho, manager at Leopold Cafe, where 10 people were killed

Coelho at the cafe, a popular joint which is bustling even on a weekday [Priyanka Borpujari/Al Jazeera]

I began working here eight years ago, so I was not here during the attacks. But it is the same drill every year. Journalists visit us and people light candles outside. We now place candles at the entrance so that people can pray for the departed souls.

But for the rest of the year, there is no remembrance. Many tourists come only to see the bullet holes on the walls of the cafe. And there is nothing we can do about it. We shouldve renovated the walls immediately, but somehow, even after a decade, the marks are still there.

We used to have a watchman with a stick before, but he would mostly ward off the drug peddlers doing the streets. Now, a security company sends two guards, who check the bags of every person entering.

Ujjwal Nikam, special public prosecutor in 26/11 attacks cases

Nikam at the memorial of policeman Tukaram Omble, who was killed while apprehending Ajmal Kasab [Priyanka Borpujari/Al Jazeera]

That the terrorists attacked Mumbai, the financial capital, implies that they wanted to attack India. At least thats what the Pakistani terrorists had imagined. But our brave policemen fought back and we ought to remember and honour their sacrifice every year.

It is true that we have had other incidents of violence, but we cannot compare 26/11 with the 1992-1993 riots in Mumbai or the Godhra incident (refers to the Gujarat riots of 2002).

Even though Kasab was captured alive and hanged to death, we cant say that justice has been delivered. True justice would be when the real perpetrators are punished. We should not forget the threat from Pakistan and its complicity in harbouring the terrorists.

Tejal Pandey, photojournalist who covered the attacks

As a photojournalist who covered the attacks from a close proximity, it will forever remain an indelible memory, both for how huge as well as frightening it was. I dont think the city had been witness to such a gory event since the riots of 1992-93.

I personally remember the smaller things, like travelling to work through empty streets  something thats extremely strange for Mumbai  the National Security Guard commandoes roaming the streets that made it look like a film set.

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We were running from one hospital to the other, and in between, to the spots like the Taj or the Oberoi. There was an immense sense of anticipation and uncertainty.

The idea of remembrance is important, because its a reflection from which one can learn. Its not to merely go over it and regurgitate what happened, although that is important too for recording oral history.

I think one needs to question and really inspect what has changed since: is Mumbai as a city, or India as a nation, better equipped to face a disaster of this proportion?

At the same time, if we look at the idea of justice: has the sense of hatred or volume of religious atrocities lessened? Have we emerged stronger as a society from this?

Of course, Mumbais resilience is something that is brought up time and again in relation to this, but really, what choice do we have but to move on?

People didnt stop taking trains after the bomb blasts because they couldnt afford to. Similarly, for a large section of the working masses, life had to move on and hence it does.
Police conduct searches in two villas in the city of Yalova, southeast of Istanbul, as Khashoggis body remains missing.

Police are searching two villas in the Turkish northwestern province of Yalova in relation to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to state media.

Reports on Monday said that police forces, who arrived at the villas in the morning, have been conducting searches in the villas and surrounding properties, about 100km southeast of Istanbul.

The two villas reportedly have large gardens and wells. Police dogs and drones are being used in the search ordered by Istanbul prosecutors office. Firefighting vehicles are reported to be at the scene as well.

The office said one of the villas belongs to a Saudi businessman named Mohammed Ahmed Alfaouzan.

Al Jazeeras Tony Birtley, reporting from outside one of the buildings in Yalova, said Alfaouzan had links to the Saudi crown prince.

According to the Turkish prosecutor, a phone call was made a day before Mr Khashoggi was killed to the villa, and in that conversation details were discussed as to how to dispose of Mr Khashoggis body, Birtley said, adding: Thats a day before, so that shows the degree of planning.

According to Turkish media, Alfaouzan received the phone call from Mansour Othman Abahussain, an officer in the Saudi military and one of the 15 men accused of carrying out the Washington Post journalists death.

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Khashoggi  a writer, US resident and Washington Post columnist  had entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain documentation certifying he had divorced his former wife so he could remarry. He has not been seen since then.

After weeks of repeated denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance, Saudi Arabia eventually acknowledged that its officials were behind the murder. The whereabouts of his body are still unknown.

Previous searches

Turkish police have already searched the consulate and consul generals residence during the investigation they have been carrying out on the case.

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Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in particular, have been facing intense global criticism over the killing of Khashoggi.

The murder of the journalist, who was critical of Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, has tipped the kingdom into one of its worst crises.

Khashoggi was killed and reportedly dismembered in what Saudi Arabia described as a rogue operation, but a CIA assessment leaked to the US media pointed the finger at the crown prince  an allegation Riyadh denies.

Despite the global backlash, US President Donald Trump said earlier this week that the CIA report lacks evidence for putting blame on Prince Mohammed for the journalist.

Saudi Arabia has warned that any criticism of the crown prince would amount to crossing a red line.

On Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that calls for the crown prince to be held accountable for Khashoggis killing would not be tolerated.
Hedges, who had been sentenced to life in prison, was released on Monday after receiving a presidential pardon.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has freed British scholar Matthew Hedges, who was sentenced to life in prison last week for spying.

Hedges, 31, was released on Monday, after he received a presidential pardon, Emirati officials said.

The scholar was among more than 700 people pardoned by the UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday, the countrys national day.

The scholar will be permitted to leave the UAE once formalities are completed, an official statement said, ahead of his release.

Daniela Tejada, Hedges wife, said on Twitter that the pardon was the best news we couldve received.

The presidential pardon for Matt is the best news we couldve received. Thank you friends, family, media, academics, and the wider public for your undivided support  Ive been brought back to life. pic.twitter.com/vruok0ST6O  Daniela Tejada (@dtejadav) November 26, 2018

She also told the BBC that she does not believe her husband is a spy.

I cant wait to have him back and added: In my heart, I know that he isnt a spy.

International pressure

The UAE had come under increasing international pressure since Hedges, a doctoral student in Middle Eastern studies at Durham University in northern England, was handed a life sentence.

He was arrested at Dubai International Airport on May 5 after a two-week research visit.

The UAE signalled on Friday that it was working on an amicable solution to the issue, after London described Hedges sentence as deeply disappointing.

Emirati officials made a point on Monday to insist that the arrest came on solid ground, showing journalists in Abu Dhabi short video clips of Hedges purportedly acknowledging his intelligence work.

In one video clip, Hedges, is seen describing himself as a captain in MI-6, during what appears to be a court hearing in the Gulf Arab country.

Another clip appears to show Hedges speaking to someone in an office and saying: It helps the research to go in an easy way.

Then, Hedges is seen snapping his fingers and adds: Then it becomes MI-6.

Emirati officials did not allow journalists to record the video.

He was a part-time PhD researcher, a part-time businessman, but he was a 100-percent full-time secret service operative, said Jaber al-Lamki, an official with the UAEs National Media Council.

Mr. Hedges has been found guilty of espionage. He sought out sensitive information he knew had access to it. He was here to steal the UAEs sensitive national security secrets for his paymasters, al-Lamki added.

The UKs foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Twitter that the pardon was fantastic news and that the UK was grateful the issue was resolved.

Fantastic news about Matthew Hedges.Although we didnt agree with charges we are grateful to UAE govt for resolving issue speedily.But also a bittersweet moment as we remember Nazanin &other innocent ppl detained in Iran.Justice wont be truly done until they too are safely home.  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) November 26, 2018

In a statement regarding the pardon, the UAEs foreign minister, Dr Anwar Gargash said: It was always a UAE hope that this matter would be resolved through the common channels of our longstanding partnership. This was a straightforward matter that became unnecessarily complex despite the UAEs best efforts.

The International Campaign for Freedom in the UAE (ICFUAE), meanwhile, said the release of Hedges did not right the wrong of a grossly unfair trial or of [him] being held for months in solitary confinement without access to legal counsel.

Matthews ordeal should serve as a wake-up call to the UK government on the realities of repression in the UAE. All future relations with the Gulf state must now be conditional on the Emirati regimes adherence to international human rights legislation, the ICFUAE said in a statement.

Let us not forget the scores of other prisoners of conscience who remain detained in the UAE  it is imperative that his case be understood within this wider climate of repression, it added.
The vote will decide the future of UKs departure from EU, which it is officially set to take place on March 29, 2019.

Members of British parliament will vote on a draft Brexit agreement with the European Union on December 11, officials have announced, as Prime Minister Theresa May navigates the deal despite a slim working majority.

The vote will take place after five days of parliamentary debate, a letter published by Chief Whip Julian Smith said on Monday.

It will decide the future of Britains departure from the EU, or Brexit, which it is officially set to take place on March 29, 2019.

If British legislators back the plan devised by Mays government, then an EU Withdrawal Agreement bill will be introduced in parliament. It must be ratified by the members before it can proceed to a European Parliament vote before receiving EU Council approval.

Heres the letter Chief Whip Julian Smiths has sent to MPs outlining the key dates over the next few weeks. Brexit meaningful vote and debate: Tuesday 4th-Tuesday 11th December. pic.twitter.com/20Gm0hQxSj  Adam Payne (@adampayne26) November 26, 2018

However, if parliament rejects Mays plan, the government will have 21 days to decide its next move.

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In that case, a period of grave uncertainty would ensue, with possible scenarios including the United Kingdom leaving the EU without a deal, renegotiating the existing proposal, holding a general election, or even staging a second referendum on EU membership.

Both May and EU leaders have described the current agreement as the best and the only possible deal. On Sunday, EU leaders formally agreed to it at a summit in Brussels.

During the summit, EU leaders urged Britons to back Mays package.

Criticism from both sides

But in the UK, the agreement has received criticism from both supporters of Brexit as well as those who want the UK to remain part of the EU.

For those in favour of a definitive Brexit, the deal fails to deliver on a clean break with the European project.

For those in favour of Britain staying in the EU, the agreement is a watered down, inadequate version of the countrys existing membership arrangement with access to its customs union and single market.

In parliament on Monday, Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britains main opposition Labour Party, called the withdrawal deal and accompanying political declaration on future relations an act of national self-harm.

For the good of the nation, the House has very little choice but to reject this deal, he said.

More disconcerting for May is a growing and vocal chorus of resentment from her own Conservative Party, with MP Mark Francois saying her deal was as dead as a Dodo.

May has defended the terms of the agreement, saying the deal unlocks a bright future for the UK and claws back control of borders  money  [and] laws from Brussels.

No one knows what would happen if this deal didnt pass, May told the House of Commons.

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One of the big issues is the future of the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The deal reached allows for a backstop to be set up in order to prevent a hard border being established if no trade deal is sorted out during the so-called post-Brexit transitional period between March 29, 2019, and December 31, 2020.

Under the terms of the agreement, the whole of the UK will remain in a customs union with the EU unless and until the bloc agrees there is no prospect of a return to a hard border.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday strongly protested against what it called "a gross violation of the rules of peaceful passage" by the Ukrainian Navy in the Sea of Azov.

"Obviously, it was a well-thought-out provocation carefully devised in terms of place and form, aimed at inciting another hotbed of tension in this region, creating a pretext for toughening sanctions against Russia," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine's Charge d'Affaires in Russia Ruslan Nimchinsky arrives at the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow on November 26, 2018. [Photo: VCG]

On Sunday, Russian border guards opened fire at Ukrainian military vessels near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, saying the Ukrainian navy breached the Russian border, and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of Russia's orders.

Six Ukrainian military sailors were wounded in the attack and two of them were in serious condition, the Ukrainian Navy said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday proposed parliament impose a 60-day martial law in the country, while saying "Ukraine does not plan to fight anyone" over tensions with Russia.

Russia demanded an urgent convocation of the UN Security Council to discuss the incident, the Russian ministry said in the statement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that the UN Security Council will meet to discuss the incident later in the day.

Ukraine has accused Russia of "aggressive actions" in the Sea of Azov after Russia inaugurated a bridge over the Kerch Strait earlier this year and started inspecting commercial ships sailing through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Moscow rejects such accusations, saying that Crimea is part of Russia, which can exercise its sovereign rights in nearby waters, and the Kerch Strait is not an international passage.

The Russia-Ukraine relations have been souring since Crimea, formerly part of Ukraine, was incorporated into Russia following a local referendum in March 2014, which Ukraine and Western countries refuse to recognize.
Photo: Andres Kudacki

Bernie Sanders was gratified, if a bit amused, to hear Barack Obama call Medicare for All a good new idea in September. The idea has recently become very popular among Democratic politicians, even middle-of-the-road ones with presidential aspirations. In recent polling, 70 percent of Americans say they support it. But of course Medicare for All isnt a new idea. It was one of the pillars of Sanderss 2016 campaign for president. Hes been talking about a version of it for over 30 years.

For a 77-year-old man fixated on the popularity of his ideas and his candidacy  Harry, have you seen my crowds? he once asked then-Senator Harry Reid by way of a greeting in the heat of the 2016 campaign  Sanders sometimes finds opportunities like these to enjoy his newfound influence in the Democratic Party. But mostly, he is ill at ease. He talks in private much as he does in front of a microphone, except with a lot more sarcasm. He continues to get angry at Establishment liberals, whose dismissals of how he sees the world he takes personally and judges personally. (He believes their positions and motivations can rarely be disentangled from their funding.) His frustration with the press has only grown. You mean inside-the-Beltway writers may have missed the point here? he says to me recently, eyebrows up, when we sit down to talk.

And he still thinks he should be president. He doesnt say this out loud, exactly. Im not one of those sons of multimillionaires whose parents told them they were going to become president of the United States, he says. I dont wake up in the morning with any burning desire that I have to be president. Still, hes pretty certain hes already the countrys second-most-important politician, and the logic for running in 2020 is obvious to him: His ideas are the best for the country, a majority of Americans will agree once theyre exposed to them, no other national politician has proved to be as uncompromised or effective a messenger of his platform as he is, and no one else seems better positioned to actually win. If theres somebody else who appears who can, for whatever reason, do a better job than me, Ill work my ass off to elect him or her, he says. But if it turns out that I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump, then I will probably run. Hes been mulling the question all year as he bounds across the country. A longtime friend of Sanderss characterizes his position as, At this point, what does he have to lose?

One plausible answer to that question: quite a lot. In many ways, the world has caught up with him, says Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator running Our Revolution, the political organization spawned from his campaign. But even some of the people close to Sanders  all of whom agree with that assessment  are not necessarily certain another presidential campaign is the best vehicle for his cause. Bernie is not accountable to anything, says one longtime ally. He thinks its all about him and not always a broader movement.

Even the decision not to decide yet has caused anguish, both for Sanders personally and for anyone who might run against him in the primaries. He is now the dean of the American left  the incumbent leader, as it were, of the most energized segment of the national electorate  and everyone is watching to see how he spends the substantial political capital he has, over a four-decade career, recently accumulated.

Sanders campaigning in Sioux City, Iowa, in October. Photo: Andres Kudacki

One week before Trumps inauguration, Sanders was steaming. Hed returned to Washington to fight, but he found his colleagues unable to internalize what went wrong. When 13 Senate Democrats nixed a measure to decrease drug prices through Canadian imports, he vented to USA Today that they didnt have the guts to do the right thing, promising theyd hear from him. Behind the closed doors of the Democratic caucus, the backlash from his colleagues was swift. Four of the senators whod crossed Sanders were centrists up for reelection in states Trump had just won. They already faced pressure from their right; none could afford for Sanders to train his large and energized audience against them. For the first time, he scared them  and this was new to him, too. The prospect of exerting this kind of power opened up new possibilities of influence but also potential pitfalls. Sanders backed down and retreated to his third-floor Senate office to iron out with advisers what, exactly, his new role should look like.

His first step was agreeing to be more of a team player in the Senate, which meant building relationships with powerful party members. He had already accepted Minority Leader Chuck Schumers invitation to join the Senate leadership team. He also hired Ari Rabin-Havt, a former senior aide to Reid, and they quickly found an opportunity to persuade his colleagues to hear him out: working to protect Obamas signature legislative accomplishment, the Affordable Care Act. Sanders had never made any secret of his dissatisfaction with the law or his preference for a single-payer health-care system. But he saw health care as the defining fight of Trumps term and pitched Schumer on helping organize rallies that winter. He spent much of the first half of 2017 traveling to states represented by key Republican senators to rile up voters around saving the ACA.

This, in turn, earned him enough goodwill among skeptical party figures to at least open relations. For a long time, Bernie believed in organizing but ran solo, says Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, who tells me she has worked with Sanders more in the past two years than at any time in memory. With Schumers support, Sanders joined Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez for a unity tour, which, while rocky in its public reception, forced the pair to properly meet and interact for the first time. The wound that was left in the Democratic Party in 2016 is healing in the context of opposition to Trump, says Jeff Merkley, the lone senator to endorse Sanders in the 2016 primaries. You finally have the Democratic Party coming back to its Roosevelt roots.

Meanwhile, Sanders experimented with ways to use his popularity as a cudgel against the president. When hed first sat down to recalculate his life after the 2016 campaign, a top priority was an overhaul of his digital-media operation. He hired Armand Aviram, a former producer from NowThis News, and cameras now follow him everywhere; in 2017, the team published 550 short videos for Facebook and Twitter. They are enormously popular  town halls streamed on Facebook can earn millions of views  and Sanders constantly asks aides for updates on his viewership and sharing numbers. The project is substantially more ambitious than that of any other politician in Washington. (In April, aides from multiple Senate offices told me they had no idea how Sanders was doing it.) In fact, the only person in Washington who seems to care as much about building his own media ecosystem is Trump.

Its this audience, and the pressure it can exert, that Sanders often credits with pulling his party toward him on specific issues. Not only Hillary Clinton, not only the Establishment media, not only every op-ed writer in America  they said, Bernie Sanders is crazy, these ideas are extreme, theyre fringe, nobody believes in it, this is not what America is supposed to be about,  he tells me, pounding his index finger on the table as he talks about the presidential-announcement speech he gave in May 2015. Now, virtually every one of the issues that I talked about  he lists basically his full campaign platform  today are mainstream, and today are supported by, in many cases, a vast majority of the American people. He advocated curtailing the influence of superdelegates in the partys presidential-nominating process, a change that was codified in August. And he succeeded in bending the national conversation around health care not just away from repealing Obamacare but in the direction of Medicare for All. After the first serious Republican attempt to repeal the ACA was defeated in July 2017, he started wooing colleagues to his own measure, which for years had been widely regarded within the party as unrealistically ambitious, not to mention a rebuke of Obama. He also played his outside game: One video of a Canadian doctor explaining her countrys health-care system earned more than 30 million views on Sanderss Facebook page. When Sanders introduced his measure in the Senate that September, 16 Democrats co-sponsored it, including Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren.

None of which is to say that Sanders, still an Independent, and the Democratic Establishment have altered their opinions of each other much. His advisers believe the party still doesnt appreciate how respectfully he treated Clinton  he never brought up her emails!  or how useful he was in energizing young voters after the primaries. Clinton loyalists find this analysis laughable to the point of offensiveness. In Washington, theres still no shortage of Sanders critics within the party, people who see him as a cranky narcissist with a victim complex, or an old, out-of-touch white man with few legislative accomplishments, or someone deluded into thinking his success has to do with anything other than being the alternative to Clinton. Even some activists sympathetic to Sanders see him exercising his political muscle on the health-care and tax debates and wish hed play a bigger role in the partys thorniest fights  over Trumps Muslim ban or the Dream Act, for example. Hes never been totally comfortable being full-throated in his opposition to Trump, although he does all of it, one of his Senate colleagues tells me. Hes more comfortable making Democrats uncomfortable. This line of argument drives Sanders crazy.

Early this summer, Sanders celebrated the publication of his former campaign manager Jeff Weavers memoir of the 2016 race. The book was already controversial in Washington: Its called How Bernie Won. In his brief remarks at the party, Sanders agreed. In many ways, we did win the election, he said. Hours earlier, Justice Anthony Kennedy had announced his retirement. To pretty much every Democrat not at that book party (and to many who were there), the day was a particularly demoralizing reminder of how much they had lost.

Bernie Sanders at the Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, in October. Photo: Andres Kudacki

I ask Sanders what would be different about his presidential campaign this time around, if he runs, and he laughs. Its almost personally embarrassing to tell you how little we knew, he says. Later he describes running for president as five Ph.D.s wrapped up in six months.

In January, Sanders convened his inner circle at Rabin-Havts to talk through his future. Weaver and Turner were there, as were half a dozen other advisers. Sanderss wife, Jane, dialed in. The attendees took turns presenting, explaining that if Sanders chose to run for president again, the dynamics would be significantly different  the Bernie is just too eccentric, too untested argument would be out the window with Trump in office, and Sanders would likely enter the primary this time as a front-runner, not an amusement. They framed the choice: If you want to focus on your legacy and influencing the party, we understand. But if you want to do this, they told him, say Go. The campaign couldnt afford to be like the last one, which got off the ground only after Sanderss thenchief strategist, Tad Devine, tired of the senators foot-dragging, leaked that an announcement was coming in order to force his hand. Sanders listened, told his advisers he hadnt yet decided, and instructed them to do whatever was necessary to get him ready for Go in case he got there.

And so the team mapped out a 2018 political plan that could best position him for a 2020 run. Sanders has now visited 34 states since the 2016 election, including 22 that voted for Trump. Over the 20 days before the midterms, he sprinted through 13 of them, traveling more on behalf of midterm candidates than any other likely presidential contender except Joe Biden.

Its not hard to see how someone in Sanderss shoes could be a little discouraged by Novembers results: The high-profile candidates he backed most vociferously, like Ben Jealous of Maryland and Randy Bryce of Wisconsin, lost. So did many of the candidates hed backed in primaries, like Virginias Tom Perriello and Michigans Abdul El-Sayed. (He didnt endorse Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the single biggest electoral success story for the Sanders wing of the party, in her primary campaign.) Our Revolution, which aimed to support progressive candidates in 2018, had a mediocre showing; though it had some down-ballot successes, it failed to flip a single House seat. There is no doubt that Sanders and his organization helped energize progressive campaigns and popularize his positions among new and incumbent candidates. But paradoxically, the results of the midterms  the largest leftward shift in the American electorate since the aftermath of Richard Nixons resignation  might have made a Sanders presidential campaign look more difficult.

Sanderss advisers admit that his path to the Democratic nomination mirrors Trumps in 2016. Facing whats likely to be a historically large field, hes been told, Sanders could start with his most loyal supporters from last time and go for a tight plurality victory in Iowas caucuses, followed by a slightly bigger one in New Hampshires primary. From there, advisers hope, his numbers could grow as the field dwindles. Theres a 25 percent base of the party that isnt going anywhere, and I think 25 percent, in a ten-person primary, is very formidable, says a former adviser. But everyone recognizes that the strategy is tough  It is the only thing you can tell yourself and draw a plausible route to the nomination, says David Axelrod, Obamas political architect  and everything will depend on who emerges as considerable rivals and how they chip away at his base of support. In January, Sanderss team reviewed the potential field with him, lingering on the possibility of Warren and Biden entering the race. (An October CNN survey showed Biden 20 points ahead of Sanders across the country, though other polls show a smaller margin.) Sanders made clear that he was also wary of Booker, whom he regards as a potent messenger. In the months since, his aides have kept close tabs on the maneuvers of a wide range of potential candidates, questioning whether Warren intends to run as, in the words of multiple Sanders allies, Bernie-light and smiling at the prospect of a matchup against Michael Bloomberg.

Everyone in Sanderss orbit recognizes the difficulty hes had in speaking beyond issues of economics and political corruption. The 2020 challenge will be making sure [he] can inclusively get the class message out in a way that doesnt make it seem like hes dismissing identity issues, says one Sanders adviser. To this end, he has established public relationships with the reverends Dr. William Barber and Al Sharpton, as well as Randall Woodfin and Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the young African-American mayors of Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi, respectively. But he continues to say things that exacerbate his problems. In April, he faced backlash for appearing to dismiss Obama as just a charismatic individual, and, more recently, some black lawmakers bristled at what they perceived as Sanderss attempt to take credit for Andrew Gillums primary win in the Florida governors race. Then, as the results were tallied in Florida and Georgia, Sanders had trouble calling voters who were uncomfortable with voting for black candidates racist, though he did use the word to describe some GOP candidates campaigns. At a May conference hosted by the liberal Center for American Progress think tank, Sanderss speaking slot was billed as Focus on Criminal Justice. But when his office sent out his prepared remarks, it looked like a modified version of his old stump speech.

The title was Breaking Up the Oligarchy.

Mostly, Sanderss advisers fear that he doesnt fully appreciate how difficult another run will be. The primaries alone will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, theyve told him. Staffing up will be complicated. In recent months, his allies have talked about 2020 roles with dozens of former and potential campaign workers, many of whom are concerned that the main change he talks about making this time around is assembling a more robust digital team. (As long as Sanderss inner circle includes Weaver, many senior 2016 staffers will take themselves out of the running or Weaver will remove them. He is polarizing even by the standards of political-campaign operatives.) And the race will almost certainly be more negative this time around. In July, over 200 centrist Democratic lawmakers, operatives, and donors met in Columbus, Ohio, to plan how to beat both Trump and Sanders.

But Sanders cant believe a 2020 race will be any more cynical or negative than the last one. In his experience, the attacks against him and his wife were so raw that he hasnt asked his advisers for the customary self-research that might surface new vulnerabilities. Look, you dont even need [opposition research], he tells me. If I were a choirboy, it doesnt matter, because they lie all the time. But Clintons team never ran television ads against Sanders that attacked him personally, and even people close to him fear the amount of potential material is considerable. No opponent has done a full dive through Sanderss years worth of television clips and essays  in 2015, an article he wrote in 1972 that included a line about a woman who fantasizes being raped by 3 men simultaneously resurfaced and became a brief political flash point  or succeeded in persuading him to release a full accounting of his taxes. There are also his appearances on RT, the Russian-government-funded network, during the 2016 campaign, and his teams hesitancy to reckon with Robert Muellers finding that Russian agents at one point supported his campaign.

When I ask Sanders if theres anything he wishes hed done differently over the past two years, he quickly says, Im sure there are a million things. But then, just as quickly, he backtracks. You always  I dont  Nothing, you know, jumps out at me.

On October 2, Sanderss day began with an email from an aide informing him that if he checked the news, hed see Amazon had just raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour for U.S. employees. This is the kind of victory he still isnt used to celebrating, and later that morning he wondered aloud whether it was his most important accomplishment ever.

Activists had been fighting for a higher minimum wage at Amazon for years, and Sanders had recently used his fame to call attention to it. On an issue like this, hed told his team, it helps to stop thinking like a senator and start thinking primarily like someone with a huge platform. In July, hed live-streamed a town hall with workers from Disney, Amazon, American Airlines, Walmart, and McDonalds; by August, Disney World announced it planned to raise its minimum wage to $15. In September, he introduced legislation in the Senate, following a similar bill introduced by California representative Ro Khanna last year, intended to pressure Amazon, knowing that by signing on to it, he would give the legislation a new round of attention. They branded this version the Stop Bad Employers by Zeroing Out Subsidies Act  Stop BEZOS.

When liberals worried the proposal would backfire, Sanderss team argued theyd missed the point: The bill wasnt intended to become law. You use the opportunity you have within the context that youre forced to work, Sanders says. Right now, nothing good is going to happen for workers in this Congress, and therefore we have to go outside. This month, he introduced the Stop Walmart Act, and hes pushing the new Democratic House majority to pass a national $15 minimum wage.

And yet, as proud as he is to have found ways to put a dent in income inequality  under a Trump administration, no less  Sanders finds a lot of his newfound fame deeply unpleasant. He has talked with friends about the pressure of being, in his mind, the most popular politician in the country. He travels constantly but cant go anywhere without being mobbed. He shoos away cameras that get too close, cuts off questioners. Its hard to walk down the street without people coming up to you, he says. Theres no interview I can give that does not have the possibility of a gotcha question. Oh, we can trap him, embarrass Sanders.  His decision to at least partially ingratiate himself with the Democratic Establishment is its own kind of heartache. He believes he has a responsibility to shape the party in his image, but at what point do these negotiations turn him into just another politician?

Whenever Sanders is asked about his age, he reddens, cracks an annoyed smile, tilts his head down to peer above his glasses, and opens his eyes wide. The question, he tells me, holding eye contact far more than usual, is getting annoying. If we say, Oh my God, I have a communications director here whos a woman, oh my God, you would go crazy. I would be pilloried all over the country: Im a sexist guy. Oh my God, were working with African-Americans! I dont know: lalalala, he says. And yet  yet!  I think ageism is a real issue, okay? And I think when we look at individuals, we look at their totality, all right? There are, you know, 50-year-olds who retired for whatever reason, people who are dealing with terrible illnesses, all right? Age is a factor! But it is one of many factors!

I thank God, you know, I cant remember the last day  honestly  when I missed work, he continues. Opponents make his age an issue only when they cant compete on issues, he says. What people have a right to know: Is the candidate healthy? Does he or she have the energy to do what is a very stressful and difficult job?

Some close Sanders allies do think his path to the White House has never been clearer. But other friends have warned him theres a good chance that if he enters the race, his first day will be his best day. Theyve softly nudged him to consider the symbolic power of handing off his mantle to a younger leader  as well as the influence hed wield over the primary races if he strategically withheld his support. His message is one that obviously resonated a couple years ago, says Tom Harkin, the former Iowa senator whom Sanders consulted before his last campaign. Now, Harkin says, other Democrats must acknowledge that Bernies message is heightened by what Trump has done.

A lot likely comes down to Warren, whom Sanders has called my favorite senator. In 2016, according to advisers, the prospect of a Warren campaign nearly kept Sanders out of the race. Now some Sanders allies watching her maneuver toward 2020 perceive her trying to elbow him out. Neither senator has expressed any interest in stepping aside for the other, and the pair have mostly ignored entreaties from allies to meet in person and hash out an agreement. But given the complexity of launching a campaign, Sanders will have to make the decision in the next few months or the calendar will make it for him.

The question that history will answer, depending on what he decides to do, is: Is he going to be the Barry Goldwater or the Ronald Reagan? says Khanna. Is he going to be the person who defines the ideology to have someone else win? Sanders is pretty certain that even being president wouldnt satisfy him  activism is a constant struggle, he tells people, and its a classic politicians mistake to believe in such a thing as an endgame. But for the first time in his career, hes seeing the country shift in his direction. The revolution is already off the ground, Sanders tells me, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. The genie is out of the bottle.

*This article appears in the November 26, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!
President Poroshenkos proposal for 30 day imposition of martial law approved by Ukrainian parliament.

Kiev, Ukraine  The parliament of Ukraine has backed a decree imposing martial law for 30 days following Russias seizure of three Ukrainian ships near the Crimean Peninsula.

In an emergency session of the lower-house Verkhovna Rada on Monday, parliamentarians voted in favour of President Petro Poroshenkos proposal to roll out the extraordinary measure from Wednesday onwards.

The move came barely 24 hours after Russian forces opened fire on the three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, a narrow sea passage that divides Crimea from mainland Russia, wounding six servicemen and escalating a months-old naval confrontation that threatens to reignite Europes hottest armed conflict.

Poroshenko initially proposed rolling out the decree for a 60-day period, but halved the proposed timeframe ahead of Mondays parliamentary session.

During a televised address prior to the vote, he also declared that the decree would not include any restrictions on citizens rights and ruled out any delay to elections scheduled to take place early next year.

Addressing fears of heightened tensions between Kiev and Moscow, the 53-year-old had said earlier that the step did not mean a declaration of war against Russia.

Ukraine is not planning a war against anyone, he told the National Security and Defense Council.

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Poroshenko also said that Ukraine would stick to the Minsk Agreements, peace deals his government inked with Russia and pro-Russian separatists in southeastern Ukraine that were designed to stop a war that claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014.

The conflict began after pro-Western protesters overthrew pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014, following months of violent protests in the capital, Kiev.

The separatists claimed the new, fiercely anti-Russian government planned a genocide of ethnic Russians in eastern regions, Ukraines rust belt and Yanukovychs support base.

The imposition of martial law permits the Ukrainian government to impose a range of drastic measures, if deemed necessary, including placing a ban public gatherings, restricting media freedoms, limiting the movement of Ukrainian nationals as well as foreign nationals and suspending elections.

Poroshenko, whose approval ratings are below 10 percent, is widely believed to be seeking re-election in the March 31 vote.

His cash-strapped and increasingly unpopular government relies on Western loans to keep the economy afloat.

Seized Ukrainian ships are seen anchored in a port of Kerch, Crimea on Monday [Pavel Rebrov/Reuters]

We need new sanctions against Russia, Mykola Tochitsky, Ukraines ambassador to the European Union, wrote on Twitter on Monday.

We must stop Kremlins war against Ukraine.

Poroshenko, for his part, called the attack an act of aggression.

Moscow has claimed that Ukraine provoked the Russian ships by entering Crimeas waters, however.

The Ukrainian ships had left a military base in the Black Sea port of Odessa days earlier and circumnavigated Crimea to enter the Sea of Azov, a shallow body of water shared by Russia and Ukraine.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hit back at the accusations from Kiev and accused Ukraine of violating key norms of international law.

We dont have any doubts that this was done with the knowledge of Ukrainian authorities and was probably a direct order from the highest level of government, Lavrov told reporters at a press conference in the Russian capital, Moscow.

I think we havent yet seen everything in terms of the consequences of yesterdays provocation, he added.
Move by Ukrainian parliament comes as Kiev and Moscow trade blame over naval confrontation off the coast of Crimea.

The United Nations has held an emergency session on what Ukraine has called an act of aggression off the coast of Crimea, following the seizure by Russia of three Ukrainian ships during a naval clash in the Black Sea.

The Security Council meeting on Monday came just a few hours before the Ukrainian parliament passed a proposal by the countrys president to impose martial law for 30 days.

Addressing the council, Nikki Haley, US ambassador to the UN, warned Russia that the seizure of the ships on Sunday in the Sea of Azov was an outrageous violation of Ukraines sovereign territory and urged the international community to condemn Russias arrogant act.

Haley said such outlaw actions are preventing normal relations from developing between Washington and Moscow.

Russia has said the three ships  two small armoured artillery vessels and a tugboat  entered Russian territorial waters illegally.

Dmitry Polyansky, the Russian deputy representative to the UN, accused Ukraine of concocting a Russian threat in the Sea of Azov with Western support.

Our country has never struck the first blow, but it can stand up for itself, he told the council, adding: The population of the Crimea, as well as other regions of Russia, is under reliable protection.

Referring to Sundays incident, Polyansky said Ukraine had planned the provocation in advance with the coordination of Western states, which he said had given the Ukrainian government carte blanche.

Kiev has said its vessels did nothing wrong and has accused Russia of military aggression.

Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraines ambassador to the UN, called Russias claim that Ukrainian ships violated Russias borders an outright lie and warning that rising tensions with Moscow constitute a clear threat to international peace and security.

Also on Monday, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to release the Ukrainian ships and sailors, saying there was no justification for Moscows actions.

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What we saw yesterday was very serious, Stoltenberg told a news conference after an emergency meeting of the western military alliance held on Ukraines request.

There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel, so we call on Russia to release immediately the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized yesterday.

Martial law

Earlier, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree imposing martial law in response to the naval standoff with Russia. The move was approved by parliament on Monday night.

Poroshenko ordered an emergency session of Verkhovna Rada, Ukraines lower house of parliament, to take place on Monday during which legislators voted on the decree.

The law will be imposed for 30 days from Wednesday onwards.

Al Jazeeras Andrew Simmons, reporting from Kiev, said there was a palpable anger throughout the country but Poroshenkos call for martial law had raised some eyebrows given the decision could affect upcoming elections.

(Poroshenko) has to do something pretty special to regain popularity in these elections, the cynics and members of his own coalition are suspicious of his motivations in calling for martial law.

Addressing fears of heightened tensions between Kiev and Moscow, the 53-year-old also said on Monday that the step did not mean a declaration of war against Russia.

Ukraine is not planning a war against anyone, he told the National Security and Defence Council.

Poroshenko also said Ukraine would stick to the Minsk Agreements, peace deals his government inked with Russia and pro-Russian separatists in southeastern Ukraine that were designed to stop a war that claimed more than 10,000 lives since 2014.

The conflict began after pro-West protesters overthrew pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014, after months of violent protests in the capital, Kiev.

The separatists claimed the new, fiercely anti-Russian government planned a genocide of ethnic Russians in eastern regions, Ukraines rust belt and Yanukovychs support base.

Additional reporting by Mansur Mirovalev
Kampala urged to established independent inquiry into the killing of 103 people in the western town two years ago.

Human rights activists in Uganda have called for the establishment of an independent inquiry into the killing of scores of people by the countrys security forces in a western town two years ago.

On November 26 and 27, 2016, security forces killed 103 people after storming the palace of King Charles Wesley Mumbere, a tribal leader of the Bakonzo people, in Kasese, home of the Rwenzururu kingdom.

At least 15 children were among the dead, according to Human Rights Watch.

There has been no accountability for what happened, Oryem Nyeko, Uganda researcher for the Africa division of HRW, told Al Jazeera on Monday.

There is no reason for the government to prevent an independent inquiry, Nyeko said. The government argues that it does not want to interfere with an ongoing legal process. We are calling for accountability for what happened.

Climate of fear

After initially saying that 62 people had died in the assault, the government acknowledged in March 2017 that the death toll stood at 103.

Mumbere was detained along with dozens of his guard in the raid, while the palace was torched.

The king and some of the guards have since been charged with treason, murder, terrorism and other offences. They deny the charges and have been freed on bail.

Before the deadly police raid, there had been unrest in the Rwenzururu region following a disputed presidential election in February 2016.

The vote won by veteran President Yoweri Museveni who has ruled the east African country since 1986.

The opposition  which finished first in the election in the region  accused the government of stoking tensions in the area and clamping down on political activity.

Both the government and army defended their actions, accusing the king of recruiting and arming local fighters.

In Kasese, there is a climate of fear still hanging in the air, Nyeko said.

We have documented cases of arrest. People have been detained for allegedly having links with armed groups.

Traditional monarchy

The Rwenzururu kingdom is a traditional monarchy based near the Rwenzori mountains which straddle Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Its members are mainly the Bakonzo people, who are found in both countries.

The monarchy started out as a separatist movement of the same name when the Bakonzo declared their own kingdom in 1962.

This was followed by years of bloodshed until a settlement was reached in 1982 in which the movement laid down arms in return for a degree of local autonomy.

Museveni officially recognised the kingdom in 2009.

However, unrest has continued to simmer in the complex ethnic and political conflict, as many in the region still feel marginalised by authorities in the distant capital of Kampala.

Some in the country, with the support of their fellow Bakonzo in the DRC, have taken up arms and are agitating for the creation of the Yiira Republic which would cover territory in Uganda and part of North Kivu in the neighbouring country.
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Bad as it may have been, the worst of the Russia Hoax was not the abuse of the FISA electronic surveillance regime for political purposes. Nor is the worst even the patent involvement of our intelligence agencies -- and in particular the FBI and CIA -- in electoral politics. No, the worst aspect of the Russia Hoax is that our intelligence agencies, including elements of DoJ and the State Department cooperating with the Clinton campaign, enlisted the intelligence services of foreign powers -- first in their effort to defeat the candidacy of Donald Trump and, when that effort failed, turning their efforts to what can only be described as an attempted coup against the elected President of the United States.

Shockingly, these later stages of the Russia Hoax have included members of the Legislative Branch who, in the face of clear evidence that the true collusion with foreign powers was that of the Clinton campaign, have worked to delay and to ultimately obstruct Congressional oversight and investigation of the entire Russia Hoax.

So, faced with this determined stonewalling of Congressional oversight by DoJ and the FBI, the President played what has always been his trump card: he ordered the declassification of most of the documents that are central to the Russia Hoax. Led by DAG Rosenstein, the forces of the Deep State were able to delay the release of the documents, but President Trump made it clear that he favors declassification -- and sooner, rather than later.

Three weeks later, an uneasy stalemate persists. DoJ and Team Mueller have claimed that release of the documents would constitute "obstruction" -- a patently bogus claim, but Trump has extracted the resignation of Jeff Sessions and his replacement with Matthew Whitaker as the Acting AG, who also replaces Rosenstein as the supervisor of Team Mueller. The anti-Trump forces are currently attempting to stymie Trump's latest move with attacks on the Whitaker appointment, while declassification hangs fire. And Democrats, newly empowered by their capture of the House, are threatening to tie Trump up with investigations of his finances, on the pretext of the Russia Hoax.

Nevertheless, there is evidence that the Deep State forces of both the US and the UK are feeling Trump's pressure. The Daily Telegraph, in a surprisingly little remarked-upon article, informed the world that MI6 is battling Donald Trump to stop him from releasing documents linked to the "Russia probe."

The article itself is an interesting mix of special pleading and disinformation, clearly reflecting the views and interests of the British and US Deep State. Perhaps it's a measure of Deep State alarm at the threat of declassification that the article coyly offers a glimpse of what we all know to be true--that the British were deeply involved in the Russia Hoax almost from the start--while attempting to maintain deniability with transparent euphemisms. For example, we read that:

The UK is warning that the US president would undermine intelligence gathering if he releases pages of an FBI application to wiretap one of his former campaign advisers. However Trump allies are fighting back, demanding transparency and asking why Britain would oppose the move unless it had something to hide.

Yes, well, that's a very good question, isn't it? Exactly why are the British concerned about the release of an FBI application for FISA coverage against a US citizen? What could possibly be the British angle concerning such a purely US matter? Unless ... the British really do have something to hide. And who would they be hiding it from? Everyone who's anyone already has a very good idea of what could be revealed. The only people being kept in the dark are the British and American public.

And this goes on throughout the article. The Telegraph, we are told, has spoken to "more than a dozen" officials, "including in American intelligence." And those officials tell us, through the Telegraph, that the British spy chiefs have "genuine concern" that Trump could expose "sources" if he releases the FISA application. "Sources"? As in super-secret technical capabilities? No. Sources as in "It boils down to the exposure of people," as a "US intelligence official" helpfully explained.

But if release of the documents would expose sources, i.e., "people," doesn't that mean there are people to be exposed? And why do the British care about this American concern -- unless those "people" are connected to MI6?

The fact of the matter is, we really know who those people are already. Alexander Downer, Joseph Mifsud, Stefan Halper, and the others agents who were flocking around Carter Page and George Papadoulos -- buying them drinks, offering them various opportunities to make money or pad their resumes. Oh, and chatting them up about Russia and "dirt on Hillary." None of which amounted to a hill of beans.

But, the "more than a dozen" US and UK officials want to tell us what it's really all about.

The row is about an FBI request to wiretap Carter Page, a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, which was made in October 2016 - the month before the US election. The FBI said it had suspicions Mr Page was being targeted for recruitment by the Russian government and cited classified intelligence to make its case.

This is pure disinformation. Anyone who has bothered to read FISA -- specifically 50 U.S. Code  1801(b)(2) -- will know beyond any shadow of a doubt that being targeted for recruitment by Russia is not justification for a FISA warrant on a US Person. Period. The FBI is required to cite facts to show, not that Russians are targeting an American, but that the American is himself engaged in clandestine intelligence activity that involves a violation of criminal laws. As for the "classified intelligence" that the FBI cited to "make its case," it could be either the product of electronic surveillance or it could be information from human sources. But we've already been assured that "It boils down to the exposure of people," so that means human sources.

We've read the "dossier," the narrative invented by Christopher Steele, formerly (?) of MI6, with assists from Nellie Ohr and Glenn Simpson -- contractors for the Hillary Clinton campaign. We've also read about the various other human sources in public source accounts: Mifsud, Halper, Downer, and the rest. We've been assured by no less knowledgeable an official than Andrew McCabe that the dossier -- although admittedly unverified and, seemingly, unverifiable -- was "crucial" to obtaining the FISA warrant. So what's going on here? Are we really supposed to believe that there are human sources we haven't yet heard about, sources whose information apparently wasn't "crucial," because that distinction goes to Steele's "dossier", but whose identities must not be revealed?

MI6 Headquarters, London (photo by Adrian Pingstone)

I'm not buying that. It seems clear to me that all sources of any importance have already been named in public sources. The "genuine concern" of the intelligence services, both US and UK, is that those sources should not be connected to the intelligence services in official documents. Or as the dozen or more officials might put it: "It boils down to deniability." As long as the names of the sources aren't revealed in official documents, their complicity can be denied. And as long as that can be denied then the entire Russia Hoax and subsequent -- and continuing -- attempted coup can be denied as connected to the official acts of our intelligence agencies.

At this point, the Telegraph's narrative shifts gears. Having previously admitted that the UK intelligence services have a "genuine concern" about Trump revealing sources, the Telegraph reverts to the discredited story that the British -- all innocent and uninvolved as they were -- have been "dragged into a heated and partisan battle in Washington DC over the origins of the Russian investigation." We are to believe that President Trump's

...allies and former advisers are raising questions about the UKs role in the start of the probe, given many of the key figures and meetings were located in Britain.

Pure coincidence that so much of this happened in Britain, right? Or maybe not, since we know from the Strzok/Page texts that as far back as December, 2015, Strzok was asking Lisa Page whether approval had been obtained for the FBI to engage in "OCONUS lures," overseas undercover approaches to targeted individuals. And, as the Telegraph admits, all this took place in London. Small wonder that Trump's "allies and former advisers are raising questions about the UKs role in the start of the probe" on that basis!

The Telegraph attempts to sidestep this obvious problem for their narrative by pinning it all on the machinations of rascally Republicans seeking to "protect" President Trump from the presumed truth and, to make matters worse, by raising inconvenient questions they're jeopardizing relations with an ally -- how terrible!

Republicans are attempting to protect the US president by suggesting the Russia investigation, which continues to this day, was invalid from the start.

By suggesting the investigation was created by shadowy intelligence figures who wanted to thwart Mr Trumps candidacy from the start, Republicans are making it easier for the eventual findings to be waved away. However a result of the attack line is that Britains spy agencies are being included in claims of deep state opposition to Mr Trump. It risks inflaming UK-US tensions at a time when Britain wants to deepen ties with America as it leaves the European Union.

Well, exactly whose fault is that? Perhaps next time the UK is tempted to meddle in a US election they'll give more thought to all the possible consequences. If the UK is the party that needs deeper ties to the US, maybe such meddling would be best avoided -- even at the risk of irritating the Clinton organization. Moreover, one wonders how much thought has been given to inflaming tensions between the US and Russia -- at a time when Trump has been seeking Russian cooperation against geopolitical rivals such as China?

And now, to make matters worse, George Papadopoulos is, belatedly, having very public second thoughts about what was almost surely a very ill advised plea deal:

Mr Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser sentenced to 14 days in prison for lying about his conversations with Russian-linked figures, has begun publicly pointing a finger of blame at Britain.



Mr Papadopoulos told The Telegraph: The British Government has a lot of explaining to do. Its in their interest to be transparent. Why was the British intelligence apparatus weaponised against Trump and his advisers?



Other Trump allies are pushing similar claims. One former top White House adviser to Mr Trump made similar insinuations, telling this newspaper: You know the Brits are up to their neck." The source added on the Page wiretap application: I think that stuff is going to implicate MI5 and MI6 in a bunch of activities they don't want to be implicated in, along with FBI, counter-terrorism and the CIA."

The Telegraph tries to minimize the implications of all this, citing "One former UK official" who warns that these issues should be treated "with suspicion" because they "originate from right-wing internet forums" and lack "hard evidence." To which the very obvious response is that this is simply more of the Deep State trying to have their cake and eat it too. "Hard evidence" may be lacking? Of course it is! That's exactly the point of the massive effort to conceal the full FISA application -- because that would provide hard, black and white, evidence from official documents. Heads we win, tails you lose, says the Deep State -- you don't have "hard evidence" because we won't allow it to be revealed.

In my view this article, sourced to multiple Deep State operatives in both the US and the UK, signals that declassification remains the ultimate Trump card. The Telegraph, in attempting to influence public perceptions of the Russia Hoax, has also signaled that the Deep State is genuinely concerned. Trump's declassification order is tantamount to a dagger pointed at the heart of the Deep State. Transparency threatens a public, even a populist, revolt against the machinations of largely unaccountable Deep State operatives and their allies in both the Legislative Branch as well as in Executive Departments and Agencies that have usually been exempt from scrutiny. Accountability is the enemy!

Mark Wauck is a retired FBI agent who blogs on religion, philosophy, and FISA at meaning in history. In his previous life he devoted more than two decades to Counterintelligence matters.
In December 1997, after the FBI arrested independent journalist James Sanders for investigating the destruction of TWA Flight 800, not a single reporter at a post-arraignment press conference managed to frame even one First Amendment question.

In fact, the Newsday reporter argued the governments case, insisting the Justice Department found insufficient evidence to declare Sanders a journalist. The fact that Sanders had already written two successful investigatory books did not count. By challenging the medias defense of a Democratic administration, Sanders all but sacrificed his First Amendment rights.

At the time of Sanderss arrest roughly 40 percent of America was using the Internet. Within 20 years that figure would approach 90 percent. The Internet was the great equalizer. It enabled citizen journalists to report stories that the major media underreported or failed to report at all. As the reach of the Internet grew, the apprehension of the progressive establishment grew along with it. Sanderss conviction on a bogus conspiracy charge was a sign of payback to come.

Here I use the phrase progressive establishment broadly to include any institution, private or public, which works to mute the voice of independent conservative journalists. In Sanderss case, the active institution was the FBI aided and abetted by the mainstream media.

This past week, the progressive establishment attempted to silence two more independents. In the first case, Twitter and Facebook conspired to deny the audacious 25-year-old journalist Laura Loomer her rapidly growing audience. In the second, Special Counsel Robert Mueller lowered the boom on Jerome Corsi, a 72-year-old Harvard Ph.D.

An all too typical headline this week from ABC News -- Conspiracy theorist becomes key figure as Mueller builds case -- delegitimizes Corsi even before the article begins.

Corsi is not a journalist; he is a conspiracy theorist. The media are not opposed to conspiracy theorizing in general -- Michael Moore did win an Oscar -- but rather to theorizing that has the potential to harm the progressive establishment.

Corsi is said to be cutting a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. According to ABC, Mueller and pals believe that Corsi may have had advance knowledge that the email account of Clintons campaign manager, John Podesta, had been hacked and that WikiLeaks had obtained a trove of damning emails from it.

Even if true, it is not at all clear why a journalist should have his career destroyed because of his advance knowledge of anything. If Corsi worked for ABC, the media would be howling in unison as they did upon the murder of progressive Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Corsis case is instructive. The first major conspiracy he helped bring to life was the media conspiracy to suppress John Kerrys dubious war record. What prompted Corsis partner, John ONeill, to launch the Swift Boat project was the Kerry campaigns use of the band of brothers theme to position Kerry was a war hero.

An attorney and swift boat veteran, ONeill ran down the 19 officers featured in a photo with Kerry from his Vietnam days. Almost to a man, they challenged Kerrys war record. Only two of the 19 supported Kerry for president.

As had become standard practice, the establishment media rushed to their preferred candidates defense. In August 2004, while admitting there were legitimate questions about Mr. Kerry's behavior, the Washington Post decided the authors crosse[d] the line in branding Mr. Kerry a coward and a liar. The Posts evidence to the contrary was scant and superficial. Corsi and ONeills evidence was strong enough to counter the media pushback and deny Kerry the presidency.

As the reader might recall, the major media generated the one real smear during the 2004 election cycle. At CBS, anchor Dan Rather and his crew tried to undermine George Bushs military record with forged documents. In defending Rathers reporting, the New York Times memorably called these documents fake but accurate.

Over time, of course, the media get their way. Today, dictionaries define swiftboating as an unfair or untrue political attack. Corsi is remembered as a smear artist, and Robert Redford played Dan Rather in a 2015 film unblushingly titled Truth.

Corsi has written a dozen books since Unfit for Command. The major media largely ignored his work until he started writing about Barack Obama. In particular, Corsi challenged what Obama biographer David Remnick called Obamas signature appeal: the use of the details of his own life as a reflection of a kind of multicultural ideal.

By 2009, Corsi was reporting facts about Obamas first year of life that made hash out of that ideal. As is their wont, the major media disregarded any reporting from independent journalists, Corsi especially, that challenged their narrative.

In three separate biographies published during the following two years -- one by New Yorker editor Remnick and one each by star reporters from the Times and Boston Globe -- each author crudely bent the facts of Obamas infancy to sustain the illusion of a happy multicultural family.

It was not until 2012 that the Washington Posts David Maraniss confirmed Corsis reporting. Yes, Obamas mother fled to Seattle with the baby immediately after his birth. No, there never was an Obama family. Sorry, but Obamas famed 2004 convention speech was a lie.

I cannot vouch for all of Corsis work, but in the two cases our interests intersected, he proved more credible than anyone in the major media. I should add that although I have met Corsi on a few occasions, I do not know him well.

I do not know Laura Loomer well either, but I have met her and can confirm, yes, she is a pistol. If I were in the progressive establishment, I would want to silence her too. Her combination of smarts, sophistication, and fearlessness makes her arguably the most effective under-30 journalist in America today -- if, that is, Loomer were a journalist.

Predictably, in a November 22 piece on her travails, NBC News denied Loomer that status in the very first sentence: Far-right activist Laura Loomer became the latest conservative figure to be kicked off Twitter when her account was shut down Wednesday. According to NBC, Loomer merely touts herself as an investigative journalist.

The tweet that got Loomer banned reads as follows: Isnt it ironic how the twitter moment used to celebrate women, LGBTQ, and minorities is a picture of Ilhan Omar? Ilhan is pro Sharia Ilhan is pro-FGM Under Sharia, homosexuals are oppressed & killed. Women are abused & forced to wear the hijab. Ilhan is anti Jewish.

Ilhan Omar was recently elected to Congress. Admittedly, Twitter is a private enterprise, and the First Amendment is not in play. That said, Milo Yiannopouloss take on Twitters permanent ban of Loomer nicely sums up the un-American spirit of her silencing: "She was banned for criticizing an elected politician." More troubling still, Loomers criticism of Omar was on target.

As to Corsi, he appears to be fighting back. He told CNN in a phone call that he was offered a deal to plea to one count of perjury for his alleged role as an intermediary between Roger Stone and Wikileaks. "They can put me in prison the rest of my life. I am not going to sign a lie," said Corsi. Roger Stone associate says he won't agree to plea deal

Corsi and Loomer are two victims out of many. As I argued in an earlier piece on American Thinker, First They Came for Alex Jones, the progressive establishment is picking off those citizen journalists with the least institutional support. The left applauds the silencing and the respectable right pretends not to notice.

Perhaps when the lefts street-level agitators assault the homes of the George Wills and Peggy Noonans of this world, our right-leaning betters will understand how thin is the line between conservative journalist and far-right activist.
As long as we are on the subject of whether there is such an animal as an "Obama judge," let us consider the judges who sit on the FISA court and issue warrants allowing surveillance of American citizens who are suspected foreign agents, essentially taking the uncontested word of the government.

Their actions on behalf of one political campaign, colluding with a corrupt DOJ and FBI to target a political opponent, are not supposed to happen in a country based on the rule of law as administered by supposedly impartial judges. Empowered to safeguard our national security against foreign actors, they essentially served as an extra-constitutional arm of the Hillary Clinton campaign as it colluded with foreign actors to stage a Deep-State coup against a duly elected president, Donald J. Trump? Aiding and abetting the legacy of Barack Obama seems like something an "Obama judge" would do.

Chief Justice Roberts is the one who gets to appoint judges to the FISA court  every last one of them, judges like Rudolph Contreras, who granted a previously denied Michael Flynn FISA warrant. His appointees are the ones who swallowed whole the contentions of the Obama administration using unverified material put together by a British agent and his Russian sources to aid one political party at the expense of another.

The FISA court and its star chamber judges make for a borderline example of the prophetic warning about trading a little liberty for a little security and winding up with neither. The potential abuse of FISA powers is enormous, and the damage that has been done to our republic and our politics has been staggering.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court deals with some of the most sensitive matters of national security  terror threats and espionage. Its work for the most part cannot be examined by the American public, by order of the Congress and the President. It is a tribunal that is completely secret (or supposed to be), its structure largely one-sided, and its members unilaterally chosen by one person. A rotating panel of federal judges at the FISC decides whether to grant certain types of government requests  wiretapping, data analysis, and other monitoring for "foreign intelligence purposes" of suspected terrorists and spies operating in the United States. ... [T]he 11 judges are appointed exclusively by the Chief Justice of the United States, without any supplemental confirmation from the other two branches of government. John Roberts has named every member of the current court, as a well as a separate three-judge panel to hear appeals of FISC orders, known as the Court of Review.

So how could a court over which Chief Justice John Roberts has complete control allow frauds to be committed upon it in a manner more fitting in a banana republic? With pressure on President Trump to declassify and release the FISA warrants and substantiating documents, if any, could Justice Roberts be getting nervous about what might be found?

It was astonishing, for example, to find out from Judicial Watch that these FISA warrants used against Team Trump were issued without any hearings being held, starting with the one issued against Carter Page:

The Justice Department admitted that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court never held a hearing on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act spy warrant applications on Carter Page. Judicial Watch announced the DOJ revealed in a court finding Thursday that "there were no records, electronic or paper, responsive to [Judicial Watch's] FOIA request with regard to Carter Page," and that the FISA Court "considered the Page warrant applications based upon written submissions and did not hold any hearings." The infamous Christopher Steele dossier of unverified documents regarding President Trump was the basis for the four controversial FISA warrants on Page, the former Trump campaign advisor. "It's astonishing and disturbing that these courts couldn't bother to hold hearings on spy warrants targeting Donald Trump," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton told Jason Chaffetz who was sitting in for Sean Hannity on Fox News' "Hannity" on Friday.

Deputy A.G. Rod Rosenstein misled the FISA court and signed off on the FISA application to spy on Trump's campaign adviser, Carter Page, actions documented in a four-page House Intelligence Committee memo:

A secret, highly contentious Republican memo reveals that Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein approved an application to extend surveillance of a former Trump campaign associate shortly after taking office last spring, according to three people familiar with it. The renewal shows that the Justice Department under President Trump saw reason to believe that the associate, Carter Page, was acting as a Russian agent[.] ... The memo's primary contention is that F.B.I. and Justice Department officials failed to adequately explain to an intelligence court judge in initially seeking a warrant for surveillance of Mr. Page that they were relying in part on research by an investigator, Christopher Steele, that had been financed by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign[.]

As we now know, and as has been copiously documented, Rod Rosenstein committed a self-evident fraud upon the FISA Court. And now his subordinate is going to investigate him? Can the swamp drain itself? Page has vehemently denied the allegations in the dossier and has sought the release of the memo to show its falseness and to show that the DOJ of Rod Rosenstein and the FBI of Andrew McCabe colluded with the Democrats to keep Hillary Clinton out of prison and Donald Trump out of the White House:

The former Trump campaign adviser who was spied on by the U.S. government prior to the 2016 election is "very much" in favor of the release of a controversial congressional memo alleging abuses of the surveillance warrant application process[.] ... Page pressed for the release the FISA application in a May 14 letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. "If FISA warrants indeed exist as has been extensively reported, wide-ranging false evidence will be inevitably revealed in light of the fact that I have never done anything remotely unlawful in Russia or with any Russian person at any point in my life," he wrote. What remains unanswered about the application for the warrant on Page is how heavily it relied on the dossier and whether the FBI and DOJ vetted the allegations made about him by Steele[.] ... Page has vehemently denied the allegations made against him in the dossier, which was put together by former British spy Christopher Steele, commissioned by opposition research firm Fusion GPS, and financed by the Clinton campaign and DNC.

Would Justice Roberts approve of releasing the FISA warrants and explain how the judges he appointed could ever approve them? Consider that former FBI director James Comey, in testimony given under oath in June 2017, said the Steele dossier was "salacious and unverified." Yet Comey signed off on at least one, if not four, FISA warrant applications based on the "salacious and unverified" dossier. Either he was lying to Congress or he was lying to the FISA Court judge. In any event, he was out to get Trump, and the FISA abuse and his plot to set up Robert Mueller as a special counsel without a crime to investigate or any evidence of collusion were both parts of his conspiracy.

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) says McCabe testified that if it weren't for material from Steele's fraudulent dossier, there would have been no FISA requests and no surveillance of Team Trump:

"McCabe did in fact testify under oath that there would not have been a FISA warrant if not for the dossier. It was recorded," Rep. Zeldin tweeted.

Without Comey's FBI submitting false FISA requests, which Roberts's appointees allowed, including at least one signed off on by Comey himself, there would have been no surveillance of Team Trump and no special counsel. The mystery in all this is the silence of the FISA Court that was lied to, judges who sat as a fraud was committed on the court, and a Chief Justice John Roberts who harrumphs that judges have no political birthmarks even as the judges he put on the FISA court participated in an attempted political coup by the Obama administration against its successor.

Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai. Photo: Eric Risberg/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Googles had trouble with Duplex, its AI system that makes phone calls on your behalf while sounding frighteningly human, since the first demo back in May. The technology was used at the companys I/O developer conference to make a reservation at a restaurant. It worked fine, except the robot placing the call never mentioned to the unsuspecting human on the other end of the line that they were speaking with a robot and also that the call was being recorded.

A month later, Google demonstrated the technology again, this time to a room full of tech press in a Thai restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Hi. Im calling to make a reservation. Im Googles automated booking service so Ill record the call, Duplex said at the start of each call it placed. If a person didnt want to be recorded and said so, the call was immediately dropped. (I asked several questions about this.) Nick Fox, VP of product and design for Google Assistant, said the company had always been planning on a disclosure but hadnt included it at I/O because Google thought of it more as a technical demo. The updated demo, while still creepy in an oh wow maybe that guy with the cardboard sign about robots taking over isnt so nutty way, seemed on track to make good on those disclosure promises. But new information indicates otherwise.

VentureBeat posted a video testing Duplex earlier this month in which the AI can be heard making a reservation. Hi, Im calling to make a reservation for a client. Im calling from Google, so the call may be recorded, Duplex says in the clip. If youve never seen Duplex in action, the thing you need to know is that it has been engineered to sound very, very human. Scott Huffman, vice-president of engineering for Google Assistant, explained this summer that his team spent time training the robot to pause and to say um and ah like a human would, because those tics ultimately translated to fewer unsuccessful calls. The more human the technology sounded the more effective it was. Which makes a clip of Duplex, once again not telling the person on the line that its a robot, all the more alarming.

A source told the Verge the person in the VentureBeat clip is actually a real person, hence no disclosure. Googles Duplex tests involve a mix of the two; some are led by Googlers, while others let the AI steer. The majority of calls are the latter and automated, the Verge notes. But thats an entirely different, and still funky-smelling kettle of fish for Google. If some of the calls are humans who still sound pretty robotic and some of the calls are robots engineered to sound fallibly human  how are we supposed to be able to tell the difference?

The easy fix, or at least the easy fix as far as a tech journalist who has never worked for Google or in AI is concerned, seems like it would be devoting a few extra seconds at the beginning of each call to be crystal clear. Hi, youre speaking with a person calling from Google Assistant or Hi, Im an automated service calling from Google Assistant. After that, in both instances, the recording is also disclosed. Nobody is going to hang up a call over the negligible extra time it takes to be clear who they are taking to  or nobody who wasnt going to hang up on the call anyway.
Who would have thought it? French citizens, mostly peacefully protesting on the Champs Elysees over gas taxes intended to save the planet from climate change. Imagine! The Frenchies are so docile that it took gas at $7.06 per gallon to get them into the streets.

I tell you: rulers have been warring against citizen mobility ever since a potentate in the Fertile Crescent first instituted the death penalty for the crime of walking on the kings private chariot highway. The dear old Duke of Wellington was said to be against railways because they would encourage the poor to travel around needlessly. Any excuse to tie the serfs to the land.

The next thing you know, Subaru and Prius drivers here in North Seattle will be putting up yard-signs protesting the states plans to reduce driving by 50 percent by 2050 . Because what about the homeless?

The truth is, Kevin Williamson reminds us, that everyone is in favor of using the state to order the other guy around. Everyone, from Trump to Bernie, is in favor of some kind of national socialism, with some a little more nationalist, [and others] a little more socialist. These days the little-more-socialists are in favor of using force to get us out of our cars.

That Hitler guy was a genius, the first guy to put nationalism and socialism together, and the proof is that we are still playing his game while insisting that the other guys are the real fascists. Hey liberals! Whats the difference between the SS and Antifa? They are are both fascistic; they both wear artistical black. Oh yeah. The SS got paid by the government, while Antifa gets paid by liberal billionaires.

Hitler figured it out in 1923, but it wasnt till the 1970s that Henri Tajfel developed the concept of  minimal group paradigm  while researching intergroup discrimination. He found that even people organized arbitrarily and temporarily into groups in a research project will favor their in-group over an out-group. In other words, it doesnt matter who is in a group, or what the groups purpose is for, people will behave groupishly, and favor their guys over the others. So, liberals, its not just about evil alt-right haters: everybody does it; we are all fascists now. All humans are groupish and are perfectly happy discriminating in favor of their own kind -- Subaru drivers whose other car is a bicycle -- and against the other -- deplorable drivers of full-size trucks with macho names like Ram, Titan, or Tundra.

Yet here are those French mostly peaceful protestors wearing their government-mandated yellow vests, and only now, with gas prices hitting $7 per gallon, are they hitting the streets.

This, in my view, is the irreducible problem of our time. Taxed and regulated up the ying-yang, we peasants only flood into the streets after the dirty work is done, after we have been taxed out of 35 percent of our income, after the government has regulated everything from hair-braiding to brush-clearing in forests, after it has rigidified education into uselessness, and attacked bullying by keeping bullies in school.

What is wrong with us, that we let this happen? Oh yeah. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings. But what do we underlings do about it, other than assassinate Caesar so that his stripling great-nephew Octavius can become Emperor Augustus?

Obviously, the anti-groupish libertarian answer doesnt serve, because humans are groupish. Obviously the one great group to rule them all, that succeeded only in murdering them all, is the great crime of the millennium.

Emmanuel Macron says honte or shame to the mostly peaceful protesters. I say shame to loser Macron and shame to the proud elite that has enacted the stupid conceit of penal taxation of diesel and gasoline, and shame on its failed wars on poverty and everything else it has screwed up.

For the truth is that almost all of todays government programs arose as a way for the educated elite to pat itself on the back for its intelligence, its virtue, its compassion. In reality, of course, the pensions, health care, and education programs were merely bribes paid in return for votes and power.

But the climate change conceit is a bit different, because the benefits all go to the educated elite, in grants to educated elite researchers, in corporate subsidies, and in subsidies for the virtue-signalling electric cars, wind, and solar power favored by the educated elite. Really, the average bear, the gilet jaune, le deplorable ordinaire, gets nothing out of it, except higher costs on personal transportation and home heating.

Do you see the opportunity? Theres no chance to reform Social Security and Medicare, because grandpa and grandma. But climate change could be different, because the educated elite forgot Rule One of entitlement programs: you have to deal in the ordinary middle class.
Two years ago, we heard that Fidel Castro died of whatever.

Two years later, the dissidents are complaining that they didn't get the political reform memo. This is from Briebart:

Speaking to Breitbart News, leaders of the Cuban counter-revolution  which, contrary to the Aspen Institute analysis, does exist -- lament that any opportunity to ease the repression of dissident voices in the country appears to have passed without incident. Both Fidel Castros death and the substitution of Raul Castro as the Revolutions international envoy with loyalist Miguel Diaz-Canel in April have done little for political freedom in the country, they agree. The situation in Cuba for dissidents remains very similar to that which we had during Fidel Castros life, and in some ways is even worse, Jose Daniel Ferrer, the General Coordinator of one of Cubas largest dissident groups, the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), told Breitbart News. The current dictator, Miguel Diaz-Canel  takes orders directly from Raul Castro [and] leaves clear who truly wields power.

So let me translate: the old boss dies, his brother appoints a successor and nothing changes in Cuba. Cue the Four Tops: "It's the same old song."

The good news for dissidents, and those of us outside who want real reforms, is that the Cuban economy is on an unsustainable path.

In other words, there is no USSR out there to bail out the regime or European banks lending money to the regime. On the contrary, more and more countries are treating Cuba like a nation that can't pay its debts, i.e. no cash no laundry!

Back in July, President Diaz-Canel lamented that the island's economy is slowing down and the country faces a liquidity crisis. The economy grew 1.1% in 2018 after 1.6% the year before.

Castro is still dead but repression is alive and well.

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
We've commented a lot on how the leftist organizers of the migrant caravan, such as Pueblo Sin Fronteras are using the migrants themselves as pawns to advance their far-left agenda. They put women and children in front for the cameras, promising them goodies for doing it. They subject them to a very dangerous journey northward, and even send women and children as shock troops to storm the U.S. border, as they did yesterday, so as to make any U.S. response to border-storming appear 'heartless.' It's all part of their propaganda warfare, and if they put women and kids in danger, well, from their perspective, it's just the cost of doing business. They're all expendable.

They're also holding the people of Tijuana hostage, given that so many of the migrants are criminals who have gotten right down to business in committing crimes against Mexicans, and subjecting city authorities to the large costs of housing and feeding them. The Tijuana authorities were caught off guard, handed a bill, and are not happy about it.

But their coerciveness actually extends to non-migrants, because of their willingness to dare President Trump to shut down the border. A closed border means nothing to these leftists, whose agenda is 'by-any-means-necessary,' but it exacts a lot of cost to the normals who live and work in both Tijuana and the U.S., and who go back and forth as a means of conducting their daily lives.

First, an instance I know of: A source at the University of San Diego tells me that there are several fine Mexican students who commute daily to USD from their homes in Tijuana, with their special commuter-visa passes. Everyone loves these bright hard-working kids and the university is delighted to have them there. The migrant caravan's border shutdown holds those kids hostage.

Here's another instance from Sandra Dibble in today's San Diego Union-Tribune:

Enrique Mendez, a high-ranking state government official in Tijuana, has heard complaints from Tijuana doctors that their U.S. patients have been canceling appointments as the U.S. government has stepped up security at the ports of entry, and wait times to return to the San Diego have grown longer. Im getting a lot of comments from people saying, I wont be able to cross to Tijuana, I have to go live with a family member in San Diego, because I work there, Mendez said.

Hear that? Those are the refugees from Obamacare, people who get their health care and dental work done in Tijuana. Those people are being held hostage by these caravan jerks.

The more I think about this, the more appalled I get. At the San Diego Zoo, I remember an instance where my uncle, an automobile executive from Grand Rapids, saw a couple of ten year-old Tijuana boys struggling to count their pennies so as to take a ride on those buckets that cross above the zoo and only one could go. He paid for both and their little-kid faces lit up. It was wonderful. Now, no zoo for the kids.

In San Diego's Fashion Valley mall, now that there's Black Friday and the kickoff to the holiday season, the parking spaces are normally loaded with cars with Baja California license plates. Just as interesting, head on down to Rosarito Beach south of Tijuana and see all the California plates on the beach as well. I live in San Diego and love going to Tijuana's beautiful museums when I can, and buying Mexican artwork at certain shops. I've sent visitors to take a gander at the city and have breakfast at Sanborn's. All hostages to the border shutdown.

There's also the macro stuff, the vast cross-border trade that is so important to both countries given that the San Diego-Tijuana border crossing is the most active in the world with some 300,000 crossings daily. Tijuana is a top maker of medical devices, oil drilling equipment, headphones, consumer electronics, and green technology, just to name some stuff off the top of my head. The giant shiny white semi trucks driving up from Tijuana to the mighty warehouses of the inland empire (you can see how big these are by jet as you land at LAX) in California brings these goods across the entire U.S.

According to U.S. data as of 2016, Mexico ships $294 billion in goods to the U.S. and the U.S. ships $231 billion in goods to Mexico. That's a lot of trade to potentially be held hostage based on the agenda of a rabid leftwing group that seeks to challenge the U.S. so it can dance around about open borders and votes for Democrats.

Should these little pukes be allowed to control all of that? It doesn't look like the Mexicans are going to stand for it, given the speed with which they moved to bust and deport yesterday's border stormers.

A closed border hurts both sides and kills off all kinds of connections and encounters between U.S. citizens and Mexicans. The caravan organizers show they are perfectly willing to hold all of us as their hostages to push their crummy agenda. And for that, they should be the ones to get shut down.
It is by now abundantly clear that the youngest person ever elected to Congress is an ingenue ignoramus, serenely unaware of the depths of her obliviousness. For someone who grew up in New York City  oops, make that Westchester County (but its a suburb, so kinda counts) -- to compare fleeing systematic extermination in the Holocaust to people seeking more lucrative employment and better welfare benefits in this country is obscene. It trivializes the Holocaust, period.

Yet, glamour girl Ocasio-Cortez did exactly that in a tweet yesterday:

I dont recall Jews fleeing Hitler announcing they would violate our borders if not accorded entry on demand. And I certainly dont recall Jews storming the border, throwing rocks at our Border Patrol.

But these differences, as important as they are, pale beside the comparison of the Holocaust to economic deprivation.

The Anti-Defamation League, before it became a shill for Democrats, used to criticize those who compared the Holocaust to lesser perils. So far, there is nothing on the ADL website concerning Ocasio-Cortezs trivialization of it.
It happened. Migrants stormed the border in Tijuana and the United States tear-gassed them before shutting the entire port of entry down.

After that, the authorities in Tijuana arrested almost 500 of them, and announced at least 39 of them who threw rocks would be immediately deported.

According to Al Jazeera (which has the most detailed report of the Mexican reaction in English):

Mexico pledged on Sunday to increase security near its border crossings and said it will deport some of the 500 asylum seekers who attempted to breach the United States border. Those who tried to "violently" and "illegally" enter the US would be deported immediately, the Mexican interior ministry said on Sunday. "We are going to act and proceed to their deportation," Mexico's Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete told the Milenio television network. "Far from helping the caravan, they are hurting it."

The Tijuana press didn't sound impressed, either. According to El Sol de Tijuana:

La movilizacion migrante provoco caos y paralizo la actividad cotidiana de la ciudad de Tijuana

My translation: The migrant mobilization provoked chaos and parallized the daily activity of the city of Tijuana

Meanwhile, Tijuana officials made several statements saying they could not allow such acts of provocation from these foreign nationals to disrupt the good relations the city held with the U.S.

Who are they blaming? The foreign migrants, who according to this BBC report, were following the directives of their far-left caravan leaders. And now they would get swiftly thrown out of Mexico for it.

Nobody was blaming President Trump.

What do we see here? That for all of the border's shortcomings (and I have been critical of Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen for not seeming serious enough), the U.S. has been effective in halting the migrant challenge to the U.S.

Number one, the reinforced border (with a second wall beyond it) was enough to keep the migrants out, even the ones who illegally scaled the first one. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't Trump's famous wall, it was mostly razor wire and extra troops, but somehow it worked. At a critical time, it passed the test of resolve. It was enough.

Two, the border was immediately shut down, sending a message of resolve that border breaching was not acceptable. All of the good people who cross legally from either Mexico to the U.S. or the U.S. to Mexico had to wait and many were severely inconvenienced. More significant still, billions in trade in goods was disrupted, just as the holiday season kicks off. Even a few hours costs. That showed just how seriously this issue was being taken.

Three, the migrants who did break the law got tear-gassed rather than shot by U.S. agents in response to violent objects being hurled. That was a non-lethal response that raises questions about the parenting skills of the migrants who put their kids in the middle of it, and keeps the U.S. from being tagged the human rights violator subject to screams from the United Nations for not gunning them down. All the border breachers challenging the U.S. got was tear gas but it was enough to chase them away.

Four, the Mexican cops got busy and arrested nearly 500 of the rioters, with officials stating that they could not allow foreigners to disrupt their good relations with the U.S. for their own agendas.

Who is winning here? It's President Trump. By standing firm and insisting that the illegal border crossers would not pass, he showed that unlike Europe, America has resolve to defend the integrity of its borders. Trump means what he says.

Lefties are now looking like pigs, using women and children first as their camera fodder and then as their shock troops, as Mexicans get sick of the whole thing and vow to throw them out.

This is an optimal ending to the first challenge these crazed leftists have mounted. With all their armies of leftwing lawyers and judges, with all their amassed migrants to storm the actual border, they expected President Trump to fold like a cheap suit and he didn't. They chose poorly. Secretary Nielsen may be imperfect as Homeland Security secretary, but she lucked out because her opponents were so much stupider than anyone expected. These caravan leaders really did think they could use the migrants storm the border and get away with it scot-free and even if they lost, they'd have the moms and kids narrative. They lost on all fronts and now the Mexicans are mad.

Score one for President Trump.

Images are screenshots via camera from CBS News 8 television in San Diego.
The U.S. has pretty much tried everything it could to dislodge the corrupt, brutal socialist regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. One thing it hasn't, though, is putting Venezuela on the state sponsors of terror list, which would be easy to do, given that it actually fits the ticket.

Does it issue passports to terrorists affiliated with Iran, Hezbollah and others from among the Mideast's gamiest players? Sure does.

Does it succor these people and provide them a safe landing pad any time they are in the regional neighborhood? It rolls out the welcome mat.

Has it allowed vast swathes of its country to be taken over by the Castro-founded Colombian guerrilla group known as ELN? A recent report says that more than half the country is controlled by these inhuman thugs.

Has it succored Colombian terrorist group FARC? Yep. And the Spanish Basque terrorist minions, too.

The whole creepiness of the Venezuelan regime runs the gamut of terror-sponsorship, and oh, don't forget to mention that the country is pals with these other state sponsors of terror, starting with Iran.

The Chavista socialist regime has created a humanitarian nightmare for Venezuela's neighbors as human rights violations flow something fierce and people are starved for food, water, medical care, transport and housing. According to a column in Forbes today, the socialist regime's odds of getting its act together in the coming year are exactly ... zero. USA Today reports that the Maduro regime is consolidating its power to go Full Castro, and if there's no intervention, he will get away with it.

The only real question to ask is why it hasn't been done already, given the thuggery and threats we and our regional neighbors are enduring.

The non-pro-Trump press is all for it, starting with the Weekly Standard, as is President Trump's political rival, Sen. Marco Rubio. According to an editorial calling for it from the Miami Herald:

The designation would place Venezuela on a list reserved for governments repeatedly accused of being a state sponsor of terrorism, like Iran, North Korea, Syria and Sudan. Cuba fought and won removal from the list in 2016 during the Obama administration. Does Venezuela really qualify as a top danger to America? Yes, according to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who has led the push to label Venezuela as such. Indications are that the administration is acting on Rubios expert advice. The senator has long been a thorn in Maduros side. We commend Rubio for his tenacity against a power-hungry dictator who has made a mockery of his countrys democracy. In a letter, Rubio and two Senate colleagues lobbied Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to put the designation on Venezuela, highlighting the regimes links to U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations, including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the National Liberation Army, Basque Fatherland and Liberty, and Hezbollah supporters. The crisis in Venezuela is dire and worsening every day, the senators wrote. The United States must use all available tools to protect the American homeland and our people from the Venezuelan dictatorships egregious support for terrorism and narcotrafficking. We strongly believe that the Maduro regime meets the criteria necessary to designate the current Venezuelan government as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Give it to them.
A liberal woman from Canada has been banned from Twitter for violating its rules against "hateful conduct." Her sin? Calling out a transgender man for his advocacy of prostitution and pornography as "empowering for women" and critiquing the transgender ideology.

Federalist:

Despite its CEO telling Congress the contrary a few months ago, Twitter has amped up its pattern of politically one-sided application of its terms of service. Last week, the social media giant permanently banned Meghan Murphy, a writer based in British Columbia, for critiquing transgender ideology online. The platform repeatedly suspended her account for this then ultimately banned her last week, saying such behavior violated [its] rules against hateful conduct.

Murphy was truly perplexed at her banning:

What is insane to me, though, is that while Twitter knowingly permits graphic pornography and death threats on the platform (I have reported countless violent threats, the vast majority of which have gone unaddressed), they wont allow me to state very basic facts, such as men arent women. This is hardly an abhorrent thing to say, nor should it be considered hateful to ask questions about the notion that people can change sex, or ask for explanations about transgender ideology. These are now, like it or not, public debates  debates that are impacting peoples lives, as legislation and policy are being imposed based on gender identity ideology

Apparently, there is only one way to see the transgender issue, according to Twitter:

On Twitter, Murphy regularly engaged in debates about sex, gender, and womens studies. In fact, she holds a masters degree in the field from Simon Fraser University. In other words: She isnt stupid or a troll. Shes an educated, opinionated woman, seeking to use her Twitter platform to develop her understanding of the topics and to engage others in debate. In August, I was locked out of my Twitter account for the first time, Murphy writes, explaining the timeline. I was told that I had violated [Twitters] rules against hateful conduct and that I had to delete four tweets in order to gain access to my account again. In this case, the tweets in question named Lisa Kreut, a trans-identified male. Her tweets called out Kreut for trying to boycott and defund Vancouver Rape Relief. Twitter didnt care what the feud was about or that it was legitimate and fact-based. They only cared about the fact that Kreut was transgender and decided to define disputes about transgenderism as hate speech.

Transgenderism is a political ideology. When the "personal" becomes "political," even gender becomes politicized. To point this out, and to question the validity of transgender ideology isn't hate speech; it's engaging in a rational debate about a political issue.

But this proves to be too much for Twitter, which realizes questions of this sort are damaging to the transgender ideology. Actually, if you think rationally about the basis for transgenderism for more than two minutes, you have a lot more pointed questions than Murphy is asking. But questioning ideology leads to uncomfortable answers. So it's better that the questions, along with the questioner, be banned.

I'd say that Twitter has become a joke, except it's hardly funny to glimpse the future of the United States without traditional First Amendment protections.
Near the ancient city of Marib, in Yemen, lies the ruins of a great dam. Considered to be one of the biggest engineering wonders of the ancient world, the Great Dam of Marib stretched for 580 meters and was easily one of the largest dams of its era. For as long as it stood, the Great Dam turned the desert into an oasis allowing the irrigation of more than a hundred square kilometers of sandy soil centered around Marib, which was then the largest city in southern Arabia. When the dam collapsed in the 6th century, it brought down this ancient commercial empire. The collapse of the Great Dam and the destruction of Marib was such an important event in the history of the region that it even finds a place in the Koran.

Ruins of The Great Dam of Marib. Photo credit: George Steinmetz

The city of Marib was the seat of power of the kingdom of Saba, known in the west as Sheba, whose legendary queen, the Queen of Sheba, is said to have visited King Solomon in Jerusalem with a caravan of valuable gifts of gold and spices. Although there is no evidence outside of the Bible that the queen even existed, the lavish present that she supposedly brought the wise King would be in keeping with the wealth of the Sabean monarchy.

The kingdom of Saba grew its wealth through trade along the Spice Route (also known as Incense Route) between southern Arabia and the port of Gaza on the Mediterranean Sea. Marib was one of several layovers along the route where merchants would stop to rest and exchange goods. Marib traded two rare and expensive products highly prized in the ancient worldthe aromatic resins, frankincense and myrrh, that was cultivated from the sap of trees grown across the Arab world. Frankincense and myrrh were used by the ancient Egyptians in embalming, by the Chinese as medicine, and were burned for their aroma in temples and in imperial courts throughout the known world.

Related: The Frankincense Trees of Wadi Dawkah

The trees that produce frankincense and myrrh are extremely drought-resistant. Nevertheless, the trees need to be carefully tended just like any other agricultural crop, and along with date palm, they provided the broad base of the Sabaean economy.

Resins of frankincense. Photo credit: AmyLv/Shutterstock.com

To make agriculture possible in the desert, the Sabaeans built an extensive irrigation network consisting of wells and canals. At the centerpiece of this system stood the Marib Dam. Made of mortar and stone, the dam spanned across a large ravine that cut through the Balaq Hills by the Wadi Adhanah. According to modern estimate, the dam stood 15 meters high and was more than a half a kilometer long. It probably had a humbler beginning when it was first built somewhere between 1750 and 1700 BC. It was only in the 7th century BC, that the dam began to take massive shape with large stone and mortar abutments on dams north and south end connected to substantial stonework on either side of the river. These stone abutments still stand today.

The dam was maintained for centuries by successive generations of Sabaeans and later, by the kings of the Himyarite Kingdom after they succeeded the Sabaeans. The Himyarites undertook further reconstruction, raising the height of the structure to 14 meters, and built spillways, sluices, a settling pond, and a kilometer-long canal to a distribution tank. These extensive works continued until the 4th century AD. By then, however, Marib had lost its market for frankincense and myrrh to the rising faith of Christianity, which, during its initial years, forbade the use of frankincense because of its associations with pagan worship. As trade fell, Marib began to lose its prosperity.

Ruins of The Great Dam of Marib. Photo credit: Dennis/Flickr

The Great Dam that made the desert fertile and enabled the region to flourish, fell into disrepair. The sophisticated techniques of hydraulic engineering that the Sabaeans were famous for were slowly forgotten, and maintenance of the dam became increasingly difficult. Consequently, from the middle of the 5th century onwards, the dam began to suffer regular breaches until the year 570 AD, when the dam gave away for one last time.

There is much debate what caused the dam to collapse. Some scholars say it was heavy rains, while other believe an earthquake undid the stonework. According to legend, the breach was caused by large rats gnawing at it with their teeth and scratching it with their nails. While according to the Koran, the collapse was an act of God punishing the Sabaeans for their ungratefulness. The holy scriptures says:

There was for Saba' in their dwelling place a sign: two gardens on the right and on the left. "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land, and a forgiving Lord. But they turned away, so we sent upon them the flood of the dam, and we replaced their two gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees."

With the collapse of the dam, the irrigation system failed and the populationestimated to consist of some 50,000 individualsmigrated to other areas of the Arabian Peninsula. Today, Marib grows no more than a little wheat and, during the rainy season, some sorghum, sesame and a kind of alfalfa fed to animals. The old city is largely in ruins, and although a modern city has sprung nearby, it is a mere shadow of its former self.

Ruins of The Great Dam of Marib. Photo credit: Dennis/Flickr
The legendary guardian of New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary could soon lose his job. Photo: Orjan F. Ellingvag/Corbis via Getty Images

New Hampshire is one of three states in which the secretary of state, the top election official (among other duties), is neither directly elected nor appointed by the governor, but is instead named by the legislature. The Granite States election for this position is scheduled for December 5, after the legislators elected on November 6 are sworn in.

The states legendary incumbent, Bill Gardner, was first elected secretary of state in 1976. He was at that time a Democratic legislator, though his partisan identity has faded over the 42 years since then. Until last year, Gardner was principally renowned for his national identity as a zealous defender of his states first-in-the-nation presidential primary. He literally wrote (or co-wrote, with former governor Hugh Gregg) the book on arguments for that perpetual primacy (Why New Hampshire, published in 2003).

Gardner hasnt had a serious challenge in a long time, but he made a crucial mistake last year when he joined the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, which was technically chaired by Vice-President Mike Pence but was really run by vice-chairman Kris Kobach, the nations most prominent advocate of aggressive pursuit of illegal aliens and onerous restrictions on voting. The commission was widely panned as a Trump-Kobach effort to buttress allegations of a phantom menace of voter fraud, and was disbanded after less than a year after many states (not including New Hampshire) refused to share confidential voter data with the body. It signally failed to document Trumps own notorious claims that millions of illegal voters had given Hillary Clinton a popular-vote victory in 2016. Gardner was regarded by many New Hampshire Democrats as an enabler of the whole enterprise:

In September, Gardner faced a chorus of calls from leading Granite State Democrats, including the entire Congressional delegation and top State House leaders, to resign from the commission after Kobach said that voter fraud in New Hampshire may have led to Democratic challenger Gov. Maggie Hassans extremely narrow victory in the 2016 election over incumbent Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte.

Gardner disputed Kobachs stolen election claims at the final commission meeting, but he still drew negative attention for hosting that meeting in New Hampshire. He also angered Democrats by supporting Republican legislation in New Hampshire to tighten voter-eligibility rules in an effort to restrict voting by college students.

So with Democrats retaking control of both chambers of the New Hampshire legislature in November, it was probably inevitable that Gardner would draw a challenge. And a viable candidate to replace him emerged in former State Executive Council member and 2016 gubernatorial candidate Colin Van Ostern, who is running on a platform of modernizing the secretary of states office while eliminating efforts to suppress votes. The incoming House Democratic caucus endorsed him emphatically:

In a non-binding ballot, 179 state representatives supported 2016 Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former executive councilor Colin Van Ostern of Concord as their preferred nominee for secretary of state. Gardner received 23 votes, with former state lawmaker Peter Sullivan of Manchester grabbing seven votes. Sullivan dropped out of the race Friday.

Republicans, meanwhile, arent happy about it, and are rallying around Gardner, the longest-serving secretary of state in the country.

Gardner retains some Democratic support, and his allies are making the dubious argument that the states position in the presidential primary calendar could be threatened by a change, as Politico notes:

While few expect a Gardner defeat would have a significant effect on the 2020 primary, the secretary of states defenders argue that replacing him  and his rigorously nonpartisan approach to the job  with a more openly partisan official like Van Ostern could put the states traditional position on the primary calendar at risk in the future.

This sort of talking point might have found more traction a decade or two ago, when challenges to the presidential nominating duopoly of Iowa and New Hampshire were more common. Now that a southern (South Carolina) and western (Nevada) state have been allowed into the charmed circle of protected early contests, theres a lot less talk about interfering with Iowas first-in-the-nation caucuses or New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary. Even if national Republicans were mildly annoyed about a Democratic secretary of state taking office in New Hampshire, it would hardly be worth the effort to turn the primary calendar upside down to protest it, with all the unintended consequences that might involve.

So if Gardner does lose in December, you can probably mark it up as just another Trump casualty, and a warning to Democrats elsewhere that playing ball with MAGAs less-reputable causes will have serious ramifications.
An upcoming Samsung device which seemingly features a display notch was recently benchmarked with AnTuTu and Geekbench under the model number SM-M205F. The device is believed to belong to a brand new series of smartphones and hit the shelves as the Samsung Galaxy M2. The inclusion of an Exynos 7885 chipset featuring a Mali-G71 MP2 graphics chip strongly suggests that the unit will fit in the mid-range market. Other details include a 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, as well as Android 8.1 Oreo on the software side, but as its been established by the majority of Samsungs smartphones in the past, the OS will likely be coupled with the OEMs proprietary UI. The screen resolution of 2,340 by 1,080 pixels hints that the smartphone will employ a new design embracing a display notch, but its exact shape is unclear at present.

According to reports, Samsung intends to replace the existing Galaxy On series with the upcoming Galaxy M models. Reportedly there will be more than one, and the Galaxy M2 will end up being paired with a better-equipped Galaxy M3 as well as a top-tier model called the Galaxy M5. As yet no hardware details have emerged in regards to these two other variants but their alleged monikers hint that they should overtake the Samsung Galaxy M2 in terms of hardware prowess. The OEMs Galaxy On series has been available for purchase exclusively online and time will tell whether the upcoming Galaxy M lineup will be offered to prospective buyers in the same manner or show up in retail stores as well. Of note is that while the Samsung Galaxy On6 launched earlier this summer featuring the Exynos 7870 chipset and a screen resolution of 1,480 by 720 pixels, the Samsung Galaxy M2 seems to make use of the same silicon as the Galaxy A7 (2018) unveiled with three rear-facing cameras in September, and have a considerably higher pixel count.

Samsung recently showcased three new Infinity display designs employing a display notch, so the OEMs intentions to adopt this particular characteristic for some of its mobile devices have been officially confirmed. The Samsung Galaxy M2 is said to be the first device from the new series to hit the shelves before the Galaxy M3 and M5, and in turn, this could make it the OEMs first smartphone to adopt a display notch. On stage at SDC 2018, the company showcased the Infinity-U, Infinity-V, and Infinity-O notched display designs set to be commercialized in the future, and the Samsung Galaxy M2 could employ one of these panels. The Infinity-U and Infinity-V have a more conventional design with a notch positioned in the middle, while the Infinity-O has a circular notch placed near the corner of the display. At SDC the OEM also claimed that the arrival of these panels is just around the corner and with the Galaxy M2 already being benchmarked online, its likely that an official unveiling of the phone is not far into the future.
Samsung is still going strong with its Cyber Monday sale. A number of items from Black Friday are still on sale, as well as some new products, including some big discounts on some new TVs from Samsung. If you were looking to get a good discount on a QLED TV, then now is definitely the time to do so. Samsung is also discounting some of its most popular wearables, as well as smartphones and tablets. So theres something for everyone, making today a great time to finish out that holiday shopping list, if you still have a bit more to do before youre finished. Of course, there are also a ton of things that you can pick up for yourself, and spoil yourself, like the Samsung T5 Portable SSD which is priced at just $79. Thats a fantastic price for that portable SSD. There is also the Samsung UH750 which is a 28-inch 4K monitor, and it is priced at just $329 today. Those are just a few of the best deals available right now, and there will be plenty more coming. We will be updating this post all day long with the best Cyber Monday deals from Samsung and on Samsung products.

Samsung
Posted on: November 26, 2018 7:34 PM

The first parish church from scratch to be built in the New Zealand Diocese of Christchurch in 40 years will be consecrated early next year. The congregation at the All Souls Anglican Church complex began using their new building with services around the feast of All Souls in early November. Earlier this month they held a weekend of festival worship and community-facing family fun. It is the second Anglican Church to be built from scratch following the 2011 earthquakes  the first being the Transitional Cathedral which opened in 2013. It is the first Parish Church new-build.

The Bishop-elect of Christchurch, Dr Peter Carrell, dedicated the church on Saturday 3 November. He will return to the church early in 2019 with Archbishop Philip Richardson, who will consecrate the building.

Dr Carrell said that the parish had been worshipping in halls, other churches, school buildings and marquees as they waited for their own worship home. Looking forward to this new building has kept the parish highly motivated, and the final result is impressive, he said, as he praised the parish for having already begun using their new buildings to reach out and meet the needs of the communities they serve.

The Merivale St Albans parish was ormed after two Anglican communities  St Matthews in St Albans and St Marys Merivale  joined forces in 2014. After the 2011 earthquakes, St Matthews Church faced extensive damage and a huge repair bill, while St Marys Church community in Merivale came to realise their 1926 stone church was unsalvageable and would have to be demolished. Rather than face those challenges alone, the former Bishop of Christchurch, Victoria Matthews, invited the two communities to re-imagine a future together.

The Vicar of St Albans, Megan Herles-Mooar, hailed the beginning of worship in the new buildings as a milestone which signalled hope and renewal for the whole community. Some who were heartbroken at the earthquake losses  including of their beloved church buildings  have already found healing coming into this new space. she said.

The new complex houses treasures saved from the two former church buildings which are incorporated into the new design, such as the stained glass windows that now hold pride of place in a conical glass tower that forms the entrance chapel at All Souls.

The name All Souls recalls all those who have died in the earthquakes, but Herles-Mooar said that it also expressed hope for who this church will be for others. We wanted this to be a place where all souls will feel welcome to come to the table, no matter who they are, or where they come from, She said.

One recent visitor to the church expressed his surprise at the beauty of the modern buildings interior, which was designed by architects Warren and Mahoney in consultation with the parish.

What I found when I came into the building was radically unexpected, he wrote in an email to the vicar. The space is strongly successful and joyously holy. I wonder what prayer or spiritual yearning has occurred to create such an atmosphere?
Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown is one of the many potential 2020 candidates thinking about running. Photo: ABC News

The long holiday weekend would have been a terrible time for a presidential candidate to officially announce their intention to run in 2020. And so none did. But many of the likely contenders spoke to the media (its what you do if youre planning to run for president!) about why theyd be a great candidate before insisting that theyre not yet a candidate.

Its no mystery why politicians do this. As NBC News pointed out over the weekend, the moment a potential candidate becomes a declared candidate, things gets much more complicated. Plus, the desire to show strength on an initial finance report leads some to launch their campaign close to the start of a quarter to give themselves as much time as possible to raise an impressive number, Alex Seitz-Wald writes.

Heres how some of the likely 2020 candidates played coy this weekend:

Cory Booker

In an interview with NJ Advance Media, the New Jersey Senator wouldnt even admit that hes currently considering running for president. But he did say that he will consider it. Thats something that I will do. Theres people in New Jersey who are talking to me about it, across the country that are talking to me about it, so I will consider that, he said.

Bernie Sanders

In an interview with New York published Sunday night, Sanders claimed hed work his ass off for any Democrat who proved that they could do better than he could in 2020. But if it turns out that I am the best candidate to beat Donald Trump, then I will probably run, he added.

Sherrod Brown

The Ohio Senator, whose 2020 prospects have been buoyed by a strong showing in a Trump state earlier this month, was asked about his plans for the presidency on This Week. He said that since the midterms hes been overwhelmed by the number of people from around the country that have said we should think about doing this.

Were seriously thinking about it, said Brown, who might be the only Democrat capable of beating Trump in Ohio. Were seriously talking about it with family, with friends and with political allies who have come to me about this.

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown on whether he has plans to run for president in 2020: "You know, I didn't have this dream of being President of the United States all my life ... but we're seriously thinking about it, we're seriously talking about it" https://t.co/plaPNllQ6H #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/T4Dirnwxw1  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 25, 2018

Amy Klobuchar

Also on This Week, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar said shes still thinking about running for president. She also explained why shed be a great candidate if she decided to.

People are talking to me about this, I think in part because Ive worked really hard to go not just where its comfortable, but where its uncomfortable, and did well in a number of those places where Donald Trump won, she said. Im also someone, for those that are exhausted with politics, that likes to get stuff done.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she is "thinking about" a 2020 run but has "no announcements."



"People are talking to me about this I think, in part, because I have worked really hard to go not just where it's comfortable but where it's uncomfortable," she says https://t.co/4uKiszONSK pic.twitter.com/3dYyRscaoO  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) November 25, 2018

Tom Steyer

The California billionaire, whos spent gobs of money promoting the idea of impeaching Trump, was on Meet the Press Sunday, where Chuck Todd asked him about his own White House ambitions. I havent decided to run for president, he said.

What Im doing right now is putting out an agenda, a framework for a social contract for the 21st century which I call the five rights, which are the rights that Americans need to be free to pursue their own life and their own destiny.

Mitch Landrieu

The former mayor of New Orleans was the subject of a piece by Times columnist Charles Blow this weekend. It began like this:

I am not already running for president. He continues, I havent done anything that a person who was running for president would do.

Except people who run for president do sit down with columnists for the Times, so 

John Kasich

The only Republican on this list, Kasich was also a guest on This Week, where George Stephanopoulos also got him talking about 2020. The outgoing Ohio Governor said hes very seriously thinking about taking on Trump in two years. We need different leadership, there isnt a question about it, he said.
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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Ara Babloyan held a meeting on November 26 with Asaf Hajiyev  Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC).

Head of the Armenian parliamentary delegation to PABSEC Gagik Minasyan was also in attendance of the meeting, the parliaments press service said.

Speaker Babloyan attached importance to holding the Fifty-Second PABSEC General Assembly in Yerevan, Armenia.

According to him, the organization is a unique arena of multilateral economic cooperation that can contribute to enhancing and deepening of regional ties.

The Speaker of Parliament assured that the Armenian side has done everything possible for holding the plenary sitting and expects productive work.

Thanking for the reception, Asaf Hajiyev expressed conviction that the sessions will proceed in an atmosphere of mutual-agreement and interested discussions.

The sides also discussed procedural issues regarding the sitting, touched upon the current situation in the Black Sea region and presented their views around certain issues.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The combat against corruption in Armenia is carried out not only for establishing justice and rule of law, but also for improving the investment environment, caretaker Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview to the Chinese Phoenix TV.

We believe that the anti-corruption combat will enable us to make the investment environment more attractive for foreign investors. Therefore, we are doing it not only for establishing justice and the rule of law. In addition, we hope that the situation when there wont be any corruption in our country will attract foreign investors, in order for them to come and make investments in Armenia, Pashinyan said.

He added that economic monopolies existed in Armenia. There were people who had a lot more rights than others. I can guarantee that everyone is equal before the law in Armenia. And our governments next priority is the creation of a truly independent judiciary in the country, because, unfortunately, our judiciary was also corrupt, and now we are working in the direction of making our judiciary truly independent, he said.

Pashinyan also stressed that while walking the streets of Yerevan one can see many smiling people, and noted that the situation wasnt the same six months ago.

Most people in Armenia werent happy and were feeling disrespected. We were a country that always had problems regarding election results, when each time the results were rigged. But now we have eliminated this problem, and now, as Prime Minister of Armenia, I can guarantee that never again will we have such a problem, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
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.
Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Today General Motors announced the closure of several auto facilities, including the Lordstown plant in northeast Ohio. This is a devastating development for those workers and their communities. Secondarily, it is a political setback for President Trump, who has boasted repeatedly that his policies have brought back American manufacturing. Trump responded by loudly threatening GM.

Youd better get back in there soon, thats Ohio, Trump told reporters, zeroing in on the plant whose fate concerned him the most. He elaborated in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, They better damn well open a new plant there very quickly. I love Ohio. I told them, Youre playing around with the wrong person. Apparently concerned he had made the point with too much subtlety, Trump continued, I said, I heard youre closing your plant. Its not going to be closed for long, I hope, Mary, because if it is you have a problem.

Trump has spent his brief political career systematically exposing the bad faith of every complaint Republicans made against Barack Obama (and, for that matter, Bill Clinton). But his overt bullying of GM is a special case that calls to mind a spate of especially virulent hysteria that was summed up by the phrase gangster government.

In 2009, the Obama administration extended loans from the Troubled Asset Relief Program to General Motors and Chrysler, which were facing imminent bankruptcy. While both firms had serious competitiveness problems, neither would have had any danger of failure except for the financial crisis having frozen the credit markets, which they needed to finance their operations. (Ford was safe  not because its autos were more economically sound, but because it happened to have secured a loan shortly before the crisis.)

The Obama administration considered its dilemma carefully. The administration had strong reservations about wading into the economy on a firm-by-firm or sector-by-sector basis. Obama ultimately decided the economic and social repercussions of the auto industry failing was too great a calamity to bear, and extended loans to Detroit. (They have since been repaid.) As part of the deal, the administration forced both unions to accept wage reductions and creditors to take some losses.

It is almost impossible to convey the tenor of the freak-out this generated on the political right. Conservatives, already whipped into a lather by the fiscal stimulus and Obamas plans to reform health care and create a cap-and-trade system, treated the auto bailout as the literal death knell for capitalism. Michael Barone quickly coined the phrase gangster government to capture the conservative belief that the Obama administration was threatening the private sector with the untrammeled power of government. Denunciations of gangster government echoed from editorials (the Washington Examiner the way Obama strong-armed creditors who rightfully expected to be treated justly under the law was right out of Juan Perons playbook) to tea-party rallies to a book by David Fredosso (Gangster Government: Barack Obama and the New Washington Thugocracy.)

The conservative pundit Lawrence Kudlow used the term in a hysterical interview with one of the bondholders who had to accept some losses as part of the bailout. I mean was there bullying in those meetings? I have heard from other sources that there was. And some of this stuff is pretty mean and nasty. And that aint the American way, he asked at one point. We are corrupting the Constitution and contract law, Kudlow declared at another point.

As I explain in my book about the Obama presidency, the backlash against the alleged strong-arming of the bailout was so intense it reached well beyond partisan right-wing outlets. The Washington Post denounced it in an editorial headlined, The Obama administration bullies GMs bondholders. The Economist called it an offer you cant refuse. (The latter eventually admitted Obama had been correct.)

One early sign that the right-wing freak-out about gangster government might not have been completely sincere is the Republican Partys decision to nominate for president a man who has spent his career working closely with literal mobsters, from the Cosa Nostra in New York to the Russian mafia. But the fact that the Republican president is now publicly threatening a private company, and making perfectly clear his concern is not the overall economy but his specific needs in a particular swing state, casts an especially clarifying light on the gangster government attack.

Kudlow, now Trumps chief economic adviser, is holding a meeting today with GM president Mary Barra. Presumably he will not simply tell her that the administration is staying out of private business decisions out of fealty to the Constitution and contract law.
"The scope of violence against women is vast and varied, and includes domestic and family violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment and cyber-bullying. At the heart of all forms of physical and sexual violence is gender inequality and discrimination, which violate the fundamental human rights of women, said global managing partner Paul Jenkins.

Real estate lawyer returns to NRF in Melbourne

Norton Rose Fulbright is welcoming back real estate lawyer Adrian Jones who returns to the firm as a partner in Melbourne.

Jones began his career at the firm in 2005 and became a senior associate in 2012 before embarking on international roles including four years in Abu Dhabi. His most recent role was at student accommodation company Scape Australia as in-house counsel.

Norton Rose Fulbright has had a hugely positive impact on my career and professional growth, from my start as a lawyer, then as a senior associate, and now returning as a partner. I look forward to working closely with our real estate, energy and transport clients in Australia and overseas, said Jones.

Wayne Spanner, Norton Rose Fulbright managing partner in Australia added that Jones mix of international and in-house experience will be of great value to the growing real estate practice in Melbourne.
Singapore has shelved its plan to tie legal fees to claims after lawyers spoke up against the governments plan.

Part of a wider revamp to the civil justice system spearheaded by the Civil Justice Commission (CJC) to improve access to justice, the tiered-fees structure was panned by lawyers.

The CJC proposed that maximum professional fees allowed in civil cases should be fixed to S$6,000 for a S$60,000 claim, S$148,000 for a S$10m claim, and S$723,000 for a S$200m claim.
This type of street / guerrilla art is not new, but that doesnt mean that the teachers work is not outstanding or not worthy of extra attention. The Daily Mail identifies him as Du Yueyuan, a 20-year-old art teacher with some time on his hands and the willingness to turn something mundane and relatively icky into something beautiful.You can see him at work in the video below, which the publication says was shot at the end of last month. Instead of a canvas, hes using the dirty rear window of a Mazda , and for tools, hes opted for a cotton bud, a toothbrush and his own fingers. Hes drawing a Catfish in the traditional Japanese style, the Mail says, and the result is nothing short of breathtaking.Lets put it this way: the dust drawing is so beautiful that many car owners might have second thoughts of washing it off their car once they see it. Others might even be willing to drive an filthy car for longer stretches of time, just to provide a canvas for this artist.The downside to this type of art, as beautiful as it is, is that its temporary. Unlike most urban artists, Yueyuans materials and tools cant stand the test of time. Neither does he have any say over their future, since he does not own the canvases he draws on. In other words, a stronger gust of wind, a shower of rain or the car owners desire to have it cleaned, is enough to destroy his hard work.Then again, some may argue, the very fact that its temporary is what makes this type of art so much more interesting.
Over the past few weeks, NASA has been busy trying to let the world know how difficult the Mars landings usually are, but up until now we only marginally could imagine it. Thanks to a new video NASA made public this weekend, it all becomes much clearer.A short, 3-minute video narrated by Rob Manning, chief engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, shows the many stages and steps the InSight will have to make just right for the spacecraft to land successfully on the planet.The combo of thousands of steps to be made by InSIght starts with just seven minutes before it reaches the top of the Martian atmosphere, when the cruise stage gets separated.The capsule carrying InSight will then have to get in position so that its heat shield is facing the atmosphere. Moving at over 20,000 km/h (13,000 mph), the ship will have to dive in at an angle of 12 degrees to avoid either burning up or skipping off the top of the atmosphere.As it enters, the deceleration is of about 12 Earth G, slowing the ship down to only 1,600 km/h (1,000 mph) in a very short period of time.At an altitude of 10 miles above the surface, a parachute will be deployed to further trims some excess speed. The heat shield then gets blown away via explosive devices, 15 seconds after the chute inflates.Ten seconds after losing its heat shield, InSight will be extending its landing legs. 60 seconds after that, a radar comes on, allowing the spacecraft to see how far up it is from the ground and how fast it is traveling.When the one-mile high mark is reached, the back shell detaches, leaving the InSIght lander to fall to the ground on its own.InSIght is equipped with an engine which will kick in as soon as begins free falling, and will have to use them to move out of the way of the incoming back shell. It will then have to turn them off the instant it hits solid ground. Otherwise it might topple over.Once on the ground, the lander will begin its two-year mission of looking at how Mars was formed.Below is the full three-minute video of this Mars landing guide for dummies. Enjoy.
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The movie is 17 Bridges, which is currently in production in Philadelphia, starring Chadwick Boseman of the Black Panther fame and directed by Brian Kirk. Though its shooting here, it will be made to look as if its taking place in New York, so the prop patrol cruiser was marked with the NYPD badge.The report doesnt mention whether the dude stealing the car knew it was a movie prop or if he thought it was the real deal, but it didnt matter in the end. When he realized the cops were after him, he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.Investigators say a prop NYPD vehicle was located with a broken window at I-76 and Montgomery Avenue, Fox29 says. Police spotted the car driving erratically, and the man behind the wheel took off on foot. The car was held at the scene as police continue to investigate the incident.There goes this dudes chance of making money off selling movie memorabilia, assuming that was his end goal.There is no mention of the suspect or if the police have someone in custody  or at least clues as to who it might have been. The car will probably be returned to the movie set once police are done with it.17 Bridges tells the story of a disgraced NYPD cop whos out to redeem himself by hunting down and catching a serial cop killer. In addition to Boseman, it also stars Taylor Kitsch, J.K. Simmons and Sienna Miller, and is scheduled for release in 2019.
His name is Jeff Wine and he owns the Wine Automotive dealership. He sells used cars and, while hes just as focused on profit as any other businessman, he also wants to make sure he gives something back to the community. This Black Friday was no different, ABC8 News reports.Made some goals when I was 20 years-old, and one of them was giving back to he world, he tells the media outlet. When I bought this place, I really wanted to make sure it worked that way. I'm a firm believer that if you give, it will come back to you. I believe it in my heart.So, each month, he scrolls through the story submitted in a form on the official website and chooses one thats the most touching. To that person, he offers a brand new car, in the hope that it will be of use to them or might even help them turn their life around.On Black Friday, that person was Tiffany ONeal, a single mother of 7 who lives nearby and whose story was submitted by her 15-year-old son. She didnt have a car and she badly needed one that would fit all her children at the same time, so Wine decided he was the best person to help her out.He surprised her with a brand new 2011 Buick Enclave . The gift couldnt come at a better time: Tiffany just found out that the landlord of the house she was renting had let it go into foreclosure, so she needed something positive to happen to keep her going.She didnt know what would happen when she arrived at Wine Automotive. She actually thought she was getting a ride to her sons next job interview, so she was quite confused when Wine presented her with the keys to the car  and obviously happy, too.This is the best thing ever. I've never been blessed like this in my life. I'm very excited, she says.
According to the Russian Security Bureau (FSB), several border patrol boats the Federation is operating in the Black Sea intervened on Sunday to stop three Ukrainian vessels from entering Russian waters.Confronted with two small Ukrainian warships (Berdyansk and Nikopol) and a tugboat (Yana Kapa), the Russians say they had to fire unspecified weapons to stop them, and block their passageby placing a tanker under the Kerch bridge..The conflict ended with the capture of the enemy ships that are now trapped in Russian territorial waters.During the chase to stop the aggression, a video allegedly shot from on board one of the Russian ships shows how a Federation ship intentionally rammed the Ukrainian tugboat. As the events unfold, a voice is heard shouting Davai! Davai!, as a call to action.As a result of the skirmish between the two navies, BBC says six Ukrainian sailors were injured.On their side, the Ukrainians say their ships were operating legally, traveling from Odessa to Mariupol, and claim the Russians were briefed on the route to be followed.In response to what is perceived as Russian aggression, Ukraines president Petro Poroshenko said he will ask this week his government to declare martial law. This would mean Ukraine plans to treat Russias action as a serious act, although officials didnt go as far as to declare it an act of war.The Crimean peninsula had been under Russian rule ever since the invasion of little green men in 2014. Having control of the peninsula and following the build of the Kerch Strait bridge, Russia can now block off anyone trying to enter the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea.
A woman from South Milwaukee was arrested last week after a woman called them to report 3 underage children locked inside a car in the parking lot of a Kmart in Cudahy. When the officers retrieved the mother from inside, she told them that her own mother had also been arrested for doing the same to her when she was little. Grandma wanted to watch a Packers game, she said.The woman has been identified as Ashley L. Pirlot and shes facing 3 counts of child endangerment, one of them a misdemeanor and the other 2 felonies, the Journal Sentinel reports. She drove with her young children there and, then, instead of bringing them inside with her, she opted to leave them unsupervised in the locked car for as long as she needed to get her shopping done.Police say the children (aged 6 years, 17 months and 6 and half months) had no water and no food available, and there was an empty plastic bag on the backseat with them, posing a serious choking hazard. They were also underdressed and had dirty diapers, and the oldest told the officers that she was hungry because she hadnt eaten in a while.Police paged Pirlot inside Kmart and she told them she asked the 6-year-old girl to watch her sisters because she couldn't fit all three in a shopping cart and didn't want to deal with seat belting the kids in a cart, the report notes.Pirlot said she thought she had been inside the store for seven or eight minutes before police paged her. Surveillance video showed Pirlot was in Kmart for approximately 17 minutes before police arrived, adds the publication.While waiting for the woman to come back to her car, the officers brought the kids water and some food.Police and various charity organizations constantly warn parents not to leave children unattended and unsupervised in a locked car, no matter the weather, the circumstances or how long the parent believes they will be gone. Its a dangerous and reckless practice, and it can end in tragedy
Russia has announced its in the race to develop an electric airliner and its claiming its ahead of other countries in the pursuit. Andrei Dutov, head of the Zhukovsky Institute National Research Center, told Russian state media that his institution is making great strides toward pure electric flight. A 500 kW electrical engine has been developed. Next year, we hope to carry out the first flight. This is a hybrid engine. In this area, we are even outpacing such rivals as Siemens and Airbus, the chief executive said.

Theres nothing new about hybrid drives, in which a fossil fuel engine is used to generate electricity for the motors that drive the props. The 500 kW motor is the equivalent of 670 horsepower, which is at the low end of the power spectrum for light turboprops and not typically used on anything bigger than a King Air but Dutov says its a stepping stone toward a 50-seat airliner. At least one concept drawing shows an aircraft with 10 engines. It looks a bit like NASAs X-57 hybrid electric plane, which may also fly next year. Dutov said an all-electric airliner is at least 16 years away and he told Tass he expects a major technological breakthrough in about 2025 to pave the way.
Meet Bill Gates. You know him most as the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the richest people on the planet.

Why he matters: I know him as an advocate for climate change and clean energy. Gates has long worked on these issues, but here's what's new for the tech visionary: He's increasingly worried not enough people understand the dimensions of the problem and that it's going to prevent progress. This escalation was on display in an interview with Axios on HBO.

The intrigue: Talking recently at his private offices overlooking the water in Kirkland, Washington, near Seattle, Gates went wonky more than he went visionary. He didnt criticize President Trumps positions dismissing climate change, even though he's spent a significant amount of energy trying to change his mind.

Instead, Gates is sounding the alarm about discord over how to solve the problem. He said people who are laser focused on solving climate change with renewable energy only  chiefly wind and solar  are just as bad as those blocking action (i.e., Trump).

Some grassroots environmental groups, led by 350.org, have found support for a renewables-only strategy in Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D.-N.Y.), a rising progressive star who is pushing for such a policy with Democrats now controlling the House.

That general impression that Oh, it's just about solar and wind, that I think is as dangerous to us as the fact that in one country, the U.S., there's a faction that associates with Hey, let's not make any trade-offs to go in and solve this problem. 

 Bill Gates

Gates and his team devised a pie chart  which he brought up repeatedly throughout the interview  showing the causes of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions. Wind and solar are used for electricity, which makes up a quarter of the worlds emissions.

Other pieces:

Transportation: 14%

Manufacturing: 21%

Buildings: 6%

Agriculture: 24%

Other sources: 10%

Gates is imploring people to realize that addressing climate change means changing the fundamental way our lives are run, which ultimately means the entire global economy.

You know, for example, if synthetic meat works, that actually is a pretty big deal. But that's at an early stage. If electric cars become mainstream products, which they are not today, thats also a little piece of the problem. But you need to make steel in new ways, you need to make fertilizer in new ways.

 Bill Gates

Gates has a long history investing in clean-energy technologies, and he's ramping up this work in recent months.

He is leading a coalition of billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and George Soros , investing in a range of technologies

investing in a In October, that group inked a similar investment fund with the European Commission.

Also in October, Gates announced a new initiative on adapting to climate change, which is a big focus of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Gates also has investments in TerraPower, which is seeking to build an advanced nuclear reactor, and a company called Carbon Engineering, which makes a technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions straight from the sky.

Critics don't like that idea. They say investing in technologies like that could lessen the urgency of cutting emissions  because it creates a way to take them out of the atmosphere later.

But Gates flatly rejected that criticism: Maybe to encourage people to stop eating too much we should stop doing heart surgery, because it's really letting people develop heart problems.

Gates said he was optimistic that humanity can tackle climate change, but he didnt exactly show it. Toward the end of our interview, which went double the scheduled time, he observed how some issues gain traction while others dont.

On some issues, like should women be treated better, whatever isn't being done in the administration, the counter reaction is strong enough that I feel good that movement is stronger today, and I think it'll get stronger in the future.

He then concluded:

On climate change, it's hard because we'll get interested and then let's say the U.S. economy isn't as strong. You know, people's willingness to talk about something that's 40 years away is a lot higher when a lot of things are going well.

We can at least count on Gates, whose net worth is just shy of $100 billion, to care about this issue even if the economy tanks for the rest of us.
A coalition of manufacturers and chemical makers argue in a new report that the impact on consumers would be limited if the Trump administration and Congress approve a global deal on climate change first agreed to by the Obama administration.

The big picture: Named after the Rwandan city where it was signed in October 2016, the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol, an environmental treaty, phases down the use of potent greenhouse gases known as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs are emitted from refrigerants in appliances like air conditioners.

The details: Businesses affected by the policy support it largely because they stand to benefit financially with new products coming online to comply with it. Despite that support, the amendment is facing a skeptical audience in the Trump administration due to concerns about consumer costs when maintaining and purchasing new air conditioners.

In response, two industry groups are set to release a report, obtained by Axios, that shows consumers save a little bit  about $6.50 a year  with adoption of the policy. With the policy, consumers would pay on average $1,191.29 a year for their air conditioner, compared to $1,197.74 without it.

Thats driven by modeling assumptions that shows the average equipment sold under the new policy would be 1.3% more energy efficient on average compared to the status quo.

The report warns of "market chaos" that could lead to high prices and obsolete equipment if rules are implemented without coordinating the phasing down of refrigerants, as laid out in the Kigali policy.

Yes, but: The report assumes consumers transition from their current AC to a new AC with the climate-friendly refrigerants only when they really need to. And beware, some technicians can seize on these changing government rules to encourage people to buy new equipment before its necessary.

What's next: For the policy to go into effect in the U.S., the State Department needs to send it over for review and eventual vote in the Senate. That hasnt occurred, and theres no sign it will anytime soon, according to people familiar with the process. One industry official said it may not happen at all under Trump, leaving it for the next president. A State Department spokesperson had no comment.

Go deeper:
A Chinese scientist says he has successfully used the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to produce genetically engineered children, according to the Associated Press.

Why it matters: Gene editing has the power to spare a child from painful, fatal diseases. It also has the power to basically become a form of eugenics.

Details:

The scientist, He Jiankui, said he has helped create a genetically engineered pair of twins.

His use of the CRISPR technology "sought to disable a gene ... that forms a protein doorway that allows HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to enter a cell," the AP reports.

The way the work was conducted suggests that the "main emphasis was on testing editing rather than avoiding this disease," Harvard geneticist George Church told the AP.

He, the scientist, was educated in the U.S. but was recruited back to China. An American scientist, Michael Deem, also worked on the project in China. This type of gene editing is illegal in the U.S.

Go deeper:
U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said in a rare statement today that President Trump will release his Israeli-Palestinian peace plan at a time that will allow its best chance for success.

Why it matters: Friedman confirmed my story from last week about a high-level meeting Trump held with his White House "peace team" to discuss the contents of the peace plan and the timing for its release. Trump said in late September that he wanted to publish the long-awaited plan between December and February.

Friedman wrote in his statement that he had a "very productive meeting" last week in the Oval Office to discuss the peace plan with White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Jason Greenblatt that also included Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton.

He rejected a report in the Palestinian Al-Quds newspaper which said that Trump decided to postpone to release of the plan until February. Friedman said: "I would like to reaffirm that the United States remains committed to sharing its vision for peace with Israel, the Palestinians and other regional and international stakeholders at the appropriate time."

He added that the White House intends to release the peace plan "when the Administration concludes that we have maximized its potential for acceptance, execution and implementation."

Go deeper:
If the CIA confirms to him they believe Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Sen. Lindsey Graham tells me he will push to have MBS sanctioned.

In a phone interview, Graham told me he and some of his colleagues have requested an intelligence briefing this coming week to find out whether the reporting is correct that the CIA has "high confidence" MBS ordered the assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

"If the evidence is sufficient to conclude with high probability that MBS was complicit in this murder, then I will take steps to do a sense of the Senate resolution making that statement," Graham said.

"It's important that we back up the intel community if we think they're right," he added.

"What I would also do in my resolution is also look at other behavior of MBS that has been very erratic and disruptive: the handling of the Yemen war, the bizarre episode with the prime minister from Lebanon and the embargo of Qatar without any consultation."

Graham said he and Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez are working on harsher sanctions against Saudi Arabia as punishment for the murder. And he said he would push to sanction MBS.

Why it matters: It doesn't look like the Khashoggi story is going away. It's unlikely new sanctions on Saudi will pass in the lame duck. That means this fight will likely carry over into next year  potentially pitting Democratic senators and a smaller group of Republicans against the president.

Last Tuesday, Trump declared his loyalty to Saudi Arabia and suggested he wasn't overly concerned about what the U.S. intelligence community finds. The world is "very dangerous" and Khashoggi's murder shouldn't affect America's relationship with Saudi Arabia, he argued.

The bottom line: Graham is arguing the opposite. "We cannot have a normal strategic relationship with somebody this crazy," Graham told me. Graham said "everything would be on the table" to punish Saudi Arabia, including blocking arms sales.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called the Brexit withdrawal agreement EU leaders approved Sunday the "best and only deal possible," reports the BBC.

The big picture: It took 20 months for the EU and the U.K. to finalize a Brexit deal, and while Juncker and Prime Minister Theresa May agree that it's the best possible outcome for the British people, others beg to differ  including hardline members of May's own Conservative party. Parliament is expected to vote on the agreement Dec. 12, but approval is far from guaranteed. Juncker told the BBC that if the House of Commons votes no, "we would have no deal."
General Motors announced Monday that it will cut 15% of its salaried workforce  about 14,000 employees  and "unallocate" multiple North American plants in 2019.

The big picture: The move prompted immediate outrage from local politicians who believe the company has failed to invest in American workers, even after receiving a bailout during the recession and reaping benefits from last year's GOP tax bill.

What they're saying:

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio): "The workers at Lordstown are the best at what they do, and its clear once again that GM doesnt respect them. Ohio taxpayers rescued GM, and its shameful that the company is now abandoning the Mahoning Valley and laying off workers right before the holidays. Even worse, the company reaped a massive tax break from last years GOP tax bill and failed to invest that money in American jobs, choosing to build its Blazer in Mexico. GM owes the community answers on how the rest of the supply chain will be impacted & what consequences its disastrous decision will have on the Valley & Ohio. My office stands ready to do everything we can to help these workers. This decision is corporate greed at its worst."

"The workers at Lordstown are the best at what they do, and its clear once again that GM doesnt respect them. Ohio taxpayers rescued GM, and its shameful that the company is now abandoning the Mahoning Valley and laying off workers right before the holidays. Even worse, the company reaped a massive tax break from last years GOP tax bill and failed to invest that money in American jobs, choosing to build its Blazer in Mexico. GM owes the community answers on how the rest of the supply chain will be impacted & what consequences its disastrous decision will have on the Valley & Ohio. My office stands ready to do everything we can to help these workers. This decision is corporate greed at its worst." Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio): "Today our generation is facing a new Black Monday in the Mahoning Valley. GMs announcement is devastating for the men and women working at Lordstown and everyone here in the Mahoning Valley. For decades, workers have devoted their lives, working day and night, to produce some of the finest cars in the country for General Motors. We fought together to keep GM afloat and the American taxpayers bailed them out when they were on the verge of bankruptcy. Thousands of families have sacrificed to build GM into what it is today. And in return, GM has turned its back on us when we need them the most. This is a bad combination of greedy corporations and policy makers with no understanding of economic development."

"Today our generation is facing a new Black Monday in the Mahoning Valley. GMs announcement is devastating for the men and women working at Lordstown and everyone here in the Mahoning Valley. For decades, workers have devoted their lives, working day and night, to produce some of the finest cars in the country for General Motors. We fought together to keep GM afloat and the American taxpayers bailed them out when they were on the verge of bankruptcy. Thousands of families have sacrificed to build GM into what it is today. And in return, GM has turned its back on us when we need them the most. This is a bad combination of greedy corporations and policy makers with no understanding of economic development." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau : "GM workers have been part of the heart and soul of Oshawa for generations - and well do everything we can to help the families affected by this news get back on their feet. Yesterday, I spoke with GMs Mary Barra to express my deep disappointment in the closure."

: "GM workers have been part of the heart and soul of Oshawa for generations - and well do everything we can to help the families affected by this news get back on their feet. Yesterday, I spoke with GMs Mary Barra to express my deep disappointment in the closure." Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio): "Lordstown has been part of the GM family for more than 50 years so it's painful to see this happen to the plant's workers, their families and the community. We'll work with GM to see if anything can be done to preserve a future for the plant and in the meantime we've set up a jobs center to help employees find new work as quickly as possible. Even though this is frustrating news, hardworking, skilled men and women are in demand, and we're going to do everything we can to help the families affected have access to other opportunities."

"Lordstown has been part of the GM family for more than 50 years so it's painful to see this happen to the plant's workers, their families and the community. We'll work with GM to see if anything can be done to preserve a future for the plant and in the meantime we've set up a jobs center to help employees find new work as quickly as possible. Even though this is frustrating news, hardworking, skilled men and women are in demand, and we're going to do everything we can to help the families affected have access to other opportunities." Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio): "I am deeply frustrated with General Motors decision to shut down its Lordstown plant and disappointed with how the hardworking employees there have been treated throughout this process. During frank conversations with GM CEO Mary Barra after the announcement that GM cut a shift at the plant due to the weakening market for the Chevy Cruze, I urged her to look to the Lordstown plant for production of other vehicles and to make a public commitment to the plant and its workforce. During todays conversation, I pressed GM again to provide new opportunities to the Lordstown workers and take advantage of the skilled workforce there. I once again urged GM to make a commitment to bring a new product to the plant, especially since GM is proposing to build a number of new electric vehicles. In the short term, I urged GM to at least reallocate some of the production and employees to the Toledo GM plant. I will continue doing everything I can to help the Lordstown workers during this transition. For decades, workers in the Mahoning Valley have made a commitment to GM, and today GM let Northeast Ohio down.

Go deeper:
1 big thing: Scoop  Trump to Iraqi PM: How about that oil?

President Trump twice raised to the Iraqi prime minister the idea of repaying America for its wars with Iraqi oil, a highly controversial ask that runs afoul of international norms and logic, sources with direct knowledge tell me.

Trump appears to have finally given up on this idea, but until now it hasn't been revealed that as president he's raised the concept twice with Iraq's prime minister and brought it up separately in the Situation Room with his national security team.

In March last year, at the end of a White House meeting with Iraq's then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Trump brought up the subject of taking oil from Iraq to reimburse the United States for the costs of the war there.

"It was a very run-of-the-mill, low-key, meeting in general," a source who was in the room told Axios. "And then right at the end, Trump says something to the effect of, he gets a little smirk on his face and he says, 'So what are we going to do about the oil?'"

Between the lines: On the campaign trail, Trump complained that the U.S. had spent trillions in Iraq and lost thousands of lives but got "nothing" in return. He lamented that usually in war "to the victor belong the spoils" and he repeatedly said the U.S. should have seized Iraq's oilfields as reimbursement for the steep costs of the war.

Top national security figures from both parties condemned Trump's idea, calling it outrageous and unworkable  a violation of international law that would fuel the propaganda of America's foes.

In the March meeting, the Iraqi prime minister replied, "What do you mean?" according to the source in the room. "And Trump's like, 'Well, we did a lot, we did a lot over there, we spent trillions over there, and a lot of people have been talking about the oil.'"

Al-Abadi "had clearly prepared," the source added, "and he said something like, 'Well, you know Mr. President, we work very closely with a lot of American companies and American energy companies have interests in our country,'" the source added. "He was smirking. And the president just kind of tapped his hand on the table as if to say 'I had to ask.'"

"I remember thinking, 'Wow. He said it. He couldn't help himself,'" the source said.

A second source who was in the room confirmed this account. "It was a look down and reach for your coffee moment," the second source said.

A third source, who was briefed at the time on the conversation between Trump and al-Abadi, told me the back and forth "made its rounds" around the National Security Council. "It was still early on in the administration, and we were all still trying to figure out how this was going to go, and so it was one of those horror stories  he's really going to do this."

Why it matters: Trump's desire to raid Iraq's oil is illegal and unworkable. But it reveals a great deal about his approach to the Middle East. Trump remains hellbent on extracting payments from Middle Eastern countries, in the form of natural resources, for the trillions of dollars America has spent since the early 2000s. Bob Woodward and others have reported on the formal steps Trump took to push his team to extract rare minerals from Afghanistan as repayment for the war. (Security concerns have stymied that effort; though Afghan's leadership was more open to Trump's pitch than Iraq's leaders have been.)

Trump's national security team has mostly pushed back on or ignored these desires to raid Middle Eastern natural resources. The president raised the issue of oil again with al-Abadi on a phone call in the summer of 2017. The conversation was vague and didnt go anywhere, but H.R. McMaster admonished Trump afterward, according to a source with direct knowledge.

In the source's recollection, the former national security adviser said to Trump, "We can't do this and you shouldn't talk about it. Because talking about it is just bad," the source said, channeling McMaster, "It's bad for America's reputation, it'll spook allies, it scares everybody, and it makes us look like  I don't remember if he used words this harsh  like criminals and thieves, but that was the point he was trying to get across."

"You won't be able to do it anyway and you'll harm our reputation and your own reputation just from talking about it."

Trump did not react kindly, the source said. "It was frustration that he was trying to get his advisers to do things that he wanted them to do and they were just pushing back."

The bottom line: It's not a one-time thing. Two sources described being in the Situation Room in 2017 with Trump, Defense Secretary Mattis and national security officials discussing Iraq. Both said Trump brought up the prospect of seizing Iraq's oil, and Mattis pushed back.

"Trump was like, 'We're idiots,'" recalled one of the sources who was in the Situation Room for the conversation. "[Trump] was like, 'What are we doing there, what do we get out of this, why don't we take the oil?'... And then Mattis spoke up. Made the same point that H.R. made. There's no physical way to do it. It would be a violation of international law, it would be demoralizing for allies in the region, it would give our enemies propaganda  they'd be able to accuse us of theft."

Asked about our reporting, Pentagon chief spokeswoman Dana White said, "We do not discuss internal deliberations, and the secretary's advice and counsel to the president is private." And an NSC spokesperson said, "We do not comment on the details of the president's conversations with foreign leaders."
Outgoing UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has condemned Russia's decision to intercept, fire on and seize three Ukrainian navy vessels off the coast of Crimea yesterday as "arrogant" and an "outlaw act" that shows better relations between the U.S. and Russia are "impossible."

Why it matters: Prior to Haley's remarks at an emergency UN Security Council session, the Trump administration had been almost entirely silent on the incident. John Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine now at the Atlantic Council, says if this "new, more dangerous form of aggression" goes unanswered, further Russian provocation is likely. Potential U.S. responses could include sanctions, or supplying Ukraine with additional weaponry.

What they're saying: Asked about the situation hours later, President Trump seemed to suggest there was blame on both sides, telling reporters Monday: we do not like whats happening either way.

Shortly after Secretary of State Pompeo issued a lengthy statement condemning Russias dangerous escalation" and called on Russia to "return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders."

Pompeo added that the U.S. calls "on both parties to exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations and commitments."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect new statements from President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
A Russian coast guard vessel rammed a Ukrainian tugboat in the Sea of Azov Sunday, Nov. 25, setting off a series of increasingly dangerous escalations. Russia blocked the Kerch Strait  the narrow passageway connecting the Sea of Azov to the much larger Black Sea  and detained three Ukrainian vessels and 23 sailors. On Monday, Ukraines government imposed short-term martial law.

Why it matters: This weekend's attack opened a new front in Russias four-year aggression against Ukraine, which includes the ongoing land war in Ukraine's east and the occupation of Crimea.

Background: Moscow has been harassing commercial ships bound for Ukraines ports in the Sea of Azov for months, even though Russia and Ukraine have dual control of the sea according to a 2003 agreement. At least 150 merchant vessels have been detained since May, creating significant losses for Ukrainian ports and shipping companies.

Moscow has at least four possible motivations to escalate the conflict now:

Putins approval ratings have slipped 16 points, from 82% in April to 66% in October. In the past, the Kremlin has used foreign interventions to shore up nationalist support for Putin and secure a bump in ratings, as with the 2014 annexation of Crimea and to a lesser extent its 2015 military intervention in Syria. In May, Russia opened a bridge over the Kerch Strait, connecting mainland Russia to occupied Crimea and further securing its claim to the peninsula. Moscow now seems keen to occupy the sea as well. Should Russias Kerch Strait blockade continue, it would add pressure on Ukraines struggling economy. Two major Ukrainian ports  Mariupol and Berdyansk  rely on access through the strait for commercial shipments, which has already been partially restricted by the the Kerch bridges height. Moscow may also have an opportunity to pressure President Poroshenko ahead of Ukraine's presidential elections, since he is deeply unpopular and polling in the single digits.

The bottom line: The conflict in the Sea of Azov is unlikely to lead to a massive military engagement or World War III. But the Kremlin seems confident that it will not pay a high price for low-level military aggression similar to its activities in Ukraines east. If the international response is weak, Moscow may see an opening for yet more assertive military strikes in the future.

Alina Polyakova is the David M. Rubenstein Fellow for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution.
President Trump twice raised to the Iraqi prime minister the idea of repaying America for its wars with Iraqi oil, a highly controversial ask that runs afoul of international norms and logic, according to sources with direct knowledge.

Trump appears to have finally given up on this idea, but until now it hasn't been revealed that as president he's raised the concept twice with Iraq's prime minister and brought it up separately in the Situation Room with his national security team.

In March last year, at the end of a White House meeting with Iraq's then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Trump brought up the subject of taking oil from Iraq to reimburse the United States for the costs of the war there.

"It was a very run-of-the-mill, low-key, meeting in general," a source who was in the room told Axios. "And then right at the end, Trump says something to the effect of, he gets a little smirk on his face and he says, 'So what are we going to do about the oil?'"

Between the lines: On the campaign trail, Trump complained that the U.S. had spent trillions in Iraq and lost thousands of lives but got "nothing" in return. He lamented that usually in war "to the victor belong the spoils" and he repeatedly said the U.S. should have seized Iraq's oilfields as reimbursement for the steep costs of the war.

Top national security figures from both parties condemned Trump's idea, calling it outrageous and unworkable  a violation of international law that would fuel the propaganda of America's foes.

In the March meeting, the Iraqi prime minister replied, "What do you mean?" according to the source in the room. "And Trump's like, 'Well, we did a lot, we did a lot over there, we spent trillions over there, and a lot of people have been talking about the oil.'"

Al-Abadi "had clearly prepared," the source added, "and he said something like, 'Well, you know Mr. President, we work very closely with a lot of American companies and American energy companies have interests in our country,'" the source added. "He was smirking. And the president just kind of tapped his hand on the table as if to say 'I had to ask.'"

"I remember thinking, 'Wow. He said it. He couldn't help himself,'" the source said.

A second source who was in the room confirmed this account. "It was a look down and reach for your coffee moment," the second source said.

A third source, who was briefed at the time on the conversation between Trump and al-Abadi, said the back and forth "made its rounds" around the National Security Council. "It was still early on in the administration, and we were all still trying to figure out how this was going to go, and so it was one of those horror stories  he's really going to do this."

Why it matters: Trump's desire to raid Iraq's oil is illegal and unworkable. But it reveals a great deal about his approach to the Middle East. Trump remains hellbent on extracting payments from Middle Eastern countries, in the form of natural resources, for the trillions of dollars America has spent since the early 2000s. Bob Woodward and others have reported on the formal steps Trump took to push his team to extract rare minerals from Afghanistan as repayment for the war. (Security concerns have stymied that effort; though Afghan's leadership was more open to Trump's pitch than Iraq's leaders have been.)

Trump's national security team has mostly pushed back on or ignored these desires to raid Middle Eastern natural resources. The president raised the issue of oil again with al-Abadi on a phone call in the summer of 2017. The conversation was vague and didnt go anywhere, but H.R. McMaster admonished Trump afterward, according to a source with direct knowledge.

In the source's recollection, the former national security adviser said to Trump, "We can't do this and you shouldn't talk about it. Because talking about it is just bad," the source said, channeling McMaster, "It's bad for America's reputation, it'll spook allies, it scares everybody, and it makes us look like  I don't remember if he used words this harsh  like criminals and thieves, but that was the point he was trying to get across."

"You won't be able to do it anyway and you'll harm our reputation and your own reputation just from talking about it."

Trump did not react kindly, the source said. "It was frustration that he was trying to get his advisers to do things that he wanted them to do and they were just pushing back."

The bottom line: It's not a one-time thing. Two sources described being in the Situation Room in 2017 with Trump, Defense Secretary Mattis and national security officials discussing Iraq. Both said Trump brought up the prospect of seizing Iraq's oil, and Mattis pushed back.

"Trump was like, 'We're idiots,'" recalled one of the sources who was in the Situation Room for the conversation. "[Trump] was like, 'What are we doing there, what do we get out of this, why don't we take the oil?'... And then Mattis spoke up. Made the same point that H.R. made. There's no physical way to do it. It would be a violation of international law, it would be demoralizing for allies in the region, it would give our enemies propaganda  they'd be able to accuse us of theft."

Asked about our reporting, Pentagon chief spokeswoman Dana White said, "We do not discuss internal deliberations, and the secretary's advice and counsel to the president is private." And an NSC spokesperson said, "We do not comment on the details of the president's conversations with foreign leaders."
Campaigning officially kicked off on Monday for Armenias snap parliamentary elections which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his political allies are expected to win by a landslide.

Two alliances, including Pashinians My Step bloc, and nine political parties are vying for at least 101 seats in the Armenian parliament that will elect the next prime minister, the countrys most powerful official.

The pre-term elections result from this springs mass protests that brought down Armenias longtime leader Serzh Sarkisian. They will be held on December 9 under a complicated system of proportional representation. Armenians will vote for not only parties and blocs as a whole but also their individual candidates running in a dozen nationwide constituencies.

Under Armenian law, a political party needs to win at least 5 percent of the vote in order to be represented in the National Assembly. The vote threshold for blocs is set at 7 percent.

Pashinian reiterated his pledges to ensure that the elections are the most democratic in Armenias history when he formally launched his election campaign in the northwestern Shirak province.

From now on, every time you decide to do a revolution you can do it with a single ballot, he told supporters at a rally held in the town of Talin. Why did the [spring] revolution take place? Because the people were denied a chance to form a government through elections, because your votes were stolen, because your choice was distorted through voter bribes, threats and various irregularities.

My Step is widely regarded as the election favorite. Most of its 183 election candidates are members of the Pashinian-led Civil Contract party. The blocs electoral list also includes non-partisan civic activists and other public figures allied to the popular premier.

Civil Contract until recently made up the Yelk alliance together with two other parties, Republic and Bright Armenia. They decided to participate in the upcoming elections separately. Republic joined forces with another small pro-Western party earlier this month.

Among other major election contenders are businessman Gagik Tsarukians Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and Sarkisians Republican Party of Armenia (HHK). The BHK finished second in all legislative elections held in the past decade.

Tsarukian held no public gatherings on the first day of the election campaign, leaving it to two other senior party figures, Mikael Melkumian and Gevorg Petrosian, to present the BHKs election manifesto to journalists. They said the tycoon will start campaigning for the elections on Tuesday in the central Kotayk province, his traditional stronghold.

Both men declined to comment on their partys electoral chances. Until the people speak up [on election day] we have no right to distribute roles and determine our seats [in the new parliament,] explained Petrosian.

The former ruling HHK, meanwhile, started its campaign with a news conference held in Yerevan by two of its leading members, Armen Ashotian and Arpine Hovannisian.

Ashotian expressed confidence that his party will be represented in the new National Assembly despite what he described as an atmosphere of fear. He claimed that scores of HHK supporters are wary of expressing their political views for fear of losing their jobs and being bullied by Pashinian loyalists.

These people are numerous, and a big surprise will await Nikol Pashinian and his political tem late on December 9, declared Ashotian.

The HHK won the last parliamentary elections held in April 2017 amid opposition allegations of vote buying and voter intimidation. It is now trying to position itself as the sole truly opposition force capable of holding the new government in check.

Former President Sarkisians name is absent from the HHKs list of candidates which is topped by his longtime protege, former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsian. Also noteworthy is a lack of wealthy businessmen among those candidates. They strongly contributed to the partys past electoral successes.

Campaigning in Shirak, Pashinian branded the HHK as a criminal group that plundered the country for more than 20 years. The upcoming elections, he said, must formalize the political death of the Republican plunderers.

Pashinian was accused by the HHK of abusing his powers for electoral purposes after holding rallies during working visits to two other provinces last week. The HHK and other critics noted that the rallies were held before the official start of the campaign. The prime minister insisted that he did not break any Armenian laws.

Pashinian announced late on Sunday that he is taking a ten-day vacation in order to concentrate on the parliamentary race. Armenias First Deputy Prime Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said afterwards that he will substitute for the premier until December 6.

Ashotian criticized Pashinians unpaid leave, while calling it a response to the HHK criticism. He said Armenia is faced with grave economic and security challenges that require constant attention from the head of its government.

Dear Mr. Pashinian, why did you leave [the post of prime minister] and go [on vacation?] You were going to win anyway, added the top Sarkisian ally.
A leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) launched stinging verbal attacks on the government as his party began its parliamentary election campaign on Monday.

Armen Rustamian said Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government may be trying to replace old political and economic monopolies with new ones. Rustamian also claimed that Pashinian is reluctant to limit sweeping prime-ministerial powers which he strongly criticized before coming to power in May.

Pashinian voiced the criticism during Armenias controversial transition from a presidential to parliamentary system of government initiated by former President Serzh Sarkisian. He said that constitutional changes will give the prime minister too many powers at the expense of the ruling cabinet.

We have still not abandoned what they described as a super-prime-ministerial system, Rustamian said at a campaign rally held by Dashnaktsutyun in downtown Yerevan. We also dont have guarantees that if [Pashinian and his team] try to reinforce their power that will not lead to the super-prime-ministerial systems transformation into a super-presidential system.

Rustamian went on to accuse the new government of courting oligarchs that enjoyed privileged treatment by the Sarkisian administration. It turns out that they are not oligarchs anymore, he said. It turns out that they are simply rich people, successful entrepreneurs. Probably because they have become allies [of the new government.]

Rustamian further claimed that those tycoons retain their dominant positions in lucrative sectors of the Armenian economy contrary to Pashinians assurances that all economic monopoliesin the country have been broken up. It is claimed that there are no monopolies, probably because those monopolies are now showing their loyalty and are ready to serve the new authorities, he said.

Dashnaktsutyun was officially allied to Sarkisian during the last two years of his decade-long rule. A power-sharing agreement signed in 2016 gave it three ministerial posts in the former government.

Dashnaktsutyun reached a similar deal with Pashinian after mass protests led by him forced Sarkisian to resign as prime minister in April. The de facto coalition collapsed in October, with Pashinian accusing Dashnaktsutyun and another partner, the Prosperous Armenia Party, of collaborating with Sarkisians Republican Party.

Dashnaktsutyun holds seven seats in Armenias outgoing parliament. Analysts believe that its main objective in the December 9 snap elections is to win at least 5 percent of the vote needed for being represented in the new National Assembly.
By Leman Mammadova

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, two Turkic-speaking countries located on the historical Silk Road hold a similar position on many issues, both regional and international. Close cooperation has been established between the two countries.

Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev held a meeting with Sherzod Fayziyev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan.

The bilateral economic relations so far have been reviewed. Mustafayev noted that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan doubled in the first nine months of 2018, while our country's exports to Uzbekistan have tripled. At present, over 30 companies with Uzbek capital operate in transit, trade, industry and service sectors in Azerbaijan.

At the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to the expansion of transport and transit relations, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, transport corridors, the Baku International Trade Port, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor.

Transportation projects implemented in the South Caucasus are of great importance for Uzbekistan in Central Asia-Europe trade routes.

Speaking about Azerbaijan's favorable geostrategic position and transit potential at the intersection of East-West and North-South transport corridors, Shahin Mustafayev, stressed that there are broad opportunities for the development of transport and transit cooperation with Uzbekistan.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan Sherzod Fayziyev said that his country attaches great importance to the development of relations with Azerbaijan and noted the great potential for expanding cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including transport and transit, emphasizing the role of business meetings, discussions and business forums in the development of economic relations.

Diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan were established in 1995. The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Uzbekistan has been operating since August, 1996. In July 1998, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Azerbaijan was opened.

The intergovernmental commission established in 1997 plays a major role in the development of bilateral economic relations.

It should be noted that a declaration on further strengthening of strategic partnership between the two countries was signed in 2004 and a solid legal base for the development of the Azerbaijani-Uzbek cooperation was established.

In 2011-2015 bilateral agreements have been reached in various spheres, in particular, in promotion and mutual protection of investments, exemption from double taxation, economic cooperation, free trade, customs cooperation and etc.

Today, Uzbekistan supplies vehicles to Azerbaijan, non-ferrous metals, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, electrical and mechanical appliances, agricultural products. It also provides transportation, tourism and other services. Azerbaijan exports mechanical equipment, confectionery, various organic and chemical compounds, tanning and coloring extracts to Uzbekistan.

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By Abdul Kerimkhanov

BSTDB and Azerbaijan are eyeing further cooperation, as new President of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) Dmitry Pankin is expected to visit Baku on December 13-14.

The bank added that Pankin would take part in a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and meet with officials of the country to discuss the new strategy of the bank, developed for the period 2019-2022.

The visit program is at the preparatory stage, the bank said.

Dmitry Pankin became president of the BSTDB in July 2018. In this position, he replaced Ihsan Delikanly in connection with the expiration of the four-year term of the latter one.

The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank is an international financial institution established to support regional development and cooperation of the countries of the Black Sea region.

The objectives of the bank are the development of trade relations in the region, the promotion of international projects, the promotion of foreign investment, the provision of guarantees for the development of trade and economic relations both at the state level and in private business.

The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank belongs to international organization Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

BSTDB was established by Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Ukraine which are the 11 founding countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) as a financial pillar of BSEC. The headquarters of the BSTDB is located in Thessaloniki (Greece). As of end 2017, BSTDB cumulative portfolio in its 11 member countries has reached 365 approved operations in the key sectors of infrastructure, energy, transport, manufacturing, telecommunications, financial sector and other important areas amounting to about 5 billion euros ($5.7 billion).

In 2018, the BSTDB plans to allocate about 48 million euros for projects in Azerbaijan. As a result of last year, 93.1 million euros ($106 million) have already been allocated to Azerbaijan and contracts for 91.1 million euros ($103.5 million) have been signed. In general, until today, the bank has allocated loans worth 330 million euros ($375 million) for projects in Azerbaijan.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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By Narmina Mammadova

Azerbaijan, along with fertile land, has favorable climatic conditions. This provides an opportunity for the development of agriculture in the country.

Azerbaijan has 4.8 million hectares of agricultural land, which comprises over 50 percent of its total territory, of which 39.6 percent is arable. Meanwhile, the food-processing sector constitutes an important component of the national economy and accounts for over 38 percent of total manufacturing industry.

The revival of agriculture sector plays an important role in the development of rural regions, where 47 percent of Azerbaijans population lives.

Thus, the government continues to develop this field. Azerbaijan is in need of quality seeds to grow its own products on order to both meet local demand and increase exports.

In 2019, the Azerbaijani State Seed Fund under the Ministry of Agriculture plans to create a Seed Exchange, which is an online project, the head of the Seed Fund, Emin Aliyev, told Trend.

"It will be a single tool and using this Internet application, farmers, producers and seed companies will be able to choose seeds, carry freight, insure, review resumes and select consultants for agrotechnical consulting, and later even apply for trade financing or lending," said Aliyev.

He believes that this will be a practical and interesting project, with a large geographical, industrial and consumer coverage.

"In parallel, in 2019, the Foundation envisages the implementation of the ToxuMart  project, as well as the creation of its network stands in various parts of Baku," the head of the fund said, noting that more detailed information will be provided about this project in the near future.

The State Seed Fund was established under the Agriculture Minister of Azerbaijan by order of President Ilham Aliyev due to the country's increased need for new high-yielding and drought-resistant types of seeds, and in order to strengthen food security and state support for agricultural development of Azerbaijan in general.

Recently, the Agriculture Minister of Azerbaijan signed a protocol with Turkey in order to cooperate in the seed production. The goal of the bilateral agreement is to ensure efficiency and innovation in the agricultural sector.

Next year Azerbaijan intends to provide itself with seeds of major grain crops. Thus, this year up to 100,000 high-quality cereal seeds are planned to be grown in Azerbaijan, whereas this figure was 80,000 in 2017.

Five seed enterprises are planned to be built until 2020 in Azerbaijan. Two of these enterprises will be commissioned this year, and three of them - next year.

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By Narmina Mammadova

Azerbaijan, a country with a rich culture and centuries-old history, has a variety of architectural monuments and sights.

Historical and cultural reserves of Azerbaijan have a special place among such attractions. Reserves under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism create extensive opportunities for the development of cultural tourism in the country.

The Azerbaijani State Tourism Agency is developing proposals to create modern infrastructure on the territory of the Yanardag State Historical-Cultural and Natural Reserve, Kenan Guluzade, head of the public relations department of the agency, told Trend.

He said that at this stage, work actively continues on the reconstruction of the reserve, which is a part of the state agency.

"Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on measures to reconstruct the Yanardag State Historical-Cultural and Natural Reserve in order to create modern tourism infrastructure in the territory of this reserve," he said.

Guluzade noted that seven reserves are included in the agencys structure.

"Besides Yanardag, the agencys structure includes the Ateshgah Temple State Historical-Architectural Reserve, the Basgal State Historical and Cultural Reserve, the Khinalig State Historical, Architectural and Ethnographic Reserve, the Lahij State Historical and Cultural Reserve, the Yukhary Bash State Historical and Architectural Reserve in Sheki city and the Kish State Historical and Architectural Reserve. By his decree, the president of Azerbaijan instructed the state agency to prepare the relevant information on condition of the Basgal State Historical and Cultural Reserve, as well as to prepare proposals for the development of tourism infrastructure in the territory of this reserve," said Guluzade.

He noted that the State Tourism Agency is working on all the issues, as well as closely studying the situation in five other reserves, where work of a similar nature is planned.

Cultural reserves and historical sites operating in the regions of the country have attracted many visitors throughout the year.

One of such examples is Ateshgah Temple. The place that is saturated with ancient history and religious beliefs is among the most attractive places of the country. The number of tourists visiting the place is increasing every year. Last year the number of tourists visiting Ateshgah was 30,751, while 25,346 of which were foreigners. The main share of those who visited Ateshgah made up the tourists coming from Russia and Arab countries.

Basgal settlement is located in the Ismayilli district at an altitude of 998 meters above sea level and is also a part of the state cultural and historical reserve. It is protected by the state.

According to a number of historians, Basgal was founded in the fourth century.

The small yet miraculous Khinalig is located at the peak of the Caucasus Mountains, 2,350 meters above the sea in Guba region. This village itself is enlisted as a State Historic-Architecture and Ethnography Preserve from 2007.

There are a number of tours and guests houses in the village, which make trip to Khinalig more convenient for tourists.

In 2017, a great number of tourists visited the State Historical-Cultural and Natural Reserve of Yanardag. During the year, 54,717 out of 63,574 people that visited the place were foreign tourists. They mostly came from Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and other countries.

Last year, 56,742 tourists visited the Yukhari Bash State Historical-Architectural Reserve in Sheki. Some 40,182 people visited Lahij State Historical and Cultural Reserve in Ismayilli, and 25,850 tourists came to see Kish Historical-Architectural Reserve in Sheki.

In 2016, some 356,000 tourists visited the historical and cultural sites, whereas in 2017 this figure reached 486,233, a considerable share, namely, 166,153 of which fall on foreign citizens.

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By Laman Ismayilova

An exhibition of Azerbaijani carpets will be held in South Korea for the first time.

The event timed to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic is co-organized by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Seoul and the Korea Foundation, Azertag reported.

The exhibition "Carpets, Pearls of Azerbaijan" will run from November 26 until December 19.

Unique Azerbaijani carpets are well-known all over the world for their quality and high artistic value. Besides, amazing and fantastic carpets of Azerbaijan represent a real mystery, leading one inside the fairy tales full of majestic feelings.

The Land of Fire has seven carpet producing regions including Baku, Shirvan, Guba, Tabriz, Karabakh, Ganja and Gazakh and each of them had its own technology, typical patterns and colors.

According to their technical aspects, Azerbaijani carpets are classified as flat-woven (pileless) and knotted (pile). The flat-woven carpets are linked to the earlier period of carpet weaving. There are several kinds of pileless carpets such as Shadda, Verni, Jejim, Zilli, Sumakh, Kilim and Palas.

Shadda is a flat weave carpet, made primarily in Nakhchivan, Agdam, Gubadly, Agjabedi. The artistic composition of shadda made by complicated whipping, as well as its constituents have a complex form.

One of the most widely spread type of the flat-weave carpet is "verni". The key pattern of "verni" is the S-element. Its shape varies, it may resemble both figure 5 and letter S. This element means "dragon" among the nomads and water among the village people. According to the ancient believes, a dragon featuring carpet would protect the family from foul weather. Agjabedi, Barda, Aghdam, Nakhchivan are the centers of this type of pileless carpets.

Jejims are woven on simple horizontal looms by narrow stripes 3035 cm wide and 1510 cm long. The resulting product is a cloth to be used as a wall carpet, a bedding coverlet, or curtains.

The major jejim production centers are Barda, Nakhchivan, Zangilan, Shusha, Shamakha.

Zilli carpet is characterized by stylized forms of animals and vegetal elements. In terms of their composition and pattern the Azerbaijani zillis are very diverse. They feature the images of large elements in the shape of big lozenges, paired horns, various stylized elements.

The Sumakh carpets have become widely spread and recognized over the last few centuries. Since the 18th century, they have been made in country's Guba and Gusar regions.

The Sumakh carpets feature the diverse stylized vegetal motifs, various geometrical elements such as large hexahedral, square, rhomboid medallions.

Kilim is the most widespread type of flat-woven carpets. They are made by passing the weft through the warp using the technique of compound interweaving. Kilim is characterized by a slot-like gap (opening) around the geometrical patterns.

The technique of kilim weaving predetermines the pattern shapes in the form of a lozenge, triangle, and trapezium. Images of animals, birds and humans are geometrized in kilims. Kilims of different regions are distinguished by their composition, pattern, and colors. In terms of their technical peculiarities kilims can be classified into five major groups based on the area of production: Kazakh, Karabakh, Absheron, Shirvan and Tabriz kilims.

Palas is one of the widely spread flat-weave carpets. The palas weaving process consists in passing the weft through the warp by a simple technique. The weavers decorate the palas by traditional patterns in the form of horizontal stripes commonly used throughout Azerbaijan. As a rule, the palas is not framed by a border.

Today Azerbaijani carpets are saved and stored at the world museums and private collections.

Thanks to the care of the country, on November 10, 2010, the Azerbaijani carpet art was included into the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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By Laman Ismayilova

Peter Bence, an incredible Guinness World Record-breaking pianist with the fastest fingers on the planet showed stunning technique and speed of performance to the Baku audience.

World-famous pianist gave a concert at Baku Congress Center on November 24, Trend Life reported.

The musician stunned the listeners with "Awesome Piano" solo program.

A few hours before the concept, Hungarian composer and virtuoso pianist attended the press conference.

The musician said that this is his first visit to the capital of Azerbaijan.

Peter Bence noted that he tried Azerbaijani national dishes and really enjoyed them.

The musician stressed that in the future he would gladly hold a master class in Azerbaijan.

Following the question of the journalists whether the musician intends to break through his record during his performance in Baku, Peter Bence replied that he did not think about it and for him the main thing is the quality of performance.

Tar was presented to the Hungarian pianist by the Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, tar player Shahriyar Imanov.

After the press conference, the pianist captured the audience in Baku with his ease of performance.

Along with his musical compositions, Peter Bence also brilliantly performed the works of world renowned musicians.

Notably, Hungarian pianist is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as a pianist record holder for the speed of a repeated key press (765 notes per minute).

He has taken the Internet by storm with his piano arrangements of Michael Jackson, Queen and Sia gathering over 300 million video hits and a huge following on YouTube and Facebook over the past two years.

He has achieved sensational success with his edgy, percussive and expressive playing style that has broken down boundaries between classical and popular music. He takes the piano to a whole new level, which inspires both younger and older generations of musicians and music lovers from everywhere around the world.

When he was two years old, he already played back melodies by ear from his favorite cartoons and films on his grandparents upright piano. Showing serious interest and talent, he soon began his musical education at 4 in the local music school of his hometown, Hajduboszormeny in Hungary.

Peter Bence was considered a musical prodigy by teachers and peers, and was already accepted at Franz Liszt University of Music in Debrecen, despite he was still being enrolled at elementary school.

At seven he wrote his first composition, which was heavily influenced by the music of Mozart and Chopin, and at 11 he published his first solo piano album of his early compositions.

In his teens, Peter started to show great interest in film music, especially the music of John Williams, which has opened up a new world for him and made him further explore himself musically.

After his training in classical piano and composition in Hungary, he continued his studies as a scholar at Berklee College of Music in the United States as a film scoring and piano major. Even though he was taking in every genre of music possible, he found his biggest influence in Michael Jackson.

In January 2012 he attained the Guinness World Record for the most piano key hits in one minute with 765 key hits, which record hasnt been broken ever since.

Peter began uploading videos to YouTube while at Berklee and in 2015 with his arrangement of Michael Jacksons Bad he quickly rose to fame, collecting a whopping 10 million hits over just a few days, becoming a massive viral sensation.

He has performed for tens of thousands throughout 20 countries, opened BBCs Proms In The Park 2017, in Hyde Park, London for 50,000 people, and was featured the Ellen DeGeneres Shows website, BBC, Buzzfeed, 9GAG, Classic FM, iHeart Radio or Billboard.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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By Laman Ismayilova

A new documentary titled "Miras" (Heritage) is being shot by Baku Media Center (BMC).

The film is dedicated to the activities of Nobel Brothers' Petroleum Company in Azerbaijan's oil industry, Trend reported.

Baku Media Center presented some backstage photos of the film.

Baku Media Center is an innovative company in the media sector of Azerbaijan with experience in several international events. BMC is a multifunctional company that provides a wide range of services in the field of audiovisual production.

The recent works of Baku Media Center include films "Target is Baku. How Hitler Lost the Battle for Oil", "Lifelong Mission", "Under the Single Sun", dedicated to the Year of Multiculturalism, "The Last Meeting" and others.

More information about Baku Media Center can be found on the official website of the company www.bakumediacenter.az, as well as on the company's pages on Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

Beginning from 1875, the Nobel Brothers took an active roll in Azerbaijan's oil industry that started developing apace in the second half of the 19th century.

After detecting oil in the Absheron peninsula, Robert Nobel invested his capital in the oil sector and set up drilling operations. He also bought a small kerosene factory and began refining oil.

The Nobel Brothers company officially began operating in 1879. Set up by Robert, Ludwig and Alfred Nobel, the company became the most authoritative and valuable oil company worldwide.

By the early 20th century, the Nobel Brothers Company had become the dominant oil company in Azerbaijan.

The company had capital equal to 30 million rubles and more than 13 plants (including 6 oil processing plants) from the period of 1914 to 1917. Their total oil production was 76 million pounds in 1916.

The Nobel Brothers were also strong humanitarians, donating funds to schools and ran a hospital.

Ludvig Nobel worked actively to improve working conditions in his factories.

In 1885 he started a cooperative bank for the workers.

Dining rooms, billiard rooms, libraries and conference rooms were also built for workers.

Moreover, large park, created by brothers still exists in the "Black City".

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist,follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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By Kamila Aliyeva

Azernewss interview with Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Darius Skusevicius

Question: How do you assess the current state of political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Lithuania?

Answer: Lithuanias relations with Azerbaijan has sustained history - this year our countries celebrated the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the democratic state. In 2019 we will also mark 100 years since we have first established diplomatic relations - in mid-war period there was a consular section of the Republic of Lithuania in Baku.

Lithuania and Azerbaijan are engaged in a close political dialogue, we share mutual respect and understanding. We have intergovernmental commission as well as regular exchange of visits and consultations at different levels, including between ministers of foreign affairs, where we discuss a wide range of issues of common interest.

Parliaments are also well involved in the political dialog between our countries. The group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan in Lithuanian Seimas is one of the biggest and consists of members of different factions.

Cooperation between the European Union and Azerbaijan is yet another important aspect of our political dialogue. We are pleased that the EU and Azerbaijan have recently agreed on Partnership Priorities. We also look forward to a successful conclusion of the negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement that will open new avenues for engagement. We attach great importance to the EU Eastern Partnership initiative and are interested in Azerbaijans active participation in implementing its ambitious work plan, 20 Deliverables for 2020. That would bring tangible benefits to Azerbaijans citizens and create further incentives for our cooperation.

In the framework of our political dialogue, we also encourage Azerbaijan to intensify its efforts in ensuring respect of fundamental human rights and liberties, based on Azerbaijans international commitments.

Q: What is your vision of the future cooperation in the economic field between the two countries? What measures should be taken to increase the trade turnover between the two countries?

A: Azerbaijan is one of our main trading partners in South Caucasus and we see a potential to deepen our economic and investment cooperation. Being on the EU border with CEE and the CIS, Lithuania delivers access to huge potential markets. Moreover, with the EUs most Northerly Ice Free Port in Klaipeda this access becomes truly global. The best way to foster our economic and trade cooperation is by exchanging our business delegations and encouraging direct B2B contacts.

Q: What areas of Azerbaijani economy are of particular interest for Lithuanian businessmen?

A: The information technology, transport and logistics, furniture, electronic equipment, medicine and food industries could be the most potential to expand bilateral cooperation. Lithuania could be a gateway to the EU for Azerbaijan producers. We offer attractive conditions for investing in free trade zones, engineering, industrial equipment, automotive, electronics, biotech, clean-tech, ICT, R&D, transportation sectors. Ranked 4th in the world for fulfilling business needs for ICT, Lithuanian companies can offer innovative IT solutions for Azerbaijan institutions and private companies. Lithuania takes a leading place in the EU according to the implementation of e-government services. We can efficiently contribute implementing cyber security solutions in Azerbaijan. Renewable energy could be another field of interest (solar panels, biomass energy). Lithuania is becoming the European hub for block chain technologies and fintech industries so we offer Azerbaijani business to utilise our favourable legislative and business environment in the EU.

Q: What are the plans for further development of cooperation in transport field between Azerbaijan and Lithuania?

A: 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. Therefore, our country can offer Azerbaijan a safe, fast and inexpensive transportation of Azerbaijani cargo to Europe and the Scandinavian countries.

Additional cooperation possibilities are offered by the accession of Azerbaijan to the international combined train project the Viking Train, which links the network of sea container lines of the Baltic and the Black seas, Mediterranean and Caspian seas.

We also see cooperation possibilities in the Europe-China cargo transportation chain through the Eurasian transport multimodal corridor of TRACECA as well.

Q: What is done to further develop humanitarian aspect of bilateral relations? What can be done to expand cooperation in tourism sector between the two states?

A: Lithuania and Azerbaijan are the countries of beautiful nature, rich history and culture. Lithuania may offer for Azerbaijani tourists medical and health services. Also, we may invite you to spend some quiet time in Lithuanian countryside or enjoy baroque old town of Vilnius.

Currently, the main challenge for expanding tourism is the connection between Azerbaijan and Lithuania. We anticipate that with the conclusion of the negotiations on the Common Aviation Area Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan more itineraries emerge and we will witness an increase in the number of Lithuanian tourists visiting Azerbaijan and vice versa.

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By Abdul Kerimkhanov

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is interested in seeing Uzbekistan in its composition, Chairman of the EDB Board Andrey Belyaninov said on November 23.

Amangeldy Isenov, Deputy Chairman of EDB, expressed regret that Uzbekistan is not a member of the bank, which EDB would very much like. Because EDB evaluates the prospects for working with this country, the economy is growing, and EDB would very much like Uzbekistan to become a shareholder of the bank, said Isenov within the framework of the international conference "Eurasian Economic Integration" in Moscow on November 22.

He added that EDB conducted preliminary work, travelled, met, we even had serious plans for credit work on the territory of Uzbekistan. It would be beneficial for all participants of our bank, he concluded.

In September, the EDB announced plans to open a representative office in Uzbekistan.

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is an international financial organization established by Russia and Kazakhstan in January 2006 to facilitate the development of the market economy of the member states, their sustainable economic growth and expansion of mutual trading-economic relations, and support integration in Eurasia through investment. The authorized capital of the EDB is $7 billion. The member states of the bank are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The EDB was conceived by the presidents of Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan and established in 2006, following the signing of an international agreement by the presidents of those two countries on January 12 of that year.

As of August 1, 2018, the current investment portfolio of the bank amounted to $3.092 billion and included 76 projects in six member states of the bank.

The balance sheet portfolio (excluding provisions and discounts) has amounted to $2.072 billion. The total amount of the bank's investments in the economies of the member states has reached $6.999 billion.

The bank gives priority to the financing of projects for the development of energy, transport and infrastructure sectors. As of August 1, 2018, projects in these sectors accounted for more than 50 percent of the current investment portfolio.

In January-June 2018, the EDB earned a net profit in the amount of $37,5 million. At the same time, the benchmark set in the bank's strategy until 2022 for the entire current year is at the level of $ 32 million.

The total amount of credit agreements concluded by the EDB in January-June 2018 exceeded $1.6 billion. This figure has already exceeded the result of the entire last year amounting to $1.1 billion.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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By Trend

The changing dynamics in global energy markets are likely to put pressure on fossil fuel exporters such as Kazakhstan, reads a report by EBRD titled "The fiscal implications for Kazakhstan of worldwide transition to a greener global economy".

The report notes that these dynamics include the development of alternative energy sources, the falling costs of cleaner energy technologies, and countries commitments to achieving global climate goals.

"This will mean that export revenues may fall  due both to lower exports and lower oil prices  by up to 40 percent in the next 20 years, leading to unsustainable levels of public debt in Kazakhstan," EBRD said.

The Bank added that as oil is a major source of government revenue, this may in turn put pressure on the state budget. Therefore, good risk management on the fiscal side will be an important priority for fossil fuel-exporting countries.

The report looks at three possible scenarios: business as usual, a partial green transition and a full transition to a low-carbon economy across the globe.

"The first two scenarios would mean that the world falls far short of the goal to contain global warming to 2C; however, this may also mean that oil demand remains buoyant in global markets, in which case Kazakhstans fiscal position would not be under threat," reads the report.

However, if there is a worldwide shift to a greener economy, and oil prices settle at about $65, then over the course of the next decade this could lead to depletion of the countrys national savings from oil.

"The most significant fiscal impacts are projected to occur in the late 2020s, suggesting that there is a window of opportunity of around a decade in which Kazakhstan could take action to address these impacts," EBRD noted.

EBRD is a leading investor in sustainable energy and green economic transition in its regions, with over 26 billion euro committed to projects in this area since 2006. The green economy is one of the Banks priorities in Kazakhstan.

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By Trend

The Supreme Economic Coordination Council has approved the Central Bank of Iran's suggestions for more transparent banking transactions and combating money laundry.

The council session led by President Hassan Rouhani, attended by Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani has reviewed the CBI chief's report on currency market that included central bank efforts to more transparent currency market and creating confidence in real value of foreign currency rate, Tasnim reported.

The Iranian currency (rial) has rebounded recently due to CBI interventions on foreign currency prices. The devaluation of rial has previously led to frenzy in the currency market, where people invested their money in gold, foreign currencies and other properties. The rise of basic goods prices was the result of turbulence in the market.

The head of Plan and Budget Organization of Iran, who was also present at the session, has discussed the general resources and budget expenditures for the upcoming Persian new year (March21).

The new budget would focus on providing social justice, attention to people's incomes and living conditions, the growth of employment and support for domestic production.

In this regard, policies such as the allocating official rate currency for supply of basic goods, increase of salaries for the employees and pensioners, as well as the provision of support packages to low income families were emphasized by the council.

The council insisted on attention to people's needs, specially the low income class in the new budget plan.

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The last couple of years have seen the entry of global dairy majors such as Lactalis and Fonterra into the Indian market. The growing Indian consumption story and the steady rise of per-capita demand for dairy products is definitely a huge incentive for them to be in India. Dairy growth in India is happening at a time when demand has considerably slackened in the matured markets of Europe and the US. Despite being part of the most exciting dairy story, most of the global dairy majors in India don't find the world's largest milk producing country to be motivating enough.

"Around 60-70 per cent of the milk that global dairy companies procure in India is exported. But the export counter isn't working as the demand for milk has dropped in global markets," points out a senior dairy industry professional. Milk export price in 2013-14 was Rs 250 per litre, which has now dropped to Rs 140 per litre due to a dip in demand.

When Fonterra announced its joint-venture with the Future Group a few months ago, dairy experts said that one of the reasons international players were coming to India was the dipping of milk prices, despite the complex milk procurement system. Milk prices across the country have dipped by over 50 per cent in the last few months and milk procurement has also come down.

The artificial milk glut is due to 1.6 lakh tonnes of unused skimmed milk powder generated by the various dairy cooperatives across the country. This has lead to a drop in milk procurement as the cooperatives are selling their excess SMP to the private dairy players. "The private dairy companies prefer buying SMP at a much cheaper price from the cooperatives rather than procure milk from farmers," says this senior dairy industry professional. Maharashtra, where almost 50-60 per cent of the milk collection is managed by private players, is supposed to be the worst affected. The farmers, who used to earlier get paid around Rs 26 per litre of milk, are now paid Rs 18 per litre. But it is not just the private dairy companies who have cut down on procurement, the cooperatives are to be blamed too, points out a senior dairy industry expert. "Most of the cooperatives will show on paper that their procurement has been on the rise year on year, but in reality, all that they are doing is trying to get rid of their SMP stocks."

The drop in milk prices has obviously benefitted the private dairy companies as their procurement costs have reduced by half and their profits have surged. The value of milk has also increased from Rs 3.5 lakh crore in 2013 to Rs 6.5 lakh crore in 2018. But a huge portion of this growth is coming at the expense of farmers.
By Trend

All parties invited to the Astana meeting on Syria, scheduled to take place on November 28-29, have confirmed their participation, Kazakh Foreign Ministry Spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov told reporters on Monday, TASS reports.

"The guarantors of the Astana process (Iran, Russia and Turkey), the Syrian government and the armed opposition, as well as Jordan - an observer country - have confirmed their participation. A confirmation is expected to be made concerning the participation of United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura," Smadiyarov said.

According to the Kazakh foreign ministry spokesman, the sixth Astana meeting will deal with issues related to the release of hostages and detained persons, the handover of bodies and the search for missing people. The event will "involve representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross."

The international meeting on resolving the situation in Syria will take place on November 28-29. On November 28, the guarantor countries will hold bilateral and trilateral consultations, as well as meetings with observer countries, while a plenary meeting is scheduled for November 29.

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By Trend

Militants of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) terrorist group shelled a military unit from mortars on the Turkish-Iranian border in the Igdir province, Turkish media reported Nov. 26.

After that, a shootout began between the terrorists and the Turkish servicemen.

One soldier was injured, according to the report.

On Nov. 15, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu stated that from early 2018, 87,838 operations have been carried out against the PKK terrorist organization in Turkey.

Soylu noted that 289 PKK terrorists were killed during the operations carried out in Turkey.

The minister also noted that in 2017, the PKK terrorists planned 965 attacks, while this figure dropped to 677 in 2018.

"In 2017, 380 PKK terrorists and in 2018, 343 terrorists surrendered to Turkish law enforcement agencies," Soylu said.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has lasted more than 25 years, claiming more than 40,000 lives. PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UN and the EU.

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By Abdul Kerimkhanov

EU is ready to provide Uzbekistan with the opportunity to supply more than 6,200 types of goods to the European market without duties, Uzbek media reports.

This became known after the visit of the governmental delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov to Brussels.

The Uzbek delegation participated in the 14th meeting of the Uzbekistan-EU Cooperation Council, the next inter-regional meeting of the EU-Central Asia, held bilateral talks with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, the EU Commissioner for cooperation and development Neven Mimitz, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austrias Presidency of the EU Karin Kneissel and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium Didier Reinders.

The EU confirmed its readiness to assist Uzbekistan in obtaining unilateral tariff benefits within the framework of the General System of Preferences Plus, which will facilitate the duty-free entry of more than 6,200 types of Uzbek goods into the European market, the press service of the Foreign Ministry said.

The parties also agreed to begin intensive work on the preparation and holding in 2019 of the Uzbek-European summit in Brussels and the official visit of the head of Uzbekistan to Belgium, which should open fundamentally new chapters in the history of relations.

In addition, an agreement was reached on the commencement of negotiations on the Agreement on Extended Partnership and Cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU, which will replace the Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the European Communities and their member states in force since July 1, 1999. The European side submitted a corresponding draft document.

It was repeatedly stressed at meetings that the EU attaches particular importance to the early accession of Uzbekistan to the World Trade Organization and will contribute to this process.

The parties agreed to intensify cooperation in the field of education and training, considered the prospects for increasing the network of branches of leading European universities in Uzbekistan to train specialists in the fields in demand today.

"The European side supported the efforts of Uzbekistan to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan, including concrete steps to build a global and regional consensus on the peace process and initiatives to implement trans-Afghan transport and trade routes, to develop a training program for Afghan women," the Foreign Ministry said.

Representatives of the Central Asian countries and the European Union agreed to develop and adopt by mid-2019 an updated EU Strategy for Central Asia, which will become a new Road Map for deepening interregional cooperation for the medium term. The European side emphasized that the document will focus more on the priority areas of development of the Central Asian states.

The EU assistance program for Uzbekistan covers 2014-2020 and has a total budget of 168 million euros. To date, 25 projects have been implemented in Uzbekistan for a total amount of more than 100 million euros with EU assistance. As many as 15 national projects totalling 69.4 million euros cover the areas of economic and social development, education, water management and waste management, improving living conditions in rural areas, supporting entrepreneurship in remote areas and developing tourism.

In addition, Uzbekistan receives EU assistance under 10 regional projects for a total of 33.6 million euros in education (Erasmus +), business and tourism development and other areas.

The EU-Central Asia relations are being developed under the EU strategy for Central Asia, signed in 2007 and reviewed in 2015.

Regional programs within the strategy are effective in the field of stability and security, sustainable economic development and poverty reduction, as well as regional cooperation both within the region and between the EU and Central Asia.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Uztextileprom is exploring the possibility of exporting textile products from Uzbekistan to EU countries, in particular to the Polish market.

The delegation of the Association "Uztextileprom" and representatives of the textile and garment-knitwear enterprises visit the Republic of Poland on November 19-25, 2018, press service of the Association "Uztextile" reports.

At the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Poland, a meeting was organized between representatives of textile and garment and knitwear enterprises of the Uztekstilprom Association with the leadership of Polish textile companies on November 20.

The meeting with the participation of more than 40 managers and representatives of leading Polish textile companies was initiated by the Uzbek Embassy in Poland.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged information on the current state of cooperation plans for the future between Uzbekistan and Poland in the textile industry, investment activities of Polish companies, as well as cooperation in research and development.

Then the meeting was held in the QA form and the participants were able to get answers to all their questions.

The Uzbek side provided information on the development of the textile industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the years of Independence, the adopted programs for the development of industry and the prospects for the short and long term, as well as implemented and implemented investment and social projects in the textile industry.

In addition, the Uztextileprom Association made a number of proposals to optimize the export of domestic textile products to the Republic of Poland.

Following the talks, the parties reached an agreement on taking measures to implement the most favorable conditions for the export of textile products to the Polish market.

Agreements are planned to be signed on November 24 following the results of the International Textile Exhibition Fast Textile 2018, which is the most important event of the Polish textile industry.

This year, Fast Textile 2018 will be held from 22 to 24 November in Poland, the city of Nadazhin, near Warsaw, in the new exhibition complex Ptak Warsaw Expo.

The 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Poland was celebrated in 2017.

The trade turnover between Poland and Uzbekistan is characterized by some stability.

The structure of Polish exports is dominated by supplies of live animals and animal products (about a third of total exports), chemical products (24 percent), various machinery, equipment, and motor vehicles (more than 20 percent).

Poland imports from Uzbekistan mainly cotton and its products (more than 45 percent), mineral products (25 percent), chemical products (20 percent).

Currently, 25 enterprises with Polish capital are operating in Uzbekistan. In 2017, two joint ventures were created in country and one representative office of a Polish company was opened in the fields of energy, textiles, pharmaceuticals and solid waste.

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Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

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By Trend

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has nothing to do with politics and it shouldnt be considered as a control mechanism, Austrian Ambassador to Tehran Stefan Schulz said in an interview with ILNA.

This mechanism is related to Iranian banks and financial channels, he said.

He said that the FATF is a mechanism to control money laundering and terrorism financing. In Europe, everyone voluntarily joins this mechanism, he noted.

Iran should also have a positive attitude to FATF, he added.

If Tehran wants to be a part of the worlds financial mechanism and to integrate into the global system, it must accept the laws adopted by its trading partners, he said.

If, for example, Iran doesnt agree with the air safety mechanism, no airline company will pass through this country, he noted.

Referring to Irans and Austrians relations and financial exchanges despite the US sanctions, the ambassador added that Austria and Iran have very specific relations based on transparency and trust.

Austria has established a network of regional cooperation with Iran in Europe, he said.

Through this network, efforts are being made to boost cooperation between the EU and Iran in foreign policy, he noted.

The Austrian ambassador also spoke about Irans fulfillment of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The Iranians have turned these sanctions into an opportunity to open their economic doors wider to the world, he noted.

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Google has finally launched Family Link, parental control software for mobile devices, in India. The Family Link services were initially available only in select countries. With family Link, Google intends to give control of child's smartphone usage back to their parents.

For Family Link to work, parent need to create an e-mail for the child, who must be under the age of 13 but it can vary country wise. Post the creation of the email, parent needs to install Family Link on to the child's phone and also install it on your (the parent) device. Now, once the account is added to the Family Link, a number of controls on the child's phone can be implemented. A parent can set limits on the time spent on each app and total screen time allowed. It also gives the permission of approving or disapproving any app purchases made by the child, along with being able to remotely lock the phone. The app also gives children the choice to stop regulation but that will first notify parents, and if not approved then the children can be temporarily locked out of the device until the kids accept the supervision.

Google is actively involved in helping people to get rid of any digital addiction. It has already applied time limits on its YouTube app. The app will also work on Chromebook devices. Tech giant Apple Inc too is looking to introduce better parental control on their devices. With iOS 12, Apple brought in Screen Time, which permits users to track their own app usage etc. But, it hasn't done much for the kids.

Meanwhile, soon, the devices connected to the Family Link app would also respond to Google Assistant.
Police apprehended a gunman accused of slaying a teen concert-goer and wounding five more  three of them children  at an Independence Heights club Sunday night after he was denied entry, according to authorities.

The suspect refused to be searched as he tried entering a club that was hosting a concert for teens around 6:30 p.m. in the 4500 block of Yale Street, north of Crosstimbers, police said. A security guard at the door then turned him away.
Kyron Rayshawn Templeton, 27, will stand trial in March 2019 for capital murder after he allegedly stabbed and injured several people at an ASC in 2013, the Longview News-Journal reports.

Here's what you should know:

1. Two people were fatally stabbed, and a nurse and two visitors were injured during an attack at then-Good Shepherd Medical Center's ASC in Longview, Texas, on Nov. 26, 2013. The attack occurred before 7 a.m. in the fourth-floor surgical center, leaving a nurse and a visitor dead.

2. Mr. Templeton was arraigned on murder and assault charges the next day. He has since been in jail with bond set at $2.5 million and could face the death penalty if convicted during his trial March 18, 2019.

3. Mr. Templeton was at the facility for his mother's surgery and allegedly told an arresting officer that "they" were trying to kill his mother. He was declared mentally fit for trial Nov. 9.

4. Longview-based Christus Good Shepherd Health System issued a statement saying, "After the incident, Christus Good Shepherd Health System began an extensive review of security practices for patients and staff, both internally and with the assistance of outside experts. Changes were made throughout the system to increase our security presence, implement facility modifications and control of access, all with the objective of providing the safest possible environment for our patients, visitors and staff."

Read the full statement published by Longview News-Journal.

5. A judge issued a gag order for the high-profile case, meaning those involved can't discuss details of the event.

More articles on surgery centers:

Kaiser Permanente patients seeing greater cost savings at ASCs than hospitals: 3 details

Exparel sales grow 23% in Q3, CEO David Stack expects more growth as orthopedics shifts away from opioids & to the ASC: 8 key quotes

3 must-know trends affecting physician earning potential
The Klamath Falls. Ore.-based Klamath Surgery Center is celebrating its 20th anniversary in December, according to the Herald and News.

Here are the key details to know:

1. The Klamath Surgery Center is a multispecialty facility.

2. The center performs 1,500 eye and laser surgeries per year, and 200 other specialty surgeries.

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3. The Klamath Surgery Center employs 70 people across the surgery center, Klamath Eye Center and Heartfelt Obstetrics and Gynecology, all of which are under the same roof.

4. I think people appreciate the cost savings of the surgical center to some of the alternatives. Here, we are able to operate very efficiently, resulting in significant savings of both money and time for patients," Scott Stevens, MD, an ophthalmologist who practices at the center, told the Herald and News.

5. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the center is hosting an open house Dec. 14.
As payers steer patients toward lower-cost settings, ASCs are pressured to improve supply chain efficiency and discover new savings opportunities, regardless of the organization's size, region or hospital affiliation.

A group of about 20 ASC administrators from across the U.S. gathered at Becker's ASC 25th Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, Oct. 18-20 in Chicago, to discuss the primary supply chain challenges facing their organizations.

This article is sponsored by Medline.

Here are three supply chain challenges identified during the discussion:

1. Navigating vendor relationships.

The tendency for vendors to raise prices after noticing higher reimbursement for items such as new stents is a source of frustration, said a registered nurse who serves as administrator and business manager at a surgeon-established Midwestern ASC.

"We had instances where they knew we were going to be reimbursed higher, so they jacked their price up higher," she said. "We try to go back and negotiate with them to get the price back down, but that's really frustrating from our side when we're doing what we can to turn a profit."

An administrator at a surgery center in the Midwest said vendors looking to capture the amount of the Medicare reimbursement increase particularly affects centers specializing in ophthalmology, where it's part of the business model to have "the latest and greatest."

For several administrators, vendors upselling products for the OR is also a major pain point. At an orthopedics-focused ASC in the Midwest, vendors are invited to a meeting to review policies  and learn what will happen if they don't follow them. One of those rules is to notify the clinical director before visiting the building. The administrator overseeing several ASCs in the West developed a similar policy requiring vendors to sign in at the front desk and obtain a purchase order, in order to get paid. If vendors fail to follow that policy, their services are considered a free "gift."

The nurse administrator at a two-OR ASC in the Southeast and the administrator and medical director of a plastic surgery ASC in the West relayed positive experiences working with prime vendors, although the Western facility uses multiple sources for items other than sutures.

Using a prime vendor can help curb overspending, according to the interim administrator of a 10-OR ASC in the West, who was previously the vice president of operations at a healthcare management services organization. In situations where an item is needed for a specialty case but there isn't a need for a large quantity, a prime vendor can help get a lower amount.

2. Discovering cost-saving opportunities.

Educating staff members and physicians about the cost of items and the consequences of hoarding is a huge opportunity to slash expenditure. When nurses hoard inventory, it deals a blow to inventory tracking and case costing. The administrator of an orthopedics-focused ASC in the Midwest suggested playing 'The Price is Right' or creating a contest to help nurses learn how much items cost.

At an orthopedic and pain management surgery center in the Southeast, staff members have complete access to an electronic pricing system they pull up immediately if a physician asks the cost of an item. Physicians at the center are engaged and actively aware of expenses. "It's part of our culture to have cost knowledge," the nurse administrator said.

Even the small things add up. A Midwestern ASC switched from single-use marking pens to multiuse ones after the CDC published information about self-sterilizing, saving the center about $6,000 a year. The center used that extra money to throw a staff party, and other savings have financed 15-minute massages for employees.

While watching costs, it's important to be aware of how items are handled. The administrative director of an ophthalmology ASC in the Midwest noted it's easy for busy staff members to carelessly shove items in the cabinet instead of putting the old ones in front and the new behind. The center's staff members are now making a conscious effort to be mindful about storage to prevent waste.

3. Keeping up with regulation changes.

Overall, ASC leaders weren't concerned about CMS' efforts to increase transparency, saying they already post prices online. They commended CMS' proposal to remove eight ASC quality reporting measures from the 2020 payment determinations as a way to reduce administrative burden. "We had good quality without reporting it," said the administrator of a multispecialty facility in the Midwest.

As the government turns more attention to ASCs, news organizations are doing the same. However, ASC administrators weren't concerned about a Kaiser Health News and USA Today report from earlier this year that questioned the safety of ASCs, as they said it hasn't affected business or quality reporting at all. The administrator of a surgery center in the Midwest said his facility has always shared the ASC's quality data openly with patients and surgeons  in fact, the data is precisely what attracts business.

"A lot of surgeons tell us it's easier for them to get patients to come when they're able to provide that information in the office. We always attach the latest quality data from nearby hospitals. The patients see that  it's an eye-opener for a lot of them," he said.
A surgeon at Lexington-based University of Kentucky HealthCare recently sent two emails containing detailed patient information to roughly 60 individuals, including a news producer at ABC 36.

The producer, Morgan Henry, had no connection to the hospital, but said she graduated from UK's journalism school more than a year ago.

The emails contained patients' last names and included personal information such as their medical conditions. For example, the email contained details about a woman with Alzheimer's disease that states: "needs comfort care, but family not willing. She will die soon. Family does not want to talk." The subject line reads, "confidential."

To assess potential damage from the breach, ABC 36 called the hospital and provided the operator with the information it had on various patients, including last names, the area of hospital they were in and their medical details. The news outlet said it was connected to a patient's room or a nearby nurse's station almost every time.

UK HealthCare provided the following statement to ABC 36 after the news outlet alerted the hospital to the error:

"Thank you for bringing the inadvertent sending of an email to our attention. Immediate action has been taken by UK HealthCare regarding this incident.

"Protecting patient privacy is of the utmost importance and of the highest priority for UK HealthCare and we provide extensive training on our privacy policies and procedures to all employees. However, mistakes sometimes do occur. In such cases, UK HealthCare's corporate compliance office engages our standard procedures which are to investigate and mitigate each incident or occurrence.

"In this specific case, an email with patient information was inadvertently sent to someone who was not intended to be included. This issue has been reported to the UK HealthCare privacy officer who began an investigation of the incident. The privacy officer will work to ensure that the email address recipient list is corrected and conduct a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) breach risk analysis. Additionally, notification will be made to any patients as required by federal or state law."

The hospital's chief privacy officer sent a notice to Ms. Henry requesting she delete the email. It's not clear whether other recipients received similar requests.

HHS' Office for Civil Rights only requires healthcare organizations to report breaches involving at least 500 patients, so it is unlikely the hospital will have to report the breach to the federal agency.
Two hospitals owned by Ohio Valley Health Services & Education Corp. say patients records remained secure after an attempted ransomware attack Nov. 23, The Times Leader reports.

The ransomware attack affected the computer systems at East Ohio Regional Hospital in Wheeling, W.Va., and Ohio Valley Medical Center in Martins Ferry. Although the hospitals were on full ambulance diversion, patient walk-ins were still accepted.

A hospital spokesperson told The Times Leader the hospitals have "redundant security, so the attack was able to get through the first layer but not the second layer," meaning no patient information had been compromised. To protect patients' health information, the hospitals' IT team took multiple computer systems offline, and the hospitals reverted to paper charting.

The IT team expected to have the issue resolved by Nov. 25, but as of early morning Nov. 26, neither hospital had issued an update.

Daniel Dunmyer, CEO of OVMC, told The Times Leader, "The OVMC-EORH employees and medical staff have been very adaptive and supportive and we are able to continue with quality patient care."

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Lafayette (La.) General Medical Center selected Al Patin, RN, to serve as senior vice president and COO, according to The Advocate.

Here are four things to know:

1. Mr. Patin previously served as senior vice president and chief administrative officer of the Lafayette General Medical Doctors Physician Group. He will continue in this role on an interim basis.

2. He joined Lafayette General from Parish Management Consultants in Metairie, La., where he was regional vice president.

3. He holds an MBA from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

4. Mr. Patin succeeds Court LeMaistre, who left for a new opportunity.
A Maine judge ruled that outgoing Republican Gov. Paul LePage must implement the Medicaid expansion approved by voters in 2017, according to The Hill.

Mr. LePage has fought expansion ever since it was passed, arguing the state could not fund the program. After a lengthy court battle, Maine Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy ordered that the rules for expanded Medicaid must be established by Dec. 5.

"Although the governor may believe implementation to be unwise and disagree with the act as a matter of policy, he may not ignore the will of the people and refuse to take any action toward accomplishing the policy objectives of the act, Judge Murphy wrote in her opinion.

Mr. LePage will step down as governor in January due to term limits and be replaced by Democrat Janet Mills, the state's former attorney general.
EU should take notice of blatant human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir: Fawad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry Sunday urged the European Union to take notice of blatant human rights violations being committed by Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.



The way Kashmiris have been treated in Indian-held Kashmir is a matter of concern not only for Pakistan but for the whole world, the minister told the opening ceremony of the Fourth Edition of Human Rights through Cinematography Film Festival here at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA).



Fawad said he would like the European Union to be proactive to look into what was going on in the occupied valley.He said human rights were all about understanding issues of each other.We all stand for freedom. We all stand for each others rights. So once the world will be able to define where their rights end and others rights start, that will be the conclusion and the epitome of human rights, he added.



The minister said the United Nations declaration of human rights was a milestone in human history. The start of human rights movement was very pessimist and bitter but we are moving towards the right direction and that is important, he said.



Fawad said the continuous efforts of the European Union to promote human rights in Pakistan were commendable.I congratulate you for the efforts and I want you to stand by Pakistan in all of its efforts. Pakistan highly values its relationship with European Union, he said.



The minister said 27 movies (documentaries) from different countries will be shown in the festival starting with Illiberal Democracy, a German movie.This festival and other efforts that the world is making to achieve these high goals are commendable and all the governments and the saner elements of the society must support this movement, he added.



Ambassador of the European Union Jean Francois Cautain in his remarks said art and culture in general and documentary films in particular were playing an important role in understanding the world and its people.
Beacon Health Options, a clinical mental health and substance use disorder management company in Boston, aims to bring affordable mental healthcare to patients across the U.S. through the creation of a new retail health clinic, The Boston Globe reports.

Beacon opened its first retail health clinic in a Carrollton, Texas-based Walmart and plans to open more locations nationwide to increase patients' access to mental health services.

The clinic, which has been operational for roughly one week, is staffed by one licensed social worker and offers treatment for anxiety, depression, grief and relationship issues, among other stressors. Patients can walk in to request an appointment, or sign up online or over the phone. If the clinic becomes busy, patients also have the option to speak to other Beacon care professionals remotely by Skype or other services, the report states.

Russell Petrella, PhD, president and CEO of Beacon Health Options, told The Boston Globe the clinic has a sliding-fee schedule for patients without insurance and is in the process of getting approved for Medicaid reimbursement in Texas. The company created subsidiary Beacon Care Services to operate the retail clinics.

"People don't know how to find a behavioral health or mental health professional. People don't know where to go and what to do," Dr. Petrella said. "We're trying to mainstream behavioral health services."

While some healthcare professionals The Boston Globe spoke with were intrigued by the concept, others said Beacon would need to do much more to make the concept mainstream.

"Offering mental healthcare in a retail setting is innovative and imaginative, and it could work," Gary A. Chinman, MD, a psychiatrist and president of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, told the publication. However, he said Beacon "would have to change a lot more about their business model for [the clinics] to be successful."

To access the full report, click here.
Despite spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on medical school, physicians are increasingly forgoing medical practice in favor of other health-related ventures, claiming they can do more to improve care delivery worldwide as entrepreneurs, The Boston Globe reports.

Here are four things to know:

1. Of the 131 chief executives running publicly traded companies in Massachusetts, 26 CEOs (20 percent) have medical degrees, according to Radford, a subsidiary of professional services firm Aon. However, The Boston Globe notes Radford's survey did not include the more than 400 privately held companies in Massachusetts, which are often more receptive to hiring younger physicians with little real-world business or leadership experience.

2. The publication notes several factors fueling the trend, including physicians' growing frustration with the medical system, burnout and financial pressures. A recent study published in the journal BMJ found 4 in 10 medical school students said they or someone they knew has considered quitting school due to financial strain. That disillusionment has caused more physicians to consider alternative career options outside of the medical field. A Physicians Foundation survey cited by The Boston Globe found the number of physicians who said they planned to pursue nonclinical healthcare jobs rose from 11 percent in 2012 to 16.6 percent in 2016.

3. Samuel Levy, MD, president and co-founder of Allurion Technologies, told The Boston Globe the limits placed on him as a physician ultimately drove him to pursue his idea for a startup.

"I realized that as a practicing physician or surgeon, the absolute impact I could have was constrained by what I could do with my two hands in 24 hours," Dr. Levy said. Now, the devices his company has created to aid in the obesity epidemic have allowed him to help "patients halfway around the world while I am sleeping."

4. David Berry, MD, PhD, told the publication he consulted 33 mentors before deciding to quit medicine and join Flagship Pioneering, a Cambridge, Mass.-based venture capital firm. He said "exactly zero people" told him he should enter the startup world when he was deciding his career path. Now, he holds over 200 patents and has co-founded and helped build more than 20 life sciences companies. Dr. Berry told The Boston Globe he credits medical school for teaching him how to analyze and solve scientific issues.

"It's a way of thinking that allows you to take a life sciences problem  or even not a life sciences problem  and, no pun intended, start dissecting," he said.

To access the full report, click here.
More than 300 Indiana (Pa.) Regional Medical Center nurses went on strike on Nov. 26, according to a KDKA report.

Nurses walked off the job at 7 a.m., despite hospital leaders previously asking them to cancel the strike due to the $1.5 million in estimated costs to hire temporary workers.

According to the report, no scheduled surgeries and appointments were canceled due to the strike.

The hospital has been in negotiations with the Indiana Registered Nurses Association, which represents about 380 nurses at the hospital. Health insurance costs and wages reportedly have been key sticking points in the negotiations.

Both sides are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Nov. 29.

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
The California Camp Fire was contained by firefighters Nov. 25 after raging for 17 days, but evacuees 65 years and older will continue to face complications due to chronic health conditions exacerbated by the fire and medical supply shortages, according to The New York Times.

Here are six things to know:

1. A large portion of the tens of thousands of structures burned in Paradise, Calif., were nursing homes, assisted living facilities, geriatric care centers and mobile home parks for retirees. About 2,300 residents in the fire zone relied on in-home health aides.

2. The emergency evacuation shelters can be dangerous to older citizens with health conditions. In these close quarters, infections can spread fast, targeting an already vulnerable population. About 150 evacuees were taken to the hospital for norovirus Nov. 21 after an outbreak hit a shelter. It is not specified how many of those evacuees were elderly.

"There were a lot of people who were barely able to make it at home, and those are the people that tend in situations like this to make their way to the shelters," Andy Miller, MD, public health officer for Butte County told The New York Times.

3. Once older evacuees reach shelters, they face obstacles like being unable to take their medication or not having access to necessary medical devices.

4. Older patients with memory retention issues or the early stages of dementia have experienced chronic stress from the evacuation that may only make their conditions worse.

"Half of them dont have it in them to start all over again," Mari Stewart, the nursing supervisor for the clinic at the East Avenue Church in Chico, told The New York Times.

5. Physicians, nurses and volunteers at emergency shelters attempted to locate older evacuees' primary care physicians, many of whom were displaced themselves due to the fire. They also had difficulty obtaining missing medical records to replace the older patients' medical information.

6. The California Camp Fire burned more than 153,000 acres and 18,000 structures, about 14,000 of which were residences. Eighty-five people have died, while thousands more are missing.

More articles on population health:

CMS recommits to improving rural health: 3 things to know

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17 fatal hospital shootings since 2002
The use of examination gloves in hospitals may present a barrier to hand hygiene, especially among nurses, according to a study cited by Healio.

According to the World Health Organization, examination gloves should only be worn in certain scenarios and hands should be washed before and after putting gloves on. Evidence suggests inappropriate use of gloves was a significant cause of missed opportunities for proper hand hygiene in healthcare settings, the researchers wrote in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

For the study, "hand hygiene performance of [healthcare professionals] providing hands-on inpatient care was measured by a validated observer using a 'secret shopper' method focused on wash-in and wash-out [hand hygiene] opportunities and instances where gloves were worn in lieu of [hand hygiene]," the researchers said.

The researchers found hand hygiene compliance was about 74 percent for both wash-in and wash-out opportunities during the four-month study period, and the highest percentage of hand hygiene opportunities (41 percent) were performed by registered nurses, followed by licensed independent practitioners (16 percent), including physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses.

Forty-five percent of the wash-in episodes that lacked compliance with hand hygiene protocols were performed by registered nurses, and 44 percent of all wash-in episodes that lacked this compliance were performed by staff who wore gloves. These episodes were seen more often among registered nurses (47 percent), the study found.

The researchers found several reasons healthcare professionals used gloves, such as protection and safety of staff and patients, availability of gloves and previous medical training.

Hospitals may consider re-educating healthcare professionals about proper glove use and hand hygiene, the researchers said.

More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:

Surgery complications don't affect patient satisfaction, study finds

C. diff is becoming more common outside hospitals

CDC unveils task force to combat rising polio-like illness cases


Boston-based Partners HealthCare is requiring all 74,000 employees to receive flu shots for the first time, reports The Boston Globe.

Under the mandatory flu shot policy, employees who don't get vaccinated or provide a valid reason for skipping the flu shot could lose their jobs. The policy applies to all hospital-based workers, as well as thousands of employees who work at Partners' corporate office in Somerville, Mass.

"If you are able and remain unwilling to protect yourself and protect our patients [from the flu], you probably should not be working in healthcare," Gregg S. Meyer, MD, Partners' chief clinical officer, told The Boston Globe. "My sincere hope is that absolutely no one will lose their job over it.  We will do everything we can to convince people."

The policy took effect this fall. So far, 99 percent of employees have received a flu shot or an exemption for religious or medical reasons, Partners officials told The Boston Globe.

Partners modeled the systemwide policy on a mandatory vaccination policy Boston-based Brigham and Women's implemented in 2017. The Massachusetts Nurses Association sued the hospital in an attempt to block the policy, but was unsuccessful. Brigham and Women's reported a 98 percent flu vaccination rate last year and terminated five employees for not getting a flu shot, Brigham spokesperson Lori Schroth told The Boston Globe.
Sales representatives for medical device companies have been attending surgeries for years, but hospital leaders may start to take a closer look at whether these reps should be in the operating room, according to NPR.

As the baby boomer generation ages, hospitals are seeing exponential growth in device-dependent procedures like total joint replacements, and insurers are increasingly telling hospitals they will only pay a fixed price for these procedures. This bundled payment approach is prompting hospitals to scrutinize device costs and the salespeople selling the latest models.

Hospitals are "starting to figure out what these reps make for a living. They feel like they're making too much money, and I think that's why they want them out," Brent Ford, a former sales rep who now works for HealthTrust, a firm that handles contracting and purchasing of hospital supplies, told NPR.

Device reps say they observe surgeries since they are experts on specific devices and have sometimes observed more surgeries with a certain device than any individual surgeon.

The reps' experience can be helpful to healthcare teams since it has become challenging for hospital staff to keep up with constant design changes for systems used in common procedures like joint replacements, said Chris Stewart, a former rep for medical device manufacturer Stryker.

But critics of having device reps in ORs say the reps attend surgeries to strengthen their relationships with certain surgeons, persuading them to pick one brand of a device over a competitor's.

Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD, a professor at Washington, D.C.-based Georgetown University who studies the relationships between industry and physicians, says reps should be banned from ORs. Dr. Fugh-Berman's biggest concern is safety, including sterile protocol violations.

In her research, she anonymously interviewed reps who said they are told to always push the latest, most expensive products, even when older versions have more solid evidence behind them.

"The newest device is not necessarily the best device," she said. "In fact, it may be the worst device. What we need are skilled helpers in the operating room who are not making money off of the choices of the surgeons."

More articles on supply chain:

FDA to modernize medical device approval process: 5 things to know

First FDA-cleared 'digital therapeutic' for substance use disorder launches

Many pharma apps won't be regulated under proposed FDA framework


The Department of Veterans Affairs in Miami is searching for a physician to fill its chief of spinal cord injury position, according to Lemon Wire.

Here are three things to know:

1. Physicians must have a medical degree from a VA-approved school. They must have completed residency training, leading to eligibility for board certification.

2. As chief of spinal cord injury, the physician will implement and develop programs, including medical practice, professional standards and personnel issues guidelines.

3. Physicians who are board-certified within four years of initial appointment are preferred candidates.

To learn more about the position, click here.
A US Tech company which works with some of the world's biggest brands is seeking to fill "high quality" posts as it launches its own training academy in Belfast.

BazaarVoice has teamed up with the Department for the Economy (DfE) and Ulster University to find 15 new staff who will be able to predict the shopping trends of tomorrow.

Paul Hill, senior director of engineering at the company, said the new employees will play a crucial role within BazaarVoice. "Our DevOps engineering team members are a critical part of building the systems and software that operate at that level," he added. The DevOps Engineering Academy is open to STEM graduates or anyone with relevant experience and has been launched as part of the company's commitment to create nearly 170 jobs. The business chose Belfast as its European base in 2017. Those who complete the 10-week pre-employment training scheme will receive 150 per week plus travel and be guaranteed an interview. Successful applicants will be tasked with compiling and analysing consumer-generated content for big brands including Argos, Debenhams, GHD and Philips for a salary of up to 44,000. Mr Hill, who is also the firm's Belfast site leader, said training local talent will help ensure future growth. Ann Williamson of DfE said the department's Assured Skills programme continues to be "a great example of proactive government intervention meeting the needs of big business" while enhancing skills of graduates.
Senior DUP politicians will meet Northern Ireland business groups at Stormont this morning to discuss their stance over the withdrawal deal.

The DUP's opposition to the Prime Minister's draft plan has caused a rift with the business and farming communities.

The party will meet with the CBI, the NI Retail Consortium, the Chamber of Commerce and several food and drink umbrella groups in the hope of "smoothing over" recent tensions.

A series of leading industry bodies have said Theresa May's deal is better than crashing out of the EU with nothing in place.

But the DUP argues that her agreement is "worse than no deal" and that its 10 MPs will vote against it in Parliament. The groups are also scheduled to meet with the four Stormont parties opposed to Brexit - Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Alliance Party and the Green Party.

Ahead of the meeting SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the deal "leaves Northern Ireland in a unique position, allowing us to continue trade with both the UK and EU".

"It prevents a hard border and it future-proofs our economy by securing the backstop," he added.

"The SDLP is grateful to those in civic roles who have voiced their approval for this deal.

"Brexit is more than a political decision, its implications will be felt in all sections of society, and that is why it is vitally important political leaders continue to widen the discussion."
Indian forces martyred eight Kashmiri youth in IHK

SRINAGAR: Indian occupation forces martyred eight Kashmiri youth in Shopian district of Indian-held Kashmir on Sunday. The youth were martyred during a cordon and search operation jointly launched by Indian armys 34-Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force and Special Operation Group at Batagund in the Kapran area of the district. A house was also destroyed in the firing by the troops.



The bodies of the youth were found from the debris of the destroyed house.The authorities also suspended Internet services in the Shopian district and other areas of the south Kashmir.



As the news about the killing of the youth spread, hundreds of civilians took to the streets, raising anti-India slogans and marching towards the house, resulting in clashes with the security forces.



Earlier this year, a United Nations report accused India of having used excessive force in the occupied territory to martyr and wound civilians. The report had also called for an international inquiry into the accusations of rights violations.



Activists estimate that up to 145 civilians were martyred by security forces and up to 20 civilians martyred by armed groups in the same period, it said.



Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday said that while India was involved in state terrorism in occupied Kashmir, Pakistan was taking steps for promoting peace in the region.



In a statement, Gandapur slammed Indian forces for killings of Kashmiris on a daily basis and called on the country to stop the genocide. India will have to accept Kashmiris right to self-determination, he said.
Theresa May faces a challenging vote when her Brexit deal is put before MPs, the new Brexit secretary has admitted, as the EUs top official warned that the only alternative was leaving without one at all.

But Stephen Barclay said the Prime Minister has managed to get the best agreement possible for the United Kingdom after her two-year-long negotiation with Brussels.

Mrs May will face the Commons after EU leaders endorsed the deal at a summit on Sunday, and made it clear it was not up for renegotiation.

I will take this deal back to the House of Commons confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country.  PM @Theresa_May #BackTheBrexitDeal pic.twitter.com/okz7BkZ7Pb  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) November 25, 2018

She will tell MPs with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available, and challenge them to back her plan or risk crashing out without an agreement.

The PM told her Cabinet at a meeting on Monday morning that Sundays endorsement of the Withdrawal Agreement and Future Framework was a significant moment which had proved wrong those who said it would not be possible to reach a deal.

Mrs Mays official spokesman told reporters: The Prime Ministers colleagues today congratulated her and thanked her for all her hard work in securing this deal.

The two-hour meeting also heard an update from Mr Barclay on preparations for a possible no-deal Brexit, which are continuing despite the deal being agreed in Brussels.

And Mrs May told ministers that her message to the G20 group of major economies at this weekends summit in Argentina will be that the UK will remain an active and open global trading partner as it leaves the EU.

Following her address to the Commons, Mrs May was due to host a meeting at 10 Downing Street of more than 100 investors and employers from sectors including manufacturing, retail, food and drink and financial services to discuss the Brexit plan.

Meanwhile, Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and effective deputy prime minister David Lidington are understood to have invited Labour MPs to a briefing on the agreement.

With scores of MPs declaring their intention to vote the deal down, the Brexit Secretary was asked on BBC Radio 4s Today programme how the Government will get it through Parliament.

Mr Barclay, who only took over the role from Dominic Raab earlier this month, said: Well, its going to be a challenging vote.

But its now the job of all of us in Cabinet to make the case to our colleagues, make the case to the country.

The Prime Minister, after two years working day and night in the national interest, has secured a deal that respects the referendum result, and does so in a way that also protects jobs, that also gives security to EU citizens.

PM has secured a deal which respects the referendum result, ends free movement, gives us control of our money, laws and borders, and maintains the ability to strike trade deals around the world #BackTheBrexitDeal  Steve Barclay (@SteveBarclay) November 25, 2018

He said people needed to know what the choice now facing Britain was, adding: The choice is between a deal, or the uncertainty that would flow from what the Chancellor said last week; the choppy waters that we will move in to if this deal does not go through.

Speaking on the same programme, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said there will be no more negotiation on the Brexit agreement, insisting: This is the best deal for Britain.

He reiterated his comments from the weekend, saying: And this is the only deal possible, so if the House (of Commons) says no, we would have no deal.

He added: Its not the intention of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, nor of the Parliament to go for a second referendum. This is the deal.

Everything you need to know #BackTheBrexitDealhttps://t.co/9IVUS7p46D  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) November 25, 2018

Analysis by the Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority of the impact of the Withdrawal Agreement and Future Framework on the UK economy is to be published on Thursday.

The House of Commons Treasury Committee confirmed that it will release the assessments as soon as they are received, before questioning Chancellor Philip Hammond, Bank governor Mark Carney and FCA chief executive Andrew Bailey the following week.

Committee chairman Nicky Morgan said the analysis would provide Parliament with a full and frank assessment of the deal, and confirmed the cross-party panel would write to all MPs about the evidence it receives ahead of the meaningful vote, which is expected in the week of December 10.

Ahead of the vote in Parliament, Mrs May has already started a campaign of selling her deal directly to the public, in the hope their support can win round MPs opposed to the plan.

Mrs Mays spokesman declined to confirm or deny reports that Number 10 is considering a possible TV debate with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

A Labour Party spokesman said: Jeremy would relish a head-to-head debate with Theresa May about her botched Brexit deal and the future of the country.

In her Commons statement, the Prime Minister will say: Our duty as a Parliament over these coming weeks is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest.

There is a choice which MPs will have to make. We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people.

Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one  It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.

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She will say that the national interest is clear and the British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum.

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson branded the Prime Ministers deal a disaster and a humiliation for the UK.

In his regular Daily Telegraph column, he said: The other EU countries have signed the deal immediately, because they know that they have us exactly where they want us.

We are a satellite state  a memento mori fixed on the walls of Brussels as a ghastly gaping warning to all who try to escape.

More than 80 Tories have rejected the deal, with opposition parties  and Mrs Mays allies in the DUP  also set to oppose it.

Also writing in the Telegraph, deputy DUP leader Nigel Dodds demanded the Government go back to the negotiating table rather than waste any more time putting forward false choices.

We are heading under this deal for Brexit in name only or the break-up of the United Kingdom, he warned.

The tragedy is that it is all so utterly unnecessary.
Regal look: the Duchess of Sussex wearing Safiyaa at the Royal Variety Performance

The Duchess of Sussex had a night out on the town last Monday as she attended her first Royal Variety Performance. As is the case any time Meghan leaves the house, all eyes were on her outfit.

It would seem like she was harking back to the Nineties in a halterneck top. However, this wasn't any old top but rather a striking, sequinned situation from London-based brand Safiyaa, with a long black skirt to match.

This is the second time Meghan has worn something by Safiyaa, perhaps in a bid to pay tribute to her new home town. This undoubtedly won't be the last we'll hear of the label now it has the duchess' seal of approval, so here's everything you need to know about it...

Who is behind the label?

Meghan has a strong reputation for supporting women - just take her empowering speech during the recent trip to New Zealand when she said: "Women's suffrage is about feminism, but feminism is about fairness."

So it perhaps comes as no surprise that she wants to champion female-led brands like Safiyaa. The label was founded in 2011 by Daniela Karnuts and is named after her daughter. In fact, the website specifies Safiyaa is "created by women for women".

Karnuts says: "It is the idea of our brand becoming for dresses what Savile Row is for suits."

What's the aesthetic?

Safiyaa's vibe is all about sleek elegance - perfect for the wardrobe of a duchess. These aren't the kind of clothes you pop to the shops in, but are definitely for a fancy event. So much of what Karnuts does is bespoke, meaning there's a heavy emphasis on tailoring throughout her designs.

Even if Safiyaa's aesthetic is formal and elegant, it still has a strong sense of fun. Sequins and glitter appliques are a common sight, just like on Meghan's bodice. Just because something is well-tailored definitely doesn't have to mean it can't be glamorous.

So what about Meghan's outfit?

In case you wanted to get the full duchess look, Meghan's wearing the Malaya top (895) and Gayeta fishtail skirt (595) from the brand's Resort 19 collection.

If you've heard the name Safiyaa before, it might be because Meghan wore a royal blue cape dress by the brand when attending a state dinner in Fiji last month.

And Meghan's sequinned halterneck situation is giving us serious flashbacks to another iconic royal fashion moment.

Back in 1994 Princess Diana wore a black glittery halterneck to a charity concert in Paris, designed by another London-based designer - Catherine Walker.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned there is no fall-back position if Parliament rejects the draft Brexit divorce deal cleared by the bloc's 28 governments.

Mr Varadkar said at the close of the special Brexit summit in Brussels: "There isn't a plan B. The truth is what we have here is the best deal that is available both for the United Kingdom and for the European Union."

It took the EU leaders just 38 minutes to approve the 585-page legal withdrawal agreement and an accompanying 26-page declaration which will inform negotiations on a future EU-UK relationship over trade and other issues once Brexit kicks in.

The formal separation is set to take effect at 11pm on March 29, but a transitional grace period means nothing will change until at least December 31, 2020, and this period will very probably be extended by another year or even two years.

There was an air of gloom at the EU conference centre in Brussels as the UK's 46-year relationship with the EU moved decisively towards the point of no-return.

"Everybody around the table would like the UK to stay but we respect the decision they made in the referendum," the Taoiseach said.

It is expected to be approved by the European Parliament in February. But by far the biggest challenge comes next month in the UK Parliament where Prime Minister Theresa May faces huge opposition from both supporters of Brexit and advocates of the strongest possible links with the EU.

Mrs May said: "It will be one of the most significant votes that Parliament has held.

"On it will depend whether we move forward together into a brighter future or open the door to yet more division and uncertainty.

"The British people don't want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit.

"They want a good deal done that fulfils the vote and allows us to come together again as a country.

"I will take this deal back to the House of Commons, confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country."

Mr Varadkar said since it was clear the UK would not be staying in the EU, this deal was the next best thing from an Irish point of view. He insisted that the deal was the only one available and people should not seek alternatives options.

"Let's not forget what we have here.

"We have an agreement that took between 18 months and two years to negotiate, it is in several parts, is over 500 pages long and as of today has the support of 28 governments," the Taoiseach said.

"What's on the table is the only deal that's on the table," he added, stressing that there was no room for re-negotiation.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker also warned that there could be no return to the negotiating table if the deal was rejected.

"This is the deal. It's the best deal possible and the EU will not change its fundamental position when it comes to these issues," he said.

"Those who think by rejecting the deal that they would have a better deal will be disappointed in the first seconds after the rejection of this deal."
Despite the evidence of mounting opposition to her deal, the Prime Minister has signed up to it without asking for a single change. Some people may regard it as being resilient; most will see it as further proof that Number 10 just doesn't listen.

So, we have ended up with the worst possible outcome. Leave voters are outraged at the betrayal of Brexit and Remain voters are asking what on earth is the point of losing all our say, but still taking the EU's rules.

The more people pore over the details, the more problematic the whole mish-mash becomes.

The political declaration, despite previous promises, does not set out a clear future relationship and raises significant issues in its own right. And the legally binding Withdrawal Agreement is fatally and fundamentally flawed.

Yes, it contains some things which are fine, such as on citizens' rights and mutual recognition issues and the like.

But hundreds of pages are devoted to the Irish backstop, which kicks in automatically after the transition period and lasts unless and until the EU decides something else it prefers can replace it.

Back in December 2017, we advised the Prime Minister not to sign up to the joint report, but she went ahead. Deciding a fall-back position before even starting the talks on the final arrangements was always a nonsense.

And the provisos she entered to safeguard Northern Ireland's position have now been deleted.

Where's the final say promised to Northern Ireland in Paragraph 50, for instance?

The backstop puts Northern Ireland under swathes of EU laws with no say for anyone in Belfast, or London. It creates a trade border down the Irish Sea.

Those who say this backstop is good for our economy, or business, need to consider the effect of the trade barriers and growing divergence that would inevitably emerge - some immediately, most in future years - between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, our main market and from where most of our inward trade comes.

No wonder even the Chancellor of the Exchequer said it's not good for our economy; it's not good for our Union.

On top of that, it forces the UK as a whole into a customs union and taking the rules of the EU with no right to leave and no end-date.

Far from being an insurance policy unlikely ever to be used, it is the baseline for the EU. Thus, the backstop gives enormous advantage and leverage to the EU in the next stage of the negotiations on the final trade relationship.

Just imagine how those negotiations will end up if this is the evidence of how we do it so far.

We are heading, under this deal, for Brexit in name only, or the break-up of the United Kingdom.

The tragedy is that it is all so utterly unnecessary, since everyone, including Dublin, Brussels and London, say they are not going to have a hard border on the island of Ireland under any circumstances, including in a so-called "no deal" scenario.

Project Fear will now be ramped up and negotiation fatigue will be exploited to try to force people into accepting what the PM always said she would resist: a bad deal.

We will be told by the EU that nothing can be changed - take it or leave it - until, of course, the moment they change it.

We may even be told all sorts of assurances can be made in London. However, if it's not in the legally binding Withdrawal Treaty, that would be difficult.

So, parliament is being presented with a plan that locks us into an EU straitjacket and leaves us divided and diminished.

There is a better way. Rather than waste any more time putting forward false choices, we need the Government to get on with securing a better deal.

Our party wants a good deal for the United Kingdom, a deal which delivers upon the referendum result and a deal which ensures that Northern Ireland leaves with the rest of the UK.

But it is not this deal. It is not a deal at any price.
The leaders of the four pro-Remain Claire Bailey, Michelle O'Neill, Colum Eastwood and Stephen Farry pictured at Stormont after weekend talks by the Prime minister surrounding Brexit.

Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with Northern Ireland political leaders on Tuesday in a bid to garner support for the withdrawal deal.

On Sunday, leaders from 27 EU countries gave their backing to a deal following 20 months of negotiations.

Appearing at Stormont on Monday was Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance Party MLA Stephen McFarry, and Green party leader Clare Bailey.

Each of the parties oppose Britain leaving the EU, but have supported the withdrawal agreement.

Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill confirmed the parties would be meeting with the Prime Minister on Tuesday.

Mrs O'Neill said the DUP - which is vociferously opposed to the withdrawal deal due to the backstop clause which could maintain regulatory alignment between the EU and Northern Ireland - was on the "wrong side of this argument".

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"They have tried to make Brexit an orange and green issue, it most certainly is not," she said.

LIVE: Cross-party statement on Brexit after meeting with business leaders Posted by Belfast Telegraph on Monday, November 26, 2018

She described the current proposal as the "only deal in town" and the "least worst option".

SDLP leader Mr Eastwood said the parties would be glad to meet with the DUP and discuss the issue.

"The vast majority of people here want protection if Brexit is going to come," he said.

"The DUP should look at this very, very clearly."

He added that the principle of consent included in the Good Friday Agreement - which states Northern Ireland will remain part of United Kingdom or join a united Ireland depending on the majority will of its people - would remain in place if the agreement is approved in Parliament.

Green party leader Ms Bailey called on the DUP to "come forward with a solution that they feel would be more acceptable".

Senior DUP politicians are also in Stormont on Monday morning to meet with leaders from the business community.

Theresa May now faces a battle to secure parliamentary backing for the agreement, with uncertainty over what will happen if it is voted down in the House of Commons in the second week of December.

She is expected to spend the next two weeks touring the country drumming up support for the agreement.

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March 2019.
Boris Johnson said the UK is on the brink of an "historic mistake" - comparing Theresa May's Brexit plan to the Titanic heading toward disaster.

The former Foreign Secretary was speaking at the DUP conference in Belfast, where he demanded the scrapping of the Irish border backstop.

"The Titanic springs to mind, and now is the time to point out the iceberg ahead," the Tory MP said.

"This deal risks further economic and political humiliation.

"Nowhere has a more illustrious history than Northern Ireland when it comes to the creation of recreational watercraft.

"The Titanic springs to mind.

"And now is the time to point out the iceberg ahead."

Mr Johnson, who was guest speaker at the annual DUP gathering, also stressed the need for the Tories to protect their faltering confidence and supply agreement with the DUP amid ongoing Brexit uncertainty.

He echoed DUP calls for the Prime Minister to bin the proposals that could see the region operate under different regulatory rules to the rest of the UK after Brexit.

"Unless we junk this backstop, we will find that Brussels has got us exactly where they want us - a satellite state," said the Tory MP.

The leading Brexiteer warned that the draft Brexit deal is in danger of turning Northern Ireland into an "economic semi-colony" of the EU.
People with an urgent referral to see a neurologist in Belfast can expect to wait 68 weeks for an appointment, it can be revealed today.

This means it will be February 2020 before people currently suspected of having conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's disease will see a hospital doctor for the first time.

Meanwhile, the wait for a routine first outpatient appointment with a neurologist in the Belfast Trust is 246 weeks - three months short of five years.

The figures released by the Belfast Trust have highlighted the devastating reality facing patients who could potentially have debilitating, life-changing and even fatal neurological conditions.

It is a further blow for the struggling service, coming as health officials manage the recall of thousands of neurology patients in the Belfast Trust.

Medics are currently seeing an additional 1,044 former patients of Dr Michael Watt in the second phase of the recall.

They have already seen more than 2,000 patients in the past seven months after concerns were raised about Dr Watt's work. The scandal is also making it difficult for patients who are desperate for treatment and are unable to wait for NHS care to see a neurology specialist.

The earliest available appointment at two of the biggest private hospitals is in mid-February, while the waiting list at another clinic is six to eight months.

It comes as neurologists who work at private clinics are devoting their spare time to running recall clinics and have scaled back on private work.

With a shortage of neurologists, NHS neurology waiting lists had already been creeping upwards before the recall was announced.

Health officials have insisted the recall process is not impacting upon the waiting times for first outpatient and review appointments.

However, David Galloway, director of MS Society NI, said: "Undoubtedly the recent patient recall has put additional strain on an already stretched service and increased the workload of the dedicated MS specialists who currently hold the service together. I am concerned the recall will impact further on these waiting times.

"The Department has made assurances that first time appointments will not be made worse. The same cannot be guaranteed for review appointments.

"Simply put, many of Dr Watt's patients will ultimately need to be added to the caseload of another specialist consultant."

Mr Galloway said the current crisis being faced by neurology is bringing into sharp focus the difficulty being faced by patients waiting for appointments.

He continued: "The Department of Health announced a review of neurology back in July.

"There is much work for that review to complete in order to tackle waiting times, provide patients with the standard of service they deserve and ensure sustainable, safe working conditions for medical professionals.

"The review needs to engage directly with patients and charities and bring tangible recommendations for improvement which the Department will need to deliver on.

"This review is an important part of restoring public confidence in neurology."

Northern Ireland Director of Parkinson's UK Nicola Moore said: "We are very aware of the issues people with Parkinson's are facing in regards to long waiting lists for neurology appointments and continue to highlight our concerns.

"The stress of waiting for an appointment can exacerbate Parkinson's symptoms and cause further deterioration of the health of someone living with the condition."

Paula Bradshaw, Alliance Party health spokeswoman, said the waiting times are unacceptable.

She said long-running promises made by the Department of Health to address problems in the service have not delivered for patients.

"One of my primary concerns is the emotional wellbeing of the patients on the waiting list," she said. "This, in itself, is creating further pressures on the system as conditions worsen and mental wellbeing suffers."

A spokesman from the Belfast Trust said it is working with the Health & Social Care Board to resolve the situation.

He said: "We appreciate waiting times are much longer than we would like. Across Northern Ireland there is a shortage of neurology consultants for this complex and high demand service and therefore demand is outstripping capacity."
Almost two years after the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal led to the collapse of Stormont, Arlene Foster has publicly apologised for her party's role in the handling of the failed green energy scheme.

She said some of the decisions made by the DUP during the scheme period "left a lot to be desired" and acknowledged the financial scandal had "personally hurt and offended" many DUP members, voters and the public.

The RHI was set up in 2012 to encourage the uptake of eco-friendly heat systems - but overly-generous subsidies left the taxpayer with a potential bill of 490m.

Mrs Foster was in charge of the Stormont department that set up the flawed scheme and faced calls to stand down as First Minister.

She refused to step aside and in the fall-out, Sinn Fein collapsed the Executive in January 2017.

A public inquiry has since exposed internal rows between senior DUP members, the hierarchical world of unelected special advisers and the power they wielded, as well as how codes that set standards for public life were ignored to get business done.

On Saturday, Mrs Foster told her party conference: "Today as leader of the party I apologise.

"As a party we are deeply, deeply, sorry for the mistakes we made, and for the things we got wrong during that period.

"The public inquiry has been difficult for many individually and painful for the party collectively.

"No party would want to have all of its dealings exposed for all to see at a public inquiry, especially in the unique system of government we have, with the struggles and strains required to make it work. But I make no excuses.

"We will work hard to make amends and regain the support and trust of those who were upset by what they saw unfolding over the last number of months. This has been a very difficult period for our party in particular and for Northern Ireland politics as a whole.

"My motivation in government was always to do the right thing at the right time and for the right reasons. But the best of intentions doesn't make you immune from mistakes or misjudgments.

"Some of our past decisions and actions have left a lot to be desired, and I know that they have personally hurt and offended many of our members, voters and the public."

Mrs Foster said she was "determined our party will learn the lessons from RHI and how government business was conducted at Stormont more generally" and conceded that there are "many lessons to learn".

She said that one lesson was that they need to choose "the best people" as ministers and to examine how special advisers are appointed, how they operate and how they are regulated.

"But simply changing processes and procedures will not be enough," she said. "We must go further and ensure that we are engaged in an ongoing process of renewal and self examination."
DUP Leader Arlen Foster pictured with Dianne Dodds after a meeting with Retail and Manufacturing representatives around how Brexit will affect their Industry. Presseye/Stephen Hamilton

Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said she had a "very useful meeting" with around 30 representatives of the business and farming communities in Northern Ireland at Stormont on Monday.

"We reiterated why we couldn't support the Withdrawal Agreement - because it is a legally-binding international document that treats Northern Ireland differently from the rest of the UK, but also imposes rules in the longer-term from Europe over which we would have no democratic say, neither would any businesses nor the farming community," she said.

"It was a very useful meeting, we will continue having meetings with the business community."

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When asked whether she had apologised to the business leaders over a comment by Democratic Unionist MP Sammy Wilson, calling them puppets for the Northern Ireland Office, Mrs Foster said it "wasn't for her to raise it".

"It wasn't raised during the meeting by any of the business community, what we talked about was the fact that the media have been trying to put a wedge between the political party and the business community, what we need to do is to have a very good working relationship, we might differ on different areas of policy but the one thing for sure is that we both care passionately about Northern Ireland and about the economic future of Northern Ireland, and so we are going to continue to have that dialogue in the future."
Shah Mehmood Qureshi welcomed India decision to send two ministers to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Sunday welcomed Indias decision to send two ministers to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur border corridor, terming it a positive response to Pakistans move.



Indian foreign ministry has responded well to Pakistans initiative in its bid to bring the Sikh community closer, Qureshi said during his visit to the stall of Indian High Commission here at a charity bazar organized by the Pakistan Foreign Office Womens Association (PFOWA).



Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in reply to Foreign Minister Qureshis letter has confirmed sending Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri to attend the Kartarpur event scheduled for November 28.



Qureshi said with a single yet significant step, Pakistan has won the hearts of millions of Sikhs. He expressed confidence that Kartarpur corridor would attract members of Sikh community to Pakistan from across the globe including from the United States and the United Kingdom.The Sikh community will be greeted here with sentiments of love and they will take back positive image of Pakistan and its people, he said.



Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the Kartarpur border corridor will be opened soon, adding that it will be a historical event. He said Pakistan has taken a step towards peace and Prime Minister Imran Khan has shown that Pakistan stands for peace.He said only time will tell who is right and who is wrong, adding that one can see which country is pro-peace.



Gurdwara Darbar Sahib  located in the Kartarpur area of Narowal  is the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Devji.



Prime Minister Imran Khan will perform the groundbreaking of the four-kilometre-long corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak in Indias Gurdaspur district with Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. The corridor will provide visa-free access to Indian Sikh pilgrims to the shrine.



Pakistan government also invited Indian Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu besides 17 Indian journalists to the groundbreaking ceremony.The invitation was accepted with unalloyed joy by Sidhu, who termed the development as historic. This day will indeed break ground, Sidhu said in his response.



External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, however, said she will not be able to visit Pakistan due to prior commitments, and that two ministers will represent India at the ceremony.Due to my prior commitments, including election campaign scheduled in the state of Telangana on that day, I would not be able to travel to Kartarpur Sahib, she had said in a letter sent to the Foreign Office on Saturday, while thanking Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi for the invitation.It is our hope that the Government of Pakistan will expedite the construction of the corridor in order to ensure that our citizens can pay their respects at the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor as soon as possible, she had added.



On behalf of Pakistan I have extended an invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj @SushmaSwaraj ,Capt Amarinder Singh @capt_amarinder & Navjot Singh Sidhu @sherryontopp to attend the ground breaking ceremony at #Kartarpura on 28 Nov, 2018. #PakistanKartarpuraSpirit, Qureshi had tweeted earlier on Saturday.



India had last week approved the building of Kartarpur entry point and road connecting the northern state of Punjab to the border with Pakistan, making it quicker and easier for Sikh pilgrims to visit a holy site. Government of Pakistan will be urged to recognize the sentiments of the Sikh community and to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory as well, the Indian government had said in a statement.
Police at the scene of the fatal crash, which happened on theGlenshesk Road between Ballycastle and Armoy

The town of Ballycastle has been plunged into mourning after the tragic death of a young man in an overnight traffic accident.

The victim of the crash has been named locally as Sean McAlonan, believed to be in his early 20s and from the town.

He was one of three people travelling in a white Citroen Berlingo, which left the road in the early hours yesterday morning.

No other vehicles were involved in the horror smash.

The accident happened on the Glenshesk Road, a rural road, but one of the main routes between Ballycastle and Armoy, shortly before 6am.

The two other people in the van were taken to hospital, although their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

The Glenshesk Road remained closed yesterday, with diversions in place between the junctions of Drumavoley Road and Churchfield Road.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area while officers carried out investigations to establish how the incident happened.

The weekend crash brings to 52 the number of people killed on Northern Ireland's roads since the start of the year.

Causeway Coast & Glens councillor Cara McShane said that her heart went out to the families devastated by the overnight accident.

"Once again we are wakening up on a Sunday morning to news of an awful, awful tragedy and it's just heartbreaking," she said.

"It somehow feels worse because we are approaching Christmas and a family has been torn apart by this accident.

"It's terrible, a tragic and horrific incident, it has ripped out people's hearts today.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone in Ballycastle are with everyone impacted by this and the community will rally around them in the coming days and months."

Police have appealed for information about the crash and anyone who can assist their enquiries is asked to ring the non-emergency number 101.
A failure to invest in mental health services for new and expectant mothers in Northern Ireland could leave thousands of women without the required support, a charity has warned.

NSPCC Northern Ireland voiced concern after research indicated that an increased strain was being put on midwives and health visitors across the region.

The joint research conducted by NSPCC Northern Ireland, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors (CPHVA) involved a survey of 332 health visitors and midwives.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK which has not committed to investment of funds on this issueCaroline Cunningham

The organisations highlighted that mental health issues in the period before and after birth  perinatal  is a common problem, with around 10% of mothers impacted. This equates to around 2,400 in Northern Ireland every year.

Problems include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic distress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and postpartum psychosis.

The majority of the women affected are at the mild to moderate end of the spectrum, and will be managed in primary care settings, including GPs, health visitors and midwives.

However, the organisations behind the survey warned that, if untreated, perinatal mental illnesses could have a devastating impact on women, babies and families.

They claim the issue is currently receiving insufficient attention from health chiefs in Northern Ireland.

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The new report, Time For Action, highlighted what it described as gaps both in the identification of illnesses and the response once diagnosed.

Midwives and health visitors who took part in the research stressed that continuity of care and face-to-face time with mothers and babies was crucial.

But they said this requirement was undermined by underfunding, overwork and growing levels and complexity of demand.

The study found that while health visitors and midwives in Northern Ireland experienced similar types of challenges in identifying and responding to perinatal mental illnesses as their counterparts in the rest of the UK, they did not enjoy the same levels of investment made in England, Scotland and Wales.

The NSPCC NI and its partners claimed Northern Ireland was the only part of the UK not to sufficiently fund perinatal mental health care, despite hundreds of millions of pounds of extra funding being diverted to the region under the Barnett formula.

Caroline Cunningham, senior policy researcher at NSPCC Northern Ireland and lead author of the report, said: If left untreated, perinatal mental health conditions can have devastating consequences for women and their families and we know that many hundreds are affected by these problems every year in Northern Ireland.

Despite this, Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK which has not committed to investment of funds on this issue, despite major funding on perinatal mental health having been pledged via the Barnett formula.

Our research has identified important issues to be addressed around training, continuity of care, the lack of time that professionals have available to spend with women and families, and identification of perinatal health issues.

We want new mums, their families and their babies to have the best possible start to parenthood and believe this report identifies important opportunities for ensuring that every contact counts between families and their midwife or health visitor.

The most important thing to do is talk to someone and it is vitally important that women get the right help and supportSarah Jane Knox

A Co Londonderry mother said more needed to be done help mothers suffering from post-natal depression.

Sarah Jane Knox, 40, from Magherafelt, said the stigma attached to the condition needed to be broken down so more women come forward and ask for support.

On the outside I had it all  a new baby, a lovely home, grandparents and I am married to a GP, but post-natal depression is no respecter, she said.

It happened to me twice. I was a mess. The smallest task overwhelmed me and I felt like I was suffocating.

The most important thing to do is talk to someone and it is vitally important that women get the right help and support. This was the only way I found myself back from the brink and the bleakness.

I talked to my health visitor, my GP and my husband. They were fundamental to my diagnosis and recovery.

Karen Murray, Northern Ireland director at the Royal College of Midwives, said: This report adds to the available evidence that there are significant gaps in the provision of specialist perinatal mental health services in Northern Ireland.

The Royal College of Midwives recognises that perinatal mental illness has a significant impact on women and their families, and will continue to demand that women have access to a range of services which will ensure they receive the support and treatment they need from an appropriate professional at the earliest opportunity.

Responding to the research, a Department of Health spokeswoman said: The Department welcomes this initiative by the relevant bodies and will give careful consideration to their proposals.

Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together sets out the Departments 10-year vision for Health & Social Care.

In terms of the vision for mental health services specifically, the focus is on achieving parity of esteem for mental health services through the provision of early intervention and support in primary care, the development of specialist mental health services including perinatal mental health services and trauma services, partnership-working and co-produced design and delivery of mental health services which fully involves people using these services, and support for carers.

Funding has continued to increase year on year with spend on mental health services rising to over 267 million in 16/17.

The Department has also recently commenced work on a new 5 year plan with the aim of improving Mental Health services here.
A masked gang have raided the home of an elderly man and his vulnerable daughter, making off with a sum of cash.

The aggravated burglary happened on Sunday at around 8.30pm, in the rural Derrylettiff Road area to the west of Portadown.

Three masked men removed a sim card from a mobile phone and broke a second phone before ransacking other rooms in the house.

A sum of cash was taken from the home.

Detective Constable Joanne Jackson said: "This despicable crime has left an older man and his daughter extremely shaken and we are appealing to anyone with information to please get in touch with us. Witnesses can call 101, quoting reference 1226 25/11/18."
A man arrested by police for drink driving was so drunk he could not tell officers his name.

Police in Omagh have urged drivers to take more caution coming into the Christmas season.

Omagh PSNI posted on Facebook: "The Christmas party season isnt even on us yet, but from Thursday evening through to Sunday night police across Fermanagh and Omagh made 7 arrests for drink driving offences, with officers describing one man as being so drunk that he was unable to tell them his own name!

"Some of these drivers drew attention to themselves by crashing, weaving from lane to lane or speeding, but a number were reported by concerned members of the community."

On top of this, there were two uninsured cars taken off the roads.

The post added: "Those Christmas traffic jams mightnt be quite so bad this year! Thank you for helping us to keep the roads safe."
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said the DUP will do all it can to support Army veterans being targeted for prosecution, describing the "witch-hunt" as "inhumane" and "a travesty".

Addressing delegates at the party conference, he praised the "new spirit of remembrance" being shown by the Irish Government, while the British Government pursued its former soldiers over Troubles-era incidents.

"It pains all of us that the men and women who put on a uniform to protect our entire community from the evils of terrorism are now being targeted for prosecution, while the cowards whose criminal violence caused so much loss and destruction in this United Kingdom walk free," he said.

He highlighted the case of terminally-ill veteran Dennis Hutchings (77).

The former soldier is appealing to the Supreme Court a decision to try him for attempted murder over the killing of John Pat Cunningham in Benburb in 1974.

The 27-year-old, who had learning difficulties and a fear of anyone in uniform, was shot in the back by soldiers.

Sir Jeffrey said: "Yesterday I was proud to stand outside the Houses of Parliament alongside veterans of Operation Banner, the longest running military operation in the history of the British Army.

"Those veterans are continuing their campaign for recognition, calling on the Government to act to end this disgraceful witch-hunt against them.

"I talked with Dennis Hutchings... who, in his retirement, has been dragged from his home, away from his family and must stand trial for the shooting of a civilian some 44 years ago.

"No letter of comfort or royal prerogative of mercy for Dennis.

"This aged and unwell man must now face the full rigours of a trial, while the faceless sectarian murderers of Kingsmill, La Mon, Darkley and countless other atrocities walk the streets as free men.

"This is wrong. It is inhumane. It is unjust. It is a travesty and this party must never ever accept this.

"We must use every influence that we have to stand up for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, for those who gave their service to this country and for those who need our voice more now than ever.

"It is our turn to stand in the front line for them."

He called for the Armed Forces Covenant - the Government's manifesto commitment to personnel - to be extended to Northern Ireland.

He added: "The Government has a covenant with the armed forces, a covenant that does not fully extend to Northern Ireland. This is unacceptable and we have made this issue a priority in our confidence and supply arrangements.

"Let me give notice to the Government that we will not rest until that covenant is fully implemented in Northern Ireland and our veterans have the recognition and support that they need and deserve."

Sir Jeffrey paid tribute to the role the Irish Government played in marking the end of the First World War.

"Let us give credit where it is due to Enda Kenny, Leo Varadkar and their colleagues in the Irish parliament, many of whom have given a lead in breaking new ground for remembrance in the Irish Republic," he said.

"To the Royal British Legion (RoI) Branch who have led the acts of remembrance and to the ordinary Irish citizens who have supported the centenary in so many different ways.

"This has ensured that every Irish man and woman who volunteered to serve in the First World War has been properly remembered during this centenary."
The Commons will vote on the Brexit deal on December 11 (Victoria Jones/PA)

MPs will vote on Theresa Mays Brexit deal on December 11 after five days of debate, the Prime Minister has confirmed.

The timing gives Mrs May a fortnight to avert what threatens to be a humiliating defeat at the hands of scores of Conservative rebels.

The PM received a largely hostile reception as she told the House of Commons her Brexit deal delivers for the British people, and warned that rejecting it would put the UK on the path to division and uncertainty.

She was loudly barracked by MPs as she insisted that no better deal was available than the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on future relations endorsed by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.

Former minister Mark Francois branded her deal a surrender and said opposition from Eurosceptic Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party meant it was already dead as a dodo.

Ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon described the deal as a huge gamble which involved the UK paying a 39 billion divorce bill and giving up its votes and veto without any firm commitment on future trade relations.

But Mrs May said: I believe our national interest is clear.

The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country, whichever way we voted.

This is that deal. A deal that delivers for the British people.

I will take this deal back to the House of Commons confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country. #BackTheBrexitDeal pic.twitter.com/NBm2kGZU5B  Theresa May (@theresa_may) November 25, 2018

In a sign that she aims to go over fractious MPs heads and appeal directly to voters for their backing, Mrs May said parliamentarians had a duty to listen to their constituents before taking their decision in the national interest.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Commons would have very little choice but to reject Mrs Mays botched deal, which he described as bad for this country.

This is a bad deal for the country and Labour will oppose it in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/JXoMp19n2l  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 25, 2018

With 90 or more Conservative MPs indicating they could rebel in the meaningful vote, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay admitted Mrs May faces a challenging division.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker warned that there would be no more negotiation if MPs vote down the agreement, telling the BBC: This is the best deal for Britain  and this is the only deal possible, so if the House says no, we would have no deal.

Addressing the Commons the day after returning from Brussels, Mrs May said: I can say to the House with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available.

Our duty as a Parliament over these coming weeks is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest.

Mrs May said MPs faced a choice: We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people. Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one.

Because no-one knows what would happen if this deal doesnt pass. It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.

Everything you need to know #BackTheBrexitDealhttps://t.co/9IVUS7p46D  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) November 25, 2018

Mr Corbyn said: The Prime Minister says if we reject this deal, it will take us back to square one. The truth is, under this Government we have never got off square one.

This botched deal is still a bad deal for the country and all yesterday did was mark the end of this Governments failed and miserable negotiations.

Mrs May told MPs the Government had ensured that Gibraltar was covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and would negotiate a future relationship for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar.

She sent a message to residents of the Rock: We will always stand by you. We are proud that Gibraltar is British and our position on sovereignty has not and will not change.

In a riposte to French President Emmanuel Macrons suggestion that the EU could delay trade talks unless its fishermen were granted access to UK waters, the PM said: The EU have maintained throughout this process that they wanted to link overall access to markets to access to fisheries.

They failed in the Withdrawal Agreement, and they failed again in the Political Declaration.

It is no surprise some are already trying to lay down markers again for the future relationship, but they should be getting used to the answer by now: it is not going to happen.

The PM told her Cabinet at a meeting on Monday morning that Sundays agreement was a significant moment which had proved wrong those who said it would not be possible to reach a deal.

The two-hour meeting also heard an update from Mr Barclay on preparations for a possible no-deal Brexit, which are continuing despite the deal being agreed in Brussels.

Following her address to the Commons, Mrs May was due to host a meeting at 10 Downing Street of more than 100 investors and employers from sectors including manufacturing, retail, food and drink and financial services to discuss the Brexit plan.

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Meanwhile, Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and effective deputy prime minister David Lidington have invited opposition MPs to a briefing on the agreement.

But Downing Street sources said they were not aware of the Prime Minister seeking to speak to Labour MPs thought to be considering backing her deal.

Analysis by the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority of the impact of the Withdrawal Agreement and Future Framework on the UK economy is to be published on Thursday.

Ahead of the vote in Parliament, Mrs May has started a campaign to sell her deal directly to the public, with visits to all parts of the UK planned.

Her spokesman declined to confirm or deny reports that Number 10 is considering a possible TV debate with Mr Corbyn, something the Labour leader has made clear he would relish.
A police cordon near to Creggan Street, Londonderry, after the body of a man was discovered in an alleyway in the early hours of Sunday morning (Aoife Moore/PA)

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Londonderry man Eddie Meenan in the city on Sunday.

A 51-year-old man, who was arrested yesterday in connection with the murder, has been released on bail, pending further enquiries.

Detectives have been granted an additional 36 hours to question a 35-year-old woman who was also arrested on suspicion of murder.

Two men aged 26 and 31, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, remain in custody.

Eddie Meenan, 52, was discovered off Creggan Street in Derry in the early hours of Sunday.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said Mr Meenan had sustained significant head and body injuries.

Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, who is leading the investigation, has renewed an appeal for witnesses to come forward and speak to police.
Weapons found after the fire at Rodney Drive in west Belfast included AK-47 assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns and ammunition

Weapons found after the fire at Rodney Drive in west Belfast included AK-47 assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns and ammunition

Weapons found after the fire at Rodney Drive in west Belfast included AK-47 assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns and ammunition

Weapons found after the fire at Rodney Drive in west Belfast included AK-47 assault rifles, sawn-off shotguns and ammunition

A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the discovery of a stash of weapons believed to belong to the New IRA.

A 31-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were arrested under the Terrorism Act by detectives from the PSNI's Terrorism Investigation Unit on Monday.

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The suspects have been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.

The pair were arrested in the Ballymurphy area of west Belfast on suspicion of dissident republican activity in connection to the weapons find.

Police uncovered the cache in a residential boiler house on Rodney Drive on November 14.

The weapons, believed to belong to the New IRA and possibly used in attempts to murder police officers, included: Two AK-47 assault rifles, two sawn-off shotguns, a high-powered rifle with a silencer fitted, three pipe bombs and more than 100 assorted rounds of ammunition.

The weapons were discovered after the boiler house caught on fire.

On Wednesday police said searches were carried out at two properties in the area with a number of items being seized and sent for forensic examination, including a small quantity of suspected Class B drugs.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Griffin said: As part of our investigations into ongoing dissident republican activity we have arrested a man and a woman earlier today [Monday]. This was in connection to the discovery of a substantial amount of weapons and ammunition which we strongly believe belongs to the New IRA.

These weapons and ammunition were stored in a reckless manner, on top of a hot boiler in a residential area. Some of the rounds exploded during a fire which caused significant danger to local residents who were in the area and highlighted once again that these terrorists really do not care about the safety of anyone living in their community.

We will continue to disrupt the activities of those who wish to terrorise the community with their twisted ideologies so that people can live without fear.
Similar passion for dam as during 1965 war: CJP

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday night said all Pakistanis were contributing funds for the construction of dams and he only witnessed similar passion during the 1965 war.



All Pakistanis are very exuberant and contributing with passion, Justice Nisar said while speaking to a private TV channel in Manchester after his successful live telethon.



From a four-year-old to an 84-year-old, the entire country is proactive. This is no ordinary situation and has become a campaign, he added.



The chief justice continued, The entire nation is involved and I have never seen such passion before except maybe during the 1965 war. I appreciate the passion.



Responding to a question regarding his announcement of starting an awareness campaign for family planning from next month in light of a population blast happening in the country, the top judge said, We had created a taskforce for family planning under Health Secretary Captain (r) Zahid Saeed which comprised experts from all over Pakistan.
Police and forensic experts at the scene between Creggan Street and Bull Park in Derry

Police have arrested two people on suspicion of murder after the body of a man was discovered in Londonderry.

Eddie Meenan, a grandfather in his 50s, was found in an alleyway linking the Little Diamond and Creggan Street in the Bogside after police were called to a disturbance shortly before 3am yesterday.

He had suffered significant injuries.

A 35-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man are being held by police.

The area remained sealed off for most of yesterday while forensics teams carried out an investigation.

A tent was erected over Mr Meenan's body, which was found yards from Bull Park children's playground.

People attending Mass at St Eugene's Cathedral, inside the police cordon, were asked to pray for the victim.

Mr Meenan was described as a "gentleman" and a "good fella with a great sense of humour".

His daughter Aoife commented on a social media post that she "had no words" and that she couldn't "get her head around" his brutal murder. His other daughter Shannon said that her "heart is broken".

Friends also took to social media to pay tribute.

One said: "He was such a good laugh and great friend indeed to those that loved him." Another said: "He was a wee gem, a gentleman."

One resident of the Little Diamond, who did not wish to be identified, said the community was in shock.

"We just woke up to the street being cordoned off. We didn't know what happened until the news filtered through," she said.

"There is unbelievable shock, this street is so quiet usually. Everyone is so upset. It's the poor family of this man that we feel so sorry for. We are praying hard for them.

"At this time of year especially, nobody needs to go through this. It is just awful that something like this could happen. Our prayers are steady for them."

Speaking at the scene, SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said the thoughts of the community were solely with the victim's family.

"The city has woken up to the awful news that a man has lost his life in the Bogside," he said.

"And while there is shock and horror across the city, it pales in comparison to what that man's family must be feeling this morning.

"To wake up to that news is just unimaginable.

"Our thoughts and prayers of the whole Derry community are with the family today.

"I would also like to echo the police appeal for witnesses. Anyone who saw anything, or knows anything, anyone who might think they saw anything relating to this awful incident, should come forward."

Earlier Detective Chief Inspector Eamonn Corrigan appealed for information.

He said: "Shortly before 2.45am on Sunday morning, police received a report that the body of a young man had been discovered in an alleyway on Creggan Street.

"The man has sustained significant injuries to his head and body and a post-mortem examination is due to take place to determine the cause of death.

"A 35-year-old woman and 51-year-old man were arrested in the city on Sunday on suspicion of murder and are currently in police custody.

"I am continuing to appeal for anyone who was in the Creggan Street or Little Diamond area of the city late last night or early this morning and who witnessed anything, or anyone who has any information that can assist with my investigation, to contact detectives on 101 quoting reference 244 of 25/11/18." Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The area between Creggan Street and Little Diamond remained closed as police conducted follow-up enquiries.

Police thanked the public for their patience and asked them to avoid the area.
A 32-year-old man has been arrested in connection with dissident republican pipe bomb attacks in Strabane in 2017.

He was arrested under the Terrorism Act by detectives from the PSNIs Terrorism Investigation Unit on Monday.

The man was arrested on suspicion of dissident republican activity including pipe bomb attacks in the town in 2017.

He has been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.

Speaking about the arrest, Detective Inspector Andrew Hamlin said: As part of our ongoing investigation into dissident republican activity, a man was arrested earlier today in connection to two pipe bomb attacks in the Drumrallagh estate in Strabane in July 2017 and in Melmount Villas in August 2017.

"The suspect has also been arrested in connection to a hoax pipe bomb which was left at the Footbridge in the town in March this year which caused serious disruption to the area.

One of the attacks involved a device being thrown through the bedroom window of a home where an older person was sleeping. Thankfully, it didnt explode or it could have caused serious harm. In the other reckless attack a viable pipe bomb type device was left in a residential area causing people to be evacuated from their homes.

We are committed to disrupting the activity of the dissident republicans who carry out these types of attacks. They clearly have no regard for the safety of the people living in Strabane and we know that the vast majority of people within the local community are disgusted with their actions. We will continue to dismantle these individuals with their twisted ideologies and free communities from the threat they pose.
A 32-year-old man arrested in connection with dissident republican pipe bomb attacks in Strabane in 2017 has been unconditionally released.

He was arrested under the Terrorism Act by detectives from the PSNIs Terrorism Investigation Unit on Monday.

The man was arrested on suspicion of dissident republican activity including pipe bomb attacks in the town in 2017.

He was taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning before later being released.

Speaking at the time of the arrest, Detective Inspector Andrew Hamlin said: As part of our ongoing investigation into dissident republican activity, a man was arrested earlier today in connection to two pipe bomb attacks in the Drumrallagh estate in Strabane in July 2017 and in Melmount Villas in August 2017.

"The suspect has also been arrested in connection to a hoax pipe bomb which was left at the Footbridge in the town in March this year which caused serious disruption to the area."
Police officers cordoned off Little May Street in Belfast city centre following a report of a sexual assault on Sunday November 25.

Police have launched an investigation following a report of a sexual assault on a woman in Belfast city centre.

The incident was reported to have happened in the Little May Street area of Belfast on Sunday morning. PSNI forensics officers in white full-body suits were seen examining the crime scene in the cordoned-off street yesterday as the probe into the incident began.

Little May Street is a narrow back street which is only a few yards away from Belfast City Hall and the city's central business district and the busy continental Christmas market.

In a statement which was issued last night, the police said that its investigations into the alleged sex assault were continuing.

No further information about the attack was available at the time of going to press.
Prime Minister Theresa May making a statement in the House of Commons in London on Brexit. (PA Wire/PA Images)

Theresa May has told the House of Commons that she has secured a Brexit deal which delivers for the British people and warned that rejecting it would put the UK on the path to division and uncertainty.

But the Prime Minister was loudly barracked by MPs as she insisted that no better deal was available to Britain than the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on future relations endorsed by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.

In a sign that she aims to go over fractious MPs heads and appeal directly to voters for their backing, Mrs May said parliamentarians had a duty to listen to their constituents before taking their decision in the national interest.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Commons would have very little choice but to reject Mrs Mays botched deal, which he described as bad for this country.

With scores of Conservative MPs threatening to rebel, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has admitted Mrs May faces a challenging vote when her deal comes before the Commons in early December.

But European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker warned that there would be no more negotiation if MPs vote down the agreement, telling the BBC: This is the best deal for Britain  and this is the only deal possible, so if the House says no, we would have no deal.

I will take this deal back to the House of Commons confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country. #BackTheBrexitDeal pic.twitter.com/NBm2kGZU5B  Theresa May (@theresa_may) November 25, 2018

Addressing the Commons the day after returning from Brussels, Mrs May said: I can say to the House with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available.

Our duty as a Parliament over these coming weeks is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest. 

Mrs May said MPs faced a choice: We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people.

Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one.

Because no-one knows what would happen if this deal doesnt pass.

It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.

She said: I believe our national interest is clear.

The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country, whichever way we voted.

This is that deal. A deal that delivers for the British people.

Mr Corbyn retorted: The Prime Minister says if we reject this deal, it will take us back to square one.

The truth is, under this Government we have never got off square one.

This botched deal is still a bad deal for the country and all yesterday did was mark the end of this Governments failed and miserable negotiations.

PM has secured a deal which respects the referendum result, ends free movement, gives us control of our money, laws and borders, and maintains the ability to strike trade deals around the world #BackTheBrexitDeal  Steve Barclay (@SteveBarclay) November 25, 2018

Mrs May told MPs that the UK Government had ensured that Gibraltar was covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and would negotiate a future relationship for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar.

She sent a message to residents of the Rock: We will always stand by you.

We are proud that Gibraltar is British and our position on sovereignty has not and will not change.

In a riposte to French President Emmanuel Macrons suggestion that the EU could delay trade talks unless its fishermen were granted access to UK waters, the PM said: The EU have maintained throughout this process that they wanted to link overall access to markets to access to fisheries.

They failed in the Withdrawal Agreement, and they failed again in the Political Declaration.

It is no surprise some are already trying to lay down markers again for the future relationship, but they should be getting used to the answer by now: it is not going to happen.

The PM told her Cabinet at a meeting on Monday morning that Sundays agreement was a significant moment which had proved wrong those who said it would not be possible to reach a deal.

The two-hour meeting also heard an update from Mr Barclay on preparations for a possible no-deal Brexit, which are continuing despite the deal being agreed in Brussels.

Following her address to the Commons, Mrs May was due to host a meeting at 10 Downing Street of more than 100 investors and employers from sectors including manufacturing, retail, food and drink and financial services to discuss the Brexit plan.

Everything you need to know #BackTheBrexitDealhttps://t.co/9IVUS7p46D  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) November 25, 2018

Meanwhile, Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and effective deputy prime minister David Lidington are understood to have invited Labour MPs to a briefing on the agreement.

Asked on Radio 4s Today how the Government will get Mrs Mays deal through Parliament, Mr Barclay, who only took over the role from Dominic Raab earlier this month, said: Well, its going to be a challenging vote.

But its now the job of all of us in Cabinet to make the case to our colleagues, make the case to the country.

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Analysis by the Bank of England and Financial Conduct Authority of the impact of the Withdrawal Agreement and Future Framework on the UK economy is to be published on Thursday.

The House of Commons Treasury Committee confirmed that it will release the assessments as soon as they are received, before questioning Chancellor Philip Hammond, Bank governor Mark Carney and FCA chief executive Andrew Bailey the following week.

Ahead of the vote in Parliament, Mrs May has already started a campaign to sell her deal directly to the public, with visits to all parts of the UK in the hope their support can win round MPs.

Mrs Mays spokesman declined to confirm or deny reports that Number 10 is considering a possible TV debate with Jeremy Corbyn, something the Labour leader has made clear he would relish.
An artists impression of how the bridge could look

The professor who envisaged a bridge linking Northern Ireland to Scotland has received a flood of emails from UK professionals after the idea was again highlighted by Boris Johnson.

The idea of constructing a bridge across the Irish Sea was proposed by Professor Alan Dunlop in February of this year.

The leading architect revealed he had received more than a dozen unsolicited emails from engineers and geologists inquiring about the project since the speech on Saturday.

It has been bubbling along since January, said Professor Dunlop.

I thought that was the end of it, and then something else happens.

And then with Boris Johnson, Karen Bradley and the DUP bringing it up again, it just seems like a potential story and narrative which keeps moving on.

Last week the bridge was raised during a discussion in the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee in Westminster.

Responding to a question from the DUPs Ian Paisley, Secretary of State Karen Bradley said she was willing to have a discussion about commissioning a feasibility study on the bridge, but noted there were issues around the sea bed and the current site of the proposed bridge link.

Addressing the DUP annual conference on Saturday, former foreign secretary Mr Johnson said proposals for a bridge link were being held back by the absence of political will.

I think that there will be a feasibility study, which is all I can ask for. Thats all Ive ever asked for, said Professor Dunlop.

I am not suggesting for a moment it is going to be a walk in the park. Instead people providing opinions about whether it can be done or not, it would be good to actually get the facts.

Mr Johnson first expressed his support for a bridge back in June, when he called for the proposal to be taken seriously.

Mr Dunlop first envisioned the idea for the bridge link after being asked to do so by a newspaper in Scotland.

He laid out two proposals for the route  one from Larne and Portpatrick, potentially costing around 20bn; or a shorter crossing between the Mull of Kintyrne and Torr Head, which could cost between 12bn and 15bn.

The proposal received a boost in March after a spokesman for the Scottish Government said it would initiate discussions to explore improving connectivity between the island of Ireland and Scotland, adding it was important that all options are fully considered.
Still no team handshakes in Cliftonville and Linfield row

A row has erupted after funding of 17,000 was found for a council delegation to travel to the US on a trade mission.

The party from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council making the trip to Phoenix, Arizona, included nine councillors and representatives from seven businesses.

While the council said it expects more than $1m (780,000) in trade deals as a result of the visit to its twin city of Gilbert from November 13 to 21, one representative has said the council should be putting the interests of ratepayers first. The council confirmed the trip cost 1,000 per person, with it also meeting expenses.

Sinn Fein councillor AnneMarie Logue said it won't sit well with residents who have seen cuts to their services.

She said: "If, as they say, there's 1m in trade deals coming this way then that's great, but I went on this trip a couple of years ago and I've yet to see the benefits.

"Is there a proper business case demonstrating the worth of undertaking such a trip with so many people?

"We live in an age of technology, so what's wrong with using Skype to talk to our friends in the USA? I'm sure our ratepayers will appreciate the council looking at ways to save money and put it into our communities instead.

"We've seen a town like Crumlin denied a Christmas tree due to a lack of funding. We have street lighting that needs fixed but budget constraints mean people are being left in the dark.

"First and foremost we would be serving the needs of our ratepayers by providing the services they expect."

Harry Fone of right-wing pressure group the TaxPayers' Alliance also expressed concern.

"When taxpayers work long hours and hand over their money to the Government they expect it to go on first class public services, not trips to the States for politicians," he said.

"Some families paying big rates bills can barely afford a holiday for themselves, so paying for flights and hotels for officials will not go down well."

Antrim and Newtownabbey mayor Paul Michael led the delegation.

It also included council chief executive Jacqui Dixon and her husband, who travelled at his own expense, plus representatives from several businesses - including some from outside the borough.

But Mr Michael claimed at least $1m will be generated for the economy by the visit.

"This trip will pay for itself many times over," he said.

"Over 42 business sales appointments were made in advance of the trip and this has been fundamental to its success.

"We also promoted our new Game Of Thrones global tourist attraction to over 10,000 potential customers at an international event during the visit.

"This visit, and the link with Gilbert and the Phoenix area, represents a legitimate, significant part of our economic development strategy and we will continue to explore opportunities."
Theresa Mays hopes of getting her Brexit deal through the Commons have been dealt a major blow after US President Donald Trump said it may harm trade with America.

Mr Trump said that he wanted the Prime Minister to do something about the agreement to ensure the UK can trade with the US more freely.

Referring to the Brexit agreement, Mr Trump told reporters: Sounds like a great deal for the EU.

I think we have to take a look at, seriously, whether or not the UK is allowed to trade.

Because, you know, right now, if you look at the deal, they may not be able to trade with us. And that wouldnt be a good thing.

I dont think they meant that.

I dont think that the Prime Minister meant that. And, hopefully, shell be able to do something about that.

But, right now, as the deal stands she may not, they may not, be able to trade with the US. And, I dont think they want that at all.

That would be a very big negative for the deal.

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In response to Mr Trumps comments, a Downing Street spokesman said: The political declaration we have agreed with the EU is very clear we will have an independent trade policy so that the UK can sign trade deals with countries around the world  including with the US.

We have already been laying the groundwork for an ambitious agreement with the US through our joint working groups, which have met five times so far.

The US Trade Representative also issued a call for views from the public on a future UK-US free trade agreement earlier this month.

Mr Trumps intervention came as it was confirmed that MPs will vote on Mrs Mays Brexit deal on December 11 after five days of debate.

The timing gives Mrs May a fortnight to avert what threatens to be a humiliating defeat at the hands of scores of Conservative rebels.

I will take this deal back to the House of Commons confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country. #BackTheBrexitDeal pic.twitter.com/NBm2kGZU5B  Theresa May (@theresa_may) November 25, 2018

The PM received a largely hostile reception as she told the House of Commons her Brexit deal delivers for the British people, and warned that rejecting it would put the UK on the path to division and uncertainty.

She was loudly barracked by MPs as she insisted that no better deal was available than the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on future relations endorsed by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.

Former minister Mark Francois branded her deal a surrender and said opposition from Eurosceptic Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party meant it was already dead as a dodo.

Ex-defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon described the deal as a huge gamble which involved the UK paying a 39 billion divorce bill and giving up its votes and veto without any firm commitment on future trade relations.

But Mrs May said: I believe our national interest is clear.

The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country, whichever way we voted.

This is that deal. A deal that delivers for the British people.

In a sign that she aims to go over fractious MPs heads and appeal directly to voters for their backing, Mrs May said parliamentarians had a duty to listen to their constituents before taking their decision in the national interest.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Commons would have very little choice but to reject Mrs Mays botched deal, which he described as bad for this country.

This is a bad deal for the country and Labour will oppose it in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/JXoMp19n2l  Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) November 25, 2018

With 90 or more Conservative MPs indicating they could rebel in the meaningful vote, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay admitted Mrs May faces a challenging division.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned that there would be no more negotiation if MPs vote down the agreement, telling the BBC: This is the best deal for Britain  and this is the only deal possible, so if the House says no, we would have no deal.

Addressing the Commons the day after returning from Brussels, Mrs May said: I can say to the House with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available.

Our duty as a Parliament over these coming weeks is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest.

Mrs May said MPs faced a choice: We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people. Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one.

Because no-one knows what would happen if this deal doesnt pass. It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.

Everything you need to know #BackTheBrexitDealhttps://t.co/9IVUS7p46D  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) November 25, 2018

Mr Corbyn said: The Prime Minister says if we reject this deal, it will take us back to square one. The truth is, under this Government we have never got off square one.

This botched deal is still a bad deal for the country and all yesterday did was mark the end of this Governments failed and miserable negotiations.

Mrs May told MPs the Government had ensured that Gibraltar was covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and would negotiate a future relationship for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar.

In a riposte to French President Emmanuel Macrons suggestion that the EU could delay trade talks unless its fishermen were granted access to UK waters, the PM said: The EU have maintained throughout this process that they wanted to link overall access to markets to access fisheries.

They failed in the Withdrawal Agreement, and they failed again in the Political Declaration.

It is no surprise some are already trying to lay down markers again for the future relationship, but they should be getting used to the answer by now: it is not going to happen.

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Meanwhile, Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and effective deputy prime minister David Lidington invited opposition MPs to a briefing on the agreement.

But Downing Street sources said they were not aware of the Prime Minister seeking to speak to Labour MPs thought to be considering backing her deal.

Ahead of the vote in Parliament, Mrs May has started a campaign to sell her deal directly to the public, with visits to all parts of the UK planned.

Her spokesman declined to confirm or deny reports that Number 10 is considering a possible TV debate with Mr Corbyn, something the Labour leader has made clear he would relish.
Arlene Foster at the DUP conference with Christopher Moran (far left)

A property tycoon who owns a London apartment block reportedly operating as a base for prostitution had a front row seat at the DUP's conference this weekend.

Dr Christopher Moran, who is also chairman of Co-operation Ireland, was singled out by Tory Brexiteer and guest speaker Boris Johnson at the beginning of his speech to thank him for arranging his invitation to the event.

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It came just hours before The Sunday Times revealed more than 100 prostitutes are operating out of flats at Chelsea Cloisters, a Sloane Avenue apartment building owned by Dr Moran, where the rent for two-bedroom flats can cost more than 2,500 per month.

Scotland Yard is now examining evidence provided by the newspaper before deciding whether to investigate.

There is no suggestion that Dr Moran is involved in any illegal activity.

However, Prime Minister Theresa May is facing calls to give back hundreds of thousands of pounds he has donated to the Conservatives.

Dr Moran, who has described himself as "astronomically" wealthy, is believed to have donated 290,000 to the Tories both on a personal basis and through his companies.

His property company owns the freehold on all 670 flats at Chelsea Cloisters, and also owns the leasehold on more than 200 of them, letting those properties on both a short and long-term basis.

According to The Sunday Times, the sex trade is so extensive at the Sloane Avenue building that punters booking prostitutes online refer to it as "Sodom and Gomorrah" and "10 floors of whores".

Reporters were able to make bookings for prostitutes at 23 separate flats at Chelsea Cloisters, including 15 rented by Dr Moran's company.

Some of the women were found to have come from Romania, pinpointed as the main problem country for sex trafficking to the UK by a recent parliamentary report.

A legal representative said Dr Moran had not tolerated prostitution at the building or profited from it in any way.

The lawyer said that on the "small number of occasions" that reports of prostitution had been made, the building's management firm had acted to "address" the issue.

Labour MP Gavin Shuker, who chaired an all-party parliamentary group which completed a report on the sex trade earlier this year, said the Tories should not hold on to Dr Moran's donations.

"Theresa May must now give that money to charities that assist victims of human trafficking and use her powers to change the law and to tackle demand," said Mr Shuker.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Service said that it was aware of the allegations that have been made.

He added: "This information is being assessed with a view to identifying whether offences have been committed. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

The DUP did not respond to a request for comment.

Dr Moran joined the board of Co-operation Ireland, an all-island peace-building charity, in 2004 and has been credited for having an important role in improving the political landscape here.

And addressing the delegates at the DUP conference in Belfast at the weekend, prominent Brexiteer Mr Johnson made special mention of Dr Moran.

Opening his speech, the former foreign secretary said: "I would like to begin by thanking my friend, Christopher Moran, for everything he has done for Northern Ireland, and for helping me to secure this invitation."

Dr Moran's property company, Realreed, has an office on the ground floor of Chelsea Cloisters.

His companies are estimated to make 8m a year in revenue from Chelsea Cloisters, including service charges on the flats not rented by Realreed.

Greg Hands MP, the Tory MP for Chelsea and Fulham, told The Sunday Times that a resident at Chelsea Cloisters had complained to him about prostitution in the building.

The unnamed resident said "the management weren't appearing to do anything about it".

Mr Hands later passed the complaint to the police.
Sinn Fein should consider resigning their seven Westminster seats if the party is unwilling to help pass the Brexit vote, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

With Prime Minister Theresa May desperately trying to build support for the Brexit deal, Sinn Feins seven votes could prove crucial.

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However, the party is continuing its long-standing policy of abstention, whereby MPs refuse to actually take up their seats in parliament.

Mr Varadkar said today that they should now change tact in order to help Ireland avoid a chaotic no-deal scenario.

He described Mary Lou McDonalds party as unusual because it isnt taking up its seats in Westminster for one reason and it isnt taking up its seats in Stormont for another.

The Taoiseach said generally people get involved in politics because they want to use the democratic process to get good outcomes for citizens.

Speaking at a Project Ireland event in Dublin on Monday morning, Mr Varadkar went on to say that if Sinn Fein feel they got elected on the basis of abstentionist then they have the option now of resigning their seats and allowing people in those constituencies decide whether or not they want to have a say when this vote comes to Westminster.

Bear in mind there are 18 MPs in Northern Ireland, eight of those 10 including Lady Sylvia Hermon are in support of what the UK government are proposing. But seven of those eight because of Sinn Fein arent going to show up.

Ms McDonald has previously defended the partys decision not to take up the seats, saying her party will not ride in on a white charger to save the day.

She warned that there could be unintended consequences if her party took up their seats.

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Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar has said he expects UK politicians will have to accept the Brexit deal sooner or later.

He said it is the best deal available and cannot be reopened just four months until the UK formally leaves the EU on March 29.

Asked about contingency plans for a no-deal scenario, Mr Varadkar said they were ongoing.

We are preparing for two scenarios. One is call the central case scenario which is pretty much the deal thats been done. The second is a hard Brexit, cliff-edge, no-deal scenario.

In many ways, its the same thing, its just a graduated response upwards. We are making those preparations. But we need to be realistic here. Theres no country in the European Union that can be fully prepared for a cliff-edge, no-deal Brexit. Thats why it makes sense to agree to this deal, he said.

In response to the comments, Ms McDonald said the Taoiseach needs to catch himself on.

She said Sinn Fein has no intention of standing aside and abandon our mandate.

The reality is that the people of 'those constituencies' have already spoken and they chose abstentionist Sinn Fein MPs.

"The Taoiseach's problem is that he doesn't like the democratic choice of the people of 'those constituencies' and now makes the ludicrous proposition that there should be another election without Sinn Fein's participation, taking the democratic choice away from the people.

Ms McDonald added that if Fine Gael feels Irish politicians should take seats in the UK Parliament then they should seek a mandate and stop hurling form the ditch.

Fine Gael, and Fianna Fail for that matter, should put to the people their willingness to take seats in Westminster and to swearing an oath to a foreign power and let the people decide.

In a statement, the Sinn Fein leader said Leo Varadkar is the Taoiseach who famously said the Nationalist people in the North will never again be left behind yet he is now advocating that we reject their democratic wishes.
A prominent Northern Ireland business leader has insisted the sector is nobodys puppets.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts made the comment after Democratic Unionist MP Sammy Wilson accused the businesses which backed the withdrawal deal of being the puppets of the Northern Ireland Office.

Mr Roberts was part of a delegation of business leaders which met DUP leader Arlene Foster and MEP Diane Dodds at Stormont on Monday.

Northern Ireland Retail Consortium director Aodhan Connolly said it had been a very congenial meeting.

The fact is we have worked with the DUP over many years, well work with them during Brexit and well work with them after, he said.

It was a good chance for us to air our concerns and hear their concerns as well. All in all, quite a productive meeting.

Asked directly whether Mrs Foster had apologised for Mr Wilsons comment, Angela Magowan, of CBI NI, said: She did say that things get said in the heat of the moment, and not to be taking them too seriously.

We havent taken that comment too seriously, so I think well all just try to put that to bed and move forward.

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Mr Connolly said: What was expressed was that we are both big enough and ugly enough to work through the rough and tumble of Northern Ireland politics and no hurt was taken on either side.

Mr Roberts added: I think it is safe to say we are nobodys puppets, its our members that make the decisions on all these vital issues, we have our own policy perspective.

Mrs Foster accused the media of trying to drive a wedge over Brexit.

What we talked about was the fact that the media have been trying to put a wedge between the political party and the business community; what we need to do is to have a very good working relationship.

We might differ on different areas of policy but the one thing for sure is that we both care passionately about Northern Ireland and about the economic future of Northern Ireland, and so we are going to continue to have that dialogue in the future, she said.

Mrs Foster added: Businesses want certainty, therefore should not waste the next few weeks in advance of the Meaningful Vote, especially when many parliamentarians have already made up their minds to reject the deal.

We should use this time to work on getting a better deal which works for the UK and Northern Ireland.
Northern Irelands four pro-Remain parties have insisted they speak for the majority in the region.

Senior figures from Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Alliance and Green Party stated their support for Theresa Mays withdrawal agreement after meeting business leaders at Stormont on Monday.

Northern Ireland as a region voted for the UK to remain as part of the European Union in the 2016 referendum.

However the biggest political party, the Democratic Unionists, backed the Leave campaign and have opposed the withdrawal agreement.

Sinn Fein, the SDLP, Alliance and Green Party claim to be the voice of the majority in Northern Ireland.

Constructive meeting with our business & industry leaders this morning alongside SDLP, Alliance, Greens. Securing the Withdrawal Agreement is key to allowing the future relationship to be developed. A No Deal crash out must not be an option. pic.twitter.com/JeO4KmuojJ  Michelle ONeill (@moneillsf) November 26, 2018

Speaking to the media after meeting business leaders, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill said the parties speak for a cross community majority.

We collectively as four pro-Remain parties have been consistent in saying we speak for a cross-community majority of people here who voted to remain and clearly as we enter into the next number of weeks, this really is crunch time, this really is a critical time, its a time for practical thinking, she said.

Whats on the table currently in the form of the withdrawal agreement is the least worst outcome, it is by no means a brilliant outcome, it by no means answers all the questions that businesses have here, but the reality is the economic facts speak for themselves, the business community very much come at this from that practical point of view so I think our conversation this morning was useful.

And whilst we chart our way through the next number of weeks I think it is important that we are consistent, we remain firm on the facts, we remain firm there is no good to come from Brexit but that we remain firm that the withdrawal agreement is much better than a crash-out Brexit.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood congratulated the business community for standing up not for themselves but society in Northern Ireland.

They know the impact the hard Brexit will have on all of us, it will be devastating if we get to that point, so its very important we make this clear, we dont think there is a good Brexit but if we are going to have one, lets try and limit the damage to our communities and our businesses and our society here, thats what the backstop does, he said.

The DUP need to hear clearly that the vast majority of people here want protected from a hard Brexit, which this deal does. - @columeastwood pic.twitter.com/CIWwdz5z6C  Social Democratic and Labour Party (@SDLPlive) November 26, 2018

We need to bank that backstop, it is our ultimate insurance policy and I would appeal to people across the water who have a vote in two weeks time, particularly people in the Labour Party who have a very keen interest in supporting our peace process and all the political progress we have had over the last 20 years, this is an opportunity to once again step in and protect the progress that you were involved in helping bring about.

It is absolutely essential and we are all saying it, we are saying it as a collective political majority, we are saying it as a civic society from across all the different sectors, and our communities are saying it as well, we need your help, we need your protection, we need you to vote for this deal.

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry described the withdrawal agreement as as good as it gets.

This cant be unpicked, it cant be renegotiated, he said.

The focus has to be on banking the backstop as the floor on which we can build in terms of wider relationships.

It also has to be contrasted with the catastrophic implications of a no-deal situation which will have major implications for people in terms of their jobs here, consumers and also their rights and opportunities as people and citizens.

It is wrong to frame this debate between people from a business point of view who are putting the economy first versus others who are putting the constitution firstAlliance deputy leader Stephen Farry

It is wrong to frame this debate between people from a business point of view who are putting the economy first versus others who are putting the constitution first.

The constitution is not an issue in this debate, it is a complete and utter red herring.

The economy is 100% of what this debate is about and we have to follow the evidence and follow those who are experts in terms of creating and maintaining jobs in this society.

Green Party leader Clare Bailey added: crashing out of Brexit with no deal is not an option for Northern Ireland, it is an absolute disaster and must be avoided at all costs.

Northern Ireland business leaders later met with members of the Democratic Unionists in a separate meeting.
Ulster Unionist Party peer Lord Empey has asked "what is going on with Peter Robinson" after the former First Minister said he couldn't care less about an Irish language act.

Lord Empey said that the former DUP leader's comments would be "greeted with incredulity by those who remember the decades he spent talking tough and lambasting fellow unionists."

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Speaking during a wide-ranging talk at Belfast's Methodist Centre last Thursday Mr Robinson said that the Irish language is "such a small issue" it should not prevent power-sharing institutions at Stormont from being restored.

The veteran politician stressed that he believed Irish language issues should not be standing in the way of devolution, and they could be overcome.

"I couldnt care less about the Irish Language. Let them speak it until they are green, white and orange in the face, as long as it doesnt encroach on me Mr Robinson said.

The Irish language issue, the former DUP leader said, paled in comparison to policing and justice which had been an obstacle to power sharing in Northern Ireland in the past.

However former UUP leader Lord Empey said that Mr Robinson was "at it again" referencing statements made by Mr Robinson earlier this year when he said that border polls should be held at specified intervals to stop them being used as a political tool.

Last time it was a border poll and talks about a United Ireland; before that the disgraceful legacy proposals that will lead to years of uncertainty and anguish for thousands of former soldiers and police; and before that was the shrine at the Maze. Now Peter Robinson says he couldn't care less about an Irish Language Act," he said.

Each one of the above are key Sinn Fein demands, and each one - to one degree or another - has received backing from Peter Robinson, leaving ordinary unionists wondering just what is going on with him."

The former East Belfast MLA said that Mr Robinson had changed his position since leaving politics.

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I have expressed concern about his behaviour before and this latest example of his seemingly supportive comments for a Sinn Fein demand should have all unionists concerned," Lord Empey said.

If he was so keen on building up trust with republicans and nationalists and regretting that he did not engage directly with them rather than via the government, perhaps he should examine his campaign of vilification of those unionists who did so years before himself!
A young mother and her child have escaped injury after a "reckless" arson attack in Londonderry.

Shortly before 10pm on Sunday night at a house in the Galliagh Park area of the city a sofa was shoved against the front door of a house and two wheelie bins were shoved against its back door.

The sofa and wheelie bins were then set alight.

A 23-year-old woman and her child were inside the house at the time of the incident.

Detective Sergeant Jack said: "Both were badly shaken, as Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene and extinguished the fire.

This was a reckless act that could have resulted in fatalities. Whoever was involved wanted to cause death and destruction and their actions should be condemned by the local community.

Thankfully no one lost their lives but we need anyone with any information to contact police to bring those responsible to justice."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the PSNI on the non-emergency number 101, with the reference number 1306 along with the date 25/11/2018.

The public can also contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A woman was taken to hospital by helicopter after collapsing in the Sperrins.

She is reported to have fallen while walking with a group yesterday.

The PSNI said: "We received a report around 12.40pm on Sunday afternoon of a woman who had collapsed between the peak of Sawel and Dart Mountains in the Claudy area.

"PSNI air support attended the scene.

"Other emergency services were also on standby.

"Officers from PSNI air support were quickly on scene and able to successfully locate the injured woman and take her to hospital for treatment for a suspected leg injury."

The PSNI has three helicopters which can be deployed on rescue missions.

Praising the response, the PSNI added: "Thankfully, this operation had a successful outcome and I hope the woman will make a full recovery after her ordeal.

"This is a great example of partnership working in the community and keeping people safe."
(Left to right) Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Culture Minister Josepha Madigan, announce funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, at Charleville Mall Library in Dublin.

The Government has revealed 100 million euro in funding for 88 projects as part of the Project Ireland 2040 programme.

It will help to rejuvenate underused areas in Irelands five cities and other large towns.

Under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), launched in July this year, a total of two billion euro has been allocated up to 2027, with 550 million euro available between now and 2022.

It is one of four funds set up under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and is being implemented by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Almost 200 applications were submitted to the department after it launched its call in July.

Some of the applications included transforming the former school in Rutland Street in Dublin as a community hub; support for large scale strategic sites on both sides of the river in the Cork Docklands Regeneration areas; regeneration for OConnell Street and projects in the city centre of Limerick, and public realm and riverside enhancement for the Abbey Quarter in Kilkenny.

Earlier today we announced the first round of funding under the 2bn Urban Fund, under Project #Ireland2040. 100m for projects which will get under way in the next few weeks. Its all about making our cities and large towns better places in which to live and work. https://t.co/P47iUGiMoH  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) November 26, 2018

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy made the announcement in the Charleville Mall Library in Dublin on Monday.

The Taoiseach said: The Urban Fund is aimed at all of our cities and towns with a population of more than 10,000.

Its an investment of two billion euro over the next 10 years aimed at unlocking the potential undeveloped sites in our towns and cities.

We want them to have vibrant centres and to grow up rather than out. We want smart, compact, urban growth.

We want to make sure we have more people living in our city centres and close to the centre of large towns, making it easier to walk to work, cutting commuting times and distances, making better use of existing infrastructure while also benefiting the environment.

The scale of funding available under this fund means the successful projects will have a tangible and positive impact on the daily lives of people living in our large towns and cities. We have never planned our towns and cities in this way before.

I am hugely impressed by the enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by all those involved throughout this processEoghan Murphy

Mr Murphy said: I am hugely impressed by the enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by all those involved throughout this process and am delighted to allocate 100 million euro in funding for 2019 to some very worthwhile projects.

We will of course continue to work with those that wish to develop projects into the future and will enable a continual dialogue on this to ensure a pro-active delivery of sustainable projects.

Minister for Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan said: A total of nine projects that will receive funding have a cultural element to them, including an exciting new cultural plaza in Sligo, an innovative cultural quarter in Portlaoise and even a Living Georgian City Programme in Limerick.

This is in keeping with this Governments strong understanding of and support for culture. It is also recognition of the centrality of culture to development and regeneration.
Priests who die while facing accusations of sexual abuse are being denied traditional Catholic funerals, even if they weren't convicted.

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has voiced concern over the funeral arrangements of stepped-down members of clergy, with one member claiming that even deceased murderers and gangland criminals are laid to rest with more dignity.

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) has published a list of broad guidelines to Church authorities on how to discreetly conduct the funerals of clerics who were facing abuse allegations when they died.

But some dioceses in Ireland have adopted even more stringent policies for funerals of priests facing accusations.

These include rulings that funerals take place in a private chapel, no death notice be published, the deceased be referred to only by his Christian name throughout the rites, and not be buried in his clerical garb.

The NBSCCCI said the guidelines are in place because "pastoral concern for complainants must be considered in the situation where a priest/religious dies following receipt of a credible allegation".

However, a leading member of ACP said the rulings go too far and cause unnecessary heartache for surviving family members.

Fr Tim Hazelwood said: "We're concerned about the funeral arrangements for stepped-down priests or those facing accusations, particularly for priests who have been accused of something but nothing has been proved.

"I personally know an elderly priest who's been facing an accusation which he totally denies of a case dating back 40 years.

"In his case he will be denied a proper Catholic funeral and it's causing him and his family terrible distress.

"The situation differs from diocese to diocese, but in general priests in this situation are treated terribly.

"Even members of the Kinahan gang or convicted murderers can expect proper Catholic funerals, but that's not the case with some priests, who really are treated like the lepers of Irish society."

One set of diocesan guidelines obtained by and published by the ACP suggests that "consideration be given to have the funeral liturgies in a private chapel and/or a time other than the usual times".

It recommends the priest not be buried in his clerical garb and be referred to during the rites by his Christian name, and that "if possible, no death notices should appear in the local or national newspapers or on internet websites", before adding that "the minimum of information should be given if it does appear".

A further recommendation said: "The funeral Mass is not to be concelebrated. No vestments to be worn by priests attending the funeral."

Fr Hazelwood added: "I do not know of any other group of people who have such restrictions placed on their funerals."

Co Cork priest Fr Hazelwood was falsely accused of the sexual abuse of a child a decade ago.

Eventually he discovered who the complainant was and made a complaint to Garda. However, a criminal case was not pursued and he opted to take a civil case in the Irish High Court.

In 2016 his accuser admitted making the false accusation and made a contribution to charity.
Derek Mackay is being urged to include a 75m Brexit fund for businesses in his Budget (Jane Barlow/PA)

Business leaders are calling on the Scottish Government to set up a 75 million fund to help companies deal with Brexit.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland made the plea ahead of Finance Secretary Derek Mackay setting out his Budget to Holyrood on December 12.

The FSB is also pressing Mr Mackay to commit 100 million to helping Scotlands town centres, to adapt the governments existing rates relief scheme to help more businesses, and to reject calls from local councils to bring in a Tourism Tax, which would impose a levy on the cost of hotel rooms.

With Brexit looming, FSBs Scotland policy chair Andrew McRae said the top priority for business north of the border was avoiding a chaotic no-deal, no-transition Brexit.

But he added: The fact we need a deal doesnt mean that Scottish firms welcome every dot and comma in the current proposals.

Mr McRae called on the UK Government to pay Scotlands business community greater heed when considering key issues, such as designing a new immigration system for when the country leaves the European Union.

The Scottish Government meanwhile was urged to follow the example of Wales, where ministers have announced a 50 million EU Transition Fund to help businesses.

FSB calls for Scottish business Brexit fund https://t.co/Yqvv5zC8fo pic.twitter.com/U7tHCdfU7q  FSB Scotland (@FSB_Scotland) November 26, 2018

In his letter to the Finance Secretary, Mr McRae said additional support could be required by firms to help them adapt to the reality of post-Brexit Britain.

He said: In particular, smaller firms may need financial assistance to enable them to make necessary adjustments, whether accessing technical or expert information on trading, dealing with increased or different bureaucracy, or addressing skills or staffing issues.

We therefore submit that the Scottish Government should establish a Brexit resilience fund, similar to that introduced in Wales.

He made the plea after FSB research found only a minority of Scottish businesses have started to prepare for Brexit.

Mr McRae added: While few would blame firms when they still dont know exactly what theyre preparing for, we cant see good businesses overwhelmed by a rapidly changing trading environment.

Calling for 100 million to be put into a new Town Centre Diversification Fund, he said: The high street is known as the home of independent retail. But if were to turn around some of our town centres, we need to make them attractive to the next-generation of businesses.

We want the Scottish Government to build on the success of its town centre regeneration fund with a new high street diversification programme.

Such a fund could help convert empty high street stores for different uses, as well as help build more housing in town centres, he added.

Mr McRae also urged Mr Mackay to tweak the landmark Small Business Bonus scheme, so businesses outside the scope of full relief get extra help.

FSB Scotland wants firms with a rateable value of between 15,001 and 16,500 to get 50% off their rates bill, saying such a change could benefit around 3,500 business at a cost of less than 5 million.

This simple move could reduce the total volume of rates appeals, relieving pressure on the wider tax system, Mr McRae said.

Constitutional Relations Secretary Michael Russell said: We agree with the concerns being expressed here by Scottish businesses about how damaging Brexit will be  especially their warnings over the threat of a no-deal outcome and the dangers posed to the Scottish economy by restricting migration.

The Scottish Government has already launched an initiative to help businesses prepare for Brexit, with grants of up to 4,000 available  but of course, the best way to mitigate the worst impact, short of staying in the EU, is continued membership of the European Single Market and Customs Union.
Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam, the new director of The Glasgow School of Art (Paul Campbell/PA)

The Glasgow School of Art has appointed Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam as its new director as the institution recovers from a second devastating blaze.

She was appointed following the departure of Professor Tom Inns who stepped down at the start of November, almost five months after a fire in the Mackintosh building as reconstruction work neared completion following a blaze in 2014.

She and Professor Ken Neil have been acting as joint interim directors since mid-October.

Professor McAra-McWilliam joined Glasgow School of Art (GSA) in 2005 as head of School of Design and was appointed deputy director in 2016.

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She said: Im honoured to have been appointed as Director of The Glasgow School of Art. Although weve recently had to deal with a very challenging period, Im confident that we have the soul and spirit to move ahead, aware of just what a successful and innovative art school we are.

Together, we can build on our long history of creativity and innovation as one of the worlds finest art schools.

Together, well focus on the future, re-engage with our diverse communities, and re-energise the GSA with the rebuild of the Mackintosh building and our proud history and heritage at its core.

Announcing the appointment, the GSA board said it wishes Professor McAra-McWilliam every success in her new role and is confident the institution will continue to be a successful, independent and internationally highly esteemed art school under her leadership.

She was awarded an OBE in the 2016 New Years Honours in recognition of her work in Higher Education, Innovation and Design.

During her time there she has established the GSAs Highland Campus at Altyre and created The Innovation School as its fifth academic school.

A Holyrood Committee has been holding evidence sessions about the impact of the fire on the Mackintosh building, with sessions focused on the management and custodianship of the building and its collections.
A 26-year-old man who was stabbed to death while trying to stop a fight outside a bar has been named by police.

Zakaria Bukar Sharif Ali was stabbed in Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, east London, just before 6.30am on Saturday.

He had been at the Rolling Stock bar and was fatally attacked when he tried to stop the confrontation.

Detective Inspector Rita Tierney said: Zakaria was attacked following a night out. After leaving the Rolling Stock bar, he tried to intervene in an altercation taking place outside. He was attempting to calm the incident and was stabbed as a result.

Police are looking for two suspects  one is a man in his 20s, who is about 5ft 10in, of stocky build and of Mediterranean appearance with olive skin and short, dark hair.

The second is a white man, about 6ft and heavily built, with fair-ginger hair and a fluffy beard.

Detectives appeal for informaiton as Hackney murder victim is named https://t.co/MP1La4rGuu pic.twitter.com/5m4b8KIyD9  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 26, 2018

Ms Tierney added: This is a busy and popular area of London. I know that there are people who witnessed the incident or have information concerning the identity of the suspects. I urge those people to call the incident room without delay.

My officers are currently reviewing CCTV and forensic enquiries are under way, but we need help from the public to fill in the gaps  what was the sequence of events that began with a night out and ended in Zakarias tragic death?

There have now been 122 homicides in London so far this year, four more than in the whole of 2017.

Mr Sharif Alis sister Bushra told the Evening Standard that her brother had two children, a son aged four and a two-year-old daughter.

She told the newspaper: He stepped in to stop it, thats what we know from what the police told us. And thats the kind of guy he was.

Another sister, Khuluud, 24, told the Standard: My brother wasnt involved in the things that come with knife crime. He was the kind of person to try and get people away from that and help people.

He always wanted to help people. He was the kind of person to approach a homeless person and say How can I help you?
A Royal Navy warship has seized three tonnes of cannabis after boarding a dhow in the Gulf.

Sailors from Portsmouth-based HMS Dragon intercepted the boat while on patrol in the area of the Middle East known as the Hash Highway.

On board they found 148 bags of hashish weighing 3,048kg.

A navy spokesman said: Swooping into action, sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Dragon launched their fast boats to intercept and board the vessel, before conducting a painstaking search of its compartments.

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Lieutenant Laurie Williams, the Type-45 destroyers boarding officer, said: During our initial search, it became apparent there were a number of reasons to suspect the dhow could be involved in illicit activity.

This led to a search of the vessel, where my team managed to find the concealed drugs.

This success validates the significant hard work of all on board to ensure we were in the right place, with the right training and equipment and intelligence to achieve this result, one of the largest recent finds within this region.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: Alongside keeping key shipping channels safe, countering piracy and providing disaster relief, the Royal Navy makes a significant contribution to global security by tackling the illicit drugs trade.

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The success of HMS Dragons seizure is the latest blow struck to this nefarious industry.

The navy spokesman explained that the Hash Highway runs from Afghanistan by land through Iran or Pakistan and then across the sea to countries in east Africa and the Middle East.

He added: Profits from drug smuggling are a known source funding for terrorist organisations and criminal networks.

Commander Mike Carter-Quinn, HMS Dragons commanding officer, said: This seizure is testament not only to days of focused hard work, but also to months of effort in preparation for HMS Dragons operational deployment.

The Dragons, all 260 of my crew, from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and US Coastguard, have done themselves and their families proud and I couldnt be more honoured to serve with them every day.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said a Royal Navy warship faced brazen hostility as 17 Russian fighter jets dangerously buzzed it off the coast of Crimea.

Footage of the encounter with HMS Duncan as it led a Nato fleet through the Black Sea in May this year has been released as a four-part documentary on the Type 45 destroyer is to be aired on Channel 5.

The Russian jets are seen flying so close that the aircrafts electronics could have been scrambled by the Portsmouth-based warships radar system leaving the potential for them to crash.

To me if felt unprecedented. There were more aircraft than we have seen in a long timeCommander Eleanor Stack, HMS Duncan's captain

Mr Williamson said: Over the past year, HMS Duncan and her crew have embodied the key role the UK plays in Nato.

As Nato flagship, she has faced down brazen Russian hostility in the Black Sea with jets buzzing overhead, been stalked by Russian spy ships and played a vital role protecting Nato allies during the British, American and French strikes against Syrian chemical weapons facilities.

Through her deployment, this world-leading ship and her crew epitomised the nation we are going to be as we exit the EU  a truly global Britain which is outward-looking and engaged on the world stage.

As long as Ukraine faces Russian hostilities, it will find a steadfast partner in the United Kingdom. By continuing to work together, whether through training programmes or military exercises, we help Ukraine to stand up for our shared values. #Defence pic.twitter.com/ofqyjl817N  Gavin Williamson (@GavinWilliamson) November 21, 2018

Commodore Mike Utley, who was leading the Nato task force from Duncan, said: HMS Duncan is probably the only maritime asset that has seen a raid of that magnitude in the last 25 years.

He added: I think their tactics are naive. What they dont know is how capable the ship is.

When you see that much activity, I think it reinforces the nature of what people expect at the moment and why there is a challenge from Russia.

The footage shows the jets circling the ship before returning to Russian airspace with one of the pilots sending a message to Duncans crew, saying: Good luck, guys.

The documentary shows one of Duncans sailors saying they felt the message could have been a warning to the ship while another said: They had 17 aircraft, we have 48 missiles  I think were going to win that one.

Commander Eleanor Stack, Duncans captain, said: To me if felt unprecedented. There were more aircraft than we have seen in a long time.

Earlier, Duncan had launched its Merlin Mk2 helicopter to hunt a Russian spy ship spotted on radar.

Lieutenant Commander James Smith said of the Nato presence in the Black Sea: They may consider it to be escalatory, we certainly dont. But it depends on how you spin the narrative. The one thing the Russians are very good at is spinning a narrative.

We have to demonstrate and create our own as well. They can scream and shout all they want but we still have the right, as do all these units, to be where we are, operating how we are.

The first episode of Warship: Life at Sea is being shown on Channel 5 on Monday.
Wet and windy weather is on the way this week (Dave Thompson/PA)

A major change in the UKs weather is expected in the coming days as Storm Diana sweeps in from the Atlantic.

The recent cold and sunny spell seen by many is set to be blown away by heavy rain and gales, some severe, in the middle of the week.

Storm Diana, named by the IPMA Portuguese weather service, is currently threatening the Azores and is due to make itself felt over western parts of the UK on Wednesday.

Dan Harris, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: It now looks very likely that we will see a major change in the UKs weather early in the week ahead.

We expect spells of wet and windy weather to sweep across the UK from the south west from Tuesday, although at the moment there is uncertainty around the timing and the focus for the heaviest rain and strong winds by Wednesday as Storm Diana approaches our shores.

Monday is expected to remain chilly and bright for most parts, although there will be some showers in the east.

Temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 10C (50F) in the south west, with highs of 4C (39F) to 7C (44F) expected elsewhere, with fog patches a risk as the mercury dips again overnight.

#StormDiana named by @ipma_pt will bring strong winds and heavy rain to northwestern parts of the Azores on Tuesday. Diana will then merge with another low pressure on Wednesday to give wet and windy conditions to parts of the UK pic.twitter.com/Zk9p2YmpQr  Met Office (@metoffice) November 25, 2018

Conditions are expected to start to turn on Tuesday, with wet and windy weather pushing in from the south west.

A separate system to Diana, the front will move eastwards bringing rain and blustery conditions to all parts by the end of the day.

After building in the Atlantic, Storm Diana is due to arrive on Wednesday as a low pressure system tracks to the north of Ireland.

Gales of up to 60mph could be seen over western parts of the UK, with heavy rain, although the storm is expected to move through relatively quickly.

The arrival of Diana following a wet Tuesday could see rain totals of between 60mm and 80mm in some western parts over the two days.

Storm Diana is expected to move away during Wednesday evening, although showers are likely to persist into Thursday.

Temperatures are predicted to be mild, with highs of 15C (59F) possible in the south east on Wednesday and Thursday  around 5C (9F) above average for the time of year.

Storm Diana was named by IPMA due to its effects first being felt by the Portuguese Azores.

The next winter storm that affects the UK first will likely be named by the Met Office, with Deirdre next on a list of names chosen by the public.
The wife of a British academic pardoned days after he was jailed for life accused of spying has said she is elated.

The UAE announced that Matthew Hedges would be released as part of the countrys National Day pardons, but said it stood by the charge against him.

The 31-year-old, originally from Exeter, was arrested at Dubai Airport as he tried to leave the country on May 5.

Daniela Tejada said news of the pardon brought an end to the familys nightmare while Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt described it as fantastic.

At a news conference on Monday in Abu Dhabi, officials showed a video of Mr Hedges describing himself as a captain in MI6 during what appeared to be a court hearing.

An official told reporters at the press conference in Abu Dhabi that Mr Hedges was 100% a full-time secret service operative who was in the country to steal the UAEs sensitive security national secrets for his paymasters.

He said the Britons pardon came in response to a letter from his family appealing for clemency and due to the historical close ties between the UK and UAE.

His Highness has decided to include Mr Matthew Hedges among the 785 prisoners released, he said.

Mr Hedges will be permitted to leave the country once all the formalities are complete.

In a statement, Ms Tejada, from Bogota in Colombia, said: The presidential pardon for Matt is the best news we could have received.

Our six-plus months of nightmare are finally over and to say we are elated is an understatement.

The presidential pardon for Matt is the best news we couldve received. Thank you friends, family, media, academics, and the wider public for your undivided support - Ive been brought back to life. pic.twitter.com/vruok0ST6O  Daniela Tejada (@DanielaTejada) November 26, 2018

That he is returning home to me and the rest of his family is much more than I was ever expecting to happen this week. I thank you all for your support.

She credited media coverage, support from British diplomats, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, academics and members of the public across the world for helping to her husbands cause.

She continued to reject the accusation that he was a spy, telling BBC Radio 4s Today programme: In my heart I know that he isnt.

Mr Hunt said the UAE had made a very important gesture in pardoning Mr Hedges but described it as a bittersweet moment given that Briton Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe remains detained in Iran, also accused of spying.

He told Today: In a way its a bittersweet moment as in Iran, another country in the region, we have Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an innocent woman who is still in prison for nearly three years now.

Indeed, there are other British citizens and other citizens from other countries also wrongly imprisoned in Iran also.

So, you know the wonderful news about Matthew is also making us remember there are other people who are in a terrible state right now and we must never forget them either.

Fantastic news about Matthew Hedges.Although we didnt agree with charges we are grateful to UAE govt for resolving issue speedily.But also a bittersweet moment as we remember Nazanin &other innocent ppl detained in Iran.Justice wont be truly done until they too are safely home.  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) November 26, 2018

UAE minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said the pardon would allow the two countries to return our focus to the underlying fundamental strength of the UAE-UK bilateral relationship, the WAM Emirates news agency reported.

Dr Gargash said: His Highness the Presidents gracious clemency in the customary National Day pardons allows us to return our focus to the underlying fundamental strength of the UAE-UK bilateral relationship and its importance to the international community.

It was always a UAE hope that this matter would be resolved through the common channels of our longstanding partnership. This was a straightforward matter that became unnecessarily complex despite the UAEs best efforts.

Professor Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University: We are absolutely delighted to learn the news of Matts impending release.

It is paramount that he is now allowed to return home to Daniela and his family as quickly and safely as possible.

We will continue to offer Matts family our full support in the aftermath of this traumatic ordeal and we will be thrilled to welcome him back to the Durham University community.
Volunteers search for human remains at a mobile home park in Paradise, California on Friday (Kathleen Ronayne/AP)

The huge wildfire that killed dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes in northern California has been fully contained after burning for more than two weeks, US authorities have said.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the blaze had been surrounded by firefighters after several days of rain in the Paradise area.

The nations deadliest wildfire in a century killed at least 85 people and 249 are on a list of those unaccounted for.

The number of missing dropped in recent days as officials confirmed more people were alive.

Crews continued sifting through ash and debris for human remains.

Expand Close Eric Darling and his dog Wyatt searching a mobile home park in Paradise on Friday (Kathleen Ronayne/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Eric Darling and his dog Wyatt searching a mobile home park in Paradise on Friday (Kathleen Ronayne/AP)

The fire began November 8 in the parched Sierra Nevada foothills and quickly spread across 240 square miles (620 square kilometres), destroying most of Paradise in a day.

Nearly 19,000 buildings, most of them homes, are gone.

Firefighters got a boost last week from the first significant winter storm to hit California.

It dropped an estimated seven inches (18 centimetres) of rain over the burn area over a three-day period without causing significant mudslides, said Hannah Chandler-Cooley of the National Weather Service.

In southern California, more residents returned to areas evacuated in a destructive fire as crews repaired power, telephone and gas utilities.

Los Angeles County sheriffs officials said they were in the last phase of repopulating Malibu and unincorporated areas of the county.

At the height of the fire, 250,000 fled their homes.

Three people died and 1,643 buildings, most of them homes, were destroyed, officials said.
Russian border guards have opened fire on three Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait near the Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula, raising the prospect of a full-scale military confrontation.

The incident comes on the back of a four-and-a-half year long proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine.

A look at the conflict, its roots and possible consequences:

 Military escalation

Expand Close A ship under the Kerch bridge blocks the passage to the Kerch Strait (AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp A ship under the Kerch bridge blocks the passage to the Kerch Strait (AP)

Tensions have been rising in the Kerch Strait, which links the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, for a few weeks now. Shortly after Ukraine detained a fishing vessel travelling from Crimea in March, Russia increased its military presence in the area and started inspecting all vessels travelling to or from Ukrainian ports, causing days-long delays and disrupting trade. Ukraine has protested against the checks, calling them an economic blockade.

 Global impact

Expand Close Riot police line up as seen through protesters barricades in central Kiev, Ukraine. Russian border guards opened fire on three Ukrainian vessels late Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018 in the Kerch Strait near the Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula, raising the prospect of a full-scale military confrontation between the two neighbors. The incident comes on the back of a four-and-a-half year long proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov, File) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Riot police line up as seen through protesters barricades in central Kiev, Ukraine. Russian border guards opened fire on three Ukrainian vessels late Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018 in the Kerch Strait near the Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula, raising the prospect of a full-scale military confrontation between the two neighbors. The incident comes on the back of a four-and-a-half year long proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov, File)

The ship seizure has prompted global concern and raised questions about eventual international intervention. Nato and the UN Security Council are holding emergency meetings to discuss what to do.

Russias actions are drawing renewed Western anger  and demonstrating Russian President Vladimir Putins resolve just days before he meets US President Donald Trump at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina.

The European Union is calling on both sides to stay calm, but is distracted by negotiations on Britains pending departure and divided over migration, and may have little energy to deal with a new Ukraine crisis.

 Ukraines choice: Russia vs the West

Expand Close Monuments to Kievs founders burn as anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kievs Independence Square in 2014 (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Monuments to Kievs founders burn as anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kievs Independence Square in 2014 (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

The roots of the current conflict lie in autumn 2013, when the Ukrainian government was due to sign a deal supposed to open European Union markets for Ukrainian goods and put the country on a pathway to possible EU membership. That endangered Ukraines ties with Russia, its closest neighbour and major trading partner.

The Kremlin vehemently opposed the deal, fearing an uncontrolled flow of goods through what was then virtually an open border. Despite his close ties to Russia, President Viktor Yanukovych publicly pledged to sign the deal  only to walk out on it at the last moment. Massive street protests followed, decrying Mr Yanukovych for what was seen as an attempt to deny Ukrainians a European future. A crackdown by riot police saw 130 people killed in sniper fire. Mr Yanukovych fled the capital to Crimea and was eventually whisked away by Russian special forces to southern Russia. An interim government, made up of the protest leaders, stepped in.

 Crimean annexation

Expand Close Russians celebrate in Lenin Square in Simferopol, Ukraine, in 2014 (Vadim Ghirda/AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Russians celebrate in Lenin Square in Simferopol, Ukraine, in 2014 (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

In February 2014, Russian officials began arriving in the Crimean peninsula shortly after the pro-Western government took power in Kiev, fanning fears of an onslaught on Russian heritage in parts of Ukraine including Crimea. Troops without insignia soon appeared in Crimea, occupying crucial infrastructure including Ukrainian military bases. It was only years later that Mr Putin publicly admitted that these were in fact Russian troops.

Ukrainian troops largely did not put up resistance and retreated.

Would-be separatist commander and Russian officer Igor Girkin later recounted how he and other Russian officers forced the hand of local Crimean politicians to pass a motion for a referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. An overwhelming majority of votes cast on March 16 2014 supported secession. Two days later, Moscow signed a declaration with self-proclaimed Crimean officials, sealing the annexation. Neither the vote nor the annexation was recognised by the United Nations.

 War in eastern Ukraine

Expand Close Masked pro-Russian gunmen guard an entrance of the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk in 2014 (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Masked pro-Russian gunmen guard an entrance of the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk in 2014 (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Emboldened by the annexation of Crimea, local activists, propped up by Russian operatives, took over towns in eastern Ukraine and tore down Ukrainian flags. Separatist leaders in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk held contested votes supporting a motion to break away from Ukraine.

Sporadic outbursts of violence and clashes between Ukrainian troops and the separatists spilled over into a full-blown war in May 2014, when Ukraine launched an air strike on Donetsk airport which was overrun by Russian Chechen fighters.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has since killed more than 10,000 people and displaced over one million. Large swathes of this area remain under separatist control.

The Kremlin never admitted its role in the war, portraying it as a civil conflict. But overwhelming evidence suggests that Russia has been sending a sizeable number of troops and advisers as well as weapons to the rebels, helping to tip the conflict in their favour. Media reported a massive stream of heavy weaponry and tanks crossing in from Russia.

Ukraine signed peace accords with the separatists in 2015, calling for a ceasefire and political settlement in the east. While it helped to decrease the intensity of fighting, the accords did nothing to resolve the regions political stalemate.

 Church conflict

Expand Close A pro-Russian soldier flashes a victory sign while marching near a Ukrainian army base in Perevalne, Crimea, in 2014 (Vadim Ghirda/AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp A pro-Russian soldier flashes a victory sign while marching near a Ukrainian army base in Perevalne, Crimea, in 2014 (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

In the latest manifestation of Ukraines resolve to break off with Russia once and for all, Kiev has stepped up its efforts to seek independence for its Orthodox church. The church in Ukraine has been tied to the Moscow Patriarchate for hundreds of years. Calls for independence have increased since the conflict began.

The Istanbul-based patriarchate, whose head Bartholomew I is considered the first among equals of Orthodox church leaders, in October made the first step towards recognising the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The move was decried by the Russian Orthodox Church as well as the Kremlin.

 Whats next?

Expand Close An elderly woman walks by a destroyed building in Vuhlehirsk, Ukraine, in 2015 (Vadim Ghirda/AP) AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp An elderly woman walks by a destroyed building in Vuhlehirsk, Ukraine, in 2015 (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

While Sundays incident  which some call the first overt military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine  raises the spectrum of a full-blown conflict, it is not likely that either side would want an all-out confrontation. By opening fire on the Ukrainian vessels, Moscow reinforced its message that Crimea is Russian for good and that Moscow will not allow anyone to question that.

In Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko is likely to benefit from the martial law that he is proposing. Mr Poroshenkos approval ratings have been in free-fall, and delaying the March presidential elections and playing up the Russian threat could help him get re-elected if the vote is held at a later date.
Nigel Dodds and Arlene Foster at the DUPs conference in Belfast on Saturday

A delayed flight back from Belfast on Saturday night allowed plenty of time for reflection on the DUP conference. Things will be easier when Boris's bridge - an easy build, he reckoned - is constructed. At least it's more straightforward leaving Northern Ireland than Northern Ireland leaving the EU.

The conference was the blowback of purist political unionism against pragmatic economic unionism (and soft Irish nationalism).

The EU backstop must have felt pummelled by Saturday's close. It was to be binned, junked, ditched, ended, rejected, abhorred and eschewed. The Brexit messages from the DUP's gathering were unambiguous.

No regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; no backstop; no compromise.

Team Dodds had delivered these messages in no uncertain terms even before the blond English one took to the stage to address his "fellow unionists".

By the time he had finished Brexiting, the audience seemed so exhausted opposing the Prime Minister's deal that it was almost a relief to hear (briefly) about RHI from the DUP leader.

Theresa May's withdrawal agreement had already been denounced repeatedly. The DUP leader merely reiterated her party's views of its flaws.

In the medium-term - an undefined passage of time - the withdrawal agreement would lead to divergence and regulatory barriers, weakening Northern Ireland's place in the UK single market.

Local business and farming leaders were suffering from false economic consciousness, cash blinding them to the supposed constitutional implications of EU-UK joint authority.

That Brussels was finalising the withdrawal agreement even before the DUP conference had adjourned for lunch was of little importance.

Westminster leader Nigel Dodds insisted it was somehow "not too late" for a better deal.

This must not put Northern Ireland in an "EU straitjacket" in which its MPs and MLAs would be irrelevant.

Johnson denounced the "humiliation" of having to ask the EU for permission to leave and claimed that Northern Ireland would be an EU "satellite state".

For him, the solution was to withhold half of the transitional payment to the EU until it guaranteed freedom to leave. Despite the condemnation of the Government's EU withdrawal proposals, the desire to retain the 'confidence and supply' deal was apparent.

Johnson needs it if he is to be the next Conservative Prime Minister. The DUP needs it because it has been useful on non-Brexit issues. Power granted is not easily resigned.

The DUP leadership reiterated it was a Conservative-DUP arrangement, not a May-DUP deal, a thinly veiled warning to the Prime Minister that her political shelf life may be short.

Johnson resisted licking his lips at the job opportunity created by a May downfall, studiously concentrating on Northern Ireland's status.

But as he waxed lyrical about Ballymena buses it was evident the former Foreign Secretary would long to ride one into Downing Street to take over and somehow negotiate a "Super Canada" deal.

He also warned of "electoral revenge" if there is a failure to deliver Brexit.

He wasn't just addressing a DUP audience with that line.

While Johnson had some good lines, he had - extraordinarily - been outgunned in the laughter stakes by Chancellor Philip Hammond during Friday's conference dinner.

When Hammond finally started walking the Brexit tightrope, though, his hints at some possible side-concessions to the DUP failed to impress.

The DUP scorns side deals to the real agreement.

Remember Prime Minister Blair's letter to UUP leader David Trimble saying that as far as he (Blair) was concerned, decommissioning was part of the Good Friday Agreement? It wasn't worth the paper on which it was written. All that mattered was the actual deal.

Likewise, a Hammond-DUP 'understanding' on aspects of Brexit is simply irrelevant.

All that pertains is the official 585-page withdrawal agreement signed off by all the EU member states.

The surprise of the conference was Arlene Foster's apology for the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal.

This was smart. It hardly pre-empted what Sir Patrick Coghlin will say - despite some of the negative rantings on Twitter - and struck the right tone.

Mrs Foster was adamant: "No excuses". And the DUP leader went further in reprimanding some (unnamed, but she didn't need to) elected representatives about their conduct.

You felt the heat from some reddening cheeks in the front rows way back in the hall.

Thank goodness Boris was there to lend some moral rectitude. Insistent that there was no binary choice between London influence and Belfast power, Mrs Foster pleaded for a return to Stormont.

She insisted that a new cultural deal was needed, a clear effort to revive an Irish Language Act within a broader framework.

No criticism of other parties, including Sinn Fein, was forthcoming.

The need for an agreed Executive coalition plan was acknowledged. Alongside the mea culpa on RHI, this was distant from the Arlene of crocodiles infamy.

While the DUP conference enjoyed unprecedented attention, all now rests on whether the Prime Minister can miraculously get the EU exit deal through the House of Commons.

With the deal signed off, the pressure to back it may increase.

Will Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party remain opposed? Corbyn was denounced more by Johnson for his Irish republican sympathies than by the DUP on Saturday. If Labour stands firm, perhaps Corbyn might address the DUP's 2019 conference, in recognition of his remarkable political journey from lifelong united Ireland advocate to opponent of any GB-NI divergence.

The understandable orthodoxy is that no outcome is good for the DUP.

There is an alternative perspective.

If the deal holds and Northern Ireland prospers economically, the UK Union - reshaped - might hold.

The DUP won't be held to account for opposing the EU withdrawal agreement any more than it was for rejecting the Good Friday Agreement.

And if the withdrawal agreement fails to pass Parliament, the DUP can claim victory.

The worry is what such a "victory" might bring.
Whatever happens, Brexit seems bound to make Irish reunification more likely. A bad Brexit, perhaps with controlled borders, would create economic damage sufficient to encourage voters in Northern Ireland to look south with envy as the Republic carries on with its fundamentally sound economy.

On the other hand, Theresa May's negotiated Brexit deal potentially delivers the best of both worlds for Northern Ireland - access to markets in both Britain and the EU, including the Republic. It will also, bit by bit, bring Northern Ireland closer to full membership of an all-island economy.

That all-island economy makes sense. While Northern Ireland conducts more trade, in terms of monetary value, with Britain, it actually carries out more transactions with the Republic.

And much of the trade with Britain can only take place as a result of cross-border production processes.

It is not either/or - Northern Ireland's economy needs open access north-south as well as east-west. Some politicians may pretend not to have noticed it, but Northern Ireland is already participating in an all-island economy.

Yet, it is not pulling its weight economically. The results are too few high-paying jobs, too many people economically inactive, low productivity, over-dependence on the public sector.

The causes are poor road and other infrastructure, insufficient investment, too many children leaving school without basic skills, insufficient focus on vocational skills, a small university sector and too few graduates, especially in the high-value, high-technology disciplines.

While the Republic's economy is far from perfect, in all these regards it substantially outperforms the north. We can learn from the south - and we surely would if our economies were more closely integrated.

Economies of scale and important infrastructure links make greater north-south co-operation a no-brainer.

Northern Ireland has a population of 1.8 million people and reliance on sea and air connections with Britain. The Republic, our land neighbour, has a population of nearly five million people.

Those geographic connections and larger combined market create an unavoidable logic for greater north-south co-operation.

These truths apply particularly to the agri-food and electricity markets. They apply equally in health, as the DUP's Edwin Poots recognised while Health Minister.

Hence the cross-border cancer care provision at Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital and the heart surgery carried out at Dublin's Our Lady's Children's Hospital for patients from both the south and the north. A genuinely all-island health service could raise standards and improve access to services.

But whether we are considering the economic and fiscal weakness of Northern Ireland, or the major health service failings in both jurisdictions, a "big bang" approach will not provide an instant solution.

Northern Ireland is being subsidised by the UK Treasury to the tune of 10bn, or 5bn, according to how the figure is calculated (the difference is explained by whether you include Northern Ireland's share of UK-wide costs, such as debt interest and the armed forces, or only those costs that are specific to here). And we invest insufficiently in infrastructure and skills to create enough high-paying jobs to turn around our economy and generate higher tax revenues.

Meanwhile, health services in both jurisdictions need radical reform. The flawed structure of the southern health system is consistently quoted as a reason for people in the north expressing doubt about a united Ireland.

The Oireachtas has proposed major reforms for implementation over a 10-year period that would bring the Republic's health service much closer to that of the NHS. It may take a similar length of time for Northern Ireland to implement the Bengoa reforms that will provide the type of service within the NHS that we expect.

It is for these reasons that I believe it is misguided for advocates of Irish reunification to call for a border poll without having a strategy for how to deal with a "yes" outcome.

That was the mistake made in the Brexit referendum.

We need a mature discussion about what Irish reunification would mean in practice and how we achieve a united Ireland that respects all its citizens and is acceptable to all.

A 10-year plan might address those reasonable concerns. It would provide a timetable that is realistic in turning around two inadequate health services and the north's weak economy. A negotiated settlement between the two governments, plus the European Union, could lead to a slow turning-off of Westminster's funding tap.

In the meantime the European Union could be encouraged to assist with infrastructure investment that brings affluence to those parts of Ireland - north and south - that have been overlooked to date.

Many unionists and loyalists respond with horror to the idea of Irish reunification. Yet, Protestants are respected in the south, as are the Presbyterian and Church of Ireland traditions. A political settlement with Dublin is likely to leave unionists with more influence on a continuing basis with an all-island government than they usually have with the UK Government. As President Roosevelt said, there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

The hard truth is that the current status of Northern Ireland will almost certainly change - and soon.

Instead, the real questions are how quickly that change will happen and what type of change there will be.

Those who seek to cling to the past must recognise that the future will be different. Demography will have its impact - and I do not mean simply that unionists are no longer in the majority because of birth and death trends.

Equally important, many more young people look south to the socially liberal policies adopted in recent years and want the same in the north.

The Republic is no longer under the control of the Catholic Church.

Sitting back passively waiting for change to happen is not a good strategy. Neither is pretending that, despite Brexit and demography, that change can be avoided.

We need to have open, polite conversations about the changes we want and the type of society we hope to see.

Those conversations have already begun.

Perhaps the most encouraging element of my research over the last few months was the willingness of political and community leaders to engage by talking about the values that are important to them and the future they want - this involved representatives of the DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance Party, independent unionists and religious and community leaders.

They have shown their willingness to consider the future. More of us should do the same.
Adair says he would not let 'his haters stop him from burying his son in peace'

EXILED terror chief Johnny Adair made a secret pilgrimage to his mother's wake to say a final goodbye.

Sunday Life can reveal that the former UDA boss, nicknamed Mad Dog, returned to Belfast on Wednesday morning to pray at the coffin of mum Mabel, who died aged 83 last weekend.

He did not attend her funeral and burial at Roselawn Cemetery the following day in case of UDA reprisals on family still living in the Shankill Road area of Belfast.

However, he was at Mabel's side for over an hour last Wednesday morning after catching the early morning ferry from his Scottish bolthole.

Mabel's death is the second bereavement to hit Adair in as many years after the drugs overdose death of his son Jonathan (32) in 2016.

On Saturday the notorious ex-paramilitary boss told Sunday Life: "I spent over an hour with my mother, praying and talking to her. It was all very peaceful and dignified. There were also a lot of tears.

"I gave my wee mum a kiss and asked her to look after Jonathan."

Expand Expand Previous Next Close UFF leader Jonny 'Mad Dog' Adair pictured on the Shankhill Road in Belfast in August 2000 with his son Jonathan close behind. Jonathan Adair and his father / Facebook

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Whatsapp UFF leader Jonny 'Mad Dog' Adair pictured on the Shankhill Road in Belfast in August 2000 with his son Jonathan close behind.

After bidding his mother a final goodbye, Adair hopped back on the ferry, sailing from Belfast to Scotland - his home for the past 15 years.

The 55-year-old, who served a 16-year prison sentence for directing UDA terrorism, was tailed throughout by undercover PSNI officers.

He revealed: "The Scottish police stopped me after I drove off the ferry. They said that it was under the Terrorism Act and they spent 15 minutes searching my car.

Expand Close 1994 Loyalist roof top protest at Crumlin Road prison - Dee Stitt in black balaclava, white t-shirt and grey track bottoms. Johnny Adair pink vest top / Facebook

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Whatsapp 1994 Loyalist roof top protest at Crumlin Road prison - Dee Stitt in black balaclava, white t-shirt and grey track bottoms. Johnny Adair pink vest top

"In fairness to the Scottish police, they were very apologetic. They understood I was paying a last visit to my dead mother and they treated me with respect."

On previous returns here, Adair has goaded his former UDA pals, posing for pictures outside their Shankill Road homes and issuing veiled threats.

But this time was different, according to friends of the former C Company leader whose terror unit was responsible for dozens of sectarian murders.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The funeral of Loyalist Jonathan Adair Jr The funeral of Jonathan Adair Gina Adair at the hearse / Facebook

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Whatsapp The funeral of Loyalist Jonathan Adair Jr

"Johnny has no time for any of that UDA stuff anymore," said a close associate.

Adair's older brother Archie, who was jailed for a sectarian hatchet attack and UDA rioting during the Holy Cross primary school picket, was the only prominent loyalist at their mum Mabel's funeral. She was buried at Roselawn Cemetery after a service at Houston & Williamson funeral parlour on the Crumlin Road close to the Shankill.

A large floral wreath spelling out the word 'Mother' was left by Mad Dog and Archie with a simple message reading: "Love, your sons Johnny + Archie".

Adair's family fled the Shankill in 2003 after his C Company unit feuded with the rest of the UDA and murdered the terror gang's South East Antrim leader John 'Grugg' Gregg. Adair settled in Troon on the west coast of Scotland and is in a long-term relationship with partner Lynne Benson, with whom he has a seven-year-old son, Reilly.

In 2015, three Scottish republican sympathisers were jailed for a total of 38 years for plotting to murder Adair and his exiled UDA associate Sam 'Skelly' McCrory.

The former terror boss was devastated by the death of his son Jonathan who was found dead at a flat in Troon, on the west coast of Scotland, in September 2016 after taking a bad batch of fake Valium.

He left behind four-year-old son Haley with his fiancee Jasmine Johnstone, and a teenage son on the Shankill Road.

The Adair family believe Jonathan (below), who was at one time dubbed Mad Pup, wanted to have one final "blow out" before settling down. They say he was a recreational taker of drugs and not a hard user.

The pills that killed him have been nicknamed 'blue plague' because of the amount of fatal overdoses to which they have been linked.

Some were discovered in Jonathan's pockets when medical staff retrieved his body.

In an interview at the time his former UDA Shankill leader father hit out at those behind threats warning his supporters of "repercussions" should they attend his son's funeral.

"It'll be just a few individuals (warning people not to attend the funeral) - those individuals fear me," he said in 2016.

"I have no interest in those people whatsoever. They are just police informants. The support I have had has been overwhelming back home. If it's the case that they are trying to stop people (from going to the funeral), it just shows they have no intelligence or integrity.

"They have destroyed a good organisation from within. They are just a bunch of informants and back-stabbers.

"They have more to fear of me than I have of them. They fear me regrouping and coming after them.

"My message to the volunteers back home is, stay away from them if you can. They are nothing but informants."

cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk
We hear a lot in the news about refugees and the refugee crisis. While the word refugee isnt in the Bible, there are countless examples of refugees in Scripture. In fact, some of the most important people in the Bible were refuges. Some examples include Jesus and His parents, who slipped into Egypt to escape Herods infanticide, the Israelites who were delivered from Egyptian tyranny into the Promised Land and the early church believers, who came out of Jerusalem and shared the Gospel so that it could reach those throughout the world. These people fled their homeland and were targeted by leaders within their own country, facing persecution. They were in fact refugees. What does the Bible say about refugees? How should we treat them?

We are called to welcome, care for and nurture refugees. One of the most cited passages dealing with welcoming the stranger is from Matthew 25:31-40. This passage speaks of the Final Judgment, when the righteous will be granted paradise and unrepentant sinners will be committed to eternal fire. Jesus says those at his right hand are blessed because I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. When the righteous asked, When did we see you, a stranger, and welcome you?, Jesus replied, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. Matthew 25 illustrates that Christians should see everyone as Christ in the flesh, including refugees.

Many scholars maintain that in the New Testament stranger and neighbor are synonymous. We all know the Golden Rule: do unto other as you would have them to do unto you, or in other words, treat others the way you would like to be treated. A Jesus follower lives a life that reflects the Golden Rule. This rule applies not just to people who you may know but also people who you dont know.

Jesus Himself says that this simple rule captures all of the Law of the Prophets. Interestingly enough, He follows up the Golden Rule by reminding us that it is a path that few take; but it does lead to life. Jesus followers also practice the kindness virtue, where they give people the same respect wed like given to us. Matthew 7:12-13 says, So whatever you wish that other would do to you, do also to them for this is the Law of the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. We exhibit love and kindness through generous acts of service. People who practice this are not only compassionate and considerate, but have the ability to see the best in others.

God views our compassionate treatment of refugees as an indicator of our true Christianity. Luke 14:12-13 says, The Jesus said to His host, When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind When believers stand before Jesus on judgment day, He will ask them how they treated these people.

We are also called to treat refugees with respect, to take them in and treat them like their native born. The apostle Peter summarizes the Bibles teaching on respect in his first Epistle: Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King (1 Peter 2:17). To respect everyone, believers must be conscious that God has created all people in His image, regardless of whether they believe in Christ. We are called to show our neighbors respect and honor because Scripture tells us their souls are of more valuable than all the wealth in the world.

To truly love the way God calls us means to love all believers, regardless of color, nationality, opinions or affiliations. As Christians, we are called to demonstrate to the world that we love our brothers and sisters in Christ. The apostle John wrote of this principle a number of times. Quoting Jesus, he wrote, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples if you love one another (John 13:35-35).Our care for refugees is an expression of our love and service to Him.

Ultimately, we are commanded to love one another as Jesus does. This love isnt just limited to those we know or interact with every day. This includes refugees and others from foreign lands who are escaping terror and persecution. There isnt one person Jesus doesnt love and did not come to save. This includes not only those who we grew up with or live next door to, this also includes those we hear about in the news and those who take refuge here. When we actively love those around us and put their needs before our own, we are taking the same amazing love that Jesus has poured out to us and become an incredible display for humanity.
The trial of eight men accused of having a role in Bangladeshs bloodiest terrorist attack  the July 2016 siege of a cafe in Dhakas diplomatic quarter  began on Monday with their indictment before a special court, officials said.



An anti-terrorism tribunal brought charges of conspiring and aiding in a deadly terrorist act against six defendants in custody and two fugitive ones, in connection with the overnight attack at the Holy Artisan Bakery that killed 29 people, including 17 foreigners. The defendants could face the death penalty or life in prison, if convicted, officials said.



The court today brought charges against the eight accused persons. According to the Bangladesh justice system, bringing charges means the formal start of the trial, Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the public prosecutor of the special tribunal in Dhaka, told BenarNews.



The extremist group Islamic State claimed that five of its Bengali members carried out the attack nearly two and a half years ago in which they used machetes to hack to death hostages, but Bangladeshi authorities blamed it on Neo JMB, a faction of a home-grown militant group.



Chowdhury said six of the defendants were produced before the court, and some of their relatives were present. The half-dozen suspects had no lawyers to represent them, Chowdhury said. It is against the law for the state to provide defendants in custody with attorneys but they can apply to the state for free legal representation, he said.



The charges against the defendants were read out, said Ataur Rahman, the courts bench officer.



But they all pleaded not guilty, and demanded justice, he told BenarNews.



The six defendants who appeared before the tribunal were Jahangir Hossain (alias Rajib Gandhi), Aslam Islam (alias Rashed alias Rash), Sohel Mahfuz, Raqibul Islam Regan, Hadisur Rahman Sagor and Mizanur Rahman (alias Boro Mizan). The other two defendants, Mamunur Rashid Ripon and Shariful Islam (alias Khalid), are at-large.



Shamsuzzaman Shams, the younger brother of Rabiul Karim, a police officer who was killed by gunfire from the militants during the cafe takeover, said he was glad the trial had finally begun.



Karims son was happy and jolly when his father was alive. But since his fathers killing, he has grown inward. Possibly he searches for the reasons of his fathers death, Shams told BenarNews.



We cannot return his father. But if the trial is complete, then we can tell him that those who killed his father were a handful of bad people, and the state punished them for the murder, he added.



13 suspects slain



Altogether 21 suspects were named in a charge-sheet that police submitted earlier this year, after they completed a two-year investigation into the attack, but only eights suspects are alive.



Five of the other suspects were the alleged gunmen who were killed when commandos stormed the cafe premises to break the siege, which lasted from July1-2, 2016. The other eight suspected Neo JMB members were killed during a counter-terror crackdown launched by Bangladesh in the months that followed the attack.



The suspects slain in raids by police included Tamim Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi-born Canadian national who allegedly masterminded the plot targeting the cafe, which was popular with foreigners. The victims included nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian and three Bangladeshis.



An IS propaganda magazine, Dabiq, had claimed that Tamim Chowdhury headed the groups network in Bangladesh. However, the polices investigation said it had found no links between the people who carried out the attack in Gulshan, Dhakas diplomatic zone, and foreign-based militant groups or their networks.



The purpose of the attack was to portray Bangladesh as a country infested with militancy, the police charge-sheet said.



According to Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the prosecutor, the trial will be decided in about six months. The next hearing will take place on Dec. 3, when witness testimony is expected to begin, he said.



Already we have issued summon orders to the first three persons who will give depositions, Chowdhury told Benar.
Minority religious leaders from Christian, Shia and Ahmadiyya communities march toward Indonesias parliament building in Jakarta to protest what they said was the governments failure to guarantee freedom of religion, April 8, 2013.

Indonesian human rights groups warned on Monday that a mobile application released by the Jakarta Prosecutors Office to monitor deviant faiths could worsen the persecution of religious minorities.

The Smart Pakem app, released on Friday, contains a list of religious groups in the Jakarta area that are considered to have strayed from mainstream Islam, including Ahmadiyya and Gafatar, and allows members of the public to report on the activities of such groups.

The application could lead to the persecution of people who are considered to have different beliefs. Because of that, we urge the Jakarta Prosecutors Office to delete it, Muhammad Isnur, coordinator of the Indonesan Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), told BenarNews.

Isnur said minority religious groups had already been persecuted, forced from their homes and in some cases killed for beliefs that are considered misguided.

In most cases, they were victims of false and misleading information, he said.

"It is not impossible that some people will use this application to make false reports that could lead to violence against people," Isnur said. This is dangerous.

Information is needed

The Jakarta Prosecutors Office said that the application was intended to keep tabs on and facilitate the supervision of activities by different religious groups.

"[N]owadays there are many religiously-motivated conflicts, so information is needed on various religious beliefs and faiths, the head of intelligence at the prosecutors office, Yulianto, was quoted as saying by Detik.com.

The app also features fatwas issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), as well as a list of non-religious organizations and their legal status.

"This application accepts public complaints if it finds indications of religious groups or mass organizations that are deviant," said Nirwan Nawawi, a spokesman for the Jakarta Prosecutors Office.

The application was available for download on Android mobile phones and had garnered 11 reviews.

One user criticized the application, calling it "provocative."

"I do not understand why the prosecutors office deals with religious issues. Why is the Ahmadiyya not Islam? I think it is more relevant if this application contains articles on perpetrators of attacks against Ahmadiyya," one user wrote in a comment posted in the application.

In one of the worst recent attacks against minority religious sects, three people were killed in 2011 when a crowd of hardline Muslims armed with machetes stormed into a house in Cikeusik, West Java, where Ahmadiyya followers were staying.

The attackers received sentences of 3-6 months in prison.

A pretext for violence?

Indonesias constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but the government recognizes only six official religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. More than 87 percent of Indonesians are Sunni Muslims.

Indonesias criminal code outlaws deviations from the central tenets of these religions, as do numerous local laws and regulations, according to U.S.-based Human Rights Watch.

The Ahmadis on Lombok island have been expelled from their homes and forced to seek refuge in a government building for years.

Members of the tiny Shia community have also been forced from their homes on Madura island off the coast of Java, following the objection of local Sunni Muslims.

They have lived in temporary shelters in Sidoarjo regency in East Java province for more than six years after an attack against them.

The spiritual movement Gerakan Fajar Nusantara, or Gafatar, was founded in 2011 but banned the following year. Its three top leaders were convicted of blasphemy in 2017 and given prison terms ranging from three to five years.

On Monday, Indonesias National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) said it had written to the Prosecutor's Office asking it to immediately remove the application.

"There is potential for friction in society if this application is misinterpreted and used as a pretext to commit violence against certain religious groups and citizens," Komnas HAM Chairman Ahmad Taufan Damanik told BenarNews.

A Komnas HAM member, Choirul Anam, said the app was counter-productive to the governments efforts to build democracy.

"The state shouldnt meddle in the religious affairs of its citizens," Choirul said in a statement.
Malaysian police said they arrested 17 suspects Monday after violence broke out at a Hindu temple near Kuala Lumpur, in what authorities described as an escalation of a dispute over the relocation of the house of worship.

Seven people suffered injuries after a group of men attacked devotees at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya township, said police. Eighteen cars and two motorcycles were smashed or torched during Mondays incident, authorities said.



It has nothing to do with racism. This is related to the transfer of the temple to a new location nearby, Police Inspector-General Mohamad Fuzi Harun told reporters in Kuala Lumpur. As for those arrested, they are all locals.



Police seized two machetes, two sticks and two pipes allegedly used by the suspects during the early morning attack, Fuzi said.



We have also identified the mastermind and will be calling in the person soon for questioning, he added.

Fuzi urged all parties, including politicians and religious figures, to avoid issuing statements that could inflame tensions in multi-ethnic Malaysia, which has a Malay Muslim majority and Chinese and Indian minorities who follow other religions.

Stop making speculations and irresponsible comments even though the situation is under control, he said.

Authorities and residents look at a vehicle damaged during violence outside the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya, Nov. 26, 2018. [S.Mahfuz/BenarNews]

Jeyakumar Subramaniam, the temples chief priest was quoted by New Straits Times newspaper as saying that the violence had nothing to do with racial issues.

I believe it has something to do with the relocation issue plaguing the temple right now, he said. Some parties are attempting to twist the facts with regard to what happened.



In an audio recording obtained by BenarNews, Jeyakumar said the groups who launched the attack at the temple were not member of the Malay majority because they spoke an unfamiliar language.



They were not Malays, he said. They sounded like Indonesians.

About 61 percent of Malaysias 32.4 million people are Muslims and about 1.6 million are Hindus.



Despite its multicultural make-up and civil liberties that are enshrined in the countrys federal constitution, Malaysia has experienced racial violence, including rioting that occurred in the aftermath of the 1969 general election.



The Sri Maha Mariamman temple sits on private land belonging to property developer One City Development. Four years ago, a court ruled in favor of One City and ordered the temple to be relocated more than 3 km (almost 2 miles) away.



The developer denied any involvement in Mondays violence.

Allegations that One City orchestrated the incident are malicious lies. One City condemns any acts of violence or any insinuations that would resort to such despicable acts, it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, a group of Malaysian Indian parliamentarians condemned what they called an unprovoked attack on the temple.

We call for a full and independent inquiry by the police to establish who is behind this serious attack on the temple and the motive for it. Those responsible for this violence must be caught and punished, said a statement signed by four MPs.
From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As...
Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters rest inside their stronghold in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, Aug. 17, 2011.

The Philippine military said Monday it would conduct sustained operations to flush radical groups out of their jungle camps ahead of the January 2019 plebiscite in the south.

Maj. Gen. Bienvenido Datuin, chief of the Armed Forces Civil Relations Service, said plans for the military operations were in the final stages, more than a year after pro-Islamic State (IS) militants were defeated in the southern city of Marawi.

Definitely the areas controlled by the extremists will be targeted before the Jan. 21 plebiscite, Datuin told reporters.

Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said the military had identified 12 villages in the town of Patikul on the remote Jolo island as areas of concern; as well as several territories in central Mindanao that are known to be strongholds of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and two areas in the Lanao provinces that have been identified as camps occupied by IS-linked militants.

The plebiscite is meant to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that was passed in July by President Rodrigo Dutertes government, four years after Manila and the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) inked a peace deal.

The BOL is aimed at giving the people in the impoverished south control over many local government functions, including taxation and education, and allowing Muslim Filipinos to incorporate Islamic law into their justice system.

It is also designed to give self-determination to the minority four million Muslims in the south by giving them powers to elect their own parliament. As part of the deal on the BOL, the MILF had also agreed to disband its fighting force.

Authorities hope that the BOL would end a nearly 40-year conflict that has killed more than 120,000 people in the countrys second-largest island of Mindanao.

The plebiscite is to take place in the predominantly Muslim provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. It will also include six towns in Lanao del Norte and the cities of Cotabato and Isabela in Basilan.

Dureza said there are areas in these provinces that government troops find it hard to gain entry because rebels control them.

Violence in these areas could mar the plebiscite, he said.

The military even advised me not to go to these areas, Dureza said. The government will have to deal with these potential trouble makers if we have to have an orderly plebiscite in the south.

The BIFF have so far been the largest, most-organized group that is threatening the plebiscite. Composed of more radical and younger fighters, it had broken away from the MILF when the latter opted to negotiate autonomy for Muslims in the south.

BIFF had pledged allegiance to the IS, but did not send fighters when IS-linked militants led by Isnilon Hapilon, backed by foreign fighters, seized Marawi last year. The five-month battle destroyed Marawi and left 1,200 dead, most of them militants.

Duterte had not lifted martial law he had declared in the south, saying that many militants were known to have escaped during the Marawi fighting and joined armed groups in Mindanaos vast jungle areas.

Richel V. Umel from Iligan City contributed to this report.
Guardant Health AMEA will scale commercialisation of its liquid biopsy test, the Guardant360(R) assay, in the region

Guardant Health AMEA today announces the launch of its Asia, Middle East and Africa headquarters in Singapore with the goal of addressing the unmet medical need in cancer management by leveraging comprehensive genomic profiling liquid biopsy tests and big data analytics.

Its flagship product, Guardant360, first introduced in 2014, has been ordered more than 70,000 times to help inform which therapy may be effective for advanced stage cancer patients with solid tumours. It has been reviewed by more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, which address its analytical validity, clinical validity, and clinical utility in multiple tumour types, and used by 40+ biopharma companies.

Guardant Health AMEA expands commercial footprint in AMEA; and is conducting clinical studies in Asian patient population

Guardant Health AMEA is currently offering Guardant360 to clinical customers for assisting with treatment selection in advanced cancers and has already established distributorships in key markets including Southeast Asia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, New Zealand, Middle East and Israel.

The Guardant360 assay received breakthrough device designation from the US FDA earlier this year. FDA approval, if and when obtained, is expected to further help accelerate commercial adoption of the test internationally. The company has also established an office in Japan and its growing team comprises expertise in medical affairs, regulatory affairs, business development, bioinformatics, lab operations and sales.

Clinical studies are also underway to generate relevant data specific to Asian patient population. The company is collaborating with the National Cancer East Network (NCCE) SCRUM Japan in two nationwide genomic screening networks, GI-SCREEN and LC-SCRUM Japan, using Guardant360 to match patients to approved or experimental therapies in clinical trials. Guardant Health AMEA has also recently published the first cohort study data on Chinese advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients that received comprehensive liquid biopsy test.
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LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares?



























Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano...



Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos:



Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias.



Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera.



No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje.



En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio.



Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida.



Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella.



Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal.



Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista.



Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen.



Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che?



Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio.



Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora.



Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo.



Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo.



Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania.



No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar.



Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga.





Alguna duda?



Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino



Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia.



OZ1



OZ2



OZ3



OZ4



Homenaje a Jason Galarraga



La Victoria de Samotracia



Odalisca



Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008



























La Sierra Nevada de Merida



Nuestro precioso Churum Meru



Homenaje a Picasso



Autoretrato



Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola?

La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.

Mi profesion?

Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.

Sal en la Coca Cola?

A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.

De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:

Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto

Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)

azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)

Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas

Mucha Cafeina

Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio

Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe

Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion

El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.

Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.

Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.

En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).

Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.

La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.

Bebidas Light?

Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el

Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.



Publicado por loretahur



En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur

MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina:

1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias.

2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina.

3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard.

4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos.

5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla.

6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos.

Ahora... sobre la margarina:

1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) .

2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias.

3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno).

4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer.

5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna.

6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo.

7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina.

Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas:

* No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo).

* No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!!



No a la guerra, Si a la Paz



Misterios de la ciencia...



Los costos de la guerra



medicos y capitalismo...



Capitalismo...



medicos (2)



Quien educa a nuestros hijos?



Los Medios...



Sin Palabras...



Chistes feministas

- Cual es el problema, Eva?

- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz...

- Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.

- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...

- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.

- Que es un hombre?

- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.

- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.

- Cual es el truco?.

- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.

- Cual?

- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.





Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Ellas...



Ellas (2)...



Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1

Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije:

-Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro.

Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria.

Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre?

-Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa!



VENGANZA NUMERO 2

Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris.

A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita:

- Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!!

Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta.

La mujer paso quince dias en Francia.

El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla.

Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es:

- Y amor me trajiste mi francesita??

- Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina.



VENGANZA NUMERO 3

El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion.

- No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo.

- Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz.

Te quiero confesar algo.

- Esta bien, esta bien. Habla!

- He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga.

- Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!!



machismo y cibernetica



Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston.

-Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide.

-Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!.



.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.

Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos.

Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco.

Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas



Gol !!!!



Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso!



Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy!


Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO has completed a series of meetings with President Juncker and senior European Commission officials and also signed a joint statement with the European Parliament.

Dr Tedros commended the fruitful cooperation between the European Commission and the World Health Organisation (WHO), particularly in the fields of antimicrobial resistance, strengthening health systems and preparedness for outbreaks of communicable diseases in developing countries. President Juncker confirmed the support of the European Commission to the Global Action Plan on Health and Well Being to accelerate progress to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, including goal number 3, related to healthy lives and well-being at all ages.

President Juncker and Dr Tedros also spoke about the importance of focusing on air pollution and agreed to jointly organize a Global Vaccination Summit, building on initiatives to increase vaccination and improve vaccination confidence in the EU, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary deaths from preventable diseases.

Dr Tedros met separately with Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis responsible for Health and Food Safety; Commissioner Neven Mimica, responsible for international cooperation and development; Commissioner for Humanitarian aid and crisis management, Christos Stylianides and Commissioner Karmenu Vella, in charge of the Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs;, as well as with Director-General for Research, Science and Innovation Jean Paquet.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversaries of WHO and of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , Dr Tedros emphasized that Both WHOs Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights assert that health is a human right, rather than a privilege for those who can afford it. But we must remember that the right to health is not a given. It takes renewed political commitment and leadership in every generation  including ours.

The right to health has been a platform for major health improvements in the past 70 years. Globally, life expectancy has increased by 25 years. Smallpox has been eradicated and polio is on the brink, he added. However, Dr Tedros warned of the rise of new health threats and the need for unrelenting political commitment to achieve Universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Lunit's medical AI solution for chest radiography and mammography, Lunit INSIGHT, will be integrated into Fujifilm Synapse PACS system, which will then be evaluated by 20 radiologists in Salud Digna

Medical AI company, Lunit announced its corporate partnership with FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc. and Salud Digna in a joint AI project to provide a medical AI solution for the local population in Mexico.

Lunit's medical AI solution for chest radiography and mammography, Lunit INSIGHT, will be integrated into Fujifilm Synapse PACS system, which will then be evaluated by 20 radiologists in Salud Digna, one of the largest diagnostic service providers in Mexico.

Upon the evaluation, Lunit and FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc. will seek to further develop the application and technology for more effective implementation on site. The project also includes an evaluation of worklist prioritization feature which could help to improve productivity in diagnosis.

"We're happy to have Fujifilm and Salud Digna as our partners in beginning the onsite installation of Lunit's AI solutions for medical imaging," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Mexico is one of the countries that experience constraint in the number of radiologists4,000 radiologists at 7,000 medical facilities, serving 130 million patientsthat is less than one radiologist per facility. This is one of the situations that we had been hoping to contribute with our technology and we are confident that our medical AI solution can present a great opportunity to improve productivity."

According to a recent study published in <Radiology>, Lunit's AI solution surpassed physicians of all level in accuracy. It also has been proven to increase the performance level of non-radiology physicians as much as 20% when used as a second reader. Lunit says its AI solution for chest x-ray has an accuracy level of 97-99% and 97% for mammography.

"Fujifilm is very excited about the opportunities to have clinicians at Salud Digna evaluate our open AI platform in conjunction with Lunit's AI solutions," said Tak Shimomura, Chief Technical Officer of Medical Informatics at FUJIFILM Medical Systems, U.S.A., Inc.

Salud Digna healthcare network has 94 clinics around 24 states in Mexico. It had screened and diagnosed more than 182,000 images only in October, of which 108,450 were computed radiography and 63,880 were mammography cases.
The Medical College will benefit the students, especially those of tribal and rural areas of the two UTs, which will promote social equity

With an aim of increasing the availability of doctors and address the issue of shortage of doctors, The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of Medical College at Silvassa in the Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

The project is expected to be completed by 2019-20 at a capital cost of Rs. 189 crore to be incurred in two years, 2018-19-Rs. 114 crore and 2019-20-Rs. 75 crore with yearly intake of 150 students.

The construction and capital expenditure of this project will be incurred as per the norms of Medical Council of India (MCI) norms and extant guidelines of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

It will also result in optimal utilization of the existing infrastructure of district hospitals and improve tertiary care facilities for the people of the two UTs and adjoining areas.

The Medical College will benefit the students, especially those of tribal and rural areas of the two UTs, which will promote social equity. Health equity will be promoted by provision of better services through improvement in the strength of doctors in the UTs.
About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile
Black Gown Or Sequinned Attire: Which Outfit Of Kareena's Was More OOTN- worthy? Bollywood Wardrobe Devika Tripathi

Kareena Kapoor Khan is also a part of the Netflix film, 'Mowgli' and like Madhuri, she also attended the press conference and premier events. For both the occasions, she wore gowns and we couldn't stop looking at Kareena. The actress looked resplendent and wowed us. We loved one gown more than the other. Let's find out, which one that was.

So, for the press conference, Kareena wore a sexy black-hued gown, which was a classic and she pulled it off with a lot of aplomb. Kareena looked more than gorgeous in her attire, which featured spaghetti straps and was deep-necked. Her flowy gown with a train gave us Morticia Addams vibes sans the full-sleeves. Her attire came from Theia Couture and she teamed it with Louboutin sandals. Kareena's makeup was nude and highlighted by a winged eyeliner. Her middle-parted tresses amped up her look. She accessorised her look with stunning precious rings.

For the premiere, Kareena's look was clearly jewellery-free. The actress wore a sequinned number by Mary Katrantzou. It was a razor-sharp overlapping number that featured a side slit. Kareena teamed her gown with silver-hued pencil heel. Her styling was done to perfection, with smoky eyes and nude lip shade. We thought her backcombed sleek tresses notched up her style quotient.

While, we liked Kareena's styling more at the premiere event, the dress that impressed us more was the black-coloured matte gown. Which gown of hers did you like more? Feel free to share opinions in the comment section.
Reciba en su email: noticias de ultima hora, analisis tecnicos o el cierre de mercado

Email no valido Nombre requerido Recibira las informaciones mas relevantes del dia en tiempo real Que informacion desea recibir? Noticias de Ultima hora Boletin Cierre de Mercado Boletin analisis tecnico Boletin Fundsnews Debe seleccionar un tipo de boletin Acepto la Politica de privacidad Debe aceptar la politica de privacidad Responsable EMPRESAS DEL GRUPO WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Finalidad La remision de informacion, novedades y promociones Establecimiento o mantenimiento de Relaciones Comerciales. Legitimacion Consentimiento del interesado. Interes legitimo en el desarrollo de la relacion comercial Destinatario Empresas del Grupo WEB FINANCIAL GROUP Derechos Acceso, rectificacion, supresion, limitacion, oposicion y portabilidad Informacion adicional Politica de Privacidad de nuestra pagina Web + INFORMACION
PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2018

NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. today announced the launch of a three-part webinar series in partnership with renowned law firm Mayer Brown LLP to examine the most impactful areas of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Participants will have the opportunity to earn free CLE credits by attending each live hour-long webinar.

The webinars will be led by Mayer Brown Tax Transactions & Consulting partners Thomas A. Humphreys and Remmelt A. Reigersman. Linda O'Brien, a leading tax analyst for Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., will moderate the webinars and guide the discussion around key subject areas, including pass-through entities, corporate taxation and international taxation.

"The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 impacted numerous areas of the law and virtually every taxpayer," said Linda O'Brien, tax analyst for Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. "In partnership with Mayer Brown's acclaimed tax practitioners, this webinar series will provide tax advisors with key insights on the most complex and consequential impacts, including the new provisions and focus on 2018 IRS guidance, and prospects for future guidance in 2019 and beyond."

"In the year since the U.S. Congress passed sweeping domestic and international tax law changes in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we have seen a flood of IRS guidance interpreting the new rules with more to come," said Thomas A. Humphreys, Tax Transactions & Consulting partner of Mayer Brown. "With these three seminars in partnership with Wolters Kluwer, we look forward to helping tax advisors understand how to interpret the most significant effects of the legislation."

The series kicks off on Tuesday, November 27 with "Section 199A and Other Provisions Affecting Pass-Through Vehicles." Topics will include the changes from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the treatment of pass-through entities, carried interest income, limits on interest deductibility for business interest and the Elimination of "technical termination" rule. To register for this complimentary live session, which includes free CLE credit, click the link below:Wolters Kluwer Presents: Mayer Brown Tax Reform Series - Session One: Section 199A and Other Provisions Affecting Pass-Through VehiclesTuesday, November 27, 2-3 PM EST

The second in the series, "Impact on U.S. Corporations and Their Shareholders of the New 21% Corporate Tax Rate, Section 163(j) Interest Limits and Other New Provisions," will take place on Tuesday, December 4. Webinar attendees will review corporate tax planning, post-Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and will review 2018 IRS guidance under the new provisions, including the new Code section 163(j) limit on the deduction of business interest, changes in the NOL carryover rules, immediate expensing of equipment costs under new Code section 168(k), the reduction in the corporate income tax rate and other domestic corporate tax provisions.

To register for this complimentary live session, which includes free CLE credit, click the link below: Wolters Kluwer Presents: Mayer Brown Tax Reform Series - Session Two: Impact on U.S. Corporations and Their Shareholders of the New 21% Corporate Tax Rate, Section 163(j) Interest Limits and Other New Provisions Tuesday, December 4, 3-4 PM EST

The third webinar in the series, titled "The New World of U.S. International Taxation After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ", will take place on December 11. The webinar will cover the various components of that reform including the new GILTI regime and the GILTI proposed regulations. To register for this complimentary live session, which includes free CLE credit, click the link below:Wolters Kluwer Presents: Mayer Brown Tax Reform Series - Session Three: The New World of U.S. International Taxation After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Tuesday, December 11, 10-11 AM EST

About Mayer Brown LLPMayer Brown is a distinctively global law firm, uniquely positioned to advise the world's leading companies and financial institutions on their most complex deals and disputes. With extensive reach across four continents, we are the only integrated law firm in the world with approximately 200 lawyers in each of the world's three largest financial centersNew York, London and Hong Kongthe backbone of the global economy. We have deep experience in high-stakes litigation and complex transactions across industry sectors, including our signature strength, the global financial services industry. Our diverse teams of lawyers are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do. Our "one-firm" cultureseamless and integrated across all practices and regionsensures that our clients receive the best of our knowledge and experience.

Visit MayerBrown.com or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

About Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. is part of Wolters Kluwer N.V. (AEX: WKL), a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance 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 Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., visit www.WoltersKluwerLR.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

MediaLinda GharibDirector, CommunicationsWolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.Tel: +1 (646) 887-7962Email: [email protected]

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SOURCE Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S.




BEIRUT  As a child, Riham would wake up at night to her half-brother molesting her. Now she is one of seven women recounting their suffering in a play about sexual violence in Lebanon.





Recordings of the womens voices ring out as the audience moves from room to room in a house in Beirut. Womens rights group ABAAD put on the play entitled Shame on who? this weekend.





In one room, a girl in white tries to stand up but keeps falling. In another, a woman talks to her mother but gets no response.





I chose the idea of a house because most of these incidents happen from someone very close to the (victims), said Sahar Assaf, who conceived and directed the play.





Supposedly, the safest place for a woman should be her house.





Riham, 35, recalls how she told her mother that her half-brother had abused her for 20 years since she was eight. She said that I was a liar and that I should never speak of such a thing.





ABAAD head Ghida Anani said the play sought to empower survivors and encourage victims to report assaults.





The audience relives Wards story from the husbands perspective as an actor paces in a bedroom.





We got marriedbut she started getting bothered because I used to like sleeping with her by force. from behind, he says.





Once I gave her sleeping pills and tied her upShe couldnt do anything.





Lebanon passed a long-awaited law in 2014 against domestic violence. But rights groups were outraged that authorities watered it down so much it fell short of criminalising marital rape. Child marriage also remains legal.





The United Nations says a third of women worldwide have suffered sexual or physical violence.





A 2017 national ABAAD study found that one in four women have been raped in Lebanon. Less than a quarter of those who faced sexual assault reported it, the survey said.





I felt that he was an animal eating my flesh, Hoda, whose neighbour raped her at 14, recalls in a recording in the play.




Kathmandu, Nepal: Senior orthopedic surgeon Dr Govinda KC has warned for another hunger strike demanding reform in the medical education sector. The Medical Education stalwart Dr. KC has extended three weeks deadline to meet his demands.





Organizing a press conference at the Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) premises on Monday he said that 16th hunger strike would be staged if his demands are not implemented by the government within a three-week.





As the government does not seem serious to implement the past agreements to reform the medical education, I will stage another hanger strike from December 18 if all the demands are not fulfilled within the given timeframe, he said.





Following the agreement with the government he had ended his15th hunger strike launched demanding reform in the medical education sector. However, the government has failed to implement its own commitment made while singing in the agreement with agitating Dr. KC.




Genie Wheelwright is second from left in this photograph. (Nat is behind the camera, so not visible.)

Inspired by the award-winning Nature Moments video series created by Wheelwright during his last year at Bowdoin, their students have been making their own short videos about nature in Colombia. They voted as a group to call the series Momentos Naturales Colombia, the notion being that we might inspire Momentos Naturales Ecuador, Momentos Naturales Peru, etc. said Wheelwright, who originally devised the project as a way of encouraging more people to observe the environment around them.

For the Wheelwrights, their sojourn at the university in Cali has also been a trip down memory lane: They spent time there together in the 1970s after graduating from college!
Kathmandu, Nepal: Yagya Raj Panta, father of rape and murder victim Nirmala Panta, has been receiving treatment at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) for mental health.





He was brought to Kathmandu for treatment after he developed mental disorder along with physical illness on Sunday under influence of sedative. He was denied boarding a flight from Dhangadi Airport on Wednesday showing the reason of mental illness.





Yagya Raj showed signs of mental illness while he was in the sit-in protest demanding that those who raped and murdered his daughter be nabbed and brought to justice immediately.




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
70 tech jobs will be created in Cork over the next two years by US company Park Place Technologies.

The firm, which is a post-warranty data centre maintenance organisation, announced today it will open its new EMEA Operations Centre in the City Quarter at Lapps Quay.

The Ohio-headquartered company currently supports more than 15,000 organisations in 115 countries and employs 1,100 people.

It will be recruiting Customer Service Specialists, Support Analysts and Advanced Engineers for its new Cork office.

Speaking in Cork at the announcement, Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said he was delighted to welcome Park Place Technologies to Cork.

"Ireland, as a committed member of the EU, continues to resonate strongly with US companies as the location of choice from which to serve its European customer base," he said.

Chris Adams, President and COO of Park Place, said: "This investment further cements our position within EMEA, and we are confident we can provide our existing customer base and potential new customers with an alternative option for their Support and Maintenance, and IT Managed Services requirements."

The investment is supported through IDA Ireland, and Mr Adams said partnering with the government has created a clear path to expansion and investment.

Digital Desk
Any disruption to court proceedings caused by social media use could have major financial and reputational consequences for this country, argues Kyran Fitzgerald.

The presidents of our courts have just issued a direction limiting the use of data messaging and electronic devices during court proceedings.

The move comes amid growing evidence that inappropriate social communications are impinging on the running of the courts.

This is important. Any disruption in the administration of justice could result in huge cost, both financial and reputational, to the country.

Enforced retrials can end up costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of euros and more.

Thwarted enforcement of the rules can put a question mark over the quality of our legal system.

Speaking at a conference on social media and the courts, Chief Justice Frank Clarke highlighted the dangers posed by the widespread use of instant messaging.

First, anybody can currently transmit a message from a courtroom during a hearing. Second, once something is out there via social media, it remains so forever

He went on to point to recent instances of inappropriate social communications in the Irish courts.

These include outrageous communications made by an online journalist during a high-profile murder trial. The posts were removed only after the person concerned was threatened with jail.

It also included evidence being reported before it was found to be admissible or reportable. The evidence was adjudged, in a later ruling, to be not reportable. People being rallied from inside the courtroom via social media in an effort to sway the jury.

Social media has transformed business and legal life in all sorts of ways. The courts, which rely on a sense of mystique and remoteness as a means of generating popular respect, find themselves particularly challenged by the new forms of instant communications.

Lawyers are somewhat traditional in outlook. Many were slow to come to terms with the arrival, in the Noughties, of instant communications on a pervasive scale.

This is no longer the case. The American Bar Association has calculated that at least 90% of its members have a

LinkedIn profile, with 40% on Facebook and more than one-quarter on Twitter.

Employment and labour lawyers are most active on social media (89%) followed by personal injury lawyers and litigators (84%). A similar trend is evident here.

Law firms have generated lots of new business in advising clients on how best to deal with the advent of social media in the workplace, or in helping them to deal with the consequences of failure to navigate the waves of social media-driven change.

Antoinette Vahey is an employment partner with solicitors Ronan Daly Jermyn (RDJ).

The use of LinkedIn by departing employees has been a particular source of concern, she suggests. Employers do not have proprietary rights to contacts gathered.

Some firms have sought to address this by means of restrictive covenants, though these must be proportionate and not too onerous from the point of view of the employee.

Employers have become savvier in their use of social media, she said. They access postings when claims are made against them.

In a lot of cases, they have been able to secure information for use where claims are made against them

In the workplace, bans on the use of the internet by employees are a thing of the past, thanks to the smartphone.

Among millennials, reliance on smartphones is universal. Any denial of access would hit satisfaction, productivity, and, perhaps, employee retention.

Excessive use of smartphones can be a factor in dismissal decisions, however. There is concern about the impact of phone addiction on productivity.

Training to counter such addiction is offered by some firms.

RDJ has itself offered awareness training in the use of smartphones to its staff.

Cybersecurity is another key area of focus.

Clearly, many employers have begun to adapt to the social media age. The courts here could seek advice from those firms which have raised their game.

Overseas, some court systems have made real efforts to counter the negative effects of social media use in the litigation setting.

Chilean academic Emily Janoski-Haehlen has highlighted the extent to which jurors, lawyers, and even judges have misused social media in a court setting.

In a 2011 article entitled The Courts are all a Twitter, she set out examples where retrials have been ordered or sought as a result of juror use of Twitter to send updates on the situation during the trial.

In other cases of misconduct, nine jurors charged with deciding a case were all found to have researched the case on the internet, in a major breach of accepted procedures.

In Baltimore, Maryland, a retrial was sought after five jurors sitting together became Facebook friends and chatted on social media sites.

Judges have not been free of the virus. In Ohio, a judge was accused of posting comments online about a case he was hearing.

An English magistrate got into hot water for tweeting about his cases.

He resigned, but was unapologetic, contending that he had not mentioned any names and had not revealed information of a private nature.

Academics question whether judges should be allowed to access social media sites when reaching decisions. A fear of falling for fake news, perhaps?

Here, Mr Justice Clarke and his judicial colleagues are faced with some difficult challenges as they set out to navigate a new world in which the old world of respect and deference is under assault from one based on impulse and punchy fingers.

In his recent address, the chief justice accepted that the courts have not always been sufficiently proactive when it comes to keeping pace with developments in social media.

The stakes are high as he himself made clear.

The potential for unregulated social media to have an impact on the fairness of the trial process is a legitimate and particular concern of the judiciary, he said.

The judges here have opted for a system of reporting in which regular court reporters enjoy privileged access.

Supervising such a system may not be easy particularly when faced with determined opposition from digital warriors and the disgruntled.

The last thing we need is the transformation of our courthouses into rough houses influenced by tapping demagogues and windbags.
Loci Orthopaedics plans to revolutionise the thumb joint surgery market, writes Trish Dromey.

The winner of this years InterTrade Ireland Seedcorn competition, Loci Orthopaedics, is a medtech company with an ambitious agenda  to disrupt the 550m thumb joint surgery market.

It plans to do so with a revolutionary 21st-century solution.

We have used cutting-edge 3D CT technology to design an implant which is the first that can fully mimic the natural but complex movements of the thumb, said company co-founder Dr Brendan Boland, who plans to make this implant, called the InDx, as widely used globally as hips, knees, and shoulder joint replacements.

Dr Boland says that at present the treatment options for the 40 million sufferers of basal thumb joint arthritis in the EU and the US include an implant with a 40% failure rate, or a surgical procedure which was developed in the 1950s and which results in a significant loss of hand function.

Loci orthopaedics win intertradeirelands Seedcorn 2019. Congrats from HBAN and enjoy the journey. pic.twitter.com/tBJakl60m1  John Phelan (@johnphelan99) November 22, 2018

Basal thumb base arthritis, he explains, is a cripplingly debilitating condition which prevents sufferers from being able to perform simple tasks such as turning a key or using a phone.

Given that the percentage of the population over 65 is now set to increase significantly in the Western world, Dr Boland says the potential market for thumb implants can be expected to grow to over 1bn in the next five years.

The need for a solution to the problem of thumb joint arthritis was identified by Dr Boland and his co-founder Gerry Clarke, five years ago when they took part in a BioInnovate programme.

We were part of a team sent to Cork University Hospitals to observe orthopaedic procedures and identify unmet needs. We observed for weeks and found that thumb joint arthritis stood out as a particularly significant unmet need, Dr Boland said.

They began working on developing solutions at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) in 2015, securing 505,000 in commercialisation funding from Enterprise Ireland.

In 2017, Dr Boland and Mr Clarke set up Loci Orthopaedics as a spin-out company at the Business Innovation Centre at NUIG. Since then they have worked on carrying out preclinical trials and fundraising to take the product to the next level.

This summer, the company raised the 2.75m in seed investment it needed to proceed with plans to carry out clinical trials and seek regulatory approval in both the US and the EU.

We expect to carry out our first clinical trial about a year from now and to have full commercialisation in two years across the EU and the US, said Dr Boland, explaining that the funding will keep the company financed for the next two years.

While making plans to develop sales internationally, the company has gone to great lengths to ensure that manufacturing of the InDx implant is kept on the island of Ireland.

The device and associated implant set are fabricated between Galway and Waterford, the packaging is also here in Galway and the final sterilisation in Mayo. We are keen to support local jobs and companies as much as possible

-said Dr Boland, adding that only the testing is done outside Ireland.

Currently employing a staff of three, the company expects to take on an additional eight people over the next three years, including engineers, regulatory affairs staff as well as sales and marketing people.

Dr Boland says that the plan, once they have completed clinical trials and secured FDA approval, is to have a limited release in the US in 2021 and to launch in the EU soon afterwards.

Winning the overall award in this years Intertrade Ireland Seedcorn competition has provided Loci Orthopaedics with an additional 100,000 and boosted its ability to raise further funding in the future.

The prize money will prove invaluable in supporting our orthopaedic joint implant InDx at such a crucial stage in its development and will allow us to invest in securing additional personnel and provide further support for expansion, said Dr Boland.

Future plans for Loci Orthopaedics include ongoing R&D, focusing on other joint implants to increase the product portfolio.
Businesses need to respond to Brexit and its challenges, as it will bring real changes for all of us, regardless of what form it takes, Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said.

Speaking at the launch of a joint report between Cork Chamber and the British Embassy on growing economic links between the south-west and various UK regions, Mr Coveney said the importance of regional development could not be understated.

Both of our companies have economies that are focused heavily on our capital cities. However, it is important that we focus on developing our next-tier cities as a strong counterbalance to capitals, he said.

Wales provided a good example of the importance of a regional relationship, Mr Coveney said.

Ireland is Wales fourth largest trading partner. There are an estimated 85 Irish companies with a presence in Wales, employing just over 5,500 people. This is a growing economic relationship, with the value of Welsh exports to Ireland 15% higher in 2017 than 2016.

In addition, Welsh ports are one of the principal transit points for large quantities of Irish imports and exports, both to the UK and beyond.

UK ambassador to Ireland, Robin Barnett said one of the priorities of Prime Minister, Theresa Mays Brexit strategies was to maintain frictionless trade in the deal agreed with the EU.

The proposed deal would preserve and enhance trade in areas such as Cork and Limerick, he said, and the joint Cork Chamber-British Embassy report had identified areas in which to concentrate.

One of the priorities set out was always to maintain frictionless trade of goods and as everybody here knows, the trade between the UK and Ireland is enormously important in both directions.

This report is designed not only to ensure that we continue to have the levels of trade we do now, but my ambition for Cork and the whole south-west region, including Limerick, is actually that we are able to do much more in the future, the ambassador said.

He said there was immense scope for partnership between the UK and the south-west, across a huge range of sectors such as IT, construction, and fintech.

That is why we have people across the UK here from the Midlands, the North, Wales, because they are interested in the potential for the future, Mr Barnett said, referring to the UK presence at the launch of the report.

Cork Chamber chief executive Conor Healy said World Trade Organisation tariffs would be the worst-case scenario for business in the region.
In two years, Cork native Fiona Edwards Murphy has gone from winning UCCs Ignite Business of the Year award to closing a 1.5m financing round with international venture capital investors, writes Padraig Hoare.

Pollination is a burgeoning billion dollar industry  and Cork native Fiona Edwards Murphy is at the forefront of revolutionary technology aimed at safeguarding a third of the food we eat daily.

UCC graduate Fiona Edwards Murphy spotted a gap in the market, applying IoT technology to monitor honey bee colonies.

ApisProtect, an Irish agtech innovator using the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor honey bee colonies, last week closed 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 of the firm, which was co-founded by Kanturk native Dr Edwards Murphy, who is also its chief executive.

ApisProtect technology provides real-time hive monitoring, powered by satellite-enabled sensors that are retrofitted to existing beehives.

Ms Edwards Murphys work on the topic of hive monitoring has received acclaim across the world.

How big can the industry get?

There are 91 million beehives in the world, so 91m sensors. Our plan is about 300,000 hives over the next five years.

Our first American office is open in Salinas in California, a real heart of the pollination industry. Its great to be in the middle of all these growers, with all these crops, that are so dependent on the bees.

Pollination is a billion-dollar industry, and is growing very rapidly. Its booming in the US and is growing in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada  any country that grows a significant amount of nuts or soft fruit, things like that, Ms Edwards Murphy said.

Like many great entrepreneurial minds, the UCC graduate spotted a gap in the market and the idea blossomed.

My background is in electronic engineering. I did my undergrad in UCC in electronic and electrical engineering. I got involved with the Embedded Systems group, which is the research area that IoT falls under. I knew I wanted to do a PhD on wireless sensor network applications, which is basically IoT, even though it wasnt called that back then.

At the same time, it was when people were beginning to panic about bees  things like colony collapse disorder; it was all over the news. I was learning about bees and how important they are, and how important they are for our food, and I thought to myself, has anyone tried using IoT technology on it? I checked, nobody had, and I said that is what I am going to do my PhD on

- Ms Edwards Murphy said.

She participated in UCCs international award-winning business start-up programme Ignite, that supports recent third-level graduates to turn innovative ideas into successful, scalable businesses.

She won the Ignite Business of the Year Award in 2016.

The Ignite programme was brilliant. I had loads of technical knowledge, after spending eight years studying engineering basically, but I didnt know anything about accountancy or sales or marketing.

Ignite was brilliant in basically bringing you up to speed on that  heres 600 things you need to know if you want to be an entrepreneur.

It basically turned me into a grownup, she said. With the focus on encouraging more young women into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers, Dr Edwards Murphy is happy if she can inspire others.

She is adamant that technology should be obligatory in schools, and insists she would be delighted to pass on the lessons she has learned to aspiring entrepreneurs along the way. Im doing my thing, and if people find it inspiring, thats great.

Passing on what I have learned is very important to me, because it is such a massive part of the entrepreneurial world here in Cork. There is such a focus on helping each other out. It is something I really appreciated, and is something I want to continue to be involved in.

Technology is now such a fundamental part of our lives, there are no jobs that children will grow up and do that wont involve apps, computers, software and things like that. I dont see why everyone cant do it the way they do geography or history, she said.

Headed up by Ms Edwards Murphy, Padraig Whelan and Andrew Wood, it is a team with complementary backgrounds including engineering, scientific, beekeeping, and commercial experience.

I definitely didnt realise when I started my PhD that this is where I would end up, and even when I started ApisProtect, it has gone so far so quickly. Weve already got seven employees and we will go to 25 over the next three years.

I spent the last six years working on hive monitoring technology, had a lot of installs, but theyve only been in Ireland, so its great to see what the beekeepers and the bees themselves are like all over the world, and how our sensors are responding to the different kinds of climates. Its very exciting; were doing another 50 installs in the US this week. Its Florida we are going to next, having done 144 hive installs between the US, the UK, and Ireland, and well be going to South Africa before the end of the year. It really is all go.
Rape survivor Lavinia Kerwick, who made legal history as a teenager in 1992 when she waived her anonymity to speak publicly about her rape ordeal and appalling experience in court, made an emotional address a gathering at the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre today.

The conference audience included Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Irish Examiner reporter, Caroline O'Doherty, was on hand to recount what she had to say in full.

Rape survivor Lavinia Kerwick at the launch of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Annual Report at the headquarters in 70 Leeson Street Lower, Dublin 2. Picture: Rollingnews.ie

The justice system broke me

"It was a horrific rape, a horrific rape trial and it resulted in a guilty plea but a suspended sentence. I suffered from a near life-ending eating disorder. Can I tell you that in all honesty, the justice system broke me and I will tell you why.

Between the justice system and the rapist, they both tore my life to shreds. They both left me with nothing and nowhere to go. Victims sit in that courtroom hidden away in a corner so you're somewhat invisible and there is no eye contact with the judge. It very nearly killed me. You're not you anymore. So I went public and suppose in many ways I exposed the court system for the very first time and how that system treated victims.

I knew at 19 years of age if I didn't expose it then rape would remain silent. But rape isn't silent. It's brutal, it's violent and it hurts and you are quite simply left battered, bruised and hoping that somehow you escape and don't end up dead.

Rapists have nothing to lose when they go to court. They already know the system is flawed. They have everyone lined up - barristers, solicitors, character witnesses and they will defend themselves by saying it's the clothes that were worn, the underwear and sure, you were up for it.

And that justice system will let this happen and all the while the victim is sitting there alone and wondering why she ever reported this in the first place.

So I went public and I demanded change. The justice system left me no choice, very like I had no choice on the night I was raped. And let me tell you very clearly - going on the Gerry Ryan show and speaking about being raped was devastating. I shouldn't have had to do that. No rape victim wants to have to feel that to get justice they have to go public. That's the justice system's job.

I'm very proud to say as a result of what I did, two new parts of legislation were introduced within a year. They are the victim impact statements and appealing a lenient sentence. They still work to this day 25 years later.

Looking back now I was brave and that's now what I need you to be Commissioner. We are now at a crossroads and victims are crying out for change. I'm going to now hand you back my bravery and ask you to go to the Minister for Justice, the judicial system, the rape crisis centres, victims and survivors and say let's work together, let's be brave and let's never hear the words as the victim leaves the court: he might as well have raped me again in court.

We as survivors and victims deserve to be able to live our lives and heal. To do that, victims need to trust the system and when reporting a rape, victims need to know that they have done the right thing. It takes all our courage. I can only speak from my experience and say I was treated with compassion and was kept informed of every step by the Gardai. Unfortunately, that's where it ends because when a rape case goes to court it begins to unravel.

There is no legal representation for victims and that now needs to be addressed. Stop talking about what we wore. Rape is rape, we said no, and what we wore should be no excuse for rape. We will always remember what the rapist wore - it is ingrained in our memory forever and by that I mean belts to restrain you, gloves to put in your mouth so you can't scream, jeans to carry a knife or threaten you with.

It's as clear as day the system isn't working and the last thing everyone here today wants is to go back to the old Ireland - sweep rape under the carpet and pretend it isn't happening. It's happening and someone will be raped in Ireland and wonder is this rape worth reporting when the system is stacked against them. Listen to the voices of survivors and victims - we have a fountain of knowledge.

Finally, can I leave you with this word - consent, a seven letter word and one of the most important words we can teach our young people. However uncomfortable that conversation is to have. It will be a lot more difficult to stand beside that young person in court at a rape case."
Work on building 63 social homes in south Dublin has resumed after it stopped earlier this month.

Construction workers at St Cuthbert's Park near Clondalkin said they were fed up with ongoing threats and intimidation.
scroll.in, 14 November 2018

TEXTBOOK POLITICS

BJPas major achievement in Rajasthan: Rewriting school textbooks to reflect RSS worldview

The new textbooks are not part of the election conversation but their impact could be long-lasting. The first in a three-part series.

by Shreya Roy Chowdhury

Gurmeet arrives in Ajmer on a crowded train. His friend Razzak picks him up and takes him to the dargah of Moinuddin Chisti, where he describes the festival of Urs held annually at the shrine. At Adhai din ka jhopda, the two friends discuss whether the monument could indeed have been built within two-and-a-half days, as its name suggests. Next, they go to Taragarh fort, where they see the memorial to the Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan. By the time they wrap up the visit to Ana Sagar lake, they are too tired to go anywhere else.

This is aAjmer ki Saira , a story of two boys sightseeing in the city of Ajmer, which Class 3 students in Rajasthan read in their Hindi textbooks until 2016. In July that year, the state introduced new school textbooks in all classes.

The new Hindi textbook for Class 3 still features the story of the two boys. Gurmeet still arrives on a crowded train. Razzak still lives close to the dargah. They still tour Ajmer. But the Urs is no longer described in detail. Prithviraj Chauhan is called the king awho defeated Bharatas invader, Mohammad Ghori several timesa . The tour spills over into the Hindu pilgrimage town of Pushkar, where Razzak shows Gurmeet the aworld famousa Brahma temple and the Panchkund or five reservoirs athat the five Pandavas had builta a a reference to the heroes of the epic Mahabharata.

From aAjmer ki Saira , the story has been renamed aAjmer ki Yatraa .

As Devyani Bharadwaj, an educationist who lives in Jaipur, said, aThe one chapter that could have positively represented Muslims has been butchered.a

Educationists in Rajasthan say these changes are in keeping with the larger trend of textbook revisions made under the Bharatiya Janata Party government. Not only do the new textbooks reinforce the Hindu majoritarian worldview, they all but erase minority identities. Science is explained through stories from Indian mythology and every maths textbook has a chapter on Vedic maths. The banned practice of sati is described in glowing terms, as are government schemes and initiatives. Books of practically every subject seek to instil nationalism and an unquestioning respect for the armed forces.

Rajasthan goes to election on December 7. The rewriting of the textbooks is not part of the political conversation. But educationists say its effects could be serious and long-term.

For the majority of children in Rajasthan who study in government schools, these free textbooks aare the only ones they will ever be exposed toa , said Rajiv Gupta, a retired sociology professor from Rajasthan University. aMost are not even in contact with modern tools such as newspapers.a

What led to the change

These revisions were unexpected. Rajasthan had just rewritten textbooks for Classes 1 to 5 and had started on Classes 6 to 8.

In 2005, the Central Advisory Board of Education had passed the National Curriculum Framework, a set of guidelines on designing school curriculum, including the writing of textbooks. The document privileged aunderstandinga over amemory-based, short-term information accumulationa , to enable children to alearn and create their own versions of knowledgea .

To realign its curriculum to these principles, Rajasthanas State Institute for Educational Research and Training began the process of revising textbooks in 2011. A asteering committeea of educationists and academics was assembled from organisations and institutions across India, in partnership with the ICICI Foundation, the philanthropic arm of ICICI Bank. The committee met over two years and the new textbooks were approved after multiple rounds of review. Starting 2013, new books for Classes 1 to 5 were introduced in phases, followed by social science books for Class 6 and 8.

In December 2013, the BJP defeated the Congress in state assembly elections, forming the government under Vasundhara Raje. Within months, the committee had been disbanded. In July 2015, a new textbook-writing committee was appointed, with participants drawn entirely from Rajasthan. One participant, himself a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, told Scroll.in that awhere the previous group had included some Sangh members by accident, this time they picked only Sanghas peoplea . (The next story in this series takes a closer look at this process.)

Less than a year later, in July 2016, new textbooks were introduced for Classes 1 to 8, all in one go.

A primary school in Jaipurs Haji Colony in 2017. Photo: Shreya Roy Chowdhury

Assessing the changes

A group of educationists and academics, including Bharadwaj and Gupta, analysed the new textbooks, not just for their representation of minorities but also their value as essential tools for learning. They checked to see if the textbooks equipped children to build knowledge independently or just broadcast information, whether the information itself was correct and the approach scientific, and whether they were sensitive to issues of gender, diversity and marginalisation.

On all counts, the books did not measure up, as the analyses, published in the August 2016 edition of the education journal, Shiksha Vimarsh, showed.

Gender

To illustrate the problem with the treatment of gender, Bhardwaj, who studied the Hindi textbooks, pointed to aMundmaala , a story for Class 6 students, which offers a ringing endorsement of the banned practice of Sati. In the story, a minor ruler named Churavat prepares to intercept an invading Badshah from Delhi. aPrannath, you must remember this,a the queen addresses him, aA small child can touch the sky, an oyster may swallow an ocean, even the Himalayas may shake, but Bharatas Sati goddesses cannot deviate from their vows.a Churavat sets out for battle, but soon sends home a messenger seeking a asign of hope and faitha to help bolster his courage. The queen chops off her head, apurifying the templeas marble floor with the Satias blooda . Churavat proceeds to battle, with the queenas long hair tied around his neck, the head dangling like a grotesque pendant a the amundmaala or skull/head-necklace.

Textbooks of practically all classes and subjects reinforce gender stereotypes. Educationist Ambika Nag, studying the environmental science textbooks of Class 3 and 4, pointed out that girls are barely visible in the illustrations in the chapters on games and sports. They are more often seen filling water and cooking.

Most visuals and illustrations in the textbooks reinforce gender stereotypes.

Religion

Minority identities a Muslims, Christians and others a are nearly missing from the textbooks. Students are carefully guided to view their country and community from the aHindu majoritarian perspectivea , said Pramod Kumar, editor of Shiksha Vimarsh.

For instance, the Class 1 Hindi textbook teaches the alphabet by drawing a large number of words from the Hindu religious lexicon. These include arishia (an ascetic), aratha (a chariot), ayajnaa (sacrificial offering), atrishula (a trident) and agyaania (a knowledgeable person).

The Hindi textbook for Class 1 introduces letters of the alphabet by using words drawn from the Hindu religious lexicon. In addition, it reinforces caste stereotypes by using the image of a Brahmin man as visual representation of learning.

The Class 5 Hindi textbook contains a letter in which the cow declares herself a purveyor of astrength, wisdom, longevity, health, happiness, prosperity and glorya , enjoins children to serve and protect her, and signs off with aYours, Kamdhenu Gaumataa .

The Class 8 Hindi textbook includes a chapter on aVillage Development with Cow Protectiona . The same textbook notes that the reconstruction of Somnath Temple was Indian freedom fighter and first deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patelas greatest contribution.

In fact, the selection of notable Indians in the aHamare Gaurava (Our Pride) sections of the environmental science textbooks itself is a giveaway. Thereas not a single Muslim among 15 notable Indians featured.

The 15 personalities listed in the "Hamare Gaurav" sections of environmental science textbooks for Classes 3, 4 and 5 do not include a single Muslim. In the textbooks, the image used for Nagarjuna was also incorrect.

Dalits and Adivasis

BR Ambedkar and Birsa Munda are acknowledged as notable Indians, but the representation of Dalit and Adivasi identities is distorted. Nivedita Vijay Bedadur, who analysed English textbooks for Shiksha Vimarsh, noted that the stories presented tribal and rural communities as self-sacrificing. aThere are three lessons on tribals, marginalised peoples in the textbooks [for Classes 6, 7 and 8] and all three require the tribals to sacrifice themselves and their children or put themselves in grave danger for the sake of the rich or powerful.a

The Class 6 social science textbook whitewashes the history of the caste system. aThe initial nature of the caste system was very good,a it says. aIt was based on professions. It was not linked to birthaBetween the castes there was no bar on sharing food or drink or on matrimonial relations, nor was there untouchability.a

As Gupta pointed out, there is no critique of the caste system. aEndogamy is upheld because it leads to the purity of blood,a he said. aThe joint family tradition has not been analysed as a structure born of patriarchy and feudalism.a The Class 8 textbook describes tribal people as aAdivasi jaatia , co-opting them into the caste-system.

Nationalism

If the textbooks engender any type of mindset at all, it is one of surrender. aThe Class 3 textbook has 15 lessons out of which seven treat the child as if she were an unformed creature, likely to be swayed to do wrong and has to be taught morals through a hammering of the aright behavioura,a Bedadur said.

And nowhere are the texts more hectoring than when instilling nationalist pride.

From Class 3 to Class 8, every Hindi textbook begins with a adesh bhaktia text or poem a in a few, the nation is depicted as aBharat mataa (Mother India), as imagined by Hindus.

Patriotism has been conflated with respect for the armed forces and is frequently associated with the willingness to die a violent death for the nation. In the Class 3 Hindi textbook, aSahasi Balikaa a brave girl a seven year-old Maina, introduced as Nana Fadnavisa daughter, is burnt to death by the British because she wanted aindependence for the countrya . She went to her death alaughinga . Fadnavis was a historical figure, an 18th century Maratha minister who resisted the advance of the East India Company but the historicity of the episode described is questionable.

Government propaganda

In the Class 3 Hindi textbook, aconspiracya is aan act or plan against government or rulersa . Gupta pointed out that while loyalty to the government is emphasised, the notion of astate responsibility or accountability does not exista . What is featured instead are government schemes and activities.

Thus, the Class 7 English textbook casually inserts Narendra Modias weekly radio show, Mann Ki Baat, into a discussion on the use of modern technology in communication. The Class 4 environmental science bookas chapter on water says aIndian governmentas Namami Gange scheme will have good, permanent outcomes and [the] Ganga will be clean againa .

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, a cleanliness campaign, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao dedicated to the welfare and education of young girls, are both prominently featured in an illustration on urban India in the Class 1 Hindi textbook.

Fact, fiction, faith

Fact and fiction, myth and history are mixed up in not just the social science textbooks, but even in the science textbooks.

The Class 3 environmental science book describes the nomadic community of Gadoliya Lohars a ironsmiths who live on carts. It says when the Mughals attacked Chittor in Mewar region of Rajasthan, their forefathers abandoned the place with its fleeing ruler and vowed to not return till aMewar is completely freea . aIt is a atotal fabricationa , said Gupta. aCan you name one caste that has been displaced by Mughal attacks? Texts construct narratives without mentioning a single fact.a

The history text for Class 6 contains a section on the river Saraswati that aflowed through Haryana and Rajasthana , on whose banks the ancient Vedas were composed. The same textbook treats Mahabharata and Ramayana as accounts of historical events. Listing 16 mahajanapadas a or great kingdoms of ancient India a it claims the Pandavas spent their years in exile in the Matsya mahajanapada, while aShri Ram and other Suryavanshi rulersa ruled over the Kaushal Mahajanapada.

The Class 7 textbook presents the outcome of the Battle of Haldighati, in which Mughal emperor Akbar defeated Rana Pratap of Mewar, as the exact opposite of known facts.

aThese are ahistorical texts where lines between religious scripture and historical facts are blurred,a summed up Gupta, aand the narratives give legitimacy to cultural imperialism by depicting one culture and one religion as the best there is.a

Similarly, science textbooks draw on mythical texts that acannot be understood or confirmed scientifically,a said Ambika Nag. In the Class 4 lesson on flowers, the lotus has been linked to the Hindu goddess, Saraswati. A Class 6 geography lesson on the cosmos, while referring to the Pole Star, includes a story on the Dhruva Tara from Hindu religious scriptures. The Class 7 lessons on water and Earth start on the same note, with their significance in scriptures and Hindu rites and practices elaborated first.

aChildren must start understanding the science behind what they see around them in schools,a said Komal Srivastava from education non-profit Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti in Rajasthan. aOutside, they are not allowed to question. The entire community is superstitious and plagued by fears of ghosts.a

Every mathematics textbook has a chapter on aVedic mathematicsa that Ravi Kant, an educationist who has analysed them, described as essentially acalculation tricksa . The introduction of the actual discipline is flawed with diagrams that do not clarify mathematic concepts. The lessons do not offer enough examples to help children recognise patterns and generalise on their own.

The aexercisesa

The myriad flaws of the books and the misinformation get cemented by the suggested exercises and activities at the end of each chapter. At the end of aSahasi Balikaa , children are asked what they would do if they were in Mainaas place and were asked to plunge into fire. aThe point of nationalism is driven home with such images of violence and aggression,a said Bharadwaj.

Most questions test memory, encouraging rote-learning, and in some cases, the text does not contain the answer to the question being asked. When the Class 3 story in the old books, aAjmer ki saira was revised into aAjmer ki yatraa in the new ones, the part on flowers and Urs were deleted. But the question section with the new version still asks children why homes around the Dargah fill up with flowers during Ramzan.

This is the first part in a three-part series.

o o

scroll.in, 15 November 2018

Inspired by the RSS, dictated by BJP minister: The inside story of Rajasthanas textbook revisions

Books published by the RSSas education wing were held up as a role model in a government meeting.

Vasudev Devnani is the education minister of Rajasthan. | Design | Anand Katakam

by Shreya Roy Chowdhury

On the morning of July 20, 2015, Rajasthanas education minister Vasudev Devnani held a meeting with education officials in Jaipur and laid out a roadmap: he wanted new textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 within three months. And by the same evening, he wanted a list of experts who could write them.

The rewriting took longer than what the minister wanted a the new textbooks were introduced in schools in July 2016. But all other objectives laid down in the meeting were achieved.

Minutes of the meeting, accessed by Scroll.in, list precise instructions and decisions about what the textbooks should contain: a chapter on Vedic mathematics for every class, a focus on aIndian culturea in the teaching of history, and primacy to anew contexts and concerns at the state and national levela . The suggested list of topics included two government schemes introduced by the BJP-led Central government: the cleanliness campaign Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the girl child programme Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao.

The new textbooks have all these features, as reported in this first part of this series. Education experts have criticised them for their unscientific worldview, the mixing of myth with facts, and the peddling of religious hatred, caste prejudice and gender stereotypes. The textbooks essentially serve as Hindutva propaganda, said Rajiv Gupta, retired professor of sociology from Rajasthan University.

The Hindutva stamp is not accidental. At the July 2015 meeting, it was suggested that the textbooks could be modelled on aVidya Bharati booksa a a reference to the Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan, the education arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of the BJP.

The Sanghas influence even extended to the selection of textbook writers. Most of the 160-odd writers were its associates and supporters, said a member of the RSS.

The BJPas success in Rajasthan at rewriting school textbooks to mirror a majoritarian worldview has serious implications. With the party ruling the Centre and 14 Indian states, this could be a precursor to similar changes nationally.

Minutes of the meeting held on July 20, 2015.

Undoing textbook reforms

The BJP government came to power in Rajasthan in December 2013, months after a set of fresh textbooks had been introduced in schools. In 2011, the previous Congress government had appointed a committee to supervise textbook revisions to ensure the state was in line with major educational reforms introduced in India over the previous decade.

One of these reforms was the National Curriculum Framework 2005, which aimed to promote understanding rather than memorisation in schools, encouraging children to aconstructa knowledge on their own. The other was the Right to Education Act 2009, which made elementary education from Class 1 to 8 free in public schools and set a range of standards for schools and teachers.

In step with these changes, in 2011, the State Institute of Educational Research and Training, Udaipur, and ICICI Bankas philanthropic arm, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, jointly launched the aProgramme on School and Teacher Education Reforma in Rajasthan. One of its main aims was textbook development. The other was training teachers.

Several rounds of orientations and workshops were held that year and experts from institutions around India were selected as part of a asteering committeea . A former director of Keralaas State Council for Education Research and Training, MA Khadar, who had also served as advisor to the National Council for Educational Research and Training, was invited to be the chairperson of the committee.

Over the next two years, the committee sought the assistance of experts from institutions across the country, including the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Hyderabad, the District Institute for Education and Training in Delhi, the Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training, the University of Punjab, and educational non-profits.

While subject experts wrote the textbook drafts, the committee assessed them for their sensitivity to gender, disability, multilingualism and marginalisation. The drafts went through multiple rounds of testing and revision before they were approved, said a former official.

New textbooks were introduced for Classes 1, 3 and 5 in the 2013-a14 academic session, followed by Classes 2 and 4 the next year. The committee had turned its attention to restructuring the diploma in elementary education when the process was brought to an abrupt halt.

aThere was a twist a the government had changed,a said an official who was part of the textbook revision process.

Khadar chaired his last meeting in Rajasthan in the summer of 2014. His committee was disbanded with no notice. aNobody informed me,a he said. aThey just did not call again and I let it be.a

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat at the inauguration of a new building of Sewa Bharati in Jaipur in November 2017.

A new order takes shape

Education officials say they anticipated a change when they heard the new ministeras views on textbooks. aIn every meeting and platform, Devnani would comment on the textbooks and say they had to be changed again,a said an official. aHe must have mentioned it 50 times.a

After the disbanding of Khadaras committee, the State Institute cobbled together another committee of advisors a mostly education department officials, teachers and the staff of non-profit groups. The committee met twice during March and April 2015. In the first meeting, recalled an educationist, someone mooted the idea ato have every Sanskrit book start with a mangalacharan mantra [a prayer]a . aI objected to this and was called a Leftist,a she said. In the second meeting, the participants decided the books required minimal changes. This group did not meet again.

In July, an entirely new committee was created with participants drawn entirely from state institutions within Rajasthan. aDevnani did not want anyone from outside [Rajasthan],a said an official. aWe were told the non-profits would be called in later, if required.a This was in sync with another of the ministeras directions: he wanted at least 50% of content in all textbooks to be focused on Rajasthan.

The government refused to share the records of the meetings and notifications that Scroll.in sought under the Right to Information Act 2005. It did not respond to an appeal under the Act.

However, records accessed independently show that the State Institute nominated 165 members to the textbook-writing teams on July 20, 2015. Less than 30 members were women. All were former teachers, teacher-trainers or other experts from government institutions in Rajasthan. Some of the participants had been part of the older textbook revision team.

One participant, himself a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, told Scroll.in that awhere the previous group had included some Sangh members by accident, this time they picked only Sanghas peoplea .

Undemocratic process

Some of those who served in both rounds of textbook revisions took a dim view of the new team. aAmong those who said they could complete the process in three months, there was not a single person who had written textbooks for children before,a said a former education department official. aThey may have written research theses, papers on specific topics or guide books and one-week series [for passing public examinations] but not textbooks for children.a

Unlike the textbook revisions under the previous government, which involved deliberations over two years, this round of rewriting was compressed into three months. An official said the books were published with ano experts, no field testing, no multiple rounds of reviewa .

As an example of the quality of deliberations, he cited the frequent discussions among the textbook writers on Jawaharlal Nehru Universityas former studentsa union president, Kanhaiya Kumar. Arrested and jailed for a few weeks in February 2016 on allegations of sedition a the Delhi Police could not follow through with a charge a Kumaras criticism of the Sangh and the BJP had drawn Devnanias attention. He remarked in Rajasthan Assembly in March 2016 that the textbooks were being changed so ano one like Kanhaiya Kumar is borna in the state.

Even a member of the RSS found the teamas narrow focus on meeting the objectives laid down by the minister irksome. He quit the Hindi textbook team after the first few meetings, which he described as chaotic and aundemocratica . aThe mantri wanted the new governmentas vichardhara [ideology] to shine through,a he said. aBut children in Classes 1 and 2 do not understand vichardhara. They have to learn how to learn.a

After the first two-three meetings, athe fights begana , he recalled. aThey wanted every book to begin with some item on desh-bhakti [patriotism],a he said. aI objected. Can a poem make children patriotic? Will they be less patriotic if the chapter comes sixth instead of first?a

He continued: aI kept arguing and after some time, [the others] started called me a Communist. After three workshops, I left. Your ideology can be anything, but your process has to be democratic, which this was not.a

Silence from the government

The textbooks identify the international non-profit, United Nations Childrenas Emergency Fund as partner and source of afinancial support for textbook developmenta . Questions about its role in developing the textbooks and whether it paid attention to their quality were emailed to the organisation in Rajasthan. It did not respond.

At the State Institute for Educational Research and Training at Udaipur, both director Dinesh Kothari and deputy director Subhash Sharma said they joined after the books had already been changed.

Questions were also emailed to Devnani and the education secretary. Neither responded.

This is the second part in a three-part series on the rewriting of school textbooks in Rajasthan.

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scroll.in, 16 November 2018

Rajasthan teachers tried a and failed a to counter textbooks rewritten to serve Hindutva propaganda

Even though they recognised the dangers of the new textbooks, the resource-starved school system left teachers with few options.

by Shreya Roy Chowdhury

Saddled with new school textbooks introduced in July 2016 that educationists criticised as narrow, sectarian and unscientific, some teachers in Rajasthan made an effort to limit the damage.

Vakil Singh, former principal of Government Senior Secondary School in Kaliyan in Sri Ganganagar district, for instance, stocked the school library with magazines and other reading material for even the junior classes. He made weekly library visits mandatory for all children.

During his time as senior-most teacher in a Bikaner school, Sanjay Yadav (name changed on request) introduced the practice of sharing items of news and general knowledge every day on a common board. He modified the morning prayers to go beyond the overtly religious Saraswati Vandana.

Vinay Godara, a primary teacher at the Adarsh school in Sri Ganganagar, encouraged his students to ask questions and even challenge the content of their textbooks. aI remind children that all animals, and not just the cow, should be appreciated and that no one religion is better than another. I explain with examples and children usually trust teachers.a

But such efforts are rare. For one, such teachers are in a minority, said Mahaveer Sihag of the Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh (Shekhawat), the only government teachersa organisation that publicly opposed the introduction of hastily-revised school textbooks. The state has seen growing religious polarisation since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2013, followed by a thumping victory in the 2014 national elections. A large number of teachers, particularly those aligned to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological parent of the BJP, said Sihag, support the Hindu majoritarian view of the textbooks.

When Upendra Sharma, a teacher at a school in Sikar, raised questions about the textbooks at a recent workshop, other teachers stood up and accused him of playing politics. aTwo of them even left the hall and later complained about me being invited.a Sharma, however, considers himself better off than Muslim teachers and students, who he said are atoo afraid to speaka .

Ameen Kayamkhani, a primary school teacher in Jaipur, is fully alive to the problems in the textbooks, but thinks it is best to avoid friction. aWe will teach whatever is in the textbooks,a he said. aIf we try to teach them sati is wrong and against the law, they will say this is an internal matter for their communities. There is rozaana lafda [daily conflict] over Surya Namaskar and Vande Mataram already.a

Beyond religious conflict are other problems like the shortage of resources in schools. Even enlightened teachers say it is difficult to go beyond the textbooks in the classroom. Most teachers are not properly trained, having earned dubious qualifications from private teacher-training colleges. The additional training that happens in the course of their jobs is rarely attuned to the ground reality of classrooms. aTo be able to counter impressions created by textbooks takes a lot of training that is missing,a said Singh.

The last straw is the pressure of public exams. Held at the end of Class 5 and 8, these exams are based entirely on the prescribed school textbooks, which makes covering the syllabus the first priority for teachers.

No training for teachers

At the Adarsh school in Sri Ganganagar district, 85 students from Classes 1 to 5 are packed into a conference hall. aWe have two whiteboards,a said Godara. aClasses 1 to 3 sit in one group and Classes 4 and 5 in another.a The five classes have two teachers between them. Godara teaches maths and English, while the other teacher handles environmental science and Hindi.

Such a situation, where children of different age groups and learning levels sit together, is described as amulti-grade teachinga . It is common in schools because of a shortage of space and teachers.

In the Adarsh school, for instance, Godara also teaches the higher classes science and geography. Despite a shortage of teachers, Mahaveer Sihag pointed out, the government routinely assigns non-teaching responsibilities, including election work, to them. Many teachers also serve as clerical staff for schools. aYou have teachers spending at least three hours daily on office work,a he said. aThey boil milk for students, supervise mid-day meal distribution and maintain all records.a

Teachers say training does not prepare them for these realities. aThere are colleges that donat require attendance and will call students in just for the exams,a he said. aTeachers from there may not even realise how bad the textbooks are and cannot function without them.a

In-service training, through short-term courses, isnat helpful either. aWhenever this is raised in training, they are told it will be discussed later,a said Vakil Singh.

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Training through support material is not a real option. The education department sends a monthly journal called Shivira, but Singh described it as an unhelpful adepartment mouthpiecea .

No resources other than textbooks

There are no alternatives to textbooks. Libraries are all but defunct everywhere. aMost librarian posts are vacant,a said Sihag. aThe head of school may choose to appoint a teacher to go sit there when they are not teaching. But two almirahs with locks also pass for a library in many places.a

Sanjay Yadav said his school has a full-fledged library but it contains ano material for primary classesa .

All the teachers Scroll.in spoke to agreed that practically no student they teach would have access to reading material other than the freely-distributed textbooks at home. Theoretically, teachers can supplement textbooks with learning outside the classroom. But the system is deeply conservative. aSports and reading in the library are seen as a waste of time,a said Yadav. Field trips are frowned upon, added Singh.

Yadav reminded that the school system is deficient in every type of resource a there is no furniture for primary classes, students sit on rugs on the floors. While children from Classes 1 to 5 get new books every year, the government does not send the complete set for Class 6 and beyond. Many children have to make do with used books.

Kayamkhani said every teacher gets Rs 500 to spend on teaching-learning material annually. It is barely enough to buy charts, maps, globes and science kits, he said.

The tyranny of public exams

New methods of teaching are thwarted by public examinations at the end of Class 5 and Class 8. Often, the questions are directly from the textbooks, said Kayamkhani. Godara added: aIf we correct the information, our answers wonat match the ones demanded in the exam.a

Results of the public exams, good and bad, are reflected in the annual confidential reports of teachers. If the number of children failing a class is high, a teacher may even be served a show cause notice, asking them to explain why they should not be punished.

aWe are being forced to teach this syllabus,a agreed Sharma, who believes the aerrorsa have been deliberately introduced to subvert secular education and present the Hindutva version of social sciences and even the sciences. aStories children hear at their grandmotheras knees a folk legends a are being fed to them as history.a

Fighting prejudice

Prejudices and stereotypes expressed in the textbooks translate easily in the classroom. aEach teacher uses a particular kind of pedagogy and that is based upon their social background,a said Rajeev Gupta, a retired professor of sociology from Rajasthan University and a former member of Keralaas Textbook Commission. aThey can silently convey aggression, through body language, such that the content of the textbooks is cemented by pedagogy.a

For instance, teachers admit many of their colleagues are capable of being insensitive towards children in class a a behaviour children themselves pick up.

Similarly, the combination of new textbooks which reflect a majoritarian worldview with teachers who harbour anti-Muslim prejudice has serious implications. aMuslim students are seen as Pakistani, as poor and debased,a said Sajid Sehrai, an Islamic scholar who lives in Jaipur. He had challenged Rajasthan governmentas instructions on compulsory yoga, Surya Namaskar and Vande Mataram in schools in the Rajasthan High Court in March 2015. In response to his petition, the government had said in an affidavit that yoga would be made optional but never implemented its own decision.

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aThe schools are now instilling hatred,a said Sehrai. aEven private schools insist on Hindu rituals so we [Muslim community leaders] are holding meetings to discuss the possibility of starting or developing our own schools.a

This is the final part in a three part series on the rewriting of school textbooks in Rajasthan.
Unsettled weather is on the way as Storm Diana heads towards the country.

The worst of the wind and the rain is expected on Wednesday, but Met Eireann says conditions will deteriorate from tonight.

The recent cold and sunny spells are set to be blown away by heavy rain and gales, some severe, in the middle of the week.

Storm Diana, named by the IPMA Portuguese weather service, is currently threatening the Azores and is due to make itself felt on Wednesday.

After building in the Atlantic, Storm Diana is due to arrive on Wednesday as a low-pressure system tracks to the north of Ireland.

Met Eireann have issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Munster, Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Galway and Mayo.

It will be in operation from 2am to 2pm on Tuesday.

Rain Warning Issued

Status: Yellow

Location: Munster, Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Galway and Mayo

Valid: Tues 2am to Tues 2pm

Warning details: https://t.co/ozrQHtoOkt pic.twitter.com/vWty52T6yO  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) November 26, 2018

They have also issued a Status Yellow wind warning Munster, Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo which will be in force between 3am and 3pm on Tuesday.

They expect wind speeds of around 50-65km/hr with gusts from 90-100km/hr expected, possibly higher along exposed coasts.

Forecaster Matthew Martin says other weather warnings may be issued.

He said: "At present, it looks like there will be some level Yellow warnings for tonight and probably again for Wednesday.

"We are currently assessing the situation."

- Digital Desk
The difficulties patients and their families face in trying to 'pin down' hospital doctors or find a staff member to talk to about their worries and fears, are among the frustrations captured in the latest National Patient Experience Survey.

Not enough staff to take the time to talk to the patients, everyone seemed that they were rushing and under pressure all the time - is how one patient described their experience to health watchdog HIQA who conducted the 2018 survey.

More than 3,700 said family members did not have sufficient opportunities to talk to a doctor. In contrast, almost 12,000 said nurses on the ward generally answer questions in a manner they can understand.

In the area of examination, diagnosis and treatment, more than 5,000 patients said they did not really have enough time to discuss their treatment with a doctor and almost 4,000 said they had limited success finding a member of staff to talk to about their worries.

Sage Advocacy said communication with patients continues to be an issue with too many patients feeling that they did not have enough time to ask questions.

While this may point to an ongoing problem of poor communication skills, it is just as likely to point to pressures on doctors and the ongoing shortage of consultants in certain key specialties and geographic locations.

The research also shows that spending no more than six hours in an emergency department (ED) remains largely a pipe dream. One patient said they were only tended to after they fainted.

Although I was then on a trolley in the corridor, I was still waiting for 12 hours to be seen by a doctor.

None of the 27 hospitals with EDs succeeded in meeting the HSE target of getting three-quarters of patients from the ED into a bed inside six hours.

Yet despite long waits, most people (81%) said they were always treated with dignity and respect in the ED.

Rachel Flynn, director of health information at HIQA, said all hospitals have fallen well short of the six hour/75% target, but survey feedback shows patients aren't blaming staff.

They seem resigned to waiting, she said, but warned it could have negative consequences for the patients health.

The survey, which extended to 40 public acute hospitals and elicited responses from almost 13,500 patients, found two main areas of improvement since 2017: care on the ward and hospital discharge.

The discharge stage of care improved since last year, but remains the weakest stage.

Ms Flynn said discharge planning should begin as soon as a patient is admitted and consideration should be given, not just to medication side-effects, but to home and family circumstances.

One patient described how they were sent from the ward at 9.30am - left hospital at 3.30pm. Caused a lot of problems arranging lift home when no specific time could be advised.

Ms Flynn said the results of the survey show patients want staff to provide them and their families with more information about their treatment, and would like to be involved in decisions about their care and discharge.

Health Minister, Simon Harris, said the huge patient response to the survey shows patients want to have their voices heard and it is absolutely essential the health service listens and responds when they tell their stories of care.

The HSE said it welcomes the publication (yesterday) of the survey and that it has also published Listening Responding and Improving 2018 which outlines the improvement work currently underway across hospitals to improve patients experience.

Patients aged 16+ who spent a minimum of 24 hours in a public acute hospital, were discharged in May 2018, and have a postal address in the Republic of Ireland, were eligible to participate in the survey.
Innovative measures will be taken to reduce pressure on emergency departments over Christmas and the New Year.

They include 'winter ready' clinics where older and at-risk patients can go in advance of Christmas for a check-up, to receive the flu vaccine and get advice on managing chronic conditions.

Health Minister, Simon Harris, said the HSE will announce details of the clinics next week when the health authority is expected to set out the final details of its winter plan.

Nobody wants a person, particularly an older person, to end up in an ED if that can be avoided, he said.

They are also looking at extending the opening hours of primary care centres and minor injury clinics.

The winter plan was discussed today by the Emergency Department Taskforce and 30m has been allocated to alleviate pressure on the health service.

General secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, is disappointed that it has taken so long to produce the plan.

Ms Ni Sheaghdha, who was speaking on RTE radio, said something huge will have to be done about recruiting and retaining nurses and midwives so patients will have a bed when admitted to hospital.

Mr Harris said the ED taskforce is co-chaired by Ms Ni Sheaghdha, and it has met on a number of times since June.

Mr Harris said the winter plan is already well and truly underway but the focus of yesterday's meeting of the ED taskforce was on the period just after the Christmas break.

It is not just about making sure there are nurses and doctors in the public hospitals, it is about making sure they have access to diagnostics.

Mr Harris said they have asked the National Treatment Purchase Fund to buy in extra access to diagnostics over Christmas and the New Year and more beds will come onstream over the winter.

Mr Harris admitted that something needs to be done about the pay equity issue that affects hospital consultants appointed after October 1, 2012.

The Public Sector Pay Commission recommended that a process is put in place on how best to advance the matter.

I hope that Government can look at how best to proceed in the coming weeks, he said.

The Irish Medical Organisation warned that failure to enter into talks will result in a ballot for industrial action.
Hospital consultants are threatening industrial action in a row over pay for those hired since 2012.

Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) President Peadar Gilligan is warning patient safety is at risk from what he describes as "unjustifiable and counter-productive pay discrimination".
A former pub owner who got involved in an almost 1.4 million drugs enterprise to offset his gambling debts has been jailed for five years.

John Fitzgerald SC, defending, submitted that Emmet Fogarty (47) had previously owned a pub but his then business partner had written cheques against the venture without him knowing.

This got him in trouble with Revenue and he developed an alcohol and gambling addiction. Counsel submitted that after time spent abroad, Fogarty returned to Ireland and got involved with the drugs operation to offset his serious gambling debts.

Detective Garda Ivor Scully agreed with Mr Fitzgerald that Fogarty had told gardai on arrest: I've no money. I've nothing. I've no bank account, I'm an alcoholic, I drink. it's a vicious circle and I gamble.

Fogarty, of Brookhaven Drive, Blanchardstown, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine, cannabis herb and cannabis resin worth a total 1,398,714 at a lock up unit at Mount Dillon Business Park, Malahide Road, Dublin 5, on March 31, 2017.

He also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of .44 Remington caliber ammunition, Magnum caliber ammunition and .22 LR caliber ammunition at the same location and on the same date.

He has three previous minor road traffic convictions dating back to 2012.

Det Gda Scully told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that gardai went to the small industrial estate on foot of confidential information and forced the door of the lock up unit.

They found 15 blocks of cocaine worth over 1.35 million, cannabis herb valued at 39,902 and 10,000 of cannabis resin in crates and holdall bags on the premises.

Det Gda Scully said he and colleagues also discovered ten firearms magazines in good working condition, the assorted ammunition and three tracking devices.

Fogarty's home address was found on a receipt at the lock up unit and he was further linked to the premises through DNA and fingerprint evidence. He admitted he had leased the premises to store the drugs.

Det Gda Scully agreed with Mr Fitzgerald that his client had been victim of a deceit with his former pub business. The detective further agreed that as a result, Fogarty began to drink and gamble.

Mr Fitzgerald submitted to Judge Melanie Greally that his client got into serious debt entirely unknown to him when his former business partner wrote cheques against his pub. Counsel said Fogarty didn't deal with this ideally and began to drink as he had easy access to alcohol.

He said Fogarty also began to gamble and after a time spent abroad having buried his head in the sand he returned to Ireland in serious debt.

Mr Fitzgerald submitted that Fogarty got involved in this offence using the connections he had made through his vices.

Counsel asked the judge to take into account Fogarty's medical difficulties, his early guilty plea, his lack of relevant previous convictions and that he had never been in custody before.

Judge Greally said Fogarty was playing an extremely important role in the enterprise and was taking all of the risks by leasing out the lock up unit.

She said the drugs offence was on the lower half of the upper range for a crime of its kind given the amount of substances involved. She deemed the firearms offence at the upper range.

She imposed a seven and a half year sentence with the final two and a half suspended for that period, taking into account Fogarty's personal circumstances and difficult background.
The manner in which the good character of a farmer, who was killed when a neighbour drove the prongs of a teleporter into him, was "shredded" during trial was "even more harrowing" than hearing the "grotesque details" of how his life ended, the victim's brother has said.

Every story has two sides and there was only one side of the story told during this trial, Seamus O'Mahony told the Central Criminal Court in a victim impact statement today, adding that his brother was not there to defend his good name.

A jury sitting in Tralee last month found dairy farmer Michael Ferris (63) not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of his neighbour Anthony OMahony (73) by a majority verdict of 10 to two.

The victims brother said today that his family now live in fear knowing that Ferris will be released from prison some day and they will have to pass each other again on that small country road.

He (Ferris) said he snapped once, what is to stop him snapping again and doing something similar, the court was told.

The man said the deceaseds family have felt totally cut off and isolated in their north Kerry community since the trial, with people too afraid to speak to them about the legal proceedings and Anthony. People will remember my brother the way he was depicted in the trial and this hurts us greatly, he said.

The testimony was heard as part of a victim impact statement read by the deceaseds nephew on behalf of his father Seamus OMahony, brother of Anthony OMahony, during Michael Ferris sentence hearing today.

The two-week trial, which ended last month, heard evidence that tillage farmer Anthony O Mahony suffered "catastrophic injuries" after he was repeatedly stabbed with the prongs of the teleporter while he sat in his car.

Mr OMahony said that his brother did not stand a chance when the heavy industrial machine was driven into his car that morning by Ferris and he was totally ambushed in an intentional act that had been premeditated as outlined during the trial.

Ferris admitted that he parked the teleporter to stop Anthony from coming down the road and he intentionally drove the teleporter at Anthonys car. The last thing Anthony saw were the forks of that teleporter being driven at him and I cannot get that image out of my head, added Mr OMahony.

Ferris of Rattoo, Ballyduff, Co Kerry, had denied murdering neighbouring land-owner Anthony OMahony over the use of a crow-banger for scaring birds at Rattoo on the morning of April 4, 2017. The trial was told that the noise from it would wake the dead".

Brendan Grehan SC, defending bachelor farmer Ferris, said in his closing speech last month to the jury of seven men and five women that he made no apology for speaking ill of the dead, which was not a normal thing to do but the community in Rattoo was being "oppressed" by Mr Mahony and living in fear of a "totally unreasonable person".

The defence argued that there had been cumulative provocation because of the behaviour of the deceased and the fair and just verdict would be manslaughter. Mr Grehan said that Ferris was a good man who did a bad thing.

Seamus OMahony, the deceaseds younger brother, said in his victim impact statement today that this was the most horrendous ordeal their family had ever experienced and they will never recover from it. Words could not describe how they are feeling, he commented.

First, we lost a brother, an uncle and a friend, in the most horrific way imaginable, then, we had to endure a two-week trial, which has devastated my family. As difficult as it was to hear the grotesque details of how Anthonys life was ended on the morning of April 4 2017 in Rattoo, the way his good character was shredded during the trial was even more harrowing and emotionally stressful, he said.

Anthony O'Mahony

"Every story has two sides, and there was only one side of the story told during this trial. Anthony was not there to defend his good name and we were not given a fair opportunity to show what kind of a man he truly was, he said.

Mr OMahony said it was printed in the media during the trial in Tralee that Anthonys neighbours were living in fear. We have had some of his closest neighbours to where we were raised and where he lived all his life, visit us since the trial to say how hurt they felt by these comments. There are so many people in the community in Ballyduff that have only good things to say about Anthony.

"However, this side of the story was never given during the trial and it distresses me so much, he remarked.

'A man of immense honour and pride'

Mr O Mahony said Anthony was his big brother, the eldest in the family and they grew up on a small farm. There were close siblings throughout life, he said, and worked closely together right up until his unlawful killing.

His said his brother was a man of immense honour and pride, a hard worker and an upstanding member of the community with high moral standards. He was a passionate farmer and he spent his life educating himself about farming, he was 100% committed to it, he said. Mr OMahony said he knew in his heart and soul that Anthony was decent and honest, a good, kind and caring man and he would never have physically hurt anyone, despite how he may have been portrayed during the trial.

Mr OMahony said they bought the farm in Rattoo in 1984 and it was an exciting and challenging time for them. We got great pleasure out of working together and running a successful vegetable business. We created valuable employment for so many families in the community during the 1980s and 1990s, when there was very little other job prospects in the area, he said.

We spent many happy years working the lands in Rattoo. My young children spent all their summer holidays from school working there packaging vegetables with us and I have warm and happy memories of that time. Now, when I visit the farm, I have a dark feeling, a feeling of dread, fear and anxiety.

"It will never be the same for us to farm there now, he commented.

Mr OMahony said the last time he saw his brother Anthony was on Saturday, April 2 2017. My son and I had gone to Rattoo to prepare the plough to till the remaining land for sowing that year. Anthony arrived down and told us he was going to turn the banger on. I knew there was an issue about the banger with some neighbours in Rattoo but we did not know the extent of their anger. One of the things that hurt us most is that they never approached me about it. It all could have been avoided if they had come to me directly, we could have come to some peaceful arrangement.

The man said that to be killed over a crow banger, an implement that is so commonly used by farmers throughout Ireland just beggars belief.

A 'living nightmare'....

Mr OMahony said his brother was looking forward to the cereal-sowing season ahead and the new challenges that it would bring. They had travelled to a tillage machinery show in Kildare in October 2016 and they were looking to invest in a new corn drill. Anthony was looking to the future and was keen to help my son take over the farm and continue his work of the past 50 years. He was denied the opportunity to hand down all the farming knowledge that he had learned along the way and this upsets me greatly, he said.

Referring to the morning that his brother was brutally taken away from them, Mr OMahony said he was out doing deliveries for his concrete business and received a call from his wife saying something had happened to Anthony in Rattoo. Immediately I thought it was an accident. When I arrived home I was met by a friend who was there to sympathise with me at the loss of my brother. I was shell-shocked, for a moment everything went blank, I couldnt believe what I had just heard, he said.

Mr OMahony said he drove to Rattoo and met his son and nephew, who both confirmed to him this living nightmare.

I couldnt believe that he was gone, I couldnt understand it. The gardai told us that a man was arrested. For what? Over what? What had happened that morning? We couldnt get our heads around it. There was a mention that it could have been over the crow banger. It couldnt have been. Could it? Who would do something so unspeakable over a crow banger, the court heard.

Mr OMahony said that he could not bring himself to identify his brothers body and see him for the last time in that way. Instead his son and his nephew identified his body and were subjected to seeing him for the last time in that way. We were denied an open casket, denied a critically important part in the grieving process, a chance to say goodbye, because he was so horrendously injured in that defenceless attack, he said.

Mr OMahony said he and his son continue to farm the land in Rattoo, where his brother was killed and in order to travel there they have to pass by the scene where his life was ended so savagely. It is hard to explain the list of emotions I feel every time I have to do this. It will never be the same for us and we will never recover from this, he commented.

In conclusion, Mr OMahony said the defendant has never once expressed any remorse since he took his brothers life or at any point to them as a family. Never once has he or his family apologised for his actions. That speaks for itself really, he said.

Anthony O'Mahony's funeral.

A second victim impact statement was read to the court by Mr OMahonys niece on behalf of her mother, Angela Houlihan, who is Mr O'Mahony's sister. She said April 4, 2017 was the day that changed their lives forever. Ms Houlihan said her heart sank when she turned on the radio at 9am that morning and the headline was that a mans body had been found in Rattoo, adding that the townland is a quiet area and not many people live down that road.

I knew my brother used to go down every morning around 7.45am and the first thought that struck me was that maybe he had suffered a heart attack and somebody had found a body and called the gardai. If only that had been the case because what was to unfold later was a living nightmare and will continue to haunt me for the rest of my life, she said.

Before gardai had a chance to confirm things to the family, she said, it appeared the community at large seemed to be aware of what had transpired. She asked her son to go to Anthonys house to see if his car was there but she knew deep down that it would not be.

A sudden death is hard to cope with, an accident is devastating but what happened on that morning is something we will never come to terms with, she said

Ms Houlihan said that every time she sees a teleporter she thinks of that morning and how that was the last thing Anthony saw, along with the face of the person who ended his life.

We have all heard how Anthonys car was hit repeatedly and pushed from one side of the road to another before being abandoned in the ditch. He could have stopped after the first blow but he just kept on going. Ms Houlihan said a few weeks later she received some of her brothers belongings which had been in the car with him that morning including his blood-stained watch which remarkably was and is still going today.

She said as they live in a community where everyone knows each other, everyday life is hard with memories of that day never far away. I never know what sight or sound will spark a memory, she said. In the stillness of the graveyard where Anthony is buried one can hear bangers from time to time, she said, which is a common sound in the country but which was not acceptable in Rattoo.

Anthony had farmed in many locations over the years and there was never an issue with neighbours or crow bangers. He must be the only man who was killed over one of these, she commented.

She said her brother was very knowledgeable and well-read, especially when it came to all things horticulture and he was happy to share this knowledge with anyone who went to him for advice. If there was something he did not know, he would make it his business to find out the answer. He was not into computers or mobile phones and preferred to get his knowledge the old-fashioned way, through books and papers. Anthony loved farming, everything he grew, it was done with pride and perfection and he loved when it was time to harvest the corn, she said.

'Totally and utterly mutilated'

Ms Houlihan said she brought Anthony his dinner everyday for the past 20 odd years and little did she know that April 3, 2017 would be her last time doing this because she never saw him again. We had our last chat that afternoon, she added.

She said her brother left his home that morning and drove the short distance to Rattoo, except that morning he never made it to his farm and he never came home again. Instead he was removed from his car and put in a body bag.

He went down the road before 8am, she said, and he lay in that car until Dr Bolster came around 5.30pm that evening. Ms Houlihan said she never got the chance to say goodbye because they could not have an open casket as his body was totally and utterly mutilated.

Rattoo road has such an eerie feel to it now. Every time I pass it, I bless myself and my eyes fill with tears when I think of how he was tortured that morning. Eighteen months have gone by and the pain is as raw today as that first day. My brother was a hard-working, kind and generous man, he had his faults but which of us dont. I keep asking myself over and over, do any of these faults mean he had to pay the ultimate price with his life? He is not here today to defend himself.

Ms Houlihan called the trial extremely difficult and painful to sit through; listening to how he died generated memories that will remain with them forever. Anthony was physically torn apart that day and his character has been constantly attacked since. As his sister, I have to speak for the brother and person that I knew who deserved dignity and respect but even in death he did not receive that. We have not seen any evidence of remorse or regret from that day in April right through to today and I dont believe we ever will, she said.

There was no justification to what was done to my brother on April 4, 2017. My family and I will never be able to come to terms with the way Anthony died and will live the rest of our lives with the pain and loss, she concluded.

Both witnesses sobbed as they reading their individual victim impact statements on behalf of their respective parents.
Lawyers for a suspected drugs trafficker are seeking leave to appeal an order for his extradition to Poland, despite generalised and systemic violations to the independence of the Polish judiciary.

Polish authorities are seeking the surrender of Artur Celmer (31), who is wanted to face trial in his native Poland on drugs trafficking charges. He was arrested in Ireland on foot of a European Arrest Warrant last year and his lawyers had opposed their client's surrender over radical changes to the Polish justice system, which has put the country at odds with the European Union in recent years.

Ordering Mr Celmers surrender last week, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said the High Court had originally found generalised and systemic violations to the independence of the Polish judiciary which gave rise to a real risk that fair trial rights would be breached.

However, she said the High Court was only concerned with determining whether the issues in Poland specifically related to Mr Celmer, in accordance with a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

Mr Celmers lawyers returned to the High Court today seeking a certificate to appeal the decision. Ms Justice Donnelly will give her ruling on Wednesday.

Counsel for Mr Celmer, Sean Guerin SC, said the case itself was an unprecedented one. It involved a point of law of exceptional public importance and it was desirable in the public interest that an appeal should be taken.

Mr Guerin said the spectre for interference in his clients fair trial rights was two-fold.

He referred to correspondence from Judge Piotr Gaciarek, of the Warsaw Regional Court, to the effect that two Polish judges had recently been summoned to disciplinary proceedings for referring cases to the European courts. Another judge, in a Polish District Court, had been disciplined for acquitting a group human rights activists, he said.

Mr Guerin said individual judges in Poland now know that making the "wrong decision" could have personal consequences for them. They could be disciplined or have their allowances cut. The knowledge of that gave rise to the possibility that other judges will simply not respect fair trial rights.

In addition, in light of comments from Polands Deputy Justice Minister, who was quoted as calling Mr Celmer a "dangerous criminal" connected to a "drugs mafia", despite the presumption of innocence, Mr Guerin said "the people in power" were signalling precisely" their particular interest in Mr Celmer.

"Short of an actual statement from a judge that he's (Mr Celmer) not going to get a fair trial," Mr Guerin said it was difficult to see how anyone in his clients position could successfully make their case.

He said the case concerned the extent to which a court could go behind the principles of mutual trust and mutual respect which underpinned international extradition. The question was one of interpretation of the CJEU judgment, he submitted.

Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Remy Farrell SC, said the court should be cognisant of the fact that the case had already been ruled upon by the CJEU.

Mr Farrell said the right to an independent tribunal was "simply an aspect" of the right to a fair trial.

He said the High Court and the CJEU itself had recognised undisputed breaches to the independence of Poland's judiciary. But the question was whether those breaches "must" result in a flagrant denial of justice, and the High Court had answered that question in the negative last week.

He said further issues submitted by Mr Guerin were questions of evidence, not points of law, as was required for a certificate to appeal.

Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said she would consider her ruling and deliver it on Wednesday.

In her judgment ordering Mr Celmers surrender last week, Ms Justice Donnelly said the manner in which the Republic of Poland governs itself is a matter for the Polish people and it was the entitlement of those who are elected in Poland to enact laws in accordance with the Constitution of Poland.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the constitutionality of any laws enacted in Poland was a matter for the judiciary in Poland to rule upon in accordance with their own laws and Constitution.

She said the only reason recent legislative changes in Poland had become a concern to the High Court was because Ireland had obligations under EU law.

She said the execution of warrants was a matter of applying EU law as it has been implemented in this Member State. It was not a matter of applying Polish law.

It is important to state that it is the courts in Poland and, perhaps if he were to be convicted and have that conviction upheld on appeal, the European Court of Human Rights, that will have to decide whether any trial of this respondent (Mr Celmer) actually meets the Polish and ECHR standards respectively of right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial judiciary.
A 24-year-old man has appeared in court in South Africa in connection with the murder of an Irishman there.

Charity worker John Curran was found stabbed to death at an apartment in Cape Town earlier this month.
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Nov-26-2018 01:18 TweetFollow @OregonNews Cannabis Community Comes Together for Oregon Harvest Industry Party 2018 Oregon cannabis at it's best: BE THERE.

The 2018 Oregon Harvest Industry Party, presented by Dustin Brandon, is Monday night, November 26th from 6-10 at the NW Cannabis Club.

(SALEM, Ore.) - November may be on its way out, but its still CROPTOBER for the cannabis community. In honor of this annual milestone, over 30 farms are coming together for an industry event like no-other. If you want to see whats happening in Oregons cannabis scene, then youre in luck: the 2018 Oregon Harvest Industry Party, presented by Dustin Brandon, is Monday night, November 26th from 6-10 at the NW Cannabis Club. Oregon Harvest is the perfect time for farms to showcase the fruits of their labors. Not only farms, but there will also be dispensary reps, oil processors, in-take buyers, and cannabis representatives from everywhere! I created this event because I have relationships with farms all across Oregon, and this is my way of giving back to them, for what they do, said Dustin Brandon, organizer. I truly believe this will be an event for the ages, and will go down as bringing together the best in our industry, in one event. In Portland alone, there are over 180 registered dispensaries and a large number of concentrate processors. This is an opportunity to reach them all under one roof  while enjoying a night of industry networking, socializing and meeting new, cool people. So, whether you are working a big, industrial level farm, are a struggling medical grower or a small back yard farmer; if you produce concentrates or bake medibles; if youre an inventor or a computer wizard; or, if youre brand new and vying for a place in the industry, you will be impressed with the myriad of networking options at your fingertips. Not only that, but there will be some excellent live music by Mama Sam and the Jams which will keep the place hopping while folks peruse the 35+ vendor tables and check out the flower and dab booths. Special guest Tony Greenhand will be rolling up something special with the best flower in the house, from 30 different farms. Greenhand is a member of the NW Cannabis Club, and is well known for his original, unique style of rolling. If you havent seen flower pressed for rosin, youll have a chance to see it demonstrated. If cannabis-infused ice cream excites you, youll absolutely want to meet Dustin of Ice Cream Man Creamery and watch his medicated ice cream created before your eyes. Delectable. I want to give thanks to everyone who has lent me help along the way. This has been a hell of a journey so far, meeting everyone, stepping foot on farms, touring extract facilities, building relationships with everyone in our industry, and more importantly, earning your trust and respect, said Brandon. All are welcome, 21+ at the NW Cannabis Club. Meet Cannabis Cup winning farms, some of the best extractors in Oregon, and representatives from all ends of the cannabis industry. Harvest only rolls around once a year, so don't miss it! NW Cannabis Club is located at 1195 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202. Tickets are available at the door.

The NW Cannabis Club is Portland's Premier Social Cannabis Membership Club. Lifetime Crow Card Memberships are $20, plus a daily entry fee of $5.

See: nwcannabismarket.com. #PDXHARVESTPARTY #CROPTOBER #CANNABIS #MARIJUANAISSAFER #HEMP #HEMPWILLSAVETHEWORLD #JACKHERER _________________________________________

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Articles for November 26, 2018 | Articles for November 27, 2018
The #MeToo movement resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of calls received by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre towards the end of last year.

The movement which started in October, saw celebrities speak about their experiences of sexual harassment.
Gardai were not interested in the truth, a murder accused complained today as he said they kept changing the subject when he tried to explain that the deceased suffered her fatal head injury by falling in the bath.

Prosecution senior counsel, Tom Creed, put it to the accused man, Cathal OSullivan, that his evidence in court was that the deceased was knocked unconscious by a fall but that there was no mention by the accused of her being unconscious after the alleged bath fall in any of the three memos of interviews with gardai.

OSullivan replied: The most serious incident that probably caused her death, I was diverted away from that. They (gardai) did not want to know the truth no matter how much I tried to explain. I was directed away from that. The next question diverted away from that point, the most important point that I was trying to explain.

Mr Creed SC said: You were given plenty of opportunity to describe.

The accused replied: I do not agree with that. That is a false assumption on your part.

Cathal O'Sullivan, 45, who is originally from Charleville, County Cork, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork and denies murdering Nicola Collins on March 27, 2017 at a flat at 6A Popham's Road, Farranree, Cork, over the Gala store.

OSullivan challenged the conclusions of pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, in the case and he described it as a cardinal sin to assume Ms Collins died from assault and he said it was not scientific to start with an assumption and then to work towards that.

When the accused made other comments about Dr Bolsters report when re-examined by Colman Cody defence SC, Mr Creed for the prosecution stood to object and said of the accused: This man is not a pathologist, he is not an expert, he has absolutely no expertise.

Mr Creed said that the accused man inflicted all the injuries on the deceased young woman and in effect murdered her.

Cathal OSullivan said that on Sunday night when Nicola Collins was in bed (she died in the early hours of Monday).

Accused Cathal O'Sullivan

I said to her, Are we OK? And she looked at me like it was a stupid question and said, Yeah, of course. And she was comfortable.

Mr Creed responded: With 130 injuries she is comfortable. That she died shortly after and she was comfortable.

OSullivan said: She was happy. We were happy with the things we had. We had a plan and we were going towards it.

Mr Creed summarised the defendants evidence: The injuries were either caused accidentally as a result of falls or else post mortem.

OSullivan replied: The injury that caused her death was the fall in the bath which caused subdural haemorrhage.

Mr Creed asked: What about the other 124 injuries  either post mortem or else as a result of injuries?

He replied: The majority of injuries were caused post mortem. A number were accidental or as a result of incidents between myself and Nicola. They were not deliberate contact. There is no injury deliberately caused by me on Nicola.

Mr Creed asked: Did you strike her at all, apart from the accidental marks?

That depends on what you mean. Did I contact her? Yes. Did I do it on purpose? No. Did I cause it? I dont know, that is English, that is where I get poor with my description.

Later he said: I am not blaming Nicola at any stage. None of us were at fault. Nicola did not cause anything. I did not cause anything. These were outbursts, we cannot control her outbursts.

Closing speeches from the prosecution and defence and the address from Ms Justice Eileen Creedon to put the jury of nine men and three women formally in charge of the case will proceed at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork today.
By Alison ORiordan

The Central Criminal Court has been listening to evidence in the sentence hearing of Kerry farmer Michael Ferris, who drove the prongs of a teleporter into his neighbour after a decades-long row about a noisy bird-scarer.

A jury sitting in Tralee found dairy farmer Michael Ferris (63) not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Anthony OMahony (73) by a majority verdict of 10 to two on October 19.

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In today's sentencing hearing, Brendan Grehan SC, defending bachelor farmer Ferris, submitted to the court that the jurys verdict of manslaughter must be respected and the sentence imposed must be consistent with the verdict which was brought back by the jury.

In mitigating factors, Mr Grehan asked the court to consider that Michael Ferris will be 64 years old in January and had a hard-working ethic and therefore he came before the court to be sentenced with an "unblemished character".

The barrister told the judge that he was not handing in any testimonials to the court as that would be superfluous to what the court heard during the trial.

His client had bottled up matters inside him and could not find any other way of dealing with them, he submitted. "Nobody saw this coming so in terms of the future Mr Ferris will have a closer eye kept on him by his family in order not to allow things get on top of him," said the lawyer.

Mr Grehan said that his client had asked him to express his remorse and sorrow for his actions that day as well as the death of Mr O'Mahony. "Mr Ferris did not want this opportunity to go by without conveying these sentiments," he added.

The lawyer submitted to the court that it will have to engage in a balancing act when sentencing his client and it may find it can suspend some part of that sentence.

In conclusion, the defence counsel said he had not put forward any suggestion that Ferris had a mental illness of any kind and his client accepted that he had to be punished for what he did. The first thing Mr Ferris did after this happened was go to his neighbours for them to call the emergency services, Mr Grehan said, adding that his client never took up bail as he realised he could not go back to where he was living in Rattoo at the time because of garda concerns. Finally, he asked the court to be as lenient as it feels it can be when sentencing Ferris.

Ms Justice Carmel Stewart expressed her sympathies to Mr O'Mahony's family and remanded Ferris in custody until December 3, when he will be sentenced.

Earlier: Sentence hearing begins for farmer who violently killed neighbour over noisy bird-scarer

The two-week trial, which ended last month, heard that tillage farmer Anthony OMahony suffered "catastrophic injuries" after he was repeatedly stabbed with the prongs of the teleporter while he sat in his car.

Ferris of Rattoo, Ballyduff, Co Kerry, had denied murdering Mr OMahony over the use of a crow-banger for scaring birds at Rattoo on the morning of April 4, 2017.

The trial was told that the noise from the device would wake the dead".

At todays sentence hearing Detective Sergeant Sandra Kelly, who was actively involved in the investigation, summarised the facts of the case.

Det Sgt Kelly agreed with prosecuting counsel, Patrick McGrath SC, that Mr OMahony was a local farmer and this killing occurred when Ferris blocked a small roadway in Rattoo, which is a townland in Ballyduff, with a New Holland teleporter and proceeded to drive it at the deceaseds Peugeot car.

This event came to the attention of gardai at 8.30am that morning, when Ferris' neighbours made a 999 call informing gardai that the dairy farmer had come to their door and told them that he had attacked another neighbour.

Following this, gardai discovered Mr OMahonys body in the drivers seat of his Peugeot car, which had been considerably damaged.

There were serious injuries to Mr OMahonys midriff and Det Sgt Kelly agreed that it was obvious he had suffered a violent death.

Anthony O'Mahony

Ferris made admissions to gardai in his neighbours home that morning that he knew Mr OMahony was going to be coming down the road with the crow-banger and he had blocked the road with the teleporter to stop him.

I sat up on the teleporter, I did not talk to him, there is no point talking to him, Ferris told gardai.

I just snapped. - Michael Ferris

During interviews in the garda station, Ferris made further admissions in relation to what had happened that morning and said it was "all over a crow-banger", the court heard.

I suppose he had it turned on for about a week and it was very annoying when it was on, Ferris said.

When asked by gardai what had made this morning any different to other mornings, he replied: I just snapped. I had to do something about it and I blocked the road with the teleporter.

I went off doing a few jobs in the meantime, I heard a car hooting then and I supposed it was him. I came back into the teleporter and that was that," he explained.

When gardai asked him what was going through his mind, he replied: Nothing good anyway.

Ferris told gardai that he had set out that morning to do this because the banging business was going on for the last 30 years and he said Mr OMahony was "paying no heed" to anyone to turn it off.

He had to be stopped one way or another because that couldnt go on any longer, he said, adding that it was his intention to drive the forks through the deceaseds car.

The dairy farmer agreed with gardai that he intended to kill Mr OMahony and he realised this would have consequences for him.

When gardai put it to him that surely there was another way around this, he replied: Believe me there was not.

Mr McGrath said pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster observed the catastrophic injuries to Mr OMahony which were consistent with injuries from the prongs of a teleporter. There had been five penetrating wounds to Mr OMahony and death would have been immediate.

Det Sgt Kelly agreed that the deceased was a bachelor farmer and owned a number of pieces of land in the Rattoo area with his brother Seamus. On that morning he was going to tillage land close to Rattoo Tower, which is a medieval site.

The court heard Ferris lived in a farmhouse with his brother on a small country road between Tralee and Ballyduff and there was only room for one vehicle in either direction on this road, which lead down to the round tower.

The court heard that Ferris, a dairy farmer all his life, has no previous convictions and has been in custody since April 4, 2017.

Two victim impact statements written from the deceaseds brother and sister will be read to the court after lunch.
A mother-of-two, who kept a starved husky in an emaciated state in her flat in Dublin, has been given a life-time ban on owning pets.

Amy Lee, with an address at School Street Flats, Dublin 8, was prosecuted for neglecting her husky named Sky.

After looking at photos of her dog, Judge Anthony Halpin said shame on you to the accused.

He described it as a disgraceful offence that would make any animal lover cry and she was being spared a jail sentence because of her personal circumstances.

She was fined 100 and ordered to pay 100 in costs after she pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to three charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act.

She was accused of failing to take all necessary steps to ensure Sky was kept in a manner to safeguard her health and welfare and that the building used to contain her did not cause unnecessary suffering; being reckless regarding the health or welfare of the dog and not providing sufficient food and water, at her address on September 1, 2017.

Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) inspector Liam Kinsella told Judge Anthony Halpin today he went to Lee's address after receiving a report from gardai.

The DPSCA inspector and a colleague were let in by the accused.

Mr Kinsella said Sky was on the balcony of Ms Lee's flat.

He told the court the husky was in an emaciated state.

Photos of the pet taken at the time she was rescued were handed in to the judge.

The accused was co-operative and agreed to surrender Sky to the DSPCA, the court heard.

The husky was seen by a vet who provided a medical report for the court hearing.

Since then Sky's condition has improved significantly and she was adopted by another family 12 days after she was rescued, Judge Halpin heard.

He noted a vet's report stated the husky weighed 11.6kgs at the time she was handed over to the DSPCA. There was no evidence of illness which could provide a clinical explanation for the weight loss.

She was also found to have a ravenous appetite and in the months after she was rescued she gained 7.2kgs bringing her weight up to 18.8kgs.

Mr Kinsella told the court that when he first saw the dog she was in an underweight, neglected condition and as a result of this was suffering unnecessarily.

Lee had no previous convictions.

Defence counsel Ann Sheridan said this an awful situation and there was no excuse for the way the dog was treated.

She said her client, who is expecting a child, bought Sky for her family. However, she had suffered health problems and moved back in with her mother but left the dog behind and was there on an off.

This was a wake-up call for Lee who started attending a family resource centre after the dog was taken. She has also attended a mental health service.

Ms Sheridan (instructed by solicitor Tracy Horan) said Lee has no intention of ever keeping an animal again.

Pleading for leniency she asked the court to note her client was a single mother on social welfare, had no prior criminal convictions and was very apologetic.

Medical reports on the accused were furnished to the judge.

The offence can result in a fine of up to 5,000 per charge and a prison term of up to six months.

Judge Halpin said it was a disgraceful case and he described how the photos he had been given showed a beautiful dog who had been totally emaciated.

He was furnished with letters from the accused's doctors

He said Lee had no problem in taking care of her own health but he added she did not bring her dog to a vet.

The husky was starved and uncared for and left in a state of suffering, he said, adding, how a person can do that to an innocent animal is beyond me.

Looking at the photos here would bring any animal lover to ears, it really is disgraceful, shame on you, he told the accused.

The judge noted also had the power to disqualify her from being an animal owner.

He said, What this animal was subjected to is inexcusable and, he added, he had no way of knowing how long the husky was in that condition.

He banned her from owning any animal for life and imposed a fine of 100 and ordered her to pay 100 in prosecution costs within six months.

But for the personal circumstances, of the defendant I would be considering a custodial sentence, he said.

Reacting to the verdict this evening the DSPCA expressed their delight at the ban.

The charity laso revealed Sky has been rehomed following successful rehabilitation in the DSPCA and intensive foster care after reaching over 18 kg in weight in just one month. She is now in a loving and caring family home.

The DSPCA thanked the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine for all their support in this case.
Update - 10.58am: The owner of the hotel in Moville, Co Donegal, which was damaged in a fire yesterday morning, was in the building when the arson attack occurred.

According to Highland radio the man, in his 50s, was taken to hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation.

The Caiseal Mara Hotel suffered smoke damage in what Gardai have described as an arson attack. The building was due to house 100 asylum seekers in the coming weeks despite local criticism at the lack of consultation.

Donegal Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn told Highland radio that the owners of the hotel had already received threats prior to the incident.

He condemned the actions, which he said did not represent the majority of the community.

Mr Mac Lochlainn said: The family who owns the hotel were in the building. There could have been a tragic result.

Whoever did this dont speak for the people of Moville who have legitimate concerns that they werent consulted.

The vast majority who expressed concerns did so in a measured way. They are separate from a handful of thugs issuing threats and who carried out this attack.

Local councillor Martin Farren told Newstalks Pat Kenny show that local people were shocked and angry about the arson attack and he also condemned the incident.

This is not a true reflection of the town and the people who live here. This has left a lot of people very angry.

Cllr Farren said that people in the community had been concerned at the lack of consultation in relation to the housing of asylum seekers in the hotel. We only became aware of it two and a half weeks ago. The town has a population of only 1450, an extra 100 people is a big increase. They are looking at the infrastructure.

The vast majority are very welcoming. They have no problem with the people coming, just with the way the Integration Agency handled it. The main problem is with the lack of consultation.

There needs to be proper consultation with local communities.

Tracy Cullen-Sheehan of Failte Inishowen, a group set up to provide sustained, structured support for asylum seekers coming to the area, also told Newstalk that the vast majority of people were supportive and did not have an issue with the individuals who would come to stay in the area, but with the issue of direct provision.

People were scared already. Its very important to have a strong response, to say that this doesnt represent everybody. Even people who are opposed condemn what happened yesterday.

Earlier: Residents of Donegal town 'totally shocked and angry' over hotel arson

A man injured in an arson attack on a Donegal hotel has been released from hospital.

The 50-year-old was the owner of the Caiseal Mara hotel in Moville which was badly damaged by the fire yesterday morning.

The hotel was due to house up to 100 refugees next month.

Garda forensics at the Caiseal Mara Hotel yesterday. Pic: North West News Pix

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has condemned the attack, describing it as a "despicable act".

Local councillor Martin Farren says people in the town are angry at what has happened.

Mr Farren said: "Moville is a seaside town, a very welcoming town, they are like myself - totally shocked and angry at what happened in the early hours of Saturday night, Sunday morning."

According to local Independent TD, Thomas Pringle, a packed meeting at the Methodist Hall in the town on Sunday showed clearly to the racists that attacked The Caiseal Mara Hotel on Saturday night what the people of Moville really think of them and their tactics.

He said: There wasnt even standing room in the Methodist Hall to hear the thoughts of former asylum seekers Lucky Khambule and Vukasin Nedeljkovic on the direct provision system and the needs of the asylum seekers that will come and the support they will need from the community. The community came out in force to say that they will get that help from them.

The Methodist Hall meeting in the town on Sunday. Pic: Thomas Pringle

It was a powerful answer from the community and a great tribute to the people of Moville that so many people came to show their support after such a devastating attack was carried out on the centre.

The support is there and the community are ready to help in every way they can. There will be a lot of work to be done over the coming months and years but I have no doubt that the community will give a real Donegal welcome to the asylum seekers and they and the community will benefit from that experience.

- Digital Desk
The Coronas have just announced their biggest show of 2019 with an outdoor performance in Cork.

Fresh from a busy summer touring the USA and Canada including a slot at the legendary Lollapalooza festival in Chicago this August, the band will play Irish Independent Park on Saturday, June 22.

Not only that, joining them are very special guests Sigrid and All Tvvins.

The announcement comes mere days after the Norwegian pop star headlined her sold-out gig at Dublin's 3Arena.

Sigrid has broken through with several acclaimed singles including Strangers, High Five and her latest offering Sucker Punch, and put down acclaimed performance at this year's Longitude and Electric Picnic.

Speaking about the announcement the Corona's said:

Weve had some amazing shows in cork over the years but were so excited to announce our biggest ever headline show in independent park on June 22nd. Were so delighted to have the amazingly talented Sigrid and All tvvins as special guests. It will be our biggest Irish show of 2019 and we cant wait! Hope to see yas there - love, Danny, Dave, Knoxy and Conor

The band are currently on tour in Australia with shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. The Coronas return to Ireland next month kicking off a run of sold-out shows at The Olympia Theatre on December 3rd.

Tickets priced 49.50 inclusive of booking fee go on sale at 9 am this Friday, November 30 via Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.ie.

Subject to licence.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25)  Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez wanted to surprise her fans when she shared the stage with Megastar Sharon Cuneta during a concert on Saturday. But she turned out to be the one caught off guard.

Cuneta was the guest during Velasquez's concert, "Regine At The Movies," at New Frontier Theater in Quezon City.

After singing Cuneta's classic song "Bituing Walang Ninging" together, the Megastar handed Velasquez a huge diamond-encrusted cocktail ring.

Cuneta, who is known for giving jewelries as gifts to her celebrity friends, said it is the most expensive gift she has ever given.

The double-finger ring, according to her, is a customized version of Kim Catrall's ring from the movie "Sex and the City."

Cuneta said it was made by her friend Candy Dizon of Jul B. Dizon jewelry, and has been with her for quite some time.

Cuneta also teased the audience that she will be working with Velasquez next year.
WASHINGTON  The growing capabilities of potential adversaries in the Indo-Pacific Command area has led the U.S. services to better integrate their air and missile defense systems, but more needs to be done in that effort and the available resources are not adequate to the threat, two Army officers with recent experience in the theater said Nov. 26.

The requirements out there exceed the capacity we have, Brig. Gen. Clement Coward, currently commander of 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command and a former Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization (JIAMDO) director, told a Center for Strategic and International Studies forum.

From the view of the military commanders, we dont have what we need, in theater air and missile defenses, he said.

While serving in the joint command, I saw the same interest from a Marine leader as an Air Force leader for integrated air and missile defenses, Coward said.

But Coward questioned if the services have the right procedures, the right framework to set the conditions for truly integrated air and missile defense.

Col. Sean Gainey, the current JIAMDO director and deputy director for force protection on the Joint Staff who previously led an Army air and missile defense command in the Indo-Pacific, said because of the capabilities shortage, we had to prepare to fight with what we had.

To do that, the services took capabilities like the Aegis ballistic missile defense systems and the TPY-2 radars on the Navys warships and synergized them with the Armys Patriot and Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, Gainey said.

But he asked how the services will get the joint sensor-shooter interface they need to synergize all the separate capabilities in the theater.

In a second panel, four retired officers, all of whom had served as directors or as the technical director at JIAMDO, noted the deep cuts in funding, staffing and authority that have hit the joint organization and argued that the military cannot get to truly integrated air and missile defenses without someone able to force the services to buy the systems and create commands that put the overall requirements ahead of their own priorities.

Retired Air Force Col. Richard Glitz, who served as JIAMDO technical director for nine years, cited the drop in annual funding from $100 million to $20 million while the missile threat to the U.S. homeland from Russia, China and North Korea has increased.

Retired Navy Rear Adm. Archer M. Macy Jr. emphasized the new threats from hypersonic weapons and electromagnetic effects, which reduce the time to respond from hours to minutes and seconds. Macy and others on the second panel said the nation needed an organization directly under the Joint Chiefs chairman or vice chairman who could force decisions on research and procurement to meet the greater threats, instead of what each service believes it needs.

The only ones interested in SHORAD are the Army and Marines, said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Kenneth Todorov, referring to short-range air defense systems the ground services are seeking. And the services also see the threat from cruise missiles differently, he added.

Gainey suggested the joint staff is starting to touch the fringes of global force integration, but may need to force the combatant commanders to accept some tough risks in allocation of resources across the threat.

Because any major conflict is likely to involve more than one of the regional combatant commands (CoComs), it will take the chairman to ensure there are no seams between the CoComs.
Theresa May will challenge MPs to back her Brexit plan or risk crashing out of the European Union without an agreement.

The British Prime Minister will face the Commons after EU leaders endorsed the deal and made it clear it was not up for renegotiation.

Mrs May will tell the Commons "with absolute certainty" that "there is not a better deal available".

The Prime Minister, who will chair a meeting of her Cabinet on Monday morning, will warn rejecting her deal will "open the door to more division and uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail".

At a historic summit in Brussels on Sunday, the leaders of the remaining 27 member states took less than 40 minutes to approve the deal.

Mrs May will now put it to a vote of MPs before Christmas but faces a battle to get it through the House of Commons in the face of intense opposition on both the Leave and Remain-supporting wings of her party.

She has already started a campaign of selling her deal directly to the public in the hope their support can win round MPs opposed to the plan before the Commons vote, widely expected in the week beginning December 10.

Part of that plan could include a televised debate with Jeremy Corbyn, the Daily Telegraph reported.

A British Labour Party spokesman said: "Jeremy would relish a head-to-head debate with Theresa May about her botched Brexit deal and the future of the country."

In her Commons statement the Prime Minister will say: "Our duty as a Parliament over these coming weeks is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest.

"There is a choice which MPs will have to make. We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people.

"Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one ... It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail."

She will say that "the national interest is clear" and "the British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum".

The UK's former foreign secretary Boris Johnson branded the Prime Minister's deal a "disaster" and a "humiliation" for the UK.

In his regular Daily Telegraph column, he said: "The other EU countries have signed the deal immediately, because they know that they have us exactly where they want us.

"We are a satellite state - a memento mori fixed on the walls of Brussels as a ghastly gaping warning to all who try to escape."

More than 80 Tories have rejected the deal, with opposition parties - and Mrs May's allies in the DUP - also set to oppose it.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, deputy DUP leader Nigel Dodds demanded the Government go back to the negotiating table "rather than waste any more time putting forward false choices".

"We are heading under this deal for Brexit in name only or the break-up of the United Kingdom," he warned.

"The tragedy is that it is all so utterly unnecessary."

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted Mrs May could carry on as Prime Minister if she was defeated.

"Absolutely she can," he told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show.

Pressed on whether the British Government could collapse, he acknowledged: "It's not possible to rule out anything."

Mr Corbyn said the deal "is the result of a miserable failure of negotiation that leaves us with the worst of all worlds".

At a press conference in Brussels, Mrs May refused to be drawn on whether she would stand down if she lost the vote, despite being repeatedly pressed on the subject.

"I am focusing on ensuring that I make a case for this deal to MPs," she said.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker led the warnings there could be no return to the negotiating table if the deal - comprising the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration of future EU-UK relations - was rejected.

"This is the deal. It's the best deal possible and the EU will not change its fundamental position when it comes to these issues," he said.

"Those who think by rejecting the deal that they would have a better deal will be disappointed in the first seconds after the rejection of this deal."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "There isn't a plan B. What's being put in front of EU Parliament and House of Commons is a deal.

"Any other deal really only exists in people's imagination."

- PA
The Australian Taxation Office could get stronger powers to access telco data to catch people avoiding tax, while business owners who avoid their obligations face tougher penalties and possible travel bans under a black economy policy plan.

A treasury discussion paper released last week investigates a range of tough new moves to stop those contributing to the country's multi-billion dollar tax avoidance problem.

Former KPMG global chairman Michael Andrew is head of the Black Economy Taskforce. Credit:Tamara Voinski

The paper, which addresses recommendations from the Black Economy Taskforce's 2018 report, says the tax office has restricted powers when it comes to uncovering tax evaders and proposes increasing its access to information.

It asks for feedback on a proposal to extend the ATO's powers so it can access telecommunications data without having to work with the Australian Federal Police.
A cotton farmer on the Barwon-Darling River has pleaded guilty to three charges involving water misuse, including pumping during an embargo, following a lengthy investigation.

Anthony Barlow pleaded guilty to all three offences alleged against him by WaterNSW involving one offence of pumping during an embargo and two offences of pumping while metering equipment was not working, according to a statement by the water agency.

Farmers downstream on the Darling River have spoken out about upstream activities that have depleted river flows. Credit:Louie Douvis

Mr Barlow, a prominent cotton grower, was prosecuted after a ABC Four Corners program in July 2017 reported misuse involving potentially billions of litres at the family's Mungindi property near the NSW-Queensland border.

Another leading irrigator, Peter Harris, is fighting separate charges of water theft, with his case due next year.
Two Canberra prison officers were taken to hospital on Sunday night after an altercation involving an inmate who had started a fire in his cell.

ACT Corrections and ACT Policing are investigating the incident, which occurred just two hours before another detainee lit a fire in his room and forced the evacuation of prisoners from nearby cells.

Emergency services were called twice to Alexander Maconochie Centre on November 25, 2018 following reports of fires at the prison. Credit:Fairfax Media

A spokeswoman for the ACT's justice and community safety directorate, which oversees the Alexander Maconochie Centre, said a detainee started a small fire in his cell about 6pm on Sunday.

The detainee attempted to attack prison officers when they opened his cell, before he was restrained and the fire extinguished, the spokeswoman said.
Exotic fish worth thousands of dollars were killed when a suspicious fire ripped through a pet shop in Sydney's west on Monday, police say.

Just before 10pm, fire crews were called to the business at Emu Plains and took around half an hour to extinguish the blaze, a Fire and Rescue NSW spokeswoman said.

Exotic fish worth thousands of dollars were killed after a fire ripped through a pet shop Credit:Google Maps

Police said the business had been broken into and dozens of fish tanks smashed before the fire, killing exotic and pet fish.

On arrival, police patrols found hundreds of dead fish on the floor.
A female Queensland ride-share driver claims a taxi driver threatened to tie her up and shoot her in Toowoomba, leaving her shaken and distressed.

The woman, a driver for female-only ride-share organisation Shebah, made a report to Queensland Police about the threat over the weekend after the alleged incident on November 11.

Shebah founder George McEncroe. Image: via Fairfax Credit:Fairfax

Shebah, founded in March 2017 as a female-only ride-share service, has 400 drivers in Queensland, with its focus on providing safe transport for women and children.

Shebah founder George McEncroe said the driver was approached by a taxi driver in Toowoomba and told Im going to shoot you, tie you up and f--- you just like youve f---ed the cab industry.
Density is not a dirty word, according to Brisbane resident Natalie Rayment who is behind a movement to change the way residents look at development.

The YIMBY  Yes in My Backyard co-founder said the movement was about getting people to think a different way.

The YIMBY  Yes in My Backyard movement is about getting residents to think differently about development. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Density might traditionally be a dirty word in some circles but we need to look at density and say you know what, that actually saves the environment, Ms Rayment said.

[With density] were not going to have to continue the sprawl out into our vegetated areas or turn into one big city between Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, she said.
Several classrooms have been destroyed in a fire in what police believe were suspicious circumstances at a south-east Queensland school

Emergency services were called to Laidley State High School after black smoke was seen coming from a single-storey building about 6.30pm on Sunday.

A suspicious fire in a south-east Queensland school has destroyed two classrooms. Credit:Carissa Kemp/7 News Toowoomba

Multiple fire crews arrived shortly after and were able to quickly locate and control the blaze.

The two classrooms, including the school's science block, were the only part of the structure substantially damaged.
Areas along the central Queensland coast have been declared disaster zones and residents continue to flee from their homes as two out-of-control bushfires rage.

A large air tanker has been brought in from New South Wales for waterbombing, the first time it has been used across the border, while dozens of fire crews and six other aircraft continue to fight the flames.

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford has signed a disaster declaration for the Gladstone local government region, including the areas of Baffle Creek Catchment, Wartburg, Deepwater, Agnes Water, Round Hill, Miriam Vale and Bororen.

"These areas are under threat of fire or have already been hit by fire and the disaster declaration will ensure that the necessary agencies, including fire and emergency services and police have the powers they need to respond effectively," he said.
The owner of the fire-ravaged Broadway Hotel in Brisbane's south has been issued with a 'show cause' notice from Brisbane City Council over the building's dilapidated state.

In September, the derelict Woolloongabba pub on Logan Road was gutted by a suspicious fire, further destroying the building's fragile infrastructure.

The damaged Broadway Hotel at Woolloongabba after the third fire in about eight years. Credit:Ruth McCosker

The fire, eight years after another blaze that all but destroyed the heritage-listed hotel's internal structures and forced its permanent closure, sparked calls to preserve the gothic building.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said on Monday that investigations into the September fire were continuing.
A senior Victorian police officer has been charged over an alleged 18-month crime spree that included claims of fraudulently obtaining six properties, rorting Centrelink, postal theft, making false claims to bank staff and claiming she was someone else.

Sergeant Rosa Catherine Rossi, 56, has been charged by Victoria's corruption watchdog.

The sergeant from Corio did not face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday when the extent of her alleged offending investigated by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission was revealed.

Sergeant Rosa Rossi handing out "Dont make it easy for the Thankful Thief" brochures during a promotional event in Wyndham in 2016 Credit:Damjan Janevski

Sergeant Rossi is accused of deceiving locksmiths to fraudulently take possession of houses in Malvern East, Chadstone, Brooklyn and three rural properties in Willaura, about 230 kilometres west of Melbourne.
Attorney-General Christian Porter has countered a forceful bid in Parliament to set up a national integrity commission to crack down on corruption, slamming the idea of sweeping retrospective powers in a bill backed by Labor, the Greens and the crossbench.

In an extraordinary warning about the draft law, Mr Porter said the bill was so wide it could put public officials and even ABC journalists in the dock for corruption over minor questions of "impartiality" in their jobs.

The claim drew a swift response from global anti-corruption advocate Transparency International, which challenged Mr Porter to put forward his alternative to make sure the bill could stamp out corruption without causing the problems he claimed.

The dispute was sparked by a Senate vote that called on the Morrison government to establish a national anti-corruption commission, leading to a debate in the House of Representatives on whether to "concur" with the upper house.

The government was facing a likely defeat because the motion had the support of Labor, the Greens and six crossbenchers  Adam Bandt, Bob Katter, Cathy McGowan, Kerryn Phelps, Rebekha Sharkie and Andrew Wilkie.
Senior Liberals have rung the alarm on a voter backlash that threatens to wipe out the Morrison government, warning that a hardcore message on social issues is turning away the partys own supporters.

Victorian senator Scott Ryan said the party needed to regain its "real base" with a message about long-standing Liberal values, as he slammed media commentators and some party colleagues for setting "tests" for members around social issues and climate change.

Senate President Scott Ryan departs after a radio interview on Monday on the Victorian election result. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"I am sick of being lectured to by people who arent members of the party, by people who have never stood on polling booths, about what it means to be a real Liberal," Senator Ryan said.

"Our voters sent us a message. Liberal voters want us to focus on their issues."
Federal Parliament appears likely to expedite encryption-piercing legislation ahead of the Christmas holiday period, with the powerful intelligence and security committee rapidly considering amendments to meet a sudden two-week deadline issued by the Morrison government.

The bipartisan committee is considering substantial revisions to the Assistance and Access Bill that would place additional restrictions on the new powers, allowing for an interim version of the bill to be passed while scrutiny continues of the broader package.

ASIO chief Duncan Lewis. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The fast-tracked process is in play after Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton last week called on the committee to "accelerate" its efforts so the bill could be passed before December 6, when Parliament winds up for the year. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would "insist" the legislation be in place by the deadline.

Following hearings with security agencies on Monday  hastily convened to address the question of the bill's urgency  Fairfax Media understands the committee is considering preliminary legislation that would only empower agencies investigating terrorism plots. Labor also appears to be supportive of increased safeguards and oversight measures suggested by independent watchdog the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is "unable" to testify at a rare joint hearing with lawmakers from seven countries  representing more than 368 million people  who remain frustrated about the social media giant's handling of misinformation online.

Instead, Facebook will dispatch Richard Allan, the company's vice president of policy solutions, to answer questions at a hearing this week featuring top policymakers from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Latvia, Singapore and the United Kingdom, according to representatives from the UK.

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer and founder of Facebook. Credit:Bloomberg

Zuckerberg's decision against testifying at the global gathering could add to Facebook's woes with governments around the world, which have grown frustrated with the company's business practices. It's uncommon for seven countries to band together and seek to question a chief executive, reflecting the heightened threat of regulation and other punishments now facing Facebook and its peers in Silicon Valley.

In Europe, lawmakers recently have taken aim at the way social media companies handle users' personal data and combat hate speech and terrorism online. The European Union previously grilled Zuckerberg at a short, controversial hearing in May. In Brazil, meanwhile, Facebook has had to battle back misinformation on its site during the country's most recent election, while WhatsApp emerged as a major flash point for candidates who felt it had been deployed deliberately to spread falsehoods.
To see the transformation of modern India, you should start with a look at an unconventional place  a slum. "If you go to a slum in Brazil you will feel endangered," says Ketan Patel. "If you go to a slum in India, you won't feel threatened because everyone is working. It may only be sorting garbage - it's a horrible job but you are so hungry for work you will take the opportunity, or if it's the next step up you are sewing bags together."

Two years ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a bold experiment. Credit:AP

A slum may be a pit of poverty and disadvantage, but an Indian one isn't a life sentence; it's a way station, "a parking lot for human beings", as Patel puts it. And the movement of traffic through the parking lot is speeding up as India starts to deliver on its potential and opportunity widens.

Patel invites us to take a closer look beneath the bits of corrugated iron that maybe five or eight people call home: "The most educated person in the family is probably your 12-year-old daughter. Your boys are also going to school [thanks to a national drive to improve school access] but the girls are probably picking it up faster", a syndrome not unknown in Australia, either. "When you get just enough money to get a tiny abode on the edge of the city, you buy it. Now you are transformed from rural peasantry and you have a small abode in the city."
Moscow: The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday as tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate after the neighbours accused each other of provoking an incident at sea, in which Moscow closed a vital water route and Ukraine's leader declared he wanted to implement martial law in response.

On Sunday morning, Russia prevented three Ukrainian ships from entering the Kerch Strait, a narrow strip of water linking the Azov and Black seas. According to the Ukrainian navy, vessels belonging to Russia's border service opened fire on the Ukrainian fleet, injuring six sailors, before seizing two of the ships.

A large cargo ship under the bridge over the Kerch Strait blocked access to the Azov Sea on Sunday. Credit:AP

Moscow had prevented the ships from entering the strait by placing a large cargo vessel beneath a Russian-controlled bridge. Russia then closed the strait, which both nations use.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko endorsed the military cabinet's proposal, rushed through in Kiev well past midnight, to install martial law across the country for 60 days. On Monday (GMT +2), the vote will be put before parliament and is expected to sail through.
West Palm Beach, Florida: US President Donald Trump congratulated himself for falling oil prices. He chided the Federal Reserve over interest rates. He claimed Central American countries were trying to dump "certain people" into the United States.

US President Donald Trump. Credit:AP

Trump's Florida Thanksgiving holiday stay was ending on Sunday with a visit to his golf club for the fifth day in a row. His tweeting took no break.

The president patted himself on the back for a dip in petroleum prices, writing "thank you President T." He also admonished the US central bank over the cost of borrowing money.

In a separate tweet, he called on Mexico to stop caravans of Central American migrants from trying to reach the US border. Unsuccessfully as migrants continued on, even meeting with tear gas at the crossing.
Latest News ScotPac to offer mortgages in major pivot One of Australia's biggest specialist business lenders is to offer home loans  and brokers will be the first to get access

Westpac ditches its last sub-2% fixed rate Final nail in the coffin of the ultra low rate era

A fintech start-up is celebrating a $25million raise as it continues on its pathway to becoming Australias most innovative home loan provider.

Athena Home Loans, which is still in its pilot phase, has closed its most recent Series B raise led by Square Peg Capital.

Industry super fund Hostplus and venture firm AirTree also joined the round, taking the groups total capital raised to date to $45m.

The Series B raise comes six months after the company announced a Series A fund raise led by Macquarie Bank and Square Peg Capital and three months after announcing a strategic partnership with Resimac Group.

Powered by Australias first cloud native digital mortgage platform, Athena aims to bypass the banks to connect borrowers to superfund backed loans.

The company was founded by two ex-bankers, Nathan Walsh and Michael Starkey, who said they wanted the journey to home ownership to be faster, cheaper and stress free.

Square Peg Capital invested in Athena in Series A and has further solidified its support of the home loan provider by leading the Series B round.

Venture capitalist and co-founder of Square Peg, Paul Bassat, who also sits on the Athena Board, said investing further into Athena proves the potential they see in the business.

He said, Having worked with Nathan, Michael and the team over the last year I have enormous admiration for the speed at which they have navigated complex financial systems to develop a robust and customer-centric mortgage service.

Athena is solving a really important problem for home buyers and is certainly one of the most exciting Fintech companies in Australia.

We are thrilled to back the team again and look forward to supporting them on this extraordinary journey.

Industry superannuation fund Hostplus has more than 1.1 million members and $37billion in funds under management.

Hostplus has spearheaded investment in the local start-up ecosystem, with more than $1billion of its fully diversified portfolio committed to Australian venture capital managers.

Hostplus chief investment officer, Sam Sicilia, said that Athena is a great example of disruptive innovation delivering big savings for home loan borrowers.

Athena COO Michael Starkey said, We are delighted to have Hostplus and AirTree joining Athena as investors. Athenas journey has benefited hugely from the insights and support from some of Australias smartest investors. Its clear the timing has never been better to offer a fairer home loan.

Athena CEO Nathan Walsh said, During our pilot, we are already seeing the power of the Athena proposition to save money and change lives.

A single mum who will be able to pay off her home loan 19 months earlier and save $130,000 over the life of the loan.

A family with three young kids who will save $40,000 on their home loan can now take the family on the first holiday in years. Its powerful stuff.

Commenting on the companys upcoming launch in Q1 2019, Nathan said, Our key priorities with the investment will be to continue to innovate our platform, invest in talent and scale the business.

Australia, Athena is coming!
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Democrat Mathylde Frontus is ready to hit the ground running in Albany after the political newcomer defeated her Republican challenger to win the Coney Island Assembly seat vacated by disgraced pol and convicted felon Pamela Harris in Novembers general election. Frontus, a university professor who has never held elected office, talked to us about how her career teaching and practicing social work prepared her to represent the 46th Assembly District  which, in addition to her native Coney Island, includes and parts of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Brighton Beach, and Gravesend. The newly inducted Assemblywoman  whom Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie swore into office early on Nov. 15 due to the seat being vacant  identified what issue she wants to tackle first in office, and her plans for boosting commerce and civic engagement in her district. Read on for the full interview:

Julianne McShane: Youre new to elected office. How has your career prepared you to be an Assemblywoman?

Mathylde Frontus: I come from the field of social work , which is one of the most-compatible backgrounds with public service. My career gave me a crash course in human beings and understanding how to meet people where they are, along with learning how to be a good listener, how to help people with their problems, and how to lead. Leadership is about moving things along, not staying where we are.

JM: The neighborhood is changing and faces a lot of issues, including development, unemployment, poverty, and concerns about the environment and resiliency. Whats the first thing you want to tackle in Albany?

MF: I want to wrap my mind around whats happening with housing, and one way or another I will be proposing legislation that has to do with affordability. Right now the way that we have it is a one-size-fits all, because area median income [the statistic used to determine eligibility for affordable housing in the city] is federally determined. But census data allows you to see how much people are making and where, block by block. To me that makes more sense, because it uses more of a magnifying glass. Id like to see us be more creative in terms of how we talk about affordability.

JM: You support the ethics-reform legislation, the Public Officers Accountability Act, which would require making the appropriation of state discretionary funds public if it passes. How else do you plan to rebuild trust within the community after your predecessor was convicted of stealing thousands of dollars meant for superstorm Sandyrelief?

MF: Im stunned that in a big state like New York, we cant just type a couple of words into our smartphones and see what Assembly members have allocated money to. Ive tried to be totally transparent from day one. A year ago nobody knew who I was in parts of the district. I took my time, quietly going to meetings, getting involved, volunteering, getting to know people on a first-name basis. Thats how you build trust: its being present, showing up, keeping your word, and operating from a place of integrity.

JM: Roughly 12 percent of storefronts in Coneys major commercial corridors are vacant  almost twice the citys average  according to a report by the Department of Small Business Services. What will you do to bring that commerce back?

MF: I will work very closely with the citys small-business agency, and with mom-and-pop shops throughout the district. Coney Island is without a doubt in need of economic prosperity, vitality, and mobility. The flip side is that we dont want growth to be at small-business owners expense. Im interested in attracting new businesses to Coney that fit in the community and hire locally, but not making it a competition.

JM: On the campaign trail you consistently talked about starting a community organization you described as a think tank. Can you talk a little more about that project, and how you will accomplish it?

MF: Its about people power. Im tired of folks being on the outside looking in, and thinking that politics is this mysterious, secret society that only some people have access to. Thats not true. Id like for people to know how bills are written, and maybe even to work on legislation with the community. Were going to brainstorm the mechanics of the think tank eventually, but its a little premature now. Im still building my team.

JM: How do you plan to work with your constituents who voted for your Republican challenger, Steven Saperstein?

MF: I plan on meeting with some Republicans to talk about how I can best serve those voters. Saperstein got more than 10,000 votes, which is nothing to sneeze at  its not insignificant.

JM: People have asked about your relationship with local activist Ronald Stewart, and his connection with the Nation of Islam, which the Southern Poverty Law Center deems a hate group. Can you comment on your relationship with Stewart, and will you give him a job in your office?

MF: I met Ronald Stewart in 2007, and indeed we became close friends and colleagues. Hes become like a father figure. Stewart was also a childhood friend of Pamela Harris  they grew up together  and I would just like to say that during the entire Assembly race that Pam ran, no one ever said a peep about Ron, or that he was one of her closest allies. That no one ever said anything about him before, and now they care, is a double standard.

Hes not going to be on my staff  hes retired. I feel very uncomfortable criticizing anybodys faith, to me that crosses the line. I believe firmly in freedom of religion, insofar as a person is not part of a wild cult. And I strongly condemn anything inappropriate said by [Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan].

JM: Will you continue teaching at New York and Columbia universities while serving as Assemblywoman, since youre only in Albany from January through June?

MF: Im interested in doing it, more for the students than for me. This new roles going to keep me very busy, but I have such a commitment to teaching. Maybe I will, maybe I wont, I have to just see if it works out.
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.

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Distancing itself from former promoters Malvinder Mohan Singh and Shivinder Mohan Singh, Fortis Healthcare Ltd on Monday opposed Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd's plea to stop the sale of its stake to Malayasia's IHH Healthcare Berhad.

In its pleadings before the Delhi High Court, the hospital chain said that it was neither a party to the arbitration between the Singh brothers nor to the execution of the Rs 35-billion award and thus, should not be dragged in between. All the undertakings had been given by former promoters who were no longer attached to the company in any way, it ...
More than half of home buyers prefer to file their complaints against builders with real estate regulators established under the Act that came into force in May 2017, according to realty portal Magicbricks' consumer survey.

The Real Estate (Development and Regulation) Act 2016, (RERA) has been able to instill faith and confidence among consumers, the portal feels.

ALSO READ: Get a grip on the grey areas before you purchase real estate abroad

While 56 per cent of respondents prefer the regulator in case of a dispute, 23 per cent still prefer to file their first complaint with the builder. Around 12 per cent home buyers said that they would go to consumer courts. Just 7 per cent chose to go to the police and 2 per cent would either go to the High Court or the Supreme Court.

Magicbricks also spoke to regulators from Gurgaon, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttarakhand, who have been flooded with complaints from consumers.

K K Khandelwal, RERA Regulator Haryana, said 1,800 complaints have been filed so far and still they are receiving 15-20 complaints daily.

For Uttar Pradesh (UP) RERA regulator Rajive Kumar, there was a backlog of 8,100 complaints, of which 2,200 have been disposed of. He expects that by January 2019 all pending complaints would be addressed, the statement said.

Madhya Pradesh regulator Anthony de Sa is trying to ensure that all complaints have their first hearing within 30 days. In Uttarakhand, Regulator Vishnu Kumar has 266 complaints in 225 registered projects.
Agritrade aims to connect supply-demand of agricultural/farming products to the locations cross over the country; take advantages for farmers to apply modern e-commerce model.



Agritrade is home to farmers in exchanging, supplying information, production progress and introducing products to enterprises, consumers.



Director of Agritrade Nguyen Tuan Khoi said Agritrade will also help farmers solve agricultural product output and quality. It is chance to link farmers and enterprises, opening sustainable supply-demand chain, ensuring the quality of products.

TUAN QUANG Translated by K.Lien
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti said that her party does not have a patent on the while calling for all parties to come together to build the temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking to reporters, Bharti commended Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for visiting Ayodhya and pressing for the construction of the temple.

"Yes, I appreciate Uddhav Thackeray for his effort. BJP doesn't have a patent on Ram temple, Lord Ram belongs to everyone. I appeal to everyone including Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Akali Dal, Asaduddin Owaisi, Azam Khan and others to come forward and support the construction of the temple," the BJP leader said.

Thackeray, who was on a visit to Ayodhya over the weekend, reiterated his demand for the construction of a in Ayodhya and asked the BJP-led central government not to play with the sentiments of the Hindus.

At a mega event, Thackeray added that the BJP should apologise and tell people that the issue is their 'chunavi jumla' (election gimmick).

Amid growing chorus for the construction of a Lord Ram temple, many political parties and spiritual leaders have demanded that an ordinance should be brought in.

The Supreme Court, on October 29, had adjourned the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till January 2019 to fix the next hearing date in the matter, challenging the Allahabad High Court ruling of 2010. The Allahabad High Court in its 2010 verdict had suggested a division of the disputed land in Ayodhya -- one for each of the parties the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Waqf Board and Ram Lalla.

Babri Masjid, known to have been constructed by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528, was allegedly demolished by right-wing groups on December 6, 1992, who claimed that the mosque was built after demolishing the Ram Temple to the ground.
Over 16 years after the on the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, that claimed 34 lives, the police Monday arrested a man allegedly involved in the assault case on his arrival at the city airport, officials said.

Based on a specific tip-off, Ahmedabad Crime Branch officials nabbed Mohammed Farooq Shaikh (47) as soon as he arrived at the airport from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he had been living since 1994, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Bhagirathsinh Gohil.

"We have arrested one Mohammed Farooq Shaikh from the city airport upon his arrival from Saudi Arabia. Shaikh used to live in Juhapura area of the city. He was part of the conspiracy to carry out the attack on Akshardham," he said.

Elaborating on Shaikh's alleged role in the episode, the officer said the accused was involved in collecting funds for the operation with the help of banned Pakistan-based terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Gohil said Shaikh had been living in Riyadh since 1994 and hatched the conspiracy with others to target the temple to avenge the killings of minority community members in the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

"He watched the videos of Gujarat riots and decided to avenge the killing of Muslims. As part of the conspiracy to spread terror in Gujarat, Shaikh held meetings with terror operatives linked with Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba there," said Gohil.

"Shaikh is accused of collecting and sending funds to carry out the attack on Akshardham temple. The money sent by Shaikh was used in buying firearms used by the terrorists," he added.

On September 24, 2002, two armed terrorists entered the Akshardham temple complex in Gandhinagar and opened fire on devotees, leaving 34 dead and injuring 84 others.

The attack had taken place seven months after Gujarat was rocked by widespread communal violence triggered by the torching of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra station.

The attackers were subsequently killed by Security Guard (NSG) commandos.

The Supreme Court had, in May 2014, acquitted all the six convicts in the case, including three awarded the death sentence by the trial court, for want of sufficient evidence against them.
A passenger on board a Kolkata-Mumbai flight was arrested on Monday here after a fellow passenger heard him using words like "terrorist" and "destroy" over telephone, police said.

Yogvedanta Poddar was forced to deboard and handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) after a co-passenger overheard his telephonic conversation and complained to the cabin crew, said a Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport official.

Poddar, a resident of Kolkata, was arrested and handed over to the police.

Poddar's father claimed that his son was playing a prank on his friends by sending those messages. The flight took off for Mumbai following the incident.
FPIs may get high on India as oil prices fall Foreign investors may come back to India because of the fall in oil prices and the improvement in the domestic fundamentals, but that could happen only after they make sure the oil correction is here to stay and Indias deficits are bridged.

Read more How will banks come out of PCA unless they lend? The government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have agreed to sort out their differences on some key issues affecting the economy. Ahead of the RBIs next board meeting on December 14, Financial ...
No homework for students of classes I and II and prescribed weight limit of school bags for each class are part of the fresh directives issued by the to states and union territories across the country.

According to the official order, the has "instructed all the states and Union Territories to formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects and weight of school bags in accordance with the Government of India instructions".

As per these instructions, which the have been asked to comply with, institutions cannot assign homework to students of classes I and II.

" should not prescribe any other subjects except language and mathematics for classes I and II and language, EVS and mathematics for classes III to V students as prescribed by the NCERT," the order said.

Students should not be asked to bring additional books, extra materials and the weight of a school bag should not exceed the prescribed limit, the order added.

The weight of school bags for students of classes I and II should not exceed 1.5 kg, while the school bag of students of class III to V should weigh between 2 kg to 3 kg.

The school bag of students of classes VI and VII should not be more than 4 kg, while weight of school bags of classes VIII and IX students should not be above 4.5 kg. The school bag of a class X student should not weigh above 5 kg, the order said.
Sikh pilgrims from all over the world on Monday poured into the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Sikhim's founder, Guru Nanak Dev.

Over 3,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims, 148 from the UK, seven from the United Arab Emirates and thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from various parts of Pakistan, especially Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and interior Sindh, arrived at the gurdwara deemed as the third most sacred place of Sikh religion, to perform their rituals which include 'Akhand Path', 'Ashnan', 'Matha Tek' and 'Kirtan', reports Dawn news.

Elaborate security measures were taken in and around the gurdwara where dozens of officials from the security agencies were deployed.

Talking to the media, leader of the Indian pilgrims Marjeet Singh lauded the role of the Pakistani government in opening the Kartarpur corridor.

He said with this, the Pakistani government had won the hearts of millions of living on the other side of the border.

The number of pilgrims had also increased compared to last year, he added.

Raminder Singh, leader of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak committee, echoed the sentiments, saying that more corridors between the two countries needed to open.

Sohan Singh, contingent leader from the Bhai Mardana Sikh committee, said every religion taught love, tolerance and respect for humanity.

However, leader of female contingent from India Manmohan Kaur expressed her displeasure over the mismanagement by the railways department as a result of which over 113 pilgrims were left behind at Nankana Sahib also in Punjab province.

Talking to the media, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said mismanagement was due to the negligence of the railway authorities and the pilgrims' displeasure was communicated to the relevant authorities.

The Kartarpur corridor will be formally be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday while Punjab Governor Mohammad Sarwar would host a reception in honour of the Indian in Lahore on Tuesday.

The Indian pilgrims would visit also Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on Monday followed by Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Emanabad and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Wednesday.

The pilgrims are slated to depart for their respective countries on November 30, according to Gondal.
Describing the as a "barbarity", the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the state department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program offered a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates," Pompeo said.

Some 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police while lone survivor was captured and hanged after he was handed down death sentence by an Indian court.





The United States, Pompeo said, is committed to seeing that those responsible for the attack face justice.

The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to USD5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack," Pompeo said.

"We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world," said the top American diplomat.
Sometime in the dark hours of 23rd November 2008 a small cargo vessel slipped out of Karachi harbour; its passengers-ten non sea faring men who had been specifically trained for a purpose and indoctrinated for martyrdom. This ship reached the waters off Porbander in the early hours of the 25th.

One of our many powered fishing boats, Kuber, was called alongside, ostensibly to exchange fish for diesel, a practice not uncommon. As it tied up alongside, four of its five crewmen were killed, and the ten men transferred to it along with several sacks of equipment. The boat was ordered to ...
They note that there are more scientists, more funding for science, and more scientific papers published than ever before. They ask whether this steadily rising investment of manpower and time in scientific research is yielding proportionately rising dividends, or whether we are investing vastly more merely to sustain (or even see a decline in) the rate of scientific progress? As they concede, its ...

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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.



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As many areas of the city are suffered from severe inundation as a result of torrential, students are permitted to stay at home.

Additionally, schools are asked to check facilities and repair damages caused by the typhoon.



Meantime, students in the Mekong delta province of Ben Tre will come to school as normally as the province just had faced tropical low pressure.



Weather meteorologists said that the storm weakened into tropical low pressure hitting the southern provinces of Ba Ria  Vung Tau to Ben Tre with strong wind level of 40-60km per hour. Due to the impact of the depression, coastal districts including Binh Thanh, Thanh Phu, and Ba Tri of Ben Tre Province had torrential rains with strong winds.

Also, Ben Tre authority banned fishing boats to go out to the sea.







By TUAN QUANG - Translated by UYEN PHUONG
The is exploring ways to encourage more domestic companies to be among the top in the world, the think-tank's Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar has said.

The government is working to further improve the in the country.

Kumar said the Aayog is trying to figure out impediments for an Indian company in achieving global size.

The government think-tank has already held preliminary meetings with the industry bodies and top industrialists to identify the roadblocks that are hindering growth of

"We have noticed that China and some other emerging economies like Turkey, Argentina and Brazil, all of them have been able to establish companies, which are MNCs in their own right and have a significant share of the sectors in which they operate.

"You can see this is true of the companies like Alibaba, Temasek or Baidu, being able to compete with largest companies in the world," he told PTI in an interview.

In the latest Fortune 500 list of the world's biggest corporations in terms of revenue released this year, only seven made it to the ranking.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was ranked 137th, Mukesh Ambani-led RIL ranked 148th, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) ranked 197th and State Bank of India (SBI) was given 216th rank.

US-based retail giant Walmart topped the global rankings, followed by State Grid Corporation of China, and China National Petroleum.

"The should also figure prominently in the list of top global MNCs," he said, adding this is not a tall order given the fact that India, in quick time, has been able to significantly improve its ranking in the World Bank's ranking.

The US continues to have the largest presence on the elite list with 132 firms, followed by China at 109.

Kumar also pointed out that the future of any economy is often dependent on the strength and nature of their large corporations.

He emphasised that India's large and growing economy should give a strong base for our companies to improve scale and become global.

"So, given that positive factor, also that some of our entrepreneurs are also very capable in running companies abroad.

"We need to identify factors which are preventing them from becoming global players, and also to identify some of the drivers which have enabled companies in other countries to be able to do so," Kumar observed.

RIL was the most profitable Indian firm on the list.

In the most profitable list, it secured the 99th position. The list was topped by Apple.
The four-day Make in Odisha 2018 conclave bagged 64 per cent of the 183 projects in greenfield and non-mineral projects that could employ 230,000 people, estimates show. It is encouraging to note that the majority of investment intents have been received for setting up new projects in non-mineral sectors which is a reflection of the tremendous opportunities Odisha provides across the focus sectors and validates the efficacy of investment promotion efforts by the state government, said Sanjeev Chopra, principal secretary (industries), Odisha. While mining ...

Dear Reader,

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Digital Editor
They say that human memory tends to shut out trauma. But the pain caused by the 26/11 attack on Mumbai will always be difficult to forget. What happened on November 26, 2008 was an act of pure terrorism: Defenceless civilians sought out and gunned down over three days in the glare of national television.

For this reason, the incident has been a watershed in Indias attitudes towards terrorism. It hardened the countrys attitude towards terrorists and militants of all stripes. Further, it has made any kind of a dialogue process with Islamabad difficult, given how the ...
As many as 326 companies till Monday had registered at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) to select candidates for more than 490 job profiles in the first phase of recruitment at one of Indias top engineering college.

As many 270 companies visited the campus in 2017-18. The 2018-19 recruitment will be held between December 1 and 8, with a break of one day on December 5. "The number of recruiters coming to campus has seen an upswing this year, which is clearly an indicator of the growing perception about the quality of students coming from IIT Madras, ...
Sachin Pilot, 41, galvanised the in Rajasthan after the partys embarrassing defeats in the 2013 assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the state. Pilot, who could be the next chief minister, tells Archis Mohan the future government in the state will take steps to address agrarian distress and joblessness within its first 100-days.

The is reaching out to beneficiaries of central and state government schemes. Do you think the strategy could tilt the balance in its favour in the polls?

In the name of so-called beneficiaries, the Rajasthan government is spending taxpayers money get them to attend public meetings of political parties. This goes against the grain of our democracy. How can you spend government money for political campaigning? The High Court curtailed (Chief Minister) Vasundhara jis gaurav yatra for this reason.

Who is a beneficiary? The government is doing its job and not any favour by providing someone a pension or a scholarship. Why should you (the BJP) cull out the names of these people and term them beneficiaries to try reach out to them with a samvad karyakram, or outreach programme. It is when people are unwilling to come to listen to you; you are using taxpayers money and other pretexts to collect crowds.

Secondly, I think the real beneficiaries of the rule are not the ones being collected in parade grounds. The real beneficiaries are the Vijay Mallyas, the Lalit Modis and the Nirav Modis of the world who have really benefited and gained from the rule. They should be summoned form London and have a meeting.

What is your assessment of Raje governments performance?

The Raje government won a historic mandate in 2013 by winning 163 of the 200 assembly seats. I think she squandered that mandate. She betrayed the trust of the people in every area of governance  industrial development, agriculture output, GDP growth, law and order, solar energy and power sector. The transmission and distribution losses in Rajasthan because of power theft is at an all-time high.

Core sectors of manufacturing, mining, textiles, and large-scale capital-intensive industries have suffered because of macro policies of GST and demonetisation, but also the inspector raj in the state. The atmosphere you need for investments and to create jobs was absolutely lacking.

What would be the future governments priorities in the first 100 days?

Agrarian crisis is the biggest issue facing us today. The first thing we need to do once we form the government is to take care of farm distress. Besides the issue of farm loans, it is also providing easy access to credit, to markets, ensuring procurement on minimum support prices (MSP), manure, electricity, irrigation, etc.

Second big issue is joblessness. Young educated boys and girls are not only unemployed but also underemployed. We need to create an atmosphere where people are able to generate employment. The government is giving out fake numbers of jobs. The Raje government has claimed it promised 1.5 million jobs, but we delivered 4.4 million. Now that means in every constituency 22,000 people got jobs. Then they very cleverly said it is not jobs, but we are creating employment. I am not sure how they have made the distinction. In any case, I urge the CM why not she publish the names of the lucky millions of people in the newspaper, so I can also call them and wish them good luck for getting a job. It is all white lies.



ALSO READ: Rajasthan polls: Modi can't calm anger against Vasundhara govt, says Pilot

You are one of the younger leaders of the Congress who have worked hard to rebuild the party. Is it not time that younger leaders such as yourself should also get leadership roles in government?

Five years back, I was asked to become the Congress partys Rajasthan state unit president. It was a challenging time. We had only won 21 out of 200-seats in 2013, and lost power in the state and subsequently at the Centre. We lost badly. Those were daunting times and I remember, starting out five years ago, rebuilding this party brick by brick, certain blood was required. It was a collaborative effort. I spent the last five years travelling across the state to raise issues of the people. We also focused on local bodies elections, which form the bedrock of our democracy.

There have been 22 assembly by-polls in Rajasthan in the last five years. We won 20 of them. Out of 200-seats, we won 21 in 2013, and of 22 by-polls, we won 20, so we have performed very well. We have given a strong opposition. Now what happens in the future, I do not know. It depends on the elected legislators, and the Congress party on who gets what position to work in. I feel reasonably satisfied in getting the Congress to what I call within striking distance of forming the next government.



ALSO READ: Getting wheat is literally an uphill task in Rajasthan's Meena village

It seemed from your press conference in Delhi earlier this month that you did not want to contest.

All of us had left that decision to the Congress president (Rahul Gandhi). It was for him to decide if all of us should contest or not, and from which constituency. In my case, I worked five years here (as the partys state unit chief). I was an MP before that for two terms and where I should contest the MLA election, that decision was Mr. Gandhis.

It is good that now all leaders are contesting because one must lead from the front and be on the battleground, and whether I should contest or not that decision was taken in Delhi. Mr. Gandhi squarely asked me and said you have to contest. I said surely. I was asked to become party president five years back and I packed my bags and moved to Jaipur, so there is no question of ifs and buts, and whatever party decides that is final.

How badly do you think the emergence of Jat leader Hanuman Beniwal, who has launched his own party, would hit the Congress? How are you reaching out to the Jat community?

Beniwal has been a BJP legislator in the past and he has now formed his own party. Rajasthan has been a bipolar state. Smaller parties will play a marginal role, only in some states.

I think the farming community in particular has seen the working of the BJP. More than any individual leaders (like Beniwal), the farming community as a whole is looking at the Congress party because we are coming up with a clear roadmap for the farming community.

Has the mess in ticket distribution cost the Congress 15-20 seats?

People can see the Congress is coming to power. Therefore, the clamour for getting tickers is much more, instead of four or five we had 20 claimants on each seat. It was a time for us to listen patiently to all aspirants and come to a consensus. When a party worked is denied ticket, he faces anger from his supporters and there are few days of heartburn. But every Congress worker wants the party to win. The BJP is facing infighting after 40-50 sitting legislators, including ministers, were denied tickets.

There have been reports that ticket distribution had the stamp of

All party tickets given out, I consider them all my tickets. There is no question of this group that. We reached a broad consensus in each our party meetings to decide ticket distribution.


The highlight of the event will be a seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 29, which will be attended by two famous Danish architects, namely Prof. Dr. Tom Nielsen from the Aarhus School of Architecture and Tina Saaby Madsen, Chief City Architect of Copenhagen.The two architects will share with Vietnam their experience in carrying out urban planning policies and solutions.Denmark is among the worlds leading nations in terms of green technology and green growth is an important area in the comprehensive cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese and Danish Governments.Last year, the Danish Week  Sustainable City Solutions was held in Hanoi from December 12-17, and in Ho Chi Minh City from December 14-19.

Vietnamplus
The Reserve Bank of India should provide more liquidity to non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) in a bid to boost lending, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said in an interview to the Economic Times newspaper. A liquidity crunch had hit India's shadow banks in September and October after a major infrastructure funding company defaulted on a series of debt obligations spreading panic among other NBFCs. The RBI has since then been conducting open market purchase of bonds to infuse adequate cash into the banking system along with other measures to ease ...
Mitsubishi Motors Corp said on Monday its board removed Carlos Ghosn from his role as chairman, following his arrest and ouster from alliance partner Nissan Motor Co last week for alleged financial misconduct. Ghosn's sacking in a unanimous board vote marks the end of his chairmanship of Japanese automakers, just two years after he was praised for bringing a steadying hand to Mitsubishi Motors following a cheating scandal in 2016. CEO Osamu Masuko will become temporary chairman, the automaker said. "Ghosn has lost the confidence of Nissan" and it is ...
Saudi energy giant Aramco has signed 31 agreements and memoranda of understandings worth $27.5 billion with local and suppliers, CEO Amin Nasser said Monday.

"We signed $27.5 billion (24 billion euros) in a total of 31 commercial collaborations," Nasser said in a statement at an investment forum held in the eastern Saudi city of Dhahran.

The company did not provide details on the nature of the deals.

Last month, Aramco said it signed agreements and MOUs with scores of energy worth over $50 billion at a showcase investment summit boycotted by many and dignitaries over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Insider-turned-critic Khashoggi was killed and reportedly dismembered in Saudi Arabia's Istanbul consulate on October 2 in what the kingdom said was a "rogue" operation.

More than 1,000 local and energy service and equipment suppliers and manufacturers attended Monday's forum.

kingpin Saudi Arabia pumps over 10 million barrels per day of in addition to around 12 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
The British parliament will vote on whether to support Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal on December 11, according to a copy of the timetable for the debate posted on Twitter by a Business Insider reporter. . The timetable, set out in a letter to lawmakers by Julian Smith, the government's chief whip, said parliament would hold a total of five days of debate on the deal, beginning on December 4.
Except for designating as a state sponsor of terrorism, the is looking at all possible tools at its disposal to convince Islamabad that it is in its interest to crack down on group, a senior US official has said.

"The focus of the discussions has not been on designating a state sponsor of terrorism, rather how to use other tools at our disposal to convince that it is in its interest to crack down on groups," the administration official told

"Pakistan has a stark choice: Cooperate and enjoy the benefits of close relationship with the U.S. and the rest of the world, or face isolation if it chooses not to change its behaviour," the official said in response to a question.

This past week, US in an interview to Fox News, on twitter and in interaction with reporters accused Pakistan of doing nothing for the US in the fight against and reiterated that till the time Islamabad changes its behaviour his administration will continue to suspend all assistance to it.

"I want Pakistan to help us. We're no longer paying USD1.3 billion to Pakistan. We're paying them nothing because that's what they've done to help us. Nothing," Trump told reporters at the on November 20.

And on November 18, in an interview to Fox News, Trump alleged that people in Pakistan knew that Osama bin Laden was living in a mansion near their garrison city of Abbottabad, but they did not tell the US and kept on accepting billions of dollars in aid.

At the same time, he said that his administration hopes to have a "good relationship" with Pakistan.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, his administration officials say they are looking at ways through which they can convince Pakistan to change its behaviour.

Last August when Trump announced his South Asia Policy, officials had listed out some of these tools, like reviewing the major non-NATO ally status, or visa ban on officials having links with designated groups, adopting a tough posture against Pakistan at major forums like the Monetary Fund.

In January this year, Trump had announced to suspend all its security assistance to Pakistan. Last week, Pentagon said that so far it has suspended $1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan after Trump's January directive.

But the has not been thinking about designating Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, a demand being made by several American lawmakers including those from the ruling

Currently four countries have been designated as state sponsor of These are Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Recent media reports suggests that US is considering in this list.

However, in its latest Country Report on Terrorism, the State Department listed Pakistan among countries that provide safe havens to terrorists.

Trump and top US officials have expressed their frustration over the fact that Pakistan has not been taking concrete steps in this regard.
Getting a US student visa normally takes a few months, but 16 months later, he was still waiting. The uncertainty and lack of work took its toll on the relationship and the couple split. "I was sliding into depression. I felt hollow and useless," said Rezaei Rad, who had won places to study for a post-graduate degree in electrical engineering. Eventually, he gave up his American dream and got a place at a European university instead. Thousands of Iranians study in the United States each year, one of the few gates that has been kept open since the two countries cut ...
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on November 26, 2018

2018/11/26

Q: According to reports, on November 24, Special Representative of China on the China-India Boundary Question and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Special Representative of India and Indian National Security Adviser Shri Ajit Doval held the 21st Meeting of the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question in Chengdu, Sichuan. Could you give us more details on this meeting and its main outcomes?

A: The 21st Meeting of the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question was held in Chengdu, Sichuan on November 24. This is the first meeting of its kind since President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Wuhan and since State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi took up the post of the Special Representative. State Councilor Wang Yi had a very good talk with Indian National Security Adviser Doval, during which the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the boundary issue, bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest. China and India have issued the readouts respectively, which I believe you may have seen.

In particular, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the two sides put forward a host of forward-looking and workable proposals and suggestions on advancing boundary talks, upholding peace and stability and promoting cooperation in the border areas during the meeting. It is fair to say that the two sides in general shared similar views and thinking in many areas.

The two sides agreed to entrust the Working Mechanism of Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs to start the consultation for early harvest, review the relevant suggestions made by the two sides, work in a creative way and conduct systematic study regarding the areas and items on which initial agreements were reached during the Special Representatives' Meeting, seek out measures and proposals at an early date, form concrete outcomes, and create and build enabling conditions for the final settlement of the boundary question.

Q: It is reported that on November 25, at a special summit in Brussels, Belgium, the European Union endorsed the draft deal on the UK's departure from the bloc. What is your comment?

A: The Chinese side has been closely following the UK's withdrawal from the EU. We have noted that on Sunday, the EU held a special summit, during which the agreement on the UK's withdrawal from the EU and the political declaration on the future relationship between the EU and the UK were approved. Both the EU and the UK are China's comprehensive strategic partners. When the EU and Britain remain prosperous, stable and open Europe and Britain, all parties stand to benefit. China hopes that the UK and the EU can reach a final agreement on Brexit. China's policy on developing the China-EU and China-UK relations in parallel will remain unchanged. We stand ready to work with the EU and the UK to make new contributions to the peace, stability and prosperity of the world.

Q: According to the Russian Federal Security Service, three Ukrainian naval ships reached the Russian border on Sunday morning in the Black Sea. Russian forces used weapons to force the three Ukrainian ships to stop and then they were seized. Do you have any comment on this?

A: We have noted relevant reports. The Chinese side calls upon all relevant parties to exercise restraint, avoid the escalation of the situation and properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultations.

Q: A British named Peter Humphrey has asked the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) to revoke the CCTV's broadcasting license for helping stage allegedly forced confession and jailing in China. What is your comment on this?

A: China is a country ruled by law. The Chinese judicial departments handle cases and safeguard the legal rights of foreigners in China in accordance with the law. The British citizen Peter Humphrey you mentioned already pleaded guilty and showed repentance when he served the sentence, and he was released on June 9, 2015.

As to the CCTV's operation in the UK you asked about, to give you a principled response, we believe that news agencies serve as a bridge and bond that promote mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between people of different countries and we hope the UK side will support and facilitate the normal reporting work by foreign media in the UK.

Q: Recently, tensions rose in Kosovo after police arrested some Serbs in the Serb-dominated northern town of Mitrovica on the ground of investigating the killing of a Serb leader earlier this year. Before this, the decision made by Kosovo to levy 100% tariffs on all imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has also aroused discontent from relevant parties. What is your comment?

A: The Chinese side has taken note of the relevant situation. We always believe that the best way to resolve the Kosovo issue is seeking a solution mutually acceptable to the parties concerned through dialogue within the framework of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. The relevant parties should avoid saying or doing anything that may complicate and escalate the situation. Instead, they should continue with practical and constructive dialogue to actively seek a lasting solution to the Kosovo issue.

Q: There are certain interesting phrases concerning the talks of the Special Representatives on both sides. The Indian press release said that the two sides have decided to "intensify efforts" for a solution. The Chinese press release also talked about "advancing" the process. You used today the word "early harvest" for a particular solution to emerge. Are the two countries expediting efforts to reach a solution to this border dispute?

A: On November 24, the 21st Meeting of the Special Representatives of China and India on the Boundary Question was held in Chengdu. Both China and India have released the readouts on that and I also answered a related question just now.

I want to point out that this meeting is the first one since State Councilor Wang Yi took up the post of the Special Representative. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and our two sides had a very good exchange of views and reached many future-oriented and constructive outcomes. As I just said, our two sides will hold further consultations on the early harvest.

Here I want to stress that since the meeting of the two leaders in Wuhan this year, the China-India relations have achieved positive progress in an all-round way, thus entering a new stage of development. Under the current international situation, the strategic significance of our bilateral ties becomes more prominent. Our two sides will act on the important consensus reached by the two leaders to strengthen strategic communication, increase political mutual trust and advance cooperation across the board. Meanwhile, we will jointly move forward the settlement process of the boundary question and uphold peace and tranquility of the border areas.
Ten years ago on this day, Mumbai came to a standstill after 10 heavily-armed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists carried out coordinated attacks at six locations across the city.

The string of incidents, commonly referred to as 26/11 attacks, spanned across four days, during which 166 people were killed and over 300 injured.

Recalling the dreadful night, a survivor of the ghastly attack, Mohamed Taufiq Sheikh, appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure justice is served to the kin of the deceased. He also appealed for action against Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, who is known as the mastermind of the attack.

Sheikh, who is popularly known as Chhotu the Chaiwalla, told ANI: "The mastermind of that attack Hafiz Saeed is roaming free in Pakistan. No action has been taken against him. I want to appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further tighten the security. I was told that I will be given a job, but nothing has been done about it as yet. There are going to be various events today, but all those are of no use, it will be better if some monetary help can be given to the kin of the deceased."

In Nariman House business and residential complex, one of the locations that was targeted by terrorists, a Rabbi, his wife, and six others, including five Israeli citizens, were killed after being held hostage. The lone survivor of this attack was the two-year-old child of the Rabbi couple, Moshe, who later went on to become the face of innocent victims of ruthless terrorism.

In July 2017, Prime Minister Modi had met Moshe during his visit to Israel. Later, in January 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also met the 26/11 survivor in Mumbai during his visit to India.

Addressing the media in Mumbai on Sunday, Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky said Nariman House has been revamped to bring back the positivity that the building stood for prior to the attacks.

"All the five floors shall be used for a specific purpose so that all the visitors who come to see the building could get a positive message about how light of positivity and hope triumphs over the negative darkness of terror and trauma. The fear of death which had mounted over all those shot dead and other hostages that night is something which only they could narrate. The world as not yet come to peace and terrorism via different means is still looming over all of us. The building should not be left with a simple bad memory but instead we should get over it and so for this cause we have decided to dedicate the upper floors of the building so that all those visitors who come to see the spot get inspired by virtues of humanity and they become harbinger of hope," he noted.

Elaborating further upon the structure and interiors of the building, he added: "The upper floors shall be used to show people how Jewish way of life. All the visitors shall see about the life of deceased Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his family before they were massacred. The entire theme is white on all household items and the prominent displays will be Holtzberg's son Moshe's room, kitchen, bedroom, living room, apartment, entrance, hallway library, and common room."

After the attack, it was established that the 10 terrorists had sailed to Mumbai from Pakistan's port city, Karachi. Their voyage to Mumbai involved hijacking fishing dingy and killing four of the five men crew, leaving one occupant to ferry them to Mumbai coast.

In these gruesome attacks, nine terrorists were killed while Ajmal Amir Kasab was nabbed by security forces and sent to Yerwada Central Jail in Pune. In August 2012, Kasab was awarded a death sentence, and hanged till death three months later.

The Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) is believed to have plotted the 26/11 attacks. However, its mastermind, Hafiz Saeed, has been roaming freely in Pakistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has condemned the recent suicide bombing in the country's Khost province, calling it a "shocking incident".

On November 23, as many as 27 people were killed in a suicide bombing inside a mosque in Khost, when the gathering including a couple of Afghan National Army soldiers, were offering their prayers.

In a statement, Ghani ordered authorities to thoroughly investigate the suicide attack and punish the perpetrators. The Afghan President held talks with defence and security officials on current law and order situation in the war-torn country, Khaama Press reported.

"Those who brought the culture of suicide are responsible for the crime committed in Khost province," Ghani underlined.

He added that the Taliban should mend their ways, and come to the negotiating table, in an aim to achieve a peace process.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday informed the Patiala House Court that it has been granted permission to prosecute former finance minister P Chidambaram in connection with the Aircel-Maxis case.

Patiala House Court's Special Judge OP Saini took up the Aircel-Maxis case, which arose out of the 2G spectrum allocation scam case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and submitted that requisite sanction from the concerned authority has been received to prosecute Chidambaram in the matter.

Mehta further said that there were a total of 18 accused in the case and prosecution sanctions were needed for six of them. He added that efforts were being made to obtain prosecution sanctions in respect of other five accused.

Meanwhile, the court extended the interim protection granted to Chidambaram and his son, Karti, till December 18.

On Saturday, Chidambaram had denied all charges leveled by the CBI and said the decision of his arrest was "plainly motivated and totally untenable."

In his rejoinder submitted to the Patiala House Court, Chidambaram said that after he was granted interim protection on July 23 this year, a reason was "suddenly discovered" to arrest him without even having issued summons in the past four years.

The Aircel Maxis case emerged out of the 2G spectrum cases, pertaining to a grant of FIPB approval to firm M/S Global Communication and Services Holdings Limited, Mauritius for investment in Aircel.

The FIPB approval was allegedly granted in the year 2006 when Chidambaram was the finance minister. According to the rules and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy of the government, Chidambaram was only empowered to give approval to proposals involving a foreign investment amount of up to Rs 600 crore. However, he reportedly approved the foreign investment proposal of Global Communication and Services Holdings Ltd worth Rs 3560 crore approximately.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Indian Army soldier was critically injured in a cross-border sniper attack at Machil sector in Kupwara district of Jammu & Kashmir on Monday. He was immediately rushed to the 92 Army Base Hospital in Srinagar for treatment.

The soldier has reportedly incurred severe injuries. The attack on Indian Army from the Pakistan side comes in the backdrop of the foundation laying ceremony of Kartarpur corridor.

Earlier on Sunday, seven terrorists affiliated to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad militants were killed in two encounters with security forces and militants in Shopian and Pulwama district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In yet another encounter between the Maoists and security forces, eight Maoists were killed and one seriously injured in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday.

The bodies of the eight Maoists were recovered from Sakler while the injured Maoist was arrested and one 'Bharmar' gun and some Improvised Explosive Device making equipment were recovered from his possession in Gundrajpad.

It was a joint operation of the District Reserve Guards and 206 and 20 CoBRA units of the Central Reserve Police Force. They went from different directions into the core area of banned People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), a wing of CPI (M).

The bodies of the deceased are being brought from the core area of the PLGA and the search is still on.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has instructed all states and union territories to formulate guidelines to rationalise teaching of subjects to regulate the weight of school bags as per the instructions of the Government of India.

Lakshadweep administration has already taken action by directing all schools not to assign any homework to the students of Class I and II. "Schools should not prescribe any other subjects except language and mathematics for class I and II and language, EVS and mathematics for class IV to V students, as prescribed by NCERT," read a circular of the administration's Directorate of

In fact, a recent circular of the Directorate noted that students should not be asked to bring additional books or any other extra material to the school.

The circular instructed that school bags of students of classes I and II should not weigh more than 1.5 kilograms and in case of students of class III and IV, the weight of bag should not exceed 3 kilograms.

They also ordered schools not to exceed the weight of bags beyond 4 kilograms for students of class VI and VII, 4.5 kilograms for class VIII and IX students and 5 kilograms for class X students.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While addressing a public gathering in poll-bound Rajasthan's Pokhran, Congress President Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying a new slogan, 'Chowkidar chor hai', is the new slogan in India.

"Now a new slogan is rising in India Chowkidar chor hai", Rahul said, while adding, "Modi ji says don't make me the Prime Minister, make me the chowkidar (watchman) of this country. But, after coming to power, the prime minister has betrayed the trust of people."

Continuing his tirade against the Prime Minister, Rahul stated: "Modi ji says India was a sleeping giant before he became Prime Minister. This is an insult to all the Indians who have built this nation."

The Gandhi scion also blamed Modi's Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in divisive "BJP divides people and spreads hatred among them, however, Congress always speaks for a united nation and brotherhood," he opined.

While alleging that the Prime Minister has forgotten the promises made by him, Rahul remarked, "Earlier, Modi ji used to talk about two crore jobs, a fair MSP for farmers, he used to take stand against corruption. But these days he does not utter a single word about any of these promises and issues."

Raking up the issue of farmers the Congress chief stressed on the grievances of the state's peasants. "Are you getting appropriate prices? Did Narendra Modi Ji provide you with any benefit of loan waiver schemes?" he asked the attendees.

The demonitisation of high currency notes in 2016 also found a mention in his speech as he again alleged Modi of favouring industrialists. "Mehul Bhai of PM Modi ji ran away with Rs. 35,000 crores, which is equal to a yearly expenditure of Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MNREGA), " Gandhi claimed.

Rahul further slammed the BJP government and stated that the party is involved in money laundering scams led by loan defaulters Mehul Choksi, Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. "Did Prime Minister ever say in his speeches that he will bring these loan defaulters back to the country?" he questioned.

Further targeting the ruling party over corruption, Rahul said, "PM Modi ji never said that I will put the son of Raman Singh or Vasundhara Raje Scindia behind bars. Is this how a chowkidar performs? He is not a chowkidar of this country, but of Anil Ambani."

Rahul Gandhi charged the government with buying Rafale jets from France at inflated prices and alleged that the Prime Minister changed the contract in Anil Ambani's favour.

"Indian Air Force urged Manmohan Singh to buy a Rafale jet from France, costing of Rs 526 crores each." Manmohan agreed to it saying that one aircraft will be built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Prime Minister Modi later changed the terms of contract with Anil Ambani and the deal was later signed for Rs 1,600 crore for each aircraft," he said.

The Congress president also trained guns at Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia for rising corruption, farmer's suicide and unemployment in the state.

Lauding the efforts of youths and farmers, he stated, "This country is not run by any political party, India has reached so far due to the sacrifices of our farmers, youths and as well as the citizens of Rajasthan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a jibe at the Congress in poll-bound Rajasthan saying that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shoots down terrorists who were fed with biryani by the Congress.

"Congress has done divisive As a result of that, terrorism was at its peak in the country (during Congress rule). Today, you can see that the terrorists who were fed with biryani by the Congress are now being gunned down by us," Adityanath said in reference to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist who was caught alive after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Kasab was later hanged to death in 2012 after serving a brief jail sentence.

Continuing his tirade against the Congress, Adityanath said that after a major defeat in the last general election in 2014, Congress leaders started criticising soldiers while supporting Naxalites, separatists and terrorists in the country.

"Neither is democracy a descendant of any heritage nor is it a mafia raj. Democracy has no place for terrorism, Naxalites and separatists," he emphasised.

Adityanath also expressed confidence about his party's victory in the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh state elections. "There is no doubt that Bharatiya Janata Party will retain power in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh on the basis of its development work and efficient administration. If BJP can form the government for four consecutive terms in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh then why not twice in Rajasthan," he added.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister observed, "We usually criticise the Congress for their stand against our country, against our traditions, but during the time of elections we get trapped in their false promises based on caste, religion and region."

He also appreciated the sacrifices of the state's denizens in building the nation. "Rajasthan stands at the top for shedding its blood for the nation and the Congress has always dishonoured the martyrdom of Rajasthan as it allows the terrorists to breed on our soil and it gives space to Naxalism to sustain," he claimed.

Lauding the efforts of incumbent Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for developing the state, Adityanath said the Congress will never win under the guidance and leadership of a "non-performing leader" like Rahul Gandhi.

"Congress leaders disappear whenever our country is in crisis and it is only the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) who support the people and help them to overcome the critical situation," he said.

While attacking the Congress president for showing off his caste and origin, Adityanath said: "Rahul Gandhi's maternal grandfather (Jawaharlal Nehru) used to say that I'm accidentally Hindu and now, Rahul Gandhi is showing his 'Brahaminical thread' to prove that he is a Sanatani Hindu." He also criticised former prime minister Manmohan Singh for saying during his tenure that "Muslims have the first right on the sources of this country". "If everything belongs to Muslims then where will country's Hindu go?" Adityanath asked.

The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is scheduled to go to polls on December 7 and 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.)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday said that the leaders of the Congress party feel ashamed of saying 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.

"There is one Congress candidate in Bikaner, Rajasthan, who was going to file his nomination. There was one man standing next to him. As soon as he said, 'Bharat Mata Ki.' the leader put his hand on his mouth in between, and said something in his ear. Thereafter the Congress party worker started saying, 'Sonia Gandhi Ki Jai'. Do these people, who feel ashamed of saying 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', should be allowed to stay in You feel ashamed in saying, 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'," Amit Shah said while addressing a rally here.

Shah further took a potshot at Congress leader Kamal Nath and said, "They keep asking us, 'What have you done?' Kamal Nath, it's not good for health to speak loudly at this age. You might fall ill. We are concerned about your health. will keep on happening, please look after your health. He asks what Prime Minister Modi has done for Madhya Pradesh. Kamal Nath, you are asking us for a tally of our four-and-a-half years in Centre. I want to know what the four-and-a-half generations of the Gandhi family have done."

Madhya Pradesh will go to polls to elect legislators for its 230 constituencies on November 28. Results will be declared on December 11.

While the BJP is aiming to retain the state for the fourth time, the Congress is pulling all stops to regain the power it lost in 2003 assembly elections.

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New York's Manhattan district attorney has dropped a financial crime case against Hollywood producer, Harvey Weinstein in connection with settling his sexual assault victims.

Weinstein's attorney, Ben Brafman, said that Manhattan District Attorney will not look into whether Weinstein used his production company fund to pay off his alleged victims.

Speaking to Deadline on this issue, Brafman said he had been pleading the DA about Weinstein's innocence when it came to any financial fraud case. Brafman added that it's been almost a year to make the DA believe that Weinstein was innocent.

But despite this development, the ongoing investigation in sexual assault cases against Weinstein would look more deeply into the manner in which the producer went about in the movie business.

On November 01, an aspiring actor accused the filmmaker of sexually assaulting her when she was 16-year-old.

The former Polish model, identified as Jane Doe, in the court papers, said that in 2002, she met Weinstein for a business lunch and later ended up at his apartment in Soho, where he "aggressively" demanded sex from her.

Notably, more than 80 women, including actresses Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Rose McGowan, have revealed similar stories about the movie mogul.

Some accused him of using physical force to compel them to have sex, while others said he offered roles in movies to actors in exchange of sexual favours and also threatened to ruin their careers if they did not fulfill his demands.

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On the tenth anniversary of the deadly terror attacks that shook Mumbai on November 26, 2008, the France reiterated its condemnation for all forms of terrorism across the world and demanded that such crimes should not go unpunished.

Acknowledging the same, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar cited the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs tweet in French language and quoted them writing, "Ten years to the day after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, France reiterates its strong condemnation of all forms of terrorist violence. It honours the memory of the many victims of these despicable attacks."

A press statement released by the French Ministry said that such crimes do not go unpunished. It also added that all countries should act decisively against terrorism, to implement the sanctions policy defined by the United Nations Security Council .

Further expressing solidarity with India, the press statement further read that France stands with India in the fight against terrorism, which is one of the pillars of the Franco-Indian strategic partnership.

Mumbai came to a standstill on this very day a decade ago when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists entered the financial capital of India through a sea route from Pakistan and conducted a series of coordinated shootings and bombing attacks across the city.

On November 26, 2008 multiple attacks took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, Cama Hospital, Nariman House business and residential complex, Leopold Cafe, Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower, and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel in city of Mumbai over a span of four days, killing 166 people and injuring over 300.

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United Arab Emirates government on Monday said that British scholar Matthew Hedges took "advantage of the openness granted to academic researchers" in the Gulf nation.

UAE on Monday pardoned Hedges, who was charged with espionage, along with 785 prisoners across the country to mark the 47th anniversary of the Gulf nation.

Hedges, a specialist in Middle Eastern studies at the UK's Durham University, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on charges of espionage.

In an official statement, the UAE said that Hedges was granted clemency in response to a letter from his family requesting a pardon for the scholar. Hedges was also set free in consideration of the historical relationship and close ties between the UAE and the United Kingdom.

"Hedges will be permitted to leave the country once the formalities are completed," the official statement reads, which was issued after the report of Hedges' release.

Hedges was arrested by the UAE authorities on May 5 this year when he was departing from Dubai airport following a research trip. He had been previously detained by the UAE in solitary confinement on spying charges, following which he was granted bail earlier this year.

Terming Hedges' objectives as 'threat to national security', UAE asserted that the information British scholar collected went far beyond standard academic practice.

The statement which was delivered by Executive Director of Strategic and Media Communications Jaber Al Lamki stated that British researcher Hedges was "imprisoned and sentenced on the charges of espionage against the UAE on behalf of a foreign agency."

UAE further revealed that Hedges confessed to being a spy for a foreign intelligence service. He also confirmed that he had collected sensitive and classified information about the UAE for that agency.

According to the statement, Hedges aimed to "gather classified information on the UAE's military capabilities, including weaponry and procurement decisions, to gather sensitive economic data on the country's key firms and key industries, along with strategic planning information, to gather sensitive information on key government figures, including members of the UAE's ruling families and their networks, as well as, to gather classified information on the UAE's military and political role in Yemen."

Al Lamki also revealed that Hedges used dual identity. "In one he was Matthew Hedges, the Ph.D. researcher. In another, he was Matthew Hedges, the businessman. He was a part-time Ph.D. researcher, part-time businessman, but primarily he was 100 per cent a full-time secret service operative," the statement read.

According to the UAE, Hedges worked for a strategy and security consultancy - the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, known as INEGMA-who specialized in military and security conferences during his early days in the country through which he built up an extensive network of contacts.

Al Lamki also stated that the investigation shows that his extensive network of contacts led to his recruitment, "following which he returned to UAE for an assignment, undercover as a student on a research trip." Following a tip-off to the Attorney General's office regarding his suspicious activities, an investigation team was established to look into these serious claims.

"Our investigators were determined to ensure that every lead was followed, and every rule and the internal process was strictly adhered to. As the investigation progressed, the evidence collected confirmed the initial tip-off. Hedges was duly arrested on 5th of May 2018 at Dubai International Airport as he was planning to depart the country, along with the information he had collected," the Executive Director of Strategic and Media Communications stated.

In response to the reports stating the unlawful treatment of the British Scholar, Al Lamki emphasised that Hedges was accorded his full rights as a defendant, as per the UAE law. "He was provided with full medical care, which included twice-weekly checkups by a doctor. He was also assigned a defence lawyer when the government realised that he could not afford one and also provided him with a translator," he was further quoted having said in the statement.

The statement also revealed that Hedges made as many as 27 calls to immediate family members during the pre-trial stage.

Addressing the sensitivity of the case and the charges, Al Lamki said, "The trial was held behind closed doors due to the sensitivity of the evidence presented. But the defendant's family and embassy staff were present at all hearings. Hedges' trial took place over 4 full sessions in court. Last Wednesday's hearing was a sentencing hearing and not part of the trial itself."

Al Lamki stated that like every nation, UAE has the right to protect itself from external threats and asserted that the sentence given to Matthew Hedges "is fair, considering the serious crime he committed.

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In a shocking revelation it has come to light that around 137 women around the world were killed daily in 2017 by their own family members with whom they shared an intimate relationship.

A study of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) highlighted, "A total of 87,000 women were intentionally killed in 2017. More than half of them (58 per cent) ? 50,000 ? were killed by intimate partners or family members. More than a third (30,000) of the women intentionally killed in 2017 were killed by their current or former intimate partner ? someone they would normally expect to trust."

The study revealed that available data on dowry-related killings from the Crime Records Bureau indicate that female dowry deaths account for 40 to 50 per cent of all female homicides recorded annually in India, representing a stable trend over the period 1999 to 2016.

According to the study, home turned out to be the most dangerous place for women revealing that the trend is in the increase. "Based on revised data, the estimated number of women killed by intimate partners or family members in 2012 was 48,000 (47 per cent of all female homicide victims). The annual number of female deaths worldwide resulting from intimate partner/family-related homicide therefore seems be on the increase."

Breaking down the statistics on an hourly basis, the study flagged that the numbers come down to about six women being killed every hour by people they know.

The study, released on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, scrutinised available homicide data to analyse murder of women and girls on grounds of gender, with a specific focus on intimate partner and family-related homicide, and how this relates to the status and roles of women in society and the domestic sphere.

"While the vast majority of homicide victims are men, women continue to pay the highest price as a result of gender inequality, discrimination and negative stereotypes. They are also the most likely to be killed by intimate partners and family," said UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov.

"Targeted criminal justice responses are needed to prevent and end gender-related killings. UNODC is releasing this research for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2018 to increase understanding and inform action," he added.

The rate of female victims of homicide by intimate partners or family members found the global rate was around 1.3 victims per 100,000 female population.

The study said that Africa and America are the regions where women face most risk of being killed by intimate partners or family members. "In Africa, the rate was around 3.1 victims per 100,000 female population, while the rate in the Americas was 1.6 victims, in Oceania 1.3 and in Asia 0.9. The lowest rate was found in Europe, with 0.7 victims per 100,000 female population." the study pointed out.

"Africa was also the region with the highest rate of females killed purely by intimate partners in 2017 (1.7 per 100,000 female population). The Americas had the second-highest rate (1.2), Oceania the third (0.9), Europe the fourth (0.6) and Asia the fifth-highest rate (0.5 per 100,000 female population)," the study indicated.

The study highlighted that more than two-thirds of all women (69 per cent) killed in Africa in 2017 were killed by intimate partners or family members, while more than a third (38 per cent) of women were killed by intimate partners or family members in Europe. Oceania accounts for the largest share of all the regions in terms of women killed exclusively by intimate partners, at 42 per cent, while Europe accounts for the lowest, at 29 per cent.

"Only one out of every five homicides at global level is perpetrated by an intimate partner or family member, yet women and girls make up the vast majority of those deaths. Victim/perpetrator disaggregations reveal a large disparity in the shares attributable to male and female victims of homicides committed by intimate partners or family members: 36 per cent male versus 64 per cent female victims," it added.

The study further revealed the global rate of female total homicide at 2.3 per 100,000 female population in 2017 and the global female intimate partner/family-related homicide rate was 1.3, while the female intimate partner homicide rate was estimated at 0.8 per 100,000 female population.

"The disparity between the shares of male and female victims of homicide perpetrated exclusively by an intimate partner is substantially larger than of victims of homicide perpetrated by intimate partners or family members: roughly 82 per cent female victims versus 18 per cent male victims," the study said.

The study highlighted the need for effective crime prevention and criminal justice responses to violence against women that promote victim safety and empowerment while ensuring offender accountability.

"Countries have taken action to address violence against women and gender-related killings in different ways, by adopting legal changes, early interventions and multi-agency efforts, as well as creating special units and implementing training in the criminal justice system. Countries in Latin America have adopted legislation that criminalizes femicide as a specific offence in their penal codes. Yet there are no signs of a decrease in the number of gender-related killings of women and girls," the study by UNODC highlighted.

It recommended greater coordination between the police and the justice system as well as health and social services and emphasised the importance of involving men in the solution, including through early education.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's relationship with the Maldives is of the utmost priority, stated Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a press release.

The statement comes following the bilateral meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj and Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid on Monday during his maiden four-day visit to the country.

"EAM reiterated that India attaches highest importance to its relationship with the Maldives which is marked by trust, transparency, mutual understanding and sensitivity. She said that in line with Government of India's Neighbourhood First policy, India stands ready to fully support the Government of the Maldives in its socio-economic development," stated MEA press release.

India welcomed and extended its support for Maldives' decision to rejoin Commonwealth. Swaraj also welcomed the Maldives into the Indian Ocean Rim Association as its newest member.

Shahid reiterated Maldivian government's "India First" policy and asserted that the South Asian island nation is looking forward to working closely with the Government of India on all issues.

Reaffirming Maldives' special, close and friendly relations with India, Shahid reiterated that the Maldives will be sensitive towards India's security and strategic concerns.

Further, recognising the importance of historical and cultural links between the two nations, the two leaders agreed to hold the meeting of the bilateral Consular Dialogue at the earliest.

The two ministers also discussed security and defence issues including ongoing projects and new areas of cooperation.

India and Maldives also agreed to hold the next meeting of the Defence Cooperation Dialogue between both countries in the first half of December.

To expand and diversify the bilateral economic and commercial relations, the two countries agreed on the need of encouragement of the private sector.

Shahid also invited Swaraj for a bilateral visit to the Maldives. The two ministers also decided to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers at the earliest.

Later in the day, Shahid also called on Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

He is scheduled to meet with President Ram Nath Kovind on November 27 before he departs for the Maldives in the evening.

The Maldivian Foreign Minister's visit significantly adds to the relationship shared between Maldives and India, as it comes right after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives for the swearing-in of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

In an exclusive interview to ANI right before his meeting with the EAM, Shahid stated that India is a "best friend" to the Maldives who has always been there during the country's time of need. He further outlined that the country was looking for generous assistance from India in order to fulfill their electoral promises made to the people.

Shahid also underscored that a "new era of Maldives-India relation has begun.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Foreign Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, who is on a maiden official visit to India, on Monday described India as a "special friend" of the Maldives.

"India is largest contributor for decades of our development. China contributes largest tourist arrivals and has been generous in assistance. We will not compare friends but we have friends and special friends. India will always be a special friend," Shahid said in an exclusive interview with ANI.

Shahid, who arrived in India on November 24, spoke on the Maldives maintaining a balance in relations between India and China, saying, "Our policies would not be like that we would have an excellent relationship with our closest neighbour with our good friend India and also our development partner China. We would want to have a substantial relationship with these countries who generously contributed to the development of Maldives."

He said that his country wants to have a substantial relationship with India and China, while launching a scathing attack on former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, saying that he tried to be a puppet master playing "India against China" and vice-versa.

"The previous government under Yameen increased anti-India sentiments for their own purposes. We will change it. The people of Maldives do not support this. Our government will make sure that Maldives-India relationship is on better footing," Shahid added.

Speaking on agenda of talks with the Indian leadership, the Maldivian minister said that Male needs urgent budgetary help and is looking for India's "generous assistance" and other countries in improving basic facilities, such as fresh water and sewerage.

"Former President Yameen has taken the country to the brink of bankruptcy. We need urgent assistance to get the budget issues that we are having. We need budgetary assistance. We also have come into the office with a lot of pledges to the people that we need to start delivering them and we are looking for generous assistance of India and other countries in delivering this thing, especially in basic services like fresh water and sewerage," Shahid elucidated.

Asked on how he compares Maldives' relationship with India and China, he said, "India is India and China is China. India is our closest neighbour, and India is the largest contributor for several decades of our development. China is an upcoming market and they contribute the largest tourist arrivals to the Maldives. China has been generous in its assistance. We will not compare our friends but we have friends and special friends."

Shahid added that New Delhi has been always "generous" and will always be a "special friend" of Male.

Commenting on reports of China attempting to dominate the Indian Ocean region, Shahid further said that free movement, is of utmost importance, apart from maintaining an atmosphere of peace and security.

"For us, peace and security and free movement within the Indian Ocean are of utmost importance. We also would not like tensions and conflicts in other parts of the world be dragged into the Indian Ocean. We will work with our neighbours to prevent it," he told ANI.

Shahid's visit assumes significance for India, following the swearing-in of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at a ceremony in Male on November 17, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the first high-level visit from the Maldives after the new government took office in the South Asian archipelago.

During his visit, Shahid is slated to hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and call on President Ram Nath Kovind.

Before departing for India, Shahid wrote on his Twitter handle that he was looking forward to "very fruitful" meetings, which would give a boost to the bilateral relations between New Delhi and Male. "Departing to India. I'm looking forward to very fruitful meetings which will further strengthen the ties of friendship and solidarity between our two countries and people," Shahid tweeted.

Relations between India and the Maldives came under strain during former Yameen's five-year rule, which saw him cosying up with China for various development projects, cracking down on dissent and imposing a state of emergency by jailing opposition leaders.

During Prime Minister Modi's day-long visit to the Maldives, Solih briefed the Indian leader about Maldives' fragile economic situation. The two leaders discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives.

Both the leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other's concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. They also expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

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Democrat Representative from California Adam Schiff on Sunday accused President Donald Trump of not telling the truth about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

CNN quoted Schiff, 'State of the Union', saying, "I have been briefed by the CIA. And while I cannot discuss the contents of the briefing in any way, I can say that I think the President is being dishonest with the American people."

Schiff, had previously stated that the Democrats wanted a probe into Trump's knowledge of the CIA report before he publicly supported the Crown Prince.

In his latest interview with the CNN show, Schiff said that Trump's own statement undermined his standing.

"The President is not being honest with the country about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi," Schiff mentioned during the CNN show . "I think in parts, he feels that by saying that we don't know or that the is a dangerous place or everybody does it, he think it makes him look strong. It actually makes him look weak."

According to CNN, Jamal Khashoggi was a former Saudi royal insider who became a critic of his country's government, went missing since October 2 after he visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain papers for his upcoming marriage.

The CIA, on November 17, confirmed that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Khashoggi, despite repeated denials from the Saudi government defending the involvement of its de facto ruler, reported the CNN.

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Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, on Monday said that Male will retain two Indian military helicopters, which were gifted to the Maldives in 2013.

Earlier this year, former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen decided to send back the helicopters to India after relations between the two South Asian neighbours nosedived over Yameen declaring an emergency in the island nation.

"Helicopters are so generously donated by India to the Maldivian government. They are being used for humanitarian purposes. Several ill people have been airlifted to Male hospital. We have seen this in the past several years that a total of 164 have been airlifted. It is also being used for sea and air rescue. We are grateful to India for providing these. We will continue to engage with India for all our needs and requirements," said Shahid, the new foreign minister of Maldives in an exclusive interview with ANI.

India-Maldives relations were strained recently due to former President Abdulla Yameen's dictatorial behaviour, his growing proximity with China and Pakistan and human rights violations in his own country.

He crushed dissent, jailed several people including top judges and opposition leaders and declared a state of emergency in February, worsening the political turmoil in the country.

The country with 26 coral atolls and 1,192 islands went to polls in September to decide if Yameen will win a second five-year term. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the presidential election, defeating Yameen in what was seen as a referendum on democracy.

Shahid's visit assumes significance for India, following the swearing-in of President Ibrahim Solih at a ceremony in Male on November 17, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This is the first high-level visit from the Maldives after the new government took office.

"India is our best friend. India has been there for us at all hours of need be it in 1988 when there was a terrorist attack or be it the Tsunami when the entire country was inundated. Your naval ships streamed off in the Indian Ocean and the same time in Maldives archipelago. In the recent past, we had a water crisis in Male. It was India, who airlifted required water for us," Shahid told ANI.

During Prime Minister Modi's day-long visit to the Maldives, Solih briefed the Indian leader about Maldives' fragile economic situation. The two leaders discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives.

Both the leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other's concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. They also expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"Things have started to change. We saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the swearing-in ceremony of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as new President in which people of Maldives received Prime Minister Modi. This is clear evidence that he is most welcome and the manner in which first official meeting took place immediately after the inauguration, the warmth, sincerity and conducive environment in which they discussed substantial issues was a clear signal that new era of Maldives-India relation has begun," Shahid added.

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Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck Germany, marks today the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and also marks the start of the "16 Days of Activism" that precedes Human Rights Day on December 10 each year.

Through their "Merck More Than a Mother" campaign, Merck Foundation wishes to empower infertile women against all sorts of discrimination, abuse and psychological & physical violence due to their inability to bear children.

"Together with our partners and our ambassadors, we can create a culture shift to sensitize all communities to respect women whether they are mothers or not. Women are more than Mothers, this is what we stand for. No for violence against women and #NoForInfertilityStigma. Merck Foundation marks the International Day for Elimination of Domestic Violence against Women today and every day as part of our daily activities to empower infertile women through access to information, health, change of mindset and economic empowerment so that they can be independent and stronger" emphasizes Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother.

Watch the story of Merck Foundation CEO visit to Jackline Mwende, the victim of infertility Stigma. She was abused and accused of being unable to bear a child. Although she was not the one with the infertility problem - it was her husband. Yet he refused to get treated and abused her. He chopped off both her hands trying to kill her. Merck Foundation empowered and helped her to start her new life, new home and a new supermarket to lead a good life. She became the "Merck More Than a Mother" heroine.

In many cultures, childless women suffer discrimination, stigma, and ostracism. Their inability to have children results in great isolation, disinheritance, and assaults. "Merck More Than a Mother" empowers such women through the access to information, health, change of mindsets and economic empowerment.

As part of this Campaign, we started "Empowering Berna" project in Africa to help childless and infertile women starting their own and thus achieve financial independence and become stronger and happier. The project has benefited more than 1,000 women across the continent.

Also, part of the campaign is our Merck Embryology & Fertility Training Program, a three-month hands-on practical course to establish the platform of fertility specialists across Africa and Asia.

Merck Foundation provided for more than 84 candidates, three months to six months clinical and practical training for fertility specialists and embryologists in more than 29 countries across Africa and Asia such as: Chad, Niger, Central African Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Burkina Fuso, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameron, Rwanda, Botswana, DR Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Gambia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Merck Foundation is making history in many African countries where they never had fertility specialists or specialized fertility clinics before 'Merck More Than a Mother' intervention, to train the first fertility specialists such as; in Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Niger, Chad, and Guinea.

Merck Foundation plan supported the establishment of the first public IVF centers in Ethiopia and Uganda through providing the clinical and practical training necessary for their staff. Merck Foundation also plans to support the establishment of the first public IVF in Tanzania soon.

"Merck More Than a Mother" launched in 2015, is a program of the Merck Foundation, the foundation drives many of our initiatives and programs in the area of build health care and research capacity and improves access to equitable healthcare solutions.

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The Dark Knight may not rise with Christian Bale playing the role of The Caped Crusader anymore!

In a news that is sure to break the hearts of millions of fans of the Batman franchise, Hollywood actor Christian Bale, who played Batman in Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight Trilogy', on Sunday said that he is done with the role and is not planning a comeback in the series.

Bale, who attended the world premiere of upcoming Hollywood movie 'Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle' in Mumbai made this statement while replying to a question posed to him by a scribe.

On being categorically asked as to whether he was planning to make a comeback in DC's Extended Universe "No. No we are done. No. We, Christian and I three movies that's plenty."

DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is the popular referral for the collection of films based on characters that appear in the publication by the DC comics.

Christian Bale who plays the voice cast of Bagheera the panther in the upcoming Hollywood movie 'Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle', also talked about his association with the movie.

He said, "I love the book and I love the Disney version, the animated version you know, bare necessities and the recent ones too. You don't have to make a choice between loving that one or this one. It's a great example of one resource material given a very different interpretation. This one is absolutely beautiful and instead of being so over fussy fairytale, this is more the fantasy. The (fantasy that) pretty much all of us have, of running wild wilder wolves, of howling at the moon, of truly being free."

Bale also had a very diplomatic reply to the question of debuting in Bollywood, as he said, "Certainly, I go where the project interests me. But in honesty, when I do work, I love it but I also not like working all the time. I also do not watch movies at this time of life. "

Talking of India, he said, "We have a lovely time. I was here when we shot for Dark Knight Rises in Jaipur. It's a fascinating country. I have visited Delhi and Agra before coming to Mumbai on this trip.

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A Pakistani fund raising event in London witnessed commotion and hubbub on Sunday night (November 25) when the security staff pushed away Zafar Iqbal Kalanauri from the main hall. He is reportedly the Special Assistance to Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court Mian Saqib Nisar, also came with him from Pakistan to attend the fund raisers with him.

His duty is to warm up the atmosphere in favour of CJP Saqib Nisar and to praise him mentioning his legal decisions for the 'benefit' of the country and people. His speech was full of mockery but the audience kept clapping just to please the chief justice.

During the last session of the dinner event, when CJP Saqib Nisar was meeting the people from table to table, Zafar Iqbal jumped the queue and tried to move along with the CJP. Security was very tight and security men stopped him, that made Zafar Iqbal angry and furious. He started abusing the staff upon which he was pushed away and was dragged away from the main hall.

CJP remained silent and preferred not to attempt to save his personal assistant from the security staff.

According to sources, CJP Saqib Nisar also fell down from his seat during the scuffle but organisers have denied the report though a footage clearly shows his tumbling from chair and straying people in upset mood.

Pakistan's acting high commissioner Mohammad Ayub, First Secretary (Press) Muneer Ahmed, ISI Chief (local) Sher Abbas and Commercial Counsellor Sajid Raja were also present at the occasion.

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(WB) The lives of transgender people lost to anti-trans violence over the past year in the U.S. and worldwide were honored on Nov. 20, at D.C.s annual Transgender Day of Remembrance held at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington.

Close to 200 people turned out for the event, which included presentations mostly from D.C. area trans activists who reflected on how the loss to hate violence of their fellow transgender men and women and those who identify as gender nonconforming has motivated them to become committed advocates for trans rights and justice.

The event, known as TDOR, was founded by transgender activist Gwendolyn Ann Smith to memorialize the 1998 murder of Rita Hester, a trans woman of color who lived in a Boston suburb. What initially began as a web-based project by Smith has since grown into an international day of action held each year on Nov. 20 in more than 200 cities worldwide.

Rev. Elder Akousa McCray-Peters of D.C.s Unity Fellowship Church performed the events ritual of recognizing the transgender people lost to violence through the Pouring of the Libations, which includes pouring of a liquid into a bowl while reciting a prayer.

We pour today for our brothers and sisters of the nations capital, she said. We pour for your friends who lost their lives, she said. Each drop is for you today.

Lamont Akins, Director of the Mayors Office of Community Affairs, read a statement from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser expressing support for the D.C. TDOR. He also read an official mayoral proclamation issued by Bowser declaring Nov. 20 as TDOR Day in the District of Columbia.

We see you and we stand with you, he quoted Bowser as saying.

D.C. Council member David Grosso (I-At-Large) read a separate proclamation approved unanimously by the Council recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance. Grosso told the gathering that the Council has also passed a separate resolution he introduced opposing the Trump administrations efforts to overturn civil rights protections for transgender people that had been adopted during the Obama administration.

Longtime D.C. transgender activist Earline Budd, who has served as coordinator of the D.C. TDOR for nearly a decade, said she believes the event this year went really, really well.

Budd noted that the 2018 D.C. TDOR planning committee decided to focus mostly on transgender speakers rather than city elected officials and the police chief, who have spoken in past years. Budd said those officials were invited and were told they would be welcome to attend the event.

Im just so excited about how it went down and the fact that I was able to hand over the baton to my future generation, Budd told the Washington Blade in an interview immediately after the event.

She was referring to remarks she made at the conclusion of the event in which she told the gathering she was mentoring a new set of organizers and leaders for the D.C. TDOR that would take the lead role next year while she remains involved to help guide them.

Budd also noted that while the event this year was aimed at drawing attention to the loss of lives of transgender people to violence, she had a glimmer of hope from the fact that there has not been a murder of a transgender person in D.C. since the July 4, 2016 shooting death of trans woman Deeniquia Dee Dee Dodds.

D.C. police have arrested four male suspects for Dodds killing. All four are being held without bond pending trials. Trials for two of them are scheduled to begin in January.

Eleven other trans women have been murdered in D.C. since the year 2000. Police have made arrests in six of those cases, including the Dodds case.

Among those who spoke at the D.C. TDOR on Nov. 20 was Jazmin Sutherlin, a transgender woman who serves as an official with Heart to Hand, a Prince Georges County based health services organization that assists people with HIV/AIDS. Some might have called Sutherlins impassioned 32-minute speech the equivalent of a State of the Union Address for the transgender community.

Noting that the trauma of dealing with the murders of trans people each year has been intensified by the anti-trans policies of the Trump administration, Sutherlin called on the trans community to unite, remain strong, and resist the temptation to withdraw out of fear.

This is not the time to give up, she said. This is the time to push yourself up like never before because its your opportunity to open doors for yourself and others, she said. Its your time to use what you know as a trans person to change the world, she continued.

Were not supposed to be hidden. Were supposed to live our lives out loudWe are here to teach the world about diversity, Sutherlin told the gathering. Were here to tell people its OK to be who you are and its OK to experience yourself and to share yourself.

Also speaking was Allyn Cropper, a transgender man who told of his experiences as an out trans person in the U.S. military. He did not disclose which branch of the military hes in but said he has sought to educate his fellow service members on what being trans is all about.

I did meet some people who were out to get me, but for every one person like that I met three more people that inspired me to carry on with who I was, he said. And they wanted to learn. They wanted to know what it means to be trans and what was trans, he told the gathering.

So while Im in the military I make it my duty not only to serve honorably but to be a great example of what trans people look like in the military and also to make sure I take time out to talk to and educate people to let them know were not scary, were not monsters, he said. Were not this picture that were made out to be. Were people just like anybody else.

Both Cropper and Sutherlin drew a prolonged, standing ovation from the audience.

Other transgender community members who spoke at the gathering included veteran trans activist Dee Curry; D.C. Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance President Bobbi Strang, who served on the D.C. TDOR planning committee; Alexis Blackman and Minister Omar Clarke of the Metropolitan Community Church; trans activists Gibby Thomas of Damien Ministry; Kiesha Allure, an official with the LGBT community services center Casa Ruby; and trans activist Elle Michelle.

Beverlyn Mack, the mother of murdered D.C. trans woman Na Na Boo Mack, also spoke at the event, thanking trans activists and members of the LGBT community for supporting her during what she said was a trying time when she lost her daughter.

Among those attending the event were eight officers of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Departments Special Liaison Branch, including members of the branchs LGBT Liaison Unit. Among them was Lt. Jessica Hawkins, a trans woman who is the former supervisor of the LGBT Liaison Unit.

Budd said she invited the unit members to attend with the full approval of the TDOR planning committee.

Trans activist Lourdes Hunter, who was scheduled to speak at the D.C. TDOR, posted a message on Facebook saying she decided not to attend after learning that D.C. police officers would be in attendance.

I dont do trans events with police and guns, she wrote in her posting.

Trans community advocate Ashley Love, who staged a one-person protest at last years D.C. TDOR by shouting that D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham, who attended the event, should leave the event, called this years D.C. TDOR an improvement for trans people.

With so many Black and Latina women of trans experience killed in 2018 by male violence and transmisogyny, it was healing to have this years vigil offer a safer space to mourn than years past, she said in a statement.

But Love created a stir among organizers of the D.C. TDOR by saying in her statement and in a Facebook posting that the D.C. police officers attending the Nov. 20 TDOR were swat geared cops and members of the departments SWAT team that frightened trans attendees.

A police spokesperson told the Washington Blade the officers attending the TDOR were wearing regular police uniforms that had been changed recently in style but that the uniforms absolutely were not SWAT uniforms or SWAT gear, which police use when they expect to confront a potential violent situation.

Those are the new uniforms that were issued recently, which was widely publicized in multiple media outlets, said Strang of the TDOR planning committee. The allegation that this was tactical or SWAT gear is a specious accusation, she told the Blade. Apart from Ashley and the unnamed activist, I know of no other complaints.

Strang was referring to one other trans activist who spoke on condition of not being identified and who expressed the belief that the officers attending the D.C. TDOR were wearing SWAT gear.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said on Monday that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan could not stop cross-border terrorism, which is sponsored by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistani Army.

"The government in Pakistan works under the Army. In Pakistan Army is power in itself. If you think Imran Khan can stop cross-border terrorism, then it is not going to happen," Chief Minister Amarinder while speaking to media persons at the foundation laying ceremony of Kartarpur corridor.

In reply to a question, Singh said, "It is for General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Chief of Pakistan Army, to ensure that acts of terrorism do not happen at all. The Army doesn't fight innocent women and children. The army doesn't throw grenades on the peaceful assembly of people."

To mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev next year, India last week decided to build Kartarpur corridor up to the international border between India and Pakistan. It will help Sikh pilgrims visit Nankana Sahib Gurdwara, which is on the banks of Ravi in Pakistan.

He said that he was in no mood to go to the gurdwara in Pakistan because the state was sponsoring terrorism, which was taking toll of innocent civilians and Indian Army personnel.

"Going by one side we have our gurdwara there but to get there, I will have to enter Pakistan. I am not in a mood today to go to Pakistan till they do not stop terrorist activities across the border. As the Chief Minister of Punjab, my job is to maintain law and order in the state, which prevents me from going to Pakistan," said Amarinder.

Taking on Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who will be visiting Pakistan, Captain said, "If they are not concerned about Punjab and the soldiers who are dying, then who can stop them. Nobody has control over her or Akali Dal," he said. The Central government has decided to send Kaur to Pakistan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan on November 28.

"I am a soldier and I have been through Army and I have my own feelings," he said, asserting that he will not go to Pakistan. Pakistan had extended an invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and others to attend the ceremony slated for Wednesday.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing an election rally here on Monday, accused the Congress of ignoring the tribal community. "The Congress party ignored the tribal community, who was demanding a separate ministry, minister and budget. But the Congress was never concerned," he said.

"Our tribal people used to demand development policies but in vain. It was only when Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji became the Prime Minister of the country, a dedicated ministry for tribal affairs was created," said Prime Minister Modi, who is on a whirlwind tour of Rajasthan, where the assembly election is scheduled to take place on December 7.

Stating that the tribal community made sacrifices during the freedom struggle and contributed to the nation-building immensely, the Prime Minister said that the history knew about this, but not the Congress.

"Tribal community has existed for thousands of years. Did they not make sacrifices during freedom struggle? Did they not contribute to the development of the nation? You know this. I know this. History knows this but the Congress doesn't know this. The Congress did not remember the tribal community," Prime Minister Modi said.

Taking a jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister said, "This 'Naamdar' (Rahul) does not have knowledge about the NCC. He doesn't know what a manifesto is. This 'Naamdar' does not know that he visited Kailash Mansarovar, but doesn't have any clue about it." "The Congress president does not even know the difference between 'moong' and 'chana' and yet he speaks about the welfare of farmers," he added.

"When Madam Sonia Gandhi's government was in power at the Centre, there were only four mobile manufacturing companies in India. Today, there are 125 units," Prime Minister Modi asserted. "The Congress makes promises in the run-up to the elections and forgets them once the polls are over," he added.

Earlier addressing a rally in Bhilwara, Prime Minister Modi, in a veiled attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his often taken holidays, said that while he gave an account of every decision and trip undertaken by him, there were leaders who went "missing" for a week.

"Did you ever hear that I took a holiday? Did you ever hear I went somewhere for leisure or was missing for a week? I give an account of each and every decision I take and the work that I do," he said.

Prime Minister also lauded Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's development initiatives, saying that under her leadership, water supply has improved in the desert state for the last five years.

The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is scheduled to go to polls on December 7. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.

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Two days after the post-wedding bash in Mumbai, Ranveer Singh on Monday shared his quirky look on social media while flaunting his leopard head mask.

The actor captioned the picture, which he posted on his official Instagram account, "issa lewk" (this look) and tagged designer Manish Arora.

Ranveer introduced his "pussycat" (leopard head mask) while making his post-wedding bash speech. He had said, "I introduce you all to my pussycat, and she is going to be eyeing you all for the rest of the evening."

Also, in the party, Ranveer spoke his heart out about his lady love Deepika and said that he married "the most beautiful girl in the world".

According to media reports, the private party was hosted by Ranveer's sister, Ritika Bhavnani, at The Grand Hyatt in Mumbai on November 24.

Deepika and Ranveer 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.

Bollywood's Bajirao and Mastani will host a wedding reception in Mumbai at The Grand Hyatt on November 28, scheduled to be attended by the who's who of the film fraternity.

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The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a petition challenging Article 370 of the constitution, which gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The court further directed the petitioner to file an Impleadment Application (IA) in the matter.

Earlier this month, the apex court had adjourned the hearing of a different plea challenging the validity of Article 370. The court will hear the plea in April next year.

The top court passed the order after the Centre sought for the adjournment stating that the current situation in the state is very sensitive.

Earlier in October, the Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDP) boycotted the municipal elections over lack of clarity in the Centre's stance on Articles 35A.

Article 370 of the Constitution gives autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir. In April, the top court had said that Article 370 of the Constitution is not a temporary provision.

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Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday morning paid obeisance to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan from the Indian side of the international border.

He viewed the historic gurdwara through binoculars and bowed to "thank the almighty for paving the way for the opening of the holy corridor."

Sidhu has drawn much flak from within the Congress party over his decision to visit the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on Wednesday. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has already turned down Pakistan's invitation citing state-sponsored cross-border terrorism by Islamabad.

Sidhu reached Dera Baba Nanak via Amritsar from Madhya Pradesh on Monday morning. "Ardas (prayers) of 13 crore 'Guru Nanak Naam Leva Sangat', which have been praying for the past 70 years for a darshan of gurdwaras on Pakistan side has borne the fruit," said Sidhu.

He said that it is a gift to the entire "sangat" on the occasion of the 550th Parkash Purab celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev for which he has come to thank the Almighty.

Pakistan government on November 23 had extended invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu for the event. The invitation was, however, declined by Swaraj citing her prior commitments pertaining to election campaigns.

Swaraj informed that Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri would represent the Indian government at the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on Pakistan side.

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Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said that his Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to go to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor was "his way of thinking" but he personally could not think of going there while Indian soldiers and civilians were being killed by them.

"As an army man, he could not tolerate the killing of innocent Indians," the Chief Minister said, pointing out that even today an Indian army personnel was killed by Pakistani snipers. He could not go to the neighbouring country in these circumstances, he said, in an informal chat with media persons after laying the foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor.

As for the Central government's decision to send its ministers to the Pak ceremony, the Chief Minister said it was for them to do as they deem fit but he personally felt thought should have been more sensitive to the feelings of Indian soldiers and citizens. "The Centre cannot close its eyes to what is happening in India as a result of Pakistan's policy and support to terrorist groups," Chief Minister was quoted as having said in an official statement.

The Chief Minister said the world knows about Pakistan's role in perpetrating terrorism in India, as manifest in the attacks in Pathankot, Mumbai, Dinanagar and, of course, Jammu & Kashmir. The Central Government if also fully aware of this, he added, reiterating his stand that till the cycle of violence unleashed by Pakistan against India came to a stop, he would not travel to that country.

Chief Minister Singh also vowed to protect his state and its people from the terror unleashed from across the border till the last drop of his blood, warning Pakistan of serious consequences if it did not put a stop to the violence perpetrated against India.

Even as he thanked Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan for reciprocating India's move on developing the Kartarpur Corridor, the Chief Minister was scathing in his criticism of Pak Army Chief General Bajwa for promoting state-sponsored terror through brutal killings of Indian soldiers and innocent citizens.

He urged the Pak Prime Minister to rein in his army and bring an immediate end to terror against Indian armed forces and citizens, or else be ready to face a strong reaction from India, which has a bigger army than the neighbouring country.

Taking a strong stand on the issue of terror, which was immediately endorsed and backed by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, the Chief Minister said that India was a land of peace and did not want violence, but was prepared to counter Pakistan's aggression in kind if its peace and sovereignty continued to be threatened.

Captain Amarinder recalled the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as a grim reminder of Pak-sponsored terrorism in India. He further pointed out that the Dinanagar and Pathankot attacks in Gurdaspur district also stood out as major examples of the terror unleashed by Pakistan in this part of Punjab.

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A day after a mega event was held in Bengaluru, Nagpur, and Ayodhya to muster support for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya -- Lord Ram's 'janmabhoomi' (birthplace), spiritual leaders have reiterated the demand for an ordinance to be introduced at the earliest.

Speaking to ANI, Acharya Satyendra Das, the head priest of the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya, said it was high time the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came forward to build the temple. "Until and unless (dates of) 2019 elections have not been announced and the model code of conduct has not been imposed, we are hopeful. If nothing happens, then a decision would be taken in this regard," he added.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the Supreme Court's decision to postpone Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit for hearing till January 2019, the priest said that the court should have listened to two sides -- the religious organisations and the litigants and accordingly taken a call.

"When we got to know that the matter would be taken in January 2019, we were very disappointed. The court should have listened to the people of these organisations and the litigants and a decision should have been taken. The government should have chipped in at that time. An ordinance should be brought at the earliest, there is no other way. Because we don't know how long the court will keep this case hanging. If the BJP had the willpower, then the Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya," he noted.

Echoing a similar stance, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Maharaj, President of Sriram Janambhoomi Temple, also said the construction of the temple should start as soon as possible. "Wherever Lord Ram is present, Ram temple should be built. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi-led BJP government) should start the construction at the earliest."

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), VHP and Shiv Sena organised events in Ayodhya, Nagpur, and Bengaluru on Sunday to gain support for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and mount pressure on the central government to facilitate the temple construction, which is currently sub-judice in the Supreme Court.

While the event was perceived as the beginning of a movement to mount pressure on the government, Mohammad Iqbal Ansari, one of the petitioners of the Babri Masjid case, expressed faith in the government's judgement.

"Those people coming from outside and the saints are doing their work, we have no issues. The government is taking note of it. We have faith in the government. It will do what it deems fit. I don't have a problem with anything. We believe in the law and the government," he opined.

On October 29, the Supreme Court had adjourned the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till January 2019 to fix the next hearing date in the matter, challenging the Allahabad High Court ruling of 2010.

The Allahabad High Court in its 2010 verdict had suggested the division of the disputed land in Ayodhya, one for each of the parties the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Waqf Board and Ram Lalla.

It is believed that the Babri Masjid, which was constructed by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528, was allegedly demolished by Hindu activists on December 6, 1992, who claimed that the mosque was built after demolishing a Ram temple that stood there.

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The Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid met India's External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Monday during his maiden four-day visit to the country.

"Working together to fulfill the developmental priorities of Maldives. EAM @SushmaSwaraj and FM of Maldives @abdulla_shahid had a warm and productive meeting on deepening bilateral cooperation and to ensure peace and security in the region," the Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Shahid is scheduled to meet with President Ram Nath Kovind on November 27 before he departs for the Maldives in the evening.

The Maldivian Foreign Minister's visit significantly adds to the relationship shared between Maldives and India, as it comes right after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives for the swearing-in of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

In an exclusive interview to ANI right before his meeting with the EAM, Shahid stated that India is a "best friend" to the Maldives who has always been there during the country's time of need. He further outlined that the country was looking for generous assistance from India in order to fulfill their electoral promises made to the people.

Shahid also underscored that a "new era of Maldives-India relation has begun.

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday met Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu and discussed a number of bilateral issues including co-operation in the field of agriculture and information and communication technology.

"70th-anniversary celebrations continue! EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomed Romanian Foreign Minister @teodormelescanu. Deep historical and cultural linkages have formed a solid basis for our present-day cooperation," official Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The two leaders discussed the diversification of historical relations and boosting cooperation in the fields of agriculture, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), health and pharma, education, tourism, and culture.

"Evolving a roadmap for collaboration. Delegations led by EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Romanian Foreign Minister @teodormelescanu discussed diversifying the historical relations & boosting cooperation in the fields of agriculture, ICT, health & pharma, education, tourism & culture," read another tweet by Raveesh Kumar.

Romania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu arrived here on Saturday on a four-day official visit to the country. His visit coincides with India and Romania completing 70 years of diplomatic relations.

Melescanu assumed office on January 4, 2017, and is a member of the Romanian Parliament as the representative of the Prahova constituency in the Senate.

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The Ukrainian navy on Sunday accused the Russian army of firing on and capturing three of its ships near the Kerch Strait, a narrow sea passage close to the Crimean peninsula.

Al Jazeera quoted the Ukrainian navy saying that two sailors were injured when a Russian ship started firing on the Ukrainian vessels that were later captured by the Russian forces.

The incident occurred hours shortly after a large Russian cargo ship was placed beneath the 19km-long Crimean Bridge, constructed over the Kerch Strait, linking the annexed Crimean Peninsula by Russia with the other Russian territories across the Kerch Strait. The Russian cargo ship blocked the passage of all traffic through the Strait.

As reported by Sputnik, early on Sunday morning, the three Ukrainian ships, including two small armoured artillery vessels and a tugboat, illegally entered the Russian territorial waters of the Black Sea, despite warnings from the Russian guards.

Following this incident, Russia accused Ukraine of "provocative actions", ignoring its instructions with the aim of stirring up tensions between the two countries.

Later, the Ukrainian foreign ministry in a statement denied the allegations saying, "Russia's provocative actions in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov have crossed the line and become aggressive, " reported Al Jazeera.

"Russian ships have violated our freedom of maritime navigation and unlawfully used force against Ukrainian naval ships," the statement read.

According to reports by Sputnik, a crisis in the maritime region of the Sea of Azov erupted this year after Ukraine detained a Russian vessel, prompting Moscow to boost controls in the area. Tensions further escalated in October when the Ukrainian parliament passed a draft law authorizing Kiev to expand maritime controls an additional 12 nautical miles off its southern coast, purportedly in an effort to counter smuggling in the Black Sea.

The Russian Foreign Ministry warned Ukraine against attempts to revise the status of the Sea of Azov in violation of international law and urged Kiev to refrain from attempting to unilaterally establish new state borders.

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(WB) A referendum on whether same-sex couples should receive marriage rights in Taiwan failed on Saturday.

Voters by a 67-33 percent margin rejected a question on whether same-sex couples should receive marriage rights through Taiwans civil code. Voters by a 66-34 percent margin rejected a question on whether the islands Gender Equity Act should include LGBTI-inclusive school curricula.

Questions on whether marriage in Taiwan should be defined as between a man and a woman and whether same-sex couples should be able to enter into civil unions or domestic partnerships, as opposed to marriages, passed by a margins of 72-28 percent and 61-39 percent respectively. Voters by a 67-33 percent margin also said Taiwans Gender Equity Act should not include LGBTI-inclusive school curricula.

Taiwans Constitutional Court in May 2017 ruled the provision of the islands civil code that does not allow two persons of the same sex to create a permanent union of intimate and exclusive nature for the committed purpose of managing a life together is unconstitutional. The landmark ruling also said same-sex couples could legally marry within two years if Taiwanese lawmakers fail to amend or enact relevant laws that allow them to do so.

President Tsai Ing-wen publicly supported marriage rights for same-sex couples.

We are deeply saddened and disappointed by the referendum results today, said the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan and other advocacy groups on Saturday. However, we would like to express our gratitude toward those who have been supporting the cause throughout the process.

Evan Wolfson, founder of Freedom to Marry, and two of his former colleagues, Cameron Tolle and Thalia Zepatos, worked with the Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan, an organization that is campaigning in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples on the island, before the referendum. The National Organization for Marriage provided support to marriage opponents.

Tonight, we send our support to advocates and families in Taiwan who are hurting after a disappointing election result, said Wolfson in a statement. Over the last year, anti-LGBT organizations  bankrolled and instigated by U.S.-based groups like the National Organization for Marriage  spent millions on scare tactics and deceit, in an effort to spread lies about gay and lesbian people and harm families.

Taiwan would have become the first country in Asia to allow gays and lesbians to marry if Saturdays referendum on the issue passed. Wolfson in his statement notes the islands lawmakers still face a May 2019 deadline to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples, despite the referenda results.

While the results of the referenda are not what we hoped for, it is clear that the movement for marriage in Taiwan will not be deterred, he said. Nothing about tonights votes undermines the landmark court ruling affirming that the freedom to marry is a right guaranteed by Taiwans constitution. And nothing changes the clear mandate from the Court: That by May 2019, lawmakers must update the civil code to allow same-sex couples to marry.

The referenda took place a day after Bermudas top court ruled a law that rescinded marriage rights for same-sex couples in the British island territory is unconstitutional.

A referendum on whether to define marriage as between a man and a woman in the Romanian constitutions definition of family failed last month because of insufficient voter turnout. Kim Davis, a soon-to-be-former Kentucky county clerk who went to jail for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, traveled to Romania last year to campaign in support of the proposed amendment.

Taiwan would become the first country in Asia to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples if lawmakers grant them before their May 2019 deadline.
The US Customs and Border Protection on Sunday closed the border between Tijuana in Mexico and San Diego in California and used tear gas on migrants and refugees, including children, whoever tried to cross the border fence.

According to Al Jazeera, the US border protection agency took to Twitter announcing the closure of border as thousands of asylum seekers marched towards the border in an attempt to put pressure on the US government to allow them to enter the US soil.

The incident took place because of rising frustrations among immigrants due to slow processing of their asylum claims by the US authorities.

Thousands of immigrants have arrived at the US-Mexico border in the recent weeks from all over Central America, fleeing violence, poverty or political persecution in their countries.

Al Jazeera reported that more than 5,000 migrants and refugees have been cramped into a Tijuana stadium complex, near the Mexican border, that is more than 2,000 people over capacity.

Previous week (November 22), Trump threatened to shut the US border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time, fearing the collective exodus of the refugees and deployed thousands of US military troops at the border, giving them expanded powers, including the "ok" to use lethal force.

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United States Ambassador to India Ken Juster remembered the victims of 26/11 terror attack and paid tribute to them here on Monday.

Juster accompanied Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries remembered and paid tribute to the victims of 26/11 terror attacks victims.

US Embassy in India tweeted, "It's been ten years since the 2008 #MumbaiTerrorAttack. Honored to be in Mumbai today to join Chief Minister @Dev_Fadnavis and other dignitaries to honor the memory of the victims, including six Americans, and the heroic actions of the Indian security forces. #NeverForget"

Visiting Chabad House, the envoy tweeted, "A somber occasion visiting Chabad House on the tenth anniversary of the 2008 #MumbaiTerrorAttack. Thank you Rabbi Yisroel Kozlovsky for your work in support of the Jewish community in Mumbai. #MumbaiAttacks #NeverForget ."

India's financial capital came to a standstill on this very day a decade ago when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists who came to Mumbai via sea route from Pakistan carried out a series of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city.

Attacks took place at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, Cama Hospital, Nariman House business and residential complex, Leopold Cafe, Taj Mahal Hotel and Tower, and Oberoi-Trident Hotel over a span of four days, killing 166 people and injuring over 300.

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In a comic turn of events, Hollywood actor Will Smith tried to hijack race driver Lewis Hamilton ahead of the latter's final race of the F1 season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Will shared the whole episode in his Instagram account. Ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Will of 'Men in Black' fame tied Hamilton to a chair with the help of a duct tape and revealed to the champion racer that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the 'The Pursuit of Happyness' star to participate in an F1 race.

"Okay, here's the deal. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, man. You've already won, save something for other people. You're black, I'm black, nobody is going to know the difference. I got this, " said Smith.

Hamilton who tried to break free from the chair started shouting, "I got to race, man" repeatedly. Following which Will said sorry as Hamilton kept on shouting "You better win, man".

Ahead of this comic episode, Will and Hamilton posed for photos and chatted about the race cars, while wearing matching Formula 1 suits.

Earlier Will took to his Instagram account and shared a candid snapshot along with Hamilton. Comically enough, Will in his caption revealed his desire to race in the prestigious race, writing "Hangin' wit' my boy @lewishamilton for the last race of the @f1 season!! Yo @mercedesamgf1, this suit is hot, now I just need the car to match- put me on the grid!!"

Eventually, Hamilton turned out to be the winner of the race.

In the work sphere, Will Smith will be next seen in the live-action interpretation of the famous Arabic folk tale 'Aladdin'.

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It has been 10 years since the 26/11 happened, the dark memories of shooting and killing of innocent people by terrorists still flicker alive. The Hindi film fraternity on Monday paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives.

Producer Ronnie Screwvala and makers of upcoming film "Uri", based on the Uri attack of September 2016, showed their respect to all those martyred on that day by observing silence across 300 radio stations all over India on Monday morning.

As many as 164 people were killed and over 300 injured after an attack masterminded by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba was orchestrated in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

On the tenth anniversary of the attack, Bollywood celebrities like Abhishek Bachchan and Varun Dhawan paid tribute to the victims and martyrs and said it's a day that can't be forgotten.

Here's how celebrities remembered the day via Twitter:

Abhishek Bachchan: Never forget!. 26/11



Never forget!

#26/11  Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) November 26, 2018

Will never forget 26/11. We have only grown stronger #mumbaikar #jaihind  Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) November 26, 2018

Varun Dhawan: Will never forget 26/11. We have only grown stronger. Mumbaikar. Jai Hind.

Kubbra Sait: Hosted the Memorial last year for the 26/11 attacks, standing there alongside the dignitaries I felt gooseflesh as we proudly together sang the Indian National Anthem. This is a day Mumbai stood together (again) and this encapsulates the spirit of the city.



Hosted the Memorial last year for the 26/11 attacks, standing there alongside the dignitaries I felt gooseflesh as we proudly together sang the Indian National Anthem. This is a day Mumbai stood together (again) & this encapsulates the spirit of the city.  Kubbra Sait (@KubbraSait) November 26, 2018

Remembering our heroes of 26/11... Everyone who helped each other through the tough time.. My heart goes out to their courage and sacrifice and for all the innocent victims .. #MumbaiTerrorAttack  Arjun Kapoor (@arjunk26) November 26, 2018

Arjun Kapoor: Remembering our heroes of 26/11. Everyone who helped each other through the tough time. My heart goes out to their courage and sacrifice and for all the innocent victims.

Vishal Dadlani: 26/11. We will never forget. What has changed since, Mumbai? Are we any safer? We were promised Police Reforms, counter-terrorism training and modern equipment for a woefully understaffed and underpaid Mumbai Police Force. Seen any?

Aftab Shidvasani: Let's not forget the sacrifices of these brave sons of India.

Koena Mitra: 10 years! 26.11.2008. Islamists from Pakistan attacked Mumbai and launched one of the worst terror attacks in Indian history. We lost 100s of humans ...Please don't forget... or Forgive!! Rest in peace heros.

Madhur Bhandarkar: Remembering the heroes of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack who sacrificed themselves for defending the country.



Remembering the heroes of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack who sacrificed themselves for defending the country. #MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/Vj6s2EVAKI  Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) November 26, 2018

Ashoke Pandit: Remembering and paying my tributes to those who lost their lives in the cowardly terrorist attack and salute to the bravehearts who laid down their lives for the nation and its people. Let us all together take an oath to destroy enemies across d borders and within d country. 26/11

Hansika: Remembering 26/11. Salute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives saving others.
About 145 pilot whales died in New Zealand after being stranded during the weekend on Stewart Island in the extreme south of the country, officials said on Monday.

A hiker alerted authorities on Saturday night about the situation of the whales, who were stranded in Mason Bay in two separate groups about two kilometers apart, a Department of Conservation of New Zealand release said.

Half of the whales were dead when rescuers arrived and the condition of the rest, by the time they were found, was so bad it was decided to euthanise them, said Ren Leppens, operations manager at Rakiura.

"Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully re-float the remaining whales was extremely low. The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales' deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanise," said Leppens.

Pilot whales, also called long-finned pilot whale, are a specimen with a bulging forehead and a robust body that can reach between six and seven meters in length, Xinhua news agency reported.

Marine mammals are frequently stranded on New Zealand's coasts and the average number of operations carried out by environmental officials is about 85 per year, most of them to save these animals individually.

The reasons why whales and dolphins can become stranded have not been clarified, although it is attributed to diseases, navigation errors, sudden changes in tides, being chased by predators or extreme weather conditions.

--IANS

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At least 18 Afghan policemen were killed after the Taliban attacked a convoy in Farah province, an official said on Monday.

"Militants attacked a police convoy in Juwayn district on Sunday evening. The initial information found that 18 police personnel were killed," the official told Xinhua news agency.

He said several police officers went missing after the attack.

Several militants were also killed and injured but their number could not be verified.

--IANS

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Timed for the tenth anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attack on Monday, the US government has announced a $5 million-bounty covering all the terrorists connected with it.

The reward offered under the State Department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Programme is for "any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the execution" of the attack that killed 166 people, a Department media note said on Sunday.

This is the third RFJ bounty from the State Department on terrorists involved in the Mumbai attack carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as it casts a wider net beyond its leaders.

In 2012, the Department put a bounty of $10 million on LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and $2 million on his deputy, Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki.

The rewards have not worked so far and Saeed operates openly in Pakistan, leaving the effectiveness of the latest steps open to question.

Under international pressure, the Pakistani Punjab government put him under house arrest in January in 2017 but a review board headed by a Lahore High Court judge ordered his release in November that year.

Saeed has also been declared an international terrorist by the UN Security Council.

Before the Mumbai attack, the US had designated the LeT as a terrorist organisation in 2001 and imposed sanctions on it and the UN Security Council followed suit in 2005.

The RFJ website, which said the "reward offer extends to any individual who bears responsibility for this act of terror", mentioned four persons, who, it said, have been indicted by a US federal court.

They are Sajid Mir, Major Iqbal, Abu Qahafa and Mazhar Iqbal (alias Abu al-Qama).

The RJF website said that Mir was the handler for Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who was sent by the LeT on a spying mission to India to prepare for the attacks.

Ten heavily-armed terrorists, sneaked in through the Arabian Sea and attacked multiple locations within a small geographical area, killing 166 persons -- including Indian security personnel and 26 foreign nationals -- and left another 300 injured, besides inflicting huge damage to public and private properties.

Headley, whose original name was Daood Sayed Gilani, is serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai attack and in a terrorism conspiracy against a Danish newspaper.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)

--IANS

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Six men have been detained on suspicion from the Pathankot railway station, Punjab Police officials said on Monday.

They were on board the Pooja Express from Jammu to Ajmer in Rajasthan, when security forces stopped the train in Pathankot late on Sunday and took them in custody.

The Punjab Police and their Jammu and Kashmir counterparts have been interrogating them along with other security officials.

Security agencies suspect that the detained were planning to carry out terror activities in Delhi or some place else, a police officer said, adding that some weapons, explosives and a motorcycle have been recovered from them. More details were awaited.

Security agencies are on alert in frontier districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur in Punjab as terrorists have targeted these in the past.

The Pathankot airbase of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was attacked by terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan on January 2, 2016. Seven people were killed in the attack.

The area has defence establishments, including the frontier IAF base in Pathankot and the nearby Mamun Cantt of the Army.

Prior to the terrorist attack on the IAF base in 2016, suspected Pakistani terrorists had carried out an attack on Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur district.

The Dinanagar terror attack took place on July 27, 2015 when three Pakistani terrorists entered from the border belt. Six people, including the three terrorists, were killed in the attack.

--IANS

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Eight Maoists were killed and one was injured on Monday in a gun fight with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, police said.

A joint team of the paramilitary forces and the police went inside the core area of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) -- an armed wing of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist -- as part of an operation against the Maoists.

It started around 10.30 a.m. in a forested stretch near Sakler village.

Over 150 Left wing extremists clashed with troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the District Reserve Group of the Chhattisgarh Police, an official said.

"Security forces of different units went inside the PLGA's core area from different directions," CRPF Deputy Inspector General M. Dinakaran told IANS.

All eight bodies were recovered while the injured PLGA member was taken into custody. A large quantity of arms and ammunitions was seized. They were being taken to Kistaram police station.

The CRPF called it a big achievement. A combing operation was still underway.

--IANS

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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.




Demanding an amendment in the Constitution, the Delhi Assembly on Monday passed a resolution moved by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain to bring Delhi Police under the elected government and to make it accountable to the Legislative Assembly like in other states.

Jain, through the resolution moved and passed during a special session of Delhi Assembly, demanded that "necessary steps be initiated by the Government of India to devolve certain powers to the elected Government so that it is in a position to have control over Delhi Police in implementing its decisions" while the amendments were pending.

The demands came after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was attacked with chilli powder in the Delhi Secretariat last week, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blaming the BJP and Delhi Police for the attack.

"The Union government take immediate steps, in large public interest, to initiate necessary steps to bring the police in Delhi under the control of the elected government of Delhi and to make it accountable to the Legislative Assembly as in the case with any other state in India, by way of amending the Constitution and relevant laws," Jain said in the Assembly.

Jain said that Delhi had became totally "unsafe for its inhabitants".

"The elected Chief Minister and Ministers can be attacked in their own office and at public events hosted by the elected government. Those who attack the CM have the audacity to file complaint against the elected CM and pressure Delhi Police to register FIR against the Chief Minister."

He also that in spite of Delhi Police officials on duty being the witnesses to such attacks, the police "tries to hush them up with grossly illogical arguments which have turned the Delhi Police sadly in to a butt of ridicule".

He also said that Police were not accountable to the elected government, the Legislators and the Assembly who were charged with the responsibility of looking after the overall well-being of the people.

The elected government, Jain added, was not in a position to remove deficiencies in the service of people on account of certain limitations imposed by the Constitution which kept "police out of the purview of the elected government".

He also said that it was necessary for the elected government to have certain degree of control over law enforcing agencies to ensure that decisions taken by it in public interest were implemented.

Kejriwal, supporting the resolution, added that, "due to subversive, disruptive and anti-people instructions given to Delhi Police by Union Government through Lt. Governor, the elected Government is not in a position to enlist any support from Delhi Police even in enforcing central laws such as Essential Services Maintenance Act when needed.

"It has become a huge and unassailable challenge for the elected Government to discharge its functions and to look after public interest in the absence any control whatsoever over Delhi Police," he said.

While Jain was presenting the resolution, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and MLA Kapil Mishra were marshalled out for creating ruckus in the Assembly on different issues. Meanwhile BJP MLAs Jagidish Pradhan and Om Prakash Sharma walked out of the Assembly.

"This is 19th time I am marshalled out from Delhi Assembly within five minutes of start of session. My fault - I demanded discussion on Contract employees, Pollution and Bangladeshis," Mishra tweeted.

The AAP MLAs also demanded the exclusion of Delhi Police from the Rs 1 crore compensation policy for martyrs.

The Chief Minister had rejected the demand earlier and also rejected it in the House.

During the discussion, party MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said the money was paid from the taxpayers money and the government should think about it.

Speaking in the House, Chief Minister Kejriwal said he will not oppose the money as, he feels, "over 95 per cent of the police force is not corrupt and are hard working and deserve the respect and money".

The Assembly also passed a resolution "to abolish the National Pension System and reinstate the old Pension System in the interest of lakhs of government servants.

"The pension, which the employees get, is from the Centre. If we had the power, we have would changed the law in just 24 hours. I want the Centre to change the policy for the Delhi government employees and to restore the old Pension System," Kejriwal said.

--IANS

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The Ahmedabad Crime Branch police on Monday arrested here an alleged accomplice of the terrorists who attacked the Akshardham temple in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar in 2002, killing 31 people.

Acting on a tip-off, the police kept a watch at the Ahmedabad airport and arrested Mohammad Farooq Shaikh as soon as he landed from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The police said he had come to meet his family members.

According to the Crime Branch, Farooq Shaikh, among others, organised funds for the terror attack on September 24, 2002, by two Pakistan-based terrorists. As many as 31 visitors to the temple complex were killed and scores of others injured in the indiscriminate firing and grenade blasts.

The assailants were later killed by commandos in a night-long operation to flush out the terrorists hiding in the huge temple.

Farooq Shaikh used to live in the minority-dominated Juhapura locality in Ahmedabad and was roped in by some pro-Pakistani elements to arrange funds for the terror attack to take revenge on the killing of the Muslims in the communal riots in the state in February-March same year.

He was believed to have escaped to the United Arab Emirates soon after the terror attack and this was the first time he was coming to visit his family, the Crime Branch said.

--IANS

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday vowed to protect Punjab and its people from terror unleashed by Pakistan, warning Islamabad of "serious consequences" if it did not end the violence perpetrated against India.

Even as he thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for reciprocating India's move on developing the Kartarpur corridor, the Chief Minister was scathing in his criticism of Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for "promoting state-sponsored terror through brutal killings of Indian soldiers and innocent citizens".

He urged Imran Khan to rein in his Army and bring an immediate end to terror against Indian armed forces and citizens, "or else be ready to face a strong reaction from India, which has a bigger army than the neighbouring country".

Taking a strong stand on the issue of terror, which was immediately endorsed and backed by Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu who was present on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of a road link to the Kartarpur corridor, the Chief Minister said India was a land of peace but was prepared to counter Pakistan's aggression in kind if continued to be threatened.

Lashing out at those who felt he should have accepted Pakistan's invitation to participate in their ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor, Amarinder Singh asked how he could go there "when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed by them every day".

"I want to go to Kartarpur and also visit Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib gurdwaras again, but cannot go there as I have to pass Pakistan, which is killing my people every day."

Pointing out that Punjab had seen bloodshed for 20 years, Amarinder Singh said that while his family had close ties with Kartarpur Sahib, he, as Chief Minister, had a responsibility to the people of his state, which Pakistan was trying to weaken.

Lashing out at the Pakistan Army chief, he said that as an ex-soldier himself he saw no justification in killing soldiers, which he described as "an act of cowardice, not becoming of Army personnel".

"Soldiers are taught to protect and serve their nation, not to kill innocent people," he said, seeking the immediate removal of Gen Bajwa and said the Pakistan Army should learn the message of love and brotherhood propounded by Guru Nanak Dev.

The Chief Minister recalled that the 26/11 Mumbai attacks was a grim reminder of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in India.

He further pointed out that the Dina Nagar and Pathankot attacks in Gurdaspur district also stood out as major examples of the terror unleashed by Pakistan in Indian Punjab.

Describing terror as madness, Vice President Naidu said he fully endorsed Amarinder Singh's views and vowed that India will not allow its people to be killed.

"While India wants peace and promotes friendship, it will not allow terrorism to breed on its soil," Naidu said, urging countries that support terror to shun this path.

India wants peaceful relations with its neighbours and wanted them to change their mindset and embrace peace.

--IANS

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The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centre's response on a PIL challenging the amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act mandating prior permission of the government for prosecuting a government servant for alleged graft.

The bench headed by the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also sought response on the plea challenging the deletion of a clause under which misuse and abuse of official position for giving pecuniary or other advantage to anyone is a misconduct.

A provision calling for mandatory prior nod has been introduced by Section 17 A (1) and the one relating to misconduct stands erased with the deletion of Section 13(1)(d)(ii).

The court has given six weeks to the Centre to respond to the plea against the amended provision of the anti-graft law.

The provisions for prior government nod for proceeding against a public servant accused of graft and deletion of the one relating to misconduct were effected in the Prevention of Corruption Act by amending it.

For the provision relating to misconduct, the petitioner NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), says it has been used in most prosecutions of public servants under the PC Act where there may not be a charge of directly accepting bribes.

This provision, the petitioner NGO says, was used for prosecuting the officials in coal scam cases where officials had given coal mining leases to companies.

The PIL says the amendment in the Prevention of Corruption Act violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and has rendered the anti-graft law "almost ineffective by completely diluting the scope of some of the original provisions" and would now "protect corrupt officials and exponentially increase corruption."

CPIL counsel Prashant Bhushan said this is the "third attempt by the Union of India to introduce a provision which has already been twice held unconstitutional by the top court in its two separate judgements.

--IANS

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A book detailing how Modi government's policies have led to a drop in farmers' income and caused rural distress across the country was launched in the capital on Monday.

The book 'Modiraj Main Kisan, Double Aamad Ya Double afat' -- is authored by Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav.

It was on Monday launched by agricultural economist Ashok Gulati and the Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission Chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar among others.

Yadav said the book was a compilation of various reports on farm activities and developments occurred in the past four-and-a-half years of the BJP government's rule.

He said the conclusion in the book showed the Narendra Modi-led government has been "the most anti-farmer government" in the history of independent India.

"No government in the past has been pro- farmer. However, the current government and its policies have opposed the farmers on all fronts--- ideological, administrative, with disdain for farmers," said Yadav during the panel discussion on the book.

"On drought relief, the central government had told the Supreme Court that it was not its job. When prices (of crops) fell, it did not do anything. It carried out demonetisation, which had hurt farmers most. They are yet to recover (from aftershocks). No government has harmed farmers so much as this one."

Yadav is a part of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), which has been holding farm agitations for fair remunerative crop prices and farm loan waiver.

The AIKSCC has demanded Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 23 agriculture commodities based on the 'C2' input cost factor recommended by the Swaminathan Commission. It has expressed its disapproval over the government's decision to use 'A2 +FL' factor citing lower remuneration.

During the panel discussion, Gulati expressed his reservations over the use of 'C2' factor for MSP fixation, saying it would affect the market, which works on demand-supply rule, and create a crisis.

He said he differed with Yadav that the BJP government had done nothing for the farmers.

Gulati sought the focus to move from price-policy to income-policy for sustainable agriculture.

The AIKSCC, which represents over 184 farm organisations across the country, is set to hold mega protest in the national capital on November 30.

--IANS

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The month-long campaign for the November 28 Assembly elections in Mizoram came to a close on Monday afternoon, with no major untoward incident reported from any part of the state so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, and Chief Ministers of Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland were among those undertaking hectic campaigns for their candidates.

The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements to hold the elections and taken several security measures to ensure free and fair polls.

"Campaigning by the political parties has been totally peaceful so far. Every process is now going on smoothly," Mizoram's Joint Chief Electoral Officer Zorammuana told IANS on Monday.

Among the eight northeastern states, Mizoram is the last state ruled by a Congress government. The party has been in power except for 10 years -- 1998 to 2008 -- since the state become a full-fledged state in 1987.

Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said here that the officials escorted by the security personnel have already left for the 1,164 polling stations in eight districts.

He said that around 40 all-women managed polling stations have been set up across the constituencies in which the entire polling staff, including the police and security personnel, are women.

"The VVPAT (Voters Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines would be used along with EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) in all the 40 constituencies to enhance transparency and credibility of the elections," the Joint CEO told the media.

A total of 209 candidates, 67 higher than in 2013 state polls, are in the fray for the Wednesday's Assembly elections.

Of the 209 candidates, 15 are women. In 2013, only six women had contested and none were successful.

Like the previous elections, women voters once again outnumber the men in Mizoram. Of the 768,181 voters, there are 393,685 women and 374,496 men.

The five-year term of the Mizoram Assembly ends on December 15.

The Election Commission has set up 15 polling stations at Kanhmun, a village along the Mizoram-Tripura border, to facilitate voting by Reang tribal refugees, sheltered in Tripura for the past 21 years.

Of the over 35,000 tribal immigrants, 11,232 are eligible to cast their votes in the Assembly elections.

The place of voting for the tribal refugee voters had become a highly contentious issue in the run-up to the Mizoram Assembly polls, leading to replacement of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S.B. Shashank by Ashish Kundra, two weeks before the polling.

The refugees had demanded to set up polling stations in the seven refugee camps in northern Tripura, which was vehemently opposed by the powerful Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee (MNCC).

An agitation had been started by the MNCC demanding setting up of polling stations in different districts of Mizoram for taking the votes of the refugees.

The MNCC, led by influential Young Mizo Association, citing Election Commission's 2014 circular about casting of votes by the refugees, held a massive state-wide agitation to remove Shashank from the post of CEO after Principal Secretary (Home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo was removed on the Election Commission's order.

The former CEO (S.B. Shashank) in his report to the Election Commission had reportedly said that Chuaungo was creating obstacles in allowing the Reang tribals to vote in the November 28 polls.

Chuaungo, a native of the tribal-dominated Mizoram, is a Gujarat-cadre IAS officer.

--IANS

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The high-decibel campaign, often marked by bitter personal attacks, ended on Monday in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram which go to polls on Wednesday to elect new Assemblies. The electioneering saw both the BJP, which is power in Madhya Pradesh for the past 15 years, and the ruling Congress in Mizoram trying to stave off anti-incumbency to retain power.

In a virtualy BJP versus Congress fight, the saffron party's campaign in Madhya Pradesh was spearheaded by political heavyweights, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is straining every nerve to secure a fourth term while the rival campaign was led by Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other senior party leaders who addressed several rallies to woo the voters.

However, in the battle for supremacy in the election to 40-member Mizoram Assembly, the fight is largely between the Congress and the Mizo National Front led by former chief minister Zoramthanga while BJP and others are also in the fray.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla of the Congress is seeking a hattrick of wins this time and claims there is no incumbency against his government.

The voting in both the states will be held in a single phase on Wednesday, November 28.

Over five crore registered voters in Madhya Pradesh -- 2,63,01,300 men, 2,41,30,390 women and 1,389 comprising the third gender -- will decide the fate of 2,907 candidates. There are 62,172 voters who can exercise their franchise through postal ballots.

Among the 2,907 candidates in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has fielded candidates for all 230 seats while the Congress is contesting for 229 seats leaving one seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh district, for Sharad Yadav-led LJD.

The BSP has fielded 227 candidates and the SP is contesting for 51 seats. There are 1,102 independent candidates in the fray.

The Prime Minister, who addressed three election rallies in Rajasthan on Monday, refrained from campaigning in Madhya Pradesh on the last day. He, however, addressed two election rallies in the state on Sunday.

In his campaign, Modi attacked the Congress on corruption, dynasty and several other issues and also gave accounts of the achievements of the state and the Centre.

Besides addressing several rallies, Shah on the last day held a road show in Indore. Chouhan toured extensively in the state and sought votes in the name of development.

On his part, Rahul Gandhi attacked Modi and his government on issues of corruption, unemployment, farmers' plight and the promises made by Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and by Shivraj in the 2013 elections.

State Congress chief Kamal Nath, former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and several top leaders of the party camped in various parts of the state and held many election rallies and road shows.

Some video clips of Kamal Nath also sparked a controversy during the electioneering which gave the ruling BJP an opportunity to attack it.

The keenly-watched constituency will be Budhni, the home turf of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Congress has pitted former Union minister and former Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee chief Arun Yadav against him.

In the last assembly poll, of the total 230 seats, the BJP had won 165 seats, Congress 58, BSP four and independents three.

In Mizoram, a total of 209 candidates are in the fray.

The ruling Congress has fielded 40 candidates while opposition parties in the state, BJP and Mizo National Front (MNF), are contesting in 39 and 40 assembly constituencies respectively.

Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is contesting for two seats -- Serchhip and Champhai South.

Mizoram is the last bastion of Congress in the north east as it is the only state in that part of the country where BJP has no presence. The state is being ruled by the Congress since 2008.

Around 7.7 lakh voters will decide the fate of 209 candidates.

Counting of votes in both the states will be held on the December 11.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Invoking the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday criticised the Congress for teaching "patriotism" to opposition parties then, and now asking the NDA government to provide proof for the 2016 surgical strikes.

Addressing a public meeting here, he said India will never forget the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and their perpetrators and was "waiting for the appropriate time" as law would take its course.

"Today is November 26...when there was a Madam rule in Delhi through remote control, when there was Congress government in Maharashtra. There were Congress governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra and 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai... terrorists killed people and security forces of our country.

"It is 10 years of that attack. I can still remember when the terror attacks happened in Mumbai, election campaign was going on in Rajasthan."

Modi said that the Congress leaders then used to accuse the leaders of other parties of doing when they condemned the attacks.

"What they (Congress leaders) said then, I still remember. They said it is a war, Pakistan has attacked India. And these people are doing At this time one need to strengthen the hands of the Centre and there should be no on the terror attacks. They used to preach this," he said.

The Prime Minister accused the Congress of attempting to use the 26/11 Mumbai attack to win elections in Rajasthan and attacked the party for questioning the 2016 surgical strike carried out by the Indian Armed forces across the border.

"I want to ask them and Congress that 10-years ago such a big terror attack happened, whole world was shocked and Congress was playing a trick to win the elections from that," he said.

"The same Congress at that time used to preach patriotism. And when our country's forces did surgical strike in Pakistan, when they took revenge, showed their valour and gave a befitting reply to the enemies in their home, in such a crucial time, Congress asked for the evidence and demanded to show the video of the surgical strike," he said.

"Will the armed forces take cameras in their hand during such operations. At that time they did not remember patriotism," he said.

Modi also said that during his four years of rule, terror attacks have been restricted to Jammu and Kashmir.

"Remember those times when terror attacks took place across the country. We have fought against terrorism in such a way that they are unable to move out of Kashmir as they see their death," he said.

He also issued a veiled warning to India's detractors.

"India will never forget 26/11 attack nor forget the perpetrators. We are waiting for the appropriate time...." he said with a pause without elaborating as the crowd cheered him.

"Law will take its course. I want to assure the country," he said.

The Prime Minister said terrorism and Maoism was the biggest enemy of development.

"In forests, the Maoists give guns in the hands of the children when it is the age of holding pens. Maoists are killing innocent people. In Chhattisgarh, several security personnel were killed. A brave man of Rajasthan's Bharatpur was also killed there.

"Those Maoists killed the brave in Chhattisgarh, Congress leaders are distributing certificates of revolutionary to the Maoists. These 'naamdar' and 'kaamdar' are describing them as revolutionary," he said.

"Should those who kill innocents be called revolutionary?" he asked the crowd.

"We have given a befitting reply to Maoists and terrorism. There is no place for violence in democracy," he said.

Modi said Dr B.R. Ambedkar gave the slogan of equality but the Congress leaders are asking about my caste and talking about my father.

"The Congress believes in casteism. The Congress leaders in their speeches don't discuss development, corruption, power, education and water supply. But they talk about my caste, they ask who my father was. Does it look good for 'naamdaar' (dynast)?" he questioned.

He slammed the Gandhi family for neglecting the development of the country and said, "The four generations of a family ruled for six decades. But despite that only 40 per cent of rural areas had toilets."

In the last four years, over 95 per cent such areas had toilets, he said.

He further said that he never took holiday or went somewhere for leisure or was missing for a week. "I give an account of each and every decision I take and the work that I do," he said.

The elections for the 200-seat Assembly in Rajasthan are scheduled for December 7. Counting of votes will take place on December 11.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using "blood and sacrifice of soldiers as a vote garnering tool", the Congress on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks on Monday blamed the BJP-led Centres "flip-flop Pakistan policy" for its failure to bring the perpetrators including mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi to book.

Taking strong objection to Modi's Monday assertions in Rajasthan of "never having played on national security", the Congress called him an "emperor of lies" and said "Modi's politicising of national security and sacrifice of our soldiers was intrinsic to the BJP".

"Modi government's flip-flop Pakistan policy in the past four-and-a-half years has failed to bring the other perpetrators of the Mumbai attack to book. The Pakistan based perpetrators are still at large in Pakistan," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

He reminded Modi that under the Congress-led UPA Ajmal Amir Kasab was hanged in 2012, and one of the masterminds, David Headley, was convicted.

"Will Modi, who pounces upon every opportunity to politicise terror attacks, answer on his government's track record on bringing the 26/11 attackers to book," asked Surjewala pointing to attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi "virtually securing his acquittal" with the Pakistan government indicating no plan to challenge his bail in the Supreme Court.

Citing consistent terror attacks during the 54 months of BJP regime, Surjewala charged the Modi government with "compromising national security and betraying national interests".

"Lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation," he said claiming that "426 soldiers and 278 civilians" were killed in Pakistan sponsored terrorism in the last 54 months.

"Is it not true that 16 major terror attacks have taken place on our security installations that include CRPF camps, army camps, Air Force and Military stations - Pampore, Uri, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amarnath Yatra attack, Sunjwan Army Camp, where scores of our precious lives have been lost," questioned Surjewala.

The Congress also accused Modi of imperilling India's safety and security citing 500 per cent increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan since May 2014 and the government allocating only "1.58 per cent" of GDP to Armed Forces in Budget 2018-19, the lowest since 1962".

The Congress also targeted Modi over "Chinese fortification of Doklam" and "playing havoc with India's internal security" by permitting Left wing extremism to raise its head.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Kerala unit of the CPI-M on Monday suspended P.K. Sasi for six months from its primary membership for misbehaving with a women member, a communique said.

The decision was taken here after a meeting examined a detailed probe report submitted by a party committee consisting Law Minister A.K. Balan and Kannur Lok Sabha member P.K. Sreemathi.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist communique said the Shornur legislator had not behaved befitting his stature and position while speaking to the woman and hence the action was being taken.

After the Congress and the BJP cried foul, Sreemathi told the media that the probe conducted was proper.

"We found out that there was merit in her complaint and the party has taken the action," she said.

"I don't think she will approach the police as she has full faith in our party," Sreemathi added.

The woman member had to write to party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury after her August complaint to the state leadership did not yield action.

In November, she wrote to Yechury that she had lost faith in the state leadership as even after three months there had been no action against Sasi.

She also pointed out that despite her complaint, Sasi was seen sharing a stage with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The action came just a day ahead of the Kerala Assembly session on Tuesday.

The opposition said the need of the hour was to report the matter to the police.

"The party probe has found out that the legislator has erred and hence the police should step in and take the case towards its logical conclusion," Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said.

"The police should register a case and legal steps must be initiated against Sasi," he added.

State BJP chief P. Sreedharan Pillai asked: "Who are they to conduct a probe and declare punishment in a case of this nature? We have all the required machinery -- the police and the court -- and no time should be lost. The party should immediately report it to the police."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The air quality fell again in the national capital and regions around it, even as the effect from stubble burning had 'almost seized' with Delhi choking on its locally generated pollution.

As finer particle increased at an alarming rate in Delhi's air, official agencies cautioned against physical exertion outdoors, advising asthmatics to keep medicine handy.

The air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was 336 or 'very poor' against 262 or 'poor' on Sunday, on a scale of 0 to 500.

Ghaziabad was the worse polluted region in NCR, with an AQI of 406 or 'severe' against 295 or 'poor' on Sunday.

Anand Vihar, Wazirpur and Mundka were among the worse polluted regions of Delhi with AQI well above 'severe' level.

Air quality will remain very poor with a gradual increasing trend, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

"the air quality is very poor and will remain very poor with a gradual increasing trend for next two days and then likely to decline," SAFAR said.

Lower wind speeds led to the increase in pollution in entire region. Tuesday is likely to be more polluted which is not good for AQI.

"The contribution from stubble biomass has almost seized," SAFAR added.

The AQI was 309 in Faridabad, 361 in Greater Noida, 356 in Noida, all considered 'very poor'. Gurugram had the cleanest air quality with AQI of 256.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Global computer maker Dell Technologies is hosting for the first time in India its Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) meeting in this tech hub on Tuesday to focus on women funding women, said the US-based firm on Monday.

"The event brings innovators, investors and influencers who dedicate to build high-growth firms led by women," said the company in a statement here ahead of the meet.

About 100 women entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and business leaders from across India will participate and deliberate on the startup ecosystem and investment opportunities in the sub-continent.

"Women's entrepreneurship rates rose globally 13 per cent in 2017, reflecting the momentum of greater female representation across public and private sectors in many regions the world over," said the statement.

Among the Indian women entrepreneurs participating in the event include Seedfund founder Bharati Jacob, Chumbak co-founder Subhra Chadda, Find Me A Shoe co-founder Shabari Raje, Ray IoT Solutions co-founder Ranjana Nair and Rehash Technologies co-founder Shruti Sinha.

"As access to capital or technology and cultural and political barriers continue to limit the success of women-owned businesses, our mission is to empower them by removing the barriers to entrepreneurship and accelerate change to thrive," said DWEN Director Ingrid Devin in the statement.

By hosting the global event in India, the company hopes to foster an ecosystem for women entrepreneurs across the country.

"The event enables women entrepreneurs to learn and support each other and foster the growth of their community. Recognising the challenges and leveraging the summit will help accelerate their representation in India's startup ecosystem," said Dell Enterprise, Data and Mobile Engineering Vice President Sheenam Ohrie in the statement.

Through the network, Dell connects women entrepreneurs the world over with networks, sources of capital, knowledge and technology, giving them the power to do more.

Since its inception in 2010, the annual gathering of businesswomen from the world over was held at San Francisco in the US, Cape Town in South Africa, Berlin in Germany, New Delhi and Shanghai in China among other cities.

--IANS

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SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said there's "70 per cent chance that he will go to Mars", despite a "good chance" of him not surviving either on his way or after landing, the media reported.

"We've recently made a number of breakthroughs that I am just really fired up about," Musk was quoted as saying in an interview with Axios on HBO on Sunday, the CNET reported.

"I'm talking about moving there," said a thrilled Musk, as he spoke about his ambition.

He, however, agreed that the risks were high.

"Your probability of dying on Mars is much higher than on Earth," Musk said, adding "There's a good chance of death."

Even if you make it to Mars, you could still end up dying in its harsh conditions, but Musk remains certain he wants to go.

"There's lots of people who climb mountains. People die on Mount Everest all the time," Musk said. "They still like doing it for the challenge."

The SpaceX founder cautioned though that for those who want to go to the Red Planet they need to start saving because a voyage to Mars will cost "around a couple of hundred thousand dollars".

Musk's spaceship designed for interplanetary travel 'Starship' (formerly known as the BFR) is a fully reusable vehicle designed to take humans and supplies to Mars and also to dramatically cut travel time within Earth.

This two-stage vehicle -- composed of a Booster and a Ship -- is designed to eventually replace the company's Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and the Dragon spacecraft.

It is designed to service all Earth orbit needs as well as the Moon and Mars.

Starship is also set to fly a private passenger -- Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa -- to Moon and is scheduled to start in 2023.

Maezawa, 42, is the founder and CEO of Zozo, the largest online fashion retailer in Japan.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A last-gasp goal by Empoli defender Matias Silvestre secured a 3-2 home win over 10-man Atalanta in Serie A.

Switzerland midfielder Remo Freuler on Sunday opened the scoring for Atalanta in the 33rd minute, and Empoli came close to equalizing from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, but Italian striker Francesco Caputo's effort hit the post, reports Efe news.

The goals came hot and heavy after that, as just one minute later, Atalanta midfielder Hans Hateboer doubled the lead.

However, just two minutes later, Antonino La Gumina pulled one back for Empoli, and Atalanta went to the half with a 2-1 lead.

After the intermission, Atalanta defender Andrea Masiello made an own goal to gift Empoli the equalizer in the 77th minute.

In the 84th minute, Atalanta forward Josip Ilicic was shown a direct red card and was sent off the pitch.

Empoli made the most of its numerical advantage, as centre-back Matias Silvestre secured the win in the second minute of stoppage time.

With its third victory this season, Empoli climbed to 16th in the Serie A standings with 12 points, six points behind 10th-placed Atalanta.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The foundation stone of a road that will link the border belt of Punjab's Gurdaspur district with the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara corridor was laid in Mann village near here on Monday amid a political controversy over credit for the approval of the project.

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone of the project on a screen by pressing a button.

The actual foundation stone was removed by the authorities just three hours before the event as Punjab cabinet Minister and Dera Baba Nanak legislator Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa objected to the names of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union Minister Harsimrat Badal on the stone.

A clearly upset Randhawa announced that he would "boycott" the foundation stone ceremony and even went ahead to put a black tape on the stone where the names of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Punjab PWD Minister Vijay Singla and his own (Randhawa) were put.

Officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), sensing that the situation could get unpleasant in the presence of the Vice President and other dignitaries, removed the foundation stone and replaced it with the digital one.

The foundation on the screen carried the names of Naidu, Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

The road would connect the area with the international border (IB) near Dera Baba Nanak.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Naidu said that the Kartarpur Corridor had the potential of being a historic occasion and bring people of India and Pakistan closer to each other.

"Guru Nanak Dev always spread the message of love and peace. This corridor project will bring both countries and their people closer," Naidu said.

In his address, Gadkari said that the Kartarpur corridor was a historic step which will help devotees offer prayers at the shrine in Pakistan.

The Punjab Chief Minister thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for enabling the Kartarpur Corridor to become a reality.

Naming Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, he warned the neighbouring country against any misadventure in Punjab by sponsoring terrorism from across the border.

"I want to tell Bajwa that what he is trying to do is cowardice. There is no bravery in this. We in Punjab are completely capable of giving a befitting reply to any such misadventure," Amarinder Singh said.

The actual Kartarpur Corrdior will be in Pakistan, extending from the IB till the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan.

Pakistanis will lay the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor on their side of the border on November 28.

Harsimrat Kaur and Puri along with Punjab cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is a friend of Imran Khan, are expected to visit Pakistan on Wednesday for the foundation stone laying ceremony there.

With the governments of India and Pakistan announcing that they will construct the Kartarpur Corridor on their side to enable pilgrims from India to visit the Sikh shrine located in Pakistan -- a long-pending demand of the Sikh community for access to the shrine is close to becoming a reality.

It was at the Kartarpur gurdwara, located around two to three kilometre from the India-Pakistan international border and situated right opposite the border belt in Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district in India, that Guru Nanak Dev spent 18 years of his life till his death in 1539.

The gurdwara, which fell in the Pakistani territory following the partition of India in August 1947, has big significance in Sikh religion and history.

For the past 71 years, even since partition, Sikhs have been offering prayers near the IB watching the gurdwara from afar.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
General Motors on Monday announced the closure of seven of its factories around the world as part of a restructuring plan.

The automaker said in a statement that it will close two assembly plants in the US and one in Canada, along with two others in as-yet-unidentified countries.

The firm added that it will also close two production plants in the US, reports Efe news.

The five North American plants affected by the move are the assembly plants in Detroit-Hamtramck and Lordstown, Ohio, as well as the one on Oshawa, Ontario, and the two engine and transmission production plants in Baltimore, Maryland, and Warren, Ohio, all of which employ some 14,500 people.

GM did not say in its statement how many workers will lose their jobs, but it emphasised that it is taking measures to reduce its payroll by 15 percent, including cutting its white collar executives by 25 percent to facilitate decision-making.

The firm's statement read in part: "Today, GM is continuing to take proactive steps to improve overall business performance including the reorganisation of its global product development staffs, the realignment of its manufacturing capacity and a reduction of salaried workforce."

"These actions are expected to increase annual adjusted automotive free cash flow by $6 billion by year-end 2020 on a run-rate basis," the statement said.

In addition to these plants, GM said that at the end of 2019 it will cease production at two other plants located outside North America, providing no further details but saying that it will do so in the very near future.

The closures come after the company announced it was shutting down its assembly plant in Gunsan, South Korea.

CEO Mary Barra told reporters that the firm is making the cuts "to get in front of it while the company is strong and while the economy is strong," although the firm said it was not anticipating an economic downturn.

She added that the move is part of GM's plan to become a more agile, resilient and profitable company, while giving it the flexibility it needs to invest in the future.

Barra also said that the firm recognises the need to stay ahead of changing market conditions and consumer preferences so that GM can be successful over the long term.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
IIT Kharagpur and the University of Auckland on Monday signed a pact to foster academic exchange and research collaboration, faculty exchange and visiting/adjunct appointments, student mobility, the premier Indian institute said.

As per the Memorandum of Understanding - the first strategic partnership of University of Auckland with a higher educational institution in India - the two educational establishments would explore opportunities for research in healthcare technologies, new materials, cyber security and artificial Intelligence.

"The SPARC program of India is of specific interest to us. There are several research areas which are of mutual interest for both institutions and we would be deciding on the detailed areas of work leading to exchange of faculty and students," Jenny Dixon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Strategic Engagement at University of Auckland, was quoted as saying in an IIT Kharagpur release.

The MoU also involves the scope of outreach centers at IIT Kharagpur and Auckland representing various prestigious higher educational institutions of both countries.

"We are the nodal institution for New Zealand for the Ministry of Human Resources Development. We can coordinate with other institutions in the country through a joint research center specifically, a New Zealand Centre at IIT Kharagpur and an India Centre at Auckland" said IIT Kharagpur Director P P Chakrabarti.

A similar Center is functional in China for eight universities from New Zealand focusing on teaching programs, research collaborations, students and faculty exchange. The proposal would be discussed with the governments of both countries.

The two institutes will further explore possibilities of a Dual Masters and Doctoral programmes and a collaborative B.Tech. - M.Tech. Programme.

"At IIT Kharagpur, we have been striving to ensure global exposures to gain in-depth knowledge in core disciplines as well as expertise across disciplines are offered in collaboration with leaders in various areas of academia.

"The thrust areas in consideration for this collaboration are also in concurrence with our country to make giant leaps in healthcare, economy and quality of life," remarked Baidurya Bhattacharya, Dean, International Relations, IIT Kharagpur.

At present Indian students form third largest student community in New Zealand's academia with enrolments mostly in science, engineering and business. The country has an advanced policy settings for international students particularly in terms of post-studies employment drive. They can apply for 3-year work visa after completing their degree.

A

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday signed a $200-million loan agreement for improving Bihar's state highways.

A Finance Ministry release said that under the agreement signed here, ADB would provide the loan to finance the widening and upgrading of about 230 km of state highways in Bihar to all-weather standards with road safety features.

It said this loan will aid the efforts of the Bihar government to upgrade all state highways to meet the minimum two-lane standard with better surfaces and improved road safety, leading to improved connectivity.

"Since 2008, ADB has provided four loans to Bihar, amounting to $1.43 billion, to upgrade about 1,453 km of State Highways and to construct a new bridge over the Ganga river near Patna," it added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a strong attack on the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror strikes, India on Monday asked Pakistan to give up its "double standards" and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators to justice, saying its planners still roamed the streets of the neighbouring country with impunity.

India also welcomed the statement issued by the United States on Monday calling on Pakistan to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said it was a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 years of the heinous terror attack, the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe still await closure, with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

"The planners of 26/11 still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity. The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory." the statement said.

It referred to the remarks of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that Pakistan-based non-state actors or militant organisations played a role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

"The former Prime Minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistan's soil. We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice.

"This is not just a matter of Pakistan's accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation," the ministry said.

It said the Indian government will continue its efforts to bring justice to the families of the victims and the martyrs.

The External Affairs Ministry statement said that the government and the people of India sombrely remember the victims of the dastardly attack and the martyred security personnel who laid down their lives.

It said that President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in separate messages, have expressed their firm solidarity with the families of the victims and martyrs.

A solemn memorial event and wreath laying ceremony was organised on Monday by the Maharashtra government at the Police Memorial in Mumbai and the Memorial at Taj Hotel, Mumbai.

The Indian missions in fourteen other countries, which lost their nationals in these attacks, organised memorial events remembering the victims, both national and foreign, reminding the world of the global threat of terrorism.

Senior government representatives from the host governments, family members of victims and survivors participated in the solemn events.

Timed for the tenth anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attack on Monday, the US government has announced a $5 million bounty covering all the terrorists connected with it.

The reward offered under the State Department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Programme is for "any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the execution" of the attack that killed 166 people, a Department media note said on Sunday.

This is the third RFJ bounty from the State Department on terrorists involved in the Mumbai attack carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as it casts a wider net beyond its leaders.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India on Monday welcomed the release of the Joint Communication by the European Commission on India-EU partnership and said that it refers to the country as an emerging global power that plays a key role in the current multi-polar world and is a factor of stability in a complex region.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India's engagement with the European Union has substantially intensified since the establishment of strategic ties in 2004.

"The government of India welcomes the release of the Joint Communication by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 20th November, 2018 on the EU's vision for a strategy on India - 'A Partnership for Sustainable Modernisation and Rules-based Global Order'.

"The strategy covers India-EU partnership over the next 10 to 15 years. The Joint Communication refers to India as an emerging global power that plays a key role in the current multi-polar world and a factor of stability in a complex region. The report recognises India's consistent economic growth, demographic dynamism and modernisation drive and calls for greater India-EU political, security and defence cooperation," the statement said.

The statement said India-EU cooperation now spans over 30 dialogue mechanisms, covering foreign policy and security issues, trade and investment, sustainable development and modernisation, research and innovation as well as people-to-people contacts.

With a bilateral goods and services turnover in excess of $100 billion, the EU is India's largest trading partner, said the statement, adding the EU is also a significant source of foreign direct investment for India with cumulative investment flows in excess of $91 billion from 2000 to June 2018.

"India looks forward to engaging with the EU not only on a robust bilateral agenda, but also on regional and global issues of shared concern and for reforming the multilateral system and institutions to better reflect contemporary global realities," the statement added.

--IANS

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The India forces have successfully conducted a large-scale tri-service exercise involving assets of the Indian Navy, Army and the Air Force which aims to sharpen joint war fighting capabilities and enhance operational synergy, officials said on Monday.

The exercise was conducted at sea off Goa and Karwar from November 17-23. This exercise was coordinated by the Indian Navy's Western Naval Command in consultation with the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) headquarters.

It say deployment of many naval assets such as Kolkata class destroyers, landing ships, fleet support ship with ship-borne helicopters, naval commando MARCOS and other force levels from all the three maritime commands of the Indian Navy.

The exercise saw participation of Amphibious troops and Special Forces of the Indian Army, and C-17, C-130J, IL-76 and AN 32 aircraft and Garud choppers of the IAF.

The major activities conducted during this exercise included amphibious landing operations, air-landed operations, heli-borne insertion of Special Forces from sea, combat free fall by the tri-services Special Forces teams culminating in tactical follow-on operations on land, a senior official said.

--IANS

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The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Monday observed a day-long hunger strike against the university administration's decision making it mandatory for them to mark their attendance every day.

"We would like to reiterate that the decision to go on hunger strike by JNUTA was taken because the administration is hell-bent on destroying the teacher learning process in JNU. ...JNUTA demands that arbitrary circulars regarding the rescheduling of the academic calendar and compliance of faculty attendance be immediately withdrawn," the teachers' union said in a statement.

It also opposed the installing of biometric machines for marking attendance and the administration's recent decision to hold online entrance test for admission of students, emphasising that the tests must be offline in the pen and paper form as earlier.

The authorities decried the hunger strike at the prohibited administrative block at the university as vitiating.

"Despite several requests from the JNU administration to JNUTA office-bearers to maintain peace in the campus and not to hold their 'dharna' (sit-in) near Administration building, which is a prohibited area for such activities not only by JNU Ordinance but also by the direction of the honourable high court, the JNUTA leadership is holding their 'dharna'.

"It is evident that JNUTA office-bearers are determined to vitiate the academic environment in JNU," the university said in a statement.

"The JNUTA call for hunger strike is superficial as the demand for dialogue is for public consumption only. By such unwanted activities, JNUTA is also setting wrong precedents for students by calling for strikes in the prohibited areas.

"JNU Administration appeals to the teaching community not to pay heed to JNUTA's call for a lawless campus," it added.

--IANS

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A US federal judge has rejected requests by George Papadopoulos to delay his 14-day prison sentence and ordered the former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser to report to prison as scheduled.

Papadopoulos, 31, had asked a federal judge twice in the past 10 days to pause his sentence but US District Court Judge Randolph Moss said in an order on Sunday that he had waited too long to contest his sentence, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Papadopoulos waited until the eleventh hour to seek relief; indeed, he did not file his second motion - the stay request -- until the last business day before he was scheduled to surrender to serve his sentence," Moss wrote. "He has only his own delay to blame."

US authorities have Papadopoulos set to surrender at a correctional camp in the state of Wisconsin on Monday.

In October last year, Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his Russian contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign.

He gave up much of his rights to appeal under his plea agreement, which he cut with special counsel Robert Mueller's office.

Mueller is looking into the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election and any potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow, among other matters that may arise from the investigation.

Papadopoulos was the first Trump campaign aide sentenced in Mueller's investigation.

The White House has claimed that Papadopoulos was a low-level volunteer on the campaign.
Different streams on thought and discourse on the Indian arts, crafts and culture, notably one on harnessing these elements as India's soft power, came together at the 1st seminar on Art and Culture by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Monday.

Held at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) in the capital, the seminar saw stakeholders of public and private cultural and crafts institutions share views on a number of issues including building public-private partnerships (PPP) in the field, India's global soft power, and public places as centres of culture.

In a panel discussion, the Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, which among other events, organises the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Sanjoy Roy spoke about harnessing the soft power Indian arts and culture have -- something each panelist agreed is currently underexplored.

"Is it soft power or smart power that we're looking at? If we look at India's diversity, its incredible heritage and the intangible culture, we're an enormous power base waiting to be leveraged," Roy said.

"Sitting here in India we think we're top of the world, any research will show you that world over, barring some countries, there is zero information that goes out on India. What makes news is who's raped, who's being married off to a dog. As for our culture, zero," Roy argued.

Talking about the need to build a "Brand India", Roy added that it comes with generation of value for the arts. "We need to create a brand and value proposition for India."

Adding to the discussion, a noted art curator currently associated with the Kiran Nadar Museum for Art (KNMA), Roobina Karode asked that "nobody denies the artistic and intellectual talent has, but where is the visibility?"

Recounting her experiences in the US, the veteran curator said most of the discussion there is still "pre-modern" and there is "no clue about the 20th and 21st century India". She highlighted the need for building an arts ecosystem with a focus on its audience.

A third panelist and part of another key arts stakeholder, Christie's auction house, its south Asian head Deepanjana Klein, took the audience to their Hong Kong saleroom, and spoke of the price discrepancy Indian artists face despite being "excellent artists".

The panel also featured Ministry of Culture Joint Secretary Nirupama Kotru, who voiced similar thoughts, adding that Indian performing arts and artists used to be known worldwide.

"Our academies -- Lalit Kala, Sangeet Natak and Sahitya Akademi -- people feel, are jaded and are not doing enough. There is a comfort zone we all tend to fall into, we have workshops, regional centres and outreach programmes," she said at the event.

Admitting to an administrative lapse, Kotru said that the government was not mapping and marketing "the enormous (cultural) wealth and treasures available" with India.

The seminar also hosted many private gallerists, and heads of arts foundations and public institutions such as Jawahar Kala Kendra and NGMA.

--IANS

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President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute to the victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks on its 10th anniversary.

"Ten years after the Mumbai terror attacks, thoughts with families and individuals who suffered. We salute those from the police and security forces who made the supreme sacrifice that day.

"India remains honour-bound to securing justice, and defeating terrorism," the President said in a tweet.

Describing the attacks as "gruesome", Modi said: "Tributes to those who lost their lives... Our solidarity with the bereaved families. A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks."

Ten heavily-armed terrorists, sneaked in through the Arabian Sea, attacked multiple locations within a small geographical area, killing 166 persons -- including Indian security personnel and 26 foreign nationals -- and left another 300 injured, besides inflicting huge damage to public and private properties.

The US State Department issued a strong worded statement on Sunday on the eve of the anniversary asking Pakistan to impose sanctions on all those responsible and offering fresh reward for up to $5 million for information on those involved in the attack.

--IANS

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Asserting there is no anti incumbency, Lal Thanhawla, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Mizoram, is banking on good governance and development to retain the Congress last bastion in the north east.

Confident of victory and retaining power for a third consecutive term, he is sure of keeping the BJP at bay which rules six of the seven north eastern states either alone or in alliance.

"The BJP's communal and divisive will not cut ice with the people of Mizoram. They are witnessing the destruction under the saffron rule in the neighbouring states and do not want to replicate that model of governance," Lal Thanhawla, Chief Minister since 2008, told IANS in an interview.

"There is no anti-incumbency, people here very happy under the Congress rule. Mizoram is among the fastest growing states in the country with the state GDP higher than the national level. There is infrastructure, there are jobs, and Mizoram is the only state in north east where there is peace. Why would people want to disturb that peace," he asked.

Ridiculing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for their "rhetoric" of development, the Congress veteran said his government's New Land Use Programme (NLUP) and New Economic Development Policy (NEDP) have made the people of Mizoram realise what development really means.

"People in India have only heard Modi and Shah talking about development but people in Mizoram know what actually development and prosperity look like," he said adding that Mizoram ranked first among the small states and second among all states in health index prepared by the World Bank Group and NITI Aayog.

Talking about the BJP-RSS "communal" agenda, he questioned the intention behind the Modi government declaring 25 December as Good Governance Day.

"We are an absolute Christian majority state, and naturally when our festivals are disturbed it disturbs the people. This has been done intentionally otherwise. Why would they choose Christmas as Good Governance Day. Will they declare Dusshera for some day like that," he asked.

Even as he rules BJP out of contention, Lal Thanhawla expressed apprehension over the saffron party's "money power".

"The entire country is aware how the BJP has come to power in north east using money power. They are flush with funds and pumping a lot of money with a view to purchase people. The battle is between money power and good governance and development and people here are sensible enough to know what is better for them," he said.

He also countered the opposition Mizo National Front's (MNF) persistent attack on his government over the decision to lift the over two-decade old ban on sale and consumption of alcohol.

"The ban was an absolute failure, it only lead to a thriving black market and people dying due to spurious liquor. The idea of creating an alcohol-free society through the prohibition was completely defeated and hence we had to lift it and bring in the permit system," he said.

Besides the BJP, the Congress also faces a tough challenge from the MNF and other regional parties.

But the Congress veteran says it's the work done by his government that is speaking for itself and asserts that his party will retain power in the state with absolute majority.

"Be it the MNF or the BJP, they have no answer to the prosperity that we have brought in the state. Their divisive and communal agenda is there for all to see. As I said, people of Mizoram are not willing the disturb the peace and prosperity that prevails. Anti-incumbency is only in the words of the opposition not in the minds of the voters," he said asserting the Congress will win 37 seats -- three more than it got in 2013.

In the predominantly-Christian state, the Congress has been in power since it became a full-fledged state in 1987, except for 10 years between 1998 to 2008.

Elections to the 40-member Assembly will be held on November 28. An electorate in excess of 7.6 lakh, including nearly 4 lakh women, are eligible to vote to decide the fate of 209 candidates.

The results will be declared on December 11.

(anurga dey can be contacted at anurag.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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The Libyan navy has said that it rescued 113 illegal immigrants, including women and children, off the country's western coast.

The navy said in a statement on Sunday that coast guards patrol, in cooperation with a ship belonging to a gas field, rescued the immigrants who were on a rubber boat, Xinhua news agency reported.

The rescue operation took place some 75 km off the capital Tripoli's coast. The immigrants are from different African countries.

The rescued immigrants were taken to a reception centre in the nearby city of Zawiya, some 45 km west of Tripoli, the statement said.

Thousands of illegal immigrants choose to cross the Mediterranean toward European shores from Libya because of the chaos in the country following the 2011 uprising.

--IANS

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Demanding an amendment in the Constitution, Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain on Monday moved a government resolution in the Assembly to bring Delhi Police under the control of the elected government and to make it accountable to the Legislative Assembly like in other states.

Jain, through the resolution moved during a special session of Delhi Assembly, also demanded that "necessary steps be initiated by the Government of India to devolve certain powers to the elected Government so that it is in a position to have control over Delhi Police in implementing its decisions" while the amendments were pending.

The demands came after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was attacked with chilli powder in the Delhi Secretariat last week, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing the BJP and Delhi Police for the attack.

"The Union government take immediate steps, in large public interest, to initiate necessary steps to bring the police in Delhi under the control of the elected government of Delhi and to make it accountable to the Legislative Assembly as in the case with any other state in India, by way of amending the Constitution and relevant laws," Jain said in the Assembly.

Jain said that Delhi had became totally "unsafe for its inhabitants".

"The elected Chief Minister and Ministers can be attacked in their own office and at public events hosted by the elected government. Those who attack the CM have the audacity to file complaint against the elected CM and pressure Delhi Police to register FIR against the Chief Minister."

He also that in spite of Delhi Police officials on duty being the witnesses to such attacks, the police "tries to hush them up with grossly illogical arguments which have turned the Delhi Police sadly in to a butt of ridicule".

He also said that Police was not accountable to the elected government, the Legislators and the Assembly who were charged with the responsibility of looking after the overall well being of the people of Delhi.

The elected government, Jain added, was not in a position to remove deficiencies in the service of people on account of certain limitations imposed by the Constitution which kept "police out of the purview of the elected government".

He also said that it was necessary for the elected government to have certain degree of control over law enforcing agencies to ensure that decisions taken by it in public interest were implemented.

While Jain was presenting the resolution, Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and MLA Kapil Mishra were marshalled out for creating ruckus in the Assembly on different issues. Meanwhile BJP MLAs Jagidish Pradhan and Om Prakash Sharma walked out of the Assembly.

"This is 19th time I am marshalled out from Delhi Assembly within five minutes of start of session. My fault - I demanded discussion on Contract employees, Pollution and Bangladeshis," Mishra tweeted.

The AAP MLAs demanded the exclusion of Delhi Police from the Rs 1 crore compensation policy for martyrs. The Chief Minister had rejected the demand.

During the discussion, party MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said the money was paid from the taxpayers money and the government should think about it.

--IANS

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A month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended his swearing in, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will visit India, marking a new thrust in the relations between the two countries.

This was decided during discussions on Monday between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and visiting Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid.

"The Foreign Ministers agreed that the state visit of President Solih to India will take place on December 17, 2018. In this regard, both ministers held wide consultations to lay the groundwork for this visit," an External Affairs Ministry release said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Solih on November 17 and was the senior-most foreign leader to attend the ceremony in the Indian Ocean archipelago nation that went through immense political turmoil under former President Abdulla Yameen.

The two sides discussed security and defence matters including ongoing projects and new areas of cooperation and agreed to hold the next meeting of the Defence Cooperation Dialogue in the first-half of December 2018.

They also discussed ways and means to expand and diversify the bilateral economic and commercial relations and agreed that the private sector needs to be encouraged to play a leading role.

They agreed to hold the meeting of the bilateral consular dialogue at the earliest recognising that people-to-people contact between both countries is important.

During the meeting, Shahid spoke of his government's "India First" policy and said that his government looks forward to working closely with the Indian government. He said the Maldives will be sensitive towards India's security and strategic concerns and reaffirmed his country's "special, close and friendly relations" with India.

The two sides held discussions on how to strengthen the development partnership between both countries. India assured the Maldives of support in implementing its development priorities and in ensuring fiscal and budgetary stability.

Sushma Swaraj said in line with the Indian government's "Neighbourhood First" policy, India stands ready to fully support the Maldivian government in its socio-economic development.

The Minister said that India accords highest importance to its relationship with the Maldives which is marked by "trust, transparency, mutual understanding and sensitivity".

Referring to the Maldives' decision to rejoin the Commonwealth, she expressed India's support for it. She also welcomed Maldives into the Indian Ocean Rim Association as its newest member.

Shahid invited Sushma Swaraj to pay a visit to the Maldives, which she agreed to. They also decided to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers at the earliest.

Shahid is on a three-day visit to India. He is accompanied by Ministers of Finance and Economic Development of his country.

He will call on President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday. CII will host a business interaction meeting for the Minister and his delegation.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man was brutally murdered by his neighbour in the town's Sector 83 after he objected to his relation with his wife, police said on Monday.

Vikram Yadav was attacked with a steel rod multiple times by his neighbour Ramesh Yadav alias Tinu near a roundabout in Sector 83, police said, adding

Tinu (30) is married with two children.

Police said the victim was a driver with a senior doctor attached to Haryana Animal Husbandry Department in Gurugram.

Complainant Ramesh Kumar, elder brother of the victim, told the police that Vikram, his wife Geeta and two children lived in a two-storeyed house in Sikanderpur (Sector 85).

According to the FIR, Vikram married Geeta in 2007. Ramesh Kumar alleged in his complaint that the accused and Geeta had an illicit relation.

Kumar said that he and his brother had objected to the relationship several times and tried to settle the issue, but failed.

"Tinu called my brother near a chowk in Sector 83 on Sunday evening and smashed his head multiple times in the middle of the road," Kumar said in his complaint.

The victim was first rushed to a private hospital in Gurugram and later he was referred to AIIMS in Delhi where he succumbed.

Tinu is absconding, police said, adding his wife is a teacher in Kendriya Vidyalaya and is posted outside Haryana.

"The victim's body was handed over to the family late on Monday evening after a post-mortem examination," Investigating Officer Sandeep Kumar said.

--IANS

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Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday asked her Home and Health counterparts Rajnath Singh and J.P. Nadda to immediately constitute Internal Complaint Committees (ICC) under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013, in all police departments and hospitals.

"I have been informed that while the ICCs have been put in place in most government offices, the same have not been constituted in the offices of police organisation in the states," the Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister said in her letter to Singh.

In her letter to Nadda, she raised the same issue of absence of ICCs in some hospitals under the central and state governments.

"I request you to look into this matter and issue suitable directions to the central government hospitals and state health departments to ensure that ICCs are immediately constituted and notified by all hospitals," Gandhi told Nadda.

She also noted in both the letters that the police and hospital authorities should be advised to use the training material available on the WCD website to sensitise their staff as well as members of the ICCs.

"We have created a fully integrated complaint management system wherein any women can complain regarding sexual harassment to us on our website which has been integrally linked to all ministries, all state governments and most of the districts in the country.

"The National Commission for Women has also set up a separate cell to handle complaints of sexual harassment at workplace," she wrote.

--IANS

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The vast majority of the fewer than one million eligible voters who took part in a referendum on 10 projects proposed by incoming President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador supported the initiatives, the transition team said Monday.

"We are all learning from these exercises: Citizens, organisations and the media. And the trustworthiness of the referendum has been clear, in terms of citizen acceptance and improvement of procedures," future presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez Cuevas told a press conference, reports Efe news.

In this second citizen referendum, 946,081 votes were registered, somewhat lower participation than in the referendum at the end of October on whether or not to continue construction of a new airport for the capital.

Both plebiscites were organised by the Arturo Rosenbleuth Foundation, a non-profit academic institution.

"As you can see, in almost all of the questions 90 percent of the population supported these projects by the next government," foundation director-general Enrique Calderon said.

Ten "priority programmes" of the Lopez Obrador government -- due to take office on December 1 -- were submitted for consideration in the November 24-25 referendum.

Among these projects was the construction of the Maya Train, which seeks to link five south-southeastern states, Mexico's most backward region. If the public were to vote "yes" on the project, work on it would begin on Dec. 16.

The plebiscite also asked about the construction of a refinery, another railway that will connect two ports on the Pacific and the Atlantic and several social programs such as apprenticeships for young people, retirement and disability pensions and providing Internet access in all public spaces.

--IANS

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After weakening the Election Commission, CBI, CVC and other Constitutional bodies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now interfering with court proceedings which is extremely dangerous, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said on Monday.

"The Prime Minister alleged that the Supreme Court is under pressure, that Opposition parties are interfering with the court proceedings. By saying this, the Prime Minister himself and the government are interfering with the court proceedings. This is a very dangerous trend," Yechury told reporters here.

He said: "The Prime Minister, during his election campaign, has threatened to subvert the legal process on the Ayodhya dispute. Out of frustration, Modi is making such undemocratic and unconstitutional comments.

"No one should make any comment on issues that are before the court. The Ayodhya dispute is a very sensitive issue. How can a Prime Minister make coments on an issue which is before the Supreme Court?"

Yechury, who came here on Sunday and attended a two-day Tripura state conference of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, said the Modi government had truncated Parliament proceedings and was brazenly undermining the judiciary, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), the RBI and other Constitutional and autonomous bodies.

He claimed that the public mood in the five poll-bound states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telanganna, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram - was against the BJP and the Modi government.

"Modi and his party are now seeking votes, giving priority to Hindutva and communal polarisation. They failed to implement every single promise they had made before the 2014 Lok Sabha election," the CPI-M leader said.

He said that a 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) will take shape just before the 2019 general election, like in 1977.

"Ahead of the next Parliament session in the second week of December, anti-BJP parties will hold meetings in Delhi to explore the strategies about the 'mahagathbandhan' in the upcoming general election," Yechury said.

He said a massive farmers' rally would be held in Delhi on November 30 and all the trade unions except the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh would observe a two-day nationwide shutdown on January 8-9 to protest against the government's failures.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The quality of political discourse in the country has hit a rock bottom and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged his successor Narendra Modi on Monday to exercise "due restrain" in public speech.

Singh was grilled during the launch of Manish Tewari's book "Fables of Fractured Times" to comment on the new pitfalls in the language used by politicians across party lines.

"My advise to the Prime Minister is to exercise due restrain that is becoming of a Prime Minister. When the PM goes to states that are not ruled by the BJP, he has an obligation to not use the language that has now become common practise," he said.

Singh said that he and his Congress-led UPA government never discriminated in the fashion that the Modi dispensation is carrying out on a daily basis.

"We never discriminated against the BJP ruled states. (Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister) Shivraj Singhji would himself testify to this. We paid the respect that was deserving," he said.

He urged Modi to set an example.

"He is the Prime Minister of all Indians. His conduct must be worthy and consistent with the obligation he has as a PM," Singh said at the launch of the book from Konark Publishers.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that the Prime Minister should resign if he cannot ensure security to the Delhi Chief Minister, days after a man tried to rub chilli powder on his face inside the Secretariat.

"Narendra Modi should resign if he cannot protect Delhi's Chief Minister, otherwise people will think that Modi is taking revenge on them for electing me as the CM," Kejriwal said during the special session of the Delhi Assembly called to discuss the attacks on him.

Speaking in the House, Kejriwal, who is also the national Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, said he is being attacked again and again for being "elected" as the Chief Minister by the people.

"This is not an attack on me, but on the people of Delhi. Since we came to power, the BJP has been punishing the citizens of Delhi for electing us. I would not have been attacked if I was not elected. These attacks by the BJP on me are attacks on the Delhi people," he said.

He also said it is "important to think why I am being targeted...".

The attacks, he said, are taking place because the Bharatiya Janata Party is "baffled" by the "good work" done by his government in the national capital.

"Congress looted the nation for 70 years and the BJP in only past four years has looted the nation 100 times over. The nation wants to know how much is paid to Modi by Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi for allowing them to run."

He asked Modi to compare Gujarat and Delhi and the work done by the respective governments.

Referring to a phone call from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, a day after the incident outside his office, Kejriwal claimed, "I said either you are worthless or colluding".

Speaking on a government resolution to ensure the accountability of Delhi Police towards the elected city government, Kejriwal said 95 per cent policemen were good but "they are being made to do wrong things by the BJP".

"If the Delhi Police comes under the elected government of Delhi, it will start working for the good of the people, just like government teachers and doctors are doing," he said.

The Chief Minister also advised his party MLAs to withdraw their proposal demanding the exclusion of Delhi Police from the government's compensation scheme.

Following the attack on Kejriwal, AAP legislators had urged Kejriwal to remove Delhi Police from the list of beneficiaries of the Delhi government's compensation scheme under which Rs one crore is given to the kin of slain security personnel.

"The police is not doing anything, they are being asked by the BJP to do so...Nowhere in the country, the police can file a case against the elected Chief Minister or the MLAs, even if they commit a crime," he said, adding that this is happening in Delhi at the behest of the BJP.

--IANS

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend four public rallies in West Bengal during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-organised "Rath Yatra" programme in the state in December, a senior state BJP leader said.

"Modiji has agreed to attend four public rallies in West Bengal during the party-organised Rath Yatra programme. The venues of his rallies are yet to be decided. Party's state leadership is in discussion with the party high command about the same," BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha told IANS.

"As of now, three of rallies by Modiji are scheduled to be held in December while the fourth will be held in Kolkata at the end of the Rath Yatra programme," he added.

The saffron outfit is scheduled to hold three Rath Yatra rallies on December 7, 9 and 14 from north Bengal's Cooch Behar, South 24 Pargana district's Gangasagar and Birbhum district's temple town Tarapith, respectively.

The rallies, to be inaugurated by BJP President Amit Shah, will cover all the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state before converging in Kolkata in the second week of January.

--IANS

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NATO's secretary-general on Monday said Russia had no justification to seize three Ukrainian vessels near the disputed Crimea territory and called for their immediate release.

Jens Stoltenberg added to a chorus of statements from Western institutions and governments urging restraint between Moscow and Kiev after Russian coastguards fired on and seized two naval vessels and a tugboat in the Sea of Azov early Sunday, prompting Ukraine to declare martial law while the Kremlin has claimed it was dangerously provoked, Efe news reported.

"There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel," the Norwegian politician told reporters in Brussels following an extraordinary meeting between the trans-Atlantic alliance and Ukraine's commission. "So we call on Russia to release immediately the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized yesterday."

"And we call for calm and restraint," he added.

NATO has consistently backed Ukraine with regards to the country's ongoing conflict with allegedly Russian-backed rebels in the east as well as against the 2014 Russian annexation of the Crimea.

"Russia's ongoing militarisation of Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, poses further threats to Ukraine's independence. And undermines the stability of the broader region," the NATO chief said.

Early Sunday, two Ukrainian gunboats, "Berdyansk" and "Nikopol", and a tugboat were seized as the made their way from Odessa in the Black Sea towards the port city of Mariupol in the Azov Sea, a journey that skirts the Crimean Peninsula, a territory that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Moscow said the ships were seized in Russian waters after they tried to pass through the Kerch Strait linking the Black Sea to the Azov Sea.

Moscow recently constructed a bridge over the strait, connecting mainland Russia to the Crimea. At the time of the incident, a Russian cargo ship blocked the passage underneath the $3.69 billion construction

Eastern Ukraine has been the theater of a civil war that since 2014 has killed around 10,000 people, according to the UN.

--IANS

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A new oil pipeline was launched on Monday during a ceremony that was attended by leaders from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Bahrain's King Hamad praised strong ties between the two countries as he launched the AB-4 pipeline to celebrate over 70 years of bilateral energy cooperation, Xinhua news agency reported.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud also attended the event.

The new 112-km long AB-4 oil pipeline has a capacity of over 350,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which will replace the existing 73-year-old pipeline system.

The new oil pipeline starts from Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq Plants and finish at the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) Refinery in Bahrain.

"Bahrain cherishes the strong historic bonds it shares with Saudi Arabia and is committed to further strengthening these ties to drive continued sustainable development," said King Hamad in a statement released by the Bahrain News Agency.

The country's top leader praised the Saudi leadership and the longstanding cooperation between Bapco and Saudi Aramco, a partnership which has continually enhanced bilateral relations since 1945.

The Saudi crown prince visited Bahrain as part of his tour, and met with senior Bahraini officials including Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

Bahrain's Cabinet and the Shura Council praised the high-level visit by the Saudi crown prince and said it reflects strong bilateral ties.

--IANS

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The Tamil Nadu Police on Monday banned officials below the rank of Sub-Inspector from using mobile phones while on critical duty.

"It is noticed that police personnel deployed on important bandobust duties frequently use cell phones for WhatsApp etc. and this distracts them from discharging official duties, particularly at sensitive and critical times," a memordum said.

The memorandum requested unit officers to instruct their subordinates that mobile phones could be used only by Sub-Inspectors and officers of higher rank. While on important duty, mobile phones can be used only for official purposes.

The important duties listed are law and order as well as VVIP, temple and festival bandobust.

--IANS

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Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Monday raised questions on the recent visit of former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik to Kashmir.

Bondevik recently visited Srinagar and met senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq.

Bondevik later also visited Pakistan-administered part of Kashmir and met a cross-section of people there.

Omar Abdullah on Monday took to Twitter asking Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and National Secretary Advisor Ajit Doval to put the visit in its right perspective.

"What are the Norwegians up to in Kashmir? Would either @SushmaSwaraj ji or Doval ji care to put the visit of the former Norwegian PM to both sides of the divided state in the correct context or do we have to rely on rumours & conjecture?" Omar said in his Twitter page.

--IANS

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Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday again raked up the perceived "judicial overreach," saying everyone should appreciate the 'Lakshman Rekha' that the Constitution has drawn.

Speaking at the plenary session of the 69th Constitution Day celebrations here, Prasad said it was time to "reinstate" the noble intentions behind the toll of PIL (public interest litigation).

"The separation of powers (among the legislature, executive and the judiciary) is also a basic structure of the Constitution. I think the Lakshman Rekha has to be appreciated by each and everyone," Prasad said.

He said there was a need to reflect on how far the judiciary could go before it breaches the elected government's realm.

Prasad has been vocal on the issue and has asserted on various occasions earlier too that policy-making was the prerogative of the elected government and that the higher judiciary must respect this while disposing of PILs.

On Monday, Prasad said the Modi government has been active in making appointments of judges in the high courts - despite its "strong reservations" over the present collegium system -- and creating more courtrooms to deal with the high pendency of cases.

"In 2016 we made 126 high court judges' appointments, which is the highest in the last 20 years. In 2017, we appointed 117 high court judges. And this year till now we have already made 104 high court judges' appointments," he said.

Prasad pointed out that since 1989, an average of 70-80 high court judges used to be appointed in a year.

--IANS

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Announcing a new $5-million bounty on the terrorists involved in the "barbaric" 2008 attack on Mumbai, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has demanded that Pakistan must act against the Lakshar-e-Taiba (LeT).

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," he said on Sunday.

The 10 terrorists who who came from Pakistan by the Arabian Sea killed 166 people -- including Indian security personnel and 26 foreign nationals -- and left another 300 injured during a three-day rampage.

Pompeo said, "The US is committed to seeing that those responsible for this attack face justice. The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Programme is offering a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including (LeT) and its affiliates," he added.

This is the third RFJ bounty from the State Department on terrorists involved in the Mumbai attack.

In 2012, the Department put a bounty of $10 million on LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and $2 million on his deputy, Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki.

The rewards have not worked so far and Saeed operates openly in Pakistan, leaving the effectiveness of the latest steps open to question.

Under international pressure, the Pakistani Punjab government put him under house arrest in January in 2017 but a review board headed by a Lahore High Court judge ordered his release in November that year.

Saeed has also been declared an international terrorist by the UN Security Council.

Before the Mumbai attack, the US had designated the LeT as a terrorist organisation in 2001 and imposed sanctions on it and the UN Security Council followed suit in 2005.

The RFJ website, which said the "reward offer extends to any individual who bears responsibility for this act of terror", mentioned four persons, who, it said, have been indicted by a US federal court.

They are Sajid Mir, Major Iqbal, Abu Qahafa and Mazhar Iqbal (alias Abu al-Qama).

The RJF website said that Mir was the handler for Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who was sent by the LeT on a spying mission to India to prepare for the attacks.

Headley, whose original name was Daood Sayed Gilani, is serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai attack and in a terrorism conspiracy against a Danish newspaper.

The only terrorist captured by Indian security, Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, was tried by Indian courts and executed in 2012.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)

--IANS

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The Rs 260-crore ponzi scamster Vinay Shah of Gujarat was arrested by the Nepal police near the capital Kathmandu on Monday, Gujarat police said on Monday.

Shah had been in hiding at his female friend's house in Nepal, sources said.

Haresh Dudhat, Superintendent of Police (SP), CID crime, said, "Vinay Shah has been arrested from Pokhra near Kathmandu. He was in hiding with his woman friend Chandaa Thapa, who works in a spa in Delhi. Right now he's in Nepal police's custody and we already have our teams in Nepal who will get him in our custody after carrying out due procedures."

According to Dudhat, Shah was arrested under various sections of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act as he carried more currency than is permissible. The Nepal police found Rs 30 lakh cash with Vinay and he was handed over to the revenue department of Nepal.

As India and Nepal are signatories of the extradition treaty, the CID Crime will take Shah's custody after the Nepal authorities give their clearance, he said Dudhat.

"Going through the call details recordings (CDR), our investigations showed that the Shah couple could be hiding in Nepal. We were in constant touch with the Nepal police, and had sent a team to Nepal two days ago. The Nepal police called up our DGP, CID (Crime and Railways) to inform him of the arrest," said Dudhat.

Shah carried with him currency of over Rs 30 lakhs in US dollars, pounds and Euros," said Dudhat.

"The CID crime has recorded over 100 testimonies in the case. After the Shah couple disappeared, the police have recovered Rs 43 lakh from his house and around Rs 38 lakh in different bank accounts," said Dudhat.

"We are quite confident that the duped people would recover their money. We also want people to come forward and register their complaints," added Dudhat.

Vinay and his wife Bhargavi had allegedly cheated thousands of investors to the tune of Rs 260 crore through their companies, Archarcare LLP and Digi Locals, police said.

The Vastrapur police has filed three complaints in the case against the Shah couple and two others. The Gujarat government subsequently formed an SIT of CID Crime to investigate the scam.

--IANS

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The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Monday launched 'PaiSA' -- a centralised electronic platform for processing interest subvention on bank loans to beneficiaries under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).

The PaiSA (Portal for Affordable Credit and Interest Subvention Access) has been designed and developed by Allahabad Bank, as per a release.

"PAiSA is yet another effort by the government to connect directly with the beneficiaries, ensuring that there is greater transparency and efficiency in delivery of services," said Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra.

"DBT of subvention on monthly basis under DAY-NULM will give the necessary financial support to small entrepreneurs in a timely manner".

All 35 states and Union Territories and all scheduled commercial banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Cooperative Banks are expected to be on board the PAiSA portal by the year-end.

--IANS

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President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Congress on Monday paid tributes to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror carnage on its 10th anniversary.

In a message, President Kovind said his "thoughts are with the families and individuals who suffered".

"We salute those from the police and security forces who made the supreme sacrifice that day. India remains honour bound to securing justice and defeating terrorism."

He said that the day also marks the 70th anniversary of the adoption of Indian Constitution.

"Let us make the coming year worth this anniversary by giving the Constitutional ethic a greater salience in all our thinking, all our action," the President urged.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome terror attack.

"Our solidarity with the bereaved families. A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," Modi said.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a message: "Solemnly remembering the 26/11 My heartfelt gratitude and salutations to the security personnel, bravehearts, NSG commandos, police, firefighters and above all the citizens of Mumbai. Lest We Forget."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saluted the brave security forces and martyrs who gave a fitting reply to the perpetrators.

"After the attacks, Mumbai's security has been accorded top priority. The city is now under strict CCTV monitoring and we are committed to intensify our war against terror," Fadnavis added, referring to the enhanced efforts to secure the country's commercial capital.

State Congress President Ashok Chavan and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan paid tributes and said "the nation and its people would never forget the extreme sacrifices of their heroes in defending the nation".

State President of Nationalist Congress Party Jayant Patil, Leader of Opposition in Council Dhananjay Munde and other senior leaders like Ajit Pawar visited the 26/11 martyrs memorial at Chowpatty.

Several functions are being held in the city and other parts of the state on Monday to remember the 26/11 carnage and pray for the 166 victims who perished in the 60-hour long attacks carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists at multiple locations in south Mumbai, shocking the global community.
Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula in a major escalation of tensions leading Kiev to announce early on Monday that it will impose martial law.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko tweeted he will propose to the Supreme Rada (parliament) to approve the imposition of martial law following the seizure on Sunday by the Russian coastguard forces in the Black Sea, Efe news reported.

Poroshenko said that as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and in accordance with the Constitution, he has decided to support the proposal of the Military Committee of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC).

The Ukranian leader said he hoped the Rada would quickly approve his proposal. However, he added the state of emergency would not necessarily include the mobilisation of the Army, but added that "you have to be prepared".

He also said that martial law does not mean the introduction of restrictions on the rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens.

The Secretary of the NSDC, Oleksandr Turchynov, proposed that the martial law be in force for 60 days in order to create the conditions to repel a possible "military aggression" and any threat to the independence and territorial integrity.

He said that they were talking about the danger of a provocation not only in the Black and Azov seas, but also on land, and that they see the intense preparations of the Russian military units that are close to the northern, eastern and southern borders of the Ukraine.

He recalled that this was the first time that Russia has openly attacked Ukraine, since, until now, it had done so "secretly" through hybrid warfare methods.

For his part, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, described the seizure of the Ukrainian ships, during which six soldiers were wounded, as an "act of aggression."

He added that now they have an aggression on Ukrainian territory and also a war with Russia in neutral waters.

The Federal Security Service (FSB, former KGB) of Russia confirmed around midnight after Sunday that the seizure on Sunday afternoon of two small Ukrainian Navy vessels and a tugboat in Russian territorial waters took place after they supposedly performed "dangerous maneuvers", something that Kiev denies.

The Ukraine maintains that its vessels were seized in neutral waters when they returned to the port of Odessa in the Black Sea from which they had departed on Sunday morning.

The FSB also admitted to opening fire on the Ukrainian ships to force them to stop, adding that their coastguards attended to the injured Ukrainian crew and that "their lives are not in danger."

Ukraine had already earlier accused a Russian coast guard ship of ramming one of its tugs on Sunday, as it circumnavigated the Crimean peninsula.

Despite Russian warnings, the Ukrainian fleet continued its course to the Sea of Azov, which is why the port authorities closed the Kerch Strait.

Russia accuses Ukraine of trying to provoke a situation of conflict in the region, while the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on the international community to condemn the Russian aggression.

Tension in the Sea of Azov skyrocketed since Moscow inaugurated the Crimean Bridge linking the peninsula with Russia in May, after which inspections of Ukrainian vessels intensified, which Kiev considers a de facto blockade of its ports in the Sea of Azov.

--IANS

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A team of scientists are preparing to set sail for seven weeks to the Antarctic so they can collect blue whale faeces and examine its impact on biodiversity and climate change, the media reported.

"The most detailed whale poo expedition ever," as the participants have dubbed it, aims to test a theory that waste from the world's biggest mammal plays a far more crucial role in maintaining the productivity of southern oceans than previously believed, the Guardian reported.

The team, along with dozens of other scientists will depart on January 19, 2019, from Hobart, Tasmania on the Research Vessel Investigator, it added.

"I want to show that whales are ecosystem engineers," Lavenia Ratnarajah, a marine biogeochemist at the University of Liverpool, was quoted as saying.

"Conservation campaigns are usually focussed on their beauty, but that doesn't convince everyone. If we can show how much these animals contribute to the functions of the ocean, then it will be easier to save them."

Whale excrement acts as an iron-rich ocean fertiliser that stimulates the growth of marine bacteria and phytoplankton -- tiny plants that form the base of the Antarctic food chain and act as the greatest biological source of carbon sequestration.

The new study will try to quantify that fertilising impact and test theories that the whale is irreplaceable in the polar ecosystem because the other major predators -- penguins and seals -- tend to defecate on the ice rather than in the water so they cannot provide the same nutritional benefits.

The team will first deploy sonar buoys to identify the location of the whales and then, when close, use drones to fly above them and wait for telltale orange plumes. It can take days.

The faeces, which is mainly composed of digested krill, initially floats on the surface before dissipating and then sinking to the floor of the ocean.

Blue whale -- which can grow to more than 30 metres in length and weigh 200 tonnes --numbers plunged by 95 per cent in the early 20th century, but they have stabilised and partially recovered since the introduction of a global ban on catches in 1966.

There are now thought to be between 10,000 and 35,000, mostly in the Antarctic.

--IANS

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India's benchmark stock indices advanced about 1 per cent on Monday, as investors stepped up equity purchases after a string of declines last week.

Firm Asian cues, and a persistent decline in global crude oil prices also buoyed investor sentiment, sending the Sensex over 370 points higher, while the broader Nifty topped the 10,600-mark.

Buying was witnessed in the FMCG and consumer durables stocks. The index pivotals -- finance and banking -- were 1.32 per cent and 1 per cent higher, respectively.

Export-oriented stocks like IT gained while the healthcare traded lower.

The Sensex settled up 373.06 points or 1.07 per cent at 35,354.08, from its previous close of 34,981.02. It touched an intra-day high of 35,397.24 and a low of 34,896.07.

The Nifty50 lost 101.85 points or 0.97 per cent to finish at 10,628.60.

The overall market breadth was negative, with 1,067 stocks advancing and 1,536 declining on account of a 0.15 per cent fall in the small-caps.

Hero MotoCorp closed with over 4 per cent gains, emerging as the top gainer on the Sensex, while Hindustan Unilever and Wipro advanced over 3 per cent each. Yes Bank settled as the top loser, closing 5 per cent lower. It was followed by ONGC.

Crude oil prices traded at $59.74 per barrel while the domestic currency stood at Rs 70.55 per dollar from its previous close of 70.67.

Global crude oil price has guided the markets for the past few weeks after it touched $86-a-barrel mark in early October. The Brent crude oil slipped below $60 in just a month following the US move to let 8 countries, including India and China, continue buying oil for six months from Iran despite its sanctions.

According to India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), a change of $1 per barrel in global crude price will impact the country's import bill by Rs 61.6 billion.

--IANS

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Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal on Monday accepted a legal challenge against newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet, deepening the political crisis that enters its second month in the island country.

The court accepted the petition filed by 122 legislators against Rajapaksa and 48 others who have been named as Ministers, state Ministers and deputy Ministers in the new government appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena, Xinhua news agency reported.

The case is to be taken up for preliminary hearing on Friday.

The petitioners are seeking an interim order preventing Rajapaksa and his government from exercising any authority of a legitimate cabinet.

The legislators who have filed the petition are from ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party, the Tamil National Alliance and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

They argue that a "state of anarchy and chaos" would ensue in the country given that Rajapaksa's cabinet had lost two votes of no-confidence motions and does not command a majority in Parliament.

Sri Lanka has been embroiled in a severe political crisis after President Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister on October 26.

The President appointed a new caretaker government thereafter.

--IANS

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Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula in a major escalation of tensions between the two countries.

Two gunboats and a tug were captured by Russian forces. Ukraine says they were fired on and six crew were injured, BBC reported on Sunday.

The countries blame each other for the incident. Ukraine's government said it would declare martial law.

The crisis began when Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters.

The Russians placed a tanker under a bridge in the Kerch Strait - the only access to the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called an urgent meeting of his "war cabinet" over the incident, his spokesperson said.

In the morning, Ukraine's Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats, and the Yana Kapa tug, tried to sail from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine says the Russians tried to intercept the ships, ramming the tug. The vessels continued towards the Kerch Strait, but were prevented by the tanker.

Russia scrambled two fighter jets and two helicopters to the area. It accused the ships of illegally entering its waters and said the traffic had been suspended for security reasons.

The Ukrainian navy later said the boats had been hit and disabled as they tried to leave the area. It said the tug had been forced to stop.

Russia's FSB later confirmed that one of its patrol boats had used force to seize the three Ukrainian vessels.

Ukraine said it had informed the Russians of its plan to move its ships through the sea to Mariupol.

Tensions have recently risen in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov off the Crimean peninsula -- annexed by Russia in 2014.

--IANS

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Remembering the innocent civilians who were butchered during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai a decade ago on this day, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that terror achieves no purpose and emphasised that friendly relations between India and Pakistan is the only way forward.

Unveiling a book by his former Cabinet colleague Manish Tewari "Fables of Fractured Times", Singh said that although he was invited to launch the book, his thoughts were on the Mumbai attacks that took place 10 years ago.

"Our dear citizens were lost due to acts of grave terror. I can only hope that saner elements will prevail in India and Pakistan," he said.

He maintained that terror achieves no purpose and referred to the current state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir as a result of the "strained relationship" between the countries, separated at birth.

He said that there is a great churning in international affairs, where changes are taking place at a rate that was "unthinkable" 10 years ago.

"Countries which once championed the cause of globalisation are now championing the cause of protectionism. Nobody could have imagined that Britain would walk away from the European Union," he said.

He described Tewari's book, a compendium of his published articles, as a versatile account of the domestic and international events.

--IANS

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Thousands of people, including celebrities and political leaders, bid an emotional farewell to iconic Kannada actor M.H. Ambareesh at a state funeral here on Monday.

Ambareesh, 66, popularly known as a 'rebel star', died on Saturday night following a cardiac arrest at a hospital.

Ambareesh's only son Abhishek lit the funeral pyre after the state reserve police gave a gun salute and a police band sounded the bugle at the state-run Kanteerava Studio in the city's northwest suburb.

The last rites were performed as per Vokkaliga tradition and about 250 kg of firewood, including sandalwood, was used for the pyre.

The funeral site of the former Lok Sabha member from Congress and ex-Union Minister in the Studio is located adjacent to the memorial of Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar, who passed away in April 2006.

The funeral was delayed by two hours as the flower-bedecked cortege, carrying the body in a glass casket, took more than three hours to reach the Studio from the Kanteerava Stadium in the city centre.

Though vehicular traffic was cleared for the funeral procession on the 15 km route and hundreds of police personnel were deployed en route, the cortege moved slowly as lakhs thronged the route for a final glimpse of the popular actor, draped in tricolour with the famous Mysuru 'peta' (headgear) crowning his head.

Sandalwood stars Srinath, Jai Jagadish, Shiva Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, Upendra and Jaggesh, Telugu actor Mohan Babu and multi-lingual actress Jaya Prada were among the many from film world who attended the funeral.

Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, many cabinet ministers, including D.K. Shivakumar and H.D. Revanna, Congress state President Dinesh Gundu Rao, BJP state unit president B.Y. Yeddyurappa and other political leaders and lawmakers were present at the funeral.

Ambareesh entered filmdom through the role of 'Jaleel' in veteran director Puttanna Kanagal's "Naagarahaavu" in 1972 and has acted in over 200 films since then.

--IANS

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Turkish forensic officers have begun searching a luxury villa in Yalova, a city southeast of Istanbul, after launching an investigation there as part of a hunt for evidence that might lead to the remains of murdered Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

A large contingent of forensic investigators arrived in various vehicles at the palatial villa close to the eastern shore of the Sea of Marmara looking for clues as to the whereabouts of the Washington Post columnist who was killed in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul on October 2, Xinhua news agency reported.

Khashoggi, 59, had attended the consulate to deal with the paperwork for his impending marriage.

Irfan Fidan, chief prosecutor for Istanbul who heads the investigation into Khashoggi, ordered the search of the mansion, some 60 miles from Istanbul.

Local newspaper Hurriyet said the mansion belonged to a Saudi businessman and that a second property adjacent to it was also being searched.

Khashoggi's disappearance has heightened tensions between Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi authorities have arrested 18 persons over Khashoggi's killing and brought criminal charges against 11 of them.

Five of those arrested could face execution, authorities said.

--IANS

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An Uber driver was on Monday convicted over the death of a British passenger in Sydney.

The passenger, 30-year-old Samuel Thomas, died when he fell from the Uber cab and was hit by a bus in June 2017, the BBC reported.

Thomas, from Hertfordshire, had been getting out of the car when driver Nazrul Islam accelerated.

Islam, 32, pleaded not guilty to negligent driving causing death, but a magistrate ruled that he had not kept "a proper lookout" as Thomas exited.

"Islam did not exercise the reasonable care that a driver must exercise," Magistrate Mary Ryan told a Sydney court.

Islam will be sentenced in January 2019.

--IANS

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British Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Monday that Parliament will vote on the Brexit accord on Dec 11.

After days of speculation about the date, the only thing that had been known about which was the fact that it would occur before the Christmas recess, the conservative premier confirmed on Monday that the vote will take place on the second Tuesday of December in the House of Commons, reports Efe news.

"I'm looking ahead to December 11, when this House will be faced with a decision as to whether or not it wishes to deliver on the vote of the British people with a deal that not only delivers on that vote but also protects their jobs," said May of the upcoming vote, speaking in the House of Commons.

May appeared at Westminster on Monday after, on Sunday, the 27 nations of the European Union gave the green light to her Brexit agreement, which must be ratified by the House of Commons and by the European Parliament.

"There is a choice which this House will have to make," May told the assembled lawmakers. "We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people. Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one."

"No one knows what would happen if this deal doesn't pass. It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail," she said.

Before the vote there will be a debate on the deal lasting five days and beginning on Dec. 4.

The pact agreed to between May and the European Council has been rejected by dozens of lawmakers from her party, the opposition Labour Party and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which the Tories depend on to maintain their governing coalition.

Earlier on Monday, May gave lawmakers an ultimatum to back her Brexit deal with the EU when it is submitted to a parliamentary vote or risk bringing more division to society in the United Kingdom.

May returned to the lower chamber of lawmaking a day after EU member states gave unanimous backing to a deal on the UK's withdrawal from the bloc but now must convince a majority of Members of Parliament to vote in its favor when it is put to a meaningful vote in the chamber.

The British premier took the opportunity to highlight that her deal would end freedom of movement, one of her cornerstone policies in her Brexit agenda, but once again acknowledged discontent over the Northern Ireland backstop agreement with the EU, an insurance policy set in place that would tie the UK territory to the EU to maintain a soft Irish border in the event that no final deal is reached.

MPs have criticised the UK's inability to withdraw from such a deal unilaterally should it come to pass, but May responded on Monday saying that without a backstop there would be no Brexit deal.

Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, urged May to seek a softer, Plan B Brexit deal and warned her current plan would struggle to pass the Commons vote, which would be a act of "national self-harm", he said.

"This deal is not a plan for Britain's future, so for the good of the nation the House has very little choice but to reject this choice," Corbyn said.

Another sticking point in the Brexit negotiations was the topic of Gibraltar, the tiny British overseas territory on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain's government recently ramped up its protest that the territory's future was being exclusively negotiated by the UK and the EU.

May said that her withdrawal agreement would also apply to Gibraltar and that Spain had failed in its bid to edit the deal.

The UK is on track to leave the EU on March 19, 2019, almost three years after voters narrowly opted to leave in a referendum.

--IANS

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A major US-Mexico border crossing in San Diego was closed for hours after a group of migrants on the Mexican side rushed the border area, leading American Border Patrol agents to fire tear gas at the group.

About 500 migrants on the Mexican side of the border overwhelmed police blockades near the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Sunday afternoon, authorities in Tijuana told CNN.

As the migrants tried to cross the border, authorities on the US side used tear gas to disperse them.

Video of the scene showed a cloud of tear gas that sent people running and screaming, including families with young children.

US Customs and Border Protection said the migrants threw projectiles that struck several agents.

"Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas to dispel the group because of the risk to agents' safety," the agency tweeted.

The San Ysidro Port of Entry, which closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for several hours, was reopened later on Sunday.

Mexico's Interior Ministry said federal and local authorities stopped the migrants from crossing the border illegally.

Those identified as having tried to illegally cross will be processed for deportation to their home countries, it added.

By Sunday night, Tijuana police had arrested 39 people, the agency said on Facebook.

The Interior Ministry described Sunday's incident as "acts of provocation" and warned that far from helping the migrants' cause, it could result in a serious incident on the border.

In response to the incident, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said: "The DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down ports of entry for security and public safety reasons.

"We will also seek to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who destroys federal property, endangers our front-line operators, or violates our nation's sovereignty."

--IANS

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Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Monday that she will go to people's court against the Governor's decision to dissolve the Assembly instead of fighting it out in a court of law.

The PDP leader tweeted: "Some sincere suggestions from well-wishers for me to go to court against Governor's dissolution of Assembly. PDP, NC, INC had come together to safeguard state interests. It is my considered opinion that we must go to people's court which is superior to any other forum."

Just when reports said that the Peoples Democratic Party, National Conference and Congress were close to working out an alliance for government formation, Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the House.

Malik said the alliance would have been "opportunistic" and not provide a viable democratic government to the troubled state.

--IANS

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When Group of Twenty (G20) leaders meet in Buenos Aires at the end of November, it will mark a decade since their first meeting in Washington.

As the presidency shifts from Argentina to Japan at Buenos Aires (and, following Japan, to Saudi Arabia), it is worth asking why the G20 has survived for this long but also how to make it relevant to a dramatically changed world. In a review, I have just completed for Bruegel, the Brussels think tank, I argue that given their enhanced standing in the global economy, and to serve better their own economic interests, the G20s emerging market ...
Time is of the essence Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who is seeking a fourth term in Madhya Pradesh, concluded his campaign with a public meeting in the Kolar area of capital city Bhopal. It is said that Kolar is lucky for Chouhan. Indeed, Chouhan has a routine: He starts his campaign by filing his nominations in Budhni and concludes it with a public meeting in Kolar.

This has happened since 2008. During his speech Chouhan kept looking at his watch so that he didn't overshoot the time limit for campaigning set at 5.00 pm. He concluded his speech by 4.53 pm. Read our ...
Nowadays, many of us prefer to work independently as a consultant or freelance than being associated with full time with an organization, being on their payroll. This is because of the enormous flexibility one gets to have by being self-employed. However, it is equally important to understand that flexibility cannot be the sole determining factor to choose self-employment over being salaried.

Financial and tax compliance plays a significant role in deciding which option is more suitable for you. These have been discussed in this article. Taxability First and foremost, it is ...
As many as 1,821 candidates are left in the fray for 119 constituencies in the December 7 Telangana Assembly polls, the state election commission said Monday.

The commission is coming out with the official figure Monday after withdrawal of nominations ended on November 22.

According to an official release, 1,762 nominations were either rejected or withdrawn.

Election officials had Thursday said the final number of candidates left in the fray would be known after receipt of information from the constituencies.

Malkajgiri segment leads with 42 contestants including independents followed by 35 each in Uppal and LB Nagar constituencies.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which is going it alone, has fielded candidates in all the 119 Assembly segments.

The Congress, which is leading the 'grand alliance', has fielded 99 candidates while its other partners-Telugu Desam Party 13 and CPI three.

Its other ally, Telangana Jana Samithi has given 'B-Forms' for eight candidates.

B-Form for elections is a proof that a particular candidate is put up by a political party.

According to the original seat sharing agreement, the Congress was supposed to contest in 94 seats, TDP (14) CPI (3) and TJS eight.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded 118 candidates.

Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is seeking re-election from Gajwel constituency.

Telangana Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy is contesting from Huzurnagar, while BJP Telangana chief K Laxman from Musheerabad.

CPI's Telangana unit secretary Chada Venkat Reddy is contesting from Husnabad.

Campaigning will reach a crescendo Tuesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to address two election rallies in Telangana on Tuesday as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign for the Assembly election.

Party chief Amit Shah had on Sunday undertook a whirlwind tour of Telangana and addressed four public meetings. He will again address meetings Wednesday and Sunday.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi undertook campaigning for the Congress party on November 23.

The ruling TRS is already into hectic campaigning with its president and caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and other leaders addressing a series of rallies.

Counting of votes will be on December 11.

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Two alleged members of the notorious Kaushal gang, involved in firing at a hospital in Rewari has been arrested, Gurgaon police said Monday.

"The accused, Saurav and Gaurav, who are brothers, were involved in various cases of extortion in Rewari and other districts of Haryana. They had also fired gunshots at a hospital in Rewari in a bit to extort money," Deputy Superintendent of Police (STF) Kaptan Singh said.

Acting on a tip-off police laid a trap and arrested the accused from Jamalpur village in Gurgaon on Sunday, the officer said, adding they were active members of the Kaushal gang.

"The leader of the gang, Kaushal, used to make calls to businessmen to extort money and the accused used to collect the amount from the victims on his behalf," Singh said.

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Cracks within Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) came to the fore on Monday, with two of its MLAs in Bihar making a surprise appearance in the BJP legislature party meeting here on Monday night.

BJP leaders remained tight-lipped about the development, but sources within the party said on condition of anonymity that their presence at the meeting was a resounding snub to Kushwaha.

One of the MLAs, Sudhansu Shekhar, had recently visited Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence, triggering angry reactions from Kushwaha, who has since been accusing the Janata Dal (United) president of trying to poach his MLAs.

Earlier in the day, outside the Assembly premises, Shekhar told reporters: "I had met Kumar and there is nothing unusual in that. Legislators from all parties do meet the chief minister to discuss problems relating to their respective constituencies and I did nothing wrong."



In response to a query regarding Kushwaha's ultimatum to the NDA to finalise a seat-sharing deal by Friday, Shekhar cryptically remarked: "I am going to remain in the NDA."



The other RLSP MLA, Lalan Paswan, launched a scathing attack on Kushwaha, terming him incapable of managing two MLAs and an MP, let alone an entire party.

"Kushwaha calls Nitish Kumar his elder brother and yet has all sorts of problems with the latter. He, however, feels no discomfort in paying obeisance to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav," Paswan, who was suspended from the RLSP two years ago, said.

Paswan had joined a parallel outfit floated by rebel Jehanabad MP Arun Kumar, but technically continues to be an MLA of Kushwaha's party.

"He goes on whining that he is being insulted in the NDA, that he deserves a respectable treatment. Whom is he trying to fool? He is a member of the Union council of ministers in the NDA government. Do people get appointed ministers out of disrespect?" Paswan asked sarcastically.

Besides the two MLAs, the party's Sitamarhi MP, Ram Kumar Sharma, had recently stated that he was in favour of the RLSP remaining in the NDA and, in an obvious hint of his future preferences, said he was in constant touch with Nitish Kumar.

Meanwhile, flustered by the developments within his five-year-old party, Kushwaha announced on Twitter on Monday that he had sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi between Tuesday and Friday.

The development comes at a time when Kushwaha has raised the pitch for respect within the NDA and allocation of a respectable number of seats to his party for the 2019 general election.

The RLSP had won three Lok Sabha seats in 2014.

Kushwaha has recently met RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and senior leader Sharad Yadav, which triggered speculation of his leaving the NDA for the Grand Alliance.

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A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court hearing the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case will start recording the testimonies of witnesses from December 3.

Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town located about 200 km from here in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008.

All the seven accused, including Lt Col Prasad Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, are facing trial for charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"Summonses have been issued to the witnesses. The court will start recording their testimonies from December 3," Special Public Prosecutor Avinash Rasal said Monday.

Special court judge Vinod Padalkar had on October 30 framed charges in the case against all the seven accused for terror activities, criminal conspiracy and murder, among others.

Besides Purohit and Thakur, Major (retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni are the other accused in the case.

They were charged under sections 16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act) of the UAPA.

Under the IPC, they were charged under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 153A (promoting enmity between two religious groups).

The accused were also charged under the relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act.

According to the prosecution, the accused had formed a right-wing organisation and held meetings under its name at various places in the country, where the alleged conspiracy was hatched.

On December 27 last year, the special NIA court had dismissed the pleas filed by Purohit, Thakur and others seeking to be discharged from the case.

The NIA, after taking over the case, had filed a chargesheet in 2016, giving a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, Shyam Sahu, Praveen Takalki and Shivnarayan Kalsangra, saying it had found no evidence against them and they should be discharged from the case.

The court had, however, absolved only Sahu, Kalsangra and Takalki and ruled that Sadhvi Pragya Thakur will have to face the charges.

At that time, the court had dropped the stringent charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused, but had said they will face the charges under the UAPA and IPC.

The accused had later challenged the applicability of the UAPA against them and the court had last month rejected their pleas.

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/ -- 42Gears Mobility Systems, a leading Unified Endpoint Solution provider positioned as a Visionary in the 2018 Gartner Magic Quadrant has been onboarded by Lenovo Tablet Business Unit division as an official MDM solution vendor.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/517153/42Gears_Mobility_Systems_Logo.jpg )



This relationship began in August 2018, and will enable Lenovo Global Tablet Team to work exclusively with 42Gears as their MDM vendor for the next 2 years. 42Gears products will also be open for sale by Lenovo partners. 42Gears and Lenovo have been closely working together to develop mobility solutions since 2016.

Abhay Koranne, Senior Vice President, 42Gears Mobility Systems said, "We are very happy to have signed this agreement with Lenovo. 42Gears has previously worked extensively with Lenovo India Sales and this partnership is a testimony of the excellent rapport we share together. We expect this partnership to be mutually beneficial for both our businesses. Together we'll be able to target a bigger chunk of the mobility market on a global scale."



About 42Gears42Gears is a leading Unified Endpoint Management Solution provider, offering SaaS and On-premise solutions to secure, monitor and manage all business endpoints such as tablets, phones, desktops and wearables. 42Gears's products support company-owned as well as employee-owned devices built on Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, Wear OS and Linux platforms. It has more than 9000 customers in 115+ countries. 42Gears's products are used in verticals like healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, education and retail. For more information, please visit http://www.42gears.comAbout LenovoLenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$45 billion Fortune 500 company and a global technology leader in driving Intelligent Transformation through smart devices and infrastructure that create the best user experience. Lenovo manufactures one of the world's widest portfolio of connected products, including smartphones (Motorola), tablets, PCs (ThinkPad, Yoga, Lenovo Legion) and workstations as well as AR/VR devices and smart home/office solutions. Lenovo's data center solutions (ThinkSystem, ThinkAgile) are creating the capacity and computing power for the connections that are changing business and society. Lenovo works to inspire the different in everyone and build a smarter future where everyone thrives.

LENOVO and LENOVO LEGION are trademarks of Lenovo.

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Seven persons, including a former councillor, were arrested on Monday in Sri Lanka for planning to publicly commemorate slain LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran's 64th birth anniversary, police said.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which led the separatist war for a separate Tamil homeland for three decades in the island nation, was finally crushed by the Lankan military in 2009 with the death of Prabhakaran.

The seven persons, including a former northern provincial councillor VK Shivajilingam, were arrested at Prabhakaran's birth place at Velvettiturai, police said, adding that they seized a cake and banners from them.

The persons were later released.

During the LTTE's 30-year separatist campaign, Prabhakaran's birthday was celebrated as the Hero's Day or Martyr's Day. He used to deliver an annual policy speech of the outfit on the day.

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Over 78,000 paramilitary personnel have been mobilised by the Union Home Ministry for deployment in the ongoing assembly elections in five states, officials said Monday.

The action has been taken following several rounds of discussions with the Election Commission, which directed the home ministry to provide adequate forces under its disposal.

A total of 785 companies of paramilitary forces have been mobilised for deployment in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana for the assembly polls, a home ministry official said.

One company of paramilitary comprises around 100 personnel.

While the two-phased assembly elections have already been held in Chhattisgarh, polling in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will be held on November 28 and in Rajasthan and Telangana on December 7.

The highest number of paramilitary personnel -- around 40,000 -- were deployed in Chhattisgarh which are now being withdrawn to be deployed in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, the official said.

The paramilitary forces were being drawn from different parts of the country and they are being transported through several trains provided by the Ministry of Railways, another official said.
Officials of the Mizoram Excise and Narcotics department Monday seized 88 gms of heroin in Champai district and arrested two women.

Two women of Tawipui village in south Mizoram's Lunglei district were arrested for alleged possession of the drugs worth around Rs 4.40 lakh in the local market, the department spokesman said.

The two accused were booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and produced before a district judge in Champhai.

The judge remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days.

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A whopping 90 per cent residents of Jait, the native village of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, are living below the poverty line (BPL), the Congress claimed Monday.

The main opposition party further claimed there has been a 27 per cent increase in BPL population in the BJP-ruled state between 2006 and 2016, citing figures from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-2017. However, the BJP refuted the statements made by the Congress, calling them "an attempt to misguide the people".

Addressing a press conference here, just two days ahead of the assembly polls, Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge of the AICC communications department, accused Chouhan, who is seeking a fourth term in office, of making "misleading" statements about his government's achievements.

"Mama has given the deceitful slogan 'Swarnim se Samraddhi' (from golden days to prosperity). But, 90 per cent people in Chouhan's home village - Jait - are living below the poverty line.

"Out of 327 families of the village, 294 are living below poverty line, according to the government's 'Samagra' portal," he said.

Chouhan, popularly known as 'mama' (maternal uncle), is a resident of Jait, which is part of the Budhni assembly seat in Sehore district. The BJP CM, who assumed the top post in 2005, is seeking a re-election from Budhni.

Asked about the Congress' claims on poverty, BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha said Surjewala was giving "false" data to "misguide" people and added he was not well versed with the situation in Madhya Pradesh.

When pointed out that Surjewala had claimed he have taken data on Chouhan's village from the government's own portal, Jha said in contrary 90 per cent of people in Budhni were "prosperous".

Quoting another report, Surjewala said 2.34 crore people, which is 33 per cent of Madhya Pradesh's population, are living in poverty as per the RBI's Statistical Handbook-2017.

Moreover, the wealth index, presented on February 2 in the Lok Sabha, says only 15.8 per cent people of MP are under its purview, he said.

The Congress spokesman said the BJP government has failed to properly implement the Ladli Laxmi Yojana, its flagship scheme for girls that seeks to secure their educational and economic future.

Accusing the Chouhan government of curtailing the education budget, Surjewala claimed there was no electricity connection in 72 per cent of the schools in the state.

Besides, the number of schools having only one teacher went up to 19,132 in 2016-17 from 18,915 in 2015-16, the Congress spokesman said.

Surjewala said though Chouhan claims to be a farmer's son, he has never been to a 'mandi' (wholesale market of farm produce).

Highlighting the plight of farmers in the state, he said cultivators, especially in Mandsaur, are forced to sell their onion and garlic crops at just 50 paise per kilogram.

The Congress leader said Chouhan's claims about his government's achievements are "misleading" and "hollow".

Madhya Pradesh will vote on November 28 to elect a new 230-member Assembly. Counting of votes will be held on December 11.

The BJP is seeking a fourth straight term in office in the state, while the Congress is making a renewed bid to come back to power after 15 years.

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Anjum Rajabali was looking forward to work with Aamir Khan for his next "Salute" but the writer says the superstar was so "consumed" by his mammoth project "Mahabharata" that he could not do the film anymore.

"Salute", which is reportedly now titled "Saare Jaha Se Achcha", was earlier offered to Aamir. The film, a biopic on astronaut Rakesh Sharma, will now feature Shah Rukh Khan.

"I have been very excited about the project. Like Aamir, I have been a big fan of Rakesh and now he is a good friend also. Frankly speaking, I was very keen that Aamir do it and he, at that moment, had liked it," Anjum told reporters.

"We had discussed it a lot. We had a lot of hopes for it but unfortunately (there was) the larger project of 'Mahabharata', which he was consumed by," he added.

Aamir, who was sitting right next to the writer exclaimed, "Oh my god!" as the actor had previously remained mum about his exit from the project.

The 53-year-old actor said the film's script is wonderful and he was really looking forward to work in the film.

"It is a great script. 'Salute' is a wonderful script and I am a big fan of Rakesh (Sharma). It's a wonderful story and I feel sad that I was not able to do it, which is why I called up Shah Rukh and told him it was a wonderful story and he should hear it. I am glad he liked it. All my best wishes for the project," the actor said.

They were speaking at the award ceremony of Cinestaan India's Storytellers Contest.

According to reports, Aamir will soon begin work on "Mahabharata", being developed as a seven-part long web series. The actor will be flying to the USA to work on the script and other technicalities of the big budget epic.

"Salute", being directed by Mahesh Mathai, is jointly produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Ronnie Screwvala under the production banners of Roy Kapur Films and RSVP Films respectively.

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: A delegation of All Assam Students Union met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu here Monday, seeking the TDP's support to block the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The AASU delegation told the Chief Minister that they had launched a movement against the proposed Bill as it would jeopardise the interests of the people of northeast states.

The delegation comprised AASU President Dipanka Kumar Nath, general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi, chief advisor Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjya and Gauhati University professors Basanta Deka and Shikar Sarma, a release from the Chief Minister's office said.

The members told the Chief Minister that the Centre tabled the Bill in Parliament and a joint parliamentary committee was later constituted to interact with various groups and individuals across the country.

"We opposed the Bill during the (JPC) hearing. The Bill will make the Assam Accord invalid in the clearest possible terms.

This should not be acceptable to any political party in the country which ratified the Assam Accord in Parliament in 1985," they added.

Promising support to the AASU movement, the Chief Minister said that the Centre should respect the sentiments of the people of Assam.

He assured them that the issue would be discussed with all stakeholders for appropriate action.

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Police Monday arrested n accused in the 2002 Akshardham temple terror attack case, moments after he alighted from a flight here.

Mohammed Farooq Shaikh was nabbed by the Crime Branch from Ahmedabad airport, soon after his arrival from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhagrithsinh Gohil told PTI.

Two armed terrorists had attacked the temple in Gandhinagar, killing 30 people and injuring eight on September 24, 2002. The attack followed the Godhra riots in the same year.

"Shaikh lived in Juhapura before he fled to Riyadh in 2002 after the temple attack," the police official said, adding Shaikh had arranged funds for the attack.

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The sanction required to prosecute former Union Minister P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case has been obtained from the authorities concerned, the CBI told a court here on Monday.

The court, which further extended the protection from arrest to Chidambaram and his son Karti till December 18, also granted three weeks to the agency to get sanction against some other people who are accused in the case.

Special Judge O P Saini posted the next date of hearing on December 18.

There are 18 accused in the case. Besides Chidambaram, sanction is required for the prosection of five public servants.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted on behalf of the CBI that "the competent authority in the central government has accorded sanction for prosecution of accused P Chidambaram under section 197 of CrPC and section 19 of Prevention of Corruption Act".

"Sanction for prosecution in respect of remaining accused public servants (five) are still awaited," he said, seeking two more weeks to get the nod.

The CBI said that court's refusal to grant more time to obtain the sanction for other accused "in a matter pertaining to such a serious offences, may frustrate the cause of justice".

It further said: "In view of the facts and circumstances stated above, it is most humbly and respectfully prayed that the prosecution sanction received from the competent authority in the central government in respect of accused P Chidambaram may kindly be taken on record and a further time may be given to file sanction for prosecution in respect of remaining accused public servants."



On behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a related money laundering case, Mehta orally told the court that the accused "misled the agency and made false statement. He suppressed information about the bank accounts in other countries and the money received from various sources."



"Custodial interrogation is required since various new materials have surfaced after filing of the charge sheet," the ED, also represented by special public prosecutors N K Matta and Nitesh Rana, said.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, requested the court to extend the protection of the former union minister, as well as his son and co-accused Karti in the both the cases filed by CBI as well ED.

The father-son duo recently denied the allegations of both the agencies that they were evasive and non-cooperative during the probe in the case, and said the allegations against them were "unsubstantiated" and there was no need of their custodial interrogation.

The submissions were made in their rejoinder, filed by advocates P K Dubey and Arshdeep Singh, in response to the replies of the probe agencies.

The CBI and ED, in their replies to the anticipatory bail pleas of Chidambarams, had alleged that they were not cooperating in the investigations.

P Chidambaram filed his anticipatory bail application in May this year. His protection from arrest has been extended from time to time.

The agencies have sought the custodial interrogation of both the accused, saying they have not been cooperating and, therefore, making it difficult to complete the investigation in a time-bound manner as directed by the Supreme Court.

The senior Congress leader and his son have come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.

In its charge sheet filed earlier in the case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the CBI alleged that P Chidambaram granted FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) approval in March 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis.

The Maran brothers and the other accused named in the CBI charge sheet were discharged by the special court, which said the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial.

The ED is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter, in which P Chidambaram and Karti have been questioned by the agency and currently their anticipatory bail is pending.

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Bharti Airtel's Africa business arm Monday announced the appointment of eight global banks including J P Morgan, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to work on its initial public offer plan.

"Airtel Africa Limited Monday announced the appointment of global banks for an intended IPO on an international stock exchange. The banks appointed are JP Morgan, Citigroup, BofA Merrill Lynch, Absa Group Limited, Barclays Bank PLC, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs International and Standard Bank Group," Bharti Airtel said in a statement.

Airtel Africa operates in 14 countries across Africa where it offers 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services and mobile commerce through 'Airtel Money'.

The development comes after the recent subscription of shares in Airtel Africa by six leading global investors comprising of Warburg Pincus, Temasek, Singtel, SoftBank Group International and others for an aggregate consideration of USD 1.25 billion.

The company plans to utilise this fund to lower debt of its Africa unit which stands at around USD 5 billion.

Earlier this month, Airtel Africa also announced its newly constituted Board of Directors that includes representatives from Bharti Airtel and the investors.

"The new Board of Directors brings a wealth of industry and governance experience to further drive the Airtel Africa business," Airtel said.

Bharti Airtel reported 3.6 per cent decline in its India revenues on year-on-year while the Africa revenues rose 10.8 per cent.

The revenue from Africa business rose to Rs 5,647.2 crore during September quarter from Rs 5,203 crore in the same period of the previous year.

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As many as 1.80 lakh security personnel will be deployed to maintain peace and ensure free and fair voting during the Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls scheduled on November 28, a senior official said Monday.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V L Kantha Rao said 3,00,782 government employees, including 45,904 women, have been deployed on poll duty at 65,367 booths set up across the state, which has a 230-member Assembly.

Addressing a press conference here at the end of election campaigning in the state, he said 17,000 of these polling booths have been declared sensitive and additional vigil will be maintained on them.

Rao said 1.80 lakh security personnel, including those drawn from central paramilitary forces, would be deployed to conduct a free and fair poll.

He said physically challenged employees would manage 160 booths, while 3,046 polling centres would have all-woman staff.

The CEO said shops and outlets selling and serving liquor have been asked to remain shut till the polling ends.

According to Election Commission (EC) data, a total of 2,907 candidates, including 1,102 Independents, are in the fray for the 230 Assembly seats.

The highest number of candidates 34 are in the Mehgaon constituency in Bhind district, while the lowest 4 is at Gunnor in Panna district.

According to the final electoral roll, the state has 5,04,95,251 voters 2,63,01,300 males, 2,41,30,390 females, 1,389 third gender and 62,172 postal electors.

The BJP is contesting on all the 230 seats, while the Congress has fielded 229 candidates, leaving one seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh district, for its ally Sharad Yadav's Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD).

The BSP has fielded 227 candidates, while the SP is contesting on 51 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party, contesting the Madhya Pradesh elections for the first time, has fielded 208 candidates.

In the last Assembly polls, the BJP had won 165, the Congress 58, the BSP four and the Independents three.

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Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh Monday hit out at Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, blaming him for terror activities in the state and killings of Indian soldiers at the border.

The chief minister made the remarks at an event where he laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor along with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.

He said, I want to say something to their (Pakistan) army chief. I have also been in the Army and General Bajwa he is very junior to me in service Does the Army teach (you) to kill our jawans at the border? You kill them with sniper. Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot, Dinanagar, Singh said.

Referring to the grenade attack on the Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar in which three people were killed, he said: People were offering prayers in a village and grenades were hurled at them. Is it what is taught by the Army? It is cowardliness, said the 76-year-old Singh, himself an ex-Indian Army officer.

He said that it is common knowledge that it is the Army that calls the shots in Pakistan.

"We believe in peace and we are giving a message of peace from here. But, their generals should understand that we have a large Army and we are prepared... And this should not happen as nobody wants war. We all want to carry out development in a peaceful manner, he said.

Earlier, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Singh laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the banks of the Ravi river, about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.

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Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh Monday hit out at Pakistan and its army chief for promotingterror activities in the state and killing of Indian soldiers, warning the Imran Khan led dispensation ofserious consequences if it did not put an end to the violence perpetrated against India.

While thanking Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for reciprocating India's move on developing the Kartarpur corridor, Singh, a former army officer, asked Khan to rein in his army and bring an immediate end to terror against Indian armed forces and citizens.

Reiterating his stand of not going to Pakistan for ground breaking ceremony of the corridor there on November 28, Amarinder Singh said how could he go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed everyday.

Where I thank Prime Minister of Pakistan (for Kartarpur Corridor), I want to say something to his Chief of army staff (Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa). I have been in the army and he (Pakistan army chief) General Bajwa is very junior to me in the service.

When we (Capt) were in the army, the country's security was always foremost for us.

"But who teaches in the army that you kill our soldiers at the border? You use sniper to kill our Jawans. Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot, Dinanagar (referring to terror attacks at Pathankot airforce base in 2016 and Dinanagar in Gurdaspur in 2015), Amarinder said.

He was addressing a gathering during the laying of the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor here.

The function took place at village Mann which lies near the Indo-Pak border with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and the Chief Minister laying the foundation stone.

Amarinder Singh further lashed out at the Pakistan army chief while referring to the recent Amritsar grenade attack on Nirankari Bhavan in which three people were killed and over 20 people were injured.

In Amritsar village, people were offering prayers in the morning and you get a grenade thrown at them. Is it what is taught by the army? It is cowardice," the Chief Minister said.

He said "by firing bullets at innocent people and killing them with grenade what they get out of itthey should be ashamed of themselves."



"If they try to foment trouble in Punjab then Bajwa (Pak army chief) should remember that we have Punjabi blood, we will not tolerate it, said Amarinder while pointing out that his government after coming to power had busted 17 terror modules and recovered several ammunitions and weapons.

"If such people think of fomenting trouble here and try to weaken our Punjab, then Bajwa should know it that I will protect people of Punjab till the last drop of my blood," he said.

Amarinder Singh said everyone knew that the Army calls the shots in Pakistan.

The Pakistan PM should rein in his army as ISI which works under army works against us..Such army chiefs (referring to Pak army chief) should understand that we have bigger army than they have and we are fully prepared. There is a limit to it if you do it repeatedly (provoke) then India will also have to think, said Amarinder adding, Nobody wants war. We want peace and development.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after the function, the Chief Minister said "Armies don't fight innocent women and children, armies don't throw grenades on religious congregation, armies are there to defend the country..".

Lashing out at those who felt he should have accepted Pakistan's invitation to participate in their ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor, Amarinder asked how he could go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed by them everyday.

I am saying this because some things came up in Facebook in which many are saying Capt Sahab why don't you go there. How will I go? I cannot forget my responsibility towards my citizens, I cannot go there. Because before reaching Kartarpur Sahib, I will have to go through Pakistan and Pakistan government is out of control, Amarinder told the gathering.

He saidpaying respects at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib has always been his cherished dream which will hopefully be fulfilled once these hostilities and killings are stopped.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Monday joined Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in laying the foundation stone of Kartarpur corridor, which would facilitate Sikh pilgrims in visiting the 16th-century Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

The gurdwara, on the banks of Ravi river, has historical significance for Sikhs as Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, spent 18 years there.

Established by the Sikh Guru in 1522, it is about three-four km from the international border. The opening a corridor to the historical shrine was a long-pending demand of Sikhs.

The decision to build the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22. Pakistan is to build the corridor on their side and its ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday.

The proposal to open the passage for Sikh pilgrims comes at a time when India-Pakistan ties have nosedived and all bilateral engagements postponed following a number of terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups since 2016, including on Pathankot Air Force Station.

On November 18, two men on a motorbike hurled a hand grenade on a religious congregation at Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar, which killed three people and injured more than 20.

The Punjab chief minister Singh has blamed terrorist groups backed by Pakistan's spy agency ISI for the attack.

At the foundation stone-laying ceremony here, Singh suggested that there should be no visa for pilgrims travelling via the corridor to visit the historic gurdwara in Pakistan.

While he has declined to visit Pakistan as of now due to its support to terrorist groups, Singh said he will accompany the first 'jatha' to Kartarpur via the corridor next year.

He announced that the Punjab government has decided to construct a grand Kartarpur Gate near the border and said it would stand tall as a monumental symbol to commemorate the 550th 'Prakash Purb' (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev.

He urged Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who was present at the event, to ensure that the corridor becomes operational by the next Gurpurab (550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev).

Gadkari assured Singh that his ministry would try to complete the construction work of the corridor expeditiously.

Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore also attended the event. He, along with Naidu and Singh, planted saplings to mark the state government's ambition to plant 550 trees to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru.

Singh said the opening of the corridor would lead to the development of the historical town of Dera Baba Nanak. He also thanked the national governments in India and Pakistan for deciding build the corridor on their side of the territory.

In a series of tweets, Union minister Arun Jaitley said "this day will be cherished in times to come when pilgrims will regularly visit the holy shrine across the international boarder hassle free.

He said Dera Baba Nanak Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib are twin pilgrimage places associated with Sri Guru Nanak Devji.

"Dera Baba Nanak Sahib & Kartarpur Sahib are twin pilgrimage places associated with Sri Guru Nanak Devji. At Kartarpur Sahib he lived preaching for 18 years and the Gurudwara Darbar Sahib is built in his commemoration," he tweeted.

Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Hardeep Singh Puri, Vijay Sampla, Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore, Cabinet Ministers Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Charanjit Singh Channi, Aruna Chaudhary were also present at the event.

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A programme to reduce Earth's heat capture by injecting aerosols into the atmosphere from high-altitude aircraft is possible, but unreasonably costly with current technology, scientists say.

A study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, looked at the capabilities and costs of various methods of delivering sulphates into the lower stratosphere, known as stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI).

They examined the costs and practicalities of a large scale, hypothetical 'solar geoengineering' project beginning 15 years from now. Its aim would be to halve the increase in anthropogenic radiative forcing, by deploying material to altitudes of around 20 kilometres.

"While we don't make any judgement about the desirability of SAI, we do show that a hypothetical deployment program starting 15 years from now, while both highly uncertain and ambitious, would be technically possible strictly from an engineering perspective," said Gernot Wagner, from Harvard University in the US.

"It would also be remarkably inexpensive, at an average of around USD 2 to 2.5 billion per year over the first 15 years," Wagner said.

The researchers confirm earlier studies that discuss the low direct costs of potential stratospheric aerosol geoengineering intervention, but they arrive at those numbers with the help of direct input from aerospace engineering companies in specifying the 'SAI Lofter (SAIL)'.

"We developed the specifications for SAIL with direct input from several aerospace and engine companies. It's equivalent in weight to a large narrow body passenger aircraft," said Wake Smith, a lecturer at Yale College in the US.

"But to sustain level flight at 20 kms, it needs roughly double the wing area of an equivalently sized airliner, and double the thrust, with four engines instead of two," Smith said.

"At the same time, its fuselage would be stubby and narrow, sized to accommodate a heavy but dense mass of molten sulphur rather than the large volume of space and air required for passengers," he said.

The team estimated the total development costs at less than USD 2 billion for the airframe, and a further USD 350 million for modifying existing low-bypass engines.

The new planes would comprise a fleet of eight in the first year, rising to a fleet of just under 100 within 15 years. The fleet would fly just over 4,000 missions a year in year one, rising to just over 60,000 per year by year 15.

However, this should not reinforce the often-invoked fear that a rogue country or operator might launch a clandestine SAI program upon an unsuspecting world.

"No global SAI program of the scale and nature discussed here could reasonably expect to maintain secrecy," said Smith.

"Even our hypothesised Year one deployment program entails 4,000 flights at unusually high altitudes by airliner-sized aircraft in multiple flight corridors in both hemispheres," he said.

"This is far too much aviation activity to remain undetected, and once detected, such a programme could be deterred," he added.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 26)  Sharing conflicting views with the administration on certain national issues do not conclude that an aspiring official will not be appointed, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

In a media briefing Monday, Panelo said that Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio's views on the Philippines-China maritime dispute will not necessarily affect his bid for the chief magistrate post.

"If you will look at the history of the President, when he appointed Harry Roque, his (former) spokesperson, I remember during the campaign, he was against the President," Panelo replied when asked if Carpio's opinions will be a factor in the judicial selection process.

"And yet the President appointed him. He became a member of the cabinet," Panelo added.

"There were members of the cabinet coming from the left, they were attacking the President, and yet they were appointed. I don't think you can derive a conclusion that just because someone is a critic of the administration, he cannot be appointed," he said.

Carpio is among those shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council to become the next head of the Supreme Court.

In October, he temporarily took over the post as the most senior associate justice, following Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro's retirement.

But for the next appointment, Panelo noted President Rodrigo Duterte may not necessarily follow the seniority rule.

"Not necessarily. Siguro all things being equal-- paano kung 'di equal? It's the President's call," the spokesperson stressed.

[Translation: Not necessarily. Perhaps with all things being equal-- what if they're not equal? It's the President's call.]

Carpio on Saturday said he is "always optimistic" regarding his chief justice bid, despite being a staunch critic of the Philippine-China ties.

The senior associate justice was among those who strongly lobbied for the country's case in the contested territories in the South China Sea.

This November, Carpio corrected Duterte's statement on the South China Sea possession issue, saying the country "is in only a small portion" of the waters.

READ: Gov't should be wary of 'careless talk' to avoid waiving arbitral ruling in South China Sea row

In a separate talk on Monday, Carpio said he's not afraid to speak up on these important national issues.

"We have to be vigilant. They say, you cannot speak because you're part of the Court... But I'd rather save our sovereign rights," Carpio said.
The Army is capable of taking action whenever told to do so, Army chief General Bipin Rawat has said, asserting that there will never be a situation where it will not be able to tackle a big terror attack like 26/11.

Rawat said the Army was now much more prepared to take action based on the directions given by the government.

"If we are told to take some action, we are capable and ready for it. So, there is never going to be a situation where you will not have options to tackle something like a big terrorist attack," Rawat told the India Today magazine in an interview.

He was responding to a question that if there was another attack like 26/11 today, what will be the Army's response.

Asked about the recent beheadings in the Valley, Rawat said in the last year-and-a-half, terrorists had targeted policemen, burnt the houses of panchayat members and school buildings.

"Now, they are targeting the unemployed, alleging that they are police informers. Locals now feel (militants) aren't acting in the best interests of the people of Kashmir. What we are seeing are acts of frustration in the final stages of an insurgency. It will lead to an uprising from the people who will then shun the militants," the Army chief said.

Asked about his recent comments that attempts were being made through "external linkages" to "revive insurgency" in Punjab, Rawat said the statements were based on intelligence inputs.

"We saw a terrorist act in Pathankot in 2016. We have seen some movements by terrorists taking place in areas bordering Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, especially the northern parts of Punjab. I was only reading the writing on the wall and warning the Army to be alert, because there might be a possible terrorist attack on our cantonments in Punjab," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Meghalaya Assembly Committee on Women Empowerment (CWE) Monday recommended institution of an independent inquiry into the November 8 attack of RTI activist Agnes Kharshiing and her aide Amita Sangma in East Jaintia Hills district.

The committee headed by Opposition Congress MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh will also submit a preliminary report on the findings of the committee on the November 8 attack before the Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy at the special session Tuesday.

"It (The government) is hereby recommended that an Independent inquiry be instituted to probe the matter. The recommendation was made as the investigation is very slow," Ampareen told mediapersons here.

She said, "There were too many missing links in the case. There are too many details that were not made available to the committee."



According to the chairperson of the committee, the institution of an enquiry at the level of an Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) to probe the attack on the two women activists is "not justified".

The deputy commissioner of East Jaintia Hills, F M Dopth, had last week ordered an enquiry to be conducted by ADC S S Syiemlieh and directed him to report within 15 days time.

"This is in itself is concerning us because we believe that the life threatening threat against two prominent women in the state of Meghalaya only takes the attention of a committee headed by the ADC," she said.

The CWE, which heard the deposition made by Dopth and the district police chief and the investigation officer of the case Monday, also recommended that Rs 5 lakh be released within 7 days for their medical expenses.

Ampareen said the governments decision to pay Rs 12,700 each as compensation for each of the victim is not justified.

While six persons have been arrested till date, the CWE chairperson said that the masterminds of the attack "remained to be at large".

"This is a very serious lapse. The committee strongly objects to this casual approach adopted by the district administration," she said.

Agnes and Amita Sangma were critically injured after they were attacked by a group of 30-40 people led by suspected coal mafias at Shohshrieh village. The incident took place after the duo stopped by to take pictures of coal laden trucks at a road side.

Amita Sangma on Sunday had accused National Peoples' Party (NPP) leader Nidamon Chullet of "masterminding" the attack.

Superintendent of Police S Nongtynger said police were on the lookout for Chullet.

"Efforts are on to nab Nidamon Chullet and all those involved in the incident," the SP added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
IT czar and philanthropist will be conferred Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) -- the highest French civilian distinction -- later this month.

Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, will confer the award to Premji, a statement said.

"The award comes in recognition of his outstanding contribution to developing the information technology industry in India, his economic outreach in France, and his laudable contribution to society as a philanthropist through the Foundation and University," it added.

Some of the past Indian recipients of the prestigious award include Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee and superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

Ziegler will be in Bengaluru on November 28-29 to attend the Bengaluru Tech Summit. This will also provide an opportunity to further boost the strong partnership between France and India in areas of information technology and innovation.

The Ambassador of France will also meet representatives of more than 30 innovative companies from the French technology business community.

This gathering will see a mix of early-stage and large technology companies specialising and developing digital solutions in artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, cybersecurity, connected devices, machine learning and super computing, the statement said.

Large French digital companies already have a strong footprint in India, employing over 1.3 lakh people at their R&D centres and facilities.

"This meeting will be an opportunity to initiate the development of a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem that draws inspiration from the French Tech movement, a growing global community made up of a new generation of entrepreneurs, investors, engineers and innovators gathered under one banner," the statement said.

Ziegler will also visit the Infosys campus and attend a leadership meeting.

"I am looking forward to meeting sectoral French companies, which are creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster and support innovation and partnerships between France and India.

"It will be a privilege for me to confer the insignia of Knight of the Legion of Honour on renowned tech magnate and philanthropist, Shri Azim Premji," Ziegler said.
The trial of eight militants who perpetrated Bangladesh's worst terror attack on a popular cafe here in 2016 that killed 22 people, including a 19-year-old Indian girl, began in a court on Monday.

Indian national Tarishi Jain was among 17 foreigners who were brutally murdered by the militants inside the restaurant in Dhaka's high-security diplomatic zone on the night of July 1, 2016, before commandos launched an assault killing six attackers and capturing one alive.

Apart from Jain, nine Italians, seven Japanese, and five Bangladeshis, including two police officers, were also killed while 50 people were injured in the attack.

Most of the victims were found with their throats slit.

Investigators said a total of 21 militants were involved in planning the assault but 13 of them were killed in subsequent anti-terrorism operations by security forces.

"The judge indicted the suspects to be tried and set December 3 for beginning the arguments," an official of Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal said.

He said Judge Mujibur Rahman indicted eight accused while police produced six of them in the dock as two others are absconding and would be tried in absentia. He said the six accused pleaded not guilty.

The trial comes four months after police pressed charges over the attack.

Five militants directly carried out the attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka's upscale Gulshan diplomatic enclave. All of them were killed on the morning of July 2 in a military commando raid at the site.

The country's deadliest ever terrorist attack prompted authorities to launch a massive anti-militancy operation.

The Neo-Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB), said to be linked to the Islamic State (IS) terror group, was blamed for the carnage. The outfit has emerged as the new chapter of the radical Islamist group JMB.

Police counter terrorism chief Monirul Islam earlier said they gathered 75 pieces of evidence for the trial and mobilised 211 witnesses to the carnage to testify in court.

Police said since late 2015, the Neo-JMB led by Bangladeshi-origin Canadian Tamim Chowdhury, said to be the mastermind of the cafe attack and who was later killed by security forces, had carried out small scale attacks on foreigners and non-Muslims in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bhim Army Monday said it will not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and instead support the candidates fielded jointly by the opposition parties against the BJP.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekar alias Ravan called for Dalits and Muslims of the country to unite under one banner to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "which talks of changing the Constitution".

"Neither are we going to constitute a (political) party nor will we contest (Lok Sabha elections). We will make 'Bahujan Samaj' aware and unite them against the BJP," he told reporters.

"The BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) is strong and I want a strong alliance of other parties with it. I also appeal to all (non-BJP parties) to contest the elections under the leadership of (BSP supremo) Mayawati. I ask all Dalit organisations to unite," he said.

He further claimed to have the support of the country's "Muslim brothers" and said everyone was uniting against the BJP.

"We will uproot the BJP, which talks of changing the Constitution," he said.

The Bhim Army chief further accused the saffron party of taking refuge in issues like Ram Temple whenever elections approach but this time, he said, even Lord Ram will not save them.

Asked about the purpose of his Ayodhya visit, Chandrashekar said he came to find out the "reality" after receiving reports that Muslims were migrating from the temple town.

"I have got some messages that Muslims are migrating. I have realised that there is no such situation here," he said.

"I met officers and they assured me that they will not let any such thing (migration) happen and yesterday's event also passed off peacefully," he said referring to Vishwa Hindu Parishad's 'Dharam Sabha' to press for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The first day of the winter session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly ended Monday after legislators condoled death of some of its former members.

Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary adjourned the House till 11 A.M. Tuesday after a brief sitting during which members paid condolences to various leaders including its former members.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi joined members in paying respect to the leaders who passed away since last session including, Bhism Narayan Singh, Hira Lal Paswan, Ram Roop Rai, Ramdeo Bhandari, Rajendra Prasad Yadav,Faiyaz Bhagalpuri, Ajizul Haque, Bhola Singh (who was Lok Sabha member from Begusarai), Abdul Jalil, Kamalnath Singh Thakur and Jageshwar Hajra.

Later, the Speaker said he would convey sentiment of the House to the families of all the departed souls.

But, before the house proceedings ended, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, tabled the second supplementary budget of Rs 10,463.18 crore for the year 2017-18 in both the houses.

Giving break up in the second supplementary budget, Modi said that Rs 7601.27 crore would be spent on annual scheme while Rs 2767.78 crore has been earmarked for establishment and committed expenditure and Rs 94.12 crore has been allocated for central sector scheme.

Earlier, Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary announced in the House that "Question Reply Management System" has been strengthened from the winter session, which would end on November 30, for availing online information about question and answer.

As per the system, an arrangement has been made to provide online answers to the questions asked by the members through assembly secretariat, Choudhary said adding that 117 questions- short notice question and starred question- from 22 members have been received through online information system in the current session.

The assembly secretariat is also taking steps to implement "National e-Vidhan application" to promote further the computerisation process in order to reduce the usage of paper work, the Speaker said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Left-affiliated All India Kisan Sabha on Monday alleged that the BJP and Sangh Parivar were raking up issues like Sabarimala and Ram temple to divert people's attention from real issues.

The peasant outfit, which is gearing up for a protest in the national capital by Left affiliated groups on November 29 and November 30, demanded that a special session of Parliament be convened to discuss farmers' issues.

"BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have totally failed to deliver on the promises made to farmers and the toiling masses and are resorting to raking up issues like Sabarimala, Ram Mandir and whipping up communal frenzy," Ashok Dhawale, president of AIKS, told reporters.

He alleged that the the saffron outfits were "seeking to divert attention from the real issues by raking up divisive issues".

"Our united struggle over farmers' demands has helped in positioning this positive agenda against the divisive agenda," said Dhawale.

Hannan Mollah , general secretary of AIKS, alleged "that six months before every general election, the BJP and Sangh Parivar have raked up Ayodhya temple issue"



.

"The BJP has no intention of resolving the Ram Mandir issue. ... It was the rural masses which had voted the BJP to power. Seeing the mood of farmers and rural masses against it , the BJP and Sangh Parivar have hatched a new ploy to seek vote on communal lines but people will not be fooled," he said.

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Confident that the Congress will retain power in Mizoram, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said on Monday the BJP will have to wait another five years to open its account in the state and alleged the saffron party was trying to "buy" votes with money power.

In an interview to PTI, the nine-time MLA Thanhawla also alleged that the BJP is trying to buy votes of Chakma and Bru communities by taking their leaders to Guwahati and "brainwashing them with RSS ideology".

"As a ruling party in the Centre, they should try to open their account in Mizoram, which they have not been able to do so far. They are most welcome, but I would advise them not to try to spoil the Mizo people with money power. Money has never played any role in Mizoram. Elction in Mizoram is most free, fair and peaceful," he said.

Talking about the high-decibel campaign by the BJP in the last 10 days, Thanhawla said, "Empty pots or bottles sound the loudest" and predicted that the saffron party is unlikely to get a single seat in the 40-member Assembly going for polls on Wednesday.

During the election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and union ministers Rajnath Singh and Jitendra Singh have launched a blistering attack on the Congress regime in the state, blaming it for under-development of the hill state.

"They are spending a lot of money in the micro-minority areas like the Chakmas and Brus. They shifted out their leaders to Guwahati just to brainwash them into the RSS ideology. Himanta Biswa Sarma is playing a big role. He has taken quite a good number of the Bru leaders to Guwahati and elsewhere and they are trying to brainwash them," the chief minister alleged.

"They are trying to purchase them with money power. I don't know how many they (BJP) can purchase. But I told them (Chakmas and Brus) that they should not (forget) their tradition of integrity by being purchasable commodity. People are trying to purchase them. Otherwise why should they concentrate only in the micro minority areas?" the Chief Minister said.

Asked about Assam Minister and BJP leader Sarma's statement that the BJP may consider alliance with Mizoram Congress, Thanhawla replied in negative.

"That's the farthest thing from my mind. I wouldn't have anything to do with the BJP," he said.

The four-time chief minister, who is fighting for the third consecutive term, Thanhawla, however, said he fears the BJP may try to repeat a Nagaland or a Meghalaya kind of situation, but they will not be successful.

On possibility of the Congress MLAs being poached after the results, he said: "They (BJP) will try to do that, but they will not be able to poach Congress MLAs. Because no Mizo is a purchasable commodity."



When asked about Mizoram BJP President J V Hluna's accusation that Thanhawla had contacted Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to join the BJP, the senior Congress leader said, "He is in his dreams. These allegations are part of his wishful thinking. And lies do not have legs, they fall. This is stark naked lie. Liars do not survive in Mizoram "



Talking to PTI, Hluna had earlier said, "Lal Thanhawla himself, before this election, and his followers had contacted the central leadership (of the BJP) to merge the whole Congress, just like the Arunachal Pradesh. They were in contact with them... I know that he had contacted Rajnath Singh."The Congress has been in power in Mizoram since 2008 and is eyeing the third consecutive term. In 2013 assembly elections, the Congress won 34 seats, while the main opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) got five and Mizoram People's Conference bagged one.

Congress and the MNF are leaving no stones unturned to woo the voters, while BJP has launched a spirited campaign to get power in this strategically important North Eastern state sandwiched between Myanmar and Bangladesh with the party's national president Amit Shah declaring that Christmas will be celebrated in Mizoram under the BJP rule this December.

Mizoram is being seen by the BJP leaders as the "final frontier" in its 'Congress-free North East' campaign as the party has already secured power in Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, besides joining the ruling coalitions in Meghalaya and Nagaland.

While Congress and MNF are contesting in all the 40 constituencies this time, BJP is fighting in 39 seats.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A motorcyclist reportedly suffered injuries when the bombs he was carrying exploded in Palamau district on Monday, police said.

The police, however, found only the damaged two-wheeler from Pokhra village at Chainpur area as the motorcyclist managed to flee from the spot despite injuries.

Superintendent of Police Indrajeet Mahatha said the blast seemed to have taken place following fraction of the explosive materials probably kept in a bag.

The bombs were being transported from one place to other, he said adding that the accused would be arrested soon as his vehicle has been seized.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo Monday informed the Madras High Court it has been decided to conduct the bypoll for the Tiruvarur Assembly constituency before February 7 next year.

In an affidavit filed before the Madurai bench of the high court, he submitted that a case regarding the by-election to the Thiruparankundram constituency was pending before the principal seat and hence it could not be held now.

Justices Sasidharan and Audikesavalu closed the public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by K K Ramesh seeking to direct the Election Commission to hold the by-elections to the two constituencies soon.

The two constituencies fell vacant after their MLAs -- late DMK chief M Karunanidhi (Tiruvarur) and A K Bose (Thiruparankunaram) -- passed away and by-elections have to be held within six months after their falling vacant.

A case is pending regarding the Thiruparankunram by-elections after Bose was declared elected following a petition by rival DMK candidate Saravanan, who had challenged the validity of Bose's nomination.

The petitioner alleged that the state government was not showing interest in holding the by-elections as the Lok Sabha elections were due next year and that the results would have an impact on the Parliamentary polls.

Hence, he sought a direction from the court to conduct the by-polls.

The judges had earlier asked the state government to file its reply by November 26.

Eighteen other seats in the state assembly are vacant after the Madras High Court in October upheld the disqualification of 18 ruling party MLAs, owing allegiance to AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Campaigning for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly polls intensified Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP chief Mayawati addressing a total of 17 public meetings in the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders attacked the Congress with Modi leading from the front, slamming the opposition party over its stand on terrorism, Naxalism and tribal development among others, while Gandhi said farm loans would be waived if the Congress formed the government in the state and asked his party workers not to use any bad word against the prime minister and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

While the prime minister was in Bhilwara, Dungarpur and Kota, Gandhi visited the Ajmer dargah and Pushkar, before addressing rallies at Pokhran (in Jaisalmer district), Jalore and Jodhpur.

Adityanath addressed five rallies in Nagaur, Sikar, Churu, Bikaner and Jaisalmer districts.

Rajnath Singh took part in two rallies at Dholpur and as many in Jaipur district, while Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati addressed rallies at Jhunjhunu and Jaipur.

Both Gandhi and Adityanath addressed meetings in support of the candidates of their respective parties in the Pokhran constituency, whereas Mayawati and Rajnath Singh held separate rallies in the Amber constituency in Jaipur.

Highlighting the importance of every single vote, both Modi and Gandhi exuded confidence that their respective parties will form the government in the state after December 7.

At the Kota rally, the prime minister said, "Your votes will empower Modi. Your votes will bring changes in the country."



"Broadband network reached one lakh villages, 2.5 to 3 lakh kms of optical-fibre line was laid, 12 crore LPG connections, better roads were given in four-and-a-half years of the BJP government at the Centre. Your one vote has provided speed to the country. It has the power to change the country and shape its future," he said.

Modi alleged that the Congress had no issues and therefore, was making casteist remarks.

Rajnath Singh and Adityanath also targeted Gandhi.

At Ratangarh, Adityanath said the Congress chief was the guarantee of defeat for his party's candidates.

"No Congress candidate wants Rahul Gandhi in his constituency because Gandhi means defeat," he said.

On the other hand, the Congress president said farm loans would be waived within 10 days if his party formed the government in the state.

He also said Modi and Raje were left with no issues as they had made false promises and broke people's trust, adding that now they were spreading hatred and anger.

Gandhi, who visited the Ajmer dargah and the Pushkar lake before addressing the rallies, said the Congress government would restart the free medicines scheme and put public money in improving the infrastructure in hospitals, schools and disbursing loans to the youth.

He also cornered the prime minister on the issues of the Rafale deal, demonetisation, favouring top industrialists and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

State Congress chief Sachin Pilot, who is contesting the upcoming polls from Tonk, and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, the party's candidate from Jodhpur's Sardarpura constituency, accompanied Gandhi at the rallies.

Mayawati, on the other hand, termed both the BJP and Congress "anti-Dalit and anti-poor" and alleged that the two parties wanted to abolish reservation in government jobs.

She addressed two rallies in Jhunjhunu and in Jaipur district.

The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will go to the polls on December 7 and the results will be announced on December 11.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
: A central team deputed to assess the damage caused by cyclone Gaja in Tamil Nadu, Monday visited the affected areas in Nagapattinam district.

The team led by Daniel E Richard, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, began the inspection from the worst-hit Vettaikaraniruppu village.

Earlier, they held a discussion at the Nagapattinam collectorate with the district Collector C Sureshkumar, senior officials and Tamil Nadu Ministers.

The Collector explained the extent of damage with a video presentation.

The team inspected Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's sub-station at Vettaikarairuppu that was completely destroyed by the cyclone.

The team members interacted with the affected people at Therkkupoigainallur.

Arupathy Kalyanam, general secretary of the Federation of Farmers Associations of Cauvery Delta Districts, submitted a memorandum to the central team demanding the release of crop loss compensation from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

He said in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts, coconut and other perennial trees in around 40,000 hectares were uprooted by the cyclone, adding farmers required around Rs 2 to 3 lakh per hectare to remove the uprooted trees.

"The compensation announced by the Tamil Nadu government is paltry. The central government should ensure a fair micro level accurate assessment in the affected villages and provide suitable compensation under NDRF," he added.

He pointed out that for the eight laning of the Salem highway, the state government announced Rs 50,000 as compensation to uproot a single coconut tree.

"The same yardstick should be followed here too," he said.

The team is scheduled to undertake assessment in nearby Karaikal district (Puducherry) later in the evening.

The team commenced inspection on November 24 in Pudukottai district.

Cyclone 'Gaja' had hit the Tamil Nadu coast early on November 16 between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam, about 300 km from Chennai. It left behind a trail of destruction in Nagapattinam district and also in several other districts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
: A central team deputed to assess the damage caused by cyclone Gaja, Monday completed its three-day inspection in storm hit districts of Tamil Nadu with a visit to affected areas of Nagapattinam district.

The team, led by Daniel E Richard, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, completed its inspections and later in the day proceeded to neighbouring Karaikkal in the Union territory of Puducherry, official sources told PTI.

They visited affected areas, including the worst-hit Vettaikaraniruppu village near here.

Winding up the visit, Richard assured that all the storm affected people would get appropriate relief.

The team visited districts, including Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam that witnessed extensive damage, he told reporters here.

"We will go back and submit a report...so that people will get benefit with more help from the Centre."



He said it was not possible to visit every place struck by the storm within such a short time span.

On the storm and its impact, he said "we are surrounded by disaster on the left and right and we have seen all the damage."



Referring to the magnitude of the damage, the senior official said "this is a huge disaster and it is not possible for things to happen overnight."He recounted how even a "a strong structure" like a civil supplies godown could not withstand the force of the gale.

Power infrastructure, including electricity poles, were damaged and people did not expect sea water intrusion to bring in slush to villages,he said,adding boats were also destroyed.

People who regarded coconut trees as their children were devastated to have the plantations destroyed in the strong winds, he said.

Asked how he felt interacting with the victims, Richard said it was a "moving experience which I cannot put in words. I am a human being (too)."



He lauded the rehabilitation efforts of the government machinery, who worked round the clock to clear roads, uprooted trees, bring succour to the victims and restore damaged electricity infrastructure.

Drinking water supply and food distribution to the affected people in relief camps were going on well, he said.

In particular, lots of lives were saved due to the timely action of the government in warning people about the cyclone and moving those in vulnerable areas to safer places.

"Fishermen we met too told us that none died and it is all due to the preemptive action of the government to save people," the top union Home Ministry official said.

Earlier, the team held a discussion at the Nagapattinam collectorate with the Collector C Sureshkumar, senior officials and Tamil Nadu Ministers.

The Collector explained the extent of damage through a video presentation.

The team inspected the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's sub-station at Vettaikarairuppu that was completely destroyed in the cyclone.

The members interacted with the affected people at Therkkupoigainallur.

Arupathy Kalyanam, general secretary of the Federation of Farmers Associations of Cauvery Delta Districts, submitted a memorandum to the team, demanding the release of crop loss compensation from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

He said coconut and other perennial trees in around 40,000 hectares in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts were uprooted, adding that farmers required around Rs two to three lakh per hectare to remove the trees.

"The compensation announced by the Tamil Nadu government is paltry. The central government should ensure a fair micro level accurate assessment in the affected villages and provide suitable compensation under NDRF," he added.

He said the government should follow the same yardstick in paying compensation as it did to those affected by the proposed eight lane Salem-chennai highway project, who had been promised Rs 50,000 for a single coconut tree.

The team commenced its inspection on November 24 in Pudukottai district.

Cyclone 'Gaja' had made landfall on November 16 between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam, about 300 km from Chennai.

It left behind a trail of destruction in districts including including Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The NDA government's handling of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in an ad-hoc and experimental manner has pushed the state several years back, former chief minister Omar Abdullah claimed on Monday.

After a hectic political week, Omar feels the BJP is yet to answer many questions, including "why it entered an alliance with the PDP and why it withdrew all of a sudden?"



Another question which the people of the state will definitely be asking is why despite having 26 MLAs, the BJP decided to lend support to a two-member party (led by Sajad Lone), he said.

With his National Conference already into election mode, Omar criticised the BJP over its handling of the political turmoil in Kashmir. "Keeping in mind the 2019 elections, the BJP keeps changing its goalposts, confusing people. They have pushed the state several years back," he claimed.

Commenting on the alliance of 'conflicting and contrasting' ideologies, Omar told PTI, "When the BJP and the PDP united, it was stated that the north pole and the south pole had come together and an 'Agenda of Alliance' had been stitched. Has any of the promises been fulfilled by them? Now see what has happened in Jammu and Kashmir... Look at the present political crisis in the state."



"Forget about initiating talks with Pakistan, they refuse to hold a dialogue with separatists," he said.

About the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Omar said, "In 2011 or 2012, there was a talk about AFSPA's withdrawal from some areas, as peace had returned. But, can we say that today. The footprint of the Army and para-military forces has doubled from where we left in 2014, only because all types of experiments were carried out in Kashmir and all of them failed."



The vice president of the National Conference reiterated his views on the "unceremonious" dissolution of the state assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik on November 21.

"Till a few days ago, the governor wanted to keep the assembly alive. Overnight, it changed only because the PDP staked claim to form a government with the help of the Congress and my party," he said.

"Within no time, the BJP and its proxies pulled out their weapon of mass destruction -- Pakistan. We were accused of attempting to form a government at the behest of Pakistan. Can you beat it? Can someone ask them (the BJP) how did Mehbooba ji turn into a Pakistani suddenly when barely five months ago she was their alliance chief minister?" he said.

For the BJP, it seems my-way-or-highway policy but they need to be reminded that India is a democratic country, Omar said.

"The BJP had swept the Jammu region in previous assembly elections but today, they stand exposed. They will have to do a lot of answering this time. And one should not forget (to ask) why was the assembly kept in suspended animation. Was it done to allow Lone to keep on poaching MLAs from other parties, either with money or by threatening to open cases using the NIA and the CBI," he added.

Asked about the Twitter spat with BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, Omar said, "Look I'm a fairly thick-skinned person when I need to be... if he (Madhav) had challenged my patriotism, I would have cared two hoots for his utterances. I don't need anyone's certificate about my patriotism, nor will I ever be pressured into wearing it on my sleeves.

"But the question was about my workers, nearly 3,000 of them, who have been targeted by Pakistani terror groups only because they refuse to join an anti-India bandwagon. These people died because we held on to the flag of the nation as soldiers do with the only difference being that my colleagues had no weapons to defend themselves with."



Omar also drew attention to media reports that quoted senior BJP leader Seshadri Chari about a meeting he had with the NC leader in London, saying he had rejected the idea of forming a government with the BJP even then.

About Madhav's tweets, Chari was quoted by a web portal as saying, "If somebody decides to be a political novice, we can do nothing about it." However, he had said that it was not the party's official stand.

To a question on a possible alliance with the Congress at a time when the National Conference has been favouring a single-party rule, Omar said, "Yes, I would wish to have a single party rule as there have been coalition governments since 2002. But having said that, let me make it clear that it's my opinion and I am yet to consult my senior party colleagues."



"I need to consult them before arriving at a final decision," he said, and added with a smile, "our party works democratically".

Asked whether a third front led by Lone would be a force to reckon with in the forthcoming elections, he said, "Let us see. Let the centre first announce dates for the assembly elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China and India made some "constructive, operable and forward looking" suggestions during the just concluded 21st round of border talks to move forward to achieve an early solution to the dispute and to maintain peace and tranquillity at the borders, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi - the designated Special Representatives (SRs) of the two countries - held the border talks at Dujiangyan near Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province on November 24.

Official statements, issued by both sides at the end of talks last Saturday, spoke of advancing the dialogue process to find a solution the border issue.

A statement issued by the Indian Embassy here said both sides resolved to "intensify" their efforts to achieve a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable" solution to the vexed boundary question at an early date.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement also said "both sides will continue to advance the negotiation process of the special representatives' mechanism; strive for an early settlement of the boundary question".

Elaborating on the outcome of the talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here on Monday that some concrete suggestions have been made at the talks for expediting the solution.

"I want to highlight that the two sides on the issue of moving forward the border negotiations and on ensuring peace and stability and border cooperation, made some constructive, operable and forward looking suggestions. It can be said that in many areas the two sides share the common understanding," Geng said.

The two sides agreed to authorise the bilateral Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination for Border Affairs, which periodically meets to deal with issues arising between the two militaries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to hold "early harvest consultations to work agreements, he said.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet.

This was the first round of talks for Wang, who is also the Foreign Minister, after he succeeded State Councillor Yang Jiechi earlier this year. Wang has become the state councillor, a rank higher than the foreign minister in the Chinese government's hierarchy.

Geng said the meeting was held in a "very good atmosphere. The two sides had a good talk. The two sides reached many forward looking, operable and workable conclusions."



Replying to a question on plans by both sides to intensify efforts to find a solution to the border dispute, Geng said, "I want to emphasise that after the Wuhan summit between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the bilateral relations have made very positive progress and reached a new stage of development."



"Under the current international circumstances, the strategic importance of bilateral relations is more prominent. So the two sides will follow the guidance of the two state leaders' enhance strategic communication and political mutual trust," he said.

Also the two sides will work together to ensure peace and tranquillity of the border areas and move forward the settlement process of the border question, he said.

The last round of talks, held in New Delhi between Doval and Yang, took place in the backdrop of the 73-day standoff between the two militaries at Doklam over Chinese army's plan to build a road close to India's strategic 'Chicken's Neck' corridor connecting the north-eastern states.

The standoff ended after the People's Liberation Army halted the plans to build the road.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Beijing urged London on Monday to support the work of foreign outlets after a British citizen called on Britain's media regulator to revoke the broadcast license of China's state television.

Peter Humphrey, a UK fraud investigator, said that China Central Television (CCTV) helped Chinese police stage his allegedly forced confession and subsequent jailing in China in 2014.

He sent the British watchdog Ofcom a letter of complaint accusing CCTV journalists of cooperating with Chinese police to "extract, record, make post-production and then broadcast" Humphrey's confession.

Ofcom has the power to fine broadcasters for breaching British rules, and can revoke their licenses in the most serious cases.

"I hope Britain can support and facilitate the reporting work of international media in the UK," said Chinese foreign ministry official spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing in Beijing Monday.

"I think organisations are a bridge and bond to promoting mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between the people of each country," he added.

A spokesman for Ofcom confirmed it had "received a complaint which we are assessing as a priority".

"If, following investigation, we find our rules have been broken we would take the necessary enforcement action," he added.

Geng said Humphrey pleaded guilty during his sentencing and "repented".

"China's judicial departments handle cases according to the law, and safeguard the legal rights and interests of foreigners in China," Geng said.

Humphrey and his wife Yu Yingzeng, a naturalised US citizen, were linked to a corruption case in China involving pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

The couple ran an investigative firm which was hired by GSK to probe a sex tape of the company's then China boss and other issues shortly before the British pharmaceutical company itself became the target of a Chinese government investigation.

In Humphrey's letter of complaint, he accuses Chinese authorities of drugging him and locking him in a chair inside a small metal cage to conduct the confession.

In 2014, Humphrey was sentenced to over two years in prison by a Shanghai court for breaching privacy laws.

He was released seven months early and deported in 2015.

Humphrey told AFP this was the first legal action he has launched against any of the Chinese entities involved in his incarceration.

"It will not be the last," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A senior Chinese diplomat on Monday said that some Chinese citizens have donated money for the families of two Pakistani policemen killed in the terror attack on China's consulate in Karachi.

At a ceremony here alongside Pakistan's Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy, Lijian Zhao, said the Chinese citizens had donated money on their own.

Three heavily-armed suicide bombers on Friday stormed the Chinese consulate in Pakistan's largest city, killing four people, including two policemen, before being shot dead by security forces. The attack was claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

Lijian said one Chinese citizen had donated a month's salary to support the families of the slain policemen.

He said the donors believed that the Pakistan-China friendship was not simply empty words but "rooted in the hearts of the people of the two countries".

"We want to give a message to the terrorists that their efforts at sabotaging Pak-China friendship will never succeed," he said.

Earlier Lijian tweeted that the donations by the Chinese showed the depth of bilateral relations between the two nations.

"Chinese donations for Pakistan police have shown that China-Pakistan friendship is higher than mountains and deeper than the seas. The friendship has never been empty talks, but deeply imprinted in hearts of Chinese and Pakistani people," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
/ --



Gynaecologist and Head of IVF, Dr. Puranik gets featured in a Documentary by BBC World Service Radio



She is the only Doctor from Asian Institute to be featured in this documentaryPopular for handling cases of those who are not fortunate or have to struggle to find a solution to enjoy the motherhood, Dr Supriya Puranik, a leading gynaecologist, high risk obstetrician and Head of IVF & Gynaecology department at Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital Nagar Road was recently featured in a Documentary Programme Titled, 'The Changing Face of Procreation' on BBC World Service Radio. BBC had programmed this documentary to mark 40 years since the first IVF baby and to let the world know about the rare IVF / ART cases around the world. The list of interviewer includes scientists, bio ethicists, doctors, and people who have used IVF to enjoy the motherhood. Dr. Puranik from Sahyadri Hospitals Pune was the only doctor from Asian Institute to be featured in this documentary which included broadcast of interviews of ten doctors and some their successful case studies.

The documentary highlighted various ways and cases of IVF and ART that have changed the way people think about motherhood, adoption and the ethical and legal challenges that the technology brings around the world.

One of the most intriguing cases discussed during the BBC broadcast was that of a 49 year mother who had lost her child due to cancer and got him back through cryopreserved semen and surrogacy.

Dr Supriya Puranik says "Being an IVF specialist, I am happy that developed science and new technologies are adding pleasure and cheerful moment in human's life. In hospitals, we often see a lot of emotions and happiness whenever a woman delivers a baby and we become a part of their joyous moments." "But, in this case it was about a grief stricken mother whose son was away for studies when he faced health issues and succumbed to death. The persistent desire to have her son back and her spirit convinced me to be by her side when she needed the most. We appreciate the kind of spirit she has shown in this entire process."



This is only one case among those high risk and challenging cases that Dr Puranik handles with her skills and come out successful to bring happy smiles to the patients and their families.

Dr. Puranik's professional journey though has been fascinating but she comes from a very humble background and started her practice in smaller cities like Satara and Karad. Dr Supriya Puranik, an expert with sheer determination, hard work and adoption of latest technologies rose up the ranks in IVF and is now considered as one of the leading IVF experts in India. This can be attributed to her technical and leadership skills and her pursuit for excellence in the subject she has been passionate about.

Dr Supriya Puranik has delivered the First Test Tube baby in Satara District and has performed various high risk and lifesaving surgeries in and around Pune.

About Sahyadri Hospitals:



Sahyadri Hospitals is the largest chain of hospitals in Maharashtra with 8 hospitals across three cities of Pune, Nashik and Karad. The hospital chain has over 900 Beds, 1200 Clinicians and 2300 Support Staff providing round the clock healthcare. To know more: http:ahyadrihospital.com/



For more, please contact :



Amol Pandit, 967-333-0915,amol.pandit@sahyadrihospitals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The commerce ministry has recommended continuation of anti-dumping duty for five years on a chemical used in pharma and agro industries, imported from the European Union and the US.

The move is aimed at guarding domestic manufacturers of 'Methylene Chloride' from cheap imports from the European Union (EU) and the US.

Continuation of the duty was recommended by the ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), which conducted a probe into the alleged dumping of the chemical from these two regions.

In its findings, DGTR concluded that there is a "continued dumping" of the product from the EU and the US and that is causing injury to domestic industry here.

Despite the anti-dumping duty in force, the financial performance of the domestic industry has deteriorated, DGTR said in a notification.

"The authority recommends continued imposition of anti-dumping duty...for a period of five years concerning all imports of the subject goods originating in or exported from the EU and the US," it said.

It also concluded that during the period of investigation (January-December 2017), the domestic industry has shown negative growth in terms of the economic parameters such as production, sales, and profitability.

"The dumped imports from the EU and the US continue to cause injury to the domestic industry," it added.

Gujarat Fluorochemicals and Chemplast Sanmar had



filed application before DGTR for review and continuation of the duties on these imports. The companies alleged continuation of dumping of Methylene Chloride from the EU and the US.

The duty recommended by DGTR ranges between USD 0.32-0.36 per kg. The finance ministry takes the final call for imposition of the duty.

In May 2014, the government had imposed anti-dumping duty on these imports from the US and the EU to protect the domestic industry.

Countries initiate anti-dumping probes to check if domestic industry has been hurt because of a surge in below-cost imports. As a counter-measure, they impose the duty under the multilateral WTO (World Trade Organisation) regime.

Imposition of anti-dumping duty might affect the price levels of the product in India. However, fair competition in the Indian market will not be reduced by the anti-dumping measures, DGTR said.

The imposition would remove the unfair advantages gained by dumping practices, prevent injury to the domestic industry and help maintain availability of wider choice to the consumers of subject goods.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The commander of a chopper, that crash-landed with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with others on-board last year, was responsible for the accident, a probe committee has found.

The three-member panel, set up by the apex aircraft investigation body AAIB, probed the mishap and submitted its report.

Fadnavis had a narrow escape when his Sikorsky helicopter got entangled in overhead wires and crash-landed in Latur district in Maharashtra on May 25, 2017 after the pilot tried to descend due to bad weather soon after take-off.

The accident occurred when the helicopter was landing at Nilanga town of the district, around 500km from here, where the chief minister had gone to attend a programme.

In its 64-page final investigation report, the panel has recommended that aviation regulator DGCA ensure all helicopter operators use actual weight of the passengers and cargo, prevailing temperatures and elevation of the place while computing load factor for their choppers.

AAIB, which comes under the civil aviation ministry, probes all serious incidents and accidents involving aircraft registered in India.

The state government-owned six-seater chopper was damaged beyond repair in the accident.

"The committee is of the opinion that accident occurred as the PIC (pilot-in-command) attempted take-off at an AUW (all-up weight or the total weight) higher than the permissible limit for the prevailing conditions at the time of take-off," the committee said in its final report, posted on the DGCA wesbite Monday.

The committee also concluded that the PIC using wrong technique for departure from congested hostile area was a contributory factor to the accident.

The panel has made a host of recommendations to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure safety of passengers.

These include revision of the operations manual of all helicopter operators as well as ensuring that regulatory requirements are strictly followed by state government/ operators/agencies while selecting a temporary landing ground for chopper operations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A PROVISIONAL agreement has been made with a company to assist Hallmark Trust in the restoration of the Mastercard service to the Turks and Caicos Islands public.





This is according to court appointed administrator for the card company, Joseph Connolly, this past week.





Connolly, who was appointed by the Supreme Court to administer the company on November 2, stated that he has been working with all stakeholders to reorganise Hallmark and restore the Mastercard service.





To this end, Connolly said he is pleased to announce a provisional agreement with a company, with a background in financial services, to assist Hallmark.





"Whilst it is early days and there are still a number of contractual issues to be resolved, I am hopeful that with our new partners assistance the Mastercard service can be restored in the near future.





"I would also urge secured credit card holders to continue to make payments on their cards to avoid charges.





"The Hallmark office on Leeward Highway is open Monday to Friday to receive payments.





He added that Hallmark is still not able to accept uploads to the prepaid cards until the Mastercard issue is resolved.





Hallmark Trust Limited (Hallmark) again apologised to all cardholders for the dislocation caused by the partial suspension of their Mastercard licence agreement.




The Congress on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he criticised the party on issues of terrorism and Naxalism, alleging he was playing on matters of national security and had "compromised" the country's interests.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that lack of political action on the part of the BJP-led central government had led to disquiet at the border and an alarming security situation. He said that "16 major terror strikes" were held on security installations during the last 54 months.

The Congress' attack came after Modi said at a poll rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan that the party, which was in power when 26/11 Mumbai attacks took place, had questioned the BJP government's surgical strikes in Pakistan.

Modi said when terrorists struck the country's financial capital 10 years ago, the country was governed by "madam" through remote control, an oblique reference to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Condemning Prime Minister Modi's remarks, the Congress spokesperson alleged that "one person who played despicable during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack was Shri Narendra Modi".

"Politicizing of national security and sacrifice of our jawans is intrinsic to BJP.

"The truth is - Modi Government has compromised our national security and in the last four and a half years. Lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation," Surjewala alleged in a statement.

"Even as our soldiers fought inside and the nation was united in battling its consequences, the then CM of Gujarat, was standing outside at one of the attack sites, addressing the media and blaming the then UPA Government for the attack," he alleged.

He said the BJP released "blood-stained ads in newspapers for Delhi elections, opportunistically politicizing the sacrifice of our soldiers".

"Today in a public rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, PM Modi turned history on its head and said that he never played on national security. We condemn and reject the utter falsehood...," he said.

The Congress leader alleged that the prime minister and the BJP have always used the "blood and sacrifice of our jawans as a vote garnering tool".

He alleged that BJP President Amit Shah dishonoured the valour of the armed forces on October 7, 2016 by "disregarding the supreme sacrifices made in the five wars and numerous surgical strikes".

Surjewala said the the BJP went to the extent of organizing events felicitating the PM in Agra and Lucknow and said, "It is intriguing and disappointing that Modi Government did not celebrate the first anniversary of surgical strike and started limited celebrations only in the second year".

Surjewala asked a set of 15 questions, including whether "it is true that in last 54 months of Modi Government, in Jammu and Kashmir alone, 426 jawans have been martyred and 278 civilians have lost their precious lives, in Pakistan sponsored terrorism".

"Is it not true that 16 major terror attacks have taken place on our security installations that include CRPF Camps, Army Camps, Air Force Station and Military Stations- Pampore, Uri, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amarnath Yatra attack, Sunjwan Army Camp, where scores of our precious lives have been lost.

"Is it not true our jawans like Shaheed Mandeep and Shaheed Narender Singh were beheaded and bodies mutilated by Pakistan, as Modi Government remained a mute spectator," he asked



Surjewala claimed that there is 500 per cent increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan, since May 2014.

"Where is the '56-inch chest' missing as Pakistan commits more than 3,000 ceasefire violations at the LoC and International border.

"Why did PM Modi invite the rogue ISI to investigate the Pathankot terror attack on March 27, 2016, " he asked.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday accused the Congress of compromising the country's security by doing based on religion.

Addressing a press conference here on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Javadekar termed the then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government "weak".

He alleged that the Congress did based on religion that resulted in terrorists getting shelters and more than 1,400 people have lost their lives in over 50 bomb blasts during the 10 years of UPA dispensation.

Javadekar claimed that the incidents of bomb blasts had been curbed during the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre. "The BJP government has destroyed the network of terrorists and hammered those giving them funding and providing ground support."



The Union minister pointed out that the then home minister in the UPA government had talked about saffron terror during a meeting held in Jaipur and Rahul Gandhi had put forth his views before Americian officials that this terror was more dangerous.

Javadekar, who is also the Rajasthan election-in-charge, said people would not accept "caste-and-religion-based politics" of the Congress, exuding confidence that BJP would once again come to power in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress was in power when the Mumbai attacks took place but questioned the BJP government's surgical strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Monday, hitting out at the opposition party on the issues of terrorism and Naxalism.

The prime minister was addressing an election rally here on the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror strike when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai, killing 166 people over 60 hours.

In a broadside against former Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, he said New Delhi was at the time being governed by "madam" through remote control.

"I remember the slightest criticism over the attacks used to rile the then ruling party," Modi told the gathering in this textile city ahead of elections in the state on December 7.

The Congress, he added, taught the lesson of patriotism. But when the Army carried out a surgical strike by crossing over the border, the party questioned it and asked for video proof.

The soldiers have their lives in hands and not a camera, Modi said.

India, he said, will never forget the 26/11 terror attack or its perpetrators.

"Justice will surely be done, I want to assure the country," he added while expressing solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives.

"A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," Modi said.

The prime minister said his government had responded to terrorists and Naxals in their own language.

Claiming that terror strikes had come down under BJP rule, the prime minister said terrorists now find it difficult to go beyond Kashmir.

On the one hand, there is terrorism and, on the other, Maoism and Naxalism. They are giving guns in the hands of children and killing innocent people but Congress leaders and close aides of 'naamdaar' are calling Naxals revolutionaries and giving them certificates, he said.

Modi has frequently referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi as "naamdar" (dynast).

He also attacked the Congress for its alleged casteist remarks and said issues relating to the people do not bother the party.

"As the elections are approaching, Congress asks for my caste and are curious about my father," he said.

When the Indian prime minister visits America and meets the president, they talk about welfare, Modi said.

"Does the president ask him his caste before any discussion? The prime minister represents the caste of 125 crore people of India, he said.

Modi said he was nothing but a workaholic.

I am a workaholic (kaamdaar) who has 125 crore people of the country standing behind him... Have you ever heard that I took a holiday? Have you ever heard that I went somewhere for leisure or was missing for a week? I give an account of each and every decision I take and the work that I do," he said.

Braving threats, people in Jammu and Chhattisgarh came out to vote in large numbers with voting percentages remaining 70-75 per cent, Modi added.

While people in Chhattisgarh voted for a new assembly earlier this month, panchayat elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir.

On the occasion of Constitution Day on Monday, Modi recalled the stellar contribution of B R Ambedkar.

We are proud of our Constitution and reiterate our commitment to uphold the values enshrined in it, he said.

In Modi's view, even a month would not be enough to give an account of work done by BJP governments at the Centre and state.

Before the BJP came to power in 2014, even 40 percent villages did not have toilets, he claimed. However, in four years, 95 percent villages have toilets.

This is called work... They will not give an account of work done but will continue to ask about caste, he said in another jibe at the Congress.

In 2014, only 50 per cent people of the country had bank accounts and 55 per cent LPG connections in 2014. Now, every India has his bank account and 90 per cent families have LPG connection. he said.

The prime minister also spoke about developmental works by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

He said 36,000 km of new roads were constructed in last five years and 50 lakh young entrepreneurs in Rajasthan received loans under Mudra Scheme.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress was in power when the Mumbai attacks took place but questioned the BJP government's surgical strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Monday.

The prime minister was addressing an election rally here on the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror strike when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai, killing 166 people over 60 hours.

Hitting out at the Congress, the prime minister said the party doubted his government's surgical strikes, conducted in September 2016. But will commandos carry cameras to provide proof, he asked.

Modi said his government had responded to terrorists and Naxals in their own language.

The prime minister added that the Congress calls Naxals revolutionaries and then issues them certificates.

The Rajasthan elections will be held on December 7 and the votes counted on December 11.
Congress leader Ashok Chavan Monday compared Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to infamous British military officer Reginald Dyer, who had ordered the firing on unarmed citizens in Punjab's Jallianwala Bagh in 1919, killing over a thousand people.

Chavan, who was campaigning at Sausar in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, brought up the Dyer comparison against the backdrop of the police firing on farmers in Mandsaur district of the state in June last year.

Six farmers, part of massive crowds protesting against poor crop prices and demanding farm loan waivers from the Chouhan government, had died in the firing on June 6 last year.

"Like General Dyer had fired on poor Indians under the British Raj, Chouhan fired on innocent farmers in Mandsaur," Chavan, the Maharashtra Congress chief, told the gathering.

He alleged that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his Madhya Pradesh counterpart Chouhan had lied about farm loan waivers, adding that both were running "feku sarkars" (governments prone to hyperbole).

Chavan claimed that the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government under then prime minister Manmohan Singh had announced a historic farm loan waiver scheme in 2009. Chavan was the Maharashtra chief minister at the time.

Hitting out at Chouhan over the Vyapam scam, the Congress leader said, "Vyapam left thousands unemployed. Today is Constitution Day, but Chouhan is running an unconstitutional government in Madhya Pradesh. With what face can the BJP ask you for votes?"



He alleged that the sand mafia was looting natural resources worth thousands of crores of rupees in the state and crimes against women were rising.

Chavan said the only slogan people were now coming up with was "ek hi bhool, kamal ka phool" (choosing the "lotus", the BJP's poll symbol, was a mistake).

He also attacked the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for raising the Ram temple issue and claimed that the two parties were indulging in divisive

"The BJP's false promises of development have been exposed. Now their only cry is 'mandir wahi banayenge'. They want to trigger fights between Hindus, Muslims and Dalits, but the people of India will not be fooled," Chavan said.

He praised Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath for ushering in development in Chhindwara, adding that the opposition party would win the November 28 state Assembly polls under his leadership.

Nath is a nine-time MP from Chhindwara, of which Sausar is a part.

The results of the polls for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will be declared on December 11, along with the Assembly election results of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.

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Congo has begun the first-ever trial to test the effectiveness and safety of four experimental Ebola drugs, the first time scientists have directly compared such treatments, the World Health Organisation said Monday.

The UN health agency described the multi-drug trial as "a giant step" that would "bring clarity about what works best."



"While our focus remains on bringing this outbreak to an end, the launch of the randomized control trial in DRC (Congo) is an important step toward finally finding an Ebola treatment that will save lives," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak in the North Kivu province in August, four therapeutic drugs have been used to treat patients, namely mAb 114, ZMapp, Remdesivir and Regeneron, according to Congo's Health Ministry.

To date, more than 160 people have been treated with these experimental drugs.

Patients won't be treated much differently than before, but scientists will now have a clinical trial framework to collect data on the three antibody treatments and the antiviral.

Congo's Health Ministry said the clinical trial began last week in Beni with Zmapp, mAb 114 and Remdesivir.

The test could be extended to other sites and include the fourth medicine, it said.

The number of patients who participate "will depend on the evolution of the epidemic and the willingness of patients to participate."



Congo, with poor infrastructure, presents a difficult environment for administering these treatments.

ZMapp is difficult to use; it takes three infusions, given over hours. If patients are treated with Remdesivir, their liver function must be analyzed regularly.

Because the data collected in the North Kivu epidemic is unlikely to be sufficient for a complete study, the ministry said that the clinical trial may extend over a five-year period to cover several Ebola outbreaks in several countries.

So far in the current outbreak in Congo, there have been 365 confirmed Ebola cases with 189 deaths, according to figures provided by the health ministry Sunday.

"Our country is struck with Ebola outbreaks too often, which also means we have unique expertise in combatting it," said Congo's Minister of Health Dr Oly Ilunga Kalenga.

"These trials will contribute to building that knowledge, while we continue to respond on every front to bring the current outbreak to an end."



This is Congo's tenth outbreak since the virus was identified there in 1976. The outbreak has been plagued by security problems, with health workers attacked by rebels in districts where the virus has been spreading.

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The Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court on Monday saw Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad recall the "days of stress during Emergency" which was declared by the Indira Gandhi government for 21 months from 1975.

Prasad paid tribute to Justice H R Khanna, the lone dissenting judge in the five-member Constitution Bench which had held that even the right to life and liberty can be suspended.

Though the apex court delivered such judgement, it never became a precedent or referred in any of the judgements, and was later overruled.

The Law Minister said Justice Khanna gave the dissenting verdict knowing that he would suffer for that, and was denied the office of the Chief Justice of India.

"There were days of great stress during Emergency. When the Supreme Court with its own wisdom came with a judgement in ADM Jabalpur case that even the right to life stands compromised during Emergency. But yet how the course correction came about, the same court ultimately never used that judgement and finally over ruled it," he said.

"But standing here, I want to recall a brave judge Justice H R Khanna who used to sit in court no 2. He gave a dissent with a brooding conscience of India and Indians would compel me that this is an alienable right of dignity and liberty cannot be compromised," he said.

"Not exactly the word but I am conveying the sense. But what is important for the young friends to know is that he knew that he would suffer the consequences. He was denied the post of Chief Justice for two months. I remember as a student activist under leader Lok Nayak Jai Prakash fighting emergency," Prasad said at the Constitution Day, also known as Law Day, function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association at the apex court.

Prasad referred to a "great editorial" that had come in the New York Times and said, "we had distributed it among the pro-liberty supporters.

"Indians, if ever democracy returns, hang a portrait of Justice H R Khanna who sacrificed his Chief Justiceship but never sacrificed the idea of liberty and dignity. You go to court no 2 and you will find the portrait of Justice Khanna. These narratives in the top court make our head high," the Law Minister said.

Prasad was referring to April 30, 1976 editorial of the New York Times which said, "If India ever finds its way back to the freedom and democracy that were proud hallmarks of its first eighteen years as an independent nation, someone will surely erect a monument to Justice H R Khanna of the Supreme Court. It was Justice Khanna who spoke out fearlessly and eloquently for freedom this week dissenting from the Court's decision upholding the right of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Government to imprison political opponents at will and without court hearings".

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A court here in Maharashtra has discharged 185 farmers facing trial in the 2011 Maval firing case, allowing the state government's application seeking withdrawal of the case filed against the cultivators.

Three farmers, including a woman, were killed in the police firing and 16 farmers had received injuries during the agitation on August 9, 2011 in Maval tehsil of the district.

Additional Sessions Judge S N Sonawane on November 22 allowed the state government's application to withdraw the case and discharged 185 cultivators who were booked under various Indian Penal Code sections, including attempt to murder and rioting.

The judge in his order said, "After perusal of the charge sheet, it appears that there is substance in the submission (by state government) that no fruitful result will come out of the trial...and there are no specific allegations of any overt act against the accused."



The judge said the farmers' intention was that water in their village, over which they have more right than others, should not be given to Pune city and if it is done, they would face problem of drinking water and for agricultural needs.

It is clear from the circumstances and statements of the witnesses as well as the First Information Report (FIR) that "there was no intention, motive or conspiracy among the farmers to kill police personnel," he noted.

"Considering all these facts and circumstances, the Maharashtra government has decided to withdraw the case and its application deserves to be allowed," the judge said.

On August 9, 2011, police had opened fire at villagers protesting against the government's decision to lay a closed pipeline to supply water from the Pavna dam in Maval to the limits of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, located on the city's outskirts.

Agriculturists had claimed that they would not get water for their crops if the closed pipeline was laid.

After the incident, the then Superintendent of Police Sandip Karnik was transferred and an inquiry commission was set up to probe the firing.

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A court here Monday extended the CBI remand of two key aides of Brajesh Thakur, prime accused in the shelter home sex scandal, by another four days.

Special POCSO judge R P Tiwari extended the CBI remand of Madhu Kumari and Ashwani by four days, though the investigating agency had sought the same for five days.

Appearing for Madhu, who was arrested last month after remaining traceless for many months, counsel Priya Ranjan alleged before the court that his client was being subjected to "torture" in the custody of the CBI and opposed the probe agency's request for extending the remand.

The court, however, granted the extension while warning the CBI that no torture should take place during questioning.

Madhu, who managed many NGOs, newspapers and other businesses of Thakur, was arrested on November 21, a day after she made a dramatic appearance in the district court premises with the claim that she had come to "cooperate" in the investigation since she was miffed over the inconvenience faced by her family members when CBI personnel visited her house to know her whereabouts.

She also claimed that contrary to reports, she had been very much in Bihar and was not on the run, pointing out that no warrant had been issued against her till then nor was she named as an accused in any case.

Ashwani, a self-styled medical practitioner who was attached to the shelter home as a "doctor", was arrested on November 20 from his village in Kurhani block of the district.

Media reports have alleged that inmates of the shelter home were administered injections laced with sedatives by Ashwani, with Madhu's help, before they were sexually abused.

The scandal had come to light in a report of social audit conducted by the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Thakur and a number of his employees were arrested in June by the police and the probe was handed over to the CBI in July.

Two suspended officials of the social welfare department, Ravi Raushan and Rosy Rani, are also in jail in connection with the case. Both are lodged at the Beur Central Jail in Patna.

Thakur, who was initially shifted to Bhagalpur in view of the fact that he was a "renowned citizen" and his presence in Muzaffarpur could come in the way of a fair probe, is at present lodged in a jail in Patiala following an order to the effect passed by the Supreme Court.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Acting nearly four months after receiving a sexual harassment complaint against party MLA P K Sasi, the ruling CPI(M) Monday suspended him for six months from its primary membership as the opposition Congress demanded a police probe.

The decision in this regard was taken at the CPI(M) state committee meeting at AKG Centre, the party headquarters here.

A Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) party worker had filed a complaint on August 14 before the party, alleging the MLA tried to sexually abuse her at the party office at Manarcaud in Palakkad.

The woman had later forwarded the complaint to the party's national leadership, reportedly following a lukewarm response to it here.

Reacting to the party decision, Sasi, the Shoranur MLA and Palakkad district secretariat member, said he "accepted it with both hands".

The Left party, in a release, said Sasi was suspended from the CPI(M)'s primary membership for six months after it was found that he had conversed with the woman "in a manner not befitting a party leader".

The decision would be implemented after getting the ratification from the party's central committee, the release said.

The party had appointed a commission comprising Law Minister A K Balan and Kannur MP and central committee member P K Sreemathy to probe the charges.

In its report, it stated that Sasi had not sexually assaulted the complainant, but conversed with her inappropriately.

Sasi had earlier dismissed the allegation against him, saying it was a "well-planned conspiracy" to malign him politically.

Opposition Leader in the State Assembly Ramesh Chennithala demanded that police register a case on its own as Sasi was found guilty of misconduct by the CPI(M).

He said in a statement that in cases relating to sexual harassment against women, it is not the party which should conduct a probe and deliver a verdict.

"The party probe is only an eyewash", he said.

P K Sreemathy said the telephone conversation which Sasi had with the complainant was examined and it was found that some of his remarks were "inappropriate".

The complaint was sent to CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat on August 14 and via an e-mail to CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury as well.

The CPI(M) decision comes a day ahead of the Kerala Assembly session convening on Tuesday, which is likely to be stormy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A JOINT inspection of Her Majestys Prison in Grand Turk did not go ahead as planned on Wednesday (November 21) after the home affairs minister failed to attend.





According to Sabrina Green, Director of the Human Rights Commission (HRC), Delroy Williams conducted his own inspection but left the building before their arranged meeting.





In a statement to press, she described it as a "disappointing turn of events.





"After allegations of baseless findings levied by the minister, an invitation was extended to the minister and it was agreed to jointly inspect the facility, Green said.





She explained that earlier in the day the minister was present with a representative from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and a representative from the Governors Office.





"The minister along with acting superintendent, the representative from the FCO and the representative from the Governors Office left the prison office to carry out an inspection and I was told a separate one would be conducted with the minister and the HRC.





The human rights head said that moments later the acting superintendent returned to the office conveying a message from Williams that she "may go ahead and carry out her inspection and to send him a report.





"The HRC for a second time will send the ministry the report which was already sent to his office, she said.





Green added that the HRC has conducted numerous visits to Her Majestys Prison during 2018.





"As far as the HRC is concerned, this matter is now settled.





On October 17, members of the TCI Human Rights Commission visited the prison in Grand Turk and conducted a review.





Sabrina Green, Director of the TCI Human Rights Commission, released a lengthy statement exposing the appalling state of the facility on November 7.





The report, which followed an inspection of the penal facility, said it was "not fit for human habitation and should be condemned.





Green claimed it breaches several UN standards and inmates have been "dehumanised by poor living conditions leaving little room for rehabilitation.





In a statement to press on November 15, Hon. Vaden Williams, Minister of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication, hit back at the damning report.





He said Her Majestys Prison has its problems but the situation is not as "drastic and dire as claimed.





Williams said there can be no denying that problems exist at the prison "as is the case at penal institutions worldwide.





However, he questioned the motive behind the commissions report and said it contained several exaggerations and inaccuracies.




The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Monday suspended its Shoranur MLA, P K Sasi, against whom charges were levelled by a woman party worker, for six months from the party's primary membership.

The decision in this regard was taken at the CPI(M) state committee meeting at AKG Centre, the party headquarters.

The Left party, in a release, said Sasi was suspended from the CPI(M)'s primary membership for six months after it was found that he had conversed with a woman worker "in a manner not befitting a party leader".

The decision will be implemented after getting the ratification from the party's central committee, the release said.

A woman Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader had accused Sasi of trying to sexually abuse her following which the party had initiated a probe.

A two-member party appointed commission, comprising law minister, A K Balan, and Kannur MP and central committee member P K Sreemathy, which probed the allegations had in its report stated that Sasi had not sexually assaulted the complainant, but had conversed with her inappropriately.

Sasi, Palakkad district secretariat member, who had earlier dismissed the allegation against him saying it was a "well planned conspiracy" to malign him politically, Monday said he would accept any decision the CPI(M) took against him and would always remain with the party.

According to media reports, the DYFI leader had filed the complaint alleging the MLA tried to sexually abuse her at the party office at Manarcaud in Palakkad.

The complaint had been sent to CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat on August 14 and via an e-mail to CPI(M) general secretary as well.

The CPI(M) decision comes a day ahead of the Kerala Assembly session convening on Tuesday, which is likely to be stormy.
The opposition CPI(M) thrice walked out of the Tripura Assembly on Monday to protest on different issues.

In the zero-hour CPI(M) MLA Sudhan Das raised an issue about attack on opposition MLAs in the state during last eight months. He referred to alleged attacks on himself at Belonia in South Tripura district, Narayan Chowdhury at Bishalgarh in Sipahijala district and Ratan Bhaumick at Udaipur in Gomati district.

The Deputy Speaker Biswabandhu Sen tried to stop Das during his speech and tried to continue with other business of the House.

The opposition MLAs alleged that they were not allowed to speak in the House and staged the first walk out.

However, they joined the session in second half of the day.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb moved an amendment bill for the Tripura Cooperative Societies Act in the second half of the days business when opposition CPI(M) MLA Tapan Chakraborty alleged that the bill was proposed to legalise breaking up of statutory bodies in different levels of the three-tier panchayat.

Following a series of argument, the opposition members staged a walk-out for the second time.

The chief minister also moved a host of other Bills including Tripura Urban Planning and Development Bill, Criminal Law (Tripura amendment) Bill, Tripura Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Reservation (third amendment) Bill and Tripura Shops and Establishments (fourth amendment) Bill today.

The shops and establishments bill proposed to withdraw a section of the existing law which mandated 1.5 days closure of all shops and trading outlets in all markets of the state.

Opposing the Bill, former Industries and Commerce minister and CPI(M) MLA Tapan Chakraborty said it would pave way for exploitation of workers in shops and other trading concerns at the hands of owners.

Chakraborty demanded to withdrawal of the Bill and said labour rights of 8-hours daily work and 1.5 day holiday every week would be adversely affected if the proposed bill was passed.

In response, the chief minister said that the state government would earn more revenue if shops and trading concerns remain open for all 7 days of the week, which would benefit people through different schemes and projects in return.

Deb claimed a "change of mindset" was needed to adapt to the revised rules.

"It is wrong to identify owners, entrepreneurs or shopkeepers as enemies. Owners and workers have to work together to bring profit. This mindset of identifying owners as enemies has to be changed," Deb said in an oblique reference to the communist ideology of class struggle.

After their objections were denied, the opposition CPI(M) MLAs staged a walk-out for the third time.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The special session of the Delhi Assembly that began Monday was extended by a day as scheduled business of the House could not be completed.

Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla extended the session by a day following consent from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators.

The one-day special session, which was scheduled to conclude on Monday itself, has been convened to discuss the recent attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the alleged mass deletion of names in voter list across the city.

The session on Monday saw a detailed discussion on chilli powder attack on the chief minister outside his office last week.

The House also adopted a resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of Delhi government.

On Tuesday, legislators are expected to discuss the issue of alleged mass deletion of voters in the Assembly.

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Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Maharashtra Assembly on Monday with the Opposition demanding that the government table the State Backward Class Commission's report on Maratha quota and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' (TISS) report on Dhangar reservation.

The House had to be adjourned four times; first for 10 minutes, then till the end of Question Hour and later twice for 15 minutes each following the uproar.

When the House reassembled after the end of Question Hour, Opposition members squatted on the floor of the House to protest against the passage of some supplementary demands amid the din.

Earlier, when Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde called for the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil asked why the government was running away from a debate in the House on the State Backward Class Commission's recommendations over the Maratha quota issue.

"We want to discuss the quota issue. What do we discuss if we don't know what is mentioned in the report?" he asked.

The Maharashtra government had last week announced that 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.

Vikhe Patil said the TISS had also submitted its report on quota for the Dhangar (shepherd) community and that the reservation for Muslims in education was upheld by the high court.

"We want the government to announce its stand on reservation for Muslims and table the reports on quota for Marathas and Dhangars in the House for discussion," he said.

He accused the government of not allowing Maratha organisations to hold protests in Mumbai over the demand for tabling the Backward Class Commission's report in the House.

"The House will not be allowed to function till the demand is met," Vikhe Patil said.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar also supported the Congress leader's demand.

However, state Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil rejected the allegation that the government was preventing Maratha organisations from holding protests.

"We just said that today is a sensitive day in Mumbai since it is the anniversary of the 26/11 terror attack. We told them to consider postponing the protest by a day in view of the law and order situation," Patil said.

He also said that there was no need of protests since the government had accepted the recommendations of providing reservation to Marathas under the socially and educationally backward category.

The reservation will be given within the legal and constitutional framework without hurting the existing quota, the minister said.

On the issue of quota for Muslims, he said reservation on the basis of religion given in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala did not stand in court.

"All backward communities among Muslims are given reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. If more castes need to be added, the State Backward Class Commission should be approached," he said.

Ajit Pawar objected to the minister's comments, saying the court had accepted reservation for Muslims in education.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashish Shelar then questioned why the Congress and the NCP had not tabled the Rane committee's report on Maratha reservation in the Assembly, when the two parties were in power.

He accused the two opposition parties of shedding "crocodile tears" over the issue.

"Their only agenda is to divide the society," Shelar charged.

Following the uproar, the House was first adjourned for 10 minutes and later till the end of the Question Hour.

When the House reassembled after the two adjournments, the Chair took up laying of annual report of the Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation and Maharashtra Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Science University in Nagpur.

The Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) report was also tabled.

Amid the noisy scenes, the Chair also rushed through the supplementary demands of revenue, forest, industries, energy, labour and public works departments.

The demands were passed by a voice vote and Minister of State for Urban Development Ranjit Patil later introduced the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council, Nagar Panchayat and Industrial Township (Amendment) Bill.

A bill to amend the Drug and Cosmetics Act, 1940 was also introduced.

When the Chair asked Vikhe Patil to initiate a debate on the supplementary demands, he said the government must first clarify on reports over the quota issue before continuing with the proceedings.

As the uproar continues, the House was again adjourned for 15 minutes.

When the House assembled after the third adjournment, the opposition members squatted on its floor.

Jayant Patil (NCP) said they were protesting against the passage of supplementary demands in a hurry and demanded that they be withdrawn.

The opposition members wanted to discuss the demands, he said.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat then invited the opposition leaders for talks in the Speaker's chamber.

Later, Education Minister Vinod Tawde asked Ajit Pawar and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan to join the talks.

As the chaos continued, the Chair then again adjourned the House for another 15 minutes.

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South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife have been pictured cuddling a litter of puppies whelped by one of the dogs given to them by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a symbol of the strengthening ties between the two countries.

Images released on Monday show the couple smiling as they sit on the ground outside their residence in Seoul surrounded by the six pups and their mother Gomi.

Kim sent Moon a pair of indigenous North Korean hunting dogs following their meeting in Pyongyang in September as a token of their rapidly blossoming friendship.

"Meet the newborn puppies of Gomi, one of the Pungsan dogs from North Korea," Moon's office tweeted on Sunday.

It posted two pictures of the dogs, one of them showing five furry white pups cuddled on Moon's lap with the sixth in the first lady's arms, with Gomi by their side in the courtyard of the presidential residence.

Both the mother and the puppies -- three males and three females born on November 9 -- were "very healthy", the presidential office said.

Known for loyalty and intelligence, the Pungsan breed -- a hunting dog with a thick, creamy white coat, pointy ears and hazel eyes -- is originally from an area of the same name in the North.

"As the pregnancy period of dogs is about two months, Gomi must have been pregnant when she came to us," Moon tweeted when the puppies were born, adding: "I hope inter-Korean ties will also be like this."



Moon is a known animal lover who has four dogs -- the two canines gifted by Kim, another Pungsan dog Maru, and a black mutt named Tory he adopted after taking office -- plus a former shelter cat called Jjing-Jjing.

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Don't mess with China and its growing cadre of powerful luxury consumers.

Dolce&Gabbana learned that lesson the hard way when it faced a boycott after Chinese expressed outrage over what were seen as culturally insensitive videos promoting a major runway show in Shanghai and subsequent posts of insulting comments in a private Instagram chat.

The company blamed hackers for the anti-Chinese insults, but the explanation felt flat to many and the damage was done.

The Milan designers cancelled the Shanghai runway show, meant as a tribute to China, as their guest list of Asian celebrities quickly joined the protests.

Then, as retailers pulled their merchandise from shelves and powerful e-commerce sites deleted their wares, co-founders Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana went on camera dwarfed against the larger backdrop of an ornate red wall-covering to apologise to the Chinese people.

"We will never forget this experience, and it will definitely never happen again," a solemn-looking Gabbana said in a video statement posted Friday on social media.

The apology video , and the sharp public backlash that demanded it, shows the importance of the Chinese market and the risks of operating in it.

More broadly, it highlights the huge and still-growing influence of China, a country that cannot be ignored as it expands economically, militarily and diplomatically.

These trends are intertwined in frequent outbursts of nationalist sentiment among consumers who feel slighted by foreign brands or their governments.

It's not the first time a company has apologised, and it surely won't be the last.

Mercedes-Benz did so in February for featuring a quote by the Dalai Lama on its Instagram account.

For Dolce&Gabbana, it could be mark the end of its growth in China, a crucial market for global luxury brands that it has cultivated since opening its first store in 2005 and where it now has 44 boutiques.

"I think it is going to be impossible over the next couple of years for them to work in China," said Cary Cooper, a professor of organisational psychology and health at Manchester University in England.

"When you break this kind of cultural codes, then you are in trouble. The brand is now damaged in China, and I think it will be damaged in China until there is lost memory about it."



London-based Brand Finance consultancy estimates that the scandal could wipe up to 20 per cent off the Dolce&Gabbana brand's value of USD 937 million, which already places it out of the top 50 global apparel brands.

They are 36th among all Italian brands, extending to sectors like automotive.

That could shake Dolce&Gabbana's financial health.

The privately held company does not release its individual sales figures.

But Chinese consumers are responsible for a third of all luxury spending around the globe, according to a recent study by Bain consultancy.

That will grow to 46 per cent of forecast sales of an estimated 365 billion euros (USD 412 billion) by 2025, fuelled by millennials and the younger Generation Z set, who will make a growing percentage of their purchases online.

"Without China, the hinterland for growth, D&G will obviously be in a weak competitive position and in danger of being eliminated," the Chinese business magazine New Fortune said in a social media post Sunday.

"This is one of the major reasons why D&G finally lowered its head. They really cannot survive without the Chinese market."



While Dolce&Gabbana has displayed a knack for social media engagement, inviting millennial influencers with millions of collective followers to sit in their front rows or walk in their shows, that engagement has been a double-edged sword.

Pop idol Karry Wang, who has drawn hundreds of screaming Chinese fans to the designer's Milan showroom for season runway shows, was one of the first to disavow the brand, saying he was ending his role as Asia-Pacific brand ambassador.

Dolce found himself on the defensive several years ago after Elton John lashed out for comments that suggested he did not support gay couples using surrogate mothers to have children.

At the time, more than 67,000 tweets urged #boycottdolcegabbana, while Courtney Love vowed to burn her Dolce&Gabbana garb and Martina Navratilova pledged to trash her D&G shirts.

Gabbana, who has 1.6 million Instagram followers, faced a more contained backlash earlier this year when he responded to a collage of Selena Gomez photos on Instagram with the comment, "She's really ugly."



Celebrities took to social media Wednesday to blast Dolce&Gabbana and said they would boycott the show, which was cancelled.

By Thursday, the company's goods had disappeared from major e-commerce websites. The prevailing sentiment was captured by an airport duty-free shop that posted a photo of its shelves emptied of D&G products: "We have to show our stance. We are proud to be Chinese."



The rapid escalation into a public relations disaster was fuelled by social media.

Individuals posted videos of themselves cutting up or burning their Dolce&Gabbana clothes, or picking them up with chopsticks and putting them in the trash.

A parody of the offending Dolce&Gabbana videos, which featured a Chinese woman using chopsticks to eat pizza and an oversized cannoli, shows a white man trying to eat Chinese food with a fork and knife.

At least three rap bands took up the cause with new songs.

"Companies that don't respect us don't deserve our respect," Wang Zixin, team leader of CD Rev, a nationalist rap band, said by phone from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.

Its new song had been viewed more than 850,000 times on Weibo.

"We hope people will remember companies that have ever insulted China, and not forget about them when the fallout passes," Wang said.

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The Mayor-designate of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Firhad Hakim Monday urged his followers to donate money in the Mayor's relief fund rather than using it to buy congratulatory sweets and flowers for him.

"I am thankful to each and everybody who have wished me after being elected as a Mayor of Kolkata. But I would like to request all of you that instead of spending money on buying flowers and sweets to congratulate me, please donate that money in the Mayor's or Chief Minister's Relief Fund," Hakim said.

The amount may be small but when you accumulate all the funds, that can be used to help the poor people of the city. This gesture would make me more happy, he said.

Hakim, West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister, was elected the new mayor of Kolkata last Thursday by the TMC councillors after Sovan Chatterjee resigned from the post on the directions of Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of KMC councillors, where senior party leaders, including Banerjee, were present.

He is yet to take over as Mayor as the official and procedural formalities are yet to be completed.

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Egypt has created a new high-powered human rights watchdog agency, but its primary mission isn't to protect Egyptians from violations.

Instead, the body is foremost aimed at protecting the government from allegations of rights abuses and defending it on the international stage.

The new body reflects an attitude of the state under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi that sees criticism over human rights as intended to undermine the government and cause instability at a time when it is facing militant threats and trying to rebuild a battered economy.

Officials have already started a campaign against "false rumours" and "fake news" and have in some cases detained those who speak out.

At the same time, the government has sought to redefine or broaden human rights, declaring new "rights" to fight terrorism and protect the state.

Critics see that as an attempt to legitimize and draw international attention away from alleged abuses by security forces.

"Human rights cannot be divided, nor can some be given priorities over others," said Nasser Amin, a prominent rights lawyer.

The High Permanent Commission for Human rights does not include any rights activists. Its main members are representatives of the Foreign Ministry, the military, the intelligence agencies and the Interior Ministry, which oversees a police force accused of torture and forced disappearances, claims that are categorically denied by the government.

The mission of the body, according to a Cabinet statement, is to "respond to claims" made against Egypt's human rights record and formulate a "unified Egyptian vision" to be stated in regional and international forums.

One key role will be to deal with the UN Human Rights Council, which is to review the situation in Egypt in late 2019.

"This is a body that will seek to improve the image of the country, not actual human rights," said Gamal Eid, a prominent rights lawyer.

"Rather than fight the root causes of human rights violations, it has been customary for Egypt to set up committees to confuse the scene. Egyptian diplomacy has been effective at drawing attention away from violations."



Egypt's human rights record is being scrutinized more closely than at any time in decades, chiefly because of the large-scale crackdown that followed the 2013 ouster by the military, then led by el-Sissi, of an Islamist president whose year in office proved divisive.

Authorities have jailed thousands of Islamists, along with secular activists, silenced critics in the media and slapped travel bans on dozens of activists.

Human Rights Watch said in September that Egypt's crackdown on freedom of expression has reached alarming new levels. In a report last week, the group said at least 40 rights lawyers and political activists have been arrested since October. The government has dismissed such reports, saying they are based on misinformation.

Eid and other rights campaigners say the new body is a reincarnation of a near identical one that was in charge of the human rights issue from the 1980s until 2004, when it was dissolved.

In 2004, the government created the National Council for Human Rights, or NCHR, a quasi-state body that enjoys a margin of freedom and voices some criticism of officials and police.

That year also saw the government start introducing a series of modest reforms that allowed a measure of openness for opposition forces, believed by many to have partially paved the way for the 2011 pro-democracy uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

"I imagine there is a faction within the government that wants to take the country completely back to pre-2004," said Amin. The new commission reflects that faction's "displeasure over the government's inability to fully control the NCHR," he said.

El-Sissi, in office since 2014, says his priorities are security and reviving the economy, focusing on the fight against militants and introducing ambitious reforms to overhaul the economy.

He has publicly expressed his contempt for and his disapproval of the 2011 uprising, while projecting an image of himself as a saviour or a patriotic, God-fearing leader determined to make his country stable and prosperous. To him, the right to heath care, suitable housing and women's rights are as important as freedom of speech and other rights. He often points to the chaos in Syria, Yemen and Libya as cautionary tales against abrupt change.

"You hear that we are against human rights, that we are dictatorial," he told a gathering of young people this month, addressing non-Egyptian participants.

"No, no! We are just a nation that wants to live, just like you do. We respect and love our people."



"I want to be on the record, before God Almighty and the people of Egypt and the guests here, that safeguarding nations is a human right," he said.

There are already at least five other state or parliamentary bodies with mandates on human rights. These are expected to continue, while the new commission takes on the task of responding to allegations on Egypt's rights record.

Bahieddin Hassan, a prominent rights campaigner who lives in exile in Paris, believes the creation of a new body to address international criticism is rooted in fears the US Congress in the future may seek cuts in Washington's military aid to Egypt running at USD 1.3 billion a year or that the EU could move to reduce aid or investment. Washington suspended $195 million in military aid to Egypt in 2017 over its human rights record, though the money was released in July.

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Eight Naxals and two police personnel were killed in an encounter between ultras and security men in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday, police said.

The gunbattle took place at a forest in Kistaram area bordering Telangana, around 500 km from here, when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukma's Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

Eight bodies of Naxals have been found at the encounter spot, he said.

Two District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel were also killed in the exchange of fire, the SP said.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the spot, he said.

Further details were awaited as the encounter was still underway, he added.

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Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhs, Monday directed the SGPC to ensure the release of death row convict Balwant Singh Rajona by next year.

After chairing a meeting of the five Sikh head priests, Akal Takht Jathedar Gyani Harpreet Singh asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) "to do the needful" before the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev in November next year.

Harpreet Singh said the mercy petition of Rajoana, the death row convict in the Beant Singh assassination case, was pending before the President of India for the last seven years.

He asked the SGPC to put in "sincere efforts", so that the appeal before the President has a positive outcome.

Rajoanawas the prime accused and convicted for the assassination of the then Punjab chief Minister Beant Singh in August 31, 1995.

He was awarded death sentence on Aug 1, 2007 by the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Chandigarh.

Beant Singh was killed by Dilawar Singh, an associate of Rajoana who was the backup human bomb had Dilawar failed in his plan to assassinate the chief minister.

Rajoana's execution was scheduled for March 31, 2012 but on March 28, the Union Home Ministry stayed the execution following clemency appeals filed by the SGPC. Meanwhile, the five Sikh head priests commended the decision of India and Pakistan governments to build Kartarpur corridor to facilitate easy access for Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.

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By Olivia Rose

LEADER of the Opposition Hon. Washington Misick has said Governor John Freeman should dissolve the House of Assembly and call a general election to avert a complete systemic breakdown.





Misick, in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday (November 20), demanded that Sharlene Cartwright Robinson throw in the towel and resign, citing the neglect and resultant dilapidation of the NJS Francis parliament building in Grand Turk.





Last week Monday, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning said the building, where important deliberations such as the House of Assembly are held, was experiencing some structural failures.





The ministry advised that portions of the building were prohibited from use.





Several cracks and slanted columns are visible from the outside of the building located on Front Street.





The ministry advised the general public that all staff and visitors to the NJS Francis Building should refrain from using the west balcony, the west porch and the surrounding area.





People walking or operating vehicles in the area were also cautioned to remain behind the barricades and pay close attention to falling debris.





According to the Opposition leader the conditions and the circumstances which have made the NJS Francis Building unfit for occupation fall squarely at the feet of the premier.





He said: "Endemic to leadership roles are decision rights which make the leader accountable and obligated to assume responsibility for policies, actions, decisions as well as the obligation to report, explain and answer for the result be it favourable or unfavourable.





"Yet, the premier as the leader of Government, has neither reported nor offered an explanation.





"In many governments around the world, such abject failure would result in the government vacating office  considering that the problem was entirely avoidable.





"The vindictive and capricious style of leadership, which this premier embraces, has resulted in various cancellations or delays to several infrastructure projects, including JAGS McCartney International Airport, Waterloo, the South Caicos International Airport Terminal and the Cultural Amphitheatre (fish-fry village).





Misick revealed that money allocated in last years budget for dire repairs were subsequently reduced by the premier.





He said: "The awarding of the contract for the repairs and refurbishment of the NJS Francis Building is perhaps the most egregious frustration of a contract award, given the buildings centrality to TCI democracy, being the physical seat of Government.





"To aggravate the situation, the premier reduced and then removed the $2.1 million originally allocation in the 2016-2017 budget for the repairs to the building, and for which tenders went out in 2016.





"A contract with TCIG and a local contractor was signed in April 2017.





"However, instead of informing the contractor of the commencement date of the contract, a letter of cancellation was sent on February 7, 2018.





Misick pointed out that the prohibited use of the building resulted in the relocation of employees and will require the HOA to occupy the HJ Robinson High School auditorium for an indeterminable period, thereby depriving students of valuable space and facilities.





"In addition, this failure will incur recurrent expenditure to accommodate Ministry of Finance and other staff.





"It will also result in an increase capital layout because of defects, which, had they been repaired as scheduled, would have resulted in less hurricane damage.





The Opposition leader further lambasted the Government for not doing enough to ensure critical infrastructure in a timely manner.





The Progressive National Party (PNP) leader chastised the incumbent administration for hoarding surplus funds.





He said: "This hoarding of cash will only result in continuous degradation of infrastructure, more potential failures and mould infestation of Government buildings.





"As has become the norm for the premier, this national disgrace will once again be blamed erroneously on Irma and Maria.





"In the meantime, the delivery of services suffers because the Government will now have to submit a supplementary appropriation bill and have it passed before it could re-tender the contract for the repairs and refurbishment.





"This is likely to take us well into 2020.





Misick stressed that there is a large tranche of funds available, about $55 million dollars surplus, that could be accessed to take care of urgent matters.





However, he opined that the trickle-down effect is "like that of molasses.




The Congress alleged Monday the "weak" Narendra Modi government "compromised on" the national security by allowing a "third party mediation" in Jammu and Kashmir, days after an ex-Norwegian prime minister's visit to the state.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the policy underlines that only India and Pakistan can hold a mutual discussion on the boundary dispute and accused the central government of violating the country's 71-year-old policy to deal with the issue.

"You must have read in newspapers... I don't want to take his name, I don't disrespect him. But for the first time, Modiji has sent a former prime minister of a third country to J&K to talk with separatists...Why? This question should be asked to him," Surjewala told reporters.

He was apparently referring to the recent visit of former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik to Jammu and Kashmir where he met top separatist leaders.

Surjewala was replying to a query on Congress minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's comments on Indo-Pak relations in the context of Pakistan's announcement to develop a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, in that country.

Sidhu had said that "Pakistan would take two steps towards harmony, if India takes one".

"It has been India's policy that any mediation by a third country is not allowed and that India and Pakistan can talk mutually about their boundary dispute," Surjewala said.

He said the Modi government "cannot be expected" to take a firm step on the national security.

"Unfortunately, for the first time a weak Modi government is in power, which has knelt down before terrorists, extremism and Naxalism. We cannot expect it to take a solid step on the issue of the national security," the Congress spokesperson said.

He said the prime minister has "blurred" the traditional policy of India on Jammu and Kashmir by allowing a former PM of a third country to talk with separatists.

"Today, it's one country's prime minister, tomorrow the US would ask to mediate in Kashmir dispute, then China and Russia would also come. What are you doing? This is a compromise on the national security," he said.

Asked if Sidhu's comments amounted to his love for Pakistan, Surjewala said, "Sidhu is the minister of a state and you (media) took up his comment which is not relevant.... not under his jurisdiction".

He said the media should ask the Modi government why a former prime minister of a foreign country was invited for a joint dialogue.

India and Pakistan had last week announced that they would develop Kartarpur corridor in their respective areas, linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, is located across the Ravi river in Pakistan and is about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab in India.

Surjewala said the prime minister has not kept his promise of bringing culprits of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack to book.

"Modi had said that he would bring the culprits of the 26/11 terror attack within 24 hours. What happened? Four-and-a half years have been passed (since the BJP came to power). Why this promise was not kept?" he asked.

On November 26, 2008 10 terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba attacked Mumbai. In the mayhem that followed for the next three days, 166 people including 18 police officers and two NSG commandos were killed while 308 people were injured.

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In January 2019, a liberal-arts student from New York born to immigrant parents will become the first black woman to lead Harvard University's Crimson newspaper in its 145-year history.

Kristine Guillaume, who is studying literature, history and African-American studies, was elected this month with a promise to steer the traditional bastion of the establishment towards a more diverse, digital-first future.

She has previously served as a chair of a diversity and inclusivity committee, responsible for making The Harvard Crimson more diverse and welcoming to students from all backgrounds.

"If my being elected to the Crimson presidency as the first black woman affirms anyone's sense of belonging at Harvard, then that will continue to affirm the work that I'm doing," she told The New York Times.

The 20-year-old is the third black president and first black woman to helm the organisation since it was founded in 1873.

The Crimson has traditionally been a fast-track to illustrious careers.

Past writers and editors at the daily include John F Kennedy and Franklin D Roosevelt, two of America's most celebrated presidents.

According to the Times, Guillaume plans to pursue a doctorate in African-American studies and a career in academia, with some writing on the side. She considers the author Ta-Nehisi Coates a role model.

Guillaume, the daughter of two doctors -- her Chinese mother and Haitian father -- will be joined by Angela Fu as incoming managing editor.

Harvard was taken to court this fall over criticism that it discriminates against Asian students.

In 2018, people of colour make up just over 22 per cent of the workforce in US newsrooms, according to the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

In 1990, Barack Obama was the first black person elected to lead The Harvard Law Review, considered the highest student position at Harvard Law School.

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A Chinese researcher claims that he helped make the world's first genetically edited babies twin girls born this month whose DNA he said he altered with a powerful new tool capable of rewriting the very blueprint of life.

If true, it would be a profound leap of science and ethics.

A US scientist said he took part in the work in China, but this kind of gene editing is banned in the United States because the DNA changes can pass to future generations and it risks harming other genes.

Many mainstream scientists think it's too unsafe to try, and some denounced the Chinese report as human experimentation.

The researcher, He Jiankui of Shenzhen, said he altered embryos for seven couples during fertility treatments, with one pregnancy resulting thus far.

He said his goal was not to cure or prevent an inherited disease, but to try to bestow a trait that few people naturally have an ability to resist possible future infection with HIV, the AIDS virus.

He said the parents involved declined to be identified or interviewed, and he would not say where they live or where the work was done.

There is no independent confirmation of He's claim, and it has not been published in a journal, where it would be vetted by other experts. He revealed it Monday in Hong Kong to one of the organizers of an international conference on gene editing that is set to begin Tuesday, and earlier in exclusive interviews with The Associated Press.

"I feel a strong responsibility that it's not just to make a first, but also make it an example," He told the AP.

"Society will decide what to do next" in terms of allowing or forbidding such science. Some scientists were astounded to hear of the claim and strongly condemned it.

It's "unconscionable ... an experiment on human beings that is not morally or ethically defensible," said Dr. Kiran Musunuru, a University of Pennsylvania gene editing expert and editor of a genetics journal.

"This is far too premature," said Dr. Eric Topol, who heads the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California. "We're dealing with the operating instructions of a human being. It's a big deal."



However, one famed geneticist, Harvard University's George Church, defended attempting gene editing for HIV, which he called "a major and growing public health threat."



"I think this is justifiable," Church said of that goal.

In recent years scientists have discovered a relatively easy way to edit genes, the strands of DNA that govern the body. The tool, called CRISPR-cas9, makes it possible to operate on DNA to supply a needed gene or disable one that's causing problems.

It's only recently been tried in adults to treat deadly diseases, and the changes are confined to that person. Editing sperm, eggs or embryos is different the changes can be inherited. In the US, it's not allowed except for lab research. China outlaws human cloning but not specifically gene editing.

He Jiankui, who goes by "JK," studied at Rice and Stanford universities in the US before returning to his homeland to open a lab at Southern University of Science and Technology of China in Shenzhen, where he also has two genetics companies.

The US scientist who worked with him on this project after He returned to China was physics and bioengineering professor Michael Deem, who was his adviser at Rice in Houston.

Deem also holds what he called "a small stake" in and is on the scientific advisory boards of He's two companies.

The Chinese researcher said he practiced editing mice, monkey and human embryos in the lab for several years and has applied for patents on his methods.

He said he chose to try embryo gene editing for HIV because these infections are a big problem in China. He sought to disable a gene called CCR5 that forms a protein doorway that allows HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to enter a cell.

All of the men in the project had HIV and all of the women did not, but the gene editing was not aimed at preventing the small risk of transmission, He said.

The fathers had their infections deeply suppressed by standard HIV medicines and there are simple ways to keep them from infecting offspring that do not involve altering genes.

Instead, the appeal was to offer couples affected by HIV a chance to have a child that might be protected from a similar fate.

He recruited couples through a Beijing-based AIDS advocacy group called Baihualin.

Its leader, known by the pseudonym "Bai Hua," told the AP that it's not uncommon for people with HIV to lose jobs or have trouble getting medical care if their infections are revealed.

Here is how He described the work:



The gene editing occurred during IVF, or lab dish fertilization. First, sperm was "washed" to separate it from semen, the fluid where HIV can lurk. A single sperm was placed into a single egg to create an embryo. Then the gene editing tool was added.

When the embryos were 3 to 5 days old, a few cells were removed and checked for editing. Couples could choose whether to use edited or unedited embryos for pregnancy attempts. In all, 16 of 22 embryos were edited, and 11 embryos were used in six implant attempts before the twin pregnancy was achieved, He said.

Tests suggest that one twin had both copies of the intended gene altered and the other twin had just one altered, with no evidence of harm to other genes, He said. People with one copy of the gene can still get HIV, although some very limited research suggests their health might decline more slowly once they do.

Several scientists reviewed materials that He provided to the AP and said tests so far are insufficient to say the editing worked or to rule out harm.

They also noted evidence that the editing was incomplete and that at least one twin appears to be a patchwork of cells with various changes. "It's almost like not editing at all" if only some of certain cells were altered, because HIV infection can still occur, Church said.

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A passenger was detained and forced to de-board a Jet Airways Kolkata-Mumbai flight on Monday after fellow passengers allegedly heard him talking about "bombs" on a video chat, an airport official said.

Yogvedanta Poddar, in his 20s, was forced to get off the plane, which was preparing for take-off, he said.

Co-passengers overheard his conversation and alerted a flight attendant.

The crew immediately informed the pilot about a possible threat, the official said.

"The pilot then reported the matter to the ATC, following which the man was taken off the Jet Airways flight by the CISF, which is in charge of security at the airport," he said.

Poddar has been handed over to the airport police station for questioning, he added.

According to police sources, the man said during interrogation that he was going to Mumbai for a job interview.

The resident of Salt Lake, adjoining the city, was being interrogated at the NSCBI airport police station to ascertain his motives, officials said.

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Four people from one family, including two minors, were killed when a fire broke out following the explosion of an LPG cylinder in eastern Nepal, police said on Monday.

The incident happened in Jhapa district of Nepal on Sunday when a two-storey wooden house turned into ashes after the LPG cylinder exploded spreading the fire due to the 40 litres of diesel stored in the house.

The dead included two adults and two minors including a four month old, police said.

The neighbours tried to douse the fire but could not help much as it had already spread in the entire house.

"We tried to douse the fire with water but the inferno had already spread to other parts of the house and our efforts went in vain," The Kathmandu Post quoted a neighbour as saying.

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The captain of a cruise ship found to be burning fuel with excessive sulphur levels was fined 100,000 euros (USD 114,000) in a Marseille court Monday, the first such ruling in France.

The prosecution was intended by authorities to signal a new seriousness in tackling pollution from cruise ships after a spot check in March on The Azura, operated by P&O Cruises, found it contained unauthorised bunker fuel.

American captain Evans Hoyt knew that the fuel was illegal -- it contained 1.68 per cent sulphur, above the 1.5-per cent European limit -- and the company was using it to save money, prosecutors said during the trial.

The judge handed Hoyt a fine of 100,000 euros, but specified that the parent company of P&O, US-based cruise giant Carnival, should pay 80,000 euros of the sum.

The company had "wanted to save money at the expense of everyone's lungs," prosecutor Franck Lagier told the court in October.

Marseille is a popular stop-off for giant cruise ships that ply routes in the Mediterranean between Spain and Italy and port services are an important part of the local economy.

But the city has struggled with increased smog in recent years and shipping is thought to be responsible for a large part of the pollution, which causes respiratory problems and lung disease.

High-sulphur fuel, which is cheaper than cleaner versions, produces sulphur oxides which contribute to acid rain and the acidification of oceans.

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: Three people, who had arrived at a court complex here Monday for a hearing in a property dispute case, were attacked by an armed gang, the police said.

The gang attacked Suresh, Perumal and Chakravarthy with sickles, they said.

The assailants fled the scene after people in the complex raised an alarm, they said.

Checkposts have been alerted to catch the culprits, the police said, adding that the injured have been admitted to a government hospital.

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German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday called a Russian blockade of access to the Sea of Azov "unacceptable" and urged an easing of tensions with Ukraine following a weekend flare-up.

"The developments are troubling," he tweeted.

"A Russian blockade of the passage to the Sea of Azov is unacceptable. It is important that the blockade be lifted. We call on both sides to deescalate."



Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

On Sunday, Russia boarded and seized three Ukrainian ships in the strait off Crimea, accusing them of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine has demanded the release of its sailors and more sanctions against Moscow.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said later that Berlin was following the reports with "great concern" and called for "restraint" to prevent further escalation.

"We will closely monitor developments," he told reporters, adding that the German government was in contact with Kiev and Moscow.

"As you know the German government supports the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine, which includes the Kerch Strait -- free access to the Sea of Azov must be ensured."



Seibert called the building of the bridge over the Kerch Strait a "violation of international law because Ukraine was not included" and urged Russia to release Ukraine's ships and sailors.

He said the use of military force by Russia was "unjustified based on the facts we have seen to date" and called "both sides to quickly resume dialogue".

The confrontation at sea has raised fears of a wider military escalation and the UN Security Council was to hold an emergency session later Monday to consider a response.

Berlin on Tuesday was hosting a previously scheduled meeting of high-ranking diplomats from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany known as the Normandy format.

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President Ram Nath Kovind Monday said he was "glad" that the Supreme Court has initiated the process of providing the certified translated copies of court judgements to the litigants in Hindi.

Kovind said that some high courts across the country were also issuing certified translated copies in local languages to the litigants.

"One year ago, I made a suggestion on this very platform to facilitate certified translated copies of court judgements in regional languages. This would help litigants who were not familiar with the English language," the President said while addressing the inaugural function of 'Constitution Day Celebrations' held here.

"I am glad that the Supreme Court, led by the Chief Justice of India very shortly after he took office, has initiated the process for certified translated copies in Hindi. Some high courts are also issuing certified translated copies in local languages," Kovind said.

The President said that by Constitution Day 2019, "I look forward to all high courts, across the country, implementing this practice. It will serve to widen the boundaries of justice."



On November 2, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, in an informal chat with the journalists covering the apex court, had said that the top court would provide translated copies of its judgments to litigants in their mother tongue if they are unable to understand English.

"To start with, we may do it in Hindi," the CJI had said.

Constitution Day, also known as 'Samvidhan Divas', is celebrated on November 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution.

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly had adopted the Constitution of India and it came into effect on January 26, 1950.

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Preventive healthcare platform GOQii Monday said it has raised an undisclosed sum in series-B round of funding led by Mitsui & Co Ltd of Japan.

Mitsui's investment will enable GOQii to penetrate further across India and will also mark its entry into Japan. Given its ageing population and focus on preventive healthcare, Japan is ripe for the entry of players like GOQii, the company said in a statement.

The latest round also saw the addition of several new investors, including Galaxy Digital and Denlow Investment Trust, it added.

The company, however, did not disclose the amount it has raised in this funding round.

"We have spent the last few years in validating our platform and forging partnerships with global insurance and healthcare providers. We are very excited to partner with Mitsui to drive the next phase of our growth," GOQii CEO Vishal Gondal said.

GOQii's product offering is highly complementary to our portfolio of healthcare investments in India and globally and we see several areas of immediate collaboration between us and GOQii, Mitsui Healthcare & Service Business Unit COO Koji Nagatomi said.

Mitsui also sees a strong potential for GOQii to enter the Japanese market and is ready to help the firm achieve its vision and ambitions, he added.

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FOLLOWING an announcement about a dilapidated part of the NJS Francis building in Grand Turk, leader of the Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA), Oswald Skippings has scorched the Government for its alleged incompetence.





Last Monday, the Government advised the public and staff members of the building that it was closing off access to the west balcony and the west porch of the building which houses the territorys House of Assembly.





People operating vehicles in the area were also advised to pay close attention when travelling along Duke Street (Front Street) and to remain behind the barricades and pay close attention to possible falling debris.





The Government said that the housing ministry was working diligently to get structures fixed and open for use again.





However, this past week, the PDA leader was none too pleased with the news, questioning whether the crumbling of the territorys parliament building was a reflection of its "impotent and incompetent Turks and Caicos Government parliamentarians.





However, Skippings, who is not a member of the assembly, went a step further, claiming that parliamentarians were ordered to urgently vacate the building because it has been declared unsafe by public health officials, structural engineers and the Government's public works team.





He stated: "Black mould has invaded the parliament and poses serious health threats to members and visitors alike.





"Members were shocked to discover the high and rising levels of water and sewage in the basement of the building all of which was revealed in official reports since July of this year. "Yet no action was taken.





The party leader surmised that the genesis of the problem is the hurricanes which occurred over a year ago.





He said like many other Government buildings including Grand Turk JAGS McCartney airport, nothing had been done to restore and repair them since the storms have passed, more than a year ago.





"The threat of the parliament building is not limited to occupants, but falling parts of the columns and other parts of the building are a threat to pedestrians and motorists on Front Street and steps are being taken to cordon off a section of front street in front of the parliament building.





He added that the frustration level in the nations capital is peaking, and while this "gross incompetence and neglect is being displayed by the Government, the advertisement of the Premiers Christmas Party seems to be taking centre stage this early.





"Our people are suffering and our country is in a serious state of neglect, dilapidation and retrogression.





"Consequently it is a profound reality now more than ever to the people of the Turks and Caicos, that enough is enough, the PDA leader stated. (Delana Isles)




Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Monday said the government was encouraging development of 'desi' breed cows and promoting natural farming in the state.

Chairing the second meeting of Himachal Pradesh Gau Vansh Samvardhan Board held here, Thakur said, "The state government was contemplating to constitute Gau Samvardhan Aayog to recommend policies for protection of Gau Vansh and programmes for development of indigenous breed of cows in the state.'



In the first cabinet meeting of the state government, it was decided that at least 15 per cent offerings to temples would be earmarked towards construction, maintenance and management of Gau Sadans in the state, he added.

Further, the government has decided to levy cess of Rs 1 on sale of every bottle of liquor in the state, he added.

The CM said the government would establish cow sanctuaries in all the districts of the state. The deputy commissioners of all the 12 districts have been directed to identify suitable land for the same so that all the formalities for setting up cows sanctuaries could be completed at the earliest, he added.

Procedure of transfer of land for setting up of cow sanctuaries and cow sadans will be simplified and efforts will also be made to make cow sanctuaries self reliant by developing them as 'Gau Vigyan Kendras', he said.

The CM also directed the agriculture and animal husbandry departments to work in coordination for ensuring that various schemes initiated by the government for protection of animals and conservation of indigenous cows could be implemented effectively.

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The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been made the sole custodian and curator of all meteorites within the Indian boundary, its Director General Dr Dinesh Gupta said Monday.

It has recently been declared as the nodal agency for collection, preservation, registration, and dissemination of all meteorite falls/finds within the country, he said.

"Henceforth, all the meteorite falls/finds within the Indian territory are to be registered in the National Meteorite Repository (NMR) of India at the city's GSI immediately after its collection," Gupta said.

The declaration was made by the Ministry of Mines in a notification on November 2 and is due to be published in the Gazette of India shortly, the GSI director general said.

Headquartered in Kolkata, the GSI was set up in 1851 and the collection and systematic cataloguing of meteorites has been in practice in GSI since 1865, when entire meteorite collection of Professor Robert Philip Greg was purchased by the then Government of India, he said.

The collection now adds up to nearly 700 meteorite samples. These precious extraterrestrial samples are displayed at the city's National Meteorite Repository at Meteorite and Planetary Science Division.

"Meteorites are of significant importance and often holds clues to formation and evolution of stars, provides age and composition of the Solar System and its evolution, and often hints at the formation of life," Gupta said.

Geo-scientists of GSI are actively involved in research activities on meteorite along with renowned institutions such as the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Ahmedabad, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMDER) New Delhi etc.

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The Gujarat High Court Monday quashed the compensation awarded to farmers for land acquired for a national highway and an expressway, and ordered their redetermination in accordance with law.

The land was acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for building a highway between Bhavnagar and Veraval and the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Anant Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav set aside the compensation awarded to the farmers for the two projects and sent the matter to the competent authority for redetermination.

This was done after both parties involved in the matter arrived at a consensus, said A J Yagnik, the lawyer for petitioners.

Twelve pleas were filed in the high court, challenging the legality of the method adopted by the land acquisition officer in arriving at the compensation amount for the farmers.

According to the petitions, the officer did not follow the Centre's notification stating that the provisions of Right to Fair Compensation in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, with regard to compensation for land owners and determination of the market value, will be followed for acquiring land under the National Highways Act, 1956.

The respondent, NHAI, continued to acquire land under the 1956 Act, the petitions said, adding no step was taken to update the market value of the land under acquisition.

The authorities also did not take into account a set of detailed guidelines issued by the NHAI for implementation of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 while determining the amount of compensation, they said.

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Gujarat government Monday signed two memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with the Intimate Apparel Association of India (IAAI) and the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) to promote garment and apparel sectors in the state.

The MoUs were signed here during a roadshow for an investment summit, Vibrant Gujarat 2019, in the presence of chief minister Vijay Rupani.

The summit, to be held from January 18-20, 2019, in Gandhinagar, would be the ninth edition of the event.

"We are expecting good response this year. We expect delegates from 110 countries this year," Rupani told reporters after the event.

He said more than 30,000 delegates from 100 countries participated in the last summit.

In the eighth edition of Vibrant Gujarat last year, the state signed around 25,000 MoUs in sectors such as MSME, chemical, pharma, engineering and IT, among others.

In the 2019 edition of the summit, the state expects 25,000-30,000 number of MoUs to be signed, according to a state government official.

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The Madras High Court Monday quashed the charge sheet framed against MDMK leader Vaiko for alleged offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2007.

Justice Anand Venkatesh passed the order on a plea moved by Vaiko assailing the charge sheet on the file of the XII Metropolitan Magistrate Court here.

According to the petitioner, on November 3, 2007 LTTE political wing leader Suba Tamilselvan was allegedly killed by the Sri Lankan military.

Condemning the killing, he along with Pazha Nedumaran organised a procession in the city.

Denying permission for the procession, Vaiko and 261 others were arrested by the police.

Vaiko was charged for offences under the Act and police filed a charge sheet before the magistrate concerned on December 11, 2009.

The petitioner contended that the sanction granted by the state to prosecute him under the Act was defective.

Near perusal of the sanction letter dated August 31, 2009 clearly shows that the procedure prescribed under the law was not followed in sanctioning the prosecution, Vaiko said.

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The Delhi Police on Monday said the number of heinous crimes in the national capital has declined this year from last year and it was incorrect to call the city the "crime capital".

The reaction came hours after the Delhi Assembly adopted a government resolution claiming that the city has become the "national crime capital".

When asked if this was the first time the Delhi Police was responding to a resolution passed in the Delhi Assembly, an officer in the force said, "We have the right to give our version. Whenever questions are raised on the Delhi Police, be it in the Vidhan Sabha or anywhere else, we respond to them. This is not the first time that we are responding."



The resolution stated that according to the National Crime Records Bureau, the National Capital Territory of Delhi has acquired and has been consistently maintaining the dubious distinction of being the "national crime capital".

"The NCT of Delhi has become totally unsafe for its inhabitants, particularly women, children and elderly, in the wake of ghastly crimes such as rapes, kidnapping and murders becoming order of the day," the resolution stated.

However, the Delhi Police said it is incorrect to state that the NCT of Delhi is the national crime capital as the heinous crime registered here has declined from 2016 to 2017 by 20.76 per cent, and from 2017 to 2018 there is a further decline by 11.46 per cent.

"Dacoities are down by 38.24 per cent and robberies by 20.07 per cent. Snatching incidents have also dropped by 21.56 per cent," it said.

"Similarly, there is decline in crime in other major heads like burglary. Crimes against women have decreased by 0.16 per cent," the police said.

All important cases are investigated promptly and the success in detection of heinous cases is 88.42 per cent, in dacoity 100 per cent and robbery 85.04 per cent, the police said, adding detection in rape cases is 91.11 per cent and kidnapping for ransom is 100 per cent.

"It is incorrect to say that Delhi is unsafe for its inhabitants, particularly women, children and senior citizens. Delhi Police is most sensitive towards such citizens and we take special care while dealing with such matters," they said.

Delhi Police holds regular self-defence camps to instill a sense of confidence in women and also holds sensitisation camps for school-going children, the police said.

"This year alone, 1,279 such camps have been held till October and around 2.5 lakh girls have been trained in self-defence.

"As far as security of senior citizens is concerned, our beat staff regularly visits senior citizens, and this year alone around 4.75 lakh visits have been made by our beat staff. Heinous crime against senior citizens has declined by 44.95 per cent," they said.

The government resolution also demanded necessary steps be initiated by the Government of India to devolve certain powers to the elected government of the city so that it is in a position to have control over Delhi Police in implementing its decisions.

These include the decision to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) from time to time for smooth running of civic services in public interest and in promotion of public order and for providing for security of its functionaries in discharge of their duties, the resolution said.

In response, the Delhi Police said it is incorrect to say that it does not support the Delhi government on ESMA implementation, as whenever any such report is received, necessary legal action is taken.

The resolution said the chief minister and ministers "can be attacked" in their own office and at the public events hosted by the elected government and that those being the attacks have the audacity to file complaint against the CM and pressure the Delhi Police to register FIR.

The Delhi Police said, "As regards the alleged incident of attack on the CM, prompt legal action was taken by police and further probe into the case is being conducted professionally and expeditiously according to law."



"For a thorough probe, all cases related to the Signature bridge ruckus are being investigated by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police," it said.

Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain slammed the Delhi Police for "failing" to control crime in the national capital, and demanded that the force be brought under the control of the city government.

The Delhi government and the Delhi Police have been at loggerheads ever since the AAP came to power in 2015.

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On the 10th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, India on Monday once again asked Pakistan to give up "double standards" and expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice.

The External Affairs Ministry said Islamabad has been showing "little sincerity" in punishing those involved in the terror attack and its planners are still roaming the streets of Pakistan with "impunity".

It noted that a former prime minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistan's soil, a reference to Nawaz Sharif's remarks on the issue.

"We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice," the MEA said.

"This is not just a matter of Pakistan's accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation," it said.

India also welcomed the US statement Monday calling on Pakistan to uphold UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)and its affiliates.

A total of 166 people including 28 foreigners from 14 nations were killed in the terror attack carried out by a group of Pakistani terrorists belonging to LeT.

The case, in which seven Lashkar-e-Taiba members were facing charges of planning and executing the strike, is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court. India has been pressing Pakistan to expedite the trial.

"The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory. The former prime minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistan's soil," the MEA said.

In an interview to Pakistani daily Dawn in May, ex-premier Nawaz Sharif had questioned, "Should Pakistan allow militants/non-state actors to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai?...Why can't we complete the trial?"



The MEA said Indian missions organised memorial events in the countries whose nationals were killed in the attack.

"It is a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 years of this heinous terror attack, the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe still await closure," the MEA said.

It said India will continue its efforts to bring justice to the families of the victims and the martyrs.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said India will never forget the 26/11 attack or its perpetrators and is looking for an opportunity to bring them to justice.

Addressing an election rally here on the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror strike when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai, killing 166 people over 60 hours, the prime minister assured the people that the law will take its own course.

"India will never forget 26/11 or its perpetrators. We are looking for an opportunity... the law will take its own course, I assure the people of the country," Modi said.

"Justice will surely be done," he added while expressing solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives.

He added that a grateful nation bowed to its brave police and security forces who had valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.

Rajaasthan goes to the polls on December 7. The votes will be counted on December 11.
India will press for a better trade deal with China as part of the ongoing negotiations for the proposed mega trade deal - RCEP, which is slated to be concluded next year, official sources said.

In view of the widening trade deficit with China, India wants to give zero duty market access to less number of as compared to other member countries in the proposed mega trade agreement.

Besides, India is also seeking more time to eliminate duties on as part of the deal.

The (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement being negotiated by 16 countries, including 10 Asean members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six free trade agreement partners - India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, since November 2012.

ALSO READ: Get RCEP done soon

The members want India to remove tariffs or customs duties on about 90-92 per cent items that it trades with the countries with which it has a free trade agreement and includes Asean and Japan.

With the non-free trade agreement partners -- China, Australia and New Zealand - discussions are on for eliminating duties on 80-86 per cent of the products.

India has asked for 20 years period to remove these duties. But with China, it wants more time for elimination of tariffs.

"What we got in goods is amazing. We have got high flexibility. Now, how much we can give to China is a challenge but we believe that given the trade deficit, China should give us more and we would give them lower and take a longer staging period," the sources said.

Several domestic industries, including steel, food processing and metals, and government departments are raising concerns over the presence of China in the group.

They have stated that lowering or eliminating duties for China will flood Indian markets with

India has a trade deficit with 10 countries in this grouping.

The trade gap with China, Korea, Indonesia and Australia has increased to USD 63.12 billion; USD 11.96 billion; USD 12.47 billion and USD 10.16 billion, respectively, in 2017-18. It was USD 51.11 billion, USD 8.34 billion, USD 9.94 billion and USD 8.19 billion in the previous financial year.

Further, the sources said the commerce ministry will commission a study on the agreement.

"As the negotiations moved to next year, the ministry now have lot of space to manoeuvre, intensify negotiations bilaterally on a give and take basis in services and goods," they said.

The ministry will undertake intense negotiations with the partner countries, other departments, industry and concerned stakeholders.

"Now all rounds of negotiations are going to be based on this principle (bilateral discussions). We had talks with China and we will have another round with China. If we have some understanding with China, then more or less the traction will be achieved in negotiations and it will accelerate further," they added.

In services sector, India is pushing for business visitor commitment for smooth movement of professionals.

The negotiations have dragged on as the member countries want an agreement over the removal of customs duties on the maximum number of products traded between them. However, countries like India have certain reservations on this as the grouping includes China, with which New Delhi has a huge trade deficit.

Out of the total 16 chapters, talks are concluded only on five. These chapters, which are on procedural issues, include economic and technical cooperation; SMEs; government procurement; and standards and conformity assessment.

India is looking for a balanced trade agreement as it would cover 40 per cent of the global GDP and over 42 per cent of the world's population.

The mega pact aims to relax norms and significantly cut import duties to boost trade in goods, services, promote investments, technical cooperation, and intellectual property rights.
India on Monday welcomed the release of a policy document by the European Union, outlining the bloc's roadmap to significantly scale up ties between the two sides in a range of areas like trade, investment, defence and security.

The Ministry of External Affairs Ministry (MEA) said India looked forward to engaging with the EU not only on a robust bilateral agenda, but also on regional and global issues of shared concern.

"The report recognises India's consistent economic growth, demographic dynamism and modernisation drive and calls for greater India-EU political, security and defence cooperation," the MEA said.

It further said the EU document refers to India as an emerging global power that plays a key role in the current multi-polar world and a factor of stability in a complex region.

India's engagement with the EU has substantially intensified since the establishment of strategic ties in 2004.

India-EU cooperation now spans over 30 dialogue mechanisms, covering foreign policy and security issues, trade and investment and sustainable development among others.

The strategy paper, released last week, said the EU has an "interest" in strengthening its political, economic and defence cooperation with India as a strong partnership with New Delhi was key for a balanced EU policy towards Asia as a whole.

"India looks forward to engaging with the EU not only on a robust bilateral agenda, but also on regional and global issues of shared concern and for reforming the multilateral system and institutions to better reflect contemporary global realities," the MEA said.

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PET owners are warned to secure their animals as the Department of Agriculture will be trapping stray dogs over the next few weeks.





This is part of the Departments Animal Control Programme, a Government press release on Tuesday (November 20) said.





People are advised not to interfere, tamper, destroy or steal any of the departments traps as it is an offence.





Owners may also be fined in accordance with the Dogs (Control) Ordinance (2014) if their dogs are allowed to roam unaccompanied on public premises and roadways without a collar bearing an identification tag and a lead.





"Report any stray dogs roaming in your area to the Department of Agriculture, the statement advised.





"Not to obstruct officers of the department while performing their duties of trapping.





"Not to take matters into your own hands and inflict acts of cruelty to straying animals, this is an offence according to the Animal Health Ordinance (2012).





More information is available from the Department of Agriculture Office in Butterfield Square, Providenciales, on 338-5266 or 338-5265.




At least 15 people were killed and ten others wounded in the central Somali town of Galkayo on Monday when Shabaab militants attacked a Sufi religious centre, officials said.

The attack on the residential compound and shrine, home to a controversial Sufi cleric and his followers, took place early Monday while residents were still asleep.

"The attackers used a vehicle loaded with explosives to make their way into the compound before shooting indiscriminately at people inside," said Abdirahman Mohamed, a security officer, adding that 15 people had been killed and 10 wounded.

"The targeted cleric was killed in the attack together with some of his followers," Mohamed said.

Qoje Ahmed, another security official, said security forces had battled the attackers, who included four gunmen and a suicide bomber. He said one had been captured alive.

"The blast was very huge," said witness Jamila Farah. "It destroyed most buildings in the compound." Somalia's Al-Qaeda affiliate, the Shabaab, claimed responsibility for the attack saying it had targeted the cleric, Abdiweli Ali Elmi, alleging that he "had claimed to be a prophet".

The group is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu and to impose an austere from of Islamic rule.

It regularly carries out bloody bombings and assaults against government, military and civilian targets.

Elmi was a controversial Sufi leader who had set up his own breakaway sect in Galkayo, attracting hundreds of followers who would play music and sing songs in praise of the Prophet Mohamed, a form or worship abhorred by the Shabaab.

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Israel has called upon Pakistan to "ensure full justice" to the 26/11 terror attack victims on the 10th anniversary of the carnage that had left 166 people, including six Israelis, dead in Mumbai.

At a memorial event organised on Monday evening by the Indian mission here to mark the anniversary, Michael Ronen, Director, South & South East Asia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel emphasised that it was important for the international community, especially Pakistan, to ensure that the perpetrators and facilitators of the ghastly attacks do not go scott free.

"It is important to provide full justice to the victims and their families," Ronen said, urging "all governments, including the Government of Pakistan, to ensure that perpetrators and facilitators of the attack are brought to justice."



The Israeli diplomat also underlined that the objective of the attack was to cripple the Indian society, economy and culture, as well as the growing bilateral relationship between India and Israel.

In this regard, "the terrorist attack failed miserably as the Indian economy has continued to grow stronger, its culture remains invincible and bilateral ties continue to reach new heights," he noted.

Asserting that terrorism can only be defeated by international cooperation, Ronen "again called upon the Government of Pakistan to ensure full justice to the victims and their families."



The event was attended by members of the Indian community in Israel, some Indians visiting the country and also Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg, who lost his daughter Rivka and son-in-law Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg in the attack on Nariman House, also known as the Chabad House.

The couple's two year old son, Moshe, survived the attack thanks to a daring move by his nanny, Sandra Samuels, who risked her own life and rescued the boy by grabbing him while he cried sitting next to the bullet ridden bodies of his dead parents and fleeing the building in a swift move.

Sandra's pictures of holding the little boy close to her chest after escaping from the place touched the hearts of millions of people all over the world.

She was later honoured with honourary citizenship by the Israeli government and now lives in Jerusalem.

The ceremony began with observance of one-minute silence in honour of the victims.

India's Ambassador to Israel, Pavan Kapoor, speaking at the event stressed that the worst terrorist attack on the Indian soil "should motivate the world to unite against terrorism and defeat the ideology of hatred".

Kapoor pointed out that the planners and facilitators of the attack in Pakistan have not yet been brought to justice and, in this context, welcomed the statement of the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

He expressed hope that other countries would follow the US lead and call upon Pakistan to uphold its obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including the members of Lashkar-e-Taeba and its affiliates.

Rabbi Rosenberg said that the attack was not "just against his family but against all of us" who are one as a family.

He further said that although 10 years have passed since the tragedy, his grandson who is a "strong and good boy" has painful memories of the event but still wants to go to Mumbai for his bar mitzvah, a ceremony performed for Jewish boys at the age of 13 that some Israeli scholars compare to the Hindu upnayana or the sacred thread ceremony.

Rosenberg was very appreciative of the support his family has received from the Indian government and people, which makes him believe that it is a "shared" pain.

"I appreciate the government and people of India for the way they have stood by us and made us feel that it is a shared pain. We thank them for the relationship they have built with us," he said, recalling the family's trip with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Mumbai early this year.

"People can say and complain about all sorts of things like security lapse, etc, but we believe in the God. The feeling of oneness demonstrated by Indians is heartwarming and we appreciate it a lot," Rosenberg told PTI.

Moshe celebrated his 12th birthday according to the Hebrew Calendar some three weeks ago and would turn 12 as per Gregorian calendar on November 28.

Two clips featuring Moshe's conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netanyahu in Jerusalem in July 2017 and his visit, along with the Israeli Premier, to the Chabad House in Mumbai in January 2018, were shown during the event.

In an emotional meeting with Modi on July 5, 2017 in Jerusalem, the young boy expressed his wish to visit Mumbai. "I hope I will be able to visit Mumbai, and when I get older, live there. I will be the director of our Chabad House...I love you and your people in India," Moshe told Modi.

Modi responded by saying, "Come and stay in India and Mumbai. You are most welcome. You and your all family members will get long-term visas. So you can come anytime and go anywhere".

Netanyahu had then promptly asked Moshe to join him when he travels to India, a promise he did not forget and the family accompanied him during his trip to India earlier this year.

India issued 10-year multiple entry visas to Moshe and his grandparents to ease their travel to the country in August 2017. Modi is said to have personally followed up on the matter as promised to Moshe.

Kapoor, along with Ronen and Rabbi Rosenberg also lit 25 candles in memory of the 25 foreign nationals who lost their lives in the attack.

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Prominent Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertulocci, the academy award-winning director of films such as "The Last Emperor", "Last Tango in Paris" and The Dreamers", died Sunday after a brief battle with cancer. He was 77.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson of the filmmaker confirmed the of his death in Rome.

Known for vivid visuals in the films, the director was one of most recognisable face of Italian cinema. He is considered an acclaimed auteur who pushed the boundaries with his unique filmmaking style.

He made his directorial debut at a very young age of 22 with the 1962 film "La commare secca" and his style of using flashbacks to tell the story was applauded by the critics.

But it was his 1987 feature "The Last Emperor", epic biographical drama film about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, that brought the filmmaker all the glory. The film won nine Oscars, including best picture and best director for Bertolucci.

The director found his place among the stars after the film, with many acclaimed actors lining up to work with him.

His other notable works include Eva Green-starrer "The Dreamers", "1900" and "The Conformist, among others.

The director's legacy, however, wasn't without a blemish, courtesy his 1972 feature "Last Tango in Paris", starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. The film had attracted controversy after Schneider alleged that she was never consulted regarding a rape scene.

Years later, in a 2013 interview, Bertolucci admitted that Schneider, who died in 2011, did not know about the rape scene which she shot with Brando, and that the graphic nature of the scene in the erotic drama was improvised on set.

"I'd been in a way horrible to Maria because I didn't tell her what was going on. Because I wanted her reaction as a girl, not as an actress, Bertulocci said in the interview, which went viral in 2016.

Many celebrities had voiced their outrage on the resurfaced on Twitter.

Earlier this year, Bertolucci had criticised fellow filmmaker Ridley Scott's decision to fire Kevin Spacey from "All the Money in the World" after the actor was accused of sexual assault by over a dozen men.

Bertolucci had said that when he came to know that Scott had agreed to erase all of Spaceys scenes in the film, he messaged the directors frequent editor Pietro Scalia, "to tell Scott that he should be ashamed."



The director had been confined to a wheelchair for over a decade, after surgery on a herniated disc in 2003 was unsuccessful and rendered him unable to walk.

Bertolucci received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008 and was awarded an honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2011.

The Cannes Festival called the director a "giant of Italian filmmaking, (who) will remain forever a leading light in world cinema".

Antonio Banderas tweeted, "Today leave us a great filmmaker, universal italian and master of filmmakers. thanks for so many talent! RIP Bernardo #Bertolucci"



The Venice Film Festival tweeted, "Paolo Baratta and La Biennale di Venezia mourn the passing of Bernardo Bertolucci, Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at #Venezia64 and President of the Jury (in 1983 and 2013). He will be remembered among the greatest masters of Italian and international cinema.

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Indian physicist and physiologist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose was on Monday revealed among hundreds of scientists nominated in the first stage of the Bank of England's search for the face to feature on a new 50-pound note to go into print from 2020.

Bose, who was born in Bengal during the British Raj in 1858, is credited with proving that animals and plants share much in common as a result of his very early experimentations and the creation of a very sophisticated instrument called the crescograph to detect minute responses of living organisms.

He is nominated alongside one of the world's best-known physicists, Stephen Hawking, as the Bank of England announced that it had received a total of 174,112 nominations since it confirmed that the new note would feature a scientist who had made a significant contribution to British science.

This is only the preliminary stage of identifying eligible names for consideration. At this first stage, a nomination has been deemed eligible simply if the character is real, deceased and has contributed to the field of science in the UK in any way, the Bank of England said in a statement.

Bose attended the University of Cambridge, studying natural sciences after graduating with a physics degree from Calcutta University. He returned to India in 1884 after completing his BSc degree from Cambridge University and was appointed Professor of Physical Science at Presidency College in Kolkata.

In 1917, Bose left his professorship and established the Bose Institute at Kolkata, which was initially devoted principally to the study of plants.

Bose and black hole expert Hawking are up against the likes of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, who qualified as a nominee within the bank's specified criteria because of her work as a chemist before her career in politics.

Among some of the other 600 men and 200 women in the early nominations list include computing pioneers Alan Turing and Ada Lovelace, telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell and astronomer Patrick Moore.

Penicillin discoverer Alexander Fleming, father of modern epidemiology John Snow, naturalist and zookeeper Gerald Durrell, and fossil pioneer Mary Anning, and British-Jamaican nursing pioneer Mary Seacole are among the others.

The names, once finalised after the December 14 deadline for the close of nominations, will be considered by the Bank of England's Banknote Character Advisory Committee.

UK bookmakers William Hill have Hawking as the current favourite, with odds of 7/4, followed by Nobel Prize- winning chemist Dorothy Hodgkin at 4/1. Lovelace, Turing, Fleming and electromagnetic pioneer Michael Faraday have odds of 5/1 and Rosalind Franklin, who made important contributions to the understanding of DNA, is at 6/1.

The Bank of England had revealed a few months ago that nominations for the new note can include anyone who worked in any field of science including astronomy, biology, bio-technology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medical research, physics, technology or zoology.

Until the criteria was unveiled, a campaign had been building up in favour of British Indian World War II spy Noor Inayat Khan to feature on the new currency.

An online petition in favour of Khan attracted thousands of signatures, calling for the descendant of Tipu Sultan and daughter of Indian Sufi saint Hazrat Inayat Khan to be considered as the first ethnic minority British woman to be honoured on the currency.

The 50-pound note will be the final redesigned note to go into circulation, after notes in the denomination of five and 10 have already been reissued in polymer. The new 20-pound polymer note will go into circulation from 2020, when the 50-pound is set to go into print to be circulated at a later date.

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The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Karnataka government for "doing nothing and just fooling around" in the investigation of killing of noted scholar and rationalist M M Kalburgi in 2015 at Dharwad.

The top court indicated that it may transfer the case to Bombay High Court for supervision of investigation after looking into the status report of Karnataka government.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Navin Sinha asked the Karnataka government to file its status report in two weeks on the investigation done so far in the case.

"What have you (Karnataka government) done so far? Nothing. You are just fooling around. How long will you take for completing the investigation? Tell us or we will pass orders," the bench said.

Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Karnataka government said that he will have to take instructions on the time period for completing the investigation.

"You take instruction. Then we will send the matter to Bombay High Court where a similar matter is pending. You people are just doing nothing," the bench said.

77-year old Kalburgi, the former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University and a well-known scholar and epigraphist, was shot dead in broad daylight at his residence in Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad, Karnataka, on August 30, 2015. Born in 1938, he was a Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer of old Kannada literature.

The court was hearing a plea of Uma Devi Kalburgi, the widow of the slain scholar, seeking a SIT probe into the sensational murder.

Counsel, appearing for Kalburgi said that it will be better if the case is transferred to Bombay High Court for further supervision.

On March 23, the Centre had told the apex court that the NIA, being a special agency to probe national and inter-state terrorism cases, cannot investigate the killing of M M Kalburgi.

The Centre has referred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act and said the instant offence did not fall under the category of 'Schedule offence' under the law and hence, the probe agency cannot investigate it.

The court had earlier asked the CBI and the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to file their responses in the case.

The top court had on January 10 sought the response of probe agencies NIA and CBI and the two state governments on the allegation of Uma Devi that no substantial investigation has been carried out so far in the murder case.

Kalburgi's wife, in her petition filed through advocate Krishna Kumar, has alleged that there was common link between the murder of her husband and that of intellectual activists, Narendra Achyut Dabholkar and Govindrao Pansare, who too were assassinated in August 2013 and February 2015 respectively.

Dabholkar was shot at on August 20, 2013 in Pune, while Pansare was killed in Kolhapur in Maharashtra on February 16, 2015.

She alleged the investigations in Dabholkar and Pansare murder cases were in a "sorry state" and no progress has been made in bringing the killers to book.

The petition said that in 2016, the then Karnataka Home Minister had in a statement claimed that as per the forensic analysis of cartridges recovered from the three separate crime scenes, the three murders were linked.

It alleged that one of the weapons used in the murder of Pansare was used to kill Kalburgi and therefore coordination between Maharashtra police and Karnataka police, besides the CBI and the NIA, was required.

"Although sketches of suspects were released after four days of Kalburgi's murder and statement was issued by Karnataka government that conclusive evidence of nexus of murders of all three activists was found, there has been no progress in the investigation till date," the plea has said.

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A controversy erupted Monday with a Congress minister objecting to the names of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal engraved on the foundation stone to be laid for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

Punjab's Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was reviewing the arrangements made for the function at Dera Baba Nanak here when he spotted the names of the Badals on the foundation stone.

A furious Randhawa then enquired about it with the officials concerned.

I asked them (authorities concerned) about the status of former CM Parkash Singh Badal and former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal in the government? If they want to write their names, then the name of Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Congress leader and former CM) and others should also be there, Randhawa said.

He accused the Badals of never visiting the Dera Baba Nanak for "the opening of the corridor" when they were in power. It's not a function of the BJP or the Akalis, he said.

The local MLA said: "It is not a political function. It is a government function, and I told them their (Badals) names should not be there."



My name should not be with the Badals' on the foundation stone," he said, and then went on to pasting a black tape on his name and that of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, state minister Vijay Inder Singla and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar.

"This is not a war for taking credit. Nobody's name should have been there. 'The Guru Ka Marg dedicated by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu' should have been mentioned instead, said Randhawa.

After the protest by the Punjab minister, the particular foundation stone was removed.

The Kartarpur Sahib corridor will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan.

Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.

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The foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor was Monday marred by an ugly controversy over its plaque as both the ruling Congress in Punjab and the opposition Akali Dal vied to take credit for the project.

The trouble started after state minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa objected to the names of the former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal being engraved on the plaque just hours before it was be unveiled by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

A fuming Randhawa, who was reviewing the arrangements for event in Mann village, took up the matter with the officials responsible and said he does not want his name on a plaque with the Badals.

He even went to the extent of putting a black tape on his name, besides that of the CM and other Congress leaders. The harried officials finally got rid of the plaque and the project was inaugurated on a screen but members of both the parties heckled each other's leaders when they were addressing the gathering.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Siddhu said he stayed away from the event as he was not into "credit war".

Randhawa had earlier raised objections to the names of Badals on the plaque, saying if their names were engraved on it, then the names of other Congress leaders should be too.

"I asked them (authorities) what is the status of Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal in the government? If they want to write their names then the name of Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Congress leader and former CM) and others should also be there," he said.

"It is not a political function. It is a government function and I told them their (Badals) names should not be there," he said.

The legislator from Dera Baba Nanak said this function was not of the BJP or the Akali Dal and claimed that the Badals had never visited the area.

Randhawa pasted black tape on his name and on that of the chief minister, state minister Vijay Inder Singla and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar.

"If names of Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal will be there, then my name should not be on the foundation stone," he said.

"This is not a question of credit (for the opening of Kartarpur corridor). Nobody's name should have been there. The Guru Ka Marg being dedicated by Vice PresidentM Venkaiah Naidu should have been mentioned instead," he said.

The screen, on which the project was inaugurated by pressing a button later, carried the names of Naidu,Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore, the chief minister and Union Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Addressing the gathering, Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal thanked the Narendra Modi-led government for its approval to build the Kartarpur corridor.

She also gave credit to Parkash Singh Badal, Akali stalwart Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Akali leader Gurdeep Singh Wadala for the project, saying they had fought hard for this corridor.

In her address, she mentioned a Delhi court's verdict awarding death penalty to a convict for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case.

"A few days back, a court in Delhi gave an order in the case, giving a ray of hope for the victim's families. We now hope that the big crocodiles who were involved in the genocide would also be brought to justice," said Harsimrat.

A section of the crowd started hooting during her speech. However, she continued and praised the BJP government for setting up an SIT for the riot cases, abolishing GST on 'langar' and rehabilitating the Sikhs who came from war-torn nations like Afghanistan.

Later, when Sunil Jakhar, who is also the Punjab Congress president, was making his speech and made a reference to Harsimrat Kaur's crocodile remark, Akali workers led by former state minister Bikram Singh Majithia shouted slogans and interrupted his speech.

"I want to say that in coming days if crocodiles will be spotted they will be spotted either in Beas river or Harike wetland.

"Those crocodiles who pushed an entire generation of Punjab into drugs, those crocodiles who..," said Jakhar and as soon as he pointed fingers at the Akalis, mentioning the 2015 sacrilege incidents, it evoked sharp reactions from opposition leaders who were sitting in front of the dais.

While Harsimrat Kaur Badal was sitting on the dais, her brother Bikram Singh Majithia led a group of Akalis and raised slogans against Sunil Jakhar and interrupted his speech.

They raised slogans like "'84 ke katil murdabad".

Bikram Singh Majithia later told reporters that Randhawa and the Congress could not digest the fact despite ruling for most part of a 70-year period, they did nothing for the Kartarpur corridor and it was expected that Randhawa could not tolerate seeing Badals' names on the stone.

Navjot Singh Siddhu did not attend the foundation stone laying event and on being asked by reporters the reason for staying away, he said, "There are some things which are away from the politics. I was never into credit war, not today and will not be in the future as well."



Meanwhile, some Sikh preachers of the 'Sant Samaj' boycotted the programme as they protested against the presence of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali leaders there.

They accused the previous Akali led regime of not acting against those who were involved in incidents of sacrilege in 2015.

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday used the foundation stone-laying event for Kartarpur Sahib corridor across Indo-Pak border for Sikh pilgirms to warn Pakistan to stop anti-terror activities against India and said "we have a large army and we are prepared".

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who laid the foundation stone for the much-awaited corridor, access to which is seen as a goodwill gesture by Pakistan, called it "beginning of a new chapter" in bilateral ties and said it will act as a "unifier" to build bridges across old chasms.

However, Naidu also lamented that it was unfortunate that some people made terrorism their policy and India would not allow terrorism and killing of innocent on its soil. However, he didn't name Pakistan.

While Punjab chief minister turned down Pakistan's invitation to participate in the inauguration there on Wednesday, his cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu, who described the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan as an "angel" for accepting the long-pending demand of Sikh pilgrims, will be going.

"There are tremendous possibilities in this corridor, only a political was required which has been shown by an angel (Imran Khan) across the border and as well our government here," Sidhu told reporters.

Defending his decision of not going to Pakistan, the chief minister said, "Punjab has been suffering due to terrorism for 20 years and is paying even today... This is why I will not go to Pakistan till violence stops. My heart wants me to go there but I have commitment to ensure safety of my people."



Singh, who himself is a retired army officer, lashed out at Pakistan army chief, but thanked its prime minister for the gesture.

"While I thank Prime Minister of Pakistan (for Kartarpur Corridor), I want to say something to his Chief of Army Staff (Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa). I have been in the army and he (Pakistan army chief) is very junior to me in the service. When we were in the army, the country's security was always foremost for us. But who teaches in the army that you kill our soldiers at the border?, Singh questioned.

He further said Pakistan army uses sniper to kill Indian Jawans.

"Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot, Dinanagar (referring to terror attacks at Pathankot air base in 2016 and Dinanagar in Gurdaspur in 2015)," Singh said.

Incidently, today's event coincided with the 10th anniversary of Mumbai terror attack, carried out by terror groups in Pakistan, in which over 160 people were killed.

He asserted that India wants peace and that's the message the country is giving through this corridor, but at the same time it also has huge army to tackle any threat.

"We believe in peace and we are giving a message of peace from here. But, their generals should understand that we have a large Army and we are prepared... And this should not happen as nobody wants war. We all want to carry out development in a peaceful manner," Singh said.

He made these remarks while referring to recent grenade attack at the Nirankari hall in Amritsar, and attack on airforce station in Pathankot in Punjab in 2016.

"If they try to foment trouble in Punjab then Bajwa (Pak army chief) should remember that we have Punjabi blood, we will not tolerate it, Singh said.

Asserting that India wants good relations with its neighbours, Naidu said,"This is a corridor that opens new doors. It is a path that opens up new possibilities. It is a unifier, building bridges across old chasms. It promotes deeper understanding and a new resolve to connect the people of our two countries through love, empathy and invisible threads of common spiritual heritage."



He further said that the two countries need to create history together which will make the entire world a more peaceful place for children.

At the event, the SAD and the Congress leaders appeared squabbling with each other for taking credit of building this corridor.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari who was present at the event announced that the corridor will be completed within four and half months.

Others present included union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Congress MP Sunil Jakhar, both of whom claimed credit for their respective parties for opening of the corridor. Badal and her cabinet colleague Hardeep Singh Puri will be travelling to Pakistan as the government representatives for the inauguration of the corridor.

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: TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy Monday alleged that Telangana caretaker Chief Minister and TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has taken political corruption to the "highest levels in the country."



Launching the attack on Rao, popularly known as KCR and his son K T Rama Rao at a Meet the Press programme here, he said that the TRS chief has 'degraded' Telangana and political standards in the country.

"KCR is credited with degrading Telangana state and political standards. He is the only Chief Minister who shamelessly degraded in this country. But people of the state are observing it.

It is a fact that there is some corruption in the political system of this country. But KCR has taken corruption to the highest level," he said.

After 'assaulting' all forms of Parliamentary democracy, he launched an attack on the media by banning or luring some of them, the Congress leader alleged.

He took exception to Rao's commments on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and said a separate Telangana would not have been possible without her.

"Undoubtedly, not as a Congress leader, but as a citizen I am saying that but for Sonia Gandhi, Telangana would not have been possible..." he added.

"KCR also endorsed this after Telangana formation... Who stopped you (KCR) from giving 12 per cent reservation to Muslims and Girijans? Did Chandrababu Naidu (AP Chief Minister and TDP supremo) stop you? (from fulfilling poll promises)?" Reddy asked.

The Congress has tied up with the TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi for the December 7 assembly polls.

The TPCC chief said the Gandhi family sacrificed their lives for the country and Rao had no moral right to criticise Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, who had refused the opportunity to become Prime Minister.

On Congress' poll promises, Reddy said his party is committed to allotting 12 per cent of the budgetary funds for the welfare of Muslims.

Alleging the MIM has a tacit understanding with TRS, he said the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party failed to question the Chandrasekhar Rao government on why it did not file an appeal against the Mecca Masjid verdict, which set free all the five accused.

On Rao's claims that his government had improved the power situation in Telangana, Reddy said no new project had come up in the state in the past four and half years, except those started by the earlier Congress government.

Reacting to Reddy's remarks, TRS MP Vinod Kumar said the Congress leader was levelling such charges out of 'frustration' as the party was on the verge of losing the elections.

"I challenge Uttam Kumar Reddy to prove the charges he has levelled against our leader. He has done so out of frustration, as the Congress is on the verge of losing the elections.

It is only the TRS which has never aligned with the BJP ever since the Telangana-based party was formed," Kumar told PTI.

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Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Monday slammed BJP chief Amit Shah for his opposition to the TRS government's proposal to increase reservation for Muslims in the state.

Rao, who was speaking at an election rally at Dichpally, said he will continue his efforts to get quotas increased for Scheduled Tribes and Muslims.

BJP chief Amit Shah Sunday attacked the TRS government's proposal to give 12 per cent quota to Muslims, saying his party would never allow it as religion-based reservation is unconstitutional.

Taking exception to Shah's comments, Rao said the TRS would not like pleading with the Centre, and the BJP would not be in power after the next Lok Sabha elections.

"Yesterday, their president also came... He spoke wide and straight and left. They say they will not give. He spoke that we will not let Muslims get reservation... Amit Shah... You will not be in power. It is not you giving (something) and we taking it," he said.

A 'federal front' government should come to power at the Centre after next year's Lok Sabha elections for reservation and other things to be achieved, he said.

"Nobody gives us if we beg someone. Either our reservation, rights of Muslims or rights of STs, ...if they (quota and others) are to come, federal government should come in the country," he said.

TRS should win 16 Lok Sabha seats in next elections as All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi would any way win (as Hyderabad MP), Rao said.

Rao spoke extensively on the various welfare schemes of his government and the new promises of TRS, including hiking social security pension, 24x7 free power to farm sector, investment support and insurance schemes for farmers.

On Sunday, Shah hit out at Rao over the issue during campaign rallies at Parkal and Nirmal ahead of the December 7 Assembly polls in the state.

"I want to tell Chandrasekhar Rao, the Supreme Court has fixed 50 per cent ceiling (on total reservations). If you want to provide 12 per cent reservation, from whose quota are you going to carve it out: from Dalits, tribals or OBCs. Decide this first," Shah said.

Shah said Rao promised reservation to the minority community "despite being aware" of the 50 per cent ceiling and forwarded the proposal (bill) to the Centre.

"BJP would stand firmly to protect the reservation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes," he said.

The Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion, the BJP chief said.

The Telangana legislature has passed a bill increasing reservation in jobs and education for backward sections of the Muslim community to 12 per cent from the earlier four per cent. The bill is yet to get the Centre's nod.

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The Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday accused Washington of sparking "needless fear" after the US embassy in Kinshasa warned of a "possible terrorist threat" against its mission in the country as it heads towards key elections.

"You have to distrust information coming from people who want to spread needless fear and uncertainty among the Congolese a few days before elections," government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP.

The conflict-prone central African country heads to the polls on December 23 to elect a successor to longtime President Joseph Kabila as well as lawmakers for its national and provincial parliaments.

"Now that the holding of three elections on December 23, 2018, is a certainty, those who have no control over the electoral process in the DRC are trying to distract the Congolese," said Mende, who is also the country's communications minister.

The embassy on Saturday cited "credible and specific information of a possible terrorist threat against US government facilities in Kinshasa", which were closed on Monday.

Campaigning in the landmark elections, which kicked off last Thursday, continues until December 21.

A constitutional clause has allowed Kabila to remain in power as caretaker leader even though his second and final elected term ended nearly two years ago.

Mende serves as spokesman for Kabila's protege Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a hardline former interior minister running to succeed him.

DR Congo, an impoverished but mineral-rich country, has never known a peaceful transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.

Late last month the Congolese authorities said the vote would go ahead without help from the international community.

Kinshasa has declined offers of advice, oversight and funding to help organise the polls in a country nearly five times the size of France.

Previous elections, in 2006 and 2011, took place with material and logistical support from the UN mission to the DR Congo known as MONUSCO.

However relations between MONUSCO, the world's largest peacekeeping operation, and Kabila's government have long been strained.

Kinshasa has repeatedly demanded the winding down of the mission, which counts more than 15,000 troops, 1,000 police and 2,500 civilians in its ranks.

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"Game of Thrones" star Kit Harington has dismissed the rumours that he cheated on his wife and actor Rose Leslie.

A Russian model, Olga Vlaslova, has leaked online a photo of a man, she claims to be the 31-year-old actor with whom she allegedly had a month-long affair.

She claimed that she met Harington in Luxembourg and they slept together multiple times before and after the actor got married to Leslie in June.

In a brief statement to ET Canada, a representative of Harington has denied the claims.

"The allegations in this story are completely false. (Harington) has never even been to Luxembourg nor has he ever met Olga Vlasova," the representative said.

Harington and Rose Leslie tied the knot at a church in Scotland's Aberdeenshire in June 23. They had announced their engagement in the Times newspaper last year.

The couple met on the HBO fantasy show in 2012, where they played on-screen lovers Jon Snow and Ygritt, before Leslie left the show in 2014.

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Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday pitched for a national-level entrance test for "talent infusion" into the subordinate judiciary.

He said the all-India examination, which the UPSC could conduct, would allow the pool of talented young lawyers who graduate every year from national law universities to be part of the subordinate judiciary.

He was speaking at a Constitution Day event in the presence of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and other senior judges.

Appointments to the lower judiciary in the states are made by the respective high courts either directly or through public service commissions through state-level examinations.

The government has in the past proposed an all-India judicial service to be conducted the Union Public Service Commission.

But nine high courts have opposed the proposal to have an all-India service for lower judiciary. Eight others have sought changes in the proposed framework and only two have supported the idea.

The Narendra Modi Government has given a fresh push to the long-pending proposal to set up the new service to have a separate cadre for lower judiciary in the country. The idea was first mooted in the 1960s.

The high courts of Andhra Pradesh, Bombay, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Patna as well as Punjab and Haryana have not favoured the idea of All-India Judicial Service (AIJS).

Only the high courts of Sikkim and Tripura have concurred with the proposal approved by the committee of secretaries for formation of an all-India service for lower judiciary.

Allahabad, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa and Uttarakhand high courts have suggested changes in age at induction level, qualifications, training and quota of vacancies to filled through the proposed service.

The high courts of Jharkhand and Rajasthan have indicated that the matter regarding creation of the AIJS is pending consideration, while no response has been received from the high courts of Calcutta, Jammu and Kashmir and Gauhati, a recent Law Ministry document showed.

Seeking to overcome the divergence of views, the government had recently suggested to the Supreme Court various options, including NEET-like examination to recruit judges to the lower judiciary.

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is conducted for admission to medical degrees.

There were vacancies of 4,452 judges in subordinate courts in the country as per the figures released on December 31, 2015. While the sanctioned strength is 20,502, the actual number of judges and judicial officers in subordinate courts is 16,050.

At present, various high courts and state service commissions hold exams to recruit judicial officers.

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The opposition Left Front and the Congress Monday boycotted the West Begal Assembly for the day after their demand to discuss the issues of disparity in pay structure of primary teachers was not allowed.

Leader of the Opposition, Abdul Mannan raised the issue of disparity in the pay structure of primary teachers in Bengal and wanted a discussion on the matter.

But his demand was rejected by Speaker Biman Banerjee.

Following it Left and Congress MLAs shouted slogans against the government and staged a walkout from the assembly.

They later on boycotted the house for the day.

Mannan said the opposition is not allowed to speak inside the house.

"We are neither allowed to speak nor allowed to raise any issue inside the house. Whenever we try to bring any motion to discuss a issue we are not allowed to do it," Mannan said.

Reacting to the allegations, state Education Minister Partha Chatterjee told reporters that opposition parties in Bengal Are only interested in disturbing the house with baseless claims.

The Left Front and Congress had boycotted the house last week till November 22 after they were not allowed to discuss the alleged starvation deaths of Sabar tribals.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had last week in Assembly refuted media reports on starvation deaths of Sabar tribals of Purulia and had termed them as "fabricated".

She had asserted that the deaths were due to "age-related ailments" or "excessive liquor consumption.

The tribe resides in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh besides West Bengal.

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Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah Monday asked why a Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya as Lord Ram is omnipresent and belongs to the world.

This was, however, countered by JD(U) leader Pavan Verma who asked "why not" and Abdullah said that he has no objection to the construction of the Ram temple.

During a discussion after the launch of Congress leader Manish Tewari's book "Fables of Fractured Times", Abdullah said, "Lord Ram belongs to the world and is omnipresent. Why do you want to build a temple in Ayodhya?"



This was immediately countered by Verma, who asked Why can't Ram temple be built in Ayodhya.

If Hindus want a temple in Ayodhya, as it is the birthplace of Ram, why not build the temple, the JD(U) leader asked.

"If Hindus want a temple let there be a temple. The question is not whether a temple should be built. The question is how it will be built by use of force or violence or by mutual agreement or court orders?" he said.

Abdullah, however, went on to ask whether one was ready to accept a Supreme Court verdict in the matter.

The Supreme Court last month had said that an "appropriate bench" will decide in the first week of January the schedule of hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case.

"You want to put the Supreme Court in cold water," the NC leader alleged and asked whether we are living in a democracy.

"Why not build a temple at Sitamarhi in Bihar for Goddess Sita," Abdullah asked.

"All Muslims have said they will abide by what the court says," he said, to which Verma replied, "Now we are in agreement."



Asserting that governors should not be puppets in the hands of the Centre, Abdullah said, "They should be men of integrity who uphold the Constitution."His comments came in the wake of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik abruptly dissolving the Assembly Wednesday night hours after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival NC and the Congress followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties.

Abdullah said, "Our governor does not even have a fax machine. How could they have sent us a communication? Would God have descended from heaven to tell us."



He also said the Congress should have given the Bharat Ratna award to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he was in good health.

He also asked the Congress to allow regional leaders to grow and said the party was suffering as it did not do so.

On the attacks on India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and other former premiers, he said, "If we are here, it is because of the legacy that has been passed on to us. His (Modi's) conduct is just not becoming of a prime minister. I have never referred to my mother in my political speeches. Why is he doing so?"



Asserting that nobody can divide India as long as the people remain united, he said India would be able to prevent any future terrorist attacks as long as "our own house remains united".

He claimed that it was because of the people of Kashmir that terrorists are being killed and Pakistan will not success to separate Kashmir from India.

"Our successes are not because of intelligence but because common people are fed up with terrorists and they are giving exact information," Abdullah said.

"Pakistan is a rogue state. It is dependent on its army. But if we are united, nobody is so powerful to divide this country," he said.

"Ram does not need my vote nor does Allah need our vote. The elections are not being fought on developmental issues," he lamented.

"Do not mistrust Indian Muslims. We are a part of this land. We have never taken directions from Pakistan. We decided not to participate in the elections because they (BJP) were playing with Article 370 and 35A," he said.

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The state Legislative Assembly Monday passed an amendment to the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act 2011, allowing parents to pay fees on monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly basis as decided by the school management.

Parents intending to pay the fee at one go every six months or yearly will be allowed to do so and the management shall offer rebate, the amendment lays down.

The management of private unaided schools and permanently unaided schools shall also be entitled to charge a late payment fee, along with with penal interest, it states.

The rate of penal interest in this regard, however, will be decided by the state government, the amended Act says.

The management of private unaidedschools and permanently unaided schools can declare the fee structure for all standards at the time of the admission and will need to display it on the notice board as well as the official website, it says.

It adds that in case the fee structure is declared for only a part, the remainingpart shall be declared at least one year before the commencement of that academic year.

The amendment lays down that these schools may increase the fee after two years subject to its approval by the executive committee or divisional fee regulatory committee.

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Proceedings in the Maharashtra Legislative Council continued to be disrupted Monday by the Opposition over demands for drought relief measures in the state and reservations for the Maratha community.

Council chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar directed the government to call a meet of leaders from all parties Tuesday morning to come up with a mutually acceptable solution to clear the logjam.

Responding to the Opposition, Leader of the House Chandrakant Patil said the government had almost finished taking action on eight drought relief measures and pending ones would also be completed immediately.

He said the government had already sent a proposal to the Centre seeking assistance, adding that relief measures were being taken notwithstanding the Union government's response.

Speaking on the quota issue, Patil, the state's Revenue minister, said the government had requested Maratha protesters to not go ahead with their protest Monday, keeping in mind the importance of the 26/11 terror attack anniversary.

However, they (protesters) did not heed the request, Patil informed.

"We will be tabling the Maratha reservation bill in the House this week. Hence we have told them there is no need for an agitation. Since we are tabling the bill, there is no compulsion to table an Action Taken Report (ATR) as well," Patil said.

"Also, I request you (Chairman) to advise the Opposition that questions can be solved only when the House functions and not by disruptions," Patil said.

Earlier, the Leader of Opposition in the Council, Dhananjay Munde, demanded that the government provide a compensation of Rs 50,000 per hectare for crop losses and Rs 1 lakh a hectare for orchards.

"Discussions on this issue can happen later. However, immediate relief measures are needed now. We will not let the House function till this happens," he said.

He further said that, on one hand, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was asking the Maratha community to be ready for a celebration on December 1, and on the other, police were arresting protesters.

Munde said the State Backward Class Commission report was submitted a fortnight ago and leaked to the media.

However, the NCP leader added, it had not been tabled yet and, therefore, the Opposition did not even know its contents.

He added that the report of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences on reservation for the Dhangar community was submitted to the government over two months ago and its contents were neither leaked to the media nor was it tabled.

"So has TISS opined Dhangars are backward or not?" he asked.

The House was adjourned twice following din by the Opposition, before being adjourned for the day.

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A farmer with a Rs 27 lakh debt died in a private hospital after allegedly consuming poison on November 11, a Nashik Rural police official said Monday.

Vithal Lahanu Jadhav (38) had taken loans of Rs 27 lakh from various credit societies for his grape orchard and was unable to repay them, the official added.

Jadhav was admitted to a local hospital in Niphad taluka in the district after his alleged suicide attempt on November 11 and died Sunday, the official informed.

A note recovered by relatives, purportedly written by Jadhav, which mentioned the Rs 27 lakh loan as well as the deceased's anxiety over repaying it, has been handed over to police, the official added.

"We have registered a case of accidental death and are investigating further," a Niphad police station official said.

Officials said the tehsildar of Niphad had sent a report on Jadhav's death to the Nashik Collector.

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Paying homage to Dr B R Ambedkar for giving shape to India's Constitution, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday that it was the responsibility of every citizen to protect the spirit of the "holy book".

"Today is #ConstitutionDay. Homage to Dr B R Ambedkar and all other members of the Constituent Assembly who gave shape to the Holy Book of our democracy - the Constitution, Banerjee said in a Twitter post on Monday.

We must do everything we can to protect the spirit of our Constitution - Sovereignty, Socialism, Secularity, Democratic Republic, Justice, Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality, she said in another tweet.

Constitution Day is celebrated the country on November 26 every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India which came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Dr B R Ambedkar is hailed as the prime architect of the Constitution.

The Centre, in 2015, declared November 26 as Constitution Day.

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On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday paid tribute to those who laid down their lives to protect others.

She also extended sympathies to those who lost their dear ones in the attacks carried out by 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation, in 2008.

"On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attack, my sincere tribute to those who lost their lives on that day. Salutes to the police and military personnel, and civilians, who put their lives on the line to save people. Heartfelt sympathies with the families who lost their dear ones," Banerjee said in a Twitter post on Monday.

Terrorists carried out a string of coordinated shooting and bombing attacks that began on November 26 and lasted until November 29, 2008 in which more than 159 people, including 9 attackers were killed and over a hundred wounded in the business capital of the country.

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By Olivia Rose

THE UNITED Kingdom has finally given consent to the TCI Government to proceed with plans of implementing the worlds only multilateral counter-terrorism system.





On Monday (November 19) Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Governor John Freeman on behalf of the UK Government, to operationalise the Advance Passenger Information Service (APIS).





APIS is an automated system established for aviation and maritime operators.





It has the capability of enhancing border security over the region by supplying law enforcement officers with data on passengers and crew members prior to arrival and departure from Caricom member states, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.





This system was established by the US Customs Border Protection agency (CBP) in May 2009 and adopted by Caricom last year.





It was envisaged that APIS would be fully operational in the TCI by September 2017.





However, a letter of entrustment had been requested from the UK Government to enable the TCI to sign the instrument of accession to the memorandum of understanding for intelligence sharing among Caricom member states.





Although the TCI became the first of six British overseas territories in the region to sign the APIS agreement with Caricom in April 2017, the UKs consent was necessary for the TCIs participation in APIS database of passenger information.





The signing of the MoU, which took place at the Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales, saw Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control Hon. Sean Astwood delivering his ministrys statement.





Astwood said the system, when implemented, will modernise the territorys border security.





He said: "By adopting this, countries would be better able to secure their airports and ports which leads to enhancing regional security.





"With the signing of this MOU, the United Kingdom government formally grants consent to the TCI for the sharing of intelligence among member states of the Caribbean Community.





"This morning, I am proud again to state that the signing of this memorandum is a significant and important step to achieving and realising the full implementation in the APIS in the Turks and Caicos Islands and by extension, improved security for our region.





Astwood outlined the main contributions of APIS to the territorys border management.





"The ability for law enforcement officials to know whether potential or known offenders or inadmissible persons are travelling to the TCI prior to departure, giving the TCI and its partners adequate time to use resources efficiently.





"This also reduces workload for immigration officers.





"The TCI hopes to use APIS as a decision-making tool that immigration and customs primarily can employ before a passenger is permitted to board an aircraft in their port of departure.





"Transmission of passenger details well in advance of arrival is also a positive step toward achieving facilitation and compliance goals in the TCI.





Fewer delays

APIS also has the potential to considerably reduce inconvenience and delays experienced by passengers as a result of border processing.





Astwood said: "It will contribute to more efficient passenger facilitation by allowing border control officers to focus on high-risk individuals, thereby allowing for a faster throughput of low risk travellers when undergoing arrival formalities.





"This would add value to processing of our tourist and allow us to maximise use of staff at the airport in particular and improve guests experience.





As part of preparation for full implementation of the system, several key actions have taken place including the enactment of legislations in 2017.





Training and consultation was also undertaken in February 2018 with internal and external partners and stakeholders.





The training included the police, Immigration Department, Airports Authority, Computer Department, Customs, Maritime and Ports Authority.





External partners that have been consulted and participated in training include marina operators, cruise lines, airlines, shipping companies (air and sea) and freight forwarders.





"The ultimate goal of these national workshops was to design a road map indicating the main steps to follow to move towards an API-enabled environment, Astwood explained.





"In addition, the workshops provided participants with a thorough understanding of the functions and benefits of APIS and brought together all relevant national stakeholders in the field of aviation security in order to promote cooperation and synergies as they implement an API system.





"Increases in tourism over the past decade has impacted the manner in which passengers travelling on international flights are processed.





"What is even more challenging is that in the TCI we anticipate even greater growth with the demand for larger aircraft and associated demand on inspection processes during peak arrival and departure times.





In recent times and over the past decade, there has been an increase in threats due to transnational organised crimes, trades in illicit drugs and other commodities, such as guns, human trafficking and illegal migration.




A man who falsely said that a terrorist attack would happen in Ayodhya on Sunday was arrested here Monday, police said.

The accused, Wasim, was arrested for making the hoax call on November 24 at the "Dial-100", claiming that a terrorist attack was going to take place in Ayodhya on November 25, the day on which Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) Dharam Sabha was organised," Superintendent of Police V P Srivastava said.

The accused had procured the SIM card from a local shop on fake ID proofs to place the call, the SP said, adding that the matter is being probed.

The Dharam Sabha, the biggest congregation of Ram bhakts in the temple town convened to discuss the way forward for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, witnessed seer after seer stressing the need for construction of the temple at the earliest.

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A 23-year-old man was arrested for allegedly strangulating a minor girl after her parents objected to his "indecent acts" with his live-in partner in the neighbourhood in northwest Delhi's Swaroop Nagar, police said Monday.

The girl, aged around eight, had gone missing on November 15 and her body was found the next day with her undergarment wrapped around her neck, they said.

They will receive the post-mortem report on Tuesday which will in help ascertaining if she had been sexually assaulted.

After the incident, it was found that the accused was missing from his house. Police started looking out for him, but he managed to keep them at bay.

Acting on a tip-off, the accused was nabbed from a night shelter at Pul Mithai on Monday, police said.

He had been hiding in various night shelters in north and outer Delhi after the incident, they said.

During interrogation, the man told police he had a fight with the girl's parents 10-15 days before he killed the minor and was nursing a grudge.

"He said the girl's parents had accused him of indulging in indecency with his live-in partner which caused embarrassment to them. The girl's father also rebuked him for visiting their house and also called him immoral," said a senior police officer.

After the argument, the fights also happened over small issues and they never reconciled.

On November 15, he saw the girl standing outside her house and took her with him on the pretext of buying her some goodies and strangulated her with her undergarment, the officer said.

The accused denied that he sexually assaulted the girl but the post-mortem report will conclusively establish that fact, the officer, said, adding that he was unemployed and has been previously arrested in 12-13 cases of thefts by police.

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The Medanta hospital has decided to support Jharkhand government in eradicating tuberculosis in the state, an official statement said Monday.

"Jharkhand state was invited for this workshop (in New Delhi). Medanta has decided to extend their support for TB free Ranchi/Jharkhand," the statement said after a National consultation on multisectoral engagement for a TB-free India held in New Delhi Monday.

It was organized by Medanta hospital in collaboration with the Central government.

The Medanta hospital will provide Mobile vans with digital X-ray and CBNAAT facility. This vans will be used for the screening of suspected TB cases during active case finding, health camps and other routine activities, the statement said.

This will help the state to provide diagnostic facilities in difficult to reach areas, in turn, will help in early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, it said.

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Results released Monday show voters in Mexico approved all ten pet projects of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in a referendum questioned because of low turnout.

Lopez Obrador has touted referendums as a way to give people power in determining policies, but critics say the latest process was hurt by the way the questions were worded, a lack of information and the fact that only about one in 90 registered voters participated.

Lopez Obrador's most controversial plan, a train that would connect the main tourist attractions across the Yucatan Peninsula, had the highest level of rejection at 6.6 per cent, but was still approved by 88.9 per cent of voters.

The president-elect has set a starting date for pursuing the "Maya Train" after he takes office on December 1, although he hasn't submitted environmental impact statements or consulted indigenous communities.

A group of environmentalists sent a petition asking him to rethink the project.

"Mr President-elect, we have just come off 30 years in which past administrations have imposed mega-projects on the country without sufficiently serious studies," they wrote in November.

The ballot for the referendum assured voters the train "will not affect the environment," but did not cite any evidence.

Lopez Obrador brushed off experts' criticism, accusing them of being out-of-touch with the people.

"Look at what the petition-signers don't know, I say it with all respect and I recognize the majority are very smart people, but as amazing it sounds, they need to make contact with the people in the countryside," Lopez Obrador wrote of his critics.

The train aims to connect the colonial city of Merida with resorts like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum before it continues through sparsely populated areas like Bacalar, Calakmul and Palenque. Some experts say the northern leg of the route makes economic sense, but the southern part runs across a jungle.

A total of 946,000 people participated in the weekend referendum, which was the second that has been held since Lopez Obrador was elected in a landslide.

The referendum also approved plans to construct an oil refinery, build a rail link between the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, raise supplementary payments for the elderly, implement a massive reforestation program, and offer free internet and better health care.

Each ballot measure, including those concerning youth scholarships and work-training programs, received between 90 and 95 per cent approval.

Gustavo de la Vega, a 30-year-old industrial designer, was one of those lined up at a Mexico City voting booth to participate in the referendum Sunday. He voted against the train project because of its cost.

"The idea of a referendum is good, but it was badly organized," said de la Vega. "If it is not done well, it runs the risk of people losing faith in referendums."



In a move that throws into question Lopez Obrador's respect for the constraints on presidential power that have been forged in Mexico over the last 25 years, workers have already started clearing land in a costal mangrove area for the oil refinery.

The project hasn't been formally approved and some doubt whether it makes much financial sense.

Lopez Obrador is irritated by the fact that Mexico imports much of its refined gasoline from the US because its own refineries aren't up to the task.

A native of the southern state of Tabasco, he also has vowed to champion projects in the country's often poor and underdeveloped southeast.

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A prominent Kashmiri Hindus' body Monday demanded a corridor to the "world-famous" Sharda Devi Temple in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on the lines of one proposed to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district in Pakistan.

All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) of displaced KashmiriHindus raised the demand on the day Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu along with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district for the corridor to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.

APMCC chief Vinood Pandita and its members have been batting for reopening of the temple for the past ten years and have even sat on fast unto death for it -- once in Jammu and for a second time at Porbonder in Gujarat. The two fasts had lasted 10 to 15 days each.

They had earlier also undertaken a yatra to the temple and had marched up to the last point Sharda Teon on Indian side of the Line of Control en route the temple.

"We welcome the government's decision on building the corridor to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara to facilitate easy passage toSikh pilgrims. We want the government to take similar steps to create a corridor to ShardaDevi Temple as well to facilitate Hindu pilgrims reach there," Pandita told reporters here.

The decision to build the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara corridor, which would facilitate the Sikh pilgrims to visit and return from the shrine without any passport or travel document the same day, was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is slated to hold the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on thePakistani side on November 28.

On similar lines, a corridor to Sharda Devi Temple too can be built across the two side of the LoC between Tweetwal and Sharda,which are hardly few kilometers apart, the APMCC chief said.

Pandita, who earlier also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to pursue the cause, said the Centre should take this step as a confidence-building measure for the displaced community of Kashmir.

Even PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti pitched Monday for building a corridor to the temple.

Sharada Peeth is an abandoned temple located in the Sharda village along the Neelam River across the LoC. It was a major centre of learning and is regarded as one of the 18 highly-revered temples across south Asia. It was also a major centre of learning at par with the ancient seats of learning at Nalanda and Taxila.

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The board of Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors, which is allied with Renault and Nissan, voted unanimously Monday to dismiss Carlos Ghosn as its chairman following his arrest last week.

Prosecutors arrested Ghosn on November 19 on suspicion he under-reported his income by USD 44 million over five years.

Nissan Motor Co ousted him as its chairman last week, saying an internal investigation prompted by a whistleblower also found Ghosn misused company money and assets.

Mitsubishi Motors' CEO Osamu Masuko, chosen by the board as acting chairman pending a shareholders' meeting, said Ghosn would not be able to perform his duties, considering his arrest and Nissan's dismissal of him as chairman.

Masuko said he did not know the specifics of the criminal allegations and declined comment on the case.

When asked for his personal view about the situation, Masuko said he was baffled.

"To be honest, I was shocked, and I couldn't believe it," he told reporters at Mitsubishi Motors' showroom at headquarters.

"I still can't figure out why, and I just don't understand."



But Masuko insisted the three-way alliance will persevere, saying it's critical for the automakers' futures, especially in working together on new technologies such as autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and connectivity for vehicles.

"We believe the alliance is needed," Masuko told reporters at Mitsubishi Motors' showroom at headquarters.

"Where the three companies are headed is not confrontation."



Ghosn was central in creating the alliance, but would have had to leave eventually, he said, adding just that the "timing had come sooner."Renault has kept Ghosn as chief executive, while appointing an interim chair while the company awaits more information about the allegations against him.

The disruptions over Ghosn's case have added to worries about the future of the alliance between Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi, whose status as the most recent addition could be more precarious.

European media have speculated that the case against Ghosn was partly driven by a desire to fend off moves to merge Renault and Nissan and keep the company under Japanese control.

Resentment within the Japanese automaker against Ghosn's pay and power may also have played a role.

Ghosn has been a dominant force in the Japanese auto industry for nearly two decades.

He led the addition of Mitsubishi into the alliance in 2016 after the smaller automaker was embroiled in an inspections reporting scandal.

Nissan holds a 34 per cent stake in Mitsubishi.

Japanese media, citing unidentified sources, are reporting that Ghosn and Greg Kelly, an executive who was arrested on suspicion of collaborating with him, are asserting their innocence. Ghosn has not commented publicly.

The two executives have not yet been charged. Under Japanese law, a suspect can be held in custody for up to three weeks per suspected charge without any charges being filed.

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Police in Cambodia have arrested more than 200 Chinese citizens accused of defrauding people in China over the internet.

Gen Y Sok Khy, director of the Interior Ministry's Department of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime, said 36 women were among the 235 Chinese arrested Monday in three different villages in Takeo province, south of the capital, Phnom Penh.

Online scams by Chinese gangs that operate from foreign countries and target mainland Chinese are common throughout Southeast Asia and have been found as far away as Kenya and Spain.

Cambodia has arrested and sent at least 1,000 Chinese and Taiwanese residents allegedly involved in such schemes to China since 2012.

The scams are carried out by making phone calls over the internet and employing deception, threats and blackmail against the victims.

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The mortal remains of leading Kannada actor and politician Ambareesh were consigned to flames with full state honours after thousands of his fans paid a tearful homage to the star, who had cast a spell on them in his more than four-decades long film career.

Amid chanting of Vedic hymns, a teary-eyed Abhishek, Ambareesh's son,performed the last rites and lit the pyre in the presence ofthousands of mourners, including people from the film industry and politics.

As the pyre went up in flames, Abhishek and Ambareesh's actress-wife Sumalatha broke down and were inconsolable.

Ambareesh's close friend and Telugu film actor Mohan Babu could not control his grief and burst into tears many times.

Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda placed wreaths on the body of Ambareesh and paid their last respects.

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, actress-politician Jayaprada and a host of film actors and actresses from South India and politicians were among those who paid their last respects to the departed soul.

Wrapped in the tri-colour, Ambareesh's body was Sunday eveningtaken to Mandya, his home district, where tens of thousands stood in long queues to have a final glimpse of the actor.

The body was brought back to Bengaluru on Monday noon for the last rites to be performed.

A large funeral procession followed as the hearse, bedecked with 1,800 kg of flowers, wound its way from the Kanteerava Stadium to the Kanteerava Studio covering 12 km, amid tight security.

Elaborate security arrangements were made with the deployment of 11,000 men in uniform, comprising the city police, three battalions of Reserved Armed Force (RAF), 30 battalions of Karnataka State Reserved Police (KSRP) and 34 battalions ofCity Armed Reserve battalions.

Four Additional Commissioners of Police and 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police oversaw the security arrangements all along the procession route, police said.

Traffic came to a grinding halt in the city on several major roads as the funeral procession passed through with thousands of people gathered on both sides.

Ambareesh, a three-time Lok Sabha member and also a former minister at the state and central levels passed way on Saturday after a prolonged illness.

He is survived by his wife and a son.

Known as a "rebel star", Ambareesh had acted in over 200 films.

Entering the tinsel world through the movie 'Nagarahavu' (king cobra), directed by veteran late PuttannaKannagal in 1972, Ambareesh had carved a niche for himself inthe Kannada film industry, particularly as an "angry man",earning the title "rebel star".

Ambareesh also had a successful career in politics, having been an MLA, a Lok Sabha member and a former minister.

He had been in the erstwhile Janata Dal, JDS and the Congress in his political career that suffered a setback when he was asked to resign as a minister during the previous Siddaramaiah government.

Since then, Ambareesh had faded into political obvilion.

Ambareesh had won the several state government film awards and was bestowed with an honorary doctorate by the Dharwad university.

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Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah Monday conducted a road show in Indore on the last day of campaigning for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, scheduled for November 28.

Shah embarked on a chariot-shaped vehicle at Chikmanglur Square which passed Khatipura, Rajwada, Sarafa Bazaar and other commercial areas, before reaching its final destination at Sitalmata Kapda Bazaar, a distance of three kms.

Shah was accompanied by BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and state unit BJP president Rakesh Singh during the two-hour-long roadshow.

On the occasion, the BJP chief appealed to voters to vote the saffron party back to power for a fourth consecutive term in the central state.

Indore, which is known as the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh, is considered as a stronghold of the BJP.

In 2013 assembly elections, the ruling party had won all five seats in the city.

A total of 230 seats will go to polls on November 28 and results will be counted on December 11.

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PDP president on Monday ruled out approaching the court against Governor Satya Pal Malik's decision to dissolve the state assembly.

The assembly was abruptly dissolved on November 21, hours after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival National Conference and the Congress, followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference which claimed the support of the and 18 MLAs from other parties.

Some sincere suggestions from well wishers for me to go to court against Governor's dissolution of assembly. PDP, NC, INC had come together to safeguard state interests. It is my considered opinion that we must go to people's court which is superior to any other forum.  (@MehboobaMufti) November 26, 2018

Mufti in a tweet said, "Some sincere suggestions from well-wishthe ers for me to go to court against governor's dissolution of assembly. PDP, NC, INC had come together to safeguard state interests. It is my considered opinion that we must go to people's court which is superior to any other forum."

The governor had justified the decision, saying it was necessary to stop the use of money and horse-trading in government formation. The state was put under Governor's Rule on June 19 after the withdrew from the coalition government with the PDP, but the governor decided to keep the Assembly in suspended animation.
The mood at the wreath laying ceremony for 26/11 martyrs was sombre as policemen remembered their fallen comrades and family members of victims sought in vain to set aside their tears, 10 years after the worst-ever terror attack in India's history.

At an early morning solemn ceremony at Mumbai's 26/11 martyrs' memorial at Police Gymkhana on the Arabian Sea coast, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid wreaths as a police band paid their musical tribute at the 'Salutation Ceremony'.

Tributes were also paid at the memorial of assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale at Girgaum Chowpatty, a short distance away. It was at this spot that Ombale caught Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab alive while getting killed himself.

On November 26, 2008 Mumbai was attacked by 10 terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. In the mayhem that followed for the next three days 166 people including 18 police officers and two NSG commandos were killed while 308 people were injured.

The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed in the attack.

Salaskar's daughter Divya said nothing could make up for the loss of her brave-heart father. "Ten years on, the pain is very much the same. When you lose a loved one like a father or a husband, there is nothing to compensate for that kind of loss," she said.

Maharashtra Police Chief Datta Padsalgikar and Mumbai Commissioner of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal also attended the ceremony along with family members of policemen who lost their lives during the attacks, which began on November 26 and lasted till November 29.

"I pay homage to the brave policemen who fought for Mumbai's safety and laid down their lives for us on 26/11. We are proud of them and we will strive hard for the safety and security of our state," Fadnavis said.

"I offer my heartfelt tribute to the ones who put Mumbai first, till the very end," Jaiswal said.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and the Nariman House Jewish community centre, now renamed Nariman Light House, were among the places targeted by the terrorists.

Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.

"Remembering those who put the nation before themselves. And our salute to the city whose resilience always made its people stronger," Mumbai Police tweeted.

Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, said the Ram Pradhan committee, set up to probe the shortcomings that led to the attack recommended setting up of a protocol under an internal security committee but it is yet to be prepared.

"The internal security committee has never met in the past four years since the BJP-led government came to power in the state," he said.

"Coastal police stations were announced by the state government, but nothing has been done about them," he said, adding coastal policing should be top priority.

Former Mumbai police commissioner M N Singh said Pakistan is a "permanent enemy" of India and as long as Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) were calling the shots in the neighbouring country, the relationship between the two countries won't normalise.

Railway officials laid wreaths at the 26/11 memorial at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, where 52 people were killed during the terror attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: Tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Our solidarity with the bereaved families. A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted: My tributes to the victims and brave martyrs of dastardly 26/11 Mumbai terror attack on its 10th Anniversary. We will continue to seek justice for their families and friends. India will defeat terrorism.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju said he was unable to attend the Mumbai 26/11 memorial event due to pre-occupation. "My tribute to the martyrs and civilians who lost their lives in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack," he tweeted.

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The daughter of India's "milkman" Dr Verghese Kurien Monday rubbished former Gujarat minister Dileep Sanghani's claim that he diverted dairy cooperative Amuls profit to fund religious conversions in the country.

Sanghani had alleged that the late founder-chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation funded religious conversions by Christian missionaries from Amul's profits.

"We should ignore such statements and focus on work done by Verghese Kurien in building institutions that ushered Indias White Revolution," Nirmala Kurien said.

"My father was an atheist and (despite being a Christian) was cremated as per his wishes. So was my mother after her death," Nirmala told PTI after an event to mark Dr Kurien's birth anniversary.

Born on November 26, 1921, Kurien died on September 9, 2012.

"We should also focus on things like the change he made in the life of cattle rearing farmers," she said.

"Lal Bahudur Shastri, who was then prime minister, had requested my father to replicate the success of the 'Amul model' in the country. He undertook Operation Flood which took India from a milk deficient country to the world's largest milk producer," she said, addressing a gathering at the NDDB.

"My father believed that India would one day be among the most powerful nations but worried that 70 per cent of India's population comprises mostly small and marginal farmers and labourers. He wished that they be given more opportunity to earn so that the gap between the haves and have nots reduces," she said.

Responding to Sanghani's charge, the managing director of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, Dr R S Sodhi had said Dr Kurien's religion was that of each farmer of the country.

Sanghani had said Tribhuvandas Patel was the founder of Amul but farmers' money was donated for tribals' religious conversions in south Gujarat by Dr Kurien.

Sodhi recalled a call he received in the wee hours when Dr Kurien passed away at a hospital in Nadiad. "Me and my colleague went there and asked Nirmala and Mrs Kurien as to where he should be buried (since he was a Christian)," he had said.

"They told us that his wish was that he be cremated. He was cremated at the same place as Tribhuvandas Patel. After three months when Mrs. Kurien died in Mumbai, she was also cremated," Sodhi had said.

Meanwhile, a bike rally from Jammu to spread awareness about Dr Kurien reached Anand Monday morning.

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Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Acharya Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's developmental programmes for the Northeast have created awareness among people of the country to do something for the region.

He also hailed the contribution of the Northeastern people in the freedom struggle of the country and in various sectors like the education.

Addressing a function here, he said the development programmes initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the region have created awareness among people from various states to do something for the Northeast.

Acharya was speaking at an award ceremony 'One India award' organised by "My Home India".

"Nagaland has a population of 20 lakh, 98 per cent of whom are Christians. Our failure and deficiency, and not the people of the Northeast, are responsible for the situation there," he said.

The governor said the developmental programmes initiated by the prime minister have created awareness among Indians to do something for the region.

Acharya said Nagaland is home to 16 important tribes and many smaller tribes.

He said the people to people programmes are crucial for unity and that politics should be kept at bay.

The governor blamed the British education system for people being not aware about Purvanchal.

"Their (people of the Northeast) contribution is not just for the freedom struggle, but many all other important sectors like the education. Northeast people are second to none," Acharya said.

He said Arunachal Pradesh or Nagaland will be among the richest and most developed states in near future.

"There are 3 'E's required to make a nation prosperous - education, electricity and environment," he said.

He said when an achiever does not become a giver, he becomes a "looter".

Underlining the importance of one's mother tongue, the governor said, "In Maharashtra, the situation is such that nobody wants to learn Marathi and 80 per cent of Marathi language schools are closed. Your first identity is your mother tongue".

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NATO will hold an emergency meeting with Ukrainian officials at alliance headquarters in Brussels on Monday over the naval standoff with Russia off the coast of Crimea.

Russia fired on and then seized three Ukrainian ships on Sunday, accusing them of illegally entering its waters in the Sea of Azov, in a dramatic spike in tensions that raises fears of a wider escalation.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg held phone talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and officials from the two sides will meet later in the day.

"The Secretary General expressed NATO's full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law," NATO said of Stoltenberg's call.

Kiev demanded the return of its ships and sailors, denouncing "another act of armed aggression" by Russia, which annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

The Ukrainian military has been put on high alert and the country's parliament is to vote on a request by Poroshenko to impose martial law for 60 days.

Ukraine has also urged its Western allies to step up existing sanctions implemented against Russia over Crimea and its role in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between the government and pro-Moscow separatists.

Moscow blamed Kiev for the incident, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accusing Ukraine of a planned provocation and of using "dangerous methods" that put ships in the area at risk.

Russian denials drew a barbed response on Twitter from the US Special Envoy for Ukraine Negotiations, Kurt Volker.

"Russia rams Ukrainian vessel peacefully travelling toward a Ukrainian port. Russia seizes ships and crew and then accuses Ukraine of provocation???" Volker tweeted.

Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea.

Kiev has accused Moscow of blocking access for Ukrainian ships though the strait, the only way in and out of the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

The European Union warned Sunday that tensions in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait had "increased dangerously" and demanded Russia restore freedom of passage.

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Newly-elected Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will be on his first foreign visit to India next month to further strengthen the bilateral ties with the country, Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said Monday.

A ministerial delegation from Maldives, including Shahid, Minister of Finance Fayaaz Ismail, Minister of Economic Development Ibrahim Ameer and Minister of State for Foreign affairs Ahmed Khaleel, is currently on a visit to India.

Shahid said the visit of Solih aims to strengthen the bilateral ties with India, which, he asserted has always come to the aid of the island nation whenever it needed.

"The new Maldives government considers India such an important partner that President Solih would be making his first foreign visit to India next month on December 17," he told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents Club.

"We want to assure India that we are back in business and we would not hide behind scourge of corruption," he said.

Maldives Finance Minister Ismail said the new government is seeking budget support from India in a number of areas, including health care.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended Solih's oath-taking ceremony on November 17 in Male.

Solih, as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate, had a surprise victory over strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election held on September 23.

India-Maldives ties had deteriorated significantly under Yameen, who was perceived to be close to China.

Some decisions by Yameen, including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing, also did not go down well with New Delhi.

Relations between India and the Maldives slumped further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year, which lasted for 45 days.

India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners.

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State-run miner NMDC Monday said it expects to start production at its Nagarnar steel plant by July 2019.

The country's largest iron ore miner is setting up a three million tonne per annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant at Nagarnar in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

Currently, progress of civil work, structural and equipment erection of Nagarnar plant is in an advanced stage and progressing in full swing.

"In a day of significant developments, Nagarnar steel plant Monday received the first rake of imported coking coal into the steel plant and also commissioned its wagon tippler at the raw material handling system (RMHS), thereby bringing the plant commissioning to its penultimate step...

"With these two major developments, NMDC looks forward to starting production at Nagarnar steel plant by July next year after deploying the requisite manpower in various operational positions," NMDC said in a statement.

In the statement, NMDC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Baijendra Kumar said: "Today, a great milestone has been achieved that has put us on the threshold of commissioning the steel plant".

N K Nanda, director (technical), NMDC, dwelt upon the support of Railways since the inception of NMDC that helps the company reach its target.

"One of the positive factors that propelled NMDC to think of setting up a steel plant at Bastar was the assurance from Railways that it would facilitate raw material movement," he said.

4,106 tonnes of coal, received Monday in 59 wagons, is part of the first consignment of 80,000 tonne of the fuel that has been imported from Australia and offloaded at Visakhapatnam Port last week, the company said.

Imported coking coal and indigenous coal is blended and charged into the blast furnace along with iron ore to produce hot metal, it added.

Earlier, the CMD had told PTI that the inter-ministerial group for divestment has decided to put the sale of the Nagarnar steel plant on hold.

According to company sources, the state government, local political parties and trade unions were against the selling of the steel plant to private parties.

The company last year had announced that the process for strategic divestment of NMDC's Nagarnar plant had started.

The steel plant was in the list of public sector enterprises lined up by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) for strategic divestment. The government has fixed a disinvestment target of Rs 80,000 crore for the current fiscal.

Strategic disinvestment denotes the sale of a substantial portion of government shareholding in an identified central public sector enterprise, up to 50 per cent or more, along with the transfer of management control.

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The NMDC Ltd's upcoming 3 million tonne greenfield Nagarnar Steel Plant in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, on Monday successfully received raw material, a major step towards commencing production by July next year, the state owned iron-ore miner said.

Nagarnar Steel Plant received the first rake of imported coking coal and also commissioned its Wagon Tippler at the Raw Material Handling System (RMHS) thereby bringing the plant commissioning to its penultimate step, NMDC said in a statement.

The plant received 4106 tonnes of coal, a part of the first consignment of 80m000 tonnes of coal imported from Australia and offloaded at Visakhapatnam Port last week.

Imported coking coal and indigenous coal is blended and charged into the blast furnace along with iron ore to produce hot metal.

In all, 4 wagon tipplers, critical part of the Rs 1395 crore RMHS will be utilised to offload 12 million tonnes of incoming raw material - iron ore, coking coal, limestone - that would be required annually to produce 3 million tonnes of steel, NMDC director (technical) N K Nanda said.

The steel plant management is now following up on meeting all Safety and environmental norms.

Recently, an accident at Bhilai steel Plant of SAIL had left several people dead and many injured.

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British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday told MPs that the deal she finalised with the (EU) over the weekend is the best one that honours the June 2016 referendum in favour of

With a statement to update the House of Commons on the European Council summit in Brussels on Sunday, where the so-called divorce pact with the EU was signed off by the remaining 27 member-states, May began her campaign to try and get the withdrawal agreement through the UK Parliament when it comes up for a vote in the coming weeks.

"I can say to the House with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available our duty, as a Parliament over these coming weeks - is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest," she said.

"The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country, whichever way we voted. This is that deal. A deal that delivers for the British people," she added.

MPs from across party lines carried on their attack on the controversial agreement, which is opposed by the Opposition parties as well as many of May's own MPs.

Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said it will review its parliamentary pact with the Conservatives that props up the May-led government's wafer-thin majority if the deal ends up being approved by MPs.

Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said his party will oppose the deal, calling it "the worst of all worlds".

Downing Street has said in the "unlikely event" that Parliament could not agree on the terms of withdrawal, "all necessary action" would be taken to prepare the UK to leave without an agreement.

May's campaign to get her deal through Parliament, which began with an appeal to the public in a "letter to the nation" at the weekend, will also include her briefing Labour MPs on the deal. According to some reports, she wants to challenge Corbyn to an open televised debate to try and show him up over his lack of alternatives.

Opponents of the deal on either side of the argument say it fails to deliver on what people voted for in the 2016 referendum or what the public were promised during the campaign and afterwards.

Brexiteers argue that rather than taking back control, the UK is giving the EU too much of a say in key areas, including a controversial "backstop" customs arrangement, designed to avoid the need for physical checks of people and goods at the border on the island of Ireland.

Many anti-Brexiteers argue the deal is inferior to remaining in the EU because it will not guarantee frictionless trade, while the UK will no longer have a say in setting rules and regulations it will have to abide by.

As a result, there are also calls for a second "people's vote" so that the public can now make a more informed decision on what would really mean.

May faces a crucial few days as she builds up consensus around the withdrawal agreement before it comes up for a Commons vote, expected around December 12.

Some members of her Cabinet are reportedly canvassing support for Plan B scenarios, should she fail to win parliamentary backing for her deal.

Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29 next year under the Article 50 process set in motion after the 2016 referendum. Although the departure date is set down in law, Labour's Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said Parliament must find a way to stop Britain crashing out of the EU without any deal.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday claimed that Rahul Gandhi's election meeting in any constituency was the guarantee of Congress candidate's defeat.

"Wherever Rahul Gandhi will go, the party candidate will face defeat. No candidate wants Rahul Gandhi's meeting in his constituency. Rahul means guarantee of defeat, the UP CM said in an election rally in Churu district's Ratangarh constituency.

"Nothing can be expected from Congress. The party lacks leadership and Congress leaders say this, not me or anyone else, he said.

Adityanath said that BJP governments be it in Centre or states have accelerated growth and pushed development.

"There cannot be any alternative to development and good governance, which the BJP governments have delivered. A widespread change is visible in Uttar Pradesh while Raje government in Rajasthan has also done good work, 3.5 lakh youths were given government jobs and several other works were also done for the development of the state, he said.

Adityanath appealed voters to vote for Abhinesh Maharshi, the BJP candidate from Ratangarh



The constituency with 2.47 lakh voters is facing triangular contest where BJP's rebel candidate and former minister Rajkumar Rinwa is also contesting election as an independent candidate.

The Rajasthan BJP had suspended 11 rebel leaders, including Rinwa, for six years over their decision to contest elections against party candidates.

As many as 2,294 candidates, including 189 women candidates, are contesting on 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan which is going to poll on December 7.

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The city police told the Delhi High Court Monday that no illegal flesh trade was going on in the massage parlours of the national capital.

The claim was made in an affidavit filed in response to a PIL that has alleged that sex rackets are rampant in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) in the garb of massage parlours.

The matter is listed for hearing Tuesday before a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao.

In its affidavit filed through additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose, the Delhi Police said of the 397 massage parlours in the national capital, complaints of flesh trade were received against nine and following investigations, the allegations were found to be unsubstantiated.

The police also said if any activity of a sex racket came to their notice, appropriate legal action was taken in accordance with the provisions of the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act of 1987 and other legal provisions.

The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by city resident Ateet Bansal, who has also alleged that every year, hundreds of immigrants stay back in the national capital illegally and engage in flesh trade by working in the "massage" business to earn quick money.

He has further alleged that the police, even after receiving several tips, were unable to take action against the offenders.

The police have refuted the allegation, saying the petitioner "could not supply any concrete information or evidence to suggest the running of flesh trade in the garb of massage parlours in Delhi".

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 26)  A multi-sectoral group was recently formed to try and put a stop to what they claim are deplorable effects of the government's infrastructure "Build, Build, Build" program.

The "No Eviction Unity-Stop Build, Build, Build Coalition" on Sunday formally convened alongside people's groups and representatives from the various places where the government's major infrastructure projects are set to be built.

Some group members claimed their livelihoods and residences may be destroyed by the construction of several projects in the Metro Manila area.

While the group said it is not against national development, they appealed to the government to find alternatives to prevent the eviction of more than 300,000 families affected in the right of way of several big-ticket infrastructure projects in Metro Manila.

Detained Senator Leila de Lima earlier expressed concern about the possible displacement of 180,000 families under two projects in the Duterte administration's flagship infrastructure program.

De Lima in October filed Senate Resolution 927. The resolution called for an investigation into the supposed displacement of thousands of residents across 38 Manila communities to pave the way for the 23 billion North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road and the 171 billion North-South Commuter Railway.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo denied this and said that feasibility studies have been conducted prior to the approval of the projects.

Related: Palace brushes off De Lima's concern on displacement under 'Build, Build, Build'

Transport and public works officials also called out de Lima for spreading false information.

Related: DOTr, DPWH debunk de Lima's claims that thousands will be displaced in 2 Build, Build, Build projects
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi Monday said it is in "our best interest" to heed the advice of the Constitution and warned that failing to do so would result in "sharp descent into chaos".

The assertion by Justice Gogoi came at the inaugural function of the 'Constitution Day Celebrations' here where President Ram Nath Kovind said the Constitution is the "modern scripture" of independent India and an "inspirational and living document".

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted people on the Constitution day, saying values enshrined in it must be followed in personal and public life.

"We are proud of our Constitution and reiterate our commitment to uphold the values enshrined in it," Modi wrote on Twitter.

Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on November 26 to commemorate the Constitution being adopted by the Constituent Assembly on this day in 1949. It came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Without naming anyone, Congress President Rahul Gandhi used the occasion to assert that those conspiring to destroy the Constitution should know they neither have the capacity to do so nor will the Congress allow them to do anything.

The colours of the Constitution are "engrained in every part of us", Gandhi said on Twitter.

In his address, Justice Gogoi said the Constitution is the voice of the marginalised as well as the prudence of the majority and continues to be a guide in moments of crisis and uncertainty.

"It is in our best interest to heed the advice of the constitution. If we do not, our hubris will result in sharp descent into chaos," he said.

"The constitution has become an integral part of the lives of the Indian people. This is not an exaggeration, one need only to look at the astounding variety of issues that the courts hear daily."



President Kovind said the Constitution formalised the segregation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislature and has given all three pillars the legitimate rules and responsibilities to uphold the Constitution for realising its hopes and expectations.

"The duty of safeguarding and strengthening the Constitution is a shared enterprise among all three institutions, in partnership with the people of India," he said.

Adoption of the Constitution was a "milestone" in India's democratic journey, he said, adding that perhaps the "most moving word" in the Constitution is justice.

"To use a Latin expression, it is our 'suprema lex' (a Latin legal maxim that means welfare of the people shall be the supreme law). However, it is more than just a collection of articles and clauses. For us Indians it is an inspirational and living document, an ideal of the society we are and the even better society we are striving to be," he said.

The President said people were the "ultimate custodians" of the Constitution.

"The Constitution empowers the citizen, but the citizen too empowers the Constitution - by following it, by adhering to it, by protecting it, and by persevering to make it more meaningful with words and deeds," he said.

Vice President Naidu said people must have trust in constitutional bodies and processes.

"We must uphold integrity in our personal and public life, have trust and honour in constitutional bodies and processes," the vice president Secretariat tweeted.

He said it is our "utmost national obligation" that we live earnestly by the letter and spirit of the Constitution "in our personal and community life".

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Proceedings of the Maharashtra Assembly were paralysed on Monday following demands by the opposition for tabling reports recommending quota for the Maratha and Dhangar (shepherd) communities in the state.

The Lower House witnessed five adjournments before it was adjourned for the day as the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) members remained adamant on their demand and stalled the proceedings.

Amid the din, the Chair rushed through the day's agenda of passing some bills and supplementary demands. The opposition members were on their feet, demanding tabling of the State Backward Class Commission's report on the Maratha quota issue and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' (TISS) report on quota for the Dhangar community.

Earlier, when Speaker Haribhau Bagde called for the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil asked why the government was "running away" from a debate in the House on the State Backward Class Commission's recommendations over the Maratha quota issue.

The state government had last week announced that the Maratha community will be granted quota under a new category called the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC), as per the recommendation of the State Backward Class Commission.

Vikhe Patil said the TISS also submitted its report on quota for the Dhangar community and that the reservation for Muslims in education was upheld by the high court.

"We want the government to announce its stand on reservation for Muslims and table the reports on quota for Marathas and Dhangars in the House for discussion," he said.

He accused the government of not allowing Maratha organisations to hold protests in Mumbai over the demand for tabling the Backward Class Commission's report in the House. NCP leader Ajit Pawar also supported the demand.

However, Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil rejected the allegation that the government was preventing Maratha organisations from holding protests.

"We just said that today is a sensitive day in Mumbai since it is the anniversary of the 26/11 terror attack. We told them to consider postponing the protest by a day in view of the law and order situation," Patil said.

He also said that there was no need of protests since the government had accepted the recommendations of providing reservation to Marathas under the socially and educationally backward category.

"The reservation will be given within the legal and constitutional framework without hurting the existing quota," the minister said.

On the issue of quota for Muslims, he said reservation on the basis of religion given in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala did not stand in court.

"All backward communities among Muslims are given reservation under the Other Backward Classes category. If more castes need to be added, the State Backward Class Commission should be approached," he said.

Pawar objected to the minister's comments, saying the court had accepted reservation for Muslims in education.

BJP leader Ashish Shelar then questioned why the Congress and the NCP had not tabled the Rane committee's report on Maratha quota in the Assembly, when the two parties were in power.

Shelar accused the two opposition parties of shedding "crocodile tears" over the issue.

Following the uproar, the House was first adjourned for 10 minutes and later till the end of the Question Hour. When the House reassembled, the Chair took up laying of annual report of the Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation and the Maharashtra Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Science University in Nagpur. The Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) report was also tabled.

The Chair also rushed through the supplementary demands of revenue, forest, industries, energy, labour and public works departments, which were later passed by a voice vote.

Bills to amend the Maharashtra Value Added Tax Act, GST Act, Maharashtra Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council, Nagar Panchayat and Industrial Township (Amendment) Act and Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act were also passed.

When the Chair asked Vikhe Patil to initiate a debate on the supplementary demands, he said the government must first clarify on reports over the quota issue before continuing with the proceedings.

However, as the uproar continued, the House was again adjourned for 15 minutes. When the House reassembled, the opposition members squatted on its floor.

NCP leader Jayant Patil said they were protesting against the passage of supplementary demands in a hurry and demanded that they be withdrawn.

Parliamentary Affairs minister Girish Bapat invited the opposition leaders for talks in the speaker's chamber.

Later, Education minister Vinod Tawde asked Ajit Pawar and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan to join the talks. Later, the opposition criticised the government for passing the supplementary demands amid noisy scenes and squatted on the floor of the House.

Bapat said the demands which were passed will be taken up for discussion Tuesday. Vikhe Patil again demanded to know the status of the Maratha and Dhangar quota reports. Jayant Patil wondered if government was not sure of the reports as it feared they could be challenged in court.

Pawar said the government has received reports on quota for both the Marathas and Dhangars.

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The shareholders of Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) will consider next month a proposal to issue up to 5 crore shares under the employee stock purchase scheme.

An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders will be held on December 21, 2018, the bank said in a regulatory filing Monday.

The shareholders will consider allotment of up to 5 crore new equity shares under Employee Stock Purchase Scheme (ESPS) in one or more tranches, at such prices, terms and conditions as may be decided by board/committee, the bank said.

Such shares will be locked in for a minimum period of one year from the date of allotment, the state-owned lender said.

In March, the government allowed public sector banks to offer stock options to their employees in order to retain experienced hands. The scheme also aims at providing better incentives besides being a means of capital raise.

Allahabad Bank has raised nearly Rs 236 crore in its maiden ESPS.

United Bank completed the issue of around 5 crore fresh shares to employees under the scheme on August 31, 2018.

PNB will offer 10 crore shares under the scheme while Canara Bank will issue up to 6 crore equity shares to its staff to raise up to Rs 1,000 crore under ESPS.

Stock of OBC closed 1.32 per cent down at Rs 88.45 on BSE.

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There have been over 49,000 incidents of fire in Mumbai in the last one decade, killing more than 600 people, the Maharashtra government said on Monday.

Minister of State for Urban Development Ranjit Patil said in the state Assembly that a total of 49,391 fire mishaps were reported in the megapolis between 2008 and 2018.

Faulty electricity systems caused 33,946 blazes, 1,116 incidents were due to gas leakage while 14,329 cases were due to other reasons, he said.

As many as 609 people and seven fire brigade personnel died in these incidents during the 10-year period while properties worth Rs 1.1042 billion were destroyed, he said.

Patil was responding to a Calling Attention notice on the massive blaze which destroyed a slum area in suburban Bandra on October 30 this year.

Of the total fire incidents in 10 years, 3,151 were reported in slums, he said.

To tackle such mishaps in crowded and slum areas, 17 small fire stations were set up by the city civic body and of these 11 are functional, the minister said.

Also, 17 quick response vehicles and three mini fire engines were purchased for improved fire security, he said.

Over 5,000 fire workers were also imparted training about fire security measures, Patil added.

A massive fire in two pubs located in the Kamala Mills Compound here had claimed 14 lives on December 29 last year.

Besides, 12 people were killed in a blaze at a snack shop in Saki Naka-Kurla area on December 18 last year.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has assailed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his remark about a revered figure in Islam, calling the silence over it "unfortunate".

The Hyderabad MP also wanted to know who gave Adityanath the authority to make such a statement.

"The UP chief minister crossed all limits at a rally in Madhya Pradesh. 'Aap Ali ko rakh lo....Hamare liye Bajrang Bali kafi hain'. It is unfortunate that nobody condemned his statement.

"Certainly, you can follow Bajrang Bali, no one will object to it. Ali is the custodian of the whole universe. Ali is ours and will remain ours. Is there no permission in this country to follow Ali and to take his name?" he told an election rally on Sunday.

Adityanath had recently targeted Congress leader Kamal Nath over a leaked video of his meeting with Muslim leaders where he was seen asking them to ensure 90 per cent of electors from the community voted for the party.

"I was reading a statement of senior Congress leader Kamal Nath. He said they don't need SC, ST votes. They need just the votes of Muslims. You keep your Ali, for us Bajrang Bali will be enough," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister had said addressing an election rally in Bhopal.

Ali, a cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, is venerated by Muslims.

Owaisi said Adityanath's comment was an "insult" to Muslims.

Noting that the Indian Constitution guaranteed the right to religion, the AIMIM leader criticised the Rashtriya Muslim Manch for its "unfortunate" silence over the BJP leader's remarks.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das Monday said peace and harmony have been established in the country with the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, Das paid tributes to the martyred jawans who laid their lives during the attack.

The chief minister said the day is to take a pledge to rid of terrorism from the country.

An official release quoting Das speech at "Banshidhar Mahastov" in Garhwa district during the day said that peace and harmony have been established in the country with the efforts by the prime minister and Home minister.

The chief minister at the mahastov handed over a notification which said that Garhwa districts Nagar Untari sub-division will now be known as Banshidhar Nagar sub- division.

The chief minister also released a special postal stamp on Bansidhar on the occasion of "Bansidhar Mahastov", it said.

Das also said that mahatsov will be given the status of "Rajakiya Mahastov".

Das said the identity of the country and its culture and is embedded with unity in diversity, adding that the prime minister is taking the country on the path of development through "saab ka saath, saab ka vikas mantra".

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A Spanish court on Monday slapped Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique with a fine of 48,000 euros (USD 54,000) for driving without a valid licence.

The 31-year-old, who arrived at the Barcelona court dressed in a grey sweatshirt and wearing a wool cap in the company of his lawyer, accepted the sentence for breaching Spain's driving laws at the hearing. He left the court smiling but without speaking to the press.

Pique was stopped by municipal police in Barcelona as part of a routine check and was found to be driving without any points on his licence.

In Spain drivers licences operate on a system of points, which are deducted for any traffic offences. A driver who is left without any points will have their licence suspended for six months and must attend a course on traffic rules to recover it.

Pique could have recovered his drivers licence in June 2018 but he did not attend this course so his licence remained suspended in August when he was stopped by municipal police, according to the court ruling.

The player received a fine of 10,500 euros in 2015 for insulting two police officers who wanted to fine him for parking in a no-parking zone.

Images published by local media at the time showed Pique in a heated exchange with the officers, and crumpling the fine and throwing it on the ground.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress party of not doing enough for the development of rural areas and farmers during their rule.

Addressing a campaign rally here, he said, "The previous Congress government could have implemented better MSP and crop insurance scheme, but they could not see beyond chair."



"Four generations of Congress family ruled this country for 55 years but electricity, water, roads, toilets never reached villages," the prime minister said.

Modi assured the people at his rally that his government will ensure that every Indian has a house by 2022, when the country celebrates the 75th Independence Day.

He also repeated his charge that casteism is in Congress's mindset.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend four rallies during BJP's December "rath yatra" in West Bengal to give a thrust to the party's campaign in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections, the party's state unit said Monday.

BJP president Amit Shah will kickstart the three rath yatra in the state which is scheduled to start from Coochbehar district in the north on December 7, from Gangasagar in the south on December 9, and from Tarapith temple in Birbhum district on December 14.

The "rath yatra" (chariot march) would cover all 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in Bengal, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set a target of winning over 22 seats.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend four rallies in Bengal during our rath yatra campaign in the state. We have informed the party central leadership and the PMO. The final dates are yet to be fixed. Let's see what happens," West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh told reporters Monday.

Besides the four rallies in which Modi is likely to be present, he is also scheduled to hold a public meeting at the historic Brigade parade ground in Kolkata early next year.

The PM's Brigade ground rally is expected to be after a public meeting of opposition parties led by Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee at the same venue on January 19.

Banerjee, who has floated the idea of the federal front of the regional parties, is making efforts to bring leaders of prominent anti-BJP parties on the dais in the rally ahead of the crucial general elections.

For the smooth functioning of the rath yatra, we have divided the state in four zones and the rallies of the prime minister will be organized in such a way that it covers all these zones, the state BJP president said.

The presence of the PM and party chief Amit Shah in course of the rath yatras underline the importance of the event for the saffron party ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The good performance of the BJP in local bodies elections in Bengal recently where it stood second to TMC leaving behind the Congress and the CPI(U) has buoyed them in the state to take on Mamata Banerjee as her main opponent in the coming general election.

Reacting to Ghosh's announcement, senior TMC leader and state minister Firhad Hakim said the "divisive politics" of the BJP and RSS would not yield any political benefits in Bengal.

"The land of Bengal is a cradle of secularlism and efforts of BJP to divide the people of the state on religious lines won't work here," he said.

Ghosh had earlier said any efforts to stop party's rath yatra by the government or "goons" of TMC will face "stiff resistance" from the masses and the people of Bengal are fed up with the misrule of TMC.

Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakarborty said both TMC and BJP are engaged in "competitive communalism" in Bengal.

Senior Congress leader Abdul Mannan said if the TMC government is serious about stopping the march of communal forces in the state then it wouldn't have taken up the sinister designs of "destroying secular forces" such as Left and the Congress by poaching on its elected representatives.

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West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh said on Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend four rallies during the party's December "rath yatra" campaign in the state.

The "rath yatra" (chariot march) rallies by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state is scheduled to start from Coochbehar district in the north on December 7, from Gangasagar in the south on December 9, and from Tarapith temple in Birbhum district on December 14.

The rallies would cover all 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, where BJP has set a target of winning over 22 seats.

BJP national president Amit Shah is scheduled to attend the programmes on all the three dates.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend four rallies in Bengal during our rath yatra campaign in the state. We have informed the party central leadership and the PMO. The final dates are yet to be fixed," Ghosh told reporters here.

The four rallies in which Modi is expected to be present include the proposed one to be held at the Brigade parade ground which would be the culmination of the three "rath yatra" in the state, he said.

Reacting to Ghosh's announcement, senior TMC leader and state minister Firhad Hakim said the "divisive politics" of the BJP and the RSS would not yield any political benefits in Bengal.

"The land of Bengal is a cradle of secularism and efforts of BJP to divide the people of the state on religious lines won't work here," he said.

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Ratcheting up poll pressure on the 10th anniversary of India's worst terror strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a broad swipe at the Congress for being in power during the Mumbai attack and for questioning his government's surgical strike in Pakistan.

On an emotive day of remembrance for the families and colleagues of those killed, the prime minister stepped up the tempo as he referred to then Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi as "madam" who ruled the country at the time.

"Delhi was ruled by madam... the world was shaken but the Congress was playing how-to-win-the-election game," Modi said referring to Sonia Gandhi, who was widely believed to be the power behind then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"I remember the slightest criticism over the attacks used to rile the then ruling party," Modi said while hitting out at the Congress over its handling of terrorism and Naxalism. He was addressing an election rally here on the anniversary of the 60-hour terror siege by 10 Pakistani terrorists who sneaked into Mumbai on November 26, 2008, killing 166 people in a rampage spread over several locations



The Congress retaliated by alleging Modi was playing on the issue of national security and had "compromised" national interest.

Though Modi addressed three election rallies in Rajasthan, which goes to the polls on December 7, he focused on the 26/11 attack only in the textile town of Bhilwara.

He said India will never forget the 26/11 attack or its perpetrators and justice will surely be done.

"India will never forget 26/11 or its perpetrators. We are looking for an opportunity. The law will take its own course, I assure the people of the country once again," Modi said while expressing solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives.

A grateful nation, he said, bows to its brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.

Continuing his anti-Congress offensive, Modi said the party preached patriotism. But when the Army carried out a surgical strike by crossing over the border, the party questioned it and asked for video proof.

"When my country's soldiers did surgical strikes in Pakistan, and settled the account with terrorists ... and their dead bodies were being hauled away in trucks...

"When the country's soldiers did such a big thing, when they struck the enemy in his own home, wasn't every Indian proud or not? Was this not an example of patriotism? ... Was this not a saga of bravery?



"But in such a time the Congress raised a question -- show the video whether surgical strike happened or not. When the country's soldier goes with his life in his fist, will he be carrying a video camera?" Modi asked. "At that time did they not remember patriotism?"He said during Congress rule, there were bomb blasts every day in all corners of india, and cited Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ajmer, Delhi, Ayodhya and Jammu. "But we have fought such a battle against terrorism that they are finding it difficult to come out of Kashmir," he said.

The prime minister said his government has responded to Naxals also in their own language.

On the one hand, there is terrorism and, on the other, Maoism and Naxalism. They are giving guns in the hands of children and killing innocent people but Congress leaders and close aides of 'naamdaar' are calling Naxals revolutionaries and giving them certificates, he said.

Modi has frequently referred to Congress president Rahul Gandhi as "naamdar" (dynast).

In New Delhi, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala accused the BJP of politicising the sacrifice of jawans, saying the lack of political action on its part has led to disquiet at the border and an alarming security situation.

"Politicizing of national security and sacrifice of our jawans is intrinsic to BJP.

"The truth is - Modi Government has compromised our national security and in the last four and a half years. Lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation," he said in a statement.

Training his guns on the prime minister, Surjewala alleged that he was the one person who played "despicable politics" during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

"Even as our soldiers fought inside and the nation was united in battling its consequences, the then CM of Gujarat, was standing outside at one of the attack sites, addressing the media and blaming the then UPA Government for the attack," he alleged.

According to Surjewala, the BJP released blood-stained ads in newspapers for Delhi elections, opportunistically politicizing the sacrifice of our soldiers.

"Today in a public rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan; PM Modi turned history on its head and said that he never played on national security. We condemn and reject the utter falsehood the PM Modi's politicizing of national security and sacrifice of our jawans is intrinsic to BJP," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down if he can not ensure his safety, days after a man flung chilli powder at him inside the Delhi secretariat.

Speaking at the one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was behind the Nov 20 attack as it was "baffled" by the "good work" done by his government in the national capital.

"Narendra Modi should resign if he can not protect Delhi's Chief Minister," Kejriwal said in the house which had met to discuss the attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and the alleged deletion of names from the voters' list.

Referring to a phone call from Union Home minister Rajnath Singh after the incident outside his office, Kejriwal claimed, "I said either you are worthless or colluding".

Speaking on a government resolution to ensure the accountability of Delhi Police towards the elected city government, Kejriwal said 95 per cent policemen were good but "they are being made to do wrong things by the BJP".

"If Delhi Police comes under the elected government of Delhi, it will start working for the good of the people," he asserted.

The chief minister also advised his party MLAs to withdraw their proposal demanding the exclusion of Delhi Police from the government's compensation scheme.

Following the attack on Kejriwal, AAP legislators had urged Kejriwal to remove Delhi Police from the list of beneficiaries of the Delhi government's compensation scheme under which Rs one crore is given to the kin of slain security personnel.

The AAP MLAs argued that the city's police force had "betrayed" the people of the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down if he cannot ensure Delhi chief minister's security, days after a man flung chilli powder at him inside the Delhi secretariat.

Speaking at the one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly, which was extended by a day till Tuesday, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was behind the November 20 attack as it was "baffled" by the "good work" done by his government in the national capital.

"Narendra Modi should resign if he cannot protect Delhi's Chief Minister," Kejriwal said in the House which had met to discuss the attack on him and the alleged deletion of names from the voters list.

Referring to a phone call from Union Home minister Rajnath Singh after the incident outside his office, Kejriwal claimed, "I said either you are worthless or colluding".

Speaking on a government resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of the Delhi government, Kejriwal said 95 per cent policemen were good but "they are being made to do wrong things by the BJP".

"If Delhi Police comes under the elected government of Delhi, it will start working for the good of the people," he asserted.

The resolution, moved by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain and later adopted by the Assembly with voice of votes, also stated that in view of pending such amendments, necessary steps should be initiatied by the Centre to devolve certain powers to the elected government so that it is in a position to have control over the Delhi Police.

Referring to the recent attack on him, Kejriwal said, "In the last three years, four attacks were made on me. These attacks could not happen if I was not the chief minister of Delhi.

"These attacks are not on me, but on the people of Delhi instead... Modi ji is taking revenge from Delhiites for voting the AAP to power in the city," the chief minister said.

Kejriwal also hit out at Lt Governor Anil Baijal for "creating hurdles" in the functioning of the AAP dispensation.

Talking about recent strike by DTC employees, Kejriwal alleged that the LG did not give appointment to his Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot for two days to resolve the issue.

"LG has time for BJP workers, (AAP rebel MLA) Kapil Mishra, but he does not have time to meet the Transport minister to end the strike... how would we run the government?," Kejriwal asked.

The chief minister also advised his party MLAs to withdraw their proposal demanding the exclusion of the Delhi Police from the government's compensation scheme.

Following the attack on Kejriwal, AAP legislators had urged Kejriwal to remove the Delhi Police from the list of beneficiaries of the Delhi government's compensation scheme under which Rs 1 crore is awarded to the kin of slain security personnel.

The AAP MLAs argued that the city's police force had "betrayed" the people of the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Presidency University on Monday announced that a portion of the over 130-year-old Hindu Hostel, under renovation for over three years sparking intermittent agitation by students, would be thrown open for boarders within a week.

The announcement came after the state Public Works Department (PWD), which was undertaking the renovation work, gave clearance for two wards of the hostel, triggering jubilation among the boarders.

"We got the no-objection certificate from the PWD today for two wards of the hostel. The students will be housed in those two wards within a week," Presidency Vice-Chancellor Anuradha Lohia told PTI.

She said a welfare board having university officials and students is being formed to monitor the shifting and allotment of seats.

A senior official of the institute said no-objection certificates were also received from the fire brigade and other agencies for providing water supply, sanitation and power supply.

Meanwhile, the students who had been on agitating for immediate accommodation in the hostel since August 3 erupted in joy after the announcement of the authorities.

"The boarders had been fighting over this for so long. We are happy with the development. The belongings of the boarders are being taken to the new hostel," said Ujan, one of the agitating students.

Around 66-67 boarders had been accommodated in a rented premises at New Town, which was quite far from the university, during the period of the renovation, would get seats in the two wards, Ujan said.

The more than 130-year old Hindu Hostel building located adjacent to the university was shut down for repairs in July, 2015 and the boarders were shifted to a rented accommodation at New Town.

A section of the students have been protesting against the prolonged renovation of Hindu Hostel affecting the outstation students.

The students had held sit-in protests on the institute since August 3.

The PWD had missed the November 15 deadline for hostel renovation, following which the students started a sit-in demonstration in the main building of the university.

Earlier on October 12, the students had called off their 10-day-long hunger strike after authorities gave them a written assurance that they would be provided accommodation at the Hindu hostel by November 15 if the PWD gave the clearance.

The students' agitation over Hindu Hostel had also resulted in the shifting of the Convocation of the Presidency University from the College Street campus to Nandan, a state run auditorium, on September 12.

The university, the erstwhile Presidency College, observed its bi-centenary celebration in early 2017.

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/ -- One of the most common dilemmas that all students would have faced before joining a university is, "why should I choose a particular university?" This dilemma can be solved by looking into very simple aspects of what sets the university that one desires apart from the others.

"My experience at renowned institutions of the country led me to believe in creating a fantastic environment for a diverse set of students from all over the world to study under one roof. Alliance, right from its inception, as the name goes, has envisioned to be one of the leading educational destinations where intellectuals, talented learners, researchers, industry experts, come together in pursuit of academic excellence," said Prof. Sudhir G. Angur, B.Tech. (IIT - Bombay), PGDM (IIM - Ahmedabad), Chancellor, Alliance University.

So, what sets Alliance University apart from the other universities?



One of the most notable features of Alliance University is its location. Alliance University is located in one of the most multi-cultural cities of Southern India, Bangalore. Bangalore is known for being one of the most conducive and safest student hubs in India and is home to 18 different universities and over 500 colleges.

So, why Alliance when there are other universities in Bangalore to choose from?



Geographical location: Started in 1997 as an independent business school, Alliance went on to become South India's first private university in 2010. Be it the geographical location of being in Bangalore or the culture followed, Alliance University has adapted itself to provide the best student life experiences to anybody who wants to be a part of the Alliance family. Being located away from the city, the geographical location of the central campus of Alliance provides a cleaner and less polluted environment with plenty of greenery. A good environment is proved to be conducive in keeping one's mental and physical health at its best. The campus is home to various kinds of flora and fauna which not only adds to the beauty of the campus but also adds to a healthy environment for the students to study in.

Not only is Bangalore a cleaner and greener city; it is also the technology and start-up hub in India. Bangalore is home to many industries in other areas also, such as, textile, automotive, aviation, semiconductors, retail, etc. The city provides a host of opportunities to people from all over the world and its current population and industry outlook makes it one of the fastest growing and most cosmopolitan cities in South East Asia.

Infrastructure: Alliance University campus comprises of various amenities. Lecture halls are well structured and furnished with smart class facilities. The library is the abode of innumerable books on various subjects including novels and encyclopedias. The infrastructure has been efficiently constructed to accommodate the necessities of each course with adequate engineering lab facilities, moot court and computer labs. The campus also has a food court, bookstore, departmental store, saloon and a fitness centre. The halls of residence are built with well-equipped rooms to cater to the comfort of students.

Culture: The ability of Alliance University to easily adapt to the necessities of students from different backgrounds allows it to offer a conducive and welcoming culture to students. With a strong academic foothold, it aims at creating a culture that is helpful for the overall development of the students by providing them with opportunities to organize and participate in various events which are conducted after the class hours. The campus life is designed in such a way that the students are well occupied with various activities to perform throughout the day. There are various student clubs that one can be a part of and improve on their non-academic skills and talents. Faculty and staff members are always approachable creating a strong student support system.

Prof. Sudhir G. Angur, Chancellor of Alliance University, states that his experience at prestigious institutions of the country led him to believe in creating a fantastic environment for a diverse set of students from all over the world to study under one roof. Alliance, right from its inception, as the name goes has envisioned to be one of the leading educational destinations where intellectuals, talented learners, researchers, industry experts, come together in pursuit of academic excellence.

Diversity: Students from various parts of the country and beyond add to the diversity of the university. Their unique qualities provide a favourable environment for students to learn about each others' language and culture thus building their communication skills and knowledge of the world outside the campus. Diversity is something that really adds to the beauty and value of the university as it displays its capability to adapt according to the needs of each student. Alliance is also known for its range of academic collaborations with international universities and institutions globally that bring in a host of students from all over the world to be a part of its ecosystem.

Academics and faculty: Alliance University offers various programs such as MBA, PGDM, BBA, B.Com, B.Tech, BA LL B, BBA LL B and Ph.D. These programs across business, law and engineering, are reviewed time and again to make sure that they are upto date with what the industry requires. Faculty consists of highly experienced and qualified professors who are not only friendly and understanding but also firm when it comes to academics as every professor in Alliance is expected to groom the student to be well-versed in their particular choice of program.

Placements: Alliance University not only looks at the overall educational growth of the students but also at their placements in well established companies. Students are prepared to overcome various challenges which one would face in their field of work. Alliance University is connected to a good number of recruiters to ensure that students get placed through campus interviews.

Recognition: Alliance University is recognized by various bodies such as ASSOCHAM, ABP News, World Congress, India Today, Outlook, for its outstanding work in academics, industry engagement, international relations, to name a few.

These are the prominent qualities of Alliance University that sets it apart from other universities in Bangalore. The whole experience as a student of Alliance is different. The vibrant colours of the campus beautifully bring out the individuality that is found in students. This is very well exhibited in over 20,000 alumni of Alliance who are well placed in different professions and across the globe.

About Alliance University:



Alliance University is a private University established in Karnataka State by Act No.34 of year 2010 and is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi.

The University is known for its diverse degree courses, state-of-the-art campus, high quality and excellent placement record, aspires to be among the best universities in the world by the year 2025.

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Delhi-based urban development and infrastructure consultancy, Rudrabhishek Enterprises Limited (REPL) has bagged the contract to advise the Goa government on proposed Information Technology and IT-enabled services (ITeS) park in the state.

The State information technology department has proposed the infrastructure at its upcoming park in Chimbel village near Panaji, to provide an ecosystem to fostering start-up culture in the state.

"REPL has been selected as a consultant for the project by Info Tech Corporation of Goa Ltd (ITG), the state governments nodal agency for implementing the project," Harish Sharma chief business officer, REPL said.

As per the terms of the contract, REPL will be responsible for preparing conceptual plans, architectural and engineering drawings and detailed estimates for the proposed park, in consultation with concerned departments and agencies of the state government.

"The consultant is also required to prepare notice inviting tender (NIT) documents, appraise received bids and monitor project implementation," Sharma added.

In the first phase, ITG will work on a 1,33,100 square meters area, to be built as start-up village, he said.

It will have office space with ready-to-use facilities, conference rooms, digital library, cafeteria, hostel facilities, retail and multi-use commercial space, pedestrianised park, recreational activities and other associated support facilities and services.

REPL is working on several government projects including Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Housing for All (PMAY -UP , Bihar, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh), Director General, Married Accommodation Project (DGMAP), Kanpur smart city, Dehradun smart city, Indore smart city and Varanasi smart city.

REPL works across regional, city and zonal levels with the central and state governments.

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Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) is open to foray into flat steel if South Korean automotive manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company finalises Vizag as its site for manufacturing high-grade steel.

RINL Chairman and Managing Director P K Rath, however, said talks between the state-owned company and Hyundai are at a preliminary stage.

"Officials from Hyundai, the Korean Ambassador to India and a few officials had paid a visit to the RINL site in October. Now, they will give their feedback to the Indian government. There is no further development," Rath said on the sidelines of 'STEELIES India Award' 2018.

RINL has about 3,000 acres of land at Vizag in Andhra Pradesh that can be utilised for the project, which will not be less than 3-million-tonne capacity, he said.

The proposed project will enable RINL enter into the high-grade flat steel sector and long products for the automotive sector.

Asked how the company will fund its stake in the enterprise if it materialises, Rath said, "We have land, a scarce commodity as equity."



At present, the growing demand for automotive flat steel is largely met through imports.

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A 'ponzi' scheme promoter from Ahmedabad, who is wanted for allegedly duping investors to the tune of Rs 260 crore, was Monday arrested from Pokhara town in Nepal, a Gujarat CID-Crime official said.

The accused Vinay Shah has been on the run since the last two weeks after cases were registered against him at various police stations of the city.

"We had alerted the Nepalese government that Vinay Shah might have fled there. Today, he was caught by Nepal Police with Rs 31 lakh in cash, including foreign currencies like dollar, pound and euro. Police have also arrested Shah's female friend Chanda Thapa from Pokhara town," said Haresh Dudhat, Superintendent of Police, Anti-Economic Offences Cell of the state CID.

He said Nepal police arrested Shah under the country's Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act for possessing huge amount of cash.

"Our team is already in Nepal. Shah will be extradited here as per the agreement between India and Nepal. He will be brought here soon," Dudhat told reporters.

Police are also looking for Shah's wife Bhargavi, who is the co-accused in the case.

Crime Branch officials had said Shah had allegedly siphoned off Rs 260 crore of investors' money by floating a ponzi scheme in which he offered huge returns to investors.

Later, the probe was handed over to the CID which raided Shah's residence and seized cash worth Rs 43 lakh.

A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investing scam promising high rates of return with little risk to investors.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday accused Kiev of "dangerous" moves in the Kerch Strait after a confrontation between Russian and Ukrainian navy ships.

Lavrov said Ukraine had violated international norms with "dangerous methods that created threats and risks for the normal movement of ships in the area".

On Sunday, Russia boarded and seized three Ukrainian ships in the strait off Moscow-annexed Crimea, accusing them of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine has demanded the release of its sailors and more sanctions against Moscow.

Lavrov called the incident a "clear provocation" by Kiev and accused the European Union of "blind support" for Ukraine.

"We call on Kiev's Western sponsors to calm those who are trying to earn political points on military hysteria," he said, implying the incident was planned ahead of Ukraine's presidential election next year.

The confrontation at sea has raised fears of a wider military escalation and the UN Security Council was to hold an emergency session later Monday to consider a response.

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A senior Russian diplomat warned Monday that the planned US withdrawal from a Cold War-era arms control pact could critically upset stability in Europe.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday that if the US deploys intermediate-range missiles in Europe after opting out of the treaty banning their use, it will allow Washington to reach targets deep inside Russia.

US President Donald Trump declared his intention last month to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty over alleged Russian violations. Moscow has denied breaching the pact and accused Washington of violating it.

Ryabkov warned that if the US stations the currently banned missiles in Europe, Russia will have to mount an "efficient response." He didn't elaborate.

"We won't be able to turn a blind eye to the potential deployment of new US missiles on the territories where they may threaten Russia," he said, adding that such intermediate-range missiles would tilt the existing strategic balance between Russia and the US "We would very much want not to get to the point of new missile crises.

No one will benefit from those developments."



Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if the US deploys intermediate-range missiles in Europe, Russia will have to target the nations that would host them.

Last week, a senior Russian lawmaker warned that Moscow also could respond by stationing its missiles on the territory of its allies.

Ryabkov said that modern weapons technologies would make such US deployment even more destabilising than the positioning of US and Soviet intermediate-range missiles in Europe in the early 1980s.

Such weapons were seen as particularly dangerous since they take only a few minutes to reach their targets, leaving little time for political leaders to ponder a response and raising the threat of a nuclear war in case of a false attack warning.

The INF Treaty, signed by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, was touted as a major boost to global stability, helping end the Cold War.

The pact prohibited the US and Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying ground-launched nuclear cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (300 to 3,400 miles).

The US has claimed that Russia violated the pact by testing and deploying a new ground-based cruise missile with a range exceeding 500 kilometers.

Ryabkov charged that while Moscow and Washington have been talking about the issue for five years, the US long refrained from detailing its complaints and only spelled them out a month ago.

He added that the US declared its intention to bail out of the treaty without waiting for a Russian answer.

"It was yet another proof that our transparency has no effect on decisions made in Washington, they made up their mind long time ago and were just waiting for Russia to admit its guilt," Ryabkov said.

The diplomat insisted that the missile the US said was a breach of the treaty, 9M729, never has been tested for the range outlawed by the pact.

He noted that Russia has provided a detailed explanation showing that the missile's design doesn't allow fitting additional fuel tanks to extend its range and also offered details on the vehicle serving as its mount.

"It's hard to say what the US accusations were based on," Ryabkov said.

"It's possible that intelligence data were eagerly tweaked to serve a political order, or it could be that intelligence structures just made wrong assessments.

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The Supreme Court Monday asked the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to look into the aspects of reduction of mules, implanting of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and disposal of solid waste management at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.

The top court asked the CEC to file its response in eight weeks.

A bench of Justices M B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said that the CEC would also look into the allegations that dead mules are thrown into the river after throwing them from the cliff.

Senior advocate Krishnan Venugopal, appearing for petitioner activist Gauri Mulekhi said that a committee should be constituted to look into all these aspects.

The bench also asked Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Jammu and Kashmir government, Mata Shri Vaisno Devi Shrine Board to file their responses on the issues flagged by the petitioner.

Venugopal said that the RFID tags used are of plastic and can be easily tampered.

The bench said that CEC will look into the aspect of disposal of solid waste generated by mules, installation of permanent RFID tag, reduction of mules from 4600 to 2500 and suggestion should be made to further reduce the number to zero.

On September 18, the apex court was told that the mules operating on the Katra-Vaishno Devi shrine track in Jammu will soon be implanted with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to ensure that no illegal or unauthorised animal is pressed into service.

In a report placed before the apex court, the sub-committee of the state advisory council has recommended that the cap on registered mules operating on the track would be reduced from 4,600 to 2,500 over a period of 10 years and 175 animal would be phased out every year starting 2018-19.

As part of the long term measures to deal with the issue of rehabilitation of mules and their owners, the panel has recommended that after the number of animals is capped at 2,500, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the district administration would ensure that number of mules on the track do not exceed 2,000 on a single day.

It has recommended that the state's animal husbandry department would constitute a task force and create an institutional mechanism to ensure control on spread of zoonotic disease in equines at Katra and the shrine area.

It also asked the department to post more veterinary doctors both at Katra and the track to the shrine to ensure timely detection and elimination of mules infected with zoonotic disease like Farsy and Glanders.

Zoonotic diseases are infectious ailments transmitted from animals to humans.

As part of long term measures, the committee has recommended that the state government should cover the eligible displaced mule owners under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme of the Centre as an extra incentive for their rehabilitation.

A retirement centre would be made and maintained by the district administration and shrine board, the committee has recommended.

It has also recommended that the draft rehabilitation policy prepared by the state government earlier would be accepted and adopted with certain modifications suggested by them.

Maulekhi, who had earlier filed a plea in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought removal of horses and mules from the path to the shrine, said they wanted to respond to the report.

The apex court had earlier taken note of the problem of pollution at Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and the surrounding areas and made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir government and shrine board would have to "protect and preserve" both. The NGT had capped the number of visitors to the shrine at 50,000 per day.

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The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by Tamil Nadu government seeking review of its September 10 order by which it has asked National Green Tribunal (NGT) to decide on merits and maintainability of the issue raised by the TN on Vedanta's petition challenging closure of its Sterlite plant at Tuticorin.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra dismissed the review plea of the state government on November 20. However, the order was uploaded on the apex court website Monday.

"Having carefully gone through the review petition, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The review petition is, accordingly, dismissed," the bench said.

On September 10, the apex court had asked the NGT to decide on the merits and maintainability of the issue raised by the Tamil Nadu government on Vedanta's plea challenging the closure of its Sterlite plant at Tuticorin.

The top court had said the NGT should consider these issues after a three-member committee, constituted by the green panel to look into environmental compliance and other issues of Sterlite plant, submits its report.

On August 31, the green panel had appointed former Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice Tarun Agrawal as the head of a three-member committee to decide on Vedanta's plea.

The apex court had on August 17, refused to entertain Tamil Nadu government's plea against the NGT order allowing mining major Vedanta access to the administrative unit inside its closed Sterlite copper plant at Tuticorin and asked the NGT to "finally decide" the matter. It had said that the NGT would hear the matter on merits and also on the issue of maintainability raised by the state government.

The green tribunal had on August 9 allowed Vedanta to enter its administrative unit inside its Sterlite copper plant, observing that no environmental damage would be caused by allowing access to the administrative section.

The state government had challenged the NGT's order in the apex court.

In its August 9 order, the NGT had said that the plant would remain closed and the company would not have access to its production unit and directed the district magistrate to ensure this.

The Tamil Nadu government had on May 28 ordered the state pollution control board to seal and "permanently" close the mining group's copper plant following violent protests over pollution concerns.

Sterlite's factory had made headlines in March 2013 when a gas leak led to the death of one person and injuries to several others, after which then chief minister J Jayalalithaa had ordered its closure.

The company had appealed to the NGT which had overturned the government's order. The state had moved the Supreme Court against it, which had then ordered the company to pay Rs 100 crore as compensation for polluting the environment.

After Sterlite announced its plans to expand Tuticorin plant, villagers around it started fresh protests that continued for over 100 days, culminating in the May 22 police firing on protestors that claimed 13 lives and left scores injured. Following these protests and police firing, the plant was closed on March 27.

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The Shiv Sena Monday charged that "lack of political will" was delaying construction of the in Ayodhya and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should stop doing "political nautanki" (drama) over the issue while keeping a gun on shoulders of the Congress.

Taking potshots at Modi for his "56-inch chest" remark made during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it said the Congress did not have the courage to build the Ram Temple, so it was thrown out of power, and a man with a "56-inch chest" was given the keys to the administration.

"Yet, if you see the Congress in water, on land and in air, people will once again have to measure your chest size. If Ram continues to stay in 'vanvaas' (exile) then stop your political 'nautanki'," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign, Modi had said that a "56-inch chest" was needed to tackle Pakistan.

On the prime minister's charge that the Congress was creating hurdles in the court's process, the Sena said, "Modi has to stop levelling allegations against the Gandhi family and the Congress. You were not given power to keep cribbing about such problems. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party were ousted because of their hurdles in the construction of So, stop blaming the Congress now".

"Did demonetisation not happen despite opposition from the Congress? Did you not form government in Jammu and Kashmir with (People's Democratic Party chief) Mehbooba Mufti despite hurdles from the Congress? Then what is the hurdle in (construction of) " it asked.

Contrary to the BJP's claims, it is not the Congress, but a "lack of political will" that is the biggest hurdle in the temple's construction, claimed the Sena, which is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre and in Maharashtra.

"What is (Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi's importance? What strength does the Congress have? Then why give it so much importance? If you play politics on temple while keeping the gun on the Congress' shoulders, you will disappear. Ram temple was not Congress', but BJP's promise," it said.

It also said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya has fulfilled one objective - those who were sleeping over the issue did not turn but at least have opened their eyes and understood that 'jumlebaazi' (rhetoric) will not work as far as the Ram Temple is concerned.

Thackeray had offered prayers at the Ram Lalla Temple in Ayodhya on Sunday and said the BJP government at the Centre "may not last" if the temple was not constructed.

He had demanded that an ordinance be brought in to pave way for the temple's construction, warning that emotions of Hindus should not be taken for granted.
Breaking its three-session losing spree, the BSE benchmark Sensex surged over 373 points on emergence of buying mainly in auto, FMCG and banking stocks as sustained recovery in rupee and moderate crude oil prices buoyed investor sentiments.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty rose nearly 102 points to regain the 10,600 level.

Also, the benchmark indices gained tracking positive global cues and improving macro-economic scenario.

Analysts said that markets likely reacted to the positive backdrop, as well as indications that the NBFC credit squeeze is abating.

The Indian rupee appears to have stabilised a bit after recording a string of heavy losses last month. This recovery is driven by sharp drop in global crude oil prices and improving prospects for the domestic economy.

The 30-share Sensex gyrated over 500 points during the session, finally settling 373.06 points, or 1.07 per cent, higher at 35,354.08.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty jumped 101.85 points, or 0.97 per cent, to finish at 10,628.60.

Banking stocks rallied after the government's announcement of Rs 42,000 crore fund infusion in the state-owned banks by March-end.

Market analysts said recapitalisation announcement to PSU banks is likely to provide respite to current liquidity issues, which also boosted the sentiment.

Hero MotoCorp, HUL, Wipro, Asian Paints, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Auto, HDFC Bank, ITC, Bharti Airtel, TCS and Maruti led the gains on key indices, rising up to 5.02 per cent.

While, Yes Bank, ONGC, Sun Pharma, Vedanta, Coal India, Tata Steel and NTPC bucked the positive market trend, falling up to 3.89 per cent.

The rupee remained firm near 70.68 against the US dollar, as global crude prices slipped below the USD 60 per barrel mark.

On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought Rs 446 crore worth of domestic stocks on Thursday and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 49.68 crore, provisional data available with BSE suggested.

The broader markets, however, took a beating with BSE Smallcap falling 0.15 per cent and NSE Midcap ending flat.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 1.73 per cent, Korea's Kospi was up 1.24 per cent, and Japan's Nikkei rose 0.76 per cent. While, Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.14 per cent.

European markets too were strong in their late morning deals. Frankfurt's DAX was up 1.18 per cent, while Paris CAC 40 rose 1.31 per cent. London's FTSE too climbed 0.97 per cent.

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The mortal remains of veteran Congress leader and former Union minister C K Jaffer Sharief were on Monday laid to rest with full state honours at the Khuddussab burial ground here.

Sharief, 85, died at a private hospital here Sunday following a cardiac arrest.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, along with Karnataka in-charge of party affairs K C Venugopal, paid their last respects at the burial ground.

"The burial ceremony started at 2.30 pm and culminated at 3 pm," Riazuddin, who was working with Sharief as his personal assistant said, adding that the body was buried with full state honours.

Other leaders who paid their respects were Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara.

Before the body was brought to the burial ground, it was kept at the Masjid-E-Qhadria for prayers and at the office of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee for people to pay their last respects.

The body was received by KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao in the presence of Azad and other Congress leaders.

Sharief, a seven-time Lok Sabha member, was a staunch loyalist of Indira Gandhi.

He had served as the railway minister in the P V Narasimha Rao government between 1991 and 1995.

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Lalu Soren, younger brother of JMM supremo and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Sibu Soren, passed away on Monday following a cardiac arrest in Bokaro General Hospital, party sources said.

Soren was 62. He left behind his wife and three sons.

Lalu Soren, who had participated in the Jharkhand statehood movement, was admitted to the hospital after he complained of chest pain on Sunday evening and breathed his last during treatment.

He was also the district president of the party for a long period.

He had fought assembly election from Bermo and Gomia unsuccessfully.

He was cremated at Nemra village of Ramgarh district.

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Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Monday his minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to visit Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor was "his way of thinking" but he could not think of doing that when Indian soldiers and civilians were being killed by them.

Sidhu, a cabinet minister in Punjab, on Sunday accepted Pakistan's invitation to attend the ceremony on Wednesday, while Singh declined the invite, citing continuous terrorist attacks in his state.

As a man who has served the Indian Army, Singh said, he could not tolerate the killing of innocent Indians by Pakistani security forces and hence cannot visit the neighbouring country.

On Sidhu's decision to go to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony there, Singh told reporters after the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Gurdaspur, that it was "his way of thinking".

On the central government's decision to send its ministers to Pakistan for the ceremony, the Punjab chief minister said it was for them to do what they deem fit but, he added, they should have been more sensitive to the feelings of Indian soldiers and citizens.

"The Centre cannot close its eyes to what is happening in India as a result of Pakistan's policy and support to terrorist groups," Singh said.

He said the world knows Pakistan supports terrorist activities in India, and cited as examples the attacks in Pathankot (2016), Mumbai (2008), Dina Nagar in Gurdaspur (2015) and the trouble in Jammu & Kashmir.

Singh said he would not travel to Pakistan until it stops unleashing the cycle of violence in India.

"If you think (Pakistan Prime Minister) Imran Khan can stop it, that won't happen. Governments work under the army in Pakistan. Army is a power in itself. It is for Pakistan Army chief Gen Bajwa to understand that such things should not happen (again)... Armies don't fight innocent women and children, armies don't throw grenades on religious congregation, armies are there to defend the country," he said.

In August, Sidhu's visit to Pakistan for Khan's swearing-in had come under fire from opposition parties for his hug to Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Sidhu had claimed that Gen Bajwa had told him about "making efforts to open the Kartarpur corridor".

Kartarpur is in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent over 18 years of his life here.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.

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Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu Monday chose to stay away from the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara corridor, saying he was not into any credit war.

Sidhu visited Dera Baba Nanak Monday, went to its 'darshan asthal' and had a glimpse of the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib, located about 4 kms from in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab through binoculars installed there for the purpose.

Sidhu, who has accepted the Pakistan's invite to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of the corridor on the other side of the border by the neighbouring country's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, however, skipped the foundation stone laying ceremony here by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

The ceremony was organised at village Mann near the Indo-Pak border here.

There are some things which are away from the politics. I was never into any credit war -- not today and will never be in future either," Sidhu told reporters here, when asked why did he stay away from the event.

We do politics from dias. It is a matter of religion. A passage is going to be built which will bring peace and prosperity. I have been saying from the day one that one should not make political capital out of a matter of religion," said Sidhu.

Punjab's Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Sidhu had been pitching since long for the Kartarpur corridor. It will facilitate Sikh pilgrims to visit and return from the the historic Gurdwara the same day without any passport or travel document.

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpurin Pakistan was built to commemorate the site where Guru Nanak Dev, the Sikhs first guru and founder of Sikhism lived for 18 years until his death in 1539.

Sidhu said he visited Dera Baba Nanak to thank the Almighty for answering his prayers for materialisation of the corridor.

Sidhu reached Dera Baba Nanak Monday morning via Amritsar from Madhya Pradesh, where he had been campaigning earlier.

Sidhu said the prayers of 13 crore 'Guru Nanak naam leva sangat (followers)', who have been demanding the opening of the passage, have fructified.

It is a gift to the entire 'sangat' on the occasion of the 550th Parkash Purb (550th birth anniversary) celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev for which he had come to thank the Almighty, he said.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Monday laid the foundation stone at village Mann here for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

The decision to build passagefrom Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

GurdwaraDarbar Sahib Kartarpur is located on the banks of the Ravi river, in Pakistan.

On the occasion, Punjab chief minister Singh, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Union ministers of state Hardeep Singh Puri and Vijay Sampla too were present.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will be inaugurating the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor, on the Pakistani side on November 28.

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Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from across the world have gathered at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Sikhim's founder Guru Nanak Dev.

Security was beefed up in and around the gurdwara - one of the most sacred places of Sikh religion - where dozens of officials from the security agencies were deployed, Dawn reported on Monday.

Over 3,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims and thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from various parts of Pakistan, especially Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and interior Sindh, arrived at the gurdwara to perform their rituals which include 'Akhand Path', 'Ashnan', 'Matha Teak' and 'Kirtan', the paper said.

The pilgrims hailed the decision of India and Pakistan to build a corridor, linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan.

Talking to reporters, the leader of the Indian pilgrims, Marjeet Singh, said, "with the opening of this corridor, the Pakistani government had won the hearts of millions of Sikhs living on the other side of the border", the paper reported.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak committee leader Raminder Singh also lauded the steps taken by the Pakistani government and said the latest step of opening the corridor would further cement relations between Pakistan and the Sikh community.

He said that the opening of the Kartarpur corridor would be a gift for the Sikh community by the governments of both sides. He said over 10,000 Sikh pilgrims would visit Pakistan on the occasion. He stressed the need for opening more corridors between the two countries, especially in Kashmir.

Leader of female contingent from India Manmohan Kaur said that visa-free entry to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur would be a great facility for Sikh pilgrims.

She also expressed displeasure over the mismanagement by the Pakistan railways as a result of which over 113 pilgrims were left behind at Nankana Sahib.

Talking to the media, Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said mismanagement was due to the negligence of the railway authorities and the pilgrims' displeasure was communicated to the relevant authorities.

He said the government had decided to open the Kartarpur corridor to allow Sikh pilgrims from neighbouring India to visit their gurdwara in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan would formally inaugurate this corridor on November 28, he said.

Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died.

Responding a question, Gondal said the pilgrims would visit Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore on November 26. They will also visit Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Emanabad and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on November 28 and then depart for their respective countries on November 30.

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An accused in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh "fake" encounter case told a special court here Monday that the entire case against him was "false and fabricated".

Former police inspector Narayan Sinh Dabhi recorded his statement under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) Monday before special CBI Judge S J Sharma.

Under the provision, after the examination of witnesses, a final chance is given to an accused to record his statement.

The judge posed over 400 questions to Dabhi after which the court asked if the accused wanted to say anything more. To this, Dabhi said the case against him was false and fabricated.

"Right from the beginning, this case has been false and hoisted upon me," he said.

Dabhi, a former inspector with the Gujarat ATS, is accused of being part of the team that killed Shaikh on the outskirts of Ahmedabad in November, 2005.

He further told the court that the entire material or evidence produced on record was "fabricated", "manipulated" and "concocted".

Dabhi claimed not to have committed any crime and that the case was a result of "political rivalries".

"I have not committed any crime as charged or alleged against me. The entire case is on the account of rivalries of two political parties and senior police officials," he said.

"I have no personal grudge for anything against the deceased," Dabhi added.

Shaikh, a suspected gangster with terror links, was shot dead on November 26, 2005, while he was in the custody of the Gujarat police, in an alleged fake encounter. His wife Kausar Bi was allegedly killed later.

Tulsiram Prajapati, an aide of Shaikh who was said to be a witness to the encounter, was allegedly killed by Gujarat and Rajasthan police personnel at Chapri in Gujarat's Banaskantha district in December, 2006.

Of the 38 people charged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for the alleged fake encounters, 16 persons, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah (who was the minister of state for home in Gujarat then) and all senior police officials, have been discharged.

Currently, 22 accused are facing the trial and the process of recording their statements will continue Tuesday.

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Former Spanish King Juan Carlos was under fire Monday after a photo emerged of him meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been tainted by the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

The photo, which was released on the Twitter account of the Saudi foreign ministry (@KSAmofaEN), was published in several Spanish newspapers.

Conservative daily El Mundo ran it along with the headline: "The photo of shame".

Far-left parties Podemos and Izquierda Unida which oppose the monarchy criticised the unexpected meeting between the former monarch and the de facto Saudi ruler at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

"It is humiliating Spain and Spaniards," wrote Pablo Echinique, a leading member of Podemos, on Twitter.

Izquierda Unida leader Alberto Garzon questioned the Spanish royal family's friendships, saying on Twitter they are a "faithful reflection of an era that has to end".

"The Spanish monarchy is a problem not just for the Spanish people as this photograph shows. It's not a simple photo, it is a symbol," he added.

Juan Carlos, 80, has long had close ties with the Saudi royal family which has helped Spain to land lucrative contracts in the oil-rich kingdom.

He abdicated in 2014 after several scandals in favour of his son Felipe VI, who has tried to restore the monarchy's reputation.

In an online article, El Mundo said the former monarch "is obliged to... have a vision of the state and a sense of opportunity. And right now it is not appropriate to be photographed with the Saudi crown prince."



Saudi Arabia has faced intense global criticism over the killing of insider-turned-critic Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate on October 2.

He was reportedly dismembered in what Saudi Arabia said was a "rogue" operation but CIA analysis leaked to the US media has pointed the finger at Prince Mohammed.

Riyadh has repeatedly and insistently rejected any suggestion the prince was connected to the killing.

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The Delhi BJP on Monday dubbed the special session of the Assembly to discuss the chilli powder attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, an attempt to divert people's attention from the "failures" of the AAP government and "misbehaviour" of the ruling party MLAs.

The opposition BJP also questioned the timing of the attack on Kejriwal at Delhi Secretariat last week.

"Why didn't Kejriwal lodge any FIR in the matter? Why is he attacked during the time of elections?" Delhi BJP general secretary Kuljeet Singh Chahal was quoted as saying in a party statement.

His party colleague Ravinder Gupta said there is never a special session on issues like pollution, deaths due to fight for water, poor health arrangements at government hospitals.

"The special session for discussing the chilli powder attack on Kejriwal is nothing but a waste of public money and betrayal with the people of Delhi," Gupta said.

Delhi BJP leaders and workers also staged a protest at the Vidhan Sabha against the special Assembly session called by the AAP government.

Chahal alleged that the Kejriwal government has "failed" on every front which is why it was resorting to non-issues to gain sympathy.

"The red chili attack on Kejriwal was fabricated to divert attention of the people from the abusive remarks of his party MLA Somnath Bharti against a female channel anchor and insult of Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari by another AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan," he alleged.

Delhi BJP general secretary Rajesh Bhatia also hit out at the AAP and Kejriwal and alleged that special session of the Assembly was to divert attention of the people from the "misbehaviour" of the ruling party's MLAs.

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Iterating that starvation



death reports in Jangalmahal area of West Bengal were "untrue", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday her government had been running several welfare schemes in the former Maoist bastion.

Allegations were rife during the Left Front regime that people in Jangalmahal, comprising forested areas of West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts, went without food for months, but the TMC government ensured development of the people there, she said.

"Immediately after coming to power, I ensured that people in the Jangalmahal area get rice at Rs 2 per kg. So if someone says people are dying of starvation, it is untrue. I will not accept it," she said at a public meeting here.

A section of media recently reported that seven people of Sabar community in Jangalmahal area of Jhargram district died due to starvation.

Sabar community is an ethnic tribe, mainly residing in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

The chief minister also claimed to have received information about people selling off their quota of food grains.

"Every person gets 8 kg rice and 3 kg wheat per month. However, I have come to know that people who don't require the grains sell part of their quota in the open market," she said.

Last week, during her Assembly address, Banerjee had said that the deaths in the former Maoist stronghold resulted from "age-related ailments" or "excessive liquor consumption".

Maintaining that the West Bengal government gave subsidies and sops to people on all occasions, she asserted that no other state could match up to the welfare programmes run by her government.

"The former CPI(M)-led Left Front regime had saddled us with debts. The NDA government, too, takes away huge amount of money for servicing debts. However, we haven't let all that factors affect our schemes.

"From birth to death, the TMC government doles out benefits on all occasions, including marriage and child birth. No state in country in on par with the West Bengal government when it comes to sops disbursal," the chief minister said.

Alleging that the BJP was trying to "divide people on religious lines", the TMC supremo sought to know the role played the saffron party during Maoist violence in Jangalmahal.

"Hundreds of people died every year from Maoist violence and police action during the period of unrest in Jangalmahal. Where were they (BJP) when people were actually starving to death?" she said.

Maoist violence was largely contained in the rural areas of West Bengal after the Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) came to power in 2011.

"I had visited all Maoist-affected places, including Lalgarh and Goaltore, where no one dared to tread foot at that time," she recounted.

Without taking names, Banerjee also alleged that "Maoists were being brought to Bengal from neighbouring Jharkhand" to create unrest in the state.

She also took at a dig at the Chhattisgarh government for not being able to control the menace.

Banerjee's jibe at the Raman Singh-led government came around an hour after eight Naxals and two police personnel were killed in an encounter between ultras and security men in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

"In Chhattisgarh, the BJP has been in power for many years, but the Maoist violence is still rampant in the state," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sun Pharma's research arm Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC) Monday announced top-line results of the pivotal BE study for its Paclitaxel injection concentrate for suspension (PICS) which has been found to be a bioequivalent to Abraxane, used to treat metastatic breast cancer.

Paclitaxel injection concentrate for suspension (PICS) is a novel formulation of Paclitaxel developed using SPARC's proprietary Nanotecton technology.

The company said it is targeting a new drug application with the US health regulator in the next few months.

"Pivotal bioequivalence (BE) ," SPARC said in a regulatory fling.

SPARC CEO Anil Raghavan said overall US Paclitaxel market is estimated to be about USD 700 million (IQVIA MAT Sep 2018). The current market is dominated by Cremophor-based Paclitaxel formulations, which accounts for 70 per cent of unit sales.

"With launch of novel formulations, market for nano-formulations of Paclitaxel is expected to grow," he added.

Shares of SPARC were trading 2.15 per cent at Rs 278.05 apiece on BSE.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
on Monday said it would acquire Japan-based Pola Pharma for $1 million to strengthen its presence in dermatology segment across the globe.

The firm has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Pola Pharma, which is engaged in research and development, manufacture, sale and distribution of branded and generic products in Japan, said.

Pola Pharma's portfolio mainly comprises dermatology products. It has two manufacturing facilities in Saitama, with capabilities to manufacture topical products and injectables.
Grocery clerks in Poland have discovered bricks of cocaine hidden among bananas shipped from Ecuador to a local supermarket chain, police said on Monday.

"We've confiscated over 160 kilograms (350 pounds) of what appears to be cocaine that was shipped from Ecuador," officer Dawid Marciniak, a spokesman for Poland's national police headquarters, told AFP.

Employees found cocaine bricks covered by bananas inside boxes shipped to various outlets of a Polish supermarket chain," Marciniak said.

Marciniak said that the largest of the bricks weighed up to one kilogram, but declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.

"There are obviously many questions we need to answer, namely who ordered these shipments?" Marciniak said, adding that no arrests had been made so far.

With local media reporting that the street value of a single gram of cocaine runs up to 500 zloty (116 euro, USD 132) in Poland, the haul could be worth upwards of 80 million zloty (18.6 million euros, USD 21 million).

Unconfirmed Polish media reports indicate that employees at the "Stokrotka" (Daisy) supermarket chain began finding plastic-wrapped bricks of cocaine this weekend as they were unpacking shipments of bananas.

Stokrotka supermarkets are a subsidiary of the Maxima Group, a Lithuanian retail chain operating some 500 grocery and other stores in the three Baltic states plus Bulgaria and Poland.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu to strengthen ties between the two countries.

The two ministers discussed diversifying the historical relations and boosting cooperation in the fields of agriculture, Information and Communication Technology, health and pharma, education, tourism and culture.

"Evolving a roadmap for collaboration. Delegations led by EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Romanian Foreign Minister @teodormelescanu discussed diversifying the historical relations & boosting cooperation in the fields of agriculture, ICT, health & pharma, education, tourism & culture



"70th anniversary celebrations continue! EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomed Romanian Foreign Minister @teodormelescanu. Deep historical and cultural linkages have formed a solid basis for our present day cooperation," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

At an Observer Research Foundation event here, Melescanu said measures need to be taken to reduce and restrain different activities related to terrorism, especially the financing of terrorism in different counties.

On Romania-India ties, he said, "We are aware of the economic and social policies of PM (Narendra) Modi in expanding India's economic power through ambitious investment programmes while stimulating employment and welfare of the people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Manjeet Chhillar shone bright as Tamil Thalaivas notched up a 31-25 win over Telugu Titans in a Pro Kabaddi League season 6 match here on Monday.

Manjeet Chhillar had a brilliant game in defence as he scored seven points and was ably supported by Ajay Thakur who chipped in with 7 raid points.

Rahul Chaudhari scored six points for Titans but didn't get enough support.

Ajay and Rahul got their respective teams up and running with a raid point in the first minute. Chaudhari got two more raid points to give Telugu Titans 3-2 lead after three minutes.

Sukesh Hegde then came up with a super raid in the 10th minute to level the match at 8-8 for Tamil Thalaivas.

Tamil Thalaivas ramped up the pressure with an all out in the 13th minute, extending their lead to 13-9. At the end of the first half they led 18-11 as Telugu Titans faded away after a strong start.

Rahul revived Telugu Titans with two more successful raids as they trailed 15-19 after 23 minutes.

Tami Thalaivas forced a super tackle in 24th minute to lead 22-15. Tamil Thalaivas kept the Titans raiders under control in the second half to wrap up a comfortable win.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Confident of sweeping Telangana polls under his father and interim chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's leadership, TRS leader K T Rama Rao has said the BJP is "non-existent" in the state and the alliance formed by other opposition parties, 'Mahakutami', is a "coalition of rivals" that has already failed.

Acknowledging that Congress was the main rival for the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samity (TRS) in the assembly polls, Rao alleged the grand old party has become a "proxy" for Chandra Babu Naidu's Telegu Desam Party (TDP) in these polls.

In an interview to PTI, Rao also took on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and rejected criticism that the TRS has also become a dynasty party and its government was being run as a family enterprise.

"We all have come through ranks. We have come through agitation. We participated in the agitation. If people are electing us as legislators, why should anybody have a problem.

"I fought eight long years in Telangana movement before becoming a legislator. I want to ask what agitation has Rahul Gandhi, who is our principal opponent here, been part of? Except for his surname Gandhi, how is he qualified to lead a party called Indian National Congress," Rao said.

The 42-year-old leader, popularly known as KTR, expressed confidence that the TRS will win 100 seats in the 119-member house in the assembly elections scheduled on December 7 and ruled himself out of the chief ministerial race while asserting his father KCR would be the chief minister for the next 10-15 years.

"I can tell you with lot of confidence that the TRS is going to sweep the polls here. We will score a century. I am not saying this as an empty rhetoric," he said, while listing the party's win in past elections including for the Hyderbad Municipal Corporation and the Lok Sabha and assebly bypolls.

On Mahakutami, the grand alliance formed by the opposition parties, KTR said, "Most of them in Delhi don't comprehend the fact that the Mahakutami comprising the Congress, CPI and Kodandarama had contested in 2014. The only addition is TDP.

"Now, with the TDP coming into this combination, I actually call it a coalition of rivals. Their alliance has no basis and is not rooted in any kind of realism or any realistic goal for development of Telangana."



KTR reiterated his accusation that it was rather a 'Maha Ghatiya Bandhan', saing the TDP and the Congress have been fighting for last 40 years and now they have come together with the single aim of dislodging the TRS.

He said any coalition rooted in a negative aim of dislodging somebody will never work.

Asked about his recent comments that he would retire from if the the TRS failed to form the government, KTR clarified, "What I said was that I challenged my political rivals especially Congressmen who are claiming they will win elections."



"I am ready to quit if my party does not come back to power. I will sincerely standby, but will they take my challenge." he said.

Asked which party he considered as the main rival, KTR said, "It is actually Congress. Since Congress is contesting along with TDP and others, so it is Mahakutami."



On the BJP's allegations that the Congress and the TRS might join hands after elections, he said, "This is the strangest thing I have heard. The Congress is our principal opponent and BJP is non-existent here."



"The Congress says we are aligned with the BJP, and the BJP says we will align with the Congress. Both of them are conveniently forgetting that the country is not bipolar like the NDA versus the UPA situation. In fact, we believe that a federal alternative in this country has to emerge from like minded regional parties like TRS and others," he said.

KTR said that his father would focus on this after assembly elections.

Asked whether the TRS would join hands with the BJP or AIMIM if it falls short of majority, KTR said there was no question of a hung assembly and the TRS will win emphatically.

Asked if AIMIM will still be part of the government since TRS has friendly ties with it, he said, "In fact in 2014, we won emphatically. They supported us from outside. I think the same trend will continue. AIMIM has never been part of any government in last 10 years. I don't see that will change."



On the chief minister focussing his attack on the TDP despite Naidu's party contesting only 14 seats and the Congress fighting 94 seats, KTR said, "TDP and Chandrababu Naidu want to control Telangana through a proxy called Congress because Congress leadership in Telangana is spineless, rudderless and useless."



"Chandrababu Naidu wants by hook or crook to control the resources in Telangana. He is the same guy who actually tried to destablise our government... Chandrababu is the same guy who wrote 30 letters to stall our various irrigation projects," he alleged.

He said irrigation is lifeline of Telangana and that is one of the fundamental reason why Telangana was demanded and carved out.

"Therefore, it is only natural to expose Chandrababu Naidu and his designs for Telangana," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a move aimed at fine-tuning joint war-fighting capabilities and enhancing operational synergy, a largescale tri-service exercise involving the assets of the Navy, the Army and the Air Force was conducted at sea off Goa and Karwar from November 17-23, the Navy said Monday.

Besides the deployment of naval assets such as Kolkata-class destroyers, landing ships, fleet support ship with ship-borne helicopters, Marcos and other force levels from all the three maritime commands of the Navy, the exercise saw participation of amphibious troops, special forces, engineers along with support elements from the Army, C-17, C-130J, IL-76, AN 32 aircraft and Garud special force of the IAF.

Major activities conducted during this exercise included amphibious landing operations, air-landed operations, helicopter-borne insertion of special forces from sea, combat free fall by the tri-service special forces teams culminating in tactical follow-on operations on land.

This exercise was coordinated by the Indian Navy's Western Naval Command in consultation with Head Quarters of the Integrated Defence Services (HQIDS).

"The exercise was conducted as part of the biennial calendar of tri-service exercises steered by HQ IDS, which aims to fine tune joint war-fighting capabilities and SOPs towards enhancing operational synergy," the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Turkey's state-run agency says police are searching a villa in the country's northwest as part of an investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Anadolu Agency says Monday's search is taking place at a villa in the town of Termal in Yalova province. The agency says crime scene investigators and sniffer dogs are part of the search.

Other Turkish media reports however went further, saying police were searching for the remains of The Washington Post columnist who wrote critically about Saudi Arabia's crown prince.

It wasn't immediately clear who the villa belongs to.

Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct.2.

Turkey says he was killed by a 15-member Saudi hit-squad and that his body was dismembered before being removed from the consulate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned British academic Matthew Hedges just days after sentencing him to life in prison for spying in a case that stunned Britain and his family.

The UK thanked its Gulf ally and Hedges's wife expressed her joy after he was among more than 700 prisoners pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan for next month's National Day.

"Mr Hedges will be permitted to leave the UAE once formalities are completed," Jaber al-Lamki, a government media official, said in a statement.

The UAE showed footage at a conference in the capital Abu Dhabi in which Hedges purportedly confessed to being an MI6 foreign intelligence agent.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt expressed gratitude to the oil-rich state, which London considers a strategic Middle East ally and supplies with British arms.

"Fantastic about Matthew Hedges. Although we didn't agree with charges we are grateful to UAE govt for resolving issue speedily," Hunt said on Twitter.

Hedges's wife Daniela Tejada, who last saw him on the day he was sentenced, said in a statement: "The presidential pardon for Matt is the best we could have received. Our six plus months of nightmare are finally over and to say we are elated is an understatement."



Asked by BBC radio about the UAE's repeated accusation that Hedges was a spy, Colombia-born Tejada said: "In my heart, I know that he isn't".

But she added: "If that's what it takes for him to be back, I welcome the news".

Hunt said on BBC radio of the spying charges: "We have never seen any evidence that they are true".

Hunt said he expected Hedges to be released "very soon indeed", adding that it was a "bittersweet moment" because of other Britons detained unjustly around the world.

Hedges, a 31-year-old researcher at Durham University, was detained in Dubai while researching the UAE's foreign and internal security policies after the Arab Spring revolutions of 2011.

He was sentenced to life in jail by a court in Abu Dhabi last week after he was convicted of spying for a foreign country.

Lamki said that Hedges was "a 100-percent secret service agent and was convicted of espionage."



He said Hedges confessed to gathering information about the UAE ruling family, military and its involvement in the Yemen war.

"He confirmed he collected sensitive and classified information about the UAE," he said, calling the evidence "irrefutable".

Hedges's role was "to gather classified information about the UAE military capabilities ... and sensitive information on UAE key government figures including members of the UAE ruling families," he said.

Hedges was arrested on May 5 at Dubai airport.

Lamki said a lawyer had been appointed to defend Hedges who was also allowed to speak to his family repeatedly during his detention.

The presidential pardon came in response to a letter by Hedges's family delivered by a British official, he said.

UAE state minister for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said the pardon allowed the two countries to refocus to developing their relations.

"It was always a UAE hope that this matter would be resolved through the common channels of our longstanding partnership. This was a straightforward matter that became unnecessarily complex despite the UAE's best efforts," he said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday accused Russia of taking its conflict with Kiev to another level after Moscow seized three Ukrainian ships near Crimea at the weekend.

"After the attack on Ukrainian military vessels, (Russia) entered a new phase of aggression," Poroshenko said in a televised address to the nation.

He said the incident showed "the arrogant and open participation of regular units of Russian troops" in the conflict with Ukraine.

This "changes the situation," he said, because Russia has previously denied the involvement of its regular troops in the conflict in Ukraine.

Poroshenko addressed the nation ahead of a parliamentary vote on his request to impose martial law in the country.

"We have to reinforce our defence immediately in order to be able to quickly react in case of an invasion," he said.

The Ukrainian leader said he would ask parliament to introduce martial law for 30 days, after initially saying it would last 60 days.

Poroshenko said he reduced the period so that "it will not overlap for a single day with the start of the election campaign" next year.

Critics earlier accused Poroshenko of wanting to introduce martial law to delay a presidential election expected to be held in March.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 69F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 69F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Nigerian pastor ambushed, beheaded by attackers during motorcycle ride in war-torn area

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A pastor and his driver were beheaded in the Cross River state of Nigeria over the weekend as the communal conflict continues to plague the area.

The pastor has been identified as George Lifted, while the other victim was a commercial motorcyclist who was giving a ride to the pastor.

According to Daily Post, the pastor was being driven from Ebom to Assigha in the Yakurr local government area when the men were attacked while traveling through Adim. Ebom is one of the communities in the state that is plagued by clashes between the Usumutong and the Ediba people.

The people of Usumutong ambushed the victims and killed them at the road leading to Adim, Ebom village chief Henry Bassey told the Daily Post. The pastor was going to his village with the cyclist conveying him. We have reported the incident to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ugep and he asked us to bring the corpses and we did that.

A source in the area told the Daily Post that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning along Adim road.

The source explained that because of the communal conflicts, people in the area have had to pass through Adim in order to get to Ebom.

[T]hat is where Usumutong people went and ambushed and killed the duo and had their heads cut off, he explained.

The village head of the Usumutong, who also serves as ruler of the Abi local government area, Ova Solomon Osm Edward denied the allegations that Usumutong people killed the victims.

How can we kill them? We are in our community, how can we go into Ebom community and start killing people? Our community was attacked and several houses burnt, Osim told the Daily Post. They are liars, we have not entered their community. Come to Usumutong and see what they did to us, the destruction of our property and the number of people killed.

Although the pastor was originally from Assigha, he lived in Ebom and had a church there, according to the source. People from Assigha came to Ebom to collect the pastors head and body, the source added.

The victims deaths are being investigated by police.

Nigeria ranks as the 14th-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2018 World Watch List.

A large reason why Nigeria is ranked so high on the World Watch List is the fact that violent Fulani herdsmen continue to attack Christians and farming communities.

Fulani herdsmen have murdered thousands of Christians and ransacked numerous farms and villages this year.

Recently we have seen Fulani militias have Boko Haram branding and wreaking havoc in communities with sophisticated weapons and anyone who stands in their way is killed or decimated. When this happens, they occupy," Stephen Enada, co-founder of the International Committee on Nigeria, recently told The Christian Post. "It is not that they are unknown. It is just that government is looking the other way. If someone is a terrorist and overruns a community, the government should make sure certain people are arrested and prosecuted."

Enada and others are calling for the Nigerian government to step up and hold the Fulani herdsmen accountable when they try to drive farmers from their lands.

"These communities and villages have been displaced and ransacked and you see Fulani imposing themselves in that community. They are not arrested. They are not prosecuted, Enada said. Rather, it is just government inaction showing us that government is culpable."
Rachel Held Evans apologizes for implying Jesus was racist for calling woman a dog

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Christian author Rachel Held Evans has offered an apology and said that she didn't mean to imply that Jesus Christ was racist for calling a Canaanite woman a dog.

"I should have crafted this thread more carefully. I apologize. To clarify: I dont think Jesus sinned, and I dont think Jesus was racist. This is a difficult text, but Id like there to be room for interpretations in which Jesus is genuinely moved & influenced by the woman, Evans posted in a tweet on Saturday.

She had wrote last week: It's fear of Jesus' humanity, I think, that keeps us from interpreting the story of the Syrophoenician/Canaanite woman as a story about a man changing his mind about his racial bias when confronted with the humanity (and chutzpah!) of another person. But that's a tricky one.

The Biblical passage in question refers to Matthew 15:21-28, where Jesus' disciples inform Him that a Canaanite woman is pleading for her demon-possessed daughter to be helped.

Although the disciples advise Him otherwise, Jesus agrees to meet with the woman. When she asks Him for help while kneeling on the ground, He replies: It is not right to take the childrens bread and toss it to the dogs. After the woman shows faith, Jesus agrees to help her daughter.

As Australian theologian and New Testament scholar Michael F. Bird wrote on his blog on Saturday, in a response to Evans, there is a lot of context to consider behind the passage, however.

Bird quoted from Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission, his PhD thesis on the topic, where he explains:

The pejorative insult dog is frequent in Israels sacred traditions and second-temple Jewish literature. Such dogs in the Jewish view were not domesticated pets but wild, unclean scavengers. In a midrash on Psalm 4, Gentiles are compared to dogs at the eschatological banquet, where the dogs get to eat, but do not dine as sumptuously as the invited guests.

Bird later summarizes that Jesus rejected her (the Canaanite womans) request because of who she was, a Gentile. Yet if one examines the saying in its narrative context (assuming the saying and narrative historically go together), it reflects more of an ironic quip, in which Jesus harsh words may have been designed to invite the womans witty reply (e.g. Mk. 7.29: because you have said this).

He acknowledges the validity of the womans reply that Israels blessings can, even in limited ways, extend to Gentiles, a theme found elsewhere in the Jesus tradition (e.g. Lk. 4.25-27), Bird adds.

Evans, who in 2014 announced she is leaving evangelicalism, in part due to her support for same-sex marriage, engaged in a conversation with several others on Twitter on the topic, and positioned on Sunday that the passage remains open to interpretation.

I know Jesus used questions in a teaching manner often, a la the rhetorical conventions of second temple Judaism; not 100 percent sure thats whats happening here but it was obviously a mistake to tweet my half-baked thoughts on the passage, the author wrote.
Require Bible publishers to add 'anti-semitic' warnings to New Testament, Jewish groups say

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Christian and Islamic scripture, including the New Testament of the Bible, should start carrying warnings for passages deemed anti-semitic, a coalition of Jewish groups has asked.

The European Jewish Congress, which represents several Jewish groups, asked for such changes in its Catalogue of Policies to Combat Antisemitism, released last week.

Holy Writ such as the New Testament or the Quran, as well as the writings of authoritative religious authors, doctrinal texts and religious laws need to be scrutinized for antisemitic contents, the document states.

In Christianity, such texts would include the writings of saints like Ambrose of Milan or reformers like Martin Luther, the dogmatic tradition, church law and teaching. In Islam, such texts would include different parts of Hadith and Sira. Only when the antisemitic contents in the religious memories of Christianity and Islam are properly identified, will it be possible to combat antisemitism inside the various denominations, groups, and organizations of these two religions.

Later on in the recommendations section, the groups ask: "Translations of the New Testament, the Quran and other Christian or Muslim literatures need marginal glosses, and introductions that emphasize continuity with Jewish heritage of both Christianity and Islam and warn readers about antisemitic passages in them.

While some efforts have been made in this direction in the case of Christianity, these efforts need to be extended and made consistent in both religions, they add.

The relationship between Christians and Jewish people remains complex, though Christian leaders have insisted that there is no room for hatred and violence against the latter.

Following the massacre of 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh in October by a man who quoted the Bible online among rantings against Jewish and Muslim people, several high-profile Christians said in no uncertain terms that such hatred is un-Christian.

Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said at the time that "if you hate Jews, you hate Jesus."

"As Christians, we should have a clear message of rejection of every kind of bigotry and hatred, but we should especially note what anti-Semitism means for people who are followers of Jesus Christ," he added.

Megachurch pastor Jentezen Franklin of Free Chapel Worship Center in Georgia meanwhile warned that "anti-Semitism is sadly still a very real and dangerous ideology that plagues every corner of the globe."

"I also pray that everyone, no matter their political persuasion, will put aside their differences and help combat this and try to turn the tide," he said.

At the presentation of the report last week in Vienna, European Jewish Congress President Moshe Kantor pointed out that Jewish people continue facing violence in Europe and around the world.

Europe doesnt have a monopoly on antisemitism anymore. No Jewish community, anywhere in the world, however strong and well organized, is now immune from Jew hatred. Fighting antisemitism deserves much more than simple statements of good will. We need concrete policies and reinforced legislation, he declared.
Southeast Christian Church to merge with congregation whose pastor is battling cancer

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The over 22,000-member Southeast Christian Church in Kentucky will open its seventh campus through a merger next year.

The Louisville-based evangelical church announced through an email sent to church members over the weekend that an agreement has been made with River Valley Christian Church in Goshen to become the newest SECC congregation.

The merger comes after River Valleys senior pastor, Brandon Braun, was diagnosed with Leukemia in August.

According to WDRB, leaders at Southeast Christian were approached several months ago about a possible merger with River Valley Christian Church. The merger was approved through a vote by the River Valley elders on Sunday morning.

Were excited to share with you that the River Valley Church Family voted and agreed to join the Southeast Christian Family, Pastors Dave Stone and Kyle Idleman of SECC said in a joint statement. "Join us as we praise God for this unique opportunity to continue to build His church as we share the hope and love of Jesus throughout our communities.

Terry A. Roach, chairman of the elders of River Valley Christian Church, said in a statement last week that the decision was made for a few reasons.

[T]he options were to maintain status quo, sell the church and move the church to a smaller building or merge with a larger church, Roach explained, adding that the church has benefitted from having some people give big checks when we needed them.

Gods wants a strong vibrant church that will  as our original Bylaws expressed  carry out the program of Christ as expressed in the New Testament (i.e. the winning of souls to Christ and the edification of the saints). Its about being a bright light on this hill where we have been flickering. Its not about RVCC, its not about Brandon, its not about the staff and its not about our family culture. Its about God and his plan for the Goshen/Prospect area!

Roach explained that when they turned to Southeast for help, they were told that Southeast leaders had been praying for how they could impact the Goshen/Prospect area.

[T]hey considered our coming to them as an answered prayer, he explained.

Roach said that the River Valley leadership wasnt immediately convinced a merger was the right move until the Southeast leadership made them several assurances.

SECC agreed to put Braun on staff and that their health insurance would cover him. The megachurch also agreed to keep current River Valley staff or provide them with a buyout plan.

Of other importance to River Valley is its mission partners, to which SECC assured that it has a large mission budget.

SECC also agreed to take over or pay off the loan on the River Valley church building, Roach added.



Stating that the River Valley name has much importance to the congregation, Roach said that he was also told that the new SECC campus can be called Southeast Christian Church-River Valley.



In a statement directed at the members of River Valley, the SECC leaders proclaimed that they are committed to building upon River Valleys heritage and mission of sharing the hope and love of Jesus.

Were grateful that were like-minded with similar missions, unified under the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:13), the statement reads. This is a unique opportunity for the bride of Christ to be healthy, collaborative, and effective. May we always be bonded in prayer and stand together as one through the grace of Jesus Christ!

Along with three campuses in Louisville, SECC also has campuses in Elizabethtown, La Grange, and Jeffersonville, Indiana. The new campus is expected to open in spring 2019.

Stone, who has pastored at SECC for the last 12 years, announced in September that he plans to step down and allow Idleman to transition into the role as the congregations leader in 2019.

A GoFundMe crowdfunding page has been created to benefit Braun and his family as he goes through cancer treatment. So far, nearly $7,000 have been raised in three months.
Taiwan votes against legalizing gay marriage, goes against growing trend

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Voters in Taiwan chose to preserve the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, going against the growing worldwide trend.

The results from Saturday's referendums are not legally binding but are likely to have a big effect on legislators who had discussed amending the definition of marriage in the territory.

There were as many as 10 referendums on the ballot, with one, backed by a number of conservative Christian groups, calling for the preservation of the current definition of marriage. It gained seven million votes.

Another proposal suggesting that same-sex unions be regulated under a separate law garnered six million votes. A third option suggested giving same-sex couples equal marriage rights, but it received only three million votes.

The Coalition for the Happiness of our Next Generation, one of the main pro-family groups that had argued in favor of preserving marriage between one man and one woman, said that the win was a "victory of all people who treasure family values."

Meanwhile, Amnesty Internationals Taiwan-based acting director, Annie Huang, who is in favor of gay marriage, called the results a "bitter blow and a step backwards for human rights in Taiwan."

The vote follows a May 2017 constitutional court ruling in favor of same-sex couples, which had been the subject of national debate.

Chen Ke, a Catholic pastor in Taiwan in support of traditional marriage, noted that many legislators will stand for re-election in 2020.

The legislature has lots of choices on how to make this court order take effect, the priest noted.

A count by ABC News in June found that there are 27 countries in the world that have chosen to legalize gay marriage, including by popular vote. Ireland voted in a 2015 referendum in favor of legalizing it.

The vast majority of those with pro-gay marriage laws are in the Western world, though a number of Latin American countries, including Brazil and Argentina, have also legalized the practice despite their Catholic-majority cultures.

Germany was the latest country to legalize gay marriage in 2017 following overwhelming public support, with a bill passing Parliament by a 393-226 vote.

Cuba has emerged as another big battleground for the debate, with a proposed amendment to legalize gay marriage receiving strong opposition from evangelicals.

Alida Leon Baez, president of the Cuban Evangelical League Church, warned in October that if the country's definition of marriage changes, then "our nation is going to total destruction."

Pastor Lester Fernandez of the Methodist Church in Havana stressed that "the Bible condemns" proposals to change the marriage definition.
Tony Perkins, The Friendly Atheist spar over science and gender, importance of religion

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Conservative Christian Tony Perkins and Hemant Mehta of The Friendly Atheist sparred over survey findings that Americans value family over religion, along with the definition of gender.

Perkins, who heads the Family Research Council, appeared with Mehta in a Fox News segment on The Ingraham Angle on Friday, where the two gave their opposing views on a number of controversial topics.

Segment host Raymond Arroyo brought up a survey by Pew Research Center from September 2017, re-released last week, that found that 69 percent of Americans say that they find a sense of meaning in family.

Only 20 percent voted for the "Spirituality and faith" category in the open-ended question, below those who pointed to money, at 23 percent, and careers, at 34 percent.

Arroyo asked Perkins whether the results show that America is indeed seeing a dwindling of faith, to which the conservative leader replied:

Actually I'm thrilled by this, that family is so high ranked in this survey, that people say that family is where they get their sense of meaning. That's actually a positive revival of family if you will. I think if you look at how the United States economy is doing; the unemployment is low; it's not surprising that religion actually drops down lower.

He added: In this list it's still 4th. That's actually still pretty good, considering what's happening in other industrialized nations. When there's a downturn in the economy, when things start to fall apart, that's when people turn to religion."

Perkins insisted that from a sociological standpoint, I think this (survey) is accurate, [but] from a theological standpoint it is a bit troubling.

Mehta agreed that the results should indeed be troubling for religion.

It doesn't surprise me one bit that people find meaning in family. What actually surprised me the least about this is when they looked at young people specifically, I think faith became less of a meaningful experience for people who were younger than the age of 30.

The Friendly Atheist blog-runner continued: So it shows that faith has a lot of trouble moving ahead in the future, regardless of what the economic situation or our social situation is.

Perkins agreed with Arroyo that a number of other studies show that faith usually comes later in life for people, however.

What Jesus taught in Matthew [chapter] 6 was seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things will be added unto you. That's what I was referring to from a theological standpoint, because when you set your eyes on the things on this earth you miss the bigger things, and as you live for those things that are transcendent, then all the other things fall in a place.

The FRC president positioned that people often start turning toward religion when they consider what happens after life, and want to make sure they make the right decision.

Mehta argued, however, that it is a very optimistic spin that has no merit to claim that young people who already find more value in family will resort to religion later in life.

Arroyo then turned over the discussion to the transgender rights debate in America, and questions on how gender is to be defined.

He pointed out that the prestigious Nature magazine came out with an editorial in October against U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services proposing to define gender legally based on the type of genitals someone is born with.

The proposal  on which HHS officials have refused to comment  is a terrible idea that should be killed off. It has no foundation in science and would undo decades of progress on understanding sex  a classification based on internal and external bodily characteristics  and gender, a social construct related to biological differences but also rooted in culture, societal norms and individual behaviour, the editorial argued at the time.

Worse, it would undermine efforts to reduce discrimination against transgender people and those who do not fall into the binary categories of male or female.

Mehta positioned that the Trump administration has shown us since day one [that] they don't care what science experts have to say about anything involving science.

They would rather trust people like Tony who base their entire knowledge of science on the Bible, he claimed.

Perkins hit back by saying that this is what happens when people can't defend their position. They begin attacking the opposition."

Look, the reality is that we base law and policy on fact, on science, on biology, not subjective feelings. What the Trump administration is doing here is re-establishing what was in place for probably fifty years through the 1964 and 1972 non-discrimination acts, where sex is based on biology.

Mehta said that we learn more when time goes on, and contended that he doesnt need an education from someone who is known for rejecting it all the time.

Watch the full debate between Mehta and Perkins below:
Condom fashion show, Planned Parenthood swag at Utah College outrages pro-life students

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Activist students at Westminster College, a private liberal arts school in Salt Lake City, Utah, riled some students and pro-life advocates when they held a Condom Fashion Show featuring outfits partially made from condoms and swag promoting abortion giant Planned Parenthood.

Im fine with whatever sort of events clubs and organizations plan on doing," Westminster College student Ryan Kruger told Campus Reform. "However, a condom fashion show just seems like a little much. We could be spending our time doing something more productive, but that is just my two cents."

The event was hosted by Students United for Reproductive Freedom, a group that was criticized by Pro-Life Utah for promoting dangerous sex practices to youth.

Students United for Reproductive Freedom at Westminster College (which partners with [and is] partly funded by #PlannedParenthoodUtah) hosted a Condom Fashion show. These organizations push dangerous sex practices on young people, the organization noted in a tweet about the Nov. 14. event.

The student group insists on the colleges website that they are simply fighting for abortion rights.

We are a student group at Westminster College working to involve students to become empowered in their reproductive health choices and local government. Working in conjunction with the Planned Parenthood Action Council, we believe in the fundamental rights of every individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individuals income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, age, national origin, disability, or residence, a description says.

At the Nov. 14 condom fashion show, however, the group reportedly hosted performances by drag artists, Terra Flesh and Harlot, who consider themselves part of the drag community." SURF also reportedly held a raffle to give out Planned Parenthood swag and sex toys.

Maggie Regier, 21, vice president of Westminsters student government, Associated Students of Westminster, gave a presentation about various sexual pleasure zones, noting that nipples are for everyone," buttholes might be magic," and the clitoris is key.

Pro-Life Utah Community Outreach Coordinator Katherine Bright told Campus Reform that they were working to counter the work of such groups on campus with more Students for Life Clubs.

Pro-Life Utah is working to create Students for Life clubs as a way to counter [SURF]. We feel it is important to expose it, especially its explicit connection to Planned Parenthood, Bright said.
Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcasts same-sex kiss on live TV

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The Macy's Thanksgiving parade has been known to be a wholesome celebration that families enjoyed together every year but this year's parade is drawing attention for its first controversial public display of same-sex relations.

During a performance highlighting the Broadway musical "The Prom," the show's actresses, Caitlin Kinnunen and Isabelle McCalla, were seen romantically slow dancing together and ultimately sharing a kiss to end the ensemble. The kiss is believed to be the first broadcasted kiss between a lesbian couple during the Macy's celebration event.



"The first #LGBTQ kiss in the Parades history," cast member of "The Prom" Josh Lamon wrote on Twitter. "We here at @ThePromMusical have never been so proud. #LoveIsLove."

Some on social media also praised the homosexual embrace.

Others, however, said the kiss was inappropriate during a family program.



YouTube user Brittney Iowa even penned a public letter to NBC: Dear Macy's and NBC, There is a time and place to make lifestyle choice statements and the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade wasn't the time and place. Please consider my opinion for next year."

The Macys Parade is not the only place same-sex relations have been promoted to young people.

Earlier this month, a Florida school showed high school-aged children a sex ed video produced by Planned Parenthood without parental consent. Fox 13 reported that the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center video was created to teach Sarasota County high school students about consent. The video includes sex talk, a man grabbing a woman's breast, and multiple same-sex couples making out.

The district in Florida had to issue an apology to parents.

Disney has also used its platform in recent years to highlight homosexuality. In 2017, the Disney XD channel introduced the company's first male princess on the same show that previously drew controversy for featuring the first same-sex kisses.



Conservative groups, such as the American Family Association, have warned that Disney's portrayal of gay characters is dangerous and could have "grave and eternal consequences."
Asia Bibi's daughter thanks Christians worldwide for support, but fears religious enemies want them dead

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One of Asia Bibis daughters has appeared on a video thanking God and Christians worldwide who've been praying for her family as they continue to face many uncertainties.

"Thank you everybody for praying for my mother. I'd also like to thank the brave judges and the Pakistani justice system that recognize my mother's innocence, Eisham Ashiq says in a video, supplied by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need.

I'd also like to thank all the governments  the Italian government that [is] concerned about our future and safety, she adds.

"Thanks God, she (Bibi) is free and I hope our entire family is finally happy and free. Thanks to all of you for praying for my mother and persecuted Christians."

Bibis family has also said that religious enemies want them dead.

"They are living almost as fugitives with mullahs going house to house looking for them, ACNs John Pontifax told Sky News.

The British government has refused to grant asylum to Bibi and her family, The Telegraph reports her supporters as saying, "because of fear it would prompt 'unrest' in the U.K. and attacks on embassies."

Christians across Pakistan have been warned by police to expect attacks by Islamic hardliners following Bibi's acquittal in October. The Christian mother of five spent eight years on death row for the crime of blasphemy, but the countrys Supreme Court found last month that there wasn't enough evidence against her.

Bibi's release has sparked protests, with Islamists shutting down streets across the country. Reports have said that Christians have been dragged out of cars and beaten in the wake of the unrest.

"Christians will pay close attention and act with caution in the organization of gatherings and celebrations at Christmastime, Catholic layman Adeel Patras Chaudhry of "Jesus Life TV" said in response to the latest police warnings.

We pray for the protection of the faithful and of the security forces, committed to our protection. We are aware of the delicate situation and collaborate with the police and with the government.

Ashiq Masih, Bibi's husband, said earlier in November that the family has "nothing to eat" as they remain trapped in Pakistan.

"Help us get out of Pakistan. We are extremely worried because our lives are in danger. We no longer have even anything to eat, because we cannot leave the house to buy food," Masih pleaded.

The father has also called for world leaders to help.

"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," he asked.

"I also request [this of] the prime minister of Canada.

Canada, the Netherlands, and Italy are believed to be in discussions with the Pakistani government to take in Bibi's family, though there has not been confirmation yet as to where they will find asylum.
People seeking exorcisms rising dramatically: report

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Demands for exorcisms in the Catholic Church are on the rise amid a resurgence of interest in occult practice in the United States.

According to the December edition of the The Atlantic, priests are fielding more requests for exorcisms.

Among the general public, a growing number of Americans believe that demonic possession is real, according to recent data from YouGov and Gallup polling on the subject. Gallup surveys indicate that from 1990 to 2007, the portion of Americans who believed as such grew from 55 to 70 percent.

Father Vincent Lampert, an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, told the Atlantic that he has received 1,700 phone or email requests for exorcisms this year, by far the most hes ever received in a single year.

Likewise, Father Gary Thomas, who is a Rome-trained exorcist, received "at least a dozen requests a week."

"Several other priests reported that without support from church staff and volunteers, their exorcism ministries would quickly swallow up their entire weekly schedules," the Atlantic reported.

The Roman Catholic Church has been training new exorcists in a few cities in the U.S. and other countries. While no official statistics exist, there were only 15 officially trained exorcists in 2011, according to Thomas, who now says there are over 100 today.

Involvement in occultic activity is a doorway to demonization, some priests say, and the rise in demonic possession is the result of a resurgence in practices of magic, divination, witchcraft, and attempts to communicate with the dead, also known as necromancy.

Other Christian thought leaders believe that not near enough attention is given to distinctly spiritual things, even though they say they believe in it. In April, Q founder Gave Lyons found out that 80 percent of attendees at one of his events where the subject was discussed had never or rarely heard a talk on the demonic realm.

"There's an inherent interest in these matters," Adam Blai, a Catholic expert in demonology who trains priests to become exorcists, told Lyons earlier this summer in a Q&A follow up session.

"I'm not sure why that is except that perhaps it's one of the places where the spiritual world really becomes physical. I think on a basic human level, that is inherently interesting to us. It's the reason they make movies about it."

He added that approximately a third of the miracle ministry of Jesus in the Gospels are related to casting out evil spirits.

"You're not only talking about something very real and physical, but you're also talking about something really central to the Gospel," Blai said.

Yet Christians need not be afraid, because "Jesus is in charge," he said.

"We need to focus on Christ ... He's the one who has the leash on all of these creatures."

Timothy George, dean of Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, told The Christian Post in September 2017 that it's to our detriment when we make light of the reality of Satan and the demonic realm. An "anti-supernatural bent" pervades our modern culture, he said in an interview at the time.

"I think we have to be aware that this is deeply embedded in the Scripture and we need to be wise. There is a kind of cult of the demonic that I want to resist and not trivialize. But sometimes the demonic is too trivialized in our culture. I want to treat it with all of the biblical seriousness that the Word of God does."
Another missionary dies in Cameroon shooting

A priest in Cameroon has been shot dead, allegedly by government soldiers

Father Cosmas Omboto Ondari, 33, a Kenyan missionary with the Mill Hill religious order, died when men in combat fatigues opened fire on his church at Kembong, around 20 kilometres from Mamfe, last Wednesday.

Cameroon is in the grip of a crisis driven by tensions between its French-speaking majority and English-speaking minority, some of whom want their own independent state. A government release blamed forces loyal to separatist Eric Tataw, saying: 'First indications demonstrate clearly that the perpetrators of this crime have used treachery in order to put the responsibility for their crime on the Defense and Security Forces.'

The Kenyan ministry of foreign affairs said Fr Ondari's killing was 'allegedly by Cameroon Government soldiers' and that it had 'urgently and formally inquired from the Government of the Republic of Cameroon about the circumstance leading to Father Ondari's death'.

According to The East African, the Bishop of Mamfe, Andrew Nkea, said in a statement: 'He was killed by government soldiers, who were shooting at random from their passing vehicle.'

He added: 'I visited Kembong Parish on Thursday, November 22 and personally counted 21 bullet holes on the church building... the blood of the murdered priest was still clearly seen on the cemented entrance, just at the door.' He called for the killers to be brought to justice.

Ondari had been a priest for only a year when he was killed. Recommending his candidacy, his rector said: 'He is a man of peace and will seek ways of keeping people together and resolving issues in an amicable way.' He was described by those who knew him as a 'calm, soft-spoken and confident person'.

He is the third foreign missionary to be killed in Cameroon in recent months. In October US Baptist missionary Charles Wesco was shot near the the northwestern town of Bamenda, while in July a Roman Catholic priest, Fr Alexander Nougi Sob, was killed in the southwestern town of Muyuka.
British academic Matthew Hedges pardoned by UAE

The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned a British academic jailed for life on spying charges, granting his family's request for clemency minutes after showing a video of him purportedly confessing to being a member of UK intelligence agency MI6.

The UAE president issued the pardon as part of a mass clemency of more than 700 prisoners to mark the country's National Day, according to a statement carried by state news agency WAM.

The pardon was effective immediately and Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Durham University held for more than six months, will be allowed to leave the country 'once formalities are completed', the statement said.

Britain's foreign minister welcomed the move, saying the UK government had not agreed with the charges against Hedges but was grateful to the UAE for resolving the issue speedily.

The UAE had signalled on Friday that it was working on an 'amicable solution' to the issue after London described the sentencing days prior as deeply disappointing.

Hedges has been held since May 5, when he was arrested at Dubai International Airport after a two-week research visit.

Minutes before the pardon was announced, a government spokesman showed journalists a video of Hedges purporting to confess to being a member of MI6 researching which military systems the UAE was buying.

In the video, Hedges said he had approached sources as a doctoral student as a cover.

His family and university have cast Hedges as a talented researcher who fell foul of the UAE's security and justice system. The UAE cast him as a British spy who was given a fair trial for grave espionage offences.

'The family and I welcome the news of the presidential pardon and cannot wait to have Matt back home,' Hedges' wife Daniela Tejada said after the pardon.
Pray for us, say Ukraine's Christians as country weighs martial law

Ukraine's Baptists have asked for prayer for their country as they face the prospect of martial law following renewed clashes with Russia.

Russia annexed Ukraine's territory of the Crimea in 2014 and has backed an insurgency in the east of the country. Now three Ukrainian naval vessels have been seized by Russia in the Black Sea, marking a escalation of the tension between the two nations. Ukraine said six crew members had been injured.

Russia has been accused of trying to limit Ukraine's access to strategically important ports.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has described Russian actions as 'unprovoked and crazy' has signed a decree requesting parliament to introduce martial law.

He said that this did not mean a 'declaration of war', stressing that 'Ukraine does not plan to fight anyone'.

The Baptist Union of Ukraine asked churches around the world to pray for Ukraine as parliament meets later today to vote on the proposal to impose martial law.

It said: 'The situation is very serious. If martial law is imposed, it will change many things in our regular daily life in Ukraine. A bigger war is now more possible than ever before.

'We ask for your prayers for our situation in Ukraine.'
The UK's Climate Change Act turns 10 today  but will the teenage years be troubled?

I once made Ed Miliband wince. I persisted with a question at a public meeting, asking him to do more about climate change, and he wasn't pleased. But looking back he had already made a great achievement  getting the UK's Climate Change Act passed, which happened 10 years ago.

Prince Charles and David Attenborough are both speaking up this week about how urgent it is to take action on climate. They're worth listening to, but the people who influence me most aren't famous. They're farmers in the world's poorest countries and I've heard from so many that life's getting harder. There are more floods, more droughts, and less rain when the crops need it. I particularly remember one grandmother from Malawi saying that when she was young, each home in her village had a grain store to keep their maize harvest in. Her grandchildren don't know what a grain store looks like because nobody harvests enough maize to need one any more.

So back in the early 2000s I campaigned for the Climate Change Act and was overjoyed when we got it. I remember how uniting it was, inside and outside parliament. Ed Miliband was the environment minister who led the Act energetically, and Gordon Brown backed it as prime minister. David Cameron was in his green phase and supported it as leader of the opposition.

The only real battle I remember was the target. We pushed the government to reducing emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 compared to what they were in 1990. It helped that some reductions had happened already and that it was led by the facts of the time  this really was the amount all developed countries needed to cut their pollution by to limit warming to a safe (ish) level of two degrees. The science has since moved on and we now know we need to keep warming to 1.5 degrees  and to do this our economy needs to reach 'net zero' emissions before 2050.

So 10 years on, what difference has the Act made? We've successfully cut our emissions by 43 per cent from 1990-2017 to meet the first two carbon budgets set by the Act, and we're on track to meet the third. Our big success has been stopping burning coal for electricity, very fast: we've gone from coal producing nearly half of Britain's electricity in 2012 to just five per cent this year. We've shut some coal power stations and we've promised to close them all by 2025. We've achieved this by replacing coal with gas and renewables  we're the world leader in offshore wind  and by using a bit less electricity. And we've promised to reach net zero emissions this century.

But that was the easy bit: the future is looking less rosy. The independent Committee on Climate Change says we'll miss the fourth and fifth budgets unless the government does more than it's currently planning to. Its approach to climate change puzzles me in recent years. It seems to think hard about what the most important things it needs to do are, does them, and then go out of its way to stamp out most other progress.

We're aiming to use less fossil fuel but at the same time we've started fracking to get hold of more of it, which doesn't make sense. We're cutting subsidies for electric cars just before they've got cheap enough for the mass market. And if we do build a third runway at Heathrow then emissions from flying would rise and probably make our Paris Agreement promise to decarbonise impossible to keep.

The UK could easily have done far more. We've stopped building onshore wind turbines except on Scottish islands. Given that many of our power stations are near retirement age and onshore wind is now the cheapest way to build new electricity capacity, as well as being very low carbon indeed, this is perverse.

However, the Act has also had great symbolic power internationally. It said the UK was serious about climate action and set an example others could copy to show that they were too. The first of those was Scotland, which passed its own, more ambitious Climate Change Act the following year; the most recent is Peru, this year. This gave the UK credibility in international climate negotiations, which helped get the historic global Paris Agreement in 2015.

Our Climate Change Act was a time when God answered our prayers and our government really listened to the voices of ordinary people, even ordinary people in other countries. I'm encouraged each time I think about it. But I need that encouragement to keep praying and working for us to cut our emissions faster, to protect ourselves and our global neighbours. Tearfund won't stop until poverty stops, even if sometimes we make a politician wince.

Ben Niblett is a senior campaigner at Tearfund.
Violence against women is a global pandemic. Churches need to be part of the solution

Sunday, November 25 saw the commencement of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence. Running from yesterday's UN International Day of Elimination of Violence against women to Human Rights Day (December 10), this is the world's longest-running campaign for women's rights.

Violence against women is a worldwide pandemic. It covers sexual assault, rape in the context of war, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and domestic violence. The statistics are staggering. For example, in the UK alone it is estimated that one in four women undergo some form of domestic abuse/violence during the course of their lifetime. Further, that nearly half a million adults are sexually assaulted in the UK each year  government statistics indicate that one in five women aged 16-59 have experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16.

One of the major aims of the 16 days is to raise awareness of the massive, global scale and wide-ranging effects of violence against women. It emphasises that violence against women should never be categorised as being just a 'women's issue'  rather, it is a human rights issue, a justice issue and surely one that should concern us all.

November 25 is also known as White Ribbon Day. Originating in Canada, the White Ribbon Pledge is led by men who campaign to take the responsibility in addressing male violence against women and girls. Wearing a white ribbon states loudly and clearly that the wearer will never condone, take part in or remain silent about violence against women.

Where, however, is the church in all this? Surely the church should be at the forefront here, both standing shoulder-to-shoulder with victims and also taking a leading role in seeking to eliminate something that keeps so many women and girls in misery and poverty?

Sadly, the church is not immune to such issues. We seem too often to want to think that this is just something that happens 'out there', far away from the 'good people who go to our church'. This is, however, far from being so.

Take domestic abuse/violence for example. Research conducted earlier this year among churchgoers in Cumbria concluded that one in four churchgoers in that area had experienced domestic abuse/violence within their current relationships.

It is clear from that this that the church needs to respond both appropriately and effectively. By raising rather than ignoring these issues. By providing the right form of pastoral support. By being seen as a 'safe space' both within and outside the church as it makes a stand and joins in with a global campaign that should not be ignored.

Resources are available. For example, Restored, the organisation that commissioned the Cumbria research (alongside the University of Coventry) is a Christian charity that seeks to ask two fundamental questions. Firstly, 'Where is the Church in all this?' and, secondly, 'Where are the men?'

During the 16 days of Activism, Restored will be broadcasting a series of webinars on the subject of domestic abuse. Restored has also recently announced that Carl Beech from Christian Vision for Men has become one of its Ambassadors, with a specific role to highlight and champion Restored's First Man Standing initiative.

First Man Standing has a similar rationale to the White Ribbon campaign. It seeks to recruit men to be a intrinsic part of the solution in ending violence against women by: 

 recognising that violence against women is more than a women's issue.

 understanding the problem and misery that results.

 speaking out against such behaviour

 if necessary and appropriate, challenging inappropriate behaviour in others.

Andit also calls upon the church to take action because the church should take action.

Sadly, the church has too often been behind the curve in recent years. Yet, it should surely to be seen as always being at the forefront, being fully involved in, leading the change that we all surely want to see. Involvement in the 16 days of Activism would be the right place to start.

Andrew Caplen is co-director of Restored. From 2014 until 2015 he was the president of the Law Society of England and Wales and led a national 'Access to Justice' campaign focusing on issues relating to gender based violence.
The Loaded Brush III: Van Gogh and Beyond

The third edition of The Loaded Brush, a curated Christies selling exhibition of masterpieces from private collections, celebrates the influence of Vincent van Gogh on many artists across the last century

Claude Monet (1840-1926), Bords de la Seine a Jeufosse, automne, 1884

Now in its third year, the exhibition takes its name from the moment of creative possibility when a painter is armed with a loaded brush. In this years edition, 60 works will be on view, including The Laakmolen near The Hague (The Windmill), a groundbreaking, early watercolour of a Dutch mill that Van Gogh had visited as a young man with his brother Theo; and the rapidly executed Le Moulin, a summertime vision of another mill, this one in a Provencal landscape near the town of Arles, where Van Gogh spent 15 months towards the end of his life. Vincent van Gogh, the great genius of late-19th century painting and early modernism, has had a profound influence on many artists over the years, says Jussi Pylkkanen, Global President of Christies. Were delighted to be able to bring together works influenced by [him]  particularly in Asia, where there is continual interest in masterpieces of this calibre.

The Loaded Brush gives an unprecedented opportunity to see works of art which very rarely have been on public view  Jussi Pylkkanen

One such masterpiece is Homme au chapeau by Pablo Picasso (1964), created in homage to Van Gogh. Painted with luscious, gestural brushstrokes in oil and ripolin (an industrial paint that creates rich swathes of impasto), it depicts a young man wearing a straw hat  the type of hat synonymous with the Dutchman and featured in a number of his self-portraits. Another highlight of the exhibition is de Vlamincks canvas Le Pesage, a depiction of a fashionable crowd in an array of brightly-hued outfits at a Paris racetrack. Like other members of the Fauvist movement, de Vlaminck was inspired by Van Goghs experiments in thick brushwork and, above all, explosive colour. The works in The Loaded Brush come from major private collections across the world, and the majority of them are for sale.

Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Vaches s'abreuvant dans l'etang de Montfoucault, automne, 1875

As well as offerings by Van Gogh and artists he influenced, the exhibition will also include works by figures who influenced him: notably, Impressionists such as Monet and Pissarro, whose paintings he encountered on moving to Paris in the mid-1880s. These painters worked en plein air with a radical spontaneity and vividness of colour that affected Van Gogh hugely, as exemplified by Pissarros Vaches sabreuvant dans letang de Montfoucault, automne, above.

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Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Chesapeake Energy Corp. has entered into a long-term frac sand logistics deal to support its drilling operations in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming.

The Oklahoma-based exploration and production company chose Denver-based Pronghorn Logistics to haul frac sand to their drilling sites in the region.
In today's world, news, culture, and people move at a much quicker pace, turning our days into a whirlwind of news updates and social media posts. While this list is not all inclusive, to help catalog the year, we are taking a look back at some of the people, places, and things that Houston lost this past year.

From an iconic toy shop to a beloved Texas matriarch, click through the photo gallery above to see some of Houston's biggest losses in 2018.
When Sylvia Garcia resigned from her State Senate District 6 seat, Gov. Greg Abbott called an expedited election to fill her spot before the start of the legislative session.

Early voting began Monday, Nov. 26, for the special election to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 11.

For some of the candidates looking to fill her seat, the race began months prior to Garcias resignation on Nov. 9 from the Texas Senate. Garcia resigned shortly after becoming a U.S. representative in the November election.

Texas State Senate District 6 is contained within Harris County. It is primarily in east Harris County but meanders into central Houston and includes portions of the Heights.

The Texas Legislature begins its 86th regular session on Jan. 8, 2019.

Three Democrats and a Republican are running to fill the empty seat. Democratic State Reps. Carol Alvarado and Ana Hernandez have been campaigning for months. Mia Mundy, a consultant at a Houston-based consulting firm, is also running as a Democrat. Martha Fierro, who serves as precinct chair for the Harris County Republican Party, is running as a Republican.

In her announcement in running for the District 6 seat, Alvarado said: As chair of a major House committee and successful leader in other legislative positions, I have built relationships that will help me advocate an agenda that benefits all the members of our dynamic community, including protection for our DREAMERS, proper funding for public education, womens reproductive health, healthcare that is accessible, affordable and attainable higher education, good-paying jobs for our community in our emerging high-tech economy, and full recovery from Hurricane Harvey.

In her announcement to social media, Hernandez said: I look forward to taking my message of a new generation of leadership in the continued fight for quality schools, affordable healthcare, and economic opportunities to the voters of Senate District 6.

Early voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 26-30; from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 1; from 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 2; and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 3-7 at:

County Attorney Conference Center, 1019 Congress Ave., Houston;

Harris County Scarsdale Annex, 10851 Scarsdale Blvd., Houston;

Hardy Senior Center, 11901 West Hardy Road, Houston;

Galena Park Library, 1500 Keene St., Galena Park;

Ripley House Neighborhood Center, 4410 Navigation Blvd., Houston;

Baytown Community Center, 2407 Market St., Baytown;

John Phelps Courthouse, 101 South Richey St., Pasadena;

HCCS Southeast College parking garage, 6960 Rustic St., Houston;

Moody Park Community Center, 3725 Fulton St., Houston.

Garcia, a former Harris County Commissioner, filled the District 6 in a special election in 2013. She defeated Alvarado in the bid to fill the position after longtime Sen. Mario Gallegos died while in office.

Houston Chronicle reporter R.A. Schuetz contributed to this report.
Leon Hoseas life changed almost over night due to blindness when he was just 27 years old, and could no longer work as an aircraft mechanic. Now he is attending classes at Houston Community College for electrical engineering, which he says was made possible by The Lighthouse of Houston.

Barbara LeBlanc went blind in one eye and, because she was afraid to go anywhere, she shut herself away for two years. The Lighthouse of Houston helped to show her that things would be okay, and that being blind was not the end of the road for her.

These are just two stories of the many people that The Lighthouse of Houston have helped since its establishment in 1939. The Lighthouse is a nonprofit education and service center dedicated to assisting the blind and visually impaired. The nonprofit serves approximately 7,000 people each year and is a member agency of the United Way of Greater Houston. The Lighthouses newest service is its Center for Behavioral Health Services.

According to Melinda Benjumea, director of the Center for Behavioral Health Services, The Lighthouse always dealt with social services, but this is the first time that licensed clinicians are working with the clients to help them with a variety of issues that may be affecting them.

The biggest thing that people with blindness have to do is adjust and move on with their lives. They start in a scary place; they think their life is over. They learn that they can find a purpose. Often we see them blossom into new people, Benjumea said.

According to www.houstonlighthouse.org, individual counseling and psychiatric services are available for individuals living with a visual impairment who need personalized, individual sessions. Client issues may include: grief, loss, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, relationship issues, as well as other mental health issues affecting ones daily functioning. There is also a monthly support group and an adjustment to vision loss support group.

Hosea has been involved with the different services that the Center for Behavior Health Services offers.

The adjustment to blindness group helped push me forward. There is life after blindness, it is just a different lifestyle. Their support groups and the therapy services really helped and brought me through some dark days, Hosea said.

LeBlanc says that meeting the other visually impaired people in the different groups helped her

I knew there was blind people out there living, but I wasnt one of them. I met one man who was about to start college and hes totally blind. If he has the gusto then certainly I will have some. I went to the support groups and it showed me that help is out there, LeBlanc said.

Other services at The Lighthouse include education programs, such as office skills training, customer service and medical transcription training. There are also different camps offered for children and teens. There are recreation programs such as choir, exercise programs and family events.

We work with the Texas workforce commission to offer a lot of things for free of charge, Benjumea said. The clients can attend as little or as much as they want.

The Lighthouse also has a store, called Reflections, where clients can buy adaptive aids.

Benjumea notes that The Lighthouse is always accepting donations, and there is a volunteer program where people can help the clients with chores such as reading their mail or going grocery shopping.

LeBlanc notes that the best thing about The Lighthouse is that once you are in touch with their services, that then opens the door to many other resources beyond them.

This is not the end of the road and there are resources to help you. There are a lot of things that are very beneficial and I was back to being a productive citizen, LeBlanc said.

For more information visit www.houstonlighthouse.org or call 713-527-9561. The Lighthouse is located at 4602 West Dallas.

rebecca.hazen@chron.com
Seelpa Keshvala has been the president of Lone Star College-CyFair since March 2016. Keshvala previously served as president of Warsaw Campus of Ivy Tech Community College, as well as vice chancellor and executive dean. She has a doctorate in urban education with a concentration in educational administration, a masters degree in curriculum and instruction and a bachelors degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Keshvala answered questions about the current state of LSC-CyFair as 2018 comes to an end.

Since you started your term as president, how much has LSC-CyFair and its programs changed?

Over 80 percent of our students here at LSC-CyFair are transfer-intended students, which means that they are pursuing an associate of science or an Associate of Arts degree in some fashion, just generally speaking. Those programs are pretty set. Our opportunity, in terms of expanded programming and new programming is in the area of workforce. We've added new programs in IT, such as mobile app development, and we've also added cybersecurity and we've also added programming in visual communication, like web design and 3D animation, just to name a few of the programs in those two areas. These two areas are actually going to be housed at our new Westway Park Technology Center which is scheduled to open in Jan. 2019.

What are some of the larger challenges LSC-CyFair has seen since 2016?

The biggest challenge that we've experienced since I've been here is Hurricane Harvey. What has been remarkable is our Lone Star College Foundation's response to our employees and our students. For example, the foundation has awarded over $1 million to students who were impacted by Hurricane Harvey and the foundation also provided several hundred thousands of dollars to help our employees who were impacted. That is pretty impressive, but that has definitely by far been the biggest challenge.

After Hurricane Harvey hit, I intentionally went to every office and met with whoever was there in terms of employees and there were employees who were here who had lost everything and were coming to work. I would say, "You know, you don't have to be here, you can be at home and we are here to support you." They wanted to be here because it provided a sense of normalcy to all of what was not normal. We even had students coming to campus. We had a student come and ride his tractor to the campus because he wanted to get to class. Our instructors thought that if our students are doing everything they can to come to class, how can they not come to class and teach?

I've never experienced anything like a hurricane. I'm from the midwest and I can do snow all day long. Water is a different situation, but I've never seen a community come together so closely and so sincerely like I've seen here. It's remarkable.

We were asked to be a shelter here. (Our police chief) asked me to put out a call for donations because if we're going to have a shelter we want to have some donations to give folks in the community who are suffering. I put out an email and there was an overwhelming response ... We didn't even really have a place to put all of what was coming in in terms of donations, and I was explicit in saying we need blankets and pillows and we got it. It filled the whole health sciences center, the whole first floor of the building. Then, we partnered with Cy-Fair ISD to kind of combine it after the fact and keep it in the community in terms of donations that we're still giving back after the fact.

How does LSC-CyFair give back to the local community?

We have a blended library, the Harris County Public Library. Our patrons in the community are coming to this branch, which is great for us as a college because they're prospective students that get to see the college and that's always great. You don't know who's a student and who's a patron, so it truly is a blended concept.

We also offer a Small Business Development Center. That's another excellent resource because we offer no-cost services to business owners here in the Cy-Fair community. We also have our Academy for Lifelong Learning, our ALL program, which essentially offers enrichment courses for individuals in our community who are age 50 or better. We also offer some community leadership programs like Leadership North Houston. Lone Star College partners with local area chambers of commerce and intentionally try to train the upcoming leaders within various organizations for the betterment of our community. That's another partnership that we have and value that I think has added to the community.

The other thing that's really great is our college theater. We offer low-cost shows and performances to the community where our students are often times the actors. That's another wonderful resource. We're going to be partnering with Stageworks Theatre to offer some theater performances that we wouldn't have offered otherwise. That's a really unique partnership that started this academic year.

As Cy-Fair expands, are there any steps LSC-CF is taking to receive the growing population?

Lone Star College has been very proactive to know what the growth is going to be looking like, well before I got here. As a result of our bond (in) 2014, LSC-CyFair has two new buildings. Our Center for Academic and Student Engagement, which is our CASE building, opened up last fall to accommodate the growth that we were seeing and that we are experiencing. But, then our Westway Park Technology Center, which will open in Jan. 2019, is also a result of our bond 2014 and to accommodate the growth and the real specialized focus on workforce center of excellence.

We've been very proactive in that regard, but the other thing is that we are not at capacity yet here at the campus. We still have capacity to grow both at the main campus and at our centers. We are also increasing various modes of instructional delivery so we can ensure that we're meeting demand. We're doing pretty good in this area. We still have room to grow.

We're good at Cy-Fair because we have the two new buildings as a result of bond 2014 and we're not at capacity, but as a system we are opening up a new college. It was called College Seven but now it's called Lone Star College-Houston North. It's going to be combining some of our centers. Greenspoint and Fairbanks Center, which is part of LSC-CyFair, is going to be part of Houston North as well as Victory Center as well as East Aldine. These centers going to be coming together. It's going to be our seventh college and it's a very intentional focus to help our students who are underperforming, doing some really innovative programming to help them be successful and to also accommodate growth too.

We actually grew 1 percent this past fall here at Cy-Fair. We're at 22,453 students here at this campus. We're getting big. It's larger than some four-year schools.

LSC-CyFair has many non-traditional courses that offer certification and professional development in specific fields, like IT and the fire academy. What value do these programs provide?

Part of our mission here as a comprehensive community college is obviously to be responsive to the needs of our community, which includes employers. We work really closely with employers to ensure we are developing the talent pipeline for the jobs that exist both today and in the future. So many of our students, once they graduate, are staying in the local community, securing jobs in their fields of study and contributing to the local economy. Our nurses are a great example of that. The IT professionals. Our fire academy students are securing jobs here and staying in the community. We are training for jobs that exist today and in the future.

The other thing that's really great about that is the individual who secures his certificate, like a workforce credential, a short-term credential, if they decide that after working in the field that they want to come back and add to that, we offer stackable credentials. So you can get another certificate, which leads them to an associates degree. In the IT area, we're going to soon offer a bachelors of applied technology degree.

We are the community's college and we are to be responsive and provide the access and affordability to anyone who wants to go onto higher education. It's a different philosophy than a four-year college, but this is a model. This is a model of what we aspire for in our sector, for a place like this. To have the resources that we have, the quality faculty and staff that are dedicated and passionate about serving students. I have to pinch myself sometimes. I get to work here.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
La Table has re-set its table once again.

The two-level concept on Post Oak has seen several concept revisions since Invest Hospitality took over the management of the former Philippe Restaurant & Lounge in 2015. And now it has undergone another under new executive chef James Friedberg whose resume includes the celebrity-studded Le Cirque, Charlie Palmers legendary Aureole, the two-Michelin-starred Gilt, and the Michelin-recommended Blenheim Restaurant  all in New York.

Invest has entrusted the 35-year-old Friedberg to steer La Table in a new direction by improving the menu. The first week in October La Table closed for two days and essentially reopened as a new concept but with the same name, said Friedberg who oversees both the downstairs Marche bistro restaurant and the more luxurious Chateau upstairs. Except for a few popular and trusted dishes, the menus at both have been completely re-written.

It was like opening a new restaurant, which Ive done  its never easy or comfortable, Friedberg said. Its like ripping off the band aid.

The transition, however painful, has resulted in a French-inspired menu invested with modern flavors and a newfound dedicated to sourcing only the highest-quality ingredients and not messing with them too much, Friedberg said.

Chateau, the more formal dining room of La Tables upstairs/downstairs operation, is rightly the chefs focus and he has treated it as such. Friedbergs dishes show a high degree of technique and finesse  you can see a distinguishing Aureole influence. That is true of his beet tartare with goat cheese, apple and hazelnuts; the pristine tablets of foie gras terrine and mini quenelles of date marmalade; and shrimp with chili vinaigrette and coconut foam. Under hot appetizers he offers up a caramelized cheese souffle; Maine lobster rigatoni; harissa octopus with green olives and potato; and a mushroom consomme poured over thinly sliced mushrooms and cheese-filled ravioli.

Mains include seas scallops with crispy potato and cauliflower; a duck duo (crispy-skin breast and confit leg); yogurt- and spice-marinated Colorado lamb chops served with piperade; Berkshire pork loin with chanterelle mushrooms, onions and green apple; and Strube Ranch Wagyu beef filet with roasted potatoes, Brussels sprouts and celeriac puree.

Friedberg says two dishes show his commitment to sourcing the best ingredients. He presents his Ora King Salmon, sustainably raised in New Zealand, as medallions of an herb-stuffed roulade. The salmon, fattier than Scottish, lends a more buttery flavor. It is presented with roasted beets, spaghetti squash and red cabbage in a sweet/sour vinaigrette. Another dish hes especially proud of is his Dover sole meuniere featuring wild-caught fish flown in fresh from France. The pan-seared sole, served with grilled asparagus and brown butter, is presented tableside for two.

Two dishes that remain from Chateaus previous menu are both tableside classics: the roasted heritage chicken and the cognac-drunk Akaushi ribeye steak.

Downtairs things may look the same but La Table has ditched its Macarons retail bakery. Marche, the ground-floor bar and restaurant, has gone under a Friedberg overhaul, too. The menu, shares some of Chateaus dishes but offers its own bistro delights: lobster bisque, salmon tartare, tomato and mozzarella flatbread, roasted vegetable cassoulette, marinated hanger steak with fries, Akaushi cheeseburger with Vermont cheddar, and yellowfin tuna Nicoise.

La Table, Friedberg said frankly, tried to do too much. Were focusing on what we can do well instead of trying to do everything, he said.

And how, besides a new menu, will La Table distinguish itself going forward? Friedberg said by an adherence to quality and execution. I know that sounds cliche in a sense, he said, but its something we pride ourselves on. Quality and simplicity.

Chateau and Marche at La Table, 1800 Post Oak, 713-439-1000; latablehouston.com.
Among the many things that can rattle a staff opening a new restaurant, an actual printed menu is usually the least of the worries. At the new Irma's Southwest, opening today in downtown Houston, it was among the biggest learning curves.

That's because Irma's Southwest never had a menu. Louis and Patricia Galvan's Mexican restaurant, like that of his mother Irma Galvan's Irma's Original, operated without a menu  servers told diners what was on offer that day and dishes were assembled from what the kitchen cooked.

"They're not used to serving from a menu," Louis Galvan said of his waitstaff. "If it was up to me, I wouldn't have done a menu."

IRMA'S ORIGINAL: What Alison Cook likes at the downtown Mexican charmer

But it's a new day for Irma's Southwest. There's a grand new restaurant on the ground floor of the gleaming Catalyst high rise apartment building at 1475 Texas. An entirely new look: clean, modern, ultra contemporary, with barely a trace of restaurant Mexicana. And, yes, physical menus that were never offered at the restaurant that operated at 1314 Texas in the Great Southwest Building since 1999 before jumping across the street to the Catalyst.

Galvan said that during a soft opening last week a longtime customer remarked that he had no idea the seared Atlantic salmon cost $24.

"They actually saw the prices for the first time," Galvan said.

No menus (ergo, no prices) was always one of the quirky charms of Irma's Southwest Grill, the restaurant that Galvan opened with his partners after working at his mother's restaurant for many years. Irma's Southwest held on to some of Irma Galvan's culinary themes but broadened the menu to include more seafood dishes and wild game from Broken Arrow Ranch in Hill Country. Wild boar and axis deer are game highlights  the meat used to make barbacoa-style tacos, tamales and enchiladas.

Working with executive chef Lincoln Williams, Galvan has created a menu that has always been seen as a more upscale version of Irma's Original cuisine. There are traditional dishes that have always been on the menu, including fire-roasted chile relleno, chicken mole poblano, carne guisada, pan-seared tilapia, fish tacos, carne asada, Chilean sea bass, and blackened salmon tacos.

But there are new dishes too: a Mexican wedge salad, chicken in a green tomatillo sauce, house-made tamales with queso fresco, and a lineup of vegetable dishes including sauteed spinach and garlic, charred zucchini and squash, green beans with bacon and mushrooms and vegetable skewers.

There are also new libations from Galvan's son Jacob Gutierrez: El Chabacano (Four Roses bourbon, Live Oak Hefeweizen, apricot liqueur and ginger); Old Fashioned (Kentucky bourbon, piloncillo, bitters, lemon and orange peels); Paloma (tequila, Squirt, ginger and lime); and a variety of new margaritas rimmed with Tajin and salt. Morgan Weber of 8 Row Flint also is consulting on improving the tequila program as well as a rotating list of seasonal cocktails.

The new Irma's Southwest offers a 60-seat bar and lounge facing Texas Avenue, a main dining room with floor-to-ceiling glass windows onto downtown Houston, and two private dining rooms. Had the 7,700-square-foot restaurant opened at its original target date (six months ago), it would have been an ideal spot for pre- or post-Astros partying.

The restaurant is very much a family affair. Galvan owns it with his wife, Patricia, and their children help run it. Louis Galvan said he's ready to greet his longtime customers at his new digs, and welcome new downtown neighbors.

And if there are those who wish for the menu-less past, Galvan says not to worry. "You can still order an improvised meal."

Irma's Southwest, 1475 Texas, 713-247-9651, Open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday for dinner only from 5 to 9 p.m.

Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Hear him on our BBQ State of Mind podcast to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture.
The city of Friendswood has completed work on two streets out of the eight it has chosen to improve this year through an ongoing program that focuses on neighborhood roadways and is funded by a portion of sales tax approved by voters in 2016.

The work on the eight streets is a $1.8 million project to address surface smoothness or deteriorating subgrade on asphalt roads, Public Works Director Patrick Donart said.

Completed the week of Thanksgiving were East Viejo Drive, which extends about a half mile from FM 518 to its dead-end, and Moore Road, which runs about the same distance from Friendswood city limits to FM 528.

Next to be improved are West Spreading Oaks Block, East Spreading Oaks Avenue, Wilderness Trail, Winding Way Drive, Falling Leaf Drive and Clearview Avenue.

All of those roads, excluding a concrete section of West Spreading Oaks Block between Laurel Drive and Woodlawn Drive, should be complete before the end of the year, Donart said. He said the city has decided for now not to disturb the concrete section, which extends less than one mile.

Asphalt roads to be improved in 2019 are: Baker Road from Stonewall Pass Road to Falling Leaf Drive; Falling Leaf Drive from Baker Road to Greenbriar Drive; Linson Lane from Falling Leaf to its end; Clearview Avenue from Quaker Drive to its end; East Spreading Oaks from FM 518 to Quaker Drive; Wilderness Trail from Creekwood Lane to Spring Creek Lane; Winding Way from Leisure Lane to Oak Drive; Winding Way from Briarmeadow Avenue to its end.

Donart said another contract for $1.8 million is expected in early 2019 to tackle some of those roads and then more would be covered through another contract after that. The order of streets to be improved has not been decided, Donart said, but the city will continue to use the information from the study to guide it in addressing the most in-need roads.

The work is a part of an overall program intended to provide on-going maintenance, repair and reconstruction of existing concrete streets, sidewalks, curbs, sealing and asphalt overlays, according to city budget documents.

For the work, the city contracted Angel Brothers Construction, which has offices in Baytown and New Braunfels.

Infrastructure Management Services, a firm headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., was hired to conduct an assessment of every street in Friendswood and rank them according to their quality, Mayor Mike Foreman said.

Donart said the study cost $74,992 and was paid for through a budget allocation of $500,000 earmarked for road needs that are not covered by the tax, which only funds maintenance.

It was very technical, Foreman said of the companys work. A machine uses sonar to detect the subgrade.

We got a very scientific method, went down every street, and went down the list, he said. Were gonna tackle the 1-40 (lowest scoring), the poor or very poor.

Foreman said no street in Friendswood scored a 100, but some scored in the high 90s.

Funding for the work that will continue into 2019 comes from a 3/8 of a cent per dollar sales tax imposed on customers who buy products or services in Friendswood.

The tax was approved in a May 2016 election by residents of Harris and Galveston counties who live in Friendswood. In the same election, an additional 1/8 of a cent per dollar for downtown redevelopment was approved.

Foreman said the city has collected approximately $1.4 million to $1.5 million in sales tax allocated for street maintenance.

Collection of both taxes was delayed until January 2017 instead of starting in December 2016 as planned because of a lawsuit filed against the city by eight residents who say the taxes are unfair, city spokesman Jeff Newpher said.

They allege the city failed to include a Harris County precinct in the ordinances calling the election and charged that mail-in ballots were not counted correctly.

The case was dismissed by The First Court of Appeals in April, according to a Houston Chronicle report. The case is before the Texas Supreme Court, Newpher said.

We want to get across to voters were spending the sales tax money they approved on street repair. Were going to continue to see improvement to these streets as we go forward, Foreman said. That sales tax sunsets  we have to put it back on the ballot in 2020 again if we want to keep this up.

Jjones@chron.com
Holiday activities are coming soon in Friendswood that you may not want to miss. Santa will appear at several events in the city, including a festival, parade and a street-by-street tour with firefighters to greet children.

The free Santa in the Park festival will be from 3-8 p.m. Dec. 8 in Stevenson Park. The event will feature a 6 p.m. parade and a 7:30 p.m. tree-lighting, followed by fireworks.

A wristband, $10 the day of the event, must be purchased for some amusements in the park. Half-price tickets for the additional activities are available by taking an unwrapped toy to the Parks and Recreation Department at Friendswood City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood Drive, before and Dec. 7 to donate to the Blue Santa program sponsored by the Friendswood Police Department and Police Officers Association.

About 50 entries are expected in the parade, which will travel Friendswood Drive from Heritage Park to Stevenson Park, 1100 S. Friendswood Drive.

The deadline to sign up for the parade is Dec. 6. Call 281-996-3220 or visit www.ci.friendswood.tx.us for an application.

Santa will be making his annual visit to the city on a Friendswood Volunteer Fire Department truck from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15.

He will visit all of the residential streets except gated communities and short cul-de-sacs, according to a city of Friendswood press release. At those locations, Santa and his firefighter helpers will stop at the end of the street to greet children.

If you miss Santa on your street Saturday, visit him between 1-3 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Kenneth Camp Fire Station No. 1 at 1610 Whitaker Drive.

Some other holiday activities around the area include the following.

Dec. 12

Ensemble blends folklore, cultures in holiday performance

Apollo Chamber Players bring holiday music from England, Germany, France, Turkey, Nigeria, Korea, Mexico and Jewish faith traditions to the Parker Williams Branch Library.

Where: 10851 Scarsdale Blvd.

When: 7 p.m.

Details: The group released its third album, Ancestral Voices, last year. The event is part of the librarys 25th anniversary celebration.

Cost: Free.

Info: 832-927-7870.

Dec. 13

NASA Aglow readies for season

NASA Aglow Lighthouse invites the community to hear testimonies and enjoy holiday refreshments during its December meeting at Praise Chapel.

Where: 18516 Texas 3.

When: 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Details: New, unwrapped socks will be collected for men and women at Vista Continuing Care nursing home. Bring a mug to participate in the Christian mug gift exchange.

Price: Free.

Info: Debbie, 281-798-8194.

Dec. 23

Longest Night service provides holiday refuge

St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church invites those who experience the Christmas season as a time of loneliness or loss to a special service of music and prayer.

Where: 18300 Upper Bay Road.

When: 4 p.m.

Details: Many peoples lives are marked by broken hearts and shattered spirits rather than holiday joy, said the Rev. Mike Stone, rector of St. Thomas. We invite anyone who is lonely, hurting or suffering from loss of any kind to join us, to come together and know that in the midst of struggle, they are not alone.

Price: Free.

Info: Susan Manville, 281-333-2384.

Jan. 5

Dancers celebrate 2019 with black-and-white theme

Lets Dance rings in the new year with its Puttin on the Ritz ballroom event at Hometown Heroes Park.

Where: 1001 E. League City Parkway.

When: 7-9:45 p.m.

Details: Teens, seniors, couples and singles are welcome, and dress is as you like.

Price: $8.

Info: Bill and Neva Schroder, 417-838-2204.
Katy-area residents might want to circle Tuesday, Nov. 27, on their holiday calendar as a date to remember.

Thats the date for #GivingTuesdayKaty which benefits a collaboration of 16 Katy-area nonprofits working together for the greater good of the community.

GivingTuesday falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, after Black Friday and after Cyber Monday and is about giving back to the nonprofits that help the community, said Deysi Crespo, executive director, Katy Christian Ministries. #GivingTuesdayKaty is about giving back to the charities that make Katy a great place to live for everyone.

Sarah Beaton, who organized #GivingTuesdayKaty, invites the community to learn more about the participating nonprofits by attending a Nov. 27 event at Members Choice Credit Union, which is a presenting sponsor.

Everybody and anybody can come, Beaton said. The event from 4-7 p.m. will introduce people to the nonprofits, what they do, how they help the community and how people can help them.

The event may feature a live painter as well as food.

Well have a couple other activities where people can interact with different nonprofits, she added.

Participating nonprofits are The Arc of Katy, Attack Poverty Friends of Sundown, The Ballard House, Clothed by Faith, Christ Clinic, Compassion Katy, Fostering Success Foundation, Hope Impacts, Joe Joe Bear Foundation, Katy Cares, Katy Christian Ministries, Katy ISD Education Foundation, Neighborhood KidZ Club, Sons of Keturah, Krause Childrens Residential and YMCA.

Since #GivingTuesdayKaty was launched, Beaton said, We are thrilled with the community. A lot of people have donated.

More Information Want to Go? What : #GivingTuesdayKaty event When: 4-7 p.m. Nov. 27 Where: Members Choice Credit Union, 18211 Katy Fwy, Houston Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1887152694671336/ See More Collapse

The #GivingTuesdayKaty website allows supporters to choose which of the 16 nonprofits they want to support or to donate to #GivingTuesdayKaty overall.

The goal is $10,000 for nonprofits to raise collectively without sponsorships, said Beaton. She said they are halfway toward their goal.

Visit www.givingtuesdaykaty.org for more information.

The endeavor also has a goal for sponsorships, and Beaton said she thanked those people who have helped them reach their sponsorship level. That money goes back to nonprofits as well.

Since the launch, a number of businesses have stepped up to contribute to the cause.

El Canton Firewood Pizzeria was a dine-and-donate sponsor on Nov. 6 and donated 20 percent of all dinner sales from 5-10 p.m. to Giving Tuesday Katy.

Participating Chick-fil-As and Toasted Yolk Cafe will be dine-and-donate sponsors on Nov. 27, she said.

Irace on Nov. 15, Chiro Dynamics on Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 13 and Tint World on Nov. 17 and Nov. 27 also have or will donate a percentage of sales to #GivingTuesdayKaty.

Giving Tuesday dates to 2012. The 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation started the special day in response to holiday commercialization and consumerism. It was launched in Katy in early November. Visit www.givingtuesday.org/about for more information.

karen.zurawski@chron.com
A Houston area pastor has taken to social media to defend his church after reports that over 100 gambling devices were found on the same property surfaced over the weekend.

Pastor Anthony Scott of the Word of Life Church off Turney Drive in North Houston said his church had no direct access to the gambling devices various media outlets reported were found in the same building.

Firefighters were responding to a call about a church fire when they found people trapped inside a back room where about 100 gambling devices were found, according to KHOU.

"There is no gambling going on on our end, what goes on on the other side we have absolutely no control over," Pastor Scott said in a Facebook live video released Saturday.

According to a Nov. 23 tweet from the Harris County Sheriff's Office, one person was arrested for an outstanding warrant after deputies questioned multiple subjects at the scene after the devices were found.

NORTHWEST HOUSTON: 100 gambling devices, $14,000 in proceeds seized in illegal gambling bust

In the video, which Scott said was made to "face allegations head on," Scott said Word Of Life is only one of two businesses renting the building. He clarified church officials and attendees had no access to the other room where the gambling devices were found.

"The way it was worded makes it seem as if it was Word of Life that is in fact having gambling or gaming machines going on and that has absolutely nothing to do with us," Scott said. "I have contacted Fox, I have contacted KHOU...I have contacted the sheriff's office, I have contacted Harris County police, I have contacted everybody. We are not hiding, we are not running because we are doing what the Lord called us to do regardless what is being displayed in the media."

Scott explained the small church could not afford the entire building and therefore it was separated by a drywall to make way for another business.

"We don't have access to this side because it's a complete drywall," Scott said in the video in which he takes viewers on a tour of the inside of the church. "Everything else is blocked off. I have no access to that side."

Scott ends the video denouncing the media reports and promising to fight any allegations head on.

"...I am going to remain right here, unfazed and unshaken in the face of adversity because I know in the end God will in fact get the glory," Scott said.

Upon request for comment from the Houston Chronicle, Word of Life released the following statement:

"Our Church serves as not only a House of Worship but a resource center to our Community. We were deeply saddened by the way our Ministry was recently portrayed in the media. Without any investigation and/or questioning, our Church was attacked and accused of running a gambling business. The heinous and hurtful attack on our Church is unwarranted and unfounded. Yet, we remain unphased and unshaken in the face of adversity, knowing the truth will prevail. For further clarity; view our last Facebook Live video that goes into great detail about the misleading nature of this story. Come see us anytime."

SURPRISE ARREST: HPD officer among 5 arrested in crackdown of Chinatown gambling sites

Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Thomas Gilliland released a statement to KHOU in regards to the church's involvement with the gambling accusations:

"The address of the property is listed as the same as the church, it's a building on the church property. When the call came in to the fire department, it listed that address. Same as when we responded to the call, it lists their address as the property. Slip said "word of life / pine oak Baptist." We would not know if separate building was being rented to someone else."

No new details have emerged in regards to who the owner of the alleged, illegal gambling business is.

Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message


If Nessie McNubbins could fly, she probably would. No one told the 8-year-old fiery chihuahua she had only two legs.

The way the tiny kangaroo-like dog leaps around will make you think twice about feeling sorry for her. Her mother Theresa Loyacano, who adopted the miniature canine, calls her "fierce."

"I'm telling you, she is something else," Loyacano said. "She is fearless. She's curious. She is, oh my goodness, she is protective. You see a two-legged dog and you think, what's she going to do? She's not yappy, but she's a big personality, little body."

Loyacano jokes that Nessie is part dog, part kangaroo because of the way she gets around. The family keeps fluffy pillows  "landing pads"  all over the floors to protect her from harm in case she decides she wants to jump off her seat on the couch.

"It does not even occur her to her that she only has two legs," Loyacano said. "Nobody told her. She's all over the place. Even when she's riding around in her stroller, she's attempted to jump out. We've got to tether her. She just wants to get down and play."

WOODLANDS WARRIOR: Woman finds her calling in running sanctuary for older, sickly dogs

Based out of Katy, Texas, Nessie, an internet celebrity and social media influencer, has more than 15,000 followers on Instagram. But she didn't start out that way.

In 2017, Loyacano was heartbroken when her 18-year-old dachshund named Sunday, a dog she had her entire adult life, died.

"I didn't want to get another dog, but I missed having a dog," she said.

For months, Loyacano began following dog rescue pages on Facebook, Instagram and other social media or her friends' dogs just to fill the void of loneliness she felt about losing Sunday.

Then one day she saw Nessie.

"I wasn't looking to adopt a dog," Loyacano said. "But when I saw her story and the fact that she'd been abandoned and she only had two legs and oh my god, how scared she must be, I just felt like she needed me. And she did. And I needed her too."

Loyacano adopted Nessie from Texas Chihuahua Rescue, a nonprofit organization that according to its website helped save the lives of 759 animals in 2017.

Nessie was born with only two legs, but her disability wasn't a result of any kind trauma or accident, Loyacano said.

"It was likely due to overbreeding or poor breeding," she said. "But she lived for eight years with only two legs. So, she was actually pretty used to that."

GOOD DOG: The most extra dog shops and bakeries in Houston to spoil your dog at

Prior to her being taken to Texas Chihuahua Rescue, Nessie had been returned and abandoned at the shelter three times. She had a history of abuse and she had some health issues, such as a tumor and some dental problems, that the family is still working to resolve.

Mobility is obviously an issue for Nessie, but she's well adapted to her two-legged life, her mother said. She loves to be carried around in a sling, she said.

"It's been really challenging to get (Nessie) to get used to her wheels," Loyacano said. "We practice a lot, but you know, to live your entire life upright, hopping or walking then being strapped into this big intimidating contraption, it's a bit challenging. But we keep doing it."

Nessie's early life might have been hard. But overall, Nessie is in a much more stable home now, Loyacano said, adding that the family's life revolves around the tiny canine.

"I can't imagine life without her," she said. "She is so much apart of the family. We plan everything around her. 'Can Nessie come? How would Nessie like this?' It's almost like we recognize that her life has been so tough up until this point that ... it's not just, let's have a dog. It's what can we do to make what's left of her life the absolute best for her."

The family adopted Nessie on Jan. 14, 2018, coincidentally one year to the date after their dog Sunday passed. Loyacano, 42, said it was not planned.

"It was just sort of happened that way," she said, adding that she does see similarities in the two dogs. "They have similar attitudes. They are both, 'it's my way or the highway.' They are very stubborn. It didn't really matter. They were going to do their own thing."

michelle.iracheta@chron.com
The 2018 holiday season marks the 32nd year of a beloved Conroe tradition - the Christmas Silver Tea benefiting the Conroe Salvation Army Corps holiday ministry assistance. Known fondly to locals as The Doll and Bear Tea, the event is modeled from fundraisers held during the 1860s to collect silver coins for various causes.

We begin preparing for the tea in the springtime, said Suann Hereford, event chair. There are many talented seamstresses in our group who anticipate the delivery of the dolls and bears for which they design and sew beautiful, whimsical, holiday apparel.

This years tea, which will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 11564 White Oak Way, Conroe TX 77304, will display hundreds of dolls and bears, with a portion reserved for sale in a silent auction and many available for purchase during the event. All proceeds from the event, as well as the remaining dolls and bears, will be presented to the Conroe Salvation Army Corps for its holiday ministry.

The Conroe Salvation Army Corps receives thousands of requests from Montgomery County families and senior citizens for holiday assistance each year, said Hereford. The Silver Tea is one of many ways our members are able to help provide that assistance and have fun while doing so.

For more information about the Silver Tea, how to lend a hand in dressing the dolls and bears, and how to help The Salvation Army in its ongoing efforts to do the most good, contact Event Chair Suann Hereford at 281-635-0544 or Salvation Army Major Helene Wildish at 936-714-2414.

Donation helps shelter for girls with roof over their heads

A grant of $22,000 from Mobile C-Arm Services will help The Treehouse Center begin repairs at its shelter for girls in Conroe. Mobile C-Arm Services is a mobile fluoroscopy c-arm rental company based in Houston. The Treehouse Center is a residential home niched in a neighborhood near River Plantation in Conroe serving young girls 6-15 years of age with a safe place to live until they are stable enough to go back to living with their parents or eligible for adoption.

The residential shelter is structured to provide full-time care, education, support and counseling to improve their self-image and modify behavior to enable the girls to lead happy productive lives in society.

The largest issue at the home has been trying to fund a new roof. The existing roof is 40 years old with huge gaps of holes that could collapse any time.

We have been struggling to come up with the money and have tried many avenues of reaching out to possible donors, applying for grants and all to no avail, said Carmie Cantu, Executive Director of The Treehouse Center. The donation is something we are extremely grateful for as it allows us to continue providing a safe and comfortable place for them to live while they get better.

Fortunately, Mobile C-Arm Services heard about the roof challenge and wanted to be a part of helping the community. Carlos Castro, Founder of C-Arm Services, reached out to Dr. Snell with the $22,000 grant.

Additional information about The Treehouse Center may be found at www.TheTreehouseCenter.org.

DRC-MC rated 2018 Top Rated Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits

The Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Inc. (DRC-MC) has been named a 2018 Top-Rated Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits.

The DRC-MC serves the community as a resource for resolving disputes, improving communication, and restoring relationships. Mediation attempts to prevent disputes from escalating into serious civil or criminal issues outside the court room by using professionally trained volunteer mediators. Mediators assist both parties in generating options to rebuild their relationship and find a solution if possible.

The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is based on the rating and number of reviews that DRC-MC received from volunteers, donors, and recipients of their services.

The Dispute Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Inc. (DRC-MC) is located in Downtown Conroe at 301 N. Thompson Street, Suite 106, across the street from the Courthouse and is celebrating 30 years of resolving conflicts.

CRMC receives a A for patient safety

Conroe Regional Medical Center was awarded an A from The Leapfrog Groups Fall 2018 Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes Conroe Regional Medical Centers efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. The Leapfrog Group is a national organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an A, B, C, D or F grade to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections and other harms among patients in their care.

While Conroe Regional is proud to receive a prestigious Leapfrog A, were most proud of what it means for our community, said Dr. Larry Verfurth, chief medical officer at Conroe Regional Medical Center. Montgomery County residents have a hospital that is fully committed to creating the safest possible environment for our patients. Every day, we look for ways to make our hospital safer for our patients. From hand hygiene to bedside nursing communication, we incorporate best practices from our HCA Healthcare sister hospitals across the country to ensure our patients are safe while in our care.

Our mission, above all else, is to provide care. The Leapfrog A demonstrates to our community that they do not need to travel to get the safest, quality care available, because they have access to it close to home at Conroe Regional Medical Center, said Verfurth. Of more than 2,600 hospitals graded, only 32% earned A's; This means that by coming to Conroe Regional Medical Center, a patient will have an 8.5% less chance of an adverse outcome compared to a Leapfrog B hospital, and a 35.2% lower risk of an adverse outcome compared to a Leapfrog C hospital. We are honored to be able to continue to raise the level of quality and safety of healthcare in our community.

Conroe Regional Medical Center was one of 855 across the United States awarded an A in the Fall 2018 update of grades. To see Conroe Regional Medical Centers full grade details, and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.
A Montgomery County man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday after he slammed into a truck killing the driver near Hardin Store road last December.

Judge Patty Maginnis of the 425th state District Court sentenced Travis Drew Clepper who pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter. The range of punishment for intoxicated manslaughter is two to 20 years. Due to a finding that Cleppers truck was a deadly weapon, Clepper will have to serve at least half of his sentence before getting out of prison.

According to Texas Department of Public Safety troopers at the scene in late 2017, the crash involved two Chevrolet Silverado trucks  one allegedly driven by Clepper and another by Wayland Melton who had just left Decker Prairie Church.

A Montgomery County Hospital District unit pronounced Melton dead at the scene of the accident.

RELATED: Man indicted for intoxication manslaughter in fatal Magnolia crash re-arrested in Harris County

Clepper told DPS Trooper Jackson that he was allegedly on his way to his wifes house in Tomball going 45 to 50 mph and that the other vehicle pulled out in front of him, court documents state.

According to DPS, the airbag control module from Cleppers truck determined his alleged speed was closer to 81 mph at the time of the crash whereas the speed limit on that stretch of road is reported as 40 mph.

A witness traveling behind Meltons truck stated, he heard a crash and then the vehicle that struck Meltons vehicle came sliding in front of his vehicle and off the road.

The witness called 911 after his attempts to help Clepper out of his vehicle were unsuccessful.

Clepper was transported from the scene to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital where a mandatory blood draw was taken showing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.203.

HIGH STAKES RACE: Man charged with intoxication manslaughter in possible racing crash on I-10

According to court documents, Clepper was allegedly combative, aggravated and aggressive toward bystanders and MCHD paramedics.

As drivers, we have an obligation to be sober, focused, and safe as we share our roadways, said Vehicular Crimes Chief Andrew James with the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office. Mr. Clepper failed to uphold that obligation and took the life of a good man. We are thankful for the efforts of law enforcement, particularly the Department of Public Safety, for the thorough and detailed investigation that led to this substantial prison sentence.

We are also grateful for the grace and patience of the Melton family throughout this process and hope that this plea brings them some measure of closure.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
A missing toddler was found safe at a motel Sunday night about a half hour after an Amber Alert was issued in his disappearance.

The 2-year-old boy, Jeremiah Lambert, was believed to be in danger after a man took him from his south Houston home. He was last seen sporting jeans, cowboy boys and a striped shirt when the man, who the mother knows, took him around 10 a.m. Saturday in the 7400 block of Calhoun Road.
A year ago, several days before Thanksgiving, my mother was sent into hospice care to die. She was weak and declining by the hour. Three doctors told us that a nasty blood condition called sepsis would soon stop her heart.

I had a hunch they were wrong.

The facility near her home in Salt Lake City was short-staffed because it was Thanksgiving weekend. I couldn't persuade a doctor to come in and see her, and I felt as if my window to help her was closing fast.

So I spun into action: I called a mobile phlebotomist (the people who stick you to take a blood sample) to come over right away to do an independent blood panel. It was the best call I ever made. We found out that my mother wasn't dying of sepsis at all - instead, she had critically low potassium.

My mom, as it turned out, needed bananas.

While the day after Thanksgiving is traditionally known as Black Friday to most people, my family now calls it something else: Bright Friday. It was the day we saved my mom.

Since last Thanksgiving, I've had 365 days with my mother that I didn't expect to have. Now 77, she was greatly weakened by her ordeal and requires a long-term care center. But her mind is still active, and her sense of humor is as quirky as ever.

In my three-days-a-week visits, we've settled into a comfortable routine: After I bring her a homemade peanut butter smoothie (with extra banana), I settle in next to her bed to read the day's headlines and fill her in on my two kids' latest dramas. Then we'll vent about politics while I spritz her with her favorite "Alien" or "Joy" perfume, give her a manicure or rub lavender lotion into her fragile skin.

On sunny days, I'll wheel her outside to look at the mountains and check on the family of quail that has set up house in the shrubbery ringing the courtyard.

When she was close to dying last fall, I thought often about the last trip I'd taken with her just seven months before. For more than a decade, my mother had invited me to join her during her annual trip to the International UFO Congress in Arizona every February, and I'd always laughed and declined.

Then last year, when I could see that my mother's step had drastically slowed (she needed a cane to get around), it hit me that our years together might be numbered.

We weren't always close. When my parents divorced and I was 11, my brother and I, the oldest two, went to live with my father. My mother kept my other brother and sister, the youngest two.

Old wounds had healed with time, and I thought attending the UFO congress together might be fun.

And it was. For three days, we attended seminars about spaceships, crop circles and alien abductions and shopped for E.T.-themed merchandise, including little green alien necklaces, "I Don't Believe in Humans" T-shirts and "Fifty Shades of Greys" books.

Mostly, though, we laughed and sipped bright green margaritas and just enjoyed being together as a mother and daughter for the first time in years.

Our getaway took on new meaning in late September last year when my mom's left knee collapsed while she was preparing for a yard sale. She ended up in a rehab center, then the hospital, and my siblings and I were told that sepsis in her knee had moved to her kidneys. She needed immediate dialysis.

The treatment boosted her kidneys' function, but her outlook was still poor. Three doctors said it was time to move her into hospice and say our goodbyes.

In her hospice room at a care center near the hospital, my brothers, sister and I took shifts in a cushy recliner next to her bed. As she cycled in and out of sleep, I talked to her about her final requests.

"Nothing fancy," she told me. "Let's keep it simple." She wanted sunflowers at her memorial service and lots of family photos. "Champagne," she said, "would also be nice. And happy music."

I rested my head on her chest to feel her warmth.

"Mama, I love you. This is hard, but I will try to be brave," I told her.

"I love you, too," she replied, taking my hand. "Think of the happy times. Remember your pink canopy bed? I can still see you sleeping there."

I went home Thanksgiving night, but, unable to sleep, I went outside in my pajamas and looked at the stars, clutching the snowy owl necklace that I'd worn since my mother's diagnosis. She always loved snowy owls and collected memorabilia as far back as I can remember. I'd bought this one for my mom at an English sorcery shop in 2015 and carried it with me to Stonehenge, where my family had a tour at sunset. When the sun appeared in the middle of the Great Trilithon, I held up the necklace, knowing that my mother would love that I'd performed a small ritual. At that moment, I felt connected to her and smiled, wondering whether the necklace would now have some sort of power.

As I stood in my chilly backyard last year and searched the stars for the Pegasus and Pisces formations the way my mother had taught me, I was overcome with a feeling that the medical experts were wrong. I decided my mother was not dying. I left several messages for the doctor on call at the care center to come and see her, but he didn't respond.

After I ordered the blood panel on my own, the phlebotomist called later that night. "I'll fax the results in the morning," he said, "but I need to let you know that your mom's potassium is the lowest I've ever seen. It's critical. She could have heart failure."

My mom's nurse said she couldn't give her potassium without a doctor's approval. So my brother, who was taking a shift in the recliner, rushed to the grocery store for potassium pills, which he crushed up in water for our mother.

Early the next morning, I was there when the fax results came in showing that if my mother ever had sepsis, it had mysteriously vanished. I immediately called an ambulance to take her to a hospital.

In the emergency room, a doctor said my mom never should have been in hospice care. After nearly a month in the hospital, she was sent to a new care center, which was worst than the first. Finally, on the third try, we got it right.

The staff where she is now is attentive and caring and nobody bats an eye if my mother says, "The lunch today looks like cat food."

It's not a perfect life (she'll never walk again), but my mom is happy on most days and thankful to be alive. I can't stop smiling when I think back on the recent afternoon when a priest came to her room by mistake to deliver last rites.

"Oh, hell no!" my mother exclaimed. "I'm not going anywhere!"

We laughed until she nearly fell out of her bed. On this Bright Friday, I'll toast her again with her favorite champagne. My mom says she's up for two glasses. And maybe a banana.

- Free is a Salt Lake City-based journalist and former newspaper columnist. She is writing a book about saving her mother's life.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 26)  Former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay warned that the Philippines is "throwing away" its 2016 victory over China in an arbitral ruling by entering into an agreement to pursue talks on a joint oil and gas exploration.

"By signing this MOU (memorandum of understanding), we're going backwards, not recognizing our win, throwing away the trophy, and saying, 'Okay, we go back now to our prior status before the arbitration,'" Hilbay told CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday.

Hilbay, who is also running for senator in the May 2019 polls, assailed Section 4 of the MOU which states that all discussions, negotiations and activities of the Philippines and China pursuant to the agreement "will be without prejudice to the respective legal positions of both governments."

"The problem is those respective legal positions have already been clarified by the decision in Philippines vs. China. The decision says, China's wrong, and the Philippines is right," Hilbay said.

The former solicitor general was referring to a 2016 ruling of an arbitral tribunal in the Hague on areas in the South China Sea claimed by both Manila and Beijing. The tribunal largely affirmed the Philippines' sovereign rights in areas within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone that Beijing was contesting, but the MOU does not specifically mention the South China Sea or any area where joint development could happen.

This is left for working groups and an Inter-Governmental Joint Steering Committee to determine and negotiate.

Section 1 of the MOU says that the basis for the document include "the charter of the United Nations, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea."

"We are recognizing the claim of China which we defeated when we won the case. And so my worry, really, by entering into this agreement to agree, we have already waived the decision," Hilbay said.

The Philippines, under President Rodrigo Duterte, has not pressed China on the ruling, to the disappointment of many Filipinos, as indicated by a recent survey. Meanwhile, the Asian giant rejects the arbitral ruling and stands by its sweeping claim over the South China Sea.

China also continues its militarization of the West Philippine Sea, recently installing weather stations on artificial islands it built there.

A Filipino TV crew was also reportedly told off by a Chinese coast guard that they could not conduct an interview on Scarborough Shoal  which is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone - without permission from the Chinese government.

READ: Senators want PH to protest supposed harassment of TV crew in Scarborough

"That is the attitude that I find really problematic. At the highest levels and the lowest levels, China doesn't respect our rights over the West Philippine Sea. And yet we enter into this contract with them recognizing their rights," Hilbay said.

While experts say that the Hague ruling is a legal and moral victory for the Philippines, the government says the ruling is "useless" as it is unenforceable.

The Palace added that there must be a "collective action by the countries of the world to either persuade or pressure China" to follow the arbitral ruling.

But Hilbay said it falls in the hands of Manila and Beijing, as parties to the case, to enforce the ruling.

Duterte has repeatedly said he would bring up the Hague ruling with China within his six-year term, but has yet to do so.

In a forum last Friday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana bared that Duterte warned against "overly celebrating" the Philippines' victory in the arbitration case against China.

"If we're not interested in enforcing the judgement, then the whole world will not respect us. The whole world would not be joining forces with us in respecting freedom of navigation, for example," Hilbay said.

"The cost of [not enforcing the ruling] is from now until the next generations, and the rest of all the generations of Filipinos that will become Filipinos, they will tells us at some point, you gave up the West Philippine Sea, and we cannot get it back anymore," he said.

Even with the Duterte administration not keen on pressing China on the ruling, the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative has tracked 32 countries which welcomed the ruling, while eight countries, including the Philippines, have called for it to be respected.

Unconstitutional

Hilbay added that the joint oil and gas deal with China might be unconstitutional as it does not grant the Philippines full control over its natural resources in the West Philippine Sea.

"We're not sharing from an economic standpoint. We're sharing as a sovereign partner with them. That can't possibly be full control and supervision," Hilbay said, noting that the deal is different from the economic arrangement the country entered into with Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. in the Malampaya gas field.

Article XII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution states that "the exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State."

But the same provision in the Constitution also says that the President may enter into agreements with foreign-owned corporations involving either technical or financial assistance for large-scale exploration, development and utilization of minerals, petroleum, and other mineral oils.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in press briefing in Malacanang that the Constitution allows the joint exploration of natural resources.

"Mayroong sinasabi sa Constitution na pwede tayo mag-enter into contracts with respect to the exploration of natural resources. Basta provided 'yung constitutional limitation of ownership, 60-40, kailangan Pilipino," Panelo said.

The deal between the Philippines and China does not yet say how the two countries would split its profits from a joint development agreement.

Despite alarms raised by opposition personalities, acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said the Philippines is "pretty safe" with the agreement.

"The government has included service contractors. So if the cooperation with China would be through service contractors, we'll be very safe," Carpio said.

But Hilbay said he would be talking to some colleagues to challenge the agreement before the Supreme Court.

"This agreement is very dangerous, Maybe they didn't see the danger at first, hopefully, when they read it again, they re-read it again, maybe they'll realize the implication," he said.
Weeks after announcing a $127,000 sanction against Child Protective Services, a Harris County juvenile judge released a scathing order finding that the agency lied in court while wrongfully removing a Tomball couples children.

In a filing signed last week, Judge Mike Schneider wrote that the state agency abused the legal process and wasted the courts time and taxpayer money by purposely filing pleadings that included misstatements of fact and material omissions.

Still, CPS stands behind its handling of its case involving Melissa and Dillon Bright.

Our actions in this case were appropriate, spokeswoman Tejal Patel said in a statement. Going forward we will review our legal options.

The rare high-dollar sanction was the capstone on an unusual case in which an agency worker pleaded the Fifth Amendment repeatedly during a removal hearing where the judge ordered CPS to stay away from the two young children before ultimately giving them back to their parents.

Its pretty clear that the court in making this order was really upset with CPS, said family attorney Dennis Slate, who handled the case along with Stephanie Proffitt.

If CPS thinks its appropriate to lie to the court and to take the Fifth so they dont have to answer questions about those lies while theyre trying to keep peoples children, he added, then I think CPS really needs a top-down review of what they are doing and how they are doing it.

The legal wrangling all stems from an accident back in July, when 5-month-old Mason fell out of a lawn chair and hit his head on the driveway.

Related: Texas judge orders rare $127,000 sanction against CPS after wrongful removal of children

At the hospital later that day, the child abuse prevention team first told CPS that Melissa Bright's explanation of the injury was a likely one, according to court records. But then an MRI revealed that Mason had a second, hairline fracture and bleeding in his brain.

The second fracture, the abuse team decided, would have come from a separate incident. And, there was more bleeding than there should have been. When Melissa couldn't offer an alternate explanation for it all, the team deemed the injuries consistent with child abuse.

Before Mason left the hospital, a CPS supervisor decided the kids would have to go live with Dillon's mother in Baytown, more than an hour away.

In the weeks that followed, the injuries didnt heal as expected, and caring for a baby with serious medical needs became too much for Dillons mother. Armed with evidence that their babys excessive bleeding was possibly the result of a blood disorder and not abuse, the Brights started lobbying for a better placement  closer to home, with Melissas mother.

But, despite promising to address it and admitting they didnt have grounds to take the kids, according to court records, the agency never approved the switch. So finally, on Aug. 28, Dillon told caseworker Lavar Jones that they were bringing the baby home. No one from CPS contacted the family again until three weeks later, when Jones texted Melissa on Sept. 18 to ask how the baby was. She replied, sending along happy photos and a health update.

The next day, the state  without notifying the Brights  entered a petition asking for emergency custody of the children, a filing the judge described as a groundless pleading that failed to mention that the kids had been safe at home for 22 days.

That evening, Jones showed up at the Brights home and took the children, separating them in different foster homes. While in foster care, the older child  2-year-old Charlotte  was injured, which the judge wrote would not have happened were it not for the illegal, fraudulent and unreasonable acts of the agency.

Then, in early October, the court held a three-day hearing to figure out whether the state had enough cause to keep the kids. When questioned about the earlier claims he'd made during the Sept. 19 emergency hearing and about the agency's reasons for removing the kids, Jones pleaded the Fifth  an usual move that the judge honed in on in his order last week.

It can be inferred from the context of Mr. Joness other testimony, Schneider wrote, that he invoked his Fifth Amendment at the adversary hearing to avoid admitting to prior perjury.

The judge also criticized the agency for intentionally making a false statement in the caseworkers sworn affidavit alleging that there were no hematology problems  like the blood disorder  that could explain Masons injuries.

Following the Nov. 8 ruling and last weeks order, the state now has until early December to create a training program for workers and supervisors in the Houston region.

keri.blakinger@chron.com

twitter.com/keribla
A Harris County deputy says a former neighbor sent him disturbing Facebook messages threatening him and his family.

Jason Keith Walden, 45, was arrested Sunday and charged with felony stalking after the Precinct 4 deputy recognized him in a voicemail.

Two weeks ago, Walden allegedly contacted the officer using three fake Facebook profiles, listed as Alisha Will, Alisha Will, and Gucci Man, according to court records.

Over the course of three days, Walden used the fake profiles and Facebook messenger app to call the deputy more than 100 times and leave threatening voicemails.

The officer said one or more of the voicemails were about killing him and eating his children.

On Nov. 18, Walden allegedly left the following voicemail transcribed in court documents:

"Motherf**** when you wake up in the morning I'm going to be waiting around the corner, I'm going to kill you. I'm going to pull you over you little constable and I am going to drag you out of your car and I am going to smush your head on the concrete because you're so ugly, okay? As you leave this morning, watch out, all the way on your way to work, better be careful okay? Say goodbye to your family. Bye bye."

Court documents say Facebook was able to confirm the fake accounts were create using the same phone number, belonging to Walden.

Stalking is a third-degree felony in Texas. If convicted, Walden may face a sentence between 2 to 10 years. He is currently in custody in a $5,000 bond.

ICYMI: Special needs son given Confederate flag hat by coach, Texas mom says

Fernando Ramirez is a digital reporter for Chron.com and Houstonchronicle.com. Read him on our breaking news site and on our subscriber site. Follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email him at Fernando.ramirez@chron.com.
WASHINGTON  Debate over border policy sharpened on Monday after U.S. authorities fired tear gas at members of a Central American migrant caravan trying to force their way across the border near Tijuana over the weekend.

The incident, which briefly shut down part of the border in California to all traffic, provided political fodder to both sides as lawmakers face a Dec. 7 deadline to fund President Donald Trumps proposed border wall.

Trump told reporters Monday that border officials had to use tear gas Sunday. They were being rushed by some very tough people, he said. Heres the bottom line: No one is coming into our country unless they come in legally.

Trump took an even more aggressive line on Twitter earlier in the day.

Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries, Trump tweeted. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!

A number of Texas Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke  who fell short in his bid to unseat Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz this month, sharply criticized the use of gas on migrant protesters.

For subscribers: Government funding, border wall await lame-duck Congress

It should tell us something about her home country that a mother is willing to travel 2,000 miles with her 4-month-old son to come here, ORourke said in a statement through his campaign organization. It should tell us something about our country that we only respond to this desperate need once she is at our border. So far, in this administration, that response has included taking kids from their parents, locking them up in cages, and now tear gassing them at the border.

Some immigration hard-liners from Texas portrayed the border skirmish as a sign of an escalating crisis.

Thousands of Additional Migrants Headed to U.S. Border, wrote U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Tyler Republican, in a tweet linking to a Breitbart news account of new migrants joining the estimated 5,000 who have arrived in Tijuana in recent days.

Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, noted on Twitter that the Mexican government has increased security since Sundays melee, which saw women and children choking on tear gas that the U.S. had lobbed onto the Mexican side of the border.

The rush on the border took place after Trump suggested in a tweet Saturday that migrants at the southern border will stay in Mexico until their claims are individually approved in court.

Would be very SMART if Mexico would stop the Caravans long before they get to our Southern Border, or if originating countries would not let them form (it is a way they get certain people out of their country and dump in U.S. No longer), Trump tweeted on Sunday. Dems created this problem. No crossings!

Authorities in the incoming Mexican administration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent mixed signals about whether any deal had been reached or whether they would cooperate with Trumps plan. However, Mexicos Foreign Relations Department said it had presented a diplomatic note to the U.S. Embassy asking for an exhaustive investigation of the use of nonlethal force.

Related: As new Mexican president takes office, experts foresee rocky relations with U.S.

Refugees International President Eric Schwartz urged the governments of Mexico and the United States to suspend any discussion of an agreement that would force asylum seekers to remain in Mexico pending a determination of their U.S. asylum claims.

The Trump administration is asking the government of Mexico to facilitate and endorse abusive policies that will harm individuals fleeing persecution, Schwartz said in a statement. The proposed agreement flies in the face of international refugee law and policy to which the United States and Mexico have long been committed. Mexico should not be bullied into doing this.

Meanwhile lawmakers and activists on both sides of the immigration issue expressed growing alarm over the border fracas, which began as a small group of migrants attempted to climb fences and run through car lanes to reach the U.S.

State Sen. Sylvia Garcia of Houston, one of one two Latinas newly-elected to Congress from Texas, retweeted a statement by the nonprofit group Catholic Democrats saying there is no bottom when it comes to the current occupant of the White House and his party. He will do things like use tear gas on poor, hungry, exhausted little children. It is up to us to name such a shameful practice and do what we can to stop it.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, condemned the actions of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other U.S. authorities on the border, which has been militarized with federal troops in recent weeks by the Trump administration.

The decision to gas asylum seekersincluding many women and childrenwas cruel, unnecessary, and inconsistent with who we are and who we aspire to be as a nation, said Castro, who also serves as first vice chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Some conservative groups, noting that some CBP officers had been pelted with rocks and bottles, appealed to a sense of rising danger long fostered by Trumps call for a border wall. In an email to supporters, Judicial Watch spokesman Carter Clews cited mounting tension as thousands of militant, illegal alien invaders storm our border.

The Trump administration is currently in court defending a new plan to limit asylum requests only to migrants who present themselves legally at U.S. ports of entry. The migrant protests appear to have been fueled by a sense of desperation as thousands wait in camps in Tijuana, where authorities say they can only process about 40 to 100 cases a day.

ORourke, who on Monday said he was no longer ruling out a 2020 presidential bid, proposed that U.S. authorities set up an orderly process to handle claims more expeditiously in the United States.

Lets do this the right way and follow our own laws, ORourke said. Allow asylum seekers to petition for asylum at our ports of entry. They must do so peacefully and follow our laws. But we must also ensure the capacity to effectively and timely process those claims. Those who have a credible fear of returning to their home country (as determined by a U.S. judge) will be able stay until their full asylum request has been determined.
There's a common misconception about working with headhunters, recruiters, and employment agencies: while it's true that IT recruiters can be valuable matchmakers, connecting talented technology professionals with companies in need of their skills and experience, these firms work for employers, not for you. And they are merely channels through which you may secure an employment opportunity, says Ford R. Myers, career coach, speaker and author of "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's Hiring."

First, it's helpful to understand the difference among recruiting professionals, Myers explains.Placement agencies that charge a fee should be avoided completely, he says. Contingency-fee recruiters are paid a percentage of the candidate's salary  but only if they actually place a new employee. Proceed with extreme caution if using a contingency recruiter; they're out to make a placement, any placement, regardless of fit, he says. Retained executive search firms are the classic 'headhunters,' who are granted an exclusive right to conduct a search on behalf of their client company and are paid a consulting fee even if the search is unsuccessful.

Following some important guidelines will help you get the most out of working with recruiters.

Be selective, but open to new opportunities

Be careful and selective in choosing which recruiters you want to work with, and politely decline to work with those who don't appeal to you or are inappropriate for your situation, Myers says.

"Before you agree to work with a firm or an individual recruiter, interview them and ask for recommendations. Are they reputable? Respectable? Myers advises.

One of the best ways to find a reputable, respectable recruiter or search firm is through networking and personal connections, much the same way you look for open job roles, he says.

"Ask your friends, family members, even colleagues who they worked with successfully. People are going to talk about their bad experiences first and foremost, so you'll more easily know whom to avoid," Myers says.

Take the call

Sometimes, though, recruiters are the ones making the initial contact, says Shravan Goli, chief product officer and head of consumer revenue at online training platform Coursera and former president of Dice.com, and you should always pick up that call.

Fundamentally, recruiters just want a yes or a no on the initial outreach, so they can put a slate of candidates together quickly, Goli says. For candidates, it's always a good practice to respond to the initial outreach. If the recruiter doesn't recognize a 'no' or sends a job that doesn't match your passions and interest, then technology professionals can always block them, he says.

Be honest

Make sure youre honest with your recruiter about your job objectives, past compensation, desired salary, geographical preferences and other details. When you're working with internal recruiting and HR professionals, though, you can hold some of this detail back, Myers says.

"With external recruiters, they're motivated not just to find you a well-suited position, but to land you a higher paycheck  they receive their commission based on that amount. With internal professionals, they're motivated to save their business money by getting you to take the job at a lower salary," Myers says.

Never pay for anything

Never pay any sort of "registration fee" or any other money for anything in the whole recruiting process! All the search firm's fees should be paid by the employer.

Ask the right questions

When interviewing, make sure that the job is exactly what the recruiter described. Confirm (and re-confirm, if necessary) the salient job details, responsibilities and compensation. You don't want to be blindsided on your first days and weeks at a new job with responsibilities and duties you weren't prepared for, Myers says.

You should be asking questions not just about the role, benefits, perks and salary, but dig a bit deeper to fully understand the context around why the role is available, the health of the hiring company and other salient information. Some of the questions you should be asking include:

Why me? Finding out why a particular recruiter chose to contact you can help you better understand your chances at landing that role, too, says Joseph Roualdes, formerly corporate communications group manager, LinkedIn Talent Solutions, and now head of communications and social media, OpenGov. Asking why that recruiter contacted you gives you greater insight into why he or she thinks you're a great fit for the company, and asking how they found you helps you understand the amount of effort they put into finding the best person for the job -- not just a person for the job, he says.

Finding out why a particular recruiter chose to contact you can help you better understand your chances at landing that role, too, says Joseph Roualdes, formerly corporate communications group manager, LinkedIn Talent Solutions, and now head of communications and social media, OpenGov. Asking why that recruiter contacted you gives you greater insight into why he or she thinks you're a great fit for the company, and asking how they found you helps you understand the amount of effort they put into finding the best person for the job -- not just a person for the job, he says. Where did you find me? The answer to this question will provide insight on what's working in your job search. Did they find you through LinkedIn? Was it a referral? "This can be interesting information. It could tell you if your resume/profile is working, or who to thank for the referral, which might lead to further networking," says Penny Locey, vice president, Keystone Associates.

The answer to this question will provide insight on what's working in your job search. Did they find you through LinkedIn? Was it a referral? "This can be interesting information. It could tell you if your resume/profile is working, or who to thank for the referral, which might lead to further networking," says Penny Locey, vice president, Keystone Associates. How many people have you placed with this company? This question is designed to give insight into the relationship between the recruiter and the hiring organization. Let's face it: Most people use recruiters because they think their relationship with a given company gives them a better chance of landing an interview, so finding out whether this particular recruiter can get you an edge is critical. "It's very important to understand the relationship between the recruiter and the hiring organization, says Goli. Tech professionals should always ask if the recruiter has worked on behalf of the company in the past and if they had success placing a candidate. If they have worked with the company in the past, the recruiter will be better informed about the culture and the interview process," says Goli.

This question is designed to give insight into the relationship between the recruiter and the hiring organization. Let's face it: Most people use recruiters because they think their relationship with a given company gives them a better chance of landing an interview, so finding out whether this particular recruiter can get you an edge is critical. "It's very important to understand the relationship between the recruiter and the hiring organization, says Goli. Tech professionals should always ask if the recruiter has worked on behalf of the company in the past and if they had success placing a candidate. If they have worked with the company in the past, the recruiter will be better informed about the culture and the interview process," says Goli. Why is the company hiring? Why is the position available? Knowing why the company is putting someone on the payroll can help you better craft your resume and help direct your interview preparation. It can also tell you valuable information about the health of the company, the management style and the prospects for career growth. Is this a new or existing position? What happened to the former person in the role? What is the general turnover rate in this department? In the company as a whole? What are the opportunities for advancement if I succeed in this role? The answers to these questions will help you better formulate a strategy that will get you hired.

In addition, you should ask any or all of the following before you agree to let an IT recruiter present you to a potential employer:

Tell me about the companies and roles you've suggested to me. What makes them compelling opportunities?

How did you come into contact with this company?

Whats the hiring timeline?

What can you tell me about the team and manager I would be working with?

What are the most important deliverables within the first six months?

What can I expect in the interview process?

Demand respect and communication

Remember that you are the source of the recruiter's income, even if You are entitled to courtesy and respect, as well as honest and prompt answers to your questions. Be persistent but remember, too, that you're not the recruiter's only client, Myers says.

It is a common misconception is that, when recruiters get new job orders, they first look through the resumes they already have in their system in an attempt to fill that role  not true, Myers says. This underscores the importance of staying in regular contact.

"When you call a recruiter, they don't care about you unless they happen to have an open job order that fits your qualifications exactly, that happens to be sitting on their desk right in front of them. If you get lucky and call or e-mail at exactly the right time and all the stars align, they'll be really happy to hear from you because you've given them a great opportunity to get a commission. If not, don't take it personally. I recommend my clients call their recruiters and search firms every two weeks to maintain contact," he says.

Play the field

Do not sign any contract or make any agreement that obligates you to work exclusively with one search agency, as that will diminish the power you have over your own job search.

"Never, ever sign an exclusive arrangement with anyone. Sometimes I hear of firms and recruiters who demand that job seekers sign an exclusivity arrangement. That's not acceptable. Many times, the fine print will say, 'If you leave that job within a certain amount of time, you're on to hook to pay us our fee,' and you don't want to be responsible for that," he says.

Maintain control

Myers recommends you assume the same supervisory role with recruiters that you take with employees. "When working with any type of executive search firm or recruiter, you must maintain control of them and their activities. Even though the search firm is not working for you, I tell my clients to supervise the work of recruiters as though they were managing a group of employees," says Myers.

Make sure youre keeping abreast of whos sending your resume to potential employers and where those resumes are going; often, companies will disqualify candidates whose resume is received from more than one source to avoid getting in the middle of a turf war between recruiters, Michael Spiro, director of recruiting, NE Ohio region for Experis Finance, wrote in a blog post.

Ask that your resume and other information not be forwarded to any prospective employer without your prior approval. Again, you need to maintain control over your job search efforts, and you also don't want to duplicate efforts, Myers says. "While it doesn't sound like a big deal, fielding resumes from the same candidate through a variety of sources could jeopardize your ability to land a role at that company, and it makes you seem disorganized and lacking in attention to detail," Myers says.

In addition, you want to besure that the recruiter does not edit your resume or any other documents without your permission. Again, this is key to maintaining control and responsibility for your own job search and career path, says Myers. If you feel your resume could use some tweaking, you should consider working with a career coach or a professional resume writer  don't just let the recruiter have a go at edits and changes, he says.

Another thing you don't want to rely on the recruiter for is salary negotiation. You must either conduct the negotiations yourself, or at least be actively involved in the negotiation process, Myers says.

Broaden your job search

While recruiters and headhunters can play a valuable role in any job search, Myers advises focusing only a small percentage of your job-search energies here.

"The only person who's going to get you a job, and who's truly going to care about your long-term job success is you. Recruiters are only one tool in the job search arsenal to help you find and land a job, along with research, direct applications and professional networking. I tell clients that 95 percent of their search time and effort should be in networking, and the other 5 percent should be 'everything else,' into which recruiters fall. I can't emphasize the point enough: don't rely solely on recruiters to land you a job," Myers says.
Barclays is to start charging "thousands" of charities and community groups for its accountancy services after conducting a review.

The bank offers community accountancy services, including making and receiving payments, for free to charities with an annual turnover of less than 100,000.

But the bank has reviewed its service and found that thousands of organisations it provided free services to have increased their income to above the threshold and are no longer eligible.

The Times reported today that an estmated 5,000 not-for-profit organisations will be affected.

A spokesperson for Barclays said its turnover limit was introduced in the 1990s and that it has offered discounts to charity customers now being charged following the review if they have been with the bank for more than a year.

They said the bank offers free community accountancy services to 135,000 not-for-profit and community organisations.

They said: "In line with other banks and in order to allow this free service to be focused on smaller charities and clubs where it can have the most benefit, free services are provided for organisations with a ceiling of 100,000 for annual turnover."

Lloyds Banking Group offers a similar free banking service, although its turnover limit is 50,000.

Charities told to shop around

Caron Bradshaw, chief executive of Charity Finance Group, advised charities to "shop around" to find the best community accountancy service for them.

She said: "Different banks offer different levels of service and charities and community groups should not be afraid to shop around for the best deal for their organisations.



Often charities, particularly small ones, will stay with the same bank sometimes because it is the bank the treasurer uses for their personal banking.

"We encourage charities to look at the relationship in the round - fees may be a small price to pay for great relationship management or for access to branches.

"However if a bank isnt meeting the needs of the charity, trustees should be prepared to move their business.
Our weekly summary of the latest movers in the charity sector.

Chief executives

Christine Allen will rejoin Cafod as its director. She first worked for the development charity as a campaigner at the beginning of her career and currently works for Christian Aid. Read the full story here.

The Access Project, a charity that works to get bright students from disadvantaged backgrounds into top universities, has announced that its new chief executive will be Nathan Sansom. He has previously held senior roles at the Challenge Network, Starfish and Frontline and within the civil service where he worked on the development of National Citizen Service.

Ashley McCaul has joined ThinkForward, which supports young people at risk of unemployment, as chief executive. For the last 13 years, she has led the charity, London Skills for Growth, a post 16 education provider with bases across East and South East London.

The British Geriatrics Society has appointed Sarah Mistry as its new chief executive. She joins next February and will succeed Colin Nee who announced his retirement from the BGS earlier this year. Mistry has worked at Bond first as director of effectiveness and learning, then as director of programmes and partnerships.

Finance and operations

Paul Stevenson is set to join Mencap as its chief finance officer in January. He is a former CFO supply chain at Burberry and is currently studying for a Masters at Cass Business Schools Centre for Charity Effectiveness.

Fundraising and communications

Homelessness charity Depaul UK has appointed Paul McKenzie as its new executive director of fundraising and communication. He is currently head of philanthropy and partnerships at Battersea, is set to take up his new post with Depaul UK on 2 January 2019. Read the full story here.

Non-executive roles

The Labour peer Lord Harris will become the next chair of the Fundraising Regulator when Michael Grade completes his term. Read the full story here.

Tony Stoller has been appointed as chair of Orchestra Live, an organisation that works to provide access to orchestral experiences to communities across the country.

To tell us about your charity's latest appointments please email: [email protected].
The United States has been fortifying its southern border against the caravan of migrants from Central American nations, mostly by stringing sharp wire along the existing fence. But just what have they been using?

Reuters called it barbed wire. The Los Angeles Times has called it concertina wire and razor wire. The Associated Press covered all bases, calling it barbed wire, concertina wire, and razor wire in the same article.

Because President Trump always has to be different, in his call to troops on Thanksgiving he called it barbed wire, barbed wire-plus, and what he pronounced as co-zen-TEEN-ah wire, co-zen-TEEN-ee wire. (If he meant concertina wire, dictionaries use the pronunciation con-ser-TEEN-ah.)

These wires all have barbs, or sharp protrusions designed to catch anyone or anything trying to get to the other side of it. This use of the word barb traces back to around 1400, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, referring to A sharp process curving back from the point of a piercing weapon (e.g. an arrow or spear, which have two, a fish-hook, which has one), rendering its extraction from a wound, etc., more difficult.

But not all barbed wire is the same.

Barbed wire showed up around 1874, the OED says, though it is also spelled barbwire, barb wire, and barb-wire. The inventor is unclear; both the Devils Rope Museum in McLean, Texas, and the Kansas Barbed Wire Museum in La Crosse say that some forms were patented in France in the early 1860s. A New Yorker named Michael Kelly developed a type of fence and wire resembling the barbed wire we know today, with short pieces of wire wrapped around and sticking up from a longer piece. As the Kansas museum said, Had his invention been properly promoted, he could have gained distinction as the Father of Barbed Wire. But that distinction goes to Joseph F. Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois. The Glidden wire was unique, consisting of one wire holding evenly-spaced barbs along its length, the Devils Rope Museum says. A second barb-less wire was twisted around the first wire thus doubling its strength, durability and also holding the many barbs in place. (Yes, there are at least two barbed wire museums, and many books and societies celebrating it.) Today, there are hundreds of different barbed wires and patents.

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As the AP reported, the stuff being deployed at the border is called concertina wire, named after the musical instrument and its expanding and contracting bellows. (The accordion, a similar instrument, is more unwieldy and has that piano-like keyboard on one side, which may be why it lost out to the more portable concertina. Some do call it accordion wire, though.) Concertina wire comes in flat coils that expand; instead of the twisted barbs commonly found on barbed wire there are flat, razor-sharp protrusions on both sides.

Concertina wire dates to World War I, when it was first deployed as a mobile fence to both protect troops and prevent advances by the enemy. It was also called gooseberry wire, according to Nothing of Importance: A Record of Eight Months at the Front With a Welsh Battalion, October, 1915, To June, 1916 by Bernard Adams. He also wrote: There was what might be called a concertina craze on: innumerable coils of barbed wire were converted into concertinas by the simple process of winding them round and round seven upright stakes in the ground. . . . They were easily made up in the trench, quickly put up, and when put out in two parallel rows, about a yard apart, and joined together with plenty of barbed wire tangled in loosely, were as good an obstacle as could be made.

So, in some ways, concertina wire is simply rolled-up barbed wire.

Razor wire and concertina wire are synonymous to everyone but the cognoscenti. As the website for a Chinese company selling all kinds of sharp wires says, in imperfect English: Razor wire features pointed barbs at regular intervals along the central strand. If a person or an animal that is trying to go through barbed wire fence may get cuts and grazes. Concertina wire has sharp blades which can slice deep into your flesh and cause fatal injuries sometimes. Barbed wire provides general security, the site continues. Concertina wire is very powerful to threaten intentional invades.

We will just have to wait to see whether this cozenteena wire actually stops the intentional invades of people seeking asylum in the United States.

MORE FROM CJR: What Ive learned from two years trying to shift narratives about the South

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Merrill Perlman managed copy desks across the newsroom at the New York Times, where she worked for twenty-five years. Follow her on Twitter at @meperl.
On Friday, as Americans digested their Thanksgiving dinners, headed out shopping, or stayed in to catch a game, the White House slipped out a dire report on the worsening impact of climate change. The report, issued by 13 federal agencies as part of the Congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment, warned that increasingly frequent natural disasters, like the wildfires ravaging California, could help shear 10 percent off the US economy by 2100 if swift action is not taken. The timing of the reports release struck many journalists and politicians as a ploy to bury conclusions that contradict President Trumps extreme deregulatory climate agenda. The hunch was borne out by the Timess Coral Davenport, who reported that the White House did indeed bet on diminished public interest over Thanksgiving.

Using holidays to dump bad news is a timeworn tactic. This time, however, it appears to have backfired, at least to some extent. In news cycles past, a terrifying official report would have driven the agenda for days; in Trumps Washington, such stories can get submerged within minutes. The relatively quiet holiday weekend at least gave the report a greater share of the available public attention. And Thanksgiving or not, journalists are in no mood to let this president slide embarrassing news out the back door. As Penn State climate scientist Michael E. Mann tweeted Friday, Ironically, Trump trying to bury climate report is such a compelling media narrative that it might lead to GREATER coverage of the National Climate Assessment.

ICYMI: What the Times got wrong about kids and phones

The report got big play on Saturday morning. Using the Newseums online gallery of newspaper covers, CJR found that at least 140 titles nationwide put the story prominently on their front page, including the Times, the Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Miami Herald. More than 20 of these papers were in California, where wildfires continue to offer a strong news peg. Other titles, from Maine to Hawaii and Florida to Washington state, led off the report with their own localized looks at the impact of climate change. In Mississippi, the Jackson Clarion-Ledger splashed that the issue has been absent from the states upcoming US Senate run-off between Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith (whose comments about the Confederacy and attending a public hanging have dominated the debate) and Democratic challenger Mike Espy.

This widespread coverage was a positive outcome. On the whole, however, the media is still falling desperately short. With some praiseworthy exceptions, coverage of the California fires has not asserted a strong enough link to climate changewhich does not, on its own, cause wildfires, but does facilitate and intensify them as rising temperatures make kindling of vegetation. However dire their predictions, official reports remain, to varying degrees, abstractions for news consumers. The media should cite them high up in their stories whenever real-life climate tragedieswith their graphic images of human sufferingstrike, and vice versa.

On the Sunday shows yesterday, the tenor of some coverage was much worse. NBCs Meet the Press gave a platform to the American Enterprise Institutes Danielle Pletkaa self-professed not a scientistwho used her airtime to assert that we shouldnt be hysterical about climate change because we just had two of the coldest years that we have had since the 1980s. On CNNs State of the Union, meanwhile, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said climate scientists are driven by money.

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Paying attention to climate change, and treating it as a factual matter of settled scientific consensus, are bare minimums for the media. It was thus depressing, over the weekend, that the former counted as a victory while some prominent news organizations could not even manage the latter. It is positive that Trumps news dump backfired. But when it comes to burying the reality of climate change, the news media is still complicit.

Below, more on climate change:

A good example: The release of the National Climate Assessment did dovetail with some nice enterprise reporting over the weekend. As of Monday morning, the Times still led its homepage with Somini Senguptas dispatch from Vietnam on the global coal industry and Abrahm Lustgartens investigation, in partnership with ProPublica, about the devastating consequences of US biofuels regulations in Indonesia.

The release of the National Climate Assessment did dovetail with some nice enterprise reporting over the weekend. As of Monday morning, the Times still led its homepage with Somini Senguptas dispatch from Vietnam on the global coal industry and Abrahm Lustgartens investigation, in partnership with ProPublica, about the devastating consequences of US biofuels regulations in Indonesia. A TV failure: Media Matters for Americas John Whitehouse has a good Twitter thread rounding up some of the weekends worst TV climate coverage. He also re-ups MMFAs finding, first published in February, that Sunday news shows did not feature a single scientist during any climate-related segment in 2016 or 2017.

Media Matters for Americas John Whitehouse has a good Twitter thread rounding up some of the weekends worst TV climate coverage. He also re-ups MMFAs finding, first published in February, that Sunday news shows did not feature a single scientist during any climate-related segment in 2016 or 2017. The shoe fits: On CNN, Brian Stelter pointed out that Fox News only mentioned the climate report once on Friday, devoting more airtime to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs shoes.

On CNN, Brian Stelter pointed out that Fox News only mentioned the climate report once on Friday, devoting more airtime to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs shoes. A shrinking planet: ICYMI last week, The New Yorker published this haunting deep-dive on our changing climate by the environmentalist and campaigner Bill McKibben. Climate change, like urban sprawl or gun violence, has become such a familiar term that we tend to read past it, McKibben writes.

ICYMI last week, The New Yorker published this haunting deep-dive on our changing climate by the environmentalist and campaigner Bill McKibben. Climate change, like urban sprawl or gun violence, has become such a familiar term that we tend to read past it, McKibben writes. False balance: In the UK, the BBC has repeatedly drawn criticism for giving a platform to climate change deniers. In a September note to staffers, the broadcaster admitted it had got its coverage wrong too often, and offered training on how to report on global warming.



Other notable stories:

High drama in the UK, where a Conservative Party lawmaker investigating the Cambridge Analytica scandal used an arcane legal procedure to escort a US software executive to Parliament to hand over sensitive documents from inside Facebook. The pressure on Facebook did not let up over the Thanksgiving break following the firms admission last Wednesday that executives had, in fact, asked hired PR guns to link its critics to George Soros.

In better news for Facebook, Politico reports that Europes stringent new privacy regime has so far favored big tech. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has dampened investment in startups on the EU tech scene, write Mark Scott, Laurens Cerulus, and Laura Kayali. At the same time, no Silicon Valley giant has yet felt the sting of eye-watering financial penalties linked to the rules as regulators struggle to keep up with an increased workload.

ICYMI over Thanksgiving, the daughters of the murdered Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi wrote this beautiful reflection for the Post, where their late father was a contributor. Fallout from Trumps refusal to hold Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the killing continued over the weekendin the US, where a bevy of Republican senators publicly questioned the presidents conclusion, and in Tunisia, where activists asked a court to bar MBS from entering the country.

The Timess Patrick Kingsley and Benjamin Novak profile Origo, a fiercely independent Hungarian news website that became a puppet of Viktor Orbans increasingly autocratic regime. Since winning power in 2010, Mr. Orban has steadily eroded institutional checks and balances, especially the independent media, the pair write. His government now oversees state-owned news outlets, while his allies control most of the countrys private media sources, creating a virtual echo chamber for Mr. Orbans far right, anti-immigrant views.

Also in the Times, Amy Chozick interviews Kristine E. Guillaume, who recently became the first black woman to lead The Harvard Crimson in its 145-year history.

The conservative conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi, a former Washington bureau chief for Infowars, has entered plea talks with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the Post reports. Corsi, an associate of prominent Trump backer Roger Stone, has come under the spotlight in recent weeks as Mueller investigates whether the Trump campaign had advance knowledge of WikiLeakss October 2016 dump of emails from inside Hillary Clintons camp.

And for CJR, Shira Hanau, a reporter at the New York Jewish Week, reflects on covering last months massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. While other reporters went through the motions of reporting on a shooting I found myself performing an altogether different role, Hanau writes. I, along with reporters from other Jewish publications did the job of ethnic media: we were there as an extension of the national Jewish community, offering comfort to our readers and to our subjects, simply by doing our jobs.

ICYMI: Climate change plays second fiddle as California burns

Correction: Sundays Meet the Press was on NBC, not MSNBC. The post has been updated.

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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.
When Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg refused to appear before Britains parliament in May to answer questions about Facebooks role in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, he may have assumed there would be few repercussions. But in an unprecedented move over the US Thanksgiving weekend, the British government used a little-known feature of UK law to compel a tech executive to hand over documents related to a court case between his company and Facebook. Whats more, the British MP who pushed parliament to do so is threatening to make all the documents public, even though they have been sealed by a US court.

The way this incident played out seems like a scene from a James Bond movie: the executiveTed Kramer, CEO of a company called Six4Threewas ordered to surrender documents he had on his laptop, including email conversations with Facebook about a dispute over API access for his app. When Kramer refused, the Serjeant-at-Arms, the person in charge of official protocol in parliament, showed up at his hotel room and escorted him to the House of Commons, where Kramer was forced to turn the files over to the committee or potentially face a fine, or even imprisonment.

Not only is it rare for Britains parliament to compel an executive to turn over documents in this way, but Kramer is an American citizen who just happened to be on a business trip to London, which makes the British governments jurisdiction over him questionable. In addition, the documents that the MPDamian Collins, the head of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committeewanted turned over have been sealed by a California court, and therefore arent supposed to be made public.

AMERICA: Everything about this story is extraordinary. This almost never happens. UK Parliament sent sergeant-at-arms to US citizens hotel to seize internal Facebook docs alleged to contain explosive revelations relating to Cambridge Analytica data abusehttps://t.co/NmW8agFv6S  Carole Cadwalladr (@carolecadwalla) November 24, 2018

This may be the first time it has been used successfully in a case involving Facebook, but its not the first time a member of Britains parliament has threatened the company with a formal summons to appear. Earlier this year, Collins said publicly that the next time Mark Zuckerberg happened to be on a business trip to the UK, he could be served with a summons and effectively forced to testify before the House of Commons committee.

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We are in uncharted territory, Collins told The Observer about his use of the summons to seize documents from Kramer. This is an unprecedented move but its an unprecedented situation. Weve failed to get answers from Facebook and we believe the documents contain information of very high public interest. It misled us about Russian involvement on the platform. And it has not answered our questions about who knew what, when with regards to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Ironically, given Mark Zuckerbergs history, the app involved in the Six4Three lawsuit was designed to find photos of attractive women in bathing suits (before Facebook, Zuckerberg created an app called FaceMash that allowed users to rate female students based on their attractiveness). But Collins isnt interested in the companys documents because he cares about the details of the lawsuit between Six4Three and Facebook. Instead, Collins seems to be hoping the emails and other documents will show how the social network handled access to personal information in cases similar to the Cambridge Analytica fiasco.

To recap that case, in 2014 Facebooks API still allowed apps to suck up data on all of a users Facebook friends whenever a user registered with an app. That kind of access was later turned off, but before it went away, a researcher who created a personality quiz got access to friend data on 50 million users and then gave or sold that data to Cambridge Analytica, in contravention of Facebooks rules. Cambridge then allegedly used some of that data to create psychographic profiles of potential voters, and may have used those profiles to target content on Facebook, including content related to Donald Trumps campaign for president in 2016.

It seems likely that Collins (who has a reputation within Britain for being a bit of a show-off) wanted to send a very public message to Facebook and its CEO that the British government is not something to be trifled with. Whether or not the Six4Three document trove contains anything like a smoking gun with which to go after Facebook or its data policies remains to be seen.

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Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
A month after Donald Trump was elected president, my fellowship at a magazine ended and I moved from Colorado back home to Kentucky to report on the American South. Seen from afar through the national medias lens, the place I love seemed sorely misunderstood and misrepresented. The entire region was dubbed Trump countrya title some outlets recently affirmed in their midterms coverageand reporters set dispatches in strip clubs and diners while making a mockery of peoples frustrations and concerns. In many stories, glaring problemssystemic discrimination, pollution, and exploitative industrieswere largely invisible. I was eager to listen, learn, and understand how to change that.

I started Southerly as a newsletter in late 2016, to shed light on overlooked news and longform stories about the complicated relationship Southerners have with their environment. As I worked, I also dug into the Souththrough books by Southern authors like Jesmyn Ward and Wendell Berry, through well-known magazines such as Oxford American. I traveled every chance I could to report on the ground or attend conferences, from the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana to Whitesburg, Kentucky, to Durham, North Carolina. Plenty of news outlets betray their biases when they dont interrogate them; for me, Southerly was not only a way to dissect the region Im from, but also a platform where I could confront my own biases as I challenged others.

Related: Dissatisfied with the national medias frame, Appalachia finds its own voice

That work won me trust and credibility, along with an audience of subscribers whose ranks include people who know well the nuances of this region but are often ignored by national media: longtime activists, students just getting involved in political and social movements, and more conservative readers including former and current industry workers and government employees. Readers, especially those from the South, have told me how hungry they are for stronger reporting about the region. They want stories beyond the Trump rally full of unemployed coal miners and the irony of communities who vote Republican despite losing land to sea-level rise.

Its been two years since journalists who live on the coasts and work at national publications vowed to do better, to dig deeper, to reject stereotypes and take the middle of America more seriously. But not much has changed.

Now, Southerly is an independent media organization, currently funded mostly by readers via Patreon, that publishes original reporting about ecology, justice, and culture in the region. The first series of stories was published in collaboration with like-minded Southern start-up Scalawag and the century-plus-old Montgomery Advertiseroutlets whose regional and national reach could help shift the Souths narrative. As a freelancer, I can sustain myself reporting on environmental justice, energy transitions, and climate change, without reducing landscapes and communities I love to stereotypes.

Its been two years since journalists who live on the coasts and work at national publications vowed to do better, to dig deeper, to reject stereotypes and take the middle of America more seriously. But not much has changed; they still parachute in, make assumptions, and move on. The real workthe work thats reaching new audiences while informing national reporters and important legal casesis still happening here on the ground.

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This past spring, I reported on the infamous poop train event, when train cars full of New York Citys raw sewage stalled in towns outside of Birmingham for more than two months, making people sick and causing disturbances. It made national news: clickbait headlines said the train had people raising a big stink, editors used emoji poop icons as the lead photos, and even The New York Times took advantage of toilet-related puns. Most publications stopped covering the story after declaring Febreze freshened up the area.

When I called the mayor of Parrish, Alabama, she sighed the moment I said I was a journalist. Youre calling about the poop train, huh, she asked. I quickly told her yes, but I wanted to provide more context for what happened and what can be done to fix it. I wrote a story on the issue for Scalawag about how the South has long been a dumping ground for other states and industries due to its lax environmental regulations, economic disparities, and systemic racism.

This summer, HuffPost assigned me a story on a federal prison being pitched as an economic solution to coals decline in Letcher County, Kentucky. The topic hadnt received much national attention except for an in-depth piece by NBC News; the subhead read that the prison may be this rural countys only chance at survival. Even though the reporter spent time with many people invested in the future of Appalachia, this frameworkthat the overwhelming belief is that there is no other optionfrustrated many I spoke with in Letcher County.

By the time I arrived in Whitesburg, the county seat, in June, the distrust of media was palpable; for decades, journalists have written condescending, simplistic stories about poverty in coal country. I interviewed people who supported the prison, but focused the story on the potential alternative economic options and environmental consequences, and the historical context. Despite the rhetoric from politicians, officials and residents in the area were clear about how prisons didnt benefit them as much as promised.

As journalists, we owe it to the places and people we write about to go into a story with an open mind, without writing it in our heads before reporting. I always ask sources what Im missing or whats been reported inaccurately before, and their reactions and answers often surprise me. Theyre so rarely asked those questions.

The person with the most to lose, one reporter says, is rarely ever the person who gets to control the widely accepted narrative.

Writers and editors all over this region are working incredibly hard to make up for simplistic national narratives about poverty, rural economies, and lifestyles. As a photojournalist in Mississippi for the past nine years, Rory Doyle says he seeks out stories that challenge the backward Southern archetype, such as his photo essay about black cowboys in the rural Mississippi Delta.

Spending dedicated time on the ground is key to providing these perspectives. The thing about stereotypes is that they only exist from 40,000 feet up. Get closer and they dissolve, says Glynis Board, assistant news director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. We live with the people and environmental concerns we write about. Those relationships are rarely simple.

Sierra Mannie, a freelance writer and Reveal fellow based in Jackson, Mississippi, says that to find characters and get to the heart of the story, she tries to spend time with people who have the most to lose. That is rarely ever the person who gets to control the widely accepted narrative, she says.

Most of the people who hold political and economic power in the South are reluctant to change or move forward with progressive policies, which makes it challenging to talk about abstract concepts like climate change, regulation, and economic transitions. But no matter where they are on the political spectrum or what they believe about a warming planet, people can usually come to terms about ways to access basic resources and keep their families healthy. Instead of asking Appalachians why they dont just move because of poor water quality, I ask them how they use the attachment to land in the region as a way to get people to care about taking action on these problems. Last year, when a popular story was the renewable energy boom, I wrote for InsideClimate News about conservative mayors leading the way on solar because of the economics.

I think its fair to say that our political figureheads and public institutions are rarely carrying the real and true stories of the places and people they represent, says Maxwell George, the deputy editor of Oxford American, which publishes place-based stories from writers all over the region. That work is in the hands of the people themselves.

The Souths history is violent and severely unjust; its sense of identity is complicated and contradictory. Confronting these things while reporting on this region is immensely challenging. However, the more time I spend time exploring the rolling Eastern Kentucky hills, the rural communities of the Black Belt, and the disappearing oil towns along the Gulf Coast, the more constructive my conversations become.

As we reflect on the midterm elections and try to assess whats happening politically in Southern states, I challenge journalists to reject boiling things down to red v. blue, or coal v. climate. I hope more journalists will take a beat to confront assumptions about this region. We should tell the stories that have been waiting to be told for decades, like those about systemic voter suppression, the fossil fuel industrys constant efforts to block job growth, the impact climate change will have on the most vulnerable among us. Southerners are more than a vote or a sound bite; theyre unique, deep, and complex. The stories about their worlds should be, too.

ICYMI: Punting a regions longtime political footballcoal

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Lyndsey Gilpin is the founder and editor of Southerly, an independent media organization about ecology, justice, and culture in the American South. She is a freelance journalist based in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, InsideClimate News, High Country News, Outside, The Daily Beast, HuffPost, and more.
A 122-year-old building in southeast Iowa that was damaged by a fire last summer will be torn down, its owner said, citing the high cost of preserving the charred structure.

The Burlington City Council learned of the plan to demolish the Tama Complex on Monday, The Hawk Eye reported.

The historic complex was established in 1896 and has seen multiple fires in its long history. Officials said the fire this year was the most devastating. The building, which housed apartments and stores, was nearly destroyed in the Aug. 4 fire, which drew more than 50 firefighters from six different departments.

Tama developer Doug Wells will work with G & B Construction on the demolition, according to Eric Tysland, the development and parks director for Burlington.

It is the priority project for that contractor, he said.

Wells told the council this month that he would prefer to rebuild the $12.5 million complex, but that the decision would come down to the cost of demolition versus rehabilitation.

Wells has said that he plans to rebuild on the site after the demolition is complete. Wells is discussing preliminary design plans for the new building with downtown business owners, Tysland said.

The complex could be torn down in three to five days after the contracts are finalized, Wells said. The goal is to reopen the corner by Dec. 19.

Wells is expected to provide an update on the project at the councils Dec. 10 work session.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
A fatal accident in northern Indiana that claimed the lives of three children attempting to board a school bus has been a wake-up call to Hoosier school districts, including those in rural areas, which are doubling up on safety awareness.

This was right here at our back door.among Indiana people and in areas where you wouldnt think it would happen, said David Henry, South Vermillion School Corp. transportation director. That did not happen in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne or Evansville. It happened in a smaller, rural area.

In the Fulton County fatal accident, the children were crossing a highway to board the bus, which had its stop-arm out. The driver of a pickup truck headed the opposite direction hit the children.

State law requires motorists to stop when a school bus has its stop arm extended. The law applies to all roadways, except those divided by a physical barrier or an unimproved median. On a divided roadway, only vehicles traveling in the same direction as the school bus are required to stop.

Disregarding a school bus stop arm is a Class A infraction and is punishable by a maximum fine of up to $10,000.

Stop arm violations are a huge concern for us, said Henry, who is new this year to South Vermillion schools. His office has on file 15 written reports of stop arm violations over a nine-week period so far this year. There are weeks when I have received four or five stop arm violations for our school district, he said.

He believes a majority of people are aware of the law.

There are times they will even wave at a (bus) driver, or times when its like, `Please excuse me, but I have to go  I cant wait on you, he said.

But distracted driving also is a culprit.

The district does have two video cameras on the outside of its buses, one pointed forward, and one pointed the opposite direction. If the video captures a stop-arm violators license plate  and if possible, a photo of the driver  the district forwards a report to law enforcement.

According to Vermillion County Sheriff Mike Phelps, the sheriffs office will follow up with violators.

Typically, well go talk to them and get their side of the story, he said. Tickets may be issued; if elderly drivers are involved, deputies may give a warning. We do give a lot of warnings  and try to educate people, he said.

The tragedy in Fulton County woke up a lot of people, but it hasnt stopped it (stop-arm violations), Phelps said.

He believes there continues to be a lot of misunderstanding about who has to stop when a stop arm is activated. The only time drivers dont have to stop is when there is a divided highway  with a barrier or median. When there is a divided highway, drivers going the opposite direction dont have to stop.

Phelps doesnt believe the problem is worse in rural areas, but people may think they can get away with it more, he said. Because of the risk to children, I cant fathom in my mind being in such a hurry I have to pass a school bus stop arm  because going to work is more important than the safety of kid.

According to the Indiana Department of Education, a one-day count done each year shows that on April 24 of this year, there were 3,082 stop arm violations reported voluntarily by 201 districts. If that 3,082 is multiplied by 180 days of school, the state estimates the number of stop arm violations for the school year would be 554,760.

A year earlier, on April 25 of 2017, the number of violations reported by 145 districts for the one-day count was 2,280.

Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom believes many of the violations are the result of driver inattention, which includes cellphone use and texting. The driving public must be aware of their surroundings and the times that buses are loading and unloading children, he said.

Law enforcement has a responsibility in this as well to educate children and teach them to look both ways before they cross the street, he said. Children may view the red light on the bus as a green light to cross a street, but they still need to look both ways, he said.

He personally opposes use of yellow or amber lights on a school bus to warn motorists a bus is coming to a stop because he believes they are ineffective in promoting safety. They dont tell the public to stop  yellow lights dont tell the motoring public anything, Cottom said.

Hed like to see them replaced with red flashing lights as a bus comes to a stop, which the public should understand is telling them to stop.

Cottom said his office does hope to step up education efforts in this area. Its heavily on my mind, he said. Hed like to do some school bus loading and unloading drills with children. We have enhanced our school bus patrols and enforcement, he said.

Since the fatal accident in Fulton County, the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post has assigned some officers to follow school buses to look out for stop arm violations, said Master Trooper Matt Ames. State police work cooperatively with school districts and sheriffs offices to enforce the law related to stop arm violations.

Ames also had some safety suggestions for students who are boarding or exiting buses. Even though its colder outside, if outer clothing has a hood, They need to push the hoods back so they can see in all directions. Also, they need to take their headphones off so they can hear if a vehicle is coming their way or hear a bus drivers warning.

About two years ago, a student in Clay County wearing a hoody and headphones was struck by a motorist, despite a bus drivers warnings. Fortunately, the student did not suffer severe injuries, Ames said.

He noted that some school corporations in the Putnamville district do have exterior cameras on buses, which is helpful to law enforcement in issuing tickets.

The Vigo County School Corp. is not immune, officials say. On a scale of 1 to 10, its a 10, with 10 being the worst, said Greg Gauer, assistant director of facility support and transportation.

I would say we get them (stop arm violations) daily, according to Nancy Weaver, VCSC transportation supervisor.

The district does not have exterior cameras, and it is more difficult for drivers to get license plate numbers, given their other responsibilities in ensuring student safety.

Still, when the transportation office reports stop arm violations to student services and law enforcement is informed, there is an immediate response from city police or the sheriffs office, Gauer said.

Some of the hot spot areas include Clinton Street in North Terre Haute and U.S. 40 in eastern Vigo County.

The district has been looking at its elementary routes to make sure we dont have students crossing main roads, Weaver said. We are adjusting those routes, something that actually started years ago.

They also work with children and teach them to watch for a drivers hand motion and not to cross a street until the driver gives them the signal, Weaver said.

Gauer noted that as a result of the fatal accident in Fulton County, Vigo County School Corp. bus drivers raised $2,200 that will be sent to Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. to help cover costs associated with the death of the three children or in whatever ways the family may need.

Indiana legislators are already indicating they will push for legislation to improve school bus safety.

Republican State Rep. Jim Pressel says he was already working on legislation calling for exterior cameras on school buses, before the accident occurred in northern Indiana, according to The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, State Sen. Eric Bassler, R-Washington, hopes to advance a bill facilitating misdemeanor charges against drivers who commit stop-arm violations.

In an interview, Bassler said hes filed the bill before. Even if passed, it wouldnt necessarily have prevented the serious accident that killed the three children and critically injured another. I dont want to mislead anyone. Its not a panacea, he said. What it would do is make it easier to hold people accountable when they violate the stop-arm law.

His proposal would enable a school bus driver, an adult bus monitor or a school crossing guard to file a sworn affidavit stating someone violated the stop arm law. That would give police probable cause to issue a summons, and the individual would have to appear in court, Bassler said.

That doesnt mean they are guilty, he said. They would still have their day in court.

Bassler does believe school bus safety will get increased scrutiny in the upcoming legislative session. Sometimes it does take a tragedy to get people to take action, he said.

He suggested some of the bills may be combined. As far as exterior cameras on buses, he said he would not want to force districts to put outside cameras on buses unless additional funding is also provided. I dont like unfunded mandates, he said.

With the Oct. 30 bus tragedy still very much on everyones mind, South Vermillion School Corp. is working on some school bus safety initiatives, David Henry said.

In early December, it plans to conduct a stop-look program teaching children in grades K-5 about safety outside the school bus. A lot of times we teach children how to be safe inside the bus, but this will focus on what do you do when you get on and off the bus, he said.

For example, officials will emphasize that children need to watch the bus driver for a thumbs up or down on whether or not to cross the street. There are last minute things that happen we can warn students about, Henry said.

Also, students will be told once they cross the street, You dont just automatically turn around and run back if they need to go back into the bus. You wait on a signal from the driver if you have something that is that important you need to return to the bus.

The transportation office, working with the middle school, will produce a video that will be shown to students  and their parents  at all three elementary schools.

The goal is to play the video during a parent night, and parents will be asked to sign a pledge not to go past a school bus with its stop arm down. The video also will be posted on the school district web site.

The district has 25 buses and 25 drivers, he said.

The unfortunate tragedy that claimed three lives really is a moment that we have to use to ensure no more lives are lost, Henry said.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Nationwide Cutting About 80 Jobs From Des Moines Office

Nationwide Isurance intends to eliminate the jobs of about 80 workers at its Des Moines office as it cuts 1,100 positions across the country.

Nationwide spokesman Joe Case says the workers affected were told Tuesday that their jobs will be ending in March. The employees will receive severance pay and other support.

The job cuts will occur mostly in information technology, marketing, property and casualty operations and bank organizations. Nationwide announced in February that it would cut about 50 Des Moines employees from its mortgage division.

Case says the Nationwide workforce needs are evolving as the company implements new technologies and modernizes for the future.

Nationwide is based in Columbus, Ohio.

ACM Launches Insurtech Projects to Streamline Efficiencies

American Claims Management (ACMclaims.com) has launched several Insurtech projects in 2018, with more to come in 2019. These include a complete redesign of our website to including AI via a claims chatbot, along with several automation projects to streamline our claims processes.

ACMs new claims chatbot launches in late 2018, allowing claimants the ability to report a claim online.

The claims management firm worked with another InsurTech company this year to create a content inventory program used in property losses. The new software incorporates each carriers specific SOPs and walks the field adjuster through a series of scripts to capture content inventory and document the loss. Once the field adjuster completes the onsite inspection, the inventory report is uploaded to its claims management system.

Working with a third InsurTech company, ACMs new program exports claim data from their system. Within minutes, all claims are uploaded into a call center which begins an automated first contact response. Calls are made with a live voice that was pre-recorded with a script designed specific to the client. Each call includes claim details (claim number, policy number, etc.) crucial to the first contact.

New software has also been added to handle the scheduling, reporting and documentation of insured contacts and inspections.

ACM is currently working with several software companies on 2019 initiatives, that will allow them to:

Automate many steps in the claims process using AI.

Add texting capabilities for field adjusters to communicate with claimants (storing all messages online).

Issue payments to policyholders, claimants and vendors via electronic virtual payments.

Add drone inspection capabilities.

Plug and Play Invests in Betterviews Property Data & Analytics Platform

Betterview, a building and property platform analytics firm, announced that Plug and Play Ventures, an active venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, has made an investment in Betterview. Terms of the funding were not disclosed. Betterview plans to use the funding to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities to new imagery sources, as well as enhance its property data and analytics platform.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Plug and Play was founded as a venture capital that went on to develop startup accelerator programs and corporate innovation services around the world to improve technological advancement across various industries. Plug and Play has over 70 corporate partners in their Insurtech program including AIG, Axis Capital, EMC, Guidewire, Maiden Re, and Nationwide to name a few.

In August of 2018, Betterview announced the release of Property Profile, which uses aerial imagery, along with a growing number of other data sources like historical weather, to determine the characteristics and condition of a roof and the risk of future insurance claims. Over the last few months, Betterview has enhanced Property Profile by adding building permits, new AI roof detections, measurement and annotation tools, and oblique imagery.

In addition, Betterview recently announced its integration accelerator for Guidewire PolicyCenter, which enables underwriters to request and access property data and inspections from within PolicyCenter.
Maintaining the safety of workers on a six-story job that spans 60,000 square feet is a daunting task, and a concern for not only the construction firm but also its insurer. A recently announced collaboration between Travelers, Gilbane, a large contractor working in the U.S. and Canada, and Triax Technologies aims to explore whether wearable devices can improve safety on construction sites.

More than 130 employees will use the Spot-r Clip, a device worn on a workers belt, while at the New York job site.

According to Bob Kreuzer, vice president of construction risk control for Travelers, following the development of the Early Severity Predictor and ZoneCheck, the insurer wanted to assist its construction clients in improving outcomes and employee safety.

We are constantly game planning against ourselves around how can we leverage different technologies out in the marketplace to connect them with our customers and help them, whether its understanding their risks better or helping them improve loss outcomes, said Kreuzer.

He said the insurer looked at several technology options before settling on the Triax Spot-r. Travelers long standing relationship with Gilbane and the construction firms interest in using the product aided in making the partnership happen.

Tracking Data on the Job Site

The IoT device offers the potential for quicker response to potential injuries by automatically detecting worker falls and providing supervisors with real-time notification of the workers location, along with other details. A push button alert gives workers the ability to send their names and locations to the safety supervisor on site.

If theres an unsafe work condition and youre injured, you push that button and folks know where you are and they get an alert on their cell phone and can get to you quickly, said Pete Schermerhorn, president and CEO of Conn.-based Triax Technologies.

Worn as a belt clip, the technology contains a gyroscope and an accelerometer to measure impact and orientation of the device.

It can tell you did the person roll over after they fell, did they spring back up right away, did they start walking immediately after fall, that type of information, Schermerhorn explained.

In addition, after an event, it can provide details on all coworkers that were near the injured worker, as well as the temperature and humidity. Valuable information that can be difficult to gather when doing an accident investigation or dealing with a claim, said Schermerhorn.

It can be very helpful from a loss standpoint in terms of trying to piece together what happened, he said.

Because there is no access to Wi-Fi on a new job site, a mesh network is created so that wearables and tags connect as soon as a worker arrives.

Imagine walking into a construction project, and theyd installed different antennas around the job so once you cross that plane, it knows when that person is on the job site and also knows where you are generally, Kreuzer explained. When youre on the fifth floor, third floor, what quadrant of the building youre in. When theres an event, itll trigger a signaland it sends it out to whatever supervisor you have on that list.

The mesh network is continually updated as construction is completed. Another valuable aspect of the data are the worker profiles that outline their role on the jobsite.

The clip is rugged, said Schermerhorn. It has a six-month battery life between charges and no on/off switch.

Another data option is an evacuation tag that allows a supervisor to alert all workers via high decibel alarm if there is an emergency on the job site.

It also tells the contractor that everybody is off the site. You dont have to count people as they come to the job site trailer, Kreuzer said. You know by looking at your app thats on your phone or on your computer, you know whether people have left the building.

An optional equipment tag, known as a Spot-r EquipTag, offers the location of every forklift, excavator and any other equipment on the jobsite. It can also provide information on who is operating a piece of machinery.

Schermerhorn added that permissions can be set to identify who can operate certain types of equipment. An alert will be sent to a supervisor if an unauthorized user is identified. Equipment certification information can be uploaded as well.

Another key aspect of the data collected is the ability to review a construction site history to evaluate claims reported after a project has been completed.

Safety is one of the key statistics the construction industry measures, yet there hasnt been an easy way to quantify safety behaviors on-site, until now, said Schermerhorn. With real-time data and notifications, and visibility into what is happening on the site, wearable technology has the potential to transform safety and risk management practices in one of the most dangerous professions.

Evaluate Problem Before Tech Options

Theres no shortage of data tracking options, Kreuzer said, adding that its important to identify the problem that needs to be solved before shopping for technology.

If you go the other way, just pick a technology without a problem, it could be like this never-ending test that might not produce anything, Kreuzer said.

Another issue involves resources, he said. There must be dedicated staff to monitor the roll out, determine the data thats collected and how it will be protected.

You might not accomplish what you set out to if you dont have a dedicated person or resource pushing it along, Kreuzer said.

Technology isnt a silver bullet, he added.

Youre going to collect data, and if you dont act on the data you could potentially produce unintentional liability, said Kreuzer. Lets say you get some alerts where you could have influenced worker behavior, there is a potential for expanding your liability. Just like telematics, if youre not going to act on somebody driving too fast, and you have a policy against that and you dont act on it, you could actually produce additional liability there.

The testing phase on the technology began in 2017, said Schermerhorn, and its being used on job sites across the country. This construction project is expected to last about 20 months.
RUSSELL TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Animal complaint, Fairmount Road: Police were dispatched at 4:28 p.m. Nov. 15 for a report of several ducks with no food and frozen water. Officers arrived at the location and spoke to the homeowner, who took them to see the ducks, which had fresh, not frozen water and food and appeared to be in good health.

Traffic complaint, Russell Road: An anonymous person reported at 10:30 p.m. Nov. 11 that a Mustang and Corvette were drag racing on Russell Road. Responding officers were not able to find them.

Suspicious, Braeburn Lane: After hearing footsteps and people talking in her home, at 6:25 p.m. Nov. 12, a girl asked police to check the home. Police checked and found no sign of anyone else there. The officers stayed until the girl's father arrived minutes later.

Fleeing and eluding, Hemlock Point Road: A woman, 20, was arrested and cited Nov. 14 for feeing and eluding police while on a traffic stop.

Annoying phone calls, Top Rail Lane: After his wife received unwanted phone calls, a man sought help from police on Nov. 15. The wife is to obtain a list of calls received by her cell phone and file a police report for further action.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The man who brutally took the lives of his lifelong friend and her two adult daughters in their North Royalton home last year will be sentenced to the death penalty.

A panel of three Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judges found George Brinkman Jr. should pay the ultimate price after hearing several days of evidence of how Brinkman murdered Suzanne Taylor, 42, and her daughters Taylor Pifer, 21, and Kylie Pifer, 18, last summer.

The judges set a formal sentencing date for Dec. 28.

Brinkman pleaded guilty earlier this month to aggravated murder charges that made him eligible for the death penalty in the killings. Judges Peter J. Corrigan, Michael Shaughnessy and Timothy McCormick accepted Brinkmans plea and rendered the decision after Brinkman chose to have a judicial panel, rather than a jury, decide his fate.

Brinkman is also accused of fatally shooting a Stark County couple in their home shortly after he killed Taylor and her daughters. That case will be tried separately after the Cuyahoga County case concludes.

Police said Brinkman used a knife to slit Suzanne Taylors throat, smothered Taylor Pifer with a pillow and strangled Kylie Pifer with a telephone cord before he placed their bodies in the mothers bed. Investigators also believe Brinkman cut off the mothers hair before he killed her.

Investigators have yet to determine a clear motive in the case. Brinkman and Suzanne Taylor went to grade school together and remained friends throughout their lives, witnesses testified this week.

George Brinkman Jr., who murdered North Royalton woman and her two daughters, is sentenced for their deaths. Hannah Drown is in the courtroom. Posted by cleveland.com on Monday, November 26, 2018

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CAMDEN TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- A Huron County man was shot to death by a Lorain County SWAT member Sunday night after a standoff in Camden Township.

A SWAT member shot at Daniel Calala, 62, after he made movements that were a threat to the deputies, Lorain County Sheriffs Office Detective Captain Donald Barker said in a press release.

The Huron County Sheriffs Office told the Lorain County Sheriffs Office about 4:10 p.m. Sunday to be on the lookout for a suicidal man who was a resident of Huron County, about 62 years old and possibly driving a bronze vehicle, Barker said.

The Lorain County Sheriffs Office learned that Calala might be in the area of State Route 303 and State Route 511 in Camden Township, Barker said. Deputies arrived and found a bronze vehicle behind the Camden Township Complex on the 50600 block of State Route 303.

Deputies talked with Calala, who brandished high-powered assault-style rifle and a semi-automatic handgun, Barker said. Deputies took cover and began negotiating with Calala.

Thats when Calala threatened to shoot the deputies on scene, Barker said.

Deputies called in the Lorain County SWAT, Life Care Ambulance and the Camden Fire Department to respond and stage the area.

During the course of attempted negotiations with the subject, he refused to put down the guns and surrender to the deputies, Barker said.

At one point, Calala drove west on State Route 303 for about one mile before turning around and driving east toward deputies, who were following from a distance, Barker said. Calala stopped his vehicle and continued negotiations.

Calala then moved in a way that was threatening to law enforcement, so a SWAT member shot at him, incapacitating him, Barker said. Calala died at the scene.

Deputies called in detectives from the Lorain County Sheriffs Office and the Lorain Police Department, as well as the Lorain County Coroners Office, Barker said.

The Lorain Police Department will handle any further investigation, Barker said.

This story has been updated to include the victims name which was released Monday afternoon.

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MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- A man was arrested Friday and charged Monday in the killing of a woman and her 8-year-old daughter in their Mayfield Heights home, police announced Monday.

Dominique Swopes, 27, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder and aggravated arson, Mayfield Heights police said in a press release.

Swopes lives on Longwood Avenue next door to the home that was set ablaze Nov. 20 after 41-year-old Rebecca Pletnewski was strangled and stabbed to death. Pletnewski died of cervical compression with sharp force injuries and her death was ruled a homicide, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office said.

Pletnewskis 8-year-old daughter, Olivia Schneider, died from smoke inhalation after she was taken to Hillcrest Hospital, the medical examiners office said. Her death was also ruled a homicide.

Investigators suspected arson because a K-9 officer detected an unidentified accelerant in the house, the fire department said previously. Samples pulled from the home are being sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for testing.

Swopes was initially brought in for questioning on Nov. 20 but was released that evening.

Detectives investigated and collected incriminating evidence against Swopes, police said, but declined to elaborate.

Swopes was arrested Friday without incident and charges were filed Monday in Lyndhurst Municipal Court, police said.

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AKRON, Ohio -- Two people face murder charges after a missing Akron woman was found dead Sunday in New Franklin, according to Akron police.

Danny A. Hamby, 39, of Springfield Township, and Toni Kenney, 31, of Warren are charged with murder in the death of Samantha Guthrie, Akron police spokesman Lt. Rick Edwards said Monday.

Hamby and Kenney are in the Summit County Jail, Edwards said.

Guthrie, 18, was last seen the morning of Nov. 4 and her mother reported her missing on the morning of Nov. 5, police said. Detectives believed she was missing under suspicious circumstances.

Guthrie had no permanent address since she left her mothers house after her 18th birthday in May, police said.

Her body was found by New Franklin police around midnight Sunday in a wooded area off of Rex Hill Road, Edwards said.

The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head and the manner of death was homicide, the Summit County Medical Examiners Office said.

The case is still under investigation.

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CANTON, Ohio  A man and a woman wanted in connection with a fatal Thanksgiving Day shooting are in police custody.

Arsenio C. Smith, 30, and Ashley N. Singleton, 33, called authorities in Jackson Township early Sunday to turn themselves in, Canton police said in a news release. They were picked up by Jackson Township police at The Rodeway Inn motel and taken to the Stark County Jail.

Smith is charged with murder, tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice in connection with the shooting death of 42-year-old James Howard on Thanksgiving Day, Canton police said.

Howard was found shot to death about 5:20 p.m. Thursday in the driveway of a home on the 1700 block Sandwith Avenue SW, police said.

Investigators learned that Howard argued with a man  identified as Smith  before he was shot, Canton police said.

Canton police have not detailed exactly how Singleton was involved in Howards death. She is charged with obstruction of justice and receiving stolen property.

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FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- City Council is expected to approve a structure commercial tax abatement application related to new construction of a 3,900-square-foot dental office building on Lorain Road at the site of the former Country Inn North motel.

Last month Fairview Park's Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council approved the application from Mark J. Pompeani, DDS, whose office is currently located at Fairview Center Drive.

"Tax abatement is based on the value of the new building, which he estimates to be about $600,000," Fairview Park Mayor Eileen Ann Patton said. "The estimated tax abatement annually will be $22,000 for seven years.

"This is just a tax incentive that the city offers. Lots of people have taken advantage of it over the years with new construction. It's a great economic redevelopment tool that we've been able to use to our advantage here."

Currently Pompeani's dentistry practice has five employees with an estimated payroll of $300,000 annually. Once the new building is finished, the business is expected to add two or three employees and increase payroll by at least $100,000. The .78-acre lot is located at 20520 Lorain Road.

"It's a very small parcel of land they're using to the best of their ability," Patton said. "That's about the biggest building they can put on there. They're working on the due diligence as far as the sewer lines.

"They also put a lot of money into the planning. Work should begin in the spring. I know he wants it up as soon as possible."

Originally Andrako Insurance Consultants came forward to the city with plans on constructing a 7,000-square foot building on the Lorain Road site. While that deal fell through, Patton said it was a blessing in disguise for Fairview Park.

"Andrako then purchased the building on the corner of Lorain Road and W. 210th Street," Patton said. "They transformed that 1950s building into one of the most beautiful buildings in our city. So it's a win for Fairview Park."

The Mayor expects City Council to approve the tax abatement application. Once passed, that means the city's 15-year effort to convert old Lorain Road motels into areas of economic development will be complete.

In 2001 and 2002, the Country Inn South, the Park Motel and the Manor Motel, located between West 203th Street and West 206th Street, were demolished giving way to the McGowan Insurance Headquarters and West Valley Medical Building. Also, the Cleveland Motel in 2011 was demolished and sold to North Coast Credit Union.

In related economic development news, Patton said there appears to be movement regarding the two former NASA buildings along Brookpark Road that have been vacant for years.

Developer Ceres Development plans to convert the three-story structures and its combined 200,000 square feet of space into a mixed-use facility that will include restaurants, retail, a boutique hotel and living arrangements.

"This week they're bringing in plans for the demo on the inside of the building, so this is a real positive step," Patton said. "This is the first time we're getting plans. Also, they're at work with the city of Cleveland to purchase the parking lot to the east of it for their project.

"We should see movement in that in the next two weeks, and I bet some of it will be open next year. It's pretty exciting. Fairview Park has lots of good stuff going on."
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The Cuyahoga County jail was already hundreds over capacity and struggling to keep up with inmates mental health and medical needs at the beginning of 2018, but the county pushed ahead with long-awaited plans to regionalize the county jails and take on even more inmates.

That was before three top health officials left the jail and the mental health staff nearly evaporated.

So when some 160 inmates were added to the jail this summer as part of the countys agreement to take over Cleveland to take over city jail operations, the needs of some of the most vulnerable inmates fell by the wayside.

The result: Inmates couldnt get timely medical and mental health treatment, and some waited months to see doctors, according to dozens of cleveland.com interviews with current and former medical staff, corrections officers, and inmates. The sources agreed to speak with cleveland.com under the condition of anonymity because they fear retaliation. They attributed that decision to the ousting of Gary Brack, a former medical supervisor at the jail who was forced out after speaking critically of now-former jail director Ken Mills during a public meeting.

Seven inmates died from June 10 to Oct. 2, including three who committed suicide. The U.S. Marshals issued a scathing report Wednesday that said the conditions in the jail are inhumane and dangerous for both inmates and corrections officers.

The understaffing of mental health providers at the jail has drawn criticism from Cuyahoga County judges and scrutiny from FBI agents, who are looking into possible civil right violations at the jail, according to two people interviewed by the FBI.

County Executive Armond Budish acknowledges that one of the biggest obstacles at the jail is the influx in recent years of inmates suffering from mental illnesses and drug addictions. Hes called the jail the largest mental health provider in Ohio.

But the jail hasnt had a staff psychiatrist since April. One nurse practitioner administers mental health care 10 hours a day, four days a week, and no one administers mental health care the rest of the time, according to Cuyahoga Countys five mental-health docket judges.

It is our belief that this is a population that requires staffing twenty-four hours a day, but at the very least seven days a week, the judges wrote in a November letter to MetroHealth CEO Dr. Akram Boutros.

Before Wednesdays U.S. Marshals report, MetroHealth provided most medical and mental health care for jail inmates, while the county oversaw nursing. That will change in the first three months of 2019. Budish asked MetroHealth to take over all medical operations at the jail due to the marshals findings.

MetroHealth spokeswoman Tina Shaerban Arundel said on Monday that MetroHealth hired the Chicago-based National Commission on Correctional Health Care, a nationally-recognized organization that gives accreditation to local jails and prisons.

The organization will conduct an assessment Monday and Tuesday. The company will provide a comprehensive review of the healthcare services at the jail and will provide the county recommendations with the transition.

As the jail population has continued to rise  as many as 2,600 in a jail built to house 1,762  medical staff have found themselves overwhelmed and they struggle to keep up with increased demands for care.

Compounding that problem is a lack of corrections officers available to escort inmates to and from the medical and mental health unit, meaning inmates dont see medical staff when their problems are most urgent, sources say.

Many inmates did not receive their intake health screenings in required timeframes due to the medical staffs inability to keep up with the large population, sources said. And in June, a state inspector found that the county failed to complete legally-required medical assessments in the proper timeframe in several cases.

That misstep has several implications, including ensuring inmates receive the medication they need, and are placed in housing units specific to those with mental illnesses.

Sources say that inmates with mental illness are often mixed in with the general population. Once the acute mental illness pods are filled, other inmates with less serious conditions are housed in the general population with people accused of gang involvement or violent crimes, sources say.

This prompted 24 inmates to file a federal lawsuit Oct. 21 against jail administrators that says inmates have no reliable access to medical or mental health care. The lawsuit says theyre locked down for hours at a time and forced to live in unsanitary conditions.

Georgette Patterson sat in the Cuyahoga County Jail waiting some five months to see a psychiatrist. The Lakewood resident suffers from bipolar disorder and several other mental illnesses, but remained without treatment inside the jail, she said during an interview with cleveland.com.

Marcus Harris, a former jail nursing director, said inmates at the Euclid jail often didnt get an initial medical assessment, which is required upon booking. Some of the inmates, he said, had medical issues such as high blood pressure that went unchecked for days.

Harris was the first of three high-ranking jail medical officials  who oversee day-to-day operations  to leave the jail this year.

Brack, the former medical supervisor, went next. He was ousted from his position after he told Cuyahoga County Council that Mills meddled in the administration of healthcare, obstructed the hiring of more nurses and created an unsafe environment by scaling back security in the medical unit. Mills resigned Nov. 14 after county officials were briefed on the U.S. Marshals report.

Harris successor, Kelly Blevins, resigned Aug. 31 after just two months on the job.

Other medical officials have left the jail in recent months too. That includes OB-GYN Dr. Jacqueline Peyton-Cook, and Dr. Leslie Koblentz, the jails only psychiatrist.

The county struggled to hire and retain nurses, a problem that could be addressed by increasing wages, MetroHealth Chief of Staff Jane Platten told council members in May. Jail nurses make about $5 less per hour than MetroHealth nurses, Platten said.

The administration never increased the nurses wages after Platten raised concerns. Mills later said the county never raised wages because they concluded they were competitive. They remain the same as they were in May  $20.78 for licensed practical nurses and $27.06 for registered nurses.

Platten, Harris and other high-ranking medical officials said the staff shortages appeared to be related to the administrations intention of keeping jail costs down.

One controversial cost-saving measure came last fall, when Mills proposed privatizing healthcare and changing food providers at the jail to save $1.9 million annually, according to county documents and records provided to cleveland.com.

The private healthcare company he suggested using was NaphCare. The proposal drew sharp rebukes from council, who quickly shot the idea down. The former nursing director, Harris, and a second official say they were questioned by the FBI about the attempt to bring on NaphCare.
PAINESVILLE, Ohio  An impassioned crowd gathered at First Church Congregational Sunday afternoon for a rally and candlelight vigil to end gun violence. The event was organized by families that have been affected by gun violencemost recently the death of Harvey High student, 16-year old Yorry Timley.

Yorrys mother, Michelle Timely, stepped to the church alter and pleaded with the audience. Please, put the guns down," she said. "Pick up a book. Be somebody, because my sons dreams will never be fulfilled. Yorry, mommy loves you.

Yorry Timley was shot & killed around on Oct. 19, according to Painesville police. A 17-year-old was arrested in connection with the shooting on Oct. 30.

Event organizer and Painesville resident, Lois Osborn, offered one solution to gun violence, circulating a petition which will be sent to Congress. The petition called for universal background checks, limit civilian access to high capacity weapons, make gun trafficking a federal crime, and improve access to mental health for those who may be prone to violence.

Other community leaders, like Painesville resident Judith Jones, also spoke to the crowd. With with tears on her cheeks, Jones said, Love conquers all. You have to dig down deep inside to find that forgiveness. In order for love to work, you have to have forgiveness. The event ended with a candlelight vigil & a moment of silence, honoring the victims with a spontaneous singing of the gospel song This Little Light of Mine.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ohio lawmakers on Monday expressed frustration with General Motors' decision to shutter its Lordstown assembly plant, which employs roughly 1,600 people, as part of a move that the company billed as "transformation for the future."

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown described the decision to shutter the plant in March as "corporate greed at its worst." He criticized the company for using the tax breaks it got in last year's Republican tax bill to eliminate jobs instead of investing in U.S. workers.

"Ohio taxpayers rescued GM, and it's shameful that the company is now abandoning the Mahoning Valley and laying off workers right before the holidays," said a statement from Brown.

"GM owes the community answers on how the rest of the supply chain will be impacted and what consequences its disastrous decision will have on the Mahoning Valley and our state. My office stands ready to do everything we can to help these workers.

Brown noted that earlier this year, the company announced plans to build its new Chevy Blazer in Mexico on the day it ended a second shift in Lordstown.

My statement on the situation in Lordstown. pic.twitter.com/Wx2u9V8iPu  John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 26, 2018

Niles-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan described the closure as "a new Black Monday in the Mahoning Valley" and noted the announcement came after GM eliminated approximately 3,000 jobs at the plant over the last two years. He said the closure would be "devastating" for the region, as well as workers at the plant.

"We fought together to keep GM afloat and the American taxpayers bailed them out when they were on the verge of bankruptcy," said a statement from Ryan. "Thousands of families have sacrificed to build GM into what it is today. And in return, GM has turned its back on us when we need them the most."

Ryan noted that during a visit last year to the Mahoning Valley, President Donald Trump promised jobs "were all coming back." He said corporations like General Motors and millionaires like Trump were the "only ones benefiting from this economy - an economy rigged against workers who are playing by the rules but still not getting ahead."

"So far, President Trump has been asleep at the switch and owes this community an explanation," Ryan continued. "We tried to get his attention on this issue two years ago. He promised us that his massive corporate tax cut would lead to dramatic reinvestments in our communities. That clearly is not happening.

Trump criticized the closure on Monday afternoon, telling reporters he was unhappy with GM CEO Mary Barra's decision. He pledged to pressure the company to "get back to Ohio and soon."

"You know, the United States saved General Motors, and for her to take that company out of Ohio is not good," said Trump. "I think she's going to put something back in soon."

Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman released a statement after the announcement that expressed disappointment with how the plant workers were treated, noting that he asked Barra to produce other vehicles at the plant after it cut shifts there due to the weakening market for the Chevy Cruze.

"I will continue doing everything I can to help the Lordstown workers during this transition," Portman said. "For decades, workers in the Mahoning Valley have made a commitment to GM, and today GM let Northeast Ohio down."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich described the closure as "painful" and pledged to work with GM "to see if anything can be done to preserve a future for the plant. Meanwhile, he said the state has set up a jobs center to help employees find new work as soon as possible.

"Even though this is frustrating news, hardworking, skilled men and woman are in demand, and we're going to do everything we can to help the families affected have access to other opportunities," Kasich's statement said.

Republican Rep. Dave Joyce of Bainbridge Township described himself as "disappointed" and frustrated by the closure decision.

"I will work with the Ohio delegation during this difficult transition," Joyce's statement said. "I will continue to fight with the hardworking men and women at the plant for a brighter future in Northeast Ohio.

In announcing the shutdown at Lordstown and several other plants in the United States and Canada, GM said the changes would improve its overall business performance and improve the company's cash flow by $6 billion annually.

"The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to be highly agile, resilient and profitable, while giving us the flexibility to invest in the future," said a statement from Barra. "We recognize the need to stay in front of changing market conditions and customer preferences to position our company for long-term success."

After the announcement, local officials released a statement that said they'll continue their grassroots campaign to keep the plant open and "grow jobs in the Mahoning Valley, protect manufacturing jobs in Ohio and to make sure that American-made cars and trucks are made in America."

"We are not hopeless, we are hopeful," said a statement from Dave Green, president of United Auto Workers Local 1112, which represents Lordstown workers. "And we are determined to do everything we can to convince General Motors to make Lordstown part of the future of auto manufacturing for this great company that we have been like family with for 52 years."

Politically, the area was split in the 2016 presidential election. In Trumbull County, President Donald Trump won the vote, 51.1 percent to 44.8 percent. But in neighboring Mahoning County, which includes Youngstown, Hillary Clinton won, 49.9 percent to 46.6. percent.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio will become the first state to accept cryptocurrency for tax payments, beginning this week.

Businesses can go to OhioCrypto.com to register to pay tax filings with Bitcoin, an online currency which is slowly gaining mainstream recognition. A business does not need to be headquartered in Ohio to pay in Bitcoin, but must operate in the state.

The payment system is run through Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandels office. Mandel said in an interview that hed like to see the system expanded eventually to allow individuals to pay their taxes in Bitcoin, as well as in other forms of cryptocurrency. He also said hes confident the initiative will continue when he leaves office due to term limits at the end of the year, having discussed it with State Rep. Robert Sprague, who was elected to the treasurers office in November.

I believe that if Ohio wants to be a leader in the technology economy, we first have to be a leader in technology, Mandel said. Mandel announced the initiative in a Wall Street Journal article that published on Sunday.

In a statement, Sprague praised Mandels effort, but was noncommittal about whether hed keep or expand it once he takes over the state treasurers office in January.

We applaud the pilot that makes Ohio more business-friendly and sets us up as a leader in cryptocurrency. We will evaluate both currency and counter-party risk once we enter the office to see about the future," Sprague said.

Bitcoin, created nearly a decade ago, is volatile; the cryptocurrency caught national attention in 2017 when its value spiked before peaking in December 2017 at nearly $20,000 per unit. In 2018 the value began to drop. And in the past week, Bitcoin has lost a third of its value, dropping below $4,000 on Saturday.

But the treasurers office will run tax payments through payment processor Bitpay, which sets the Bitcoin exchange rate for a 15-minute allotted time window for each transaction. The site assumes the risk of any market fluctuations during that window, Mandel said. Each payment under OhioCrypto.com will include a 1 percent commission, compared to the 2.5 percent fee the state treasurers office charges for credit card payments.

The state programs launch coincides with Solutions, a four-day conference in Cleveland that begins on Saturday. The event will focus on blockchain, the technology that powers cryptocurrency as well as other wide-ranging forms of digital record keeping. The conference was organized following months of advocacy from Bernie Moreno, a Cleveland businessman who has invested in blockchain-based businesses, as well donated to Mandel and other Republican politicians.

Moreno said in an interview he discussed the initiative, called Blockland, with Mandel over the summer.

Its not an earth-shattering idea that you can do this, but its just another signal to the outside world that Ohio (is becoming) a leader in this technology, he said.

Moreno already accepts cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, at his luxury car dealerships. Theres been a push by Morenos blockchain group, called Blockland," for downtown businesses to accept cryptocurrency ahead of the conference. Morenos advocacy caught the attention of Republican leaders in Columbus  in August, Republican House Speaker Ryan Smith expressed interest in exploring how to incorporate blockchain into state government functions, and incoming Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is scheduled to speak at the conference on Sunday.

The cryptocurrency announcement breaks a long quiet period for Mandel. Hes kept an uncharacteristically low public profile since he dropped out of the U.S. Senate race last January, citing personal issues. Mandel said Monday that hes spent recent months focusing on keeping his head down as he focuses on his job duties, as well as developing and launching the cryptocurrency site. He also declined to share his future political plans, although in August he formed a federal campaign committee that appeared to lay the groundwork for a future run for office.

This initiative has taken up an outsized portion of my time," he said. You know, Ive sort of taken it up as my baby, and wanted to make sure it was built the right way and launched the right way.
LORDSTOWN, Ohio -- The story of the 2016 presidential election, to some extent, can be told by what happened in Trumbull County.

In 2012, the state overall voted narrowly for President Barack Obama. When it was called for Obama on election night, his reelection was all but ensured. But four years later, the state backed Republican Donald Trump by eight points. That was thanks, in part, to shifts in places such as Trumbull, a perfectly square county near Youngstown. Obama won Trumbull by 23 points. Trump won it by more than six.

Why? In part because Trump's pitch was tailored very specifically to places like Trumbull County.

I went to high school there, alongside a number of kids whose parents worked at the Lordstown automotive plant. If the story of nearby Youngstown tracked with the steel industry, the story of Warren (Trumbulls county seat) at that time was about how Lordstown was faring. Trumps promise to bolster blue-collar manufacturing was exactly the sort of thing that would resonate in the area, a place no longer as dependent on manufacturing as it had been but a place still more dependent on it than others. I mean, this was the district once represented by former Democratic congressman Jim Traficant, the pre-Trump Trump.

If Trump was going to do well anywhere, it was in Trumbull. And he did.

On Monday, General Motors announced that it was shuttering the Lordstown plant, along with others in Ontario, Maryland and Michigan, by the end of next year. Trump flipped Macomb County, Michigan - one of those Midwestern counties that was seen as a bellwether for Trump's pitch on the economy in 2016 - from blue to red. GM will stop production at its plant there next year, as well.

Capri Cafaro, a former Democratic leader of the Ohio Senate, lives in Trumbull County and spoke with The Post by phone on Monday about GM's decision.

"It doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, given the trend line that has been happening," Cafaro said. "We lost 1,500 jobs in the last year." The community had recently launched an initiative called "Drive It Home," she said, aimed at putting pressure on GM to keep production in the region.

Part of the problem, Cafaro said, was that the facility produced the Chevy Cruze, a more fuel-efficient vehicle that saw lower demand thanks to lower fuel prices. (Over the weekend, Trump celebrated - and sought to take credit for - the recent drop in gas prices.) General Motors also cited Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum as the challenges the company faced in trying to keep the plants open.

The centrality of the plant to Trumbull County, and Lordstown in particular, meant that the effects of the closure would ripple outward. Cafaro noted that the plant had been there for 50 years, and, in that time, a number of supporting and ancillary industries had opened around it that would be affected by the closure. She worried about the effects on the local school system and noted that the community was already struggling after the closure of a hospital.

Again, this wasn't what Trump had promised. Even after becoming president, Trump visited nearby Mahoning County to tell residents to hold the line.

"I was looking at some of those big, once-incredible job-producing factories," Trump said about his drive to the site of a rally in July 2017. "And my wife, Melania, said, 'What happened?' I said, 'Those jobs have left Ohio.' They're all coming back. They're all coming back. Don't move. Don't sell your house."

That might have been centered on his arguments about the steel industry, but he has been explicit about his intent to save automotive manufacturing, too.

"Lots of car and other companies moving back!" he declared in August. In April, he tweeted before a rally in Michigan.

Cafaro suspected that people in Trumbull County wouldn't focus on assertions like those but, instead, on Trump's failure to help.

"People of the Mahoning Valley, and of Ohio and the Midwest - we have to talk about Macomb County, as well - voted for Donald Trump because I think they saw someone who was going to put their money where their mouth was on issues of trade and leveling the playing field for working men and women," she said.

Cafaro compared the GM move to Trump's late 2016 push to keep the Carrier corporation from moving jobs out of Indiana. It worked - for a short time.

"That Carrier situation, where he was very outspoken and then even seemed to get a positive result - before he was even president of the United States," she said, "I think people pointed to that and thought, 'You know, if we get into this situation, President Trump will do the same thing.' We have not seen that."

"They may not blame Trump for it closing specifically," she added, "but they will blame him for not saving it." Blame him in the 2020 election, that is.

How important could that be? Trump won Michigan by less than 11,000 votes. In Macomb County, which Obama won by 16,000 votes, Trump's margin was nearly 50,000 - more than four times his margin statewide.

GMs stock soared after the announcement of the planned closures.

Philip Bump is a correspondent for The Washington Post based in New York. Before joining The Post in 2014, he led politics coverage for the Atlantic Wire.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio -- In days gone by, children could get a letter from Santa Claus. Later, it was an email. But the personalized approach is now in favor, at least in North Ridgeville. Santa phone calls are being made to children in the city again for the sixth consecutive year.

Melissa Shirley, tot and youth program supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department, said, "We are happy to do this again for the community to get the kids into the spirit of Christmas."

Shirley noted that the local Lions Club is assisting with the program.

It will be important, after registering for the call, for someone to be home -- because only one attempt at the call will be made.

"We are scheduling calls on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. for 3- to 5-year-olds," said Shirley. "Then, the 6- to 8-year-olds can receive their calls on Thursday, Dec. 6, in the same timeframe of 6 to 8 p.m."

Each call to each child costs $2 and there are no refunds. To receive a call, a registration form must be filled out. Information from the form will be used to talk with your child. The form can be picked up at the Parks and Recreation Department or filled out online at www.northridgeville.org.

Deadline for online registration or forms returned to the Parks and Recreation Department at 7307 Avon Belden Road is no later than Friday, Nov. 30.

For those in need: Spread the spirit of Christmas. Toys and food are always needed at holiday time. Community Care in North Ridgeville is asking for non-perishable food donations and new, unopened toys to be placed in the donation boxes at City Hall, the Parks and Recreation Department or the Senior Center during November and December, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For any additional information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 440-353-1503.
PARMA, Ohio -- Parma Symphony Orchestra's 50th anniversary celebration continues with its Holiday Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 2) at the Valley Forge High School Auditorium in Parma Heights.

"We're very excited to have the Cleveland Brass Works performing an original piece on the program," Parma Symphony Orchestra Music Director Randolph P. Laycock said. "Distinguished local composer Paul Ferguson wrote this arrangement of Christmas carols for the concert."

Ferguson, a Case Western Reserve University professor and Cleveland Jazz Orchestra artistic director, describes his "Christmas Medley" ("Winter Wonderland", "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and "Let it Snow!") as a big extravaganza. He's looking forward to its world premiere.

"I chose some songs that people would like," Ferguson said. "I was able to borrow excerpts I've done in the past for the Cleveland Pops and Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and kind of fitted it for Cleveland Brass Works.

"So in a way, you're hearing some brand new stuff, but also hearing things I've done in the past. My arrangements tend to be a little bit on the quirky side, so there will be a couple spots where people might smile or have a little bit (of) puzzlement."

The Holiday Concert, featuring the 75-member Parma Symphony Orchestra, also includes holiday favorites such as "Christmas Festival" and "Sleigh Ride," as well as another world premiere performance featuring an original composition by Parma Symphony Orchestra cellist Scott Michal.

"It's called 'Candle Glow' and it's a fantasy on the 'Silent Night' theme written by Franz Gruber," Laycock said. "If that weren't enough, we have the Dance Arts by Regina dance troupe performing scenes from Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite.'

"This dance troupe is a student-centered organization headed by Regina Pietraroia. We're so pleased that they are joining us. The stage will be full."

While the school auditorium is expected to be packed, there will be one person not in attendance due to his hectic schedule.

"Unfortunately, Santa is too busy working on those gifts," Laycock said. "Maybe next year he can join us."

Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for seniors and children ages 17 and younger. All tickets are available at the door.
Bill Gates said it would be unfortunate to see the U.S. miss out on the economic opportunity related to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, is among the world's most prominent climate advocates, in addition to his work around the world preventing infectious diseases. He shared some of his thoughts on global warming in an interview that aired Sunday on Axios on HBO.

"It's very American to invent things to help the entire world. We're always on the front of new science and new product development. So it would be tragic if this was the first time the U.S. didn't play that role," Gates told Axios journalists Ina Fried and Amy Harder.

The interview aired two days after the Trump administration released a government report that said damage from global warming could slash as much as 10 percent off the nation's economy by the end of the century. The administration, which has pulled out of the Paris climate agreement, was criticized for releasing the report on the Friday afternoon of Thanksgiving weekend, when many people are not paying attention to the news.

Certainly there is some industry activity that could make a difference. Harder said renewable energy sources like wind and solar, and electric car companies like Tesla, generate headlines. Gates pointed out that electricity is just one of a few things that create emissions.

"A lot of people think, OK, renewable energy, wind and solar, has gotten a lot cheaper, isn't that it?" Gates said. "Well, electricity is only a quarter of the problem. In fact, we've got to solve the entire 100 percent. You know, unless somebody has the pie in their mind that, OK, electricity's 25 percent, agriculture's 24 percent, transport's 14 percent, unless they start with that, we're not really talking about the same problem."

Manufacturing and buildings also generate greenhouse gases, Gates has noted.

"We're very far away from getting all these sources down to zero, which is what we have to do to solve this problem," said Gates, who sits on Microsoft's board and owns 1.35 percent of Microsoft's outstanding shares, according to FactSet.

Gates said it's not well understood how hard it will be to bring down emissions. He is a leader of the recently announced Global Commission on Adaptation, which is meant to "catalyze a new global movement to bring scale and speed to climate adaptation solutions."

WATCH: Gates: Tech companies can handle regulation
Cans of Campbell's Tomato Soup are seen in a supermarket in New York.

Campbell Soup is working toward a deal with Third Point that would add two of the activist fund's nominees to its board, former Blue Buffalo CEO Kurt Schmidt and Comscore President Sarah Hofstetter, a person familiar with the situation told CNBC.

Campbell shareholders are set to meet on Thursday.

The potential settlement would mark a muted victory for Dan Loeb's Third Point, which has a roughly 7 percent stake in Campbell. Third Point pushed for a sale of the soup company before saying it would accept other strategic moves. It went from lobbying to replace Campbell's entire 12-member board to seeking to add only five directors.

As part of the deal, Campbell would expand the size of its board by at least two board seats, the person said Sunday. Campbell can expand it to 14 with board approval. Its bylaws could be amended to boost the board even more.

The potential settlement may also offer Third Point input on another new director, the person said.

Campbell had previously said it would add Hofstetter and Schmidt to its board. It has pushed back against adding two other Third Point nominees, former Campbell executive Bill Toler and Third Point executive Munib Islam. It has not yet commented on nominee Bozoma Saint John, a former Uber executive who is now at Endeavor.

The source cautioned that the settlement, first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, is not yet official. It is possible its terms may change or the two may not reach a settlement at all.

The person requested anonymity because the negotiations are confidential. Third Point wasn't immediately available for comment. Campbell declined to comment.

Should Third Point and Campbell secure a deal, it would mark a shift for a soup company steeply tied to its tradition of largely being run as a family company. Three of Campbell's heirs sit on its board. The descendant family owns at least 41 percent of the company and pledged their support of the soup company. That's even as one of the Campbell soup heirs, George Strawbridge Jr., partnered with Loeb in the proxy battle.

A series of missteps and poor financial performance left the company vulnerable. Campbell has delivered a 19-percent total shareholder return over the last 20 years, while the S&P 500 has nearly tripled in that period.

It is now selling its fresh food business, undoing efforts to move into the faster growing area of the grocery store. After struggles due to inexperience and an ill-timed drought, the fresh food unit this past quarter posted an operating loss of $3 million. Campbell's most recent acquisition, its $6.2 billion purchase of pretzel and chip company Snyder's-Lance, more than tripled its debt burden.

"Subpar oversight" of issues like M&A, as well as its financial performance, helped drive shareholder advisory firm ISS' support of Third Point's five-person slate, announced earlier this month. The opinion of the influential firm put pressure on Campbell to offer board concessions, even if family votes helped fortify its defenses.

The opinion came before Campbell's recent better-than-expected first-quarter earnings.

While Third Point had originally pushed for a sale of Campbell, securing board seats does not necessarily mean the company will get sold. The challenges faced by Campbell and others make it unclear whether there is a buyer at a good price for the entire company. The company requires two-third shareholder vote approval for major deals.
Tesla almost died earlier this year, CEO Elon Musk said in an interview with Axios that aired on HBO.

Musk said the company was "bleeding money like crazy" as it worked through the Model 3 production ramp in the spring and summer. He said the company "came within single-digit" weeks of death before it was able to meet its Model 3 production goals.

"Tesla really faced a severe threat of death due to the Model 3 production ramp," Musk said in the interview, which aired Sunday night. "Essentially, the company was bleeding money like crazy, and if we didn't solve these problems in a very short period of time, we would die. And it was extremely difficult to solve them."

Musk also talked about the personal toll working nonstop during the production ramp, calling it "very painful."

"It hurts my brain and my heart," Musk said. "It hurts. It is not recommended for anyone. I just did it because if I didn't do it ... there was a good chance Tesla would die."

Watch: How taxpayers have boosted Elon Musk and Tesla
A man takes a picture of a General Electric (GE) engine during the China International Import Expo (CIIE), at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China November 6, 2018.

How General Electric (GE) resolves its debt problem will be "critical" to the wider Investment Grade (IG) market, an analyst said Monday.

The General Electric Company has witnessed an exodus of investment from both its equity stock and corporate debt as its future has been called into question. The U.S. behemoth has piled on the debt in recent years as it looked to buy companies, pay off its pension deficit and buy back shares.

In October, the ratings agency S&P lowered its corporate debt status from "A" to "BBB+," citing the firm's high level of debt and below-trend cash flow.

"The GE story, because it is such a massive pile of the corporate credit market and the IG market, how that plays out is kind of critical to the IG market," Bob Janjuah, Nomura's senior independent client advisor, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe."

Janjuah said that despite decent cash levels on an aggregate basis, a little bit of investigation reveals alarming imbalances in corporate America.

"If you break it down, you realize that the vast bulk of that cash holding is by about eight companies and that most of corporate U.S. is actually more levered than it has ever been," he added.

Total U.S. corporate debt has swelled from nearly $4.9 trillion in 2007, when the global financial crisis was becoming apparent, to nearly $9.1 trillion halfway through 2018, according to Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) data.
Technology stocks jumped Monday, scratching back after nearly two months of losses. Nvidia and Alphabet led gains.

The five FAANG stocks  Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google-parent Alphabet  all closed up more than 1 percent in trading. Nvidia also climbed 5.6 percent, after Credit Suisse gave the chipmaker an outperform rating.

Credit Suisse said Nvidia's stock getting slashed nearly in half over the last eight weeks provides "an extremely compelling entry point." The latest earnings report "was disappointing," the firm said, and Nvidia "will like take time" to turn around. Nvidia "could be significant underestimating the opportunity" from new markets.

Investors fled equities last week, with the widely held and tech heavy Invesco QQQ seeing more than $1 billion in outflows, according to Jefferies. Nearly half of the QQQ outflows were in technology shares, not including other technology-related names like Amazon. The QQQ jumped 2 percent Monday morning.

Overall, tech stocks have taken a beating since the beginning of October. The FAANG stocks fell into a bear market last week, each declining more than 20 percent from recent highs. Since their respective 52-week highs, the FAANG stocks had also lost more than $1 trillion in market value by Tuesday.
A nearly decade-long battle over Apple's App Store is set to finally be argued before the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, setting up a high-stakes showdown over whether the company can be forced to pay damages to iPhone owners who say the App Store is an unlawful monopoly. The iPhone owners who brought the suit allege that Apple's 30 percent commission on app sales amounts to price gouging passed on to consumers. iPhone owners can only buy apps through the App Store, unless they bypass Apple's rules by "jailbreaking" their phone, which modifies the iPhone's software so users can download apps outside the App Store. Jailbreaking an iPhone voids its warranty.

The case does not address the underlying monopoly issue, but instead will determine whether the iPhone users can bring the charge at all. Apple has argued that only app developers could bring such a suit. The stakes of the Supreme Court battle are high. Experts say that if the court permits iPhone users to bring their suit, they could force the company to refund a percentage of every app sold over a four year period, possibly saddling the electronics giant with hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties. Whether iPhone users get that payout won't be resolved by the Supreme Court. If the iPhone owners win Monday's fight, they will have to prove in a district court battle that Apple has a monopoly that has led to overcharging, which Apple vigorously denies.



Nonetheless, the case is the most important business dispute of the term, and the most consequential litigation facing Apple outside of its billion dollar intellectual property suit against chipmaker Qualcomm. Analysts watching the case say it could have an impact for shareholders. "I would say that it is significant to the stock, because if you look at what's driving shares, part of it is that Apple's services revenue is elevating," said Tom Forte, an analyst at D.A. Davidson who covers Apple and other consumer technology companies. Forte said that the primary drivers of the company's shares in recent weeks were the U.S.-China trade war and slowing iPhone sales. But, he said, "if they were to lose, that could put further pressure on the stock." Apple's services revenue, which comes from the App Store as well as other products such as iTunes and iCloud, hit a record $10 billion in revenue last quarter. The company's market cap exceeds $800 billion. Watch: Steve Jobs explains the iPhone to CNBC in 2007 interview
Flames rise from the burning of excess hydrocarbons at the Hammar Mushrif new Degassing Station Facilities site inside the Zubair oil and gas field.

Oil producers across North America may be looking at dialing back their investment plans amid plummeting oil prices in recent weeks, but BP's Middle East chief is unfazed.

The British oil giant has planned its investments with a wide price range in mind, accounting for drops like November's, BP Middle East President Michael Townshend told CNBC on Sunday.

"You don't plan on today's oil prices  you plan on a range," Townshend said during a conference in Dubai organized by the Iraqi British Business Council. "We see a sensible range would be in that $50 to $70 range [?]. And that's what we plan on."

Crude prices have been on a rollercoaster ride, falling to a year-low on Friday, just weeks after hitting a nearly four-year high in October ahead of U.S. sanctions on Iran, OPEC's third-largest oil producer. Dubbed oil's "Black Friday," global benchmark Brent crude dropped 6.1 percent to $58.80, down 22 percent for the month on fears that the world is oversupplied.

The conference, centered on Iraq's reconstruction one year after the defeat of the Islamic State militant group, highlighted the need for investment and improved efficiency in Iraq's power sector. Asked if the lower oil prices would prove problematic for BP's Iraq operations, Townshend replied that the company was prepared for turns in the market.

"Our investment decisions are all based on a range of pricing, they're in that $50 to $70 range  whatever today happens to be, we have no control over whatever tomorrow happens to be," he said. "Our job is to make sure we're as efficient as possible so we can work through whatever the oil price is. We can't predict the oil price."

But if history is any guide, a drop in oil prices means a drop in Iraq's capital expenditure, according to Frank Gunter, professor of economics at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Iraq's government will likely have a much harder time funding its own infrastructure development projects, he said. [?]

When oil prices collapsed in 2014, capital expenditure dropped by 50 percent  meaning important investment projects were abandoned and had to be completely restarted years after.
British academic Matthew Hedges, who was jailed for spying in the UAE, is seen in this undated photo. Hedges was pardoned on 26 November, 2018.

British academic Matthew Hedges, who was given a life sentence in the United Arab Emirates on charges of espionage, has been pardoned with immediate effect.

The sudden development overturns a life sentence handed down by an Abu Dhabi court on November 21. It comes more than six months after the 31-year old Durham University PhD candidate was first imprisoned.

Hedges was detained on May 5 while leaving the country via Dubai airport after a two-week visit. He was arrested for allegedly "seeking classified information on the UAE" and asking sensitive questions about various government departments involved in national security. According to Hedges' family, he was researching the Arab country's domestic and foreign security strategy, as well as its role in the Yemen war.

He was charged with "spying for a foreign country, jeopardizing the military, political and economic security of the state," but the ruling was not final and allowed him the right to appeal. The academic has consistently denied the charges, maintaining he was carrying out research on the Arab Spring's impact on Emirati foreign policy.

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The UAE's attorney general said Hedges confessed to the spying charges, but his family said he was made to sign a confession statement written in Arabic, a language he does not speak. He was held in solitary confinement and not allowed legal representation in his first two court appearances, according to media reports and Hedges' family members.

The Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation has denied Hedges was given documents he did not understand. Its head of legal affairs Abdullah Al Naqbi said in a statement last week that Hedges was given a court-appointed lawyer, and treated fairly and in accordance with the UAE constitution.

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt publicly expressed their concern over the case, stressing the urgency of finding a solution with the UAE as the two countries have been longtime allies on trade, security and defense. May told the House of Commons on Wednesday that "we will continue to press this matter at the highest level with the Emiratis."

The UAE government on Monday described the pardon as part of orders issued for the country's National Day anniversary, December 2, which this year marks the 47th year since the union of the seven emirates that form the UAE. Hedges was one of more than 700 prisoners pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in honor of the day.
Cans of Campbell's Tomato Soup are seen in a supermarket in New York.

Campbell Soup announced on Monday the terms of a truce it has reached with Third Point, which will add two of the activist fund's nominees to its board: former Blue Buffalo CEO Kurt Schmidt and Comscore President Sarah Hofstetter.

Campbell shareholders are set to meet on Thursday. Shares of Campbell were down more than 4 percent in afternoon trading.

As part of the deal, Campbell will expand the size of its board by at least two board seats. Campbell can expand it to 14 with board approval. Its bylaws could be amended to boost the board even more.

Third Point will have input on a third director that Campbell plans to add by its meeting in May 2019. It will also have input on Campbell's CEO search.

Campbell had previously said it would add Hofstetter and Schmidt to its board. It had pushed back against adding two other Third Point nominees, former Campbell executive Bill Toler and Third Point executive Munib Islam.

The settlement concludes a months-long proxy battle that ended far different than it began. Dan Loeb's Third Point had first pushed for a sale of the company and later a full ouster of its board. Campbell has so far remained independent and granted only two of Third Point's nominees seats on its board.

Third Point has faced steep odds since the onset. The descendants of Campbell's founder own at least 41 percent of the company. While there have been prior family fractures, the family has historically banded together to protect the soup company. Three of Campbell's heirs sit on its board.

Third Point first unveiled its stake in Campbell in August. The soup company was vulnerable  just months prior, it had announced a strategic review and the sudden departure of its CEO after "unacceptable" earnings results. Third Point said the "only justifiable outcome" of the review was a sale to a strategic buyer.

To support its efforts, Third Point partnered with George Strawbridge Jr., a descendant of soup company's founder. Strawbridge's son has in the past pitched to certain Campbell board members the idea of a sale to Kraft Heinz, a person familiar with the situation tells CNBC.

In order for Third Point and Strawbridge's campaign to work, Strawbridge needed to turn at least some his family members to his side. Two of them seemed unlikely: Mary Alice Malone and Bennett Dorrance, children of Campbell's former chairman who collectively own roughly 33.1 percent of the company. The brother and sister have long been fiercely loyal to the soup company.

How other family members might fall, though, was less clear. Bennett and Mary Alice's cousin, board member Archie Van Beuren, has sole voting power of the Campbell Voting Trust, through which other Dorrance descendants together hold a combined 5.85 percent of Campbell. Cousin Charlotte Weber owns roughly 4 percent in the soup company.

Those family members struck a blow to the Third Point and Strawbridge pairing when they publicly pledged their allegiance to the soup company in October.

Meantime, Third Point and Strawbridge faced other obstacles. Kraft Heinz may have previously flirted with the idea of buying Campbell, but the industry has changed significantly over the past few years. Kraft Heinz, once Wall Street's darling due to its ability to slash costs from bloated food companies, has had its own recent struggles with growth. Those challenges, along with a falling stock price, made it unlikely it would want to pay big dollars to buy the struggling soup company.

Third Point ultimately moved from demanding a sale to saying it would accept other moves, including a split. Meantime, after initial calls to replace all of Campbell's board, it lobbied to add only five directors to its board.

A series of missteps and poor financial performance, though, had left Campbell with vulnerabilities of its own. Campbell has delivered a 19 percent total shareholder return over the last 20 years, while the S&P 500 has nearly tripled in that period. It's been led by an interim CEO since Morrison's abrupt departure in May.

It is now selling its fresh food business, undoing efforts to move into the faster-growing area of the grocery store. After struggles due to inexperience and an ill-timed drought, the fresh food unit this past quarter posted an operating loss of $3 million. Campbell's most recent acquisition, its $6.2 billion purchase of pretzel and chip company Snyder's-Lance, more than tripled its debt burden.

"Subpar oversight" of issues such as M&A, as well as its financial performance, helped drive shareholder advisory firm ISS' support of Third Point's five-person slate, announced earlier this month. The opinion of the influential firm put pressure on Campbell to offer board concessions, even if family votes helped fortify its defenses.

The opinion came before Campbell's recent better-than-expected first-quarter earnings.

With its proxy battle concluded, Campbell is now likely to refocus on its CEO search and the businesses it is selling to pay down the debt it accumulated through its Snyder's-Lance acquisition. It has also been working to turn around its soup business.

"The CEO hiring becomes the next headline for the company, in our view, and we believe the company is more likely to entertain an external candidate now that Third Point is involved in the process," wrote analysts at Stifel this morning.

Meantime, while new voices may add urgency to its turnaround, the company requires two-thirds shareholder vote approval for major deals, ensuring the family's voice continues to be a powerful one.
China has stood by its strategic relationship with Pakistan, reiterating its strong ties with the South Asian nation after armed militants stormed the Chinese consulate in Karachi on Friday.

The bilateral alliance is "higher than (the) mountains and deeper than (the) sea," Lijian Zhao, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, said on Twitter days after the terror attack. "The friendship has never been empty talks, but deeply imprinted in hearts of Chinese and Pakistani people," Zhao said, noting how Chinese civilians made donations to the families of Pakistani security officers who died on Friday.

Lijian Zhao tweet

Meanwhile, social media users in China expressed their respect and admiration for a female Pakistani police officer, Suhai Aziz Talpur, who was part of a team that killed Friday's assailants.

The incident claimed the lives of four Pakistanis. A statement from the Chinese embassy in Islamabad confirmed on Friday that no Chinese citizens were killed or injured. The Balochistan Liberation Army, one of many Pakistani voices critical of Chinese projects in the country, claimed to be behind the violence.

"China is exploiting our resources," a spokesman for the BLA, considered a terrorist organization by Islamabad and Washington, told Reuters.

The $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor  a network of transport, energy, industrial and agricultural projects that runs from the Pakistani city of Gwadar to the Chinese region of Xinjiang  is a sensitive issue in the Islamic republic. The CPEC is a crucial element of Chinese President Xi Jinping's broader Belt and Road Initiative, a continent-spanning system of trade and infrastructure links.
Haydee Mestre looks inside her refrigerator after Hurricane Maria destroyed the town's bridge and the surrounding areas, in San Lorenzo, Morovis, Puerto Rico, October 5, 2017. Alvin Baez | Reuters

Climate change will hit low-income communities the hardest as it takes a toll on the U.S. in general, says a blockbuster government report released on Friday. Low-income communities in both urban and rural areas will be disproportionately impacted by climate change relative to other communities, according to the assessment, which was created by a team of over 300 experts from the government and the private sector to analyze the impact of climate change on the country. Those communities already have higher rates of many adverse health conditions, are more exposed to environmental hazards and take longer to bounce back from natural disasters. These existing inequalities will only be exacerbated due to climate change, according to the report, which is known as the Fourth National Climate Assessment.

The report made waves in Washington despite being released the day after Thanksgiving, which prompted speculation that the Trump administration was trying to bury the findings. The assessment is at odds with the views of President Donald Trump, who has historically denied evidence of climate change. Last year, he announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Earlier this month, he tweeted, "Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS  Whatever happened to Global Warming?" On Monday, Trump rejected the report's findings about climate change's economic impact. "I don't believe it," he told reporters on the White House South Lawn, as he was departing to hold campaign rallies in Mississippi. Several politicians seized on the report's release as an opportunity to promote their own plans for mitigating climate change. On Twitter, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat who was elected to represent part of New York City in Congress, touted her Green New Deal proposal, which aims to create a committee in the House that would develop a plan to generate all of the country's electricity from renewable energy. "People are going to die if we don't start addressing climate change ASAP," she said in the tweet. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, also tweeted about the Climate Risk Disclosure Act she introduced in September, which would require publicly traded companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.

Health and jobs at risk

Heart and lung disease, heat stroke and bacterial infections are just a few of the health consequences associated with climate change. Low-income populations "typically have less access to information, resources, institutions, and other factors to prepare for and avoid the health risks of climate change," the report says, leaving them especially vulnerable. Lack of health insurance among the poor will also intensify the risks of illnesses caused by climate change. In urban areas, which produce 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in North America, the poor "live in neighborhoods with the greatest exposure to climate and extreme weather events," the report says. This includes living near pollution sites and in housing developments without sufficient insulation or air conditioning. Additionally, disruptions to infrastructure during natural disasters can have an outsized impact on city residents who rely on public transportation. Rural areas often have agriculture-dependent economies, so the livelihoods of low-income residents are more vulnerable to changing environmental conditions. Many rural households also suffer from energy poverty, the report states, meaning they "are not able to adequately heat or provide other required energy services in their homes at affordable cost." As average temperatures continue to rise, people who cannot affordably cool their houses will continue to feel financial strains.

Disasters and 'green gentrification'
Foreign policy advisor to US President Donald Trump's election campaign, George Papadopoulos and his wife Simona Mangiante Papadopoulos arrive at US District Court for his sentencing in Washington, DC on September 7, 2018.

George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign advisor and the first person charged in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, will report to prison Monday to serve a two-week sentence.

Papadopoulos' attorneys had filed two requests in November to U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss asking to delay the start of his prison time. In a Nov. 16 court filing, his lawyers told the judge that the outcome of a separate appeal challenging the legitimacy of Mueller's investigation "may directly impact the validity of Mr. Papadopoulos's prosecution and conviction."

But Moss denied the request, saying Papadopoulos had "failed to carry his burden of demonstrating that a delay in the execution of his sentence is warranted."

Papadopoulos, 31, pleaded guilty in October 2017 to lying to the FBI as part of Mueller's ongoing probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Papadopoulos will be incarcerated for 14 days  a much shorter period than the six months initially recommended by the special counsel  and will pay a $9,500 fine, serve 200 hours of community service and remain under supervised release for a year after his release.

President Donald Trump had mocked the special counsel in a tweet after Papadopoulos' sentencing.

Trump tweet

In a statement, Papadopoulos' lawyer Christopher LaVigne said his client will not appeal the "unfortunate" decision:

"The Court's decision not to stay Mr. Papadopoulos's incarceration is an unfortunate result in an inequitable case. At sentencing, Judge Moss himself acknowledged that he did not see 'any reason in the record to conclude that Mr. Papadopoulos had any desire to aid Russia in any way, to do anything that was contrary to the national interest.' Nevertheless, for practical reasons, Mr. Papadopoulos has decided not to appeal the Court's decision or move to overturn his plea. Given the immense power of the Special Counsel's Office and the costs to Mr. Papadopoulos of continuing to fight, he will serve his sentence tomorrow, and hopes to move on with his life."

As a foreign policy advisor on then-candidate Trump's presidential campaign, Papadopoulos met with professor Joseph Mifsud, who had ties to Russia in early 2016. In late April 2016, Mifsud told Papadopoulos that Russians had "dirt" on Trump's political opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, including "thousands of emails," according to the special counsel's court filings.

Democratic National Committee members' stolen emails, which U.S. intelligence officials say were hacked by Russian operatives, have appeared to become an increasing focus of Mueller's investigation. Some individuals who appeared to have some connections to whistleblowing site WikiLeaks, which published thousands of those emails, have since come under intense scrutiny by investigators.

Papadopoulos had lied to the FBI about the date and nature of his interactions with Mifsud. At his sentencing, Papadopoulos said "I am deeply embarrassed and personally ashamed" for lying to the federal agents.

But after his sentencing, Papadopoulos began to speak up on Twitter and in interviews about a conspiracy to undermine Trump's candidacy during the election. In since-deleted tweets, Papadopoulos called pleading guilty his "biggest regret"; in a television interview in October, he said he was "considering withdrawing his agreement" with the special counsel.

CNN reported that Papadopoulos will surrender at a federal prison camp in Oxford, Wisconsin. A spokeswoman for that prison did not respond to CNBC's requests for comment.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 26)  House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday said she is against the practice of lawmakers filing resolutions calling for Congressional investigations in aid of legislation.

Arroyo told reporters over lunch that she does not like the House to launch investigations unless lawmakers can propose a new law based on their findings.

"I don't like resolutions in aid of legislation because there is no legislation that happens, only harassment," she said.

Arroyo said she was recently approached by Ilocos Sur Rep. Deogracias Victor "DV" Savellano with a proposal to hold a legislative inquiry about a certain issue but she was against it unless the lawmaker showed her a rough draft of a bill related to the inquiry.

"Otherwise, let's call it oversight. Call it what it is because after all, it is a function of Congress," she recalled telling Savellano.

One of the most controversial investigations conducted by the House in the 17th Congress was the justice committee's investigation into the alleged proliferation of illegal drugs under Senator Leila De Lima's term as Justice Secretary.

During the hearings, lawmakers feasted on the sordid details of De Lima's affair with her former driver, Ronnie Dayan.

Arroyo said she would rather that lawmakers hold a briefing if they want to learn something about a certain issue instead of holding congressional inquiries because they can be "so inquisitorial" in these proceedings.

For Arroyo, only the House committee on Good Government and Public Accountability can act as the "policeman" in the House.

"There's one policeman, I told the congressman, one policeman in the House and that's the Committee on Good Government. Let them do what they want to do. They're the only ones authorized to make inquiries," she said.
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer and founder of Facebook Inc. attends the Viva Tech start-up and technology gathering at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles on May 24, 2018 in Paris, France.

Internal Facebook documents have been seized by the British parliament in an aggressive move that will likely set the tone for a high-stakes hearing due to take place this week.

Damian Collins, chair of the U.K.'s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS), used a rare parliamentary power to compel Ted Kramer, the founder of app-maker Six4Three, to hand over the documents during a business trip to London, The Observer newspaper reported late Saturday.

The files are reported to contain confidential emails in relation to Facebook's data and privacy controls in the run-up to the firm's data scandal earlier this year. It has also been reported that the cache of documents contains emailed correspondence with Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and other senior executives.

The news comes as Facebook readies itself for a crucial hearing before the DCMS committee in London on Tuesday, which is set to be attended by Richard Allan, the company's vice president of policy solutions, as well as political officials from Canada, Ireland, Latvia and Singapore. Zuckerberg snubbed the committee several times when asked to appear and provide evidence.

According to multiple media reports, the procedure to obtain the documents was attended by the serjeant at arms, an official responsible for maintaining order in the House of Commons, the lower chamber of the U.K. parliament.

Collins confirmed that the committee had obtained the documents from Six4Three. "I have reviewed them and the committee will discuss how we will proceed early next week," he wrote via Twitter.

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Now-defunct U.S. firm Six4Three, which developed an app called Pikinis that let people pay to find pictures of users in swimsuits, is currently engaged in a legal battle with Facebook. The Pikinis app was shut down in 2015 after Facebook changed its policies around the sharing of user data with third-party app developers. Six4Three argues Facebook drove developers away through anti-competitive means.

The internal documents seized by U.K. lawmakers relate to the lawsuit, and were reportedly obtained by Kramer's lawyers through the legal discovery process.

"Six4Three's claims are entirely meritless  Facebook has never traded Facebook data for anything and we've always made clear that developer access is subject to both our policies and what info people choose to share," a Facebook spokesperson told CNBC in an email.

"We operate in a fiercely competitive market in which people connect and share. For every service offered on Facebook and our family of apps, you can find at least three or four competing services with hundreds of millions, if not billions, of users."
Top White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow will meet with General Motors CEO Mary Barra on Monday, only hours after the automaker announced more than 14,000 job cuts.

GM will effectively halt production next year at five plants in North America  in Ohio, Michigan, Maryland and Ontario  as well as two plants outside of North America.

The company also plans to cut 15 percent of its salaried workers. The cuts will eliminate more than 14,000 jobs in all, roughly 8,100 white-collar positions and more than 6,000 factory jobs, according to GM.

Overall, GM estimates the reorganization will save about $6 billion a year by the end of 2020.

As the director of the National Economic Council, Kudlow has been cheering President Donald Trump's administration for its economic policies.

"We are the hottest economy in the world right now," Kudlow said last month.

Trump also praised General Motors last year, saying the automaker was "starting the big jobs push back into the U.S." Trump had pledged to revive manufacturing in an Ohio region where GM now plans to slash production and layoff workers.

"Jobs have left Ohio," Trump said in 2017, but "they're all coming back."

GM plans to cut as many as 1,600 factory jobs at a Lordstown, Ohio, plant  20 miles away from where Trump spoke when he promised to return jobs to the area.

 CNBC's Eamon Javers and Robert Ferris contributed to this report.
The rapid plunge in oil prices to $50 a barrel is bad for the United States and threatens to create problems in the credit market, warns Jeff Currie, head of commodities research at Goldman Sachs.

Currie's opinion is at odds with the view from the White House, where President Donald Trump has been cheering the recent oil market sell-off and urging Saudi Arabia to drive prices even lower. The president, eager to see gasoline prices fall, is publicly pressuring OPEC to reject price-boosting output cuts when the group meets with Russia and other producers next week.

@realDonaldTrump: Hopefully, Saudi Arabia and OPEC will not be cutting oil production. Oil prices should be much lower based on supply!

@realDonaldTrump: Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut for America and the World. Enjoy! $54, was just $82. Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but let's go lower!

Saudi Arabia convinced about two dozen producers to increase output in June ahead of U.S. sanctions on Iran. However, Trump did not apply those sanctions as harshly as expected, and now OPEC and its allies are strongly signaling they will once again throttle back output following a collapse in oil prices.

Currie thinks Saudi Arabia and Russia have an opportunity to convince Trump that the production cuts are necessary at this week's G-20 meeting in Argentina.

"We think a production cut is in the interest of all three parties," Currie told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" on Monday. "Oil prices at $50 a barrel dig into the U.S. industry's cost structure. It's not good for the U.S. either at these prices."

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude prices plunged to a more than one-year low at $50.10 on Monday, down 35 percent since the start of October. The price that's best for all parties is the $65 to $70 range, according to Currie.

"When you're in that level it's not too high and damaging the consumer, but at the same time, it creates a stable environment for the industry," he said.

Currie puts the "all-in cost" of producing oil from American shale fields  including return on capital  at roughly $50 a barrel.

To be sure, that cost varies from region to region, and even from field to field within a region. But analysts are growing concerned about the fallout of $50 oil in U.S. shale fields, where so-called "frackers" rely on an expensive process called hydraulic fracturing to free oil and gas from rock formations.

"What I think a lot of analysts are worried about ... is if the Saudis continue to try to placate Trump, they are going to be oversupplying this market," Helima Croft, global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, told CNBC last week.

"You have a situation where if President Trump really wants prices to continue to decline further, that is going to really hurt the U.S. shale industry."

On Sunday, brokerage and investment firm Stifel slashed its 2019 price forecast for U.S. crude by 27 percent to $53.73. If that forecast bears out, Stifel says the 39 oil and gas companies it covers will have to find a way to fill a $8.2 billion cash flow deficit next year. Prior to its revised forecast, Stifel saw the companies generating $16.1 billion in positive free cash flow.

"If OPEC decides not to cut production and crude oil prices hover at or below current levels, [exploration and production] companies will likely need to lower activity levels to avoid a meaningful cash flow shortfall in 2019," Stifel analysts said.
Robert Wang just wants to be the Steve Jobs of kitchen appliances. "My hero is Steve Jobs.  He's excellent on design. He's excellent in understanding the needs of his customers," Wang, founder and CEO of Instant Brands, tells CNBC Make It. He very well may achieve that. Much like Jobs with the iPhone and other Apple products, Wang has created a product with great attention to detail that has inspired cult-like devotion: Instant Pot. Millions of fervent foodies have purchased an Instant Pot multicooker, making it one of the top-selling products sold in Amazon's Prime Day sales events in July 2016, with 215,000 Instant Pot 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cookers sold, in 2017, and in 2018, when Instant Pot broke its own Prime Day record with 300,000 units sold over 36 hours. The company expects to be among the best-selling products on Amazon during the already busy holiday sales season too. More than 5.5 million people follow an Instant Pot-related account on Facebook  1.5 million follow Instant Pot's official Facebook page alone  where they gush over the product and swap recipes (from pot roast to cheesecake and yogurt) as well as user tips. And recently, in a pitch-perfect example of how Instant Pot has penetrated the zeitgeist, rising young political star and newly elected New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (who's been dubbed the most relatable politician ever) has even started having Instagram Live conversations about politics with her 780,000 followers over an Instant Pot. Earlier this month she held court while making Instant Pot macaroni and cheese, and a few days later, she asked her 1.2 million Twitter followers to submit their favorite Instant Pot recipes for future chats. AOCTWEET If you're one of the few who has not yet used the gadget (as a rice cooker, yogurt maker, browning pan, steamer or warming pot, among its other functions), it's likely you've at least been on the receiving end of some Instant Pot proselytizing from one of its many devotees: a Bloomberg critic called it "a magical pot" and Slate compared the product's faithful following to a "religion." This is all according to the master plan of Wang, 54, who tells CNBC Make It that, in addition to worshipping Jobs, he's also trying to follow the example of tech titan Bill Gates and "put Instant Pot in every kitchen" (a nod to Gates' famous promise to put a computer in every home in the early days of Microsoft). "It was a very ambitious statement [and] kind of laughable at the time," says Wang, who made the proclamation in a 2013 mission statement when he had just four or five employees. "But now it looks very much attainable."

Instant Brands CEO Robert Wang poses with two Instant Pot products. Source: Robert Wang

Instant Pot started when Wang lost his job

Today, Ottawa, Ontario-based Instant Brands (which changed its name from Double Insight in May 2018) has nearly 90 employees and there seems to be no end in sight to its record-setting sales. But it all started after Wang lost his job in 2008. Wang had been the chief scientist at a mobile messaging company he'd co-founded in 2000, but the company's CEO shut down Wang's division, putting Wang out of the job (the company, Airwide Solutions, was later sold off). Despite having spent 14 years working on telecommunications technology, Wang decided to turn his attention toward solving a personal problem he had been pondering.

Robert Wang working for Canadian telecom Nortel in 1997. Source: Robert Wang

Wang and his wife, Tracy, both worked full time in the tech industry (his wife at telecom Nortel Networks, where Robert also used to work), which left them with a very relatable problem: They had little time to cook fast, tasty and healthy meals for their two young children, who were then 4 and 8, he tells CNBC Make It. "We did a lot of takeout, fast food. Kids really love fast food," Wang says. "But my wife and myself don't think that's the way to raise our kids. So, at that point, I was dreaming about an automated cooking machine, which will help me cook [a] healthy dinner after work." What's more, Wang knew he was far from alone. "I believed that people share the same issue I have, which is putting dinner on the table after a busy day," he says. As a jumping off point, Wang, who has a Ph.D. in computer science and a background in artificial intelligence, thought of the Crock-Pot, a slow cooker that had been popular with working parents in the second half of the 20th century as more and more women joined the workforce, since it offered the ability to cook a full meal during the day while the family is out of the house. "But we all know that, when we leave for work in the morning it's hectic," Wang says. "You don't have much time, and also you're eating your breakfast, you're [not] thinking about your dinner." That's where Wang saw an opportunity to make things even easier with an all-in-one cooking product. Wang, who was born in Harbin, China, and moved to Canada in the mid-1990s, also thought of the electric pressure cookers that were popular in his native China, which had microprocessors and multiple sensors, and as pressure cookers, cook faster. "Not many people are planners," he says. "A much better solution is, [with] Instant Pot, you can actually come home with your groceries in hand and still put the dinner on the table within 30 to 40 minutes. So that there is the key advantage of Instant Pot."

He used his own money and sold it on Amazon

It took Wang roughly 18 months to develop the first iteration of the Instant Pot, including finding a manufacturer, ironing out the kinks of design, and tweaking the firmware and algorithms before releasing the first product on Amazon in October 2010. Wang sank roughly $300,000 of his personal savings into the project to get it to market, he tells CNBC Make It. He originally had two partners who had previously worked with him at Nortel, but he says, "They did not believe in the idea" and left after just five months (Wang declined to name the two partners). Wang carried on by himself for another six months, he says, before another group of partners joined the effort, including two former BlackBerry employees: Yi Qin, who is now Instant Brands' vice president of product management, and Dongjun Wang, who serves as vice president of quality assurance. During those 18 months, Wang says he worked to identify "prominent pain points" for consumers who cook at home with electrical appliances so he could design a product that offered solutions. One of those pain points was an overcrowded kitchen, so Wang created Instant Pot to combine the functions of multiple devices. (The first Instant Pot offered five functions  pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer and warmer  while some of the most recent iterations claim to offer as many as 10 functions, including cake maker, egg cooker and more.) Another big frustration for home chefs? Burned food. "It's a very frustrating experience," Wang says. "So as one of the key objectives, we needed to design a certain burn protection mechanism." Wang put his computer science background to use developing a microprocessor along with heat and pressure sensors housed at the bottom of the device to monitor cooking temperature. One of the Instant Pot's safety mechanisms is burn protection, which flashes a warning message and automatically suspends heating if the temperature exceeds a certain limit (284 degrees Fahrenheit on most cooking functions). It took Wang's team months of experiments in their home kitchens with a long list of foods and recipes, from baked potatoes to beef chili, to get the burn protection function as close to perfect as possible. "Today, I would say over 90 percent of [the time] that Instant Pot will not not burn your food," Wang says, adding that the one time out of 10 where that might not be the case is usually due to some sort of starch solidifying at the bottom of the machine and then overheating. Before the prototype was ready to hit the market, Wang enlisted his daughter, Addie, to help him test it. Though she was only 10, he chose her because "she's meticulous, picky and articulated. Meeting her standards is a joy to me," he says.

Instant Brands CEO Robert Wang with his family in 2008. Source: Robert Wang

Wang (who currently keeps three Instant Pots running at all times at his family's home in Ottawa, cooking anything from ribs to porridge and beans), cooked meals in the prototype for several months in 2009 and Addie would decide if the food was up to snuff. She especially loved eating a breakfast of soft-boiled eggs with runny yolks  an often difficult proposition to get just right, as the eggs need to be cooked for just the right amount of time at a precise level of heat. "If you do it on your stovetop, you have to stand by with a clock in hand," Wang says. "But, with the Instant Pot it is pretty easy. I had to run a few experiments and, once I got the timing right, [I knew] Instant Pot can do it consistently."

Sales trickle in, at first

Instant Pot was finally ready to hit the market in the fall of 2010. Wang drove around Canada himself pitching samples of the first-generation device to small brick-and-mortar retailers at home goods conventions. The initial reception was less than enthusiastic. Why should they take a risk on a new product no one had ever heard of?

An early design idea for the Instant Pot logo that was later abandoned. Source: Robert Wang

So Wang turned to online sales, trying to sell the Instant Pot everywhere from Amazon to eBay and electronics retailer Newegg, as well as Instant Brands' own website. "It turned out Amazon is the perfect marketplace for us, because we get reviews from customers and those reviews really help us to determine what we need to do in the next iteration of the product," Wang tells CNBC Make It. Instant Pot made its first Amazon sale in November 2010 for $140. Wang says he still remembers how ecstatic he was to think that someone believed in his product enough to buy it on Amazon. "It brings tremendous joy," he says. Sales on Amazon started to trickle in, with about one or two units moving per day at first, and then within three months that increased to roughly 30 sales per day. "And then we shift our attention to Amazon entirely," Wang says. It was in 2011 that Wang started religiously reading every single customer review of the Instant Pot on Amazon. Last year, he told CNBC Make It that he'd read nearly 40,000 Amazon reviews for his products, and it's a practice he continues to this day, though Wang says now he's lost count of the total number of reviews he's read. In one case, in 2012, Wang read a review from a user who suggested that Instant Pot add a yogurt-making feature. When Wang added that function to the popular Duo series Instant Pot, he made sure to track down the reviewer and send him a free model, "as a token of gratitude," he says. (The Duo is now the most popular Instant Pot model, Wang says, and "millions have been sold.") "They are honest customers telling us what they like, what they hate and what they wish for," Wang says of the customer reviews. "Those are the three key parameters that we always take into account in designing the next iteration of Instant Pot." In 2011, Wang introduced the second-generation Instant Pot, which included a saute function. That version also featured a remodeled interface, because some customers had been confused by the earlier generation's mysteriously blinking dashes when the Instant Pot was plugged in. Wang made sure that later models clearly displayed "On" or "Off" to let users know whether their Instant Pot is cooking or not. It was that second-generation Instant Pot  the Lux 6-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, which also sold for $140  that made Wang's company profitable. The updated device became an Amazon best-seller in the multicooker category by the summer of 2012, selling 2,000 units per month, Wang says. But there was much more to come. In 2015, Instant Pot launched its Facebook page because Wang "realized we need additional engagement with our end users, getting feedback [and] understanding what they use Instant Pot for," he says, plus he chose to rely primarily on word-of-mouth promotion because he had such a limited budget and he wanted to spend the bulk of it on the product. He felt Instant Pot could have the potential to go viral, so he also sent a few hundred free devices to a list of food bloggers with large followings and celebrity chefs to help get some exposure. By the following summer, in 2016, the buzz around Instant Pot had grown to a fever pitch. That led to Instant Pot's true breakthrough moment, when Amazon sold out all 215,000 of its Instant Pot inventory on Prime Day that July. Wang remembers the day well: Though he'd worked with Amazon for months to plan for the sale, it felt "unreal" and "very unnerving," he says. Each subsequent Prime Day has also been a banner sales period for Instant Pot, as has the Black Friday through Cyber Monday sales period after Thanksgiving in the U.S., Wang says. However, he also notes that the revenue from those periods does not account for a lopsided amount of his company's total annual sales, suggesting that Instant Pot products sell relatively briskly year-round. (Amazon did not respond to requests to comment for this article.) There are now roughly 10 versions of the Instant Pot for sale on Instant Brands' website, ranging in price from about $65 for a Lux Mini 6-in-1 three-quart model to nearly $180 for the Ultra 10-in-1 eight-quart model. (The products' prices can vary by retailer.) In another nod to Wang's hero, Steve Jobs, the Instant Brands CEO tells CNBC Make It that his company follows a "pretty strict release schedule," introducing an updated version of the Instant Pot every 12 to 18 months. "[A]fter having Instant Pot for over 12 months, and the next shining Instant Pot is on the market, people do upgrade and the older one is either given away to family and friends or being used as the second unit at home," Wang says. Instant Pots are now also sold by dozens of other retailers like Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Williams Sonoma (the latter of which even collaborated with Instant Pot on a line of meal-starter sauces and spices). Not everything has been perfect of course. Instant Pot had a pair of product recalls: In 2015 it recalled more than 1,100 "Smart" model pressure cookers after receiving a handful of complaints about users getting an electric shock when the product was in use. Then in March, the company recalled more than 100,000 Gem 65 8-in-1 Multi-cookers due to reports of the product overheating causing a possible fire hazard. Wang says the latter issue was a manufacturing defect and it did not have anything to do with the product's design, including its burn protection feature. "Safety is a primary concern to the company," Wang tells CNBC Make It, noting that it voluntarily recalled the product. "We have to be responsible to our users." As a privately held company, Instant Brands does not release its revenue, but Wang says "several million" people have purchased Instant Pots and the company's sales have doubled every year since 2011.

Spreading the gospel

The eye-popping and record-breaking online sales of Instant Pot are largely fueled by the word-of-mouth marketing strategy that Wang has maintained since the beginning. "It is very, very persuasive, because it's your friend, it's your family who's actually convincing you that you need an Instant Pot," Wang says. "It's a grassroots approach of marketing." He says many customers told him they have recommended Instant Pot to 10 to 15 other people. Indeed, according to NPD Group home industry analyst Joe Derochowski, one of the keys to Instant Pot's success has been "an approach to engage and connect with their consumers" that's helped to foster an online community of super fans. "Their approach was really to try to build a community and they were able to do that, where I think sometimes some manufacturers, when they created their Facebook page, it was more to sell the product," Derochowski tells CNBC Make It. In fact, it's spawned a cottage industry of fandom. Various Instant Pot enthusiasts have amassed their own online followings with a seemingly never-ending thirst for Instant Pot recipes and tips. Facebook offers roughly 200 different groups dedicated to Instant Pot, Wang says, with one group even lovingly dubbing themselves "Potheads" in a reference to Wang's product. Take Coco Morante, a food blogger who lives in Portland, Oregon, and received her first Instant Pot as a Christmas present from her husband in 2014. She started an Instant Pot Facebook page that "went pretty viral, pretty quickly." Some of her first posts, involving recipes for dishes like mac 'n' cheese and cheesecake, would receive as many as 10,000 views within an hour of her posting them. Now her Facebook group called, simply, "Instant Pot Recipes," has nearly 440,000 followers. She's written two cookbooks in the past two years on the subject, "The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook" and "The Ultimate Instant Pot Cookbook," both published by an imprint of Penguin Random House.

A food blogger since 2011, Morante had already been thinking about writing a cookbook and the rabid interest in Instant made it clear to Morante that she should ride that wave of popularity. "When the [Facebook] page kind of blew up, and suddenly I had a platform and people who were really interested in having a cookbook for the Instant Pot, it just was a no-brainer," she says. In fact, Wang estimates that more than 2,000 Instant Pot cookbooks have been written by amateurs and professionals alike, including numerous Amazon best-sellers on specialized cooking focuses ranging from vegan to ketogenic and paleo diets. It seems that no matter what your particular culinary or dietary preference, there is likely to be an Instant Pot chef, blogger or cookbook to suit your needs. The Instant Pot, for example, has especially been embraced by Indian chefs, such as Chandra Ram, editor of the food magazine Plate. The Kentucky-born Ram, who is half-Indian, bought her first Instant Pot last year. She went to culinary school, but she still felt like she "didn't cook Indian as well as I wanted to, as often as I wanted to, but once I got the Instant Pot I was like, 'Oh, I can do these things,'" she tells CNBC Make It. Now her book, "The Complete Indian Instant Pot Cookbook," was released in October. Of course, Wang is aware that followings can be fickle. But he is intent on keeping Instant Pot owners happy in order to avoid becoming the next kitchen fad. The majority of the company's profits are plunged back into areas like research and development and a "large portion" of Instant Pot's growing roster of employees work on the customer service team, according to Wang. "What concerns me is always user experience," Wang tells CNBC Make It. "When reading customer reviews, some customer was saying that they are afraid of opening the Instant Pot. That worries me. So, market education [and] ensuring a good user experience are those important issues which are always on my mind." The company now produces its own YouTube videos with cooking tutorials using the Instant Pot, for instance. Wang is confident he's succeeding. "I think we have got into the mainstream ... it is becoming part of people's daily life."

Competition is heating up

Instant Pot's popularity has helped invigorate the larger market for multicookers in the U.S.: It has grown by roughly 99 percent so far this year, after increasing by about 79 percent to more than $300 million in 2017, making multicookers one of the fastest-growing product categories in the retail sector in the past two years, NPD analyst Derochowski tells CNBC Make It. Derochowski expects multicookers like Instant Pot to be among the top-selling products during the current holiday shopping season, with sales continuing to grow in 2019. While Instant Pot enjoys a significant market share advantage according to Wang (it accounts for more than 80 percent of the market in 2018 up from around 73 percent in 2017, he says), rival products are actively trying to take a bite out of its lead. You could argue that Crock-Pot, which sold millions of products several decades ago before enthusiasm died down, was the original Instant Pot in terms of its popularity as a time saver in the kitchen. Now Crock-Pot is looking to siphon off some of the buzz around Instant Pot with its own versions of an all-inclusive multicooker  a line it's calling the Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cooker  that hit the market in September. The new Crock-Pot products are a potential threat to Instant Pot, according to Derochowski, because of its "brand heritage and brand knowledge." He also points to other potential competitors like the Ninja Foodi multicooker, which recently added an air fryer (super popular among the healthy cooking set) to a list of functions that also includes pressure cooker and steamer.

Crock-Pot released its new line of Express Crock Multi-Cookers in September 2018. Source: Newell Brands

But those products have not stolen Instant Pot's market share yet, Derochowski notes. "Instant Pot has done very well this year" and despite the competition continues to grow, Derochowski tells CNBC Make It . "How will that play in the future? I don't know, but I have a feeling they're still going to be a force." And there's plenty more room to grow, as NPD's research has found that only about 11.5 percent of U.S. households currently have a multi-cooker.

Staying hungry
People arrive for medical treatment at Suleymaniyah Hospital after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hits western Iran near its border with Iraq in Suleymaniyah, Iraq on November 25, 2018.

Iran said on Sunday that no fatalities had been reported but that more than 400 people were injured after an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck near its western border with Iraq, Iranian state TV reported.

The tremor was also felt in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and in Kuwait.

"We have had 411 injured, 80 percent of whom have been treated and released... No fatalities have been reported," Houshang Bazvand, governor of the western province of Kermanshah, told state TV.

Fears of aftershocks sent people in several cities in Kermanshah province out onto the streets and parks in cold weather, Iranian media reported. Rescue teams were immediately deployed to the quake-hit area.

"No reports of any fatalities yet and most of the injured were hurt while fleeing, not due to quake damage," Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Iran's emergency services, told state TV.

State TV reported minor damage at some buildings in the area. The quake triggered landslides but officials said all the roads in the area remained open to traffic and that electricity had been restored in most of areas hit by the tremor.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 65 km (40 miles) and struck 114 km northwest of the city of Ilam, close to Iran's border with Iraq.
IBM CEO Ginni Rometty is calling for regulation of tech companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon, according to prepared remarks she delivered at an event in Brussels Monday at an event for the EU Commission.

Rometty's speech follows Apple CEO Tim Cook's lead in demanding regulation of their tech peers. Last month, Cook delivered a keynote speech at a privacy conference in Brussels, saying, "We at Apple are in full support of a comprehensive federal privacy law in the United States."

Rometty's call focuses on consumer-facing companies in particular. IBM, by contrast, mainly serves other businesses.

"In regulating tech, government needs to focus on fixing the real problem," Rometty said in her prepared remarks. "And that is the irresponsible handling of personal data by a few dominant consumer-facing platform companies. Addressing the weakest link  should not define the digital economy."

Without naming names, Rometty took aim at companies that provide platforms for public opinion, saying they need to be held accountable for the information they distribute.

"On liability, new thinking is needed," Rometty said in her remarks. "Collectively, dominant online platforms have more power to shape public opinion than newspapers or the television ever had, yet they face very little regulation or liability."

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The South Pars gas field is pictured in Assaluyeh, Iran.

China's state-owned CNPC has replaced France's Total in Iran's multibillion-dollar South Pars gas project, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said, according to the semi-official news agency ICANA on Sunday.

"China's CNPC has officially replaced Total in phase 11 of South Pars but it has not started work practically. Talks need to be held with CNPC ... about when it will start operations," Zanganeh told ICANA, without giving further details.

Total, which had a 50.1 percent stake in the project, and CNPC could not immediately be reached for comment.

The French company said in August it had told Iranian authorities it would withdraw from the South Pars gas project after it failed to obtain a waiver from U.S. sanctions against Iran.

In May, industry sources said CNPC was ready to take over Total's stake in the project.

The offshore field, which Iran calls South Pars and Qatar calls North Field, holds the world's largest natural gas reserves ever found in one place.

CNPC already holds a 30 percent stake in the giant field, while National Iranian Oil Company subsidiary PetroPars holds the remaining 19.9 percent.
In this Oct. 7, 2008, file photo, Jerome Corsi, right, arrives at the immigration department in Nairobi, Kenya.

The special counsel is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as possible conspiracy between Trump campaign-related individuals and the Kremlin.

The 72-year-old author and associate of President Donald Trump's longtime operative Roger Stone told NBC that the charge is related to "testimony involving seeing" Julian Assange, founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks. The site published thousands of emails from Democratic National Committee members during the 2016 presidential election, which U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were stolen by Russian agents.

Right wing conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi, who is best known for pushing the false notion that Barack Obama was born outside the U.S., said he was offered a plea deal on one count of perjury  but would "rather sit in prison and rot" than say he lied to special counsel Robert Mueller, NBC News reported Monday.

Mueller's team has reportedly looked into whether Corsi knew in advance that WikiLeaks received Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's emails. Corsi denied that he knew ahead of time about the hacking and release of Podesta's emails. He told NBC that he determined they would be released after finding few of the campaign chief's emails in prior dumps of Democrats' communications.

Corsi said that in his statement to the special counsel, he "forgot almost everything about emails in 2016," NBC reported Monday.

"They want me to say I willfully lied. I did not intentionally lie to the special counsel. I'm not going to agree that I lied. I did not," Corsi said. "I will not lie to save my life. I'd rather sit in prison and rot for as long as these thugs want me to."

Corsi said the special counsel told him he "willfully lied on an amended statement," a characterization he disputes.

Corsi said last week that he was in plea negotiations with the special counsel. David Gray, his attorney, had previously said that he suspected the special counsel's questions would be focused on Corsi's communications with Stone.

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. But he has since denied that he had direct knowledge of WikiLeaks' plans.

Gray and spokesman for the special counsel's office declined to comment. Corsi did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment on the NBC report.

A White House correspondent for One America News Network, the right-wing media outlet that sided with Trump over CNN in a recent lawsuit, reported earlier Monday about the plea bargain. She also tweeted that Corsi "is preparing to file a CRIMINAL COMPLAINT against Mueller's Investigation with acting Attorney General WHITAKER."

Matthew Whitaker, appointed by Trump to replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions temporarily, is now overseeing the Mueller probe, according to the Justice Department. Sessions had recused himself from the role  a decision that led to Trump's sharp criticism of him  handing oversight of the probe to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

The DOJ did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on One America's report.

While Corsi is considered a fringe figure in the Republican Party, several of his smears and conspiracy theories have reached the mainstream over the years, including the "Swift Boat" campaign against Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004.

Corsi is best known for his 2011 book, "Where's the Birth Certificate?" in which he argued that Obama was not eligible to be president. He helped stoke what became known as the "birther" movement, which falsely claimed that the former president wasn't a natural-born citizen of the United States. Trump himself pushed the theory, and it helped propel him to the front line of Republican politics.
The stinky, spiky durian is set to become Malaysia's next major export as the Southeast Asian nation rushes to develop thousands of acres to cash in on unprecedented demand for the fruit from China.

Once planted in family orchards and small-scale farms, the durian  described by some as smelling like an open sewer or turpentine when ripe  is attracting investments like never before. Even property tycoons and companies in palm oil, Malaysia's biggest agricultural export, are making forays into the durian business.

The Malaysian government is encouraging large-scale farming of durian, counting on a 50 percent jump in exports by 2030.

"The durian industry is transforming from local to global, large-scale farming due to the great demand from China," said Lim Chin Khee, a durian industry consultant. "Before the boom, a durian farm in Malaysia would be a leisure farm ... Now they are hundreds of acres and bigger, and many more will come."

Durian may be banned in some airports, public transport and hotels in Southeast Asia for its pungent smell, but the Chinese are huge fans. Durian-flavored foods sold in China include pizza, butter, salad dressing and milk.

"At first, I also hated durians because I thought they have a weird smell," said Helen Li, 26, eating at a shop specializing in durian pizza in Shanghai, where nearly every customer ordered the 60 yuan ($8.50) dish during a recent lunch hour rush. "But when you taste it, it's really quite delicious. I think those who hate durian are scared by its smell. But once you try it, I think their opinion will change."

At another Shanghai restaurant selling durian chicken hotpot  a type of sizzling broth  for around 148 yuan ($21), owner Chen Weihao said the store could sell around 20 to 25 kg of imported Thai durian every month.

"When you taste it, it has a kind of fresh and sweet flavor, as if you have arrived in the tropics," said 27-year-old customer Yang Yang.
Airlines canceled close to 700 flights to or from Chicago on Monday after a snowstorm that swept through the U.S. Midwest continued to snarl travel at the start of the workweek.

The snowstorm grounded more than 1,000 flights on Sunday, a busy post-Thanksgiving travel day.

The National Weather Service on Monday warned motorists about icy roads, high winds and low visibility. Overnight, it warned drivers to stay off the road unless it was for an emergency trip.

One last gasp of the winter storm with snow, blowing snow, and reduced visibility. Snowy/icy roads

Airlines at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport called off 914 flights on Sunday, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.com. More than a hundred others were canceled in and out of Kansas City, while another 500 flights were delayed.

O'Hare is a hub for both United Airlines and American Airlines. American Airlines waived date-change fees for travelers booked to and from 20 cities in the Midwest if they can travel through Nov. 29. Spirit Airlines also waived fees for date changes through Nov. 29 for tickets in and out of Chicago and Kansas City, due to the storm.

Southwest Airlines said travelers wouldn't have to pay the fare difference to change their tickets in and out of Chicago's Midway, Des Moines, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Omaha and Wichita. The airline normally doesn't charge travelers a flat fee to change their travel dates.

Airlines in recent years have encouraged travelers to rebook flights ahead of a storm to avoid having travelers stranded at the airport. They will also cancel large numbers of flights ahead of a major storm to avoid having crews and aircraft out of position or stuck when the bad weather passes.

WATCH: Heat waves to disrupt airplane's ability to take off
Carlos Ghosn, chairman and chief executive officer of Renault and Nissan Motor, left, shakes hands with Osamu Masuko, chairman and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors, at a news conference in Tokyo, on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016.

Mitsubishi said on Monday its board removed Carlos Ghosn from his role as chairman, following his arrest and ouster from alliance partner Nissan last week for alleged financial misconduct.

Ghosn's ouster marks the end of his chairmanship of Japanese automakers, just two years after he was praised for bringing a steadying hand to Mitsubishi Motors following a cheating scandal in 2016. CEO Osamu Masuko will become temporary chairman, the automaker said.

The move comes amid discontent over French partner Renault's role in the 19-year alliance of which Ghosn was the driving force. Sealed in 1999 when Nissan was rescued from near-bankruptcy, it was enlarged in 2016 to include Mitsubishi and enabled the members to jointly develop products and control costs.

The alliance vies with Volkswagen and Toyota for the ranking of the world's biggest automaker.

Even as Nissan has recovered and grown rapidly, it remains a junior partner in the shareholding structure. Renault owns 43 percent of Nissan and the Japanese automaker holds a 15 percent non-voting stake in the French firm. And Nissan is almost 60 percent bigger than Renault by sales.

Top alliance executives are meeting this week in Amsterdam, aiming to shield their joint operations from the fallout of Ghosn's arrest as a power struggle between Nissan and Renault looms. Renault has refrained from firing him as chairman and CEO.

Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa told staff on Monday that power was too concentrated with Ghosn and that in future better communication between alliance board members and executives would help preserve independence and generate synergies among the automakers, a Nissan spokesman said.
A fighter of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, holds a flag and a weapon.

A young New York woman pleaded guilty Monday to supporting the Islamic terror group ISIS with a scam involving bank fraud, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and money laundering authorities said.

Zoobia Shahnaz, a 27-year-old resident of Brentwood, Long Island, admitted to wiring more than $150,000 to individuals and shell entities that were fronts for ISIS in Pakistan, China and Turkey in 2017, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

During the same year, she was intercepted trying to leave the United States with the goal of traveling to Syria, which has been a hotbed of ISIS activity.

Shahnaz, who has been in custody since her arrest last December, faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced on a charge of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Her lawyer, Steve Zissou, did not immediately return a request for comment from CNBC.

Court documents say that Shahnaz  who before June 2017 had worked as a lab technician in Manhattan for about $71,000 per year  traveled to Jordan in January 2016 to volunteer with the Syrian American Medical Society.

"For two weeks, she assisted in providing medical aid to Syrian refugees in Amman [Jordan] and in the Zataari Refugee camp, where ISIS exercises significant influence," prosecutors wrote in a court filing last year.

But even months before that, the filing said, Shahnaz had "conducted extensive internet research" on traveling to Syria and "joining the ISIS," or Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.

Starting in March 2017, Shahnaz engaged in a scheme to scam Chase Bank, TD Bank, American Express and Discover by fraudulently obtaining six credit cards, according to another court filing.

She then used those cards, along with at least 10 more in her name, to buy more than $62,703 in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies from internet-based exchanges.

"Most of these cryptocurrencies that [Shahnaz] purchased were then converted to U.S. dollars and transferred into a checking account in the defendant's name," prosecutors wrote in a court document.

In June 2017, Shahnaz applied for and fraudulently obtained a loan of about $22,500 from a bank in Manhattan, prosecutors said.

After getting the money, Shahnaz made several wire transactions overseas that were designed to avoid financial reporting requirements and conceal the source and destinations of the illegally obtained cash, according to authorities.

Shahnaz then prepared to travel to Syria, obtaining a Pakistani passport and quitting her job, all without her family's knowledge, a court filing said.

She also conducted internet research on ISIS, searching for recruiters, financiers and fighters associated with the terror group, including "those who have encouraged lone-wolf attacks against American targets," that court filing said.

And she accessed maps for locations along the Turkey-Syria border and cities inside terrority controlled by ISIS, the filing said.

On July 31, 2017, when her family believed Shahnaz was headed for work, she traveled to JFK Airport in New York to board a flight bound for Pakistan, with an final destination in Istanbul, Turkey, authorties. Istanbul is a common jumping-ff point for people traveling from Western countries to join ISIS by crossing into nearby Syria.

Law enforcement agents, who were aware of her wire transfers abroard, intercepted Shahaz at an airline gate at JFK, prosecutors said. She told them that she planned to visit various mosques and tourist sites in Istanbul.

But when she was asked about some of the wire transfers, "she provided false and conflicting explanations" about the reason for them, prosecutors said. Shahnaz also was carrying $9,500 in cash, $500 less than the amount that triggers a requirement for travelers to disclose the amount of currency in their possession when flying outside of the United States.

A federal grand jury indicted Shahnaz months later, in December 2017, and she was detained without bail after her arrest.

WATCH: Bitcoin mining can land you in jail in this country
Ukraine will introduce martial law for a 30-day period after the Russian military opened fire on three of its ships over the weekend, wounding several sailors. Lawmakers also confirmed that the presidential election will still be held on March 31. However, analysts have warned that the prospect of martial law is likely to add further "instability to the situation." The naval standoff in waters off the Crimean Peninsula marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries. As a result, the United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting on Monday. The former members of the Soviet Union have been locked in an undeclared war for almost five years, with Ukraine's military fighting two separatist movements against forces widely thought to have been backed by Russia. The Kremlin has formally denied any direct military intervention.

What happened?

Russia's Federal Security Service, a law enforcement agency more commonly known as FSB, said Monday that its border patrol boats had seized three Ukrainian navy vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop, according to local media reports. In a statement provided to local media, the FSB said such force had been necessary because the ships had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted unlawful actions, and repeatedly ignored warnings to stop.

A general view shows a road-and-rail bridge, which is constructed to connect the Russian mainland with the Crimean peninsula, at sunrise in the Kerch Strait, Crimea November 26, 2018. REUTERS | Pavel Rebrov

Russia's navy had previously blocked the Kerch Strait  near Russia-annexed Crimea  citing security reasons. This prevented two small Ukrainian armored artillery vessels and a tug boat from passing from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. After it annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, Moscow claims territorial waters off the peninsula's coast that Ukraine does not recognize. "Even at this early stage, the incident marks a significant escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," Alex Brideau, director of the program covering Russia, Eurasia and Ukraine at Eurasia Group, said in a research note published late Sunday. "Furthermore, the Russian government is not denying its role in the fighting, unlike in past cases. The incident in the Kerch Strait and the Ukrainian reaction so far carry geopolitical implications, as well as effects on Ukraine's domestic politics," Brideau said. Tweet 1 Western governments are widely expected to side with Ukraine over the incident itself, with the reaction from Washington and Brussels likely to come in the shape of targeted economic sanctions. The naval incident also triggered protesters to gather outside the Russian embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev overnight, where an embassy car was set on fire.

Rising tensions

Ukraine said six sailors had been injured on Sunday, in what it described as an attack by jet fighters. The country's defense ministry has since announced orders to put the military on full combat readiness. Ukraine accused Russian navy vessels of illegally trying to intercept their ships, ramming its tug boat in the process. It added their vessels attempted to continue towards the Kerch Strait, which is the only access they have to the Sea of Azov, but were eventually thwarted by a Russian tanker placed underneath a bridge. "Politically, Russia is interested in sowing disarray in Ukraine and aims to undermine the incumbent president in his attempts to be re-elected in 2019," Orysia Lutsevych, a research fellow with the London-based Chatham House think tank, told CNBC via email on Monday. "This act of aggression is testing the resolve and capabilities of Ukrainian Armed Forces to defend territorial integrity of Ukraine," Lutsevych said. Russia's FSB confirmed one of its patrol boats had used force to seize three Ukrainian shipping vessels but claims only three sailors were injured in the process. Russia's foreign ministry said Monday that Ukraine had most likely planned the incident in advance, accusing its neighbour of trying to provoke a reaction. Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, told state television a senior Ukrainian diplomat would be summoned to discuss the standoff, according to Reuters. The Kerch Strait was re-opened by Russia in the early hours of Monday morning.

Martial law

Pending parliamentary approval, Ukraine is poised to introduce martial law for two months from Monday. It comes after President Petro Poroshenko met with top security and military chiefs overnight.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko during a parliament session in Kyiv, Ukraine November 22, 2018. Maxym Marusenko | NurPhoto via Getty Images
U.S. Navy Aviation Electronics Technician signals to the crew of an EA-18G Growler on the flight deck of aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.

WASHINGTON  America's top defense firms will face limited financial risks in their dealings with Saudi Arabia, even as lawmakers consider imposing limits on arms sales to the kingdom, according to analysts at Cowen Research.

"It would appear that these would be limited in duration and scope, and big-ticket buys of missile defense systems would not be impacted," the analysts wrote in the note.

Of the major defense suppliers, Lockheed Martin would have the most exposure, according to the note, but it would still amount to a relatively tiny portion of the company's business.

Saudi Arabia's oil-rich monarchy is one of America's most strategic partners and a significant patron of U.S. defense companies. The Saudis are the indisputable top buyers of U.S.-made arms, a title that has safeguarded the kingdom from retaliatory sanctions over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

President Donald Trump has often cited the importance of the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia, repeatedly pushing back on approving significant economic or political consequences for Riyadh's actions. In an extraordinary statement last week, Trump affirmed that the U.S. would continue to stand with Saudi Arabia.

Trump has also commented on the potential impact to defense suppliers if the U.S. were to sanction the Saudis over the Khashoggi killing.

Read more: Saudi Arabia is the top US weapons buyer  but it doesn't spend as much as Trump boasts

"I tell you what I don't want to do," Trump said to CBS' "60 Minutes" last month, when he was asked about possibly blocking arms sales to Riyadh. "Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, all these [companies]. I don't want to hurt jobs. I don't want to lose an order like that. There are other ways of punishing, to use a word that's a pretty harsh word, but it's true."

However, if Congress imposed short-term restrictions on Saudi weapons sales the resulting impact looks to be less than 2 percent of sales for Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing and General Dynamics, and negligible for Northrop Grumman.

Here's a breakdown of what top defense firms are selling to Saudi Arabia and which contracts are at risk.
Italian energy firm Eni and Algeria's state-owned Sonatrach have inaugurated a 10-megawatt solar plant that will provide clean energy to an oil field. The facility is located at the Bir Rebaa North (BRN) field in the Algerian desert.



"This is a further step forward in the strategic expansion of our renewable energy activities in Algeria, starting with this site as a showcase for solar technologies," Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said in a statement Sunday.



"This plant shows the commitment of Eni in implementing a decarbonization plan for long-term business sustainability, which is based on carbon impact reduction through the progressive implementation of renewable energy projects," Descalzi added.



Eni, which has been present in Algeria since 1981, said in a statement it had signed an agreement with Sonatrach to undertake the building of an "advanced research and development laboratory" at the BRN location. This lab will, Eni added, test solar and hybrid technologies in a desert environment.



The businesses have also signed an agreement to set up a joint venture "fully dedicated to Algeria's renewable energy sector." The partnership aims to install and operate solar power facilities at the production sites of both Sonatrach and Eni.
Shoppers and salespeople at an Apple store in New York.

Check out the companies making headlines after the bell:

Apple slipped about 1 percent in after-hours trading Monday. President Donald Trump suggested in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the U.S. could levy tariffs of 10 percent on iPhones and laptops imported from China.

Earlier Monday, U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical of Apple's arguments and sympathetic to iPhone owners who allege that the company inflates prices in its App store.

General Motors shares fell 1 percent after the bell. The car manufacturer announced Monday it would cut car production at several North American plants and reduce its workforce by 15 percent. The reductions are part of a restructuring plan that the company says will save $6 billion.

Bristol-Myers Squibb shares fell nearly 3 percent after the pharmaceutical company announced that a combination of two of its cancer drugs failed to demonstrate in late-stage trials it could extend lung cancer patients' lives.

Shares of fashion retailer The Buckle shed over 6 percent after the company reported earnings of 42 cents. Analysts had expected 46 cents per share, according to a consensus estimate from Refinitiv. The company also missed Wall Street's expectations on revenue, reporting $215 million versus an estimate of $219 million.

WATCH: Apple's stock is plunging  Here's what six experts say investors should know
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical of Apple on Monday during oral argument in a case that could permit iPhone owners to move forward with an antitrust suit against the company for allegedly inflating the prices in its App Store.

That lawsuit could disrupt the electronic giant's mobile software sales ecosystem, and potentially hit the company with hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties.

Shares of the company fell negative briefly in intraday trade after the hour-long argument concluded, before recovering much of their losses. The company has been dogged by concerns about slow iPhone sales.

The justices, including several of the court's conservatives, seemed sympathetic to the arguments presented by the iPhone owners who brought the case.

Two of the court's conservative justices, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, went as far as suggesting that the Supreme Court precedent on which Apple based its argument may need to be revisited.

To be sure, it is not always possible to guess how justices may rule based on their questions at oral argument. In most cases that have come before the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts in which one of the parties is a corporation, that corporation has prevailed.

The iPhone owners alleged Monday that the 30 percent commission Apple takes on app sales leads app developers to increase their prices, passing on the burden to consumers. Apple, which blocks iPhone owners from purchasing software from third-party marketplaces, is able to charge its commission because of its monopoly power, they argued.

The Supreme Court will not settle the underlying antitrust issue. Rather, the justices are reviewing whether iPhone owners are entitled to bring such a case at all.

In 1977, the Supreme Court established the "Illinois brick doctrine," under which only the direct purchaser of a good is entitled to collect antitrust damages. Apple argued that under the doctrine, only app developers would be able to bring an antitrust suit against the company. The company argued that it acts as an agent for developers, who set their own prices and are ultimately the direct sellers.
Voters in Taiwan delivered a crushing blow to President Tsai Ing-wen and her independence-leaning ruling party during the weekend's local elections, leaving China with the upper hand, analysts say. Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost mayoral elections in key cities to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), or Nationalist Party. The DPP lost its stronghold of Kaohsiung, the southern port city where it had held power for more than 20 years, during the nationwide vote Saturday for local posts. "It was a huge defeat," Sean King, senior vice president at Park Strategies, told CNBC's Akiko Fujita on Monday on "Squawk Box." While the vote was largely focused on economic concerns rather than the long-simmering issue of Taiwan's political status, China came out in a strong position, according to King. "I think it was issues like labor and pension reform, a lackluster economy, that did her in. But China's definitely going to claim victory here."

Supporters from the opposition Kuomintang party attend a campaign rally in Taipei on November 11, 2018. Chris STowers | AFP | Getty Images

Relations across the Taiwan Strait ebb and flow depending on who holds power in Taipei  and tensions with Beijing have risen since the DPP swept to power two years ago. China prefers the Kuomintang, which avoids talk of going it alone and stresses economic ties with the mainland, from which KMT troops fled in 1949 after defeat in the Chinese Civil War. Taiwan-China relations flourished when the KMT ruled Taiwan from 2008 to 2016. Leaders from both sides  Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's then-president Ma Ying-jeou  met in Singapore for a historic summit in 2015.

Analysts say that China is widely seen as having tried to influence the local elections through economic pressure on the self-governing island, including by discouraging tourism. King said he expects China to reach out to KMT politicians ahead of Taiwan's next presidential vote in early 2020. The election results left Tsai reeling, prompting her to resign as head of the DPP to take responsibility, even though she remains as Taiwan's president. Analysts, however, were divided on her political future. "I still think she'll be the candidate (for the ruling DPP) but there is going to be challenge from within," King said. "It's an uphill battle." The Kuomintang will now be hoping the local polls will pave the way for success in the 2020 presidential elections. "The results were a major comeback for the KMT party, which began a process of intra-party reformation after losing the presidential election in 2016," the Eurasia Group risk consultancy said in an analysis dated Sunday. "Beijing will view the results of this election as a solid endorsement of its pressure campaign against the DPP." Eurasia Group added that it sees Tsai  who was technically not on the ballot  as the biggest political loser of the weekend elections, with the DPP unlikely to back her for a second term in hopes that voters will accept someone else.

WATCH: Is China threatening Asia's financial center?
It is not "remotely possible" that U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement would pass the House of Commons, which is the lower house of Parliament, in a crucial vote that will likely take place in December, a member of Parliament said on Monday. Lawmakers on both sides of the debate over the United Kingdom's future as part of the European Union are unhappy with the proposals set by May in a 585-page, legally-binding document that lays out the terms of the former's exit, Sarah Wollaston, who is also a member of the prime minister's Conservative party, told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "I just don't think it's remotely possible that this deal would pass the Commons," she said, adding that it will likely fall short on the numbers needed to move the agreement forward. "That doesn't necessarily mean that we would crash out with no deal because, certainly, Parliament, British parliamentarians are very opposed to leaving with no deal at all."

We're saying to Mrs. May, 'You must take this back in a second vote and we won't support it unless you have got valid consent from the public.' I certainly won't support it unless Mrs. May agrees to a second referendum and I think that there are many colleagues who feel the same. Sarah Wollaston UK Member of Parliament

Wollaston, who voted to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum, said the current agreement failed to adequately address the future relationship between the U.K. and Europe. Rather, the deal addresses issues such as citizens' rights, a 39 billion ($50 billion) "divorce bill," and a backup plan for the Irish border if upcoming trade talks stall. "The problem is also with the future framework, which only runs to 26 pages. For me, that's the worst thing about it, is that you've got what amounts to little more than a wish list of things that they would like to negotiate in the future," she said, adding that it wouldn't settle the question, or the divisiveness, of Brexit anytime soon. "You could call it blind Brexit."

May sees 'brighter future'

For her part, the prime minister appealed to the British public in a letter calling for support of her plan, promising a "brighter future" for the U.K. Tweet: PM @theresa_may's letter to the nation #BackThe BrexitDeal "It will be a deal that is in our national interest  one that works for our whole country and all of our people, whether you voted 'Leave' or 'Remain'," she said in the letter. "It will honor the result of the referendum." The European Union has also encouraged Parliament to back May. Apart from the sparsity of detail about the future, Wollaston explained that Brexit would break up decades of close ties with the EU that would affect the U.K.'s health service, science and research, and social care. She added that several lawmakers, including herself, are now telling May that she must put the Brexit agreement up for a second referendum vote so that the public can decide between accepting the deal as it stands, or opt to remain as part of the EU. "We're saying to Mrs. May, 'You must take this back in a second vote and we won't support it unless you have got valid consent from the public.' I certainly won't support it unless Mrs. May agrees to a second referendum, and I think that there are many colleagues who feel the same," Wollaston said.

Showdown with Parliament

On Sunday, EU leaders gathered in Brussels and officially endorsed May's plan on how the U.K. will leave the bloc in March of next year. Now, the prime minister will face a largely hostile Parliament in her own country that will vote on the deal, likely next month. May needs a simple majority of the 650 lawmakers in the House of Commons, but experts have indicated it will be an uphill task for the prime minister. Her Conservative Party holds 315 seats and represents the largest party in the House, but a significant number are against the plan, including some pro-Brexit members. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the opposition have mostly indicated that they will vote against the deal. British media also reported that Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, as well as Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, have challenged May to a debate over her Brexit agreement before it is voted on by the Parliament.

Market reaction
So, if there is any truth to Trump's claim of friendship, he should be getting an advance hongbao from his Chinese pal during next Friday's G-20 meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Indeed, both leaders know that they have to swiftly move beyond the problems of bilateral trade and investments if they want to  as they must  come to terms with acute issues of war and peace between competitors whose nuclear triads are pointed at each other.

Xi apparently seems ready to get the trade dispute out of the way.

Here's what he said after his telephone conversation with Trump at the beginning of this month: "The two countries' trade teams should strengthen contact and conduct consultations on issues of concern to both sides, and promote a plan that both can accept to reach a consensus on the China-U.S. trade issue."

Trump kept it much simpler with tweets and soundbites, saying that trade discussions were "moving along nicely," and that the Chinese were "ready to make a deal."

And then we heard a shocking news. The U.S. Trade Representative issued a report last Tuesday that "China has not fundamentally altered its unfair, unreasonable, and market-distorting practices," and that "China had made clear it would not change its policies."

The policy changes requested by the U.S. essentially concern (a) a reduction of the bilateral trade imbalance, (b) illegal acquisition of American intellectual property, and (c) the use of "foreign investment restrictions to require or pressure the transfer of technology from U.S. companies to Chinese entities."

Breaking that deadlock during next Friday's U.S.-China summit could involve the following steps.

First, China  with its systematic, excessive and growing trade surpluses  should act according to the rules of international trade adjustment to promptly and meaningfully narrow its trade gap with the U.S. Large volumes of U.S. farm and energy products are now ready to go to China.

Second, Washington should address the structural and systemic trade complaints against China in World Trade Organization forums, in its own trade regulations and with strictly reciprocal measures. That would cover the cases of intellectual property protection, forced technology transfers, illegal export subsidies, etc.
President Donald Trump suggested he could place a 10 percent tariff on iPhones and laptops imported from China, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published Monday. He also said it's "highly unlikely" that he would delay an increase in tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on Jan. 1, just four days before a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Maybe. Maybe. Depends on what the rate is," the president said to The Wall Street Journal about the possible iPhone and laptop tariffs. "I mean, I can make it 10 percent, and people could stand that very easily."
GM's plan to cease operations at plants in Ohio, Michigan, Maryland and Ontario by next year  and to cut back production at two other plants, as well  will cost up to $3.8 billion and shrink the Detroit-based carmaker by more than 14,000 jobs, or about 15 percent of its salaried staff.

President Donald Trump on Monday tore into General Motors for its newly announced plan to halt production at multiple plants in the U.S. and Canada , telling reporters that he warned GM CEO Mary Barra that her company was "playing around with the wrong person."

Trump told The Wall Street Journal in an interview Monday that he spoke with Barra on Sunday night to discuss the downsizing plan. He told her that GM should stop making cars in China and open a new plant in Ohio to replace the ones being closed.

"They better damn well open a new plant there very quickly," Trump told the Journal. "I love Ohio," Trump said. "I told them, 'you're playing around with the wrong person,'" he added, according to the newspaper.

Trump continued: "I said, 'I heard you're closing your plant,'" he recalled from his conversation with Barra. "'It's not going to be closed for long, I hope, Mary, because if it is you have a problem.'"

The president, who had lamented the empty factories and depressed rural towns when he visited the state in July 2017, had promised the state's residents that their jobs are "all coming back." He won the state in 2016 by more than 8 percentage points.

Trump joined Ohio leaders, including several Democrats, in blasting the move. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a potential 2020 rival for Trump, called the decision "corporate greed at its worst."

Barra insisted that GM's restructuring was a pre-emptive step to take during strong economic times to protect her company through a future economic slowdown while continuing to invest in new technologies, the Journal reported.

The Journal's interview was published shortly after Trump told journalists outside the White House that he wasn't happy with GM's plan. He also noted that the Chevrolet Cruze was not selling well and urged the company to put something else in its place. GM killed the Cruze and several other passenger cars as part of its cost-cutting plan, USA Today reported Monday.

"I said, 'then put a car in here that is selling well, but get it opened fast,'" the president said in the Journal interview.

Meanwhile, Barra met with Trump's top economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, on Monday at the White House.

The president's remarks came as he was headed to Mississippi, where he plans to host two rallies in support of GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who has come under fire  including from former corporate donors  for remarks viewed as racially insensitive.
As images of migrant children fleeing tear gas near the U.S.-Mexico border made rounds Monday, President Donald Trump aimed to use the chaos to attempt to score a political victory.

The government repelled hundreds of migrants who tried to cross illegally near the busy San Ysidro port of entry Sunday, claiming they threw "projectiles" at U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The Trump administration temporarily shut down the port near San Diego on Sunday, reopening it on Sunday night.

Trump  who has cast many of the asylum-seeking migrants fleeing violence in Central America as violent criminals  seized on the clash Monday as he pushes for Congress to fund his proposed border wall. In a tweet, he called on Mexico to send the migrants to their home countries and threatened to "close the Border permanently if need be." It is not clear that Trump has the power to unilaterally shut down the border, a move that could stifle some commerce.

"Congress, fund the WALL!" he wrote.

Trump tweet

Congress is rushing to strike a deal to fund large parts of the government by Dec. 7 to avoid a partial government shutdown. On Thursday, Trump said "there certainly could be" a shutdown over border security as he seeks $5 billion for wall construction in the next fiscal year.

As backlash over the use of tear gas mounts, Trump again finds himself embroiled in an immigration crisis worsened by his administration's actions and marked by visceral images of children suffering. The tactics may only embolden Democrats as Trump tries to secure their votes for one of his top political goals.
United Technologies Chairman and CEO Greg Hayes gives an interview to CNBC on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, September 5, 2017.

The other two companies will be elevator manufacturer Otis and Carrier, which provides a number of products including those related to HVAC and refrigeration.

The company also said it has completed its acquisition of Rockwell Collins and combined that business with UTC Aerospace Systems to form Collins Aerospace Systems. That unit will be part of the United Technologies company after the split.

United Technologies says it expects to finish the separation in 2020.

Chairman and CEO Gregory Hayes said in a statement that by splitting up its businesses, each company will be better positioned.

"As standalone companies, United Technologies, Otis and Carrier will be ready to solve our customers' biggest challenges, provide rewarding career opportunities, and contribute positively to communities around the world," Hayes said.

United Technologies said Hayes will oversee the split and stay in his roles as chairman and CEO of United Technologies.

The industrial giant has scheduled an investor call for Tuesday at 8 a.m., ET.

Shares of United Technologies gained more than 2 percent in after-hours trading.

Activist investor Dan Loeb had pushed for United Technologies to split up into three businesses. CNBC previously reported that Loeb's Third Point hedge fund had suggested in a letter breaking the company into an aerospace company, elevator company Otis and UTC Climate, Controls & Security. In that April letter, the hedge fund also disclosed a "significant stake" in United Technologies.

At the time, the company said it "disagrees with several of the assertions contained in the Third Point letter" but "is always open to the input of shareholders."

Last week, the industrial giant received key antitrust approval from China for its $23 billion purchase of aircraft parts maker Rockwell Collins. The deal is the largest in aerospace history. The companies combined brought in nearly $67 billion in revenue last year.

United Technologies also updated its financial outlook to include its acquisition of Rockwell Collins. The company said it now expects 2018 sales between $64.5 billion and $65 billion, up from its previous range of $64 billion to $64.5 billion.

It said it expects the Rockwell Collins deal to lead to a 10-cent impact on earnings per share. United Technologies is now forecasting adjusted earnings between $7.10 a share and $7.20 a share.

For fiscal 2019, the company said it expects the aircraft parts maker to contribute between 15 cents and 20 cents to its adjusted full-year earnings per share.

United Technologies said it has tapped Evercore and Goldman Sachs as financial advisors on the split. It also said it has hired Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as its legal advisor.
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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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
Supplier rumor combined with Apples decision to stop revealing iPhone sales data may have hurt the companys notional market cap a little, but company watchers should think a little more deeply.

Is it business as usual?

Numerous data points ostensibly emerging from inside the Apple supply chain seem to claim the companys iPhone sales arent hitting targets.

Analysts were disappointed with iPhone sales figures (46.89 million vs. predicted 47.5 million), they were delighted with company revenues, and Goldman Sachs cut its Apple price targets three times.

Goldman Sachs analyst Rod Hall warned clients Apple may have miscalculated with the iPhone XR, citing weakness in demand in China and a stronger U.S. dollar as contributory factors to perceived weak sales.

To be fair, iPhone XR enjoyed only a few hours of sales in the period.

But is this an Apple problem or an industry malaise?

Think local, act global

I think its the latter, as global instability in some of the worlds biggest markets is changing consumer purchasing patterns even while the increasingly high prices of smartphones and an increasingly saturated market means many of us now plan to hold onto our devices for longer.

(Apple knows this, too, which is why iOS 12 supports devices as old as the iPhone 5S.)

Theres evidence (of sorts) to support this.

Analyst firms Strategy Analytics and IDC data both characterized global smartphone shipments as falling for four consecutive quarters. Within this, Samsung has declined while Chinese manufactures Xiaomi, Huawei, and Oppo have increased market share. Apple has stood relatively still, which suggests its highly satisfied customer base will take a little convincing to move.

The rub is that while Xiaomis most recently disclosed results showed good health, analysts remain concerned that in order for the Chinese firm to maintain momentum, it must introduce premium devices and take aim at new markets.

(Apples seeming failure to so far expand its reach in key markets India and Brazil is also regarded to be a weakness by Wall Street.)

The bigger picture

Beyond a certain point, these are not Apples problems.

The current U.S. administrations tariff-based trade war against China and its recently launched campaign to persuade its allies to avoid using devices from Huawei probably are.

With the vast majority of smartphones (and most other devices) worldwide now manufactured in or by firms based in China, increased tension is highly likely to create big problems for the entire tech industry.

That much-reviled and repudiated Bloomberg story concerning Apple servers theoretically hacked by China should be seen through this lens.

Its arguable that the recent sell-off across technology stocks is more a reflection of these wider tensions. It may not be solely attributable to investor sentiment in response to Apples well-executed strategy to increase both the cost and the quality of its devices while also generating 17 percent of its revenues through its rapidly expanding Services segment.

Apples decision to focus on Services may also prove a shrewd move in the event hardware sales or supplies are impacted by any increase in international tensions.

After all, you can access these services on older Apple devices, devices that are already light years ahead of their competition, particularly those of its products that use its powerful A-series chips.

When it comes to services, Apple may still be damaged by this case, which I think potentially damages its margins in this segment.

Apple is a software company

The blind spot in most Apple analysis has always been the notion that it is a hardware company.

It isnt.

Its a software company that happens to make the hardware its software runs on.

Applications, services, developer tools, and operating systems are all fundamental to the companys success. The move to adopt Unix, NeXT and the introduction of OS X were fundamental building blocks upon which, brick by brick, it has since built its future.

More recently we see it moving to design, develop, and manufacture an increasing number of the most essential hardware components it uses inside these devices.

Indeed, at this point the company seems to have taken control of a huge chunk of the most essential components used across its existing devices. And in each case, that control means the company now has the opportunity to create unique new product families based on its own software and those components.

What devices can you imagine that need lightweight but powerful graphics, application, security, or machine-learning chips?

Apple now owns some primary technologies on which to build the software to make these as-yet unknown machines run.

Smartphones are great. Everyone's got one. Whats next?

Please follow me on Twitter and join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
Joel Davidson is a former councillor in Brent and was a London Assembly candidate in 2016. Amir Sadjady is a Conservative activist in Hammersmith.

We both campaigned enthusiastically for Vote Leave in London, and were delighted to see the real peoples vote, back in 2016, deliver a clear result that the UK wished to leave the European Union.

Since then, our Prime Minister has been buffeted by an extraordinary array of forces determined to scupper her: the bad faith of the EU, the even worse faith of the Labour Party leadership, and shrill celebrities determined to disparage anyone who voted Leave as little Englanders or, even worse, as closet racists. Despite all these obstructions, we now have a deal with the EU which does indeed  perhaps miraculously  put the UK on the brink of leaving the European Union, and regaining sovereignty in a huge swathe of areas.

We are consequently alarmed at some of the tropes being banded about by some hard Brexiteers, who seem completely opposed to any deal at all One phrase which really sticks in the throat is that the Government is betraying the 17.4 million voters who wanted to leave. This is disingenuous at best, and we feel the need to challenge it here.

As we say, were amongst those 17.4 million voters who delivered the victory for Leave, with every vote carrying equal weight, and without these voters, the UK would be firmly inside the European Union and en route to fully joining a federal Europe.

But as it is, we now stand on the brink of a far looser relationship with the EU, with close trading links but an ending of political union. We are confident that even supposedly Remainiac London (where more people voted Leave in 2016 than those who had the misfortune of voting for Sadiq Khan) will be comfortable with this settlement.

For London, in particular, this deal will undoubtedly be beneficial, since businesses can be guaranteed that their current trading arrangements in goods with Europe will remain unaffected. There is tacit acknowledgement in this arrangement that a customs deal with Europe that maintains the highest European standards and gives British business access to European markets on an equal footing will unambiguously be good for business across the country.

This is another good reason for London Conservatives to get behind the deal: our businesses in London are high quality, and so we can only benefit from selling to our largest trading partner and closest neighbour in a completely unhindered way. So instead of wasting time chasing such rainbow as a second referendum, we London Conservatives should show that ours is the pragmatic party of business, and back this deal for the benefit of Londons economy.

We should also be taking Sadiq Khan to task for his complete no-show on this issue. Ever the world statesman in his own head, he has spent much of the last few months swanning around Brussels, trying to push to overturn Brexit whilst his city is submerged in a complete breakdown of law and order and his mismanagement of Crossrail leaves Londons economy imperilled.

Against all odds, the Prime Minister has produced a Withdrawal Agreement that very much ensures that London Is Open (to the chagrin of many in the ERG), so any competent, reasonable, pro-business mayor should be very happy with it. Not so Mayor Khan: his cynical tactics throughout the last two and a half years merely expose him again for the deeply partisan Labour apparatchik who enthusiastically backed Jeremy Corbyn in his infamous original winning leadership campaign.

The truth of Khans record is that he has no interest in helping business. If he did, he would have done something about the misery and economic chaos of the 14 tube strikes so far under his mayoralty. If he cared about helping small businesses, he would be acting to curb the breakdown of law and order on Londons streets, and would be taking action to clean up and rejuvenate Londons high streets. But he always prefers self-serving and self-written press releases to real action for Londoners.

To back up our view, we attended the Business Show 2018 recently at Londons ExCel, and had the pleasure of speaking to a wide range of business owners, of all sizes and across a range of sectors. You can see the video we made about our visit here. We were struck by the near -nanimous consensus that emerged: any ambitious business sees maintaining the closest possible trading links with Europe as an unmitigated positive. Even smaller businesses that do not trade directly with Europe may be keen to in the future, and in the B2B sector, suppliers to large multinationals are massively impacted by the success of their main customers. By remaining in a customs arrangement with Europe which retains high standards and open access, the Government is giving British businesses of all sizes the ability to have greater control over its expansion plans.

The Prime Ministers deal undoubtedly delivers for business, as well as on the referendum result which soft Leavers were crucial in determining. We see amidst the overwhelming and unrelenting media interest in all things Brexit a real opportunity for pro-business London Conservatives to regain our reputation in London as the party of competence and commerce by enthusiastically backing this deal in London and the South East.
Six years ago, the TaxPayers Alliance reported that in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories.

Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts.

Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply dont apply in the same number as Labour supporters.

To help remedy this, every week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented.

         

Office of Tax Simplification  Chair

We are looking for a motivated individual to Chair the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS). This role offers a unique opportunity to participate in tax policy-making at the heart of government. The Chair will lead the OTS boards bimonthly meetings and the Offices engagement with HM Treasury ministers. The OTS board is responsible for shaping the strategy and priorities of the OTS, deciding on proposals for potential reviews to put forward to the Chancellor and agreeing key recommendations in the reviews. The Chair will also represent the OTS at public engagements and can be requested to present evidence on the Offices work to Parliamentary Committees. The recommended candidate for the Chair role will require approval by the Chancellor of the Exchequer before the appointment can be confirmed and will be subject to a post-appointment hearing held by the Treasury Select Committee.

Time: Up to two days per month.

Remuneration: 400 per diem.

Closes: 27 November

         

British Library  Board Members

In 2023, the British Library will mark its 50th anniversary as the national library of the United Kingdom and, in Living Knowledge (published in 2015), the Library has set out an ambitious vision for growth, innovation and development as that landmark date approaches. Major developments under way include projects to digitise and make globally available its most important historic collections; to refresh and transform its service to researchers, online and on-site; to widen its reach and presence for people across the UK, including new partnerships with public libraries; to extend and enhance its Grade 1-listed building in St Pancras, London, as part of a major development partnership; and  over the longer term  to renew and improve its 43-acre campus at Boston Spa in Yorkshire, where the majority of the collection is now held Members of the Board have corporate responsibility for ensuring that the British Library complies with any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds. 

Time: 1-2 days per month, four-year term.

Remuneration: 9130 per annum.

Closes: 03 December

         

Committee on Fuel Poverty  Member

The Committee on Fuel Poverty (CFP) advises the Government on the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing fuel poverty to help keep UK residents warm and improve energy efficiency in their homes. It also persuades greater co-ordination across organisations working to reduce fuel poverty in the UK The responsibilities of the new Members will include monitoring and reporting on progress towards the Governments 2030 fuel poverty target and interim milestones, supporting and challenging the Government on its delivery approach, and encouraging a partnership approach between and within Government and stakeholders in tackling fuel poverty.

Time: Two days per month.

Remuneration: 8400 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence.

Closes: 06 December

         

NHS Pension Board  Chair

Ministers are seeking to appoint the Chair of the NHS Pension Board. They are looking to appoint a candidate with a strong working knowledge of public and private sector pension schemes. The successful candidate should have good communication skills and be able to devise strategies to promote the value of the scheme as part of the NHS total reward offer, maximising its impact as a recruitment and retention lever. Candidates should be able to understand and utilise the potential of technology to improve the efficiency of scheme administration and create value for employers The Chair of the NHS Pension Board is appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is responsible for the NHS Pension Scheme, and is accountable to the Secretary of State via a senior Departmental official for carrying out their duties and for their performance.

Time: Up to three days per month.

Remuneration: 13,137 per annum.

Closes: 11 December

         

Construction Industry Training Board  Trustee

CITB is the statutory skills body for the construction industry in Great Britain and its purpose is to make better provision for the training and maintenance of skills in the industry. CITB raises around 200m annually via a training levy, and works closely with employers and the Government to ensure national construction skills needs are met. CITB seeks to create the culture and conditions that will deliver new ways of working, embracing new technologies, creating a demand in construction for more skills, new skills and higher-level skills. CITB aspires to be at the forefront of effective commissioning and grant practice and is undertaking a high-profile transformational reform programme in order to achieve this Trustees will bring their specific knowledge and expertise to the Board. They seek to deliver the statutory functions of the Board in the best interests of the Construction Industry as a whole and must make decisions independent of any affiliation to their own business or sector interests.

Time: ~Two days per month.

Remuneration: None.

Closes: 20 December

         

Consumer Council for Water  Chair

The Chair has the following leadership responsibilities: lead on formulation of the Councils strategy; leading the board in its relationship with the Executive, providing support but constructively challenging where necessary; acting as the public face of CCWater to raise its profile not only with consumers but also policy makers and government; campaigning on behalf of consumers and championing their views to Ofwat, policy makers and Government; ensuring that the board, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of guidance provided by Welsh ministers and/or the Secretary of State of appropriate departments; promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources; and delivering high standards of regularity and propriety.

Time: Two days per week.

Remuneration: 33,280 per annum.

Closes: 07 January
Chloe Westley is the Campaign Manager of the TaxPayers Alliance.

Brexit has been blamed on so many things  on the ignorance of voters, on words on the side of a buseven on the Russians! On and after June 24th 2016, there were many who were looking for someone, anyone, to blame.

But there wouldnt have even been a referendum, or indeed a vote to leave, if politicians hadnt signed us up to this disastrous political union in the first place.

When Edward Heath signed Britain up to the European Economic Community (EEC), there was no referendum. It was only years later that the public were asked their opinion. When John Major handed over more powers to Brussels by signing the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, establishing an entrenched political union, there was no referendum. When Gordon Brown surrendered even more sovereignty to Brussels by signing the Lisbon Treaty, there was no referendum.

These treaties were agreed by politicians behind closed doors, without the consent of the people. Now that the British people have finally had a say on Britains membership of the European Union, there are some politicians who are intent on destroying any hopes of bringing that sovereignty back to the UK. In order to justify this, theyre telling voters that its just too hard to untangle Britain from these EU institutions. But when they say that it isnt possible to leave the EU without keeping a foot in the door, what they really mean is: they dont us to leave at all.

When the overwhelming majority of MPs voted to have a referendum on Britains membership of the EU, Im sure many would have simply assumed that the people would behave like good citizens, and vote how the political establishment expected. When that turned out not to be the case, many flocked immediately to either conspiracy theories or dismissive snobbery.

I can certainly understand why it would make pro-Remain MPs feel better about themselves by disregarding 17.4 million voters as misinformed or uneducated. Its a lot easier than having to admit to being out of touch with the general public. But its unworthy of elected representatives and damaging to our civil discourse.

Instead of accepting that the general public looked at the evidence and made a balanced decision that Britain is better off outside the EU, weve seen several politicians  including some in the Conservative Party  berate voters as though they are naughty school children who didnt do their homework. For the most part, leavers have accepted this gracefully. Theyve watched many in the political class attack their intelligence, their right to vote, their integrity, and even celebrate the passing of older leave voters.

Up until now, many in the silent majority have been quiet, patiently waiting for the Government to do what it said it would do, and deliver on the referendum result. But now that the Prime Minister has returned with a deal makes Britain a satellite state of the European Union, the mood is starting to shift.

Make no mistake. If the Conservatives fail keep the promises they made at the last general election, it will be a defining black mark against the Partys name for a generation. Before the referendum, many people already feared that the political system was geared against them, and that politicians were ignorant of their concerns. Those Tory MPs advocating for a second referendum are proving them right.

Politicians shouldnt threaten to stop Brexit in the event of a no deal scenario. We all know this deal is terrible, and that it doesnt deliver Brexit. By refusing to consider the option of leaving without a deal, Conservative Ministers are essentially admitting defeat. The British people deserve better than a defeatist political class. We often hear of the dangers of crashing out without a deal  but these are the exact same arguments that were made during the referendum.

Instead of betraying the electorate, the Government should look to the opportunities of leaving on WTO terms. If we leave on a no deal Brexit we can immediately begin to negotiate free trade deals around the world; we can take advantage of the growing markets in Asia and America.

We can take back control of our laws, borders, money, fisheries and trade immediately. We wont have to be locked into European defence structures, or be ruled by technocrats. And we wont have to pay that 40 billion Brexit bill, nor 20 billion or so in EU contribution fees for the next two years. Thats money that can be invested immediately in the things that matter to British taxpayers, as well as help to fund tax cuts for families and businesses to boost economic growth.

Politicians handed over sovereignty to Brussels without the consent of the British people. Its not good enough for them to now shrug their shoulders and say that Brexit is just too difficult. Yes, Britain can thrive independently outside the EU. But if we fail to leave properly, it will not be because Brexit is impossible, but because our politicians have failed us again.
Hard pounding this, gentlemen, one of Theresa Mays predecessors once said. Let us see who can pound longest.

That was the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo, and the same grim spectacle is now unfolding in parliamentary form, as befits a great constitutional struggle with an uncertain outcome.

What a bombardment the Prime Minister endured, and as Jacob Rees-Mogg observed, this is the third time in ten days she has done so.

No wonder the combatants look grimmer and more strained than they did at the outset of the battle. It has developed into a war of attrition, in which the Prime Minister is said by expert judges to lack the numbers to prevail, yet in which she refuses to admit defeat.

Mays thin red lines grow thinner, indeed have faded, many of her adversaries would say, into shades of pink so faint they have become indistinguishable from the white flag of surrender which they confidently expect to see raised.

Yet May will not surrender. She continues to proclaim that hers is the only strategy which will work: I can say to the House with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available.

Jeremy Corbyn observed, with some justice, that the silence from most of the rest of the Cabinet is telling. It is far from clear that her colleagues are standing shoulder to shoulder with her.

And what a weight of former Cabinet ministers opposed her from her own benches, Iain Duncan Smith, David Davis, Boris Johnson, John Redwood, Michael Fallon and Owen Paterson among them.

But although these are heavy guns to face, none of them seemed, at least to this observer, to score a direct hit. When the debris fell back to earth and the smoke cleared, there she still was, still insisting on her compromise, even though, as Fallon objected, it is a huge gamble which guarantees no one what they want.

In the Prime Ministers lexicon, Angela Eagle (Lab, Wallasey) asked, is smooth and orderly the new strong and stable?

That shot landed, for as the nation saw during the general election, May is useless at responding to attacks on her addiction to pitifully banal forms of words.

But this is not a general election, and in the present campaign she has the strength of her weakness, which is that her banalities may start to drive her critics to distraction. Mark Francois, deputy chairman of the European Reform Group, warned that the Spanish are after Gibraltar and the French are after our fish, and asserted that Mays deal will never get through, and even if it did, which it wont

In other words, neither he nor anyone else knows for certain whether she will get her proposed deal through the Commons. It looks bad for her at the moment, and her own supporters this afternoon seemed glummer than they did.

But the great and minor guns which opened up against her were far from united. Can the No Dealers make common cause with the Peoples Voters (who incidentally are starting to become insufferably tedious in their own special way) so as to defeat the Prime Minister, or when it comes to it on 11th December, will they be too frightened of playing into each others hands?

Two more weeks of this, one of my colleagues in the Commons press gallery groaned. Hard pounding, and we shall see who can pound longest.
Once purdah was over, the Remain and Leave campaigns boxed, during the EU referendum campaign, on more or less even terms. The primary emotions they aimed to stir were fear and anger respectively: anger with Brussels; fear of leaving. This balance of argument was reflected in the TV debates, in which the mutual stars of both sides were pitched against each other, and to which we will return later today.

The fortnight or so between now and the meaningful vote will be nothing like that. The Prime Minister still commands the bully pulpit of Downing Street, but there will be no Vote Leave or Britain Stronger in Europe campaign to oppose her. So what is she up to, since there is no referendum on her proposals, and voters have no direct say on them?

The answer is that she hopes to collapse the present majority of MPs against her plan by means of pressure from their constituents. We are sceptical of claims that almost 100 Conservative MPs are committed to vote against it. But there can be no doubt that at least 50 are on record as saying they wont support it.

Add that total to the opposition parties, and Theresa May is up against it. Furthermore, the evidence suggests that voters have not yet got their heads around her agreement. According to Lord Ashcrofts polling, voters were slightly more likely than not to say they thought the agreement was better than leaving the EU with no deal. But by a 20-point margin, voters as a whole said MPs should vote to reject the agreement, even if it is not clear what the outcome would then be.

In some ways, her strategy will clearly be Project Fear Revisited. There will be apocalyptic forecasts of economic collapse if the deal is rejected. The Government will surely try to slice and dice these for individual constituencies, and contrast them against claims of higher living standards if the deal goes through Parliament. But voters have seen Project Fear discredited once, with its warnings of an immediate recession and 500,00 unemployed, and are likely to treat it, second time round, with even more cynicism than before.

However, the Prime Minister has a new card to play. The British people dont want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit, she said yesterday. This is the heart of her pitch. Not an attempt to sell the merits of the agreement, such as they are; but rather, the exploitation of Brexit war-weariness. Enough is enough. Get it all over with. Lets move on. People are sick and tired of it. You can see the emotional core of the campaign, as May labelled it yesterday, beginning to take shape. She aims to bore her way to victory.

The Prime Minister is trying to assemble a broad coalition big enough to turn MPs round. It will include Leavers who think shes done enough, and who fear No Brexit if her plan fails. To this audience, May will stress immigration control. A big slice of it is in Labour-held midlands and northern seats. It will also take in Remainers who respect the referendum result, and fear No Deal if the deal falls. To these people, May will push her economic pitch. Quite a bit of it is in the bluer south-east, plus London.

Above all, the Prime Minister will speak to the unengaged punter who has had enough of the whole business. These are what Jeremy Hunt yesterday nicknamed B.O.Bs  those Bored with Brexit. Downing Street will try to paint a picture of a dogged, moderate, determined woman, acting in the national interest, opposed by a band of selfish, opportunistic, Eton-educated men, crazed by fanaticism and (we predict) misogyny. This message will be projected hard to this audience, and to those Tory members whose instinct is to follow their leader.

Against it will be set another coalition. It will take in Remainers who want a second referendum, and want to see Mays plan voted down so they can get it; Leavers who hate its central feature  that the UK will be tied to it without a guaranteed means of escape  and would rather risk no deal; Conservative members who dont like the look of it, and feel ignored and patronised by successive party leaders; Labour activists manoeuvering for a general election; the DUP; the UKIP remnant; Nicola Sturgeon.

Up for play is the biggest group of voters of all  namely, those who treat everything Ministers say with suspicion because they think all politicians are liars. The Prime Minister will find this demographic to be particularly hard work. All in all, against the B.O.Bs, the Bored of Brexits, will be set the P.A.Ms  People against May, of which there are rather a lot. A prize for the first ConservativeHome reader who spots a Government Minister suggesting that Vladimir Putin is actively engaged in bringing the deal down.

Talking of leaders abroad, one group of people we will presumably hear nothing very much from are the Commission plus the EU27: Jean-Claude Juncker, Angela Merkel, Martin Selmayr, and so on. But this is to fail to take account of Emmanuel Macron, who has helpfully pointed out that the EU expects its access to Britains fish to continue post-deal. Take that, David Mundell!

The essence of the case against the agreement is that no country should sign up to a deal it isnt free to leave; that this one would dynamite the independent trade policy that should be part of Brexit  and that the package threatens the stability of the UK. This time round, there is no Dominic Cummings to weaponise it. Party members will be torn between respect for the leader and dislike of the deal.

So the disparate coalition that opposes the deal has little time to weld itself into a coherent force. Andrew Adonis must somehow find a way of co-ordinating with Boris Johnson, and vice-versa (a tall order). Its B.O.Bs v P.A.Ms  and in between them, the 650 or so people who will decide.
Home >The Revolt > Camera Destruction > France, Italy, UK: New Record For Speed Camera Destruction
Conservative MPs are united against Jeremy Corbyn. So are a significant slice of Labour MPs. Plus, needless to say, all Tory activists.

So one can see Downing Streets logic in floating a live TV debate between Theresa May and the Labour leader. Set aside, for a moment, her refusal to debate him head-to-head during last years general election (how short some memories can be), and the precedent that such an encounter would set for the next general election, assuming that both party leaders are still in place then.

Corbyn might just come out on top in such an encounter by ranting away about austerity, equality and the effing Tories. (Inequality fell in the UK between 1990 and 2016.) But that would be beside the point. The Prime Ministers main aim would not be to pitch to the B.O.Bs and P.A.Ms who make up the mass of voters.

Rather, it would be to put before Tory MPs and activists a syllogism of almost Aristotelean compression. Corbyn = the enemy. The enemy = against the deal. So you are = for the deal. As for the swing Labour MPs, well, they dont much care for Corbyn anyway, so nothing he would says would be likely to sway them.

Furthermore, while the Labour leader might just come up best in a post-debate poll, the old duffer certainly wouldnt be able to match Mays grinding mastery of Brexit detail. And he would find it very hard to defend Labours position, for the simple reason that it doesnt really have one at all  or, rather, it has a whole mass of them.

But while Corbyn would grab at the opportunity to confront May with both hands, a debate between these two former public Remainers wouldnt shed much light on the deal. What would better do so is a debate between the Prime Minister and a prominent Leaver  no, not Boris Johnson, though he wouldnt be shy of volunteering for the role (and may well have have done before the day is out).

Our modest proposal is an all-woman debate between May and Gisela Stuart, the former Chair of Vote Leave. Lord Ashcrofts polling suggests that more Leave voters oppose the proposed Brexit deal than Remain ones, so it would be only fair that the other figure on the platform with the Prime Minister would be a Leave supporter.

Stuart was one of the stars of the EU referendum TV debates. Though Labour by background, she is ecumenical enough not to frighten most Tory horses. She knows the subject backwards. The presence of two women would take gender wars out of the debate, which would be as it should be.

Downing Street would claim that Stuart is not of the right rank to debate May. Wed be frit of the encounter, too, were we them.
Who would have guessed that an app designed to order massages straight to your door had both poor security and customers with perhaps some trouble keeping their hands to themselves?

Urban, a popular London-based startup selling wellness that comes to you, accidentally leaked its entire customer database online, revealing email addresses, phone numbers, and names of all its 309,000 customers. Included in the database were also complaints from therapists about the specific clients who requested sexual services.

Urban pulled the database offline after the website TechCrunch discovered it and contacted the company for comment. So theres probably no need to go into hiding if youre one of the offending customers, unless someone took a screenshot.

House hunter

A dentist in Missouri is out $90,000 after hackers successfully impersonated the real estate companies that he was already doing business with.

Howard Ritchey Jr. was hunting for a new home last year and working with title, mortgage, and real estate companies to make the purchase happen. In the middle of the deal, he received an email from what looked like his title company which instructed him to wire $88,338 over to secure his desired house.

But when he followed up in person with his lender, he was told the money didnt go to the home. The lender said it looked like hackers got into his email and stole his money. Ritchey is now suing the title company and other parties, alleging that hackers actually targeted their emails and failed to warn him about the impersonators.

Ritcheys case isnt unique; the FBI says that similar complaints of real estate business impersonators are on the rise. Yet another reason not to wire money.

Dunkin Donuts

Joining a donut loyalty program may have seemed like the ideal way to make your troubles go away, but reality isnt so sweet. Dunkin Donuts recently informed holders of its loyalty Perks accounts that they should change their passwords to all of their other, non-donut-related accounts because their Dunkin Donuts passwords may have been stolen.

Dunkin says that thieves tried to break into the loyalty program and may have gained access to consumers usernames and passwords in the process. Consumers are instructed to change their passwords to other accounts only if its the same password they used for the Perks program.

Dell

Every single person who has shopped for Dell online had their password reset in the online store and wasnt told why. The computer chain initially discovered it was hacked back on November 9 and changed passwords five days later.

A source familiar with the incident says that Dell never informed consumers of the breach before changing their passwords on their behalf, according to a report published Wednesday in Reuters.

Security experts say it's shameful on Dells part that consumers were never told why their passwords were automatically reset, explaining that the move leaves potential victims abandoned in the darkness and ambiguity.

Amazon

Consumers and researchers are scratching their head about a vague notice that shoppers received from Amazon shortly before Black Friday. The message says that users had their data exposed due to a technical error, but it does not specify much else, such as what type of data was exposed or how many people were affected.

Asked for more details, Amazon has told reporters that there is nothing to add beyond our statement. Amazon also told users they already fixed the unspecified issue and that there is no need for consumers to do anything. So, do with that information what you will.

Health records, again

Healthcare hackers have struck again, this time targeting more than two million patients covered by Atrium, a North Carolina-based provider.

The firm said an unauthorized third party accessed patient information between Sept. 22 and 29, but the company told patients that medical records and payment information remains safe.
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Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Thunder possible. Low 46F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Thunder possible. Low 46F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
The 1MDB case has been on the front pages of the financial papers on a number of occasions recently. The reason: The US justice system is investigating the scam and senior executives from everyones favorite ethical investment back, Goldman Sachs, including Lloyd Blankfein , have been caught up in it . And this leads me to my recommendation for holiday reading, if you like reading financial fraud books. The book is The Billion Dollar Whale, by Bradley Hope and Tom Wright of the WSJ. At first, I thought that the book was about the London Whale, but it turns out to be about the rise and fall of a Wharton educated Malaysian named Jho Low  a fascinating character who appears to have engineered one of the biggest financial frauds of the century, while also throwing the most ostentatious parties ever. If you want more background, there is a fun discussion of the book on my favorite financial podcast, Slate Money (Emily Peck, Anna Szymanski and Felix Salmon are a brilliant, and often hilarious, combination). Indeed, I picked up the book after listening to their podcast on it. There is also a short, but on the money, review in the New Yorker by Sheelah Kolhatkar. Among the many colorful characters involved in the version of the story told in The Billion Dollar Whale are Gary Cohn (of Goldman and the Trumps economic advisory team), Leo DiCaprio, and the Wolf of Wall Street (both the movie and the main character, Jordan Belfort ).

What got me interested in this story is an aspect that Felix Salmon briefly mentioned on his Slate Money podcast, which is that the investment vehicle at the center of the fraud  1MDB  had received a guarantee from the Malaysian government. Best I can tell from some superficial digging that I did, all of the 1MDB issuances of bonds did not start out with guarantees from the Malaysian government (and at least one had a guaranteed from an Abu Dhabi government fund). Instead, somewhat bizarrely, the Malaysian government seems to have slapped its sovereign guarantees on a large portion of the 1MDB obligations that lacked such guarantees after the fraud was unearthed . Reuters, on May 22, 2018, reported the new Malaysian Finance Minister, Lim Guan Eng as saying: We will honor those [1MDB bond obligations] even though we are not happy with 1MDB, but we have to honor our international obligations. This is especially strange because the fraud was done under the prior government and one of the campaign promises that the opposition had made was to investigate the shenanigans at 1MDB under the former Prime Minister Najib Razak (that the WSJ and others had been reporting on).

Here is the question that intrigues me: Why in the world did the new Malaysian government, after having overthrown the corrupt prior government, use the states resources to give creditors (many of them likely rich overseas investment funds) the windfall of a sovereign guarantee that those creditors had not paid for? The Finance Minister explained that the reason was to assure the markets that the Malaysian government knew what it was doing. (I think this will reassure the markets that this government knows what it is doing.). I am skeptical. Why would the markets (to say nothing of taxpayers) think that the government was smart and responsible if it was taking on obligations that it was not legally obliged to? Sounds stupid and irresponsible to take on obligations that one never agreed to in the first place.

But maybe there is some kind of reputational story here. Maybe the markets for sovereign debt gave Malaysian sovereign debt a boost because its actions in the 1MDB case showed how devoted the Malaysian government was to paying its debts, whether or not those were really their debts? If so, this should be empirically testable. We should be able to do an event study centered around the dates of the guarantee announcements where we can measure the impact of the unexpected guarantee given the 1MDB bondholders (and other claimants) on the yields of other Malaysian government obligations outstanding at the time (we should see those other yields go down, if the Finance Minister Engs logic was correct). On the flip side, if my skepticism is justified and that markets see this move as idiotic rather than smart, yields should go up. Dubai, interestingly, took the opposite tack in late 2009 when Dubai World tanked and investors went to the state, arguing that there was an implicit guarantee.

More broadly, the question here is whether new governments -- from a pure cost of capital perspective -- should pay those debts of their corrupt predecessors against which they have strong legal defenses. Ukraine, with its $3 bn debt to Uncle Vlads Russia (money lent to prop up Ukraines prior pro Russian government) has chosen the opposite route to Malaysia. And it is fighting the Russian claim in the English courts (and winning, as of this writing). So, one might ask: Is Ukraine suffering a reputational penalty from its other creditors because it is fighting the claims of the Russians? I suspect not. But no one has taken a serious look at this question.

By contrast, the post-apartheid South African government, somewhat depressingly, chose to pay all of those apartheid-era debts  even though there were legal defenses that could have been tried. The logic there  that had no real empirical basis  was that the markets would reward South Africa for paying those prior debts.

Given that this is a question that will keep coming up, as long as we have corrupt governments, it seems worthy of inquiry. Indeed, this question is likely to come up very soon in Venezuela. Assuming that Mr. Maduro is on his last legs, the question of what the new government should do with some of the shady borrowing that his government engaged in (the infamous Hunger Bonds are a prime example -- Ugo Panizza and I have written about the Maduro governments shady borrowing in papers on Hunger Bonds and Maduro Bonds). It would be nice to have a concrete answer as to what the impact on the new Venezuelan governments cost of borrowing will be if it chooses to repudiate the prior regimes shady debts.
Costa Cruises has announced it is launching a new advertising campaign featuring Penelope Cruz.

The Spanish actress will star in the new international ad campaign as a mermaid, "who, bewitched by the sound of a Costa ship, decides to go aboard through a 'magic passage' and experience the excitement and 'happiness squared' that are part and parcel of a cruise holiday," Costa announced.

Penelope Cruz is the ideal representative for Costa Cruises because she embodies perfectly the spirit and beauty of a Mediterranean holiday onboard our ships. She is cheerful and genuine, and is also known for her great professionalism. In fact, the aim of this advertising campaign is to communicate that a cruise is a magical holiday, the only one that allows people to discover the world from the unique perspective of the sea, so much so that even a mermaid is enchanted enough to go aboard. And finally the music, the original version of Sapore di Sale by Gino Paoli, the perfect soundtrack that instantly recalls memorable holidays in true Italian style," said Luca Casaura, Costa Cruises SVP Global & Strategic Marketing.

The ad campaign will be made available in segments ranging from 15 to 60 seconds, and was directed by Jaume de Laiguana. The campaign, produced with Young & Rubicam Spain, will also be supported by a social media campaign.

The music from the campaign will come from Sapore di sale by Gino Paoli.
Right before you Thanksgiving and some of the biggest shopping days of the year, Amazon sent emails to affected customers, revealing that it had inadvertently disclosed your name and email address due to a technical error. The lackluster email caused some people to worry it might be a phishing attack.

Amazon failed to say how many people were affected by the data exposure or what the technical error actually was; instead, Amazon claimed the issue was fixed and impacted customers were notified.

[ How much does a cyber attack really cost? Take a look at the numbers. | Get the latest from CSO by signing up for our newsletters. ]

More cybersecurity news

Security hole leads to data exposure of 60 million USPS customers

First we had a U.S. Secret Service warning saying the U.S. Postal Service's Informed Delivery service was being abused by identity thieves. Now Brian Krebs says the USPS closed a security hole in the API for Informed Visibility that exposed data on 60 million users.

Multiple flaws in TP-Link routers

Speaking of security holes, Cisco Talos Intelligence disclosed four vulnerabilities in TP-Links TL-R600VPN routers, including a remote code execution hole.

Linux servers targeted with non-IoT Mirai variants

Botmasters are branching out from routers, security cameras, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices and are now trying to use a Hadoop vulnerability to target Linux servers with Mirai variants. Netscout said, This is the first time weve seen non-IoT Mirai in the wild.

Ghostscript flaw

The Ghostscript interpreter used to process PDF files and postscripts, which is shipped with most flavors of Linux distribution and is commonly used by sites, services, apps, and cloud platforms, has a remote code execution flaw (pdf). The vulnerability discovered by Semmle is a variant of the critical vulnerability discovered by Google Project Zeros Tavis Ormandy in August.

DirtyCOW and backdoor into Drupal servers

Do you use Drupal? Imperva researchers spotted a campaign using DirtyCOW, Drupalgeddon2 and system misconfigurations to persistently infect vulnerable Drupal web servers and take over user machines.

Facebook and LinkedIn privacy fails

Facebook may be facing more woes as the British Parliament seized a cache of internal Facebook documents to determine the truth of Facebooks data and privacy control decisions.

LinkedIn is also in hot water, as Irelands Data Protection Commissioner found (pdf) that LinkedIns practices leading up to GDPR implementation in Europe were not only uncanny, but actually violated data protection rules, in LinkedIns case concerning some 18 million email addresses.

U.S. government security and privacy fails

A recent audit found that the IRS failed to apply consumer protections for victims of at least 89 data breaches, leaving at least 11,406 U.S. taxpayers unprotected.

In addition, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) pointed out that the public has waited decades for the Department of Defense (DoD) to be audited as is required by law. Now it has been revealed that the DoD failed its first-ever full-scale audit.

Irony

Japans cybersecurity minister, who admitted to not using computers, has now admitted that hes not that familiar with cybersecurity matters. Japans head honcho for cybersecurity said his main job is to read out written replies (prepared by bureaucrats) without making any mistakes.

Meanwhile in North Korea, with the government-sponsored hacking group Lazarus, which allegedly has stolen $571 million of the $882 million total in heisted crypto from online exchanges:

North Korea is hosting a conference on blockchain and cryptocurrency next year. Organizers say U.S. citizens are welcome to attend the despite travel ban. @nknewsorg @ColinZwirko @OliverHotham https://t.co/4ORhrbhQWH  CSIS Korea Chair (@CSISKoreaChair) November 21, 2018

Surveillance

The social credit system Citizen Score is part of Chinas over-the-top surveillance. Now, apparently, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking a page from China with its new credit score-checking proposal. Slate revealed, The agency charged with safeguarding the nation would like to make immigrants submit their credit scores when applying for legal resident status.

Speaking of surveillance, Googles new patents reveal that the search giant wants to data mine your bedroom: Google wants to scan your clothing and listen to your brush your teeth.

While letting Google into your bedroom is optional, some people with health disorders are already under secret surveillance in their bedrooms. Millions of people with sleep apnea use CPAP breathing machines, and ProPublica explained that health insurance companies, starting with Medicare, use surveillance  without users knowledge  to keep track of how long the machines are used each night. If a user fails to comply by using the device for the required time period, insurers can deny payment.

Others argue we will invite surveillance by agreeing to be microchipped.

Shop smart



When shopping, be sure to shop smart. Be aware of internet-connected devices that could allow hackers to watch you.
In reflecting on 2018 from a security perspective, some of the major themes, as Ive written previously, have been about new AI security tools, industry consolidation and the blurring of lines between physical and cyber security. GRDP, the California Consumer Privacy Act and Facebooks seemingly never-ending scandals related to consumer privacy have also raised regulatory and public awareness of data privacy as a key issue and concern.

These discussions will continue into next year and beyond, and there a number of other big trends that are likely to dominate the security industry in 2019. Here are seven that I believe well be looking at in the new year and for some time after that:

1. AI will bolster security solutions

As the number and range of threats continue to grow, its clear that only AI can counter them. Thats why we saw some big companies announce AI-based solutions in 2018, including Palo Alto Networks behavioral analytics solution Magnifier and Alphabets Chronicle. As of 2017, 12% of enterprise organizations have deployed AI-based security analytics extensively and 27% have done so on a limited basis according to ESG Research. As the report notes, these arent pure-play AI security solutions. Rather, AI adds analytical heft to existing technologies. Given the spread of AI in general at the corporate level, AI will continue to grow in the security segment as well.

2. AI will also bolster cybercriminals

Its a familiar dynamic in this industry: the bad guys get access to the same tools  or even better tools(!)  as the cybersecurity people. This requires a new set of defensive solutions to be deployed by the good guys merely to keep up with the arms race. Thats where we are with AI. For example, many organizations have gotten smarter about phishing attacks. With anti-phishing solutions, if a gullible employee is intent on clicking on a link to a supposed amusing cat video, a URL blocker would sandbox that link to test it for malicious intent. But now cybercriminals have gotten wise to this maneuver. Using AI-based advanced analytics, hackers now detect when a link goes to an anti-phishing cloud platform so they instead actually send something innocuous, like an actual cat video. The system, assessing the link, gives it a free pass. But when the consumer actually then opens this good link, it is actually the intended malware. Thats just the beginning. As a report from some 26 academics and business execs warned that AI could be used for everything from sophisticated social engineering attacks to weaponized drone swarms.

3. Physical security and cybersecurity will continue to merge

That nightmare scenario leads to my next prediction. In a world of IoT devices, the division between cybersecurity and physical security is fading. While physical security is at least 15 years behind cybersecurity in terms of sophistication, smart organizations are lumping the two together under the heading of Major Incident Management are pooling both teams. As the range of threats across both domains grow, expect more crossover in 2019.

4. There will be lots more consolidation

BlackBerrys purchase of cybersecurity firm Cylance is just the latest example of stepped up M&A activity in a year that also included AT&Ts purchase of AlienVault and Spunks acquisition of Phantom Cyber. The industry is rife for consolidation. Some 53% of companies with 1,000 or more employees have deployed three or more disparate endpoint security networks across their network, according to ESG Research. This causes lots of waste, as CISOs know all too well. In the coming year, the number of solution providers will decrease as the bigger players add startup technologies into their portfolios to create a broader product and product family offering.

5. Regionalization will increase

The security world doesnt exist in a vacuum. A new wave of nationalism epitomized by Brexit will prompt more cybersecurity regionalization. Recent scandals involving Russias Kaspersky Lab and Chinas Huawei and HTC augur a world in which foreign governments are deeply suspicious of each others tech security solutions. Thus, we might see more regional security companies and solutions pop-up globally. Within the U.S., we are seeing another form of regionalism, focused on building robust centers for security innovation. Clusters of security firm activity are popping up like Marylands Cyber Town, USA project. New York City has also introduced Cyber NYC, an initiative to transform New York City into a global leader of cybersecurity innovation. It will be interesting to see what other organic security hot-spots like the Bay Area or Boston do to respond to these regional initiatives.

6. Biometrics will continue slowly replacing passwords

The iPhone Xs Face ID has made facial recognition mainstream. As passwords continue to be a vulnerability, expect biometrics to rise to the fore. MasterCard, for instance, will require all of its users to use biometric identification by April 2019.

7. Universities will step up their cybersecurity game

To end things on a positive note, its heartening that many universities have expanded their cybersecurity programs. Driven by an acute shortage of cybersecurity professionals, colleges including Texas A&M, College of Maryland, the University of Michigan and Virginia Tech have been investing in security programs. Thats a step in the right direction, but a welcome one. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing a steady uptick of universities stepping up their game in 2019.
The Department of Children and Families wouldnt trust Andrew Lamkin to care for his son and daughter after the agency removed them from their mothers custody. He participated in group counseling and took random drug tests, but the child welfare agency was unwilling to take a chance on him.

I was never looked at as a viable option for custody in DCFs eyes, even though I was the only one fighting for them, Lamkin told legislators at a public hearing in 2012, describing his experience with DCF two years earlier. It seemed like I was fighting a system that was geared to make me quit.

And then he met Joette Katz, who had recently traded in her robe as a justice on the Connecticut Supreme Court for the rough-and-tumble work of running DCF, an agency that draws more and harsher public scrutiny than any other.

After meeting with (her), everything turned around, he told legislators shortly after Katz took office.

Lamkin and his children would be some of the first to be affected by changes in DCF policy under the fledgling administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, whose new commissioner ordered her staff to take more risks.

Katz, who served under Malloy for the entire eight years of his governorship, is leaving the agency next month after what is believed to be one of the longest tenures leading a state child-protection agency in the nation.

But it wasnt always easy. Despite Malloys loyalty to her, Katzs abrasive personality, refusal to back down from controversial decisions, as well as her decision to march the child protection agency in a new and sometimes perilous direction, resulted in a rocky eight years.

Connecticut in context

When she took the job, Katz said, she asked staff to think twice before removing abused or neglected kids from their families, rather than taking the safer route of removing them and putting them with strangers in foster homes, out-of-state institutions or group homes.

I didnt say keep kids with their relatives at all costs. I said to staff, Use your brains,  Katz recalled during an interview earlier this month. I dont want to minimize the work that goes into family placements, in terms of struggles with the issues of poverty and mental health issues. So its not just saying, You are with a relative. Good were done. 

Numerous restrictions that were keeping families apart, such as non-violent criminal records or a history of substance abuse from prior years, were relaxed under Katz.

As a result, the number of children entering foster care in Connecticut dipped 19 percent since 2010, bucking the national trend, which has experienced a 3 percent increase. And when they do enter foster care, these abused or neglected children are now more likely to be placed with other family members.

Connecticuts record of placing children with family members when DCF determined they couldnt remain at home was among the worst in the nation when Malloy took office in 2011. With 37 percent of foster children now living with another family member, Connecticut now has one of the highest rates.

Keeping more families together by removing fewer children from their homes and placing them with other relatives when they do need to be removed has resulted in Connecticut having one of the fastest decreases in the number of children in state custody  dropping 16 percent compared to a national increase of 8 percent.

This means that about 700 fewer children are in foster care on any given day now in Connecticut than they were in 2010.

Mistakes happen

Some children didnt fare well when they were kept with their families, however.

The states Office of the Child Advocate, an independent watchdog agency, released several reports over the last eight years criticizing DCF for what it termed as systemic issues with the vast agencys oversight of children who were allowed to remain with their families.

In the case of baby Dylan in 2016, DCF staff dismissed the pleas of the relative caring for the child, who repeatedly reached out for help. Agency staff failed to notice months of malnourishment and the childs near-starvation, nor did they identify a troubling criminal and substance-abuse history in the home where he was placed.

In the case of Londyn Sack in 2015, police were called because the 2-year-old, who was under DCF supervision, was found wandering in the snow in a diaper and tee-shirt. DCF had received several phone calls, including one from a police officer, warning that the childs mother was unfit because of drug use, but the agency had continued to rate the case as low risk. Londyn died a few months later from a drug overdose after consuming a deadly dosage of drugs found in his mothers home.

These are far from the only children who suffered harm while in a relatives care.

Advocates agree that leaving children in their homes or placing them with other family members is the best option  but only if proper safeguards are in place and services are available for families. Several advocates are concerned they are not, or that staff caseloads are too high to provide adequate supervision.

Because a child dies in a home with an open DCF case does not mean that keeping families together, as a goal, is ill fated or undesirable, Sarah Eagan, the states child advocate, said in 2014 after reviewing a series of fatal cases her team determined happened in the absence of necessary safeguards.

The federal courts have been overseeing DCF for almost 30 years for failing too many abused and neglected children. The federal court monitor, in his most recent review of the agency in August, reported that many front-line social workers have for years had caseloads too high to supervise at-risk children kept with their families, though a recent wave of new hires will help. He also concluded that wait lists for treatment for substance abuse, domestic violence and other health services remains an issue.

The 120 new workers that the administration recently hired even after the legislature rejected the funding is already having a noticeable impact.

But more social workers isnt a panacea.

You still have problems, said Martha Stone, one of the lawyers behind the class-action lawsuit that led to federal oversight in 1991. There shouldnt be these wait lists for these programs. There is still a shortage of foster homes. There is still delay of referrals to programs.

Concerns also remain about how the agency handles the more than 50,000 calls to its hotline from people reporting child abuse or neglect.

Prior to 2012, an investigation would have been launched, a social worker would have shown up at the familys home unannounced, and the child would have been questioned.

These adversarial visits by DCF social workers often began with the parent refusing to answer questions and ended with the child being removed from the home only to enter the states over-burdened foster care system.

Now staff at the agencys Careline assess the level of risk through the use of an algorithm and staff expertise to determine how the case needs to be handled. If it is deemed an emergency, staff will respond within hours. If it is low-risk, staff would schedule a time to meet with the family within 72-hours and offer them supports, that they are then able to decline without risking the loss of their children.

Of the roughly 13,000 cases sent down this path each year, it was determined in just under half the cases that they dont need further agency involvement, a review of this approach in 2017 by the University of Connecticuts School of Social Work Performance Improvement Center found. The center also found that a quarter of the families were offered services but declined them, while most of the remaining cases were referred to various non-profit providers for help.

Most cases sent down this route dont end back up on the agencys radar in the near future. The UConn researchers report that 26 percent of the cases handled on the low-risk track would get another report against them for abuse or neglect within a year.

This flexibility in the handling of cases has become the new norm at DCF, with about 40 percent of cases being diverted down this path.

It is a national model known as a Differential Response System, and Connecticut followed the lead of 20 other states by implementing its own version, known as the Family Assessment Route.

The model is bi-partisan. Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rells DCF commissioner, Susan Hamilton, laid the framework for Katz to roll it out.

Some high-profile cases that were diverted down this path  including that of Londyn Sack  have raised questions about whether this approach is too hands-off. Sack is one of 17 children who died after their families were placed on the low-risk path. Seven of those deaths were determined to be the result of maltreatment, UConn researchers reported in 2015.

Katz says these high-profile cases are the outliers involving poor decisions by a handful of staff, not larger issues tied to the reforms themselves.

After a couple of high-profile tragedies, Katz restricted more cases from going down the DRS route if certain factors were present. She also emailed her entire, 3,240-person staff to reinforce the factors that would bar placement of a child with a relative without a waiver from her, including any criminal history or substantiated child-abuse allegations.

Youre always judged by the one that didnt go well or the one unpopular decision. But I own those. You cant let perfection be the enemy of the good, Katz said, quoting Voltaire. I looked at that (baby Dylan) case and said, this should have never been a DRS case. The problem isnt DRS. This was a staff mistake.

A fresh start at DCF

Gov.-Elect Ned Lamont will soon need to decide if he likes where the Malloy administration has taken the agency.

Katz informed her staff earlier this month that she will not seek to remain in the job under the new administration.

Lamont has not weighed in on the direction of DCF or said what changes he may seek. Requests for an interview on the subject have gone unanswered.

Asked about his priorities for the agency during an unrelated press conference at the state Capitol, his response was restrained.

We get a fresh start at DCF and were going to spend a lot of time there because its just vital that we get that right in terms of those kids, in terms of honoring those families, Lamont said. I am not displeased at this point, but it is so vitally important to those kids and those families. I have had some involvement there with my family over many years and I know how important it is that we really get it right and dont take unnecessary risks.

State Rep. Toni Walker, one of four co-chairs of Lamonts transition team, has identified several reforms she would like to see enacted at DCF, including finding ways to retain foster families and evaluate programs.

Data is a stumbling block I think with DCF, said Walker, who is a social worker and assistant principal at an alternative school with many DCF-involved youth. I dont think we get enough data from DCF.

The agencys current data system was found to be non-compliant in 2014 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families. A new system that will better help the $770 million agency better track what works  and doesnt  is currently under development.
MILFORD  A local homeowner who police said threatened to kill his wife and burn down his home has been charged with assault following an eight and a half-hour standoff.

Matthew Smith, 38, was charged with third-degree assault, first-degree threatening, interfering with officer and disorderly conduct. He was being held in lieu of $25,000 pending arraignment Tuesday morning in Superior Court here.

Smith was arrested at 11:30 Tuesday morning capping an arduous process that began around 3:15 a.m., when Smiths wife, also 38, showed up at the police department and said he had assaulted her.

Police said the woman told officers that Smith said he was going to kill her, burn down her familys home, kill any future children she may have, amongst other similar statements. She also said that Smith pulled out a knife and threatened to slice her with it and struck her in the eye area with a closed fist, police related. They said she told them Smith might have an unregistered firearm.

The police immediately went to the Falmouth Street residence where the couple lived in a basement apartment, said Officer Mike DeVito. She came in, and we came out, DeVito said while stationed at the scene on Monday morning.

Police immediately established contact with Smith, but DeVito said he stopped talking to them around 4:30 a.m. Officers, including the regional special response team, then spent the next seven hours or so trying to talk to Smith by any avenue available to them, including a bullhorn, DeVito said.

Throughout the standoff, police treated Smith as if he could be armed. DeVito said he had been known to have weapons which were seized in a previous incident outside of Milfords jurisdiction.

Police knew Smith was alone in the house, and tried various methods to get more information about what was going on inside including sending up a drone, which flew over the neighborhood several times. Ultimately, DeVito said, police planned to open a rear door to the home and send in a police robot. But when the door was knocked open, Smith was standing there and surrendered without incident.

Though the house was searched for weapons, none was found, DeVito said.

DeVito said police decided to move when they did because they were concerned about area schools releasing their students and safety concerns if they waited too long.

He said, with these situations, each case is a little bit different. We knew he was alone in the house. We are fortunate enough to have a lot of assets, including the robot, the drone and a K9, which police were ready to use if necessary.

Police tweeted shortly after 6:30 a.m. that Falmouth Street was blocked to vehicular traffic and pedestrians between Old Point and Kittery streets. At 5 a.m., Milford schools were advised to divert school buses from the area.

Kittery was being used as a staging area for much of the morning, with police and Fire/EMS vehicles visible along the road. At one point, a refreshment table was set up for police and other personnel, containing granola bars, doughnuts, coffee and other treats.

A neighbor who did not want to give her name said she didnt know much about the standoff when interviewed shortly after 8 a.m.

I think its a very nice and safe neighborhood. I hope everyone is OK, said the woman, who lived there for 33 years.

Another neighbor, who also wouldnt give his name, said hed lived in the neighborhood his whole life. Its a great place, he said. But these kinds of things happen all over.
My employees, students, advisees and investees have all asked me the question, "Do I need to learn to code?" My basic answer is, "Yes. And you're going to love it!"

Also, it's important. As famed innovator Marc Andreessen put it: "The spread of computers and the internet will put jobs in two categories: people who tell computers what to do, and people who are told by computers what to do."

Related: Why Your Next Hire Should Be a Coding School Graduate

To be one of those people telling computers what to do, you don't need to be a career coder. Innovation skills like figuring out what software might do for a customer that's valuable and how the user should experience your software remain extremely important. That said, you want to make sure you have the creative confidence to be intimately involved in the process of software creation.

My advice is to start by practicing with something small and relevant to your line of work. It won't be hard, but it will take some energy and endurance. Other than becoming a career coder, here are three good reasons you might want to learn how to code along with suggestions on how to get started:

1. Change web page content on your own without tapping someone on the shoulder.

Yes, great idea! Honestly, in my opinion not being able to work with HTML and CSS (code for creating web pages) is equivalent to being illiterate. I know that sounds stark, but the good news is that this problem is easily solved.

Codeacademy has terrific online courses in subject like HTML and CSSthat are totally free. For best results, pair tutorials with a project you can work on, so you can apply skills immediately.

When learning to code, it's more about creative confidence and the ability to figure things out that's key.

2. Present your ideas with prototypes instead of PowerPoints.

Good on you! You'll be much more convincing and engaged with a prototype. This isn't separate from the above item, but it will involve use of design to figure out what you want to build and a programming language like Javascript or Python.

For this, you'll need to chart your own path. I recommend starting out with a clear objective, so you don't get lost in the details. Classes that offer design-driven case studies, supporting materials and starter code you can use are beneficial because they show how modern software relates to actual development.

Related: Google Launches a Game to Teach Adults How to Code

3. Be a better collaborator to the engineers/developers you work with.

Yes! Many groups inside companies like Google require that product managers, for example, have a STEM undergraduate degree. These groups have found that it's a reliable way to make sure they can engage with their collaborators in development.

Learning to code will give you intuition about what it is to move from design to code, what's hard when and why, as well as a sense of what level of detail your collaborators need from you on a particular item.

These are all good places to start and having a specific project in mind will allow you to start small.

Additionally, here are three bad, or misguided, reasons you might want to learn how to code, along with suggestions about what to do instead:

1. Give your developers instructions on how to code in order to work better/faster.

No one likes to be told how to do their job. However, they do like to know what constitutes success and the more you can clearly show how what your team is building will be valuable to the user, the better.

The punchline here is that for more than 90 percent of the cases I've seen, the product/businessperson needs to better test and validate what's valuable to the user and translate that into development-friendly inputs like storyboards and user stories.

For learning how to do that testing and provide those great inputs, I recommend a balanced approach to both designing and coding. Make sure you stay focused on a specific design outcome while you're coding.

Related: Today's Shortage in Code Development Presents Entrepreneurs With a Massive Opportunity

2. Dispute estimates with your collaborators in development.

Basically, it's best to assume your developers know what they're doing, have good intent and to focus on what you need to do to get them great inputs. If you're still unsure about that, talk with a development manager or development lead to get some additional perspective.

3. Build an app.

Great idea! Maybe. You should use tools like design thinking to learn about your customer and the "lean startup" concept to test your idea. Then getting the goodwill and capital to build your software will be a lot easier.

Related:

Do You Need to Learn to Code?

What Does Being Digitally Literate Mean?

Sharpen Your Company's Competitive Edge by Hiring the Most Motivated Tech Talent



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
In 2014, Elon Musk posted, then quickly deleted, a comment on an article about artificial intelligence. The text of that comment has been saved and reads, in part, as follows: "The pace of progress in artificial intelligence (I'm not referring to narrow AI) is incredibly fast. ... The risk of something seriously dangerous happening is in the five-year timeframe. 10 years at most."

Related: A Humanoid Robot Called Sophia Mocked Elon Musk After Being Asked About the Dangers of AI

I have no idea why exactly Musk made this post and then decided to delete it.

But, that "five-year timeframe" mentioned in the post will be reached in 2019, so it is fair to ask the question, "Should we fear artificial intelligence?"

The term "AI" means one of two different things. The first is narrow AI, which is an AI designed to do one thing, such as keep spam out of your email inbox. The second is AGI, artificial general intelligence, which is an AI that is as smart and creative as you and me. Musk makes it clear that he is talking about this latter kind, for I don't think anyone worries that their spam filter will go rogue.

AGI doesn't exist, and no one has shown they know how to make it. But, there are credible people working on the problem. So, how far away are we from having this kind of AI? Estimates vary from five to 500 years, and I personally find myself on the high end of that range. Whether you are worried about AGI or eagerly awaiting it, I believe the kind of technology we see in the movies is a century or more away.

Related: AI Won't Replace Us Until It Becomes Much More Like Us

Why do I say this? A number of reasons. First, we don't know how our brains work. No one knows, for instance, how the color of your first bicycle is stored in the brain. We don't even know how the simplest brains work, such as the lowly nematode worm. This worm has 302 neurons in its brain and dedicated scientists have spent decades simply trying to model that tiny brain in a computer and even to this day there is speculation that the task cannot be done.

Beyond not knowing how the brain works, we don't know how the mind works. The mind is all the inexplicable stuff the brain does. For instance, your liver doesn't have a sense of humor, but your brain does. No single neuron in your brain is creative, and yet you somehow are. Where does that come from? Where do emotions come from? How are we able to imagine things? We don't know.

Then there is the problem of consciousness. Consciousness is the experience of being you. A computer can measure temperature, but you can feel warmth. How that mere matter experiences the world is a scientific question we don't even know how to pose scientifically, let alone answer, and it may well be that consciousness is a prerequisite for the kind of intelligence we have.

So, where are we with AI today?

Great strides have been made, but when I call my airline and say my frequent flier number to the computer, it has a hard time telling an "A" from an "H" from an "8." That's where we really are. Computers know how to do one thing: simple math. And there is a long road from there to the kind of intelligence a human has.

Related: Preparing for the Future of AI

AI as we practice it right now is actually a simple technology. The idea goes like this: Take a bunch of data about the past, study it and make projections about the future. That's it. It is a big deal, to be sure, because it is the beginning of us forming a planet-wide collective memory. For the first time, everyone can learn from the experience of everyone else by using AI to study all the data we currently collect. It is a powerful technology in that regard, but a simple one to conceptually understand. The idea that somehow this simple technique produces something as smart and versatile as a human is, to my mind, farfetched, or, at the very least, unproven.

So, why do people think this is something we are on the cusp of. Two reasons, I believe.

The first is the movies and TV we see. Look, I'll pay $11 to see Will Smith fight off a rogue AI bent on eliminating humanity. That sounds like a fun afternoon. Those movies are so realistic and seemingly plausible that over time we all do something called "reasoning from fictional evidence." The images in those movies bleed into reality.

But, the second reason I think some people expect an AGI soon is that it is the logical conclusion of a single core belief that people are machines. Our brains are machines, our minds are machines and consciousness, whatever it is, is a mechanistic process. This reductionist view of humans says that since we are machines, it is inevitable that we can build a mechanical you. And once we build that, it will improve rapidly and soon exceed us.

I have found in my research an almost universal acceptance of the "humans are machines" idea from people in the technology industry, and an almost universal rejection of it from everyone else. You don't have to appeal to some kind of spiritualism to hold this latter view. Humans might simply be a kind of emergence or quantum phenomena or something else that cannot be replicated in a factory. We certainly have abilities that we do not understand -- and the idea that we can replicate those abilities in silicon remains unproven at this point.

Related:

Elon Musk Predicted Artificial Intelligence Would Be 'Seriously Dangerous' by 2019. How Close Is That to Reality?

Here's How Temasek Is Going All Out With Blockchain & AI

#4 Reasons That Show How Far Machine Learning Still Has to Go



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
This appears in Monday's Washington Post:

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A striking political alignment has occurred. Some of the Senate's most conservative members and some of its most liberal support the First Step Act, a bill that would make the criminal-justice system a little bit more fair. Right-wing activists such as the Koch brothers are campaigning for the bill, and so are progressive groups. Even President Donald Trump is on board. So why is there any doubt that Congress will quickly pass it? A reactionary band of Senate Republicans remain opposed, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has not committed to bring it to a vote.

McConnell should not delay a vote on a bipartisan deal that took years to strike.

The bill would support programs meant to help federal inmates reintegrate into society after release and expand opportunity for prisoners to earn "good time" credits. Shackling pregnant women would be banned. Mandatory minimum sentences, mainly on drug charges, would be scaled back. Judges would get more leeway to sentence people committed of nonviolent drug crimes to less time than the mandatory minimums prescribe. The bill would end the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine charges - which disproportionately hit African Americans - for some 2,600 federal inmates convicted years ago under this unjust regime. In all, thousands of inmates now and tens of thousands in the future would have a fairer deal.

The bill does not go far enough, but it would be, as its title suggests, a first step. It would apply only to federal inmates, but federal policy can set a tone for the states, which hold most of the nation's prisoners. Many states in fact have moved first, reforming criminal-justice systems and ending costly and counterproductive get-tough-on-crime laws. A ringing bipartisan endorsement on the federal level would add to the momentum.

McConnell reportedly fears that considering the act over the next several weeks would eat up time he might rather use on passing a farm bill or confirming conservative judges. There will be plenty of time for the GOP Senate to confirm judges next year. The opportunity to pass this bill might well expire in January, when a new Congress reshapes the policymaking landscape.

Every day that the existing inequitable system goes unreformed extends the unnecessary misery those in U.S. custody must endure. It is past time for change.
Serving and understanding the nuances of the Hispanic marketplace has emerged in recent years as one of the credit union movements most successful growth strategies. While credit unions may most likely approach this strategy using their brick-and-mortar resources, Ive experienced that using personal technology to reach the communitys nativos digitales must not be overlooked be an important tactic to consider.

Nativos digitales is Spanish for digital natives, those younger generations who never knew life without personal technology at their disposal. Whether communicating with family and friends, shopping online or hailing an Uber, chances are these members are doing so on a cellphone or other personal device.

Increasingly, the same holds true for financial service transactions across the entire cultural spectrum. In the case of nativos digitales, however, credit unions are realizing even greater returns.

Institutions that successfully serve Hispanic members report a shift in the average age of those members to a younger demographic, one versed in personal technology. Since the future of credit unions rests on the shoulders of younger members, serving them in a way thats preferable and convenient to their lifestyle is critical to continued credit union growth.

U.S. credit unions have become very accustomed to technology, so it should be no surprise that some credit unions are using this technology to reach new segments of the population. Some even have effectively created virtual Spanish-speaking branches online, which operate as technological bridges between the credit union and Hispanic community it seeks to serve.

Kern Schools Federal Credit Union, a Coopera client from Kern County, California, has been very successful in reaching its Hispanic membership by leveraging digital touchpoints. The $1.6 billion credit union uses technology to support its efforts to understand and embrace the local Hispanic community and its members.

We started marketing aggressively to Hispanics in January 2016 in partnership with Coopera, says Michael George, senior vice president and chief marketing, innovation and advocacy officer. He added that the credit union was amazed that use of personal technology among Hispanics far exceeded that of other member groups.

Kern Schools FCUs experience is not unusual. Younger Hispanics almost universally prefer mobile devices such as cellphones, largely for the portability, cost, and immediacythe way they understand the world.

According to trends reported by the Pew Research Center, in fact, 80 percent of Hispanic men and women say they access the Internet via cellphone, tablet or other mobile device. Of that group, usage among Hispanics age 18 to 29 tops out at 94 percent, with subsequent usage levels declining among older adult groups.

For us, mobile and online usage is up 40 percent among our membership,, George says. Our most recent Coopera study showed our Hispanic members are utilizing digital banking services at a slightly higher rate than our non-Hispanic members.

Kern Schools FCUs mobile apps enable members to complete virtually any transaction the institution offers, from savings to checking to funds transfer to lending, including applying for mortgage loans. Since the services are offered online in both Spanish and English, the credit union also has seen an increasing number of new members across all demographic groups, although Hispanics lead the way.

By working with Coopera , Kern Schools FCU has managed to tap into its nativos digitales and serve this segment in the way that is optimal for them. Many credit unions rely on their brick-and-mortar services to provide Hispanic outreach, but the digital channel should not be overlooked, as it may be your largest opportunity for driving growth among this young and tech-savvy audience.
STORY LINK Pound Australian Dollar Exchange Rate Fluctuates as Questions Linger over Brexit Deal

GBP/AUD Exchange Rate Struggles despite EU-UK Brexit Deal Approval

Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) Rangebound as Brexit Uncertainty Overshadows Mortgage Approval Increase

AUD/GBP Buoyed Up by G20 Hopes of Trade Tension Truce

G20 and Brexit Remain in Focus for Aussie and Sterling (AUD/GBP)

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The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate struggled today despite Fridays slump in the value of iron ore hitting the commodity-sensitive Aussie, and is currently trading at AU$1.7730.Sundays Brexit approval by the EU Council left Sterling relatively unaffected, with markets holding back as Prime Minister Theresa May begins the process of trying to convince the House of Commons.GBP remains sensitive to Brexit news with MPs becoming increasingly vocal about their concerns over Mays withdrawal agreement. Ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson described Mays attitude as servile to the EU.Johnson expressed his criticism today:We cannot go on any more with this hopeless cant-do spirit; this reflexive negativity and defeatism that so woefully underestimates the courage and creativity of the British people.The GBP/AUD exchange rate remained suppressed today, despite data showing that mortgage approvals had increased to 39,697 in October from the five-month low in September, although the figures failed to impress Sterling investors.With Brexit concerns dominating headlines, the positive mortgage figures were overshadowed by continuing concerns over Theresa Mays ability to convince sceptical MPs.President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, put further pressure on May and the UKs withdrawal agreement by emphasising that this is the best deal possible for Britain, warning and this is the only deal possible. So if the House would say no, we would have no deal.The Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate is expected to remain driven by Brexit news, and Mays determined effort to convince Parliament, with the PM commenting:I want that to be a moment of renewal and reconciliation for our whole country. It must mark the point when we put aside the labels of Leave and Remain for good and we come together again as one people.The Australian Dollar Pound (AUD/GBP) exchange rate was buoyed slightly today, with GBP dampened by increasing political concerns.AUD has also benefited from the imminent G20 meeting, where US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to meet for trade talks, providing a leg up for the Aussie as hopes over easing trade tensions strengthen risk-sentiment.Yesterday saw the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Philip Lowe, deliver a speech in which he said banknotes would soon be a thing of the past, likely becoming a niche payment instrument, and went on to say that abolishing the cheque system would be appropriate, although we have not reached that point yet.The GBP/AUD exchange rate looks set to be determined by Brexit news as May rallies to convince MPs to accept her proposed withdrawal agreement after getting the EUs seal of approval.The Aussie, meanwhile, will be sensitive to Fridays G20 meeting where US-Chinas trade tensions will be discussed, with investors poised for any news of a trade truce, and with the White House adviser, Larry Kudlow, commenting: It will come to a head at the G20  I think thats the key point.As the Australian Dollar (AUD) is sensitive to global tensions, we could expect to see an increase in value if there are any signs of progress during the talks.The Pound, meanwhile, will be increasingly sensitive towards any comments levied at Mays Brexit deal by MPs, with Parliaments approval being crucial for progressing the deal.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

TAGS: Forecasts
Deloitte Middle East, a provider of audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, tax and related services, has admitted over 30 internal and newly hired partners, directors and principals in 2018, said a top official.



These men and women leaders bring with them an array of specialized skills and industry-wide expertise and knowledge that, combined with the backing of the Deloitte global network, will allow us to serve our clients and provide them with best-in-class services, added Omar Fahoum, CEO Deloitte Middle East.



He was speaking at the companys Middle East annual partners meeting in Dubai, which was attended by over 175 partners from the Deloitte Middle East practices who were joined by senior partners from the global Deloitte network.



The meetings theme was Forward Bound and focused on the trends affecting the business landscape  such as Industry 4.0, tax developments in the GCC, and business risks, including financial, regulatory, reputational, strategic, operational and cyber security. Diversity, inclusion, and strategies to achieve gender parity at leadership roles in the workplace were important discussion topics in the meeting.



Our firm has served Middle East and multinational clients in the region since 1926 and we continue to invest in people and in centres of expertise to provide the best professional services to support our clients in navigating complex market and regulatory environments, Fahoum said.



Deloitte hired over 700 Arab and expatriate graduates and experienced professionals in the Middle East in the last year to lead the workforce of tomorrow. We reiterate Deloittes commitment to diversity and inclusion. Agile working, nationalization and gender targets continue to be priority items on our agenda, said Herve Ballantyne, chairman, Deloitte Middle East.



David Sproul, senior partner and chief executive of Deloitte North West Europe, also attended the Middle East Annual Partners Meeting.

Deloitte works in many global markets on projects ranging from public service and reform, to talent, technology and the future of work. By sharing our skills, knowledge and experience, we believe we can make a positive contribution in these markets, including the Middle East. This is an exciting time for this market, and Deloittes long term commitment and investment is a reflection of the opportunity we believe there is to have an impact that matters with clients, people and society across the region, concluded Sproul.  TradeArabia News Service
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 26)  A former Housing official was sacked over alleged involvement in an extortion case, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo revealed Monday.

Panelo said former Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Secretary-General Falconi Millar was dismissed after the latter allegedly tried to extort money from an unnamed company which was transacting with the government agency.

The spokesman said this was revealed in a formal complaint against Millar.

"It came from someone representing a company na mayroong (which had) receivables from HUDCC," Panelo told reporters in Malacanang .

"So much millions. Eh hindi yata nako-kolekta. According to that sworn statement, hinihingan siya (company official) para ma-release. Twice inulit sa kanya," he added.

[Translation: So much millions, which I think were not collected. According to that sworn statement, the official was asked for money in order for the receivables to be released. It happened twice.]

Panelo said the company official refused to give in to Millar's alleged demands, and went on to file a formal complaint.

Duterte, in a speech Thursday, confirmed he signed a dismissal order for Millar over allegations of corruption.

For his part, Millar said the incident was a clear "demolition job" of the government.

"It is an obvious demolition job, in protecting the interest of the government, I have annoyed and crossed some personalities," he said.

"It is the government's loss not mine. I urge the government to dig deeper and investigate the persons behind the demolition job."

Millar was appointed HUDCC secretary-general by Duterte in September 2017. He is also the secretariat head of Task Force Bangon Marawi, which is in charge of the rehabilitation of the city.
Barclays, a British multinational investment bank and financial services company, has appointed Jean-Damien Marie as the new head of investments (Private Bank & Overseas Services) for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.



With over 20 years experience in capital markets, asset and wealth management business development and portfolio construction for large asset owners, Jean-Damien brings deep private banking and investment expertise to the team to support the delivery of the high-growth strategy for Private Bank & Overseas Services across the region.



He will be responsible for the development and positioning of Barclays as a best-in-class advisory and discretionary manager and as a leading sales, trading and transactional idea provider in EMEA and will be based in Geneva, said a statement from the bank.



Welcoming him into the fold, Jean-Christophe Gerard, the head of investments, Private Bank & Overseas Services at Barclays said: "Jean-Damiens appointment significantly advances our plans to strengthen our capabilities. He will play an important role in helping us originate tailored investment solutions that are relevant for our clients."



Barclays, he stated, continues to build its investment capabilities in Private Bank & Overseas Services through a focused programme of key hires.



"Recent hires include Ken Sze as the head of funds and ETFs, and Shenal Kakad as the new head of strategic solutions group (SSG) private markets," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
SOUTH COVENTRY  The Owen J. Roberts School District will form a sleep health task force to help move forward ideas considered during two recent public forums, including the possibility of changing to later school start times.

The task force will be charged with, among other things, arranging for a sleep expert to speak to the community, organizing focus groups, and communicating sleep concerns to parents and students.

Ultimately, the task force will develop options for the school board for addressing adolescent sleep health, with a focus on schedule changes and possibly changing to later school start times.

The decision to create a sleep health task force was made during a recent school board pupil services committee meeting that followed two public forums held earlier this month.

Committee Chairperson Leslie Proffitt said the long list of action items devised during the forums would best be addressed by a task force.

There are a lot of action items, Proffitt said. We need a committee to spearhead this.

She asked administrators to begin the process of setting up a task force.

The task force will likely begin meeting early in the new year, according to Director of Pupil Services Richard Marchini.

The committee will be comprised of representatives of various stakeholders, including teachers, parents, administrators, support staff and community members.

The issue of sleep health is not a new one for the district. The school board has been grappling for several years with concerns that early start times in the high school and middle school could lead to sleep deprivation in teens.

Parents Kathy DiMarino and Cheryl Hertzog have both been fighting for later school start times, pointing to statistics that link inadequate sleep in adolescents to depression, anxiety and other health problems.

They regularly attend board meetings, voicing concerns about early school start times, pleading the board to consider changing start times at the high school and middle school from 7:30 a.m. to no earlier than 8:30 a.m. That suggestion is based on an American Academy of Pediatrics 2014 recommendation that calls for secondary schools to open no earlier than 8:30 a.m. to avoid sleep deprivation in adolescents.

In response to those concerns, the district held two public forums earlier this month, seeking community input. The forums provided a list of action steps to address concerns over adolescent sleep health.

Those included: communicating a clear message to parents and students that the board and administration value sleep health; arranging for experts to provide presentations on the health benefits of adequate sleep in teens; and gathering feedback from the community about sleep health and school start times.

While experts on sleep health recommend later school start times, moving to a later starting bell by an hour, or even a half hour, is not a cheap fix. The transportation costs associated with changing to a later start time district wide would total $4 million each year.

Less costly would be switching high school and middle schools to the 8:30 a.m. start time, and having elementary students begin at 7:30 a.m. But even that would come with a yearly additional price tag of $1 million.

Last year, the board decided against changing start times, and instead added more online and hybrid courses at the high school aimed at allowing students to tailor their schedules to begin school later if desired. The district has also incorporated sleep hygiene into the health curriculum at all levels.

The struggle to balance early start times with adolescent sleep needs is hardly unique to the OJR School District. Across the state, districts have been experimenting with later start times to address health concerns.

Last year, Unionville-Chadds Ford School District moved to later start times, and recently Phoenixville Area School District has been considering doing so as well. And, in September, the Pennsylvania Legislature adopted SR417, a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee to conduct a study on secondary school start times.

The OJR task force will help the district delve more deeply into issues related to adolescent sleep health and explore options for addressing challenges to sleep health.

But board member Heather McCreary expressed frustration that the board had not done more in past years.

This is the fourth year that weve been talking about this. Other schools are actively looking into it, McCreary said. Are we committed to actually doing something?

The pupil services committee agreed that establishing a sleep health task force would help the district determine the best way to move forward.
The Big 5, the largest construction event in the Middle East, opened today (November 26) in Dubai, featuring five co-located events and high-level summits besides more than 100 workshops, a Start-up City and launch of thousands of construction products from across the globe.



The 39th edition of expo was officially opened by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance and Industry of the UAE, at the Dubai World Trade Centre and runs until November 29.



This year, five exhibitions run as part of The Big 5, creating one mega event for the entire construction life-cycle: HVAC R Expo  the new event dedicated to the HVAC R industry; The Big 5 Solar  bringing solar solutions for construction; the Urban Design & Landscaping Expo (UDLE) - the regions only event focused on landscaping, infrastructure and urban development; The Big 5 Heavy  the leading event dedicated to infrastructure and heavy construction in the Middle East; and Middle East Concrete(MEC)  the regions largest event dedicated to concrete.



Over 2,500 global exhibiting companies and more than 30 official country pavilions are displaying the latest building solutions and innovative products at the event.



The broad international participation, which is expected to cater to the needs of the regional construction industry, demonstrates a growing interest in the expanding GCC market.



According to The Big 5s intelligence partner, BNC Network, over 23,000 construction projects are currently active in the GCC, and worth more than $2.3 trillion.



The urban construction sector has the highest number of projects (18,000), with the most significant segment coming from residential, commercial and hospitality developments.



With the sector having expanded by four per cent in terms of value and 15 per cent in terms of total active projects in the first half of 2018, the outlook for the GCC construction industry remains positive.



On its opening day, The Big 5 2018 introduced two new features that aim to advance the construction sector by embracing innovation and technology: the brand new Live Innovation Zone, hosting a selection of the most innovative products that are shaking up the construction industry today, and The Big 5s Start-Up City, presenting the next construction tech disruptors.



The event also hosted the first FutureTech Construction Summit themed Empowering Innovation in the Construction Ecosystem. Speakers from Virgin Hyperloop One, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, Faithful+Gould, ASGC, Aecom, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority, Meraas and Mont Hill presented some of the latest and most promising technologies, which will help the construction industry achieve higher productivity, greater sustainability and enhanced affordability.



Addressing the audience at the Futuretech Construction Summit, Josine Heijmans, the portfolio director at dmg events, said: "In a world where innovation and technology are more and more crucial to remain competitive, the construction sector is still widely considered a late technology adopter. Yet, technology has an enormous potential within the sector."



"From robotics and artificial intelligence to 3D printing, from virtual reality to smart building and IT solutions, a variety of tech innovations have the power to shake up the construction industry today, to improve its productivity, and increase its sustainability and affordability," she noted.



Innovation and technology are considered key elements also to realising the UAE Vision 2021. It is therefore of essence for the regional construction sector to embrace innovation and the vast development opportunities offered by technological innovations, she added.



The opening day of the international building and construction show also saw the launch of a new event part of The Big 5 dedicated to the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC R) industry: the HVAC R Expo.



As the HVAC R market in the UAE is expected to reach a value of $1.5 billion by 2019, the launch of the HVAC R Expo promises to help the construction industry move toward a greener and more sustainable future, said the organisers.



Supported by leading associations Ashrae Falcon Chapter, Ahri, BSRIA and Rehva, the event hosts more than 200 exhibitors from around the globe, including major players like Zamil Industrial, Trox, Coolex, Fawaz, SKM Air Conditioning, Finpower, Khansaheb and Technalco.



Heijmans said: "We are extremely glad and proud of the huge support we are receiving from the HVAC R industry at a regional and a global level for the launch of the expo."



"We are also extremely proud to be promoting best practices in the region while providing a vital platform for industry professionals to do business, network, learn and source innovative, energy efficient products," she added.



Dr Omar Abdelaziz, Ashrae Global Training Center Instructor, said: "HVAC R Expo brings a much-needed exposure of the state-of-the-art to the GCC HVAC R industry. It provides an opportunity to learn about the newest commercial HVAC product offering for the GCC market with a special emphasis on hot climate conditions, while offering free-learning."



Indeed, 20 CPD (continuing professional development) certified workshops run alongside the exhibition. The complimentary HVAC R Talks are delivered by some of the most prominent industry names and decision makers, the likes of Faisal Rashid, director Demand Side Management at Supreme Council of Energy, and Chris Muller, Technical Director of Purafil.



A wide education agenda is back this year at The Big 5. The popular CPD-certified and free-to-attend workshops run in four dedicated theatres throughout the four days of the event as BIM Talks, Architecture Talks, Project Management Talks and Design Talks.



Tomorrow (November 27) will be a big day for The Big 5 Solar as it host the Global Solar Leaders Summit under the Patronage of the Ministry of Energy & Industry, UAE. Following the topical theme Solar Solutions for Construction, the summit will feature the GSLS Award Ceremony to celebrate achievements towards a more sustainable and efficient footprint through solar solutions.



The Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai (RTA) in partnership with British Standards Institution (BSI) will award BIM standard certification to major clients at the RTA Innovation in BIM Summit, held at The Big 5 Heavy. The summit will focus on pushing forward the adoption of BIM technology in the UAE.



The following day (November 28) The Big 5 will launch its first Women in Construction Seminar & Awards in association with Mott MacDonald. Awards for Women in Leadership, and Next Generation Woman of the Year will be announced at the end of the Seminar.



The Urban Design & Landscaping Expo will host the Urban Design & Landscaping Summit, themed Promoting greener, healthier and more sustainable built environments with best practices in urban design and landscaping. The Summit will also feature the Product Innovation Award promoting commercial potential, creativity and innovation in urban design and landscaping.



In partnership with Dubai South Business Park, The Big 5s How to do Business in the UAE Seminar will provide business intelligence to exhibitors and visitors interested in navigating the burgeoning UAE construction market, hosting speakers from Expo 2020 Dubai and Dubai Customs among others.



The Start-up City will feature The Big 5 Pitch Competition: selected start-ups in the construction industry will compete to win the award from The Big 5 as most innovative Start-Up for 2018.



Organised by dmg events, The Big 5 2018 is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm daily, from November 26 to 29 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.



The Big 5 2018 is supported by Turkey (Platinum sponsor), Saudi Exports (Platinum sponsor), Arabian Extrusions (Aluminium Extrusions Partner), Al Bawani (Gold Sponsor), Protenders (Gold Sponsor), Khansaheb Industries (Ducting Solutions Partner), Naturelmar (Marble Sponsor), SKM (HVAC R Founding Partner), Fawaz (HVAC R Founding Partner), Finpower (Air-Conditioning Partner), and Abu Dhabi Ports (Kizad) (Construction City Partner).-TradeArabia News Service
Like millions of others who voted Leave, I have agonised over the deal signed yesterday governing the UKs withdrawal from the European Union and our future relations.

There is much wrong with it. The provision that sticks most in my craw is the EUs ability to keep this country in the Customs Union, potentially indefinitely, unless we come to what it regards as a satisfactory solution to the problem of the Northern Irish border.

And then I ask myself why on earth we should hand over 39 billion to the EU  roughly equivalent to our annual defence budget  before we have agreed even the outlines of a trade deal. It seems to offend against the elementary principles of negotiation.

Prime Minister Theresa May (pictured on her way to Brussels) has published an impassioned letter in which she promises to campaign with her 'heart and soul' to persuade MPs to back for

What was signed yesterday was only the build-up to the match. The real drama is about to begin.

When trade talks kick off, we will find that individual EU countries push their own commercial interests.

The French, Dutch, Irish and others will demand fishing rights in our territorial waters  indeed, President Macron of France outrageously did so yesterday. The Spanish will insist on shared sovereignty over Gibraltar. God knows what other special interests will be invoked by EU nations.

Theresa Mays apparent last-minute concession over Gibraltar was largely beside the point because Spain, like any EU country, will be able to veto a trade deal if it doesnt like any aspect of it.

Whereas the agreement reached yesterday did not require the endorsement of all 27 EU states, a trade deal that takes two, three or even four years will have to be approved by every single member state.

I dont know about you, but I am exhausted before this drawn-out and inevitably fractious process has even begun. Those of us feeling fed up with Brexit should be aware that, to paraphrase Churchill, this is only the end of the beginning.

Theresa May leaves after a press conference following a special meeting of the European Council to endorse the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement

So there are good reasons for being very far from euphoric about the deal struck in Brussels, and there is no cause at all to crack open the champagne and drink a toast to Jean-Claude Juncker.

Yet the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this agreement is the best we can get. And if it falls short of what many of us dreamed of, it does still offer much of what Leavers wanted.

We will have sway over our own borders  that is certain. Britain will regain control of most of her laws, though not all since the European Court of Justice will regrettably still have a limited role. Sooner or later we should be able to forge our own trade deals.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker welcomes Theresa May in Brussels last night ahead of Sunday's crunch summit on the Brexit deal

Most important of all, we will be out of the European Union. Once that momentous step has been taken, our relationship with it will evolve in ways Brussels cannot dictate. This will be a long game.

Better out than in, is my mantra. Better accept what seems unpalatable now in the knowledge it may be watered down or soon appear irrelevant. The greatest prize of all  to be outside a fundamentally undemocratic emerging super-state  is within our grasp.

But not guaranteed. For it seems self-evident that unless hardline Tory Brexiteers change their tune, the United Kingdom will in all probability never leave the EU. Those who most dislike rule from Brussels seem likely to perpetuate it.

If that sounds outlandish, let me explain how it could come to pass. What are the alternatives to Theresa Mays compromise? Whatever is claimed, no deal is no longer one of them because there is a huge majority against it in the House of Commons.

In any case, scant preparations for it have been made, and even some of the most passionate Brexiteers no longer say it is their preferred option. Almost no one wants to take the risk. It isnt going to happen.

What about a better deal? This seems unlikely, too, given the little time remaining before Britain leaves the EU, and the stated refusal of Brussels to go back to the drawing board. I dont say it is inconceivable, but its barely on the cards.

No: the only indisputable alternative to Mrs Mays package is that we dont leave the EU. I fear that, unless the Tory Brexiteers back down, this is exactly what will happen.

Imagine the Prime Minister presents her deal to the Commons on December 12 or thereabouts. Imagine she is defeated. Maybe she will try again. Assume she is defeated again. What will happen then?

In the chaos that ensued, there would be a concerted and ever louder call for a second referendum  or Peoples Vote as it is misleadingly described, as though we havent already had one.

Prime Minister Theresa May gives a press conference at the end of the European Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium

In the turbulence that would inevitably follow the defeat of Mrs May, the demand for a second referendum would carry some conviction. What else could be done in the circumstances of the political impasse I am imagining?

I admire Jacob Rees-Mogg and some of his allies. They are idealists. But they do not deal with the world as it is. Jacob should take a look at George Eliots magnificent novel Middlemarch, set just before the 1832 Great Reform Act.

One character, Arthur Brooke, passionately wants to extend the franchise, but in overstating his case and pushing too quickly for too much  and, it must be said, in presenting himself to voters as something of a buffoon  he undermines his cause.

Arent some of the Brexiteers a bit like that? In pursuit of unrealisable perfection, they are in danger of overreaching themselves, and of helping to bring about the very state of affairs  our staying in the EU  they least want.

Of course I cant be sure that a vote to remain would be the inevitable consequence of a second referendum. But given that more Leavers than Remainers are likely to have died since the June 2016 vote, and that there has been a slight shift in public sentiment against Brexit, it seems a probable outcome.

Moreover, it is one which Labour is increasingly trying to engineer. It has emerged that the Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, held secret talks with the Peoples Vote campaign last week.

Meanwhile, former Blairite minister and arch-Remainer Peter Mandelson has been throwing verbal bouquets towards Seumas Milne, Jeremy Corbyns Marxist spin doctor. As for the egregious Tony Blair, he is seldom off the airwaves proselytising for a second referendum.

In other words, there are unmistakable signs that, despite hating one another, Blairites and Corbynistas are making common cause, so that a temporarily united Labour Party will make a powerful case for a Peoples Vote if Mrs May is defeated in the Commons.

Ive no doubt a second referendum which reversed the democratically expressed decision of June 2016 would be a social disaster. It would leave many millions of people with a justifiable sense of grievance, even outrage.

And if we slunk back into the EU, dont imagine we would be given the same opt-outs and reduced budget contribution we previously enjoyed. We would be made to pay in more ways than one. It would be a national humiliation.

But this is where we are heading unless the Tory Brexiteers come to their senses and accept this deal to leave the EU and forge an independent future. Flawed it certainly is, but only a few years ago it would have been beyond their wildest dreams.
No wonder Jacob Rees-Moggs European Research Group (ERG) made such a hash of trying to topple Theresa May.

The group failed miserably to secure the support of 48 MPs, 15 per cent of the parliamentary party, to trigger a no-confidence vote against the PM.

At the end of last week Rees-Mogg, the chairman of the ERG, was reduced to the sorry spectacle of making a public plea for MPs to come forward.

He said: I think it is now or the Prime Minister will lead the Conservatives into the next election.

At the end of last week Rees-Mogg, the chairman of the ERG, was reduced to the sorry spectacle of making a public plea for MPs to come forward

Former Cabinet minister John Redwood, a leading member of the ERG, has revealed why there has been no co-ordinated action against the PM.

Redwood, in his blog, said: We all agree that the draft Withdrawal Agreement is unacceptable, and as far as I know all will vote against it if it reaches the Commons as draft legislation. But the ERG as a group does not have a view on the future of the PM.

He said the ERG had only one formal discussion about Mrs May. Our aim as a group is to concentrate on the issues around withdrawal and set out a clear path on the ones where the group has something important to say. The future of Mrs May is not within our normal remit.

Rees-Mogg take note.

Brag loses rag with Dave

Veteran Labour luvvie Lord Bragg has let rip at David Cameron over Brexit. Hes a smarmy PR man who ran a lousy campaign then ran away. Weve never heard a pip or squeak from him, he didnt go on the Remain march, he didnt go on anything. He could have saved his name by leading the Remain minority, Bragg told political magazine House, with characteristic Cumbrian bluntness.

Veteran Labour luvvie Lord Bragg has let rip at David Cameron over Brexit: Hes a smarmy PR man who ran a lousy campaign then ran away'

Don't back on Barclay, chaps

One Tory pressure group that is calling for Theresa May to go is Conservative Voice. It was launched in Westminster in 2012 by two future Brexit Secretaries, David Davis and Dominic Raab, who were then backbenchers.

Liam Fox, now the Secretary of State for International Trade who is a friend of Mays, was also backing the group which was set up to encourage David Cameron, then the PM, to adopt more traditional Tory policies such as tax cuts.

Another MP at the launch was the then obscure Tory MP for North East Cambridgeshire, Steve Barclay. This month, he was the surprise choice to be Mays third Brexit Secretary.

Will he make it a hat-trick and quit, too?

Although Theresa May feels she is fighting a war on all fronts, she is unlikely to take up former Labour MP Austin Mitchells suggestion on where to finalise the Brexit deal.

Referring to the place where the World War I armistice was signed, and where Hitler got his revenge in 1940, Mitchell mischievously tweets: Will the British surrender document be signed in the railway carriage in Compiegne?

Loyalist Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, is delighted that last weeks leadership challenge to Mrs May crumbled.

I think that mercifully we have reached #PeakMogg #ThereisaGod, he tweeted.

His followers, who misread the comment as #TheresaGod, feared the grandee was taking loyalty too far.

Another win for Corbyn 'cabal'

Little noticed recently was Angela Smith, a Labour MP who is no fan of Corbyn, losing a local party no-confidence vote.

Smith described the 27-20 result as a victory for a cabal of hard-Left members.

The MP for Penistone and Stockbridge in Yorkshire, who has a majority of only 1,322 over the Tories, said: Given the country is facing its biggest crisis since Suez, one would have thought their attention would be better focused on the huge decision facing the nation.

Smith, not forgiven by local members for backing a no-confidence motion in Corbyn in 2016, is the fifth Labour MP to lose a confidence motion at the hands of the hard Left.
Theresa May would be mustard in the Birdman of Bognor competition. Not entirely sane people gallop down Bognor Regis pier, flapping their arms while wearing a home-designed apparatus they think can see them to dry land.

Will it fly? Just you watch me! cry the birdmen as they leap off the pier, limbs spinning.

One second. Two seconds. Splosh.

For the third time in ten days her ladyship told MPs her EU withdrawal agreement is a corker.

For the third time in ten days her ladyship told MPs her EU withdrawal agreement is a corker

For the third time the House looked at her aghast, agape. Baffled by her optimism.

They disliked the plan  the biggest problem was the Northern Ireland backstop  and they were amazed she was persisting with it.

Tories shook their heads or (Owen Paterson) held wide their hands in you what? gestures when they heard her jargon-thicket answers.

There was nothing personal in their attitude. They conceded she had tried her best. They were as kind as they could be. But sorry, Theresa, the deal ponged. To put that in Continental terms, it was ein Stinker, basura, malodorant, puzzolente.

Some Labour MPs laughed at Mrs May. Others expressed head- shaking sympathy for her personal predicament. Scots Nats, as is their way, pointed at her  jab, jab, jab, as though trying to catch ring-doughnuts on their fingers.

Tories shook their heads or (Owen Paterson) held wide their hands in you what? gestures when they heard her jargon-thicket answers

Mrs Mays Cabinet sat around, largely expressionless. So many dim goldfish. Karen Bradley, Northern Ireland Secretary, blinked and caught a few flies in her open mouth. Michael Gove, the Bespectacled Pimpernel, was once more absent.

Another who failed to attend was Sir John Hayes (Con, S Holland & the Deepings), a Brexiteer who has just been palmed a knighthood.

Can I assure May supporters that rebellion was slowly melting and that influential MPs were moving in her direction? Nope. The opposite was more evident.

Mark Francois (Con, Rayleigh & Wickford) did another of his long, vocative-case pleas to Mrs May to rethink her surrender to the EU

He was heckled by Vicky Ford (Con, Chelmsford) who was sitting directly beside him. He growled at her and she blushed

Perhaps the biggest moment was when the normally loyal Sir Michael Fallon (Con, Sevenoaks) asked is it really wise to trust our economy to a promise simply to use best endeavours? Sir Michael was accusing the PM of being naive. The moment after he put his question, the Chamber buzzed with gossip.

Dame Barry Sheerman (Lab, Huddersfield) hollered let us get back into the European Union. Widespread groans.

Mark Francois (Con, Rayleigh & Wickford) did another of his long, vocative-case pleas to Mrs May to rethink her surrender to the EU.

He was heckled by Vicky Ford (Con, Chelmsford) who was sitting directly beside him. He growled at her and she blushed.

Some Eurosceptic Tories had nodded when Jeremy Corbyn said it was a fallacy that this deal took back control from Europe, and when Hilary Benn (Lab, Leeds C) said she was merely giving the EU greater leverage for the future.

Remainerish Justine Greening (Con, Putney), who last year stood on a Tory manifesto that promised to respect the referendum result but has since done her best to undermine it, gave the House a homily on truth and honesty and fact in politics. Translation: Oi, how come Ambers back in Cabinet but Im not?

Mrs May thought she must be referring to Project Fear and Treasury forecasts and said it was interesting the extent to which economic forecasts can be described as facts

Mrs May thought she must be referring to Project Fear and Treasury forecasts and said it was interesting the extent to which economic forecasts can be described as facts.

Quite right, Prime Minister! Lets bear that scepticism in mind in the next few days when the Government will be using all sorts of Uri Gellered statistics to claim that no-deal would be a disaster.

The Chancellor was sitting directly beside Mrs May when she let rip this retort. He somehow managed to move not a muscle. Not an eyebrow hair. He must have been brilliant at musical statues when he was a tiddler.

Nicky Morgan (Con, Loughborough) came over all saintly and said politicians must abandon their entrenched positions and challenge themselves. Centrists always say that. Principles? Yuck. Nasty, nasty things.

At the underground entrance to Parliament, you pass one of those black silhouettes of the forgotten World War One soldier. They should maybe put one alongside, to the forgotten referendum voter.
Meghan's favourite colours to wear over the past 12 months have been beige and navy.

The Duchess of Sussex, 37, has worn both colours 17 times each since her engagement to Prince Harry was announced.

She has stuck predominantly to neutral colours since joining the royal family, with both black and white following in third and fourth place comes to her favourite shades.

Meanwhile, Meghan has also stepped out in an number of blue, khaki and ensembles, according to statistics compiled by the Telegraph's Stella Magazine.

Meghan has worn beige and navy the most in the past 12 months since her engagement to Prince Harry. She is pictured above wearing a trench coat by Martin Grant in Melbourne

The Duchess of Sussex has stuck predominantly to neutral colours since the royal wedding, wearing this Prada dress while attending a Young Leaders event in June with Prince Harry and the Queen

Meghan wore a oatmeal coat by Canadian brand Smythe for her engagement in Brixton in January (left), while wearing a neutral coat by Sentaler (right) at her first Christmas Day church service at Sandringham

The Duchess began wearing beige soon after her engagement with Prince Harry was announced last November, including the coat by Sentaler that she wore at her first Christmas Day church service at Sandringham.

She also donned a wore an oatmeal coat by Canadian brand Smythe for her engagement in Brixton in January.

Since the royal wedding in May, she has also worn neutral dresses at various official engagements, including at a Young Leaders event with the Queen.

Most recently, the Duchess wore two different beige trench coats, by Australian designer Martin Grant and Burberry designer, during her tour Down Under.

The Duchess of Sussex has also worn navy 17 times since her engagement to Prince Harry last year, including this navy dress by Australian designer Dion Lee in Melbourne

Meghan wore a navy coat by Givenchy at Princess Eugenie's wedding in October (left), and a navy coat by J.Crew for her visit to Birmingham in March (right)

The Duchess of Sussex wore eight dark blue outfits during her tour Down Under, including a bespoke jumper and pleated skirt by Givenchy in New Zealand (above)

Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL: 'I feel that Meghan knows what works for her and knows what colours work well for her and her skin tone.

'Beige is a neutral colour and goes with most colour palettes, styles and looks. This is a colour Meghan wears well and most likely ones that she feels comfortable in.

'It works well at most of the events that she attends as well as well as being adaptable to the changing seasons.'

Meanwhile, Meghan's penchant for navy became most obvious during her first major overseas trip, when she wore eight dark blue outfits over the course of the 16-day tour.

MEGHAN'S FAVOURITE COLOURS Beige - 17 times Navy - 17 times Black - 13 times White - 8 times Striped - 6 times Blue - 4 times Khaki - 4 times Red - 3 times Floral - 3 times Yellow - Once Source: Stella Magazine Advertisement

She opted for two navy ensembles for her final day of the tour in New Zealand, stepping out in a Stella McCartney dress and a bespoke jumper and pleated skirt by Givenchy.

Prior to the royal tour, Meghan also wore a navy coat by Givenchy to Princess Eugenie's wedding in May, as well as dark blue coats on two of her first engagements with Harry ahead of her wedding in May.

Experts previously told FEMAIL choice of navy on the royal tour may have been to help her communicate her 'professionalism', while remaining 'approachable'.

Karen Haller, the UKs leading Applied Colour Psychology Specialist, told FEMAIL: 'When it comes to the psychology of colour, blue relates to the mind.

'Darker blues relate to trust, logic and knowledge.

'It communicates duty and professionalism and given its a more approachable colour than black, maybe why she wore this hue often on her recent 16-day royal tour down under.'

She added: 'Subconsciously wearing darker blues might suggest that - this being her first major royal tour - she wanted to maintain her focus and concentration during her royal duties.'
Ever since Holly Willoughby made her debut in the Im A Celebrity jungle last week, donning a different pair of (admittedly rather glossy-looking) hiking boots every day, the nation has been in a performance footwear frenzy.

Hollys favoured Grenson Nanette boots sold out quicker than you can say bushtucker, and shes also worn styles by Russell & Bromley and Maje.

It is, I admit, a confusing state of affairs. The last time I had any serious dealings with a hiking boot, I was picking blobs of mud out of them at Girl Guides in the Peak District and regretting my slapdash application of Dubbin.

Putting the world of compass reading, OS maps and Kendal mint cake to one side for a moment, how did footwear with caterpillar treads and complicated metal eyelets stomp its way to the height of fashion?

Sarah Bailey shared advice for embracing this season's hiking boots trend as seen on Holly Willoughby (pictured)

We can probably thank Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, who marched down the catwalk earlier this year for Louis Vuitton mens collection (yes, menswear) in monogrammed macs, bare legs, and no-holds-barred hiking boots with metal toe-caps and two-tone laces.

Flanking creative director Kim Jones for his finale bow, the veteran supermodels looked sexy and cool, but also empowered  as befits these 21st-century feminist times.

Hiking boots were also worn at Copenhagen Fashion Week this year, on the feet of the influential Scandi fashion set.

They styled them with floaty dresses, tanned legs and insouciant cool. Ganni, the cult Danish brand, has a hiking boot (240, ganni.com) thats sure to have a waiting list as long as the Pennine Way. Get them while you can.

Purists might argue that the Ganni boot is more of a hiking boot/trainer hybrid. But this, I would suggest, is a good thing. These boots take advantage of the technical innovations in modern, light, breathable sportswear materials, making them so much easier to wear than the clodhoppers of my youth.

Back in my hardcore rambling days, I had to practise wearing my hiking boots around the house for ten minutes a night or my skin would be rubbed red raw.

There are some wild and decorative trainer/hiking hybrids in the stores at every price point. Uterques fabulous white version with sheepskin insert is irresistible (120, uterque.com) and just the right side of bling.

Sarah suggests pairing hiking boots with skinny jeans and a blazer or a print midi-dress in the same way as styling ankle boots. Pictured: Kate Moss walking Louis Vuitton's catwalk

There are also plenty of more traditional-looking hiking options in cosy autumn colours, from a mushroomy suede Nanette pair at Grenson (254, lewisyates.com), to conker brown leather at Penelope Chilvers (329, penelopechilvers.com).

Or, for those of you who prefer your boots with a more rock n roll vibe, Russell & Bromley has a terrific style with a chunky strip of chain-link along the eyelets (375, russellandbromley.co.uk).

Zaras mountain boot (89.99, zara.com)  part-hiker, part-biker  will also give any autumn look that requisite bit of stomp. But why are we so ready to embrace the born-again hiker now  and not just for country pursuits, but for every day? Its not just the Holly effect.

With more of us wearing trainers every day, we have adjusted to the comfort of a sporty shoe. In many ways, the new hiker is just a more grown-up version of the ugly trainer phenomenon.

What are the rules for wearing hiking boots? A little flash of bare ankle is flattering, weather-allowing

Avoid wearing with tights and shorter-length skirts (too festive elf)

Keep the rest of your look non-sporty, unless you are actually going hiking

Go for natural colours or basic black (and go easy on the bling!) Advertisement

So how do you wear your hiking boots without looking like John Noakes on a coast-to-coast trek? Rule number one is to keep the rest of your look non-sporty  so no Gore-Tex or dog-walking fleeces.

The trick is to wear hikers just as you have been styling your ankle boots for the past few seasons  with skinny jeans and a Prince of Wales blazer, say, or a print midi-dress and super-sized knit.

Given utility, and all things khaki or safari-style, is the big trend for spring/summer 2019, you can justify your hiking boot as a smart buy to see you through the coming months.

Sarah Bailey is executive brand editor for Porter.
A shocked bride-to-be got the surprise of her life after her partner popped the question in front of more than 200 people at a Fawlty Towers dinner show.

Australian Fawlty Towers fanatic Stephanie Koeleman, 29, thought she was going out for a 'simple and lovely' date with her boyfriend-of-six-years Kim Frankcombe, 32.

The two-hour dining experience at the Riversdale Estate in Hobart, Tasmania, featured a three-course-meal and a Fawlty Towers themed show with a special secret proposal combined.

'I had absolutely no idea he was planning to do that, although I did think he was acting a little odd,' she said.

'He was being really suspicious with his jacket, so I thought something might be up as it was a warm night.'

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Stephanie Koeleman, 29, thought she was going out for a 'simple and lovely' date with her boyfriend-of-six-years Kim Frankcombe, 32

But when she saw how many people were at their table she thought no more of it, as Stephanie said Kim isn't an 'over-the-top guy'.

Disability support worker Stephanie, originally from Melbourne, said they seldom go on dates, so it was an evening they were both looking forward to.

'To me, it was just going to be a lovely night out,' she said.

Kim, a senior financial modelling analyst, hatched the plan weeks earlier, wanting the experience to be a complete surprise for his lovely bride-to-be.

'I had absolutely no idea that he was planning to do that, although I did think he was acting a little odd,' she said

Disability support worker Stephanie, originally from Melbourne, said they seldom go on dates, so it was an evening they were both looking forward to

'Eventually, I thought the best way to surprise her would be if I could get it as part of a show we were already attending, so it would seem natural,' he said.

'I emailed them and asked if they might be able to work the proposal into the show. I was ecstatic when they said yes.'

Kim's original idea had been for the actors to look for a missing piece of jewellery, with the answer being Steph's soon-to-be engagement ring.

But the Fawlty Towers Dining Experience team came up with something much better and worked it into the entire show.

Kim's original idea had been for the actors to look for a missing piece of jewellery, with the answer being Steph's soon-to-be engagement ring

Stephanie explained that they made it seem like part of the show by doing it to all of the couples in the room.

'They said things like, "oh, how long have you been together? What? Three years and no ring? Pathetic!" to the other couples before targeting us,' Stephanie said.

'When Manwell came to us, and we said we'd been together six years.

'He yelled out, "It's okay, I found someone more pathetic than you!" to the other couples, before turning to Kim to say "It's okay sir, I show you how later".'

True to his word, in the second half of the show, Manwell picked on Kim once again and 'showed him how to propose' in a mock proposal. Little did Stephanie know, it was real.

Kim, a senior financial modelling analyst, hatched the plan weeks earlier, wanting the experience to be a complete surprise for his lovely bride-to-be

'They said things like, "oh, how long have you been together? What? Three years and no ring? Pathetic!" to the other couples before targeting us,' Stephanie said

Kim said he was nervous while all of this was happening as he kept worrying something would go wrong or that Stephanie would spot the ring.

He spent the whole day running through his head what he was going to say.

'When I got down on one knee and started talking to Manwell, I thought she would twig so I avoided looking at her while I did that part,' Kim said.

'But the second I took her hand and started talking, I could see in her face that it had all gone to plan, and she had no idea up until the second I started talking.

'It was a massive rush, and I'll be honestI can't really remember what happened in the moment. But I remember the massive relief when she nodded her head to say yes.'

The ring was inspired by the Wizard of Oz as Stephanie has a fascination with the movie

Mrs Fawlty then began to sing one of Steph's all-time favourite songs - 'Somewhere over the Rainbow'- while Kim presented her with a custom-made Wizard of Oz inspired ring.

Stephanie said that she had to keep looking back at the video to remember exactly what happened, but said it was 'an amazing moment'.

'It wasn't until Kim started speaking that I knew it was real, and not part of the show,' she said.

'You can actually pin-point my realization in the video, and see it on my face. It absolutely blew my mind'

'It wasn't until Kim started speaking that I knew it was real, and not part of the show,' she said

'It was so special, and such a grand gesture for Kim to go so far out of his comfort zone. For me, it really solidifies how much he loves me,' she added.

And despite proposing in such an extravagant way in front of a crowd of people, normally reserved Kim says he wasn't concerned.

'I don't think I have felt as much love for her as I did in that moment. I wasn't focused on the other people at all,' he said.

'I was only focused on Steph, and the room of people just kind of faded into the background.

'In saying that, it was an amazing moment to have a room full of people cheering when she said yes.'
For the second time in three years a $7 bottle of wine has been named as one of the best in Australia.

The Story Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017 beat 2,500 other wines to be crowned the best for under $20 at the Winestate Wine of the Year Awards in Adelaide.

A panel of expert judges made up of winemakers, wine scientists and Masters of Wine chose the winner after 12 months of blind tastings.

The bottle is sold exclusively at Liquorland, First Choice Liquor and Vintage Cellars.

For the second time in three years a $7 wine has been named as one of the best wines in Australia (stock image)

Winestate publisher and head of the judging panel Peter Simic said the wine, from Western Australia's famed Margaret River region, stood out for delivering on both quality and value.

'It was pretty close but this wine had the highest rating out of all the tastings at the lowest price, it really deserved the trophy,' he said.

'For the amazing value price of $7, plus high blind judging score, this should be everybody's everyday drinking wine!'.

Coles Acting Chief Executive Liquor and Hotels Cathi Scarce said the accolade was testament to the hard work of winemaker Alana Langworthy.

A panel of expert judges made up of winemakers, wine scientists and Masters of Wine chose the winner after 12 months of blind tastings

Alana is from Western Australian winery Nocturne Wines, who has made exclusive wines for Coles Liquor since 2012.

The Story Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc has vibrant tropical fruit aromas

'To have this recognition from some of the industry's top wine tasters is further evidence that we're getting it right by working with the best winemakers in Australia to deliver amazing quality wines at a great price,' Cathi said.

The Story Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017 is described by the tasting panel as having vibrant tropical fruit aromas, such as passionfruit.

There are also notes of lime and blossom, hints of herbal tea and fresh cut grass, and a zesty and a refreshing acid backbone that provides structure and length.

'Margaret River is famous for style, but it's not a region that people associate with value, so it's an absolute delight to be recognised for a wine that everybody in Australia can enjoy,' Alana said.

Coles Acting Chief Executive Liquor and Hotels Cathi Scarce said the accolade was testament to the hard work of winemaker Alana Langworthy (pictured)

'The strength of the region is that it is so diverse, which allows us to work with fruit from a range of microclimates which provide different flavours.

'The result is a multi-dimensional wine which has textural crunch and depth of flavour that can stand toe-to-toe with wines selling for three times the price.'

Alana says her family-owned winery had built a strong relationship with Coles Liquor over seven years of supplying exclusive wines.

'Making great value wine that is also recognised as being among the best in the country makes us really proud of the partnership with Coles, which has allowed us to evolve and grow our business,' she added.
Frances Loch (nee Abbott) has shared a footage of herself getting a fresh trim just weeks after shaving off all her luscious blonde hair.

The daughter of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was giggling as she let her bodybuilding husband Sam Loch use an electric razor on her scalp.

Taking to Instagram, the yoga instructor - who recently packed up and moved to the US with her husband - uploaded the short clip on her 'Story' of the buzz cut, which appeared to be taken in the comfort of their home.

The 26-year-old has been flaunting her new look on social media after ditching her long locks for a shaved head, with many praising her for the brave move.

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Frances Loch (nee Abbott) recently shaved off all her luscious blonde hair

Frances Loch (Nee Abbott) - who recently moved to the US with her bodybuilder husband Sam - uploaded the short clip on of the haircut being carried out in the comfort of their home

'THE BEST. No washing. No drying. No brushing. Just having the best time,' Frances said in one of her Instagram posts.

Her latest video comes just weeks after she shared a snap of her buzz cut.

In the candid black-and-white photograph, Frances was seen mid-laugh.

The drastic change follows a series of lifestyle alterations for the 26-year-old who has carved out a budding career in fitness since her father's time at the country's helm.

The daughter of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was giggling as she let her husband Sam Loch use an electric razor to give her a fresh trim

After a year of attention-grabbing antics, Frances Abbot shocked her Instagram followers after sharing a snap of her new buzz cut late last month

This interest later led to Frances taking full advantage of her newly-ripped physique by competing in several body building competitions across the country.

And the latest switch-up was met with applause from Instagram followers who labelled the move 'amazing' and 'empowered'.

'You're a great great woman,' wrote one user.

'Rocking it,' said another.

Another person commented: 'Beautiful woman.'

The bold haircut comes just days after Frances celebrated one year since meeting her now-husband, power-lifter and Olympic rower Sam.

The bold haircut comes just days after Frances celebrated one year since meeting her now-husband, power-lifter and Olympic rower Sam Loch

Earlier this year, the pair exchanged their vows for the second time in an intimate beach ceremony.

The couple were legally married at a registry on Valentine's Day but waited to celebrate with their nearest and dearest, including the former prime minister Tony Abbott, at Sydney's exclusive Palm Beach in April.

Standing barefoot on the sand, the bride looked chic in a white two-piece floral outfit while her 34-year-old groom rocked a Hawaiian shirt for the special occasion.

Keeping their big day more casual than traditionally formal, the pair proudly tied the knot in slides before they shared a loving kiss at the alter.

The couple were engaged just two weeks after meeting in October last year.

Frances' latest look switch-up was met with applause from Instagram followers who labelled the move 'amazing' and 'empowered'

'Two weeks was all it took to know that forever with you was a mighty fine idea,' the fitness devotee said of her shock engagement to lock last year

Previously speaking to Stellar Magazine, Frances said Loch was welcomed into the family despite concerns the young couple were moving too fast.

Frances first announced the whirlwind romance and subsequent engagement via Instagram with a series of couple snaps taken in a photobooth.

'Two weeks was all it took to know that forever with you was a mighty fine idea,' the fitness devotee said.

Her other half also confirmed the exciting news with a selfie of the pair captioned: 'With the soon to be Mrs Loch'.

Taking to Twitter at the time, former Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott congratulated the couple: 'Really thrilled at the news of Francie and Sam's engagement.

'We are very proud of her and the Abbotts are looking forward to welcoming Sam into the family.'
With the warm weather upon us, Australians are looking for inexpensive ways to cut back on electricity usage over summer.

And power bills can be costly, especially when you have a growing family living under your roof.

But by making some simple tweaks to your household, you can slash hundreds of dollars on your energy consumption.

Appearing on Channel Seven's breakfast program Sunrise, Canstar Blue editor Simon Downes revealed his clever tricks to saving money - and why cooking during 'off-peak' times can cut your electricity bill in half.

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With the warm weather upon us, families are looking to keep cool over summer (stock image)

'The way you cool your home this summer is going to determine whether you have a manageable energy bill or the dreaded shock energy bill,' he said.

Mr Downes explained how air conditioners are the main culprit that's driving up your energy usage over the summer season.

'If you can reduce your air conditioner usage from six hours down to three hours a day, that can translate to a saving of about $150 over the three months,' he said.

'Keep the air con usage in check, use it when you really need it and be sensible with the temperatures.'

He pointed out how the temperature setting you choose on your air conditioner can make a huge price difference to your energy bill.

'Set your air conditioner at 21 degrees, you can expect that to cost you 66 cents an hour in running cost. If you can increase the temperature to 25 degrees, that brings the cost down to about 46 cents an hour,' he revealed.

'So it's cost verses comfort. Just be conscious that every degree cooler that you set your air con, it is costing you more money.'

Mr Downes said another tip to saving money on your energy bill was giving your air conditioner a deep clean.

'It's in your interest to clean it as often as you can. Clean out the dust from the filters because the more efficiently your air conditioner's running, the less harder it has to work and the less it will cost you,' he said.

For laundry, Mr Downes suggested only using the dryer, which can cost around $1.20 per cycle, when it's an 'emergency' over the summer months (stock image)

Canstar Blue editor Simon Downes (pictured) revealed his clever tricks to saving money - and why cooking during 'off-peak' times can cut your electricity bill in half

He also revealed the simple ways to reduce your bill without costing a cent.

'It's simple yet effective ways. So closing the curtains, closing the blinds, closing the other doors around your house to make sure you're keeping cool air where you want it and where you need it,' Mr Downes said.

For laundry, Mr Downes suggested only using the dryer, which can cost around $1.20 per cycle, when it's an 'emergency' over the summer months.

For home cooks, Mr Downes said if people can cook during the 'off-peak times', they can cut their electricity bill in half.

'If you're on a time of use tariff, which means you're being charged really high prices between 4pm and 8pm generally speaking, you have to use your appliances at other times of day,' he said.

To save more money on your bill, Mr Downes suggested calling up your energy provider to enquire about the best electricity deal.
Shapoorji Pallonji (SP), one of Indias leading construction groups, said the work on its iconic luxury tower, Imperial Avenue, had been 40 per cent completed and was on schedule for handover by December next year.



Located in Downtown Dubai, the luxury residential project is being developed by the group's property unit, Shapoorji Pallonji International Property Developers (SPIPD). This is the companys flagship project in the UAE.



Construction of 28 floors has been completed in less than two years, demonstrating the companys long-term commitment to the UAE real estate market and to this landmark project valued at over Dh1.5 billion ($408 million).



"We are very pleased with the progress of Imperial Avenue and delighted to announce that we are currently on schedule for a timely completion in twelve months," remarked Cyrus Engineer, managing director at SP International Property Developers.



SPIPD prides itself on serving clients with transparency and honesty to meet contractual handover date. This confirms our commitment to our investors, he stated.



A flexible payment plan, that allows investors to pay a down payment of just 10 per cent, subsequent payments of 20 per cent of the property value during construction, and balance 70 per cent of the property value upon project completion, has resulted in a comfortable sales position for the company, he added.



Imperial Avenue, an exclusive collection of luxury homes in Downtown Dubai, consists of 424 apartments and five levels of parking.



Emphasising on larger living spaces, this premium residential project epitomises a luxurious lifestyle, offering plush one- to five-bedroom apartments, penthouses and podium level villas complete with lavish living rooms, designer kitchens, relaxing bathrooms and massive private decks.



One of Indias oldest family business conglomerates, Shapoorji Pallonji boasts a rich legacy of more than 151 years constructing world-renowned landmarks including the tallest residential building in India, the largest mall in India, the largest cement clinker plant in Asia, nuclear research establishments, airports, factories and stadiums.



The property market in the UAE is seeing early signs of resurgence leading to renewed optimism and we at SPIPD have been closely monitoring this trend, remarked Cyrus.



"We have developed this payment method to help investors by offering them flexibility, reducing the burden borne at an earlier stage, and we are confident that this is an opportune time to invest in a project like Imperial Avenue that offers new levels of refinement for consumers in the country," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A mother whose husband was languishing in a coma just two days before they were due to have their first baby scan says having him by her side at their daughter's birth was the 'best Christmas gift ever'.

Claire Lambert, 37, from Lancaster, was left devastated when her husband David was left in intensive care following a horrific 120mph motorbike crash which left his back, right shoulder, all of his right ribs and half his left broken.

Claire, who was in the first trimester of her second pregnancy when the crash happened, was terrified David would never meet their daughter and that she and their son Christopher, six, would have to grow up without a father.

Forced to attend the first scan alone in June 2017, Claire later visited unconscious David in hospital, whispering in his ear: 'You've got to wake up, we have a baby coming'.

Despite Claire's fears, the Merchant Navy shift superintendent made a remarkable recovery and, after eight hours in surgery and 10 days in an induced coma, lived to see his daughter, Bethany, being born a week before Christmas last year.

Claire Lambert, 37, from Lancaster, was in her first trimester of pregnancy when husband David was left in a coma after a bike accident, and was terrified she would never meet their second child Bethany (seen)

Stay-at-home mother Claire, who released a moving video of their son Christopher reacting to the news he was getting a little brother or sister - made while David, 37, was in a coma, said: 'Bethany's arrival was the best Christmas present we could ever have asked for.

'Just watching David hold her for the first time, when she was born, was incredible. He was looking at her in total amazement, he was so happy he made it to that moment.'

The couple's rollercoaster journey began on June 13, 2017, when, still keeping the news that Claire was 12 weeks pregnant to themselves, she had dropped Christopher at school and was doing household chores, while David enjoyed a motorbike track day at Cheshire's Oulton Park.

But at 12.30pm that day, a phone call brought her world crashing down.

Claire said: 'The man at the other end asked if I was David's wife and then said he'd had an accident and had been taken by air ambulance to the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

David was left in intensive care following a horrific 120mph motorbike crash which left his back, right shoulder, all of his right ribs and half his left broken

'I had no idea how he was. At that point, I hoped he would be sat up in bed when I got there and feeling a bit embarrassed, but okay.'

Calling David's parents Richard and Dympna Lambert, they made the two hour trip to the hospital by car together, while her parents, Sandra and Harry Gregson collected Christopher from school.

Swiftly ushered into a hospital relatives' room, they were told David had a multitude of broken bones, as well as a collapsed right lung and a punctured left.

Claire recalled: 'Doctors said he'd come off his bike at a high speed and was in an induced coma, not aware of anything.

'I was terrified that he might be paralysed, or that he might never wake up to meet the baby only he and I knew about.

David, 37, made a miraculous recovery and witnessed the birth of their daughter Bethany last December, alongside their son Christopher, six

'When I saw him in intensive care, I broke down. It didn't look like him at all.

'I held his hand and whispered in his ear, 'You've got to wake up, we have a baby coming.'

'That's when I realised how serious it was. The doctors told us then that the next 48 hours were crucial to see what might happen to David.'

At this point, Claire told Christopher that David had hurt his back, but he could not visit, as he was in intensive care.

In the meantime, told he would have surgery on his back if he was well enough, she faced an agonising wait.

Forced to attend the first scan alone in June 2017, Claire later visited unconscious David in hospital, whispering in his ear: 'You've got to wake up, we have a baby coming.'

Then, on June 15, just two days after the devastating crash, having told her mum, Sandra, about the baby, she went with her daughter to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for her first scan.

It was a bittersweet experience without David, who was having major surgery to insert metal screws into his vertebrae.

She continued: 'It was strange to think David went down for surgery at 10am, while I was seeing our baby for the first time.

'He should have been there with me.'

A recovered David and son Christopher are seen enjoying a day out hiking following his terrible accident

Life started looking more positive when she heard David's operation had been a success, even though he was in a coma for a total of 10 days, just flinching and blinking occasionally.

But Claire admits that she will never forget how on June 24, he woke up smiling.

'It was an incredible moment, knowing he was conscious and one step closer to being okay,' she said.

'The first thing I did was show him the scan picture, telling him, 'Our baby's okay and you're okay.' It was amazing.'

After that, David went from strength to strength, even managing to stand on the day he came out of a coma.

'Just watching David hold her for the first time, when she was born, was incredible. He was looking at her in total amazement, he was so happy he made it to that moment', Claire said of the moment she gave birth with her husband by her side

Kept in hospital until July 12, to his family's delight, on August 18, he went with Claire and Christopher to the 20 week scan, where they discovered they were having a girl.

'David had always wanted a daughter, so it was the most perfect news after everything he had been through,' Claire said.

'Seeing our little girl on the ultrasound screen was incredible, especially when I was so scared David might not ever meet his child.'

But Claire remains positive that, not due until January 2, 2018, Bethany must have known how eager they all were to meet her, as arrived early, on December 18, weighing 8lb 5oz, at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

David with newborn Bethany- Claire has released a moving video of their son Christopher reacting to the news he was getting a little brother or sister

Released after a week of monitoring on December 25, she was the best Christmas gift the family could have wished for.

'We couldn't have dreamed of a better day to bring our newborn baby home,' said Claire.

The ecstatic couple called their new daughter Bethany, and say that when they took her home at 4pm, they felt like all their Christmases had come at once.

'To have all four of us together, under one roof, was the best feeling ever,' said Claire

And David, who is still having physiotherapy and has not yet returned to work, is especially grateful to the North West Air Ambulance Charity, who airlifted him to hospital.

David and Claire with Christopher just before Bethany was born- the family celebrated their first Christmas together last year

Agreeing, Claire said: 'Without the North West Air Ambulance Charity, David would not have got to hospital and he would have died on the edge of that track.

'It took 15 minutes from getting him on the back of the helicopter to getting into accident and emergency.

'It is only because of them that he was there to bring Bethany home on Christmas Day.

'We will always be indebted to them, so now we are supporting the North West Air Ambulance Charity in any way we can.'

David, who has no memory of the crash or being in hospital, cannot thank the service enough too.

He said: 'I still struggle with my short-term memory and am still recovering mentally and physically from everything I've been through.

'There is no question - I would not have survived without the North West Air Ambulance Charity, and I will be eternally grateful to them.

'Eventually having everyone home for Christmas Day was just so perfect and we love Bethany so much.'

The family are spearheading the charity's Christmas campaign, which features a letter from Christopher thanking supporters for keeping David alive.
A 14-year-old lioness has become the breakout star of David Attenborough's Dynasties following a nail-biting scene that saw her protect her newborn cubs from a herd of angry buffalo.

Sunday night's episode of the landmark BBC One series saw single mother Charm successfully drive away angry water buffalo intent on killing her two-week old babies as they fought for survival in the African Savanna.

Viewers were in awe of the 'fierce' beast with one quipping that she was 'the leader we need in these shambolic political times'.

Twitter user Stephen Phillips wrote: 'Charm is an absolute beast taking a buffalo down on her own.'

Sunday night's installment of Dynasties followed the Marsh Pride of Kenya's Maasai Mara, with Charm (pictured) and cousin Sienna left to fend for themselves after they were abandoned by all of the adult males. The two females had eight youngsters in their care

And Ellie Feehan tweeted: 'I've given it a lot of thought and I really think Charm is the leader we need in these shambolic political times.

'If anyone can bring us back from the Brexit brink, it's a lioness who can scare off a whole herd of buffalo from behind a log #charm4primeminister'.

Others were horrified to learn that the buffalo, who are herbivores, would go after the cubs. One wrote: 'Let it be known [that] buffalo are scumbags'.

Buffalo often kill lion cubs in a bid to weaken their predators, and the nail-biting scene saw a large hard approach as the two cubs cowered under a fallen tree in the Musiara Marsh oxbow, in Kenya's Masai Mara.

Awe-inspiring: Viewers were in awe of the 'fierce' lioness, named Charm, with one fan quipping that she was 'the leader we need in these shambolic political times' on social media

Charm was seen shielding her young with her body and scaring the buffalo off after a tense stand-off, foiling their attempts to trample the cubs to death.

Sunday night's installment of Dynasties followed the Marsh Pride of Kenya's Masai Mara, who had been left to fend for themselves after being abandoned by all of the adult males.

Cameras followed two adult females - Charm and her cousin Sienna - as they battled to feed and protect their eight youngsters.

Single mother Charm drives away angry water buffalo intent on killing her two-week old babies in the fight for survival in the African Savannah, as seen on BBC One's Dynasties on Sunday

Brave: Charm is seen shielding her young with her body and eventually scaring the buffalo off after a tense stand-off (pictured), foiling their attempts to trample the cubs to death

The water buffalo approach Charm's den. Buffalo often kill lion cubs in a bid to weaken their predators, and the nail-biting scene showed a tense stand-off which was filmed in the Musiara Marsh oxbow, in Kenya's Masai Mara. Camera crew followed the pride over 18 months

Charm's newborn cubs are seen hiding under a fallen tree. Sunday night's installment of Dynasties followed the Marsh Pride of the Masai Mara, who were left to fend for themselves

'Get stuffed buffalo creeps!' Some fans were horrified to learn that the buffalo, who are herbivorous, would go after the cubs. One wrote: 'Let it be known [that] buffalo are scumbags'

Another scene saw one young male pursued by a pack of hungry hyenas, and viewers were left in tears at the sight of Charm's one-year-old son who became gravely ill after eating poisoned meat left by farmers as bait.

To protect livestock farmers in Africa sometimes use toxic meat where the lions graze, in a bid to kill them off.

Camerawoman Sophie Darlington said she and the rest of the crew  who filmed the lions for two years  were left 'absolutely devastated' by the poisoning, which affected most of the pride.

Film crew spent 18 months filming the Marsh Pride in Kenya.
Princess Tessy of Luxmebourg is continuing to put on a brave face amid her bitter divorce battle, sharing an empowering message about female strength in her latest Instagram post.

The mother-of-two shared a series of snaps from a Bvlgari party in London where she put on a striking display in one of the luxury brands iconic Serpenti necklaces, estimated to cost around 46K with diamond earrings.

And she shared an empowering message next to a close up shot of herself in black and white on Instagram, saying: 'Never underestimate the strength of a woman.'

The royal is currently in the process of fighting her estranged husband Prince Louis of Luxembourg over a financial settlement at London's High Court.

Princess Tessy of Luxmebourg, 33, posted a black and white snap of herself wearing Bvlgari jewels, telling her Instagram followers they should 'never underestimate the strength of a woman' amid her bitter divorce battle

The royal mother-of-two posed on a Vespa, wearing a little black dress accessorised with a 46K Bvlgari necklace

However, her troubles seemed to be far from her mind as she posed up a storm at the party, perching on a Vespa decorated with Christmas baubles.

The royal looked chic in a simple little black dress and carried one of Bvlgaris' gold Serpenti handbags.

Last month, Princess Tessy represented herself against a crack legal team as she fought over money with her estranged husband in a divorce trial.

Princess Tessy of Luxembourg had no help from solicitors or barristers during her battle with the country's Prince Louis at the High Court in central London .

Tessy seemed to be enjoying her evening out as she perched on a Vespa with chocolate heir Leander Cadbury (left) and a female friend

Princess Tessy (pictured, left, with Louis and their children Noah, left, and Gabriel) represented herself during divorce proceedings from her husband (right, the couple on their wedding day in 2006)

Prince Louis - whose full title is His Royal Highness, Prince Louis Xavier Marie Guillaume of Luxembourg, Prince of Nassau and Prince of Bourbon-Parma - had senior barrister James Ewins QC lead his legal team.

The princess - whose full title is Her Royal Highness, Princess Tessy of Luxembourg, Princess of Nassau and Princess of Bourbon-Parma - represented herself.

The couple's controversial marriage came to a bitter end just ten years after they married as love-struck teenagers.

Prince Louis renounced his succession rights to the throne in 2006, a month after marrying Tessy - who was not born of royal blood - but to a modest family in the small town of Niederkorn.

Their fairy tale romance captured hearts around the globe and sent shock waves through the royal family once again, when they announced they would divorce.

Prince Louis (pictured with the princess on their wedding day) sacrificed his claim to the throne when he married somebody not of royal descent

Princess Tessy of Luxembourg has enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle as part of the royal family but her friends have insisted she is not after money

From the beginning the couple presented the royals with a constitutional crisis.

Aged 19, Tessy Antony gave birth to their first son Gabriel but they pair, both 19, were not married, sparking a problem for the royals.

According to reports, the family were completely unaware of Tessy, until she fell pregnant.

At the time, Tessy was in the army having joined aged 18.

Louis was the third son of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, the head of one of Europe's richest royal families, and grew up in a palace.

Princess Tessy and her two sons aged 12 and 10 pictured on a sunshine holiday in Dubai. The boys' parents are locked in a battle over finances

Seven months after giving birth and providing the Grand Duke with his first grandchild - the couple got married.

Prince Louis and Tessy exchanged vows in September 2006 in a modest church wedding in Gilsdorf, with Tessy taking the last name De Nassau, the surname of the Grand Ducal family.

Aware of the they had created by having a child out of wedlock, Prince Louis renounced any claim to the title of Grand Duke, around one month later.

The couple had another son 10-year-old Prince Noah but were delivered the cruel news Tessy miscarried their third child, some time later.

Speaking in 2016, the Princess said she was devastated.

Princess Tessy , once Tessy Antony, was just 19 years old and came from a normal family when she married Prince Louis

She said: 'My divorce was definitely one of the most difficult situations I have ever faced.

'I experienced the same feelings and emotions when I miscarried my third child. I cried for years over these two situations.'

Outside court earlier last month, the princess would not say why she had not employed lawyers.

However, she proved herself to be an extremely intelligent woman fluent in French and German and English.

The couple - pictured with their sons - have been battling it out over divorce money in the High Court, London where it is believed Tessy now lives

In court, she addressed Mr Justice McDonald in English and summarised her case with a speech lasting the best part of an hour.

The Family Division trial lasted several days and the private hearing has limits on what can be reported.

Mr Justice McDonald is expected to make decisions on how money and assets should be split in the near future.

He said Prince Louis and Princess Tessy, both 32, could be named in media coverage of the case, but ruled to stop the reporting of financial and personal details.

The princess (pictured with her husband) has not revealed why she chose to represent herself throughout the trial

Princess Tessy (pictured with her sons and Prince Louis) elected to address the judge in English herself despite it not being her first language

Prince Louis is the third son of the Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. The princess is a former soldier, who now lives in London.

Mr Justice McDonald heard that the couple began a relationship in 2004, married in 2006 and had two children.

When married the couple had lived in the United States and in London. Their marriage broke down during the summer of 2016 and another judge granted a divorce decree - a decree nisi - in February 2017.

Despite being divorced Tessy may be able to keep her title of princess because she was given it in 2009 and it was only three years later, in 2012, the House Law which states a spouse will lose a title in the event of splitting was introduced.

It is not currently clear if it states on the decree which she was named princess, what will happen in the event of a divorce.
Holly Willoughby's stylist has revealed she's prepared a staggering 40 outfits for the presenter's first stint on I'm a Celebrity.

Angie Smith, who has been working with the star for two years, described her look as 'Jungle Jane meets Tank Girl at a rodeo' as she lifted the lid on the secrets behind the star's wardrobe.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Smith explained how the pair overcame the considerable 'sartorial challenge' of the humid and muddy filming location by preparing almost twice the 23 outfits required to see Holly through the series.

She told the newspaper: 'We wanted the look to be fun but practical. Holly has to walk across bridges and run down hills to camp, so heels are out. The approach is very different to Holly's This Morning wardrobe.'

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Holly Willougby's stylist has lifted the lid on the secrets behind her jungle wardrobe. Holly opted for a Sandro shirt, Maje skirt and Topshop boots in the jungle last week (pictured)

With the help of stylist Angie Smith, I'm a Celebrity star Holly wore clothing totalling almost 2,500 on last week's episode of I'm A Celebrity, thanks to mix of designer clothing (left); and on Saturday she wore a De La Vali dress teamed with Ganni boots (right)

And underpinning the challenges posed by the Aussie climate, she added: 'The weather is changeable and could be roasting one minute and raining the next. Also, throughout the course of a show the temperature rises.'

Mother-of-three Holly, 37, is standing in for Ant McPartlin for her first stint in the Australia jungle co-presenting alongside Declan Donnelly.

And the time difference - Australia is almost 12 hours ahead of the UK - means that Holly will often be shooting glamorous evening looks at 6.30am local time.

Smith, who always tucks in Holly's shirts in order to 'define' her silhouette, said she had opted for 'seasonless' clothes from brands including Sandro and All Saints at a mid-market price point when putting together the star's jungle wardrobe.

Holly in the jungle this weekend wearing a Rixo London dress, Topshop hiking boots and Kirstie le Marque jewellery. The time difference on set - Australia is almost 12 hours ahead of the UK - means that Holly will often be shooting glamorous evening looks at 6.30am local time

Holly wears an All Saints dress, Isabel Marant belt and Maje boots (left); and a Rag & Bone t-shirt, J.Crew jeans, Topshop boots and a Rixo London scarf (right). Holly is standing in for Ant McPartlin for her first stint in the Australia jungle co-presenting alongside Declan Donnelly

Last week the star wore Grenson lace-up hiking boots along with a top, skirt and belt from Harvey Nichols. Grenson confirmed Holly had helped send sales through the roof

And it seems their efforts are paying off, with Grenson footwear confirming that Holly's endorsement of their Nanette hiking boots on the show helped them shift 400 pairs and counting.

Last week, Holly broke with her high street style when she wore an outfit totalling almost 2,500 including a designer anorak.

Mother-of-three Holly, who has been known to wear pieces from the likes of Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins, wore top-to-toe designer, teaming her double denim ensemble with the 250 Grenson boots.

Her shirt, from trendy Parisian label Ba&sh, cost 165 while her Madewell skirt was a rather more purse-friendly 43.99.
Cyber Monday scammers are set to target parents looking for a deal on the must-have Fingerling toys, police say.

City of London Police said shoppers wanting to buy the popular interactive finger toys were targeted last year, and warned that the same is likely to happen again during this year's online sales.

Fingerlings are again among the most-wanted gifts this Christmas, following the explosion in the popularity of the puppets in 2017.

Shoppers have also been warned about deals that look 'too good to be true', particularly when it comes to Ugg boots and iPhones.

Scammers are set to target parents looking for a deal on the must-have Fingerling toys during Cyber Monday sales today (above), police say

Women aged 20 to 29 are most likely to fall victim to online fraud, according to the City of London Police, the Telegraph reported.

Meanwhile, Apple iPhones are also a major target for scammers - with nearly three quarters of fake phones bought last year being iPhone models.

Det Chief Supt Pete ODoherty told the newspaper: 'Unfortunately, at what is an expensive time of year for many, the internet has provided fraudsters with a platform to lure people in with the promise of cheap deals.

'To stop fraudsters in their tracks, be cautious of where and from whom youre buying, especially if it is technology at a reduced price.'

Police warned that Ugg boot deals could also potentially be 'too good to be true', as they are another item exploited by fraudsters

Apple iPhones are also a major target for scammers - with nearly three quarters of fake phones bought last year being iPhone models. Above is the iPhone X

The warning comes after the Take Five Campaign revealed earlier this year that only nine per cent of people can accurately spot scams online.

Meanwhile, Which? says that more than five million scams cost victims in excess of 9 billion each year.

Millions of shoppers are expected to bag more bargains online today, as spending over the Black Friday weekend is set to reach 7billion this year.

The British Retail Consortium said final sales over Black Friday and Cyber Monday will be more than last year, with shoppers expected so spend an average of 220 each.

More consumers are expected to take part in the sales this year - 62 per cent compared to 36 per cent in 2017.
A couple who live 'off-grid' with their three children have defended their unconventional lifestyle on This Morning - as viewers accused them of 'lazy parenting'.

Adele and Matt Allen, from Hove, East Sussex, returned to ITV's This Morning two years after their daughter Ostara, then one, urinated on the set of the daytime show.

They brought along their entire brood, including two-month-old daughter Kai Autumn, who Adele recently revealed she gave birth to in a water bath without pain relief.

The parents believe in an all-natural approach to bringing up their children - so much so they refuse modern medicine and traditional schooling, and seven-year-old-son Ulysses even chooses his own bed time.

Presenter Philip Schofield praised the children for being 'terribly well-behaved' during the segment - referring to the family's previous on-set mishap - but viewers still accused the Allens of not having their children's best interests at heart.

Many viewers took to Twitter to insist 'children need structure'.

Adele and Matt Allen appeared on This Morning to defend the way they are bringing their children up 'off-grid' saying they allow them to choose their own bed times

Viewers took to Twitter to slam the unconventional family for their lifestyle choices insisting they were 'lazy' and 'selfish' for not considering the needs of their children

'In my opinion kids need structure and stability. I do think it helps to create a good work ethic. Idk. What do I know,' said one.

'#ThisMorning isn't this just lazy parenting?' questioned one viewer of the Allen family.

'Oh god. Those poor children. Their parents are selfish,' fumed another.

The couple allow their children to choose their own bedtimes, explaining that their son Ulysses goes to sleep around 9pm and their daughter Ostara at 7pm.

'We have a rhythm rather than a routine,' Adele explained to presenters Phillip and Rochelle Humes, who is standing in for Holly Willoughby as she hosts I'm a Celebrity in the Australian bush.

'I think its important that they tune into their own bodies' cues.'

They also follow an 'un-schooling' home education approach that allows Ulysses to choose the things he is interested in to focus on while learning.

Ulysses is given free-reign over his home schooling studies with Matt and Adele allowing him to select what he is most interested in for learning rather than a traditional education

Phillip and Rochelle were pleasantly surprised by the children's behaviour on the daytime show, complimenting them for being so well-behaved during the segment

Adele, who recently gave birth to their third child Kai Autum, has been outspoken about her critic of modern medicine and was firm in her stance of being anti-vaccination choosing natural remedies over medical intervention

Both Matt and Adele said that following their first appearance on the daytime show concerned viewers had called social services and they had received a visit from a health visitor.

But the mother said that she wasn't offended: 'When things are unfamiliar you get frightened and scared. They just had children's best interests at heart and I understand that.'

Matt said that while their approach may seem controversial they aren't living totally 'off-grid': 'It was never about shunning technology. We're celebrating the past with the future.'

Adele Allen confirmed in a post on Instagram that at the end of September she had given birth to a baby girl, which she named Kai Autumn. She had chosen a pain-free water birth

Adele shared a picture of her child with the placenta still attached after the birth and appeared to suggest that she did not have any ultrasounds during the pregnancy

Allen has been an outspoken critic of modern medicine and used her social media to lambaste ultrasounds and vaccinations.

She revealed she refused to allow her newborn get a Vitamin K shot, which helps prevent against blood diseases for newborns.

In an online post announcing the latest addition to their brood, Mrs Allen, in her 30s, wrote: 'Introducing the latest addition to the unconventional tribe, our new baby girl Kai Autumn.

'Her name is unisex and means the sea in Hawaiian. As we have shared so much of our lives and family over the past few years, we chose to keep the journey of this third pregnancy private and out of the public eye.

'I have no doubt that many people would have had positive well wishes but unfortunately there is always the negative as well which our growing baby needed to be protected from.

'Kai was born just before the autumn equinox at home, in the water unassisted.'

Among the hashtags included 'undisturbed birth', 'lotus birth', 'free birth', 'the unconventional parent' and 'birth without fear'.

In an appearance in 2016 the family were speaking about their lifestyle choices when viewers witnessed Ostara urinating on the set of This Morning during their interview

Mrs Allen revealed she refused to allow her newborn child get a Vitamin K shot, which helps prevent against blood diseases for newborn

Adele Allen pictured husband Mark, son Ulysses and daughter Ostara. She previously stated that she breast-fed her son at the age of five, it is not known if she has continued

Adele also posted online that she has undergone three pregnancies without folic acid, which the NHS says provides necessary vitamins and minerals that aid babies' development.

She wrote: 'Three pregnancies with no folic acid supplement and three healthy babies.'

In the post, Mrs Allen also suggested she did not have any ultrasounds during the pregnancy.

She wrote 'Ultrasounds, learn the risks', next to a post from a free-birthing group which read: 'I love that I haven't had any ultrasounds because this is mine.'

The family appeared on This Morning in 2016 where they discussed their unconventional parenting techniques.

Adele used the family's appearance on the show to explain her unusual approach to modern medicine, shunning conventional treatments when her children had scarlet fever and chicken pox.

This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30am
Prince Harry arrived in Zambia on Monday without his wife Meghan amid reports the pregnant duchess pulled out of the trip due to fears over the Zika virus.

However, the Duke of Sussex appeared to be in good spirits as he attended a reception at the British High Comission this evening.

The royal father-to-be could be seen making the most of the Dice Juice Bar on site, offering exotic drinks to guests.

And while his wife may have stayed home Harry was not without company and could also be seen chatting to colourfully dressed guests this evening.

At one point he could be seen admiring a locally made blue dish on display at the event, perhaps wondering if he might be able to bring back one for his wife at home.

This evening the prince joined other dignitaries at a reception at the British High Commission where he paid a visit to the Dice Juice Bar

The prince could be seen indulging in one of the exotic drinks on offer at the stand

The fun-loving royal looked typically dapper in a navy blue two-piece suit finished with a crisp white shirt and olive-green tie.

He could also be seen wearing his chunky black ring, a state-of-the-art titanium sleep and activity tracker from Finland-based company Oura Health

The prince also delivered a speech this evening where he spoke of the growing economic ties between the UK and Zambia during a reception which celebrated the relationship between the two countries.

He told guests: 'Britain is Zambia's oldest relationship. It is one that has thrived over the past 54 years, and it continues to evolve - from the UK's development assistance, to growing mutually beneficial trade and investment.

The royal father-to-be could be seen admiring an elaborate blue dish on display at this evening's proceedings

Harry gave an enthusiastic speech during this evening's reception after touching down this morning

And while his wife may have stayed home Harry was not without company and could also be seen chatting to colourfully dressed guests this evening

'The British Chamber of Commerce is exemplary of that. The chamber, working together with the British High Commission, has launched an effort to contribute to Zambia's economic development - making it easier to do business in Zambia, and encouraging more British companies to trade and invest here.'

Harry was in good spirits as he touched down at Lusaka airport on Monday afternoon local time to be greeted by Zambian officials.

Harry will complete the two-day tour of the southern African country alone while his pregnant wife rests up with her mother, who is visiting Britain.

Officially, Harry was always supposed to make the trip alone in his role as president of African Parks but palace insiders have said that it was intended to be a joint visit.

To date, there have been no recorded cases of Zika virus disease in Zambia, but countries bordering the African nation to the north are considered risk areas.

The Duke of Sussex arrives at Lusaka airport, Zambia on Monday. There were reports that he was due to be joined by wife Meghan but she decided to stay at home over Zika concerns

The Duke of Sussex arrives in Zambia. On arrival, Harry was greeted by nine-year-old Jane Chawanangwa,pictured, who presented the prince with a large bunch of flowers

Meghan, who is expecting her first child, will not be joining Harry on a two-day tour of Zambia this week (pictured are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Tonga in October)

What is the Zika virus? The Zika virus is spread by mosquito bites, between people during unprotected sex, and from pregnant mothers to their children. It cannot be cured or prevented with medicines. Although most adults do not become seriously ill from the infection, it can cause serious birth defects if pregnant women get it. Foetuses' brains can be affected by the virus when it is passed on from the mother and it can cause microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition in which babies' heads are unusually small, which can lead to seizures, delayed development and other disabilities. The virus can also increase the risk of unborn children developing Guillain-Barre syndrome  an uncommon illness in which the immune system attacks the nerves and can cause muscle weakness and paralysis. Advertisement

On arrival, Harry was greeted by nine-year-old Jane Chawanangwa, who presented the prince with a large bunch of flowers.

His trip will also see him visit the Burma Barracks in the capital Lusaka, where he will commemorate the country's World War veterans.

Meghan, 37, is believed to have been told to avoid foreign trips that risk exposing her to the Zika virus.

An insider told the Sun: 'As far as those on the ground in Zambia were concerned both Meghan and Harry were going. But Meghan is exhausted and, understandably, expressed serious concerns about travelling to a country with even the smallest Zika threat.

Harry was given a vibrant welcome from colourfully-dressed dancers when he arrives at Lusaka airport on Monday to kick off a two-day tour of Zambia

Dancers greet Harry at the airport on Monday. Harry left London on Saturday night and is expected to attend an official reception with Zambian officials later today

Dancers give Harry a warm welcome at Lusaka airport today. During his visit, Harry will meet Zambia's President to learn about the country's WWI centenary commemorations

A troupe of colourfully dressed dancers greet Harry as he steps off the plane at Lusaka, Zambia this morning. The latest foreign trip comes less than a month after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga

Harry is in high spirits as he touches down in Lusaka. During his visit, Harry will attend a board meeting with African Parks and meet Zambia's President to learn about the country's WWI centenary commemorations

'In the end it was agreed Harry would go it alone and Meghan could rest-up and spend some quality time with Doria, who is down in the UK visiting.'

During his visit, Harry will attend a board meeting with African Parks and meet Zambia's President to learn about the country's WWI centenary commemorations.

British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, said: 'The Duke of Sussex takes a special interest in Southern African and is assured a warm welcome during this first official welcome to Lusaka'.

Rolling out the red carpet: Jane Chawanangwa greets Prince Harry at Kenneth Kuanda International Airport in Lusaka this morning to kick off his two-day Zambia trip

The latest foreign trip comes less than a month after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

In October, Public Health England warned pregnant women not travel to a region of India amid fears they could be struck down with Zika.

Zika can cause microcephaly for children in the womb, causing babies to be born with abnormally small skulls.

MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
While the 'Meghan effect' is a well-documented phenomenon, it's not just the fashion industry receiving a boost from the duchess' influence.

Increasing numbers of Brits are now turning to calligraphy inspired by Meghan's former job, industry insiders have said.

The royal bride taught calligraphy, gift-wrapping and book-binding at the Paper Source store in Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2005 when she was a jobbing actress trying to make ends meet.

And she appears to have prompted a surge in sales of calligraphy craft kits with a 2018 trends report from Hobbycraft detailing an increase in interest in calligraphy kits, up 40 per cent from 2017.

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The Duchess of Sussex (pictured at Cardiff in January) is thought to have inspired a huge sales surge in calligraphy sets as fans get inspired by the actress' former job in Beverly Hills

Meghan taught calligraphy, gift-wrapping and book-binding at the Paper Source store in Beverly Hills when she was a jobbing actress trying to make ends meet (file photo)

Hobbycraft noted that sales peaked over the summer period, in line with the Royal Wedding in May.

Customer director Katherine Paterson said: 'Putting pen to paper is becoming more popular and there's no doubt that the Duchess of Sussex has helped to raise the profile of calligraphy writing. Our calligraphy range continues to sell well and we only expect this to continue.'

Winnie Park, CEO of Paper Source in the US has previously spoken about Meghan's calligraphy sessions.

She told PEOPLE: 'She taught calligraphy and hosted a group of customers and instructed them during a two-hour class on how to do calligraphy.

'She would have advised customers on projects  from wedding invitations to creating personalised stationary to gift-wrapping,' she adds. 'She has talked about being a big fan of custom stationary and thinks it's the best gift to give a friend.'

Hobbycraft noted that sales peaked over the summer period, in line with the Royal Wedding in May (pictured: the couple taking a carriage ride through Windsor)

In addition to her job at Paper Source, she also worked as a freelance calligrapher, famously writing the invitations for celebrities Robin Thicke and Paula Patton's wedding in 2005.

Meghan wrote about her love of handwritten notes on her former lifestyle blog, The Tig saying: 'I think handwritten notes are a lost art form.

'When I booked my first [TV] pilot, my dad wrote me a letter that I still have. The idea of someone taking the time to put pen to paper is really special.'

The Duchess, who is expecting her first child next spring, is understood to be resting at home this week with her mother Doria Ragland while Prince Harry embarks on a two-day tour of Zambia.
Canadian jewellery brand Birks also has generous discounts as part of its sales

Her black pleated skirt by friend Misha Nonoo is currently 25 per cent off

Meghan's white tuxedo dress by Maggie Marilyn is on sale for 240

Meghan's become one of the most influential women in fashion since joining the royal family this year - with many of her looks selling out instantly.

But you can still get your hands on some of the most recognisable pieces from the Duchess of Sussex's wardrobe at a snip of the original price, thanks to today's Cyber Monday sales.

The Burberry tartan coat that Meghan, 37, wore in Edinburgh in February is currently on sale for 897, a saving of 55 per cent - but you'll have to be quick if you want to get your hands on one as there's limited stock available.

Meanwhile, the white tuxedo dress by Maggie Marilyn, which the Duchess had customised to get rid of the sleeves, is on sale for 240, a saving of 40 per cent.

Some of Meghan's most recognisable looks are currently on sale as part of Cyber Monday, including her Maggie Marilyn tuxedo dress, worn in New Zealand last month (above)

Maggie Marilyn Leap Of Faith Puff-Sleeve Cotton Blazer Dress





The original dress is currently 40 per cent off, reduced from 533.51 to 240.08. The Duchess of Sussex wore a customised version of this mini white tuxedo dress, without the sleeves, in New Zealand. Shop

The Burberry tartan coat that Meghan, 37, wore in Edinburgh in February is currently on sale for 897

Burberry Double-breasted tartan wool and cashmere-blend coat The Burberry checked coat worn by the Duchess is currently on sale for 55 per cent off. It's been reduced on The Outnet from  1,995 to 897. Shop

The eponymous label set up by Meghan's fashion designer friend Misha Nonoo has also got a generous Cyber Monday sale on at the moment.

The pleated Saturday skirt, worn by the Duchess at her cookbook launch at Kensington Palace in September, is currently 25 per cent off at $187.50 (145).

Meanwhile, the Misha Nonoo Husband shirt, worn by Meghan at her first public appearance with Harry at the Invictus Games later year, is currently on sale at $138.75 (107.88).

One of the Duchess' favouite jewellery brands, Birks, also has generous discounts as part of its Cyber Monday sales.

The Duchess of Sussex wore a black pleated skirt by Misha Nonoo while at the launch of her cookbook at Kensington Palace in September (above)

Misha Nonoo Saturday skirt





The skirt is now priced at $187.50 (145.97), down from $250 (194.64). This black pleated skirt by Misha Nonoo is currently reduced by 25 per cent in the sale. Shop

Meghan wore a pair of square cut Birks Bee Chic Silver White Quartz Stud Earrings while visiting a Nelson Mandela exhibition in July

Birks Bee Chic Silver White Quartz Stud Earrings The round-cut version of Meghan's Birks Bee Chic Silver White Quartz Stud Earrings are currently 30 per cent off. Shop

Meghan wore a pair of square cut Birks Bee Chic Silver White Quartz Stud Earrings while visiting a Nelson Mandela exhibition in July - with the round versions of the earring now 30 per cent off at 134.

It is relatively rare for items worn by the Duchess to still be available, with the Meghan-effect seeing many of her looks selling out straight away.

Following her tour Down Under, brands including Outland Denim, Dion Lee and Martin Grant reported the huge impact Meghan's endorsement has had on their business.

A spokesman for Outland Denim said: 'In the two weeks since Meghan Markle first wore Outland jeans in Dubbo, Outland's global sales have increased 2374 per cent, while the global online traffic has increased by over 3,000 per cent.'

While items can often sell out within minutes, many brands decide to re-stock items previously worn by the Duchess or make them available to pre-order.

However, other more expensive items, including the 448 Ralph Lauren shirt she wore to Wimbledon, have remained in stock since the Duchess stepped out in them.

Meghan's Misha Nonoo Husband shirt, which she wore for her first appearance with Harry at the Invictus Games last year, is also on sale
The Prince of Wales has joked about keeping up with his grandchildren, saying they 'wear me out'.

Charles has three grandchildren, and a fourth on the way but they seem to be a handful for the heir to the throne.

The prince sympathised with mother Amelia Kerr, 33, as she cradled her baby boy when he visited a toddler group at Dorchester Community Church, based in his model village of Poundbury in Dorset.

Ms Kerr said later he looked down at her four-week-old son Oliver Morris and said: 'My grandchildren wear me out, I don't know how you do it.'

The Prince of Wales has joked that his grandchildren 'wear him out' during a visit to his designer village of Poundbury in Dorset

The Prince of Wales, who is set to become a grandfather for the fourth time, met Emilia Kerr and her four-week-old son Oliver Morris

The Duke of Cambridge has already said wants his father Charles to spend more time with his children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Charles will soon be welcoming another member of his family as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their first child next year.

During his visit to the church, Charles met mother and son puppeteers Sharon, 56, and Adam Pinder, 27, who with other volunteers put on Christian-based shows for the local community with their Ministry of Puppets.

Adam held up his puppet Bob for the prince while his mother worked a sheep toy.

She said later: 'He asked if we do the voices but my husband Andrew tends to do them.

'We find that children and adults tend to enjoy the shows and we have fun putting them on.'

And while it is almost two weeks since Prince Charles turned 70, but it seems that celebrations were set to continue during his visit to Poundbury on Monday.

Prince Charles was treated to yet another birthday cake as during his visit to his designer village of Poundbury in Dorset on Monday

Upon his arrival at the Dorchester Community Church Charles was met by hundreds of well-wishers who had gathered to welcome him to the village including an enthusiastic dog

Also in attendance was a rather peculiar visitor in the form of Bob the puppet who was also introduced to the royal

The Prince of Wales was treated to a belated birthday cake from locals as well as plenty of greetings card during his trip to the Duchy of Cornwall land in Dorset.

Upon his arrival he was met by hundreds of well-wishers who had gathered to welcome him to the village including an enthusiastic dog.

The heir apparent, who was wrapped up in a tweed coat, bent down to greet the pooch before making his way inside.

He was then introduced to Courtney Critchell and her son one-year-old Oliver Knight who had produced a colourful card for the royal following his birthday.

Following his visit to the Community Church Charles made his way over to the Yarlington Housing Group's Extra Care housing development.

He paid a visit to the home of 81-year-old Lee Elford who appeared to have the prince in stitches as the pair chatted in his living room.

As he left the development the Prince of Wales was met by a group of schoolchildren who too had pitched together to make him a card following his 70th.

He was then introduced to Courtney Critchell and her son one-year-old Oliver Knight who had produced a colourful card for the royal following his birthday

The grandfather-of-three beamed as he admired the colourful drawings on the greetings card

A group of local schoolchildren has also produced a greetings card which they presented to the royal today

It featured photos of the local children painting autumn leaves and the royal appeared very touched by the gesture.

Poundbury was been created on the basis of architectural principles found desirable by Prince Charles.

It is a utopian idyll where there is no segregation of social classes, and schools, shops and places of work are within walking distance.

Charles could be seen helping local tots with their modelling clay creations at the Community Church

He paid a visit to the home of 81-year-old Lee Elford who appeared to have the prince in stitches as the pair chatted in his living room

In a personal tribute the Queen Mother Square features a 10ft bronze statue of his late great-grandmother.

The square is also home to the pub called the Duchess of Cornwall, after Prince William's stepmother Camilla who was absent from the engagement today.

The village's overall plan was developed in the 1980s by Leon Krier, an architect from Luxembourg, and construction began in October 1993.

It is due for completion in 2025 and Poundbury will have a population of 5,000 people and 2,250 homes.
Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, will host a major day-long conclave to discuss the economic relations between India and the UAE tomorrow (November 27).



The second edition of Economic Times India-UAE Strategic Conclave is held under the patronage and presence of Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Tolerance.



The conclave which will feature key discussion topics including Fresh ideas for the strategic ties, Encouraging trade and long-term strategy for enhancing non-oil trade and The India UAE Defence and Space Collaboration.



The conclave, to be held at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi, will have an exciting line-up of participating leadership which includes ministers, higher leaders from government organisations, mission offices, semi-government and commercial bodies, trade organisations, commerce, industry including businesses, investors, innovators, advisors and specialists.



The conclave will identify new rewarding sectors in order to widen the scope of bilateral investments. Key business leaders and senior government officials will come together to lay the blueprint for greater economic cooperation between the two countries and explore the economic gains through boosting both the countries status as major trade hubs and key gateways to regional and international markets.



Deepak Lamba, president, Times Strategic Solutions Limited, said: We are glad to conduct the second edition of the conclave in Abu Dhabi this year. This will further enhance the insights from the inaugural edition by identifying key areas for more investment flows between the two nations.



This conference will enhance the connection between the governments and business communities of both countries to forge new partnerships and explore the possibilities of deeper cooperation in sectors of mutual interest, he said.



The conclave happens at a time when both the countries are seeking to increase innovation and entrepreneurship in sectors of mutual interest. Since India and UAE are two of the worlds largest and fastest growing emerging markets, the conclave will provide a platform to highlight investment potential in India and the UAE by creating awareness among investors about exciting opportunities, he added.



Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance, will deliver his keynote speech at the Conclave, which will be inaugurated by Navdeep Suri, Indian Ambassador to the UAE.



The conclave will also feature Abdulla Al Saleh, undersecretary of Foreign Trade and Industry at the UAE Ministry of Economy, and Dr Matar Al Neyadi, undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Energy.



The line-up of thought-leaders to be featured in the conclave includes Dr Engineer Mohammed Alahbabi, director general of the UAE Space Agency; Sharafuddin Sharaf, chairman - UIBC and vice chairman of Sharaf Group; Abdulla Alshehi  managing director, chief consultant and founder of National Advisor Bureau Limited; Ankur Singh  chief executive officer (CEO) and vice-chairman of Dana Group of Companies; Dr BR Shetty, founder and chairman - NMC Healthcare; Rajiv Agarwal, CEO and managing director- Essar Ports; Cyrus Engineer, managing director - SP International Property Developers; and Dilip Chenoy, secretary general of FICCI.



Other senior leaders at the conclave include Gautam Sashittal - CEO of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC); Arvind Varchaswi, managing director- Sri Sri Tattva, Saurabh Kochar, co-founder of Foodpanda; M A Yussuf Ali, chairman and managing director - Lulu International Group; Captain BVJK Sharma, JMD and CEO of JSW Infrastructure Ltd; Ulugbek Yuldashev, CEO and founder of AWOK.com; Raza Siddiqui, CEO of Arabian Healthcare Group; and Sangita Reddy, executive director of Apollo Hospitals Group in India.



The conclave will also unveil two Coffee Table Books titled The Economic Times Best Lifestyle Brands and ET Best Realty Brands, it said.



The inaugural edition of ET India-UAE Strategic Conclave laid the foundation of a very important platform for bilateral trade discussions between the two regional powerhouses and the second edition will take stock of the developments during the past year and deliberate on the future of this very important relationship, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Fans of The Missing who have been longing for the return of Julien Baptiste - last seen being wheeled into surgery at the end of the series two finale - can now enjoy their first glimpse at his own spin-off show.

The BBC has released pictures of the fictional detective - played by French-Turkish actor Tcheky Karyo - from new drama Baptiste, which is set to air next year.

In the series Baptiste will take on a new case, which will see him team up with a man called Edward - played by Tom Hollander - who is looking for his missing niece, a prostitute in Amsterdam.

Fans had their last glimpse of Baptiste as he was set to undergo an operation on a brain tumour at the end of The Missing in 2016.

The BBC has released the first look images of Baptiste (pictured), which stars French-Turkish actor Tcheky Karyo as beloved detective Julien Baptiste in a spin-off series from The Missing

Edward, an expat living in Antwerp, Belgium, enlists the help of Dutch police in the hunt for his missing niece, who vanished in Amsterdam.

Head of the city's police is a woman named Martha, who just happens to be Baptiste's ex girlfriend, and drafts in the retired cop to help with the case.

Baptiste then teams up with Edward to help track down the missing niece.

Also joining the new series is Call the Midwife actress Jessica Raine, who will play a character Genevieve, though no details have been released about her part in the show.

The new series follows Edward, played by Tom Hollander (pictured), as he attempts to track down his missing niece, who has been working as a prostitute in Amsterdam

In the series Baptiste (left) is contacted by his former girlfriend Martha (right), who is head of the Amsterdam Police and wants his help in finding Edward's niece

WHO IS TCHEKY KARYO? Tcheky Karyo, 65, became a household name in the UK when he starred as fan-favourite detective in The Missing. But the Turkish-French actor was already famous in France, and starred in Hollywood films like Bad Boys, with Will Smith, The Patriot with Mel Gibson and James Bond GoldenEye. Tcheky, who was originally born in Istanbul, Turkey, but grew up in Paris, has appeared in countless French films. His French acting credits include Requiem for a Killer (2011), Les mille merveilles de l'univers (1997) and L'ange noir (1994). He released an album Ce lien qui nous unit (English translation, The Link That Binds Us) in 2006, and another titled Credo in 2013 to mark his 60th birthday. Advertisement

In the new images Baptiste looks back to full health as he wanders the streets of Amsterdam.

In one picture he stands next to Martha in her police uniform as they work on the case, while another image sees Edward asking what appears to be a prostitute if she has since his niece.

The first two installments of The Missing were an instant hit with viewers and followed Baptiste as he attempted to solve two missing person cases.

In the first series he joined forces with a British man called Tony - played by James Nesbitt - to track down his son Oliver.

In series two he searched for missing girl Alice Webster, who had been snatched from Germany where she'd been living with her expat parents Sam and Gemma, played by David Morrissey and Keeley Hawes respectively.

While many British fans will recognise Tcheky from The Missing, he was a star in his own right before the BBC series began in 2014.

The last time viewers saw Baptiste was when he went into surgery for a brain tumour (pictured) after solving the case in the second season of The Missing

In the first series of the show Baptiste (right) teamed up with Tony, played by James Nesbitt (left) to look for his missing son Oliver, who disappeared in France

In the second series Baptiste tracked down missing British girl Alice Webster (left) who went missing in Germany as a school girl

He has been working steadily for 30 years - including starring in Hollywood films like Bad Boys, with Will Smith, The Patriot with Mel Gibson and James Bond GoldenEye.

He played a drug kingpin in the former and a vengeful French officer opposite Gibson.

His French acting credits include Requiem for a Killer (2011), Les mille merveilles de l'univers (1997) and L'ange noir (1994).

Tcheky is also an acclaimed musician and songwriter.

He released an album Ce lien qui nous unit (English translation, The Link That Binds Us) in 2006, and another titled Credo in 2013 to mark his 60th birthday.

He is married to French actress Valerie Keruzore, his second wife, and the couple have one daughter together Louise. He has a daughter Liv from a previous marriage, and a grandson Daniel.
Nico Tortorella's spouse, Bethany Meyers, has come under attack after the Younger star opened up about their non-binary, polyamorous relationship in a recent interview.

To promote the new poetry book entitled All of It Is You, Nico appeared on The Wendy Williams Show Friday and also discussed sexuality; Nico identifies as non-binary and prefers the use of the pronouns 'they/their' instead of 'he' or 'she', as does Bethany.

'I think as a human race, one of the most foolish things that weve ever done is split the world into only two categories: Man and woman,' the 30-year-old actor told Wendy.

Non-traditional: Younger's Nico Tortorella, 30, appeared on The Wendy Williams Show Friday and discussed their non-binary, polyamorous relationship

Love: Nico and Bethany Meyers, 29, have been dating for 12 years and neither identify as male or female. The couple, pictured at the MTV Video Music Awards, also dates other people

Interesting: The couple, pictured at the CMT Music Awards in June, married in March but both still see other people

Nico married longtime partner of 12 years, Bethany, in a ceremony in March, but then informed Wendy's audience that their relationship is not what one would consider traditional.

'There's nothing traditional about what's going on here,' Nico admitted.

Hurt: After the interview aired, Bethany revealed on Instagram that there have been a number of negative comments

'We both identify as non-binary, which means we dont feel we are a man or a woman. We live in the space between. We are both queer.'

Nico continued: 'Were in a polyamorous relationship, which means we date other people. Trust, communication and love are the most important things.'

Wendy then asked the actor if they date both men and women. To which, Nico responded: 'Well, I dont really know what men and women really are. But I date the entire spectrum of people.Bethany dates predominantly women.'

Growing up in a large Italian family from Chicago made Nico's 'many coming outs' difficult. But Nico admitted that the issue most family members can't seem to wrap their minds around is the polyamorous aspect of the relationship.

'Its almost more difficult telling your family that youre polyamorous than you are anything else,' Nico said. 'Its one that theres zero representation. Theres zero visibility.'

The interview has caused a stir online, specifically for Bethany, a 29-year-old celebrity trainer who is based in New York City.

Upset: Nico's spouse works as a workout trainer based in New York City and had to turn commenting off on some Instagram posts

Focused: Bethany, pictured with Nico recently, used Instagram to remind followers that there is a person behind every social media account and words do matter

An Instagram post on Bethany's account revealed that the trainer has received hate and hurtful comments because of Nico's public explanation of the couple's relationship.

Bethany wrote: 'Ive started to learn a sudden swing in media exposure tends to lead to a sharp barrage of negativity. Nico was on the @wendyshowrecently, and the questions asked led them to speak about our relationship.

'I thought @nicotortorella spoke beautifully and delicately about it, especially given the audience wasnt versed in queer terminology and non-traditional relationships.'

Hateful comments and internet trolls targeted Bethany after the interview aired.

'I turned commenting off of my last post because I still have a really hard time with NITs [nasty internet trolls] who know nothing about me, bullying me and my family,' the post read.

'I will determine my own happiness, not some NIT hiding behind their phone.'

Bethany continued: 'If you choose to comment on someones post, be mindful of your words no matter how many followers the page has. Someone is behind that account and they see what you write. Words matter.'
A simple idea to label supermarket groceries that are most needed by foodbanks has been rolled out nationwide, after students in Exeter came up with the clever move.

The group of 13 National Citizen Service (NCS) graduates will this week see their simple idea to increase donations hit Sainsburys stores nationwide.

The teenagers came up with the idea this summer, after speaking to their local food bank during the social action phase of the national youth programme for 16 and 17-year-olds.

And following a local trial run by the supermarket giant, the Exeter Food Bank reported a 300 per cent increase in donations.

A group of National Citizen Service (NCS) graduates from Exeter will this week see their simple idea to label foods most needed by food banks rolled out to Sainsburys stores nationwide. Pictured, left to right: Abdelkader Jemal Awol, Matthew Turner, Amber Broad, Isabel Clarkson, Callum Pardoe and Rhys Johnson

The group learned that shoppers often didnt know they could donate in supermarkets or were donating the same items, making it difficult for the food bank to offer enough variety to those in need.

Student Amber Broad admitted: 'We spoke to our local food bank and they said they'd get things like beans all the time'.

Mark Richardson, Food Bank Manager in Exeter, added: 'Every food bank is in the same situation. We get donations we don't need and people don't realise what we do need'.

The teenagers came up with the idea this summer, after speaking to their local food bank during the social action phase of the national youth programme for 16 and 17-year-olds

The branded stickers are placed next to foods most needed by local banks, and read 'priority items for local charities', advising customers that the donation point is at the checkout

To combat the problem, the NCS grads came up with a simple idea to put a sticker next to 'priority items for local charities', advising customers that the donation point is at the checkout.

The top 15 items most in demand at Britain's food banks 1. Tinned meat 2. Tinned fish 3. Tinned vegetables 4. Tinned fruit 5. Tinned soup 6. Tinned baked beans 7. Pasta sauces 8. Pasta 9. Rice 10. Cooking oil 11. Jams, spreads, preserves 12. Instant coffee 13. Tea 14. Milk (UHT or powdered) 15. Fruit juice (long life) Advertisement

Upon purchasing the items, customers simply place them in the donation box located after the till.

The manager of their local Sainsburys agreed to trial the labels, which in two weeks led to donations tripling to the Exeter food bank.

'We noticed that donations trebled within weeks so to have this nationwide would be incredibly helpful', Mark Richardson added.

The group was then invited to head office of Britains second biggest supermarket where they worked alongside specialist teams to develop the stickers in preparation for national roll out.

The labels will appear alongside the top 15 priority food bank items throughout the year and will be featured in Sainsburys and Argos festive food and toy donation drive: Help Brighten a Million Christmases.

Speaking about the campaign, student Isabel Clarkson added: 'The fact that such a simple idea has gone from local to national has shocked us all.

'We just hope we can have as much of an impact nationwide'.

Student Amber Broad (pictured with Rhys Johnson) said that their local food bank was getting baked beans constantly but is in dire need of other necessities
Sarah Ferguson has opened up about becoming a mother-in-law to Jack Brooksbank following his wedding to her daughter Princess Eugenie in October.

The Duchess of York has described having a son-in-law as a 'blessing' in a new interview with Hello! magazine.

The ex-wife of Prince Andrew, who was speaking at the launch of her Street Campaign at Kensington Palace last week, reminisced about her youngest's big day.

Speaking of the groom she described him as: 'Just the twin flame of [her and] that beautiful man  he looked like James Bond that day.

'And Jack is my son-in-law, and to have a son-in-law is just a blessing.'

The Duchess of York has opened up about becoming mother-in-law to Jack Brooksbank who married her youngest Eugenie last month. Pictured: The newlyweds exchanging rings

Sarah Ferguson (pictured on the day of the wedding) described having a son-in-law as a 'blessing' and said that the 'beautiful man' looked like James Bond on his wedding day

The mother-of-two went on to praise the couple's 'inclusive' approach to their nuptials and says it is something they will continue into married life.

She added: 'Their wedding was about love, inclusivity and future and then they go forward with strength because that's who they are. They will always, always be on the edge of inspirational change.'

Fergie, as she is affectionately known, has not been shy when it comes to sharing details of her daughter's wedding, opening up about her pride during an interview with Good Morning Britain last week.

'I loved every moment of it, I was so proud,' she said during the interview.

'The love between them is enormous, its twin flames and they are meant to be together. To see Eugenie blossom like she has and to be so brave with her scoliosis.'

Fergie also recently spoke of her 'pride' over Eugenie after she chose to 'bravely' showcase her scar from her scoliosis

Sarah appeared on Good Morning Britain last week where she said the pair 'are meant to be together'

She also spoke of the true meaning of the unusual hat that she wore on the big day.

The 59-year-old wore a wide-brimmed hat by Jess Collett, featuring two straw 'wings' coming out of the side - leading to comparisons with the golden snitch from Harry Potter.

She said she didn't mind the jokes as she 'loves the golden snitch' when questioned about her eye-catching headgear, but admitted she 'hadn't realised' the resemblance at the time.

Prince Andrew's ex-wife said that she had wanted the 'Argentine look' to pay tribute to her mother Susan Barrantes.

Susan had caused a stir after eloping to Argentina with a professional polo player when Fergie was a child. She later died in a car accident in Buenos Aires at the age of 61.

The mother-of-two, who turned 59 on October 15, also sent out thank you letters to those who had wished her daughter Princess Eugenie congratulations following her wedding to Jack Brooksbank last month. Pictured: She chose this official portrait to accompany the letter

In the card she described the bride as 'so beautiful' and the groom as 'so handsome'

The mother-of-two, who turned 59 on October 15, recently sent out thank you letters to those who had wished her daughter Princess Eugenie congratulations following her wedding to Jack Brooksbank last month.

She opted for the same photo that the couple had issued in their own thank you cards - the portrait of the newlyweds taken by photographer Alex Bramall in Windsor Castle's White Drawing Room.

In the card Sarah wrote: 'Thank you so much for your congratulations and warm wishes for the future happiness of Eugenie and Jack.

'Their wedding was the most fabulous day. Eugenie looked so beautiful and Jack so handsome; the wedding service was a wonderful celebration of their love.

'We are so happy to welcome Jack into our family, he is the most marvellous person and enriches Eugenie's life. They are such a devoted couple.

'Thank you for your kindness and loyalty over the years.'
Queen Maxima commanded attention in a colourful dress as she attended an awards ceremony in Amsterdam.

The Dutch royal, 47, opted for a blue dress featuring red, yellow and pink stripes, along with a ruffled hem, for the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds awards today.

She teamed the bold frock with a pair of burgundy heels and a co-ordinating clutch bag, adding a pair of statement turquoise earrings to finish.

Wearing her blonde locks up in a chignon, she showed off her glowing complexion with a natural make-up look.

Queen Maxima commanded attention in a colourful dress as she attended an awards ceremony in Amsterdam today

Maxima looked in high spirits as she arrived at the Muziekgebouw concert hall in the Dutch capital ahead of today's event.

She was attending the ceremony to present this year's Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, or Prince Bernhard Culturefund award to conductor and composer Reinbert de Leeuw.

The fund was originally set up by Prince Bernhard in London in 1940 during World War II, and now supports culture, nature and science in the Netherlands.

Maxima has had a busy schedule over the past few weeks, despite being forced to take time out at the start of the month due to a suspected intestinal infection.

Maxima, 47, accessorised her look with a pair of statement earrings, while wearing her blonde locks up in an elegant chignon

The Dutch royal finished off her ensemble with a pair of burgundy heels, along with a co-ordinating clutch bag

The glamorous royal consort appeared to have a fit of the giggles as she presented conductor and composer Reinbert de Leeuw with the award

The 80-year-old appeared to glow with pride as he was applauded by the royal after being presented with his award

Last week, the mother-of-three opted for a bold plum ensemble as she and husband King Willem-Alexander welcomed the Singaporean President Halimah Yacob to the Netherlands.

It came after she welcomed the Austrian president Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer to the country, on a separate visit.

Last month, Maxima and Willem-Alexander enjoyed a state visit to the UK, where they attended a state banquet hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

However, the couple did not join a host of other European royals in attending Prince Charles' 70th birthday dinner at Buckingham Palace earlier this month.

Maxima looked in very high spirits as she arrived at the Muziekgebouw concert hall in the Dutch capital ahead of today's event

Maxima was greeted by officials as she arrived for this year's Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds awards ceremony
The Trump family has debuted its annual holiday card and Christmas Booklet ahead of the festive season, which includes directions for how people can mimic White House cranberry trees for their own decorations.

For this year's holiday greeting card, President Donald Trump and his family decided to stick with the same greeting they did last year by wishing everyone a 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.'

This decision first came about after Trump, 72, made it clear last year that there would be no 'happy holidays', which is more generic and politically correct statement, on any of his family's festive cards.

Festive: The White House has unveiled this year's holiday card featuring a statement wishing everyone a 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year'

Different: This year's holiday card features a gold White House on the front where as last year's had the Presidential Seal

Ready for the holiday: The official White House holiday card features the signatures of the president, first lady and Barron Trump

No 'happy holidays here': Inside the official White House Christmas card 2017

Previous: The cards both this year and last year had the same message but a different color card stock and design on the front

Family affair: The first couple and their 12-year-old son Barron all signed the card. Their signatures were engraved in gold on the green paper

This year's holiday card comes on forest green card stock with a gold image of the White House on the front.

Inside is the same message from last year with the President, Melania Trump and Barron Trump's gold signatures underneath.

The card this year differs from that of last year because it had a the presidential seal on the front in gold and was on a cream-colored card stock instead of forest green.

As per tradition, the White House also released a Christmas Booklet that visitors will receive upon touring the home during the holiday season.

DailyMail.com can reveal inside this year's Christmas Booklet includes directions for how people can mimic the cranberry trees featured in the East Colonnade of the White House when people visit.

First Lady Melania, 48, along with staff created 40 red Christmas trees made entirely out of cranberries to adorn the East Colonnade. This type of tree, according to the Christmas Booklet, was first introduced in 1975 by Nancy Reagan who loved the color red.

Bright: The White House also unveiled its holiday decorations, assisted by First Lady Melania Trump, which featured large cranberry trees

Stunning: These large cranberry trees are situated in the East Colonnade of the White House

Replica: Included in the Christmas Booklet is instructions to make a small cranberry tree decoration at home with berries and gumdrops

Delicious: Melania also included her own sugar cookie recipe for the holiday season

But now people can follow the provided recipe to create a table-side cranberry tree that includes gumdrop candies and fresh berries.

To create on ones own, the White House advises purchasing a Styrofoam floral cone that will serve as the base for the small tree.

Then people can use cut-in-half toothpicks to place cranberries and gumdrop candies throughout the cone in whatever pattern they please.

Ready for the holiday! In a video released by the White House, Melania shows off the holiday decorations scattered throughout the home

Once the exterior is finished, the booklet advises for people to place the tree on a decorative plate and garnish the bottom edge with a bow.

Melania also included her own sugar cookie recipe in the booklet for visitors to make in their own homes after visiting the White House.

The recipe is rather similar to most sugar cookie recipes but includes the addition of sour cream in the batter.

Incorporating sour cream into the mixture can help provide moisture into the cookie dough as well as create an airy texture for the baked good when one finally gets to bite in.

Melania recommends cutting the cookies into a star pattern before baking. After baking, the recipe says the stars can be decorated with whatever icing the person wants to complete the sugar cookie.

The White House shared the pictures and videos of the new decorations on Monday ahead of the official tree lighting in Washington D.C. on Nov. 28.

It was also revealed that the theme for the decorations is 'American Treasures' and focuses on the patriotic colors of red, white and blue.
Shoppers have been left unimpressed by Tyrrells 'Raspberry Bellini' crisps - branding it 'gross' and an 'abomination'.

The limited edition crisps, priced at 1.85, are currently on sale at Tesco in time for the festive season.

Tesco shared the unusual crisps on Twitter, explaining how the flavour had been 'inspired by the luxurious prosecco cocktail.'

However, social media users remained unconvinced, with many admitting they would be unwilling to try them.

Shoppers have been left unimpressed by Tyrrells 'Raspberry Bellini' crisps (above), which have been 'inspired by the luxurious prosecco cocktail'

Social media users have not been convinced by the unusual flavour, branding it 'gross' and an 'abomination' (above)

One commented 'I always love an opportunity to use the word "abomination"', while another added 'Gross'.

Meanwhile, one shopper posted 'I would rather lick a 9 volt battery,' while another wrote 'Stop it with these ridiculous flavours!'

Tesco said the crisps have 'taken bar snacks to a whole other level', describing how the flavour has been 'inspired by the luxurious prosecco cocktail - sweet, sparkling and pink'.

On their website, the supermarket said the crisps are 'simply splendid for a seasonal soiree, festive frolic, or any situation where conviviality is the order of the day.

Many admitted they wouldn't be trying the crisps, with one commenting: 'Stop it with these ridiculous flavours'

It comes as a whole series of festive crisp flavours have been released in the run-up to Christmas next month.

Walkers became the first to launch its Christmas-inspired crisps last month, comprising of five festive flavours: Turkey & Stuffing, Pigs in Blankets, Glazed Ham, Cheese & Cranberry, and Brussels Sprouts.

Meanwhile, Iceland raised eyebrows after unveiling its Christmas tree flavoured crisps, which are described as having a 'pine salt flavour'.

Away from crisps, Sainsbury's also left tea-lovers horrified after releasing its 'brussels sprouts' and 'pigs in blankets' infused brews.

It comes after Walkers launched its festive range of crisps including Brussels Sprout (left) and Pigs in Blankets flavours (right)
A French hospital has had to abandon a scientific study because so many people tried to donate their faeces in the hope of being paid 50 (44).

St Antoine Hospital in Paris had placed posters up calling for potential stool donors for a study on ulcerative colitis.

But after someone shared a photo of the poster on Facebook, the hospital became inundated with people keen to try and make easy money.

Staff claim the hospital had thousands of calls and emails of people offering the contents of their toilets.

St Antoine Hospital in Paris was planning to conduct a study on how pioneering faecal transplants could be used to treat people with ulcerative colitis

They soon became overwhelmed and had to shut off the phone line, but people continued ringing the hospital switchboard and some even turned up at the research centre in person.

'What happened is a disaster,' said Professor Harry Sokol, a gastroenterologist who was organising the study.

'We had to cancel the call for donors and halt the study because it had gotten out of control.

'Even after we cut off the number people were calling the hospital switchboard, some even showed up in person, and it's still going on.'

A photo of the call for volunteers was posted online last week and quickly racked up more than 5,000 shares and 10,000 comments on Facebook.

And many people were lured in by the last line of the advert, which read: 'You will receive compensation of 50 euros per donation.'

The poster appealing for volunteers for the study was originally only put up on walls around the St Antoine Hospital and local medical schools. People were drawn in by the last line, which reads: 'You will receive compensation of 50 euros per donation'

The public, not realising the donors would have to go through rigorous screening, interviewing and tests, were immediately keen to offer their services.

Calling for healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 49, the study will eventually test how effective faecal transplants are for people with ulcerative colitis. It is unsure when the study will re-commence.

Faecal transplants involve transplanting the bacteria from one person's stool into someone else for medical benefit.

'Someone took a picture and it spread rapidly on the internet and social media, because the message had been altered,' Professor Sokol said.

'People thought it meant: Give us your stools, we'll give you 50 euros.'

He explained the researchers have had to postpone their work because of the huge demand.

The scientists were disappointed the 'very serious' study had become a joke when there were a 'long list' of patients waiting for the experimental transplants who were 'devastated' when the tests couldn't go ahead.

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term condition which causes the bowel and rectum to become swollen and uclers can develop, potentially causing bleeding.

People may go for a long time without symptoms then suffer flare-ups, which can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain, fatigue and weight loss.

The condition is believed to be autoimmune, meaning the body's own immune cells attack the intestines  it affects around one in 420 people (146,000 in the UK).

Doctors around the world are studying faecal transplants in the hope they could be used to treat a range of chronic gut diseases, such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

Also known as bacteriotherapy, they work by introducing stool bacteria from a healthy person into an unwell patient in the hope of getting a healthier balance of gut bacteria.
Health bosses have signed a deal to save 300million a year by using cheaper versions of a costly arthritis drug.

More than 46,000 English patients a year take adalimumab, used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis.

The annual cost until now has been more than 400million  the biggest bill for any single NHS medicine.

More than 46,000 English patients a year take adalimumab, used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis [File photo]

Bosses have slashed this to just 100million by signing deals with five firms to produce very similar versions much more cheaply.

The record saving could pay for 11,700 community nurses or 19,800 breast cancer treatments, officials say.

The deal will see the largest use so far of biosimilars  medicines which vary slightly from antibodies used in expensive versions, but have the same effects.

Adalimumab was previously only available under brand name Humira, made by AbbVie, costing between 176 and 352 per jab, but its exclusive patent has expired.

Health bosses have signed a deal to save 300million a year by using cheaper versions of a costly arthritis drug

The NHS has now accepted bids from Amgen, Biogen, Mylan and Sandoz  and has negotiated a cheaper deal with original manufacturer AbbVie.

The new treatments are expected to be available from December.
The number of over-65s being treated for alcohol abuse has soared nearly five-fold in little more than a decade.

It comes as middle-aged Britons replace the young as the nation's problem drinkers, according to Public Health England data.

Experts warn that the 'baby boomer' generation is in denial over alcohol, with dementia, cancer and liver disease on the rise as a result.

Experts warn that the 'baby boomer' generation is in denial over alcohol, with dementia, cancer and liver disease on the rise as a result (stock image)

Teenagers used to be considered Britain's biggest drinkers, but experts are now more worried by middle-aged shoppers who order wine from supermarkets and consume it at home every day.

Dr Tony Rao of the Royal College of Psychiatrists said older drinkers tend not to accept they have a problem.

'There is a huge amount of denial,' he said. 'Whereas millennials and younger groups are more likely to make healthy choices, the older age groups are aware of the problems but they are not willing to make changes to their lifestyles.'

PHE figures show that 37,000 patients aged 50 and over received alcohol treatment in 2017/18, compared with 33,600 under-35s.

In 2005/06  the first year the figures were recorded  10,000 over-50s and 26,000 under-35s were treated.

The starkest rise is among over-65s, up nearly five-fold over the 13 years. Some 4,429 were treated in 2017/18 compared with just 940 in 2005/2006.

PHE figures show that 37,000 patients aged 50 and over received alcohol treatment in 2017/18, compared with 33,600 under-35s (stock image)

Alcohol treatment for the youngest groups has, by contrast, dropped  by 30 per cent for under-20s, and 8 per cent for those aged 20 to 24.

Dr Rao, who analysed the PHE figures, said many women only start drinking heavily in middle age  often due to empty-nest loneliness or bereavement  whereas men are more likely to have drunk more and more throughout their lives. 'Older women are more likely to self-medicate,' he said.

'If you look at people who start drinking later in life, they are more likely to be women than men. They are more likely to be responding to problems such as financial issues, bereavement, loneliness, isolation.'

Modern trends have also seen younger Britons turning away from alcohol, he noted. 'Peer pressure is much less strong in young people now,' he said. 'But with older groups socialising tends to involve alcohol.'

Katherine Severi, chief executive of the Institute of Alcohol Studies, said: 'The baby boomer generation have become one of the most vulnerable sections of society in terms of harm from alcohol. They are drinking more frequently and in greater quantities than their parents and are subsequently faced with greater rates of liver disease, cancer and mental health problems.

'Over the years efforts to tackle Britain's alcohol problem have been focused on teenage binge drinkers in our towns and city centres... what goes on behind closed doors can potentially be far more damaging to health and create a greater burden in the long term for the NHS.'

The PHE figures also show the middle-aged are increasingly being treated for drug addiction. The number of over-65s in treatment for cannabis has risen eight-fold, while the figure has tripled for cocaine abuse.
Spain-based Acciona, a leading supplier of sustainable infrastructure solutions and renewable energy projects worldwide, has revalidated its position as the greenest electric power generation company in the world.



It has held this position since 2015 in the New Energy Top 100 Green Utilities ranking of Energy Intelligence, an independent consultancy that specialises in energy markets.



The ranking, which has been published in its seventh edition, selects a hundred of the best electricity generation companies in the world and classifies them based on their CO2 emissions and installed capacity in renewable technologies (excluding hydroelectric) to determine their level of involvement in the transition to a low-carbon electric power system.



Acciona continues to be the main pure player in renewables and stands in first place in the world ranking of the US-based firm. In its report, Energy Intelligence highlights the growing role that specialised renewables companies such as Acciona play in achieving an ever cleaner energy system worldwide.



The 100 companies that make up the ranking total 3,370 gigawatts (GW) and account for around 50 per cent of electricity generation capacity in the world. European companies figure prominently in the Top 10, with five companies, together with three from China and two from the USA. After Acciona, the greenest utilities are China General Nuclear, Iberdrola (ES), E.On (AL), NextEra Energy (US), Invenergy (US), EDP (Portugal), China Energy Investment, Orsted (DK) y State Power Investment (Ch).



An analysis of the Top 100 Green Utilities of Energy Intelligence reveals, among other things, that the companies listed had CO2 emissions below 500 kg/MWh last year (precisely 495 kg/MWh, as opposed to 565 kg/MWh in 2011).



It also highlights that, in the seven years of the study, non-hydro renewables have almost tripled in the ranking, up to 299 GW (116 GW in 2011). In this respect, Energy Intelligence emphasizes the role played by European electricity companies that have undergone greater transformations in their generation assets, adding a total of 35 GW in wind and solar in that period and divested in fossil assets to the extent of 90 GW.



Acciona Energia is a global operator in renewable energies with over 25 years experience in the sector and more than 9,000 MW under its ownership. It has 222 wind farms totalling 7,613 MW; 76 hydro plants (876 MW); photovoltaic plants totalling 389 MWp and a CSP plant (64 MW). It belongs to the Acciona Group, a leading group in sustainable solutions and renewable infrastructures and projects all over the world.  TradeArabia News Service
One in 40 children has autism, a new report shows.

But although that is a higher number than previously recorded, experts say the number isn't necessarily rising.

The US government answers has at least three different ways of assessing the prevalence of the disorder, which is measured differently across the country.

The new number, published Monday in Pediatrics, is from one of three periodic surveys the government uses to assess autism rates.

It's higher than a different survey's estimate published earlier this year, but the surveys use different methods and measure different populations of kids so the results aren't really comparable.

The Milestone Tracker phone app from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The app was created to help parents recognize developmental delays

Because there's no medical test, 'autism spectrum disorder is a particularly challenging condition to track,' government researchers wrote in the Pediatrics report.

The true occurrence of autism likely ranges from about 1 in 59 kids to 1 in 40 kids, researchers say, taking into account information from all three surveys.

'All contribute different information to form a fuller picture,' said Michael Kogan, lead author of the new report conducted by the US Health Resources & Services Administration, a federal agency.

Various reports in recent years have suggested autism rates are rising slightly. Experts think that's mostly because of earlier diagnosis, an expanded definition and more awareness, but say they can't rule out a true increase caused by unknown factors.

Here's a rundown on the three surveys:

The latest estimate is based on responses from about 43,000 parents of kids aged three to 17. They were asked if their child had ever been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, the formal name that encompasses mild to severe cases. The 2016 survey was internet-based; earlier ones were telephone surveys showing slightly higher rates but the researchers say the results aren't comparable. The nationally representative survey suggests that about 1.5 million U.S. kids have autism - 2.5 percent or one in 40.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent collects nationally representative information from in-person interviews. In 2016, it also asked parents of kids aged three to 17 about an ever-diagnosis of autism and came up with a rate slightly higher than in previous years but similar to the one in 40 estimate.

The CDC also uses an 11-state tracking system. It's based on health and school records showing which kids meet criteria for autism, focusing on eight-year-olds because most cases are diagnosed by that age. A report from this network released in April, showed that one in 59 kids have autism although much higher rates were found in some places. This estimate is considered the most rigorous, but it's not nationally representative.

Autism Speaks, an advocacy group, is among organizations that use the CDC's network estimate. It tends be more conservative and potentially more accurate than parents' reports, said neuroscientist Dean Hartley, a senior director for the group,

Autism is a developmental disorder that can involve varying degrees of language and social impairments, often including repetitive behaviors.

Experts say affected kids fare best with early diagnosis and treatment, but some doctors may dismiss early signs and some parents may be unaware of autism symptoms, the CDC's Dr Stuart Shapira said.

The Pediatrics survey found that about one-third of kids with parent-reported autism received no behavior treatment and showed that many parents had trouble getting services for their children, echoing earlier studies.

Shapira noted the agency has a free Milestone Tracker phone app to help parents recognize developmental delays.
A mother left infertile after gruelling chemotherapy is to undergo a revolutionary operation to reverse her menopause.

Adele Stevens will be one of the first in the world to have laparoscopic auto-transplantation, in the hope of restoring her fertility.

The mother-of-one had chemotherapy for Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. But the 25-year-old is desperate to have another child.

Ms Stevens, who lives near Reading, had one of her two healthy ovaries removed and frozen in a treatment called ovarian cryopreservation before her chemotherapy began in 2015.

Adele Stevens, 25, will be the one of the first in the world to have ovarian cryopreservation in the hope of restoring her fertility after chemotherapy gave her an early menopause

The mother-of-one, Amelia, was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in 2015. She had an ovary removed and frozen before 14 rounds of chemotherapy

The tissue from the healthy ovary will now be grafted on to her damaged ovary in the revolutionary surgery next month.

The surgery is run by the Oxford Tissue Cryopreservation (OTCP) service, a joint venture between the University of Oxford and the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The service's clinical director Dr Shelia Lane, of John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, said the surgery had a high success rate in trials in other countries.

She said: 'The ovary starts producing eggs again and gives you back your normal hormone function.

'Your period starts again, you reverse menopause.'

The effect can last ten years.

Ms Stevens already has a daughter called Amelia but dreams of having a baby with her 29-year-old partner Ricky.

Ms Stevens would like to have a second child by having her ovaries re-implanted

'I was only 24 but I had the body of someone in their 50s' - Ms Stevens, from Reading, said she began to have irregular periods, night sweats and hot flushes during her treatment

WHAT IS THE MENOPAUSE? Menopause is defined as the changes a woman goes through just before and after she stops her periods and is no longer able to get pregnant naturally. Some women go through this time with few, if any, symptoms, around 60 percent experience symptoms resulting in behavioral changes and one in four will suffer severely. Common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness leading to discomfort during sex, disrupted sleep, decreased sex drive, problems with memory and concentration and mood swings. Menopause happens when your ovaries stop producing as much of the hormone oestrogen and no longer release an egg each month. In the UK, the average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51, according to the NHS. Advertisement

She told The Sun: 'I'm only the second patient to have it done, so I'm a bit of a guinea pig. But it gives me so much hope.'

Although Ms Stevens says she is the second patient to have the operation, figures show there have been over 50 births recorded from cryopreserved ovarian tissue.

Centres offering the treatment have been running in other countries around the world for at least 15 years.

Research began in the UK in the 1970s, but due to reasons of regulatory constraint, clinical work was stalled.

Two cases have been recorded in the UK since the treatment began to be offered in 2013.

The technology is still new, but experts say the success rate so far is encouraging and in line with other fertility treatments such as IVF.

Ms Stevens was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in 2015.

Ewing's sarcoma most commonly affects teenagers and young adults.

It makes up 14% of all diagnoses, according to Sarcoma UK, and there were around 580 new cases of bone sarcoma in the UK in 2014, according to Cancer Research UK.

In the US, about 225 children and teenagers are diagnosed with a Ewing tumor each year.

Ms Stevens had 14 rounds of chemo before flying to the US for 29 days of proton beam therapy - a type of radiotherapy.

This triggered menopausal symptoms more than two decades early, with the mother suffering from hot flushes and mood swings. Women in the UK reach the menopause aged 51, on average, according to the NHS.

Ms Stevens with her partner, Ricky, 29, who plan to have a child together after the operation

She said: 'My periods were irregular for a year then I started to have night sweats, hot flushes and hormonal changes.

'I was only 24 but I had the body of someone in their 50s. My mum was going through it at the same time  she's 54. I felt very depressed.'

Now, she has been offered fresh hope of having a baby.

Ten young people under the age of 25 are diagnosed with cancer every day, according to The Future Fertility Trust.

Eight will be cured, and one of these eight will become infertile as a result of their treatment.

Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are widely known to have the potential to affect a woman's fertility.

Chemotherapy has the ability to stop the body from producing hormones required, while radiotherapy has been found to damage the lining of the womb in some cases.

For young women who have to start treatment urgently, the standard fertility preservation methods of egg and embryo storage are not an option.

In these circumstances, a treatment called ovarian tissue cryopreservation can be offered to protect future fertility.

The average age of a patient to have the Oxford Tissue Cryopreservation (OTCP) service is 12 years old, with the youngest patient being under one.

It is for this reason that the UK is yet to have many cases of the ovarian tissue being put back into the patient.

Dr Lane said: 'If you are older than 18, and you have at least 2-3 weeks between diagnosis and starting treatment, you may be able to freeze eggs but that will be postcode lottery.'

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is not yet available on the NHS, but Dr Lane hopes it will be within the next two years.

During the operation, ovarian tissue is removed during a short key-hole operation.

This is immediately transported to a laboratory where it is prepared for freezing in the Tissue Bank freezer.

When the patient wants to restore their fertility, the stored tissue will be implanted in order to restore hormone and egg production.

In the future, a wider range of techniques available, increasing the range of potential options, but the current success rate is encouraging, say experts.

'Most people who have had childhood cancer will not go on to have relationships or start families because they are sterile', Dr Lane said. 'This treatment means they can.'

Ms Stevens's story will be told on The Truth About Menopause on BBC1 at 9pm tonight.
Churchgoers have been told not to dip wafers into Holy Communion wine to avoid the spread of flu.

Right Reverend David Walker, who is Bishop of Manchester, has urged worshipers not to soak the wafer, which represents the body of Jesus Christ, into wine, which symbolises his blood.

As well as spreading infection, Reverend Walker is also concerned about some churchgoers reacting to gluten in the bread.

Churchgoers have been told not to dip wafers into Holy Communion wine to avoid flu (stock)

'When a wafer is given into the hands of a communicant it may become contaminated by germs lying on the skin,' Reverend Walker said.

'Intincting the wafer then introduces those germs directly into the wine.'

Reverend Walker also voiced concerns a worshiper's fingertips may accidentally dip into the wine and spread germs.

'Should a communicant not wish to drink from the chalice, perhaps through having a heavy cold, then he or she may be assured that to receive the sacrament in one kind alone - bread or wine - is to receive the sacrament in its entirety,' he told The Times.

Reverend Walker also noted that while gluten-free bread is available at some services, dipping traditional wafers into wine may cause gluten contamination.

Holy communion is more common in Eastern Orthodox churches but also takes place in some Church of England parishes.

The Church of England suspended offering a communal goblet of wine during the 2009 flu epidemic and instead recommended worshipers dip wafers into the liquid.

Certain churches have also previously stopped the tradition of asking attendees to shake hands or even embrace in 'exchanging the peace'.

Sharing drinks causes a small amount of saliva to be exchanged, which can be rich in viruses if someone is battling the flu.

Drinking from the same cup or sharing cutlery with an infected person is a recognised way flu spreads. The virus can even survive on metal surfaces, such as goblets, for more than 24 hours.

Worse still, someone may be contagious up to a day before they develop symptoms.

Elderly people and pregnant women are among the most at risk of dangerous flu complications, which can include pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis and brain inflammation.

Flu is also a very common infection in babies and children, who may require hospital treatment, with some even dying from the infection.

This comes after news released last month revealed millions of at-risk patients have yet to get their flu jab this winter because of delivery problems to GP practices.

Just 33.8 per cent of over-65s had been vaccinated, compared to 53.7 per cent this time last year, according to a Public Heath England national flu report.
Not enough is being done to protect people from 'dangerous medical devices', senior members of the Government have warned.

An investigation revealed there were 62,000 reported problems with medical implants between 2015 and 2018, and more than 1,000 people died.

Baroness Julia Cumberlege said regulations on the devices  including pacemakers, hip replacements and breast implants  are not good enough.

She said patients 'can't rely on' the system currently in place to protect them from being harmed by surgical implants.

And Sarah Wollaston MP said it was 'vital' that reports of patients' implants going wrong are taken seriously and dealt with.

More than 1,000 people have died in the past three years because of problems caused by surgical devices like breast implants, pacemakers, artificial hips and contraceptive implants

Baroness Julia Cumberlege warned people 'can't rely on' the system currently in place to try and protect them from faulty surgical implants like pacemakers and artificial hips

Figures obtained from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) this weekend revealed the extent of problems caused by medical implants.

Experts warn the rules on devices  such as the controversial vaginal mesh  are not strict enough compared to other aspects of medicine.

And there is not enough transparency about how many people suffer from complications, The Guardian has revealed.

Out of 15,436 reports of problems so far in 2018, only 231 have triggered investigations into what went wrong.

'If you look at the regulation of medicines, its pretty strict,' said Lady Cumberlege, who is leading a safety review of medical devices for the Government.

'We know it takes nine years for a medicine  to be brought to market. With devices, that rigour is not there.'

She warned 'patients certainly can't rely on' the system in place to protect them from being harmed  or even killed  by surgical implants.

A 'yellow card' system put in place by the MHRA to report and investigate issues with implants 'doesn't work and is ineffective', Lady Cumberlege added.

Her caution comes after it was revealed a company which makes now-withdrawn hip replacements has had to pay the NHS to monitor and operate on patients who were given the faulty joints.

DePuy, a company owned by Johnson & Johnson, may have spent millions of pounds covering the costs of problems caused by its metal-on-metal artificial hips.

The joints  called articular surface replacements (ASR)  were withdrawn from use in 2010 after debris from the metal was causing tissue damage.

Lady Cumberlege said all implant patients need to be followed up to see how their devices affect their health.

A working system, she said, could have avoided the crippling pain and suffering of tens of thousands of women given scandal-hit vaginal mesh implants.

The House of Lords peer was appointed head of a review into the mesh implants which was ordered by Prime Minister Theresa May in February.

Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, former GP and member of the Government's health select committee told the Guardian: 'It is vital that reported complications from medical devices are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly and in a timely manner so that the public can be protected from dangerous medical devices.'

And Professor Derek Alderson, president of the Royal College of Surgeons added: 'All implantable devices should be registered and tracked to monitor efficacy and patient safety in the long term.

'This requires government funding and support, and potentially national guidelines on the introduction of new procedures and technologies.'

The scale of damage caused by surgical implants was revealed by an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

This included journalists from The Guardian, the British Medical Journal, BBC, French paper Le Monde, and Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung.
Hope has been raised for multiple sclerosis patients as researchers claim to have found a way to combat symptoms of the condition.

Training the body to fight glandular fever could provide the key for treating the debilitating condition which strikes millions, according to research.

Scientists improved the symptoms of 70 per cent of MS sufferers in a small trial by training their immune cells to battle the common Epstein-Barr virus.

The virus causes glandular fever  known in the US as mono. It is found in almost all people with multiple sclerosis and has long been thought to cause it.

Training the immune system to battle the common Epstein-Barr virus (pictured), which causes glandular fever and may be responsible for triggering multiple sclerosis, could improve symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis, Australian researchers have found

Experts at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Queensland uncovered the effects of training immune cells in MS patients.

In most people with the Epstein-Barr virus, it lies dormant in their body, unless it is active, which is when it causes glandular fever.

But among some people the cells infected by the virus  which is part of the herpes family and infects more than 90 per cent of people  can travel to the brain or spine.

There, it can break down the fatty, protective coating around nerves called myelin, causing nerve damage and leading to the debilitating symptoms of MS.

The Australian researchers removed immune cells from MS patients' bodies, trained them to fight of the Epstein-Barr virus, then injected them back into the blood.

After this, seven of the 10 patients said signs of their MS improved  they claimed to have increased energy, better concentration, and improved vision and balance.

WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS? Multiple sclerosis (known as MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the body and causes nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. It is an incurable, lifelong condition. Symptoms can be mild in some, and in others more extreme causing severe disability. MS affects 2.3 million people worldwide - including around one million in the US, and 100,000 in the UK. It is more than twice as common in women as it is in men. A person is usually diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. The condition is more commonly diagnosed in people of European ancestry. The cause isn't clear. There may be genes associated with it, but it is not directly hereditary. Smoking and low vitamin D levels are also linked to MS. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, bladder problems, numbness or tingling, muscle stiffness and spasms, problems with balance and co-ordination, and problems with thinking, learning and planning. The majority of sufferers will have episodes of symptoms which go away and come back, while some have ones which get gradually worse over time. Symptoms can be managed with medication and therapy. The condition shortens the average life expectancy by around five to 10 years. Advertisement

And in four of them there were lower levels of a protein commonly found in MS patients, suggesting a measurable improvement in the disease.

Nobody had serious side effects in the study, which was a larger repeat of one in 2013, in which a 42-year-old man had the same therapy and said he felt less tired, suffered fewer painful leg spasms and was able to do his job better.

The researchers now want to do an even larger study including people being given a placebo to measure how well the therapy actually works.

The findings add more evidence to the theory of Epstein-Barr being a potential cause of multiple sclerosis, MS Research Australia said.

But it is still not clear why only a small majority of people with the very common virus develop the degenerative nerve disease.

Genetic differences may affect how well people's immune systems can fight off the virus, scientists suggest.

Their research, reported by the New Scientist, was published in the journal JCI Insight.

Charities estimate there are around 100,000 MS sufferers in the UK, while the figure is more than four times higher in the US.

The disease, which worsens over time, occurs when the immune system mistakes myelin for a foreign body and attacks it.

This damages and disrupts signalling between the brain and spinal cord, either partially or completely.

It can lead to vision and balance problems, dizziness, fatigue, stiffness and spasms. The disease progressively gets worse.

It is not yet known whether the Epstein-Barr virus directly trigger multiple sclerosis but the two have been linked for years.

Practically all people with multiple sclerosis have had an Epstein-Barr infection at some point in their lives, and the virus puts people at a 5.5 times higher risk of developing MS, according to studies.

Scientists suggest differences in how people's immune systems deal with the virus, or the ability of the virus to interact with DNA could be to blame for the link.
Being hyperactive may be in your DNA, research suggests.

Scientists have identified more than 300 genetic mutations that raise the risk of the mental disorder by 19 per cent.

The findings, made by a team at SUNY Upstate Medical University in New York, may debunk critics who argue ADHD is just an excuse for bad behaviour.

Study identified 304 genetic mutations that are linked to ADHD (stock)

In the first study of its kind, researchers analysed the genes of 55,374 people from a global database.

Of these, 20,183 had been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the study published in the journal Nature Genetics.

A total of 304 mutations across 12 genetic locations were identified as being unique to the mental disorder.

These genetic variants overlapped with those for 44 other conditions and traits, including severe depression, anorexia, obesity, insomnia and even smoking.

The mutations are thought to affect a sufferer's central nervous system, which then influences their brain development and nerve cell signalling.

This supports previous research, with ADHD already being associated with sleep disturbances and impulsive behaviours, such as overeating and smoking.

ADHD also shares genes that code for having children younger and multiple offspring, the study found.

WHAT IS ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include: Constant fidgeting

Poor concentration

Excessive movement or talking

Acting without thinking

Little or no sense of danger

Careless mistakes

Forgetfulness

Difficulty organising tasks

Inability to listen or carry out instructions Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure. Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette's and epilepsy. There is no cure. A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

The condition affects around five per cent of children and teenagers, and 2.5 per cent of adults, worldwide. It is also around four times more prevalent in boys than girls.

Previous studies have questioned the role of genetics in ADHD and pointed the finger more at environmental factors, such as poor parenting.

The mental disorder has previously been described as a 'fad' and an excuse for poor behaviour.

'The diagnosis can be an easy-to-reach-for crutch,' neurologist Dr Richard Saul told Psychology Today.

Dr Saul claims he has treated an adult diagnosed with ADHD who just needed to cut back on coffee, as well as a little girl who was being disruptive at school because she was struggling to read the blackboard.

'I know of far too many colleagues who are willing to write a prescription for a stimulant with only a cursory examination of the patient, such as the "two-minute checklist," for ADHD,' he said.

Others point out ADHD symptoms may be masking conditions such as depression, which requires a different set of treatments.

But Dr Imad Alsakaf, assistant professor of psychiatry at Creighton University in Omaha, told WebMD there are 'clear differences' in the brain scans of people with and without the disorder.

Symptoms of ADHD typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can include constant fidgeting.

It is incurable. But a combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.

It comes after a study last month warned pupils are being labelled as hyperactive and given medication when they are simply younger than others in their year.

Researchers examined the relationship between a childs age relative to classmates and their chances of being diagnosed with ADHD.

After reviewing 17 studies, covering more than 14million children, researchers found it was more common for the youngest in a classroom to be diagnosed with ADHD.
Doctors said five-year-old Rebecca Roper might never walk or talk again after a tumor in her brainstem left her immobile and mute.

But to their astonishment, just weeks after her life-saving operation last summer, she spoke, declaring that she wanted some light-up sneakers from Skechers.

And now, she is taking her first steps.

The medical team at Jimmy Everest Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases in Children in Oklahoma City said they were astounded by Rebecca's swift bounce back.

The progress is bittersweet since scans recently showed that her tumor has grown back.

But speaking to DailyMail.com, Rebecca's family say they are just overjoyed that, thanks to her determined attitude, she is able to go back to school and have experiences they feared she would miss out on.

Rebecca Roper, five, from Enid, Oklahoma, began having trouble walking, talking and balancing in 2017. Pictured: Rebecca in physical therapy this year

Doctors performed CT scans and found a tumor known as a glioma on her brainstem. Pictured: Rebecca undergoing physical therapy this year

Roper had been born happy and healthy, and was hitting every developmental milestone.

But things slowly took a turn for the worse. In 2017, Rebecca started having trouble speaking and was losing her balance.

'She had been acting like she hurt her ankle so we took her to the doctor and he said it didn't seem like there was anything wrong with it,' her grandfather Larry Coats told DailyMail.com.

'A few days later daycare called and said: "She's having a hard time walking".'

Coats drove Rebecca to the local hospital in Enid where a CT scan revealed there was a mass on her brain. Doctors referred them to the Jimmy Everest Center.

'They did an MRI and they found a tumor on her brainstem that was the size of a lemon,' Coats said.

'You could imagine it was like, I can't believe this is happening.'

Rebecca had a tumor known as a glioma, which begins in the glial cells that surround nerve cells and help them function.

Symptoms include headache, memory loss, nausea, vomiting, difficulty with balance and vision problems.

Gliomas are among the most common types of brain tumors and can severely impact brain function.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are three types of gliomas -astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas, and ependymomas - but it is unknown which type Rebecca had.

Although treatment can vary based on the size, type and location of the tumor, standard options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy.

Because brain tumors can affect areas of the brain that control motor skills, speech and vision, sufferers may have to undergo physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy as part of their recovery.

Dr Abhishek Bavle, a pediatric hematology-oncology specialist at Jimmy Everest, told KFOR that the location of Rebecca's tumor made surgery difficult.

Giomas are among the most common types of brain tumors and can severely impact brain function. Surgeons had to remove two vertebrae to reach Rebecca's tumor, but some of it was too deep to remove safely. Pictured: Rebecca after her surgery, left and with her grandfather, right

After the procedure, it was unknown if Rebecca would regain the motor skills she had lost, but she is now in physical and occupational therapy. Pictured: Rebecca in a wheelchair after her surgery

Although Rebecca's tumor was characterized as low-grade, MRI scans showed it was beginning to grow back, so doctors put her on chemotherapy. Pictured: Rebecca's post-surgical scar

'It was in a very bad location right behind the brainstem, which carries all the nerves from the brain down to the spinal cord,' he said.

On July 26, 2017, Rebecca had her operation. Surgeons had to remove two vertebrae to reach the tumor, but some of it was too deep to remove safely.

Following the surgery, doctors told Coats that it was a waiting game to see if Rebecca would regain the ability to swallow, speak and walk.

'She also had one eye after surgery that wouldn't focus and they put a patch over the good eye to make the one that wasn't focusing focus better,' Coats said.

It was while watching cartoons with Coats that Rebecca spoke her first words and began her long road to recovery.

'Everything fell into place after that and it was like a light blinking, and you know: "Okay the light's going to come back on,' Coats said.

'She hadn't said anything for a month-and-a-half and we were at a rehab center in Bethany.

'A commercial came on for Skechers light-up sneakers and she said: "Papa, I want those." At first I said: "Okay" but then I thought: "Wait, what did you say?"

'It was quite a moment. She started talking out of nowhere and I knew she was going to be okay.'

Rebecca has been in physical and occupational therapy relearning lost motor skills including walking, talking, balance and catching objects.

Exercises include building a wall out of cardboard boxes, tossing and catching balls, and walking across a balance beam.

Despite her progress, the kindergartner still has a long way to go.

Although Rebecca's tumor was characterized as low-grade, MRI scans showed it was beginning to grow back, so doctors put her on chemotherapy.

Doctors hope they can control the glioma's growth until Rebecca stops growing because, when she's stopped, the tumor might stop as well.

'We're so happy where she is right now,' Coats said. 'She just started kindergarten and she's a little different because she doesn't walk completely right but she gets along with all the other kids very well.'
You are never alone - not even in the shower, where tiny living microbes are huddling in the pipes, waiting to join your wash.

That might be a little creepy or a little gross, but if you are Dr Rob Dunn, a North Carolina State University biologist and author of Never Home Alone, it's a bit of both - and pretty fascinating.

Dr Dunn studies all the tiny living things everywhere, including, recently, in your showerhead.

He and his team conducted the largest study of showerheads to-date, during which they surveyed bathrooms the world over in search of the cleanest - and dirtiest - water we bathe in.

They are interested in the bacteria that live in all water systems and stick to our showerheads.

It turns out that the harder we try to cleanse our water supplies of microbes, the more of the nastiest kinds we wind up having in our showerheads.

And really, Dr Dunn says, the benefits of a wilder microscopic world in the bathroom might suggest our lives would be a little healthier if they were a little dirtier.

Showerheads may be the culprits of a growing number of myobacteria infections in the US - and the more heavily the water supply is treated, the more potent the bugs in your bathroom

It's early morning, the sun is barely up, your eyes are practically sealed shut with sleep.

But a warm shower, and a strenuous scrub have you just about set straight, feeling purified and enlivened.

You turn around, turn off the water and, head still tilted back in enjoyment, you open your eyes.

And then you see it, the filthy-looking, grimy, discolored source or your cleansing: your showerhead.

If it looks to you like something is alive on there, then you're right.

'There is going to be life in your showerhead, it's something you have very little control over,' says Dr Dunn.

'Though, that probably doesn't help you much when you're in your own apartment as you confront your own showerhead,' he admits.

Alongside other microscopic creatures like single-celled protazoa and, in some places, tiny crustaceouns, a group of microorganisms called nontuberculous myobacteria (NTB) are inevitable in water.

NTB aren't meant to live in human bodies, but they sometimes make their way from the water source into our bodies.

They can be dangerous to people with weakened immune systems, though they are rarely harmful to healthy adults.

You're going to be showered with life ... it's something you have very little control over Dr Rob Dunn, North Carolina State University biologist, author or Never Home Alone

Still, myobacteria don't really want to be in us, we don't really want them there and, strangely, scientists have seen a mysterious uptick in myobacteria infections, particularly in the US - though annual rates remain low and poorly reported.

But these rates and increases vary quite widely from state to state, and that raised some questions for Dr Dunn and his colleagues.

'Myobacteria are funny, because we've had very little understanding of why they are becoming more common and why they vary a lot from place to place,' he says.

'And there's more and more evidence that showerheads seem to be, in one way or another, the culprits.'

If you unscrew your showerhead, inside the pipe that feeds it, 'you're always going to see a little gunk on the pipe itself,' says Dr Dunn.

That 'gunk' is what scientists call biofilm, excretions that water-dwelling microorganisms use to keep themselves planted firmly in their preferred habitats.

Or, as Dr Dunn puts it in his book, 'the bacteria poop a little indestructible condominium in your pipes, built of hard-to-break-down complex carbohydrates,' he writes.

'But when the pressure is high enough, these species are let loose into the fine aerosol spray of water droplets pelting our hair and bodies and splashing up and into our noses and mouths.'

This seems to be a more common issue in states like Texas and Florida, but not so much in Michigan.

It's also more common in the US than in Europe.

Dr Dunn and his colleagues had thousands of people all over the world swab the insides of their showerheads to see what was different where.

Ancient [unfiltered] water is doing a lot of what we'd like our systems to do. Nature's checks and balances are working in our favor ... if we don't screw up things Dr Rob Dunn

They found that across the board, well water - 'ancient water,' Dr Dunn says - drawn up from deep underground and rarely or minimally treated yielded the most diverse microorganism populations, but had less dense populations of myobacteria.

In urban areas where the water was treated with chlorine to try to make it more sterile, however, there seemed to be less diverse life, but more myobacteria that could make us sicker.

Essentially, the chlorine in treated water kills off lots of less tolerant microorganisms - harmful or not.

But the tolerant ones, which tend to become the most potent and hard-to-beat bacteria, can tough out the chlorine and beat other life forms that might compete with them.

Ironically, the plastic showerheads that can look so gross so quickly can actually help to bat back the strong myobacteria.

'Plastic is a little biodegradable, so other bacteria can eat a little plastic and compete with the myobacteria,' Dr Dunn says.

'Crappy yellow tube hardly ever seems like salvation,' but in this case it is.

It's salvation to the other organisms that eat myobacteria, and perhaps to us, too.

Dr Dunn explains: 'All water you drink has life in it. It has fungi, protozoa, crustaceans. We want to figure out how to get rid of stuff that can harm us, like fecal-origin pathogens and myobacteria.

'Ancient [unfiltered] water is doing a lot of what we'd like our systems to do. Nature's checks and balances are working in our favor ... if we don't screw up things.'

Is that really what we want to be? just sealed in with our own falling-apart every day? Dr Rob Dunn

He says that letting a little outdoors indoors could be the best thing for us, because what we call 'clean' really isn't.

'One surprise is that most clean houses are not sterile, because they just become dominated by just human body microbes,' Dr Dunn says.

This is true for the space station, which isn't really 'clean,' Dr Dunn insists, 'it's just full of bits of astronaut being biodegraded. Similarly the top floor, sealed-off penthouse is not the most sterile place - it's just the most human one.'

For him, that raises questions that are ecological, biological and even existential: 'Is that really what we want to be? just sealed in with our own falling-apart every day?'

Dr Dunn's theory is that once we learned that some of the invisible living things in our environments could kill us, we went a little overboard and figured we were best off killing everything.

Add into that mixture a post-World War II mentality ('if it can kill the enemy on the battlefield, it can kill the enemies in your home!') and commercialism ('kills 99 percent of germs!') and we were ready to obliterate all bacteria.

'Everything kills 99 percent of germs ... but really what you want to kill is about 50 percent,' says Dr Dunn.

'But as weve sealed ourselves indoors weve lost exposures to microbes that we need to be healthy ... it's clear we broke something, though it's not clear how, and we're starting to see ways we might reduce the symptoms if not fix it.'

Studies have already shown how a little farm dust can help a city kid, or that children who grow up with a dog have better immune systems.

'We need to start reacquainting our selves with the outdoors, opening a window and letting a little more nature back in,' Dr Dunn says, or even letting the grime grow in the showerhead.
Jayne Butler, a dance major, is achieving her dreams in modern dance and ballet while battling a debilitating neurological disorder that makes her sleep for most of the day

A student can fall into a zombie-like state for two months at a time due to a one-in-a-million neurological disease.

Jayne Butler, 19, slept through Thanksgiving and Christmas last year after experiencing a severe episode.

The dance major has Kleine-Levin Syndrome, a condition often dubbed 'Sleeping Beauty Syndrome' because it puts sufferers into a deep sleep.

Despite the nickname, Jayne said the reality is far from a fairy tale and there's 'nothing beautiful' about the incurable disorder.

During episodes, Jayne, of Thousand Oaks, California, will sleep for more than 18 hours a day and suffers terrifying nightmares.

When she's awake, she's 'not with it' and barely manages to drowsily stagger to the bathroom or have something to eat before dropping off again.

The teenager had her first major episode last November and it lasted until the end of December, meaning she missed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

She had another one in June which resulted in her missing two dance performances and university exams. It lasted through July and she was in recovery until August.

Jayne, who was officially diagnosed with KLS in July, said: 'People refer to Kleine-Levin Syndrome as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome but it's nothing like being a princess.

'You're not a sleeping beauty and there's nothing beautiful about the disease.

'When I'm not in episode, I'm completely my normal self. I'm a college student and I go about my daily life.

'During episodes it's just uncontrollable. Most of the time I'll be sleeping for around 18 hours a day out of 24, sometimes even more.

'The dreams are very, very vivid, much more than usual.

'Sometimes my dreams are really good and it's kind of fun because you can almost pause your dream and then wake up and then when you go back to sleep just continue the dream.

'But sometimes the dreams are super trippy and scary and it's just terrifying because you can't choose to wake up.

Many people call it the 'sleeping beauty' syndrome but Jayne says 'there's nothing beautiful about the disease'

Jayne said she can sense she's about to go into an episode around a week before it begins because all her senses 'kind of just degrade'

Jayne said the disease has had a huge impact on her life, leading to her missing dance performances and college classes

'When I do wake up I'm not with it at all. I'm not conscious.

'In the past it has taken me a month to two months to come completely out of an episode.

'Your brain is really fuzzy for a while trying to catch up to everything that you missed.

'It's just crazy to think about the fact that even if you aren't with the world, if you're asleep for a month, everything around you is still going. No one stops for you.'

Jayne said she can sense she's about to go into an episode around a week before it begins because all her senses 'kind of just degrade'.

Her vision will reduce until she can barely see and mustering the strength needed to apply mascara becomes an impossible task.

The sensation in her skin will also disappear, meaning she can take a hot shower or sip a cup of boiling tea without feeling the heat.

The student, who does modern dance and ballet, said it's always been her dream to dance with a professional company and be on stage every night (pictured: Jayne years ago)

The University of California student said: 'I'll just start to feel really weird and then all of a sudden I won't be able to see.

'I'll look in the mirror when I'm doing my makeup in the morning and not even be able to really see my face. It's terrifying.

'It's all my senses. My hearing kind of degrades. I'll get a text from someone and not even know if what I'm looking at on my phone is real or not.

'You really start to dissociate from reality.'

According to the Kleine-Levin Syndrome Foundation website, KLS affects one in a million people worldwide.

Episodes can last days, weeks or months and are cyclical. They may reoccur for a decade or longer.

The non-profit said: 'Individuals are not able to attend school, work or care for themselves. Most are bedridden, tired and uncommunicative even when awake.

'KLS robs children and young adults of big pieces of their lives, one agonizing episode at a time.'

Jayne said the disease has had a huge impact on her life, leading to her missing dance performances and college classes.

Jayne is speaking out to help raise awareness about KLS and ensure others who are experiencing symptoms get the correct diagnosis

She can't drive and fears the prospect of living by herself in case she falls into an episode

She had an episode in June which resulted in her missing two dance performances and university exams. It lasted through July and she was in recovery until August

The student, who does modern dance and ballet, said: 'It's my dream to dance with a professional company and be on stage every night.

'Last year I was called out of school. I was supposed to be in two different shows, but I couldn't perform.

'It's also a problem when I come out of an episode because I have been lying in bed for a month, so it's very hard to adjust.'

Jayne is also unable to drive and fears the prospect of living by herself in case she falls into an episode.

She was previously prescribed a stimulant to improve her cognitive ability coming out of episodes but said the medication didn't work.

Now she's speaking out to help raise awareness about KLS and ensure others who are experiencing symptoms get the correct diagnosis.

She said: 'Sometimes people will get misdiagnosed as having bipolar syndrome or the doctors tell them, oh, you're depressed.

'Then they get treated with hard drugs that don't even help the KLS at all and just damage them more.

'It's really sad, so I want to work to spread awareness so that people can get correctly diagnosed and actually get the help that they need.

'I'd never heard of it until I was diagnosed.'
Across a Brexit battleground scarred by posturing and the pursuit of personal ambition, the economic consequences are often ignored or politicised.

True, GDP forecasts are less gripping than the human dramas playing out in Westminster. But this isnt just for the geeks  it is our jobs, incomes, savings and investments that are at stake.

Keep that in mind this week when Bank of England governor Mark Carney delivers his most comprehensive view on what leaving the EU means for the banking system, financial stability and the economy.

Brexit: Mark Carney will present its views to the Commons Treasury committee on Thursday

The Government is also to publish its economic forecasts comparing the Prime Ministers Brexit deal with the alternatives of staying in the EU or no deal.

Both sides have bandied economic statistics about since the referendum to reinforce their preconceived ideas, often based on very superficial understanding. One organisation that has tried to present dispassionate, evidence-based analysis is the Bank.

Carney will present its views to the Commons Treasury committee on Thursday, including a worst-case scenario of a no-deal Brexit with no transition period, and a calmer scenario based on the withdrawal agreement.

The Bank has already warned that a cliff-edge Brexit could hit growth and lead to a fall in the pound, although some observers believe a no-deal has already been priced in, so this will not happen. This will come a day after the Bank publishes its latest financial stability report setting out the effect a disorderly Brexit could have on the banking system.

Carney will also reveal the results of the latest doomsday tests on the banking system, designed to see whether banks are resilient enough to withstand shocks much worse than a no-deal Brexit. The good news is that they are all expected to pass.

'Deeply politicised': Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has made no secret of his distaste for Carney

One of the quiet achievements of the past decade is that lenders are far stronger than before the financial crisis, tripling their capital strength. So whatever happens when we leave the EU, our banks should be able to support firms and individuals.

There are, however, risks to the financial services industry, including policies worth billions of pounds sold by EU insurers to UK consumers and vice versa, which firms may not be able to service after Brexit unless an agreement is reached. The Bank has said this could affect 10million Britons and involve liabilities of 27billion.

On top of that, there are tens of trillions of pounds of complex financial contracts known as derivatives that may not be able to be serviced after Brexit  unless the EU and the UK agree to deal with them.

It is in everyones interest that these issues are resolved.

The Banks interventions in the Brexit debate have been controversial.

Arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has made no secret of his distaste for Carney, whom he sees as deeply politicised. But an independent Bank would be derelict in its duty not to spell out the impact it believes Brexit could have on the economy.

Carneys pronouncements are based on the deep pools of information and expertise at his fingertips, including intelligence from the Banks agents in all parts of the country, who are in constant touch with businesses. This makes it uniquely placed to know how firms feel about Brexit and its effects.

Whether or not people like Carneys views, they are serious and well informed.

Too often, politicians seem blithely unaware of the economic impact of their decisions in the world outside Westminster. Time to stop talking and listen.
Prince Saud with Nasser and others at the awards ceremony

Saudi Aramco, the kingdom's oil giant, has signed 31 commercial collaborations with a total value of $27.5 billion with suppliers at the annual In Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) Forum in Dhahran.

Saudi Aramco is hosting its 4th IKTVA Forum & Exhibition this week at the Dhahran Expo Center in Dammam, attracting more than 1,000 local and international energy-sector service and equipment suppliers, manufacturers and small and medium enterprises to explore available investment opportunities with the company in the upstream, chemicals, utilities, non-metallic, IT and cybersecurity, and other areas.

The annual flagship event supports the IKTVA programme, Saudi Aramcos localisation strategy to build a world-class supply chain and establish Saudi Arabia as a globally-competitive energy hub in line with Vision 2030, the kingdoms economic diversification programme.

The event opened today (November 26) under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Eastern Province. The forum, which will conclude tomorrow (November 27) offers presentations, workshops and panels on best practices in navigating such areas as regulatory requirements, financing, R&D and talent development.

In addition to the signing of MoUs and commercial collaborations, an awards programme was held to celebrate the programmes success stories for the year (awarded companies are listed below).

IKTVA participation is mandatory for every Saudi Aramco supplier, as the programme aims to attain 70 percent local content, create thousands of jobs and export 30 percent of local energy goods and services output by 2021.

Partnerships support local content by contributing to job creation, technology transfer, training and development, and R&D. By 2030, the programme aims to establish 30 training centres helping prepare 360,000 highly skilled graduates for jobs of the future.

In return, companies with a local presence can take advantage of more than SR1.7 trillion being spent by Saudi Aramco on localisation opportunities over the next decade.

Our 2018 IKTVA Forum marked the half-way point to our local-content goals, and the event has underlined the win-win nature of our programme with many of our international suppliers increasing their market share or moving their manufacturing to the kingdom, said Saudi Aramco president & CEO Amin H Nasser.

We signed $27.5 billion in a total of 31 commercial collaborations. Companies that have invested here are ideally positioned to benefit further with our signing last month of SR125 billion in business at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, much of which will have a direct impact on IKTVA. As of now, 51 percent of each riyal Saudi Aramco earmarks for materials and services is spent locally, Nasser said.

The annual IKTVA Forum & Exhibition is the leading global energy supply-chain event, driving additional domestic value and maximising sustainable, long-term growth for the Kingdoms changing economy.

The MoUs and commercial collaborations included the following companies and entities:

 Offshore Oil Engineering Co. Ltd.

 Sapura Fabrication Sdn

 Consortium of Lamprell Energy and Boskalis Westminster

 Consortium of Technip Italy and Malaysia Marine & Heavy Engineering

 National Petroleum Construction Company

 Baker Hughes, a GE Company

 Schlumberger

 Siemens

 Saudi Arabia Industrial Development Fund

 PowerChina

 ABB

 Leading National Academy, Technical & Vocational Training Corp, Human Resource Development Fund, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Development

 Gulf Chemicals & Industries Oils Company

 Yokogawa

 Schneider Electric Company

 Honeywell

 Emerson

 Saudi Mechanical Industries

 Weir Arabian Metal/Weir Group

 TechnipFMC

 Ensco

 Shelf Drilling Group

 Noble

 Larsen & Toubro

 Gulf Heavy Industries

 Al-Khonaini International Company

 Hadi Hammam Al Hammam Holding Company

 Leanardo Helicopters & Lamar Holding Company

 Airbus & Al-Qahtani Aviation

 Leading National Academy (LNA) & National Power Academy (NPA)

The IKTVA 2018 Excellence Awards winners are:

 Best Overall IKTVA Performance - Schlumberger Middle East

 Best Year-on-Year Improved IKTVA Performance - Tecnicas Reunidas

 Best in Training & Development - Nasser S. Al-Hajri Corp.

 Best in SME Development - Baker Hughes General Electric

 Best in Saudization - Arabian Drilling Company

 Best in Exports - Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company. - TradeArabia News Service
Booking flights can be extremely stressful as, for most of us, the way airlines price their flights is a complete mystery.

There are frequent rumours that internet cookies save your searches and then allow airlines to hike the price.

There are also conflicting claims about the best way to get the cheapest deal: should you go direct or use a comparison tool to get you the very best deal?

So whats fact and whats fiction? We have busted five of the most common flight booking myths.

Jetting off: Get the best price by searching several comparison sites

1) A search engine will compare ALL prices

There are hundreds of search tools out there now claiming to do the hard work of comparing flights or holiday prices for you.

As a comparison tool we expect them to search the whole of the web, and presume that means we need only to check one to get the very best price.

However some may miss certain deals, list them incorrectly or their software may work slightly differently.

According to analysis of 60 different flight routes from London, Manchester and Birmingham by Cheapflightsfinder.com, using a single comparison tool isnt enough.

Its tool allows you to plug in your criteria and search across several comparison tools at once - a useful shortcut to ensure you get the very best price.

It found that Skyscanner's search tool was the most likely to discover the cheapest flights.

Skyscanner revealed the cheapest flight 40 per cent of the time.

Momondo revealed the cheapest flight 38 per cent of the time.

Kayak revealed the cheapest flight 36 per cent of the time.

Jetcost revealed the cheapest flight 13 per cent of the time.

Cheapights and Dohop revealed the cheapest flight 35 per cent of the time.

Google ights revealed the cheapest flight 18 per cent of the time.

This is Money tested this out ourselves across Cheapflights.co.uk, Google, Dehop, Skyscanner, Kayak and Momondo.

On a return flight from London to Rome in June next year. Dehop offered the cheapest price at 63 compared to Momondo at 73 for exactly the same Ryanair flights  a difference of 9.

It was a similar story when flying from London to Colombo in Sri Lanka with the same Sri Lankan Airlines flight costing 570 via Google compared to 513 through Momondo, Cheapflights and Kayak.

We also found that while most of the comparison tools showed the same flight as the cheapest, just with differing prices, some included other airlines that came out cheaper still.

2) Go direct to get the best deal

Its often presumed that just as some hotels offer cheaper deals when you call them direct, airlines advertise cheaper prices on their own sites than shown via a search tool.

However according to Cheapflightsfinder.com this isnt actually the case as often travel agents buy in bulk and can therefore offer a cheaper price.

A quick tip, most airlines will appear on price comparison sites these days, but there may be a couple that dont such as American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Cheapflightsfinder.com's chief executive Shahab Siddiqu says: 'One way we recommend achieving peace of mind is by comparing your options on multiple ight comparison sites.

'This method greatly increases your booking options and where you decide to spend your hard-earned cash.'

Plugging in an a few example flights we found that going through a comparison tool got a better deal, although not by an enormous amount. We checked a few destinations from UK airports in June next year.

There was a difference of 43 on the same Emirates flight from Manchester to Sydney booked through Skyscanner compared to going direct.

A return trip to Cairo with BA came out 15 cheaper through Kayak and Cheapflights.

A flight from Bristol to Marakesh with EasyJet cost 30 more through its own website than Momondo and Kayak.

Dream destinations: Error fare websites claim to highlight impossibly low flight prices caused by human error or computer glitches

3) Error fares are as rare as hens teeth

Airline glitches, human error and flash sales see a lucky few holidaymakers nabbing impossibly cheap air fares to dream destinations  not something most travellers hold out for.

There are some companies that promise to ferret out these super cheap deals for you delivered to your inbox, or set up pricing alerts for a fee.

But according to Cheapflightsfinder.com data they are actually easier to come by than most people think, if you use a few clever tactics.

Cheap 'error fares' A few more examples from Cheapflightsfinder.com: London to Bangkok - 277

Manchester to San Francisco - 223

Edinburgh to China - 349

London to New York - 216

London to Moscow - 59

Manchester to Delhi - 287

Manchester to Dubai - 259

Birmingham to Mexico City - 372

Birmingham to Barcelona - 39

London to Mexico City - 330

Siddiqui explains: In recent times new sites have popped up from self-proclaimed ight hackers, who charge a premium for locating cheap online deals. However, it is fairly easy to nd ash fares and error fares by yourself.

Travellers simply have to make a broad search for everywhere on websites which allow this and then look for the lowest prices. Skyscanner, Kayak and Google ights allow broad searches to anywhere at any time, enabling you to see the best ash fares in seconds.

This is Money tested this out.

We ran a search on Skyscanner for any date, any destination and it turned up the following return flights:

London to New York for 205

London to Mykonos for 138,

London to Iceland for 52,

London to Brisbane, Australia for 519

London to Florence for 98.

Not bad at first look. Take the London to New York example, that's 73 cheaper than the cost of flights on the same route in six months time.

It's doubtful that this is going to be the key for families to get cheaper flights though. Most of us dont have time to run a search everyday just to check if there are any cheap deals or have the flexibility to book at any old time.

A more realistic option is to use the free alerts sent out by error fare websites, and keep an eye out for any cheap deals that fit your criteria.

Some of the best include Secret Flying, Fly4free, flynous and cheapflightslab or Jacks flight club.

A few examples of cheap deals include return trips from London to Orlando for 279 return - 103 cheaper than the best deal This is Money could see booking in six months time.

We also found deals for Manchester to San Francisco for 300 or London to Buenos-Aires for 416.

But remember if its a mistake, companies will want to pull the deal as soon as possible so a newsletter will alert you as soon as they are spotted.

Remember, while airlines may not always honour the pricing mistake they will always refund the money if there is a mistake.

4) Clearing your browser gets you a better deal

This one causes much confusion. If you have your eye on a flight and revisit the search several times before you buy the price often goes up  its as if they know.

Our new expat section This is Money has launched a new expat section of the website to help Britons living abroad. You can see the latest stories in the new dedicated section - expat money If you have any question you wish to be answered as part of the section, get in touch with the subject line 'expat' editor@thisismoney.co.uk

This is often blamed on your browsers cookies.

According to Cheapightsnder.coms research however it isnt actually the case according to its research of 60 flights, searched with both cookies enabled and disabled.

Siddiqui says: We found this made zero difference in ight price.

The only downside is you may see adverts for the search engine on other sites as your digital footprint shows you have been looking for particular ights on a particular site.

When we tested this theory we found the same. This is Money checked the same flight to Rome from London Stansted on the same computer and other devices over the course of a week and found the prices unchanged.

Either way, an easy fix is to use incognito mode or clear your cookies through your browser options.

Some have also suggested that buying on mobile devices can sometimes turn up cheaper prices, so it could be worth giving this a go too.

Virtual Private Network: Would you go to such lengths to get a cheaper flight?

5) Spoofing your location can save you 100s

The next cheap flight hack isn't a common myth, but it's an interesting one anyway.

It involves using a special online tool that tricks websites into thinking you are surfing the web from a different country.

The reason this can get you a cheaper deal in theory is that companies charge slightly different prices according to where in the world you are booking from.

They know this from your computer's IP address. There are however special plugins called virtual private networks (VPNs) you can download thateffectively cloak your IP address, and make it look like you are browsing in a different country.

What is a VPN A VPN is a virtual private network. It sits between your computer and the web, routing your connection through a server first. A downloadable tool will encrypts your data first. It then gets sent to the VPN, and from the VPN server to your online destination. The end destination sees your data as coming from the VPN server, rather than your computer or IP address. They allow you to change the location so that the website you are viewing thinks your location is different. They were a popular tool used by Netflix users to allow them to access content available in other countries  although this did breach copyright law.

These tools are legal, except for in some countries such as China where government restrictions are in place.

According to independent VPN comparison tool, thebestvpn.com, using one of these tools when buying flights can save hundreds of pounds particularly on long haul flights.

When it checked, the cheapest flight from Heathrow to LA from a UK IP address came out at 319. The same flight with an US IP address cost 303 - a 16 saving.

Another example they gave shows much higher savings though.

They found that a flight from Kuala Lumpur to LAX with United Airlines booked in Poland costs 989.19, compared to booking from the US where it cost almost double at 1,839.27.

We asked Cheapflightsfinder.com's Siddiqui what he thought  he said: Its true that different countries offer different pricing, however consumers should check the terms and conditions of each site to make sure their transaction is valid.

Some search engines - like Dohop for example - check foreign sites for cheaper fares.

Moreover, lots of search engines have dedicated domains for other territories and it can be worth using a VPN to access those sites to see how fares differ from your local version of the same site.'

The jury's still out on this one. This could be a huge money saver if true, but you will need to be careful about the terms and conditions.

Some may specify that you need to live in a certain country in order to book a flight.
A challenger could soon be breathing down the neck of the Big Four accounting firms as BDO nears a merger with a smaller rival.

Talks with Moore Stephens are said to be at an advanced stage.

Together, they would overtake Grant Thornton as the UKs fifth largest auditor after Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG.

Merger talks: BDO's talks with Moore Stephens are said to be at an advanced stage

The move would increase BDOs UK workforce by a quarter, to about 5,000. BDO and Moore Stephens combined their South African operations in 2010.
Former Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein has lost almost 60million in a stock price slump since he gave up control.

Goldman shares have dived 14 per cent under successor David Solomon after the bank was caught up in a corruption scandal that wiped 11.4billion off its market value.

It means 64-year-old Blankfeins holding is worth 350million, a fall of 57.5million since he quit as chief executive last month.

Former Goldman Sachs boss Lloyd Blankfein has lost almost 60million

Solomon  who DJs in his spare time under the hip moniker D-Sol  is sitting on a paper loss of 8.6million, and head of Europe Richard Gnodde is down by 8.4million.

Overall, Goldman board members have lost at least 100million between them.

After Solomon took the reins, Goldman was accused of playing a key role in a 2.7billion embezzlement scandal over Malaysias 1MDB sovereign wealth fund.

Former Goldman partner Tim Leissner has admitted money-laundering charges in the US over the debacle and agreed to forfeit 34.1million. Another ex-staff member has been arrested in Malaysia and is facing extradition to America.

Blankfein, who is still chairman of Goldman, met key players in the scandal but is not accused of wrongdoing.

Musical chairs: CEO David Solomon as D-Sol, his DJ alter ego

The lender has also been swept up in a wider US market rout over fears of a trade war and global economic downturn.

Goldmans stock hit an all-time high in March amid exuberance over tax cuts by President Donald Trump, but has since fallen by more than a quarter.

New Yorker Solomon, 56, has worked at the bank since 1999 and earned 16.4million last year.

As house music DJ D-Sol, he has performed at nightclubs in New York, Miami and the Bahamas. He is also a wine enthusiast with a multi-million-pound collection, and owns a home in the Bahamas, a New York apartment and land in the Hudson Valley.

The news comes as Goldman branches out into consumer lending in the US and UK. It launched a market-leading savings account under the name Marcus in Britain two months ago.

Goldman Sachs declined to comment last night.
Sir Philip Green is looking to substantially reduce his empire's footprint on the High Street.

The retail tycoon's group, Arcadia, plans to close down poorly performing shops by allowing leases to expire when they come up for renewal.

Arcadia's brands include Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Miss Selfridge and Wallis & Evans.

Change of direction: The retail tycoon's group, Arcadia, plans to close down poorly performing shops

A source close to 66-year-old Green said his group would 'love to reduce the size of all the chains substantially'.

They told Property Week: 'It has shed quite a bit of space in the past few years, but it is a slow process. At least all the brands are still profitable, unlike many others in the High Street.'

Stephen Boyce, Arcadia's property director, said the business regularly reviewed its property portfolio.

He said: 'When a lease expires, we taken the opportunity to review the store location and lease terms and decide whether to renew. There are no plans to change this approach.'

In its latest accounts, Arcadia holding company Taveta revealed it had shut 234 stores in the year to August 26, 2017.

It comes after hundreds of Arcadia concessions were put under threat because of potential Debenhams store closures.

Green's retail empire reported sales of 1.9 billion in its latest accounts, down from 2 billion the previous year.
A Utah police officer was killed in a Salt Lake City suburb when he was intentionally mowed down by a car carrying fleeing burglary suspects.

South Salt Lake Officer David Romrell, 31, died Saturday night at a hospital, Police Chief Jack Carruth said. The Marine Corps veteran is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their four-month-old baby boy.

The driver of the getaway car, Felix Calata, 32, was shot and killed by other officers.

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South Salt Lake Police officer David Romrell, 31 (left), lost his life Saturday, after officials say burglary suspect Felix Calata, 32 (right, in a previous mugshot), struck him with his car. Calata was then shot dead

Romrell and another officer were responding Saturday to a burglary call on South West Temple Street when the crash took place

Carruth said Romrell and another officer responded to a burglary call at an industrial business on South West Temple Street shortly before 6pm and came across two men trying to flee in a car, reported KUTV.

The officers got out of their patrol vehicles and ordered the suspects to stop. Instead, the driver accelerated and slammed into Romrell.

Police spokesman officer Gary Keller said Sunday it appears that both officers shot at the car as it drove toward Romrell. An outside agency is investigating the police shooting, he said.

Calata sped away from the scene and the car was later found. He died of an apparent gunshot wound.

His passenger was tracked down but was not arrested. Police have not said anything about his alleged role in the deadly incident.

Romrell, a Marine Corps veteran, leaves behind his wife, Elizabeth (left and right), and their four-month-old baby boy

Romrell joined the police department just 11 months ago; he's the agency's first officer to die in the line of duty

Romrell was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries

Carruth said Romrell had been on the police force for nearly a year and described him as a 'tactically sound' officer who was humble, soft-spoken and kind. The department had never lost an officer in the line of duty.

'As much as we prepare or know the risk of this job, we're not prepared for this,' Carruth said. 'It's taken us all by surprise. It's been very, very painful.'

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said in a statement that he and his wife Jeanette join South Salt Lake police in mourning Romrell.

'He was exemplary in every way, and I feel humbled by the service he gave his country as a Marine, as well as the service he gave our communities here in Utah,' Herbert said.

Romrell spent a long time with the Marines, serving several tours before he joined South Salt Lake Police.

'This is a very difficult time for our agency, for Officer Romrell's family, and we want to thank all the officers that responded [Saturday night], fire personnel and all the staff in IMC that worked hard to treat and save Officer Romrell tonight,' Carruth said.

Several other police departments also paid tribute to Romrell, including the Utah Highway Patrol, who tweeted: 'All of us in the Utah LEO community have heavy hearts today with the tragic loss of SSLPD Officer David Romrell. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, child, family and friends. His life of service will never be forgotten. Semper Fi, Marine.'

In March, Calata was fleeing police in a stolen Jeep when he crashed (pictured), resulting in the death of his passenger, but he was not charged

Herbert said he will order the US and Utah flags lowered to half-staff on the day of Romrell's funeral.

Court records obtained by KUTV indicate that in March of this year, Calata had been involved in another crash that occurred during a high-speed police chase following a traffic stop.

That accident claimed the life of a female passenger who was riding in the stolen Jeep Cherokee Calata was driving at the time, but he was never charged in the death of 44-year-old Danyelle Jennings.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise money for Romrell's widow and infant son. As of Monday morning, more than $21,000 has been collected in donations.
Labour MP Fiona Onasanya will face a retrial over claims she lied to avoid a speeding charge after a jury could not reach a verdict

A Labour MP accused of lying to police to avoid a speeding fine faces a retrial after an Old Bailey jury failed to reach a verdict.

Fiona Onasanya, 35, was accused of perverting the course of justice after her Nissan Micra was clocked speeding in Thorney, Cambridgeshire in July 2017.

The Peterborough MP was accused of plotting with her younger brother Festus to send false details to authorities after she received a letter in the post.

A Russian man, Aleks Antipow, was named as the nominated driver on the paperwork when the camera caught the Nissan doing 41mph in a 30mph zone.

Prosecutors said Mr Antipow was in Russia at the time and prosecuted both Onasanya and her brother.

Festus, 33, admitted three charges of perverting the course of justice by supplying false driver details for speeding offences - including the one sent to his sister.

Onasanya was charged after after her Nissan Micra was clocked speeding in Cambridgeshire

The jury indicated they were unable to agree a verdict against Onasanya, on a single charge of perverting the course of justice, after deliberating for more than two days..

The Recorder of London, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, said: 'Sometimes a jury can't reach a verdict, it's just one of those things. The case will be retried in due course in front of a different jury.'

After working as a solicitor, Ms Onasanya took her seat in the Houses of Parliament in 2017 with a majority of 607 votes.

She ousted former Conservative MP Stewart Jackson and became a party whip, responsible for discipline within Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party.

Onasanya, of Peterborough, denies one count of perverting the course of justice.

Her brother, of Chesterton, Cambridge, has admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice and awaits sentence.
Just metres away from a stunning, quiet beach on the Queensland border sits a family home.

But its walls are made of tarp, not bricks and mortar, and the kitchen has a camp stove in place of an oven and a plastic bucket for doing the dishes.

Bush turkeys wander in and out, and the mozzies are near unbearable. But compared to some, this family's doing pretty well.

They have lived there for seven months, surviving on the mum's Centrelink payments while her partner searches for full-time work.

The family, who asked not to be named, have hidden their campsite in bushland opposite a beach on the border.

Just metres away from a stunning, quiet beach on the Queensland border sits a family home

Its walls are made of tarp, not bricks and mortar, and the kitchen has a camp stove in place of an oven and a plastic bucket for doing the dishes

'I've been working part-time, but nothing enough to start renting. Im a shearer, but theres no sheep here, theyre all back in WA,' the man told Daily Mail Australia.

'Like I said, Ive got my forklift ticket, Ive got a car licence I've been looking for forklift jobs.

Nailed to a tree opposite a sitting area are two clocks - one showing the time in Queensland and one showing the time in NSW

'I go to the library every day, check my email. There's been nothing so far.'

The site feels more like a home than a homeless hangout, with cleaning products seen around the dishwashing tub, and decorations.

During the day, one man, 50, will head out to get food and another will get supplies from shelters.

Nailed to a tree opposite a sitting area, made out of camping chairs and what appears to be a cabinet purchased from an op-shop, are two clocks - one showing the time in Queensland and one showing the time in New South Wales.

The residents, who say they have permission from council rangers to stay on the land, use a black stroller to carry giant bottles of water to and from the beach, where they collect drinking water from a public tap.

Their situation isn't ideal, but they've managed to find the positives in it.

'We dont mind [living like this] at all - its just like camping out,' the man said.

'We have million-dollar views. When the rangers come up, they say: "People would pay so much for this view".

'Its comfy, its just the mozzies, but apart from that, its all good.'

The residents, who say they have permission from council rangers to stay on the land, use a black stroller (pictured) to carry giant bottles of water to and from the beach, where they collect drinking water from a public tap

Their situation isn't ideal, but they've managed to find the positives in it

Their area is frequented by bush turkeys, and the residents admit they encourage them by feeding the giant birds. This particular bush turkey is endearingly nicknamed Turkish Delight

Their area is frequented by bush turkeys, and the residents admit they encourage the birds by feeding them.

The family have become so attached to the birds that they've even named them.

'We call the king Turkish Delight,' they joked.

The family is doing better than most in their situation.

In the areas surrounding them, and further north towards Surfers Paradise, the situation is much more dire.

People are seen pushing trolleys around the streets, the metal carts full of their belongings, while others sit together in a park, spending their day soaking up the sun on a rug, but with nowhere to go when the sun goes down.

Multiple people in this situation were seen in Tweed Heads, on the NSW border, close to where a nine-month-old baby girl was allegedly 'sacrificed' by her father last weekend.

In Surfers Paradise, where the murdered baby's body washed up on Monday, the homeless crisis is increasing drastically

More than 1700 people were living rough on the Gold Coast during the 2016 Census, with many of them heading to Surfers Paradise so they could blend into the crowds

One woman told Daily Mail Australia she had become homeless after developing issues with substance abuse.

She was sitting with a group of mostly indigenous people who were in similar situations.

Those who were able to secure government or crisis housing taking friends in where they could, while others were sleeping in cars or under bus shelters.

When rain began to pour down in the area on Thursday afternoon, one woman took shelter at a friends house, climbing into the other woman's car and leaving her belongings, stuffed into trolleys, behind.

Images show haphazard tents surrounded by clothing and bedding, while in long grass a black and white picture of a baby sits alongside a battered resume

In Surfer's Paradise, where the murdered baby's body washed up on Monday, the homeless crisis is increasing drastically.

More than 1700 people were living rough on the Gold Coast during the 2016 Census, with many of them heading to Surfer's Paradise so they could blend into the crowds.

There, some shelter from the hot weather in tents, or under bridges.

Images show haphazard tents surrounded by clothing and bedding, while a black and white picture of a baby sits alongside a battered resume in long grass.

The photos sit in stark contrast to the image Queensland's coastal cities try to promote.

Just metres from where tourists party and take glamorous selfies, hundreds of people are preparing to sleep under the stars - and not by choice.

Rosies Gold Coast coordinator Kathleen Vlasic told the ABC earlier this year the sheer extent of homelessness on the Gold Coast was hard to see.



'I think it's a real problem that often we don't see what's really happening,' she said.

'People do go into areas where they're not easily observed often, so it is hard to connect with them.'

Just metres from where tourists party and take glamorous selfies, hundreds of people are preparing to sleep under the stars - and not by choice
Advertisement

Muslim women wear the burqa to avert people's gaze, yet they've drawn the eye of the entire nation by doing so.

Right-wing politician Pauline Hanson has been leading the charge on Muslim clothing that covers the entire face  by calling for a ban on the garment being worn in public.

In a controversial and inflammatory stunt in August 2017, Ms Hanson even wore the burqa into the federal Senate to highlight her campaign.

But while nothing came of her stunt, hostility towards the garment remains, and many don't get why Muslim women in Australia choose to wear it - with Ms Hanson claiming she has the backing of many Australians.

To get a better understanding from the women themselves, Daily Mail Australia visited Bankstown and Lakemba in Sydney's Muslim heartland in an attempt to lift the veil on what is perhaps the most controversial piece of women's clothing since the bikini was invented.

Muslim women in Sydney have opened up about their experiences wearing the burqa and niqab (pictured outside Lakemba Mosque)

A burqa or a niqab (pictured) is veil used to cover a woman's face, worn by a small minority of Muslim women. The majority wear a headscarf which reveals their whole face

Muslim women have explained why they wear the burqa and their feelings about how the Muslim community is viewed in Australia

Muslim women wearing the burqa said they can't talk about their decision to wear it because their husbands won't let them.

A burqa or a niqab is a veil used to cover a woman's face, and is worn by a small minority of Muslim women. The majority of Muslim women wear a headscarf which reveals their whole face.

When approached by Daily Mail Australia, five women confessed their husbands would not like them speaking about it.

'I would love to but my husband won't let me,' one woman told Daily Mail Australia, while three others replied with 'I'm sorry, I can't. My husband won't like that', 'No, I would need to speak to my husband about it,' and, 'My husband doesn't want me speaking about it, sorry.'

A fifth woman refused to speak to Daily Mail Australia and quickly walked away when asked about her burqa.

A woman who arrived in Australia from Tripoli in Lebanon said she loves wearing the burqa but would not share her name because 'my husband wouldn't like that'.

'Some people like it, others don't,' she explained to Daily Mail Australia.

'The important thing is that you have to be comfortable with wearing it. It's all on the mind and it's what the Prophet's family wore.'

Daily Mail Australia spoke to Muslim women on Friday to ask them about wearing the burqa and niqab in an effort to reveal why they don the garments and how they react to being judged for it (pictured outside Lakemba Mosque)

A Muslim woman wearing the burqa is pictured outside Lakemba Mosque, in Sydney's west, before Friday prayers

Lakemba, located in Sydney's south-west, is home to a large Muslim population. The suburb has historically played host to a diverse range of people

Lakemba Mosque (pictured) is one of the biggest mosques in Australia, owned and managed by the Lebanese Muslim Association

Mohamad Safargalani told Daily Mail Australia no woman should be forced to wear the burqa.

'Women wear it for personal and religious reasons, and here in Australia we have the religious freedom to do so,' he said.

'The woman does it for herself and God.

'There are some people who force you to wear it, but you don't get it here.'

Mohamad Safargalani (centre) told Daily Mail Australia that no woman should be forced to wear the burqa (pictured with brothers Mayez, left, and Moemen, right)

'Women wear it for personal and religious reasons, and here in Australia we have the religious freedom to do so,' Mr Safargalani said

The 25-year-old said that people like Pauline Hanson are making the burqa into an issue with offensive and ignorant comments about Islam

Mr Safargalani's brothers Mayez, 29, and Moemen, 23, agreed and said more needs to be done to stop the hate that is being spread

The 25-year-old said people such as Pauline Hanson are making the burqa into an issue with offensive and ignorant comments about the religion.

His brothers, Mayez, 29, and Moemen, 23, agreed and said more needs to be done to stop the hate that is being spread.

Hannah Helwani expressed her love and gratitude towards wearing the burqa, feelings which she said came to her as a revelation in a dream.

'That dream was too close to my heart,' Ms Helwani told Daily Mail Australia.

'The dream revealed to me that I was supported and that I should do what I want when it came to wearing the niqab.'

The 29-year-old, who grew up in Queensland surrounded by animals on a 10-acre property, said she started wearing the headscarf at the age of 17.

One woman expressed her love and gratitude for wearing the burqa - feelings which she said came to her as a revelation in a dream

A group of women are seen walking in Lakemba dressed in the niqab and hijab. One woman wears sunglasses to cover her eyes

Daily Mail Australia spoke to women in Bankstown and Lakemba in Sydney's west, about wearing the niqab and burqa

During that time, Ms Helwani was associated with many women who wore the niqab and was educating herself on Islam.

Islam is Australia's second-biggest religion There are more than 600,000 Muslims in Australia - according to the latest census Of those, 40 per cent live in Greater Sydney, 31 per cent in Greater Melbourne and another eight per cent in Greater Perth Islam is now the biggest non-Christian religion The number of Muslims in Australia doubled between 2006 and 2016 Islam is one of the top two fastest growing non-Christian religions nationally over the past decade Advertisement

She said she felt more pressure when she got married but continued to wear the headscarf.

Then, in 2014, Ms Helwani made the decision to wear the niqab and do as God told her to do.

'My husband didn't speak to me for a few days,' Ms Helwani laughed as she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It wasn't just a lifestyle change for me, because it was also a lifestyle change for him, the both of us.

'But I made that choice.'

Despite being told to 'go back to where you were born from' when she wore the garment in public, Ms Helwani responded eloquently.

'I was in my local shopping centre and a woman told me to go back to where I was born,' she said.

'I turned to her and told her, "Actually, I was born in the Wesley Hospital which is about five minutes from this shopping centre," and her jaw drops as far as I could see.

'She was pretty shocked.

Some women told Daily Mail Australia they loved wearing the burqa but did not think their husband would want them speaking on the matter

'Pauline Hanson has pure hate to the Muslim community. She's just as naive as the others that are surrounded by us when it comes to things such as religion or culturalism,' one Muslim woman told Daily Mail Australia

'Sometimes it takes not to be rude but just to tell those who have something to say and let them think about what they said. You don't need to be a bully. It's a genuine answer to your question.

'You cop it but they're a minority.'

Ms Helwani, who is a third-generation Australian, was disappointed Senator Hanson wore a burqa to the Senate.

'The stunt that Pauline Hanson pulled why wouldn't you be scared of that? They are the ones instilling fear into the public and it's not fair,' she said.

'If a member of the public were to approach me and ask me 'why' - once they hear my tone, my Australian accent, they are shocked. I'm the same as you but I just follow a different religion.

'Pauline Hanson has pure hate to the Muslim community. She's just as naive as the others that are surrounded by us when it comes to things such as religion or culturalism.'

A mother wearing the burqa carries her baby as she walks through the streets of Lakemba, near the Sydney suburb's mosque

Speaking about the Bourke Street attack in Melbourne on November 9, Ms Helwani condemned Prime Minister Scott Morrison's comments about Muslims.

'I don't condemn his comments at all because he is representing our country. He should've been more open-minded in regards to his speech,' she said.

She also said that someone who attacks another or kills another person and claims to be a Muslim is not a representative of Islam.

'None of the recent attacks, just because they claim to be Muslim, they are not a representation of Islam.

'They left the deen (religion) a long time ago.

'Islam is a peaceful and loving religion. You should want more or the same for your brothers and sisters no matter what their religion.'

There were more than 604,000 Muslims in Australia as of the 2016 census, a figure that had more than doubled since 2006.

Forty per cent of Australian Muslims live in the greater Sydney area, where Islam is the fastest-growing religion, according to the census.

Along with Hinduism, Islam is one of the top two fastest growing non-Christian religions in the country over the past decade.
This is the hilarious moment a train conductor made an announcement with 'silky smooth tones' to passengers on the DLR.

The video, filmed on a Docklands Light Railway train to Stratford, London, captured the man as he spoke to travellers in a 'Barry White voice.'

The mystery conductor entertained the carriage with slow, deep tones as he let them know where they could catch their connecting trains at Poplar station.

The video, filmed on a Docklands Light Railway train to Stratford, London, captured the man as he spoke to passengers on the approach to a station

He said: 'In fact, Woolwich Arsenal passengers take a look to the left, yeah, that's your service arriving right now.

'There's currently a good service on all other routes this evening. If that changes I'll let you know.

'Sit back, relax, this train is to Stratford.'

Passengers laughed at his dramatic announcement as they stared out of the window at the identified train.

The video, posted to Facebook on Thursday, currently has more than 600 likes and dozens of comments.

Other London commuters have even recognised the voice from their own morning travels.

He spoke in a slow, deep voice as he informed travellers where they could catch their connecting trains

Ejmi Draganic said: 'This guy is amazing!

'I luckily get to listen to him on most days as its my route and its fair to say it my favourite route!'

Mathew West said: 'This guy is at Oxford Circus during rush hour a lot, legend.'

Badr Echa said: 'I love this guy!!!!! The host with the most on my journeys to Stratford on the DLR.'

Previous clips of the smooth-talker have circulated on social media over the past year.

In one video, he said: 'If Thursday was a woman, I dont think Id marry her. Id marry a Friday, everybody loves Friday, who doesnt?

'Even Iron Man named his Artificial Intelligence Friday, Google it, Im being serious right now.'

Actress Kelly Griffiths said: 'Yes DLR driver! You certainly brightened my dreary day with them silky smooth tones.'
Indian officers had a nervous long-distance face-off with the tribe who killed an American missionary, in their latest bid to locate his body on a remote island, police said Sunday.

The police team, who took a boat just off Indian-owned North Sentinel island on Saturday, spotted men from the Sentinelese tribe on the beach where John Allen Chau was last seen, the region's police chief Dependra Pathak told AFP.

Using binoculars, officers -- in a police boat about 400 metres from the shore -- saw the men armed with bows and arrows, the weapons reportedly used by the isolated tribe to kill Chau as he shouted Christian phrases at them.

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Police are taking painstaking efforts to avoid any disruption to the Sentinelese as they seek Chau's body

John Allen Chau (pictured) was killed and buried by a tribe of hunter-gatherers on a remote island in the Indian Ocean

'They stared at us and we were looking at them,' said Pathak. The boat withdrew to avoid any chance of a confrontation.

Police are taking painstaking efforts to avoid any disruption to the Sentinelese -- a pre-neolithic tribe whose island is off-limits to outsiders -- as they seek Chau's body.

The death of the 27-year-old on November 17 has cast a new spotlight on efforts to protect one of the world's last 'uncontacted' tribes whose language and customs remain a mystery to outsiders.

Fishermen who took Chau to North Sentinel -- which is one of the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal -- said they saw the tribe burying the body on the beach.

The Sentinelese normally attack anyone who goes to the island and Pathak said police are monitoring to see if there is a repeat of an incident after two fishermen who strayed onto the island were killed in 2006.

One week after their deaths, the bodies of the two Indians were hooked on bamboo stakes facing out to sea.

'It was a kind of scarecrow,' Pathak said.

The Sentinelese tribe are an indigenous tribe who live on North Sentinal Island, which lies around 450 miles from the coast of Thailand and more than 745 miles from mainland India

North Sentinel Island, off-bounds to visitors, is home to the Sentinelese people (pictured)

'We are studying the 2006 case. We are asking anthropologists what they do when they kill an outsider,' the police chief added. 'We are trying to understand the group psychology.'

Though Chau's death is officially a murder case, anthropologists say it may be impossible to retrieve the American's body and that no charges will be made against the protected tribe.

Seven people, including six fishermen who were involved in ferrying Chau to North Sentinel, have been arrested.

The fishermen have accompanied the police teams to the island to help efforts to pinpoint where Chau was killed.

Anthropologists and tribal welfare experts who have had the previous rare contacts with the Sentinelese have been heavily involved with the inquiry.

'Their advice will be important,' said Pathak. 'We are taking the advice of the people in the field to advance this case.'
Emrill, a leading facilities management (FM) company, said it has appointed Louise Arkley as the senior facilities manager for its Dubai International Airport contract following the internal promotion of predecessor Sarah Rodgers to head of training.



As a specialist in critical infrastructure FM projects, Arkley brings extensive international experience to Emrill having held several management positions within the NHS and city councils in the UK, said a statement from the company.



Arkley has over 15 years experience in aviation services and airside operations with periods working for both Emirates and British Airways. This includes over a decade of FM experience working on airside contracts for other major FM companies in the Middle East, as well as a period managing over 1,900 staff on a major dnata airside contract in the UAE.



In her new role, Arkley will take over the Emrill soft services contract at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, which includes nearly 800 staff handling cleaning and janitorial services. It involves employees from 12 nationalities working in various shifts on the challenging 24-hour, seven-days-a-week contract at one of the worlds busiest airport for international passenger traffic, said the statement.



Originally from Gloucestershire in the UK, Arkley is a BIFM member and has lived in the UAE since 2014, it added.



Welcoming the appointment, managing director Alex Davies said: "The aviation sector, and our Dubai International Terminal 3, contract in particular are important activities for Emrill as we take active steps to further entrench our position as the UAE aviation sectors preferred FM company."



"Our talent acquisition plan places significant emphasis on recruiting sector specialists with demonstrable industry experience in each one of our market segments served. Bringing Arkley on board, with her extensive hands-on aviation experience, is a good example of this commitment working," he stated.



"Through ongoing staff training, her industry-leading knowledge can be transferred to other Emrill team members with the objective of introducing new FM techniques and innovations that benefit our clients and end-users through constantly raising standards," remarked Davies.



"Furthermore, our business objective is to further grow our footprint in airport and aviation FM by constantly tailoring and customising our services to the unique and individual needs of clients in this way," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Passengers traveling home from their holiday weekend trips were grounded in Chicago, Illinois Sunday as a blizzard-like storm came for the Midwest and resulted in more than 800 flights being canceled.

Many idly waited as routes through the Illinois city and Kansas City were badly affected and the situation only got worse as by 6pm, approximately 1,200 flights leaving from the United States or heading to the country were put on hold.

Flight-tracking website, FlightAware showed the chaos caused to travelers as a winter storm blanketed much of the central Midwest with snow and resulted in a state of emergency being declared in Kansas.

Passengers sit as they wait for their flight at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Sunday

Traffic moves west along I-70 near Lawrence, Kansas, Sunday. I-70 is closed west of Junction City, Kansas

Most affected Midwest routes were via the worst hit areas of Chicago, Illinois or Kansas City

Governor Jeff Colyer issued the warning as a large stretch of Interstate 70, spanning much of the state, was closed between Junction City and WaKeeney.

While the west section shut down, the turnpike section remained open as snow was being plowed away near Lawrence on Sunday.

Between 4 to 6 inches of snow was expected in the Kansas City area.

In eastern Illinois snow was forecast to fall at a rate of about 2 inches per hour.

As much as 10 inches of snow call fall around O'Hare and Chicago's Midway Airport - where some 120 flights were canceled - was predicted 6 inches of snow.

But far northwest there could be a whopping 12 inches as it was warned strong winds of up to 50 miles per hour could cause a blizzard.

More than 8000 flights are already canceled ahead of blizzard-like storm taking aim at Chicago

Going nowhere: Travelers walk in Terminal 3 in O'Hare Airport in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday

Travelers check in at the American Airlines self ticket counter at O'Hare International Airport

'It's going to be messy,' said Todd Kluber, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service said.

Kluber predicted rain will give way to heavy snowfall and 'near whiteout conditions' that will make for dangerous travel.

The busy Thanksgiving weekend was one of the worst in the year for much of the central Plains and Great Lakes to experience a whiteout.

As well as parts of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri braced for strong winds and snow creating blizzard conditions.

In eastern Nebraska, part of Interstate 80 between Lincoln and Omaha was closed Sunday morning because of multiple accidents after snow blanketed that area.

That included semitrailer trucks jackknifed across the highway. It was re-opened by Sunday afternoon.

A plow removes snow at an entrance of the Kansas Turnpike near Lawrence, Kansas, Sunday

A plow clears snow from Road 438 in Douglas County. The area is under a blizzard warning

Forecasters predict more than a foot of snow is likely in southeast Nebraska (pictured is Nebraska City)

Separately, a portion of Interstate 29 was shut down in Missouri, near the Iowa border.

Forecasters predict more than a foot of snow is likely in southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa.

By Monday morning, the storm was expected to hit parts of northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
A bear opened a police station door and wandered into the building in a Californian mountain town.

The wild animal stood on its back legs and had no trouble opening a side door as it casually strolled into a California Highway Patrol (CHP) office.

It stayed in the highway patrol officer for a few minutes before running away when two officers arrived.

In an online video shared on Facebook by the CHP on Saturday, the bear can be seen through a window standing on its back legs outside the Donner Pass Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility in Truckee, north of Lake Tahoe.

Bear with me: The curious bear opened the police station door in Truckee, California, and casually walked through to have a look around

Goldie look: After successfully walking thorough the door the bear had a look at the nearby vending machines at the station before leaving when two officers arrived

CCTV footage showed the beast has a peek inside and then pulls the door open. It drops to all fours and wanders past a vending machine and into the office.

The bear can be seen reflected in a window as it looks around.

Eventually, the bear walks out the same way it came in, then moments later, two armed officers quickly follow the animal out the door.

Bear witness: The wild animal walked back out the door it originally walked through after wandering around the police station for a few minutes

Another bear, or maybe the same one, was spotted int the station's car park of a week later.

The CHP says its 'unexpected visitor' arrived the night of November 17.

On Saturday, authorities at Donner Pass wrote their 'bear friend made a return visit' as he was spotted in the parking lot of their facility last week.
ISIS is mimicking Australian military advertisements to recruit vulnerable men, experts have warned.

Professor Greg Barton, chair of Global Islamic Politics at the Alfred Deakin Institute at Deakin University, told news.com.au the techniques being used help brainwash young Australians into thinking they can become part of a greater cause.

'If you look at ISIL (Islamic State) propaganda, disregarding the deliberately provocative stuff like beheadings, a lot of it resembles mainstream military recruitment,' Professor Barton said.

'It sells itself as a way of being respected, learning skills, doing interesting things and making a difference for a so-called important cause.'

ISIS's recruiting style is dangerously resembling Australian military advertisements (pictured is Bourke Street terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali)

Abdullah Elmir (pictured centre) a Sydney convert known as the 'Ginger Jihadi', was recruited by ISIS and appeared in an Islamic State propaganda video

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) also advertise jobs by showing Australians that there is an important value to 'our way of life'.

'Working in close cooperation, the Navy, Army and Air Force are tasked with the defence of: our nation, its borders and coastline our people and their values, and our way of life,' their website reads.

They explain that life in the ADF is enjoyable, with 'days that are always different'.

'The most consistent aspect of life in the Navy, Army or Air Force is the tremendous variety, combining stimulating work opportunities with fulfilling lifestyles.

'Live in comfort where accommodation is mostly subsidised, having flexible work arrangements available such as the ability to work from home, work from another location or work outside your normal core hours, be paid to stay fit, eating well from a large variety of foods, and making friends for life.'

Yacqub Khayre (pictured) murdered one man, wounded three police officers and took a woman hostage in a dramatic two-hour siege in a hotel on Bay Street, Brighton in 2017

Australian-born Islamic State terrorist Neil Prakash (pictured) recruited vulnerable men and women online

Professor Barton said the tactics are used specifically to target vulnerable men who generally feel disconnected from the rest of society or their community.

Those approached by ISIS often do not have a strong role model, leaving them open to meeting someone online.

'Quite often there's predatory behaviour involved. It can be quite cult-like,' he told the publication.

Professor Barton described ISIS recruitment material as 'very positive', which helps the organisation persuade their target audience that something good will come out of joining.

Abu Ahmad (pictured) posted a video on social media in which he encouraged people to join him to fight for Islamic State

Man Monis, also known as Sheik Haron, took 17 people hostage at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place in 2014, displaying the ISIS flag in one of the shop windows

The terrorist group has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks across Australia.

The most recent occurred on Bourke Street in Melbourne on November 9.

Somali-born Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, 30, stabbed three men, one fatally, while on a rampage through the heart of Melbourne.

Three 'ISIS-inspired' men, Hanifi Halis, 21, Ertunc Eriklioglu, 30, and Samed Eriklioglu, 26, were charged last week with terrorism crimes after allegedly plotting a massacre on the streets of Melbourne.

The three men, who were arrested in the city's north-west after four raids, are of Turkish background and were allegedly trying to get hold of a semi-automatic rifle.

Police claim 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.

Samed Eriklioglu (left) and Ertunc Eriklioglu (right) were charged with one count of preparing or planning for a terrorist act

Hanifi Halis (pictured) was the third man charged by police with one count of preparing or planning for a terrorist act

In 2014, Numan Haider was being monitored by ASIO and Victorian Police after he developed a resentment of law enforcement.

His social media showed photos of him wearing a balaclava and holding a Shahad flag, linked to Islamic State.

The 18-year-old had attacked a Victoria Police officer and an Australian Federal Police officer with a knife on September 23 of that year.

He was consequently shot in the head outside Endeavour Hills police station, south-east of Melbourne, that day.

Also in that year, Abu Ahmad, posted a video on social media encouraging people to join him to fight for Islamic State.

In December 2014, Man Haron Monis took 17 people hostage inside the Lindt Cafe at Martin Place.

He forced his victims hold up the ISIS flag against the windows.

Two people died and Monis was fatally shot by police.

Abdullah Elmir, a Sydney convert known as the 'Ginger Jihadi', was recruited by ISIS and appeared in an Islamic State propaganda video.
As the cost of fuel continues to soar, two leading Australian airlines are taking extreme measures to reduce weight on board their jets.

Nothing is off limits, with Qantas and Virgin Australia committed to saving every dollar possible.

Both airlines recently removed 'heavy' paper documentation such as flight manuals from their jets.

Leading Australian airline Qantas (pictured) is taking extreme measures to reduce weight on its jets as the cost of fuel continues to soar (stock image)

They were replaced by iPads, which Qantas says shaved 42kg from each of their planes.

Virgin went a step further, offering lightweight crockery and lighter business class pyjamas.

They are also planning to replace metal ice buckets with plastic varieties.

David Summergreene, Qantas' Boeing 787 first officer, said the addition of Dreamliners to Qantas' fleet in 2017 gave the airline an opportunity to evaluate how they could further reduce weight.

'Some of these initiatives have been rolled out across our broader fleet,' he told the Canberra Times.

Qantas and Virgin recently replaced the steel brakes on their fleets of workhorse 737s, saving about 300kg.

The cost of fuel has seen Virgin Australia (pictured) take extreme measures to reduce weight on their aircraft

Qantas has also removed a further 440kg from each of its planes by replacing traditional cargo hold units with lightweight units made of composite material.

Qantas expect to spend about $800million more on fuel this year compared with last year due to higher oil prices - about $4billion compared with $3.23billion.

Virgin Australia are anticipating their fuel bill will increase by about $88million.
Convicted drug mule Cassie Sainsbury has hinted she has taken a same-sex lover while behind bars in Colombia.

Sainsbury - who became known as 'Cocaine Cassie' - was caught carrying 5.8kg of the drug while flying out of Bogota in April 2017. At the age of 22, she was sentenced to serve a six-year jail sentence.

Speaking from her Colombian prison cell, Sainsbury told New Idea her romance was 'something that's just starting'.

Sainsbury also opened up about teaching English to both inmates and prison guards, and her friendships with rumoured drug dealers.

Convicted drug mule Cassie Sainsbury (pictured) has reportedly taken a same-sex lover while behind bars in Colombia

Sainsbury - who became known as 'Cocaine Cassie' - (pictured) was caught carrying 5.8kg of the drug while flying out of Bogota in April 2017

Speaking from her Colombian prison cell, Sainsbury (pictured) told New Idea her romance was 'something that's just starting'

Sainsbury wouldn't confirm or deny if the relationship she was involved in was with a woman, but her mother Lisa Evans said she is supportive of whatever her daughter's romantic interests are.

'It wouldn't bother me. I'm open-minded. Love is love and as long as Cassie's happy, that's all I care about,' Ms Evans said.

'I'd love for her to settle down and have a family. I have four grandchildren with my other daughter and I'd love to add to the brood with little Cassies.'

Sainsbury said she doesn't speak to any of her friends still living in her hometown of Adelaide, including ex-fiance Scott Broadbridge.

She maintains her innocence, despite being convicted of attempting to smuggle heroin out of Colombia.

Sainsbury previously claimed she was unable to remember the password to her phone, which she claimed contained vital evidence in relation to her case.

Sainsbury said she doesn't speak to any of her friends still living in her hometown of Adelaide, including ex-fiance Scott Broadbridge (couple pictured together)

'I was never given a chance to even attempt to remember my password. I know what everyone thinks of me. That I'm a drug trafficker. That I don't care about people's lives. They're wrong,' she said.

Sainsbury has also revealed details about her first few months in prison, telling the publication she initially struggled with the food but has since adapted to life behind bars - and even made friends.

'I have a friend called Gina, the other one is Margary and the other one is Stella. I think Gina is in prison for selling drugs,' Sainsbury said.

'I've met a lot of people that are here for murdering several people or terrorist attacks. Basically, I keep my distance from them.'

During a 60 Minutes interview in 2017, Sainsbury said she believed she had been offered a legitimate courier job transporting documents for $10,000.

During a last minute change of plans, she claimed she was told to go to Colombia and threatened by a man known as Angelo.

The 'mastermind' threatened to kill her mum, sister and fiance Scott via WhatsApp messages if she did not transport his drugs, she said.

Sainsbury could be released as early as 2020, with good behaviour and time served, if early release is approved by a Colombian judge.
Many pregnant women are still ignoring the health risks cigarettes pose to their unborn children and are continuing to light up, according to national statistics.

One in 10 mothers across Australia smoked during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy in 2015, according to recently released Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data.

The proportion of women who smoked during the first half of their pregnancy was highest among teenage mothers, with almost one third (32.3 per cent) of mums under the age of 20 failing to break the habit.

One in 10 Australia women still light up during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, according to recently released Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data

The proportion of Aboriginal women who smoked during pregnancy was 3.7 times as high (43.8 per cent) as that for non-indigenous women, while mothers born in Australia (13.4 per cent) were 3.8 times more likely to smoke compared to overseas-born mothers (3.5 per cent).

'Smoking rates were around 3.4 times as high for those mothers living in remote or very remote areas (26 per cent) compared to women living in major cities (7.7 per cent),' the report states.

Around 8.3 per cent of New South Wales mothers smoked during pregnancy in 2016, according to the NSW Perinatal Data Collection.

Queensland Health spent $5million on anti-smoking programs in 2017 after its figures showed that 12.4 per cent of pregnant women smoked during pregnancy.

Of the 7400 Queensland women who smoked, 1800 were Aboriginal.

'Maternal smoking in Queensland was 21 per cent higher than national, and equal third highest (with South Australia) among the jurisdictions for mothers who smoked at any time during pregnancy following Northern Territory and Tasmania in 2016,' a report on the health of Queenslanders states.

An analysis of 2012-14 national health data found around 20 per cent of women in the far north Queensland town of Cairns smoke during pregnancy, the Cairns Post reported.

Smoking during pregnancy is linked to premature birth and low birthweight (stock image)

Smoking while pregnant increases the risk of complications such as miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption, gestational diabetes and stillbirth.

It's also associated with low birthweight, foetal growth restriction, premature birth and congenital anomalies.

'Smoking causes a reduction in the blood oxygen to the foetus, the nicotine can induce early labour and the poison in cigarettes can interfere with the foetus's metabolism,' University of Queensland women's health researcher Gita Mishra told the Cairns Post.

Once the child is born, there's an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), childhood cancers, high blood pressure, asthma, obesity and lowered cognitive development.
A British child killer released after spending 25 years in jail for murdering a 14-year-old girl has insisted that he didn't do it.

Convicted killer Arthur Greer claims that he was sent to jail for a crime that he did not commit.

'I'm innocent of any of that charge,' Greer told 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown.

A British child killer released after spending 25 years in jail for murdering a 14-year-old girl has insisted that he didn't do it

Sharon Mason's body was discovered in 1992 during excavation work

The charge he refers to is that of the horrific murder of a schoolgirl who was last seen in 1983 getting off a bus in the south-western Perth suburb of Mosman Park.

Sharon Mason's body was discovered almost 10 years later in 1992 during excavation work.

The location of the body, at the site of Greer's former dress shop, along with his shocking criminal history led police to pinpoint him as the main suspect.

Greer told 60 Minutes there was compelling evidence to prove he was telling the truth.

Despite only circumstantial evidence against him, no known cause of death, and no forensic evidence to link him, Greer was convicted of Mason's murder and sentenced to life.

Former Governor of Western Australia, QC Malcolm McCusker, is advocating for Greer, saying that since his conviction new evidence has emerged that suggests a miscarriage of justice.

Susan and Chrissy, Greer's daughters, have differing opinions over their father's case with Susan (pictured) claiming that he was convicted of indecently assaulting her when she was just seven years old

Professor Jane Tudor-Owen from the The Innocence Project at Perth's Edith Cowan University is preparing a petition for a new trial to examine the evidence.

Greer's daughters Susan and Chrissy have differing opinions about their father's case, with Susan claiming he was convicted of indecently assaulting her when she was just seven years old.

Greer denies the accusation and says his two convictions for indecent assault and three counts of attempted murder in 1983, connected to him drunkenly trying to run over his former girlfriend and two friends, were just misunderstandings.
More than 1,600 deported criminals including bikies and child sex offenders could be allowed back into Australia if a refugee successfully challenges Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

The refugee, known by the pseudonym FQM18, launched legal proceedings against Mr Dutton in the Federal Court in October after his humanitarian visa was cancelled on character grounds.

In another twist, the minister has taken medical leave after injuring his arm during the weekend and having surgery, which means he won't answer questions on the matter in Parliament this week.

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More than 1,600 deported criminals including bikies (Rebels leader Aaron 'AJ' Graham pictured) and child sex offenders could be allowed back into Australia if a refugee successfully challenges Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton

The Home Affairs Minister's constitutional eligibility to remain in federal Parliament is being challenged, which could threaten the bulk of deportation orders made during the past four years.

As the senior minister in charge of border security, Mr Dutton has deported more than 1,600 criminals under section 501 of the Migration Act.

This allows any dual citizen who has been jailed for 12 months or more to be kicked out of Australia.

Between July 2013, shortly before the Coalition came to power, and December 2017, 3,394 visas were cancelled, with Mr Dutton responsible for almost half of the deportations since taking the immigration portfolio in December 2014.

The Home Affairs Minister's constitutional eligibility to remain in federal Parliament is being challenged, which could threaten 3,390 deportation decisions since 2013 (pictured is Peter Dutton, who took over the immigration portfolio in December 2014)

The refugee's global special humanitarian visa was cancelled in July 2016 on the grounds he had been convicted of a crime carrying a jail sentence of one year or more.

The plaintiff is suing the minister for refusing to revoke his visa cancellation in February 2018.

This refugee is also challenging Mr Dutton's eligibility to remain in Parliament, on the grounds he is in potential breach of section 44 of the Constitution for having a stake in a Brisbane childhood centre that receives commonwealth subsidies.

Mr Dutton had cancelled his visa on character grounds in the Federal Court case, filed in Victoria, known as 'FQM18 v Minister for Home Affairs'.

The refugee's legal case against Peter Dutton could affect a series of deportations, including that of Finks enforcer Jesse Johnston (pictured) who was kicked out of Australia last year

The refugee also argues that with Mr Dutton potentially constitutionally unable to remain in Parliament, his ministerial decisions were invalid, as section 64 of the Constitution requires ministers to be MPs.

The government is arguing that only Parliament can refer Mr Dutton's constitutional eligibility.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government, however, no longer has a majority in Parliament, which means crossbench MPs, including newly-elected independent Dr Kerryn Phelps, could vote with the Labor Opposition to have Mr Duton referred to the High Court.

The refugee suing Mr Dutton has argued, via lawyers, that the minister's decision to revoke his visa should be put on hold until the High Court resolves his constitutional eligibility to remain in Parliament.

If this challenge to Dutton's eligibility succeeds, it will open the floodgates to other criminals who have had their visas cancelled under section 501 of the Migration Act (including Irish-born paedophile priest Finian Egan, pictured)

If the Parliament doesn't refer Dutton's case to the High Court, the minister's visa cancellation could remain in limbo, meaning the refugee will be able to stay in Australia indefinitely.

If this challenge to Dutton's eligibility succeeds, it will open the floodgates to other criminals who have had their visas cancelled under section 501 of the Migration Act.

Mr Dutton's constitutional eligiblity could call into doubt a series of high-profile deportations, including those of New Zealand-born coward-punch killer Caleb Maraku in February 2018.

A series of Kiwi bikies Mr Dutton deported could also potentially challenge their expulsions from Australia, including 22-year-old Finks enforcer Jesse Johnston and Aaron 'AJ' Graham, the founder of the Rebels' Tasmanian chapter, who were both sent packing last year.

Mr Dutton's constitutional eligiblity could call into doubt a series of deportations, including that of New Zealand-born coward-punch killer Caleb Maraku (pictured) in February 2018

The Home Affairs Minister, who lost the immigration portfolio in August 2018, had also deported Victorian sex creep taxi driver Jagdeep Singh in August 2017 and Irish-born paedophile priest Finian Egan earlier this year, after he had served eight years behind bars for rape and seven counts of indecent assault on young girls during the 1960s to 1980s.

That same month, he deported Daniel Maxwell, who was convicted for the one-punch death of Cole Miller.

Linda Howard, a former United States diplomat accused of keeping sex slaves for her husband, was banned from returning to Australia in December 2017.

A legal decision against Mr Dutton could also give legal appeal grounds to hitman Roy 'Red Rat' Pollitt and senior West Australian bikie Kevin Lawrence, who were both deported last year.

As the Federal Court case details were made public, Mr Dutton tweeted that he would be missing this week's sitting of Parliament because of an arm injury

As the Federal Court case details were made public, Mr Dutton tweeted that he would be missing this week's sitting of Parliament because of an arm injury.

'Last Friday afternoon I suffered an injury to my arm which required immediate surgery over the weekend and I will see the orthopaedic surgeon again this week,' he tweeted on Monday.

'I have taken medical leave from Parliament this week.'

Shadow immigration minister Shayne Neumann said the failure of the Coalition government, under prime ministers Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison, to address Mr Dutton's eligibility issues had jeopardised Australia's national security.

'Because of the foolishness of the Morrison Governments decision to ignore Mr Duttons eligibility issues, Australias ability to kick foreign criminals out of the country is now in jeopardy  with more than 1600 visa cancellations made by Mr Dutton now in question,' he said in a statement on Monday.

'This is clearly unacceptable and it puts Australians at risk.'
Alex McKinnon says he has 'made peace' with the devastating injury that left him wheelchair-bound - and revealed plans for more children after the birth of his baby daughter.

The 26-year-old former NRL star, who was paralysed after a horrific on-field incident in 2014, said Harriet Anne Mckinnon's arrival last month had 'changed everything'.

'I used to always think I would want to go back and I would want my old life back, but I have moved on. I really have. I never thought I would be able to say that but life just so different now,' McKinnon told Channel Nine's Today show on Monday.

'I understand in each experience you can learn something from it and I am very lucky and happy with the life that I have right now... I really have [found peace]. I feel really comfortable in myself and I know me.'

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Alex McKinnon (pictured with wife Teigan and daughter Harriet Anne) says he has 'made peace' with the devastating injury that left him wheelchair-bound

The 26-year-old former NRL star (left and right with Teigan) was paralysed after a horrific on-field incident in 2014

McKinnon and his wife Teigan, 24, revealed how he 'bawled straight into tears' when Harriet was born on October 7 this year.

'Alex was very emotional. There are photos and his face is just full of emotion and mine is just relief,' Teigan said.

Asked about expanding their brood, McKinnon replied: 'I think I'm going to have three daughters... That is what I am predicting. I'd love that.'

The couple also spoke of the moment the former footy star rose to his feet as he married his long-term girlfriend during an emotional ceremony in the NSW Hunter Valley last year.

McKinnon and his wife Teigan revealed how he 'bawled straight into tears' when Harriet was born last month

McKinnon proposed to his wife from his hospital bed days after suffering the spinal cord injury and - despite being diagnosed a quadriplegic - vowed to be on his feet when they married.

'If we had to do that again I don't know if I could do it, it was just everything just aligned on that day and it was perfect,' he said on Monday.

'Even after the ceremony myself and Teigan stood together in front of everybody there and got photos and it still blows my mind.

'I had my hands locked in when I stood and I just kept crying and crying and I couldn't even see when she turned up, I was in tears so much.

'I used to always think I would want to go back and I would want my old life back, but I have moved on,' he said

The couple announced via social media in March that they were expecting their first child

'I just have so much love for Teigan and everything we have been through, it was just the perfect day.'

The former Newcastle Knights forward previously spoke of his hopes of one day having a baby.

'One of the first things Alex wanted to know after the accident was whether we could have kids one day, because he didn't want to miss out on that,' Teigan previously said.

'So we went to see a fertility specialist and it seems there's a great chance, because he still creates sperm.'

McKinnon fulfilled his promise and stood from his wheelchair when the pair married last year

Teigan and Alex McKinnon announced the birth of their baby daughter in October

Teigan has shared progress of her husband's rehabilitation and, just days before their wedding, shared a video of McKinnon walking with the help of a frame.

'So proud of all the hard work Alex McKinnon puts into his rehab,' she said.

McKinnon, who played 49 NRL games for St George Illawarra and the Knights, has rarely spoken publicly since the life-changing moment in 2014, but said last year he considered himself lucky.

'Harriet Anne Mckinnon 7-10-2018,' Mckinnon posted on Instagram alongside a picture of his daughter last month

The former Newcastle Knights forward (pictured on his wedding day) suffered a devastating spinal chord injury in 2014

'A lot of people with spinal cord injuries aren't improving three years down the track,' he told Fox Sports.

McKinnon revealed he had long carried 'hate' and 'frustration' over the on-field incident, but had moved on from the matter as he continued his physical rehabilitation.

He said he wanted to meet with Melbourne Storm player Jordan McLean, after forgiving him for the tackle that left him wheelchair-bound.

McKinnon (pictured centre on his wedding day) proposed to his long-term partner from his hospital bed just days after suffering the injury
Shocking new footage has emerged of an unarmed black man being shot by two police officers as he was holding a cellphone to call his mother.

The officers in Wisconsin are under investigation for shooting Jerry Smith Jr, 19, after cornering him on a garage rooftop at a residence in Milwaukee.

Smith Jr said a bullet was still in his hip in November and he will suffer permanent partial paralysis in his right leg, Milwaukee news station TMJ4 reported.

Jerry Smith Junior (above) said he didn't know why police shot at him as he was not armed

Footage shows police approaching Smith (left) on the rooftop and he then appears to put his hands up (right) when they ask him to

Newly released footage from the officer's body camera obtained by TMJ4 shows Smith had spread his arms and fingers as officers approached him with guns on the afternoon of August 31.

He appears to be getting on the ground as two officers shoot him from close range.

Police officers responding to reports a man with a gun confronted Mr Smith, who matched the description of the man they were looking for, Fox6Now reported in November.

Smith claimed that he ran from a police officer on a bicycle who had scared him, onto a roof.

Video shows that Smith put his hands up, but then lowered them.

At that point the officer holding the gun fired three shots. One bullet grazed Mr Smiths head, narrowly missing his brain.

Back in November, Smith told TMJ4 that he was not carrying a gun but was holding a phone in his right hand that he was using to call his mother.

As police approach Smith Jr, he appears to reach down for something which later turned out to be his cellphone

As he bends over, one of the officers fires at him believing that he is reaching for a weapon

Another officer then fires at him believe he is hearing a shot from Smith Jr but it the noise is from his colleagues gun. Smith is seen reaching for his groin in agony after the shooting

The two policeman then approach Smith Jr and handcuff him along with other police on the scene

'I really don't know why they shot me. OK, I ran, but the officer scared the hell out of me, man'.

Both officers in the video are currently still at work, on administrative duty.

Daniel Storm is a private investigator working on Smith's federal civil rights lawsuit against the city.

Storm released the body-camera video from officer Adam Stahl, which he obtained about a month ago, to illustrate why he says many people believe police get away with murder.

'People just need to see this. Police 'can buy toys and all the ice cream they want but until they're held accountable, the black community will never trust a cop'.

Jerry Smith Jr will suffer permanent partial paralysis in his right leg and uses a wheelchair

In November Jerry showed the bullet graze wound to his scalp (left) and the damage to his leg (right)

He showed the spot where a bullet hit his hip, necessitating the removal of a portion of his intestine, (above), after he was shot by officers

While state law requires outside agencies review fatal police shootings, the Milwaukee Police Department did its own review of the Smith incident.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern concluded in June that Stahl and officer Melvin Finkley were justified in using force because they believed Smith was armed or was reaching for a gun behind an air conditioning unit on the roof.

The officers, Melvin Finkley and Adam Stahl were in the area when they heard a call that a suspect, believed to be armed, was on the rooftop.

Smith, who has no criminal record and said he does not own a gun, was not charged with any crime and no gun was ever found at the scene.

Several other officers were around the one-story roof on the ground, and others were on a stairway leading to the roof.

On the video, one said: 'He doesn't have a gun in his hand, but he was hiding behind the AC'.

In a letter, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern indicated that the officers thought Smith was reaching behind the AC unit about four feet away, where they believed he might have a gun.

Lawyer Daniel Storm (above) is filing a lawsuit on behalf of Jerry Smith Jr against the police

Finkley fired first, and Stahl said he believed that shot was from Smith and then fired at Smith, who quickly crumples to the roof and grabs for his groin.

Smith was hit twice and grazed on the head by a third bullet.

The city is defending officers Finkley and Stahl against Smith's lawsuit and said they were acting in good faith, pursuant to their law enforcement duties and therefore protected by qualified immunity. No trial date has been set.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

The year started with casteist trolls, it might just end in the Telangana state assembly for Sujatha Surepally. And for this academic activist from the Dalit community, this seems an apt way to describe her struggles over the past 15 years as she looks to seek mandate from people in Chennur constituency in Komaram Bheem Asifabad District as she lines up against powerful, money-backed candidates.

Surepally is clear that a lot of people stand in her way. That has always been the case, she says during a long conversation with TwoCircles.net. With less than two weeks to go, Surepally is against the might of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Congress as she contests on a ticket from the Bahujan Samaj Party. This is a marked change from her stance just a few months ago, she says, when participating in elections was not even on her mind. It is not in a sarcastic tone that Surepally says Telangana government and state police when asked what was the biggest factor that led her to contest elections. Surepally, who has been an activist for over 15 years, has worked on every imaginable issue in Andhra Pradesh and then Telangana. The decision to participate in elections, she says, is a continuation of my movement in the form of electoral politics.

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Associated with left organisations in the past, Surepally also worked actively as a pro-Telangana activist along with working on illegal sand mining, Special Economic Zones, quarrying, etc. However, as Telangana came into shape, it seems the newly-formed state government went even further than the Andhra government in cracking down on dissent. Over the years, I used to believe that only people related to, say, banned organisations, or someone carrying weaponscases will be filed against them. All that myth is goneas an activist, I have worked on so many protest movement related, but no government would dare to question us because all our methods were and remain completely democratic, she says. The Telangana government is different, Surepally, who teaches Sociology at the Satavahana University, adds.

The other, more important factor which led to eventually consider running elections has been her experiences as a Dalit activist. Post (the formation of) Telangana, I was seriously working on Dalit issues. I found a gap between the radical and left groups alsosomehow they were very silent when it came to talking about caste, she says. When you are working with one particular caste, even if it is OBCs, all other castes remain silent. If I work with OBCs, I am branded as against other caste groups, she says pointing out one issue related to temple in Mahabubnagar district where the feud is between OBCs and Dalits. When this issue came up sometime last year, the OBCs in that region were against us, she says, explaining the many layers of the fight against casteism.

Surepally gives the example of caste killings in Telangana. They call it honour killing as if only they (non-Dalits) have honour and we dontI have seen half a dozen such cases and here is why I thought of politics, she says. We do dharnas (protests), demand investigation, read post-mortems, file cases and then they just lie.we run after MPs, MLAs, ministers to lobby for the caseand nothing happens. The media, ministries, parties are all casteist and we need to change that because they clearly are not paying enough attention, she adds.

Surepally, who was at the forefront of the protests organised by Rohith Vemula, remembers that period well. I was there at the inauguration of Velivada, she says. No political person came to meet and/or address us.now I understand that if your own people are not in these systems (politics, police, ministries, parties) then all your own movements outside are futile. Everyone calls for a peoples movement but we cannot succeed without having a voice in the government.

Surepally says that the current government and police are more interested in pursuing people who fight for these cases instead of addressing the issues. I wrote an open letter to the Director General of Police during Kathi Mahesh and the Swami Paripoornananda case asking why action was taken only against Kathi Mahesh. I ended up saying that it was because Mahesh was a Dalit that he was being boycotted by the Telangana police. Around 30 people signed the same letter and submitted to the DGP. But one sub-inspector felt that this post created communal disturbance, she adds. There are many such cases against me where I am being harassed for no reason, she adds. As someone who fights for Dalit issues, I will question state policies whichever government is in place, she points.



Sujatha says she chose to contest from Chennur because it has a huge Dalit population with a lot of people displaced due to a number of commercial activities. Power plants, sand quarrying, open cast mining, etc are just a few examplesand to make matters worse, there is abysmal implementation of compensation schemes for people who are already marginalised and extremely poor, she says.

Coming to the question of contesting from the BSP, Surepally says it was a difficult decision and she had to think long and hard over it. Given that the party has virtually no base in Telangana, it was not an option suggested by many people. When I saw the political parties and their members, I realised we were reduced to a reserved category. In every other party, the decision-making powers are in the hands of the upper-castesand even on these seats, only people they want are allowed to contest.

What they do on the ground is irrelevantlast three months were really tough for me. I have seen the struggle first-hand and realise that how difficult it is for someone like me, a Dalit activist without money and political legacy, to contest elections. When I go to BSP office, I saw our peoplethe office and the party seem a little favorable to my work. The BSP office is diversepeople from various marginalised groups are in the office and you feel like you are between your own people, she adds. Surepally also believes that by choosing a national-level party she is also trying to rally support and strength for the various issues that plague the Dalit community in the region.

Chennur is one of the 19 SC reserved constituencies in Telangana and has been a Congress candidate historically. For TRS, Pedapalle MP Balka Suman will contest from Chennur and former excise commissioner Borlakunta Venkatesh Netha, also a first timer, will represent the Congress. Interestingly TRS took a controversial decision to not nominate Nallala Odelu, who is a three-time MLA from the constituency.
The 18-year-old's family believe she was snatched from a bus stop near her Plymouth home at 6pm on Saturday and her boyfriend raised the alarm after she failed to turn up for a night out with friends, MailOnline can reveal. Police have said they continue to question two murder suspects, aged 24 and 26, who remain in custody. Officers are searching the area where she vanished four days ago and woodland and cliffs above a Devon beach where Bobbi-Anne's body was found eight miles away yesterday. Detectives are trying to work out if the teenager was abducted or willingly entered a car driving along the busy city street. But a source close to the investigation told The Guardian 'it was most likely a stranger abduction' with a 'sexual motive being a significant line of inquiry'. Bobbi-Anne's grieving boyfriend is being comforted by her family today. Louie Leach has been staying with Bobbi-Anne's mother and two siblings at their home in Plymouth since detectives revealed on Tuesday that a body had been discovered. She was reported missing on Saturday evening and was found dead yesterday close to the coastal path and car park above Bovisand beach. Police have sealed off a stretch of coastline overlooking Plymouth's Sound and are gathering evidence. Friends told MailOnline that Bobbi-Anne, 18, had been due to meet a group including her boyfriend of six months. Louie raised the alarm when she did not show up at around 8pm. One said: 'Louie is with Bobbi-Anne's family now and they are helping each other through this difficult time. They can barely speak. There are no words for the horror they are living through. Bobbi-Anne and Louie were really in love and were a wonderful couple. They had their whole lives ahead of them and now this has been cruelly taken away from Louie and it's crushed him.' It came as her family thanked the public for their 'love and support'.
A man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl he groomed online for one year, police allege.

The man, 28, was stopped by police in the Lake Macquarie area, south of the NSW town of Newcastle, at 1am on Sunday with the young girl and a teenage boy, 16, in his car, officers said.

After questioning, police arrested the man and took him to Toronto Police Station.

A man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl he groomed online for one year has been charged by police (stock image)

The young girl later claimed she had been sexually assaulted by the man and detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad were called in.

Police allege the 28-year-old used the social media app Snapchat to contact the young girl for 12 months before sexually assaulting her in her home.

Both children have been taken into the care of police.

The man was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a victim under the age of 16, procuring a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity, and breach of bail.

He is already on court bail for similar offences, including having sex with a person aged 14-16, possession of child abuse material as well as impersonating a police officer, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The offender has been refused bail and will face Toronto Local Court today.

Investigations are continuing.
Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski married Saturday in a secret ceremony in front of the United Stated Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

The couple  that got engaged last spring - has remained private about their relationship and kept details of the Washington DC big day under wraps until the day, even for their minimal guest list which was kept to just five people plus their children from previous marriages.

Scarborough, 55, and Brzezinski, 51, tied the knot at the National Archives building rotunda with Representative Elijah Cumming officiating the first ever union held there.

Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski married Saturday

Secret ceremony was in front of United Stated Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights at the National Archives in Washington DC

Representative Elijah Cumming officiated the first ever wedding in the rotunda

'We wanted it to be really small and simple and not what you expected from Mika and Joe,' MSNBC presenter Brzezinski told Vanity Fair. 'Everything we do is exposed, and everything felt exposed every step of the way, so we want this to be private until it's over. We wanted to recognize it more quietly and have the people who are most important to us around us. And you know, our show is a cocktail party every morning.'

They said 'I do' in an evening ceremony, sneaking in through the back door of the library closed to the public just for their event, while many of the politicians of the capital were out of the city.

Brzezinski's daughters Carlie and Emilie Hoffer were present for the reception and photos to support their mother, after choosing to skip the vows. Emilie's black rescue dog, Cali, wearing the 'something blue' in the form of a Tiffany-colored leash.

With her mother Emilie and friends Laura Erlacher and Susan Castallanos watching on, the bride walked down the aisle  and past five cameras five cameras capturing the event  to meet her groom.

40 people attended the reception dinner at Chez Billy Sud and the event was done by 10.45pm

The post-wedding party was closed off to the public on Saturday in Washington DC

She wore white dress from Milly, a brand by Michelle Smith who famously designed the frock Michelle Obama wore in her official portrait housed in the nearby National Portrait Gallery

She opted for a white dress falling below the knee but above the ankle from Milly, a brand by Michelle Smith who famously designed the frock Michelle Obama wore in her official portrait housed in the nearby National Portrait Gallery.

Her stilettos were by Layla-Joy Williams.

Scarborough donned a black Zegna suit which viewers have seen before on his show, with a white shirt and black tie. A boutonniere with white orchid and green sprigs were pinned to his lapel as they carried out the quick nuptials.

'My mom would always say that she loved Episcopalian services because they marry you and bury you in 15 minutes or less,' Scarborough said.

Scarborough and his new wife's friends, Rachel and Dr. David Campbell, hosted the ceremony and the dinner at Chez Billy Sud that followed.

While only 14 calls were made to people invited to witness the actual nuptials, the couple celebrated with 40 people after they got hitched.

'We did an event there more than a year ago and we were just blown away, seeing all these documents and how we felt seeing them,' Brzezinski told Vanity Fair about the room with 70-foot ceilings. 'It makes sense now more than ever, given what we stand for as a couple, what we do for a living, and what we're worried about as a country.'

The bride's mother Emilie and four of their friends made up a handful of guests

Brzezinski's daughters Carlie and Emilie Hoffer were present, with the latter's black rescue dog, Cali, wearing the 'something blue' in the form of a Tiffany-colored leash

Donald Trump had offered to marry them inside the White House or his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate. At a White House dinner shortly after the 2017 inauguration, Jared Kushner also offered to use his licence to marry the pair but was rudely interrupted by POTUS who according to Scarborough said: 'Why would you marry them? They could have the President of the United States marry them.'

But they didn't actually get engaged until a few months later at the Hotel Du Cap in Antibes, France.

With the hosts' rocky relationship with Trump, it's not clear whether his offer was sincere.

He had labelled Brzezinski 'insecure' during his campaign in August 2016.

'Some day, when things calm down, I'll tell the real story of @JoeNBC and his very insecure long-time girlfriend, @morningmika,' Trump tweeted. 'Two clowns!'

Donald Trump and Jared Kusher had offered to marry them in the White House

The President of the United States also offered his Mar-a-Lago estate to them last year

POTUS reportedly told Jared Kushner: 'Why would you marry them? They could have the President of the United States marry them'

Trump had labelled Brzezinski 'insecure during his campaign in August 2016.

Instead Democrat Cummings, who has been in the House of Representatives since 1996 representing Maryland's 7th Congressional District got them hitched.

He revealed the couple wrote their own vows, music from Brzezinski's late father's CD collection played throughout the evening and the bride had a big hand in arranging the events.

The couple cut a 20-layer crepe cake and the celebration was complete by 10.45pm so they could head off on a five day mini-moon Sunday before they had to be back at work.

'I was really Mika's wedding planner,' Cummings joked. 'I did what she told me to do.'

Vanity Fair reports that Scarborough  who served as a Republican representative in the House between 1995 and 2001  did not pick Cummings because he plans to run for president in 2020 or 2024.

'He's a representative of the movement forward, of getting the country back,' Brzezinski said. 'We didn't think of that at all. But I'm sure people will say that.'

Scarborough divorced Susan Waren in 2013 after two years of marriage and they have a son and daughter together. Before that he was married to Melanie Hinton from 1986 to 1999 and they have two sons.

Brzezinski was married to reporter Jim Hoffer 1993 to 2016.
Doctor Krzysztof Wojtas calls for the law to require humane killing for fish

Billions of sensitive, intelligent, and emotional fish are suffering horrific cruelty as a result of factory farming, environmental campaigners claim.

While farming in sea cages is increasingly regulated, there has been a rise in farms using land-based concrete tanks.

Lobby group Compassion in World Farming (CiWF) said the fish held in such tanks are more likely to suffer from disease and parasites and so are routinely treated with antibiotics and chemicals.

Billions of sensitive, intelligent, and emotional fish are suffering horrific cruelty as a result of factory farming, environmental campaigners claim [File photo]

A spokesman added that many were not slaughtered humanely: Billions of fish are living lives of abject misery.

Dr Krzysztof Wojtas of CiWF called for the law to require humane slaughter methods.

He told BBCs Countryfile: Just like on land, these farms are crowded, grim places where the animals suffer immensely. Many are then being slaughtered in the most gruesome of ways.

Discoveries are proving that fish are sensitive, intelligent, emotional animals. They deserve a humane life and death.

Increasing consumer demand for seafood has driven a rise in farming of sea bass, sea bream and trout, as well as species such as tilapia, prawns, shrimp and even octopus.

Fish farming is the fastest-growing agriculture sector in the world, increasing at an average of 5.8 per cent a year since 2005 [File photo]

Fish farming is the fastest-growing agriculture sector in the world, increasing at an average of 5.8 per cent a year since 2005.

One company, US firm Aquabounty, rears fast-growing, genetically modified salmon in land tanks. The fish grow to 2ft and a market weight of 6lb in 18 months rather than the three years it takes normal farmed Atlantic salmon to reach that size.

The fish are sold in the US, without being labelled as GM, mostly as sushi. Aquabounty was approached for comment.
A surprising optical illusion has popped up in the middle of a busy street, encouraging drivers to slow down.

A 3D pedestrian crossing painted on Best Street in Fitzroy North, Melbourne, gives the illusion of floating bars in the hope of catching motorists by surprise and forcing them to pay attention to their surroundings.

The zebra crossing was installed by the City of Yarra Council, and aims to improve pedestrian safety in the area.

A surprising optical illusion has popped up in the middle of a busy street, encouraging drivers to slow down (pictured)

A 3D pedestrian crossing painted on Best Street in Fitzroy North, Melbourne gives the illusion of floating bars (pictured)

'We identified an opportunity to improve pedestrian safety and worked with local supermarket Piedmonte's to develop the concept,' a City of Yarra Council spokesperson said in a statement.

The crossing is reportedly the first three-dimensional walkway of its kind in Victoria.

From an angle, the crossing resembles solid blocks rising out of the bitumen, paving the way for pedestrians to use it as a bridge.

Similar crossings have been painted in the far north Queensland town of Cairns and in western Queensland's Boulia Shire.

The idea has also been used around the world in Iceland, New Zealand and China.

Some road users expressed their scepticism at the idea on social media, with one person suggesting it 'looked amazing, but is likely quite dangerous'.

'I can imagine this being the sort of thing where car drivers marvel at the image without checking the surroundings,' they said.

'It doesn't look quite as effective now it's been there a few days and got some dirt on the artwork which diminishes the 3D illusion,' another person wrote.
A 27-year-old who received a shock cancer diagnosis after complaining of stomach pains has revealed his regret over how he broke the devastating news to his family.

Lain Adam, from Perth, suffered severe stomach cramps for almost a year and was told his condition could be linked to a lactose or gluten intolerance.

But when he dropped 20 kilograms in a matter of months, doctors ordered a colonoscopy and were shocked to find he had developed aggressive bowel cancer.

In a candid online post, Mr Adam, who was told the diagnosis was unexpected because of his young age, recalled how he was told he may not have long to live.

Lain Adam suffered stomach pains for about a year before he suddenly lost about 20kg. When doctors finally ordered a colonoscopy it was revealed the 27-year-old had bowel cancer

Mr Adam, from Perth, was told his condition could be linked to a lactose or gluten intolerance

'I had just come to from having a colonoscopy and was still fairly out of it and high on anaesthetic the doctor came in and told me,' he wrote in late 2017.

'I was alone in a hospital bed. Then he left and I sat alone in a hospital bed in the day ward... processing what he had just said. The first thing I did was ask them to go and get my father who was in the waiting room and when he came in, I had to tell him.

'The second thing I did was send a text (my dad had my phone on him) to the rest of my family and my good friends and partner at the time. I regret sending a text.

'I should have called them with that kind of news but I was still in shock, affected by the anaesthetic and was also in a room full of random people and didnt really want to have that phone conversation with other people in the room.'

Bowel cancer has always been more common in people aged over 50.

'Even though I had all the symptoms they didn't think it was a possibility because I was so young,' Mr Adam told 7News on Sunday.

Doctors ordered a colonoscopy and were shocked to find he had developed aggressive bowel cancer

'Even the doctor that diagnosed me said that they didn't suspect it would be that because of my age.'

But according to a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the number of people aged between 25 and 29 dying from the disease is growing, with processed foods blamed for the increasing prevalence.

About 15,000 Australians are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, with about 2,186 of those are aged under 50.

Royal Perth Hospital Surgeon Dr Abraham Jacob said the amount of fast food people consume was the main cause of the increasing number of younger people dying from the disease.

He said early detection was key and urged people to get checked if they had any concerns.
A carer has been charged with allegedly leaving a baby in a swelteringly hot car while she played pokie gambling machines.

Kalota Palu, 23, from New Zealand, is accused by police of leaving the baby in her car at the Nawton Shopping Centre carpark on November 15 while she went into the Yardhouse bar.

The baby allegedly suffered dehydration.

A security worker raised the alarm at 4.30pm after spotting the baby and becoming concerned, Stuff reports.

Kalota Palu (pictured), 23, from New Zealand, is accused by police of leaving the baby in her car at the Nawton Shopping Centre carpark on November 15 while she went into the Yardhouse bar

Ms Palu, a process worker from Otorohanga, appeared in Hamilton District Court on Monday.

She was charged with failing to take reasonable steps to protect a child aged under 18 from injury, likely to cause suffering, namely dehydration.

If found guilty, the charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

A security worker raised the alarm at 4.30pm after spotting the baby and becoming concerned (Pictured: Nawton Shopping Centre carpark)

Ms Palu was remanded without plea and will reappear in court on December 10.

Bail conditions prevent Ms Palu from entering licensed premises, excluding supermarkets, until the prosecution is complete.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Hamilton Local Court for further information.
Now is the time to focus on that prize  a prize that will restore our status as an independent trading nation with control over our money, our borders and our laws, writes Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay

We stand at a critical juncture in our countrys history.

After tough negotiations, we have at last reached an agreement with the EU that recognises our shared history and values, and provides the foundations for a strong and sustainable future relationship.

So now is the time to focus on that prize  a prize that will restore our status as an independent trading nation with control over our money, our borders and our laws.

That is what people voted for in 2016  and that is what this Government will deliver.

These are big wins and the British public is right to admire the Prime Ministers tenacity, resilience and sheer commitment to delivering in the national interest.

The British people are right too to demand their Government gets on with Brexit. We are leaving the EU in just four months and Britons now just want us to honour that historic referendum result. This is a deal that does just that. A good deal that brings us the benefits of Brexit and lets us focus on the big domestic issues. This deal delivers what I campaigned for, which was to take back control and have a sovereign choice about our future arrangements.

Some people appear to have reached decisions on this package  the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration  almost immediately after the former was released and before the latter had been agreed. I would urge all of my colleagues who are considering opposing this deal to think again. This deal delivers the implementation period which gives businesses the certainty they need to plan ahead.

The British public is right to admire the Prime Ministers tenacity, resilience and sheer commitment to delivering in the national interest, says Mr Barclay

It allows us to negotiate our future relationship with Brussels cordially and professionally. It avoids the disruption and uncertainty that no-deal would bring.

It ends free movement once and for all. Instead, we will introduce an immigration system based on skills this country needs  not on the country people come from, but on what they can contribute to the UK.

It ends the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK. We will make our own laws in our own Parliaments. It will protect the rights of EU citizens already living in the UK and UK citizens living in the EU. It will ensure a fair settlement on our financial obligations  the so-called divorce bill  less than half what some expected.

And it will meet our commitment to ensure there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland and no customs border in the Irish Sea.

As the Prime Minister made clear, this agreement is explicit about how determined both the UK and the EU are to avoid using the backstop altogether by getting the future relationship in place by January 2021. Lets not lose sight of the fact that the backstop is deeply unattractive to the European Union. And importantly, there is a commitment in black and white to consider arrangements which could avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland.

We recognise that of course compromises have had to be made, but theyve been made on both sides to deliver an agreement that works in all our interests.

It is now up to MPs to decide whether to approve this deal. Politicians on all sides are preparing to make a decision which will shape our countrys relationship with the EU for generations. And EU leaders have made it clear that there is no other deal on the table.

We have a deal within our grasp that delivers on the referendum, while protecting jobs and the integrity of the United Kingdom.

Lets get on with it. Or the British public might never forgive us.
Children as young as ten are being given classes in social media etiquette to combat cyberbullying.

The British School of Etiquette in London teaches the module alongside lessons in table manners and correct pronunciation.

Parents pay 2,400 for classes on how to develop emotional resilience when using websites such as Twitter.

Children as young as ten are being given classes in social media etiquette to combat cyberbullying. File photo

Youngsters are also taught how to portray their best self, when to avoid slang and how to communicate with kindness, courtesy and integrity.

School principal Philip Sykes told The Sunday Times: Youngsters are so ready to hit that send and share button.

We felt it was fundamental to introduce social media etiquette where we give them the tools on how to think before they take any action.
A huge mass beaching of up to 145 whales has been discovered on a remote island beach after two entire pods strand themselves - and no one knows why they did it.

The pilot whales were found by a hiker at Mason Bay on Stewart Island, off the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island on Saturday.

The hiker notified the Department of Conservation at 10.30pm and told them there were two pods of whales stranded at the southern end of Mason's Bay, approximately 2km apart.

A huge mass beaching of up to 145 whales has been discovered on a remote island beach after two entire pods strand themselves - and noone knows why

Department of Conservation Rakiura operations manager Ren Leppens said that half of the whales had already died by the time they were found and the decision was made to euthanise the remainder due to the remote location.

'The likelihood of being able to successfully re-float the remaining whales was extremely low. The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales' deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanise,' he said.

'However, it's always a heart-breaking decision to make.'

Why do whales beach themselves? In short, no one knows, but theories include: Navigational errors: Gently sloping coastlines and food rich ocean currents close to shore can lead to confusion.

Toxic algae blooms: Along with viruses can cause mass sickness in pods and the animals may be too sick to swim.

Shipping and military sonar interference: This can scare the animals and cause distress and even decompression sickness as they swim to the surface.

Mass suicides: There is little evidence to support this theory. Advertisement

The Department of Conservation responds to about 85 whale strandings every year, mostly of single animals, this incident of such a large number of whales is rare.

Although there are many theories as to why whale beachings occur, no one has been able to find a definitive answer.

'There are many reasons and little clarity as to the major culprit, but there are some patterns,' Australian Geographic wrote in 2016.

Some of the theories include navigational errors, toxic algae blooms, shipping and military sonar interference, and even mass suicides.

It is the third case of whale strandings in New Zealand in the last week with 10 pygmy killer whales stranded at Ninety Mile Beach and a 15m sperm whale at Tokeroa Beach.
By Najiya O, TwoCircles.net

Several women tried to enter the Sabarimala temple in southern Kerala following the Supreme Court order allowing entry for all women to the temple. None have been successful in having a darsan of the deity, as all had to return following harsh protests by the Sangh teams. And at least some women still face the consequences of having made the attempt.

Bindu Thankam Kalyani attempted to enter the shrine on October 22, but couldnt. And there changed her life totally, with fresh attacks every day in whichever way possible. Bindu, who was working as a teacher of English at the Government Higher Secondary School in the Government Medical College campus in Kozhikode, was prevented from entering the school and evicted from her rented house in Kozhikode, according to reports. She was then transferred to a school at Agali near Attappady in Palakkad district on October 29, where also protests came up. She was received by Ayyappa sharanam slogans and abuses outside the gates of the school, which she had to enter with police protection. She had to face protest by her own students even inside the classroom, however the school and principal stood by her right to use the SC order. On November 12, some protestors in Attappady organized a namajapa yatra (procession chanting Ayyappa slogans organised in different parts of Kerala protesting against womens entry to the Sabarimala temple) from a local Ayyappa temple to Bindus school. They tried to include students from the school also in the protest but the attempt was prevented by the police who locked down the school gates and the principal warned that he would not let any student protestor to attend exams. The attackers then marched to her house at night, hurled stones from the gate and threatened her. In addition to all this, she also faced harsh cyber attacks against which she has reportedly filed a police complaint.

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While speaking to TwoCircles.net, Bindu said that she has been eagerly waiting for the court verdict to go to the temple in a healthy young age. I am a believer not of the recent types of worships in the temple, but of the tribal beliefs that have been in practice in Sabarimala for a long time, she clarified. She said that they had been attacked as they talked out loud about the politics and history of Sabarimala, which is predominantly tribal and matriarchal. Even the name Sabarimala came from the name of the tribal woman Sabari who ruled the hill. Now these people are saying women should not enter there, after stopping the matriarchal power structure in practice there and ousting that community altogether. They have in a way stolen our things to seize our customs, to force servitude on us. The temples on hilltops were actually of the tribals or the lower castes. Others began to take them over after money began to flow in. They have the most difficulty when we question that, she added.

The tribal community of Malayaraya has now come out in the open claiming their right to the temple. The community had controlled the temple following its own customs such as the 41-day fasting, commemorating the fast that the parents of Manikandan (the deity) observed to conceive the child. The names of important priests have been inscribed on the 18 steps leading to the main sanctum, and the first three among them are said to be those of the chiefs from the Malayaraya community. Bindu also said that the original idol is still with the Malayaraya community, the one in the temple now was installed later by the priests.

Another Dalit rights activist S.P. Manju who tried to enter the Sabarimala temple last month but couldnt is now facing fresh threats from the Sangh for her upcoming second attempt. Soon after she reached home after filing the online application to enter the temple, the Sangh team came to her house and threatened that she would be killed if she went. Manju had her house vandalized after her first attempt to enter the temple. Even the doors and windows of her house were broken and all home equipments destroyed. A television set and a gas cylinder used for cooking were missing. And her pet dog was killed. She has received some police protection since returning from the hilltop shrine. However, while talking to the TwoCircles.net, Manju expressed her concern that this prevention of women from the temple might lead to the denial of entry for the lower castes as before.

All the women who went to Sabarimala have been tortured in one way or the other, but even in that matter, more caste-based pain is inflicted upon Manju and Bindu, opined Dalit activist Mrudula Devi Sasidharan while talking to TwoCircles.net. Other women below 50 years of age who tried to enter the temple  Rehana Fathima from Ernakulam, activist Liby from Thrissur and Mary Sweetie from Thiruvananthapuram  also faced protests and are under police protection.

On November 11, a group of women activists organised a programme in Ernakulam in which several well-known activists and feminists attended, and upheld their support to the Supreme Court order. However, even in feminist circles, Dalit women seem to have a hard time finding full solidarity. Bindu herself stated that the programme did not give the expected space and coverage to Dalit women. However, organisers denied these charges.

The people from the Sangh said they would burn me. I am from the Dalit community. Hundreds and thousands in my community have been burnt in independent India. None of them (were killed) for voicing their opinion. Even a three-year-old child has been burnt in my community; what opinion did she voice? Since it is sure that one would be burnt for having been born a Dalit, I decide to get burnt only after strongly voicing what I have to say, said Dalit rights activist Sunny M Kapicaud while speaking at a programme organised in support of Bindu on November 22 at Agali.

Socio-cultural and human rights activists such as Dr. P. Geetha and Sainaba and others spoke at this programme organised with the involvement of local people. The programme also expressed solidarity with others facing protests and threats from the Sangh forces for their support to the Supreme Court order.

Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta district Collector clamped prohibitory orders in Sabarimala during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season from November 16 to 22. The Hindu Aikya Vedi leader Sasikala was arrested at Sabarimala for violating the prohibitory orders and then released, and a hartal called by the organisation was observed in Kerala on November 17, 2018. The BJP state general secretary K. Surendran was also arrested on November 17 for the same reason and he is still in prison. There is strong police presence in Sabarimala and nearby places currently.
A child predator who raped a four-year-old girl has been released back into the community, despite the fact psychiatrists believe he will likely reoffend.

In August 2013, Mark John Corben, from Queensland, was convicted of raping the young girl and possessing thousands of images of child exploitation material, according to a judgement submitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland.

The 42-year-old sexually assaulted the girl multiple times over a six-month period while living in the granny flat behind her mother's home.

Corben and the four-year-old's mother were acquaintances and he asked if he could take pictures of her 'to gain experience photographing children', according to the judgement.

Mark John Corben was convicted of raping the young girl and possessing thousands of images of child exploitation material (stock)

Corben was arrested months later after police discovered an extensive child porn collection in his possession.

The 42-year-old was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison and was released on November 21 under a 10-year supervision order.

Three psychiatrists discouraged the court from releasing Corben, saying the child predator suffered from paedophilia, personality disorder, anxiety disorder and past periods of depression.

They all also agreed that if Corben were to be released he would remain at risk of reoffending.

During a hearing, psychiatrist Dr Evelyn Timmins concurred, claiming that Corben would establish a relationship with a young female - possibly one known to him - if released.

'He is likely to harbour sexual interest in the potential victim for many months before acting on his desires,' Dr Timmins wrote.

'There would be psychological coercion involved in the offending and a high degree of harm to the victim, who could be very young.

'His offending will involve touching, masturbation, teaching the child sexual acts, oral sex and could extend to penetrative acts depending on the relationship he develops with the child.'

Queensland's LNP Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington (pictured) said she was 'gobsmacked, outraged, and very angry' that a sexual predator who was likely to reoffend had been released into the community

Queensland's LNP Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said she was 'gobsmacked, outraged, and very angry' that a sexual predator who was likely to reoffend had been released into the community.

'As a mum, it makes me sick to the stomach that violent sexual predators like this are let out onto our streets,' she told the publication.

'He raped a little four-year-old girl and medical experts say there is a moderate to high chance of him reoffending.'

Ms Frecklington called on Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath to change the rules, but it is a matter for the courts.
A former federal Labor MP running at the next election angrily grabbed a reporter's phone after being asked about how to prevent Islamic terror.

Labor branch members dressed as Bananas in Pyjamas, to make a point about ABC funding, were asked about Melbourne's recent Bourke Street terrorist attack when Chris Haviland became agitated.

After posing for a picture at Hornsby's Westfield mall, in Sydney's north, the former Labor member for Macarthur objected to Daily Mail Australia pointing out that terrorist attacks had killed at least six Australians since 2014.

A former federal Labor MP (pictured) angrily grabbed a reporter's camera phone after being asked about how to prevent Islamic terror

'We're not going to exaggerate the extent to which it's happening,' he said, before saying 'excuse me' and grabbing the camera phone.

Moments earlier Mr Haviland had argued Labor's resounding victory in Saturday's Victorian election showed Australians hated scare campaigns, after Somali-born terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali had fatally stabbed Italian-born cafe owner Sisto Malaspina on November 9.

'Seen the result of the Victorian election? That's what people thought of your scare campaign,' he said shortly after midday on Sunday.

'One person stabbed somebody.'

Labor branch members dressed as Bananas in Pyjamas, to make a point about ABC funding, were asked about Melbourne's recent Bourke Street terrorist attack when Chris Haviland became agitated

Mr Haviland held the seat of Macarthur in Sydney's south-west, from 1993 to 1996, and is running as Labor's candidate for Bradfield on Sydney's north shore at next year's federal election, six years after making a tilt for the ultra-safe Liberal seat.

The 66-year-old former mathematics teacher and public servant is now the secretary of Labor's Hornsby branch.

The Labor Party member of 33 years hails from the party's left faction and is also a member of Labor for Refugees.

Mr Haviland repeatedly waved his hands at the camera as Daily Mail Australia asked fellow party members, dressed as Bananas in Pyjamas, how to stop Islamic terror as they stood next to a table outside a gelato shop.

After posing for a picture at Hornsby's Westfield mall, in Sydney's north, the former Labor member for Macarthur objected to Daily Mail Australia pointing out that terrorist attacks had killed seven Australians since 2014

After the camera was turned off Mr Haviland, who held the seat of Macarthur in Sydney's south-west from 1993 to 1996, bizarrely suggested Daily Mail Australia was from the Young Liberals, even though this reporter has never been a member of the Liberal Party

An elderly woman initially laughed nervously and queried, 'In Hornsby?' when the question was posed.

Mr Haviland then intervened in a bid to stop the questioning directed at the female party members dressed as B1 and B2 from the ABC's Bananas in Pyjamas.

'Hang on. Excuse me. Come on,' he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has given no indication that a Labor government would cut funding to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation or the Australian Federal Police.

In January, he criticised then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull for cutting AFP funding at a media conference.

An elderly woman (right) initially laughed nervously and queried, 'In Hornsby' when the question was posed

Daily Mail Australia contacted NSW Labor general secretary Kaila Murnain's office for comment on Mr Haviland's conduct.

The Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, the Islamic Council of Victoria and Mohammed Omran, the spirtual leader of Melbourne's Hume Islamic Youth Centre mosque where the terrorist prayed, have all rejected Prime Minister Scott Morrison's suggestion the Bourke Street attack was linked to radical Islam.

The Melbourne terrorist Hassan Khalif Shire Ali had been in contact with ISIS fighter Khaled Sharrouf, whose sons were pictured holding severed heads.

His Friday afternoon knife rampage made Pellegrini's Expresso Bar cafe owner Sisto Malaspina the sixth Australian killed in a terrorist attack since 2014.

Chris Haviland said the terrorist attack in Melbourne (Somali-born murderer Hassan Khalif Shire Ali pictured) was just 'one person' who stabbed somebody

The other causalities of terror have included Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson, who were killed following a 16-hour siege at Sydney's Martin Place in December 2014 by former Iranian refugee Man Monis.

Less than a year later, Iraqi-Kurd teenager Farhad Jabar killed accountant Curtis Cheng outside New South Wales police headquarters at Parramatta, in Sydney's west.

Last year, Pakistani migrant worker Zeeshan Akbar was stabbed to death after a pair of radicalised teenager boys entered his service station at Queanbeyan, near Canberra.

Two months later, in June 2017, another Somali-born terrorist Yacqub Khayre stabbed a Chinese-born receptionist at a serviced apartment at Brighton, in Melbourne's south-east.

The death toll of six does not include 18-year-old Afghan refugee Numan Haider, who stabbed two counter-terrorism police officers in Melbourne in September 2014 before police shot him dead.
Sickening details of a 54-year-old's alleged sex attack on a seven-year-old girl have emerged in court today.

Anthony Peter Sampieri allegedly raped the little girl in a toilet cubicle at a dance studio in Kogarah, in Sydney's south, earlier this month and is accused of filming part of the attack on his phone.

A tired-looking Sampieri, wearing prison greens and with two black eyes, appeared before Waverley Local Court on Monday where his barrister Ken Buckman did not apply for release.

Police allege Sampieri forced the girl to perform sex acts on him and filmed her doing so.

Court documents reveal that he is accused of choking the girl to 'render (her) incapable of resistance, done so with intent of enabling himself to commit another indictable offence, to wit, sexual assault'.

Anthony Sampieri (centre) will face more than 10 charges after he was arrested by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad at Maroubra Police Station on Sunday afternoon

Sampieri spoke twice while fronting court, and consented to a police application for a forensic procedure.

He is expected to appear before the Sutherland Local Court again on January 23.

At 7.55pm on November 15, two men confronted and attempted to detain Sampieri at the dance studio in Kogarah after concerns were raised for the girl's welfare.

The men allegedly found Sampieri naked with the girl in the toilet before a struggle ensued, resulting in one of the men being left with several stab wounds.

Sampieri was taken to hospital, where he remained under police guard and in the custody of Corrective Services NSW during treatment.

It is understood Sampieri has Hepatitis C and liver damage.

The 54-year-old physically and sexually assaulted the girl in the bathroom of a Kogarah dance studio, assaulting a man and stabbing another who came to her aid, police will allege (pictured is the studio's bathroom)

Sampieri (left), who had been under police guard in hospital, was transferred to Maroubra Police Station just before 4pm after doctors determined he was fit to be released

After being deemed fit by doctors, Sampieri was transported to Maroubra Police Station on Sunday afternoon where he was arrested by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.

An investigation led by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad under Strike Force Berliet resulted in a string of charges.

Among the charges are sexual intercourse with a child under 10 years old, wounding or grievous bodily harm with intent, aggravated kidnapping and attempting, or assaulting with intent, to have sexual intercourse with a child under 10.

Additional charges included choking a person with an intent to commit an indictable offence, using a child under 14 to make child abuse material, aggravated act of indecency being filmed, aggravated indecent assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The man was refused bail to appear at Waverly Local Court via video link on Monday.

Investigations under Strike Force Berliet are continuing.
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President Donald Trump returned to Washington, D.C. on Sunday night with First Lady Melania Trump and their 12-year-old son, Barron, after spending the holiday weekend in Florida.

The young Trump appeared to be preoccupied with his cell phone as he was chauffeured by the Secret Service to the airport in West Palm Beach.

Young Barron also appears to have undergone a tremendous growth spurt.

Photos from last year show that he is noticably shorter than his parents - 6ft3in Donald and 5ft11in Melania.

But pictures from Sunday indicate that the 12-year-old easily towers over his mother while approaching the lofty heights of his President dad.

The Trump family appears to be genetically wired to literally reach heights.

The President's eldest son, Don Jr, is 'just' 6ft1in, but his younger brother, Eric, clocks in at a massive 6ft5in.

While their sister, Ivanka Trump, is not as tall, she is still a statuesque 5ft11in.

The First Family boarded Air Force One and arrived in the capital on Sunday night.

Before the President's departure on Sunday, he played golf for the fifth day in a row.

President Donald Trump returned to Washington, D.C. on Sunday night with First Lady Melania Trump and their 12-year-old son, Barron. Barron is seen far left holding a cell phone as the First Family boards Air Force One in West Palm Beach on Sunday

The First Family spent the holiday weekend at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Florida

The President will have a lot to deal with this week, including tensions within the administration and chaos along the southern border

The Trumps are seen above walking down the steps of Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Sunday

After deplaning from Air Force One, the President and his family took a ride on Marine One, which dropped them off at the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday night

The President was the first to climb down from Marine One followed by his son, Barron

The President waves to photographers on the South Lawn as First Lady Melania Trump walks beside him

Barron Trump is seen far right once again clutching a cell phone as his parents walk beside him after the family returned to the White House

This image taken from January 1, 2018 shows the Trumps return to the White House. Barron is noticeably shorter then both his parents in this photo

But photos from Sunday clearly indicate that not only has Barron outgrown his 5ft11in mother, but he may be as tall as his 6ft3in father, the President

Trump marked time at the links every day of his Thanksgiving trip at Mar-a-Lago - after going more than a month without his favorite game.

Trump went to his Trump International Golf Course early Sunday morning here, where he was sported by a DailyMail.com photographer in his motorcade sporting a white golf shirt and hat, giving a thumbs up sign.

He returned back to his Winter White House after five and a half hours at his Trump International Golf Course.

The president had gone without his weekend golf games for the past month, instead spending his time on the campaign trail for the midterm election.

Trump was seen leaving his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday

Young Barron appeared to be preoccupied with a personal device as he was chauffeured to the airport by the Secret Service

The President, seen above smiling, returns to work after a long weekend that included the holiday of Thanksgiving

Before the President's departure on Sunday, he played golf for the fifth day in a row

Trump marked time at the links every day of his Thanksgiving trip at Mar-a-Lago - after going more than a month without his favorite game

A couple of protesters hold a sign calling Trump a 'Russian stooge' as the President's motorcade drives by in West Palm Beach on Sunday

U.S. Border Patrol guards fired tear gas at Central American migrants who stormed the border near Tijuana, Mexico on Sunday

The Trumps return to the White House as news broke of chaos on the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday.

U.S. Border Patrol agents fired tear gas at a large group of migrants that reportedly tried to storm the fence and enter the country illegally.

The U.S. closed its busiest border crossing with Mexico on Sunday after Mexican police broke up a protest of Central American migrants massed in Tijuana, scattering some demonstrators toward the border where U.S. officers hurled tear gas from the American side.

Traffic in both directions was suspended at the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, the busiest land border in the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said on Twitter.

Mexican police, some wielding shields, scattered migrants and protesters, many of whom rushed toward the U.S. border.

Trumps former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, has been promoting a new book he co-authored with Dave Bossie

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers repelled them with a volley of canisters emitting large clouds of gas as U.S. and Mexican government helicopters clattered overhead.

The Mexican government said later on Sunday it had retaken control of the border crossing after nearly 500 migrants tried to cross the U.S. border 'in a violent manner,' and vowed to immediately deport Central Americans who attempt to enter the United States illegally.

Trump has vowed to crack down on the entry of asylum seekers into the U.S.

The President is also returning to a stormy White House, where his Chief of Staff, John Kelly, is reportedly on his way out.

Trumps former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, has been dogged by rumors that, earlier this year, he and Kelly got into a physical altercation so intense that Secret Service agents had to break it up.

'Would you bet on yourself against John Kelly if it ever got that physical?' a photographer asked Lewandowski.

'I always bet on me,' Lewandowski replied with a grin before getting into his car.

The New York Times reported that Lewandowksi and Kelly got into the heated argument at the White House in February.

When asked about the incident on Fox News Sunday, Lewandowski said: 'John and I had a very candid discussion.'

According to The Times' article, Lewandowski criticized how Kelly had handled accusations of domestic violence against a former staff.

In response, Kelly allegedly shoved Lewandowski into a wall.

The retired Marine Corps general then 'grabbed Mr Lewandowski by the collar and tried to have him ejected from the West Wing', according to The Times.

Lewandowski disputed that the Secret Service had to break up the altercation.

Lewandowski is co-author, along with Dave Bossie, of a new book, In Trumps Enemies: How the Deep State Is Undermining the Presidency.

The book details a list of enemies - from Russian dossier author Christopher Steele to FBI cutthroat Peter Strzok to ambitious Senator Cory Booker to former President Barack Obama.
A man accused of raping a little girl in a dance school toilet was a 'loner' who cried in class when Elvis Presley died and later went on to become a strip club bouncer.

Classmates of Anthony Peter Sampieri, 54, have recalled the young boy they knew in his time as a high school student at St Paul's College, in Manly, in the late-1970s.

Sampieri faced Waverley Local Court on Monday charged with sexually assaulting, choking and filming the alleged attack on the seven-year-old on November 16.

Shocked by his alleged crime, Sampieri's former schoolmates told how as a teenager he 'looked like a man' and how after 'falling in with the wrong crowd' left school early to become a bouncer at infamous Kings Cross strip club Porky's.

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Anthony Peter Sampieri (Pictured, circled) has been described as a 'loner' by ex-schoolmates at St Paul's Christian Brothers College in Manly, where he attended school in the late-1970s

NSW Police have charged Sampieri, 54, with the alleged sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl in the toilets of a dance school at Kogarah, in Sydney's south, about 8pm on November 16

'In 3rd or 4th form he started hanging around with the "wrong crowd" in Frenchs Forest or Forestville,' one former classmate said.

'He got himself a tattoo of a compass on his right arm high enough up so it wouldn't show when he wore his short sleeve school shirt.'

Another recalled how: 'He sat in front of me in class in Year 8 I think, crying... I asked what was wrong and he told me that Elvis had died.'

'If my memory serves me correctly... I bumped into Anthony Sampieri working on the door at Porky's in the mid 80's,' one ex-student said.

'I remember hearing he was a bouncer too. He was a nice guy, looked like a man in year 8 when we were still all kids,' commented one old boy.

Another woman, who met Sampieri while he was dating her friend, said she was shocked to see his change in appearance in recent years.

'He was a partner of a really good friend of mine, but I didn't particularly like him,' the woman told Daily Mail Australia.

'I was a bit shocked actually when I saw they photos of him yesterday, because he was always a bigger king of guy, with long hair and what not - he'd changed a lot.'

Sampieri faced Waverley Local Court on Monday, a day after being charged with 11 offences relating to the alleged attack.

Wearing prison greens, Sampieri looked tired when he appeared in court via video link.

Court papers revealed sickening details of how he allegedly choked the girl until she was unconscious, before filming himself carrying out the sex attack.

Sampieri attended St Paul's College (pictured) in the late-1970s and early-1980s, but left early

His former classmates from St Paul's told how a teenage Sampieri was a 'loner', who cried in class when Elvis Presley died

In the mid-1980s Sampieri worked as a bouncer at Porky's strip club (pictured) in Kings Cross

He is accused of choking the girl to 'render (her) incapable of resistance, done so with intent of enabling himself to commit another indictable offence, to wit, sexual assault'.

Sampieri spoke twice while fronting court, and consented to a police application for forensic procedures to be undertaken upon him.

Those procedures included the taking of samples by swabbing, washing, 'vacuum suction', scraping or lifting by tape from Sampieri's genitals.

His Ken Buckman lawyer did not apply for bail during the short hearing and the case was adjourned.

Police allege Sampieri waited in a public toilet cubicle used by a dance studio before sexually attacking a young girl when she entered just after 7.30pm on November 16.

Using a surgeon's scalpel he had with him, Sampieri allegedly held the girl at knife point.

He then allegedly sexually assaulted the young girl, filming part of his attack.

Police will allege Sampieri physically and sexually assaulted the girl in the bathroom (pictured) of a Kogarah dance studio

Waverley Local Court heard sickening details of how Sampieri allegedly choked the young girl until she was unconscious, before filming himself carrying out the sex attack

The alleged attack only ended when dentist Jeffrey Stack entered the toilet cubicle and caught Sampieri with his pants around his ankles, before attacking him.

By this stage the young girl had been missing from the dance class for close to 30 minutes.

As the scuffle unfolded Nick Gilio, who was one of a group of parents from the dance studio looking for the girl, heard the commotion and entered the toilets.

During the brawl Mr Gilio was stabbed multiple times in the stomach and neck, while Sampieri was also left battered and bruised.

The victim's mother was also allegedly injured when she encountered Sampieri.

Sampieri is due to reappear in Sutherland Local Court on January 23, 2019.
An Uber driver whose passenger died when he got out of the car and was hit by a bus has been found guilty of negligent driving occasioning death.

Nazrul Islam, 32, denied responsibility after the death of Samuel Thomas, 30, who was struck at the intersection of Elizabeth and Bathurst streets in Sydney's CBD at 3am on June 17, 2017.

Mr Thomas, from Hertfordshire, had been drinking at a birthday party with colleagues in Strathfield before catching the Uber with friends Stephen Ronning and Greg Hensman.

Uber driver Nazrul Islam, 32, (pictured) denied responsibility after the death of Englishman Samuel Thomas, 30

Thomas (pictured) was struck at the intersection of Elizabeth and Bathurst streets in Sydney's CBD at 3am on June 17, 2017

In Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, magistrate Mary Ryan found the driver 'did not keep a proper lookout' when Mr Thomas opened a rear passenger door while stopped at a red light before he accelerated.

She said both of the victim's 'intoxicated' friends were awoken by the sound of the door and - as captured on CCTV on the bus - the internal light of Islam's car also came on.

'Six seconds of light within the car is a significant warning and, in my view, Mr Islam should have been alerted to something being amiss,' the magistrate said.

Ms Ryan said the 'only explanation is that Mr Islam was much more fatigued than he admitted' and she was not convinced he had slept during his breaks for as long as he testified.

She found the driver worked for 21 hours before the incident and despite indicating he had seven hours of sleep, it was not continuous rest.

Mr Thomas had been drinking at a birthday party with colleagues in Strathfield and caught the Uber towards Pitt Street with friends Stephen Ronning (pictured) and Greg Hensman

Hannah Thomas, sister of Samuel Thomas (centre) and Stephen Ronning, a friend of Samuel Thomas (right) leave the Downing Centre Court in Sydney

'I find that he is guilty of the charge of negligent driving occasioning death beyond a reasonable doubt,' she said.

'I was ready to drive Friday night as long as possible because it would be a busy night,' Islam said through an interpreter, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Islam - who arrived from Bangladesh in early 2013 but only became an Uber driver three weeks before the incident - said he couldn't recall the 'exact destination' the three men had requested but 'my GPS was advising me still four to five minutes to go'.

Outside court, the victim's sister, Hannah Thomas, told reporters her brother was 'sweet and funny' and 'this was his dream' to live in Australia.

'We love him and miss him and we just hope today is some closure for us and for him,' she said.

Magistrate Mary Ryan found the driver 'did not keep a proper lookout' when Mr Thomas (pictured) opened a rear passenger door while stopped at a red light before he accelerated
Spain's Prime Minister sparked a backlash over a bid to seize control Gibraltar - which diplomats have branded as 'completely silly.'

Pedro Sanchez said that 'everyone loses' when it comes to Brexit, but Spain's position on the issue of Gibraltar has emerged stronger in the Brexit deal signed off on Sunday by EU leaders.

He said the UK's withdrawal from the EU would 'open talks on joint sovereignty' of the Rock, which has been a British overseas territory since 1713.

But EU diplomats have privately derided his claims that British sovereignty over Gibraltor would end during Brexit trade talks next year.

'It is a completely silly and empty thing,' one senior EU diplomat told The Times.

EU diplomats were also furious at Spain's 'outrageous' last-minute grandstanding.

The country was the last to agree to the Brexit deal, saying it would only back it on condition of a guarantee of Madrid's say in the future territory at its southern tip.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (pictured in Madrid yesterday) has claimed Brexit could mean splitting the sovereignty of Gibraltar between Spain and the UK

Spain claims Gibraltar even though it was ceded to Britain in 1713.

'It is really outrageous,' a senior EU diplomat told The Telegraph of the move.

'It is trying to turn back history for more than 300 years. There is no scrap of justification.'

Speaking in Brussels on Sunday, Mr Sanchez said of Theresa May's divorce deal: 'We are going to resolve a conflict that has been going for over 300 years.

'This puts Spain in a position of strength in negotiations with the United Kingdom over Gibraltar that we have not had until now.

'We all lose [with Brexit], especially the United Kingdom, but regarding Gibraltar, Spain wins.'

Sanchez's comments were also met with fury by the island's chief minister Fabian Picardo, who likened Mr Sanchez's tactics to the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.

Mrs May's fellow Tories are also angry, claiming she has 'caved in' to European leaders on Gibraltar and 'sold out' the 30,000 British citizens who live there.

Asked if he would seek a discussion over joint sovereignty once Britain leaves the bloc on March 29 2019, Mr Sanchez added: 'We will discuss all issues.'

Mr Sanchez's comments have been met with fury by Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo, who likened his tactics to the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco (pictured)

But Mr Picardo said: 'We do not need to wait until the start of the talks.

'I can tell Spain now: we are not interested in any dilution of our sovereignty, we are not interested in allowing for even the remotest concession to Spanish sovereignty, jurisdiction or control.'

Spain will vote in local, regional and European Parliament elections on May 26 2019, with talks of a general election as well to make a 'super Saturday' of voting.

Mr Sanchez, who only has a minority government, propped up by other parties, has been accused of trying to strengthen his position on Gibraltar ahead of voting next year.

After promising Britain will 'always stand by Gibraltar', Mrs May told reporters at today's EU summit: 'I am proud that Gibraltar is British and its constitutional status will not change.'

But the other members of her party are not convinced, with former Deputy Commons Speaker Nigel Evans saying yesterday: 'To sell out 17.5 million people [who voted to leave the EU] with her Brexit deal is one thing, to go against the wishes of the DUP who keep us in power is another.

'But to sell out the utterly patriotic British people who live on Gibraltar is simply beyond the pale.'

Theresa May (pictured in Brussels making a statement on her deal today) she had reassured Spain over Gibraltar and they will vote for her EU withdrawal agreement at today's summit. But MPs warn she is 'selling out' the residents of the Rock

The Ribble Valley MP added: 'Theresa May is dining in Brussels with people who are delighted with her deal  in fact they could have written it themselves.

'But on Monday she will return to a very different atmosphere in Westminster  one of betrayal.'

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell also slammed her over Spanish negotiations, saying: 'The Prime Minister has to show that she will be utterly true to her words that there will be no compromise on Britain's right to defend and negotiate on behalf of Gibraltar.

'She must vow that Spanish attempts to use this constitutional weapon to try somehow to divide the Rock and the UK will not work.'

Tory Eurosceptic Nadine Dorries said: 'May has capitulated to every single EU demand. She's abandoned Northern Ireland, and now Gibraltar. At no time does she push back.'

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake claimed the Prime Minister had 'caved in' and 'appears to have cast the people of Gibraltar aside'.

Theresa May said on Saturday talks with her Spanish counterpart had been 'sensible and constructive' after he threatened to boycott today's all-important Brexit summit.

Tory doubts over Theresa May's (pictured with EU Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels yesterday) Brexit plans for Gibraltar could make her battle to get her deal through the House of Commons even more difficult

But Mr Sanchez's apparent stepping up of his bid to gain more influence over Gibraltar is causing mass controversy there and at home.

He implied that assurances from EU leaders could mean Spain's relationship with the the British territory radically changes after Brexit.

He said yesterday: 'The European Council and the European Commission have backed Spain's position, and backed it as never before.'

Spain's Europe Minister Josep Borrell Fontelles further inflamed tensions this week by saying the UK leaving the EU poses the biggest shake-up to the sovereignty of the island peninsula since it was handed to the British in 1713 with the Treaty of Utrecht.

Almost all of Gibraltar's residents voted to stay in the EU and are nervous about what Brexit will mean for them, as the local economy is propped up mainly by customs duties and offshore finance.

Even with EU President Jean Claude Juncker saying the Commission will give Mrs May's withdrawal agreement the green light, MPs back at home are still likely to have objections.

On top of the Northern Ireland backstop, the Gibraltar issue could make getting Brexit through the House of Commons even more difficult.

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell warned it could also threaten her leadership.

He said: 'If there is any sign of any backtracking or watering down on this issue, that alone will inspire huge numbers of people to lose confidence in her leadership'.

Mr Sanchez was elected to office this summer, when he became the first Spanish politician to take over as a Prime Minister through a vote of no confidence.

He unseated his long-term enemy Mariano Rajoy, despite not being an MP and having to resign from his party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in 2016 over his refusal to accept Rajoy's return.

Before coming into politics he worked for the UN in Bosnia and as an economics professor.

He has had a difficult year with the outbreaks of violence in Catalonia and anger from his opposition parties about Spain's long-term economic problems.

Gibraltar is a haven for all kinds of funny business but 'The Rock' is British to the core and its people are determined to remain so

By Brendan Carlin, political correspondent for The Mail on Sunday

With fish and chips and warm beer galore, modern Gibraltar looks for all the world like a little bit of Britain on the Med.

But perched on the very tip of the Iberian peninsula, its omnipresent Union Jacks and souvenir 'Her Majesty' mugs are seen as a daily affront by many of its Spanish neighbours.

For decades now, UK-Spanish relations have been dominated by the Rock and Madrid's repeated claims to sovereignty.

And more recently, it has come under fire for its low-tax regime and financial rules, with over 60,000 companies reportedly registered there  roughly two for each of its 30,000 or so residents.

With no large-scale agricultural or industrial activity, much of the Rock's income comes from customs duties, offshore finance, internet gambling and provisioning of ships.

For decades now, UK-Spanish relations have been dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar (pictured) and Madrid's repeated claims to sovereignty

It is also coveted by Royal Navy crews as the ultimate stop-off point after long voyages as a 'little piece of home'.

Gambling giant Bet365  whose UK boss Denise Coates last year earned 265 million  has based its international operations there since 2014.

Financial services, tourism, low-tax goods and online gambling are key sectors of the local economy.

This imposing limestone outcrop  home to those famous barbary macaque monkeys  with its strategic position on the western gateway to the Med, has been British for more than 300 years.

It was formally ceded in perpetuity to Britain in 1713 under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht which brought an end to the War of the Spanish Succession.

Named in Arabic 'Jabal Tariq', after the Muslim commander Tariq Ibn-Ziyad who turned the Rock into a fortress in 711, it has been an important naval base for more than 1,000 years.

That long maritime history explains its diverse population, with many residents of mixed Genoese, British, Spanish and Maltese descent.

Most Gibraltarians can speak both English and Spanish.

As a British overseas territory, it is home to a military garrison and has a naval base. But over the past few decades, the EU has sought to put pressure on London and Madrid to resolve its future status. Both sides have tried to arrive at an agreement.

However, Spain's insistence on eventually obtaining total sovereignty over the territory, allied to the UK's determination to keep full control of Gibraltar's military bases, have proved serious stumbling blocks. So too has the local population's determination to remain British.

The Rock's 2006 constitution stipulates that there can be no transfer of sovereignty to Spain against the wishes of its voters.

In a referendum in 2002, Gibraltarians resoundingly rejected the idea of joint sovereignty between the UK and Spain.

Free travel between Spain and Gibraltar was fully restored in 1985, but travellers continued to suffer delays at the border.

Gambling giant Bet365  whose UK boss Denise Coates (pictured) last year earned 265 million  has based its international operations on Gibraltar since 2014

In late 2006, passenger flights between Spain and Gibraltar resumed for the first time in nearly 30 years, though seven years later there were renewed border checks by Spain in response to a Gibraltarian plan to build an artificial reef.

The 2006 air link was restored after Gibraltar, Spain and Britain signed agreements aimed at improving living conditions on the Rock.

In the 2016 EU referendum, the Rock voted overwhelmingly against Brexit.

And even though the UK overall did not, Gibraltar's leaders have made clear they prefer to follow the motherland out of the EU.

But for Madrid, Brexit represents a golden opportunity to overturn three centuries of history and stage their own bid to 'take back control'.
Lesley Elder (pictured outside the High Court in London during her injury claims case) has been spotted partying in Ibiza

A mother who sued the NHS for 2.5million after claiming surgery left her unable to work and in constant pain was rumbled after she was pictured at a hen party in Ibiza.

Lesley Elder, 50, claimed the operation left her unable to work or travel, but gave herself away when she posted photos from her daughter's bash on Facebook.

The unemployed mother-of-two said pain from the op had turned her into a reclusive shadow of her former self, but photos showed her 'partying after midnight', a judge said.

Despite claiming severe disability, she was photographed in a club, wearing a straw hat and sash with her daughter, Tania Bunston, and other women.

The judge said Mrs Elder had a valid case because she was misdiagnosed before the operation and had not given her informed consent to it.

But she was awarded less than five per cent of the payout she wanted - because her claim had been 'inflated beyond reason'.

Now Mrs Elder, of Poole, Dorset, is facing a bid by Nuneaton's George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust to have her locked up for contempt of court.

NHS barrister, William Featherby QC, said her 'exaggerated' and 'dishonest' claims of grave disability were only foiled by surveillance evidence.

'She hoped, by her dishonesty, to recover very substantial damages, perhaps 2.5m,' he told Judge Clive Freedman at the High Court in London.

'The surveillance evidence and the Facebook photographs demonstrated that she was not significantly disabled and that her statements to that effect were false.'

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Nuneaton, Warwickshire (pictured) has applied to have her jailed for contempt of court

Mrs Elder was entitled to damages after being put through 'unnecessary and inappropriate' incontinence surgery in 2010, when she lived in the Midlands.

Working as a foster mum in the past, but now unemployed, she was ultimately awarded about 120,000 in damages.

But she exaggerated her symptoms, claiming she was suffering from 'profound disability', with severe and constant pain in her groin and leg.

She claimed it meant she could not work or travel, no longer went out very often and needed more than 1million worth of care and support.

But after a hearing at Winchester County Court in February last year, Judge Iain Hughes QC awarded her a small fraction of the damages she claimed.

Mrs Elder insisted that the Ibiza trip was not a hen party, but simply a holiday to get some sun before the wedding.

But Judge Hughes said the do had been women only - all of them wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the words 'Tania's hen party'.

'The party had obviously started on the Saturday evening,' he said. 'I find that she was happily partying after midnight, contrary to her evidence.'

Mrs Elder, who hobbled into and out of court with a walking stick, was not seen in any of the surveillance footage using a walking aid, he said.

The footage showed her using a vacuum cleaner, carrying her grandson, exercising her dog and shopping for clothes with her daughter.

Lesley Elder, 50, was filmed clubbing well past midnight on the party island at her daughter Tania's hen-do (pictured, a file photo from Ibiza)

'If she would benefit from using a stick, she would use one,' the judge found. 'She does not, save when being observed for the purposes of financial gain.'

As to her claim that she could not work, he said medical records showed she had been fit for work for some years.

'She is not presently working because she perceives it is to her financial advantage in this litigation not to work.'

The judge added: 'Absent the surveillance evidence, a terrible injustice would have been done to the National Health Service.'

Applying to have her jailed for contempt of court this week, Mr Featherby said Mrs Elder had in fact made a good recovery - probably by 2012, but at the latest by 2015.

'Rather than reporting this accurately, she set about mounting a claim that was profoundly dishonest and exaggerated the severity of her injuries,' he said.

He said she was lucky not to have been charged with a criminal offence, which could have led to 10 years' jail, rather than a maximum two years for contempt.

Mrs Elder's barrister, Bibi Ihuomah, said she continues to deny being dishonest at the county court.

'She denies that she has lied and she was on severe medication when she gave her evidence,' she told the judge.

She added that Judge Hughes had been shown only 70 minutes of 'edited' surveillance footage that lasted a total of 40 hours.

The application to commit her to prison was adjourned after Ms Ihuomah said she needed more time to consult with Mrs Elder.

The case is expected to return to the High Court early next year.
A little girl who drowned while swimming with friends has been remembered as a much-loved and popular student, who will be desperately missed by her family and friends.

Alliannah Cathcart, 6, had been swimming in a popular spot in the Black River, north of Townsville in Queensland on Sunday, when she tragically went missing.

Locals said they heard Allainnah's parents desperately screaming for help, soon after 1.15pm when they couldn't find their little girl.

Alliannah Cathcart (pictured), six, was swimming with her family by the banks of the Black River, north of Townsville in Queensland before a Sunday swimming trip ended tragically

A relative posted a picture of the six-year-old and her siblings on Facebook along with the caption 'Alliangel'

Emergency services and police desperately combed the river and its surroundings in search of the missing six-year-old.

Her body was found just before 3pm.

Principal at Bohlevale State School where Allainnah was a student told the Townsville Bulletin they were 'deeply saddened' by her sudden death.

'The student was an enthusiastic, high achieving and friendly young child who will be greatly missed by all their friends and teachers.'

The school is providing counselling support for both students and staff.

Family and friends have poured their tributes to Alliannah on social media.

A relative posted a picture of the six-year-old and her siblings on Facebook along with the caption 'Alliangel.'

Her body was found in Black River (pictured), in Queensland's north on Sunday afternoon

Alliannah and her family had been swimming by the banks of the Black River (pictured on map), north of Townsville in Queensland on Sunday

'My thoughts and love are with you and your family,' one friend replied.

Alliannah's father Jon Cathcart posted a photo of his daughter's name tattooed on his left arm in tribute to his beautiful girl on social media.

A Queensland Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that a six-year-old girl died yesterday at the Black River and her death was not being treated as suspicious.

Floral tributes have been laid by Bank River in remembrance of Alliannah.

Police are preparing a report for the coroner.
Gangs of predominantly Pakistani men have been grooming British Sikh girls for decades, according to claims in a bombshell report.

The study alleges that young Sikh women have been targeted by Muslim men who subjected them to sexual abuse.

The report by the Sikh Mediation and Rehabilitation Team charity found that police recklessly ignored complaints  often for reasons of political correctness.

Described as an exploratory study, it looks at reported cases of abuse against Sikh girls  of Indian background  dating back to the 1970s [File photo]

In many cases, according to the report, the men would groom a girl before passing her round to other members of their family.

The girls would be snared by fashionably dressed adult Pakistani men travelling in flamboyant vehicles to predominantly Sikh dominated areas and schools, it claimed.

The report said that while the revelation of grooming gangs targeting white girls in Rochdale shocked the nation in 2012, similar instances had long been taking place under the radar in Britains Sikh communities.

Sikh community leaders say the problem started in the 1960s. The charity said the report was not a witch-hunt against any individual, community, culture or faith  but said nothing would change unless the facts were known.

Last night Labour MP Sarah Champion demanded an investigation. The girls would be snared by fashionably dressed adult Pakistani men travelling in flamboyant vehicles to predominantly Sikh dominated areas and schools, it claimed [File photo]

Last night Labour MP Sarah Champion demanded an investigation. She said: I was shocked when I first heard about the organised abuse of Sikh girls by mostly Pakistani men.

When I started speaking to Sikh women, I could not believe how widespread the grooming and abuse was  and that this has been going on for decades. We need to speak of the abuse of Sikh girls to take it out of the shadows and make sure the authorities take it seriously. 

The Rotherham MP added: There needs to be a full investigation into the systematic abuse of Sikh girls.

Sikh community leaders say the problem started in the 1960s. The charity said the report was not a witch-hunt against any individual, community, culture or faith  but said nothing would change unless the facts were known [File photo]

The Daily Mail has seen a copy of the report, entitled The Religiously Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of Young Sikh Women Across the UK.

Described as an exploratory study, it looks at reported cases of abuse against Sikh girls  of Indian background  dating back to the 1970s.

The report said: The research has found verification demonstrating a history of predominantly Pakistani grooming gangs targeting young Sikh females for over 50 years.

The over representation of such perpetrators in selecting non-Muslim victims would appear to be indicative of a wider acceptability in certain sections of the community towards the targeting of young females from outside of the Pakistani community and/or Muslim faith.

Due to the failures of law enforcement agencies and local authorities in addressing the problem, such networks have continued to flourish.

The study included a case in 1971 when an 11-year-old was jailed for imprisoning a Sikh girl in Slough.

In other reports in the 1980s, Sikhs were complaining about Muslims pestering their girls or that their girls were being used as sex slaves.

Gangs of predominantly Pakistani men have been grooming British Sikh girls for decades, according to claims in a bombshell report [File photo]

An organisation, Shere Punjab, was formed in 1989 to combat attacks on young Sikh women by Muslims.

There was controversy in 2008 about a website which appears to be run by young male Muslims and boasts about seducing Sikh women during freshers week at university.

And in 2013 a case about six men who targeted, abused and exploited a young Sikh girl in Leicester reached the courts.
By Auqib Javeed, TwoCircles.net

Srinagar: Over the past 24 hours, most Indian media houses have carried the story of six militants and one Army soldier killed during an encounter Kashmirs Shopian District. However, as is often the case, non-combatants and the civilian population also ended up paying a heavy price during the encounter. Over 20 people were injured when security forces fired tear gas shells and pellets at protesters, but the youngest victimHibais only 19 months old and there is a high chance that she may never be able to see from her right eye again.

In ward number 8 of Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS), Srinagar, Masarat Jan is trying to ease the pain of her child, Heba Jan, after a pellet left a hole right in the middle of her eyeball.

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In a conversation with TwoCircles.net, Hibas mother Masrat Jan says that on Sunday, she had to open the door of her house to save Hiba and her 5-year-old brother from tear smoke coming from the encounter site. We were sitting inside our house. However, the intense tear smoke forced us to leave the house. As soon I opened the door of my house forces fired pellets on us. I pushed my son to one side and covered my daughters face with my hand, said Masrat Jan.

Showing her right hand dotted with pellets, Masrat says if she had not placed her hand on her daughters face, the pellets would have damaged both her eyes and the injuries could have been more grievous.

The ophthalmology ward of SMHS hospital is overwhelmed with patients, most of them with bloody eyes. At least 20 people were injured on Sunday clashes between government forces and protesters.

We are poorwe dont have enough money to buy medicines. For Gods sake, tell me where should I go with my daughter? says Masrat whose husband Nisar Ahmad is a labour by profession.

She was hit by pellets even when she was inside her home. She might lose her eyesight also. What was her crime? And you know what, nobody will ever be held accountable because you are living in a place where forces have been given a free licence to kill and blind people, said Hibas uncle.

We were brought to the hospital by her neighbours because I fell unconscious after seeing blood oozing from her eye, says Masrat. According to doctors Hiba has been operated once to stop the bleeding from the eye and will be operated again.

We cant say anything this time about her eyesight, lets wait for at least 6 days, we have to operate multiple times to see the results, said Medical Superintendent of SMHS hospital, Dr Saleem Tak.

He added that her eye is like a balloon and that if it is punctured, it will be very tough for her to regain eyesight. Let us hope we are able to correct the devastation caused by the pellet in her eye, he added.

Pellet guns were first used in 2010 when protests engulfed Kashmir. The then National Conference (NC) government led by Omar Abdullah allowed pellet guns to be used for controlling protesters.

On Jan 2 of this year, the Jammu and Kashmir state government admitted in the state legislative assembly that 6,221 persons received pellet gun injuries, including 782 eye injuries, between July 2016 and February 2017.
Bhutanese twins Nima and Dawa have left a hospital as individual 'cheeky' girls, weeks after life-changing surgery to separate them.

The 15-month-old sisters, who had spent their lives joined at the torso, left Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital in a pram on Monday with their mum Bhumchu Zangmo following the successful surgery on November 9.

Lead paediatric surgeon Dr Joe Crameri said the girls were recovering well, but there was no date set for their return to Bhutan.

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Conjoined twins Nima and Dawa (pictured) have finally been discharged from hospital with their mum Bhumchu Zangmo

Doctors from Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital (pictured) worked to separate the 15-month-old Bhutanese sisters, who had spent their lives joined at the torso

Lead paediatric surgeon Joe Crameri said the twins (pictured before surgery) have made an excellent recovery and they are now starting to act independently

'The twins have made an excellent recovery and they are now starting to act independently and move around,' Dr Crameri said on Monday.

'I was pleased to see they were somewhat smiling.'

He said the staff had seen the 'two remarkable girls' transform since becoming independent.

'Girls who started off really attached and bonded to another, but ultimately frustrated with one another,' Dr Crameri said.

The twins' surgeon explained the girls 'started off really attached and bonded to another, but ultimately frustrated with one another'

'We saw them became incredibly anxious after the surgery once they knew their other twin was not immediately in front of them.

Lead paediatric surgeon Joe Crameri (above) said the girls were recovering well, but there was no date set for their return to Bhutan

'Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen them gain confidence, gain independence and gain a lot of strength.'

Dr Crameri says being able to stand will be a 'work in progress' for the girls as they build up strength and balance.

While they are yet to form full words, Dr Crameri said The Wiggles signature finger move had become their favourite while in hospital.

'They are cheeky. Dawa has turned on me. I thought she was going to be eternally grateful to me for getting her sister off her but she just seems to get grumpy with me,' he joked.

'When they are comfortable in their own space, they are very cheeky. They like to replicate The Wiggles.'

The former king of Bhutan wrote a letter to hospital chief executive Joe Stanway, thanking staff for changing the girls' lives.

'They are cheeky. Dawa has turned on me. I thought she was going to be eternally grateful to me for getting her sister off her but she just seems to get grumpy with me,' Dr Crameri joked

Jigme Singye Wangchuck wrote: 'The successful surgery has made it possible for Nima and Dawa to enjoy a happy and meaningful life in Bhutan'.

The girls will to travel regional Victoria with their mother to the Children First Foundation's Kilmore retreat to continue recovering, before returning home to family.

'What the two girls need is stimulation of other children being around to challenge them, to give them interest and that will do wonders for the girls,' Dr Crameri said, noting one more wound check and a review was expected.

The foundation helped bring the girls and their mother to Australia for the surgery. They arrived in Australia in October, but waited weeks for the surgery while they built up strength.

As Ms Zangmo wheeled her daughters out of the hospital, she paused to give thanks in English: 'Thank you, everyone.'
President Donald Trump criticized CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday by falsely claiming that his administrations policy of separating migrant children from their parents originated with his predecessors.

60 Minutes did a phony story about child separation when they know we had the exact same policy as the Obama Administration, Trump falsely tweeted.

In fact a picture of children in jails was used by other Fake Media to show how bad (cruel) we are, but it was in 2014 during O years.

Obama separated children from parents, as did Bush etc., because that is the policy and law.

President Donald Trump criticized CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday by falsely claiming that his administrations policy of separating migrant children from their parents originated with his predecessors

60 Minutes did a phony story about child separation when they know we had the exact same policy as the Obama Administration, Trump falsely tweeted

In fact a picture of children in jails was used by other Fake Media to show how bad (cruel) we are, but it was in 2014 during O years'

Trump's tweet came just hours after his administration shut the countrys busiest border crossing and fired tear gas into Mexico on Sunday to repel Central American migrants approaching the border

I tried to keep them together but the problem is, when you do that, vast numbers of additional people storm the Border.

So with Obama seperation [sic] is fine, but with Trump its not. Fake 60 Minutes!

Trump's tweet came just hours after his administration shut the countrys busiest border crossing and fired tear gas into Mexico on Sunday to repel Central American migrants approaching the border.

Trump has vowed that asylum-seekers from Central America would not easily enter the country.

The President reacted to a 60 Minutes segment which found that the family separation policy, in which migrant children were detained separately from their parents, was implemented earlier and in greater numbers than was originally acknowledged.

The segment told the story of Immers, a three-year-old Honduran boy who was taken from his father at the border this past spring.

The President reacted to a 60 Minutes segment which told the story of Immers, a three-year-old Honduran boy who was taken from his father at the border this past spring

Some 2,500 children were separated from their parents earlier this year after they crossed the border from Mexico.

Trump reversed the policy after public outrage over images of crying children being taken away from their parents.

Trumps tweet is incorrect because it contradicts the Presidents own statements last month.

The President said that separating migrant families at the border could deter illegal immigration and that he was considering several options to tighten border security.

If they feel there will be separation, they dont come, he said of migrants during comments to reporters at the White House.

Trump also claimed, without providing evidence, that immigrants were grabbing children and theyre using children to come in to our country in many cases.

He stopped short, however, of committing to a new round of family separations.

Were looking at a lot of different things having to do with illegal immigration, he said, again calling on Congress to pass immigration legislation.

Were going to do whatever we can do to get it slowed down.

His former Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, released a statement to the media dated April 6, 2018, which touted a new zero-tolerance policy.

The situation at our Southwest Border is unacceptable, Sessions said in the news release.

Congress has failed to pass effective legislation that serves the national interestthat closes dangerous loopholes and fully funds a wall along our southern border.

Trump claims the family separation policy was not new, but his former Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, announced a 'zero tolerance policy' in April that he later acknowledged was meant to serve as a 'deterrent' to illegal immigration

As a result, a crisis has erupted at our Southwest Border that necessitates an escalated effort to prosecute those who choose to illegally cross our border.

In June, Sessions doubled down on the policy, saying it was meant to be a deterrent.

Kirstjen Nielsen, the Homeland Security Secretary, contradicted Sessions statement when asked if the policy was a deterrent.

I find that offensive, Nielsen said.

During the Obama administration, migrant families were kept together while detained, according to Vox.

But the courts stepped in and determined that detaining entire families to deter illegal immigration violated previous rulings which placed limits on how long minors can be detained.

Only in extreme cases where the children were at risk from potential abuse from their guardians were they separated.

In 2014, the Obama administration was grappling with an influx in migrants fleeing violence in Central America.

In three years on my watch, we probably deported or returned or repatriated about a million people to enforce border security, Obamas Homeland Security Secretary, Jeh Johnson, told NBC News.

One of the things I could not do is separate a child from his or her mother, or literally pull a mother from his or her arms.

I just couldnt do it.
Fans of Coles Little Shop collectibles could well be in for a Christmas treat if a leaked internal note proves to be the real deal.

The emailed note has emerged online, stating 'Little Shop is back for Christmas' and that five new Little Shop collectibles will hit stores from December 7.

The note appears to be intended for staff members and explains that the collectibles will be available to customers for every $30 they spend in store.

The emailed note has emerged online, stating 'Little Shop is back for Christmas' and that five new Little Shop collectibles will hit Coles' stores from December 7

All a Coles spokeswoman would tell Daily Mail Australia, however, is that 'Santa never reveals his secrets'.

The news has already sent collectibles fans into overdrive with mixed reviews online.

'I can't decide if this is good or bad,' one confused social media user wrote.

Another seemed prepared to embrace the expected chaos.

The note appears to be intended for staff members and explains that the collectibles will be available to customers for every $30 they spend in store

All a Coles spokeswoman would tell Daily Mail Australia, however, is that 'Santa never reveals his secrets'

'Let the mayhem begin,' they wrote.

Others tagged their friends telling them to 'get ready!' and 'sign me up'.

While many were just relieved there were 'only five this time'.

Coles was criticised earlier this year for its use of non-recyclable plastic in the creation of its Little Shop collectibles, and consumers have hit on this topic once again.

The news has already sent collectibles fans into overdrive with mixed reviews online, but most seem prepared for the expected 'mayhem'

Some, however, referred to the previous issue of the amount of 'useless plastic' it will produce

'Great. More useless plastic to go into our oceans,' one person wrote.

'Stop plastic bags then bring this junk out,' another agreed.

The Little Shop phenomenon earlier this year featured 30 iconic household brands including Vegemite, Nutella, Tim Tams and Weet-Bix all shrunk to a mini-collectible.

The campaign was a nationwide craze with families pleading with people to swap minis with them on social media. Complete sets were reaching up to $1000 on Gumtree.

If the rumours are true, Coles will be competing against rival Woolworths which also launched a Christmas collectibles range earlier this month.
Eric Bauman (above) has been accused of sexual assault by several members of the Democratic Party in California

A leading Democrat in California is facing calls to resign after he was accused of sexually assaulting several staff members.

Daraka Larimore-Hall, the state party's vice chairman, told The Washington Post that he sent a letter on Tuesday to the party's secretary calling for Bauman's removal.

It comes after he was approached by several party staff members who told him that they had been sexually harassed and assaulted by Bauman.

Larimore-Hall said that he first filed a complaint with the party's human resources department and called on Bauman to step down.

After Bauman refused, Larimore-Hall initiated the formal process of calling for Bauman to be ousted.

Larimore-Hall said in a letter: 'In the days since the first brave souls have come forward, they have been joined by others with similar stories and experiences.

He called the allegations 'credible, corroborated and utterly heart-breaking'.

He asked that Democrats 'honor these survivors by respecting their desire to be left alone, and in some cases to remain anonymous'.

Bauman has been California Democratic Party chairman since May 2017. He is the first openly gay person to lead the party in the state.

In a statement Saturday to The Sacramento Bee, he said that a 'prompt, thorough and independent investigation of the allegations has been undertaken by a respected outside investigator'.

Daraka Larimore-Hall, the state party's vice chairman, (left) said he was approached by several staffers alleging sexual assault by Eric Bauman (right) and called on him to stand down

He added: 'I take seriously any allegation brought forward by anyone who believes they have been caused pain'.

He claimed that he looks forward to 'putting these allegations behind us and moving forward as unified Democrats'.

Larimore-Hall provided no details about the alleged incidents or the staff members who reportedly were assaulted.

In his email, he said that he would allow the victims to decide whether to come forward.

He added: ' I will forever be inspired by the bravery of these young political professionals, many of whom are at the very beginnings of their careers.

Democratic party members have called for Bauman to be replaced by University law professor Michele Dauber

Kimberly Ellis from Richmond was beaten by Bauman for the partys top job by just 62 votes last year

'Obviously, it is completely unacceptable for Chairman Bauman to remain in office given the allegations'.

In a tweet on Friday, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna called the allegations against Bauman 'shocking'.

She suggested that that the California Democrats replace him with Stanford University law professor Michele Dauber.

Khanna added: 'We need a bold feminist to lead for 2020'.

He also said he would support Kimberly Ellis of Richmond, who Bauman beat in the contentious race for the partys top job by just 62 votes last year at the state party convention.
Taxpayers have forked out $30,000 for a portrait of disgraced former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop.

Australia's longest-serving female federal MP pulled the wraps off her official painting at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday, three years after an expenses scandal ended her 29-year political career.

Ms Bishop, who infamously claimed $5,000 for a helicopter flight from Melbourne to Geelong to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser as Speaker, said she wanted the painting to inspire more young women to enter Parliament.

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Taxpayers have forked out $30,000 for a portrait of disgraced former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop (pictured left with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Parliament House in Canberra)

'I knew as a woman in my country I had the opportunity to compete. Most women in the world are denied that opportunity,' she told the ceremony.

'That means that having the opportunity, you've got to take it and seize it.

'If things are a bit more difficult because you're a woman, don't waste your time and effort whingeing about it, use that time and effort to overcome it, because it can be done.'

The 76-year-old woman, once touted as Australia's first female prime minister, is opposed to gender quotas, even though the Coalition has just 19 female members in both houses of Parliament, who make up just 18 per cent of government MPs.

Australia's longest-serving female federal MP pulled the wraps off her official painting at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday

Ms Bishop, who claimed $5,000 for a helicopter flight from Melbourne to Geelong to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser, said she wanted the painting to inspire young women to enter politics

By comparison Labor's 42 female MPs make up 44 per cent of the Caucus, following the party's introduction of quotas during the 1990s.

Ms Bishop never made it to Cabinet after a troubled stint as a junior minister with the aged care portfolio in the Howard government.

In 2013, she became the first Speaker from the conservative side of politics, following Labor's Anna Burke and Joan Child.

She left politics in 2016 after millionaire entrepreneur Dick Smith threatened to run against her as an independent in her Sydney northern beaches electorate of Mackellar in the aftermath of the helicopter expenses scandal.

The former Speaker, who rails against socialism, was painted by artist Shen Jiawei, who fled Communist China and also painted former prime minister John Howard's official portrait in 2010.

Bronwyn Bishop (right with Speaker Tony Smith) is opposed to gender quotas, even though the Coalition has just 19 female members in Parliament, or just 18 per cent of government MPs

Portrait painters who have created works of former prime ministers and speakers have been paid a set fee of $30,000 (pictured with Shen Jiawei on the left with Bronwyn Bishop)

'I liked the artist so much,' Ms Bishop told Canberra radio broadcaster Tim Shaw before the portrait unveiling in Parliament House.

'It was a real pleasure. Jiawei and his wife Lan Wang they are both artists who met during the Cultural Revolution when they were sent to the countryside to do hard labour and Jiawei Shen was painting propaganda pictures but he said he never gave in.'

Portrait painters who have created works of former prime ministers and speakers have been paid a set fee of $30,000.

Bronwyn Bishop became a senator in 1987 before switching to a lower house seat in 1993 in the doomed hope of becoming Liberal Party leader.

The retired politician is now a Sky News contributor and is the mother of Network Ten personality Angela Bishop.
Aboriginal activist Bonita Mabo has died aged 75.

Mabo fought alongside her late husband Eddie Mabo for land rights for Indigenous and South Sea Islander people.

'Aunty Bonita's contribution to social justice and human rights for First Nations People and the Australian South Sea Islander recognition was monumental and relentless,' the Australian South Sea Islander Alliance said.

Mabo fought alongside her late husband Eddie Mabo for land rights for Indigenous and South Sea Islander people

Her death comes just four days after she was awarded an honorary doctorate from James Cook University (JCU) for '45 years of service to the community and her advocacy for Indigenous Australians and Australian South Sea Islanders'

'A formidable 'Woman Tanna' Aunty Bonita will be greatly missed as Australia has lost one of the greatest matriarchs of all time.'

Her death comes just four days after she was awarded an honorary doctorate from James Cook University (JCU) for '45 years of service to the community and her advocacy for Indigenous Australians and Australian South Sea Islanders'.

'Her acceptance of this award is an honour to the university,' JCU Chancellor Bill Tweddell said on Thursday.

Mabo was the co-founder of the Black Community School in Townsville, Australia's first Indigenous community school, where she oversaw day-to-day operations and worked as a teachers aide.

'A formidable 'Woman Tanna' Aunty Bonita will be greatly missed as Australia has lost one of the greatest matriarchs of all time,' the Australian South Sea Islander Alliance said

A mother-of-ten, Mabo worked alongside her late husband Torres Strait Islander Edward 'Koiki' Mabo (pictured) during his lengthy battle for Indigenous land rights in Australia

A mother-of-ten, Mabo worked alongside her late husband Torres Strait Islander Edward 'Koiki' Mabo during his lengthy battle for Indigenous land rights in Australia.

In Mabo v Queensland, Mabo challenged the notion of 'Terra Nullius,' that Australia was 'land belonging to no one', in the High Court of Australia.

A successful fight resulted in the recognition of native title rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - the first time since colonisation.

After his death in 1992, Mabo increasingly advocated for reconciliation for all Australians.

More to come.
A youth worker who coerced a 12-year-old girl into performing sexual acts while she was in his after school care has been sentenced to home detention.

Devonte Vincent Walter Mulitalo, 23, admitted he coerced the girl into a shed to perform sexual acts on him, sending her photographs of his penis and videos of him masturbating while working at an after school programme in Auckland.

Mulitalo sent 'numerous' sexually explicit images to the girl over a seven-month period in 2017 while he worked as a supervisor for Youth Town, a not-for-profit youth support organisation for children aged 5-18 years old.

Youth worker Devonte Vincent Walter Mulitalo, 23, (pictured) coerced a 12-year-old girl into performing sexual acts while she was in his care but escaped jail with home detention

The Glen Innes man, who was 21 at the time, began telling the young victim how much he liked her - even instructing her to lie about needing to go to the toilet to meet him in a shed instead.

The court heard Mulitalo would give the other children lollies and let them play video games in a bid to keep them away from the shed.

The abuse started when Mulitalo began hugging the girl and escalated when he moved on to kissing and further into other sexual acts.

He also started meeting her outside of the youth centre, driving her to places where he would continue to abuse her and attempt to coerce the girl into having full intercourse with him despite her refusal.

Mulitalo (pictured) admitted he coerced the girl into a shed to perform sexual acts on him, sending her photographs of his penis and videos of him masturbating while she was in his care

Mulitalo was only charged after his colleagues found the lewd images on the girl's phone and alerted police.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty on Monday to one charge of sexual connection with a young person under 16, and a second charge of indecent communication with a young person.

A victim impact statement was read by the young girl in the Auckland District Court.

'Because of you my attitude and behaviour has gone really bad I feel like it's all my fault,' the unidentified victim said, reported by the NZ Herald.

'I lost friends, I feel like a really bad person.'

The 12-year-old spoke of how she felt manipulated by Mulitalo and the toll it had taken on her relationship with her parents and schooling.

She explained how the abuse made her feel like a 'slut and a bitch', and how she had struggled with blaming herself for the offending, self harm suicidal thoughts.

In an emotionally charged statement, the victim's father also recalled how the 'devastating and soul destroying' abuse had affected the family.

Mulitalo worked as a supervisor for Youth Town (van pictured), a not-for-profit youth support organisation for children aged 5-18 years old

'My heart broke and I felt illI couldn't hold back my tears,' he said.

'She told me she wanted to kill herself and I had to constantly tell her it wasn't her fault [We] felt like we failed as parents to protect our daughter.'

'It turned our world upside down. It was the lowest point of our lives,' the girl's mother said.

'I will never be the same person again what transpired almost ended our family.'

Crown prosecutor Henry Steele said Mulitalo's offending was serious, that he abused his position of responsibility, exploited the girls' trust and should receive a sentence of more than three years imprisonment.

'He predated on her, groomed her and physically isolated her in order to offend,' Steele told the court.

Mulitalo's defence lawyer, Panama Le'au'anae, argued her client 'was only 22' at the time of the offending and had a 'lack of insight' and 'immaturity'.

He asked the court not to put his client on the sex offender register, saying it could harm his future in terms of employment and rehabilitation.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty on Monday at the Auckland District Court (pictured) to one charge of sexual connection with a young person under 16, and a second charge of indecent communication with a young person

An apology letter written by Mulitalo to his victim was presented to the court.

Judge Mary-Beth Sharp agreed that Mulitalo had groomed the victim and said there was a 'significant level' of premeditation.

'She was just a little girl this was a gross breach of trust,' Judge Sharp said.

However, she also acknowledged Mulitalo had expressed 'extraordinary remorse' and insight into his offending and was 'highly motivated' to address his behaviour through doing the SAFE programme.

Mulitalo was sentenced to 11 months home detention, ordered to undertake the SAFE programme and any other counselling or programmes ordered by his probation officer.

He was also added to the child sex offender's register and has also been banned from associating with or having any contact with any person under 16 except his brother - unless supervised by an approved adult.

Mulitalo's mother stormed out of court as the order was made.
A man has been jailed for 11 years after fatally stabbing another man who secretly married his lover while he was in jail for a drug offence.

'Love triange killer' Hung Anh Vu thrust a 16cm blade into the chest of Hung Viet Nguyen after luring him to a Melbourne home in Sunshine West in August last year.

Vu headed to the address in Sunshine West to confront Nguyen over his affair with Laura Chan.

The 47-year-old was motivated by rage after finding out Nguyen and Chan had tied the knot in 2015, and that the pair lived together while Vu served time in prison.

A jury in October cleared Vu of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter and one count of recklessly causing serious injury for stabbing Chan.

Hung An Vu (pictured) was jailed for 11 years on Monday following the stabbing death of Hung Viet Nguyen in 2017

Laura Chan (pictured) was involved in a love triangle - she dated Hung An Vu before marrying Hung Viet Nguyen in 2015

On Monday, he was jailed in the Victorian Supreme Court.

Vu, who first began a relationship with Chan in the early 2000s, had been living with the woman and their two children at the time of the attack.

He was introduced to Nguyen following his release from prison and the pair struck up a friendship, but on the day of the attack, Vu's mother and sons confirmed that he was 'more than a close friend.'

Vu killed Nguyen in a heated exchange, inflicting a deep stab wound to the right of his chest, while Ms Chan suffered serious damage to an artery.

Justice Andrew Tinney said the attack 'did not happen out of the blue' and was driven by 'powerful anger and resentment'.

'It was perhaps understandable that you wanted to confront Laura and Viet,' he told Vu.

'However, to decide to confront them with a knife was a step much further than that, and to go to the extent of stabbing them both with the knife was a very extreme response.'

Police on the scene at a house in Sunshine West (pictured) where Mr Nguyen was stabbed to death by Mr Vu in 2017

Judge Tinney was 'somewhat surprised' when Ms Chan provided a statement of support to the court, but pointed out she remained a victim of Vu's frenzied crime.

'She (Ms Chan) had been with (Mr Nguyen) for some years and in a few moments of violence you killed him before her very eyes,' he told Vu.

'It must have been a very traumatic event for her.'

Vu must serve a minimum of 11 years before he is eligible for parole.
More than a million American women who got pregnant out of wedlock were forced into maternity homes where they surrendered their babies who were later put up for adoption, it has been reported.

Before the landmark Roe v Wade case legalized abortion in America, many young, middle-class white women were sent to places like the Florence Crittendon Home in Washington, D.C.

Karen Wilson-Buterbaugh was 16 years old in the fall of 1965 when she became pregnant by her boyfriend, according to The Washington Post.

Karen Wilson-Buterbaugh (right) was 16 years old in the fall of 1965 when she became pregnant by her boyfriend

She was so terrified of being pregnant that she hid her growing belly under sweaters for five months before it became impossible to conceal. Wilson-Buterbaugh is seen above not long after giving birth

The image above shows the Florence Crittendon Home in Washington, D.C, which served as a maternity ward until it shut down in 1982.

Women at the home were not permitted visitors, all mail was read and censored, and the young mothers were subjected to mind control in order to brainwash them into giving up their babies to young couples, according to Wilson-Buterbaugh

She was so terrified of being pregnant that she hid her growing belly under sweaters for five months before it became impossible to conceal.

Wilson-Buterbaugh, a native of Virginia, was sent to the Florence Crittendon Home, which she called a shame-filled prison.

Women at the home were not permitted visitors, all mail was read and censored, and the young mothers were subjected to mind control in order to brainwash them into giving up their babies to young couples, according to Wilson-Buterbaugh.

Like many women, Wilson-Buterbaughs family was too ashamed of social attitudes towards unwed mothers, which eventually led to her being committed to the home.

A New York businessman, Charles Crittenton, established a network of charitable homes in the 1880s which originally served prostitutes and unwed pregnant women.

They were intended to indoctrinate the women with born-again Christianity.

But the stigma of being unmarried and having children meant that these women were conferred with labels like neurotic, according to Ann Fesslers book The Girls Who Went Away.

Wilson-Buterbaugh stayed at the home for three months. It eventually shut down in 1982.

Janet Mason Ellerby was also 16 years old in 1965 when she became pregnant.

Three months into her pregnancy, her mother found out.

She packed all of my clothes and put me on a plane to Ohio, Ellerby told the Post.

Ellerby was sent to a Florence Crittendon home in Akron.

The shame of being committed to a home for unwed mothers was so great that Ellerby concocted a story about visiting her aunt in Ohio for the school year.

She even sent letters and postcards telling her friends about an imaginary high school she was attending.

Janet Mason Ellerby was also 16 years old in 1965 when she became pregnant. Three months into her pregnancy, her mother found out. She packed all of my clothes and put me on a plane to Ohio, Ellerby told The Washington Post

Ellerby, who was originally from California, was sent to a maternity home in Akron, Ohio (above)

To keep up the ruse, Wilson-Buterbaughs mother bought a cap and gown with her high school colors in order to convince people that she graduated.

When posing for photos, she made sure to turn her face to the camera so that her pregnant body wouldnt be visible.

Even inside the maternity homes, the degree of secrecy and paranoia was high.

The women were only allowed to accept phone calls from a limited number of pre-approved people.

They were also given assumed names to which they referred to one another.

The rationale was, if the other girls knew your name they could tell others about your pregnancy, said Wilson-Buterbaugh.

Last year, Wilson-Buterbaugh wrote a book, The Baby Scoop Era: Unwed Mothers, Infant Adoption and Forced Surrender.

Baby Scoop Era refers to the years between 1945 and 1973, when an estimated 4 million parents in the United States put their children up for adoption.

In the 1960s alone, 2 million parents placed their kids up for adoption.

Wilson-Buterbaugh is the author of The Baby Scoop Era: Unwed Mothers, Infant Adoption, Forced Surrender

Women who ventured out of the maternity home were also forced to keep up appearances.

The homes handed out fake wedding bands to the women who left grounds on outings.

Some women who were seen in public in the advanced stages of their pregnancy were assaulted with fruit and vegetables.

When the young women left the homes on outings, they had to wear wedding bands dispensed by staff members. In addition to having to deal with people staring at their bulging stomachs, some of the women were met with violence outside the homes.

When we would leave the home to go places, the neighbors kids would throw things at us - rotten fruit, eggs - and eggs hurt, the shells would actually break the skin, said one woman who stayed at a maternity home in a poor part of Los Angeles in the 1960s.

But the most heart-wrenching, traumatic experiences for these expectant mothers were being forced to give up their children.

The personnel and social workers told you constantly that you could not keep your child, Wilson-Buterbaugh said of her experience.

All I heard was, Youre not worthy, youre not responsible enough, you cant afford it.

Instead of helping you keep the baby, it was the opposite.

Most people think we willingly gave up our babies  its a myth that these adopted children were told.

We were given one choice: Surrender your baby. It was like having a gun to our heads.

Ellerby said: We were all told our children would be called bastards on the playground and that would be an awful thing to put a child through.

When it was time to give birth, the women were usually dropped off at a hospital and forced to deliver the babies on their own.

The women were often strapped to a bed while in the spread eagle position. Some women were allowed to spend time with their newborns, while others were not permitted to hold or feed them.

Mason Ellerby is the author of Embroidering the Scarlet A: Unwed Mothers and Illegitimate Children in American Fiction and Film

Ellerby said that the experience left her with post-traumatic stress syndrome, low self-esteem, and years of failed relationships.

Thirty years after giving up her daughter for adoption, Ellerby managed to find her. They have since established a close relationship.

Wilson-Buterbaugh was not as fortunate. In 2001, she was contacted by her biological daughter, who was only looking for health information.

After years of searching for her daughter, Wilson-Buterbaugh found her, only to discover that she was not interested in a relationship.

Six years later, her daughter died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrigs Disease.

I lost my daughter three times, Wilson-Buterbaugh said.

I never stopped grieving the loss of my daughter.

There never was an adult who told me I had a right to keep my child, Ellerby, the author of Embroidering the Scarlet A: Unwed Mothers and Illegitimate Children in American Fiction and Film, said.

I was forever traumatized about being forced to give away my baby.
A teenage window washer has revealed his record haul as police announce they are cracking down on the act.

16-year-old Brady from Perth says he once earned $375 in one day as a roadside window washer and usually makes $150 for just a few hours work.

Roadside windscreen washing is illegal in all states and territories, excluding the Australian Capital Territory, and growing reports of aggression and harassment towards motorists has prompted police to take stronger action.

In a statement, WA Police called the act 'illegal' and 'dangerous', warning that officers will 'infringe/prosecute' offenders.

A 16-year-old boy in Perth once earned $375 in one day in his trade as a roadside window washer, but Western Australian Police are cracking down on the act (stock image)

'It should also be noted that the driver could also be issued with an infringement should police actually observe the occupant of a vehicle request the services of the window washers,' the police spokesperson warned.

Under the road traffic code in Western Australia, 'contributions or employment from the carriageway from an occupant of a vehicle' is a crime, and window washers can be hit with a $50 fine if police catch them.

Police are targeting Brady's top spots in Perth, one of which is the intersection of Roberts Road and Thomas Street in Subiaco where Brady said he has around five regular customers.

Brady told Perth Now that he took up windscreen washing a couple of years ago when he was living on the streets.

'I used to do crime to get money but then my mate showed me this and it stops me getting into trouble,' he said.

Brady now lives back at home with his parents but does not attend school and continues to wash windscreens to help his family, with whom he splits his earnings.

However, the teenager seems to understand the crackdown on roadside window washing, acknowledging that it can be confronting for motorists.

In a statement, WA Police called the act 'illegal' and 'dangerous', warning that officers will 'infringe/prosecute' offenders, as well as motorists that request their services

'The police don't like us, I don't blame them, they are looking out for people's safety,' he said.

'As soon as I can get a good enough every day job I probably won't be doing it.'

Belmont MLA Cassie Rowe said she was 'sympathetic' to young windscreen washers who are 'just trying to make money', but stresses that it's an unsafe practice for all parties.

'It's not safe for them. It's really intimidating for local residentsit seems to have really increased and people are sick of it,' she said.

Last December, a 16-year-old window washer in Auckland died after being hit by a car while crossing the road.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 26)  Malacanang and the police dismissed claims the issuance of Memorandum Order (MO) 32 is a prelude to a possible expansion of the martial law declaration nationwide.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday stressed the order to deploy more troops intends to better secure areas where killings, ambush incidents and destruction of property still exist.

"We've repeatedly said that if there is any intention, then that would have been declared. But there is none," Panelo said when asked about concerns that MO 32 may lead to a martial law declaration or the suspension of writ of habeas corpus.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde added the order, which was issued by the Palace on November 22, intends to address internal security threats in the Bicol Region, Samar and Negros provinces.

"The state has the obligation to protect its citizens from lawlessness. Obligasyon ng gobyerno na bigyan ng proteksyon ang kanyang mamamayan. This is part of it. Nakita ng ating Presidente na medyo siguro, with the series of incidents sa mga lugar na yun, kailangan dagdagan ang ating pwersa doon. It's nothing to do with martial law," he said in a separate media briefing.

(Translation: It's the government's obligation to protect its constituents. This is part of it. The President saw perhaps that with the series of incidents in those areas, additional forces are needed there. It's nothing to do with martial law.)

He adds external threats like ISIS was not the trigger for the issuance of MO 32, but they are not disregarding the possible threats it may pose.

As of now, the PNP has deployed a company of Special Action Force (SAF) troopers each in Samar and Bicol. In Negros, the existing SAF company deployed will be augmented.

Albayalde said there could also be movements in the regional mobile forces in the affected areas.

Not for 2019 polls

Panelo assured the public that the order won't be used against opposition candidates.

Former Bayan Muna Partylist Representative and senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares warned President Rodrigo Duterte against using "repressive powers" against opposition candidates in the upcoming elections.

"The more Mr. Colmenares should be happy about that because you will be securing the area during election time," Panelo said.

He also responded to Senator Panfilo Lacson's statement that the President didn't need to issue an MO to order the deployment of more troops to certain areas. The senator questioned why Duterte didn't just simply order the military to send out more troops.

"Of course you have to direct your forces. You can't just do that orally. You need to reduce that into writing so that there will be guidance to all of them where they will have to go and what acts they will perform and acts that they should not do," Panelo said.
Former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos began serving his two-week prison sentence on Monday after a judge rejected his last-minute bid to remain free.

Papadopoulos arrived at a minimum-security camp in Oxford, Wisconsin, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Papadopoulos, the first campaign aide sentenced in Mueller's investigation, triggered the Russia investigation two years ago.

He was sentenced in September for lying to the FBI about his interactions with Russian intermediaries during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos has begun serving his two-week prison sentence. He is pictured here on October 25

He had sought a postponement of his prison term until an appeals court ruled in a separate case challenging the constitutionality of special counsel Robert Mueller's appointment.

But U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss said Papadopoulos had waited too long to contest his sentence.

The White House has said Papadopoulos, 31, was a low-level volunteer on the campaign. But he's been a central figure in the Russia investigation dating before Mueller's May 2017 appointment.

According to an indictment handed up this summer, Russian intelligence had stolen emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign and other Democratic groups by April 2016, the same month Papadopoulos was informed by a professor that Russian officials had told him they had 'dirt' on Clinton in the form of 'thousands of emails.'

Papadopoulos later used his connections with the Maltese professor, Joseph Mifsud, and other Russian nationals in an attempt to broker a meeting between then-candidate Donald and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Papadopoulos admitted last year to lying to the FBI about those contacts with Russians and Russian intermediaries.

In recent months, Papadopoulos has spent many nights posting on Twitter. 'The truth will all be out. Not even a prison sentence can stop that momentum,' Papadopoulos tweeted Sunday

In recent months, Papadopoulos has spent many nights posting on Twitter, venting anger about the FBI and insisting he was framed by the government. He also has offered to testify before the Senate intelligence committee, which is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, if he's granted immunity or other conditions.

'The truth will all be out. Not even a prison sentence can stop that momentum,' Papadopoulos tweeted Sunday. 'Looking forward to testifying publicly shortly after. The wool isn't going to be pulled over America's eyes forever.'

Papadopoulos' sentence, issued by Moss on September 7, was far less than the maximum six-month sentence sought by the government but more than the probation that Papadopoulos and his lawyers had asked for.

Moss at the time noted that many similar cases resulted in probation but said he imposed a sentence of incarceration partly to send a message to the public that people can't lie to the FBI.
Thieves broke into a restaurant in Texas, crawled across an empty floor and stole $450 that belonged to servers.

Bizarre footage shows the perps breaking into Piggy's Kitchen and Bar in Houston overnight, crawling on the floor and trying to avoid cameras.

After smashing the front window, the suspects, who are dressed in matching outfits,make their way to the back of the restaurant in search of items to steal.

The suspects, who appear to be dressed in matching clothes, are seen to be making their way into the restaurant

Footage shows them crawling across the floor earning them the nicknames 'inchworm bandits'

Manager Christopher Grinnell told Click2Houston: 'The staff has taken to calling them the inchworm bandits.

'They're inch-worming their way across my dining room floor, all the way to the kitchen.

Grinnell said they finally decided to stand up once they made it to the back of the kitchen.

'It looks like they kicked the steel door open. I have no idea how they had that much strength. You can see when they're kicking it, it is rattling the entire room'.

After finally getting inside, the three managed to steal $450 that servers had made during shifts worked on Friday and Saturday night.

Head chef Kelsey Alkire said staff were upset about the theft as the money belonged to them.

The perps are seen crawling across the floor and behind the bar to look for restaurant takings

Staff at Piggy's Kitchen and Bar are upset because the servers' tips from the weekend were taken

She said: 'That's going to the store and buying groceries' money, you know.

'That's finding the perfect little gift for your friend' money, and it's just not fair'.

Managers said the suspects caused about $2,000 worth of damage and it is the third time the restaurant has been broken into.

Managers said the last time, crooks used a sledgehammer and a crowbar and walked out with about five bottles of Patron tequila.

Police are investigating whether the thieves are the same people caught on camera carrying out a similar crime at a Mister Gattis Pizza off Uvalde Road last week.
Apple will appear before the Supreme Court on Monday as part of a decade-long legal battle over whether its App Store constitutes an illegal monopoly.

A group of iPhone owners brought the suit and accuse Apple of forcing customers to over-pay for apps, which can only be purchased through its store.

Apple denies the claims and wants the Supreme Court to dismiss the case, arguing that it does not technically sell the apps and the problem lies with developers.

Lawyers for Apple will urge the Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by iPhone owners accusing it of running an illegal monopoly by selling apps through its App Store on Monday

The judges, who will begin hearing arguments on Monday, are not being asked to rule on the underlying monopoly issue, only the legality of the lawsuit.

In other cases, the justices have said there must be a direct relationship between the seller and a party complaining about unfair, anti-competitive pricing.

The company says the popularity of software for iPhones and its App Store shouldn't obscure the fact that consumers buys apps from developers, not Apple.

'Apple is a sales and distribution agent for developers,' Apple's lawyers said in a Supreme Court filing.

'Apple's core argument has always been that any injury to consumers necessarily depends on developer pass-through decisions, since Apple does not set apps prices.'

But the lawsuit says the Cupertino, California-based company exerts a lot of control over the process, including a requirement that prices end in .99.

iPhone apps are also only available through the App Store unless users 'jailbreak' their phones, voiding the warranty.

The Supreme Court will rule on whether or not the case is allowed to go ahead. If judges approve, it could spell a bill of hundreds of millions of dollars for the company

If the suit is successful it could led to payouts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, with customers owed money for every app sale over a four-year period.

They say that by charging 30 per cent commission for apps sold through their store, Apple was effectively engaging in price gouging that was passed on to customers.

A trial court initially dismissed the lawsuit, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived it.

Lawyers for the consumers urged the high court to allow the lawsuit to proceed.

Consumers 'pay the monopoly prices for apps directly to Apple through its App Store,' the lawyers wrote in their Supreme Court brief.

That relationship makes Apple the proper target of an antitrust lawsuit, they said.

A victory for Apple could severely restrict consumers' ability to sue over antitrust violations even though Congress envisioned such lawsuits 'would form a central component of enforcement of the antitrust laws,' warned 18 scholars of antitrust law in a Supreme Court filing.

A decision in Apple Inc. v Pepper, 17-204, is expected by late spring.

If the customers win the day at the Supreme Court, they will then have to return to a district court to fight the monopoly claim.
A screaming, semi-naked man has been tackled in the middle of a popular tourist destination.

The man had been jumping in and out of the water in only his boxer shorts at Sydney's Darling Harbour on Monday afternoon in front of hundreds of onlookers.

Water police attended the scene and grabbed the man, before he was stretchered off on a boat.

Witnesses say police attended to a screaming, semi-naked man swimming in Darling Harbour

'The guy jumped into the water in his boxer shorts,' a witness told Daily Mail Australia.

'He climbed out and was going crazy for like 10 minutes, frantically waving his arms and pacing around.

'Around six police officers then tackled him to the ground.'

A spokesperson for NSW Police confirmed the man had been treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to hospital for treatment.

He was not arrested.


A teenager will never walk again after a horror crash left him trapped in an over-crowded car after a house party.

Casey Calder, 18, was in the boot of a car with another teenager when the car spun out on the motorway in Wellington, in New Zealand, repeatedly smashing into a concrete barrier.

Casey managed to survive the crash but he will now spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair as a tetraplegic.

Casey Calder, 18,was in the boot of a car with another teenager when the vehcile spun out, crashing into a barrier on the mototrway

Mr Calder was trapped in the boot and had to be cut out by firemen. He was rushed to hospital where he had back surgery, but the teenager will now never walk again

Mr Calder had been at a party with friends when the group decided to leave  but there weren't enough seats for everyone.

The vehicle was over packed, with seven people clambering for a seat.

Mr Calder was one of two people who decided to climb into the boot of the car.

'Everyone was having a good time at that stage,' he told the Daily Mail.

'We were laughing, having a good time. After about five or ten minutes driving we could feel it was going pretty fast but we weren't sure how fast it was going. Then it started swerving.'

The car hit a barrier, spinning, before hitting it again.

When the car finally came to a stop Mr Calder's friends rushed out of the car to see if everyone was okay. Mr Calder's friend who was in the boot with him climbed out but Mr Calder could not move.

'I was in pain. I told them not to move me.'

Mr Calder had dreams of becoming an electrical engineer but has been forced to give that dream up as he focuses on his recovery

Recovery is going well for Mr Calder (pictured with his girlfriend Izzy) but he still has a long way to go. The teenager will never walk again

'I was scared and really confused as well. I thought it was a really bad dream at first.'

When emergency crews arrived Casey was cut from the car and transported to hospital where he had surgery on his back.

His friend who was in the boot of the car with him at the time of the crash also injured his back, but he has fully recovered.

Mr Calder was not as lucky.

With more surgeries on the way Casey can expect a better quality of life but doctor's have told him he will never walk again.

Mr Calder has been forced to give up on his plans of becoming an electrical engineer.

'It's been pretty hard but we're a strong family,' he said

His family has set up a Givealittle page to help cover costs to modify their home to b wheelchair friendly.

The driver, Liam Harrington, appeared in the Wellington District Court earlier this month where he was sentenced to six months community detention, disqualified from driving for 14 months, and forced to pay $2000 in reparations.
A pilot missed his landing by almost 50km after allegedly falling asleep during a chartered flight.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau have said they are investigating a case of 'pilot incapacitation' following the November 8 flight from Devonport in Tasmania to neighbouring King Island.

Flight tracking data showed the 6.21am flight landed safely at King Island Airport near the town of Currie despite overshooting its target by 46km.

A pilot missed his landing by almost 50km after allegedly falling asleep during a chartered flight (tracking data from flight pictured)

The data, obtained by The Australian, showed the trip was one of seven flights flown that day by the Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-TWU.

The twin-engine plane can carry nine passengers and was built in 1975.

In a statement, the ATSB said the investigation will involve reviewing operational Vortex Air procedures and interviewing the pilot.

The ATSB allege that 'during the cruise the pilot fell asleep resulting in the aircraft overflying King Island by 46km'.

The data showed the trip was one of seven flights flown that day by a Piper PA-31 Navajo (stock image)

Investigators have classified it as a 'serious operational incident' and are in the process of collecting evidence ahead of a final report.

The report will be published at the end of the investigation, expected by March 2019.

Vortex Air's managing director Colin Tucker declined to comment on the investigation when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Families have slammed a Winter Weekend event as a 'disaster' after a snow globe deflated with children still inside.

Two-hour queues and a plastic ice rink at the Bolton Arena in Greater Manchester left people complaining that the event was a 'rip-off'.

The two-day event promised Disney characters, a Santa's grotto and food stalls but the festival was described as 'more like a carboot' by one mother.

The snow globe deflated with children still inside it at the Winter Wonderland event in Bolton that has been slammed

The event promised Disney characters and fun for all the family - but hundreds have now submitted complaints

Children were stood in line for hours waiting to see Father Christmas leaving hundreds of parents to complain to organisers, The Bolton News reports.

Harry Houston said the event featured stalls that were nothing to do with the festive period or winter.

And one mother said that her children were left 'disappointed' by the event after she spent a total of 60 on tickets.

One father has slammed the event as having stalls that had nothing to do with either Christmas or winter

Children were left disappointed by a plastic ice rink and the deflated snow globe that collapsed with children inside

A father slammed the stalls at the event, saying that they had little to do with Christmas of winter

Some parents even say that complaints they posted on a Facebook page for the event have been deleted by the company.

A portion of the profits from the Winter Weekend are being donated to Bolton Hospice and Boot Out Breast Cancer.

The event's manager, Martin Robinson, said: 'We had a lot more people turn up than we expected.

The event left families furious and hundreds have made complaints they say have been deleted by organisers

The ice rink at the event, which left furious families complaining in their hundreds to the organisers

Queen Elsa was one of the characters at the Winter Wonderland, but children and their parents were unimpressed by the event

The event in Bolton promised Disney characters galore, including this take on Mickey Mouse

'We have moved the grotto and snow globe around to make queuing easier and get more people through in a better way.'

He claimed that event was 'fantastic for Bolton' and insisted the response had 'actually been really positive'.

Although children under 12 got in for free, separate tickets were required for Santa's grotto, the snow globe and ice rink. Adults paid 5 for a weekend ticket and 3 for a single day pass.
After being stood down in September the former ABC Managing Director was given a very generous taxpayer-funded termination payout.

Sources close to former ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie informed The Sydney Morning Herald that she did indeed receive a taxpayer-funded pay out of $800,000.

Ms Guthrie was terminated from her position on September 24 after the ABC board felt her 'leadership style', including her work in Canberra, was not up to standard.

Despite receiving the payout it's also been reported that Ms Guthrie will be going ahead with her adverse action claim at the Fair Work Commission.

After being stood down in September former ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie (pictured) was given a taxpayer-funded termination payout of $800,000 it has been reported

Ms Guthrie lodged the claim with the Fair Work Commission on October 15 alleging her termination was in contravention of the Fair Work Act.

She was only half way through her five year contract with the ABC, starting in May of 2016, when she was terminated.

'While my contract permits the board to terminate my appointment without cause and with immediate effect, I believe there is no justification for the board to trigger that termination clause. I am considering my legal options,' Ms Guthrie said at the time.

Matt Peacock, a former staff-elected board director and now director of ABC Alumni told The Sydney Morning Herald the payout amount was in line with 'obscene' executive salaries.

Ms Guthrie was earning a salary of $943,000 at the time of her termination.

A former staff-elected board director and now director of ABC Alumni told The Sydney Morning Herald the payout amount was in line with the 'obscene' executive salaries

The ABC also reported that Ms Guthrie felt she was not given sufficient feedback on her leadership style prior to her termination and said she had drafted a proposal to address any of the board's concerns.

Miss Guthrie also circulated an in house dossier premeditating her termination writing there would be no grounds for her dismissal.

'Any decision to terminate my appointment would not be based on a valid reason,' she wrote.

If her legal action is successful Ms Guthrie could receive more pay outs and she also speculated that she could also be reinstated at the ABC.
has shown a rise in the number of monkey-bar related hospital visits

But experts in child healthcare claim the classic equipment is too dangerous

A set of monkey bars was once the staple of school playgrounds and parks across Australia.

But the humble play apparatus is now under threat from child healthcare experts who claim the equipment is one of the leading causes of injuries in young children.

One report from Monash University's Victorian Surveillance Unit claims there has been a 41 per cent increase in the number of monkey bar injuries leading to emergency room presentations.

A set of monkey bars was once the staple of school playgrounds and parks across Australia -but the humble play apparatus is now under threat from child healthcare experts who claim the equipment is one of the leading causes of injuries in young children (stock image)

Dr Lisa Sharwood, who worked on the report, told The Age there were 14,167 monkey bar-related injuries over the last 10 years - 81 per cent of which happened to kids between the ages of five and nine.Most of the subsequent hospital admissions were a result of upper limb and ankle injuries, she said.

A 2015 audit of child fractures at a Melbourne hospital also found more than half of the injuries were caused by children attempting to skip a rung on the monkey bars.

There have been efforts in recent years to improve monkey bar safety, with an Australian Standards Committee limiting their height to 2.2 metres in 2014.

The surface beneath the bars has also been made softer, with bark mulch now needing to be at least 40 centimetres thick.

But the chairperson of that committee, Professor David Eager from the University of Technology Sydney, believes the equipment should still be phased out in favour of space nets and spider webs.

One report from Monash University's Victorian Surveillance Unit claims there has been a 41 per cent increase in the number of monkey bar injuries leading to emergency room presentations (stock image)

The nets break children's falls and Dr Eager said injury rates have fallen as a result.

He told The Age: 'Monkey bars were OK when I was a kid 60 years ago, but they're not an appropriate form of play equipment in 2018.

'Most councils and schools have been pulling them out and replacing them with spatial nets but not as quickly as we'd like.'
A teacher is on trial for the alleged mistreatment of her young primary school students, including spitting at, pushing, and even punching them.

The teacher, who must remain anonymous, taught at a school in Sydney's south-west.

She allegedly committed the offenses in May this year, against Grade 3 and 4 students.

A teacher (pictured) is on trial for the alleged mistreatment of her students, including spitting at, pushing, and even punching them

The teacher, who must remain anonymous, taught at a school in Sydney's south-west

The woman, 57, has pleaded not guilty to the charges made against her at Liverpool Court House, 9 News reported.

She has been accused of grabbing one girl's wrist 'really hard' and punching her in the shoulder twice.

She allegedly pushed and scratched another boy and allegedly pushed one victim up against the classroom wall by his shirt.

One boy who claims he was pinched and had his face spat on because the teacher 'doesn't like him' appeared in court on Monday to give evidence.

The boy denied he called his teacher names including 'Old Face.'

The trial continues.
John Burns (pictured) allegedly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old while out on bail for similar child sex charges

A man accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl was already on bail for similar child sex charges.

John Burns, 28, was stopped by police on Sunday morning while driving in Cardiff, north of Sydney, with the young girl and a 16-year-old boy in the car.

The teenage girl later alleged she had been sexually assaulted by Burns and detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad were called in.

Burns was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a victim under the age of 16, procuring a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity and breach of bail.

He allegedly used the social media app Snapchat to contact the young girl for 12 months before sexually assaulting her in his home at Glendale, near to where he was stopped by police.

Burns had been arrested in April and charged with having sexual intercourse with a person aged 14 to 16 years, possessing child abuse material and impersonating a police office, Seven News reported.

He was denied bail by Griffith Local Court, in the New South Wales Riverina, at the time but the decision was overturned by the New South Wales Supreme Court in October.

Burns (pictured) had been arrested and charged in April and had his bail denied but the decision was overturned by the New South Wales Supreme Court in October

Burns' bail conditions had included not going within 100km of Griffith, a curfew from 8pm to 8am, reporting to police twice a day and not using the internet and social media.

Bail had been opposed by police.

Burns had his bail revoked in Toronto Local Court on Monday following the latest charges. He will reappear in court in December.

'No pleas were entered to the fresh charges. No application was made for bail,' Burns' lawyer Bryce Morrison told reporters outside the court.
A hotel room has been trashed after a party attended by teenagers spiralled out of control and saw guests throwing bottles off the balcony.

Police were called to a room in a hotel and apartment block on City Road in Melbourne's Southbank multiple times on Sunday due to a 'disruptive party'.

There were at least 50 teenagers at the party and some were throwing bottles from the balcony when officers arrived, a police spokeswoman said.

Two young men were arrested (pictured) after an out-of-control party at a hotel in Melbourne's Southbank on Sunday

A young man was pepper-sprayed by police as they attempted to arrest him for assault (pictured)

The property was extensively damaged, she said.

A young man was pepper-sprayed by police as they attempted to arrest him for assault.

Another man, who is believed to have been at the party earlier in the day, was arrested for theft at 9am at a shopping mall in Melbourne CBD.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bella Apartments for comment.

Investigations are ongoing and any witnesses are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
President Donald Trump on Monday declared once again that his campaign is innocent of alleged Russian 'collusion' and insisted that it's Democrats who committed 'crimes,' in a pre-buttal of special counsel Robert Mueller's final report.

Mueller is expected to wrap up his probe in short order, now that the president's written responses have been submitted. Administration ally and attorney Alan Dershowitz said Sunday that the report is likely to be 'politically very devastating' for Trump, even though a criminal referral against the president is not anticipated.

Trump said if anyone is charged, it should be Democrats such as Tony Podesta, a lobbyist whose brother chaired Hillary Clinton's last presidential campaign.

He asked, 'When Mueller does his final report, will he be covering all of his conflicts of interest in a preamble, will he be recommending action on all of the crimes of many kinds from those on the other side(whatever happened to Podesta?), and will he be putting in statements from hundreds of people closely involved with my campaign who never met, saw or spoke to a Russian during this period?

'So many campaign workers, people inside from the beginning, ask me why they have not been called (they want to be). There was NO Collusion & Mueller knows it!' the president said in a prebuttal of the report on Monday morning.

President Donald Trump on Monday declared once again that his campaign is innocent of alleged Russian 'collusion' and insisted that it's Democrats who committed 'crimes' in a pre-buttal of special counsel Robert Mueller's final report

Mueller is expected to wrap up his probe in short order, now that the president's written responses have been submitted

Harvard professor and attorney Alan Dershowitz believes the Mueller investigation is unlikely to result in any criminal charges 'because collusion is not criminal' but says it will probably be 'politically devastating' for President Trump

A legal scholar and frequent defender of President Trump on television, Dershowitz said Sunday that Mueller's report will not lead to charges against the president or his associates because 'collusion is not criminal' act in his legal opinion.

Dershowitz has provided a generally positive outlook for Donald Trump in the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, but even he said on 'This Week' that it's likely to be 'politically very devastating' for the president when it is published.

The emeritus Harvard Law professor also suggested that acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker may withhold the report from being published.

'At some point when the report's made public - and that's a very hard question considering the new attorney general who has the authority to decide when and under what circumstance to make it public - it will be made public probably with a response alongside,' he stated.

He said that Trump's legal team is already working out how to spin Mueller's report, as evidenced by the president's Monday morning tweet suggesting that the special counsel ignored Democrats' bad acts.

Dershowitz told ABC News,'I think the report is going to be devastating to the president and I know that the president's team is already working on a response to the report.

'The president will say, "ah look, it's political. There's their account and there's our account". And the American public will have to judge the credibility.'

He clarified: 'When I say devastating, I mean it's going to paint a picture that's going to be politically very devastating. I still don't think it's going to make a criminal case, because collusion is not criminal.'

Special counsel Robert Mueller's report into Russian interference in the 2016 election will be 'politically very devastating' for the president, a Trump ally has predicted

Dershowitz said that if any action is taken against Trump, it will be by Congress, which will be led by a split government beginning in January.

'What I think Mueller is going to do if he's smart, he's not going to take the chance on being rebutted, he's going to lay out the facts, leave it to Congress to decide whether that rises to the level of an impeachable offense,' he said.

Democrats will take control of the House in a few weeks, giving them new powers to probe the president. Republicans maintain control of the Senate, which provides protection for Trump from lawmakers in the lower chamber who might want to impeach him.

Neither Mueller nor acting attorney general Whitaker, who replaced Jeff Sessions after Trump fired the DOJ chief the day after the November election, have spoken publicly about the special counsel probe.

Whitaker's appointment made it 'very hard' to predict when and under what circumstances Mueller's report would be released to the public, Dershowitz noted.

Last week Trump submitted written answers to questions from Mueller in lieu of facing an in-person in which he could get caught in verbal traps his attorneys have warned against for months.

Trump submitted written answers to 'limited' questions from the Department of Justice's investigation on the topic of collusion while refusing to entertain anything that delved into alleged obstruction of justice.

Democrats say that Trump tried to obstruct the broader investigation into potential coordination between Russia and his presidential campaign by firing former FBI Director James Comey. Trump says he has the constitutional authority to fire anyone in his administration at any time for any reason.

His lawyers were mindful that an on-the-record interview would be a minefield for the president who often makes mistakes when he claims to be presenting facts.

They set out to avoid it however possible, even if it led to resisting a subpoena and bringing on a Supreme Court fight over presidential power.

A commander-in-chief has never tested the boundaries of a subpoena. In 1998, former President Bill Clinton voluntarily participated in an interview that arose from the Whitewater probe after a subpoena was issued and then revoked.

President Donald Trump refused a face-to-face interview with Mueller and instead submitted written answers to 'limited' questions

Mueller was appointed to lead the special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election after Trump fired Comey in May last year.

Trump has repeatedly claimed Mueller's investigation was a 'witch hunt' and insisted there was 'no collusion' between his campaign and Russia. His irritation led him to fire Sessions over the affair and empower former DOJ chief of staff Whitaker.

Since the probe started in May of last year, Mueller's team secured indictments against 32 individuals and three Russian businesses on charges ranging from election hacking to financial crimes.

Of those indictments, six people have pleaded guilty and three have been sentenced to prison.
The Lord of the Rings series has been branded 'racist' by a science fiction writer who claims orcs are discriminated against and written as inferior.

American author Andy Duncan said British author JRR Tolkien depicted evil creatures such as orcs as 'worse than others' and said this had 'dire consequences for society'.

The criticism comes despite Tolkien being known as a fierce critic of racism, particularly the Nazi Germany regime in the 1930s and 40s.

US science fiction author Andy Duncan has accused British author JRR Tolkien of racism over his depiction of orcs in the Lord of the Rings series. Pictured are orcs from the Peter Jackson film adaptation of the novels

Duncan, pictured, said it was 'hard to miss' that 'some races are worse than others' in Tolkien's writings such as the orcs

But Duncan told podcast Geek's Guide to the Galaxy, run by Wired Magazine: 'It's hard to miss the repeated notion in Tolkien that some races are just worse than others, or that some peoples are just worse than others.

'And this seems to me - in the long term, if you embrace this too much - it has dire consequences for yourself and for society.'

In the novels, orcs are ugly, cannibalistic creatures who have a thirst for murder and are used as soldiers by their evil 'dark lord' Sauron.

Duncan has previously written a parody set in Tolkien's Middle-earth universe called Senator Bilbo about a right-wing Hobbit politician opposing the immigration of orcs into The Shire.

JRR TOLKIEN: AT A GLANCE John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa, in January 1892. After the death of his father Arthur from rheumatic fever, he moved to Birmingham with mother Mabel and brother Hilary until she died in 1904. The brothers grew up living with relatives and in boarding homes and were looked after by a Catholic priest Father Francis Xavier Morgan, who taught him 'charity and forgiveness'. Tolkien, pictured, is said to have 'despised' racism and previously argued with a German publishing firm when they asked him to 'prove his Aryan heritage' when discussing a German language version of The Hobbit Tolkien went on to get his first-class degree at Exeter College at Oxford University in Anglo Saxon and German language and literature. Tolkien enlisted as a lieutenant in the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1915, having initially delayed joining up to finish his degree. He fought in the Battle of the Somme and was eventually released from duty after coming down with trench fever After the war he became a linguistic teacher at the University of Leeds in 1920 and later Oxford University in 1925, where he began writing The Hobbit. The book was eventually published in 1937, followed by The Lord of the Rings series in 1954 and 1955, which have gone on to sell millions of copies worldwide and spawned the successful film series adapted by Peter Jackson. Along with his literary work, Tolkien was also earmarked as a code breaker in 1939 ahead of World War II and was even asked to attend a course in London, only to eventually be told his services were not required. He retired from academia in 1959 and died in 1973 aged 81. Tolkien married Edith Bratt in 1916, with whom he had four children: sons John, Michael and Christopher and daughter Priscilla. Advertisement

Speaking about this story to the podcast, he added: 'I can easily imagine that a lot of these people that were doing the dark lord's bidding were doing so out of simple self preservation and so forth.

'A lot of these creatures that were raised out of the earth had not a great deal of choice in the matter of what to do. I have this very complicated sense of the politics of all that.'

Duncan also compared the depiction of the orcs to modern day refugees and appeared to criticise President Donald Trump over the situation at the Mexican border.

He added: 'It is easier to demonise one's opponents than to try to understand them and to understand the complex forces that are leading to, for example, refugees trying to cross the southern border [of the US] legally or illegally.

'It's easier to build walls and demonise them as "scum".'

Tolkien has previously been criticised for racism by academics, including Dr Stephen Shapiro, a then cultural studies academic at the University of Warwick, in 2003.

He wrote: 'Put simply, Tolkien's good guys are white and the bad guys are black, slant-eyed, unattractive, inarticulate and a psychologically undeveloped horde.'

But the criticism was slammed by other experts, including the Tolkien Society who said the author 'detested' racism.

Tolkien, who once described Hitler as a 'ruddy little ignoramus' previously argued with Berlin publishing house Rutten & Loening in 1938 over publishing a German language version of The Hobbit when the firm asked him to prove his 'Aryan heritage'.

Tolkien wrote two letters in response, one ignoring the question, and the other confronting the issue head on.

In the second, he wrote: 'If I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.

'My great-great-grandfather came to England in the eighteenth century from Germany: the main part of my descent is therefore purely English, and I am an English subject - which should be sufficient.

'I have been accustomed, nonetheless, to regard my German name with pride, and continued to do so throughout the period of the late regrettable war, in which I served in the English army.

'I cannot, however, forbear to comment that if impertinent and irrelevant inquiries of this sort are to become the rule in matters of literature, then the time is not far distant when a German name will no longer be a source of pride.'

MailOnline has contacted the Tolkien Society and the Tolkien Estate for comment.
Protesters demanded that thousands of Central America migrants be allowed into the US even as ugly clashes broke out with border guards trying to keep them out.

Dozens of activists waved banners reading 'refugees welcome' and denouncing President Trump as 'racist' as they marched through San Diego on Sunday.

Meanwhile, 17 miles away at the San Ysidro crossing point, border guards fired tear gas and rubber bullets at migrants attempting to enter the US illegally.

Activists march through San Diego on Sunday demanding that thousands of migrants gathered along the Mexican border be allowed into the US

The march took place as border guards fired tear gas and rubber bullets in an attempt to keep the migrants from breaking through a barbed wire fence

The protesters carried banners welcoming the migrants and denouncing Donald Trump, who has vowed to stop them crossing by any means necessary

A woman holds up a banner welcoming refugees to America, shortly before violent clashes saw dozens of them pushed back from the border

Women and children were caught up in the violence as guards were pelted with rocks, though no injuries were reported.

At one point, border guards sealed the crossing point between San Diego and Tijuana after migrants tried to cut a hole in barbed wire on the Mexican side.

The clashes come after months of tension over migration, with thousands of desperate Hondurans marching more than 1,000 miles in an attempt to enter the US, while President Trump vowed to keep them out by any means necessary.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she would not put up with 'lawlessness' at the border as tensions boiled over.

She threatened harsh punishments on anyone who 'destroys federal property, endangers our frontline operators, or violates our sovereignty'.

She later added that border personnel were 'struck by projectiles thrown by caravan members'. She condemned those responsible for their 'dangerous' actions that were 'not consistent with peacefully seeking asylum'.

Mexico also vowed to deport about 500 migrants who tried to 'violently' and 'illegally' cross the U.S. border on Sunday.

Officials added that Mexican authorities had contained the protest at the crossing between Tijuana and San Diego.

Women and children were caught up in the violence as migrants rushed the border on Sunday and attempted to cut through barbed wire on the Mexican side

A migrant girl from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands traveling from Central America en route to the United States, cries after running away from tear gas in Tijuana on Sunday

U.S. agents shot the gas, according to an Associated Press reporter on the scene. Children were screaming and coughing in the mayhem

Members of the migrant caravan run for cover after US officers fired tear gas at them during clashes at the border

The border clashes come after a caravan of several thousand Central American migrants, largely from Honduras, marched from their home country in the hopes of claiming asylum in America.

The caravan crossed Guatemala before entering Mexico last month and has since traveled more than 1,000 miles to the US border.

President Trump has vowed to use all means necessary to stop the migrants, including deploying thousands of troops - though they were not involved in yesterday's clashes.

He even suggested using deadly force against migrants caught throwing stones.

Trump tweeted about the violence on Sunday, putting pressure on Mexico to stop migrant caravans crossing its territory.

He also accused Central American countries such as Guatemala and Honduras of allowing the caravans to form in order to dump 'certain people' on the US.

Mexican police scramble to form a blockade as they try to stop migrants from reaching the border with the US

American Customs and Border Protection officers form a barrier behind rows of barbed wire to stop the migrants entering

A Honduran migrant speaks to US guards after tear gas and rubber bullets were used to repel some who tried to cross

A migrant is seen holding rocks in his hands moments before throwing them at US border guards near Tijuana

Mexico's Interior Ministry said Sunday the country has sent 11,000 Central Americans back to their countries of origin since Oct. 19. It said that 1,906 of them were members of the recent caravans.

Mexico is on track to send a total of around 100,000 Central Americans back home by the end of this year.

The migrants are largely fleeing violence and poverty back home in the hopes of making a better life for themselves in the US.

Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 66 per cent of its population living in poverty, and is also riddled with gangs and crime.

In the first part of 2016, the country was experiencing an average of 14 murders per day, with most of them related to drug trafficking and gang activity.

Of the thousands of murders committed each year, just 4 per cent are solved, meaning criminals operate with virtual impunity.
A transplant patient has been told she has contracted an aggressive cancer from the donor kidney she received.

Pauline Hunt says she is one of at least two people who was diagnosed with the deadly disease after getting the infected organs.

The other person died only weeks after getting a new liver and now 49-year-old Mrs Hunt has been told she has cancer of the abdomen and lymph nodes  and does not know how long she has to live.

She said: 'I've been told I am too ill for chemotherapy. I've lost family members to cancer and know what awaits me.

Transplant patient Pauline Hunt , 49, from Scotland, was told she had contracted an aggressive form of cancer after undergoing an organ donation that left her with infected organs

'I have told the doctors I don't want to know how long I've got.'

Doctors running the NHS transplant service have insisted all possible checks were done in the time available but Mrs Hunt, who married husband Gordon in hospital, has called for an inquiry.

Mrs Hunt, from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, said: 'My transplant should have given me a new lease of life. Instead, it gave me a death sentence.

'When I was told that I had to have the new kidney removed because another organ recipient had died from cancer, I was panic-stricken. I was terrified. I was in tears. I was told I had no choice. My kidney had to come out.'

She underwent emergency surgery to remove the organ after another transplant patient, a man from Newcastle, died of cancer after receiving a liver from the same donor. But it emerged Mrs Hunt is now fighting cancer of her lymph nodes.

She said: 'I'm still in shock and can't stop crying and worrying about how long I have left.'

Mrs Hunt received her kidney transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow in December of last year.

But within days, she began suffering health issues, including potentially lethal blood clots and the deadly infection sepsis.

On February 7, she underwent further surgery and the donor kidney was removed.

But after tests, specialists gave her the devastating news that the transplant had 'introduced a malignancy which has rapidly spread'.

Mrs Hunt (pictured with husband Gordon) said she and her husband were advised only of the routine risks of surgery

Tests on the donor's other kidney also showed cancer.

Mrs Hunt said: 'I don't understand how the system failed to spot a cancer that is so aggressive.

'It spread very quickly through my abdomen and lymph nodes, helped along by the drugs I'd been given to suppress my immune system so the transplant wouldn't be rejected by my body.'

Mrs Hunt, who has worked as a carer for patients with brain injuries, also now endures three sessions of dialysis every week after losing the kidney.

She said: 'It's all taken me to a very dark place and there are times when I can't help thinking everyone would be better off without me.

'I've thought about walking in front of a lorry but I know that would hurt my family and they're hurting enough.'

What are the safeguards to stop infected organs being donated? According to the NHS organs must be checked by a medical specialist upon donation -While the risks of passing cancer are small, it can happen -According to the American Cancer Society it is ok for cancer survivors to donate organs but the type of cancer and other conditions must be considered -A person who has only recently been diagnosed with cancer must not be allowed to donate their organs -The decision to use an organ is made by a medical specialist -The specialist must take into account medical, travel and social history -All organs must also undergo a rigorous screening process -A person cannot become an organ donor if they have or are suspected of having: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), Ebola virus disease, Active cancer, HIV or hepatitis C -Someone who is suffering from active cancer is unable to become an organ donor -However, it could be possible for someone with certain types of cancers to donate after three years of treatment -The eyes and some tissue can also be donated in these circumstances -The organs one can currently donate on the NHS are: Heart, lungs, cornea, liver, pnacreas, small bowel, tissue, kidneys and bone Source: NHS and American Cancer Society Advertisement

Mrs Hunt discovered her donor was a 56-year-old woman who died after medics were unable to stop a blood clot reaching her brain.

Her husband Gordon, 58, said: 'What happened to Pauline and the liver transplant patient from Newcastle should never have occurred.

'We need a proper inquiry to find out exactly what went wrong, not just for Pauline and the poor man who has already died, but for the thousands who are on the transplant waiting lists hoping to get the help that should save their lives, not kill them.'

Mr Hunt feels deeply let down by the specialists.

He said: 'When they finally admitted the transplanted kidney had given Pauline cancer, the lead specialist sat on the edge of her bed with his head in his hands.

'I asked him outright if they had put her on her deathbed and he said, 'Yes'.

'Later on he denied saying Pauline had been failed.'

Despite what is stated on Mrs Hunt's medical notes, the NHS- run national Blood and Transplant Service, which carries out more than 6,000 transplants a year, has not accepted responsibility.

One document states the couple are 'aware the transplant has introduced malignancy which has rapidly spread'.

Mrs Hunt and her husband insist they were advised only of the routine risks of surgery.

The couple have asked lawyer Cameron Fyfe to investigate.

He described the case as 'one of the most deeply distressing' he had ever dealt with.

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: 'Transplantation carries known risks, including malignancy, and these are discussed at length at various stages in preparing the patient for transplantation.

'Both the patient and her family were kept fully informed of this investigation and its outcome which found that the situation could not have been anticipated.'

John Forsythe, medical director for Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: 'In very rare cases it is possible that the donor has a very small tumour which cannot be picked up by the tests.

'This means the transmission of an undiagnosed cancer is a known risk, though thankfully very rare.'
The son and daughter of a former executive at a state-owned bank have been banned from leaving China until their fugitive father returns to the country.

Victor, 19, and Cynthia Liu, 27, landed in the country in June earlier this year to visit their grandfather, who had recently suffered a heart attack, with their mother Sandra Han.

However within days of their arrival Ms Han was taken by police officers to an unknown location and her children were told that they were unable to leave the country.

This is an alleged attempt to force their father, Liu Changming, who is accused of leading a $1.4 billion fraud case, to return to face criminal charges, the New York Times reports.

The son and daughter of a former executive at a state-owned bank have been banned from leaving China until their fugitive father returns to the country

But the children insist they have been estranged from their father since 2012, and despite the fact they are both American citizens they are being held by authorities under an exit ban, commonly used on Chinese natives.

Mr Liu was born in the U.S. and would typically not be treated as a Chinese citizen despite his parents' background, however he is being held due to the fact he has documents stating his duel-nationality.

Chinese Foreign Ministry justified holding the family by saying that they all hold proof of Chinese citizenship and are being held on suspicion of economic crimes.

These practices have been slammed by American officials who said that the exit bans are a violation of rights and since issued a warning, stating that the ban is a risk to American's traveling to China.

One of the politicians who have made his opinion on the ban evidence is Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, he put forward the case of the Liu family to a Chinese foreign policy official during a visit to Washington this month.

This is an alleged attempt to force their father, Liu Changming (pictured), who is accused of leading a $1.4 billion fraud case, to return to face criminal charges

The desperate siblings have written to National Security Adviser John R. Bolton to tell him that they are being held despite detectives telling them they are not under investigation for their father's alleged crimes.

In a letter obtained by the news site, Ms Liu wrote: 'We are being held here as a crude form of human collateral to induce someone with whom I have no contact to return to China for reasons with which I am entirely unfamiliar.'

Ms Han, 51, has been taken to a hotel on several occasions to meet with an American consular officer by Guangzhou police, as they are being offered citizen services due to entering the country on American passports.

Liu , 52, fled China in 2007 after police accused him of issuing illegal loans to property developers, making him a central player in one of the country's biggest bank frauds.

His charges were a part of a Chinese initiative to crackdown on corruption, which often involves tying family members to the offences.

Ms Han, who lives in Massachusetts and has acquired her own wealth from a collection of successful property businesses, has been backed by Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Edward J. Markey and Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III.

Mr Markey said that their office is trying to secure the families safe return to America and have been liaising with officials to make this happen.

Liu Changming was the top executive at the Bank of Communications in Guangzhou (pictured) and was charged with making illegal loans

Before leaving America to visit their grandfather, Mr Liu was in his sophomore year at Georgetown University, and Ms Liu was working at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company in New York.

They had a privileged upbringing and both attended an elite boarding school in Massachusetts before Ms Liu went on to graduate in business from Stanford and Harvard.

In a bid to flee the country the children are believed to have traveled between cities and have so far made three attempts get back to America.

Those involved in the case have said that they are hoping President Trump will mention the case during the Group of 20 summit meeting where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

When exit bans are in place, those being held are not kept in a detention center and authorities do not have to present a legal justification for the ban.

Jerome A. Cohen, a law professor at New York University, told the NY Times: 'Many police actions are now taken outside the legal system, and both Chinese citizens and foreigners, especially those who used to be Chinese citizens, have been kept in China with no apparent legal authority.'

The growing practice has been introduced following an increased ignorance for civil rights among security forces, the anti-corruption campaign and corrupt officials moving overseas.

Liu Changming was the top executive at the Bank of Communications in Guangzhou and was charged with making illegal loans, his co-conspirators were convicted of the charges but only half of the money was recovered.

He was put on the list of the 100 most-wanted fugitives in 2015 and a 'red notice' for his arrest was issued by Interpol.
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.
A north-west Chinese city was engulfed by a massive sandstorm that sparked rural fires, forced traffic to slow down and prompted residents to cover their faces, according to state media.

Video from the China Meteorological Administration shows a grey wall of sand hitting Zhangye city in Gansu province on Sunday, casting a yellow fog across the city within minutes.

Images from official news agency Xinhua showed residents covering their faces in scarves as they went about their daily lives.

A sandstorm seen rolling into Zhangye in China's north-west Gansu province on Sunday

Visibility went below 100 metres (328 feet) in parts of Zhangye City in Gansu province

The massive wall of sand was nearly 100 metres (328 feet) tall, according to the administration in a Weibo post.

Visibility went below 100 metres (328 feet) in parts of the city and police were deployed to ensure safety along the expressways, CCTV said.

Vehicles were made to slow down and police in high visibility vests were seen directing traffic.

The sandstorm is seen rolling into Zhangye in China's northwestern Gansu province

Images showed residents covering their faces in scarves as they went about their daily lives

Winds also sparked fires in rural areas when heating kindle was blown onto haystacks.

By 7pm, air quality in the cities of Jiayuguan, Jiuquan, Zhangye, Jinchang and Wuwei was 'severely polluted', reports said, with warnings going beyond 'hazardous' - the maximum level.

Authorities in the city also put out an advisory warning of dry weather and a risk of fire, telling residents to 'take precautions'.

Such storms regularly occur in the dry season, when winds blow loose, dry soil and sand into urban areas from the Gobi desert, coating cities in a layer of yellow grime.

Winds also sparked fires in rural areas when heating kindle was blown onto haystacks

By 7pm, air quality in the cities of Jiayuguan, Jiuquan, Zhangye, Jinchang and Wuwei was 'severely polluted', reports said, with warnings going beyond 'hazardous' - the maximum level

Vehicles were made to slow down and police in high visibility vests were seen directing traffic

While the north-west faced a sandstorm, Beijing was on Monday shrouded in a thick smog that prompted many to wear protective face masks.

Levels of small particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, hovered around 360 in the afternoon, according to air quality monitoring website aqicn.org, or nearly 15 times the World Health Organization's recommended daily maximum exposure.

According to Xinhua, a sandstorm is also forecast to be hitting Beijing from the northwest.

Such storms regularly occur in the dry season, when winds blow loose, dry soil and sand into urban areas from the Gobi desert, coating cities in a layer of yellow grime
A schoolgirl became a boy overnight after writing a note to his parents informing them that he is now to be known as Josh.

Josh Parsons, 14 - formerly known as Sarah - wrote to his mother, Lisa, 41, and stepfather, Darren Nickolson, 41, that he had decided to change his name and gender.

Despite the initial shock, his parents, from Orpington, London, fully supported his decision and the next day Josh got rid of all of his female clothes and told his peers at school about his transition.

A schoolgirl became a boy overnight after writing a note to his parents informing them that he is now to be known as Josh

Josh Parsons, 14 - formerly known as Sarah - told his mother, Lisa, 41, and stepfather, Darren Nickolson, 41, (pictured) in a note that he had decided to change his name and gender

After shaving his head and redecorating his bedroom Josh is happier than ever with his new gender.

Mother Lisa says she could not be more proud of her son and says she always thought he was different to his three older sisters.

The family have embraced Josh's physical change and have said they will pay for surgery when he's 16 years old.

Josh - who has been transitioning since April this year - is now on the waiting list for NHS hormone treatments.

After shaving his head and redecorating his bedroom so it looks more 'masculine', Josh is happy with his new gender. He is pictured holding a photo of himself from before his transition

Lisa said: 'I accepted that my daughter wanted to be a boy straight away. Josh who was then called Sarah left us a note saying that loved us but wanted to be known as Josh from now on.

'And from that moment his life as Sarah ended and ever since April we have been addressing Josh as a male.

'He has shaved his head and is happier than I've ever seen him.

'Josh also told his school that he wanted to change his gender and we've supported him ever since. I think it's important for children to be able to discuss their issues and Josh was always different to his older sisters.

Lisa said: 'I accepted that my daughter wanted to be a boy straight away. Josh who was then called Sarah left us a note saying that loved us but wanted to be known as Josh from now on'

'We've since changed his bedroom into a graffiti art wall instead of it being purple and girly and got rid of all of his dresses.'

Josh - who has three older sisters - now dresses as a boy for school and is excited to start his hormone treatment.

Lisa added: 'There's a 14 month waiting list before hormone treatment can start.

'It's a long waiting list and Josh is already hating the change in his body.

'He has quite big boobs which is something that embarrasses him and he hates having boobs.

'In two years he will be eligible to have a mastectomy if he wants to and if he can't have it on the NHS, I will pay for it myself.

'Josh has always been more into boys toys than girls and even when I was pregnant I felt different with him than my other girls.

'As long as Josh is happy being male then we're happy to support him every step of the way.'

Despite looking like a boy after shaving his head and wearing male clothes, Josh has been subjected to some cruel taunts.

Lisa added: 'He was told on the bus by a group of kids that he looked like a girl still which upset him but he soon gets over it.

Despite looking like a boy after shaving his head and wearing male clothes, Josh says he has been subjected to some cruel taunts (pictured left, before he transitioned)

'It makes him over the moon when someone refers to him as 'young lad' or 'sir' when we're eating out.

'Also, now that he looks male, he's able to use the men's toilets without being questioned.

'At the moment Josh seems keen to have surgery to lose his feminine features but as he's only young we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

'It's strange because he already looks like he has an Adams apple.

'I hope other parents read our story and realise that despite it being a shock when you're child says they're transgender that the most important thing is to support them.'

Josh said: 'I feel much happier now everyone knows that I'm transgender.

'I will be looking at getting a binder to shrink my chest and to start hormones in the next few months.'
This is the hilarious moment a groom burst into fits of laughter after he turned to look at his bride on their wedding day - and found his bearded best man standing there instead.

David Hofmann, 32, was expecting to see his wife-to-be Brianne Dennis, 29, in her white gown, but she had traded places with their friend Timmy Horton, 37.

Photographer Anna Morrison captured the moment David creased in hysterical laughter after seeing his bearded pal wearing a veil and squeezed into a dress.

David Hofffman,32, turned around expecting to see his wife-to-be Brianne Dennis,29, for the first time on their wedding day- and instead saw his best friend Timmy Horton

David, an electrician, said: 'Right in that moment I was anxious. I was trying to calm my nerves because I was about to see my bride for the first time.

'I was expecting to see Brianne and I turned around to see Timmy in a wedding dress.

'He was pale and hairy and we love each other very much but not in that way.. I was falling down laughing.'

Just before the first look, a tradition where the (real) bride reveals her dress to her partner

This is the moment David turned around to see his best friend Timmy instead of his new wife

Bride Brianne, a housekeeper, and best man Timmy, a carpenter, plotted their prank after Timmy saw some funny wedding gags online.

While the bride was reluctant at first, she eventually came around and suggested tricking David during a fake 'first look' photoshoot.

The 'first look' refers to a wedding tradition where brides may debut their look to their husband-to-be moments before walking down the aisle.

This is the moment David finally got Brianne tapping his shoulder instead of Timmy

Mother-of-one Brianne, who has a four-year-old son, Wyatt, and lives with David in Marysville, Washington, USA, said: 'I really wanted a serious ceremony at first.

'I didn't want any of their shenanigans on the day, but a few months down the road I changed my mind.'

On the special day, an emotional David waited anxiously while Timmy slipped into a spare wedding dress and donned a delicate chiffon veil.

This is the real first look, David said his bride-to-be was 'beautiful as always'

Then, the dolled up trickster tapped the groom on his shoulder as friends and family watched on, trying to stifle their giggles.

Timmy, of Snohomish, Washington, USA, said: 'I was really nervous and anxious because it's my best friend and I love the bride and groom so much.

'When it happened I just couldn't restrain myself and I burst out laughing. I think it really broke the ice and the tension.'

Moments after the prank, David got to see his real bride for the first time and was overcome with emotion.

David and Brianne went on to tie the knot in a ceremony in Snohomish, Washington

He said: 'It was very funny and then I got to do the real first look. Brianne has always been beautiful so I didn't expect anything less.

'There had been so much building up to that moment that when I first saw her, all of a sudden I just felt complete. I'll remember the day and that moment forever.'

David and Brianne went on to tie the knot in a ceremony surrounded by loved ones at Lord Hill Farms in Snohomish, Washington, USA, on November 17.

Brianne said: 'When I look at the photos I'm really happy. I'm so glad we did it. It was hilarious.'

Photographer Anna, a close friend of the couple, added: 'We made a forever memory and laughed so hard everyone was crying.'
Gibraltar's residents ridiculed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez today for 'fake news' claims that he had secured a 'victory' over the Rock.

Mr Sanchez gloated at yesterday's EU summit after he forced Britain to provide a letter on the Rock and the future UK-EU trade deal.

Theresa May has insisted she gave nothing away to end the dispute in time to finalise her Brexit deal in Brussels yesterday.

EU diplomats were said to be furious at the 'grandstanding' from Madrid in the run-up to yesterday's emergency summit.

Mr Sanchez wrongly claimed he could have vetoed the Brexit deal - and then claimed 'victory' after receiving a letter from Britain about the Rock that changes little.

Brussels dismissed the 'completely silly' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (pictured yesterday in Brussels) in the aftermath of the Brexit deal after he threatened to derail the negotiations over Gibraltar

Pedro Sanchez (pictured giving a press conference yesterday) wrongly claimed he could have vetoed the Brexit deal - and then claimed 'victory' after receiving a letter from Britain about the Rock that changes little

Gibraltan tweeter Selwyn Figueras said the letter from the UK 'does nothing to advance Spain's position' because Madrid has always had a veto over the final UK-EU trade deal.

Anne-Marie warned the latest row showed the need to be 'vigilant' about whether Mrs May could crumble under pressure and 'sell us out'.

Twitter user Evan Davis said Mr Sanchez was behaving like North Korea's Kim Jong Un, making statements of victory regardless of the facts.

Mr Sanchez was able to claim last night the assurances he received from London meant talks on 'joint sovereignty' over the Rock for the first time since 1713.

Mrs May has insisted she gave nothing away because Gibraltar already sits outside the EU customs regime and Spain would have a full veto on the final trade deal.

She told MPs today the UK Government had ensured that Gibraltar was covered by the Withdrawal Agreement and would negotiate a future relationship 'for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar'.

She sent a message to residents of the Rock: 'We will always stand by you.

'We are proud that Gibraltar is British and our position on sovereignty has not and will not change.'

But she has been lashed by Brexiteers at home for even giving the impression of climbdown to get a deal they already loath.

One senior EU diplomat told The Times: 'It is a completely silly and empty thing,'

'It is really outrageous,' another senior EU diplomat told The Telegraph of the move.

'It is trying to turn back history for more than 300 years. There is no scrap of justification.'

Gibraltan tweeter Selwyn Figueras said the letter from the UK 'does nothing to advance Spain's position' because Madrid has always had a veto over the final UK-EU trade deal

Anne-Marie warned the latest row showed the need to be 'vigilant' about whether Mrs May could crumble under pressure and 'sell us out'

Twitter user Evan Davis said Mr Sanchez was behaving like North Korea's Kim Jong Un, making statements of victory regardless of the facts

Mr Sanchez, who only has a minority government, propped up by other parties, has been accused of trying to strengthen his position on Gibraltar ahead of voting next year.

He faces local, regional and European Parliament elections due on May 26 2019 - and could face a general election on the same day to make a 'super Saturday' of voting.

As yesterday's summit came to a close, Mr Sanchez gloated: 'We are going to resolve a conflict that has been going for over 300 years.

'This puts Spain in a position of strength in negotiations with the United Kingdom over Gibraltar that we have not had until now.

'We all lose [with Brexit], especially the United Kingdom, but regarding Gibraltar, Spain wins.'

Mr Sanchez was able to claim last night the assurances he received from London meant talks on 'joint sovereignty' over the Rock (pictured yesterday) for the first time since 1713

Gibraltar is a major tourist destination and is home to British pubs (pictured is the Horseshoe yesterday) and other UK culture

In her own press conference, Mrs May insisted she had given nothing away.

She said: 'Let no one be in any doubt: for the future partnership the UK will be negotiating for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar.

'I am proud that Gibraltar is British and its constitutional status will not change.'

Brexiteer Tories are unconvinced.

Nigel Evans said: 'To sell out 17.5 million people [who voted to leave the EU] with her Brexit deal is one thing, to go against the wishes of the DUP who keep us in power is another.

'But to sell out the utterly patriotic British people who live on Gibraltar is simply beyond the pale.'

Theresa May (pictured in Brussels yesterday) has insisted she gave nothing away because Gibraltar already sits outside the EU customs regime and Spain would have a full veto on the final trade deal

The Ribble Valley MP added: 'Theresa May is dining in Brussels with people who are delighted with her deal  in fact they could have written it themselves.

'But on Monday she will return to a very different atmosphere in Westminster  one of betrayal.'

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell also slammed her over Spanish negotiations, saying: 'The Prime Minister has to show that she will be utterly true to her words that there will be no compromise on Britain's right to defend and negotiate on behalf of Gibraltar.

'She must vow that Spanish attempts to use this constitutional weapon to try somehow to divide the Rock and the UK will not work.'

Tory Eurosceptic Nadine Dorries said: 'May has capitulated to every single EU demand. She's abandoned Northern Ireland, and now Gibraltar. At no time does she push back.'

Mrs May's approach has been endorsed by Gibraltar's first minister Fabian Picardo.

He said: 'We do not need to wait until the start of the talks.

Mr Sanchez's comments have been met with fury by Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo, who likened his tactics to the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco (pictured)

'I can tell Spain now: we are not interested in any dilution of our sovereignty, we are not interested in allowing for even the remotest concession to Spanish sovereignty, jurisdiction or control.'

Independent Gibraltar MP Marlene Hassan Nahon said: 'As things stand, there is a lot of uncertainty within Mrs May's Cabinet leaving Gibraltar by consequence, at the mercy of the goings on in Westminster with the very real possibility of us having to completely go back to the drawing board if the deal doesn't go through.'

Before the summit, GSD Leader Keith Azopardi said: 'There is no place for subjecting our rights as a people or our inclusion in the negotiations on a future relationship with the EU to bilateral discussions between the UK and Spain.'

Mr Sanchez was elected to office this summer, when he became the first Spanish politician to take over as a Prime Minister through a vote of no confidence.

He unseated his long-term enemy Mariano Rajoy, despite not being an MP and having to resign from his party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) in 2016 over his refusal to accept Rajoy's return.

Before coming into politics he worked for the UN in Bosnia and as an economics professor.

He has had a difficult year with the outbreaks of violence in Catalonia and anger from his opposition parties about Spain's long-term economic problems.
This is the horrific moment a cyclist is swept to his death in flash floods in Brazil as witnesses form a human chain in a desperate bid to save him.

Marcelo da Silva, 43, was trapped with his bike in swirling waters as a torrential downpour hit Sao Bernado do Campo, a suburb of Sao Paulo, on Friday afternoon.

Footage shows him clinging to his bike even as horrified onlookers scream at him to let it go.

He tries to stand but the force of the water knocks him over and drags him under before strong currents rushing down the main street pull him further away.

Marcelo da Silva, 43, was trapped with his bike in swirling waters as a torrential downpour hit Sao Bernado do Campo, a suburb of Sao Paulo, on Friday afternoon

The heavy flows sent him hurtling towards another utility pole which he desperately tries to hold on to before the force of the waters sucks him under and he disappears from view.

A group risked their lives by forming a human chain to try to save the drowning man as he hurtled close to a wall but they could not hold him back.

Jose Santana, a butcher, told Globo TV: 'The cyclist could only hold onto the post for a few seconds because the current was too strong and pulled him away.

'We formed a human chain to try to grab hold of him. The guy at the front managed to get him for a few seconds but he couldn't keep hold. It was dangerous for him as well because he was nearly washed away too.

'We could just see his head bobbing in the water, going under and coming up again. Unfortunately, there was no way to get him out. Everyone cried because we couldn't save him.'

According to witnesses the divorced father, who had a teenage daughter, fell into the water while trying to cycle through the area.

The 43-year-old, who had a teenage daughter, can be seen desperately clinging to his bike - even as onlookers tell him to let go - before he is swept away by the current

Firefighters called to the scene found his body washed up later the same day.

In a separate tragedy, in the same city, a pensioner and her three year old grand daughter died after their vehicle was caught in the deluge.

Firefighters rescued Maria Luzinete, 63, and the child from the car but both died within a matter of hours after arriving at hospital.

According to the local authority the torrential rain was recorded as the highest levels ever to hit the city.

In a statement mayor Orlando Morando said: 'The volume of rain was far higher than expected for the whole day, which is normally 11 millimetres of rain.

'The central region of the municipality registered 45 mm in just over an hour with (other areas in the city) receiving 62 millimetres in the same period.'
Plans to build Britain's answer to Cape Canaveral in remote Scotland peatland have become bogged down in a dispute with local crofters who could delay the 45million scheme 'for years'.

The plan to create Britain's first spaceport on the Melness Crofting Estate, on the A'Mhoine peninsula in coastal Sutherland, was approved this summer by the UK Space Agency.

The A'MHoine beat competing bids from other remote Scottish regions for the launch site, which would propel micro-satellites into low orbit as early as 2021, and is projected to create 40 jobs locally and 400 more further afield.

But now amid rumours of secret deals and strong-arm tactics, many in the remote coastal community of around 150 crofters and farmers are opposing the plan and threatening legal delays which risk scuppering the whole enterprise.

Artist's impression: Satellites launched from the remote site would take off towards the north and from a position so close to the pole would be able to oversee a lot of the earth in a short period of time

The remote location's population of white-tailed sea eagles (pictured above) could be disturbed by rocket-boosters and satellite launches, protesters claim

Opponents say environmental concerns - the peninsula is home to rare eagles, sea birds and a delicate peat bog ecosystem - are being ignored.

John Williams, a retired teacher, has founded Protect the Mhoine, a protest group.

The Times reported he fears white-tailed eagles, Britain's largest bird of prey, will be threatened and that dozens of acres of bog could be replaced with concrete.

The land is controlled by the Melness Crofting Estate (MCE), a company that represents about 56 local crofters. Three of its seven directors have resigned over how the plans have been handled.

George Wyper, one of those who stepped down, claimed that much of the community had been kept in the dark.

Lockheed Martin has said it will work with UK companies to develop rockets and fuels

In a ballot, 27 crofters voted to press ahead with talks to lease land to the spaceport while 18 voted against. Ten failed to vote and one ballot was rejected.

Mr Wyper believes that important details were not shared. 'Some people did not know what they were voting for,' he said.

'It's getting quite vicious here  with Facebook and things. It's causing a split in the community.'

He told the Highland Press & Journal: 'There is quite a split in the community and a lot of bad feeling about this.

'It could go to the Scottish Land Court, which could take years to resolve.'

A legal dispute could mean lengthy delays for the project, and consultants who investigated the potential of a spaceport in the UK say speed is crucial to win lucrative contracts in the face of competition across Europe.

The MCE said it is not yet committed to the project and that environmental and other concerns will have to be addressed first.

The Melness Crofting Estate (pictured) is home to around 150 crofters and farmers. Opponents have promised legal challenges which could take years but the spaceport's backers say there is much more support than opposition among locals

Linda Munro, the local councillor, told the Times: 'It's absolutely true that the community is divided, but not in equal proportions.

'There are far more people pro the spaceport than there are against it. However, nobody can get fully behind it until they have the appropriate information, and that is just not coming from HIE.'

Roy Kirk, HIE's spaceport project director, told BBC Scotland: 'Melness was identified by UKSA as the preferred site and approved a 2.5m grant to HIE towards the facility's development.

'We have always stressed the project is subject to agreement being reached with the Melness Crofting Estate and that this is something on which they will need to consult their members before entering into any formal agreement.

'Meantime, we are developing the proposals with a view to submitting consent applications within the timescales set out, but again this is all subject to land lease agreement being reached with the estate.'

The Melness Crofting Estate, on the A'Mhoine peninsula in remote coastal Sutherland, was selected ahead of bids from the Shetlands and Western Isles by the UK Space Agencyfor the country's first spaceport

He added: 'We believe the spaceport will bring many benefits for the local economy and community, notably through rural job creation and community resilience.'

The UKSA said: 'Scotland is the best place in the UK to reach in-demand satellite orbits with vertically launched rockets and there is a real opportunity here to capture the growing market for launching an estimated 2,000 small satellites by 2030.

'The proposed spaceport in Sutherland could create 400 jobs across Scotland and contribute to further growth of the UK's world-leading space sector.'
Sir Christopher Chope has sparked outrage for blocking a new law on Female Genital Mutilation after doing the same to a bill on upskirting and countless others.

The new law would have given councils preventative powers to protect young girls at risk of FGM.

It went through the House of Lords unopposed and was due to be passed as a Private Members Bill in the House of Commons on Friday.

But Sir Christopher, MP for Christchurch in Dorset, blocked the bill with his singular objection, claiming it was an act of 'virtue signalling'.

Sir Christopher Chope has sparked outrage for blocking a new law on Female Genital Mutilation in the House of Commons on Friday (pictured)

He appeared on Radio 4's Today programme alongside FGM campaigner and founder of action group Daughters of Eve today, where she claimed he lied about the number of cases of FGM

Sir Christopher, 71, came under fire earlier this year by blocking a bill that would have criminalised upskirting.

The Tory backbencher is notorious for blocking bills on principle, having delayed a posthumous pardon for academic Alan Turing and a debate on the Hillsborough disaster in the same way.

What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)? Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a procedure where the female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but where there's no medical reason for this to be done. It's also known as 'female circumcision' or 'cutting', and by other terms such as sunna, gudniin, halalays, tahur, megrez and khitan, among others. FGM is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and the age of 15, most commonly before puberty starts. It is illegal in the UK and is child abuse. It's very painful and can seriously harm the health of women and girls. It can also cause long-term problems with sex, childbirth and mental health. FGM is often performed by traditional circumcisers or cutters who do not have any medical training. However, in some countries it may be done by a medical professional. Anaesthetics and antiseptics aren't generally used, and FGM is often carried out using knives, scissors, scalpels, pieces of glass or razor blades. FGM often happens against a girl's will without her consent and girls may have to be forcibly restrained. Source: NHS Advertisement

Speaking to the Bournemouth Echo, he defended his actions saying: 'As far as I'm concerned we need to be prosecuting the perpetrators,' said Sir Christopher.

'This bill would not make a difference to that. The law is already there, it just needs somebody to implement it.'

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning he and fellow backbencher Peter Bone had 'forced the government to introduce its own legislation' by objecting to the upskirting bill.

But his comments have caused uproar among MPs and on social media, with some calling for him to be deselected.

One person wrote: 'Its maddening that anyone would have the ability to hold back progress like this!

'Christopher Chope does not deserve to be a member of parliament. He should be voted out of office. #upskirting #EndFGM'

Another wrote: 'The fact that christopher chope is my mp makes me feel genuinely sick to my stomach like i can't comprehend how awful he is.'

One Twitter user commented: 'Christopher Chope on #r4today right now explaining why he thinks it's good to block a bill protecting children from #FGM. My poor blood pressure.'

On Friday someone else posted: 'Sir Christopher Chope blocked a bill related to female genital mutilation on Friday - he is a disgrace!'

One person said Sir Christopher should be 'disowned by his party', with others writing: 'Shame on you'.

Others urged the people of Christchurch to stop voting for him.

FGM, the process of removing all or some of the female external genitalia, was made illegal in the UK in 1985.

There was outrage on Twitter in response to Sir Christopher's blocking of another bill

But due to the complexity off the issue, there has never been a successful prosecution.

Friday's bill would have given stronger powers to local authorities to protect girls with FGM cases in their family or those who they think are at greater risk.

Who is Sir Christopher Chope and why did he block the new law? Christchurch MP Sir Christopher Chope has made a career out of blocking back bench legislation in Parliament. The Tory MP, 71, has halted progress on laws about the Hillborough disaster, a pardon for Alan Turing and wild animals in circuses. He has yet to confirm why he blocked yesterday's Bill but frequently cites a lack of debate, faulty drafting or duplication of law. Among dozens of Bills he had blocked, Sir Chistopher has also opposed: Free hospital parking for carers

Making revenge evictions a crime

Laws on same-sex marriage

Protecting police dogs

Careers advice for sixth formers

National standards for taxi licenses Sir Christopher, first elected in 1983, has repeatedly criticised the ability of MPs to make small changes to the law from the backbenches. Despite his opposition to many backbench bills, the father of two is also the architect of dozens of his own - typically as a way to take up time and block other proposals. He was knighted earlier this year for 'political and public service'. Advertisement

Crossbench Lord Berkeley was outraged at Sir Christopher's actions, telling the Sunday Times: 'This oversight in the law needs to be corrected, but now this man, for no discernible reason, has blocked it.

'I think it's disgraceful  Chope should be deselected. It is a complete abuse of parliamentary power.

'This is something that had been unanimously pushed through and yet has been stopped by one man in a fit of pique.'

He appeared on the Today programme on Monday morning alongside Nimco Ali, an anti-FGM campaigner and founder of action group Daughters of Eve.

Sir Christopher said he 'sympathised enormously' with people campaigning to change laws on FGM, but with 'dozens of cases every single day' and no prosecutions, the amendment was pointless.

But writing on Twitter, Ms Ali rubbished his claims, saying: 'On @BBCRadio4 Christopher Chope said there are a dozen cases of #FGM everyday.

'This is not true but again he has no idea what he is talking about. #FGM is an issue but to say a dozen girls are cut everyday is ridiculous.'

He also suggested he would join her campaign, with Ms Ali welcoming him to do so.

She posted on Twitter: 'So Christopher Chope has live on @BBCRadio4 Said he is going to join the campaign to #endFGM.

'I I have invited him to join the APPG co-chaired by @ZacGoldsmith and @jessphillips. I will let you know if he does.'

Sir Christopher is able to block laws with just a single word because Private Members Bills are introduced by backbench MPs and can only be passed if there are no objections.

MPs can wave it over its first Parliamentary hurdle without having to debate it, but only if no one shouts 'object'.

Sir Christopher has made a career out of blocking such backbench legislation.

He often cites a lack of debate, faulty drafting or duplication of law among his reasons for blocking bills.

The Conservative MP has blocked bills on free hospital parking for carers, making revenge victims a crime, laws on same sex marriage, protecting police dogs and national standards for taxi licences.

Although he often rejects them on the principle they can't be debated, he often proposes his own PMBs.

On Friday he brought forward nine bills of his own, but they were all rejected.
A group of Australian doctors have each swallowed a piece of Lego as part of an odd experiment to help put parents minds at ease.

As children are often rushed to hospital after swallowing small items, such as Lego, researchers from the University of Melbourne wanted to know how long they take to digest.

They enlisted the help of six medical professionals and had them swallow the head of a Lego man.

The bizarre experiment, which the team branded 'dedication to paediatrics', was published in a scientific journal.

Tessa Davis, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Royal Hospital, London, hoped the study would relieve parents' worry

Thankfully, parents can rejoice, as the study found the small toy should be out within one to three days.

However, one patient never found the piece they swallowed in their faeces, searching for two weeks.

The study, titled 'Everything is awesome: Don't forget the Lego', was discussed on Twitter by the consultants involved.

Dr Tessa Davis, consultant in paediatric emergency medicine at Royal Hospital, London, described it as a 'burning question'.

She tweeted: 'Should parents really be sifting through their kid's poo? We confirm that the answer is... no.

'The DFTBubbles team selflessly sifted through our own stools just for you.'

DFTBubbles has a paediatric website and hold conferences that cover cutting edge research and insights into paediatric care.

Dr Davis added that the experiment was 'worth it to advance science and pediatric emergency care'.

Before the Lego was swallowed, the participants bowel habits were standardised by the Stool Hardness and Transit (SHAT) score.

Participants then ingested a Lego head, after which it was a case of searching for the item in faeces, with the 'search technique decided by the participant'.

If it wasn't humorous enough already, the excretion results were given the label 'FART' - the Found and Retrieved Time.

A group of Australian doctors have each swallowed a piece of Lego as part of an odd experiment to help put parents minds at ease

The team, led by Andrew Tagg, an Emergency Medicine Consultant at Western Hospital Footscray, Australia, said: 'This international, multicentre trial identified that small objects, such as those swallowed by children, are likely to pass in one to three days without complication. This should offer reassurance for parents.'

The time it took for Lego to pass was quicker than what is estimated for a coin, studied in the past.

'The reasons for this are not clear and may only be answered by a factorial design study in which both coins and Lego heads are swallowed (ideally with one study arm including swallowing a Lego figurine holding a coin)', the researchers said.

They added that although it is possible children's digestion time would be different from an adult, there is no evidence to support this.

They suggest that it may pass faster in an immature gut, concluding parents shouldn't be anxious about their children being in pain if they swallow the toy.

Speaking of the participant who never found the missing Lego piece, the authors said: 'If an experienced clinician with a PhD is unable to adequately find objects in their own stool, it seems clear that we shouldnt be expecting parents to do so.'
Cyber Monday fraudsters are targeting young women in online scams and parents who are hunting for the must have children's toys.

City of London Police said a craze for robotic finger puppets known as Fingerlings could be exploited today, as well as anyone looking for deals on Ugg Boots and Apple products.

Experts said fake websites offering deals that are 'too good to be true', demands for bank transfers instead of proper payment facilities and badly protected software are all means by which criminals can target consumers.

The force also released data indicating that last year more than 30 per cent of reports of online fraud were made by women aged 20 to 29.

Fingerling toys, which react to sound and touch are one of this year's must have gifts for children, and buyers have been targeted of crooks trying to sell counterfeit versions of the product to cash in on their popularity

More than 15,000 reports of online shopping fraud were made to the UKs national fraud reporting service last year, and police have urged the public to be vigilant.

Fingerling toys, which react to sound and touch are one of this year's must have gifts for children, and buyers have been targeted of crooks trying to sell counterfeit versions of the product to cash in on their popularity.

Ugg Boots are among the most popular items victims reported losing money on, and Apple iPhones accounted for 74 per cent of all mobile phone purchases that turned out to be fraudulent last year.

Detective Chief Supt Pete O'Doherty said: 'Unfortunately, at what is an expensive time of year for many, the internet has provided fraudsters with a platform to lure people in with the promise of cheap deals.

Ugg Boots (pictured) are among the most popular items victims reported losing money on

'To stop fraudsters in their tracks, be cautious of where and from whom you're buying, especially if it is technology at a reduced price.'

Police urged shoppers not to pay for good via a bank transfer, unless the vendor is trusted.

They also urged consumers to ensure relevant software and apps are updated so they can avoid being hacked.

Other products targeted by scammers include the Apple Macbook, left, and the iPhone, right, which accounted for 74 per cent of all mobile phone purchases that turned out to be fraudulent

Tony Neat, CEO of Get Safe Online told the Daily Telegraph: 'Taking a couple of minutes to familiarise yourself with a few simple online safety tips can be the difference between getting all your shopping down in time and becoming a victim of online fraud.'

The fraud team at banking service Monese have shared their tips and tricks on keeping safe on Cyber Monday.

They are:

Make sure the website URL starts with 'https'. The 'S' means it's secure.

Avoid bank transfer buying - fraudsters prefer this method of payment. Use a trusted payment source only.

Keep an eye out for 'hidden' subscription traps, when consumers are tricked into buying additional products online. Keep an eye on your bank account over the next few days to ensure you haven't unwittingly signed up to one.

Think twice before providing ID details like passports, driving licence or National Insurance numbers. They are irrelevant to purchases

Beware of fake 'IT support' where scammers give you the impression that the we website you're visiting as 'frozen' and urge you to call a support team to fix it.

Buy from trusted sites only.

Norris Koppel, Founder and CEO at Monese, says: Cyber Monday offers plenty of opportunities for fraudsters to get you to part with your money, make their way into your bank account, or even get their hands on your sensitive and personal data.'
A wintry storm battered much of the Midwest bringing blizzard-like conditions that have grounded close to 1,500 flights and closed major highways at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend.

As of 4.20pm Eastern, 1,428 flights headed to or from, or within, the US were canceled on Monday, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

The National Weather Service (NWS) ended blizzard warnings early on Monday in northeast Missouri through the Chicago metropolitan area and northeast into Michigan, but noted strong winds of up to 45 miles per hour (72 kph) would continue to blow around drifts of the snow accumulated overnight.

NWS Chicago warned drivers to be cautious on slippery roads with low visibility.

The maximum snow accumulation in some areas is expected to be 18 inches, with major highways closed in Kansas and Missouri due to the snow.

Nearly 1,200 of the canceled flights were scheduled to either begin or end at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and almost 200 flights were canceled at Kansas City International Airport.

Rain and snow hit the Pacific Northwest on Monday, with more of the same expected to continue into Tuesday.

A wintry storm battered much of the Midwest early on Monday, bringing blizzard-like conditions that have grounded close to 1,500 flights and closed major highways at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend

One of the largest November storms on record dumped as much as 13 inches of snow in the Chicago area, knocking out power to more than 340,000 homes and businesses, the Chicago Tribune reported.

'My first Chicago snow began with a huge snow/ice block falling off a train and hitting me on the shoulder,' Latisha Ellison, who works in public relations, said in a post on Twitter. 'Happy Monday!'

North of Chicago, the city of Evanston's police department said in a statement its power was briefly knocked out by the storm.

Average departure delays at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport were 77 minutes early in the day on Monday, the Chicago Department of Aviation said.

Parts of southeastern Wisconsin, just north of Chicago, suffered a glancing blow from the storm, with about 9 inches (23 centimeters) of blowing and drifting snow.

Forecasters predict more than a foot of snow is likely in southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa.

Average departure delays at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport were 77 minutes, the Chicago Department of Aviation said early on Monday; Crews are shown de-icing an American Airlines plane at O'Hare International Airport on Monday in Chicago

Kansas City International Airport got 5.3 inches of snow, and at least 7 inches fell in Rockford, Illinois, the National Weather Service said on Sunday; A plow removes snow at an entrance of the Kansas Turnpike near Lawrence, Kansas on Sunday

More than 750 flights headed to or from, or within, the US were canceled on Monday; Travelers walk in and out at Terminal 3 in O'Hare airport in Chicago on Sunday

Nearly 1,200 of the canceled flights were scheduled to either begin or end at Chicago O'Hare Airport; Passengers sit as they wait for their flight at O'Hare airport in Chicago on Sunday

Downed tree limbs and power lines continued to cause power outages.

In Kansas, a large stretch of Interstate 70, spanning much of the state, was closed between Junction City and WaKeeney on Sunday, and Governor Jeff Colyer declared a state of emergency.

Separately, a portion of Interstate 29 was shut down due to heavy snow in Missouri, near the Iowa border.

A weather system bringing rain and snow to the US blanked much of the Midwest on Monday

A pedestrian walks as snow falls on Sunday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, as blizzard-like conditions have closed highways and delayed air travel as a winter storm moves through the Midwest

Schools in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois called off Monday classes; Pedestrians walk as snow falls on Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri

On Monday by 4:20pm Eastern, there were 4,509 total flight delays within, into or out of the United States, according to FlightAware.

The bulk of the 1,428 cancellations within, into or out of the United States, occurred at Chicago O'Hare.

There were 1,159 cancellations within, into or out of the US with one leg beginning or ending at O'Hare on Monday by that time, and with 661 delays occurring there.

The early winter snowstorm left 13 inches of snow at the airport on Monday.

Winter storm warming, advisories and watches extended from the Midwest to the Northeast

On Monday by 4.20pm Eastern, there were 4,509 total flight delays within, into or out of the United States, according to FlightAware, and 1,428 cancellations

An electronic board shows flight delays and cancellations at O'Hare International Airport after an early winter snowstorm left more than 7 inches of snow at the airport on Monday

Passengers try to catch flights out of O'Hare International Airport after an early winter snowstorm caused the delay and cancellation of hundreds of flights at the airport on Monday in Chicago, Illinois

Police from Roeland Park, Kansas, watched as the driver of a van tried to a navigate a slick street Sunday that hit the Kansas City area

Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect from central Missouri into eastern Michigan.

The weather service said on Twitter on Sunday night that Kansas City International Airport got 5.3 inches of snow, and at least 7 inches fell in Rockford, Illinois.

Dozens of school districts in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois called off Monday classes, while Chicago public schools remained open.

The storm hit Indiana and Michigan on Monday, as well, but both states avoided the worst for the most part, instead seeing light snow and rain in the majority of areas.

The storm hit Indiana and Michigan on Monday, but both states avoided the worst for the most part; Patrick Kaczmarek of South Bend, Indiana clears snow off of his car on Monday

A person walks downtown during a snowstorm on Monday in South Bend, Indiana

Parts of Michigan saw several inches of accumulation; Eaton county workers clear mounds of snow from the entrance to the courthouse in Charlotte, Michigan on Monday

The blizzard has wreaked havoc on travel by air and land; A woman shovels snow around her stuck car during a snowstorm in Arlington Heights, Illinois on Monday

Snow plows were called in across the US to clear the way for holiday travelers; A snow plow truck clears the streets in Des Plaines, Illinois on Monday

Schools in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois called off Monday classes; Pedestrians walk along a snow-covered street Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri

Forecasters predict more than a foot of snow is likely in southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa; A Chrysler Imperial for sale is seen in a snow drift along US 75 near Nebraska City, Nebraska on Sunday

On the west coast, rounds of rain soaked areas in the Pacific Northwest on Monday, AccuWeather reported.

Higher elevations of the Cascades in Washington were forecasted as likely to receive snow, though most areas only saw rain as the storm started to push into Washington and Oregon on Monday.

Snoqualmie Pass on Interstate-90, which saw snow last week, was braced for more potentially closures and vehicle restriction, along with other passes that summit the Cascades.

The storm is expected to hit Indiana and Michigan early on Monday; Workers carry snow shovels as snow falls on Sunday in downtown Kansas City

A pedestrian walks as snow falls on Sunday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri

Paradise, California, the area ravaged by the Camp Fire over the past month, will also see rain, as the wet weather dips farther south across Northern California late on Monday night and through Tuesday.

The Camp Fire was officially declared 100 percent contained on Sunday, according to CalFire,

The incoming downpours could complicate the search for the hundreds of people who are still missing in the area.
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These pictures show NATO snipers from eight countries taking aim in an elite high-angle shooting exercise in the Austrian Alps.

Military snipers from Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia and the United States took to the Hochfilzen training camp to practise hitting targets from high in the mountains.

The training, which involves firing shots from as high as 6,500 feet, requires the sniper team to figure out how much a bullet will drop on its way down.

Recruits had to carry a sniper rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, tripod, mountaineering gear and sleeping equipment as well as water and food during their time in the mountains.

A Belgian special operations sniper takes aim at targets across a valley in the Austrian Alps, during the NATO exercise in the Austrian alps which saw recruits from eight countries' military forces practise their shooting

A Norwegian Army Telemark Battalion sniper team takes aim at targets in the Hochfilzen Training Area in the Austrian Alps. The two-week course was designed to give recruits experience of shooting in mountainous areas

U.S. Army Staff Sargent Ryen Funk, a scout squad leader assigned to 2nd Cavalry Regiment, fires at uphill targets during the training exercise in the Austrian mountains. He said troops 'do not get to practise high-angle shooting enough'

The two-week high-angle urban course qualifies experienced snipers to operate and engage targets in mountainous and urban terrain.

High-angle shooting is when troops shoot further than 300 metres (984 feet) at angles greater than 15 degrees, instructor Lieutenant Alexander Rishovd explained.

He said: 'Imagine the whole shooting process being a triangle and the sniper is on top, the line of sight to the target at the other end is greater than the distance the bullet travels in a flat line.

'With the greater the angle the more the deviation between the line of sight and the distance that gravity has to affect the bullet.'

The course in the Alps provides a rare opportunity to practise angled firing as the majority of shooting ranges are on flat terrain.

Recruits from different countries were paired together or competed against each other in order to compare their tactics and procedures and see what worked best.

Austrian soldiers load gear onto their packhorses before hiking to a high-angle range during the two-week training exercise in the Alps. It qualifies experienced snipers to operate and engage targets in mountainous and urban terrain

Multinational snipers hike to the high-angle range in Austria. Military snipers from Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia and the United States took part in the two-week NATO exercise

A Dutch sniper aims his weapon at targets in a valley below in the Austrian mountains. The training, which involves firing shots from as high as 6,500 feet, requires the sniper team to figure out how much a bullet will drop on its way down

The course was run by the International Special Training Center, which provides centralised training for NATO forces in Europe.

A Belgian special forces soldier who took part in the exercise said: 'The calculations are not very difficult. The challenge is the shooting positions.

'To aim at targets that are at odd angle requires getting into difficult and sometimes unstable and uncomfortable positions. It is also difficult for the spotter to get a good line of sight.

'The further out you shoot the more the angle and other factors effects your shot. Operationally it is one of the most commonly used skills, so it is good to refine them here.

'You also realize when operating in the mountains you have to be light. With a sniper rifle and sometimes two rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammo, tripod, spotting scope and night optics, mountaineering gear, sleep system, and water and food your pack easily gets over 40 kilos.

'It is a difficult balance because snipers require a lot of specialized equipment, so you have to decide what is absolutely mission essential.'

U.S. Army Staff Sargent Ryen Funk, a scout squad leader assigned to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, said: 'It is very difficult to find ranges where you can shoot at high angles. We don't get to practice high angle enough, so it is good to come here and get that experience.'

A Norwegian sniper takes aim against a backdrop of the Austrian mountain landscape during the NATO training exercise in September. The two-week military course was run by the International Special Training Center

A Belgian Special Forces sniper team climbs to a firing position high in the Austrian mountains. Recruits had to carry a sniper rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammo, tripod, mountaineering gear and sleeping equipment

A Belgian Special Forces sniper uses binoculars to identify targets some 6,500 feet (2,000m) away across a valley. Recruits from different countries were paired together or competed against each other in order to compare their tactics
Theresa Mays Brexit deal will leave the UK 100billion-a-year poorer than remaining in the EU by 2030, a report claimed today.

The package signed off by Brussels at the weekend will reduce the value of the UKs economy by 3.9 per cent, at a cost of more than 1,000 a person, according to research.

The cost would be the equivalent of losing the economic output of Wales or the City of London, the research commissioned by second referendum campaigners found.

The report from the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) shows the economic impact of the Brexit deal on trade, wages, tax revenue and investment.

The package signed off by Brussels at the weekend will reduce the value of the UKs economy by 3.9 per cent, at a cost of more than 1,000 a person, according to research

The economic think-tank modelled different Brexit scenarios against a baseline of staying in the EU.

It reveals that the Prime Ministers deal, including leaving in March 2019 and a transition period until December 2020, before moving to a free trade agreement, would impact the UK economy.

The think-tank said that this approach would result in a catastrophic reduction in trade and investment.

By 2030, at the end of the first decade outside the EU, it estimates that Gross Domestic Product would fall by 3.9 per cent a year, or 100 billion annually.

This would amount to an average cost per person a year of 1,090 at todays prices, the think-tank predicted.

It also predicted that total trade between the UK and the EU would fall by 46 per cent.

But Brexiteers will argue the analysis does not take into account the possibility of Britain striking lucrative trade deals in the future.

Sir Vince Cable said: This proposed Brexit deal is an absolute mess. It leaves Britain with less say over key decisions than we already have as a member of the EU and todays report also shows how it will leave our country poorer.

Nobody voted for less control or to be worse off but somehow the Government have managed to come up with something that will achieve both.
A 60 Minutes journalist who was detained in Lebanon after a child recovery attempt went horribly wrong has opened up about the botched operation.

Tara Brown was sent to Beirut, the country's capital, with three crew members in 2016 in an ambitious bid to reunite an Australian mother with her two children.

The current affairs program was filming Sally Faulkner's attempt to take back her daughter, Lahela, then five, and son, Noah, then three, when things went awry.

Ms Faulkner, from Brisbane, had claimed her estranged husband Ali Elamine had kept the children in Lebanon without her permission.

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Veteran 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown has opened up about a story on a botched child recovery operation which resulted in her being arrested by police in Lebanon (pictured)

Brown (second from left) was arrested alongside Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner, 60 Minutes producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson and sound recordist David Ballment

Ms Faulkner, pictured with her children Lahela and Noah, had hoped to take back her children from Lebanon

Ms Faulkner had claimed her estranged husband Ali Elamine (pictured with the couple's children) had taken the children to Lebanon without her permission

The plan to snatch the children off a Beirut street with the help of a child recovery team ended in the 60 Minutes crew spending two weeks behind bars in Lebanon.

Brown was arrested and charged over the kidnapping attempt alongside senior producer Stephen Rice, cameraman Ben Williamson, sound recordist David Ballment and Ms Faulkner.

They were released from prison after the charges were dropped.

Channel Nine reportedly paid Mr Elamine US$500,000 in the official settlement after he rejected an earlier offer of $350,000.

Brown quickly became the story, with her name and face splashed across front pages nationwide, something that did not sit well with the veteran journalist.

Speaking for the 60 Minutes 40th anniversary edition, which will air on Sunday night, Brown said: 'The ambition is never to be the story'.

Brown (centre) spent two weeks behind bars in Lebanon after she was arrested and charged over the kidnapping attempt

Brown, pictured in handcuffs after she was arrested by police, was released by prison after the charges were dropped

Brown, pictured with then 60 Minutes producer Stephen Rice after arriving back in Australia from Lebanon, said 'The ambition is never to be the story'

'The ambition was to tell someone else's story. And I think the story we went over there to do has been overshadowed by the interest in what happened to the crew.

'I still haven't seen those front pages. There is a great sense of sorrow when you realise what a splash you've made, for all the wrong reasons,' she said.

But Brown is still adamant the saga was a story which should have been told.

'There is definitely still a story to be told in Beirut, and you still want to tell it, despite what happened and despite various judgments around it,' she said.

'The core of what that was about is yet to be told and it's a story that happens over an over again, potentially every week, in Australia.'

The botched operation had sent shockwaves through the 60 minutes team, with journalist Alison Langdon calling it 'the worst day of my career as a journalist'.

Brown is pictured at left with the three other members of the 60 Minutes crew and Nine News boss Darren Wick (second right)

Brown is pictured on arrival back in Australia from Lebanon, flanked by then 60 Minutes producer Stephen Rice, who was later sacked by Channel Nine

Ms Faulkner wanted to be reunited with her two children, who were in Lebanon with their father

Reflecting on whether 60 minutes should have attempted the story at all, reporter Charles Wooley said 'In retrospect, you wouldn't have wanted to because everybody went through such a torrid time'.

But veteran journalist Ray Martin, who previously worked on 60 Minutes, said he was 'appalled' at how other media reported on the ordeal.

'The idea of journalists turning on other journalists for what is a legitimate story appalled me,' he said.

'I think the newspaper coverage was cheap and nasty. We should have all been working as journalists to get them out of there.'

Rice was later sacked by Channel Nine after spending 32 years with the network.

The 60 Minutes 40th anniversary special will air on Channel Nine on Sunday at 7pm.
A thug who bashed a 90-year-old woman he believed was a witch and her granddaughter will be free in less than a year - despite being labeled by a judge as a 'danger to the community'.

Elderly grandmother Carmen received two black eyes and required five stitches after Troy Andrew Sargent knocked her to the ground as she withdrew money from an ATM in Kardinya, Perth.

Sargent was arrested the next day and taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital, where he punched a hospital worker in the face, according to Channel 9.

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A man who bashed a 90-year-old great-grandmother (pictured) at an ATM before breaking a nurse's nose at a nearby hospital will be free in less than a year

Sargent, who is a paranoid schizophrenic but was off his medication, also threatened his neighbour with a pole during the three-day rampage in March.

He was sentenced to 11 months in prison on Monday, after the police prosecution labeled him as a danger to the public who had a 'short trigger'.

His lawyer told Fremantle Magistrates court Sargent believed the 90-year-old and her granddaughter had used sorcery to rob him and that the pensioner was also a witch.

Sargent was sentenced to 11 months in prison on Monday, after the police prosecution labeled him as a danger to the public who had a 'short trigger'

Sargent was arrested the next day and taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital, where he also punched a male nurse in the face - breaking his nose - according to Channel 9

Sargent also interrupted proceedings, Channel 9 reports, to tell the court he had been shot at on the way to the Kardinya shopping centre where he carried out the attack.

The 36-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to a string of charges relating to the three incidents.

After a hearing last month, Sargent told Channel 7 he had no intention of hurting the 90-year-old and was trying to fight off the 'spirits'.

Sargent said he was 'unwell' at the time but was 'sorry for what happened'.

In the same suburb where the attack on the two women happened, two men wearing balaclavas broke into a pub on September 1.

Police said they threatened a staff member with a knife before making off with cash.

The nonagenarian, called Carmen, (pictured left with her granddaughter) required five stitches after being knocked to the ground, in Kardinya
A British MP has threatened to publish secret Facebook documents linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal - but the tech giant has warned him not to.

Damian Collins, chair of the culture, media and sport select committee, had the documents seized from a businessman by Parliament's serjeant-at-arms.

They are believed to include emails between Mark Zuckerberg and other executives that reveal Facebook allowed firms to exploit flaws in its privacy policies.

Facebook executive Richard Allan has now warned Collins in an email that the documents are 'sub judice before a court in California' and are 'sealed'.

However, Mr Collins, whose committee is investigating Facebook's role in the spread of fake news, responded: 'Under UK law and parliamentary privilege we can publish papers if we choose to.

'As you know we have asked many questions of Facebook about its policies on sharing user data.

'I believe these documents may contain important information.'

Mr Allan has been ordered to appear before Mr Collins' committee tomorrow after Zuckerberg refused to attend. He will be grilled by representatives of seven world governments on the spread of disinformation.

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Damian Collins, a British MP (left), has threatened to publish a trove of documents linked to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, despite warnings from Facebook executive Richard Allan (right) that a US judge ruled they should be kept secret

Allan sent this email to Collins after he seized the trove of documents, asking him not to publish them

Collins then clapped back, saying that he has full legal protection to publish the documents, and defending his decision to seize them

Collins reinforced his message in a tweet, which came as he prepares to face off against Allan at a summit on fake news on Tuesday

The documents were seized from Ted Kramer, who is suing Facebook in California, for restricting the amount of personal information his app is allowed to access.

Mr Kramer, who owns tech firm Six4Three, is unhappy that his app Pinkini, which allows users to identify bikini photos among images that their friends upload, was effectively killed by the data restriction.

Where do the papers come from? The documents seized by Collins and his committee stem from a court case being heard in California between app developer Six4Three and Facebook. Ted Kramer, who owns the developer, launched a suit against Facebook after the tech company restricted to data that one of his apps - Pinkini - could access. The app was designed to identify bikini photos among albums posted by friends on Facebook, and the restrictions effectively killed it. As part of the lawsuit, Kramer accuses Facebook of encouraging developers to build apps based around access to data that it then withdrew. He also alleges that Zuckerberg sold expensive ads to developers in return for long-term access to the data. This form of access was later exploited by Cambridge Analytica in an attempt to affect elections. As part of his case, Kramer got his hands on documents rumored to contain emails between Mark Zuckerberg and company executives showing they knew about issues around the privacy of user data. Facebook fought for months to keep the documents secret, and was ultimately vindicated when a California judge ruled in its favor. But now Collins is threatening to publish the documents because he is outside of US jurisdiction and protected in his role as a minister heading up an investigation. Advertisement

Mr Kramer's lawyers were given the documents by Facebook, but were told by a US judge that they should not be shared with anyone else.

However, Mr Collins learned that Mr Kramer was in London and dispatched a representative of Kamal El-Hajji, the House of Common's serjeant-at-arms, to seize the trove.

When Mr Kramer refused, he was hauled to Parliament and threatened with fines and imprisonment if he failed to comply, at which point he handed them over.

Collins said afterwards: 'We felt this [information] was highly relevant to the inquiry... and therefore we sent an order to Mr [Ted] Kramer through the serjeant at arms asking that these documents be supplied to us.

'Ultimately, that order was complied with.'

On Friday night, Stuart Gross, a lawyer for Six4Three, confirmed that the British committee had obtained the sealed documents.

Mr Collins said: 'We are in uncharted territory.

'This is an unprecedented move but it's an unprecedented situation. We've failed to get answers from and we believe the documents contain information of very high public interest.'

The fresh spat between Mr Collins and Facebook comes after months of pressure in which he has attempted to force Mark Zuckerberg to appear before a summit for questioning over fake news.

The tech chief has repeatedly refused to attend saying that he has already testified to Congress in the US and before the European Union.

'It is not possible for Mr Zuckerberg to be available to all parliaments,' the firm said.

He has continued to resist that pressure even as the group of countries attending the summit has grown to include representatives from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Latvia, Singapore.

Mr Collins has repeatedly hit out over the snub, describing the response as 'not good enough'.

A member of staff from the office of Serjeant at Arms Kamal El-Hajji was dispatched to the hotel of Ted Kramer and demand he hand over the documents

Mr Allan is a long-time Facebook employee who served as its director for public policy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa from 2009 until 2014.

He was then promoted to president of public policy for the same region, which is a job he still holds. He has a degree in archaeology and anthropology from Cambridge and a masters in information technology from the University of the West of England.

Mr Collins is attempting to hold Facebook to account over data breaches that affected more than 87 million Facebook users in the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The common's armed enforcer: Who is the serjeant-at-arms? The serjeant-at-arms is responsible for the order and security of the House of Commons, but can also be called upon to serve warrants and force people to attend committees. The serjeant himself does not carry any legal authority, but while serving warrants he or she 'may call on the full assistance of the civil authorities, including the police.' Damian Collins, as the head of the culture, media and sport select committee, would therefore be able to use the serjeant to force Ted Kramer to parliament to hand over the documents. The unique role dates back to 1415, when Henry V appointed one of his royal Serjeants to keep order in Parliament. At first the role included the power to arrest people and collect taxes, but has become largely ceremonial over the years. Occasionally the Commons will call upon its serjeant to perform other duties, such as in 1957 when the editor of the Daily Express John Junor was marched to the chamber. He was forced to apologise to the Speaker for a report which cast doubt over the integrity of ministers and their petrol allowances. The current serjeant-at-arms, Kamal El-Hajji, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015 'for services to the Ministry of Justice'. Advertisement

An app called ThisIsYourDigitalLife harvested the data of millions of Facebook users, largely without their knowledge, then sold it on to now-defunct political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica.

The firm then used the data to target political advertising at users during both the US elections in 2016 and the Brexit referendum when it worked on behalf of Donald Trump's campaign and Leave.EU.

The documents were seized after Zuckerberg was forced to defend his job over revelations that Facebook knew about Russian election interference despite denying it and used lobby firms to smear critics.

It was revealed last week that Facebook deliberately misled the public about what it knew about the Kremlin's 2016 election tampering.

The tech giant also employed a 'research firm' to smear protesters by linking them to George Soros and a lobby firm to brand critics anti-Semites.

When asked today if would consider stepping down as chairman Zuckerberg told CNN Business 'That's not the plan.'

He was critical of the use of lobby and research firms to attack opponents.

'I wasn't particularly happy about that piece of it. And that's certainly a lot of what made me want to look into this more deeply,' he said.

'The intention was never to attack an individual but there are lobbying groups out there who are out to attack, its fine to push back on them.'

He criticized the decision to link critics to George Soros.

'George Soros has been the target of a lot of really horrendous attacks and I think that that is terrible and I certainly wouldnt want anyone who is associated with our company to be a part of that,' he said.

'A lot of the critique that folks have had about our company, I read and I think a lot of it is fair and we need to do better and learn from but at the same time I dont think all of it is fair.'

Facebook's share price has been tanking since it became embroiled in the data scandal, and took a particularly sharp nose-dive in recent weeks.

The social network is down almost 20 per cent in this quarter compared to last, with shares selling at $134.82 last week.

On July 25, Facebook was selling at $217.50 a share.
The President of the EU has said that Brexit has nothing to do with the failings of Brussels - as he warned there is no alternative to Theresa May's deal.

Jean-Claude Juncker blamed the vote to leave the bloc on British politicians moaning about the EU over many years.

It comes after Mrs May got her divorce deal signed off by the EU at a milestone summit in Brussels at the weekend, but now faces the mammoth task of getting it passed by MPs.

She is gathering her Cabinet for crisis talks in No10 today as she kicks off a fortnight-long PR blitz as she desperately tries to peel off opponents.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, he was quizzed about his previous comments that Brexit process 'felt like a failure'.

Mr Juncker said: 'Everybody is losing.'

Pressed on whether it was a failure by the EU, he said: 'Is it a failure on the British behalf that you are telling people year after year, month after month, day after day, that the membership of Britain in the European Union is a bad thing for the British citizens?

'I don't think that the European Union is guilty for the result, it's the responsibility of Britain. Only of Britain, of nobody else.'

Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured with Theresa May at the EU summit in Brussels on Saturday) blamed the vote to leave the bloc on British politicians moaning about the EU over many years

The Brexit vote came after many years of rising concerns that EU rules allowing free movement of people had led to uncontrolled and high levels of immigration.

While many Britons were alarmed that EU judges sitting in Luxembourg could tell the UK Government and public how to act.

Mr Juncker also said there is no alternative to the PM's deal - warning that if MPs vote it down then Britain will crash out of the bloc.

Mrs May is facing massive opposition to her deal, with 91 Tory MPs so far saying they will not vote it, while Labour, the SNP and DUP have all vowed to block it.

Mr Juncker said: 'This is the only deal possible. So, if the House (of Commons) says no, we would have no deal.'

He added: 'It's not the intention of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, nor of the Parliament, to go for a second referendum. This is the deal.'

Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom (pictured left) and Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt (right) are among those on 'resignation watch' after failing to back Mrs May's deal publicly

Asked if the Brexit negotiation was a 'punishment process' for the UK, Mr Juncker said: 'I don't understand why the British people, and I like the British people for so many including historical reasons, why they are feeling that they are humiliated.

'I don't see that because numerous points of view of the British have been taken into this deal. So, this is not a humiliation for Britain.'

Facing overwhelming opposition to her deal in Parliament, the PM is gearing up to go on a PR blitz to try to win support before it is voted on in a fortnight's time.

She will be travelling the country to deliver a series of Brexit speeches proclaiming the benefits of her deal, which she says ends free movement while protecting jobs.

And she is contemplating going head to head with Jeremy Corbyn in a live TV Brexit debate.

But the odds are stacked against her, and unless there is a massive tide change in opinion her deal looks set to be voted down when it comes to Parliament.

And two of her Cabinet ministers - Brexit backers Penny Mordaunt and Andrea Leadsom - are both on resignation watch.
The father of 'one of the most disabled people in Northern Ireland' has hit back at the 'ignorant questioning' he was given during a controversial benefit assessment for his son.

John McMullan, 50, whose son Declan, 26, suffers from a condition known as Locked-in syndrome that renders him 'unable to unable to move, talk, see or eat', was shocked by the scores his son was given on his recent PIP assessment.

The father-of-one from County Down, Northern Ireland, was left outraged by the ignorant questions he was asked and the lack of understanding offered by the assessor.

John McMullan (right), 50, from Northern Ireland, whose son Declan (left), 26, suffers from Locked-in syndrome was left disappointed by the 'ignorant questioning' of his son's PIP assessor

Declan McMullan, 26, suffers from a condition known as Locked-in syndrome that has left him 'unable to unable to move, talk, see or eat'

Declan's condition was triggered at the age of 19 when his brain was starved of oxygen during an eight-minute cardiac arrest, leaving him in a borderline vegetative state.

Despite being aware of his surroundings, Declan's neurological condition means he is incapable of controlling movement and can only communicate by blinking.

Due to his agonising condition the 26-year-old now needs 24-hour care.

Mr McMullen told Belfast Live: 'Declan can't do anything other than blink. He is unable to move, talk, see or eat.

'Doctors told us to imagine being buried alive - that is what Locked-in syndrome is.'

As part of his son's routine reassessment Mr McMullan was recently sent a letter alongside a form for his son's disability allowance.

Declan's neurological condition was triggered after his brain was starved of oxygen during an eight-minute cardiac arrest at the age of 19

However three weeks after filling the form, the father-of-one received a phone call from an assessor who not only wanted to see his son face-to-face but exhibited 'total ignorance' towards his condition.

While son Declan was able to receive full payment he did not achieve full points for his daily living needs, receiving only six points out of ten for the level of assistance required while eating and drinking during the assessment.

He also received only two out of eight points for needing assistance making budgeting decisions and just four out of eight for needing support in social situations.

Three weeks after filling out his son's assessment form Mr McMullan was interrogated by a PIP assessor. He later found his son had received only two out of eight for needing assistance in making budgeting decisions and just four out of eight for needing support in social situations

Mr McMullan, whose son is PEG fed and requires a team of occupational therapists, social workers, nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and psychiatrists, added: 'Declan is probably one of the most disabled people in Northern Ireland. How disabled do you have to be?'

Describing his ongoing battles Mr McMullan questioned the amount of times disabled people are required to be assessed and the level of professional evidence that is needed by PIP assessors.

A Department for Communities spokesperson told Belfast Live: 'The Department expects the highest standards from Capita, who deliver the PIP Assessment Service and they have to conform to a rigorous set of quality standards set down by the Department.

What is Locked-in Syndrome? Locked-in syndrome, otherwise known as pseudocoma, is a rare neurological disorder where one is incapable of moving or verbally communicating despite being fully aware of their surroundings The inability to move or communicate is caused by a complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body The person may still be able to communicate through vertical eye movements and blinking Individuals with the condition are still conscious but have no ability to move or speak There is no specific cure for the disorder Advertisement

'Each disability assessor must have a minimum of two years post registration experience which must be fulfilled within an approved health profession and receive extensive training in line with DfC guidelines before they undertake PIP assessments.

'Capita is committed to delivering a high quality and empathetic service for people applying for PIP.

'Its disability assessors are healthcare professionals with the required skills and knowledge to carry out PIP assessments across Northern Ireland.

'The PIP assessment looks at how individuals are able to complete a number of key everyday activities. Within each activity there are a number of descriptors, each representing a varying level of ability to carry out the activity.

'Individuals receive a point score for each activity, depending on how well they can carry them out and the help they need to do so which is based on the evidence provided and collected. The guidance which disability assessors and PIP case managers are expected to apply is set out in the PIP Assessment Guide.

'A robust complaint process is in place for customers who are unhappy with the service provided by Capita which includes the opportunity to escalate a complaint to the Department if they feel it has not been satisfactorily resolved.

'The terms and conditions of the contracts of employment for Disability Assessors are a matter for Capita and are not set by the Department.

'However, the Department understands that an annual quality incentive of 3,000 is wholly based on the Disability Assessor producing consistent high-quality reports on a timely basis and is not related in any way to decisions on entitlement to PIP.

'Decisions on individuals' entitlement to PIP are made by the Department.

'Every claim is considered on an individual basis, and decisions are made based on the available evidence and the relevant legislation. More people are being awarded PIP at the highest rate of benefit than under DLA.'
As many as 13 sea lions have been found dead, some with bullet holes, along the same stretch of shoreline, according a wildlife group.

The bodies of sea lions, including six with gunshot wounds and one that was decapitated, were found on the shores of Washington state in the last three months.

Another seven were thought to have died of acute trauma suspected to have been caused by 'human interactions' around Kitsap County and the Puget Sound during the same period.

It is thought the animals have been killed by fishermen as sea lions will often eat the fish they are trying to catch.

Animal welfare group Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network says it made the discoveries and the deaths are being investigated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA).

Thirteen sea lions have been found dead, including six with bullet holes, along the Washington shoreline in the last three months

Marine mammals, including sea lions, are protected in the U.S. by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which bans harassing, hunting, capturing, killing or attempting to kill sea animals.

Violation of the federal act can be punished by fines of more than $28,500 and can lead to those found guilty being imprisoned for one year.

Greg Busch, assistant director of the NOAA Fisheries' Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), said: 'We are concerned about a number of recent reports of marine mammal deaths caused by gunshots in the greater Seattle area.

'All marine mammals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and OLE investigates all reported unlawful takes of sea lions.'

Sea lion deaths increase around the time of fishing runs because fishermen and sea lions often hunt for the same food, Seal Sitters said.

Marine mammals, including sea lions, are protected in the U.S. by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which bans harassing, hunting, capturing, killing or attempting to kill sea animals

Deaths between September and November are six times above the annual average, but December to February are the most deadly months for sea lions, according to Seal Sitters.

A Seal Sitter blog post read: 'Animals searching for food to survive and fishermen searching out fish for consumption or livelihood are on an annual, never-ending collision course.

'Sadly, this is just the beginning of what is likely to be a very deadly Fall/Winter season for sea lions and seals.

'Shootings not so coincidentally increase in correlation with fish runs, year-round.

'According to those who live and work along the Elliott Bay and Duwamish waterfront, shots are being heard even more frequently this year.

Sea lion deaths between September and November are six times above the annual average, but December to February are the most deadly months for sea lions, according to an animal welfare group

'Animals searching for food to survive and fishermen searching out fish for consumption or livelihood are on an annual, never-ending collision course.'

The NOAA Fisheries suggests making loud noises with horns or banging, rubber bullets, pyrotechnics and non-lethal, water-soluble paintball guns to deter sea lions from interfering in fishing.

The NOAA reported that between 1998 and 2017, as many as 700 California sea lions were found with gunshot and knife wounds, according to National Geographic.

A dolphin was found shot to death in Manhattan Beach, California, earlier this month, according to to NBC News.
A Pakistani woman was allegedly 'raped for hours' during surgery for anal fistula at one of the country's leading hospitals.

The 35-year-old woman was admitted at Services Hospital in Lahore on Friday where she underwent the procedure and was discharged later in the evening.

But after regaining consciousness following the surgery, the woman claimed she realised she had been assaulted and reported the matter to police.

The woman was allegedly raped while undergoing an eight-hour procedure at a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan (pictured)

A report filed by Lahore's police contained a witness statement in which the woman claimed she was raped during the eight-hour operation.

'I was admitted to the hospital for a surgery on November 24,' the report read.

'When I regained consciousness from the anesthesia that night, I realised I had been assaulted during the surgery.

'It was an 8-hour-long operation but they discharged me from the hospital the same day,' the woman told the police.

The Services Hospital in Lahore (pictured) is one of the regional capital's leading medical institutions

She later started complaining about pain and bleeding from urinary tract. She said her sister took her to Sheikh Zayed Hospital where it was confirmed she had been raped.

'As her pain increased at night, the woman was taken to Sheikh Zayed Hospital where it was found that she had been allegedly raped,' the police report added.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Monday formed a three-member inquiry committee to probe the alleged rape.

DNA samples have been collected from the woman and the investigation is said to be ongoing.

The Office of the Medical Superintendent for Services Hospital Lahore said in a statement: `According to the medicolegal examination report, no physical signs of sexual assault or rape were observed by the medical board. However, on the request of the complainant, two external vaginal swabs for DNA/semen analysis were taken and handed over to the police for forensic analysis.'
Ohio have become the first state to officially accept Bitcoin as businesses can now pay their taxes in the form of currency.

Starting from today companies need to sign their businesses up to a website in order to pay their owed taxes in crypto.

The website asks businesses to provide their state registration number and the amount of tax they would like to pay.

From this point on they are then able to use their cryptocurrency wallet to pay the remainder of the their taxes.

Bitcoin had around 15 per cent was wiped off the value with most of the initial loss coming in just half an hour

The 23 taxes payable with Bitcoin range from cigarette sales to employee withholding taxes, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Arizona and Georgia also attempted to pass legislation which meant Bitcoin could be used to pay taxes however it never got past state legislatures.

However it has had a considerable domino effect as other states across the country are now also considering the currency move.

Ohio is using Bit Pay, a cryptocurrency payment start up, to handle the payment which will convert Bitcoin to U.S. dollars.

State Treasurer Josh Mandel has previously said that paying with Bitcoin is instantaneous, secure, and transparent.
Alec Baldwin told police that the man he allegedly struck over a parking space was an 'a**hole', prosecutors have claimed.

Baldwin, 60, was charged on Monday with attempted assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree.

He did not enter a plea and was released on his own recognizance after the brief appearance at New York Supreme Court.

While the actor has maintained that he never punched anyone over the parking spot, prosecutors said he told a police officer that he pushed the man.

'He's an a**hole. He stole my spot. I did push him,' Baldwin allegedly said.

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Alec Baldwin appeared in New York Supreme Court on Monday in Manhattan to face charges of assault after a road rage incident earlier this month

Baldwin, 60, was pictured entering the court in black jeans and a black jacket covering his bright purple polo shirt

The actor was arraigned Monday on the misdemeanor and violation-level charges

Baldwin arrived in court wearing black jeans, a black jacket, and a bright purple polo shirt, as well as glasses.

Alan Abramson, Baldwin's attorney, told the court that there is video evidence proving his innocence.

'There is incontrovertible video evidence that has been turned over to the district attorney's office that proves beyond all doubt that Mr Baldwin never punched anyone,' Abramson said.

'We're confident that once this matter is full investigated, it will be resolved swiftly and appropriately in court.'

Abramson said that Baldwin's reputation had also been 'damaged' by the assault claims.

'Mr Baldwin did not commit any crime and we are confident that once this matter is fully investigated it will be resolved swiftly and appropriately in court,' he added.

Baldwin appeared at the courthouse only briefly and made no comments as he left. He is next due to appear in court on January 23.

The former 30 Rock star has said that any assertion that he punched anyone over a parking spot is false

Baldwin has been accused of punching Wojciech Cieszkowski over a parking spot outside of his $13million penthouse on November 2

'I observed the defendant push me and then strike me across the left side of my face with his closed right hand, resulting in pain to my face,' Cieszkowski (pictured) said after the incident

The former 30 Rock star was arrested on assault and harassment charges on November 2, which were downgraded by prosecutors on Monday.

Police were told a driver pulled into a Manhattan parking space that one of Baldwin's relatives was holding for him, and the two men started quarreling and pushing each other.

Wojciech Cieszkowski told police that Baldwin punched or slapped him over the parking spot.

'I observed the defendant push me and then strike me across the left side of my face with his closed right hand, resulting in pain to my face,' Cieszkowski stated after the incident, according to court papers.

The 49-year-old man was taken to a hospital complaining of jaw pain and redness around his neck.

Baldwin later tweeted that the episode was 'egregiously misstated'.

Cieszkowski told police that Baldwin punched or slapped him and went to the hospital complaining of jaw pain

Baldwin is seen here walking into the courthouse with his attorney Alan Abramson on Monday

An eyewitness told DailyMail.com that Cieszkowski was pulling into a spot outside Baldwin's apartment building when the actor lost control.

The witness claimed that Baldwin went after Cieszkowski as he went to pay the meter.

It is unclear what happened next, with Baldwin denying that he punched Cieszkowski despite the alleged victim's claims.

Baldwin, who has had a number of physical and verbal altercations on the streets of New York in the past, later posted about the incident on social media.

'Normally, I would not comment on something as egregiously misstated as today's story. However, the assertion that I punched anyone over a parking spot is false,' wrote Baldwin on the charitable page of his foundation with wife Hilaria.

Baldwin was charged on Monday with attempted assault in the third degree and harassment in the second degree

He did not enter a plea and was released on his own recognizance after the brief appearance

Prosecutors claimed Baldwin admitted to police that he pushed his victim at the scene over the parking spot

'I wanted to go on the record stating as much. I realize that it has become a sport to tag people with as many negative charges and defaming allegations as possible for the purposes of clickbait entertainment.'

'Fortunately, no matter how reverberating the echos, it doesn't make the statements true.'

In 1995 he allegedly punched a cameraman who filmed him and then-wife Kim Basinger returning home from the hospital with newborn daughter Ireland.

They claim Baldwin told police officers: 'He's an a**hole. He stole my spot. I did push him'

Baldwin was only briefly at the New York Supreme Court on Monday. He is seen here leaving the courthouse with Abramson

Baldwin (pictured leaving the courthouse) has a history of getting physical with members of the media and law enforcement a number of times in the past

Twenty years later Baldwin again found himself in trouble with the law when he was arrested for being belligerent to a police officer who ticketed him for riding his bike the wrong way in a one-way street.

In 2011, he found himself kicked off an American Airlines plane for slamming a bathroom door after being repeatedly told he needed to stop playing Word With Friends while the flight was preparing for takeoff.

And in 2013 he was suspended for two weeks by MSNBC for an incident in which he called a New York Post photographer a 'c***-s***ing f****t,' with the network then deciding to cancel his show Up late With Alec Baldwin.

That same year he also told then-Post reporter Tara Palmeri 'I hope you choke to death' and lashed out at Mail Online report George Stark when he wrote about the content Hilaria posted around the time of James Gandolfini's funeral.

It has been a rough month for Baldwin, whose new talk show is also performing poorly

Baldwin was seen leaving his home shortly after his court appearance on Monday morning

Baldwin was seen carrying a leather bag, a reusable Trader Joes tote, and another bag as he made his way out of his apartment

The actor loaded the three bags into his trunk before leaving his apartment on Monday

'I want all of my followers and beyond to straighten out this f***ing little b****, George Stark,' wrote Baldwin.

'I'm gonna find you, George Stark, you toxic little queen, and I'm gonna f** youup.'

His most infamous rant however was directed at his daughter, screaming: 'You are a rude, thoughtless little pig.'

He also told her she needed to get her 'a** straightened out' and that she had 'humiliated [him] for the last time'.

Ireland was 11 at the time.

Baldwin left the shocking voicemail after his daughter, now 23, had missed a scheduled phone call amid a bitter custody dispute with Basinger.

The actor later said the entire incident left him feeling suicidal.

Despite his recent troubles, on top of falling ratings on his ABC talk show, Baldwin has seemed carefree on social media in the last few weeks.

Baldwin has been frequently posting pictures with his youngest son Leo, and even briefly made an appearance on wife Hilaria's most recent yoga video.
Twelve women have filed a complaint against the FBI, accusing the agency of unfairly treating women recruits during training.

As many as a dozen women are claiming many of the instructors at its training academy in Quantico, Virginia, are guilty of gender of discrimination.

Danielle Snider is one of the trainees who alleged the organisation punishes women more harshly for mistakes than her male counterparts who made similar mistakes during the course.

The 30-year-old had less than two weeks to go before graduating when she was kicked-off the course for a 'lack of tactical judgment' in January.

But Ms Snider, who attended the Air Force Academy where she was commissioned as a second lieutenant and spent four years in the military, said men who made similar mistakes were not reprimanded in the same way.

Danielle Snider attended the Air Force Academy where she was commissioned as a second lieutenant and spent four years in the military before becoming an FBI recruit last year

Until the tactics section of the training, she was on course to graduate and was told she was near the top of her class of 150 new recruits.

Ms Snider, along with nine of the other women, 'washed out' of the academy during the tactics training.

She said the mostly male instructors scrutinized the female trainees more closely 'because they were women' and treated men differently, it was claimed.

She told the New York Times: 'Everyone is making mistakes. I felt it wasn't the same playing field for women. I think it is fundamentally unfair.

'When a woman makes a mistake at the FBI, she's incompetent. When a guy makes a mistake, it is just a mistake.'

Another 11 women accused the FBI of gender discrimination at its training academy, with one of the women claiming she also suffered discrimination because of her race and another because of a disability.

Their allegations were lodged last month with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The complaint said: 'Female trainees are singled out in group tactical exercises because they are perceived as being weak and prone to failure.

A dozen women have accused the FBI of gender discrimination at its training academy, with one of the women claiming she also suffered discrimination because of her race and another because of a disability

'Male trainees are provided multiple avenues for success, in spite of their errors. Male trainees are often permitted to retake tactical exams when female trainees are denied the opportunity to do so.'

Some of the women who filed the complaint said they encountered repeated problems with male tactical instructors, who give no guidance and can target any recruit for dismissal, according to the document.

It read: 'The subjective evaluations by these male instructors results in female trainees being written up and subsequently dismissed at a rate significantly and disproportionately higher than their male counterparts.'

Ms Snider's classmate Terah Gaertner, a lawyer, and Paula Bird, a who works as a lawyer for the FBI in Miami, also passed the first three phases of training before struggling with the tactics section.

In a statement to the New York Times, the FBI said it was 'prioritizing advertising and recruiting aimed at women both nationally and through the 56 field offices'.

According to the bureau, 24 per cent of the new agents in training this year were women.
A passenger was thrown off a plane in India after joking he was a terrorist and sending a friend a selfie with a handkerchief on his head.

Yogvedant Poddar posted the picture to Snapchat with the caption: 'Terrorist on board, I destroy women's hearts.'

The sinister selfie was spotted by a passenger sitting behind him who alerted the cabin crew.

Mr Poddar, 21, was then thrown off the domestic Jet Airways flight from Kolkata to Mumbai, NDTV reported.

A passenger was thrown off a Jet Airways plane in India (file photo) after joking he was a terrorist and sending a friend a selfie with a handkerchief on his head

Take-off was cancelled and Mr Poddar removed from the plane as his language 'was inferred as a security threat', the airport said.

The airline's security staff handed him to police, who searched Mr Poddar's luggage but found nothing suspicious.

Mr Poddar's father reportedly came to the airport and said his son had meant his comment as a joke.

The flight was said to have had 160 people on board while Mr Poddar was reportedly travelling for a job interview.

Security officials were on high alert as the country marks 10 years since a series of devastating terror attacks on Mumbai in 2008.

The attackers targeted two luxury hotels, a Jewish centre, a tourist restaurant and a crowded train station in three days of carnage which killed 166 people.

India blamed the attack on the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, throwing relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours into a tailspin.

In November 2012, India hanged the lone surviving gunman from the attacks.
A special constable and his Hungarian wife flew in women from eastern Europe to work as prostitutes and enjoyed 'luxury lifestyles' from the proceeds, a court heard.

Ivett Szuda, 32, and Karl Ring, 34, allegedly paid more than 100,000 rent for apartments for the women to use in Chelsea, including a flat at Chelsea Cloisters.

Mother-of-two Szuda was the point of contact for Hungarian women who 'answered online adverts offering work for prostitutes', and jurors hears they used the money they generated to pay for holidays and designer clothes.

The pair are accused of running a website called Kensington Angels advertising more than 100 prostitutes at one point, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

Ivett Szuda, 32, left, and Karl Ring, 34, right, are accused of running a prostitution ring in Chelsea by enlisting eastern European women online and putting them up in flats in Chelsea

The women were told they could make up to 300 a day and would split half their earnings with the couple, the court heard.

Ian McLoughlin, prosecuting, said Szuda was also known as Eva by the girls.

He said one of the women became a sex worker after working for the couple as their nanny.

Ring made a profile for her on Kensington Angels and asked her if she would like to work as a prostitute, the court heard.

Mr McLoughlin said the nanny declined, but her family in Hungary were experiencing financial difficulties, so she accepted the offer and moved out of the house into an apartment in Barons Court.

He said: 'The circumstances for her family took a turn for the worst. She decided to start working for the couple as a prostitute.

'It was decided that she should stop working for the couple as a nanny.'

Ring was employed by the Metropolitan Police as a special constable from 2013 to 2015, jurors heard.

Szuda has no record of working in the UK nor or claiming benefits, the court was told.

But one of the women who worked as a prostitute for Szuda and Ring said the couple led a lavish lifestyle with the cash they made.

Mr McLoughlin told the court: 'She said that both defendants liked the good things in life.

'Gold jewellery, expensive clothes, luxury holidays.'

Szuda used the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air to fly women into London from Budapest, the court heard.

McLoughlin told jurors how the apartment at Chelsea Cloisters was paid for.

'The rent for the premises was paid each month from Ms Szuda's bank account until it was paid by a family member.

'The occupier was also given as Ms Szuda's mother.

'She was registered as a single occupier and she was given a single occupier discount.'

The court heard the couple paid more than 100,000 in rent for apartments for the women, including at Chelsea Cloisters, pictured

Referring to revelations over the weekend about prostitutes allegedly working from Chelsea Cloisters - an apartment block owned by property tycoon Christopher Moran, Judge Robin Johnson told jurors: 'I am told there has been some media coverage over the weekend as to owns Chelsea Cloisters.

'The story focused on a man who was a donor to a major party.You should ignore it so far as your decision making is concerned.

'You should make your decision making on what you hear in the court.'

Mr McLoughlin said 11 women are named on the indictment as having been controlled by Szuda and Ring for the purposes of prostitution.

But he claimed many more unknown women worked for them.

He added: 'The women by and large have come voluntarily.

'However willing a particular individual concerned may have been the moving of anyone into the UK if it's found that you are going to control them in prostitution is an offence.'

The couple were arrested on 27 June this year at their 740,000 home in Hanwell, west London.

Police officers found 20,000 in cash at the address, jurors heard.

Ring and Szuda both deny 12 counts of controlling prostitution for gain, four counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation and one count of possessing criminal property.

Szuda alone denies three counts of arranging or facilitating travel with the view to exploitation.

The charges date from between January 1, 2011 and June 27 this year.

The trial continues.
A man has admitted to murdering his ex partner, his teenage daughter, and his ex partner's new boyfriend by setting their room on fire while they slept.

The brutal attack was carried out against Tanya Burmeister, 32, David Griffiths, 39, and Zoe Burmeister, 15, on March 1 this year.

Abusive street beggar Darren Patrick Clover, 52, pleaded guilty to committing the murder after originally denying that he lit the fatal fire, the Herald Sun reported.

The brutal attack was carried out against Tanya Burmeister, 32, David Griffiths, 39, and Zoe Burmeister, 15, on March 1 this year (pictured: Tanya and Zoe Burmeister)

The brutal attack was carried out against Tanya Burmeister, 32, David Griffiths, 39, and Zoe Burmeister, 15, on March 1 this year. (pictured: Ms Burmeister's partner, David Griffiths)

Darren Patrick Clover, 52, (pictured) pleaded guilty to committing the murder after originally denying that he lighted the fatal fire

Clover filled up a can with petrol before driving to the old Footscray rope factory on Ballarat Road, inner-west Melbourne where his ex partner and her family were squatting.

He doused their only potential escape route with petrol before setting the room alight.

After a short while the flames caused an explosion in the factory building which left no possibility of any of the victims surviving.

According to police the bodies of the trio were found huddled together after the flames were extinguished.

Clover had reportedly threatened to burn Ms Burmeister to death in the weeks leading up to the murder.

Clover filled up a can with petrol before driving to the old Footscray rope factory on Ballarat Road, inner-west Melbourne where his ex partner and her family were squatting

He doused their only potential escape route with petrol before setting the room alight
A row over parking outside a primary school ended in a 'disgusting and sickening' attack which left a parking warden with a fractured eye socket.

The enforcement officer and a colleague were assaulted outside Purfleet Primary School, Essex at around 8.50am on Thursday of last week.

The shocking video shows one warden appear to cry out moments after being punched by a tall, heavily-built man in a black polo shirt.

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An enforcement officer, left, and his colleague were assaulted outside a primary school in Essex. The shocking video shows one warden appear to cry out moments after being punched by a tall, heavily-built man in a black polo shirt, pictured right

After raising his fist to the victim again, the attacker then turns and walks round a black Audi, which seems to be parked on double-yellow lines.

Another officer can be seen getting up off the road on the other side of the vehicle, before onlookers appear to try to restrain the man.

Shocked bystanders can be heard shouting and screaming, with one witness yelling 'You're outside a school'.'

Both enforcement officers were taken to hospital for treatment, with one victim suffering a fracture to his eye socket.

Rob Gledhill, leader of Thurrock Council, said he was 'absolutely disgusted' by the attack.

He added: 'It is completely unacceptable and we are working with Essex Police to make sure that the strongest possible action is taken.

'The fact that this vicious attack happened while our officers were working to make the roads outside the school safer for children and their families makes this even more sickening.

Smartphone video from the scene shows the man in a black polo shirt seem to lunge at a second traffic enforcement officer, after a first has been assaulted

Witnesses gathered at the scene as the man, seemingly angry over a parking fine outside the primary school, tussled with the wardens in high-vis jackets

One bystander was heard to shout 'Come on you're outside a school' as the man stormed angrily from one side of the black vehicle to the other

'We will be offering support to our staff, their families and their colleagues following this incident.

'I would also like to thank those residents and parents who intervened to help our two officers, probably preventing further injury.'

Essex Police arrested a 29-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman on suspicion of actual bodily harm.

The man, from London, has been released on bail until December 19, while the woman, from Purfleet, was released without charge.
Beijing has released rare footage showing three of its most powerful fighter jets taking part in a flying exercise together.

The eight-second clip was published by China Air Force on its social media account and shows J-20, J-16 and J-10C flying side by side.

Stealth fighter J-20, China's new weapon against U.S. warplanes F-22 and F-35, has just revealed its frightening arsenal of missiles for the first time this month.

A clip published by China Air Force today shows J-20, J-16 and J-10C flying side by side

Stealth fighter J-20 (pictured) is considered as China's weapon against U.S. warplane F-22

J-16 (pictured), a multi-role aircraft, is expected to be capable of defeating America's F-35

J-10C is the latest variation of supersonic J-10 jets (pictured) - similar to Washington's F-16

Lesser-known J-16, a multi-role aircraft based on the Russian Sukhoi-30, is expected to be capable of defeating U.S. F-35.

While third-generation J-10C, the latest version of China's supersonic J-10 fighter jets, is comparable to America's F-16.

In the post from China Air Force today, the three models were dubbed the 'three musketeers of the skies'. The post said that they could form a set of 'iron wings' over China and safeguard the nation's territory.

Last week, China Air Force released two other pictures on its social media account showing the three aircraft flying together. From left to right in the picture are J-20, J-16 and J-10C

The three models have been dubbed by China Air Force as its 'three musketeers of the skies'. From left to right in the picture published last Friday are J-10C, J-16 and J-20

China Air Force also said that its arsenal had been quickly expanding as of late with several other new jets and missiles, including large transport aircraft Y-20, long-range bomber H-6K, early warning aircraft KJ-500 and surface-to-air missile HQ-9.

This is not the first time J-20, J-16 and J-10C have carried out drills at the same time. Earlier this year, the three models conducted a live-fire exercise and the footage was released by China's state broadcaster CCTV on June 1.

According to the report, the aircraft were given an attacking mission. The drill aimed to improve the combat performance of J-20.

The stealth fighter was tasked to take partial control of the air space while J-16 and J-10C destroyed targets on the ground from a long distance in the air, the report said.

He Xing, a Chinese military pilot, told CCTV that the strategic combination of J-20, J-16 and J-10C was an excellent way to take full advantage of the three planes' characteristics.

In June, China's state broadcaster CCTV released footage of the three aircraft in a live-fire drill

J-20 was tasked to take control of the air space while J-16 and J-10C destroyed ground targets

The footage was released just two weeks after the advanced J-20 was paraded to the public as the grand finale to a six-day airshow in southern China's Zhuhai city.

During the flypast, two J-20 fighter jets opened their cargo bay doors and revealed four missiles in its fuselage and one on either side of the aircraft.

According to reports at the time, J-20 is equipped with four PL-15 mid-range air-to-air missiles and one PL-10 short-range 'combat' missile on either side.

Two J-20 opened their cargo bay doors and revealed four missiles during an airshow in Zhuhai, China, this month. The plane is equipped with four PL-15 mid-range air-to-air missiles and one PL-10 short-range 'combat' missile on either side

When J-20 was first shown to the public in China in 2016, there were claims to suggest that it had been built in part from plans of U.S. warplanes, particularly the F-22 Raptor (file photo)

Chinese news site Sohu previously claimed PL-15 was a wing-less missile and 5.7 metres (18.7 feet) long. It was said to boast an impressive range of 400 kilometres (249 miles) and could help PL-15 out-perform F-22.

PL-10, on the other hand, was reported to have exceptional abilities to intercept other missiles.

When J-20 was first shown to the public in 2016, there were claims to suggest that it had been built in part from plans of U.S. warplanes, particularly the F-22 Raptor, obtained by Chinese hackers jailed in the same year.

Beijing has firmly denied the theory as it insists that J-20 had been developed and built solely with the Chinese technology.

CHINA'S J-20 Top speed: 1,305 mph Range: 2,113 mi Length: 67 Wingspan: 42 0 Weight: 43,000 lbs Engine Type: Xian WS-15 turbofan engines Cost: $110m Manufacturer: Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group Advertisement

AMERICA'S F-22 Top speed: 1,498 mph Range: 1,839 mi Length: 62 Wingspan: 44 0 Weight: 43,430 lbs Engine type: Pratt & Whitney F119 Cost: $130m Manufacturers: Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Advertisement

Compared to the high-profile J-20, J-16 and J-10C appear more mysterious.

Multi-role J-16, is a third-and-a-half-generation and an improved version of China's twin-set, twin-engine J-11 fighter jet.

It is equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar system and can destroy multiple targets from a long-distance in air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-to sea strikes, reported Chinese news site QQ.com.

Military analysts previously told South China Morning Post that J-16 could play a key part in China's military campaigns against Taiwan or intervention from Washington.

The jet made its maiden flight in October, 2011, and was officially unveiled by China in 2013. It is expected to be able to defeat American jet F-35, said an article from the military channel on Chinese news site Sina last November.

Chinese military website Xilu.com claims that J-16 is equipped with three types of anti-ship missiles, multi-purpose missiles, anti-radiation missiles, three types of air-to-air missiles, together with cannons and bombs.

Five J-16 fighters are seen flying during a military parade at Zhurihe training base to mark the 90th birthday of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on July 30 last year

Chinese military observers expect China's J-16 to be capable of defeating U.S. F-35 (file photo)

China's supersonic J-10 (pictured) is capable of conducting air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks

American and Chinese news outlets have compared J-10 to U.S. Air Force's F-16 (file photo)

On the other hand, single-seat, single-engine J-10 has been described by The National Interest as the real 'tough' fighter jet from China even in comparison to much-anticipated J-20.

Supersonic J-10, which is capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks, has been compared to U.S. Air Force's F-16 in its capabilities.

J-10C is its latest variation and can carry out more precise and further strikes, according to CCTV.

It debuted at a military parade to mark the 90th birthday of the Chinese People's Liberation Army last July and entered service with China Air Force in April this year.

CHINA'S J-16 Top speed: 894 mph Range: 2,664 mi Length: 70 Height: 19'4'' Wingspan: 48 Weight: 38,600 lbs Engine Type: AL-31F turbofan engines Manufacturer: Shenyang Aircraft Corporation Advertisement
Mitsubishi Motors executives ousted Carlos Ghosn as chairman Monday following his arrest for alleged financial misconduct amid suggestions he under-reported his salary by as much as $71million.

The move follows Ghosn's sacking as chairman of Nissan over claims he allegedly swindled large sums of money from the company over several years.

Officially, prosecutors are looking into allegations that he conspired with another executive, American Greg Kelly, to understate his income by around five billion yen ($44 million) between June 2011 and June 2015.

But the Asahi Shimbun said authorities are planning to re-arrest him on charges of understating his income by a further three billion yen - for a total of $71 million - for the following three fiscal years.

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Carlos Ghosn (left) and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Chairman and CEO Osamu Masuko pictured together in October 2016

A seven-person Nissan board decided unanimously on Thursday to jettison the once-revered leader 'based on the copious amount and compelling nature of the evidence of misconduct presented', said a company spokesman.

Meanwhile, further claims continued to leak out in the Japanese media of Ghosn's alleged misconduct.

Under Japanese law, suspects can face additional arrest warrants, which can result in heavier penalties. The current allegations could see Ghosn facing 10 years behind bars and/or a 10-million-yen fine.

Separately, Kyodo has reported that Nissan paid $100,000 annually since 2002 to Ghosn's sister for a non-existent 'advisory' role.

And the Mainichi Shimbun reported on Monday that Ghosn used Nissan's corporate money to pay a donation to his daughter's university and also charged family trips to the company.

Both Ghosn and Kelly have reportedly denied the allegations.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Chairman Osamu Masuko reveals the decision to dismissed Carlos Ghosn as chairman on Monday

The firm's CEO Osamu Masuko told reporters it was 'heartbreaking' to propose ousting Ghosn but in the end it was a unanimous decision.

The 64-year-old Brazil-born Ghosn rode to Mitsubishi Motors' rescue in 2016 when the firm was battered by a fuel efficiency cheating scandal, tying it to his Nissan-Renault alliance and turning its fortunes around.

Together, the three-way alliance is the world's top-selling car group, with some 10.6 million vehicles rolling off the production line. It employs around 450,000 people worldwide.

But the future of the tie-up is now uncertain as the talismanic Ghosn was seen as the glue binding together a fractious Franco-Japanese alliance with headquarters 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) apart.

'We (have) had two years of the alliance and there were positive parts... and parts that needed to be revised a little from Mitsubishi Motors' point of view,' said Masuko.

A seven-person Nissan board, the parent company of Mitsubishi, decided unanimously on Thursday to jettison the once-revered leader

Nissan's current CEO Hiroto Saikawa told staff on Monday he was 'shocked' at his former mentor's alleged misconduct.

At a 45-minute meeting attended by hundreds of staff at the firm's Yokohama HQ and broadcast internally to other sites, Saikawa stressed that the scandal should not affect day-to-day operations.

Saikawa, who rose through the Nissan ranks under Ghosn's wing, has already spoken of his 'great resentment and dismay' at the allegations.

According to Japanese media, Nissan formed a 'secret' cell within the firm to look into the alleged financial misdeeds.

Executives accelerated the probe amid concerns Ghosn was working on a fully fledged merger between Nissan and Renault, Kyodo News said without naming its sources.

The 64-year-old Brazil-born Ghosn rode to Mitsubishi Motors' rescue in 2016 when the firm was battered by a fuel efficiency cheating scandal

Renault is the dominant partner in the alliance, holding 43 percent of the shares in Nissan, but the Japanese firm outsells its French counterpart - sparking concern in Tokyo about the balance of power.

Renault, which is 15-percent owned by the French state, has decided to stick by Ghosn for now, appointing Thierry Bollore as interim boss while the current CEO and chairman is 'incapacitated'.

France's economy minister Bruno Le Maire has urged the Japanese firm to share 'quickly' whatever evidence it has gathered and stressed Ghosn will stay at the helm of Renault 'until there are tangible charges.'

However, Le Maire has said he did not believe in a 'conspiracy theory' amid talk of a so-called 'palace coup' within Nissan to prevent Ghosn merging the firm with Renault.

The difficulty now will be to find a replacement to lead the three-way alliance, whose statutes require Renault to appoint the CEO and Nissan to choose the deputy.

A source close to the case in Paris told AFP: 'The reality is that they are already looking for a replacement. Not to do so would be irresponsible. It needs to be someone palatable to the Japanese and the French.'

Investors appeared to be recovering from the initial shock of the arrest, which sent shares in all three firms tumbling.

At the Tokyo close, Nissan was up nearly two percent and Mitsubishi Motors enjoyed an even sharper bump - up more than three percent just ahead of the board meeting.
An Israeli TV reporter was attacked with a firework by four thugs as she spoke in Hebrew during a broadcast in Berlin.

Antonia Yamin, a correspondent for Israeli channel KAN, was forced to flee after the young assailants set upon her on Sunday evening in what she suggested was an anti-Semitic attack.

The attack took place in Neukolln, one of the city's most racially diverse areas, and Ms Yamin said she would 'only go there if I need to for work'.

The four youths, described in German newspaper Bild as having a 'migrant background', are said to have run away to a nearby underground station.

Antonia Yamin, a correspondent for Israeli channel KAN, was forced to flee after the young assailants set upon her on Sunday evening (pictured)

One of the men rudely thrusts his hand in front of the camera and forces Ms Yamin, a reporter for Israeli channel KAN, to abandon her broadcast

In the footage Ms Yamin is seen speaking to camera when the youths appear in the shot behind her.

One of the men rudely thrusts his hand in front of the camera and forces her to abandon her broadcast.

Ms Yamin initially holds her ground and looks angrily at her assailants but picks up her bag and hurries away when a firework is thrown towards her.

The camera shows the firework sparking on the ground while the four young men disappear out of sight.

Ms Yamin, who then resumed her broadcast, later tweeted: 'The truth is I had a very nice day at work today. But between one interview and another I had to stop to report about the Brexit deal.

'As you can see on the video you can't report in Hebrew in Neukolln Berlin without being disturbed and without people throwing firecrackers at you.'

Ms Yamin said it was unclear if the young men had recognised that she was speaking Hebrew, but speaking to Vice she suggested it was an anti-Semitic attack.

'My cameraman and I don't look German and we were speaking Hebrew,' she said.

'Until now I've never had the feeling that I needed to remove the name of the channel from my microphone.'

She said: 'I only go to Neukolln when I need to for work. I feel uncomfortable in those neighbourhoods when I'm speaking Hebrew and holding a microphone with Hebrew script on it.'

The reporter hurries away after seeing the firework thrown in her direction. She suggested it could have been an anti-Semitic attack as she was speaking Hebrew
She conned Mavis Shoesmith, 81, and stole more than 1,500 from her savings

A mother-of-four whose fiance was killed in the Shoreham Air Crash in 2015 has avoided jail for a second time after she wormed her way into the confidence of a vulnerable old woman and raided her bank accounts.

Giovanna Chirico, 36, from Worthing, West Sussex, conned Mavis Shoesmith, 81, into thinking she was a friend before getting hold of her debit cards details and pilfering more than 1,500 from her savings.

Mrs Shoesmith and her husband, Michael, 77, said they have been left shocked and distraught by the betrayal by someone they considered a good friend.

Giovanna Chirico, from Worthing, West Sussex, conned Mavis Shoesmith, 81, into thinking she was a friend before stealing more than 1,500 from her savings. She avoided jail after claiming she was suffering from depression

But Chiroco, a mother-of-four, told a judge she had been suffering 'depression' in the wake of her fiance's death and was incapable of working.

Her partner Mark Trussler was one of 11 killed when Hawker Hunter attempted a loop-the-loop during the Shoreham Airshow in 2015.

It is the second time Chirico has avoided a prison sentence after claiming the trauma of losing her partner had left her suffering stress and depression.

Last year Chirico received a six month suspended sentence for possession of drugs with intent to supply after more than 3,000 worth of amphetamines were found at her home in of Worthing, West Sussex

In December last year the Shoesmiths, who did not know Chirico very well at the time, noticed a children's birthday party was being held at her house and decided to drop off a gift.

Chirico then began to invite herself to their house for 'random reasons' such as needing to use the toilet or asking for a glass of water.

The mother-of-four avoided jail after saying she was suffering 'depression' in the wake of her fiance Mark Trussler's death

Lewes Crown Court heard that soon after, large sums of money began to go missing from two bank accounts belong to Mrs Shoesmith.

Jordan Franks, prosecuting, said Mrs Shoesmith had no idea how Chirico had managed to get hold of her card details because she was in possession of them at all times.

But the court heard money inexplicably began to go missing from both her Santander and Barclays accounts.

Chirico spent 529 on the Santander account and 1,039 on the Barclays account between December 2017 and March this year.

Her fiance was one of 11 killed when Hawker Hunter attempted a loop-the-loop during the Shoreham Airshow in 2015

It was later discovered both accounts had been linked to Chirico's Paypal account which she had used dozens of times to buy goods from Tesco, iTunes which were then delivered to her home.

After a trial at Worthing Magistrates last month Chirico was found guilty of defrauding 1,569.23 from Mavis Shoesmith.

In a victim statement, Mrs Shoesmith said: 'This whole incident has affected me greatly and I have been ill ever since

'I thought Giovanna was a friend, but it turns out she wasn't - she was just trying to take advantage of me to get to my bank account. Before this happened I didn't really feel old, but now I do.'

But Chirico argued a custodial sentence would see her children placed into care and would coincide with January's trial of the pilot at the centre of the Shoreham Airshow crash.

David Bathurst, defending, told Lewes Crown Court that Chirico was also suffering from depression and was unable to work.

Sentencing her to six months in jail suspended for two years, Judge Alistair Wright said: handed Chirico a final warning saying any breach of her suspended sentence would most likely lead to an immediate custodial sentence.

He added: 'You should be under no illusion that these offences are despicable.'

Judge Wright also fined her 100, ordered Chirico to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and attend 30 rehabilitation days.
A Royal Navy warship has seized three tonnes of cannabis from a boat in the Persian Gulf.

HMS Dragon uncovered the massive haul - spread between 148 bags - on a dhow boat in a stretch of water known as the 'Hash Highway' because of its use by drug smugglers.

Naval commanders believe profits from the huge shipment would have been used to fund terrorism.

The Royal Navy has seized a huge haul of cannabis whose sale would have funded terrorism

The crew of the HMS Dragon posed for a picture with the 148 bags of hashish

Photos show Royal Navy speed boats approaching the vessel, which was acting suspiciously

Footage from the warship shows sailors in masks forming a human chain to transfer the seemingly endless number of bags from a speedboat into a safe in the ship's hold.

The Navy says the interception is 'one of the most significant drugs busts in the Gulf this year'.

A spokesman said: 'The Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer was on patrol in the Middle East when they came across a suspicious dhow  a type of vessel common to the Middle East  in a notorious drug smuggling route known as the "Hash Highway".

'Sailors and Royal Marines from HMS Dragon launched their fast boats to intercept and board the vessel, before conducting a painstaking search of its compartments.They ultimately found 148 bags of hashish, weighing around 3,048kg.'

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: 'Alongside keeping key shipping channels safe, countering piracy and providing disaster relief, the Royal Navy makes a significant contribution to global security by tackling the illicit drugs trade.

'The success of HMS Dragon's seizure is the latest blow struck to this nefarious industry.'

The drugs haul was stowed away on this dhow in the Persian Gulf
Madeleine McCann's parents have hit out at claims their daughter woke up and wandered out of their holiday apartment before she went missing 11 years ago.

Police investigations by British and Portuguese detectives are believed to be re-visiting the theory the three-year-old left their Algarve apartment of her own accord before she disappeared.

But Kate and Gerry McCann have slammed the idea, insisting she was kidnapped by someone while they were on holiday in Praia da Luz in May 2007.

A family source said: 'Kate and Gerry have always maintained that their daughter was abducted and simply didn't get up and wander off to her fate.

'There were heavy shutters which would have been impossible for a small child to open.'

Madeleine McCann's parents Gerry and Kate (pictured holding a photo of their missing daughter) have slammed claims she woke up in their Portuguese holiday apartment and walked out before she disappeared in 2007

Mr and Mrs McCann say the heavy shutters on the windows of Madeleine's room were far too heavy for a small child like her to open and get out off

Claims Scotland Yard are looking into the possibility Maddie could have left the family villa, where she and her younger twin siblings had been left sleeping alone, come after it was revealed that UK detectives have told the McCanns' they are pursuing two vital new leads - not one final line of inquiry.

Mrs McCann spoke about the shutters in a TV interview with American chat show host Oprah Winfrey to mark the second anniversary of her daughter's disappearance.

Re-living the horror she felt as she searched the apartment and noticed the shutters open, she said: 'That was when I knew that someone had taken her. It was obvious, because a child could not open those shutters.'

The British and Portuguese efforts to find out what happened to the toddler are being carried out separately - but the two are believed to have met to discuss the theory she woke up and wandered off.

A spokesman for Portugal's Attorney General's Office refused to comment, but a well-placed source said: 'The heads of the two police investigations are corresponding with each other directly and have combined their efforts without resorting to rogatory letters like before.

'A meeting took place recently at the HQ of the General Attorney's Office in Portugal, which was attended by the prosecutor from Portimao who is in charge of the Portuguese inquiry.

'One of the lines of investigation that continues to be pursued is that the child could have walked out of the holiday flat herself.'

Pictured: This Praia da Luz holiday apartment in the Algarve was where Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007

Rogatory letters are ones sent to a foreign court to help in the pursuit of justice.

The last of the six sent to the Portuguese police by their British counterparts was answered on October 25 2016, but none have been sent since.

Another well-informed insider added: 'Despite the fact there are two investigations and two different teams, the relationship between both is very healthy and well-informed and benefits from shared intelligence.'

Hinting both forces may have gone cold on the idea the youngster had been the victim of a botched burglary or a paedophile who had forced entry to snatch her, the insider said: 'The theory that Madeleine left the flat of her own accord to go looking for her parents is not something that hasn't been discussed before.

'But the Portuguese process tends to value lines of investigation that are put forward.

'Until we know for sure what happened though, no scenario is likely to be ruled out.'

A third source, referring to the absence of new rogatory letters, said: 'The pattern of direct cooperation that now exists means formal requests for international cooperation are not necessary.

'The Portuguese inquiry is still open, meaning that any new work can be executed as part of that investigation without the needs for rogatory letters.

The theory Madeline may have lost her way in the dark and taken a wrong turn as she went looking for her parents was one of the early hypotheses put forward to explain her disappearance.

It has also been suggested a panicking drink-driver might have run her over and sped off with her body before hiding it in the countryside.

The British and Portuguese efforts to find out what happened to the toddler (pictured) are being carried out separately - but they are reported to be working together on this line

Portuguese police have made no secret of their rejection of the theory championed by a British detective about Madeleine being kidnapped by thieves during a bungled burglary.

In July 2014 four Portuguese men faced a barrage of more than 250 questions while being quizzed as arguidos or formal suspects in interviews on the Algarve conducted at Scotland Yard's request.

They were questioned as part of the theory Madeleine may have been killed during a botched break-in and her body buried on waste ground nearby.

More recently it has been suggested officers are keen to identify a woman in purple seen hanging round the holiday flat around the time Madeleine went missing.

The Home Office announced last week it would grant an extra 150,000 to Operation Grange, which has cost the taxpayer 11.75million so far, to keep the investigation going until spring next year.

It is understood police recently told her parents during a meeting at their Leicestershire home that they were 'hopeful' of a result and were focusing on 'two specific and active' lines of inquiry, not just one as was initially thought.

Scotland Yard has refused to go public with details on what they are looking at.
Incredible footage has captured the moment a Royal Navy warship was 'buzzed' by 17 Russian fighter jets off the coast of Crimea.

A new Channel 5 documentary captured the dangerous moment as HMS Duncan led a Nato fleet through the Black Sea in May.

'Buzzing' is when an aircraft flies fast and low past a building or another vehicle and the Russian fighters were so close to the Type 45 destroyer their electronics could have been scrambled by the ships, which could have caused a crash.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson described the incident as 'brazen hostility' from Russia while he praised the work done by the flagship, worth around 1billion, and her crew.

Incredible footage has captured the moment a Royal Navy warship was 'buzzed' by 17 Russian fighter jets off the coast of Crimea (shown)

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan, pictured in Gibraltar, was 'buzzed' by 17 Russian fighter jets while in the Black Sea in May on assignment with Nato

The Russian jets, pictured, flew low and close to the ship in an act of 'brazen hostility', according to Defence Minister Gavin Williamson

Footage from onboard HMS Duncan shows Royal Navy crew despreately trying to identify the fighter jets

Mr Williamson said: 'Over the past year, HMS Duncan and her crew have embodied the key role the UK plays in Nato.

'As Nato flagship, she has faced down brazen Russian hostility in the Black Sea with jets buzzing overhead, been stalked by Russian spy ships and played a vital role protecting Nato allies during the British, American and French strikes against Syrian chemical weapons facilities.

'Through her deployment, this world-leading ship and her crew epitomised the nation we are going to be as we exit the EU - a truly global Britain which is outward-looking and engaged on the world stage.'

Commodore Mike Utley, who was leading the Nato task force from Duncan, said: 'HMS Duncan is probably the only maritime asset that has seen a raid of that magnitude in the last 25 years.'

The incident was captured on camera and will be shown on a Channel 5 documentary tonight

Nato Commodore Mike Utley, pictured on Duncan, said the Russian tactics were 'naive'

Mr Williamson, pictured, praised the work of Duncan and called her a 'world-leading ship'

He added: 'I think their tactics are naive. What they don't know is how capable the ship is.

'When you see that much activity, I think it reinforces the nature of what people expect at the moment and why there is a challenge from Russia.'

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The footage shows the jets circling the ship before returning to Russian airspace with one of the pilots sending a message to Duncan's crew, saying: 'Good luck, guys.'

The documentary, called Warship: Life at Sea, shows one of Duncan's sailors saying they felt the message could have been a warning to the ship while another said: 'They had 17 aircraft, we have 48 missiles - I think we're going to win that one.'

Commander Eleanor Stack, Duncan's captain, said: 'To me if felt unprecedented. There were more aircraft than we have seen in a long time.'

Earlier, Duncan had launched its Merlin Mk2 helicopter to hunt a Russian spy ship spotted on radar.

Lieutenant Commander James Smith said of the Nato presence in the Black Sea: 'They may consider it to be escalatory, we certainly don't. But it depends on how you spin the narrative. The one thing the Russians are very good at is spinning a narrative.

'We have to demonstrate and create our own as well. They can scream and shout all they want but we still have the right, as do all these units, to be where we are, operating how we are.'
Theresa May's task of getting her Brexit deal past the House of Commons is looking near-impossible as opposition mounts.

The 'meaningful vote' promised to MPs will happen on December 11 and is the single biggest hurdle to the Brexit deal happening - as well as being the key to Mrs May' fate as PM.

But despite opinion polls suggesting the public might be coming round to her deal, there is little sign of a shift among politicians.

Remainers have been stepping up calls for a second referendum in the wake of Sam Gyimah's resignation as universities minister over the weekend - while Brexiteers including Boris Johnson have accused Mrs May of betrayal.

Mrs May needs at least 318 votes in the Commons if all 650 MPs turns up - but can probably only be confident of around 230 votes.

The number is less than half because the four Speakers, 7 Sinn Fein MPs and four tellers will not take part.

The situation looks grim for Mrs May and her whips: now the deal has been published, over 100 of her own MPs and the 10 DUP MPs have publicly stated they will join the Opposition parties in voting No.

This means the PM could have as few as 225 votes in her corner - leaving 410 votes on the other side, a landslide majority 185.

This is how the House of Commons might break down:

Mrs May needs at least 318 votes in the Commons if all 650 MPs turns up - but can probably only be confident of around 230 votes.

Mrs May needs at least 318 votes in the Commons if all 650 MPs turns up - but can probably only be confident of around 230 votes.

The Government (plus various hangers-on)

Who are they: All members of the Government are the so-called 'payroll' vote and are obliged to follow the whips orders or resign. It includes the Cabinet, all junior ministers, the whips and unpaid parliamentary aides.

There are also a dozen Tory party 'vice-chairs and 17 MPs appointed by the PM to be 'trade envoys'.

How many of them are there? 178.

What do they want? For the Prime Minister to survive, get her deal and reach exit day with the minimum of fuss.

Many junior ministers want promotion while many of the Cabinet want to be in a position to take the top job when Mrs May goes.

How will they vote? With the Prime Minister.

European Research Group Brexiteers demanding a No Confidence Vote

Who are they: The most hard line of the Brexiteers, they launched a coup against Mrs May after seeing the divorce. Led by Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker.

How many of them are there: 26

What do they want: The removal of Mrs May and a 'proper Brexit'. Probably no deal now, with hopes for a Canada-style deal later.

How will they vote: Against the Prime Minister.

Other Brexiteers in the ERG

Who are they: There is a large block of Brexiteer Tory MPs who hate the deal but have so far stopped short of moving to remove Mrs May - believing that can destroy the deal instead. They include ex Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and ex minister Owen Paterson.

Ex ministers like Boris Johnson and David Davis are also in this group - they probably want to replace Mrs May but have not publicly moved against her.

How many of them are there? Around 50.

What do they want? The ERG has said Mrs May should abandon her plans for a unique trade deal and instead negotiate a 'Canada plus plus plus' deal.

This is based on a trade deal signed between the EU and Canada in August 2014 that eliminated 98 per cent of tariffs and taxes charged on goods shipped across the Atlantic.

The EU has long said it would be happy to do a deal based on Canada - but warn it would only work for Great Britain and not Northern Ireland.

How will they vote: Against the Prime Minister.

Remain including the People's Vote supporters

Who are they: Tory MPs who believe the deal is just not good enough for Britain. They include the group of unrepentant Remainers who want a new referendum like Anna Soubry and ex-ministers who quit over the deal including Jo Johnson and Phillip Lee.

How many of them are there: Maybe around 10.

What do they want? To stop Brexit. Some want a new referendum, some think Parliament should step up and say no.

A new referendum would take about six months from start to finish and they group wants Remain as an option on the ballot paper, probably with Mrs May's deal as the alternative.

How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister.

Moderates in the Brexit Delivery Group (BDG) and other Loyalists

Who are they? A newer group, the BDG counts members from across the Brexit divide inside the Tory Party. It includes former minister Nick Boles and MPs including Remainer Simon Hart and Brexiteer Andrew Percy.

There are also lots of unaligned Tory MPs who are desperate to talk about anything else.

How many of them are there? Based on public declarations, about 48 MPs have either said nothing or backed the deal.

What do they want? The BDG prioritises delivering on Brexit and getting to exit day on March 29, 2019, without destroying the Tory Party or the Government. If the PM gets a deal the group will probably vote for it.

It is less interested in the exact form of the deal but many in it have said Mrs May's Chequers plan will not work.

Mr Boles has set out a proposal for Britain to stay in the European Economic Area (EEA) until a free trade deal be negotiated - effectively to leave the EU but stay in close orbit as a member of the single market.

How will they vote? With the Prime Minister.

The DUP

Who are they? The Northern Ireland Party signed up to a 'confidence and supply' agreement with the Conservative Party to prop up the Government.

They are Unionist and say Brexit is good but must not carve Northern Ireland out of the Union.

How many of them are there? 10.

What do they want? A Brexit deal that protects Northern Ireland inside the UK.

How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister on the grounds they believe the deal breaches the red line of a border in the Irish Sea.

Labour Loyalists

Who are they? Labour MPs who are loyal to Jeremy Corbyn and willing to follow his whipping orders.

How many of them are there? Up to 250 MPs depending on exactly what Mr Corbyn orders them to do.

What do they want? Labour policy is to demand a general election and if the Government refuses, 'all options are on the table', including a second referendum.

Labour insists it wants a 'jobs first Brexit' that includes a permanent customs union with the EU. It says it is ready to restart negotiations with the EU with a short extension to the Article 50 process.

The party says Mrs May's deal fails its six tests for being acceptable.

How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister's current deal.

Labour Rebels

Who are they? A mix of MPs totally opposed to Mr Corbyn's leadership, some Labour Leave supporters who want a deal and some MPs who think any deal will do at this point.

How many of them are there? Maybe 10 to 20 MPs but this group is diminishing fast - at least for the first vote on the deal.

What do they want? An orderly Brexit and to spite Mr Corbyn.

How will they vote? With the Prime Minister.

Other Opposition parties

Who are they? The SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Green Caroline Lucas and assorted independents.

How many of them are there? About 60 MPs.

How will they vote? Mostly against the Prime Minister - though two of the independents are suspended Tories and two are Brexiteer former Labour MPs.
Passengers were left stranded on an Amtrak train from New York to Boston for more than five hours on Sunday with no working toilets.

The Acela express train left Penn Station at 9.40am and was due to arrive in Boston four hours later at 1.35pm.

But soon after it left New York, a power outage caused by debris on the overhead lines brought it to a standstill in Queens.

Rather than be towed back to Penn Station, the train remained there for five hours before moving off again.

Passengers were stuck on an Amtrak service from New York to Boston on Sunday that was halted in Queens for five hours. The toilets were 'filled to the brim' and could not be flushed

Outraged passengers began tweeting to document their frustration.

'I find it amazing that we have to sit on this train for over 2 hrs when we are right outside NY Penn Station.

'Aside from getting pushed back to NY, the plan from there is hope. Unbelievable,' said one passenger.

A rescue motor was brought to the train to get it moving but it was quickly stopped again when passengers reported smelling 'smoke'.

After disconnecting its Diesel engine, the train started moving again at around 4pm.

It made an unscheduled stop in New Rochelle to let passengers off then carried on towards Boston, eventually arriving at 8.29pm.

Furious passengers tweeted their frustration as the train remained at a standstill five hours after breaking down

It is unclear why it took so long for the rescue motor to be brought to the train or why it was not towed back to Penn Station.

Amtrak tweeted about the incident on Sunday afternoon after it started moving again for the first time but was inundated with complaints from worried parents whose children were on the service.

Among them were people whose kids were on their way back to college.

They said they had nothing to eat or drink and were feeling 'sick'.

'My daughter is on this train trying to get back to college. She has had no food or water since 9:30 this morning and the toilets are clogged.

'Amtrak keeps giving wrong info!' one furious parent said.

Amtrak tried to keep passengers updated on Twitter but was inundated with complaints when it tweeted that the train was moving again by worried parents whose children were stuck on board

'My son is starting to feel sick, no food or drink. Are they bringing food on train for them?', another asked.

Other passengers replied to tell them to go to the cafe car where food and water was being given out for free.

They praised the conductors and other staff on board for 'doing their best' throughout the debacle.

An Amtrak spokesman told DailyMail.com on Monday that the train was stopped at 'approximately 9.51am' and arrived 'around 8.19pm'. Passengers tweeted about being stopped as early as 9.42am.

'There were pantograph damage caused by debris in the catenary.

'The train was stopped at approximately 9:51 am In Queens and was on the move again at around 3:45.

'It arrived in Boston around 8:19 pm. Customers were accommodated with food and non-alcoholic beverages,' they said.
Liam Anderson's family have bid him an emotional farewell in a touching funeral service.

Music legend Angry Andersons son was allegedly bashed to death by his drug-frenzied friend earlier this month.

Over 400 mourners turned out the 26-year-old's funeral held in a chapel in North Ryde, Sydney, on Monday.

The family of Liam Anderson (pictured, left with father Gary, better known as rocker Angry Anderson) bid farewell to their beloved son in an emotional funeral on Monday

Over 400 mourners turned out the 26-year-old's funeral held in a chapel in North Ryde, Sydney

Angry of the Rose Tattoo made an emotional speech referring to his son as 'a wonderful child we had raised.'

Mother Lindy Anderson broke down in tears on top of her son's coffin as The Carpenters Close To You played, the Herald Sun reported.

A montage of photos were displayed during the service, put to music by the late English pop star David Bowie.

The devastated mother told the Daily Telegraph after the funeral service: 'Its real now, until today I could pretend Liams death never happened but now its sinking in, I will never see my baby boy again.'

Apprentice plumber Mathew Flame, 20, is alleged to have launched into a psychotic drug and alcohol fuelled rage, punching and kicking Liam to death on Sydney's northern beaches on Sunday, November 4

A montage of photos were displayed during the service, put to music by the late English pop star David Bowie (pictured: Liam and Angry Anderson)

The devastated mother told the Daily Telegraph after the funeral service: 'Its real now, until today I could pretend Liams death never happened but now its sinking in, I will never see my baby boy again.' (pictured: Liam Anderson and family)

A court heard that Anderson and Flame had attended a hip-hop concert in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills with a group of friends, news.com.au reports.

The pair met for drinks on Saturday night before allegedly taking MDMA and drinking late into Sunday morning.

The party travelled back to a house party on the northern beaches about 4am, court documents allege, where Flame allegedly consumed more MDMA and marijuana.

The final dose gave the 20-year-old heart palpitations, according to the documents.

Concerned he was suffering an overdose, he went into the bathroom where he lost consciousness.

When he regained consciousness soon after, he believed himself to be 'under something's control', he stated in the court documents.

He decided to leave the party as others, including Anderson, begged him to stay.

Concerned for his friend's wellbeing, Anderson went into the night after Flame, telling the others: 'Hes my best friend. I would never leave my best friend.'

At an intersection up the road, a fight broke out between the two friends which would end in Lam's tragic death.

A witness passed by and saw Flame on top of Anderson's beaten body, the court documents state

When the passerby asked what Flame was doing, the young man stared back blankly.

The pair were in a recent Facebook post together at the Defqon1 music festival in September, with Liam posting a 'shout' to Flame 'for being a real one, love ya mate x'.

A spokesperson for the Flame family told The Australian they regarded Mr Anderson as 'part of their family', and said Flame's actions were completely out of character.

As Liam begged for help and the witness ran to call police, the alleged attack continued.

Police were called to the 'brutal and bloody' park where Liam Anderson, 26, was found on Sunday morning.

When police arrived, it's alleged they struggled to get Mr Anderson's attacker off him, and had to use pepper spray to separate the men.

Mr Anderson's facial injuries were so severe that he was barely recognisable by the time police were able to separate the men.

He died en route to hospital.

Flame was arrested on Sunday morning.

Anderson regularly posted on social media about his alleged attacker calling him a 'brother'.

Flame (pictured) was arrested on Sunday morning. Police allegedly struggled to remove him from Liam's body and had to resort to pepper spray

The pair were in a recent Facebook post together at the Defqon1 music festival in September, with Liam posting a 'shout' to Flame 'for being a real one, love ya mate x'.

A spokesperson for the Flame family told The Australian they regarded Mr Anderson as 'part of their family', and said Flame's actions were completely out of character.

'Matt has never been violent in any way and as the circumstances will be unfolded in court we hope to prove to the public and the court there are two victims here, and two devastated families,' they said.

Mr Anderson has been remembered as a humble, down to earth man with a kind soul, and 'one of the realest to walk this earth'.

The trial continues.
Science legends Stephen Hawking, Alan Turing and even Margaret Thatcher are in the running to be the face of the new 50 note.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney announced earlier this month that the new polymer note will celebrate British achievement in science.

The public have had the chance to nominate famous figures, with the requirement them being no longer living and from fields such as medical research, biology and astronomy.

Science legends Stephen Hawking (pictured), Alan Turing and even Maragret Thatcher are in the running to be the face of the new 50 note

Dorothy Hodgkin (pictured left), Ada Lovelace and Magnus Pyke (pictured right) have all made an initial list of nominations to feature on the cash note

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney speaks during the announcement of the new polymer 50 note

Margaret Thatcher (pictyred) appears on the list, although her exact contribution to science is unknown

Dorothy Hodgkin, Ada Lovelace and Rosalind Franklin have all made an initial list of nominations to feature on the cash note.

A long list released on Monday also featured Frederick Sanger, as well as Magnus Pyke and Marie Stopes.

Margaret Thatcher appears on the list, although her exact contribution to science is unknown and a story that the former prime minster helped invent soft-serve ice cream is widely regarded as a myth.

Who are the faces of current British notes? 5: The polymer 5 note featuring Sir Winston Churchill entered circulation on 13 September 2016 10: The new polymer 10 note, featuring Jane Austen, entered circulation on 14 September 2017 20: The current 20 note features the economist Adam Smith. It will be replaced by one featuring landscape painter JMW Turner in 2020 Advertisement

Mrs Thatcher did, however, read chemistry at Oxford and worked as a scientist for food company J Lyons before becoming a fellow of the Royal Society.

Professor Brian Cox was quick to nominate Prof Hawking, the renowned theoretical physicist who died in March, for inspiring 'thousands of scientists' and 'millions' of others.

Royal Society president Venki Ramakrishnan said he would choose 'remarkable individual' Prof Hodgkin, the chemist who died in 1994.

While many will not have a 50 note burning a hole in their pocket, the Bank says some 330 million are in circulation.

The scientist will feature on the other side of the note to the Queen, who can be the only living person on bank notes.

The Bank was keen to stress it must not be a non-fictional character, warding off another 'Boaty McBoatface' scenario where the fictional name for a research vessel attracted the most votes.

Since the selection process was launched on November 2, the bank has received a total of 174,112 nominations, but the names have not yet been considered by the Banknote Character Advisory Committee.

The new 50 will replace the current paper note which features industrial revolution pioneers Matthew Boulton and James Watt.

The public has until December 14 to continue nominating characters.

Who are some of the scientists nominated?

Professor Stephen Hawking

The theoretical physicist and cosmologist emerged as a favourite straight after the announcement, with Professor Brian Cox lending his endorsement.

Prof Hawking inspired the masses with his insight, humour and success against the odds with motor neurone disease, which left him nearly totally paralysed.

He died at the age of 76 in March and his ashes were interred in Westminster Abbey alongside Sir Isaac Newton, who featured on the final 1 note.

Professor Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist and cosmologist emerged as a favourite straight after the announcement, with Professor Brian Cox lending his endorsement.

Dorothy Hodgkin

Then-PM Margaret Thatcher greeted her former tutor, 78-year-old Professor Dorothy Hodgkin, before the luncheon for Nobel prizewinners given by Margaret Thatcher at Downing Street, London.

Professor Hodgkin was honoured for her work on the structure of penicillin and vitamin B12.

The chemist's 1964 achievement of winning the Nobel Prize in science made her the first and only British woman to take the coveted honour. Today, in 2018, she retains that record.

Her pioneering work on X-ray crystallography revealed the 3D structures of penicillin and insulin. The work led the way for greater treatment for diabetics.

The professor, who died in 1994, won early backing for the note from Royal Society president Venki Ramakrishnan.

Dorothy Hodgkin, the only British female to win a Nobel prize for science, is among early proposals for the face of the new 50 note

Alan Turing

He is celebrated as the father of theoretical computer science and a pioneer of artificial intelligence. If that was not enough, he was also one of the Bletchley Park codebreakers who deciphered Nazi messages.

But his contribution was not fully recognised in Britain during his lifetime, and he was persecuted for being homosexual during a time when it was outlawed in the UK.

He was made to undergo chemical castration treatment and died two years later by suicide at the age of 41 in 1954.

In his honour, a law introduced last year pardoning men convicted for having same-sex relationships was dubbed 'Turing's law'.

Alan Turing is celebrated as the father of theoretical computer science and a pioneer of artificial intelligence

Ada Lovelace

Despite dying at the age of 36 in 1852, she is regarded by some as having been the first computer programmer.

She worked on an early general-purpose computer named the Analytical Engine, recognising its potential as more than just calculations.

Despite dying at the age of 36 in 1852, Ada Lovelace is regarded by some as having been the first computer programmer

Rosalind Franklin

Francis Crick, James Watson and Maurice Wilkins may have shared the Nobel Prize for discovering the double-helix structure of DNA, but their work was inspired by Dr Franklin's.

It was the Photo 51 image of DNA taken in her lab using an X-ray scattering technique and her subsequent report that helped inspire Watson and Crick to create their model.

Crick would later acknowledge her importance in the discovery, but she died of ovarian cancer at the age of 37 in 1958, four years before they scooped the Nobel.

Francis Crick, James Watson and Maurice Wilkins may have shared the Nobel Prize for discovering the double-helix structure of DNA, but their work was inspired by Dr Franklin's

Frederick Sanger

The biochemist is one of only four people in history, and the only Briton, to win two Nobel prizes.

His first came for identifying the amino acids that are the building blocks of insulin, the second came in 1980 for developing the 'Sanger sequencing' method of decoding DNA, which remains in regular use today.
Relatives of a man whose body was used by a Washington state fire department for intubation practice, without his family's consent, have filed claims against a city totaling more than $15million.

Eleven Bellingham Fire Department employees - including two office workers - acknowledged practicing inserting and removing breathing tubes on the body of 52-year-old Bradley Ginn Sr.

The employees practiced intubating 15 times while they were waiting for Ginn's body to be transported to a funeral home on July 31, according to the Bellingham Herald.

Records from the Bellingham City Attorney's Office show that Ginn's wife, Jai Ginn, filed a $15million claim for damages on October 4, saying she had suffered physical and mental pain from the 'intentional and negligent care of a body and abuse by city of Bellingham employees'.

Eleven Bellingham Fire Department employees - including two office workers - acknowledged practicing inserting and removing breathing tubes on the body of 52-year-old Bradley Ginn Sr (pictured)

Records from the Bellingham City Attorney's Office show that Ginn's wife, Jai Ginn, filed a $15million claim for damages on October 4. His daughter Aurieona Ginn (left) and son, Bradley Ginn Jr (right) also filed separate claims against the city

She also made claims for the unauthorized invasion and desecration of a dead body and possible wrongful death.

WHAT IS INTUBATION? Intubation involves inserting a tube, called an endotracheal tube (ET), through the mouth and into the airway. The tube is connected to a ventilator which artificially pushes air into the lungs. It is performed by medical staff when a patient is unable to breathe on their own - either due to serious illness, or being placed under anesthesia. Advertisement

One of the claims was filed by Bradley Ginn Jr and seeks $200,000, the records show.

Ginn Jr's lawyer said the intubations took place as family members were trying to locate Ginn Sr's body.

A third claim was file on October 9 on behalf of Aurieona Ginn, Ginn Sr's daughter.

That claim seeks $350,000. Her lawyer says the fire department did not seek and did not receive permission to perform intubations on her father, according to the Herald.

Aurieona said her father worked in a fiberglass factory in Bellingham before the family moved to California.

They moved back to Whatcom County about eight years ago when her father started developing health issues that eventually claimed his life.

Ginn Sr had a do-not-resuscitate directive, which prohibited the use of invasive procedures such as intubation, the records state.

'The disregard for the dignity of her late father caused Ms. Ginn to suffer emotional distress,,' the suit states.

The city has 60 days to reach a settlement.

A review by a Seattle attorney determined it had been an accepted practice for department paramedics to meet certification requirements by practicing on patients who had just died, according to the Herald.

Twelve employees were disciplined. Medical Services Officer/Division Chief Mannix McDonnell (above) resigned over the incident

Crews would remove the tubes from patients who had died, and swiftly place them back in again so they could practice the procedure.

The fire department said in October that such 'tube checks' were not to be performed without the consent of the patient's next-of-kin.

Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville declined to comment on the litigation.

Twelve employees were disciplined. One paramedic was suspended for a week without pay.

EMS Captain Scott Farlow announced his retirement in a letter on September 16 rather than face demotion. He had been with the department for nearly 29 years

Medical Services Officer/Division Chief Mannix McDonnell also resigned over the incident, after having been with the department 23 years.

The state Department of Health is investigating the nine members of the department who participated and were credentialed health care providers.
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The host of Morning Joe shared new photos from Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough's very intimate wedding ceremony to kick off the MSNBC show on Monday.

That host was not Scarborough however, but instead Willie Geist, who is filling in this week while the pair are enjoying their honeymoon in parts unknown.

'It was wonderful. I mean, everybody deserves happiness and they were a very happy couple. It was a nice time ... and a wonderful reception,' said panelist Mike Barnacle, who was a guest at the wedding.

Geist then informed viewers that he was unable to attend the ceremony at the National Archives on Saturday due to his Sunday morning hosting duties on Today, prompting guest Donnie Deutsch to announce that he was not invited to event.

Scroll down for video

Morning Joe after dark: Three photos from Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough's wedding were shared on their MSNBC show Morning Joe on Monday (newlyweds cutting their wedding cake above)

National treasures: The hosts are away on their honeymoon all week, and Willie Geist has stepped in to host in their absence (the couple with officiant Elijah Cummings)

National treasures: Geist was unable to attend the ceremony because of his job hosting the weekend edition of Today, but panelist Mike Barnacle was at the reception Saturday (in front of the Bill of Rights, Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the National Archives)

Geist had thanked Barnacle for attending the ceremony and 'standing in for all of us at the table,' when Deutsch cut in to say: 'I couldn't be there, either, because I wasn't invited.'

That comment led to some laughter from the panel, with Geist commenting: 'Well, that's one of the through lines of your life.'

Deutsch then added: 'But congratulations to Joe and Mika, they're really happy and it's nice to see.'

Scarborough's four children were in attendance on Saturday.

Brzezinski's two daughters chose to skip the exchange of vows, but chose to support their mother at the reception and posed for photos.

Katherine and Jack are Scarborough's two children with Susan Warren, a former aide to Florida Governor Jeb Bush who he divorced in early 2014 after 11 years of marriage.

The popular morning host also has two adult sons, Joey and Andrew, from his first marriage to Melanie Hinton, which ended in 1999 after 13 years.

Brzezinski, 51, has two adult daughters, Emilie and Carlie, from her marriage to Jim Hoffer, which ended in 2016 after 23 years.

Despite reports, Ms. Brzezinski will be keeping her name professionally.

While Brzezinski's two daughters, Carlie left, and Emilie, right, chose to skip the exchange of vows, they were there to support their mother at the reception and posed for photos. All three wore Milly

Geist, who will be hosting Morning Joe all week while the couple is enjoying their honeymoon, did not share much in the way of details about the ceremony.

'It was a small private wedding that took place Saturday at the National Archives in Washington, with the Bill of Rights and the Constitution as a backdrop,' said Geist.

'Congressman Elijah Cummings officiated the traditional ceremony, which he and Joe wrote together. Joe and Mika were surrounded by all their children, which made it very special for them, their kids, family and a small group of their close friends were there with them in Washington.'

Geist then added: 'I spoke to them last night. they're great, they're really happy of course.'

Of the three photos that were shared on air, one shows the couple standing in the middle of the Archives main hall and another is of the newlyweds standing in front of the country's three most vaunted political documents while security guards can be seen looking on in the background.

The third picture is of the longtime co-hosts cutting their cake at the reception.

Brzezinski seemed to be having a little fun teasing viewers prior to the ceremony, tweeting a photo on Friday of a frog and writing: 'Should I kiss the frog???'

She then shared a photo on Sunday that showed her puckering up to the amphibian, writing: 'I kissed the frog.'

The glowing bride posed with her makeup artist Wilbert Ramos ahead of the big event. Shoe designer Layla Joy Williams flew to Brazil to make sure the heels would match the dress and then personally dropped off the footwear at Mika's hotel

She wore a Milly dress designed by Michelle Smith for the ceremony, which marked the second wedding for her and 55-year-old Scarborough's third.

Her stilettos were by Layla-Joy Williams, who flew to Brazil to make sure the shoes matched perfectly and then hand delivered the footwear on the big day.

Her daughters also wore Milly.

He was outfitted in a Zegna suit, which viewers have seen before on his show, with a white shirt and black tie. A boutonniere with white orchid and green sprigs were pinned to his lapel.

Haves, have nots: Frequent guest Donnie Deutsch revealed he was not invited, prompting Geist to joke: 'Well, that's one of the through lines of your life' (invitee Mike Barnacle on left, Deutsch on right)

Amphibial attraction: Brzezinski had hinted at the wedding on Friday, posting a photo of a frog and asking if she should kiss it (left, and kissing the frog from a post on Sunday)

Le spread: The couple enjoyed a traditional crepe cake at the reception on Saturday (above)

Brzezinki's sister-in-law shared a touching tribute to the newlyweds on her Instagram over the weekend.

'Congratulations to my beautiful sister-in-law Mika and my new brother-in-law Joe for their beautifully touching and intimate wedding yesterday at the National Archives, a remarkable setting nestled in front of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution,' wrote Natalia.

Dog days: Brzezinski's daughter Emilie's rescue dog Cali (above with Katherine Scarborough at the reception) was the lone animal guest

'Mika, youve been a true sister to me, supporting me through really hard things and giving me advice on even difficult life decisions, since I married your brother 10 years ago at 22 youve kept me under your wing and helped me have the confidence to be who I am in the most authentic, family-protected and unconventional way.'

She then added: 'I love you Mika and Joe! Im so happy to see your love blossom, you really both complete each other.'

In addition to the human guests, Brzezinski also brought her daughter Emilie's rescue dog, Cali, though sadly none of her chickens or pigs looked to be in attendance.

And her late father Zbigniew was there in spirit, with the couple selecting music from his collection to play during the ceremony.

The couple, who were engaged in the South of France while vacationing at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc, kept things French for both the reception and their cake.

They hosted 40 guests at Chez Billy Sud where they enjoyed a 20-layer crepe cake.

That was double the 20 who attended their ceremony, and did not include President Trump or his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who had both offered to officiate the ceremony at one point.

Scarborough told Vanity Fair last year that while eating a lunch of fish and scalloped potatoes at Mar-a-Lago, the topic of conversation turned at one point to his relationship with Brzezisnki, with President Trump saying the two should have their ceremony at Mar-a-Lago or the White House.

'Thats when Jared interrupted and said, "Hey, you know what? Ive got my license. I could marry you,"' said Scarborough.

Scarborough went on to state in the interview that President Trump then said: 'What? What are you talking about? Why would they want you to marry them when I could marry them? When they could be married by the president! At Mar-a-Lago!'

It was shortly after this lunch that the relationship between President Trump and the Morning Joe hosts began to fall apart.

Forty people attended the reception dinner at Chez Billy Sud (seen above) and the event was done by 10.45pm

Things hit a boiling point in June of last year when President Trump tweeted: 'I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don't watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came to Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year's Eve, and insisted on joining me.'

He then added: 'She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!'

The newlywed co-hosts recounted shortly at the time those tweets were posted that President Trump called them up 'screaming' weeks after their Mar-a-Lago lunch, taking issue with Scarborough's treatment of Stephen Miller on their program.

'He said, "I invited you over to lunch and youre so rude! Youre killing this kid!"' said Scarborough.

He went on to claim that President Trump told him he should have invited Sean Hannity to the lunch.
Edward Putman, 53, (pictured outside St Albans Crown Court) made his first appearance in the crown court following a three year police investigation

A man who won 2.5 Million on the National Lottery appeared in court today accused of faking the winning ticket.

Edward Putman, 53, made his first appearance in the crown court following a three year police investigation.

But, in a preliminary hearing, his barrister Lawrence Selby told St Albans Crown Court that Mr Putman would be making an application to dismiss the charge.

In October, Mr Putman appeared before magistrates to plead not guilty to fraud by false representation, namely that he produced a fraudulent National Lottery ticket intending to make a gain for himself in the sum of 2,525,484.

Appearing in court today, he was not required to enter a plea and the court heard that an application to dismiss the charge against him is likely to be heard in February next year.

Mr Putman, of Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, was paid out just over two and a half million pounds in 2009.

It related to a lottery draw on March 11 of that year when the winning numbers were 6, 9, 20, 21, 31 and 34 on a ticket bought in the Malvern or Worcester areas of Worcestershire.

Edward Putman's 600,000 house in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, where he has lived ever since his big win in 2009 . It is one of at least two properties he bought with the winnings

However, six years later in 2015, Camelot - the lottery operator - was fined 3 Million for paying out the claim.

In 2015, Hertfordshire Polices Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit began an investigation into the claim.

Today Mr Putman was told that if his application to dismiss the case against him is unsuccessful on February 7, he will be required to provide a defence case statement.

His trial, which is likely to last between five and seven days, was fixed for April 23 next year.

He was granted unconditional bail.
Russell Bishop is on trial for the murder of schoolgirls Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in 1986

A convicted paedophile has told jurors he molested a seven-year-old girl to 'belittle and shame' her after he was cleared of murdering two schoolgirls.

Russell Bishop, 52, is on trial for the second time for killing nine year olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway in Brighton in 1986, after new forensic evidence came to light.

A jury has heard that, three years after he was initially cleared of the murders, Bishop was convicted of abducting, sexually assaulting and trying to kill a seven-year-old girl at Devils Dyke on the South Downs.

In the ongoing trial for the murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, Bishop took to the witness stand today.

He told the court he was 'deeply ashamed' of what he had done at Devils Dyke in 1990.

He insisted he was not a paedophile but was just 'bloody angry' at a hate campaign against him and thought 'I might as well do it'.

Prosecutor Brian Altman QC asked: 'This was all about revenge?'

The defendant replied: 'Partly.'

Nicola Fellows (left) and Karen Hadaway (right) were found dead in woodland in 1986

Mr Altman went on: 'So the attempted murder of (the girl) was born out of revenge by virtue of the three years of the hate you and your family suffered?

'You are portraying yourself as a victim. This offence was all about sexual gratification and you are a paedophile?'

Bishop denied it.

Mr Altman continued: 'You enjoy controlling children and one aspect of your control of children, particularly girls, is sexual gratification.'

Bishop said: 'No, not in any way.'

The prosecutor asked: 'Why did you choose a young girl who was two years younger than the age of the two girls you were accused of murdering?'

Bishop said: 'It could have been anyone. Through the psychological trauma of the hate campaign and what everyone else was saying it came out in that behaviour.'

The girls were found dead in a den in Wild Park near Brighton in October 1986

The timeline of the case, as told to the jury October 9, 1986: Two nine-year-old girls from Brighton, Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, October 10, 1986: Girls were found dead in the woods at Wild Park in Brighton. 1987: Russell Bishop, then aged 20, was cleared of the murders but was cleared after a trial at Lewes Crown Court. February 4, 1990: Bishop attacks seven-year-old girl in Brighton. December 13, 1990: Bishop is convicted over 1990 attack. October 16, 2018: After Court of Appeal overturn previous not guilty verdicts, Bishop goes back on trial for a second time over the murders. Advertisement

The defendant said he assaulted the girl to 'belittle and shame her because I was bloody angry at everyone - at her and everyone who had done that to me'.

Mr Altman asserted: 'This is all rubbish. This is all lies.

'You attacked that young girl because you had a sexual interest in children. It had nothing to do with three years of hate but everything to do with Russell Bishop and your character, didn't it?

'There are very good reasons for what I also suggest are obvious and striking similarities between the two offences because the killer of those two girls in October 1986 was the same person who attacked (the seven-year-old) in 1990. And that man is you.'

Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway were sexually assaulted and strangled in Wild Park in Brighton in October 1986.

Bishop denies murdering them.
Kyall Parnell was the first victim of London's year of violence, he was stabbed on the night of New Year's Eve

Vijay Patel was beaten to death in January after refusing to buy Rizla cigarette papers for a teenager

January

1) Kyall Parnell, 17, was attacked in front of horrified revellers on his way to a New Year's Eve party and died after being chased through traffic in Tulse Hill, south London. A murder investigation was opened in 2018.

2) Steve Frank Navarez-Jara was the first person to be killed in 2018. The 20-year-old was stabbed on New Year's Day in Old Street, north London.

3) Elizabeta Lacatusu, 44, who came to London from Romania to work, was stabbed in Redbridge, east London on January 3.

4) Vijay Patel, 49, died on January 6 after being attacked outside a shop in Mill Hill Broadway after refusing a teenager trying to buy Rizla cigarette papers.

5) Daniel Frederick, 34, died after being stabbed in Hackney on January 8 while walking home after attending a hospital check-up with his pregnant partner.

6) Harry Uzoka, 25, worked as a model in London and was knifed in the heart in Shepherd's Bush on January 11.

7) Seyed Azim Khan's body was found in Ilford Cemetery with extensive head injuries in February after he went missing on his way home from work on January 24.

8) Yaya Mbye, 26, died in hospital after being stabbed in Stoke Newington. east London, on January 28.

9) Juan Olmos Saca, 39, was stabbed in the chest in Peckham, south east London, on the January 29 and died a week in hospital.

10) Khader Saleh, 25, was stabbed at Wormwood Scrubs prison on January 31.

11) Eleven-week-old Lily-Mai Saint George was found unresponsive at an address in Tottenham on January 31. She died at Great Ormond Street Hospital three days later.

February

12) Hassan Ozcan was just 19 when he died from multiple stab wounds in Barking, east London, on February 3.

13) Kwabena Nelson, 22, a youth worker from Tottenham, died after being stabbed near his home on February 3.

Elizabeta Lacatusu had her throat slashed in Ilford

Hannah Leonard was stabbed in a flat in Camden in February

14) Hannah Leonard, 55, was stabbed in a flat in Camden on February 8.

15) Sabri Chibani, 19, was stabbed in the chest in Streatham, south west London, on February 11.

16) Bulent Kabala was the first victim to be shot dead in 2018. The 41-year-old was gunned down on February 12 and died at the scene in Barnet, north London.

17) Saeeda Hussain, 54, was stabbed at a house in Ilford on February 13 and died from her injuries.

18) Lord Promise Nkenda was just 17 when he was stabbed in Canning Town, east London, on Valentine's Day.

19) Mark Smith, 48, died from multiple injuries after being found unconscious in Waltham Forest on February 15.

20) Lewis Blackman, 19, was stabbed in the early hours of February 18 after going to a house party in Kensington. He died outside the former home of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

21) Jozef Boci, 30, suffered serious head injuries after being attacked on the street in Greenwich on February 17 and died in hospital just under a week later.

22) Rotimi Oshibanjo, 26, was stabbed in Southall on February 19 and died from his injuries.

23) Sadiq Mohammed, 20, died after being stabbed in Camden on February 20.

24) Abdikarim Hassan, 17, a friend of Sadiq, died on the same night after also being stabbed in Camden.

25) Amir Ellouizi, 24, was shot in Westminster on February 20 and died seven days later on February 27.

March

26) Michael Boyle, 44, died from a single stab wound to the chest. He was attacked on 25 February and died in hospital on March 10.

27) Christopher Beaumont, 42, was stabbed at a house in Hammersmith on March 1.

28) Laura Figueira, 47, was found dead at her home in Richmond, south west London, on March 5th having suffered stab wounds.

29 and 30) Later the same day, her husband Adelino Figueia de Faria, 57 and two young sons Claudio, 10, and Joaquin, 7, were discovered at the bottom of Beachy Head at Birling Gap, East Sussex, with all three having died from 'multiple injuries consistent with falling from a height'.

Russian socialite Nikolai Glushkov was strangled at his home in New Malden

31) Kelva Smith was 20 when he died after being stabbed in the stomach in Croydon, south London.

32) Kelvin Odunuyi, 19, was shot outside a cinema in Wood Green on March 8.

33) Julian Joseph, 36, died in hospital 11 days after being attacked and suffering a serious head injury on a night bus in New Cross just after midnight of March 13.

34) Nikolai Glushkov, 68, died from compression to the neck in New Malden on March 13.

35) Joseph William-Torres, 20, was shot in a car in in Essex Close, Walthamstow on March 14. Two teens, 15 and 17, charged with murder.

36) Lyndon Davis was 18 when he was stabbed in Chadwell Heath on March 14.

37) Naomi Hersi, 36, was found with stab wounds at a hotel near Heathrow Airport on March 16 and was pronounced dead 30 minutes later.

Jozef Boci, 30, was assaulted in Greenwich and later died from his injuries

38) Russell Jones, 23, died after suffering from stab injuries and a gunshot wound in Enfield, north London, on March 17.

39) Tyrone Silcott, 41, died after being stabbed in Hackney on March 18.

40) Balbir Johal, 48, was admitted to hospital with stab wounds after being attacked in Southall on March 19 and died a few hours later.

41) Jermaine Johnson, 41, was stabbed to death an an address in Walthamstow on March 19.

42) Beniamin Pieknyi, 21, was found with stab wounds at the Stratford shopping centre in East London, on March 20 and was pronounced dead at the scene.

43) Abraham Badru, 26, was shot in Dalston on March 25.

44) Wieslaw Kopcynski, 59, died on March 27th two days after being found lying in bed in Barking with serious head injuries following a suspected assault. A post-mortem found the cause of death was a complex skull fracture

45) David Potter, 50, was found dead inside a house in Tooting High Street on March 26 after suffering from stab injuries.

Hersi Hersi was stabbed in Hounslow in March

46) Reece Tshoma was 23 when he was stabbed in Plumstead, south east London, on March 29.

47) Leyla Mtumwa, 36, was found with stab wounds at a home in Haringey on March 30.

48) Ourania Lambrou, 80, died in hospital after being pushed to the ground by her attacker in a drunken rage in Camden on March 31.

April

49) Devoy Stapleton, 20, stabbed outside bar in Wandsworth in the early hours of April 1.

50) Tanesha Melbourne, 17, was shot in the chest on April 2 after a drive-by shooting in Tottenham, north London.

51) Amaan Shakoor, 16, was shot in the face, also on April 2 in Walthamstow and died a day later in hospital.

52) Career criminal Henry Vincent, 37, died after being stabbed in the chest as he burgled Richard Osborn-Brooks' house in Lewisham on April 4. The 78-year-old was initially arrested for murder but cleared of all charges and faces no further action.

53) Babatunde Akintayo Awofeso, 53, died after fight at a bookmakers in Upper Clapton on April 4 following reports of an altercation with another man.

Russell Jones, 23, became the eighth person in a week to be killed in London in March when he was ambushed outside shops in Enfield

54) Israel Ogunsola, 18, in Hackney after being stabbed, also on April 4. The victim approached police who performed first aid but he died at the scene after 25 minutes.

55) John Maclean, 35, stabbed at a flat in the Isle of Dogs on April 12th.

56) Raul Nicolaie, 26, stabbed to death in Zenith Close, Colindale at 6pm on Sunday, April 15th.

57) Natasha Hill, 18, found dead with head injuries at an address in Sewell Road, Abbey Wood at 4.22am on Sunday April 15.

58) Samantha Clarke, 30s, stabbed to death in Sudbourne Road, Brixton, at 6:30pm on Sunday, April 15th.

59) Sami Sidhom, 18, who studied law and history at Queen Mary University, was stabbed in the back just yards from his home in Forest Gate, east London, after going to the West Ham v Stoke game on April 16.

60) Builder John Woodward, 47, found dead on the roof of the Pressman Mastermelts building in Hatton Garden on April 17. Post-mortem gave cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.

61) Aaron Springett, 32, died after street fight outside bookies in Merton, south west London, after suffering from a blunt force trauma to the chest on April 20.

There was outcry in April when Tanesha Melbourne, 17, was shot in the chest in Tottenham

62) Kwasi Anim-Boadu, 20, stabbed during a mass brawl in Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, north London, on April 21.

May

63) Leon Maxwell, 38, shot outside Queensbury tube station on May 1. A 26-year-old man also shot went to a north London hospital.

64) Rhyhiem Barton, 17, shot dead in broad daylight near his family's flat in Kennington on May 5th.

65) Onees Khatoon, 71, murdered at her home in Gade Close, Hayes, on May 13. Her son Majid Butt, 51, has been charged.

66) Rosina Coleman, 85, found battered to death at her home in Romford on May 15.

67) Abdulrahman Nassor Juma, 24, known to friends as Mani, fatally stabbed in the chest in Barking on May 17.

68) Osman Shidane, 20, stabbed repeatedly in Ruislip on evening of May 15, died three days later on Friday May 18.

69) Homeless Arunesh Thangarajah, 28, stabbed to death in Mitcham in early hours of Sunday May 20th.

Rosina Coleman was battered to death at her home in Romford in May

70) Sophie Cavanagh, 31, viciously attacked at an address in Bromley around 6pm on Sunday May 20.

71) Father-of-two Marcel Campbell, 30, from Tottenham, fatally stabbed outside an ice cream parlour in Islington on Monday May 21st.

72) Gerry Gaffney, 46, died in hospital on May 21st, eight days after being repeatedly stabbed near The Oval cricket ground in south London on Sunday May 14th.

73) Molly Frank, 61, a care worker, suffered fatal head injuries at an Islington residential home on May 24 and died in hospital the next day. A special post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as intra-cerebral haemorrhage.

74) Aspiring actress and singer Bethany-Maria Beales, 22, fell to her death from the 19th floor of The Heron, a 36-storey residential skyscraper in the City on May 26.

75) Mark Fontaine, 41, from Walthamstow, repeatedly stabbed in Chelsea on May 30.

June

76) Andra Hilitanu, 28, who was seven months pregnant with her third child, found stabbed in the neck at her flat in Brent on June 1st. The Romanian national's family revealed that her unborn child also died.

77) Edmond Jonuzi, a 35-year-old Albanian, was knifed in park and collapsed near Turnpike Lane station in north London on the evening of Saturday June 9th.

Katerina Makunova, 17, was stabbed to in Camberwell in July

78) Gitana Matukeviciene, 50 and originally from Lithuania, found with multiple injuries at a residential address in Dagenham on Saturday June 9th never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on Tuesday June 12th.

79) Mark Tremain, 52, died from his injuries on June 14th two weeks after being badly beaten near his home in Albert Square, Stockwell, on May 31st.

80) Apprentice lift engineer Joshua Boadu, 23, died in hospital on June 18th, seven days after being repeatedly stabbed in Bermondsey.

81) Matthew Thomas, 39, died shortly after being found with multiple injuries at a flat in Pimlico on Thursday June 21st.

82) Slawomir Weglarski, 39, died after a fight outside a pub in Greenford in the early hours of Saturday June 23rd.

83) Gita Suri, 56, found with stab wounds to her back in the garden of a house in Greenwich on Saturday June 23rd.

84) Schoolboy Jordan Douherty, 15, from Chafford Hundred, stabbed to death after a birthday party in Romford on Saturday June 23rd.

85) Ishak Tacine, 20, of Enfield, repeatedly stabbed in Edmonton following reports of an altercation between men armed with baseball bats on June 27th.

July

Drill rapper Latwaan Griffiths died of stab wounds after he was dumped in a Camberwell street by a moped rider

86) Elderly woman Shuren Ma, 72, found with a fatal head injury at a house in Woolwich on July 1st.

87) Janek Brakonecki, 57, a Polish national, found critically injured in a car park off Leytonstone High Road on Saturday July 7th.

88) Katerina Makunova, 17, stabbed to death in a block of flats in Camberwell on Thursday July 12th

89) Latwaan Griffiths, 18, from Southwark, died in hospital hours after being found with stab wounds in Denmark Road, Camberwell, on July 25. He had been dumped in the street by a moped rider.

90) Sheila Thomas, 69, was found stabbed to death at her home in Casino Avenue, Herne Hill on Tuesday July 31st.

August

91) Drill rapper Sidique Kamara, 23, aka Incognito, stabbed to death in Camberwell in an alleged gang feud on August 1.

92) Thomas Peter, 50, of Valentines Way, Dagenham, has been charged with murder and arson with intent to endanger life after woman found dead in east London on Thursday August 2nd.

Joel Urhie was found dead inside the burnt-out shell of his family home in Deptford

93) Malik Chattun, 22, from Surbiton, stabbed to death in group fight in Kingston just after 2am on Aug 5.

94) Seven-year-old Joel Urhie died in arson attack on his family home in Adolphus Street, Deptford, just before 3.30am on Tuesday August 7th.

95) Simonne Kerr, 31, A nurse who starred as part of a the B Positive choir who reached the final of this year's Britain's Got Talent, stabbed to death at an address in Grayshott Road, Battersea, on Wednesday August 15th.

96) Joseph Cullimore, 42, died after being repeatedly stabbed at a house in Chingford in the early hours of Friday August 17th.

97) Gary Amer, 63, a plumber of Holborn, found with multiple knife wounds at an address off the Old Kent Road on the afternoon of Friday August 17th.

98) Leroy 'Junior' Edwards, 66, found with multiple stab wound at an address in Catford in the early hours of Saturday August 18th.

99) Kaltoun Saleh was badly burnt in a fire at a flat in Finsbury Park on July 5th and died at a specialist burns hospital on Tuesday August 21st.

100) Carole Harrison, 73, found dead inside her house in Teddington following a fire on Wednesday August 22nd. A post-mortem found she had suffered injuries consistent with an assault.
Two men have been arrested after allegedly kidnapping and gang-raping their former teacher in a rural community in South Africa.

The unnamed woman, a teacher at a high school near Marken, Limpopo, South Africa, was said to have been abducted from her home on Monday after two men broke in while she was asleep.

The two detainees, aged 18 and 20, are believed to be part of a group of men who tied her up with a rope before loading her into the boot of her VW Polo.

The men then allegedly gang raped her before dumping her in the bushes and fleeing in her car.

Police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe (pictured) said the two suspects were former pupils of the victim [file photo]

A police spokesperson said the suspects were 'well known to the victim' as previous students and neighbors.

'Preliminary police investigations have since revealed that the two suspects involved in this chain of crime incidents are well known to the victim as she previously taught them at the same school and they are also staying in this village,' said police spokesperson Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe.

'During the arrest, one of the suspects was found in possession of the ignition keys of the victim's car and later, the victim's car was found abandoned in bushes near Marken,' Ngoepe added.

'It was also detected that the suspects made turns in gang-raping the victim and dumped her still tied in the bushes before they fled the scene with her motor vehicle VW Polo. Police opened cases of house breaking with intent to commit crime, kidnapping, armed robbery and rape,' he said.

Police found the teacher dumped in the bushes along the road to Bakenburg outside Mokopane.

She was rushed to hospital and was eventually discharged on Sunday afternoon.

During the arrests, one of the men was found in possession of the teacher's car keys and the car was later found abandoned in the bushes near Marken.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba applauded Lephalale police for 'solving this complicated matter within 24 hours'.
Qantas has started to clamp down on travellers who try to flout their carry-on baggage rules.

The airline currently allows passengers to take two 7kg bags on board on domestic and international flights.

But customers are taking advantage of the digital age by checking in online and avoiding having their bags weighed at the terminal.

Qantas has started to clamp down on travellers who try to flout their carry-on baggage rules (stock image)

In a bid to crack down on sneaky passengers, Qantas have been placing a 'renewed focus' on carry-on weights, according to The Daily Telegraph.

A Qantas spokesman said they had increased enforcement of their carry-on limits as part of an audit over the past few months - intended to make flying fairer for all customers.

Making sure allowances were adhered to would also mean flights could leave on time, the airline added.

The spokesman said: 'We're getting feedback from regular flyers who say all customers need to be reminded about how much luggage they can take on board.

'So we're renewing our focus to keep cabin baggage within the allowances and to ensure everyone has their fair share of space.'

There would also be less of a safety risk from overloaded overhead lockers, the airline claimed.

A Qantas spokesman said they had increased enforcement of their carry-on limits as part of an audit over the past few months - intended to make flying fairer for all customers (stock image)

Virgin Australia said they warn customers about the importance of carry-on luggage weights in advance of their flight.

Jetstar, meanwhile, has introduced a new policy this year that allows passengers to buy 3kg of additional carry-on baggage allowance.

The focus on keeping passenger luggage under the weight limit comes as it emerged Australia's airlines are trimming the weight of their planes due to the high cost of fuel.

Qantas and Virgin recently replaced the steel brakes on their fleets of workhorse 737s, saving about 300kg.

Qantas has also removed a further 440kg from each of its planes by replacing traditional cargo hold units with lightweight units made of composite material.
A pharmacist accused of murdering his wife so he could start a new life with his male lover and a 2m insurance payout told detectives he loved her and she was his 'best mate,' a court heard.

Mitesh Patel, 37, insisted he could tell his wife Jessica 'everything' and revealed she even knew he was gay but they had decided to 'put it in the past' and went ahead with three IVF attempts in the hope of having a baby.

He denies strangling her with a Tesco bag at their home in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, on May 14 to cash in on her life insurance.

Teesside Crown Court has heard he was in love with a doctor named Amit Patel, who emigrated to Sydney and the pair swapped intimate messages.

Mitesh Patel insisted he could tell his wife Jessica (pictured together) 'everything' and revealed she even knew he was gay but they had decided to 'put it in the past'

Mr Patel also used dating apps to arrange sex with men - sometimes at the marital home, the jury has been told.

During a police interview four days after the murder, the defendant told detectives about his marriage to 34-year-old Jessica, saying: 'We were very happy in our little world.

'We always said to each other we'd like to have our own pharmacy.

'That was our dream. We could work together and spend time together at home.

'I didn't need other mates. She was my best mate. She was my wife. I could tell her everything.

'We didn't have any like 'what the wife doesn't need to know doesn't matter kind of thing'. We told each other absolutely everything.

During a police interview four days after the murder, the defendant (right, with his wife) told detectives about his marriage to 34-year-old Jessica (left), saying: 'We were very happy in our little world'

'Sometimes she might not want to hear it but you still do.'

The pharmacist said the couple were trying to conceive and had undergone three cycles of IVF treatment.

This had caused his wife anxiety and she lost weight, he told police, and he urged her to stop worrying and they could foster, adopt or use a surrogate if IVF failed.

He told detectives he reassured her 'it will just happen, if it doesn't, we have each other'.

Patel said his wife was concerned that 'culturally', he could leave her if they could not have children.

The couple's home in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, where Jessica was found dead

'I was like 'don't be daft, that's never going to happen',' he told the officers.

He added: 'I used to feel awful, I used to say to her 'it's not your fault'.'

In the same interview, detectives asked him about the Grindr app and use of other gay sites they found on his phone.

He said: 'It's extremely embarrassing to discuss these things. Yes, Jess knew but we got past it and we agreed to put it in the past and have IVF.

'From a cultural point of view it's shameful to have entered and used these websites.'

He said he continued to use the sites and he confessed to his wife while they were on holiday in Fuerteventura the week before she was murdered.

The Roman Road pharmacy in Middlesbrough where the couple worked

Patel wanted his marriage to work and intended to stop using the sites, he told police.

As the final police interview ended Patel was urged to tell the truth about what happened to his wife and replied: 'I love her and would do anything for her.'

The detective replied: 'But you won't let us know how she died?'

He responded: 'Because I don't know.'

Patel will give evidence in his defence tomorrow morning, the jury was told.

The trial, expected to last at least another week, continues.
President Trump is about to be hit with an onslaught of document demands from Democrats who have been waiting two years to probe the the current administration, and the White House counsel's office remains short-staffed.

Pat Cipollone, the attorney who Trump named White House counsel six weeks ago still has not begun as a background check drags on.

And as many as 30 positions in the White House counsel's office remain unfilled in the interim in the wake of previous counsel Don McGahn's departure.

President Trump is about to be hit with an onslaught of document demands from Democrats who have been waiting two years to probe the the current administration, and the White House counsel's office remains short-staffed

Since Trump fired McGahn, the job has been handled by special counsel attorney Emmett Flood (above) who is also handling requests related to Robert Mueller's probe

Cipollone could fill vacancies as soon as he begins, but it was unclear on Monday when that might be.

Since Trump fired McGahn, the job has been handled by special counsel attorney Emmett Flood, who is also handling requests related to Robert Mueller's probe.

Congress will come under Democratic control at the start of the new legislative session in January. Expected chairs of committees have already declared their intent to provide intense oversight of the president that's likely to manifest itself in the form of probes.

That could include investigations into his personal taxes and finances, but lawmakers are also likely to pick up wherever special counsel Mueller leaves off.

There are fewer than 20 dedicated lawyers known to be working in the counsel's office currently in the Trump administration. That doesn't include lawyers on detail from other departments of the government.

Cipollone could fill vacancies as soon as he begins, but it was unclear on Monday when that might be

Previous administrations such as Barack Obama and George W. Bush had anywhere from 40- 50 attorneys working for them.

A person familiar with the operation of the White House counsel's office told DailyMail.com 'there's a serious question' as to whether the division that responds to legal inquiries is 'adequately staffed' and whether it 'rebounded from the extremely minuscule number of lawyers that McGahn left them with.'

The person said said the number of attorneys working in the office may not be high enough to 'respond to Congress and assist the president with the ordinary course of business, because he needs it' for the Democrat-driven investigations.

A source likewise told Politico: 'I dont think anyone who is paying attention thinks they are prepared for a Democratic takeover.'

That's not to say the White House isn't recruiting talent for when Cipollone starts, the person familiar with how the office operates told DailyMail.com. And attorneys detailed to the White House are also chipping in.

Lawyers on detail to the White House from other agencies are helping to fill the gaps, but they are not necessarially experienced on the fronts that Democrats could open up with Trump.

'You need a certain standard, and you don't want to rely on detailees from other government agencies for these important positions,' a source told DailyMail.com.

An attorney for Bill Clinton when he was impeached, Flood has the experience to advise Trump on congressional requests, especially as it could pertain to investigations looking at accusations of obstruction of justice.

The counsel's office is responsible for advising Trump when to exert privilege in areas that Democrats have signaled they want to explore such as his conversations with the acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker, before he was hired about Mueller's probe.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, signaled Sunday that hauling the acting attorney general, Matt Whitaker, before his committee would be one of his first acts of business.

'The American people need to know whether this president is obstructing justice, whether he has obstructed justice in the past, whether his appointment of Whitaker was designed to obstruct justice, whether it's having the effect of obstructing justice, whether there was some kind of a discussion, deal, bargain, arrangement, understanding,' he said on CNN.

Incoming Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings, said Democrats had not decided in what order to pursue their interests, but they would be opening up investigations in addition to chasing new legislation.

He said 'Meet the Press' on NBC: 'The American people have said to us, "They want robust, transparent investigations with integrity." So I haven't figured out exactly what order they're in, because they're all important. But I guarantee you, we will look at it quite a bit.'

'The American people said to us through this election, "We want accountability. We want to check on this president of the United States,' he said.
A black shopper says he and his two young children were searched while he and a friend were handcuffed by police who suspected them of shoplifting.

Ro Lockett said he was stopped and detained just for the color of his skin and not because he had done anything suspicious.

The 28-year-old was with his friend, Brandon Kibart, who were both held by police while a store employee rifled through their shopping bags.

The two men had been visiting a Finish Line store in the Stonebriar Centre mall in Frisco, Texas, with Lockett's young sons, who are aged eight and ten, when they where stopped last Wednesday.

Ro Lockett said he was stopped and handcuffed just for 'being black' while shopping with his two young sons in the Stonebriar Centre mall in Frisco, Texas

Lockett, who is black, and his friend, Brandon Kibart, who is white, were suspected of shoplifting about $600 worth of items from Finish Line, according to a Frisco police report.

One of the children recorded the pair being handcuffed and the search taking place, while Lockett's other son can be seen looking confused at the camera as his father and Kibart stood handcuffed near Santa's grotto at the mall.

During the clip Lockett can be heard saying, 'this is how it happens in America, people'.

The two men were released without charge by the officers after producing receipts for all the items in their bags.

Lockett claims he was 'ambushed' and 'victimized based on an assumption' because he is black and (right) him being handcuffed

Lockett, who is a YouTube content creator who lives in Dallas, posted the footage online in a bit to raise awareness of the treatment he received.

He claims he was 'ambushed' and 'victimized based on an assumption' because he is black.

Alongside the video he wrote: 'Today, I struggle to find peace, reassurance or comfort that the America I live in is for the people, by the people and of the people.

'Stalked as if we were prey as we shopped and then ambushed by Frisco police, I stood handcuffed helplessly as my children, friend and myself were humiliated and victimized based on an assumption that we had stolen merchandise.

'As the video demonstrates, no discretion or consideration was given as we were approached and demanded to surrender our bags, in the middle of the mall, to be searched.

Brandon Kibart, a friend of Lockett, was also cuffed while their shopping bags were searched by a Finish Line employee

'My 10 & 8 year sons, were searched as it was a "given" we had stole from Finish Line. Thank GOD, I remembered "the talk" I was taught as a child, that being Black, I'm presumed guilty until proven innocent in America...something I never understood or felt applied to me until this.

'Our lives forever changed, my children's hurt and pain didn't and won't stop with the you're good to go now.'

Lockett, said he talked to his children after the incident, telling Dallas News: 'I told them that everything that was done and how it was handled was wrong.

'My kids are scarred for life. Their dad is [handcuffed] in front of his kids just for buying things for them?

'I'm just a dad out with his kids, buying things for them from several stores. And all of a sudden I'm in handcuffs.'

The Collin County chapter of the NAACP said: 'We have attempted to reach officials from the Finish Line, as we are concerned that this is another case of "existing while black".'

Frisco police said the incident was being reviewed and encouraged Lockett and Kibart file a formal complaint.

A spokesman said in a statement: 'The Frisco Police Department is aware of the video circulating online and the questions that have been raised.

One of Lockett's sons filmed the incident while his brother watched on as his father was detained by two officers (left) and a mall worker searched their bags (right)

'Through our long-standing contacts with local community leaders, we have been in contact with one of the involved parties, Mr Lockett, and have attempted to contact the other, Mr Kibart.

'Mr Lockett was given information on how to file a formal complaint and we encourage both parties to do so.

'This incident highlights the importance of "comply now, complain later". By all accounts it appears that this is what Mr Lockett and Mr Kibart have done, which gives us the opportunity to evaluate our response to determine what happened and if there is opportunity for improvement.'
The younger brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been arrested in Miami on drug and weapon charges.

Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez is accused of conspiring with criminal networks in Mexico and Colombia 'to flood American streets with deadly drugs,' DEA agent Raymond Donovan said in a statement.

Hernandez, a former congressman with alleged ties to a notorious Honduran drugs cartel, is set to appear in a Miami court later today.

He faces up to life in jail if he is found guilty of charges which include 'conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, and related weapons charges.'

President Juan Orlando Hernandez (left) said his brother Juan Antonio's (right) arrest is a 'tough blow' for the family but that his country will continue supporting the United State's battle against drug trafficking

Authorities say he worked with drug traffickers in Columbia, Honduras and Mexico to import cocaine into the US between 2004 and 2016.

Hernandez is also accused of arming Honduran National Police and drug traffickers with machine guns to protect his cocaine shipments, and lying to federal agents.

According to the indictment, from around 2004 to about 2016, Hernandez 'was involved in processes sing, receiving, transporting, and distributing multi-ton loads of cocaine that' made it to Honduras on airplanes, boats and even a 'submarine'.

'Drug trafficking and corruption around the world threatens the rule of law, fuels violence and instability, and harms innocent families and communities,' said DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond Donovan, who leads the Special Operations Division, in a statement released Monday.

'Hernandez and his criminal associates allegedly conspired with some of the world's most deadly and dangerous transnational criminal networks in Mexico and Colombia to flood American streets with deadly drugs

The suspect's name was first tied to Los Cachiros cartel last year when the drugs gang's former leader Devis Leonel Maradiaga testified in a New York court that 'Tony' Hernandez had accepted bribes in exchange for assisting the cartel with its money laundering scheme.

Hernandez, a 40-year-lawyer and lawmaker, had agreed to help solve a debt that the government previously owed Inrimar, a shady business company the cartel founded in 2009 to clean profits earned through its illicit dealings, according to Maradiaga's testimony.

In a 2014 secretly recorded meeting, according to the indictment, Maradiaga made a payment of about '$50,000' to the Honduran president's brother.

A press officer with the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York told DailyMail that Hernandez was arrested at Miami International Airport but would not reveal any other details on the case

The company was established with the sole purpose of selling and buying, building, and leasing all types of real estate. It also offered supervision and consulting of all types of civil works.

Under President Obama, Los Cachiros network was sanctioned in May 2013 under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act or Kingpin Act.

'Tony' Hernandez, one of 17 siblings, was elected to congressional office in 2013.

Maradiaga turned himself in along with his brother Javier Eriberto Rivera Maradiaga in December 2013.

Ex Honduran military captain Santos Orellana Rodriguez claimed in 2016 that the DEA was trying to get him to testify against 'Tony' Hernandez

Devis Leonel Maradiaga was the leader of Los Cachiros, a cartel in Honduras. The former drug boss said in an U.S. court that he paid $50,000 to the younger brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez to help solve a debt that the government previously owed Inrimar, a shady business company the cartel founded in 2009 to clean profits earned through its illicit dealings

Javier Eriberto Rivera Maradiaga led Los Cachiros drug cartel along with his brother Devis Leonel Maradiaga. The pair turned themselves in under a plea deal with the DEA in December 2013 and revealed the names of government and military officials that aided them in pushing their drugs into the United States

They brother tandem cooperated with the Drug Enforcement Agency in helping bring down the Honduran president's brother and a number of other key corrupt politicians who enriched themselves through their business connections with the cartel in the Central American nation.

Devis Leonel Maradiaga declared in a prior court testimony that he once paid $400,000 to former Honduran president Porfirio Lobo, who ruled from 2010 to 2014 before President Hernandez won the 2013 presidential election.

While President Lobo denied any contact with the criminal syndicate, his son Fabio Lobo was nabbed by the DEA in Haiti in 2015 and sentenced to 24 years in a U.S. jail in September 2017 after he pleaded guilty to his nexus with Los Cachiros and aiding Honduran cops transport cocaine into the United States.

Juan Antonio 'Tony' Hernandez [right] is the brother of Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez [fourth from left]. The 40-year-old was arrested at an airport in Miami on Friday for 'conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, and related weapons charges'

During an October 13, 2016 meeting with the DEA at the U.S. embassy in Honduras, former military captain Santos Orellana Rodriguez said he was pressured to testify against the President's brother or they would publish his name in a news story linking him to plotting the assassination of ambassador James Nealon, according to Univision.

Weeks later, at the behest of president, 'Tony' Hernandez voluntarily presented himself in a Miami court. He denied any involvement after news surfaced over arranging an attack against the U.S. ambassador to Honduras.

During a press conference on Friday, President Hernandez said he and his family would be there for his brother.

'I can not ignore that it is a strong blow for the family. It's a tough blow for all of us. It's sad. It's hard. We don't wish this to anyone,' the Honduran president said.

'I hope that the justice system, as it corresponds, will provide him the space to defend himself and as a family we will be there for him in all capacity. May the justice system allow itself to clarify whether those accusations are true or not.'
He filmed the encounter that as been viewed over 1.8 million times

Welling up, the girl immediately replied: 'Of course I want to be your girlfriend!'

A teenage boy found the path to his love's heart by placing a note inside a bag of tacos asking her if she'd like to be his girlfriend

A teenage boy proved that the way to a woman's stomach is through her heart after he asked his date to be his girlfriend by slipping a secret note inside her order of tacos.

The girl, who has not been named, excitedly ripped open the carrier bag of food as her date filmed with his cellphone.

She asked whether the bag contained tamales or empanadas. In fact, it contained tacos, with a special extra surprise.

A girl jokes about what tasty fast food snack is inside a bag, saying guessing on the spot that there were tacos before asking her new boyfriend if he brought tamales or empanadas

An already anxious teenage boy tells his crush that fast food snack he bought her 'just smelled like happiness' while she rushed to untie the plastic bag

The anxious teenage boy told his crush that fast food snack 'just smelled like happiness' while she rushed to untie the plastic bag.

As she reached to grab a taco, she noticed the little white slip inside.

'Will you be my girlfriend?' it asked, in Spanish.

Welling up, the girl immediately replied: 'Of course I want to be your girlfriend!'

The video has drawn over 1.8 million views since it was first shared last Wednesday by a Facebook page for the town of Pueblo Nuevo Santa Fe in Mexico.
A village in a conservative region of Indonesia is pulling the plug on wireless Internet after children were caught viewing porn sites instead of going to Koran study class.

Curee Baroh village, which enforces Islamic law, has ordered half a dozen local cafes to shut their cheap WiFi service immediately.

It is located in the district of Bireuen, which made headlines this year when it banned men and women from dining together unless they were married or related.

Curee Baroh village in the district of Bireun has ordered half a dozen local cafes to shut their cheap WiFi service immediately. File photo: Indonesian people sit at a restaurant in Bireuen

Officials defended the new edict by saying the service, which cost the equivalent of 21 US cents (16 pence) for five hours' use, was damaging local children's morals.

'In the past, kids would recite the Koran after evening prayers but since WiFi has become available, they're hanging out in these shops instead,' village head Helmiadi Mukhtaruddin told AFP.

'They're accessing pornographic images and other sites, which is very damaging to their morals.'

The village of 900 people has not yet decided on a punishment for cafe owners who refuse to comply with the order, which was announced on Friday.

Under the dining rules announced in September, women in Bireuen district on Sumatra island will not be able to share a table with men at restaurants and coffee shops unless they are accompanied by their husband or a close male relative.

Co-workers on their lunch break would also be forbidden from sharing a meal.

The district is in Aceh province, the only region in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country that imposes Islamic law.

It has drawn fire in the past for publicly whipping people found guilty of a range of offences including homosexuality, gambling and drinking alcohol.
Martina Gomez (pictured), 63, died after her niece allegedly attacked her when she tried to break up a family fight

A Massachusetts woman died on Sunday after her niece allegedly attacked her when she tried to break up a family brawl.

Martina Gomez, 63, suffered a medical emergency after her niece Modesta Gomez, 23, repeatedly slammed the front door on her aunt's torso during the fight on Sunday evening.

Martina was rushed to hospital but died less than two hours later at around 11pm.

Modesta is now facing multiple charges including assault and battery on a person over 60.

She entered a not guilty plea and was held without bail after her court appearance on Monday.

Police said they were called out to the family's home on Bicknell Ave in Methuen, Massachusetts, at around 10pm on Sunday.

Witnesses told police that a fight had broken out between Martina Gomez's daughter and her daughter's ex-sister-in-law, over an argument about Snapchat.

Scroll down for video

Modesta Gomez (pictured in court on Monday), 23, allegedly slammed the front door on her aunt's torso during the fight on Sunday evening

Video courtesy of NBC 10 Boston

Modesta then got involved, allegedly attacking Martina's daughter. When Martina tried to break it up, her niece attacked her, police said.

She allegedly struck her and when she fell to the ground, she repeatedly slammed closed the front door on her torso, until the victim was semiconscious.

Modesta fled, but by the time police arrived at the property, Martina was unresponsive.

Martina was pronounced dead at Lawrence General Hospital around 11.20pm.

An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause and manner of Martina's death.
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Ukraine will be placed under martial law tomorrow after warning that Russia had moved to a new stage of aggression and could even be planning an invasion.

It followed a dramatic skirmish on Sunday in which Russian warships opened fire on Ukrainian gunboats before special forces seized the vessels and their 24 crew members.

President Petro Poroshenko said martial law  the introduction of a military government  would be imposed for 30 days from tomorrow, a move approved by the Kiev parliament last night. He said the escalation was needed to keep his country safe, claiming to have intelligence reports indicating a build-up of troops by Moscow close to the border.

Addressing the nation on television yesterday, Mr Poroshenko said: Russia has been waging a hybrid war against our country for five years. But with an attack on Ukrainian military boats it moved to a new stage of aggression. Reconnaissance data suggest an extremely serious threat of a land-based operation against Ukraine.

He said enemy forces were ready at any moment for an invasion and described Russia as an aggressive, volatile and unpredictable neighbour.

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President Petro Poroshenko said martial law  the introduction of a military government  would be imposed for 30 days from tomorrow, a move approved by the Kiev parliament last night (where he is pictured)

Ukraine voted to introduce martial law as the West yesterday continued to condemn Russia for seizing three of Kiev's ships amid fears of a military escalation. Pictured: A Ukraine army APC moves towards a position at an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine yesterday

The Ukrainian vessels  two gunboats and a tug  were hit on Sunday evening near a newly-built Russian bridge over the Kerch Strait, Moscows only land link to Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Passing under the bridge is the only way Ukrainian ships can sail into the Sea of Azov, which allows access to its ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk. Before the clash, Russia had blocked the route with a tanker.

Ukraine yesterday released what it said were intercepted radio calls in which Russian navy HQ instructed their crews to attack.

In the recording, which could not be verified, a voice can be heard yelling: That was an order to kick them, to ram them, to destroy everything. It seems that the president is controlling all that s**t. Russia claimed the Ukrainian vessels were first to aim their guns at Russian ships, who had been forced to respond to the provocation with force.

Its FSB security services said the Ukrainians ignored warning shots after they illegally entered Russian territorial waters.

There has been no news of the detained sailors. Ukrainian foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin said Kiev was in talks with the Red Cross to ensure the seamen are treated as prisoners of war. Critics of Mr Poroshenko suggested the president was using the crisis to delay elections he is set to lose. If a military government is installed, campaigning would be suspended.

However, Mr Poroshenko insisted that elections would go ahead on March 31 next year.

Theresa May joined other western leaders in urging restraint and condemning Russias destabilising behaviour.

Her official spokesman said ships must be allowed passage to the Sea of Azov, adding: Russia must not be allowed to use force to exert greater pressure on Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Russias attack on the Ukrainian vessels was evidence of Moscows contempt for international norms.

Britain currently has around 100 troops in Ukraine training local forces and is set to deploy more in January. HMS Echo, a survey ship, will also be sent to the region next year.

Nato and the UN Security Council held emergency meetings to discuss the situation.

Mr Poroshenko said enemy forces were ready at any moment for an invasion and described Russia as an aggressive, volatile and unpredictable neighbour. Pictured: President Putin in Moscow yesterday

There were furious scenes in Kiev yesterday where protesters launched flares at the Russian consulate in response to the clash in the Black Sea on Sunday

With relations still raw after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its backing for a pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, the crisis risked pushing the two countries into open conflict and there were early signs it was reigniting Western calls for more sanctions on Moscow.

In a phone call with Poroshenko, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg offered the alliance's 'full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.'

Ukraine is not a member of the U.S.-led military alliance though it aspires to membership.

Washington's envoy to the United Nations warned Russia that its actions were an 'outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory', said sanctions on Russia would remain in place and any escalation by Moscow would only worsen ties.

The European Union, Britain, France, Poland, Denmark, and Canada all condemned what they called Russian aggression.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has talked by telephone with Mr Poroshenko to express her concerns over the standoff with Russia around Crimea.

Merkel's office said yesterday that the chancellor emphasized the need for de-escalation and dialogue and said she would work to help bring both about. The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact.

The stand-off in the Azov Sea is more combustible now than at any time in the past four years as Ukraine has rebuilt its armed forces, previously in disarray, and has a new generation of commanders who are confident and have a point to prove.

Flashpoint: Extraordinary footage captures the moment a Russian coast guard vessel rammed a Ukrainian navy tugboat under the orders 'squash him' on Sunday

Spain and Germany joined EU calls for Russia to release the Ukrainian sailors and ships (pictured) seized in the Sunday standoff.

Russia's foreign ministry blamed Kiev for the crisis.

It said: 'It's obvious that this painstakingly thought-through and planned provocation was aimed at igniting another source of tension in the region in order to create a pretext to ramp up sanctions against Russia,' it said in a statement.

'We'd like to warn the Ukrainian side that the policy of provoking a conflict with Russia in the area of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, which has been pursued by Kiev in coordination with the United States and the European Union, is fraught with serious consequences.'

It comes after six seamen were wounded when Russian coast guards opened fire on and then seized three Ukrainian ships during an unprecedented stand-off in the Kerch Strait off Crimea on Sunday.

The clash has raised fears of a wider military escalation and both NATO and the UN Security Council are holding emergency meetings to discuss the crisis yesterday . The two neighbours have been locked in a tense tug-of-war since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Extraordinary footage emerged of the moment a Russian coast guard vessel rammed a Ukrainian navy tugboat under the orders 'squash him'. Crew on the Russian ship were told to 'hold on tight' as it ploughed in to the Ukrainian tug in the Kerch Strait, a narrow channel of water separating annexed Crimea from mainland Russia.

The same Russian ship later opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine's vessels, injuring at least six crew members in what is a key shipping route in the region, Kiev officials said.

The crisis began on Sunday after Russia stopped the three Ukrainian ships from entering the Sea of Azov - a shared territorial area that Moscow has aggressively tried to claim after seizing the peninsula in 2014. Russia's FSB security service said the ships had illegally entered its territorial waters and ignored warnings to stop.

Crew members on board the Russian ship were told to 'hold on tight' as it ploughed in to the Ukrainian tug in the Kerch Strait, a narrow channel of water separating annexed Crimea from mainland Russia

The conflict took place in the Kerch Strait (pictured) - where Russia said Ukrainian ships made 'unauthorised crossings'. Russia blocked the passage using a huge cargo ship (pictured) under the Kerch Bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula

A small armoured Ukrainian artillery ship and a tug boat are seen anchored in the Black Sea port of Kerch, Ukraine, after being seized by Russia

Russia says three Ukrainian Navy vessels (pictured) illegally crossed the Russian border and intruded into Russia's territorial waters

One Ukrainian navy tugboat was travelling with two artillery boats from Odessa on the Black Sea to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov

Russian fighter jets were seen flying low over the Kerch Bridge as tensions increased on Sunday. Sunday's confrontation is a dangerous development in a conflict pitting Ukraine against Russian-backed rebels the country's east

Three of those hurt in the conflict have been named as Andrey Artyomenko (left), 24, Andrey Eyder (right), 18, and Vasily Soroka, 27

Sunday's confrontation is a dangerous development in a conflict pitting Ukraine against Russian-backed rebels the country's east. Thousands have died in fighting between Ukrainian troops and separatists since 2014.

There were angry protests outside Kiev's Russian embassy where a car was torched overnight.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, yesterday accused Ukraine of using 'dangerous methods' in Kerch Strait, where Moscow has constructed a multi-million pound bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula.

Tensions were heightened earlier on Sunday when a Russian coast guard vessel rammed a Ukrainian navy tugboat and blocked off the strait. In audio from a clip of the incident, a man can be heard shouting: 'Squash him, well done, squeeze him from the right, push from the right!

'Push, I'll get him here ****! Push him! Straight ahead! Yes to straight ahead. Go, go ****! Push him!! Straight ahead! (Midships!) Yes to straight ahead.'

He then warns crew members to 'hold on tight'.

Three of those hurt in the conflict have been named as Andrey Artyomenko, 24, Andrey Eyder, 18, and Vasily Soroka, 27.

This morning, EU President Donald Tusk condemned Russian use of force in the clash while France added its voice to international calls for Russia to release the ships.

'Nothing appears to have justified the use of force by Russia,' the French foreign ministry said in a statement.

'We urge Russia to release the Ukrainian sailors and hand back the seized naval vessels as soon as possible.'

Mr Poroshenko had a phone call with NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the situation, and Nato later said that, at Mr Poroshenko's request, its ambassadors and Ukraine's envoy will hold emergency talks in Brussels later.

Nato said Mr Stoltenberg expressed the US-led military alliance's 'full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law'.

Russia and Ukraine have traded blame over the incident, which further escalated tensions that have soared since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

A 2003 treaty designated the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov (shown) as shared territorial waters, but Russia has been asserting greater control over the passage since 2015

The incident began earlier on Sunday when a Russian coast guard vessel rammed this Ukrainian navy tugboat (pictured)

Russia and Ukraine: Key moments in their relationship Ties between Russia and Ukraine have been turbulent since the fall of the Soviet Union, but deteriorated sharply after Kiev's 2014 pro-EU revolution. Amid a new peak in tensions over a naval standoff in the Sea of Azov, here is a recap of key moments in their relationship. Limited Soviet independence In December 1991 Ukraine votes in favour of independence from the Soviet Union in a referendum. Russian president Boris Yeltsin accepts the vote and Russia, Ukraine and Belarus set up a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). But over the next five years, Ukraine seeks ways to escape Russia's guardianship. Perceiving the CIS as an attempt to bring it back under Moscow's control, it turns towards the West and seeks ties with the US-led NATO military alliance - a no-go for Russia. Friendship treaty In May 1997 Russia and Ukraine sign a friendship treaty that reconciles them but without removing a main source of tension: Kiev's ties with NATO. It settles a key disagreement by allowing Russia to retain ownership of the majority of ships in the Black Sea fleet based in Ukraine's Crimea while requiring that Moscow pay Kiev rent to use the port of Sevastopol. Moscow however remains Kiev's most important commercial partner, with Ukraine totally dependent on Russian oil and gas. Pro-West Kiev Ukraine's 2004 presidential election is marred by fraud and the victory of the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych provokes unprecedented protests in the peaceful Orange Revolution. Ukraine's 2004 presidential election was marred by fraud and the victory of the pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych (pictured) provoked unprecedented protests in the peaceful Orange Revolution It leads the vote to be cancelled and in December pro-Western opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko is made president. In January 2005 Yushchenko makes his first trip to Russia in a bid for reconciliation. The 'gas wars' In January 2006 Russian gas monopoly Gazprom suspends vital shipments to Ukraine after months of disputes over the price. The cut affects onward deliveries to European countries hit by a cold snap. Russia again in January 2009 halts gas deliveries to Ukraine owing to the non-payment of debts, also suspending for two weeks all shipments to Europe via Ukraine. There is another halt of several months in 2014 over outstanding payments from Ukraine, which is resolved after marathon EU-brokered talks. Pro-European uprising In November 2013 Yanukovych, president since 2010, suspends talks on a trade and political pact with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia. It sparks weeks of massive protests by pro-European opposition groups demanding the pro-Russian ruler quits. The uprising, centred on Kiev's Independence (Maidan) Square, comes to a head in February 2014 when police fire on protesters. Nearly 90 people are killed, bringing the toll from the three-month uprising to around 100. Yanukovych flees to Russia and an interim government is installed. Russia annexes Crimea Pro-Russian demonstrators clash in February 2014 with supporters of the new interim authorities in Simferopol, the capital of the Crimea peninsula. Russian gunmen seize parliament and government buildings, and raise the Russian flag. Pro-Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms arrange a position on top an APC near Ukrainian marines base in the city of Feodosia, Crimea, on March 23, 2014 On March 16 pro-Moscow officials in Crimea hold a referendum on seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia. An overwhelming 97 percent of Crimeans vote in favour, although the move is deemed illegal by Kiev and Western capitals. Two days later Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a treaty absorbing Crimea into Russia. Separatist rebellion In April 2014 a pro-Russian rebellion erupts in Ukraine's industrial eastern areas with demonstrators seizing local government buildings. Pro-Russian officials in Donetsk and Lugansk declare their regions to be independent. Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of instigating the uprising and pouring in arms and troops to bolster the self-proclaimed republics. The Kremlin denies the claims. The conflict has since then left more than 10,000 people dead. By AFP Advertisement

A Ukrainian National Guard serviceman extinguishes a torch thrown by a protester during a rally against the seizure by Russian special forces

About 50-100 people gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Kiev overnight to protest Moscow's actions. A man is pictured trying to put out a fire after one of the embassy's cars was torched

A man places a paper boat outside the Russian Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, during a protest against the seizure by Russian special forces of three of the Ukrainian navy's ships

Russia claims it was forced to cut off the Kerch Strait with a cargo ship because the Ukrainian navy ships had made an 'unauthorised crossing through Russian territorial waters'. The Kerch Strait was reopened by Monday morning, according to the RIA news agency.

Though a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has been asserting greater control over the passage since 2015. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in a statement said Russia's actions were a violation of the UN Charter.

The statement added Russia was informed in advance about the planned transit. The Ukrainian navy said its tugboat's engine, hull, side railing and a lifeboat had been damaged in the conflict.

'Intercepted video' showing the tugboat being rammed by the Russian border service ship was shared by Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

In a tweet, he described it as a an 'act of aggression' that 'will be used as proof in international court'.

The paper boats have been placed just metres away from security guards policing the entrance to the Russian embassy

The boats have been placed along the walls that surround the consulate in the Ukrainian capital

The protest comes after three crew were injured in conflict in the Kerch Strait and tensions between Ukraine and Russia heighten

Russia's FSB security service justified its actions in a statement: 'Having breached this morning the Russian border, the three Ukrainian ships - the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yani Kapu - tried again on November 25 at 19:00 (Moscow time) to conduct illegal actions in Russian territorial waters.'

The FSB, which oversees the border guard service, also said the Ukrainian ships had failed to respond to the 'legal demands' of the Russian authorities and that they were aiming 'to create a conflict situation in this region'.

Pro-Kremlin media suggested Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko sent the ships through the Kerch Strait in a provocative attempt to boost his approval ratings in the upcoming presidential elections.

The European Union issued a statement saying: 'We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately.'

NATO in a statement also urged 'restraint and de-escalation', and called on Russia 'to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law'.

Police officers stand near smoke flares which were thrown by protesters during a rally against the seizure of Ukrainian ships

Flares were hurled over the fence at the embassy upon the news that three crew members had been injured in the conflict

Crowds gather outside the consulate in the Ukrainian capital to protest the violence in the Kerch Strait
Women in the UK are still being fitted with potentially dangerous silicone breast implants - even though a suspected link to cancer has seen women in France advised against their use.

An investigation by Panorama and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has raised safety concerns about the most commonly used type of silicone breast implant in the UK.

Women in France are being advised not to use the textured silicone breast implants that are highlighted in Panorama tonight while the authorities investigate links with a rare form of cancer.

Janet Trelawny (pictured) had breast cancer twenty years ago. Her breasts were removed and replaced with implants and now she's been diagnosed with a rare cancer linked to the implants

But British women are still having the breast implants put in and there has been no warning from the UK regulator to stop using them.

Janet Trelawny, from Lancashire, had breast cancer over twenty years ago. Her breasts were removed and replaced with implants and now she's been diagnosed with a rare cancer linked to the implants.

When asked by the programme how she felt when the diagnosis came back, she said: 'Devastated, I couldn't believe it.'

'It's frightening to think that something that I'd done because I've had a cancer previously, has then caused me to get cancer again.

'I was absolutely mortified, I was just so... I couldn't believe it. I'm frightened that this can happen and I'd no idea.'

Janet's implants were textured rather than smooth and are the most commonly used type in the UK.

They have been linked to a rare form of cancer- breast implant associated lymphoma.

The investigation by BBC Panorama and the ICIJ has discovered that manufacturers didn't carry out basic tests before selling textured implants to the public.

Dr Suzanne Turner, Dept of Pathology, Cambridge University told Panorama:'It is a concern, absolutely, particularly now that we're seeing breast implant associated lymphoma developing in these ladies.'

'So the risk is small, but it's a risk that we should know about and be informed of.'

Women in the UK are still being fitted with potentially dangerous silicone breast implants - even though a suspected link to cancer has seem them banned in France (stock image)

Now the French regulator has warned women not to use textured implants while it investigates the link with breast implant associated lymphoma.

But the British regulator, the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, hasn't issued a similar warning, so women here are still having the textured implants put in.

Graeme Tunbridge, Group Manager, Devices Regulatory Affairs, MHRA, told Panorama:'We know that there are ongoing concerns about the safety of breast implants, we're keeping a very close eye on that. We will take action where we see that there is a problem.'

The manufacturers say the safety of the implants is supported by extensive testing and studies, as well as more than a decade of use in America and Europe.

Details of a wider investigation by 58 media organisations were released on 25 November and uncovered that patients have been fitted with medical devices that were unsafe, such as implanted contraceptives, hip replacements and pacemakers in the heart.

The details of the investigation released on Sunday by BBC Panorama and the ICIJ revealed patients are being given unsafe medical devices that have not been adequately tested and are ending up inside patients' bodies.

The devices include heart pacemakers, rods to correct spines, and artificial knees and hips.

Implants were found that had failed in baboons, or were tested only on pigs and dead bodies, were coming onto the market.

The industry says it has transformed millions of lives for the better.

The investigation found a lax system of regulation in Europe that allows companies to 'shop around' dozens of safety organisations until one of them approves their product.

It also found that doctors can be left in the dark about the true risk of treatments they are recommending to their patients.

An MHRA spokesman said: 'Patient safety is our highest priority and we are actively investigating this issue. While we understand the concern some individuals may have, BIA-ALCL remains very rare.

'France are not stopping the use of textured breast implants, but are recommending the use of smooth implants. While most cases of BIA-ALCL have been reported in patients with textured implants, there is currently not enough scientific evidence of a causal relationship specifically between textured implants and BIA-ALCL.

'Our advice to clinicians and patients remains unchanged and in conjunction with our work on the EU BIA-ALCL taskforce, it is consistent with the approach taken by the majority of EU member states and is based on extensive clinical advice which is constantly reviewed.

'Clinicians are reminded of the importance of reporting to us any cases of ALCL in their patients who have, or had, breast implants. This information will help us build a more accurate picture of the occurrence of this rare disease in association with breast implants.

'If you have any questions or have breast implants and notice any changes such as lumps, swellings or distortions in your breasts, neck or armpits, please speak to your surgeon or GP.

'If someone thinks that they might have had a side effect or complication from a medical device, they can report it to us through our Yellow Card Scheme.'

'If anyone has questions about any treatment  including an implant  they should speak to their clinician. They are best placed to address any questions that a patient might have.
This is the chilling moment a gang of thugs stormed a house and threatened to kill a heavily pregnant woman with a machete.

The hooded men raided the property in Sparkhill, Birmingham, while the eight-month pregnant woman, her aunt and two young children were inside.

They threw the weapon on the kitchen worktop and demanded gold and cash before threatening to kill the expectant mother.

CCTV from the attempted robbery then captured the gang dashing into a car and flee the house empty-handed.

Hooded men raided the property in Sparkhill, Birmingham, while the eight-month pregnant woman, her aunt and two young children were inside

The expectant mother's father said: 'They are lower than low.

'They have got sisters and mothers - what if someone did that to their mother?

'During the last few days, they panic if they hear the slightest noise. They are shaken. It is very traumatic for them.'

The 25-year-old was at the Bromyard Road home with her two-year-old son, her 41-year-old aunt and her nine-year-old daughter when the doorbell rang just after 8.30pm on Friday.

She opened the door thinking it was her teenage brother who had just gone to the shop to buy naan bread.

The father said: 'Four guys came in with a machete. They demanded gold and money.

'They said "We've had information that you have gold in the house."

'The one with a machete stayed in the kitchen holding my daughter's wrist really tight asking her to tell them where the money was.

'She said "we do not have any money or jewellery."'

The victim kept calm for the sake of her two-year-old son who was in the living room as the man repeatedly hit the machete on the work surface and threatened to kill her.

CCTV from the attempted robbery then captured the gang dash into a car and flee the house empty-handed

A man in a hi-vis jacket then ran upstairs to check the bedrooms but returned empty-handed.

The woman's father said: 'My sister took her rings off her hand and said "take this" but they said they said "we want more."

After a while the men said 'lets dip' - slang for leave - and are said to have fled in a Renault Megane.

Cops arrived within minutes and an investigation is underway.

A spokeswoman from West Midlands Police said: 'Police are investigating an attempted robbery after four men entered a house on Bromyard Road in Sparkhill just after 8.30pm on Friday.

'It is believed one of the men was armed with a knife and made threats as the others searched the upstairs part of the property.

'They made their escape without taking anything with them.'

Birmingham saw 702 robberies in September this year, an increase from 571 in the same month last year.

The city has also seen a staggering increase in the number of recorded crimes in total - suffering 24,548 in the month this year as opposed to 23,208 in 2017.

Birmingham, which is Britain's second biggest city, has also now seen gun crime rates rise above those of the capital.

There have already been more than 33 homicides in the city this year alone, with over 25 gun crimes per 100,000 people, higher than in London.
The U.S. Border Patrol's top agent in the San Diego region said Monday that aggressive migrants trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico on Sunday used women and children as human shields as they hurled rocks and debris at officers guarding a fence.

'Several agents were actually struck by rocks, Chief Patrol Agent Rodney Scott said in a CNN interview.

'What we saw over and over yesterday was that the group  the caravan, as we call them  would push women and children to the front, and then begin, basically, rocking our agents,' he claimed.

Scott said three Border Patrol agents and several vehicles were struck. Agents responded with rubber bullets and canisters of pepper spray.

In an afternoon Fox News interview, National Border Patrol Council president Brandon Judd backed up Scott's view that migrant men are using women and children as shields while they hurled projectiles at uniformed agents.

'The way these people rushed the border was absolutely monstrous,' Judd said.

'They pushed women and children up front. And then behind those women and children, they started throwing rocks, cement bricks, they started throwing bottles at our Border Patrol agents,' he recalled.

Rodney Scott, the chief border agent in San Diego Sector Border Control, said Monday that most of the people in the migrant caravan that has reached the U.S.-Mexico border are job-seekers, not genuine asylum-seekers

A caravan migrant, one of thousands traveling from Central America to the U.S. border, was photographed hurling a rock toward U.S. border patrol on Sunday

National Border Patrol Council president Brandon Judd said it was 'absolutely monstrous' for caravan men to shove women and children to the front while they attacked border guards

A migrant woman and her children famously captured on film fleeing tear gas in front of the Tijuana-San Diego border wall may be an example of defenseless Central Americans put in harm's way by rock-throwing men who gambled that Border Patrol wouldn't retaliate if females and minors were present

Carla Provost, the chief of U.S. Border Patrol, said in a Fox News Channel interview that a large group of migrants 'were throwing rocks and bottles at my men and women, putting them in harm's way as well as other members of the caravan.'

President Trump said hours later during a political rally in Tupelo, Mississippi that his administration will continue to take a hard line on migrants who try to fight or harm border guards.

'We will not tolerate any form of assault or attack upon our border agents, like happened yesterday,' he said, 'or any attempt to destroy federal property, overrun federal authorities or bring chaos and violence to American soil.'

'And if you look at what's happening along the border, you see what's happening. The mayor of Tijuana, he said, these are tough people. These people fight when you talk to them. These are tough people.'

Scott claimed also on Monday that most of the migrants now waiting in Tijuana won't qualify for asylum in the U.S. because they're job-seekers, not legitimate refugees.

Border Patrol chief Carla Provost, told the Fox News Channel on Monday that 'our agents were being assaulted'  as video played of a caravan member hurling a rock toward the border fence

An estimated 7,000 migrants have traveled 2,000 miles through the length of Mexico from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. The Trump administration is defending the southern California border and insisting Mexico deport anyone trying to sneak across.

Media reports have described the migrants as refugees seeking escape from repressive regimes and drug cartels. But Scott said on CNN that 'I do not believe that is true.'

'The vast majority of those, from what we call the northern triangle, they are economic migrants. They don't meet the qualifications to get asylum here,' he said.

Scott acknowledged that 'they can still apply.' But the Department of Homeland Security is processing only about 100 asylum applications per day.

A Honduran migrant in the caravan held a sign as he crossed from Guatemala into Mexico reading: 'Donald Trump, we are not criminals, we are workers who want to work'

President Trump has commented on the frequent sight of Honduran flags among the migrants, defying conventional wisdom that they are trying to escape persecution in their home countries

Applicants have to persuade an interviewer that they have a 'credible fear' of harm if they return to their homelands.

The Refugee Act of 1980 lays out other criteria: They must have experienced persecution  or have a reasonable expectation of persecution  'on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.'

They are also expected to request asylum from federal agents when they reach U.S. soil, whether they arrive by land, air or sea.

As a group of hundreds of caravan migrants stormed border fences on Sunday, dozens made it through. Scott said they evaded Border Patrol.

'What I saw on the border yesterday was not people walking up to Border Patrol agents and asking to claim asylum,' he said.

Agents arrested 42 border-jumpers, including some in a group who 'passed 10 or 15 marked Border Patrol units' that were walking along the fence.

'They were chanting, waving a Honduran flag, and throwing rocks at the agents,' Scott said.

'If they were truly asylum seekers, they would have just walked up with their hands up and surrendered. And that did not take place.'

Scott said Monday on CNN that migrants who managed to jump the border on Sunday tried to evade patrols, rather than turning themselves in and asking for asylum

Asylum applicants must persuade American officials that they have a 'credible fear' of returning to their own countries, a task made harder when they wave those nations' flags

President Donald Trump threatened to 'permanently' close the U.S.-Mexico border if members of a migrant caravan who stormed the heavily guarded fences near Tijuana aren't sent back to their Central American countries

President Donald Trump has expressed doubts about the migrants' motives, underscoring on social media that people who claim to be fleeing their home countries are waving those nations' flags at the U.S.-Mexico border.

'Isnt it ironic that large Caravans of people are marching to our border wanting U.S.A. asylum because they are fearful of being in their country - yet they are proudly waving their countrys flag,' he tweeted ten days ago.

'Can this be possible? Yes, because it is all a BIG CON, and the American taxpayer is paying for it!'

Trump threatened to permanently close the U.S. border with Mexico on Monday, saying he'll take the drastic action if caravan members are not deported back to their Central American homelands.

Border Patrol officers fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at a group of migrants Sunday, including families with young children, as hundreds tried to storm the border.

Scott told CNN that when the migrants approached border fences, they 'immediately started throwing rocks and debris at our agents, taunting our agents.'

'And once our agents were assaulted and the numbers started growing  you know we had two or three agents at a time facing hundreds of people at a time  they deployed tear gas to protect themselves and protect the border.'

Trump has expressed doubts in the past about media reporting that framed the migrant caravan as a large number of asylum-seekers eager to leave their native countries behind

The president waved as he arrived back to the White House with first lady Melania Trump on Sunday night following his Thanksgiving holiday in Palm Beach, Florida; he's taking a far tougher line than his predecessor, President Barack Obama

U.S. Border Patrol officers were pelted with rocks and bottles on Sunday, and responded by firing pepper spray canisters whose output blew toward the advancing crowd

Carla Provost, the chief of U.S. Border Patrol, told the Fox news Channel that 'our agents were being assaulted. A large group approached the area and they were throwing rocks and bottles at my men and women, putting them in harm's way as well as other members of the caravan.'

The confrontation produced chaos and new dangers that prompted U.S. officials to close the crossing between Tijuana and San Diego, stopping everyone in their tracks  including thousands travelling legally between the U.S. and Mexico.

The border reopened Monday morning, but Trump tweeted a stern warning to Mexico: Deport the migrants, a horde that includes 'stone cold criminals,' or see the economically critical crossing sealed permanently.

He called for Congress to fund his border wall with Mexico at a time when congressional Democrats are counting down the final weeks before they take over the House of Representatives.

'Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A.,' Trump tweeted. 'We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!'

The president's ultimatum played on TV screens worldwide Monday morning, alongside images of children screaming and coughing in Sunday's mayhem at the San Ysidro Port of Entry as Border Patrol officers tried to push the surging mass of people back.

The crowd control tactics began when migrants tried to cut a hole in razor wire on the Mexican side of the fence.

Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, told CNN on Monday that Border Patrol was guilty of an 'overuse of force.'

'There are women and children out there. Using tear gas in this situation does not seem justified,' he said.

But Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said she would not put up with the 'lawlessness' and threatened harsh punishments for 'anyone who destroys federal property, endangers our frontline operators, or violates our sovereignty.'

Nielsen confirmed that border personnel were 'struck by projectiles thrown by caravan members.' She condemned those responsible for their 'dangerous' actions that were 'not consistent with peacefully seeking asylum.'

Mexico also vowed to deport about 500 migrants who tried to 'violently' and 'illegally' cross the U.S. border on Sunday, according to the Mexican Interior Ministry.
The body of a missing teenage girl has been found in dumped remote woods in Ohio ,with a fatal bullet wound to her head.

Samantha Guthrie, of Akron, was reported missing by her mother on November 5.

Three weeks later, the 18-year-old's body discovered in a secluded area of Rex Hill Road in New Franklin, located at the southern edge of Summit County, on Saturday night.

An autopsy found her cause of death was a gunshot to the head. The medical examiner ruled it a homicide, WKYC reports.

Samantha Guthrie, 18 (left and right), was last seen alive on November 4 in Akron, Ohio. It is now believed she was possibly shot three weeks ago

Danny Hamby, 39, of Springfield Township, and Toni Kenny, 31, of Warren, are charged with murder over her death.

They are also charged with tampering with evidence and obstructing justice related to the case.

William Alexander, 49, of Akron, is also charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence after he 'admitted to disposing' of her body.

Guthrie's father, Jonathan K. Guthrie, was also arrested for allegedly taking the law into his own hands to try and find his daughter.

The 40-year-old is charged with kidnapping and assault for allegedly holding three people at gunpoint to demand information to help find his daughter.

He wrote on social media after his daughter was found to thank people for their prayers.

'My beautiful baby girl was found. Thank you all for ur [sic] thoughts and prayers,' he wrote on Sunday in a Facebook post, which also featured a link to a GoFundme campaign soliciting donations to pay for Samantha's funeral.

Samantha was reported missing under suspicious circumstances by her mother on November 5. But she actually moved out of home after her 18th birthday in May.

A woman's body was recovered from this wooded area off Rex Hill Road in New Franklin on Saturday

Police had previously arrested four people they believe were with Guthrie before she vanished, among them (top row) William Alexander, 38; Dylan Brown, 19; (bottom row) Danny Hamby, 39, and Toni Kenney, 31

A Facebook group dedicated to the search for Guthrie on Sunday posted an update that read: 'Samantha has been found as of this morning. Please give the family time to start the grieving process. We are forever grateful for all of the love and support through this devastating time.'

The campaign page described the blond, blue-eyed teen as a 'happy, friendly, and vibrant young girl' with a smile that 'made every room glow.'

Police had previously arrested four people they believe were with Guthrie before she vanished, reported Akron Beacon Journal. All are listed as in the Summit County Jail, according to the most recent inmate roster.

Alexander, 38, of Akron, who is being held on $100,000 bond, admitted to detectives that he was present inside the house on Lillian Street when Guthrie was shot.

He also allegedly confessed to moving her body to the trunk of a Mitsubishi Eclipse and transporting it to a wooded area, reported News 5 Cleveland.

Both a Facebook page dedicated to the search for Guthrie (left and right) and the missing teen's father have confirmed her death

It is alleged the 18-year-old was shot while using meth with at least four other people

Alleged accomplices Danny Hamby, 39; Dylan Brown, 19, and Toni Kenney, 31, remained jailed on Monday on counts of tampering with evidence and obstructing justice.

Brown and Kenny are facing additional counts of drug possession and carrying concealed weapons, respectively.

Brown also reportedly admitted to helping carry Guthrie's body to the car, then cleaning up the blood from the floor inside the apartment in Akron, where all five people had gathered that night to use methamphetamine, according to a source familiar with the case.

Hamby's list of charges also includes drug abuse; possession of drug abuse instruments; having weapons under disability; carrying concealed weapons; two probation violations, and a parole violation.

Of the four suspects, Hamby has the most extensive criminal record dating back to 1997 and his name appears on Ohio's sex offender registry stemming from a 2001 conviction on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, reported Akron Beacon Journal.
Viktorija Sokolova, 14, (pictured on a visit to Westminster) was found dead in West Park, Wolverhampton in April this year, just yards away from where her family lived

A teenage boy raped and murdered a 14-year-old schoolgirl before having sex with her dead body, a court heard today.

Viktorija Sokolova was found dead in West Park, Wolverhampton in April this year, just yards away from where her family lived.

The youth, 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of raping Viktorija, originally from Lithuania, killing her and then having sex with her lifeless body.

He went on trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court today, where he denies the three charges against him.

Viktorija was found by a passer-by on April 13, triggering a murder investigation that shocked the surrounding community.

Devastated by her death her family described her as a 'little angel', who made their lives 'colourful and full of meaning'. Neighbours said she was a 'beautiful, bubbly' little girl.

Friends also rallied around to set up the 'Tori Foundation' in a bid to raise money to help her family.

The teenage girl's lifeless body was found in West Park, Wolverhampton (pictured), where a police cordon was put in place and a murder investigation launched

A Facebook group profile read: 'To all Tori's friends and family, we are trying to set something up where all her family and friends get together and raise money to help her parents with everything and let balloons off and light candles for her.

'If you show your support, it would be great. RIP Tori, we all love you millions.'

A jury of four men and eight woman were sworn in and prosecutor Jonathan Rees QC will open the case on Wednesday.

He said: 'There will be DNA evidence in the case, there will also be statements from the victim's mother and stepfather.'

Today a boy, 16, went on trial for her rape, murder, and having sex with her lifeless body. Pictured are police officers scouring West Park in Wolverhampton for evidence

Adam Cane QC, defending, told the jury: 'Viktorija Sokolova was originally from Lithuania was attacked in West Park on April 11 and 12 this year.

'The young man in question is 16-years-old. You will hear evidence from a number of people including her step father and biological mother and her friends.'

Dressed in a blue t-shirt and jeans the defendant spoke only to enter three not guilty pleas before being remanded into youth custody.

The case is expected to last for at least two weeks.
Retired army officer Peter Laidler, 71, allegedly abused his position as armourer by stealing weapons from the Small Arms School Collection in Warminster, Wiltshire

A retired army officer stole weapons worth tens of thousands of pounds from the Ministry of Defence and sold them to dealers or gave them to fellow firearms enthusiasts as 'gifts', a court heard today.

Peter Laidler, 71, from Oxfordshire, allegedly abused his position as armourer at an Army weapons collection facility for 18 years as he stole a series of expensive firearms - including a 50,000 UA 86AO570 C sniper rifle.

A court today heard three other weapons enthusiasts and former army personnel knowingly handled the stolen guns which were taken from the Small Arms School Collection (SASC) in Warminster, Wiltshire.

MoD police officer Roger Smith, 60, registered firearms dealer Adrian Bull, 64, and former soldier Stuart Pemberton, 51, are accused of handling the weapons as well as tampering with serial numbers.

Most of the weapons taken were SA80 rifles worth up to 7,500 while others include Lee Enfields worth up to 5,750 and an Accuracy International L96 worth 7,500.

Others in Smith's possession included a rifle with a bayonet and an antique German World War One Mauser rifle which was 'valuable and historic', making it 'inconceivable that SASC would part with it'.

Former Army Captain Laidler allegedly also stole a number of weapon parts with which he built new weapons.

Ministry of Defence police officer Roger Smith (left), 60, and registered firearms dealer Adrian Bull (right), 64, are accused of handling the weapons as well as tampering with serial numbers

Former soldier Stuart Pemberton, 51, is also accused of handling the expensive weapons and appeared at Winchester Crown Court

The court heard weapons recovered by police appeared to have been tampered with and new serial numbers engraved 'for authenticity'.

Matthew Jewell QC, prosecuting, said some of the weapons were 'gifted' by Laidler to the other defendants, who he is friends with.

Mr Jewell QC said: '[Laidler] is a former police officer and also a former army officer, and has a keen interest in firearms as do the other defendants.

'Smith is a police officer with the MOD police and has known Laidler for many years.

'Bull is a registered firearms dealer and has too known Laidler for a long time.

'Pemberton is a former soldier who came into contact with Laidler when Laidler was based at the Small Arms School Collection.

'Laidler stole weapons and parts of weapons belonging to the Army during his time at SASC, they included a number of SA80 rifles, sniper rifles and Lee Enfield rifles.

'He did not have permission to take any of those weapons and treat them as his own.

'Some were sold on to other firearms enthusiasts, while others were kept by Laidler at his home address where they were found by police.

Among the expensive firearms were SA80 rifles worth up to 7,500 and a UA 86AO570 C sniper rifle worth 50,000. (Stock image)

'Some were passed on to Smith, who was trained in firearms during his time with the MOD police and he must have known or at least believed that the weapons which went through his hands were stolen.'

He added: 'SASC is an organisation run by trustees. Weapons which come into the collection are recorded. Likewise, every weapon which was disposed of or destroyed would be recorded.

'It will not surprise you to hear there are specific procedures which should be followed.

'The absence of any such record [of a weapon's destruction], where the weapon is found outside the Army in civilian hands, would be evidence suggesting the weapon had been stolen.

Laidler also stole Lee Enfield rifles and a UA 86AO570 C sniper rifle worth 50,000 during his 18 years as armourer. (Stock image)

'Laidler was employed at the SASC as the armourer; he did not have any authority to permit the disposal, destruction or sale of weapons.'

Mr Jewell QC said Laidler stole the weapons and sold them through gunsmiths Fultons.

In 2007, firearms dealer Chris Goodwin purchased an SA80 rifle from Fultons for 3,500, of which 2,250 went to Laidler as he supplied the gun.

Mr Jewell QC said: 'None of that money was paid to SASC.

'It is inconceivable that the trustees at SASC would have allowed Laidler simply to take and sell this weapon for that amount of money, let alone allow him to keep it for himself.'

He also said Laidler 'gifted' Smith with a WW1 Mauser rifle. He said: '[Fultons] record it as being 'gifted' to Smith in May 2009.

'This must have been down to Laidler, and indeed Smith confirmed when interviewed by police.

'This weapon is of some value, and so it is inconceivable that SASC would part with a historic weapon of that value as a 'gift'.'

Laidler also had an 'iconic Lee Enfield Mark III rifle' transferred to Smith which was formerly owned by a Lieutenant Colonel Findlay.

Mr Jewell QC said stolen parts were later put together to form a 'new' weapon.

A 'UA 86AO570 C sniper rifle', which is typically worth 50,000, was also taken by Laidler. Other weapons stolen and handled by the defendants include straight-pull rifles worth up to 6,500.

The prosecutor said: 'Pemberton received only one weapon from Laidler - a sniper rifle.

'No money changed hands. The rifle was a high value item and Pemberton was to exchange it for a different weapon via a firearms dealer, but the rifle he had received from Laidler was purchased in 2015 for 30,000.

'It is inconceivable the Army would have permitted Laidler to take such a weapon and treat it as his own, and inconceivable that Pemberton should receive it and subsequently dispose of it without knowing or believing it was stolen.'

Peter Laidler, 71, of Anson Close, Marcham, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, denies 13 counts of theft and one count of handling stolen goods.

Roger Smith, 60, of Bullfinch Road, Emsworth, Hampshire, denies six counts of handling stolen goods.

Adrian Bull, 64, of High Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, denies three counts of handling stolen goods and Pemberton, 51, of Warminster, denies handling stolen goods.

The offences all allegedly took place between 1998 and 2016.

The trial continues.
Tory MP Nick Boles (file) is pushing for a 'Plan B' Brexit if Theresa May's deal fails said the proposals had 'evolved' today to make them easier to adopt.

A Tory MP revealed today he was 'evolving' a 'Plan B' Brexit to make it easier to agree with Brussels if Theresa May's deal fails in Parliament.

Nick Boles, a former minister under David Cameron, said instead of trying to negotiate a brand new trade deal in just two years Britain should join a group called the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in 2021.

This is a group of countries around the European Union which have close economic ties to the bloc but who are not full members. It includes Norway and Switzerland.

Joining EFTA would mean Britain continuing to follow many EU rules and staying in the single market - including keeping free movement.

It would still allow the UK to leave EU rules on agriculture and fisheries as planned, while keeping open the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Mrs May dismissed the idea today as 'not delivering on the vote of the British people'.

Mr Boles said if Britain signs up to the group after the Brexit transition period ends in December 2020, it will not ever have to use the Irish border backstop.

What is EFTA? EFTA is a four member organisation that allows countries to trade inside the EU single market without having to be full EU members. It currently includes Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland and operates trading rules in parallel with the EU. EFTA members are allowed to enter into trade deals with other countries, unlike EU member states - but members are expected to coordinate their activity. Britain was a founding member in 1960 but quit the group to become a full member of the then European Economic Community, a pre-cursor to the EU. Advertisement

He admitted today Britain would have to sign up for an 'indefinite' period without a planned exit unlike the backstop plan - but said it would avoid the complex arrangements for Northern Ireland critics claim damage the Union.

Mr Boles insisted Britain could still negotiate a new trade deal in future, using EFTA as a 'platform' to negotiate.

Some members of the Cabinet are said to be backing the 'Plan B' amid wide expectation Mrs May's deal is doomed to defeat in Parliament on December 11.

Mr Boles said: 'Good to see that people are taking Norway Plus seriously as a Plan B.

'But important to note that it is very unlikely that Norway and other EFTA states will accept temporary membership. If we join it will need to be an indefinite commitment.

'The Norway option has evolved in response to feedback from EFTA states and EU experts as well as understanding of the position of the different parties in Parliament.'

Theresa May's (pictured in the Commons today) deal appears doomed to defeat when it comes before MPs in a crucial vote early next month

He added: 'Customs union until new arrangements have been agreed to the satisfaction of UK, Republic of Ireland and EU. Anybody's guess how long that will take.'

DUP leader Arlene Foster hinted yesterday she could back a 'plan B' Brexit if Ms May's deal is destroyed in the Commons.

Mrs Foster told the BBC's Andrew Marr she would consider any plan that did not separate Northern Ireland from the mainland UK.

She insisted the deal negotiated by Mrs May in Brussels, endorsed by EU leaders at an historic summit this morning, clearly breached the red line.

Mrs Foster told Marr: 'I believe we should use the time now to look for a third way, a different way, a better way.'
Roger Stone associate Jerome Corsi says he is rejecting a plea deal offer by Robert Mueller's investigators  and blasted the special counsel for what he termed 'Gestapo' tactics.

Corsi says Mueller's team offered him a \deal that would have him plead guilty to a single count of perjury  but that he is refusing it.

'They can put me in prison the rest of my life. I am not going to sign a lie,' Corsi, who used to run the Washington bureau for the InfoWars conspiracy theory site, told CNN.

Mueller's team is investigating whether informal Donald Trump advisor Roger Stone had advance knowledge during the campaign about WikiLeaks, which published thousands of hacked Democratic emails during the campaign.

Jerome Corsi says he has rejected a plea deal by Robert Mueller's investigators, who he compared to the Nazi Gestapo

Conservative outlet One America News also reported on Corsi's plans, as well as on his threatened retaliation.

'Corsi expected to REJECT Mueller's extended single count of perjury. Expect the 72-year-old Corsi to respond with a soon to be released book highlighting special counsel Mueller's 'GESTAPO' tactics,' OAN tweeted.

OAN also reported Corsi is 'preparing to file a CRIMINAL COMPLAINT against Mueller's Investigation' with acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, who Trump effectively placed in charge of the Russia probe when he named him and forced out attorney general Jeff Sessions.

Corsi said on his YouTube show he expected to be indicted

Trump associated Roger Stone denies coordinating with WikiLeaks over hacked emails

Corsi says Robert Mueller's team offered him a plea offer that would have him admit to a single count, perjury

Corsi maintained to the network that he had a faulty memory, but did not admit to willfully or knowingly lying.

Corsi said on his YouTube channel before Thanksgiving he expected to be indicted by Mueller.

Reports of the breakdown come as former Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos, who admitted to lying to the FBI, was due to report to jail to begin serving his own two-week sentence.

Corsi accused Mueller of 'Gestapo' tactics and planned to respond by writing a book, OAN reported

Stone came under scrutiny for cryptic tweets that appeared to foreshadow the release of hacked emails that the intelligence community says were stolen by Russian military intelligence.

But he has vehemently denied being a conduit for WikiLeaks. He has said in a statement he 'had no advanced notice of the source or content or the exact timing of the release of the WikiLeaks disclosures.'

He told AP Friday: 'It is clear from his recent videos and his recent interviews that my friend Dr. Corsi has been under a tremendous amount of pressure and it is beginning to affect him profoundly. He has stated publicly that he is being asked over and over to say things he simply does not believe occurred.'
A 15-year-old girl in China was alleged forced into prostitution by six other teenagers before being beaten to death by them, according to Chinese media.

It is claimed that the schoolgirl from Shenmu city was forced to receive a customer by the underage suspects on September 23 in a hotel, but the customer who was referred to as 'an uncle' was not satisfied with the girl's 'service'.

The girl was then said to be beaten by the suspects with belts, fists and bricks for a few hours until she died. The suspects then dismembered the girl before burying her remains, accounts claim.

Pictures released by Chinese news outlet Btime.com shows the 15-year-old victim before she was allegedly forced into prostitution and murdered by a group of teenagers in Shenmu, China

The shocking case was first exposed on social media by a local blogger last Thursday before being investigated by Chinese national news sites.

A spokesperson from the Shenmu Public Bureau told Beijing-based news site Btime.com on Friday that the descriptions in the social media posts were largely true, but the case was still being investigated.

A report from BJ News yesterday also confirmed the claims after speaking to the victim's parents. The report said the girl's parents, who had been looking for her for two months, were told the situation by the Shenmu police last week.

In an official statement today, Shenmu government confirmed that a female middle-school student had been murdered and six suspects, all under 18 years old, had been detained. The statement did not reveal further details.

The government of Shenmu (file photo) confirmed today that a female middle-school student had been murdered and six suspects, all underage, had been detained by police

According to various news reports, the victims' family originally come from Xing county in Shanxi Province in northern China.

They now live in Shenmu city in north-western China's Shaanxi Province after moving there for work.

It is said that the victim was left her home on September 23 when both of her parents were away. She never returned.

Speaking to BJ News, the victim's mother Wang Xiuhua said the victim was a quiet girl who was much spoilt by her family.

Ms Wang, who works as a cleaner at a karaoke parlour, claimed that her daughter had got to know the suspects online.

She said after she started working at the karaoke, she didn't have as much time as before to look after her daughter.

The victim also has an elder brother who she was close with. But after her brother enrolled into a boarding school, the victim started to spend a lot of time by herself.

The victims' family are originally from Xing county in Shanxi but now live in Shenmu in Shaanxi

Ms Wang said the victim had gone missing twice before, once in July and once in August, but she returned home the next day. She was said to have spent both nights at internet cafes.

Chinese news site The Paper reported that the victim's parents had called the police and posted a missing persons report online, but did not receive any information.

The report said the family were contacted by police on November 20 after a body thought to be their daughter's had been found.

According to The Paper, the body was discovered after four of the suspects took the police to the site where they had buried the victim's remains.

The victim's parents have undergone a DNA test and are waiting for a report to see if the corpse in question did belong to their child.

Shenmu police said they were carrying out further investigation.
Kayla Oldfield, 28, from the village of Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, South Wales, had chronic back pain but said the tablets she was given by her doctor did not help

A young mother was found dead after using strong painkillers prescribed to a relative who was taking them for cancer.

Kayla Oldfield, 28, from the village of Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, South Wales, had chronic back pain but said the tablets she was given by her doctor did not help.

An inquest heard Ms Oldfield started using Oxicodol which were meant for her partner's dying mother.

But she was unaware of the correct dose and took so many it killed her, the hearing was told.

Her partner Richard Hatch, 34, came home from picking their six-year-old son up from school to find Ms Oldfield 'unresponsive' on the sofa.

Mr Hatch told the inquest: 'Her doctor had given her Tramadol but they stopped working for her.

'Kayla was aware that my mum was taking Oxicodol for her cancer - she just thought they were painkillers.

'I don't know how often she took them, I saw her take one or two. I showed them to the police when they came to the house after she passed away.'

Ms Oldfield's mother Carol Haddon told the hearing her daughter was prescribed Tramadol but was still in pain and 'not getting much joy' from her GP.

Checks were made with her GP who said Ms Oldfield had never been prescribed Oxicodol, an opiate similar to morphine.

Ms Oldfield's mother Carol Haddon told the hearing her daughter (pictured) was prescribed Tramadol but was still in pain and 'not getting much joy' from her GP

Blood tests found Ms Oldfield's level of the drug were up to three times the potential fatal range.

Pathologist Dr Andrew Bamber said: 'High doses can slow down your breathing, or even stop it, which is why they are dangerous.

'Oxicodol comes in different strengths - people get used to it in their system and start taking more. It sounds like she took it occasionally, it would explain someone's death if they are not used to it.'

The inquest in Pontypridd heard the cause of death on February 12 was Oxicodol toxicity.

Ms Oldfield had moved from Stroud, Gloucestershire, to the Welsh village to start a new life with her partner Richard.

She posted on Facebook before she died: 'Smile guys, everything is possible' and said she was looking forward to making new friends in South Wales.

Glamorgan assistant coroner Graeme Hughes said the drug was not an 'illicit substance' but it had not been prescribed to Ms Oldfield.

He said: 'She was taking Tramadol but also took Oxicodol prescribed to her partner's mother. She consumed an amount of Oxicodol that led to her death.'

The coroner said the Office of National Statistics, which analyses drug data, would be notified.

He recorded a verdict that Ms Oldfield's death was drug related from a non-prescribed medication.
European stocks posted solid gains on Monday morning, as investors digested fresh developments surrounding the U.K.'s withdrawal process from the EU. The pan-European STOXX 600 popped 1.15 percent in morning deals, with all major bourses ticking higher. Across the board, sectors showed a positive picture with banks, autos, insurance and energy leading the way.

As CNBC writes in an article "European markets rise after EU backs PM May's Brexit deal; Italian banks jump", in the corporate space, European lenders posted sharp gains in early trade with a number of Italian banks  including Unicredit, Banco BPM and Mediobanca  hitting the top of the benchmark. Italy continues to be closely watched, as investors await economic developments.

On Monday, Reuters reported, citing a government source, that the country's governing coalition has been looking into whether it should lower 2019's budget deficit target to as low as 2 percent of gross domestic product, to dodge a disciplinary procedure from Brussels. The rise in Italian banks boosted the FTSE MIB, which jumped over 3 percent in early deals.

On the corporate side, Eurofins Scientific rose over 4.5 percent, after the laboratory testing group confirmed its objectives for 2018, and extended its organic growth targets beyond 2020. Boskalis meantime jumped over 5 percent after announcing that it had signed an agreement with Saudi Aramco, to partner in its investment program.

Energy stocks received a boost during the session as oil prices bounced back from Friday's declines.In early European trading, U.S. crude was hovering just over $51, while Brent crude shot up over 2 percent, above $60 per barrel. The recovery in oil helped support markets in Asia, which were mixed to higher on Monday.

EU backs Brexit deal, obstacles loom

Over the weekend, leaders from the European Union (EU) chose to endorse the Brexit withdrawal deal laid out by U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May. The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker said that the U.K. leader's agreement was the best deal possible for the U.K.; but added that he was sad at the U.K.'s decision to exit the EU, when speaking to reporters in Brussels.

While the backing from EU shows progress for May's withdrawal agreement, the deal still needs parliamentary approval. The British leader will now have to face officials in her home country during the weeks ahead.

Lawmakers from many U.K. political parties, including the opposition Labour party, have signaled that they would vote against the agreement. Consequently, investors will be keeping a close eye on the developments, to see how it impacts markets and sterling.

Elsewhere, investors are looking ahead to a G-20 summit set to take place in Argentina later this week, where President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping are due to meet. The summit will be watched closely for how relations between both countries develop, in addition to further news surrounding trade.
This is the terrifying moment a huge deer ran out of the woods straight into an oncoming vehicle, killing itself and leaving the driver hospitalised.

The shocking incident took place in a small village in Poland called Olszyn, near the Belarus border.

The Honda was also carrying two passengers, a woman and a man, who were both taken to hospital along with the driver is in a coma with a broken spine.

The car is seen driving down a quiet road in Olszyn, Poland, before the deer jumps out

The animal burst through the windscreen of the car, dying in the process, with a policeman at the scene calling it a 'blessing in disguise' that its antlers protruded out of the car.

'It was a large animal weighing about 200 kilograms (31.5 st) , a blessing in disguise that the antlers protruded outside the vehicle,' said asp. Piotr Lachota, the duty officer of the State Fire Service in Tarnow, a nearby city.

The shocking video shows the deer leap from the woods next to the road and smash into the windscreen before the camera falls to the floor.

After the collision with the deer, the car pulled off the road and hit the concrete culvert during the incident on Friday.

Similar footage from the Polish countryside, around 80km north of Wroclaw, was shot this week, with the deer completely clearing the car.

In the clip, the deer is able to outrun the car with ease before totally clearing it with a stunning leap.

The 31stone deer jumps straight into the path of the Honda car and falls onto the windscreen

Three people were in the car and the driver is in a coma after breaking his spine in the accident

Behaviour like this is surprisingly common among deer, with a similar incident taking place in Slovakia in early April.

The strikingly similar footage was filmed by a motorist who captured the stag running across the open land, as if racing the vehicle.

The stunning creature refuses to slow down as it approaches the wide road before making an enormous leap over the road.

There are many theories as to why deer and elk jump at moving cars with the most likely being that they are spooked by the encounters and act irrationally in their confusion.

They also strive to link up with their herds and so will do anything to get to them, including these leaps of faith.
A woman's blind trust in satellite navigation technology has led her car straight to the train tracks in Pennsylvania last week.

Police in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, shared a picture on their Facebook page on Wednesday showing a white sedan stuck on the railway tracks in the city.

They jokingly wrote: 'The GPS told me to do it'

How did it get there? Police in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, shared a picture on their Facebook page showing a vehicle on the train tracks; the driver blamed her GPS device for the snafu

According to the post, at 10pm on November 21, police officers got a report of a vehicle on the tracks at Grant Avenue and State Route 837.

'Arriving Officers learned from driver, a female from Sewickley, that her GPS advised her to go this way,' police stated.

The author of the post noted that the motorist was '100% sober and had no medical conditions affecting her decision making.

Police posted on Facebook the driver told them her GPS device (file image) led her to the railway tracks, where the car became stuck

No injuries were reported as a result of the GPS misdirection.

Police had the stranded car towed from the tracks and cited the driver for careless driving.

If convicted, the unidentified woman could face up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine not more than $300.
Juma Omar allegedly mounted the busy pavement in the tourist hotspot last year

An Uber driver sparked fears of a terrorist attack after ploughing into a group of people outside the Natural History Museum and launching them into the air, a court heard.

Juma Omar's Black Toyota Prius, allegedly mounted the busy pavement in the tourist hotspot at around 2:20pm on October 7 last year - sending pedestrians sprawling before colliding with two cars.

Up to 11 people suffered non-life threatening injuries in the collision in South Kensington, southwest London.

Omar, who had been driving around uninsured and without a licence for two years, was wrestled to the floor and detained by passers-by, the Old Bailey heard.

Counter-terrorism officers were dispatched to the scene which has remained cordoned off following the crash after pedestrians feared it was a terror attack.

Prosecutor Bill McGivern said: Mr Omar was waiting for his passenger when his vehicle shot forward, mounting the pavement and hitting a number of pedestrians.

People thought it was some kind of attack going on - this man put his foot down on the accelerator and instead of taking his foot off he kept it down.

He ploughed through the people who were in the vicinity of the vehicle, knocked them down and this, the crown say, amounted to dangerous driving.

Members of the public were fleeing, they thought this might have been a terrorist attack.

This was a classic case of of pushing the wrong pedal and then continuing to push it.

CCTV footage played to the jury showed the heart-stopping moment Omar slammed on the accelerator.

People can be seen running in panic as Omars car drove across the pavement before doing a U-turn and continuing to hit those in his path.

CCTV footage played to the jury at the Old Bailey (pictured) showed the heart-stopping moment Omar slammed on the accelerator, launching members of the public into the air

The whole incident lasted just over six seconds during which time Omar did not take his foot off the accelerator, jurors were told.

Omars out of control Prius was only halted when he smashed into two parked cars.

Fortunately no one suffered any serious injury, only cuts and bruises, jurors heard.

Omar emerged from the car frantically saying Im so sorry, Im so sorry.

He was then wrestled to the ground and detained by passers-by.

Omar later told police: Suddenly the car started moving forward, I dont know how.

I put the brake down and the car started moving, I couldnt control it - I dont know how this happened.

It was out of control, I tried to brake and the car was still moving.

Investigators inspected Omars car and found no faults with it, the court heard.

Omar, of Barking, east London, denies one count of dangerous driving.

After the incident police said they were not treating it as terror related

The trial continues.
The images are horrendous.

A desperate mother fleeing with her little kids as US border patrol guards open fire on them with teargas.

Her terrified children crying, spluttering and screaming  desperate to escape the gasping, pain-inducing hell of the gas as it enveloped them.

No compassionate human being can possibly look at the photographs and feel anything but horror.

No compassionate human being can possibly look at photographs of a mother and children at the border fleeing gas and feel anything but horror

They were taken yesterday afternoon on the Mexico-US border point at San Ysidro in Tiguana, where a caravan of over 5000 migrants has amassed after a lengthy journey from Central America.

The border guards claimed they fired teargas because they were threatened by a group of several hundred mostly male migrants, some throwing rocks as they stormed the border trying to illegally enter the U.S. after opening a small hole in concertina wire.

Within minutes, breaking news flashed around the world: Trump teargasses defenseless migrant women and kids!

Cable news moved swiftly to saturation coverage of the latest outrage by the man they consider the most outrageous president Americas ever seen.

And of course, liberal celebrities raced to Twitter to scream their foul-mouthed fury and abuse at him.

You tear-gassed woman and children, a**wipe! shrieked actress Alyssa Milano, one of the more fervent and relentless Trump-hating stars. And on Thanksgiving weekend, you piece of sh*t, a**hole, mother*cking, evil-creature-person!

Yet amid the outpouring of equally enraged responses to her tweet to Trump, one leaped out at me from someone named Brandon Darby, a conservative blogger and managing director of Breitbart Texas, a right-wing website.

Hey, he tweeted Milano, Barack Obama did the same thing at the same exact place in 2013. Did you call him names too?

I clicked on the link Darby provided and it took me to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper from November 25, 2013, headlined: BORDER PATROL: CROWD CONFRONTS AGENTS.

The intro read: A group of about 100 people trying to illegally cross the border Sunday near the San Ysidro port of entry threw rocks and bottles at U.S. Border Patrol agents, who responded by using pepper spray and other means to force the crowd back into Mexico

He was right.

Obama had indeed done the same thing, albeit with his border agents using pepper spray not teargas, at the same exact place.

In fact, by a very weird coincidence, it was on the exact same month and day.

Obama did the same thing, albeit with his border agents using pepper spray not teargas, at the same exact place on the exact same month and day. But no one seemed to care then

The only difference is that nobody seemed to care very much, and certainly not Alyssa Milano or her celebrity friends for whom Obama can never do any wrong.

And this is my problem with the liberal outrage over everything Trump does, and especially over immigration: its very, very selective.

As I repeatedly remind people, Saint Barack Obama deported more illegal immigrants in his 8-year tenure than any other president in the history of the United States.

He was so zealous in his mission he threw out over three million people and earned himself the nickname Deporter-in-Chief in Mexico.

This was no accident; illegal immigration was something Obama had always felt very strongly about.

In 2005, he said: We simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented, unchecked and circumnavigating the line of people who are waiting patiently, diligently and lawfully to become immigrants into this country.

So the idea Obama would have simply sat back and let these latest large groups of migrants charge into America illegally is obviously utter nonsense.

Just as his anger at Trump over the Presidents appalling child separation policy earlier this year struck me as very hollow given Obama himself locked up hundreds of central American kids in steel cages while they were being processed  and unofficially caused many to be separated from their parents too.

Its just as laughable to think the Clintons would do nothing either.

Until very recently, when its suited them to demonise Trump over immigration, theyve always competed with each other to see who can be tougher on the issue.

It was Bill Clinton who presided over the draconian Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which represented a dramatic increase in immigration enforcement. The Border Patrol was substantially enlarged, numerous minor immigration violations were newly criminalised and deportations thus significantly increased.

He boasted: Our administration has moved aggressively to secure our borders more by hiring a record number of new border guards, by deporting twice as many criminal aliens as ever before, by cracking down on illegal hiring, by barring welfare benefits to illegal aliens.

Bill Clinton presided over the draconian Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which represented a dramatic increase in immigration enforcement. Hillary Clinton publicly supported the Act

Hillary Clinton publicly supported the Act.

And the same Hillary, speaking specifically about the surge of illegal immigrant children crossing the border from Central America, told CNN in 2014: We have to send a clear message, just because you child gets across the border, that doesnt mean the child gets to stay. So we dont want to send a message that is contrary to our laws or will encourage more children to make that dangerous journey. She added that they should be sent back.

Hillary also loves to berate Trump for his controversial plans for a Wall across the southern border, but she once herself voted in favour of legislation to build a fence along 700 miles of the same border in a bill called the Secure Fence Act of 2006.

I voted numerous times when I was a senator to spend money to build a barrier to try to prevent illegal immigrants from coming in, she admitted.

One womans fence or barrier is another mans wall.

So lets cut the hypocritical crap over Trump and immigration.

He might express himself in more belligerent, bellicose language  though even that is debatable in this case - but the attitude he has towards illegal immigrants is not really much different to that espoused by Obama and the Clintons.

Trump might express himself in more belligerent, bellicose language but the attitude he has towards illegal immigrants is not much different to that espoused by Obama and the Clintons

However distasteful these new images may be to people who prefer to turn a blind eye to what happened under previous administrations, the more pressing concern is that Americas immigration policy clearly needs urgent and long overdue bi-partisan reform.

With regard to the caravan migrants, I am all for helping people fleeing war-zones or oppression seek asylum in countries like the United States, or Britain for that matter.

But they have to do it the right way.

Its not acceptable to just charge at a border to try to get in illegally.

There is a process, and there are laws, that must be recognised and abided by.

Weve seen what's happened in Europe over the past few years when countries lost control of their borders as millions of migrants swept across the continent, many to escape from the Syrian war.

Too little was done too late to deal with the problem, and as a result, horrible amounts of death and chaos ensued.

Trump doesnt want a similar crisis arriving at Americas door, and nor frankly should any American.

As for this mother, I dont think its harsh or unfair to ask what the hell she thought she was doing

As for the mother in the photographs from yesterday, I dont think its harsh or unfair to ask what the hell she thought she was doing taking them to join a large group of men rushing the border after repeated warnings from President Trump that any such behaviour would be met with force?

Yes, America has a responsibility to help genuine asylum seekers.

But parents too have a responsibility not to deliberately put their children in potential harms way like that.

I didnt like those teargas photos.

But nobody died, and there is a bigger picture here in which the problem isnt Donald Trump.
Edward 'Ted' White, who turned 100 on Monday, saved lives through his music to get extra camp rations. He was sent to the Laufen POW camp in Austria in 1941

A former World War Two prisoner of war saved lives by learning to play music and formed a band to perform for extra rations.

Edward 'Ted' White only had basic music skills when he was captured - but emerged from the camp a talented musician who went on to write for Vera Lynn and the BBC.

Ted - who turned 100 on Monday- was arrested by the Nazis when they overthrew the Channel Island of Jersey.

He was sent to the Austrian prisoner of war camp Laufen, which was known for overcrowding.

Food was scarce and Ted, from Truro, Cornwall, said he and his fellow inmates were wasting away and going to starve.

But Ted came up with a plan to help them survive their ordeal and managed to get word out to the Red Cross that he needed instruments.

Ted, circled, saw his fellow inmates wasting away at the hands of the Germans. He came up with a plan to help them survive their ordeal through forming a band

When they arrived he managed to form a POW band - The Swingternees - who were sent out to play and entertain German citizens.

His family say Ted, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Monday, had entered the camp in 1941 with some skills on the clarinet and saxophone.

But he emerged four years later as a skilled composer.

Ted and others formed a band, The Swingternees, above, who were sent out to play for German citizens. Fellow internees in the camp included Ronnie Stott, who Ted taught to play, and after the war became a distinguished professional musician

He had taught himself to play several orchestral instruments and to write music and, after the camp was liberated he launched a successful musical career.

His son David, 67, said he was still writing music until just three years ago, and his credits include compositions for the Dame Vera Lynn and Billy Ternent.

Ted also wrote music for a string of BBC classic hit shows including Steptoe and Son and Fawlty Towers.

And David says he would never have become the musician he did without his ordeal at the hands of the Nazis.

Ted, who now lives in Truro, Cornwall, poses with his saxophone. Ted also wrote music for a string of BBC classic hit shows including Steptoe and Son and Fawlty Towers

He said: 'When the fighting began he went to Jersey, and when he was there he had lessons on writing and arranging music from the leader of the Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

'But a short while later Jersey was overrun and most of the men, including my father, were rounded up and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Austria.

'The time there meant that he could do a lot more writing and arranging so it improved his skills massively as he had more time to concentrate on it.

'Towards the end of the war they were starving in the camp and he managed to get the Red Cross to send instruments.

'He wrote to them and explained his situation and they sent instruments to them, somehow they managed to send them.'

Ted White is pictured with his wife Mary, taken before 1947, left. The couple are pictured right on their wedding day in 1947. Mary died at the age of 82, and had two children; David White, now 67, and Michael White, now 66

The charity somehow managed to get the instruments sent across from Switzerland, and Ted set about learning to play them.

David added: 'They sent over trumpets and trombones, then they managed to source a drum kit and a double bass from somewhere.

'But he was a saxophone player and didn't know how to play the trumpet or the trombone, so he taught himself how to play in a rudimentary fashion.

'He then taught his fellow inmates to play and they were sent out to play for German citizens in nearby towns and they were paid in extra rations for people in the camps.

Ted White with his son David and his wife Mary taken in 1952. After the war he became attached to the BBC TV Orchestrations department under Ronnie Hazlehurst

'They were starving, that was his way of helping the people in the camp.

'The band were from all over Europe, they all went back to their own countries after the war.

'He kept in touch with some of them immediately after the war, but not any more.'

Ted wrote a number of arrangements for Vera Lynn to use when she was performing live, but now can't recall which they were.

Ted White, left, plays with the Billy Ternent band after the war. He had taught himself to play several orchestral instruments and to write music and, after the camp was liberated he launched a successful musical career

David added: 'I think it's true to say his time in the prisoner of war camp honed his skills, and his later success was in some way a result of his imprisonment during WWII.

'Certainly for as far as the writing side of his career, most definitely. He went on to write for Dame Vera Lynn.

'He admired her very much, quite late in his life he was asked to do more arrangements for her, they must have had a good working relationship.'

Fellow internees in the camp alongside Ted included Ronnie Stott, who Ted taught to play, and after the war became a distinguished professional musician.

Australian pianist Gilbert Hughes and Henry Mollison, best known for his role as Hoskins, in the film, The Man In The White Suit, were also in the camp.

Henry would put on plays for those in the camp and Ted wrote music for many of them, including Noel Coward's Present Laughter.

David added: 'He became attached to the BBC TV Orchestrations department under Ronnie Hazlehurst.

'Here he worked on legendary shows such as Fawlty Towers, Steptoe & Son, The Good Life and the annual Royal Variety Show.

Ted White with his band 'Sax Pack' in the 80s, with Ted at the back of the group in the grey suit. The former World War Two prisoner of war saved his and others' lives by learning to play music

'He was still writing until very recently, he only stopped at 97-years-old.'

Ted was married to Mary White, who died at the age of 82, and had two children David White, 67, Michael White, 66.

He also has three grandchildren Edward White, 30, Robert White, 29, and Alasdair White (corr), 24.
This is the moment a female driver ran over armed thugs who had tried to hijack her vehicle in Brazil.

The woman had been driving through the Lagoa neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro on the evening of September 3 when a car pulled up ahead of her and three men got out.

Her dashcam captured the moment one thug stands in front of her vehicle, pointing a gun in her direction.

But she quickly accelerates her car and makes her escape while the thugs are seen desperately scrambling to get out of the way and shooting at her.

A woman had been driving along when a car pulled up in front of her and armed thugs got out

The woman's car is seen hitting the side of the vehicle the thugs came out of  as they run out of her car's path.

She was not injured during the attempted robbery although one of the thugs did fire at her, according to Globo.com.

The woman, who asked not to be named, said: 'It was an attempted robbery.

'They were aggressive. In the video, you can see a crack that was where the bullet hit.'

One of the armed suspects brandished a gun in her direction as they tried to steal her vehicle

But he was forced to scramble out of the way when she accelerated her vehicle towards them

She added: 'We just go into an automatic mode of survival and fear comes later.'

The following day, she reported the incident to police and handed over her dashcam footage.

She was told that the suspects had been in a stolen car at the time of the incident.
A family in Florida who took Christmas photos at a park got more than they bargained for when a woman appeared and started screaming and cursing at them, and it was all caught on their camera.

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon so Nickolette Mottola, along with her boyfriend Angel Ruiz, and their friends and children went to Orchid Park in Coral Springs with some supplies. The group of eight brought a blanket, a crate and a small Christmas tree as a prop for the little ones.

While Mottola's group played country music, a nearby party at the park with a bouncy castle was playing music louder.

A man appeared from behind a fence and told the group they were breaking the law. Then, his irate wife, Debbi DeCaro appeared.

'Every f***ing day!' An irate Debbie DeCaro angrily confronted a group of park goers who were taking Christmas photos

During her tirade DeCaro accused the couple of taking professional photos in the park and being there the day before

Angel Ruiz and his girlfriend Nickolette Mottola say they were not taking professional photos in the park when DeCaro came out and started screaming. Mottola does own a professional photography business, according to her business' Facebook page

'We were leaving, and this lady appears and starts screaming at us and spewing profanity,' professional photographer Ruiz told Coral Spring Talk.

DeCaro and Craig Richardson's property abuts Orchard Park.

An incensed DeCaro accused the group of using the park as a photo studio. She was also was angry that they were there the day before.

'Every week, they were here yesterdayyesterday! Every weekend,' shouted DeCaro as Ruiz videod the incident. DeCaro continued to berate the group, adding 'Every f**king day. This is not your studio.'

Ruiz said they were not there the day before and insisted they were not taking paid professional photos.

However Mottola does own a professional photography company according to a Facebook page for her business.

'Meanwhile there were six other people taking pictures at the park,' said Mottola.

Debbi DeCaro's property sits off of Orchard Park. According Ruiz and Mottola she had a number of run ins with park goers over the past two weeks- specifically with people taking pictures in the park

Craig Richardson (left) who lives with Debbi, was the first to say to the group that they were breaking the law before Debbi came off of her property and started screaming at the group who were taking Christmas photos

Earlier in the day, Ruiz says a woman was taking photos of her sister for a maternity shoot.

Ruiz said: 'After we walked to the parking lot, she's screaming at the pregnant lady.'

According to Ruiz after they posted the photos to Facebook, someone alleged the same couple sprayed someone with a power washer the previous week.

The park ranger told the group they weren't doing anything wrong, but the children in their group were upset by the woman's erratic behavior.

'We had two kids, and one started crying and other kid started crying from the nearby party. A father was fishing with his son and his kid was upset. Then they left,' Ruiz added.

You can hear a baby crying at the end of the first clip in the video.

Soon after Ruiz took a second video of DeCaro who went to her car and held the horn down for five minutes.

DeCaro continued screaming at the couple- meanwhile the children in the group started crying and wailing can be heard in the background of the first part of the clip

Louis, Goldstein, Assistant Director Parks and Recreation for the City of Coral Springs said that families are allowed to use the park, but if someone is taking professional photos they need a permit

Ruiz and Mottola were upset that DeCaro cursed at them, and were particularly upset she was hurling profanities in front of children

Louis, Goldstein, Assistant Director Parks and Recreation for the City of Coral Springs said families can use public parks but if they are a professional photographer they will need a permit.

'If they operating as a professional, then we inform them of this,' he said.

Goldstein added, 'We'll speak with the neighbor if necessary.'

'You live behind a park. Its like living behind a train station and being upset about trains, ' said Ruiz.

He says there was no need for the profanity.

'We never cursed. We were nice to her husband. There was no need to get so berated, especially with kids around.'
Anna Nicole Smith's mother Virgie Arthur has died after a long battle with cancer, DailyMail.com has learned.

The 66-year-old passed away at her home in Montgomery, Texas on Sunday, November 18.

Arthur was the only surviving parent of the famous playmate after her father Donald Hogan, 62, died of lung cancer in 2009.

Anna Nicole, who died of a drug overdose aged 39 in 2007, would have turned 51 this Wednesday.

Her mother spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com last year, in a poignant interview on the tenth anniversary of her daughter's death, revealing she had warned her to be wary of those around her, after her 20-year-old son Daniel died.

She recalled the wild antics of her 'beautiful, funny' child, who she calls by her birth name Vickie Lynn, and who she believes the world never really knew.

Anna Nicole Smith's mother Virgie Arthur died at her home in Montgomery, Texas on Sunday, November 18 after a long battle with cancer, DailyMail.com has learned

Just last year, the infamous playmate's mother spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com last year, in a poignant interview on the tenth anniversary of her daughter's death

The grandmother broke down as she spoke of the devastating loss of Smith's son, Daniel, who also died of a drug overdose five months before his mother.

Arthur said it was hard to believe that a decade has passed since both their deaths.

'I'll be crying all day,' she said, speaking of of tenth anniversary of Anna Nicole's passing, February 8, 2017.

'I cry on Danny's death day and I cry on Vickie's death day. It is very hard and it brings up such terrible, terrible memories of her death and what happened to her.

'She was very young, very beautiful and very funny when she was Vickie Lynn. People won't know her as Vickie Lynn like we do. Her family knows her because they were raised with her.

'Other people don't, they just know her as Anna Nicole. Vickie Lynn was a great kid and now she's gone.'

She added: 'People say that you get over it but you never get over it. You never forget and you never get over it. God just makes a way for you to accept it.

'I was totally devastated. My little Danny. Totally devastated.

'No one has been charged with Danny's death nor her death. Nobody.'

Anna Nicole Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan on November 28, 1967 in Houston, Texas and her parents divorced before her second birthday. Her mother remarried and she grew up with five half-siblings in the small oil and gas town of Mexia, near Dallas.

She dropped out of high school her sophomore year and took a job as a cook at a fried chicken shop where she met her first husband, Billy Wayne Smith. The couple had one son, Daniel Smith, in 1986.

Virgie recalled the wild antics of her 'beautiful, funny' child, who she calls by her birth name Vickie Lynn, and who she believes the world never really knew

Anna Nicole, who died of a drug overdose aged 39 in 2007, would have turned 51 this Wednesday

Arthur looked after Danny for the next six years until Smith's career took off.

She got her big break in 1992, after sending naked pictures to Playboy magazine. She was featured on the cover and became Playmate of the Year in 1993.

But she found the notoriety she desired when in 1991, she met octogenarian billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall while performing at a Houston strip club and embarked on a relationship with him  while still married.

Her mother described Marshall as a 'sweetheart' but admitted that she was shocked by the age difference.

'One time, when we all went to dinner together at his club, he said to me, 'You don't have to worry about Vickie Lynn or Danny, I will take care of them for their whole lives.'

'He was in a wheelchair and he was really old. Vickie and I went to the bathroom, and I said "Vickie, how old is that man?" and she told me. She said, "But momma he helps me."

Smith divorced her first husband in 1993 and a year later, she married Marshall. She was 26 and he was 89.

Her name became synonymous with gold-digger but the Playboy pin-up insisted that she had married Marshall for love.

After 13 months of marriage, Marshall died of natural causes in August 1995.

In the late 90's, Smith was a tabloid staple due to her wild lifestyle and a red-carpet favorite with her buxom blonde looks, low-cut dresses and penchant for flashing paparazzi.

Smith's drug use spiraled out of control and her mother believes the celebrity persona of Anna Nicole began to take over.

'She had a big problem with drugs and the more she took, the more she wanted,' Arthur said.

She also expressed her desire to see her granddaughter, Danielynn Birkhead, Anna Nicole's only daughter - by Larry Birkhead (pictured left - who is now 12 (pictured in 2006)

Arthur said it was hard to believe that a decade has passed since both the death of her daughter and grandson, Daniel Smith, Anna Nicole's first son

'You could tell the difference between Anna Nicole and Vickie Lynn. Anna was very mean, I don't know how to explain her. On drugs, she was a terrible person to be around.'

She added: 'It was hard to approve of anything Vickie did because she was so different from any of my other children.

'She didn't explain things well, I couldn't understand being naked and throwing yourself at men.

Arthur once confronted her daughter over the outlandish stories she told about her apparent penniless upbringing.

'She said, 'Momma, please try and understand. I want to make money and I want to be noticed. So these stories that I tell, momma, but it's not about you, it's about me.'

Arthur denied that she and her daughter were estranged in the years before she died.

'We were never estranged, I didn't even know that word until I heard it on TV,' Arthur said.

'She always called, she might not have come to see me but she called and she wrote me letters, she sent me pictures of her and Danny. I went down there and visited her a couple of times in California.'

Smith announced she was pregnant in 2006, kicking off a paternity battle when four of her alleged lovers came forward claiming they could be the father: Smith's boyfriend, photographer Larry Birkhead; her lawyer Howard K Stern; a previous boyfriend Mark Hatten and, most bizarrely, Zsa Gabor's husband Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, who claimed to have had a ten-year affair with her.

'A lot of men stood up and said it could have been theirs,' her mother said.

While pregnant, Smith moved to the Bahamas with Birkhead, her entourage and her lawyer  and later partner  Howard K. Stern. She exchanged vows with Stern at a commitment ceremony in the Caribbean.

Anna Nicole found the notoriety she desired when in 1991, she met octogenarian billionaire oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall

Smith gave birth to daughter Dannielynn on September 7, 2006.

Arthur said: 'She was a beautiful little girl and Vickie always wanted a girl. When Danny was born, she was a little disappointed because he wasn't a girl.

Three days after Dannielynn's birth, Smith's happiness was destroyed by the shocking death of her 20-year-old son Daniel who died in her hospital room.

The 20-year-old suffered an accidental overdose of methadone, Zoloft and Lexapro. During his funeral, a distraught Smith even tried to jump in his coffin. Many of those close to her believe that her beloved son's death set her on a disastrous path of unfettered drug use.

Arthur found out about her daughter's death on TV while recuperating from an illness at home.

'I was recovering from an aneurysm and I still didn't have all my senses correctly,' she said. 'When I saw it on TV that she had died, I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it.

'My husband and son came running in to keep me from seeing it but I had already seen it.

'I said, it's a lie. It didn't really happen. It didn't. Danny's gone and now Vickie's gone? And I told her to be ever so careful about her friends that were about her - because they are not all friends.'

Various court cases followed her death as those close to her battled over her burial place and the paternity of her daughter.

Anna Nicole Smith's son, Daniel, and mom, Virgie Arthur. Virgie raised Daniel for the first eight years of his life

Daniel suffered an accidental overdose of methadone, Zoloft and Lexapro. During his funeral, a distraught Smith even tried to jump in his coffin

At the time of the birth, Smith had insisted the child's father was Howard Stern and had his name placed on the birth certificate. Birkhead took Dannielynn to live with him in Louisville, Kentucky where he raises her alone.

Arthur says that although Birkhead has called to tell her about her granddaughter and sent pictures, she has been unable to see her. She begged Birkhead to allow Smith's family to build relationships with the ten-year-old, who she hasn't seen since 2010.

She said: 'I want to be part of Dannielynn's life. She is my daughter's child and the only one left in that line of lives. Vickie's daddy is dead, her husband is dead and her first husband is dead, his parents are dead. They have all passed away.

'[Dannielynn] never has got to know any of them. It's not fair to her not to know her mother's side of the family.

She told Birkhead: 'She needs to know and one day, she will. One day, you will have problems with her and she'll find where we're at and she will come to find us to talk about her mother.

'That's something you need to know, one day, she'll come look for her mother's people. Although you've never let us be a part of her life, we're still here. And one day she will come to find us.'

She added: 'Vickie Lynn was very curious and Dannielynn will be too. Every daughter wants to know their mother.'

Virgie worked as a sheriff's deputy in Houston, Texas, where her daughter shot to fame as a Playboy centerfold

Anna Nicole Smith and mom Virgie Arthur

Birkhead told Inside Edition last week that he had no rift with Arthur. He said: 'I've never talked about that before, but I get hurt by that headline. Anna's mom has seen Dannielynn, she's seen her a few times. I say that only because I want the story to stop.

'If Anna's mom wants to see Dannielynn, she knows how to get a hold of me and she can call me anytime.'

Arthur is desperate to share memories with Dannielynn of how much her mother loved her.

'I would tell her how much I love her and how much her mother loved her even before she was born,' Arthur said.

'She bought her clothes and toys and anything that a little baby girl could wear, she had it. She anticipated having that baby.'

The grandmother appealed to her granddaughter directly.

'Dannielynn - meemaw loves you with all her heart. You have a lot of your momma in you and you have a lot of family here in Texas - uncles and aunts and cousins that you've never got to see.

'I hope that one day you will come find us, baby, and you can see how your momma lived and what fun she was. You can meet her brother, David, and her other brother, Donald Jr, and see what a great family she has. And that's who she grew up with.'
A fitness photographer 'spied on and drugged male models' who posed for him because he enjoyed 'robbing them of their masculinity,' a court heard.

Nigel Wilkinson, 45, lured his victims to his home for photo shoots - but his business was a 'front' to fulfil his 'depraved yearnings', the jury at Bristol Crown Court was told today.

He offered his victims fully-clothed professional pictures but instead he allegedly drugged them and took intimate photographs.

One also claimed he was raped.

Wilkinson, who the jury was told is gay, allegedly said during an online chat given in evidence 'I get a kick out of robbing a straight guy out of his masculinity'.

During the Skype conversation Wilkinson allegedly said he 'liked to have sex with straight men - and that he liked to do it without them being aware of it'.

He pleaded not guilty to 13 charges including one of rape, one sexual assault, five of voyeurism and six of administering a substance with intent.

Prosecuting, Sarah Regan said: 'It is clear that he tapped into the modern obsession with looking good and promoting the self, to add to the number of followers and likes on social media.

'None of that is illegal, and it is in fact a very astute business plan. But it very quickly morphed into a vehicle for the depraved yearnings of Nigel Wilkinson.'

Photographer Nigel Wilkinson, 45, denies he drugged and raped male models who posed for him in free shoots

The court heard he offered to pay his victims for a fully-clothed photoshoot - as long as he could also take a few 'semi-nude, arty, tasteful pictures' to keep for himself.

On his business' social media pages, he described himself as: a 'freelance photographer with a fitness background'.

He went on: 'I am passionate about bringing out the best in my clients. I am a fun and creative individual and will make you feel at ease very quickly..'

But Wilkinson's first alleged victim, whom Wilkinson is also charged with raping and sexually assaulting, claims that Wilkinson took two stark naked photos of him that he was not aware were being taken.

And the same victim alleges that, the morning after a 20-minute fitness shoot at Wilkinson's home in Bristol, he woke up face down and stark naked in the photographer's bed.

He says that Wilkinson was behind him in an 'obviously sexual' position.

The court heard in a Skype conversation in October 2014 - eight months after Wilkinson's photoshoot with his first victim - he said to an online user based in Romania: 'I get a kick out of robbing a straight guy of his masculinity'.

When asked by the other Skype user whether he was 'into drunk sleeping guys', Wilkinson - under the alias Straight Boy Lover - replied 'very much so,' it was said.

And he added: 'It's quite nice, getting one up on a lad.....I get a kick out of robbing a straight guy out of his masculinity.'

When asked whether he had managed to penetrate a sleeper, he replied: 'Yes, many times.'

Wilkinson claimed in the chat that all his straight male victims were 'definitely' virgins, and added: 'I love dumb jocks and guys stupid enough to sleep next to me.'

Between February 12, 2014, and December 12, 2015, six of Wilkinson's models were allegedly drugged by the photographer for the purposes of Wilkinson performing sexual activities on them.

Of these, four were also subject to voyeurism, whereby Wilkinson filmed them doing private acts without their consent, for his own sexual gratification.

The court heard that Wilkinson, who previously worked in retail, set up his amateur fitness photography business, Wilko Photography, at some point in 2013.

It was heard that Wilkinson contacted all of his victims - with the exception of one - through Instagram, rather than them contacting him.

And when contacting his first victim in January 2014, Wilkinson invented a fictitious photographer called 'Simon' the court was told.

The case is being heard at Bristol Crown Court where men have said they were drugged and had images taken of them without their consent

He allegedly contacted his victim posing as Simon, before then getting in touch with the young man himself, claiming to be an amateur photographer that supported Simon on shoots.

Miss Regan said: 'Quite why he created this elaborate lie is not clear, but it became part of a pattern of deception deployed by Wilkinson when he first made contact with prospective males.

'Wilkinson messaged his victim saying he would be happy to do a fully-clothed photoshoot if, in exchange, he could have some semi-nude, tasteful pictures for his own use.'

The alleged victim claims he was not paid for the shoot Wilkinson did and that the photographer took him for a meal.

He also claimed that at some point during the meal, he became aware that 'Simon' was in fact Wilkinson.

The pair returned to Wilkinson's home, where the victim began to collect his stuff to return home.

But he says he was offered a drink by Wilkinson, which he believed to be vodka and coke, before waking up, face down and naked, in Wilkinson's bed.

The man recalled feeling uncomfortable to the court, and said: 'I wasn't capable of really moving, and I don't think I could even really say anything.

'I'm pretty much definitely sure he was doing stuff to me. I'm 99% sure he tried to have sex with me.'
French looters rioting on the Champs-Elysees took close to 1million worth of goods from a Christian Dior store, it has emerged.

The staggering figure was made public as Parisian authorities added up the cost of demonstrations by so-called Yellow Vest fuel price campaigners.

They fought running battles with CRS riot police on the world famous avenue, smashing up shops and restaurants, tearing down building sites, and lighting fires.

The Dior store on the Champs-Elysees was looted on Saturday, and goods 'including jewellery was stolen,' a source told BFM TV.

Workers repair the Dior shop window on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday after a rally by Yellow Vest protesters

He added: 'According to bosses of the luxury brand, the damage suffered amounts to more than one million euros (890,000).'

Beyond this figure for lost goods, businesses such as Dior lost hundreds of thousands more after being forced to shut down for the day.

Trouble went on all of Saturday, leading to a total of 103 arrests, including five minors, all of whom faced public order charges.

As workmen and machinery started the clean up on Sunday, a Paris city hall official said: 'The initial work will take around three days, but of course other repairs will take much longer.

A damaged shop window a day after security forces in Paris fired tear gas to disperse protesters

Trees are seen on the ground in front of a shop a day after a rally by protesters demonstrating against rising oil prices and living costs.

French riot police are seen in front of the Louis Vuitton flagship store during the clashes on Saturday

'The cost will be in the millions, and the biggest fear is that there will be similar scenes next weekend.'

The Yellow Vests  who are named after the reflective jackets that all motorists have to carry in France  have already announced a new demonstration for next Saturday.

It will be the third in a series against the government of President Emmanuel Macron, and so has been dubbed 'Act III  Macron resigns.'

All of the protests to date have been organised on social media site Facebook, with the authorities powerless to stop them.

The Yellow Vests were assigned a 'safe' protest site by the Eiffel Tower on Saturday, but simply ignored it.

A man removes a broken window at Le Fouquet's restaurant on the Champs-Elysees in Paris

Firefighters extinguish burning material near the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysees on Saturday

A masked Yellow Vest protester poses on a scooter near the Arc de Triomphe on Saturday

A secure zone was set up around high-risk buildings, including Mr Macron's official home, the Elysee Palace.

Paris police said 24 people were injured including five police officers, one of whom was burnt in the groin area.

On Sunday, President Macron tweeted: 'Shame on those who attacked officers. There is no place for violence in the French Republic.'

He insisted that fuel prices have to rise in line with green initiatives made necessary by the Paris Climate Change agreement, and that there was no possiblity' of his government backing down in the face of disturbances.

Yellow vests protesters shout slogans as material burns during a protest against rising oil prices and living costs

Mr Macron slammed the 'radicalisation' and 'anarchy' of the Yellow Vests movement, while indicating that Far-Right elements, and especially members of the National Rally party, had highjacked it.

Police have also pointed to hard-Left agitators, including anarchists, stirring up the rioting.

Two road deaths have been linked with them so far  both at illegal road blocks set up by the Yellow Vests.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is eager to hold a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Since their first meeting in Singapore in June, Kim has consistently outmaneuvered his counterpart. Trump may still fancy himself a world-class deal maker, but the truth is that Kim has got Trumps number, according to Market Watch's article North Koreas Kim Jong Un continues to outmaneuver Donald Trump.

Kims bonhomie (real or feigned) and promises of denuclearization have muted Trumps threats, brought the South Korean government closer to his side, and eroded international sanctions against his regime. Kim has accomplished all of this without diminishing his regimes nuclear capacity, and he appears to have continued ballistic-missile development at 16 hidden sites. Having gone from nuclear-armed pariah to presidential negotiating partner, it is little wonder that Kim would want a second summit to consolidate his newfound international legitimacy and position in the global limelight.

Kim has already outdone his forebears. His father and grandfather both tried and failed to create a high-level channel to the U.S. government. The relationship that Kim has forged with Trump is thus a historic and personal success. After six reclusive years in power, the 35-year-old scion of North Koreas dynastic regime has made a remarkable debut on the world stage, both managing an erratic, ego-driven president and setting the terms of the negotiations.

By contrast, the Trump administration has little to show for its efforts. Since the Singapore summit, U.S. officials have reportedly been pushing the Kim regime to lay out a path to denuclearization. But the North Koreans have refused to turn over even the most basic facts about their arsenal. This stonewalling suggests that Kim has read Trump well. As Trump himself contends, I am the only one that matters.

Trumps narcissism, hunger for the spotlight and desperation to match former President Barack Obamas Nobel Peace Prize are all that Kim needs to know about the man. The only question is how far Trump will go to secure something that he can hawk as an unprecedented deal with North Korea. By agreeing to another summit while slow-rolling preliminary talks, Kim is reconnoitering Trumps bottom line.

Recall that, as its upfront price for serious denuclearization talks, the North initially pushed for diplomatic steps, such as a treaty to end to the Korean War. In Singapore, Trump promised to do just that, surprising American allies and U.S. officials alike. Then, in talks last month with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Kim upped the ante by also calling for an end to the international sanctions against his regime. No doubt, Kim is hoping that Trumps impulsiveness will lead him to fold. This month, Kims foreign ministry issued a public threat that North Korea could restart its weapons program if the U.S. does not soften its position on sanctions.

As Pompeo pursues further talks in Pyongyang this month, Kim will surely hold his ground. Since declaring in June that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat, Trump has backpedaled on virtually all of his demands, dropped his draconian deadlines, and failed even to hint that Kims foot-dragging is a cause for concern. In October, Pompeo made no headway toward defining even the basic vocabulary of a future agreement. According to officials who are familiar with the talks, on at least two occasions, the North Koreans asked him if he wanted to step out and call his boss. As matters stand, the Kim regime and the U.S. have yet to agree on the definition of terms such as denuclearization, verifiable, and irreversible.

To be sure, playing Trump and reneging on promised steps toward denuclearization has its risks. In May, Trump temporarily canceled the Singapore meeting in response to North Korean statements, and he did the same with talks between Pompeo and the North Koreans in August. There is no guarantee that he will not repeat that gambit.

And yet, even if he does, Kims own penchant for drama  from firing missiles over Japan to carrying out frequent purges at home  suggests that he knows how to command the stage and bring Trump to the table. Moreover, his ego-stroking personal letters to Trump show that he has a good fix on the presidents psyche. So far, he has proved to be highly effective at keeping the bromance alive, and the forthcoming summit on track.

Regardless of when the second summit occurs, the North Korean regime will continue to reap dividends at Americas expense in the meantime. Trumps cancellation of two major U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises already has commanders from both countries worried about their military readiness. And international support for economic sanctions  particularly on the part of China and Russia  has been steadily eroding since even before the Singapore summit.

With a fourth 2018 summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in now in the works, it is clear that Moons political future is tied to rapprochement. During his October trip to Europe, Moon lobbied hard for the easing of sanctions, reflecting his governments desire to engage, not embargo, the North.

It is time for the self-described master of the art of the deal to admit that he doesnt have one. Trump prefers hype to the hard work of hammering out arms-control agreements, so controlling his craving for the spotlight will not be easy. Nonetheless, when it comes to Kim, a bit of 54-year-old wisdom from Barry Goldwater, another outsider-turned-Republican Party icon, still applies: The only summit meeting that can succeed is the one that doesnt take place.

Kent Harrington, a former senior CIA analyst, served as National Intelligence Officer for East Asia, Chief of Station in Asia, and the CIAs Director of Public Affairs. John Walcott has covered foreign policy and national security for Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications, and is an adjunct professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. This was first published on Project Syndicate  How Kim Has Played Trump.
A Portland man has pleaded guilty to trying to bribe an ICE officer to deport his Salvadoran wife and her daughter while they were getting divorced.

Antonio Burgos, 48, was arrested in June this year after approaching an ICE officer in Vancouver, Washington, in the street.

He had followed the officer out of his office and stopped him to ask if he would consider deporting his wife and her daughter, neither of whom has been named, in exchange for money.

He told him that he had sponsored his wife's residency in the US after they got married in El Salvador but that now that the were separating, he wanted her out of the country.

Antonio Burgos, 48, was arrested in June this year after approaching an ICE officer in Vancouver, Washington. He asked the officer to deport his Salvadoran wife and her daughter, explaining that they were getting a divorce and that he no longer wanted her in the country. It remains unclear if the wife, who has not been named, was in the US legally or illegally (file image)

There is no record of her at the address he is listed to and her name has not been released by authorities.

The ICE officer refused him then reported it to the Office of Professional Responsibility which launched a sting operation to catch him.

As part of it, the ICE officer got back in touch with Burgos over the phone. Burgos, who runs a car dealership in Portland, offered $3,000 to deport her.

They arranged to meet in person in June to discuss it further.

That time, Burgos offered $4,000 and asked for the woman's daughter to be deported with her.

He gave him $2,000 in cash and said he would give the other $2,000 once she was gone.

He was arrested after that encounter and was charged with bribery of a public official, a felony crime which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. Burgos will be sentenced in May next year.

Neither ICE nor the Department of Justice, which announced the case last week, would provide details of his wife's legal status when approached by DailyMail.com on Monday.

It is unknown how long they had been married and why they have separated. It also remains unclear if she is still in the country or if it was even necessary for him to go to such extreme lengths to have her deported.

Whether or not the divorce would have ensured her deportation in itself is unclear.

A spouse whose visa relies on their marriage can only apply for permanent residency themselves after two years of them entering the country.

It remains unclear if she ever filed for residency or if she was ever granted it.
Flash floods and torrential downpours are expected to drench Sydney on Wednesday as a month's worth of rain falls in just 24 hours.

A flood watch and severe weather warning was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for parts of New South Wales as a low-pressure system made its way across the state.

Lashing winds and dangerous surf conditions were expected midweek as the wild weather set in.

Meanwhile in Queensland, 100 extra firefighters were arriving from NSW in order to help fight a massive bushfire which had torn through the state.

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Flash floods and torrential downpours are expected to drench Sydney as a month's worth of rain (pictured in red) falls in just 24 hours

A flood watch and severe weather warning has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for parts of New South Wales on Wednesday

BOM meteorologist Anita Pyne said the heaviest falls would likely occur over the Sydney and Illawarra areas, but the South Coast, Central Coast and Blue Mountains in the west could all feel the effects of the big wet.

The storm will linger for up to 12 hours, beginning on Wednesday morning.

The low-pressure system was making its way east after hanging over parts of central Australia.

Sydney and the Illawarra were forecast to receive up to 100mm of rain with some localised areas receiving more than 200mm.

Damaging winds with peak gusts of more than 90km/h were also expected.

The State Emergency Service had advised people to move vehicles under cover and away from trees, to secure loose items around their property and stay away from fallen power lines.

The winds were expected to ease only on Thursday afternoon as the low shifted away from the coast.

After Wednesday's rainfall, showers were expected to linger in Sydney on Thursday before clearing by Friday.

In Queensland, a huge blaze that began last Thursday was continuing to burn between Bundaberg and Gladstone.

BOM meteorologist Anita Pyne said the heaviest falls would likely occur over the Sydney and Illawarra areas

The fire had already destroyed 17,000 hectares and two homes.

Hundreds of people were been forced to leave their homes.

In Cairns, an extreme heatwave forced authorities to warn people of the dangers of falling bats.

The temperature soared to 41C on Tuesday and maximums were expected to stay in the high 30s for the rest of the week.

Dr Richard Gair of the Tropical Public Health Services said six people had been bitten or scratched by bats in the past week as the warm weather forced them to drop out of trees.

The low pressure system is making its way east after hanging over parts of central Australia

Some bats could be infected with the deadly Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV).

'ABLV is an infection like rabies, which can be transmitted through a bat bite or scratch, or possibly through exposure of the eyes, nose or mouth to bat saliva,' Dr Gair told the Cairns Post.

In Melbourne, Tuesday was mostly cloudy with a high of 20C.

Wednesday was forecast to be cloudy in the Victorian capital with a medium chance of showers, and south-easterly winds of up to 35km/h.

Brisbane saw a high of 30C and there was a slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

In Queensland, a huge blaze is burning between Bundaberg and Gladstone which began on Thursday last week

On Wednesday, temperatures should increase to 35C with a risk of a dust haze developing.

Perth was sunny on Tuesday with a high of 27C, and the clear skies will continue for the rest of the week.

Adelaide had showers, and a high of 19C.
George Anthony was medevaced to a Daytona Beach hospital on Saturday after he was involved in a car accident near his Florida home.

The Florida Highway Patrol said that the father of Casey Anthony veered off the road while driving on Interstate 4 and then flipped his car multiple times when he tried to return into the lane of travel.

Anthony was in a serious condition when he left the scene in a helicopter and has suffered 'incapacitating injuries'.

He is recovering at the Halifax Medical Center, with no word yet on the specific injuries he suffered in the crash.

DailyMail.com was able to obtain the 911 calls made by some of the drivers who witnessed the event, with one stating multiple times that she saw Anthony suffer a seizure just before he went off the road.

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George Anthony suffered 'incapacitating injuries' in a car accident on Saturday

His car flipped multiple times across a Florida interstate (above) after he veered off the road and tried to return to the lane of travel

Fractured: George said last year that he believes his granddaughter was killed by her mother Casey, who he accused of giving the child illegal drugs (Anthony and his daughter)

That same called implored emergency responders to the get to the scene as quickly as possible, saying 'it's bad' and growing increasingly hysterical as she was asked to give more exact information.

She said that Anthony was 'covered in blood' before describing how she watched him drive into some pushed on the right hand side of the road before jerking his car and flipping over in the opposite direction across three lanes of traffic.

The crash occurred almost 10 years to the date that officials discovered the bones of Anthony's granddaughter Caylee, who many believed was killed by her mother Casey.

Casey was later found not guilty of the child's murder.

The trial destroyed her relationship with her father, who the defense claimed had sexually abused his daughter from a young age.

The defense also claimed that it was George who was responsible for Caylee's death, arguing that he hid the body after she drowned in his pool.

That was enough to set Casey free, but her father was never tried, charged or convicted of a crime in the case.

Casey Anthony listens to testimony about forensic evidence during her murder trial at the Orange County Courthouse on Friday, June 10, 2011

After flipping multiple times, Anthony's car eventually came to a rest on the median.

Troopers were then forced to briefly halt westbound traffic on Interstate 4 so a helicopter could fly in to medevac Anthony.

He was able to tell a trooper at the scene of the crash that he had no memory of what was happening before the accident, and it is still unknown what caused him to briefly lose control of the vehicle.

Anthony was not suspected to have been consuming alcohol or drugs by those who responded to the scene, and was not tested for either at the time.

Anthony was wearing both a shoulder and lap belt, but the airbag in the vehicle did not deploy according to the report.

The car he was driving at the time, a 1999 Toyota 4Runner, is registered to his wife Cindy.

She was not with him at the time of the accident, which was reported just after 3pm on Saturday.

Additional 911 calls made by fellow drivers were also obtained by DailyMail.com.

The first person to reach out lost service before they could report the accident, but the second caller was able to give a location and description of the crash, but said she did not stop because it seemed too dangerous.

Tragedy: It was 10 years ago almost to the day that the body of George's granddaughter Caylee was discovered, months after she went missing (George and wide Cindy in 2009 at a service for Caylee)

Anthony was blunt and straightforward in an A&E special last year about his daughter, stating that he believes his Casey had been drugging Caylee in the months before her death, and that is what caused Caylee's death.

What's more, he called the idea that the little girl drowned in a pool 'bulls***.'

Casey's mother Cindy said she was happy with the verdict, and admitted that she and her daughter still speak.

George said he will never again have a relationship with his daughter.

'I don't believe that she drowned in this pool. I don't believe it,' said George.

'That's a bunch of bulls*** to me. That's too easy of a story to bring up cause if that would've happened, I think my daughter would have at least have had the common decency to come inside and call 911 and say something. "My daughter's in the pool, I can't get her."'

George than added: 'That's a bunch of cr**.'

He then explained how he arrived at his belief that young Caylee was being drugged by her mother.

'Caylee was always a very healthy child, a very healthy girl, but there were times that she would sleep for 10, 12, 13 hours at a time, makes no sense to me,' said George.

'When I would see her from one day to the next, it was totally different. I could see a difference with blackness underneath the eyes and stuff like that. A two-and-a-half, three-year old child would not have that unless something is going on.'

George then plainly stated: 'I believe she gave her something. Yeah, that's just my beliefs.'

His daughter lives in Palm Beach, and it was recently revealed that she is in a relationship.
The former priest Michael Freeman, accused of using a gun to facilitate sexual abuse, is seen in a 1983 priest directory

A 49-year-old man has told how a Roman Catholic priest pointed a gun at him while sexually abusing him as a teenager.

The accuser's attorney, Steve Boyd, says the abuse occurred after the Diocese of Buffalo received a complaint about the priest from another alleged victim in 1980.

The allegations against the late Rev. Michael Freeman were first reported by The Buffalo News.

At the time of the abuse, Michael Freeman was an associate pastor with St. Mary's of the Assumption parish in Lancaster, New York.

The man has filed a claim with the Buffalo diocese victims' compensation fund. He says Freeman would jokingly brandish a silver .38-caliber revolver to get him to comply with the abuse.

'And if the child would not participate willingly in Freeman's sexual abuse, Freeman would jokingly threaten him with the revolver,' said Boyd, according to The Buffalo News.

'He always carried it concealed. And several times, Freeman put the gun to the boy's head.'

Boyd also recounted a similar story to WGRZ in Buffalo regarding the 1980 complaint.

Freeman was an associate pastor with St. Mary's of the Assumption parish in Lancaster, New York. when the alleged abuse of the unnamed claimant took place

An attorney named Paul Barr was, as a teen, allegedly 'taken to Toronto and made to have sex with male prostitutes in front of the priest, on some occasions the priest would point a gun to his head.'

The unnamed 49-year-old's claim also contends that the priest would absolve the sins of the boys he abused immediately after abusing them.

'This was the pattern that began, that Freeman would have this child perform oral sex on him and then absolve him of the sin afterwards,' Boyd added.

Freeman was defrocked in 1989 and eventually died in 2010.

A diocesan spokeswoman didn't respond to a request for comment Monday.

Freeman's name is included in a list of priests accused of sexually abusing children released by the diocese in March, and was also mentioned in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report released in August that reignited inquiries into Church abuse.

The report showed that Freeman served at Pennsylvania churches from 1982 to 1989 despite the Buffalo accusations.
Axed newsman Charlie Rose was out in New York City for a stroll a year after he was fired from CBS. The former CBS Morning host looked like a shell of his former self on the chilly day.

The disgraced journalist, 76, looked tired and walked with a hunch as he made his way through the cold streets of New York City on November 21.

This sighting comes after a year has passed since the Washington Post first reported that three former CBS staffers had accused Rose of sexual misconduct. He was fired the following day in November of 2017.

Meanwhile, according to Fox News, CBS staffers are furious that the network is still investigating the claims lodged by the women now in over a year since the allegations were made public and their colleague was axed.

Axed CBS Morning host Charlie Rose was pictured on a chilly stroll in New York a year after he was fired following three women accusing him of sexual misconduct

Rose appeared tired as he walked the streets of New York City on a chilly November day

Rose is currently waiting the outcome of CBS's investigation into the allegations lodged by three women

Brooks Harris, Sydney McNeal and Chelsea Wei alleged varying degrees of sexual misconduct by Rose when they were all in their early 20s

CHARLIE ROSE LAWSUIT DETAILS HOST'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCT Mr. Rose advised Ms. Harris and Ms. McNeal that they were hired because he likes "tall women," i.e., he was attracted to them Ms. Harris wore a mini skirt with images of roses on it and Mr. Rose advised Ms. Harris that the roses on her skirt are his roses. Mr. Rose repeatedly sexually touched Plaintiffs, including without limitation caressing and touching their arms, shoulders, waist and back, pulling them close to his body, and kissing them on the cheek Mr. Rose repeatedly required Ms. Harris to have lunch and/or dinner with him and, during those occasions, Mr. Rose sexually touched Ms. Harris, including placing his hands on her thigh and kissing her cheek. He pointed at other women and called them prostitutes. Mr. Rose required Ms. McNeal to join him and Ms. Harris for dinner and Mr. Rose sexually touched Ms. McNeal, including placing his hands on her thigh and kissing her cheek. Mr. Rose repeatedly asked Ms. Harris and Ms. McNeal about their sex lives and directed them to share details with him. Mr. Rose repeatedly boasted of his sexual conquests, telling Plaintiffs words to the effect of you should have seen the women that I was with when I was younger. Mr. Rose suggested to Ms. Harris and Ms. McNeal that they have sex with each other and told them words to the effect of, You just need to become lovers already, indicating that he was having sexual fantasies about them. Mr. Rose ordered Ms. Harris and Ms. McNeal to visit his home in Bellport, N.Y., allegedly for an errand. He told them I better not hear any stories about two young women swimming naked together in his swimming pool, indicating that he was having sexual fantasies about them. Mr. Rose referred to Ms. Wei as China Doll, a fetish term. Mr. Rose caressed Ms. Weis arms when she handed him papers and would say I love the way you do that. Mr. Rose whispered, in Ms. Weis ear, in a sexual manner, Happy Birthday Dear. Mr. Rose, while at the CBS Studios, insisted on kissing his three female subordinates, including Ms. Wei, before leaving for a Summer vacation. Mr. Rose demanded that Ms. Harris to come to his apartment late at night. Advertisement

'It's safe to say that everyone within the news division is upset. It's been a very long year and we want to know what's going on. No one's telling us anything,' said a source.

Investigators at two law firms are expected to complete their report by years end, and the CBS board is to decide on any action no later than Jan. 31.

Brooks Harris, Sydney McNeal and Chelsea Wei are the three women suing Rose and CBS.

The complaint claims that Rose continued to contact the women who had accused him of sexual harassment by both phone and on email after he was fired by CBS.

'For example, on or about November 24, 2017, Mr. Rose sent an e-mail to Ms. Wei stating, among other items, 'my relationship with you is the man I am in all my relationships,'' states the court filing.

The complaint also claims that Rose told his staff 'words to the effect of 'some of the stories are true'' after the first expose was published by The Washington Post.

All three women, who were in their early twenties when these alleged incidents occurred, claim that Rose would constantly kiss female staffers, caress their thighs, waist, arms and legs, and showed a keen interest in having them detail their sex lives.

The three women are asking that they be awarded consequential, compensatory and punitive damages from Rose, CBS News Communications and CBS News.

This relief is sought one count of discrimination and harassment and a second count of retaliation.

One section of the complaint provides 14 examples of what the three women claim is 'unlawful conduct' by Rose.

'Mr. Rose repeatedly sexually touched Plaintiffs, including without limitation caressing and touching their arms, shoulders, waist and back, pulling them close to his body, and kissing them on the cheek,' reads one example.

Two of the plaintiffs (McNeal and Harris) also accuse Rose of 'placing his hands on her thigh and kissing her cheek' while dining out with the host.

'Mr. Rose repeatedly boasted of his sexual conquests, telling Plaintiffs words to the effect of 'you should have seen the women that I was with when I was younger,'' reads another example stated in the complaint.

'Mr. Rose suggested to Ms. Harris and Ms. McNeal that they have sex with each other and told them words to the effect of, 'You just need to become lovers already,' indicating that he was having sexual fantasies about them.'

A moment of levity: It appeared Rose was able to have a brief chuckle in what appeared to be an exchange with the man standing behind him

Smiling through it: Rose was fired from CBS a year ago and is awaiting the outcome of the network's investigation

Wei meanwhile was allegedly referred to as 'China Girl' by Rose according to court papers, in which the young woman also says Rose 'caressed [her] arms when she handed him papers and would say 'I love the way you do that.''

The three women also share alleged instances of verbal abuse involving Rose in the complaint.

'I didn't know that I hired a f***ing kindergartner,' Rose allegedly told Harris at one point.

McNeal claims Rose told her 'you can't be a f***ing idiot and have this job.'

And Wei was allegedly called a 'f***ing idiot' for booking a flight on a plane that did not have flat folding seats despite claiming she had informed Rose of this fact.

Plantiffs: The women - Brooks Harris (right), Sydney McNeal (left) and Chelsea Wei are suing Rose over alleged sexual harassment
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Theresa May is set to snub Donald Trump at the G20 summit after he savaged her Brexit deal as 'great for the EU' - and warned it would hit trade with the US.

The PM's spokesman said there were 'no plans' to hold talks with the President at the gathering in Argentina following his dramatic intervention - which echoed the complaints of Brexiteers and threatened to kill off the package altogether.

As the government reeled from the blow, one minister highlighted a tweet claiming Mr Trump wanted to 'finish off' Mrs May, while Cabinet Office minister David Lidington said bluntly that he was 'wrong'.

Asked if Mrs May would try to explain the situation to Mr Trump at the summit on Friday and Saturday, the PM's spokesman said she would hold bilateral talks with other leaders, but had 'none planned' with the US commander-in-chief.

'It is not something that we have requested,' the spokesman said. The Prime Minister's diary is agreed in advance and she is meeting with a number of world leaders to discuss issues like trade and security.

'We have met with the president on a number of occasions in recent months and the bilaterals that are agreed for the G20 are done so in advance, and they don't include the US president.'

But the PM received some warmer words after Japanese PM Shinzo Abe welcomed the progress she had made on the Brexit deal in a phone call with Mrs May today.

But No10, who had originally hoped Mr Abe would visit the UK before the crunch Brexit vote next month to boost the PM's PR blitz, confirmed he will now make the trip early next year.

Senior Tories and Eurosceptics have seized on the extraordinary barbs from the White House with glee - saying it could not be 'brushed off' and Mrs May must reopen negotiations with Brussels. Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Trump was stating an 'obvious' fact.

President Trump told reporters outside the White House last night that the deal 'looks great the EU' as he warned about the impact it could have on UK-US trade

The intervention came just hours after the Prime Minister (pictured at a winter fair in Powys today) spoke in the Commons to defend the withdrawal agreement, which was signed off by the EU on Sunday

Mrs May appeared to be enjoying herself despite the rain and Brexit woes at the Royal Welsh Fair in Powys today

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Mr Trump jibed that the agreement was 'great' for the EU - an institution he has accused of being a protectionist cartel.

In a barb that struck at the heart of Mrs May's vision for the UK's future outside of the bloc, he added: 'I think we have to take a look seriously whether or not the UK is allowed to trade.

'Because right now if you look at the deal, they may not be able to trade with us. And that wouldn't be a good thing. I don't think they meant that.'

The President said he hoped Mrs May would be able to address the problem. 'I don't think that the Prime Minister meant that,' he said. 'And, hopefully, she'll be able to do something about that.

'But, right now, as the deal stands she may not, they may not, be able to trade with the US. And, I don't think they want that at all.'

On a visit to a winter fair in mid-Wales today, Mrs May flatly dismissed Mr Trump's attack, saying the package thrashed out with Brussels was 'very clear we will have an independent trade policy'.

'If you look at the political declaration that sets out the future framework for our relationship with the European Union, it clearly identifies we will have an independent trade policy and we will be able to negotiate trade deals with countries around the rest of the world,' she said.

'As regards the United States, we have already been talking to them about the sort of agreement that we could have in the future.

What happens now the Brexit deal has been signed off in Brussels? Theresa May passed a milestone in the Brexit process by agreeing a package with the EU. But there is still a long way to go. This is what the next steps are: December 11: The meaningful vote itself. This is the absolutely crucial moment and could make or break the Prime Minister and her deal. MPs will vote after a debate that could last as long as five days. If the vote carries, Mrs May survives and Brexit is on track as she plans. If she loses, she could resign. December 13-14: The next EU summit. If the deal has been rejected by MPs, Mrs May could use this to try and secure new concessions. January 2019: The European Parliament is due to vote on the deal - but will only do so if it has been agreed in the House of Commons. March 29, 2019: Exit day. This is written in law so unless there is a dramatic shift Britain will leave the EU, deal or no deal. Advertisement

'We have a working group set up and that is working very well, has met several times and is continuing to work with the US on this.'

Number Ten said Mr Abe welcomed the divorce deal thrashed out with Brussels.

A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The leaders discussed the importance of free trade and close co-operation between the UK and Japan.

'Prime Minister Abe welcomed the progress the Prime Minister has made to secure an agreement with the European Union.

'The leaders looked forward to seeing each other at the G20 in Argentina this weekend, and the Prime Minister welcomed Prime Minister Abe's commitment to visit the UK early next year.'

The row came after Mrs May suffered another agonising day in Westminster, with MPs queuing up to expressing their anger at the mooted settlement with the EU.

She has challenged Jeremy Corbyn to a high-stakes TV debate on Brexit in a bid to turn the tide, and will try to get back on to the front foot today by visiting Wales and Northern Ireland to win public support.

However, defeat is looking near-inevitable in the looming Commons vote on the withdrawal agreement - now confirmed as happening on December 11.

There are suspicions that Mr Trump was influenced by his friend Nigel Farage, who is vehemently opposed to Mrs May's withdrawal agreement - although others point out the former Ukip leader is now mainly a TV and radio pundit.

A welter of Tory rebels pounced on Mr Trump's remarks to bolster their case.

Mr Rees-Mogg told TalkRadio the president was right.

'He has pointed something out that is obvious from reading the withdrawal agreement, that is we won't be able to make trade deals with other countries because we'll be bound into the EU customs union,' he said.

'This agreement, or proposal at this stage, limits the government's ability to trade with the rest of the world freely because we'll be tied into the inefficient, protectionist European system.'

A particularly stinging assault came from former Cabinet minister Sir Michael Fallon, a long-term loyalist.

He said Mrs May's deal was 'the worst of all worlds' and warned it seems 'doomed'.

'It's no use us just brushing that off, saying 'no, no we can do a deal with America', he's the President of the United States, and if he says it's going to be difficult, then it certainly looks like it's going to be difficult.

'This is not a good deal and we need a better deal. If it's possible to get a better deal, to send the negotiators back to Brussels for two or three months, to postpone the actual leaving date for two or three months, I still think that in the long term that would be in the best interest of the country.

'We have to get this right.'

However, Sir Michael did give Downing Street a glimmer of hope by insisting he did not think Mrs May should stand down if she loses the vote next month.

Tory backbencher Michael Fabricant, another MP who has refused to join the Eurosceptic coup attempt against Mrs May, tweeted: 'Trump is spot on. It's a great deal for the EU.'

Former sports minister Tracey Crouch has also come out against the pact, in a sign that moderate opinion in the party is swinging against the PM.

But a No 10 spokesman said: 'The political declaration we have agreed with the EU is very clear we will have an independent trade policy so that the UK can sign trade deals with countries around the world  including the US.'

Mr Lidington said Mr Trump's intervention was 'not unexpected', insisting the UK would be free to do trade deals around the world after Brexit.

But he also seemed to pour cold water on the idea of a deep Transatlantic agreement, saying: 'I think it was always going to be challenging to do a deal with the United States.

'The United States is a tough negotiator, President Trump's always said very plainly 'I put America first'.

'Well, I'd expect the British Prime Minister to put British interests first, but it's going to be a very tough negotiation.'

Digital minister Margot James retweeted a message from an FT journalist saying that Mr Trump is 'openly gunning for a no-deal Brexit' and wanted a 'populist like Boris Johnson or Jacob Rees-Mogg to finish off Theresa May'.

Mrs May received a hostile reception last night as she told the House of Commons her Brexit deal 'delivers for the British people', and warned that rejecting it would put the UK on the path to division and uncertainty.

She was loudly barracked by MPs as she insisted that no better deal was available than the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on future relations endorsed by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.

Labour MPs were invited to attend a special briefing in the Commons with her chief of staff Gavin Barwell and Mr Lidington - but only around 20 bothered to turn up.

Tory MP and leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg criticised the meeting, saying its 'smacks of desperation'.

But Mrs May has stayed resolute in the face of the verbal barrage, earlier telling MPs they had a 'duty' to listen to constituents and do 'what is in the national interest'.

She faced a barrage of attacks from all sides of the House- including from Tory big-hitters Boris Johnson, David Davis and Iain Duncan Smith.

Tory MPs told their leader her deal is 'as dead as a dodo' and does not stand a chance of getting passed.

The DUP - whose ten MPs prop the Tories up in No10 - again condemned the backstop, while Jeremy Corbyn said the package pleased 'nobody'.

Even previous loyalists such as ex-Cabinet minister Sir Michael Fallon joined in the criticism.

Extraordinarily, it took over an hour of brutal attacks from across the chamber before the first MP - Nicky Morgan - spoke in defence of Mrs May.

At one point during the battering, Mrs May ruefully remarked to Conservative Remainer Anna Soubry that she barely seemed to have achieved one task that people claimed was 'impossible' before they were demanding she completed another one.

Gavin Williamson vows Gibraltar 'will always be under the Union flag' amid a row with Spain over the impact of Brexit The Defence Secretary (pictured on November 20 outside Downing Street) was asked by his Labour counterpart Nia Griffith whether Gibraltar's future was British, even after Brexit, following push back from Spain linked to trade Gibraltar will 'always be under the Union flag', Gavin Williamson has said, amid concerns over the impact of Brexit. The Defence Secretary was asked by his Labour counterpart Nia Griffith whether Gibraltar's future was British, even after Brexit, following push back from Spain linked to trade. Speaking during a debate on the RAF centenary, Ms Griffith said: 'I've been trying extremely hard not to mention the B-word but given the events of the weekend he will be only too aware of the unique importance of Gibraltar, so can he give us absolute assurances its status is not under threat?' Mr Williamson replied: 'I can give her absolutely categorical reassurance Gibraltar is never under threat. 'Ever since the Royal Marines seized it all those centuries ago, it will always be under the Union flag long into the future so do rest assured we will always look after Gibraltar.' Mr Williamson also told the debate that Parliament's decision to create the RAF in 1918 as 'one of its finest moments'. He said: 'The Royal Air Force continuously stands vigilant in terms of protecting our skies here in the United Kingdom, but also they're taking our fight to our enemies abroad. 'Whether that is Daesh in Iraq and Syria, the RAF has been bringing its skills to be able to strike and eliminate that threat combining precision guarded weaponry with unparalleled surveillance intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities, flying at the highest operational tempo for over a quarter of a century and striking more than 1,750 times.' He added: 'Sometimes people in this country think that the campaigns that the RAF are fighting are campaigns that are very far away from here and maybe don't have the relevance to the United Kingdom, but actually by dealing with that threat in Iraq and Syria what they're doing is keeping the streets of Great Britain safer by dealing with that threat there.' Mr Williamson later revealed that he was 'desperate' to see Second World War drama Hurricane, which tells the true of an RAF unit manned mostly by Polish pilots. He said: 'I'm slightly desperate to see the film Hurricane and I'm not sure if any members of this House have had the opportunity to do so but I was trying to persuade my wife to come with me to the cinema but she wasn't convinced of it but I'm looking forward to it coming on release to DVD.' Advertisement

The mauling underlines the massive task facing the PM, as she stares down the barrel of almost certain disaster in the House next month.

Just a handful of Tory MPs stood up to defend the deal, but in the marathon Commons session their voices were lost in a sea of criticism.

It came after Mrs May told the Cabinet that the breakthrough in Brussels meant the doubters had been 'proved wrong'.

Ten damning quotes from MPs which show the overwhelming anger towards May's Brexit deal Here are some of the damning interjections from MPs which show the sheer level of fury at Theresa May's Brexit deal: Jeremy Corbyn, Labour leader: 'This botched deal is still a bad deal for the Country and all yesterday did was mark the end of this governments failed and miserable negotiations.' Sir Michael Fallon, ex Defence Secretary: 'Nobody can doubt that the Prime Minister has tried her very best, are we not nonetheless being asked to take a huge gamble here?' Iain Duncan-Smith, ex Tory leader 'Does she recognise the genuine and real concern held on all sides of the House about what would happen if the UK was to be forced into the backstop?' Boris Johnson, ex Foreign Secretary 'It's very hard to see how this deal can provide certainty to business or anyone else when you have half the Cabinet going around reassuring business that the UK is effectively going to remain in the customs union and in the single market, and the Prime Minister herself continuing to say that we are going to take back control of our laws, vary our tariffs and do as she said just now, real free trade deals. 'They can't both be right. Which is it?' Sammy Wilson , DUP MP: 'Does the Prime Minister not recognise that by signing this legally binding agreement she is handing the EU a cudgel, which it will use to mug us for a second time when it comes to negotiations on the future trade arrangements?' David Davis, ex Brexit Secretary 'If the EU really intends in good faith to rapidly negotiate a future trade agreement why can we not make the second half of the 39 billion conditional on delivering it?' Mark Francois, Tory MP 'The Prime Minister and the whole House knows the mathematics - this will never get through, and even if it did, which it won't, the DUP - on whom we rely for a majority - have said they would then review the confidence and supply agreement, so it's as dead as a dodo. Ian Blackford, SNP Westminster leader 'Scottish fishing communities have been duped once again by the Conservatives. 'We cannot accept this sellout from the Conservatives. Ross Thomson, Tory MP 'The Northern Ireland backstop would leave Northern Ireland a separate regulatory regime...It could threaten the break up of our precious United Kingdom.' Anna Soubry, Remain-backing Tory MP 'As it currently stands, the majority of people in this House will not vote in favour of the Prime Minister's deal, despite her very best efforts, so she needs Plan B.' Advertisement

But Brexiteer Cabinet ministers are still deeply unhappy with package - with Andrea Leadsom and Penny Mordaunt among those on 'resignation watch'.

They have remained stubbornly silent while other colleagues voiced support for the deal.

Other ministers are said to have formed an alliance to push for a Norway-style relationship with the EU if Mrs May's deal falls in the face of massive opposition from scores of Tories, Labour, the SNP and Lib Dems.

Even supportive ministers are in despair at the situation, with one senior source telling MailOnline they feared the Tories were about to experience a 'nuclear meltdown' that could rip the party to shreds.

Despite the deepening woes, No10 said the Cabinet 'congratulated' the PM and 'thanked her for all her hard work on securing a deal'.

In her Commons statement, the PM said: 'Our duty as a Parliament over these coming weeks is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest.

'There is a choice which MPs will have to make. We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people.

'Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one ... It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.'

She insisted that 'the national interest is clear' and 'the British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum'.

Mrs May admitted some MPs were deeply concerned about the Irish border backstop.

But she insisted it was an insurance policy that 'no-one wants to use'.

Sir Michael Fallon, previously among the most loyal of Tory MPs, said: 'Nobody can doubt that the Prime Minister has tried her very best, are we not nonetheless being asked to take a huge gamble here?

'Paying, leaving, surrendering our vote and our veto without any firm commitment to frictionless trade or the absolute right to dismantle external tariffs.

'Is it really wise to trust the future of our economy to a pledge simply to use best endeavours?'

Mrs May responded saying that it was not possible to sign a legally binding free trade agreement with the European Union until the UK had left the EU.

Tory former foreign secretary Boris Johnson said: 'It's very hard to see how this deal can provide certainty to business or anyone else when you have half the Cabinet going around reassuring business that the UK is effectively going to remain in the customs union and in the single market, and the Prime Minister herself continuing to say that we are going to take back control of our laws, vary our tariffs and do as she said just now, real free trade deals.

'They can't both be right. Which is it?'

Conservative former leader Mr Duncan Smith raised questions over the backstop arrangement, asking the Prime Minister: 'Does she recognise the genuine and real concern held on all sides of the House about what would happen if the UK was to be forced into the backstop?'

Mr Duncan Smith said the PM had recognised the UK and EU do not want the backstop arrangement before citing Ireland's desire to avoid a hard border.

He added: 'It makes you wonder why is it in the Withdrawal Agreement at all?'

Tory MP Mark Francois, blasted the deal - and the PM's hopes of getting it through Parliament.

He said: 'The Prime Minister and the whole House knows the mathematics - this will never get through, and even if it did, which it won't, the DUP - on whom we rely for a majority - have said they would then review the confidence and supply agreement, so it's as dead as a dodo.



Remainer Conservative Anna Soubry asked the Prime Minister to give the Commons a plan B as her Brexit deal would be voted down.

She said: 'As it currently stands, the majority of people in this House will not vote in favour of the Prime Minister's deal, despite her very best efforts, so she needs Plan B.

'What is the Prime Minister's Plan B - is it Norway, plus the single market, the customs union, which some of us have been arguing for over two years?'

As she faces the Commons battering, Mrs May joked: 'I'm tempted to say to her that throughout the last 18 months of these negotiations at virtually every stage people have said to me it wasn't possible for me to negotiate a deal with the EU - No sooner do I then people are saying 'well what's the next thing you're going to negotiate'.'

Struggling to defend her deal, Mrs May insisted that 'both the UK and the EU are fully committed to having our future relationship in place by 1st January 2021'.

'And the Withdrawal Agreement has a legal duty on both sides to use best endeavours to avoid the backstop ever coming into force.

'If, despite this, the future relationship is not ready by the end of 2020, we would not be forced to use the backstop. We would have a clear choice between the backstop or a short extension to the Implementation Period.

'If we did choose the backstop, the legal text is clear that it should be temporary and that the Article 50 legal base cannot provide for a permanent relationship.'

Mrs May added: 'Furthermore, as a result of the changes we have negotiated, the legal text is now also clear that once the backstop has been superseded, it shall 'cease to apply'.

'So if a future Parliament decided to then move from an initially deep trade relationship to a looser one, the backstop could not return. I do not pretend that either we or the EU are entirely happy with these arrangements. And that's how it must be - were either party entirely happy, that party would have no incentive to move on to the future relationship.

'But there is no alternative deal that honours our commitments to Northern Ireland which does not involve this insurance policy. And the EU would not have agreed any future partnership without it. Put simply, there is no deal that comes without a backstop, and without a backstop there is no deal.'

But senior Brexiteers ridiculed her chances of getting the package through parliament - saying it was already 'dead'.

More than 90 Tories have publicly committed to opposing the deal, and one jibed that the whips 'don't have enough thumbscrews' to turn the tide.

Another MP pointed out that at least two whips were likely to vote against.
Pope Francis says the 'sickness of consumerism' is the enemy of generosity as he called for the faithful to give a little something to the poor.

Francis made the comments during his morning homily Monday, so-called Cyber Monday when online retailers woo shoppers with bargains ahead of Christmas.

Francis made no mention of Christmas shopping - in Italy, the official season begins December 8 - but his plea for generosity will likely be repeated in coming weeks.

Francis said giving away clothes, shoes or groceries can help the poor: 'How many pairs of shoes do I have? One, two, three, four, 15, 20? ... If you have so many, give away half.'

Pope Francis criticised the 'sickness of consumerism' today as retailers wooed shoppers with Cyber Monday deals

Francis urged the faithful to consider donating clothes, shoes and food to help those less fortunate

He said: 'We can make miracles with generosity of little things.'

The Pontiff hit out at what he described as a money-centred culture that 'promotes poverty, slavery and waste' in September this year.

The Argentine has repeatedly criticised what he calls the 'culture of waste' which excludes the poorest and weakest people and destroys the environment.

He has also urged governments to make good on their commitments to curb global warming, warning that climate change, continued unsustainable development and rampant consumption threatens to turn the Earth into a vast pile of 'rubble, deserts and refuse'.
The son of a murderous grifter who he killed three people as part of schemes to protect their swindling lifestyle has described from jail how she taught him how to murder.

Kenneth Kimes, now 45, is serving a life sentence at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.

In 2000, he was arrested with his mother, notorious con woman Sante Kimes, for the murder of 82-year-old Irene Silverman, a socialite in New York City who was their landlord and who Sante plotted to murder to take ownership of her Upper East Side Mansion.

Sante died in prison in 2014. She always denied the killings but Kenneth, one of two sons she had, confessed in order to avoid either of them being executed.

In an starkly honest article published by Narratively on Monday, he described in detail how he strangled Irene after his mother stunned her with a Taser.

Sante Kimes and Kenneth Kimes take part in a CBS interview in 1998 to protest their innocence in the killing of Irene Silverman, an 82-year-old socialite who they strangled and then dumped in a dumpster in New Jersey. Sante died in prison in 2014

He then put her body in the bathtub of their apartment then in a duffel bag which they loaded into a stolen car.

Now 45, Kenneth (pictured at a sentencing hearing in California in 2004) has spoken out about how his mother taught him to kill. He wants it to serve as a 'cautionary tale'

With Irene's corpse stashed in the vehicle, he and his mother went for coffee and pastries at Trump Tower. Later, they disposed of her in a dumpster in Hoboken, New Jersey.

'My hands are around Irenes neck, and I can feel the electricity pulsing through this tiny woman as I strangle the life out of her.

'I am terrified, but I keep my hands around her throat.

'I dont want to do this. I want to run. I want to jump on a plane and get as far away from New York City as I can, but I stay committed....

'Irene lays dead in my hands. She is so fragile,' he said, describing the killing.

Afterwards, he put the elderly woman's body in the bathtub under his mother's instructions.

They then broke into Silverman's apartment to find her passport and social security number.

Once they had the documents, they went back into their rented apartment and put Silverman's body in a duffel bag.

'My mother directs me to put the body in a duffle bag.

'Her tone reminds me of how she spoke to me as a child: Kenny, get to bed. Kenny, brush your teeth. Kenny, put the body in the f****** duffle (sic) bag.

'I do as I am told. The obedient son. Always,' he wrote.

Then, once the body was in their car, they went to Trump Tower. Sante had scrubbed the crime scene with rubbing alcohol to make sure there was no trace of them left behind.

'We sit at a table drinking coffee and eating pastries. How f***** up is this? A woman was murdered by the same hands now wrapped around a cup of coffee,' he wrote.

Irene Silverman was a former ballerina and New York City Rockette who was wealthy. She owned the building where the mother and son duo rented an apartment and they killed her with the intention of taking control of it once she died

The murder happened in the mansion Silverman owned on East 65th Street (center)

Other victims: Kenneth's first kill was the banker Syed Bilal Ahmed (left) who they killed in 1996 in the Bahamas after he became suspicious over their accounts. In March 1998, Kenneth shot Dave Kazdin (right) after he became involved in a dispute with Sante. Sante had forged his signature to get a $280,000 loan

Kenneth went on to describe how his mother had mistreated him his whole life.

The only times he was free of her was when she spent five years in prison when he was a child after being caught enslaving their maids.

He then fled her to go to college but started living with her again when his father, a wealthy motel owner, mysteriously died.

She had kept it a secret from him and he returned home from college only to find out his father had been dead for two months.

Though she was never convicted of his death, she was suspected of playing a part in it.

It was his father's death that led Kenneth to commit his first murder.

After he died, his mother discovered that he had been keeping much of their fortune in offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.

Their use of them piqued the interest of banker Syed Bilal Ahmed. He was suspicious of the pair and it cost him his life, Kenneth wrote.

They drugged him, drowned him and threw his body in the ocean in 1996. Despite Kenneth's confession, they were never arrested for that murder.

Kenneth and his mother are shown in their 1998 mugshots. They were charged with murder despite Irene's body never being found after police found documents which belonged to her in their possession

Kimes is pictured in 2004 at a hearing in California over the death of Dave Kazdin. She was 69 at the time and was still protesting her innocence

He referenced it again in his article on Monday, writing: 'When Syed Bilal Ahmed became suspicious of some shady accounts in the Bahamas, he had to go.

'When David Kazdin figured out an arson con, mom sent me to kill him.

'And then there was Irene, whose only crime was to exist as a person my mother could never be.

'She had to go too,' he wrote.

Kazdin was killed in 1998 after discovering a plot Sante had come up with to forge his signature to get a bank loan for $280,000.

The mother-son-duo was arrested in 1998 after police found documents that belonged to Silverman in their home.

Silverman, a former ballerina, was suspicious of the pair and had been keeping notes herself to document her suspicions.

Before their trial, the pair went on television to protest their innocence. Sante claimed they were being framed by the police and she maintained her story after being convicted.

She was sentenced to 125 years for Silverman's death and the pair were due to be extradited to California to face the death penalty for Kazdin's death until Kenneth cut a deal with prosecutors there which involved him confessing to the murder to take the death penalty off the table.

In 2014, Kimes began a romantic relationship with write Traci Foust (pictured). She died in January this year from the flu. He now says he understands what he took from his victims because of her

Had it not been for her son's confession, she would likely have been executed for the killings.

In his article on Monday, Kenneth lamented how difficult it was to go against her after years of obedience.

'To escape the death penalty, I cut a deal and confessed. My mother would not cooperate, even to save my life. She insisted that we carry on with our lies of innocence, so I testified against her to save us both.

'After two days of confessions, I went back to my cell and wrote in my journal: "Tattle Tell, Tattle Tell, too bad youre going straight to hell. I am no longer the son who will do anything for his mother, but Im still a murderer. Only now I get to live. I am the Narc who escaped the Needle. The Piece of Shit Who Doesnt Get to Walk the Green Mile.

"Just spent the last 10 minutes vomiting. I ratted my mom out. If I didnt, we would both go to death row. Now we get to live. I feel dead already  God have mercy on us. No one else will."

Sante died in prison in 2014. She died of natural causes and was 79.

Afterwards, Kenneth got in touch with Traci Foust, a writer who had been in touch with him while Sante was still alive to try to learn his story.

With his mother now dead, he said he finally felt free to talk about their twisted relationship.

He and Foust's pen pal relationship later turned romantic. It lasted until she died from the flu and pneumonia in January this year.

It was only when they fell in love, he said, that he understood what he had taken from his victims' families.

Now, Kenneth said he hopes his story will serve as a cautionary tale.

'Prison has not reformed me. The system did not help me seek out absolution. Love did.

'I learned my morality through writing about my immorality, and it is in sharing my life story, serving my time, that I hope to prevent someone else from going down the same path.

Mary Tyler Moore played Sante in a 2004 television movie called Like Mother Like Son

'I say this to anyone in a painful situation that seems impossible to get out of: You dont have to be broken by your suffering; you can be awoken by it if you are willing to block out the noise and fight your way to peace.

'The big difference between us isnt that youre free and Im not. I know I created my loneliness.

'I have no one to blame but myself, because I took innocent lives.

'Everything is a choice, and my choice was to willfully throw it all away. Dont let it be yours,' he wrote.

In 2000, while he was awaiting extradition to California to face charges for Kazdin's death, Kenneth took a journalist hostage in prison after she had gone to visit him to conduct an interview.

His only demand was that he did not want his mother to be sent to California to face the death penalty.

He was not Sante's only son. She had another with her first husband, her high school sweetheart Edward Walker.

Kent, her son, is estranged from her. He wrote a book about her life of crime in 2001 after their conviction. It is called Son of a Grifter.

In 2004, Mary Tyler Moore played Sante in a made-for-TV movie about the family's dysfunctional life.
Christine Blasey Ford has faced numerous death threats and has had to move four times since she testified against Brett Kavanaugh.

But Ford said she is grateful to have 'had the opportunity to fulfill my civic duty' after she came forward and claimed the Supreme Court Justice sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers.

Ford has written a new post to her supporters, thanking them for their donations and revealing she will no longer be accepting contributions on GoFundMe.

The California professor has been using the campaign - which raised nearly $650,000 - to pay for a security team after her name became headline news.

Christine Blasey Ford said she is grateful to have 'had the opportunity to fulfill my civic duty' after she testified against Brett Kavanugh

Ford has written a new post to her supporters, thanking them for their donations and revealing she will no longer be accepting contributions on GoFundMe (pictured)

'Words are not adequate to thank all of you who supported me since I came forward to tell the Senate that I had been sexually assaulted by Brett Kavanaugh,' Ford wrote on Monday.

'Your tremendous outpouring of support and kind letters have made it possible for us to cope with the immeasurable stress, particularly the disruption to our safety and privacy.'

Ford, who could not return to her home or workplace in the weeks following the hearing, said her supporters has given her hope that 'our lives will return to normal'.

'Although coming forward was terrifying, and caused disruption to our lives, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my civic duty,' she added.

Ford told her supporters that their donations have been a 'godsend' and allowed her and her family to take 'reasonable steps to protect ourselves against frightening threats, including physical protection and security'.

The California professor has been using the campaign - which raised nearly $650,000 - to pay for a security team after her name became headline news

Ford, who could not return to her home or workplace in the weeks following the result, said her supporters has given her hope that 'our lives will return to normal'

She said the family began using a security service on September 19, shortly before the hearing, and that it has 'recently begun to taper off'.

The Ford family has also purchased a home security system, have incurred housing and security costs while in Washington DC, and have also had to fund local housing for 'part of the time we have been displaced'.

'Part of the time we have been able to stay with our security team in a residence generously loaned to us,' she added.

Ford said any funds not used for security expenditures would be donated to organizations supporting trauma survivors.

'With immense gratitude, I am closing this account to further contributions,' she wrote.

Ford told her supporters that their donations have been a 'godsend' and allowed her and her family to take 'reasonable steps to protect ourselves against frightening threats'

Ford also took a moment to pay tribute to those who have shared their own stories of assault since she first spoke out against the Supreme Court Justice.

'I am in awe of the many women and men who have written me to share similar life experiences, and now have bravely shared their experience with friends and family, many for the first time,' she wrote.

'I send you my heartfelt love and support. I wish I could thank each and every one of you individually. Thank you.'

Ford stood before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a hearing that was broadcast across America as she recollected the night she said Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party when she was 15.

'I don't have all the answers, and I don't remember as much as I would like to,' Ford said in her opening statement.

Ford recollected the night she said Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her at a high school party during a hearing that was broadcast across America in September

'But the details about that night that bring me here today are ones I will never forget. They have been seared into my memory and have haunted me episodically as an adult.'

'I have had to relive my trauma in front of the entire world, and have seen my life picked apart by people on television, in the media, and in this body who have never met me or spoken with me,' she added.

'I have been accused of acting out of partisan political motives. Those who say that do not know me. I am a fiercely independent person and I am no one's pawn.

'My motivation in coming forward was to provide the facts about how Mr Kavanaugh's actions have damaged my life, so that you can take that into serious consideration as you make your decision about how to proceed.'

'It is not my responsibility to determine whether Mr Kavanaugh deserves to sit on the Supreme Court. My responsibility is to tell the truth.'
Fights reportedly broke out near a Bank of America ATM in Texas after the machine kept spitting out $100 bills.

A long line of cars was also seen outside the ATM as people scrambled to get their turn at grabbing a wad of cash.

Authorities said the machine was giving customer $100 bills instead of $10 bills.

A long line of cars (pictured) was also seen outside the Bank of America ATM as people scrambled to get their turn at grabbing a wad of cash

Authorities said the machine was giving customer $100 bills instead of $10 bills

A customer apparently went to the Bank of America ATM near FM 1960 around 11pm Sunday night to withdraw cash, according to KPRC 2.

But instead of getting a $10 bill, the machine spit out a $100.

The man then posted about the incident on social media, causing a crowd of people to rush over for the free extra cash.

According to the station, a few people fought while waiting in line.

Police were eventually alerted to the incident and swarmed the area.

The ATM was shut down and guarded by the officers until the glitch was worked out.

Fights also broke out near the ATM as crowds of people gathered around the machine (pictured, a group in line to make withdrawals)

A bank statement shows that a vendor incorrectly loaded $100 bills in place of $10 bills into the ATM

Some Harris County sheriff's deputies protected the outdoor ATM after Sunday night's incident and notified Bank of America.

A bank statement shows that a vendor incorrectly loaded $100 bills in place of $10 bills into the ATM.

Bank of America also said in a statement that customers will be able to keep the additional dispensed money.

Officials with North Carolina-based Bank of America didn't say how much cash was wrongly dispensed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 26)  President Rodrigo Duterte is still on a firing binge, as he announced Monday that he will fire another undersecretary over corruption.

"Corruption is not acceptable to me. I need not repeat it every day. When I go back to Manila, I will fire another undersecretary for corruption," he said in his speech during the groundbreaking of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project in Davao City.

Duterte, however, did not name the official.

The President, in a speech before the Filipino community in Papua New Guinea on November 16, said he would fire another official upon his return to the Philippines in line with his crackdown on corruption in the government.

On November 23, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council secretary-general Falconi Millar was dismissed over alleged irregularities in the agency.

On November 19, three left-leaning undersecretaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development were dismissed. The three officials were former Undersecretary for Promotive Operations and Programs Group Maria Lourdes Turalde-Jarabe, Undersecretary for Protective Operations and Programs Group Mae Ancheta-Templa, and Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Hope Hervilla.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea denied the three officials were sacked for their affiliation with leftist groups. He said they were removed from their post so Secretary Rolly Bautista can form his own team.

"We expect the new secretary to bring his own team to provide better services to the public," he told Palace reporters.
The foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the European Union discussed the new draft of the EU Strategy for Central Asia at the 14th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting in Brussels and agreed that the next meeting will be held in Kyrgyzstan in the first half of 2019. The European Union is interested in the region's energy resources, transport corridors and also has plans to expand its influence in Central Asia, including by raising its funding for aid programs.

"Fast changing regional dynamics and the growing importance of sustainable connectivity between Europe and Asia bring Central Asia to the centre of our attention. Countries in the region, especially Turkmenistan, are increasingly looking to the EU as a reliable partner for reforms, modernisation and to face the global challenges of today," High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said.

The new Delegation will be established in Ashgabat. It will enable the European Union to step up political, economic and sectoral dialogue and cooperation with Turkmenistan. "The decision reflects the EU's wish to fully engage with Turkmenistan in areas of strategic interest such as security, human rights, energy, climate, and the rule of law," Mogherini stressed.

If Turkmenistan takes only initial steps towards the European direction, then Kazakhstan has become the leader of the region in cooperation with the EU. The EU strategy for Central Asia was developed in 2003 and was periodically adjusted. The document provided for the development of relations between Europe and with each of the regional country in the fields of energy, education, the fight against terrorism, border security, development of legislation and protection of human rights. The EU has financed over 110 projects with a total budget of about 230 million euros. The cooperation strategy should have been revised by the end of 2017, but it did not happen. The reason was simple - Europe has other concerns now, and has no money for Central Asia, while Russia and China are actively working in the region. Therefore, today it is proposed to focus on expanding cooperation through the implementation of infrastructure projects and the involvement of Afghanistan in these projects.

Preference in the new strategy is given to individual cooperation with each regional countries, but Uzbekistan is at the top of the list.. The European Union intends to implement a number of projects there totaling 168 million euros. Director General for International Cooperation and Development Stefano Manservisi, who visited Tashkent last summer, said that the "EU considers Uzbekistan as a strategic partner." According to him, the EU intends to increase Uzbekistan's economic activity, create new jobs, as well as transfer the European experience to Uzbek entrepreneurs. He also said that the EU is considering the possibility of increasing funding for Uzbek projects. "The number of European companies will increase in Uzbekistan," Manservisi noted.

Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov recalled that the EU remains its largest trade, economic and investment partner, as well as one of Kazakhstans foreign policy priorities. If the neighbors are only planning to update the contractual documents, then Kazakhstan is the first of the Central Asian states to conclude the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU.

Mogherini noted that the agreement was ratified by the overwhelming majority of European countries: Literally these days, the UK and Ireland announced the completion of their internal state procedures and their approval by the parliaments. There are three states left, which will hopefully complete the ratification of this document. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to intensify cooperation with Central Asia."

The EU foreign ministers noted the positive dynamics of the development of Central Asian countries and new opportunities for cooperation for Europeans. "Central Asia is a region where there is an increasing demand for a diversification of partnerships with the EU. We are also interested in strengthening our engagement in security, on trade, on energy, on connectivity, on development matters. We had a useful exchange of views during the Ministerial about the new Strategy on Central Asia that the European Union is planning to adopt next year," Mogherini noted.

Foreign ministers of the region made counter proposals to the European Union: the EU assistance in the development of education, small and medium business in the countries of the region, as well as the deepening of interconnectedness in cultural and humanitarian cooperation. In particular, Kairat Abdrakhmanov reported on Astana's readiness to provide a platform for starting a dialogue on interaction between the EU, the EEU and China. In addition, Kazakhstan proposed to create a single online portal that could become a "universal virtual window" to Europe for 70 million people in Central Asia.

The Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, expressed hope that the EU would increase its assistance to Tajikistan in border security and the prevention of drug trafficking (within the BOMCA and CADAP programs), the effective implementation of socio-economic projects through the new European Union Strategy for Central Asia and the next Multi-Annual Indicative Programme between Tajikistan and the EU.

The German expert on the post-Soviet space, Dr. Ashot Manucharyan, told Vestnik Kavkazka that the EU policy is always focused on certain projects: "The aim of these projects is to stabilize a certain economic sector of each country. In this case, they consider a win-win situation, when both parties - the EU and Central Asia - benefit from the project. Especially since it is not a private investment, but an investment in the infrastructure of the region. In this case, Uzbekistan is considered as the largest Central Asian country in terms of population." The factor of the EU's foreign economic policy works here: economical stabilisation leads to political stabilization in the country (region), or at least does not lead to any crisis. Especially in the period of cardinal transformations of the state's vital activities.

Federica Mogherini announced the EU is providing 124 million euros in support of sustainable development across all five of the Central Asian countries. According to her, the programmes they are financing will help to develop the private sector, trade and investment, will help to protect the environment, tackle climate change, promote the rule of law, and create effective and inclusive education policies. "We discussed ways to intensify our cooperation in the field of common security, including in cooperation on Afghanistan. We also remain committed to implementing the nuclear deal with Iran, and the efforts of the countries of Central Asia are also helping to ensure that this implementation continues fully and effectively," the head of European diplomacy said.
Vulnerable children used as drugs mules by county lines gangs must be helped rather than locked up, the families minister has urged.

Nadhim Zahawi said too many youngsters in care are getting caught up in the criminal system after being coerced by drugs gangs.

In the first guidance of its kind he is urging police, social workers, teachers and the courts to spot the signs of grooming and intervene before it is too late.

Nadhim Zahawi said too many youngsters in care are getting caught up in the criminal system after being coerced by drugs gangs

He warned that children in care are often over-represented in the criminal justice system, which can make their lives unravel fast. He urged professionals to work together to break the cycle of adversity.

His warning comes after the head of Ofsted, Amanda Spielman, said children as young as 12 are being forced to act as drug runners for criminals.

Dealer paying off teenage debt Jail: Emmanuel Mukokilli at age 16 A teenager jailed for three years over drugs offences had been pressured into selling drugs in a county lines operation by dealers higher up the chain, a court heard. Emmanuel Mukokillis sentence for supplying heroin and cocaine was his third drugs conviction. Lawyers said a youth detention order for possessing drugs aged 16 was the root of his latest conviction at 19. They said Mukokilli, from Plaistow, East London, owed a debt to gangs after his release and, via threats to his family, was made to continue dealing drugs in Kents Medway towns. Months later he was arrested for dealing cannabis, then caught hiding in a skip with heroin and cocaine in Chatham, Maidstone Crown Court heard earlier this year. Advertisement

The Mail has highlighted the growing scourge of county lines gangs, which recruit youngsters to transport and sell drugs from cities to smaller towns and rural areas.

Youths are lured with promises of friendship or gifts, but once they begin work they are threatened with violence and trapped. It is believed up to 50,000 are being exploited, with children in care prime targets.

Mr Zahawi said: Children in care have often experienced traumatic events and faced tremendous challenges through no fault of their own.

We know they often do not achieve the same positive outcomes as their peers and, while the vast majority do not get into trouble with the law, contact with the criminal justice system can cause their lives to unravel and make it even harder for them to succeed. His guidance, published today, urges local agencies to aim to avoid the prosecution of looked-after children and care leavers wherever possible and appropriate.

Instead, they should encourage a response to incidents which reduces the likelihood of criminalisation, offending or reoffending.

Staff must have an understanding of how trauma affects behaviour and how children may have been coerced and subsequently criminally exploited.

Examples include through running county lines or in cannabis cultivation.

Nine out of ten police forces are battling the county lines gangs, with half of the forces having encountering child drug runners, according to National Crime Agency figures.
Sarah Palin had reason to give thanks over the holiday as all of her children were together under one roof.

Photos posted by the former governor on Instagram show her and husband Todd with youngest son Trig, daughters Piper, Willow and Bristol, and their oldest child, Track.

It marked the first time Track has been seen with the entire family since he was arrested for breaking into his parents' home and assaulting Todd just before Christmas.

That case has been closed after Track entered a guilty plea to select charges, and it seems that Track's siblings and parents have all put the incident behind them, despite filing restraining orders against the 29-year-old veteran last year.

Since that time Track was arrested for assaulting his ex and was ordered to report to a halfway house ahead of his trial in that case.

That was delayed however when a bed became available at a local veterans hospital in the state, and he has been there now for close to a month.

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Palin posse: Track Palin was pictured with his sisters, brother and parents for the first time since attack dad Todd in December of last year (l to r: Piper, Track, Trig, Todd, Willow, Sarah and Bristol)

Legal woes: The family reunited for Thanksgiving, and the former governor and her daughters shared pictures of the event on social media (Palin in court last year)

An incident report that was included in tTrack's charging documents last year revealed that he broke into his family home through a window after being told by Todd he was not welcome, and then began to hit the man over the head.

Todd had tried to keep his son out by meeting him at the door and pointing a gun at him, but Track was able to disarm the man and 'put him on the floor' before beating him bloody.

Sarah told police her son was 'freaking out and was on some type of medication.'

After Track assaulted his father, a bloody Todd fled the home followed by Sarah, and Track engaged in a brief standoff with police.

'Track stood on the porch,' wrote Officer Adam LaPointe of the Wasilla Police Department.

'Communication was attempted which failed due to Track yelling and calling myself and other officers peasants and telling us to lay our guns on the ground before approaching the residence.'

He then went inside the house before reappearing on the roof of the garage so he could get a look around the entire property according to Office LaPointe.

After that Track again when into the house, where he remained for approximately 15 minutes before reestablishing communication with police.

Track then turned himself over to police, admitting he had a few beers earlier in the night and had gotten into a argument with his father over the use of a car.

'Track said he had been talking to his dad, Todd, about a vehicle,' reads the report.

'Track stated he had a disagreement and that there had been threats made between them. Track stated that he then drove over to Todd's house and when he arrived Todd had a gun in his hand,' reads Officer LaPointe's sworn affidavit.

When Track then looked through the window next to the door he saw 'Todd point a gun at him.'

The eldest son of Sarah and Todd then told his father to shoot him several times before deciding to break a window in order to enter the home.

'Track stated that he went through the broken window and disarmed Todd and put him on the ground,' states the affidavit.

'While Track had Todd on the ground he started hitting Todd in the head. Todd was able to get away from Track and out of the residence.'

The Iraq combat veteran was previously taken into custody by police in Wasilla back in January of 2016 after officers arrived at the Palin family home and found his girlfriend cowering under a bed.

According to the unidentified woman, an intoxicated Track attacked her and pointed an AR-15 rifle at his own head as they argued over her ex-boyfriend and screamed he was going to shoot himself, shouting, 'do you think I'm a p---y? and 'do you think I won't do it?'

The police report stated that the victim was seen with 'bruising and swelling around her left eye' claiming that Track had thrown her phone away when she tried to call 911.

This all happened at Sarah's Wasilla home as well according to court documents, and Track had a 0.189 blood alcohol level according to police.

Drama: Last December, Track broke into his family's home, disarmed his father of a gun and beat the man bloody (Track and his dad at an October hearing)

And in September he was arrested for another incident involving his ex Jordan Lowe, who revealed herself to be the person that was previously attacked in 2016 by Track.

Loewe, whose protective order against Track was just lifted in late August, was told by Track that she could not leave when she came to his house, at which point she pulled out her phone and stated: 'If you don't let me leave I'm going to call the police.'

That is when Track allegedly took her phone and began hitting her, even as she tried to remove their son from her ex's home.

She eventually yelled loud enough to get her phone back and called authorities, who also claim that they were attacked by the 29-year-old father-of-two.

Track was booked on charges of Assault IV, Interfering with Report of a DV, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct and ordered held without bail.

Loewe told the troopers who responded to her report of a domestic violence incident that after Track took her phone she tried to leave the residence despite her ex's behavior, but then things began to spiral out of control.

'Jordan made it outside to her vehicle in the driveway and was in the driver seat when Track followed her out and was on top of her, hitting her in the head,' wrote Trooper Jason Somerville.

'Jordan told me she went back inside to get [their son] and take him with her. While Jordan was walking inside Track continued to hit her in the back of the head and butt.'

Loewe was eventually able to get their son buckled into the car and wrestle her phone away from Track, saying that she believed her screaming worried him enough that he handed over the cell.

Once she had made her way safely to a nearby gas station she called authorities.

That assaut was a violation of his probation in the case involving his father and he was therefore ordered to jail, but spared when a bed was found for him at the veterans hospital.

Track was due in court for a hearing in that case on Monday, but the date has now been pushed back to january.
Plans to tackle knife crime are being blocked amid fears over the cost of jailing offenders.

In a bid to tackle a surge in stabbings, Home Secretary Sajid Javid is proposing to use Asbo-style powers against thugs.

Breaching these knife crime prevention orders would be a criminal offence, potentially punishable by prison.

But Mr Javids colleague David Gauke, who is responsible for jails, has questioned the plans, saying they could accelerate the criminalisation of young people.

In a bid to tackle a surge in stabbings, Home Secretary Sajid Javid is proposing to use Asbo-style powers against thugs

The Justice Secretary has also raised concerns about affordability when the prison system is under huge pressure.

His stance casts doubt on the Governments commitment to combat spiralling crime in Wild West Britain.

There was a time when Conservative justice secretaries used to believe prison worked, said a senior Conservative Party source.

This looks more like Mr Gauke wants to hug a hoodie.

There have already been more than 250 fatal stabbings in England and Wales this year  including at least 120 in the capital.

The knife crime orders were drawn up by the Home Office following a request from senior police officers.

David Gauke, who is responsible for jails, has questioned the plans, saying they could accelerate the criminalisation of young people

They would cover youngsters caught carrying a blade for protection but who are not regarded as serious offenders.

Mr Gauke made his opposition clear in a letter circulated in Whitehall and seen by the Mail.

Written last week, the letter said: I remain to be convinced of the evidence that these orders will be effective in reducing knife crime, especially possession, among young people.

Bearing in mind the intention to move to a public health approach, I am concerned that these orders will accelerate the criminalisation of young people rather than address the wider social issues around carrying knives.

Given our existing messages on knife crime and the statutory minimum sentences, there is a real risk that the courts will feel compelled to impose custodial sentences  often very short custodial sentences  for breach of an order.

I do not want to see large numbers, especially of young people, serving ineffective short sentences for breaches of civil orders.

Mr Gauke said he supported giving full and careful consideration to any gaps in police powers and wanted to provide additional support over knife crime.

But he said: I would oppose an announcement being made at this stage, on one option, without having given more consideration to whether these orders are the best way to provide a preventative, proportionate and affordable response to knife crime.

He said he had asked his officials to work on other measures.

Last night sources denied Mr Gauke had sought to veto the plans and was instead asking for more information about them.

One Whitehall source said: Its absurd to suggest anyone would prevent the police from getting new powers to tackle knife crime because of costs, but it is only fair to ask how it would work and how it would prevent or fight knife crime.

In the latest example of the knife crime menace, 16-year-old Jaydon James (pictured) was stabbed to death in Coventry on Saturday

Mr Gaukes department is struggling to deal with spiralling levels of violence and drug use in the jail system. Any sharp increase in inmate numbers would put the prison estate under greater pressure.

Mr Javid has said it is his mission to combat stabbing and has called for more police funding and greater use of stop and search powers.

In the latest example of the knife crime menace, 16-year-old Jaydon James was stabbed to death in Coventry on Saturday.

His sister Jayda said he was not in a gang and was killed by grown men simply because of the neighbourhood he lived in.

Last week it emerged that the number of children being admitted to hospital with stab wounds has almost doubled in four years. A total of 573 under-18s were taken to A&E with potentially life-threatening knife injuries last year.

This was up 86 per cent from 308 in 2014-15. Around 50 who received treatment for assault by sharp object were aged ten to 14. Four had not even turned nine.

Earlier this month the Mail revealed that around four in ten criminals caught more than once with a knife are spared prison.

Judges are not required to jail repeat offenders when particular circumstances would make it unjust to do so.
President Donald Trump said on Monday he doesn't believe a climate report out of his administration that warns of dire economic costs in the wake of climate change.

'I don't believe it,' he told reporters at the White House before he left for campaign rallies in Mississippi.

'I've seen it, Ive read some of it, and its fine,' he added.

President Donald Trump said on Monday he doesn't believe a climate report out of his administration that warns of dire economic costs in the wake of climate change

Trump was responding to a stunning report released by his administration that said climate change will cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars

He also seemed to push the blame to other nations, saying the United States is 'the cleanest we've ever been.'

'And here's the other thing, you're going to have to China and Japan and all of Asia and all of these other countries, you know, it addresses our country. Right now we're the cleanest we've ever been. And that's very important to me. But if we're clean, but every other place on Earth is dirty, that's not so good, so I want clean air, I want clean water, very important,' he said.

The president was responding to a stunning report released by his administration Friday that said climate change will cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the century, damaging everything from human health to infrastructure and agricultural production.

The report came out on Black Friday, a holiday for most Americans and one of the busiest shopping days of the year, leading critics to charge Trump with trying to bury the findings.

The Congressionally-mandated report, written with the help of more than a dozen U.S. government agencies and departments, outlined the projected impacts of global warming in every corner of American society, in a dire warning at odds with the Trump administration's pro-fossil fuels agenda.

'With continued growth in emissions at historic rates, annual losses in some economic sectors are projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the century - more than the current gross domestic product (GDP) of many U.S. states,' according to the report.

It said global warming would disproportionately hurt the poor, broadly undermine human health, damage infrastructure, limit the availability of water, alter coastlines, and boost costs in industries from farming to energy production.

Trump's administration - through his EPA - has rolled back or repealed nearly every climate policy former President Obama put into place, including greenhouse gas rules for power plants, cars and oil and natural gas drillers.

The president also took the United States out of the Paris Climate Accords.

Trump and several members of his cabinet have also repeatedly cast doubt on the science of climate change, arguing the causes and impacts are not yet settled.

Environmental groups said the report reinforced their calls for the United States to take action on climate change.

The report came out on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, leading critics to charge Trump with trying to bury the findings

'This report makes it clear that climate change is not some problem in the distant future. It's happening right now in every part of the country,' said Brenda Ekwurzel, the director of climate science at the Union of Concerned Scientists and one of the report's authors.

Previous research, including from U.S. government scientists, has also concluded that climate change could have severe economic consequences, including damage to infrastructure, water supplies and agriculture.

Severe weather and other impacts also increase the risk of disease transmission, decrease air quality, and can increase mental health problems, among other effects.

Thirteen government departments and agencies, from the Agriculture Department to NASA, were part of the committee that compiled the new report.

The entire report can be viewed here.
leg Gordievsky was about to take over the Soviet Embassy in London, England

Colonel Oleg Gordievsky was excited. His boss, General Arkadi Guk, in the Soviet embassy in London, had been expelled by the British and he, as deputy, was in pole position to take over.

Aldrich Ames, a former CIA agent who became a mole. Even a KGB truth serum couldn't break Colonel Oleg Gordievsky

If he was promoted, Britains secret service would have pulled off the considerable and unprecedented coup of placing its own double agent at the head of a KGB station.

As the most senior Soviet intelligence operative in Britain, he would henceforth have access to the innermost secrets of Russian espionage. He would be able to inform the West what the KGB was planning to do, before it did it.

But confirmation of his promotion was slow to come from Moscow Centre, and the long delay raised suspicions that he was being checked out. Then, in January 1985, he was told to fly back for a high-level briefing.

British intelligence feared a trap. Should this be the moment to bring the 46-year-old Gordievsky in from the cold, and arrange his defection?

A few argued that the risk of letting him return to Russia was too great.

There were no danger signals from Moscow. We were not too concerned, an MI6 officer said, and nor was he. His view was that he was probably OK. He was given the opportunity to quit, but turned it down. He didnt see any great hazard.

On his arrival at headquarters in Moscow, he was welcomed heartily and introduced at an internal KGB conference as the rezident designate in London, Comrade Gordievsky. He was relieved and delighted.

After a short stay, he returned to London with news of his appointment  to unconstrained rejoicing among the handful of people in the know in MI6. When he took over as head of the KGB station in London in a few months time, he would have access to every single secret. And surely he would rise further in the organisation. He might even end up a KGB general.

In Moscow, as double agent Oleg Gordievsky walked through the airport, he saw signs of peril everywhere. The passport officer seemed to study his papers for an inordinate length of time before waving him through

He finally took charge at the end of April 1985, and was puzzled when he opened the locked briefcase left for him. There was next to nothing in it  as if the highest priority secret material was being kept from him.

He shrugged and began reading through the rezidentura files, and gathering for MI6 a bonanza of fresh intelligence. A fortnight later, an urgent telegram from Moscow landed on his desk. In order to confirm your appointment as rezident, it read, please come to Moscow urgently in two days time for important discussions.

Gordievsky felt a cold prickle of apprehension. He rushed to the nearest telephone box, and called an emergency meeting with his MI6 handler, Simon Brown.

Over the next 48 hours, MI6 and Gordievsky would have to decide whether he should answer the summons or wrap up the case and move him and his family into hiding.

That evening, he told his wife Leila he was flying back to Moscow and would return to London in a few days. She noticed that his fingernails were bitten down to the quick. Then, in an act of stupendous bravery, Oleg Gordievsky boarded the afternoon Aeroflot flight from Heathrow

His immediate thinking was that the summons was unusual, but not necessarily suspicious. Nor were his KGB colleagues around him exhibiting any trace of suspicion.

On the other hand, Moscow had been oddly silent since his appointment. There had been no note of congratulation, and he had not yet received the all-important telegram containing the rezidenturas cipher communication codes.

If the KGB suspected him of treachery, why had they not sent in the thugs of the Thirteenth Department, specialists in kidnapping, to drag him back to Russia?

The debate swung this way and that, and Gordievskys meeting with his MI6 contact ended without a firm conclusion. They agreed to meet again and, in the meantime, he booked a ticket on the Sunday flight to Moscow.

Back at Century House, MI6s headquarters, the top brass convened. There was no sense of alarm. They were on the cusp of a great triumph, and the officers closest to the case could see no clear reason to pull the plug. But it was agreed that the final decision should be left to Gordievsky.

At the next meeting, he was offered the choice of defecting, with the assurance that he and his family would be protected and looked after for the rest of their lives. But if he decided to carry on, Britain would be eternally in his debt.

Quit now, and Britain would scoop up the enormous winnings already made. But if he returned from Moscow having been blessed as rezident by the head of the KGB, then they would hit an even bigger jackpot.

The Russian sat utterly silent, apparently lost in thought.

Then he spoke: Were on the brink. To stop now would be a dereliction of duty and everything Ive done. There is a risk, but its a controlled risk, and one Im prepared to take. I will go back.

That evening, he told his wife Leila he was flying back to Moscow and would return to London in a few days.

She noticed that his fingernails were bitten down to the quick. Then, in an act of stupendous bravery, Oleg Gordievsky boarded the afternoon Aeroflot flight from Heathrow.

Oleg Gordievsky in his student days at Moscow's eliste Institute of International Affairs where he was first recruited by the KGB

In Moscow, as he walked through the airport, he saw signs of peril everywhere. The passport officer seemed to study his papers for an inordinate length of time before waving him through. There was no official to greet him, the usual courtesy for a KGB colonel returning from overseas.

He climbed into a taxi, reassuring himself that if the KGB knew the truth that he was a double-agent, he would have been arrested the moment he set foot on Russian soil, and be on his way to KGB cells, to face interrogation, torture and execution.

Arriving at the door of his family flat in an apartment block on Leninsky Prospekt, which he had not been in for several months, he opened the first lock, then the second. But the door would not budge. A third lock held it fast.

But Gordievsky never used that third lock. That could only mean one thing  someone with a skeleton key had been inside, and on leaving had mistakenly triple-locked the door. That someone must be the KGB.

His flat had been entered, searched and probably bugged. He was under suspicion. The KGB was watching him. The spy was being spied upon.

His training kicked in.

Clearly he was under suspicion, but the investigators did not yet have sufficient evidence to nail him. And, even in the police state of the Soviet Union, such legal niceties were required, unlike in the old Stalinist days.

Having got inside his flat with a spare key, Gordievsky checked for more signs of a KGB visit. From now on, he must assume that his every word was being heard, his every move watched. He barely slept that night, fears and questions swirling.

How much did the KGB know? Who had betrayed me?

The answer  though Gordievsky would not know until much later  was that he had, indeed, been betrayed.

A disgruntled American CIA agent, Aldrich Ames, had just committed one of the most spectacular acts of treason in the history of espionage by divulging to the KGB the names of 25 individuals spying for Western intelligence against the Soviet Union, including suspicions about Gordievsky.

Yet the KGB did not pounce. Quite why has never been fully established, but the counter-intelligence directorate was preoccupied with rounding up the two dozen definite spies identified by Ames.

Gordievsky, a keen badminton player, and right in his KGB uniform, switched his loyalty from Moscow to the West and took on the dangerous role of a double agent. He was appointed to the Soviet embassy in London

Perhaps it also wanted to catch Gordievsky in flagrante with MI6, to cause Britain maximum embarrassment.

The next morning, Gordievsky made his way to KGB headquarters and sat in his office, waiting for the summons to see the boss. It never came and he went home, to spend another evening of fearful imagining. The next day was the same, as was the one after that and so on for five days.

The strain was unremitting. He could detect no surveillance, yet a sixth sense told him eyes and ears were on every corner, in every shadow. As the days passed, Gordievsky began to wonder if his fears were imaginary.

Then came proof they were not. In a corridor, he bumped into a colleague, who asked him: Oleg, what is happening in Britain? Why have all the illegals [deep-cover agents] been pulled out? He struggled to disguise his shock.

This could only mean one thing: the KGB knew it had been compromised and was urgently dismantling its UK spy network.

Keep calm, he told himself. Behave normally. But inside, he was panicking.

He was in his office on Monday morning when he was told two people in the organisation wanted to speak to him. They were to meet outside the building. As he headed for a waiting car he felt a surge of apprehension.

He was driven to a small bungalow inside a high-walled compound which the KGB used to house visitors. As glasses of brandy were laid out, along with a platter of sandwiches, two men entered the room and joined in. Gordievsky recognised them as General Sergei Golubev, head of the KGB directorate for internal counter-intelligence, and Colonel Viktor Budanov, the KGBs top investigator.

For a while it was like a convivial working lunch as they all drained their glasses and made small talk. Another round was drunk.

Then, with shocking suddenness, Gordievsky felt his reality lurch into a hallucinatory dream world, in which he seemed to be only half-conscious and observing himself from far away.

His brandy had been spiked with a truth serum, a psychotropic drug designed to erode the inhibitions and loosen the tongue.

The two men now launched into a stream of questions, and Gordievsky found himself answering them, only dimly aware of what he was saying.

Yet some part of his brain was still self-aware and defensive. Stay alert, he told himself.

He was fighting for his life, in a miasma of sweat and fear, through a haze of drugged brandy.

He was never able to explain what happened over the next five hours. He later recalled scraps, like the half-remembered shards of some shattering nightmare  suddenly vivid scenes, snatches of words and phrases, the looming faces of his interrogators.

We know you are a British agent! they bellowed at him. We have irrefutable evidence of your guilt. Confess!

But Gordievsky remembered the words of Kim Philby, the elderly British spy still living in Moscow exile. Never confess, Philby had advised his KGB students when he lectured them.

As he felt himself slip in and out of consciousness, he replied: No! Ive nothing to confess. I dont know what youre talking about, clinging to his lie like a drowning man. The interrogators seemed alternately consoling and accusatory, sometimes gently admonishing him, then trying to trap him.

Golubev played his trump card.

We know who recruited you in Copenhagen, he growled. It was Richard Bromhead.

Covert surveillance photographs of Oleg Gordievsky taken by the Danish intelligence service PET during his postings to Copenhagen

This had, indeed, been the case but Gordievsky stood his ground. Nonsense! Thats not true. Sensing his willpower waning, he summoned up a spark of defiance, and told the two KGB questioners they were no better than Stalins secret police, extracting false confessions from the innocent.

Five hours after the first sip of brandy, the light in the room seemed to fade suddenly. Gordievsky felt a deathly fatigue engulf him, and he slipped into the black.

He awoke in a clean bed. His mouth was dust-dry, and his head ached with a savage intensity. For a moment he had no idea where he was, or what had happened.

As his misted brain began to clear, his two inquisitors returned and looked at him quizzically. Youve been very rude to us, Comrade Gordievsky, one of them said resentfully. You accused us of reviving the spirit of 1937, the Great Terror.

What you said wasnt true, Comrade Gordievsky, and Ill prove it. A car is coming to take you home.

For years these covert surveillance photos were the only images available of him

Gordievsky was stunned. He had expected them to go for the kill, but they were letting him go. He realised that they had not got the confession they wanted.

An hour later, dishevelled and bemused, he was back in his flat.

The next day he was back in his office when he was summoned to a meeting. Behind a massive desk, a KGB tribunal was waiting. We know very well youve been deceiving us for years, he was told.

They sacked him from his job in London, but weve decided you may stay in the KGB, in a non-operational department. You should take any holiday you are owed.

Gordievsky was speechless. Was he hallucinating again? He was being accused of treason, and yet was being sent on holiday.

Then he pulled himself together and told them: I really dont know what youre talking about. But whatever your decision, Ill accept it like an officer and a gentleman. Radiating injured innocence and soldierly honour, he turned and marched out.

Back home, Gordievsky tried to make sense out of what had taken place.

The KGB did not go in for clemency. The fact that he was not yet in a prison cell could only mean that the investigators still lacked decisive proof of his guilt.

They would keep him under surveillance until he cracked, confessed or tried to contact MI6, at which point they would swoop.

No suspected spy under KGB surveillance had ever escaped from the Soviet Union. A second break-in was staged at Gordievskys flat and his shoes and clothes were sprayed with radioactive dust that could be seen with special glasses and tracked using a Geiger counter. Wherever he went, Gordievsky would now be leaving a trail.

Back in London, his wife Leila was told Oleg had been taken ill with a minor heart problem and she must go back to Moscow.

The news of her departure alarmed MI6, who were worried anyway, not having heard from Gordievsky for two weeks. The sudden recall of his family could mean only that he was in the hands of the KGB.

They sacked him from his job in London, but weve decided you may stay in the KGB, in a non-operational department. You should take any holiday you are owed. Gordievsky was speechless. Was he hallucinating again? He was being accused of treason, and yet was being sent on holiday

An urgent instruction was dispatched to the MI6 station in the British embassy in Moscow to be ready to activate Operation Pimlico  a dangerous plan made long ago to extract Gordievsky from Russia in an emergency. Within the London team there was deep pessimism, and a widespread assumption that the case was over.

When Gordievsky met his family at the airport, he told his wife that they wouldnt be able to return to London. He said office politics had got nasty and false accusations were being made. She accepted this. This sort of in-fighting was always happening in the KGB. As they drove home, she did not notice the KGB car tailing them.

Back home, he was a wreck, drinking heavily, smoking, trying to calm his raging nerves.

Should he try to make contact with MI6? Could he activate his escape plan, and attempt to flee? Could he take Leila and the girls, too?

On the other hand, he had survived the drugged interrogation, and he had not been arrested. Was the KGB genuinely backing off?

For his health, he took himself to a sanatorium and spa run by the KGB just south of Moscow. Many guests were clearly spies. Jogging in the woods, he spotted surveillance officers in the undergrowth, who hurriedly turned their backs and pretended to be urinating. The sanatorium was, in reality, an extremely comfortable prison.

No suspected spy under KGB surveillance had ever escaped from the Soviet Union. Gordievsky on the Baltic coast with Mikhail Lyubimov, a Russian novelist and retired colonel in the KGB

He told himself: If I dont get out, Im going to die. Im as good as a dead man.

In fact, he had made the first steps to escape  to launch Operation Pimlico.

One Saturday morning, he used all his experience to throw off his KGB watchers as he made his way to a designated market square in Moscow, carrying a plastic Safeway bag emblazoned with a large red S.

He took up his post beneath the clock. That was the signal for watching British intelligence staff, who monitored the square at set times, that he needed to make contact.

At a separate pre-arranged time, Gordievsky waited outside a bakers shop with his Safeway bag. A man  an MI6 agent from the embassy  strolled past him carrying a green bag from Harrods and eating a Mars bar.

Their eyes locked for less than a second. They both walked on, but the signal had been passed. Pimlico had been triggered.

The escape plan was for him to make his way towards Russias frontier with Finland and be transported across the border in the boot of a car driven by MI6 agents. The chances of success were vanishingly small.

With the KGB closely monitoring his every move and waiting for him to give himself away, he had to get out  to be exfiltrated, in spook jargon.

Or die in the attempt.

Adapted from The Spy And The Traitor by Ben Macintyre, published by Viking at 25.  Ben Macintyre 2018. To order a copy for 20 (offer valid to December 8, 2018; p&p free), visit www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640.
A man who slapped his wife, dragged her by the hair and threatened to kill her over a $20,000 dowry payment has escaped a jail sentence.

The man - who cannot be named for legal reasons - claimed he was under intense pressure from his Indian family to get the dowry payment from her, the ABC reported.

He pleaded guilty to assault, assault occasioning bodily harm and breaching a domestic violence order at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

While sentencing the man on Monday, Magistrate Maxine Baldwin said she wanted the punishment to show that Australia 'has had a gutful' of domestic violence.

A man who slapped his wife, dragged her by the hair and threatened to kill her over a $20,000 dowry payment has escaped a jail sentence (stock image)

The couple were in an arranged marriage, having wed in India after knowing each other for less than a month, the court heard.

The man - an Australian citizen - brought the woman, who is of a different religion to her husband, to live with him in south-east Queensland.

They were staying with one of the man's relatives when his family demanded their share of a $20,000 bridal dowry.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Stephens told the court the man threw a cup of tea on the floor before slapping her, dragging her by the hair and hitting her head on a bed frame.

'The offending grounded in cultural undertones of a patriarchal system that is not tolerated in Australian society,' Sergeant Stephens said.

'This is not in keeping with the values that we share in Australian society... he must know that such behaviours will not be tolerated by courts, no matter what your race, creed or clan.'

The man pleaded guilty to assault, assault occasioning bodily harm and breaching a domestic violence order at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Queensland's Sunshine Coast (pictured)

The man's lawyer, Anna Smith, argued that his culture was not the reason for the assaults, and said he had no prior criminal history.

'He had a new wife, pressure from families externally, he's extremely remorseful for the way that he dealt with it but it wasn't because he thought it was right, culturally, to do so,' she said.

The man was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to undertake a domestic violence programme.
Prosecutors have asked for El Chapo's lawyers to be sanctioned, claiming they have enabled him to have contact with his beauty queen wife on a banned cell phone that they claim to have pictures of her using in court on November 19.

In a 15-page motion filed on Tuesday morning, they alleged that it was the drug lord's lawyers who 'facilitated unauthorized and impermissible contact' with his wife Emma Coronel Aispuro.

The contact is said to have been carried out on a cell phone that Coronel, 27, was seen with in court surveillance cameras on November 19.

In their motion, prosecutors include 12 redacted photographs from surveillance footage from that day that was reviewed on Monday, November 26. They were alerted to it by courthouse staff who, on November 20, told them they had seen her on the device.

It is unclear from the motion what the prosecution thinks she is discussing with her 61-year-old husband, whose real name is Joaquin Guzman.

They say the mere fact that she has been able to get a phone inside the court is suspicious and reason for his legal team to be disciplined.

The defense offered up a seemingly innocent explanation.

They insisted that Coronel was using the phone to access Google Translate because the headset that she normally wears to listen to translated testimony was broken.

They made the claim at a private sidebar on Monday but are yet to formally respond to the motion which claims to have multiple images of Coronel using the phone which the prosecution says helps their case.

The judge has given them a week to respond formally to the motion and resumed proceedings on Tuesday satisfied that she did not have a phone on her person.

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Prosecutors alleged in a motion filed in court on Tuesday that El Chapo, 61, whose real name is Joaquin Guzman, has had improper and unauthorized contact with his 29-year-old beauty queen wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro (left leaving court on Monday)

Prosecutors say that the alleged contact is dangerous and could pose risk of 'bodily harm' to people on the outside. It remains unclear what they fear they are communicating about.

'The government submits this letter to request that the court impose sanctions on [redacted lawyers names] all in relation to the use of a cellular telephone by the defendant's wife, Emma Coronel Aispuro.

[Redacted lawyers names] appear to have used cellular telephones in concert with an attorney visit to the defendant following two trial day last week to facilitate unauthorized and... impermissible contact between the defendant and Ms. Coronel,' the motion reads.

El Chapo's lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman denied that it was him who let her into the court with a phone.

Only lawyers are allowed to bring devices inside - everyone else, including journalists, have to leave theirs when they go through security before getting to the courtroom where the trial is taking place.

'Im unaware of any of the allegations within the filing but we are going to get to the bottom of it,' Lichtman told The New York Post.

Two of his other lawyers, Eduardo Balarezo and William Purpura, also denied giving Coronel the phone.

Lichtman added that even if she did have a phone inside the court, it did not mean she was communicating with her husband.

'The motion is long on insinuation and short on proof that the defendant was communicating with his wife,' Lichtman added.

On Monday, prosecutors asked that she go through security again before they allowed a top secret witness to take the stand.

In a 15-page motion filed in court on Tuesday morning, prosecutors included 12 redacted images which they say are of El Chapo's wife using her phone

The witness is being heavily protected in exchange for their testimony against Guzman.

Security is ultra-tight at the trial, where the government has taken great pains to hide the identities of key witnesses who may be risking their lives by testifying against Guzman.

The judge has even given special instructions to the court sketch artist, who is not allowed to draw specific features of the witness.

Security concerns were also at the center of jury selection. Multiple potential jurors were dismissed after admitting to the court they feared for their lives and would move if they became involved in the trial in any way.

Another potential juror was dismissed after asking a court officer to help him get El Chapo's autograph.

He later confessed that he was a 'bit of a fan'.

Transporting the defendant from Manhattan, where he has been kept in solitary confinement in the Metropolitan Correctional Center since January 2017, to Brooklyn to the courthouse has also proved to be logistically challenging.

At the start of the trial, the NYPD closed the Brooklyn Bridge while he drove over it in heavily armed convoy.

Where exactly he is sleeping at night has been kept secret. At the start of the trial, he slept at the courthouse, in one of the holding cells, but it remains unclear if he is still there.

Aispuro, 29, has been married to El Chapo since 2007. They have twin daughters. He has 11 other children.

Coronel, 29, is pictured on Monday leaving the court. She was 'outed' for using the cell phone during a side bar on Monday before a government witness took the stand and prosecutors reviewed surveillance footage afterwards

Two of El Chapo's lawyers, Eduardo Balarezo (left) and William Purpura (right) said it was not them who gave her the phone.They are pictured with her in April at a pre-trial hearing

El Chapo (depicted center in a court sketch from November 19, the day his wife was allegedly caught with the phone) has a third lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman. He said he would 'get to the bottom' of the cell phone allegations

Aispuro first caught El Chapos eye when she competed in a beauty pageant in 2006. She is a niece of a former partner of El Chapos, Ignacio Nacho Coronel.

Former cartel member Jesus Zambada testified last Tuesday that in the mid-2000s he gave $6million 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 Obradors administration when Lopez Obrador was mayor of Mexico City.

Regino denied the allegations on Twitter.

El Chapo faces up to 17 charges laid out in six separate indictments filed by authorities in California, Texas, Illinois, Florida and New Hampshire, according to CNN.

He stands accused of conspiring to import more than 264,000 pounds of cocaine into the United States between 1990 and 2005.

The Sinoloa cartel is also alleged to engage in murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, and other crimes.
Catherine Oxenberg's new home was destroyed by the California wildfires just four days after she moved in with her sex cult escapee daughter India.

The Dynasty actress shared several photos on Instagram last week showing what was left of her Malibu home after the deadly fires tore through.

'My beautiful home in embers. #malibufire the devastation is beyond comprehension. Tragedy for our whole community,' she wrote alongside photos of her burned home.

Oxenberg also shared a photo of a statue that she said was the 'only remnant' still standing.

Catherine Oxenberg's new home was destroyed by the California wildfires just four days after she moved in with her sex cult escapee daughter India

The fire comes just months after Oxenberg was able to rescue her 27-year-old daughter India from the clutches of the sex slave cult NXIVM.

A source told RadarOnline that Oxenberg and her daughter 'lost everything' in the fire.

'They had just moved in to the home four days earlier,' the source said. 'It's very sad, but everyone is okay.'

They are temporarily living elsewhere as they come to terms with the loss.

Oxenberg revealed back in August that her daughter had finally been reunited with her family seven years after joining NXIVM.

She had spent 18 months trying to bring down the cult in a bid to get her daughter away from the organization, which has been accused of branding female members and using them as sex slaves.

The controversial group is led by Keith Raniere and his right-hand woman, Smallville actress Allison Mack.

The fire comes just months after Oxenberg was able to rescue her 27-year-old daughter India from the clutches of the sex slave cult NXIVM. They are pictured together in 2007

The Dynasty actress shared several photos on Instagram last week showing what was left of her Malibu home after the deadly fires tore through

Oxenberg also shared a photo of a statue that she said was the 'only remnant' still standing

Oxenberg initially took India to a meeting for a Nxivm motivational course back in 2011 after her daughter wanted to try her hand at being an entrepreneur.

While she ended up distancing her from the group, India became immersed and eventually moved to the group's headquarters.

Raniere was arrested in Mexico this year and taken to the US to face charges that he, along with Mack, coerced followers into becoming slaves to senior members.

Prosecutors said Mack helped Raniere recruit women to a secret sub-society within Nxivm whose members were branded with a surgical tool with a symbol that resembled his initials.

Despite criticism for years by ex-followers who called NXIVM a cult and a pyramid scheme, the organization's intense self-improvement classes had, at one point, earned it thousands of adherents, including some with Hollywood ties.

They included Nicki Clyne, an actress who appeared on Battlestar Galactica, Bronfman's sister Sara, and a son of former Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

Raniere and Mack pleaded not guilty to sex-trafficking charges.
What do you buy the woman who has everything? For the Duchess of Cambridges sister, Pippa Middleton, the answer is an antique wooden boat from the Thirties.

I can reveal that when the 35-year-old married hedge fund millionaire James Matthews last year, her brother James, 31, presented her with a vessel that he helped restore.

When the 35-year-old married hedge fund millionaire James Matthews last year, her brother James, 31, presented her with a vessel that he helped restore

Craftsman George Winks, founder of Temper Studio, tells me: James came to me with the boat and I repaired the structure, but he restored the beautiful old engine himself. He has a real knack for that and hes got a thing for old tractors.

The boat is named Rafa, after the cocker spaniel James previously gave mother-of-one Pippa, and is now up in James Matthewss Glen Affric family estate in Scotland.

Craftsman George Winks, founder of Temper Studio, tells me: James came to me with the boat and I repaired the structure, but he restored the beautiful old engine himself. He has a real knack for that and hes got a thing for old tractors'

They use it for messing about on the loch, adds Winks.

It was a bloody tough job, but I learned an awful lot.

How Hayley got Tangoed during Redmayne romp

Actress Hayley Atwell, who endured a naked romp with Eddie Redmayne in TV drama The Pillars Of The Earth, wont be doing it again any time soon.

Eddie had lots of fake tan on and when he sweated, he would sweat tan on me like Id been Tangoed, she says.

Actress Hayley Atwell, who endured a naked romp with Eddie Redmayne in TV drama The Pillars Of The Earth, wont be doing it again any time soon

Its just a lot of grunting with someone whos essentially become your brother over the last few weeks. Hopefully those days are over.

Now I can be a bit older and more discerning.

Atwell, 36, has a new man in her life, which might explain her recent reserve.

Shes just bought a house in London where she lives with her doctor boyfriend.

The 18-year-old daughter of Jordans King Abdullah marked the conclusion of her training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst by taking part in Saturdays Passing Out Parade.

Afterwards, Princess Salma bint Abdullah of Jordan was joined by her mother, Queen Rania, who dazzled in a flowing white coat spangled with gold and emblazoned with black chevrons.

Queen Rania uploaded this picture of herself with Raina with the caption: 'From a graduation gown a few months ago to a military uniform today, you have proven how capable you are!'

The family have a long association with Sandhurst. Not only did Princess Salmas brother and father train there, but so, too, did her grandfather, King Hussein, whose appearance on parade was greeted with shouts of: You orrible little King, sir!

Dame Viv's taxing question

Until last year, Dame Viviennes UK company paid Latimo 2 million a year for the privilege of using her name on its labels [File photo]

At the age of 77, Dame Vivienne Westwood appears to be getting her firms affairs in order.

For I can disclose that her company, Vivienne Westwood Limited, has shelled out 12.4 million to buy her trademarks from its parent company, Latimo SA, based in Luxembourg.

Until last year, Dame Viviennes UK company paid Latimo 2 million a year for the privilege of using her name on its labels.

Critics said that the ploy  a legal loophole similar to one favoured by Starbucks  cheated the Treasury out of around 500,000 a year.

Dame Vivienne once memorably remarked: I disagree with everything I used to say. Perhaps she also disagrees with much of what she used to do.

Art sleuth Philip Mould insists hes not worried that his Fake Or Fortune? co-presenter, Fiona Bruce, is in talks to become the next Question Time host.

Fiona is very good at juggling balls. She does so much already so Im sure it wouldnt be hard for her to fit something else in, he tells me. The pair enjoy a close professional relationship.

When people ask me what its like working with Fiona, I say its a bit like working with my sister, says Mould, who runs his eponymous art gallery in Pall Mall.

And the good thing about Fiona is shes always up for a laugh.

Olivia Colman, who will play the Queen in the next series of Netflixs The Crown, admits she couldnt resist stealing from Buckingham Palace during a visit earlier this year.

At a 200-person reception hosted by Prince William, she turned to her husband, screenwriter Ed Sinclair, and whispered: Go get some loo roll.

Dutifully, he found one of the palaces 78 bathrooms and stuffed some into the pocket of his dinner jacket.

He got two squares of loo roll, just to say, We got it from Buckingham Palace, boasts Colman, 44.

The fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, has written his first Doctor Who novel, Scratchman, reuniting the Time Lord with companion Sarah Jane Smith.

Baker, 84, says: I love the improbability of Doctor Who. Reason plays no part at all. As in religion, the overriding thing is faith. It may be improbable, but just believe in it and itll all come right.

Bakers tale of scarecrows terrorising a remote Scottish island might be too scary for the politically correct BBC tsars currently in charge of the series.
A British student jailed for spying in the Gulf was dramatically pardoned yesterday  but only after being forced to confess to being an MI6 captain.

Matthew Hedges, 31, was among scores of prisoners freed as part of a clemency tradition to mark the United Arab Emirates National Day.

As he prepared to fly back to the UK this morning, his elated wife, Daniela Tejada, 27, tweeted a picture of the couple with the words: Ive been brought back to life.

Her husband was arrested on May 5 in Dubai on his way home from a two-week research trip for his PhD thesis into the security policies of the Gulf.

He was held in solitary confinement for five months before being jailed for life.

Matthew Hedges elated wife, Daniela Tejada, 27, tweeted this picture of the couple with the words: Ive been brought back to life

Yesterday a video of the Durham University student confessing his active field role with British intelligence was played to a Press conference in Abu Dhabi.

A spokesman for the UAE government said Mr Hedges had been set free  but insisted he was 100 per cent a full-time secret services operative.

However Miss Tejada insisted he is not a spy. She thanked the media for highlighting his case and said: That he is returning home to me and the rest of his family is much more than I was ever expecting to happen this week.

'Its taken me by surprise and Im just so happy and so relieved and really incredulous that it is happening finally. It has been an absolutely nightmarish seven months and I just cant wait to have him back.

Matthew Hedges (pictured right) and his wife Daniela Tejada posing on their wedding day in Dartmoor

'We are absolutely elated at the news.

In my heart, I know what Matt is, hes a PhD researcher. His colleagues know it, and his family know it and hundreds of academics round the world know it. The most important thing now is that we will have him back home.

After Mr Hedges shock life sentence last week, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt demanded the UAE release him or face serious consequences. Britain has strong defence and trade ties with the Gulf state and hundreds of thousands of UK tourists holiday in Dubai every year.

Yesterday the UAEs rulers announced that a request for clemency by Mr Hedges family had been graciously granted.

But government spokesman Jaber al-Lamki stressed he was not going home an innocent man, declaring: Mr Hedges has been found guilty of espionage. He was here to steal the UAEs sensitive national security secrets for his paymasters.

To back up his point, he showed a ten-minute film of video clips of Mr Hedges confessing his MI6 mission. The first showed a judge in a courtroom asking Hedges his rank and he answers: It is Captain. Although MI6 is Britains overseas spying operation, its intelligence officers do not hold military ranks.

The clip moved to what appeared to be an investigation room and Mr Hedges wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt, and he said: I have an active field role... In another clip, he says he was gathering information not from the top top top leadership of the UAE, but from officials.

I approached them as Matthew Hedges the PhD student  and when I got the information it becomes MI6, he says, snapping his fingers. When asked about the information he gathered, he said: What new technologies are they looking into, what do they see as a security threat  and then there is the military of course. When the investigators asked if anyone knows about him or his job, he said: No...no one else knows. No one but you guys.

The British academic's delighted wife celebrated the news on Twitter saying she had been 'brought back to life' by Mr Hedges' release

The video clips were grainy and garbled, and jumped around to different locations suggesting they were edited together without any context or continuity.

The short clip about him being an MI6 captain was set in a courtroom, suggesting it was filmed recently and could even have been the final price Mr Hedges had to pay for being set free.

Independent scrutiny is impossible because journalists at the hastily-convened Press conference were not allowed to film the video footage and the government has not released it.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed news that Matthew Hedges had been given a presidential pardon after he was imprisoned for spying

Last night a friend of Mr Hedges and his wife branded the video confession an embarrassment to the UAE, saying: They are just trying to save face with their own people.

'They are laughable, the accusations they have given. They have a video, but we all know the coercion that has gone into it. It wouldnt stand up in any court. Its completely ridiculous.

But the Emirati spokesman claimed: The information Mr Hedges collected went far beyond standard academic practice. In fact, Mr Hedges took advantage of the openness granted to academic researchers in this country.

At a press conference today (pictured) UAE official Jaber Al Lamki said he had video of British student Matthew Hedges confessing to being a spy, but said it had pardoned him

During the investigation, it emerged that Mr Hedges has been using two different identities to gather information from his targets.

In one he was Matthew Hedges the PhD researcher, in another one he was Matthew Hedges the businessman. He was part time PhD researcher and part time businessman  but he was 100 per cent a secret service operative.

The state-run WAM news agency alleged Mr Hedges sought information for British intelligence on weapons systems, economic data, details about the UAEs war in Yemen and sensitive information on key government figures, including members of the UAE ruling families and their networks.

The Emiratis have denied a claim that Mr Hedges was forced to sign confessions in Arabic after weeks of brutal interrogation without a lawyer or access to consular assistance from the British embassy.

Yesterday Mr Hunt said Britain did not agree with the UAEs insistence that Mr Hedges is a spy.

He said: Weve seen no evidence to support these accusations.
Ankara Public Prosecutors Office issued arrest warrants for 51 people as part of a probe into Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

According to the Turkish government, FETO orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016.

So far, 48 soldiers, including 43 on-duty soldiers, and three public officials are among suspects, RIA Novosti reported.
Elon Musk has said there's a 70 per cent chance he'll personally move to Mars, despite there being a 'good chance' of him dying there.

Musk says people will be going up to the red planet within seven years - and tickets will cost around $200,000 a person.

The SpaceX CEO said flights to Mars would be possible on the Starship, previously known as the BFR (Big F***ing Rocket).

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Elon Musk has said there's a 70 per cent chance he'll personally move to Mars, despite a 'good chance' of him dying there too (file photo)

'I know exactly what to do... I'm talking about moving there', Musk said as part of an interview aired on HBO current affairs programme Axios on Sunday night.

'We think you can come back but we're not sure', he added.

Musk likened the trip to Sir Ernest Shackleton's trip to the Antarctic in the early 20th century.

'There's lots of people who climb mountains. People die on Mount Everest all the time. They like doing it for the challenge', he said.

'It's gonna be hard. There's a good chance of death, going in a little can through deep space.'

Musk said anyone who did make it to the surface of the red planet would be working 'nonstop' to build the base.

Speaking at the Axios current affairs programme, the Space X founder said flights to Mars would be possible on the Starship, previously known as the BFR (file photo)

Last week SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter that his largest rocket will now be referred to as 'Starship.'

Specifically, the spaceship, or upper stage of the rocket will be referred to as Starship, while the rocket booster is called the 'Super Heavy,' Musk explained.

'Renaming BFR to Starship,' Musk wrote in a tweet. 'Technically, two parts: Starship is the spaceship/upper stage & Super Heavy is the rocket booster needed to escape Earth's deep gravity well (not needed for other planets or moons.'

He added that later versions will be sent on missions to other star systems, giving credence to its 'Starship' name.

SpaceX shared new details about the 387ft (118m) rocket in September, saying it hopes to begin unmanned launch tests of the spacecraft in late 2019.

In the future, Starship will be able to carry out lunar missions as well as long-distance flights to Mars and beyond.

STARSHIP: ELON MUSK'S 'BIG F***ING ROCKET' The BFR (Big F***ing Rocket), now known as Starship, will complete all missions and is smaller than the ones Musk announced in 2016. The SpaceX CEO said the rocket would take its first trip to the red planet in 2024, carrying only cargo, followed by a manned mission in 2026 and claimed other SpaceX's products would be 'cannibalised' to pay for it. The rocket would be partially reusable and capable of flight directly from Earth to Mars. Once built, Musk believes the rocket could be used for travel on Earth  saying that passengers would be able to get anywhere in under an hour. To date, the Starship series of rockets have seen 9 test flights  some resulting in successful short-distance hops, while others led to explosions or crash landings. The most recent experimental launch  involving the Starship SN15 prototype  took place on May 5, 2021 and saw the craft complete a 33,000 feet high-altitude flight test into low-lying clouds, complete with successful ascent, engine cut-offs, flip manoeuvre, flap control and soft touchdown. A small fire did erupt at the base of the rocket following its landing, but this was later extinguished. Advertisement

Earlier this month Nasa announced it would review safety at SpaceX and Boeing as the two companies gear up to fly astronauts to the International Space Station.

The space agency said it would conduct a 'cultural assessment study' of the companies, 'including the adherence to a drug-free environment,' prior to crew test flights scheduled to take place in the coming months.

It comes just months after SpaceX boss Elon Musk faced backlash for smoking what appeared to be marijuana during a live podcast hosted by Joe Rogan.

According to a new report, the decision to launch the review was directly sparked by the CEO's behavior.

'We fully expect our commercial partners to meet all workplace safety requirements in the execution of our missions,' said Nasa in a statement.

Nasa did not give further details on the reasons behind the move, but the Washington Post, which first reported it, said the review was prompted by the recent behavior of SpaceX's founder Elon Musk.

The Washington Post says it spoke with three officials who have knowledge of the investigation.

SpaceX and Boeing are the two main contractors selected under Nasa's commercial crew program to send astronauts to space as soon as 2019, using their Dragon and Starliner spacecraft respectively.
Britain could bake in regular 40C (104F) heatwaves as a result of global warming, the Met Office warned in a major report yesterday.

By 2070, average summer temperatures could reach 24C (75F)  an increase of 5.4C (9F) on today.

This is similar to conditions in the south of France and other parts of the Mediterranean, with hot UK summers like this year's becoming the norm.

The climate will be drier too  with half as much rainfall in summer as now within 50 years, although winters could be around 35 per cent wetter.

There are fears such extremes would lead to increased flooding in winter as well as arid heat and droughts in summer.

And those who live in areas where there is a high risk of severe flooding may have to be moved away, the government has warned.

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The record-breaking heatwave conditions experienced across the globe this summer could 'become the norm' if steps aren't taken to tackle global warming. The red patches denote areas in which temperatures were up to 39F higher than is normal for that time of the year

The forecasts are made in the Met Office's UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) report, which is the biggest update to how climate change could affect Britain in almost a decade. They would only happen, the study said, if the world continues to increase carbon emissions rather than reduce them, which is most countries' policy.

The record UK temperature is 38.5C (101F), set in 2003 near Faversham in Kent.

But Professor Jason Lowe of the Met Office warned: 'As we go through the century, we expect from UKCP18 to see increasing numbers of summer days in the South of England above 40C. This is a temperature we have not yet experienced in the UK.'

Winters will be around 4.2C warmer while sea levels will rise around one metre higher (3.2ft) if the effects of global warming cannot be prevented.

Summers as hot as this year's  the joint warmest on record could become common, with a 50 per cent chance of occurring every year. This is up from a 5 to 10 per cent chance now.

Sea levels affecting London, where the Thames Barrier is expected to be in use until 2070, could rise by up to 3.7ft by 2100 if emissions continue to climb, with similar rises in Cardiff.

Belfast and Edinburgh will see increases of around 3ft under the worst-case scenario.

Even if emissions are cut  in line with the Paris climate agreement to keep temperature rises to well below 2C  the UK's average yearly temperatures would be 2.3C hotter.

Last month the UK's Committee on Climate Change warned that by 2080 up to 1.2million homes may be at increased risk of flooding.

Launching the new report into how climate change will affect the UK, the first of its kind in almost a decade, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said no-one could predict the future with absolute certainty.

Britain has seen its driest first half of summer since 1961, as August has kicked off on a blistering note, stretching out July's heatwave that marked the longest in five years. Pictured: Bournemouth beach on Wednesday

In his first major speech on climate change, Mr Gove - who during the EU referendum claimed the public has 'had enough of experts' - backed the scientists who had produced the projections.

'In producing this first major update of climate projections for nearly 10 years, they have given governments, local authorities, land managers, national infrastructure bodies and other businesses an invaluable set of tools with which to assess the nature and scale of challenges, and take decisions accordingly,' he said.

The Environment Secretary said the UK was already feeling climate-related extremes, including record wet winters in 2013-2014 and 2015-2016, which caused flooding, and this year's heatwave, which led to wildfires and damage to agriculture.

He said that in the UK: 'Climate change will manifest itself most acutely when it comes to water - the intense rainfall of the winter, the arid heat of the summer and rising sea levels will be how we experience climate change most immediately in our everyday lives.'

He told the audience at the launch event at the Science Museum that officials were already factoring projected sea level rises into planning for flooding.

Mr Gove said a new long-term approach would be needed on dealing with flooding, warning 'it will not always be possible to prevent every flood, we cannot build defences to protect every single building or reinforce every retreating coastline'.

At a speech launching the report at London's Science Museum today, Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, will call for urgent action to tackle the warming climate (file photo)

'We need our communities and infrastructure to be better prepared for floods and coastal change, so that they recover more quickly from the damage and disruption and, where necessary, to help people and communities move out of harm's way,' he said in a speech in front of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stakeholders, the Guardian reports.

To tackle droughts, he said new policies would help drive the construction of new water infrastructure such as reservoirs.

Farmers will receive payments to tackle climate change and boost productivity, from planting cover crops to protect soil to planting trees on agricultural land, while there will be measures to curb emissions from fertilisers.

Mr Gove said there would be new strategies to repair peatland, protect and create woodlands, and tackle emissions from food waste.

Overseas, the UK is giving another 13 million to restoring protective coastal mangroves in places such as Jamaica and Colombia, he announced.

The updated climate projections are launched on the 10th anniversary of the world-leading Climate Change Act gaining Royal Assent, committing the UK to cutting greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050 - a target which is being reviewed to see if it should be strengthened.

Britain is already investing a record 2.6 billion ($3.3 billion) to protect 300,000 homes from flooding by 2021.

But green campaigners accused the Government of not going far enough.

Campaigners warned that devastating floods that hit Leeds and York in 2015, as well as wildfires on Saddleworth Moor in Manchester this summer, showed that the impacts of climate change can already be seen in the UK.

They said projects to expand airports and build more roads show the government is not doing enough to limit global warming.

Emi Murphy, climate change campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: 'The human cost of climate change, both in England and around the world, is already devastating.

'It's the most vulnerable communities paying the highest price, while the UK government fails to commit to the policies needed to avoid climate chaos.

'The Climate Change Act was a truly remarkable political achievement that has driven cuts in UK emissions.

'But dire warnings from scientists demonstrate how further and faster action is essential to prevent complete climate breakdown.

'Instead, with its relentless pursuit of fracking, airport expansion, and road building, our government is failing us on climate change.'

The report noted that 2008-2017 was on average 0.3C warmer than 1981-2010. The top ten warmest years have all occurred since 1990.
Pasta prepared with mealworms raised in your own home?

The unusual dinner idea could soon be a reality, if Hong Kong entrepreneur Katharina Unger has her way.

The 28-year-old is the founder of Livin Farms, a start-up that has been making insect incubators since 2016, and is now working on a compact model to cultivate mealworms it says is suitable for use in kitchens, and in biology classrooms.

Livin Farms believes that their self-contained hive system provides a do-it-yourself solution, as the mealworms can be fed with food scraps, harvested weekly, frozen and then cooked in various ways.

WHAT DO MEALWORMS TASTE LIKE? The team behind the project say mealworms have a mild nutty flavor. This allows to mix them into all sorts of recipes. 'Make them crispy as a snack, sweet or savory as an insect meat patty for your burger,' the firm says. They are high in protein and low in cholesterol Advertisement

'In 2050, we're going to be nine billion people on the planet, so we have to find new solutions to feed ourselves, and to feed the next generations', Unger said.

'Insects offer a really great alternative to current meat production because they can be grown on food waste, with very little space, with very little water, and they taste great.'

The firm will also send buyers a magazine with regular recipes from chefs, along with experiments owners can carry out to try and boost their output.

While many people squirm at the prospect of eating insects, they are common fare in countries such as Thailand and China.

'They are high in protein and low in cholesterol,' said Li Ching, owner of the People of Yunnan restaurant in Hong Kong, adding that he considered deep-fried grasshoppers, stick-bugs and silkworms to be beneficial for his health.

However, Hong Kong-based nutritionist Miles Price says the production of alternative proteins such as insects remains largely unregulated, and this may have significant implications for food safety and consumer acceptance.

Mealworms are high in protein and low in cholesterol, and be prepared as savoury or sweet

'We need to enforce a more rigorous approach to production ... which will give confidence to consumers to say that this is a safe protein source,' he said.

Livin Farms believes that their self-contained hive system provides a do-it-yourself solution, as the mealworms can be fed with food scraps, harvested weekly, frozen and then cooked in various ways.

It can produce 10-20g every week while still keeping the system running.

Livin Farms is making a compact insect incubators to cultivate mealworms it says is suitable for use in kitchens, and in biology classrooms.

This versatility of the inch-long larvae of the mealworm beetle, which is found in many part of the world, is an additional advantage.

'Unlike meats, I can prepare this in two different ways, savoury and sweet', said Livin Farms head of operations Clayton Wong, as he demonstrated cooking mealworms with peppers, tomatoes and onions in a tomato mascarpone pasta sauce.

'I think it's really dynamic, I can play around with this.'
China is building a 7 billion ($9 billion) global navigation system to rival and eventually replace GPS in the country.

The alternative system, called Beidou, is currently being developed by the Asian superpower as the nation hopes to lessen its dependence on US tech.

Beidou is the Chinese name for the famed star constellation known in many other cultures as the 'Big Dipper'.

Escalating tensions between the two superpowers has made officials increasingly uncomfortable with the reliance on the US-owned GPS.

It is set to be implemented in a wide variety of systems including smartphones, autonomous cars, planes and ships.

Beidou is currently operational in China and neighboring regions and will be globally available by 2020, the country claims.

Analysts have said the endeavor is one of China's more ambitious undertakings; a remarkable feat for a nation also working towards conquering commercial space flight, cheap energy via an 'artificial sun' and a man-made moon.

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China is building a 7 billion ($9 billion) global navigation system to rival GPS. Analysts have said the endeavor is one of China's more ambitious undertakings in the pursuit of space success. This year, the first Chinese-built rocket taking a satellite to space failed (pictured)

'They don't want to depend on the US's GPS,' Marshall Kaplan, a professor in the aerospace engineering department at the University of Maryland, told Bloomberg Quint.

'The Chinese don't want to be subject to something that we can shut off.'

China started developing Beidou in the 90s and the total bill is expected to reach an estimated $8.98 billion to $10.6 billion by 2020.

That is the prediction of a 2017 analysis by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

This year the project has achieved major milestones as it launched 18 satellites, taking the total in operation to more than 40.

A further 11 are expected to be launched before the 2020 global roll-out.

President Xi Jinping has aspirations of transforming China into a global leader for emerging technologies and is relentlessly pursuing several avenues in the field of space exploration.

Beidou will likely have the most far-reaching implications for governments, companies and consumers

The secondary global navigation system will require the manufacture and installation of unique infrastructure, materials, components and software.

A shift away from the US monopoly on the field and the introduction of a competitor is forcing the industry to embrace the imminent change.

As China prepares to eradicate traces of GPS in the country, firms are scrabbling to make devices Beidou compatible for the 2020 switch-over.

Beijing-based NavInfo, which supplies Tesla BMW, hopes to begin mass producing semiconductors for Beidou navigation in the next two years, according to Wang Yan, a project director.

It is expecting demand of up to 15 million Beidou-compatible chips a year for autonomous vehicles alone.

The firm began providing Beidou-enabled mapping and positioning services for the Singapore government in September.

Beidou is currently operational in China and neighboring regions and will be globally available by 2020, the country claims. It is set to be implemented in a wide variety of systems including smartphones, autonomous cars, ships and planes - including the J-20 fighter (pictured)

WHAT IS BEIDOU? Beidou is the Chinese name for the famed star constellation known in many other cultures as the 'Big Dipper'. It is also the adopted name of a satellite system developed by china to provide global location information. The GPS rival has been built since the 1990s by the Chinese government to lessen the dependence of the Asian superpower on US-technology. Beidou is the Chinese name for the famed star constellation known in many other cultures as the 'Big Dipper' (pictured) The US Air Force owns and operates GPS and the implementation of Beidou will allow the country to operate their own system. It is currently operational in China and neighboring regions and is expected to be live around the world in 2020. It is set to be implemented in a wide variety of systems including smartphones, autonomous cars, planes and ships. This year the project has achieved major milestones as it launched 18 satellites this year, taking the total in operation to more than 40. A further 11 are expected to be launched before the 2020 global roll-out. Advertisement

'China needs to have its own satellite navigation system from a long-term, strategic perspective,' Mr Wang said. 'Beidou is the only option.'

China is the world's largest and most lucrative largest auto market and the government wants all cars to be using Beidou by 2020.

German giant Volkswagen is preparing for the changing of the guard and modifying its equipment ahead of time to allow for Beidou network access.

'At the moment, Volkswagen Group China does not sell cars with Beidou-enabled equipment, but the next infotainment system generation for cars in the Chinese market will be rolled out in 2020,' the Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said.

'This system will be ready to receive Beidou information.'

Toyota, the Japanese car manufacturer, is also in discussions about integrating Beidou with its existing technology.

Smartphones are another major user of navigation technology and most handsets from Samsung, Huawei and Xiaomi support Beidou as well as GPS.

US-based company Qualcomm is the world leader in the production of smartphone chips and said it has been supporting Beidou 'for a long time'.

China is using the technology in its planes as and the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, or COMAC, installed the tech last year.

It was became the first plane to use Beidou.

Planes built outside the country currently do not have Beidou but it is believed the nation will require planes flying in China to use the system.
The world's first ever underwater Artificial Intelligence colony will be created on the South China sea bed, Chinese President Xi Jinping claims.

The base has been described as a 'deep sea Atlantis' and will be used for unmanned submarine science and defence operations.

Chinese officials and scientists familiar with the plans say that the deep sea station will analyse samples from the sea bed and send reports to the surface.

Xi urged the scientists and engineers to 'dare to do something that has never been done before' on a recent visit to the deep sea research institute in Hainan Province.

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Chinas unmanned submarine vehicle Qianlong III, pictured, could help to drive a subsea exploration programme and herald the arrival of an AI colony on the South China Sea bed, Chinese scientists and officials say

'There is no road in the deep sea, we do not need to chase after other countries, we are the road,' President Xi said.

The project was launched at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing and is estimated to cost 124 million ($160m) to build.

Drones such as Chinas unmanned submarine vehicle Qianlong III could help to drive a subsea exploration programme and herald the arrival of an AI colony on the South China Sea bed, according to reports.

One location thought to be a possibility for the project is the Manilla trench, located in the Pacific Ocean near the Philippines.

The trench reaches a depth of 17,716 ft (5,400m) and one of the worlds biggest quake zones.

One location thought to be a possibility for the project is the Manilla trench, located in the Pacific Ocean near the Philippines. The trench reaches a depth of 17,716 ft (5,400m) and one of the worlds biggest quake zones.

'It is the only place in the South China Sea with a depth exceeding 5,000 metres,' Xi told the South China Morning Post.

Chemicals from as deep down as the Earths mantle are carried up by thermal vents and they 'could contain geological information'.

Scientists say that China's unmanned submarine vehicle Qianlong III could help to drive a subsea exploration programme and herald the arrival of an AI colony on the South China Sea bed.

Other scientists are sceptical about the project and think politics and technology will present big challenges.

President Xi Jinping, pictured, claims that China will make the world's first ever underwater Artificial Intelligence colony on the South China sea bed. The base has been described as a 'deep sea Atlantis' and will be used for unmanned submarine science and defence operations.

Chinese officials and scientists familiar with the plans say that the deep sea station will analyse samples from the sea bed and send reports to the surface. Pictured here, China's unmanned submersible "Hailong 11000" descending into the water

Project engineers working on the proposed plan say that like a space station, the undersea complex will have docking platforms.

The base will depend on cables connected to a ship or platform for power and communication, its powerful 'brain' and sensors will allow it to carry out autonomous missions.

Materials need to be developed to withstand the water pressure at such great depths.

'It is as challenging as building a colony on another planet for robotic residents with artificial intelligence,' said a scientist who has taken part in the project.

They say robot submarines will be sent to survey seabeds, record life forms for cataloguing and collect mineral samples.

However, scientists feel that such an ambitious programme could far exceed the estimated cost and they will face massive technological and political hurdles.

The deep sea floor is an extreme environment, where high pressure, erosion, volatile geology and quakes could threaten any structure on the seabed.

Dr Du Qinghai, associate researcher at the Hadal Science and Technology Research Centre at Shanghai Ocean University, said the 124 million ($160m) budget for a deep sea research facility, 'might be tight'.
Experts have slammed a team of scientists in China who claim to have altered the DNA of twins to grant them immunity to HIV, the AIDS virus.

Researchers from across the world have labelled the experiment 'irresponsible', with many calling into question the perverse moral and ethical implications.

One British scientist, who described the experiment as 'monstrous', said the researchers involved were playing 'genetic Russian Roulette' with healthy babies.

Gene editing is banned in Britain, the US many other parts of the world, largely because its long-term effects on mental and physical health are poorly understood.

The technique carries the risk that altered DNA will warp other genes - potentially dangerous mutations that may then be passed down to future generations.

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This graphic reveals how, theoretically, an embryo could be 'edited' using the powerful tool Crispr-Cas9 to defend humans against HIV infection

Experts have slammed a team of scientists in China who claim to have altered the DNA of twins to grant them immunity to HIV, the AIDS virus. In this image, Zhou Xiaoqin (left) and Qin Jinzhou, who worked on the experiment, prepare a tool for gene editing

Experts at China's Southern University of Science and Technology shocked the world Sunday night when they claimed to have successfully established a pregnancy from a gene-edited embryo.

The DNA of twin girls was altered with the powerful gene-editing tool CRISPR, project lead scientist Dr He Jiankui said.

He claimed the babies, named LuLu and Nana, were born a few weeks ago and have a resistance to infection with HIV, the AIDS virus.

Scientists from institutions across the globe strongly condemned the experiment.

'If true, the report is very concerning,' said Dr Kathy Niakan of the Francis Crick Institute in London.

'This would be a highly irresponsible, unethical and dangerous use of genome editing technology.

He Jiankui speaks during an interview at a laboratory in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong province. The Chinese scientist claims he helped make world's first genetically edited babies: Twin girls whose DNA he claims to have altered

'Given the significant doubts about safety, including the potential for unintended harmful side-effects, it is simply far too premature to attempt this.'

Professor Julian Savulescu, Director of the University of Oxford's Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, said the experiment exposed healthy children to the risks of genetic engineering 'for no necessary benefit'.

'If true, this experiment is monstrous. These healthy babies are being used as genetic guinea pigs.

'This is genetic Russian Roulette.'

Zhou Xiaoqin removes the cryostorage sheath from a container for an embryo at Dr He's laboratory in Shenzhen in southern China's Guangdong province

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DOUBTS SURROUNDING DR HE'S CLAIMS? Several scientists reviewed materials that Dr He provided to the AP and said tests so far are insufficient to say the editing worked or to rule out harm. They also noted evidence that the editing was incomplete and that at least one twin appears to be a patchwork of cells with various changes. 'It's almost like not editing at all' if only some of certain cells were altered, because HIV infection can still occur, famed Harvard University geneticist Professor George Church said. Church and Dr Kiran Musunuru, a University of Pennsylvania gene editing expert, questioned the decision to allow one of the embryos to be used in a pregnancy attempt, because the Chinese researchers said they knew in advance that both copies of the intended gene had not been altered. 'In that child, there really was almost nothing to be gained in terms of protection against HIV and yet you're exposing that child to all the unknown safety risks,' Dr Musunuru said. The use of that embryo suggests that the researchers' 'main emphasis was on testing editing rather than avoiding this disease,' Church said. Even if editing worked perfectly, people without normal CCR5 genes face higher risks of getting certain other viruses, such as West Nile, and of dying from the flu. Since there are many ways to prevent HIV infection and it's very treatable if it occurs, those other medical risks are a concern, Dr Musunuru said. There also are questions about the way Dr He said he proceeded. He gave official notice of his work long after he said he started it - on November 8, on a Chinese registry of clinical trials. It's unclear whether participants fully understood the purpose and potential risks and benefits. For example, consent forms called the project an 'AIDS vaccine development' program. The hospital linked to the controversial project denied approving the procedure and accused Dr He of forgery. Advertisement

This image shows a microplate containing embryos that have been injected with Cas9 protein using the controversial gene editing tool Crispr. The image was taken at Dr He's laboratory in Shenzhen last month

HOW DID DR HE DESCRIBE THE WORK? 'The gene editing occurred during IVF, or lab dish fertilisation. 'First, sperm was 'washed' to separate it from semen, the fluid where HIV can lurk. 'A single sperm was placed into a single egg to create an embryo. 'Then the gene editing tool was added. 'When the embryos were three to five days old, a few cells were removed and checked for editing. 'Couples could choose whether to use edited or unedited embryos for pregnancy attempts. 'In all, 16 of 22 embryos were edited, and 11 embryos were used in six implant attempts before the twin pregnancy was achieved.' Advertisement

Some scientists called for the introduction of an international treaty on embryo research to halt similar experiments in future.

Professor Darren Griffin, at geneticist at the University of Kent, said: 'In a world where scientists, by and large, try to be aware of ethical and social issues surrounding the work that we do, this report takes us back to the Stone Age.

'Scientists cannot be seen to be trying to forge ahead in the absence of ethical constraint.

'An international treaty on embryo research is now an absolute priority to prevent this happening again.'

However, one famed geneticist, Harvard University's Professor George Church, defended attempting gene editing for HIV, which he called 'a major and growing public health threat.'

'I think this is justifiable,' Professor Church said of that goal.

Dr Jiankui, of the Southern University of Science and Technology, in Shenzhen, said he altered embryos for seven couples during fertility treatments, with one pregnancy resulting thus far.

He said his goal was not to cure or prevent an inherited disease, but to try to bestow a trait that few people naturally have - an ability to resist infection with HIV.

The DNA of twin girls was altered with a powerful new tool capable of rewriting the very blueprint of life, Chinenese researcher Dr He Jiankui says. Pictured id Dr He (left) with fellow researcher Zhou Xiaoqin at a laboratory in Shenzhen

He said the parents involved declined to be identified or interviewed, and would not say where they live or where the work was done.

There is no independent confirmation of Dr He's claim, and it has not been published in a journal, where it would be vetted by other experts.

He announced the research Monday in Hong Kong to an organiser of an international conference on gene editing that is set to begin Tuesday, and earlier in exclusive interviews with The Associated Press.

'I feel a strong responsibility that it's not just to make a first, but also make it an example,' he told the AP.

The researchers used a gene-editing tool called CRISPR-cas9 for their experiment, which makes it possible to operate on DNA. This image shows a video feed of a researcher in Dr He's team using the tool under a microscope

'Society will decide what to do next' in terms of allowing or forbidding such science.

In recent years scientists have discovered a relatively easy way to edit genes, the strands of DNA that govern the body.

The tool, called CRISPR-cas9, makes it possible to operate on DNA to supply a needed gene or disable one that's causing problems.

It's only recently been tried in adults to treat deadly diseases, with all edits confined to that person, meaning they cannot be passed down to their children.

Editing sperm, eggs or embryos is different - the changes can be inherited.

In this image an embryo is injected with proteins using the controversial Crispr-Cas9 technique

In the US, it's not allowed except for lab research. China outlaws human cloning but not specifically gene editing.

Some scientists were astounded to hear of the claim and strongly condemned it.

It's 'unconscionable ... an experiment on human beings that is not morally or ethically defensible,' said Dr Kiran Musunuru, a University of Pennsylvania gene editing expert and editor of a genetics journal.

'This is far too premature,' said Dr Eric Topol, who heads the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California. 'We're dealing with the operating instructions of a human being. It's a big deal.'
Inhalable alcohol shots that are described as a 'refreshing' way to drink alcohol could give you an instant buzz without a hangover the next day.

The spirits, called Cloud Buzz shots, are pressurised into a vapour and served in a balloon.

Developers say it has an effect for just 15 to 30 minutes and each balloon contains exactly a unit of alcohol, reducing the chance of individuals over-doing it.

Inhalable alcohol shots that are described as a 'refreshing' way to drink alcohol could give you an instant buzz without a hangover the next day

'When served, you simply inhale from the balloon and the alcohol will instantly vaporise into a misty cloud', developers say on the website.

This 'will give you an instant buzz while also making it an aromatic and pleasant experience to taste the actual flavour of the drink', they say.

'Because of the the short lived effect (15-30 minutes) and our product being portioned (served per unit), it nearly eliminates the possibility to overdose, which also decreases the chances to feel symptoms of being hangover the next day', a spokesperson told the Mirror.

The product is currently set to be released in 'all major towns and cities' in February next year.

Employees from Cloud Buzz are set to attend events such as sporting events, festivals and private parties.

They will carry transportable alcohol vaporisers on their backs and fill balloons using a small gun-like device.

Earlier this year prototype was showcased at Imbibe Expo in London.

'We have developed the ONLY portable spirit vaporiser, that can be used anywhere  nightclub, beach, festival, bar, private party', the company wrote on its IndieGoGo page.

The spirits, called Cloud Buzz shots, are pressurised into a vapour and served in a balloon. Developers say it has an effect for just 15 to 30 minutes and each balloon contains exactly a unit of alcohol, reducing the chance of individuals over-doing it

They are currently trying to raise 10,000 ($13,000) to help commercialise the product.

'We are looking forward to receiving interest from various regions worldwide, so we can deliver the balloons to the right place at the right time!', developers wrote on the IndiGoGo page.

'In order to make that happen, we need your support', the firm wrote on their IndiGoGo page, which launched on Friday.

At the time of writing the page had raised 210 ($270) by 21 backers.

The product is currently set to be released in 'all major towns and cities' in February next year. Employees from Cloud Buzz are set to attend events such as sporting events, festivals and private parties

The company is currently trying to raise 10,000 ($13,000) to help commercialise the product

Earlier this year research suggested that alcohol could strengthen the heart because it teaches cells how to cope with stress.

Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil say the findings could lead to a drug which does the same thing but does not carry the risks of drinking alcohol.

In their research the scientists said it is already known that drinking alcohol in moderation can improve heart health, but the reasons are not well understood.

Now they say it could be because being exposed to the poisonous ethanol in alcohol builds up the same protective reaction that is needed to reduce damage during a heart attack.
Elon Musk believes humans must link up with machines in order to fight the inevitable onslaught of artificial intelligence.

The SpaceX and Tesla CEO said his latest company Neuralink will have the technology ready to do this 'probably' within the next decade, according to Axios.

Neuralink has previously teased a product that would effectively connect human brains to computers using a tiny implanted chip.

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In a new interview, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his latest company Neuralink will have the technology ready to merge human brains with machines 'within the next decade'

THE THREAT OF AI: WHAT ARE THE RISKS? While many tech leaders push that AI will become invaluable to humanity, others argue it poses a threat to our species. In November, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that efforts to make AI safe only have 'a five to 10 per cent chance of success.' Musk made his comments in a talk to employees at his firm Neuralink, which is working on ways to implant technology into our brains, according to Rolling Stone. He added that the employees should 'sleep well' after his warning, according to people close with the matter. The warning came shortly after Musk claimed that regulation of AI is drastically needed because it's a 'fundamental risk to the existence of human civilisation.' Advertisement

Musk told Axios that the technology would involve an 'electrode to neutron interface at a micro level.'

More specifically, it would be 'a chip and a bunch of tiny wires' that's implanted surgically into your skull.

'The long term aspiration with Neuralink would be to achieve a symbiosis with artificial intelligence and to achieve a sort of democratization of intelligence, such that it is not monopolistically held in a purely digital form by governments and large corporations,' he said in the interview with Axios.

'I believe this can be done...It's probably on the order of a decade.'

Musk believes that humans will have to explore the cyborg-like technology as artificial intelligence continues to advance and become integrated into the products we use.

'Essentially, how do we ensure that the future constitutes the sum of the will of humanity?' Musk told Axios.

'If we have millions of people with a high bandwidth link to the AI extension of themselves it would make everyone hyper smart.'

He likened AI to 'digital intelligence' that could spiral out of control if we don't pay attention.

'As the algorithms and the hardware improve, that digital intelligence will exceed biological intelligence by a substantial margin,' Musk told Axios.

Elon Musk told "Axios on HBO" that humans must merge with machines to overcome the existential threat of artificial intelligence. https://t.co/8UcdLW7hfA pic.twitter.com/mKelOopVEo  Axios (@axios) November 26, 2018

'...We're like children in a playground...We're not paying attention.'

Ultimately, the development of implanted chips could be what stands in the way of the human race becoming an endangered species, Musk said.

'...When a species of primate, homo sapiens, became much smarter than other primates, it pushed all the other ones into a very small habitat,' he added.

'So there are very few mountain gorillas and orangutans and chimpanzees - monkeys in general.

'Even the jungles that they're in are narrowly defined so they were sort of like big cages.

'So, you know, that's one possible outcome for us,' Musk said.

Musk said the technology would involve an 'electrode to neutron interface at a micro level.' Put simply, it would be 'a chip and a bunch of tiny wires' implanted surgically into your skull

Neuralink will work on what Musk calls the 'neural lace' technology, implanting tiny brain electrodes that may one day alter thoughts. Pictured, Keanu Reeves plugging into 'The Matrix'

Musk has long been a critic of artificial intelligence, warning that should it fall into the wrong hands or become too smart, it could wreak havoc on the world.

He launched San Francisco-based Neuralink in 2016 to develop implantable brain-computer interfaces that could upload and download thoughts.

Musk has envisioned other applications for the technology, in fields including medicine.

One specific use would be reducing memory loss or curing spinal cord injuries, by implanting electrodes into the motor cortex of the brain, Musk said.

This would 'bypass the severed section of the spine and have effectively local micro controllers near the muscle groups,' he added.

'It could restore full limb functionality,' Musk told Axios.
The radical project to clean up the Pacific Ocean using a 2,000-foot-long floating pipe has already run into some challenges.

After four weeks attempting to tackle the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the Ocean Cleanup team has confirmed their device is scooping up plastic and is mostly behaving as predicted.

But unfortunately, some of that plastic is spilling back out into the ocean not long after its caught.

Ocean Cleanup is now working to understand whats causing the problem, and modify the system so it can better retain the floating waste.

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After four weeks attempting to tackle the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the Ocean Cleanup team has confirmed their device is scooping up plastic and is mostly behaving as predicted. But, some of the plastic is spilling back out

So far, the team says the initial operations have shown promise.

Although we are not harvesting plastic yet, based on the current results, we are positive we are close to making it work, Ocean Cleanup founder and CEO Boyan Slat wrote in a recent blog post.

The system, dubbed Wilson, so far has not appeared to have any significant interactions with marine life, and has shown it can capture small particles within its confines.

But, it can only hold onto the plastic for a relatively short time.

There could be various reasons why plastic is not staying inside the system, Slat said.

The team has outlined a few tweaks that could boost Wilsons performance to counteract the effects of wind and vibrations at the ends of the U-shaped pipe. Ocean Cleanup plans to open up the U-shape by about 60-70 meters. This will give it a shorter, wider configuration (shown)

We have concluded that the system does appear to be moving too slow at times (remember, to catch the plastic, we need a speed difference where the system is faster than the plastic) or, occasionally, the speed difference appears to be reversed, where the plastic is then faster than the system.

At the very minimum, the system needs to be continuously traveling faster than the plastic.

The team has outlined a few tweaks that could boost Wilsons performance to counteract the effects of wind and vibrations at the ends of the U-shaped pipe.

Ocean Cleanup plans to open up the U-shape by about 60-70 meters. This will give it a shorter, wider configuration.

The group hopes the pipe will collect 50 tons of trash by April 2019 and clean 90% of the world's ocean plastic by the year 2040

DEEP-SEA DEBRIS DATABASE REVEALS EXTENT OF OCEAN PLASTIC POLLUTION Plastic pollution is a scourge that is ravaging the surface of our planet. Now, the polluting polymer is sinking down to the bottom of the ocean. The deepest part of the ocean is found in the Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean, to the east of the Mariana Islands. It stretches down nearly 36,100 feet (11,000 metres) below the surface. One plastic bag was found 35,754 feet (10,898 metres) below the surface in this region, the deepest known piece of human-made pollution in the world. This single-use piece of plastic was found deeper than 33 Eiffel towers, laid tip to base, would reach. Whilst the plastic pollution is rapidly sinking, it is also spreading further into the middle of the oceans. A piece of plastic was found over 620 miles (1,000 km) from the nearest coast - that's further than the length of France. The Global Oceanographic Data Center (Godac) of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (Jamstec) launched for public use in March 2017. In this database, there is the data from 5,010 different dives. From all of these different dives, 3,425 man-made debris items were counted. More than 33 per cent of the debris was macro-plastic followed by metal (26 per cent), rubber (1.8 per cent), shing gear (1.7 per cent), glass (1.4 per cent), cloth/paper/lumber (1.3 per cent), and 'other' anthropogenic items (35 per cent). It was also discovered that of all the waste found, 89 per cent of it was designed for single-use purposes. This is defined as plastic bags, bottles and packages. The deeper the study looked, the greater the amount of plastic they found. Of all man-made items found deeper than 20,000 feet (6,000 metres), the ratios increased to 52 per cent for macro-plastic and 92 per cent for single-use plastic. The direct damage this caused to the ecosystem and environment is clear to see as deep-sea organisms were observed in the 17 per cent of plastic debris images taken by the study. Advertisement

To do this, theyll have to add more slack to the closing lines that keep it bound in a U.

We will perform the extension in several stages until we will (hopefully) reach the desired effect, Slat said.

As an increased span is expected to have a negative effect on the systems ability to rapidly pivot when a change in wind direction occurs, we must be careful to not increase the span too much.

The team plans to begin extending the closing lines this Thursday, while continuing to analyze the data and testing other solutions to improve the system.
Researchers have discovered that water in the North Atlantic has 'dramatically weakened.'

The study shows the levels are at their lowest of for 1,500 years - and climate change is to blame.

Researchers warn the currents will have a 'profound effect' on both the North American and European climate.

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The weakening ocean: This is a schematic of the circulation in the western North Atlantic during episode of strong (left) and weak (right) westward transport of the Labrador Current (LC). The oceanography of this region is characterised by the interaction of water masses formed in the Labrador and moving westward (LC and Labrador Sea Slope Water (LSSW)) and the water masses moving eastward originating as the Gulf Stream (GS) and its Atlantic Temperate Slope Water (ATSW). The exact location where these two water mass systems meet (yellow dashed lines) is determined by the strength of the northern recirculation gyre (white arrows), which then control the temperature.

WHY ARE OCEAN CURRENTS SO IMPORTANT? Ocean currents play a critical role in regulating the planet. Slower circulation in the North Atlantic can yield profound change on both the North American and European climate but also on the African and Asian summer monsoon rainfall. This transfer of heat and energy not only has direct influence on climate over Europe and North American but can impact the African and Asian monsoon system through its effect on sea surface temperature, hydrological cycle, atmospheric circulation and variation in the intertropical convergence zone. Advertisement

Researchers studied the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the branch of the North Atlantic circulation that brings warm surface water toward the Arctic and cold deep water toward the equator.

The research, co-led by Drs. Christelle Not and Benoit Thibodeau from the Department of Earth Sciences and the Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, is interpreted to be a direct consequence of global warming and associated melt of the Greenland Ice-Sheet.

Slower circulation in the North Atlantic can yield profound change on both the North American and European climate but also on the African and Asian summer monsoon rainfall.

'The AMOC plays a crucial role in regulating global climate, but scientists are struggling to find reliable indicators of its intensity in the past.

'The discovery of this new record of AMOC will enhance our understanding of its drivers and ultimately help us better comprehend potential near-future change under global warming' said Dr. Thibodeau.

The research team also found a weak signal during a period called the Little Ice Age (a cold spell observed between about 1600 and 1850 AD).

WHAT WAS THE LITTLE ICE AGE? The reconstructed depth of the Little Ice Age varies between different studies The Little Ice Age occurred between AD 1300 and 1850. There were two phases of the Little Ice Age, the first beginning around 1290 and continuing until the late 1400s. There was a slightly warmer period in the 1500s, after which the climate deteriorated substantially, with the coldest period between 1645 and 1715. During this coldest phase of the Little Ice Age there are indications that average winter temperatures in Europe and North America were as much as 2C lower than at present. The Baltic Sea froze over, as did many of the rivers and lakes in Europe. The Frozen Thames, 1677, an original painting in the collection of the Museum of London Winters were bitterly cold and summers were often cool and wet. These conditions led to widespread crop failure, famine, and population decline. There were increased levels of social unrest as large portions of the population were reduced to starvation and poverty. Advertisement

While not as pronounced as the 20th century trend, the signal might confirm that this period was also characterized by a weaker circulation in the North Atlantic, which implies a decrease in the transfer of heat toward Europe, contributing to the cold temperature of this period.

However, more work is needed to validate this hypothesis.

'While we could ground-truth our temperature reconstruction for the 20th century against instrumental measurement it is not possible to do so for the Little Ice Age period.

'Therefore, we need to conduct more analysis to consolidate this hypothesis' said Dr. Not.

The findings were recently published in the prestigious journal Geophysical Research Letters.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is the branch of the North Atlantic circulation that brings warm surface water toward the Arctic and cold deep water toward the equator.

This transfer of heat and energy not only has direct influence on climate over Europe and North American but can impact the African and Asian monsoon system through its effect on sea surface temperature, hydrological cycle, atmospheric circulation and variation in the intertropical convergence zone.

Drs. Not and Thibodeau used microfossils, called foraminifer, found in a sediment core to estimate the past temperature of the Ocean. Pictured, the foraminifer specie used in this study

Many climate models predicted a weakening, or even a collapse of this branch of the circulation under global warming, partly due to the release of freshwater from Greenland Ice-Sheet.

This freshwater has lower density than salty water and thus prevents the formation of deep water, slowing down the whole circulation.

However, this weakening is still vigorously debated because of the scarcity of long-term record of the AMOC.

Drs. Not and Thibodeau used microfossils, called foraminifer, found in a sediment core to estimate the past temperature of the Ocean.

The sediment core used is in the Laurentian Channel, on the coast of Canada, where two important currents meet.

The strength of these currents will control the temperature of the water at the coring site which implies that the temperature reconstructed from this core is indicative of the strength of the North Atlantic circulation.

With their collaborators from the United-States of America, they validated their results using instrumental data and two numerical models that can simulate the climate and the ocean.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said that the second round of the presidential elections will be held in accordance with the highest standards.

"The high standard elections has become the major goal for our political team since 2012 what has ensured Georgias faster pace of Euro-Atlantic integration," Bakhtadze stressed.

In this regard, he has also mentioned his recent visit in Brussels where he has received best messages about the countrys progress in terms of democratic transformation.

"A special high level format has been launched only for Georgia which the country is using now to negotiate with the EU and this is an important message on our way of democratic development," Agenda.ge cited the PM as saying.
Facebook has shuttered its 'war room' built to help the social media giant battle election interference.

The firm debuted the space just two months ago, ahead of elections in the U.S. and Brazil, at its Menlo Park, California campus.

Now, Facebook is closing the doors on its war room in favor of a 'strategic response team', according to Bloomberg.

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Facebook worker Erin Landers leaves the company's 'War Room,' during a media demonstration . The war room, which debuted ahead of elections in the U.S. and Brazil, is the most concrete sign of Facebook's efforts to weed out misinformation

While the war room has been disbanded, a Facebook spokesperson told the Hill that the company may still open new war rooms for future elections.

'Our war room effort is focused specifically on elections-related issues and is designed to rapidly respond to threats such as voter suppression efforts and civic-related misinformation,' a Facebook spokesperson told the Hill.

'It was an effective effort during the recent U.S. and Brazil elections, and we are planning to expand the effort going forward for elections around the globe.'

In the meantime, Facebook will convene a permanent 'strategic response team' to handle some of the issues tackled in the 'war room.'

The strategic response team was originally created to handle urgent, developing situations at the company.

It previously orchestrated Facebook's response to a tip from the FBI on possible Russian activity before the U.S. midterm elections, Bloomberg said.

While the war room has been disbanded, a Facebook spokesperson said the company may still open new war rooms for future elections. For now, it will rely on the strategic response team

The team is headed up by Justin Osofsky, vice president of operations and corporate development, who regularly interfaces with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.

It handles the 'types of problems that cut across the company, touching a lot of different product teams,' Osofsky told Bloomberg.

During strategic response team meetings, Sandberg either makes a decision on the issue at hand, or will notify CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Bloomberg reported.

By contrast, the war room housed dozens of employees parsing through live data on monitors and dashboards.

Director of product management for civic engagement Samidh Chakrabarti said: 'The war room has over two dozen experts from across the company  including from our threat intelligence, data science, software engineering, research, community operations and legal teams.

Facebooks 'war room' at its Menlo Park headquarters. It has over two dozen experts from across the company and will allow staff to monitor activity around election issues in real time

'These employees represent and are supported by the more than 20,000 people working on safety and security across Facebook.

'When everyone is in the same place, the teams can make decisions more quickly, reacting immediately to any threats identified by our systems, which can reduce the spread of potentially harmful content.'

Facebook said the space could be used to monitor activity around election issues in real time, including efforts to prevent people from voting and increases in spam content.

Mr Chakrabarti said the teams involved had also prepared responses to different techniques that could be used by those seeking to use the platform to influence voters or mislead them.

'These preparations helped a lot during the first round of Brazil's presidential elections,' he said.

(L to R) Samidh Chakrabarti, Head of Civic Engagement, Katie Harbath, Global Politics and Government Outreach Director, and Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy, in the war room at Facebook in Menlo Park

In the run-up to elections in both Brazil and the US, the firm built a room at its Menlo Park campus from where it says its elections interference prevention experts can work together

'For example, our technology detected a false post claiming that Brazil's Election Day had been moved from October 7 to October 8 due to national protests. While untrue, that message began to go viral.

'We quickly detected the problem, determined that the post violated our policies, and removed it in under an hour. And within two hours, we'd removed other versions of the same fake news post.'

While on duty, war-room workers are only allowed to leave the room for short bathroom breaks or to grab food to eat at their desks.

Although no final decisions have been made, the war room is likely to become a permanent fixture at Facebook, said Katie Harbath, Facebooks director of global politics and government outreach.

'It is a constant arms race,' she said. 'This is our new normal.'
Parents wanting to give their children the ultimate fantasy experience at Walt Disney World can rent a Millennium Falcon-style stroller or Cinderella-inspired carriage.

The pushchairs come with a number of special features and are big enough to transport two children under the age of nine.

The pushchairs have been designed by Florida-based company Fantasy Strollers (which isn't affiliated to Walt Disney World or Lucasfilm) with prices starting from $130 (100) for eight hours.

The Spaceship Stroller that is available to rent from Fantasy Strollers for visits to Walt Disney World

The Spaceship Stroller, which is available to rent from March 1, 2019, is made from custom fibre-glass and has two pilot steering wheels as well as sound and lighting effects activated from a panel inside

For parents, there is a cup and smartphone holder as well as ample storage in the back of the 'ship'

The Spaceship Stroller, which is available to rent from March 1, 2019, is made from custom fibre-glass and has two pilot steering wheels as well as sound and lighting effects activated from a panel inside.

For parents, there is a cup and smartphone holder as well as ample storage in the back of the 'ship'.

Meanwhile, the carriage strollers come with a built-in array of fairy lights in selected colours and the seat fully retracts for comfy napping purposes.

The princess-style carriage strollers come with a built-in array of fairy lights in selected colours

If guests go for the top package, which costs $240, they receive delivery of the stroller to their resort (provided it's nearby), a red carpet roll-out, themed music, and escorted transport via a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to a designated drop-off location

The carriage stroller seat fully retracts so that youngsters can have a nap if they get tired

Both pushchairs are picked up from a Fantasy Stroller representative outside the park.

Most rental packages last eight hours, and when the time is up, a company rep will collect the stroller from the same spot it was dropped off at.

However, if guests go for the top package, which costs $240, they receive delivery of the stroller to their resort (provided it's nearby), a red carpet roll-out, themed music, and escorted transport via a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter to a designated drop-off location.

A new Stars Wars land, called Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is set to open at Walt Disney World in Florida next autumn.
After hundreds of thousands of flights British Airways has bid farewell to one of the most iconic aircraft in its fleet  the Boeing 767.

The airline's final two 767s have been retired to MOD St Athan in Wales after the last commercial flight - Larnaca in Cyprus to Heathrow  took place on Sunday.

The captain of the flight to St Athan, Jonny Lutton, tweeted: 'Today [Monday] I have the privilege of commanding the last ever @British_Airways #767 flight. @aston_adam and I will deliver #ZHB to St Athan, bringing 28 years of safe and efficient 767 operations to a close. This is the end of an era.'

The plane that operated the last ever commercial 767 flight for BA touches down in Larnaca, Cyprus, before making the end-of-an-era return journey to Heathrow

The crew of the last 767 to fly a commercial service for BA pose by the plane in Cyprus before it returns to Heathrow for the final time

Since British Airways operated its first 767 in February 1990 on a short hop to Paris, the fleet of aircraft has completed over 425,000 commercial flights.

Frankfurt was the route where enthusiasts could spot the 767 most frequently, with the aircraft completing nearly 15,000 flights to and from the airport, but the aircraft has also been used to serve routes from Abu Dhabi, to Calgary and New York.

While it was initially used for long-haul, in recent years it has been reconfigured for use on short-haul, including to Athens and Larnaca as well as on some domestic routes.

The retirement comes as British Airways looks to the future of its fleet.

Just days ago, the airline took delivery of its 30th Boeing 787 Dreamliner  the newest aircraft in its fleet.

Not only is the Dreamliner around 40 per cent quieter than other aircraft it also uses 20 per cent less fuel than similarly sized aircraft.

The flight crew that would be operating the historic final BA 767 journey pose by the aircraft in Cyprus before it heads back to the UK capital

This means a reduction in carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.

But it's not just the 787 that's being added to British Airways' fleet.

Later in the year the airline will take delivery of another pioneering aircraft - its first Airbus A350, part of the airline's 4.5bn investment for customers over the next five years.

On the 767 retirement, British Airways Director of Flight Operations, Captain Al Bridger, said: 'The 767 has been a brilliant part of our fleet, flying some of our most popular routes and giving customers what was an industry-leading service in its time.

The first ever BA 767 service from London Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris takes off on February 19, 1990

The flight deck of the 767. Frankfurt was the route where enthusiasts could spot the 767 most frequently

'It's fitting that as the final 767 leaves the fleet, we take our 30th delivery of another industry-leading aircraft, the 787, which offers customers an exceptional experience in the skies.'

The final 767 commercial flight took place on a plane with the registration G-BZHA. One other 767 was retired to St Athan on Monday and will be sold, along with G-BZHA, but not to another airline.

BA said that neither plane will fly again, but didn't comment on the identity of the buyer (s).

G-BZHA first flew in 1998 and has flown an estimated 23 million miles. It has visited Larnaca 900 times in its life, but its most popular route is actually to Athens, where it's completed 1,275 round trips.

It is estimated that this aircraft has carried around four million customers across nearly 23,000 flights.
Kylie Minogue faced a security scare at her concert in Germany on last week.

But on Sunday night, she was back in the country and back on stage for a jovial concert in the northern German town of Hamburg.

Taking to Instagram, the 50-year-old appeared to make reference to her security scare.

'I made it over the finish line ...just!!' Kylie Minogue returns to the stage in Germany after the pop star 'faced threats made on social media by a 'mentally disturbed man' forcing her to be flanked by 20 armed guards

Sharing a photograph of the crowd in front of the stage, Kylie captioned it: 'Thank you #HAMBURG. The final show on the European leg of the #GoldenTour.

She added: ' I made it over the finish line ...just! Thanks for singing along with me'.

While performing in Cologne on Monday, the Spinning Around star was guarded by around 20 police officers armed with submachine guns following a threat made from Belgium.

On Tuesday, Kylie's representative has responded to Daily Mail Australia in a statement, a confirming that the threats had been made 'via social media'.

They added that 'routine security procedures' will remain in place for the remainder of Kylie's Golden tour.

Sharing a photograph of the crowd in front of the stage, Kylie captioned it: 'Thank you #HAMBURG. The final show on the European leg of the #GoldenTour. I made it over the finish line ...just! Thanks for singing along with me'

'There was additional security at the Cologne show following an individual making threats via social media,' read the statement.

'Given the nature of these threats, the police felt it necessary to take extra precautionary measures.

'We have routine security procedures in place for all concerts which will continue to be in effect for the remaining shows.

Show goes on: While performing in Cologne on Monday, the Spinning Around star was guarded by around 20 police officers armed with submachine guns following a threat made from Belgium

'These procedures are continually reviewed and revised to ensure we are doing everything possible in order to create the safest environment for everyone in attendance.'

While performing in Cologne earlier this week, German police armed with submachine guns protected Kylie and concertgoers at the venue.

It was previously claimed by DW.com that German newspaper Bild had reported 'a mentally disturbed Belgian man' made threats against the Australian star.

Pictures of the man were plastered around the concert venue and the Belgian police force was also contacted about the threat.

Safe: On Tuesday, Kylie's representative has responded to Daily Mail Australia in a statement, a confirming that the threats had been made 'via social media'. They added that 'routine security procedures' will remain in place for the remainder of Kylie's Golden tour

All men were reportedly frisked before being allowed into the concert, which had up to 2,500 guests in attendance.

According to multiple reports, male fans had their identities checked upon arrival.

A police spokesman told German news agency DPA: 'The organisers contacted us due to a possible threat scenario based on evaluating social media platforms.

'When it comes to things like that, we cannot simply stand by.'

Fortunately, the show went on as planned and 'without any disturbance'.
Isabelle Cornish like to break the rules.

The 24-year-old actress and model got up to some mischief over the weekend, frolicking around the bush completely nude.

She posted a picture of her escapades on Instagram, writing in the caption: 'When someone tells you not to do something you want to do.. do it anyway.

'Caught in the act': Actress and model Isabelle Cornish breaks the rules and frolics around the bush completely NUDE

'Your life! Your journey. Caught in the act dirty footed.'

In the image she was completely naked, her modesty protected by some bars drawn over her body.

It comes after Isabelle comanded the attention of her legions of followers by posting a topless photo of herself last week.

She shared a photo of herself sitting by the rocks of a beach, wearing only a pair of bikini bottoms.

'All I need to do is be myself': It comes after she demanded the attention of her legions of followers by posting a topless photo of herself last week while championing self-acceptance

In the caption, the beauty revealed she had an important message to convey about self-acceptance.

'Now I have your attention let me tell you something,' she wrote.

'I've been everything. And no matter what thing I worked my butt off for better or worse to become made me any more me.

'What made me ME is realising that I don't have to be anything. I don't have to push to become something.'

Positive message: In the caption, the beauty revealed she had an important message to convey about self-acceptance

'All I need to do is be myself. To surrender and embrace all that I am the good and the bad,' Isabelle continued.

She went on to add that self-love, empowerment and learning to embrace your own 'uniqueness' was important.

'Stop trying to be anyone else. Don't let the external world influence you out of YOUR beliefs. The world needs your uniqueness, don't follow the crowd,' she concluded.

'The world needs your uniqueness!' She went on to added that self-love, empowerment and learning to embrace your own uniqueness was important

Isabelle recently revealed that she doesn't go to her older sister, actress Abbie Cornish, for advice.

The younger Cornish sister told The Daily Telegraph back in August, 'We are very different and there is such a big age gap, so I don't really go to her for advice.'

While Abbie, 36, starred in Oscar-winning epic Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Isabelle believes the siblings can't relate professionally as the pair have 'different styles.'

'I have a different style to her and we don't discuss acting,' she added.
David Attenborough presented the Lion episode of Dynasties as if it were a celebration  a tribute to the strength of spirit that bonded the pride, particularly honouring the devotion and determination of its leader.

The fact this was, unusually, a female, made it seem like a wildlife documentary for our #MeToo times.

Charm had taken up the mantle of the prides leader when the family was abandoned by all the male lions (another very contemporary issue).

Tribute: David Attenborough presented the Lion episode of Dynasties as if it were a celebration  a tribute to the strength of spirit that bonded the pride

Charm is what a lion should be! cooed one of the camera-crew. Shes a provider, shes a mother, she looks after cubs that arent her own. Shes the matriarch. Shes the dame!

Short of saying what a woman! the message couldnt be clearer.

But for once Attenboroughs infectious enthusiasm proved hard to agree with.

For some viewers, the only positive thing about Lion was that it wasnt quite as bleak as last weeks episode.

Abandoned: Charm had taken up the mantle of the prides leader when the family was abandoned by all the male lions (another very contemporary issue)

Compared to the travails and tragedies suffered by the Emperor penguins in Antarctica (and us) Lion seemed like The Sound Of Music.

Lion may have been set in the flat, arid, savannah of Kenyas Maasai Mara but it represented a sobering blow to our image of the so-called King Of The Jungle.

They will kill them if they get the chance! Attenborough warned in his characteristic, melodramatic, whisper virtually every ten minutes.

Not referring to the lions and their prey but to the myriad species threatening the lions themselves.

This list included hyenas, buffalos, and wildebeest (animals generally regarded as victims not the victors in an attack) as well as other lions (male newcomers/outsiders) and inevitably the most damaging, man.

Charm: Charm is what a lion should be! cooed one of the camera-crew. Shes a provider, shes a mother, she looks after cubs that arent her own. Shes the matriarch. Shes the dame!

From the eldest (Charm) to her cubs all ages were targeted at some point.

As if this werent enough, like last Sunday in the Antarctic, we had to endure the heart-wrenching spectacle of a mother abandoning one of her young.

Charm had no choice of course. (She did it to save herself and thus continue protecting the others.)

The fact she didnt manage that was salt in the wound.

Ironically, Charms last four cubs fell victim to the male lion their mother paired up with. Attenborough celebrated Charms survival and success at continuing her dynasty, which he emphasised, was what she wanted most.

But he brushed over the grim significance in the way the lives of Charm, her pride, and her children had been totally invaded and then controlled by male force.

For all Charms heroics as a female, this remained the natural order.

The two-year period was broken down into 10 confrontations.

Heres how they went.

Uplifting? For some viewers, the only positive thing about Lion was that it wasnt quite as bleak as last weeks episode

Attack 1

When Charm caught on to a fleeing wildebeest she seemed vulnerable hanging from its throat. Actually she was safe from its horns, well placed to kick its legs away, and finish the kill for the pride.

Attack 2

Hearing that, as the only two adults, Charm and Sienna had to take turns hunting alone, around the clock didnt bode well. Sure enough Attenborough (the master of the minimal) needed just one word to make you fear the worst: sunrise...

We didnt see what happened but Charms cousin had been out all night.

Siennas seriously injured. Shes too weak to move, Attenborough confirmed as the young lioness lay motionless, flies around her eyes and on her wounds.

Attack 3

As night falls, Charm has no choice but to head out on her own leaving the vulnerable cubs alone, Attenborough stated seemingly harmlessly, then adding with brilliantly chilling, sadistic, simplicity: Shes being trailed!

The only thing worse than watching a pack of hyenas moving in on a lioness must be eleven grinning, screeching, beasts looking like bright white, ghoulish monsters - because they were filmed on infrared cameras.

On her own she couldnt hold them off! Attenborough trembled, despite knowing shed survived again. Her eldest daughter Yaya had been following the hyenas, launching into the melee like a bowling ball, sending them scattering.

Heart-wrenching: As if this werent enough, like last Sunday in the Antarctic, we had to endure the heart-wrenching spectacle of a mother abandoning one of her young.

Attack 4

A brief comic interlude was provided by Charms son Tatou trying to take down a two-tonne hippopotamus that positively sauntered off gloriously unbothered by the lions attentions.

Attack 5

When Tatous cousin Red ventured away from the pride alone he wandered straight into a pack of 20 hyenas that quickly surrounded him, snarling and hounding the young lion to wear him down before moving in for the kill. His nose bloodied by swipes and bites from the dogs, Red looked visibly frightened. This time Tatou had been watching the commotion and (eventually) jogged over to save his cousins life.

Attack 6

In a rare piece of good news, Sienna was still alive. Four days after her injury and desperate for food, she was well enough to bring down a wildebeest. But not sadly to kill it.

She simply doesnt have the strength, sighed Attenborough, as it flicked the lioness to the ground badly gouging her with its horns.

Amazingly, after a few weeks she struggled pack to the pride to be lovingly attended by Charm and Yaya.

Celebration: Ironically, Charms last four cubs fell victim to the male lion their mother paired up with. Attenborough celebrated Charms survival and success

Attack 7

Inevitably such relative positivity proved a false dawn.

When the wildebeest left the Maasai Mara, the pride turned desperately to the cattle brought (illegally) to graze at the edge of their territory.

Foreseeing the threat to their livestock, the herdsmen left poisoned bait for the lions, which (tragically) ate it.

Charms one year-old son became so ill he could hardly stand  panting heavily, horribly, before just flopping to the ground where he stayed.

When the pride needed to flee the heat and seek some shade, Charm had to leave him there.

The next day Charm returns to her sons side! Attenborough cheered, but although the young cub stood up when his mother returned, he couldnt walk.

Faced with the same dilemma of staying with her son or leaving with the others, after the penguins in Antarctica we knew what was coming.

For the sake of the pride Charm abandons her young cub, Attenborough confirmed gravely.

Charm stood marooned between her two responsibilities, stopping every few minutes to stare over at her son, before taking a few more steps away from him, then turning to look again.

The sight of the other youngsters delight, running to greet Charm when she reached them, didnt really make you feel any better - but worse if anything.

After a (perfect) killer pause, Attenborough compounded the sadness of the scene by concluding: she will never see her son or Sienna alive again.

Cheers Dave!

Pride: But he brushed over the grim significance in the way the lives of Charm, her pride, and her children had been totally invaded and then controlled by male force

Attack 8

Yaya and Tatou had survived the poisoning. Charms reward for this was when they reached the age of four they left the group - and their mother.

Charm still had four female cubs left to steer into adulthood.

The arrival of two adult male lions looking for a pride of their own could, said Attenborough, either bring a new generation of cubs or disaster.

In fact it brought both.

Attack 8 could have been a lot worse.

Charms youngest daughter was too young to breed so the male lions saw her as another mouth they didnt want to share food with.

Charm tried everything to defend her  from aggression to seduction  but knowing that if she stayed the males would eventually kill her the cub had no choice but to leave.

The sight of her padding off into the wilderness to face an uncertain but unpromising fate was poignant enough.

Attenborough paused perfectly again then twisted the knife by adding: And the males dont stop there. Every young cub is driven out. Theres nothing Charm can do.

Attack 9

When some slight salvation came and Charm gave birth to two new (super-cute) cubs, the prospect of the male suspecting they werent his and killing them raised its (very) ugly head. Thankfully he didnt.

Attack 10

The last threat, and fight, came, incredibly, from a group of buffalos, which actively seek lion cubs out, we learnt, presumably for their (future) safety.

Charm ended up surrounded by a number of males armed with horns long and sharp enough to skewer her and the cubs she was shielding them under a log.

Somehow she forces the entire herd to back down! Attenborough cheered.

With her new cubs, their father there to protect them and the pride, and Yaya pregnant with Charms grandchildren having paired up with the other male newcomer, Charm had not just survived.

This extraordinary lioness has succeeded! Attenborough concluded.

Extraordinary undoubtedly.

But at the very least her success had come at a high price though.
Roxy Jacenko has sensationally admitted to 'living on alcohol' during the 12 months her husband Oliver Curtis spent in jail after being convicted of insider trading in June 2016.

And despite managing to maintain her business empire, care for their two children and battle breast cancer while Oliver was locked up, the true extent of the PR queen's lifestyle was only fully revealed this weekend.

Sitting down for an interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night, Roxy confessed: 'I started living a life very quickly as soon as Oli went to jail that was fast. And that was drinking too much and consuming things that I shouldn't have been consuming.'

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Downward spiral: Roxy Jacenko has sensationally admitted to 'living on alcohol' during the 12 months her husband Oliver Curtis spent in jail after being convicted of insider trading in June 2016. She is pictured here partying with ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal in April 2017.

Roxy's downward spiral: Party pictures appear to show the moment PR queen 'lost her marbles' and began 'living on alcohol' while her husband Oliver Curtis was in jail. Pictured: Roxy during her Sunday Night confession

Indeed, a look back at a series of photos of Roxy appear to document this turbulent period in her life.

Some party snaps capture a moment in time when Roxy was living 'too fast' and on the verge of a mental breakdown.

In April 2017, Roxy was captured kissing her ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal at a post-dinner party held at his luxury apartment.

The sensational snaps showed the PR maven in an intimate embrace with the millionaire property developer, after the pair enjoyed a dinner with friends earlier in the evening.

Not concerned at hiding any affection, fellow revelers inside the apartment were seen looking on as Roxy and Nabil leaned in to kiss before dancing the night away.

That night: Sensational photographs showed Nabil and Roxy kissing as they partied at his place in April 2017

Meanwhile, Roxy, who has relied upon social media to build her multiple businesses, also used it to document her nights out while Oliver was serving his prison sentence.

While she looked perfectly carefree surrounded by friends and younger colleagues in the photos, she now refers to her behaviour around this time as 'going rogue'.

Posing with expensive cocktails and wearing designer clothes, Roxy's daily life looked deceptively glamorous.

But for the blonde entrepreneur, no filter or witty caption could disguise the heartbreak that was hiding behind each of her party posts.

The 38-year-old, who previously described the public relations industry as 'fast, celebrity-packed and sparkly', soon found this very lifestyle driving her downward spiral.

Cocktail hour: Roxy and her employee Gemma Oldfield are seen enjoying cocktails in January 2017 during a trip to Hawaii

Night out with the girls: Roxy is pictured enjoying a night out with the girls in February 2017 while her husband was in jail

Picture perfect: An image shared to Instagram on September 2016 showed the PR dynamo perfecting her selfie game in a snap at Sydney restaurant Mr Wong, alongside socialite Barbara Coombes

During Oliver's time in prison, Roxy's life was a mixture of stress, partying and struggling to stay on top of the empire she'd spent over a decade building.

'I would go out, and I'd come home at all hours of the morning. I basically lost my marbles,' Roxy said on Sunday Night, before breaking down in tears.

She then bravely admitted there was even a moment when she contemplated suicide, saying, 'I was very close to standing at The Gap'.

Mingling: The businesswoman enjoyed a night out with close pals including Sophie Falkiner (far left), socialite Angelique Andrews (second left) and wife of Bashar Ibrahim, Laura Cathery-Ibrahim (far right)) in September 2016

Nights out: Roxy had a laugh while she attended an event at Mai Tai bar during the time her husband was in jail

It was only her children - Pixie, seven, and Hunter, four - that prevented her from taking her own life at the Eastern Suburbs clifftop.

The 'nights out' while her husband was serving time then culminated in a car accident which Roxy claims to not remember.

Speaking of the incident, Roxy said: 'I remember driving Oli's car and parking it and then the next day going downstairs and looking at it, and it was all smashed up.

'And I was like, 'I don't even remember how I did it'.'

Boat party: Roxy is pictured having a glass of champagne at an Australia Day party with her Sweaty Betty employees in January 2017

Still working: While she was going through a turbulent time, Roxy continued to attend events and charity functions

She loves a good party! The blonde beauty has always posted party snaps like this one to her Instagram page, but during the time Oliver was in prison, she spiraled

Honest: Oliver spent in jail after being convicted of insider trading in June 2016. Pictured: Roxy accompanying her husband during his trial in Sydney on June 17, 2016

Of course, Roxy is no stranger to partying.

During the early days of her PR career and long before her husband's legal troubles, she was a noted socialite who often found herself in newspaper gossip columns.

It is strongly rumoured that the self-made millionaire even held down a part-time job at Sydney's Goodbar on Oxford Street simply as a way to make influential contacts.

She would apparently take advantage of her social connections to grow her fledgling public relations empire.

High-profile friendships with 'It girls' like British model Gabrielle Richens and Elle Macpherson's sister Mimi in the early 2000s established her as a social butterfly.

Socialite: Of course, Roxy is no stranger to partying. During the early days of her PR career and long before her husband's legal troubles, she was a noted socialite who often found herself in newspaper gossip columns

And her romance with notorious ladies' man Dwight Yorke proved she wasn't afraid to walk on the wild side despite her reputation as a no-nonsense businesswoman.

Roxy was once even involved a nightclub punch-up with her younger sister Ruby, who assaulted her during an A-list event she was hosting.

'When [Roxy] grabbed me on the wrist to tell me that I shouldn't be there, I just saw red and punched her,' Ruby later said of the attack.

Back to normal: Following Oliver's release from prison last year, the married couple are back to their best. Roxy has moved on from her 'breakdown' and now parties in moderation

However, these days both Roxy and Oliver's lives are somewhat different.

After serving 12 months of his two-year sentence, Oliver walked free from jail and was immediately taken to a private jet where Roxy and his family awaited.

And while Roxy is still a regular on the Sydney party scene, she has put her 'nervous breakdown' and hard partying behind her and is back to her best.

Most recently she released her fourth book, Roxy's Little Black Book of Tips and Tricks, and purchased a new $6.5million family home in Sydney's Vaucluse.
Newly single Paris Hilton arrived back home in the US after another round of jet-setting around the world Sunday.

Despite a hectic work schedule and her recent breakup to former fiancee Chris Zylka, the socialite and DJ looked her usual perky self as she strutted through the concourse at LAX Airport, moments after her plane touched down.

The 37-year old had been in Australia and the United Arab Emirates, promoting her new fragrance and DJ-ing.

No worse for wear: Despite a hectic work schedule, Paris Hilton looked her usual perky self when she arrived at LAX Airport in Los Angeles on Sunday

Always one to want to make a grand entrance, the hotel heiress appeared to be in full catwalk mode as she pranced through the airport looking casual but cool in form-fitting denim blue jeans and a striking yellow and black floral shirt.

She matched her ensemble with a pair of black leather heeled boots and, for an added touch of cool and elegance, a large black hat and large black sunglasses.

To accommodate the hat, the LA native wore her trademark blonde tresses long but pushed to the right side, over her shoulder.

The Strut: The hotel heiress was in full catwalk mode as she pranced through the concourses

Working it: Paris looked casual cool in denim blue jeans, yellow floral shirt and stylish hat

Home sweet home: Paris marked her time of arrival in Los Angeles following a busy trip to Australia and the UAE

No doubt, Paris will need her beauty sleep in the coming days. She spent her final night overseas DJ-ing to a massive crowd of ragers and ravers in Melbourne, Australia.

While Down Under, she also made several personal appearances to promote her 24th fragrance, Platinum Rush.

Additionally, Paris took time out to support Challenge Cancer's annual Christmas party at Sandown Racecourse; the non-profit helps children and their families living with cancer.

Adios: She also used her Instagram Story to bid farewell to Australia

Happy to get home: Pair could be heard saying: 'On my way home to Los Angeles, thank you Australia,' on her Instagram Story

Grand entrance: Paris created a mini stir when she walked through the airport in Australia

Accommodating: Paris stopped to talk to a slew of fans at the airport in Melbourne

Of course, Paris has had to deal with a swell of emotions following her break-up with her now former fiancee.

Added to the stress of it all, claims emerged hours after she left Dubai for Australia that her former husband-to-be 'didn't buy' her $2million engagement ring but 'still wants it back' as their breakup turns bitter.

TMZ was among the first to report that the former couple called off their engagement earlier this month following two-years together.

'Their relationship started to become off-kilter after about two years together,' a source close to the former reality star and the 33-year old actor told JustJared.

The source 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.'

Night job: Paris has been flying all over the world for DJ-ing gigs in recent years
In October she was spotted having an explosive argument with her ex-boyfriend Giovanni Pernice after the Pride of Britain awards.

And Jessica Wright has decided that it was time to talk about the incident, as she admitted that she 'was just being passionate.'

Speaking with OK! Magazine, the former TOWIE star, 33, explained: 'We hadn't seen each other since we split. I didnt choose to bump into him that night.'

Not bad: Jessica Wright spoke out for the first time about THAT explosive feud with ex Giovanni Pernice and said she was 'just being passionate' in an interview with OK! Magazine on Sunday

'I definitely wasnt shouting, I was just being passionate, as I always am when Ive got an opinion.'

In the video of the former flames' clash, Jessica was seen screaming at the Strictly star, 28, in a shocking row in which she branded him 'full of s**t', before she was heard saying: 'You broke my heart, you lied to me'.

While Giovanni and various others tried to diffuse the row, Jess raged: 'I got in a cab and I never saw you again for six months, you're talking s**t. You used me... Publicity, fame. No-one who loves someone drops them.

Of the incident, the former TOWIE star, 33, explained: 'We hadn't seen each other since we split. I didnt choose to bump into him that night'

'You're jealous of everything. We were together six months, you never cared about me. I want to know why - you left me!'

Jess and Giovanni were first romantically linked in December when they were spotted on a date by eagle-eyed onlookers. The lovebirds enjoyed a cosy drink at Soho House before they went onto watch West End production Dream Girls.

In April however, things came to a crashing close when a source told The Sun: 'He was really into Jess and did want to make a go of it, but he struggled with the attention she gets and her popularity.'

'Theyve tried to keep things amicable and told people they have both agreed to go their separate ways, but he was the one who first suggested things were going to end. She has been really upset by this. Its a real shame but hopefully things will stay civil.'

Clash: In October, she was spotted having an explosive feud with Giovanni at the Pride of Britain awards (pictured) in which she branded him 'full of s**t'

Out now: Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine

While her romance with Giovanni was not to be, since the split Jessica has been linked to Olly Murs in October.

Of the rumours, the reality star told OK! Magazine: 'Ollys a lovely guy and has loads of charisma.

'Lets leave it at that! I'm dating but I'm not dating Olly!'

Speaking about how her brother Mark, 31, would feel about her being in a relationship, she added: 'I think Mark would be happy for me to settle down with anyone whos lovely and is right for me.'

Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today
Bent oil price rebounded today after slumping 11% last week amid concerns that excess supply and the weakening demand side pressures could create a glut next year.

Brent oil futures for February delivery climbed 2.2% to $60.16 per barrel on Londons Intercontinental Exchange.

WTI has now lost 34% of its value from its peak on October 3 to the trough on Friday. Brent has fallen as much as 32%.

OPEC ministers will meet in Vienna on December 6 to decide on production policy for the next six months.
She won an Emmy for her role as Celeste Wright in the first series of Big Little Lies.

But Nicole Kidman admitted she's not optimistic that the stellar cast will pull off a third season.

The 51-year-old actress told Variety on Saturday that she couldn't imagine that scheduling would align again for the stars - including Reese Witherspoon - beyond a second season of the acclaimed HBO series.

Scheduling difficulties: Nicole Kidman isnt optimistic about Big Little Lies season 3

'I think it would simply be hard to get the whole group together,' Kidman told the publication when asked about the possibility of a third season.

She added: 'But we would love to do it.'

The second season has not yet aired, but is much anticipated for the Spring after the inaugural season was a huge hit.

Acclaim: She won an Emmy for her role as Celeste Wright in the first series of Big Little Lies

Meryl Streep has signed up for the forthcoming season - based on a story by the original author, Liane Moriarty - playing Kidmans mother-in-law.

The wife of Keith Urban revealed that the Devil Wears Prada star signed up for the show without even reading a script.

She explained to the publication that on the night of this years Golden Globes, after winning the trophy for best TV limited series, Kidman and her co-producer and co-star Reese Witherspoon received an email from Meryl Streep.

'She goes, "I suppose now I have to join you." And we were like, "What?" The two of us were just shocked.'

Stellar cast: Meryl Streep has signed up for the forthcoming season - based on a story by the original author, Liane Moriarty - playing Kidmans mother-in-law (pictured Feb 2007)

She shared many scenes with the Mamma Mia alum, and Kidman said that she was nervous playing opposite her.

'I was terrified. Youre acting opposite the great one,' she explained.

She added: 'I get nervous anyway - but to be opposite her and not want her to think, "Who is this amateur?" And also, we want to deliver a series for her that shes great in. Reese and I were like, "We want this for her and for the other women."'

The flame-haired Australian beauty revealed that while they might not make it to a trilogy, the part is one that's had the biggest impact on her.

'Thats the character people talk to me about more than anything else. Its probably the most commercial thing Ive done in my whole career.'

She revealed that she's her own worst critic when it comes to her performance on the Monteray-based drama.

'When I saw the therapy scene, which people really responded to, I thought I was terrible. 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.
Kaia Gerber rocked her best off-duty model look on Saturday night while out with a friend in the Los Feliz neighborhood of LA.

The 17-year-old daughter of Cindy Crawford looked ever-so-glam in shiny statement pants during her girls night out.

The young starlet was recently nominated for Model Of The Year by the British Fashion Awards.

Model style: Kaia Gerber rocked her off-duty model look on Saturday night with a pal in Loz Feliz

Kaia was sophisticated chic in a pair of black patent leather FRAME pants that were cropped at her shin and paired with high top Converse sneakers.

On top, she opted for a white graphic T-shirt and a sleek satin tuxedo blazer.

The model had her brunette locks swept back in a simple ponytail and wore fresh makeup.

Chic! The 17-year-old rocked a fun look of patent pants from FRAME and a tuxedo jacket as she headed out for a night on the town with model Charlotte Lawrence

She was out with friend and fellow model Charlotte Lawrence who sported a grey crop top and high waisted mom jeans.

Over the weekend Kaia, her mom Cindy, dad Rande and brother Presley took some time to give back to the first responders who helped protect their Malibu home from the recent wildfires.

Being the daughter of a supermodel, it seems that catwalking is in Kaia's blood.

Giving back! The Gerbers donated hams for Thanksgiving to the locals who've been impacted by the recent wildfires

The budding star was recently nominated for a second time alongside Adut Akech, Adwoa Aboah, Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber and Winnie Harlow for the British Fashion Awards Model of the Year.

The awards ceremony will take place on December at London's Royal Albert Hall.

'Each and every one of them is being recognized for their creative excellence and innovation,' BFC chair, Stephanie Phair, according to Vogue.

Adding: 'Among the household names on the list, a handful of editors' favorites have received their first nominations.'
Modern Family's Ariel Winter brought her beloved rescue dog Cash, whom she adopted in April 2017, to the Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group for a check-up on Sunday.

The 20-year-old LA native went make-up free behind her glasses and she wore a black T-shirt, leather jacket, Army-green leggings, and sneakers for her errand.

The four-time SAG Award winner and her much older, live-in love Levi Meaden are the proud parents of five other dogs including Cleo, Chloe, Rocco, and Casper.

Dog-mom: Modern Family's Ariel Winter brought her beloved rescue dog Cash, whom she adopted in April 2017, to the Sherman Oaks Veterinary Group for a check-up on Sunday

Athleisure: The 20-year-old LA native went make-up free behind her glasses and she wore a black T-shirt, leather jacket, Army-green leggings, and sneakers for her errand

Ariel and the Canadian 31-year-old - who last played the criminal Sam in the Gabrielle Union thriller Breaking In - quietly celebrated their second anniversary of dating on November 11.

On Friday, Winter (born Workman) shared a boomerang of herself sipping imaginary tea while clad in a plaid shorts with her captive, combined 4.5M Instagram/Twitter followers.

The UCLA poli-sci major is next scheduled to appear on this Tuesday's episode of morning show Live! with Kelly and Ryan along with fellow guest, Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Fur-babies: The four-time SAG Award winner and her live-in love Levi Meaden are the proud parents of five other dogs including Cleo, Chloe, Rocco, and Casper (pictured October 4)

Twinning: Ariel and the Canadian 31-year-old quietly celebrated their second anniversary of dating on November 11 (pictured November 4)

'Pinkies up with my air tea': On Friday, Winter shared a boomerang of herself sipping imaginary tea while clad in a plaid shorts with her captive, combined 4.5M Instagram/Twitter followers

The Last Movie Star actress will likely discuss her role as wholesome Caltech student Alex Dunphy of the mockumentary series Modern Family, which airs Wednesdays on ABC.

Ariel and her castmates Sarah Hyland, Rico Rodriguez, and Nolan Gould scored a 'significant' pay raise for the 10th (and final) season, according to Variety.

It's unclear the exact dollar amount but the adults - Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ed O'Neill, and Sofia Vergara - all earn an eye-popping $500K per episode.

First time on the morning show: The UCLA poli-sci major appears on this Tuesday's episode of Live! with Kelly and Ryan along with fellow guest Catherine Zeta-Jones (pictured November 18)
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine seems to be a never-ending source of drama.

During his recent 10-day visit to LA he hired a gang of bodyguards, racking up a tab of $97,165 with two different security companies, according to TMZ.

And though the 22-year old, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, loves showing off his lavish lifestyle online, he has yet to pay the bill.

Army of Bodyguards: Tekashi69 used two different security companies for his visit to LA

The armed guards reportedly hovered around the rapper with round-the-clock protection, as well as three bulletproof SUVs during the Bushwick-born star's time in the City Of Angels.

Whenever he was seen in public he had at least four very large men surrounding him at all times, even for a casual stroll down the street.

It turns out, security workers were in harms way at least two times.

The first situation happened when 6ix9ine had a confrontation with fellow rapper Slim 400 at ComplexCon in Long Beach, which led to the rapper not performing at the annual event.

Mountain of men: When spotted in LA, the rapper had at least four big bodyguards around him

The two could be heard yelling at each other in a video, and at one point Tekashi's security detail had to hold him back and rush him off before things could spiral out of control.

A few days later he found himself in another tense situation, when several shots were fired outside a Beverly Hills mansion where the rapper was filming a video with Kanye West.

According to TMZ, about eight shots were fired into the house; one of them punctured a bullet hole through a bedroom window.

Extra security was brought in which resulted in Tekashi racking up 25 hours of security protection just for the video.

Street rep: 6ix9ine is best known for his facial tattoos, distinctive rainbow-themed look, aggressive style of rapping and his brushes with the law

6ix9ine is best known for his facial tattoos, distinctive rainbow-themed look, aggressive style of rapping and his brushes with the law.

He rose to fame in late 2017 when his debut single Gummo hit the charts and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

His subsequent debut mixtape debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 album chart.

I fought the law and the law won: The 22-year old has had several brushes with the law since 2015; the rapper is pictured at his arraignment in New York in July 2018

69, along with five of his associates, were arrested in New York last week. He faces racketeering, conspiring to commit armed robbery, drug dealing and firearms charges.

He was being held in general population at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, but has since been moved to an undisclosed facility after he reportedly got death threats.

The arrests were reportedly part of a joint investigation between the New York Police Department, Homeland Security, and the Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

In October Tekashi was sentenced to four years probation for the use of a child in a sexual performance, and more recently he had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for a separate assault charge on a NY police officer, according to Vulture.

The terms of both guilty pleas stated that Tekashi remain out of criminal trouble or face jail time.
Jackie 'O' Henderson has bounced back from her split from husband Lee.

After announcing their separation last month, the KIIS FM host appeared in high spirits at Roxy Jacenko's Christmas party on Sunday.

The 43-year-old blonde was pictured laughing with fellow party goers as a group gathered by a festive garland which decorated Roxy's luxury Bondi balcony.

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No sign of heartbreak! Smiling Jackie 'O' Henderson chats to a male guest at Roxy Jacenko's Christmas party... as she continues to surround herself with friends after split with husband Lee

Jackie appeared engrossed in conversation with guests, chatting to the husband of one of Roxy's closest friends.

Dressed in a pair of yellow shorts and grey jumper, there was no sign of heartbreak as she enjoyed the lively conversation.

It is believed that the guest was at the party with his wife Zena and young son, who attends the same school as Roxy's four-year-old Hunter.

Jackie more than enjoyed her outing with the large group, writing on Instagram on Monday: 'I will always be thankful to my beautiful friends.'

Making friends? After announcing their separation last month, after 18 years together, the KIIS FM host appeared in high spirits while at Roxy Christmas party on Sunday

Chats: Jackie appeared engrossed in conversation with guests, chatting to the husband of one of Roxy's closest friends

Both Jackie and the chap enjoyed a refreshing drink on the balcony of Roxy's Bondi pad.

Prior to their al fresco lunch, Jackie and daughter Kitty had joined Roxy with husband Oliver Curtis and their children for a nearby park play date.

Lots of laughs: It is believed that the male guest was at the party with his wife Zena and young son, who attends the same school as Roxy's four-year-old Hunter

Easy like a Sunday morning! Dressed in a pair of yellow shorts and grey jumper, there was no sign of heartbreak as she enjoyed the lively conversation

Jackie confirmed the end of her 18 year marriage to Lee Henderson in a statement to The Daily Telegraph, last month.

'After 18 years together, we have made the decision to separate. We do so amicably, sharing many incredible memories and remaining best friends,' she said.

'Our focus for this next chapter is of course our wonderful daughter and continuing to provide her love and happiness, together.'

Family: Jackie confirmed the end of her 18-year marriage to Lee Henderson in a statement to The Daily Telegraph last month (Jackie pictured with Lee and their daughter Kitty)

Were her ears burning? Hostess Roxy joined Jackie and the male in their friendly chat

Discussing the split further on The Kyle & Jackie O Show, she told co-host Kyle Sandilands: 'It's not a decision we took lightly at all.

'Lee and I have been so lucky that our separation has been extremely amicable -- I know everyone says that, but we actually have remained really good friends throughout this,' she continued.

'We talk every day on the phone, we all still hang out as a family, so we're lucky in that respect.

'But it's not something that happened overnight for us, it's been a long time -- we've been separated for quite some time now.

'We're just lucky, I guess, that we were able to do it in private.'

Living her best life! Jackie more than enjoyed her outing with the large group, writing on Instagram on Monday: 'I will always be thankful to my beautiful friends'
Over the weekend, Roxy Jacenko spoke about her rocky marriage to Oliver Curtis during a no-holds-barred interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night.

And just hours before the show aired, the PR queen was pictured comforting a visibly upset Jackie 'O' Henderson near her home in Sydney's Bondi.

The radio host, 43, announced her split with husband-of-15-years Lee last month, and it is quite possible the pair were discussing relationship woes.

A shoulder to cry on: Roxy Jacenko (right) comforted a visibly upset Jackie 'O' Henderson (centre) during a playdate with their daughters in Sydney's Bondi on Sunday

Jackie, who enjoyed lunch on the balcony of Roxy's North Bondi home with her eight-year-old daughter Kitty, was seen being consoled by the publicist.

At one stage, Roxy placed an affectionate hand on Jackie's shoulder.

Jackie appeared grateful for the sympathetic gesture and smiled warmly after her friend offered some supportive words.

Supportive: Jackie, who enjoyed lunch on the balcony of Roxy's North Bondi home with her eight-year-old daughter Kitty, was seen being consoled by the publicist

Is everything okay? At one stage, Roxy placed an affectionate hand on Jackie's shoulder

Close bond: Jackie appeared grateful for the sympathetic gesture and smiled warmly after her friend offered some supportive words

Jackie dressed casually for the occasion in a grey sweater, which she paired with pastel yellow linen shorts and white sneakers.

The KIIS FM personality accessorised her weekend look with a gold chain shoulder bag and tinted sunglasses.

The two women were seemingly engaged in a deep conversation, which isn't surprising since they have quite a lot to talk about.

Casual chic: Jackie dressed casually for the occasion in a grey sweater, which she paired with pastel yellow linen shorts and white sneakers

Heart to heart? The two women were seemingly engaged in a deep conversation, which isn't surprising since they have quite a lot to talk about

Lend me your ear: Jackie listened intently, before the pair took their children to a nearby park

Jackie listened intently, before the pair took their children to a nearby park.

Roxy's daughter Pixie, seven, was seen holding onto Jackie's daughter Kitty's hand as they ran over to the swings.

Following the outing, Jackie took Kitty back to the family home in Vaucluse, where her estranged husband Lee is currently living.

She's smiling again! Roxy's company appeared to lift Jackie's spirits

They could be sisters! Both Roxy and Jackie dressed casually and wore similar sunglasses

Accessories: Jackie concealed her gaze behind tinted sunglasses

What a friends for? The two women have been close pals for several years

Lee, a British-born photographer, is understood to be living in the couple's former marital home with Kitty so he can handle the daily school drop-offs.

This is a more convenient arrangement as Jackie, who lives alone in a property nearby, wakes at 3:30am every weekday for her breakfast radio show.

It is believed she has Kitty on the weekends, and also sees her daughter at occasional family dinners during the week.

Out and about: Later in the afternoon, the two women took their children down to a local park

What's going on? By the end of the afternoon, Jackie looked in much happier spirits

Social butterflies! Roxy and Jackie were later joined by a brunette friend while at the park

Jackie shocked listeners of the Kyle and Jackie O Show last month when she announced her split with Lee, after 18 years together.

The couple began dating in the year 2000 and eventually married in 2003.

'Lee and I, we decided to separate,' she said on air.

'It's not a decision we took lightly at all. We have been so lucky that our separation has been extremely amicable. And I know everyone says that, but we actually have remained really good friends throughout all this.'

Jackie added that they still 'talk everyday on the phone' and 'hang out as a family' with their daughter Kitty, who is coping well amid the separation.

All smiles: The Sydneysiders beamed as they walked along a street in North Bondi

Famous youngsters: Roxy and Jackie were joined by their young children on the weekend trip

Meanwhile, Roxy has also experienced her fair share of relationship woes.

The businesswoman was left to raise her children - Pixie and Hunter - on her own in 2016 when her husband Oliver was convicted of insider trading.

During Oliver's year behind bars, Roxy was diagnosed with breast cancer and abused alcohol and drugs to cope.

On the go: The two families made the most of Sydney's summer weather
They finalized their divorce last month.

But Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, both 46, remain dedicated to co-parenting and it is going well, a source told People on Sunday.

'Jen and Ben continue to work together to make their parenting as seamless as possible,' said the source.

All good: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, both 46, remain dedicated to co-parenting and it is going well, a source told People on Sunday

The insider, which the outlet referred to as 'a friend of the couple,' offered further insight into the current family dynamic.

'They really like to do things as a family, be it outings, church, cooking or watching movies.'

Adding, 'They have both had some ups and downs this year, and they seem to be in a good place.'

The insider, which the outlet refers to as 'a friend of the couple,' gave some insight into how the family dynamic is currently working

Family outings: 'Jen and Ben continue to work together to make their parenting as seamless as possible,' said the source

The source's comments seem to be supported by the couple's recent choice to spend Thanksgiving together at Affleck's place in Montana.

'Jen, Ben and the kids were in Montana for Thanksgiving,' another source told People on Saturday.

'This was long planned,' according to the insider, who also added, 'They always celebrate big holidays together as a family.'

'The family all spent Thanksgiving together and they all cooked,' continued what the outlet called 'a friend of the former couple.'

The good place: 'They really like to do things as a family, be it outings, church, cooking or watching movies'

Ben and Jennifer finalized their divorce in October, after being separated for over three years.

The couple share three children together, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6.

On Friday, the Batman star was spotted taking his kids on a holiday shopping spree.
Jamie Fraser and Claire carved out a home in rural North Carolina in colonial America on Sunday's episode of Outlander.

The episode titled Common Ground featured the time-traveling lovers staking out their land with the help of Young Ian after Jamie signed a 10,000-acre land grant with Governor Tryon.

A local Cherokee startled them and Jamie dropped his knife in a sign of peace.

New beginning: Jamie Fraser began settling down in Fraser's Ridge on Sunday's episode of Outlander

Jamie, Claire and Ian later cleared the land at Fraser's Ridge and plans were shared as they looked at an outline of their home.

The Cherokee ruin the moment as they return and throw the land boundary stakes at Jamie's feet.

Claire suggested settling down elsewhere, but Jamie insisted they were at the right place and promised to get advice form John Quincy Myers on how to live in peace.

They woke up at night by their dog Rollo barking and Claire believed they were attacked by a bear by the slash marks.

True love: Claire and Jamie decided to settle down in rural North Carolina together

Threshold moment: Jamie carried Claire over the threshold of their future home

John told Jamie about the Cherokee word for bear, Tskili Yona, adding that it could also refernce an evil spirit.

The Frasers again get awakened by Rollo and find John nearby after being mauled.

Jamie decided to hunt down the bear and took his gun into the woods.

Knife drop: Jamie dropped his knife in a sign of peace when confronted by Cherokee

Tense moment: The Cherokee approached Jamie after he staked out land in the area

Helping hand: Young Ian helped Jamie and Claire clear their land

Claire meanwhile figured out that John was attacked by a man judging by the bite marks on his neck.

Jamie at the same moment gets jumped on by the bear who turns out to be a man in bear hide with bear claws wrapped onto his hands.

The struggle intensified until Jamie was eventual to spear the man-bear.

Bear fight: Jamei went after a bear that mauled John Quincy Myers

Big claws: Claws scratched away at Jamie during the fight

Bear man: Jamie speared his opponent and learned it was a man in a bear skin

Jamie the next day took the corpse to the Cherokee and impressed them by killing the man.

The Cherokee know English and told Jamie the man was exilied after raping his woman.

He lost his mind after being banished and assumed the form of a bear.

Bear down: The bear-man was speared to death by Jamie

Peace offering: Jamie brought the bear-man to the Cherokee camp

Chief Nawohali later destowed Jamie with the mame of Bear Killer.

Back in the 1970s, Roger Wakefield has returned to Inverness and Fional revealed that she knows that Claire has traveled back in time.

Roger admits that he found evidence proving that Claire and Jamie reunited.

Fi however showed him an old obituary showing the death of James Mackenzie Fraser and his wife in a fire on Fraser's Ridge.

Roger decided to keep the information from Brianna to keep her from heartbreak.

Long distance: Roger Wakefield and Brianna spoke long distance

Obituary article: Fiona shared an obituary with Roger
She survived another week in the ballroom alongside partner Charles Venn.

So it was no wonder Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Clifton looked in good spirits as she joined her co-stars to catch a performance of The Last Dance at Novello Theatre in London on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Venezuelan beauty seemed chirpy as she supported former Strictly pro Robin Windsor at his theatre show.

Chirpy: Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Clifton looked in good spirits as she joined her co-stars to catch a performance of The Last Dance at Novello Theatre in London on Sunday

Looking effortlessly chic for the outing, Karen rocked a little black dress with a pair of eye-catching patterned tights.

Layering up, she donned a tan trench coat, whilst she finished off her outfit with an oversized belt.

Karen was joined at the show by co-stars, Janette Manrara, Aljaz Skorjanec and Johannes Radebe as well as former contestants Louis Smith and Ali Bastian.

Good friend: The 36-year-old Venezuelan beauty seemed chirpy as she supported former Strictly pro Robin Windsor at his theatre show

Former judge Arlene Phillips was also in attendance, following fans pleas for her return to the show as a judge.

Strictly viewers were left in tears by the 'stunning' group performance on Sunday night's episode between the professionals and Candoco Dance Company - which had been choreographed by Arlene.

The contemporary group, which is made up of both disabled and non-disabled dancers who perform in same sex pairs, executed a moving routine.

Two's company: Also supporting Robin were Janette Manrara and Aljaz Skorjanec

Feeling chilly? At one point Janette pulled up her coat to protect her from the winter air

Dapper: Strictly pro Johannes Radebe - who is not partnered with a celebrity this year - looked suave in a grey plaid coat

And viewers at home were left calling for the 75-year-old to permanently return to the BBC's ballroom following the 'inclusive and emotional' opening number, danced to David Bowie's Life On Mars.

With both ballroom and Latin styles incorporated into the modern piece, the performers commanded the stage and left fans in tears.

The theatre director, who is a patron for Candoco Dance Company, admitted the decision to come back was really hard.

Leggy lady! Former Strictly contestant and Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian dazzled in a sequinned mini dress at the theatre show

Cute couple: Ali was joined by her fiance David O'Mahony at the event

All-smiles: Former Strictly winner Louis Smith looked dapper as he joined a female companion

She told The Sun: I did this because this is where my heart lies. I didn't do this about resolving anything with Strictly. Was it hard for me to say yes? I've got to tell you, it was really hard.'

She said it would be emotional to return and at the time of speaking had not yet decided if she would stay and watch the main event, which was filmed on Saturday evening.

At the time, Phillips' dismissal caused a national controversy, with the then Labour deputy leader and equalities minister Harriet Harman standing up in the Commons and demanding she be reinstated.

Stepping out: Former Strictly judge Arlene Phillips was also in attendance, following fans pleas for her return to the show's judging panel

The BBC denied ageism was a factor in the line-up change.

In a statement about the Strictly piece Arlene said: 'My vision is that the dancers are drawn together by a strange force from across the universe; fighting, playing, loving.'

Writing on Twitter, the ex-dancer added: 'So proud of these extraordinary dancers who worked so hard.'
She gave birth to their second child five months ago.

And Cat Deeley kept five-month-old James close as the entire family headed to the farmers' market on Sunday in Beverly Hills.

The 42-year-old television presenter cut a casual figure while walking with husband Patrick Kielty, 47, and their elder son, Milo.

Family time: Cat Deeley kept five-month-old James close as the entire family headed to the farmers' market on Sunday

Cat sported a red, white, and blue Christmas sweater and a pair of ripped jeans.

She shaded her eyes with dark sunglasses and pulled her blonde tresses into a relaxed ponytail.

The So You Think You Can Dance host donned white slip-on shoes and went almost make-up free for the outing.

Young James was strapped onto his mother's chest and faced forward with his red and white stripe covered legs sticking out.

The 42-year-old television presenter cut a casual figure while walking with husband Patrick Kielty, 47, and their elder son, Milo

Patrick, meanwhile, sported blue jeans and a black long-sleeve shirt and pulled a vest over top.

The busy mum recently revealed she was 'done' with children and has no desire to try for a baby girl.

'No, I think I'm done. I love my boys. I can't believe how lucky I am to have them,' she told Closer magazine. 'I'm good, I think. Ask me again in 12 months' time!'

'Being a working mum of two is kind of kind of like a massive juggle, where you throw all the balls up in the air and you try to keep them all up there.'

Round two: Cat gave birth to her second child with Patrick back in June

Cat gave birth to her second child with Patrick back in June.

The couple got married back in 2012 in Rome and she gave birth to their first son, Milo, in January 2016.

Last year, Cat admitted that she was more than ready to have another child, as she revelled the role of mother.
Two people have died today as a result of a tragic road accident in Yerevan, another person was injured.

At 3:20am, the 911 emergency hotline received a report that a car had crashed into a crane.

Two fire brigades, a special rescue squad and an emergency response team were dispatched to the scene.

With the use of special equipment, rescuers removed the bodies of two passengers from the car.

The driver of the car was taken to hospital, News.am reported.
Ross Mathews and longtime partner Salvador Camarena have split.

The 39-year-old television personality took to social media on Sunday to announce the change in his relationship status.

'After nearly ten years together, Salvador and I have decided that the time has come to part ways. This split is amicable and filled with kindness, compassion and a genuine love for one another,' Ross wrote on Instagram and Twitter along with a black-and-white photo of him and Salvador.

Instagram announcement: Ross Mathews took to Instagram on Sunday to announce his split with Salvador Camarena

'As we go forward, each of us feels as if he has a cheerleader in our corner - a family member for life. We are happy. Thank you all for your well wishes and love,' he added for his roughly 1 million followers on social media.

Ross and stylist Salvador had been in a relationship since 2008.

They appeared on the Bravo series Interior Therapy in 2012 as Jeff Lewis redesigned their garage.

Salvador and Ross also appeared together in a 2013 episode of House Hunters while looking to buy a home in Palm Springs.

Amicable split: Salvador and Ross, shown in June in Los Angeles, amicably split after nearly 10 years together

Ross earlier this year competed in Celebrity Big Brother and won $50,000 for finishing in second place.

He also was voted as America's Favorite Houseguest and won an extra prize of $25,000.

Ross rose to fame while an intern on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.

Longtime couple: Ross and Salvador, shown in November 2016 in Hollywood, had been in a relationship since 2008

He became a correspondent on the late-night talk show and later became a commenter on the E! network.

Ross also appeared regularly on Chelsea Lately and hosted his own TV series Hello Ross in 2013-2014.

He guest-starred as himself in a 2016 episode of Mike Tyson Mysteries titled Unsolved Situations.
Victoria's Secret catwalker Gigi Hadid got wet and wild while yachting in Miami on Sunday.

The 23-year-old IMG Model - who boasts 59M social media followers - Insta-storied a clip of herself leaping off the luxury vessel while clad in a maroon string bikini.

Also aboard the ship was Hadid's younger brother Anwar, who showcased his 6ft1in tattooed form in nothing more than black Fila swim trunks.

Weeee! Victoria's Secret catwalker Gigi Hadid got wet and wild while yachting in Miami on Sunday

The 19-year-old IMG Model demonstrated his leaping prowess with a full twist before landing in the Atlantic Ocean.

The half-Jordanian, half-Dutch siblings soaked up the sun together while partying with pals including the artist Austyn, Farryn Truen, Leah McCarthy, Tyler Jove, Jamie Zuckerman, and Jacob Reyf.

Gigi (born Jelena) and Anwar cruised picturesque Stiltsville, a group of pastel-colored wood stilt houses perched on sand flats a mile offshore from the Cape Florida lighthouse.

On Saturday, the Malibu-born socialite used some of her $13M fortune to procure Austyn's painting 'The Mess I Got Myself Into' at her Mid-Explosion exhibition inside the Bill Brady Gallery.

Plunge: The 23-year-old IMG Model - who boasts 59M social media followers - Insta-storied a clip of herself leaping off the luxury vessel while clad in a maroon string bikini

Huge smile: Also aboard the ship was Hadid's younger brother Anwar, who showcased his 6ft1in tattooed form in nothing more than black Fila swim trunks

Daring: The 19-year-old IMG Model demonstrated his leaping prowess with a full twist before landing in the Atlantic Ocean

Full boat: The half-Jordanian, half-Dutch siblings soaked up the sun together while partying with pals including the artist Austyn, Farryn Truen, Leah McCarthy, Tyler Jove, Jamie Zuckerman, and Jacob Reyf

For the Art Basel festivities, Hadid sported a pair of Reeboks from her six-piece footwear/apparel collaboration dropping in either 'late January' or 'early February.'

Noticeably missing was Gigi's on-again boyfriend of four years - former 1D boybander Zayn Malik - whom she prematurely 'split' from back on March 13.

The New School drop-out and her 22-year-old sister Bella will next storm the coveted catwalk during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Holiday Special, which airs December 2 on ABC.

Gigi, Bella, and Anwar all have nepotism to thank for their modeling careers since they happen to be the children of real estate millionaire Mohamed and RHOBH alum Yolanda.

Sightseeing: Gigi and Anwar cruised picturesque Stiltsville, a group of pastel-colored wood stilt houses perched on sand flats a mile offshore from the Cape Florida lighthouse

'The Mess I Got Myself Into': On Saturday, the Malibu-born socialite procured Austyn's (R) painting at her Mid-Explosion exhibition inside the Bill Brady Gallery

Art Basel festivities: Hadid sported a pair of Reeboks from her six-piece footwear/apparel collaboration dropping in either 'late January' or 'early February'

'People say that I don't deserve to be where I am because I come from this successful family, but my parents were f***ing hardworking. My dad was a refugee. My mum was on a farm, went to New York, and worked to send money back to her family,' Hadid said at a Reebok event in Sydney on November 16.

'They worked their asses off, and they've given me a life because of their hard work, and I work hard to honor that. I shouldn't stay in my house because people say, "You dont deserve to be here because they were successful."

'That's not how I consider it in my house. We are all given titles by the world and we are told we're one thing, and we're flattened. We're told that we're not good enough.'

'Happy place': Noticeably missing was Gigi's on-again boyfriend of four years Zayn Malik, whom she prematurely 'split' from back on March 13 (pictured October 21)
His estranged wife Rosie has been flaunting her relationship with new boyfriend Matt Shir across social media of late.

And Today weatherman Steve Jacobs appeared downcast as he left Sydney airport on Monday.

The 51-year-old cut a solemn figure as he strolled out of the terminal solo and rolling his own suitcase.

Feeling blue? Today weatherman Steve Jacobs appears downcast as he leaves Sydney airport... after his estranged wife Rosie flaunts her new romance with Matt Shir

The handsome TV star cut a casual figure, wearing a white t-shirt and dark grey chinos.

Steve paired the look with a navy bomber jacket and white Converse sneakers.

The downcast display comes after his ex-wife Rosie recently debuted her new romance with Matt.

Taking it easy: The 51-year-old cut a solemn figure as he strolled out of the terminal solo and rolling his own suitcase

Over the last couple of weeks Rosie has been posting several snaps of the pair spending time together and with her two daughter with Steve.

The couple were also spotted looking loved-up in Bronte over the weekend.

Rosie and Steve are both settling back into their separate lives in Sydney after returning from Vanuatu following their devastating split following 11 years together.

The couple relocated to the island with their two daughters in mid-2017, in what friends reportedly said was a 'last-ditch attempt' to save their marriage.

Calling it quits: Rosie and Steve are both settling back into their separate lives in Sydney after returning from Vanuatu following their devastating split following 11 years together

However the relationship broke down within a matter of months and after the couple split, Rosie began dating Canadian commando, Dylan Nash, 32.

Rosie's relationship with Dylan also ended in recent months.

Last week, Steve revealed to WHO magazine that he sees their daughters Isabella, seven, and Francesca, five, every two weeks and loves spending time with them.

He also admitted that since his separation he had been dealt 'a few curveballs'.
After a whirlwind Mexican vacation, Hedi Klum, her boyfriend Tom Kaulitz and daughter Lou have returned to Los Angeles.

Klum, 45, Kaulitz, 29, and Lou, nine, her daughter with ex-husband Seal, were all spotted arriving at LAX airport Sunday.

Though the America's Got Talent judge posted a number of risque photos during her vacation, she kept things casual while arriving back stateside.

Returning home: Heidi Klum, boyfriend Tom Kaulitz and daughter Lou were spotted at LAX airport returning home from their Mexican vacation

Klum was spotted in an outdoor-themed matching top and pants, along with a pair of Aviator sunglasses.

The supermodel also had a blue denim jacket tied around her waist and she was carrying several bags.

Kaulitz was wearing a brown undershirt with an open black and white striped shirt over it and white pants and shoes, while pushing a cart piled with luggage.

Lou donned a grey shirt with gold letters that read 'Going Out Shirt with a light blue hoodie over it.

Heidi and Lou: Lou was wearing a grey shirt with gold letters that read 'Going Out Shirt with a light blue hoodie over it

Back at LAX: Klum was spotted wearing an outdoor-themed matching top and pants, along with a pair of Aviator sunglasses

She added pink pants and black Nike shoes with a pink 'swoosh' symbol.

Klum's daughter Helene, 14, was also spotted, but her other children Henry, 13 and Johan, 12, weren't seen with Klum at the airport.

Klum posted a number of photos from her vacation, many of which featured her wearing next to nothing.

One shot in particular showed Klum laying out on a floating pool raft shaped like a butterfly, wearing only bikini bottoms.

Fashionable daughter: She was also wearing pink pants with black Nike shoes with a pink 'swoosh' symbol

Happy family: Klum's daughter Helene, 14, was also spotted, but her other children Henry, 13 and Johan, 12, weren't seen with Klum at the airport.

Her most recent shot posted to Twitter featured the supermodel flanked by her boyfriend Tom and his identical twin brother Bill.

Klum and Kaulitz had been linked together since March, but they didn't make it official until May in a series of Instagram posts at the Cannes Film Festival.

Klum and ex Seal were married from 2005 to 2012 when she filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2014.

She was previously married to stylist Ric Pipino from 1997 to 2002.
Sophie Monk finally revealed the identity of her secret boyfriend Joshua Gross on Saturday.

The Love Island Australia host revealed her plans to marry the marketing executive, who met she five months ago on a long-haul flight 'when his divorce goes through'.

And now, Joshua's friend has claimed his marriage is the reason the couple have kept their romance under wraps for so long.

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EXCLUSIVE: Long-distance, a 'secret' ex-wife and 'wiping' his wedding pics: Inside Sophie Monk's (right) romance with Joshua Gross (left) as the pair prepare to wed 'when his divorce goes through'

'Once they went public they hoped they could hide or try brush over the fact Joshua still legally had a wife, despite being separated when he met Sophie,' the source told Daily Mail Australia this week.

'Joshua even deactivated and wiped his social media accounts months ago after they met including pictures from his wedding to try and keep it a bit of a secret.'

The situation isn't helped by the fact Australian-born Joshua is mostly based in America, where he moved with his then-wife for work several years ago.

'Once they went public they hoped they could hide or try brush over the fact Joshua still legally had a wife, despite being separated when he met Sophie,' a source close to the marketing worker claims

'As far as we're aware Joshua is still living in America and just splitting his time,' the source added, while stating his relationship with Sophie is a long-distance one.

It is believed that despite meeting five months ago in July and gushing about their plans to marry, the couple only started spending consistent time together recently.

Sophie revealed on Saturday: 'I have waited and gone through so much s**t to meet someone so good.'

Living abroad: The insider also claims that Joshua is still living in America, where he moved several years ago with his then-wife for work, and has been splitting his time since

After meeting Joshua on a long-haul flight from Europe to Australia in July, Sophie admitted on KIIS FM at the end of August that he was already her 'boyfriend'.

At this stage, as Sophie first went public after knowing each other for approximately four weeks, they had only met once - with her confirming he lives in another country.

'We talked for hours... that's all your need,' Sophie joked to hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' while keeping Joshua's identity a secret for these first few months.

'We talked for hours... that's all your need,' Sophie joked to hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' one month after meeting Joshua just once while confirming he was already her 'boyfriend'

During a second radio interview that month, despite still having only met each other once, Sophie continued to gush about Joshua in the media.

Discussing their romantic first meeting at 35,000ft during an interview August, Sophie told Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa they instantly hit it off.

Sophie said: 'We were talking for hours, and then I just said, 'can I kiss you?' 'cause I'm so awkward. And he goes, 'yeah!', and I went, 'could you get my toothbrush out of that little case?'

'And so he got toothpaste out and a toothbrush and we both went and brushed our teeth and then, yeah... I've been talking to him ever since'.

'So lucky to have this guy in my life to help me recover': Sophie gushed over Joshua online recently following her endometriosis surgery

In contrast to Sophie's public declarations, the star admitted her future husband 'doesn't want publicity' on Saturday.

Captioning her only online picture with Joshua following her recent endometriosis surgery, Sophie wrote: 'So lucky to have this guy in my life to help me recover'.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sophie's rep for comment.
On their picture-perfect Instagram accounts, The Bachelorette's Ali Oetjen and Taite Radley make their romance look like pure bliss.

But away from their carefully curated social media feeds, photos have emerged showing a slightly different story.

While loved-up snaps taken during a 'romantic' Queensland holiday flood their Instagram posts, in candid photos from the same trip the couple appear less relaxed.

Instagram Vs Reality: The Bachelorette's Ali Oetjen and Taite Radley look VERY strained during Queensland holiday after posting loved-up snaps on social media

Pictured during a getaway to North Queensland's Daintree Rainforest, Ali and Taite looked tense as they sat together at a table last week.

Dressed in olive green activewear, Ali failed to crack a smile while Taite seemed more interested in his phone rather than his new girlfriend.

The scenes were in stark contrast to what the pair post to their social media.

In one post, which was shared with their followers the same week, the couple were dressed in the same outfits and posed in perfect harmony on yoga mats.

This is different! While the couple regularly shared loved-up snaps of themselves seemingly in perfect harmony, it appears the reality is not exactly the same

Less than impressed: Dressed in olive green activewear, Ali failed to crack a smile while Taite looks equally as tense

Ali confessed her love for Taite two weeks ago in a dramatic finale, choosing her current beau over rival Todd King.

Since the final episode, there has been a flurry of activity online with regular updates about their relationship on Instagram.

As they embark on travels to stunning locations together, the images show them seemingly having the time of their lives.

Distracted: Taite looked to be more interested in the contents of his mobile phone than what Ali was up to

Not so picture-perfect: Their Instagram posts may seem idyllic but candid photos revealed the their 'romantic' Queensland getaway isn't always sunshine and roses

However, body language and dating expert Holly Bartter previously told Daily Mail Australia that Taite looks a little 'uncomfortable' in photos with Ali and may not be 'taking the relationship seriously'.

'Taite definitely appears a little more camera-shy and aware of being overly affectionate in public, looking up where Ali looks up at him and gazing into his eyes,' said the Matchsmith founder.

'Taite seems to find the situation comical, playing along to humour Ali but not necessarily feeling as loving.'

Made the right choice? Ali (left) confessed her love for Taite (right) two weeks ago in the dramatic Bachelorette finale, choosing her current beau over rival Todd King

After analysing photos of the pair on a night out in Melbourne, Holly said that Ali 'isn't holding back' and 'appears she's attempting to turn his head back to face her'.

She added: 'This could be a sign of a mismatch purely in the way they express their feelings for one another in a physical sense, especially if Taite is a little more reserved in public.

'Or more importantly, if he's not taking the relationship seriously, his subconscious feelings of discomfort with the relationship are showing all across his body.'

After the finale aired earlier this month, Ali and Taite embarked on a romantic holiday in Queensland.
She's known for her love of skimpy outfits on the Bravo reality series Vanderpump Rules.

But Kristen Doute, 35, might be rethinking her racy wardrobe after she almost suffered a wardrobe malfunction at a busy Sydney bar on Sunday.

Spotted enjoying a drink at The Bucket List in Bondi Beach, the TV star first looked happy and relaxed as she chatted to boyfriend, Brian Carter.

Busting out! Vanderpump Rules star Kristen Doute turned heads as she spilled out of her VERY low-cut swimsuit at a Sydney bar over the weekend

However, she later appeared to struggle with her very low-cut one-piece swimsuit, grappling with the attire in an effort to contain her cleavage.

At some points, the brunette beauty was seen frantically holding up the top.

Earlier, the outspoken TV star was spotted playing with her cleavage, appearing to laugh and joke about her skimpy clothing.

Oh, dear! She appeared to struggle with her very low-cut one-piece swimsuit, grappling with the attire in an effort to contain her cleavage

Helping hand: The Vanderpump Rules star was helped by her chivalrous boyfriend Brian Carter after the mishap

Kristen had opted for a plunging green swimsuit worn with a pair of tight denim cut-offs.

The brunette beauty accessorised with a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers in tortoiseshell to shield her eyes from the sun.

Kristen is currently on a promotional tour for her top-rated show, which airs on cable network Foxtel in Australia.

Carefree! Spotted enjoying a drink at The Bucket List in Bondi Beach, the TV star first looked happy and relaxed as she chatted to boyfriend, Brian Carter

The right adjustments: Kristen appeared to be in high spirits as she took care not to spill out of her plunging top

Last week, the brunette spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her tumultuous relationship with ex-boyfriend, James Kennedy.

'I love to take down the bad guy and I will stop at nothing, so sorry James Kennedy!' she said of her ex.

She added viewers will see his true colours in season seven.

'He is my target and I will continue to make him my target until all is well in the world,' she continued. 'Until girls are no longer called fat and bad names.'

Summer sun: The starlet enjoyed a glass of wine with her handsome boyfriend Brian. The stunning brunette is currently promoting Vanderpump Rules in Australia

Flaunting it: The starlet certainly wasn't shy with her risque wardrobe choice

'Just the way that he treats human beings in general, I just think that he's such garbage,' she continued.

The leggy brunette said that she has the DJ blocked on forms of social media and that she refuses to even be in the same restaurant as him.

'He's such a bad, bad person,' she said. 'There have been times where his stupidity and ego can be entertaining [on the show], but I feel like and I really hope that everyone changes their mind this season.

'James digs so deep that he wants to hurt people, and that's another kind of evil.'

Vanderpump Rules season 7 streams Tuesdays from December 4, same day as the US on Foxtel and hayu.
She is a rising star on the runway, podcasts, and has a new digital television series.

But even Ashley Graham still gets starstruck, especially when it came to meeting her idol for the first time.

The 31-year-old model told the tale of the first time she met Jennifer Lopez while on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Monday.

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Revealing: Even Ashley Graham still gets starstruck, especially when it came to meeting her idol for the first time

The 60-year-old host began by asking Ashley about her first meeting with The Wedding Planner actress.

'Yes, guys, you have no idea how this went down. So I got invited to her after-party, after her concert, her last concert in Vegas,' began the Fearless star.

'Of course, I went to the after party, I wanted to meet her oh-so badly. So I waited up really late because I'm not a night person, I'm a morning girl, but I was like, "I'm gonna meet JLo," and I broke a cardinal rule.

'I don't like it when people come up to me when I'm eating, and I don't want to go up to a celebrity when they're eating, but she was eating and it was late and I needed to go.

Embarrassed: The 31-year-old model told the tale of the first time she met Jennifer Lopez while on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Monday

'So I went up and sat next to her while she was eating next to A-Rod, and I just said, "Hi, I'm Ashley Graham, it's so nice to meet you. Thank you so much for having me tonight.'"

'And she goes, "Oh hi it's nice to meet you."

'And I say, "First of all, I have a podcast, it's called Pretty Big Deal and actually Kim Kardashian was just on it, and we were talking about you and how you've just been body goals for us, you know I'm a curvy girl, you're a curvy girl, she's a curvy girl, so hi, would you like to be on it? Oh, can we take a selfie." Then click click click.

'And she's like, "Just have fun, have fun tonight." And I'm like, "I'm gonna. Thank you."'

'Wow, you went from not wanting to bother her to bothering her beyond... She's from the block, don't be fooled from the rocks that she's got,' responded Ellen.

Scared: The America's Next Top Model judge told Ellen about how she believes herself to fearless, but then someone dressed up as Jennifer Lopez jumped out of a table and yelled, and Ashley started screaming

They then went on to talk about Ashley's new digital series, which is on Ellen Tube.

The America's Next Top Model judge told Ellen about how she believes herself to fearless, but then someone dressed up as Jennifer Lopez jumped out of a table and yelled, and Ashley started screaming.

'I think I peed a little,' she said after finally calming down.
She's known for her body-hugging ensembles.

And on Sunday night, Sofia Vergara looked supremely chic in skintight jeans that she paired with a black blouse and sky-high heels.

The 46-year-old actress was seen departing Avra Beverly Hills Estiatorioa Greek eatery known for its pricey entrees.

Fashionista: On Sunday night, Sofia Vergara looked chic in skintight jeans that she paired with a black blouse and sky-high heels. The 46-year-old actress was seen departing Avra Beverly Hills Estiatorioa Greek eatery known for its pricey entrees

Sofia clutched her dragon-print purse as she climbed into a grey Range Rover.

The Modern family star wore her signature locks styled straight, while her makeup included a deep red lip.

Missing from her side was husband Joe Manganiello.

Accessorized: Sofia clutched her dragon-print purse as she climbed into a grey Range Rover

Vergara and the Magic Mike star celebrated their third wedding anniversary just days ago.

'Happy anniversary love of my life!!!!!!!' Sofia wrote on Instagram.

Joe responded: 'Thankful that three years ago today I made the best decision of my life...'

Congrats! Vergara and husband Joe Manganiello celebrated their third wedding anniversary just days ago. 'Thankful that three years ago today I made the best decision of my life,' the Magic Mike star wrote on Instagram

Sofia is currently filming the 10th and final season of Modern Family, which premiered on September 26.

She is one of the highest earning actress of television, with reported earnings in 2017 of $41.5 million, according to Forbes.

Half of her money comes from her role on the hit ABC sitcom, but her endorsement and licensing deals with Cover Girl, Pepsi and Head & Shoulders accounts for the rest.
U.S. President Donald Trump twice raised to the Iraqi government the idea of repaying America for its wars with Iraqi oil, Axios reported with reference to sources with direct knowledge.

In March 2017, at the end of a White House meeting with Iraq's then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Trump brought up the subject of taking oil from Iraq to reimburse the United States for the costs of the war there.

Trump's national security team has mostly pushed back on or ignored these desires to raid Middle Eastern natural resources, according to Axios. The president raised the issue of oil again with al-Abadi on a phone call in the summer of 2017. The conversation was vague and didnt go anywhere, but former National Security Adviser Herbert McMaster admonished Trump afterward, according to a source with direct knowledge.

On the campaign trail, Trump complained that the U.S. had spent more than $7 trillions in Iraq and lost thousands of lives but got "nothing" in return. He lamented that usually in war "to the victor belong the spoils" and he repeatedly said the U.S. should have seized Iraq's oilfields as reimbursement for the steep costs of the war.
She doesn't turn 33 until Friday.

But Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco celebrated her big day with a fun filled outing to Disneyland Sunday.

Cuoco took to Instagram to share a loved-up photo of her kissing her new husband Karl Cook, in front of the Sleeping Beauty castle, marking nearly a year since Cook popped the question at the Southern California theme park.

Husband and wife: Kaley Cuoco and husband Karl Cook celebrate her 33rd birthday at Disneyland on Sunday

Goofy couple: She was also pictured riding on the iconic Splash Mountain ride, letting out a big scream while her husband stuck out her tongue behind her

'Same place, same pose, same love, a year later,' she said. 'How has so much happened since then? Thanks for marrying me, @mrtankcook,' she said, along with the hashtag #annualdisneyadventure

The couple got engaged almost exactly a year ago at Disneyland, on Cuoco's 32nd birthday, and they got married in late June.

She was also pictured riding on the iconic Splash Mountain ride, letting out a big scream while her husband stuck out her tongue behind her.

The actress was wearing a black and white striped shirt and black jeans, and she was also seen wearing a navy blue Burberry sweater at different times, with Minnie Mouse ears.

Checking her phone: The actress was wearing a black and white striped shirt and navy blue jeans, and she was also seen wearing a navy blue Burberry sweater at different times

Matching couple: Her husband was essentially matching, wearing a navy blue shirt, black pants and a set of Mickey Mouse ears

Her husband was essentially matching, wearing a navy blue shirt, black pants and a set of Mickey Mouse ears.

The Big Bang Theory star took to her Instagram story throughout the day to document her Disneyland trip, starting with a message that read, 'Birthday week always begins with a trip to Disneyyyyyyyy!!!'

She also shared a photo of her sister Briana Cuoco, her 'birthday twin,' since their birthday is just one day (and three years) apart.

The actress also shared photos from Thunder Mountain and a shot with Cuoco posing with the iconic Disney character Goofy.

Birthday twins: She also shared a photo of her sister Briana Cuoco, her 'birthday twin,' since their birthday is just one day (and three years) apart

Kaley and Goofy: The actress also shared photos from Thunder Mountain and a shot with Cuoco posing with the iconic Disney character Goofy

She also celebrated her birthday in the exclusive Disneyland restaurant Club 33, which you can only get into if you're a member or if you're invited.

She showed a custom-made wine glass that had the number 33 etched into it, to signify her birthday.

The actress also shared a photo of her smiling in front of her birthday cake that featured a set of Mickey Mouse ears atop the cake.

Birthday glass: She showed a custom-made wine glass that had the number 33 etched into it, to signify her birthday

Birthday cake: The actress also shared a photo of her smiling in front of her birthday cake that featured a set of Mickey Mouse ears atop the cake

Cuoco also shared photos of 'Disneyland lovers,' herself and husband Cook, along with another couple, Margeaux Day and Devin Zwick.

The actress also shared a photo with her 'gal pals' posing together outside the ferris wheel.

She is currently filming the 12th and final season of her hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, which airs Thursday nights on CBS.

Disneyland lovers: Cuoco also shared photos of 'Disneyland lovers,' herself and husband Cook, along with another couple, Margeaux Day and Devin Zwick

Gal pals: The actress also shared a photo with her 'gal pals' posing together outside the ferris wheel.
She's one of Australia's leading models, but Elyse Knowles traded in her glamorous lifestyle for a self-confessed eye-opening trip to India recently.

Working alongside WaterAid Australia, the 26-year-old toured urban slums in Delhi last week.

The purpose of her visit was to see what life is like for people who don't have access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, and to raise awareness of the need for such basic amenities.

Model behaviour! Elyse Knowles ditches the glam as she tours the slums of India to help raise awareness for clean water

Elyse visited two slums during her whirlwind visit to the country - one with limited access to clean water and toilets, and one with improved facilities - and she said the difference between the two was considerable.

'The first slum I visited was an eye-opener to say the least,' she told WaterAid Australia.

'You can see some of the kids that are growing up have malnutrition - they're very skinny - and are at high risk of getting diarrhoea, which can lead to death. That's such a scary thing.

Meeting the people: Working alongside WaterAid Australia, the 26-year-old toured two urban slums in Delhi last week

Confronting: The purpose of her visit was to see what life is like for people who don't have access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene

'In Australia it's easy to get rid of that sickness  we can go to the doctor. But the people I met don't have access to those basic services.'

She said the second slum seemed much more 'positive' though.

'There was a clear difference there - everyone seemed very positive and happy and colourful. You could read it on their faces and you could see it when you were walking around the alleyways,' she added.

The lucky ones: Elyse said the trip had made her realise just how 'lucky' she is to be living in Australia

'The slum is right on a railway line, which is so scary - there are massive trains going so damn fast outside their back doorstep.

'They've got toilets set up now, which they've had for a little bit, but WaterAid have come in and re-established and built them properly.

'Women feel safe going there now but just a year ago, everyone was defecating out in the open on the railway lines in the dark.'

Differences: Elyse visited two slums during her whirlwind visit to the country - one with limited access to clean water and toilets, and one with improved facilities

Education: 'There was a clear difference there - everyone seemed very positive and happy and colourful,' she said of the more advanced slum

'We're so lucky in Australia and a lot of people don't even realise it - it's easy to forget and even I forget it sometimes!' she confessed

Elyse said the trip had made her realise just how 'lucky' she is to be living in Australia.

'We're so lucky in Australia and a lot of people don't even realise it - it's easy to forget and even I forget it sometimes!' she confessed.

'When you travel, I encourage you to get out of those hotels and experience the real culture of where you are and what the local people need.

'You'll find that in a lot of places what people need is clean water.'
Joe Swash was rushed to A&E after discovering a cockroach had burrowed itself in his ear.

The I'm a Celebrity... Extra Camp star revealed he had suffered every campmates' worst nightmare after one of the creepy crawlies plotted up inside his ear canal on Sunday, shortly after Joe had wrapped up filming the live spin-off show.

What's more, the ex EastEnders star was left horrified when Australia doctors told him he would have to wait an additional 24 hours to see a specialist because they were unable to retrieve the insect.

Something's bugging Joe! Joe Swash was rushed to A&E after discovering a cockroach had burrowed itself in his ear on Sunday

Despite the hellish ordeal, Joe seemed relatively upbeat as he documented his hospital trip on Instagram Stories.

He enthused: 'So, we're just on the way to the hospital to get a cockroach sucked out of my ear. All the perks of this job, eh!'

With the shock slowly setting in, Joe shared a follow-up clip in which he bemoaned: 'Just walking up to the hospital. Still can't quite believe that I've got an animal that's living in my ear-roll.

Nightmare! The I'm a Celebrity... Extra Camp host admitted he'd spent ages waiting to be seen before being told he would have to see a specialist the following day

'Don't make yourself at home son, because you're coming out!'

And after telling fans he had endured a long wait in the hospital before being seen, his misfortune continued as he revealed doctors were unable to remove the insect and referred him to see a specialist the following day.

He explained: 'Just got out the hospital. Doctor said they can't get the cockroach out my ear. I've got to see a specialist tomorrow so they can use some special equipment on it.'

Down Under: Joe is currently in Australia filming the latest series of I'm a Celebrity... Extra Camp

Ear to stay: While Joe didn't divulge how the insect got inside his ear, entomologists have previously explained that the orifice provides the perfect living conditions for the bugs

While Joe didn't divulge exactly how the insect managed to sneak into his ear, entomologists have previously explained that the orifice provides the perfect living conditions for the bugs - who are also attracted to the scent of earwax.

Once the cockroach makes its way inside the ear, people instinctively scratch the area, subsequently pushing the roach in deeper inside the ear canal.

Some cockroaches can survive the scratching, with species such as the German cockroach able to live for about a week without food and water. However, it's more common for the scratching to squish the bug, which can be even more dangerous as their ruptured bodies are full of bacteria that can cause infections.
She shot to fame alongside the likes of Amber Davies, Olivia Attwood and Gabby Allen on the 2017 series of Love Island.

And Montana Brown stepped out with her model boyfriend Elliott Reeder in Manchester on Sunday night after admitting she '100 per cent' regrets having sex with ex Alex Beattie on TV during her stint on the ITV2 show.

The reality star, 22, looked smitten with her beau as they attended the Creo Studio launch at Menagerie restaurant and bar just days after blasting her Love Island co-stars as 'mental people' during a radio appearance.

Loved up: Love Island's Montana Brown and model boyfriend Elliott Reeder attended the Creo Studio launch at Menagerie restaurant and bar in Manchester on Sunday night

The TV personality went casual in jeans and trainers, teamed with a snakeskin-print shirt and an embellished jacket thrown over her shoulders.

Montana completed her night out look with a beige leather YSL handbag, while opting for natural hair and makeup to showcase her pretty features.

Elliott looked stylish in a black leather jacket, chinos, a fedora and box-fresh white trainers.

Montana's appearance came after she let rip on her former flame Alex Beattie and her Love Island co-stars during an appearance on Fubar Radio's Access All Areas show on Thursday night.

Look of love: The reality star, 22, looked smitten on her date night after admitting she '100 per cent' regrets having sex with ex Alex Beattie on TV during her Love Island days

Speaking to hosts Lizzie Cundy and Mark Byron about her decision to have sex on TV, Montana said: 'I 100 per cent wish I didn't do it. I wasn't in love and I didn't stay with him for very long.'

The brunette also admitted she and former flame Alex don't keep in touch, adding: 'With him?! Absolutely no way!'

Montana went on to brand her co-stars 'mental people', when former Big Brother star Mark said: 'I did Big Brother and thats like a walk in the park compared to what you guys had to go through.'

To which she replied: 'You are stuck in there with mental people. I think they want you to go crazy.'

Short lived: Montana and Alex Beattie's romance failed to last more than a few weeks after the pair left the villa and she said she wishes she hadn't slept with him in front of the nation

Montana also spoke about her jealous streak over the amount of attention male model Elliott gets.

She said: 'There are people in the limelight who follow him and like his pictures who dont even know him. Its not very nice when people want to go for your man.'

Montana and Elliott have been dating for almost a year after bonding over their shared loves of fitness and travelling.

An insider told The Sun earlier this year: 'Montana and Elliott met before Christmas, but they've only been officially seeing each other for the last few weeks.

'It's early days but they've got loads in common - they're both really into fitness and travelling. They want to keep things quiet but it's all going really well. He seems smitten!'

Happy couple: Montana and Elliott have been dating for almost a year after bonding over their shared loves of fitness and travelling (pictured in September)

Before finding love with her current flame, Montana was linked to Joey Essex and The X Factor's Matt Terry.

A few weeks after leaving the Love Island villa last summer, Montana took to Twitter to confirm that she and Alex had called it quits: 'Alex and I have decided to split.

'Making our relationship work on the outside has been hard. He hasn't been the same since coming out of the villa.

'Despite this we are still close and I will always support him.'

Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt are the only couple from 2017's Love Island who are still together.
Celebrated Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci has died, aged 77.

The Oscar-winning film-maker, whose accolades include controversial 1972 drama Last Tango In Paris, passed away in Rome surrounded by friends and family following a battle with cancer, his publicist confirmed on Monday.

Bertolucci had been out of the public eye for more several years after unsuccessful surgery on a herniated disc in 2003 left him confined to a wheelchair.

Tragic: Celebrated Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci has died aged 77, his publicist confirmed on Monday

His last film, Me and You, premiered at the 65th Cannes Film Festival in 2012.

The director enjoyed a hugely successful career, during which he won two Academy Awards for directing and co-writing 1988 biographical drama The Last Emperor.

But it was his work with Hollywood star Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider on the provocative Last Tango in Paris that would win Bertolucci notoriety due to its lurid depictions of sex.

Provocative: The Oscar-winning film-maker's accolades include controversial 1972 drama Last Tango In Paris, starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider

Much of the film's controversy centered on the suggestion of anal rape, with Brando's character - expatriate hotel owner Paul - using butter as a lubricant in one of its most notorious scenes.

The movie was banned in Italy just after its release in 1972, and was not released again until 1987. The case went back and forth in the courts until the high criminal court banned the film in 1976 and ordered all copies confiscated and destroyed.

Bertolucci, Brando and Schneider, as well as the producer Alberto Grimaldi, were sentenced to two months in jail and a fine of $40 each - although the jail terms were suspended.

Surgery: Bertolucci had been out of the public eye for more several years after unsuccessful surgery on a herniated disc in 2003 left him confined to a wheelchair

Bertolucci, a self-professed Marxist, also did not shy away from politics and ideology, as in The Conformist, which some critics consider his masterpiece.

Despite working with A-list international stars, the director always defended his own filmmaking style against what he said was the pressure of the US film industry.

'When it comes to commercial cinema, I have the strange pleasure of feeling that I'm from another tribe, an infiltrator,' he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera in 1990.

He was honored for lifetime achievement at the Cannes film festival in 2011.

Success: Bertolucci won two Oscars at the 60th Annual Academy Awards for his work on The Last Emperor

Triumph: The 1987 film won all the nine Academy Awards that it had been nominated for - including best movie and best director

Bertolucci's movies also bore the imprint of the director's own experiences in psychoanalysis. He always said that making films was his way of communicating with the audience.

'Maybe I'm an idealist, but I still think of the movie theater as a cathedral where we all go together to dream the dream together,' he said upon receiving an award from the Director's Guild of America for The Last Emperor.

That movie handed Bertolucci his greatest success. In 1988 it won all the nine Academy Awards that it had been nominated for - including best movie and best director.

Outrage: Last Tango In Paris was banned in Italy just after its release in 1972, and was not released again until 1987

Explicit: Much of the film's controversy centered on the suggestion of anal rape, with Brando's character - expatriate hotel owner Paul - using butter as a lubricant in one of its most notorious scenes

Bertolucci was married to the English writer and director Clare Peploe. They had no children.

Peploe is the sister of Mark Peploe, a screenwriter and close friend of Bertolucci's who worked with the director on a number of projects.

It's understood that funeral plans are not yet finalized but that it expects a ceremony in the next few days.
Strictly Come Dancing was met with 'fix' claims from fans after Shirley Ballas confused Karen Clifton for Dianne Buswell during a technical mishap in Lindy-hopathon on Saturday's episode.

And show judge Craig Revel Horwood has clarified the rumours as he revealed that the blunder came about as their iPad had stopped working, forcing the panel to read off paper.

During his appearance on Monday's Good Morning Britain, the dancer, 53, told hosts Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan: 'Very simply the tablet went down that Shirley had to read from.'

Having his say: Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood has clarified 'fix' claims after Shirley Ballas confused Karen Clifton for Dianne Buswell during a technical mishap in Lindy-hopathon on Saturday's episode

On the BBC competition series, Shirley, 58, read the Lindy-hopathon scores off a 'blank' piece of paper following a technical blunder.

At one point, the head judge confused Karen for fellow pro Dianne when reading out the scores.

Speaking about the mishap, Craig explained: 'Of course, as a back up, its my job on the panel to write the names in order as they're selected.

'I give that to the floor manger, that's very normal. It's happened every year weve done a thon'. He takes a picture thats sent to the gallery.'

Awkward: On the BBC competition series, Shirley, 58, read the Lindy-hopathon scores off a 'blank' piece of paper following a technical blunder

Candid: During his appearance on Monday's Good Morning Britain, the dancer, 53, told hosts Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan: 'Very simply the tablet went down that Shirley had to read from'

All laughs: The Australian poked fun at the blunder as he said: 'I thought it was rather exciting wasnt it darling, great live TV'

He was handed a piece of paper from producers, to which he then gave to Shirley. Explaining why he was handed back the same paper he wrote the results on, he said: 'In the end I had to get it back as the tablets went down.'

The Australian poked fun at the blunder as he said: 'I thought it was rather exciting wasnt it darling, great live TV.'

On Sunday, Shirley also addressed the 'fix' claims as she posted a photo of her in a glamorous monochrome gown on Twitter and called the technical blunder, as 'live TV'.

She began: 'Hysterical, computers went down, well that's live TV, amazing show this evening. @DarceyOfficial @BrunoTonioli @CraigRevHorwood great team. Thank you to all who tuned in. X'.

The furore began when the celebrities and their professional partners were left confused after their energetic Lindy-hopathon was left in disarray when the judges mixed up their ranking.

As Shirley confused Karen, 36, for Dianne, 29, when reading out the scores, fans took to Twitter in their droves to comment on Karen's 'waspish stare' and 'fix' claims.

Shirley read off a tablet device, that had frozen, and said: 'After an amazing performance, and thank you all for that, I've conferred with my fellow adjudicators...

'Hold on we've lost the board. But anyway I'll keep going.'

Confusion: Oops: The incident happened when head judge Shirley confused Venezuelan beauty Karen, 36, (L) for fellow pro Dianne, 29 (R)

Blunder: In the wake of the mishap, Shirley posted a photo of her in a glamorous monochrome gown on Twitter and referenced the gaffe, calling it "live TV"

Craig was handed a piece of paper from a producer and passed it to Shirley, who read: 'Getting seven points, will be Ashley!'

However, the scores were meant to be read from lowest to highest, with Darcey whispering into the head judge's ear: 'Seventh place is for Lauren, read from the bottom'.

Taking the lead, Bruno announced: 'We apologise the board went all berserk so we have to read off the paper. So we start on seventh place. Sorry.'

Claims: The blunder caused many to take to Twitter and claim the technical challenge was a 'fix'

Taking to the micro-blogging site, one viewer wrote: 'How can the judges cock up the scoring? Where did the piece of paper come from? Why did Claudia think Graeme was 7th? Seems like a lot suspicion. Fix?'

'That hopathon thing is such a scam,' another shared. 'Supposed to be picking at that point in time and yet they havent got the paper, which comes from someone else, and then they have got in a right middle, what an absolute fix and shambles.'

A third said: 'What a fix how did the judges who supposedly made the decision not know who they placed where.'

A Strictly spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Once the judges had scored the Lindy-hopathon, the marks were successfully electronically recorded on a tablet and fed to the gallery who received an accurate record of the judges marks.

Shambles: A disastrous technical mishap blighted the judges from retrieving the Lindy-hopathon marks from an iPad

Dance-off: For the challenge, all couples had to compete at the same time on the dancefloor, with the judges ranking them in order of ability

Confused: Shirley started off by saying Ashley Roberts came in seventh place, but had meant to say Lauren Steadman was the one who had scored the lowest marks in the dance

'When Head Judge Shirley had to read the marks out live on air, the tablet she was reading from malfunctioned and went blank so she was unable to read out the final order.

They added: 'Bruno therefore read out the results from a back up, which is a paper template and had been filled in by the judges.'

Ashley Roberts won the Lindy-hopathon, scoring the maximum seven points, while Lauren Steadman scored the lowest mark, retrieving just one point from the dance.

After the scores were totaled up with their individual dances of the evening, Faye Tozer came out top of the leaderboard with 45 points, with Stacey Dooley following closely behind with 44.

Entertained: Following the disaster, viewers took to Twitter to comment on Shirley's regal connection, blasting it as a 'complete shambles'
She recently confirmed she's on the lookout for love after signing up for the new series of Celebs Go Dating.

And Georgia Steel is sure to have potential suitors falling at her feet after showing off her sensational figure in sexy lingerie for her new 2019 calendar.

The Love Island star, who split from boyfriend Sam Bird last month, is bound to set pulses racing as she strips off for a number of raunchy snaps, some of which see the 20-year-old pose completely topless.

Steel-ing the show: Georgia Steel is sure to have potential Celebs Go Dating suitors falling at her feet after showing off her sensational figure in sexy lingerie for her new 2019 calendar

While Georgia was often scantily-clad during her time in the Love Island villa, which was located on the balmy Spanish island of Majorca, fans will once again be able to see the beauty writhe around in the bare minimum.

One sizzling shot sees the drama student pose in cerise pink underwear with high-waisted briefs that show off her ample derriere, while the addition of a simple knitted cardigan attempts to make her look a little more demure.

Her brunette tresses cascade in glamorous loose curls around her face, which boasts a flawlessly applied make-up look of glossy nude lips, a copper smokey eyeshadow and a strong contour.

Undie-lievable! The Love Island star, who split from boyfriend Sam Bird last month, is bound to set pulses racing as she strips off for a number of raunchy snaps

Lovely in lace: Georgia also dares to bare in semi-sheer white lace underwear as she sits seductively on a retro swivel chair

Another snap shows Georgia seductively sitting on a swivelling, retro chair in white lace underwear, her lingerie once again styled with knitwear that is draped across her forearms.

While she was the first to admit she was blessed with a bodacious behind during her stint in Love Island, Georgia makes sure to show it off in a perilously plunging yellow bodysuit that boasts a thong-fit.

The racy piece is teamed with statement blue and yellow wedges, which Georgia makes sure to show off by strategically raising her leg as she poses up a storm for the camera.

Peek-a-boob: Another raunchy snap sees the beauty go completely topless and flash a hint of sideboob as she sits with her back facing the camera

Another raunchy snap sees the beauty go completely topless and flash a hint of sideboob as she sits with her back facing the camera in nothing but silky white briefs.

Georgia also ditches her top and bra in another saucy shot that shows her crouch down wearing nothing but pink trousers and skyscraper stilettos. Attempting to make the picture a little more tasteful, she places an arm around her chest.

The provocative snaps come shortly after it was revealed Georgia will follow in the footsteps of fellow 2018 Islander Eyal Booker and have another stab at love on Celebs Go Dating.

Georgia's calendar is available from Amazon UK.
Vicky Pattison claims her ex fiance John Noble has failed to apologise for his recent indiscretions which caused them to split.

A spokesperson for the TV star, 31, told MailOnline that she has proof that he is not being truthful with his claims that they had already split when he was pictured cavorting with three other women while in Dubai.

They wrote: 'Vicky is not rolling over on this and will fight any false statements which dispute the facts of her former relationship.

She's not happy: Vicky Pattison claims ex fiance John Noble hasn't even apologised for cheating on her in Dubai, as she rejects his claim that they had already split

She said: 'Do not entertain a dialogue or story that has been dreamt up and created in order to shirk guilt and blame and try and make someone feel better'

'He should just apologise and let her move on  instead he is trying to cover up his mistakes.

'Vicky has not once received an apology  and now hes claiming they werent together, despite a ton of public evidence that they were.

'The entire situation is madness but Vicky will come out fighting each and every time to protect herself and the truth.

Posting a picture of a night out on Sunday, Vicky also wrote on Instagram: 'Thanku, next.....

Hard time: Vicky shared this picture of herself from the weekend on Instagram on Sunday as she said she's trying to put herself back together

Still smiling: Despite her heartache, Vicky appeared in typically high spirits as she returned to her duties at the This Morning I'm a Celeb correspondent on Monday morning

'A picture says a thousand words and no amount of back tracking or smear campaigns will claw back any respect. It is done.

'So far, Ive held my tongue but I will not be made to look foolish anymore...

'Over the last two weeks Ive asked for nothing, but now I am, Please leave me alone and show me compassion.

Fashionista: The reality star looked seriously chic in a polka dot shirt and light-wash jeans

Staying strong: Vicky has remained defiant in the face of her fiance's infidelity

'And do not entertain a dialogue or story that has been dreamt up and created in order to shirk guilt and blame and try and make someone feel better.

'Whats done is done at least have the decency to accept the truth... I was still very much with my ex fiance when he chose to do what he did in Dubai.

'No one wishes it was different more than me as I may have been spared some humiliation and pain.

Vicky and John's ill-fated romance Around 2008: Vicky and John first enjoyed a brief romance October 2016: The couple were spotted together at The X Factor sparking romance rumours November 2016: After joining Vicky in Australia during her I'm A Celeb commitments, the couple confirmed their romance July 2017: The couple confirmed their engagement with a dramatic magazine spread where Vicky flashed her 3.6-carat marquise-cut engagement ring January 2018: Vicky revealed she had postponed their wedding 'by a year or two' as she 'wasn't ready to be a wife' despite having planned a lavish 175,000 ceremony this summer November 2018: Images surfaced of John getting close to a bevy of women during a trip to Dubai, before the official end to their relationship days later Advertisement

'Unfortunately, we broke up due to his behaviour and not before. These stories were concocted by someone who is trying to discredit my hurt and make themselves look better and it is sad as I didnt want it to come to this.

'Anyway There is no more drama or gossip here. Just a girl trying to put herself back together and move on. I hope you all respect that.'

Last Friday, Vicky told MailOnline exclusively that she had decided to split from her fiance of one year.

He had been pictured cavorting with three girls while on his holiday, behind Vicky's back, leaving her devastated.

They went for a make or break holiday themselves to Dubai back in October after falling on tricky times, and all seemed well after their return.

A source told The Sun at the time: 'Vicky and Johns relationship is hanging by the thinnest of threads, but they both think what theyve got is worth fighting for.

'When they first rekindled their flame two years ago John was exactly the kind of stable man Vicky wanted, but as times gone on shes found it harder to commit to a quiet life up North when all her mates are still down here in London.'
Faye Tozer's husband Mick Smith claims the couple have endured 'another tough week', following the Steps star confessing Strictly Come Dancing has put 'strain' on her nine year marriage.

Drumming up support for his wife on the BBC series, Mick took to Twitter on Sunday night to thank fans for sending Faye and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice through to the next stage of the competition.

He alluded to the pair's troubles while claiming he is 'so proud' of Faye and suggested they are working through things, as he determinedly told fans the couple are 'marching on' together as a 'team'.

Candid: Faye Tozer's husband Mick Smith claims the couple endured 'another tough week', following the Steps star confessing Strictly has put 'strain' on her nine year marriage

Faye enjoyed huge success on Strictly over the weekend, as she and Giovanni topped the leaderboard with their regal waltz.

Mick was seen rallying his wife's fans together and urging for them to vote for Faye and Giovanni, with it later being revealed on Strictly's results show on Sunday that they had sailed through to the next week of the competition.

Congratulating Faye, Mick publicly posted via Twitter: 'So proud of @Faye_Tozer its been another tough week on and off the pitch but we do what we do and march on as a team.

Number one fan: Mick took to Twitter on Sunday night to thank fans for sending Faye and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice through to the next stage of the competition

'So proud': He alluded to the pair's troubles while claiming he is 'so proud' of Faye and suggested they are working through things

'Thanks again for all your votes but a special shout out to you Steps lot, youre bonkers.'

Mick also re-tweeted a message posted by Coronation Street star Jane Danson that read: 'Faye you were breathtaking on Saturday- cant wait for the next dance.'

In an earlier tweet, Mick credited wife Faye and dance professional Giovanni for their 'hard work' throughout Strictly.

He said: 'You didnt let us down! Thank you to every single person for voting, it means so much. @Faye_Tozer & @pernicegiovann1 are working so hard and deserve another week.'

Biggest support: In an earlier tweet, Mick credited wife Faye and dance professional Giovanni for their 'hard work' throughout Strictly

Short but sweet: Faye, meanwhile, told fans she had spent time with her family following Strictly and claimed she was 'already missing' her husband and their nine-year-old son

Faye, meanwhile, told fans that she had spent time with her family following her appearance on Strictly and claimed she was 'already missing' her husband and their nine-year-old son Benjamin as she travelled back to London for another weeks of rehearsals.

Faye wrote: 'Good morning early birds! On my way back to London after a few cosy hours at home with @mick_smith_ and B. Missing you already.'

MailOnline have contacted a representative for Faye for comment.

The couple's show of support for each other comes after Faye candidly confessed Strictly has put 'strain' on her long-term marriage, commenting that the distance she and beau Mick have had to face has been 'tricky'.

She told The Sun: 'Its always tricky being away from home. You just have to keep your head above water.

Great effort: She and Giovanni had topped the leaderboard over the weekend with their regal waltz - scoring 39 points for their performance and 6 points in the live Lindy-Hop-Athon

'It's tricky': The couple's show of support for each other comes after Faye candidly confessed Strictly has put 'strain' on her long-term marriage due to the increased distance

'Weve just got to keep really tight as a family unit and make sure we communicate  I think thats the only way. But it is tough being away from home because we miss each other.'

Her comments came after she was seen enjoying a one-on-one birthday lunch with Giovanni, where he was seen wiping food from Faye's face. While the duo hit headlines with their close display, both Faye and Giovanni were quick to laugh off the furore.

Her husband Mick also poked fun at the pictures of the duo dining out together, as he took to Instagram with rice stuck to his mouth and teased: 'Wheres @pernicegiovann1 when you need him? Help me out @fayetozersmith.'

Faye has previously credited her husband for being 'so supportive' of her Strictly Come Dancing stint, revealing Mick has come down to the studios to support her 'every week' in an interview with OK! magazine.

Awkward: Her comments came after she was seen enjoying a cosy-looking one-on-one birthday lunch with Giovanni, where he was seen wiping food from Faye's face

Light-hearted fun: While the duo hit headlines with their close display, both Faye and Giovanni were quick to laugh off the furore, as Mick poked fun at the pair on Instagram

She told the publication: 'Michaels been amazing, so supportive. Its so lovely that he comes down every week.

'I cant imagine if he wasnt there  having him there brings me luck! Hes one of those confident, happy people whos fun to be around.'

Giovanni, meanwhile, has been romantically linked to former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, with reports claiming they have been enjoying a secret romance. Although, both stars have denied the claims.
Reece Hawkins' new girlfriend London Goheen and Tammy Hembrow have been taking subtle swipes at each other via social media in recent months.

And on Monday, the 20-year-old model showed no signs of slowing down when she took yet another opportunity to throw shade at the fitness entrepreneur.

Sharing a sultry picture of herself clad in a hot pink bikini, London flaunted her derriere alongside an eyebrow-raising caption.

The battle continues! Reece Hawkins' new girlfriend London Goheen (left) takes a swipe at his ex-fiancee Tammy Hembrow (right) while flaunting her derriere in a near identical pink bikini

'Can't hide your feelings,' she wrote, seemingly hinting that Tammy cannot help but publicly reveal her thoughts when it comes to her ex-fiance, Reece.

Users quickly took to the comments section of the post to accuse London of removing negative comments about herself, but leaving ones about Tammy.

'Delete all those negative comments about you but keeping comments about Tammy ain't getting you anywhere.. You still 'Tammy's ex new flame',' one frustrated user wrote.

Tickled pink: London has been taking subtle digs at her boyfriend's ex in recent months

'Can't hide your feelings,' London wrote in an Instagram post, seemingly hinting that Tammy cannot help but publicly reveal her 'feelings' when it comes to her ex-fiance, Reece. Pictured in a later snap posted to her Instagram Stories

'She's promoting positivity but doing the opposite... seems like she feels better about herself while putting other females down': Users quickly took to the comment section of the post to call out London on removing negative comments about herself on the post, but leaving the ones about Tammy

Another penned: 'She's promoting positivity but doing the opposite. She would delete all bad comments about her but would keep the ones hating on Tammy and spreading serious allegations against Tammy Hembrow.'

'If she's all about positivity she would also delete the ones hating on other females because it's her account and 'she all about positivity' right? But seems like she feels better about herself while putting other female down.. Because if she didn't resonate or agree with the comment she would delete it... .'

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to London for comment.

Later, London took to her Instagram Stories to flaunt her peachy posterior in racy pink swim wear, which was near-identical to one Tammy wore in early November.

The 'Queen of Instagram' flaunted her famous booty in a similar high-cut thong brief and '90s style swim crop during her trip to Los Angeles at the time.

And London's posts come after Tammy appeared to throw shade at Reece on Monday when he shared a happy snap of himself on Instagram.

Swipe: London's posts come after Tammy (pictured) appeared to throw shade at her ex-fiance Reece Hawki on Monday after he shared a happy snap of himself on Instagram

'Thank u, next!' Tammy Hembrow (right) wrote, quoting Ariana Grande, alongside this eye-rolling mirror selfie (right) an hour after Reece's post was shared

He captioned his photo: 'How I look after two beers and lunch. Cheers!'

Tammy responded within an hour by sharing an eye-rolling mirror selfie, which was tellingly captioned: 'Thank u, next!'

Thank U, Next is the latest single by Ariana Grande - who takes swipes at her ex-boyfriends but also thanks them for teaching her some valuable lessons.

Split: The former flames ended their engagement earlier this year after spending four years together

Family: The pair share two children together - three-year-old son Wolf (left) and daughter Saskia, two (right)

Tammy's post appears to confirm rumours that she and Reece are not on amicable terms following their split earlier this year.

The former flames ended their romance four years together, and share two children together - three-year-old son Wolf and daughter Saskia, two.

Reece debuted his new model girlfriend London in early October.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi expressed deep regret and concern over reports of the chemical attack in Aleppo, describing the incident as "inhumane and despicable."

"The cause of such an inhumane act by terrorist groups is the unflinching intellectual, political, financial and military support provided by some regional and trans-regional states for these groups, which are on the brink of annihilation," the Foreign Ministrys website cited Qassemi as saying.

Shelling by insurgents wounded more than 100 people, mostly civilians, in the suspected toxic gas attack in Syrias Aleppo yesterday. 107 people were injured in Aleppo after militants hit three districts with projectiles containing gases that caused choking, SANA reported.
She confessed how 'difficult' it had been to get over her ex on Sunday night's installment of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.

And Emily Atack's former flame has now been unveiled as male model Jack Vacher, who she dated from 2012 until earlier this year.

The Inbetweeners actress, 28, still features prominently on 24-year-old Jack's Twitter profile - as the header image.

Case of the ex: Emily Atack's former flame has now been unveiled as male model Jack Vacher, who she dated from 2012 until earlier this year

The bottle blonde beauty is seen cosying up to her ex as they pose for a romantic couples' snap.

Jack reportedly has a new girlfriend named Madison Ellen, who he started dating in February according to The Sun, but has failed to change his old social media account.

Emily's own social media is still littered with images of the pair together, hinting at an amicable split.

Amicable: Emily's own social media is still littered with images of the pair together, hinting at an amicable split

Old account: The Inbetweeners actress, 28, still features prominently on 24-year-old Jack's Twitter profile - as the header image

Moving on: Jack reportedly has a new girlfriend named Madison Ellen, who he started dating in February according to The Sun. He is pictured with Emily in January 2016

This comes after Emily revealed she's yet to find The One during an intimate chat with Noel Edmonds.

She insisted she's focusing on 'soul searching' at the moment following her break-up.

It was recently reported that the actress enjoyed the brief romance with McFly bassist Dougie Poynter after splitting from her model ex.

Candid: This comes after Emily revealed she's yet to find The One during an intimate chat with Noel Edmonds

Speaking about her single relationship status, the blonde told Noel: 'I've not met that person yet. I'm soul searching at the moment.

'I had a difficult start to the year, I had a break up after being with someone for five years.

'I'd got into the habit of needing that security, love and acceptance from a guy to make me happy.'

Focusing on herself: The Inbetweeners star, 28, insisted she's focusing on 'soul searching' at the moment

Emily went on to reveal that speaking about her romantic life was 'daunting', but insists she's an 'an open book'.

'I'm an open book and talk openly about my feelings and I'm sat here with no make up on, I know that sounds vain but in here I'm not worried, I'm carefree.'

She also admitted that she was apprehensive about leaving alcohol behind while appearing on the programme.

She said of her split with Jack: 'I'd got into the habit of needing that security, love and acceptance from a guy to make me happy'

'I'm a bit of a boozer on the outside and I thought coming in here without booze I'd be really quiet and shy but I don't need it at all.

'I'm nearly 29 and want to look after myself and who I am, the fact that I have freckles and no eyebrows', she added.

Lending some wisdom to the Dad's Army star, Noel said: 'When you are 100 per cent comfortable with yourself, shortly after that you will find that person because your positive energy radiates and you can only attract other positive energy.'

I'm A Celebrity continues on weeknights at 9pm on ITV.
She has just landed her first joint presenting role with boyfriend Jack Fincham as red carpet correspondents for the National Television Awards in January.

And Dani Dyer looked the picture of happiness as she braved the winter chill to take part in an outdoor photoshoot for her Christmas In The Style campaign on Monday.

The Love Island star, 22, showed off her model prowess in a pink snakeskin print minidress before slipping into a cosy over-sized jumper.

Working it: Dani Dyer showed off her model prowess in a pink snakeskin print minidress in an outdoor photoshoot for her Christmas In The Style campaign on Monday

Dani highlighted her tanned pins in the frilly dress, which featured a wrap-over skirt a v-neckline.

Posing on the stairway of one of London's multi-million pound properties, the reality starlet dressed down the ensemble with a pair of box-white trainers.

She wore her ombre brunette tresses in beachy waves and accentuated her sun-kissed glow with a glamorous make-up look.

Fashion maven: Dani highlighted her tanned pins in the frilly dress, which featured a wrap-over skirt a v-neckline

On-trend: Posing on the stairway of one of London's multi-million pound properties, the reality starlet dressed down the ensemble with a pair of box-white trainers

Gorgeous: She wore her ombre brunette tresses in beachy waves and accentuated her sun-kissed glow with a glamorous make-up look

After striking a series of poses in the pink dress, Dani slipped into a white and grey jumper dress which sheathed over her trim frame.

Her photoshoot comes as it was announced she will take to the red carpet with boyfriend Jack when the 24th National Television Awards get underway on January 22.

The couple will work alongside Dermot O'Leary as backstage correspondents at the star-studded ceremony, held annually at London's O2 Arena.

Cosy: After striking a series of poses in the pink dress, Dani slipped into a white and grey jumper dress which sheathed over her trim frame

In the spotlight: Dani's career has gone from strength to strength since appearing on Love Island, with the star becoming a regular on the Capital Radio Breakfast show

Her photoshoot comes as it was announced she will take to the red carpet with boyfriend Jack when the 24th National Television Awards get underway on January 22

Reflecting on their new role, which comes just six months after they found fame in Love Island's Spanish villa, they said it was an honour to be considered.

'It has already been such an exciting year for us and to top it off, we've been asked to work alongside TV legend Dermot O'Leary at the National Television Awards,' they said.

'Last year we were at home on the sofa watching the show so it's an honour to be involved this year, we can't wait! Fingers crossed Love Island is in the running on the night too. Bring on 2019!'

As well as fronting coverage for ITV on 22 January, Dani and 26-year-old Jack will also be taking over the NTAs' official social media channels for the night.

While the event will give Dani and Jack their first opportunity to present as a couple, they have previously taken on their own individual hosting roles.

Dani landed presented her first hosting role in August with a brief stint on the Capital Radio Breakfast Show with Roman Kemp.

Meanwhile Jack, a former stationary salesman, successfully hosted a back to school segment on ITV magazine show This Morning.
Jennifer Garner was all smiles as she got back into her regular routine of school drop-offs on Monday in Los Angeles after spending the Thanksgiving holiday with ex-husband Ben Affleck in Montana.

While she was away, her new beau, John Miller, was spotted out all alone grabbing coffee.

The two have been dating for the past few months.

Back to school: Jennifer Garner was all smiles as she got back school drop-offs on Monday in Los Angeles after spending the weekend with ex-husband Ben Affleck and leaving her new beau alone

The 46-year-old mother of three was seen dropping her three children off to school in Santa Monica on Monday looking joyful with a friend.

Jen donned a casual look of skinny jeans with black leather trainers, a black long sleeve top under a puffy olive green vest.

The Camping star was tempting fate and she headed out with damp hair at the start of cold and flu season.

Smiling while she gabbed with a blonde haired friend, Jennifer walked with a small coffee in her hand.

All smiles: Jen couldn't hide her happiness as she grinned with a pal after arriving in Los Angeles following a family weekend with her kids and her ex

All by himself: Jen's new boyfriend was seen on Sunday in LA having a solo coffee date while his new love was away

The star recently went public with her new boyfriend John Miller but left the business man for the recent Thanksgiving holiday to spend time with her kids and ex-husband.

While Jen, Ben and their three little ones, Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six, reportedly spent some family time in Montana, Miller was solo in LA.

The burger CEO was spotted out grabbing coffee alone in Los Angeles on Sunday.

John went casual in a loose fit grey V-neck and a pair of dark denim jeans.

New love: Jen and the burger CEO went public with their relationship recently and they seem to be taking things slowly

Family first: A source told people that Jen and Ben's family trip was 'long planned'

'Jen, Ben and the kids were in Montana for Thanksgiving,' a source recently told People Magazine.

This was long planned,' according to the insider, who also added, 'They always celebrate big holidays together as a family.'

'The family all spent Thanksgiving together and they all cooked,' continued what the outlet called 'a friend of the former couple.'

Ben and Jennifer finalized their divorce in October, after being separated for over three years.

The Alias actress had been quietly dating the CaliBurger head honcho for a few months but waited to go public with their romance until divorce papers were signed.

Tradition: The former power couple plan on spending 'big holidays together' in the future
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She plays the queen of the sea in the hotly anticipated Aquaman film.

And Amber Heard appeared to take style inspiration from her character as she attended the star-studded world premiere for the movie at Cineworld in Leicester Square, London on Monday.

Clad in a seaweed green gown and swimming cap style headwear, the 32-year-old actress was a vision of beauty as she stormed the blue carpet alongside her co-stars Jason Momoa and Dolph Lundgren.

Dazzling: Amber Heard appeared to take style inspiration from her character as she attended the star-studded world premiere for the movie at Cineworld in Leicester Square, London on Monday

Showcasing her stunning physique, Amber's gown featured a plunging neckline which teased her ample cleavage and cut out detailing at the waist to accentuate her slender frame.

The billowing skirt also featured a dazzling train that trailed behind her as she glided across the carpet.

A large cut out along the back showed off her tattoos - a quote from the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda 'te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras, secretamente, entre la sombra y el alm', which translates to 'I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul.'

Amber's look was completed with an intricately embellished cap that concealed her glossy blonde locks, whilst a slick of scarlet lipstick lined her plump pout.

Commanding attention: Showcasing her stunning physique, Amber's gown featured a plunging neckline which teased her ample cleavage and cut out detailing at the waist to accentuate her slender frame

Dapper dudes: Amber's co-stars Jason Momoa (who plays the titular Aquaman) and Dolph Lundgren (who plays King Nereus) hit the blue carpet as they posed for snaps at the event

Amber plays Princess Mera, the romantic interest of Jason Mamoa's titular character, in the forthcoming Hollywood film, which also stars Nicole Kidman.

Jason played up to his superhero role as he stormed the red carpet for the premiere - toting a gold trident that looked rather out of place with his all leather ensemble.

The film's storyline takes place in the wake of Justice League in which Arthur Curry/Aquaman, the half-human half-Atlantean ruler of Atlantis, reluctantly assumes the underwater kingdom's throne.

Cascading: The billowing skirt also featured a dazzling train that trailed behind her as she glided across the carpet

Regal: A large cut out along the back showed off her tattoos - a quote from the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda 'te amo como se aman ciertas cosas oscuras, secretamente, entre la sombra y el alm', which translates to 'I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul'

Turning heads: Amber ensured all eyes would be on her as she posed up a storm on the blue carpet

Stunning: Amber's look was completed with an intricately embellished cap that concealed her glossy blonde locks, whilst a slick of scarlet lipstick lined her plump pout

Sparkling: To complement her outfit, Amber brushed on a smattering of gold eye-shadow to complete her look

Working every angle: Amber was keen to show off every side of her ensemble, and posed up a storm on the blue carpet

All in the detail: Amber's regal ensemble looked astounding, mainly thanks to its extremely intricate design

Ultimately, he must take sides in a brewing conflict between the surface dwelling populace that poses a serious risk to his people and the world's oceans and the denizens of Atlantis, who urge him to take action and invade the Earth's surface in order to ensure their survival.

Audiences got their first peek at Aquaman when he appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016, but this is his first standalone film.

The movie, which is directed by James Wan released in the UK on December 14, hits US theaters December 21 and will reach Australian and New Zealand audiences on December 26 on December 26.

Animated display: Jason Mamoa was excited when he was handed a trident prop, and he gave fans a show

Hey! Jason looked very happy to be at the premiere as he greeted the adoring crowds

Punk chic: Jason looked great in his signature look, as he donned a biker jacket over his hunky torso and teamed it up with black jeans and golden accessories

Enjoying himself: Jason couldn't hide his smile as he arrived on the red carpet

Dapper: Jason looked ruggedly handsome as he tied his luscious locks into a tight bun, and sported a large beard

Regal on-screen partners: Jason and Amber looked fierce as they posed together on the blue carpet

Having a great time: Amber, Jason and Dolph went all out as they put on very animated displays for some photos

Joking around: Jason threw his head back in laughter as he joined Amber, Dolph and Patrick Wilson (who plays Orm) with his golden trident still in his hands

Time to be serious: Amber, Jason, Dolph and Patrick were joined by the film's director James Wan and producer Peter Safran

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that Julie Andrews has a secret role in Aquaman.

The 83-year-old actress voices the mythic Karathen, 'an undersea creature that holds the key to Arthur Currys (Jason Momoa) quest to unite the Atlantean and surface worlds' according to Entertainment Weekly.

We wanted the Karathen to have the voice of a classic British actress, albeit somewhat digitally altered,'explained Aquaman producer Peter Safran. 'And when we found out Julie was interested and available and excited to do it, casting her was a no-brainer.'

Preparing: Amber was careful to pick up her gown's long train so that no one stood on it before they had their photocall

Working it! The actress made full use of her glamorous gown as she posed from multiple angles

Gorgeous: Amber was sure to stand out in her dazzling ensemble, which she teamed up with golden heels

Dressed to impress: Amber was sure to wow the public with her dazzling attire

Glowing: Amber dazzled in her ensemble as she shook out the train so that it fell elegantly to the floor

Gorgeous: Amber looked stunning in her ensemble, which was by far the best look of the night

Cheese! The actress also took the time to meet with fans, and she smiled brightly for the selfie

Continuing the night: Amber stepped out for the after-party after the premiere, and stayed in her ensemble

Ink job: Amber's tattoos were visible thanks to the cut-out panel at the back of her dress

Chatty: Amber signed memorabilia for fans as she headed to the after-party, and also chatted with her team

Friendly: Jason also met with fans and he was happy to take pictures with them

Glamorous pair: Jason and Amber posed up a storm as they stood on the blue carpet

Going all out: The cast were clearly enjoying themselves at the festival

Family matter: Dolph was joined at the premiere by his daughters Ida (left) and Greta (right) at the event

Supportive: Aquaman producer Peter was joined by his wife Natalia and their daughter

Interestingly, Aquaman is being released the same time as Mary Poppins Returns starring Emily Blunt, however Julie declined to appear in the sequel.

Earlier this month Amber spoke to Shape magazine and admitted she credits her female colleagues for lifting her up after her relationship hardships:

'I've had support from strong women who were there for me when I wanted to give up and at moments when I thought I couldn't endure more abuse from the world.

'Sometimes you can feel as if you're standing up for something all alone  on behalf of your physical safety, against an institution that is inherently flawed, or because you don't believe that loving a certain person is wrong.'

Cosy: Camilla Thurlow put on a smitten display with Jamie Jewitt as they attended the world premiere of Aquaman at Cineworld Leicester Square in London on Monday

Pretty in pink: The 29-year-old Love Island beauty still turned heads in her own right as she looked sensational in a low-cut pink satin gown for the occasion

Chest a glimpse: Clinging to her slender curves, the chic midi dress highlighted her tiny waist, whilst a scooped jewel encrusted neckline showcased her ample cleavage

Leggy lady! Falling just below the knee, the garment offered a glimpse at her tanned and toned pins, which were elongated with the addition of nude barely-there heels

Finishing touches: Camilla finished off the look by toting a small diamond adorned pink clutch bag, whilst she injected some further glitz with dazzling pearl earrings

Standing out from the crowd: Nicola Hughes looked incredible in a yellow suit and black ankle boots

Stylish: Her blonde locks were pulled up into a dramatic up-do, while she brushed on burnt orange eye-shadow

Cosy: Doctor Who star Mandip Gill wrapped up warm in a fluffy leopard print coat, which she wore over a black top and high waisted blue corduroy trousers

Chic: Love Island star Samira Mighty looked glamorous in her monochrome mini dress which had a peplum trim

Happy: Samira beamed as she posed for photos on the blue carpet

Flower power: Laura Crane looked demure in her semi-sheer floral gown which she teamed up with beige heels

Dramatic look: Laura wore her blonde locks slicked back into a tight bun

Gal pals: Samira and Laura reunited on the blue carpet for the event

Striking: Talia Storm was sure to be noticed in a bright green co-ordinated ensemble

In high spirits: Talia smiled brightly as she made her way into the cinema

Handsome: Marcel Somerville looked dapper in a khaki green military-style coat

Sparkles: British model Victoria Clay was sure to dazzle as she stepped out in a silver sequined mini dress

Busty display: Victoria showed off her ample assets in the dress, which had a plunging neckline
He turns 43 on Monday.

And DJ Khaled celebrated in style, with the hip hop producer riding a jet ski around Miami with wife Nicole Tuck.

The All I Do Is Win hitmaker made sure to share the moment with his 12.9million Instagram followers, uploading a video of himself jetting around the waters near his $30million mansion.

All he does is win: DJ Khaled celebrated his 43rd birthday in style, with the hip hop producer riding a jet ski around Miami with wife Nicole Tuck

The record executive -whose real name is Khaled Mohamed Khaled- put safety first as he donned a life jacket for the outing.

Underneath he wore a white T-shirt and red and yellow shorts.

The father-of-one lit up a cigarette as he snapped off a few selfies while sitting astride the jet ski.

Safety gear: The record executive -whose real name is Khaled Mohamed Khaled- put safety first as he donned a life jacket for the outing

Family: Khaled was joined by his wife, Nicole Tuck. Seen here with son Asahd

Cute: The couple were watched by their two-year-old boy Asahd Tuck Khaled, who was decked out in a Nike shirt as he held hands with a carer

Khaled was joined by his wife, Nicole Tuck.

The brunette showed off her bikini body in a skimpy purple swimsuit for her man's birthday.

The couple were watched by their two-year-old boy Asahd Tuck Khaled, who was decked out in a Nike shirt as he held hands with a carer.

Puffing away: The father-of-one lit up a cigarette as he snapped off a few selfies while sitting astride the jet ski

You played yourself: The musician posted a video in which he mimed the lyrics to a reggae track

The Wild Thoughts producer and his family recently moved into the 13,000 square foot home which he purchased for nearly $27m from Michael Lerner, who created the popular 'Baby on Board' signs in the 1980s.

Among the home's many features are nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, an 80-foot swimming pool and even an elevator.

The house also includes a safe room, a four-bedroom guest house and a private dock on Indian Creek.
She recently laughed off rumours her relationship with Jamie Jewitt is on the rocks.

And Camilla Thurlow continued to put on a smitten display with her beau as they attended the world premiere of Aquaman at Cineworld Leicester Square in London on Monday.

Yet the 29-year-old Love Island beauty still turned heads in her own right as she looked sensational in a low-cut pink satin gown for the occasion.

Cosy: Camilla Thurlow put on a smitten display with Jamie Jewitt as they attended the world premiere of Aquaman at Cineworld Leicester Square in London on Monday

Clinging to her slender curves, the chic midi dress highlighted her tiny waist, whilst a scooped jewel encrusted neckline showcased her ample cleavage.

Falling just below the knee, the garment offered a glimpse at her tanned and toned pins, which were elongated with the addition of nude barely-there heels.

Camilla finished off the look by toting a small diamond adorned pink clutch bag, whilst she injected some further glitz with dazzling pearl earrings.

Pretty in pink: The 29-year-old Love Island beauty still turned heads in her own right as she looked sensational in a low-cut pink satin gown for the occasion

Chest a glimpse: Clinging to her slender curves, the chic midi dress highlighted her tiny waist, whilst a scooped jewel encrusted neckline showcased her ample cleavage

Aquaman takes place in the wake of Justice League in which Arthur Curry/Aquaman, the half-human half-Atlantean ruler of Atlantis, reluctantly assumes the underwater kingdom's throne.

The movie, which is directed by James Wan released in the UK on December 14, hits US theaters December 21 and will reach Australian and New Zealand audiences on December 26 on December 26.

Yet despite walking the blue carpet alongside the film's leading stars Amber Heard and Jason Momoa, Camilla and Jamie only had eyes for each other.

Leggy lady! Falling just below the knee, the garment offered a glimpse at her tanned and toned pins, which were elongated with the addition of nude barely-there heels

Blonde bombshell: Camilla wore her ombre locks in loose waves that framed her features

All smiles: The charity worker looked in high spirits as she posed up a storm on the blue carpet

Finishing touches: Camilla finished off the look by toting a small diamond adorned pink clutch bag, whilst she injected some further glitz with dazzling pearl earrings

The pair recently laughed off rumours of strife, following reports in October that Jamie was seen secretly partying with his Playboy model ex-girlfriend in New York.

Jamie and Camilla, one of the few couples still together from Love Island's 2017 series, had apparently been rowing furiously over his antics and planned 'crisis talks' when he returned to Essex.

Camilla told MailOnline of their relationship last year: 'We don't feel any pressure, as long as were happy. We are just taking things at our own pace. I think the trick is to enjoy things as they are now, and that builds a strong foundation for the future.'

Camilla also said that her family and friends 'really like' Jamie - and that she gives him her 'full support' when it comes to talking about his previous battles with depression - something he spoke about after leaving the series.
Their lavish wedding is only days away.

And Priyanka Chopra, 36, and her fiance Nick Jonas, 26, are making the most of the days leading up to the ceremony, with the couple posing with friends and family in Mumbai on Monday.

Among the group was Nick's brother Joe and his fiancee Sophie Turner.

Final days of freedom: Priyanka Chopra, 36, and her fiance Nick Jonas, 26, are making the most of the days leading up to the ceremony, with the couple posing with friends and family in Mumbai on Monday

In the photo, shared to Nick's Instagram account, the Camp Rock star wears a white polo shirt and khaki pants.

His Quantico star bride-to-be stands behind him, her arms around her younger's beau's neck.

Behind Priyanka stand Joe Jonas, 29, and Game Of Thrones star Sophie, 22.

The photo is simply captioned 'Mumbai nights'.

Chopra took to Instagram with a photo of her giant family enjoying their holiday dinner at an opulent and massive dining table in Delhi on Thursday

Any day now: In just a handful of days, Priyanka is set to walk down the aisle and say 'I do' at a spectacular $60,000 a night wedding venue in India

The loved-up couple celebrated Thanksgiving with a lavish dinner in the actress' home country where they will soon tie the knot.

Chopra took to Instagram with a photo of her giant family enjoying their holiday dinner at an opulent and massive dining table in Delhi on Thursday.

The Bollywood star and her pop star fiance will wed at a lavish Indian palace on December 1.

Despite being so far away from America, it seemed that Priyanka brought her husband-to-be's national holiday abroad and hosted Thanksgiving dinner with her family.

The newlyweds-to-be: Priyanka and Nick seen here at the Ralph Lauren Show during New York Fashion Week in September 2018

In just a handful of days, Priyanka is set to walk down the aisle and say 'I do' at a spectacular $60,000 a night wedding venue in India.

The venue is India's last living palace, Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur, which comes complete with butler service, strutting peacocks and a couple's massage room.

The lavish palace features 65 original Art Deco bedrooms and suites featuring antiques, with each room costing an eye-watering $922 per person per night.

It's been all wedding, all the time for the actress recently who was honored by her friends and family at swanky bridal shower at Tiffany's in New York last month.
They welcomed a second daughter together over the summer.

And despite previously admitting that fatherhood is 'exhausting bliss', Russell Brand looked full of life as he joined wife Laura Gallacher in their first joint red carpet appearance at the British Curry Awards at Battersea Evolution in London on Monday.

The couple are notoriously private and have kept their personal life out of the spotlight, yet looked smitten as they cosied up to one another at the event.

Cute couple: ussell Brand looked full of life as he joined wife Laura Gallacher in their first joint red carpet appearance at the British Curry Awards at Battersea Evolution in London on Monday

Laura sported brunette locks instead of her usual blonde hairdo, which she styled in a chic chignon.

The mother-of-two looked sensational in a glittering black jumpsuit, whilst she layered up with a satin blazer and accessorised with a small clutch bag.

Meanwhile, Russell, who admitted last month that fatherhood had given him grey hair, donned an open blouse with leather trousers and a skinny scarf.

Cosy: The couple are notoriously private and have kept their personal life out of the spotlight, yet looked smitten as they cosied up to one another at the event

Russell and Laura tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Henley-on-Thames in August 2017 with the great and good of showbiz watching, including Noel Gallagher and David Baddiel.

They share two children together - daughter Mabel, 20 months, and a second daughter, who is thought to have been born in July this year.

The Sun reported at the time: 'Obviously they are over the moon, and Russell will no doubt be gushing about her whenever he next performs stand-up.'

Smitten: Russell and Laura looked loved-up as they settled down to watch the ceremony

In September, Russell admitted that his new life as a father-of-two was 'exhausting bliss' that had left him with grey hair.

In an interview with Good Morning Britain, he pointed to his beard as he joked: 'A lot of this greyness is being applied retrospectively, though some of it is as a result of having two daughters so its a combination.'

The star, who was once married to Katy Perry, added: 'Do you know what, its bliss? Exhausting bliss. Shattering bliss. Knackering, beautiful, glorious bliss. Help me!'

Stylish: Russell, who admitted last month that fatherhood had given him grey hair, donned an open blouse with leather trousers and a skinny scarf

Russell has been open about his desire for a big family - telling ITV's Lorraine last year that he's never felt more content since becoming a father.

He said: 'Its so extraordinary to find such comfort and peace in a way things are obvious, getting married, having baby, I feel very relaxed, surprised but relaxed'.

Exhausted: In September, Russell admitted that his new life as a father-of-two was 'exhausting bliss' that had left him with grey hair

The comic - who was previously wed to pop superstar Katy Perry - has previously admitted he had to work hard to convince his in-laws that he was a changed man, and that when his daughters are old enough he will be honest about his struggles in life.

He said on Loose Women in September: 'I asked them to forget all the information that was given to them. As long as I'm clean and open with Mabel that's all I want.

'I don't want her to go into relationships to make yourself feel better. No one wants their kid to grow up an addict. I just want to be loving to her.'
This week's trip to Canada is not so much a spontaneous jaunt to the New World as it is a voyage of self-congratulation for Liv. At every possible opportunity, Melissa, Habbs and Harry are praising her for arranging such a lovely holiday.

Youve done really well Bentley! they tell her, despite the fact that the entire thing was arranged by a Junior Production Secretary who missed the last train home in order to book the flights because Miles only sent his passport details into the office at the last minute.

Ryan only has 40 friends, yet Mark Francis is forcing him and Louise to book a 2000-person wedding venue.

'Well done, Bentley': This week's trip to Canada is not so much a spontaneous jaunt to the New World as it is a voyage of self-congratulation for Liv

Wedding planning: Ryan only has 40 friends, yet Mark Francis is forcing him and Louise to book a 2000-person wedding venue

Its a palace, painted in red. Its the perfect setting for some sort of mass murder of the landed gentry.

Ryan isnt into it, but Louise is sold as soon as the words mille-feuille are bandied about.

Back in Canada, everyones still congratulating Liv on doing well when James, Emily, Tris and Miles arrive on the balcony and start screaming, sending Livs Bloody Mary flying.

Habbs is quite pleased but Liv points out that shes the only person who can stand any of the people who have just turned up. Liv sets some rules that Miles is basically not allowed to talk, breathe or be alive.

Shock arrival: Back in Canada, everyones still congratulating Liv on doing well when James, Emily, Tris and Miles arrive on the balcony and start screaming, sending Livs Bloody Mary flying

Second rate guests? Habbs is quite pleased but Liv points out that shes the only person who can stand any of the people who have just turned up

Later, while frolicking on the beach, Tris is doing that thing where you teach someone (Habbs) how to surf by not actually getting into the water.

He uses this as an opportunity to whip off his top to ask Habbs how its going with Sam, who is absent and no doubt trying to book a last minute flight to Vancouver via TrailFinders.

Miles is justifying to Liv why he's decided to come to Canada. 'Im here to see Habbs and Canadas a good place to do it,' he says.

Um, Miles, how about just 'seeing Habbs' in, say, your house that you share with her?

'Have fun at sea': Emily tells Melissa not to drown, with all the sincerity of a divorcee

Elsewhere on the beach: James and Liv flirt while straddling a giant driftwood log

Melissa asks Miles and Emily why they have turned up and Emily is sure to assert that it's NOT because they want to hang out with her and Harry. She then tells her not to drown, with all the sincerity of a divorcee.

Elsewhere on the beach, James and Liv flirt while straddling a giant driftwood log. This leads to further flirtations in the woods, where James starts talking about bears and honey traps and other Park Ranger-inspired euphemisms.

Melissa is concerned about her fishing skills because she 'has a lake at home' and so should know what she's doing with her rod.

Seen and not heard: Liv sets some rules that Miles is basically not allowed to talk, breathe or be alive

Perfect catch: Melissa is concerned about her fishing skills because she 'has a lake at home' and so should know what she's doing with her rod

Also, she HATES Miles. 'He moves a cup and Im just "I really hate you",' she reveals. If Miles ever offers you a cupping massage, Melissa, say no.

Back home, Jamie and Louise are meddling in the will they/won't they situation flying around between Sophie and Fred.

Louise reveals that Sophie has been going around saying she fancies Fred. This isn't quite true. Nor were her claims that Sophie had 'tried it on' with her last week. This is what happens when one is taken to the Palace of the Damned by Mark Francis.

Back home: Jamie and Louise are meddling in the will they/won't they situation flying around between Sophie and Fred

Spinning yarns: Louise reveals that Sophie has been going around saying she fancies Fred. This isn't quite true. Nor were her claims that Sophie had 'tried it on' with her last week

Nostrils twitching: Louise gets even giddier when Fred sends Sophie a bouquet of flowers to thank her for cooking him a Wienerschnitzel

Nostrils twitching, Louise gets even giddier when Fred sends Sophie a bouquet of flowers to thank her for cooking him a Wienerschnitzel.

Alas, the flowers have been orchestrated by Jamie, and the card has been written in his child-like scrawl.

Miles is talking about how hot Canadian girls are despite the fact that he has not left the house they're all staying in. This leads to a bizarre session in the hot tub with Liv, in which she kisses both him and James.

Flirty: There's a bizarre session in the hot tub with Liv, James and Miles

Quite a vintage: Sophie is hosting a German wine tasking. This means the wine is German, not that the people doing the tasting have to be

This is awkward on many levels:

1/ Liv hates Miles. 2/ Miles is best friends with broken-hearted Digby, who is currently sat at home listening to the A Star Is Born soundtrack. 3/ Why are James and Miles 'sharing' Liv like an over-used pumice?

Back in London, Sophie is hosting a German wine tasking. This means the wine is German, not that the people doing the tasting have to be.

Will they, won't they? She and Fred look each other in the eye and tell one another that they don't want anything to ruin their friendship. It's like Daenerys Targaryen and Daario Naharis (the first one) all over again

Tears at dinner: Before long, the elephant in the room is addressed and everyone starts telling Miles he's horrible

She and Fred look each other in the eye and tell one another that they don't want anything to ruin their friendship. It's like Daenerys Targaryen and Daario Naharis (the first one) all over again.

During a silent dinner in Canada, everyone's just not speaking because of the Miles kissing Liv situation. This is what dinner at a monastery must be like, right down to the new potatoes.

Before long, the elephant in the room is addressed and everyone starts telling Miles he's horrible. Then they all sit around the table and start to cry, like a seance gone wrong.
A bushfire alert for an area north of the Queensland city of Bundaberg has been downgraded, but residents are still being advised to monitor the situation in case it changes.

Firefighters had earlier warned local residents to prepare to leave their homes on Saturday evening as the unpredictable blaze at Round Hill threatened properties.

At 12.35am on Sunday, the bushfire was moving northeast from Deepwater National Park towards Bousgas Drive, Springs Road and Anderson Way, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services said.

Earlier, a fire south of Brisbane near Undullah was also downgraded to an alert level.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai on November 24 to discuss the situation in Afghanistan on the sidelines of the 32th international conference of Islamic unity.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported peace talks in Afghanistan and will use all of its capacities to help the Afghan government in this respect," Zarif said.

During his speech at the conference, Karzai noted that Irans experience shows that the path of progress can be taken through independence.

By pointing to peace initiatives in Afghanistan, Zarif said any peace plan should include the Afghan government, Tehran Times reported.
The company behind a $6.7 billion Queensland mega-mine is under pressure to prove it can meet it social and environmental obligations to operate.

MacMines Austasia's proposed China Stone coal mine in the Galilee Basin in central Queensland is another step closer after being backed by the state's coordinator-general.

Final approval and financing are required before construction.

The 20,000 hectare mine will sit approximately 30 kilometres from the Carmichael mine and rival in size the early stages of Adani's controversial project.

The mine set to generate 3900 construction jobs and 3400 operational positions, with expectations it will export 38 million tons of coal to Asia annually for 50 years to generate billions of dollars for the state economy.

As with Adani's mine which has raised concerns about the impact on the Great Barrier Reef, groundwater and greenhouse gas emissions, the MacMines is set for environmental opposition.

The Australian Conservation Foundation has labelled the project "reckless" and called instead for more investment in jobs in renewable energy.

Isaac Regional Council mayor Anne Baker, who lives some 190 km away in the mining town of Moranbah, called on MacMines to listen to how to operate responsibly.

"The definition of that is local job and business opportunities. Provided it's delivered in a responsible manner, it's positive for everyone," Cr Baker told AAP.

In his report, coordinator-general Barry Broe found the mine would have significant economic benefits and "environmental impacts can be acceptably managed, minimised or offset".

The Queensland Resources Council said it would add to the $4 billion in royalties the mining industry contributes to the state each year.
Victoria's first indigenous woman in state parliament is at risk of losing her seat after just 12 months in the job.

Lidia Thorpe is among the potential Greens casualties of a thumping Labor victory, dashing the minor party's hopes of snatching balance of power in both chambers of Spring Street.

Ms Thorpe came to power at a by-election for the seat of Northcote in 2017 after the death of Labor MP Fiona Richardson. The inner-city seat had never left ALP hands.

As counting resumes on Sunday Labor candidate Kat Theophanous looked likely to take back the electorate for Labor.

There was uncertainty over other seats contested by the Greens, including Prahran and Brunswick, while ABC analyst Antony Green forecast Ellen Sandell would hold Melbourne.

"Last time we won Prahran by 31 votes," Ms Sandell said.

"We have to do that again."

A Greens staffer told AAP it was "really sad" that Ms Thorpe might lose her seat before she could do much in the role.

Party leader Samantha Ratnam congratulated Premier Daniel Andrews on his victory to retain government and said she was glad Victorians had rejected the "divisive agenda" of the Liberal Party.

"It is fantastic to see so many of the issues that have been championed by the Greens adopted by the Andrews government in this campaign and embraced by Victorians."
It's day one of term two for returned Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, but he's going to have to wrangle quite a few first-time MPs who hardly expected to win their seats.

As counting continues on Sunday, Labor is on track to win as many as 61 seats in the 88-seat parliament, 16 more than it had before the election, and a result even party insiders did not see coming.

Among the prizes could be seats never before held by Labor, like Hawthorn, where incumbent and senior Liberal John Pesutto is tipped to fall.

And frontbench Labor MP Richard Wynne has held his inner-Melbourne seat of Richmond which had been under threat by the Greens.

"The people of Victoria have overwhelmingly endorsed a positive and optimistic plan for our state," Mr Andrews told a sea of cheering supporters during his victory speech.

Wife Cath and his three children, familiar faces on the campaign trail, were on stage to share in the glory.

Mr Andrews has committed to serve the full four-year term and promised to take action as early as Monday on major infrastructure projects.
As Daniel Andrews vows to get back to work after a resounding election win in Victoria, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy faces increasing pressure to step down.

Labor will return to majority government with as many as 16 more seats following the ballot result that shocked even the winners.

"We will make sure that regardless of how you voted, we will have better schools, we will have better hospitals, we will build the infrastructure we need," Mr Andrews said during his victory speech last night.

Frontbench MP Jill Hennessy had earlier described the outcome as a "bloodbath".

It was a brave Mr Guy who admitted defeat and said his Liberal party must unify.

But there was no word on whether he would stay on as opposition leader, or even remain in parliament.

Former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett called for heads to roll, including that of Victorian party president Michael Kroger.

The Greens also failed to win more seats, and lost Northcote after less than a term, leaving it with just two wins at the close of counting on Saturday.

State leader Samantha Ratnam said the Greens, which had expected to hold the balance of power, had weathered a tough campaign but were proud of their policies.

"It is fantastic to see so many of the issues that have been championed by the Greens adopted by the Andrews government in this campaign and embraced by Victorians," she said.

While the conservatives are left to consider the future, Mr Andrews has promised to be quick to get back to work.

Before the election, he said his first order of business once re-elected would be to kick-start work on Monday on Melbourne's $15.8 billion North East Link toll road.

The Victorian Electoral Commission will continue counting votes on Sunday. Some results aren't expected to be known for days.
A Queensland nurse and police officer have been hailed for courageously stopping an armed robber who went on the attack while under guard in hospital.

Tyson Jessen, 28, was shot dead by Senior Constable Leesa Richardson at Ipswich Hospital on November 10.

Jessen had punched Sen Const Richardson repeatedly in the face, slammed her head on the floor and tried to take her gun while shouting that he would kill her, The Courier-Mail reported.

When the female nurse, in her 40s, intervened, Jessen felled her with a punch but she rose and ran at him, giving Sen Const Richardson time to draw her weapon and fire.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has written to the premier and recommended both women be nominated for the Cross of Valour, Australia's highest bravery award, the newspaper reported.

""It is only imaginable what the likely consequences would have been for Sen Const Richardson and many others in the hospital if Jessen was successful in gaining possession of the firearm on this night," he said.
Well-travelled and much-moved Matilda Elise Kellond-Knight is keen to settle down.

It's been a tough road to the W-League for Kellond-Knight who spent three years overseas before signing with Melbourne City for this campaign.

That journey has taken her to clubs in Denmark, Japan, Sweden and Germany; as well as the various countries that the Matildas have played in and against.

Unfortunately for the 28-year-old, since arriving at City, it's been nothing but chaos.

"I haven't been able to settle in at all," she said.

"The first two games I literally only trained in the pre-game session with the team.

"I've been on the go over the last month, it's been absolutely crazy."

Combining club and country duties is nothing new for the 100-cap stalwart, but being asked to play in several different positions is.

During the past month she's played in no fewer than four different positions - defensive midfielder, left back, centre back and midfielder - to help out Alen Stajcic's Matildas and Raso Vidosic's City.

That she's been thrown around the park shows Kellond-Knight's versatility, but it hasn't been fun.

"On a personal note, it's frustrating," she said.

"You want to be able to get some rhythm in a position. You want to have consistency and really develop. When that's constantly changing, it's so hard."

Kellond-Knight said Vidosic brought her to City with a promise to play as the six, anchoring midfield, but she understood that she needed to play elsewhere during the club's current unavailability crisis.

Her positional outlook is a bit cloudier at international level.

Against Chile, she deputised for Steph Catley in the back four but she's gunning for the midfield too.

"I'm the number two left back for the national team. (At six) hopefully I'm number one but Staj has his own ideas and opinions, and at the end of the day he makes the call," she said.

With Matildas duty done and dusted for the year, at least Kellond-Knight can knuckle down and help City climb the table after two losses in their opening three games.

City face Sam Kerr's Perth Glory on Sunday night and Kellond-Knight, back in midfield given the return of Chelsea Blissett, said the team had plenty of resolve.

"It's time to roll the sleeves up and get some points together," she said.

"We have to stick it out, weather the storm and get through it."
A Queensland man allegedly mounted a footpath and struck a number of cars after leading police on a low-speed pursuit cross the Harbour Bridge and into Sydney's central business district.

Police say no one was injured on Saturday night when the 20-year-old mounted a path in a stolen Toyota Landcruiser before returning to the road and damaging six cars that were stationary in CBD traffic.

Officers smashed the windows of the Landcruiser to arrest the man from Mackay, who has been charged with multiple offences including unlicensed driving and vehicle theft.
Newly re-elected Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the emphatic victory for his Labor team shows voters want governments that deliver, a warning for the troubled Morrison government as a federal election looms.

"I am certain that Victorians have just about had enough of a federal government that cuts hospital, cans school, and refuses to admit they have done it. That is what really makes people angry," Mr Andrews told the Nine Network on Sunday.

"They want politicians who say what they are going to do, and then get on and do it. Where that leaves (Prime Minister Scott) Morrison I leave it for you to judge."
Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)and US soldiers patrol the Kurdish-held town of Al-Darbasiyah in northeastern Syria bordering Turkey on November 4, 2018

Counter-attacks by the Islamic State group have killed at least 47 US-backed fighters over two days as the jihadists struck from their embattled holdout in eastern Syria, a war monitor said Saturday.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Kurdish-led alliance supported by a US-led coalition is battling to expel the jihadists from a pocket in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on the Iraqi border.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said the jihadists launched "three separate assaults" on Saturday.

The monitor said the counter-attacks targeted the villages of Al-Bahra and Gharanij and an area close to the Al-Tanak oilfield, which is commercially active but is also an SDF military position.

SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali confirmed "a series of attacks" led by IS in these three locations and said fighting had taken place all day, with the Kurdish-led ground forces receiving coalition air support.

The fighting on Saturday alone killed 29 SDF fighters, taking its total losses over the last two days to at least 47, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman, revising up an earlier death toll of 24.

Thirty-nine IS jihadists have been killed -- some in the ground clashes, others in air strikes -- over the same period, the Observatory said.

IS confirmed in a statement on Telegram that it had launched attacks near Al-Bahra and Gharanij.

Earlier, the Observatory said IS had broken out of its holdout on Friday to attack Al-Bahra, where SDF fighters and coalition advisers are based.

"IS launched a broad attack on the village of Al-Bahra next to its holdout, taking advantage of the fog," Abdel Rahman said.

The monitor said coalition raids have also killed 17 civilians, including five children, in the IS-held pocket since Friday.

Coalition spokesman Sean Ryan said he had not received any reports of civilian casualties, and insisted air strikes had been "very limited due to the weather".

The anti-IS alliance has repeatedly denied previous reports of civilians killed in its air strikes, and said it does its utmost to avoid hitting non-combatants.

Deir Ezzor activist Omar Abu Leila said the attack on Al-Bahra was "very scary" and that IS fighters were able to move quickly "taking advantage of the fog".

IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" in land it controlled but has lost most of it to offensives by multiple forces in both countries.

In Syria, the jihadists are largely confined to the pocket in Deir Ezzor, but they also have a presence in the vast Badia desert that stretches across the country to the Iraqi border.

Since 2014, the US-led coalition has acknowledged direct responsibility for over 1,100 civilian deaths in Syria and Iraq, but rights groups put the number much higher.

Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.
Taiwan's top court legalised gay marriage in May 2017 and ruled that it must be brought in within two years

Voters in Taiwan backed anti-gay marriage referendums Saturday in what LGBT activists said was a major blow to the island's reputation as a rights trailblazer.

Taiwan's top court legalised same-sex marriage in May 2017, the first place in Asia to do so, and ruled that it must be brought in within two years, but the government has made little progress in the face of opposition from conservative groups.

A referendum on whether marriage should only be recognised as between a man and a woman in Taiwan's Civil Code won more than seven million votes, while another calling for same-sex unions to be regulated under a separate law gained over six million.

Gay rights activists had proposed that the Civil Code should give same-sex couples equal marriage rights, but only garnered three million votes.

"Pro-family" group the Coalition for the Happiness of our Next Generation said the win was a "victory of all people who treasure family values".

The conservative group also beat gay rights activists on competing referendums about whether LGBT issues should be compulsory on the school curriculum.

"Everyone used every single 'yes' vote to tell the authorities what are the mainstream public opinions," the coalition said.

Jennifer Lu, a spokeswoman for Marriage Equality Coalition Taiwan, said they were saddened by what she described as the "absurd referendums" and blamed government "incompetence" for allowing the anti-gay marriage votes to go ahead.

"The regression of gender equality... deals the most severe blow to Taiwan's democratic values," she added.

Although the government has made clear the referendum results will not impact the court's original decision to legalise gay marriage, pro-gay campaigners worry that their newly won rights will be weakened.

The court did not specify how it wanted gay marriage to be implemented, leaving room for conservative groups to call for separate regulations.

With all three conservative referendums passing the threshold of 25 percent of eligible voters, under referendum law the government must take steps to reflect the result.

Ahead of the vote, Amnesty International had urged the government not to "water down" same-sex marriage proposals in the face of a conservative win.
The number of injured in the magnitude 6.3 earthquake in western Iran the previous night has risen to 716, the Iranian authorities said, adding that no fatalities were reported from the temblor.

According to Irans state television, most of the injured were immediately released from hospitals and suffered only slight injuries in the quake on Sunday night. The TV said 37 remained hospitalized.

It said more than 160 aftershocks occurred in the region, including two quakes stronger than magnitude 5. Dozens of rescue teams and several rescue dogs were deployed to the region.

The earthquake struck western Iran near its border with Iraq, damaging buildings and sending fearful residents running into the streets. It hit near the town of Sarpol-e Zahab in Irans Kermanshah province, which was the epicenter of an earthquake last year that killed more than 600 people and where some still remain homeless, Associated Press reported.
The Syrian government and rebels simultaneously exchanged "certain individuals" in the northwest of the country, in what the ministry called a "pilot project"

The Syrian government and rebels swapped prisoners Saturday in a "first important step" in building trust between the warring sides under a Russia-Iran-Turkey-brokered peace process, Turkey's foreign ministry said Saturday.

"Certain individuals" were exchanged simultaneously in northwest of Syria, near the town of Al-Bab close to Aleppo, the ministry said, calling it a "pilot project".

While it did not give a precise figure of detainees involved, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on sources in Syria, said 10 prisoners from each side were exchanged.

Russia, Iran and Turkey are working to bring about peace in Syria under what is known as the Astana process.

Each country plays a key role in the conflict that started in March 2011. Russia and Iran have intervened on the side of Syria's government, ensuring its survival, while Turkey supports rebel groups in northern Syria to prevent Syrian Kurds establishing and expanding territory along its border.

All of them say they are fighting Islamic State fighters and other jihadists in the northern regions.

Turkey of late has become quieter about its initial stated aim of seeing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leaving power as it has stepped up cooperation with Russia over Syria.

In September, Turkey and Russia agreed to set up the buffer zone to avert a Syrian regime offensive, but jihadists who hold around 70 percent of the area have refused to withdraw.

The Astana process has gradually come to eclipse a UN-sponsored negotiations framework known as the Geneva process whose participants include the United States and European powers that would be key donors in an international post-conflict reconstruction programme for Syria.

Obstacles to securing Western reconstruction aid include an insistence by the US and EU on a transition that would see Assad go, as well as the presence of Iranian and Iranian-commanded fighters in Syria.
A teacher and four schoolchildren were among the victims after the shelling hit near a school in the northwestern province of Idlib

Syrian regime shelling killed nine civilians including seven children Saturday in a planned buffer zone around the country's last major rebel bastion, a monitor said.

A teacher and four schoolchildren were among the victims after the shelling hit near a school in the northwestern province of Idlib, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey in September agreed to set up a demilitarised cordon around the region of Idlib to stave off a massive regime offensive.

But the deal's implementation has stalled after jihadists refused to withdraw from the expected buffer zone by a mid-October deadline, and sporadic shelling and clashes have since rocked the area.

The teacher and four children were leaving the school in the town of Jarjanaz in the southeast of Idlib province when the artillery fire hit, said Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman.

Saturday's killings are the latest in a string of similar incidents, according to the Britain-based monitor, which says it relies on sources inside Syria for its information.

On November 2, regime shelling killed at least five civilans in the same town of Jarjanaz.

On October 26, artillery fire by pro-government forces killed seven civilians in the town of Al-Rifa inside the Idlib region.

The September 17 deal was intended to protect three million inhabitants in the Idlib region, more than half of which is held by an alliance led by jihadists of Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate.

Syria's regime has insisted that the buffer zone deal is temporary and that Idlib will eventually revert to government control.

Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people since it erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.
Police in Hoover, Alabama, originally said 21-year-old Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford pulled a gun and opened fire during a physical altercation in the Riverchase Galleria mall

A policeman appears to have shot and killed the wrong person in responding to a shooting in an Alabama shopping mall that left two others wounded, police said Saturday, correcting an earlier account of the Black Friday incident.

Police in Hoover, Alabama, originally said 21-year-old Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford pulled a gun and opened fire during a physical altercation in the Riverchase Galleria mall, wounding an 18-year-old man.

A 12-year-old girl was also wounded in the incident.

A uniformed Hoover police officer then shot Bradford dead as he ran from the scene brandishing a gun, police said.

"New evidence suggests that while Bradford may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation, he likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim," Hoover police said in a statement.

"This information indicates that there is at least one gunman at large, who could be responsible for the shooting of the 18-year-old male and 12-year-old female." he said.

US media published photographs of Bradford, who was black.

There have been a series of fatal encounters in recent years between US police and African Americans, who formed the Black Lives Matter Movement in response.

The police officer involved has been put on administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
Bodyguards escort the motorcade of the UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, following his meeting with a Huthi rebel leader in the capital Sanaa, on November 24, 2018

United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths met Yemeni officials in Riyadh on Monday as part of efforts to kick-start peace talks next month between Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government.

The visit comes as a tenuous calm settles over Yemen's rebel-held port city of Hodeida, a vital lifeline for imports and aid that had seen fierce clashes in a renewed offensive by a Saudi-led military coalition.

Under heavy international pressure, the Yemeni government and the coalition have largely suspended their five-month-old battle to seize Hodeida.

Griffiths, who is spearheading efforts to hold peace talks in Sweden in December, met Yemen's Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani in the Saudi capital, the Yemeni state-run news agency Saba said.

The Yemeni leaders discussed with Griffiths arrangements for the upcoming negotiations and possible "confidence building measures" to test the "rebels' seriousness" about peace efforts, Saba reported.

The UN envoy, who visited Hodeida last week to assess the humanitarian situation, was also expected to meet with Yemen's internationally recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, a Saudi government source told AFP.

A Yemeni child receives a polio vaccination during an immunisation campaign at a health centre on the outskirts of the capital Sanaa on November 26, 2018

Fighting in the Red Sea city intensified in early November as coalition-backed loyalist forces attempted to enter the city, but calm returned after Griffiths arrived in Yemen on Wednesday.

Griffiths has urged the warring parties to "keep the peace" in Hodeida.

While the loyalist advance there has largely stalled, minor clashes have continued.

Military officials quoted by Saba on Sunday evening said the loyalists had foiled a Huthi "infiltration attempt" into a camp in Hays, a district about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Hodeida.

The rebels said they had detonated an explosive device near the eastern entrance of Hodeida, "destroying a (pro-government) military vehicle... killing and wounding soldiers inside", Huthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Monday.

Loyalists did not confirm the attack.

But pro-government military officials told AFP on Monday that their operations in the east and south of the Red Sea city had been suspended.

- Desperately needed respite -

Both warring sides have expressed support for the UN envoy's current effort to hold talks, which marks the biggest push for a peace deal in Yemen in two years.

But in a sign of lingering distrust, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters in Riyadh on Monday that efforts to hold the Sweden talks were progressing "despite Huthi efforts to obstruct them".

President Hadi -- whose UN-recognised government was pushed out of Sanaa by rebels who overran the capital in 2014 -- has said he backs peace efforts but has vowed to "liberate" Hodeida.

In September, a previous round of UN-led peace talks faltered when the Huthis refused to travel to Geneva, accusing the world body of failing to guarantee their delegation's return to Sanaa or secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.

Previous talks broke down in 2016, when 108 days of negotiations in Kuwait failed to yield a deal and left rebel delegates stranded in Oman for three months.

The heads of the UN's humanitarian and children's agencies have said the recent de-escalation in fighting in Hodeida is providing a desperately needed respite to hundreds of thousands of civilians.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led intervention began, though some rights groups estimate the toll could be five times higher.

Humanitarian organisations are desperate to see the current peace push translate into a more permanent halt to the conflict.

UN agencies say 14 million Yemenis are at risk of starvation and the closure of Hodeida port would further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

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An Iranian woman walks past a Qatar Airways branch in the capital Tehran on June 6, 2017

Qatar Airways announced Monday it is expanding operations in Iran, despite US sanctions on the Islamic republic and a Gulf diplomatic rift over accusations Doha was too close to Tehran.

The carrier will begin twice-weekly flights to Isfahan in February 2019 and increase existing services to Shiraz and Tehran in January 2019, it said in a statement.

"These latest launches are further evidence of Qatar Airways' commitment to Iran," said Akbar al-Baker, the airline's group chief executive.

Last month, Baker said services to Iran would continue despite a tightening economic and political squeeze on the Islamic republic by Washington.

The United States said it would impose sanctions on any American or foreign company that continues to do business with Iran, prompting some major airlines, including Air France, KLM and British Airways, to stop flights to Iran.

A first tranche of US punitive measures were introduced in August after Washington withdrew earlier this year from the 2015 international deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Coupled with the US sanctions, Qatar is under scrutiny from regional powers over its relationship with Iran.

Since June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a sweeping diplomatic and economic embargo on Qatar.

The four countries accuse Doha of seeking closer ties with Iran, Saudi Arabia's arch-rival, as well as supporting radical Islamist groups.

Qatar, which shares the world's largest natural gas field with Iran, denies the charges, saying its former allies are seeking regime change.
Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson (2nd-L, pictured August 2017), a coordinator in Togo's main opposition coalition, called the general elections a "masquerade"

The main opposition coalition in Togo said Monday it will boycott December 20 general elections and call for further protests over what it alleged was a "fraudulent" poll.

"We're not going to give our blessing to this masquerade being prepared," a coordinator in the coalition, Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson, told local radio.

Togo's Constitutional Court has validated ballots for 12 parties -- but not any for the 14-party opposition coalition that has staged protests in the former French colony over the past year.

Ballots for 17 independent candidates have also been approved.

Adjamagbo-Johnson vowed "we will do everything so that the elections don't happen -- we never want fraudulent elections in Togo."

She said the coalition has asked the Economic Community of West African States, a regional body that has been following Togo's political crisis, to step in.

Two new demonstrations are planned for Thursday and Saturday, Adjamagbo-Johnson said.

The opposition is demanding a shakeup of Togo's electoral authority and a reboot of election preparations.

The government's security minister, General Yark Damehame, last week warned against acts of violence seeking to upset the campaigns and voting.

"A boycott is a democratic choice. One should not seek to destroy the voting booth or the ballot box," he told the radio.

Togo's crisis has been going on since September 2017, when protesters filled the streets in the capital Lome and elsewhere to demand President Faure Gnassingbe resign.

Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005, following the death of his father who reigned for 38 years.
View of a Guinea bauxite factory as the world's largest producer plans to tap resources in two new regions in a multi-billion dollar deal including Singaporean and Chineses firms

The government of Guinea, the world's third largest producer of bauxite, signed on Monday a $3 billion (2.6 billion euro) deal to tap reserves of the mineral in two new regions as well as build a railway and plant to process it into alumina.

The consortium includes the Guinean bauxite mining company SMB and transport firm UMS, the Singaporean firm Winning Shipping and Chinese aluminium manufacturer Shandong Weiqiao.

The consortium plans to build a 135-kilometre (85-mile) railway to transport bauxite from currently undeveloped reserves in the northern Santou and Houda areas, to the coast near Boke, at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.

A plant to process the bauxite into alumina, which is a key component of aluminium, is expected to cost between $700-900 million.

While Guinea has abundant mineral resources which have driven economic growth in recent years, mining has not led to widespread employment and wealth.

The government recently indicated it is interested in developing other sectors, and the consortium also plans to use the railroad to encourage industrial agriculture in the regions through which it passes.
Dozens of fighters believed to be loyal to Boko Haram factional leader Abubakar Shekau attacked a group of farmers working in their field near Jiddari-Polo

Boko Haram jihadists have killed four farmers near the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, in the latest bloodshed in the restive region, witnesses and a local militia leader said on Monday.

Dozens of fighters believed to be loyal to Boko Haram factional leader Abubakar Shekau attacked a group of farmers working in their field near Jiddari-Polo on Monday, said the farmers who survived the attack.

They said the Islamists hacked their victims to death and left another farmer with severe injuries.

"They came in large numbers on foot while we were picking cowpea in the field and arrested six of us while others escaped," Mala Umara told AFP.

"They macheted four to death before my eyes and left the other man seriously injured," he said.

A civilian militia leader in the city, Babakura Kolo confirmed the killings.

Umara, 75, was spared by the militants with a message to Nigerian troops stationed in Jiddari-Polo that they should brace for an impending attack from the jihadists.

"They asked me to deliver a message to the soldiers that they should be prepared for an attack soon.

"They told me the same message three times and emphasized I convey it to the soldiers," Umara said.

Abba Muhammad was also among the farmers who escaped when the militants stormed the crop fields.

"Five of them armed with guns and machetes encircled me and began asking me the location of soldiers in Jiddari-Polo," he said.

"One of them shouted that they should attack me with machetes but I instinctively bolted.

"Two of them pursued me but I was too fast for them. They took my bicycle with them," he said.

Authorities in the region could not be immediately reached about this latest attack.

Boko Haram has stepped up attacks on farmers and loggers in recent years, accusing them of passing information about the group to the military.

Last week, the jihadists killed nine farmers and abducted 12 others in an attack on Mammanti village near Maiduguri.

On November 16, the insurgents kidnapped 50 loggers near the town of Gamboru on the border with Cameroon, four days after 15 farmers were shot dead as they worked in their fields near the garrison town of Monguno, 140 kilometres from Maiduguri.

Last month the jihadists hacked 12 farmers to death in Kalle, a remote village 17 kilometres from Maiduguri.

Despite the government's insistence that Boko Haram are near defeat, the group has recently carried out major attacks on military and civilian targets, killing scores.

Security sources said at least 44 soldiers were killed in an attack in Metele village, near the border with Niger, last week, although one soldier who escaped gave a higher toll.

AFP has reported at least 17 attempts to overrun army bases since July.

Many have been claimed by the IS-backed Boko Haram faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

More than 27,000 people have died since the start of the insurgency in the remote northeast in 2009 and 1.8 million are still homeless.
Members of a rebel administration in Syria's last insurgent stronghold Idlib escort a four-year-old girl named Yasmine near the Bab al-Hawa crossing with Turkey in northern Syria on November 26, 2018

A rebel administration in Syria's last major insurgent stronghold of Idlib handed over a four-year-old girl to her Belgian mother on Monday after a custody dispute following her father's death.

An AFP journalist saw the tiny girl named Yasmine, dressed in a bright pink coat and clutching a gift-wrapped teddy bear, being led to the Turkish border to meet her mother.

Her handover was overseen by the civilian branch of the powerful Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) alliance, which is led by the jihadists of Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate.

"Yasmine was handed over today to her Belgian mother Hajer after the dispute was solved between those who were her guardians here and her mother," Fawaz Hilal, head of the administration, told AFP.

"There was communication with the Turkish side to hand over the girl to her mother who was in Turkey," he said.

Ibrahim Shasho, another member of the rebel administration, said the mother "filed a petition for custody of her daughter after her father died".

The father's "friends" had looked after Yasmine since his death and insisted she remain in their care, Shasho said, without providing any further details on their identity.

"The (HTS) judiciary looked into the case and found in favour of the mother," added the bearded man, who brought the wide-eyed child into a press conference to have her photo taken.

The officials did not say whether the child's father was a fighter, or to what armed group he might have belonged.

There was no immediate information from the Belgian or Turkish authorities.

HTS controls more than half of the Idlib region, but other jihadists including the Al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen group are also present in the northwestern region bordering Turkey.

Turkey-backed rebels hold most of the rest of the region.

Idlib has since September been protected from a massive regime assault by a fragile truce deal between regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey.

Thousands of foreign fighters are present in the region, where they are members of HTS but also other jihadist groups.

Some of them have banded together to create what is known as the "French battalion", which is close to Hurras al-Deen, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In February, two Canadians -- a man and a woman -- were released to Turkish authorities after being held by HTS for several weeks.

Jolly Bimbachi and a male friend had crossed into Syria from Lebanon, searching for her two sons, she told AFP.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A conservative writer and associate of Trump confidant Roger Stone said he is in plea talks with special counsel Robert Mueller's team.

Jerome Corsi told The Associated Press on Friday that he has been negotiating a potential plea but declined to comment further. He said on a YouTube show earlier this month that he expected to be charged with lying to federal investigators, though he said at the time that he was innocent of wrongdoing.

Mueller's team questioned Corsi as part of an investigation into Stone's connections with WikiLeaks. American intelligence agencies have assessed that Russia was the source of hacked material released by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election that damaged Hillary Clinton's campaign. Mueller's office is trying to determine whether Stone and other associates of President Donald Trump had advance knowledge of WikiLeaks' plans.

The confirmation of plea talks - first reported by The Washington Post - comes as Mueller's team has just received fresh information from Trump personally and as federal prosecutors in Virginia recently inadvertently disclosed the existence of sealed charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

It's unclear if the charges against Assange are related to Mueller's investigation, but WikiLeaks was singled out in an indictment last summer against a group of Russian intelligence officers accused of carrying out the wide-ranging hack of Clinton's campaign and other Democratic organizations.

It's also not known if any plea by Corsi signals a new raft of charges by the special counsel or just that investigators are aggressively pursuing cases against people they believe made false statements to investigators. Mueller has brought such cases against four others, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2008, file photo, Jerome Corsi, right, arrives at the immigration department in Nairobi, Kenya. Corsi, a conservative writer and associate of President Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone says he is in plea talks with special counsel Robert Mueller's team. Jerome Corsi told The Associated Press on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018, that he has been negotiating a potential plea but declined to comment further. (AP Photo) ** KENYA OUT **

In a brief phone call with the AP, Corsi declined to elaborate on the details of any plea deal or say if a court hearing had been set.

Corsi, the former Washington bureau chief of the conspiracy theory outlet InfoWars, has said he cooperated with the probe for about two months after he received a subpoena in August. As part of that cooperation, he turned over two computers and a cell phone and provided the FBI access to his email accounts and tweets.

But he said earlier this month that talks with investigators recently had "blown up."

"I fully anticipate that in the next few days, I will be indicted by Mueller," he said.

The spokesman for the special counsel, Peter Carr, declined comment on Friday.

Shortly after his YouTube show appearance, Corsi broke off a scheduled interview with NBC News and declined any other media interviews. His comments Friday were the first since then.

Stone has denied being a conduit for WikiLeaks, which published thousands of emails stolen from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta in the weeks before the election.

Stone, who also has said he is prepared to be indicted, said earlier this month that he "had no advanced notice of the source or content or the exact timing of the release of the WikiLeaks disclosures."

He told AP in a separate statement Friday: "It is clear from his recent videos and his recent interviews that my friend Dr. Corsi has been under a tremendous amount of pressure and it is beginning to affect him profoundly. He has stated publicly that he is being asked over and over to say things he simply does not believe occurred."

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Follow Chad Day on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChadSDay
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday called Israel a "cancerous tumor" established by Western countries to advance their interests in the Middle East.

Iran's leaders frequently condemn Israel and predict its demise, but Rouhani, a relative moderate, rarely employs such rhetoric.

Addressing an annual Islamic Unity Conference on Saturday, Rouhani said "one of the ominous results of World War II was the formation of a cancerous tumor in the region." He went on to refer to Israel as a "fake regime" set up by Western countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded later Saturday, saying "Rouhani's slander, which calls for the destruction of Israel, proves yet again why the nations of the world need to join in the sanctions against the Iranian terrorist regime which threatens them."

Iran supports militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas that are pledged to Israel's destruction. Iran has never threatened to attack Israel, but has vowed to retaliate if it is attacked. Israel views Iran as an existential threat.

Rouhani said the United States cultivates close ties with "regional Muslim nations" to protect Israel, an apparent reference to Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia and the kingdom's Sunni Arab allies. He said bowing to American pressure amounts to "treason."

In this photo released by official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani attends an annual Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. Rouhani has called Israel a "cancerous tumor" established by Western countries to advance their interests in the Middle East. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

He added, however, that Iran was prepared to defend Saudi Arabia from "terrorism and superpowers."

"We do consider you as a brother," he said. "We do consider the people of Mecca and Medina our brothers," he added, referring to Islam's two holiest cities, in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran nearly three years ago after Iranian protesters stormed its diplomatic posts in Iran in response the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. The two countries support opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen.
MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) - Police in an ongoing crackdown arrested some 1100 supporters of a detained radical Islamic cleric, who disrupted daily life with nationwide rallies following the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy, officials said Saturday.

Senior police officer Tahir Mahmood said that supporters of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party were picked up in sweeps across the country, mainly in Punjab province, following the arrest of its leader, Khadim Hussain Rizvi. Mahmood said police teams raided Labbaik party seminaries, the homes of party leaders and supporters and hiding places to net them.

He said police also arrested scores of Rizvi's supporters as they took to streets to protest his overnight arrest. He said most of the arrested men were sent to prison for one month. He added that those charged with violence and arson in their protests over Asia Bibi's acquittal would be dealt with according to relevant laws.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the current crackdown on Labbaik party supporters has nothing to do with Asia Bibi's case. He said the arrests are being made to contain those exploiting the situation in the name of religion to gain political strength.

Rizvi's supporters held violent rallies against the Supreme Court's Oct. 31 acquittal of Bibi. Rizvi has called for more protests on Sunday in the capital, Islamabad. Pre-empting the possible protest, police in the capital have set up security posts near a vital intersection that connects the capital with the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Rizvi and his supporters earlier this year blocked that intersection for 20 days protesting the change of a religious reference in a parliamentary document. That protest led to the resignation of the law minister of previous government.

Pakistan's hard-line Islamists have threatened to kill anyone who insults Islam or speaks out against the country's blasphemy laws.

Pakistani security officials stand guard after a clash with religious protesters in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday evening, Nov. 23, 2018. Police in Pakistan have arrested hundreds of supporters of a detained radical Islamic cleric who disrupted daily life with nationwide rallies following the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

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Associated Press writer Zarar Khan in Islamabad contributed to this report.

FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2017 file photo, the head of the Pakistani Tehreek-e-Labbaik radical religious party, Khadim Hussain Rizvi prays during a sit-in protest in Islamabad, Pakistan. The party of a radical Islamic cleric who disrupted daily life with rallies across Pakistan following the acquittal of a Christian woman in a blasphemy case says he has been arrested Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 by police in the city of Lahore. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash, file)

Police officers stand outside a sealed office of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik party in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. Police in Pakistan have arrested hundreds of supporters of a detained radical Islamic cleric who disrupted daily life with nationwide rallies following the acquittal of a Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - A prominent Saudi royal said Saturday that whether or not heads of state gathered in Argentina next week for the Group of 20 summit warmly engage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is someone "that they have to deal with."

Prince Turki al-Faisal told The Associated Press the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul last month is "an unacceptable incident that tars and mars the long record of Saudi Arabia's own standing in the world."

"We will have to bear that. It's not something that should not be faced. And we do face it," he said.

Intelligence officials and analysts say the operation to kill Khashoggi, who wrote critically of the crown prince for The Washington Post, could not have happened without Prince Mohammed's knowledge. The kingdom, which has offered several conflicting accounts of the killing, denies the crown prince had any involvement.

The crown prince embarked late Thursday on his first foreign tour since the Oct. 2 killing with a visit to the United Arab Emirates. He's expected to visit other Mideast countries before going to Buenos Aires Nov. 30 for the start of the two-day G-20 summit, where he'll come face to face with world leaders.

President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has kept international pressure mounting on the kingdom, are among those expected to attend.

Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal talks to the Associated Press in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday Nov. 24, 2018. A prominent Saudi royal says whether or not heads of state gathered in Argentina next week for the Group of 20 summit warmly engage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is someone "that they have to deal with." Prince Turki al-Faisal told The Associated Press the kingdom "will have to bear" that its reputation has been tarred by the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate last month. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

"Whether the leaders in that summit will warmly engage with the crown prince or not, I think all of them recognize that the kingdom as a country and King Salman and the crown prince are people that they have to deal with," the prince said.

He said Saudi Arabia will continue to play a role on the world stage and that Trump's statement of support for Saudi Arabia recognizes the importance of the kingdom.

Trump insists there's not enough evidence to blame the crown prince for Khashoggi's killing, despite a U.S. intelligence report's assessment to the contrary. Trump says the kingdom is an important ally that has helped to lower oil prices.

"I thought President Trump was expressing what he felt was in the interest of the United States. He emphasized the strategic relationship between the two countries in the same statement and how Saudi Arabia has been helpful in many instances - not just oil," said Prince Turki.

The prince also firmly dismissed the U.S. intelligence assessments that the crown prince had ordered Khashoggi's killing, saying these same intelligence bodies had a "remarkably flawed assessment" in 2003 in the lead up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

"So we don't take it as being, as I said, divine revelation," he said of the U.S. intelligence reports.

Prince Turki, who led Saudi intelligence for more than two decades and served as ambassador to the U.S. and Britain, worked closely for years with Khashoggi before the writer became an outspoken government critic. The prince said Khashoggi worked under him as a spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in London and later in Washington, and that he last spoke to him three years ago.

The prince's father is the late King Faisal and his brother is Prince Khalid al-Faisal, the governor of Mecca.

Prince Turki said that reports of discontent within the ruling Al Saud family over the crown prince's rapid rise to power do not reflect the "extraordinary support" that King Salman and his son, the crown prince, enjoy.

"I see no signs of such disquiet or uncertainty vis-a-vi the king and the crown prince," he said.

The prince spoke Saturday during a policy briefing by the Beirut Institute Summit . The summit is the brainchild of Arab writer and columnist Raghida Dergham. The prince is a board member and supporter of the summit, which draws upon recommendations of its participants to put forth policy ideas for the Middle East.

Among its recommendations is support for the Arab Peace Initiative, a Saudi initiative dating back to the early 2000s that calls for east Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state including the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in exchange for Arab state recognition of Israel and normalized relations.

In the absence of peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis, Gulf Arab states have moved ahead with their own outreach to Israel .

The driving force appears to be shared concern over Iran's expansion in the region. Oman, which has often played the role of regional mediator, welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a surprise visit last month.

Prince Turki, who himself appeared on a panel last year alongside a former chief for Israel's Mossad spy agency, said such appearances do not represent a normalizing of relations with Israel.

"I don't think it's so much a rapprochement as, how can I put it, a shot by shot deal that rises as happened with the effort by the Sultan of Oman to push for a restart of the negotiations," he said.

Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal talks to the Associated Press in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday Nov. 24, 2018. A prominent Saudi royal says whether or not heads of state gathered in Argentina next week for the Group of 20 summit warmly engage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is someone "that they have to deal with." Prince Turki al-Faisal told The Associated Press the kingdom "will have to bear" that its reputation has been tarred by the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate last month. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal talks to the Associated Press in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday Nov. 24, 2018. A prominent Saudi royal says whether or not heads of state gathered in Argentina next week for the Group of 20 summit warmly engage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is someone "that they have to deal with." Prince Turki al-Faisal told The Associated Press the kingdom "will have to bear" that its reputation has been tarred by the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate last month. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal talks to the Associated Press in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday Nov. 24, 2018. A prominent Saudi royal says whether or not heads of state gathered in Argentina next week for the Group of 20 summit warmly engage with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he is someone "that they have to deal with." Prince Turki al-Faisal told The Associated Press the kingdom "will have to bear" that its reputation has been tarred by the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate last month. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
ROME (AP) - The Catholic Church's global organization of nuns has denounced the "culture of silence and secrecy" surrounding sexual abuse in the church and is urging sisters who have been abused to report the crimes to police and their superiors.

The International Union of Superiors General, which represents more than 500,000 sisters worldwide, vowed to help nuns who have been abused to find the courage to report it, and pledged to help victims heal and seek justice.

The statement, issued on the eve of the U.N.-designated International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, was the first from the Rome-based UISG since the abuse scandal erupted anew this year and as the sexual abuse of adult nuns by clergymen has also come to light. The Associated Press reported earlier this year that the Vatican has known for decades about the problem of priests and bishops preying on nuns, but has done next to nothing to stop it.

In the statement Friday, the UISG didn't specify clergy as the aggressors. While such abuse is well known in parts of Africa, and an Indian case of the alleged rape of a nun by a bishop is currently making headlines, there have also been cases of sexual abuse committed by women against other women within congregations.

The UISG statement was broad, condemning what it called the "pattern of abuse that is prevalent within the church and society today," citing sexual, verbal and emotional abuse as types of mistreatment that festers in unequal power relations and demeans the dignity of its victims.

"We condemn those who support the culture of silence and secrecy, often under the guise of 'protection' of an institution's reputation or naming it 'part of one's culture,'" the group said.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018 file photo, a nun waits for the arrival of Pope Francis for his weekly general audience, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. The Catholic Church's global organization of nuns has denounced the "culture of silence and secrecy" surrounding sexual abuse and is urging sisters who have been abused to report the crimes to police and their superiors. The Associated Press reported earlier this year that the Vatican has known for decades about the problem of priests and bishops preying on nuns but has done next to nothing to stop it. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, file)

"We advocate for transparent civil and criminal reporting of abuse whether within religious congregations, at the parish or diocesan levels, or in any public arena," the statement said.

To mark the U.N. day calling for an end to violence against women, the head of the Italian bishops' conference, Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, issued a video message on the subject - but didn't mention sexual violence against sisters by fellow clergymen, evidence of how taboo the subject is within the church hierarchy.

An AP investigation found that cases of priest abusing nuns have emerged in Europe, Africa, South America and Asia, underscoring how sisters' second class status in the church has contributed to a power imbalance where women can be mistreated by men with near impunity.

While some nuns are finding their voices, buoyed by the #MeToo movement, many victims remain reluctant to come forward. Experts told AP sisters have a well-founded fear they won't be believed and will instead be painted as the seducer who corrupted the priest. Often the sister who denounces abuse by a priest is punished, including with expulsion from her congregation, while the priest's vocation is preserved at all cost.

The Vatican has known for years about the problem in Africa after a series of major studies were commissioned in the 1990s. Religious sisters reported that African nuns were being particularly targeted by priests seeking to avoid HIV transmission from prostitutes or other women.

In the wake of the AP report, the umbrella organization of U.S. sisters, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, urged sisters who had been abused to report to both civil and church authorities. Many of the LCWR's members also belong to the global UISG, which can provide a point of contact with the Vatican.
MOSCOW (AP) - The head of Russia's Roscosmos space agency has said that a proposed Russian mission to the moon will be tasked with verifying that the American moon landings were real, though he appeared to be making a joke.

"We have set this objective to fly and verify whether they've been there or not," said Dmitry Rogozin in a video posted Saturday on Twitter.

Rogozin was responding to a question about whether or not NASA actually landed on the moon nearly 50 years ago. He appeared to be joking, as he smirked and shrugged while answering. But conspiracies surrounding NASA's moon missions are common in Russia.

The Soviet Union abandoned its lunar program in the mid-1970s after four experimental moon rockets exploded.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Four Finns have died in the crash of a small plane in Zimbabwe, Finland's foreign ministry announced on Saturday, while the prime minister expressed condolences to the families of those killed.

The cause of the crash was not yet known. Zimbabwe's state media reported that the plane had been en route to the popular tourist site of Victoria Falls when it crashed on Friday in Masvingo.

A district administrator, Roy Hove, confirmed five deaths overall, telling the newspaper the bodies were "decapitated and mangled beyond recognition."

Police in a statement said the plane crashed into a hillside.

"This is a horrible tragedy," Finland's honorary consul in Harare, Jim Ward, told Finnish tabloid Ilta-Sanomat. He said the purpose of the group's trip was unknown.

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Associated Press writer Jari Tanner in Helsinki, Finland contributed.

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Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - Zimbabwe's 94-year-old former president Robert Mugabe is no longer able to walk as his health declines, his successor said Saturday.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa told ruling party supporters that Mugabe has been in a hospital in Singapore for the past two months.

"He can no longer walk but we will continue to take care of him," said Mnangagwa, who took over from his former mentor a year ago after Mugabe stepped down under military pressure.

Mugabe was the world's oldest head of state before his dramatic exit following 37 years in power, a period in which he led the country from independence into repression and economic collapse. For years, Zimbabweans who saw their aging leader nod off during events speculated how long he would stay in office, while his wife vowed that he could rule from the grave.

In a rare public appearance in July, Mugabe slumped behind a bank of microphones during a press conference and didn't leave his chair until reporters left.

In his remarks on Saturday to supporters at a rally in Mugabe's home district, Mnangagwa said the former leader had planned to return to Zimbabwe on Oct. 15 but was not feeling well. Mnangagwa did not give further details about Mugabe's condition.

FILE - In this Sunday, July 29, 2018 file photo, former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe holds a press briefing at his residence in Harare. Zimbabwe's former president Robert Mugabe is no longer able to walk as his health declines, his successor says. President Emmerson Mnangagwa told ruling party supporters at a rally Saturday, Nov. 24 that the 94-year-old Mugabe has been in a hospital in Singapore for the past two months. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, file)

He is now expected to return to Zimbabwe on Nov. 30.

The president and Mugabe, whose firing of Mnangagwa as his deputy led to his ouster, have made recent signs of reconciliation. Mugabe supported an opposition leader in Zimbabwe's historic election in July but in September said he accepted Mnangagwa's win. "All of us are now duty-bound to rally behind the government," he said.

Mnangagwa in turn on Saturday heaped praise on the former president.

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Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa
ROME (AP) - Italy's leader says the government won't budge on its debt-swelling budget plans as he heads to Brussels for European Union talks.

Premier Giuseppe Conte said Saturday his populist coalition will forge ahead with promised reforms that the EU warns could trigger sanctions.

Conte said he'll use his working dinner Saturday night with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker to "keep the negotiation open" in the interest of Italy and Europe.

Italy argues that increased spending will finally make the economy grow, which in turn, would lower debt.

Reforms include implementing election promises to let Italians retire at a younger age and provide a minimum income for the unemployed while they train and seek work.

Conte said on the sidelines of a conference in Rome that "we'll do all we have promised."

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte speaks during the Mediterranean Dialogues conference in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. Foreign ministers of Russia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and other countries gather in the Italian capital for the third edition of the Rome Med Dialogues. (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP)
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - The suicide bomber that targeted the Chinese consulate in Karachi used a foreign-made C-4 plastic explosive, said Pakistani police, who suggested Saturday that the attack was orchestrated in India.

Counter-terrorism officer Umar Khitab said that authorities are investigating whether Baluch separatist commander Aslam Achhu, who they believe masterminded the attack, is in India. The Baluch Liberation Army claimed the attack, and Khitab said the group is backed by "the enemy country," a reference to India.

There was no immediate comment from India's External Affairs Ministry.

Two other Pakistani officials said four suspects, who allegedly facilitated three attackers, were arrested in Karachi and other Sindh province towns. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media.

Friday's attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi triggered an intense shootout that left all three assailants, two police officers and two civilians dead.

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Pakistani security personnel arrive at the Chinese Consulate following Friday's attack on the premises in Karachi, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. Pakistani police say the suicide bomber that struck the country's Chinese consulate used foreign-made C-4 plastic explosive and suggested the attack was orchestrated in India. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma in New Delhi, India, contributed to this report.
Governors have a wide range of priorities they want to tackle in the coming year, from tax reform to education. Yet it's a topic that receives less attention on the campaign trail and in their speeches that could determine their success - natural disasters.

In the last two years alone, storms and natural disasters have killed scores of people, damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of homes and cost tens of billions of dollars.

Wildfires in the West and hurricanes in the South have been especially destructive, and scientists say climate change is making this more common. As the severity escalates, governors are finding they have to make disaster planning a priority or risk the consequences of inaction defining their terms and enraging voters.

Handling disasters and emergencies was a prime topic last week when the National Governors Association held a three-day seminar in Colorado that most of the nation's 19 governors-elect attended.

"As California's wildfires, a spate of hurricanes, and unfortunate acts of mass violence have demonstrated, such events can occur at any time," Scott Pattison, the nonpartisan association's chief executive, said in a statement, "including a governor's first day in office."

For many Democratic governors especially, the main concern is how climate change appears to be worsening the effects of natural disasters.

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2018 file photo, President Donald Trump talks with from left, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, as California Gov. Jerry Brown, walks at right during a visit to a neighborhood destroyed by the Camp wildfire in Paradise, Calif. For US governors, including those taking office early next year, fires, floods and other climate-related emergencies could become top policy concerns. During his campaign, Newsom said the state needs to be more aggressive in clearing trees and brush, particularly its millions of dead trees. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

In California, half of the 10 most destructive wildfires in state history have occurred since 2017, and the costliest have been in each of the past three years, according to the state firefighting agency. The state has spent $500 million from its emergency firefighting fund just since July 1, putting this wildfire season on pace to be among the costliest yet.

The state is dealing with its most destructive wildfire ever, a Northern California blaze that leveled a town of 27,000 this month, killed at least 80 people and left thousands homeless. That blaze, and another that roared through Malibu at the same time and left at least three dead, are the latest in a string of catastrophic wildfires that have put the state in what seems like a perpetual state of emergency.

Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown has called California's mega fires "the new abnormal" as climate change turns the state warmer and drier.

The escalating destruction prompted state lawmakers to pass a series of wildfire-related bills this year. Among other provisions, they provide millions of dollars to cut trees and brush, make it easier for property owners to clear their land and require the state's utilities to step up their fire-prevention efforts.

During his campaign, incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom said wildfire planning would be a priority for his administration and outlined a number of steps he wants to take. Among them is a more aggressive approach to clearing trees and brush, particularly the state's millions of dead trees.

"I'd rather see our National Guard working on those kinds of emergencies than being on the border," Newsom told the nonprofit news organization CALmatters over the summer.

He also proposed deploying a network of infrared cameras to detect wildfires early, improving the emergency alert system and boosting funding for fire departments throughout the state.

A spokesman, Nathan Click, said Newsom is putting together a comprehensive wildfire strategy as he prepares to take office in early January. But the governor-elect also has been clear that the long-term goal must be reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

California's fire season has been especially severe, yet other Western states also have experienced ever-intensifying wildland blazes in recent years.

In Colorado, the two most destructive wildfires in state history erupted within the last six years, killed a total of four people and destroyed more than 850 homes combined. Both are believed to be caused by humans, leading Democrat Jared Polis, Colorado's governor-elect, to call for a public education campaign to reduce the possibility of manmade wildfires.

He also said the state should invest in programs to remove flammable debris and help communities and private landowners take steps to prevent the spread of wildfires.

Nearly 1 million people in Colorado live in areas considered to have at least some risk of a devastating fire.

Florida has been hit with two deadly and destructive hurricanes in roughly a year's time. Hurricanes Irma last year and Michael in October caused tens of billions of dollars in damage.

Even without hurricanes, many coastal communities are dealing with flooding from high tides and storm surges. Incoming Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has already said he will work with local governments to address rising sea levels, but has been criticized by Democrats for avoiding any mention of climate change in his environmental plan.

DeSantis has said he is neither a climate change "denier" nor a "believer." That could be a problem for identifying long-term solutions to keep coastal communities safe, said Jen Hensley, the director of state lobbying and advocacy at the Sierra Club.

She said one reason Hurricane Michael was so devastating was a lack of strong statewide coastal development standards.

"We're going to have to change zoning rules in coastal areas," Hensley said. "The reality is that those areas are more flood prone than they've ever been."

A massive federal report released Friday warns that disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes are worsening in the United States because of global warming.

It's similar in Texas, which has seen widespread destruction from hurricanes and where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has been noncommittal about whether he thinks human activity is affecting the climate.

Texas has sought $12 billion from the federal government for a 60-mile coastal "spine" of concrete seawalls, floating gates and steel levees as a defense against future hurricanes and higher tides expected from climate change. That's just a fraction of the work the state estimates need to be done over the next decade to reduce the impact of flooding.

In 2017, Hurricane Harvey left Houston underwater, killed dozens and left an estimated $125 billion in damage. Abbott named a recovery czar after the storm and wants to "future-proof" the Texas coast, but attention on the issue has faded.

Governors in New York and New Jersey pushed for changes after Superstorm Sandy devastated the region in 2012.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, signed a law requiring sea level rise projections to be used whenever the state considers approvals or funding for projects. Then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, pushed policies to buy homes in some flood-prone areas, although environmentalists criticized him for not addressing climate change.

Those groups cheered last year when Democrat Phil Murphy was elected to replace Christie, but they have been critical of him too since, saying he's not taking action to address global warming.

Earlier this month, Murphy experienced the perils of falling short on the basics of emergency preparedness when an early season snowstorm hit without plows at the ready, bringing roads and the transit system to a standstill and stranding thousands of commuters.

He was hit with waves of criticism, and his transportation commissioner was forced to apologize.

Murphy said it was too simplistic to say his administration "dropped the ball." But he added, "The buck stops with me, period."

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Associated Press writers Dan Elliott in Denver; Tom Verdin in Sacramento, California; David Warren in Dallas; and Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, contributed to this article.

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Follow Mulvihill at http://www.twitter.com/geoffmulvihill

FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2018 file photo, President Donald Trump talks with Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, left, as California Gov. Jerry Brown listens during a visit to a neighborhood impacted by the Camp wildfire in Paradise, Calif. For US governors, including 19 taking office early next year, fires, floods and other climate-related emergencies could become top policy concerns. For some, the concern is often trying to curtail global warming. But other leaders also have taken steps to mitigate damage from future disasters. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 14, 2018 file photo, California Gov. Jerry Brown, center, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, second from right, tour the Camp-fire ravaged Paradise Elementary School in Paradise, Calif. For US governors, including those taking office early next year, fires, floods and other climate-related emergencies could become top policy concerns. Outgoing Gov. Brown has called California's mega fires "the new abnormal" as climate change turns the state warmer and drier. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama, accompanied by, from left, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg visits with resident Debbie Ingenito on Cedar Grove Avenue, a street significantly impacted by Superstorm Sandy on Staten Island in New York. For US governors, including those taking office early in 2019, fires, floods and other climate-related emergencies could become top policy concerns. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2012 file photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo greets residents of the Far Rockaway section of the Queens borough of New York, hard hit by Superstorm Sandy. For US governors, including those taking office early in 2019, fires, floods and other climate-related emergencies could become top policy concerns. For some, the concern is often trying to curtail global warming. But other leaders also have taken steps to mitigate damage from future disasters. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2018 file photo, President Donald Trump, accompanied by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, speaks during a briefing on Hurricane Harvey relief efforts at the the Texas Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center in Austin, Texas. Texas has sought $12 billion from the federal government for a 60-mile coastal "spine" of concrete seawalls, floating gates and steel levees as a defense against future hurricanes and higher tides expected from climate change. That's just a fraction of the work the state estimates need to be done over the next decade to reduce the impact of flooding. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2017 file photo, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott surveys damage on Pearl Street in Rockport, Texas, during a tour of damage from Hurricane Harvey. For US governors, including those taking office in early 2019, fires, floods and other climate-related emergencies could become top policy concerns. Texas has sought $12 billion from the federal government for a 60-mile coastal "spine" of concrete seawalls, floating gates and steel levees as a defense against future hurricanes and higher tides expected from climate change. (Courtney Sacco/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via AP, File)
(CNN)  At least 35 people died in a boat accident on Lake Victoria in Uganda on Saturday, according to the Ugandan Police Force.

Police said the boat was "in poor mechanical shape" and was overloaded with passengers on a lake cruise when it capsized.

A marine unit has rescued 26 people, and searches are ongoing to find more passengers. More than 50 people are unaccounted for, said Army Lt. Col. Deo Akiiki Asimwe.

Authorities said they expect the death toll to rise.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni offered condolences to the victims, adding that "according to preliminary information from the security services" the boat was "private, unregistered, unlicensed and maybe uninsured."

Somalia's President also tweeted about the incident, saying the people of Somalia "stand by Uganda [in] this trying moment of grief."

Ugandan police spokesman Patrick Onyango said there was bad weather at the time of the accident.

This story was first published on CNN.com "At least 35 people are dead and dozens are missing after a boat accident in Uganda"
The Russian side is declaring a resolute protest over the recent violation of the rules of innocent passage in the Black Sea by Ukrainian Navy ships. Moscow has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the developing situation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Russia has repeatedly warned the Kiev regime and its Western supporters that fanning up the hysteria over the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait was dangerous. Its obvious that there was a provocation, carefully planned in terms of location and form, which is aimed at flaring up yet another point of conflict in the region and creating a new pretext to impose more sanctions against Russia," the statement reads.

"We would like to warn the Ukrainian side that its policy, coordinated with the United States and the European Union and designed at provoking conflict with Russia, is fraught with serious consequences. The Russian Federation will suppress harshly any attack on its sovereignty and security," the ministry added.

Moscow also said its outraged by vandalism attacks targeting Russian diplomatic missions in Ukraine following the Kerch standoff.

The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the incident involving Ukrainian navy ships was a very dangerous provocation on the part of Kiev

"This is a very dangerous provocation, which requires particular attention and a special investigation," Peskov said, commenting on the Kerch Strait incident.

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini urged all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately.
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (AP) - Investigators haven't been able to determine how an inmate and 23 staff members at a southern Ohio prison were exposed to and sickened by a mix of heroin and the potent painkiller fentanyl, the local prosecutor said.

Authorities couldn't determine who brought the contraband drugs to Ross Correctional Institution and don't have enough information to prosecute anyone for the August incident, Ross County Prosecutor Matt Schmidt told the Chillicothe Gazette.

The case was investigated by the State Highway Patrol, which hasn't publicly released its report.

Schmidt, who reviewed the findings, said the investigation was inconclusive about what caused the exposure. He said one possible explanation came from the inmate treated for drug exposure, who told investigators the fan in his cell blew dust or white powder into the air when it was turned on that day.

Prison officials said the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has since taken steps intended to improve staff safety at RCI and elsewhere in the state prison system. Those changes include creating a drug interdiction team of staff from multiple prisons to have ongoing safety discussions, providing more protective equipment to all prisons, and arming more staff with the overdose antidote naloxone.

"Our goal is to do everything we can to focus on safety," regional prison supervisor Michele Miller told the newspaper.

A staff memo from the department's interim director, Stu Hudson, indicated the staff at Ross Correctional Institution was supplied last month with the overdose antidote naloxone to have on hand, and 4,000 doses of naloxone are being distributed among the state's prison facilities this month, the newspaper reported.

Wardens also are considering whether to use body scanners at their prisons. Those could be used to check inmates who return to the prison from court or from work assignments elsewhere, Miller said.

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Information from: Chillicothe Gazette, http://www.chillicothegazette.com
CLEVELAND (AP) - A 30-year-old Ohio reporter who was fatally shot by her uncle in a murder-suicide is being remembered with a public memorial service.

Busch Funeral and Crematory Services says the Saturday memorial service for Cleveland.com reporter Nikki Delamotte was planned at her alma mater, Cleveland State University.

Police say Delamotte went to visit her uncle, Robert Delamotte, at his suburban Toledo home on Nov. 11. Their bodies were found the next day.

Cleveland.com reports that Nikki Delamotte wanted to reconnect with her 67-year-old uncle after having little contact with her father's family since her parents divorced.

She had worked for the website for about two years and wrote human interest and culture stories.
BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) - The official death toll has risen in an attack on a police station in the southeastern Libyan oasis town of Tazirbu, which authorities are attributing to Islamic State radicals.

In a Saturday statement, the United Nations said at least eight civilians were killed in the attack a day earlier, with nine wounded, three abducted and nine still missing and believed to be kidnapped.

The U.N.'s mission to Libya condemned the attack, and called for the immediate release of the kidnapped and their safe return to their families.

It said that conflicting parties in Libya should set their differences aside "to defeat the terrorist threat" in Libya and protect civilians in compliance with international humanitarian law.

Libya plunged into chaos after its 2011 Arab Spring uprising.
GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) - The owners of a North Carolina horse that was gunned down in her paddock are offering a reward to help find who did it.

News outlets report that a 4-year-old quarter horse named "Moonpie" was shot multiple times in on a farm last weekend.

Her owners have set up social media accounts to solicit information about who killed the horse.

Owner Cassie Dumas told WBTV-TV that she heard 18 gunshots go off the night Moonpie was killed.

Supporters have raised $2,000 in reward money for any tips that lead to arrests related to the horse's death.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) - An endangered white rhino named Bebop is the newest member of a South Texas zoo, and zookeepers hope he gets along with his new female neighbors.

The 5-year-old Southern white rhino recently joined other endangered white rhinos on display at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. White rhinos are listed as near threatened, mostly from habitat loss and poaching, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's List of Endangered Species.

Patrick Burchfield, the zoo's executive director, tells The Brownsville Herald that zoo staff is excited to have breeding-age rhinos on site.

"We have produced two baby white rhinos here at the zoo in the past," Burchfield said. "We are part of what's called a species survival program for the white rhino, and we needed to get a breeding male in here in order to breed white rhinos."

The new rhino arrived in March from the Center for Conservation of Tropical Ungulates in Punta Gorda, Florida, but underwent quarantine before being introduced to the exhibit. Zookeepers have since placed Bebop in enclosures close to the zoo's female white rhinos, Abby and Julie.

Burchfield said zoo staff members hope Bebop will successfully breed. The gestation period can take up to 18 months, Burchfield said. At birth, rhinos usually weight 140 to 150 pounds.

In this Nov. 15, 2018 photo, Bebop a male rhino, left, interacts with a female rhino at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. Bebop is new to the Gladys Porter Zoo rhino exibition. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald via AP)

Burchfield noted that rhinos are hunted for their horns and keratin.

"When the Gladys Porter Zoo began, the Southern white rhino was one of the more critically endangered rhinos, and that's why we got into the white rhino business in the first place," he said. "But thanks to excellent conservation efforts in South Africa, their numbers are back to where they are the most numerous rhinos now, but they're still threatened."

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Information from: The Brownsville Herald, http://www.brownsvilleherald.com
LISBON, Portugal (AP) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the United States of pursuing a "hidden agenda" through its military involvement in Syria.

Lavrov said Saturday that in contrast to American claims that it is intervening in Syria to help in the fight against the Islamic State group, the U.S.'s true goal is to overturn the Syrian government supported by Moscow.

Lavrov told the press while visiting Lisbon, Portugal, that "my suspicion (is) that the U.S. looks upon ISIS as a justification for their military participation in Syria," using a different acronym for IS.

"In contradiction to their loudly trumpeted claims that their main task is the eradication of terrorism in Syria, they have another hidden agenda," Lavrov said.
LONG NECK, Del. (AP) - A German shepherd is being hailed a hero after alerting a Delaware family to a potentially fatal gas leak.

The News Journal reports that 5-year-old Greta barked to wake up her owner in the middle of the night earlier this month and alerted him to a leak from a propane stove. The gas had filled several rooms in the house.

Owner Ken Walsh called Greta, a rescue dog, a "hero" for alerting him to the gas leak before it hurt him, his wife, and 14-year-old son.

Walsh said Greta was rewarded with a steak and sweet potatoes.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The United States embassy in Congo says it has received "credible and specific information of a possible terrorist threat against U.S. government facilities in Kinshasa."

A security alert to citizens gives no further details but says the embassy will be closed to the public on Monday.

Congo, unlike several countries across Africa, is not plagued by extremist attacks, though some observers have expressed concern about possible terror links to the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group active in the nation's northeast.

The vast Central African country is facing a historic election in one month's time as President Joseph Kabila has said he would step aside. The U.S. and others in the international community have annoyed Congo's government by raising concerns about how the election will be carried out.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AP) - More than six weeks after Hurricane Michael hit Florida's Panhandle, a half-dozen F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets have arrived at Eglin Air Force Base as units of the 325th Fighter Wing are beginning their operational transition.

The Category 4 hurricane heavily damaged Tyndall Air Force Base Oct. 10. Tyndall was evacuated before the storm, while Eglin, which is about 70 miles (112 kilometers ) to the west, was spared damage.

Eglin spokesman Andy Bourland tells the News Herald that 31 F-22s from Tyndall will be coming to Eglin.

The newspaper reports some missions are returning to Tyndall within the next couple of months, but the 43rd Fighter Squadron, the 2nd Fighter Squadron and Detachment 4 of the 372nd Training Squadron are moving to Eglin for the foreseeable future.
CHICAGO (AP) - Hundreds of flights have been canceled and schools in several states are closed after a snowstorm blanketed much of the Midwest.

The National Weather Service issued blizzard and winter storm warnings Sunday for a large swath of the central Plains and Great Lakes region. Flight-tracking website FlightAware reports more than 1,200 flights headed to or from the U.S. were canceled on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Part of Interstate 80 in Nebraska was closed Sunday morning after multiple accidents in the snowy conditions. It was later reopened.

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer declared a state of emergency.

The weather service said on Twitter Sunday night that Kansas City International Airport got 5.3 inches of snow, and at least 7 inches fell in Rockford, Illinois.

Schools in parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois called off Monday classes. The storm is expected to hit Indiana and Michigan early Monday.

Pedestrians walk as snow falls Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Kansas City, Mo. Blizzard-like conditions have closed highways and delayed air travel as a winter storm moves through the Midwest. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Traffic moves west along I-70 near Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. I-70 is closed west of Junction City, Kan. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Travelers walk in and out at Terminal 3 in O'Hare airport in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. More than 350 flights are already canceled ahead of blizzard-like storm taking aim at Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A plow removes snow at an entrance of the Kansas Turnpike near Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. The turnpike section of I-70 remains open. I-70 is closed west of Junction City, Kan. The area is under a blizzard warning. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

A plow clears snow from Road 438 in Douglas County near Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. The area is under a blizzard warning. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Passengers sit as they wait for their flight at O'Hare airport in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. More than 350 flights already canceled ahead of blizzard-like storm taking aim at Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A cardinal perches on snow-covered twigs in Lawrence, Kan., Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. A snowstorm had the area in a blizzard warning for several hours. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Rows of corn stalks stand in blowing snow north of Nebraska City, Neb., Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. Blizzard-like conditions have closed highways and delayed air travel as a winter storm moves through the Midwest. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Workers carry snow shovels as snow falls Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in downtown Kansas City, Mo. A winter storm blanketed much of the central Midwest with snow on Sunday at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing blizzard-like conditions that grounded hundreds of flights and forced the closure of major highways on one of the busiest travel days of the year. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Electric rental scooters are covered with fresh snow on a sidewalk Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Blizzard-like conditions have closed highways and delayed air travel as a winter storm moves through the Midwest. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Police from Roeland Park, Kan., watched as the driver of a van tried to a navigate a slick street Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, that hit the Kansas City area. A winter storm blanketed much of the central Midwest with snow on Sunday at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, bringing blizzard-like conditions that grounded hundreds of flights and forced the closure of major highways on one of the busiest travel days of the year. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP)

A pedestrian walks as snow falls Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Blizzard-like conditions have closed highways and delayed air travel as a winter storm moves through the midwest. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Heavy traffic is seen on an expressway near O'Hare International airport in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018. More than 350 flights already canceled ahead of blizzard-like storm taking aim at Chicago. A winter storm warning has been extended for Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kendall, Lake and Will counties through 9 a.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Saudi Arabia's crude oil production has hit an all-time high in November of 11.2 million barrels per day (bpd), Bloomberg reported citing an industry source familiar with the matter.

In October, the kingdoms production was running at about 10.8 million to 10.9 million barrels as it responded to stronger-than-usual demand from clients preparing for a disruption in Iranian supplies. Saudi Arabia was also using crude from domestic and overseas stockpiles to supplement supply, industry executives said at the time.

OPEC and its allies will meet in Vienna on December 6 to discuss the groups 2019 production strategy. Saudi Arabia has already said it supports a drop in output and has pledged to reduce oil exports by 500,000 barrels a day in December, compared with November.

The Saudi and Russian energy ministers, Khalid Al-Falih and Alexander Novak, are also scheduled to travel to Buenos Aires, according to people familiar with their plans. Their presence reinforces the impression that Saudi Arabia and Russia will try to reach a deal before the OPEC meeting a few days later.
ROME (AP) - The Latest on migrants in Europe (all times local):

6 p.m.

Greek authorities say they have broken a criminal ring that smuggled migrants that had entered Greece illegally to Italy by using small vessels departing from remote beaches.

A police statement Monday said three men have been arrested for alleged ring membership, while 9 more are being sought.

The suspects were caught Friday in the southern Peloponnese region, allegedly preparing to take a group of 46 migrants to Italy on a 12-meter (40-foot) long vessel.

Police said the ring charged migrants, who were seeking to continue their journey to more affluent European countries, to handle the entire Greek leg of their trip.

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, Members of Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms approach Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel that rescued twelve migrants and refugees two days ago about 78 miles north off Libyan shore. (AP Photo/Javier Fergo)

It allegedly picked them up at the northeastern land border with Turkey and drove them to the Peloponnese, from where they continued by sea.

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4:30 p.m.

Spain says a fishing vessel that rescued 12 migrants in waters north of Libya on Thursday is awaiting a decision from Italy, Malta and Libya over where the migrants can land.

The migrants are from Senegal, Mali and Libya and rescued by 13 crew members of the Spanish fishing vessel, Europa Press news agency reported. The boat is stranded in central Mediterranean waters north of Libya.

Foreign Minister Josep Borrell said Monday that Italy and Malta have rejected taking the trawler in because the rescue took place in Libyan territorial waters.

Oscar Camps, the founder of Spanish non-profit Open Arms, has criticized negotiations to send the migrants back to Libya, arguing that the country's ports can't be considered safe.

A doctor from the group boarded the Spanish fishing vessel on Saturday and confirmed all passengers were in good health.

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2:30 p.m.

Italian police say they have detained five Egyptians accused of smuggling a boatload of 264 migrants from Libya to Sicily.

The overloaded fishing boat pulled into the Ragusa port Saturday, its third day at sea, and the migrants disembarked and were registered.

Police said Monday that the migrants, most of them from Eritrea, identified the five Egyptian crew who charged them 1,500 euros apiece for the passage.

While most migrants are rescued at sea before reaching Italy, some do occasionally make it if their original boat is sturdy enough.

Overall, migrant crossings to Italy began decreasing in 2017, after Italy's previous government negotiated deals with Libyan leaders and militias. The numbers have dropped further after the current government cracked down on humanitarian groups operating rescue missions in the Mediterranean.

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, a migrant receives medical assistance after being rescued by Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel, two days ago off the Libyan shore. The Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms carried medical checks and provided food, clothes and blankets to the migrants. (AP Photo/Javier Fergo)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, Migrants from Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Senegal and Egypt stand on the deck of Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel, after being rescued two days ago off the Libyan coast. The Open Arms assisted migrants medically and provided them with food, blankets and clothes. (AP Photo/Javier Fergo)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, A migrant from Nigeria stands on the deck of Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel that rescued twelve people two days ago a north of the Libyan shore. The Open Arms assisted migrants medically and provided them with food, blankets and clothes. (AP Photo/Javier Fergo)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, a migrant receives medical assistance after being rescued by Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel, two days ago north of the Libyan shore. The Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms carried medical checks and provided food, clothes and blankets to the migrants. (AP Photo/Javier Fergo)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, migrants rest on the deck of Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel that rescued twelve migrants two days ago about 78 miles north off Libyan shore. The Open Arms assisted migrants medically and provided them with food, blankets and clothes. (AP Photo/Javier Fergo)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, a migrant rests aboard Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel that rescued twelve migrants two days ago about 78 miles north off Libyan shore. The Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms assisted the migrants aboard the fishing vessel medically and provided them with food, blankets and clothes.(AP Photo/Javier Fergo)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms RIB vessel approaches Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel that rescued twelve migrants two days ago about 78 miles north off Libyan shore. The Open Arms assisted migrants medically and provided them with food, blankets and clothes. (AP Photo/Javier Fergo)

In this photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 photo, Migrants rest aboard Nuestra Madre de Loreto, a Spanish fishing vessel that rescued twelve migrants two days ago about 78 miles north off Libyan shore. The Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms assisted the migrants aboard the fishing vessel medically and provided them with food, blankets and clothes. (AP Photo/Javier Fergo)
WASHINGTON (AP) - A member of Brazil's congress says his meeting with the top U.S. diplomat for Latin America was a step toward strengthening the relationship between the South American country and Washington.

Brazil congressional member Eduardo Bolsonaro says that his meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Kimberly Breier "was very good."

He says: "We talked mainly about the first step Brazil is taking to stay close to the United States in international affairs."

Bolsonaro is the son and close adviser of Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, who takes office Jan. 1.

The congressman said he also discussed the need to find a solution for what he called a "humanitarian crisis" in Venezuela.

Brazil's president-elect meets with U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 29.
A spacecraft hurtling towards Mars will be the first to study the deep interior of the planet if it lands safely.

The InSight probe is scheduled to land on Martian soil at around 8pm GMT on Monday, scientists said.

To accomplish the feat successfully it must slow down from 12,300mph to just 5mph, the equivalent of human jogging speed, in just seven minutes after hitting Marss atmosphere, Nasa said.

an illustration showing a simulated view of NASAs InSight lander about to land on the surface of Mars (NASA/PA)

Only around four in 10 missions ever sent to the Red Planet by any space agency have been successful, and the US is the only nation whose missions have survived landings.

The European spacecraft Schiaparelli smashed into the planet in 2016 after switching off its retro-rockets too early, scientists believe.

It was testing the landing system for a British-built rover to be launched on the second phase of the ExoMars mission in 2020.

The extremely thin atmosphere of Mars means there is hardly any friction to slow down spacecraft, meaning InSight will deploy small rockets, parachutes, heat shields and shock-absorbing legs to manage the deceleration.

(PA Graphics)

If successful, the probe will send information back, allowing scientists to learn about how rocky worlds like the Earth and Moon formed more than 4.5 billion years ago.

It comes after a huge 12-mile wide lake of water was discovered beneath the southern ice cap of the Red Planet earlier this year.

The discovery, which has major implications for the chances of life surviving on Mars, was made by an orbiting European probe using ground-penetrating radar.

It is the first time a large stable body of liquid water has been confirmed to exist on Mars.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators in Paris as thousands staged road blockades across France to vent anger against rising fuel taxes and Emmanuel Macrons presidency.

Thousands of police were deployed nationwide to contain the demonstrations, including a tense protest at the foot of the Champs-Elysees where protesters wielded placards reading Death to Taxes and upturned a large vehicle.

Demonstrators, dubbed `yellow jackets face riot police during clashes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, as they protest against fuel tax hikes (Kamil Zihnioglu/AP)

No-one was injured in the clashes, but six were arrested for throwing projectiles , police said.

Its going to trigger a civil war and me, like most other citizens, were all ready, said Benjamin Vrignaud, a 21-year-old protester from Chartres.

The famous avenue was dotted from early morning with people clad in hi-vis vests, the uniform adopted by many of the protesters, who have been dubbed the yellow jackets as a result. Drivers in France are required by law to keep hi-vis vests in their vehicles.

Protesters flee as police fire tear gas during clashes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris( Kamil Zihnioglu/AP)

Five thousand protesters flooded the Champs-Elysees alone, with 23,000 protesters in total nationwide, according to Interior Minister Christophe Castaner.

James Ward, 38, a financial adviser based in London who was in Paris for the weekend, said: Anything not bolted down is being used to block roads and set on fire  theyre looting a building site in the Champs-Elysees, for example.

We had no idea this was happening but arrived at Arc de Triomphe to tear gas raining from the skies.

Theyre firing it indiscriminately at crowds  the air is thick with it. We had to escape to a nearby pub coughing and eyes pouring.

I cant see this calming down any time yet. The crowds are building if anything and theres an uneasy atmosphere mixed in with joviality. Strange.

In a week of demonstrations that has dominated national news coverage, hundreds have been injured and two people died in accidents stemming from the protests.

The unrest is proving a major challenge for embattled Mr Macron, who is suffering in the polls and has become the focus of rage for the demonstrators, who accuse the pro-business centrist of indifference to the struggles of ordinary French people.

Fuel tax protesters also took to the streets in Lyon (Laurent Cipriani/AP)

Mr Macron has insisted that fuel tax rises are a necessary pain to reduce Frances dependence on fossil fuels and fund renewable energy investments, which is a cornerstone of his reforms of the nation.

He will defend fresh plans to make the energy transition easier on Tuesday.

On Saturday, Paris deployed some 3,000 security forces, notably around tourist-frequented areas, after an unauthorised attempt last week to march on the presidential Elysee Palace.

Protesters clash with riot police officers on Pariss Champs-Elysees (Kamil Zihnioglu/AP)

The authorities are struggling to deal with the protests because the movement has no clear leader and has attracted a motley group of people with widely varying demands.
The rejection of Theresa Mays Brexit deal will lead to economic chaos, Chancellor Philip Hammond warned as the Prime Minister travelled to Brussels for talks.

Mrs May will meet European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council president Donald Tusk before a summit of EU leaders on Sunday which is expected to endorse the deal thrashed out between negotiators from the two sides.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had threatened to boycott the European Council meeting without further guarantees for Madrid over the status of Gibraltar.

I will recommend that we approve on Sunday the outcome of the #Brexit negotiations. No one has reasons to be happy. But at least at this critical time, the EU27 has passed the test of unity and solidarity. https://t.co/N3EexasL2n  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) November 24, 2018

But a crisis was averted after a clarification about the position and emergency talks between Mr Sanchez, Mr Tusk and Mr Juncker.

A letter from the UKs ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow confirmed the Withdrawal Agreement imposes no obligations regarding the territorial scope of future agreements.

It also makes clear the UK will negotiate future agreements on behalf of all territories for whose external relations it is responsible  including Gibraltar.

A UK Government spokesman said: For the withdrawal negotiations, given there are some circumstances which are specific to Gibraltar, we held talks with Spain which directly involved the government of Gibraltar.

These were constructive and we look forward to taking the same approach to the future relationship.

Mr Sanchez said this is going to allow us to have direct negotiations with the UK regarding Gibraltar.

Mr Tusk said: I will recommend that we approve on Sunday the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.

No-one has reasons to be happy. But at least at this critical time, the EU27 has passed the test of unity and solidarity.

After his conversation with Mr Sanchez, Mr Juncker said: Solidarity, determination and dialogue are the European way of finding solutions.

I just spoke to Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon. Solidarity, determination and dialogue are the European way of finding solutions.  Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) November 24, 2018

But Mrs May also faced domestic difficulties as the Democratic Unionist Party held its conference in Belfast  with Boris Johnson making a guest appearance.

Mr Hammond sought to reassure the DUP over its understandable concerns about the Northern Ireland backstop provisions aimed at preventing a hard border with Ireland.

DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds set out his opposition to the Brexit backstop (Michael Cooper/PA)

Mr Hammond told BBC Radio 4s Today programme he believes the deal on offer is better for the UK than remaining in the EU, stressing it will help heal the divisions caused by Brexit.

Its a way of leaving the European Union with minimum negative impact on our economy, he said.

Economics is not the only consideration  we also have to look at the political healing process, bringing our country back together because countries that are disunited and divided are not successful countries.

If we want this country to be successful in the future, we have got to bring it back together after this process.

He warned a no-deal Brexit would unleash economic chaos, adding: If the meaningful vote is lost we are in uncharted territory.

We will be faced with potential economic chaos. I am sure we would get a very negative reaction from the business community, from investors, from the markets.

He added we might end up with no deal, we might end up with no Brexit if the Withdrawal Agreement is blocked by Parliament.

If the deal does pass the Commons, the repercussions could bring down Mrs Mays Government, with the DUP hinting at withdrawing the support of its MPs.

The DUPs 10 MPs have proved reluctant to vote with the Government since the terms of the Brexit deal became known and the termination of their Westminster arrangement would be a major blow to the Prime Minister.

The DUP led by Arlene Foster, pictured with Chancellor Philip Hammond, ending their deal with the Government would be a blow for the PM (PA)

DUP leader Arlene Foster told the Times Mrs Mays deal would be a worse outcome than a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn.

It is, and the reason I say that is on day one of us leaving the European Union there would be no difference, we would be exactly the same as the rest of the UK, but in year five or 10 we would be different, she said.

If people are looking to Dublin for representation in Europe because were the subject of EU rules, that is so dangerous in terms of the union.

DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds used his speech to the party conference to urge Mrs May to ditch her Brexit plan.

The message from this conference, from every section of this party is  bin the backstop, he said.

Mr Johnson, viewed as a potential leadership rival to Mrs May, was given a rousing reception at the conference.

He said the UK was on the verge of making a historic mistake, adding: Unless we junk this backstop, we will find that Brussels has got us exactly where they want us  a satellite state.

He set out a series of demands, including a commitment in the Withdrawal Agreement for a super Canada trade deal, a provision to withhold at least half the 39 billion divorce bill until trade talks are concluded and a dedicated Cabinet minister for no-deal planning.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reported that the next stage of Mrs Mays Brexit sales pitch will be on the immigration concerns believed to have been a key factor in the Leave vote.

According to leaked Cabinet papers, the Home Office has drawn up plans to issue low-skilled migrants with 11-month visas with restricted entitlements and rights while they are living in the UK.

Alternative plans could allow EU migrants aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in the UK for two years, with a strict cap on numbers.

The Government will abolish the cap on highly skilled tier 2 migrants entirely, the report said, with the plans set out in the week beginning December 3  a week before the crunch Brexit vote is expected in the Commons.
Boris Johnson has called for the Irish border backstop to be junked as he warned that the draft Brexit deal was in danger of turning Northern Ireland into an economic semi-colony of the EU.

The arch Brexiteer and former foreign secretary received a warm welcome at the DUP conference in Belfast as he demanded the scrapping of the contentious proposal that could see Northern Ireland aligned with EU regulatory rules post-Brexit.

After a week that saw the DUP refuse to support the Government in Commons votes to signal their anger at the draft withdrawal text, Mr Johnson stressed the need to maintain the Conservatives crucial confidence and supply deal going forward, warning of ruinous consequences for the UK if Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn came to power.

And so to our allies in the DUP, I hope that you agree that it is absolutely vital that we keep this partnership going and that we are not so complacent as to abandon the government of this country to a man whose avowed policy is to break up this country, he said.

And we should work together to ensure that the whole UK  Northern Ireland included  can seize the opportunities of Brexit.

Mr Johnson said the UK was on the verge of making a historic mistake.

Boris Johnson speaking during the DUP annual conference (Michael Cooper/PA)

If we are not careful, we are going to stay in the customs union, we are going to stay in the single market, we are going to be rules takers, he said.

Unless we junk this backstop, we will find that Brussels has got us exactly where they want us  a satellite state.

We will continue to accept the terms under which they have a surplus in trade in goods with us of 95 billion. But with no power, no British influence on those terms. We wont be able to do free trade deals of any value or significance.

Mr Johnson said the EU had achieved a very clever trick by making Northern Ireland an indispensable bargaining chip in future negotiations, noting the reference to the potential need to label goods from Northern Ireland UK (NI) under the backstop proposal.

Indeed if you read the Withdrawal Agreement you can see that we are witnessing the birth of a new country called Ukni, he said.

Ukni is no longer exclusively ruled by London or Stormont. Ukni is in large part to be ruled by Brussels.

And Ukni will have to accept large swathes of EU regulations now and in the future.

On lawnmower noise, on the labelling of sardines, on the use of coins and tokens that may be deemed to resemble a Euro.

And on the use of personal recreational watercraft. And nowhere has a more illustrious history than Northern Ireland when it comes to the creation of recreational watercraft.

The Titanic springs to mind, and now is the time to point out the iceberg ahead.

Mr Johnson said the deal will would leave the UK facing a Hobsons choice of unthinkable options.

If we wanted to do free trade deals, if we wanted to cut tariffs or vary our regulation, then we would have to leave Northern Ireland behind as an economic semi-colony of the EU and we would be damaging the fabric of the union, he said.

With regulatory checks and even customs controls between GB and NI on top of those extra regulatory checks down the Irish sea that are already envisaged in the Withdrawal Agreement.

No British Conservative government could or should sign up to anything of the kind, and so our answer at the moment is rather desperately to make sure the whole UK stays in the backstop with the EU having the power to decide whether or not we can ever leave and why should they?

We are delighted to have @BorisJohnson with us today to address our Party Conference. #DUP18 pic.twitter.com/vGah2UNFWw  DUP (@duponline) November 24, 2018

Mr Johnson said the EU would have no incentive to let the UK leave the backstop arrangement, noting that the multibillion-pound divorce bill would have already been paid.

This deal risks yet further economic and political humiliation, he added.

We are locking ourselves in by treaty and making it impossible to negotiate our way out in the second half of the talks.

This is not what people of the United Kingdom voted for. It is self-evidently not taking back control of our laws.

Mr Johnson called for a sensible agreement, but added: We need to junk the backstop and agree that neither side will introduce a hard border in northern Ireland.

Both governments have already been clear that they have no such intention, as Michel Barnier has said himself the technical solutions do exist, and the whole subject should be remitted to the discussion of the future economic partnership where it properly belongs.

"What they've done in Brussels is a very, very clever trick" - From lawnmower noise to sardine tins, @BorisJohnson argues that the Brexit draft agreement means accepting EU regulations #DUP18



Here's the latest on his speech: https://t.co/q3dfYNg43d pic.twitter.com/IWv4p8x9YC  Sky News Politics (@SkyNewsPolitics) November 24, 2018

He again argued for a super Canada style trade deal with the EU, and urged a rethink on the timeframe for paying the divorce bill, arguing that half should be withheld until 2020.

I have never known a major EU negotiation not to conclude with the financial settlement, and we need to restore the proper order and incentives, he explained.

Mr Johnson said there was a need for a dedicated Government secretary of state with responsibility for planning for a potential no deal, which would see the UK operate under World Trade Organisation trading terms.

He added: We need urgently to recover our confidence and our self-belief, and to stop treating Brexit as if it were a plague of frogs, or a murrain on our cattle, or some adverse weather event that had to be managed.

The former foreign secretary also used his speech to again call for a bridge linking Northern Ireland and Scotland.

It is a far shorter distance than that covered by some bridges these days  look at Shanghai to Ningbo, he said.

The problem is not the undersea Beauforts dyke or lack of funds.

The problem is an absence of political will.
Arlene Foster has admitted that the DUPs handling of a botched green energy scheme had hurt and offended voters and members of the public.

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) public inquiry, which has taken detailed and frank evidence about the Stormont initiative that ended up massively over-budget, has been painful for the Democratic Unionists, she conceded.

The party leader reiterated her apology and said she was deeply sorry for the mistakes.

She told her annual party conference in Belfast: Some of our past decisions and actions have left a lot to be desired and I know that they have personally hurt and offended many of our members, voters and the public.

A public inquiry led by retired judge Sir Patrick Coghlin has exposed many of the failings at the heart of the scheme.

It was designed to encourage businesses to shift from fossil fuels to renewable sources like wood but ended up paying out more than it cost to fuel the burners  earning it the moniker Cash for Ash.

The result was an anticipated massive overspend, falling to the Northern Irish taxpayer to pick up.

Sinn Feins late Stormont deputy first minister Martin McGuinness resigned in protest at the DUPs handling of the RHI and Stormont powersharing collapsed early last year.

Repeated rounds of negotiations have failed to resurrect the institutions.

The public inquiry has cast light on the inner machinations of the DUP as the scheme was designed and implemented.

Mrs Fosters former special adviser, Dr Andrew Crawford, had several close relatives with RHI boilers and his actions have faced serious scrutiny.

A senior civil servant has claimed potential applicants were warned to get their RHI applications in quickly before the scheme closed to new applicants.

The account of Mrs Fosters former enterprise minister, Jonathan Bell, has also laid bare the tensions between Mr Bell and the rest of the party.

Mrs Foster addressed the issue during her speech to the DUP annual conference in Belfast (Michael Cooper/PA)

Mrs Foster told her party conference: The public inquiry has been difficult for many individually and painful for the party collectively.

No party would want to have all of its dealings exposed for all to see at a public inquiry, especially in the unique system of government we have, with the struggles and strains required to make it work.

But I make no excuses. Today, as leader of the party, I apologise.

As a party we are deeply, deeply sorry for the mistakes we made and for the things we got wrong during that period.

I am determined our party will learn the lessons from RHI and how Government business was conducted at Stormont more generally.

She said there were lessons to be learned in how the party appointed special advisers to aid ministers, the number required, how they operated and were regulated in Government.

Criticism at the inquiry has touched on the relative inexperience of those handling the landmark scheme.

Mrs Foster said there should be a fundamental appraisal of the Civil Service, with greater expertise needed, proper records should be kept and greater transparency displayed.

Over the course of the last 12 months there have been a number of other areas where behaviour in our ranks has not matched the standards expected of people holding public office.

We must ensure that there is no repeat of such behaviour and that those high standards we aspire to ourselves and that others rightly require of us are applicable at every level within this party.
British film director Nicolas Roeg, who was behind cult classic The Man Who Fell To Earth and the critically-acclaimed Dont Look Now, has died aged 90.

Nicolas Jack Roeg was born in London on August 15, 1928, to Jack Nicolas and Mabel Gertrude Roeg  and entered the film industry as a tea boy at Marylebone Studios after completing his national service in 1947.

He managed to work his way up to camera operator on films such as The Trials Of Oscar Wilde and The Sundowners in 1960, and worked as a cinematographer on Lawrence of Arabia.

Farewell to the extraordinary cinematic talent, director Nicolas Roeg. His films hypnotized me for years and still continue to intrigue. Along with classics like Performance & Walkabout, I could watch Don't Look Now on a loop & never tire of its intricacies. A master of the art. pic.twitter.com/fXB7GPwOL9  edgarwright (@edgarwright) November 24, 2018

It was through his work as a cinematographer that Roeg managed to gather critical attention, including on Francois Truffauts Fahrenheit 451 in 1965.

Roeg moved into direction in 1968, working with the writer Donald Cammell on Performance, which saw The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger playing an eccentric and reclusive pop star who gives refuge to gangster-on-the-run James Fox.

The film was delayed for two years, but was eventually released in 1970, by which time Roeg was working on his first solo direction  Walkabout.

Film director Nicolas Roeg (Ian West/PA)

RIP to Nicolas Roeg, a pioneering force of cinema who created some of the most affecting moments of beauty, terror and sadness ever seen. A true great if ever there was one. pic.twitter.com/SRuvHhC0jP  BFI (@BFI) November 24, 2018

Roegs biggest success came with Dont Look Now in 1973, which achieved notoriety with a controversial sex scene between stars Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland.

Its intimacy not only caused problems with censors, but sparked rumours Sutherland and Christie had actually been having sex.

But the supernatural tale based on a Daphne du Maurier short story is now widely recognised as a key work of horror cinema, with film director Danny Boyle citing Roeg as a key influence to his own work.

The late David Bowie starred in Roegs 1976 cult classic The Man Who Fell To Earth as an alien who crashes on Earth seeking a way to save his home planet from extinction.

Just heard another great storyteller, the inimitable Nicolas Roeg left us today. What an incredible body of work hes left us with!

All my love to his family.

Thank you for making so many brave choices, & giving this strange little lad in pajamas an ongoing love of filmmaking. pic.twitter.com/QVg2znq3Rs  Duncan Jones (@ManMadeMoon) November 24, 2018

It was Bowies first major film role and is one of Roegs most celebrated works.

His 1980 psychological thriller Bad Timing  starring Art Garfunkel, Harvey Keitel and Roegs second wife Theresa Russell  caused considerable controversy, with an executive of its own British distributor The Rank Organisation famously branding it a sick film made by sick people for sick people.

Roeg directed the 1990 screen adaptation of Roald Dahls The Witches, working with Muppet-maestro Jim Henson.

The directors last feature film was Puffball in 2007, a supernatural drama starring Kelly Reilly and Miranda Richardson.

Roeg also directed a number of TV series in the late 1980s and early 90s, including a televised adaption of Joseph Conrads Heart Of Darkness in 1994.

In 1999, the British Film Institute acknowledged Roegs importance in the industry by naming Dont Look Now and Performance as the 8th and 48th greatest British films of all time in its Top 100 poll.

Roeg married actress Susan Stephen in 1957 and had four children, before they split in 1997.

He married Russell in 1982 and had two children before remarrying a third time after their divorce to actress Harriet Harper in 2005.
Scottish Labour will implement all-women shortlists in selections for Holyrood and Westminster, leader Richard Leonard has confirmed.

Speaking at the Scottish Labour Womens Conference on Saturday, Mr Leonard said the party needs to have women in the driving seat.

There have only been 491 female MPs since women first gained the right to stand for election to the House of Commons 100 years ago.

Two of the partys seven Scottish MPs are women, whilst 11 of the 23 Scottish Labour MSPs at the Scottish Parliament are women.

Addressing the conference, Mr Leonard said: Influential and inspiring women in our labour movement, are not just part of our history  You are part of our present and future as well.

That strength and passion lives on, you are both shaping and driving our party, with commitment, resolve and an unwavering belief, in the power of this party and this movement to change lives.

Richard Leonard spoke at the Scottish Labour Womens Conference (Jane Barlow/PA)

While much of that work will be done when we form the next Scottish and UK Labour governments, there are steps that we can take now.

In his speech, the Scottish Labour leader called for 50:50 representation on the board of the new Scottish National Investment Bank, which is expected to be established by 2020.

Mr Leonard also apologised to the thousands of council workers who went on strike in Glasgow last month calling for the settlement of an equal pay dispute.

He said: We owe an apology to all of those women workers who were forced to strike for equal pay earlier this month.

Women who faced, and continue to face obstruction and legal obstacle: in an example of corporate management of the very worst kind.

They have our support and our solidarity because if we, the Labour Party, do not represent working class womens interests on local councils, they are not represented at all.

In his speech, Mr Leonard reiterated his calls for the Scottish Government to effectively abolish Westminsters two-child benefit cap and the so-called rape clause in the Holyrood Budget.

He said: The two-child cap and resulting rape clause are abhorrent and must be scrapped. Here in Scotland, we could do so with the stroke of a pen, and help protect women from the worst effects of a Tory government.

The entire purpose of the Scottish Parliament is to allow Scotland to make different choices. Scotland has the power to build a fairer social security system. The SNP government must use its budget to end this injustice in Scotland once and for all.

While we will never stop the fight against the Tories, we can protect working people, and working women, from the worst of their policies.

For the avoidance of doubt, Scottish Labours position is not that the SNP should do this, it is that the SNP must do this.
England swept aside Australia 37-18 to claim a sixth successive victory over the Wallabies and complete a successful autumn series at Twickenham marred only by a controversial defeat to New Zealand.

The old enemies were deadlocked at 13-13 entering half-time but blistering tries from Elliot Daly and Joe Cokanasiga opened up daylight before the win became a rout when Owen Farrell touched down in the closing stages.

Apart from losing their way in the second quarter, England dominated the Cook Cup showdown with man of the match Kyle Sinckler, Jonny May and Cokanasiga outstanding.

Englands Joe Cokanasiga was outstanding (Paul Harding/PA)

Victory was secured against one of the poorest Wallaby teams seen at Twickenham in recent years, the tourists enfeebled by the loss of David Pocock to a neck injury and tumultuous build up due to senior players Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper being disciplined for bringing women back to their hotel rooms.

Among the biggest roars of the afternoon was reserved for Manu Tuilagi, who finally made his first Test appearance for two years as a final-quarter replacement having overcome a groin strain.

Once again in an eventful autumn, controversy reigned as Farrell escaped punishment for his shoulder charge on Izack Rodda as the galloping Australia lock approached the line on the stroke of half-time.

It was an illegal challenge that could have been punished by a red card but referee Jaco Peyper  who endured a poor afternoon  declared it was shoulder to shoulder despite protests from the Wallabies.

Sir Clive Woodward, speaking in his role as TV pundit, said England have got away with that one, claiming a penalty try should have been awarded. Farrell was lucky to avoid censure for a similar hit in the autumn opener against South Africa.

It took just 133 seconds for England to take the lead as Mark Wilson broke from a rapidly advancing scrum and fed Ben Youngs, who took a few steps before supplying May with a simple try.

Australia ran aimlessly at times with only the kicking of Matt Toomua asking any questions and summing up their muddled play was a moment when Scott Sio and Samu Kerevi collided in midfield as they jogged into position.

But taking advantage of Genias intercept of a pass thrown by Ben Teo, they made inroads that ended when Dane Haylett-Petty appeared to have crossed despite a forward pas from Kerevi.

Jonny May celebrates his try (Paul Harding/PA)

Peyper awarded the try immediately and it was only as Toomua was about to take the conversion and the forward pass was replayed on the big screen that the South Africa official called for the TMOs assistance and the score was ruled out.

Peyper blundered again when he gave only a penalty for Roddas tip-tackle on May but at least England were able to take a 13-3 lead with the ensuing penalty by Farrell.

A brilliant line taken by the gliding Israel Folau helped narrow the gap to three points, but he found the hole between Farrell and Maro Itoje too easily amid a general decrease in defensive aggression from Eddie Joness men.

Once a large scuffle had died down early in the second half, England surged back in front with a try out of nothing, Farrell seeming to run out of options until Daly began a perfectly-timed run that saw his raw pace sweep him over the whitewash.

Elliot Daly breaks through (Adam Davy/PA)

Daylight was opened up when an attack down the left was revived by a weak tackle from Haylett-Petty, who bounced off Cokanasiga to create a gap that the powerful Bath wing sped through to score under the posts.

Cokanasiga almost added a second shortly after, catching a high ball and racing off, side-stepping Toomua before being stopped just short of the line. May then a try disallowed for ball in touch.

The result was sealed when Farrell sped through a vast hole in Australias disintegrating defence, but Folau had the final say in injury time.
A Turkish soldier was injured in a rocket attack targeting an outpost in the eastern border province of Igdir, security sources said.

PKK terrorists targeted Martyr Bulent Aydin border outpost on Turkey-Iran border late Sunday, according to the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The soldier, who was wounded in the leg, was taken to Igdir state hospital, Yeni Safak reported, adding that an operation was launched to nab the terrorists.
An Islamic tutor has been jailed for 14 years for sexual assaults against two young girls  prompting police to urge other potential victims to come forward.

Faruque Ahmed, 46, abused the victims over a two-year period while employed to teach Arabic at a family home in Warley, West Midlands, police said.

In a statement issued after Ahmed was jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday, West Midlands Police said the abuse came to light when one of the victims made disclosures to a nurse in 2016.

The complainant disclosed that Ahmed, an Imam living in Stoke, had abused her and struck her with a bamboo cane if she resisted.

Ahmed was arrested in February last year, and in police interview admitted tutoring the girls between 2009 and 2011 but denied assaulting them.

Officers charged the cleric with sexually touching a child and sexual assault of a child by penetration, leading to him being found guilty on 10 of the 13 counts against him.

Faruque Ahmed has been jailed for 14 years (West Midlands Police/PA)

#JAILED | An Islamic tutor has been jailed for sexually abusing two girls during home study sessions at their Black Country home - as we urge anyone else whos suffered at his hands to break their silence and seek support. Full story here: https://t.co/KOFJ7FlGoF pic.twitter.com/sN6xTssJ9Z  Sandwell Police (@SandwellPolice) November 24, 2018

Ahmed, formerly of Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, was also given a sexual harm prevention order banning him from working with children for life, and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

Detective Constable Sarah West, from West Midlands Polices Child Abuse Unit, said: Both victims want to raise awareness within their community and to urge anyone whos suffered abuse to speak out.

They know first-hand how victims can feel pressured to remain silent  that by reporting offences it somehow brings shame on the family  but they recognise now that by doing so it allows offenders to continue offending and puts other children at risk.

The girls have now got justice for the horrible abuse inflicted on them by Ahmed and are getting the support they need to move on with their lives

And they want other survivors of abuse to do the same.

I wish the girls all the very best for their futures and thank them for their courage in speaking out. Their brave actions may save other children from being abused and for that they can be rightly proud.
Theresa May said the UKs position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar has not changed following claims she caved in to Spanish demands for concessions over the future of the territory.

European Union leaders will give their seal of approval to the Prime Ministers Brexit deal at a summit on Sunday which had been threatened by the diplomatic row with Madrid.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez claimed the UK and European Union had agreed to its demands for guarantees over the status of Gibraltar in future negotiations.

Madrids foreign minister Josep Borrell went further, saying the agreement is highly positive for Spain and the most important since the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 under which Gibraltar was ceded to the UK.

But Mrs May told reporters in Brussels: The UKs position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar has not changed and will not change.

I am proud that Gibraltar is British and I will always stand by Gibraltar.

Gibraltars Chief Minister Fabian Picardo used a live TV address to dismiss Mr Sanchezs claims: The Government of the UK has been completely firm in its resolve and in our support.

What you have heard from the Spanish Prime Minister today was not a reflection of any new position, however much he tried to present it as such.

(2/2) before the #EU and all diplomatic staff and civil servants who were part of Spains negotiating team for their effort, dedication and professionalism, in order to achieve such a satisfactory result for our interests. @HablamosdEuropa @UeEspana  Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 24, 2018

The developments came ahead of elections in Andalusia, southern Spain, in December and speculation that Mr Sanchez was trying to use the situation for internal political reasons.

The diplomatic spat which threatened to derail the Brexit process was resolved after a clarification about the legal position and emergency talks involving Mr Sanchez, European Council president Donald Tusk and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.

A letter from the UKs ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow confirmed the Withdrawal Agreement imposes no obligations regarding the territorial scope of future agreements  Spain wants to make sure it has a say over how any UK-EU trade deal applies to the Rock.

But the UK has also made clear it will negotiate future agreements on behalf of all territories for whose external relations it is responsible  including Gibraltar.

Mrs May said: We have ensured that Gibraltar is covered by the whole Withdrawal Agreement and by the implementation period and we will always negotiate on behalf of the whole UK family, including Gibraltar, and in the future relationship we will stand up for their interests.

But Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake claimed the Prime Minister had caved in and appears to have cast the people of Gibraltar aside.

I will recommend that we approve on Sunday the outcome of the #Brexit negotiations. No one has reasons to be happy. But at least at this critical time, the EU27 has passed the test of unity and solidarity. https://t.co/N3EexasL2n  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) November 24, 2018

Following the resolution of the row, Mr Tusk sent out formal invitation letters to EU leaders for the summit, saying the Brexit deal reached by negotiators from the UK and Brussels found the best possible compromise and he would recommend that they approve it.

Mrs May also faced domestic difficulties as the Democratic Unionist Party held its conference in Belfast  with Boris Johnson making a guest appearance.

Chancellor Philip Hammond sought to reassure the DUP over its understandable concerns about the Northern Ireland backstop provisions aimed at preventing a hard border with Ireland.

But he warned there could be economic chaos if MPs reject the deal struck between the Government and Brussels.

Chancellor Philip Hammond urged MPs to back the Brexit deal and heal divisions (Nick Ansell/PA)

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme he believes the deal on offer is better for the UK than remaining in the EU, stressing it will help heal the divisions caused by Brexit.

Its a way of leaving the European Union with minimum negative impact on our economy, he said.

Economics is not the only consideration  we also have to look at the political healing process, bringing our country back together because countries that are disunited and divided are not successful countries.

With MPs including the DUP and scores of Tories from both the Remain and Leave wings of the party set to oppose the Brexit package, Mr Hammond issued a stark warning about the impact of rejecting it.

If the meaningful vote is lost we are in uncharted territory, he said.

We will be faced with potential economic chaos. I am sure we would get a very negative reaction from the business community, from investors, from the markets.

Boris Johnson, centre, sits with DUP leader Arlene Foster and her deputy Nigel Dodds at the partys annual conference in Belfast (Michael Cooper/PA)

In her conference speech, DUP leader Arlene Foster said: The reality is that if we are to secure a better outcome than is currently on offer, then the only option is to look beyond this current draft Withdrawal Agreement and work in the time ahead for an improved outcome.

Mr Johnson, viewed as a potential leadership rival to Mrs May, was given a rousing reception at the conference.

He said the UK is on the verge of making a historic mistake, adding: Unless we junk this backstop, we will find that Brussels has got us exactly where they want us  a satellite state.

He set out a series of demands, including a commitment in the Withdrawal Agreement for a super Canada trade deal, a provision to withhold at least half the 39 billion divorce bill until trade talks are concluded, and a dedicated Cabinet minister for no-deal planning.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reported the Home Office has drawn up plans to issue low-skilled migrants with 11-month visas with restricted entitlements and rights while they are living in the UK as part of the post-Brexit immigration system.

Alternative plans could allow EU migrants aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in the UK for two years, with a strict cap on numbers.

The Government will abolish the cap on highly skilled tier 2 migrants entirely, the report said, with the plans set out in the week beginning December 3  a week before the crunch Brexit vote is expected in the Commons.
Environmental activists blocked roads and swarmed landmarks calling on the ecocidal Government to take rapid action to avoid potentially catastrophic climate change.

Hundreds of members of the Extinction Rebellion group wore black funereal clothing and laid wreaths to commemorate and grieve the loss of animal and human life due to climate change on Saturday.

Demonstrators in Parliament Square in London (Yui Mok/PA)

In central London, demonstrators gathered at Buckingham Palace and around Parliament Square waving banners and laying flowers on a black mock coffin meant to symbolise humanitys future.

One poster read: The climate is changing. Why arent our politicians?

Some 14 people were arrested for criminal damage, including for damage to the Women at War war memorial, Scotland Yard said.

Activist Gail Bradbrook read a letter at the protest, saying: It is clear beyond doubt that climate breakdown and ecological collapse is imminent unless governments, including our government, drastically change course.

The facts point to the destruction of families, our communities, our nation, our state unless we change course.

Activists gathered in central London for a protest called by Extinction Rebellion (Yui Mok/PA)

The action follows similar events last weekend when hundreds of people descended on the capital as part of a mass environmental protest.

A total of 82 people were arrested following staged sit-ins on five bridges crossing the Thames.

Earlier that week, activists were detained after protesters blocked traffic and glued themselves to entry gates at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

It has all come full circle. The coffin is now back in Parliament Square. Above the ground it was never allowed to be buried in. #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/Esn5yeBmwM  Extinction Rebellion (@ExtinctionR) November 24, 2018

Extinction Rebellion said in a statement: We Rebel because we love this world.

It breaks our hearts to see it ravaged, to watch so many people and animals all over this world already dying, to know that this will soon happen to our children without urgent changes.

We are serious, this is an emergency, this is our home we are watching collapse.

Other events were scheduled to take place at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Manchester and the Menai Bridge in Bangor, as well as a procession from Sheffield Cathedral, organisers said.
The family of a man who died in police custody have led thousands of people on an anti-racism march in Glasgow.

Sheku Bayoh, 31, died after being restrained by officers responding to a call in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in May 2015.

In October, a Crown Office investigation ruled there would be no criminal charges against officers in connection with the case. It said it had conducted its probe with professionalism, integrity and respect.

The family of Sheku Bayou lead the St Andrews Day march into George Square #nojusticenopeace #antiracism #stillwerise pic.twitter.com/NruCmgdPqn  STUC (@ScottishTUC) November 24, 2018

Suki Sangha, the granddaughter of Sikh waiter Surjit Singh Chhokar, who was murdered in 1998, walked alongside Mr Bayohs family.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, MSP Anas Sarwar and lawyer Aamer Anwar also led the march.

Ms Sangha, chair of the STUC Black Workers Committee, said: The undertaking of anti-racist and anti-fascist work has never felt as important and urgent as it does in 2018.

Sheku Bayod died in police custody in May 2015 (Bayoh family/PA)

Marching against racism is a simple act of solidarity with all those who face oppression and are denied justice not just here in Scotland but internationally. Very importantly the Sheku Bayoh family will lead todays march with @AamerAnwar 10.30am Glasgow Green. Still We Rise pic.twitter.com/NBK1pcQeHO  Suki Sangha (@sukisangh) November 24, 2018

The far-right are becoming more visible in public life across Britain, Europe and beyond.

Years of constitutional, economic and political crisis have replaced hope with fear after fear. We know that racism is a by-product of capitalism, we know who our real enemy is.

We need to learn and listen to what freedom and justice means for us all. Let us go beyond marches and build solidarity in every place we enter.

19 years ago I marched with the parents of murdered Surjit Singh Chhokar, today their granddaughter @sukisangh marched with the family of #ShekuBayoh who died in police custody on 3May2015/ at todays @ScottishTUC St Andrews March against Racism #NoJusticeNoPeace pic.twitter.com/kNx0yRTkrC  Aamer Anwar#BlackLivesMatter (@AamerAnwar) November 24, 2018

The news recently that the nine police officers involved in the death of Sheku Bayoh will not be prosecuted should not shock us. It should cause fury. How many times must we see black communities plead for justice?

But our anger means nothing unless we are willing to show Shekus family our upmost solidarity.

Solidarity not just in name, but in practice.
The Duke of Sussex has arrived in Zambia for a two-day visit during which he will attend a commemoration of Zambian military veterans and meet officials, social workers and young entrepreneurs.

A girl with flowers and traditional dancers welcomed Harry after he stepped off a plane in the Zambian capital Lusaka on Monday.

Thank you Jane Chawanangwa, aged 9, for the beautiful flowers for The Duke of Sussex, as he arrives in Lusaka at the start of #RoyalVisitZambia  pic.twitter.com/9sFW6lNwqt  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) November 26, 2018

The duke later planned to attend a reception celebrating ties between Britain and Zambia.

Harrys schedule on Tuesday includes a visit to a military barracks and an event of the Queens Commonwealth Trust, which supports the social work of young people worldwide, and of which he is president.

Zambian traditional dancers perform for the Duke of Sussex upon his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda airport in Lusaka (Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP)

Harry will also visit Circus Zambia, which provides educational and job opportunities to young people, and BongoHive, a Zambian technology and innovation centre that helps entrepreneurs.
It was shortly after 10.30 pm when we first heard the news  there had been a shoot-out in Colaba in South Mumbai.

Within minutes, it was clear this was no gang war. The Taj Mahal hotel in Colaba was under siege. Gunfire had been heard at Mumbais largest railway station, then called CST. Reports of gunmen in the Oberoi hotel filtered in. A shoot-out near Cama & Albless hospital, not far from police headquarters, was reported. The Jewish Nariman Chabad House had been attacked.

The iconic Taj Palace hotel was among the places attacked. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai was under a coordinated terror attack on the night of November 26, 2008.

Ten years later, what lessons have we learnt from the terror attack, coordinated from Rawalpindi with Pakistans rogue ISI directing operations to the 10 terrorists who came from Karachi to Mumbai by boat and inflatable rafts?

Not enough.

On the night of November 26, as soon as they received news of the terror attack, 250 elite National Security Guard (NSG) commandos were ready to fly to Mumbai. They were stationed at Manesar, Haryana. However, instead of reaching Mumbai by 2.00 am, the commandos arrived in the city only at 5.00 am. Their IL-76 aircraft wasnt available at short notice  a grave security breach.

Immediately after the 60-hour-long terror attack, spread over four days, had been neutralised and nine of the 10 Pakistani terrorists killed (the 10th, Ajmal Kasab, was caught, jailed, tried and hanged four years later in 2012), the Manmohan Singh government toyed with the idea of retaliating with a military strike on Pakistani territory. In the end, it did nothing.

If a punitive strike had been launched on Pakistan immediately after the terror attack was contained, world opinion would have strongly backed India. Several foreigners, including American citizens, were killed in the attack on the Taj and Oberoi hotels.

But the UPA1 government, counselled by national security advisor MK Narayanan and army chief Deepak Kapoor (who returned from South Africa on November 28), stepped back from a confrontation with Pakistan.

The decision would have serious consequences on Indias fight against terror over the next decade.

Nine of the 10 terrorists were killed. The fifth, Ajmal Kasab, was caught, tried and hanged four years later. (Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs faltering response was to replace Home Minister Shivraj Patil with Finance Minister P Chidambaram on December 1.

Chidambaram had held the finance portfolio from 2004. Now, four years later as the new home minister, he set about revamping Indias anti-terror infrastructure.

New NSG hubs were created around the country to ensure rapid movement of commandos during a terror attack. The Mumbai NSG hub became operational in June 2009. Hubs in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai were established soon after.

Today, nine years later, NSG commandos are better equipped to handle terror attacks like 26/11  but both infrastructure and weaponry remain a concern. For example, only a basic firing range is in place in the Mumbai hub, which now has 500 NSG commandos.

They still lack the state-of-the-art facilities they were promised. Both the UPA and NDA governments must bear responsibility for this lacuna.

The attack on Mumbai, which killed 166 people and injured hundreds more, came from the sea. With its long coastline, the countrys financial capital remains vulnerable. As Sudhi Ranjan Sen reported in Hindustan Times: Then, as it is now, the Achilles heel of Indias coastal security remains small fishing boats, especially those under 20 metres long. Of the 280,000 odd-fishing boats registered across states in India, 220,000 fall in this category.

Security along Mumbai's long coastline is still a cause for concern. (Photo: Reuters/file)

The 10 Pakistan-based terrorists involved in the 26/11 attacks hijacked Kuber, a small fishing trawler in the high sea, killed the captain, and sailed into Mumbai unchallenged. They then used inflatable rafts to land. Since then, all merchant and fishing vessels that are above 20 metres long are fitted with an Automatic Identification System (AIS), a Global Positioning System-enabled friend or foe identification (mechanism)

Where were you when it happened?

There are some life-changing events that stay etched in memory and prompt the question: where were you when it happened? The assassination of US President John F Kennedy, the assassinations of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, the 9/11 terror attack on the twin towers of New Yorks World Trade Centre  and now, 26/11, fall into this category.

Subsequent terror attacks, such as Pathankot in 2016, show that India has not learnt its lessons. (Photo: PTI)

The morning after the 26/11 terror strike, on November 27, 2008, we sped along empty Mumbai roads, seeking access to the multi-location attacks. On day three of the attack, November 28, television camera crews were banked a few hundred metres from the Taj, then still under siege as NSG commandos went floor to floor, room to room, searching for the four Pakistani terrorists who had shot their way into the hotel 48 hours earlier. By the next day, November 29, nine of the ten terrorists in all locations  Taj, Oberoi and Chabad House  had been killed.

Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive, would say four years later to Ramesh Mahale, chief investigator in the case, as he was led from Arthur Road jail in Mumbai to Yerawada jail in Pune where he was to be hanged on November 21, 2012: Aap jeet gaye, main har gaya (you won, I lost).

It was not the end though that India sought.

Pakistan-sponsored terrorism continued: Gurdaspur, Uri, Pathankot and countless targets across Jammu and Kashmir.

By 2012, Chidambaram had moved back from home to finance. Many of his initiatives, like the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), came to nothing.

By 2012, Chidambaram had moved back from home to finance  many of his initiatives having come to nothing. (Photo: PTI)

Lessons learned? Not many, certainly not enough.

India remains a soft target. The trial to bring the Pakistani state handlers of Kasab and nine other terrorists to justice has long descended into farce in Pakistans subverted courts. Hafiz Saeed, patron of the Punjab-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is a charitable and religious icon in Pakistan.

Americas bid to try the ISIs General Ahmed Shuja Pasha for the killing of American citizens in the 26/11 terror attack ran aground in US courts on the basis of sovereign immunity.

The principal handler of the 26/11 attackers and top LeT commander working directly under the ISI, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, faced a deliberately sabotaged trial. The Pakistani prosecutors suppressed evidence and Lakhvi is out on bail, his trial for all practical purposes over.

Hafiz Saeed, patron of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), is still a charitable and religious icon in Pakistan. (Photo: Reuters/file)

With Pakistan descending into a vortex of sectarian violence, the solution to cauterising crossborder terrorism lies within India. In 1997, then Prime Minister IK Gujral eroded Indias covert operational capabilities. The Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and Modi governments have not reversed that erosion.

As a result, India remains a vulnerable target, with few options to make Pakistan pay a price for its terrorism.

Covert operations were one option in the 1990s. They no longer are. They must be rebuilt, along with all the other tactical weapons India now has, to inflict severe costs on Pakistan.

The martyrs of 26/11 deserve that.

Also read: What the numbers of 26/11 tell us
Even as hopes are being pinned on the proposed Kartarpur corridor to bridge the chasm between India and Pakistan, it has rocked several boats at home.

The corridor will connect two gurdwaras  the Dera Baba Nanak in India and the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur, Pakistan. Kartarpur is important to Sikhs, as Guru Nanak lived here for 18 years, and it was here that he breathed his last.

The announcement of the corridor, however, has been marked with anything but contemplation and peace.

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh and others at the foundation stone-laying ceremony for Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, held in Gurdaspur on November 26. (Photo: ANI)

Can the step lead to a lasting thaw in Indo-Pak ties, or will it end up becoming a point for domestic muscle-flexing for leaders in both countries?

On either side are politicians and other leaders with multiple constituencies to impress, a new government in Pakistan anxious to send positive messages to the global community, the faith of thousands and thousands of pilgrims  and major security concerns.

High drama

November 26, the day of the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the India-end of the corridor, saw high drama  Punjab minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa pasted black tape on the names of the CM and other ministers on the foundation stone, because he didnt like the fact that the Badals names were featured there too.

The stone had to be removed  and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid a "digital stone".

To protest against the Badals' name featuring on the foundation stone, Punjab minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa pasted black tape on the names of the CM and other leaders. (Photo: ANI)

Congress leader and state minister Navjot Singh Sidhu magnanimously announced that the real credit of the corridor went to Pakistan PM Imran Khan. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, meanwhile, thundered from the stage that the Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa should wake upas India had a bigger Army.

Another Punjab cabinet minister, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, was upset that adequate preparations were not made for the ceremony  he claimed the BJP government had announced it in a hurry to pip Pakistan, which is set to host its own foundation-laying on November 28.

#WATCH I am warning you(Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa), we are also Punjabis, you will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh pic.twitter.com/ACk82SYHRg  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

Clearly, whether or not the corridor leads to friendship with Pakistan, it has only caused increased bickering in India.

The issue

The demand for  and the offer of  unfettered access to the Kartarpur gurdwara is not new. It was first raised in 1999, when then-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Pakistan. The visit resulted in the gurdwara undergoing repairs and restoration, and being opened to pilgrims. The shrine is visible from the Indian side of the border, and at present, visitors go up to a BSF post and look at it through binoculars. The Pakistani side keeps the elephant grass growing in the area trimmed, to offer a clear view.

Kartarpur is very important to Sikhs  Guru Nanak lived here for 18 years, and it was here that he breathed his last. (Photo: YouTube)

The question of the corridor blazed its way to headlines in August this year, after the ebullient Punjab local government and tourism and cultural affairs minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu, hugged General Bajwa in Pakistan, and received major brickbats for it in India, including from the Punjab CM and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.

A month later, ties between the two countries hit a new low, with India accepting, then cancelling foreign ministers-level talks in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly  and Pak PM Khan tweeting about small men and big offices.

Disappointed at the arrogant & negative response by India to my call for resumption of the peace dialogue. However, all my life I have come across small men occupying big offices who do not have the vision to see the larger picture.  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 22, 2018

In such a scenario, the two countries agreeing to a project on Guru Nanaks birth anniversary  though both claim to have initiated it  and exchanging civil tweets over it is definitely a positive development.

However, there is need for caution.

Whats at stake

The building of the corridor will mean Pakistani infrastructure right up to Indias doorstep.

In the past, Pakistan has been known to use gurdwaras to put up Khalistan sympathisers. Khalistan flags have been seen on Pakistan gurdwaras, and Sikh separatists use them to spread anti-India propaganda.

As recently as on November 23, India had registered its protest against harassment of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad and the denial of their access to Indian pilgrims visiting that country.

On November 18, a grenade attack on a Nirankari sect congregation near Amritsar killed three people and injured 21.

The role of ISI-backed terrorists is suspected in the blast.

On November 18, two men on a motorcycle threw a grenade at a Nirankari congregation in Adliwal village near Amritsar. (Photo: PTI)

At present, Indians and Pakistanis can visit places of worship in the other country under the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines  which specifies the list of shrines pilgrims can visit, with a visa.

Once the corridor is functional  the date is the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak next year  Indian pilgrims will be allowed to go up to the Pakistani gurdwara without a visa, and come back the same day.

There are fears in the security establishment that this could be used as a path for unwanted elements to enter India.

Is Pakistan just being nice?

It does seem so.

While concerns have been raised about the possible dangers of allowing free movement of people between the two countries, if we take Pakistan at face value, the move seems motivated by a concern for Sikh pilgrims.

Pakistans Naya PM Imran Khan has much to prove to the world. After India called off the foreign minister-level talks in September, Pakistan is hoping its claim of making the first move on Kartarpur Sahib will fetch it some brownie points internationally.

Does he get a chance? Pakistans Naya PM Imran Khan has much to prove to the world. (Photo: Reuters/file)

Even to his own countrymen, Khan promised change, and a scenario where Pakistan is being nice to a recalcitrant India can be good for his image.

In India, however, the rhetoric for the past year has been one of showing Pakistan its place, etc. In a poll year, the government choosing mellow over macho on the issue shows maturity.

In Punjab, while fulfilling a long-pending demand of pilgrims is good for the Congress government, CM Amarinder Singh is understandably wary of being seen as allowing Khalistanis access to the state.

There is reason for all sides to tread with caution.

The Kartarpur corridor may not drastically alter Indo-Pak ties, but its a first step. And all giant leaps do begin with baby steps.

Also read: Aasia bibi released, opening of Kartarpur corridor: This is how Imran Khan's Naya Pakistan looks like
It would be appropriate if the top court reconsiders its decision allowing women of all ages to visit the Sabarimala shrine at the next hearing of the matter

The 50-odd day Mandala Puja at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple, the climax of 41-day long austerities by devotees who piously trek barefoot through Pampa forest to reach the shrine, has currently become a spiritual obstacle course for the faithful who have to suffer shabby sabotage by the State Government that has ruthlessly curtailed transport and civic facilities for pilgrims, while hyperactively facilitating women of the prohibited age-group to ascend the sacred sannidhanam (sanctum sanctorum).

Interestingly, in its majority judgement of September 2018 allowing women of all ages to enter the temple on grounds of gender equality, the Supreme Court did not actually strike down Rule 6(c) of the Travancore-Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act (1950, 2018) which prevents entry of women aged between 10-50 years to the Sabarimala shrine. Hence, it can be argued that the Travancore Devaswom Board is duty-bound to implement the rule and prevent women belonging to the said age-group from entering the temple.

The State Government-dominated Board is refusing to implement its mandate, forcing devotees to brave stressful circumstances to protect the sanctity of the temple and its traditions. When police could misbehave with Pon Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State for Finance, who came as a devotee carrying the sacred irumudi kettu on his head, the plight of ordinary pilgrims can be imagined. Images of women of the traditionally now permitted age-group weeping at the prospect of the tradition being defiled would surely have stunned those who had tried to liberate them.

So far, vigilant devotees have ensured that attention-grabbing women of the prohibited age-group do not ascend the sacred 18 steps (pathinettaam padi) to the sannidhanam; many have been halted along the route itself. But until the temple opened for Mandalam Puja on November 16, it was open for only a few days in all. Such intense vigilance may be difficult to sustain up to January 20-21 and this has heightened tensions among the faithful. A devotee told this writer that while he was there, two women sporting false beards managed to escape scrutiny and reached the sacred steps; they were stopped with the demand that all men must ascend the steps bare-chested.

It would be appropriate for the Supreme Court, when hearing review petitions listed for January 22, 2019, to reconsider its decision to permit women of all ages to visit the temple in violation of the specific tenets of Ayyappa worship. The Court is also urged to revisit the principles on which it has been ruling on questions of faith. Too many judicial interventions in recent years appear to be driven by personal opinions of the honourable justices of the day in effect flouting the Constitutional separation of powers and even otherwise treading on tricky terrain, leading to complaints of judicial activism and overreach.

In the Shirur Mutt case (1954), the Supreme Court enunciated a doctrine of essential religious practice, and ruled that what constitutes the essential part of a religion is to be ascertained with reference to the doctrines of that religion itself. It stated that a religious denomination or organisation enjoys complete autonomy in deciding what rites and ceremonies are essential according to its tenets and no outside authority has any jurisdiction to interfere with their decision in such matters. Over the years, however, experts have observed that the Court has used this principle to itself decide what is essential and what is not, in an interventionist manner.

Ayyappa at Sabarimala is a unique yogi (ascetic); he sits in arddhasana (yogapadasana), a posture of extreme tapasya (meditation). His knees are bent upwards, bound to his back by yogapatta (a belt made of cloth) with the right hand in Chinmudra (gyan mudra) and the left hand facing downwards and resting on the knee. This is a rare yogic posture and symbolises the wish of the ascetic to leave no space for anyone to sit on his lap. There is a powerful symbolism in this posture. When the seated image of a god has the left thigh folded, his divine consort sits over it; the folded right leg is for the child. Normally, the deitys legs are crossed.

However, Ayyappa Swamis legs are not crossed as he is Naishtika Brahmachari (student who accompanies his Guru everywhere and learns Vedas from him) and has no need to fold his legs because he has no wife or offspring. His raised and bound knees deny space to all. While divinities sit on simhasanas (royal thrones), Ayyappa sits on his feet, on a peetham, in deep meditation, with eyes open. In this state, he elevates one to the conscious awareness (observing) state, sat-chit-ananda, the supreme meditative state. The only other deity wearing yogapatta is Narasimha in Yoga-Narasimha form, but his legs are crossed and his consort sits on his left thigh.

This is the essential religious practice and core sanctity of the Ayyappa tradition that thousands of devotees, men and women alike, are fighting to preserve. Only the oceanic depth and diversity of the Sanatana Dharma can sprout such subtle and profound forms of divinity. They are not easy to comprehend, even for the devout, but they are worthy of utmost reverence. The minority verdict of Justice Indu Malhotra understood that the Supreme Court should avoid wading into theology. Especially, as there was no threat to public order, morality or health. A bunch of busybodies with no locus standi had no right to tell a religious group what rites and ceremonies are essential to its practice.

In my considered view, the Court negated its own wisdom as defined in the Shirur Mutt case and failed to honour the assertions of the respected Thantri regarding the tenets of the faith, denied his autonomy to decide its rites and rules, and allowed the mischief of non-devotees to prevail over believers. The fact that well-funded activists flew to Kerala to become the first to shatter the sacred barrier proves the iconoclastic mindset of the group which moved the petition.

In S Mahendran vs The Secretary, Travancore (1991), the Supreme Court opined that the prohibition of women of a particular age-group was a reasonable restriction and did not apply to women as a class. It noted that the identity of a religious denomination consists in the identity of its doctrines, creeds and tenets, which ensure the unity of the faith and bind its adherents together as one community. It is submitted that the Court should protect this bond of unity.

(The writer is Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library; the views expressed are personal)
Angry locals blocked the Batote-Kishtwar National Highway at Thathri area Sunday over the death of a retired Army officer, demanding arrest of the accused, officials said.

Retired Army officer Mohd Hafiz (60) was killed and several others were injured in a clash between two groups at a polling booth in Doda district during the third phase of the Jammu & Kashmir panchayat elections on Saturday, police said.

"After post-mortem of the deceased, the villagers joined by locals at Thathri refused to take the body to his native village Joura for last rites. They kept the body on the highway demanding assurance from the district magistrate," Thathri SDM Mohd Anwar Banday said.

The protesters sought the district administration's intervention into the matter and assurance from the Doda deputy commissioner to immediately set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to nail down the culprits. They also demanded a government job for the kin of the deceased.

The SDM said he tried to pacify the protesters and assured them of arresting the culprits at the earliest but they are insisting on assurance from the DM itself. Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on either side of the highway at Thathri town since 9 am.
The terrorists acts of targeting locals and policemen in the Valley have boomeranged big time on them. Instead of serving as a major deterrent for the locals to stop cooperating with the security forces, the terrorists move has only led to faster and precise flow of information about them leading to major successes for the forces.

In fact, a terrorist a day  that's how the statistics about militants neutralised by security forces jacked up in the last two months. The number of militants killed this year has already surpassed the 2017 figures. Compared to 217 killed last year, the figures in 2018 till November stand at 226. In the last 60 days itself, the security forces have killed 60 militants including some of the top commanders and most wanted.

The successes, one after another, including at least three major encounters last week, came about due to improved intelligence flow about the movement of militant leadership. "This, after the ultras started terrorising locals by executing them and the videos of these killings went viral on the social media. In addition, the targeting of policemen and security men from Kashmir valley in the last few months also contributed to intelligence pouring in about militants," sources said.

An instance of one such operation on Sunday in Shopian saw three district commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen getting killed in the firefight. The dead included Mohammad Abbas, who was wanted for the murder of Lt Omar Fayaz earlier the year, killing of four policemen and 19-year-old youth some days back in Shopian. The other top leader was Umar Majid alias Hanzla. As per police records, he was involved in the killing of four policemen and two bank guards in a bank robbery attempt.

Elaborating upon the better of flow of intelligence, especially from the local police, officials in the security establishment said here on Monday the trend started particularly after the militants started terrorizing the locals. Besides abducting and executing youths in the last couple of days, the militants also tried to paralyse the local police by killing police officers. It resulted in the anti-insurgency grid getting real time information about the movement of militant commanders almost on daily basis as efforts to deter policemen by killing them did not work.

Explaining this phenomenon, they said earlier the information about top leadership of militants used to be patchy and not frequent. However, the last few months saw the security forces getting almost precise intelligence about the gathering of militants in a hideout resulting in quick joint operations by the Army, Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) and the local police.

Officials also stressed that at present all anti-terrorist operations in the towns and villages of Kashmir were conducted jointly by all the forces deployed there. However, the Army was conducting operations on its own in the higher and inaccessible reaches of mountainous terrain of North and South Kashmir, they said.

Giving the break up for the last six months, they said 32 militants were killed till November 25, 28 in October, 29 in September, 28 in August and 11 in July.

The fight against terror, however, came a cost with 60 security personnel including 56 Army men and four Jammu & Kashmir policemen dying in various encounters in the hinterland and at the Line of Control(LOC) so far this year. The figure stood at 83 for the entire last year including casualties suffered by the army, para-military forces and the local police.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that the pilots of the helicopter, which crushed on a street in Istanbul's Sancaktepe neighborhood, did everything possible to prevent civilian deaths.

The Turkish minister said the pilot appeared to be trying to land the helicopter, which was on its way to the air force base of Samandira, near Sancaktepe, on an empty plot of land in order to prevent civilian deaths.

"They tried to make an emergency landing for a reason that we do not know yet," Akar said, adding that the helicopter was very close to the air base, "but unfortunately could not make it back."

The minister said that the dead servicemen included two officers and two non-commissioned officers. The injured serviceman, a sergeant, was in serious condition and facing an operation, the AP reported.

Akar added that an investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent his condolences to the families of the killed and wished speedy recovery for the injured.
US sets $5 mn reward for info leading to the arrest or conviction of guilty

As the country solemnly observed the 10th anniversary of the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes which claimed 166 lives, India on Monday accused Pakistan of showing little sincerity in punishing those involved in the crime and said the terror attack plotters are still roaming the streets of Pakistan.

Asking Pakistan to give up its double standards, India has asked the country to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice. We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice, the MEA said.

This is not just a matter of Pakistans accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation, it said.

Meanwhile, news agency PTI reported from Washington that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asked Pakistan to act against those responsible for the barbaric 2008 Mumbai attacks as Washington announced a new reward of $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of those involved in the carnage.

India welcomed the US statement calling on Pakistan to uphold UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) and its affiliates.

The case, in which seven LeT members are facing charges of planning and executing the strike, is still dragging on in a Pakistani anti-terror court.

The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistans soil, the MEA said.

Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a barbarity, the US Secretary of State said, We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including LeT and its affiliates.

It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement, Pompeo said in a statement, making it clear to Islamabad that the Trump Administration was not happy with the slow pace of the trial involving seven LeT suspects, including its operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, who is out on bail.

The US Department of States Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Programme is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack, the State Department said in a statement on Sunday.

Key members of this heinous plot remain at large, and this investigation remains active and ongoing. This reward offer extends to any individual who bears responsibility for this act of terror, the RFJ said in a separate statement.

The move comes less than a fortnight after US Vice-President Mike Pence had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised this issue and rued that even 10 years after the Mumbai terrorist attack its perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

The United States is committed to working with our international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack, it said.

The State Departments new announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack.

In April 2012, the Department of State announced reward offers for information that brings to justice LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior LeT leader. Under this, Washington announced a USD 10 million bounty for information leading to Saeeds arrest and conviction but, despite periods of detention over the years, he has remained free in Pakistan.
More than 6000 personnel of district police force including 18 companies of Central Security Forces and nine companies of Special Armed Forces (SAF) have been deployed to conduct free and fair Assembly elections in eight constituencies of Bhopal district.

The 17 toll plazas on the borders have been on alert to check the arrival of people in the district.

DIG Bhopal Dharmendra Choudhary said that extensive search operation for people present out of their district has been conducted after 5 pm from Monday.

Three Flying Squad Team (FST) and Static Surveillance Team (SST) have been deployed for every Bhopal assembly constituency to vigil round the clock. In these teams along with Executive Magistrate, police officials and personnel would remain deployed.

According to the code of conduct before 48 hours of voting which is November 26 from 5 pm intensive search for outsiders from other constituencies has been started. The search has been conducted in hotel, lodge and different areas and those who are not voters of district have to remove outside borders of district.

At every police station level additional Quick Response Team (QRT) which would be lead by Sub Inspector has been formed. Apart from QRT other mobile teams would vigil the areas continuously.

In the district 200 mobile sector magistrates, a police mobile team on every 10-12 polling booth would remain vigil. Around 1200 cameras would keep close eyes on polling booths.

Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram like social media would be monitored by high-tech team and strict action would be taken against those circulating inappropriate content to influence election and disturb law and order.
At least nine people were killed and more than 25 injured when an over speeding bus they were travelling in fell from a bridge into a river in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district.

In another accident, 21 others were injured near Shimla when a bus fell into a gorge.

Police said nine persons were killed in an accident in Sirmaur district on Sunday when the driver of a speeding private bus lost control and broke the railing of the Jalal Bridge and fell into the river below, plunging from a height of 40 feet.

Four passengers, including three women, died on the spot, while five critically-injured persons succumbed to their injuries in a hospital. Twenty-five people are under treatment in the Nahan medical college and Dadahu sub-divisional hospital, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Nahan, Virender Singh Thakur.

"The accident took place near Khadri village on the Renuka-Dadahu-Nahan road, about 168 km south of Shimla, around 4.30 pm," he said.

Thakur, who reached the spot and supervised the rescue operation, said prima facie the accident happened due to the negligence of the bus driver. According to eyewitnesses, the bus was speeding while crossing the bridge.

Most of the deceased are locals who are yet to be identified.

The other accident took place at the Kiari Nallah on the Solan-Shimla border. The bus plunged into a gorge, injuring 21 people.

The accident took place in the Kandaghat police station area on the Junga-Sadhupul road when the bus was returning to Delhi from a trip to Shimla and nearby tourist places, Police said.

Of the injured, 15, including the driver and the conductor, are being treated at a community health centre in Junga, whereas six people, whose condition was stated as critical, were referred to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla, they added.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed the AAP Government in the national Capital has done "much more" than what Prime Minister Narendra Modi did in Gujarat in the last 12 years. Kejriwal was speaking on the sixth foundation day of the Aam Aadmi Party at the part head quarters here.

Targeting the Gujarat model of development, the Delhi chief minister said, "I challenge... The AAP government in Delhi did much more than he (Narendra Modi) did in Gujarat in 12 years," he said.

"The people of Delhi are proud of their honest chief minister. I want to ask the people of the country if they feel the same about their prime minister," Kejriwal said.

He also hit out the BJP-led NDA government over alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal and Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi fleeing the country.

"The AAP's political journey began on this day six years ago. The political revolution against corruption and communalism is going on despite obstacles," the Chief Minister tweeted.

In another tweet he said that be proud to be associated with the party. Being a part of the party, it makes you realise that you are responsible and accountable to the nation, he tweeted.

Congratulating party workers and supporters, Kejriwal said that the AAP's political revolution against corruption and communalism is going on despite obstacles.

The Chief Minister said that the initiatives taken by the Delhi Government in the field of education and health are being praised in the world.

He said that the AAP Government has completely changed the education system in the city. "The government also organized a mega parents teachers meeting first time to provide parents an opportunity to know about the progress of their children. Principals and teachers were also sent to foreign countries to learn better teaching techniques so that they can teach the students accordingly," he said.
Security in UP jails once again came under scrutiny after a video showing dreaded criminals engaged in a drinking binge inside Rae Bareli jail and threatening someone went viral.

The video went viral on social media on Sunday night after which jail authorities suspended six prison personnel including jail superintendent Pramod Kumar Shukla. The other suspended officials were jailor Govind Ram Verma, assistant jailor Ramchandra Tiwari, head warden Lalta Prasad and wardens Ganga Ram and Shivmangal.

Surprisingly, the jail authorities shifted four criminals in the video to other jails three days back.

DIG, Jail, Umesh Srivastava was rushed from Lucknow to inquire into the incident by ADG (Prisons) Chandra Prakash. IG, Jail, is also likely to reach Rae Bareli to collect first hand information.

As per reports, after the video went viral, Rae Bareli District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar Khatri and Superintendent of Police Sujata Singh raided the jail late on Sunday night. The state government also shifted four inmates seen in the video to other jails. An FIR was lodged against them under various sections of the IPC and Prisons Act.

Principal Secretary, Home, Arvind Kumar said that as soon as the video surfaced, Rae Bareli jail premises was checked by the administration and four mobiles and a SIM card were recovered.

Sources said that the video was shot in barrack number 10 of Rae Bareli jail and it was recorded during Diwali. In the video, a criminal smoking a cigarette was seen talking to someone over a cell phone and asking him to pay Rs 10,000 to Rs 5,000 to jail officers for facilitating liquor inside the jail. Some others were seen threatening some one on phone.

Jail superintendent Pramod Kumar Shukla, who is among the suspended, admitted before the media that four criminals figured in the video and four FIRs were registered against them in Sadar Kotwali of Rae Bareli and a probe was ordered.

Jail inmate Nikhil Sonkar was shifted to Sultanpur, Ajit to Barabanki, Dalsingar Singh to Fatehpur and Anshu to Pratapgarh jails.

Jails in Uttar Pradesh are already plagued by problems like over-crowding, staff crunch and porous security and reports of liquor, weapons and mobile phones finding their way inside the jail.

A committee set up to probe the state of affairs in UP prisons had noted that in many jails, CCTV cameras, metal detectors and manual scanners were not functioning properly.

The recent incident came at a time when the jail administration was in the process of upgrading prisons with multi-level security system and installation of machines to check entry of illegal weapons to end bloody battles in jails. Earlier at Baghpat jail where jailed don Munna Bajrangi was shot seven times by an inmate, it surfaced during probe that CCTV cameras installed inside the jail were not functioning. During subsequent search by the investigators, a pistol, two magazines and 22 cartridges were recovered from a drain inside the jail.

After the Bajrangi murder, notorious ganglords Atiq Ahmed, Mukim alias Kala, Udaibhan Singh alias Doctor, Titu alias Kiranpal, Rocky alias Kaki, Alam Singh and others lodged in jails perceived threat to their lives and urged to be placed in jails located in their areas of influence. A senior police officer said although the dons were lodged in jails, their gangs continued to indulge in murder, kidnapping, dacoity and extortion as a musclemans call from jail was enough to terrorise businessmen, contractors and even government officers. Those who refuse to follow their diktats are threatened, attacked or even killed, the official said.

After the BJP came to power in UP in March, 2017, over 100 criminals were shifted from one jail to another to render their crime network ineffective.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday said Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to go to Pakistan for their ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor was "his way of thinking" but he personally could not think of going there while Indian soldiers and civilians were being killed by them.

As an army man, he could not tolerate the killing of innocent Indians, said the Chief Minister, pointing out that even today an Indian army personnel was killed by Pakistani snipers. He could not go to the neighbouring country in these circumstances, he said, in an informal chat with mediapersons after laying the foundation stone for Kartarpur Corridor.

As for the Central Government's decision to send its ministers to the Pak ceremony, the Chief Minister said it was for them to do as they deem fit but he personally felt thought should have been more sensitive to the feelings of Indian soldiers and citizens. The Centre can not close its eyes to what is happening in India as a result of Pakistan's policy and support to terrorist groups, said Amarinder.

The Chief Minister world said the knows about Pakistan's role in perpetrating terrorism in India, as manifest in the attacks in and Pathankot, Mumbai, Dina Nagr, of course, Jammu & Kashmir. The Central Government if also fully aware of this, he added, reiterating his stand that till the cycle of violence unleashed by Pakistan against India came to a stop, he would not travel to that country.
Congress candidate from Bindranawagarh assembly segment, Sanjay Netam has urged the District Electoral Officer and District Collector Gariaband to permit him to install a jammer and construct a concrete wall to protect Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the strong room of his assembly segment at his cost.

In an application, the Congress candidate urged that the expenditure on installation of jammer and construction of concrete wall would be borne by him.

Notably, directive has been issued to all the Congress candidates by All India Congress Committee to safeguard the strong rooms where EVMs are stored.

They have also been instructed to even stay put round-the- clock near the premises where strong rooms have been built in order to deter possible EVM tampering and hacking.

In a bid to protect the strong room I want to close the entrance gate completely with a concrete wall, he said in the application. Apart from it, I also want to install a jammer in the strong room where EVMs are stored. The expenditure for the work would be borne by me, Netam said.
2 held for smuggling gold bars at IGIA

New Delhi: Delhi Customs officials have arrested two men at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport for allegedly trying to smuggle gold bars worth Rs 79 lakh into the country. The duo was intercepted after their arrival from Dubai via Bahrain on Friday.

4 held for looting Rs 1.5L at gunpoint

New Delhi: Four robbers were arrested in Delhis Shadhara district for allegedly robbing two persons of Rs 1.5 lakh in cash along with the keys of an electronic shop and some documents at gunpoint. The accused persons were identified as Faem (23), Imran (24), Haider and Mohammad Shakir (27). Two bikes used in the crime, robbed two bags, documents related to the complainant and keys of shop were recovered from the possession of accused persons, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shadhara) Meghna Yadav.

28-yr-old held for carrying pistols

New Delhi: A 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly carrying pistols in West Delhis Punjabi Bagh area, police said Monday. The accused, identified as Manish, a resident of Baljeet Nagar had seven cases of robbery against him and had been booked under the Arms Act, they said. On Sunday at around 9.40 pm, police held him near Bhagwan Daas Chamber, recovered two semi-automatic country-made pistols.
Labour Commissioner of the State Rajesh Bahuguna has directed the managers and employers of all business, trades, industrial undertakings and other establishments to provide paid leave to all workers in all categories employed by them so as to ensure that they are able to exercise franchise in the Assembly elections -2018 conveniently and without any hindrance. It has been clarified in the directives that if any person is employed in such work, which may cause any danger or substantial loss, then this provision will not be applicable to him, however, such persons should be given facility to exercise franchise turn-by-turn. Management should take care that this facility should be such that they can exercise their franchise. If any employer violates the provisions of the Public Representation Act, then he will be fined up to Rs 500. Also, punitive action can be taken against him under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code. Penal action includes imprisonment up to one month or with fine or both.

It may be noted that the Election Commission of India has issued instructions mentioning Section 135-B of the People's Representation Act with the purpose of providing voting facility to the workers. It is mentioned in these instructions that it is mandatory to approve paid leave to every person employed in all businesses, trades, industrial undertakings and any other establishment in all the assembly areas of the state, whether

He is a daily wage labourer or casual (emergency) labour category, who has the right to vote in the Assembly elections. It has also been mentioned that if the worker is employed in any industry or establishment, which is outside the assembly constituency, where the general elections are taking place, even then they will be eligible for getting paid leave for voting.
It is winter once again and it is the time for the migratory birds to visit the banks of Ganga. Thousands of migratory birds from the Palearctic regions, including Mongolia, China, Siberia and other parts of Russia, have darted to Bhimgoda barrage and Misserpur wetlands besides Asan barrage of Dehradun. A pair of Plass Gull and Cormorant commonly known as Jal Kaag among others was first sighted in Misserpur wetlands in the third week of October. The banks of Ganga are dotted with the winged guests once again, announcing the onset of the wintry breezes.

Ruddy Shelduck, duck with orange plumage commonly called as Chakwa Chakwi pairs, arrived soon after the Cormorants early this month. Led by Prof Dinesh Bhatt of Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, some students are now engaged in registering the arrival of the migratory birds.

When the first pair of migratory birds was sighted in Haridwar in October this season the temperature here was 21 degrees Celsius. This season the winter has arrived a bit early here and this accounts for the early arrival of the migratory birds, said Professor Dinesh Bhatt, an internationally-renowned ornithologist.

Speaking to The Pioneer, Bhatt said that the pair of holy Rudy Shelduck always stays together and eats vegetables at night. The followers of Buddhism consider this bird pair as holy. In all the Buddhist countries and also in the Tibet region, there is a ban on killing this bird. This is why, the species is still thriving,  he said.

Dwelling on the list of the avian guests which come from far-off lands, Bhatt said, Pintail, wall creeper, sand piper, gulls, teals, swans and mallards have also flocked to Haridwar. Hopefully, the Rajhans would also reach Haridwar by the end of November since they started their journey from Mansarovar quite early this season.

Speaking of the Indian birds which migrate from the Himalayan ranges and fly down to the plains, including Haridwar, Vinay Sethi of Uttarakhand Sanskrit University said that Wagtail, Red Start, Warbler and Fly Catchers generally come down in the winter for food since food becomes scarce in their own lands. Local migratory birds like black winged Stilt and Grey Pond Heron also come during the winter for the same reason, he added.

However, the ornithologists and the bird lovers are concerned over the dwindling number of the avian guests here over the past 10 years. They had earlier said that the number of bird species visiting Ganga wetlands had come down by 30%. They had cited the instance of Pintail and said that Pintail, which earlier used to come to Haridwar in their hundreds, was being rarely sighted.

Asked about the reasons that have caused the fall in their number, the bird specialists say that environmental changes, resulting in rising temperatures, are blocking their flights to their earlier destinations. They also ascribe the fall in the number of the avian guests in this part of the world to the mining activities.
The Ukrainian armed forces have been put on full combat alert by the decision of the chief of the countrys General Staff.

According to the press service of Ukraines Defense Ministry, in accordance with the National Security and Defense Councils decision on imposing martial law, the chief of the General Staff and commander-in-chief of Ukraines armed forces ordered to put the Ukrainian armed forces units on full combat alert.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has also been put on heightened alert.

"Counterintelligence measures have been strengthened to prevent further provocations by the Russian special services on the territory of Ukraine and destabilise the situation inside the country," the statement reads.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that the imposition of martial law in the country would not affect the situation in Donbass, and did not mean that Kiev would conduct an offensive military operation.

There were earlier reports that three Ukrainian warships, namely the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yany Kapu, had illegally crossed Russias state border early on Sunday, before making another attempt of committing illegal actions in the countrys territorial waters later in the evening, according to the Russian Federal Security Services Border Service in Crimea. The Ukrainian vessels ignored legitimate demands of the Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service and the Black Sea Fleet for an immediate stop, performing dangerous maneuvers. Weapons had been used in order to stop the Ukrainian ships, which were detained in the Russian territorial waters. These vessels were later delivered to the port of Kerch,

Criminal proceedings had been initiated on violation of the state border of the Russian Federation. After the ships had started moving toward the Kerch Strait, the passage of civil ships through the strait was closed.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook that the incident was characteristic of Ukrainian behaviour  provoke, pressure and blame for aggression.

NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said NATO "fully supports Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity" and is calling on Russia "to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea," CNN reported.

Poroshenko said at the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council that he will hold consultations with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in connection with the situation in the Kerch Strait.

According to the media, radicals threw smoke bombs and smoke flares at the Russian Embassy in Kiev, Kiev police chief Andriy Kryschenko arrived there.

Now the Kerch Strait is open for the movement of civil ships: they already started passing through the strait.

First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vladimir Dzhabarov, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the main purpose of Ukraine's provocations is the abolition of presidential elections. "I think that Ukrainians will try to draw world attention to Russia as an aggressor country. They want to get new loans and political support from allies, but the most important thing for Poroshenko is to cancel the presidential election next spring. The introduction of martial law, which may happen in two months, will mean an automatic cancellation of the presidential elections and the continuation of Poroshenkos rule," he explained.

Deputy director of the Institute of the CIS Vladimir Zharikhin agreed with Dzhabarov. "The most important thing for Poroshenko is to impose the martial law, which he did last night. On the one hand, he expects it to united the population and improve his rating, and if it fails, under the pretext of martial law, he will be able to cancel the election. On the other hand, Poroshenko decided to try to disrupt Putins meeting with Trump. Here Kiev is at a certain risk. Trump is interested in the meeting with Putin to agree on certain directions, so Poroshenko did him an ill turn, which creates problems for the Ukrainian president himself," the expert recalls.

"Although Poroshenko said it does not mean war, he only wants to impose martial law, however, further provocations in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait can be expected. Of course, Kiev has little power for it, but ambiguity of a bilateral agreement between Russia and Ukraine after Crimea entered Russia allows them to conduct provocations, citing international law. Formally, they have grounds, so they will continue to play this card," Vladimir Zharikhin warned.
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated the countrys first Hyper Converged Infrastructure (HCI) State Data Centre in Dehradun on Monday. All citizen-centric services will be accessible through this State Data Centre (SDC). It is a three-tier SDC developed by the Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA) of the Uttarakhand Government. It is the first data center in the country with 100 per cent software based HCI technology.

Addressing the gathering at a programme organised at ITDA, the Chief Minister congratulated the agency team for successfully completing the SDC before the deadline. He said that it is important to start and complete the Government projects in a time bound manner. We have to develop such a system that the Government work is completed in a fixed time frame. This will also remove the shortcomings of our system. Efforts are being made to facilitate spending of a certain part of every department's budget on IT and technical development. The State had been waiting for the SDC for a long time, he said.

Rawat further said that this state-of-the-art data centre is based on modern and green technology.

He expected that efforts would be made to soon connect the SDC with solar energy.

He said that the State Government is going to work on the use of solar power in all Government buildings.

He said that the establishment of state-of-the-art SDC will definitely benefit the State. The information of all departments of the Government will be available at one place and simultaneously official activities will speed up and also result in saving of energy.

It will provide all types of safe, reliable, efficient and all-time available digital services to the different departments of the State Government.

This will play an important role in realising the vision of the Prime Minister's Digital India. With the establishment of SDC, there is hope for opening up major possibilities in the digital sector, he added.

ITDA officials informed that Uttarakhand SDC has been developed on green concept to reduce the use of electricity and increase the efficiency. All citizen-centric services will be accessible through this centre.

The time and money being spent on the basic building infrastructure will be saved. It will also reduce burden on the public exchequer and also help in integrating the online database of different Government departments at one place.

Government departments will be able to provide the benefits of citizen services more easily to the public.

This is a common data centre for different departments through which the departments can fulfill their IT requirements on the general private cloud. Modern biometric systems and 24x7 closed circuit television camera surveillance make the SDC even more secure and reliable.

Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi, chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh, ITDA director Amit Kumar Sinha and IT secretary RK Sudhanshu among others were also present on the occasion.
Filing of nominations for the upcoming students poll started here at Ranchi University (RU) and Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University (DSPMU) on Monday. The respective universities will be soon conducting scrutiny process before the final publication of the list of contestants.

Interested candidates of as many as 14 constituent colleges under RU including 22 Post-Graduate (PG) departments will file their nominations. The final list of the candidates after scrutiny for Direct Election will be published on November 29 at 5 PM, said RU officer (PR), Dr. PK Jha.

Meanwhile, DSPMU gearing to conduct its first students union election on December 4 completed its process of filing the nominations on varsity campus on Monday. The final list of the contestants will be released after scrutiny today. As per the DSPMU Officer (PR), as many as 44 students have filed their nominations for all the five posts  president, vice-president, general secretary, joint secretary cum treasurer and deputy secretary. Around 11 students have filed nomination to contest election for the post of president here, said an official of DSPMU.

Notably, more than 2000 students will cast votes from the newly constructed DSPMU this year while approximately 1.5 lakh voters will choose their representatives in the third students union poll. Over 15,000 voters alone from Doranda College affiliated under RU will cast their votes. As per the university senior officials, if any student does have their respective college ID cards with them, even then, he or she will be allowed to cast vote.

Direct Election will be held at the respective places on December 3 from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Counting of votes, declaration of results including the oath ceremony will be conducted on December 4. Submission/ intimation of complete list of the elected members to the office of Dean Students Welfare (DSW) must be done on December 5 by the colleges that followed direct election methodology.

Meanwhile, the university level election which will be carried out through indirect method is scheduled on December 13 at Multipurpose Examination Hall (MPEH) followed by counting and oath taking ceremony.
Three people lost their lives in road accidents across the national Capital during last 24 hours. In one such incident that took place at Anand Vihar, a 35-year-old driver of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) was allegedly crushed to death by a private bus on Sunday.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning at about 10.15 am at Anand Vihar ISBT. The driver identified as Shiv Kumar who was a resident of Bagpat in Uttar Pradesh. He was crushed to death by a speeding bus after he got off his vehicle to set the rear view mirror in position at the Anand Vihar bus terminal. While he was setting the rear view mirror of his bus, a speeding bus overtook him from the right and he was crushed between the two buses, said Pankaj Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), East district.

He was rushed to GTB hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Shiv, a DTC bus driver, had halted his bus 50 meters away from Anand Vihar and the bus was scheduled to leave for Gurugram when this incident happened. We have registered a case on the basis of the statement given by DTC conductor Sachin Tomar and the accused driver of Private bus identified as Idrish (55) was arrested, said the DCP.

In another incident at New Usmanpur, two men identified as Kuldeep (45) and Raju (45) were crushed to death by unidentified vehicle on Sunday night.

Kuldeep was returning home on his scooty on Sunday night when at New Usmanpur road an unidentified vehicle hit him. Raju was also crossing the road and the same car also hit him and fled the spot, said a senior police official.

A police control room (PCR) call was received at around 11 pm on Sunday regarding the incident following which a team rushed to the spot. Both were taken nearby hospital where doctors declared them brought dead, said the senior police official.

We are scanning CCTV footage in the area to identify the culprit. The bodies were sent for post mortem. Further investigation is going on, the senior police official added.
A week-long training on silviculture and forestry for the personnel of Ecological Battalion of Territorial Army began at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) here on Monday.

During the inaugural session of the training course, FRI director Savita said that the ecological battalions of Territorial Army are doing commendable work on afforestation of degraded, disturbed and difficult sites. Training at FRI will provide scientific inputs on silvicultural aspects like seed collection, quality evaluation, nursery raising and plantation establishment and management.

The institutes silviculture and forest management division head Arti Chaudhary welcomed the participants and said that during this course apart from lectures, visits to nursery, laboratories and experimental sites will also be conducted.

Earlier, the course coordinator Manisha Thapliyal gave a detailed report of the course and said that more emphasis is being laid on practical exposure in seed handling, nursery establishment and plantation activities.

The training module includes the techniques of seed dormancy pretreatments, seed storage, clonal propagation of bamboo, nursery techniques of important tree species of Assam, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

The training lectures also include soil fertility management in nursery and plantations, afforestation of difficult sites and management of fungal and insect-pest diseases in nursery and plantations, propagation of medicinal plants, visit to common facility centre for bamboo processing and treatment.

The training course being organised jointly by FRI and 127 Infantry Battalion, Ecological (TA) Garhwal Rifles, is being attended by about 37 personnel from various regions including Assam, Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das launching a scathing attack on the parties in the Opposition said that the Government under him would not let anyone to indulge into corrupt practices while referring to the misdeeds allegedly done before.

Addressing the gathering at the closing ceremony of two-day Bansidhar Mahotsava at Nagar Untari, which has been renamed as Bansidhar Nagar now, the Chief Minister also underlined the good works done by the BJP regimes both at the Center and the State to set a comparison.

Those who are passing statements about development have been in power for 67 years after independence.

They can only talk, be in power or in the Opposition. But the Raghubar Das Government would not budge under this and allow anyone to loot Jharkhand. We have eradicated brokers from politics and otherwise, said the CM at the event.

He reiterated that the Government wanted to bring smile on the faces of the poor in the State and named schemes meant to women empowerment, skill development for youths, healthcare etc to drive home his point.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always stressed over skilling youths who may not be very well education but can have skills.

State Government has made provision for Rs 700 crore in the Budget for skilling youths. We are going to provide one lakh more jobs on January 12, added the CM. Coming to the agrarian background of Palamu division, Raghubar Das invited farmers of the region to come and attend the Global Food and Agriculture Summit slated to take place on November 29-30 in Ranchi.

The Prime Minister has talked about doubling farm income by 2022. The Summit being organised in Ranchi this month is a step in that direction itself.

Farmers from all the three districts should attend the event in great number where latest techniques and farm marking skills would be on display.

I came to know about massive vegetable production in this belt which can be exported to the European countries and to the Gulf for better income to the farmers.

This can also free them from middlemen active, added the CM.

Talking about benefits of e-NAM, the CM mentioned about the decision of the Government to provided smart phones to all 28 lakh farmers of the State so that the electronic marketing platform can be used to their benefit.

We are going to provide mobile phones to all the farmers of the State so that they can use e-NAM and earn better price of their produce without being exploited in the hands of the brokers, he said.

On the occasion he also launched postal stamps dedicated to the Bansidhar Temple and also declared formation of Bansidhar block besides renaming the old town after the famous religious place belonging to Lord Krishna and Radha.

Urban Development Minister CP Singh, Palamu MP VD Ram, MLAs Bhanu Pratap Sahi and Radha Krishna Kishore were also present there.
An autorickshaw driver was beaten to death allegedly by a mob that suspected him of being a thief in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar, police said Sunday.

Two other men were also thrashed on the suspicion of being thieves, they added.

The two men had boarded the autorickshaw driven by victim Avinash Kumar Saturday, the police said.

Subsequently, they asked Kumar to wait for them and got off while the autorickshaw driver went to urinate, they added.

When he came back, he saw a crowd thrashing the men, the police said.

The duo told the mob that Kumar was their leader, following which the crowd attacked him, they added.

The duo had allegedly stolen batteries and kept them in Kumar's autorickshaw, the police said.

One of the accused was nabbed, while the others were yet to be identified, they added.
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The Williams Cos., Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company, which explores, produces, transports, sells and processes natural gas and petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Transmission and Gulf of Mexico; Northeast G&P; and West. The Transmission and Gulf of Mexico segment comprises of interstate natural gas pipelines, Transco and Northwest Pipeline, as well as natural gas gathering and processing and crude oil production handling and transportation assets in the Gulf Coast region. The Northeast G&P segment includes midstream gathering, processing, and fractionation businesses in the Marcellus Shale region primarily in Pennsylvania and New York, and the Utica Shale region of eastern Ohio. The West segment consists of gas gathering, processing, and treating operations in the Rocky Mountain region of Colorado and Wyoming, the Barnett Shale region of north-central Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale region of south Texas, the Haynesville Shale region of northwest Louisiana, and the Mid-Continent region which includes the Anadarko, Arkoma, and Permian basins. The company was founded by David Williams and Miller Williams in 1908 and is headquartered in Tulsa,

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The following companies are subsidiares of Xerox: A B S Digital Limited, Acorn Business Machines (Holmfirth) Limited, Alloy Acquisitions Corp. LLC, Altodigital Networks, Altodigital Networks Limited, American Photocopy Equipment Company of Pittsburgh LLC, Amici, Arena Group, Arena Group Holdings Limited, Arena Group Limited, Arizona Office Technologies Inc., B 2 Business Systems Limited, Back2Business Limited, Bessemer Insurance Limited, Bessemer Trust Limited, Boise Office Equipment Inc., Bright Ceramic Technologies Inc., Bunch CareSolutions, Business Systems (North Wales) Limited, CPAS Systems, CREDITEX - Aluguer de Equipamentos S.A., CTX Business Solutions Inc., Capitol Office Solutions LLC, CareAR Holdings LLC, CareAR Inc., Carolina Office Systems Inc., Carr Business Systems Inc., Chicago Office Technology Group Inc., ComDoc Inc., Concept Group, Concept Group Limited, Connecticut Business Systems LLC, Consilience Software, Continua Limited, Continua Sanctum Limited, Conway Technology Group LLC, Copyrite Business Solutions (Holdings) Limited, Copyrite Business Solutions Limited, Copytrend Limited, Criterion IT Limited, Customer Value Group, Dahill Office Technology Corporation, Digitex, Digitex Canada Inc., Docucentric Holdings Limited, Document Systems, Document Systems, Eastern Managed Print Network LLC, Elan Marketing Inc., Electronic Systems Inc., Fovia (Innovation) Limited, G-Five Inc., GDP Technologies Inc., Global Imaging Systems, Global PR Corporation, Groupe CT, Gyricon LLC, Healthy Communities Institute, Heritage Business Systems Inc., ITEC Group, Image Technology Specialists Inc., ImageQuest Inc., Imagetek Office Systems, Impika, Impika SAS, Inland Business Machines Inc., Institute for Research on Learning, Integrity One Technologies Inc., Intrepid Learning, Invoco Group, Irish Business Systems, LRI LLC, LaserNetworks, LaserNetworks Inc., Lateral Data, Learn Something, Lewan & Associates Inc., Limited Liability Company Xerox (C.I.S.), M & S Reprographics Limited, MRC Smart Technology Solutions Inc., MT Business Holdings Inc., MT Business Technologies Inc., MWB Copy Products Inc., Mail A Doc Limited, Merizon Group Incorporated, Michigan Office Solutions Inc., Minnesota Office Technology Group Inc., Mitral Systems Limited, Mr. Copy Inc., Nemo (AKS) Limited, NewField IT, NewField Information Technology LLC, NewField Information Technology Limited, Northeast Office Systems LLC, Osprey Business Systems Limited, PARC China Holdings Inc., Pacific Services and Development Corporation, Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Platinum Digital Print Solutions Limited, Precision Copier Service Inc., Quality Business Systems Inc., Quilver Business Services Limited, R. K. Dixon Company, RRXH Limited, RRXIL Limited, RRXO Limited, RSA Medical, Rabbit Copiers Inc., Reflex Digital Solutions (UK) Limited, Reprographics Egypt Limited, Saxon Business Systems Inc., Smart Data Consulting, SoCal Office Technologies Inc., Stem Networks Limited, Stewart Business Systems LLC, Stewart of Alabama Inc., StrataCare, Talegen Holdings Inc., Tektronix - color printing, Text Comm Limited (in receivership), The Xerox (UK) Trust, The Xerox Foundation, Time Business Systems Limited, Triton Business Finance Limited, Una-Stem Limited, Veenman B.V., Veenman Financial Services B.V., WDS, WaterWare Internet Services, XC Asia LLC, XC Global Trading B.V., XC Trading Hong Kong Limited, XC Trading Japan G.K., XC Trading Korea YH, XC Trading Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., XC Trading Shenzhen Co. Ltd., XC Trading Singapore Pte Ltd., XEROX CZECH REPUBLIC s r.o., XESystems Foreign Sales Corporation, XFS Secured Borrowing 2020-1 LLC, XHC Acquisition Corp., XMPie, XMPie Inc., XMPie Ltd., XRI Limited, XRO Limited, Xerox (Europe) Limited, Xerox (Ireland) Limited, Xerox (Nederland) BV, Xerox (Romania) Echipmante Si Servici S.A., Xerox (UK) Limited, Xerox (Ukraine) Ltd LLC, Xerox A/S, Xerox AG, Xerox AS, Xerox Argentina Industrial y Comercial S.A., Xerox Austria GmbH, Xerox Bulgaria EOOD, Xerox Business Equipment Limited, Xerox Business Services Bulgaria EOOD, Xerox Business Solutions Inc., Xerox Business Solutions Southeast LLC, Xerox Buro Araclari Servis ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti, Xerox Canada Inc., Xerox Canada Ltd., Xerox Canada N.S. ULC, Xerox Capital (Europe) Limited, Xerox Capital LLC, Xerox Computer Services Limited, Xerox Comercio e Industria Ltda, Xerox Corporation, Xerox DNHC LLC, Xerox Dienstleistungsgesellschaft GmbH, Xerox Distributor Operations Limited, Xerox Egypt S.A.E., Xerox Equipment Limited, Xerox Equipment UK Limited, Xerox Espana S.A.U., Xerox Exports Limited, Xerox Finance AG, Xerox Finance Leasing S.A.E., Xerox Finance Limited, Xerox Financial Services B.V., Xerox Financial Services Belux NV, Xerox Financial Services Canada Ltd., Xerox Financial Services Danmark A/S, Xerox Financial Services Finland Oy, Xerox Financial Services LLC, Xerox Financial Services Norway AS, Xerox Financial Services SAS, Xerox Financial Services Sverige AB, Xerox Foreign Holdings LLC, Xerox Foreign Sales Corporation, Xerox GmbH, Xerox Health Care LLC, Xerox Hellas AEE, Xerox Holding Deutschland GmbH, Xerox Holdings (Ireland) Limited, Xerox Holdings Inc., Xerox Hungary Trading Limited, Xerox IBS Limited, Xerox IBS NI Limited, Xerox India Limited, Xerox International Joint Marketing Inc., Xerox Investments Europe B.V., Xerox Israel Ltd., Xerox Italia Rental Services Srl, Xerox Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Xerox Latinamerican Holdings Inc., Xerox Leasing Deutschland GmbH, Xerox Leasing GmbH, Xerox Limited, Xerox Luxembourg SA, Xerox Mailing Systems Limited, Xerox Manufacturing (Nederland) B.V., Xerox Maroc S.A., Xerox Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Xerox Middle East Investments (Bermuda) Limited, Xerox N.V., Xerox Overseas Holdings Limited, Xerox Overseas Inc., Xerox Oy, Xerox Pensions Limited, Xerox Polska Sp. z o. o, Xerox Portugal Equipamentos de Escritorio Limitada, Xerox Products Limited, Xerox Products UK Limited, Xerox Professional Services Limited, Xerox Realty Corporation, Xerox Renting S.A.U., Xerox Reprographische Services GmbH, Xerox S.A.S., Xerox S.p.A., Xerox Secured Borrowing 2020-1 LLC, Xerox Servicios Compartidos Guatemala y Compani Limitada, Xerox Servicos e Participacoes Ltda, Xerox Shared Services Romania SRL, Xerox Sverige AB, Xerox Technology Services India LLP, Xerox Technology Services SAS, Xerox Telebusiness GmbH, Xerox Trading Enterprises Limited, Xerox Trinidad Limited, Xerox UK Holdings Limited, Xerox XHB Limited, Xerox XIB Limited, Xerox Xf Holdings (Ireland) DAC, Xerox de Chile S.A., Xerox del Ecuador S.A., Xerox del Peru S.A., Zeno Office Solutions, Zeno Office Solutions Inc., Zoom Imaging Solutions Inc., and inVentiv Patient Access Solutions.
Invesco Senior Loan ETF's stock was trading at $20.75 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, BKLN shares have increased by 5.8% and is now trading at $21.95.

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For the past decade, a vintage automobile restorer named Ray Moore has been following his singular passion for the Boeing B-17 bomber in Asheville, North Carolina. Moore has harnessed his expertise in precisely shaping metal and focused it in a new direction, the restoration and recreation of an airworthy Flying Fortress. Part of Moores fascination with the Fort extends from his great uncle, MSgt Marvin Hudson, who was a B-17 line chief with the 546th BS/384th BG during WWII at RAF Grafton Underwood in Northamptonshire, England. One of the aircraft he worked on was B-17F 42-3455, nicknamed Lucky Thirteen by her crew. However, Lucky Thirteens luck ran out during a bombing mission to Stuttgart on September 6th, 1943, when Uffz Kahlhammer shot her down in his Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-5 near Clermont in France. Amazingly though, Lucky Thirteens luck held for her crew though; they all bailed out successfully and survived the war to reach old age.

By happenstance, Ray Moore came into contact in 2009 with a man named Gerard Lequien who had excavated some of Lucky Thirteens parts from French soil. Though just small fragments of this once magnificent aircraft, some of these parts will be incorporated into Ray Moores B-17, which will give the aircraft a faint, though definitive aroma of provenance when she finally wears the 384th BGs Triangle P on her tail in the years to come. The project also has at its disposal several large sections of other B-17s, including B-17Gs 44-83316, 44-85813, 44-83542, which will contribute parts and patterns to the project.

A practical man, Ray Moore has used his engineering skills to benefit at least five other B-17s under restoration as he progresses, creating several sets of fuselage jigs and components for these projects, even while he works on his own. This way the economy of scale will benefit Lucky Thirteen as she slowly moves towards completion. Currently in his shop, Lucky Thirteens forward fuselage is taking shape in her jig, while, phoenix-like, the rear fuselage of the Liberty Belle Foundations B-17G 44-85734 is coming back together again following her near-total destruction by fire back in 2011. We thought our readers would like to see the current progress, and Jim Brown has brought us a wonderful outline of the project following his recent visit to Ray Moores workshop to lend a hand with the project. Jim is also an experienced hand at aircraft restoration, and is currently building a P-40 Warhawk which we also hope to cover in due course

Resurrecting Lucky Thirteen

by Jim Brown

I first heard of Ray Moore Jr. and Lucky Thirteen when I went to visit Eric Miller at Project Warbird to pick up some parts for my TP-40N Warhawk project back in 2016. I first made contact with Ray this September when I called and asked him if I could come see his project, and he said, Sure I am usually here seven days a week but call before you come to make sure I will be here.

I often thought after I first heard of Rays project, How does a man go about restoring a plane as big as a B-17 all by himself? The day finally arrived for me to go and I was up at 3:00 am for the drive from my home in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Asheville Regional Airport, where Rays project is housed in a hangar. When I arrived, Ray met me at the entrance and let me in through the security gate. When we walked into the hanger I was greeted with numerous jigs containing various portions of B-17 fuselage. As I walked around, there were components made up original airworthy parts, salvaged from other airframes, as well as newly fabricated parts installed. As we talked I learned he is not just fabricating parts for his plane but for several other projects that are on-going around the country.

Rays focus is to restore Lucky Thirteen back to the way she would have looked fresh from the factory, using as many original airworthy parts as possible. As you can imagine, airworthy original parts are hard to come by, so he is fabricating new components from factory drawings as well as making templates from original, non-airworthy parts. His attention to detail and craftsmanship are first rate. When one of his suppliers sent him some splice plates for the fuselage bulkheads he said, I need to send them back so you can cut them in two and make a duplicate set as they are doubled. The supplier said it wouldnt hurt to use them the way they were, but Ray said, That wouldnt be correct and Im sending them back. He also said that as the parts are completed and heat treated he dips them in zinc chromate primer just like the factory did instead of spraying them.

While I was there, Ray let me do some bead blasting of a few components to remove the corrosion so they could be used as templates for making new parts. It was amazing to think about the men and women who fabricated and installed these parts in the factory, and of course those who flew combat missions during the war with those original parts as I held them in my hands. You could see the part numbers stamped into them, as well as the inspector stamps that had been placed after the part was inspected and judged to have met factory acceptance. I was also thinking that while the B-17 is a large plane, it is quite small inside for a crew of ten men. In the 1940s, most of the crew were in their late teens and early twenties, weighed between 120 and 150 pounds and were under six feet tall. When you think about this it makes you realize how much larger the modern day human has become.

I also deburred some new bracket blanks that had been cut out of aluminum using a water jet. People sometimes think restoring a historic airplane is a glamorous endeavor, but it is anything but that. It is hours of searching for parts, researching and hours upon hours of tedious mundane tasks. As I was looking at some of the newly fabricated components I asked Ray why the rivets in one section were not equally spaced down the centerline. He said these planes were built on an assembly line and after drilling and installing rivets for eight hours a day your precision would be off too. These were not built as show planes, but were being produced rapidly to win a war. Its this attention to detail from the original planes that will truly honor those men and women from the greatest generation who built and flew these planes that saved the world.

Many, many thanks to Jim Brown for this report, and also to Ray Moore for his perseverance and dedication to preserving aviation history. We hope to provide more progress reports on this important effort in the future! For those interested in seeing Jims progress on his P-40 project and other endeavors, please click HERE.
iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF's stock was trading at $108.64 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IWD stock has increased by 52.4% and is now trading at $165.62.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV.

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The following companies are subsidiares of AON: 6824625 Canada Ltd., 7193599 Canada Inc., A.B. Insurances Limited, ADIS A/S, AIB Services Limited, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency Inc., AIS Insurance Agency Inc., AMXH LLC, ARM International Corp., ARM International Insurance Agency Corp., ARMRISK CORP., AS Holdings Inc., ASPN Insurance Agency LLC, Access Plans USA Inc., Acumen Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Adm Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Administradora Aon C.A., Admiseg SA, Admix, Admix - Administracao Consultoria Participacoes e Corretora de Seguros de Vida Ltda., Aeropeople Limited, Affinity Group Insurance Services Limited, Affinity Insurance Services Inc., Affinity Risk Partners (Brokers) Pty Ltd, Agenion N.V./SA, Agility Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Alexander & Alexander Holding B.V., Alexander Clay, Alexander Insurance Managers (Netherlands Antilles) N.V., Alexander Reinsurance Intermediaries Inc., Allen Insurance Associates Inc., Alliance HealthCard Inc., Alliance HealthCard of Florida Inc., American Insurance Services Corp., American Special Risk Insurance Company, Aon (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon (CR) Insurance Agencies Company Limited, Aon (DIFC) Gulf Limited, Aon (Fiji) Ltd., Aon (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon (Thailand) Limited, Aon 180412 Limited (in liquidation), Aon ANZ Holdings Limited, Aon APAC Holdings B.V., Aon Acore Sarl, Aon Adjudication Services Limited, Aon Affinity Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Aon Affinity Argentina S.A., Aon Affinity Chile Ltda., Aon Affinity Colombia Ltda. Agencia de Seguros, Aon Affinity Mexico Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Servicos e Participacoes Ltda., Aon Affinity do Brasil Servicos e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Aon Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Americas Holdings BV, Aon Angola Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Antillen N.V., Aon Aruba N.V., Aon Assurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Australia Group Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 1 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 2 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 3 Pty Ltd, Aon Austria GmbH, Aon Bahrain W.L.L., Aon Belgium B.V.B.A., Aon Benefit Solutions Inc., Aon Benfield (Chile) Corredores de Reaseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Argentina S.A., Aon Benfield Australia Limited, Aon Benfield Brasil Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Canada ULC, Aon Benfield China Limited, Aon Benfield Colombia Limitada Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Benfield Fac Inc., Aon Benfield Global Inc., Aon Benfield Group Limited, Aon Benfield Inc., Aon Benfield Israel Limited, Aon Benfield Italia S.p.A., Aon Benfield Japan Ltd, Aon Benfield Latin America SA, Aon Benfield Limited, Aon Benfield Malaysia Limited, Aon Benfield Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro SA de CV, Aon Benfield Middle East Limited, Aon Benfield New Zealand Limited, Aon Benfield Panama S.A., Aon Benfield Peru Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Aon Benfield Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Bermuda Holding Company Limited, Aon Bermuda QI Holdings Ltd., Aon Beteiligungsmanagement Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Aon Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Aon Botswana (Pty) Ltd., Aon Brazil Holdings LLC, Aon Broking Services SA, Aon Broking Technology Limited, Aon CANZ Holdings B.V., Aon CANZ Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Inc., Aon Canada Intermediaries GP, Aon Captive Services Antilles N.V., Aon Captive Services Aruba N.V., Aon Cash Management B.V., Aon Central and Eastern Europe a.s., Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics Ltd, Aon Charitable Foundation Pty Ltd, Aon Chile Holdings LLC, Aon Commercial Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Commercial Services Ireland Limited, Aon Commercial Services and Operations Ireland Limited, Aon Consolidation Group Pty Ltd, Aon Consulting & Insurance Services, Aon Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Aon Consulting (Thailand) Limited, Aon Consulting Bolivia S.R.L., Aon Consulting Ecuador S.A., Aon Consulting Financial Services Limited, Aon Consulting Inc., Aon Consulting Kazakhstan LLP, Aon Consulting Limited, Aon Consulting Private Limited, Aon Consulting Romania SRL, Aon Corporate Services (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Corporate Services Limited, Aon Corporation, Aon Corporation Australia Limited, Aon Corporation EMEA B.V., Aon Credit International Insurance Broker GmbH, Aon Cyprus Insurance Broker Company Limited, Aon DC Trustee Limited, Aon Danismanlik Hizmetleri AS, Aon Delta Bermuda Ltd., Aon Delta UK Limited, Aon Denmark A/S, Aon Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH, Aon Direct Group Inc., Aon Edge Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Energy Caribbean Limited, Aon Enterprise Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Finance Bermuda 1 Ltd., Aon Finance Bermuda 2 Ltd., Aon Finance Canada 1 Corp., Aon Finance Canada 2 Corp., Aon Finance International N.S. ULC, Aon Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Finance N.S. 1 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 5 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 8 ULC, Aon Finance US 1 LLC, Aon Finance US 2 LLC, Aon Financial & Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Finland Oy, Aon France, Aon Global Holdings 1 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 2 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 3 Limited [In strike-off], Aon Global Holdings Limited, Aon Global Operations plc, Aon Global Risk Consulting B.V., Aon Global Risk Consulting Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Global Risk Research Limited, Aon Grana Peru Corredores de Seguros SA, Aon Greece S.A., Aon Groep Nederland B.V., Aon Group (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Group (Thailand) Limited, Aon Group Holdings International 1 B.V., Aon Group Holdings International 2 B.V., Aon Group Inc., Aon Group International N.V., Aon Group Pty Ltd, Aon Group Venezuela Corretaje de Reaseguros C.A., Aon Hewitt (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Ireland) Limited, Aon Hewitt (PNG) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Thailand) Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting Korea Inc., Aon Hewitt Financial Advice Limited, Aon Hewitt GmbH, Aon Hewitt Health Market Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Hewitt Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hewitt Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Management Inc., Aon Hewitt Japan Ltd., Aon Hewitt Limited, Aon Hewitt Ltd., Aon Hewitt Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Aon Hewitt Management Company Limited, Aon Hewitt Middle East Limited, Aon Hewitt Risk & Consulting S.r.l., Aon Hewitt Risk & Financial Management B.V., Aon Hewitt Trust Solutions GmbH, Aon Hewitt US Holdings Limited, Aon Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aon Holdings (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Holdings Antillen N.V., Aon Holdings Australia Pty Limited, Aon Holdings Austria GmbH, Aon Holdings B.V., Aon Holdings Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Aon Holdings Corretores de Seguros Ltda., Aon Holdings France SNC, Aon Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Aon Holdings International B.V., Aon Holdings Israel Ltd., Aon Holdings Japan Ltd, Aon Holdings Limited, Aon Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Holdings Mid Europe B.V., Aon Holdings New Zealand, Aon Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hungary Insurance Brokers Risk and Human Consulting LLC, Aon Insurance Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Agencies (Macau) Limited, Aon Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Aon Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd., Aon Insurance Management Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Antilles) N.V., Aon Insurance Managers (Barbados) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd, Aon Insurance Managers (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Dublin) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Guernsey) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Holdings) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Isle of Man) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Liechtenstein) AG, Aon Insurance Managers (Luxembourg) S.A., Aon Insurance Managers (Malta) PCC Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (Shannon) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (USA) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (USVI) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers Gibraltar Ltd., Aon Insurance Micronesia (Guam) Inc, Aon Insurance Underwriting Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Philippines Inc., Aon International Cooperatief U.A., Aon International Energy Inc., Aon International Holdings Inc., Aon Investment Holdings Ireland Limited, Aon Israel Insurance Brokerage Ltd., Aon Italia S.r.l., Aon Japan Ltd, Aon Jauch & Hubener Gesellschaft m.b.H., Aon Korea Inc., Aon Latam Holdings N.V., Aon Lead QI B.V., Aon Life Agency of Texas Inc., Aon Life Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Aon Life Insurance Company, Aon MacDonagh Boland Group Ltd, Aon Majan LLC, Aon Management Consulting Taiwan Ltd., Aon Mauritius Holdings, Aon Meeus Assurantien B.V., Aon Mexico Business Support SA de CV, Aon Mexico Holdings LLC, Aon Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Aon Middle East Co LLC, Aon Nederland C.V., Aon Netherlands Operations B.V., Aon Neudorf Finance S.a.r.l., Aon New Zealand, Aon New Zealand Group ULC, Aon Norway AS, Aon Overseas Holdings Limited, Aon PHI Acquisition Corporation of California, Aon PMI International Limited, Aon Parizeau Inc., Aon Pension Trustees Limited, Aon Pensions Insurance Brokers GmbH, Aon Polska Services Sp. z o.o., Aon Polska Sp. z o.o., Aon Portugal - Consultores Unipessoal Lda., Aon Portugal - Corretores de Seguros S.A., Aon Premium Finance LLC, Aon Private Risk Management Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Private Risk Management of California Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Product Design & Development Australia Pty Limited, Aon Product Design and Development New Zealand Limited, Aon Product Risk Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Property Risk Consulting Inc., Aon Qatar LLC, Aon Re (Thailand) Limited, Aon Re Bertoldi - Corretagem de Resseguros S.A., Aon Re Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Re Canada Holdings SARL, Aon Real Estate B.V., Aon Realty Services Inc., Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc., Aon Retirement Plan Advisors LLC, Aon Retirement Solutions Limited, Aon Risiko & Unternehmensberatungs GmbH, Aon Risk & Asset Management Pty Ltd, Aon Risk Consultants Inc., Aon Risk Insurance Services West Inc., Aon Risk Management (Pty) Ltd, Aon Risk Services (Chile) Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of Latin America Inc., Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of the Americas Inc., Aon Risk Services (NI) Limited, Aon Risk Services (PNG) Ltd., Aon Risk Services (Thailand) Limited, Aon Risk Services Argentina S.A., Aon Risk Services Australia Limited, Aon Risk Services Canada Inc., Aon Risk Services Central Inc., Aon Risk Services Colombia SA Corredores de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Companies Inc., Aon Risk Services EMEA B.V., Aon Risk Services Ecuador S.A. Agencia Asesora Productora de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Holdings (Chile ) Ltda., Aon Risk Services Inc. of Florida, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Hawaii, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Maryland, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Washington D.C., Aon Risk Services Northeast Inc., Aon Risk Services South Inc., Aon Risk Services Southwest Inc., Aon Risk Services Venezuela Corretaje de Seguros C.A., Aon Risk Solutions (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Risk Solutions Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas SA de CV, Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Riskminder A/S, Aon Romania Broker de Asigurare - Reasigurare SRL, Aon Rus Insurance Brokers LLC, Aon Rus LLC, Aon S.p.A. Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Aon Saver Limited, Aon Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Aon Securities Investment Management Inc., Aon Securities LLC, Aon Securities Limited, Aon Service Corporation, Aon Services (Guernsey) Ltd, Aon Services (Malta) Ltd, Aon Services Group Inc., Aon Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Services Pty Ltd., Aon Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi ve A.S., Aon Soluciones S.A., Aon Soluciones S.A.C., Aon Southern Europe UK Limited, Aon Sp. z o.o., Aon Special Risk Resources Inc., Aon Superannuation (PNG) Limited, Aon Superannuation Pty Limited, Aon TC Holdings Inc., Aon Taiwan Ltd., Aon Treasury Ireland Limited, Aon Trust Company LLC, Aon Trust Corporation Limited, Aon Trust Services B.V., Aon UK Group Limited, Aon UK Holdings Intermediaries Limited, Aon UK Limited, Aon UK Trustees Limited, Aon US & International Holdings Limited, Aon US Holdings 2 Inc., Aon US Holdings Inc., Aon Ukraine LLC, Aon Underwriting Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Underwriting Managers (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Underwriting Managers Inc., Aon Versicherungsberatungs GmbH, Aon Versicherungsmakler Deutschland GmbH, Aon Vietnam Limited, Aon Ward Financial Corporation, Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services Inc., Asevasa Argentina S.A., Asevasa Caricam S.A., Asevasa Chile Peritaciones e Ingenieria de Riesgos S.A., Asevasa Mexico S.A. de C.V., Asevasa Panama S.A., Asian Reinsurance Underwriters Limited, Asscom Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Association of Rural and Small Town Americans, Associacao Instituto Aon, Assurance Licensing Services Inc., B E P International Corp., B.V. Assurantiekantoor Langeveldt-Schroder, BMS Insurance Agency L.L.C., Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships (Ireland) Limited, Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships Limited, Bain Hogg Group Limited (in liquidation), Baltolink UADBB, Bankassure Insurance Services Limited, Bayfair Insurance Centre Limited, Beaubien Finance Ireland Limited, Beaubien Finance Limited, Beaubien UK Finance Limited, Becketts (Trustees) Limited, Becketts Limited, Beech Hill Pension Trustees Ltd, Bekouw Mendes C.V., Benefit Marketing Solutions L.L.C., Benfield Advisory Inc., Benfield Corredores de Reaseguro Ltda., Benfield Finance (London) LLC, Benfield Group, Benfield Investment Holdings Limited, Benfield Juniperus Holdings Limited, Benfield do Brasil Participacoes Ltda. (dormant), Benton Finance Ireland Limited, Benton Finance Limited, Blanch Americas Inc., Bowes & Company Inc. of New York, CEREP III Secondary Manager LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners I LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners II LLC, CIF-H GP LLC, Cammack Health LLC, Cananwill Corporation, Cananwill Inc., Cardea Health Solutions Limited, Casablanca Intermediation Company Sarl, Celinvest Amsterdam B.V., Chapka Assurances SAS, Citadel Insurance Managers Inc., CoCubes, CoSec 2000 Limited, Coalition for Benefits Equality and Choice, Cocubes Technologies Private Limited, Coles Hewitt Partnership, Contingency Insurance Brokers Limited, Contractsure Limited, CoverWallet, Coverall S.r.l. Insurance and Reinsurance Underwriting Agency, Credit Insurance Brokers (Reynolds) Limited, Crion N.V., Custom Benefit Programs Inc., Cut-e, Cut-e (UK) Limited, Cut-e Assessment (Hong Kong) Limited, Cut-e Assessment Solutions Europe Limited, Cut-e Australia Pty Limited, Cut-e Consult DMCC, Cut-e Danmark A/S, Cut-e Finland Oy, Cut-e GmbH, Cut-e Ireland Limited, Cut-e Nordic AS, Cut-e Norge AS, Cytelligence, Delany Bacon & Woodrow Partnership, Dempsey Partners, Denney O'Hara (Life & Pensions) Limited, Doveland Services Limited, E. W. Blanch Holdings Limited, E. W. Blanch Investments Limited, E.W. Blanch Capital Risk Solutions Inc., E.W. Blanch International Inc., EW Blanch Limited, Elysium Digital IP Products LLC, Elysium Digital L.L.C., Ennis Knupp Secondary Market Services LLC, Essar Insurance Services Limited, Exploitatiemaatschappij Beukenlaan 68-72 B.V., Farmaseg - Solucoes Assistencia e Servicos Empresariais Ltda., Farmsure Limited [In strike-off], Finaccord Limited, Financial & Professional Risk Solutions Inc., Futurity Group Inc., GTCR/AAM Blocker Corp., Ge.f.it. S.r.l., Gefass S.r.l., Glenrand M I B (Mocambique) Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Global Safe Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Globe Events Management, Gotham Digital Science LLC, Gotham Digital Science Ltd., Grant Liddell Financial Advisor Services Pty Ltd, Grant Park Capital LLC, Groupe-Conseil Aon Inc., Grupo Innovac Sociedad de Correduria de Seguros SA, HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd., Hall Rhodes Holdings Limited, Hall Rhodes Limited, Hamburger Gesellschaft zur Forderung des Versicherungswesens mbH, Harbourview West Lake Co-Invest (GP) LP, Health Index Advisors LLC, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Henderson Corporate Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Partnership Limited [In strike-off], Henderson Risk Management Limited, Hewitt Amalco 3 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 4 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 5 ULC, Hewitt Associates (a partnership), Hewitt Associates Administradora e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Hewitt Associates Corp., Hewitt Associates Outsourcing Limited, Hewitt Associates Pty Ltd, Hewitt Associates S.C., Hewitt Associates SAS, Hewitt Associates Servicos de Recursos Humanos Ltda., Hewitt Beneficios Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Hewitt Holdings Canada Company, Hewitt Insurance Brokerage LLC, Hewitt Insurance Inc., Hewitt International Holdings LLC, Hewitt Management Ltd., Hewitt Risk Management Services Limited, Hewitt Western Management Amalco Inc., Hogg Group Limited, Hogg Robinson North America Inc., Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency Inc., I. Beck Insurance Agency (1994) Ltd., IAO Actuarial Consulting Services Canada Inc., INPOINT INC., IRM/GRC Holding Inc., Impact Forecasting L.L.C., Inspiring Benefits, Inspiring Benefits Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Insuractive Limited [In strike-off], Insurance Broker Aon Kazakhstan LLP, International Risk Management (Americas) Inc., International Risk Management Group Ltd, International Space Brokers Europe Limited, International Space Brokers France, International Space Brokers Inc., International Space Brokers Limited, Inversiones Benfield Chile Ltda., J H Minet Puerto Rico Inc., J. Allan Brown Consultants Inc., JDPT Manager LLC, Jenner Fenton Slade Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Credit Insurance) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Insurances) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Life & Pensions) Limited, Johnson Rooney Welch Inc., K & K Insurance Brokers Inc. Canada, K & K Insurance Group Inc., K & K Insurance Group of Florida Inc., K2 Technologies Inc., KVT GP LLC, Kloud S.a.r.l., Krumlin Hall Limited, Lake Erie Real Estate General Partner Limited, Lake Tahoe GP LLC, Lake Tahoe II GP LLC, Lake Tahoe III GP LLC, Lake Tahoe IV GP LLC, Lenzi Paolo Broker di Assicurazioni S.r.l., Lincolnshire Insurance Company PCC Limited, Linx Underwriting Solutions Inc., Lombard Trustee Company Limited, M.A. Shakeel Management Ltd. Amalco, MacDonagh Boland Crotty MacRedmond Ltd, Marinaro Dundas S.A., Marinaro Dundas SA, Mark Kelly Insurance and Financial Services PTY LTD, McLagan (Aon) Limited, McLagan Partners Asia Inc., McLagan Partners Inc., Membership Leasing Trust, Minet Consultancy Services Ltd, Minet Group, Minet Holdings Inc., Minet Inc., Minet Re North America Inc., Modern Survey Inc., Muirfield Underwriters Ltd., NBS Nominees Limited, National Insurance Office Ltd., Nauman Insurance Brokers Limited, Nexus Insurance Brokers Limited, One Underwriting Agency GmbH, One Underwriting B.V., One Underwriting Health B.V., One Underwriting Pty Ltd, Optica Agency A/S, Optimum Risk Solutions Limited, Ovatio Courtage SAS, P.G. Bradley & Co Limited, PGOF Manager 1 LLC, PRORUCK Ruckversicherungs Aktiengesellschaft, PT Aon Benfield Indonesia, PT Aon Hewitt Indonesia, PT Aon Indonesia, PWZ AG, Paragon Strategic Solutions Inc., PathWise Solutions LLC, Penn Square Manager 1 LLC, Penn Square Manager II LLC, Portus Consulting, Portus Consulting (Leamington) Limited, Portus Consulting Limited, Portus Online LLP, Praesidium S.p.A. - Soluzioni Assicurative per il Management, Premier Auto Finance Inc., Private Client Trustees Ltd., Private Equity Partnership Structures I LLC, Probabilitas N.V./SA, Protective Marketing Enterprises Inc., Randolph Finance Unlimited Company, Rasini Vigano Limited, Redwoods Dental Underwriters Inc., Richard Kiddle (Insurance Brokers) Limited, Risk Laboratories LLC, Riskikonsultatsioonide OU, Ronnie Elementary Insurance Agency Ltd, SA Special Situations General Partner LLC, SG IFFOXX Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, SLE Worldwide Limited, SN Re S.A., Salud Riesgos y Recursos Humanos Consultores Ltda. (former Aon Corporte Advisors Ltda.), SchneiderGolling IFFOXX Assekuranzmakler AG, SchneiderGolling Industrie Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, Scritch Inc., Shanghai Kayi Information Technology Co. Ltd, Sheppard Netherlands B.V., Specialty Benefits Inc., Sports Insure Limited [In strike-off], Strategic Manager-III LLC, Stroz Friedberg (Asia) Limited, Stroz Friedberg Inc., Stroz Friedberg LLC, Stroz Friedberg Limited, Stroz Friedberg Risk Management Limited, Superannuation Management Nominees Limited, Suresport Limited [In strike-off], Swire Blanch MSTC II SA, Swire Blanch MSTC SA, TTG BRPTP GP LLC, TTG Cayuga Bavaria Intermediate 2 S.a.r.l, TTG Core Plus Investments LLC, TTG German Investments I LLC, TTG Investments II LLC, TTG Irish Investments I LLC, TTG Manager LLC, Tecsefin S.A. en liquidacion, The Aon Ireland Mastertrustee Limited, The Aon MasterTrustee Limited, The John Reynolds Company Limited, The Key West Saxon Group LLC, The Townsend Group Inc, The Townsend Group LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager I LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager II LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager III LLC, Townsend Group Asia Limited, Townsend Group Europe Ltd., Townsend HWL GP Ltd., Townsend Holdings LLC, Townsend Lake Constance GP Limited, Townsend REF GP LLC, Townsend Re Global GP Limited, Townsend SO Manager I LLC, UAB One Underwriting, UADBB Aon Baltic, UK Credit Insurance Specialists Limited, UNIT Versicherungsmakler GmbH, US Underwriting Solutions S.r.l., USLP Underwriting Solutions LP, Underwriters Marine Services Inc., Unidelta AG, Unirobe Meeus Groep, UnitedPensions Deutschland AG, Univers Workplace Solutions, VERO Management AG, Ventiv Technology, WT Government Services LLC, WT Technologies LLC, Wannet Speciale Verzekeringen B.V., Wannet Sports Insurance GmbH, Ward Financial Group Inc., West Lake General Partner LLC, West Lake II GP LLC, Wexford Underwriting Managers Inc., White Rock Insurance (Americas) Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Europe) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Gibraltar) PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Guernsey) ICC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Netherlands) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd., White Rock Insurance Company PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance PCC (Isle of Man) Limited, White Rock Services (Bermuda) Ltd., White Rock USA Ltd., Willis Towers Watson, Worldwide Integrated Services Company, Wrapid Specialty Inc., Zalba-Caldu Correduria de Seguros SA, and cut-e USA Inc..
iShares Russell 2000 ETF's stock was trading at $125.92 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IWM stock has increased by 83.9% and is now trading at $231.58.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
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Two docents from the National Museum of The Mighty Eighth Air Force in Savannah, Ga., will be at the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing Warbird Museum at 11 a.m. Dec. 8 to tell the history of the Mighty Eighth and its role in disrupting the German war effort in World War II. The Eighth Air Force heavy bombers and fighters played a key role and contributed substantially to the Allied victory in 1945, and the docents will include a presentation of the B-17 technical highlights.

Dr. Charles Sitrin and John Fog will be guest presenters for the final 2018 program of the Dixie Wings Living Aviation History series at the Warbird Museum Hangar, 1200 Echo Ct., Peachtree City, Ga. Admission is $10 for the general public; veterans and active military members are admitted free. The Wing headquarters and museum will open at 9 a.m. For more information, or to schedule rides on Wing aircraft, visit www.dixiewing.org.

The Eighth Air Force was organized in Savannah on Jan. 28, 1942. The largest force of its kind at the time, the Mighty Eighth was composed of 48 bomber groups, 21fighter groups and three photo reconnaissance groups. The Eighths headquarters, as part of the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF), moved to England in 1942 and remained there until the wars end. The Eighth Air Force mission was the heavy bombardment of strategic and military targets in Nazi-occupied Europe and Germany.
The following companies are subsidiares of Banco Santander: 2 & 3 Triton Limited, A & L CF (Guernsey) Limited (f), A & L CF June (2) Limited, A & L CF June (3) Limited, A & L CF March (5) Limited, A & L CF September (4) Limited, AFB SAM Holdings S.L., ALIL Services Limited (b), AN (123) Limited, ANITCO Limited, Abbey Business Services (India) Private Limited, Abbey Covered Bonds (LM) Limited, Abbey National, Abbey National Beta Investments Limited, Abbey National Business Office Equipment Leasing Limited, Abbey National International Limited, Abbey National Nominees Limited, Abbey National PLP (UK) Limited, Abbey National Property Investments, Abbey National Treasury Services Investments Limited, Abbey National Treasury Services Overseas Holdings, Abbey National UK Investments, Abbey Stockbrokers (Nominees) Limited, Abbey Stockbrokers Limited, Ablasa Participaciones S.L., Administracion de Bancos Latinoamericanos Santander S.L., Aduro S.A., Aevis Europa S.L., Afisa S.A., Albert., Aljardi SGPS Lda., Alliance & Leicester, Alliance & Leicester Cash Solutions Limited, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (Derivatives) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments (No.2) Limited, Alliance & Leicester Investments Limited, Alliance & Leicester Limited, Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Limited, Altamira Santander Real Estate S.A., Alternative Leasing FIL, Amazonia Trade Limited, Amherst Pierpont, Andaluza de Inversiones S.A., Aquanima Brasil Ltda., Aquanima Chile S.A., Aquanima Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aquanima S.A., Arcaz - Sociedade Imobiliaria Portuguesa Lda., Argenline S.A. (b), Asto Digital Limited, Athena Corporation Limited, Atual - Fundo de Invest Multimercado Credito Privado Investimento no Exterior, Atual Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos e Meios Digitais S.A., Autodescuento S.L., Autohaus24 GmbH, Auttar HUT Processamento de Dados Ltda., Aviacion Antares A.I.E., Aviacion Britanica A.I.E., Aviacion Centaurus A.I.E., Aviacion Comillas S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Intercontinental A.I.E., Aviacion Laredo S.L., Aviacion Oyambre S.L. Unipersonal, Aviacion Real A.I.E., Aviacion Santillana S.L., Aviacion Suances S.L., Aviacion Triton A.I.E., Aymore Credito Financiamento e Investimento S.A., BEN Beneficios e Servicos S.A., BRS Investments S.A., BZW Bank, Banca PSA Italia S.p.A., Banco Bandepe S.A., Banco Madesant - Sociedade Unipessoal S.A., Banco PSA Finance Brasil S.A., Banco Popular, Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A., Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 100740, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso 2002114, Banco Santander (Mexico) S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico como Fiduciaria del Fideicomiso GFSSLPT, Banco Santander - Chile, Banco Santander Consumer Portugal S.A., Banco Santander International, Banco Santander International SA, Banco Santander Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Banco Santander Peru S.A., Banco Santander Rio S.A., Banco Santander S.A., Banco Santander Totta S.A., Banco Santander de Negocios Colombia S.A., Banco de Albacete S.A., Bansa Santander S.A., CCAP Auto Lease Ltd., Canyon Multifamily Impact Fund IV LLC, Capital Street Delaware LP, Capital Street Holdings LLC, Capital Street REIT Holdings LLC, Capital Street S.A., Carfax (Guernsey) Limited (f), Carfinco Financial Group, Carfinco Financial Group Inc., Carfinco Inc., Casa de Bolsa Santander S.A. de C.V. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Cater Allen Holdings Limited, Cater Allen International Limited, Cater Allen Limited, Cater Allen Lloyd's Holdings Limited, Cater Allen Syndicate Management Limited, Centro de Capacitacion Santander A.C., Certidesa S.L., Chrysler Capital Auto Funding I LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Funding II LLC, Chrysler Capital Auto Receivables LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 2 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding 4 LLC, Chrysler Capital Master Auto Receivables Funding LLC, Cobranza Amigable S.A.P.I. de C.V., Community Development and Affordable Housing Fund LLC (g), Compagnie Generale de Credit Aux Particuliers - Credipar S.A., Compagnie Pour la Location de Vehicules - CLV, Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Argentina S.A., Comunidad Laboral Trabajando Iberica S.L. Unipersonal en liquidacion (b), Consulteam Consultores de Gestao Lda., Consumer Lending Receivables LLC, Crawfall S.A. (b), Cantabra de Inversiones S.A., Cantabro Catalana de Inversiones S.A., Darep Designated Activity Company, Decarome S.A.P.I. de C.V., Deva Capital Advisory Company S.L., Deva Capital Holding Company S.L., Deva Capital Investment Company S.L., Deva Capital Management Company S.L., Deva Capital Servicer Company S.L., Digital Procurement Holdings N.V., Diners Club Spain S.A., Direccion Estratega S.C., Dirgenfin S.L. en liquidacion (b), Ebury, El Corte Ingles, Elavon Mexico, Electrolyser S.A. de C.V., Entidad de Desarrollo a la Pequena y Micro Empresa Santander Consumo Peru S.A., Erestone S.A.S., Esfera Fidelidade S.A., Evidence Previdencia S.A., Financeira El Corte Ingles Portugal S.F.C. S.A., Financiera El Corte Ingles E.F.C. S.A., Finsantusa S.L. Unipersonal, First National Motor Business Limited, First National Motor Contracts Limited, First National Motor Facilities Limited, First National Motor Finance Limited, First National Motor Leasing Limited, First National Motor plc, First National Tricity Finance Limited, Fondos Santander S.A. Administradora de Fondos de Inversion (en liquidacion) (b), Fortensky Trading Ltd., Fosse Funding (No.1) Limited, Fosse Master Issuer plc, Fosse Trustee (UK) Limited, GTS El Centro Equity Holdings LLC, GTS El Centro Project Holdings LLC, Gamma Sociedade Financeira de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Gesban Mexico Servicios Administrativos Globales S.A. de C.V., Gesban Santander Servicios Profesionales Contables Limitada, Gesban Servicios Administrativos Globales S.L., Gesban UK Limited, Gestion de Instalaciones Fotovoltaicas S.L. Unipersonal, Gestion de Inversiones JILT S.A., Gestora de Procesos S.A. en liquidacion (b), Getnet Adquirencia e Servicos para Meios de Pagamento S.A., Global Vosgos S.L. Unipersonal, Grupo Empresarial Santander S.L., Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico S.A. de C.V., Grupo Financiero Santander SAB de CV, Guaranty Car S.A. Unipersonal, HQ Mobile Limited, Hispamer Renting S.A. Unipersonal, Holbah II Limited, Holbah Santander S.L. Unipersonal, Holmes Funding Limited, Holmes Master Issuer plc, Holmes Trustees Limited, Hyundai Capital Bank Europe GmbH, Iberica de Compras Corporativas S.L., Independence Community Bank Corp., Insurance Funding Solutions Limited, Interfinance Holanda B.V., Inversiones Capital Global S.A. Unipersonal, Inversiones Maritimas del Mediterraneo S.A., Isla de los Buques S.A., Klare Corredora de Seguros S.A., Landcompany 2020 S.L., Langton Funding (No.1) Limited, Langton Mortgages Trustee (UK) Limited, Langton Securities (2008-1) plc, Langton Securities (2010-1) PLC, Langton Securities (2010-2) PLC, Laparanza S.A., Liquidity Limited, Luri 1 S.A. en liquidacion (b) (e), Luri 6 S.A. Unipersonal, Master Red Europa S.L., Mata Alta S.L., Merciver S.L., Mercury TFS, Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.A. de C.V., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.L., Mercury Trade Finance Solutions S.p.A., Moneybit S.L., Mortgage Engine Limited, Motor 2016-1 PLC, Motor 2017-1 PLC, Mouro Capital I LP, Multiplica SpA, NW Services CO., Naviera Mirambel S.L., Naviera Trans Gas A.I.E., Naviera Trans Iron S.L., Naviera Trans Ore A.I.E., Naviera Trans Wind S.L. (b), Naviera Transcantabrica S.L., Naviera Transchem S.L. Unipersonal, NeoAuto S.A.C., Norbest AS, Novimovest  Fundo de Investimento Imobiliario, Open Bank Argentina S.A., Open Bank S.A., Open Digital Market S.L., Open Digital Services S.L., Operadora de Carteras Gamma S.A.P.I. de C.V., Optimal Investment Services SA, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland Euro Fund, Optimal Multiadvisors Ireland Plc / Optimal Strategic US Equity Ireland US Dollar Fund, PBE Companies LLC, PECOH Limited, PI Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., PSA Bank Deutschland GmbH, PSA Banque France, PSA Finance UK Limited, PSA Financial Services Nederland B.V., PSA Financial Services Spain E.F.C. S.A., PSA Renting Italia S.p.A., PagoFX Europe S.A., PagoFX HoldCo S.L., PagoFX UK Ltd, PagoNxt Merchant Solutions S.L., PagoNxt S.L., Parasant SA, Patagon.com, Pereda Gestion S.A., Pingham International S.A., Popular Spain Holding de Inversiones S.L.U., Portal Universia Argentina S.A., Portal Universia Portugal Prestacao de Servicos de Informatica S.A., Prime 16  Fundo de Investimentos Imobiliario, Punta Lima LLC, Punta Lima Wind Farm LLC, Retop S.A., Return Capital Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos S.A., Return Gestao de Recursos S.A., Riobank International (Uruguay) SAIFE (b), Rojo Entretenimento S.A., SAM Asset Management S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, SAM Investment Holdings S.L., SAM UK Investment Holdings Limited (b), SANB Promotora de Vendas e Cobranca Ltda., SCF Eastside Locks GP Limited, SDMX Superdigital S.A. de C.V., SMPS Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A de C.V, Sancap Investimentos e Participacoes S.A., Santander (CF Trustee Property Nominee) Limited, Santander (UK) Group Pension Schemes Trustees Limited, Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 1 S.A., Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 2 S.A., Santander Alternatives SICAV RAIF, Santander Asesorias Financieras Limitada, Santander Asset Finance (December) Limited, Santander Asset Finance plc, Santander Asset Management - S.G.O.I.C. S.A., Santander Asset Management Chile S.A., Santander Asset Management LLC, Santander Asset Management Luxembourg S.A., Santander Asset Management S.A. Administradora General de Fondos, Santander Asset Management S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Asset Management UK Holdings Limited, Santander Asset Management UK Limited, Santander Back-Offices Globales Mayoristas S.A., Santander Banca de Inversion Colombia S.A.S., Santander Bank & Trust Ltd., Santander Bank National Association, Santander Bank Polska S.A., Santander Brasil Administradora de Consorcio Ltda., Santander Brasil Gestao de Recursos Ltda., Santander Brasil Tecnologia S.A., Santander Capital Desarrollo SGEIC S.A. Unipersonal, Santander Capital Structuring S.A. de C.V., Santander Capitalizacao S.A., Santander Cards Ireland Limited, Santander Cards Limited, Santander Cards UK Limited, Santander Chile Holding S.A., Santander Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Santander Consumer (UK) plc, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L4 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L5 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Bank, Santander Consumer Bank AG, Santander Consumer Bank GmbH, Santander Consumer Bank S.A., Santander Consumer Bank S.p.A., Santander Consumer Banque S.A., Santander Consumer Credit Services Limited, Santander Consumer Finance Benelux B.V., Santander Consumer Finance Global Services S.L., Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Santander Consumer Finance S.A., Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz AG, Santander Consumer Financial Solutions Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Finanse Sp. z o.o. (b), Santander Consumer Holding Austria GmbH, Santander Consumer Holding GmbH, Santander Consumer International Puerto Rico LLC, Santander Consumer Leasing GmbH, Santander Consumer Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.L., Santander Consumer Multirent Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Operations Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Receivables 10 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 11 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 3 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 7 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables Funding LLC, Santander Consumer Renting S.L., Santander Consumer S.A., Santander Consumer S.A.S., Santander Consumer Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Services S.A., Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Santander Consumer USA Inc., Santander Consumo S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Corredora de Seguros Limitada, Santander Corredores de Bolsa Limitada, Santander Corretora de Cambio e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., Santander Corretora de Seguros Investimentos e Servicos S.A., Santander Customer Voice S.A., Santander Digital Assets S.L., Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, Santander Equity Investments Limited, Santander Espana Merchant Services Entidad de Pago S.L. Unipersonal, Santander Espana Servicios Legales y de Cumplimiento S.L., Santander Estates Limited, Santander F24 S.A., Santander Facility Management Espana S.L., Santander Factoring S.A., Santander Factoring Sp. z o.o., Santander Factoring y Confirming S.A. E.F.C., Santander Finance 2012-1 LLC, Santander Financial Exchanges Limited, Santander Financial Services Inc., Santander Financial Services plc, Santander Finanse Sp. z o.o., Santander Fintech Holdings S.L., Santander Fintech Limited, Santander Fundo de Investimento SBAC Referenciado di Credito Privado, Santander Gestion de Recaudacion y Cobranzas Ltda., Santander Global Consumer Finance Limited, Santander Global Facilities S.A. de C.V., Santander Global Facilities S.L., Santander Global Operations S.A., Santander Global Services S.A. (b), Santander Global Sport S.A., Santander Global Technology Brasil Ltda., Santander Global Technology Chile Limitada, Santander Global Technology S.L., Santander Global Trade Platform Solutions S.L., Santander Guarantee Company, Santander Holding Imobiliaria S.A., Santander Holding Internacional S.A., Santander Holdings USA Inc., Santander ISA Managers Limited, Santander Inclusion Financiera S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Insurance Agency U.S. LLC, Santander Insurance Services UK Limited, Santander Intermediacion Correduria de Seguros S.A., Santander International Products Plc. (d), Santander Inversiones S.A., Santander Investment Bank Limited, Santander Investment Chile Limitada, Santander Investment I S.A., Santander Investment S.A., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Santander Investments GP 1 S.a.r.l., Santander Inwestycje Sp. z o.o., Santander Lease S.A. E.F.C., Santander Leasing LLC, Santander Leasing S.A., Santander Leasing S.A. Arrendamento Mercantil, Santander Lending Limited, Santander Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Operations S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Services S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Uruguay S.A., Santander Merchant Platform SolucoesTecnologicas Brasil Ltda., Santander Merchant S.A., Santander Mortgage Holdings Limited, Santander Paraty Qif PLC, Santander Pensiones S.A. E.G.F.P., Santander Pensoes - Sociedade Gestora de Fundos de Pensoes S.A., Santander Private Banking Gestion S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Private Banking UK Limited, Santander Private Banking s.p.a. in Liquidazione (b), Santander Private Real Estate Advisory & Management S.A., Santander Private Real Estate Advisory S.A., Santander Real Estate S.A., Santander Retail Auto Lease Funding LLC, Santander Rio Asset Management Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversion S.A., Santander Rio Trust S.A., Santander Rio Valores S.A., Santander S.A. Sociedad Securitizadora, Santander Secretariat Services Limited, Santander Securities LLC, Santander Seguros y Reaseguros Compania Aseguradora S.A., Santander Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Santander Servicios Especializados S.A. de C.V., Santander Technology USA LLC, Santander Tecnologia e Inovacao Ltda., Santander Tecnologia Argentina S.A., Santander Tecnologia Espana S.L.U., Santander Tecnologia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Totta SGPS S.A., Santander Totta Seguros Companhia de Seguros de Vida S.A., Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A., Santander Trade Services Limited, Santander UK Group Holdings plc, Santander UK Investments, Santander UK Operations Limited, Santander UK Plc, Santander UK Technology Limited, Santander Wealth Management International SA, Santander de Titulizacion S.G.F.T. S.A., Santusa Holding S.L., Services and Promotions Delaware Corp., Services and Promotions Miami LLC, Servicio de Alarmas Controladas por Ordenador S.A., Servicios de Cobranza Recuperacion y Seguimiento S.A. De C.V., Sheppards Moneybrokers Limited, Shiloh III Wind Project LLC, Sociedad Integral de Valoraciones Automatizadas S.A., Sociedad Operadora de Tarjetas de Pago Santander Getnet Chile S.A., Socur S.A., Sol Orchard Imperial 1 LLC, Solarlaser Limited, Sovereign Community Development Company, Sovereign Delaware Investment Corporation, Sovereign Lease Holdings LLC, Sovereign REIT Holdings Inc., Sovereign Spirit Limited (f), Sterrebeeck B.V., Suleyado 2003 S.L. Unipersonal, Summer Empreendimentos Ltda., Super Pagamentos e Administracao de Meios Eletronicos S.A., Superdigital Argentina S.A.U., Superdigital Colombia S.A.S., Superdigital Holding Company S.L., Superdigital Peru S.A.C., Suzuki Servicios Financieros S.L., Swesant SA, TIMFin S.p.A., TOPSAM S.A de C.V., Taxagest Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Sociais S.A., Teatinos Siglo XXI Inversiones S.A., The Alliance & Leicester Corporation Limited, The Best Specialty Coffee S.L. Unipersonal, Time Retail Finance Limited (b), Tonopah Solar I LLC, Toque Fale Servicos de Telemarketing Ltda., Tornquist Asesores de Seguros S.A. (b), Totta (Ireland) PLC, Totta Urbe - Empresa de Administracao e Construcoes S.A., Trabajando.com Mexico S.A. de C.V. en liquidacion (b), Trabajando.com Peru S.A.C., Trans Rotor Limited (b), Transolver Finance EFC S.A., Tresmares Growth Fund Santander SCR S.A., Tresmares Santander Direct Lending SICC S.A., Tuttle and Son Limited, Universia Brasil S.A., Universia Chile S.A., Universia Colombia S.A.S., Universia Espana Red de Universidades S.A., Universia Holding S.L., Universia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Universia Peru S.A., Universia Uruguay S.A., Uro Property Holdings SOCIMI S.A., WIM Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., WTW Shipping Designated Activity Company, Wallcesa S.A., Wave Holdco S.L., Waypoint Insurance Group Inc., and Wirecard (Technological Assets).
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF's stock was trading at $46.36 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, VGK stock has increased by 45.0% and is now trading at $67.20.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Invesco Fundamental High Yield Corporate Bond ETF's stock was trading at $17.87 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, PHB stock has increased by 7.6% and is now trading at $19.22.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc..
The following companies are subsidiares of Brinker International: BI INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LLC, BI MEXICO HOLDING CORPORATION, BIPC GLOBAL PAYROLL COMPANY LLC, BIPC INVESTMENTS LLC, BIPC MANAGEMENT LLC, BRINKER AIRPORTS LLC, BRINKER ALABAMA INC., BRINKER ARKANSAS INC., BRINKER ASIA INC., BRINKER BRAZIL LLC, BRINKER CANADIAN HOLDING CO. ULC, BRINKER CANADIAN RESTAURANT CO. ULC, BRINKER CB LP, BRINKER CB MANAGEMENT LLC, BRINKER FHC B.V., BRINKER FLORIDA INC., BRINKER FREEHOLD INC., BRINKER GEORGIA INC., BRINKER INTERNATIONAL PAYROLL COMPANY L.P., BRINKER LOUISIANA INC., BRINKER MICHIGAN INC., BRINKER MISSISSIPPI INC., BRINKER MISSOURI INC., BRINKER NEVADA INC., BRINKER NEW JERSEY INC., BRINKER NORTH CAROLINA INC., BRINKER OF BALTIMORE COUNTY INC., BRINKER OF CARROLL COUNTY INC., BRINKER OF CECIL COUNTY INC., BRINKER OKLAHOMA INC., BRINKER OPCO LLC, BRINKER PENN TRUST, BRINKER PROPCO FLORIDA INC., BRINKER PROPERTY CORPORATION, BRINKER PURCHASING INC., BRINKER RESTAURANT CORPORATION, BRINKER RHODE ISLAND INC., BRINKER SERVICES CORPORATION, BRINKER SOUTH CAROLINA INC., BRINKER TEXAS INC., BRINKER VIRGINIA INC., CHILIS BEVERAGE COMPANY INC., CHILIS INC. a Delaware corporation, CHILIS INC. a Tennessee corporation, CHILIS INTERNATIONAL BASES B.V., CHILIS OF BEL AIR INC., CHILIS OF KANSAS INC., CHILIS OF MARYLAND INC., CHILIS OF WEST VIRGINIA INC., Grady's Inc., MAGGIANO'S OF ANNAPOLIS INC., MAGGIANO'S OF HOWARD COUNTY INC., MAGGIANO'S OF KANSAS INC., MAGGIANOS BEVERAGE COMPANY, MAGGIANOS HOLDING CORPORATION, MAGGIANOS INC., MAGGIANOS OF TYSONS INC., MAGGIANOS PROPERTY CORPORATION, MAGGIANOS TEXAS INC., PEPPER DINING HOLDING CORP., PEPPER DINING Inc., and PEPPER DINING VERMONT INC..
By The Associated Press Nov. 21, 2018 | 08:38 PM | FRANKFORT

Three advocacy groups say they will continue their legal challenge to new rules requiring Kentucky's Medicaid recipients to get a job, go to school or volunteer to keep their benefits.

The federal government first approved the new rules in January. The National Health Law Program, Kentucky Equal Justice Center and Southern Poverty Law Center sued to block the rules. In June, a judge agreed with them, ordering the Trump administration to reconsider the proposal.

Tuesday, the Trump administration approved the rules a second time. Ben Carter with the Kentucky Equal Justice Center said Wednesday groups will again ask a judge to block the requirements.

The new rules can begin as soon as April 1. Republican Gov. Matt Bevin said they are essential to Medicaid's long-term success.
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.
The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.
Mandom Corporation manufactures and sells cosmetics, perfumes, and quasi-drugs in Japan, Indonesia, and internationally. The company offers a range of products, including men's everyday grooming products, as well as general fashion items, such as hair styling, skin care, and body care products; and hair coloring, scalp care, and face care products under the Gatsby and Lucido brands. It also provides a range of women's grooming and fashion items comprising hair styling, body care, and beauty products that include make-up and skin care items, as well as hair coloring and treatment products under the Bifesta, Pixy, Lucido-L, and Pucelle brands. In addition, the company offers professional-use products and technologies to hair salons through distributors. Further, it provides insurance agency, travel, and general services. The company sells its products to drug stores and convenience stores through distributors. The company was formerly known as Tancho Corporation and changed its name to Mandom Corporation in April 1971. Mandom Corporation was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan.

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Unum Group is engaged in providing financial protection benefits. It operates through the following segments: Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, Closed Block and Corporate. The Unum US segment comprises of group long-term and short-term disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business. The Unum International segment engages in the operations of UK business, which includes insurance for group long-term disability, group life, and supplemental lines of business that include dental, individual disability, and critical illness products; Poland business primarily includes insurance for individual and group life with accident and health riders. The Colonial Life segment includes insurance for accident, sickness, disability products, life products, and cancer and critical illness products. The Closed Block segment consists of individual disability, group and individual long-term care, and other insurance products no longer actively marketed. The Corporate segment refers to investment income on corporate assets and other corporate income and expenses not allocated to a line of business; and interest

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Poroshenko behaving like Saakashvili. Two puppets that think and act like idiots

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)  Russia requested an urgent meeting of UN Security Council members at 11 a.m. on Monday (16.00 GMT) to discuss the situation in the Sea of Azov, Russias First Deputy Envoy to UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, told reporters. In connection with the dangerous development of the situation in the Sea of Azov and the events that followed them, Russia requested an urgent convocation of an open meeting of the Security Council on the morning of November 26 under the agenda item Maintenance of int

Source: Russia Requests Urgent UN Security Council Meeting Over Azov Sea Issue  Sputnik International

Lets see:

Ukraine the puppet goes looking for trouble. 

Martial Law in Ukraine. 

Ukraine failed state. 

Syrian rebels gas debacle. 

Rapid economic deterioration taking place in the west. 

Iranian sanctions have failed. 

Europe wont back US sanctions. 

China helping Venezuela. 

China defying sanctions. 

Riots in France. 

One hundred + (more or less) reasons to start WW3. 

My question is:

Couldnt Ukraine/USA have waited until after Christmas/New Year to try to start shit?

Guess that is too much to ask for

WtR

PS: Remember: Poroshenko  A CIA militant coup installed him as president in Ukraine

And remember that American media called for the bridges destruction

Ukraine should blow up Putins Crimea bridge: Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the Kerch Strait Bridge connecting Crimea, Ukraine, with mainland Russia on Tuesday. Putin did so by in a typical show of bravado by leading a column of transport vehicles across the bridge.Ukraine should now destroy elements of the bridge.

Source: Ukraine should blow up Putins Crimea bridge

I would be watching out for the snakes in the water all the time, if I was Russia
The following companies are subsidiares of Travelers Companies: 10762962 Canada Inc., 350 Market Street LLC, 8527512 Canada Inc., Aetna Life and Casualty Co, American Equity Insurance Company, American Equity Specialty Insurance Company, Aprilgrange Limited, Arch Street North LLC, Auto Hartford Investments LLC, Bayhill Restaurant II Associates, Camperdown Corporation, Constitution State Services LLC, Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Discover Specialty Insurance Company, F&G UK Underwriters Limited, Farmington Casualty Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters Inc., First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company, Gulf Underwriters Insurance Company, IHP Capital Partners Fund VIII L.P., Northbrook Holdings Inc., Northfield Insurance Company, Northland Casualty Company, Northland Insurance Company, Phoenix UK Investments LLC, SPC Insurance Agency Inc., Select Insurance Company, Simply Business Holdings Inc., Simply Business Inc., St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company, St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, St. Paul Protective Insurance Company, St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Standard Fire Properties LLC, Standard Fire UK Investments LLC, TCI Global Services Inc., TPC Investments Inc., TPC U.K. Investments LLC, The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford Connecticut, The Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, The Family Business Institute LLC, The Phoenix Insurance Company, The St. Paul Companies Inc., The Standard Fire Insurance Company, The Travelers Casualty Company, The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company of America, The Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut, The Travelers Lloyds Insurance Company, TravCo Insurance Company, Travelers (Bermuda) Limited, Travelers Brazil Acquisition LLC, Travelers Brazil Holding LLC, Travelers Casualty Company of Connecticut, Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Travelers Casualty UK Investments LLC, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of Europe Limited, Travelers Commercial Casualty Company, Travelers Commercial Insurance Company, Travelers Constitution State Insurance Company, Travelers Distribution Alliance Inc., Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company, Travelers Global Inc., Travelers Indemnity U.K. Investments LLC, Travelers Insurance Company Limited, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, Travelers Insurance Designated Activity Company, Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc., Travelers Lloyds of Texas Insurance Company, Travelers London Limited, Travelers MGA Inc., Travelers Management Limited, Travelers Marine LLC, Travelers Participacoes em Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Personal Insurance Company, Travelers Personal Security Insurance Company, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, Travelers Property Casualty Corp., Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company, Travelers Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Syndicate Management Limited, Travelers Texas MGA Inc., Travelers Underwriting Agency Limited, Ultramar Travel Management, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Xbridge Limited, Zensurance Brokers Inc., and Zensurance Inc..
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. operates as a research and learning company worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Research Publishing & Platforms, Academic & Professional Learning, and Education Services. The Research Publishing & Platforms segment offers scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, as well as related content and services to learned societies, individual researchers, other professionals, and academic, corporate, and government libraries. This segment also publishes physical sciences and engineering, health sciences, social sciences, and humanities and life sciences journals; and provides a publishing software and service for scholarly and professional societies, and publishers to deliver, host, enhance, market, and manage their content on the web through the Literatum platform. It sells its products in digital and print formats through research libraries and library consortia, and independent subscription agents, as well as directly to professional society members, bookstores, online booksellers, and other customers. The Academic & Professional Learning segment provides scientific, professional, and education books in print and digital formats, digital courseware, and test preparation services to libraries, corporations, students, professionals, and researchers, as well as learning, development, and assessment services for businesses and professionals. This segment distributes its products in digital and print formats through chain and online booksellers, libraries, colleges and universities, corporations, direct to consumer, Websites, distributor networks, and other online applications. The Education Services segment provides online program management services for higher education institutions and mthree training, upskilling, and talent placement services for professionals and businesses. The company was founded in 1807 and is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey.

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(CNN)  Dolce & Gabbana needs to clean up the mess it made in China, or get left out of the country's luxury boom.

Over the past several days, the Italian fashion line has been trying to manage a crisis caused by an ad campaign that critics called "disrespectful and racist." It's also reeling from offensive comments allegedly sent from co-founder Stefano Gabbana's personal Instagram account. The Italian designer has denied writing the messages.

Fallout from the controversy has been swift and harsh. Celebrities called for a boycott. Chinese e-commerce sites pulled D&G products from their virtual shelves. The brand canceled a major fashion show in Shanghai that the ads, which featured an Asian model struggling to eat Italian food with chopsticks, were designed to promote.

"This is a big brand crisis," said Tulin Erdem, a professor of marketing at NYU's Stern business school. "Sometimes brands do recover ... but on a scale of 1-10, [this is] really high up."

Alienating customers is always bad for business. But for luxury brands, pushing away Chinese shoppers is a disaster.

A taste for luxury

Chinese consumers that abandoned luxury brands during a government crackdown on corruption are now delivering a wave of sales to high-fashion brands.

Kering (KER), the owner of Gucci and Alexander McQueen, said that sales in China soared 30% in the first half of 2018. French fashion house Hermes credited sales in the country for record profits over the same period. D&G is a private company that does not share its sales figures with the public.

Overall, Chinese consumers spend over $7 billion each year on luxury goods, according to the consultancy McKinsey. That's nearly one-third of the global market.

Dolce & Gabbana may have seen the Shanghai show as a way to win over those consumers.

The company had promoted the canceled event with the hashtags #DGLovesChina and #DGTheGreatShow on its social media accounts.

As criticism poured in, co-founders Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana tried to explain their thinking.

"Our dream was to bring to Shanghai a tribute event dedicated to China which tells our history and vision," the founders said in a statement posted to Instagram and Twitter on Wednesday. "It was not simply a fashion show, but something that we created especially with love and passion for China."

The company also said that Gabbana's account was hacked, and that the offensive messages were unauthorized. "I love China and the Chinese Culture," Gabbana wrote on his personal account. "I'm so sorry for what happened."

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN Business.

Missing the mark

Some didn't find the apologies sincere.

Chinese-French model Estelle Chen, who withdrew from the show, wrote "you don't love China, you love money," in an Instagram post tagging both the brand and Gabbana directly.

Chinese consumers are particularly sensitive to criticism that goes viral online, said Thomai Serdari, a strategist in luxury marketing and branding who teaches at NYU's Stern business school.

"People are really influenced by what's happening online," she said. "They do shop primarily online, and they're excellent researchers," she said. They "have experience in the luxury market and they really know what they're buying."

And the way young, wealthy Chinese consumers are thinking about luxury is evolving, said Sun Baohong, a marketing professor at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business.

"Before it was more for showing off social status," she said. Now, it's about "making a personal statement."

Even if Dolce & Gabbana hadn't offended people with its ads, she added, it probably would have missed the mark with the campaign.

"The ad is really showing a very old-fashioned" image of China, she said. "Chinese consumers still love foreign brands, but things are changing."

Making amends

Now, D&G has to figure out how to win back Chinese consumers.

"It's not going to happen overnight," said Andrew Gilman, founder of the crisis communications firm CommCore Consulting Group. The brand will have to "find the biggest influencers they can ... [and] get back in their good graces," he said.

The company must also share a consistent message across its social media platforms and any other channels it uses to communicate with customers, he said.

Moving forward, it will have to do a better job of understanding Chinese culture. "You can be a global brand," Gilman said, "but you have to have local sensitivities."

This story was first published on CNN.com. "Why Dolce & Gabbana's China blunder could be such a disaster"
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).
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FedEx Corp. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of a portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. It operates through the following segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Services, and Corporate, Other & Eliminations. The FedEx Express segment consists of domestic and international shipping services for delivery of packages and freight. The FedEx Ground segment focuses on small-package ground delivery services. The FedEx Freight segment offers less-than-truckload freight services across all lengths of haul. The FedEx Services segment provides sales, marketing, information technology, communications, customer service, technical support, billing and collection services, and certain back-office functions. The Corporate, Other & Eliminations segment includes corporate headquarters costs for executive officers and certain legal and finance functions, as well as certain other costs and credits not attributed to the firm's core business. The company was founded by Frederick Wallace Smith on June 18, 1971 and is headquartered in Memphis, TN.

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Nov 26, 2018 | By Thomas

Materialise today announced that the Ultimaker S5 and Stratasys 3D printers has been certified by Materialise as a 3D printing solution to create orthopedic, maxillofacial and cardiovascular models for clinical use when used in combination with Mimics inPrint software.

(Image: Ultimaker)

In 2017, the FDA announced that software intended to create output files for 3D printing patient-specific anatomical models, which are used for diagnostic purposes, is considered a class II medical device and requires regulatory clearance. Materialise was the first company to provide a software that conforms to these regulations and can be used in U.S. hospitals in combination with a compatible 3D printer. After rigorous performance testing and analysis, Materialise and Ultimaker identified that the Ultimaker S5 printer, used in conjunction with PLA and PVA materials, can be safely used with the Materialise Mimics inPrint software for 3D printing models that are used for diagnostic purposes.

More and more frequently, doctors look to 3D printing for pre-operative planning and the fabrication of physical models for patient management, treatment and surgeon-to-surgeon communications. As diagnostic usage of 3D printers continues to revolutionize patient care, safety and quality remain a top concern for hospitals, said John Kawola, president of Ultimaker North America. The Materialise certification of the 3D printing workflow when used with Mimics inPrint reduces the safety- and quality-control burden on doctors and hospitals with its clearance by the FDA.

(Image: Ultimaker)

Materialise today also unveiled its partnership with Stratasys to expand the suite of 3D printers and materials as part of FDA-cleared Materialise Mimics inPrint software to produce patient-specific, life-like anatomical models for diagnostic purposes.

PolyJet multi-material and multi-color solutions validated now include the J750 and J735 3D Printers and the high-performance desktop Objet30 Prime 3D Printer. In March of 2018, Materialise Mimics inPrint was cleared by the FDA, becoming the only solution with 510(k) clearance as an end-to-end 3D printing solution, as well as a fully comprehensive 3D printing solution for anatomical modeling.

Historically, pre-surgical planning relied on 2D imaging requiring physicians to mentally reconstruct the patient anatomy. But 3D printing evolves this approach by putting precise replicas of patient anatomy directly in physician hands. Our collaboration with Materialise is a huge step towards unlocking the potential of this technology for patient care, says Eyal Miller, Head of Healthcare Business Unit, Stratasys. Now the 3D printer that every hospital needs to power their medical modeling comes with additional options for an FDA-cleared software solution.

According to company reports, of the top 20 U.S. hospitals as ranked by U.S. News & World Report, 16 have implemented a medical 3D printing strategy using Materialise Mimics technology.

By validating Stratasys 3D printing technologies through our certification process, were giving doctors and hospitals improved access to high-quality anatomical models for personalized care to patients, said Bryan Crutchfield, Vice President and General Manager of Materialise North America. The addition of multi-color and multi-material printers to the list of validated printers is aimed to enable healthcare providers to implement a versatile offering that can support their most complex cases across a wide range of surgical specialties on a single printer.

3D printed model of patient's left atrial appendage (LAA) created with Stratasys and Materialise technology (Image: Stratasys)

The Stratasys J735/J750 3D Printers are able to develop highly-complex models using multiple textures, while combining hard and soft materials to mimic human tissue. The unique combination of transparency with multiple color re-creation ensures practitioners can differentiate anatomy, view critical structures within an organ replica, and create realistic representations of any bone, tissue, and organ.

The Stratasys Objet30 Prime 3D Printer is a cost-effective, desktop platform providing an entry point to hospitals seeking a point-of-care printing solution. The versatile offering supports a range of anatomical models and applications, including orthopedic, cardiac, neurosurgery and other use-cases for visualization, surgical planning, training and education.

Posted in 3D Printer Company

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The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. 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(Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC.
The following companies are subsidiares of Eastman Chemical: BP - Aviation Turbine Oil Business, CP Films Vertriebs GmbH, Commonwealth Laminating & Coating (Hong Kong) Limited, Commonwealth Laminating & Coating Inc, Crown Operations International LLC, Dynaloy, Eastman Administracion S.A. de C.V., Eastman Chemical (Barbados) SRL, Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd., Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd. - Guangzhou Branch, Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd. - JingAn Branch, Eastman Chemical (Gibraltar) Limited, Eastman Chemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Eastman Chemical (PPU) Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical AMI GmbH, Eastman Chemical AMI LLC, Eastman Chemical AP Holdings B.V., Eastman Chemical Adhesives (Hong Kong) Limited, Eastman Chemical Advanced Materials B.V., Eastman Chemical Argentina S.R.L., Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte Ltd-Indonesia Rep Office, Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. - Vietnam Representative Office, Eastman Chemical Australia Pty LTD - New Zealand Branch, Eastman Chemical Australia Pty. Ltd., Eastman Chemical B.V., Eastman Chemical B.V. - Czech Republic Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Denmark Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Filiale Italiana, Eastman Chemical B.V. - France Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Hungarian Commercial Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Poland Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - South Africa Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. Taiwan Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. The Hague Zug Branch, Eastman Chemical Canada Inc., Eastman Chemical Company Investments Inc., Eastman Chemical EMEA B.V., Eastman Chemical Europe Middle East and Africa LLC, Eastman Chemical Europe S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Fibers IP GmbH, Eastman Chemical Fibers IP LLC, Eastman Chemical Finance B.V., Eastman Chemical Finance CN S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance EUR S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance GBP S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance SGD S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance USD S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Financial Corporation, Eastman Chemical GDL S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Germany Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Eastman Chemical Germany Management GmbH & Co. KG, Eastman Chemical Germany Verwaltungs-GmbH, Eastman Chemical Global Holdings LLC, Eastman Chemical Global Holdings S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical GmbH, Eastman Chemical HK Limited, Eastman Chemical Holdings do Brasil Ltda., Eastman Chemical Hong Kong B.V., Eastman Chemical Iberica S.L., Eastman Chemical India Private Limited, Eastman Chemical Intermediates (Hong Kong) Limited, Eastman Chemical International GmbH, Eastman Chemical International Holdings B.V., Eastman Chemical International LP LLC, Eastman Chemical Japan Ltd., Eastman Chemical Korea B.V., Eastman Chemical Korea Ltd., Eastman Chemical Latin America Inc., Eastman Chemical Ltd., Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Australia Branch, Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Singapore Branch, Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Taiwan Branch, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 1 LLC, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 1 S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 2 S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Malaysia B.V., Eastman Chemical Middelburg B.V., Eastman Chemical Netherlands Limited, Eastman Chemical Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Regional UK, Eastman Chemical Resins Inc., Eastman Chemical S.C.S., Eastman Chemical Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Switzerland GmbH, Eastman Chemical Technology BVBA, Eastman Chemical Texas City Inc., Eastman Chemical US Finance LLC, Eastman Chemical Uruapan S.A. de C.V., Eastman Chemical Workington Limited, Eastman Chemical do Brasil Ltda., Eastman Cogen Management L.L.C., Eastman Cogeneration L.P., Eastman Company UK Limited, Eastman Fibers Korea Limited, Eastman Fibers Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Foundation, Eastman Global Holdings Inc., Eastman International Holdings LLC, Eastman International Management Company, Eastman Italia S.r.l., Eastman Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Eastman LAR Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., Eastman Mazzucchelli Hong Kong Limited, Eastman Mazzucchelli Plastics (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Eastman Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Eastman Spain L.L.C., Eastman Specialties Corporation, Eastman Specialties Holdings Corporation, Eastman Specialties OU, Eastman Specialties S.a.r.l., Eastman Specialties Wuhan Youji Chemical Co. Ltd, Eastman de Argentina SRL, Ecuataminco S.A., Flexsys America L.P., Flexsys America LLC, Flexsys Chemicals (M) Sdn Bhd, Flexsys K.K., Flexsys Rubber Chemicals Limited, Flexsys Verkauf GmbH, Flexsys Verkauf GmbH - France Branch, Flexsys Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Genovique Specialties Corporation, HDK Industries Inc., Holston Defense Corporation, Huper Optik (GP) L.L.C., Huper Optik International Pte. Ltd., Huper Optik U.S.A. L.P., Industriepark Nienburg GmbH, Kingsport Hotel L.L.C., Knowlton Technologies LLC, Monchem International LLC, Mustang Pipeline Company, Nanjing Yangzi Eastman Chemical Ltd, Novomatrix Inc., Novomatrix International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Qilu Eastman Specialty Chemicals Ltd, S E Investment LLC, Sakra Hyco Pte. Ltd., Sakra Island Carbon Dioxide Pte Ltd, Scandiflex do Brasil Ltda., Solchem LLC, Solchem Netherlands C.V., Solutia (Thailand) Ltd., Solutia Brasil Ltda., Solutia Canada Inc., Solutia Chemicals France S.a.r.l., Solutia Chemicals India Private Limited, Solutia Chemicals India Private Limited - Branch, Solutia Deutschland GmbH, Solutia Europe BVBA - Portugal Representative Office, Solutia Europe BVBA - Russia Representative Office, Solutia Europe SPRL/BVBA, Solutia Greater China LLC, Solutia Hong Kong Limited, Solutia Inc., Solutia International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Solutia Italia S.r.l., Solutia Japan Limited, Solutia Performance Products (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Solutia Performance Products Solutions Ltd., Solutia Singapore Pte. Ltd., Solutia Solar GmbH, Solutia Therminol Co. Ltd. Suzhou, Solutia Tlaxcala S.A. de C.V., Solutia UK Holdings Limited, Solutia UK Investments Limited, Solutia UK Limited, Solutia Venezuela S.R.L., Southwall Europe GmbH, Southwall Insulating Glass LLC, Southwall Technologies Inc., St. Gabriel CC Company LLC, Sterling Chemicals Inc, SunTek Australia Pty. Ltd., SunTek Films Canada Inc., SunTek UK Limited, TX Energy LLC, Taminco Argentina S.A., Taminco BVBA, Taminco BVBA - France Rep Office, Taminco BVBA - Hungarian Commercial Representative Office, Taminco BVBA - Oficina de Representacion en Espana, Taminco BVBA - The Philippines, Taminco Chile S.p.A, Taminco Choline Chloride (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Taminco Corporation, Taminco Finland Oy, Taminco Germany GmbH, Taminco Global Chemical LLC, Taminco Group BVBA, Taminco Group Holdings S.a.r.l., Taminco Holding Netherlands B.V., Taminco Intermediate LLC, Taminco Italia S.r.l., Taminco Limitada, Taminco Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Taminco US LLC, Taminco Uruguay S.A., Taminco de Guatemala S.A., Taminco de Honduras S.A. de C.V., Taminco do Brasil Comercio e Industria de Aminas Ltda., Taminco do Brasil Produtos Quimicos Ltda., Te An Ling Tian (Nanjing) Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., TetraVitae Bioscience, V-Kool International Pte. Ltd., and Yixing Taminco Feed Additives Co. Ltd..
The following companies are subsidiares of Sealed Air: A.P.S. (Holdings) Limited, AFP Trading (China) Co. Ltd., AFPTOH LTD, APS Automated Packaging Systems GmbH & Co. KG, APS Verwaltungs-GmbH, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc. (dba AFP Inc.), Automated Packaging Systems, Automated Packaging Systems Asia Holding Company Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Comerciale Importacao do Brasil Ltda., Automated Packaging Systems Europe, Automated Packaging Systems LLC, Automated Packaging Systems Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Southeast Asia Co. Ltd., B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC*, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal  Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Diversey, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Getpacking.com GmbH, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, KRIS Automated Packaging Systems Holding Company, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Polyrol Limited, Polyrol Packaging Systems LLC, ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal- Producao de Embalagens LTDA, Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings BV, Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Real Estate Pty Ltd, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile SpA, Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Cyprus Ltd., Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air GmbH (Germany), Sealed Air GmbH (Switzerland), Sealed Air Hellas SA, Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK I Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited (Ireland), Sealed Air Limited (UK), Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air UK Limited Partnership, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de RL. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, and Trigon Industries.
There is not enough analysis data for Revolution Bars Group.

5.0 Community Rank

Outperform Votes Revolution Bars Group has received 285 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

Underperform Votes Revolution Bars Group has received 83 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.)

Community Sentiment Revolution Bars Group has received 77.45% outperform votes from our community.

MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Revolution Bars Group and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe RBG will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe RBG will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.

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Shah Alam  November 26, 2018  Avis Malaysia was honoured with the Licensee of the Year Award 2018 for Europe, The Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa at the International Licensee Conference 2018, held in Prague, Czech Republic recently.

Organised by Avis Budget Group Inc., the annual global Licensee Awards recognises licensee partners that have demonstrated growth in annual financial performance, measured against their respective countrys economic conditions, excellence in customer service and alignment with the brands initiatives.

Mark Servodidio, President, International, Avis Budget Group said: Im very pleased to announce our Licensee Award winners. I congratulate both Avis Malaysia and Budget Jordan, who have invested in their businesses, and delivered strong growth and high levels of customer satisfaction. As a mobility solutions provider with a presence in approximately 180 countries around the globe, we rely on the expertise and professionalism which our licensees offer Avis and Budget customers in their markets. These awards are a token to celebrate their hard work and dedication.

Meanwhile in congratulating DRB-HICOM EZ-Drive Sdn Bhd (DRB-HICOM EZ-Drive), the operating arm of Avis Malaysia, Dato Sri Syed Faisal Albar, the Group Managing Director of DRB-HICOM Berhad was pleased with the accomplishment of the global accolade. This is the result of hard work and planning that DRB-HICOM EZ-Drives team has put in place to ensure that they achieve the targets set and agreed. I rate this award as a very significant achievement as the award measures revenue and fleet growth, branding and marketing initiatives. Clearly, Avis Malaysia has delivered high levels of customer satisfaction and strong growth in a challenging and competitive market, he said in an internal email to staff.

At the same conference, Avis Malaysia also received the Long Service Award  45 years 2018 from Avis Budget Group Inc.

About Avis Malaysia:

The Company established since 1972 and began its operation as a licensee of Avis Rent A Car in 1973, it has been offering customers and businesses alike a wide selection of well-maintained vehicles, as well as ancillary services and coverages to enhance the overall driving experience since then. It now operates 13 locations across Malaysia, including sites at major airports in both Peninsular and East Malaysia.

For more information about AVIS Malaysia and to learn more about our rental and leasing services, please log on to www.avis.com.my or call us at 03-7803 7555.

Media Contact

Company Name: Avis Malaysia

Contact Person: Media Relations

Email: Send Email

Phone: 03-7803 7555

Country: Malaysia

Website: http://www.avis.com.my/
Embraer SA engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of aircraft and its parts for commercial, defense, and executive aviation sectors. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Aviation, Defense and Security, Executive Jet Business, Service & Support and Others. The Commercial Aviation segment is involved in the development, production, and sale of commercial jets; and the provision of support services to regional aviation and aircraft leasing. The Defense and Security segment engages in research, development, production, modification, and support for defense and security aircrafts, as well as other integrated products and solutions including satellites and information and communication systems. The Executive Jet Business segment deals with the development, manufacture, and sale of executive jets. The Service & Support segment provides after-service solutions and support to its customers through a comprehensive portfolio of innovative and competitive solutions to ensure operational efficiency of products manufactured by Embraer and by other aircraft manufacturers, extending the useful life of commercial, executive and defense aircraft. The Others segment refers to

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Invesco S&P 500 BuyWrite ETF's stock was trading at $18.23 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, PBP stock has increased by 31.8% and is now trading at $24.02.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Texas Pacific Land Corp. operates as a landowner in the State of Texas. Its surface and royalty ownership allow revenue generation through the entire value chain of oil and gas development, including through fixed fee payments for use of the firm's land, revenue for sales of materials used in the construction of infrastructure, providing sourced water and treated produced water, revenue from its oil and gas royalty interests, and revenues related to saltwater disposal on land. The company also generates revenue from pipeline, power line and utility easements, commercial leases, material sales and seismic and temporary permits related to a variety of land uses including midstream infrastructure projects and hydrocarbon processing facilities. The company operates through following segment: Land and Resource Management and Water Services and Operations. The Land and Resource Management segment focuses on managing oil and gas royalty interest and surface. The Water Services and Operations segment offers operators an unparalleled breadth of service across the majority of the Permian Basin. The company was founded in April 2020 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX.

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Walker River Resources Corp., an exploration stage company, engages in the identification, exploration, and evaluation of mineral properties in Canada. Its flagship property is the 100% owned Lapon Canyon gold project with 147 claims located in Nevada. The company was formerly known as Rhino Exploration Inc. and changed its name to Walker River Resources Corp. in March 2013. Walker River Resources Corp. was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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Aetna Inc. operates as a health care benefits company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Health Care, Group Insurance, and Large Case Pensions. The Health Care segment offers medical, pharmacy benefit management service, dental, behavioral health, and vision plans on an insured and employer-funded basis. It also provides point-of-service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, and indemnity benefit plans, as well as health savings accounts and consumer-directed health plans. In addition, this segment offers Medicare and Medicaid products and services, as well as other medical products, such as medical management and data analytics services, medical stop loss insurance, workers' compensation administrative services, and products that provide access to its provider networks in select geographies. The Group Insurance segment offers life insurance products, including group term life insurance, voluntary spouse and dependent term life insurance, group universal life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance products; and long-term care insurance products, which provide the benefits to cover the cost of care in private home settings, adult day care, assisted living, or nursing facilities. The Large Case Pensions segment manages various retirement products comprising pension and annuity products primarily for tax-qualified pension plans. The company provides its products and services to employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Aetna Inc. was founded in 1853 and is based in Hartford, Connecticut.

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We Think Through Different Layers, We Work Across Different Verticals.

China Cards And Payments Market  By Cards (Debit Cards, Credit Cards, Prepaid Cards), By Payment Terminals (POS And ATMs), By Payment Instruments (Credit Transfers, Direct Debit, Cheques And Payment Cards)  Transaction Value, Volumes, Historical Trends, Analysis And Forecasts (2018 -2023)

During the review period, the Chinese Cards and Payments channel registered a CAGR of 18.42%.

Urbanization and a growing middle-class population are encouraging a shift to card-based transactions

The demand for luxury consumption from Chinas middle-class population has supported the proliferation of high-value card-based transactions. In addition, urbanization has improved living standards and retail expenditure, which has positively impacted the industry.

Browse For Full Report @ https://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/China-cards-and-payments-market-6925/

Government initiatives support the use of debit and credit cards

During the review period, government efforts to increase card issuance supported card use. The government issued social security cards to beneficiaries as part of its 12th five-year plan in 2011. These cards can be used to withdraw and deposit cash and make payments at the point of sale (POS) terminals, thereby popularizing cards among the Chinese population. In another similar initiative, China Union Pay (CUP) attempted to increase its issuance of charge cards to businesses. Standard charge cards were issued in 31 provinces and municipalities to advocate budget management and transparency in business practices.

Ask For Request Sample Report @ https://marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/China-cards-and-payments-market-6925/request-sample

Growth of remittances

After India, China is the second-largest recipient of remittances in the world. Remittances have increased since 2010. This provides a base to introduce card-based online and mobile payments. The remittance market is already targeted by international competitors and mobile payment providers such as Luup International Ltd. (Luup). The transfer of remittances through m-payments is expected to decrease the cost of inward remittances and increase the scope for card-based payments.

Online commerce growth

China is one of the largest e-commerce markets in the world and is growing rapidly due to high internet penetration. Domestic sites such as Taobao, paipai and tuan800 have outperformed foreign sites such as eBay and Amazon. Payments are primarily made through cards or as cash-on-delivery.

Buy Now @ https://marketdataforecast.com/cart/buy-now/China-cards-and-payments-market-6925/

Some of the Dominating players in the Market:

Agricultural Bank of China

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

China Construction Bank

Bank of China

China Merchants Bank

Bank of Communications

About Us:

Market Data Forecast is a firm working in the areas of market research, business intelligence and consulting. We have rich experience in research and consulting for various business domains to cater to the needs of both individual and corporate clients.

Media Contact

Company Name: Market Data Forecast

Contact Person: Abhishek Shukla

Email: Send Email

Phone: +1-888-702-9626

Address:2nd Floor, Lakeview Plaza, Kavuri Hills,

City: Hyderabad

State: Telangana

Country: India

Website: marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/China-cards-and-payments-market-6925/
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.
There is not enough analysis data for AIT Therapeutics.

4.1 Community Rank

Outperform Votes AIT Therapeutics has received 84 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.)

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Lewis Ponds Metallurgical Test Work Produces High-Grade Concentrates

Perth, Nov 26, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Ardea Resources Ltd ( ASX:ARL ) ( OTCMKTS:ARRRF ) announces results of metallurgical test work show excellent recovery of base and precious metals into two concentrate streams.- Lewis Ponds is a zinc-gold-silver-lead-copper deposit in the prospective Lachlan Fold Belt of NSW- It is viewed as a bulk-tonnage base and precious metal opportunity, amenable to simple metallurgical gravity and flotation processing- Metallurgical test work comprising Dense Media Separation then flotation has produced:o Clean zinc concentrate - over 66 % contained zinco Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate containing 1,619 g/t silver, 17.6 g/t gold, 4.78 % copper, and 30.3 % leado High recovered silver grades are consistent with Lewis Ponds being a silver mine in the late 1800so Results show excellent recovery of payable metals and fast flotation kinetics- Results for both concentrates are first-pass and are expected to benefit from further refinement as studies progressIn parallel to work on the Goongarrie Nickel Cobalt Project, metallurgical test work from the Lewis Ponds Zinc-Gold-Silver-Lead--Copper Project near Orange, NSW, indicates that two high-grade concentrates can be produced using simple gravity and flotation treatment processes.The Ardea corporate strategy is to continue to advance Goongarrie and accelerate exploration on the prospective gold and nickel sulphide targets in its extensive 5,484km2 land holding in Western Australia.To focus our efforts and create additional value for Ardea shareholders, the company will seek to crystallise value through a spin out or divestment of its NSW mineral assets in the next twelve months. A resource estimate is underway for Lewis Ponds and the Company is currently reviewing the results of promising metallurgical work which have been completed during 2018. Exploration work is continuing on the Company's NSW tenements notably within the highly prospective Lachlan Transverse Zone (LTZ).Lewis Ponds metallurgical test resultsLewis Ponds is a zinc-gold-silver-lead-copper deposit in the Lachlan Fold Belt of NSW. Metallurgical test work shows excellent recovery of metals in concentrates through the application of simple conventional metallurgical techniques. Test work completed shows that two concentrates, a zinc concentrate and a copper-lead-precious metal concentrate (Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate, i.e. copper, lead, silver, and gold concentrate) can be produced.Some notes on the concentrates produced:- The Zn concentrate contains around 66% zinc (in zinc sulphide), indicating a pure product.- The Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate contains:o 1,619 g/t silver (or ~52 oz/t silver)o 17.6 g/t gold (over 0.5 oz/t gold)o 30.3 % leado 4.78 % copper- Both concentrates are expected to be eminently saleable with mixed concentrates with high precious metal content readily sought in China- Results for both concentrates are first-pass and are expected to benefit from further refinement as studies progress.On an operating scale, the processes used in test work are generally "off-the-shelf" and inexpensive to implement, though this is yet to be modelled for Lewis Ponds.The findings of this metallurgical study are a significant milestone on the path to development at Lewis Ponds. Further refinement and assessment of the processes will be required, but will now be coming off a very solid base established by this test work.Test work details and findingsLewis Ponds mineralisationFine-grained banded sulphide mineralisation at Lewis Ponds (1, 2 & 3) contains appreciable amounts of zinc, gold, silver, lead and copper. Sulphide minerals are typical of the large deposits of the Lachlan Fold Belt of NSW, comprising pyrite, sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite. Non-sulphide gangue minerals are also unremarkable, comprising quartz, feldspars, chlorite, micas, and carbonates.An important finding is that no secondary sulphide phases or metal oxides were found, greatly simplifying processing of potential ore.Grain sizes are varied with fine galena (0.03 mm) associated with coarser chalcopyrite and pyrite (0.07 mm), and coarser still sphalerite (0.10 mm) as recrystallised grains within the foliation in "pressure-shadow" positions.Phase 1 - Ore preparation using DMSAn initial phase of Dense Media Separation (DMS) has the potential to greatly upgrade the economics of the deposit for minimal investment. A prerequisite for DMS, present at Lewis Ponds, is a contrast in density between heavier ore minerals (i.e. metal sulphides) and lighter gangue or waste minerals (silicates and carbonates).At Lewis Ponds, the studies found that at a 12.5 mm crush size, 94 % of sulphide and precious metal content can be recovered with the rejection 25 % of the mass. This corresponds to a 1.25 upgrade factor.The process is generally inexpensive to implement, being a form of gravity separation conducted at relatively coarse crush size. It is used to pre-concentrate run-of-mine ore by the rejection of a low grade, low density fraction. Application of a successful DMS circuit can allow a combination of lower ore cut-off grade in the mine and/or a higher mill feed grade, potentially providing enhanced project economics.Phase 2 - FlotationThe second phase of the process involves a conventional crush and float circuit to produce concentrates. The initial aim has been to produce two distinct products:- a mixed copper, lead, silver and gold concentrate marketed for its high precious metals content;- a clean zinc concentrate.A total of 20 tests were conducted to establish the initial flotation flowsheet and reagent regime. Work shows that good flotation performance combined with fast flotation kinetics is very achievable from a relatively simple selective flowsheet.The results of the test work are summarised in Table 1 (see link below). With these metallurgical results in mind, work is underway on the redefinition of a base and precious metal resource update at Lewis Ponds.Zinc concentrateThe zinc concentrate constitutes around 3.4 % of the ore feed by mass (see Table 1 in link below). It contains around 66% zinc (predominantly in the zinc sulphide, sphalerite), indicating a pure product. Iron has been minimised, and in the concentrate is likely partially within the sphalerite crystal structure, but also partly in associated pyrite.Recovery of around 87 % of the contained metal from the feed using these techniques is excellent. When including the zinc content of the Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate, zinc recoveries exceed 90 %.Copper-Lead-Precious Metal concentrateThe Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate represents only 2 % of the ore feed by mass. Both lead and copper are strongly fractionated into this concentrate (by 35 times and by 32 times respectively). Lead recoveries of around 73% of the contained metal are good, better than the ~64 % copper recoveries. These represent opportunities for future improvement.Gold and silver overwhelmingly report to the Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate (~37 times and 29 times concentrated respectively) with high values of 1,619 g/t silver and 17.6 g/t gold. Recovery percentages once again present refinement opportunities. Both precious metals show an affiliation with the fine-grained lead sulphide galena. Separate testing of pyrite concentrates shows that they are very low in gold in this sample set.TailsThe final tails, which constitute 94.6 % of the mass of the feed, show significant depletion of all metals of interest, along with little change in waste iron contents (see Figure 5 in link below). Of these, zinc extraction has been the most efficient, with over 90 % of the zinc recovered.Further enhancements to the processRefinement of the defined processes will continue, with several opportunities presenting.The next phase of DMS test work will use a larger composite sample with the separation made in a pilot scale dense medial cyclone (as would be used in a full-scale plant design) instead of the small-scale bench sink-float Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) test work used in this initial program. It was planned that the -1mm fines, which is not fed to the DM cyclones, will be the subject of reflux classifier test work to determine its potential beneficiation potential.Further flotation development test work is required, particularly in optimising the mixed Cu-Pb-Ag-Au circuit (galena liberation and depressant optimisation for pyrite, sphalerite and non-sulphide gangue). Further improvements are expected through pyrite and sphalerite rejection from the mixed Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate with a consequent increase in the lead grade of the mixed Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate. Extraction of sphalerite from the Cu-Pb-Ag-Au concentrate and incorporation into the Zn concentrate would result in increased payable zinc recoveries.About the Lewis Ponds depositLewis Ponds is a zinc-gold-silver-lead-copper deposit in the Lachlan Fold Belt of NSW (see Figure 6 in link below). The belt is host to numerous major bulk tonnage gold and base metal mines. Of particular note is that the major deposits at Northparkes and Cadia are hosted within or adjacent to the Lachlan Transverse Zone (LTZ), a west-northwest trending lineament that is thought to represent a fundamental crustal weakness that corresponds to major mineralised centres. Several of Ardea's projects, including notably Lewis Ponds, are located within the LTZ.Previously, Lewis Ponds has been explored as a high-grade underground deposit, with a historic resource of 6.6Mt at 1.5g/t Au, 69g/t Ag and 2.4% Zn1 estimated (refer Prospectus Table 3.2 for full description of resource status). This resource is presently being re-estimated for a bulk tonnage mining operation.As a potential Massive Sulphide underground operation, the published Lewis Ponds resource (refer below) was calculated at a 3% zinc equivalent cut-off. This is opposed to Ardea's 1.5% zinc equivalent cut-off for an envisaged open pit Stringer Sulphide mining operation. The Ardea concept is consistent with bulk tonnage operations in the central Lachlan Fold Belt which are all low grade, bulk excavation-based (see Table 2 in link below). Both Cadia and Northparkes produce sulphide concentrates with precious metal credits, whereas Cowal and the undeveloped McPhillamys deposit utilise (or propose to utilise) a carbon-in-leach (CIL) flowsheet. In terms of metal value (i.e. zinc and gold equivalent values), the mineralised zones intercepted in Ardea diamond core holes ALD0003 and ALD0004 match or exceed those of the major Lachlan Fold Belt operations (see Table 2 in link below).These results justify Ardea's updated Exploration Target for the Lewis Ponds deposit, estimated at 15-25 Mt at 2.2-3.7 % ZnEq or 1.2-2.0 g/t AuEq2 (Heron Resources announcement, "Ardea Project Update" dated 6 January 2017).To view tables and figures, please visit:About Ardea Resources Ltd

Ardea Resources Ltd (ASX:ARL) (OTCMKTS:ARRRF) (FRA:A91) is an ASX listed resources company, with 100% controlled Australian based projects, prioritising a three-pronged value creation strategy which is:

- development of the Goongarrie Nickel Cobalt Project, which is part of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project, a globally significant series of nickel-cobalt deposits which host the largest nickel-cobalt resource in the developed world, coincidentally located as a cover sequence overlying fertile orogenic gold targets;

- advanced-stage exploration at WA gold and nickel sulphide targets within the Eastern Goldfields world-class nickel-gold province; and

- the demerger of the NSW gold and base metal assets with planned in-specie share distribution, with projects located within the Lachlan Fold Belt world-class gold-copper province.


Encouraging Copper and Gold Geochemistry in NSW

Perth, Nov 26, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Emmerson Resources Limited ( ASX:ERM ) ( OTCMKTS:EMMRF ) announces encouraging copper and gold geochemistry expands the Whatling Hill Project in NSW.Highlights- Compelling near surface copper and gold footprint from soil geochemistry now extends 4km to the south of Whatling Hill.- Rock chip values of up to 2% copper and 0.25g/t gold in quartz stockwork veins within altered monzonite intrusives suggest nearby porphyry copper-gold mineralisation.- Age dating and alteration similar to other large porphyry copper-gold deposits in the province (e.g., the world-class Cadia-Ridgeway and the North Parkes deposits).- Project leasing expanded with the grant of a new tenement, consolidating Emmerson's ground position in the highly prospective Lachlan Transfer Zone.- Induced Polarisation geophysical program is starting next month to guide drilling in early 2019.Emmerson's Managing Director; Mr Rob Bills commented:"This expanded soil geochemical program over the Whatling Hill project now indicates the additional potential for copper-gold mineralisation 4km to the south of the previous survey. This geochemistry is consistent with elevated copper and gold from rock chip samples taken from a sparse outcrop in the region.Based on the encouraging early stage results at both Whatling Hill and nearby Kadungle, Emmerson has consolidated its ground position to take account of possible multiple centres of porphyry copper-gold mineralisation occurring within the Macquarie Arc and Lachlan Transverse Zone (see Figure 1 in link below).Our field-based exploration has been complemented by cutting edge science which has included analysis of the alteration (trace and rare earth elements within the outer green rock or epidote/chlorite zone) where initial findings suggest we are within the geochemical footprint of a porphyry system. Moreover, age dating of the monzonite intrusion within the Raggatt Volcanics yielded a Late Ordovician to Early Silurian age -consistent with dates of the mineralised intrusions at the world-class North Parkes and Cadia-Ridgeway gold-copper deposits (work completed as part of the University of Tasmania CODES ARC Linkage project)Obviously, a discovery across any of our NSW projects would be transformational for the company - particularly given the paucity of new copper-gold projects and the competition for new resources."Whatling Hill (see Figure 2 in link below)The extension of the Whatling Hill geochemical program has yielded very encouraging copper-molybdenum-gold geochemical results over a large 4km2 area. As previously reported (ASX- August 2018), the 500m grid based aircore program at Whatling Hill produced elevated copper, molybdenum and gold corresponding to sparse outcrops of quartz stockwork magnetite veins within highly altered monzonite intrusives. These quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite stockwork veins, assay up to 2% copper and 0.25g/t gold, providing evidence of potential for underlying or nearby mineralisation (ASX- June 2018).This mineralisation was identified from systematic sampling and recognition of widespread epidote-chlorite alteration typically associated with the outer zones of porphyry copper-gold mineralisation. Moreover this project (plus our five other NSW projects) were selected from the application of proprietary predictive targeting models, aimed to increase the probability of a major discovery of copper and gold.Whatling Hill South (see Figure 3 in link below)Grid-based aircore sampling covering an area some 4km2 to the south of Whatling Hill now extends the gold-copper anomalism for a total length of 5kms and over 1km wide. With the aircore drilling revealing pervasive epidote-chlorite alteration, elevated in copper, molybdenum and gold. Typically this metal zonation signals proximity to the centre of the porphyry system, supported by the presence of altered quartz monzonites that also have elevated rock chip assays of up to 0.6% copper.The host Ordovician Raggatt Volcanics and related intrusives are truncated to the west by the Devonian Gobondery Granite, and to the east by the overlying Silurian conglomerates - providing a "window" of prospective metal fertile Ordovician rocks that likely extend undercover to the east where Emmerson have recently expanded its ground position to include the greater Kadungle project (see Figures 1 and 4 in link below).This window of prospective Ordovician rocks is anomalous in metals and mostly covered by regolith (see Figure 4 in link below). Trace element analyses of epidote from the recent aircore drilling reinforce previous conclusions that this belt is prospective for porphyry copper-gold and epithermal gold-silver mineralization (as determined from collaboration with the University of Tasmania via the ARC Linkage Project (see Figure 5 in link below).The next stage of exploration will consist of a regional, Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysical survey, aimed at collecting subsurface information ahead of selecting drill targets (see Figure 6 in link below).Other NSW ProjectsAn Induced Polarisation geophysical survey will also be conducted over our Wellington project where we have previously reported elevated copper, gold and molybdenum geochemical results - potentially setting up two projects for drilling in early in 2019.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Emmerson Resources Limited

Emmerson Resources Limited (ASX:ERM) (FRA:42E) recently commenced exploration on new gold-copper projects in NSW, identified (with our strategic alliance partner Kenex Limited) from the application of 2D and 3D predictive targeting models  aimed at increasing the probability of discovery. The highly prospective Macquarie Arc in NSW hosts >80Mozs gold and >13Mt copper with these resources heavily weighted to areas of outcrop or limited cover. Emmerson's five exploration projects contain many attributes of the known deposits within the Macquarie Arc but remain under explored due to historical impediments, including an overlying cover (plus farmlands) and a lack of exploration focus. Kadungle is a JV with Aurelia Metals covering 43km2 adjacent to Emmerson's Fifield project.

In addition, Emmerson is exploring the Tennant Creek Mineral Field (TCMF), one of Australia's highest-grade gold and copper fields producing over 5.5 Mozs of gold and 470,000 tonnes of copper from deposits including Warrego, White Devil, Orlando, Gecko, Chariot and Golden Forty. These high-grade deposits are highly valuable exploration targets, and to date discoveries include high-grade gold at Edna Beryl and Mauretania, plus copper-gold at Goanna and Monitor. These are the first discoveries in the TCMF for over a decade.


Positive Metallurgical Results Received as Drilling Commences at the Richmond Vanadium Project

Perth, Nov 26, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Intermin Resources Limited ( ASX:IRC ) ("Intermin" or the "Company") and JV partner AXF are pleased to announce further positive metallurgical testwork results from the Lilyvale prospect area, part of the Richmond vanadium project and the commencement of drilling at the project.HIGHLIGHTS- Ore pre-concentration and downstream processing testwork continues on samples from the Richmond vanadium project in northwest Queensland- The project is subject to an earn-in Joint Venture with AXF Vanadium Pty Ltd ("AXF") whereby AXF can earn 75% by spending $6m by March 2021(see Note 1 below)- Multiple tests utilising gravity, screening and flotation have resulted in concentrate grades averaging 1.6% V2O5 at an overall recovery of 73%, in line with the target grade of >1.5% and > 70% recovery(see Note 2 below)- The run of mine ore was concentrated into 21% of the original mass and contained a low 7.6% calcium content enabling both an acid digestion or roasting downstream processing pathway to be evaluated(see Note 2 below)- Further optimisation testwork is ongoing with a further 4t of sample transported to China to generate additional concentrate for downstream processing testwork- Drilling has commenced at Richmond and Julia Creek with 800 holes planned for a total of 17,500m to an average depth of 30m within a A$1.2 million budget- Regional drilling will comprise 350 holes for 7,500m testing a number of priority targets in both the Richmond and Julia Creek areas- Infill drilling at Lilyvale comprises 450 holes for 10,000m to upgrade the current Inferred Mineral Resource of 671Mt at 0.35% V2O5 at a 0.29% cut-off grade(see Note 3 below) to the Measured and Indicated categories for Ore Reserve conversion- Lilyvale forms part of the greater Richmond project with a Mineral Resource of 2,579Mt grading 0.32% V2O5 at a 0.29% cut-off grade (see Note 3 below) hosted in a soft oxide marine sediment 4m from surface(see Note 4 below)- Completion of the first phase of test work is scheduled for mid-2019 enabling the commencement of a Preliminary Feasibility Study (see Note 5 below)- The study will include(see Note 5 below):o An updated resource model enabling compilation of Ore Reserveso Preliminary flow sheet design for a pre-concentration circuit and downstream processing plant optionso Estimated production rates, capital and operating costso Market analysis for product sales of 98% V2O5 flake and electrolyte for use in vanadium redox flow batterieso Continued discussions with all stakeholders and potential offtake partners- 75 acre parcel of land purchased in Richmond by the JV as potential pilot plant site(see Note 5 below)Commenting on the JV project, Intermin Managing Director Mr Jon Price said:"The AXF team have done an excellent job to date and the test work results have demonstrated the potential of the project to become a globally relevant producer. With vanadium prices hitting new all-time highs of US$34/lb or over $100,000/ton in Australian dollar terms, we look forward to the release of the drilling results, updated models and the prefeasibility study in due course."OverviewThe project is located in northwest Queensland and lies on the Flinders Highway and Great Northern railway, 500km west of the Townsville port and 250km east of Mt Isa (see Figure 1 in link below). The project comprises four main prospects (see Figure 2 in link below) in the Richmond and Julia Creek districts covering an area of 1,520km2 with a total Mineral Resource of 2,579Mt grading 0.32% V2O5 at a 0.29% cut-off grade(see Note 3 below).As announced to the ASX on 19 September 2017, Intermin completed a formal Joint Venture agreement with AXF over the Richmond project. AXF brings considerable technical expertise to the project and has extensive business relationships throughout Southeast Asia.Details of the agreement between the parties include:- An earn-in Joint Venture whereby AXF can earn 25% of the project area by spending A$1m within a one year period and maintaining the project in good standing- AXF to solely contribute to further expenditure of A$5m on the project to earn a further 50% over a three year period, inclusive of the completion of a Feasibility Study on part or all of the project area- During the sole funding period, AXF will manage the project with direction from the JV committee comprising representatives from both parties- Upon AXF satisfying the earn-in terms, each party will contribute to ongoing expenditure in accordance with its respective percentagesAXF has now formally committed to the stage 2 expenditure commitment of A$5m over 3 years to March 2021 inclusive of a Feasibility Study on commercial production.Metallurgical TestworkIn late 2017, AXF collected approximately 1.2 tonnes of vanadium samples from the Lilyvale prospect area for despatch to two research laboratories in China:- Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (BGRIMM), a leading institute directly under the Chinese central government providing innovative technology, diversified products and process-orientated engineering services in mineral and material industries worldwide. With ISO 9001 accreditation, the institute provides complete solution integrating R&D, engineering and equipment manufacture.- Hunan Research Institute for Nonferrous Metals (HRINM), established in 1958, is the first intellectual property-intensive research institute in the Hunan Province focussed on R&D, metal mining, process selection, smelting and new alloys development.The ore at Lilyvale comprises soft oxidised limestone rich clays from surface to 15m depth where the oil has been leached out and the enrichment of vanadium and other metals including molybdenum, nickel and copper has occurred. The Lilyvale area has the highest grade of the four prospects (see Figure 2 in link below), is closest to surface for simple open cut free dig mining and is amenable to pre-concentration at site to provide a higher grade feedstock with lower mass.Testwork programs were jointly developed using AXF's in-house expertise and the experience of both institutes with both programs supervised by AXF's senior technical staff. Initial testwork completed in 2018 focussed on ore pre-concentration of the run of mine ore by physical means followed by both hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical testwork on the concentrate to produce a final 98% V2O5 flake for use in both the steel and energy storage markets.The first phase of the testwork involved additional particle size analysis to confirm historic work followed by single stage and 2 stage concentration tests using a combination of screening, gravity and flotation. As announced to the ASX on 8 May 2018, 89% of the contained metal reported to the -43um size fraction and 84% to the -20um size fraction confirming historic work completed by Intermin. In addition, initial concentration test results show that 78% of the vanadium was recovered in to 38% of the original mass at a grade of 1.1% V2O5. This initial work provided a solid basis for further optimisation work to upgrade the run of mine ore by physical separation ahead of downstream processing.Further optimisation tests have now been completed and included:- Ore Mineralogy Research- Crushing and Particle Size Analysis- Mineral Processing Researcho Magnetic separation test-- Gravity Separation test-- Vibration Chute test-- Spiral Chute test (see Figure 3 in link below)-- Cyclone testo Flotation Test (see Figure 3 in link below)- Separation Condition Testo Slurry concentration testo Processing time testo Temperature testo pH condition testo Collector condition testo Inhibitor condition testBased on the mineralogy study of the ore and mineral processing research as above, three optimal mineral processes were selected for the concentration of vanadium ore. These three options will be the technical basis for the Preliminary Feasibility Study. Results have now been received for the first of the three options and these are presented in Table 1 below (see link below):As can be seen from the test results in Table 1, the concentrate was produced into 21% of the original mass at an improved grade of 1.58% with a 72.8% recovery. This reduced mass and improved grade enables a potentially smaller downstream processing plant at significantly reduced capital cost(see Note 5 below).In addition, the results show a much larger reduction in the calcium content than expected with only 4% reporting to the concentrate fraction. This low calcium content enables both an acid digestion and a roasting downstream processing pathway to be evaluated that can potentially lead to considerably lower operating costs(see Note 5 below).Further optimisation work continues and results of the further two flowsheet option tests are expected in the March and June quarters 2019. Downstream processing tests have also commenced and a further 4t of samples have been despatched to China to ensure sufficient concentrate for test work completion in mid-2019.This test work will enable flowsheet design to be completed as part of the Preliminary Feasibility Study planned to commence in 2019(see Note 5 below).Drilling ProgramDrilling at the Richmond project has commenced with a total of 17,500m planned within a A$1.2 million budget and is expected to be completed over a 3 month period.The Lilyvale deposit infill drilling program comprises 450 holes for 10,000m (see Figure 5 in link below) and has been designed to improve data density (see Figure 6 in link below), assess any closed spaced variability and enable the current resource to be upgraded to the Measured and Indicated JORC 2012 category. Upon the completion of the drilling and receipt of the assay data a revised resource model will be completed by independent consultants, following which any requirement for further work will be assessed. The upgraded resource model will then be used at part of the PFS to complete a mining and economic evaluation and estimation of Ore Reserves. Commencement of the drilling is pending finalisation of Conduct and Compensation Agreements with landowners.The current Mineral Resource at Lilyvale totals 671Mt at 0.35% V2O5 at a 0.29% cut-off grade.Regional exploration drilling comprising 350 holes for 7,500m will be completed at a number of priority targets with the aim of identifying additional areas of insitu high grade vanadium within the Rothbury, Burwood and Manfred regions. Historic drilling in most areas are on 500m centres with certain areas within the project area showing significant higher grades than the resource average. This areas will be prioritised to improve geological knowledge and data density for additional drilling in 2019.Next Steps(see Note 5 below)Pre-concentration and downstream processing test work continues with further results expected in the March and June quarters 2019. On receipt of assay data, updated geological models will be compiled and an updated resource for Lilyvale released.Both the test work results and the new resource models will enable commencement of a PFS and estimation of Ore Reserves. The PFS may include production rate analysis, flow sheet design, initial estimates of capital and operating costs and product sales analysis.The JV has purchased a 75 acre parcel of land at Richmond to facilitate the potential requirement for a pilot plant should a decision be made to move forward. The land is located in close proximity to the Flinders Highway, railway siding and the 66Kv power line providing infrastructure and services for the study.Notes:1 As announced to the ASX on 19 September 2017,2 see JORC Tables on Page 10,3 as announced to the ASX on 20 March 2018, see also Tables and Competent Persons Statement on Page 94 Pending finalisation of Conduct and Compensation Agreements with landowners5 See Forward Looking and Cautionary statement on Pages 8 and 9.To view tables and figures, please visit: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.
















Although Toronto may have lost out to not one, two locations in their bid for Amazons' second headquarters the Canadian city may be doing better without the retailing giant.

Toronto initially put in a bid for the second headquarters known as HQ2, but they lost out to two cities, New York and Virginia. The initial pitch for Amazons HQ2 promised to bring as many as 50,000 jobs to wherever they picked. In reality, the jobs will be split into two. Each hub will get 25,000 jobs, with an additional 5,000 jobs in Nashville, Tenn.

However, some in Toronto's tech space have voiced their worry over Amazon coming to the city, comparing it to a big fish in a small pond. They believed the presence of Amazon would have swallowed up most of the talent in the pool.

Anthony Lacavera, the founder of Toronto-based Globalive, a company that uses investments and partnerships to grow their start-ups, said in an email, We already have a significant talent shortage, and Canadian growth companies need the talent that multinationals like Amazon will consume.

Toronto is steadily growing its reputation as a tech hub. It is thriving off investments in financial technology and artificial intelligence, an ecosystem that supports start-ups, and a strong university research community.

According to CBRE, a commercial real estate, and investment firm, Toronto has been the fastest growing tech market in North America for two years in a row.The city added 28,900 tech jobs last year, a 13.6% increase from the year before.

However, there is yet to be a Canadian-born Amazon equivalent.

The arrival of a global giant like Amazon would have probably squashed Torontos ecosystem instead of helping it to grow, said Lacavera. Lacavera also founded his startup, WIND Mobile in Toronto, before selling it for $1.3 billion US.

Canada needs to build its global winners and end the branch plant economy once and for all, Lacavera said.

Still, Toronto did highlight the reasons why it put in a bid to become the home for Amazons HQ2. It would have promoted Toronto's reliable, affordable, and diverse talent, its competitive corporate tax rates, quality of life, and their universal healthcare.

Healthcare is a significant concern to Amazon. In January, they teamed up with JP Morgan and Berkshire Hathaway to create a way to bring down the healthcare costs of their employees.

Health care wasn't the only thing Toronto had to offer though. The organizers also highlighted what Toronto had to offer by bringing different benefits from different locations in and around the region.

Torontos pitch also had the backing of neighboring cities such as Hamilton, the two hubs of Kitchener-Waterloo, and several others, showing off the abundance of high-skilled workers. These workers would have been hired for far less than what American workers would have demanded.

There was one thing Toronto didnt do, and that was to try to woo the company with Tax incentives. Even though Amazon is worth more than a $1 trillion US, some cities tried to lure the company with tax breaks as the bids heated up.
Mumbai: As URI will be releasing soon and is based on the story of 2016- Surgical strike attack by four heavily armed militants near the town of Uri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. This was reported as the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades.

The makers have decided to kick-start their film activity on 26/11 marking it a tribute to the martyrs of the day and on Monday 26/11 330 radio stations would play a special tributary message at 10.12 am as a mark of respect in the memory of the people martyred.

Confirming the same, Ronnie Screwvala said, On the 10 year anniversary Of the 26/11 attacks, the URI team will show their respect to all those martyred on that day by observing silence across 330 radio stations all over India at 10:12 am sharp

Uri is based on Indian Armys surgical strikes on terror launch pads across Line of Control (LOC). On September 18, 2016, 19 Indian soldiers were killed in an early morning attack by Pakistani terrorists at the 12 Infantry Brigade headquarters in Uri. In response, on September 29, the Indian Armys Special Forces carried out surgical strikes on terror launch pads across Line of Control (LOC)

Produced by RSVP movies and directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam and Paresh Rawal in pivotal roles. The film is slated to release on 11th January 2019.
Many celebrities have chipped in with their mite in contributing cash to the CM's Relief Fund and sending relief materials to the disaster affected delta regions of Tamil Nadu reeling from the effects of cyclone Gaja. Vishal has gone further in acting daringly different and adopting an entire Gaja-ravaged village.

Vishal has adopted the Karagavayal Village in Pattukkottai in Thanjavur district, an area severely affected by the cyclone. He has taken the responsibility to restore normalcy by building houses for the villagers, provide solar lamps and take care of the education of students.

The actor took to his social media handle to writeThis village is mine. #kaarkavaiyaI thanjavur district. I swear I will bring back this village to normality and this will be my responsibility forever. Model village on the way! I luv u group #socialarchitects to help me achieve this. The people of the village shared their happiness and thanked the actor who has promised to make their village the best in the country.

The Thupparivalan star has been known to be vocal on various public issues right from the Chennai floods of 2015. He personally gets involved not only in philanthropy but also in doing relief work. In fact, his recent television show of Naam Oruvar has undoubtedly brought the light of hope and happiness to many unprivileged people. It is a platform to help the poor and needy to achieve their dreams.
Aishwarya Dutta and Mahat have suddenly become busy in Ktown. They owe this to the reality show Bigg Boss hosted by Kamal Haasan. They were housemates and made their presence felt by their unusual ways. Now, we hear that they are teaming up for a romcom directed by Prabhu Ram.

Confirming the news, Prabhu Ram, who had assisted Hollywood filmmaker Randy Kent in the groundbreaking film Road King, says, I was looking out for thara local boy for my lead protagonist. I chanced upon Mahat on BB show and felt he would suit the character I had envisioned. He plays a guy from North Chennai, who is jobless and roams around with his friends. On the other hand, Aishwarya, who also belongs to the same locality, hails from an affluent family. She is highly educated. The conflicts that arise out of their meeting is narrated in an interesting manner. It is a fun filled entertainer.

Actor Aadhav essays the antagonist. The movie is expected to go on floors mid December in areas like Kasimedu, Royapuram, Tondiarpet and other North Chennai areas. Mahat has also bagged a role in Simbus next film Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven in Sundar Cs direction.
Biopics of political leaders like Jayalalithaa, MGR, NTR and actresses like Silk Smitha and Savithri seem to be the order of the day in tinsel town. Yet another one popping up is Seerum Puli (Raging Tiger) on the slain LTTE Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran, under production now. Directed by Venkatesh Kumar, a former assistant of ace Balu Mahendra, the makers were looking out for an actor with an uncanny resemblance to Prabhakaran and they zeroed in on national award winner Bobby Simha.

Venkatesh has experimental films like Lightman, Neelam (based on the Sri Lankan civil war) and Unakkul Naan to his credit and they received critical acclaim. Studio 18 bankrolls Seerum Puli.

To go with Prabhakarans birthday  November 26  the first look of the film with Bobby Simha keeping his left hand on the head of a tiger sitting beside him with the tagline Rise of the Peoples Leader was unveiled.
If you scroll through the comments section at the end of news reports covering Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukones wedding celebrations at Lake Como, in Italy, you will see disgruntled readers asking why so much money is wasted celebrating a wedding abroad instead of in India. There were similar comments when Virat Kholi and Anushka got married too. Why not India?

Well, they will be surprised to learn that these festivities in foreign locales cost just half of what a big fat Indian wedding in India would cost.

How?

Destination weddings cant accommodate all the thousand plus people you would be compelled to invite if you were getting married in your hometown  if its Mumbai or Delhi or any other big city. So the guest list is cut by less than half, and this is a major saving. Ranveer-Deepika and Virat-Anushka Sharma had invited not more than 70 guests for their respective wedding in Italy.

Tulika Agarwal, the founding partner of Pandorama Events, a wedding planner company, explains, With such a difference of numbers, you save a lot on the food, alcohol and the cost of hotel rooms.

Another killer cost at weddings which gets slashed to the bare minimum is the decor. Opting for destinations with gorgeous locales and natural beauty enables the couple/family to tighten the budget when it comes to decor, says Tulika. The locales are so beautiful that it doesnt really need any decor. Put a few candles or something minimum and inexpensive around the place and you are done. Flowers abroad dont cost much at all. Malini Ganju, of MS Events, who is known for specialising in high-profile celebrations outside India, says, A wedding abroad can be done in a Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore budget, depending on what you want and the number of people.

Saying I Do at a former palace overlooking the Bosporus in Istanbul is a fabulous idea; not only is the location stunning but it is also very inexpensive. After the terror attacks in Turkey recently, all hotel prices were slashed. Its a similar story in Egypt. Hosting a dinner where guests can enjoy a view of the pyramids is far cheaper than staying at a luxury hotel in Rajasthan.

Places in the Middle East, like Ras Al Khaimah, work out to be very reasonable and very convenient in terms of distance. The hotels are perfect to cater to large Indian weddings and the area has a huge local vendor database, for even things like mehendi and dhol, says Tulika.

The cultural uniqueness of a place like a vineyard in Tuscany or a chateau in France can add so much glamour to a wedding, says Malini, adding that often alcohol and duty prices are much cheaper abroad than in India. On the whole, things are more cost-effective, your celebrations are different, the recall value is more and your social status goes up without spending a bomb, feels Malini.

And destinations like Thailand, Bali, Malaysia and the likes are even more less expensive when compared to Europe.
The police found that a Sudan national, Wail Mohammed, 31, who works as an accountant at Omdurman city of Khartoum state in Sudan had come to India to marry a girl. (Representation image)

Hyderabad: A Sudanese national and three city residents including two women were arrested by the Cyberabad special operations team for their involvement in a contract marriage case at Mailardevpally on Monday.

The Sudan national had paid Rs 1 lakh to the brides family for making a three-month contract marriage, said the police. Acting on a tip off, the SOT (Shamshabad zone) inspected a house at Roshan Colony in Vattepally on Monday, where they found that a contract marriage was taking place.

The police found that a Sudan national, Wail Mohammed, 31, who works as an accountant at Omdurman city of Khartoum state in Sudan had come to India to marry a girl.

Wail came to Hyderabad on November 14 on a visit visa and met marriage broker Habeeb Khan, 44, who took Rs 1 lakh to give to the brides family, and made an agreement. Two women, Shamem Sulthana, 40, and Shabana Begum, 37, who acted as mediators were made witnesses, said Mailardevpally sub-inspector G Rajesh.

The passport of the Sudan national, two fake marriage agreements, one stamp pad, Rs 1.1 lakh cash and $300 were seized from the accused.
On the eve of 10th anniversary of the terror attack, he accused the neighbouring country of providing patronage to those accused in the case. (Photo: File)

Vadodara: Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who appeared as special public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, on Sunday blamed the Pakistan government for delay in the trial against masterminds of the attack.

On the eve of 10th anniversary of the terror attack, he accused the neighbouring country of providing patronage to those accused in the case.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists had sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks, killing 166 people and injuring over 300.

Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was awarded death sentence by a court.

Dubbing LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as the "real terrorists" behind the attack in Mumbai in 2008, Nikam said the authorities in Pakistan should make efforts for cancellation of the bail granted to them.

"Still, a decade after the terror attack, there's little to show that Pakistan has acted against the masterminds," Nikam said.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a conference on law and justice.

"The Pakistan government is responsible for delay in the trial (against the masterminds)," he said, adding that the neighbouring country needs to fight terrorism emanating from its soil.

In order to bring the guilty to book, the Indian government had in the past written to Pakistan, suggesting ways in which the trial could be expedited by cooperation through the legal channel, he added.

Hafiz Saeed was earlier put under house arrest after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, but was freed by a court in Pakistan in 2009.

He carries a reward of USD 10 million on his head, announced by the authorities in the US for his role in terror activities.
A woman activist said, 'This protest is against violation of human rights. In Bhima Koregaon case there are many intellectuals, writers and advocates who are arrested and illegal cases are filed against them. We wanted to register our protest in this context." (Photo: File)

Hyderabad: The Telangana Democratic Forum on Sunday protested at city's Dharna Chowk against the arrest of activist Varavara Rao in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case.

Rao, who was under house arrest at his flat in Gandhinagar in the Hyderabad city, was arrested by the Pune police on 17th November, in a case relating to his alleged involvement in Bhima Koregaon violence.

Expressing anguish over Rao's arrest, woman activist Sandhya told ANI, "This protest is against violation of human rights. In Bhima Koregaon case there are many intellectuals, writers and advocates who are arrested and illegal cases are filed against them. We wanted to register our protest in this context. Protests are going on around the country. But still, Modi government is unable to listen to democratic voices. Modi government has become intolerant towards human rights."

She also attacked both central and state government and blamed them of being fascist and anti-democratic.

She said, "Prime Minister Modi and Telangana caretaker chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, both these leaders ruling is anti-democratic and fascist. We want to send a message to people that this is an inhuman rule and people should come forward to protest against them. On the name of urban naxals, they want to confine everybody who raises their voice against them. In the long-term process, they want to illegally confine them with a fake allegation, which is against the constitution."

On November 19, Rao was taken to Sassoon Hospital after he complained of difficulty in breathing.

Rao was arrested at the end of his house arrest on November 17 for his alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon violence case.

A Sessions Court in Pune had sent the activist to police custody till November 26 in connection with the violence that broke out in January this year during an event organised to commemorate 200 years of the Bhima Koregaon battle.
'What has happened to the Congress party? The 'naamdar' (dynast, referring to Rahul Gandhi) is tacitly supporting it and therefore, its leaders are dragging the name of my father, who passed away 30 years ago,' Modi said. (Photo: File)

Jabalpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress Sunday for dragging his parents into a political slugfest, alleging that it was being done at the behest of party chief Rahul Gandhi.

Calling the Congress a "burden on the nation", he also justified his own tirade against the Nehru-Gandhi family, pointing out that unlike his parents, they occupied top positions in politics and the government. Congress leaders have kicked up a controversy recently by first comparing the falling value of the rupee to the advanced age of Modi's mother and then claiming that the father of the prime minister was not someone illustrious.

"What has happened to the Congress party? The 'naamdar' (dynast, referring to Rahul Gandhi) is tacitly supporting it and therefore, its leaders are dragging the name of my father, who passed away 30 years ago," Modi said, addressing a rally here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. "The Congress is running out of steam in this election, so they have started dragging my parents into politics. No Congressman would make such a statement against me or my family without the consent of the party president. It is the 'naamdar' who is making his leaders speak against me," he added.

"My mother sits in her house, performing religious rites, confining herself to a room, and has never visited Madhya Pradesh. She does not even know the 'R' of 'rajneeti' (politics)," Modi said.

"Yesterday, they took the name of my mother and now my father. The Congress chief is behind this...," he alleged. "Hundred generations of my family have no links with politics. We lived in a small village....lived like the poor. "And the naamdar says, Modiji is also speaking against my family'," the prime minister said.

"Naamdar, I do not talk about your family members. I talk about former prime ministers, former Congress leaders. I speak against former Congress leaders, seeking an account of their work. "Yes, I have to take their names as they were in politics, unlike my family members, who sit quietly in their home and do their job," he added.

"You throw questions at Modi, (then) just as Modi is accountable, your family too is answerable," the prime minister said. The opposition party was left with no issues and was, therefore, indulging in this kind of abusive rhetoric, he added.

The previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had introduced a crop loan waiver scheme in 2008, but of the Rs 6-lakh crore agricultural debt, loans of only Rs 60,000 crore were waived, Modi claimed. Former Union minister Vilas Muttemwar made a controversial statement at a Congress meeting in Rajasthan Saturday, saying nobody knew "the name of your (Modi's) father but everyone knows the name of Rahul Gandhi's father".

Before that, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had compared the falling value of the rupee to the advanced age of Modi's mother. At Vidisha, Modi also mentioned his cabinet colleague and local MP Sushma Swaraj, lauding her for ensuring the development of the constituency, despite facing health issues.

Speaking at a rally in Jabalpur later, he alleged that of the last 15 years under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, "10 years were lost because the government of Madam (UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi) put hurdles in the way of development".

"You have to decide. One mistake will take you back to the age of misgovernance when there was no power, the roads were broken, the education system was pathetic due to the absence of schools and the health services were poor," Modi said.

The Congress, which had lost elections in states after states, "has become a burden on the nation", he added. "...they (Congress) are unable to decide who will be their leader in Madhya Pradesh....There is a courtier (apparently referring to state Congress chief Kamal Nath), a raja (Digvijay Singh) and a maharaja (Jyotiraditya Scindia). None of them will become the chief minister," Modi asserted.

In a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, who has promised to make Madhya Pradesh a hub of mobile phone production if the Congress is voted to power in the state, the prime minister said there were only two mobile factories in the country in 2014, while now there were 125, ensuring the availability of low-cost smartphones.

Modi also said Jabalpur would emerge as a major defence production centre, adding that the earlier governments were more interested in buying weapons as that served their purposes. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11.
Hyderabad: Former minister Y. Satyanarayana Chowdary alias Sujana Chowdary accused the Enforcement Directorate of falsifying facts and involving him in an unrelated issue. The ED has summoned him for questioning on November 27.

Two days after the raids at his house and offices during which the ED seized incriminating documents and six cars including a Ferrari, Mr Chowdary, a close aide of AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, said the agency had named him without verifying facts. It issued a note stating that the companies have done a fraud of `5,700 crore, which looks like a falsification, Mr Chowdary said on Sunday.

The allegations made by the ED that there is a fraud of `5,700 crore by the Sujana group involving 1,200 shell companies and attributing my name to it, are all false. I have not taken part in company matters since I entered politics.

I have spoken to the directors of Sujana Group and they said that they were not involved in any fraud. The ED claimed that the searches are in connection with a case booked at Chennai, following a banks complaint on Best & Crompton Engineering Projects Ltd, Chennai (BCEPL), he said.

Banks exist to give loans. It is not a criminal offence to take loans from banks. If there is any fraud committed by any company, how can the investigators attribute it to me and the companies which I was a part of earlier? The ED has given judgement even before conducting trial, he said.

He said he had told the ED officials that he could come for questioning after the parliamentary sessions in January next year.

He said Best & Crompton was established by his friend, who like other businessmen visited him for suggestions. After I entered politics and moved out of the Sujana group, I have not taken my salary from the company. My legal team is looking into the aspects of the note issued by the ED mentioning that fraud is done by me, and also if ED can carry out searches and seizures under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), Mr Chowdary said.

Of the six cars seized, he said three were on his sons name and the fourth was an old car worth less than `6lakh that he had kept as a keepsake.

He said, The raids against me and on Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy cannot be compared. These seem to be politically motivated.

In a press release, the ED said three cases were registered against BCEPL for falsification of accounts and submission of false statements and obtaining hundreds of crore of loan from the banks.

In early October, ED conducted searches at Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, during which it seized incriminating documents and records. The searches resulted in recovery of 126 rubber stamps of shell companies at Punjagutta. The verification revealed that BECPL and Sujana Group functioned under the chairmanship of Mr Y. Satyanarayana Chowdary alias Sujana Chowdary. The BCEPL directors stated that Mr Chowdary was responsible for all the activities of the Sujana group and they had acted on his insistence either directly or through other officials.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the dignitaries who paid homage at the 26/11 police memorial site at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana in south Mumbai. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Mumbai: Floral tributes were paid Monday to those who laid down their lives while fighting Pakistani terrorists who had attacked the metropolis on this day 10 years ago.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was among the dignitaries who paid homage at the 26/11 police memorial site at the Mumbai Police Gymkhana in south Mumbai.

"I pay homage to the brave policemen who fought for Mumbai's safety and laid down their lives for us on 26/11. We are proud of them and we will strive hard for the safety and security of our state," Fadnavis said. Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Maharashtra Police Chief Datta Padsalgikar and Mumbai Commissioner of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal also attended the ceremony.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and other cabinet ministers pay tribute at Martyrs' Memorial, Police Gymkhana at Marine Lines on the 10th anniversary of #MumbaiTerrorAttack. pic.twitter.com/KZt1ipRZOV  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

Family members of the policemen who lost their lives during the attacks were also present during the ceremony.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores. The then Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Mumbai's Additional Police Commissioner Ashok Kamte and Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar were among those killed in the attack.

The attacks had begun on November 26 and lasted till November 29. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and the Nariman House Jewish community centre, now renamed Nariman Light House, were some of the places targeted by terrorists.

Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive. He was hanged four years later on November 21, 2012.
In August this year, a gang of six, including three juveniles, were apprehended by West Zone Police.

Hyderabad: Lack of parental affection and security, lack of family ties, skipping school, etc., contribute to delinquency among juveniles. A strong and secure attachment to a primary caregiver is the core of developing resilience and a healthy personality, say officials from Hyderabad city Police.

In recent times, the need to have a cool gadget is one of the reasons children are involved in crime, officials said, adding that the effect of social media is more negative than positive on young minds.

Police Commissioner of Hyderabad, Anjani Kumar, categorises juvenile criminals into three groups. The first one will be of those who are denied basic opportunities of livelihood and comforts of life. Then the ones who are spoilt brats of rich people, and the last lot will be the ones committing crimes due to peer pressure, he said.

In August this year, a gang of six, including three juveniles, were apprehended by West Zone Police. They watched YouTube videos to learn how to hotwire bikes and were involved in 15 cases of bike thefts in the city.

The gang used to steal only high-end bikes and sell them to customers after promising to provide original documents. All six offenders were addicted to the luxurious life and developed vices, to feed which they resorted to crimes as they were from poor families, said DCP West Zone, A.R. Srinivas.

Children who experience parental abuse or neglect are more likely to show negative outcomes that carry forward into adult life, with ongoing problems with emotional regulation, self-concept, social skills, and academic motivation, as well as serious learning and adjustment problems, including academic failure, severe depression, aggressive behaviour, peer difficulties, substance abuse, and delinquency, said an official from Bharosa Centre, Hyderabad.

Apart from a bad upbringing, other causes for juveniles committing crimes are poverty, drug abuse, anti social peer group, easy availability of firearms, child sexual abuse and the role of the media, according to Dr Mamta C., a psychologist. However, in India, it is mainly poverty and the effect of the media, especially the social media, which makes juveniles more inclined towards criminal activities, she said.
'We have come a long way since then,' he told PTI in an interview in his office in South Block on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: India is better prepared and better organised since a group of sea-borne terrorists struck at the heart of Mumbai 10 years back, thanks to a string of security measures including a layered maritime surveillance, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba has said.

We have come a long way since then, he told PTI in an interview in his office in South Block on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11.

The Navy Chief said there has been a paradigm shift in coastal security as vulnerabilities and risks were fixed and a layered maritime surveillance and security architecture was put in place, making the coastline almost impregnable.

The country is now better prepared and better organised, Adm. Lanba said when asked about possibility of terrorists taking the sea route again to mount a similar attack on India.

He said the India Navy is now a potent multi-dimensional force, safeguarding Indias interests in the seas and that it is fully prepared to deal with any security challenge facing the country in the maritime domain.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai through the sea, arriving by boat from Karachi, and went on the rampage, carrying out coordinated attacks on the main Chattrapati Shivaji railway terminus, the iconic Taj Mahal hotel, the Trident hotel, and a Jewish centre  all in the heart of the financial capitals downtown area.

Over 166 people including 28 foreigners from 10 nations were killed in the nearly 60-hour assault that sent shock-waves across the country and even brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

The terrorist strike, the worst in Indias history, was seen as an attack on the countrys sovereignty, and it exposed fault-lines in the coastal security network, intelligence gathering while also uncovering the lack of coordination among various agencies.

Adm. Lanba, who is also chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, said critical gaps and vulnerabilities in the countrys coastal infrastructure have been addressed, and that a robust surveillance network comprising 42 radar stations linked to a control centre headquartered Gurgaon has been put in place.

We now have a multi-layered security architecture for coastal security, involving various agencies including the Coast guard and the Navy, he said, adding that an overhaul of the coastal defence apparatus was carried out in the last few years.

The radar stations were also fitted with high-resolution cameras with a range of 10 nautical miles. Another batch of 38 radar stations is being set up to keep a hawk eye vigil on activities along Indias 7,500-kilometre coastline.

The Navy Chief said that tracking the movement of thousands of fishing boats round-the-clock was a major challenge but now a mechanism has been put into place to track them. He, however, emphasised on the need to improve intelligence gathering to further tighten the existing security apparatus.

He listed colour-coding of fishing boats, their online registration and issuance of biometric cards to the fishermen as some of the important steps as part of enhancing coastal security.

The Navy Chief said data about ships, dhows, mechanized trawlers, fishing boats and all other vessels operating near Indias coasts are analysed round-the-clock.

An Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) was set up in Gurgaon which acts as a nodal agency for national command control and intelligence sharing among the Coast Guard and the Navy, he added.

Standard operating procedures have been formulated for coastal and offshore security among various institutions including the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard and agencies concerned of the coastal states to streamline the efforts of multiple stakeholders.

The Navy Chief said 1,500 landing points for fishing boats are being monitored regularly besides making installation of AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders mandatory for vessels of 300 tonnes and above for their easy tracking.

As part of efforts to further beef up coastal security, Adm. Lanba said a massive coastal security exercise, christened Sea Vigil, covering the entire coastline as well as island territories is being organised in January next year.

For the first time, such a mega exercise will be held, he said.

There have been biannual coastal security exercises at the level of states, but for the first time an exercise involving all coastal states, island territories and all central and state agencies is being organised.
On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistan-based LeT terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. (Photo: File/PTI)

Mumbai: As India Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 carnage, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement urging Pakistan to take note of the perpetrators.

"It's a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 yrs of this heinous terror attack, families of 166 victims from 15 countries still await closure, with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice," the MEA said in a statement.

It added, "Planners of 26/11 still roam streets of Pakistan with impunity. The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory. We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice."

The Foreign Ministry also welcomed the statement issued today by the United States.

"We welcome statement issued today by the United States calling on Pakistan to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against terrorists responsible for 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates."

The Mumbai attack case in which seven Lashkar-e-Taiba members are facing charges of planning and executing the deadly strike since 2009 is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months.

On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistan-based LeT terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai.

A total of 166 people died and over 300 were wounded in the strikes. Nine of the attackers were killed by police, while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after a trial in India.
Punjab's Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa puts a black tape on his name and that of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. (Photo: ANI: Twitter)

Gurdaspur: A controversy erupted Monday with a Congress minister objecting to the names of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal engraved on the foundation stone to be laid for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

Punjab's Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was reviewing the arrangements made for the function at Dera Baba Nanak here when he spotted the names of the Badals on the foundation stone.

A furious Randhawa then enquired about it with the officials concerned. I asked them (authorities concerned) about the status of former CM Parkash Singh Badal and former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal in the government? If they want to write their names, then the name of Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Congress leader and former CM) and others should also be there, Randhawa said.

He accused the Badals of never visiting the Dera Baba Nanak for "the opening of the corridor" when they were in power. It's not a function of the BJP or the Akalis, he said.

The local MLA said: "It is not a political function. It is a government function, and I told them their (Badals) names should not be there."

My name should not be with the Badals' on the foundation stone," he said, and then went on to pasting a black tape on his name and that of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, state minister Vijay Inder Singla and Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar.

"This is not a war for taking credit. Nobody's name should have been there. 'The Guru Ka Marg dedicated by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu' should have been mentioned instead, said Randhawa.

After the protest by the Punjab minister, the particular foundation stone was removed.

The Kartarpur Sahib corridor will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab.

Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there. The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located about three-four km from the border in Pakistan. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the historic ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.
Speaking at a rally organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on the Ram temple issue in Ayodhya, Mohan Bhagwat also said this should be the 'decisive phase of the agitation'. (Photo: File)

Ayodhya: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the time for patience was over and a law should be brought to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh if the matter was not a priority for the Supreme Court.

Speaking at a rally organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on the Ram temple issue in Ayodhya, Mohan Bhagwat also said this should be the "decisive phase of the agitation".

"One year ago, I myself had said be patient. Now, I say patience will not work. Now we need to mobilise people. Now we should demand a law," he said.

"If, for whatever reasons, because the court has a busy schedule or maybe it does not understand the sensibilities of the society, the Ram temple case is not a priority for them, then the government should think how to bring a law for the construction of the temple....the law should be introduced at the earliest," Bhagwat added.

"Now this should be the decisive phase of this agitation," he said.

The RSS chief said in 1992, those agitating for the temple at Ayodhya had approached then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, but he did not take a prompt decision.

"(Then) the karsevaks (volunteers) got angry and what happened, happened," he said, referring to the demolition of the Babri mosque on December 6, 1992.

Asserting that the Ram Janmabhoomi was a matter of faith which could not be questioned, Bhagwat said, "The society does not move only by the words of law, but also by its own wishes."

"In 2010, the court (Allahabad High Court) had ruled in favour of the construction of the Ram temple, but now, indications are clear that it is not a priority of the (top) court," he added.

The Supreme Court, hearing appeals against the high court's decision, had said earlier this month that it would hear the matter only in January, 2019.

Mohan Bhagwat also said people should not fight with the government, but build pressure on it.

The government, if not willing to build the temple, would bow down before such pressure, or if it wanted to build it but could not find a way, would gain "strength from the public pressure", he added.
The encounters took place in the forests of Kistaram, bordering Telangana, and Chintagufa, both in south Sukma, during an anti-Maoist push, titled Operation Prahar IV, involving over 1,200 troopers, D.M. Awasthi, Chhattisgarh Special Director General of Police (Anti Naxal Operations), said Monday evening.

Bhopal: At least eight suspected Maoists and two jawans were on Monday killed in an encounter in south Bastar district of Sukma. According to the director general of police (Naxal operation), Chhattisgarh, D.M. Awasthi, a joint search party raided a Maoist camp in Sakler jungle following Intelligence inputs on presence of a large number of Naxals including some senior leaders.

Later a fierce encounter ensued between them that lasted nearly one and half hours.

The encounters took place in the forests of Kistaram, bordering Telangana, and Chintagufa, both in south Sukma, during an anti-Maoist push, titled Operation Prahar IV, involving over 1,200 troopers, D.M. Awasthi, Chhattisgarh Special Director General of Police (Anti Naxal Operations), said Monday evening.

He said several teams of the Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the CRPFs elite CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), along with Telangana police, launched the operation late Sunday night in the forests of Sakler, Tondamarka and Saletong villages.

South Sukma is considered a stronghold of the Naxals military battalion number 1 and the target area is located on the tri-junction of Chhattisgarhs Sukma and Bijapur districts and Telanganas Kothagudem district, the DG said.

When a patrolling team of the DRG was cordoning off a forest patch at around 9:40 am Monday near Sakler village under the Kistaram police station limit, it came under Naxal fire leading to a gun battle, Awasthi said.

Eight Naxals and two DRG personnel, Dirdo Rama and Madvi Joga, were killed in the encounter and an Air Force MI-17 helicopter was dispatched to airlift the bodies, he said. PTI
Visakhapatnam: Internet will soon become a fundamental right of people in Andhra Pradesh with every household provided with Internet, WiFi, and television facility through fibre grid for just Rs 149 per month, IT and panchayat raj minister Nara Lokesh said here on Monday.

The minister, who attended FICCI women entrepreneurs meet here, noted that the state government was resolving issues through real time governance. He gave an example of Titli cyclone in this context and said that all the relief and restoration activity as well as payment of compensation was completed in 25 days.

On the overall development of Andhra Pradesh, Mr Lokesh said that Visakhapatnam was becoming an IT hub with the establishment of Fintech Valley while Rayalaseema districts would turn into a manufacturing hub with automobile majors like Kia Motors already set up their unit in Anantapur, the minister pointed out.

Anantapur will have the worlds biggest automobile manufacturing facility and the first car of Kia will roll out in just 15 months, Mr Lokesh declared.

Also, electric vehicles would be used on large scale while the biggest solar power project had already come up in Kurnool, he revealed.

Thanks to technology, growth in agriculture could be achieved despite deficit rainfall. Though there was a 28.5 per cent deficit in rainfall in 2016, the state achieved 14 per cent growth and 25.6 per cent growth last year in spite of a 13.6 per cent deficit rainfall, he recalled.

Mr Lokesh noted that women entrepreneurs had been playing a key role in the development of state and the government has come out with policies to encourage industrialists among them.
Visakhapatnam: The yellowish Niger flower (Valisilu), one of the most preferred backdrops for tourists to take snaps in the picturesque Araku Valley in Vizag Agency is gradually disappearing as a majority of the farmers in tribal pockets are moving on from this oil seed crop to other crops. Sustained losses due to a parasite are being blamed for the situation.

Niger  botanical name Guizotia abyssinica  is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed. Niger oil seeds are widely used for manufacturing of cosmetics and also paintings in the country.

The golden yellow plant flowers in winter season in Araku, Paderu and a few other areas in Vizag Agency and is the major attraction, drawing visitors from all parts of the country. However, the area under cultivation of Niger has declined to 10,000 acres in Vizag from over 20,000 acres as one root parasite called as Cuscuta (Dodder) in local parlance Bangarutiga or Jalendri has taken its toll.

Bangarutiga has destroyed our hopes on high yield of Niger. For past few years, the crop has suffered due to the attack by the parasitic weed. Now, I am growing millets instead of the Niger as I wasnt able to find the best way to kill Pangarutiga and protect the crop, says Pangi Ande, a tribal farmer from Balyaguda area under Dumbriguda mandal in Vizag Agency.

The extent of Niger is around 40,000 acres in Andhra Pradesh and over 15,000 acres in Vizag and Vizianagaram districts. Due to various factors, particularly attack by the root parasite, now the area has been shrinking in Vizag region, says S.N. Sudhakar Babu, principal scientist of Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR) of ICAR.

The average yield is 1.6 quintals per acre in Vizag region and the potential yield is around 3-4 quintals in hilly areas, depending upon rain and other factors.
Swami who had reached the makeshift temple with a brick but was not allowed to take it in, told reporters that, If all VHP saints had brought one brick each, a room for Lord Ram could have been constructed.

Lucknow: The Dharam Sabha of the VHP may be over but drama in Ayodhya over the Ram temple issue show no signs of wrapping up.

Swami Paramhans Das of Tapasvi Chavni has now announced that he would immolate himself on December 6 if the BJP government did not take any steps for Ram temple construction by December 5. The saint has even prepared his pyre in Tapasvi Chavni.

Swami who had reached the makeshift temple with a brick but was not allowed to take it in, told reporters that, If all VHP saints had brought one brick ea ch, a room for Lord Ram could have been constructed.

The Swami lashed out at the VHP and said that the Dharam Sabha was actually a Adharam Sabha and said that the event was hosted at the behest of the BJP in view of the 2019 elections. The VHP did not invite saints  I was not invited. The BJP had given money to VHP to invite saints. The BJP is more interested in returning to power in 2019 and for this, it is willing to go to any extent, he said.

We want temple and Yogi should understand this, he added.
New Delhi: In a significant development, the CBI on Monday told a Delhi court that it had obtained the requisite sanction from the authorities to prosecute former Union minister P. Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case.

The court, which further extended the protection from arrest to Chidambaram and his son Karti till December 18, also granted three weeks to the probe agency to get sanction against some other accused in the case.

Special Judge O.P. Saini posted the next date of hearing on December 18. There are 18 accused in the case. Besides Chidambaram, sanction is required for the prosecution of five public servants.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that the competent authority in the Central government has accorded sanction for prosecution of accused P. Chidambaram under Section 197 of CrPC and Section 19 of Prevention of Corruption Act.

Sanction for prosecution in respect of remaining accused public servants (five) are still awaited, he said, seeking two more weeks to get the nod.

The CBI said that the courts refusal to grant more time to obtain the sanction for other accused in a matter pertaining to such a serious offences, may frustrate the cause of justice. The senior Congress leader and his son have come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.
Chennai: Devotees and members of the Hindu Munnani daringly confronted a group of persons clandestinely removing lorry loads of sand and silt from the tank belonging to the ancient Kasi Viswanathar temple at Ayanavaram, here, and forced four of them to flee.

The gang allegedly removed the sand and silt from the tank under the cover of darkness, quite furtively, and their luck ran out in the wee hours of November 25 when a lorry laden with the sand capsised all of a sudden. The unusual noise woke up people around and soon residents, rushed to the tank only to see the sand being loaded in lorries. To their shock, they found a huge crater in the tank, caused by the removal of huge quantity of sand.

When we accosted the gang, four drivers ran away. While the temple authorities possessed only an abstract estimation and not a work order, the police initially declined to register a case. But after we insisted the police agreed to provide us CSR, says Pasuthai Ganesan, Hindu Munnani media coordinator. At least 100 lorry-loads of sand and silt have been removed thus creating a huge crater of 12 feet deep, he claimed. The unidentified men could have removed the sand on Saturday night too.

Enquiries by the Hindu Munnani members revealed that one of the drivers had an order from the Kancheepuram district collector granting permission for sand quarrying in Perumbakkam and he indulged in quarrying in the temple tank here. But the irony is this man could have shown this letter granting permission to quarry on November 27 at Perumbakkam, to the police here and had removed the sand here, Ganesan added.

Strangely it was only on October 2, coinciding with the Gandhi Jayanthi, the locals and Hindu Munnani activists had cleaned the tank inspired by the BJP-led Central governments Swachh Bharat campaign.

On Monday, members led by Hindu Munnani State secretary T. Manoharan petitioned the Chennai collector seeking appropriate action.
A route mobile officer will be assigned to cover the polling stations under each police station, which will be led by a sub-inspector level official, a senior Cyberabad police official said. (Representation image)

Hyderabad: Gearing up for the elections, the Cyberabad police has deployed Quick Response Teams in the commissionerate which will be headed by a station house officer, who will be monitoring campaign processions. A route mobile officer will be assigned to cover the polling stations under each police station, which will be led by a sub-inspector level official, a senior Cyberabad police official said.

At the police station level, the inspector will be designated to have command over the area falling under the jurisdiction of that station.
Chennai: Senior cardiothoracic surgeon, Apollo Hospital, has informed the Justice A Arumughasamy Commission which is probing the circumstances leading to the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, that the former CM died on December 5, 2016 because there was no blood circulation to her brain.

Dr Sundar, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Apollo hospital, who was part of a team that put Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) on Jayalalithaa, a heart assist device that aids cardiac and respiratory functions, on Monday informed the Commission about the last minute procedure done on the former chief minister, to save her life.

Dr Sunder said, After Jaya suffered a heart attack, efforts were taken to revive her on December 4, 2016. As traditional measures failed, steps were taken to fix ECMO on her. ECMO is a life support heart-lung bypass machine that takes over the workload of the heart and lungs to rescue cardiac arrest patients, who do not respond to conventional treatment. In spite of planting ECMO on her, blood circulation was erratic. As a result, function of her brain was severely affected, leading to her death.

He said the ECMO was fixed on Jayalalithaa as a last resort. Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5, 2016 after being treated in the hospital for 75 days from September 22.

In September 2017, the state government had constituted the probe panel under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, mandating it to probe the circumstances leading to Jayalalithaas hospitalisation, and also the treatment provided by the hospital until her demise.
New Delhi: Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will make an official visit to India on December 17, the two countries agreed on Monday, with India assuring its support to ensuring Maldives fiscal and budgetary stability while the Maldives reiterated its India First policy and promised to be sensitive towards Indias security and strategic concerns.

This was decided on Monday following a meeting between visiting Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj in the Capital.

India assured its tiny south-western maritime neighbour that New Delhi stands ready to fully support the Government of Maldives in its socio-economic development and of support in implementing its development priorities.

Defence cooperation between the two neighbours  who are now the best of friends once again  was also discussed, with the ministers agreeing to hold the next meeting of the Defence Cooperation Dialogue between both countries in the first half of December 2018.

New Delhi also supported Maldives decision to rejoin the Commonwealth and also welcomed Maldives into the Indian Ocean Rim Association as its newest member.

The Maldivian assurance that it would be sensitive to Indian strategic concerns is a veiled reference to New Delhis earlier concerns about the proximity between the Maldives and China during the tenure of the former president Abdulla Yameen when New Delhis ties were strained with Male.

It may be recalled that during former president Yameens tenure when the Maldives was extremely close to China, Beijing had undertaken several infrastructure projects then in the archipelago nation due to which the Maldives reportedly now owes a huge financial debt to China.
Chennai: Even though the Chennai region has not received much rainfall from the northeast monsoon, migratory birds are settling in Chennai's Pallikaranai marshland and the Pulicat lake bird sanctuary. Delighted bird watchers expect more groups of birds in the days ahead.

According to bird watchers, since there was no rain, in the beginning, they doubted the arrival of migratory birds. Contrary to their hopes, such birds started grounding in Pallikaranai gradually and also occupying the Pulicat lake. Bird watchers exude confidence that more birds will arrive.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, KVRK Thirunaranan, an avid bird watcher and founder of The Nature Trust, noted, The Nature Trust has documented cotton pygmy goose in the Pallikaranai marshland for the first time. Birds like the comb duck, grey-headed lapwing and other kind of predator birds like the greater spotted eagles, Indian spotted eagles and osprey have arrived on time. This shows that the Pallikaranai marsh has a comfortable bio-diversity, he added. However, he said that the Chennai region needs more rain to keep these birds to stay for a long time. Over 53 migratory species have been documented, the bird enthusiast said.

G. Vijayakumar, another bird watcher and secretary of the Madras Naturalists' Society said that the Pallikaranai marsh needs water. If there is no water, migratory birds will not stay longer, he said.

G. Subbiah, Forest Ranger Officer (sanctuary range) said, The Pulicat bird sanctuary has a large number of migratory birds like the greater flamingos. As far as the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary is

concerned, we will open it if there is rain. The famous sanctuary which is open for public from June to May, has no water, forcing officials to close it, he noted.

Similarly, a district forest official at Chennai, said that they were taking measures to protect migratory birds.

Anti-poaching watchers are guarding the birds from being poached and we expect more birds. Even though there is no rain, Pallikarani has gradually been receiving more birds regularly, the official said.
Chennai: The State Human Rights Commission on Monday directed the Chennai Police Commissioner to conduct an inquiry relating to a recent incident of Teynampet traffic police inspector assaulting a constable and pushing the latter off his bike. The commission also gave the inquiry officer four weeks to conclude the probe and submit a report on the matter.

It may be recalled that constable Dharman, narrowly escaped death after he was pushed from his bike by inspector Ravichandran, on CV Raman Road, in Teynampet. He landed under the wheels of a van, and a CCTV camera footage of the incident went viral on social media.

Dharman's mother had passed away on November 6, and he went on leave for a week. After reporting for duty, Dharman again on November 19 sought leave for his mother's 16th day ceremony. As inspector Ravichandran denied him leave, Dharman used a police walkie-talkie and poured out his distress of being denied leave, even to perform his mother's ceremony.

Disturbed over this, Ravichandran who was waiting for a suitable time to avenge Dharman, pushed him from his two-wheeler and immediately took him to a patrol vehicle, where he and a few others forced him to drink alcohol, to make it appear that Dharman was drunk while riding.

The incident happened at 11.44 am on November 21. After the fall, Dharman was injured, and was taken to the Government Royapettah Hospital, where doctors tested him and confirmed that he was under the 'influence of alcohol'.

Dharman was suspended the same day. Ravichandran's act of pushing Dharman came to light only after officials scrutinized CCTV footage in the area.

Subsequently, Ravichandran was shifted to the Armed Reserved Wing on Saturday. Meanwhile, Dharman's wife Sridevi lodged a complaint at the Abiramapuram police station about the incident.

Based on newspaper report on the incident, SHRC judge D. Jayachandran initiated suo moto proceeding and ordered the commissioner to conduct an inquiry.

The judge asked the city police commissioner whether the action of inspector Ravichandran violated the human rights of constable Dharman? And why the inspector of Abiramapuram police station hesitated to register a criminal case against Ravichandran under Section 154 of CrPC on the basis of the complaint given by Dharman's wife?

The judge said, the commissioner shall conduct an enquiry either by himself or by a police officer not below the rank of joint commissioner of police. Also, the enquiry officer shall enquire with the complainant Dharman and record his statement. If the complainant fails to appear for enquiry, the proof of service on the complainant was to be enclosed.

The commission said the inquiry report along with all copies of the statements of persons examined during the enquiry shall be sent to this commission within four weeks. The judge adjourned the matter after four weeks.
Hyderabad: Caretaker minister for municipal administration and urban development K.T. Rama Rao on Sunday said that the TRS would definitely come to power after December 7. While campaigning in his constituency Sircilla, he said that above 52 per cent people have rejected the Congress and Telugu Desam alliance.

Mr Rama Rao said the TRS government recognised the need of self rule in Girijan Thandas and hence it created the Girijana Grampanchayats and 500 new mandals in the state. He warned the residents of his constituency against Peoples Fronts alleged attempts to divide them on communal and regional lines.

Earlier on Sunday, several residents welfare associations in Serilingampally and Kukatpally met Mr Rama Rao and extended their support to the TRS.
The funeral procession of actor-politician M.H. Ambareesh passes through the main streets of Bengaluru on Monday. (Below) AICC General Secretary, Karnataka in-charge K.C. Venugopal, KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao, Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and senior Congress leader C.M. Ibrahim pay their last respects to former Union minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief, in Bengaluru on Monday (Photo: DC)

Bengaluru: A sea of humanity turned up for the funeral of actor-politician and former Union minister Ambareesh who had passed away on Saturday, in what was a befitting tribute to a man who lived life on his own terms, hardly caring for the rebukes and humiliation heaped on him for not toeing the line which many others did.

The mortal remains were consigned to the flames with full state honours after thousands of his fans paid tearful homage to a star who will never be born again for there cannot be another Ambareesh.

A teary-eyed Abhishek, the actor's son, performed the last rites and lit the pyre with the actor's wife, Sumalatha, inconsolable, as the flames rose.

The cortege carrying the mortal remains of Ambareesh on its way to Kanteerava Studio.

Many others too could not control their emotions-like Ambareesh's close friend and Telugu actor Mohan Babu and Kannada actor Darshan. Earlier, the body was taken to Mandya, his home district, where the body was kept for public viewing through the night and into the dawn, before being flown back to Bengaluru Monday noon for the final rites.

Son Abhishek with actor Darshan.

His fans, admirers and countless friends from various fields bid adieu to Rebel Star Ambareesh Monday evening at the Kanteerava Studio after his mortal remains were flown to Bengaluru from Mandya.

The huge crowd of fans who were part of the funeral procession.

Taken in procession from Kanteerava stadium to the Kanteerava studio, Malavalli Huchchegowda Ambareesh was laid to rest with full state honours in the presence of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and most of his Cabinet ministers and members of both Houses of the legislature, who had turned out in strength to bid farewell to the legendary actor, politician and a great human being, who was widely known for the good he did. Also present were a galaxy of Sandalwood stars.

The last rites were conducted as per Hindu custom by Ambareesh's wife, Sumalatha and their son, Abhishek after they had paid their last respects to him.

The actor-politicians wife Sumalatha and son Abhishek conduct the last rites.

Former CMs, S M Krishna, B S Yeddyurappa and Siddaramaiah , several JD(S) ministers and MLAs, and former CM of Maharashtra, Sushil Kumar Shinde, who was a close friend of the late actor, were among those who attended the funeral. Another close friend, popular actress and politician, Jayapradha, was seen in tears while Ambareesh's friend of over 37 years, Telugu actor, Mohan Babu was inconsolable.

The CM and Deputy CM hand over the tricolour which was draped on Ambareeshs body to his wife Sumalatha and son Abhishek.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday announced his government intended to start welfare schemes in the name of late actor -turned- politician, M H Ambarish, who had been a mass leader, commanding the respect and love of the people.

"The details of the schemes will be worked out in due course of time," he said, speaking to reporters before shifting the mortal remains of Ambarish from Mandya to Bengaluru.

Ambareeshs son Abhishek conducting the cremation at Kanteerava Studio.

Recalling that Ambarish did not like to be identified with one community, but to be loved by all, he said it was through his initiative that an artistes' bhavan was built in Bengaluru, fulfilling the dream of the late Kannada movie icon, Dr Raj Kumar.

The Chief Minister revealed that the samadhi of late Kannada actor, Vishnuvardhan could also be shifted from Mysuru to the sprawling Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, where the memorial of Dr Raj Kumar is built.

"The people of the state want the memorials of all three late icons of the Kannada film industry, Dr Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambarish at one place in recognition of their contribution to cinema. As Ambarish's memorial is being built near Dr Raj 's, we are considering having one for Vishnuvardhan here too. But we will consult his family before we take any step," he assured.

Referring to an advocate taking legal action against the building of memorials for the stars, he said, "I don't see anything wrong in doing this for outstanding artistes.
Hyderabad: State Congress president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday responded to Telangana caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos criticism by saying, Mr Rao was a broker when I was a soldier.

Speaking at a Meet the Press programme on Monday, Mr Reddy said, Mr Rao is going personal against me. He was a broker when I was a soldier. He was a broker for fake passports and visas when I was a pilot working for the country on the China and Pakistan borders. When he was caught by the Delhi police, Congress leader M. Satyanarayana Rao helped him. That is the character of the Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. He continued his brokers attitude even after becoming transport minister. Even as Chief Minister he didnt change and is still continuing his commission business.

Countering Mr Rao for his allegation on Mrs Gandhis visit, Mr Reddy said, Mr Rao said Sonia Gandhi came for suitcases. It is a broker talking and levelling allegations against Sonia Gandhi. The Gandhi family is known for their sacrifice. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have sacrificed the Prime Ministers post too.

He is a drunkard and is levelling allegations against such persons. Carrying suitcases is the habit of Mr Rao. He has questioned the need for Sonia Gandhi to be bothered about Telangana. It is Sonia Gandhi who gave Telangana expecting that the people will have a bright future. She has sacrificed the party for the benefit of Telangana people. But, seeing the condition of people here, she felt really bad.

Mr Reddy claimed that 67 per cent of the people did not want Mr Rao as Chief Minister in 2014. Only 33 per cent of the votes polled for Mr Rao and the rest did not want him as Chief Minister. He assumed the power and broke the promise of making a Dalit the Chief Minister. Many other promises were ignored, he said.

The TPCC chief said: No other Chief Minister in the country has taken corruption to such a high when compared to the Telangana Chief Minister. He is the Chief Minister who purchased many people beginning from sarpanch to members of Parliament. The worst part is that Mr Rao himself calls the MPs and MLAs to arrange a deal with the contractors. The CM himself decides the commissions between the public representatives and the contractors.

The state Congress chief said the TRS was making new promises while not fulfilling the old ones.
Hyderabad: Congress Gajwel contestant Vanteru Pratap Reddy threatened to commit suicide when the police surrounded his house in Kompally on Monday evening. Mr Reddy is contesting against caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

According to his followers, the police entered Mr Reddys house and started searching it even though the Congress candidate questioned them. Later Mr Reddy took a can filled with petrol to attempt suicide but his followers and others stopped him.

According to Balanagar DCP P.V. Padmaja, the police did not search the house but only supported a flying squad of the Election Commission. Our teams were outside the house and the flying squad and the police members in the flying squad searched the house, she said.

Earlier, Mr Reddy had approached the EC alleging that Mr Rao had stored money in his farmhouse. The police is distributing the money and liquor on behalf of the TRS. The money is stored in KCRs farmhouse and being distributed secretly. He also claimed that his phones were being tapped.
ANANTAPUR: Speculation is rife over Chief Minister and TD supremo N. Chandrababu Naidus plans to contest from another segment in the state as he wants to provide an opportunity for his son Nara Lokesh on the home turf of Kuppam.

APCC chief N. Raghuveera Reddy hails from the Madakasira segment which was reserved for SCs during the delimitation process. He contested from the Penukonda segment in the last elections and was defeated in a triangular fight. However, people of Kalyanadurgam are sympathetic to him.

In view of a possible alliance between the Telugu Desam and Congress, Mr Naidu hopes that the additional strength in Kalyanadurgam can ensure that the YSRC will not give a fitting fight to him.

As film star and Naidus brother-in-law Nandamuri Balakrishna is already representing the Hindupur Assembly segment, party seniors suggest that the CM concentrate on the Kalyanadurgam segment.


Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the star campaigner for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will be campaigning in Telangana on Tuesday.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) has cleared the decks for Mr Modi's visit, which has been restricted to two districts. The itinerary issued by the Inspector General of Police, Telangana, shows no city visit, though the BJP had mentioned a massive public rally at either Parade Ground or LB Stadium.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive at Nizamabad around 11 am on Tuesday from where he will proceed to Nizamabad and later to Mahbubnagar by helicopter to address the public meetings.

Mr Modi, during his one day visit, is likely to play the family dynasty card. The star campaigner for the BJP, he is likely to attack the TRS led by caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and the Congress party for promoting leaders only within the family.

This part, the Mr Modi is likely to question Mr Rao about the unfulfilled promises. The PM may also rake up the issue of Dalits in the state.

Similar to the attack by BJP president Amit Shah, the PM may also corner the TRS for having a friendly tie-up with the MIM.
TIRUPATI: The TTDs top administrations decision of suspending a senior assistant who pressurised the Joint Executive Officer Tirupati with political influence to get a transfer to a key post within the institution, received a mixed response from various sections of employees. Though most employees welcomed the decision, a few staffers and employees unions have been pointing their fingers at the deputed staff of government who have been continuing in the TTD even after completion of their terms.

P. Yuvarajulu who works as a senior assistant in the Hindu Dharma Prachara Parishad (HDPP) of the TTD, used political influe-nce to get a transfer as camp clerk to the JEO, Tirumala, or as manager of the Sri Padmavathi guest house at Tirumala. He obtained a recommendation letter from Shyam Yadav, private secretary to the ministry of state for st-eel, Government of India, on November 22 and submitted this to the JEO, Tirupati.

Following his request, the authorities concerned of the TTD felt that he exh-ibited misconduct in ter-ms of Rule (24) and (3) of AP Conduct Rules, 1964 and under the provisions of Rule-8 (1) (a) of AP Civil Services (CCA) Rules 1991, read with rule-4 of TTD Services Rule issued in GO. MS. No. 1060, Revenue Endowments-1, dated 24-10-1989. The executive officer of the TTD placed him under suspension with immediate effect on November 23.

Speaking to this newspaper, M. Nagarjuna, president, TTD Staff and Wor-kers United Front, said that political canvassing or recommendations for transfers were not new to the TTD and has been prevalent in the TTD since its inception. The DA section which handles postings and transfers, recei-ves hundreds of recomme-ndation letters from emp-loyees who seek transfers to their desired locations. The decision is up to the top brass and they can consider or deny it. In this case, we felt that any other disciplinary action would have been enough instead of suspension, he maintained. He further mentioned that if the department was not ready to consider such letters, why was the DA section stocked with hundreds of recommendation letters from political circles?

Social activist and senior Congress leader, P. Naveen Kumar Reddy, also found fault with the decision of the TTDs top brass.

Pointing to government staffers who have been de-puted to the TTD, Mr Nav-een Kumar Reddy said that nearly 10 government officers who came on deputation and working in vario-us departments have been continuing in their positions since several years.

Despite the TTD Trust Boards recent resolution on sending back the deputed staffers to their parent company after completing three years here, they are not willing to leave the institution. No action has been taken by the management so far. This clearly shows that they have been putting tremendous pressure on the TTD management to stall their transfers with the help of political influence, he alleged.
Hyderabad: Against the backdrop of expectations that he would form a new political party on November 26, CBI former joint director V.V. Lakshminarayana did not make any announcement on Monday. He said he was leaning towards the Lok Satta, as he was offered responsibilities.

Three parties  Lok Satta, Aam Aadmi Party and Telangana Peoples Party  had invited him to join them. Mr Jayaprakash Narayan from the Lok Satta, Mr B. Chandrasekhar from the TPP and Mr Ramulu from the Aam Aadmi Party were present where Mr Lakshminarayana apparently indicated his preference.

However, Mr Lakshminarayana said he had not taken a decision on the issue.

He said agriculture, education, women empowerment would be his priorities and he would support any party that focused on these issues. While he did not reveal his future course of action, the tendency was more towards joining an established party rather than forming a new one as most of the talk revolved around choosing the best party, he said.

He confirmed that he would be contesting in the forthcoming AP Assembly elections, though he did not specify the constituency. He would keep trying electoral politics till he won.

At the meeting, Dr Jayaprakash Narayan said, There is no need for a new political party. If one has the vigour and will, one can sustain oneself in the existing parties and achieve high positions. Mr Barack Obama was not known till a point of time, but he proved himself and achieved the topmost position in the world. Mr Lakshminarayan is a capable leader and we heartily invite him to our party, if he is willing.

Mr Lakshminarayana took voluntary retirement to join active politics and went on a tour of the 13 districts in Andhra Pradesh to know the ground realities, after which he arranged the meet and interacted with the media to present his understanding and talk about his political entry.
Hyderabad: The decision of the YSR Congress to support the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) in Kukatpally Assembly constituency has taken a new turn.

The followers of the YSRC, particularly the Reddy community of Rayalaseema which has settled in Kukatpally, have decided to support the TRS against the Telugu Desam candidate Nandamuri Suhasini.

The TRS candidate from Kukatpally, Madhavaram Krishna Rao, belongs to the Velama community and the TD candidate, Nandamuri Suhasini, belongs to the Kamma community.

In the Kukatpally Assembly constituency, the Velama population is just 3,000 and the Kamma population is 13,000. The Reddys are about 22,000. The dominant community is Kapu, at about 64,000, and Muslims are 61,000.

In a pamphlet issued by YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, he said that his partys target is to defeat the Mahakutami. If the TRS comes to power, it will help the YSRC to come to power in Andhra Pradesh and Jagan Mohan Reddy will become Chief Minister.

The YSRC has also appealed to voters in the Seemandhra region of Kukatpally to thus vote for the TRS and to defeat the Mahakutami.

Asked why they are supporting the TRS, Katika Srinivasa Reddy, a voter from Kukatpally, said, We are living peacefully, The TRS government has taken up several welfare schemes and is developing the state on all fronts so we will support the TRS.

Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan is also against the TD and has become a severe critic of AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. He belongs to the majority community in Kukatpally Assembly constituency, the Kapus.

But there is no unity among the Kapus and the Kapu vote will be split between the TRS and TD candidates.

The thinking of Seemandhra Muslims is different from Telangana Muslims. Generally in Muslims majority votes poll one side Generally Muslims vote for one party, but in Kukatpally, there will be a split between some will vote for the TRS and some for the TD. This is because TD chief Naidu is openly fighting with the BJP, while there is speculation that the TRS and the BJP have an internal tie-up, and the BJP is anathema to Muslims. The Majlis-e-Ittihadul Muslimeens (MIM) influence on Muslim voters in Kukatpally is less, and so Muslims may veer towards the TRS because TS CM has implemented several welfare programmes for Muslims, as the voter quoted above acknowledged.

Apart from this, the YSRC has taken a firm decision to defeat the TD candidate, which has created an interesting situation. The TRSs Kukatpally candidate, Madhavaram Krishna Rao, contested from the TD in the previous elections and won; later he joined the TRS.
Facebooks outgoing head of communications is taking the blame for hiring Definers, the public relations firm doing opposition research on the companys critics, including billionaire philanthropist George Soros.

In a Facebook post that went up late Wednesday, Elliot Schrage said the responsibility to hire Definers rests with him and that he approved the decision to hire it and similar firms.

Schrage provided his explanation in a message sent Tuesday to Facebooks employees, but the company waited until late Wednesday to publicly share it at a time when most people in its home country were focusing on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also didnt mention Schrages role in hiring and working with Definers in an interview with CNN aired late Tuesday.

Definers link to the Menlo Park, California, company was exposed in a story published by The New York Times earlier this month.

Schrage has been at Facebook for a decade and announced his departure in June. In the post, he acknowledges that Facebook asked Definers to do work on Soros after he called Facebook a menace to society in a January speech. Definers also helped respond to what Schrage described as unfair claims about the company.

Even so, Schrage conceded that Definers got carried away in its work to discredit Facebooks critics. The system he set up on the companys communications team failed here and Im sorry I let you all down, he wrote.

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks chief operating officer, followed up with Schrages note of contrition with one of her own, acknowledging her responsibility for overseeing Facebooks communications team. Like Schrage, Sandberg was a top executive at Google before coming to Facebook a decade ago.

Sandberg said she did not remember Definers when she the Times article, but said she then asked employees to double check if she had ever been notified about the firm.

Some of their work was incorporated into materials presented to me and I received a small number of emails where Definers was referenced, Sandberg wrote.

Zuckerberg, who is Facebooks controlling shareholder as well as its CEO, is standing behind Sandberg, despite the backlash caused by the companys retention of Definers and its campaign against Soros. He told CNN on Tuesday that he hopes to work with Sandberg for decades to come.

Facebook stopped working with Definers after the New York Times investigation unveiled its tactics.

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'We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens,' he added. (Photo: File)

Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday urged Pakistan to take action against those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks as Washington offered a new reward of USD 5 million for helping secure their capture.

The announcement came on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the assault, which left 166 people dead and hundreds injured after terrorists from Pakistan unleashed a wave of violence across India's financial capital lasting three days.

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement.

"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates."

"We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens," he added.

The Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program meanwhile said it was offering up to USD 5 million "for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted" the execution of the attack.

It is the third such reward offered by the US after the State Department announced bounties of USD 10 million for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and USD 2 million for Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior leader of the group.

Saeed, who is also designated a terrorist by the United Nations, has denied involvement in terrorism and the Mumbai attacks.

A party linked to the charitable wing of the LeT contested Pakistan's national elections in July, failing to win any seats but winning more than 435,000 national and regional votes.
Video clips posted on Twitter showed large numbers of migrants dashing across a shallow concrete waterway toward the border (Photo: AFP)

Tijuana: US officials briefly closed a border crossing in southern California on Sunday after hundreds of migrants, part of the "caravan" condemned by President Donald Trump, tried to breach a fence from the Mexican city of Tijuana, authorities announced.

The dramatic shutdown took place only three days after Trump threatened to close the "whole border" with Mexico if "it gets to a level where we're going to lose control or people are going to start getting hurt."

Border officials in San Diego, California, said on Twitter that they had temporarily closed the San Ysidro crossing point -- one of the busiest between the two countries -- to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

The order was lifted some hours later.

Mexican Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete accused some of the migrants of attempting the Tijuana crossing in a "violent way."

"We are going to act and proceed to their deportation," he told the Milenio television network, adding: "Far from helping the caravan, they are hurting it."

Video clips posted on Twitter showed large numbers of migrants dashing across a shallow concrete waterway toward the border. Several thousand migrants, mostly from Central America, have been gathering in Tijuana in hopes of entering the US.

Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kirstjen Nielsen later issued a statement accusing the migrants of seeking to harm border patrol personnel "by throwing projectiles at them."

"As I have continually stated, DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down ports of entry for security and public safety reasons," she said, adding the US would "seek to prosecute" offenders.

'Are we in the US yet?'

At least 500 migrants, including women and children, had been taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Tijuana before dashing toward the border in an attempt to clamber over a first metal barrier there.

"Are we in the United States yet?" some asked in desperate tones.

Several hundred made it over the first barrier and were trying to cross a second -- topped with spikes -- when US border officers began firing tear gas at them even as US Army helicopters flew low overhead, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.

The migrants tried to protect themselves -- covering their faces, with mothers holding their children close. There were cries of pain, desperation and frustration as the crowd swirled over the border line and back.

Some migrants shouted that they only wanted to make their way to a better life.

But amid the stinging gas, several migrants turned back.

Trump has repeatedly warned that the large group of migrants moving through Mexico toward the US included criminals and possibly terrorists, while providing no evidence to support that.

A reported asylum deal

The US president has deployed some 9,000 troops along the border in support of Customs and Border Protection agents.

Approximately 5,000 migrants reached Tijuana over the past week, after an exhausting trip of up to 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometres) covered in just over a month. Many were fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras in hopes of finding asylum in the US.

To enter the US legally, migrants must formally apply for asylum, but the wait for those requests to be processed can last up to a year.

Trump signed a proclamation earlier this month to prevent anyone filing asylum claims except at legal ports of entry, but a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked the order, pointing to "irreconcilable conflicts" with immigration law.

The Washington Post reported Saturday that the Trump administration had gained the support of Mexico's incoming government for a plan to require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their applications to be processed.

But officials in the incoming administration of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said later -- after the Post report was met by stiff criticism in Mexico -- that the agreement was not yet final.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said Pakistan Army Chief Gen Bajwas act of promoting state-sponsored terror through the killing of Indian soldiers and innocent citizens was an act of cowardice.

As a former soldier, I see no justification in killing soldiers through snippers. Its an act of cowardice, not of army personnel, Capt said while speaking at foundation stone laying event in Punjabs Gurdaspur on Monday in the presence of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

Capts tirade from stage followed day after he declined to visit Pakistan on Wednesday for a similar foundation stone laying ceremony across the border citing state-sponsored terror and killing of Indian soldiers.

Regardless of Capts fiery attack on Pak Army chief on Monday, his cabinet colleague and former cricket Navjot Singh Sidhu, who on Monday called Pakistan PM Imran Khan an angel, will be visiting Pakistan on Wednesday for the ceremony. "It's his own decision," Capt said.

Capt said only the Army, which controls the ISI, runs the government in Pakistan. Capt called for the immediate removal of General Bajwa and said the Pak army should learn the message of love and brotherhood, propounded by Sri Guru Nanak Dev.

He vowed to protect his state from the terror unleashed from across the border till the last drop of his blood, warning Pakistan of serious consequences if it did not put a stop on the violence perpetrated against India. Even as he thanked Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan for reciprocating Indias move on developing the Kartarpur Corridor, the chief minister urged the Pak PM to rein in his army.

Describing terror as madness, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said he fully endorsed Captain Amarinders views and vowed that India will not allow its people to be killed. While India wants peace and promotes friendship, it will not allow terrorism to breed on its soil, he said.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad sponsored 'dharm sabha' in Ayodhya on Sunday may have partially succeeded in bringing back the Ram Temple issue on the centre stage ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections but it also brought to the fore the differences among seers and saints on how to go about the issue.

While a section of the saints favoured adopting an aggressive approach on the issue and taking on the BJP for ''betraying'' the 'Rambhakts', another section of the seers, especially those owing allegiance to VHP, appeared to be more cautious and appealed for restraint.

Chinks appeared even among the seers, who attended Sunday's 'dharm sabha', and one prominent saint Swami Rambhadracharya, who claimed that a senior Union minister had assured him that ''a very important decision'' about Ram Temple would be taken by the Centre after December 11, left the stage midway the meeting accusing another seer of calling the former a ''liar'' albeit indirectly.

Rambhadracharya also attacked Sadhvi Ritambhara, who had been associated with the Ram Temple movement, and accused her of ''accepting benefits'' from the government.

An equally vocal section of the saints, who were opposed to the BJP, termed the 'dharm sabha' a ''political gimmick'' of the VHP to ''help'' the saffron party in the next general elections in 2019.

Interestingly every section of the saint community was ''unanimous'' on building a grand Ram temple on the disputed site but they appeared to be divided on how to get the temple constructed.

''There is no need to talk to the Muslim parties any more....the government should immediately clear the way for temple construction through a legislation or an ordinance,'' said Mahant Kanahiyadas at 'dharm sabha'.

On the other hand, Mahant Dharm Das, a prominent Ayodhya based seer, said that Ram temple should be constructed either through the order of the court or through negotiations with the Muslim parties.

''Dharm sabha is nothing but an electoral drama of the VHP...we can not snatch away someone's right by amassing crowd,'' he remarked.

Mahant Dinendra Das, the representative of Nirmohi Akhara, which was one of the Hindu plaintiffs in the Ram Janambhoomi Babri Masjid Title suits, which is currently pending in the Supreme Court, slammed the VHP for demanding ownership of the disputed land.

''VHP is not even a party in the case... it has no locus standi... VHP is serving the interest of the BJP,'' he said.
Indias cashless economy remains a far-fetched dream even after two years of demonetisation.

Digital transactions, the motive behind Prime Minister Narendra Modis 2016 note ban, lagged behind in most of the past 22 months, data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed month after month. The latest figures for September showed a 2% decline in overall electronic transactions from August. But the decline just doubled, at 4%, in September as compared to July.

The total digital transactions in September stood at Rs 227.9 lakh crore, down from Rs 232.4 lakh crore in August, according to the data. Electronic transactions in the country were worth Rs 237.5 lakh crore in July.

Digital space comprises credit and debit card translations and transactions through unified payments interface (UPI), unstructured supplementary service data (USSD), prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) and internet banking.

The data showed transactions had come down through all these modes. The RBI statistics covers the methods of payment used in retail transactions across the country.

Transactions via credit card fell close to 4% in September compared to August, while transactions via debit card fell around 3%.

Buying and selling by PPI instrument fell by a whopping 38% in September from that of August, according to the data.

Transactions through mobile wallet, too, came down by over 3%. Usage of PPI, such as mobile wallets, had seen an increase in the beginning of the year. Thereafter, these transactions have been on a decline. According to analysts, major mobile wallet companies may still be facing problems with their Know-Your-Customer (KYC) norms.

Credit and debit card usage at point-of-sale (PoS) machines, too, witnessed a decline in September and followed the past months trend. While credit card usage at PoS came down by nearly 4%, that of debit card usage at PoS was down more than 6%.

Digital transactions fell in terms of volume as well as their value, the data showed. Although there was no mention of UPI transactions in September, previous data showed they have received a boost after BHIM app was launched by the prime minister a month after demonetisation.

An earlier data had shown that UPI transactions had crossed two billion till the end of October, transferring a total of Rs 3.42 lakh crore.
Maldives on Monday reiterated its India First policy as both India and Maldives moved ahead to reset ties after the new government led by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took office in the Indian Ocean archipelago.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj received Maldives' foreign minister Abdulla Shahid, who is on his maiden visit to New Delhi after taking office.

He reiterated his governments "India First policy and said that his government would look forward to working closely with the government of India on all issues, according to a press-release issued by the ministry of external affairs (MEA).

He reaffirmed Maldives special, close and friendly relations with India and reiterated that the government of Maldives would be sensitive towards security and strategic concerns of India.

Solih replaced his predecessor Abdulla Yameen, who had led Maldives closer to China and soured its relations with India during his five-year tenure at the helm of the government of the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The new president of Maldives already sought India's support to come out of the debt-trap of China.

He requested Prime Minister Modi for support in building infrastructure in outlying islands of the archipelago.

Sushma and Shahid on Monday announced that the new president of Maldives would visit New Delhi on December 17.

Sushma reiterated that India attached highest importance to its relationship with the Maldives which was marked by trust, transparency, mutual understanding and sensitivity.

She said that that in line with government of Indias Neighbourhood First policy, India would always stand ready to support the Maldives in its socio-economic development.

India assured the Maldives of support in implementing its development priorities and in ensuring fiscal and budgetary stability.

Sushma and Shahid discussed security and defence matters including ongoing projects and new areas of cooperation.

They agreed to hold the next meeting of the Defence Cooperation Dialogue between the two countries in the first half of December, the MEA stated.
No homework for students of classes I and II and prescribed weight limit of school bags for each class are part of the fresh directives issued by the HRD ministry to states and union territories across the country.

The Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has instructed all the state governments to make school bags lighter, asking them to fix it at a maximum of 5 kg for students of Class X and just 1.5 kg for students of Classes I and II.

While the weight of school bags for students of Classes III to VI should remain between 2 and 3 kg, it should not exceed 4 kg in the case of the those studying in Classes VI to VII.

The weight of school bags of students of Classes VIII and IX should be kept at 4.5 kg, the ministry prescribed in a recent communication to the education departments of all states and Union Territories.

It also instructed the states to ensure that no homework is assigned to students of Classes I and II, official sources in the ministry confirmed.

Asking the state authorities to regulate the teaching of subjects in various classes in order to keep school bags lighter, the ministry sought that the schools under their jurisdiction should not prescribe any other subjects except language and mathematics for Classes I and II.

Students of Classes III and V should be taught environment studies (EVS) and mathematics as prescribed by NCERT, the ministry directed.

Students should not be asked to bring additional books, extra material, the ministry instructed. The ministry issued directives to states and Union territories in compliance with a Madras High Court verdict in the matter that came in May.

The court had in its order directed the government to disaffiliate schools prescribing homework and non-prescribed subjects for Class I and II students and Class III to V students.

It had also sought the Union government to direct the state governments and Union Territory administrations to form special squads to inspect schools and prevent the use of non-prescribed books
Indian officers had a nervous long-distance face-off with the tribe who killed an American missionary, in their latest bid to locate his body on a remote island, police said Sunday.

The police team, who took a boat just off Indian-owned North Sentinel island on Saturday, spotted men from the Sentinelese tribe on the beach where John Allen Chau was last seen, the region's police chief Dependra Pathak told AFP.

Using binoculars, officers -- in a police boat about 400 metres from the shore -- saw the men armed with bows and arrows, the weapons reportedly used by the isolated tribe to kill Chau as he shouted Christian phrases at them.

"They stared at us and we were looking at them," said Pathak. The boat withdrew to avoid any chance of a confrontation.

Also read: US man's body could be lost to preserve Sentinelese

Police are taking painstaking efforts to avoid any disruption to the Sentinelese -- a pre-neolithic tribe whose island is off-limits to outsiders -- as they seek Chau's body.

The death of the 27-year-old on November 17 has cast a new spotlight on efforts to protect one of the world's last "uncontacted" tribes whose language and customs remain a mystery to outsiders.

Fishermen who took Chau to North Sentinel -- which is one of the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal -- said they saw the tribe burying the body on the beach.

The Sentinelese normally attack anyone who goes to the island and Pathak said police are monitoring to see if there is a repeat of an incident after two fishermen who strayed onto the island were killed in 2006.

One week after their deaths, the bodies of the two Indians were hooked on bamboo stakes facing out to sea.

"It was a kind of scarecrow," Pathak said.

"We are studying the 2006 case. We are asking anthropologists what they do when they kill an outsider," the police chief added. "We are trying to understand the group psychology."

Also read: Dead American told Andaman tribe 'Jesus loves you'

Though Chau's death is officially a murder case, anthropologists say it may be impossible to retrieve the American's body and that no charges will be made against the protected tribe.

Seven people, including six fishermen who were involved in ferrying Chau to North Sentinel, have been arrested.

The fishermen have accompanied the police teams to the island to help efforts to pinpoint where Chau was killed.

Anthropologists and tribal welfare experts who have had the previous rare contacts with the Sentinelese have been heavily involved with the inquiry.

"Their advice will be important," said Pathak. "We are taking the advice of the people in the field to advance this case."
The rebel star of Kannada film industry and former Union minister Ambareesh was cremated with full state honours at the Kanteerava Studios on Monday evening.

Ambareesh's son Abhishek Gowda performed the last rites under the guidance of his wife Sumalatha as per the 'vokkaliga' tradition. All the rituals were performed by priests Chikka Huchchaiah and Konappa Poojari from Maddur, who have been conducting all religious events in Ambareesh's family. The team was assisted by priests from Bengaluru.

The state police gave a 21-gun salute as the National Anthem rent the air. Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy handed over the national flag that was draped around Ambareesh's body to Sumalatha.

Former prime minister Deve Gowda, former chief ministers S M Krishna, B S Yeddyurappa and Siddaramaiah led a contingent of heavyweight political leaders from across the political spectrum who paid tributes to Ambareesh.

Cine stars from Sandalwood and the Telugu film industry also paid homage to Ambareesh.

Thousands of fans lined up the streets along the procession route to catch a glimpse of the late actor who captivated the people of Karnataka with stunning performances in classics like 'Naagarahavu', 'Antha' and 'Ranganayaki'.

Ambareesh passed away on Saturday evening due to a massive cardiac arrest. His body was kept at the Kanteerava Stadium for the public to pay their last respects till 4 pm on Sunday.

The body was then airlifted to Mandya, Ambareesh's home district, for fans to pay homage till 9 am on Monday at the Sir MV stadium.

But the initial plans of the state government for the final journey from the Kanteerava Stadium to Kanteerava Studios near Goraguntepalya was troubled by the "inauspicious" 'Rahu Kala.

The body was brought to Bengaluru around noon and the funeral procession reached Kanteerava Studios around 4.30 pm - the "auspicious" time as suggested by the priests.

After the rituals were completed, Abhishek lit the funeral pyre around 6 pm.

ALSO READ: Ambareesh 'sought astrological advice' on his health

Ambareesh had strong bond with Mysuru

Ambareesh did not live to see his renovated house

He relished desi ghee, coconut mithai, kaima


Bad vibrations, as hip types used to say way back in the 1960s.

The president of the United States travels to Texas to try to mitigate Democratic Party factional strife, and on Nov. 22, 1963, is gunned down on a Dallas street. Two days later, local hustler and gangster Jack Ruby shoots alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald.

JFKs majestic Nov. 25 funeral, planned in detail by wife Jacqueline, provides no closure. American government has been fundamentally shaken. Oswalds televised murder precludes a trial, and fuels conspiracy theories.

In 2013, there were floods of books, articles and commentaries marking the half-century since his death. By contrast, this year is more muted.

Kennedys legacy is complex. Contemporary CBS commentator Eric Sevareid noted the principal legacy might be an attitude, a spirit that all things are possible for Americans.

In fact, JFK had major achievements. Nonetheless, Sevareid was perceptive in emphasizing the emotional dimensions of political leadership.

The disastrous failed invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs led to a massive U.S. effort to kill leader Fidel Castro, and encouraged Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to deploy nuclear missiles on the island. This led to the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.

Kennedy, a World War II combat veteran, resisted powerful pressure to invade Cuba. The missiles were removed following a blockade and overt invasion preparations, combined with a secret Cuba-Turkey missile trade. Kennedys restraint and imagination are extremely impressive.

In the aftermath of the missile crisis, Kennedy and Khrushchev achieved a treaty banning nuclear tests in the atmosphere, a breakthrough. The Senate ratified the treaty with a bipartisan vote of 80-19. JFK had other success with Congress, including negotiation authority key to important multilateral trade agreements.

Two prominent domestic issues were civil rights and organized crime, the latter an obsession of driven Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. JFK was cautious on race relations, addressing the subject actively only when pressed by a massive march on Washington.

RFK was relentless in pursuit of the Mafia, while simultaneously gangsters and mercenaries were recruited to kill Castro. Dallas ended both efforts. Regarding organized crime, six years passed before the Nixon administration re-energized prosecution.

People around Robert Kennedy were puzzled by his marked disinterest in possible assassination conspiracy. In hindsight, RFK no doubt avoided that dark tangled path because he might come face to face with himself.

Sen. John Kennedys book Profiles in Courage, about U.S. senators who put principle above political expediency, received the Pulitzer Prize. While critics cracked President Kennedy should show less profile and more courage, he actually demonstrated considerable personal strength.

Historian Herbert Parmet has documented extraordinary health problems that plagued JFK from birth. He nearly died in infancy, and received Catholic last rites at least three times. Yet he managed to enlist in the U.S. Navy, then volunteered for hazardous PT boat duty, where he demonstrated truly exceptional courage.

Eric Sevareids observation applies tangibly to the American space program. The commitment to a manned moon landing achieved success in 1969. Associated technological innovations include electronics miniaturization, essential in todays computers and cellphones.

Sevareid was also alluding to intangible dimensions. Jacqueline and John Kennedy emphasized the arts, symbolized today by the Kennedy Center in Washington. If Kennedys friend Sen. Barry Goldwater, R-Ariz., were the 1964 Republican presidential nominee, they agreed to have policy debates around the country.

That public style contrasts with todays extreme political crudeness, and denigration of public service. Too bad.
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SOUTH SALT LAKE  Red, white and a lot of blue surrounded the South Salt Lake Police Department Sunday.

As the community woke to news that officer David Romrell, 31, had been killed in the line of duty, citizens made their way to the police department to hang blue ribbons from trees, while some, like Kim Deacon, left flowers at a small makeshift memorial.

"South Salt Lake has a good police department and this is just terrible for everyone," she said.

John Reed, a member of the Honoring Heroes Foundation, lined the street outside the department with American flags to let all the officers know that they have the support of the community and that the public mourns with them.

"I hope they realize theyre not alone, he said.

Saturday night, Romrell, who served several tours of duty as a U.S. Marine before becoming a South Salt Lake police officer 11 months ago, was hit by a fleeing vehicle and killed. He is the first South Salt Lake officer killed in the line of duty.

"As much as we know the risk of this job, were not prepared for this. Its taken us by surprise. Its very painful, an emotional Chief Jack Carruth said during a press conference held about 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

Hundreds of police officers from throughout the state gathered at Intermountain Medical Center late Saturday to pay their respects to a man who dedicated his life to serving his community and his country. They lined up outside the hospital and saluted as Romrell's body was escorted to the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office. His body will now be watched over by an honor guard around the clock until his funeral. Funeral plans were still being worked out Sunday.

The fatal confrontation happened when Romrell and another officer responded to a report of a burglary in progress at 3575 S. West Temple. A person who was still inside the business as the alleged burglars attempted to get in called 911, according to police.

As officers arrived, two men attempted to drive away from the business complex, Carruth said.

"The driver of the vehicle then accelerated toward officers, striking officer David Romrell, he said.

The driver, Felix Anthony Calata, 32, of West Valley City, was shot and killed. It was not immediately known whether both officers fired their weapons. After Calata's vehicle crashed, his passenger got out and ran.

South Salt Lake police detective Gary Keller said that man was captured a short time later with the help of police K-9s. But after questioning him, the man was released, according to Unified police. There was no evidence at that time that the passenger, whose name was not released, committed a crime, said Unified Police Sgt. Melody Gray.

Romrell was taken to Intermountain Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery, but died from his injuries.

"He did everything right but was targeted by this vehicle as it fled, Carruth said.

Romrell is survived by his wife and a 4-month-old boy. Carruth said he was a very humble, soft-spoken man who was "very kind," but also "very squared away." His "passion," the chief said, was serving, first his country as a Marine, then his community.

A GoFundMe link was set up Sunday to help raise money for Romrell's family.

Unified police will conduct the investigation of the incident. Unified and other departments also helped patrol South Salt Lake on Sunday and handled many of their calls as officers from that department were given time off to mourn.

As news of Romrell's death spread, tributes from other law enforcement agencies and state officials filled social media Sunday morning. Many changed their Facebook profile picture to a graphic of the South Salt Lake police patch, and a badge with a black band across it, accompanied with the words, "In remberance of officer David Romrell."

"Jeanette and I join the entire South Salt Lake Police family in mourning the death of one of our finest, Officer David Romrell. We mourn with and for officer Romrells dear family, and we pray that they may find peace in the midst of this heartbreak," Gov. Gary Herbert tweeted. "Officer Romrell was exemplary in every way, and I feel humbled by the service he gave his country as a Marine, as well as the service he gave our communities here in Utah."

"All of us in the Utah (law enforcement) community have heavy hearts today with the tragic loss of SSLPD Officer David Romrell. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, child, family and friends. His life of service will never be forgotten. Semper Fi, Marine," the Utah Highway Patrol tweeted.

"God Speed officer Romrell," tweeted Utah Rep. Lee Perry, who is also a member of the highway patrol.

"To the Romrell family and the South Salt Lake Police Department we are so sad for your incredible loss last night. Thank you for your service officer David Romrell," University of Utah AirMed tweeted.

"This is terrible news. Our hearts are broken this morning. God bless this officer and his loved ones. And God bless all the men and women in Blue that put their lives in harms way to keep us safe," added Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox.

Even Chief Carruth posted a message on his Facebook page Sunday night.

"David, in just 11 months you built bonds with your brothers and sisters of SSLPD that can never be broken. You were taken from us way before your time, but will forever remain in our hearts. We will forever honor you and miss you. You were a protector of our country and our community, you are our hero! God Speed ~ Rest In Peace Brother!"

According to court records, Saturday was the second fatal crash Calata was involved in this year.

On March 25, Calata, driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee, ran a red light at the intersection of California Avenue and Bangerter Highway, hit another vehicle, and rolled. Both Calata and Danyelle Marie Jennings, 44, were ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. Jennings was killed.

Just prior to the crash, a Utah Department of Natural Resources officer had spotted the vehicle parked on the side of the road near 5800 West and 2100 South and stopped to find out what was going on, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Formal charges, however, had not yet been filed. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said on Sunday that prosecutors first screened the case on Oct. 24. At that time, attorneys requested that investigators gather additional information about the light cycle at the intersection and the speeds of both vehicles involved in the crash. At that time, there was conflicting information that needed to be clarified before charges were filed, Gill said.

Gill said his office received an email on Friday that the information requested had been collected. Attorneys were scheduled to meet on Dec. 6 to screen a charge of manslaughter for Calata, he said.

The March incident came just months after Calata got into another accident and left the scene, according to court records.

Calata had a lengthy criminal history of mostly misdemeanor drug-related crimes. In 2005 he was convicted of being in possession of a stolen vehicle, a third-degree felony, according to court records.

Sunday evening, former relatives of Calata posted an open letter on Facebook to Romrell's widow, and called officer Romrell a hero. Manuel Lopez said he is Calata's former brother-in-law and that Calata had been "on a downward spiral" for a long time.

"After many run ins with the law and let downs, my sister decided to leave her husband and take their two children away to Texas so theyd be safe," he wrote.

"David Romrell is my brother in arms," he continued. "I, too am a Marine veteran and it hurt me to see a brother fall in such a way. Without meaning to politicize this ordeal, we want to reach out and let you know, we are with you. We know what Felix, did was inexcusable. His mental illness took over and we never got him back.... Your husband, died a HERO!

"... We are all heartbroken by this and we are hurting too. If there is anything you may need from us to help you find peace, please reach out. Your precious baby doesnt deserve to be left without a father. We are very sorry for your loss."

Contributing: Sean Moody
HERRIMAN  A pair of high-speed chases kept law enforcers from several agencies busy over the weekend.

In Utah County, Adam Charles Cowgill, 33, was arrested about 8:30 a.m. Sunday for investigation of failing to stop for police and several counts of assault on a police officer after officers say he attempted to run several of them off the road.

Cowgill, driving a Dodge Neon with a handicap plate, was leading a Utah Highway Patrol trooper on a chase on I-15 near Benjamin, according to a Utah County Jail booking report. The trooper lost sight of the fleeing vehicle, but another trooper later spotted it parked on the shoulder, the report states.

"I pulled to the shoulder of the road approximately 200 yards ahead of him. The vehicle began to drive directly toward my vehicle, accelerating quickly in an aggressive matter. Fearing that he would hit me, I drove off the freeway into the weeds," the trooper wrote in his report.

UHP troopers and deputies from the Utah County Sheriff's Office resumed chasing Cowgill, who continued swerving across all lanes of I-15 heading north, according to the report. Several times he slammed on his brakes "to try and cause deputies to collide," the report states.

"Several deputies pursued the vehicle exceeding speeds over 110 miles an hour. The suspect continued driving in a reckless manner weaving, in and out of traffic, slowing down, speeding up, and jumping back and forth between all lanes of travel," according to the report.

As the chase continued into American Fork and Lehi, Cowgill allegedly swerved at two more deputies, forcing them "to take evasive action to avoid collision," the report states.

"One of the deputies observed the male suspect holding a knife to his own throat. It was later learned he has history of mental illness and suicidal ideations," the report continued.

For safety, troopers backed off their pursuit and let the Department of Public Safety helicopter follow Cowgill. He got off the freeway at 12300 South and pulled into a parking lot, got out of his car and ran, the report states.

Deputies and troopers chased after Cowgill and had to use a Taser to arrest him, according to the report.

In another incident Saturday night, a man was spotted driving nearly 100 mph and also fled from police before being arrested.

Herriman police say an officer was doing speed enforcement on the Mountain View Corridor near 11800 South about 10:15 p.m. when Nickolas Ray Kontgis, 35, allegedly drove by going 95 mph, according to a Salt Lake County Jail report. The officer attempted to make a stop at 12600 South.

"The truck came to a stop in the travel lane at the red light then several seconds later blew the red and accelerated away at a high rate of speed," according to the report.

The officer did not chase the vehicle, but noticed it turned onto 13400 South and was no longer speeding. The officer followed the car from a distance and called for backup, the report states.

"At Fort Herriman Parkway I again initiated my emergency lights and siren to signal the driver to pull over however he again accelerated southbound on Monarch Meadows Parkway at a high rate of speed," the officer wrote.

The vehicle later pulled into a parking lot at 13500 S. Monarch Meadows Parkway where Kontigs was arrested for investigation of failing to stop at the command of police, DUI, spending, driving on a suspended license and other traffic violations.

According to the report, Kontigs is currently on probation for a previous offense of fleeing from police and "has an extensive history of drug abuse and this current incident is the second time he has fled from officers in 2018."
LEHI  Twitter, Facebook and other social media nodes erupted a few months ago following DNA analysis tweaks made by Ancestry.com that changed, in some cases dramatically, the ethnicity profiles the company has provided to millions of clients.

While some customers celebrated changes as coming closer to what they know about their heritage through other means, like historical records, many online commentors were incensed about the updated results.

Earlier this month, Twitter user Alexis Wore posted results from her Ancestry.com update that showed an initial ethnicity profile that assessed her as being 52 percent of Senegalese decent, 26 percent Nigerian and less than 1 percent Mali. After Ancestry.com's analysis changes, those numbers changed to 48 percent Mali, 14 percent Senegalese and about 3 percent Nigerian. Her response was representative of many customer comments about changes to their own reports.

"How can my results change so much," Wore wrote. "Were the first that inaccurate?"

Ancestry.com's director of scientific communications Dr. Barry Starr explained that the changes customer's are seeing are the result of two signficant changes the company made to how it analyzes DNA it extracts from submitted saliva samples.

Starr said Ancestry.com greatly expanded its DNA test reference panel, a set of genetic samples that have clear connections, genetically speaking, to specific geographic regions. Whereas the company was using a reference panel of about 3,500 samples, it expanded that set to about 18,000 samples. Also, Starr noted the company now looks for matches in strings of DNA, as opposed to its previous technique of identifying single marker matches. Both changes are upgrades, according to Starr, which reflect ongoing advances in the bigger field of genetic research.

"This really is cutting-edge science," Starr said. "What we're looking at is hundreds of thousands of genomes across their entire DNA. With our previous method, we looked at those markers in isolation. With the new approach, we're looking at whole segments, or chains, which better approximates what happens when DNA is passed on."

Starr said the upgrades to Ancestry.com's assessment procedures has allowed the company to differentiate some new geographic locations more specifically than the old technique. For example, while some genetic markers were noted simply as evidence of a customer's "Scandinavian" heritage, the company is now stipulating Swedish and Norwegian origins.

Starr said Ancestry.com's enormous trove of DNA samples, currently representing over 10 million individuals, has aided the company in improving its approach and expanding its reference panel.

"One of the great advantages of Ancestry is a lot of our customers have family tree research which means we can validate, from a document standpoint, origin information," Starr said. "By improving our reference panel, we get a better understanding of what markers are common and which can differ in population."

University of Utah professor of human genetics Aaron Quinlan said when it comes to tracking ethnicity via DNA, it's important to distinguish between a person's genealogical records and genetic evidence.

"Our sense of genealogy is a narrative which can be supported with historical and family records," Quinlan said. "And, while many people think we can track DNA back many generations, we really can't draw useful information past about seven generations."

Quinlan explained that any individual's genetic makeup represents about half a contribution from each parent. One tier up the family tree, and each of those parents is getting half of their genes from a parent, and so forth. Trying to assemble a picture of our ethnic histories, based on that tracking, gets hazy very quickly.

"The way I like to think about it is like a patchwork quilt," Quinlan said. "The further we reach back, the smaller the patches of genetic information remains. Companies like Ancestry and others are trying to compare one patchwork to other patchworks."

Quinlan, who teaches genetics and studies rare genetic disorders, said the changes Ancestry has implemented in searching for string matches instead of individual marker matches tracks with the changes in genetic research. He noted the technique "is more informative as these are typically inherited in groups."

Utah State University student and part-time genealogist Julie Thurgood-Johnson said she noted the changes in her own ethnicity profile when Ancestry.com instituted its analysis upgrades and noted the revisions more closely matched other records she's tracked down about her family history.

"The estimates for my own background are definitely closer based on my research," Thurgood-Johnson said. "But, you really have to take the DNA analysis with a grain of salt."

Thurgood-Johnson has been researching her own family background and assisting others with genealogy searches for over a decade. She said the key to uncovering meaningful family histories was really about combining "old-fashioned" research techniques like tracking down documents and speaking with family members with the additional information that can be gleaned from DNA test results, like the kind Ancestry.com offers.

"Finding a good paper trail is a great way to start," Thurgood-Johnson said. "That, and finding relatives like distant cousins that can offer further information and insight, help you build the bigger picture, the bigger story about who you are."

Thurgood-Johnson noted, from a personal perspective, the additional details provided by Ancestry.com after the company upgraded its ethnicity profile results only made her more appreciative of her background.

"It's definitely extended my family," Thurgood-Johnson said. "I had a deep appreciation for all cultures before, but now to be able to say, 'I'm even more Irish, I'm even more African and I'm even more Native American,' is wonderful and Ancestry has been able to help me piece that all together."
SALT LAKE CITY  Travelers flying out of and into Salt Lake City International Airport have a great chance of being on time compared to passengers in any big city in the country.

The Air Travel Consumer Report from the U.S. Department of Transportation indicated that 90.4 percent of total flights arrived on time in September  the most recent data collected  among the 30 busiest airports in the United States. Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport was a close second at 90.2 percent. Contrarily, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey reported the lowest on-time arrivals at 69.9 percent for the month.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported that Honolulu at 88 percent and Salt Lake City at 85.3 percent had the highest on-time arrival performance of the 30 busiest airports for the nine-month, January-September period, while Newark had the lowest at 66.0 percent.

While it's not the first time Salt Lake City has captured a top on-time ranking, it is the result of consistent effort on the part of various groups working to achieve a common goal, explained Nancy Volmer, spokeswoman for Salt Lake City International Airport.

"We work really hard to maintain that status," she said. "It's all the airlines, ground support teams, the (Federal Aviation Administration) and (Transportation Security Administration). We all work together really well to make sure that we can get passengers through and on their way."

When it comes to flights taking off as scheduled, Honolulu was No. 1 at 93.1 percent with Salt Lake City at No. 2 at 89.3 percent, registering the two highest on-time departure performance ratings of the 30 busiest airports in September. Dallas-Fort Worth had the lowest on-time departure performance at 75.6 percent.

Volmer said officials at the airport have regular meetings to coordinate as much as possible to keep flights moving in and out of the airport as timely as possible even when traffic volume is higher during holiday periods. Additionally, they have to include the impact of the $3.5 billion airport redevelopment that's currently underway.

"I've heard people compare it to remodeling your kitchen while you're serving Thanksgiving dinner," she said. "We're lucky right now because mainly that construction is in a place where there are not that many passengers."

The first phase of the project is scheduled for completion in 2020, she noted. As for the airport's lofty status among its large metropolitan peers around the country, she said it is not something administrators and operations personnel take for granted.

"This ranking is something we're very proud of," Volmer said. "It takes effort from the whole team to make sure that we have that No. 1 ranking."

Meanwhile, Honolulu at 91.9 percent and Portland at 86.3 percent had the highest on-time departure performance of the 30 busiest airports for the nine-month January-September period, with Chicago Midway coming in as the lowest at 68.0 percent.

The report showed that among carriers reporting flight operations in September, Alaska Airlines registered the most timely departures at 96.5 percent, followed by Delta Airlines at 93.0 percent and Skywest Airlines at 91.9 percent. Frontier Airlines had the lowest on-time rating at 69.2 percent for the period. The national average was just under 82 percent, the report stated.

For carriers reporting for the January to September period nationwide, Hawaiian Airlines ranked No. 1 for on-time arrivals at 87.5 percent, followed by Alaska Airlines at No. 2 at 83.6 percent and Delta Airlines at No. 3 at 82.6 percent.
PARK CITY  To celebrate turning 50, Melissa Marsted decided to treat herself and signed up to run a 50-kilometer race on Antelope Island.

For some, running 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) all in the same day, let alone year, would not be looked on as an indulgence, but for a woman like Melissa, who started running in high school, then in college at Harvard, and even at the U.S. Olympic Trials (in 1998; she didnt make the team but she clocked a PR of 2:56), it was about as good a way to welcome the start of the second half as she could think of.

And the thing about running at 50, youre no longer trying to set world records or make Olympic teams; you can throttle back a little, take it easier, enjoy the journey.

Thats what Melissa was doing that day three years ago on an island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake: taking her time, stopping to take pictures, talking to fellow runners, thinking.

The islands grand desolation got her to thinking about nature. She wasnt a native of the Mountain West. She grew up in Connecticut, studied classic Greek at Harvard, then lived on the California coast in Santa Barbara until a wildfire destroyed her home and she moved to Utah. It was supposed to be temporary stop gap. But then she started exploring, saw all the national parks and everything in between, and she was hooked.

When she was done with her run, she knew what she wanted to do: she wanted to write a book about Utahs national parks, and she wanted to write it for kids, to help them appreciate what they have in their own backyard.

She drove to her home in Park City, turned on her laptop, and with the zeal of a convert, started to write.

  

I wrote it in no time; it practically wrote itself, Melissa remembers as she sits in that same Park City house three years later, holding a copy of Buzzy and the Red Rock Canyons in her hand.

Its an elegant little book, 51 pages in all, written for kids but with artwork and information for all ages. Clearly its a labor of love.

Ive just fallen in love with Utah, says Melissa. I am constantly pinching myself, that I get to live here, that I get to enjoy the four seasons and all the beauty that surrounds us.

In her book, the host for the tour around the Beehive State is a bumblebee named Buzzy who buzzes around the national parks of Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion, encountering highlights at each one  from Delicate Arch to Island in the Sky to the Castle to Thors Hammer to Kolob Arch  while running into fellow indigenous animals such as magpies, mule deer, desert cottontails, marmots, bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons and spotted owls.

Melissa didnt have a hard time finding a publisher for her book. She owns Lucky Penny Publications (luckypennypublications.com), a company she founded as an ebook publisher in 2011 to help aspiring writers (like herself) find affordable ways to publish.

Since Buzzy was released earlier this year, she has acted as her own distributor, placing it in bookstores and other outlets such as REI along the Wasatch Front and at various places in and near the national parks  giving her a convenient excuse to visit them again and again.

Not only that, Buzzy has sequels. Melissa has gone on to write Casey Cruises California, featuring a quail named Casey who escorts a tour of nine California national parks, and Tinys Grand Adventure, featuring Tiny the hummingbird guiding a tour through seven national parks in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

And yes, more are on the way  one from the South Dakota area and another from the Northwest. Before shes through, Melissa might write about all 58 national parks in the U.S.  and then get started on the monuments.

Ive discovered my lifes purpose, wrote Melissa this year when Harvard asked her to update her life for the book it was publishing on the 30-year anniversary of alumni who graduated in 1988.

It is to apply my courage, creativity, intuition and sense of adventure to write or publish outdoor adventure articles and national park books for children, and to advocate for the national park system, public lands, and the humanities while also encouraging individuals, young and old, to explore nature and live a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.

Not bad, all that coming out of running 50K at 50.
SALT LAKE CITY  Heres a look at the news for Nov. 26.

South Salt Lake police and community mourned an officer who was killed in the line of duty. Read more.

The Deseret News looked into why Utahns should care about mysteries unlocked at the Idaho nuclear research facility. Read more.

Why do DNA results change? Ancestry says new data is driving better origin drilldowns. Read more.

The Utah Jazz defeated the Sacramento Kings, 133-112, on Sunday night. Read more.

A look at our InDepth coverage:

A look at our most popular:

A look at national headlines:
SALT LAKE CITY  Utah Sen. Mike Lee has challenged President Donald Trump over his defense of the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, who U.S. intelligence believes ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

"I disagree with the president's assessment. It's inconsistent with the intelligence I've seen," Lee said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," adding he's not sure what information the president is relying on.

"The intelligence I've seen suggests this was ordered by the crown prince."

Trump last week declared unwavering loyalty to Saudi Arabia and asserted that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's culpability for the killing of Khashoggi might never be known. He called the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for the Washington Post, "terrible" while calling Saudi Arabia a "great ally."

When asked on Thanksgiving who should be held responsible for Khashoggi's death, Trump told reporters "maybe the world."

"Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a vicious place," he said.

Both Lee and GOP Sen.-elect Mitt Romney have now criticized Trump's apparent dismissal of intelligence reports on Saudi Arabia. Romney said last week that the president's statements are inconsistent with U.S. foreign policy, national interest, human rights and "American greatness."

As House Democrats prepare to investigate whether Trump has financial ties with Saudi Arabia, Lee said he doesn't know why the president is siding with the Saudis.

"But I think there are things we can do to change our relationship with the Saudis, notwithstanding whatever his personal motivations might be," Lee said. "I'm also certain that in the next Congress, people will look into that. But again, I think Congress has to take some ownership of U.S. foreign policy.  "

Lee also reiterated his call for ending "unauthorized and unconstitutional" U.S. military intervention in Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen.

"This is not an ally that deserves this kind of military intervention, especially because there's been no connection between the safety of the American people and our involvement in this war. It's one of the reasons why we've got to get out now. I belive this is an opportunity for the Congress to weigh in and say, 'Lets halt our efforts in Yemen,'" Lee said.

In February, Lee, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., introduced a resolution to remove U.S. forces from fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement in Yemen. The U.S. has supported Saudi Arabia in the war against the Houthis, an Islamic sect that seized the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and other parts of the country more than three years ago.

Lee was asked on "Meet the Press" if he wonders whether rebuking the president on a number of issues is worth it because his behavior doesn't change.

"We all know that he has an unconventional style. He has a different approach than other people have taken to this job. But he is in fact the president of the United States and it's some of these same styles that helped get him elected in the first place," he said.

Asked if there is a breaking point, Lee said, "Oh, sure. Anytime somebody violates the Constitution, I'm going to call them out on it, do what I can from my position as a member of the United States Senate to stop it."

Lee said he can help steer Trump in a direction that is consistent with his policies and in the best interests of the American people.

"Sometimes with this president you've got to look not just at what he says but also at what he does," Lee said.
Assyrian Bakers From Baghdad Who Fled Violence Pursue a Sweet Dream

Nael and Manar al-Najjar named their bakery outside San Diego after the town in Iraq where they married. ( Gabriel Ellison-Scowcroft/New York Times) SPRING VALLEY, Calif. -- The marriage of Nael and Manar al-Najjar was forged in sugar.

Mr. Najjar grew up working in his family's Baghdad sweet shop. When he proposed, three months after meeting his future wife at a family wedding, he traveled six hours to her hometown, carrying 15 boxes of confections: baklava, kenafeh and Turkish delights.

The couple settled in Baghdad, opened a bakery and started a family. As Catholics, though, they faced discrimination and threats of violence. When those threats turned deadly, they fled and sought asylum in America.

Since resettling, they have opened another bakery outside of San Diego. Running a sweet shop in Southern California requires a lot more than just baking skill, and the Najjars needed help. They got it from the International Rescue Committee, one of the eight organizations supported by The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund.

"Now we have a big name," Mrs. Najjar beamed.

The Najjars met and married in 2002, a year before the United States and its allies invaded Baghdad. In the following years, Iraq's Christian minority faced increasing persecution. Numbering roughly a million in 2003, the population was cut in half by 2010, as many Christians emigrated to escape the violence against them.

Amid the turbulence of life in Iraq during this period, the family still found its routine, running the bakery, raising the children. "We lived, like, no problem," Mrs. Najjar said.

Sharing her husband's skill in the kitchen, Mrs. Najjar often cooked at our Lady of Salvation Church, Baghdad's main Catholic cathedral. On Oct. 31, 2010, six militants from the Islamic State stormed the church during evening mass. They fired assault rifles, lobbed grenades and -- when Iraqi commandos stormed the church -- detonated explosives strapped to their chests.

Fifty-eight people died in the attack. Among the victims were two of Mr. Najjar's relatives, one of them an infant.

Two weeks later, Mrs. Najjar, who had not been at the church during the attack, found a note slipped under the front door of the family's home. It said, "We're going to kill you," she recalled recently.

Their children were 4 and 2 years old at the time, and the Najjars decided they needed to pack up the family in a few suitcases and join the exodus of Iraqi Christians fleeing to northern Iraq, then to Turkey.

Once there, the Najjars initially settled in Usak, a provincial capital in eastern Turkey, where Mr. Najjar quickly found a job at a bakery. Soon after, they applied for asylum in America. It was granted in 2014, and the family moved to the San Diego area, where the parents worked in bakeries for three years and dreamed of again opening their own.

"We wanted to make something together, something strong," said Mrs. Najjar, 38. "It is my dream and my husband's dream."

The Najjars with their children, Danial and Diana. ( Gabriel Ellison-Scowcroft/New York Times)

Their new bakery, Al Hamdani Sweets, opened in a popular shopping center near an interstate in August 2017. Mr. Najjar bakes, while Mrs. Najjar handles management, marketing and deliveries.

Their experience running a bakery in Baghdad, though, went only so far in Spring Valley. Taxes, permits, health codes and other regulations proved challenging. "In Baghdad, you don't have taxes," Mr. Najjar, 43, said in the back room of the shop, with Turkish delights on the counter and stacks of trays and pastry boxes piled up around him.

As the Najjars tried to keep their business, named after the town where the couple married, going after a slow start, the International Rescue Committee helped the Najjars navigate the unfamiliar rules and manage their finances.

"I.R.C. helped so much," said Mrs. Najjar, who kept her Bluetooth device in her ear throughout an interview last month. "They make everything easy."

Some of the shop's baking equipment was purchased through funds from the committee's individual development accounts program, a saving program that, in March, matched $4,000 of the couple's business income.

Financed by three-year federal grants, the program is intended to ease refugees into the economy by helping small-business ventures. Over the past three-year cycle, it has enrolled 115 clients in the San Diego area, matching almost $420,000 in savings, said Fadi Amin, a committee coordinator who worked with the Najjars. Funds are used to help buy assets, like a house, business equipment or a car. (The Najjars just purchased a new Toyota Sienna, which Mrs. Najjar uses to make deliveries.)

In a separate loans program, the organization doled out more than $1.4 million nationwide in 743 small-dollar loans from July 2016 to September 2018. Most borrowers were from Syria or Iraq.

More than a year in, business at the Najjars' shop is good, with a steady stream of customers, many from a nearby hookah lounge. They have hired two employees. A wide variety of sweets, which Mr. Najjar bakes daily, are sold at local grocery stores and a university, and wholesalers in Sacramento and Seattle buy them, too.

Early next year, the family will be eligible for citizenship, and they plan to apply. The couple's two children, now 13 and 10, enjoy school and sometimes help at the bakery.

In the back room, Mrs. Najjar scrolled on her smartphone through photos of the children, laughing and covered in flour. Others were taken at SeaWorld, where the family has an annual pass.

"Here, my children have a good future," she said.
MAGNA  A woman allegedly held hostage by her estranged husband for a week was able to escape Monday morning, but so did the man police are looking for.

Elias Christopher Lorenzo Garcia, 29, of Salt Lake City, showed up at his estranged wife's house, 3731 S. 8000 West, on the night of Nov. 20 and allegedly asked if their child could spend Thanksgiving with him, said Unified Police Sgt. Melody Gray.

The estranged wife  who filed for a protective order against Garcia in February, according to court records  told him no, Gray said. The couple's 4-year-old child was home at the time. The woman's 14-year-old son from another marriage was with a relative.

After refusing to let him take the child for Thanksgiving, police say Garcia held the woman and child hostage in the home for six days.

"He won't let them leave, threatens to kill them," Gray said.

The woman escaped Monday morning, went to a local hospital and called police, Gray said. Details about how the woman escaped were not immediately known. A SWAT team surrounded the house Monday morning and eventually went inside, but discovered that Garcia was gone, Gray said.

Richard Carmichael, the woman's father, said Monday afternoon that until Garcia is captured, his daughter is not safe.

"He's just not a very nice person," Carmichael said. "He needs to be put away before he hurts someone else."

Carmichael said Garcia and his daughter have had a tumultuous relationship for many years and he has assaulted her in the past to the point she nearly died.

"This is not the first time it's happened," he said.

According to court records, Garcia was convicted of attempted aggravated burglary in April for entering the estranged wife's home and assaulting her. She also applied for a protective order in 2015.

Garcia was convicted in 2012 of attempted aggravated assault in another domestic violence case, and assault by a prisoner in 2009, court records state.

Carmichael alleged that in one case his daughter was intimidated into not testifying against Garcia because of his threats. He said Garcia has had a controlling grip on his daughter for years.

Carmichael said he actually went to his daughter's house on Saturday but she would not let him go past the living room.

"I just kind of knew something was up," he said. "She has been held here, virtually against her will."

When Carmichael saw his daughter on Saturday, he said she didn't have nearly as many bumps and bruises as she did Monday, leading him to believe that Garcia became more violent over the weekend.

His young grandson, he said, "seems to be OK, not emotionally broken up or anything."

His daughter's 14-year-old son stayed with him during the holidays, Carmichael said.

Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA's Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the confidential statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online at udvc.org.

Contributing: Ladd Egan
SALT LAKE CITY  Every year, as December swoops in, Santa gets a little panicked, thinking about all the people on his list, the sorting into naughty and nice, the balancing the budget and figuring out just how much work the elves can actually handle.

And every year, the Deseret News tries to help the old guy out with some suggestions that are sure to delight the happy recipient. We comb store shelves, browse online offerings and work our way through hundreds of pitches to find something for everyone, regardless of what the family budget is.

Our 2018 edition is a mix of quirky, colorful, practical and fun. This year's big ticket item is a Yamaha Transacoustic Guitar that features a built-in actuator that creates reverb and chorus sounds and sells for around $939.

This year, we haven't pointed shoppers to specific stores because there are so many options by simply going online, and the prices are current as of publication. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a great sale!

FOR THE FAMILY

TappLock fingerprint smart padlock can be unlocked by fingerprints (it can store multiple), a rhythm of your choice or remotely with the app. You can also give remote, temporary access to others. $99.

Tailgater Tire Table attaches to your car tire, needs no tools needed and holds 50 pounds. Perfect for camping, tailgating, picnics and more. MSRP $139.95.

HYPERX Cloud Mix is an impressively versatile headset. Its wired for gaming, and works on Bluetooth with up to 20 hours on a charge. The boom mic is removable, too. MSRP $199.99.

Inflator and Vacuum 2-In-1 by Slime is lightweight, portable and durable. Around $100

Dimensions Personalized Home Fragrance Box includes a diffuser and three fragrances to suit your mood. Starting at $24.95.

Square Off Kingdom Chess Setuses artificial intelligence to provide endless chess fun. No opponent? Play the board, where pieces seem to move by magic. Have friends far away? You can connect. This is a high-tech take on the classic game. MSRP $369.

Rowkin Ascent Charge+ True Wireless Headphones, the Qi pad will charge the earbuds and other mobile devices, and the earbuds can hold their charge more than 50 hours. And in case you lose these tiny sound powerhouses, they have a locator app to help you keep track of them. MSRP $139.99, micro version $99.99.

The Sophie Bag by Baby Benjamin is messenger bag meets diaper bag functional. Tote, backpack, clutch  its whatever you need it to be, with plenty of room. Water resistant. About $50

Key Smart uses Tile Bluetooth technology to help you find your keys on a map on your phone  and can make your lost phone ring, even if its turned off. Holds up to 10 keys and easily attaches to car remote. MSRP $59.99.

Lay-n-Go Cosmo bags open flat so you can see everything at a glance. Then pull the drawstring and its a bag again. Store cosmetics, travel supplies, even small toys. $19.95-$38.95 depending on size.

"Vertellis" Family Edition card game. Vertellis means meaningful conversations in Dutch and this card games is about relating. It includes three editions: Family, Relationship and Holiday. Get to know each other better. $19.99 each.

Pawscout Smarter Pet Tag works with a smartphone app to track your furry friend, recruit neighbors to keep an eye out, more. App stores your pet's medical and other info. $19.95.

AutoDogMug is a lightweight water bowl for Fido that you can take on hikes, and even fits in the car cupholder for travel. MSRP $14.99.

Premium shortbread cookies by Honolulu Cookie Company in pineapple-shaped cookie box that includes dark triple chocolate macadamia, guava, coconut, passion fruit and many other flavors. $25.95

Flip-It! Bottle Emptying Kit lets you get every last drop from condiments, honey, even shampoo. $5.99 and up.

FOR WOMEN

The Ritual of Advent Exclusive Calendar contains 24 different lotions and other beauty products, specially packaged and half off the retail value. While this gift might arrive too late to take advantage of the full Advent experience, this is a treasure. $89.99

Sweatopause cooling scarf can be a scarf or a headband, and cools you down when you start to sweat. $30.

Fuchsia Shoes are crafted by and benefit Pakistani artisans using sustainable practices. More designs than you can imagine. $75-$120

Effortless SleepPhones is a wireless, rechargeable Bluetooth headband, where high-tech high-quality sound meets your pillow, MSRP $149.99.

REBE jewelry, handcrafted, ethically sourced. Beautifully packaged, no wrap required. Starting at $38

FOR MEN

Tightwad Money Clip, Lightweight and almost completely flat. $29.95-$79.95 depending on material.

Manscaped Grooming Kit provides tools to shave, clean, moisturize and deodorize. Kit configurations vary, but this ones about $80.

BetterBack is an ergonomic marvel that improves posture and off-loads back strain whether youre cross-legged on the floor, sitting on a bench or perched in a chair. It looks a little clunky, but its a gem! $49.

Fine & Raw Confection Box features a sampling of craft chocolate treats, from almond chunk to truffles and classic bars. $50.

DAZI skinny ties and bow ties, handmade, cotton, unique patterns. Ties MSRP $28, bow ties $20.

FOR KIDS

Modarri Delux Street Track bundle lets kids build the track and the cars. Customized and great fun for all ages. MSRP $69.99. Additionally, Modarri has many different options, prices.

Gelli Arts Feather Printing Kit, has everything to create unique feathers. Or try a different kit and print paper quilts, holiday cards, or more. Great variety, fun for crafty kids. Ages 8+. Varied prices. Feather Kit $21.99.

Dry Baby clothing is made of soft, chemical-free liquid-repelling cotton, created by a former NASA scientist and keeps even colicky babies dry and odor-free. Bodysuit, $14. Prices of items vary.

Oddbods Funny Makers, based on Emmy-nominated kids series, features odd figures who do five stunts, with all the bells and whistles. Lots of variations, $12.99 to $39.99 depending on the set. Target.

"How Do You See the World" card game helps tweens and above leave their comfort zone and learn what others think. Dice selects category: Reflections, Relationships, Aspirations, Lifes Purpose and Beliefs. MSRP $24.95

Squishmallows soft stuffed critters by Kellytoys are a collectible, huggable favorite and theyre everywhere. Lots of different animals, prices range from $5-30, depending on size.

Blochair inflatable chairs are sure to be a favorite with teens. Think beanbag chair without the beans  or the weight. These tip the scale at 2 lbs. $24.99.

ETYKids Safe-Listening Earphones provide exceptional sound at safe levels. $44.95.

Kids Ergo active seating stools are light, bright and made of recycled material. Sturdy enough to hold adults, too. MSRP $75.

Alex DIY Paper Swirls Swirl Station lets crafty kids quill. They can make art, jewelry, cards and more with strips of paper using this machine, which rolls the strips. MSRP $24.99, ages 8+.

STOCKING STUFFER

myFlipShade attaches to iPhone to provide screen shade, folds back as a stand and serves as a privacy screen. $9.99.

Lavish Leather earrings are lightweight, hand cut and stylish. Starting at $11.

Pandas Dream Day and Night Duo by Tony Moly features a sleep pack and cool eye stick. $19.50.

City Harvest chocolate bar is genuinely bitter-sweet. Its milk chocolate with pleasant bitter cocoa nibs. The proceeds go to the New York City-based organization City Harvest, that helps feed the hungry across the five boroughs. $9.

Inspirational socks by Posie Turner are premium quality, designed in Seattle and crafted in Peru. And they have words to live by. Price varies by style.

Skooob earbud covers are tangle-free and colorful. Just wrap them onto your favorite earphones or headphones and no more mess! MSRP $6.95-$8.95.

FIXD Diagnostic Sensor works with a smartphone app to tell you what that check engine light means and monitor vehicle for problems. Plug it in. MSRP $59.99.

Spoon Buddy is one of the hardest-working little kitchen helpers around. Its a spoon rest, a suction handle that can turn plates into lids and a jar opener, too. $9.99.

HELPS A CAUSE

Earth Bands are hand-rolled beads from sand and soil originating in a location of your choice, and then placed to make unique bracelets, anklets. A portion of each sale goes to support one of these charities: Rainforest Action Network, Protect Our Winters Charity or Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. $10-$15

The Wonderbag is a unique heat-retention, no-power slow-cooker from South Africa. Start food conventionally by bringing it to a boil or heating over a fire, and let it continue to cook slowly in the bag. Food can finish cooking on the way to the feast. Portion of sales benefit women in underdeveloped countries. Around $50 for standard bag.

National Park Foundation FirstScope is a lightweight, easy-travel beginner telescope that benefits Americas national park system. $59.

Buy bed nets through World Vision to protect someone in Latin America or Africa from mosquito-borne Zika virus or malaria. $21. Or give ducks for eggs or a share of a bike.

Hope Fragrance Hand and Body Creme, with net profits all donated to Hope for Depression Research Foundation. $40 for the set.

Lockets, handcrafted from the Locket Sisters, which donates one-fourth of proceeds to a different charity each month. $48-$200.
SALT LAKE CITY  The mother of a woman found dead in her Duchesne County Jail cell two years ago says the jail withheld her daughter's medicine for anxiety and depression for more than a week before her suicide.

Tanna Jo Fillmore, 25, "not only experienced severe psychological and emotional trauma, but she died a horrible and preventable death," claims a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her mother, Melany Zoumadakis, on Friday.

Jail employees refused to provide Fillmore her prescription medication over a nine-day period despite an intake health screening and prior knowledge of her mental illness from her previous stints in the jail, according to the lawsuit.

The suit names Sheriff David Boren, in addition to the jail's former medical director, Kennon Tubbs, and nurse Jana Clyde. Messages left with attorneys believed to be theirs were not immediately returned Monday. The sheriff's office declined comment, saying in a statement it had not yet been served a copy of the suit.

Fillmore's confinement and the potential 15-year prison sentence she was facing "triggered and compounded" her disorders, attorneys for her mother argue in court documents. But the jail failed to provide any mental health treatment or properly train or supervise medical employees, attorneys for Zoumadakis argue, calling the shortcomings intentional and "reckless."

The suit filed on behalf of Fillmore's estate seeks unspecified punitive damages and others to spur reforms at the county.

Fillmore, who was being held without bail on a probation violation related to felony and misdemeanor drug convictions, was found unresponsive in her cell on Nov. 24, 2016, and could not be revived. An autopsy determined that suicide was the cause of death, the suit states.

She had been jailed Nov. 15 in Salt Lake City and was brought to the Duchesne jail the following day. Zoumadakis, a nurse, alleges she told her daughter's probation officer shortly after the arrest that Fillmore's mental state would destabilize if the drug therapies were discontinued.

She had called her mother three times the day before her death, begging her to bring her medications to the jail, the suit says.

"On the last call, Fillmore yelled at Zoumadakis, threatening to commit suicide, and then hung up," it states. A day earlier, her mother said she noticed distress and anxiety in her daughter's voice during a similar trio of calls.

Clyde was charged with misdemeanor negligent homicide in connection with another 2016 inmate death  that of 21-year-old Madison Jensen, who died of dehydration. A judge tossed the case, finding there was not enough evidence to advance to a trial. Prosecutors have since appealed that decision.

In Utah, Fillmore's death is part of a larger trend. Suicide is the leading cause of death among those in county jails in recent years, according to a recent report from the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice. Of 71 inmates who died while in custody from 2013-2017, the review found, more than half claimed their own lives.

Help for those having suicidal thoughts is available from a 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or by texting "HOME" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.
Andy Serkis is THE name in Hollywood when it comes to performance capture. Not only has he played iconic mocap characters such as that of Caesar in Planet of the Apes, Gollum in Lord of The Rings, Snokes in Star Wars sequel trilogy and many more, he has also directed and acted in multiple video games, making him the ultimate contender for directing a live-action/animation version of Rudyard Kiplings classic - The Jungle Book. Serkis was brought on to helm Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle in 2014 and after three long years into the making, the film was acquired by Netflix from Warner Bros for a December 7 streaming release on the platform.

Netflix hosted the World Premiere of Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle in India yesterday, which saw cast member including Christian Bale, Freida Pinto, Louis Ashbourne Serkis and Rohan Chand walk the red carpet at Mumbai's famous Yash Raj Studios. Speaking to Digit.in ahead of the event, Director Andy Serkis talked about bringing this timeless tale to life. Heres an excerpt of that conversation.

The story of Mowgli and the Jungle book has been retold many times? What sets this film apart from previous renditions?

Serkis: This is a fateful retelling of the story which is going back to the time of the book. It's an emotional journey which is the portrayal of very complex character searching for his own identity. We are not being fantastical in the sense that if anything happens to Mowgli we know its not for real. It feels like its grounded in historical, truthful. It is grittier than previous renditions.

The world of motion capture has changed a lot over the past few years and youve been at the center of it all. Can you share your experience with the technology from the early days of your career leading upto Mowgli?

Serkis: It has been an extraordinary journey that I have been lucky enough to be a part of. Just seeing the changes from motion capture to performance capture, which was basically a change from just capturing the body to capturing the face and facial expressions. Then being able to take the technology outside to locations, then to be able to use it not just for human like characters but be able to use the data from a performance to actually to inspire many more different characters, for instance snakes, wolves, bears, they are much much more complex in terms of the facial shapes to create, so its been a gug change

Is it more challenging as an actor to do motion capture sequences?

Serkis: It doesn't make any difference. Just a different set of cameras capturing your performance instead of a film camera capturing your performance. Its a whole lot of other cameras other than a head mounted camera, but in terms of the essence of acting, there is no difference.

You are the face behind iconic characters like Gollum from LOTR, Snoke in Star Wars, Caesar in Planet of the Apes...You were the voice and mo-cap for King Bohan in Sonys Heavenly Sword and Monkey in Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. How do you don such diverse roles and mange to bring a unique personality to each one of them?

Serkis: Its about being bold enough to really believe that you are that character. It's about the power of the imagination. Its about really making yourself lose any inhibition and not be vain about seeing your face on the screen and actually want to thoroughly become something else. And thats the heart of it. What I love about acting is the art of transforming.

The Jungle book and Mowgli are very Indian in their roots. Can you talk about how that affected your decisions while making the movie?

Serkis: From day one, we attempted to not make a whitewashed version of the story, like many other adaptations have done. It is set in India, written by somebody who grew up in India, so the first person that came aboard, the very first collaborator that I had was Nitin Sawhney, who is a British-Indian composer. The design and placement of it (the film) is very Indian in nature. A lot of the cast is Indian. We also had Hindi speaking Indians in the village sequences, it was all very important.

Since the text and origin of Mowgli is so dated, what is the message that the film is trying to get across in the modern context?

Serkis: There are many messages. We wanted it to be about the search for belonging. There are many people in this world who feel they dont particularly belong anywhere, that they have been displaced. The world is full of refugees in a way. Thats what the story is about. It's about how do you find your home and knowing yourself and finding yourself. Its also about perilous situations. Places like the jungle are threatened by human beings and weve reached a tipping point in the world now where if we are not careful, we will lose these places of great beauty. I also wanted to somehow tap into the idea of colonisation, change and encroachment, and thats what the story is about.

As a director, how do feel about your film being acquired by Netflix and it releasing on a streaming platform instead of getting a traditional theatrical release?

Serkis: I am delighted that Netflix has acquired this because its meant that we have a big global reach immediately. We are having a limited theatrical release so you can see it on the big screen as well. I am most thrilled that we are having our world premiere in Mumbai and that wouldn't have happened if we had gone down the traditional route.

Images courtesy: Netflix
Nokia is teasing the launch of a new smartphone in India. The company recently tweeted out a silhouette of a phone featuring a notched display and its caption reads, The pictures about to get rosy with an epic viewing experience. Get ready to #ExpectMore. While theres no solid information on what phone could be announced, speculation is that the company might soon unveil its Nokia X7 in India, after renaming it to Nokia 8.1. The Nokia X7 was launched in China last month and we were expecting the company to rename it as Nokia 7.1 Plus when it launches globally. However, a recent report suggested Chief Product Officer at Nokia, Juho Sarvikas, will be keeping the Nokia 7.1 Plus moniker reserved for another device that could debut around MWC 2019 and rename the Nokia X7 as the Nokia 8.1 for its global debut, which is tipped to be announced before 2019.

Adding to rumours, the Nokia 8.1 smartphone was also spotted on Geekbench running the same SoC as the Nokia X7. The listing suggested that the device could be launched running on Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC, coupled with 4GB RAM. The said device was seen running on Android 9 Pie. Keeping in mind that Nokia has not launched any flagship phone after the Nokia 8 and the Nokia 8 Sirocco, this change in the naming convention would actually make sense. Renaming the Nokia X7 as the Nokia 8.1 would categorise it as an upper mid-range smartphone, paving way for the rumoured flagship Nokia 9 PureView.

Speaking of the Nokia 9 PureView, images of the devices back case were recently leaked. The cover features several cutouts for the camera setup, seven to be exact. Five of these are said to be for the lenses, while the other two could be for the LED flash and the alleged IR focusing apparatus. An elongated cut-out on one of the cameras hints at the presence of a microphone. You can read more about the device here.
Googles Android One project has swiftly become a standard among Android phones. While there are phones that battle it out on the spec-sheets, the Android One phones may not be as spec-heavy but more than make up for it with pure, stock Android reinforced with the promise of regular updates. The Xiaomi Mi A1 last year opened the floodgates to Android One phones, and since then there have been a bunch of phones with stock Android and Googles Android One logo on it.

Whats common between all the Android One phones launched this year is the fact that all the phones will be getting the update to Android 9.0 Pie as well as Android O, whenever it releases. In fact, phones like the Nokia 7 Plus are already running the latest version, being among the first few phones to do so.

What is Android One?

Android One phones are reliable, functional and more importantly, are longer lasting than other Android phones with the promise of regular updates they brings to the table. Android One phones come with Googles latest OS built-in, which auto-adjusts to your needs and help you get things done more efficiently. They are light on pre-loaded apps, bring optimised battery life. With that in mind, here are the best Android One phones you can buy in India right now.

The Xiaomi Mi A2 is one of the best Android devices you can buy in the mid-range segment, and its also the best Android One device out there right now. With a sleek form factor and a dual-camera setup that can give more expensive phones a run for their money, the Mi A2 is easy to recommend. It runs a clean, unmodified version of Android 8.1 Oreo and the Android 9.0 Pie update for the phone has already rolled out to present users. The Mi A2s only weak point is its battery. With a 3,000mAh capacity, it can only last around a day under moderate usage. Click here to buy.



2. Nokia 8 Sirocco (Review)

The Nokia 8 Sirocco is right now the most expensive Android One phone you can buy. Nokia announced at MWC this year that all its phones from now on will be Android One certified and leading the way was the Nokia 8 Sirocco. Its a minor bump from the Nokia 8 last year in terms of the hardware under the hood, but its design is something many might fancy. It features a 5.5-inch P-OLED display that curves along the edges to meet the body. The phone also packs a Snapdragon 835 SoC along with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. It also features a dual camera setup that works to offer good photos, Click here to buy.



3. Nokia 7 Plus (Review)

The Nokia 7 Plus was the Nexus Google never made. For the price of Rs 25,999, you get a 6-inch display in the 18:9 aspect ratio and a design that is easily recognisable as a Nokia. With thick copper accents along the sides and around the camera, the Nokia 7 Plus not only looks good from the inside (thanks to Android One), it also looks quite stunning from the outside. Theres also Zeiss branded dual-cameras on the back that can take some fantastic shots in daytime and manageable ones at night. Its also great to use and for the time we had the phone for testing, it never slowed down one bit. The Nokia 7 Plus has received the update to Android 9.0 Pie already and was one of the beta-testing phones for Android 9 Developer Preview. Its one of the phones to get if you want to be on the latest and best version of Android. Click here to buy.



4. Moto One Power (Review)

The Moto One Power is the newest to join the crowd of Android One phones. Moto has been offering stock Android on its phones for quite some time now but its bad history of updates made Moto switch to Android One. The Moto One Power is yet to live up to the promise of the certification but the Moto One Power runs on a competitive Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. There is a dual camera unit at the back that can take decently good photos but we werent really impressed by it. On the other hand, it feels quite fast and snappy and with a 5,000mAh battery, its one of the longest-running phones in the mid-range segment. Click here to buy.

Its not surprising that Nokia features heavily in this list as it consistently releases the most number Android One phones. The Nokia 6.1 is a well-rounded, affordable Android One phone with a 5.5-inch 16:9 display and a robust, differentiated design. There is a single camera on the back with Zeiss branding and is powered by the older, but reliable Snapdragon 630. Its claim to fame is not just the clean, unmodified Android interface, but also the 5,000mAh battery it packs under the hood. Click here to buy.
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DETROIT (AP)  A judge has ordered a Michigan man to surrender two antique lighthouse lenses worth at least $600,000, months after the collector lost a court battle with the federal government.

Steve Gronow was supposed to turn them over last summer. U.S. Coast Guard officials and a lens expert recently went to his mansion in Howell, 50 miles northwest of Detroit, but weren't allowed through a gate.





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A data center at 6101 S. 180th St. in Tukwila has sold for $53.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was LIT Industrial LP.

The buyer was DCCO Tukwila LLC, which is associated with IPI Data Center Partners of Chicago. Public records indicate a loan from Citizens Bank.





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SEATTLE  The Hamlin Place apartments, at 2800 Franklin Ave. E., have sold for a little under $2.2 million, according to King County records.

The seller was DK Hamlin Place LLC, which acquired the property in 1995 for $905,000.





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BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Tamarack Resort has laid unfinished and has struggled to operate for a decade after a series of financial issues, but new owners hope to reinvigorate the Idaho ski and ledge destination.

Tamarack Resort Holdings announced the agreement to purchase the resort in a release last week.





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Govt won't need RBI cash for next 6 months: Arun Jaitley

Amidst government demands for the Reserve Bank of India sharing its reserves with the government by pruning total holdings , finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the government will not require any cash from the central bank at least over the next six months.

Jaitleys assertion comes after the finance ministry pushed for access to RBI`s surplus reserves prompting the central bank`s board to form an expert panel to look into whether its cash pool is adequate.

During a television interview telecast on Friday, the finance minister rejected opposition charges that the government was seeking access to the bank`s reserves to fund schemes ahead of the 2019 general election.

"I don`t need money in the next six months," said Jaitley. He said his government respected the institution`s independence and that the oppositions criticism that the government is trying to undermine the central bank`s authority has no basis. Jaitley.

"We respect the autonomy (of the RBI) but, at the same time, if some sectors are starved of liquidity or credit, we will flag those issues. We do so with the RBI."

The Congress party has accused the Narendra Modi government of eyeing the cash reserves held by the RBI.

"Government is determined to `capture` RBI in order to gain control over the reserves," P Chidambaram, a former finance minister and a top Congress leader tweeted last week.

While the government may not ask for direct cash, it wants the RBI to open liquidity taps for banks to lend.

A meeting of the board of the Reserve Bank of India, whose members include government nominees, at its meeting last week advised the RBI to aid small businesses and give banks more time to step up capital norms to encourage lending and stimulate the economy ahead of next year`s election.
Russia in new stand-off with Ukraine over Sea of Azov

Russia on Sunday said it seized three Ukrainian naval vessels in a strait near Crimea, a part of Ukraine that ceded to Russia after a stand-off with Kiev, raising fears of a military confrontation between Moscow and West-backed Kiev.

Ukraine's navy accused Russia of firing on its vessels in the Kerch Strait, a narrow waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov that is used by Ukraine and Russia.

"In order to stop the Ukrainian military ships, weapons were used," Russia's FSB security service said, confirming that "three Ukrainian navy ships were boarded and searched."

Ukraine's navy said the incident took place as three vessels that included two small warships and a tugboat, headed through the strait for the port of Mariupol.

It said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat in "openly aggressive actions" and then fired on the ships, immobilising all three.

It also said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker, and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area.

Ukraine said six of its soldiers were injured, while the FSB reported only three had suffered non-life threatening injuries and were given medical treatment.

"Having breached this morning the Russian border, the three Ukrainian ships - the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yani Kapu - tried again on 25 November at 19:00 (Moscow time) to conduct illegal actions in Russian territorial waters," the FSB said.

The FSB, which oversees the border guard service, also said the Ukrainian ships had failed to respond to the "legal demands" of the Russian authorities and that they were aiming "to create a conflict situation in this region."

In 2016, Russia launched a $3.7 billion bridge project to connect Crimea with mainland in southern Russia, making the Kerch Strait, the gate to the Azov, a conflict zone.

Kiev and its supporting Western powers condemned Russian moves. The European Union also, in late July, added six more Russian companies involved in the bridge project to its sanctions list.

In March, with the bridge nearing completion, Ukrainian authorities detained a Ukrainian-registered Crimean fishing vessel for illegally sailing under the Russian flag and arrested its captain and crew in the Sea of Azov - a move one Russian official likened to that of "Somali pirates."

Since then, Russia has stepped up confrontation in and around the Azov in a big way.

In early May, Russian border guards subordinate to the country's Federal Security Service (FSB) reportedly arrested a Ukrainian fishing vessel and its crew in the Black Sea, ostensibly for illegally fishing in what it said was Russia's exclusive economic zone.

The European Union issued a statement saying: "We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately."

NATO in a statement also urged "restraint and de-escalation", and called on Russia "to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law".

The confrontation at sea is a dangerous development in the long-running conflict pitting Ukraine against Russia and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country.

"Russian special forces have taken over some ships", Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said after the latest conflict. He called a meeting of his military cabinet to evaluate and determine his country's next steps.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said it considered "these aggressive actions" a violation of international law that would be met with "an international and diplomatic legal response", and its envoy to the United Nations said on Twitter that the country will make an immediate appeal to the Security Council.

Russia for its part accused Kiev of illegally entering its waters and deliberately provoking a conflict. Moscow claims the waters off Crimea after annexing the peninsula in 2014.

Russian politicians accused Ukraine of acting at the behest of its Western allies and deliberately attempting to escalate the conflict.

Crimean leader Sergei Aksyonov wrote on Facebook that he "was sure the Western masters of the Kiev regime are behind this act of provocation".

Pyotr Tolstoy, deputy speaker of the Russian parliament, warned on Facebook that "the Ukrainian puppet authorities... are risking unleashing a large military conflict".

"One thing is clear: Russia won't allow military provocations in its territorial waters," he said.

Ukraine said it gave Russia advance warning of its ships' route, which its vessels are obliged to take to reach the Sea of Azov.

The latest incident comes after the Ukrainian navy in September complained of "acts of provocation" by Russian border guards against its ships taking the same route.

Ukraine has increased the number of its navy ships and border guard patrols in the Sea of Azov after Russia deployed five more warships there.

Kiev says its naval buildup is due to Russia stepping up controls in the area this year and carrying out lengthy checks on commercial shipping that were very costly for freight and port companies.

Kiev and the West have accused Moscow of deliberately blocking ships from accessing Mariupol, which has vital access to heavy industry in the region.
EU sets seal to Brexit deal, defends May

European Union leaders formally agreed a Brexit deal at a Brussels summit on Sunday, leaving Prime Minister Theresa May to fight opposition threat to vote down the deal in the British parliament.

Leaders of the 27-state EU cleared the 600-pade document setting terms for Britains withdrawal from the European Union on 29 March 2019 in half an hour during a Sunday meeting and claimed it was the best deal that could be worked out under present conditions.

The European Commission also approved a 26-page declaration outlining a future free trading relationship between Britain and the EU.

European Union chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker said he believed Prime Minister May would get it through parliament, but ruled out big new concessions.

This is the deal, Junker told reporters on his way to the meeting, Now it is time for everybody to take responsibility  everybody, said Michel Barnier, the Frenchman who has ground out the withdrawal treaty over the past 18 months.

Juncker called it a sad day, saying Brexit was a tragedy and tough on both sides.

I believe that the British government will succeed in securing the backing of the British parliament, Juncker said, declining to comment on what might happen if May fails.

I would vote in favour of this deal because this is the best deal possible for Britain, he added.

I believe that the British government will succeed in securing the backing of the British parliament, Juncker said, declining to comment on what might happen if May fails.

I would vote in favour of this deal because this is the best deal possible for Britain, he added.

The Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party propping up British Prime Minister Theresa Mays government on Saturday said it would vote against her Brexit withdrawal agreement, which its deputy leader said would leave Britain in a pitiful and pathetic place.

DUP said it would review its parliamentary pact with the Conservatives if the deal is approved by MPs.

Prime Minister Theresa May rejected arguments against the deal and said should tell MPs who oppose her plan to either back the plan of face "division and uncertainty."

Speaking in the Commons after the 27 EU leaders approved the terms of the UK's exit at a summit on Sunday, May now has to persuade politicians in the UK Parliament to back the deal.

But cabinet ministers admit she faces an uphill struggle, with Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP, the DUP and many Tory MPs set to vote against it.

While the 27 leaders voted unanimously for the Brexit deal, there were also signs of worries within the EU. After the deal was endorsed in the summit chamber, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite tweeted that the exit process was far from over.

Barnier called the package a basis for close future ties, insisting: We will remain allies, partners and friends.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the exit of one nation from the union showed EU needed reform. He, however, stressed that Paris would hold Britain to tight EU regulations, notably on the environment, in return for giving it easy trade access.

He said the exit of Britain, which was always sceptical of one Europe, is on its own choice and neither a moment for celebration nor mourning.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte praised Mays handling of the difficult negotiations and said he was confident that she could see the deal through parliament. But he also warned those in Mays Conservative party as well as the Labour opposition who look for a better deal by denying minority government support on Brexit.

This is the maximum we can all do, Rutte said, shaking his head when asked if the EU might make more concessions.

Saying the EU hates Brexit, Rutte said: Nobodys winning  we are all losing. But, he said, the deal was an acceptable compromise for all that gave May a chance to clinch a solution.

The question now is whether Mays divided minority government can make it in parliament. If the deal fails, Britons would either hold a second referendum, hold a new election to replace May or return to Brussels to try and renegotiate the package.

In the worst scenario, Britain will simply crash out of the bloc on without a deal.
Each Maldivian owes China $8,000 after infra spending: report

A week after a new administration headed by President Mohamed Ibrahim Solih took over power in the island state in a crucial election that saw the ouster of Chinese backed President Abdulla Yameen, China has put a claim of $3.2 billion on the new government.

The new government of the Maldives says it has no idea how much it owes China after a construction spree in the tiny Indian Ocean nation, but fears the debts run up in the past five years could be unsustainable.

Mohamed Nasheed, a former president now serving as advisor to new President Mohamed Ibrahim Solih, said the Chinese ambassador to the Maldives, Zhang Lizhong, handed the government an invoice for $3.2 billion (equivalent to around $8,000 for every inhabitant of the400,000-strong archipelago).

China denies says the number is smaller and closer to $1.5 billion.

It was an invoice. It just had a figure, $3.2 billion. It was shocking, said Nasheed. It wasnt just a conversation, it was a written note handed over, it was clear, you owe us this much.

Nasheed said Zhang gave Solih the note at a meeting on 6 October, days after his election victory over former President Abdulla Yameen. He did not give further details of exactly how the note was worded.

Asked about Nasheeds comments, Chinas foreign ministry said that its ambassador in the Maldives had rejected this untruth in statements to local media, referring to an interview with news website Avas in which Zhang was quoted as saying reports of debt of around $3 billion were deeply exaggerated.

China has underwritten millions of dollars in loans for infrastructure in the Maldives, located along its busy shipping route to the Middle East.

Solihs administration said the countrys finances are in worse shape than expected, and that it will take weeks or months to untangle details of all the deals struck with Chinese firms.

We are at a loss to understand how much we really owe to China, said Nasheed.

Direct debt, or direct bilateral government-to-government debt is one thing, but there is on top of that sovereign guarantees for the private sector. And there is also on top of that our state owned enterprises who have gone into debt.

In the Avas interview, Zhang said the Maldives debt to China was $600 million to construct a sea bridge linking the capital Male with the airport, expand the airport, and build residential tower blocks on land reclaimed from the sea. Another $900 million had been earmarked as commercial loans to some state owned companies to fund projects from power to housing, the ambassador said, but much of that had not yet been issued.
Maharashtra invites global bids for Dharavi redevelopment project

The Maharashtra government has invited global tenders for a Rs22,000-crore redevelopment project for Dharavi that would see one of the largest slums in Asia turned into an integrated township.

In advertisements published in newspapers, the state governments Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) has invited bids for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) latest by 28 December.

Successful completion of the bidding process would leave open 535 acres of prime land in the heart of Mumbai for development bringing new business opportunity to developers and opportunities to real estate investors.

The Dharavi redevelopment plan envisaged in 2004 failed to materialise so far due to conflicting interests and multiplicity of stakeholders.

As per the new redevelopment plan, the selected lead partner will have to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with 80 per cent equity (Rs 400 crore) and the Maharashtra government will hold the rest of the equity in the project.

The SPV will construct free houses for eligible slum dwellers and will also be entitled to construct houses for sale in the open market. The state government has fixed a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 4 for the project. FSI is the ratio between the built-up space to the area of land on which a building stands.

There are over 60,000 families living in Dharavi currently and they have to be provided alternate accommodation.

The redevelopment of Dharavi, which is closer to South Mumbai than the upmarket Bandra-Kurla Complex, when completed, can change the entire real estate scenario in Mumbai.

Nestled between the eastern and western suburbs, Dharavi is an attractive proposition for home-buyers, investors and developers alike.

But, with conflicting interest and divergent goals of the investor and the government, redevelopment of Dharavi will not be an easy proposition.

With nearly a fifth of the land privately-owned, land ownership and relocation of its existing inhabitants will be the biggest question.
Do you still like living in Milan? Do you pass much time here?

Im here now and I spend a lot of time painting.

How many paintings do you make per month?

Its hard to say. In this new phase, my paintings are smaller than before. Ive done 80 so far.

Why did you take up painting again after almost 50 years? Your first new paintings are from 2000.

When I went to Germany in 1954, I interrupted my artistic endeavours to dedicate myself to a different type of experimentation. At the Hochschule fur Gestaltung in Ulm, I wanted to transfer my previous investigations into the arts to teaching. When I returned to Italy, I continued to cultivate more of my interests  semiotics, language, linguistics and philosophy of science and technology. I always wanted to contribute some kind of innovation.

So could we say your recent works arent merely a return to painting, but a new instrument to explore reality?

I believe so. In this sense, in each of my new paintings there is an inventive component. Each represents an attempt to introduce new elements of experimentation. One thing Im sure of is that now, at almost 90, Im still doing what Ive always done, since the age of 20, with the same passion and discipline.

[]
The establishment of a direct provision centre in a hotel in Moville which was the target of an arson attack at the weekend is expected to go ahead as planned.

It emerged that members of the family who own the Caiseal Mara hotel in Moville were inside when it was attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning.

One man was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The attack has been widely condemned by locals and politicians. A meeting on Sunday, which had been organised prior to the arson attack, was attended by over 150 people.

Garda Inspector Goretti Sheridan confirmed to the meeting in the local Methodist Hall that the fire was started deliberately.

Failte Inishowen and Inishowen Together, who organised the meeting, said more than 50 people queued to give their contact details and volunteer their time to help welcome the new residents to Moville.The 100 asylum seekers who are coming under the direct provision system were expected to begin arriving early next month.Concern had previously been voiced at the lack of consultation with local representatives and the people of the town and the lack of resources and supports for the asylum seekers.Local councillor Martin Farren said he has been told by the Reception and Integration Committee that the establishment of the direct provision centre at the hotel will go ahead.

The Department of Justice said it remained committed to working with the community in Moville to ensure the best possible support for those seeking international protection.

Any possible delay in the establishment of the centre cannot be determined until a full assessment of the damage has been carried out, the department said.

Notwithstanding this, we will continue to source accommodation, in line with our legal and humanitarian commitments, for those seeking international protection in Ireland, the department said in a statement.

Ministers Flanagan and Stanton have both condemned this incident at the Caiseal Mara Hotel on Sunday. A full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the events that took place there and the level of any damage caused.

Following that review, matters will be reassessed as necessary. We remain committed to working with the local community to ensure that the best possible support is provided to those seeking international protection.
Fine Gael Councillor John McGahon has said that providing 533,000 in funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund for the Long Walk Quarter is exactly the type of substantial financial investment that Dundalk needs for regeneration.

Speaking on the funding announcement Cllr. McGahon said:

"The Urban Regeneration and Development fund (URDF) was established earlier this year under Project Ireland 2040.

"The fund is the largest urban regeneration initiative in Ireland for decades and was established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration of and rejuvenation of towns like Dundalk in line with the objectives of Project Ireland 2040.

"The 533,000 investment for Dundalk will be funding a rejuvenation scheme to reinvigorate the Long Walk area to establish a new living and working quarter at the heart of Dundalk town centre.

"The funding will support street improvement and upgrade, creation of improved public spaces and promotion of cafe culture and incorporation of public art."

Cllr McGahon also highlighted the importance of this funding for Dundalk.

"This is a great news story for Dundalk. We already have a full scale redevelopment in the works for Clanbrassill Street and now we have over half a million to drive regeneration and rejuvenation of a strategic and under-utilised area like the Longwalk.

"This funding is another clear example of the steps that are being take to make Dundalk an even more attractive and vibrant place in which people choose to live and work, as well as to invest", concluded Cllr. McGahon.
Aldi is teaming up with FoodCloud to challenge its Louth shoppers to help donate the equivalent of 20,000 meals to its Food For Good Christmas Appeal.

From Friday, 30th November to Sunday, 9th December, Aldi shoppers are being asked to donate an extra non-perishable food item to help fill the specially designed Food For Good boxes that will be popping up at all of Aldis four Louth stores for ten days only.

Announcing the launch of the Food For Good Christmas Appeal, co-founder of FoodCloud Iseult Ward said:

Every Christmas we all find ourselves with that extra box of biscuits or Christmas cake that we didnt really need after all. Often these leftovers get added to the tonnes of food that gets wasted every festive season. This year, were asking Aldi shoppers to consider donating what might have been that extra thing, reducing food waste and helping people in need.

Food collected by Aldis Louth shoppers during the Food For Good Christmas Appeal will be redistributed amongst our charity partners across the country, giving those most in need some extra Christmas cheer and keeping perfectly edible goods out of the bin.

Also speaking in advance of the launch, Group Buying Director at Aldi Ireland, John Curtin said:

Our stores have donated more than 1.9 million meals of unsold food through FoodCloud in the last three years, and weve seen the difference it makes. This is a great chance to work with our customers and help communities at Christmas.

We will also donate all of our unsold fresh turkeys to FoodCloud and FoodCloud Hubs.

The following non-perishable items are requested as donations to the Food For Good Christmas Appeal:
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Are you a busy corporate type who cant remember how you managed to forge new connections back in the analogue era when broadening your circle meant exchanging business cards after an industry lunch? Or a digital native for whom the words business networking and LinkedIn are synonymous?

Australians have taken to the Microsoft-owned LinkedIn platform with gusto in recent years. Launched in the US in 2002, the site now has eight million registered users in Australia; 4.2 million of whom log in every month, according to Social Media News.

But while the site offers unparalleled opportunities to search for jobs, spruik your wares, position yourself as a thought leader and rub virtual shoulders with others in your industry, bigger isnt always better, when it comes to creating a cyber-network of contacts.

In fact, the reverse. Accepting connection requests without any form of introduction from strangers with whom youve have no prior contact, online or in real life, can be fraught with danger.

Id like to connect so I can hack your company systems and hijack your career

Not just because of the chance youll be peppered with irritating spam about the webinar theyre running or the services theyre spruiking, or having to bat off invitations to discuss an exciting but unspecified business opportunity.

Out-of-the-blue connection requests can be the first step in a social engineering campaign; the object of which can be to harvest your credentials, part you from your own or your employers cash or steal sensitive corporate data to which you have access.

The term social engineering refers to the use of deception to manipulate individuals into breaching security practices or divulging personal or confidential information which the perpetrator can use for financial gain.

The practice has become more prevalent in recent times, as hackers and cyber-criminals twig to the fact that individuals are often the weakest link in an organisations security strategy.

A skilfully orchestrated social engineering campaign can be easier and cheaper than attempting to hack increasingly well protected corporate systems and databases.

And skilful they can be. Forget the classic Nigerian scam email, replete with spelling and grammatical errors, exhorting you to take immediate action or miss out on pocketing your share of a seven-figure sum  todays social engineering attacks can be highly personalised, oh-so-plausible and months in the making.

How do they work?

Social engineers begin the process by getting to know their target. Frequently referred to as Facebook for business, LinkedIn can provide a wealth of personal and business information to assist them in this endeavour.

The site can be a highly effective in for a couple of reasons. Most users have an implicit faith that accounts are, by and large, legitimate and thats particularly the case if someone purports to work in a similar or related industry to their own. It cant hurt to click Accept  can it?

Famous last words. Fraudsters and cyber-criminals are experts in the arts of social validation and credibility building; done in the hope future victims will let their guard down sufficiently to create an opportunity for them to pounce.

Consider the amount of information a new connection might conceivably garner about you, over time  the projects youre working on, the conferences you attend, your stance on current industry issues and the contacts you interact with regularly, inside and outside your company.

The Sting

Building a comprehensive profile of you, personally and professionally, is key to pulling off stage two of the operation: the sting.

Its more likely to be successful if its credible and compelling and todays savvy cyber-criminals are prepared to put significant time and effort into laying the groundwork to ensure you do fall for their beautifully timed and believable gambit.

It might come in the form of a phishing email with a malicious link, or a whaling email if youre high up the food chain at your place of toil.

The term whaling is used to refer to the targeting of a senior executive, typically via an email thats official in appearance and which contains personalised or sensitive business information requiring immediate action, such as the authorisation of an urgent payment.

For added verisimilitude, phishing and whaling emails may be followed up by a phone call confirming the request.

Playing it safe

Taking an old-fashioned Stranger Danger approach to virtual networking can protect your reputation and reduce your chance of becoming that person  the employee who compromised corporate data or cost their employer big bucks by falling victim to a social engineering scam.

Only accepting connection requests from individuals youve met, talked to or know by reputation is the best way to ensure your LinkedIn network is an asset, not a potential liability that can compromise your reputation and cost you and your employer dear.

Sylvain Lejeune is Vice President Sales Asia Pacific and Japan at WatchGuard Technologies.
The role of the European Union in fostering convergence

Speech by Benoit Cure, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Conference on European Economic Integration (CEEI), Vienna, 26 November 2018

This[1] conference was renamed 14 years ago to reflect the growing together of Europe.[2] In my remarks today I would like to focus precisely on these three topics: growth, Europe and togetherness. I will argue that these three elements are needed to accomplish what the Treaty on European Union promises: economic and social cohesion.[3]

I will focus my remarks today on the economies of central, eastern and south-eastern Europe (CESEE), covering both those that are already part of the European Union (EU) and those that are EU candidate countries or potential candidates.[4]

I will start with a brief review of the current state of convergence of CESEE economies, and then explain how three key European policy areas  the completion of the Single Market, the launch of a true capital markets union and the targeted use of EU funds  can help accelerate convergence and thereby also foster cohesion in Europe.

The current state of convergence

CESEE economies have seen significant improvements in living standards over the past two decades, in both absolute and relative terms.[5] Since 2000, growth in real GDP per capita has averaged 3.8% in the region as a whole, compared with 1.4% for the EU-28. As a result, we have seen these economies make measurable and welcome progress in catching up to the EU average.[6]

But this catching-up process has been neither linear over time nor homogeneous across countries. You can see this on my first slide.

Clearly, for most countries, convergence towards the EU-28 average has practically stalled since the outbreak of the financial crisis in 2008  this is the difference between the yellow dot and the upper end of the blue bar.

And before the crisis, convergence was noticeably faster in economies that were already part of the euro area. In many of these economies, relative living standards increased by half, from 40 to 50% of the EU average in 2000, to around 70% in 2016. But the further one moves to the right on this slide, and contrary to what neoclassical growth theory would suggest, the less compelling strong convergence becomes.

In the Western Balkans, for example, while relative income levels have increased, they have done so at a much slower pace. At current growth rates, fast convergence towards the EU-28 average will remain illusory for many EU candidate countries or potential candidates.

These economies, and this you can see on my next slide, would need much higher GDP growth rates than in previous years to even reach half of the EU-28 average within the next 20 years or so, with the possible exception of Montenegro.

Clearly, this pace of convergence is disappointing. It implies that living standards in Europe will remain highly varied and uneven for a considerable period of time, even within the EU. And if there is no credible prospect of lower-income countries catching up soon, there is a risk that people living in those countries begin questioning the very benefits of membership of the EU or the currency union. Such doubts would be particularly worrisome in the unstable world we are currently living in.

We need the EU to remain a force for change, a source of growth and development and an anchor of stability. Action is therefore needed on two main fronts: first, to bring convergence in EU Member States back onto its pre-crisis path and, second, to jump-start convergence in EU candidate countries and potential candidates.

To understand what needs to be done to tackle both challenges, it is useful to look at the drivers of growth and the factors that have recently been holding them back. You can see this on my next slide.

What you can see here is that, since the crisis, growth in all CESEE economies has essentially slowed because of two main factors: a sharp drop in total factor productivity (TFP) growth and, to a lesser extent, in the contribution of capital to growth.

There are two things worth highlighting here.

The first is that it is highly unusual that pre-crisis convergence largely reflected technological progress and innovation. During the transition phase, growth is typically based on capital and labour accumulation, and only later on TFP growth.[7] Or, to borrow the words of Paul Krugman, it is based first on perspiration and only later on inspiration.[8]

The flipside is that these economies are now faced with a notable capital shortfall. The capital stock per person employed remains substantially below the EU-28 average in almost all CESEE economies. You can see this on my next slide on the left-hand side.

In CESEE euro area Member States, it also remains well below other emerging economies, such as South Korea, with similar per capita income levels. And, worse, investment rates have fallen further since the crisis in all CESEE economies. You can see this on the right-hand side.

The second fact worth highlighting is that the remarkable contribution of productivity to growth, both in the upswing and in the downturn, is likely to be an artefact of the growth model adopted by most CESEE economies. This growth model relies, by and large, on deep integration in global production chains.

You can see this clearly on my next slide. CESEE economies are some of the worlds most integrated. They are far more integrated in global value chains than their EU peers, for example. Sizeable foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows in the pre-crisis period  which you can see on the right-hand side  have promoted the role of CESEE economies in global production processes. These inflows accounted for around 6% of GDP in the run-up to the crisis. In the EU-28 as a whole, FDI inflows accounted for just 3.4% of GDP over this period.

The role of FDI in supporting TFP growth is well known.[9] By integrating local firms into global value chains, it facilitates the transfer of technology and expertise. The transfer of technology, moreover, does not stop at firms directly integrated into global value chains, but also extends to their domestic suppliers via local production networks.[10]

Empirical evidence shows that, in the case of central and eastern European (CEE) economies, this transfer of technology has contributed to both strong TFP growth in the run-up to the crisis and to its more recent slowdown.[11]

You can see this more clearly on my next slide. There is a very close link between TFP growth in CEE economies and TFP growth in non-CEE EU countries. This link likely reflects the scale and scope of technology spillovers.[12] So, as FDI inflows decelerated and participation rates in global value chains levelled off, TFP growth in CESEE economies abated too.

Global value chains as a source of TFP growth in the future

In sum, therefore, this diagnosis highlights two key facts: CESEE economies have a lack of capital, and a strong reliance on global production processes.

The easy answer, of course, is to brush away weakness in FDI inflows as a temporary phenomenon. After all, if the law of declining marginal returns on capital continues to hold, we should still expect capital to flow into catching-up economies, rebooting TFP growth.

I would be somewhat more cautious, however. It is true that weakness in trade and investment, worldwide, has been part of the collateral damage from the crisis. As we leave this legacy behind, headwinds should fade too.

But the recent shift is also likely to reflect developments of a more structural nature  that is, the slowdown in global value chain formation may well persist.[13]

There are three main reasons for this. First, natural disasters and increasing climate-related disruptions have led firms to rethink the length and design of their value chains to mitigate the risks of costly supply disruptions.[14] This is becoming increasingly visible and may still amplify as climate change takes its toll on our economies.

Second, in the past sizeable wage differentials for unskilled labour made the international fragmentation of production processes worthwhile. Some of these wage differentials have narrowed considerably as emerging economies have grown richer. In the EU CESEE economies, for example, real wages have increased by slightly more than 50% since 2000. In the EU-28, real wages grew by 18% over the same period.

And, third, the increased use of robots and artificial intelligence has the potential to turn global value chains on their head and cause firms to reconsider offshoring practices.[15]

The second and third factors may be the most pressing ones.

Put simply, if robots can deliver the same output more cheaply, more efficiently and closer to the consumer, then firms may have fewer reasons to spread production across countries. By some estimates, the average price of industrial robots has declined by about 40% over the past ten years and is projected to fall considerably further.[16] A survey by the Boston Consulting Group revealed that more than 70% of senior manufacturing executives in the United States think that robotics improve the economics of local production.[17]

The implication is that, to the extent that growing automation and narrowing wage differentials make the outsourcing of production processes less profitable, policymakers in CESEE economies, and in emerging market economies more generally, will need to think about developing other growth models.

To reboot TFP growth and deepen capital accumulation they will need to stimulate domestic investment spending and help new, innovative industries to grow and develop. Only in this way will convergence towards the EU-28 average accelerate.

These should be joint efforts, however, which brings me to the second part of my remarks. Europe can and should help, in three main ways. First, by providing the market that makes the development of new industries profitable. Second, by channelling funds to sectors and countries where capital can be used most productively. And, third, by providing direct financial assistance to foster convergence and support national reform efforts.

Reaping the benefits of the Single Market

Let me take each of these points in turn, starting with the market dimension.

The EUs Single Market can be a valuable source of competitive advantage for firms located in CESEE economies, in particular when competing with other economies at similar stages of development.

It is the largest market in the world, offering the benefits of enormous economies of scale, and has helped establish product and safety standards that are used worldwide. There is compelling evidence that the Single Market has had a positive impact on exports, investment, innovation and productivity.[18]

To exploit its full potential, and to accelerate convergence, two things need to be done.

First, Member States need to strengthen its enforcement so that Single Market initiatives translate into concrete and positive effects on the ground.

A key ingredient for this is efficient administration at all levels of government. Indeed, a lack of real convergence in income levels is, more often than not, the result of a lack of convergence in institutional quality.[19] You can see this on my next slide  a slide I like to show because I think it makes a compelling point, notwithstanding the usual caveat on the two-way causality between institutional quality and income levels.[20]

Most CESEE economies are still in the lower left-hand corner, meaning there remains a significant gap in overall institutional quality compared with the average level observed in the EU as a whole.

Some EU Member States have recently renewed their interest in the process leading to participation in the exchange rate mechanism (ERM II) and the adoption of the euro. This could become a fundamental catalyst for institutional reforms in the years to come.

Second, the scope of the Single Market must be broadened.

For the EU, this means expanding its reach into industries that are prime drivers of innovation and catalysts for future growth.

This is particularly relevant for CESEE economies. As you can see on my next slide, most of these countries are still classified as modest or moderate innovators. There have been some notable improvements in certain countries over time, but in others the process of gradually catching up with their EU peers appears to have stalled, or even to have backtracked, in recent years.

The first priority is therefore to complete the Single Market for services, which already account for two-thirds of global GDP and employment, and represent many of the potential growth sectors in the age of digitalisation and automation.

Research by the ESCBs Competitive Research Network (CompNet) shows, for example, that many firms in the EU services sector are far behind the productivity frontier, particularly in CESEE economies.[21] Reallocating capital and labour to more productive firms would help boost overall competitiveness and support employment.

A second, and more direct, avenue is to increase efforts to build a European data economy, or a digital single market, as also advocated by the European Commission in its communication last week.[22] Digitalisation offers a particularly promising opportunity for catching-up economies to leapfrog more advanced economies and adopt new technologies faster than them, thereby mitigating the risk of being hurt by reshoring and premature deindustrialisation.

Convergence and the role of the capital markets union

The second key area where Europe can help  which is close to the heart of this conference  is by channelling funds to where they can be used most productively.

There is compelling evidence of the importance of finance for technological innovation and, ultimately, long-run growth rates.[23] Differences in the quality of financial intermediation across countries have been found to have significant implications for economic growth.[24]

In particular, research is increasingly challenging the view that bank and market-based finance tend to support economic development and living standards in similar ways.

Evidence is growing globally that large banking systems are associated with more systemic risk and lower economic growth, in particular as countries grow richer.[25] In addition, recent work by ECB staff highlights that, during the euro area sovereign debt crisis, capital misallocation increased substantially among firms that were more reliant on bank finance.[26]

Other research suggests that deeper equity markets are more effective in promoting innovation and productivity and, hence, in bringing economies closer to the technological frontier.[27] Recent ECB research, for example, suggests that if an EU Member State were to increase its ratio of stock market capitalisation to bank credit from the 25th to the 75th percentile, the average growth rate of its most high-tech industry could be expected to increase by 3.1 percentage points, everything else being equal.[28]

None of this is to say that banks will become redundant. They will continue to play their key social role of pooling savings and engaging in maturity and risk transformation.

But recent findings are increasingly reflected in the ongoing policy discussion. The European push towards a capital markets union, for example, reflects not only the need for increased cross-border risk-sharing in a currency union, but also the hope that deeper and better-integrated equity markets will support innovation and productivity growth in the European Union.[29]

This also includes making new innovative financial technologies available to firms and ensuring they are as safe as conventional technologies. Europe is spearheading this process. Europes Payment Services Directive (PSD2), for example, has been revised to introduce more competition in financial intermediation by requiring banks to share account information with new contenders.

China, of course, is a prime example of new financial technologies supporting growth in the transition towards higher income levels. Although EU data requirements are more stringent  for good reason  there is considerable scope for such technologies, if used prudently, to also foster growth and convergence in the EU.

On my next slide you can see that in Europe more generally, and in most CESEE economies in particular, these technologies have not yet gained much traction. In other words, progress towards a true capital markets union can both support the funding of investments, thereby helping overcome the current lack of capital accumulation, and, at the same time, foster the use and distribution of new financial technologies that may themselves become a source of growth.[30]

Using EU funds to foster convergence

The third area where Europe can help is arguably the most contentious one. It relates to transfers between Member States to foster convergence in the EU.

Such transfers are already happening, of course. Cohesion policy, designed to reduce structural disparities among regions and Member States, was the second largest item in the EUs 2014-20 budget. Over this period, and this you can see on the left-hand side of my last slide, the cumulated available funds for CESEE countries range from 8 to 21% of average annual GDP, with the allocation of resources linked to prevailing income levels. In other words, these funds are not negligible.

One problem, however, is that not all countries are equally successful in accessing them. One reason for this is linked to the importance of institutional quality, which I mentioned earlier. You can see this on the chart on the right-hand side, which suggests there is a positive correlation between institutional quality and a countrys ability to effectively absorb available transfers and secure new funding opportunities.

Such patterns are even more visible when considering EU funding opportunities for social policies, education and training.[31] Under the European Fund for Strategic Investments plan, for example, CESEE economies have only been able to attract less than 5% of total funding allocated to social infrastructure projects.

This means two things.

First, we need to strengthen the ability of receiving economies to access and absorb funds. This should be part of the broader effort to improve institutional quality.

Second, EU allocation rules should be made as simple as possible. The European Commission has already made several important suggestions in this respect, with a single rulebook planned to cover several EU funds, less red tape and lighter control procedures for businesses and entrepreneurs benefiting from EU support.[32] Such initiatives are essential if we want people and companies to take full advantage of the opportunities that the EU provides.

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

Achieving similar standards of living across our continent should speak to our highest aspirations. It is a recognition of history that economic prosperity, opportunity and peaceful societies are closely linked and mutually reinforcing. The prospect that relative income levels in Europe, without further action, will remain unacceptably large for the foreseeable future is therefore a warning sign. It should urge policymakers to think in new ways about how convergence can be accelerated, and what role Europe itself should play in this process.

I have highlighted today that we must begin by acknowledging that convergence requires joint efforts and responsibility. It requires Member States to translate EU initiatives and recommendations into concrete and positive effects on the ground, and candidate countries and potential candidates to achieve institutional excellence as early as possible in the transition process. Convergence must be built on strong institutions. And adhering to standards, EU standards, is a powerful vehicle for growth.

Accelerating convergence also requires the EU, and the euro area in particular, to help underwrite this process. This includes completing the Single Market, building a new digital market and being serious about developing a true capital markets union. Transition economies need both the market and the capital to nurture and feed domestic growth initiatives.

Thank you.


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This story was originally published on Sept. 25, 2018, and is brought to you today as part of our Best of ECT News series.

As if e-commerce companies didn't have enough problems with transacting securely and defending against things like fraud, another avalanche of security problems -- like cryptojacking, the act of illegally mining cryptocurrency on your end servers -- has begun.

We've also seen a rise in digital credit card skimming attacks against popular e-commerce software such as Magento. Some of the attacks are relatively naive and un-targeted, taking advantage of lax security on websites found to be vulnerable, while others are highly targeted for maximum volume.

Indeed, it's so ridiculous that there are websites such as MageReport.com and Mage Scan that will provide scans of your website for any client-facing malware.

As for server-side problems, you might be out of luck. A lot of e-commerce software lives in a typical LAMP stack, and while there is a plethora of security software for Windows-based environments, the situation is fairly bleak for Linux.

For a long time, Linux enjoyed a kind of smug arrogance with regard to security, and its advocates pooh-poohed the notoriously hackable Windows operating system. However, it's becoming ultra clear that it's just as susceptible, if not more so, for specific software such as e-commerce solutions.

Roads and Bridges Falling Down

Why have things seemingly gotten so much worse lately? It is not that security controls and processes have changed dramatically. It's more that the attacks have become more lucrative, more tempting, and easier to get away with, thanks to the rise of cryptocurrency. It allows attackers to generate money quickly, easily and, more important, anonymously.

Folks -- this is the loudspeaker -- our digital roads and bridges are falling down. They are old and decrepit. Our security controls and processes have not kept pace with the rapid advancement of malware, it's ease of use, and its coupling with a new range of software that allows attackers to hide their trails more effectively.

Things like cryptocurrency, however, are just the symptom of a greater issue. That issue is the fact that the underlying software foundations we've been using ever since the first browsers appeared are built on a fundamentally flawed architecture.

A Different World

The general purpose operating system that allowed every company to have a whole slew of easy-to-use desktop software in the 90s, and that built up amazingly large Internet companies in the early 2000s, has an Achilles heel. It is explicitly designed to run multiple programs on the same system -- such as cryptominers on the server that runs your WooCommerce or Magento application.

It is an old concept that dates back to the late 1960s, when the first general purpose operating systems, such as Unix, were introduced. Back then, the computers had a business need to run multiple programs and applications on them. The systems back then were just too big and too expensive not to. They literally filled entire walls.

That's not the case in 2018. Today our computers are "virtual," and they can be taken down and brought up with the push of a button -- usually by other programs. It's a completely different world.

Now for end user computing devices such as personal laptops and phones, we want this design characteristic, as we have the need to use the browser, check our email, use the calendar and such. However, on the server side where our databases and websites live, it's a flaw.

Crypto-Criminal Bar Brawl

This seemingly innocuous design characteristic is what allows attackers to run their programs, such as cryptominers, on your servers. It is what allows attackers to insert card skimmers into your websites. It is what allows the attackers to run malware on your servers that try and shut down other pieces of malware in order to remain the dominant attacker.

Yes, you read that right -- many of these variants now have so much free rein on so many thousands of websites that they literally fight against each other for your computing resources. This is how bad it's gotten. It's as if the cryptocriminals threw a party at your house while you were gone and then got into a big brawl and tore up all your furniture and ransacked your house. Then they woke up the next day and laughed all the way to the bank.

This isn't the only way to deploy software, though. Consider famous software companies such as Uber, Airbnb, Twitter and Facebook. If you talk to their engineers, they'll tell you that they already have to isolate a given program per server -- in this case, a virtual machine. Why? It's because they simply have too much software to begin with.

Instead of dealing with a single database, they might have to deal with hundreds or thousands. Likewise, the old concept of allowing multiple users on a given system doesn't make a lot of sense anymore. It has evolved to the point where identity access management lives outside of the single server model.

Hack Attacks Are Not Natural Disasters

Unikernels embrace this new model of software provisioning yet enforce it at the same time. They run only one single application per virtual machine (the server). They can not, by design, run other programs on the same server.

This completely prevents attackers from running their programs on your server. It prevents them from downloading new software onto the server and massively limits their ability to inject malicious content, such as credit card skimming scripts and cryptomining programs.

Instead of scanning for hacked systems or unpatched systems waiting to be attacked, you could even run outdated software that has known bugs in it, and these same styles of attacks would fall flat, as there would be no capability to execute them. This is all enforced at the operating system level and backed by hardware baked-in isolation.

Are we going to continue to let the cryptocriminals run free on our servers? How are you going to call the cops on people you can't even see who might live halfway around the world? Don't fall prey to the notion that hackers are natural disasters and it's only inevitable that they'll get you one day. It doesn't need to be like that. We don't have to deploy our software like we are using computers from the 1970s. It's time that we rebuilt our digital infrastructure.

Ian Eyberg is CEO of NanoVMs, based in San Francisco. A self-taught expert in computer science, specifically operating systems and mainstream security, Eyberg is dedicated to initiating a revolution and mass-upgrading of global software infrastructure, which for the most part is based on 40-year-old tired technology. Prior to cracking the code of unikernels and developing a commercial viable solution, Eyberg was an early engineer at Appthority, an enterprise mobile security company.




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We made it. The holiday shopping season is here once again!

This is a great opportunity for you as an e-commerce retailer. If you're like many other merchants out there, the run-up to Christmas is one of the most profitable, and busiest, times of the year. You may need some extra help to handle the surge in traffic and maximize your return. That means hiring seasonal employees.

Plenty of different businesses will feel the need to bring on additional staff -- from those in the travel sector to shipping and even dining. However, retail is going to experience the biggest holiday hiring bump, and wages for temporary workers in the retail sector are expected to surge 54 percent over last year. It's all part of the booming economy and tight labor market, and those conditions have been forcing recruiters to start hunting for help earlier this year, too.

Hourly wages for seasonal workers will rise an incredible 32 percent compared with last year, based on a recent survey. The average seasonal employee in the U.S. can expect to make US$15.40 per hour during the 2018 holiday rush, up from just $11.70 last year.

The scarce labor market could force many businesses to compete for less-qualified candidates, though, which could have the effect of further exposing retailers to a key threat source: employee-assisted fraud.

When you think of employee-assisted (or occupational) fraud, you probably get the image of a retail worker sneaking merchandise out the back door of a shop or pocketing cash from the till. Employee-assisted fraud is not just a problem for brick-and-mortar sellers, however. It can impact any business that takes on seasonal workers, including e-commerce retailers.

Employee Theft and Fraud Worsening

Employee theft is now the fastest-growing crime in the U.S., according to the FBI. Looking at employee theft overall, the average company will lose roughly 5 percent of annual revenue to employee fraud.

Losses are even higher for companies with fewer than 100 employees. Despite the risk, though, fewer than 20 percent of all small businesses have a system in place to report suspicious activity by employees, compared to 70 percent of larger companies.

Let's assume you already take occupational fraud seriously. That's great. Still, what you may not know is that employee-assisted fraud tends to jump an estimated 20 percent during the holiday season.

Anyone who hires additional staff during the holidays could face a sudden uptick in occupational fraud -- and really, it shouldn't be that surprising. When you recruit seasonal workers, you're entrusting your business to a group of people who may not have the same interest in the organization's long-term success as a permanent employee.

So we know it's a problem. The real question: How are they doing it?

Organized Retail Crime and Your Employees

Of course, you probably won't have to worry about seasonal employees involved in corporate espionage or anything elaborate like that. The most professional threat you're likely to encounter is accidentally inviting organized retail crime, or ORC, into the business.

Organized retail crime involves a professional group who carry out a coordinated criminal attack against a retailer. While we usually think of it in terms of brick-and-mortar locations, ORC can still occur in the e-commerce environment if the thieves have cooperation from someone within the business.

For example, 40 percent of retailers of retailers experienced cargo theft last year. An ORC group could work with someone inside your business to coordinate and steal merchandise. ORC cost the average business $726,351 per every $1 billion in sales during that same period.

You should know that groups of organized, professional thieves can affect your business. Don't take this as justification to mistrust your employees and assume the worst, though. When it does occur, employee-assisted fraud is more likely to take a simple, more innocuous form.

Occupational Fraud Is Primarily an Amateur Effort

Workers you bring on as seasonal help probably will not work in high-level positions within the company. They're in positions of lower authority. However, they tend to have more direct interaction with both customers and cash, and those conditions can enable fraud. This speaks to an important distinction when looking at occupational fraud among seasonal employees: It's mostly amateur fraudsters.

Eighty-six percent of people who committed fraud had no previous fraud activity, based on recent research. There are three primary reasons that explain why an otherwise-honest employee might commit fraud:

Opportunity: Many cases of employee-enabled fraud are primarily crimes of opportunity. Workers who do not feel they have any personal stake in the company's well being will see an opening and take it. Considering that most of your seasonal hires will not be sticking around once the holiday season wraps up, this could be a serious concern. Financial Trouble: Pressures on one's personal finances can lead individuals to commit fraud out of desperation. There are many potential triggers, including debt, substance abuse problems and illness, just to name a few. Attitude: Employees who feel they've been mistreated by the company may try to "get even" through fraud. For example, an individual may be passed over for a promotion, and see fraud as a way to get what is rightfully hers. This easily could happen with a seasonal employee who is turned down for a permanent position.

Return fraud is an example of a common occupational scheme. A customer knows someone within the company and goes to that person to request a return. The employee knows the item in question is not eligible, but processes the return anyway.

The "customer is always right" mantra has helped foster an environment of lax standards for product returns in general. This makes it easier for a customer to commit return fraud with help from within your company.

5 Tips to Minimize Occupational Fraud

This holiday season, you're facing the threat of ORC infiltration, plus the opportunism, desperation and resentment that are three primary triggers of employee-enabled fraud. That points to one very simple question: What can you do about it?

Fortunately, there is a solution. Here are five simple suggestions you can adopt that might help cut back on your exposure before and after the holidays:

1. Know Your Employee: Some may see this as excessive, but performing a background check on short-term workers easily can identify anyone who might have been busted for retail crime. A simple background check before you hire any temporary workers can limit your risk of encountering organized retail crime. 2. Recognize Your Employees: You should aim to align individual employees' responsibilities -- and their pay -- with their ability. Overlooking this very basic concept can lead to division and resentment within your team. Make a conscious effort to recognize your permanent and seasonal employees for their accomplishments and good work, and compensate them accordingly. 3. Embody an Ethical Culture: Setting the tone of your business culture in terms of ethics starts at the top. You need to embody the workplace culture you expect from your employees to gain their trust and respect. This sensibility will trickle down to management, and then through to your other workers. You can start by creating a written ethics policy, so that everyone understands what is expected. 4. Enable Employees to Report Fraud: Your employees are in a better position than you to notice abuse and fraud by their coworkers. Do you have a way for employees to anonymously report that information? A lot of people would be hesitant to step forward publicly, but could be much more inclined to do so if they can keep their identity secret. 5. Mandate Purchase Orders: Requiring purchase orders for any items bought by the company can prevent abuse by both seasonal and permanent employees. You should verify all vendors before authorizing an order, and mandate price comparisons as part of the purchasing process.

All Fraud Is Connected

Of course, being prepped against employee-assisted fraud goes hand-in-hand with protection against other threats. For example, let's take a look at chargebacks. These are forced payment reversals resulting from disputed payment card transactions. In all, chargebacks are projected to cost retailers $30 billion a year by 2020, and most of it will be caused by "friendly fraud," or unsubstantiated chargeback claims.

Friendly fraud, return fraud, occupation fraud -- these are all interconnected threats. Employees can try to enable unsubstantiated returns, and you can put measures in place to try and prevent that from happening. However, if employee-assisted return fraud is off the table, the buyer might turn to friendly fraud instead.

You see, fraud is like the hydra: You cut-off one head, and three more take its place. Trying to stop one threat, without taking others into account, can enable fraud rather than prevent it.

It's best to think about all fraud threats as an interconnected problem. Rather than adopting compartmentalized responses to a bunch of different threat sources, you should think of your approach to fraud prevention as a comprehensive strategy.

A Comprehensive Strategy Works Best

The best way to take on fraud is with a host of tools and policies all working together. If you can't separate employee-assisted fraud from external criminal fraud, for example, you end up with skewed data, leading you to try and fix nonexistent problems, while leaving real problems unaddressed.

While the holiday season is high-time for fraud risk, it's really a year-round issue. Fraud doesn't vanish once the decorations are boxed-up and you've said goodbye to your seasonal workforce. It morphs and adapts, with the post-holiday season being the peak months for friendly fraud.

Hiring seasonal employees to help with the surge of holiday shoppers does increase your risk for fraud. Adopting the practices mentioned earlier will help you minimize your exposure. However, the best response is to make multilayer fraud mitigation a year-round priority.

Monica Eaton-Cardone is the COO and cofounder of Chargebacks911, a provider of comprehensive risk management solutions to the payment processing industry. It is a division of Global Risk Technologies, which manages more than 200 million transactions worldwide each month. Chargebacks911 is headquartered in Tampa Bay, Florida, and specializes in chargeback mitigation and dynamic loss prevention.


As many as 145 pilot whales are dead after beaching themselves on a remote beach in Rakiura, or Stewart Island, in southern New Zealand.

A "heartbreaking decision" was made to put down half of the animals due to their poor condition and the difficult-to-access location, a Department of Conservation (DOC) official said Monday in a media release.

"Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully re-float the remaining whales was extremely low," DOC Rakiura Operations Manager Ren Leppens said in the media release. "The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales' deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanize."

Two pods stranded at the southern end of Mason Bay, approximately 1.2 miles apart.

Mass pilot whale stranding at Rakiura/Stewart Island www.youtube.com

The whales were discovered on Saturday afternoon by a hiker, The New York Times reported.

Leppens told the Times that the whales might have stranded as early as Friday. He said they "started to get covered in sand" by the time they were found on late Saturday.

Poor weather also meant that experts could not be flown in to assess the situation, so conservation workers had no choice but to euthanize the animals, he added to the newspaper.

This is the country's largest mass stranding event since 250 to 300 pilot whales were found dead last year in Golden Bay.

Marine mammal strandings are a "relatively common occurrence" in New Zealand, the DOC said, adding that it responds to roughly 85 incidents a year, mostly of single animals.

It's not clear why marine mammals such as dolphins and whales strand, but factors can include sickness, navigational error, geographical features, a rapidly falling tide, and being chased by a predator or extreme weather, the agency said.

Other strandings occurred on New Zealand shores over the weekend. Ten pygmy killer whales also stranded at 90 Mile Beach on Sunday. Two have since died and re-float attempts will be made Tuesday. A sperm whale beached in Doubtful Bay on Karikari Peninsula in Northland on Friday and died Saturday. Finally, a dead female pygmy sperm whale also washed up at Ohiwa over the weekend.

These events are unlikely to be related, the DOC said.
Brexit: IOM included in Withdrawal Agreement

The Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK spoke, this morning, with the Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker MP, to discuss the successful conclusion of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration by the Prime Minister in Brussels on Sunday.



The Minister reiterated that the UK Government has negotiated the Withdrawal Agreement on behalf of the whole UK and the Crown Dependencies. This means that the Isle of Man and the other Crown Dependencies are included in the Withdrawal Agreement and the Implementation Period, providing Isle of Man businesses and citizens with certainty.



On the future relationship with the EU outlined in the Political Declaration, the Prime Minister has been clear that the UK will negotiate on behalf of all territories for whose external relations the UK is responsible. Minister Walker underlined that the UK Government will be seeking arrangements for the Crown Dependencies that take account of their existing relationships with the EU and strike a proportionate balance of rights and responsibilities. This future relationship will respect the Islands constitutional relationship with the UK and the Islands fiscal autonomy.



The Chief Minister commented: The UK Government has been able to confirm that our interests have been protected, and that we have been included within the Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Period, to the limited extent of our current Protocol 3 relationship. We now await the result of the parliamentary debate and vote in the UK with great interest.



He added: The UK has also committed to ensuring that they will negotiate on our behalf in discussions with the EU on the future relationship, and that these discussions will respect our constitutional position, as well as taking account of our existing relationship with the EU.



There is still some way to go, and we will continue to work closely with the UK to ensure we can achieve a new relationship which is proportionate, and balances our rights against our responsibilities. For now, this work includes continuing to prepare for the possibility that there is no deal, and that the UK leaves without any arrangements in place in March next year.
PKK rapes not only women but also girls and boys

A testimony of another female member of terrorist organization reveals sexual assaults, forced abortions.

The PKK terrorist organization is not only known for its activities against civilians but also for molestation and rape scandals within the group.

According to testimonies obtained by Anadolu Agency, the PKK terror group does not only destroy social structures, but it also corrupts and degenerates structures that undermine the identity of women in their own ranks. The testimonies of female terrorists, who have been captured by Turkish security forces or escaped from the terrorist organization, revealed the use of sexual abuse and rape by the PKK terrorists on fellow female members and children.

"CHILDREN WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITALS FOR ABORTION"

In the testimony to the judicial authorities, a female member of the PKK, identified by the initials A.L., said a male PKK terrorist abused her physically and verbally and tried to rape her. She noted that not only her but other women in the organization were also subjected to abuses and harassment, saying thats the reason she decided to leave the terror ranks.

Another female member, identified by the initials B.B., said in her testimony that not only women but also nearly 30 children -- including girls and boys -- between the ages of 9 and 14 at the youth battalion of the PKK were sexually abused. She said she had witnessed some girls were taken to local hospitals for abortion.

"THE INCIDENTS WERE COVERED UP BY HIGH-RANKING MEMBERS"

In another testimony, a female terrorist, identified by the initials M.T., said the high-ranking terrorists had raped and sexually assaulted female members of the PKK. Another female insider, identified by initial, K.A., also said that the terrorist members in commanding positions sexually abuse the female terrorists of the organization. "There is no power to prevent this," she said. She said that she knows many women, who fled the terrorist organization after seeing its "ugly face."

"THEY RAPED CHILDREN ABDUCTED FROM SYRIA"

Another terrorist, identified by the initials Y.S., said women are used as sexual objects by the male terrorist members. She said that sexual abuses are not only limited to women. "They even raped little children abducted from Syria," she added.

The incidents were covered up due to the involvement of the high-ranking members of the terrorist group. Earlier, a PKK terrorist, who surrendered to Turkish security forces on Sept. 9, confessed that the group would give drugs to minors, especially young girls, and then sexually abuse them.
Philadelphia, November 27, 2018 - In a new position paper published today in Annals of Internal Medicine, the American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a set of principles that aims to solidify the role of patients and families in their care plans.

In "Principles for Patient and Family Partnership in Care," ACP cites increasing evidence that patient and family partnership in care can improve health outcomes, practice efficiency, and patient and professional satisfaction. Patient- and family-centered strategies have been shown to lower utilization of health care resources, result in fewer referrals and diagnostic testing, and reduce health care costs.

Active partnership with patients and families in their care and at the system level can improve safety and reduce harm. One study found that patients who actively participated in care were more likely to report problems with filling prescriptions, drug effectiveness, and medication-related symptoms. ACP's High Value Care initiative aims to improve health, avoid harms, and eliminate wasteful practices.

"ACP's principles position patients and their families in their rightful place at the center of care in partnership with their health care team with the goal of improving outcomes and satisfaction," said ACP President Dr. Ana Maria Lopez. "This partnership is critical for our rapidly changing health care system to be effective."

ACP's principles for patient and family partnership in care, based on a comprehensive literature review and a multi-stakeholder vetting process, are:

Patients and families should be treated with dignity and respect.

Patients and families should be active partners in all aspects of their care.

Patients and families should contribute to the development and improvement of health care systems.

Patients and families should be partners in the education of health care professionals.

The paper outlines recommendations for how to implement each principle in daily practice such as using language that the patient can understand, developing a shared agenda for visits, and including patients and families in quality improvement activities. A related ACP toolkit provides practical resources to help physicians implement ACP's principles for patient and family partnership in care in their practice.

In the paper, ACP uses the definition of patient- and family-centered care put forth by the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care's (IPFCC): an approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care that is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among health care providers, patients, and families.

ACP also outlines challenges for how to effectively and practically engage with patients and families including competing organizational priorities, perceived time required to engage patients in shift reports and rounding discussions, training of clinicians for how to effectively engage patients, understanding what patient and family partnership means, and determining how to implement broad concepts, such as respect and dignity.

ACP Innovation Challenge 2019 is focused on fostering partnerships between physicians and patients. The innovation challenge is "Shark Tank"-styled competition at ACP's Internal Medicine Meeting 2019, April 11 -13 in Philadelphia, where finalists will present their projects to a distinguished panel of judges in front of a live audience.

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About the American College of Physicians

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 154,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.
1. Fractional-dose vaccination offers long lasting protection against yellow fever

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-1529

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

A one-fifth dose of yellow fever vaccine protects against yellow fever for 10 years and does not require a booster. Findings from a follow-up study of a randomized controlled, non-inferiority trial are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease that is spread by infected mosquitoes. In a recent outbreak of urban yellow fever in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, 4,347 suspected cases and 377 deaths were reported from December 2015 to October 2016. Since there is no cure, vector control and vaccination are essential for prevention. Outbreaks of yellow fever and a frequently depleted vaccine stock increase demand for a dose-sparing strategy. A fractional dose of 17D yellow fever virus (17D-YFV) vaccine has been shown to be non-inferior to the standard dose for inducing a protective immune response, but whether this dose provides long-term protection is not known.

Researchers from Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands, studied 10 year follow-up data on a subgroup of patients from the trial to evaluate whether fractional-dose vaccination conferred long-term immunity. They found that 97 percent of participants had protective levels of yellow-fever neutralizing antibodies more than 10 years after receiving fractional dose of 17D-YFV vaccine compared with 34 of 35 who received the standard dose. According to the researchers, this is one of the first studies to document long-term protection after fractional-dose yellow fever vaccination. These findings reinforce the policy of using fractional doses in preventive mass vaccination campaigns before an impeding outbreak and also show that a booster dose is not necessary.

Media Contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To interview the lead author, Anna H.E. Roukens, MD, PhD, please contact her directly at A.H.E.Roukens@lumc.nl. 2. New evidence must be considered when prescribing aspirin for primary prevention

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-2637

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

Recently published trials provide more evidence to help guide decision-making about prescribing aspirin for primary prevention. An analysis of key findings from these trials is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Aspirin is known to have important benefits, including preventing cardiovascular events and possibly reducing the incidence and mortality of some types of cancer. However, it is not without harms. Aspirin use can increase the risk for gastrointestinal bleeding and intracerebral hemorrhage. Despite a large number of trials, questions remain about aspirin's net benefit because the benefits and risks are so closely balanced.

Michael Pignone, MD, MPH from Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, Austin, says that new evidence should be considered when making decisions about prescribing aspirin for primary prevention. The ASPREE (Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) trial showed a greater harm than benefit for initiating aspirin treatment in older adults, but did not inform treatment for those who were receiving aspirin before age 70. The ASCEND (A Study of Cardiovascular Events in Diabetes) trial found that aspirin use was associated with a modest reduction in cardiovascular events and major bleeding risk increased modestly. No effect was seen on cancer and findings were inconclusive for all-cause mortality.

According to Dr. Pignone, these new data suggest that aspirin therapy should not be initiated for primary prevention in most adults older than 70 with or without diabetes. Evidence is not clear whether to withdraw aspirin use after age 70. For those under 70, aspirin may still provide net benefit in those at high cardiovascular risk after use of other preventive medications like statins. Although recent evidence tilts away from aspirin use at this time, additional follow up from these trials looking at aspirin's effect on cancer over a longer time period could change the recommendation.

Media Contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To interview someone from ACP, please contact Shahreen Abedin at shahreen.abedin@austin.utexas.edu. 3. ACP releases principles to guide patient partnership in health care

New ACP position paper details how patient-centered care can improve outcomes

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-0018 Editorial: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-2947

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a set of four principles that aims to solidify the role of patients and families in their care plans. ACP's position paper, "Principles for Patient and Family Partnership in Care," is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Increasing evidence shows that patient and family partnership in care can improve health outcomes, practice efficiency, and patient and professional satisfaction. Patient- and family-centered strategies have been shown to lower utilization of health care resources, result in fewer referrals and diagnostic testing, and reduce health care costs.

Active partnership with patients and families in their care and at the system level can improve safety and reduce harm. One study found that patients who actively participated in care were more likely to report problems with filling prescriptions, drug effectiveness, and medication-related symptoms. ACP's High Value Care initiative aims to improve health, avoid harms, and eliminate wasteful practices.

ACP's principles for patient and family partnership in care, based on a comprehensive literature review and a multi-stakeholder vetting process, are:

Patients and families should be treated with dignity and respect.

Patients and families should be active partners in all aspects of their care.

Patients and families should contribute to the development and improvement of health care systems.

Patients and families should be partners in the education of health care professionals.

Media Contact: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Lauren Evans at laevans@acponline.org. To interview someone from ACP, please contact Steve Majewski, SMajewski@mail.acponline.org or 215-351-2514.

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Also in this issue: The Burden of Candidate Pathogenic Variants for Kidney and Genitourinary Disorders Emerging From Exome Sequencing

Hila Milo Rasouly, PhD; Emily E. Groopman, BA; Reuben Heyman-Kantor, BA; David A. Fasel, BS; Adele Mitrotti, MD; Rik Westland, MD, PhD; Louise Bier, MSc; Chunhua Weng, PhD; Zhong Ren, BS; Brett Copeland, BS; Priya Krithivasan, MSc; Wendy K. Chung, MD, PhD; Simone Sanna-Cherchi, MD; David B. Goldstein, PhD; and Ali G. Gharavi, MD

Original Research

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-1241

Editorial: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M18-3090
Russian scientists together with colleagues from UK, Spain, Brazil, Japan and Austria have fully described the mechanism of fungal luminescence. They found that fungi utilize only four key enzymes to produce light and that transfer of these enzymes into other organisms makes them bioluminescent.

Some living organisms can glow due to special chemical reactions taking place in their bodies. Such organisms are called bioluminescent; they include fireflies, jellyfish and worms, among others. They use this ability to attract prey, scare away predators, communicate or disguise themselves. Scientists have identified thousands of species of various luminescent organisms that use a total of about forty different chemical mechanisms to emit light. Most of these mechanisms have only been partially studied, or not studied at all.

Decoding of the mechanism of fungal luminescence was made possible by years of preceding research in the field. Back in the early 19th century, it was discovered that it was mycelium that made rotten trees glow. In 2009, Anderson G. Oliveira and Cassius V. Stevani, co-authors of the present paper, determined that a single biochemical mechanism is shared by all fungi emitting light. In 2015-2017, a team of Russian scientists led by Ilia Yampolsky made a series of key discoveries. In particular, the team determined the structure of luciferin, the molecule that emits light when oxidized.

While conducting their new study, the scientists discovered a set of enzymes that produce this molecule, as well as the luciferase -a light-emitting enzyme.

The researchers used various types of cells to test activity of the luciferase, including human cancer cells and clawed frog embryos. In all cases, they obtained positive results: the gene introduced was active in cells making them luminesce upon addition of luciferin

"If you understand how a bioluminescent system works, you can put the necessary components in a test tube and see luminescence. An important stage in our work was to identify the principal enzymes of fungal luminescence: those that catalyze biosynthesis of luciferin and the luciferase. We succeeded using a combination of analytical methods which allowed us to 'disassemble' the entire system into its components," says Konstantin Purtov, research fellow at the Institute of Biophysics in Krasnoyarsk and one of the researchers on the project.

The fungal luminescence system turned out to be surprisingly simple. Scientists discovered enzymes that perform the "caffeic acid cycle" in fungal cells: a pathway for the biosynthesis of luciferin and emission of light. Activity of these enzymes necessary and sufficient for any caffeic-acid-producing organism to become luminescent. And if an organism does not contain caffeic acid, luminescence can be induced by adding two more enzymes, which the authors demonstrated by engineering a yeast strain that glows in the dark.

"We have discovered in fungi the components needed to create a genetic module for bioluminescence; by transferring it from genome to genome, we can make virtually any organism luminescent, which has previously been an unattainable goal for researchers," explains Alexey Kotlobay, the first author of the article, junior research fellow with the Laboratory of Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry in Moscow.

According to scientists, even though much has been understood in the genetics of fungal bioluminescence, the most interesting things still lie ahead.

"The results of our study open up opportunities for new fundamental research, for instance, in fungal ecology or in the photophysics of enzymes, as well as for developing new molecular technologies," adds Yuliana Mokrushina, junior research fellow with the Laboratory of Biocatalysis at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, who shares the first authorship in the published article.

The research was launched several years ago at the Institute of Biophysics in Krasnoyarsk when Nobel Prize winner Osamu Shimomura spent some time at the university under a "mega-grant" (Russian Government instituted monetary grants that are made available on a competitive basis to support of scientific research projects implemented by the world's leading scientists at Russian institutions of higher learning). The subsequent pooling of efforts between Krasnoyarsk researchers and their colleagues from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry resulted in a breakthrough in the area of bioluminescence.

"This research is an excellent example of the effectiveness of joint work done by scientists with expertise in various disciplines, coming from different countries, academic institutions and commercial companies," said Ilia Yampolsky, head of the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, who led the project. "We have succeeded in understanding the genetics of fungal bioluminescence, tracing the mechanism of its evolution and creating an entirely new molecular instrument for biotechnology."

The new system can be used for visualization of various biological processes, for instance, to tracktumor growth and migration of cancer cells, as well as for developing new pharmaceuticals.

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The work was done in cooperation with scientists from the company Planta, the Institute of Biophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, the Institute of Science and Technology Austria, the London Institute of Medical Science, the Centre for Genomic Regulation (Spain), the University of Sao Paolo (Brazil) and Chubu University (Japan).

The theoretical and experimental parts of the study were supported by Russian Science Foundation. The results of the study are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
New Delhi, November 22, 2018

Elsevier, the information analytics business specializing in science and health, today announced that the Honorable Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, presided over the 12th NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Awards 2018 at a gala ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in the nations capital.

The Awards recognize young early career researchers from the scientific community who have contributed towards bolstering key flagship national programs through their body of research work such as the Make in India, Digital India, Healthy India and Clean India initiatives.

The NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Awards, currently in its twelfth year, is a joint collaboration between Elsevier and National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) to celebrate the best and brightest young scientists in India, whose works cut across a broad spectrum of key research disciplines.

The Awards program is part of Elseviers global initiative to support young researchers in India to enable and encourage them to expand the frontiers of science in their chosen areas of study leading to excellence in their respective disciplines.

Indias Vice President and Guest of Honor, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, said: At a time when the world has become a global village and boundaries of different disciplines are blurring, the role of science and technology becomes far more important than ever before. I compliment the National Academy of Sciences India and Elsevier for instituting these Awards to promote scientific excellence among the youngsters.

For the last ten years, we have seen the increase in human development indicators, such as life expectancy, maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, and the Indian scientific fraternity has played a huge role in improving the social indicators, as well as advancing Indias scientific progress, Mr. Naidu concluded.

India has a rich and strong foundation in scientific research, and weve seen some outstanding submissions from Indias best and brightest scientists this year, said Gino Ussi, Executive Vice President, Elsevier. Elsevier has a critical role to play in contributing to the continuity of Indias scientific endeavors and raising the visibility of young scientists and their contribution. We commend all the winners for their extraordinary work.

The winners of the NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Awards 2018 are:

Agriculture, Plant Sciences and Rural Development - Dr. Jitender Giri, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi

- Dr. Jitender Giri, National Institute of Plant Genome Research, New Delhi Biomedical Research and Healthcare - Dr. Maddika Subba Reddy, Group Leader and Staff Scientist- V, CDFD, Hyderabad

- Dr. Maddika Subba Reddy, Group Leader and Staff Scientist- V, CDFD, Hyderabad Environmentally Sound Sustainable Development - Dr. Vimal Chandra Srivastava, Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee, Roorkee

- Dr. Vimal Chandra Srivastava, Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee, Roorkee Innovation in Engineering and Physical Sciences - Dr. Ajay S. Karakoti, Associate Professor, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad

- Dr. Ajay S. Karakoti, Associate Professor, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad Women in Science - Dr. Zhumur Ghosh, Bose Institute, Kolkata

The Award winners each received a citation and a plaque, along with a cash prize of INR 75,000 for outstanding contribution in categories related to key areas of national priorities.

This years award program attracted more than 750 submissions from premier research institutions across India such as IITs, IISc, NIPGR, CSIR and JNU among others, and applications were judged by a panel of 19 subject experts from India's academic community based on the following criteria:

The quality and number of publications;

the nature and uniqueness of research;

outcomes of research;

impact on society; and

vision of the researcher.

Science is one of the greatest enablers in transforming the lives of humankind, said Prof. Anil Kakodkar, President of NASI. The NASI-Scopus Young Scientist of the year award recognizes the efforts of young scientists in the country, thus encouraging them to pursue their work with greater vigor and others to take up careers in science and technology.

This is important because nurturing our immensely talented scientific and technical human resource is not only critical for a developing country like India, but if harnessed well, could meet many of the daunting challenges that the world-at-large faces today.

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About National Academy of Sciences

Founded in 1930, National Academy of Sciences, India, is the oldest Science Academy of the country and is located at Allahabad. The main objective of the Academy was to provide a national forum for the publication of research work carried out by Indian scientists and to provide opportunities for exchange of views among them. For more information, please visit http://www.nasi.org.in.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps institutions and professionals advance healthcare, open science and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support and professional education, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, more than 38,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com

Media contact

Jason Chan, Global Communications

Elsevier

+65 6349 0240

j.chan@elsevier.com
Studies by Brazilian researchers could have applications in crude oil pumping and missions to Mars, among others. New findings have been published in Physical Review Letters.

Crescent-shaped dunes called barchans are structures that appear in a wide variety of environments, including beaches and deserts, riverbeds and the seafloor, inside water pipes and oil pipelines, and on the surface of Mars and other sandy planets with an atmosphere.

Despite differences in scale varying from ten-centimeter ripples for underwater dunes to kilometer-high mountains for Martian dunes, the dynamics of barchan formation and motion appear to be highly similar everywhere.

Research conducted at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil with the support of Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP helps clarify the dynamics of aquatic dunes. The results can also contribute, for example, to a better understanding of the topography of Mars and hence increase the probability of success in missions to this planet or to the optimization and cost-effectiveness of oil flows.

"Barchans are crescent-shaped dunes that result from interaction between granular matter, typically sand, and the flow of a fluid such as gas or liquid under predominantly unidirectional flow conditions. The two horns of the crescent face in the direction of the fluid flow," Erick de Moraes Franklin, one of the authors of the research, told.

The study funded by FAPESP was performed by Franklin and Carlos Alvarez, whose PhD he is supervising. An article about it has just been published in Physical Review Letters.

Their findings contradict the explanation preferred for the origin and motion of these structures, at least in the case of subaqueous (underwater) dunes.

"Our research shows that the emergence of barchan horns can't be explained by the conventional model, according to which the sand moves mainly in a longitudinal direction and any lateral motion of the grains is due to a mechanism similar to diffusion. The local velocity of displacement of the initial structure is supposed to be inversely proportional to its local height so that the lowest parts at the sides of the sand pile move fastest and form horns. That's not what we observed experimentally," Franklin said.

What he and Alvarez observed in a liquid medium was that the grains moved by rolling and sliding in circular paths. "The horns are formed mainly by grains that migrate from upstream regions to the region of the horns. The growth of a subaqueous barchan has a significant transverse component, which doesn't have diffusive characteristics," Franklin said.

All barchans have the same proportions in terms of the ratio of length to height and follow the same laws of motion whether they are on a riverbed, only a few centimeters long and formed in minutes or even seconds; in the desert, where they can reach lengths of hundreds of meters and take years to form; or on Mars, stretching for kilometers and taking shape over timescales as long as 10,000 years.

Their height is always a tenth of their length, for example. As a result, the study conducted in UNICAMP's laboratory with dunes formed at ultrafast speeds can help in understanding the dynamics of Martian terrain: how the Red Planet's giant dunes evolved and what they will look like thousands of years from now.

According to Franklin, the formation and motion of an underwater barchan result from the complementary or contradictory interplay of three factors: fluid flow, gravity, and grain inertia. Dunes grow as fluid flow moves grains from lower to higher regions.

Gravity acts in the opposite direction, pulling grains down and tending to make the dune flatter. Grain inertia, or more accurately, the inertial difference between the grains and the fluid, determines how the grains interact with the fluid.

If grain inertia is much greater than fluid inertia, grain movement is slower than fluid movement. Instead of settling at the cusp of the dune, the grains are deposited in a lower downstream region.

"The complication is that the fluid is a continuous medium whose motion can be described by known differential equations, and physicists know how to resolve them, whereas grains make up a discontinuous medium. A dune contains billions of grains. The scale is precisely this, on the order of a billion. In addition, the grains are all different from each other," Franklin explained.

"So far, it's been impossible to describe the motion of all grains with a single differential equation. We can describe them grain by grain, but how can we integrate them all at the end? As a result, several questions about the dynamics of dunes remain open. One of these questions is why a pile of grains, whatever its shape, evolves to form a barchan, a crescent-shaped dune. In other words, why the two horns?"

Dynamics of formation

Among the various types of dunes, a barchan is well known to form when the motion of a fluid (the wind over the desert or the water flow in a river, for example) occurs on average in a single direction of flow. There may be occasional variations, but in statistical terms, only one direction of flow prevails. Seen from above, this type of dune resembles a letter C. This shape means the fluid is moving from the convex side toward the horns, the twin tips of the C. So far, so good.

The novelty in the findings from this study is related to the dynamics of horn formation. The old model assumed that each grain moved ballistically, like a projectile describing a parabola in the vertical plane, and in the same direction as the fluid. In unidirectional motion, the lower parts move faster since their velocity is inversely proportional to local height. Hence, the two horns form. The researchers' experiment at UNICAMP, however, showed this is not the case, at least not in water.

"We performed an experiment with grains of glass under a turbulent water flow. Using a high-speed camera capable of recording about a thousand images per second, we filmed the motion of the pile from above and produced a huge amount of images," Franklin said.

"The next step was to create a computer program that opened up the movie image by image and identified each particle that had moved. By monitoring the grains, we were able to track the grains that formed the horns and the paths they followed. We discovered that they didn't all move in a single direction, as assumed by the old model. Most of them flowed around the initial pile in a circular movement, and that's how the horns took shape."

Franklin stressed that the discovery made by him and the PhD researcher he supervises applies to dunes formed in a liquid medium but not necessarily to dunes formed in a gaseous medium. The physical explanation for the possible difference is simple and interesting, he noted.

"The previous model was based on eolian dunes, especially desert dunes. The density of air is approximately 1 kilogram per cubic meter. The density of a grain of sand is 2,500 kg/m3. That's a difference in magnitude of 103, which means that to displace a grain of sand in the desert, the air must be moving very fast. So fast that when it displaces a grain, the grain is launched on a ballistic trajectory like a projectile," Franklin explained.

"The grain rises about a meter and describes a parabolic curve. The direction of flight is the main direction of the flow. Thus, the overall motion is indeed unidirectional. However, water is a thousand times denser than air at 1,000 kg/m3. That means water and the grain of sand are within the same order of magnitude, so the water flow can displace the grain while moving much more slowly. As it does so, the grain roughly follows the motion of the water. The water flows around the pile in a circular path, and so do the grains."

The experiment, he went on, showed that the previous model, which was held to be an absolute truth, does not apply to all cases.

"This opens up a whole discussion about the phenomenon," he said. "Experiments will have to be done with eolian dunes to confirm whether in this case, the previous model is indeed valid. Maybe it is, but maybe it isn't. There's a lot of interest in the subject owing to the Mars missions. A small difference between Martian dunes might suggest there was water in the region in the past."

In addition to the possible applications in the long term, crude oil pumping is a much more immediate application for the research findings. Crude oil is mostly extracted from reservoirs containing sand and water, so barchans form inside pipelines and slow down the flow of oil, driving up production costs. Moreover, the sand builds up in certain places, and removal is difficult. A deeper understanding of dune formation is indispensable for solving this problem.

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About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships, and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. For more information: http://www.fapesp.br/en.
Researchers at the University of Tubingen and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have achieved a breakthrough in the decoding of multi-resistant pathogens. The team led by Professor An-dreas Peschel and Professor Thilo Stehle was able to decode the structure and function of a previous-ly unknown protein used by dreaded pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus like a magic cloak to protect themselves against the human immune system. The study was published in Nature on Wednesday.

Infections caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus cause many deaths worldwide. Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to the antibiotic methicillin (MRSA for short) are particularly feared in hospitals. According to a study published at the beginning of November, there were around 670,000 diseases caused by multi-resistant pathogens in the EU alone in 2015 and 33,000 patients died.

Normally, our immune system copes well with pathogens such as bacteria or viruses. However, some-times the defensive strategies of the human body fail, especially in immunocompromised patients. Most antibiotics are meanwhile ineffective against resistant pathogens. Effective replacement antibiot-ics and a protective vaccine against MRSA are not yet in sight. A precise understanding of the de-fense mechanisms could therefore lead to new therapies against the bacteria.

DZIF researchers at the University of Tubingen have now described how MRSA bacteria become invisible to the immune system. They were able to show that many of the particularly frequent MRSA bacteria have acquired a previously unknown protein that prevents the pathogens from being detected by anti-bodies. The Tubingen scientists gave the protein the name TarP (short for teichoic acid ribitol P).

"TarP alters the pattern of carbohydrate molecules on the pathogen surface in a so far unknown way," explained Professor Andreas Peschel from the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Med-icine at the University of Tubingen. "As a result, the immune system is unable to produce antibodies against the most important MRSA antigen, teichoic acid," said Peschel. "The immune system is 'blind-ed' and loses its most important weapon against the pathogen."

Reprogrammed by phages

The researchers from Tubingen assume that the bacterial camouflage is the result of an exchange between the pathogens and their natural enemies, known as bacteriophages. Phages are a class of viruses that attack bacteria, use them as host cells and feed on them. In this case, phages seem to have reprogrammed their host using the TarP protein and thus altered the surface of the bacterium.

The first authors of the study, David Gerlach and Yinglan Guo, succeeded in clarifying the mechanism and structure of TarP. "We now have a detailed understanding of how the protein functions as an en-zyme on the molecular level," said Gerlach. The structure-function analysis of TarP forms an excellent basis for the development of new drugs that block TarP allowing the immune system to detect the pathogens. An interdisciplinary approach, involving scientists from Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and South Korea, was particularly important for the success of this work.

"The discovery of TarP came as a complete surprise to us. It explains very well why the immune sys-tem often has no chance against MRSA," said Professor Thilo Stehle from the Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry. "The results will help us to develop better therapies and vaccines against the patho-gens." Peschel referred to the recently approved Tubingen Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Mi-crobes to Fight Infections" and the close cooperation with the German Center for Infection Research: "These outstanding networks will help us to further advance the research of MRSA and TarP."

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Publication: Gerlach, Guo et al, 2018, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus alters cell wall glycosylation to evade immunity. Nature, DOI : 10.1038/s41586-018-0730-x
A balanced potassium household is critical for the survival of both people and bacteria. As bacteria are exposed to much greater fluctuations in environmental conditions, the controlled intake of potassium often poses a particular challenge. Since the cell membrane is impenetrable for potassium ions, it has to be translocated through specific membrane transport proteins.

On the one hand, potassium channels enable the rapid, but passive influx of potassium ions. This stops as soon as an electrochemical equilibrium between the cell and its environment has been reached. To attain intracellular concentrations beyond this, potassium is transported into the cell actively through potassium pumps, with energy being consumed in the form of ATP.

Since both protein families - channels and pumps - carry out very different functions, they have always been described as separate from each other. This, however, is contradicted by the observation that KdpFABC, a highly affine, active potassium uptake system of bacteria, does not represent a simple pump, but is constructed of a total of four different proteins. One of these is derived from a typical pump, while another one resembles a potassium channel.

Inga Hanelt, Assistant Professor for biochemistry at Goethe University, and her colleague Cristina Paulino from University of Groningen, the Netherlands, therefore decided to take a closer look at the membrane protein KdpFABC through the microscope - or, more specifically, the cryo-electron microscope. They were surprised by the result: "All earlier hypotheses were wrong," states Inga Hanelt. "Although we had all the data in front of us, it took us a while to understand the pathway potassium takes through the complex into the cell."

First, a channel-like protein binds the potassium and transports it through the first tunnel to the pump. Once it has arrived, the first, outward-facing tunnel closes, while a second, inward-facing tunnel opens. This tunnel also extends between both proteins and ultimately ends in the interior of the cell. "The complex essentially combines the best qualities of both protein families," explains Charlott Stock, doctoral candidate in Inge Hanelt's research group. "The channel-like protein binds potassium, at first very specifically and with high affinity, while the pump enables an active transport that can enrich potassium in the cell by 10,000-fold."

The data, recently published in Nature Communications, impressed the scientists with how diverse transport through membranes can be. "We have learned that when investigating various membrane transport proteins, we shouldn't rely on seemingly incontrovertible mechanisms, but have to be ready for surprises," summarises Inga Hanelt.

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Publication: Charlott Stock, Lisa Hielkema, Igor Tascon, Dorith Wunnicke, Gert T. Oostergetel, Mikel Azkargorta, Cristina Paulino, Inga Hanelt, Cryo-EM structures of KdpFABC suggest a K+ transport mechanism via two inter-subunit half-channels, in: Nature Communications, 10.1038/s41467-018-07319-2

An image may be downloaded at: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/75137139

Caption: Outward and inward opening structures of KdpFABC in the cell membrane. Credit: Inga Hanelt research group.

Further information: Dr. Inga Hanelt, Institute for Biochemistry, Faculty 14, Riedberg Campus, Telephone: +49 69 798-29262, haenelt@biochem.uni-frankfurt.de .

Current news about science, teaching, and society in GOETHE-UNI online (http://www.aktuelles.uni-frankfurt.de)

Goethe University is a research-oriented university in the European financial centre Frankfurt The university was found-ed in 1914 through private funding, primarily from Jewish sponsors, and has since produced pioneering achievements in the areas of social sciences, sociology and economics, medicine, quantum physics, brain research, and labour law. It gained a unique level of autonomy on 1 January 2008 by returning to its historic roots as a "foundation university". Today, it is among the top ten in external funding and among the top three largest universities in Germany, with three clusters of excellence in medicine, life sciences and the humanities. Together with the Technical University of Darmstadt and the University of Mainz, it acts as a partner of the inter-state strategic Rhine-Main University Alliance. Internet: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de

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Through telementoring sessions, primary care physicians will learn how to handle complex diabetes cases in the Latino population

WASHINGTON (Nov. 26, 2018) -- In areas of Washington, D.C. and Maryland the prevalence of diabetes is as high as 15 percent in adults. This, coupled with long waitlists at endocrinologist offices, helped to fuel the idea that primary care physicians with advanced training in diabetes could effectively care for complex patients living with diabetes.

Project ECHO -- short for Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes -- is a telementoring project that targets increased workforce capacity to provide best practice specialty care and reduce health disparities. The heart of the ECHO model is its hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing networks to conduct virtual clinics with community providers.

Through the Merck Foundation's Bridging the Gap: Reducing Disparities in Diabetes Care grant, the George Washington University (GW) in partnership with La Clinica del Pueblo, launched the first Project ECHO site in the D.C./Maryland region to improve the capacity of care teams to manage complex diabetes cases and establish team-based care review meetings focused on diabetes population health. This site launched in September 2018.

In 2017, La Clinica, a nonprofit serving as a dependable source of integrated health care and health education for more than 8,000 men, women, and children, was selected by the Merck Foundation through a national application process, to be a part of the Bridging the Gap initiative. This initiative aims to bring together the health care sector and others to support innovative approaches to diabetes treatment and management.

"Through Project ECHO, we are conducting a multidisciplinary intervention to target the Latino population to improve diabetes management by empowering primary care providers," said Nicole Ehrhardt, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences and one of the GW faculty involved with the grant.

Through 14 sessions over the course of six months, participants will learn through case presentations how they can approach diabetic patients with complex diagnoses. Ehrhardt said 10 GW physician assistant students also are involved. The students are attending sessions and at the end will share how comfortable they feel about their ability to manage diabetes when they start their own independent clinical practice in a year. The goal is to offer the diabetes ECHO training sessions to many more local primary care providers in D.C. and Maryland and also more GW students over the next four years.

"ECHO will strengthen our delivery of care and ultimately help our patients," said Ricardo Fernandez, MD, chief medical officer at La Clinica.

Through this initiative, La Clinica aims to strengthen its delivery of diabetes care through practice transformation strategies, and conduct multilevel and inter-sectoral interventions to reduce health disparities and improve population health in the Latino community. Project ECHO will improve health outcomes and increase access to quality diabetes care for Latinos with Type 2 diabetes in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

The D.C./Maryland program joins 14 other Project ECHO sites across the country focused on endocrinology and diabetes.

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Media: To interview Dr. Ehrhardt, please contact Ashley Rizzardo at amrizz713@gwu.edu or 202-994-8679. To interview Dr. Fernandez, please contact Rachel Ugarte at rugarte@lcdp.org or 202-448-2836.

About the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Founded in 1824, the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) was the first medical school in the nation's capital and is the 11th oldest in the country. Working together in our nation's capital, with integrity and resolve, the GW SMHS is committed to improving the health and well-being of our local, national, and global communities. smhs.gwu.edu

About La Clinica del Pueblo

La Clinica del Pueblo was founded in 1983, as a drop in health center, by Salvadoran refugees displaced by civil war and institutionalized violence in their home country. Thirty-five years later, La Clinica operates five sites (two primary care sites, an HIV prevention and LGBTQ safe space, a community health action center and language access and a school-based mental health program) in Washington, DC and Prince George's County, MD to meet the needs of the diverse Latino community. Additionally, its targeted advocacy efforts strive to drive lasting change to ensure greater health equity and health access for the most marginalized groups in this region. http://www.lcdp.org
The health of newborn babies and their mothers are key indicators of the health and wellbeing of populations. Although stillbirth and infant mortality rates have fallen substantially in recent decades, there are still major challenges to achieving the goal of providing an optimal start in life for all children and families. Looking at the health of newborn babies and their mothers through a European lens gives us insight into these challenges and possible ways of tackling them. One of the obstacles to making comparisons between European countries is that they collect their national statistics in different ways, so it is difficult to do valid comparisons.

The European Perinatal Health Report is the fourth report produced by the Euro-Peristat collaboration, which was established to deal with this problem. To produce the report, over 100 participating members in all the current EU member states and Iceland, Norway and Switzerland contributed data from their national statistical systems. Euro-Peristat is coordinated by Inserm, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. Euro-Peristat has defined a set of 10 core and 20 recommended indicators and uses them to monitor perinatal health in Europe. This new report is based on data for over five million births in the year 2015 compiled from public national statistical systems to construct all 10 core indicators and two of the 20 recommended indicators. Euro-Peristat works to produce high quality, comparable indicators by using common inclusion criteria and categories, followed by extensive data checking with the active involvement of network members from all participating countries. Comparisons were made with data for births in 2010 from Euro-Peristat's previous report. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

Stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates were lower compared with 2010 in Europe overall, but both the rates and the extent of the decrease varied widely between countries

Stillbirths

Usually only stillbirths after 28 or more weeks of pregnancy are included in international comparisons

The median stillbirth rate at 28 weeks of gestation and over was 2.7 per 1000 total live and still births.

Rates ranged from rates below 2.3 in in Cyprus, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands to 3.5 or more in Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

Including stillbirths between 24 and 27 weeks of gestation, previously excluded from international comparisons, led to a median rate of 3.4 per 1000, 26% higher. The ranking of countries remained similar.

Stillbirth rates in 2015 were 5% lower overall compared with 2010. But in some countries such as the Netherlands, Scotland, and Poland the rate fell to a greater extent. In many other countries, the stillbirth rate did not decrease.

Neonatal mortality

Neonatal deaths are deaths of babies before 28 days after live birth. Babies born before 22 weeks of pregnancy were excluded in line with international definitions

The median neonatal mortality rate for birth at 22 weeks of gestation and over was 2.2 per 1000 live births.

Rates ranged from 1.5 per 1000 live births or lower in Slovenia, Iceland, Finland, Norway, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Sweden to over 3.5 in Northern Ireland, Malta, Romania, and Bulgaria. Some of this variation in neonatal mortality rates is related to differences in national policies about termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies.

Overall, neonatal mortality rates in 2015 were 10% lower than in 2010. In some countries, neonatal mortality rates were higher in 2015, however.

Infant mortality

Infant deaths are deaths of babies under a year after live birth. Babies born before 22 weeks of pregnancy were excluded in line with international definitions

The median infant mortality rate was 3.1 per 1000 live births.

Rates ranged widely with some countries reporting rates of 2 and lower, while other countries had rates of 5 per 1000 or more.

Rates of preterm birth and low birthweight did not change overall, but there were wide geographical variations

Low birth weight

Low birth weight is defined as a birth weight under 2500 grams

Low birthweight babies accounted for less than 4.5% of all births in Iceland, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia and more than 8.0% in Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria, and Cyprus.

The percentage of low birthweight babies was significantly lower in 2015 compared with 2010 in some countries, such as Norway, Greece, and Austria and significantly higher in others such as Iceland, France, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Portugal.

Preterm birth

Preterm birth is birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy

The median preterm birth rate was 7.3%.

Preterm birth rates ranged widely, from less than 6% in Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, and Lithuania to more than 8.0% in Belgium, Scotland, Romania, Germany, Hungary, Greece, and Cyprus.

Comparisons in the preterm birth rate in 2010 and 2015 differed widely between countries. It was significantly lower in 2015 in 7 countries, including the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic; and significantly higher in 8 countries: Portugal, England and Wales, Poland, Ireland, France, Cyprus and Scotland.

Poor quality statistics continue to hamper European surveillance of maternal deaths

Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of the end of pregnancy for any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.

Most countries rely on routine cause of death statistics to count maternal deaths, despite well-known under-reporting, especially where death does not take place immediately or where he mother has other complicating conditions. In addition, as maternal deaths are now rare in high income countries, rates are based on small numbers of deaths. These factors make it difficult to detect differences between countries or over time in maternal mortality ratios.

Seven of the countries also use enhanced systems to carefully ascertain and analyse maternal deaths. Maternal mortality appears to have declined in countries that carefully count and analyse maternal deaths. Since many enhanced systems include audits and confidential enquiries, these systems may contribute to improving care for pregnant women and therefore the results from these countries may not apply more generally.
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center say they have added to evidence that measuring and monitoring tumor DNA that naturally circulates in the blood of melanoma patients can not only reliably help reveal the early stages of cancer growth and spread but also uncover new treatment options that tumor genetic analysis alone may not.

"For some patients in our study, ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) levels measured in a relatively simple blood test revealed tumor mutations that could be potentially targeted with current or new drugs that inhibit tumor growth mutations that are not revealed by genetic profiling of the tumor itself," says Evan Lipson, M.D., an associate professor of oncology at the Kimmel Cancer Center and a member of The Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

"For other patients, ctDNA levels accurately predicted disease progression as seen on CT scans, further demonstrating ctDNA's role as a blood-based biomarker of disease activity in melanoma patients."

Melanoma currently lacks a consistently and wholly reliable predictive blood-based biomarker of disease progression. Having one, Lipson says, would not only improve treatment outcomes but also reduce unnecessary or ineffective therapies.

For the study, published in the October 2018 issue of Molecular Oncology, the Kimmel Cancer Center scientists analyzed blood-based ctDNA from 119 advanced-melanoma Johns Hopkins patients. The patients were divided into three groups based on the type of tumor they had and potential mutations that were common and reoccurring in those tumors.

The first group of 60 people were patients with radiographically measurable metastatic melanoma, regardless of tumor mutation status. In this group, ctDNA testing revealed a targetable mutation in 38 of the 60 patients. In 33 of those patients, the mutations found using ctDNA matched the mutations found in tumor specimens. In two patients, ctDNA testing revealed a mutation that tumor testing had not.

In the second group, there were 29 patients with surgically removed high-risk (stage IIB-IV) melanoma whose tumor tissue revealed any of the seven common mutations. In this group, none of the patients whose melanoma tumors were surgically removed had evidence of disease before the study. However, five of 29 patients were discovered to have recurrent melanoma during the study, and in two of those cases, ctDNA was detected.

The third group had 30 patients who were receiving or had received therapy for advanced melanoma and had any of the seven common mutations. Of the 30, 17 experienced partial or complete response to therapy, which was confirmed using CT scans over 8, 14, 25 and 38 week periods, and no ctDNA was found in those patients after an initial CT scan evaluation. In the remaining 13 patients, ctDNA was detected during their treatment. In four of those 13, the disease was detected simultaneously by a CT scan and ctDNA results. In four others, ctDNA results predicted disease progression that was confirmed by using CT scan.

"When genetic testing of the tumor alone was used for some of the patients, it did not reveal any option for targeted therapy," Lipson says. "It turned out that when we looked in the bloodstream, lo and behold, we found ctDNA that uncovered options for therapy that provided benefit for patients and that otherwise were not going to be used."

Lipson notes that in general, melanoma patients receiving treatment typically have CT scans performed months apart over time to compare the growth or regression of the tumors. By using repeated ctDNA blood test results that reflect tumor activity in conjunction with those scans, the researchers say the biomarker was predictive of eventual disease progression seen on CT scans. These findings add to evidence that ctDNA testing may help radiologists and oncologists better interpret results of tests and treatments in patients with advanced melanoma.

According to the National Cancer Institute, there were 91,270 new cases of melanoma in 2018, making up more than 5 percent of all new cancer cases. There were 9,320 estimated deaths in 2018, and 91.8 percent of patients survive five years or longer.

Lipson said while larger trials will be needed to further investigate and confirm the findings, evidence is growing that using ctDNA can refine therapeutic outcomes and uncover additional avenues for therapy for some patients with melanoma.

"Our findings may serve as a blueprint for future, randomized investigations designed to further evaluate the clinical utility of incorporating ctDNA analysis among larger groups of patients with melanoma."

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In addition to Lipson, participants included Steven Rowe, Brandon Luber, Monique Makell, Patricia Brothers, JoAnn Santmyer, Megan Schollenberger, Hannah Quinn, Daniel Edelstein, Frederick Jones, Karen Bleich and William Sharfman.

The research was supported by Sysmex Inostics, the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, the Barney Family Foundation, Moving for Melanoma of Delaware, the Laverna Hahn Charitable Trust, the Roland Park Country School and the National Cancer Institute (P30 CA006973).

COI: Brothers received an unrestricted educational grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb. Sharfman received institutional research grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck and Novartis, and is a consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Novartis and Castle Biosciences. Lipson received institutional research grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck, and is a consultant for Array Biopharma and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
In the developing world, access to credit can lead to higher productivity and an increase in living standards, but the ability to have this access is not universal. Formal financial institu-tions are reluctant to lend to households with low-incomes or which lack collateral.

This is where 'microfinance institutions' -- or MFIs -- play a role.

MFIs extend small loans, called microcredits, to individual households. While standard microloans tend to be geared toward business and entrepreneurial endeavors, in recent years Bangladesh has made a name for itself internationally by providing microcredits to tenant farmers.

Now, in a collaborative study with institutions in the United States and Bangladesh, a team led by Mohammad Abdul Malek -- of Kyoto University's Graduate School of Agriculture and the Research and Evaluation Division of BRAC -- has conducted a study examining the impact of agricultural microcredits on the livelihood of these farmers.

Writing in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, the researchers analyzed vari-ous outcomes of these loans, such as: adoption of high-yield or hybrid rice, overall rice yield, and household income.

"The agricultural microcredit program Borgachashi Unnayan Prakalpa -- BCUP -- began in 2009 with a primary objective of increasing the credit access of tenant farmers to formal financial institutions," explains Malek. "So we conducted two surveys in 2012 and 2014 to see how households receiving this financing changed over time."

The Bangladesh Bank -- the central bank of Bangladesh -- started BCUP with a low-interest revolving fund, as part of its financial inclusion strategy. The average loan amount was equal to the production cost of rice for one hectare of land.

The team's results show that BCUP helped increase rice yield as well as overall crop farm income, and additionally the probability of adopting hybrid and higher yield rice. Further, there appeared to be a somewhat positive effect on the cultivation of owned land and live-stock ownership.

"BCUP has had a number of positive effects," continues Malek. "And while we did not find a change in household income, we noticed that the farmers were able to allocate more time to self-employment activities."

While several studies have examined the role of agricultural credit on the livelihood of farm households, this is the first to examine the impact of a program designed specifically to in-crease the financial inclusion -- in the broader economy -- of tenant farmers.

The team hopes to continue their inquiry into the effects of microcredits in order to better inform future policy decisions, while acknowledging that other interventions, in combina-tion with microcredit, may be necessary if the program is to be scaled up in Bangladesh or elsewhere in Asia.

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The paper "Agricultural Microcredit for Tenant Farmers: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Bangladesh" appeared on 26 October 2018 in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, with doi: 10.1093/ajae/aay070

About Kyoto University

Kyoto University is one of Japan and Asia's premier research institutions, founded in 1897 and responsible for producing numerous Nobel laureates and winners of other prestigious international prizes. A broad curriculum across the arts and sciences at both undergraduate and graduate levels is complemented by numerous research centers, as well as facilities and offices around Japan and the world. For more information please see: http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en
Rochester Institute of Technology researchers are taking on Big Data to reduce the negative impact of faulty measurements in data collected from complex sensing systems. "Based on tremendous developments in hardware, and we can now collect, store and process very large amounts of data across many different sensing modalities. However, for these data to be useful, we have to learn how to process them efficiently and reliably, to get as much knowledge out of them as possible," said Panos Markopoulos.

The assistant professor in RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering, is developing more reliable data analytics by building new system algorithms that can automatically decrease the emphasis placed on corrupted or faulty data through a three-year, $499,236 grant from the National Science Foundation's Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure.

With the increase in data collected from applications such as social networks, health care and computer vision, there is a need for more reliable data analysis. Intelligent systems rely on data collected across diverse sensing modalities (such as time, frequency and 3D space) and organize them in multi-dimensional arrays, also referred to as "tensors." However, many existing methods of data analysis are sensitive to faulty measurements and may provide false conclusions, Markopoulos explained.

"These applications have their foundations in signal processing algorithms," he said. "Our work is about taking large data sets, analyzing them and extracting knowledge. It is inevitable that some of this data will be faulty, noisy or corrupted and will not represent the system we are trying to understand. Our analysis should be robust against such faulty data. This is the real problem this project tries to solve--to do data analysis in a reliable way."

The team's approach will be three-fold: improve current algorithms to better assess data across the tensor arrays, develop software solutions to reflect the new processing capabilities and to allow the development of prototypes that use the new algorithms for social network analytics, machine learning--to train machines on how to understand differences between different classes of data--and computer vision.

"There is not much research in corruption resistant analysis of big data sets. This project will set the theoretical and algorithm foundations for this work," said Markopoulos, an expert in signal processing and data analysis. He will be working with Andreas Savakis, RIT professor of computer engineering and researcher in computer vision, and Vagelis Papalexakis, a professor of computer science from the University of California at Riverside, who specializes in data mining.

"What I think that is most important about this project is it will give us the opportunity to develop new theory and algorithms. The findings of the project have the potential to have high impact, not only in the industry, but also in the theory of data analysis," he said. "This can also have a significant impact in Academia, increasing the students' skills in analyzing, understanding, and learning from Big Data."

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A large volcanic eruption shook Deception Island, in Antarctica, 3,980 years ago, and not 8,300, as it was previously thought, according to an international study published in Scientific Reports, in which researchers from the Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera have participated. This event was the largest eruption in the austral continent during the Holocene (the last 11,700 years after the last great glaciation on Earth), and was comparable in volume of ejected rock to the Tambora volcano eruption in 1815. The eruption formed the caldera of the volcano, one of the most active in Antarctica, with more than 20 eruptions registered in the last 200 years.

In the study, whose first author was Dermot Antoniades, from the University of Laval, Canada have taken part researchers from the Universities of Barcelona (UB), Salamanca (USAL), and Cambridge and Leicester (UK), CREAF, the Centre for Research, and Monitoring and Evaluation of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, and Centre for Hydrographic Studies (CEDEX).

According to the age published in this new study, a volcanic eruption caldera collapse type took place 3980 years ago. The emptying of the magmatic chamber, the zone of magma accumulation that fuelled the eruption, during this violent eruptive event caused a sudden pressure drop which in turn caused the collapse of the upper part of the volcano. As a result, a depression between 8 and 10 kilometres in diameter was formed, which is what today gives to Deception Island its particular horseshoe shape. The caldera collapse would have caused a seismic event of great magnitude whose trace was recorded in the sediments accumulated in the lakes' bottom of Livingstone Island.

The lacustrine sediment cores were recovered during the Antarctic campaigns of the HOLOANTAR project, between 2012 and 2014. This fieldwork was lead and coordinated by Marc Oliva, then researcher at Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento of the University of Lisboa and now Ramon y Cajal researcher at University of Barcelona (UB). Oliva is coauthor of this study.

"The initial objective of the study was purely climatic, since we wanted to reconstruct the climate fluctuations of this region for the last 11,700 years using different proxies found in the sediments of the Byers Peninsula lakes, about 40 kilometres north of Deception Island. However, the presence of a different sediment layer in all lakes and of the same age after a thick layer of tephra surprised us", said Sergi Pla, researcher at CREAF and coauthor of the study.

"Later geochemical and biological analyses indicated us that these sediments had terrestrial origin and were deposited abruptly in the lake's bottom. These results suggested the occurrence of a major earthquake that affected all this area; put us on the track that, perhaps, we were not facing a common earthquake but the one generated by the collapse of the caldera of the Deception Island volcano. From here on, we pulled the thread", explained Santiago Giralt, researcher at ICTJA-CSIC and co-author of the study.

The exact date of the eruption was obtained using different geochemical, petrological and paleolimnological techniques applied on the sediment cores from 4 lakes of the Byers Peninsula from Livingston island.

These sedimentary records contained several direct and indirect pieces of evidence of the volcanic event that occurred in Deception Island. "The recovered sedimentary records showed a common pattern: first the volcanic ash from Deception Island eruption, overlaid by a sediment layer almost one meter thick composed by material dragged from the lakes' shores to their bottom due to the large earthquake and, finally, the common lake sediments, which are characterized by an alternation of clays and mosses", explained Santiago Giralt.

One of the challenges that faced this study was to characterize the origin of the ashes produced during the volcanic eruption. For that, pressure and temperature conditions of the magmas that originated this eruption were calculated using the ashes present in the sediment cores. "Using this methodology, we were able to estimate the depth of all studied samples and to determine if they were part of the same magma and eruptive episode", said Antonio Alvarez Valero, researcher from the University of Salamanca (USAL) and co-author of this study.

The study also estimates that the eruption had a Volcanic Explosive Index (VEI) around 6 which possibly makes it the largest known Holocene eruptive episode in the Antarctic continent.

"This colossal episode of eruptive caldera collapse ejected between 30 and 60 cubic kilometres of ash, comparable in volume to the eruption of the Tambora volcano in 1815, an event that is attributed to a global temperature cooling that resulted in a series of bad harvests in Europe, in what is known as the "year without summer", explains Adelina Geyer, ICTJA-CSIC researcher and co-author of the study.

"It is very important to be able to date this type of eruptions that allow us to understand the climatic changes caused by volcanic eruptions, in this particular case at high austral latitudes", adds the Geyer.

As suggested by this study, this eruption could have had significant climatic and ecological impacts in a large area of the southern region, although more studies and new data are needed to precisely characterize what the real effects on the climate of this large eruptive event.

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This study is included under the research activity in polar and high mountain areas developed by the research group ANTALP (Antarctic, Arctic, Alpine Environments) that counts with the financial support of the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) of the Generalitat of Catalunya.
Hamilton, Canada - The United Nations University's Canadian-based Institute on Water, Environment and Health today released a critical examination of the capacity of Canada's water sector with respect to meeting and helping other countries meet the water-related targets of the U.N.'s global sustainable development agenda.

Several components of this capacity are examined, including water education and research, investment in water projects that Canada makes internally and externally, and experiences in water technology and governance.

Analysis of the water education system suggests that "there is a broad capability in institutions of higher learning in Canada to offer training in the diverse subject areas important in water. In most cases, however, this has not led to the establishment of specific water study programmes. Only a few universities provide integrated water education. There is a need for a comprehensive listing of water-related educational activities in universities and colleges - a useful resource for potential students and employers."

A review of recent Canadian water research directions and highlights reveals strong and diverse water research capacity and placed the country among global leaders in this field. Canada appears to be within the top 10 countries in terms of water research productivity (publications) and research impact (citations). Research capacity has been traditionally strong in the restoration and protection of the lakes, prediction of changes in climate, water and cryosphere (areas where water is in solid forms such as ice and snow), prediction and management of floods and droughts. There is also a range of other strong water research directions.

Canada is not among the top 10 global water aid donors in absolute dollar numbers; the forerunners are, as a rule, the countries with higher GDP per capita. Canadian investments in Africa water development were consistently higher over the years than investments in other regions of the global South. The contributions dropped significantly in recent years overall, also with a decline in aid flow to Africa. Given government support for the right business model and access to resources, there is significant capacity within the Canadian water sector to deliver water technology projects with effective sustainable outcomes for the developing world.

The report recommends several potential avenues to elevate Canada's role on the global water stage, i.e. innovative, diverse and specific approaches such as

developing a national inventory of available water professional capacity, and ranking Universities on the strength of their water programmes

coordinating national contributions to global sustainability processes around the largest ever university-led water research programme in the world - the 7-year Global Water Futures program

targeting specific developmental or regional challenges through overseas development aid to achieve quick wins that may require only modest investments

resolving such chronic internal water challenges as water supply and sanitation of First Nations, and illustrating how this can be achieved within a limited period with good will

strengthening and expanding links with UN-Water and other UN organisations involved in global water policy work

To improve water management at home, and to promote water Canadian competence abroad, the diverse efforts of the country's water sector need better coordination. There is a significant role for government at all levels, but especially federally, in this process.

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The report in full is available at http://www.inweh.unu.edu

INWEH.unu.edu

The UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health is a member of the United Nations University family of organizations. It is a U.N. Think Tank on Water and its mission is to help resolve pressing water challenges of concern to the UN Member States through science synthesis, cutting edge research, application of on-the-ground science-based scalable solutions and targeted public outreach. It is supported by the Government of Canada and hosted by McMaster University.
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology examined the mechanisms behind the resistance at the electrode-electrolyte interface of all-solid-state batteries. Their findings will aid in the development of much better Li-ion batteries with very fast charge/discharge rates.

Designing and improving lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is crucial for extending the limits of modern electronic devices and electric vehicles because Li-ion batteries are virtually ubiquitous. Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), led by Prof. Taro Hitosugi, had previously reported a new type of all-solid-state battery, also based on lithium ions, which overcame one of the major problems of those batteries: high resistance at the interface between the electrodes and the electrolytes that limits fast charging/discharging.

Although the devices they produced were very promising and were much better than conventional Li-ion batteries in some regards, the mechanism behind the reduced interface resistance was unclear. It has been difficult to analyze the buried interfaces in all-solid-state batteries without damaging their layers. Therefore, Hitosugi and his team of researchers again investigated all-solid-state batteries to shed light on this topic. They suspected that crystallinity (which indicates how well-ordered and periodic a solid is) at the electrode-electrolyte interface played a key role in defining interface resistance.

To prove this, they fabricated two different all-solid-state batteries composed of electrode and electrolyte layers using a pulsed laser deposition technique. One of these batteries had presumably high crystallinity at the electrode-electrolyte interface, whereas the other one did not. Confirming this was possible by using a novel technique called X-ray crystal truncation-rod scattering analysis. "X-rays can reach the buried interfaces without destroying the structures," explains Hitosugi.

Based on their results, the team concluded that a highly crystalline electrode-electrolyte interface resulted in low interface resistance, yielding a high-performance battery. By analyzing the microscopic structure of the interfaces of their batteries, they proposed a plausible explanation for the increased resistance of batteries with less crystalline interfaces. Lithium ions are stuck at the less crystalline interfaces, hindering ion conductivity. "Controlled fabrication of the electrolyte/electrode interface is crucial to obtain low interface resistance," explains Hitosugi. The development of theories and simulations to further understand the migration of Li ions will be crucial for finally achieving useful and improved batteries for all kinds of devices based on electrochemistry.

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This work is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Susumu Shiraki at Nippon Institute of Technology and Senior Researcher Tetsuroh Shirasawa at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.

About Tokyo Institute of Technology

Tokyo Tech stands at the forefront of research and higher education as the leading university for science and technology in Japan. Tokyo Tech researchers excel in fields ranging from materials science to biology, computer science, and physics. Founded in 1881, Tokyo Tech hosts over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year, who develop into scientific leaders and some of the most sought-after engineers in industry. Embodying the Japanese philosophy of "monotsukuri," meaning "technical ingenuity and innovation," the Tokyo Tech community strives to contribute to society through high-impact research. http://www.titech.ac.jp/english/

About Nippon Institute of Technology

Nippon Institute of Technology celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. Our mission was, and still is, to raise outstanding engineers who can utilize theoretical concepts of engineering in the frontline of industry. We developed our unique method using "practical engineering", making the best use of what students had learnt in technical high schools. http://www.nit.ac.jp/english

About National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), one of the largest public research institutes in Japan, focuses on the creation and practical realization of technologies useful to Japanese industry and society, and on "bridging" the gap between innovative technological seeds and commercialization.

For this, AIST is organized into 5 departments and 2 centers that bring together core technologies to exert its comprehensive strength. http://www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html

About Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

JST is an organization that leads Japan's science and technology (S&T) development as an innovation navigator. We aim to contribute to the lives of people and the achievement of a sustainable society by promoting S&T for the purpose of opening up opportunities in innovation. Since its foundation, JST's many outstanding achievements accomplished in collaboration with the government, universities, the industrial sector and public have been earned global recognition. http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/index.html
The research co-led by Drs. Christelle Not and Benoit Thibodeau from the Department of Earth Sciences and the Swire Institute of Marine Science, The University of Hong Kong, highlights a dramatic weakening of the circulation during the 20th century that is interpreted to be a direct consequence of global warming and associated melt of the Greenland Ice-Sheet. This is important for near-future climate as slower circulation in the North Atlantic can yield profound change on both the North American and European climate but also on the African and Asian summer monsoon rainfall. The findings were recently published in the prestigious journal Geophysical Research Letters.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is the branch of the North Atlantic circulation that brings warm surface water toward the Arctic and cold deep water toward the equator. This transfer of heat and energy not only has direct influence on climate over Europe and North American but can impact the African and Asian monsoon system through its effect on sea surface temperature, hydrological cycle, atmospheric circulation and variation in the intertropical convergence zone. Many climate models predicted a weakening, or even a collapse of this branch of the circulation under global warming, partly due to the release of freshwater from Greenland Ice-Sheet. This freshwater has lower density than salty water and thus prevents the formation of deep water, slowing down the whole circulation. However, this weakening is still vigorously debated because of the scarcity of long-term record of the AMOC. Drs. Not and Thibodeau used microfossils, called foraminifer, found in a sediment core to estimate the past temperature of the Ocean. The sediment core used is located in the Laurentian Channel, on the coast of Canada, where two important currents meet. Thus, the strength of these currents will control the temperature of the water at the coring site which implies that the temperature reconstructed from this core is indicative of the strength of the North Atlantic circulation. With their collaborators from the United-States of America, they validated their results using instrumental data and two numerical models that can simulate the climate and the ocean.

"The AMOC plays a crucial role in regulating global climate, but scientists are struggling to find reliable indicators of its intensity in the past. The discovery of this new record of AMOC will enhance our understanding of its drivers and ultimately help us better comprehend potential near-future change under global warming" said Dr. Thibodeau.

Interestingly, the research team also found a weak signal during a period called the Little Ice Age (a cold spell observed between about 1600 and 1850 AD). While not as pronounced as the 20th century trend, the signal might confirm that this period was also characterized by a weaker circulation in the North Atlantic, which implies a decrease in the transfer of heat toward Europe, contributing to the cold temperature of this period. However, more work is needed to validate this hypothesis.

"While we could ground-truth our temperature reconstruction for the 20th century against instrumental measurement it is not possible to do so for the Little Ice Age period. Therefore, we need to conduct more analysis to consolidate this hypothesis" said Dr. Not.

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About the journal paper

"Last century warming over the Canadian Atlantic shelves linked to weak Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation", Geophysical Research Letters.

About the research team

Drs Not and Thibodeau are leading the Environmental Geochemistry and Oceanography research group at The University of Hong Kong and are member of the department of Earth Sciences and the Swire Institute of Marine Science.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Cindy Chan, Senior Communication Manager of HKU Faculty of Science (tel: 3917 5286/6703 0212; email: cindycst@hku.hk) or Dr. Thibodeau.

Image download: http://www.scifac.hku.hk/news/media?page=1
When is high blood pressure dangerous? Medical associations offer widely differing answers. In the USA, for example, patients are seen as hypertensive much sooner than in Germany. A team working with Prof. Karl-Heinz Ladwig of the Technical University of Munich and the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen has concluded that treating patients sooner does not reduce the risk of deadly heart disease. It could even negatively affect their mental health.

In 2017 the American College of Cardiology added a new category to its guidelines for high blood pressure: "Stage 1 Hypertension". Under the new standards, doctors are advised to place patients in this category (130-139 mmHg / 80-89 mmHg) on treatment. For the European Society of Cardiology, that range is defined as "high normal" blood pressure, with no specific action recommended.

"The idea behind the US guidelines is to lower blood pressure as early as possible and, by presenting patients with a diagnosis, to encourage them to adopt a healthier lifestyle," explains Prof. Karl-Heinz Ladwig, a researcher at the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at the TUM University Clinic rechts der Isar at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen.

Motivation factor questionable

Using data from approximately 12,000 patients, Ladwig and his team assessed the situation in Germany. "We studied the 10-year risk of mortality from cardio-vascular disease (CVD) among people in the various hypertension categories in the context of the other risk factors affecting them," says Seryan Atasoy, the first author of the study, who is working as an epidemiologist at Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen.

In the newly created category "Stage 1 Hypertension", the CVD mortality risk was not significantly higher than among patients with normal blood pressure. "The motivation effect is questionable, too," says Karl-Heinz Ladwig. Patients in the high-risk category "Stage 2 Hypertension", where medication is recommended under both the US and the European guidelines, have a much greater risk of dying of heart disease, he explains. "At the same time, risk factors such as smoking and a lack of exercise are far more frequent in that group. That shows that many people do not change their lifestyles despite the diagnosis."

Dangerous depression

Although the incidence of depression is generally lower among people with dangerously high blood pressure than in the general population, depression was significantly more common in one subset of that group: those taking medication to treat their serious hypertension. Here, depressive moods were reported by around half of all patients, as opposed to just one-third of those not receiving treatment.

"We believe that this should be seen as a labeling effect," says Ladwig. "When people are officially labeled as 'sick', that has an impact on their mental health." A previous study by Ladwig and his team showed that, in terms of mortality risk from cardio-vascular disease, depression is comparable to high cholesterol levels or obesity.

New guidelines mean more sick people

"The American College of Cardiology itself has calculated that the proportion of adults diagnosed with high blood pressure will increase from 32 to 46 percent," says Karl-Heinz Ladwig. "That means 14 percent more who have to deal with the additional mental stress - although their risk of developing a potentially deadly cardio-vascular condition is not significantly higher, and despite no real expectation of extra motivation through the diagnosis." For those reasons, Ladwig believes that it would be a serious mistake to adopt the US guidelines in Europe.

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Publication:

S. Atasoy, H. Johar, A. Peters, K.-H. Ladwig. "Association of hypertension cut-off values with 10-year cardiovascular mortality and clinical consequences: a real-world perspective from the prospective MONICA/KORA study". European Heart Journal (2018). DOI:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy694

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Ladwig

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Klinikum rechts der Isar

Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy

+49 89 3187 3623

Email: ladwig@helmholtz-muenchen.de
The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and the company Alava Engineers have created a professorship aimed at encouraging research in the field of computer vision. The general objectives of this professorship are to encourage research in subjects related to the implementation of computer vision with a perspective that allows its practical implementation and, therefore, is relevant for the company.

This scientific area, focused on getting computers to sense and understand images captured around them, wants artificial intelligence to be able to relate efficiently to its surroundings. This joint professorship between the UC3M and Alava Engineers will allow different R+D+I projects related to the area of image capture and analysis to be carried out. Work on communication software support in industry will also be carried out.

According to the UC3M head, Jose Maria Armingol Moreno, professor from the Systems Engineering and Automation department, the research professorship "will help the transfer of technology, which in the field of computer vision is carried out by the Intelligent Systems Laboratory, helping Alava Engineers to develop new products related to image processing by computers".

In the words of Jose Maria Almazan Gomez, vice-president of Grupo Alava, this professorship constitutes a strategic vector of competitive growth for Grupo Alava: "We see computer vision as a technology that enables our new 4.0 value proposition for and by industry. It is a technology with great potential for development that impacts practically every link in the manufacturing industry value chain", he comments.

New image technology

The professorship will propose the development of applications for the capture, display and analysis of images from different sources, offline as well as online. This will require the use of SDK and API tools (a type of collection that contains the elements necessary to create an application) specific to image analysis, generating and debugging code in order to achieve the best result for each application. There can be different types of technology used for image capture, such as conventional cameras, thermal or multi-hyperspectral imaging devices or picture transfer protocol such as GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, Camera Link or CoaXPress. In this respect, subsystems for "embedded vision" will be developed that combine cameras, processors and graphics cards along with the necessary application software, according to each project.

The professorship will try to publish and communicate the results of their research to citizens. Additionally, it will organise joint activities related to the promotion and dissemination of scientific culture and technological advances.

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An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of Cyprus and University of California San Diego School of Medicine, have identified a previously unknown, large-scale association between molecular gene expression activity in blood leukocyte cells and altered neural responses to speech in toddlers with autism as measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The findings were published online November 26 in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

The large-scale gene-brain association occurs differently in toddlers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and who have poor language development compared to toddlers with ASD and good language development or typically developing toddlers. This large-scale association involved a very large number of genes, many of which are commonly expressed in many tissues, including the brain and leukocytes, a type of blood cell.

"Many of the genes involved are known from other work to be involved in prenatal brain development are human-specific, are linked to vocal learning, and importantly, have been directly implicated in ASD by other genetic and postmortem studies," said first author Michael Lombardo, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Cyprus. "The findings show that different molecular biological mechanisms underpin functional brain development in a subtype of ASD toddlers with poor language outcome, and this biology is present before such outcomes are known."

Accordingly, say the authors, the work suggests that functional neuroimaging measures and gene expression levels in blood leukocyte cells may offer a novel in vivo way to identify brain-relevant molecular mechanisms in ASD.

"They also show how using peripheral blood samples could help inform our understanding of how brain development dynamically changes across the lifespan," said co-senior author Eric Courchesne, PhD, professor of neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "For example, the methodology behind this work can be utilized in the future to monitor how the biology of a patient, at molecular and neural systems levels, responds to treatment or changes over the lifespan across different outcomes."

Early language development in autism is highly variable, noted the authors. "Some toddlers with autism are minimally verbal, while at the other extreme, many individuals develop language like typically developing toddlers," said Lombardo. "An important and long-standing question has been whether these very different language profiles in autism are subtype distinctions that point to different biological underpinnings."

"We need to better understand the biological underpinnings of different early language development in autism because early language ability is one of the most important predictors of early intervention response and later-life outcomes," said Courchesne. "If we can understand that biology, this may have high impact in future work examining how to best facilitate change to the biology that can then substantially improve longer term outcomes for patients."

At UC San Diego School of Medicine, a research team led by Courchesne and co-senior author Karen Pierce, PhD, professor of neuroscience and co-director with Courchesne of the UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence, collected blood samples from 118 toddlers, average age 29 months or just under 2-and-a-half years old, and measured transcriptional activity of all protein coding genes in the genome.

The UC San Diego team additionally collected fMRI data during natural sleep from toddlers while they were passively exposed to speech stimuli. Using behavioral clinical assessment data collected repeatedly each year from one to four years of age, Pierce divided the toddlers with autism into subtypes that showed poor or good language outcome by three to four years of age.

Lombardo then used advanced biostatistics analyses to cluster genes into highly correlated "gene modules," assessing how activity in the modules related to whole-brain neural response to speech. The researchers found that module activity linked to neural responses to speech was widespread across the genome, encompassing several thousand genes working in coordinated fashion.

The finding, said authors, was highly linked to in vivo fMRI response in living patients and is a methodological advance that could help improve how clinicians assess which individuals will respond to different kinds of treatment.

"One of the biggest challenges in advancing understanding of ASD has been the absence of a method to identify what gene activity differences underlie the initial brain differences and the clinical symptoms in living toddlers with ASD," said Courchesne. "This is because the living toddler's brain is inaccessible to the direct measurement of gene activity. As such, gene activity differences underlying emerging brain dysfunction and clinical symptoms has remained completely unknown -- until now.

"Our method takes advantage of the fact that a large number of ASD-relevant and prenatal brain-relevant genes and gene networks broadly express in easily accessible non-brain tissues, such as leukocytes as well as in brain. By carefully analyzing such early age gene activity, it's possible to advance understanding of this key biology in living toddlers with ASD. This unique method not only can have a huge impact on understanding the molecular bases of ASD, but also how to monitor changes in the biology as a function of early intervention. We think this method for linking molecular mechanisms in available peripheral samples, such as blood, with in vivo measures of the brain using neuroimaging helps us substantially."

Courchesne said researchers plan to extend their work in clinically relevant directions, such as monitoring treatment response in ASD subtypes and potentially leverage information derived from gene expression, fMRI and clinical measures to develop tools that can better predict language outcomes for toddlers with ASD at very early ages.

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Co-authors include: Tiziano Pramparo, Vahid Gazestani, Cynthia Carter Barnes, Linda Lopez, Nathan E. Lewis and Lisa Eyler UC San Diego; and Varun Warrier and Richard A.I. Bethlehem, University of Cambridge.
As onshore and offshore wind energy farms have proliferated globally in recent years, new research led by the University of Colorado Boulder highlights a previously underexplored consequence: a wake effect from upwind wind farms that can reduce the energy production of their downwind neighbors.

The study, undertaken in collaboration with the University of Denver (DU) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), combines legal and economic analysis with atmospheric modeling to demonstrate that wake effects--which occur when groups of turbines reduce wind speed for up to several miles behind them--are measurable and predictable, yet remain largely unaccounted for in current U.S. property law.

The research appears today in the journal Nature Energy.

"The findings highlight the need for coordinated development and awareness of the big picture in order to maximize wind energy generation nationwide," said Julie Lundquist, lead author of the study and an associate professor in CU Boulder's Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (ATOC).

Wind energy developers seek out sites with reliable wind resources as well as convenient access to electrical transmission lines, leading to dense turbine deployment in choice areas with little coordination between competitors. Nearly 90 percent of U.S. wind farms are located within 25 miles of another wind farm -- and often much closer.

Yet much like a homeowner whose once-unimpeded views are blocked by new construction, the study shows that existing wind farms stand to lose valuable energy production if they suddenly find themselves downwind of a new neighbor and its wind- and energy-reducing wake.

Using publicly-available data on monthly energy generation and dominant wind direction, the researchers modeled the wake effect on a pair of West Texas wind farms, using a third as a control. They found that wind speed reductions due to the establishment of the upwind farm reduced generation at the now-downwind farm by 5 percent from 2011-2015, an estimated revenue loss of around $3.7 million.

"Just as upstream water users can knowingly or unknowingly impose additional costs downstream, the same effect is in play here," said Daniel Kaffine, a co-author of the study and a professor in CU Boulder's Department of Economics. "We had a general sense of this interaction before and wanted to explore it further using a mix of social science and atmospheric data."

Kaffine and Lundquist, both fellows in the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), noted that Texas made for a good case study because of its current and future stake in wind energy development, as well as historical parallels concerning usage rights for the state's oil and gas resources.

Over a century ago, oil and gas law recognized the "rule of capture," which allows a landowner to capture a neighbor's oil resources by sucking them from an adjacent well. This resulted in poor well-field recoveries and waste, so states intervened to regulate production through well-spacing, pooling and other coordination measures. Similarly, states have developed water law regimes that protect rights for prior users. But current U.S. property law contains no such provisions for wind energy.

"It took oil and gas and water law decades to create these legal regimes," said K.K. DuVivier, a co-author of the study and a professor at DU's Sturm College of Law. "It appears that wind energy has not yet reached a similar stage of maturity. I hope this research will help raise awareness about the extent of the waking problem and educate those seeking a legal remedy."

Turbine wakes have been observed to extend up to 25 miles, potentially spanning multiple state and county jurisdictions and complicating matters even further.

"In the immediate future, some business incentives might change," Kaffine said. "Energy firms might put more emphasis on securing leases upwind to ensure they have enough of a buffer."

But while legal guidance may lag behind, Lundquist emphasized that the team's sophisticated atmospheric science simulations show the wake effect is a highly predictable atmospheric phenomenon that can be modeled and planned for in light of the new data.

"It's encouraging that the wake effects seen in the economic analysis are captured by the atmospheric simulations," said Jessica Tomaszewski, a graduate student in ATOC who co-authored the new study.

"The strongest wakes occur at night, when the atmosphere is stable and wind speeds and directions meet specific criteria," said Lundquist. "Out of the month of wakes simulated, only 28 hours, or less than 4 percent of the time, had wakes in excess of 20 percent of the downwind farm's capacity, suggesting this episodic issue can be predicted and managed."

"Owners and grid managers can use this information to get ahead of the issue. New research at NREL in manipulating wakes might be helpful," said Tomaszewski. "Ultimately, however, better coordination will be necessary to maximize the public benefits of wind energy."

Taking the wake effect into account will be especially crucial for the large number of offshore wind farms currently in development off the U.S. east coast, Lundquist added.

"Offshore wind farms are important, but they are expensive to build and mistakes will be equally expensive," she said.

"This project explores the links among economic, legal, and social issues and the geophysical processes in wind energy production," said Tom Baerwald, program director for the National Science Foundation's Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems program, which funded the research. "These findings advance our understanding of these interactions, and provide guidance for successful development of renewal energy for the future."

The researchers hope to expand their efforts to measure wind farm wake effects by incorporating aircraft measurements as well as capturing data on a more frequent timescale from other sites around the country.

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) provided additional funding via a Graduate Research Fellowship. NREL and the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office provided additional funding.
In 1960, scientists described the "Philadelphia chromosome" that causes chronic myeloid leukemia, and in 2001 the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug imatinib to disable the action of this cancer-causing genetic change. It was the dawn of genetically-targeted treatments against cancer and it seemed as if many cancers would fall to a similar strategy: Find a genetic difference between cancer cells and healthy cells, and then develop a drug to target this difference. Of course, rarely has it proved that easy. It's difficult to find a genetic difference common to all cells within a single cancer, and many of these differences are impossible to target with existing drug strategies. Often this seemingly simple gene/drug pairing doesn't work.

Then again, sometimes it does.

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine describes a genetic change common to 80 percent of human melanomas, the most deadly form of skin cancer, and also describes a molecule that seeks out cells marked by this genetic change. The current study attaches a radioactive label to the targeting molecule and uses positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to show that the radiolabeled molecule does, in fact, seek out and bind to melanoma cells. Using a similar approach, it may be possible to not only image these cells, but to attach therapy to this targeting molecule to kill these melanoma cells.

The work starts with a protein called melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R), which is involved in determining skin and hair color, but which is also found at a higher level on the surface of more than 80 percent of human melanomas. The current study describes a "peptide" that specifically binds to MC1R. If MC1R is a lock, then the peptide 68Ga-DOTA-GGNle-CycMSHhex is the key that fits it. In this case, researchers attached an imaging radionuclide to this peptide - the combination of peptide and radionuclide found, bound, and "lit up" melanoma metastases, allowing researchers to image these melanoma cells.

The success of this molecular targeting approach suggests the possibility of using the peptide as a delivery vehicle to transport a therapeutic radionuclide directly to melanoma cells marked with MC1Rs for therapy.

"Basically, we attach the imaging radionuclide to the peptide, then the radiolabeled peptide finds MC1Rs on the melanoma through blood circulation, allowing us to use a PET machine to gather the signals from the radiolabeled peptide for melanoma imaging. It's a very sensitive way to see melanoma," says Yubin Miao, PhD, investigator at CU Cancer Center and Director of Radiopharmaceutical Science at the Radiology of CU School of Medicine.

In addition, researchers were able to replace the radiolabel with a fluorescent one to generate a new MC1R-targeting fluorescence imaging probe (called Cy5.5-GGNle-CycMSHhex). The current study shows that the fluorescent probe binds and stains MC1Rs on melanoma cells and lesions. Miao sees that the combination of these two approaches - one radiolabeled and one fluorescent - may potentially improve surgical outcomes for melanoma via imaging-guided surgery.

He also sees the potential to use a similar strategy as a personalized therapeutic approach for patients with melanoma metastases high in MC1Rs, especially for brain metastases.

"Approximately 60 percent of patients with metastatic melanoma develop brain metastases during the course of their disease. Patients with brain metastases have much shorter life expectancies than patients without brain metastases. Our study shows that the MC1R continues to mark melanoma cells even after these cells metastasize from the site of origin to brain, and this peptide can bind to MC1Rs in melanoma brain metastases. One potential application for this technology is to use our imaging systems to identify MC1R-postive melanoma tumors and then treat these lesions with therapies delivered by this peptide," Miao says.

For now, the current study demonstrates the first-in-human ability to image melanoma metastases using the group's radiolabeled peptide. With more funding and collaboration, the Miao group hopes to explore the therapeutic potential in the near future.

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Slave trade collapsed in medieval Western Europe following the emergence of sovereign monarchies, territorial states and their rule of law. In Russia, however, the rule of clans and a different justice system created an economic structure that favoured a diverse body of well-networked merchants. This played a role in enabling the continuation of slave trade in Russia. A new book by University of Eastern Finland Professor Jukka Korpela, entitled Slaves from the North, is the first study in the world seeking to explain the development of the Russian economy by influences from economies of the Middle East and Central Asia. The book is published by Brill.

In the book, Professor Korpela links Eastern European slave trade, which also affected Finns, with the formation of states and state economies. Finns and Karelians were traded as commodities in the Eastern European slave trade. It was profitable for slave traders to transport Finns and Karelians from the North to the slave markets in the South, as their unique qualities were in high demand and worth good money. Blonde-haired and fair-skinned Finns and Karelians were regarded as luxury items in the Eastern slave markets. People were captured into slavery during wars and raids, but it wasn't uncommon for families to sell their children into slavery, either.

Bazaar economy continued to thrive in Russia

In Western Europe, slave trade collapsed in the Middle Ages, as tyrant rulers sought to block influential clan leaders from rising to power and prevent the emergence of independent power spheres. Slavery did not fit well with this development, as all individuals had to be directly subject to the monarch's rule of law. Contrary to prevailing views, slavery continued in the West only under exceptional circumstances where it was possible to engage in mass production, such as in American slave trade.

The idea of commerce in Western Europe shifted from trade in commodities to investment activities, and this development was supported by the monarch's rule of law from the 1300s onwards. The shift in the economic system to observe the doctrine of mercantilism gave rise to controlled economies. In Eastern Europe, however, the diverse body of well-networked merchants was not under the control of the duchy's rule of law. This is also why the duchy's rule of law was not separated from commerce, and no independent state economy or public economy emerged in Russia; not even after the efforts taken by the Duke of Moscow in the 1500s. In consequence, diverse trade in commodities - a bazaar economy - continued to thrive. Moreover, the development of the financing system did not lead to the emergence of public banking institutions. Under these circumstances, slavery and slave trade continued in Russia. However, the proportion of Finns on the Russian slave market decreased following an increasingly strong integrity of Sweden from 1500s onwards.

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Korpela, Jukka (2018) Slaves from the North. Finns and Karelians in the East European Slave Trade, 900-1600. Brill.

For further information, please contact: Professor Jukka Korpela, tel. +358 50 372 8665, jukka.korpela@uef.fi
A general concept in biology is that cells use two different systems to transport substances across their membrane: selective pores, which allow passive transport driven by a concentration gradient, and active transport complexes, which use energy to transport substances against a gradient. Now scientists from the University of Groningen, together with colleagues from Germany and Spain, have described a system that combines a pore and a transporter to import potassium ions into cells against an extreme concentration gradient. The results were published in Nature Communications on 26 November.

Cristina Paulino, head of the cryo-EM unit at the Department of Structural Biology at the University of Groningen, is excited: 'This could very well become textbook stuff!' The novel transport system combines two worlds that were seen as separate in many ways. Passive pores and active transporters use different mechanisms, have a different evolutionary history and are mostly studied by different groups of scientists, each with their own nomenclature and conferences. Two worlds that were believed to be mutually exclusive. 'We have shown that it is not always so black and white.'

High affinity

Together with her colleague Inga Hanelt from Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany), Paulino has identified a chimera between a pore and a transporter which is present in the gut bacteria E. coli and a few related species. Like MacGyver, these bacteria have taken the best parts of these two transport systems and combined them to form something new. 'It is really fascinating to discover that nature can do this', says Paulino.

The transport system, named KdpFABC, is used to transport potassium ions into the cell. It is only activated in extreme cases, e.g. when the concentration inside the cells is are about 10,000 times higher than the concentration outside. Paulino: 'In this situation, where the concentration outside is so very low, you need extremely high affinity to bind the potassium ions, and the system needs to overcome a very high energy barrier to import the potassium ions.'

Channel architecture

Pores usually have high selectivity and affinity, but only active transport can overcome the energy barrier. So how can KdpFABC do both? Scientists realized the answer would lie in the structure of this protein complex, which comprises four subunits. Last year, a structure was determined using X-ray diffraction. This confirmed that the complex contained one subunit with a channel architecture and another with an active transporter architecture. 'However, we felt that the transport mechanism that was proposed based on this structure was not convincing. Something was missing.'

Paulino and her PhD student Lisa Hielkema, who is joint first author of the paper, therefore had another look at the structure of the protein complex. They used cryo-EM, a technique that uses a special electron microscope that can resolve details to a few angstrom. Thousands of proteins are imaged, and the images are combined. 'We used inhibitors to make sure all the complexes were stabilized in the same state, as they change shape during the transport process.' Despite the stabilizers, the results showed the complex in two different shapes. This was fortunate, however, because the two shapes showed two stages in the transport process.

Unique structure

The channel and the transporter subunit were clearly visible in Paulino and Hielkema's analysis, but the structure of the channel subunit did not change, and it did not open to the inside. By contrast, Paulino and her colleagues could identify a set of tunnels that allow potassium ions to enter the channel from the outside, bridge to the transporter unit and from there, pass through another tunnel into the cell.

The transport mechanism that was derived from the structure is unique, Paulino explains. 'The pore binds potassium ions on the outside with very high affinity. These potassium ions flow into the transport complex, which causes a change in conformation and is driven by the use of energy.' The transport subunit uses ATP, the general energy carrier of the cells, to 'fuel' the conformational change, which opens up a tunnel to the interior of the membrane. The change in conformation also reduces the affinity for potassium ions, so the ions can be released inside the cell.

Dogma

'The system uses a channel which evolved to have a very high selective affinity for potassium ions with a pump that evolved for transport against a very high energy barrier', says Paulino. Thus, the system blurs the boundaries between pores and active transporters. 'Our finding goes against the dogma that these two systems are mutually exclusive. We describe a totally new mechanism that uses old concepts in a unique combination.'

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Reference: C. Stock, L. Hielkema, I. Tascon, D. Wunnicke, G. T. Oostergetel, M. Azkargorta, C. Paulino & I. Hanelt: Cryo-EM structures of KdpFABC suggest a K+ transport mechanism via two inter-subunit half-channels. Nature Communications, 26 November 2018
All brain cells 'air-kiss' before they come together to form a final synaptic relationship, new research by University of Kent scientists has revealed.

The breakthrough study reveals that molecular signaling within the brain operates in a very different way to previously thought, with cells now found to use the same pair of molecules for both distant and close contacts.

The research, by a team led by Professor Yuri Ushkaryov of the University's Medway School of Pharmacy, may lead to a much better understanding of how neurons send messages to distant parts of the brain or other organs in the body, such as muscle cells.

It has previously been shown that brain neurons secrete 'attractive' or 'repulsive' molecules that diffuse away to allow neurons to grow towards or away from each other and thus organise connections. These are the 'messenger' molecules. It was thought that once neurons come close to each other, different molecules on the surface of cells facilitate recognition and adhesion.

But the study found that a neuronal cell-surface receptor that normally brings about adhesion could break away and travel some distance to another cell. Finding another neuron, it then tells it to grow towards the cell that released the message. The postsynaptic cell sends its presynaptic partner an 'air-kiss', before the two fuse in a final, 'eternal kiss' synapse.

Professor Ushkaryov said: 'Our breakthrough was to find that these brain cells use the same pair of duplicitous molecules for both distant and close contacts. This is exciting because it will have implications for our understanding of how neurons send axons to distant part of the brain or to other organs such as muscles.'

The research, entitled Proteolytically released Lass/teneurin-2 induces axonal attraction by interacting with latrophilin-1 on axonal growth cones (Yuri Ushkaryov et a) is published in the journal eLife. See: https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.37935.

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For more information or interview requests contact Martin Herrema at the University of Kent Press Office.Tel: 01227 816768Email: M.J.Herrema@kent.ac.uk

News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news

University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent

Notes to editor

Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome.

It has been ranked 22nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and in June 2017 was awarded a gold rating, the highest, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, it is in the top 10% of the world's leading universities for international outlook and 66th in its table of the most international universities in the world. The THE also ranked the University as 20th in its 'Table of Tables' 2016.

Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality.

In the National Student Survey 2016, Kent achieved the fourth highest score for overall student satisfaction, out of all publicly funded, multi-faculty universities. Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium (http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/partnerships/eastern-arc.html).

The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals.
New data has found that natural habitats occupying an area larger than Greece have been created to offset economic developments. This data could eventually provide a basis to help improve our understanding of the benefits of protecting and preserving wild

New data has found that natural habitats occupying an area larger than Greece have been created to offset economic developments. This data could eventually provide a basis to help improve our understanding of the benefits of protecting and preserving wildlife. Called 'biodiversity offsets', man-made conservation areas are created to compensate for economic developments and are a growing trend.

They include major industrial projects like the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia and the Bujagali hydropower project in Uganda and at the other end of the scale, grassland restoration offsets only one hectare in size to compensate for housing developments in the UK. Until now, no one has had enough information to assess whether they work on an international scale.

Dr Joseph W. Bull, a conservation scientist at University of Kent worked with Dr Niels Strange from the University of Copenhagen to collate data on over ten thousand examples of nature sites created specifically to compensate for industrial impacts. The researchers found that across the world businesses are offsetting their development at a 'rapid rate' - from international corporations to smallscale landowners. The researchers also found there were more offsets than they expected - 12,983 projects across 74 countries.

Dr Bull said: 'This is the start of something major. Biodiversity offsets are being implemented very quickly despite being quite a recent policy idea. More than 153,000 square kilometres is a big chunk of land and - for the first time - we now have a dataset that can and will be used by two hundred countries across the world to refine "no net loss" policies, seeking to protect our natural environment.'

'No Net loss' policies are the point at which the project-related impacts on biodiversity are balanced by measures taken to avoid and minimize their impacts.

Such a global dataset is the prerequisite for assessing how well offsets compensate for biodiversity impacts associated with economic development, adds Dr Strange.

The data also showed that emerging economies (particularly in South America) were more dominant in terms of global offsetting and most projects are very small. However, the researchers also note that the overwhelming majority (99.7%) of projects are implemented by law rather than on a voluntary basis.

The data is being made available to the Global Inventory on Biodiversity Offset Policies (GIBOP), currently being officially promoted at the thirteenth meeting of the international Convention on Biological Diversity, to be attended by up to 196 member countries in Egypt from the 17th-29th November 2018.

The global extent of biodiversity offset implementation under no net loss policies, by Joseph W. Bull and Niels Strange, is published in Nature Sustainability.

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The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology DICE is based in the School of Anthropology and Conservation (SAC), University of Kent, Canterbury, UK and worked in collaboration with the Department of Food and Resource Economics and Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Sandy Fleming | Press Officer

Press Office, Corporate Communications, University of Kent

Room 155, The Registry

Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, UK

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Tel: +44 (0)1227 823581 | +44 (0)1634 888879 http://www.kent.ac.uk/news| @UniKent

Gold for Kent in Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome.

It was ranked 22nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and in June 2017 was awarded a gold rating, the highest, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

In 2018 it was also ranked in the top 500 of Shanghai Ranking's Academic Ranking of World Universities and 47th in the Times Higher Education's (THE) new European Teaching Rankings.

Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality.

Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium (http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/partnerships/eastern-arc.html).

The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals.

Kent has received two Queen's Anniversary prizes for Higher and Further Education.
PHILADELPHIA - From better-understanding how to improve response rates in multiple myeloma patients to identifying why some patients with other types of cancer are resistant in the first place, research from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania continues to pace the field in expanding knowledge of cellular therapies for cancer care. Penn researchers will present findings at the 60th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, including studies that evaluate CAR T combinations, how the timing of CAR T therapy may impact its effectiveness, and which patients who currently aren't eligible for CAR T therapy should have greater access. Here's a day-by-day breakdown of the Abramson Cancer Center's CAR T research highlights: Saturday, December 1 When in the long course of Multiple Myeloma (MM) treatment is the best time to use CAR T therapy?

(Abstract #1974 and Abstract #1886, 6:15 PM, Hall GH)

Adam Cohen, MD, an assistant professor of Hematology-Oncology, identified T cell biomarkers that can predict response to CART-BCMA therapy in MM. In a companion abstract that will be presented in the same session, Ehren Dancy, MD, an internal medicine resident, showed that these same T cell biomarkers are more common in multiple myeloma patients who have only been through one line of therapy, indicating that CART-BCMA may be more effective for multiple myeloma if utilized earlier in patients' disease course. The Abramson Cancer Center is currently testing the approach in a clinical trial. Sunday, December 2 CAR T Combined with ibrutinib shows a high response rate in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

(Abstract #298, 8:15 AM, Marriott Marquis Pacific Ballroom 20)

A trial investigating the combination of CAR T cells and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib in CLL patients showed a complete response rate of 43 percent of patients, as well as a bone marrow remission rate of 94 percent. At one year, 63 percent of evaluable patients still had undetectable leukemia in the marrow. "Our results suggest this combination is effective and that remissions are deep and sustained; we plan to further test this approach in a larger study," said lead author Saar Gill, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of Hematology-Oncology. David Porter, MD, director of Cell Therapy and Transplantation, was the senior author on the study. Treatment options for high risk populations of lymphoma

(Abstract #453, 5:00 PM, Ballroom 20D and Abstract #455, 5:30 PM, Ballroom 20D)

A study led by Emily Ayers, MD, a fellow in Hematology-Oncology, assesses outcomes of patients who receive aggressive therapy for lymphoma, then relapse. Standard second line therapy is poor for many of these patients, and this study argues for more access to clinical trials as well as commercial CAR T products at this point in the treatment. "Why put these patients through an ineffective line of therapy when we know other options exist?" said senior author Daniel Landsburg, MD, an assistant professor of Hematology-Oncology. Landsburg is also the first author on a related study evaluating the high risk subtype of double expressor lymphoma patients who are unlikely to be cured with frontline therapy. That study shows clinical activity of ibrutinib in these patients, proving the BTK pathway - which ibrutinib targets - is active in the disease. Monday, December 3 Identifying upfront resistance to CAR T therapy

(Abstract #698, 10:30 AM, San Diego Ballroom B, Marriott Marquis)

Loss of CD19 is a known cause of CAR T relapse after initial response, but why are some patients' resistant up front? Research from Nathan Singh, MD, a fellow and postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Carl June, MD, and in collaboration with Gill and Marco Ruella, MD, an assistant professor of Hematology-Oncology and a member of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, is the first to identify a possible cause: alteration in apoptotic pathways and death receptor proteins. The researchers validated their findings in mice, where tumors that had defects in undergoing death-receptor mediated apoptosis were highly resistant to CART therapy. Singh received an Abstract Achievement Award, and Ruella will receive the Joanne Levy, MD, Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement for this abstract before it is presented. Combining CAR T with Pembrolizumab in non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

(Abstract 4198, 6:00 PM, Hall GH)

Research from Elise Chong, MD, a fellow in Hematology-Oncology, evaluates CAR T therapy followed by anti-PD-1 therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The study found the approach is safe, and the findings served as the basis for a multicenter clinical trial of CAR T therapy in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy that is currently ongoing.

Editor's Note: The University of Pennsylvania has licensed some technologies involved in these studies to Novartis. Some of the scientists involved in these trials are inventors of these technologies. As a result of the licensing relationship with Novartis, the University of Pennsylvania receives significant financial benefit, and some of these inventors have benefitted financially and/or may benefit financially in the future.

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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.
For the past four years, a University of Texas at Austin postdoctoral fellow Tim Goudge has been making the case to send an upcoming Mars mission to Jezero Crater. On Monday, Nov. 19, NASA announced that the crater--the site of a former lake and river delta--will be the landing site for their Mars 2020 rover mission to look for signs of past life.

"It's very exciting," said Goudge, who will be starting as an assistant professor at the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences in January 2019. "This outcrop is one of the best exposures of a river delta that we have on Mars and it allows us an opportunity to study the record of river sediment deposition."

NASA considered more than 60 candidate locations across the Red Planet. Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, announced the decision to send the mission to Jezero during a public teleconference. Goudge and the rest of the scientists who submitted site proposals found out about the selection during this announcement.

"They kept their cards close to their chest," Goudge said.

Jezero is a 28-mile-wide impact crater located on the western edge of Isidis Planitia, a plain that's placed within a larger impact basin just north of the Martian equator. Today Jezero is an empty basin. But billions of years ago, it was the site of a lake and river delta where flowing liquid water emptied into the crater. The sediment deposited by the river could preserve signs of life that might have called Jezero home eons ago. It's the goal of the Mars 2020 mission to seek out those signs in rock and soil samples and store them so they can eventually be brought to Earth.

"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," said Zurbuchen in a NASA press statement. "Getting samples from this unique area will revolutionize how we think about Mars and its ability to harbor life."

Goudge's research focuses on how rivers and lakes modify landscapes on planetary bodies--including Earth and Mars. He proposed Jezero Crater as a landing site for the Mars 2020 mission in 2014 when he was a graduate student at Brown University.

Throughout the landing site selection process Goudge has been the lead advocate for Jezero. He presented on Jezero at the first two NASA workshops assessing potential landing sites. By the final two workshops, a team of scientists had joined Goudge in making the case for the crater. In a 2017 workshop, Jezero was voted the top landing site contender by scientists attending the meeting.

While acting as an advocate, Goudge has also continued his own research on Jezero using orbital images of the crater collected by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Last week, the journal Geology published a study led by Goudge that found that massive floods bursting from crater lakes, including Jezero, had carved outlet canyons in a matter of weeks.

Goudge hopes to play a role in the Mars 2020 mission, with NASA planning to issue a call for mission experts at a later date.

"I hope to be able to apply my experience and test our hypotheses and the predictions we made from orbit," Goudge said. "It becomes much more like field geology when you're making observations on the ground."

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Doctors could improve the care of high blood pressure by relying more on home blood pressure (BP) checks and not so much on the less-accurate office BP assessments, wrote health care quality experts from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) in an editorial in the journal JAMA.

"As the evidence in favor of HBPM (home blood pressure monitoring) continues to accumulate, it is time to update how the quality of hypertension care is evaluated and reported," wrote Kevin Hwang, M.D., M.P.H., and Eric Thomas, M.D., M.P.H., of the UTHealth Memorial Hermann Center for Healthcare Quality and Safety.

A reason for the blood pressure disparities is a phenomenon called the "white coat syndrome."

"Many people get nervous when they see a doctor or a nurse and their blood pressure goes up," said Hwang, who is an associate professor of internal medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.

The result is that doctors may be prescribing treatments for problems that may not be as bad as they appear in a doctor's office.

Because 10 to 50 percent of patients with high office BP readings have normal readings at home, Hwang and Thomas would like to see doctors confirm their diagnosis and monitor treatment with home devices. There are many types of home blood pressure monitors - some of which relay results over the internet.

High blood pressure increases the risk of a host of health issues including heart attack, stroke, chronic heart failure and kidney disease. Worse yet, one in five adults with high blood pressure do not know they have it. More than 360,000 American deaths in 2013 included high blood pressure as a primary or contributing cause, which comes out to about 1,000 a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Other benefits of home testing, according to the authors, include giving doctors additional information to analyze, reducing the need for clinic visits and getting patients more involved in their care.

On the downside, patients could misuse the home devices and provide their caregivers with inaccurate information, the authors wrote.

In addition to helping clinicians make more informed decisions, expanding the use of home blood pressure monitoring would help health care organizations evaluate the quality of care they provide and the health risks of their patients, the authors wrote.

Also contributing to the editorial was Laura Petersen, M.D., M.P.H., of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine.

Thomas is a professor, associate dean for healthcare quality and holder of the Griff T. Ross Professorship in Humanities and Technology in Health Care at McGovern Medical School.

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Australians pride themselves on having a classless society, where wealth is determined not by how rich your parents are but by your own efforts. However new research, for the first time using actual income numbers from two generations of Australians, paints a less egalitarian picture.

The Paper, Direct Measures of Intergenerational Income Mobility for Australia, published in the journal Economic Record, used data from the Household Income and Labour dynamics Australia (HILDA) survey, which has followed a sample of Australian households for 18 years.

The researchers, from the University of Wollongong, Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), found that people born into low-income families in "the land of the fair go" don't actually move easily into higher-income bands later in life.

Their analysis also suggests that family structure - who you're married to, when you have children and how many you have - matters when it comes to what's known as income mobility.

"Australia has greater mobility than US citizens, but less than in Scandinavian countries," says UTS economist and study co-author Associate Professor Peter Siminski.

The researchers were able to put a number on this using a scale of zero to one, where 0 means people's incomes have no relationship to those of their parents and 1 means advantage or disadvantage is completely transferred.

The result was not as close to the zero end of the scale as some people might expect, with the researchers estimating the intergenerational "elasticity" of income in Australia at 0.4.

"Income mobility matters because it is one of the best measures we have of equality of opportunity," says co-author Associate Professor Robert Clark from ANU.

Some argue that if there is a high level of inequality in society - a big gap between rich and poor - this is simply a reflection of effort, that those with high incomes have worked harder or are more productive.

However, intergenerational income mobility - not just the gap between rich and poor in one generation - is important to consider because it is more closely related to equality of opportunity, says co-author Dr Silvia Mendolia from the University of Wollongong.

"There is a much stronger consensus that people's outcomes shouldn't be due to factors outside their control - such as their family wealth," she says.

The research also found that family makeup plays a role in income mobility. When researchers measured household income, not just individual income, they found greater persistence of income advantage or disadvantage between generations.

"Household income depends not only on your own income but also whether you have a partner, your partner's earning capacity, how young you are when you have children, and how many children you have," says lead-author Chelsea Murray.

While an individual born into a low-income family may later experience income mobility, this could be ameliorated by the fact they then marry someone in a low-income band or compounded by marrying someone in a higher-income band.

"Studies that seek to measure the transmission of economic wellbeing may need to consider broader measures of income that account for differences in family structure," Murray says.

Aside from being central to the concept of fairness, there are strong economic reasons for equality of opportunity being a desirable social outcome.

"Society is better off if someone who has the potential to achieve great things is able to develop their skills and talents and fulfil that potential, thereby contributing to the economy. It is also better for social cohesion", says Dr Siminski.

Educational policies are the clearest and most obvious policy lever that governments have to improve income mobility, he says.

"It's important for governments to tackle disadvantage at an early stage, in schools, and to facilitate broad access to higher education, so income advantage isn't entrenched," Dr Siminski says.

"There tends to be greater persistence of advantage across generations in countries where having a university degree provides a big boost to lifetime income.

"I think the most obvious thing to do is to focus on access to higher education, to facilitate that pathway from high school through to university.

"It is also important to channel the greatest amount of money into schools that have the greatest level of disadvantage," he says.

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A new test to spot where the ability to exploit the power of quantum mechanics has evolved in nature has been developed by physicists at the University of Warwick.

A new test to spot where the ability to exploit the power of quantum mechanics has evolved in nature has been developed by physicists at the University of Warwick.

The test identifies a tell-tale hallmark of quantum coherence, classifying the properties of particles in a quantum state that are interacting with a real-world environment. The test should allow scientists to quantify and track quantum coherence in the natural world using laboratory experiments.

Published this week in the journal Physical Review A, the theoretical work could lead to experiments that help solve the debate on whether biological processes exploit quantum mechanics to their advantage, and whether evolution could provide us with a template for quantum technologies such as computers, sensors and energy sources.

Microscopic particles in a quantum state are very difficult to spot as the act of observing them changes their state. These stealthy particles can exist in many locations or configurations simultaneously, a feature known as quantum coherence.

The effect underpins technologies such as quantum computers, quantum sensors and quantum communication systems, which use ordered systems isolated from the rest of the world. However, whether quantum coherence exists in the noisier and messier real world is more difficult to identify.

The test involves a procedure to destroy quantum coherence, and then to observe the change in later measurements. Where a measurably large impact is observed, scientists can demonstrate that there must have been quantum coherence in the system. The new work clarifies the possible exceptions to this conclusion, which depend on how quickly the special procedure can destroy the coherence.

Dr George Knee, 1851 Royal Commission Research Fellow from the University's Department of Physics, said: "To demonstrate the presence of quantum coherence in a biological system would constitute a paradigm shift, away from the idea that only humans have the ability to engineer systems capable of exhibiting and exploiting quantum coherence. It would also be a step toward the Schroedinger Cat thought experiment, where a living organism is placed in a state where it is, quantum coherently, both dead and alive.

Co-author Dr Animesh Datta said: "The results from this test will be valuable in improving our understanding of how chemistry and biology works, and may allow us to answer the question of whether quantum physics has played a part in evolutionary processes."

According to quantum physics, a particle, such as one carrying energy in a photosynthetic organism, can travel along multiple different pathways between an input and an output. The energy carried by the particle could be lost at any moment after it is created. Should the particle move towards its destination faster, there is a lower chance of loss and greater efficiency could be achieved.

Coherence allows for interference between the two pathways, allowing the particle to travel further on average than it could otherwise during the same time period. This suggests that quantum effects might have lent an evolutionary advantage to those organisms adapted to exploiting them.

Dr Knee added: "The possibilities are tantalising: if our proposed test were carried out in a biological system, and returned a positive result, we might be able to learn quantum engineering design principles from nature. We could then try to create biomimetic technologies that are more robust and perhaps even more powerful than the current generation of quantum technologies, which are almost exclusively based on highly isolated systems. If we were able to turbocharge artificial light harvesting, such as in a solar cell for example, there would be a huge potential for providing affordable, renewable energy."

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* 'Subtleties of witnessing quantum coherence in nonisolated systems' in Physical Review A, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.98.052328

Notes to editors:

THE ROYAL COMMISSION FOR THE EXHIBITION OF 1851

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 awards grants and fellowships in support of science and industry to the value of around 4m a year. First established in 1850 to stage the Great Exhibition, the Commission initially invested the Exhibition's profit by purchasing the land for development of the South Kensington cultural estate of museums, colleges and the Albert Hall.

Details of the 1851 Royal Commission's awards are on its website: http://www.royalcommission1851.org.uk

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. For more information visit https://epsrc.ukri.org.

EPSRC is the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK. By investing in research and postgraduate training, we are building the knowledge and skills base needed to address the scientific and technological challenges facing the nation.

Our portfolio covers a vast range of fields from healthcare technologies to structural engineering, manufacturing to mathematics, advanced materials to chemistry. The research we fund has impact across all sectors. It provides a platform for future UK prosperity by contributing to a healthy, connected, resilient, productive nation.
Steroids are essential molecules for life in all complex organisms such as animals and plants. Researchers from the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, the University of Technology Sydney Climate Change Cluster and the University of Queensland have now discovered a new central enzyme in the steroid biosynthesis pathway in some modern organisms. This might not only lead to an evolutionary "re-think" but also opens new ways to control toxic algae in aquaculture. Their findings have been published in Nature Microbiology.

The increasing availability of genome editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 is giving scientists unprecedented access to many of the inner metabolic processes that have evolved over billions of years to shape the tree of life. A new study exploring steroid biosynthesis pathways in a group of microalgae called diatoms, urges a rethink on key evolutionary aspects of eukaryotic life, the scientists say.

Knowing the underlying natural metabolism of diatoms is necessary to design synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies for the growing biotechnology sector. In addition, the findings, published in Nature Microbiology, have potential practical applications for the aquaculture industry providing insight into ways to inhibit toxic algal infections.

The study is an international collaboration co-led by the University of Technology Sydney Climate Change Cluster (UTSC3) and VIB-Ghent University scientists together with the University of Queensland.

Dr Michele Fabris, co-author and CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform Fellow at UTSC3 says that the team's interest was sparked by earlier research suggesting a novel, alternative enzyme for steroid biosynthesis might be "hiding" in some microalgae species.

"Sterols are essential components of all eukaryotic cells. Without sterols plants, animals, and fungi couldn't live. We all rely on the same ancient metabolic machinery in our cells that emerged more than two billion years ago. Or so we thought," he says.

Prof Alain Goossens, a leading specialist in plant metabolism at VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology says that according to the biochemistry textbooks the enzyme responsible for the first and most important step in sterol biosynthesis, squalene epoxidase, SQE, was believed to have been carried on by all modern organisms from their common ancestor.

Lead author, VIB-UGent researcher Dr Jacob Pollier says that to the contrary they found "many organisms use an alternative, completely different enzyme, an alternative SQE (AltSQE)".

"Nature has come up with a different way of carrying out a function that is key to life. We don't know why yet, but it has profound implications on our understanding of the evolution of life as we know it," he says.

A rethink on accepted view about steroid biosynthesis may also open potential routes to control harmful toxic algae and parasitic infections that impact the aquaculture industry, causing seafood poisoning in humans and economic damage, respectively. Although not the focus of this study, the discovery of this novel enzyme could find applications in this space.

"Because the sterol pathway is a necessary function for these organisms, the enzyme carrying out the key step may offer a novel, potential 'kill' switch, if properly targeted," Dr Fabris says.

The researchers also found one more surprise. The same AltSQE gene was discovered in a class of marine viruses associated with infections and large-scale die offs in algal blooms, which could seed cloud formation.

"Algae blooms are thought to influence cloud formation and thus, ultimately, the Earth's climate system. These marine viruses are known to hijack algal steroid metabolism, so AltSQE could play an important role in marine cloud formation and climate regulation" Dr Pollier says

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Publication

A widespread alternative squalene epoxidase participates in eukaryote steroid biosynthesis, Pollier et al., Nature Microbiology 2018

Questions from patients

A breakthrough in research is not the same as a breakthrough in medicine. The realizations of VIB researchers can form the basis of new therapies, but the development path still takes years. This can raise a lot of questions. That is why we ask you to please refer questions in your report or article to the email address that VIB makes available for this purpose: patienteninfo@vib.be. Everyone can submit questions concerning this and other medically-oriented research directly to VIB via this address.
An important component of the microscopic machinery that drives cell death has been identified by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists.

Studying the 'pro-death' machinery that forces damaged, diseased or unwanted cells to die, the research team revealed a protein called VDAC2 was critical for the function of a key pro-death protein called Bax.

The team also showed VDAC2 contributed to the killing of certain cancer cells by anti-cancer agents. The research, published today in the journal Nature Communications, was led by PhD student Dr Hui-San Chin with Professor David Huang, Dr Mark van Delft and Associate Professor Grant Dewson.

AT A GLANCE

The death of cells by a process called apoptosis is essential for the removal of unwanted, damaged or diseased cells, and is driven by a finely tuned protein 'machine'.

The protein Bax is a key component of the cell death machinery, forming part of a complex that takes cells to a 'point of no return' in apoptotic death.

Our researchers discovered a protein called VDAC2 helps Bax to drive apoptosis, and may have a role in fine-tuning cancer cells' response to anti-cancer agents.

DEATH MACHINERY

Apoptotic cell death is critical for the development and maintenance of our body, and faults in the protein machinery that drives apoptosis have been linked to a range of diseases. Faulty cell death proteins have been linked to both the development of cancer, as well as resistance of cancer cells to treatment.

A key protein in the cell death machinery is called Bax, Dr van Delft said. "Bax helps to take a cell to a 'point of no return' when apoptotic cell death is triggered, forming pores in mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. This unleashes the final 'executioner' proteins that dismantle a cell.

"Understanding how Bax functions could lead to new therapeutics that either promote cell death - with applications for diseases such as cancer - or therapeutics that prevent cell death, which have the potential to save cells in conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders or stroke," he said.

The team investigated how Bax and a related protein called Bak kill cells, knocking out the function of different genes using CRISPR technology, Associate Professor Dewson said.

"To our surprise we discovered a gene that was essential for the function of Bax but not Bak, despite these two proteins being functionally and structurally very similar.

"We were able to follow up on this research to show that the protein, called VDAC2, was a catalyst that helped Bax associate with mitochondria and form pores in their membranes, to kill the cell," Associate Professor Dewson said. "Intriguingly VDAC2's 'day job' is to maintain the function of the mitochondria, pumping metabolites in and out of the mitochondria."

DRIVING CANCER CELLS TO DEATH

A failure of the cell death machinery is a hallmark of cancer cells, and is linked to the resistance of cancer cells to anti-cancer treatments, said Professor Huang.

"Bax is important for helping anti-cancer agents kill cells - without Bax and its relative Bak, cancer cells cannot undergo apoptosis when treated with a range of anti-cancer therapies.

"Our research showed that VDAC2 is required for Bax to drive the response of cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy agents as well as the recently developed BH3-mimetics," Professor Huang said.

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The research was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian Research Council, Cancer Council Victoria, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society (US) and the Victorian Government. Dr Hui San Chin was supported by a PhD scholarship from the University of Melbourne.
November 21, 2018 - For patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery, the use of "overlapping" procedures - where the attending surgeon is simultaneously involved in two different surgeries in different operating rooms - does not lead to an increased risk of complications, reports a study in the November 21, 2018 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio in partnership with Wolters Kluwer.

According to this analysis of thousands of cases from five US medical centers by Christopher J. Dy, MD, MPH, of Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, and colleagues, complication rates are at least as low in overlapping versus non-overlapping orthopaedic surgeries. They write: "Our results suggest that overlapping inpatient orthopaedic surgery does not introduce additional perioperative risk for the complications that we evaluated."

Data Support Safety of Overlapping Procedures; Patient Informed Consent Is Essential Overlapping surgery is commonly used to maximize operating room efficiency. In these procedures, the primary surgeon is involved in different surgeries in different operating rooms at the same time. Although this practice is not new, overlapping surgery has become controversial in the wake of recent high-profile media reports.

Most previous studies of overlapping surgery have found no increase in complications. However, these studies have had significant limitations - particularly in terms of small numbers of patients and low rates of overlapping surgeries.

Dr. Dy and colleagues analyzed 14,135 orthopaedic surgery procedures performed at five university medical centers during 2015. In this multicenter series, 40 percent of procedures were overlapping surgeries, which were defined in this study as "two incisions open simultaneously for one surgeon." The researchers compared complication rates for patients undergoing overlapping versus non-overlapping procedures.

The main analysis showed that overlapping surgery was "noninferior" to non-overlapping surgery in terms of 30-day complication rate. That meant that the group undergoing overlapping surgeries did not have an increase in complications.

In addition to being noninferior, overlapping surgery was associated with a lower complication rate (one percent) compared to non-overlapping surgery (two percent). The analysis was adjusted for other factors affecting the risk of complications, including patient medical conditions, the type of procedure, and the institution where the surgery was performed.

Overlapping surgery was also associated with significant reductions in length of hospital stay and risk of hospital readmission. The researchers emphasize that their findings don't mean that overlapping procedures reduce surgical risks. Rather, they write, "these findings likely reflect characteristics influencing surgical outcomes that we cannot reliably measure...such as individual procedure complexity and surgeon experience."

A survey published last year in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery reported that patients and families "aren't comfortable" with the idea of overlapping surgeries. While the new findings support the safety of overlapping orthopaedic procedures, both studies emphasize the importance of patient understanding and informed consent. Dr. Dy and colleagues conclude: "It is incumbent on surgeons who perform overlapping surgery to disclose this practice to their patients and to collect patient-reported outcomes to ensure continuing patient satisfaction and to demonstrate benefit to society."

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Click here to read "Safety of Overlapping Inpatient Orthopaedic Surgery"

DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.17.01625

About The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery

has been the most valued source of information for orthopaedic surgeons and researchers for over 125 years and is the gold standard in peer-reviewed scientific information in the field. A core journal and essential reading for general as well as specialist orthopaedic surgeons worldwide, The Journal publishes evidence-based research to enhance the quality of care for orthopaedic patients. Standards of excellence and high quality are maintained in everything we do, from the science of the content published to the customer service we provide. JBJS is an independent, non-profit journal.

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, headquartered in the Netherlands, reported 2017 annual revenues of 4.4 billion. The company serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide.

Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.
VANCOUVER, Wash. -A Washington State University researcher has found that one-fourth of the carbon held by soil is bound to minerals as far as six feet below the surface. The discovery opens a new possibility for dealing with the element as it continues to warm the Earth's atmosphere.

One hitch: Most of that carbon is concentrated deep beneath the world's wet forests, and they won't sequester as much as global temperatures continue to rise.

Marc Kramer, an associate professor of environmental chemistry at WSU Vancouver, drew on new data from soils around the world to describe how water dissolves organic carbon and takes it deep into the soil, where it is physically and chemically bound to minerals. Kramer and Oliver Chadwick, a soil scientist at the University of California Santa Barbara, estimate that this pathway is retaining about 600 billion metric tons, or gigatons, of carbon. That's more than twice the carbon added to the atmosphere since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

Scientists still need to find a way to take advantage of this finding and move some of the atmosphere's extra carbon underground, but Kramer says the soils can easily retain more. For starters, a new understanding of the pathway is "a major breakthrough" in our understanding of how carbon goes underground and stays there, he said.

"We know less about the soils on Earth than we do about the surface of Mars," said Kramer, whose work appears in the journal Nature Climate Change. "Before we can start thinking about storing carbon in the ground, we need to actually understand how it gets there and how likely it is to stick around. This finding highlights a major breakthrough in our understanding."

The study is the first global-scale evaluation of the role soil plays in dissolved organic carbon and the minerals that help store it. Kramer analyzed soils and climate data from the Americas, New Caledonia, Indonesia and Europe, and drew from more than 65 sites sampled to a depth of six feet from the National Science Foundation-funded National Ecological Observatory Network.

"These data show what kind of big science you can do when you have a national ecological observatory," Kramer said. For one thing, they let the researchers construct a global-scale map for this pathway of soil carbon accumulation.

Comparing different ecosystems, Kramer saw that moist environments sequestered far more carbon than dry ones. In desert climates, where rain is scarce and water easily evaporates, reactive minerals retain less than 6 percent of the soil's organic carbon. Dry forests are not much better. But wet forests can have as much as half their total carbon bound up by reactive minerals.

Wet forests tend to be more productive, with thick layers of organic matter from which water will leach carbon and transport it to minerals as much as six feet below the surface.

"This is one of the most persistent mechanisms that we know of for how carbon accumulates," Kramer said.

But while climate change is unlikely to directly affect the deep mineral-bound carbon, it can influence the pathway by which the carbon is buried. That is because the delivery system depends on water to leach carbon from roots, fallen leaves and other organic matter near the surface and carry it deep into the soil, where it will attach to iron- and aluminum-rich minerals eager to form strong bonds.

If temperatures near the surface warm, there can be less water moving through soils even if rainfall amounts stay the same or increase. More of the water that does fall can be lost to evaporation and plant respiration, making less water available to move carbon for long-term storage.

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Sociedad

Los Testigos de Jehova se reunen con Bolanos y agradecen la acogida en Espana de miembros de su confesion perseguidos
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EU Leaders Approve Brexit Withdrawal Bill as The Only Deal Possible

The continuing saga that is Brexit, yesterday (Sunday 25th November) reached an important milestone, with the withdrawal agreement and political declaration receiving ratification from EU leaders at a special summit of the European Council, paving the way for a decidedly more difficult meaningful vote in the House of Commons next month.

Breaking the news on Twitter, President of the European Council Donald Tusk said, EU27 has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future EU-UK relations. following the brief 40 minute discussion preceding the vote.

This step means the UK now has a transition period, expected to last until December 2020 but with the possibility of an extension until the end of 2022, to formalise a new trade relationship with the EU. EU leaders have been keen to point out that a new deal on trade will not be as favourable to the UK. In lieu of formal arrangements being in place, the controversial backstop will be triggered, meaning the UK will remain in the blocs customs union.

EU Leaders Send Blunt Message to the UK

In a statement published by the remaining EU 27 leaders, they outline their stance, stating the European Council, will demonstrate particular vigilance as regards safeguarding the rights and interests of citizens, the necessity to maintain ambitious level playing field conditions, and to protect fishing enterprises and coastal communities."

The area of fishing rights has become a point of contention for the UK and EU alike with German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying that fishing rights are undoubtedly going to be an area where negotiations are going to be tough" and with French President Macron intimating that a failure on the part of the UK to agree to favourable fishing terms for the EU would be likely to hamper the progress of the wider trade deal, If we have an agreement we shall defend access to British waters as being part of the indispensable balance.

For hard-line Brexiteers in the UK the inclusion of the backstop symbolizes a threat hanging over the heads of the UKs economic future, allowing EU leaders too much leverage in further negotiations as triggering the backstop in the face of terms which dont appease them would force the UK to remain in the customs union.

PM May Faces Toughest Sell Since 1945

With EU approval now secured, PM May can move on to arguably the most challenging task of her leadership, the backing of her deal by way of a vote in the House of Commons expected in December.

Speaking after yesterdays EU summit, May began laying the groundwork for the pitch, underlining the importance of what lies ahead, It will be one of the most significant votes that parliament has held for many years, on it will depend whether we move forward together into a brighter future or open the door to yet more division and uncertainty.

As it stands currently, if the vote were to be held today it seems a forgone conclusion it would fail. PM May requires 320 votes to secure a victory for the Brexit bill and given current opinions, the math just doesnt add up to a win.

With only 315 Conservative MPs, of which 60 are thought to be hardline Brexiteers (and therefore unlikely to support the deal which could see the UK tied into the customs union), and 14 Remainers, PM May has to convert the non-believers. Its also thought that DUPs 10 MPs as well as both Labour and SNP members are likely to vote against the deal.

Foreign Exchange Market Reactions

For the Sterling, EU approval of the Brexit Withdrawal Bill removes a certain aspect of uncertainty. However, it was by and large expected the bill would sail through the EU Council vote and the meaningful vote in Parliament represents the real hurdle ahead.

On market open the Asian session kicked off with a rather flat sterling, losing or gaining pips marginally but lacking the massive volatility weve seen lately. Its unsurprising given the impending House of Commons vote which could see the progress thus far fall flat on its face remains a weighing uncertainty factor

Already in uncharted waters, the effects of the House of Commons shooting down the Brexit withdrawal bill remain purely speculative. PM May seems to be adopting this uncertainty as a primary selling point, stating, This is the best possible deal; it is the only possible deal.

In the interim, we can expect the Sterling to remain volatile as investors try to gauge the outcome of the meaningful vote. Theres an expectation that the Sterling could rise rapidly if it seems the deal is likely to be approved. Conversely, the Sterling is likely to experience major sell-offs if deal doesnt clear the hurdle as this opens the door to the worst-case-scenario hard-brexit which could see the Sterling to Euro exchange rate hit parity.
Near-term Pound Sterling Exchange Rates Outlook Hinges on Brexit, Trump-Xi Face-off Expected for G20 Summit

After gapping higher this morning at 1.28297 the Pound Sterling U.S. Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate has steadily climbed following the EUs approval of the Brexit Withdrawal Bill over the weekend and despite growing concerns the Bill is doomed to failure in the upcoming vote in the House of Commons.

At the time of writing, the exchange rate is currently at 1.28445, pulling back from todays high-so-far of 1.28584.

Above: GBP/USD Drops Rises Through Morning Session

Brexit Remains Driving Factor For Sterling Near Term

Looking at the coming days and weeks, institutional forecasts are in agreement that despite the approval of the EU council, the UK leaving the EU with a formal agreement in place is far from a forgone conclusion and this uncertainty is likely to continue to weigh on the Sterling.

Looking at the market reaction, which of late has been dominated by dramatic swings for Sterling FX pairs, the muted response to the EUs approval of the bill could be indicative of the hurdles still confronting PM May in her battle to sell the deal. MUFG currency analyst, Lee Hardman suggests, The failure of the pound to rally on recent positive developments suggest the market is pricing in that the deal won't pass the first time in parliament.

This sentiment is echoed by Maybank analysts, who caution that more pessimism is priced in than optimism with the odds seemingly stacked against PM May successfully negotiating the House of Commons hurdle. They do however point to a potential asymmetric move to the upside should support for PM Mays deal appear to be forthcoming.

Scotiabank are similarly cautious/bearish on the GBP/USD exchange rate in the near term going on to reiterate that Sterling remains subject topotentially intense volatility around the Brexit issue in the coming weeks.

In Danske Banks selected market news, several key issues surrounding the ongoing Brexit situation as well as political uncertainty overall in the UK are set to weigh on the Pound in the near term with markets keeping an eye on whether there will be a no confidence vote in May and whether the supporting party, Ulsters DUP, will pull its support for the government.

Trump-Xi G20 Face Off Expected

On the other side of the Atlantic, the U.S. is facing its own uncertainties ahead of the upcoming G20 summit in Buenos Aires with the war of words between U.S. officials and their Chinese counterparts adding to the already taught trade-war tension.

Dankse Bank point to any resolution of the ongoing dispute as a key market theme for the USD. Maybank also highlight the importance of the meeting and remain cautiously optimistic on the turn-out of the Summit with any signs that the ties between the US-China to warm could bolster the USD.

BoE Carney Due to Speak on Ex-Fed Greenspans Book

Ahead of tomorrows high impact consumer confidence release for the U.S., the highlight of todays agenda in terms of potential market impact will be

BoE Governor Carneys speech due to take place later (6.30pm) at the Policy Exchange event. Although the topic for discussion is Greenspan / Woolridges latest book, investors will be open-eared for any mention of the ongoing political turmoils effect on the UKs economic outlook.
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From: Lifesaving Resources, LLC Kennebunkport , ME Monday, November 26, 2018



Vehicle submerging off boat ramp Video Clip: Click to Watch Each year, there are approximately 1,200  1,500 incidents and 400  600 deaths involving vehicles that have gone off the road and plummeted into the water. The driving public needs to plan for these types of emergencies by (A) rehearsing the steps necessary for a successful self-rescue from a vehicle in the water, and (B) having the rescue/escape tools readily available for use during this type of emergency situation. First Responder agencies need to provide the training necessary to prepare their personnel to respond to these types of incidents, and should provide the Personal Protective Equipment and rescue tools necessary for a safe and effective response and management of vehicles in the water. Each year within the United States, there are approximately 1,200  1,500 submerged vehicle incidents resulting in 400  600 deaths. Therefore, the public needs to plan for these types of emergencies by (A) rehearsing the steps necessary for a successful self-rescue from a vehicle in the water, and (B) having the rescue/escape tools readily available and accessible for use during this type of emergency. In addition, First Responder agencies need to provide the training necessary to prepare their personnel to respond to these types of incidents, and these First Responders should be provided with the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and rescue tools necessary for a safe and effective response to vehicles in the water. Furthermore, emergency dispatchers need to be educated to instruct callers to immediately get out of their vehicles if the vehicles are in danger of sinking. SAFETY Public service campaigns should be increased in an effort to educate the public about the risks of driving through flooded highways; driving in close proximity to bodies of water during snow, rain or other slippery conditions; or driving over lakes, rivers or ponds that have frozen over. The following information should be included in these efforts:  It only takes approximately 6" to sweep a person off his/her feet, and it only takes 1 to 2 of water to float a vehicle off its wheels. Drivers need to heed warnings about low water crossings and do not attempt to cross flooded highways.  8" to 12" of new, clear, hard ice is required to drive a small vehicle onto the ice. 12" to 15" of new, clear, hard ice is required to drive a medium-sized truck onto the ice.  Wearing seat belts will increase your chances of surviving a crash into the water. If a vehicle leaves the road and lands in deep water, most passenger vehicles will float on the surface for a short period of time (from 30 seconds to several minutes). But, all vehicles will sink! If the water is deeper than the height of the vehicle body, it will submerge and disappear beneath the surface. Factors which effect the float time include closed, sealed, and intact windows and weather seals, as well as the design, body style, construction quality, and the condition and age of the vehicle. Because of the location of the motor in the front of the vehicle, the vehicle will immediately assume an angled nose down position in the water. A vehicle with the windows and/or doors open will submerge faster than the same vehicle with its windows and/or doors closed. The faster the water enters the interior of the vehicle, the faster it loses its buoyancy and the quicker it descends. A vehicle that has all the windows and doors closed will initially descend slowly, but as the vehicle loses buoyancy its speed of descent will increase. ESCAPE Because of the relatively limited time frame for self-rescue, the decision to escape the vehicle must be made immediately. However, because of the angled nose-down position in the water and the pressure exerted by the water against the doors, as well as structural damage to the vehicle caused from the crash, it may be extremely difficult or impossible to open the driver's side and passenger doors of the vehicle in order to effect an escape. Therefore, the only avenue of escape may be through the car door windows. Studies have shown that the electric power may stay on inside the vehicle for as much as an hour. However, once the window motors and/or switches get soaked, they will generally short out and the windows and electric door locks will no longer operate. Therefore, in order to escape through the car door windows, the occupants must be able to punch/break out the windows. If the side door windows are constructed of tempered glass, they will easily shatter using an appropriate rescue/escape tool, such as a life hammer device, or a spring-loaded window punch (i.e. ResQMe). Many of the commercially available rescue/escape tools also have an integrated seat-belt cutter/blade that provides the ability to slice away a seat belt should its release mechanism fail or jam. The decision to escape the vehicle must be made as soon as the vehicle leaves the road and enters the water. If the occupants delay their escape from the vehicle and the vehicle begins to sink before an escape route has been established, it may not be possible to effect an escape until the water pressure has equalized inside the vehicle. By that time, it is typically too late. Also, should the vehicle land in deep water, if the water depth is less than 14, the vehicle will usually come to rest on the bottom on all four wheels, assuming there are no large rocks or other debris on the bottom. However, water depths greater than 14 usually results in the vehicle turning turtle and landing upside down on its roof. Needless to say, being upside down in a dark environment with water rushing in will totally disorient the occupants of the vehicle. In order to advocate a single universal message to educate the public on how to escape from a submerging vehicle, we advocate the following: SEATBELTS (off)



WINDOWS (open/break)



CHILDREN (removed)



GO (get out!) In order to accomplish this, these emergency procedures should be rehearsed before the emergency occurs. Use a body reference point to identify and locate the door latch, window crank or electric window switch. As an example, the driver should practice finding the location of these by touching his knee or hip with his/her left hand and then move the hand laterally to the door. A rescue/escape tool should be immediately available for punching out the window and cutting seatbelts. This tool should be mounted on the sidewall of the driver's side compartment, attached to the key ring, or located in some other conspicuous location that can be easily accessed during an emergency. Consideration should be given to additional tools for the passenger side and rear seat compartments as well. (Note: the ResQMe spring-loaded window punch is designed to be attached to the keyring, so it is always accessible to the driver.) If there are multiple occupants, once an escape route has been established, each occupant should hold hands to form a human chain and everyone should exit from the same route. If young children are secured in car seats, the seat belts should be removed or cut and the child removed. (Note: some car seats are sufficiently buoyant to float a child to the surface. But, you should check with the manufacturer to determine whether or not your car seats are sufficiently buoyant to do so.) There is no doubt that when a vehicle leaves the roadway and plunges into the water, this would be an extremely frightening experience, especially during the winter months with cold water posing additional risks and hazards to the occupants. But, by rehearsing the emergency escape and survival procedures and having the rescue/escape tools readily available, occupants can rapidly self-extricate themselves from this situation before the vehicle begins to sink. RESCUE Public Safety and Rescue personnel should be appropriately trained, protected, and equipped to effectively and safely respond to vehicles in the water. Besides the availability of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), Wetsuits and/or Dry-Suits, rescue personnel should have the tools readily available to break or cut the vehicle's windows in order to rapidly extricate a victim or multiple victims from a vehicle in the water. Spring-loaded window punches (i.e. ResQMe) or life hammer type devices with seat-belt cutters provide the rescuer with the opportunity to gain immediate access to the victims and to cut away the victim's seat belt for their immediate extrication from the vehicle. However, these devices will not be effective on laminated glass and are only effective with tempered glass windows. As standard protocol, whenever a rescue agency is dispatched to respond to a vehicle in the water, the dispatch of a wrecker should be automatic in every community and emergency response system. Upon arrival of the wrecker, it can be used to assist in the stabilization of the vehicle during and after the rescue of the vehicle occupants, as well as for the recovery of the vehicle. RESCUE/ESCAPE TOOLS We evaluated a number of rescue/escape tools. These tools are either hammer-type devices or spring-loaded window punch devices. Although both types of tools were effective in breaking side door windows, we found that the hammer-type devices were more dependable, yet spring-loaded window punches that are mounted on the key ring are more readily available and accessible during an emergency. Each of the spring-loaded window punch devices we tested were effective in breaking the windows when they were first removed from their packaging. However, after several practice drills, the points on these devices became dull which resulted in their failure to work and break the windows. Therefore, we caution against using the spring-loaded window punches for any purpose other than for breaking the windows. Furthermore, using a spring-loaded window punch, without appropriate hand protection during training, increased the chance of suffering cuts on the hand than the use of the hammer-type device. Regardless, rescue personnel should always wear an appropriate water rescue, neoprene, or fire glove when using any type of device to break vehicle windows. DISPATCHER PROTOCOLS All emergency dispatchers should be trained in this subject and should be prepared to give self-rescue and escape instructions to the callers prior to the arrival of Fire and Rescue personnel. The instructions provided by the dispatcher should include: SEATBELTS (off)



WINDOWS (open/break)



CHILDREN (removed)



GO (get out!) LAMINATED VS. TEMPERED GLASS Presently, most U.S. manufactured vehicles were constructed with tempered glass in the side doors, whereas, most European vehicles have been manufactured with laminated glass. However, there is a movement to begin manufacturing all vehicles in the U.S. with laminated, rather than tempered glass. Beginning with a phase-in period beginning September 2013, with full compliance by 2017, automobile manufacturers will be required to comply with a test in which an impactor is propelled at up to four locations from inside the perimeter of the side windows in the first three rows of a test vehicle at two time intervals following deployment of the side airbag. The ejection mitigation safety system is required to prevent the impactor from moving more than a specified distance beyond the plane of a window. The Final Rule, published in the Federal Register in January 2011, does not mandate laminated glass, but it does establish performance requirements, which may lead to a particular technology, namely, laminated glass. If the manufacturers begin installing laminated, rather than tempered glass, although the number of incidents will not increase, the number of fatalities will certainly increase as hammer-type devices and spring-loaded window punches are NOT effective on laminated glass. This will make escape and self-rescue almost impossible, and will hinder efforts of rescue personnel to access the trapped occupants. WCSH NEWS STORY (July 2013) View the tragic story of a double-drowning incident that occurred in 2013 in Roque Bluffs, Maine. Access the video on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geVTxQXSeKc&feature=youtu.be Other news stories include: ABC WORLD NEWS REPORT WITH DIANE SAWYER



http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/car-sinking-water-seconds-react-18810014 NBC TODAY SHOW



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGv3OP3yRlA ________________________________________________________ PO-GO & SOS-GO Prior to March 2013, Lifesaving Resources was advocating either PO-GO or SOS-GO, with the bottom line being to GET OUT of the vehicle as soon as possible. However, it was brought to our attention that these acronyms may not translate properly into other languages. So, for these reasons we've decided to phase out these protocols. However, we know these protocols work and they are basically the same as the new protocols described above. PO-GO



Punch open the seatbelt



Open the window



GET OUT SOS-GO



Stay call and Assess the situation



Open the window or door



Disengage the Seatbelt



GET OUT Lifesaving Resources (www.lifesaving.com) is a private company dedicated to drowning and aquatic injury prevention and emergency management. Located in Kennebunkport, Maine, Lifesaving Resources is recognized both nationally and internationally as a leader in Ice and Water Rescue training programs for First Responders. The company develops educational programs in Water Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, Ice Rescue, Lifeguarding, Drowning Prevention and Aquatics Safety, and conducts this training throughout North America as well as Internationally. The company conducts an annual INTERNATIONAL ICE RESCUE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER ACADEMY, as well as an INTERNATIONAL WATER RESCUE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER ACADEMY. The purpose of these internationally-recognized Academies is to train and authorize Ice and Water Rescue Instructors for Fire, Rescue, EMS, and Law Enforcement agencies. For information on any of their programs, please access their website at www.lifesaving.com.


Monday, November 26, 2018

All over the news today, the topic of immigration is forefront. In an Associated Press article on November 16, 2018, it was stated that there are about 3,000 Central American migrants who have reached the Mexican border across from California, and thousands more are anticipated. The mayor of Tijuana has said the city is preparing for another influx that will last at least six months, with no end in sight.

Furthermore, American border inspectors are processing only about 100 asylum claims a day at Tijuanas main crossing to San Diego, creating long waits. Asylum seekers register their names in a tattered notebook managed by migrants that had more than 3,000 names recorded even before the caravan arrived.

Obviously, this is a very serious problem that has few answers. Many people resent this influx and would like to stop it. Others strongly believe in allowing immigrants to enter the USA.

Having lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for many years, I have observed a variety of reactions to immigrants. It is important to note that over half of Santa Fes population is Hispanic. Nonetheless, there is prejudice, with pressure to deny further entry and even perhaps to deport those already living here. I am moved by the Santa Fe Dreamers Project, which provides free legal services to immigrants to promote economic empowerment, community development, family unity, and liberation from detention. They are elevating the voices and narratives of immigrants, and their work is centered on the belief that supporting immigrants makes the entire community stronger.

This endeavor is one I support. In my view, we are all descendants of immigrants to this countryat its heart, America is a nation built by immigrants. At the same time, other reactions to immigrants strongly differ. What is your perspective? Are you a supporter? Do you think this is a step forward or backward for the United States? Can you feel the divide in this country and perhaps even in yourself?
Theres a lot of history in Ed and Dana Haverlahs home at 202 Madison in the King William district.

The marble fireplace in the living room once graced the prestatehood Hawaiian Embassy in Mexico City. For a time the house was headquarters for the City Federation of Womens Clubs in San Antonio.

But the story that most intrigues holds that, back in the 1940s, it was what can politely be called a house of ill repute.

It was owned by a woman named Opal Lillian Smith and, in the city directory and ads in the San Antonio Light newspaper, she advertised herself as a masseuse, said Ed Haverlah, discussing the four-bedroom, four-bath home that will be part of the King William Holiday Home Tour Dec. 1.

Sure, masseuse is a perfectly legal occupation. But why then was the bottom floor broken up into several small rooms, each with its own wash basin? And why did it have a separate entrance to the street?

True or not, the story is sure to be a much-discussed part of the home tour, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

King William Holiday Home Tour 2018 The home tour will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 1. Tickets, $25, can be purchased at ourkwa.org through noon Nov. 30 or, starting at 10 a.m. on the day of the tour, at either the King William Office, 122 Madison St., or at the Albert Moye House, 524 King William St. The other homes on the tour: 524 King William St. The Albert Moye House: The simple, symmetrical Folk-Victorian house with wood siding was listed in the city directory as early as 1881. The front door is framed with double-hung windows and the front porch features Doric columns and square balusters. 523 King William St. The Harnisch House: Once home to one of the city's leading restaurateurs, this Victorian-style house has a facade constructed of yellow brick with red brick accents. The asymmetrical design has a two-story porch and an impressive front door, both framed by dual gables in the Gothic Revival style. 514 Madison St. The William C. Kalteyer House: Built in 1895, this is an L-plan Folk Victorian home with a two-story porch decorated with a gable front. Among the original design elements still in place are stained glass windows, spindle balustrade and inset window of the gable. 418 Madison St.: Located on one of several lots where the 1950s wing of St. Benedict's Hospital once stood, the home is one of six modern infill properties built between 2011 and 2015. Like the others, it features thick plastered concrete walls, deep overhangs and a hidden urban courtyard. 402 Madison St. The George A. Chabot House: The Victorian Queen Anne-style home has a brick masonry ground floor and square shingles on the second. Most of the exterior remains as originally built although an entrance on the Sheridan side of the property was closed off in the early 2000s. Richard A. Marini See More Collapse

Six homes will be open to visitors, plus two museums: Villa Finale, 401 King William St., and the San Antonio Art League & Museum, 130 King William). The King William Association office will also be open and offering a limited wine tasting and light refreshments.

One of the nice things about the tour is that all the homes and the museums are within easy walking distance of one another, said Nora Lee Peterson, head of the associations publicity committee. You wont need a car to drive around.

On ExpressNews.com: Look inside the Monte Vista home where H-E-B shoots ads

The Haverlahs are familiar with the neighborhood, having lived in the area for 10 years in a house across the street from the Steves Homestead on King William Street. They even previously opened that home for the tour, so they know what to expect.

Its fun to participate, said Ed Haverlah. Most people are really responsible and respectful of the home.

After trying to downsize in Boerne, the Haverlahs realized they missed the city and their grandkids who live here and moved into the Madison Street home in July.

Built in 1905 at a cost of $3,500, the 1,905-square-foot house was designed by architect Beverly W. Spillman. It sits on the corner of Madison and Turner, one block from South Alamo Street. Originally the home of I.B. Henyan, the house has had many owners throughout the years including, immediately prior to the Haverlahs, well-known San Antonio designer Jill Giles.

The house has three stories and an attic. One the stories is a half basement that is partially below ground level, although large windows allow in plenty of light.

The main hall runs from the front of the house to the back.

It was designed in the tradition of the Palladian style popular in 18th Century England during the Renaissance Revival, Haverlah explained. You dont see this a lot in San Antonio. Its more common in the Eastern U.S. and Great Britain.

On ExpressNews.com: Hottest trend in outdoor furniture is indoor comforts

To the left is the main living area, complete with the Hawaiian fireplace that has been converted to gas for safety reasons. To the right is a small dining room, which is dominated by a yellow and gold, hand-blown chandelier that looks like a beehive dripping with honey. It was created by local glass artist Gini Garcia.

Connected by a narrow butlers pantry, the small kitchen features backsplashes behind the cabinet tops and stoves made from imported tile.

We thought the kitchen wasnt going to be large enough for our needs, Haverlah said. But weve come to appreciate that its so small theres no room to pile dirty plates and pans. When you use something, you wash it and put it away right away.

Upstairs on the third floor there are two bedrooms. By carving out space from what must originally have been an enormous master bedroom, previous owners had several large closets built. Yet large windows overlooking downtown remain. As they are downstairs, the floors are made of longleaf pine.

The master bedroom and upstairs bath open out to a second-story porch which looks down on the backyard with its bricked patio that has a distinctly New Orleans feel.

The basement, with its Saltillo tile floor and furnishings from Mexico and New Mexico, is the most modern part of the home, with two bedrooms and two full baths.

This is my man-cave, said Haverlah, gesturing to the TV area and a nearby beer kegerator. Elsewhere on the floor is Dana Haverlahs art studio and a nook with art supplies where their five grandchildren play when they come to visit.

Little do they know what might  or might not  have happened there in years past.

Richard A. Marini is a features writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini
A federal judge on Sunday ruled that George Papadopoulos must report to prison as scheduled on Monday, rejecting a bid by the former Trump campaign adviser to delay the start of his sentence while a constitutional challenge to the special counsel's investigation of Russian election interference remains unresolved.

Papadopoulos, who was sentenced to spend 14 days in prison, had argued that it was possible that the constitutional challenge in a separate case would result in his conviction being set aside and that he should therefore be allowed to remain free on bail. But U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss noted that Papadopoulos had not appealed his conviction, having waived his right to do so when he pleaded guilty. Moss also wrote that Papadopoulos had not shown that the appeals court in the separate case probably would conclude that the special counsel's appointment was unlawful.

"The Court, accordingly, concludes that Papadopoulos has failed to carry his burden of demonstrating that the Court should continue his current bail status," Moss wrote.

Chris LaVigne, an attorney for Papadopoulos, said in a statement that the decision was "an unfortunate result in an inequitable case."

LaVigne noted that at Papadopoulos' sentencing, Moss had said that he had no reason to conclude that Papadopoulos had sought to aid Russia or hurt the United States. Nevertheless, LaVigne said Papadopoulos had determined "for practical reasons" not to appeal Sunday's ruling or move to overturn his plea.

"Given the immense power of the Special Counsel's Office and the costs to Mr. Papadopoulos of continuing to fight, he will serve his sentence tomorrow, and hopes to move on with his life," LaVigne said.

Papadopoulos retweeted a comment from Tom Fitton, president of the conservative group Judicial Watch, who called the judge's ruling "no surprise" and added, "And no surprise much of our corrupted media and Congress ignore strong evidence that he was set up as part of illicit Obama administration effort to spy on and destroy @realDonaldTrump. Shut it down."

Papadopoulos also reacted to a tweet from his wife, Simona, who said of her husband: "You don't deserve to go to jail but you will come out stronger. The world will judge ultimately. Love u."

"This is why I will always be the luckiest guy in the world," Papadopoulos wrote.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about Russia contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign. But in recent weeks, Papadopoulos has hired a new legal team and complained publicly that he was framed by intelligence agencies looking to smear Trump's campaign.

Late last week, his new lawyers asked Moss to allow Papadopoulos to delay the start of his prison term until a constitutional challenge to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller is resolved in Washington. Mueller is investigating whether anyone in Trump's campaign conspired with Russia to influence the election's outcome.

Moss resoundingly rejected what he termed the "11th hour" request, writing in a 13-page ruling that even if the challenge to Mueller's appointment was successful - and he doubted it would be - it would be unlikely to give Papadopoulos cause to undo his conviction.

Mueller's prosecutors had opposed the delay, arguing Papadopoulos had waived his right to challenge Mueller's appointment when he agreed to plead guilty. Papadopoulos' recent public comments, they argued, contradicted impassioned courtroom remarks that Papadopoulos offered in September, when he persuaded Moss to shave time from his sentence by telling the judge that he was remorseful about his lies.

As part of his plea, Papadopoulos agreed he was dishonest with the FBI regarding key details of his interactions with a London-based professor who told him in April 2016 that the Russians had damaging information about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails.

The professor then introduced Papadopoulos to two Russian nationals, and the young campaign adviser sought for months to have Trump or his staff meet with Russian counterparts.

Two federal judges at the district court level have ruled Mueller's investigation is constitutional. A higher-level three-judge appeals court panel heard arguments earlier this month in another case that was brought by a former aide to Trump confidant Roger Stone who has defied a subpoena to testify before Mueller's grand jury. It is not clear when the panel will rule in the case, which may ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.

Papadopoulos' wife tweeted on Wednesday that he would serve his time in a facility in Wisconsin.
Though its far from the minds of most, a handful of would-be politicians are already thinking about the next municipal election  set for the first Saturday in May  and gearing up for their campaigns.

At least six people have filed campaign-treasurer appointment forms, including Frankie Gonzales-Wolfe, a transgender woman and political consultant. Joined by a number of supporters, she kicked off her campaign for the District 8 council seat this month at an Italian restaurant.

Filing a treasurer appointment doesnt officially make someone a candidate, but it does mean that she can start raising and spending campaign money. The filing period for a place on the ballot runs from Jan. 16 through Feb. 15. Election day is May 4.

RELATED: League of Women Voters steps up its local game

For more than two decades, Gonzales-Wolfe has worked behind the scenes in politics, and now its time to step and front and run, she said.

I feel like this time around, Im going to feel like I can have my own voice, she said. Im looking at just wanting to do something good within our community. I have a different vision thats eventually going to come out for City Council District 8, and Im hoping to be able to implement that.

The basis of her platform, she said, was more inclusion.

Gonzales-Wolfe, who would apparently be the first transgender person elected to a Texas city council, said she would increase transparency and public involvement with local governance.

Though shell face Councilman Manny Pelaez, the incumbents track record isnt what spurred her to run.

Pelaez said for the time being, hes not focusing on a reelection campaign because hes working on constituent issues.

I imagine voters feel fatigued with political campaigns right now. Theyve earned a much-needed break from yard signs, mailers and block walkers, he said. I respect Frankie and respect any other person who steps forward to serve our community. But, in deference to the voters, I dont plan on having a reelection conversation with them until after the holidays.

READ ALSO: Cuddlers who volunteer to comfort fussy babies find it soothing for themselves

Two men in District 1 have filed treasurer paperwork  Justin Holley and Brad Kessler, who appointed himself treasurer of his campaign  to potentially challenge incumbent Roberto Trevino. Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran could wind up facing a challenger in Elizabeth Campos, and Maria Perez has filed a treasurer appointment for the District 10 seat, currently held by Clayton Perry.

And in citywide mayoral race, Matthew S. Pina, who also appointed himself to be his own treasurer, appears poised to challenge Mayor Ron Nirenberg. Though hes yet to announce what hell do, Councilman Greg Brockhouse also appears poised to launch a mayoral campaign to unseat Nirenberg.

He and others are likely keeping their powder dry until after the holidays. Traditionally, politicians wait until January to announce their intentions, though early declarations arent completely unheard of.

Josh Baugh is a staff writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbaugh@express-news.net | Twitter: @jbaugh
AUSTIN  Last fall, Nancy Munk faced an impossible choice: let hepatitis C continue to ravage her liver or sell her house to pay for the $75,000 cure.

With no health insurance, and having watched her husband die from the disease years earlier, Munk was desperate for an alternative.

So she went online and joined a growing number of Americans using international buyers clubs to import generic hepatitis C drugs from abroad at a fraction of the cost.

At first I was scared. What if its a scam? What if they rip me off? said Munk, of San Antonio. Eventually you just have to put your faith in something.

An estimated 3.5 million Americans suffer from hepatitis C, the most deadly infectious disease in the U.S.

The cost of curative drugs here, however, is among the highest in the world, with a list price of a 12-week treatment ranging from about $56,000 to as high as $94,800.

Buyers clubs act as middlemen to help patients buy hepatitis C medicine from India, where manufacturers are licensed to make low-cost generic versions for roughly 100 developing countries.

Health officials warn they cant ensure the safety of foreign drugs bought online. But the regulations regarding those online purchases are murky. So far, the clubs havent been shut down and few shipments have been stopped by U.S. officials.

Two clubs in Australia and one in the United Kingdom report helping more than 4,000 Americans  and roughly 100 Texans  import the medication for less than $2,500 a person. Dr. James Freeman  who started the FixHepC buyers club in Tasmania, off Australias southern coast  has presented research showing generics are as effective as the brand-name treatments.

Freeman and others said they started clubs to help those who cant afford treatment, and the prices they charge simply cover costs.

Its so wrong that people are literally dying because they dont have enough money to buy this medicine, said Greg Jefferys, who runs another buyers club in Tasmania and treated his own hepatitis C with generic medicine.

In February 2017, Jefferys said he received a cease-and-desist letter from a Brazilian branch of Gilead Sciences, but nothing came of it.

Hepatitis C killed more than 19,000 people in the U.S. in 2014, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease slowly attacks the liver but has few symptoms, so patients can go years without knowing theyre sick. Eventually, it can cause liver cancer, cirrhosis and death.

The disease is most prevalent among the baby boomer generation, many of whom were infected in unsafe medical procedures, according to the CDC. But, amid the opioid epidemic, theres a new wave of infections attributed to intravenous drug use.

Medicine that first hit the market five years age is effective at curing the disease. But the high price has put the cure out of reach for the uninsured or those denied coverage. Texas Medicaid restricts coverage to the sickest patients who already have severe liver scarring and can pass a drug test.

Competition is starting to drive prices down. Gilead Sciences announced it will begin selling generic versions of hepatitis C drugs Harvoni and Epclusa in the United States next year at a starting price of $24,000. The company touted the change as the best solution available to quickly introduce a lower-price alternative without disrupting the health care system and its business.

Still, the drugs are often much cheaper abroad. In Australia, for example, hepatitis C medicine costs about $10,000, Freeman said. In India  where Gilead Sciences struck agreements with generic manufacturers in 2014 to sell cheaper versions in developing countries  prices are even lower, in the hundreds of dollars.

While other countries negotiate directly with the manufacturer, dozens of insurance companies in the U.S. cut their own deals, said Gerard Anderson, a health policy professor at Johns Hopkins University.

They wont have as much bargaining power as the countries who essentially say we are all going to buy it or none of us is going to buy it, Anderson said.

People in Florida, Ohio, Arkansas, Oregon and Texas said they turned to buyers clubs out of desperation after years of living with hepatitis C. Some of their doctors were reluctant to let them take foreign-made medicine ordered online. Other patients said they didnt tell their physicians how they got the drugs until after they were cured.

Uninsured Texans can apply for free hepatitis C drugs through patient assistance programs run by Gilead Sciences and AbbVie, two of the largest manufacturers. But few of those who used a buyers club said they knew of that option.

Jim Higgins, a Florida truck driver with no health insurance, went online for help after doctors said he would need a blood transfusion. His sister had already died from hepatitis C. Physicians over the years had brushed him off, he said, offering little help or direction for getting the curative drugs.

Higgins, 59, found Freeman online. After sending the Australian his lab results, Higgins paid $650 though the website and soon a box of pills from India arrived on his doorstep. Within two months of starting the treatment in February, Higgins was relieved when tests showed hepatitis C was no longer detected in his blood.

I havent been this strong in forever, said Higgins, who sends Freeman postcards from his truck routes across the country. He saved my life.

Freeman, who runs a telehealth company, started the buyers club after an Australian patient asked in 2014 for help getting low-cost hepatitis C medicine abroad. Freeman agreed after testing samples of the generic drugs in a research lab. Word quickly spread, and soon Freeman was getting inquiries from around the globe.

It is illegal for Americans to import unapproved drugs for personal use, though there are exceptions for small, three-month supplies that treat a serious condition and arent available in the U.S., according to the FDA.

The agency considers them on a case-by-case basis, and blocked shipments of 21,970 FDA-regulated products, primarily drugs, from October last year through June. The FDA didnt say how many packages of hepatitis C drugs it intercepted, but Freeman said one patient in Oregon had a shipment blocked about two months ago.

What we see is the FDA exercising its discretionary power to allow it to come in, Freeman said. $1,000 a pill isnt affordable to most people.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported making one seizure of 84 pills in the 2017 fiscal year.

Gilead Sciences is aware of the buyers clubs. The company has warned in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that patients who import unapproved foreign drugs could be at risk of taking harmful or ineffective knock-offs. In 2017, bottles of counterfeit hepatitis C drugs were discovered at a German retail pharmacy, the filings said.

Jefferys and Freeman, however, stand by their supply chains.

Some companies are launching medical tourism packages that send patients to India to visit historic sites and buy generic hepatitis C drugs in-person. One such company called Surcation had sent 58 Americans on hepatitis C trips as of this summer, said founder Keith Salvato.

Gilead Sciences said it had no further comment than the information in its SEC filings.

The company said revenue could suffer if generic drugs manufactured abroad are re-exported to the United States and other higher price markets, according to the SEC filings. Over the first three months of 2018, sales of Harvoni and Epclusa in the U.S. were nearly $500 million, the filings said.

Nancy Munks husband died after liver cancer caused by hepatitis C spread throughout his body, she said. Munk, 57, was at the emergency room last year for a bout of food poisoning when she tested positive for the same disease. She knew she couldnt afford the treatment.

Munk found a buyers club through a support group on Facebook. David Cowley, who connects people with generic drug suppliers from his home in the United Kingdom, offered to help her get a course of treatment from India for $2,200, she said.

After almost a year of mulling it over, Munk  who already had severe liver scarring  agreed. The pills arrived in a blue bottle and she began taking them last April without telling her doctor.

She said he seemed perplexed when she went in for the next appointment: there was no hepatitis C detected in her blood.

Munk said her doctor was angry, and told her shes lucky the medication didnt kill her.

I have daughters. I have told them their whole life you dont take a medicine without knowing what it is, Munk said. But if youre dying, you dont have a whole lot of options.

amorris@express-news.net
The Slovenian government will subsidies Adria Airways' flights between Ljubljana and Brussels to the tune of 4.5 million euros. According to the "Ch-aviation" portal, the airline won a tender organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Public Procurement for the transport of state employees from a dozen different public institutions who require frequent travel to the Belgian capital. Last month, Adria won a twelve-month contract worth 127.897 euros for the transport of postal items for the Post of Slovenia.
The French national carrier Air France will resume operations between Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Belgrade in 2019 following a six-year hiatus. The airline will run daily flights between the two cities with a mix of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft starting March 31. The Sky Team-member airline operated its last service to the Serbian capital in March 2013. The announcement comes in the lead-up to the the 25-year takeover of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport by France's Vinci and the French President's state visit to Serbia next week. Air France will complement Air Serbia on the route, which plans to maintain thirteen weekly flights between the two cities next summer season. The French carrier codeshares on its counterpart's operations between Belgrade and Paris.

Air France's Country Manager for Hungary and the Balkans, Ildiko Kiss, said in a statement, "I am delighted that we are returning to Belgrade after several years. With this new flight, Serbian passengers will have a greater choice, thanks to Air France's extensive network from Paris. The three daily flights in our codeshare partnership with Air Serbia will allow excellent daily connections from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to more than 160 destinations on five continents". In addition to Air France and Air Serbia, low cost carrier Wizz Air maintains two weekly flights from Belgrade to Beauvais, which is some 85 kilometers north of central Paris.

Air France has been growing its presence in the former Yugoslavia in recent years, both through its mainline operations and low cost subsidiary Transavia. The French carrier maintains services from Paris to Zagreb and Ljubljana, as well as seasonal summer flights to Dubrovnik. Earlier this year, it told EX-YU Aviation News, "The Air France - KLM Group strongly believes in the potential of ex-Yugoslav countries. We have a real desire to serve the region to our best. Transavia maintains sustained growth and is developing its network on departure from all its bases in France and the Netherlands to the former Yugoslavia. We have also launched codeshare agreements with Croatia Airlines, Adria Airways and Air Serbia to Paris and Amsterdam. These agreements pave the way for further development opportunities. We are here to stay".

Flight details for Air France's new Paris - Belgrade service can be found here
Remote-working plans are growing in popularity across the country, according to the recently released results of a survey by Stamford-based job site Indeed.

Employees and employers see many upsides, including higher productivity and contentment for workers and increased recruiting power for businesses. But the arrangement has its skeptics and must be carefully managed to make it successful, according to management experts and Indeed officials, whose survey polled about 500 workers and the same number of employers across several industries.

If you can put together the right formula and understand what remote working would look like to engage your workforce, it can improve the level of talent you can consider and make a big difference in your organization, said David Lewis, founder and CEO of Norwalk-based HR consulting and outsourcing firm Operations Inc.

Some 55 percent of surveyed employers allow remote working. Such policies are most common in mid-size companies, with 200 to 500 employees; two-thirds of them permit out-of-office working. Small businesses, with five to 20 employees, are the least likely to offer remote working. About 40 percent in that group support the option.

Among employees allowed to work from home, 75 percent said the arrangement has improved their work-life balance. More than half said the scenario has reduced stress, absences and sick days and improved morale.

Nearly 60 percent of remote workers said they were more productive when they work from home. Almost 40 percent said they were equally productive at home as they were in the office.

More than half of Operations Inc.s employees work remotely all or some of the week, according to Lewis. He cited the option as a powerful tool for recruiting workers in a tight labor market, with 3.7 percent national unemployment, and a strategy for mitigating long commutes for out-of-area staff.

You significantly improve your chances of filling open positions with top talent by thinking out of the box and allowing people to work remotely or flexibly, versus only thinking about people who can commute every day to your office, Lewis said.

At the same time, demand has grown significantly for co-working centers used for individual or group offices.

Indeed officials surmise that many employees do not perform as well in traditional offices because of features such as open-floor plans. They pointed to research showing distractions linked to open plans  which are used by almost 70 percent of U.S. companies, according to some measures.

Almost one-third of remote workers said they would consider looking for another job if their companies were to eliminate the remote option. Slightly more than half of those who work for companies without remote working said they wish they could work from home.

Some of the countrys largest employers have embraced remote working.

Dell has reported saving about $12 million annually on real estate by supporting employees work from home. The company aims to have 50 percent of its employees work at home at least a few days a week by 2020.

Some big companies, however, are more skeptical of remote working.

IBM reversed its policy in 2017, by bringing thousands of workers back to the office. The company cited the need for teams to be in the same space to be effective.

Many workers also express misgivings. Nearly 40 percent at companies that allow remote work said operating from home could make them less visible and reduce their access to executives.

The challenge with managing people working remotely is figuring how to engage and include them, without getting overly paranoid about their productivity, Lewis said. Employers also have to answer the question as to whether people who work remotely have a path to advancement and promotions within the organization. There have to be clear metrics and standards with remote work.

pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter; @paulschott
The following companies are subsidiares of Dominion Energy: 96WI 8me LLC, Alamo Solar LLC, Align RNG Arizona LLC, Align RNG Arizona-Snowflake LLC, Align RNG California LLC, Align RNG California-Corcoran LLC, Align RNG Grady Road LLC, Align RNG LLC, Align RNG Magnolia LLC, Align RNG North Carolina LLC, Align RNG North Carolina-Bowdens LLC, Align RNG Utah LLC, Align RNG Utah-Milford LLC, Align RNG Virginia LLC, Align RNG Virginia-Waverly LLC, Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Azalea Solar LLC, BOE Holdings Inc., Blackville Solar Farm LLC, Blue Ocean Energy Marine LLC, BrightSuite Home LLC, BrightSuite Inc., BrightSuite Solar CT Inc., BrightSuite Solar SC Inc., BrightSuite Solar VA Inc., Buckingham Solar I LLC, CEA Americus LLC, CEA CO-Fort Morgan LLC, CEA Clovis LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Colorado LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Georgia LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Idaho LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Nevada LLC, CEA Dairy RNG New Mexico LLC, CEA Dairy RNG Texas LLC, CEA Greely LLC, CEA Mason LLC, CEA TX-Dimmitt LLC, CID Solar LLC, CNG Coal Company, CNG Power Services Corporation, Carolina Gas Transmission Corporation, Catalina Solar 2 LLC, Clean Energy Asset USA LLC, Clean Energy Enterprises Inc., Clipperton Holdings LLC, Consolidated Natural Gas Company, Correctional Solar LLC, Cottonwood Solar LLC, Cove Point LNG LP, Cove Point LNG Limited, DE Arlington Solar LLC, DE Fluvanna Solar LLC, DE Hanover Solar LLC, DE Henrico Solar LLC, DE King William Solar LLC, DE Louisa Solar LLC, DE Newport News Solar LLC, DE Powhatan Solar LLC, DE Virginia Beach Solar LLC, DECP Holdings Inc., Dairy RNG Holdings LLC, Dairy RNG NY LLC, Dairy RNG NY-Curtin LLC, Dairy RNG OH LLC, Denmark Solar LLC, Dominion ACP Holding Inc., Dominion Alternative Energy Holdings Inc., Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC, Dominion Capital Inc., Dominion Cogen WV Inc., Dominion Energy Fuel Services Inc., Dominion Energy Gas Distribution LLC, Dominion Energy Generation Marketing Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Dominion Energy Kewaunee Inc., Dominion Energy Marketplace LLC, Dominion Energy Nuclear Connecticut Inc., Dominion Energy Overthrust Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Payroll Company Inc., Dominion Energy Questar Corporation, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline LLC, Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline Services Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings II Inc., Dominion Energy RNG Holdings Inc., Dominion Energy Services Inc., Dominion Energy Solar CA LLC, Dominion Energy Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy South Carolina Inc., Dominion Energy Southeast Services Inc., Dominion Energy Technical Solutions Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies II Inc., Dominion Energy Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Terminal Company Inc., Dominion Energy Wexpro Services Company, Dominion Equipment III Inc., Dominion Equipment Inc., Dominion Fairless Hills Inc., Dominion Fowler Ridge Wind LLC, Dominion Gas Projects Company LLC, Dominion Generation Inc., Dominion Greenbrier Inc., Dominion High Voltage Holdings Inc., Dominion High Voltage MidAtlantic Inc., Dominion Investments Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline Holdings Inc., Dominion Keystone Pipeline LLC, Dominion MLP Holding Company III Inc., Dominion Mt. Storm Wind LLC, Dominion Nuclear Projects Inc., Dominion Oklahoma Texas Exploration & Production Inc., Dominion Person Inc., Dominion Privatization Florida LLC, Dominion Privatization Georgia LLC, Dominion Privatization Holdings Inc., Dominion Privatization Kentucky LLC, Dominion Privatization Maryland LLC, Dominion Privatization Pennsylvania LLC, Dominion Privatization South Carolina LLC, Dominion Privatization Texas LLC, Dominion Privatization Virginia LLC, Dominion Products and Services Inc., Dominion Projects Services Inc., Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, Dominion Retail Gas Holdings Inc., Dominion Solar Construction and Maintenance LLC, Dominion Solar Gen-Tie LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings I LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings II LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings III LLC, Dominion Solar Holdings IV LLC, Dominion Solar Projects A Inc., Dominion Solar Projects B Inc., Dominion Solar Projects C Inc., Dominion Solar Projects D Inc., Dominion Solar Projects I Inc., Dominion Solar Projects II Inc., Dominion Solar Projects III Inc., Dominion Solar Projects IV Inc., Dominion Solar Projects V Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VI Inc., Dominion Solar Projects VII Inc., Dominion Solar Services Inc., Dominion State Line LLC, Dominion Voltage Inc., Dominion Wholesale Inc., Dominion Wind Development LLC, Dominion Wind Projects Inc., ESCT-SA-Suffield LLC, Eagle Holdco Solar LLC, Eagle Solar LLC, Eastern Shore Solar LLC, Enterprise Solar LLC, Escalante Solar I LLC, Escalante Solar II LLC, Escalante Solar III LLC, Four Brothers Solar LLC, Fremont Farm LLC, Granite Mountain Holdings LLC, Granite Mountain Solar East LLC, Granite Mountain Solar West LLC, Greenbrier Marketing Company LLC, Greenbrier Pipeline Company LLC, Greensville County Solar Project LLC, Hardin Solar Energy LLC, Hecate Energy Cherrydale LLC, Hecate Energy Clarke County LLC, Hope Gas Inc., Imperial Valley Solar Company (IVSC) 2 LLC, Indy Solar Development LLC, Indy Solar I LLC, Indy Solar II LLC, Indy Solar III LLC, Innovative Solar 37 LLC, Iron Springs Holdings LLC, Iron Springs Solar LLC, Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas, Maricopa West Solar PV LLC, Moffett Solar 1 LLC, Moorings Farm 2 LLC, Mulberry Farm LLC, Mustang Solar LLC, PSNC Blue Ridge Corporation, PSNC Cardinal Pipeline Company, Pavant Solar LLC, Phone House, Pikeville Farm LLC, Prairie Fork Wind Farm LLC, Public Service Company of North Carolina Incorporated, QPC Holding Company LLC, Questar Corporation, Questar Energy Services Inc., Questar Field Services LLC, Questar Gas Company, Questar InfoComm Inc., Questar Southern Trails Pipeline Company, Questar White River Hub LLC, RE Adams East LLC, RE Camelot LLC, RE Columbia Two LLC, RE Kansas LLC, RE Kent South LLC, RE Old River One LLC, Richland Solar Center LLC, Ridgeland Solar Farm I LLC, SBL Holdco LLC, SCANA, SCANA Communications Holdings Inc., SCANA Corporate Security Services Inc., SCANA Energy Marketing LLC, SCANA Pharmacy LLC, SRFI LLC, Scana Corporation, Scott-II Solar LLC, Seabrook Solar LLC, Selmer Farm LLC, Siler Solar LLC, Sol Madison Solar LLC, Somers Solar Center LLC, South Carolina Fuel Company Inc., South Carolina Generating Company Inc., Southampton Solar LLC, Summit Farms Solar LLC, Sussex Drive Solar Project LLC, TA - Acacia LLC, TWE Myrtle Solar Project LLC, The East Ohio Gas Company, Trask East Solar LLC, Tredegar Solar Fund I LLC, VP Property Inc., Virginia Electric And Power Company, Virginia Power Fuel Corporation, Virginia Power Nuclear Services Company, Virginia Power Services Energy Corp. Inc., Virginia Power Services LLC, Virginia Solar 201 Projects LLC, Wakefield Solar LLC, Wexpro Company, Wexpro Development Company, Wexpro II Company, Wilkinson Solar LLC, Wrangler Retail Gas Holdings LLC, and Yemassee Solar LLC.
Invesco Solar ETF's stock was trading at $30.97 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, TAN shares have increased by 202.6% and is now trading at $93.70.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
The following companies are subsidiares of LyondellBasell Industries: A. Schulman, A. Schulman 's-Gravendeel B.V., A. Schulman AG, A. Schulman Asia Limited, A. Schulman Belgium BVBA, A. Schulman Canada Ltd., A. Schulman Castellon S.L., A. Schulman Europe GmbH & Co. KG, A. Schulman Europe International B.V., A. Schulman Europe Verwaltungs GmbH, A. Schulman Gainsborough Ltd, A. Schulman GmbH, A. Schulman GmbH (Austrian Branch), A. Schulman Holding Company France S.A.S., A. Schulman Holdings (France) S.A.S., A. Schulman Holdings S.a.r.l., A. Schulman Inc., A. Schulman Inc. Limited, A. Schulman International Inc., A. Schulman International Services BVBA, A. Schulman Ireland Limited, A. Schulman Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, A. Schulman Nordic AB, A. Schulman Plastics (Branch), A. Schulman Plastics (Dongguan) Ltd., A. Schulman Plastics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., A. Schulman Plastics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., A. Schulman Plastics BVBA, A. Schulman Plastics India Private Limited, A. Schulman Plastics PTY. LTD., A. Schulman Plastics S.r.l., A. Schulman Plastics SAS, A. Schulman Plastics bvba Bornem Sucursala Cluj-Napoca, A. Schulman Plastics organizacni slozka, A. Schulman Plastk Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, A. Schulman Plasticos do Brasil Ltda., A. Schulman Polska Sp. z o.o., A. Schulman Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, A. Schulman S.A.S., A. Schulman S.a.r.l., A. Schulman Thermoplastic Compounds Limited, A. Schulman Thermoplastic Compounds Sdn Bhd, A. Schulman de Mexico S.A. de C.V., A. Schulman del Peru S.A.C., A.Schulman Poznan Sp. Z o.o., ARCO Chemical, AS Global Holdings Inc., AS Mex Hold S.A. de C.V., AS Worldwide LLC, AS Worldwide LLC & Cie S.C.S., ASI Akron Land Co., ASI Employment S.A. de C.V., ASI Investments Holding Co., Al Waha Petrochemical Company, BKV Beteiligungs- und Kunststoffverwertungs-gesellschaft mbH, BMC Deutschland GmbH, BMC Dongguan Limited, BMC Far East Limited, BMC TetraDURTurkey Plastik Hammadde Kompozit Uretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Limted Sirketi, Basell (Thailand) Holdings B.V., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Basell Advanced Polyolefins (Thailand) Company Ltd., Basell Arabie Investissements SAS, Basell Asia Pacific Limited, Basell Bayreuth Chemie GmbH, Basell Benelux B.V., Basell Chemie Koln GmbH, Basell Europe Holdings B.V., Basell Germany Holdings GmbH, Basell Holdings Middle East GmbH, Basell Iberica Poliolefinas Holdings S.L., Basell International Holdings B.V., Basell International Trading FZE, Basell Italia S.r.l, Basell Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Basell Moyen Orient Investissements SAS, Basell North America Inc., Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sp. Z.o.o., Basell Orlen Polyolefins Sprzedaz Sp. Z.o.o., Basell Poliolefinas Comercial Espagnola S.L., Basell Poliolefinas Iberica S.L., Basell Poliolefinas Ltda., Basell Poliolefinas S. de R.L. de C.V., Basell Poliolefine Italia S.r.l., Basell Polyolefin Istanbul Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Basell Polyolefine GmbH, Basell Polyolefines France S.A.S., Basell Polyolefins Company BVBA, Basell Polyolefins India Private Limited, Basell Polyolefins Korea Ltd., Basell Polyolefins UK Limited, Basell Sales & Marketing Company B.V., Basell Service Company B.V., Basell Slovakia s.r.o., Basell Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Basell UK Holdings Limited, Basell UK Ltd., Brindisi Servizi Generali S.c.a.r.l., Bulk Molding Compounds Inc., Bulk Molding Compounds Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bulk Molding Compounds do Brasil Industria de Plasticos Reforcados Ltda., Citadel Brazil Holdings LLC, Citadel Intermediate Holdings LLC, Citadel Plastics Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Citadel Plastics Holdings Inc., Citadel Plastics Mexico Holdings LLC, Citadel Plastics Netherlands Holdings LLC, Compagnie Petrochimique de Berre SAS, Compagnie de Distribution des Hydrocarbures SAS, EMS Holding Ltd., EPS Ethylen-Pipeline-Sud Geschaftsfuhrungs GmbH, EPS Ethylen-Pipeline-Sud GmbH & Co. KG, Elian S.A.S., Equistar Bayport LLC, Equistar Chemicals LP, Equistar GP LLC, Equistar LP LLC, Equistar Mont Belvieu Corporation, GuangZhou Basell Advanced Polyolefins Co. Ltd., HGGC Citadel Plastics Holdings Inc., HGGC Citadel Plastics Intermediate Holdings Inc., HMC Polymers Company Limited, HPC Holdings LLC, Hadlock Plastics LLC, Houston Refining LP, I.F.M. S.c.a.r.l., ICO Europe C.V., ICO Holdings LLC, ICO Holdings New Zealand Limited, ICO Petrochemical Cayman Islands, ICO Polymers Cayman Islands, Indelpro S.A. de C.V., Infraserv GmbH & Co. Hochst KG, Inmobiliaria Satchmo S. de R.L. de C.V., Innovacion Y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados A.C., J.R. Courtenay (N.Z.) Limited, LPI Holding Company, LYB (Barbados) SRL, LYB Advanced Polymer Solutions Ireland Limited, LYB Americas Finance Company LLC, LYB Equistar Holdings LLC, LYB Export Holdings Limited, LYB Exports Inc., LYB Finance Company B.V., LYB International Finance B.V., LYB International Finance II B.V., LYB International Finance III LLC, LYB Ireland 2 Limited, LYB Ireland Limited, LYB La Porte Hyperzone LLC, LYB Luxembourg S.a r.l., LYB Matrixx Holdings Inc., LYB Receivables LLC, LYB Trading Company B.V., LYB Treasury Services Ltd., Limited Liability Company "LyondellBasell Polyolefins", Limited Liability Company A. Schulman, Lucent Polymers Inc., Lyondell Asia Holdings Limited, Lyondell Centennial Corp., Lyondell Chemical Company, Lyondell Chemical Europe Inc., Lyondell Chemical Overseas Services Inc., Lyondell Chemical Products Europe LLC, Lyondell Chemical Properties L.P., Lyondell Chemical Technology 1 Inc., Lyondell Chemical Technology L.P., Lyondell Chemical Technology Management Inc., Lyondell Chemie (PO-11) B.V., Lyondell Chemie (POSM) B.V., Lyondell Chemie Nederland B.V., Lyondell Chimie France SAS, Lyondell China Holdings Limited, Lyondell Greater China Holdings Limited, Lyondell Greater China Ltd., Lyondell Greater China Trading Limited, Lyondell Japan Inc., Lyondell PO-11 C.V., Lyondell POJVGP LLC, Lyondell POJVLP LLC, Lyondell POTechGP Inc., Lyondell POTechLP Inc., Lyondell Refining Company LLC, Lyondell Refining I LLC, Lyondell South Asia Pte Ltd, LyondellBasell Acetyls Holdco LLC, LyondellBasell Acetyls LLC, LyondellBasell Advanced Polyolefins Mexico S.A. de C.V., LyondellBasell Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Australia Pty Ltd, LyondellBasell Brasil Ltda., LyondellBasell Canada Inc., LyondellBasell Central Europe Kft., LyondellBasell China Holdings B.V., LyondellBasell Circular Economy B.V., LyondellBasell Covestro Manufacturing Maasvlakte V.O.F., LyondellBasell Egypt LLC, LyondellBasell F&F Holdco LLC, LyondellBasell Finance Company, LyondellBasell Holdings France SAS, LyondellBasell Hungary Kft, LyondellBasell Industries Holdings B.V., LyondellBasell Industries N.V., LyondellBasell Investment LLC, LyondellBasell Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., LyondellBasell Polyolefin (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., LyondellBasell Services France S.A.S., LyondellBasell Subholdings B.V., LyondellBasell Taiwan Co. Ltd., LyondellBasell Transportation Company LLC, Millennium Chemicals, Natpet Schulman Specialty Plastic Compounds, Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Co. Ltd., Ningbo ZRCC Lyondell Chemical Marketing Co. Ltd., OE Insurance Ltd, Oil Casualty Insurance Ltd., Oil Insurance Limited, PD Glycol LP, PO JV LP, PO Offtake LP, POSM II Limited Partnership L.P., POSM II Properties Partnership LLC, PT A.Schulman Plastics, PT ASchulman Plastics Commercial, PTT Chemical PCL, Poly Pacific Polymers Sdn. Bhd., Poly Pacific Pty. Ltd., PolyMirae Co. Ltd., Premix Holding Company, Premix Inc., Prime Colorants Inc., QCP B.V., QCP Holding B.V., QCP IP B.V., Quantum Composites Inc., RIGK GmbH Gesellschaft zur Ruckfuhrung industrieller and gewerblicher Kunstoffverpackungen mbH, Rayong Olefins Co. Ltd., Rexene - LDPE and PP Businesses, SCG ICO Polymers Company Limited, SJS Plastiblends, San Jacinto Rail Limited, Saudi Ethylene & Polyethylene Company, Saudi Polyolefins Company, Sociedad Espanola De Materiales Plasticos Semap S.A., Societe des Stockages Petroliers du Rhone SA, Solvay Engineered Polymers, Surplast S.A., TRV Thermische Ruckstandsverwertung GmbH & Co. KG, TRV Thermische Ruckstandsverwertung Verwaltungs-GmbH, Technology JV LP, The Matrixx Group Incorporated, ULSAN PP Co. Ltd., YNCORIS GmbH & Co. KG, Zylog Plastalloys, and tetra-DUR Kunststoff-Produktion GmbH.
(ANSA) - Rome, November 26 - A Kenyan regional police commander said Monday the police were getting close to the kidnappers of Italian aid worker Silvia Romano.

Noah Mwivanda told NTV that "we are getting close. Everything indicates that we have almost reached the kidnappers".

He said "we expected to find (Romano) alive".

Mwivanda also voiced the fear some local residents were collaborating with the kidnappers by giving them refuge and provisions.


The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. It also provides credit cards; real estate secured lending; auto finance; consumer lending; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, private banking, investment advisory, and trust services to retail and institutional clients; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to companies, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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iShares MSCI South Korea ETF's stock was trading at $52.04 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWY stock has increased by 52.2% and is now trading at $79.19.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF's stock was trading at $35.66 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWL stock has increased by 39.1% and is now trading at $49.62.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Imperial Oil Limited explores for, produces, and sells crude oil and natural gas in Canada. It operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemical. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, synthetic oil, and bitumen. As of December 31, 2020, this segment had 138 million oil-equivalent barrels of proved undeveloped reserves. The Downstream segment is involved in the transportation and refining of crude oil, as well as blending, distribution, and marketing of refined products. It also transports crude oil to refineries by contracted pipelines, common carrier pipelines, and rail; maintains a distribution system to move petroleum products to market by pipeline, tanker, rail, and road transport; and owns and operates fuel terminals, natural gas liquids, and products pipelines in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. In addition, this segment markets and supplies petroleum products to motoring public through approximately 2,400 Esso and Mobil-branded sites. Further, it sells petroleum products, including fuel, asphalt, and lubricants for industrial and transportation customers, independent marketers, and resellers, as well as other refiners serving the agriculture, residential heating, and commercial markets through branded fuel and lubricant resellers. The Chemical segment manufactures and markets various petrochemicals and polyethylene, such as benzene, aromatic, and aliphatic solvents; plasticizer intermediates; and polyethylene resins. The company was incorporation in 1880 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Imperial Oil Limited is a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

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Energy: ENI accord with Algeria's Sonatrach on renewable Groups inaugurate solar energy plant

(ANSAmed) - ROME, NOVEMBER 26 - ENI and Algeria's Sonatrach are inaugurating the photovoltaic plant of Bir Rebaa North worth 10 MW and have signed agreements on the renewable energy sector, according to a statement.



The statement said that the president director general of the State-run Algerian company Sonatrach, Abdelmoumem Ould Kaddour, and the CEO of ENI, Claudio Descalzi, have inaugurated a solar energy plant worth 10 MW in Bir Rebaa North (BRN) in Algeria.



The plant, jointly operated by ENI and Sonatrach through GSA (Groupement Sonatrach-Agip), will provide green energy to the oil field, contributing to the decarbonization of the Algerian energy sector. During the opening ceremony, in order to further boost their partnership in the renewable energy sector, ENI and Sonatrach have signed an accord to build a laboratory of development and advanced research at the BRN site to test solar and hybrid technology in a desert.



The two companies have also signed an accord to widen their cooperation through the creation of a joint venture entirely dedicated to the renewable energy sector in Algeria.



The joint venture will have the purpose of installing and managing plants for the production of solar energy not just in the production sites of Sonatrach and ENI but also in other contexts.



The photovoltaic plant of BRN is proof that renewable energy projects can provide an efficient support to oil and gas activities to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.



These initiatives represent an integral part of the strategy ENI is developing in each country in which it operates that vies to change the energy mix of its activities by replacing energy from fossil sources with renewable sources, providing green energy also to national networks.



ENI's CEO, Claudio Descalzi, said: ''This represents a further step forward towards the strategic expansion of renewable energy activities in Algeria, starting with this plant that is considered an example for solar technologies. This structure is the proof of ENI's work in the development of a decarbonization plan for the long-term sustainability of its business, based on the reduction of the carbon impact through the development of renewable energy projects. Moreover, the BRN project stresses how strong and close is the spirit of cooperation between ENI and Sonatrach''. (ANSAmed).




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.
Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 433,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 98,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,233 megawatts (MW), including 59 MW of solar capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,048,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 572,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns 4 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 143 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 130 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 67,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 270,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 31,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 15,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. The company also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 91,000 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 49,500 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada.

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Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. is an international offshore energy company. It focuses on subsea construction, maintenance and salvage services to the offshore natural gas and oil industry. The firm also provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention and robotics operations. The company operates through three segments: Well Intervention, Robotics and Production Facilities. The Well Intervention segment offers vessels and related equipment that are used to perform well intervention services primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea regions. The Robotics segment involves four chartered vessels and also includes ROVs, trenchers and ROVDrills designed to complement offshore construction and well intervention services. The Production Facilities segment includes its investment in the Helix Producer I and Kommandor LLC. Helix Energy Solutions Group was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

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Caltex Australia Limited engages in purchasing, refining, distributing, selling, and suppling petroleum products in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates through Convenience Retail, and Fuels and Infrastructure segments. The Convenience Retail segment sells fuels through a Caltex network of stores. The Fuels and Infrastructure segment wholesales fuels and lubricants; and manufactures fuels, including LPG, petrol, diesel, and jet fuels. This segment distributes its products through pipelines, terminals, depots, and owned and contracted transportation fleet. Caltex Australia Limited was founded in 1900 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

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iShares MSCI Thailand ETF's stock was trading at $63.83 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, THD stock has increased by 20.7% and is now trading at $77.05.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
GAZIANTEP (TURKEY-SYRIA BORDER) - Dr. Omar al Mustafa has gone back to his work as a physician, after fleeing to Turkey from the violence in his native Syria. He has been practicing for a few months at a health centre in the Sahinbey district of the town of Gaziantep, Turkey, on the border with Syria, where refugees come for basic healthcare. He says, however, that he still feels like a second-rate doctor. "Given that we aren't allowed to work in actual hospitals, we can only prescribe medicines," he said. Despite this, Dr. Mustafa is still better off than the majority of his fellow Syrians.

That's because no more than 50,000 Syrians have gotten a work permit in the country, despite a potential workforce of 1.8 million people. This enormous gap has led to an underground economy of exploitation.

The EU has invested about half of the first three billion euros allocated for the migrant agreement with Turkey, which aims to help nearly 1.5 million refugees with daily expenses through a rechargeable card.

Now, it wants to move beyond the emergency.

Within the year, signing is expected on the first financing contracts for the second instalment, with which the EU would like to better facilitate projects to create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.

EU Ambassador to Turkey Christian Berger said the goal is to enable the refugees "to walk on their own two feet".

Seen from Gaziantep, the challenge of getting out from the underground economy seems crucial.

Just a few kilometres from Syria, near the threshold of ancient Mesopotamia, Gaziantep is the largest city in southeast Turkey. It is surrounded by industrial areas that extend out towards views of olive and pistachio groves.

There are 1,500 businesses created by refugees here, out of the total of 12,000 refugee-created businesses throughout the country, according to Khaled Bablli, on the board of Syrian entrepreneurs.

These refugees have started over from scratch after having lost their factories in the bombings in Syria.

One of them, Aiman Hadri, re-founded "Zirve As Makina", a packing and industrial machinery company, with his brother Amer, after the original company was destroyed in Aleppo.

"The initial investment in 2013 was a million dollars. Today we employ 65 people, 20% of whom are Syrian," Hadri said.

However, many Syrian refugees are still homeless.

The Turkish Chamber of Commerce said that nearly 500,000 Syrians have arrived in Gaziantep, and the population there now stands at two million people.

"Here we try to provide training, because we'll only have real social peace once they find work and have what they need to live independently," the Chamber of Commerce said.

It has provided professional training courses for 2,000 young refugees in the past year and a half.

The administration also wants to have development projects implemented.

"In eight years we've reached our estimates for population growth. The consequences for public services have been enormous.

We've managed up until now. But we can't live indefinitely in a state of emergency".


Vivint Solar, Inc. provides distributed solar energy primarily to residential customers in the United States. It owns and installs solar energy systems through long-term customer contracts. The company also sells photovoltaic installation products, as well as solar renewable energy certificates. As of December 31, 2019, it had an aggregate capacity of 1,294.0 megawatts covering approximately 188,300 homes. The company was formerly known as V Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Vivint Solar, Inc. in April 2014. Vivint Solar, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Lehi, Utah.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Kroger: 84.51 HQ Building Company LLC, 84.51 LLC, Alpha Beta Company, Ansonborough Square Investors I LLC, Ansonborough Square Retail LLC, Ardrey Kell Investments LLC, Bay Area Warehouse Stores Inc., Beech Tree Holdings LLC, Bell Markets Inc., Bleecker Ventures LLC, Bluefield Beverage Company, Box Cutter Inc., Brier Creek Arbors Drive Retail LLC, CB&S Advertising Agency Inc., Cala Co., Cala Foods Inc., Cheeses of All Nations Inc., Country Oven Inc., Crawford Stores Inc., Creedmoor Retail LLC, Dillon Companies LLC, Dillon Real Estate Co. Inc., Dillons, Distribution Trucking Company, Dotto Inc., Edgewood Plaza Holdings LLC, Embassy International Inc., FM Inc., FMJ Inc., Farmacia Doral Inc., Food 4 Less GM Inc., Food 4 Less Holdings Inc., Food 4 Less Merchandising Inc., Food 4 Less of California Inc., Food 4 Less of Southern California Inc., Fred Meyer, Fred Meyer Inc., Fred Meyer Jewelers Inc., Fred Meyer Stores Inc., Glasswing Labs LLC, Glendale/Goodwin Realty I LLC, Grubstake Investments LLC, HT Fuel DE LLC, HT Fuel NC LLC, HT Fuel SC LLC, HT Fuel VA LLC, HTGBD LLC, HTP Bluffton LLC, HTP Plaza LLC, HTP Relo LLC, HTPS LLC, HTTAH LLC, Harris Teeter, Harris Teeter LLC, Henpil Inc., Home Chef, Hood-Clayton Logistics LLC, Hughes Markets Inc., Hughes Realty Inc., I.T.A. Inc., IRP LLC, ITAC 119 LLC, ITAC 265 LLC, Inter-American Foods Inc., Inter-American Products Inc., J.V. Distributing Inc., Jondex Corp., Jubilee Carolina LLC, KCDE  2012 LLC, KCDE  2013 LLC, KCDE-2 LLC, KCDE-3 LLC, KCDE-4 LLC, KCDE-5 LLC, KGO LLC, KPF LLC, KPS LLC, KRGP LLC, KRLP Inc., KV Anderson LLC, Kee Trans Inc., Kessel FP, Kiosk Medicine Kentucky LLC, Kirkpatrick West Retail LLC, Kroger Community Development Entity LLC, Kroger Dedicated Logistics Co., Kroger Fulfillment Network LLC, Kroger G.O. LLC, Kroger LM Real Estate Holdings LLC, Kroger Limited Partnership I, Kroger Limited Partnership II, Kroger MC Holdings LLC, Kroger MTL Management LLC, Kroger Management Co., Kroger Management  Corryville LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Athens I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Champaign I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Champaign II LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Cincinnati I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Dallas I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Danville I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Logansport I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Missouri I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Oak Ridge I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Olney I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Omaha I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Portsmouth I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Starkville I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Topeka I LLC, Kroger Management  NMTC Warrenton I LLC, Kroger NMTC Fremont I LLC, Kroger OZ1 Inc., Kroger OZ1 LLC, Kroger OZ2 Inc., Kroger OZ2 LLC, Kroger OZ3 Inc., Kroger OZ3 LLC, Kroger Opportunity Fund I Inc., Kroger Prescription Plans Inc., Kroger Specialty Infusion AL LLC, Kroger Specialty Infusion CA LLC, Kroger Specialty Infusion Holdings Inc., Kroger Specialty Infusion TX LLC, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy CA 2 LLC, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy CA LLC, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy FL 2 LLC, Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Holdings 2 Inc., Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Holdings 3 Inc., Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Holdings I Inc., Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Holdings Inc., Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Inc., Kroger Specialty Pharmacy LA LLC, Kroger Texas L.P., LCGP3 Home Cooking Inc., Latta Village LLC, Local Mkt LLC, Main & Vine LLC, Matthews Property 1 LLC, Mega Marts LLC, Michigan Dairy L.L.C., ModernHealth LTC, Murrays Cheese LLC, Murrays LIC LLC, Murrays Table LLC, Pace Dairy Foods Company, Paramount Logistics LLC, Pay Less Super Markets Inc., Peyton's-Southeastern Inc., Plum Labs LLC, Pontiac Foods Inc., Queen City Assurance Inc., RBF LLC, RGC Southeast Properties LLC, Ralphs Grocery Company, Relish Labs LLC, Rocket Newco Inc., Roundy's, Roundys Acquisition Corp., Roundys Illinois LLC, Roundys Inc., Roundys Supermarkets Inc., Second Story Inc., Shop-Rite LLC, Smiths Beverage of Wyoming Inc., Smiths Food & Drug Centers Inc., Southern Ice Cream Specialties Inc., Stallings Investors I LLC, Sunrise R&D Holdings LLC, Sunrise Technology LLC, TLC Corporate Services LLC, TLC Immunization Clinic LLC, TLC of Georgia LLC, The Kroger Co. of Michigan, The Little Clinic LLC, The Little Clinic Management Services LLC, The Little Clinic of Arizona LLC, The Little Clinic of Colorado LLC, The Little Clinic of IN LLC, The Little Clinic of Kansas LLC, The Little Clinic of Mississippi LLC, The Little Clinic of Ohio LLC, The Little Clinic of TX LLC, The Little Clinic of Tennessee LLC, The Little Clinic of VA LLC, Topvalco Inc., Ultimate Mart LLC, Ultra Mart Foods LLC, Vine Court Assurance Incorporated, Vitacost, Vitacost.com Inc., Woodmont Holdings LLC, and YOU Technology.
iShares Latin America 40 ETF's stock was trading at $22.49 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, ILF stock has increased by 9.1% and is now trading at $24.54.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
The farming industry has welcomed the announcement by Welsh Government that the Basic Payment Scheme will remain unchanged for 2020.

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said the decision to keep the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) for a further year will "provide reassurance" to the industry.

She said the extra year will give farmers more time to prepare for the changes to future farm support post-Brexit in the form of the Welsh Government's new Land Management Programme.

The announcement also saw the Cabinet Secretary confirm that her department will pay over 85%, 13,200, of all Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) claims on the first day of the 2018 payment window, the 3rd December.

The option of an opt-in loan is still available for farmers whose BPS claim has not yet been validated, but they must apply before 30th November.

NFU Cymru has welcomed confirmation from Ms Griffiths, but warned that any replacement schemes must deliver "at least the same level of stability" for the industry in the future.

NFU Cymru President John Davies said: We are clear that any replacement scheme(s) must deliver at least the same level of stability for farming businesses, the food supply chain and rural communities that the BPS currently delivers.

This can only be determined once the nature of our long term trading relationship becomes clearer, after thorough impact assessments have been completed and when we can be absolutely confident that any new measures have been robustly designed and piloted.

Mr Davies added: We have serious reservations over current Welsh Government proposals for a new land management programme. In our response to the Brexit and Our Land consultation, NFU Cymru has reiterated our vision for a comprehensive integrated Welsh agricultural policy built around three cornerstones  productivity, environment and stability.

Such a policy, we believe, can ensure that Welsh farmers can continue to deliver and grow the unparalleled contribution it makes to the economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of Wales.
The ongoing political uncertainty means that the threat of a 'no-deal' Brexit still looms large, and that outcome would be a nightmare for the farming industry.

As the agricultural industry looks ahead to one of the highlights in the UK livestock calendar, the Royal Welsh Winter Fair, farmers in Wales remain anxious about the prospect of a nightmare no-deal Brexit, according to NFU Cymru.

The livestock classes at the annual Royal Welsh Winter Fair are renowned for hosting some of the finest primestock in the world.

However, this years event is likely to be the last with the UK still being a member of the European Union.

The ongoing uncertainty farmers are facing follows Prime Minister Theresa May saying that rejecting her Brexit deal will lead to division and uncertainty.

She now has to persuade MPs to back her deal, following a stamp of approval by EU leaders at a summit on Sunday.

Parliament will decide in a vote around the 12 December on whether to accept or reject the her deal.

But NFU Cymru Livestock Board Chairman, Wyn Evans said the threat of a 'no deal' scenario is still at the door and farmers are rightly worried.

It is clear that opportunities exist for the Welsh farming industry in a future outside of the European Union, but even the most optimistic of Welsh farmers will be wincing when it comes to considering a future where we crash out of the EU and fall back on WTO terms, he said.

Exports of Welsh lamb would face an effective tariff rate of 46%, whilst for beef effective rates would be higher at anything between 48% and 84% according to the cut.

At the same time, the industry could see the UK Government lower or remove import tariffs on imported food.

Mr Evans added: A no deal scenario will see the UK needing to be recognised as a third country by the EU, with our access to our closest and largest market closed until this approval is gained. Its a process dependent on political will but which could take six months or longer.

'Ongoing uncertainty'

Earlier this month, farmers gave a cautious welcome to the withdrawal agreement and political declaration.

The withdrawal agreement provides for a transition period of almost two years, during which time everything remains largely the same, and would offer the industry some stability.

But the recently-announced political declaration, which considers the UK's trading relationship with the EU27 after the end of the transition, falls short of guaranteeing frictionless trade that farmers are desperately seeking.

However, there is talk of a comprehensive agreement on a free-trade area, with provisions ensuring zero tariffs, no fees, charges or quantitative restrictions across all sectors.

Mr Evans said: The time has come for politicians across all parties to put their political differences aside to secure a future that is in the interest of the people of the UK and Welsh farmers, in particular.

Farming is a long term business and the ongoing uncertainty over our future relationship with the EU makes it extremely difficult for farmers to take decisions that will affect their businesses long into the future. Its time that uncertainty was put to bed.
ISTANBUL - Turkish authorities have apprehended over the past week a reported 4,482 people who were trying to cross the border with the European Union or to cross into the country without regular documents, the interior ministry reports. They reportedly included 332 who were intercepted at sea. The ministry added that 129 suspected human traffickers were arrested over the same period.

Ever since the controversial agreement with Brussels in March 2016, the number of migrants and refugees reaching every day the EU, especially Greece, from Turkey has significantly decreased.
A farm charity has highlighted its financial concerns for the coming winter after criminals raided the farm, damaged property and stole a quad-bike.

Willow Tree Family Farm, a Derbyshire charity which supports children with additional needs, is run by volunteers and is self-funded by public donations.

The quad was purchased with the little money raised over the past 12 months to help the farm team operate more effectively.

It supported children with additional needs by aiding their learning on the farm.

The incident happened on Langwith Road, Shirebrook, at around 7pm Saturday 24 November.

Two criminals broke into steel fencing and stole the charity's brand new Palaris Sportman 570 4x4 quad.

The stolen quad-bike was bought with the 'little money' raised over the past year

The charity is now asking for help to recover the stolen quad-bike and donations to cover the costs of repairing the damage on the farm.

In a statement, the farm said: This has caused great upset to the team who have worries that the costs to repair will have a devastating effect on the charity over the winter.

We hope all our supporters can help with the locating of the stolen quad and help raise the much needed funds to fix the damages and loss.

The charity has set a 10,000 goal. Donations can be made online.
The farmer at the centre of a farm lock down due to a case of BSE, or 'mad cow disease', has said he thought about giving up farming following the ordeal.

Farmer Thomas Jackson, who farms at Boghead Farm in Aberdeenshire, told BBC Scotlands countryside magazine series Landward the family-run farm was the centre of worldwide interest for all the wrong reasons.

The farm, located in Lumsden, was forced into a state of lock down as a case of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was confirmed on the property in October.

Investigators are still trying to identify the origin of the disease on the family-run farm, which has not appeared in Scotland for over 10 years.

Scotlands chief veterinary officer, Sheila Voas believes the case of BSE was not transmitted and occurred spontaneously in the affected animal.

Mr Jackson told Landward: About a week later we got a phone call from the animal health, saying 'your animal's failed the test for BSE'.

My initial thought was don't be so bloody stupid, I just thought well they'd made a big mistake here.

We were the least likely person as far as I was concerned to ever turn up a case.

News of the disease broke worldwide as Mr Jackson was hundreds of miles away attending his mothers funeral.

His wife Fiona revealed that the crisis made them consider giving up farming for good.

She said: It was hard work for me, literally being in tearsand just wanting Thomas to stop farming, wanting him to stop whats he always done, just because it was so upsetting.

I came to see him, and I just looked at him and I thought he's just a broken man, he's worked so hard all his life for these animals, he loves his animals, he talks to his animals, he talks to them more than his wife sometimes, but they're really important to him, that's his livelihood.

The carcasses of four cattle were tested earlier in November after they were destroyed following the discovery of BSE. Results showed the animals did not have the disease.

There have been 16 cases of BSE in the UK in the past seven years.
The Holstein Young Breeders (HYB) Australian Exchange returns for a third year, with a passionate HYB member awarded the trip of a lifetime down under in January.

Boarding a flight to Australia in early January 2019 will be Georgina Moody, a member of the South East HYB Club.

A member from a young age, Georgina has enjoyed the different experiences HYB has given her, from Weekend Rallies, Calf Shows and training days to making a wide network of friends over the years.

The month-long trip down under will see 19-year-old Georgina gain first-hand experience of its dairy industry.

Her visit will include the National Dairy Youth Camp, staying on Holstein Australia member farms in three geographically diverse regions across two states (Victoria and South Australia), participating in the International Dairy Week (IDW) Youth Challenge and working with the Holstein Australia team at IDW.

Georgina will also get to spend a day visiting Genetics Australia with a member of Holstein Australia.

The trip is an all-expenses-paid adventure, completely funded by Holstein UK and Holstein Australia, and a once in a lifetime opportunity; a chance to gain knowledge and experience of other cultures.

As part of the exchange, an Australian young breeder will come over to the UK in September to coincide with some of the UKs leading dairy events, such as UK Dairy Day, the Dairy Show and the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show.

Georgina Moody said: I have had travelling to Australia on my bucket list for a number of years, so this is a dream come true and I am delighted to have been selected for this once in a lifetime experience.

Im looking forward to gaining insight into the Australian dairy industry, including the different ways they run their dairy businesses in a country with a huge amount of space, which is very different from us here in the UK.

I want to learn about the similarities that we must still share, such as animal welfare and producing the most economic litre of milk. I am also excited to see how they produce their calves and cows for showing.

'Art of showmanship'

Over the years Georgina has represented South East HYB Club at various events, including the All Breeds All Britain Calf Show and a number of Weekend Rallies.

Supported by her parents and sisters she has learnt the art of showmanship, and how to congratulate those who are above her, even if it is her sisters!

She enjoys the team spirit, working together as one unit and seeing the difference between the calf when it first arrives at an event through to it being turned out and presented in the show ring.

Georgina adds: When I return from Australia I want to be able to use what I have learnt within our own family farm; it would be nice to use a bull choice or an embryo of a cow family that I might see out there. I am also excited about the experience I will gain in show preparation so that I can do my own preparation for the show ring.

One day I would like to register my own herd prefix to show and produce animals for the show ring. The other benefit is on a more personal level as I have never travelled on my own before, so this trip will be amazing for my self-confidence.

My passion is dairy cows and I am excited to be flying the flag for British dairy farming down under.

Hannah Williams, Head of Events & Marketing at Holstein UK, commented: HYB wishes Georgina an amazing trip of a life time down under. The Australian Exchange is a fantastic opportunity to see first-hand how the southern hemisphere dairy farming industry operates and the experience will be hugely beneficial - not only from a social and personal development point of view, but, most importantly, to develop breeding, husbandry, showmanship and dairy management skills.

Seeing first-hand how Australian dairy farmers run their businesses and breed productive cattle, with different climates and production methods, is the best way to develop increase Georginas knowledge, skills and experience, which she can apply in practice on her return to the UK.
Two men have pleaded guilty to animal cruelty offences after they were filmed kicking pigs in the face and head, often violently and repeatedly, in over 100 incidents.

The footage was taken in April via a number of secret cameras left on Fir Tree pig farm in Lincolnshire, following an anonymous tip-off to animal welfare charity Animal Equality.

The farm is owned by Elsham Linc  one of Britains largest pig producers.

The workers leave a downed pig without veterinary care for 48 hours before shooting it. Workers are seen laughing about the abuse and swearing at pigs.

On Friday (23 November), Troy Wagstaff, 30, and Artirs Grogprkevs, 31 pleaded guilty in Grimsby Magistrates Court to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.

A third man failed to appear in court. The two men will face sentencing next month.

'Indefensible'

The National Pig Association (NPA) has reacted to the footage, and said that as an organisation it does not tolerate or condone violence towards animals in any way.

We are clear that the actions of the individuals depicted in the footage are indefensible and should be treated accordingly, the NPA said.

Such behaviour is abhorrent to all pig farmers and the business involved, which has acted responsibly and immediately by terminating employment of the members of staff following a thorough investigation and is cooperating fully with the authorities.

The NPA will take the lead in investigating what further measures can be put in place to prevent any similar incidents from occurring on British pig farms.
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View this post on Instagram "Don't we look great together?" ;) #leelajaisikoinahi #4YearsOfRanveerSingh A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Dec 10, 2014 at 2:57am PST

View this post on Instagram This just happened !!!! @deepikapadukone AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Dec 18, 2015 at 10:06am PST

Even though Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh never admitted that they were dating, their PDA for each other made everything crystal clear to the public eye. Recently, in an interview with a leading portal, Deepika stated that Ranveer has been and always will be an extremely important part of her life. And now, the couple is all set to tie the knot in the picturesque backdrop of Lake Como in Italy. While we are all waiting to witness Deepika and Ranveer as bride and groom, we just thought of giving you a look back at some of the most adorable PDA moments of Deepika and Ranveers life, that will make you gush over this lovely couple.1. When Ranveer shared a throwback picture of Ram Leela with the most adorable caption.It was on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Ram Leela that Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone reportedly began dating so theres no doubting the fact that Ram Leela is a pretty special film for them. When Ram Leela clocked 4 years after its release, Ranveer Singh shared a picture of the two along with a caption that read, Dont we look great together?. Check out this picture below.2. When Ranveer Singh contracted Loveria.In 2013, Ranveer Singh was admitted in the hospital since he was down with dengue. When interviewed by the press around that time, he had said, "I love being in love. Its the best feeling in the world.I feel it is love.. dekhiye mujhe loveria hogya. When you feel so strongly then you can say I guess I am in love. I dont know what is love, but what I am feeling is quite strong and cannot explain it. [I like] everything [about this girl]. Her kindness and her being genuine and caring.3. When Deepika Padukone chopped off Ranveer Singhs moustacheDuring the time of promotions for Bajirao Mastani, Ranveer was sporting a sweet moustache that he grew for his role in the film. Well, since his lady love was not a fan of the look, he happily agreed to chop off his moustache. And what more? He let Deepika Padukone do the honours herself. The couple's adorable video went viral leaving media and their fans fall in love with them even more.4. When Ranveer Singh travelled all the way to Canada especially for Valentines dayIt is no surprise that actors lead a very hectic lifestyle as they are constantly travelling for their work.

Deepika's first dubsmash. deepu with bajirao ranveer singh

Happy Birthday Deepika Padukone pic.twitter.com/JlKgV934su  BANNO (@Inception700) January 5, 2016

However, Ranveer Singh made his priorities very clear as he took off to Canada on Valentines day just to spend some time with Deepika who was shooting for her Hollywood film XXX: The return of Xander cage at the time.5. When Deepika Padukone made her Dubsmash debut with Ranveer SinghAt the time of release of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Bajirao Mastani, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone featured in a Dubsmash video that went viral on the internet. The Youre my best friend Dubsmash had fans gushing over just how adorable the two of them looked together. Check it out for yourself.6. When Ranveer Singh chased Deepika Padukone with a flowerOn 8th January 2014, Farah Khan had hosted a birthday bash and invited the whos who of the film industry for a gala celebration. After enjoying a wonderful evening, the two were spotted leaving the party along with Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra. Ranveer Singh, who is always more than open about his feelings had something big in store for the paparazzi who were waiting to get some pictures of the two. Deepika was spotted leaving the building hand in hand with Karan, while Ranveer followed her with a yellow flower in his hand which he had pulled out from a bouquet while leaving the building.Ranveer who has already played the role of a hopeless romantic in many of his films walked closely behind Deepika with his arms stretched, hoping that she will accept his token of love. While he did manage to grab Karans attention, Deepika kept walking ahead with a broad smile on her face without paying any attention to Ranveer. After this adorable display of affection, Ranveer walked Deepika to her car.7. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukones entry for the Padmaavat premiereYou must be well aware of the fact that Padmaavat had gone through a lot of struggle before it was cleared for release. From burning of effigies to placing a bounty on the films leading lady, the team of Padmaavat did face an uphill battle before the release. After the films release, Ranveer even spoke about how agitated he was when he heard about the death threats to Deepika Padukone but couldnt take action against it since it simply wasnt his battle to fight.

View this post on Instagram What in the Habibi is going on here?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA @deepikapadukone A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Oct 5, 2018 at 8:03am PDT

View this post on Instagram AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA A post shared by Ranveer Singh (@ranveersingh) on Oct 21, 2018 at 3:30am PDT

Eventually, when Padmaavat did release the couple arrived hand-in-hand for the premiere together. Even though the gesture was extremely simple, it symbolised that the two will always stand by each other no matter what.8. The Khalibali DanceRecently, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone attended an event in Delhi. At the event, they were bombarded with questions regarding their marriage by the media present. The two skilfully managed to dodge all the questions related to their marriage but announced they will make an announcement when the time is right. However, the highlight of the event had to be when Ranveer Singh was asked to dance on the song Khalibali from his film Padmaavat and Deepika happily joined him on the action.9. When Deepika Padukone got candid about Ranveer Singh on Koffee With Karan.A few weeks ago, Deepika Padukone appeared on the new season of Koffee With Karan along with Alia Bhatt. During the rapid fire round, Deepika Padukone was asked what she loves, hates and tolerates about Ranveer Singh. The actor answered, I love him for his emotional capabilities and that he is extremely expressive. Hate him for his lifestyle pattern and I tolerate his fashion sense.On October 21, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone took to their social media accounts and made a joint announcement in which they revealed that theyre getting married on 14th and 15th November. The wedding will take place at Lake Como in Italy.After wrapping their wedding festivities in Italy, Ranveer and Deepika will reportedly host two reception parties in India - one in Bengaluru (Deepika's hometown) and the other in Mumbai. The Leela in Bengaluru is said to be the reception venue for November 21 as it houses Deepika's favourite Italian restaurant. The venue for the Mumbai reception on November 28 is the Grand Hyatt. Deepika and Ranveer will make their first public appearance as a married couple at the Bengaluru reception.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. The Ukrainian armed forces have been put on full combat alert by the decision of the chief of the countrys General Staff, the press service of Ukraines Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

"In accordance with the National Security and Defense Councils decision on imposing martial law, the chief of the General Staff and commander-in-chief of Ukraines armed forces ordered to put the Ukrainian armed forces units on full combat alert," the press service said, according to TASS.

Due to the situation in the Kerch Strait, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Alexander Turchinov earlier voiced the initiative on imposing martial law in the country for 60 days backed by the Ukrainian president. Now this bill is to be considered by Ukraines Verkhovna Rada (parliament). According to its speaker Andrei Parubiy, its meeting will be convened on Monday at 16:00 local time (17:00 Moscow time).

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that he will propose declaring martial law in the wake of an altercation in the Black Sea that saw Russian military seize Ukrainian vessels for breaching Russian territorial waters, RT reported.

On Sunday, three Ukrainian vessels were sailing between two Ukrainian ports: from Odessa in the Black Sea to Mariupol in the Azov Sea. The only waterway that connects these is the Kerch Strait between Crimea and mainland Russia. Kiev says it notified Moscow in advance that its navy ships would be sailing through the area. Moscow denies that it was given proper warning.

Russian ships opened fire to stop the three Ukrainian boats after they ignored "legal demands to stop" and performed "dangerous maneuvers," said the Russian Security Service (FSB). The ships were then seized and towed to the Crimean port of Kerch.

Around midnight, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko instructed the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) to convene for an emergency meeting proposing to impose martial law.
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were a group of terrorist attacks that took place in November 2008, when 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai.

Vicky Kaushal's starrer Uri is releasing soon and is based on the story of 2016- Surgical strike attack by four heavily armed militants near the town of Uri in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. This was reported as, "the deadliest attack on security forces in Kashmir in two decades".

The makers decided to kick-start their film activity on 26/11 marking it a tribute to the martyrs of the day. On Monday, 26/11, 330 radio stations played a special tributary message at 10.12 am as a mark of respect in the memory of the people martyred.

Confirming the same, Ronnie Screwvala said, "On the 10 year anniversary Of the 26/11 attacks, the URI team will show their respect to all those martyred on that day by observing silence across 330 radio stations all over India at 10:12 am sharp."

Uri is based on Indian Army's surgical strikes on terror launch pads across Line of Control (LOC). On September 18, 2016, 19 Indian soldiers were killed in an early morning attack by Pakistani terrorists at the 12 Infantry Brigade headquarters in Uri. In response, on September 29, the Indian Army's Special Forces carried out surgical strikes on terror launch pads across Line of Control (LOC).

Vicky Kaushal was earlier quoted as saying by IANS, "It was really nice experience to work in the film. In a short span of my of career, Uri has been the most physically demanding film for me and I am very excited because after the teaser, the trailer of the film will also release. I am very excited to know audience reaction to the film."

Uri Teaser: Vicky Kaushal's Military Drama Will Make You Feel Patriotic!

Produced by RSVP movies and directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has Vicky Kaushal, Yami Gautam and Paresh Rawal in pivotal roles. The film is slated to release on 11th January 2019.
Aamir Takes Full Responsibility Of TOHs Failure

"I take full responsibility for 'Thugs' not working with the audience. I think we went wrong but I would like to take full responsibility of that.

You can be sure we tried our level best. We didn't leave any stone unturned but somewhere we went wrong," Aamir told reporters at the award ceremony of Cinestaan India's Storytellers Contest.

Aamir Said He Is Still Coping Up With The Film's Failure

"There are some people, who liked the film, and we would like to thank them but they are in minority. Majority didn't like the people and we realise this.

"The audience, which came with so much expectation to watch my film, I want to apologise to them also that this time I couldn't entertain them. I am feeling very bad that we weren't able to entertain them," he added.

Aamir Is Looking Forward To China Release

Aamir said he is not comfortable discussing in public about the reasons why the film failed as he treats his movies like his babies and they would remain his even if they fail'.

The actor says the film will now have its release in China next month and he looks forward to see how the film performs in the country.

Interestingly, At The Same Event Salute Writer Anjum Rajabali Revealed About Aamirs Next Project

Anjum Rajabali, who was looking forward to work with Aamir Khan for his next Salute, revealed that the superstar was so consumed' by his mammoth project Mahabharata' that he could not do the film anymore.

Salute, which is reportedly now titled Saare Jaha Se Achcha, was earlier offered to Aamir. The film, a biopic on astronaut Rakesh Sharma, will now feature Shahrukh Khan.

Were Curious!

"I have been very excited about the project. Like Aamir, I have been a big fan of Rakesh and now he is a good friend also. Frankly speaking, I was very keen that Aamir do it and he, at that moment, had liked it," Anjum told reporters.

"We had discussed it a lot. We had a lot of hopes for it but unfortunately (there was) the larger project of 'Mahabharata', which he was consumed by," he added.

Aamir Was Left Speechless

Aamir, who was sitting right next to the writer exclaimed, "Oh my god!" as the actor had previously remained mum about his exit from the project.

According to reports, Aamir will soon begin work on Mahabharata, being developed as a seven-part long web series. The actor will be flying to the USA to work on the script and other technicalities of the big budget epic.

Aamir On Salute

Aamir said the film's script is wonderful and he was really looking forward to work in the film.

"It is a great script. 'Salute' is a wonderful script and I am a big fan of Rakesh (Sharma). It's a wonderful story and I feel sad that I was not able to do it, which is why I called up Shahrukh and told him it was a wonderful story and he should hear it. I am glad he liked it. All my best wishes for the project," the actor said
The Sad & Pathetic Birthday Of Sajid Khan

"He had no birthday party. Not only because he had nothing to celebrate, but also because not too many of his friends would come," said a source to Deccan Chronicle.

Nobody Wanted To Be Caught Wishing Him

"His phone used to be on the verge of crashing every year on his birthday, there were so many calls and messages. This year no one wanted to be caught wishing him."

Karma Strikes Back

It looks like Sajid Khan is now realising the mistakes that he has made in life and karma is giving it back to him twofold. Life has its own way to teach someone a good lesson!

Federation Of Western India Cine Employees Chief Advisor, Ashoke Pandit Speaks Up!

"Though Sajid is still to be proven guilty, he is facing ostracization. We summoned him to give us an explanation. He didn't turn up. We summoned him again. This time he came and denied all the charges," he said.

Sajid Khan Is Technically Still Not Guilty!

"Technically Sajid is still not-guilty. We, as a film federation have to go by the law. However there is a wider moral issue. And that could prevent Sajid, or for that matter Nana Patekar, from being employed. If thousands of workers of the various film unions in Bollywood agree to not work with MeToo accused, there is nothing they can do about it."

Ostracism Is Bound To Happen

"This ostracism is bound to happen; no law can prevent it from happening. And why just the alleged perpetrators, even those close to them must be ostracized," Ashoke Pandit of the FWICE summed it up.
Filmmaker S Shankar reveals he had approached The Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger to play the antagonist in 2.0, but things did not work out and the role finally went to Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar. Rajinikanth will be back in the role of a 'Chitti' in the second installment the mega-hit Robot, which is slated to be released on November 29.

"We had thought of casting Arnold. We had talked and allotted dates also. But somehow things did not work out as the contracts of Hollywood and India are contradictory. So we thought of looking at a good cast from the Indian film industry," Shankar said at the recent press conference.

"Lyca (producers of 2.0) and Akshay were in talks for a remake of a film called 'Kathi' in Hindi. Everyone told me to consider Akshay and I also thought it would be nice. I narrated the story to him and he said yes," the director said.

Shankar is confident that the film would connect with everyone as it has an international theme. The technology, he said, was better than the previous film and that was the reason they decided to title the film as 2.0.

On a related note, when Akshay was asked to share his experience about working with Rajinikanth, he had said, "Once, we were just sitting on the set, waiting for the next shot and he brushed some dirt off his pants. The entire unit was awestruck by how stylishly he did it. Everything he does is so stylish. I even enjoyed getting punched by him."
Kannada cinema's 'Rebel Star', Ambareesh passed away on Saturday(November 24, 2018) shortly after being admitted to a private hospital in Bengaluru following respiratory problems. And, as expected, this left his fans in a state of shock. Shortly thereafter, his fans said that they wanted his funeral to be held in his native Mandya while his family members expressed a desire to have it in Bengaluru. Amidst this controversy, the Karnataka CM made it clear that the funeral would be held in Bengaluru on November 26, 2018.

As a result of the CM's instructions, the funeral took place today(November 26, 2018) at the Kanteerava Studio with State honours.

Some of the biggest names in the industry attended the funeral. Yash, Darshan and Shivarajkumar were just a few of the stars in attendance, The 'Rocking Star' was seen consoling Ambi's wife and his kind gesture won hearts.

Here are the photos

In case you did not know, Ambareesh had acted in over 200 films in his career and become an inseparable part of the industry. He began his career with the 1972 release Naagarahaavu which is regarded as a cult film.

Ambi was last seen in the recently released Ambi Ning Vayassaytho which emerged as a commercial success and received rave reviews. It was a remake of the Kollywood film Power Pandi and featured him in the lead role.

He truly was the pride of Karnataka and will be missed big time.

Ambareesh Funeral: The Rebel Star's Last Rites To Be Performed In Bengaluru Today; Details Inside
Rajinikanth

Rajinikanth and Ambareesh were close friends and they have acted together in a couple of movies. The actor came down to Bengaluru to offer final respects to his good friend and got emotional upon seeing the mortal remains. While speaking to the media, he mentioned that it is impossible to get a person like Ambareesh again.

Chiranjeevi

Megastar Chiranjeevi too was there in Bengaluru to pay respects to his good friend. The Megastar broke down upon seeing the body of the rebel star.

Shivarajkumar

Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar also visited the Kanteerava stadium, to pay respects to Rebel Star Ambareesh.

Sudeep

Popular actor Sudeep, who has worked with Ambareesh in a couple of movies, paid respects to Ambareesh.

Puneeth Rajkumar

Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar also reached Kanteerava stadium to pay respects to Ambareesh. Both of them had worked together in the movie Dodmane Huduga.

Sarathkumar & Radhika Sarathkumar

Popular Tamil actor Sarathkumar and his wife Raadhika Sarathkumar too were present in Bengaluru to pay final respects to Ambareesh.

Arjun

Action Kind Arjun, who shared a cordial relationship with Ambareesh, got emotional upon seeing the mortal remains of Ambareesh

Mohan Babu

Telugu actor Mohan Babu, who shared a very cordial relationship with Ambareesh, came down to Bengaluru yesterday. The actor broke down upon seeing Ambareesh's mortal remains.
The Kannada film industry is indeed grief-struck with the loss of Ambaresh, who was a pillar of Sandalwood. The rebel star had shared a good vibe with almost all the present young generation of actor. Kiccha Sudeep, the star of Kannada cinema had shared a very close bond with veteran actor Ambareesh.

Sudeep was there in Bengaluru to pay final respects to the Rebel Star. The actor also took to his official Twitter account to send out a note about Ambareesh, whom he fondly addressed as Ambi Mama. The note sent out by Sudeep regarding Ambareesh is sure to leave one and all emotional.

He has expressed his extreme sadness in the passing away of Ambareesh. He has mentioned that the world of cinema has received a big blow with the loss of Ambareesh. Sudeep has also mentioned that the rebel star was indeed a rare human being and was one such person who earned friends from every place and didn't have any foe. Later, Sudeep also sent out an old picture taken with Ambareesh during his childhood days.

The full note sent by Sudeep is read as..



"It's one of those days where you have a bad dream and you tell yourself "lemme please wake up so that the nightmare stops".

The world of cinema received another big blow n once again a bad one. We lost another Legend . With him ,,We lost our Leader,,a parent ,,a guide,,a blessing hand,,a voice,,a strength,,a power,,a shoulder,,a friend,, we have lost a beautiful soul.

The news was heart breaking ,,, but seeing the Legend sleeping like this is heart tearing. We all have known him and seen him as one Dynamic personality who commanded respect every place he was present at and an Unmatchable Aura. A person who had no boundaries n lived life KING SIZE.

I always felt he was a blessed child . Felt this way coz I rarely saw anyone not liking him,,, I haven't yet come across someone who could avoid or ignore him. He earned friends every place he went and that still remains a mystery as to how he only had friends n not a single FOE.

In short ,, a completely rare human,, n one of the kind.

We always feel Certain stories or certain lives shouldn't end n he falls in both these categories .

I wish I could rewind few situations,, I wish I could turn back the clock,, I wish I could go back to that day when I gave my 1st ever shot in cinema(falling to his feet) ,, I wish i go back to the first ever time I saw him where I hear th door bell in Shimoga,, I run to open the door n find this tall dark man standing with a sling bag , wearing a white Kurtha,, n I hear my fathers voice from behind me saying " volage baarayya Ambi" .

Will miss u mama.

Deepu.
The 1983 movie Chakravyuha was one among the biggest hits in the acting career of Rebel Star Ambareesh. The film had featured Ambareesh in the role of a police officer who turns into a politician later on. The movie had expanded his fan base further.

The Kannada superhit movie was remade to Hindi as well and the remake, which was titled as Inquilab featured none other than Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role.

Interestingly, in one of the interactions with media from the past, the Rebel Star Ambareesh had opened up that he had rejected the chance to work with Amitabh Bachchan. On a lighter note, he mentioned that he had rejected the offer because Amitabh Bachchan reaches the set sharp at 8 AM in the morning but at that time he would not have even woken up.

At the same time, Ambareesh also showered praises on Amitabh Bachchan and mentioned that the latter is a great actor. He also added that he is nothing when compared to Amitabh Bachchan's achievements. He also added that Amitabh Bacchchan is an International figure and he would respect him always.
The "Russian Helicopters Strategy Dossier 2018 Strategic Focus, Key Strategies & Plans, SWOT, Trends Opportunities, Market Outlook" company profile has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The 2018 annual edition of the report analyzes the overall strategy focus and provides key insights into the Strategies Plans being conceptualized pursued by Russian Helicopters for the near to medium term horizon with the company focusing significantly on increasing exports to international markets to gain market shares across segments.

The report also includes an insightful comprehensive SWOT framework analysis on the company, which is used extensively for scanning, assessment analysis of the internal as well as external business environment of an organization as part of strategic planning process.

The framework generates a snapshot of the company's inherent strengths weaknesses as part of the internal environment assessment and outlines potential growth opportunities as well as threats as part of the external environment assessment.

The report also incorporates analysis of key industry trends, issues challenges and risk factors besides identifying key driving restraining forces assessing their potential degree of impact through a force field analysis.

The report concludes by providing comprehensive market outlook over medium term with overview of demand projections across key market segments key geographic regions.

Relevance Usefulness

The report provides insights inputs to be incorporated into the broader strategic planning decision making processes and will be essential from a competitive analysis standpoint as well.

Features, Benefits Features, Benefits Reasons to Procure

Provides Macro View and Big Picture Quickly

Blend of Quantitative Qualitative Analysis

Significant Time Savings

Visual Representation

Meetings Presentation Ready Format

Superior Enriched User Experience with Incorporation of Relevant Images

Key Topics Covered

Section 1 Business Structure Snapshot

Founded

Headquartered

Business Segments

Employees

Product Portfolio and Key Competitors

Market Capitalization/Ownership Structure

Key Executives

Shareholding/Ownership Pattern Structure

Section 2 Financial Performance Analysis Charts Analysis: Based on Latest Available Financial Results

Revenue Base Growth Trend

Revenues Split by Key Segments

Revenues Split by Key Geographic Markets Regions

Gross Earnings Margin Trend

Operating Earnings Operating Margin Trend

Return on Sales Trend

Profitability Growth Trend

Cash Flow from Operations

R&D Expenditure Trend

CAPEX Trend

Section 3 SWOT Analysis

Sources of Strengths which could be Leveraged

Weaknesses to Overcome Offset

Opportunities to Capitalize Upon

Threats to Mitigate

Section 4 Strategic Focus Priorities

Section 5 Key Strategies Plans

Product Portfolio Strategies Plans

Service Level Strategies Plans

Technological and R&D Strategies Plans

Market Specific Strategies Plans

Corporate Strategies Plans

Manufacturing/Production Strategies Plans

Business Growth Strategies Plans Organic Inorganic

Financial Strategies Plans

Acquisitions, Strategic Alliances JVs

Other Strategies Strategic Initiatives

Section 6 Global Military Civil Helicopter Market Force Field Analysis Analysis of Driving Restraining Forces and their Overall Dynamics

Driving Forces

Restraining Forces

Section 7 Key Trends

Industry Trends

Market Trends

Technology Trends

Section 8 Key Issues, Challenges Risk Factors

Section 9 Strategic Market Outlook through 2024

Analysis of Emerging Market Scenario for Military Civil Helicopters

Global Demand Outlook for Military Civil Helicopters Demand Forecasts through 2024

For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bjg7jh/russian?w=4

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181119005673/en/

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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. During the campaigning period for the general election, the Public Television will air daily interviews with political leaders, as well as debates in order for voters to have in-detail access to the political programs of all candidates running for parliament, the broadcaster said in a press release.

In accordance to the rules of the Central Electoral Commission, the Public Television will provide equal airtime to all candidates.

The debate programs will feature 4 political forces each day from November 26 to December 3. The candidates for parliament will debate over issues ranging from education, culture, tax policy, to healthcare, corruption, security and foreign policy, among others. All forces will participate in the debates 3-4 times during the campaigning period.

The final debate will feature the leaders of the political parties and blocs running for parliament. It will air live.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
45361729

Following FORK's earlier announcement of its involvement with Ammbr to provide development and crowdsale administration services, the whitepaper has been completed, and it has been published on Ammbr's crowdsale webpage which is now live. The AMR crowdsale dates are also being announced today, with a start date of January 8, 2019, and an end date of March 8, 2019. Ammbr's development remains on schedule relative to its original timeline.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2018) - GLOBAL BLOCKCHAIN MINING CORP. (CSE: FORK) (OTC: GBCHF) ("FORK" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that after working closely with Singapore-based Ammbr Foundation Pte. Ltd. ("Ammbr") to coordinate the crowdsale for its blockchain-based wireless mesh network, the crowdsale's website is now available, along with the whitepaper providing in-depth details about Ammbr's technology and its network's crypto asset, AMR. The crowdsale will begin on January 8, 2019 and is scheduled to end on March 8, 2019. This announcement is made further to FORK's press release dated November 12, 2018.

Ammbr was formed in 2017, with the vision of combining wireless mesh and blockchain technologies to broaden the availability of Internet connectivity, without having to rely on telecom companies or Internet service providers to build the infrastructure. Offering a lineup of proprietary plug-and-play router hardware, Ammbr makes it easy for Internet connection owners to avail their excess bandwidth to other users on the network through Ammbr's autonomous marketplace by simply purchasing and connecting an Ammbr router device. Once in operation, the router's signal forms a "mesh" with overlapping signals from other nearby routers, creating what is collectively a far-reaching extension of the Internet that exists without traditional networking infrastructure. Ammbr's network will have a proprietary cryptocurrency known as AMR, which will be offered for purchase in January's crowdsale.

The AMR crowdsale's supply will be 400,000,000 AMR tokens, or 20% of the total issuance of 2,000,000,000 AMR tokens. Each token will be priced at the equivalent of US $0.025 in the accepted currencies listed on the crowdsale's website. In exchange for its sale administration and development services, FORK will be paid a lump sum of 241,550,000 AMR tokens, as well as 10% of all proceeds from the public crowdsale.

"This is one of our most exciting projects to date, because it addresses an issue that telecom companies and Internet service providers have been habitually neglecting for years; bringing Internet access to those who do not yet have it", said Shidan Gouran, President and CEO of FORK. "Ammbr's team has done an amazing job of building an innovative network concept, designing three different hardware router products, and obtaining government endorsements from Guinea-Bissau, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Burundi and the Congo. We are pleased to be working with Ammbr, and we look forward to leading a successful crowdsale for them."

Parties who are interested in seeing a live demonstration of Ammbr's technologies are invited to attend the 2019 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain (February 25 to 28), at which Ammbr and FORK will both have presence.

The AMR crowdsale's website can be seen at www.ammbr.com.

On behalf of the Company:

Shidan Gouran, President and CEO

info@globalblockchain.io

For more information please contact:

Global Blockchain Mining Corp. Investor Relations

ir@globalblockchain.io

About Global Blockchain Mining Corp.

Global Blockchain Mining Corp. is a technology company that is engaged in the business of mining blue-chip cryptocurrencies through the deployment of hardware and associated infrastructure to mine these coins. Investors, through their investment in the Company, are provided with exposure to these cryptocurrencies without the lengthy, and complicated process that interested investors must undergo in order to gain exposure to these cryptocurrencies.

The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and its common shares trade under the ticker symbol "FORK". Additional information relating to the Company is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, the CSE at www.theCSE.com as well as on the Company's website at: www.forkcse.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect","may", "will", "would", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed onthe forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

This report includes unaudited consolidated financial information of Corral Petroleum Holdings AB (publ) ("Corral Petroleum Holdings") and its consolidated subsidiaries, for the third quarter of 2018 and for the comparative periods in 2017 and for the other periods indicated. Note that due to the rounding of figures in the tables to the nearest SEK million (MSEK), the sum is not always exactly equal to the sum of all components.

Financial Highlights - Third Quarter 2018

Sales revenue for the third quarter of 2018 amounted to 26,369 MSEK compared to 16,325 MSEK in the third quarter of 2017.

EBITDA (1) for the third quarter of 2018 amounted to 2,202 MSEK compared to 1,544 MSEK in the third quarter of 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA (1) for the third quarter of 2018 amounted to 1,396 MSEK compared to 1,428 MSEK in the third quarter of 2017.

Operating profit for the third quarter of 2018 amounted to 1,941 MSEK compared to an operating profit of 1,297 MSEK in the third quarter of 2017.

Net profit for the third quarter of 2018 amounted to 1,369 MSEK compared to a net profit of 971 MSEK in the third quarter of 2017.

Cash flow from operating activities for the third quarter of 2018 amounted to 1,840 MSEK compared to cash flow from operating activities of 482 MSEK in the third quarter of 2017.

Weighted refining margin for the third quarter of 2018 was 5.98 $/bbl compared to 6.85 $/bbl in the third quarter of 2017.

(1) For a reconciliation of our operating profit to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA, please see the financial statements section on page 15.

An international conference call for investors and analysts will be held on November 28, 2018 at 3:00 pm CET.

The dial-in number is:

Standard International Access +44(0)20-3003-2666

Stockholm +46(0)8-50520424

New York +1-646-843-4608

Washington DC Local number +1-202-204-1514

The meeting code is Corral Q3.

The report for Q4 2018 will be released March 14, 2019.

For further information, please contact:

Magdalena Patron

Investor Relations Manager

Tel: + 46(0)10-450-10-00

Email: magdalena.patron@preem.se

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/corral-petroleum-holdings-ab/r/release-of-report-for-q3-2018,c2681689

The following files are available for download:
Hamburg (ots) - Chamber of Commerce President Tobias Bergmann opened the eighth 'Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe', running November 26 to 27 in the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Given the current uncertainty in the global political situation, Bergmann called for a clear commitment to counter protectionist tendencies in world trade: "We would encourage China to work along with the EU towards rules-based trading within the framework of the WTO. In this, China and Europe need to further strengthen their partnership with a view to taking on greater responsibility globally."



Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg stressed the importance of the "Hamburg Summit" for deepening Chinese-German trade relations: "Hamburg is the gateway to China. An open dialogue about free trade and exchange of goods bolsters Hamburg's position as a hub for international goods flows."



In his opening address, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, who serves as Honorary Chairman of the 'Hamburg Summit', stressed the significance of cooperation between China and Europe on an equal footing: "Cooperation rather than confrontation should characterize relations between countries - even where their political and economic systems differ," said the former chancellor, who was at the Chamber of Commerce in the company of his wife Soyeon Schroder-Kim. For this reason, personal interaction and open discussion were particularly important, he said. The 'Hamburg Summit' had made a major contribution to this for the past 14 years, Schroder said, stressing the special role of the 'New Silk Road' initiative.



"I'm convinced that China's New Silk Road in particular will bring the people and economies of Asia and Europe even closer together," Schroder said. Following on from his speech, Angela Titzrath, chair of the HHLA port and logistics company, outlined Hamburg's strategic role as the most important terminus and hub of the landward and maritime Silk Road in Europe. Dr Song Hailiang, President of the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), was presented with the China-Europe Friendship Award, which is traditionally awarded during the 'Hamburg Summit', in honour of his exceptional work for Chinese-European relations.



You will find up-to-date reports, background information and image material on the 'Hamburg Summit: China meets Europe' 2018 at www.hamburg-summit.com or on Twitter: www.twitter.com/HamburgSummit.



Since 1665, the Chamber of Commerce self-governing body of Hamburg's commercial economy. It represents the interests of around 160,000 businesses vis-a-vis the political and administrative authorities, as a customer-oriented service provider for its member companies and independent advocate for the market, competition and fair play. We advise companies, we combine interests and we train people. More than 700 business men and women from industry, commerce and the services sector work for us in an honorary capacity on more than 30 boards as chosen representatives of their sectors. They make a decisive contribution to the way the Chamber of Commerce forms opinions. In addition, 4,000 company representatives conduct the tests in dual training in an honorary capacity that the state has transferred to us by law as a sovereign duty. Our motto is: "We work for Hamburg."



Originaltext: Handelskammer Hamburg digital press kits: http://www.presseportal.de/nr/63073 press kits via RSS: http://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_63073.rss2



Contact: Dr Michaela Olschlager, PR & Media Director, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, www.hk24.de Tel: 040-36138-202, Fax: 040 36138-460, email: michaela.oelschlaeger@hk24.de

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Zug (ots) - The Cantonal Court of Zug has ruled that envion AG shall be liquidated due to a regulatory default called "Organmangel". This has been reported by the German company Quadrat Capital GmbH, as shareholder of envion AG. The liquidation will be implemented by the bankruptcy authority in Zug, in accordance with Swiss bankruptcy law. As a result, envion AG creditors, an estimated 37,000 ICO investors, will have their investments returned to them.The reason for the court ruling is the absence of government-licensed auditors ("Revisionsstelle"), which in accordance with the Swiss Code of Obligations is mandatory for companies issuing public bonds. The original auditors of envion AG, PwC, stepped down in the beginning of March, after the Supervisory Board detected irregularities within the ICO.According to the court it was not possible to engage a new auditor because the founders team and their Trado GmbH withheld the decisive ICO data from both the Supervisory Board as well as from the law firm appointed by the Swiss banking regulatory authority, FINMA. The suggestion of the supervisory board to judicially appoint an auditor was also "not practical, due to the fact that without the documents withheld by Trado GmbH, it is obviously effectively impossible." (Cantonal Court of Zug, ES 2018 317, S.5).As a result, the refusal by the founders to release the ICO information has ultimately led to the liquidation of the company.According to assessments by shareholder Quadrat Capital, the refund ratio for investors will depend on whether the bankruptcy authority only acknowledges the about 86 million tokens placed on the market for the ICO as justified, or instead also the additional 41 million tokens that were created by the founders without the consent of the Supervisory Board. In the first case the disbursement rate could be significantly higher than 90%, in the second case far below 60%.An additional factor for the disbursement is the investor money that had been withheld by the founders, which has a volume of up to USD 10 million. envion AG has initiated two lawsuits against Trado GmbH to access these funds, which are being continued with the consent of the Swiss authorities.As shareholder, Quadrat Capital is pleased that the envion AG assets were able to be nearly completely preserved and are now available for distribution to the investors. This can be attributed to the decision by Supervisory Board President Matthias Woestmann, already made in February, to exchange the received cryptocurrency into US dollars. The move protected the assets of the company from the crash of crypto currencies.Originaltext: Quadrat Capital GmbH digital press kits: http://www.presseportal.de/nr/132940 press kits via RSS: http://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_132940.rss2Contact: Quadrat Capital GmbH Matthias Woestmann Ludwigkirchstr. 3 10719 Berlin Deutschland
BANGALORE, India, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Sonata Software announced today that its Brick & Click, digital retail platform and Modern Distribution, digital platform for the Manufacturing & CPG industries, are now certified for Microsoft Dynamics, which signifies that the solution has met Microsoft Corp.'s highest standard for partner-developed software. By successfully meeting all certification requirements, Brick & Click and Modern Distribution can now carry the distinct Certified for Microsoft Dynamics 365 logo.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/654282/Sonata_Software_Logo.jpg )

Brick & Click is a unified commerce Platform that provides digital ready operations and best in class digital engagement, both instore and online to win in the new economy

Modern Distribution is multi-channel digital distribution and engagement platform that enables unified operations across traditional and digital supply chain, for channel and consumers to widen market reach and win in the digital ecosystem

Microsoft Dynamics is a key focus of our Platformation strategy that helps enterprises in transition to digitization. This milestone is a testament to our deep capability in building Industry ready IP's to help enterprises transform their businesses to the digital world. This is backed by a proven track record of delivering several Dynamics-led global transformation engagements in our focus verticals of Retail and Distribution which has helped use achieve the Certified for Dynamics 365 status," Rajsekhar Datta Roy, Global head - Microsoft Dynamics, Digital Platforms, Sonata Software.

Sonata Software has a rich mix of Dynamics 365 customers including some of the largest Dynamics 365 customers across the globe with a strong team of Dynamics 365, as well as AX and CRM consultants. In addition, it is a Tier-1 CSP for Microsoft across many countries.

Solutions that are Certified for Microsoft Dynamics have demonstrated development quality and compatibility with the Microsoft Dynamics product on which it runs by passing rigorous VeriTest software solution testing for Microsoft Dynamics and are profiled in the Microsoft Partner Solution Profiler tool.

For customers, certified for Microsoft Dynamics helps identify Microsoft Dynamics solutions that have been tested for compatibility, meet high quality standards, and are successfully used by existing customers. This certification represents a significant step in elevating the standard for partner-developed software solutions for industry-specific business applications.

Click here to know about Sonata Software
WPP (NYSE:WPP) today announced that Wunderman and J. Walter Thompson will unite to form Wunderman Thompson, a creative, data and technology agency built to inspire growth for its clients.

The new organization will be distinctively positioned as a provider of end-to-end solutions through creative, data, commerce, consulting and technology services at a global scale.

Wunderman and J. Walter Thompson share many core clients, who will now have simpler access to the expertise of both agencies. And, as technology reshapes marketing, Wunderman Thompson will also capitalize on close and long-standing partnerships with Adobe, Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce and SAP.

The newly formed agency will be led by Global Chief Executive Officer Mel Edwards, who is currently the Global CEO of Wunderman. Tamara Ingram, CEO of J. Walter Thompson, will become Chairman.

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: "Wunderman Thompson is a formidable combination, bringing together the capabilities our clients are demanding award-winning creativity alongside deep expertise in technology, data and commerce in a single organization.

"Clients want greater simplicity from their partners and this development, like others at WPP, is designed to reshape our company around their needs.

"It's great news for our clients that we can combine the best of JWT and Wunderman in a single agency, and it's great news for WPP as it allows us to compete more effectively in the sectors with the most significant opportunities for future growth."

Mel Edwards, Global Chief Executive Officer, Wunderman Thompson, said: "To achieve transformative outcomes, clients today need inspiration that is rooted in data-driven insight. I'm really excited to be able to deliver that within one agency. Wunderman Thompson offers precisely what clients want: brilliant creativity, expertise in data and sophisticated technology skills. I couldn't be more honored to lead this new organization and its exceptional people."

Tamara Ingram, Chairman, Wunderman Thompson, added: "Both JWT and Wunderman have been built by the commitment of many talented people, whose combined capabilities will further distinguish us in the market. Coming together was a decision driven by the opportunity to better serve our clients, expand our offering and create an agency effectively positioned for the future. As Wunderman Thompson we will deliver world-class services in every geography, and work that is more meaningful and more impactful than ever."

Wunderman Thompson will be an agency of more than 20,000 people in 90 markets. It will be fully operational in early 2019.

About WPP

WPP is the world leader in communications services. The company provides a comprehensive range of services including digital, ecommerce and shopper marketing; advertising and media investment management; data investment management; public relations and public affairs; brand consulting; health and wellness communications; and specialist communications.

www.wpp.com

About Wunderman Thompson

Wunderman Thompson is a creative, data and technology agency built to inspire growth for its clients. Headquartered in New York, the agency provides end-to-end solutions through creative, data, commerce, consulting and technology services at a global scale. Wunderman Thompson brings together over 20,000 creatives, data scientists, strategists and technologists in 90 markets.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005446/en/

Contacts:

Kevin McCormack, WPP

+1 212 632 2239

kevin.mccormack@wpp.com

Niken Wresniwiro, WPP

+44 (0)20 7408 2204

niken.wresniwiro@wpp.com

Julia Mayer Janovic, Wunderman Thompson

+1 917 743 0763

julia.janovic@jwt.com
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.
Groupe Gorge, through its subsidiary Baumert, has signed a contract of more than $6M with Williams Industrial Services Group for the supply of fire-retardant partitioning systems of Vogtle 3&4 nuclear plant in Georgia, USA. Based on Westinghouse AP1000 technology, this nuclear plant is the first nuclear new build in the USA for the past 30 years.

This contract covers the design, certification and supply of fire-retardant partitioning systems and various protections (doors, cable trays, ventilation duct) as well as training and technical support to Williams Industrial Services Group who will manage the installation of the project.

The project will start immediately and will be completed in the second half of 2020.

Over the years, Baumert has supported the construction of nuclear power plants worldwide in most of nuclear technologies. This award demonstrates Baumert's expertise of Westinghouse AP1000 technology which started in March 2013, with the award of similar packages for the four AP1000 units of SanMen and Haiyang nuclear plants in China.





About Groupe Gorge

Founded in 1990, Groupe Gorge is an independent group that specializes in high-tech industries. Today, the Group is active in the fields of security and protection in extreme environments, as well as in the 3D printing sector. In its more than twenty-five year history, Groupe Gorge has always developed and driven the latest technological and industrial innovations.

Smart Safety Systems: Developing complete, innovative technological solutions for complex missions in hostile and confined environments.

Protection of High-Risk Installations: Protecting people and ensuring the active and passive protection of installations for energy markets and industrial and tertiary sectors in France. Ensuring the maintenance of these protection systems.

3D Printing: Enabling major industry players to find new routes to successful innovation and production processes by providing 3D printers, premium material, software and 3D printed parts.

In 2017, the Group reported revenue of 276.7 million. It is backed by 2,000 employees and operations in over ten countries.

More information available on www.groupe-gorge.com

Groupe Gorge is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment B.

ISIN code: FR0000062671

Ticker code: GOE





Contact

Groupe Gorge - Raphael GORGE - CEO & Chairman - Tel.: +33 1 44 77 94 77 - E-mail: contact@groupe-gorge.com

Finance News - Natacha MORANDI - Analysts/Investors Relations - Tel.: +33 1 53 67 36 72 - E-mail: nmorandi@actus.fr

Finance News - Jean-Michel MARMILLON - Press Relations - Tel.: +33 1 53 67 36 73 - E-mail: jmmarmillon@actus.f





Disclaimer

GROUPE GORGE press releases may contain forward-looking statements regarding GROUPE GORGE's targets. These forward-looking statements reflect GROUPE GORGE's current expectations. Such forward-looking statements and targets depend on known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. The risks and uncertainties that could affect the Group's future ability to achieve its targets include, in addition to those indicated in the press release: the strength of competition; the development of markets in which the Group operates and notably the 3D printing division; currency fluctuations; obtaining the export authorizations that may be required for certain activities; control of costs and expenses; changes in tax legislation, laws, regulations or their enforcement; our ability to successfully keep pace with technological advances; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and key staff; the evolution, interpretation and uniform application and enforcement of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), according to which we prepare our financial statements; manufacturing and supply chain bottlenecks; the performance of our business partners (subcontractors, agents, suppliers, etc.). Some of these risk factors are set forth and detailed in our Document de Reference (Registration Document including the annual financial report filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers), available on our website www.groupe-gorge.com. This list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not limitative. Other unanticipated, unknown or unforeseeable factors, such as changes in the economic situation or financial markets, could also have a material adverse effect on our targets.

This press release and the information it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or to subscribe, or a solicitation to purchase or subscribe shares or securities in GROUPE GORGE or in its listed subsidiaries in any country whatsoever.

Follow us on Twitter for live updates from Groupe Gorge!

@GroupeGorge

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Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-56109-groupe-gorge_first-major-nuclear-commercial-success-in-the-usa.pdf
Regulatory News:

Today, the Korian group (Paris:KORI), European leader in senior care and support services, announces the acquisition of Petits-Fils, a French network of home help services for dependent elderly people.

Petits-fils, a well-known nationwide network enhancing the Korian group's home services offering

Founded in 2007, Petits-fils is now reputed for the quality of the services it provides for seniors, which include support to help them to remain independent, assistance with meals, home help, and assistance with administrative procedures, and for its user-friendly, easy to use online platform. The company operates through its own agencies which cover Paris and the Hauts-de-Seine region and account for 25% of their business. Petits-fils also introduced a franchise network in 2011, which now counts 58 agencies across France and is growing at a rate of 15 new franchises every year. In 2018, Petits-fils will have provided an average of 200,000 hours of services every month, generating a turnover of almost 40 million for the year an increase of 76% compared to 2017. Petits-fils is also one of the companies that creates the most jobs, with 700 new staff recruited this year1

Damien Tixier and Pierre Gauthey, the co-founders and current directors of Petits-Fils, will continue to grow their business within the Korian group which expects large growth opportunities in this sector.

There are 1.4 million dependent elderly people in France, and this number is set to double by 20402. Around half of all elderly people live at home3 and use home help and support services. In light of market dynamics and the synergies anticipated with the Group's other lines of business, Korian has already identified potential growth opportunities to reach 200 Petits-fils agencies in place by 2023 all over France.

Just like the acquisition of a majority stake in Ages Vie (senior shared housing) in January 2018, this acquisition fits into the Group's strategy to enhance and diversify its service offering as part of the Korian 2020 plan.

"With Petits-Fils, we are moving into the home-based market with a key name in personal services. We both have the same service-driven culture which combines professionalism with benevolence. Being present in the home services sector means we will be able to provide seniors and their carers with a wide range of suitably-adapted solutions in the stages before and after the care provided at our specialist clinics and long-term care nursing homes" says Sophie Boissard, CEO of the Korian Group.

_______________

1 Source: ranking Le Figaro 2018

2 Source: HCFEA (French High Council for Families, Chilhood and Ageing), CNSA (French national funding agency for the elderly and autonomy), Direction Generale du Tresor (French Treasury

3 Source: DREES (Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics), INSEE (French Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies) 2017

"This partnership with Korian is part of a long-term endeavour which will benefit everybody: our clients, employees, franchisors and stakeholders. It will give us access to the resources we need to accelerate the expansion of Petits-fils to cover the whole of France rapidly and to innovate, while maintaining the high standards of quality that has been our key strength and the basis of our reputation for the last 12 years" emphasize Damien Tixier and Pierre Gauthey, the directors of Petits-fils.

To accelerate its expansion into the sector of home care and support services in France, Korian Domicile is creating a new arm of its business, Korian Domicile, which will incorporate Petits-fils. This one will be run by Olivier Lebouche, the former head of Air Liquide's home-based health business in Europe. He will also oversee Korian Solutions, the Group's digital arm.

This will enable Korian to offer its customers a diverse range of home-based care and support services. It will complete the Group's offering of post-acute and rehabilitation care at its clinics and respite care provided at its long-term nursing homes.

Korian already has a strong footprint in the home-based care sector in Germany, Belgium, and in France, where it currently provides hospital home care (HHC) and home nursing services (HNS). The estimated overall annual turnover for all these businesses stands at around 75 million.

About Korian

Korian, an expert in care and support services for the elderly, manages Europe's leading network of nursing homes, specialized clinics, assisted living facilities, hospital care and home-care services, with more than 780 facilities altogether. Present in four countries (France, Germany, Belgium and Italy) serving 250,000 patients and residents, the Group operates more than 76,000 beds, and employs nearly 50,000 people. www.korian.com

@_Groupe_Korian https://twitter.com/_groupe_korian?lang=fr

https://www.linkedin.com/company/groupekorian/

About Petits-Fils

Damien Tixier and Pierre Gauthey identified the need for professional home help when it became an issue for their own grandparents in 2007, when the pair had just graduated from EDHEC business school, aged 26. They have developed a range of tailor-made home-based services that they would be happy for their own grandparents to use. Petits-fils achieves this by applying an extremely selective recruitment process and paying its employees more than the average wage in order to attract and retain the right people.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005593/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Marjorie Castoriadis

Korian Media Manager

marjorie.castoriadis@korian.fr

Tel.: +33(0)1 55 37 53 11 +33(0)7 63 59 88 81
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is hosting businessmen, statesmen and public figures from 40 countries around the world who are taking part November 26-27 in the Annual Global Meeting of the European Business Organization Worldwide Network (EBO WWN).

The EBO WWN annual meeting is a very good chance for businessmen of member countries to get familiarized with Armenias new economic policy and developments of the business sector, EBO WWN Chairman Renato Pacheco-Neto said during the opening of the meeting.

EBO Armenia chairperson Diana Sarumova added that since joining the network three years ago, the government has always cooperated with it with the propose of improving the business climate.

Today also the government stands with the business community with the purpose of ensuring a more favorable environment for the public sector-private sector dialogue and investments, she said.

European Union delegation Ambassador Piotr Switalski said that this type of events help to boost Armenias image globally. Exchange of practice and development of economic policy approaches are also very important, he said.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
SINGAPORE, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Russian State Corporation Rostec and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) have signed an agreement aimed at promoting Russian high-tech products in Southeast Asia. The document, which has been developed with the active participation of the Russia-Singapore Business Council (RSBC), will enable more than 3000 SMF member companies and more than 700 Rostec enterprises to expand opportunities for cooperation and joint production.

The contract manufacturing market of the EAEU and the ASEAN is approaching 4.5 billion US dollars in terms of volume, with a development trend that is exceeding the production growth rate. Southeast Asia is one of Rostec's most important partners with which the State Corporation intends to expand foreign economic relations.

"The signed agreement on cooperation opens up new horizons for mutually beneficial bilateral technology transfer, and also the exchange of industrial, engineering and research competencies. I am confident that, in conjunction with other tools and formats for cooperation and promotion, Rostec's agreement with the SMF will lead to qualitative changes in the positions of our enterprises, both in Singapore and in Southeast Asia as a whole," said Nikolay Volobuev, Chairman of RSBC and Deputy CEO of Rostec.

The agreement, among other things, includes the use of RSBC infrastructure, such as the Singapore-based Centre for Foreign Promotion of Russian High-Tech Companies and the Presentation of Investment Projects established at the initiative of the Council and with the support of Rostec.

"Today, the SMF is an advanced federation serving the industrial community through the introduction of digital data processing, innovative productivity, business transformation and internationalization in order to increase the competitiveness of its member companies. Recently, we have begun to actively develop contacts with major partners in the former Soviet Union. The Russian market is undoubtedly of particular interest to Singaporean partners, and Rostec State Corporation is the largest industrial association of Russian enterprises. I am confident that the signed agreement will lay a solid foundation for expanding and strengthening cooperation between SMF members and Rostec enterprises," said Douglas Foo, President of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation.

Rostec continues to implement a large-scale program for promoting high-tech products of its enterprises abroad in accordance with its approved Strategy-2025, the main goals of which are to increase the share of civilian products in the revenue to 50%, improve operational efficiency and enter fast-growing global markets.
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From the New York Times



"Lorraine Dusky, a writer who relinquished a daughter as a young single mother in New York State in 1966, supports opening the records. She reported in her 2015 memoir that in the handful of states that offered women the opportunity to remove their names from original birth certificates, only a small fraction of women  fewer than 1 percent  chose to do so." -- Dont Keep Adopted People in the Dark by Gabrielle Glaser, June 19, 2018

From the New York Times "On FirstMotherForum.com, a blog that discusses issues among women who had given children up for adoption, Lorraine Dusky, one of the sites authors, praised the series (ABC's 10-episode Find My Family): 'Maybe this will be heard by people who think it is unloyal somehow for a person to search out his or her roots, parents, family, when it is a most natural desire of consciousness.' --Two Reality Shows Stir Publicity and Anger"--Dec. 6, 2009.

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It expects that PCE-backed bond issuances by NBFCs and HFCs, which are subordinated instruments for banks, will take time to take off.

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) move to allow partial credit enhancement (PCE) to bonds issued by non-banking finance and housing finance companies may not generate interest from banks due to the tight liquidity, says a report.

The RBI, on 2 November, permitted banks to provide PCE to bonds issued by systematically important NBFCs and housing finance companies (HFCs), a move aimed to enhance their liquidity position.

According to a report by India Rating and Research, the RBI circular comes at the time when the overall NBFC sector is facing liquidity concerns and banks are highly

selective about providing additional lending or renew their existing facilities.

"There may not be any sufficient interest from banks, as a PCE provider in the near-term, due to their lower desire to take standard senior exposure of NBFCs or HFCs under the prevailing market conditions," the report said.

It expects that PCE-backed bond issuances by NBFCs and HFCs, which are subordinated instruments for banks, will take time to take off.

The report said the move is likely to improve funding access for entities rated IND A or lower.

RBI has said the proceeds from the bonds backed by PCE from banks should only be utilised for refinancing the existing debt of the NBFC-ND-SIs/HFCs.

The report said this has the potential of reducing refinancing risk for issuers, given insurance/mutual funds may be able to participate in the offerings with enhanced ratings.

The guidelines on PCE extended to NBFCs/HFCs for bonds issuances require a minimum debt maturity period of three years.

"Long tenor PCE-backed bonds will provide adequate time to the issuer to recover from any cash flow shortfall arising from non-performing loans or asset-liability tenor

mismatch," it said.

The PCE exposure of an individual bank to any bond issued by each entity is limited to 20 percent of the issuance amount, with a cumulative total PCE exposure of 50

percent of issue size provided by multiple banks.

The agency expects such enhancement levels may improve the ratings of the PCE-enhanced bonds by at least two-to-three notches above the standalone issuer rating.
Top executives from Mitsubishi Motors gather on Monday to sack Carlos Ghosn as chairman over alleged financial misconduct that the once-revered tycoon denies, as further allegations leaked out against him.

Tokyo: Top executives from Mitsubishi Motors gather on Monday to sack Carlos Ghosn as chairman over alleged financial misconduct that the once-revered tycoon denies, as further allegations leaked out against him.

At an emergency meeting in Tokyo, "It is to be proposed to the board of directors to promptly remove Ghosn from his position as... chairman," said the Japanese firm, the third company in the powerful alliance also involving Nissan and Renault.

Following his stunning arrest last Monday, the 64-year-old Brazil-born Frenchman began his second week in a Japanese detention centre facing allegations he under-reported his salary to the tune of $44 million over several years.

He has not been formally charged and denies the allegations, telling prosecutors he had no intention of under-declaring his compensation.

Fellow executive Greg Kelly, described as the mastermind behind the alleged misconduct, has also reportedly denied the allegations, stressing that his boss's compensation was paid in an appropriate fashion.

The board of Nissan decided unanimously on Thursday to oust Ghosn as chairman, a spectacular fall from grace for the dynamic businessman credited with turning around the firm's once-flagging fortunes by tying its fate to Renault.

The executives made their decision "based on the copious amount and compelling nature of the evidence of misconduct presented," said a company spokesman.

According to local media, Nissan formed a "secret" cell within the firm to look into the alleged financial misdeed. Executives accelerated the probe amid concerns Ghosn was working on a fully fledged merger between Nissan and Renault, Kyodo News said without naming its sources.

Renault is the dominant partner in the alliance, holding 43 percent of the shares in Nissan, but the Japanese firm outsells its French counterpart  sparking concern in Tokyo about the balance of power.

Together, the three-way alliance is the world's top-selling car company, with some 10.6 million vehicles rolling off the production line. It employs around 450,000 people worldwide.

Renault, which is 15-percent owned by the French state, has decided to stick by Ghosn for now, appointing an interim boss while the current CEO and chairman is "incapacitated".

France's economy minister Bruno Le Maire has urged the Japanese firm to share "quickly" whatever evidence it has gathered and stressed Ghosn will stay at the helm of Renault "until there are tangible charges".

However, Le Maire also said, "I do not believe in a conspiracy theory", amid talk of a so-called "palace coup" within Nissan to prevent Ghosn merging the firm with Renault.

Nissan's CEO Hiroto Saikawa spoke to staff on Monday to address the issue. Saikawa, who rose through the Nissan ranks under Ghosn's wing, has already spoken of his "great resentment and dismay" at the allegations.

Meanwhile, further claims continued to leak out in the Japanese media of Ghosn's alleged misconduct. Officially, prosecutors are looking into allegations that he understated his income by around five billion yen ($44 million) between June 2011 and June 2015.

But the Asahi Shimbun said authorities are planning to re-arrest him on charges of understating his income by a further three billion yen  for a total of $71 million  for the following three fiscal years.

Under Japanese law, suspects can face additional arrest warrants, which can result in heavier penalties. The current allegations could see Ghosn facing 10 years behind bars and/or a 10-million-yen fine.

Separately, Kyodo has reported that Nissan paid $100,000 annually since 2002 to Ghosn's sister for a fictive "advisory" role.

And the Mainichi Shimbun reported on Monday that Ghosn used Nissan's corporate money to pay a donation to his daughter's university and also charged family trips to the company.
Jet Airways Ltd, the biggest full-service carrier in India, has been under dark clouds for the past few months.

Jet Airways Ltd, the biggest full-service carrier in India, has been under dark clouds for the past few months.

While intense pricing competition, weak rupee and rising fuel costs have hurt Indian airlines like IndiGo owned by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd and SpiceJet Ltd, Jet Airways is in a league of its own.

Saddled with a debt of about 80.52 billion rupees ($1.14 billion) as of 30 September, Jet is desperately searching for a deal that could help mitigate its severe liquidity crunch. The airline has a market capitalisation of 35.03 billion rupees as of last close.

The Tata conglomerate is now likely to be the potential white knight for the debt-laden company, but no proposal has been made yet.

Heres how the story unfolded:

3 May: Jet shares fall 12.3 percent after InterGlobe Aviation reported a slump in net profit for March-quarter a day earlier

23 May: Jet posts first quarterly loss in at least 12 quarters, says it has a negative net worth that may create uncertainties

1 Aug: Media report says Jet asked employees to take an up to 25 percent cut in salaries as a part of a cost-cutting measure

3 Aug: Jet denies report that it cannot fly beyond 60 days, and dismisses conjecture of stake sale

9 Aug: Airline defers board meet for first-quarter results

11 Aug: After State Bank of India chairman says Jets loan is on the banks watch list, Jet says it is regular in payment obligations to all banks

13 Aug: Airline reaffirms that it is considering various options to meet its funding requirements

15 Aug: Report says US private equity firm Blackstone Group LP is in talks to buy a stake in Jets frequent-flier loyalty programme JetPrivilege

20 Aug: Sources tell Reuters that private equity firm TPG Capital is considering investing in Jet, but is not close to finalising a deal

27 Aug: Jet posts loss for the June-quarter, says it will inject funds and cut costs by more than 20 billion rupees in two years

4 Sept: Government plans relief package for airlines

6 Sept: Jet says it paid salaries to 84 percent of its employees after reports emerge that pilots warned non-cooperation over salary default

20 Sept: Income Tax department conducts survey at Jets premises

 Over two dozen passengers on a Jet flight are treated for minor injuries after the plane loses cabin pressure

4 Oct: Rating agency ICRA downgrades here the company's long-term loans and NCDs, citing the impact of a steep increase in jet fuel prices, rupee depreciation, delay in implementation of liquidity initiatives

18 Oct: Report says Indian conglomerate Tata Group is in talks to buy a stake in Jet. Jet calls report speculative

30 Oct: US-based Delta Air Lines Inc expresses interest to buy Jet stake from promoter Naresh Goyal and Etihad Airways

5 Nov: Report says Tata aims to buy the 51 percent stake in the airline owned by Naresh Goyal, and Etihad Airways 24 percent stake, and merge Jet with Vistara

12 Nov: Jet posts third straight quarterly loss, chief executive officer Vinay Dube expresses confidence in overcoming current challenges

13 Nov: Tata Sons begin due diligence to buy Jet, reports say

 Jet executive says company is in talks with multiple parties for a stake sale in its loyalty program, and equity infusion in the airline

15 Nov: Shares surge nearly 25 percent following reports that the debt-laden airline was nearing a rescue deal with Tata Sons; another report says the Indian government asked Tata to explore buying Jet

16 Nov: Tata Sons says discussions on Jet is preliminary and no proposal has been made

20 Nov: Tata Sons may go slow on Jet deal after some directors from Tatas board expressed concerns, according to media reports

21 Nov: The airline says news on Naresh Goyal, Etihad discussing merger of JetPrivilege with Jet Airways is speculative

22 Nov: Independent director Ranjan Mathai resigns, citing rising pressure from other commitments

26 Nov: Report says Naresh Goyal may hand over Jet Airways operations to Etihad Airways.
The government will infuse Rs 42,000 crore in the state-owned banks by March-end and the next tranche would be released as early as next month, a senior finance ministry official said on Monday

New Delhi: The government will infuse Rs 42,000 crore in the state-owned banks by March-end and the next tranche would be released as early as next month, a senior finance ministry official said on Monday.

The government earlier this year pumped Rs 11,336 crore in five PSBs -- PNB, Allahabad Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank -- to improve their financial health.

"We will infuse the next tranche of recapitalisation by mid-December. Close to Rs 42,000 crore remain to be infused as capital in public sector banks in the current financial year," the official said.

He said that large PSBs such as State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank (PNB) may not need more capital infusion in the current financial year ending March 2019.

"Some big state-owned banks like SBI and PNB may not need further capital infusion from the government in 2018-19. PNB has already received regulatory capital twice so far," the official said.

State-owned banks will need less capital to meet their capital adequacy norms, as the Reserve Bank of India last week decided to defer the deadline for them to meet the global norms or Basel-III requirement by a year till March 2020.

The RBI Board last week, while deciding to retain the capital adequacy requirement for banks at 9 percent, agreed 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.

Rating agency Moody's Investors Service had last week said the decision of the RBI board to extend the timeline for banks to implement Basel III guidelines is 'credit negative' for PSBs.

The government announced the Rs 2.11-lakh crore capital infusion programme in October last year. According to the plan, the PSBs were to get Rs 1.35 lakh crore through recapitalisation bonds, and the balance Rs 58,000 crore through the raising of capital from the market.

Out of the Rs 1.35 lakh crore, the government has already infused about Rs 82,000 crore through the bonds.
Late last month, Jet Airways had laid off 20 employees, including some senior-level executives from the in-flight services department.

Mumbai: Crisis-hit Jet Airways continues to use layoffs in small chunks as one of the means to reduce cost with the carrier handing over pink slips to around 16 more employees, a source said on Monday.

These employees were working as ground staff in Jet Airway's Kochi and Hyderabad offices, as per the source.

Late last month, the airline had laid off 20 employees, including some senior-level executives from the in-flight services department. Prior to that, it reportedly had asked 15 managerial level employees from various departments including engineering, security and sales, to leave the company.

The Naresh Goyal-promoted full-service carrier, which has a fleet of 124 planes, has around 16,000 workforce.

"The airline continues to layoff people from various departments in small groups. It has already shut its city office in Hyderabad, which had 4-5 employees. Last week, the airline asked some of its employees working in Kochi office to quit. Together, it has retrenched another 16 people from these two offices," said the source.

Jet Airways in its response said the company is optimising its resources in select cities, including re-deploying resources where needed, as part of its turnaround plan, which includes a comprehensive network review and capacity deployment.

"Jet Airways has undertaken a series of initiatives to enhance the economic performance, efficiency and productivity for the long-term health of its business," a Jet Airways spokesperson said.

The airline said as part of this strategy, which comprised a comprehensive network review, capacity is being moved from uneconomical and point-to-point routes to the airline's hubs at Mumbai and Delhi for denser, more profitable and productive operations.

"Consequently, the company is optimising its resources in select cities, including re-deploying resources where needed, for greater synergy with the revised level of operations," the spokesperson said.

Jet Airways, which is partially owned by Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi, posted a net loss of Rs 1,261 crore during the September quarter and has been defaulting on salary payments to some of its staff.

This was the third successive quarterly loss for Jet Airways.

Last week, Jet Airways chief executive officer Vinay Dube had said the airline was in "active discussion" with various investors to secure financing to navigate through current headwinds and create long-term growth.
Today, 26 November, marks the birthday of Verghese Kurien, known as the father of the White Revolution in India. The day is observed as National Milk Day.

Kurien, fondly referred to as the Milkman of India is remembered for helping turn the country into the worlds largest milk producer, turned the dairy brand Amul into a household name. He won many awards including the Padma Vibhushan, the World Food Prize and the Magsaysay Award.

Here is everything you need to know about the Milkman of India.

Born on 26 November 1921 in Kozhikode, Keral, Kurien was founder-chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF)

The GCMMF is the apex organisation of the dairy cooperatives of Gujarat which markets its products by the brand name of "Amul".

Founded in 1948, the Anand-based Anand Milk Producers Union Limited (AMPUL) or Amul is a dairy cooperative managed by the GCMMF.

Kurien was a social entrepreneur whose "billion-litre idea" -- Operation Flood -- revolutionised dairy farming in the country.

The "Operation Flood" is credited with making India the largest milk producer in the world from a milk-deficient nation, doubling the availability of milk per person and increasing the milk output four-fold.

Kurien was instrumental in laying the foundation of democratic enterprises at remote villages and far-flung hamlets which ensured economic justice. And it was done with people's voluntary participation. Kurien managed the feat in the 1970s at a time when the country faced grim uncertainties over its food security.

From engineering to dairy development

Kurien graduated from Loyola College in 1940 and later completed his bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the College of Engineering, Guindy in 1943. After a brief stint at TISCO, he obtained a government of India scholarship to study dairy engineering.

Having acquired specialised training at the Imperial Institute of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Bangalore, Kurien went to the US and completed his masters in mechanical engineering with dairy engineering as a minor subject from the Michigan State University, in 1948.

A year later, he was assigned to a Government Creamery in Anand, Gujarat as part of his bond commitment.

Arriving in Anand on 13 Mau 1949, Kurien was a harried man, only waiting to be released from his bond and leave the place as quickly as possible. He got his release orders after six months and was all set to pack up and go to Mumbai but a minor incident halted him in his tracks.

Just as he was preparing his exit, Tribhuvandas Patel, the then chairman of Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers Union, popularly known as 'Amul', with whom Kurien had developed a good friendship, requested him to stay back in Anand for some more time and help him organise his co-operative society's dairy equipment.

Kurien stayed back for a few more days...going on to become a legend through Operation Flood, launched in 1971.

The NDDB, formed by Kurien's efforts, replicated the Amul Model all over India with remarkable results which dramatically increased the country's milk production.

Kurien's main contribution was to design systems and institutions, which people could develop themselves, as he believed development of man can best be achieved by putting in his hands the instruments of development.

Interestingly, the 'milkman' of India did not consume milk himself. He use to say, "I do not drink milk as I don't like it."

Kurien died on 9 September 2012. He was 90-years-old.

With inputs from agencies
New York, London and Toronoto are the most preferred destinations for Indian travellers for Christmas this year

Mumbai: Contrary to the belief that people flock to tropical destinations to beat freezing winters, a study has revealed that more Indians are gearing up for a snow-filled experience this season.

"With the onset of winter and long breaks during Christmas and New Year, destinations such as Europe and North America are now popular among Indian travellers for a white Christmas with New York topping the list followed by London and Toronto," global travel search engine KAYAK's director of India and Middle East, Abhijit Mishra, said.

The data is based on searches done by Indian travellers on return flights on KAYAK platform during January till November this year for travelling between January and February 2019.

There has been an eight percent year-on-year surge in searches by Indians compared with the corresponding period in the previous year. Mishra pointed out this could be due to the fact that off-season travel brings with it some amazing deals, making these countries perfect for winter travel.

The top three international destinations - New York, London and Toronto witnessed a year-on-year increase of 4 percent, 31 percent and 50 percent in travel searches respectively. This pattern suggests that the holiday-makers are keen to experience a snowy Christmas and New Year's, it added. Also, winter holidays in Europe are gradually witnessing growth.

Within Europe, Reykjavik in Iceland has witnessed the highest growth of 137 percent in year-on-year searches owing to its beautiful natural wonders, he added. According to KAYAK's data, other North American destinations, including Chicago, Boston and Vancouver with 31 percent, 75 percent and 43 percent year-on-year growth in searches respectively, also featured in the list.

These cities have a slightly higher average trip duration period of 15-23 days, compared to European cities ranging from 8-11 days.
The NITI Aayog is exploring ways to encourage more domestic companies to be among the top multinational corporations in the world, the think-tank's Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar has said.

New Delhi: The NITI Aayog is exploring ways to encourage more domestic companies to be among the top multinational corporations in the world, the think-tank's Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar has said.

The government is working to further improve the ease of doing business in the country.

Kumar said the Aayog is trying to figure out impediments for an Indian company in achieving global size.

The government think-tank has already held preliminary meetings with the industry bodies and top industrialists to identify the roadblocks that are hindering growth of Indian companies.

"We have noticed that China and some other emerging economies like Turkey, Argentina and Brazil, all of them have been able to establish companies, which are MNCs in their own right and have a significant share of the sectors in which they operate.

"You can see this is true of the companies like Alibaba, Temasek or Baidu, being able to compete with largest companies in the world," he said.

In the latest Fortune 500 list of the world's biggest corporations in terms of revenue released this year, only seven Indian companies made it to the ranking.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was ranked 137th, Mukesh Ambani-led RIL ranked 148th, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) ranked 197th and State Bank of India (SBI) was given 216th rank.

US-based retail giant Walmart topped the global rankings, followed by State Grid Corporation of China, and China National Petroleum.

"The Indian companies should also figure prominently in the list of top global MNCs," he said, adding this is not a tall order given the fact that India, in quick time, has been able to significantly improve its ranking in the World Bank's ease of doing business ranking.

The US continues to have the largest presence on the elite list with 132 firms, followed by China at 109.

Kumar also pointed out that the future of any economy is often dependent on the strength and nature of their large corporations.

He emphasised that India's large and growing economy should give a strong base for our companies to improve scale and become global.

"So, given that positive factor, also that some of our entrepreneurs are also very capable in running companies abroad.

"We need to identify factors which are preventing them from becoming global players, and also to identify some of the drivers which have enabled companies in other countries to be able to do so," Kumar observed.

RIL was the most profitable Indian firm on the list.

In the most profitable list, it secured the 99th position. The list was topped by Apple.
Laguarta, who assumed the role of CEO of PepsiCo in October, succeeding India-born Indra Nooyi, said that India is among the top markets for the global beverage giant

Global beverage giant PepsiCo's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramon Laguarta, who was on India tour last week, has reportedly told the leadership in the country that business needs to grow faster, a media report said.

Laguarta, who assumed the role of CEO of PepsiCo in October, succeeding India-born Indra Nooyi, said that India is among the top markets for the global beverage giant and the company needs to keep the momentum, The Economic Times reported.

Ramon Laguarta came to India, one of PepsiCos top global markets, to get a first-hand view of the country Ramon spent his time meeting with our leadership team, customers and partners, PepsiCo India spokesperson was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Laguarta, who is the sixth CEO in PepsiCo's 53-year history, has held a number of executive and general management roles in his 22 years at the firm. Since September 2017, Laguarta has served as President of PepsiCo, overseeing global operations, corporate strategy, public policy and government affairs.

Last month, PepsiCo reported 'strong double-digit organic revenue growth' in the third quarter of 2018 from India and other AMENA (Asia, Middle East and North Africa) zone markets including China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

PepsiCo has reported 1.5 percent growth in its global profit and 4.9 percent growth in its organic revenue growth. While for its year-to-date (nine months), AMENA zone - which also includes India - witnessed 34 percent increase in its operating profit.

This is "primarily reflecting the net revenue growth and planned cost reductions across a number of expense categories, as well as the net impact of refranchising our beverage businesses in Thailand in 2018 and Jordan in 2017, which contributed 15 percentage points to operating profit growth," said PepsiCo.

In the snacks segment, PepsiCo is also driving growth of Doritos, the brand owned by Frito-Lay, its wholly- owned subsidiary.

"We are driving growth in Doritos internationally, whether through expansion to new markets like China, where the brand just celebrated its first anniversary since launch, to innovation in existing markets like India, where we launched Doritos Heat Wave," former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi had said.

Recently, Jubilant FoodWorks roped in PepsiCo as the new beverage partner for Domino's Pizza India. The company so far had an exclusive arrangement with Coca-Cola in the country.

As part of the partnership, the PepsiCo portfolio of carbonated beverages of Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7Up and Mirinda along with Lipton Ice Tea will be sold across all Domino's Pizza restaurants in India, it said in a statement.

--With inputs from PTI
Breaking its three-session losing spree, the BSE benchmark Sensex surged over 373 points on emergence of buying mainly in auto, FMCG and banking stocks as a sustained recovery in rupee and moderate crude oil prices buoyed investor sentiments.

Mumbai: Breaking its three-session losing spree, the BSE benchmark Sensex surged over 373 points on emergence of buying mainly in auto, FMCG and banking stocks as a sustained recovery in rupee and moderate crude oil prices buoyed investor sentiments.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty rose nearly 102 points to regain the 10,600 level. Also, the benchmark indices gained tracking positive global cues and improving the macroeconomic scenario.

Analysts said that markets likely reacted to the positive backdrop, as well as indications that the NBFC credit squeeze is abating.

The Indian rupee appears to have stabilised a bit after recording a string of heavy losses last month. This recovery is driven by a sharp drop in global crude oil prices and improving prospects for the domestic economy.

The 30-share Sensex gyrated over 500 points during the session, finally settling 373.06 points, or 1.07 percent, higher at 35,354.08.

Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty jumped 101.85 points, or 0.97 percent, to finish at 10,628.60.

Banking stocks rallied after the government's announcement of Rs 42,000 crore fund infusion in the state-owned banks by March-end.

Market analysts said recapitalisation announcement to PSU banks is likely to provide respite to current liquidity issues, which also boosted the sentiment.

Hero MotoCorp, HUL, Wipro, Asian Paints, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Auto, HDFC Bank, ITC, Bharti Airtel, TCS and Maruti led the gains on key indices, rising up to 5.02 percent.

While, Yes Bank, ONGC, Sun Pharma, Vedanta, Coal India, Tata Steel and NTPC bucked the positive market trend, falling up to 3.89 percent.

The rupee remained firm near 70.68 against the US dollar, as global crude prices slipped below the $60 per barrel mark.

On a net basis, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) bought Rs 446 crore worth of domestic stocks on Thursday and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 49.68 crore, provisional data available with BSE suggested.

The broader markets, however, took a beating with BSE Smallcap falling 0.15 percent and NSE Midcap ending flat.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 1.73 percent, Korea's Kospi was up 1.24 percent, and Japan's Nikkei rose 0.76 percent. While, Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.14 percent.

European markets too were strong in their late morning deals. Frankfurt's DAX was up 1.18 percent, while Paris CAC 40 rose 1.31 percent. London's FTSE too climbed 0.97 percent.
As Mumbai grappled with the four-day siege in 2008, many heroes emerged. While some lived to tell the tale, others sacrificed their lives to ensure hundreds were rescued from the horrific shooting and bombings that followed

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on 26 November, 2018. It is being republished on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the terror attacks that rocked the city of Mumbai

Ten years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the Mumbai Police has said that the city is safe and its force is competent to handle any terror threat. In one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in the country's history, 166 people were killed and over 300 injured as 10 heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan created mayhem in the millennium city on 26 November, 2008.

Even though the ill-fated day is still etched in the minds of the survivors and the victims' family, Mumbai Police Commissioner Subodh Kumar Jaiswal  on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the attack  said that, "I can assure Mumbaikars that the city is safe and police are capable of protecting you from any eventuality. We have a strong and trained police force having latest equipment, weapons, strategy tactics and are always ready to deal with all the challenges," he said.

"The role of police was redefined after the 26/11 attack and there was a major overhaul of the city security system," Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) told PTI. "We have created Quick Response Teams, which will be the first to respond in any situation. There is a dedicated commando team 'Force One', with capabilities to handle any terror threat and also the coastal police to secure coastal area," he said. "We have a strong CCTV network in the city and each CCTV is connected with the main police control room through an integrated system," he added.

However, 10 years ago, as the city grappled with the four-day siege, many heroes emerged. While some lived to tell the tale, others sacrificed their lives to ensure hundreds were rescued from the horrific shooting and bombings that followed. Here are some of the key people associated with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks:

The masterminds

The only surviving terrorist who was apprehended live by the Mumbai Police, Ajmal Kasab, disclosed that the attackers were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba as The Government of India declared that the attackers came from Pakistan as Indian government officials said that the attacks were so sophisticated that they must have had official backing from Pakistani "agencies", an accusation denied by Pakistan. However, on 7 January 2009, Pakistan confirmed the sole surviving perpetrator of the attacks was a Pakistani citizen.

Mumbai police originally identified 37 suspectsincluding two Pakistani army officersfor their alleged involvement in the plot. One of these men, Pakistani American David Headley was found to have made several trips to India before the attacks and gathered video and GPS information on behalf of the plotters.

Pakistan, coming under pressure from the US and the United Nations, arrested a few members of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), including founder Hafiz Saeed, and put Saeed under house arrest, but he was released a few days later. In June, 2009 when the Lahore High Court, deeming the containment to be unconstitutional, ordered Saeed to be released, India expressed its disappointment with the decision. He was again put under house arrest in September 2009 only to be freed from all charges in October by the Lahore High Court.

Meanwhile, a year after the attacks, the Mumbai Police continued to complain that Pakistani authorities were not co-operating by providing information for their investigation. On 9 April, 2015, one of the main masterminds behind the 26/11 attacks, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, was granted bail in Pakistan. Some of the other handlers including Sheikh Abdul Khwaja and Abu Hamza were nabbed by the R&AW agents and the Delhi Police respectively. Meanwhile, in December, 2009, the FBI charged Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, a retired Major in the Pakistani army, for planning the attacks in association with Headley.

Kasab was hanged in the Yerwada Jail in 2012. Later in 2018, during an interview with Dawn, Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif reportedly indirectly accepted Pakistan's involvement in the attacks.

The police and Army officials

According to the then Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, 15 policemen and two NSG commandos were killed in the attacks. Retired Mumbai Police officer Rakesh Maria was given the responsibility of investigating the attacks. He interrogated Kasab and investigated the case which revealed of Pakistan's involvement in the barbaric act. Maria was in charge of the police control room on the fateful night from where the entire counter-operation was monitored.

However, a controversy had surfaced when Mumbai terror attack victim and slain officer Ashok Kamte's wife blamed Maria for mishandling the security response during the attack.

Apart from Kamte, the Joint Commissioner of Police Hemant Karkare, who was the chief of the Mumbai anti-terrorism squad was also killed during the fight with the armed terrorists. Encounter specialist senior inspector Vijay Salaskar and Shashank Shinde, and NSG commandos Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and Hawaldar Gajendra Singh also lost their lives during the rescue operation.

Assistant police sub-inspector Tukaram Omble showed exemplary courage when he succeeded in capturing a Kasab alive but had to sacrifice his life in the battle with the gunman.

The survivors

Among the five locations which were attacked, was the Chabad House, a prominent Jewish Centre where two terrorists had laid siege killing nine, including Rabbi Gavriel and his pregnant wife Rivka. However, in what was later termed as a miraculous escape, their son Moshe was saved by his nanny Sandra Samuel. Moshe, who was a two-year-old baby at that time, was rescued and sent back to Israel with Samuel. In January 2018, Moshe re-visited India with his grandparents and Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Another survivor of the attack Devika Rotawan became a household name after she testified against Ajmal Kasab in court having identified him as her attacker. Rotawan was shot in the leg at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Terminus on the night of 26 November and went on to become the youngest witness in the terror case. However, Rotawan says that despite her bravery, she hasn't received any financial help from the government. We were promised a house but nothing has been done till date, she told Hindustan Times.
Much like September 2001 attack in the case of the US, Indias homeland security was tightened to a great extent post 2008 Mumbai terror attack. The lack of a repeat event in ten years and in fact the absence of anything near a mass casualty act is a measure of success for the Indian intelligence and response agencies.

On 26 November, 2008 ten Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, who underwent specialised training as part of Daura-e-Khas, embarked across the sea from Karachi and after change of boats on the high seas through hijacking, struck south Mumbai. In three to four days of mayhem, the ten men, acting in small teams and directed from within Pakistan, targeted iconic hotels, popular restaurants, hospitals and a famous railway terminus, resulting in death of 165 people. The unconventional entry and the meticulous planning had all the ingredients of a military operation. Physical recce by a representative was reinforced by briefings on satellite aided maps, navigation too was aided by GPS and communication and guidance were executed through Thuraya satellite phones.

26/11, as the event came to be known as, achieved the negative aim of paralysing Indias financial capital, received high decibel media hype, ended the peace process between India and Pakistan and brought the two nuclear armed neighbours to a situation where war was once again a possibility. Ten years later, is India more secure? Is there a feasibility of a repeat of a mass casualty terror attack anywhere in the country? This needs a carefully considered answer.

It is important to place a positive response at the outset. Much like September 2001 attack in the case of the US, Indias homeland security was tightened to a great extent post 2008 Mumbai terror attack. The lack of a repeat event in ten years and in fact the absence of anything near a mass casualty act is a measure of success for the Indian intelligence and response agencies. The terrorist attack on Mumbai in 2008 was unprecedented in its scale and intensity betrayed gaping holes in India's intelligence network with respect to the collection and coordination of intelligence and action between various agencies of the state and union governments.

The creation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by an Act of Parliament was an immediate spin-off of 26/11. It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) with jurisdiction over both intelligence and operations would have been an ideal institution but its formation has been mired in bureaucratic and political tangle. The setting up of nodal centres of deployment of the National Security Guard (NSG) to reduce response time was a timely and effective measure to execute counter terror operations in a threat scenario against point targets in India. However, these are yet limited to important metros. While in the face of persistent threats India could do more, especially in the field of intelligence and its coordination, both internally and externally, the intelligence capacity has definitely enhanced quite dramatically with many successful intelligence operations. The appointment of a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister on Counter Terrorism is also a step which has added value in all directions.

While counter measures have a measure of effectiveness, threats have only multiplied over time. Pakistan's 'friendly' terror groups which are treated as strategic assets by the ISI and the increasing footprint of religious radicalism within Pakistan has enhanced threats manifold. With large scale mass casualty attacks by terrorist organisations working internally against Pakistan, such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) the friendlies have been attempting to execute mirror copy of those operations in India. Pathankot was one such attempt that did not succeed to the extent desired by them.

The attempt towards resurgence of terrorism in Punjab through small scale terror attacks is a dangerous portent although the feasibility of a mass movement in the state is relatively remote because of lack of popular support. However, in such circumstances terror organizations are known to attempt one or two large scale actions to create a signature image about capability notwithstanding the negative effect that it may have on the potential for spread of antipathy within the population. This is because initially they wish to demonstrate loyalty to the sponsor agencies (the ISI in this case), more than their larger goal. The feasibility of alliance between the terror groups under the sponsor flag of the ISI remains live and that could spell a reasonable danger anywhere in northern India, especially Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The threat to military institutions and government installations remains high.

The high intensity phase of international terror witnessed with the rise of the Islamic State fortunately did not have a major impact in India in terms of recruitment or choice of targets. However, it would be a fallacy to imagine that the threat of Islamic State has evaporated. Islamic State continues to exist in Syria and also in virtual state. It has made unsuccessful efforts at establishing itself in Philippines and in Afghanistan. However, the feasibility of it carrying out a signature act in India, where it probably perceives that no strategic objectives exist for the present, does appear remote. Indian intelligence agencies however, will need to be sufficiently networked with international agencies to remain in the loop of early inputs.

Much has been written about the Rohingyas and the possibility of their recruitment for acts against India. That remains feasible although no major indicators of any such intent have emerged yet. The really high potential for big actions remains the possible employment of Kashmiri terrorists. With local terror groups gaining experience the possibility of them being tempted to take the acts of terror beyond Kashmir does exist. Except for the LTTEs unfortunate targeting of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi there has been no suicide bombing in India outside Jammu and Kashmir. This has been extremely rare in Jammu and Kashmir too but a determined adversary hell bent on spreading mayhem could test the waters with this. With the entry of greater radical footprint in Kashmir inimical sponsors of proxy war could be tempted to use the route of radical faith and motivate an odd individual to be the pioneer of such an action. It takes only religiously endowed motivation and hatred to set up such an operation and determined terrorists with such minds are not easy to stop. Thus every effort must be made to counter this and all organisations in the counter terrorist campaign in J&K should be sensitive to this.

It is also important to remember that terror acts are always possible when determined and hate filled individuals open themselves to exploitation. That hate and divisiveness is at the root of the problem. A society devoid of this remains far safer. India needs to work harder to make its public more conscious about the roots of terror and insecurity through that direction. The public information campaign on this has been relatively weak. Terror cannot be simply defeated through the physical route of elimination of terrorists but far more through an aware and well sensitised public. There is no better time to commence undertaking such strategic sensitization than on the anniversary of 26/11 a day India must never forget from its collective conscience.
T20 World Cup 2021: New Zealand win battle of nerves against England to enter yet another ICC event final Daryl Mitchell struck an unbeaten 72 to help New Zealand chase down the 167-run target set by England with an over to spare in the first semi-final in Abu Dhabi.
Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy later admitted that his tweet on 26/11 Mumbai attacks was factually wrong and issued an apology on Twitter.

On the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy on Monday stirred up yet another controversy as he claimed that Muslims were not killed in the "Pakistan-sponsored slaughter of innocents".

"10th Anniversary today of Paki-sponsored slaughter of innocents (except Muslims) at Mumbai, popularly called 26/11. Does anyone remember why we did not even downgrade our diplomatic relations with the Pakis (let alone break off such relations or go to war)?," he tweeted.

Later, he deleted his tweet, and said he was wrong on facts. "I was misinformed of the Paki-sponsored killers of 26/11 having spared Muslims. In fact several Muslims were killed. It was a mistake of facts and I am sorry for the same. The relevant tweet has been deleted," he tweeted.

He deleted the second tweet as well and then issued another apology.

The tweet relating to 26/11 contained a factual mistake. It has been deleted with apologies. No further enquiries please  Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) November 26, 2018

Roy instantly drew flak from netizens over his "factual mistake".

Factual Mistake? That is such a lame excuse. As a citizen of India, I think it was a clear message against the secular nature of India.  Pradeep    (@Pradeep_tk) November 26, 2018

Your tweet is unbecoming of a Governor! You are not worthy of that chair! If you have even an ounce of self respect you will resign and go home! Choice is yours!  COLONELS AMBROSIA (@COLONELAMBROSIA) November 26, 2018

However, this is not the first time he triggered a row because of his comments. In July, Roy  who was the then Tripura governor  said in a series of tweets that Muslims entering India were not refugees because they "faced no persecution in their home countries". He had also said that those howling about the exclusion of people from the Assam NRC were advised to read the definition of the word 'refugee' given by UNHCR.

Only those who flee their countries because of genuine fear of persecution because of religion,ethnicity,political belief etc are refugees. People entering another country in search of employment or economic opportunities are NOT refugees. They are INFILTRATORS 2/3  Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) July 31, 2018

As per UNHCR definition (which,for some reason,is still not formally accepted by Govt of India),Hindus,Sikhs,Christians and Buddhists fleeing Bangladesh & Pakistan are refugees. Muslims entering India ARE NOT REFUGEES,because they faced no persecution in their home countries 3/3  Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) July 31, 2018

When Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb was trolled for his claim that internet existed at the time of Mahabharata, Roy was the one who attempted to find logic in Deb's statement. "Tripura chief ministers observations about the happenings of the Puranic period are topical. It is virtually impossible to conceive of devices like Divya drishti, Pushpaka Ratha, etc without some kind of prototype and study thereon," Roy had then tweeted. Roy had also defended vandalism in Tripura when a statue of Lenin was pulled down by BJP supporters in Belonia, just two days after BJP won the election in the state. When someone pointed that the statue was erected by the previous government and the Roy should act against hooligans, he instead justified the act.

What one democratically elected government can do another democratically elected government can undo. And vice versa https://t.co/Og8S1wjrJs  Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) March 5, 2018

Interestingly, after taking over as the Tripura governor in 2015, Roy had said on Twitter there would be "no more political tweets" by him.

With inputs from IANS
Dr Shailesh Mohite himself conducted the post-mortem on Abu Ismail, who had several gunshot wounds on his body.

Dr Shailesh Mohite was watching the India-England match at a friends place on the night of 26 November, 2008, when news started trickling in about a firing that had taken place at CST Station. He headed from Lower Parel to his home near Haji Ali, tracking the situation as it developed, vaguely aware that as the head of the forensic medicine department at Nair, a corporation hospital, he might have a role to play.

A few hours later he got a call from the hospital, and at around 2.30 am he showed up at work. The police had brought in Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman, and his dead co-attacker Abu Ismail, to the hospital. It was going to be a long night. The siege would last more than 60 hours and would leave more than 160 people dead and hundreds more injured. But they knew none of this then.

The only thing before Mohite was his job and a growing pile of mortal remains. The four members of the team split into pairs and began conducting post-mortems of victims mortal remains as they began to come in.

When doing a scientific job emotions cannot come into play, he says. On the job I have learned to keep my emotions out.

Now in his fifth-floor office, near a lobby surrounded by dolls and displays concerning death and the anatomy, Mohite looks back on those days and nights matter-of-factly. The teams of two doctors working on tables side by side on average spent about an hour or hour and a half conducting each post-mortem. Mohite was used to dealing with mortal remains, but not on such a scale. It does affect you later, especially when they are mortal remains of small children, says Mohite, now 10 years later. There are so many stories you hear later, and you feel bad for the survivors

For his younger colleague, Dr Pawan Sable, still a post-graduate student, it was like a baptism by gunfire. I was used to mortal remains, but this was definitely different, he says. It was my first time working on so many mortal remains in such a short period of time. It was also his first time seeing these kinds of firearm injuries.

Mohite himself conducted the post-mortem on Abu Ismail, who had several gunshot wounds on his body. But the job that would affect him the most was when three members of one family were brought in, all of whom had died while eating dinner at the Taj. One family member had survived, as they later found out.

For every case, meticulousness was off the essence. Documentation was very important, he says. We knew it would be a huge case for the country, so documentation had to be perfect.

Mohite later gave evidence over five days in court on the post-mortems he had conducted, during Kasabs trial. Later, he was one among four Indians examined by a commission that visited from Pakistan to question them on the events of that night.

The bodies were later identified by the families through their features or their pocket contents and claimed, while Ismails was taken to the JJ morgue that also had the bodies of the other gunmen killed.

Thinking back on that night Mohite reflects on why he joined the profession. When a surgeon does a surgery, it helps that person, when an autopsy surgeon does his work it wont help the person, since he is dead, but it helps his relatives and it helps society understand what happened, he says. It is like a surgery for a large number of people.
A failure in developing a rational and consistent approach towards terrorism means the resolve to prevent another 26/11 has faded into institutional apathy

The 10th anniversary of the 26 November, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks has brought tributes, commemorations and hashtags galore but not enough introspection on whether India has learnt the right lessons from one of the biggest terrorist attacks on its soil. The fickleness of collective memory has already relegated the tragedy to a moment in history, to be remembered occasionally as one more topic of public debate.

The possibility of terrorists planning another such audacious, elaborate attack on India has not reduced. There is no shortage of motivation from across the border to bleed the country with a thousand cuts. Pakistan's low-cost asymmetric war against India and use of terror as an instrument of foreign policy won't end soon. India has made some gains in drawing global attention to terrorism and spearheading the diplomatic isolation of Pakistan. There has been some progress in intelligence-sharing with other nations on terrorism and interoperability between counterterrorism assets.

But there has been a failure so far in developing a rational and consistent approach towards terrorism. Consequently, the resolve to prevent another 26/11 has faded into institutional apathy. This lacuna is guided by three structural flaws:

First, there is not enough political will to treat terrorism as a policy issue and build bipartisan consensus on developing a coherent counterterrorism strategy. Second, there is policy paralysis on Pakistan  the nerve centre of global terrorism and the chief source of Indias troubles  where New Delhi's initiatives fluctuate perennially between the 'outreach-outrage' model. Third, strengthening the country's security apparatus by investing in police reforms or developing institutional capacity is deemed as either too costly or politically inexpedient.

The weight of this combined apathy hangs heavy on a nation that spends more time praying and hoping to avoid another 26/11 than working towards reducing the chances of such an attack. The police  first respondents in any crisis  remain under-equipped and ill-trained. The politicians cannot decide whether to make peace with Pakistan or hold it accountable for failing to bring to justice even one perpetrator of the crime despite sharing volumes and volumes of 'dossiers'. And the intelligence agencies are busy undermining each other in a perpetual, internecine war, creating wide gaps in security apparatus for actionable intelligence to slip through.

As Adrian Levy, author of The Siege (a highly acclaimed book on the Mumbai terror attacks) writes in Strategic News International, there was no shortage of intel on the Mumbai attacks (ostensibly provided by the US), but not enough will or competence to act on it.

Levy writes, "Numerous intel feeds  derived from foreign-provided humint (human intelligence) and techint (technical intelligence)  described the oncoming attack with clarity rarely seen in these kinds of operations (But) The mistrust sown between R&AW and IB, and between IB and police meant that intelligence that was passed along the line arrived at its resting point in a piecemeal fashion, extraordinarily slowly, with reports continually trimmed and tailored, until the senior inspector (30 years in service who was really doing front line work) received single lines of instruction that did not reflect the building gravity of what was coming, or its context and timescale."

The intelligence failure is a symptom of the third structural flaw where institutional capacity-building or implementation of reforms ranks quite low on the priority list. In the chapter titled 'Reforming Intelligence', former R&AW chief Vikram Sood in his book The Unending Game, warns against episodic reforms that usually follows a debacle of the likes of which during Mumbai attacks.

Sood writes that such piecemeal efforts "do not really address core issues like strengthening confidence, increasing professionalism and making intelligence collection an attractive career opportunity in todays context to produce a sharp and smart outfit".

The fossilisation of intelligence agencies into leaden-footed bureaucratic units is compounded by lack of police reforms. If the first responders are not well-trained on counterterrorism measures, then it leaves too much for special operatives to do. An effective response to a terror attack becomes subsequently more difficult.

The trouble with police capability in India is, as Paul Staniland writes in his paper Improving Indias Counterterrorism Policy after Mumbai, Indias "federal political system leaves most policing responsibilities to the states, which usually possess their own counterterrorism and intelligence units. These forces, especially local police, are often poorly trained and equipped. Local personnel are frequently hired on the basis of political patronage and are notorious for high levels of corruption".

When we add the lack of coordination (and even palpable hostility) between state and Central agencies and their endemic problems of being under-equipped and under-trained and short on personnel to this mix, the challenge becomes greater. These, however, are the symptoms of a deeper malaise  lack of political will to treat terrorism as a policy issue than subjecting the fight to vote-bank politics.

Staniland identifies it as an "enormous challenge for a political class focused above all else on the cut-throat electoral competition that characterises Indian politics", but no meaningful counterterror strategy can be developed if there is no consensus between parties on what constitutes terrorism. On this, ORF fellow Harsh Pant writes, "Partisan politics has created an environment in which political and religious polarisation has been so complete and embedded that an effective action against terrorism becomes virtually impossible to accomplish."

Another arm of this structural flaw is the policy paralysis on Pakistan. On the day the US announced another $5 million under its Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program seeking information "leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack" and called upon Pakistan to uphold its UN Security Council obligations "to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates," India warmed up to Pakistan.

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab chief minister laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur corridor  a project that involves Pakistans cooperation  sending mixed signals about a country that has steadfastly refused to bring to book even one of its nationals responsible for plotting the Mumbai attacks.

To top it all, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu chose the 10th anniversary of 26/11 to applaud Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan for his role in initiating the corridor. "The real credit for the corridor goes to Imran, and also to the people, who prayed for several years for its construction," Sidhu was quoted as saying by News18.

The Kartarpur corridor and 26/11 attacks might seem like two different issues, but to praise the prime minister of a nation that uses terrorist proxies against India to undermine its sovereignty on the very day India is remembering the victims of the ghastly terror attack sponsored by Pakistan, speaks of a special kind of insensitivity.

As long as vote-bank politics (the chief reason behind Indias Kartarpur move) shapes India's response on terrorism and internal security, India will remain underprepared to tackle the scourge of terrorism. The lack of premium that India places on the lives of its citizens should outrage us.
Major Unnikrishnan was leading a team of NSG commandos to flush out terrorists from the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai when he was fatally wounded

Bengaluru: Pictures of 26/11 martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan are everywhere in his two-storey house tucked in a quiet locality in Bengaluru.

The gallery in the two-storey house of the National Security Guard Commando is full of memories and a collection of personal articles stare from the shelves and whisper stories of valour into ears of visitors.

The constant presence of these articles is painful, but also joyful and inspiring for any visitor.

They narrate the winning-attitude, valour and charitable nature of Sandeep, who lost his life while battling the Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists during the 26/11 attack on Mumbai in 2008.

Sandeep always had a winning attitude and liked Sachin Tendulkar for the same reason, his father Unnikrishnan said. "My son always had this attitude of winning in everything that he did. He liked Sachin Tendulkar for this reason."

"Sandeep always wanted our country to win. When India lost a match, he used to be very disappointed. He also used to console me whenever an ISRO project failed. He did not like defeat," the retired ISRO officer told PTI in an interview in Bengaluru.

Talking about Sandeep's charitable nature, Unnikrishnan said, "I did not know about it.Only after he had gone I realised it. Going through his bank balance, I only found Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000, though he was drawing a decent salary".

"I thought he could not save much because he could have been buying costly branded products. But his colleagues talked about his charity. One of his colleagues told me that he had borne all health expenses of his mother, who was suffering from a spine problem," he said.

"Also, Sandeep was regularly donating money to a number of charitable institutions.I realised this when I started receiving reminders on renewal of donations after his departure," he added.

Sandeep was a nationalist too.

"He always supported nationalism.For him nationalism meant that you do something good for the country, not extract benefits from it. Somebody should decide whether you are a nationalist, not that you go around calling yourself a nationalist. He always opposed these people," Unnikrishnan said.

The last message of the braveheart to his personnel while carrying out the operation was, "Don't come up, I will handle them." These words have left a deep impression on his troop commandos.

"Sandeep used to say he did not want to see a mother weeping over his colleague's body and preferred his mother to bear the loss," said Unnikrishnan, as he recollected the sterling qualities of his braveheart son.

Major Unnikrishnan was leading a team of NSG commandos to flush out terrorists from the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai when he was fatally wounded.

He was conferred the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peace time gallantry award, on 26 January 2009.
The Trump Administration announced this major reward (of more than Rs 35 crores) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10-Pakistan based LeT terrorist went on a shooting rampage in India's financial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans.

Washington: The United States Monday announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 2008 Mumbai attack.

The Trump Administration announced this major reward (of more than Rs 35 crores) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10-Pakistan based LeT terrorist went on a shooting rampage in India's financial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans.

The move comes less than a fortnight after Vice President Mike Pence had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised this issue and rued that even 10 years after the Mumbai terrorist attack its perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

State Department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program Monday said it is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack.

From 26 to 29 November 2008, 10 terrorists associated with the LeT carried out a series of coordinated assaults against multiple targets in Mumbai, it said. "The United States is committed to working with our international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack," it said.

Sunday's announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. In April 2012, the Department of State announced reward offers for information that brings to justice LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior LeT leader.

In December 2001, the Department of State designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This designation plays a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business, the State Department said.

In May 2005, the United Nations (UN) 1267 Sanctions Committee added LeT to the Consolidated UN Security Council Sanctions List. The State Department said that anyone with information on this incident can contact the Rewards for Justice office via the website, e-mail (info@rewardsforjustice.net), phone (800-877-3927 in North America), or mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, DC, 20520-0303, USA).

Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Officer at the nearest US embassy or consulate. "All information will be kept strictly confidential," it said. The Rewards for Justice program is administered by the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $150 million to more than 100 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.
Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday hit out at Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, blaming him for terror activities in the state and killings of Indian soldiers at the border.

Gurdaspur: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday hit out at Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, blaming him for terror activities in the state and killings of Indian soldiers at the border. The chief minister made the remarks at an event where he laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor along with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.

He said, I want to say something to their (Pakistan) army chief. I have also been in the Army and General Bajwa he is very junior to me in service Does the Army teach (you) to kill our jawans at the border? You kill them with a sniper. Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot, Dinanagar, Singh said.

Referring to the grenade attack on the Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar in which three people were killed, he said: People were offering prayers in a village and grenades were hurled at them. Is it what is taught by the Army? It is cowardliness, said the 76-year-old Singh, himself an ex-Indian Army officer. He said that it is common knowledge that it is the Army that calls the shots in Pakistan. "We believe in peace and we are giving a message of peace from here. But, their generals should understand that we have a large Army and we are prepared... And this should not happen as nobody wants war. We all want to carry out development in a peaceful manner, he said.

Earlier, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Singh laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on 22 November. Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there. The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the banks of the Ravi river, about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.
The Cyclone Gaja damage assessment team led by Daniel E Richard, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, began the inspection from the worst-hit Vettaikaraniruppu village.

Nagapattinam: A central team deputed to assess the damage caused by cyclone Gaja in Tamil Nadu, on Monday visited the affected areas in Nagapattinam district.

The team led by Daniel E Richard, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, began the inspection from the worst-hit Vettaikaraniruppu village.

Earlier, they held a discussion at the Nagapattinam collectorate with the district Collector C Sureshkumar, senior officials and Tamil Nadu Ministers.

The Collector explained the extent of damage with a video presentation. The team inspected Tamil Nadu Electricity Board's sub-station at Vettaikarairuppu that was completely destroyed by the cyclone.

The team members interacted with the affected people at Therkkupoigainallur. Arupathy Kalyanam, general secretary of the Federation of Farmers Associations of Cauvery Delta Districts, submitted a memorandum to the central team demanding the release of crop loss compensation from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

He said in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts, coconut and other perennial trees in around 40,000 hectares were uprooted by the cyclone, adding farmers required around Rs 2 to 3 lakh per hectare to remove the uprooted trees.

"The compensation announced by the Tamil Nadu government is paltry. The central government should ensure a fair micro level accurate assessment in the affected villages and provide suitable compensation under NDRF," he added. He pointed out that for the eight laning of the Salem highway, the state government announced Rs 50,000 as compensation to uproot a single coconut tree.

"The same yardstick should be followed here too," he said.

The team is scheduled to undertake assessment in nearby Karaikal district (Puducherry) later in the evening.

The team commenced inspection on 24 November in Pudukottai district.

Cyclone 'Gaja' had hit the Tamil Nadu coast early on 16 November between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam, about 300 km from Chennai. It left behind a trail of destruction in Nagapattinam district and also in several other districts.
India is observing Constitution Day today to celebrate the day the Constitution of India, which lays down the supreme laws of the country, was adopted in 1949.

Leaders across the country are observing Constitution Day on Monday to celebrate the day the Constitution of India was adopted in 1949. Although it came into effect on 26 January, 1950, every 26 November is observed in India as Constitution Day  also known as Samvidhan Divas  to celebrate the occasion the document laying down India's supreme rights was adopted. The day is also marked with respect for Dr BR Ambedkar, the chairman of the committee that drafted the Constitution.

On Monday, President Ram Nath Kovind and Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi delivered speeches in Delhi in view of the occasion, while a host of Opposition leaders, including leaders from the Congress, Left parties, Janata Dal (Secular), Nationalist Congress Party and others, are expected to attend an event commemorating the day in Delhi.

While addressing the nation at the inaugural function of Constitution Day celebrations, Kovind said the citizens of the country and the Constitution both empower each other. "The duty of safeguarding the Constitution is a shared initiative among the judiciary, executive and legislative, in partnership with the people of India," he said.

Calling the preamble of the document its "source-code", Kovind asserted that "social justice is about providing equal opportunities". "Social justice remains the touchstone of our nation-building. If a child suffers from asthma due to air pollution, it is lack of social justice," he added.

#ConstitutionDay celebrations by the #SupremeCourt of #India today: Justice Madan B Lokur emphasises upon independence of judiciary. "Courts are guidance to our #Constitution. They make sure executive and legislative do not transgress the Constitutional limits," says the judge. pic.twitter.com/VFoj4WRRuU  News18 Courtroom (@News18Courtroom) November 26, 2018

This year, India's Constitution Day fell on the 10th anniversary of the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai. The president said, "We, as a country, are resolute for justice to the victims and their families in the terror attacks on 26 November, 2008."

CJI Gogoi also addressed the function. He began by saying Sir Ivor Jennings, a noted British lawyer of the time, had criticised the Constitution of India for being "far too long and far too rigid", adding that time "has proven him wrong".

Gogoi said it was now time to test the progress India has made since Independence. "How far we have come from 1947... Great advances have been made, but a lot more remains," he said. "The Constitution has become an integral part of the lives of people. It's the voice of the marginalised, and it guides us in the moment of crisis."

'We must trust and honour constitutional bodies and processes'

Several leaders also commented on the occasion of Constitution Day on Monday, including Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other politicians.

Naidu and Modi greeted people on the occasion, asserting that the values enshrined in the Constitution must be followed in both personal and public life. The prime minister recalled the contribution of the "greats" who were part of the Constituent Assembly.

"We are proud of our Constitution and reiterate our commitment to uphold the values enshrined in it," Modi wrote on Twitter.

Naidu said, "We must uphold integrity in our personal and public life, have trust and honour in constitutional bodies and processes," adding that it is our "utmost national obligation" that we live earnestly by the letter and spirit of the Constitution "in our personal and community life".

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: "Innate trust in the people of India was the most significant aspect of our Constitution-making. The people of India have today proved their trust by showing that they know what they want, what they do."

Attorney General of India KK Venugopal, who welcomed Kovind at the event, said the president was not "just a very popular president but also a lawyer with a 22-year-long standing at the Bar".

Moreover, the SC Department of the All India Congress Committee organised a 'Samvidhan Divas Samaroh' with the aim to sensitise people about Ambedkar's socio-political philosophy as reflected in the Constitution.

Nitin Raut, A member of the SC Department, believes that the function would help remind the nation about how Ambedkar, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution, and the Congress had worked in close partnership in while framing the document.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also paid homage to Ambedkar and said it was the responsibility of every citizen to protect the spirit of the "holy book". "Today is Constitution Day. Homage to Dr BR Ambedkar and all other members of the Constituent Assembly who gave shape to the Holy Book of our democracy  the Constitution," Banerjee tweeted.

The Congress said: "Justice, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity were values to be upheld and defended."

With inputs from agencies
November 26, 2018: Ten years since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks; M Venkaiah Naidu to lay foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor today and Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi will address political rallies today in Rajasthan; here are the top stories for the day

10 years of 26 November, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks

November 26 marks the tenth anniversary on Monday of the Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead and hundreds more injured. On 26 November, 2008 Islamist militants from Pakistan unleashed a wave of violence across India's financial capital that lasted three days and played out on TV news channels around the world. The ten attackers  who were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades -- belonged to Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Mumbai's police force will remember the more than a dozen officers who were killed, many while fighting the militants, in a ceremony starting at 09.30 am. Relatives of the victims will lay wreaths at a police memorial honouring the dead. The chief minister of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, will attend the ceremony. Residents are also expected to pay their respects at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus where Mohammed Kasab, the only gunman caught alive, and another attacker killed almost 60 people and wounded at least 100 others. The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel will hold a private service to remember the 31 people who died there.

Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, Yogi Adityanth, Rahul Gandhi to campaign in poll-bound Rajasthan

Campaigning for the 7 December Assembly election in Rajasthan is set to hit top gear on Monday with senior BJP and Congress leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, addressing pubic rallies in various parts of the state. While Modi will be addressing rallies in Bhilwara, Dungarpur and Kota, Rajnath will be covering Rajakheda, Basedi (both in Dholpur) and Virat Nagar (in Jaipur) Assembly constituencies. Rahul will begin the tour of the state by paying obeisance at the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer, followed by a visit to Pushkar Sarovar. After that, he will leave for Pokhran in Jaisalmer where he will address a public meeting. Adityanath will also address a public meeting in Pokhran. Besides this, he will speak at public rallies in Makrana (Nagaur), Fatehpur (Sikar), Ratangarh (Churu) and Dungargarh (Bikaner).

M Venkaiah Naidu to lay foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor today

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu will lay the foundation stone for the construction of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib road corridor up to the international border with Pakistan in Mann village in Gurdaspur on Monday. Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, Union minister of food processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh will be present on the occasion. To mark Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th birth anniversary in 2019, the Indian government decided on 22 November, 2018 to build the Kartarpur road corridor up to international border between India and Pakistan as an integrated development project. The corridor will let Sikh pilgrims visit the iconic Gurudwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur on the banks of river Ravi in Pakistan.

Petrol, diesel prices slashed

Fuel prices continued to decline in line with the downward trend in Brent crude oil price, which fell below the $60 per-barrel-mark. Globally, oil prices slumped up to nearly 8 percent to the lowest in more than a year on Friday, posting the seventh consecutive weekly loss, amid intensifying fears of a supply glut even as major producers consider cutting output. Petrol prices were down 40 paise and diesel by 45 paise. Petrol was priced at Rs 74.84 per litre in Delhi, Rs 76.82 per litre in Kolkata, Rs 80.38 per litre in Mumbai and Rs 77.69 per litre in Chennai, according to Indian Oil Corporation. Diesel rates stood at Rs 69.70 per litre in Delhi, Rs 71.55 per litre in Kolkata, Rs 72.99 per litre in Mumbai and Rs 73.63 per litre in Chennai.

Kartarpur Corridor: Subramanian Swamy questions why Union ministers are being sent to Pakistan

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy on Sunday backed Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh's decision to decline the invitation to attend the stone-laying ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistan side on Wednesday. "No Indian minister should go to the other side of the border until Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism," he said. However, Punjab Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said that he would be attending the stone-laying ceremony of Kartarpur on Pakistan side, while praising the initiative taken by Indian and Pakistan governments to develop Kartarpur Corridor. Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor, on the Pakistan side, on 28 November.

Ram Mandir dispute: Mohan Bhagwat calls for law for temple construction, Modi says Congress stalled verdict

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat renewed his demand for a Ram Mandir ordinance while addressing a VHP rally on Sunday. Speaking at a rally organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on the Ram temple issue in Nagpur, Bhagwat also said this should be the "decisive phase of the agitation". One year ago, I myself had said be patient. Now I say, patience will not work. Now we need to mobilise people. Now we should demand a law," he said.Bhagwat was also said that if the issue was not a priority for the Supreme Court, the government should "think of what to do, how to bring in an ordinance, and construct the Ram Temple".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, hit out at the Congress, accusing the party of attacking the judiciary while it was hearing a crucial case like the Ayodhya dispute. "The Congress creates an atmosphere of fear for the judiciary when the court hears the Ayodhya issue. They do everything possible to impeach the Chief Justice of India. How can such things be accepted?" Modi said at a rally in Rajasthan's Alwar.

NASA's InSight spacecraft to land on Mars on 26 November

NASA's InSight spacecraft is on track for a touchdown on Mars on 26 November. InSight will hit the top of the Martian atmosphere at 19,800 kilometres per hour (kph) and slow down to eight kph, before it touches down on Martian soil. This deceleration is expected to happen in less than seven minutes, a process that NASA has nicknamed "six and a half minutes of terror." About 80 live viewing events for the public to watch the InSight landing will take place around the world. It will be at 3 pm EST which is 1.30 am in India on 27 November.
The overall air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 320  in the 'very poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Anand Vihar recorded 'severe' air quality. The AQI in 23 areas was registered in the 'very poor' category, while the situation was 'poor' in 12 areas. The level of PM2.5 was recorded at 179, and the PM10 level was recorded at 338.

New Delhi: Delhiites woke up to a hazy morning on Monday, with monitoring stations recording air quality in the "very poor" category, a day after the city witnessed an 'unusual improvement' in the conditions, officials said.

The overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 320  in the "very poor" category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Anand Vihar recorded "severe" air quality. The AQI in 23 areas was registered in the "very poor" category, while the situation was "poor" in 12 areas. The level of PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 179, and the PM10 level was recorded at 338.

In the NCR region, Ghaziabad recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 398. Greater Noida and Noida's air quality was registered in the "very poor" category. Faridabad and Gurgaon recorded moderate air quality, according to CPCB data.

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'. According to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR), Delhi's air quality will remain in the "poor" category, amid a gradual increase in the pollution level, for the next two days.

"The increase in pollution can be attributed to a decline in wind speed as compared to past two days. All other meteorological factors were already unfavourable," the SAFAR said in a report. The national capital's air quality over the weekend showed an "unusual improvement" due to late night fast wind speed, SAFAR had said on Sunday.
Ten years ago, this day, the world watched as the Lashkar-e-Taiba's 26/11 assault team savagely exposed India's doddering police system. The killers faced police personnel armed with nothing but lathis, lacking even the rudiments of counter-terrorism training.

Ten years ago, this day, the world watched as the Lashkar-e-Taiba's 26/11 assault team savagely exposed India's doddering police system. The killers faced police personnel armed with nothing but lathis, lacking even the rudiments of counter-terrorism training. The state's anti-terrorism unit hadn't fired a practice round in over a year, because of shortages of ammunition. The police's command and control system collapsed amidst the chaos, leaving personnel to battle and die.

Even the elite National Security Guards botched the siege of the Taj Hotel  infamously setting alight rooms to flush out terrorists, asphyxiating hostages in the process.

For the last decade, successive governments have claimed they're investing to make sure it could never happen again. From data published by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, it's clear too little has changed.

Bad training

Perhaps the most disturbing numbers are those on police training. In 2016-2017, only five states  Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh  saw fit to spend more than 5 percent of their budget on training personnel. In spite of its significant insurgency problem, Chhattisgarh spent just 3.05 percent of its budget; Andhra Pradesh, only 3.18 percent and Odisha 3.54 percent.

Large numbers of states at risk spent next to nothing on training  in spite of the obvious need for specialist counter-terrorism skills, Jammu and Kashmir spent only 0.02 percent of its budget on training; Manipur, hit not only by terrorist violence but zones of near-anarchy, spent not one single rupee.

Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh all saw significant cuts in police training expenditure in 2016-2017; only Maharashtra saw a stand-out increase in spending, almost doubling its commitment.

In 2016, just 44,083 police personnel across the country received any form of in-service training  a dismal 0.03% of the national police force. "The truth is most police officers aren't likely to get a single opportunity to practice their firearms skills, let alone acquire expertise in new technology, throughout their entire service", a senior officer admitted.

Barring the Maharashtra Police, which has introduced eight-hour shifts and a system of rotating personnel to allow for training, this means India's police forces just aren't working to upgrade their skills. Like on 26 November, 2008, citizens of most Indian cities will be counting on a lucky shot, not a police officer trained to respond and react to crisis.

Dirt Poor

Just like with several many other public-policy problems in India, part of the problem is that there just isn't enough cash. All over the world, modern police forces invest extensively on modernisation  buying technology and building infrastructure to prepare for changing needs. The city of New York will be spending $5.6 billion-$395 billion this year, with $107 million dedicated to training, and another $187 million to intelligence and counter-terrorism.

Put together, India's states and Union Territories spent Rs 90,662 crore on policing in 2016-2017. That might sound impressive, till one considers that Rs 900 billion is not a lot over twice the budget for New York alone  a city with a population of 8.5 million, less than that of Delhi's. The United Kingdom, for its part, will be spending 12.3 billion  this for a country of 65 million, against India's 1.35 billion.

It's true these are rich countries  but it's just not possible to get first-world policing on fourth-world cash.

Police spending in India, moreover, is overwhelmingly swallowed by salaries. In 2016-2017, just Rs 1,546 crore of police budgets were spent on modernisation, marginally up from Rs 1,330 crore in 2015-2016, largely drawn from central grants. That is just 1 percent of the overall spending  a pathetically small amount to invest in upgrading police capacities. The New York police, by contrast, has a separate capital commitment of $2 billion for 2017-2021.

The sad truth is that there are a bunch of things India clearly believes are worth more cash than police modernisation  statues of gods among them.

It's also important to note that police personnel remain grossly underpaid. Even though there is no provision for overtime, and a typical working day runs to over sixteen hours, a constable in most states starts on a basic salary of Rs 5,200 to Rs 25,000 take-home. In cities, there's also a chronic shortage of police housing.

If seen in context, all of this enables corruption, which in turn, erodes the functioning of police institutions.

Growth without planning?

In 2006, India's population stood at 1,123,993,000, and was to be served by 1,632,651 civil and armed police personnel. That meant 145.25 police personnel to serve every 100,000 population. This was well below the United Nations-recommended norm of 250 per 100,000.

Ten years after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, things are somewhat better.

India's projected population, based on the 2001 census, reached 1,277,770,000 in 2016-a growth of 13.68 percent. There are now 2,464,484 police officers, a dramatic growth of over 50 percent. Thus, India now has a police-population ratio of 192.87 per 100,000 citizens, slowly inching towards the desired level.

There's some caveats though to this otherwise impressive story.

For one, there are enormous regional variations, with states hard-hit by insurgency still showing anemic police numbers, especially when one looks at the actual numbers of police personnel they've hired, rather than their theoretically-sanctioned strength  the numbers the state government has committed to hire and pay for.

Though Jammu and Kashmir has a relatively robust 626.98 police personnel per 100,000 population, insurgency-torn Chhattisgarh has 228.60  well below its the sanctioned number of 269.86. Jharkhand has a pathetic 174.81, well below its sanctioned strength of 251.41

From the numbers, it is also clear some states have hired police personnel in gross disproportion to their apparent need. Arunachal Pradesh, whose only insurgency problem is the spill-over of small numbers of Naga insurgents, has 878.37 police personnel per 100,000 population. Mizoram has 702.15.

Perhaps worse, State Armed Police forces-the corpus from which specialist counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency units are drawn, have grown by only 12.69 percent, slower than population growth. This means that, while there are plenty of personnel in uniform, there isn't enough nation-wide investment in elite units.

The shortages in the police are part of a system-wide malaise. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has a staff strength of 800, only 600 of whom are executive personnel. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has 34,019 staff, of whom 12,979 are agents, or trained investigators.

Even the Intelligence Bureau, the heart of India's counter-terrorism apparatus, is a third short of its authorised strength of 32,000, with the agency's training facility barely able to cover attrition from retiring staff. The Research and Analysis Wing suffers, too, from a lack of language and area specialists, as well as technical experts.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs accused Pakistan of denying closure to the families of the 166 victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, saying Pakistan was 'showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice'.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday remembered the "dastardly" 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in 2008, on its 10th anniversary. In a statement, the ministry accused Pakistan of denying closure to the families of the 166 victims from 15 countries, saying Pakistan was "showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice". "The planners of 26/11 still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity," MEA said, referring to Hafiz Saeed.

Here's the full text of the statement:

On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack, the Government and the people of India sombrely remember the victims of this dastardly attack and the martyred security personnel who laid down their lives to protect ours.

The President, the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister, in separate messages, have expressed their firm solidarity with the families of the victims and martyrs.

A solemn memorial event and wreath laying ceremony was organised earlier today by the State Government of Maharashtra at the Police Memorial in Mumbai and the Memorial at Taj Hotel, Mumbai. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra along with other state dignitaries and members of the Diplomatic Corps participated in these events.

Fourteen other countries lost their nationals in these attacks. The Indian Missions in these countries are organising memorial events remembering the victims, both national and foreign, reminding the world of the global threat of terrorism. Senior government representatives from the host Governments, family members of victims and survivors will be participating in these solemn events.

It is a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 years of this heinous terror attack, the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe still await closure, with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice. The planners of 26/11 still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity.

The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistans soil. We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice. This is not just a matter of Pakistans accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation.

We welcome the statement issued today by the United States calling on Pakistan to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates.

The Government of India will continue its efforts to bring justice to the families of the victims and the martyrs.

Note: The entire text has been taken exactly as posted by the official website of the Ministry of External Affairs and has not been edited by Firstpost.
Mike Pompeo called upon all countries, while naming Pakistan in particular, to implement sanctions against terrorists responsible for the 26/11 attack.

A day ahead of the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack in Mumbai on 26 November, 2008, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement expressing "solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai". He called on all countries, while naming Pakistan in particular, to implement sanctions against terrorists responsible for the attack. Here is the full text of his statement:

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack. We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world.

It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement. We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates.

The United States is committed to seeing that those responsible for this attack face justice. The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

Note: The entire text has been taken exactly as posted by the official website of the US Department of State and has not been edited by Firstpost.
The ICIJ's 'Implant Files' report notes that India's regulatory system 'effectively doesnt exist' and that there are 'no specific rules or a law' that gives the government the authority to direct a manufacturer to compensate a victim of a faulty device.

The International Consortium of International Journalists (ICIJ)  the group that worked on investigations such as the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers leaks  on Monday published a report titled "Implant Files" on the medical device industry. Along with a network of 250 reporters and experts from 58 news organisations in 36 countries, ICIJ examined scores of documents to investigate various aspects of the field of implant devices. It includes findings on regulation, a look into corruption in the industry as well as reports on faulty devices and their recall.

"Patients around the world have become unwitting test subjects for new medical technology," ICIJ said. "Often following the trusted advice of their doctors, they have been injured, maimed and killed by poorly-tested implants."

While the consortium's report is elaborate and goes into deep detail about the lack of regulation in several countries, manipulation and lobbying by manufacturers to boost revenue, track records of recalls of faulty devices and reports of patients being duped, among other aspects of the industry, there are three key findings:

- The reports says several governments in Asia, Africa and South America choose to trust the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and European authorities instead of regulating medical devices themselves.

- In the past decade, nearly 83,000 people died and 1.7 million were injured after their supportive sevices "broke, misfired, corroded, ruptured or malfunctioned" after being implanted, despite regulators, doctors and manufacturers assuring patients that they were safe. Similarly, explant surgeries  operations to remove medical devices  caused nearly 5 lakh "adverse events".

- Doctors and manufacturers of medical devices often don't report untoward incidents caused by faulty implants, and when they do, the information is frequently unverifiable and incomplete.

In India, regulation 'effectively, doesn't exist'

In India, ICIJ teamed up with The Indian Express to investigate various aspects of the medical devices industry. The newspaper reported a number of its "startling" findings on Monday that reflect the sorry state of how the industry is monitored in India. Besides noting that India's regulatory system "effectively doesnt exist", the report highlights that there are "no specific rules or a law" that gives the government the authority to direct a manufacturer to compensate a victim of a faulty device.

"It has been found that from coronary stents and pacemakers to breast and knee implants, from pelvic meshes to intrauterine devices  almost every medical device is advertised, sold, surgically implanted in a regulatory system that, effectively, doesnt exist."

India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation earlier notified only 10 medical devices for regulation, but the list has expanded to 23 categories of devices now. While there is no comprehensive law to regulate the medical devices industry in India  a bill for this purpose was first drafted 12 years ago but has yet to be enacted  the current government introduced rules. However, these medical devices are still regulated as "drugs" under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Medical Device Rules, 2017, which came into effect in January 2018.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority of India (NPPA) monitors the prices of medical devices in India, but it's the NPPA's Drug Price Control Orders 2013 that applies only to medical devices. Of these 23 implants listed as "drugs", cardiac stents, drug eluting stents, condoms and intra-uterine devices are considered "essential" and have their ceiling prices fixed.

While India currently lacks a system to ensure compensation for a victim of faulty implants, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been working to draft a formula since the emergence of faulty hip implants from Johnson & Johnson. "There are proposals that the government might include a special clause under the Medical Device Rules to include compensation for patients," The Indian Express reported. "But the patient can always approach a consumer court to seek damages from the device company."

The newspaper carried out the investigation over 10 months, examining medical devices such as stents, pacemakers, hip implants, knee implants, breast implants, pelvic meshes and intrauterine devices. Global companies such as Johnson and Johnson, Medtronic, Abbott, Bayer and Stryker were examined.

While the medical device industry in India is estimated to be worth $5.2 billion and the fourth-largest in Asia, there are an alarmingly low number of reports on faulty implants. To put things in context: "In the last decade, the US had more than 26,700 recalls; Canada had more than 8,300, while India  with more than 1 billion people  had only 14 from the beginning of 2013 through 2017, the only years for which data was available."

The Indian Express also found that 40 cases of "medical device adverse events" were reported in India in 2014, according to date from the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission  but the figure spiked to 556 in 2018 alone. The coronary stents manufactured by Abbott accounted for 50 of these 556 cases.
A play depicting a girl, who dreams of calling out the azaan (vaang), the ritual Islamic call to worship, has stirred a hornets nest in Kerala.

A number of works inspired by the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 years in the Sabarimala temple were presented at the districts level of this years Kerala Schools Art Festival, tipped as Asias largest youth art fete.

Gender equality which was upheld by the verdict was the main theme in the drama category. The Kozhikode district had four plays advocating the womens right to worship in temples and one on Muslim womens right to participate in religious rituals.

While the plays on the entry of women at the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala were tolerated, one depicting a girl, who dreams of calling out the azaan (vaang), the ritual Islamic call to worship recited normally by a muezzin or mukri, has stirred a hornets nest.

The play called Kithab, presented by students of Memunda Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode, won prizes at the sub-district level, but it received the wrath of many Muslim organisations when it was presented at the district level at Vatakara on 24 November.

Kithab, an adaptation of writer R Unnis short story "Vaang", is a humorous portrayal of the daughter of a mukri who questions the subjugation of women in her community. The girl rebels against the norms by dancing with her friends, stealing food denied to her, and even demanding an opportunity to call the vaang.

She challenges the norms over food by stealing the fish fry her mother cooked for the men in the house. When her father argues that women should get only half of everything that men get, she retorts that women then should be allowed to wear half the clothing that men wear. She further puts her father in a tight spot by seeking his permission to call the vaang.

He tries to dissuade her by referring to a big book prescribing hell for those defying norms. When she says she is ready to forsake heaven for her right, the man relents and permits her to call the vaang. Kithab ends with the girl calling out the vaang and the rest praying.

The Muslim organisations viewed the play as an insult to their way of life and came out against it. The protests sparked by Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political arm of radical Popular Front of India (PFI), have snowballed after moderate outfits such as Muslim Students Federation (MSF) jumped on to the bandwagon.

While the MSF, the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, a constituent of the Opposition United Democratic Front, has petitioned the district education officer against the play, the SDPI, which has been involved in several violent protests in the past, has taken its agitation to the streets.

While the SDPI is continuing its protests demanding withdrawal of the play and an apology from its producers, its cultural wing  Athijeevana Kala Sangham  is gearing up to stage a "counter drama" to set the facts right. The play called "Kithabile Koora", will be staged at Vadakara on 27 November where Kithab was presented.

Sajid MS, coordinator of the play, alleged that the people behind Kithab were trying to gain publicity by invoking gender equality based on the Supreme Court verdict on the Sabarimala temple. He said that the Muslim community was not interested in such issues, and there were other burning topics to be discussed now.

Our play is intended to tell the people that what is shown in Kithab is far from reality and there are many factual errors in it. The play is trash paraded as a creative work. We will expose this, Sajid said, adding that the author of the short story himself had come out against the play.

The writer of his story has alleged distortion of his story by the producers of the play. It has portrayed Islam as a primitive religion and has drained the spirituality and politics I presented in my story. Attacking Islam at a time when Islamophobia is growing, while using my name and story, is wrong, he said.

SDPI leader Salim P Azhiyur has alleged a political conspiracy behind the play. He said that the school managed by the ruling CPM was trying to implement the partys agenda of interfering with faith. The partys agenda is clear in the play. It is a dangerous game that will send a wrong message about the Muslim community, he added.

Rafeeq Mangalasseri, the director of the play, said he had no intention to insult Islam or the Muslim way of life. He said that he had only tried to express the growing demand for gender justice within the community. The Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala has strengthened the demand.

Even before the apex court verdict, there was a demand for appointing women as imams at mosques. It was articulated by a 35-year-old Muslim woman by defying the age-old custom of only men leading the Friday prayers. Jamida, a school teacher at Wandoor in Malappuram district, challenged the custom by leading the jumu'ah or the Friday prayers in a place of worship attended by both men and women.

The woman, who had planned to take the movement across the state, beat a retreat following threats and protests from the conservative sections. The priority of most women in the community, however, is the opportunity to worship in the mosques.

Women are at present barred from worshiping in the mosques run by the Sunni Muslims, who make up the majority of Keralas Muslims. A progressive womens organisation has already come forward to challenge this in the Supreme Court.

The Nisa Progressive Muslim Womens Forum, popularly known as Nisa, meaning women in Arabic, is awaiting the outcome of the review petitions filed against the constitution bench verdict on the entry of women in Sabarimala to file the petition.

VP Suhra, who heads the organisation, said the conservative sections in the Muslim community have been opposing the demand citing traditions. The Islamic law does not bar women from praying in mosques. We are confident that the apex court would uphold this right as in the case of Sabarimala, she said.

The orthodox sections have been denying the women their right as they want to keep the women enslaved. They are opposing plays like Kithab because they fear that they will create awareness among the women about their rights, says Suhra.

Suhra, who is now fighting two cases in the Supreme Court, for Muslim womens equal right to property and the revision of marriage laws, said that she has full faith in the judiciary and would continue the fight for ending all types of discrimination against the women.
A passenger was detained and forced to de-board a Jet Airways Kolkata-Mumbai flight on Monday at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after fellow passengers allegedly heard him talking about 'bombs' and threatening to blow up the plane on video chat.

A passenger was detained and forced to deboard a Jet Airways flight at the Kolkata airport on Monday after he shared a post on social media claiming he was a 'terrorist'. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) detained him at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International ,Airport after which they handed him over to the Kolkata Airport Police Station for questioning to ascertain his motives.

Yogvedanta Poddar was forced to get off Jet Airways flight 9W 472, while it was preparing for take-off, after co-passengers noticed his post on Snapchat and alerted a flight attendant, an airport official said. The crew immediately informed the pilot about a possible threat.

"The pilot reported the matter to the Air Traffic Controller, after the CISF removed the man from the Jet Airways flight," the official said.

Reports said he was seen sending photos on Snapchat with half his face covered with captions like "terrorists on flight".

"The co-passenger sitting next to Poddar got suspicious of his behaviour after he covered his face and read the message Poddar was keying in on his phone. One of them read, 'Terrorist on flight. I destroy women's hearts,'" a senior security official was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

Siva Murgan, Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department), Bidhannagar Police was quoted as saying by The Indian Express: "He was deboarded and detained from the flight after his co-passengers noticed him sending a selfie with some objectionable comment. An inquiry is on."

A police officer at the airport told the Hindustan Times: "After the crew was alerted by the co-passenger, Poddar refused to show his mobile phone to the air hostess. Then the CISF personnel found that he had, indeed, shared the post, where he took a selfie with his face covered and wrote those words. We are now checking his antecedents."

Reports quoted police sources as saying that Poddar, a resident of Kolkata's Salt Lake locality, said during interrogation that he was going to Mumbai for a job interview.

His parents were also summoned for questioning. Poddar's father, Nirmal Poddar, said his son was simply "fooling around" with his friends, reported NDTV.

With inputs from PTI
The foundation stone for the Kartarpur road corridor in India was laid down on Monday by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the corridor in Pakistan on 28 November.

The foundation stone for the Kartarpur road corridor in India was laid down on Monday by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu in the presence of Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, Governor VP Badnore and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Singh Puri.

Gurdaspur(Punjab): Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu to lay the foundation stone for the construction of Dera Baba Nanak-Karatarpur Sahib road corridor. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh,Governor VP Badnore,Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Puri and others also present at the ceremony pic.twitter.com/OA7rvV3jHo  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

What is the Kartarpur Corridor?

The Kartarpur corridor is a proposed four-kilometre-long corridor between India and Pakistan connecting the Sikh holy shrine of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib to the shrine of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (also referred to as the Kartarpur Gurdwara) in the states of Punjab in India and Pakistan. It is also one of the border gates as the route was closed following the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.

The main aim of this proposed corridor is to facilitate the crossing of religious devotees to visit the Kartarpur Gurdwara, located in the Narowal District in Pakistan which about 120 kilometres from Lahore but only three kilometres from the Indian side of the border. The gurdwara is situated on the banks of river Ravi and is considered to be the first gurdwara ever built. The shrine holds a special significance for the Sikh community, as the first among the 10 Sikh gurus, Guru Nanak is believed to have spent the last 17 years of his life at the site of the shrine.

Pakistan's initiative

The corridor was first proposed in 1999 when then Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took a bus ride to Lahore. Thereafter in 2000, Pakistan agreed to allow Punjabi pilgrims from India to visit the shrine without a passport and a visa by constructing a bridge from the Indian side of the border to the shrine.

In August 2018, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, upon his return from Pakistan from Imran Khan's swearing-in ceremony announced that the Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had told him that the Pakistan government would open the Kartarpur corridor on Guru Nanaks 550th birth anniversary.

However, on 19 September, Pakistan had claimed that there was no formal communication with India regarding the construction of the Kartarpur corridor. But on 22 November, 2018, hours after the Indian government approved its development from Punjab's Gurdaspur, the Pakistani government agreed to open the corridor from its side. The inauguration ceremony for the corridor in Pakistan would be led by Imran and held on 28 November.

Pilgrimages between India and Pakistan are governed by the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, which includes a list of shrines in Pakistan and India open for visitors from the other country, and for which visas are required. The Kartarpur Corridor may thus need a separate treaty for its governance.

India's action

A day ahead of the Guru Nanak Jayanti on 22 November, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the construction and development of the Kartarpur Corridor from the Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to the India-Pakistan border. The decision was made at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Ministry of External Affairs in its statement also asked Pakistan to recognise the sentiments of the Sikh community and to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in its territory from the International Border to Gurdwara Kartapur Sahib to facilitate easier access and smooth passage of India pilgrims through the year."

Sidhu controversy

On 9 September, Sidhu had written to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, urging her to "make every possible effort" for the corridor to become a reality. He also said that Pakistan has shown "positive intent" in providing access to the historic shrine.

Sidhu had claimed that he had taken the first step towards peace and spoken to Swaraj. However, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had accused Sidhu of "lying" on the issues related to the Sikh faith to further his political agenda. While Sidhu had said that the Pakistan government was waiting for an official request from India to open the route, Badal had claimed that Sidhu had deliberately made it seem like Islamabad was ready to let Punjabi pilgrims in and that the delay was from New Delhi's side.

However, later when the Centre gave a nod to the construction of the corridor, its political rivals including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hailed the government's move.

Invitation for inauguration ceremony

On 24 November, Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had extended an invitation to Sushma Swaraj, Amarinder and Sidhu to attend the ceremony at Kartarpur on 28 November.

Swaraj thanked him for the invite and said that India will send Union ministers Badal and Puri to Pakistan to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. However, Amarinder declined Pakistan's invite while Sidhu accepted the request with "with unalloyed joy".

Meanwhile, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has criticised the government's action to send two of its minister to the neighbouring country saying, "I don't think any Indian minister should go to attend any kind of event in Pakistan. They are also preventing our diplomats from accompanying the people to religious places. Until Pakistan stops sponsoring cross-border terrorism, we should not allow anyone to go there for any kind of event."
The Ministry of External Affairs welcomed Pompeo's remarks and reaffirmed the India's esolve to 'to bring justice to the families of the victims and the martyrs' of 26/11

On Sunday night, the eve of the 10th anniversary of the heinous attacks in Mumbai that claimed 166 lives and injured many others, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo issued a statement that sought to express "solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai".

Aside from noting that the US is offering a reward of $5 million to anyone who provides "information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attacks", the statement called on Pakistan to uphold its "UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates".

India's Ministry of External Affairs, in its own statement issued a few hours later, welcomed Pompeo's remarks and reaffirmed the Indian government's resolve to "to bring justice to the families of the victims and the martyrs". It's important here to keep matters in perspective and not view these statements in binaries of black and white:

First, that these represent some sort of foreign policy masterstroke by India/US/Narendra Modi/Donald Trump (depending on who is reading this); and second, that these are just pleasantries lacking in intent, conviction or dedication to cracking down on Pakistan and its harbouring of terrorists.

Before pinning down what India should actually take to heart, let's dig through some of the grey areas.

The part of the statement issued by Pompeo that called on Pakistan to crack down on the 26/11 terrorists is far from new as far as the US position is concerned. It may be recalled that the Modi-Trump joint statement in June 2017 also carried a line stating that the two leaders "called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot, and other cross-border terrorist attacks perpetrated by Pakistan-based groups".

More recently, at the inaugural two-plus-two ministerial dialogue (between the foreign and defence ministers of both countries), a statement was issued that also "called on Pakistan to bring to justice expeditiously the perpetrators of the Mumbai, Pathankot, Uri, and other cross-border terrorist attacks".

The mention of Lashkar-e-Taiba in connection with 26/11 is also nothing new. The US Department of State's 2009 Country Report on Terrorism drew reference to "the November 2008 Lashkar e-Taiba attacks in Mumbai, which killed more than 160 people", and this has remained a mainstay of statements relating to terror inflicted on India.

The consistency of the position on terror emanating from Pakistan across regimes  from Barack Obama's to Donald Trump's  is a positive, particularly considering the present US president's proclivity to fly off the handle and fire off volte face after volte face on a variety of issues across foreign and domestic policy. That the US and India are on the same page as far as terror groups harboured by Pakistan are concerned is another positive for New Delhi.

Statements of resolve and solidarity are all well and good, it can rightly be stated. But where's the action? Talk, after all, is often cheap.

That is where, rather fortunately, the Trump administration's actions over the course of this year alone have provided some succour. And three instances in particular come to mind:

Earlier this month, Trump and Prime Minister Imran Khan participated in a fairly acrimonious exchange over Twitter. A few days later, it was reported that the Pentagon had decided to suspend $1.66 billion worth of security assistance to Pakistan. David Sedney, who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary Defence for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia during the Obama administration, was quoted by PTI as saying, "So far, Pakistan has taken no serious steps to address the core US concern  that Pakistan tolerates and often encourages groups that use violence against Pakistan's neighbours."

This development came two months after the US military cancelled $300 million in aid to Pakistan that had been suspended over "Islamabad's perceived failure to take decisive action against militants". Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Kone Faulkner had said at the time, "Due to a lack of Pakistani decisive actions in support of the South Asia Strategy the remaining $300 (million) was reprogrammed."

Flashback to February this year, and in a meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the US prevailed upon China not to stand in the way of placing Pakistan back on the task force's grey list. The inducement for Beijing to go against its close friend Islamabad  depending on whom you believe  was the promise of the vice-chair of the FATF. Pakistan's return to the dreaded list officially went through in June. A further downgrade (to the blacklist) seems on the cards, considering Imran's frantic efforts to secure financial aid from friendly countries, given the International Monetary Fund's firm decision to link bailouts with a visible crackdown on terror financing and money-laundering  something Islamabad has yet to do.

Taken together, these three developments represent firm on-ground action by the US that goes beyond merely 'calling on' Pakistan to do something.

The US will likely be aware of the consequences of being firm on Pakistan vis-a-vis both the security situation in Afghanistan and the risk of driving Islamabad even closer to Beijing and in time, possibly, Moscow. But for now, it's a risk Washington has decided to take and New Delhi can take heart.
Scholar and epigraphist, MM Kalburgi, was shot dead in broad daylight at his residence in Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad, Karnataka, on 30 August 2015.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Karnataka government for "doing nothing and just fooling around" in the investigation of killing of noted scholar and rationalist MM Kalburgi in 2015 at Dharwad.

The top court indicated that it may transfer the case to Bombay High Court for supervision of investigation after looking into the status report of Karnataka government.

A bench of Justices RF Nariman and Navin Sinha asked the Karnataka government to file its status report in two weeks on the investigation done so far in the case.

"What have you (Karnataka government) done so far? Nothing. You are just fooling around. How long will you take for completing the investigation? Tell us or we will pass orders," the bench said.

Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Karnataka government said that he will have to take instructions on the time period for completing the investigation.

"You take instruction. Then we will send the matter to Bombay High Court where a similar matter is pending. You people are just doing nothing," the bench said.

77-year old Kalburgi, the former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University and a well-known scholar and epigraphist, was shot dead in broad daylight at his residence in Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad, Karnataka, on 30 August 2015. Born in 1938, he was a Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer of old Kannada literature.

The court was hearing a plea of Uma Devi Kalburgi, the widow of the slain scholar, seeking a SIT probe into the sensational murder.

Counsel, appearing for Kalburgi said that it will be better if the case is transferred to Bombay High Court for further supervision.

On 23 March the Centre had told the apex court that the NIA, being a special agency to probe national and inter-state terrorism cases, cannot investigate the killing of Kalburgi.

The Centre has referred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act and said the instant offence did not fall under the category of 'Schedule offence' under the law and hence, the probe agency cannot investigate it.

The court had earlier asked the CBI and the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to file their responses in the case.

The top court had on January 10 sought the response of probe agencies NIA and CBI and the two state governments on the allegation of Uma Devi that no substantial investigation has been carried out so far in the murder case.

Kalburgi's wife, in her petition filed through advocate Krishna Kumar, has alleged that there was common link between the murder of her husband and that of intellectual activists, Narendra Achyut Dabholkar and Govindrao Pansare, who too were assassinated in August 2013 and February 2015 respectively.

Dabholkar was shot at on 20 August 2013 in Pune, while Pansare was killed in Kolhapur in Maharashtra on 16 February 2015.

She alleged the investigations in Dabholkar and Pansare murder cases were in a "sorry state" and no progress has been made in bringing the killers to book.

The petition said that in 2016, the then Karnataka Home Minister had in a statement claimed that as per the forensic analysis of cartridges recovered from the three separate crime scenes, the three murders were linked.

It alleged that one of the weapons used in the murder of Pansare was used to kill Kalburgi and therefore coordination between Maharashtra police and Karnataka police, besides the CBI and the NIA, was required.

"Although sketches of suspects were released after four days of Kalburgi's murder and statement was issued by Karnataka government that conclusive evidence of nexus of murders of all three activists was found, there has been no progress in the investigation till date," the plea has said.
Ten years after the 26/11 attack, Mumbai police commissioner Subodh Kumar Jaiswal says that Mumbai is safe and police are competent to handle any terror threat.

It was a cool night on 26 November, 2008, when ten heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists brazenly entered Mumbai through the Arabian Sea route in a dinghy.

Minutes later, they launched one of the most brutal terrorist attacks that the world has seen, targeting several prime locations in South Mumbai, covering a 4-5 square kilometre area, leaving India shaken and the global community shocked.

The attack  at iconic locations such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Hotel Trident, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, Wadi Bunder  killed 166 persons and left another 300 injured, besides inflicting massive damage to public and private properties.

Ten years on, Mumbai police commissioner Subodh Kumar Jaiswal says that Mumbai is safe and police are competent to handle any terror threat.

"I can assure Mumbaikars that the city is safe and police are capable of protecting you from any eventuality," he said. "We have a strong and trained police force having latest equipment, weapons, strategy tactics and are always ready to deal with all the challenges," he added.

Jaiswal, who served in the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), said Mumbai Police has an excellent coordination with all state and central agencies dealing with the city security. The city has a network of around 5,000 CCTVs which help monitor any suspicious activity, he said.

First phase of memorial to be inaugurated today

Meanwhile, memories of the attack still remain fresh in the minds of residents of the city. On Monday, the first phase of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the attack will be inaugurated at the Nariman House in south Mumbai's Colaba area.

The Nariman House, which houses an outreach centre of the Jewish Chabad movement, was one of the places which were attacked, its siege ending with NSG commandos storming the building and gunning down two terrorists who had taken its residents hostage.

The first phase of the memorial will comprise a plaque on the roof of the building inscribed with the names of those who died in the 26/11 attack, Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky said on Sunday.

Signifying a new chapter of peace and a beacon of light, the building itself would be called the Nariman Light House from Sunday, he informed.

Families of victims recall incident

Sunanda Shinde was 36 when her husband, a ward boy at a south Mumbai hospital was killed by the terrorists. Ten years on, she feels the government discriminated while deciding on compensation for the 26/11 martyrs.

Sunanda's husband Bhagan Shinde worked at the Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital. That fateful night, on hearing gun shots, he had gone to a nearby phone booth to call his wife and kids when he was shot from behind at the hospital gate.

"Kin of martyrs from police got petrol pumps besides the compensation amount, a house and jobs. But the government did not allot petrol pumps to martyrs who were from government hospitals," she said.

Recalling the events of that tragic night, she said Bhagan had finished his work and was about to leave the hospital. "I was in a train, returning to the staff quarters near the hospital from my parents' residence at Chinchpokli in central Mumbai along with my elder daughter," she said.

"My husband had called me and said that he is reaching home in a few minutes. As he reached the gate, he heard heavy firing and saw terrorists heading towards the gate. He tried to close the gate, but before he could do so, collapsed after being shot by terrorists," she said.

Pravin Narkar, whose father Bhanu Narkar was killed when terrorists stormed the Cama and Albless Hospital in south Mumbai that night, says no amount of government help can help bring back his father, a security guard at the hospital.

Pravin, 30, appointed as a guard in his father's place after the attack, said his father was on duty on that fateful night. "All of us family members were calling him on his mobile phone after the news of the terror attack at Cama hospital was flashed on TV screens but his phone was not reachable," he said.

"In the wee hours of 27 November, we got a call from the hospital administration about his death in the attack. Our world crumbled," he said.

For 41-year-old Karuna Waghela, whose husband Thakur Waghela was killed by terrorists, who first asked for water to drink and then sprayed him with bullets, it has been a bleak 10 years after the tragedy.

Karuna, who works as a sweeper at the GT Hospital where her husband was a ward boy, said she could not devote time for her three children when they needed her the most as she was busy shouldering her new responsibility as breadwinner for the family.

"My son, who was just four and a half years old when his father was shot, was in shock and hasn't been able to erase the ghastly memory," she said.

The boy was also a witness in the 26/11 terror attack case, in which Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist caught alive, was sentenced to death.

With inputs from agencies
The Modi government firmly asserted its right to choose Rajan's successor and brought in Urjit Patel in a seamless transition. But the legacy of the past seemed to have infected Patel who seems to be more eager to play the role of the mentor to the finance ministry than an enabler.

"You will soon be talking to a new foreign secretary," said Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi announcing the sacking of the incumbent at a televised press conference in 1986.

Foreign secretary AP Venkateswaran was a distinguished diplomat with 36 years service but was not getting along with Gandhi on various issues. Hence the swift and clinical retribution. Venkateswaran resigned immediately.

Some young officers of the Indian Foreign Service tried to protest but it all fizzled out. That was perhaps the last time a prime minister was seen asserting his offices strength openly, demonstrably and most arrogantly. Gandhi could afford to flaunt the power of the highest executive office of the country. He was heading a government with 404 party MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Since then the relationship between the political executive and the bureaucracy has undergone a sea change. Delhi has witnessed only coalition governments  even a minority one -- with all allies hankering for the spoils. With the prime minister on the back foot, everybody rushed in to fill the power vacuum. Thirty years of striking political compromises and managing contradictions took the sheen of off the prime minister's authority so much that the counter to Rajivs public display of the arrogance of power came from son Rahul who, in 2013 tore apart a copy of the ordinance cleared by prime minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet.

What was now in full public view was the diminished power of the prime minister and the executive.

In these three decades, the bureaucracy seems to have become used to working with weak and accommodating political executives, except for a few interregnums. Take for instance the trend of union ministers picking as their private secretaries officers known less for their yes minister conduct but for their ability to mobilise industrialists for payoff. That more and more Indian Revenue Service officials are being inducted as personal staff is a testimony to changing remit of their jobs and their growing importance.

The trouble is that the bureaucracy is yet to take note of the fact that the BJP, leading todays government, is not on the back foot thanks its numbers.

It is in this context that the ongoing feud among various government agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is quite pertinent. At the same time, the standoff between the government and the RBI is also spin off from an emerging political culture where the bureaucracy has developed a proclivity to lead, rather than advise, the political executive.

Consider the example of CBI director Alok Verma who is reported to have stated on oath that his deputy Rakesh Asthana, along with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi and an officer of the PMO, conspired to implicate Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam to further their political objectives. Verma claims he was conscious of this political objective (Nitish leaving Lalu and joining the NDA bandwagon) and hence was cautious.

That is an absurd formulation from the head of an investigative agency whose job is to probe the crime and not its political ramifications. His position in the entire case reads like that of a politician, not a police investigative officer. That his political proclivities have taken better of him was evident when he gave audience to Arun Shourie and Prashant Bhushan who demanded a probe into the Rafale deal. Never in the history of the CBI had a director ever lent himself to such political manipulation as Verma did.

Verma was not alone. He was ably assisted by his juniors within the agency and his counterpart in ED, Karnal Singh who launched a tirade against the finance ministry. In one of the most brazen attempts, an officer with dubious track record shot off even a letter to finance secretary Hasmukh Adhia accusing him of hobnobbing with racketeers. Adhia, known for his impeccable integrity and honesty, found himself needlessly embroiled in this free-for-all.

The way Verma's deputy, Rakesh Asthana, was in open revolt of his boss was also unprecedented leaving the government no option but to bring the full might of the executive to bear upon the warring sides.

With the RBI which has been gradually assuming an adversarial role with the government, the context is different but the bureaucracy-executive equations are not. Take the manner in which Raghuram Rajan scoffed at Prime Minister Narendra Modis Make in India campaign and commented on issues that were related more to politics than to economics. After the 2014 Lok Sabha election, he was consistently projected as the sole saviour of the Indian economy by a section of media and intelligentsia. When Rajans term was not renewed, this section cried blue murder and declared that the economy would be ruined.

The Modi government firmly asserted its right to choose Rajan's successor and brought in Urjit Patel in a seamless transition. But the legacy of the past seemed to have infected Patel who seems to be more eager to play the role of the mentor to the finance ministry than an enabler. Once again, the RBIs collective memory of dealing with weak governments in the past appears to have played a critical role in determining Patels conduct. But he found a government that was not going to be shy of letting him know calls the shots.

What is particularly disturbing is the manner in which the Congress in general and its president Rahul Gandhi in particular have been encouraging insurrection within the bureaucracy to subvert the Modi government. Look at his tweets referring to Urijit Patels spine or his utterances on the government move to send Verma on leave and its alleged connection with the Rafale deal. Rahul has been desperately doing politics by other means  fomenting trouble within the government. Some bureaucrats whose careers progressed in the three-decade old culture of dealing with weak political executives are falling victims to his political chicanery.

There is an uncanny similarity in this strategy with that of UPA governments attempt to topple the Modi government in Gujarat in the past. During Modis stint as the chief minister, the Congress provoked rebellion within the state bureaucracy and encouraged a section of IAS and IPS officers to turn against him. Modi not only successfully foiled that attempt but also emerged much stronger. It is clear he will put down such attempts with all the authority that the office of the prime minister of India brings with it.

The bureaucracy needs to quickly learn to re-set itself to work with a strong political executive and act as an enabler instead of assuming a larger-than-life role for itself.
The petition has alleged that due to vote bank politics, successive governments did nothing to repeal Article 370 and Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir was adopted much after the Indian Constitution came into force.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a fresh petition on Article 370, which gives special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, and said that the issues raised in it were already part of the pending pleas.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Ajay Rastogi asked the petitioner to file an application for impleadment in the pending matters.

During the brief hearing, the bench asked the petitioner as to why he wanted to increase the number of petitions on the issue. "We have heard the petitioner. The issues raised in the petition are part of the petitions pending," said the bench.

The petition filed by advocate Vijay Mishra and Sandeep Lamba has sought a declaration that Article 370 of the Constitution had lapsed with the dissolution of constituent assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on 26 January 1957 and it cannot be treated as mandatory for exercise of powers of the President.

The plea has also sought that the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir be declared as "arbitrary, unconstitutional and void", claiming that it was against the supremacy of the Indian Constitution and contrary to the dictum of "One Nation, One Constitution, One National Anthem and One National Flag".

It has sought declaring as arbitrary some provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution, which deals with permanent residency and flag of the valley among other issues, for being violative of the Preamble and the Indian Constitution.

The petition has said that continuance of two parallel constitutions, one for the Centre and other for the state of Jammu and Kashmir, "reeks of a weird dichotomy" as most of the provisions of the Indian Constitution has already been extended to the state.

It has alleged that due to vote bank politics, successive governments did nothing to repeal Article 370 and Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir was adopted much after the Indian Constitution came into force.

It also added that the instrument of accession of 26 October 1947 does not talk about separate Constitution or constituent assembly for the state.
This is Abdulla Shahid's first visit after assuming charge as foreign minister of Maldives and assumes significance as the ties between both the countries had severely strained under the previous government in the island nation.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday met her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid to "deepen" bilateral cooperation and ensure peace and security in the region.

This is Shahid's first visit after assuming charge as foreign minister of Maldives and assumes significance as the ties between both the countries had severely strained under the previous government in the island nation.

"Working together to fulfil the developmental priorities of Maldives. EAM @SushmaSwaraj and FM of Maldives @abdulla_shahid had a warm and productive meeting on deepening bilateral cooperation and to ensure peace and security in the region," MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted.

Earlier, Swaraj had "warmly" received Shahid and also congratulated him on his appointment as foreign minister. "Harmonious synergy of India's 'Neighbourhood First' & Maldives 'India First' policy. EAM @SushmaSwaraj warmly receivd (received) Foreign Minister of Maldives @adbulla_shahid on his 1st foreign visit to India. EAM congratulated FM Shahid on his appointment as new Foreign Minister of Maldives," Kumar tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on 17 November in Male.

Solih, as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate, had surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election held on 23 September.

India-Maldives ties had deteriorated significantly under Yameen who was perceived to be close to China.

Some decisions by Yameen including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing also did not go down well with New Delhi.

Relations between India and the Maldives slumped further after Yameen imposed emergency on 5 February this year.

India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners. The emergency lasted for 45 days.
The Nariman House, which houses an outreach centre of the Jewish Chabad movement, was one of the theatres of terror on 26 November, 2008, its siege ending with NSG commandos storming the building and gunning down two terrorists who had taken its residents hostage.

On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the first phase of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the attack will be inaugurated on Monday at the Nariman Light House in south Mumbai's Colaba area. The Nariman House, also known as Chabad house, has been converted into a 'living memorial' dedicated to those killed in the carnage. The building itself was renamed as Nariman Light House on Sunday, signifying a new chapter of peace and a beacon of light.

The Nariman House, which houses an outreach centre of the Jewish Chabad movement, was one of the theatres of terror on 26 November, 2008, its siege ending with NSG commandos storming the building and gunning down two terrorists who had taken its residents hostage.

The first phase of the memorial will comprise a plaque on the roof of the building inscribed with the names of those who died in the 26/11 attack, Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky said on Sunday.

The memorial is not only for the ones killed in the building but for all the victims of the attacks. "This is the only place which is dedicated to the victims of the 26/11 attack. The Taj (hotel) has one and the Oberoi (hotel) has a plaque, but those are only for the people killed at those places," the Rabbi said. "As we know, it was not six different attacks. It was one attack at six different places. We felt that we needed to make a place which will commemorate all those killed," he added.

The plaque would have water constantly streaming from a fountain, signifying the flow of life, and would be surrounded by plants, Kozlovsky said. Six planks with the paintings of the six places targeted that day  the Taj and Oberoi hotels, the Leopold Cafe, the Kuber boat, the Cama Hospital and the Nariman House  would be another feature of the memorial, he added.

"The Nariman House will be called the Nariman Light House from Sunday and will serve as a beacon of light. It will be symbolic of the fact that there is light at the end of every tunnel. It is only through positivity that the message of peace can be spread across all humanity," Kozlovsky said.

The second phase of the memorial, expected to be completed in a year, would be located on the fourth and fifth floors of the building and would be themed "from darkness to light", Kozlovsky said.

It would tell the world that the only way to lead life was to abide by the virtues of humanity, spread positivity and become a harbinger of hope, the Rabbi added.

The fifth floor is where Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his pregnant wife Rivka lived with their son Moshe. In the attack, while Moshe was saved by his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel while Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka were killed in the attack.

"The fifth floor would show the Jewish way of life," Kozlovsky told The Deccan Herald. When a person reaches the fourth floor, he/she will be able to see the fractured door and the bullet-ridden hall. "Here, there will be an audio-video display of the events of 26/11 and a room on global terrorism," he said.

What happened on 29 November 2008

On the evening of 26 November, 2008, two terrorists  Babar Imran and Nasir  had raided the Jewish centre at the Nariman House and killed four of its residents.

One among the eight synagogues in Mumbai, the couple ran a cultural and outreach centre for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in the five-storey landmark building in south Mumbai's Colaba area.

In the firefight with the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos that lasted two days, the two terrorists were killed. Commando Gajendra Singh Bisht was also killed during the operation.

Days after the attack reports emerged indicating that the Chabad house was a prime target of the 26/11 attacks. The two terrorists  Nasir and Imran  had been fed clear instructions to execute the Chabad House siege to perfection. When asked during interrogation why the Nariman House was specifically targetted, Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the face of the Mumbai terror attacks, reportedly told the police they wanted to sent a message to Jews across the world by attacking the ultra orthodox synagogue, reported DNA.

On 26 November, 2008 Islamist militants from Pakistan unleashed a wave of violence across Mumbai that lasted three days, that left 166 people dead and hundreds more injured. They struck several targets in a series of coordinated attacks, including luxury hotels, the city's main railway station, a restaurant popular with tourists and a Jewish centre. The ten attackers  who were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades  belonged to Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Coastal security needs a renewed push for implementation of the ongoing schemes that would lead to the formation of a formidable security apparatus.

New Delhi: A decade elapses on Monday since the horrific 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, but India's 7,516-kilometre-long coastline stretched over nine states and four Union Territories is far from secure as little has been done to adequately foolproof the maritime boundary. In this entire period, all that was done was a mere half-hearted attempt to develop specialised capabilities in marine operations.

On 26 November 2008 Pakistani terrorists with weapons came undetected through the sea route and unleashed mayhem. And just months later a shocking event took place. In June 2009, during the inauguration of the BandraWorli Sea Link, it had taken police three days to locate a patrolling boat that was stationed for surveillance operation.

It was embarrassing and facts were kept secret by senior officers but they candidly mentioned this during internal meetings that marine capabilities of the police are very limited and they need better training to dominate high seas. It seems the country has not followed a particular mechanism in its totality and that is the reason only 2 lakh boats out of roughly 4-5 lakh are registered despite a major push from the Centre post 26/11.

The situation regarding police boats needed for patrolling is far from satisfactory. According to documents reviewed by Firstpost, the Ministry of Home Affairs is working in close coordination with the coastal states to develop a system to ensure timely repairing of patrol boats. The government has already allocated Rs 1,451 crore for procurement of new boats till 2020 but the optimal utilisation of the budget in the last few years is not encouraging. Sources said, only 23 out of 60 sanctioned jetties in the vicinity of coastal police stations has been completed directly impacting the effective operations and response.

While some states have reported inability to operate large boats available with them, others have shown willingness to have such boats due to their ability to navigate further in the sea. This contrast is surprising simply because the Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned these boats to different states only after due consultation with the states. It is correct that construction of sanctioned infrastructure has been delayed because it is a time-consuming process and we need to dedicate more resources for the task, said sources.

Even the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in its report last year had said the ministry was unable to implement critical projects within the set timeframe and this was bound to have ramifications on the overall intended coastal security system. The panel headed by Congress leader P Chidambaram had also observed that the procurement of motorboats has suffered an inordinate delay while recommending the centre to make sincere efforts to complete their procurement at the earliest.

Coastal security is an important challenge the country is facing on the external front. Funds are being provided to the states for marine policing and coastal security but several states have failed to spend the funds fully while some projects under Coastal Security Scheme are facing delayed implementation. The States do not seem to be fully alive to the enormity of the challenge or to the huge responsibility that they have agreed to share regarding Coastal security. There should be regular meetings with State governments to sensitise them and joint hand with the Central government in monitoring all coastal security related projects so that our security system could be strengthened, the Parliamentary Standing Committee report said.

Another major issue that is threatening coastal security is lack of coordination among different agencies. Documents suggest that government recently entrusted the task to hammer out the difference in coordination with Indian Coast Guard, Intelligence Bureau and state police. It said the three stakeholders will devise solution to address coordination issues between Indian Coast Guard and State Police.

Indian Navy is the lead agency for securing Indias maritime interests and trade while the Indian Coast Guard has the overall responsibility for coastal security in territorial waters and for the security of maritime zones. There has been a clamour post-Mumbai attacks that Indian Coast Guard, which comes under Ministry of Defence should be placed under Ministry of Home Affairs for better coordination. A committee was also formed to examine the option but the Ministry of Defence earlier this year had rejected the proposal. According to documents they have two options to further strengthen coast security -- by bringing Indian Coast Guard under Ministry of Home Affairs or raising a dedicated Indian Reserve Battalions earmarked for marine security.

Indian Coast Guard being a functional and well-established force operating in the coastal region, its familiarity with operational challenges and threats, its personnel being well trained for sea operations and that bringing it under Ministry of Home Affairs would lead to better coordination between the two ministries. There is need to further expand the mandate of the coast guard giving it overall responsibility for prevention of intrusion via the sea route, enabling them to operate in shallow waters, making them responsible for the protection of onshore and offshore installations by physical domination and for collecting intelligence from the local community. It is an ideal force for handling responsibilities and placing it under Ministry of Home Affairs would resolve issues of coordination with Central agencies including Intelligence Bureau, R&AW, Border Security Force, Narcotics Control Bureau etc and with state agencies as well. Raising the India Reserve Battalions would upgrade the capability of state governments and enhance coordination as the dedicated force would have the potential of having good local connect and intelligence, said a document.

A senior officer said in the last one decade more than Rs 2,250 crore has been spent on strengthening the coast guard and setting up coastal police and yet the sea borders have not been entirely secured.

Greatest problem of the coast guard is that they cannot operate in shallow waters near the coast and the police are equally ill-equipped to operate in such areas also known as amphibious zones. Maritime boundary should be treated as one unit instead of being divided into different states as it is being done in the case of other borders and a dedicated amphibious coastal force can be created with capabilities to operate on both land as well sea failing which no improvements would take place even in the next 10-12 years, the officer said.

India doesnt need a plethora of agencies that may further complicate the issues of coordination between various stakeholders. Coastal security needs a renewed push for implementation of the ongoing schemes that would lead to the formation of a formidable security apparatus.
India marks the tenth anniversary on Monday of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead and hundreds more injured.

India marks the tenth anniversary on Monday of the Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead and hundreds more injured. On 26 November, 2008 terrorists unleashed a wave of violence across India's financial capital that lasted three days and played out on TV news channels around the world.

The ten attackers  who were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades  belonged to Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). They struck several targets in a series of coordinated attacks, including luxury hotels, the city's main railway station, a restaurant popular with tourists, a Jewish centre and a hospital.

The Hotel Taj Mahal Palace and Tower

The iconic hotel was the epicentre of the attack, after four terrorists laid siege to the hotel and fired indiscriminately inside restaurants and conference rooms, and took several guests  both national and international hostage for at least 48 hours.

According to reports, 31 people died in the siege that lasted over 60 hours. The victims included guests and hotel staff. The terrorists also detonated explosives and set parts of the building  including its famous dome  on fire. The dramatic scenes were beamed live on television as Indian commandos battled the heavily armed gunmen and guests tried to escape out of windows using bed sheets.

India's security forces only retook control of the hotel on the morning of 29 November.

The Oberoi-Trident hotel

Another opulent location that the terrorists attacked was the Oberoi-Trident hotel on the sea-facing promenade of Marine Drive in the city. A report by The Indian Express said, "Being much larger than Taj Mahal hotel in terms of spatial capacity, the rescue operation at the Oberoi-Trident was extremely slow.

"The two hotels being interconnected, consist of 800 rooms between them. An approximate larger number of hostages were under siege here than at the Taj."

More than 30 people also died at the Oberoi and Trident hotels in a 42-hour siege involving shootings, explosions, and taking foreign guests hostage. Reportedly, foreign nationals were the prime target of the attack on the hotel.

Nariman House

Six hostages were killed at Nariman House, a Jewish cultural and religious centre. The victims included Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his pregnant wife Rivka, while their two-year-old son Moshe, escaped with the help of his nanny Sandra Samuel. On Monday, the first phase of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the attack will be inaugurated at the Nariman House in south Mumbai's Colaba area. Samuel laments that the 'scars' of Chabad House have not been wiped out even 10 years later.

Samuel and Moshe had visited the city in January, after which she returned in May. According to reports, she felt the situation was "terrible". "They have kept the fourth and fifth floor same and on the third floor they have broken everything and made (it) into one big open space. The pillar and everything has bullet marks. It is very terrible for me. It broke me, it shook me," Samuel said.

The Nariman House, which houses an outreach centre of the Jewish Chabad movement, was one of the places which were attacked. The siege on the building ended when NSG commandos stormed the premises and killed the two terrorists who had taken the residents hostage.

The first phase of the memorial, which will be inaugurated on Monday, will comprise a plaque on the roof of the building inscribed with the names of those who died in the 26/11 attack, Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky said on Sunday. Signifying a new chapter of peace and a beacon of light, the building itself would be called the Nariman Light House, he informed.

CST station and Leopold Cafe

At least 50 people died in the attack on the Chhattrapati Shivaji Terminus in Fort. Two terrorists  one of whom was Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving gunman caught by security forces  entered the crowded station around 9.30 pm and started firing indiscriminately. Reportedly, the attack on CST was the first target of the night. The attack lasted for just above an hour.

A popular choice of foreign nationals, the Leopold Cafe was the third target of the terrorists. At least 10 people were killed in the attack on the cafe. When the cafe opened its doors a month later, the owners decided to retain its bullet-riddled walls and mirrors. These became a symbol of the 'spirit' of the city from that night.

Cama hospital

The nurses in the Fort-based Cama and Albless hospital were hailed for their presence of mind which helped save the lives of the patients and hotel staff. Reportedly, the staff put off all the lights in the premises which resulted in the terrorists getting disoriented. Ajmal Kasab was one of the two who attacked the hospital also.

A report by The Hindu said, "The darkness misled Kasab and his accomplice who could not understand that it was a hospital. The children and women's hospital had many pregnant women admitted at that time."

With inputs from agencies
'Time heals', they say. But for Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg  the grandfather of Moshe Holtzberg who survived the 26/11 carnage at the age of two, having lost his parents to the terror attack on the Nariman House  time could not heal their trauma despite a decade has passed since the tragedy struck the family.

Jerusalem: "Time heals", they say. But for Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg  the grandfather of Moshe Holtzberg who survived the 26/11 carnage at the age of two, having lost his parents to the terror attack on the Nariman House  time could not heal their trauma despite a decade has passed since the tragedy struck the family.

In 2008, on this day, Moshe became an orphan. His father Rabbi Gavriel and mother Rivka, who was five months pregnant at the time, were killed by Pakistani terrorists along with four other hostages at the Nariman House, Mumbai's Chabad Lubavitch Jewish centre. Moshe was in the same building at that time. His Indian nanny Sandra Samuel found him sitting next to his parents' bullet-riddled bodies, crying and alive. She risked her life and fled the building with the baby.

The boy, who is now 12 years old, lives in Israel with his maternal grandparents. Sandra, 54, has been felicitated by the Israeli government as an honorary citizen. She lives in Jerusalem but visits Moshe every weekend. "Time heals, they say, but for us the pain has only intensified over the last ten years as we see the boy growing," Rosenberg told PTI on the 10th anniversary of the nightmarish attacks that shook the world. "As Moshe grows and his inquisitive mind raises questions it is increasingly difficult for us to handle," he said, adding that it hurts them immensely when he asks about his parents and why he is growing up with his ageing grandparents. "We are growing old and his questions are quite natural," Rosenberg said.

The grandfather, however, is very appreciative of the support his family has received from the Indian government and people, which makes him believe that it is a "shared" pain. "I appreciate the government and people of India for the way they have stood by us and made us feel that it is a shared pain. We thank them for the relationship they have built with us and the warmth they have extended to us," he said recalling the family's trip with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Mumbai in early 2018. "People can say and complain about all sorts of things like security lapse, etc, but we believe in God. The feeling of oneness demonstrated by Indians is heartwarming and we appreciate it a lot," Rosenberg asserted. Moshe's nanny Sandra said Moshe has grown into an intelligent boy. "I can't believe its been ten years. Feel as if it was just now. The thought of it trembles me and is terrifying but the sight of Moshe gives a lot of strength. He is now such an intelligent big boy who will have his bar mitzvah next year," Sandra told PTI. The bar mitzvah is a ceremony performed for Jewish boys at the age of 13. Some Israeli scholars compare the ceremony to the Hindu upanayana or the sacred thread ceremony.

Sandra's pictures of holding the little boy close to her chest after escaping from the place touched the hearts of millions of people all over the world. "I will always regret not being able to do anything for Rivki and Rabbi Holtzberg. Also that they cannot see their child growing up. He is such a bright child. They would have been proud of him," a choking Sandra said. The family celebrated Moshe's 12th birthday about three weeks ago at his school and at home with close family as per the Hebrew calendar. As per the Gregorian calendar, he will turn 12 on 28 November. The boy's grandparents had planned to celebrate his bar mitzvah in 2019 at the Chabad House where he was born and lost his parents, but seem to have changed their mind following their trip in January to India with Netanyahu. "The pain is just too traumatic for him to go through once again. He was deeply impacted by the site during his visit and his psychologist also feels that it would not be a good idea to push him to celebrate his bar mitzvah there," Rosenberg said.

In an emotional meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 July, 2017 in Jerusalem, the young boy expressed his wish to be able to visit Mumbai. "I hope I will be able to visit Mumbai, and when I get older, live there. I will be the director of our Chabad House...I love you and your people in India," Moshe told the prime minister who embraced the young boy on seeing him. Modi responded by saying, "Come and stay in India and Mumbai. You are most welcome. You and your all family members will get long-term visas. So you can come anytime and go anywhere." Netanyahu had then promptly asked Moshe to join him when he travels to India, a promise he did not forget and the family accompanied him during his trip to India earlier this year. India issued 10-year multiple entry visas to Moshe and his grandparents to ease their travel to the country in August 2017. Modi is said to have personally followed up on the matter as promised to Moshe during their meeting.

In 26/11, ten LeT members carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on 26 November and lasted till 29 November. At least 174 people, including nine attackers, died and over 300 were wounded. Eight of the attacks occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Palace and Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, the Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St Xavier's College. Explosions took place at the Mazagaon docks and in a taxi at Vile Parle.
Mukhtar Ahmed Sheikh had made it possible to intercept the 26/11 death squad's calls  and prove Pakistan's role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks  but he remains nearly unknown. He neither received a medal, nor a reward. Instead, he was held in prison for three months on spurious charges.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on 26 November, 2018. It is being republished on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the terror attacks that rocked the city of Mumbai

Late on the night of 26/11, voices rose deep inside the bowels of a forgotten, colonial-era building in central Delhi. They echoed every secret word shared between the men who had come bearing death, every intimate whisper, every moment of killing. Through the night, a small group of men gathered inside the room where this strange haunting was underway, listening impassively for hour after hour, as 166 people were slaughtered. From inside the room, they saw 26/11 with the dispassion of gods, a whirlwind of blood that could be recorded, paused, rewound.

In August 2008, a Jammu and Kashmir Police agent had infiltrated the Lashkar-e-Taiba and planted 22 cellphone SIM cards on its commanders, destined for use in their operations across India. The cards were listed on an Intelligence Bureau watch list. When the 26/11 death squad powered-up their cellphones, a computer flickered on.

The one-time autorickshaw driver-turned-spy who made it possible to intercept the death squad's calls  and thus, to prove Pakistan's role in 26/11  remains nearly unknown. He neither received a medal, nor a reward. Instead, he was held in prison for three months on spurious charges. His family lives in Kashmir, at continuous threat from terrorists.

In another other country, the story of Mukhtar Ahmed Sheikh and what happened to him would be a national scandal. It is, in more than one sense, the last ghost of 26/11.

Born in Srinagar's Rang Parestan neighbourhood, Mukhtar's introduction to the spy world was almost accidental. Pulled into the murderous world of Kashmir's insurgency in the mid-1990s, his brother lived for many years in the grey zone shared by the ideological jihadist, the drug dealer and the police informer. Early in 2006, the Hizbul Mujahideen executed Mukhtar's brother on allegations of passing on information to the police.

For years, Mukhtar had stayed away from Kashmir, choosing, instead, to make a living as an autorickshaw driver in Kolkata and Chennai. Later, he wanted revenge and was recruited by a police unit operating under then Inspector General of Police, SM Sahai.

The world of spies, in films, involves fast cars, luxury yachts, private jets and the obligatory starlets. In return for risking his life, Mukhtar earned Rs 1,500 a month as a follower  the lowest rank in the police, and the only one available to individuals without middle school qualifications.

From 2006, Sheikh made contact with mid-level Lashkar commanders in South Kashmir as well as Srinagar, providing safe houses, ferrying messages and arranging for transport. The organisation did not trust him, but Mukhtar passed every test. The police quietly ensured that the units he was working for were never targeted, at least when their agent might be suspected of having a role.

Then, in August 2008, came an unusual request: the organisation needed a large numbers of SIM cards that would work outside Kashmir. Mukhtar flew down to Kolkata, where he had friends from his days as an autorickshaw driver, and purchased 22 of them.

In Srinagar, Sahai, who had launched a series of path-breaking efforts to penetrate the Lashkar, run on little other than guile, wrote to the Intelligence Bureau's local station. The letter, despatched to then Intelligence Bureau station chief Arun Chaudhury, listed the numbers they had purchased and warned of their probable use outside the state.

Then 26/11 happened, and the Intelligence Bureau was able to listen in, in real time, to the attackers' conversations with their control room in Karachi, even though they were masked by fake voice-over-internet-protocol numbers. The calls included damning evidence on the role of top Lashkar commanders Muzammil Bhat and Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi.

Even as Pakistan went public denying its link to the attackers and blaming the strikes on an Indian jihadist group instead, India had evidence to nail the lie.

Within days of 26/11, the Mumbai Police identified the SIM cards recovered from the 10-man death squad as having been purchased in West Bengal. Kolkata's Anti-Terrorism Squad was soon able to identify the man who bought them as an ethnic Kashmiri who once worked in the city and arranged for his friends to call him back. Early in December, Mukhtar was arrested.

Furious protests from the Jammu and Kashmir Police did nothing to help. The Intelligence Bureau knew the truth, but chose not to step in: Mukhtar would spend the next three months in prison without bail.

Intelligence Bureau insiders claim that the then chief, Nehchal Sandhu, was pushed by circumstance to allow Mukhtar to rot in jail. News that the SIM cards had been purchased in Kolkata had leaked via the Mumbai Police, and New Delhi couldn't afford to be seen as ignoring Pakistan's demands to identify the person who bought them.

At the same time, it is argued that Sandhu had to keep Mukhtar's actions secret, and thus allowed him to remain in prison while a strategy emerged.

Police officers in Kashmir, though, have a less charitable explanation.

"The truth is the spooks were hogging the limelight," one senior officer argued, "and didn't want it known that a bunch of nobodies had done a better job of penetrating the Lashkar-e-Taiba than they would have ever achieved."

Feuds between the Intelligence Bureau's Kashmir station and its counter-terrorism division in New Delhi, a third line of argument, sealed Mukhtar's fate. The counter-terrorism division, some officers claim, was furious it had been kept out of Sahai's Lashkar infiltration plans, and thus saw no reason to save Mukhtar.

There's no way of knowing the truth until files are opened, or a proper investigation is initiated. For three months, though, Mukhtar remained in prison, facing potential criminal trial for having facilitated the 26/11 attacks. He was finally released without charge, but was never rewarded with the medals anyone else with a similar intelligence coup to their credit would have received.

India's government, it seemed, was content not to have to add a Kashmiri Muslim hero to the 26/11 roster.

The least the Government of India could have done would have been to relocate his family and assign Mukhtar to a safer posting, but without patrons in New Delhi, there's been no one to push the case. Sahai and other officers involved in handling Mukhtar  those who came up with the whole operation to penetrate the Lashkar  weren't involved either.

Sahai is no longer involved in active police work and, instead, works on strategy issues with the National Security Council.

In the years since, though, Mukhtar has continued to work for the Jammu and Kashmir Police, volunteering for a role one officer described as "extremely high risk". In 2012, he figured in a series of covert operations targeting the Lashkar and the Hizbul Mujahideen.

"Every single day," the officer said, "I'm guessing he wakes up wondering if he's going to die, or hear that someone from his family has been killed."
The gun battle took place at a forest in Kistaram area bordering Telangana, around 500 km from Raipur when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukmas Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena

Two police personnel and nine Naxals were killed in an ongoing encounter between Naxals and security personnel on Friday in the forest area of Saklar village in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

The gun battle took place at a forest in Kistaram area bordering Telangana, around 500 kilometres from Raipur, when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukmas superintendent of police Abhishek Meena told PTI. ANI reported that a huge cache of weapons was also recovered. Further details are awaited as the encounter is still underway.

On Sunday, two Naxals were killed and a police personnel was injured in encounters in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district. The gunbattles took place when teams of police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) were out on anti-Naxal operations in Gangaloor and Madded areas.

Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg said that a combined squad of DRG and STF was cordoning off the jungles between Nilamadgu and Korinjed in Madded area, 450 kilometres from Raipur when it came under fire from the rebels.
For Ayodhya, VHP international working president Alok Kumar said on Sunday that the outfit will hold gatherings in every Lok Sabha constituency till 6 December to garner support for building a Ram temple at the side.

Nagpur: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president Alok Kumar said on Sunday that the outfit will hold gatherings in every Lok Sabha constituency till 6 December to garner support for building a Ram temple at Ayodhya.

The VHP will "order" the MPs to support a law for the construction of the Ram temple, he said at a rally in Nagpur.

While the first case in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue was filed in 1950, the matter is still dragging on, Kumar said, adding the Supreme Court had ordered the district court hearing the criminal case related to the conspiracy to demolish Babri Masjid, to decide the matter by March 2019.

Why then did the apex court not expedite the hearing of appeals on the title suit of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid in the same way, he asked.

The VHP leader cited the example of the ordinance which restored provisions related to immediate arrest in the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Arrest) Act after the Supreme Court had diluted it, and argued that even when a matter is before a court, a law can be brought in the matter.

"Starting from this month, from today itself, VHP will conduct 547 sabha (gatherings) in all Lok Sabha constituencies and meet respective MPs, and order them to support the law for Ram temple as asked by people," Kumar said.
Sources alleged that the AAP's representatives mostly remained absent during the three-day-long door-to-door survey of voters, conducted after the party's complaint.

The Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi had recently complained to the Election Commission about "mass deletion" of names from the voters list in complicity with BJP. However, sources alleged that the party's representatives mostly remained absent during the three-day-long door-to-door survey of voters.

The allegation comes on a day when the Delhi government called a special session of the Assembly to protest "illegal deletion of names of voters" from the voters' list.

A source in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Delhi wondered, "How can the party express informed views about the voters list when its representatives were not present during a major part of the survey?" According to the source, the representatives were present only for two to three hours per day, while the survey went on for several hours every day.

The AAP had alleged mass deletion of the names of voters by the Chief Electoral Officer in Delhi in the last four years without following due process. Following this, the Election Commission ordered a door-to-door survey of voters. As per this order, the officers had to conduct this exercise in specific localities in Delhi in the presence of representatives of the AAP.

However, the claim made by the source raises serious doubts about the veracity of the party's allegation.

Sources in the commission also said that nothing erroneous about the deletion of names from voters list was found even during the limited period of time that the AAP representatives were present in the survey.

But when they issued statements in the media, they presented a view which was totally different from the reality, the official further said.

The survey was conducted on 16, 17 and 18 November after a complaint by AAP's national spokesperson Raghav Chadha. Eleven teams were formed to conduct the survey.

The party maintained its stand on the issue even after the survey.

Speaking to Firstpost on the allegations, Chadha said that at the very outset of the survey, it was discovered that the process was erroneous as the election officials were carrying the wrong voters list.

The lists of deleted voters which were downloaded from the Election Commission's website were different from the ones which the election officials carried. What is the point in conducting the survey with a wrong voters list? How can a correct audit be conducted with a wrong voters list? he asked.

He also expressed doubts on whether the commission even has an exhaustive list of deleted voters.

Chadha further said, During the survey, several people revealed that their names had been deleted from the electoral roll. It was noticed, however, that their names were neither in the deleted voters' list uploaded by the EC nor in the voters list carried by the inspection officers for verification.

However, the office of the Chief Election Officer has categorically denied this allegation in an official statement issued to the media.

Officials on Monday told Firstpost that the Chief Electoral Officer has already submitted a detailed report to the Election Commission after the ground level survey, and has found that the procedure followed for deletion of names from voters lists was accurate up to 99.99 percent.

Deletion of names from the voters' list is a regular process followed by the commission to ensure that only people ordinarily residing in a constituency have their names in the concerned voters list. The Chief Electoral Officer has to follow a detailed procedure to delete the name of a voter, which includes informing the voter, physical verification of his or her residential address, and also obtaining signatures from witnesses at the time of deletion.

The issue of deletion of names of voters from the electoral rolls will be discussed on Tuesday during the Vidhan Sabha's special session. On Monday, the recent attack on Kejriwal was the topic of discussion.

This is not the first time that the AAP has been engaged in a spat with the Election Commission. Earlier, it had raised allegations of EVM tampering during elections, which it failed to prove.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekar called for Dalits and Muslims of the country to unite under one banner to defeat the BJP

Lucknow: The Bhim Army on Monday said it will not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and instead support the candidates fielded jointly by the opposition parties against the BJP.

Bhim Army chief Chandrashekar alias Ravan called for Dalits and Muslims of the country to unite under one banner to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "which talks of changing the Constitution".

"Neither are we going to constitute a (political) party nor will we contest (Lok Sabha elections). We will make 'Bahujan Samaj' aware and unite them against the BJP," he told reporters.

"The BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) is strong and I want a strong alliance of other parties with it. I also appeal to all (non-BJP parties) to contest the elections under the leadership of (BSP supremo) Mayawati. I ask all Dalit organisations to unite," he said.

He further claimed to have the support of the country's "Muslim brothers" and said everyone was uniting against the BJP.

"We will uproot the BJP, which talks of changing the Constitution," he said.

The Bhim Army chief further accused the saffron party of taking refuge in issues like Ram Temple whenever elections approach but this time, he said, even Lord Ram will not save them.

Asked about the purpose of his Ayodhya visit, Chandrashekar said he came to find out the "reality" after receiving reports that Muslims were migrating from the temple town.

"I have got some messages that Muslims are migrating. I have realised that there is no such situation here," he said.

"I met officers and they assured me that they will not let any such thing (migration) happen and yesterday's event also passed off peacefully," he said referring to Vishwa Hindu Parishad's 'Dharam Sabha' to press for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Omar Abdullah feels that the BJP is yet to answer many questions, including 'why it entered an alliance with the PDP and why it withdrew all of a sudden?'

New Delhi: The NDA government's handling of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in an ad-hoc and experimental manner has pushed the state several years back, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday.

After a hectic political week, Abdullah feels that the BJP is yet to answer many questions, including "why it entered an alliance with the PDP and why it withdrew all of a sudden?"

Another question which the people of the state will definitely be asking is why despite having 26 MLAs, the BJP decided to lend support to a two-member party (led by Sajjad Lone), he said.

With his National Conference already into election mode, Abdullah criticised the BJP over its handling of the political turmoil in Kashmir.

"Keeping in mind the 2019 elections, the BJP keeps changing its goalposts, confusing people. They have pushed the state several years back," he claimed.

Commenting on the alliance of 'conflicting and contrasting' ideologies, Abdullah said, "When the BJP and the PDP united, it was stated that the north pole and the south pole had come together and an 'Agenda of Alliance' had been stitched. Has any of the promises been fulfilled by them? Now see what has happened in Jammu and Kashmir... Look at the present political crisis in the state."

"Forget about initiating talks with Pakistan, they refuse to hold a dialogue with separatists," he said.

About the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Abdullah said, "In 2011 or 2012, there was a talk about AFSPA's withdrawal from some areas, as peace had returned. But, can we say that today. The footprint of the Army and para-military forces has doubled from where we left in 2014, only because all types of experiments were carried out in Kashmir and all of them failed."

The vice president of the National Conference reiterated his views on the "unceremonious" dissolution of the state Assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik on 21 November.

"Till a few days ago, the governor wanted to keep the Assembly alive. Overnight, it changed only because the PDP staked claim to form a government with the help of the Congress and my party," he said.

"Within no time, the BJP and its proxies pulled out their weapon of mass destruction  Pakistan. We were accused of attempting to form a government at the behest of Pakistan. Can you beat it? Can someone ask them (the BJP) how did Mehbooba ji turn into a Pakistani suddenly when barely five months ago she was their alliance chief minister?" he said.

For the BJP, it seems my-way-or-highway policy but they need to be reminded that India is a democratic country, he added.

"The BJP had swept the Jammu region in previous Assembly elections but today, they stand exposed. They will have to do a lot of answering this time. And one should not forget (to ask) why was the assembly kept in suspended animation. Was it done to allow Lone to keep on poaching MLAs from other parties, either with money or by threatening to open cases using the NIA and the CBI," he added.

Asked about the Twitter spat with BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, Abdullah said, "Look I'm a fairly thick-skinned person when I need to be... if he (Madhav) had challenged my patriotism, I would have cared two hoots for his utterances. I don't need anyone's certificate about my patriotism, nor will I ever be pressured into wearing it on my sleeves.

"But the question was about my workers, nearly 3,000 of them, who have been targeted by Pakistani terror groups only because they refuse to join an anti-India bandwagon. These people died because we held on to the flag of the nation as soldiers do with the only difference being that my colleagues had no weapons to defend themselves with."

Abdullah also drew attention to media reports that quoted senior BJP leader Seshadri Chari about a meeting he had with the NC leader in London, saying he had rejected the idea of forming a government with the BJP even then.

About Madhav's tweets, Chari was quoted by a web portal as saying, "If somebody decides to be a political novice, we can do nothing about it." However, he had said that it was not the party's official stand.

To a question on a possible alliance with the Congress at a time when the National Conference has been favouring a single-party rule, Abdullah said, "Yes, I would wish to have a single-party rule as there have been coalition governments since 2002. But having said that, let me make it clear that it's my opinion and I am yet to consult my senior party colleagues."

"I need to consult them before arriving at a final decision," he said, and added with a smile, "our party works democratically".

Asked whether a third front led by Lone would be a force to reckon with in the forthcoming elections, he said, "Let us see. Let the Centre first announce dates for the Assembly elections."
After Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya, Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti said that her party does not have a patent on the Ram temple while calling for all parties to come together to build the temple in Ayodhya.

Hoshangabad: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti said that her party does not have a patent on the Ram temple while calling for all parties to come together to build the temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking to reporters, Bharti commended Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for visiting Ayodhya and pressing for the construction of the temple.

"Yes, I appreciate Uddhav Thackeray for his effort. BJP doesn't have a patent on Ram temple, Lord Ram belongs to everyone. I appeal to everyone including Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Akali Dal, Asaduddin Owaisi, Azam Khan and others to come forward and support the construction of the temple," the BJP leader said.

Thackeray, who was on a visit to Ayodhya over the weekend, reiterated his demand for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and asked the BJP-led central government not to play with the sentiments of the Hindus.

At a mega event, Thackeray added that the BJP should apologise and tell people that the Ram temple issue is their 'chunavi jumla' (election gimmick). Amid growing chorus for the construction of a Lord Ram temple, many political parties and spiritual leaders have demanded that an ordinance should be brought in.

The Supreme Court, on 29 October, had adjourned the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till January 2019 to fix the next hearing date in the matter, challenging the Allahabad High Court ruling of 2010.

The Allahabad High Court in its 2010 verdict had suggested a division of the disputed land in Ayodhya  one for each of the parties the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Waqf Board and Ram Lalla.

Babri Masjid, known to have been constructed by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528, was allegedly demolished by right-wing groups on 6 December, 1992, who claimed that the mosque was built after demolishing the Ram Temple to the ground.
A woman Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader had accused Sasi of trying to sexually abuse her following which the party had initiated a probe.

Thiruvananthapuram: The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Monday suspended its Shoranur MLA, PK Sasi, against whom sexual harassment charges were levelled by a woman party worker, for six months from the party's primary membership.

The decision in this regard was taken at the CPI(M) state committee meeting at AKG Centre, the party headquarters in Kerala.

The Left party, in a release, said Sasi was suspended from the CPI(M)'s primary membership for six months after it was found that he had conversed with a woman worker "in a manner not befitting a party leader".

The decision will be implemented after getting the ratification from the party's central committee, the release said.

A woman Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader had accused Sasi of trying to sexually abuse her following which the party had initiated a probe.

A two-member party appointed commission, comprising law minister, A K Balan, and Kannur MP and central committee member P K Sreemathy, which probed the allegations had in its report stated that Sasi had not sexually assaulted the complainant, but had conversed with her inappropriately.

Sasi, Palakkad district secretariat member, who had earlier dismissed the allegation against him saying it was a "well planned conspiracy" to malign him politically, Monday

said he would accept any decision the CPI(M) took against him and would always remain with the party.

According to media reports, the DYFI leader had filed the complaint alleging the MLA tried to sexually abuse her at the party office at Manarcaud in Palakkad.

The complaint had been sent to CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat on 14 August and via an e-mail to CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury as well.

The CPI(M) decision comes a day ahead of the Kerala Assembly session convening on Tuesday, which is likely to be stormy.
The Congress alleged Monday the 'weak' Narendra Modi government 'compromised on' the national security by allowing a 'third party mediation' in Jammu and Kashmir, days after an ex-Norwegian prime minister's visit to the state.

Bhopal: The Congress alleged Monday the "weak" Narendra Modi government "compromised on" the national security by allowing a "third party mediation" in Jammu and Kashmir, days after an ex-Norwegian prime minister's visit to the state.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the policy underlines that only India and Pakistan can hold a mutual discussion on the boundary dispute and accused the central government of violating the country's 71-year-old policy to deal with the issue.

"You must have read in newspapers... I don't want to take his name, I don't disrespect him. But for the first time, Modiji has sent a former prime minister of a third country to J&K to talk with separatists...Why? This question should be asked to him," Surjewala told reporters.

He was apparently referring to the recent visit of former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik to Jammu and Kashmir where he met top separatist leaders.

Surjewala was replying to a query on Congress minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's comments on India-Pakistan relations in the context of Pakistan's announcement to develop a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, in that country. Sidhu had said that "Pakistan would take two steps towards harmony, if India takes one".

"It has been India's policy that any mediation by a third country is not allowed and that India and Pakistan can talk mutually about their boundary dispute," Surjewala said.

He said the Modi government "cannot be expected" to take a firm step on the national security.

"Unfortunately, for the first time a weak Modi government is in power, which has knelt down before terrorists, extremism and Naxalism. We cannot expect it to take a solid step on the issue of the national security," the Congress spokesperson said.

He said the prime minister has "blurred" the traditional policy of India on Jammu and Kashmir by allowing a former PM of a third country to talk with separatists.

"Today, it's one country's prime minister, tomorrow the US would ask to mediate in Kashmir dispute, then China and Russia would also come. What are you doing? This is a compromise on the national security," he said.

Asked if Sidhu's comments amounted to his love for Pakistan, Surjewala said, "Sidhu is the minister of a state and you (media) took up his comment which is not relevant.... not under his jurisdiction".

He said the media should ask the Modi government why a former prime minister of a foreign country was invited for a joint dialogue.

India and Pakistan had last week announced that they would develop Kartarpur corridor in their respective areas, linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, is located across the Ravi river in Pakistan and is about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab in India.

Surjewala said the prime minister has not kept his promise of bringing culprits of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack to book.

"Modi had said that he would bring the culprits of the 26/11 terror attack within 24 hours. What happened? Four-and-a half years have been passed (since the BJP came to power). Why this promise was not kept?" he asked.

On 26 November, 2008, 10 terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba attacked Mumbai. In the mayhem that followed for the next three days, 166 people including 18 police officers and two NSG commandos were killed while 308 people were injured.
Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the most coveted prize to bag among the three north Indian states due to elect their new Assemblies this year. This is because Madhya Pradesh mirrors the big Indian story of agrarian distress, economic disruptions caused by demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax, and social conflict.

Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the most coveted prize to bag among the three north Indian states due to elect their new Assemblies this year. This is because Madhya Pradesh mirrors the big Indian story of agrarian distress, economic disruptions caused by demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax, and social conflict. Should the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) still win the state for the fourth time in a row, the Congress will seem a ship doomed to sink in the whirlpool of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Conversely, a Congress victory will have the party set sail its flotilla for capturing power in Delhi.

Among the three north Indian states, Chhattisgarhs national significance is limited as it sends only 11 MPs to the Lok Sabha. By contrast, Madhya Pradesh has 29 Lok Sabha seats, just three more than Rajasthans 26. Yet Rajasthan has been relegated in importance because a Congress triumph here will be par for the course. Ever since the BJP formed the government in Rajasthan in 1993, the power there has alternated between it and the Congress every five years. A Congress victory, therefore, cannot be taken as a reflection of the political mood in north India.

By contrast, the BJP won 165 out 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh in 2013, 143 in 2008, and 173 in 2003. More significantly, it polled 44.87 percent of votes in 2013, 37.64 percent in 2008, and 42.50 percent in 2003. In fact, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJPs vote share ballooned to a stunning 54.03 percent, a rarity in India.

"In the aftermath of the fall of the Congress nationally, there are not many states where the dominance of one single party has been shaping so clearly. In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress is not only kept out of power, but the BJP has also established its domination beyond electoral politics," wrote Yatindra Singh Sisodia in Electoral Politics in Madhya Pradesh: Explaining the BJP consolidation, a paper he authored in 2014.

Based on the post-poll survey he conducted for the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, Sisodia, quite significantly, added, It (BJP) has also been able to spread its support base across social sections While the leadership (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan) factor that contributed to the electoral success may have limitations in the long run, the fact that the BJP has wider social base and that it is seen as a party that may perform better than its rivals, will surely remain more dependable factors in this consolidation.

Not only has the Congress been kept out of power in Madhya Pradesh for 15 years, it lags far behind the BJP. For instance, it polled 36.38 percent of votes in the 2013 Assembly elections, nearly nine percent less than the BJP. Yet the hopes of the Congress have risen because of the social and economic tumult in the state, making it believe that the moment is propitious to overcome the massive lead the BJP has over it. Only a Congress win or photo finish in Madhya Pradesh will provide proof whether anti-incumbency, of even indeterminate magnitude, has set in against Modi and the BJP.

Yet the task of beating the BJP in Madhya Pradesh is formidable. For instance, agrarian distress in the state has been grabbing headlines, mostly notably when five farmers died in police firing last year. Traditionally, the BJP is considered an urban-centric party. Yet, in 2013, out of 194 constituencies in the state where urban population is less than 50 percent, the BJP won as many as 132, against the 55 that the Congress won. These comparative figures show the BJP has roots deep enough in rural Madhya Pradesh to limit the outfall of the discontent among farmers.

The challenge before the Congress to eat into the BJPs rural base can also be perceived from the perspective of caste. The largest segment of agriculturists in the state belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), which account for around 42 percent of the electorate. Chouhan is a Dhakad, an OBC community engaged in agriculture and constituting about 3 to 4 percent of the states electorate.

The BJPs OBC base is formidable  67 percent of Yadavs voted for it in 2013 as against 25 percent of them for the Congress. The chasm between the two parties was less when it came to the support of non-Yadav OBCs  45 percent of them voted for the BJP and 35 percent for the Congress. Given that the Dhakads are not numerically preponderant, it can be argued that Chouhans OBC identity will not stem the BJPs slide because of agrarian distress.

However, Chouhan has refrained from harping on his OBC identity, choosing instead to project himself as the son of a farmer. He has repeatedly projected the Congress as the party of raja (Digvijay Singh), maharaja (Jyotiradita Scindia) and udyogpati (industrialist). In this context, it will be interesting to see whether agrarian distress will drive farmers to desert one of their own fighting to save his chief ministerial chair.

Should the BJPs support among OBC farmers crack in a state that is its stronghold, it will be to the benefit of Opposition parties anchored among middle castes. In north India, the gains will not accrue to the Congress, whose upper caste leadership structure has always shied away from courting the OBCs on the basis of their caste identity.

As such, in Madhya Pradesh, both the upper castes and OBCs have been railing against the BJP for reversing the Supreme Court judgment that was seen to have diluted the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

In 2013, the BJP won 28 out of 35 seats reserved for SCs and 31 out of 47 seats reserved for STs. The anger among the upper castes and OBCs could, quite surprisingly, adversely impact the BJP in the SC reserved seats. This is because in 30 out of 35 such seats, the OBCs and the upper castes together account for as much as 60-65 percent of votes. Should they decide to not support the BJP, its 2013 tally of 28 seats would likely dip.

Comprising less than 16 percent of the electorate, the upper castes have been die-hard supporters of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh  57 percent of Brahmins, 60 percent of Rajputs and 43 percent of other upper castes voted for the BJP in 2013. In comparison, only 22 percent of Brahmins, 25 percent of Rajputs and 25 percent of other upper castes did for the Congress.

Is the disaffection of the upper castes against the BJP strong enough to propel them in decisive numbers to the Congress? The answer to this question will determine whether the Congress will continue to play the soft Hindu card, such as indulging in its own brand of politics over the cow and projecting its leader Rahul Gandhi as the janeu-dhari Brahmin. Madhya Pradesh could very well have the Congress redefining its self  and becoming a pole to which the upper castes, particularly Brahmins, could decide to flock.

In hindsight, one reason why the Congress did not stitch an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was perhaps because it feared such a decision would alienate the upper castes and OBCs-farmers. In 2013, 36 percent of SCs voted for the BJP in 2013, 33 percent for the Congress and 22 percent for the BSP. What the Congress could have gained from aligning with the BSP, it hopes to more than make up with the votes of the upper castes and farmers.

Yet it might become a problem for the Congress if the BSPs vote-share among Dalits increases exponentially and the upper castes and OBCs dont desert the BJP in significant numbers. In 2013, out of 57 constituencies having SC population of 20 percent and above, the Congress won just eight seats and the BJP a whopping 46. Then again, out of 80 seats in which STs constituted 20 percent or more of the population, the BJP won 49 seats and the Congress 29.

Much has been written on Madhya Pradeshs economic woes arising from demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax. In 2013, the BJP polled 42 percent of votes of the upper income group, 46 percent of the middle income group, 45 percent of the lower income group, and 44 percent of the poor. By contrast, the Congress polled 27 of votes of the upper income group, 34 percent of the middle income group, 38 percent of the lower income group, and 44 percent of the poor.

In other words, the BJP was voted by as many poor as was the Congress, traditionally the principal recipient of their votes. Let alone the poor, in case the BJP loses substantial ground among the middle and lower income groups, the Congress would cite this as proof of the backlash against the Modi governments economic policies. It could arm the Congress to mount an attack on the BJP before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Creating credible narratives in electoral politics is undoubtedly important. But Madhya Pradeshs significance goes far beyond that  it will tell us whether the BJP has the skills to resolve the animosities its own social policies have triggered among its large support base; and whether it can pacify those who have been cut by its economic policies. On the other hand, the fall of the BJPs impregnable fortress of Madhya Pradesh will recast Congress personality into a mould that will have an upper caste polish to it, apart from encouraging its leaders into believing that anti-incumbency has started to work against the BJP and that they have hit upon the right strategy to take advantage of it.

The figures cited in the piece are from Yatindra Singh Sisodias Electoral Politics in Madhya Pradesh: Explaining the BJP Consolidation; and 2013 Legislative Assembly Elections, Madhya Pradesh, published in Economic and Political Weekly, Feb 8, 2014, Vol XLIX Mp. 6
Indore: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday said that Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya. "We believe that a grand Ram temple should be constructed at the place of his birth in Ayodhya only," Shah said while conducting a road show in Indore days ahead of Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections.

BJP chief's statement comes a day after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), VHP and Shiv Sena on Sunday organised events at various places including Ayodhya, Nagpur, and Bengaluru highlighting the growing demand for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"Today, this crowd shows that we are going to make a government with maximum seats in the state. They (Congress) have made many promises, but have got defeated in most of the states," Shah added.

It is worth stating that on 29 October, the Supreme Court had adjourned Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till January 2019 to fix the next hearing date in the matter, challenging the Allahabad High Court ruling of 2010.

The Allahabad High Court in its 2010 verdict had suggested the division of the disputed land in Ayodhya, one for each of the parties the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Waqf Board and Ram Lalla.

Babri Masjid, known to have been constructed by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528, was allegedly demolished by right-wing groups on 6 December, 1992, who claimed that the mosque was built after demolishing the Ram Temple to the ground.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made no attempt to hide his resentment against the Supreme Court's decision to postpone the case till January.

With the Supreme Court hardly showing any sense of urgency to resolve the Babri Masjid-Ram Temple issue in Ayodhya, patience among many principal stakeholders is slowly crumbling. On Sunday, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwats statement seeking the deletion of the old English saying 'Justice delayed is justice denied' from textbooks is a testimony to the growing frustration. As a matter of fact, the case has seen far too many adjournments.

Bhagwat made no attempt to hide his resentment against the Supreme Court's decision to postpone the case till January when a new bench will take over and then decide on a new hearing date. The apex court earlier this month refused to give the matter an urgent hearing as wished by many associated with Hindutva forces. The fountainhead of the Sangh Parivar, through his words and action, has made his action clear that after keeping quiet for last four years of the Narendra Modi regime he is going to aggressively mobilise support for the Ram temple.

Bhagwat also sought the Narendra Modi government's intervention and frame a law for the construction of a Ram temple knowing fully well that the Centre is not quite keen to employ the legislation route although it has just one full working session of Parliament before the country heads for the Lok Sabha elections next year. Even though both the RSS and the Centre are committed to the issue, they are not quite on the same page when it comes to strategy.

On earlier occasions, the RSS chief indicated that he was open to views from various quarters on the issue, more so if it comes from the BJP which now rules the country. In this context, his statement sometimes such pressures (pressure from people to bring legislation for Ram temple) can lend strength to the government has loaded connotations.

The pressure he was referring to was seen on Monday's gathering in Ayodhya where thousands of seers followed a call from the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to decide on a timetable for the construction of a grand Ram temple at the disputed Ramjanabhoomi site. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi who otherwise has rarely spoken on the Ayodhya issue also spoke at length blasting Congress for engaging in dangerous game to somehow delay the hearing in the Supreme Court. It is hard to believe that it's mere coincidence that Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has also officially released details of the 211-meter tall Ram statute that he intends to build on the banks of river Saryu in Ayodhya.

The last time Modi had talked about Ayodhya was about a year ago. On 7 December 2017, while campaigning at Kalol in Gujarat, Modi aggressively picked up the issue. The prime minister, however, had not spoken on the subject since Gujarat election campaign last December. He picked up the issue on Sunday while campaigning in Rajasthan.

Modi blasted Congress leaders for asking about his caste, for dragging his mother into electoral discourse and asking who his father was before he moved onto the Ayodhya issue and sought to point out how the Congress was playing a dangerous game of delaying court hearing.

Former Union minister, Congress MP and senior counsel for a Muslim organisation Kapil Sibal had argued in the Supreme Court that hearing on Ram temple be postponed till 15 July 2019. This demand was made to ensure that the hearing comes after the next government takes charge as the issue has political ramifications. Others went to the extent of alleging an agenda behind hurry in hearing the case, which was pending there for the last seven years.

The political heat around the issue was so intense that Sibal withdrew himself as counsel from the case. But there was a sustained word-to-mouth campaign against the then chief justice Deepak Misra that he wanted to give a verdict on the Ram temple before he retired and the Opposition drew substance from the fact that the chief justice wanted an early hearing on the case. Its also a fact that Sibal was the architect of the Congress move to try and initiate impeachment motion against Justice Misra.

Senior Congress leader CP Joshi had questioned Modi and Uma Bhartis caste and said only Brahmins had right to speak about the Hindu religion. The prime minister's counter came on a day when a large number of sadhus had gathered in Ayodhya. Its a fact that sadhus come from varied castes and Modis statement would appeal to them.

Modis contention was these leaders were not speaking on their own but they were speaking on the prompting of namdar (Congress president Rahul Gandhi).

Officially Ram temple is not on BJPs agenda in this round of Assembly elections in the five states but emerging narrative around Ayodhya may leave some mark among a section of Hindu voters.
The BJP has amped up its poll pitch to secure an electoral victory in Mizoram  the only northeastern state where the party or its allies are not in power.

Agartala: With barely two days left for the 2018 Mizoram Vidhan Sabha election campaign to end, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has amped up its poll pitch to secure an electoral victory in the only northeastern state where the party or its allies are not in power.

Interestingly, the saffron party has entrusted its Tripura unit to woo voters from different constituencies in Mizoram. Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb  one of the star campaigners for the BJP  has visited Mizoram several times over the past one month.

According to a member of the Tripura BJP who was stationed in Mizoram two months ago in the run-up to the polls, the Tripura unit was initially responsible for preparing the groundwork for the polls in 21 Vidhan Sabha segments. However, it is now officially working on five Vidhan Sabha constituencies in Mizoram  Hachhek, Dampa, Mamit, West Tuipui, and Tuichawng.

Borrowing a page from Tripura where the party decimated the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front government of 25 years in February, BJP leaders in Mizoram are eager to talk about the change their party brought in the neighbouring state.

If we can do it in Tripura, we can oust the Congress in Mizoram as well. Unlike CPM, the Congress in Mizoram is in complete disorder and facing huge anti-incumbency, said Pratima Bhowmik, general secretary of BJP Tripura.

Bhowmik said that she and a few other BJP MLAs are in constant touch with BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor and Assam's finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the party's election in-charge in Mizoram, and Biplab Kumar Deb. Tripura's social welfare minister Santana Chakma has also been one of the leaders actively taking part in the election campaigns.

Bhowmik was among the handful of leaders from Tripura chosen to undertake a hectic campaign in Mizoram and woo voters from smaller and marginalised tribes like Bru, Chakma and Hmar. Stationed at Mamit near the interstate border in Mizoram, Bhowmik is currently engaged in wooing nearly 11,232 registered Bru voters staying in six refugee camps in Tripura.

The Mizos and Brus have had a tumultuous history of conflict and the 1997 violence razed Mamit district, forcing thousands of Brus, also known as Reangs, to take shelter in Tripura. Over 35,000 Reangs are living in the Kanchanpur makeshift camps in northern Tripura which shares its boundary with Mizoram. Several attempts even by the Ministry of Home Affairs to repatriate them over the past decade have failed.

The refugee voters will be eligible to exercise their franchise and choose representatives for three constituencies in Mamit, Kolasib and Lunglei district. Like other years, the Election Commission has made special arrangements allowing them to vote in one polling station at Kanhmun, inside Mizoram. They will be transported to Kanhmun on the morning of 28 November for security purposes and will return to the refugee camps in Tripura on the same day.

The minority tribes  which have been fighting long to get recognised and are unhappy with the current state government over alleged prejudice  form a substantial voter base in at least 12 of the 40 Assembly constituencies in Mizoram. The BJP is leaving no stone unturned to benefit from the anti-incumbency and garner support of these refugee voters.

On 18 November, Sarma visited some of the refugee camps in Kanchanpur in North Tripura and assured them that his party would intervene to solve their problems. He was scheduled to meet Bhowmik and a group of Bru leaders in Guwahati along with other senior BJP leaders.

"We attended a meeting in Guwahati on 21 November, during which Himanta Biswa Sarma briefed us about how we should go about our poll preparations, Bhowmik said.

Mizoram Congress spokesperson Maliana said the BJP knows they are outsiders in Mizoram and that the people of Mizoram will not vote for them. BJP is bringing leaders from neighbouring states because they want to mobilise voters from tribes like Brus and Chakmas, he said.

Dr Lalrina, a key leader of the National Peoples Party (NPP), said they do not mind if the BJP or the other parties are bringing campaigners from outside. Despite having various ethnic communities, the North East is united, and no political party should try to divide people.

The NPP, which was launched in poll-bound Mizoram on 28 September, has a strong presence in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Meghalaya  where the party formed the government earlier this year after aligning with BJP and other parties.

According to sources, the Tripura BJP members working in Mizoram are confident of delivering in seven of the nine Assembly constituencies where it is unofficially engaged in overseeing the party's poll preparations.

While several senior leaders in Mizoram have made tall claims of forming the next government in Mizoram, the source added that party president Amit Shah thought differently. He (Shah) is aware that the party cannot form the next government. However, we are focussing on having a say in the next government formation by capitalising on the Bru and Chakma voters who could be the deciding factors in nine Assembly segments, the BJP member said on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Mizoram BJP unit dismissed all criticism over outsiders campaigning in the state. "The practice is not just confined to Mizoram. Wherever and whenever the party needs us, BJP members are there. In fact, I was campaigning for the BJP in Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya during the Assembly polls there," said VK Hluna, Mizoram BJP president.

(With inputs from Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha)

(The authors are freelance writers and members of 101Reporters.com)
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi fired a dud while on the campaign trail in Rajasthan

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi fired a dud while on the campaign trail in Rajasthan. In Alwar, Modi said the Congress was trying to politicise the judiciary by pressuring it to postpone hearing the Ayodhya case till after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This is being read as a thinly-veiled reference to the partys 'attempt' to move an impeachment procedure against former Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

So let us examine, to begin with, some of the cases heard by benches headed by Misra in the last week of September, just before he retired. In five of the major cases heard by the Supreme Court, three went in favour of the government: In the Bhima-Koregaon arrests case, the bench refused to entertain a plea by a number of eminent people for the dismissal of the cases against five activists; in the Ayodhya case, the bench forebore from reviewing a judgment passed by an earlier Supreme Court bench, which had held that a mosque was not integral to practicing Islam; similarly, a bench did not review an earlier judgment on reservations in promotions in government jobs for Scheduled Castes and Tribes.

The Aadhaar judgment was a mixed bag: On the one hand, the bench ruled the scheme constitutional, while it disallowed the linking of the Aadhaar number with bank accounts and phone numbers. On balance, if anything, the government won.

Liberal judgments were passed in two cases: The Supreme Court struck down legal provisions making adultery a criminal offence for men but not for women; and, it allowed women between the ages of 10 and 50  those capable of menstruating  to enter the inner sanctum of the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

This list is not meant to impugn the Supreme Court or the benches that passed these judgments. But, with all respect, it does not paint a picture of a CJI quaking with fear at the Congress' threat of impeachment. It is entirely possible that he understood, unlike Modi, that the gesture was symbolic and the Congress, or Opposition, did not have the numbers in Parliament to impeach him. To impeach any Supreme Court judge, each House of Parliament must pass an impeachment resolution supported by a simple majority of the total strength of the relevant House and a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.

Let's look, on the other hand, at how Modi's party reacted to recent Supreme Court orders and decisions. After Justice Ranjan Gogoi took over as the CJI, he made it clear that he would not pass an order on the Ayodhya case in haste. He has scheduled a hearing for early January. Fearing that a final judgment may not be passed before the 2019 Lok Sabha, the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other Sangh parivar affiliates have gone into a steroid-fuelled campaign mode, evident in the massive show of strength in Ayodhya over the weekend. The univocal and infructuous demand is that the Central government must pass an ordinance or a law to enable the building of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, thus short-circuiting the judicial process.

The Sabarimala verdict has been seen by many, especially Hindutva hardliners as an attack on tradition and, indeed, Hinduism itself. The BJP, RSS, the temple authorities and others have thus created a huge Kerala-wide shindig to obstruct the implementation of the Supreme Court order. Up until now, no woman between the ages of 10 and 50 has been allowed to exercise her right to worship, which has been judicially underwritten, by main force.

Coming from Modi (who along with party president Amit Shah practically runs the BJP), the accusation that the Congress, or anyone else on the planet, has tried to browbeat the Supreme Court or a CJI and politicise the judiciary is risible. It is the BJP that has tried its best to subvert the judiciary and use extra-judicial means to nullify its orders.

It's not just the judiciary that the BJP and the governments it runs have grievously undermined. They have serially undermined or subverted any number of institutions. Take the Election Commission. It announced the dates for the Himachal Pradesh elections in October last year  for November  but delayed announcing the dates for the Gujarat elections, which were finally held in December. This allowed the BJP-run Gujarat government a month's respite to announce schemes and the party to get its campaign organised better. The elections turned out to be a closely-run affair despite this delay, with the BJP winning 99 out of 182 seats, only seven seats more than needed for a majority. The delay, thus, proved crucial.

More recently, the Election Commission delayed the announcement of dates for Assembly elections in five states  Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana  by around three hours. By that time, Modi had addressed a rally in Rajasthan and the state's chief minister announced a scheme for free power supply just before the dates were announced and the Model Code of Conduct came into force. Whether this was pure coincidence or whether, as the Election Commission claimed, official procedures caused the delay is left to readers to judge.

The BJP government at the Centre has also subverted various executive arms of the government  the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Income Tax Department, the Enforcement Directorate et al  to use them as a tool to harass political opponents. This can hardly be said to be a particularly new phenomenon; other governments have done the same thing before. But the particularly brazen and consistent way in which the Modi regime has gone about its work has imperilled democracy itself. Throw into the mix this government's attempts to intimidate the media and you have a complete picture of a government that pays only token respect to constitutional norms.

Thus, for Modi to say that the Congress is guilty of any form of subversion only shows how dangerously confident the prime minister is about his patent falsehoods and autocratic ways being overlooked by the electorate and citizenry. It is to be hoped that the results of the ongoing Assembly elections will bring him and his party down several notches.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India will never forget the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and their perpetrators and was 'waiting for the appropriate time' as law would take its course.

Bhilwada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India will never forget the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and their perpetrators and was "waiting for the appropriate time" as law would take its course.

"India will never forget the 26/11 attack, and neither forget the perpetrators. We are waiting for the appropriate time...." he said with a pause without elaborating as the crowd cheered him when he was addressing an election meeting in Bhilwada. "The law will take its course. I want to assure the country," he said.

Slamming Congress for doing politics over the 26/11 terror attacks in 2008, Modi said, "Today is 26 November, when there was a madam's rule in Delhi through remote control, when there was a Congress government in Maharashtra. There were Congress governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra and 26/11 terror attacks happened in Mumbai... terrorists killed people and the security forces of our country."

The whole world was shaken today(26/11), and Congress back then was giving lessons in patriotism.When the Army carried out surgical strike the country felt proud but the Congress raised questions on it, demanded video proof: PM Modi in Bhilwara #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/2TRcweXFZ1  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

"It is 10 years since that attack. I can still remember when the terror attacks happened in Mumbai, election campaign was going on in Rajasthan." Modi said that the Congress leaders then used to accuse the leaders of other parties of doing politics when they condemned the attacks.

"What they (Congress leaders) said then, I still remember. They said it is a war, Pakistan has attacked India. And these people are doing politics. At this time one needs to strengthen the hands of the Centre and there should be no politics on the terror attacks. They used to preach this," he said.

The prime minister accused the Congress of attempting to use the 26/11 Mumbai attack to win elections in Rajasthan and attacked the party for questioning the 2016 surgical strike carried out by the Indian Armed forces across the border.

"I want to ask the Congress that 10 years ago such a big terror attack happened, the whole world was shocked, and Congress was playing tricks to win the elections based on the calamity," he said.

"The same Congress at that time used to preach patriotism. And when our country's forces did surgical strike in Pakistan, when they took revenge, showed their valour and gave a befitting reply to the enemies in their home, in such a crucial time, Congress asked for showing the video of the surgical strike," he said. "Will the armed forces take cameras in their hand during such operations? At that time they did not remember patriotism," he said.

Modi also said that during his four years of rule, terror attacks have been restricted to Jammu and Kashmir. "Remember those times when terror attacks took place across the country. We have fought against terrorism in such a way that they are unable to move out of Kashmir as they see their death," he said.

The elections for the 200-Assembly seats in Rajasthan are scheduled for 7 December. Counting of votes will take place on 11 December.
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down if he cannot ensure Delhi chief minister's security, days after a man flung chilli powder at him inside the Delhi secretariat.

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down if he cannot ensure Delhi chief minister's security, days after a man flung chilli powder at him inside the Delhi secretariat.

Speaking at the one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly, which was extended by a day till Tuesday, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was behind the 20 November attack as it was "baffled" by the "good work" done by his government in the national capital.

"Narendra Modi should resign if he cannot protect Delhi's chief minister," Kejriwal said in the House which had met to discuss the attack on him and the alleged deletion of names from the voters list.

Referring to a phone call from Union home minister Rajnath Singh after the incident outside his office, Kejriwal claimed, "I said either you are worthless or colluding".

Speaking on a government resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of the Delhi government, Kejriwal said 95 percent policemen were good but "they are being made to do wrong things by the BJP".

"If Delhi Police comes under the elected government of Delhi, it will start working for the good of the people," he asserted.

The resolution, moved by Delhi home minister Satyendar Jain and later adopted by the Assembly with voice of votes, also stated that in view of pending such amendments, necessary steps should be initiated by the Centre to devolve certain powers to the elected government so that it is in a position to have control over the Delhi Police.

Referring to the recent attack on him, Kejriwal said, "In the last three years, four attacks were made on me. These attacks could not happen if I was not the chief minister of Delhi.

"These attacks are not on me, but on the people of Delhi instead... Modi ji is taking revenge from Delhiites for voting the AAP to power in the city," the chief minister said.

Kejriwal also hit out at Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal for "creating hurdles" in the functioning of the AAP dispensation.

Talking about recent strike by Delhi Transport Corporation employees, Kejriwal alleged that Baijal did not give appointment to Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot for two days to resolve the issue.

"The lieutenant-governor has time for BJP workers, (AAP rebel MLA) Kapil Mishra, but he does not have time to meet the transport minister to end the strike... how would we run the government?," Kejriwal asked.

The chief minister also advised his party MLAs to withdraw their proposal demanding the exclusion of the Delhi Police from the government's compensation scheme.

Following the attack on Kejriwal, AAP legislators had urged Kejriwal to remove the Delhi Police from the list of beneficiaries of the Delhi government's compensation scheme under which Rs 1 crore is awarded to the kin of slain security personnel.

The AAP MLAs argued that the city's police force had "betrayed" the people of the country.
The easiest way to hand campaign momentum to Modi is to launch personal attacks against him, target his caste, his past vocation of selling tea or his parents

Omar Abdullah has wondered aloud on Twitter whether there are BJP sleeper cells inside Congress that become activated ahead of the elections to undermine Congress chances. The National Conference chief was reacting to the Congress' personal attacks on the prime minister's parents. Narendra Modis father passed away 30 years ago. His nonagenarian mother lives a quiet, simple life. She remains far away from politics. The references to Modi's parents during the election campaign indicate the paucity of imagination within Congress ranks and a sense of frustration at the lack of real issues with which to target the prime minister.

It also exposes the hypocrisy of Rahul Gandhi's 'politics of love' and his shortsightedness as a leader. The easiest way to hand campaign momentum to Modi is to launch personal attacks against him, target his caste, his past vocation of selling tea or his parents. That the Congress hasnt learnt its lesson despite repeated setbacks points to a lack of leadership at the highest level. The buck stops with the party president.

Last Thursday, while addressing a rally in the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh that goes to polls on 28 November, Congress leader Raj Babbar compared the fall in rupee's value with the advanced age of the prime minister's mother.

In a video that has since gone viral, Congress leader Vilasrao Muttemwar is seen purportedly comparing the lineages of Rahul and Modi, stating, "The world knows who the father of Rahul was, who the grandmother of Rahul was, but nobody knows the name of Modi's father."

These remarks are not made by the Congress rank and file. Babbar is a senior leader and the chief of the partys Uttar Pradesh unit. Muttemwar is a former Minister of State. To date, Rahul has not publicly condemned these statements or posted a tweet distancing his party from these remarks, creating space for Modi to exploit.

The prime minister has blamed Rahul for tacitly supporting these remarks. Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha on Sunday, Modi said, "The Congress is running out of steam in this election, so it has started dragging my parents into politics. No Congressman would make such a statement against me or my family without the consent of the party president (Rahul). It is the naamdar (dynast) who is making his leaders speak against me."

Opposition leaders and critics have accused Modi of hypocrisy, pointing out that he has criticised Rahul's parents in the past as well.

For those of you who live in denial or have weak memories. https://t.co/9SEGiLPd5b  Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 25, 2018

This is a case of false equivalence. As holders of public office, Rahul's grandparents were open to criticisms of their work, and their contribution to politics and India's development since Independence is subject to public scrutiny. This criticism  as Modi has made in the past  cannot be compared to Congress' attacks on Modi's parents who never held public offices and has/had nothing to do with politics.

Modi is not one to let slip the opportunity. He pointed out that his "mother sits in her house, performing religious rites, confining herself to a room, and has never visited Madhya Pradesh. She does not even know the R of rajneeti (politics)".

He noted, "Yesterday, they took the name of my mother and now my father. The Congress chief is behind this... Naamdar alleges that the prime minister takes the names of his family members. Yes, I have to take their names as they were in politics, unlike my family members who sit quietly in their home and do their job Had my parents held any public post, they should also have been criticised."

If private citizens are to be made into political targets, then it does seem that the Congress lacks real issues with which to work. Modi has a point here. Now compare the Congress' bungled communication strategy with that of the BJP. The prime minister on Sunday turned the spotlight on the Supreme Court's stance regarding the Ayodhya title dispute, and suggested that the judiciary's reluctance to take up the case has something to do with the pressure that Congress has brought to bear even on judges of the Supreme Court.

Speaking to the public in Rajasthans Alwar district, Modi on Sunday said, "Whenever any Supreme Court judge wants to hear the Ram temple case, the Congress' Rajya Sabha lawyer used the threat of impeachment to 'scare' judges." He was referring to the impeachment motion brought by Congress-led Opposition against former CJI Dipak Misra.

"This is a dangerous game. Congress has no faith in the judiciary. They are working to scare judiciary on the grounds of their numbers in the Rajya Sabha but I we will not let this happen in the temple of democracy. I would also like to tell judges not to be afraid and keep going on the path of justice," he added.

As the clamour for a Ram temple in Ayodhya gathers momentum in the Hindi heartland, Modi has sought to turn the focus on election campaign to the trending topic, lent tacit backing to the movement, accused the Congress of delaying tactics and tied the judiciarys reluctance on hearing the case with the impeachment motion that was moved by the Congress.

There will be debates on the veracity of Modi's claims, but it is a superior communication strategy compared to the one where self-claimed "messengers of love" in politics are caught targeting the parents of their political rivals. Rahul needs to head to the drawing board.
If the mood for change prevails, Rajasthan may see a change in government, if not in names of villages like Baap, Chacha and Suwar.

Driving on the 250-kilometre Jodhpur-Jaisalmer highway that runs through the Thar Desert, you will come across some fascinating names for villages. There is an entire family of them, literally, with names like Baap (father), Chacha (uncle), Kudi (Punjabi for girl), Jhootha (liar), Gelawas (abode of idiots), Lathi (stick), Dechu (the onomatopoeic cry of donkeys) and Suwar (pig).

Legend has it that these painful names are a result of Brahminical conspiracy. When the literati of the area wanted to malign a group of people, they chose the most absurd names for their villages. And, tragically, the names got stuck in popular culture and revenue records.

Some of the villagers actually corrected the historical wrongs by going global, literally. A bunch of them rechristened their settlement as America, a name they chose to replace the original, which is considered both unmentionablethus unprintableand unlucky.

In a region where the names are so fascinating and intriguing, the political talk is even more entertaining and conspiratorial. There are complicated plotsBJP vs Congress; subplotsJats vs Rajputs, Muslims vs Meghwals; side stories of revengeManvendra Singh vs Vasundhara Raje; and the engrossing narrative of one faith competing against the other through its fakirs and gurus. In essence, the politics of Barmer-Jaisalmer is a typical potboiler with all the essential ingredients of Indian polity.

This is, perhaps, one of the few regions in India where the so-called upper castesBrahmins and tradersare a minority. The population in these two districts is dominated by Rajputs, Muslims, Jats and Meghwals (a Scheduled Caste). The reason is simple: The hard terrain sustains only those willing to work hard in the fields or rear cattle. For the rest, this is an inclement terrain.

These four communitiesMuslims, Jats, Rajputs and Meghwalsthus decide the outcome of almost every election. If any three of them unite, they contribute to a clean sweep by a party. If there is a vertical split, it leads to a close contest, which is what is unfolding in the 2018 Assembly elections.

There are nine Vidhan Sabha seats in Barmer-Jaisalmer. On each one of them, Rajputs, Jats, Muslims and Meghwals are fighting with each other for every vote, giving the Congress and the BJP a fair shot at most of the seats. And, this close fight is a fascinating denouement of the drama of caste politics that played out in what is referred to by the Indian army as Indias western theatre.

The best laid plans of politicians often go awry. For five years, starting with the marginalisation of Jaswant Singh, the BJP wooed the Jats of Marwar (western Rajasthan). To its shock and surprise, it is now watching a third playerlocal Jat heavyweight Hanuman Beniwalsnare a large number of Jat votes.

The Congress, concerned by the BJP carrot for Jats, tried to lasso the rival Rajputs. It even managed to pocket Manvendra Singh, son of Jaswant Singh and scion of the most influential Rajput family in the region, before the elections. However, Rajputs are not expected to desert the BJP altogether, bound by their decade-old loyalty to the party. To the discomfiture of the Congress, some Jats are now supporting the BJP because of the partys coquettish overtures towards the Rajputs.

So, the BJP tried to attract Jats, who ultimately turned out to be disloyal and joined Beniwal. The Congress tried to woo Rajputs, who after pledging fealty, went back to the BJP. As a result, both parties are wary of the result.

Caste, as you can surmise, is the king here. There is ideology, poll philosophy or chemistry. The only factor thats going to decide the outcome is arithmetic. Some of it works against the Congress because of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, whom the Jats do not want to see as the next chief minister. Marwar is Gehlots backyard, so the political envy against him works the maximum here.

The BJP is trying to address both caste and Hindutva factors. It is sending Narendra Modi, Yogi Adityanath, Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah in waves to tap their core constituenciesHindus and Rajputs. Meanwhile, chief minister Vasundhara Raje is focusing her energies on Jats.

The defining feature of the BJPs campaign is the reluctance of its top brass to seek votes in the name of the chief minister. Modi is going around citing his own achievements and asking voters to support him and destroy the naamdaris and exponents of Raag Darbari who malign him, his government and his lineage. In his 30-minute speeches, embellished with his own name, he refers to Raje just once or twice, that too at the end.

It is a clear sign that the BJP is afraid of anti-incumbency. If the mood for change prevails, Rajasthan may see a change in government, if not in names of villages like Baap, Chacha and Suwar.
Contrary to the BJP's claims, it is not the Congress, but a 'lack of political will' that is the biggest hurdle in the temple's construction, claimed the Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece Saamna.

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena Monday charged that "lack of political will" was delaying construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should stop doing "political nautanki" (drama) over the issue while keeping a gun on shoulders of the Congress.

Taking potshots at Modi for his "56-inch chest" remark made during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it said the Congress did not have the courage to build the Ram Temple, so it was thrown out of power, and a man with a "56-inch chest" was given the keys to the administration.

"Yet, if you see the Congress in water, on land and in air, people will once again have to measure your chest size. If Ram continues to stay in 'vanvaas' (exile) then stop your political 'nautanki'," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign, Modi had said that a "56-inch chest" was needed to tackle Pakistan.

On the prime minister's charge that the Congress was creating hurdles in the court's process, the Sena said, "Modi has to stop levelling allegations against the Gandhi family and the Congress. You were not given power to keep cribbing about such problems. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party were ousted because of their hurdles in the construction of Ram Temple. So, stop blaming the Congress now".

"Did demonetisation not happen despite opposition from the Congress? Did you not form government in Jammu and Kashmir with (People's Democratic Party chief) Mehbooba Mufti despite hurdles from the Congress? Then what is the hurdle in (construction of) Ram temple?" it asked.

Contrary to the BJP's claims, it is not the Congress, but a "lack of political will" that is the biggest hurdle in the temple's construction, claimed the Sena, which is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre and in Maharashtra.

"What is (Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi's importance? What strength does the Congress have? Then why give it so much importance? If you play politics on temple while keeping the gun on the Congress' shoulders, you will disappear. Ram temple was not Congress', but BJP's promise," it said.

It also said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya has fulfilled one objective - those who were sleeping over the issue did not turn but at least have opened their eyes and understood that 'jumlebaazi' (rhetoric) will not work as far as the Ram Temple is concerned.

Thackeray had offered prayers at the Ram Lalla Temple in Ayodhya on Sunday and said the BJP government at the Centre "may not last" if the temple was not constructed.

He had demanded that an ordinance be brought in to pave way for the temple's construction, warning that emotions of Hindus should not be taken for granted.
Sachin Pilot sees the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha elections as a BJP versus Congress contest, giving little weight to regional parties that have come together as a 'third front' in the state.

Once the Congress announced that its Rajasthan state unit president Sachin Pilot will contest the Vidhan Sabha election from Tonk, the BJP fielded its lone Muslim candidate, Yunus Khan, a cabinet minister in Vasundhara Rajes government, against him. Pilot sees these elections as a BJP versus Congress contest, giving little weight to regional parties that have come together as a 'third front' in the state.

Confident that his party will trump the incumbent BJP in the upcoming elections, Pilot reveals why he shifted from his usual constituency of Ajmer, how his party plans to govern the state if the anti-incumbency wave translates into victory, and why he holds Raje responsible for the current development paralysis in the state.

Edited excerpts of the interview follow:

The farmer crisis and unemployment have been constant issues in previous elections as well. How is the Congress campaign different this time?

The situation in Rajasthan has never been so grim as during the five years of the Raje government, with 165 MLAs, and a clear majority at the Centre. Sadly, she took the mandate for granted. The people's core development issues were completely ignored. She made 611 promises, but hardly any of them have been fulfilled. These issues are quite repetitive, but the current agrarian crisis is something the state has never seen before. For the first time in Rajasthan's history, 150 farmers have committed suicide. Joblessness is acute.

It is a very young state, we have lot of energy and talent. But four young people killing themselves because of a lack of jobs, is shattering. Raje has betrayed the mandate of Rajasthan. The state is yearning for change. On the other hand, the Congress narrative is positive. We are not just unmasking the faults of the BJP or those who are accountable, but also laying down a five-year plan for Rajasthan to break out of the shackles of debt it is currently facing.

What is the partys five-year plan?

The agrarian crisis and financial situation of farmers will be resolved. It is not just credit and loans; it is also access to the market, availability of finances and resources. For example, there is an acute urea shortage in Rajasthan. The farming community, as a whole, collapsed, so the ecosystem needs to be revamped. The second issue is young people looking for jobs. When you have the holder of a PhD or a Masters degree applying for a Category 4 government employee job, it means you are underemployed.

Both underemployment and unemployment are problematic issues that we will address. Our manifesto will address many other things too. What we are looking at is not allowing the state to give up all its assets, like Raje has done. She is advertising schools and hospitals under the PPP (public-private partnership) model. If a government cannot provide education and healthcare, it doesnt deserve to be in power.

You recently said that funds allotted for education should be considered an investment, instead of an expense. How does Congress plan to invest in education if it comes to power?

Education is an investment because when you write a cheque for education, you are investing in the future. The returns are much larger than expected because the coming generations get knowledge, wisdom, opportunities and self-confidence. Education decimates social ills. So you are not only investing in young children so they can get jobs, but are also investing in making them better citizens. We are certainly going to restructure what Raje has destroyed, and the emphasis is on education.

Why should a government school not be as good as a private school? Why cant every school be of a Navodaya Vidyalaya or of Kendriya Vidyalaya standard? It is possible but needs some effort. I know history is against us but if the resolve is of steel, and conviction and belief are strong, there is no reason why we cant have an education system better than anywhere else in the country.

The BJP has introduced several schemes, including internet-based schemes. What does Congress intend to do with regard to these schemes?

The schemes themselves are not wrong, but look at the Bhamashah project. The yojana is actually a failure because it has been taken over by a cartel of corrupt individuals. There are groups formed between hospitals, brokers and individuals. Insurance companies have backed out of the scheme. The programme sounds grand but its implementation is far from satisfactory. BJP is very good at announcing things, changing names and renaming programmes, but implementation is almost zero. There is no delivery.

What is your take on contesting from Tonk, instead of your traditional Ajmer seat? Who would be your suggestion for chief ministerial candidate if Rahul Gandhi asks you, in the capacity of Rajasthan Congress president?

Rahul asked me to contest the elections and I left the decision to the party. I am contesting from wherever the Congress felt my candidature provides the greatest benefit. I have gladly accepted the decision. Once we get a majority, the MLAs and Congress will decide who will get charge of which duties. This is the norm. We don't declare chief ministerial faces, we fight elections, get a majority and MLAs elect their leader. This naming of chief ministers and prime ministers is something the Congress doesn't do.

You say you built the party in the state in the past few years, which resulted in the recent bypoll victory. How did you do it, and how will this strategy work now?

It has been five years of sustained effort by the party. All our leaders have contributed to it. We have been campaigning for five years. Prakash Javadekar, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi have all discovered Rajasthan recently. They never knew the land existed when there were floods, riots, rapes, murders and mob lynchings. Where were all these senior leaders in these five years? Now that the elections are here, they are all coming to ask for votes.

What I have done as party president is to campaign from Day One. I did not want to wait for anti-incumbency to kick in because that's not an asset, it is people's liability. I cannot base my election campaign and narrative on that negativity. To create space in people's hearts and minds takes more than six months, it takes sacrifice. We were arrested, lathi-charged, we held dharnas, rallies, padyatras and everything else we could do to keep the farmers and youth movement going, and we took on the force of the BJP. Despite the BJP having a majority, it couldn't do as it wished.

Do you think Hanuman Beniwal and Ghanshyam Tiwaris 'Third Front' will have any effect on the overall vote share of the Congress?

Rajasthan is a bipolar state. In every election, there are one or two parties and Independents, but largely it is an election between the Congress and BJP. I don't see this election as any different. There are smaller parties and they have their own space. It's a BJP versus Congress contest, and I dont see any third, fourth or fifth front coming into the picture and having any lasting impact on the results.

They may make headlines and grab news time with catchy statements, but people of the state know its the Congress that will win. Voters of Rajasthan are smart, they won't waste their votes for religion or community or any front. These smaller parties have suddenly mushroomed a month before the election; there is no agenda, history or future.

The author is a Jaipur-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters
Indo-Asian News Service

US-based space agency NASA's Mars InSight lander, due to arrive on the Red planet's surface on Monday night, may teach us more about Earth.

It is going to use seismometers to study the planet's interior so we can learn more about how it formed and why it's so different from Earth, BBC reported on Sunday.

In less than two days, NASA is landing on Mars with NASA InSight! Thank you to the NASA workforce... Let's get this done and start the next phase!, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine tweeted on Saturday.

InSight will hit the top of the Martian atmosphere at 19,800 kilometres per hour (kph) and slow down to eight kph -- about human jogging speed -- before its three legs touch down on Martian soil.

That extreme deceleration has to happen in just under seven minutes.

"There's a reason engineers call landing on Mars 'seven minutes of terror'," Rob Grover, InSight's entry, descent and landing (EDL) lead, based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, has said in a statement.

"We can't joystick the landing, so we have to rely on the commands we pre-programme into the spacecraft. We've spent years testing our plans, learning from other Mars landings and studying all the conditions Mars can throw at us.

"And we're going to stay vigilant till InSight settles into its home in the Elysium Planitia region," Grover said.

Launched on May 5, Mars Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander marks NASA's first Mars landing since the Curiosity rover in 2012.

The landing will kick off a two-year mission in which InSight will become the first spacecraft to study Mars' deep interior.

Its data will also help scientists understand the formation of all rocky worlds, including our own.

About 80 live viewing events for the public to watch the InSight landing will take place around the world. It will be at 1.30 a.m. on Tuesday in India.

People from around the world will be able to watch the event live on NASA Television, the agency's website and social media platforms, including on YouTube.
Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a 'barbarity', the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

Washington: Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a "barbarity", the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the state department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program offered a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack. "It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack. "We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates," Pompeo said.

Some 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was handed down a death sentence by an Indian court. The United States, Pompeo said, is committed to seeing that those responsible for the attack face justice.

The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack. "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack," Pompeo said. "We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world," said the top American diplomat.
Pakistan on Sunday welcomed India's decision to send its two Union ministers to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor next week, terming it a 'positive response'.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Sunday welcomed India's decision to send its two Union ministers to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor next week, terming it a "positive response". Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died.

Both India and Pakistan have announced that stretches would be developed in their respective areas, linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi welcomed India's decision to send Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri, Radio Pakistan reported. Qureshi termed India's decision as a "positive response to Pakistan's move", it said. "India has responded well to Pakistan's initiative in its bid to bring the Sikh community closer," he told the Associated Press of Pakistan during his visit to the stall of Indian High Commission at the Pakistan Foreign Office Women's Association charity bazaar. India's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria received Foreign Minister Qureshi at the stall.

Qureshi said Pakistan has won the hearts of millions of Sikhs with a single but significant step and expressed confidence that the Kartarpur corridor would attract members of the Sikh community to Pakistan from across the globe including the United States and the United Kingdom. He said that the Sikh community will be greeted here amid sentiments of love and would take back positive image about Pakistan and its people. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the opening of the Kartarpur border showed that Pakistan stands with peace in the region. "Pakistan through its conduct has once again shown who stands for peace in South Asia and which force is not sincere. Prime Minister Imran Khan has clearly shown Pakistan stands for peace  Kartarpur border opening is history in the making, history will judge those who stood on the wrong side," he tweeted.

On Saturday, Qureshi extended an invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and state minister Navjot Singh Sidhu to attend the ceremony at Kartarpur on 28 November. Swaraj thanked him for the invite and said that India will send Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri to Pakistan next week to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor. Amarinder declined Pakistan's invite while Sidhu accepted the request with "with unalloyed joy". The corridor, once built, will give Indian pilgrims easy access to the shrine. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the groundbreaking ceremony of the corridor on the Pakistani side on 28 November.

The India-Pakistan ties nose-dived in recent years with no bilateral talks taking place. The ties between the two countries had strained after the terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups in 2016.
LONDON (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 shook western Iran on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. USGS said the quake was at a depth of 65 kilometres (40 miles) and struck 114 km northwest of the city of Ilam, close to Iran's border with Iraq

LONDON (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 shook western Iran on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

USGS said the quake was at a depth of 65 kilometres (40 miles) and struck 114 km northwest of the city of Ilam, close to Iran's border with Iraq.

(Reporting by Catherine Evans; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Mohamed Junayd COLOMBO (Reuters) - The Maldives' Supreme Court on Monday cancelled a 13-year-old jail sentence imposed on former president Mohamed Nasheed for a terrorism conviction, saying prosecutors had provided no evidence to prove his guilt. Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, was wrongfully charged and the criminal court should not have proceeded to trial, the court said. Under former leader Abdulla Yameen's administration, which jailed a number of opposition leaders on various charges, the Supreme Court had previously upheld the conviction in 2016

By Mohamed Junayd

COLOMBO (Reuters) - The Maldives' Supreme Court on Monday cancelled a 13-year-old jail sentence imposed on former president Mohamed Nasheed for a terrorism conviction, saying prosecutors had provided no evidence to prove his guilt.

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected leader, was wrongfully charged and the criminal court should not have proceeded to trial, the court said.

Under former leader Abdulla Yameen's administration, which jailed a number of opposition leaders on various charges, the Supreme Court had previously upheld the conviction in 2016.

Yameen lost power in the September presidential election to Nasheed's ally Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Nasheed was found guilty of ordering the military to arrest and detain the Maldives' criminal courts chief judge in January 2012. He was convicted under terrorism charges in 2015 but the next year was allowed to go to Britain for medical treatment.

He was granted political asylum in Britain and lived there and in Sri Lanka during his three years in exile, during which he worked to garner international support for the opposition and to form the joint-opposition coalition which won the 2018 presidential election.

In Monday's ruling, the court said that Nasheed's terrorism conviction was based on false procedure as prosecutors had not submitted any evidence to prove his guilt.

"As the charges against Nasheed was brought without due process, any process that occurred under those charges are null and void," Chief Justice Ahmed Abdulla Didi said.

He was greeted by jubilant supporters when he emerged from the court building after the judgement was delivered.

"Especially today, I do not believe that my political career is over," Nasheed said as supporters who cheered his release.

The arrest of the judge in 2012 triggered a crisis in which Nasheed has said he was forced to resign at gunpoint. His allies say he was ousted in a coup.

Yameen then became president in November 2013 in an election whose second-round runoff was cancelled when early results put Nasheed ahead. When the second round was re-run, Nasheed lost by a narrow margin and conceded defeat.

Nasheed has been critical of the Yameen administration's heavy Chinese debts and has promised to renegotiate all the Chinese projects. He was not allowed to contest the September election.

(Reporting by Mohamed Junayd; Writing by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Martin Howell and Sanjeev Miglani)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Steve Gorman PASADENA, Calif.

By Steve Gorman

PASADENA, Calif. (Reuters) - NASA's first spacecraft built to explore the deep interior of another world streaked toward a landing scheduled for Monday on a vast, barren plain on Mars, carrying instruments to detect planetary heat and seismic rumblings never measured anywhere but Earth.

After sailing 301 million miles (548 million km) on a six-month voyage through deep space, the robotic lander InSight was due to touch down on the dusty, rock-strewn surface of the Red Planet at about 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT).

The mission control team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) near Los Angeles conducted a final adjustment to the InSight's flight path on Sunday to steer the spacecraft closer to its target arrival point over Mars.

"We're going to be on pins and needles," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told Reuters in Pasadena. "We are going to be crossing our fingers, doing everything we can to make sure that this is a successful landing."

If all goes according to plan, InSight will hurtle through the top of the thin Martian atmosphere at 12,300 miles (19,795 km) per hour. Slowed by friction, deployment of a supersonic parachute and the firing of retro rockets, InSight will descend 77 miles through pink Martian skies to the surface in 6-1/2 minutes.

The stationary probe, launched in May from California, will then pause for 16 minutes for the dust to settle, literally, around its landing site, before disc-shaped solar panels are unfurled like wings to provide power to the spacecraft.

Engineers at JPL hope to receive real-time confirmation of the craft's arrival from data relayed by a pair of miniature satellites that were launched along with InSight and will be flying past Mars.

The JPL controllers also expect to receive a photograph of the probe's new surroundings on the flat, smooth Martian plain close to the planet's equator called the Elysium Planitia.

The site is roughly 373 miles from the 2012 landing spot of the car-sized Mars rover Curiosity, the last spacecraft sent to the Red Planet by NASA.

The smaller, 880-pound (360 kg) InSight - its name is short for Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport - marks the 21st U.S.-launched Mars mission, dating back to the Mariner fly-bys of the 1960s. Nearly two dozen other Mars missions have been sent from other nations.

InSight will spend 24 months - about one Martian year - using seismic monitoring and underground temperature readings to unlock mysteries about how Mars formed and, by extension, the origins of the Earth and other rocky planets of the inner solar system.

While Earth's tectonics and other forces have erased most evidence of its early history, much of Mars - about one-third the size of Earth - is believed to have remained largely static, creating a geologic time machine for scientists.

InSight's primary instrument is a French-built seismometer, designed to record the slightest vibrations from "marsquakes" and meteor impacts around the planet. The device, to be placed on the surface by the lander's robot arm, is so sensitive it can measure a seismic wave just one half the radius of a hydrogen atom.

Scientists expect to see a dozen to 100 marsquakes during the mission, producing data to help them deduce the depth, density and composition of the planet's core, the rocky mantle surrounding it, and the outermost layer, the crust.

The NASA Viking probes of the mid-1970s were equipped with seismometers, too, but they were bolted to the top of the landers, a design that proved largely ineffective.

Apollo missions to the moon brought seismometers to the lunar surface as well. But InSight is expected to yield the first meaningful data on planetary seismic tremors beyond Earth.

A second instrument, furnished by Germany's space agency, consists of a drill to burrow as much as 16 feet (5 meters) underground, pulling behind it a rope-like thermal probe to measure heat flowing from inside the planet.

Meanwhile, a radio transmitter will send back signals tracking Mars' subtle rotational wobble to reveal the size of the planet's core and possibly whether it remains molten.

NASA officials say it will take two to three months for the main instruments to be deployed and put into operation.

(Reporting and writing by Steve Gorman in Pasadena; Additional reporting by Pavithra George in Pasadena; Editing by Michael Perry and Tom Brown)

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The Taliban and its rival the Islamic State group (IS) have been inflicting record casualties on local forces this year.

Herat: At least 22 police officers were killed in a Taliban ambush in western Afghanistan, a health official said on Monday, in another blow to Afghan forces already suffering record casualties.

The attack on the police convoy in Farah province follows a wave of violence across Afghanistan in recent weeks, including a suicide bombing inside an army base mosque on Friday, and intensifying efforts to convince the Taliban to end the 17-year war.

At least two police officers were wounded in Sunday's ambush, said Shir Ahmad Weda, director of the public hospital in the provincial capital.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message, saying 25 police were killed and four wounded.

"Four vehicles were destroyed and a large quantity of weapons were seized," Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the militants, added.

Provincial police spokesman Mohibullah Mohib said the convoy had been travelling from Farah city to Juwain district when it came under attack.

Mohib put the death toll at five with another seven wounded.

Afghan government and military officials often downplay the casualty toll of security forces, while the Taliban frequently exaggerates the number its fighters have killed or wounded.

The Taliban and its smaller rival the Islamic State group (IS) have been inflicting record casualties on local forces this year.

At least 27 soldiers were killed in Friday's suicide attack in a mosque on an army base in the eastern province of Khost.

IS claimed responsibility for the explosion, which also wounded at least 79 service members.

That came days after a suicide assault on a religious gathering in Kabul that killed at least 55 people and wounded 94.

Since the start of 2015, when local forces took over from US-led NATO combat troops to secure the country, nearly 30,000 Afghan soldiers and police have been killed, President Ghani revealed this month  a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged.

Experts have warned the attrition rate is unsustainable.

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul earlier this month that a peace deal to end the war could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April 20.

His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for such a deal to be done quickly.

But Afghan election organisers said Monday they were considering delaying the poll for three months amid fears the ballot could derail efforts to persuade the Taliban to talk.
By Susan Heavey and Lizbeth Diaz WASHINGTON/TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday that Mexico should send Central American migrants seeking asylum in the United States back to their home countries, a day after U.S. authorities shut the country's busiest border crossing and fired tear gas into a crowd there. Sunday's incident, which took place in response to a group of migrants from the Mexican side rushing at the border fencing, was the latest chapter in a saga that has pitted Trump's hardline stance on immigration against thousands of migrants who have made their way north through Mexico from violent and impoverished Central American countries.

By Susan Heavey and Lizbeth Diaz

WASHINGTON/TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday that Mexico should send Central American migrants seeking asylum in the United States back to their home countries, a day after U.S. authorities shut the country's busiest border crossing and fired tear gas into a crowd there.

Sunday's incident, which took place in response to a group of migrants from the Mexican side rushing at the border fencing, was the latest chapter in a saga that has pitted Trump's hardline stance on immigration against thousands of migrants who have made their way north through Mexico from violent and impoverished Central American countries.

Tensions had been growing in Tijuana and Trump announced on Saturday that the migrants would have to wait in Mexico until their individual asylum claims were resolved in the United States, a significant shift in U.S. asylum policy that could keep Central Americans in Mexico for more than a year.

Trump went further on Monday, saying Mexico should send the Central Americans, mostly Hondurans, back to their home countries.

"Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!" Trump tweeted.

Mexican government officials had no immediate response.

U.S. government agencies defended the tough response to Sunday's incident at the San Ysidro crossing south of San Diego. News pictures showing children fleeing tear gas prompted sharp criticism from some lawmakers.

Rodney Scott, chief U.S. Border Patrol agent in San Diego, said authorities had arrested 42 people. The vast majority of those assembled at the border were economic migrants who would not qualify for asylum, he told CNN, adding that there were few women and children.

"What I saw on the border yesterday was not people walking up to Border Patrol agents and asking to claim asylum," Scott said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers were struck by projectiles thrown by caravan members.

Some rights advocates and legal experts were concerned that the Trump administration was seeking to use the melee to make the case for keeping the migrants out of the country rather than letting them in to request asylum.

U.S. officials reopened the San Ysidro crossing, near the Mexican city of Tijuana, on Sunday after closing it for several hours.

In Mexico, Immigration Authority Director Gerardo Garcia told television channel Televisa that 98 people had been arrested and were in process of deportation as of Sunday night.

The migrants have travelled through Mexico in large groups, or caravans. There are more than 7,000 at the U.S. border in Tijuana and the town of Mexicali, with more than 800 others still on the move toward the border.

Many of those in Tijuana have said they will wait there until they can seek asylum. If they enter the United States, legally or illegally, they have a right to seek asylum.

Trump has said the migrants should not easily enter the country and on Monday he threatened again to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border, which stretches for 2,000 miles (3,200 km).

Although Sunday's incident took place at a part of the border where there is already a physical barrier, Trump again urged Congress to fund his long-promised border wall, as well as reiterating his unsubstantiated assertion that there are many criminals among the migrants.

Mexico has been in negotiations with the United States over a possible plan to keep migrants in Mexico while their asylum claims are processed.

Tensions had been rising in recent days in Tijuana, including protests against the migrants by Mexican residents of the border city.

Authorities sent in more police to guard the crowded shelter where migrants are housed in Tijuana.

Melkin Gonzalez, a 26-year-old Honduran man, recounting Sunday's tear gas firing, said: "I fell in dirty water when I was running (away) and I still don't have any clothes to change into. Even so, I'm not going back to Honduras, I want to go to the United States."

'TEAR GASSING FAMILIES'

Democrats and other critics called the Trump administration's use of tear gas an overreaction, and questioned the idea of keeping the migrants in Mexico to make asylum claims there.

"Tear gassing families seems unnecessary," Lee Gelernt, the deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, told CNN.

He told Reuters that U.S. and international immigration and asylum laws require the United States to ensure the safety of asylum seekers, so keeping them in Mexico and exposing them to drug cartels and gangs while they await a review of the asylum claims would run afoul of these laws

Geoffrey Hoffman, a professor and director of the University of Houston Law Center Immigration Clinic that represents migrants applying for asylum, said the administration would try to capitalise on Sundays events along the border to push its argument that the migrants should remain in Mexico.

However, the problem with such an approach is it demonizes immigrants who have legitimate asylum claims and violates their right to seek asylum. It is a throw the baby out with the bathwater approach because although not everyone may have a valid asylum claim, many people do.

Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum, who has said his city is facing a humanitarian crisis, told a local radio station on Monday that the United States would take 2-1/2 to three months to start processing asylum requests, meaning the some 5,200 people currently packed into a shelter in the city could wait three months for their cases to be attended to.

U.S. lawmakers face a deadline to approve funding for the federal government by Dec. 7. Trump has repeatedly threatened to shut down the federal government unless Congress pays for the wall.

Democrats want more comprehensive immigration reform in addition to additional border security, but strongly oppose Trump's wall.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Lizbeth Diaz in Tijuana; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington and Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Writing by Susan Heavey and Frances Kerry; Editing by Alistair Bell)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Dozens of Tunisian rights activists and journalists staged a small protest on Monday against a planned visit by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Tunisia is one of the few Arab states where demonstrations are allowed, following a 2011 uprising that toppled veteran ruler Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and ushered in freedom of speech and the press. The Saudi crown prince is expected to arrive on Tuesday, part of a tour of several Arab countries on his first trip abroad since Khashoggi's murder, which has strained Saudi Arabia's ties with the West and battered his image abroad

By Tarek Amara

TUNIS (Reuters) - Dozens of Tunisian rights activists and journalists staged a small protest on Monday against a planned visit by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Tunisia is one of the few Arab states where demonstrations are allowed, following a 2011 uprising that toppled veteran ruler Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and ushered in freedom of speech and the press.

The Saudi crown prince is expected to arrive on Tuesday, part of a tour of several Arab countries on his first trip abroad since Khashoggi's murder, which has strained Saudi Arabia's ties with the West and battered his image abroad.

Some 13 Tunisian civic and rights groups, among them the journalists' union, had called for a protest at the central Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis, scene of the mass protests that toppled Ben Ali in 2011.

They waved pamphlets demanding "Freedom for Saudi women" or which read "Bin Salman, you are murderer Number 1".

"The Tunisian revolution... cannot agree to receive him (bin Salman) and allow him to clean himself (with his visit) of a murder," Soukaina Abdessamad of the journalists' union told reporters. "We will stage protests on Monday and Tuesday."

Saudi Arabia has said the crown prince had no prior knowledge of the killing of the Washington Post columnist at Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul last month.

After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh said Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered when negotiations to persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia failed.

Since the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of Ben Ali and triggered the Arab Spring protests that convulsed the region, Tunisia has become one of the few Arab countries where protests are permitted.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara, Writing by Ulf Laessing, Editing by Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Stephanie Nebehay and Brian Ellsworth GENEVA/CARACAS (Reuters) - The United Nations on Monday announced $9.2 million in health and nutritional aid for crisis-stricken Venezuela, where hunger and preventable disease are soaring amid the collapse of the country's socialist economic system. It is the first U.N

By Stephanie Nebehay and Brian Ellsworth

GENEVA/CARACAS (Reuters) - The United Nations on Monday announced $9.2 million in health and nutritional aid for crisis-stricken Venezuela, where hunger and preventable disease are soaring amid the collapse of the country's socialist economic system.

It is the first U.N. emergency funding for the government of President Nicolas Maduro, which blames the country's economic problems on U.S. financial sanctions and an "economic war" led by political adversaries.

Government critics celebrated the move as a recognition by Venezuelan authorities that the country faces a humanitarian crisis - something Maduro has denied in the past - and a step toward treating a population starved of basic services.

But some worry the funds could fuel the corruption of the ruling Socialist Party, which was put on display last week when a former Venezuelan treasurer told U.S. prosecutors he took $1 billion in bribes.

The U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will support projects to provide nutritional support to children under five years old, pregnant women and lactating mothers at risk, and emergency health care for the vulnerable, CERF's website said.

"CERF allocations are made to ensure a rapid response to sudden-onset emergencies or to rapidly deteriorating conditions in an existing emergency," according to CERF's website.

CERF mainly funds projects in countries at war or experiencing other crises like natural disasters, a U.N. official told Reuters, adding that other U.N. agencies may have provided funding to Venezuela through separate programs.

Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Aid for Venezuela's crisis has until now been focussed on South American nations that have received most of the 3 million Venezuelans who have left the country amid a mass exodus since 2015. CERF's website shows it has provided $6.2 million for "Venezuela's Regional Refugee and Migration Crisis."

Many governments have been wary of providing direct aid to Venezuela, where officials face sanctions from the United States and Europe for alleged wrongdoing including corruption, human rights abuses and drug trafficking.

"I celebrate them finally accepting aid," exiled opposition legislator Jose Manuel Olivares, a doctor and activist on health issues, said in a telephone interview, but added:

"This is a government of profoundly corrupt institutions, and (the funds) could end up in a public official's bank account in a tax haven".

(Reporting and writing by Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; additional reporting by Luc Cohen in Caracas; Editing by Mark Heinrich and James Dalgleish)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
US officials briefly closed a border crossing in southern California on Sunday after hundreds of migrants, part of the 'caravan' condemned by President Donald Trump, tried to breach a fence from the Mexican city of Tijuana, authorities announced.

Tijuana: US officials briefly closed a border crossing in southern California on Sunday after hundreds of migrants, part of the "caravan" condemned by President Donald Trump, tried to breach a fence from the Mexican city of Tijuana, authorities announced.

The dramatic shutdown took place only three days after Trump threatened to close the "whole border" with Mexico if "it gets to a level where we're going to lose control or people are going to start getting hurt."

Border officials in San Diego, California, said on Twitter that they had temporarily closed the San Ysidro crossing point  one of the busiest between the two countries  to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The order was lifted some hours later.

Mexican Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete accused some of the migrants of attempting the Tijuana crossing in a "violent way." "We are going to act and proceed to their deportation," he told the Milenio television network, adding: "Far from helping the caravan, they are hurting it."

Video clips posted on Twitter showed large numbers of migrants dashing across a shallow concrete waterway toward the border. Several thousand migrants, mostly from Central America, have been gathering in Tijuana in hopes of entering the US.

Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kirstjen Nielsen later issued a statement accusing the migrants of seeking to harm border patrol personnel "by throwing projectiles at them."

"As I have continually stated, DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down ports of entry for security and public safety reasons," she said, adding the US would "seek to prosecute" offenders.

'Are we in the US yet?'

At least 500 migrants, including women and children, had been taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Tijuana before dashing toward the border in an attempt to clamber over a first metal barrier there.

"Are we in the United States yet?" some asked in desperate tones.

Several hundred made it over the first barrier and were trying to cross a second -- topped with spikes -- when US border officers began firing tear gas at them even as US Army helicopters flew low overhead, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.

The migrants tried to protect themselves  covering their faces, with mothers holding their children close. There were cries of pain, desperation and frustration as the crowd swirled over the border line and back.

Some migrants shouted that they only wanted to make their way to a better life. But amid the stinging gas, several migrants turned back. Trump has repeatedly warned that the large group of migrants moving through Mexico toward the US included criminals and possibly terrorists, while providing no evidence to support that.

A reported asylum deal

The US president has deployed some 9,000 troops along the border in support of Customs and Border Protection agents. Approximately 5,000 migrants reached Tijuana over the past week, after an exhausting trip of up to 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) covered in just over a month. Many were fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras in hopes of finding asylum in the US.

To enter the US legally, migrants must formally apply for asylum, but the wait for those requests to be processed can last up to a year. Trump signed a proclamation earlier this month to prevent anyone filing asylum claims except at legal ports of entry, but a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked the order, pointing to "irreconcilable conflicts" with immigration law.

The Washington Post reported Saturday that the Trump administration had gained the support of Mexico's incoming government for a plan to require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their applications to be processed.

But officials in the incoming administration of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said later  after the Post report was met by stiff criticism in Mexico  that the agreement was not yet final.
Nokia has announced that it has signed a patent license agreement with OPPO. Under the agreement, OPPO will make payments to Nokia for a multi-year license period. However, the terms of the agreement remain confidential between the parties at the moment.

This is a new agreement for both Nokia and OPPO and serves as multi-year license period. OPPO will now make payments to Nokia for using the licenses under Nokias name. Nokia has already made several deals with top companies including Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, Microsoft and more.

Maria Varsellona, Nokia Chief Legal Officer and President of Nokia Technologies said:

OPPO is one of the leaders in the smartphone industry and we are pleased to welcome them as a Nokia licensee. This agreement further validates our global licensing program.

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News

Scathing report says insurer on 'brink of extinction'

GALVESTON

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is broke, in debt and facing a shrinking revenue pool, according to the agency charged with reviewing the effectiveness of such state programs.

If legislative changes arent made to the program, the associations policyholders will be left alone to weather future storms, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission wrote in a report released last week.

The scathing report comes as elected leaders are near a return to Austin for a new legislative session. While the windstorm association wont be abolished if legislators dont act, the insurer will continue to be unsustainable if changes arent made, according to the report.

The state created the windstorm association in 1971 to act as the insurer of last resort for people in coastal counties that cant get coverage from private insurance companies. Most private insurers left the windstorm market on the upper Texas coast long ago. In 2017, the windstorm association had about 240,000 policies covering more than $60 billion in property value, which includes residential, commercial and government-owned properties.

The association is funded by the premiums it collects from policyholders.

After Hurricane Harvey passed over the Texas coast in August 2017, the associations reserve took a massive hit. More than 76,000 policyholders made claims after the storm, to which the association paid $1.7 billion. The association had to use $743 million of its $750 million reserve for catastrophes to pay off the claims, officials said.

Earlier this year, the association attempted to raise its premiums by 10 percent for both commercial and residential policyholders. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in October blocked that attempt and said legislators should be allowed to try to reform the association before rate hikes go up again.

The sunset commissions report gives some ideas about how legislators might go about trying to change things.

The associations two mandates  to insure properties that cant be insured elsewhere, and to survive mainly off of premiums  conflict with each other, according to the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission report.

The Legislature has given TWIA opposing mandates that are driving TWIA to the brink of financial extinction, the commission wrote. TWIAs revenue from premiums is not enough to pay future claims, meaning TWIA will likely have to go into more debt if there is another hurricane  further increasing costs to policyholders.

To fix that, legislators would need to decide whether to keep the association as an affordable insurer of last resort, or allow it to act as a free-market insurance company that could more freely adjust its premiums.

The commission also recommended that the association be required to automatically renew policies, to improve its post-hurricane communication plans and to require association board members to publicly disclose conflicts of interest.

Windstorm reforms are likely to be on the top of the list for local legislators when the session begins in January.

During a legislative preview event last week, state Rep. Greg Bonnen said there would be a bill proposing changes to the association.

Well have to be very vigilant as that bill makes it through the legislative process, because anything could happen, Bonnen said.

At the same event, state Sen. Larry Taylor added that the presumed next Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen, a Brazoria County Republican, also likely would be interested in addressing windstorm issues.

His constituents are involved in windstorm, so thats going to be good for us, Taylor said.

As of Friday, no bills have been pre-filed in the Legislature to address changes to association.

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Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Infinix Note 5 Stylus Android One smartphone launched for Rs 15,999 in India News oi-Sandeep Sarkar The Infinix Note 5 Stylus carries a price tag of Rs 15,999 and will be available for sale exclusively at India's e-commerce giant Flipkart.

Infinix, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has launched another new smartphone for the Indian market. The smartphone is a mid-range budget offering by Infinix and it brings along an interesting feature which we get in the premium Samsung smartphones such as Galaxy Note series. Infinix had recently launched the Infinix Hot S3X in India which is selfie centric phone. Now, the company has launched Infinix Note 5 Stylus smartphone in the country.

The Infinix Note 5 Stylus carries a price tag of Rs 15,999 and will be available for sale exclusively at India's e-commerce giant Flipkart. The Smartphone will be available for sale starting December 4, 2018, in India. The Infinix Note 5 Stylus is the first smartphone by the company which comes with a stylus. Similar to the Infinix Note 5, the Note 5 Stylus also comes under the Android One Program which means that the device will be first in line to receive the Android updates and security patches.

Infinix Note 5 Stylus specifications and features:

The Infinix Note 5 Stylus features a decent 5.93-inch FullView FHD+ display which has an aspect ratio of 18:9. The display offers a maximum brightness of 500nits and offers a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The device comes with a full metal body design with 2.5D curved glass design at the front. The fingerprint scanner is mounted at the rear panel of the device.

For optics, the smartphone makes use of a 16MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture. To capture selfies and to make video calls, the smartphone uses a 16MP low light front camera with a wide f/2.0 aperture. The front camera also has 4-in-1 Big Pixel mode, AI Beauty and AI Bokeh modes for enhanced imaging capabilities

At its core, the smartphone draws its power from an octa-core MediaTek P23 processor which is paired with Mali G71 GPU to render the graphics. The MediaTek P23 processor is clubbed with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The internal storage is further expandable via microSD card. The device will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box, which is a bit let down considering the availability of Android 9 Pie from quite some time now. As mentioned earlier, the device comes under Android One Program which guarantees Android updates for two years. You also get Google Lens support with the device.

The major highlight of the Infinix Note 5 Stylus is its X pen (stylus). The stylus on the smartphone has different operational function modes and with it, users can open the X pen menu, open a new memo and switch between brush and an eraser. As per Infinix, the stylus can last up to 90 minutes with 20 seconds of fast charging which is quite impressive.

Best Mobiles in India
Nokia X7 India launch confirmed: First smartphone in the country with the Snapdragon 710 SoC News oi-Vivek Nokia X7 is expected to launch as the Nokia 8.1

It is now official that the HMD Global is all set to launch the Nokia X7 in India, which could launch in the country as the Nokia 8.1. The company has started to tease the launch of a new smartphone with a notch display on various social media platform.

#ExpectMore

The company has posted a new tweet with the hashtag "The picture's about to get rosy with an epic viewing experience. Get ready to #ExpectMore", which affirms the launch of the Nokia 8.1 in India, as the Nokia X7 or the Nokia 8.1 is the only smartphone from the company with a rosy/rose color finish.

The teaser also hints towards the display with a notch design, which is again, one of the attributes of the Nokia X7 or the Nokia 8.1.

The picture's about to get rosy with an epic viewing experience. Get ready to #ExpectMore pic.twitter.com/Tj5XfNuN0h  Nokia Mobile India (@NokiamobileIN) November 23, 2018

Nokia X7 or Nokia 8.1 specifications

The Nokia X7 or the Nokia 8.1 comes with a 6.18-inch HDR enabled IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 2340 x 1080, offering an 18.7:9 aspect ratio with 2.5D curved tempered glass protection.

The phone offers a premium build quality with a metallic mid-frame and a glass sandwich design. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 is the chipset that powers the smartphone, which makes the Nokia 8.1, one of the first smartphones to launch in India with the Qualcomm's 700 tier chipset with improved CPU and GPU performance compared to the Qualcomm's 600 tier chipset.

The Nokia 8.1 comes with either 4/6 GB RAM with 64/128 GB internal storage with a micro SD card slot for additional storage expansion with dual SIM card capability with dual LTE and VoLTE support.

The Nokia 8.1 has a "Zeiss" branded dual camera setup on the back with a 12 MP primary sensor with 1.4-micron pixel size and optical image stabilization with a 13 MP fixed focus sub sensor. On the front, the device has a 20 MP selfie camera.

The device houses a 3500 mAh Li-ion battery with support for 18W fast charging via USB type C port, and the smartphone also has a dedicated 3.5 mm headphone jack as well. This is also the first Nokia smartphone to run on Android 9 Pie right out of the box.

The base variant of the Nokia X7 or the Nokia 8.1 with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage retails in China for 1699 Yuan (Rs 17,500), and the smartphone is expected to be priced around Rs 18,000 in India.

Best Mobiles in India

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Reliance Industries opens Jio unit in Estonia News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Jio sets up a unit in Estonia called Jio Estonia OU.

There is no denying that Reliance Jio has become highly successful with its disruptive strategies. After conquering the telecom market segment in India, the telco has finally decided to step out of the country and establish its footsteps in global operations.

Back in May, there were reports that the telco is in plans to set up a company in Estonia. Now, RIIHL (Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Ltd. has set up the company and it is called Jio Estonia OU.

A few days back, RIL announced the incorporation of Jio Estonia and plans to engage in software development in Europe. As per a BSE filing, the Estonian firm will handle the software development and provide consultancy for the current and future technology initiatives pursued by group and subsidiaries.

As per the previous reports, RIIHL had given a loan of about Rs. 12.20 crore to its Estonian arm in order to establish its operations. As per the same, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of RIL had met an Estonian government delegation with the intention of developing better e-governance solutions for India.

With this Estonian venture, Reliance Jio Infocomm, the telecom arm of the company can gain entry into the European markets, claim the reports. By setting up its unit in Estonia to work on new technologies, the company is expected to delve into thriving areas such as blockchain.

Reliance Jio recent achievements in India

Reliance Jio, which introduced its telecom services initially came up with several services later. The company recently has been in the headlines as its subscriber base increased to 20.8% in August from 19.6% in July this year. With this achievement, the telco is the third biggest on in the country in terms of the number of subscribers with 12.2 million subscribers.

It has also progressed to become an official service provider for Indian Railways. It is said that Jio will replace Airtel and become the service provider for the Railways from January 1, 2019. Following its 4G VoLTE service, the company came up with services such as the Jio GigaFiber FTTH broadband service. Last week, there were reports that Jio GigaFiber tops the Netflix ISP speed index for October in the country. Notably, it topped the chart even in September this year.

Best Mobiles in India

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Zarif reveals reasons why Iran sympathizes with Yemenis

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Nov 25, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif in a message disclosed the reasons why Iran sympathizes with Yemeni people.

"Today in 1986: Iraqi planesprovided to Saddam through $75b Saudi financingbombed an Iranian city for 105 mins. It was the longest aerial assault since WWII, killing & injuring over 1000 civilians. One reason we feel for Yemeni civilians targeted by the latest Saudi coalition," Zarif tweeted on Sunday.

The IranIraq War was an armed conflict between the two countries, beginning on 22 September 1980, when Iraq invaded Iran, and ending on 20 August 1988, when Iran accepted the UN-brokered ceasefire.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the government of Mansour Hadi back to power and crushing the country's Houthi Ansarullah Movement.

Some 16,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression.

The assaults of the Saudi-led coalition forces have failed to stop the Yemenis from resisting the aggression. Recently, the Yemeni army unveiled its home-made underground missile launching pads.

9376**1420

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China, India reach important consensus on boundary issues: FM

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:10, November 25, 2018

CHENGDU, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Senior officials of China and India had reached some important consensus on boundary issues during a Saturday meeting, said a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The 21st round of talks between Chinese and Indian special representatives on boundary issues was co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Both sides agreed to continuously promote the process of special representatives talks in line with the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on properly resolving border issues and developing China-India relations, to reach a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible, said the press release.

The two sides will jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border areas before a final settlement of the boundary issues, said the press release.

Both sides agreed to implement the consensus of the two countries' leaders to all levels of personnel, including front-line troops, and further improve the construction of trust measures in border areas, while strengthening the communication and coordination of the two countries' departments involved in border issues.

Both sides shared the view that border trade and people-to-people exchange should be expanded step by step, to consolidate the public opinion foundation of border areas' friendly cooperation and create a good atmosphere for border negotiations and the development of bilateral relations.

On bilateral ties, the press release said the two sides took the view that China-India relations had witnessed comprehensively positive progress and stepped into a new development stage after an informal meeting of Xi and Modi in Wuhan in April.

The two sides will continuously strengthen strategic communication, lift political mutual trust and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields to usher in a new level on the China-India Closer Developmental Partnership, it said.

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Saudi-led attacks on Yemen's Hudaydah will destroy UN peace efforts: Ansarullah

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 04:11PM

The spokesman for Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement says the uptick in Saudi-led airstrikes on the strategic port city of Hudaydah will eventually frustrate efforts by United Nations Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths to rekindle peace talks in Sweden next month.

Saudi-led military aircraft have bombarded Hudaydah 35 times over the last 12 hours. This came as Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal to former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi have targeted several areas in the port city with missiles and artillery rounds, Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah television network cited Mohammed Abdul-Salam as writing on his official Twitter page on Sunday.

He noted that the increase in the extent of Saudi-led attacks on Hudaydah have exposed the main motives of the Riyadh regime and its regional allies, warning that the process will only destroy peace efforts of the UN special envoy to Yemen.

Earlier on Sunday, Saudi warplanes launched two airstrikes against a farm in the al-Durayhimi district of the Yemeni province. There were no immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.

Saudi warplanes also carried out ten aerial assaults on al-Garrahi and al-Tuhayat districts in Hudaydah province, with no immediate reports of casualties.

During a meeting with Griffiths in the Yemeni capital Sana'a on Thursday, the leader of the Houthi Ansarullah movement stressed the importance of credibility and the will of the Saudi-led military alliance to push for a political solution to the Yemeni conflict away from fallacies that it employed during the previous round of negotiations.

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi added that people from all strata of the Yemeni society were suffering from the Saudi-led military aggression alongside the sea, land and air blockade on the Arab country.

The Ansarullah leader also praised positive initiatives and practical steps, which seek to ensure a political solution to the Yemeni conflict.

Houthi then demanded an immediate end to the Saudi-led aggression, the removal of economic sanctions, which have forced the Yemeni riyal to plunge drastically against foreign currencies, and the ease of humanitarian aid deliveries.

Earlier this week, the administration of Hadi announced that it would take part in the proposed peace talks in Sweden next month, hours after the chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee of Yemen, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, said Ansarullah fighters were halting their retaliatory attacks as a goodwill measure to speed up "peace" process.

Griffiths says that he has received "firm assurances" that the warring Yemeni parties would attend talks in the Swedish city of Stockholm.

Britain has presented a draft UN Security Council resolution on Yemen, and called on parties involved in Yemen's crisis to restart peace negotiations.

"The conflict in Yemen can only be resolved though an inclusive political process," the draft resolution said.

The draft sets a two-week deadline for warring Yemeni parties to remove all barriers to humanitarian aid, to halt attacks on civilian areas and allow unhindered access to the strategic port city of Hudaydah.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the government of Hadi back to power and crushing the country's Houthi Ansarullah movement.

According to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, the Saudi-led war has so far claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis.

The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN has already said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years.

A number of Western countries, the US and Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance.

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Yemeni ballistic missile hits military base in Asir region

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 02:44PM

Yemeni army forces, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have hit a military base in Saudi Arabia's Asir region with a domestically-manufactured high-precision ballistic missile in retaliation for the regime's campaign of military aggression against the impoverished nation, a report says.

Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah television network, citing an unnamed military official from the missile unit of the Yemeni army, reported that the military base, located in al-Alab border crossing, had been hit with the short-range and solid-propellant Badr P-1 missile on Sunday.

It added that the projectile had struck the designated target with precision, leaving an unspecified number of soldiers either killed or wounded. The explosion also inflicted damage to the hardware and equipment of the base.

Last month, the Yemeni army unveiled its domestically-designed missile, which is an upgrade of Badr-1 short-range ballistic missile, intended to precisely hit specific targets, minimize collateral damage and increase lethality against designated targets. The Badr P-1 missile has a pinpoint accuracy of 3 meters, the army says.

Earlier on Sunday, Yemeni army hit a Saudi-led military base in Nihm district in Yemen's west-central province of Sana'a, inflicting casualties on the Saudi enemy and caused material damage to the base, another report by al-Masirah said.

Leading a coalition of its allies, most prominently the UAE, Saudi Arabia invaded Yemen in March 2015 in an attempt to reinstall Yemen's former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who had resigned amid popular discontent and fled to the Arab kingdom.

The aggression initially consisted of a bombing campaign but was later coupled with a naval blockade and the deployment of ground forces to Yemen.

Since the onset of the imposed war, the Yemeni army, backed by fighters of the country's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement, has been defending the impoverished nation against the brutal aggression. The coalition is also resolute to crush the movement as another goal in its war on Yemen, which is teetering on the edge of famine.

More than three and a half years into the war, Saudi Arabia has achieved neither of its objectives. Riyadh had declared at the start of the invasion that the war would take no more than a couple of weeks.

Back in June, the Emirati forces, backed by armed militia loyal to Hadi, launched a full-scale offensive against the Houthi-held Hudaydah, which is currently under a tight siege imposed by the invaders. The so-called liberation operation, however, failed to achieve its objective, which is overrunning the vital port and defeating Houthi fighters, backed by those from the Popular Committees.

Over the past several months, humanitarian organizations have warned that military operations against Hudaydah threaten to cut off essential supplies to millions of Yemeni people. More than 70 percent of Yemen's imports pass through Hudaydah's docks.

The coalition claims Houthis are using Hudaydah for weapons delivery, an allegation rejected by Ansarullah fighters.

The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN has already said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years.

A number of Western countries, the United States and Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance.

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Attack kills 12 in resource-rich Mozambique region

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 10:39AM

An attack by suspected Takfiri extremists has reportedly left 12 people dead in a resource-rich region in northern Mozambique.

"There was an attack in Nangane district, where there are no security patrols," early on Friday, a police source in Cabo-Delgado Province, who asked not to be named, told AFP on Sunday. "The attackers killed 12 people, mostly women and children."

The victims were killed with machetes or died when their houses were set on fire by the attackers, said a local journalist, whose name was not mentioned in the report, also according to AFP.

The attack, which took place near the border in the village of Chicuaia Velha, reportedly prompted thousands of local residents to flee and seek safety just a few kilometers away in neighboring Tanzania.

A total of eight people had been killed in two earlier attacks in Cabo-Delgado over the past month.

Police reinforcements deployed to the area to step up security have arrested some 200 suspects.

Oil, gas deposits

The government in Maputo is pushing forward with gas development projects in the resource-rich province.

Authorities say the Takfiri extremists have been purposefully stoking fear among the locals. They say vast gas deposits discovered off the shores of the country could transform the poor nation into one of the world's largest exporters of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Mozambique plans to export natural gas amounting to tens of billions of dollars over the next three decades.

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'Indian soldier, 6 militants killed in new Kashmir clash'

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 08:42AM

Indian forces have reportedly killed six militants in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, as tensions and fatalities rise in the region.

A report by New Delhi Television (NDTV) said on Sunday that an Indian soldier had died and six militants had been killed in an exchange of fire in the Shopian district of Indian-administered Kashmir.

Local Indian media had earlier reported an encounter between Indian soldiers and militants early on Sunday.

The recent clash between Indian troops and militants was the third deadly encounter in less than a week.

On Friday, Indian soldiers killed six militants in the Himalayan region.

Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed region located between India and Pakistan. The two nuclear-armed rivals have fought four wars since their partition in 1947, three of them over Kashmir.

New Delhi has deployed hundreds of thousands of special military and police forces to crack down on protesters opposed to New Delhi's rule over the Muslim region.

The so-called Line of Control (LoC) separates the Indian-controlled region from the Pakistani-administered section of Kashmir.

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Indian Ministers To Attend New Border-Crossing Ceremony In Pakistan

By RFE/RL November 25, 2018

In a rare sign of cooperation between Pakistan and India, two Indian ministers were set to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Pakistani border crossing for Sikh pilgrims later this week.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on November 24 he had invited his Indian counterpart to attend the ceremony for the Kartarpur crossing on November 28.

In a letter sent to Pakistan's Foreign Office on November 25, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj declined the invitation due to "prior commitments."

But she said that the Indian minister for food-processing industries and the minister of state for housing and urban affairs will attend the event.

India and Pakistan have a history of bitter relations since gaining independence from Britain in 1947.

They have fought three wars, two of them over the disputed Himalayan region Kashmir, where the two sides still regularly exchange fire.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to lay the foundation stone on November 28 for construction to begin on the Kartarpura crossing, which aims at making it quicker and easier for Sikh pilgrims from India to visit a shrine to Guru Nanak, the 15th-century founder of Sikhism.

On November 22, New Delhi also approved the construction of a new border entry point and road on the Indian side of the border to connect the two countries' provinces called Punjab.

Pakistani Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Hussain called the Indian decision a "victory of peace lobby in both countries."

"It's a step towards right direction and we hope such steps will encourage voice of reason and tranquility on both sides of the border," Hussain tweeted.

The border corridor indicates a thaw in relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

In September, a rare meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries was scheduled on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

But India called off the meeting one day after it was announced, following the killing of an Indian border guard in the disputed region of Kashmir.

India has long blamed Pakistan for arming rebel groups in Kashmir and for helping to orchestrate the deadly 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Islamabad denies the accusations.

Pakistan used to be home to a large Sikh community, but most of its members went to India during the 1947 partition, with only a few thousand remaining in Pakistan.

Thousands of Sikhs visit Guru Nanak's shrine in Pakistan every year.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and Dawn

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/indian-ministers- to-attend-new-border-crossing-ceremony -in-pakistan/29619598.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Long-Closed Uzbekistan Opens Up to the World

By Navbahor Imamova November 25, 2018

For the first time in a generation, Tashkent has an outward-looking foreign policy.

During its first 25 years of independence, Uzbekistan was a prickly neighbor, mired in disputes with its Central Asian neighbors and swinging from support to opposition and back again in its relations with the major powers. But the launch of economic reforms by a new leadership in 2017 shuffled the deck.

Because Tashkent now needs stable external relations to implement its development strategy, it has opened up for business and begun seeking cooperation. But it has been made clear to companies, NGOs and others interested in working with Uzbekistan that their activities must advance the country's reform agenda.

In the last of a three-part series, VOA's Navbahor Imamova examines what Uzbekistan under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev wants from the world and how the international community has responded.

A new chapter

When he became president in 2016 after the death of Islam Karimov, an autocrat who had ruled for 27 years, Mirziyoyev declared that Uzbekistan sought a place in the international community linked to universal principles, norms and laws. Tashkent, he said, would be a reliable partner and good neighbor.

The new president pledged to improve the country's brutal, corrupt and closed image. He declared that a new Uzbekistan was stepping out: "We are committed to forming a new image of the country  to build a democratic state and a just society.  We have looked at ourselves from the outside, not only to objectively assess our potential and opportunities but to pay close attention to our failures and mistakes."

With this new candor, Uzbekistan's second leader quickly won respect, including from the long-skeptical United States. America's top diplomat for South and Central Asia, Alice Wells, told VOA the U.S. observed "with great excitement and approval this ambitious reform program. And we want to be of assistance."

Recently departed U.S. Ambassador Pamela Spratlen similarly argued that Mirziyoyev should be seen as a dynamic reformer. These positive assessments earned Mirziyoyev an Oval Office visit in May 2018.

"I think the two [presidents] connected," says Lisa Curtis, the regional adviser on Trump's National Security Council. She noted improvement on several issues that had been problematic in U.S.-Uzbek relations, including a lack of religious freedom and transparency.

"We have to see a level playing field created for U.S. businesses," she adds, and says Washington will closely watch Uzbekistan's progress on human rights and the rule of law in the hope that positive steps open new opportunities for military-to-military cooperation.

World powers approve

But even as Tashkent has acted on its yearning for investment from American companies, Mirziyoyev has hedged his bets by pursuing agreements seemingly everywhere. He has visited and hosted other major powers and regional players, signing billions in deals with China, Russia, France, India, Egypt and most important, as he puts it, with Uzbekistan's neighbors, who had unusually turbulent relations with Tashkent in Karimov's time.

Washington, the U.N., and others seem pleased with the trajectory, if not every aspect of the results thus far.

"They're opening up," says Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. "They want investment coming in."

Brownback's advice to Uzbek leaders: "If you want more security and economic growth, then religious freedom is a piece of it."

Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov is open to the admonition, arguing that Tashkent's strategy for balanced relations with foreign partners means pursuing multidimensional ties in security, business, investment and trade. But, he says, a reforming Uzbekistan "is comfortable discussing any issue with the international community."

Relations with the United Nations have also progressed. Resident Coordinator Helena Fraser says the world body supports Mirziyoyev's reforms.

"Many of the openings we're seizing build on support, advice and input from the U.N. over decades," she says. And Fraser sees and feels new pressure for change in Tashkent.

"The balance between long-term strategic objectives and quick wins is always challenging, particularly in Uzbekistan, which is really trying to transform on all fronts at once," she said.

Those efforts are welcomed by the U.N.'s International Labor Organization, which forged a partnership with the government in Uzbekistan's cotton fields, where forced labor has long been the norm.

"The government has been open, willing to work with everybody because at the end of the day we share the same goal: to eradicate forced and child labor," says Jonas Astrup, the ILO's leading expert in Tashkent.

Vital link to Europe

Eduards Stiprais, the European Union ambassador to Uzbekistan, says these partnerships are working, in part because outsiders are letting Uzbekistan lead, rather than trying to impose change from outside. He says Uzbekistan has a long way to go, but this is possible because there is a demand-side pull for advice and expertise that didn't exist even two years ago.

"We don't expect anything more than Uzbekistan itself has subscribed to," Stiprais says. "We're not going to come and do something instead of the Uzbek people [doing so]. But we can assist."

Partners see Uzbekistan as a vital link between Europe and Asia, and this has given Tashkent newfound confidence to market itself to outside powers as a pivot for their infrastructure and trade-related ambitions and initiatives.

Ilhom Nematov, Tashkent's point person in negotiations with neighbors, says Uzbekistan knows what's expected of it.

"No one said better relations would come easily," he said. "But we've chosen this path, which we know is right, so we work for progress. We've learned lessons from the past and are getting better by trying."

Uzbekistan is also looking for help from another external source, its expatriate "sons and daughters" living around the world from Brooklyn to Beijing. They increasingly connect the country, strategically and practically, with the outside.

Farhod Inogambaev, an executive at New York's Oppenheimer investment bank, recently visited his native Uzbekistan after 15 years abroad. He sees new opportunities "to unlock hidden potential." But to succeed, he says, "Uzbekistan should stay on its current track of deepening change and opening."

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China launches remote sensing to monitor operation of FAST telescope

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:48, November 25, 2018

GUIYANG, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Guizhou Province has used remote sensing to monitor the operation of China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), the world's largest single-dish radio telescope.

The provincial natural resources department said that remote sensing has been launched in the radio-quiet zone, to ensure the operation of FAST will not be affected by the electromagnetic environment.

The radio-quiet zone was set up around FAST with a perimeter of 30 km, where the frequencies and radio power are strictly limited. The monitoring scope covers 15 towns in three Guizhou counties and two counties of neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Radio stations, communication facilities and high voltage substations scattered in the area will be monitored.

The monitoring will be conducted four times per year.

FAST will start formal operation and open to Chinese astronomers in 2019. It has discovered 44 new pulsars since its trial operation began in September 2016.

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FM Zarif: Iran can resume nuclear enrichment anytime

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Rome, Nov 24, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that resuming nuclear enrichment is always possible, and Tehran is entitled to it as the US violated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In an exclusive interview with the Italian news channel Rai News 24, he added, "We have the right to abandon JCPOA, but there is another option, we should see how they will secure our interests."

Asked about the US demands from Europe, he said that whatever Washington asks Europe to do with Iran is wrong by the very basis.

"If a bullying power is allowed to do everything they want, there will be no end for their bullying," he said.

In response to the reporter's question that US President Donald Trump believes that after the new round of sanctions, Iran will be obliged to return to the negotiating table, Zarif said that Trump administration has based its policies on illusion and wrong analyses, but Iran has survived and succeeded.

That's the US that has withdrawn from the nuclear deal, not Iran, he said, noting, "We held negotiations for two and a half year and reached a huge deal, the longest and the most serious negotiations in the contemporary history."

Asked what role Italy can play in anti-Iran sanctions, Zarif said that Italy is Iran's biggest trade partner in the EU and it can support the private sector.

Asked why Iran does not leave Syria to alleviate Americans and its allies' concerns about its regional influence, he said, "If we don't help them, Daesh will find the opportunity to spread across the Middle East."

They helped Saddam and Taliban. Which countries' fighters are bombing Yemen? Are they Iranian? he asked.

Americans spent billions of dollars to arm former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and regional states are still paying for their move, Iranian top diplomat said.

Responding to the question whether President Rouhani can meet Trump, he said why should he do such a thing?

Trump is not a reliable partner, as he quit a deal which took two and a half year to complete, Zarif said.

8072**2050

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Iran has right to restore uranium enrichment: FM Zarif

Iran Press TV

Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:41PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that Tehran could restore enriching uranium at its nuclear facilities as it deems it a right under a landmark 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers.

In an interview to Italy's Rai News24, published on the broadcaster's website, Zarif said that a decision to restore uranium enrichment was an option which Iran could use to respond to a move by the United States in December to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a deal signed in July 2015 which also included Russia, China and three European governments of Germany, Britain and France.

Zarif, who was in Rome for an international conference, said that the US violation of the JCPOA allows Iran and gives it the right to enrich uranium again, according to a Persian translation of his comments by the official IRNA news agency.

The top Iranian diplomat also said that Iran, like the US, had the option to withdraw from the JCPOA, a deal which he said was the result of some of the "lengthiest" and "most serious" negotiations in recent history. However, he said Tehran was waiting for the European partners to the deal to see if they could preserve the agreement by ensuring the interests of the Iranian people.

Zarif said that EU had made some strong commitments about the JCPOA but was yet to show its real determination to avoid US pressure and get on with the implementation of the deal.

It is impossible to "swim without getting wet", Zarif said while referring to the European parties to the JCPOA.

Responding to a question on Italy's role in countering US sanctions on Iran, the Iranian foreign minister said that Rome was Tehran's biggest trade partner in the European Union and the government in Rome could support private companies in their business with Iran.

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Iraqi MP warns of 'dangerous' US plan to target Hashd al-Sha'abi bases

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 07:00AM

An Iraqi lawmaker has warned of a "dangerous" US plot to target military bases run by Hashd al-Sha'abi, a paramilitary force that has actively cooperated with the Iraqi army in counter-terrorism operations.

In a statement carried by the Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network on Saturday, MP Karim Alawi said that American forces had begun reconnaissance operations to collect information about Hashd al-Sha'abi bases in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces.

He called on Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi to take action and confront those who are cooperating with the Americans in the reconnaissance operations.

Hashd al-Sha'abi, a combination of some 40 groups of mostly Shia fighters as well as Sunnis and Christians, was formed shortly after the Daesh emerged in Iraq in mid-2014.

Daesh unleashed a campaign of death and destruction in Iraq, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks. Iraq declared the end of the anti-Daesh campaign last December, but the group's remnants still keep staging sporadic attacks.

In the early days of the Daesh's reign of terror, Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters played a major role in reinforcing the Iraqi army, which had suffered heavy setbacks in the face of lightning advances by the Takfiri elements.

In November 2016, the Iraqi parliament voted to integrate Hashd al-Sha'abi into the military in the face of US efforts to sideline the group.

The US launched a military campaign purportedly against the Daesh in Iraq in 2014, but its behavior toward the Takfiri group has been questioned by many observers, some of whom believe the two sides are even allies.

Earlier this week, Iraqi lawmakers called for the withdrawal of US troops, saying they see no justification for the presence of foreign troops about a year after the defeat of Daesh.

The American presence "is, in my opinion, a violation of the Iraqi sovereignty," Iraqi MP Amer al-Shebli told Press TV on Friday.

"Sovereignty is the most valuable asset in any nation. The sacrifices of the Iraqi people in their fight against Daesh show how important their country's sovereignty is for them. Today, no country will allow foreign military bases on its land," said another legislator Kadhim al-Sayadi.

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Libya: UN Mission condemns deadly attack against police in country's south-east

25 November 2018 - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned a terrorist attack on a police station in Tezirbu, an oasis town in south-east of the country.

According to the UN Mission, at least eight civilians were killed and nine wounded in the attack, on Friday, which local authorities say was carried out by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) terrorist group.

Three people have also been abducted and a nine more are said to be missing, also believed to have been kidnapped.

In a statement, UNSMIL called for the immediate release of those taken away and for the safe return to their families.

"[We] remind the parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect civilians and call upon them to immediately cease targeting civilians and civilian objects in compliance with International Humanitarian Law," it added.

UNSMIL also urged all Libyan parties to set their differences aside and join efforts to defeat the terrorist threat imperiling the stability and security of the country.

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Returning Refugees Face Uncertainty in Eastern Myanmar Settlement

By Steve Sandford November 24, 2018

Black diesel smoke belches from a rusty engine that pumps water to the relatively new eastern Myanmar town of Lay Kay Kaw, about 5 kilometers from a local reservoir. Thousands of people who fled to Thailand to escape civil war in Myanmar have come to the 2-year-old town to put down roots, but the homecoming has not been a smooth one.

For the returnees, keeping water flowing as pipes break, especially during the hot summer, is one problem they face in the struggle to adjust after more than six decades of conflict and displacement. Another is a lack of job opportunities. Critics say poor planning contributes to the problems.

The returnees include members of the Karen ethnic minority, which has been fighting for independence since 1949. Their settlement is in the state of Karen, or Kayin, a flashpoint in the conflict between the minority group and government.

Observers, however, say the main challenge facing the returnees is security. Plans to "repatriate" another group of displaced Karen refugees this month were delayed by security concerns as sporadic fighting continues.

Myanmar threatening cease-fire

Myanmar forces have repeatedly crossed into areas controlled by ethnic armed groups without permission, violating the Nationwide Cease-Fire Agreement (NCA) signed in 2012 between the Myanmar military and Karen state's largest armed ethnic group, the Karen National Union.

There are five armed groups in Karen state, including the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO), the KNU/KNLA Peace Council and the Border Guard Forces (BGF).

Recent skirmishes involving government forces and various ethnic armed groups have stirred more mistrust for refugees like Naw Lay Paw. Naw Lay Paw moved from one of the Thai camps to a safe house on the edge of the Thai border town of Mae Sot.

Naw Lay Paw was considering joining some of her family, already living in Lay Kay Kaw, but is not sure if she will have enough money.

"I don't think I want to return right now because I know I can work on the Thai side and save more money before I return," the 59-year-old mother said.

The Lay Kay Kaw housing project is seen by analysts as an attempt to restore trust and confidence with the local population, but some locals say the effort offers them little consolation.

Seventy-year-old Karen farmer Naw La Gee, who fled the fighting 30 years ago, is worried about other family members still in the camps, including her two children.

"Right now my son has a job to do but in the past he could not find any work. I have two more cousins that are going to resettle in this village soon, but I don't know what jobs they can find here so it's going to be hard for them," Naw La Gee says, as she pours a cup of tea.

Additionally, international funding is being increasingly diverted to central Myanmar, where many nongovernmental organizations have relocated, taking away vital resources from camps on the border.

Land confiscation

Separately, land confiscation is on the rise as both international and domestic development increase in former conflict zones. Thousands of Karen villagers, who farmed sections of land years ago, no longer have hopes of reclaiming property that was taken from them by the government in the agriculture-rich region.

"There are also many investors, including the Myanmar government, who want to do business in our area and open up factories," said Padoh Mahn Batun, a Karen Forestry Department official.

He once served as a Karen soldier and says he is wary of unkept promises made by the Myanmar military in the past.

"They say they will create more jobs for locals, but we have to consider now how to manage and make our land work for everyone," he said.

A recent study by the Myanmar civil society network Land in Our Hands, points out that the nation's military was the leading actor responsible for land confiscation, accounting for nearly 50 percent of all land grabs surveyed.

"For indigenous people, land is life, so transporting rural refugees into urban areas will not address grievances about the dispossession of ancestral lands," says Duncan McArthur, of The Border Consortium (TBC) a Thailand-based group of 10 NGOs that has provided food, shelter and support to refugees from Myanmar and internally displaced persons since 1984.

New laws that demand official documentation for proof of land ownership have left many displaced families without legal ground on which to stand.

"Instead of criminalizing upland farmers for cultivating so-called vacant, fallow and virgin lands, recognizing customary land management systems will be key to promoting social reintegration," McArthur added.

Make-work projects

An organization known as the Nippon Foundation has created several make-work projects at the edge of Lay Kay Kaw, including an agriculture center where workers grow corn, green beans, dragonfruit and mushrooms, but production is limited and there is not enough to sustain the community appetite.

"Many refugees no longer have homes to return to, so the allocation of land and development of resettlement areas like Lay Kay Kaw is significant in terms of promoting options for refugees beyond the camps," The Border Consortium's McArthur said.

"However, return movements will not be sustainable unless access to agricultural land can be secured or employment opportunities generated in the surrounding areas," he added.

According to Human Rights Watch, farmers received little or no notice before their land was taken from them and received little, or no compensation, depriving them of their livelihood.

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Pakistan: UN Security Council condemns 'heinous and cowardly' terrorist attacks

24 November 2018 - The United Nations Security Council has condemned "in the strongest terms" Friday's terrorist attacks in Pakistan's Karachi city and in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that claimed dozens of lives and left many more injured.

Members of the Security Council also expressed appreciation for the swift response by Pakistani authorities.

In a statement, the Council members stressed that "terrorism in all its forms and manifestations" constituted one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

"Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed," they said, underscoring the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts accountable and bring them to justice.

Council members also called upon all UN Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Government of Pakistan and all other relevant authorities in that regard.

In the statement, Council members also stressed the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on host Governments, including under international treaties, to protect those premises and their officials.

At least four people, including two police officers were killed in Friday's attack against the Chinese Consulate-General in Karachi. Three attackers were also killed.

The same day, attackers struck a market in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing at least 35 people and wounding many others.

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Russia Scrambles Warplanes as Ukrainian Navy Moves on Kerch Strait

Sputnik News

18:16 25.11.2018(updated 20:03 25.11.2018)

The sudden intrusion by the Ukrainian ships prompted Russia to deploy it's naval assets, along with military aircraft and combat helicopters, in order to contain the situation which Russian Federal Security Service described as "provocation."

Russian military ended up deploying its combat aircraft in response to several Ukrainian warships crossing Russia's territorial waters and attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait.

According to a Sputnik correspondent, Su-25 attack aircraft are now patrolling the area in the vicinity of the Crimean Bridge which spans the strait; Ka-52 attack helicopters were also spotted tracking the movements of the Ukrainian ships.

Earlier today, a trio of Ukrainian Navy ships crossed into temporarily off-limits Russian territorial waters, moving from the Black Sea to the Kerch Strait, prompting the Russian border guard to deploy its own vessels to stop the intruders.

The Russian Federal Security Service's border control department has said that it is doing everything it can to curb the "provocation" by the Ukrainian vessels.

 Sputnik

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Of the 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under the PCA framework, which imposes lending and other restrictions on weak lenders.

The government believes that various measures taken by the government, including implementation of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), have yielded good results in terms of reining bad loans and increasing recovery, said sources.

New Delhi: After the recent RBI Board meeting, finance ministry hopes that 3-4 banks would come out of the Central banks Prompt Corrective Action watchlist this fiscal, following the expected modification of guidelines and apparent improvement in bottomline of the public sector banks.

Last week, the Reserve Bank in its central board meeting decided the issue of banks under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) will be examined by Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of the central bank.

The government believes that various measures taken by the government, including implementation of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), have yielded good results in terms of reining bad loans and increasing recovery, said sources.

Therefore, it believes that the review by the BFS of RBI, improving performance of the banks and recovery due to IBC give hope that 3-4 banks could move out of PCA by the end of March 2019.

Banks have made recovery of `36,551 crore during the first quarter, registering a 49 per cent growth over the last fiscal. At the same time, operating profit has risen by 11.5 per cent, while losses fell 73.5 per cent on quarter on quarter basis. Provision Coverage Ratio of banks has improved to a healthy level of 63.8 per cent, said sources.

The government is keen to boost lending by banks to push economic growth.

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 and some of the independent directors of the RBI board, like S Gurumurthy, are in favour of this practice being adopted for the domestic banking sector as well.

However, the RBI has strongly defended the PCA framework in the past. Last month, its deputy governor Viral Acharya had said that any relaxation in the PCA imposed on weak banks should be avoided as it is an essential element of its financial stability framework.
Russian FSB Ships Pursue Ukrainian Vessels in Kerch Strait

Sputnik News

21:01 25.11.2018(updated 21:02 25.11.2018)

Moscow deployed naval and air assets in the Kerch Strait on Sunday after Ukraine sent several ships into Russia's territorial waters in what the Federal Security Service said could only be described as a "provocation" orchestrated by Kiev.

Russian defence ministry TV channel Zvezda has published footage showing a Russian border guard ship converging on and escorting Ukrainian Navy ships as they approach the Kerch Strait.

Earlier, Sputnik reported that at around 7 am Moscow time, three Ukrainian Navy vessels illegally crossed the maritime border with Russia and proceeded to move through the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea. Two more Ukrainian vessels were later reported to be heading to the area from the Sea of Azov.

Russia deployed border guard and military patrol ships and military aircraft in the area to contain the situation, with footage earlier emerging of Su-25 attack aircraft flying in the vicinity of the recently-built Crimean Bridge spanning the Strait. Russian Navy vessels and cargo ships have blocked access to the Strait to prevent unauthorized entry or exit in connection with Sunday's incident.

The situation in the Sea of Azov and around the Kerch Strait was aggravated in March, after Ukraine detained a fishing trawler with ten Russian nationals onboard, and then again in August, when a Russian sailor was arrested in the Ukrainian port of Kherson. Moscow has described Ukraine's actions as "maritime terrorism," and strengthened its maritime border in the Sea of Azov.

 Sputnik

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Just in Time for NATO: Military Deploys Advanced Radar Station in Central Russia

Sputnik News

17:58 25.11.2018(updated 17:59 25.11.2018)

The Russian Armed Forces have observed a noticeable increase in NATO reconnaissance activity on its borders in recent months, scrambling aircraft repeatedly last week to prevent foreign spy planes from entering Russian airspace.

A new Nebo-UM radar system has gone into operations over southcentral Russia on Saturday, shoring up regional airspace control, the press service of the Western Military District has reported.

The new radar station, deployed in Voronezh region, will monitor airspace at medium and high altitudes, and has "increased the combat capabilities of the Western Military District in controlling the airspace in southern part of central Russia," the press statement noted.

The Nebo-UM is the modernized variant of the Nebo-U series of VHF/multiband 3D-radars, NATO codename Tall Rack. The mobile, all-weather radar system is designed to locate and accompany aircraft, cruise missile, ballistic and hypersonic warhead targets at a range of up to 600 km, determine their origin and transmit this data to command and/or local air defence systems. The radar works in both standalone mode and as a component of a wider air defence network.

Earlier this month, the US State Department accused Russia of "aggressive behavior" after a Russian plane intercepted a US Navy EP-3 spy plane near the Russian border over the Black Sea. Last week, the Russian military reported that at least 16 foreign aircraft had been detected along the border over the previous week, with jets scrambled to intercept the would-be intruders three times.

 Sputnik

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More Republican lawmakers challenge Trump over murdered Saudi journalist

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 06:45PM

Several US Republican senators have again rejected President Donald Trump's defense of Saudi Arabia after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with some lawmakers from his party saying Congress must take additional action.

Trump vowed last week to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia and said it was not clear whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knew about the plan to kill Khashoggi on October 2 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

The CIA believes bin Salman ordered the killing of Khashoggi, a US resident since 2017 and a columnist for the Washington Post who was critical of Saudi Arabia's de facto leader.

However, the US president has cast doubt on the CIA assessment, telling reporters that the intelligence agency had not formed a definitive conclusion.

"I disagree with the president's assessment. It's inconsistent with the intelligence I've seen," which implicates the crown prince, Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

He cited the Khashoggi killing as another reason why he has pushed against helping Saudi Arabia's war effort in Yemen.

Earlier this month, the United States imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials for their role in the killing of Khashoggi and senators from both major US political parties introduced legislation that would suspend weapon sales to Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi and for its devastating military campaign in Yemen.

US Representative Adam Schiff, a Democratic from California, has promised investigations on the Khashoggi case as well as whether Trump's personal financial interests are dictating his Saudi policy.

Schiff is in line to become chairman of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee when Democrats regain control of the lower chamber of Congress in January.

"Look, the president is not being honest with the country about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi," Schiff said on CNN's "State of the Union" program. "What's driving this?"

Riyadh initially denied knowledge of Khashoggi's disappearance, then offered contradictory explanations.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst said it was very likely that bin Salman was involved in the murder, while acknowledging Saudi Arabia's importance as a strategic partner for the US.

"And if there are indicators that the prince was involved in this murder then we need to absolutely consider further action."

Republican Senator Ben Sasse, a frequent Trump critic, criticized Trump's stance on Khashoggi's killing as weak.

"Making the realist case is a different thing than being so weak that we failed to tell the truth, Sasse said on "Fox News Sunday." Crown Prince Mohammed "contributed to murdering somebody abroad and it is not strength to sort of mumble past that. Strength is telling the truth even when it's hard."

Other Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham, Rand Paul and Bob Corker, have been unsparing in their assessments of Saudi Arabia's involvement in Khashoggi's killing.

"I never thought I'd see the day a White House would moonlight as a public relations firm for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia," Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote on Twitter after Trump's comments on Tuesday.

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Saudis Agreed to Buy Pegasus Spyware From Israeli Cyber Firm - Reports

Sputnik News

11:59 25.11.2018

NSO, a secretive spyware firm, has been the target of accusations from Canada and Edward Snowden, who say that it helped the Saudi government spy on dissidents using a cutting-edge espionage tool.

The Israeli cyber intelligence firm NSO Group Technologies was in talks with the Saudis to sell super-stealth spyware, according to a Haaretz report.

The newspaper cites a complaint filed with the Israeli police by a European businessman, who claims that NSO representatives in 2017 offered their Pegasus 3 technology to high-profile Saudi officials. The mobile phone spyware needs only a phone number to ensnare a device. The Saudis included former intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal and Nasser al-Qahtani, a man who "presented himself as the deputy of the current intelligence chief".

The European businessman insists that the Pegasus 3 affair began when he was contacted by "W.", an Israeli dealing in cyber-defense technologies. W. asked him to use his connections in the Persian Gulf states to help do business in the region.

During a series of meetings, he claims, the Saudi officials presented a list of software they sought to obtain to hack into the phones of dissidents in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. In the summer of 2017, W. negotiated a deal to sell NSO's Pegasus 3 system to the Saudis for $55 million.

Despite an oral agreement with W., the European businessman says that the latter started ignoring his phone calls, when he asked for his 5-percent commission ($2.75 million). The businessman filed the complaint in April 2018 and has since been interrogated by the Israeli police's fraud department and contacted by income tax authorities.

While the Saudi government has yet to comment on the report, NSO dismissed it as "wrong, based on partial rumors and gossip". W., the businessman accused of fraud, has also maintained his innocence: "This is a false and completely baseless complaint, leverage for an act of extortion by the complainants, knowing that there is no basis for their claims and that if they would turn to the relevant courts they would be immediately rejected."

This comes on the heels of a Forbes report that Riyadh used Pegasus 3 to spy on its opponents living abroad such as the London-based comedian Ghanem Almasarir and human rights activist Yahya Assiri as well as activist Omar Abdulaziz, who lives in Canada. All three were in contact with Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi journalist killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month.

What Forbes said echoed the report of University of Toronto-based Citizen Lab, which said that the cellphone of Omar Abdulaziz, a critic of the Saudi government's human rights record, was infected with Pegasus spyware.

Moreover, US whistleblower Edward Snowden has recently accused NSO of selling malicious spyware to Riyadh to help them track Jamal Khashoggi, something that the firm denied.

Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post contributor, disappeared in the Saudi Consulate on October 2. For around two weeks, Saudi Arabia denied any knowledge of his whereabouts, but eventually confirmed that he was killed in a "rogue operation" in the consulate. Riyadh arrested 21 individuals suspected of being involved in the murder; five of them are facing the death penalty if they are found guilty.

The Saudis have repeatedly insisted that the royal family, including heir to the throne Crown Prince bin Salman, was not involved in Khashoggi's killing. This contradicts the account of Turkish media, which claim that the CIA has a phone call recording proving that bin Salman had ordered the murder.

 Sputnik

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US Lawmakers Split With Trump on Khashoggi Killing

By Ken Bredemeier November 25, 2018

Several U.S. lawmakers broke with President Donald Trump on Sunday, disagreeing with his assessment that it was uncertain whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved in the killing of a Saudi dissident journalist inside Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul.

Congressman Adam Schiff, set to become the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee when Democrats take control of the House in January, told CNN, "I have been briefed by the CIA and, while I cannot discuss the contents of the briefing in any way, I can say that I think the president is being dishonest with the American people."

Schiff said, "It causes our standing in the world to plummet, it telegraphs to despots around the world that they can murder people with impunity, and that this president will have their back as long as they praise him."

Trump last week said the U.S. would stand by Saudi Arabia and that he did not know whether the crown prince had knowledge in advance of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. While living in the U.S., Khashoggi wrote opinion columns for The Washington Post that were critical of Mohammed bin Salman and Riyadh's involvement in the long-running Yemen conflict.

"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.

Trump concluded, "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."

Saudi Arabia has indicted 11 of its agents in connection with the Khashoggi killing, with five of them facing the death penalty if convicted.

Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, also disputed Trump's equivocation on whether the crown prince had knowledgeable of the Khashoggi killing.

"I disagree with the president's assessment," Lee told NBC's "Meet the Press." "It's inconsistent with the intelligence I've seen," which implicates the crown prince.

Human rights factor

Another Republican, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, said on CNN, "I do think we need to look into this further." She said that while Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner of the U.S., "We also are a very strong nation when it comes to human rights, when it comes to the rule of law. And if there are indicators that the [crown] prince was involved in this murder, then we need to absolutely consider further action."

Ernst said she did not think Trump was exonerating Saudi Arabia, but added, "I think at such a time when it becomes necessary, the president also needs to speak directly to the Saudis and say enough is enough."

Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, a frequent Trump critic, said on Fox News, "Making the realist case (about the need for a U.S.-Saudi alliance) is a different thing than being so weak that we failed to tell the truth." He said Mohammed bin Salman "contributed to murdering somebody abroad and it is not strength to sort of mumble past that. Strength is telling the truth even when it's hard."

Numerous U.S. lawmakers have said they intend to push for U.S. sanctions against Saudi Arabia because of Khashoggi's killing. Trump, in his statement last week, said, "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, "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!"

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US, Russian forces clashed in Syria 'dozen times': US envoy

Iran Press TV

Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:56PM

US and Russian military forces have clashed a dozen times in Syria, including instances of gun battles, said an American envoy involved in the illegal US intrusion into the Arab country, without elaborating on specifics.

US Special Representative for Syria Engagement, Ambassador James Jeffrey, made the remarks when asked during an interview with Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti to clarify casualty figures and details of a February gun battle in which American forces reportedly killed as many as 200 pro-Syria forces who had launched a failed attack on a base held by US troops and their local Kurdish allies near the eastern town of Deir al-Zour.

"US forces are legitimately in Syria, supporting local forces in the fight against Daesh and as appropriate -- and this has occurred about a dozen times in one or another place in Syria -- they exercise the right of self-defense when they feel threatened," Jeffrey further claimed in the interview as cited in a Saturday report by the US-based military news outlet Stars and Stripes, insisting that none of the nearly 40 American troops at the outpost had been killed or injured.

"That's all we say on that," added the US official, declining to offer specifics on the incident. He insisted, however, that it was not the only such confrontation between American and Russian forces in war-torn Syria, and that some of the clashes had involved shooting and some had not.

"There have been various engagements, some involving exchange of fire, some not," he told the Russian journalists in remarks confirmed on the official website of the US Embassy in Moscow. "Again, we are continuing our mission there and we are continuing to exercise our right of self-defense."

The US has deployed hundreds of troops and equipment to eastern Syria as part of what it claims to be the coalition to defeat Daesh (ISIL) terrorists, who are widely reported to be financed by Saudi Arabia and partially trained and protected by American forces in Syria to support the terror campaign against the Syrian government and ordinary citizens.

US Defense Department officials, however, did not immediately comment on Jeffrey's remarks.

During the interview the US envoy also censured Moscow's decision to supply Syria with S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, describing it as a "dangerous escalation," claiming that it was responsible for the downing of a Russian spy plane and its crew of 15 and that it could further lead to more mistakes in the future.

The development came as the US declared earlier this week further sanctions aimed at curbing Russian and Iranian oil shipments to Syria.

Jeffrey also emphasized that Washington had further sought Moscow's assistance in urging the withdrawal of what he claimed as Iranian-led forces from Syria, which has repeatedly clarified that Iranian military advisers are in the country at the invitation of Damascus to help the country repulse the foreign-backed terror campaign that has so far left hundreds of thousands of casualties and millions displaced.

"We need to see a de-escalation of the fighting in Syria," Jeffrey asserted amid reports that the US has deployed hundreds of troops to the country since last year as Syrian government forces gained a clear upper hand over the foreign-backed terrorist across its territory.

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Fresh US-led airstrikes kill over dozen Syrian civilians in Dayr al-Zawr

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 04:36PM

More than a dozen civilians have lost their lives and sustained injuries when the so-called US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group carried out a number of aerial attacks in Syria's troubled eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.

Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria's official news agency SANA that the airstrikes targeted the town of al-Shaafah, which lies in the Abu Kamal district of the province, on Sunday evening, leaving 14 people dead.

The sources added that the victims were all members of the same family.

The development came only a day after twenty civilians, including women and children, were killed in US-led coalition airstrikes against the town of Hajin.

Local sources, requesting anonymity, told SANA that nine children and eight women were among the dead after the strikes targeted a local market.

Earlier on Saturday, SANA reported another coalition strike in the same province, where 11 civilians, including three women and five children, were killed.

On November 13, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned a recent airstrike by the so-called US-led coalition against the eastern town of al-Shaafah, which left more than 60 people dead and injured, arguing that the massacre clearly pointed to the fact that members of the military alliance had no respect for moral values, international rules and regulations besides the lives of innocent civilians.

The ministry, in two separate letters, addressed to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the rotating president of the UN Security Council Ma Zhaoxu, called on the Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities and stop US-led aerial assaults.

It also asked the world body to propose an international, independent and impartial mechanism to investigate the crimes being perpetrated by the so-called US-led coalition.

The letters noted that the coalition was deliberately targeting Syria civilians and making use of internationally banned weapons, including white phosphorus bombs, in Syria.

The ministry stressed that the so-called US-led coalition airstrikes were meant to kill as many Syrian people as possible, prolong the ongoing Syrian conflict, destroy the country's infrastructure and undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity in flagrant violation of all UN Security Council resolutions on Syria.

The letters concluded that the embarrassing silence of the Security Council had encouraged the coalition to kill more Syrian civilians and destroy their property.

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Russia Sends Experts To Aleppo After Reports Of Chemical Attack

By RFE/RL November 25, 2018

Russia says it has sent military chemicals experts to Aleppo after reports that shells fired by insurgents in the Syrian city left dozens of people with breathing and vision problems.

Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on November 25 that specialists from Russian nuclear, chemical and biological warfare protection units had arrived at the scene of the attacks after Syrian state TV broadcast footage of medics treating people for what appeared to be injuries related to the use of chemical weapons.

The rebels rejected the allegations that they had used chemical weapons on November 24, and instead accused government officials of staging the attack to undermine a cease-fire.

Around 100 Syrians were hospitalized with breathing difficulties, Syria's state news agency SANA and a British-based monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said most have been discharged and the 31 cases that remained were not critical.

Both sides in the Syrian conflict have accused each other of carrying out chemical attacks, which are difficult to corroborate in the absence of independent monitors.

Konashenkov told journalists that the Russian experts "are working with the injured in hospitals and are monitoring the environment in the area where toxic substances were used by militants."

"According to initial information, confirmed, among other things, by symptoms diagnosed in those affected, the projectiles launched at residential districts of Aleppo appear to have been filled with chlorine," he added.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the attack was launched from a "deescalation zone" in neighboring Idlib Province that is controlled by Al-Nusra Front militants.

The ministry also said it planned to talk to Turkey about the incident since Ankara is a guarantor of how the armed opposition upheld a cease-fire in the area.

Rebel commander Abdel-Salam Abdel-Razak added that opposition groups neither have weapons containing poisonous gases nor the capability to launch them.

Experts from the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have accused the Damascus government of using chlorine gas in at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015 and the nerve agent sarin in an attack in April 2017.

Russia, which has given Syrian President Bashar al-Assad crucial support throughout the war, has backed the government in denying it was behind chemical weapons attacks and accusing rebels of carrying them out.

The joint UN-OPCW team has also blamed the Islamic State (IS) extremist group for using mustard gas twice in 2015 and 2016.

Earlier on November 25, government shelling of a rebel-held area in Idlib Province killed at least seven civilians, including several children.

The two sides have periodically exchanged fire in northwest Syria since an accord between Moscow, a key ally of Damascus, and Turkey, which backs some rebel factions, was agreed to create buffer zones in the region to limit fighting.

The Syrian conflict began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011 and has left more than 400,000 people dead, displaced millions, and devastated many historic sites across the country.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, TASS and SANA

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/syrian-state -media-accuses-rebels-of-firing- chemical-weapons/29619367.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Jets Hit Targets at Militants' Staging Ground for Aleppo Chemical Attack

Sputnik News

15:38 25.11.2018(updated 20:57 25.11.2018)

Syrian media reported on Saturday that militants based north of Aleppo bombarded the city with chlorine-filled shells, causing over a hundred people to be delivered to hospitals with symptoms typical for poisoning such as suffocation.

Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed that Russian jets hit the targets of terorrists who had reportedly shelled Aleppo with deadly chlorine gas on Saturday.

According to the ministry, intelligence services identified in the Idlib de-escalation zone the fire weapons that were used in the Aleppo gas attack. They also found that the terrorists were preparing for another poisonous shelling. All the targets were destroyed; Turkey was warned about the strikes in advance via a hotline.

The statement further noted that terrorists from the al-Nusra* group used hand-made 120-mm mines with poisonous substances to shell Aleppo.

"The primary analysis of fragments of the shells indicates that the terrorists used hand-made 120-mm mines, which were filled with poisonous substances in an improvised manner," the official told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Damascus accused unnamed western countries of supplying weapons to armed terror groups so that they could stage false flag chemical attacks and then blame them on the government. Syria also urged the UN to take "punitive measures" against the countries that were supporting the Aleppo attackers.

Russia's Foreign Ministry, in turn, described the Aleppo shelling as an "attempt to damage the Syrian normalisation process", adding that it should be "unconditionally condemned" by the entire international community.

Syria's state-run news agency SANA reported on Saturday that neighorhoods of Aleppo had been bombarded with chlorine-loaded shells, poisoning at least 107 people.

*al-Nusra [The Nusra Front, Tahir al-Sham]  a terrorist group banned in Russia

 Sputnik

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Russian MoD Confirms Chlorine Used in Aleppo Attack, Dispatches Army Chem Team

Sputnik News

04:32 25.11.2018(updated 04:48 25.11.2018)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian military chemists arrived in the Syrian city of Aleppo, at which militants fired shells filled with poisonous agents on Saturday, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov told reporters on Sunday.

"Groups from the observation posts of the radiation, chemical and biological protection units with special equipment stationed in Syria arrived to the area of shelling urgently. They work with the injured taken to medical institutions, monitor the situation in the area where the militants used poisonous substances," Konashenkov said.

The symptoms of those injured shows that most likely, the shells had been filled with chlorine, he added.

"According to preliminary confirmed data, in particular, by the symptoms of poisoned victims, the shells that were fired at residential areas of Aleppo had been filled with chlorine," the spokesman said.

He stressed that earlier the Russian side had drawn attention to the fact that the White Helmets organization had been trying to organize provocations using chemical agents in the demilitarized zone around Idlib to accuse government forces of using chemical weapons against the local population.

"It is clear that the White Helmets are directly connected with terrorist organizations operating in Syria, and in particular, in the Idlib de-escalation zone," he said.

Russian specialists conduct a thorough monitoring of the situation around the Idlib de-escalation zone, for which the Turkish side is responsible, Konashenkov said.

According to the information of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Syrian reconciliation, at 21.50 on Saturday, terrorist groups located in the Idlib de-escalation zone fired 120-millimeter shells at the northwestern districts of Aleppo from the southeastern part of the demilitarized zone (near the village of Al-Buraykat, controlled by the militants of Hayat Tahrir Ash-Sham, former Nusra Front).

Shells filled with poisonous substances exploded in the area of Nile Street in the quarter of Al-Khalidia.

"As a result of the shelling, 46 people, including 8 children, received a chemical damage. All the victims were taken to medical institutions of the city of Aleppo, where they received medical assistance," Konashenkov said.

Earlier, Konashenkov reported that six special radiation, chemical and biological reconnaissance vehicles had been deployed to Russian observation posts in the immediate vicinity of the demilitarized zone in the province of Idlib, which would regularly carry out an assessment of the radiation, chemical and biological conditions.

 Sputnik

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Total revenues and expenditure of the govt, will come at Rs 6.67 lakh cr as against the budgeted Rs 6.24 lakh cr.

The non-tax revenue is also expected to be lower by Rs 16,200 crore than the budget estimate of Rs 2.45 lakh crore.

Mumbai: Despite repeated assurances, India will not be able to narrow fiscal deficit to the targeted 3.3 per cent for 2018-19 of GDP on a shortfall in indirect taxes and non-tax revenues, a report said Monday.

Fiscal deficit, a key factor determining the macroeconomic health, will come at 3.5 per cent of GDP for FY19, domestic ratings agency India Ratings and Research said. This will be the third consecutive year that the fiscal gap number will be at 3.5 per cent, it said.

The deficit, which is the difference between the total revenues and expenditure of the government, will come at Rs 6.67 lakh crore as against the budgeted Rs 6.24 lakh crore.

"The pressure on government finances is mainly arising from the revenue side, particularly from indirect taxes and non-tax revenue," the agency, a part of the Fitch Group said.

A tax revenue shortfall of Rs 22,400 crore is expected on the indirect tax front, it said, adding that since the introduction of Goods and Services Tax in July 2017, a large part of the indirect tax revenue is being subsumed under GST.

It added that even though the introduction of e-way bills has helped the government plug leakages in GST collection, aggregate indirect tax growth came at only 4.3 per cent for the first half of FY19 as against a 22.2 per cent target for the full fiscal.

The non-tax revenue is also expected to be lower by Rs 16,200 crore than the budget estimate of Rs 2.45 lakh crore, it said, attributing this to lower dividends from state-run enterprises and RBI, lower receipts from communication services and lower divestments.

In case of RBI, it said the central bank has provided an interim dividend from its FY18 profits to the Government before March 2018 and hence the dividend receipts will be lower.

On divestments, it said only Rs 15,247 crore has been realised in the first half as against a budget target of Rs 80,000 crore. It said revenue expenditure growth in the first half has been lower than the budgeted figure, but faces pressures due to a steep increase in the minimum support price of kharif crops and the implementation of Ayushman Bharat scheme.

"By reducing capital expenditure, the government will again try to reduce the adverse impact of both increased revenue expenditure and shortfall in receipts on the fiscal deficit," it warned.

The government has been repeatedly saying that it will meet its commitments under the fiscal consolidation roadmap.

Last Saturday, finance minister Arun Jaitley had said that the Centre does not need money from RBI to meet the fiscal deficit targets. The gap had touched 95 per cent of the budget level for the first half of the fiscal year, at Rs 5.94 lakh crore.
Syrians Injured in Possible Chemical Attack

By VOA News November 25, 2018

Syrian state media and a Syrian watchdog say about 100 people in Aleppo have been hospitalized, complaining of breathing difficulties.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 94 people were treated and 31 remain hospitalized.

Russia, the top backer of Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria, said Sunday it believes rebel forces fired missiles with chlorine. Russia's Defense Ministry said it launched air strikes on the Syrian rebels in retaliation.

"Air strikes were carried out by Russian air force planes," Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in comments reported by TASS state news agency, adding that "as a result of the strikes, all of the rebel fighter targets were destroyed."

SANA, Syria's state news agency, said Sunday that 107 people were injured in Aleppo after militants in Idlib hit areas with projectiles that probably contained chlorine. Russia has also blamed the injuries on rebel-launched missiles with chlorine.

Rebel officials, however, denied the charges and accused Syria of trying to frame them. "We at the National Liberation Front deny the criminal, lying regime's allegations that revolutionaries targeted the city of Aleppo with any missiles and especially not any containing chlorine gas," the rebels said Sunday.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry urged the U.N. Security Council Sunday to take action against whoever conducted the strikes. The ministry said the Syrian government "calls on the Security Council to immediately and strongly condemn these terrorist crimes... [and take] deterrent, punitive measures against the actions and regimes that support and fund terrorism."

Zaher Batal, the head of the Aleppo Doctors Syndicate told Reuters, "We can not know the kinds of gases, but we suspected chlorine and treated patients on this basis because of the symptoms."

In addition to difficulty breathing, symptoms included eye inflammation, shivering and fainting.

The West has accused Damascus of using chemical weapons on several occasions, something Syria has consistently denied.

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Tsai resigns as DPP chairwoman for election setback

ROC Central News Agency

2018/11/24 22:03:17

Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen () announced her resignation as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) late Saturday to take responsibility for the ruling party's crushing defeat in that day's local government elections.

In a speech at DPP headquarters, Tsai apologized to her party's supporters over its disappointing performance in the elections, saying that she took full responsibility for the major setback.

Although Tsai said that her administration is moving in the right direction, with several major reforms over the past two years in office, she admitted that the Taiwanese people are clearly setting an even higher standard for the party, of which the election results are concrete proof.

She also announced that the party is expected to undergo a major reshuffle soon to meet the new challenges ahead.

Tsai, however, said she has asked Premier Lai Ching-te () to stay in his post for the continuity of her government's major policies.

Lai announced earlier in the day that he had tendered his verbal resignation to President Tsai over the election results.

The DPP experienced a drubbing in the elections, with the opposition Kuomintang leading in 16 of the total 22 cities and counties across the nation as of press time.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/J

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Pompeo praises Taiwan's elections as example in region

ROC Central News Agency

2018/11/25 18:37:21

Taipei, Nov. 25 (CNA) United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday praised Taiwan for it's local government elections, calling them an example of democracy in action for the Indo-Pacific region.

"The United States congratulates #Taiwan on another successful round of free and fair elections. Your hard-earned constitutional democracy is an example for the entire Indo-Pacific," Pompeo said on Twitter.

In response, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) retweeted Pompeo's tweet, expressing gratitude for the U.S. praise of the country.

"We thank @SecPompeo for the praise & recognition. As a beacon of freedom & democracy, #Taiwan is willing & able to share its experiences & work with like-minded countries such as the #US in advancing peace, stability & prosperity in the #IndoPacific," MOFA said on Twitter.

Earlier Saturday, the U.S. State Department also praised Taiwan on the smooth completion of the latest local 9-in-1 government elections.

"The United States congratulates the people on Taiwan for once again demonstrating the strength of their vibrant democratic system through a successful round of elections," a State Department spokesperson said in an email response to CNA.

"We look forward to working with our counterparts -- new and old -- to continue our fruitful cooperation on a wide range of issues of mutual concern," the spokesperson said.

In Saturday's elections, President Tsai Ing-wen's () Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suffered a major defeat, losing seven of the 13 cities and counties it previously held.

The Kuomintang, meanwhile, won at least 15 seats, recovering strongly after being badly defeated in the 2014 local elections, when it was left in control of only six cities and counties.

(By Rita Cheng Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/AW

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Navy has no plans to stage drill near Taiping Island

ROC Central News Agency

2018/11/25 17:43:21

Taipei, Nov. 25 (CNA) The Navy said Sunday that it has no plans to stage an exercise near a Taiwan-controlled island in the disputed South China Sea later this week, refuting a local media report earlier in the day.

In a press release, the Navy Command said the Chinese-language United Daily News report was nothing but speculation.

The report said that following a three-day live-fire exercise held in waters near the South China Sea by the Coast Guard Administration (CGA) last week, the Navy will soon stage a live-fire drill featuring ground weapon systems from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.

In response, the Navy said it has no plans to stage another round of exercises.

According to the CGA, its Nov. 21-23 drill was part of live-fire exercises held annually in waters near Taiping in March, May, August and November.

The routine drill led to a protest from Vietnam, which, along with Taiwan, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei, claims sovereignty over all or some of the islands in the South China Sea and their surrounding waters.

Taiwan controls Taiping, the largest of the Spratly Islands, which is located some 1,600 kilometers from Kaohsiung. With an area of 0.51 square kilometers, it has 200 coastguard officers stationed there and a few civilian residents.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/J

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Mainland to stick to peaceful development path in cross-Straits relations: spokesperson

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:08, November 25, 2018

BEIJING -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Sunday said the mainland will continue to enhance solidarity with Taiwan compatriots and follow a path of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks when asked to comment on the local elections in Taiwan over the weekend.

"We have noticed the results of the elections," said Ma, adding that the results reflected the strong will of the public in Taiwan in sharing the benefits of the peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait, and desires to improve the island's economy and people's wellbeing.

"We will continue to uphold the 1992 Consensus, and to resolutely oppose separatist elements advocating 'Taiwan independence' and their activities," said Ma.

With a correct understanding on the nature of the cross-Straits relations and the nature of exchanges between cities across the Strait, more counties and cities in Taiwan are welcomed to participate in such exchanges and cooperation, said Ma.

The failure of the so-called "referendum" on a name-changing motion for Taiwan to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics showed that putting Taiwanese athletes' interests at stake is against people's will, Ma said.

Ma said the attempts of "Taiwan independence" are doomed to fail.

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China commends Taiwan voters after ruling party defeat

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 07:22AM

China has welcomed the defeat of Taiwan's secessionist ruling party in the self-ruled island's local elections, saying the vote showed the "strong will" of the people in the region to develop peaceful relations with Beijing.

Some 19 million people went to the polls in Taiwan on Saturday to choose 22 mayors and county magistrates along with thousands of local officials. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost seven of its 13 cities and counties as well as two special municipalities to the China-friendly Kuomintang Party (KMT) in the polls.

"The (election) results reflected the strong will of the Taiwan public in hoping to continue to share the benefits of the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait, and their strong wish in hoping to improve the island's economy and people's wellbeing," read a statement by China's policy-making Taiwan Affairs Office and carried by official Xinhua news agency.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office, also said his government would continue to treat Taiwan as part of China and "resolutely oppose separatist elements advocating 'Taiwan independence' and their activities."

Beijing has considered Taiwan a breakaway province since a self-proclaimed government was established there in 1949. Most world countries recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

The local midterm elections in the self-ruled island were regarded as a referendum on the administration of the island's pro-West president Tsai Ing-wen.

In the run-up to the elections, Tsai and her government accused Beijing of trying to sway Taiwanese voters with "political bullying" and "fake news." China vehemently dismissed the allegations.

As the results were finalized late on Saturday, the nationalist KMT swept to a landslide victory by winning votes in 15 Taiwanese cities and gaining influence in at least three of the six special municipalities.

Voters in Taiwan also rejected a proposal to change the name of its Olympic team to Taiwan from the current Chinese Taipei in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Tsai resigns as head of party

During a brief news conference at DPP headquarters in Taipei late on Saturday, Tsai announced that she was stepping down as the ruling party's chairperson, taking responsibility for her party's major defeat at the mayoral and county elections.

"I hereby announce my resignation as chairwoman and shoulder responsibility," she said. "We have learned a lesson and must reflect on ourselves as, obviously, voters have a higher expectation of us."

In a Facebook post, Taiwanese Prime Minister William Lai also offered his resignation to Tsai.

"Elections are a vote for the public to inspect the government's performance, and the results show the public obviously is not satisfied," he said. "I feel sorry for this and I have offered my verbal resignation to Tsai to take political responsibility."

Tsai refused the premier's resignation, saying she wanted him to continue her agenda.

Beijing's relations with Taipei have particularly been strained since Tsai came to power in 2016. She has strong anti-China inclinations and refuses to acknowledge that both sides are part of "One China."

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Corbyn reiterates Labour will reject UK Brexit deal with EU

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 04:44PM

Britain's opposition Labour Party in the UK Parliament will reject the Brexit agreement reached with the European Union, its leader Jeremy Corbyn has reiterated, calling it a "bad deal" for the country.

Corbyn said on Sunday his party was positive that the Brexit deal finalized in an EU summit on Sunday will not ensure the interests of the British people and should be voted down when it comes for approval in Parliament in December.

"This is a bad deal for the country. It is the result of a miserable failure of negotiation that leaves us with the worst of all worlds. It gives us less say over our future, and puts jobs and living standards at risk," Corbyn said in a statement.

"That is why Labour will oppose this deal in parliament. We will work with others to block a no deal outcome, and ensure that Labour's alternative plan for a sensible deal to bring the country together is on the table."

The Labour leader said, however, that his party will work with others in Parliament to prevent a highly-feared situation in which Britain would leave the EU on March 29, 2019, without a deal.

"We will work with others to block a no deal outcome, and ensure that Labour's alternative plan for a sensible deal to bring the country together is on the table," said Corbyn.

EU leaders on Sunday approved an agreement on the UK's withdrawal from the EU, warning that renegotiation was not an option even if the British Parliament rejects it.

A rejection of Brexit deal in the House of Commons could lead to different scenarios, including a government call for snap elections, which could give the Labour the chance to rise to power and take responsibility for a new round of Brexit negotiations.

However, EU leaders insisted after the summit on Sunday that there were no chances for a renegotiation of the Brexit agreement, saying that the deal reached with British Prime Minister Theresa May over the course of the past two years was the best and only solution available.

It is not only the Labour that is critical of the current Brexit agreement. Senior figures in May's Conservative Party as well as Scottish and Irish parties have announced that they will reject the deal, each citing their own reasons.

May said last week after unveiling a draft of the deal in the parliament that some politicians like Corbyn did not care about national interests and were playing "party politics" with the dispute over the Brexit agreement.

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May appeals to the public to support her Brexit deal

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 06:45AM

British Prime Minister Theresa May has appealed to the public to support her Brexit deal, calling on Leavers and Remainers to end hostilities and unite.

In a "letter to the nation" on Sunday, May asked British people to use the country's departure from the European Union to help begin a period of national "renewal and reconciliation."

She said that the deal and political declaration slated to be agreed by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday "will honor the result of the referendum" by enabling the UK to "take back control" of its money, laws and borders.

"It is a deal for a brighter future, which enables us to seize the opportunities that lie ahead," she said in her letter.

The UK can sign new trade agreements with other countries and "open up new markets" around the world, she added.

"With Brexit settled, we will be able to focus our energies on the many other important issues facing us here at home: keeping our economy strong, and making sure every community shares in prosperity; securing our NHS for the future, giving every child a great start in life, and building the homes that families need; tackling the burning injustices that hold too many people back, and building a country for the future that truly works for everyone."

May told the British parliament on Thursday that there was still some room for negotiation about the final Brexit deal which she and authorities in Brussels are supposed to present to a summit of EU leaders on Sunday for final endorsement.

May hopes the deal she brings from the EU summit could go through the parliament so that Britain can leave the EU on March 29, 2019, having defined the terms of its departure as well as the basic principles of its future relationship with the EU.

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British Lawmakers Warn They Will Vote Against Brexit Deal

By Jamie Dettmer November 25, 2018

It took Britain's Theresa May and 27 other European Union leaders just 40 minutes to sign the Brexit deal after two years of tortuous negotiations, but the trials and tribulations of Britain's withdrawal agreement approved Sunday in Brussels are far from over.

As they endorsed the 585-page the agreement, and a 26-page accompanying political declaration that sets out the parameters of negotiating a possible free trade deal between Britain and the European Union, powerful political foes in London plotted strategies to undo it.

There is little evidence Britain's embattled prime minister will have sufficient support to win legislative endorsement of the deal in a House of Commons vote next month. That was clearly on the minds of European Commission officials Sunday as EU leaders gave their backing to the terms of Britain's split from Brussels after 44 years of membership.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned that Britain cannot expect to get a better deal, if its parliament rejects the agreement. "Now it is time for everybody to take their responsibilities, everybody," he said.

"This is the deal, it's the best deal possible and the EU will not change its fundamental position when it comes to this issue, so I do think the British parliament  because this is a wise parliament  will ratify this deal," he added.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned British lawmakers that no better deal was on offer from the European Union, urging them to back the agreements.

"If I would live in the UK I would say yes to this, I would say that this is very much acceptable to the United Kingdom," Rutte said, because the deal "limited the impact of Brexit while balancing the vote to leave". In a bid to help the prime minister, he said May had "fought very hard" and now there was "an acceptable deal on the table".

"You know I hate [Brexit], but it is a given," he told reporters. "No one is a victor here today, nobody is winning, we are all losing."

Opposition in Britain

Maybe it is a "given" in Brussels, but in Britain that is another matter altogether.

Both Remainers and Leavers in the British Parliament are warning that May doesn't have the necessary support with the all the opposition parties lined up against the deal and as many as 100 lawmakers, Remainers and Leavers among them, from May's ruling Conservatives pledging to vote against it as well.

Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, said he would continue to oppose the deal because it "cedes huge amounts of power" to the European Union.

In Scotland, first minister and leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party Nicola Sturgeon said, "This is a bad deal, driven by the PM's self defeating red lines and continual pandering to the right of her own party. Parliament should reject it and back a better alternative."

She wants a second Britain-wide referendum, like a majority of Britons, according to recent opinion polls.

The agreement calls for Britain to stay in the bloc's customs union and largely in the EU single market, without the power to influence the rules, regulations and laws it will be obliged to obey for a 21-month-long transition period following formal withdrawal on March 29. The deal would allow an extension of "up to one or two years" should the negotiations over "the future relationship" not be completed by the end of 2020.

May is campaigning to sell the agreement to the British public, hoping she she can build enough support in the wider country to pressure the House of Commons to endorse the deal. European Parliament approval is almost certain.

May's warning

In an open letter to the British public published Sunday, May promised to campaign "with my heart and soul to win that vote and to deliver this Brexit deal." If she is unable to do so, Britain would be plunged into what May herself has called, "deep and grave uncertainty."

Her aides say she is banking on the "fear factor," daring the House of Commons to vote down a deal which if rejected would leave Britain most likely crashing out of the bloc, its largest trading partner, without any agreements, which would be costly economically and would almost certainly push the country into recession.

Ominously, the Northern Ireland party, the Democratic Unionist Party, whose 10 lawmakers May's minority government relies on to remain in power, says it will vote against the deal. And DUP leader Arlene Foster warned Sunday she is ready to collapse the government to block a deal that would see Northern Ireland treated differently than the rest of Britain.

And a senior Labour lawmaker Tony Lloyd said there was a "coalition of the willing" in the Parliament ready to reject May's deal and support a softer Brexit. So, if the deal is voted down, what then? A vote against could trigger a general election, a second Brexit referendum or even more negotiations, despite Brussels' threat there can be no other deal.

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Russia and Ukraine involved in Black Sea naval standoff

Iran Press TV

Sun Nov 25, 2018 11:47AM

Russia and Ukraine forces have engaged in a maritime confrontation, reflecting rising tensions between Moscow and Kiev in the Black Sea near Crimea.

Three Ukrainian Navy ships circumnavigating Crimea en route to a Ukrainian port crossed into Russian territorial waters, the press service of the FSB's Crimean border department said on Monday as cited by RT.

"This morning at around 07.00 Moscow time, three ships of the Naval Forces of Ukraine, in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the United Nations Convention of Sea Law, defining the coastal state's right to ensure safety in maritime space, crossed the Russian state border, unlawfully entering the off-limits water area of Russian sea territory," the FSB said in a statement.

However, Ukraine's navy claimed that Russia's border guards rammed one of its tugboats in the Black Sea off Crimea on Sunday in "openly aggressive actions."

Ukraine said the incident took place as three of its ships including two small warships were heading for the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, an area of heightened tensions between the countries.

Meanwhile, the Russian Federal Security Service's border control department announced that it is making efforts to de-escalate the tension caused by the transgression of the three Ukrainian ships.

Moscow has clarified that Russia reserves the right to defend the waters east of Crimea as an integral part of its territory. The Black Sea peninsula in southern Europe rejoined Russia in 2014.

The reunion of Crimea has been a sticking point in the relations between the two countries.

Both Moscow and Kiev accuse each other of harassing each other's shipping in the area.

Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing punitive measures against Ukraine.

In June 2018, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree to expand sanctions on Russian companies and entities. The sanctions would last at least three years and included penalties on Russian lawmakers and top officials.

Washington and its Western allies have also imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia both over the Crimean unification and an armed conflict that erupted in eastern Ukraine when Kiev launched military operations to quell pro-Russia protests there.

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Sajid Khan was accused of sexual harassment by two women, following which he stepped down as the director of Housefull 4.

Mumbai: Actor Farhan Akhtar says he feels a sense of guilt for not being aware of the indecent behaviour of his cousin Sajid Khan, who has been accused of sexual harassment by several women.

Sajid was accused of sexual harassment by two women -- actor Saloni Chopra and a journalist, following which he stepped down as the director of "Housefull 4".

Also Read | Sajid Khan accused of sexual misconduct, Akshay Kumar stalls Housefull 4

When the allegations had surfaced, Farhan, who has been a vocal supporter of #MeToo movement, was one of the first celebrities to react and had termed them as "shocking."

"Everytime something like this has happened in the public domain, I've been very vocal with my opinion. When it came to someone within my family, I felt silence on that front would be very, very hypocritical," Farhan said.

"So pretty much on the first day when three women came out and spoke, I felt it was important for me to speak out. Sajid, being my brother, I need to now work with him, try to figure out how he can see this thing through and how it is that he can make the women who have been affected by his actions, somehow feel better," he added.

The actor was in conversation with journalist Barkha Dutt at We The Women event here.

When Barkha said an apology alone would not suffice as sexual violation is a crime, Farhan said, "Absolutely. Whether stuff like this needs to go into the ambit of court is for them to decide. These are the things he (Sajid) has to face."

"To start with apologising is a big step. To say 'I am sorry about what I did' is a big step, it can make a person feel a lot better," he added.

Farhan said when he first heard about the accusations against his cousin, he had conflicted emotions.

"It was surprise, disappointment and strangely, because when it's a member of your family, you also feel a certain level of guilt. It's happened to all of us in the past when we hear something like this and say 'but how come someone so close to him didn't know.'

"The truth is I didn't. If I did know I would've spoken about it way before the story broke. There was this certain guilt about that, how could this be going on and I had no idea. So there were conflicted emotions," he said.

Farhan feels he wishes he had known about Sajid's behaviour and said three women spoke to him privately, accusing the filmmaker of the same.

"There were two-three women who got in touch with me privately to say 'listen you should know whatever is being said is true and he has behaved in a similar way with us as well.' These are the people I've known for 12, 15, 20 years and meet them very often but nobody ever mentioned this to me. I asked them why didn't you ever tell me?

"I have been doing something with MARD for the last five years, I wouldn't have been on his side if you had brought it to my attention but somehow they weren't comfortable to speak about it," he said.

But the actor says it is ultimately a woman's decision when she wants to come out and tell her story and she should be given that environment and space.

"If someone has behaved badly with a woman and she hasn't spoken about it for ten, 20 or 30 years, it's her prerogative when she wants to speak. Even if someone tells me privately, like these three women, I cannot take their names.

"Can I go to the public with that? I can't because she will be answerable then for the rest of her life and may be she first want to be. It's a woman's agency," he added.

Also present at the panel discussion were politician Milind Deora and comedian Cyrus Broacha.
Kyiv Says Russia Attacked Ukrainian Navy Ships, Seized Three In Black Sea

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service November 25, 2018

KYIV -- The Ukrainian Navy says Russian forces opened fire on a group of its ships in the Black Sea off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula late on November 25, striking two warships and wounding two crew members before seizing the vessels along with a Ukrainian Navy tugboat.

The Ukrainian Navy announced the incident on a day of heightened tension after Russia reportedly blocked the three Ukrainian Navy ships from passing from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova late on November 25 accused Ukrainian authorities of using "gangster tactics" in the Kerch Strait -- first a provocation, then pressure, and finally accusations of aggression.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), which oversees the country's border-guard service, said its forces fired weapons at the Ukrainian Navy ships to get them to stop after they had illegally entered Russia's territorial waters.

But the Ukrainian Navy says its vessels -- including two small-sized artillery boats -- were attacked by Russian coastguard ships as they were leaving the 12-mile zone of the Kerch Strait and moving back into the Black Sea.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said late on November 25 that "Russian special forces have taken over some ships."

Poroshenko called a meeting of his military cabinet to evaluate and determine Ukraine's next steps.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it considered Russia's "aggressive actions" to be a violation of international law that would be met with "an international and diplomatic legal response."

Meanwhile, angry demonstrators were gathering in front of Russia's embassy in Kyiv late on November 25 after authorities announced the attack against the Ukrainian Navy ships.

Earlier the same day, Kyiv said a Russian coastguard vessel rammed the Ukrainian Navy tugboat in the same area as three Ukrainian ships approached the Kerch Strait in an attempt to reach the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov.

Mariupol is the closest Ukrainian government-controlled city to Donetsk and Luhansk, the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia-backed separatists.

The Ukrainian Navy said the collision happened because "the invaders' dispatcher service refuses to ensure the right to freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements."

'Complete Disregard' For International Law

The navy also accused Russia of demonstrating an "aggressive nature and complete disregard for the norms of international law."

"The ships of the Ukrainian Navy continue to perform tasks in compliance with all norms of international law," the Ukrainian Navy said in a statement said. "All illegal actions are recorded by the crews of the ships and the command of Ukraine's Navy and will be handed over to the respective international bodies."

After that incident, Russian authorities closed passage by civilian ships through the Kerch Strait.

Russian authorities cited a local port authority to justify the closure on grounds of heightened security concerns.

In Brussels, the European Union late on November 25 called upon Russia "to restore freedom of passage"' in the Kerch Strait.

Meanwhile, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the alliance was "closely monitoring developments" in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait and was "in contact with the Ukrainian authorities.

"We call for restraint and deescalation," she said.

"NATO fully supports Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters," Lungescu said. "We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law."

The NATO spokeswoman also noted that the alliance's leaders at their Brussels summit last July "made clear that Russia's ongoing militarization of Crimea, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea poses further threats to Ukraine's independence and undermines the stability of the broader region."

Areas Of Heightened Tensions

However, the FSB accused the Ukrainian Navy ships of illegally entering its waters and deliberately provoking a conflict.

The Sea of Azov, the Kerch Strait, and the Black Sea waters off Crimea's southern coast have been areas of heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv since 2014 when Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea region and began supporting pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine.

A 2003 treaty between Russia and Ukraine designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters.

But Moscow has been asserting greater control over the area since its annexation of the Crimean Peninsula -- particularly since May when it opened a new 19-kilometer Russian-built bridge that links the Crimea region to Russian territory to the east of the Kerch Strait.

Both sides have recently increased their military presence in the Azov region, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of harassing ships heading for Ukrainian ports such as Mariupol.

Ukraine's navy said in a statement that it was a Russian border-guard ship, the Don, that "rammed into our tugboat." It said the collision caused damage to the tugboat's engine, outer hull, and guardrail.

Russia's ships "carried out openly aggressive actions against Ukrainian naval ships," the statement said, adding that the Ukrainian ships were continuing on their way "despite Russia's counteraction."

But the Kyiv-based UNIAN news agency reported later that the two small-sized armored artillery boats and the tugboat did not manage to enter the Sea of Azov.

Ukrainian Navy spokesman Oleh Chalyk told Ukraine's Kanal 5 TV that the tugboat "established contact with a coast-guard outpost" operated by the FSB Border Service and "communicated its intention to sail through the Kerch Strait."

"The information was received [by Russian authorities] but no response was given," Chalylk said.

But the FSB said the Ukrainian ships "illegally entered a temporarily closed area of Russian territorial waters" without authorization.

It said that Ukraine's ships were carrying out "provocative actions" aimed at creating "a conflict situation in this region."

The FSB statement did not mention the ramming of the Ukrainian tugboat.

Later on November 25, several hours before the reports of Russian forces firing on Ukrainian Navy ships, the FSB said two other Ukrainian ships -- two armored Gyurza-class gunboats  had left Ukraine's Sea of Azov port at Berdyansk and were sailing south toward the Kerch Strait at top speed.

Russian officials said after the reported shooting incident in the Black Sea that those Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov turned back to Berdyansk before reaching the Kerch Strait.

The FSB also warned Kyiv against "reckless decisions," saying that Russia was taking "all necessary measures to curb this provocation," Interfax reported.

Aleksei Pushkov, chairman of the Information Policy Committee of the Russian Federation Council, accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of directly ordering the Ukrainian ships to carry out what he called "a purposeful provocation."

"Such things are not carried out without the head of state's knowledge, consent, and -- I think -- initiative," Pushkov told Russia's state-run Rossia 24 TV channel.

With reporting by RFE/RL correspondent Christopher Miller in Kyiv, RFE/RL correspondent Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels, AFP, AP, Reuters, UNIAN, and Interfax.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine- russian-ship-rams-navy-tugboat-off- crimea-azov/29619665.html

Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ukrainian Forces Pound Donbass Residential Area with Heavy Artillery

Sputnik News

23:40 25.11.2018(updated 00:08 26.11.2018)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian army on Sunday opened up with massive artillery fire, shelling residential areas of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), an RIA Novosti correspondent has reported.

The shelling began at about 19:50 GMT, according to the correspondent. The Ukrainian army is using various weapons, including heavy artillery.

The number of attacks by the Ukrainian army in the Donbass region is likely to increase following new deliveries of Polish weapons to Ukraine, Eduard Basurin, deputy commander of the DPR Operational Command, said Friday.

According to Basurin, in mid-November, a Polish company supplied Kiev with over 23,000 60-mm mortar shells and noted that Ukrainian forces in Donbass would receive this ammunition in the near future.

The ongoing military operation in eastern Ukraine was launched by Kiev in 2014 against militias in Donbass, after local residents of the region refused to recognize the new Ukrainian government and its representatives.

In 2015, a ceasefire deal was signed between conflicting sides in Minsk after talks brokered by the leaders of the so-called Normandy group  Russia, France, Germany and Ukraine. Despite the ceasefire agreement, sporadic fighting has continued in Donbass. The situation remains tense, with both parties accusing the other of violating the ceasefire. According to the United Nations, over 10,000 people have died in the conflict.

 Sputnik

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Three Ukrainian Naval Ships Depart Kerch Strait, Return to Berdyansk - FSB

Sputnik News

22:52 25.11.2018(updated 23:27 25.11.2018)

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said Sunday it has irrefutable evidence that Ukrainian Naval Forces prepared and staged a provocation in the Black Sea.

According to the FSB, three Ukraininan vessels that earlier left the port of Berdyansk and were heading toward Kerch strait, are now moving back to their home port.

The Kerch Strait, connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, has been closed for civilian ships beginning Sunday after three Ukrainian Navy vessels violated the Russian border.

"Three vessels of the Ukrainian Navy, which have earlier left Berdyans'k for the Kerch Strait, have retraced their course and are moving back to Berdyansk," the FSB said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Ukrainian military vessels crossed the Russian sea border, entered the temporarily-closed area of Russian territorial waters and were moving from the Black Sea toward the Kerch Strait, according to FSB. Another group of ships was heading for the Kerch Strait from the Azov Sea port of Berdyansk.

The provocative actions of three Ukrainian naval ships in the Black Sea has continued for some five hours, the FSB noted earlier on Sunday, adding that it was doing everything possible to put an end to the aggressive moves by Kiev.

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea rose this year after Ukraine detained two Russian ships for port calls in Russian Crimea, which Ukraine continues to consider its territory. Russia described the move as "maritime terrorism" and ramped up patrols off its Azov coast, prompting Ukraine to accuse Russia of illegal searches.

 Sputnik

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Three Ukrainian Navy Ships Crossed Russian Waters, Entered Kerch Strait - FSB

Sputnik News

10:55 25.11.2018(updated 15:10 25.11.2018)

Three Ukrainian Navy ships crossed into temporarily off-limits Russian territorial waters, moving from the Black Sea to the Kerch Strait, the press service of the FSB's Crimean border department said on Monday.

"This morning at around 07.00 Moscow time, three ships of the Naval Forces of Ukraine, in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the United Nations Convention of Sea Law, defining the coastal state's right to ensure safety in maritime space, crossed the Russian state border, unlawfully entering the off-limits water area of Russian sea territory," the FSB said in a statement.

Ukrainian warships are moving into the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea, the FSB stressed.

"Ukrainian warships continue to move towards the Kerch Strait, which has a procedure for permitting the movement and anchorage of ships, in accordance with the schedule of the movement and deployment of ships, (which needs) approved by the captain of the Russian seaport," the department said.

Another two Ukrainian naval vessels are heading at full speed from the Ukrainian port city of Berdyansk in the Sea of Azov in the direction of the Kerch Strait, where a provocation has been organized by three Ukrainian naval ships, the Russian Federal Security Service said.

"Today at 11.30 [08:30 GMT] the border guard service of Russia's FSB registered the advancement of two Gurza-class artillery armored boats from the port of Berdyansk. At the moment, they are heading at full speed in the direction of the Kerch Strait to the zone where provocation was organized by the Ukrainian side. The border guard service of the Russian Federal Security Service takes all necessary measures to stop this provocation," the FSB said.

The Kersh Strait, connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, was closed for civilian ships on Sunday after three Ukrainian navy vessels violated the Russian border, Alexei Volkov, the director general of the Crimean Sea Ports company, told Sputnik.

"The passage through the Kerch Strait is closed for civilian ships," Volkov said.

The decision has been made over security reasons, he added.

The Russian Federal Security Service's border control department has said that it is doing everything it can to curb the provocation by the three Ukrainian ships.

In October, the Ukrainian parliament passed a draft law authorising Kiev to expand maritime controls by 12 nautical miles off its southern coast, allegedly in an effort to counter smuggling in the Black Sea.

Russian Foreign Ministry emphasised that Russia regarded the waters east of Crimea as an integral part of its territory. The Black Sea peninsula in southern Europe rejoined Russia in 2014.

 Sputnik

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Russia Attacks, Seizes 3 Ukrainian Navy Vessels

By VOA News November 25, 2018

Russia fired on two Ukrainian naval ships and rammed a third vessel in the Black Sea Sunday, accusing the Ukrainians of illegally entering what it claims as its territorial waters.

Ukrainian officials say at least six sailors were wounded and denies doing anything wrong - accusing Russia of engaging in military aggression.

"Such actions pose a threat to the security of all states in the Black Sea region and therefore require a clear response from the international community," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accuses Ukraine of staging a deliberate provocation.

"Weapons were used with the aim of forcibly stopping the Ukrainian warships. As a result, all three Ukrainian naval vessels were seized in the Russian Federation's territorial waters in the Black Sea," an FSB statement said.

Sunday's incident began when a Ukrainian tugboat set out to escort two navy ships from Odessa, on the Black Sea, through the Kerch Strait to the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, in the Sea of Azov.

The Kerch Strait is the only passage between the two seas.

A 2003 treaty designates the Sea of Azov and the pathway into it - the Kerch Straight - as shared territorial waters.

Ukraine says a Russian Coast Guard ship rammed and damaged the tugboat and fired at the two other ships. Russian Coast Guardsmen boarded all three vessels and took them over.

Ukraine says Russia used a tanker to block access to the Kerch Strait.

Russia says the Ukrainian ships were violating its waters and accuses the Ukrainians of failing to inform it that three of its ships were planning to sail through Kerch - a charge Ukraine denies.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called an emergency meeting of his war cabinet Sunday night. Poroshenko says he will propose that parliament declare martial law in the wake of the attack.

An emergency United Nations Security Council meeting has been called for tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., U.S. envoy to the U.N., Nikki Haley, tweeted late Sunday.

Both NATO and the European Union issued statements late Sunday urging both sides to act with the "utmost restraint" while NATO calls on Russia to "ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea in accordance with international law."

The Trump administration has warned Russia against trying to strangle the Ukrainian economy by harassing international shipping through the Kerch Strait.

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, claiming its ethnic Russian majority there was under threat from the Ukrainian government.

Meanwhile, fighting between pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian troops has eased in recent months, but there are still occasional deadly flare-ups.

Russia has consistently denied sending weapons and fighters to the help the rebels, despite strong evidence to the contrary.

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FSB to Escort Ukrainian Ships Seized in Black Sea Over Border Violation to Kerch

Sputnik News

04:37 26.11.2018(updated 04:53 26.11.2018)

SIMFEROPOL (Sputnik) - Three Ukrainian ships seized in the Black Sea for illegally crossing the Russian border will be escorted to the port of Kerch, a spokesman for the Border Directorate of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) for Crimea, Anton Lozovoy, said on Monday.

"All three vessels have been seized. They are being convoyed to the port of Kerch," Lozovoy told reporters. According to the FSB spokesman, a criminal case has been initiated under Russian Criminal Code Article 322.3 (illegal crossing of the state border). Three slightly wounded Ukrainian soldiers have received medical assistance, Lozovoy added.

Earlier, the FSB reported that three ships of the Ukrainian Navy  Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu  had been seized after violating the Russian state border. The Ukrainian boats did not react to legal demands of the ships accompanying them and made dangerous maneuvers, the FSB noted.

First Deputy Chair of the Russian parliament upper chamber's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Dzhabarov, told Sputnik that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko could have orchestrated the provocation in an attempt to boost his approval ratings ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

"All of this has been orchestrated by Poroshenko, who is lagging behind in the [presidential] election [campaign]. His goal is to introduce the state of emergency in Ukraine to cancel the elections or set up all Ukrainians against Russia in order to try to improve his approval rating with the help of a new wave of anti-Russia sentiments," Dzhabarov said.

Ukraine is set to hold a presidential election on March 31, 2019, while parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 2019.

Earlier in the day, Poroshenko advocated for the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, saying that "the decision does not provide for immediate mobilization, but training of the primary reserve pool will be conducted."

Meanwhile, Russia has requested an urgent meeting of UN Security Council members at 11 a.m. on Monday (16.00 GMT) to discuss the situation in the Kerch Strait.

 Sputnik

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Russia Requests Urgent UN Security Council Meeting Over Azov Sea Issue

Sputnik News

02:37 26.11.2018(updated 02:50 26.11.2018)

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - Russia requested an urgent meeting of UN Security Council members at 11 a.m. on Monday (16.00 GMT) to discuss the situation in the Sea of Azov, Russia's First Deputy Envoy to UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, told reporters.

"In connection with the dangerous development of the situation in the Sea of Azov and the events that followed them, Russia requested an urgent convocation of an open meeting of the Security Council on the morning of November 26 under the agenda item 'Maintenance of international peace and security,'" Polyanskiy said. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. (19.00 Moscow time, 16.00 GMT), he added.

On Sunday, three ships of the Ukrainian Navy, in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, crossed the Russian sea border, entered a temporarily closed area of Russian territorial waters, moving from the Black Sea toward the Kerch Strait, according to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

Another group of ships was heading for the Kerch Strait from the Azov Sea port of Berdyans'k. The Kerch Strait, which links Black and Azov seas, was closed by Russia on Sunday to civilian ships for security reasons. Later the same day, the FSB reported that the same three ships of the Ukrainian Navy  Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu  had been detained after violating Russian state border. The Ukrainian ships did not react to legal demands of the ships accompanying them and made dangerous maneuvers, the FSB noted.

 Sputnik

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Poroshenko Threatens to Impose Martial Law in Ukraine Amid Kerch Strait Issue

Sputnik News

01:50 26.11.2018(updated 03:07 26.11.2018)

KIEV (Sputnik) - Kiev is considering imposing martial law after a recent incident on the Black Sea, and the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) convened an urgent meeting to discuss the issue, NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said on Sunday.

On Sunday, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said that three ships of the Ukrainian Navy  Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu  were detained after violating the Russian maritime border, according to articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Ukrainian naval ships did not react to legal demands of the vessels accompanying them and made dangerous maneuvers, the FSB noted.

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine at an urgent meeting asked to impose martial law in the country for 60 days and the decision has yet to be approved by the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Monday that the imposition of martial law in the country would not affect the situation in Donbass, and did not mean that Kiev would conduct an offensive military operation.

"The introduction of martial law does not mean in any way that Ukraine will conduct any offensive actions. Ukraine will conduct exclusively actions to defend its territory, protect and ensure security of its citizens. It also does not mean a change of position on the contact line in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and other areas," the Ukrainian president said in a speech broadcast by Ukrainian television channels.

According to the president, the possible introduction of martial law in the country does not mean that Kiev rejects the Minsk agreements, he added.

"The martial law does not mean our refusal of a political and diplomatic settlement of the liberation of Ukrainian territory. We have intentions to continue to adhere to all international obligations, including the Minsk agreements," Poroshenko said at the NSDC meeting.

"The decision does not provide for immediate mobilization, but training of the primary reserve pool will be conducted. We must carry out all measures to protect the state as soon as possible," Poroshenko stressed.

Poroshenko also said that the introduction of martial law did not imply a restriction of the rights and freedoms of citizens.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army opened massive artillery fire on Sunday, shelling residential areas of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized Kiev's provocations as "gangster methods."

EU foreign policy spokesperson Maja Kocijancic said Sunday that Brussels called on Russia and Ukraine to act with maximum restraint in the situation around the Kerch Strait.

"The tensions in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait have increased dangerously today [] We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch Strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately," according to the statement, also confirming the position of the EU foreign policy chief that the EU expected Russia to stop inspections of vessels.

In turn, NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in a statement on Sunday that the alliance is closely monitoring the latest developments around the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

"NATO is closely monitoring developments in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, and we are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. We call for restraint and de-escalation," according to the statement.

NATO fully supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including navigation rights in its territorial waters, it added.

"We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law," the statement said.

NATO earlier expressed support for Ukraine at the alliance's July summit, claiming that what it referred to as the "ongoing militarization" of Crimea by Russia undermined the stability in the region.

The tensions around the Sea of Azov erupted this year after Ukraine detained a Russian vessel, prompting Moscow to boost controls in the area. The tensions further escalated in October when the Ukrainian parliament passed a draft law authorizing Kiev to expand maritime controls by 12 nautical miles off its southern coast, purportedly in an effort to counter smuggling in the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Parliament Chairman Andriy Parubiy said that he was convening the parliament's extraordinary meeting at 14.00 GMT on Monday.

"In pursuance of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and the appeal of the President of Ukraine, on Monday, November 26, 2018, at 16.00 (14.00 GMT), I convene an extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine," Parubiy wrote on Facebook on Monday night.

 Sputnik

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Ukrainian Naval Ships Ignored Calls to Stop, Violated Russian State Border - FSB

Sputnik News

00:12 26.11.2018(updated 00:40 26.11.2018)

According to the Russian Federal Security Service, weapons were used to force three Ukrainian vessels to stop after they violated the Russian maritime border.

Ukrainian naval ships: 'Berdyansk,' 'Yanu Kapu' and 'Nikopol' were briefly detained, the FSB said in a Sunday statement. The agency affirmed that three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in the maritime security maneuver but all have received medical assistance for non-life-threatening injuries.

"The vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu,  which violated the state border of Russia this morning, made another attempt of illegal actions within Russia's sea area at 19.00 [local time, 16.00 GMT] on November 25[] To forcibly stop the Ukrainian warships, weapons were used. As a result, all three vessels of the Ukrainian Navy were detained in Russia's territorial waters in the Black Sea," the FSB said.

The Russian Federal Security Service has launched an investigation into illegal actions by three Ukranian vessels.

"It should be noted that the Ukrainian side is aware of the procedure for the passage of warships through the territorial sea of  Russia and along the Kerch-Yenikale canal. They have previously used this order to carry out a peaceful passage," the FSB stressed.

"There is irrefutable evidence proving that Kiev was preparing and staged a provocation involving the Ukrainian Navy in the Black Sea. These materials will be released soon," the FSB said earlier in a separate statement.

Earlier in the day, three ships of the Ukrainian Navy, in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, crossed the Russian sea border, entered a temporarily closed area in Russian territorial waters and moved from the Black Sea toward the Kerch Strait, according to the FSB. Another group of ships was heading for the Kerch Strait from the Azov Sea port of Berdyansk. The Kerch Strait, which links the Black and Azov seas, was closed to civilian ships on Sunday for security reasons.

The Ukrainian side, in turn, claimed that its three vessels  two small armored artillery boats and a tugboat  were not violating international law by traveling from Odessa to Mariupol. The Ukrainian side also accused Russian coast guard vessels of allegedly committing acts of aggression toward the Ukrainian ships.

The crisis around the Sea of Azov erupted this year after Ukraine detained a Russian vessel there prompting Moscow to boost controls in the area. Tensions further escalated in October when the Ukrainian parliament passed a draft law authorizing Kiev to expand maritime controls by 12 nautical miles off its southern coast, purportedly in efforts to counter smuggling in the Black Sea.

 Sputnik

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While Imtiaz has already locked in Kartik Aaryan to cast in the film, the formal announcement of Sara coming on board is expected soon.

A while ago we had told you about Sara Ali Khan being considered by director Imtiaz Ali for his next directorial venture after Jab Harry Met Sejal. So if the rumours are to be believed, the debutant has already signed on the dotted lines.

While Imtiaz has already locked in Kartik Aaryan to cast in the film, the formal announcement of Sara coming on board is expected soon.

It is incredible that an actor is not just being approached for many films before her debut, but is also gutsy enough to sign on fresh films before her release. Normally, actors especially the star kids wait till the release of their debut film to see the response so that they can position their career graph and also work on the monies that they will get in the future. Sara, on the contrary, seems to be following her instinct on signing film projects, explains a trade source.

Saras debut film Kedarnath hits the screens in less than two weeks from now. Interestingly, Janhvi Kapoor who is being positioned as Saras biggest competitor has only signed her second film Takht after her debut film Dhadak that released in July.

 Sanskriti Media
TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2018 - Aethon Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: AET) ("Aethon" or the "Company") announces that the board of directors (the "Board") has accepted the resignation of Robert Davies as President and Chief Executive Officer as well as a director of Aethon. Effective immediately, the Board has appointed John Miniotis, Vice President, Corporate Development as the Company's Interim Chief Executive Officer.

John Miniotis has over 14 years' experience in the mining sector, focused primarily on corporate development, equity capital markets, investor relations and corporate finance roles. Prior to joining Aethon he was Vice President Corporate Development at AuRico Metals until its acquisition by Centerra Gold in January 2018. From 2010 to 2016, John was an integral member of Lundin Mining Corp.'s corporate development and investor relations team, including the acquisition of Freeport-McMoRan Inc.'s 80% ownership interest in the Candelaria mining complex in Chile.

Jens Mayer, Chairman of the Board said, "Aethon would like to thank Robert and we wish him well in his next endeavours. Furthermore, the Board and I look forward to working with John as he assumes this new role, and appreciate the contribution from him and other management while we engage in a recruitment process."

The Company also announces that it has modified the terms of the second option payment at the Llanos De Llahuin project from US$100,000 to US$50,000 and extended the payment date from November 15, 2018 to January 15, 2019. Aethon continues to maintain a very strong financial position, with a cash balance of approximately $5.2 million as of last quarter end.

About Aethon Minerals

Aethon Minerals is a mineral exploration company focused on creating value in the base metal space with an emphasis on copper mineral assets in Chile. The Company has consolidated a very large prospective land position consisting of over 130,000 hectares along prolific mining belts located in the Maricunga and Antofagasta regions of northern Chile. Aethon believes it is uniquely positioned for growth and is actively pursuing selective copper-focused growth opportunities. Aethon is based in Toronto, Canada, and is listed on the TSX-V under the stock symbol "AET".

Cautionary Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information, such as statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company and is 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. Statements or information in this news release which are not purely historical are forward-looking, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is given, and is 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. 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. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE Aethon Minerals
Vancouver, November 26, 2018 - New Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: ENRG) (OTC Pink: NEMCF) ("New Energy Metals" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Cesar Lopez as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Lopez replaces Grant Ewing, who previously held the roles of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company until November 1, 2018. The appointment of Mr. Lopez as President and Chief Executive Officer is aligned with the Company's long-term commitment to its South American projects, and has been done in anticipation of advancing the Company's interests with new acquisitions.

Mr. Lopez has over 25 years of experience in the natural resources sector, with a strong focus on mining and mineral exploration within Latin America and Eurasia. From 2015 to mid-2018 he served as Executive Chairman at Southern Pioneer Resources, a private Canadian mineral exploration company with silver and copper projects in Chile. Prior to that, Mr. Lopez served as President and CEO of Aegean Metals Group, where he successfully led the senior exploration team that discovered the Hot Maden project in Turkey. Hot Maden is a high-grade gold asset, with an NPV of approximately $1.4 billion.

A founding partner and the former CEO of AQM Copper Inc., Mr. Lopez successfully managed the acquisition and development of the Zafranal copper and gold deposit in Southern Peru, which resulted in the acquisition of AQM Copper Inc. by Teck Resources Ltd. in November of 2016. With an estimated 401 Mt of reserves and 488.7 Mt of resources, the Zafranal Copper-Gold project has a post-tax NPV of approximately $496 million.

Prior to these positions, Mr. Lopez acted as director of Centenario Copper Corp. from 2004 to 2009. During his tenure, the company successfully acquired, developed and built the Franke SX/EW heap leach project in northern Chile. In 2009, Quadra Mining Ltd. acquired Centenario Copper Corp..

Mr. Lopez holds a Law Degree from Universidad Gabriela Mistral in Chile and a Master's Degree in International Commercial Law from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He holds a Diploma in Marketing from UC Berkeley and is also a candidate for a Master of Science in Mineral Economics from Universidad de Chile and Curtin University of Perth (Western Australia). A member of the Chilean Bar Association and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Mr. Lopez was named a member of the Board of Advisors of Mines and Money Americas in 2016.

David Cross, Chief Financial Officer of New Energy Metals, stated that: "Mr. Lopez brings a wealth of experience to his appointment as President and CEO and the Company could not be in more capable hands. Not only has he helped to guide a number of Canadian companies through the various stages of project development in Latin America, his proven track record of success has consistently brought significant value to investors. We look forward to working with Mr. Lopez long into the future."

Mr. Lopez expressed enthusiasm for his new appointment, stating: "I am excited to be given the helm of New Energy Metals at such a critical time. Not only will the way the Company conducts its business going forward provide a blueprint for those serving the new energy metals market, our continued focus on the acquisition of advanced exploration assets in Latin America will create meaningful value for our shareholders and provide a long-term business strategy with staying power."

About the Company

New Energy Metals is focused on the exploration and development of energy metals in Chile. The Company's assets include the Cristal copper project located in northern Chile and several prospective cobalt projects in Chile's past producing San Juan cobalt district.

On behalf of New Energy Metals Corp.

Cesar Lopez, President & CEO

T: 604.484-1232

E: info@newenergymetals.ca

W: www.newenergymetals.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans and acquiring properties, the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Company's projects and otherwise, anticipated results from exploration activities, the Company's expectation that it will be able to obtain the necessary permits to exploit, develop, produce and export copper or cobalt, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or 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 differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development and mine development activities for the Company's projects generally, actual results of exploration activities, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, copper and lithium, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, possible failures of plants or processes to operate as anticipated, other risks of the mining industry, the inability to obtain any necessary governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the TSX Venture Exchange), permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, hedging practices, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage, risks related to joint venture operations, and risks related to the integration of acquisitions, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking information in this news release or incorporated by reference herein.
UAE Will Offer Long Term Visas To Rich Foreigners Business oi-Olga Robert

In a bid to support its economy and real estate market, the UAE (United Arab Emirates) will be offering long-term visas to the rich and educated foreigners like property investors, senior scientists, and entrepreneurs.

Held strong with its supply of oil up till now, the UAE has been looking for other ways to strengthen its economy for quite some years now including real estate investments and tourism. Visas to foreigners to live in the second biggest Arab economy have been provided only for a certain number of years and is dependent on the employment status of the main visa holder of the family. The country's government in the month of May planned to ease its visa policy especially for high worth and highly educated foreigners.

WAM (Emirates News Agency) reported that the details of a proposal to offer five-year residency to foreign owners of real estate worth 5 million dirhams ($1.4 million) or more in the UAE were approved by the cabinet on Saturday, on the condition that the ownership of the property is not to be based on loans.

Further, 10-year renewable visas will be provided to foreigners with investments accounting for at least 10 million dirhams in the UAE, and non-real estate assets should make up for at least 60 percent of the total. The visa also allows investors to bring their spouse and children into the country.

The approved proposals also include 5-year visas to entrepreneurs, 10-year visas to scientists and researchers and 5-year stay for outstanding students.

It is believed that over two-thirds of UAE's 9.4 million residents are foreign. In September, its government allowed expatriates the permit to stay the country after retirement if they own properties worth about $545,000.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 12:00 [IST]
Mohammed Farooq Shaikh was nabbed from Ahmedabad airport soon after his arrival from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

Two armed terrorists had attacked the temple in Gandhinagar, killing 30 people and injuring eight on September 24, 2002. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Ahmedabad: Police Monday arrested an accused in the 2002 Akshardham temple terror attack case, moments after he alighted from a flight here.

Mohammed Farooq Shaikh was nabbed by the Crime Branch from Ahmedabad airport, soon after his arrival from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhagrithsinh Gohil told PTI.

Two armed terrorists had attacked the temple in Gandhinagar, killing 30 people and injuring eight on September 24, 2002. The attack followed the Godhra riots in the same year.

"Shaikh lived in Juhapura before he fled to Riyadh in 2002 after the temple attack," the police official said, adding Shaikh had arranged funds for the attack.
Rao said he will continue his efforts to get quotas increased for Scheduled Tribes and Muslims.

Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Monday slammed BJP chief Amit Shah for his opposition to the TRS government's proposal to increase reservation for Muslims in the state.

Rao, who was speaking at an election rally at Dichpally, said he will continue his efforts to get quotas increased for Scheduled Tribes and Muslims.

BJP chief Amit Shah Sunday attacked the TRS government's proposal to give 12 per cent quota to Muslims, saying his party would never allow it as religion-based reservation is unconstitutional.

Taking exception to Shah's comments, Rao said the TRS would not like pleading with the Centre, and the BJP would not be in power after the next Lok Sabha elections.

"Yesterday, their president also came... He spoke wide and straight and left. They say they will not give. He spoke that we will not let Muslims get reservation... Amit Shah... You will not be in power. It is not you giving (something) and we taking it," he said.

A 'federal front' government should come to power at the Centre after next year's Lok Sabha elections for reservation and other things to be achieved, he said.

"Nobody gives us if we beg someone. Either our reservation, rights of Muslims or rights of STs, ...if they (quota and others) are to come, federal government should come in the country," he said.

TRS should win 16 Lok Sabha seats in next elections as All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi would any way win (as Hyderabad MP), Rao said. Rao spoke extensively on the various welfare schemes of his government and the new promises of TRS, including hiking social security pension, 24x7 free power to farm sector, investment support and insurance schemes for farmers.

On Sunday, Shah hit out at Rao over the issue during campaign rallies at Parkal and Nirmal ahead of the December 7 Assembly polls in the state.

"I want to tell Chandrasekhar Rao, the Supreme Court has fixed 50 per cent ceiling (on total reservations). If you want to provide 12 per cent reservation, from whose quota are you going to carve it out: from Dalits, tribals or OBCs. Decide this first," Shah said.

Shah said Rao promised reservation to the minority community "despite being aware" of the 50 per cent ceiling and forwarded the proposal (bill) to the Centre.

"BJP would stand firmly to protect the reservation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes," he said. The Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion, the BJP chief said.

The Telangana legislature has passed a bill increasing reservation in jobs and education for backward sections of the Muslim community to 12 per cent from the earlier four per cent. The bill is yet to get the Centre's nod.
'Congress is running out of steam in this election, so they have started dragging my parents into politics.' Modi Said.

'What has happened to the Congress party? The 'naamdar' (dynast, referring to Rahul Gandhi) is tacitly supporting it and therefore, its leaders are dragging the name of my father, who passed away 30 years ago,' Modi said. (Photo: File)

Jabalpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress Sunday for dragging his parents into a political slugfest, alleging that it was being done at the behest of party chief Rahul Gandhi.

Calling the Congress a "burden on the nation", he also justified his own tirade against the Nehru-Gandhi family, pointing out that unlike his parents, they occupied top positions in politics and the government. Congress leaders have kicked up a controversy recently by first comparing the falling value of the rupee to the advanced age of Modi's mother and then claiming that the father of the prime minister was not someone illustrious.

"What has happened to the Congress party? The 'naamdar' (dynast, referring to Rahul Gandhi) is tacitly supporting it and therefore, its leaders are dragging the name of my father, who passed away 30 years ago," Modi said, addressing a rally here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh. "The Congress is running out of steam in this election, so they have started dragging my parents into politics. No Congressman would make such a statement against me or my family without the consent of the party president. It is the 'naamdar' who is making his leaders speak against me," he added.

"My mother sits in her house, performing religious rites, confining herself to a room, and has never visited Madhya Pradesh. She does not even know the 'R' of 'rajneeti' (politics)," Modi said.

"Yesterday, they took the name of my mother and now my father. The Congress chief is behind this...," he alleged. "Hundred generations of my family have no links with politics. We lived in a small village....lived like the poor. "And the naamdar says, Modiji is also speaking against my family'," the prime minister said.

"Naamdar, I do not talk about your family members. I talk about former prime ministers, former Congress leaders. I speak against former Congress leaders, seeking an account of their work. "Yes, I have to take their names as they were in politics, unlike my family members, who sit quietly in their home and do their job," he added.

"You throw questions at Modi, (then) just as Modi is accountable, your family too is answerable," the prime minister said. The opposition party was left with no issues and was, therefore, indulging in this kind of abusive rhetoric, he added.

The previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had introduced a crop loan waiver scheme in 2008, but of the Rs 6-lakh crore agricultural debt, loans of only Rs 60,000 crore were waived, Modi claimed. Former Union minister Vilas Muttemwar made a controversial statement at a Congress meeting in Rajasthan Saturday, saying nobody knew "the name of your (Modi's) father but everyone knows the name of Rahul Gandhi's father".

Before that, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar had compared the falling value of the rupee to the advanced age of Modi's mother. At Vidisha, Modi also mentioned his cabinet colleague and local MP Sushma Swaraj, lauding her for ensuring the development of the constituency, despite facing health issues.

Speaking at a rally in Jabalpur later, he alleged that of the last 15 years under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, "10 years were lost because the government of Madam (UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi) put hurdles in the way of development".

"You have to decide. One mistake will take you back to the age of misgovernance when there was no power, the roads were broken, the education system was pathetic due to the absence of schools and the health services were poor," Modi said.

The Congress, which had lost elections in states after states, "has become a burden on the nation", he added. "...they (Congress) are unable to decide who will be their leader in Madhya Pradesh....There is a courtier (apparently referring to state Congress chief Kamal Nath), a raja (Digvijay Singh) and a maharaja (Jyotiraditya Scindia). None of them will become the chief minister," Modi asserted.

In a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, who has promised to make Madhya Pradesh a hub of mobile phone production if the Congress is voted to power in the state, the prime minister said there were only two mobile factories in the country in 2014, while now there were 125, ensuring the availability of low-cost smartphones.

Modi also said Jabalpur would emerge as a major defence production centre, adding that the earlier governments were more interested in buying weapons as that served their purposes. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11.
Why Is Pawan Targeting Jagan So Much?

There is a saying that "enemy's enemy is a friend." But Power star and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan seems to be of the view that enemy's enemy is also an enemy.

This is evident from the way Pawan Kalyan has been targeting YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy more than his prime enemy  Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, in the last few days.

At his public meeting in Ravulapalem in East Godavari district, Pawan made very strong allegations against Jagan, saying that the latter was scared of raising the issues of people and the corruption of the rulers in the state assembly.

The reason is simple: Jagan is afraid that if he questions the government on corruption, his own corruption would get exposed, he alleged.

The Jana Sena chief further alleged that Jagan was not lagging behind in looting public money and indulging in various scams.

The YSRC leaders were also involved in sand mafia and soil mafia. Both the TDP and YSRC leaders criticise one another outside, but they have a common agenda of looting the people. That is why Jagan is not daring to question the TDP on the scams, he said.

Pawan went on to allege that Jagan was also facing CBI cases pertaining to financial irregularities running into thousands of crores.

How can such a person dare question Narendra Modi or Chandrababu Naidu? He has miserably failed to play the role of an opposition party, he criticised.

Political analysts wonder what Pawan is going to achieve by attacking Jagan so much.

It would only help the TDP in the long run. If two enemies of a person fight with each other, it will naturally benefit him, an analyst said.

However, there is a talk that Pawan has been attacking Jagan mostly in East and West Godavari districts, because he thinks it is Jagan and not Naidu, who is his prime enemy in these districts.

Perhaps, he feels the Jana Sena would be able to win maximum number of seats in these two days only if he can reduce the impact of Jagan. If he can capture these two districts, he can dictate terms to the next government in the state, another analyst said.

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Lashing out at Pakistan, CM Amarinder Singh labelled the Pakistan Army's actions as 'coward'.

CM Amarinder Singh on Sundayd declined Pakistan's invite for laying the foundation stone for Kartarpur Sahib corridor in Pakistan. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

Amritsar: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Monday laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Just a day after declining Pakistan's invite for the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the historic Kartarpur corridor, CM Amarinder Singh Monday hit out at Pakistan Army Chief.

Citing terror attacks in Punjab and killing of Indian soldiers, Singh said, "I am warning you (Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa), we are also Punjabis, you will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere."

Lashing out at Pakistan, Singh labelled the Pakistan Army's actions as 'coward' and said, "I would like to ask the Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa something. As a soldier, which army teaches to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the other side? Which army teaches to send people to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is cowardness."

The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Hardeep Singh Puri and Vijay Sampla were also present at the event.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.
The move comes after the JD(S), a key partner in the LDF, decided to replace Thomas with Chittur MLA K Krishnankutty.

'I have handed over my resignation letter to the chief minister. I am an MLA now,' Thomas told reporters. (Photo: File)

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas, a nominee of the Janata Dal (Secular) in the CPI(M)-led LDF government, on Monday submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The move comes after the JD(S), a key partner in the LDF, on Friday decided to replace Thomas with Chittur MLA K Krishnankutty.

Thomas handed over the resignation letter to Vijayan at the latter's official residence, Cliff House, this morning.

"I have handed over my resignation letter to the chief minister. I am an MLA now," Thomas told reporters here.

On his performance as a minister in the last two and half years, Thomas said he cannot say he was fully satisfied, but was happy as he could take up various activities during his tenure in the water resources department. Asked if he would stake claim for the post of the state party chief, Thomas said he had not put forward any such demand and had not listed any conditions for his resignation.

Thomas said he had functioned as the state president of the party and had helped it to grow. The party would not split and would remain in the LDF, he said.

The JD(S), headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, has three MLAs in the Kerala Assembly.

The national leadership, which had met at Bengaluru last week, had decided to replace Thomas with Krishnankutty.

Senior JD(S) leaders from the state including Krishnankutty and C K Nanu, the other MLA, met Gowda and held discussions in Bengaluru after which the national leadership had announced the decision to replace Thomas.

The two factions led by Thomas and Krishnankutty have been at loggerheads for quite some time over the party's lone ministerial berth.

Krishnankutty is likely to be sworn in as minister on Tuesday. The 13th session of the Kerala Assembly is also beginning on Tuesday.
Yameen was openly pro-China and had become a thorn in New Delhis flesh, with Indo-Maldivian ties having nose-dived during Mr. Yameens tenure.

New Delhi: Visiting Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid has reportedly told an Indian news website that his country needs $250 million to $350 million immediately in order to tide over a budgetary crisis and that he is hoping for financial assistance from the Indian Government.

Mr Shahid will hold talks with external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday and said he would convey this to her. He also said the information was shared with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visited the Maldives a few days ago to attende the swearing-in ceremony of new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

We have an immediate budgetary crisis. We need US$ 250 million to 350 million in order to handle the difficult budgetary situation ... Were hoping that we will once again be able to get the generous assistance of the Indian Government, Mr. Shahid was quoted as telling the news website.

Mr Shahid also reportedly told the website that it is too early to say exactly how much the Maldives owes China even as he lambasted the tenure of former president Abdullah Yameen which he said was shrouded in secrecy, corruption and underhand deals. Mr Shahid also said the new Maldivian Government has established a commission to look into the financial crimes (of the previous government), adding that he was hoping to get expert assistance in this regard from India, the US and Japan.The Maldivian Foreign Minister blamed former president Yameen for purposely landing the country in a terrible f inancial situation.

It may be recalled that former President Yameen was extremely close to China, with Beijing undertaking several infrastructure projects then in the tiny archipelago nation due to which the Maldives reportedly now owes a huge financial debt to China. But under the new Maldivian President Solih, India and its tiny maritime south-western neighbour are the closest of friends once again. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 17 had attended the swearing-in ceremony of President Solih. In his meeting with President Solih immediately after the ceremony, PM Modi had conveyed Indias readiness to extend help in every possible way.

It is certain that the new President will strengthen ties with New Delhi and reverse the widely-perceived slant towards Beijing that Maldives had adopted during the controversial tenure of his predecessor Abdullah Yameen.

Significantly, the assurance of assistance by India was furnished during PM Modis brief visit after President Solih had pointed to the dire economic situation facing his country and sought help from India in meeting his Governments pledges to the people of the Maldives. President Solih had highlighted the pressing need for increased housing and infrastructure development as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands.

President Solihs assuming of office following his victory in the Presidential polls against then president Abdulla Yameen has come as a huge relief for New Delhi. Mr. Yameen was openly pro-China and had become a thorn in New Delhis flesh, with Indo-Maldivian ties having nose-dived during Mr. Yameens tenure.
Modi also said he chose radio as a medium to connect with the people as it was a mighty means of getting across to them.

New Delhi: Addressing the 50th episode of the programme on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he deliberately kept politics out of his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat as the programme is about the aspirations of the people and not his or the governments achievements. He also said he chose radio as a medium to connect with the people as it was a mighty means of getting across to them.

The Prime Minister said the apprehensions of the people are not misplaced that the programme could have been used as a political tool and to disseminate his and his governments achievements.

The fact is, if a leader gets hold of a microphone with assured listeners to the tune of millions, what else does he need? When Mann Ki Baat commenced, I had firmly decided that it would carry nothing political or any praise for the government, nor Modi for that matter anywhere. The greatest bulwark in ensuring adherence to my resolve has been you, he said.

As a run-up to each episode, the expectations and aspirations of listeners through their letters, online comments, and phone calls are crystal clear, he added.

Modi may come and go, but this country will never let go of its unity and permanence. Our culture will always be immortal, the Prime Minister said.

PM Modis monthly radio broadcast, Mann Ki Baat, completed 50 episodes on Sunday. In its previous episodes, he covered issues of social, national, as well as international implications; education of the girl child; tackling exam stress; climate change; and drug menace.

PM Modi also expressed his concern over a decline in open communication between elders and the youths in families, saying the discussions generally revolve around dos and donts and studies. He said communication would be more effective if people accept instead of expect and discuss instead of dismiss.
The latest spike in tensions between Russia and Ukraine over Crimea offers Vladimir Putin a fresh chance to test the West's commitment to defending Kiev at a time when the U.S. and Europe are divided and distracted by internal squabbling.

But the weekend skirmish that saw Russian naval forces fire on and seize three Ukrainian ships in the narrow channel between the Black and Azov seas could also set back Putin's chances for rapprochement with the U.S. The Kremlin had been hoping his meeting with President Donald Trump at the Group of 20 summit this week in Argentina would lead to concrete steps toward a thaw in relations.

Ukraine gained the early diplomatic advantage despite both sides pointing the finger at each other for orchestrating Sunday's confrontation for political reasons. European capitals came out strongly denouncing the Russian action. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, laid the blame for the escalation on Moscow's "outlaw actions," but said Washington would let its allies take the lead in responding.

The timing of the incident hardly works to the Kremlin's advantage with Western governments ahead of the G-20 gathering in Buenos Aires. Still, Putin's never been one to miss a chance to capitalize on a crisis, whether created by accident or design, according to Alexander Baunov of the Moscow Carnegie Center.

"On the one hand, this type of foreign-policy escalation is risky and won't help relations with the West," Baunov said. "But if they swallow it, then it will look like another diplomatic victory."

It's the kind of gamble that's become increasing common for Putin, who's sought to take advantage of the waning international focus on the Ukrainian conflict to steadily increase pressure on his counterpart in Kiev. Rekindling the patriotic fervor that accompanied his annexation of Crimea in 2014 and support for rebels in eastern Ukraine could help offset growing domestic discontent over stagnant incomes and changes to Russia's pension system.

Likewise, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who came to power after street protests forced his Kremlin-backed predecessor to flee the country, is facing an election in March that polls suggest he's unlikely to win. Poroshenko, whose campaign slogan is "army, language, faith," has asked parliament to approve a declaration of martial law, a step some opposition lawmakers see as a ploy to boost his re-election bid.

Prior to the weekend incident, Kremlin officials had been cautiously optimistic about the meeting Putin and Trump have scheduled for the G-20. They said the momentum behind calls for new sanctions that followed Trump's enthusiastic embrace of Putin at their last meeting, in Helsinki in July, had seemed to fade.

Even with the flare-up, which sent the ruble and Russian stocks down the most in emerging markets Monday, western reaction will likely be tepid, according to Eurasia Group.

"The most that Washington and Brussels are likely to impose at this stage is more sanctions against individuals and entities," Eurasia Group analyst Alex Brideau said in a note. "Stronger sanctions that might target new economic sectors or major Russian oligarchs are unlikely unless the episode escalates."

The U.S. will maintain its current Crimea-related sanctions on Russia, Haley, the ambassador to the U.N., said in her speech. She stopped short of threatening further restrictions, saying only that "further Russian escalation of this kind will only make matters worse."

The latest violence came after months of rising tensions in the region as Russia incrementally squeezed Ukraine's access to the Azov, a key waterway for exports of metals and farm products from ports just south of the breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. The bridge Russia completed this year linking its mainland to Crimea spans the Kerch Strait, which separates the Azov from the Black Sea, opening global markets via the Mediterranean.

The Kerch bridge limited the height of ship traffic. Russia began inspecting vessels headed to and from Ukraine over the summer, prompting the U.S. State Department to denounce what it called "harassment of international shipping."

The tensions continued, however, and Russia closed the strait to all ships for several hours Sunday for what it called security reasons. Ukraine says its vessels were intercepted in international waters, while Russia accused them of violating its territorial zone and ignoring warnings to change course.

Alexei Chesnakov, a former Kremlin official who now consults authorities in Moscow on Ukraine policy, said Russia "couldn't have acted any other way" in light of Ukraine's behavior along their maritime border.

"If a country shows strength then sanctions are possible," he said. "But if a country shows weakness then sanctions are inevitable."
The 64-year-old former minister said there were two types of communal polarisation the BJP was indulging in across the country.

New Delhi: The BJP is practicing a frightening level of communal polarisation in election-bound states and this is a huge challenge for the Congress, its strategist and former minister Jairam Ramesh has said.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, parallel to the Ram Temple buildup in Ayodhya Sunday, Ramesh said for every Amit Shah, the BJP chief, there are 10 Amit Shahs of the RSS practicing covert polarisation.

He said the modern name of tanashaahi was Amit Shah and that Narendra Modi was not prime ministerial in his election campaign as he indulged in falsification of history and abuse of political rivals. He said Mr Modi should not demand respect but should command respect of people as Prime Minister.

The senior Congress leader also noted that false news was the biggest enterprise in Make in India under the Modi government, as he accused the BJP of manufacturing issues out of non-issues.

There is a high degree of communal polarisation that the BJP is doing in every election and in these states, he told PTI.

The BJP and Prime Minister Modi have instead accused the Congress of diving the society by indulging in caste and religious politics and appeasement of minorities.

Attributing even the staggering UP mandate of the BJP to communal polarization, Mr Ramesh said, The only explanation I have for the UP win of the BJP is the frightening level of communal polarisation which incidentally they have been trying to do in these states also. They are doing this in Chhattisgarh and certainly in MP and Rajasthan.

The 64-year-old former minister said there were two types of communal polarisation the BJP was indulging in across the country.

One is overt polarisation, which is the language used by Mr Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi. Then there is covert polarisation done by the RSS and its people through the word of mouth and house to house, Mr Ramesh said.

Mr Amit Shah is a good example of a person who preaches and practices the politics of overt polarisation and that for every Amit Shah there are 10 Amit Shahs of the RSS who are practicing and preaching covert polarisation. That is what happened in UP, he noted.
Earlier this month, Americans went to the polls and sent a powerful message: The election not only was a resounding verdict against Republicans' assault on Americans' health care and wages, but also it was a vote to rescue our broken democracy.

In the face of a torrent of special-interest dark money, partisan gerrymandering and devious vote-suppression schemes, voters elected a House Democratic majority determined to bring real change to restore our democracy.

During the campaign, Democrats declared unequivocally that we would clean up corruption to make Washington work for the people. We pledged to reduce the role of money in politics, to restore ethics and integrity to government, and to strengthen voting laws.

We now have our marching orders. The new Democratic House is ready to deliver with H.R. 1: a bold reform package to restore the promise of our democracy - a government of, by and for the people.

First, let's end the dominance of money in politics. For far too long, big-money and corporate special interests have undermined the will of the people and subverted policymaking in Washington - enabling soaring health-care costs and prescription drug prices, undermining clean air and clean water for our children, and blocking long-overdue wage increases for hard-working Americans.

So let's rein in the unaccountable "dark money" unleashed by the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision by requiring all political organizations to disclose their donors, and by shutting down the shell game of big-money donations to super PACs. We must also empower hard-working Americans in our democracy by building a 21st-century campaign-finance system - combining small-donor incentives and matching support - to increase and multiply the power of small donors. Wealthy special interests shouldn't be able to buy more influence than the workers, consumers and families who should be our priority in Washington.

Next, let's make sure that when public servants get to Washington, they serve the public. Restoring the public's trust means closing the revolving door between government and private industries, and imposing strong new ethics laws to stop officials from using their public office for personal gain. To do so, we will expand conflict-of-interest laws, ban members of Congress from serving on for-profit boards, revamp the oversight authority of the Office of Government Ethics, and prohibit public servants from receiving bonus payments from their former employers to enter government. We'll curb the influence of high-powered Washington insiders by closing lobbyist registration loopholes that allow big-money power brokers and foreign actors to operate in the shadows. That way, well-connected special interests won't be able to steer the policy agenda away from the priorities of the American public.

Finally, let's make it easier, not harder, to vote. Since the Supreme Court took the teeth out of the Voting Rights Act, Republican political operatives have increasingly turned to blatant schemes to make it more difficult for the Americans left behind to participate in elections - a narrow agenda all too often targeted at communities of color.

We must renew the Voting Rights Act to protect every citizen's access to the ballot box and restore the vital safeguard of pre-clearance requirements for areas with a history of voter suppression. We will promote national automatic voter registration, bolster our critical election infrastructure against foreign attackers, and put an end to partisan gerrymandering once and for all by establishing federal guidelines to outlaw the practice. No American should face hours-long lines, broken voting machines or rules rigged to keep their vote from being counted in our elections.

These are the reforms that will ultimately change the balance of power in Washington. When we get dark money out of politics, clean up corruption and ensure fair elections, we will dismantle the ability of special interests to stack the deck of our democracy and our economy against hard-working Americans.

And with a system that works for the people, we will deliver policy outcomes that make life better for all Americans: We will lower health-care costs and out-of-control prices for prescription drugs. We will rebuild the United States' infrastructure, raise the minimum wage and put leverage back in the hands of workers and consumers. We will finally advance common-sense, bipartisan solutions to prevent gun violence. We will confront discrimination with theEquality Act, pass the Dream Act to protect the patriotic young undocumented immigrants who came here as children, and take the first step toward comprehensive immigration reform.

We have a responsibility to honor the vision of our founders, the sacrifices made to expand the right to vote and our duty to the American people. With bold action to fix what is broken in our democracy, we can make progress for working families and renew Americans' trust in Congress to tackle the issues that matter most.

---

Pelosi represents California's 12th Congressional District and is Democratic leader in the House of Representatives. Sarbanes, a Democrat, represents Maryland's 3rd Congressional District.
Nokia announced today that it signed a multi-year patent licensing deal with the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo.

The company did not reveal details about the agreement, but it looks like the Guangdong-based maker will rely on the biggest license holder in the mobile world for connectivity patents.

Maria Varsellona, Nokia CLO and President of Nokia Technologies, stated simply that Oppo is one of the leaders in the smartphone industry and [Nokia] is pleased to welcome them as a licensee. This agreement further validates [Nokias] global licensing program.

With this deal Oppo joins Samsung, Xiaomi and Huawei in using Nokia's intellectual property in the next five years.

Source




Haiti - Politic : The Minister of the Interior calls for calm and announces measures





Sunday, November 25 at the official residence of the Prime Minister, Jean-Marie Reynaldo Brunet, the Minister of the Interior gave a press conference about the measures taken by the Government to allow the population to go about its activities freely this week.



Questioned by the violent nature of the demonstrations, characterized in particular by clashes with the police, the looting of public and private property, he vigorously denounced all forms of violence and deplored the too many direct and collateral victims, these popular street movements that take the form of urban guerrilla warfare.



Responsible for internal security, Minister Brunet has assured that he can not tolerate these actions that endanger the security of the Nation. While recognizing the right of citizens and organized groups to demonstrate peacefully, he warns the initiators of such violence and warns all citizens guilty of such acts, they will be identified and will be held accountable in court.



Moreover, he reiterated that the destabilizing actions against the backdrop of "peaceful demonstrations" will be repressed, affirming that his Ministry had already taken and will continue to take all the necessary measures, in order to accompany the population in its daily life. He said that strong measures are in place to ensure the protection of people and property throughout the country. He also said that the security organs were instructed by the Prime Minister, in order to fully assume their responsibility recalling that "the right to manifest that is enshrined in the Constitution can not be above the Constitution".



Brunet invites all citizens, especially the populations of Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes and Cap-Haitien particularly penalized by the tension situation of the past week, to resume normally all their occupations as usual.



He appeals to the community and opinion leaders, to the dignitaries and to all citizens, urging them to preserve the calm and serenity necessary to establish an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and research of a solution between Haitians.



He concluded by assuring that all the provisions had been made to guarantee the safety of everyone so that the commerce, the schools and the Public Administration function normally this week...



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre


















'We are proud of our Constitution and reiterate our commitment to uphold the values enshrined in it,' the Prime Minister tweeted.

Constitution Day is celebrated on 26 November every year to mark the adoption of the Constitution of India by the Constituent Assembly. (Photo: File | AP)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and other leaders on Monday extended greetings for Constitution Day.

"On Constitution Day we recall with pride the stellar contribution of the greats who served in our Constituent Assembly. We are proud of our Constitution and reiterate our commitment to uphold the values enshrined in it," the Prime Minister tweeted.

President Ram Nath Kovind, speaking at a Constitution Day event at Vigyan Bhavan, in New Delhi, extended warm greeting to all citizens and welcomed members of the judiciary from BIMSTEC countries "for an occasion that is not only important for India, but is a celebration of universal values, and allows for mutual learning and sharing". He called the Constitution of India "an inspirational and living document, an ideal of the society we are and the even better society we are striving to be".

"Dr Ambedkar and his colleagues in the Constituent Assembly had trusted the wisdom of future generations to not just amend the Constitution, but to constructively re-imagine and reinterpret it," he said.

They trusted the wisdom of future generations to expand the frontiers of freedom and liberty, justice and fraternity, fairness and equality. They trusted future generations to not just amend the Constitution, but to constructively reimagine and reinterpret it #PresidentKovind  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 26, 2018

"It is a paradox that our citizens, in whose name the Constitution was adopted, are sometimes not sufficiently informed about what the Constitution means for us. Let the 70th year of its adoption be dedicated to enhancing awareness about the Constitution," President Kovind said.

He urged people "to give the constitutional ethic a greater salience in all our thinking and all our actions".

It is a paradox that our citizens, in whose name the Constitution was adopted, are sometimes not sufficiently informed about what the Constitution means for us.



Let the 70th year of its adoption be dedicated to enhancing awareness about the Constitution #PresidentKovind  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 26, 2018

In a series of tweets, the President spoke about safeguarding and strengthening the Constitution and upholding justice in its various forms. He spoke about the ideas of "social and political justice", and how it has expanded to encompass today's civic parameters.

"Political justice in the electoral arena does not stop with free and fair elections and with universal franchise," he tweeted. He said that improving transparency in campaign finance, as the government is trying to do, is an example of promoting political justice. He added that disruptions in parliamentary proceedings can also be seen as an "encroachment on the citizens understanding of justice."

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu too took to Twitter to felicitate all Indians on the occasion of Constitution Day.

"Our constitution is the voice of the marginalised the prudence of the majority. Its wisdom continues to guide us in moments of crisis. It's in our best interest to heed advice under constitution. If we don't, our hubris will result in sharp descent into chaos," said Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi in Delhi, news agency ANI reported.

"People of India today know who they are and what they owe to themselves. If we see 70 years down the line, the political process, the element of governance, the state craft the civil society, the media, all have contributed into the flowering of Indian Democracy," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, speaking at Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid homage to Dr BR Ambedkar and all other members of the Constituent Assembly.

"We must do everything we can to protect the spirit of our Constitution," she said.

Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis took part in a Preamble reading at Mumbai's Mantralaya to pay homage to Dr Ambedkar.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, took to Twitter to commemorate "the hard work of our leaders who drafted the constitution for the citizens".

Constitution Day is celebrated on 26 November every year to mark the adoption of the Constitution of India. On this date, in 1949, the Constituent Assembly had adopted the Indian Constitution, It came into effect on 26 January 1950.




Haiti - Diaspora : Fabienne Colas receives the prestigious Canada's Top 40 Under 40 Award





At the Grand Awards handover Gala at the Toronto Convention Center in Canada, on November 21, actress, entrepreneur, filmmaker and speaker Fabienne Colas of Haitian descent, received the prestigious "Canada's Top 40 Under 40" award alongside 39 other inspirational personalities of the country.



This high distinction brings great recognition to her work across Canada and internationally for many years. Fabienne Cola was "honored and delighted to have received the Top 40-40 Canada Award, alongside other inspirational personalities of the country and humble to be the only black laureate in Canada and the only woman in Quebec."



Recall that the winners were chosen based on four key criteria: vision and innovation; leadership; impact and influence and social responsibility.



Learn more about Fabienne Colas :

Award-winning actress, entrepreneur, filmmaker and speaker, Fabienne Colas, born in Port-au-Prince on March 18, 1979, founder of the Fabienne Colas Foundation (FCF) who created and organizes 7 successful festivals between Montreal, Toronto , Halifax, New York and Port-au-Prince, including: the Montreal International Black Film Festival, which is today the most important festival of its kind in Canada and a key player in cultural diversity in Quebec; the Toronto Black Film Festival, which has become a real movement, and the Haiti en Folie Festival in Montreal and New York City, the largest multidisciplinary festival outside Haiti, devoted entirely to Haitian culture.



In addition to offering scholarships in the arts, mentorship programs and awards of excellence, FCF presents and rewards artists who otherwise would not have been seen or heard. Since its inception in 2005, its initiatives and festivals have featured and supported more than 2,000 artists and attracted nearly 1 million festivalgoers to Canada, the United States and Haiti.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24800-haiti-diaspora-fabienne-colas-receives-2018-canada-s-top-40-under-40-award.html



HL/ HaitiLibre
























Haiti - FLASH : Incident in Malpasse, 8 policemen find protection in DR





Saturday, during the riot that took place at the Malpasse border crossing, which killed 6 people including 4 customs officers, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26214-haiti-flash-angry-mob-attacks-the-customs-of-malpasse-at-least-6-dead.html 8 police officers of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) in insufficient number to contain a large angry crowd, in front of the delay of reinforcements and fearing for their life, crossed at 2pm the barrier of the border to seek refuge and protection on the Dominican territory.



The report of the National Police Department of the Border Province of Independencia states that the Haitian police officers in possession of their regulatory weapons and document accrediting them as Haitian police, entered the Dominican territory and were immediately protected by members of the specialized land border security corps (CESFRONT) and their colleagues from the Dominican police, who drove them around 3:30 pm to Jean Alex Luphoil, the Consul of Haiti in Barahona.



Sunday calm prevailed at the border post of Malpasse on both sides of the borders. However, vehicle traffic was very limited between the two countries and no Dominican bus company crossed into Haiti fearing for their passengers.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26214-haiti-flash-angry-mob-attacks-the-customs-of-malpasse-at-least-6-dead.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Malpasse : Jovenel Moise indiganted

"Customs agents and citizens have been killed in inhuman conditions at the border of Malpasse https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26214-haiti-flash-angry-mob-attacks-the-customs-of-malpasse-at-least-6-dead.html . Justice must do everything possible to arrest, judge and condemn the perpetrators and co-perpetrators of this shameful and barbarous crime. My sympathies to the families of the victims" President Jovenel Moise.



Mayor Chevry alongside women

"The fight against violence against women concerns us all. On this special day, the Communal Administration of Port-au-Prince, greets all the strong women of this country. Condemn the acts of violence against women, let's never stop protecting and supervising them. Let us praise the respect of everyone for a better Haiti" Mayor of Port-au-Prince Youri Chevry.



RNH : Acquisition of new equipment

Gamall Jules Augustin, Director General of the National Radio of Haiti (RNH) informs that the project of national coverage of the RNH is progressing rapidly and that the station has acquired new equipment. He pointed out that after the installation of new antennas, the state station will cover 85% of Haiti.



Importance of reproductive health funding

Yves Sassenrath, the UNFPA Representative, had a successful working session with Ronald Decembre, the Minister of the Economy and Finance, on the importance of reproductive health funding in the national budget and UNFPA cooperation with Haiti.



Launch of the "Star Tech One" project

Last week, the Haitian Infotronic High School (ESIH), launched the Star Tech One project to initiate the creation of "technological startups" in the presence of 24 teams.



Eliminating Gender Violence

"As part of the International Day for the Elimination of Gender Violence, I reiterate my commitment through the bill that I tabled in the Senate of the Republic on April 3, 2018, on prevention, punishment and the elimination of violence against women, to fight relentlessly, allowing women and girls to fully enjoy their rights and respect in Haitian society," Senator of the North, Dieudonne Luma Etienne.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2018/11/25 | Source

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Jin Seon-mi talks to people who cohabit with their partners without being married in Seoul on Wednesday. /Newsis

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Minister of Gender Equality and Family Jin Seon-mi on Wednesday met with eight people from various age groups who cohabit with their partners without being married.

Jin listened to their stories at a meeting in Seoul to try to reflect changing perceptions of family and marriage in government policy.

There have been calls to recognize various forms of family arrangements so that young people will feel more comfortable having children.

One woman in her 30s who is living with a partner said, "I can't even think about having a child right now, so I am living with three cats. I don't feel anything lacking at this particular moment, but I do feel that there is a limit to what unmarried couples can enjoy compared to those who are married".

Statistics Korea earlier this month announced that for the first time ever more than half of people in Korea believe that people can live together without marriage.

All eight people at the meeting had different lifestyles. Some had children while others decided to forgo having them. They all said unmarried couples face more discrimination and difficulties than married ones.

"It's lonely to live alone, and we want to live with someone we love just like anybody else, but in reality we have to be careful about our relationship all the time", said one participant.

Another participant said, "I hope the society stops treating cohabitation as a stepping stone or part of a process towards marriage and childbirth". She added, "Instead, cohabitation should be recognized as a legitimate form of family life".

A 2016 survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found that 51 percent of people who had lived with a partner without being married experienced prejudice and discrimination, and 45 percent said they experienced discrimination in accessing government support or services.
Press release

HELENA  The Montana Community Foundation Inc. has announced the grantees of the Blaine County Community Foundation Fund benefiting the communities and residents of Blaine County.

The Blaine County Community Foundation Fund was established at MCF by Warren Ross in 1997. Financial support for this grant program also comes from the Ross 87 Ranch Endowment Fund, established by Warren Ross as well.

The grant money must be used for programs or projects benefiting Blaine County. The applications were reviewed by a committee of Blaine County residents and MCF staff. This years grantees are:

 Chinook Food Pantry  $2,000 for improvements to the food pantry.

 Sweet Memorial Nursing Home  $2,000 for a water fountain.

 Blaine County Wildlife Museum  $2,000 for website updates.

Our grant application process always proves the needs of the communities we serve are great, MCF Operations and Grants Director Jessica Stewart-Kuntz said. The communities themselves know how these funds would best address their needs, and we are glad to help facilitate these improvements to Blaine County.

About Montana Community Foundation

Montana Community Foundations mission is to cultivate a culture of giving so Montana communities can flourish. Founded in 1988, MCF manages more than $100 million in assets and administers more than 1,100 philanthropic funds and planned gifts. MCFs accreditation through the Council on Foundations National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations ensures MCF complies with the strictest standards in gift administration and grantmaking. Since its founding, MCF has reinvested more than $41 million in Montana through grants to charitable organizations and causes across the state. MCF serves as a center for philanthropy in Montana, working with donors, charitable organizations and communities to provide simple and effective ways to give back to Montana.

For more information and to learn how to support Montana communities through the foundation, people can visit https://www.mtcf.org/, call 406-443-8313 or visit the foundations Facebook page.
Children wander under the streetlights along Indiana Street prior to the beginning of the parade at the Festival of Lights Friday in Chinook.

Havre Daily News staff

The Christmas holiday season kicked in right after Thanksgiving with the Chinook Parade of Lights and multiple other holiday activities running Friday and Havre holding a multitude of activities, as well, Saturday.

The Havre Elks Lodge also jumped in Friday when it started what it intends to be an annual holiday tradition with its cocktails and crafts show.

Chinook was busy all day with a focus on local shops and stores as well as its annual Festival of Trees and its Parade of Lights as people strolled around town looking at its holiday decorations.

Saturday in Ha...
On 19 December 2014, JB Hi-Fi entered into a three-year compliance partnership with the FWO underpinned by a Proactive Compliance Deed (PCD) that contained a number of commitments from both parties.

It followed an FWO investigation the previous year that identified time-keeping problems had led to underpayments at a JB Hi-Fi store.

JB Hi-Fi conducted a self-audit involving a total of 337 employees from 22 stores across its network in the first year of the partnership.

The company identified and rectified underpayments totalling $1,397 for 15 workers, with individual underpayments ranging from $2.36 to $367.90.

JB Hi-Fi reported that the underpayments arose due to time-keeping errors and found no underpayments of hourly rates, penalty rates or loadings.
Sidhu accepted Pakistans invitation on Sunday, saying this initiative would open the borders of hearts and the mind.

Chandigarh: Punjab CM Capt. Amarinder Singh on Sunday declined Paki-stans invitation to attend the Kartarpur Corridor foundation stone-laying ceremony on the other side of the border, citing terror attacks in his state and killings of Indian soldiers by Pakistani troops.

However, senior Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu accepted Pakistans invitation on Sunday, saying this initiative would open the borders of hearts and the mind.

The foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on the Indian side will be laid by vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Punjab chief minister on Monday. Capt. Singh declined to attend the ceremony in Pakistan, citing its continuous support to terrorist activities in his state and killing of Indian soldiers by the Pakistan armed forces.

He, however, welcomed the historic occasion and described it as the cherished desire of Sikhs worldwide, but said he must most reluctantly, however, regret his inability to be present.

On Sunday, Mr Sidhu wrote to Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, accepting his invitation for the ground-breaking ceremony that will be presided over by Pakistan PM Imran Khan. It is with great honour and unalloyed joy that I accept your invitation to attend the ground-breaking ceremony at Kartarpur Sahib on November 28. I look forward to meeting you on this historic occasion, Mr Sidhu wrote to Mr Qureshi.

Mr Sidhu, Punjabs local government, tourism and cultural affairs minister, said his application for permission to attend (the ceremony) is now lodged with the ministry of external affairs.

In the letter, Mr Sidhu said this day will indeed break ground, and added: As our nations take this first step, the Kartarpur Spirit can make pilgrims of us all, venturing out on a journey that breaks the barriers of history and opens the borders of hearts and the mind. A journey that our people can walk together towards, a future of shared peace and prosperity for India and Pakistan. Mr Sidhu was responding to Mr Qureshis letter of November 24.

In his letter to the Pakistan foreign minister, Capt. Singh said his reason for declining the invitation was twofold. First, not a day passes when Indian soldiers are not killed or wounded on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Rather than moving towards normalcy, these incidents are escalating, he said.

Second, the CM claimed, Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has started its nefarious activities in Punjab. Since March 2017, the state has neutralised 19 ISI-armed and controlled modules, apprehended 81 terrorists and seized 79 weapons, numerous grenades of the HG-84 type made in Pakistans Ordnance Factories with Austrian knowhow, and some IEDs, the chief minister said.

I hope the Prime Minister (of Pakistan) will understand these circumstances... It will not be possible for me to be present in Pakistan on this historic occasion, despite the fact that paying my respects at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib has always been my cherished dream, which will hopefully be fulfilled once these hostilities and killings are stopped, he said.




We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here
Event marks Carolina Specials last run up Saluda Grade

SALUDA  After 53 years of running from Charleston to Asheville and beyond to the mid-west, the Carolina Special passenger train made its final run up the Saluda Grade 50 years ago on Dec. 5, 1968.

To commemorate the last run, the Saluda Historic Depot will host a reception at the Depot on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. with special guests, speakers and refreshments.

Bill Schafer, retired from Norfolk-Southern and co-founder of the Southern Railroad Historical Association (SHRA), will cover a brief history of the Carolina Special, and conclude with some personal memories of the train, especially on its last run.

Schafer, 70, graduated from Davidson College in 1970, and began working for Southern Railway in 1971. He retired in 2011 as Norfolk Southern s Director-Strategic Planning in Norfolk, Va., after a career spanning over 40 years. He has harbored a lifelong interest in railroads in general, and railroad history in particular. While at college, he made numerous trips to Western North Carolina to ride and photograph passenger trains, including the Asheville Special and the Carolina Special.

In 1986 he helped found the Southern Railway Historical Association, which preserves and disseminates information related to the Southern Railway, principally through its quarterly journal, TIES Magazine. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga, which restores, maintains, and operates historic Southern Railway equipment. He and his wife, Linda, travel extensively, but call Virginia Beach, Virginia, home.



Schafer will bring some back issues of TIES Magazine for sale ($9) that feature Saluda and/or the Carolina Special, a small supply of SRHAs 2019 all-color calendar ($10), which features a photo of the steam-powered Carolina Special on Saluda Grade. Some of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Saluda Historic Depot.



Raymond Bo Brown from Spartanburg, will return to the Depot after presenting, How The Southern Served the South at Saluda Train Tales in 2017. He will be on hand to answer questions about the history of Southern Railway Dining Car Service and will bring samples of dining service including, china patterns, silver hollowware, silver flatware, linens, menus, all things used in the dining car during their 84 years of Southern Railway passenger car service.



Carolyn Weisbecker, daughter of Francis B. Fishburne, who commissioned the painting of the Carolina Special by the American artist Howard Fogg, will be a special guest. Fogg was known to single-handedly paint the trains of America into railroad history. Weisbecker will tell the story behind the painting and bring prints that will be for sale. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Saluda Historic Depot. Her father, Francis B. Fishburne, was a great friend of Frank Clodfelter, the Southern engineer who ran the Carolina Special for many years. Her grandfather, also named Francis. B. Fishburne, was a conductor on the Columbia to Asheville run for 40 years. He passed away in 1939.
City remembers firefighter who died in pool hall fire

Shown, from left, are Clyde Maxwell, Floyd A. Jackson Jr., Mayor Edwards, Boyd Pittillo, Chief Edney.

Heroism and Sacrifice is the aptly named sculpture in Raleigh that honors all of North Carolinas fallen firefighters. The name of Floyd A. Jackson, Jr. adorns the memorial as the City of Hendersonvilles only firefighter to have lost his life in the line of duty. Today marks the 68th anniversary of Firefighter Floyd A. Jackson Jr.s death.



We continue to live on through the legacy of Firefighter Jackson, said Chief Joseph Vindigni of the Hendersonville Fire Department. We will always remember the sacrifice he made for the citizens of Hendersonville and surrounding communities.



On Sunday, Nov. 26, 1950, Jackson answered his final call responding to a basement fire that had broken out below the Brunswick Lunch and Billiards at 241 North Main Street. At approximately 6:15 a.m., Jackson, 31, fell through a weak area in the floor as he was working at the scene. Shortly after falling into the basement, a pool table slid through the opening in the floor, landing on Jackson and killing him. Firefighter Jackson was laid to rest on Dec. 3, 1950, at Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville.



In addition to Floyd Jacksons name appearing at the state memorial in Raleigh, his name can be found on the Hendersonville Fire Department Station 1 Dedication Statue and the Henderson County Fire and Rescue Memorial located at 851 N. Main Street.
A DENTIST is retiring after practising in Henley for almost 33 years.

Chris Hurst joined the Montreal Terrace Dental Practice in Reading Road in March 1986 as an associate before buying the business later that year.

Now he has sold the business and his final day will be on Thursday.

Mr Hurst, 59, is moving to Cornwall to care for his 87-year-old mother and indulge his hobbies of walking, photography, woodwork and 3D printing.

He also has a passion for motor-

sport and will continue to be a pit marshal at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival events in West Sussex.

Mr Hurst, who was born in Reading, trained to be a dentist at Barts Hospital, St Thomass Hospital and the Royal Dental Hospital in London and qualified after six years in 1985.

His first job was as an associate in Sandhurst but within a year he had moved to Henley.

Mr Hurst said one reason he became a dentist was because he used to enjoy the BBC sitcom Butterflies in which Geoffrey Palmer played a dentist. He said: I was also good at science so I set my eyes on dentistry. Everything fell into place after my A-levels, getting that first job and then moving here.

It just happened for me and I wouldnt have had it any other way. These 33 years have been the best of my life. I have never wanted to move on.

During his time at the practice he has performed 127,000 treatments.

He said: I have been very lucky and fortunate to have met so many different people. I have about 150 famous people on the books and we have all had lots of fun. At one stage I thought I would get a scrapbook to put all my thank-you letters in but realised that a book of 30 pages needed to be eight times the size.

It is a bit overwhelming when you realise that you have done something good. Ive also been lucky to have had wonderful staff.

Mr Hurst did much of the decorating at the practice himself and even made the front desk.

The tropical fish tank in the waiting room is a tribute to his father, who died in 1993, aged 64. Mr Hurst expalined: When my father died, he hadnt been to the dentist for 35 years. One day I was working here and my brother called to say he was dead. An autopsy found that he had a blood clot on his lungs with a possible cause being bad teeth and gums.

He said that technology had improved over the years, which helped his work.

He taught himself 3D printing and teamed up with the Byte Dental Laboratory and the Phoenix Sental Laboratory in Watlington to produce high-quality crown and bridge work as an alternative to implants or dentures.

Mr Hurst, who is divorced with three grown-up children, says the public should feel comfortable about visiting the dentist these days.

He said: It is not the Forties any more. We now have the technology to do wonderful things. For a missing tooth I can probably offer more than 25 different options.

The most important change I have seen is with toothpaste, which is now amazing. Using it well, you can look after your teeth beautifully.
A Dolls House | Wargrave Theatre Workshop | Woodclyffe Hall, Wargrave | Saturday, October 27

JOY HAYNES is a courageous lady. Few amateur companies would be prepared to tackle one of Ibsens problem plays, but Wargrave Theatre Workshop under her direction proved once again how exceptional they are.

I was both surprised and beguiled by the set  cosy, reassuring, a happy home decked out for Christmas. A box set is rare these days, but perfectly in period with the play. Another masterpiece by Sheila Williams. The costumes, likewise, were refreshingly genuine. I loved Ivors knickerbockers and Torvalds scarlet lined evening cloak.

But this seemingly secure setting only makes the central dilemma and its eventual resolution even more shocking.

Nora Helmer (Emmajane Hughes) would have everyone believe that she has the perfect life  good looks, a devoted husband, three enchanting children, even the promise of financial security at last. Only, as we gradually discover, its not the life she wants.

The whole edifice is jeopardised by the revelation of a well-meaning financial enterprise early in their married life. Her reckless recourse to usury and forgery comes back to haunt her.

Her overbearing husband (Graham Wheal) prides himself on being unimpeachable. For him there can be no hint of scandal, no risk of blackmail.

While todays audiences are repelled by his arrogant egotism, it is perhaps important to remember the conventions of the late 19th century. A wife was expected to be a pretty ornament, an enviable possession, the grateful recipient of his condescending forgiveness.

Grahams performance got better and better as the evening went on, culminating in a masterly final scene.

We watch Nora gradually being transformed from a flighty, seductive doll into a feisty almost strident feminist, desperate to be taken seriously. Rarely offstage, she is the mainspring of the action, she is the play.

The part is a huge challenge for any actor, and Emmajane rose to it magnificently. We saw her vacillating between her obligations as a wife and mother and her yearnings as a human being. Was it churlish to have anticipated a more frenzied abandon as she danced the Tarantella?

The entire cast had worked really hard on this difficult play, teasing out their respective characters backstories.

I enjoyed the ultimately tender relationship between Christina (Linda Daman) and Nils (Clive Dow), particularly the way each warmed and humanised the other. Dr Rank (Joe Haynes) came across well as an interesting blend of sadness and sophistication, while Celia Reinbolts Anna doted beautifully on the pretty lady she had served from childhood.

Of course, there is that famous curtain moment as Nora abandons husband, home and children  radical stuff for 1878.

To quote George Bernard Shaw: The slam of the door behind her is more momentous than the cannon of Waterloo or Sedan. There is the end of the old order.

That slam is echoing to this day. Thank you, Wargrave Theatre Workshop for letting us peep behind that curtain, and bravo!

Patsy Roynon
A new harbour is set to be part of an ambitious 20m investment to turn a seaside Dublin town into the "envy of the country".

Plans are afoot for a major rejuvenation project in Balbriggan to give it a long-overdue economic and social facelift.

The north Co Dublin town - which already boasts a sizeable beach - is regularly bypassed on the tourist trail for more attractive towns on the east coast of the country.

Balbriggan is the youngest town in Ireland, according to the 2016 Census, and has seen population growth of 94pc in the past 25 years.

This is significantly higher than the rest of the country, with the national population only growing by 35pc in the same period.

Tourists

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The project - which is led by Fingal County Council (FCC) and the Balbriggan Leadership Group - intends to future-proof the area for further growth in the coming years, according to FCC chief executive Paul Reid.

Mr Reid said the experience for tourists needed to be improved as a means of attracting them to Balbriggan, as opposed to other seaside towns such as Skerries.

He said that the transformation of Westport, Co Mayo, in recent years stood as an example and Balbriggan residents were going to be at the forefront of the project.

"In addition to the 10m allocated for the implementation of the Balbriggan Strategy, an additional capital sum - in excess of 10m - has also been allocated for the completion of the Balbriggan to Skerries Greenway, development of Bremore Castle into a premier visitor destination, development of Bremore Regional Amenity Park and upgrades to cycleways and connectivity in the town," Mr Reid said.

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"The total cost of all public realm activities is likely to exceed the amount available, so choices may have to be made and which activity, the timescale and likely budget will be directly influenced by the results of the survey.

"But the plan goes much deeper than public spaces and amenities.

"It will involve every area of local lives - employment, education, skills, local economy and enterprise, and community affairs and integration."

Mr Reid explained that with significant pressures nationally to develop housing, Balbriggan is being used for a large chunk of this.

"What we need to be very conscious of is, with the urge to continue to stimulate development, that we do it in a way that develops the town, that develops the communities out there, that puts the infrastructure in," he said.

Mr Reid acknowledged the antisocial element that has been an issue in recent years, and said it needed to be addressed.

He said FCC was anxious to include gardai, the HSE, social protection and business communities to get a rounded approach.

Feuds

"If you don't look at the growth of Balbriggan in a strategic way, you're leaving yourself wide open to the potential growth of drug gangs, new young drug gangs between various different communities, including non-Irish. That's an element of it," he said.

Mr Reid added that with such a diverse population in Balbriggan, integration is key in any such development, and a strategy for this is currently being worked on for Fingal as a whole.

DCU president Brian MacCraith, who is head of the leadership group for the development, said that the new public amenities that will come with this will be "the envy of the country".

"The transformation is already beginning, with free town centre Wi-Fi, a new skate park and a heritage trail just a few of the initiatives due to be unveiled in a short period of time," he said.

"Real money is being put behind a comprehensive rejuvenation scheme for the area - and the Our Balbriggan survey will allow the people of the town to have a say in prioritising a range of improvements.

"At the moment, this town is missing a heart - a properly functioning town centre.

"This whole initiative is about creating an ambitious and prosperous future for Balbriggan that builds on all of its strong points - the physical assets, its fabulous beach, its location and its diverse and rapidly-growing talent base."
Mosque molestor Abdur Rashid has refused to apologise to the six-year-old girl that he sexually assaulted.

As the sex beast walked free from prison - just four days after he was given a lengthy jail stretch - he insisted he had done nothing wrong.

Speaking to the Sunday World as he left Midlands Prison, he refused to apologise to the girl he had been teaching at a mosque in the greater Dublin area.

"I've done nothing wrong," said Rashid, as he carried a plastic see-through bag filled with his belongings. "I didn't do it."

Deportation

Reminded that he was leaving prison after serving a sentence for the very crime he was now denying, Rashid (50) shook his head.

Asked whether he would like to acknowledge his crime, he said: "I cannot remember."

Asked whether he feared deportation on foot of his conviction, he said: "No. In 2001, the government of Ireland gave me consent to stay and an Irish passport I am an Irish citizen."

Asked if there was anything he would like to say to the girl or her family, he said: "Sorry? No. I am not sexual assault. I didn't do it. Thank you, sir."

Rashid was convicted in January at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of sexual assault at the mosque in December 2015.

The former Leitrim resident, later of Blessington Court, Dublin, who denied the charge, was remanded in custody.

Last Monday, Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Rashid to 18 months' imprisonment, but suspended the final four months for a year provided he follows the direction of the Probation Services, keeps the peace and is of good behaviour.

She backdated the sentence to January 30 when Rashid first went into custody.

This meant that he was able to walk out of prison just four days after being sentenced after qualifying for "remission" (prisoners in Irish jails are entitled to an automatic 25pc cut in their prison sentence).

The court was told that when the girl was picked up from the mosque by her mother, the girl said Rashid - originally from Bangladesh - had touched her genital area.

When the mother confronted Rashid, he said he had been teaching the girl wudu, an Islamic ritual procedure for washing parts of the body.

The married father told gardai that he had held the girl in his lap and kissed her like he would kiss his own daughter.

Molesting

He denied kissing her with his tongue and denied sexually molesting her.

He claimed because her reading performance was good, he lifted her up to kiss her, but she slipped in his hands and he ended up holding her by the thighs.

The court was told the girl had nightmares about Rashid taking her away and was afraid to go to school after the assault.

Judge Codd said Rashid had displayed an "unhealthy interest" in her and was guilty of "gross exploitation of the innocence of a very young child".

She commended the girl and her mother for their courage in giving evidence.
A facilities manager was arrested for his "appalling conduct" after he began hurling abuse at doormen who refused him entry to a late bar, a court has heard.

Darragh Geoghegan (27) went on to resist arrest when gardai intervened in the drink-fuelled episode.

Judge Michael Walsh adjourned the case for the production of a restorative justice report.

Geoghegan, of Sandymount Green, Dublin 4, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

The defendant also admitted failing to obey gardai and refusing the give his name and address.

Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at South Great George's Street at 3.10am last October 19.

Aggressive

When gardai arrived, they saw Geoghegan's friends holding him back while he was being threatening and abusive to door staff at The Globe, having been refused entry.

When gardai approached, he remained aggressive and refused to give them his details or leave the area.

He resisted arrest and his aggressive behaviour continued at Pearse Street Garda Station, where he again had to be restrained.

Geoghegan contacted gardai the following day and apologised for his behaviour, his solicitor Eoin Lysaght told the court.

He had drunk too much on the night and should have gone home when he was asked.

The judge said Geoghegan's conduct was "quite appalling".

He said it was bad enough on the street, but after he was taken to the garda station he would have expected "some sort of sense would have kicked in".
V.K. Singh: Lets delink Mumbai attack, Paks Kartarpur proposal.

New Delhi: Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba has said that India is better prepared and better organised since a group of sea-borne terrorists struck at the heart of Mumbai 10 years back, thanks to a string of security measures including a layered maritime surveillance. We have come a long way since then, he said in an interview in his office in South Block on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11. The Navy Chief said there has been a paradigm shift in coastal security as vulnerabilities and risks were fixed and a layered maritime surveillance and security architecture was put in place, making the coastline almost impregnable.

The country is now better prepared and better organised, Admiral Lanba said when asked about possibility of terrorists taking the sea route again to mount a similar attack on India.

He said the Indian Navy is now a potent multi-dimensional force, safeguarding Indias interests in the seas and that it is fully prepared to deal with any security challenge facing the country in the maritime domain.

Admiral Lanba, who is also chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, said critical gaps and vulnerabilities in the countrys coastal infrastructure have been addressed, and that a robust surveillance network, comprising 42 radar stations linked to a control centre, has been put in place.

The Navy Chief said 1,500 landing points for fishing boats are being monitored regularly besides making installation of AIS (Auto-matic Identification System) transponders mandatory for vessels of 300 tonnes and above for their easy tracking.

Meanwhile, minister of state for external affairs V.K. Singh has called for delinking the Mumbai terror attack and Pakistans Kartarpur corridor proposal even as he asserted that there has been no change in the governments policy that talks and terror cannot go together.

Asked if he was able to trust the new government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, he said that it has just started functioning and let it prove that it can be trusted. Mr Singh said that India has laid down a very simple parameter. We are willing to talk and this we laid down in 2014. We are willing to talk on any issue whatsoever provided you create an environment for talks.

Asked if India can believe what Pakistan has promised on building the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the minister said at an event in Washington on Saturday, Lets not initially raise doubts (on Pakistan over the corridor). And if they dont do, the whole world will see. Lets delink 26/11 and Kartarpur Sahib.

Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjabs Gurdaspur district. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died. Both India and Pak-istan have announced that stretches would be developed in their respective areas.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai through the sea, arriving by boat from Karachi, and went on the rampage, carrying out coordinated attacks on the main Chattrapati Shivaji railway terminus, the iconic Taj Mahal hotel and a Jewish centre  all in the heart of the financial capitals downtown area.

Over 166 people including 28 foreigners from 10 nations were killed in the nearly 60-hour assault that sent shock-waves across the country and even brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.
Darren Fortune was ashamed of what he had done

A graveyard maintenance worker stole a man's bank card and used it to buy breakfast after drinking with the victim, who fell asleep.

Darren Fortune (43) was with a group of people who spent the night together after meet- ing at a club before ending up at a church, where he took the card.

Judge Ann Ryan ordered him to carry out 100 hours of community service to avoid a jail sentence.

Deception

Fortune, a father-of-three living at a hostel on Oakley Road, Ranelagh, pleaded guilty to stealing the man's bank card at St Mary's Church, Crumlin, last December 9.

He also admitted obtaining services by deception at Deli- Licious, Lisle Road, Crumlin, on the same date.

Dublin District Court heard the victim met four people in a nightclub and ended up with two of them at St Mary's Church.

The victim fell asleep, and when he woke he found his bank card was missing.

Gardai learned it had been used in a transaction at Deli- Licious and viewed CCTV, which identified the accused.

The court heard Fortune had previous convictions for offences including theft.

"Alcohol had a large part to play in relation to the matter," defence barrister Joseph Mulrean said.

The theft happened the morning after the men had been drinking together.

The accused was spotted on camera at the restaurant using the card to buy breakfast not far from where the theft happened, Mr Mulrean said.

Fortune had worked on a community employment scheme in graveyard maintenance, the court heard.

Apologetic

He had been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the theft and was very apologetic for what had happened, Mr Mulrean said.

It was borne out of drunkenness and he was very sorry for it.

Fortune accepted it was a "terrible thing to do" and he was ashamed.

Judge Ryan noted that although the accused had admitted the offences, it had been a "very late plea" of guilty after he had initially entered pleas of not guilty.
The badly damaged car is taken away

Gardai are on the hunt for two hooded arsonists who terrified residents at a Dublin apartment complex.

A car and several wheelie bins were badly damaged in the early-morning attack in Cedarbrook, Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10.

One panic-stricken resident said people were lucky that the flames were spotted by a neighbour before anyone was killed.

CCTV footage showed the arsonists calmly walking away from the blaze.

Further CCTV footage in the residential area is also being considered by gardai.

The wheelie bins were stored in bin cages, located close to a parking space.

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Frightening

One resident - who lives in the complex with their two children - described the senseless attack as "really, really frightening".

They had come home from work during the night and had been asleep in bed when neighbours began frantically ringing the doorbell.

The panicked neighbours were warning that the bin inferno was coming dangerously close to the parked cars.

"I got home at about half three or so and about quarter to seven I heard my doorbell going," the homeowner said.

"I was met by two of my neighbours, who were absolutely frantic.

"They were shouting at me, telling me to get my car keys. They said there was a fire. There was one man who wasn't so lucky - the side of his car was all set on fire."

Locals have described the early morning attack as "mindless, immature behaviour".

One said the arsonists had "no regard for people's possessions or anybody's life or anything".

"If the fire hadn't been noticed when it was, it could have been an awful lot worse," they added.

"If more cars had caught on fire, and exploded, the flames would have reached the apartments. Had that happened, someone could easily have been hurt or killed, or God knows what.

"This is a lovely estate. It's a really close community and everyone gets on really well. It's not normal for things like this to go on.

"It was only kind of afterwards, when I was looking up and seeing all the flames, that I realised it was really, really frightening."

A garda spokesman said that officers from Ballyfermot Garda Station were investigating.

"Up to 11 wheelie bins and a car were damaged by fire during the incident in Cedarbrook Avenue, Cherry Orchard, on Sunday, November 18," said the spokesman.

Unacceptable

"Dublin Fire Brigade and gardai were called to the scene at approximately 6.30am, when the alarm was raised by local residents.

"There was no one injured. No arrests have been made to date and enquiries are ongoing."

Local councillor Daithi Doolan has said an integrated approach is needed to solve such issues.

He called for more visibility from gardai in the area to fend off such antisocial behaviour.

"The level of antisocial behaviour last weekend was totally unacceptable," he said.

"I will be working with residents of Cedarbrook to ensure this never happens again."

Residents of the apartment complex have since met to discuss the attack.
Ireland's new women's world lightweight champion boxer Kellie Harrington arrived home to a hero's welcome, saying if her win "can inspire just one girl to succeed" then it was more valuable than gold.

Kellie (28) arrived at Dublin Airport, admitting she had not slept since the weigh-in on Saturday for the AIBA World Elite Women's lightweight title in New Delhi.

Believing

"I've always had the mentality of being a strong-minded person so once I set my mind on something I know I can achieve it," said Kellie.

"Once I started believing I was going to be world champion I knew I could do it.

"It's been very difficult to get to this point but it's the difficulties that make this so worth it.

"It's those difficulties that make a person and with great losses come great success.

"To stand on that podium and get the gold medal was so emotional. It hasn't quite sunk in yet. But if I can help encourage just one girl that's more important than any medal."

Kellie's family, including her mother Yvonne (57) and father Christie (59), were at the airport to welcome their daughter home.

"I always knew my daughter could do this. She always believed, so we just knew. I'm incredibly proud," Christie said:

Dublin's north inner city community turned out in force to cheer Kellie home.

"To walk through these doors as a world champ is to give back something to Dublin 1," she said. Lord Mayor Nial Ring will host a civic reception in Sean McDermott Street tonight at 6pm.

"All in the north inner city, Dublin and Ireland are so proud of her," he said.

"I look forward to us all showing her how much her success means to her community."

Among those extending their congratulations was Olympic hero Katie Taylor, who said on Twitter: "All that hard work paying off, well deserved."
The people of a small Co Donegal seaside town have come together to stand behind a group of asylum seekers after an arson attack at the hotel where they are to stay.

The first set of an overall intake of 100 refugees were due to arrive in the Inishowen town of Moville in early December.

However, a huge shadow was cast over the plan after the fire attack on the Caiseal Mara Hotel in the early hours of yesterday.

Welcome

The torching, which damaged the reception area and smoke-damaged the entire building, came just hours before the meeting to arrange a welcome party for the asylum seekers.

The meeting went ahead, with more than 150 people turning up to show their support for the forthcoming arrivals.

A Garda forensic team spent yesterday examining the scene of the attack while they are also compiling hours of CCTV footage in and around the hotel in Foyle Street.

One man, understood to be the owner of the hotel, was injured in the attack and taken to Letterkenny General Hospital.

His injuries are not understood to be life-threatening. His daughter was also understood to be in the building at the time of the attack but was not injured.

Many of those who attended the meeting in Moville's Methodist Hall, organised by Failte Inishowen, said they were horrified by what had happened in their town.

Over 150 people were at the meeting and all those who spoke reflected an eagerness for the Direct Provision plan for the displaced people to go ahead in Moville.

The principal of Moville Community College, Anthony Duggan, said it was ironic when the Inishowen town was preparing to put up its Christmas tree that such an act should happen.

He added that the arson attack meant that the Christmas message of welcoming had been completely lost as a result.

Local county councillor Martin Farren said that while he condemned the attack he was immensely proud of the reaction of the people of Moville to the incident.

"I said that the people of Moville would respond to the needs of these people and they have," he said.

"We obviously condemn this attack but I felt immense pride in the people of Moville today who stood behind these people."

"We will welcome these people as we said we would and nothing has changed because of that.

"It was heartening to hear so much goodness and kindness being spoken at the meeting."

Councillor Farren said he had spoken to Eugene Banks, Principal Adviser at the Reception and Integration Agency, and he had confirmed the Direct Provision Centre will be going ahead at the hotel.

Assess

"He said he will assess the damage and will assess when the building can be ready for these people but it will still be going ahead," he said.

Donegal Intercultural Platform spokesman Paul Kernan said yesterday: "We hope there will be a speedy assessment of the damage caused and prompt repairs made so that the families can find a welcome shelter before the Christmas holidays."

Nobody has yet been arrested or questioned in relation to the attack.

Gardai in Buncrana are leading the investigation. They are appealing for witnesses, asking anyone with information or anyone who was in the area who may have seen suspicious activity in Foyle Street before or after the fire to contact them.
Modi hit out at Congress for indulging in 'caste politics' in reference to oppn partys leaders comment on PM's caste and his family.

PM Modi said that Congress has forgotten all courtesies and it is all being done under Rahul Gandhi. (Photo: PTI)

Alwar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed an attack on Pakistan, without naming the country, which many saw was an attempt to point Imran Khans effort at seeking financial aid from various allies.

PM Modi also hit out at Congress for indulging in caste politics and touching new low in politics in reference to main opposition partys leaders comment on PM Modis caste and his family.

Those who till yesterday threatened to drop bombs on India are begging today due to our strategy. Modis caste was not behind it. It was because of the 125 crore Indians, the Prime Minister said at a rally in Rajasthans Alwar on Sunday.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan visited UAE earlier in November to seek financial assistance to minimise cash-strapped Pakistans dependence on an IMF bailout package.

Saudi Arabia agreed to give Pakistan USD 6 billion during Khans visit. This decision came after the US suspended USD 1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan.

PM Modi said that Congress has forgotten all courtesies and it is all being done under Rahul Gandhi. He also said the Congress has "no courage" to talk about development and therefore, "they ask about the caste of Modi".

PM Modi's remark was in reaction to former Union minister and Congress leader CP Joshi's statement when he questioned PM Modi's caste.

Will you vote on the basis of Modi's caste? Will the future of Rajasthan be decided on basis of where Modi was born, PM Modi asked.

"It doesn't matter who spoke that (Joshi's remarks) because everyone knows about the 'naamdaar' who makes them say such things," he said.

Congress leader Raj Babbar had compared the rupees slide with the age of the Prime Ministers mother and Vilas Muttemwar said: nobody knows the name of your (PM Modis) father.

Congressmen are abusing my mother. They are asking my caste. I am not surprised at all. Whoever is speaking is speaking at the behest of naamdar, Modi said.

PM Modi also said that he wants to tell the naamdars that when the head of a country visits any foreign country, the world doesnt recognise him with his caste but identifies him with 125 crore Indians.

With the ongoing Ayodhya issue, PM Modi accused Congress party of adopting delaying tactics in the Supreme Court to create hurdles in the construction of Ram temple and playing a dangerous game of threatening the judges with impeachment.

Read: Congress creating fear for judiciary, sought delay in Ayodhya hearing: PM Modi

PM Modi questioned that is it fair to drag the countrys judiciary into politics this way? He further added that is it right to put pressure on the Supreme Court and judiciary?

The Prime Minister said he wants to assure the judges and the judiciary that till the time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power, it will not allow the Congress black deeds within the temple of democracy.

We will stop it with full force. I want to tell the judges not be afraid of impeachment threats. You courageously go on the path of justice. The country will walk with you. I want to assure you, he said.
Soon after the encounter, irate crowds took to the streets and clashed with the security forces.

The Army and police termed the killing of six Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba militants in the gunfight as a major success against these outfits. (Representational Image)

Srinagar: Three district commanders were among the six militants killed in a fierce pre-dawn gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Shopian district on Sunday, officials said. An Army jawan was also killed in the clash, they added.

Soon after the encounter, irate crowds took to the streets and clashed with the security forces. The latter fired live ammunition to quell the protesters and stone-pelting mobs, resulting in the death of a teenager, Noaman Ashraf Butt, and injuries to several others, witnesses and police sources said.

Among the injured is a two-year-old girl, Hibba, who, according to her father Mushtaq Ahmed, got a pellet injury in her eye while standing in the window of her house near the site of clashes in Shopians Batgund village.

The Army and police termed the killing of six Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba militants in the gunfight as a major success against these outfits. A police spokesman said: All the killed six terrorists were wanted by the law for involvement in a series of terror crimes, including attacks on security establishments and civilian killings in the area. With their killing, all notorious terrorists of the belt have been successfully eliminated.

On Friday, six militants belonging to Hizb and LeT, including three senior commanders, were killed in a similar gunbattle in Bijbehara area of Anantnag. A suspected Jaish-e-Muhammad militant was killed in a brief encounter with the security forces in Khrew area on the outskirts of Srinagar on Sunday afternoon, the police added.

The security forces have gained an upper hand against the separatist militants after killing over 30 of them in October and about two dozen so far this month, a senior Army official said. He added that among the slain were nine top commanders of the banned outfits.

Giving the details of the gunfight in Shopian, a police spokesman said the encounter began during a cordon-and-search operation launched by the Armys 34 Rashtriya Rifles, the J&K polices counterinsurgency Special Operations Group (SOG) and the CRPF in the districts Batgund village overnight. The operation was launched following credible inputs about the presence of a large number of militants in the village, he said. The operation ended with the killing of six cadres of the Hizb and the LeT, the spokesman added.

The spokesman identified the slain militants as Mushtaq Ahmed Mir alias Hammad alias Musa, Muhammad Abbas Butt, Umar Majeed Ganai alias Maaz alias Abu Hanzalla alias Abdur Rehman, Muhammad Waseem Wagay alias Saifullah and Khalid Farooq Malik alias Rafi alias Talha. He said their sixth colleague is believed to be a Pakistani.

It was a combined group of the Hizb and LeT. Mushtaq Ahmed Mir alias Hammad was operating as district commander of LeT whereas Muhammad Abbas was Shopian district commander of the Hizb and Umar Majeed Gania his counterpart for Kulgam, the spokesman said.

The police said Muhammad Abbas Butt was involved in several terror-related crimes like the recent spate of gruesome killings of civilians in Shopian, including the decapitating of 19-year-old youth Huzaif Ashraf. He was wanted by the law for killing young Army officer Lt. Omar Fayaz, lawyer Imtiyaz Khan and four police personnel and many other civilian killings in the area, a police statement said.

The soldier who died while fighting militants has been identified as Nazir Ahmad of 162 Territorial Army. Sepoy Sunil Kumar of 34 Rashtriya Rifles was injured in the clash, Army sources sai,d adding that his condition was stable. The police said that incriminating materials, including a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter.

A report from Shopian said that a few more militants, including a deputy chief commander of Hizb and his foreign accomplices, who were also trapped in the village during the operation, had managed to escape.

The killing of militants led to protests and clashes between stone-pelting mobs and the security forces and a spontaneous shutdown in Shopian and some neighbouring areas.
Uttar Pradesh principal secretary, information, Avanish Awasthi had released a photo of the statue on Saturday night.

Ayodhya: Amid the ongoing clamour to construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has firmed up plans to build a 221-metre bronze statue of Lord Ram and released its first look after comparing presentations made by five firms short-listed for its construction.

Though the location of the statue has still not been decided, it is slated to be 39 metre taller than the 182-metre Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the state of Gujarat.

Uttar Pradesh principal secretary, information, Avanish Awasthi had released a photo of the statue on Saturday night.
Amarinder asked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to rein in his Army and end terror against Indian armed forces and citizens.

Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Punjab chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh during the foundation stone laying ceremony for Kartarpur Sahib corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur. (Photo: PTI)

Gurdaspur/Chandigarh: Calling it a historic day and beginning of a new chapter in bilateral ties with Pakistan, vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday laid the foundation stone of Kartarpur corridor at Gurdaspur in Punjab, which will facilitate passage of Sikh pilgrims from India to visiting the 16th-century Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, while Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh used the occasion to hit out at Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for terror activities in the state and killings of Indian soldiers on the border.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony, Capt. Amarinder Singh, who declined an invite to travel to Pakistan for their ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor on Wednesday, asked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to rein in his Army and end terror against Indian armed forces and citizens.

Referring to the November 18 Amritsar grenade attack on Nirankari Bhavan in which three people were killed and over 20 people injured, the chief minister lashed out at Pakistan saying, What do they get out of firing bullets at innocent people and killing them with grenade they should be ashamed of themselves.

If they try to foment trouble in Punjab then Bajwa (Pak Army chief) should remember that we have Punjabi blood, we will not tolerate it, he said.

The chief minister, a former Army officer, said, As a soldier, I would like to ask Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa something. Which Army teaches to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the other side? Which Army teaches to send people to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is cowardice. I am warning you (Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa), we are also Punjabis, you will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere.

We believe in peace and we are giving a message of peace from here. But, their generals should understand that we have a large Army and we are prepared ... And this should not happen as nobody wants war. We all want to carry out development in a peaceful manner, said Capt. Amarinder Singh.

Lashing out at those who felt he should have accepted Pakistans invitation to participate in Pakistans Kartarpur corridor ceremony on Wednesday, Capt. Amarinder Singh said how can he visit Pakistan when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers are being killed by it everyday.

Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu are going to attend the event in Pakistan on Wednesday.

The chief minister suggested that there should be relaxed visa provisions for pilgrims travelling via the corridor to visit the historic gurdwara in Pakistan.

Earlier, Mr Naidu hailed the corridor work on both sides of the border as the beginning of a new chapter in India-Pakistan ties, but also made a veiled reference to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

India never attacked any country. We want good relations with our neighbours. It is unfortunate that some people make terrorism their policy. We cannot tolerate terrorism and killing of innocent people on our soil, Mr Naidu said.

Union highways minister Nitin Gadkari also addressed the gathering during the ceremony and assured the completion of the corridor within four months.

The decision to build the corridor  from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border  was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22. Pakistan is to build the corridor on their side and its ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday.

Dera Baba Nanak Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib, in Pakistan, are twin pilgrimage places associated with Sri Guru Nanak Devji. At Kartarpur Sahib he lived preaching for 18 years and the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is built his commemoration

The gurdwara, on the banks of the Ravi, has historical significance for Sikhs as Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, spent 18 years there. Established by the Sikh Guru in 1522, it is about three-four km from the International Border. The opening a corridor to the historical shrine was a long-pending demand of Sikhs.

The proposal to open the passage for Sikh pilgrims comes at a time when India-Pakistan ties have nose dived and all bilateral engagements postponed following a number of terror attacks by Pakistan-based groups since 2016, including on Pathankot Air Force Station.

The ceremony also had its share of controversy, when a state minister and local legislator objected to the names of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Singh Badal engraved on the foundation stone.

To protest the inclusion of rival Akali leaders name, minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa put black tape on the name of chief minister on the plaque.

It is not a political function. It is a government function, and I told them their (Badals) names should not be there, said Mr Randhawa.

After the protest, that foundation stone was replaced. Visuals of the foundation stone on the screen, when it was being laid digitally, carried the names of the vice president, the Punjab governor, the chief minister and the Union highways minister.
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A meeting was held on Monday between visiting Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in the capital.

New Delhi: Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will make an official visit to India on December 17, the two countries agreed on Monday, with India assuring its support to ensuring Maldives fiscal and budgetary stability while the Maldives reiterated its India First policy and promised to be sensitive towards Indias security and strategic concerns.

This was decided on Monday following a meeting between visiting Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid and external affairs minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj in the capital.

India assured its tiny south-western maritime neighbour that New Delhi stands ready to fully support the government of Maldives in its socio-economic development and of support in implementing its development priorities.

Defence cooperation bet-ween the two neighbours  who are now the best of friends once again  was also discussed, with the ministers agreeing to hold the next meeting of the Defence Cooperation Dialogue between both countries in the first half of December 2018.

New Delhi also supported Maldives decision to rejoin the Commonwealth and also welcomed Maldives into the Indian Ocean Rim Association as its newest member.

The Maldivian assurance that it would be sensitive to Indian strategic concerns is a veiled reference to New Delhis earlier concerns about the proximity between the Maldives and China during the tenure of the former president Abdulla Yameen when New Delhis ties were strained with Male. Mr Yameen had been defeated by M. Solih in the recent presidential election in the archipelago nation, much to the relief of India.

It may be recalled that during former President Mr Yameens tenure when the Maldives was extremely close to China, Beijing had undertaken several infrastructure projects then in the archipelago nation due to which the Maldives reportedly now owes a huge financial debt to China.

By furnishing the assurance that India would ensure Maldivian budgetary stability, New Delhi is therefore certain to step up economic support to Maldives. Not surprisingly, given the Maldivian need for urgent economic assistance from India to stabilise the Maldives troubled and debt-ridden economy, the Maldivian foreign minister was also accompanied by finance minister Fayaaz Ismail and economic fevelopment minister Ibrahim Ameer.

Maldivian Foreign Minister Shahid had reportedly told an Indian news website on Sunday that his country needed US$ 250 million to 350 million immediately in order to tide over a budgetary crisis and that he is hoping for financial assistance from the Indian Government. We have an immediate budgetary crisis. We need US$ 250 million to 350 million in order to handle the difficult budgetary situation ... Were hoping that we will once again be able to get the generous assistance of the Indian Government, Mr. Shahid had been quoted as telling the news website.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, The Foreign Ministers agreed that State Visit of President Solih to India will take place on December 17, 2018. ... EAM reiterated that India attaches highest importance to its relationship with the Maldives which is marked by trust, transparency, mutual understanding and sensitivity. She said that that in line with Government of Indias Neighbourhood First policy, India stands ready to fully support the Government of Maldives in its socio-economic development. ... Both sides held discussions on how to strengthen the development partnership between both countries. India assured the Maldives of support in implementing its development priorities and in ensuring fiscal and budgetary stability.



The MEA added, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid reiterated his Governments India First policy and said that his government looks forward to working closely with the government of India on all issues. He reaffirmed Maldives special, close and friendly relations with India. Minister Abdulla also reiterated that the government of Maldives will be sensitive towards Indias security and strategic concerns. ... The Ministers discussed security and defence matters including ongoing projects and new areas of cooperation. In this regard, they agreed to hold the next meeting of the Defence Cooperation Dialogue between both countries in the first half of December 2018.

Ms. Swaraj also accepted an invitation to visit the Maldives. Meanwhile, the MEA further said, The Ministers recognised that, given the historical and cultural links between both countries, people-to-people contact between both countries was important. In this regard, they agreed to hold the meeting of the bilateral Consular Dialogue at the earliest. ... They also decided to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers at the earliest.
Schools have also been asked to stick to only NCERT textbooks that are prescribed in the syllabus.

The weight of school bags for students of Classes 1 and 2 is not to exceed 1.5 kg, while the school bag of students of Class 3 to 5 should weigh between 2 kg to 3 kg. (Representational image)

New Delhi: In a major relief to students and parents across the country, the Centre has issued a directive to all states and Union Territories saying that no homework should be given to students of Classes 1 and 2 and prescribed the weight limit of school bags for each class, with the lightest being 1.5 kg, and the heaviest, 5 kgs. Asking all states and UTs to formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects and the weight of school bags in accordance with its instructions, the directive from the human resource development (HRD) ministry says that students should not be asked to bring additional books, extra materials and the weight of a school bag should not exceed the prescribed limit. The weight of school bags for students of Classes 1 and 2 is not to exceed 1.5 kg, while the school bag of students of Class 3 to 5 should weigh between 2 kg to 3 kg.

The directive, which all schools have to comply with, said, Schools should not prescribe any other subjects except language and mathematics for Classes 1 and 2 and language, EVS and mathematics for Classes 3 to 5 students as prescribed by the NCERT.

While institutions can no longer assign homework to students of Classes 1 and 2, the school bag of students of Classes 6 and 7 should not be more than 4 kg, while weight of school bags of classes VIII and IX students should not be above 4.5 kg. The school bag of a class X student should not weigh above 5 kg, the order said. Schools have also been asked to stick to only NCERT textbooks that are prescribed in the syllabus.

The Centres directive came after the Madras high court had, earlier this year, said, The children are neither weightlifters nor are schoolbags loaded containers. Joy, happiness, enthusiasm, trolling, rolling, kicking, running, fighting, playing with other children are natural qualities of children.

The courts observation came while passing an interim order in May on a petition seeking directions to schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education to purchase only NCERT books.
In the run-up to the 2014 general elections, Ajit Doval, who would go on to become candidate Narendra Modis National Security Advisor after the latter was elected  Doval was then at a think-tank the Vivekananda International Foundation  wrote a 25-page document called National Security Vision that talked about comprehensive national will and framed a strategy called defensive offence to prevent Pakistan-based terrorist groups from targeting India.

Stating that the threat of terrorism emanated mostly from Pakistan, the document recalled the savagery of the 26/11 Mumbai massacre which left 166 Indians, Americans and Israelis dead and around 304 seriously injured as 10 Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) fidayeen, or suicide attackers, mowed down innocents in Mumbais Fort area in 2008. Ten years later, the answer to the question of whether India has been able to neutralise the Pakistan-based LeT or Jaish-e-Mohammed threat is a straightforward no with the 2016 Uri and Pathankot terror strikes virtually forcing the Modi government to go to war against Islamabad.

There is no denying that the terror threat has greatly diminished during the Modi regime, considering no less than 1,000 innocents lost their lives from 2005-2014 in at least 25 major strikes outside Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast. But it is also a fact that the Indian state has not been able to effectively address the threat posed by these groups with Hafeez Saeed, Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim continuing to be poster boys in Pakistan.

Despite the fact that LeT runs eight terrorist training camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), the global terrorist group, with ties to Al Qaeda and with the goal of an Islamic Caliphate, has morphed into a mainstream political party in Pakistan  despite international condemnation and possible black-listing by the Financial Action Task Force.

The LeT today is a Pakistani brand with global labels such as Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Muslim Milli League, Tehreek-e-Azaadi Jammu and Kashmir (TAJK), Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) and Al Muhammadia Students (AMS). It still runs terror training courses with degrees by the name of basic Daura-e-Aam, weaponised Daura-e-Khaas and advanced Daura-e-Lashkar for global terror recruits.

So far in 2018, Indian security forces have killed at least 24 terrorists affiliated to LeT outfits.The group runs an industrial scale jihadist factory with no less than 20 launching pads along Indias 814-kilometre Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. After the 2016 Uri attack, National Investigating Agency (NIA) sleuths discovered that LeT issues standardised shoes, water bottles, GPS and weapons to all its cadre as if it were functioning as a division of the Pakistani Army.

The LeT was declared a proscribed terrorist organisation by the US (2001), the UK (2001), India (2002), Pakistan (2002), Australia (2002), and its leaders Saeed, 26/11 mastermind, Zaki Lakhvi, Haji Mohammed Ashraf and Mahmoud Bahaziq declared global terrorists after the Mumbai attacks. Saeed carries a $10 million US bounty on his head since April 2012. On April 3, the US named Milli Muslim League and TAJK as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) with MMLs leader, Saifullah Khalid, being designated a global terrorist.

Despite all these honorifics, Saeed is a toast of Pakistani military commanders. Ministers of the present Imran Khan regime have no qualms in sharing the stage with him. The 26/11 masterminds and handlers, including those from Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence, are still at large, plotting more terror conspiracies against India. Islamabad could not produce any evidence against Saeed and the court set him free. Zaki had the run of Adiala jail and had a son when he was presumably lodged there. Sajid Mir, the man who asked the 26/11 gunmen to shoot the Nariman House victim in the head after negotiations failed with Israel, lives near Islamabad. And combat trainer, Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed, for all you know, is now creating Indian Mujahideen 2.0 as part of the Karachi project.

While India under PM Modi has made it a policy not to talk to Islamabad till it dismantles the existing terror network, it is time that countries which are victims of Pakistans terror franchise form a coalition to combat this menace.Islamabad must be made accountable or else Afghanistan will never stabilise and the rest of the world, apart from China, will stay on the razors edge waiting for the next big attack. Pakistan has long indulged in nuclear blackmail. It is time that Islamabad and Rawalpindi GHQ are made accountable. It is said that after 26/11 attacks, the then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, called each of his three military chiefs separately to ask about the possibility of a military response against Pakistan. There was no direct response. Modi will not be that patient.

shishir.gupta@hindustantimes.com
It has been 10 years since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack happened, the dark memories of shooting and killing of innocent people by terrorists still flicker alive. The Hindi film fraternity on Monday paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives.

Producer Ronnie Screwvala and makers of upcoming film Uri, based on the Uri attack of September 2016, showed their respect to all those martyred on that day by observing silence across 300 radio stations all over India on Monday morning. As many as 164 people were killed and over 300 injured after an attack masterminded by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba was orchestrated in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

On the tenth anniversary of the attack, Bollywood celebrities like Abhishek Bachchan and Varun Dhawan paid tribute to the victims and martyrs and said its a day that cant be forgotten.

Heres how celebrities remembered the day via Twitter:

Abhishek Bachchan: Never forget! - ABhishekh. 26/11

Never forget!

#26/11  Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) November 26, 2018

Varun Dhawan: Will never forget 26/11. We have only grown stronger. Mumbaikar. Jai Hind.

Will never forget 26/11. We have only grown stronger #mumbaikar #jaihind  Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) November 26, 2018

Kubbra Sait: Hosted the Memorial last year for the 26/11 attacks, standing there alongside the dignitaries I felt gooseflesh as we proudly together sang the Indian National Anthem. This is a day Mumbai stood together (again) and this encapsulates the spirit of the city.

Hosted the Memorial last year for the 26/11 attacks, standing there alongside the dignitaries I felt gooseflesh as we proudly together sang the Indian National Anthem. This is a day Mumbai stood together (again) & this encapsulates the spirit of the city.  Kubbra Sait (@KubbraSait) November 26, 2018

Arjun Kapoor: Remembering our heroes of 26/11. Everyone who helped each other through the tough time. My heart goes out to their courage and sacrifice and for all the innocent victims.

Remembering our heroes of 26/11... Everyone who helped each other through the tough time.. My heart goes out to their courage and sacrifice and for all the innocent victims .. #MumbaiTerrorAttack  Arjun Kapoor (@arjunk26) November 26, 2018

Vishal Dadlani: 26/11. We will never forget. What has changed since, Mumbai? Are we any safer? We were promised Police Reforms, counter-terrorism training and modern equipment for a woefully understaffed and underpaid Mumbai Police Force. Seen any?

26/11. We will never forget. What has changed since, Mumbai? Are we any safer? We were promised Police Reforms, counter-terrorism training and modern equipment for a woefully understaffed and underpaid @MumbaiPolice force. Seen any?  VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) November 26, 2018

Aftab Shidvasani: Lets not forget the sacrifices of these brave sons of India.

Koena Mitra: 10 years! 26.11.2008. Islamists from Pakistan attacked Mumbai and launched one of the worst terror attacks in Indian history. We lost 100s of humans ...Please dont forget... or Forgive!! Rest in peace heros.

10 years ! 26.11.2008

10 #Islamists from #Pakistan attacked #Mumbai & launched one of the worst terror attacks in Indian history. We lost 100s of humans ....Please dont forget... or Forgive!! #RestInPeaceHeros#terrorists #MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/DkiuGypQUO  Koena Mitra (@koenamitra) November 25, 2018

Madhur Bhandarkar: Remembering the heroes of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack who sacrificed themselves for defending the country.

Remembering the heroes of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack who sacrificed themselves for defending the country. #MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/Vj6s2EVAKI  Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) November 26, 2018

Ashoke Pandit: Remembering and paying my tributes to those who lost their lives in the cowardly terrorist attack and salute to the bravehearts who laid down their lives for the nation and its people. Let us all together take an oath to destroy enemies across d borders and within d country. 26/11

While remembering & paying tributes to the martyrs of #MumbaiTerrorAttack of 26/11, lets all fight the growing number of #WhiteCollaredTerrorists in #India, in the name of #UrbanNaxals, #TukdeTukdeGang, #LutyensMedia and #Communists.  Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 26, 2018

Hansika: Remembering 26/11. Salute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives saving others.

Remembering 26/11. Salute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives saving others.  Hansika (@ihansika) November 26, 2018

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Irrfan Khan was in India for a week to celebrate Diwali with his family, according to his representative. The actor has been undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine tumour in London after announcing in March that he has been diagnosed with the disease.

While reports said that Irrfan was in India to perform a puja at a Nashik temple, his rep dismissed the reports saying the actor celebrated the festival with his family and was in India for seven days. The actor had earlier pulled out of an Amazon series, Gormint, and promoting his films Blackmail and Karwaan.

In June, Irrfan provided an update about his health in an interview. This realisation made me submit, surrender and trust, irrespective of the outcome, irrespective of where this takes me, eight months from now, or four months from now, or two years. The concerns took a back seat and started to fade and kind of went out of my mindspace. For the first time, I felt what freedom truly means. It felt like an accomplishment. As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it. My confidence in the intelligence of the cosmos became absolute. I feel as if it has entered every cell of mine. Time will tell if it stays, but that is how I feel as of now, he said.

A few months later in August, he said that after four rounds of chemotherapy, he had found a new perspective on life. There are challenges which life throws at you. But I have started believing in the way this condition has tested me, really, really tested me in all aspects  physical, emotional and spiritual. It has put me in a rapture state. Initially I was shaken. I didnt know. I was very, very vulnerable. But slowly, there is another way to look at things that is much more powerful and much more productive and much more healthy and I just want people to believe that nature is much more trustworthy and one must trust that. The problem with me initially was everyone was speculating whether I would be out of this disease or not. Because its not in my hand. Thats nature that will do whatever it has to do. What is in my hand, I could take care of that.
The countdown for Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas royal wedding has already begun. The groom-to-be reached Delhi on Thursday where Priyanka Chopra was shooting for The Sky is Pink. The couple left for Mumbai where the wedding celebrations are already on. Now, Nicks brother Joe Jonas and fiancee, Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, have reached Mumbai. Joe was spotted in Mumbai with Nick but we didnt get a glimpse of Sophie.

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner spotted arriving at the Mumbai airport. (Viral Bhayani)

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner spotted arriving at the Mumbai airport. (Viral Bhayani)

Priyanka Chopra spotted at Madhu Chopras office (Viral Bhayani)

Nick Jonas and Joe Jonas spotted in Mumbai. (Viral Bhayani)

Earlier, a few fan pages had shared pictures and videos hinting at the arrival of Joe and Sophie in India.

A fanpage shared pictures of Joe and Sophie on board a flight; a video of Sophie greeting her fans at Dubai airport also surfaced on the web. The couple is right on time to take part in the wedding celebrations, which begin on November 29 in Jodhpur. Pre-wedding celebrations will include a sangeet where Nick Jonas will be performing a medley of his favourite songs and Priyanka will be dancing on a few of her favourite dance numbers.

Priyanka was earlier given a send-off by her The Sky is Pink colleagues. Director Shonali Bose and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur had hosted a small party where the cake read, Congratulations to our dear bride to be P.C.J.

Like Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singhs wedding in Italy, Priyanka is also expected to keep the wedding a private affair. According to a report in Bombay Times, Priyanka will be boarding a chopper from Udaipur to reach Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur on November 29 in order to avoid the media. The couple is expected to host two lavish wedding receptions, one in Delhi and another in Mumbai.

The reports claim that the Hindu wedding ceremony is to be held at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur on December 2 and will also be followed by a Christian wedding. However, unlike Deepika and Ranveer, Priyanka has not confirmed any details officially.

The Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur has hosted some of the biggest Bollywood weddings.

The wedding is expected to take place at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur.

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The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) will import an ultra modern fully computerised offset printing press to print copies of the Sikh holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib ji.

In a bid to keep pace with the latest printing technology in the world, the new eco-friendly CO2 neutral four-colour printing machine is being imported from German firm Heidelberg for Rs 8 crore.

A new three-storied fully air-conditioned printing press complex Granth Sahib Bhawan is being built at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib complex at the cost of around Rs 2.5 crore for installing the new machine. The construction work is likely to be completed by April 2019.

The new machine is likely to reach India by April 2019 and the printing of the Sikh holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib ji will likely start in May 2019, DSGMC President Manjit Singh G.K. said.

A Sikh NRI has donated Rs 11 crore for the project, he added.

The installation work of the new machine is being undertaken by Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuri Wale ji who has also been assigned with the kar sewa of the new building.

Besides the new one, the existing two colour printing press will continue their printing operations mainly for Sikh Gurmat literature (Philosophy of the Gurus) and for various sikh institutions like chains of Guru Harkishan Public Schools.

They have also published over one lakh copies of Guru Granth Sahib ji.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committtee (SGPC), Amritsar and DSGMC, Delhi, the worlds largest publishers of Sikh religious books and literature, have exclusive and legal rights for publication of Guru Granth Sahib ji worldwide.

The new printing press will have optimum capacity of printing 10,000 pages per day which will meet the growing demand for the holy book worldwide, mainly among overseas Sikh devotees.

DSGMC is also planning to showcase to the people the journey of Guru Granth Sahib ji by organising visits to the press complex. During these tours, visitors will be educated about the printing process of the holy scripture, DSGMC President said.

It will help in projecting the spot as a new religious tourist destination in the national capital which will attract both foreign as well as domestic tourists, he added.
A young man from Punjab was found hanging from a tree outside his home in Canadas Toronto, where he had gone to pursue a course in hotel management, police there told his family here over phone on Sunday night.

The news of Vishal Sharmas (21) death has shaken his family in Nabha.

The Canadian police told his father Naresh Sharma that they were investigating the matter and they will report the findings to the family within three days. So far the police there are clueless whether it was murder or suicide.

However, his family suspects murder as they said Vishals body was hanging too high.

He had no reasons to commit suicide and why would he commit it outside the house? asked Jaswinder Kumar, uncle of the deceased.

The family said Vishal was happy there and did not express any problems ever. He visited the family in Nabha in July to attend a marriage and went back in September.

Also read: Indian student killed in Australia hours after dinner date, teen arrested

We had a telephonic conversation with him on Saturday and even on Sunday, he talked to his cousins and everything was fine. We dont know what happened, Naresh Sharma said.

The family has appealed to the government to bring Vishals body back for cremation.

Vishal shared an apartment in Canada with his friends who also hail from Nabha. Naresh Sharma is a clerk in the state education department and he had taken a loan of Rs 8 lakh to send his son abroad.
India has joined other countries in condemning the militant attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi. New Delhi has termed it as a terror attack. However, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has claimed credit for the attack, is not recognised as a terrorist organisation by India. The BLA had recently attempted to blow up a busload of Chinese workers. Other Baloch groups have also targeted the increasing Chinese presence in their province. The rival Baloch Liberation Front, for example, has carried out attacks against a number of Chinese construction projects.

The real issue is not terrorism, or even Chinas controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The source of the problem is Islamabads decades of repression and marginalisation of the Baloch. Balochistan is experiencing its fifth wave of rebellion against the Pakistani government since Independence. The present rebellion has been no more successful than any previous insurgency. However there are three new elements to the Baloch rebellion that should be noted. One, the insurgency has expanded in terms of its tribal base but also begun attracting a new urbanised, de-tribalised Baloch. Two, the Baloch nationalist narrative today merges resentment against Islamabad with the massive Chinese economic presence in their province. The Chinese mining and infrastructure projects are portrayed as a new effort to deprive the Baloch of their natural resource wealth and flood their province with outsiders. There is truth in both these claims, enough to make it difficult for the Chinese to claim otherwise. Finally, though the mainstream Baloch insurgent groups retain a secular nationalist outlook, some have become Islamicised and may eventually colour the future nature of the conflict. With Balochistan also becoming a battleground for the dirty trick departments of Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Iran, ideological extremism will become increasingly important.

China has claimed its investments will help make the Baloch and their province more prosperous. Almost two-thirds of the CPECs total outlay is being spent in Balochistan. This may prove to be the case, but so long as thousands of Chinese workers and Pakistani soldiers are the human face of the corridor it will be seen as instrument of oppression. A sustainable solution would be for Beijing to persuade Islamabad to provide Balochistan greater political autonomy, giving the Baloch a greater say in how and where outside investments take place. There is no sign that sort of empowerment is on the cards. Which is why the Chinese should brace themselves for a backlash that will become increasingly violent and, eventually, extract a human cost Beijing may find unpalatable for its own public.
The Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) will on Monday release the admit card for the examination to recruit male and female Sub Inspectors (SI) in the state. The examination will be held on December 2 in two sessions: morning and afternoon.

The morning session exam will be conducted from 10.30 am to 12 noon to recruit male candidates. Candidates should report to the examination Centre by 8.30 am. No candidate will be allowed to enter after 9.30am. The afternoon session exam will be held from 3 pm to 4.30 pm to recruit female candidates. Candidates should report at the examination centre by 1 pm. No entry will be allowed after 2 pm.

Candidates can download their admit card from the commissions official website hssc.gov.in after they are released.

HSSC SI Admit Card 2018: How to download

1) For HSSC SI admit Card 2018, visit the official website hssc.gov.in and click on the link for advt. 03/2018.

2) Click on the link to download the admit card (after it is released).

3) Enter the required details on the login page that opens.

4) Download your admit card

Candidates must read the admit card very carefully and carry it to the examination Centre. No separate information will be sent to the candidates by the commission through post.
Deepika Padukone surprised us with a dramatic look on Saturday. The newlywed actor went to a dance party -- thrown by husband Ranveer Singhs sister, Ritika Bhavnani -- channelling painter Frida Kahlo, one of the most recognisable faces in Latin culture. Even 64 years after her death, the Mexican artist turned style icon continues to inspire generations of people all over the world. Defined by those signature features  unapologetic brows, flushed cheeks, bold eyes, braided updo, an elaborate flower crown and a colourful floral outfit  Deepikas unconventional look is definitely unmistakably Frida. For the fun DJ night, Deepika eschewed classic saree and lehenga in favour of an unpredictable, statement-making bridal look. Her look is perfect for the non-traditional bride, who dares to break the bridal mould with an ensemble that is outside the box.

Frida proudly embraced her unique facial features (unibrow, mustache, etc.) and embellished her outfits with bright flowers and statement jewellery; historians speculate she wore long skirts to mask her right leg, which was mangled by childhood polio. Deepika effortlessly achieves Frida Kahlos look, a helpful equation for you: Braided updo + flower crown + floor-length skirt + chunky jewellery + dramatic eyebrow. You might think channelling Frida means lots of clashing colours, but Deepikas Sabyasachi lehenga shows thats not a must. She chose one shade for her floral headpiece (red rose) and lehenga to masterfully bring the Mexican artists look to life.

Deepikas Dil-guldasta lehenga created by fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee was intricately embroidered on Bordeaux silk with hand-dyed velvet appliques, silk-floss, beaten silver and gold thread and rose-tinted crystals and rhinestones. The bohemian look was accessorised with a statement gold choker set featuring uncut diamonds, emeralds, pearls and jadau from the Sabyasachi Heritage Jewelry Collection. For a cool twist on the classic Frida look, Deepika wore a sheer, diaphanous, embroidered veil instead of a shawl.

Deepika also switched up her usual neutral and metallic eye shadows by pairing her floral lehenga with a heavy smoky eye. While we admire the Padmaavat actors more toned-down make-up and sleek hairstyles, we love how she played it up for the Mumbai party with a bold, sexy beauty look. If youd prefer to skip penciling in Fridas signature unibrow, go for exaggerated dark brows and define the eyes with sultry black eyeliner on both her upper and lower lids like Deepikas.

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Actor Ashish Sharma, transgender Anne Jakrajutatip share thoughts on his film Khejdi, LGBTQ community and combating bullying.

Actor Ashish Sharma, known for his varied roles on the small screen had recently invited Anne Jakkraphong Jakrajutatip, better known as the number one transgender millionaire in Asia to Mumbai for the signing of the deal of a global release of his latest movie based on the transgender community called 'Khejdi'.

In conversation with this correspondent, the duo shared their thoughts on the film, the LGBTQ community and how Khejdi and Anne's own journey are interlinked.

Based on the short story Sanjha, Khejdi is loosely a true story of a transgender under Ashish's own home production which he recently launched along with actor wife Archana Sharma called Rachayita Films Pvt Ltd.

Dismissing, at the very onset, the subject to be controversial, Sharma says that the seeds of the film were planted in him when he had read the short story a few years back.

"The story left a few questions inside me and I wanted to ask the same questions to the world." The actor further elaborates that everyone has a place in society, even those born in a certain way. "The question is not about controversy, but rather mirroring harsh reality that we wanted to bring forth," he explains.

The actor adds that the whole experience form ideation to enacting the part on screen was a challenging but enjoyable experience for him.

While transforming physically from having a muscular physique to a more feminine one took him three months, the psychological transformation was what took him to his breaking points at times, he opines.

As for her opinion on Khejdi, Anne says that she found the film remarkable. The differences of the film from others, she felt was the way it connected dots and the way it promoted lesser known artists who have all done a stellar job. But most of all, Anne feels the movie excels in the sense that it gradually educated people to understand the development of each, character including Ashish.

Voicing his views on the LGBTQ community that Ashish has sought to portray in Khejdi, the actor says that both India and the world have a lot to cover with respect to the community. He feels that foremost the community needs to 'embrace their own identity' and stop categorising themselves. The society, according to Ashish, needs to accept individuals as they are, and stop labelling them. Respect and acceptance are the two keywords, he ponders.

It is this acceptance and respect that needs to be of foremost importance even within the community, Anne opines. She elaborates that there is a sense of discord and discrimination even within the community because of a marked lack in education that sensitises people.

"In the remote areas, the community, without education or less with education finds it hard to accept anyone who is different from them," she explains, highlighting the need for education.

Anne's own journey towards becoming the richest transgender in Asia started when she was a young boy. Anne confesses that while other children might have wanted to be a doctor or teacher, she just wanted to be a millionaire. This is what helped her is seeing the doors of opportunity much before others had even gotten whiff of it and it helped her lead JKN Global Media to be in Thailand Stock Market in year 2017 successfully.

Commenting on how it might be difficult for youngsters grappling with their gender identity, Anne confesses that introspection is of paramount importance and once one feels ready they should seek counsel of elders and the more wise so that they do not live in confusion.

Speak frankly to their parents, who you are and what you want. Remember being transgender is not a disease it only needs understanding and empathy.

Annes 5 tips for youngsters facing gender discrimination and bullying:

Focus on your studies and excel in them so that later in life you have more bargaining power.

If you have been bullied, inform your parents and teachers so that proper measures can be taken.

Stick with good friends who accept you, are ready to protect you and counsel you when needed.

Don't let anyone bully you without fighting back.

Sometimes stepping back is the best way forward. Don't put yourself in a situation, which, you might feel may go astray.

Ashish's reason for calling Anne also harbours on the fact that Anne has just started an organisation called LIFT which works for transgender childrens' education. Khejdi caters to the same thought and Annes own success story is inspiring in many ways to bring credibility to the movie.

As for his film and production house, Ashish says that he is in a great space now and is even ready with his next two scripts. We will roll early next year and as an actor I have something very exciting lined up but too early to talk about it. It isnt for television is all that I can say, he lets slip.
Members of the international and Indian cast of Netflixs upcoming film, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, walked the red carpet at its world premiere in Mumbai on Sunday. Actors Christian Bale, Freida Pinto, Rohan Chand and Andy Serkis were joined by the starry members of the Indian voice cast, including Abhishek Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit Nene.

Abhishek, who voices Bagheera in the Hindi version of the film, looked dapper in a blue suit-blue shirt combo. Hes also shaved off his beard, which had become a part of his look for a long time. His English counterpart, Bale, wore a black three-piece suit, and was accompanied by his wife, Sandra Blazic, who wore a green dress.

Kareena Kapoor Khan at the world premiere of Mowgli.

Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit, who voice Baloo the bear and Nisha, Mowglis adoptive wolf mother, twinned in blue. Madhuri took to her Instagram to share a picture of the two of them together. As the legend goes we have always got each others back! Our mission to save Mowgli look good while doing so is accomplished I think! @anilskapoor. Walking the carpet with Baloo in blue! she captioned the picture.

Madhuri Dixit with her husband Dr Sriran Nene at the world premiere of Mowgli. (Viral Bhayani)

Anil reciprocated with a post of his own, which he captioned, I guess we agreed upon safeguarding the Legend #Mowgli and wearing blue to the premiere or just a happy coincidence? With the radiant @madhuridixitnene a.k.a #Nisha.

Anil was wearing a blue suit, which he paired with white sneakers, while Madhuri wore a blue dress. She was accompanied to the premiere by her husband, Sriram Nene.

Kareena Kapoor Khan stunned in a glittery slit dress. She also posed with the ladies of the film, Madhuri and Freida Pinto, who was wearing a sari. Freida was accompanied by her parents and sister to the premiere.

Director and actor Andy Serkis wore a green suit, keeping with the jungle theme of the event, and was accompanied by his wife and children, one of whom plays a small supporting role in the film.

Christian Bale, Rohan Chand, Andy Serkis son, Frieda Pinto and Serkis himself at the world premiere of Mowgli. (Viral Bhayani)

Also spotted at the premiere were Netflix alums, Radhika Apte, who starred in the horror miniseries Ghoul and the crime drama Sacred Games. She was with her husband, musician Benedict Taylor. Her Ghoul co-star, Manav Kaul was seen with former Bigg Boss contestant and actor Elli Avram. Radhikas Sacred Games co-star Kubbra Sait was also present, as was Little Things actor Mithila Palkar.

Also seen was Freidas Love Sonia co-star, Mrunal Thakur, who will be starring in Netflixs upcoming Baahubali prequel series.

Anil Kapoor with Abhishek Bachchan at the premiere. (Viral Bhayani)

Earlier in the day, at a press conference, Bale and Abhishek - the two Bagheeras - posed with each other for the gathered photographers. Abhishek was wearing a brown jacket, black T-shirt and jeans, while Bale kept it just as casual with a blue shirt and track pants.

The two Baloos also posed together. Serkis and Anil Kapoor, who was wearing a baggy jacket over dark pants and sneakers, even growled at each other for the photographers.

Kareena, meanwhile, wore a long black dress and Freida wore a white jump-suit.

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle will be released on Netflix on December 7. It will be given a limited theatrical release, beginning November 29, in the UK and the US.

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Nine Maoists and two personnel of the state police were killed in a gun battle in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Monday afternoon, officials said.

The encounter took place near Saklar village under Kistaram police station area.

We have recovered the bodies of nine Maoists till now, said special director general of police (anti-Naxal operations) DM Awasthi.

A joint team of DRG (District Reserve Guard), CRPF and special task force (STF) have cordoned off the area, Awasthi said.

The senior officer said the two DRG personnel were killed while fighting with the Maoists in their core area.

A total of 1,200 security personnel from STF, DRG, CRPFs CoBRA and special teams from Telangana took part in Operation Prahar-4, launched on Sunday in Battalion 1 area of Naxals in Saletong,Bade Kedwal,Sakler and nearby areas.

The District Reserve Guard (DRG) team reached Sakler this morning and an encounter started at around 9:40 am. It continued for around one and a half hours, Awasthi said, adding that of the nine Maoists killed, two carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh.

Arms, ammunition and IEDs have been recovered, he said, adding, We had information that Naxals threw some weapons in a pond near Sakler also. Forces tried to recover the weapons and entered the pond also. During this, Naxals again opened fire in the afternoon and two DRG jawans lost their lives.
Once a year, on the anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, we remember the heroes and the martyrs who died so that we may live. But Mumbai forgets history easily. As the memory of those fear-filled nights recedes, and our chalta hai attitude once again comes to the fore, we are in danger of repeating the mistakes that allowed 10 gunmen to take control of our beloved city for over 60 hours.

Luckily for us, the city has enough reminders of courage, bravery and sacrifice to inspire us and our future generations on a daily basis. We only need to know where to look.

While you are commuting to work or college via Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, take a moment to cross over to the passenger concourse for outstation trains. There, in one corner, next to the offices of the senior station manager and the head ticket collector, is a memorial to the railway passengers, workers and security staff who were killed that night. It has a fitting message for us detached citizens: The fight against terrorism will continue.

A few hundred metres away, at the Cama and Albless hospitals, is another memorial. It honours two guards who lost their lives in the attack.

Taking a walk on Marine Drive, or just sitting on the parapet of the promenade and enjoying the sea air? Cross the road to where the Police Gymkhana is. The Police Memorial outside is the largest 26/11 memorial in the city and remembers the 18 security personnel who were slain during the attacks  not just the officers and men of the Mumbai Police, but also those belonging to the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and Home Guards, as well as the commandos of the National Security Guard (NSG). It vows never to forget the heinous attacks, the courage of the security forces, and the sacrifices of our martyrs.

When you head for chaat at Chowpatty, dont ignore the bust of assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Omble at the entrance. His memorial, Prerana Sthal, marks the spot where he sacrificed his life fighting Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist to be caught alive in the attacks. Omble held the barrel of Kasabs AK-47, taking all the bullets in his chest, enabling his colleagues to overpower the terrorist.

A little ahead, on Napean Sea Road, a chowk has been named in honour of additional commissioner of police Ashok Kamte, who was gunned down.

If you happen to be at the Taj Mahal Hotel, walk to the waterfall at the other end of the lobby. Stand near the entrance to the spa and view the memorial plaque next to the waterfall. It remembers the 31 guests, hotel staff and security personnel who perished in the siege. In front of the plaque, lit candles pay homage to the martyrs.

A sculpture next to the plaque, called the Tree of Life, is also dedicated to them. A plaque has also been installed in the staff area of the hotel. And outside the kitchen area, a memorial remembers the chefs and kitchen staff who died in the attack. These two memorials are, however, not accessible to the public.

At the Trident Hotel, take the lift to the pool level, go through the revolving door to the portico outside, and pay your respects at a memorial for the guests and staff of the Trident and Oberoi hotels who died in the attacks. As you turn from the reception to make your way outside, glance at the wall alongside. A small plaque remembers the staff of the two hotels who sacrificed their lives in the call of duty.

At Cafe Leopold, the bullet marks are the memorials, grim reminders to the attacks, preserved as tributes to the people who died there. From Cafe Leopold, go further down Colaba Causeway till you reach the Khoja Jamatkhana. Turn left on the incline ahead into a narrow lane and you reach Chabad House.

Access to the memorials inside dedicated to the Rabbi, his family and other guests who died here, is restricted to Jews. But there are plans to convert the top two storeys into a museum and the terrace to a living memorial to all the victims of the attacks, irrespective of religion. The wall opposite the building, which was showered with bullets, bears a message condemning the terror attacks.

Incidentally, you dont have to come all the way to South Mumbai to find these inspiring reminders. Drive along Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road towards Vikhroli, and ahead of Majas on your left is a public park dedicated to the memory of Vijay Salaskar, one of the bravehearts of Mumbai Police who died in the attack. In Poonam Nagar, on the other side of the road, are parks dedicated to three other bravehearts, Hemant Karkare and Ashok Kamte of the Mumbai Police and Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan of NSG.

You will also find public parks dedicated to the memory of Omble off the Western Express Highway in Goregaon East, at Gundavali in Andheri East, and at IC Colony in Borivali West.Memorials have also been erected in Goregaon West opposite the railway station, and in Kalyan West between the courthouse and the police control room. And in Virar, our brave police dogs have not been forgotten.

Caesar, Max, Tiger and Sultan, police dogs who helped detect explosives during the attacks, have their own memorials at a Virar farmhouse where they retired and died after years of active service.

When you are travelling outside Mumbai, too, you will come across 26/11 memorials. Pune has roads and parks named after Omble, Karkare and Kamte. Major Unnikrishnan is honoured in his hometown Bengaluru and other towns in Karnataka and Kerala. And Satara has honoured its son, Omble, and other bravehearts with a Martyrs Memorial. Now that you know where the memorials are, pay a visit. Not just on the anniversary of 26/11, but each time you pass by. They are inspirations our city and the coming generations need.

(Kaevan Umrigar is a heritage evangelist with Khaki Tours besides being an advertising copywriter and filmmaker. He is curating a remembrance tour for the 26/11 martyrs as part of Team Khakis efforts to make history relatable to the ordinary citizen.)
Two weeks after 10 gun-wielding terrorists brought Indias financial capital to its knees, I was dialling the headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistans Muridke, a short drive out of the city of Lahore. By then, it was clear that the LeT was behind the attacks that killed and maimed large numbers of people. By then, Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist to be captured alive, had told his interrogators about his training in Muridke. He also gave details of his interactions with the Lashkar founder, Hafiz Saeed.

I had a visa to Pakistan and the only story worth telling was from Ground Zero. No Indian journalist had been allowed into the sprawling complex on the outskirts of Lahore. And so, I was dialling Abdullah Muntazirs number. Publicity is vital oxygen for terror groups but Muntazir was not taking calls from an Indian number even though he was the person in charge of speaking to the international media. He had guided a group of foreign journalists through the complex at which Kasab had trained but no Indian was part of that entourage.

Was I being unreasonable in thinking that the Lashkar  which by then had changed its name to Jamaat-ud-Dawaah  would open its gates to an enemy journalist? After reaching Lahore, I called Muntazir from a local number but hit a dead end. He would not take calls.

Full coverage: 10 years since 26/11 Mumbai attacks

The next day I went to have lunch with a powerful former minister in the Nawaz Sharif government. I had met him several times over the years; I mentioned that I wanted to visit the LeT headquarters. I was surprised when he said: Ill try and help out. They owe me one. They have often called for help when their associates have been picked up the police. The nexus between the state and non-state actors was clear. A former minister was conceding the connection. He picked up his phone and called someone. Even before I finished lunch with the former Pakistan minister, a group of men was waiting in the anteroom.

The same Muntazir who refused to take my calls was soon guiding me through the headquarters. We cant say no to you, the group had told the former Pakistan minister.

You are in an educational complex and the Jamaat-ud-Dawaah is a charitable organisation, but you are from India so it will take you time to change your mind, Muntazir said the following morning, as he guided me through the complex where Kasab had trained.

The guided tour took me through a neatly laid out 60-bed hospital, schools for boys and girls, a madrasa, a mosque, an extravagantly large swimming pool and a guest house.

I did not go there thinking Id see firing ranges or target shooting in progress, but the tour itself was surreal. As I walked through the neatly trimmed lawns, passing the hostel, mosque, and the hospital, the conversation was dotted with words such as terrorism, Lashkar, and in my case, Kashmir. Apart from Muntazir, I had another guide: Khalid Waleed, the son-in-law of Hafiz Saeed.

Even though the gates were opened to dispel the impression of Muridke being the training camp that India has made it out to be, the conversation was not about the school syllabus but wholly about how India was the enemy.

Muntazir and Waleed did not deny the fact that Kasab schooled in Muridke.

So, did Kasab study here, in Muridke, I asked, pointedly?

Even if he did, we are not responsible for what any one of our students does after passing out.

Do you support the Lashkar-e-Taiba?

We used to.

You used to?

Yes, we were like-minded but the group was banned after Indian propaganda following the attack on its Parliament which was done by the Jaish-e-Mohammad and not the LeT. We use to provide logistical help to the Lashkar, collect funds for them and look after their publicity.

Did you also provide them arms?

They must have bought weapons with the money we gave them. They were obviously not using the money to buy flowers for the Indian army.

Do you consider India an enemy?

Without a doubt.

Your Amir, Hafiz Sayeed, has given calls for jihad.

He supports the freedom movement in Kashmir. We think it is right. It is ridiculous to call him a terrorist. Even when a thorn pricks India, the whole world stands up.

Does the ISI support you?

Muntazir laughs.

Ten years after 26/11, Saeed continues to be a free man. Only last month, the JuD was removed from the list of banned organisations.

Pakistan has steadfastly refused to investigate the various dossiers given to it by India, and the trial underway in an anti-terrorism court has been marked with repeated adjournments.

Dealing with LeT and its founder. Saeed, has been a vexed issue for the United States of America, too. It announced a $10-million bounty for Saeed in 2012 but has no answers for why the bounty has not been executed in six years, especially when the professor of terror has been openly giving provocative speeches, threatening not just India, but the US as well. The US ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, declined a comment on the matter.

America was also not keen on extraditing Pakistan-born American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who made elaborate videos of the targets that were attacked. All videos were given to his handlers and when interrogated by Indias National Investigation Agency (NIA), Headley said: Every major action of the LeT is done only after the approval of Hafiz Saeed. He also told the FBI and the NIA that 26/11 was possible only due to the full support of the ISI.

The families of Mumbais victims can only draw some solace from the fact that Ajmal Kasab was tried, convicted and hanged. The question of Pakistan allowing its soil to be used by terrorists, still hangs in balance. The Lashkar has the support of more than just ministers it can reach out to.
Former Union home secretary in the Rajiv Gandhi government and former chief secretary of Maharashtra, Ram Pradhan, says the image of the Taj hotels dome burning is etched in his memory. For three days from 26/11, he watched Taj burn from the window of his 12th floor apartment in Colaba.

Little over a month later, Pradhan, who had long retired after 36 years of service with the government of India, was asked by the then chief minister, Ashok Chavan, to probe the 26/11 attacks. Pradhan headed a two-member committee, including former IPS official V Balachandran, that submitted a report within four months on the attacks after interviewing 50 police officials, bureaucrats, and scanning control room data, intelligence inputs, etc.

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, the 90-year-old former bureaucrat spoke on why investigation agencies should assume that such an attack can happen again. Edited excerpts:

Can 26/11 be repeated?

One wouldnt want to say it, but Mumbai is a prime target for terror groups. We have to be ready all the time. Investigative agencies have to assume that another 26/11 can happen. Thats the only way to continuously improve surveillance and our intelligence gathering and arbitration. Now, I can say it openly that the 26/11 attack was to a large extent an intelligence failure on the part of our central agencies.

Our records showed that in August, September and October there were intelligence inputs that such an attack will take place. There were definite tips that Taj and Oberoi are prime targets. But central agencies left it to the Mumbai police to handle this threat.

In your report, you warned of possible future aerial attacks on the city. Do you think this is still a security threat ?

At the time, there had been several examples of attacks on airfields outside the country and hence we had mentioned that smaller aircraft can be used or hijacked for terror attacks. Today, one need not use an aircraft at all, drones can be used to launch an attack or damage an important installation or even airfields. Where will a security force like NSG land if our air strips are destroyed?

In the 1993 blasts, RDX was brought into the city through the sea and the 26/11 attackers entered via the sea route as well. Yet our coastal security continues to be the weakest chink?

Yes, because upgrading coastal security means significant resources for both manpower and equipment. It means buying sophisticated weapons, surveillance systems, boats, setting up coastal police stations, trained police who can swim up to 10-12km in the sea. Even 10 years later, Mumbai has three coastal police stations but they are not even adequately staffed or may not have boats which function. The Coast Guard can carry out surveillance, have speed boats etc. but they dont know what to look for unless they have inputs from the police. We should have a separate elite marine force to man our coastal security.

Are you satisfied with the way the state government has implemented your recommendations?

I would say a lot has been done and lot more can be done. I think both surveillance and overall intelligence system (both gathering and handling) has improved. For every attack there are another 10 potential ones that have been thwarted. There is greater presence of police, they have better equipment, ammunition and vehicles at their disposal. But our greatest pleasure is that the recommendation to install CCTVs in Mumbai has been implemented. Today, we can access video footage of the smallest of incidents and then we didnt even have central footage of Kasab shooting at CST where maximum casualties were reported from.

Did you at the time suspect that there was a local link or involvement in the 26/11 attacks ?

Yes. During the course of our inquiry at Maachimarnagar, we were told that two to three months before the incident, two to three people whom locals identified as strangers had visited and recceed the area as well as taken photographs. They were accompanied by a local person. When the report was ready, then Union home minister P Chidambaram wanted to have a glance at it. I had gone to show the report to him.

We had also prepared a separate note saying there is an aspect of the incident that is troubling us. This was not included in the report because it was sensitive information. But the home department completely ignored this cue. Much later, reports of David Headley surfaced.

What are some of the striking things that you remember of 26/11 that have stayed with you post your inquiry.

I think what is unforgettable is the courage of assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Ombale, who took 11 bullets in his stomach as he held on to Kasabs AK-47 armed with just a baton. And the courage of another constable, Arun Jadhav, who feigned to be dead and passed on a crucial message to the control room about Kasab and another terrorist. Without these two, the police would not have caught Kasab alive. I also remember listening to the recorded calls between the terrorists and the handlers in Karachi  everything from which floor they should station themselves, whom they should attack and how they should do it was told to them from Pakistan.
A senior intelligence official who helped plant Indian SIM cards with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Pakistan has revealed how one of those numbers being used in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks enabled counterterror operatives gather real-time details about the strategy of the terrorist handlers and frame their response.

Speaking in detail for the first time ahead of the 10th anniversary of the attacks, Divya Prakash Sinha, who was heading the operations wing of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), gave details of the happenings in the run-up to 26/11, during the attacks, and in the investigation that followed the killing of 166 people.

The 1979-batch Indian Police Service officer told Hindustan Times he was at home at around 9.15pm on November 26, 2008 when he got a call from the then IB director about firing in Mumbai.

As I was talking to the director, I got another call from my deputy, who said it looks there is some fidayeen attack happening in Mumbai. He had listened to some calls intercepted in IBs control room. I immediately informed the director that there is a possibility that the incident of firing in Mumbai might be a suicide attack and rushed to the office, Sinha said.

In my secure control room, my officers put me on to the intercepted call on the speaker phone. We could hear a person screaming, Bata tu kya wazir hai? (tell us, are you a minister?) the person replied, no no, I am a school teacher Then someone on the other line said, kill him, he is lying, a schoolmaster cannot stay in room with a rent of Rs 20,000. They were talking in Urdu mixed with Punjabi, Sinha added.

He asked his officers if they were monitoring a Pakistani number, to which they replied, that it was an Indian number which has just become active.

I asked, who recommended its monitoring? A record is kept of all numbers put on surveillance and also the name of officer and agency who recommended the surveillance. I was told that the number was put on surveillance on the recommendation of joint director (operations). My first reaction was that my predecessor recommended it. But the officer said, it was I who had recommended it. Then I remembered everything, Sinha said.

Sinha explained that a senior Jammu and Kashmir police official, SM Sahai, planned the operation to provide SIM cards to LeT in the hope that they could be used for counter-intelligence.

A pack of 30 prepaid SIM cards was being sent to Pakistan through a Lashkar agent. It was hoped that if Lashkar armed its operatives with these SIM cards, and they were already on surveillance by Indian agencies, security officials will get to know before these operatives could plan a strike, Sinha said.

The then Srinagar IB chief Arun Chaudhary, a 1977-batch IPS officer who retired in 2014, confirmed that he had shared information about this deep penetration operation with Sinha since he was heading the operations wing of IB. When I got to know about it, I thought, let us also send some SIM cards brought from different parts of India. So I sent three SIM cards to SM Sahai that we could monitor, Sinha said.

It was one of three cards that got activated in Mumbai, and was being used by a terrorist who had reached the Taj. As soon as the attack started, it was due to this SIM card that we knew exactly what was happening in Mumbai, and it helped us formulate our response to the attack.

Sinha remembers asking his officials who the B party was  the person on the other side who was talking to the people in Mumbai. BSNL [Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited] told us the B party was an American virtual number. So we used the number to find out how many calls were originating from it. There were three or four calls originating from the same virtual Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) number that we got to know later was established in the Karachi control room of the Lashkar, he said.

The IB started listening to all of them, and through it learnt that there were five teams of two terrorists each, and that two teams were sent to the Taj hotel. When the terrorists threw the phone after its battery went off, and started using phones of victims, we continued to intercept since all the new calls also originated from the same VoIP number, Sinha said.

The officer spent most of the next two days coordinating with the Mumbai police and the home ministry officials, informing them what was being heard on the intercepted calls. On the morning of November 27, he, along with his seniors in IB and National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, went to then prime minister Manmohan Singh to brief him how the attack was being handled from Pakistan.

Sinha, who retired in 2015 as Indias secretary (security), is one of the Information Commissioners in transparency watchdog Central Information Commission.

He said that In the months preceding the 26/11 attacks, US counterterror officials in their backchannel meetings with their Indian counterparts spoke at least four times about LeTs interest in places in Mumbai such as the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the Shiv Sena headquarters, but did not talk about any attack being planned. Sinha, who participated in these meetings, said he felt the Americans may have had more knowledge about the attacks.

Between May and September 2008, the US counterterror officials provided us four inputs where they said Lashkar has shown interest in Taj Hotel and other places in Mumbai. But they never went beyond bits and pieces of information. In hindsight, following the arrest of David Coleman Headley, I believe the US counterterror officials knew much more about the 26/11 plan as Headley was neck deep into it. But they didnt share full contours of the plan, Sinha said.

In my understanding, Headley was on the payroll of the US intelligence agencies. The Americans started using Headley after the 9/11 attacks when they felt they need people on the ground for gathering intelligence on the Pakistani terrorist groups to see whether any attack was being planned against them, Sinha said.

Sinha added that after September, the Americans shared more inputs with the Indian counter terror officials about an impending Lashkar attack on Mumbai which were probably based on technical intelligence they picked up in Pakistan and it talked about possibility of sea route being taken by them to reach Mumbai.

As a follow-up to what the Americans shared with the Indian counterterror officials between May and September, Sinha flew down to Mumbai and had a series of meetings with the Mumbai polices then Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare (who died in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks).

Karkare sat with security officials at Taj and also sensitised the local police. On his instructions, a police vehicle was placed near Taj too. But in the end all the measures turned out be inadequate when the terrorists reached Mumbai, said Sinha.

The US picked up Headley in October 2009 after he got involved with the al-Qaeda and started preparing an attack on the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. The paper courted controversy in 2005 after it published a series of cartoons considered offensive by some Muslims.

After Headleys arrest in the US, the Indian government sent Sinha to the US to get first-hand knowledge of the information gathered from him.
Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a barbarity, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the state departments Rewards for Justice (RFJ) programme offered a new reward for up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement, Pompeo said in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates, Pompeo said.

Some 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was handed down death sentence by an Indian court.

The US, Pompeo said, is committed to seeing that those responsible for the attack face justice. The RFJ programme is offering a new reward for up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack, Pompeo said. We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world, said the top American diplomat.
Police Monday arrested the accused in the 2002 Akshardham temple terror attack case, moments after he alighted from a flight in Ahmedabad.

Mohammed Farooq Shaikh was nabbed by the Crime Branch from Ahmedabad airport, soon after his arrival from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhagrithsinh Gohil told PTI.

Two armed terrorists had attacked the temple in Gandhinagar, killing 30 people and injuring eight on September 24, 2002. The attack followed the Godhra riots in the same year.

Shaikh lived in Juhapura before he fled to Riyadh in 2002 after the temple attack, the police official said, adding Shaikh had arranged funds for the attack.
M Nageswara Rao, the acting chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has ordered the closure of a case registered by the agency against nine Income Tax (I-T) officials and a Chennai-based chartered accountant in a move that could potentially come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court, which has asked him not to take any significant decisions.

Rao has denied the charge.

In June 2016, CBIs Chennai branch registered a case against nine I-T officials and three others, and conducted searches at 17 locations in several cities. Those named as accused included I-T officials of the rank of principal commissioner, commissioner and additional commissioner. They were accused of seeking favours  stays in five star hotels, conveyance in luxury cars and air tickets  from a Chennai-based chartered accountant in lieu of helping the latters clients.

The 2016 case was an offshoot of another case registered a year earlier against the same chartered accountant and a joint commissioner-level I-T official posted in Chennai.

During the course of investigation in the first case, the agency found evidence that suggested there were other IT officials too who took favours from the same chartered accountant and his sons. Therefore the second case was registered against nine IT officials in 2016, said a CBI official familiar with the case who asked not to be identified.

In March, CBIs Chennai branch, then headed by Rao, decided to close the case in absence of evidence and the CBI director Alok Verma as competent authority accorded approval to this, according to documents seen by Hindustan Times.

However, Verma subsequently seems to have changed his mind.

The CBI official cited above said Alok Verma visited Madurai on June 7 for the inauguration of a new CBI branch there. During the visit, he reviewed cases under the Chennai branch and orally issued instructions to reopen the case and conduct a fresh investigation.

This is borne out by the case file sent by Praveen Sinha, the additional director currently heading the Chennai branch of CBI, to the acting director on November 8. Sinhas file notings clearly mention the oral instructions of Verma in June, and seeks permission to go ahead. Hindustan Times has seen the file notings of Sinha.

It isnt known why a case file ordered to be reopened by the director in June did not move till November.

In response to Sinhas request, Rao cited his earlier decision taken on March 13 and ordered closure of the case.

In response to a detailed email from HT seeking response as to whether the decision taken by the acting director to bypass the oral instructions of Alok Verma was a violation of the Supreme Courts directions, the CBI spokesman said: After the investigation in the case, for want of evidence, it was decided on March 13, 2018, by director Alok Verma to close the case. Now the matter was brought before the interim director for re-investigation into the case. Had the interim director approved reopening of the investigation, it would have amounted to a policy decision which would be in violation of the directions of the honourable Supreme Court.

In October 23, CBIs director Verma and deputy Rakesh Asthana were both divested of their responsibilities after a bitter internecine war between them threatened to split the agency down the middle. Verma challenged his removal in the Supreme Court. At the time, the court said that Rao would not take any policy decisions.

When asked to clarify on the oral directions of Alok Verma in June to reopen the case, the spokesperson declined to add anything to his statement.
Election campaigning ends in Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram

Election campaigning ends in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram where voting for assembly elections will be conducted on November 28.

Employment biggest challenge: Rahul Gandhi

Employment is the biggest challenge in the country. You gave four-and-a half years to CM Vasundhara Raje and PM Modi, but they didnt fulfil their employment promises, if Congress comes to power, our CM will spend 18 hours out of 24 in order to provide employment to youth, says Rahul Gandhi at Jodhpur rally.

Demonetisation worst hit the small businessmen: Rahul

Small businessmen suffered the most due to demonetisation, none of those who had black money were seen in queues outside banks in 2016, said Rahul Gandhi in Jodhpur.

Small businesses of Jodhpur still facing the consequences of Demonetisation: Congress President @RahulGandhi #__ pic.twitter.com/WTlcJhMEE4  Congress (@INCIndia) November 26, 2018

After winning elections, BJP, PM Modi became arrogant: Rahul

After winning elections, BJP and PM Modi became arrogant. They believed that there was no need for them to listen to people anymore. This is why BJP will lose the upcoming elections, said Rahul Gandhi.

Rajasthan CM promised employment to 15 lakh youths, did she, asks Rahul

Your CM promised had promised employment to 15 lakh youth, did she fulfil those promises? College fee in Rajasthan has increased by 15 times, over 25000 schools have been closed, says Rahul Gandhi at Jodhpur rally.

PM Modis speeches break trust of the public: Rahul Gandhi

The public doesnt trust PM Modi. Whenever he gives speeches at rallies, he breaks the trust of people, Rahul Gandhi at Jodhpur.

People have completely lost faith in PM Modi. They have realised that whatever he says is a lie: Congress President @RahulGandhi #__  Congress (@INCIndia) November 26, 2018

PM says the country was sleeping till he came to power: Rahul

Rahul Gandhi addresses a public gathering in Jodhpur. This country is not run by one person or any political party, India has reached its current status because of its people. From the Red Fort, our PM says the country was sleeping till he came to power. With statements like this, he hurts the India public, he says.

Model code of conduct comes into effect in MP, Mizoram

Model code of conduct comes into effect in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram where elections will be held on November 28, reports news agency ANI.

Your vote has power to change country: PM Modi

Your vote has power to change country, it is the key to your dreams, PM Modi urges people of Rajasthan to come forward and vote on December 7.

Non-existent people got ration, pension during Congress govt: PM Modi

When madam ran the government with remote control, the girl that wasnt even born was widowed on government papers, given pensions. The family that didnt exist was given ration card; the kid that wasnt even born was given a scholarship in schools, said PM Modi in Rajasthan.

We launched Ayushman Bharat Yojana to ensure best medical treatment: PM

We have launched the Ayushman Bharat Yojana. This is ensuring best medical treatment and affordable healthcare facilities to the poor and the middle class, says PM Modi.

We put a check on corruption, saved nearly Rs 90,000 crore: PM Modi

When we came to power, we began investigations and put a check on corruption. Nearly Rs. 90,000 crore of money which earlier went into the pockets of the corrupt have been saved, says PM Modi.

PM Modi addresses rally in Rajasthans Kota

PM Modi is currently addressing a rally in Rajasthans Kota.

3 super highways Rs. 70,000 crore to be inaugurated in Rajasthan soon: PM

3 super highways will be inaugurated in Rajasthan very soon worth Rs. 70,000 crore, says PM Modi in Rajasthan.

Congress wants to unite the nation: Rahul

Congress wants to unite the nation, whereas the BJP wants to divide it, says Rahul Gandhi.

Now the slogan is chowkidaar chor hai: Rahul

Earlier the slogan was achche din aayenge. Now it is chowkidaar chor hai, Rahul Gandhi speaks in Jalore, Rajasthan.

These days the PM doesnt speak about any of his promises: Rahul

Earlier, Modi ji used to talk about two crore jobs, a fair MSP for farmers, he used to talk against corruption. But these days he does not utter a single word about any of these promises and issues, says Rahul.

Modi ji says India was a sleeping giant before he became the PM: Rahul

Modi ji says India was a sleeping giant before he became Prime Minister. This is an insult to all the Indians who have built this nation, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress has done divisive politics: Yogi

Congress has done divisive politics. As a result of that, terrorism was at its peak in the country. Today you can see that the terrorists which were fed Biryani by Congress are now being fed bullets by us: UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Makrana, Rajasthan, reports news agency ANI.

We will provide free medicines: Rahul

We will open good schools and colleges. Most hospitals are private. We will spend your money in govt hospitals. We will provide free medicines.

Loan waiver in 10 days: Rahul

Loan waiver in 10 days. Our CM will spend 18 hours a day to provide jobs for youth. We will provide bank loan to youth and ask them to provide employment to others. Mines given to people without auction. Gaurav yatra with peoples money. We had given free medicines to people during our rule: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul in Pokhran

Congress president Rahul Gandhi addresses public rally in Pokhran, Rajasthan.

Time to drive out casteist Congress from politics: Modi

Their leaders are asking what is Modis caste? Congress is obsessed with caste. Time to drive out such casteist people from politics. There were so many good leaders in Congress, but they were sidelined. They could not think beyond the family. Dungarpur and Banswara performed well in Swachh ranking: Modi

Farmers would have benefitted if Sardar Patel was PM: Modi

Farmers would have benefitted if Sardar Patel was PM. Some people talking about farmers all day do not even know the difference between various crops: Modi

1,25,00,000 houses already constructed: Modi

1,25,00,000 houses made, keys given, they celebrated Diwali also. Seven lakh homes in Rajasthan, one lakh in Banswara.Your vote will bring BJP to power, and poor will be benefitted: Modi

125 mobile manufacturing companies in India now: Modi

By 2022, every family will have a house. Not only walls, but water, electricity and gas connections as well. Does the Congress manifesto mention Made in Dungarpur mobile phones? Naamdaar doesnt know what is NCC or Kailash Mansarovar. When Congress was in power, there were only four mobile manufacturing companies in India. Now there are 125: Modi

Cong was not bothered about development: Modi

Our aim is clear  education, employment, irrigation and health for all. In the last five years, the Vasundhara Raje govt tried to save every drop of water. Four generations of one family ruled for 65 years. What have they done: Modi

Cong never bothered about tribals: Modi

Congress never bothered about tribals. After Atal Bihari Vajpayee became PM, he made a separate tribal ministry, minister and budget. Only after this, Congress started speaking about tribals. But the speed at which tribals should have seen development was not seen: Modi

Cong does not respect tribal heroes: Modi

Crowd today is double than what I witnessed during campaigning in 2013-14. I will pay back the love with development. Congress wanted to eliminate the history of Govind Guru who led tribals in the freedom struggle. We constructed a statue and now a fair is organised every year: Modi

PM starts speaking in Beneshwar dham

Prime Minister Narendra Modi starts speaking in Beneshwar dham in Rajasthans Banswara.

Why doesnt Modi speak about himself: Kamal Nath

Why is Modi ji so concerned about Rahul Gandhi? Why doesnt he speak about himself? Why doesnt he speak about the youth, farmers, unemployment or suicides: Kamal Nath tells ANI.

Crowd greets Rahul in Pushkar

An enthusiastic crowd greets Congress President @RahulGandhi just outside the Bramha temple in Pushkar. pic.twitter.com/nI8tRtvmKp  Congress (@INCIndia) November 26, 2018

36,000-km new roads in last four years: Modi

36,000-km new roads in last four years. Three new expressways worth Rs 70,000 crore. We are improving rail connectivity. Goods trains will move at 75km/hr. Rs 14 crore loan given without guarantee under Mudra, 50 lakh people benefitted. People started small businesses, they are now employing other people too: Modi

90% households have gas connections now: Modi

Only 55% people had gas connections. In four years, it went up to 90%. Naamdaar was born with a golden spoon. Modi was not. When you cook in chulha, it is unhealthy for the family. I felt for the poor: Modi

PM reiterates developmental promises

Their four generations and chaiwalas four years. They should be asked, not even 40% households in rural areas had toilets in 65 years. In four years, it went up to 95%. Only 50% people had bank accounts. In four years, every Indian has a bank account: Modi

Oppn have run out of issues: Modi

One opposition leader asking what is Modis caste? Another asks who is Modis father? They have run out of election issues. They never speak of roads, water or education. No one questioned their family so far. But I am not scared: Modi

Congress is spreading the poison of casteism: Modi

Opposition asking what is Modis caste? When an Indian PM meets the US President , does he ask about his caste? The Indian PM represents the country. Congress is spreading the poison of casteism: Modi

Day of pride for backward classes: Modi

Today is also Constitution Day. This is the day of pride for Dalits and backward classes and those who believe in equality: Modi

Those who kill innocents, are they revolutionaries: Modi

Another problem is Maoism. Those who kill innocents, are they revolutionaries? They hand over weapons to kids when they should be going to school. They threatened to cut off fingers of those who vote in Bastar. But people came out in large numbers: Modi

Do jawans carry camera when they go on mission: Modi

On the other hand, when army conducted surgical strikes, they demanded proof. Do jawans carry camera when they go on mission? Earlier terror attacks were frequent. Now it is impossible for them to step out of Kashmir: Modi

26/11 happened when both Centre and Maharashtra were ruled by Cong: Modi

26/11 attacks happened when both Centre and Maharashtra were ruled by Congress. Its 10 years since the attack. At that time, election campaigning was going on in Rajasthan. Then they said terror attacks should not be politicised.

PM Modi starts speaking in Bhilwara

Prime Minister Narendra Modi starts addressing a public meeting in Rajasthans Bhilwara.

More visuals of Rahul offering puja

Rajasthan: Congress President Rahul Gandhi offers prayers at Brahma Temple and on the banks of Brahma Sarovar in Pushkar. pic.twitter.com/M8xUlRfDhg  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

Rahul offers puja at Pushkars Brahma temple

Gehlot, Pilot accompany Rahul at dargah

Congress President @RahulGandhi, former CM @ashokgehlot51 and Rajasthan PCC Chief @SachinPilot pay their respects at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. pic.twitter.com/vzThdZsiPm  Congress (@INCIndia) November 26, 2018

Amit Shah in MP today

BJP president Amit Shah to address a public meeting at Kukshi in Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh, and later conduct a road show in Indore.

Visuals of Rahul Gandhi at Ajmer Sharif dargah

Rahul to address 3 meetings in Rajasthan

Rahul Gandhi will visit the Brahma temple at Pushkar, and later address three public meetings at Pokhran, Jalore and Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

PM Modi to address 3 rallies in Rajasthan today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address three public meetings in Bhilwara, Beneshwar dham and Kota in Rajasthan today.

Rahul Gandhi at Ajmer dargah

Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrives at Ajmer Sharif dargah in Rajasthan.

Rajasthan: Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives at Ajmer Sharif Dargah pic.twitter.com/qUbl6BBbQO  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018
The arrested trio identified as, Tahir Ali Khan (23), Haris Mushtaq Khan (24) and Asif Suhail Nadaf (22).

Three grenades and two pistols along with 14 live cartridges and an ISIS black flag were recovered from them.

New Delhi: In a major breakthrough, the sleuths of special cell of Delhi police has arrested three terrorists associated with Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) which is a module following the footsteps of ISIS.

Three grenades and two pistols along with 14 live cartridges and an ISIS black flag were recovered from them.

ISJK is a ISIS-inspired module through which the accused were trying to establish their footprints in Delhi and were planning to contact people in Delhi so that they can operate from the national capital. Further, the handlers of the module is said to be operating from Pakistan.

The arrested trio identified as, Tahir Ali Khan (23), Haris Mushtaq Khan (24) and Asif Suhail Nadaf (22).

Haris was an Arts graduate of 2013 to 2016 batch and was pursuing MA International Studies at Jamia Milia Islamic University, Delhi and left studies to join the militancy in the end of year 2017.

Adil Thokar is the current leader of the module and efforst are being made to arrest him.

Police said the trio were arrested on Saturday from Srinagar in a joint operation with Kashmir police and were wanted in several cases including, Grenade attack at CRPF personnel wherein three security personnel were injured in Anantnag and for killing a sub-inspector of Kashmir Police.

They even killed a civilian in September this year who they believed to be a police informer, police added.

DCP (Special Cell) PS Kushwah said, the militants tried to lob a grenade at the police party in the heart of Srinagar near Tourism Reception Center but were apprehended before they could detonate the grenade.

In this operation one underground hideout frequented by ISIS inspired module members was also busted at the sprawling Apple orchard in Awantipora by Army after an overnight operation. Further over half a dozen of over ground worker (OGW) were also detained.

The police said, there are almost a dozen terrorists working in this module out of which many are either killed or arrested. It is also speculated that Ehtesham Bilal, a missing student of Sharda University, Noida, was also affiliated with this module. The special cell in September arrested two militant of ISIS-inspired module of Jammu and Kashmir near Red Fort.
In a sign of better economic activities among grassroot-level rural women, loans taken by them under a governments flagship programme has reached the lowest ever non-performing assets (NPAs). The lowest rate of bad loans has come amid higher loan amount.

The Centres flagship National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) aims to help the rural poor to increase their household income and giving them better access to financial services.

The latest data available with the ministry shows that till March 2013, the NPA in women-run self-help groups (SHGs) was 7.08% against an outstanding loan amount of Rs 39.3 crore.

As on September 2018, the NPA reduced to 2.7% even as the outstanding loan amount has gone up to Rs 73,191 crore under the revamped Deendayal Antodaya Yojna (DAY NRLM).

Officials at the rural development ministry also point out that between 2000 and 2013, a total of ~1.04 lakh crore was lent to women-run self-help groups. But during the last 5 years, banks have given ~1.88 lakh crores credit to these groups.

The NRLM is widely seen as a key to Prime Minister Narendra Modis plan to double the farmers income. The BJP-led government had repeatedly promised to double farmers income by 2022. It is also an issue of major political slugfest as Opposition leaders have often quoted data to show the farmers are not getting their remunerative prices for most of their products. They have also blamed demonetisation for ruining the farmers prospects.

The NRLM helps the women members of a family to create sources for additional income from alternative sources.

In case of drought or flood affecting the farm income, the family can also fall back on income from these sources to smoothen their consumption, minimise shocks and vulnerabilities, pointed out an official.

Rural development secretary Amarjeet Sinha claims that some key interventions like repositioning SHGs as a preferred vehicle for banks, setting standard protocols on identification of eligible SHGs and estimation of credit requirements and helping people to chose viable projects have led to these changes.

The social capital has led to a diverse and robust economic activity, added Sinha.

Abhirup Sarkar, professor of economics in Indian Statistical Institute said, Decrease in NPA is an important aspect to judge the success of SHGs but it is certainly not the only aspect. This achievement is not entirely surprising because Bandhan Bank, that works only on minor credit has less than 1% NPA rate.
Political barbs flew between the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor project on Monday while Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh issued a warning to Pakistans army chief Qamar Bajwa.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu pressed a button to lay the digital foundation stone of the project on the Indian side that will link Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur with the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. The physical foundation stone was removed after jails minister and local MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa objected to the names of Akali leaders  former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union minister Harsimrat Badal  on the plaque. Randhawa covered his and the CMs names with a black tape to avoid sharing space with Akali leaders.

Amarinder took the opportunity to warn Bajwa not to vitiate peace in Punjab. I would like to ask Pakistan army chief Qamar Bajwa something, as a soldier...

Which army teaches to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the other side? Which army teaches to send people to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is cowardice. I am warning you (Bajwa), we are also Punjabis, you will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere, he said at the event.

A controversy erupted over a hug Bajwa shared with Amarinders Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu during the latters recent visit to Pakistan at its new Prime Minister Imran Khans swearing-in ceremony. Sidhu skipped Mondays event. The minister, who was campaigning for the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, flew back and visited the darshan sthal in Dera Baba Nanak for a glimpse of the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan through binoculars installed for the purpose.

Before the event began, a livid Randhawa lashed out at National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officials, who had made arrangements for the ceremony, for carving the names of the three Badals on the foundation stone. He first threatened to boycott the event, alleging violation of protocol, and then taped over the names of Amarinder Singh, PWD minister Vijay Inder Singla and his own on the plaque.

I cannot see my name and those of my ministerial colleagues along with the Badals. They (Badals) have no contribution in getting the corridor project cleared, he said. Taken aback, NHAI officials replaced the foundation stone with a digital one that carried the names of Naidu, Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore, Amarinder and Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari.

More sparks flew when Harsimrat Kaur, in her speech, took potshots at Congress leaders over the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre, triggering sloganeering.

Jakhar got even while proposing the vote of thanks, raising the issue of drug abuse in the state that was allegedly rampant during Akali-Bharatiya Janata Party rule. Harsimrat objected and had to be calmed down by her ministerial colleagues and Gadkari.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who has declined an invite to travel to Pakistan for a Kartarpur corridor event across the border, on Monday criticised Pakistan for terror attacks in India and delivered a sharp warning to Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa as well.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor, Amarinder Singh condemned the recent grenade attack at a Nirankari samagam in the Rajasansi area of Amritsar.

A preliminary enquiry had found that the grenades used in the attack had been manufactured in Pakistan.

Amarinder Singh used the opportunity to warn Pakistan Army chief Qamar Bajwa to not vitiate the atmosphere.

I would like to ask Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa something, as a soldier. Which Army teaches to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the other side? Which Army teaches to send people to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is cowardice. I am warning you (Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Bajwa), we are also Punjabis, you will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh

Pakistan should be ashamed of the bloodshed at their hands. I condemn killing of innocents by Pakistan, Amarinder Singh said.

Three people had died and 20 people had been injured in the Amritsar grenade attack that took place last Sunday.

Amarinder said that it is common knowledge that it is the Army that calls the shots in Pakistan. We believe in peace and we are giving a message of peace from here. But, their generals should understand that we have a large Army and we are prepared... And this should not happen as nobody wants war. We all want to carry out development in a peaceful manner, he said.

Earlier, vice president M Venkaiah Naidu and Singh laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22. Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistans Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the banks of the Ravi river, about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.

(with PTI inputs)
Former joint director of Central Bureau of Investigation V V Lakshminarayana, who took voluntary retirement this March, announced his entry into politics on Monday.

The 53-year old Andhra IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre joined Lok Satta, a political party founded by retired IAS officer and former legislator Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, at a meeting held at Indira Priyadarshini auditorium in Hyderabad.

Lakshminarayana will be reviving the party that had gone defunct four years ago after Jayaprakash Narayan wound it up as a political force and has been running it as a social organisation. He declared that the party would contest the next assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Lakshminarayana made it to the headlines while investigating several high profile cases, including the infamous Satyam Computers accounting fraud involving its chairman B Ramalinga Raju, Obulapuram iron ore mining scam involving former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy, Emaar-MGF scam in Hyderabad and most importantly the quid pro quo case involving YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

Ever since he took the voluntary retirement, Lakshminarayana has been indicating that he would enter politics to serve the people. He said he had received an invitation from Aam Admi Party and another national party but had not taken any decision.

He hinted that he might float a new political party but finally chose to join Lok Satta which he said was closer to his heart and was working for rural development and local self-governance.

Also Read: YSR Congs Jaganmohan Reddy attacked at Vizag airport by man who offered coffee

Chandrababu Naidus 3-yr-old grandson is richer by Rs 16 crore
After his journey from the separatist camp to mainstream politics, the chairman of the Jammu & Kahmir Peoples Conference, Sajad Lone, is emerging as a third force in the Valleys political landscape. Lone, who got a cabinet berth in the Peoples Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party (PDP-BJP) coalition government from the BJPs quota, spoke to Mir Ehsan about staking claim to form the government, the joint bid for power by the PDP, National Conference and Congress, and the impression that he is the BJPs man in Kashmir. Edited excerpts:

Is your party ready for assembly elections now that the House has been dissolved?

Yes, we are ready for elections. As a party, we were always ready for elections.

You claimed that 18 legislators were with you while staking a claim to form the government. Since they are all ex-legislators now, will they join your party?

The process has already started with the joining of Imran Ansari. You will see with every passing day, many people will be joining us. Our party is going to be a blend of youth, experience and influential people on the ground so that were able to give a proper alternative and a distinctive alternative  not a repetitive alternative; something new.

Will you contest elections as the Peoples Conference or as part of a third front?

There is no third front, its a third party. Whosoever will come, he will join the Peoples Conference.

You claim to be fighting against the Abdullah and Mufti dynasties. Omar is a third-generation leader, Mehbooba is second generation. Arent you, too, from a political dynasty founded by your father Abdul Ghani Lone?

I feel humiliated when somebody calls me a dynast. It belittles not only my political struggle but my struggle to stay alive. The day my father died, the next day I found out from sources I have been named as chairman of the JK Peoples Conference.

I pray that no son ever is ordained into politics in the manner that I was.

My father didnt die of natural causes. He was killed, he wanted to live but he was killed, and the patrons of the killers still didnt want me there.

They put all the pressure they could to ensure that I didnt join. I took up the challenge, and since then it has been a struggle all through. Its a fact that though my father was killed, it didnt move the government, which was led at the time by Dr Farooq Abdullah, to give me security to go to the funeral.His own government representatives came and told me not to go there as we have reports that you might be killed too. They (government) gave me that news, but at the same time, said you will not get security to go there. What I have seen in past 15 years  out of which seven-eight years my father was in jail, I was in jail, I was interrogated, I have seen third-degree torture. Let God give them this sort of dynasty. I have been humiliated. They were calling me a joker, a loser, and a loner.

Are you worried that the NC and the PDP have joined hands to stop you?

Look what they doing on Twitter for last many days. Miss Mehbooba Mufti tweets sarcastically, without naming, a joke about me; Mr Omar Abdullah retweets. They are acting like kids and I enjoy this humiliation that they feel they are doing. It is good for me and I enjoy proving all of them wrong. I almost got the numbers. They were always making fun of me for the last seven-eight years. When I was not in the mainstream, they used to say he is very close to Indian agencies. When I joined the mainstream, they rushed to their patrons in Delhi and said he is very close (to people) across the border. I have gone through this grind. My fathers party wasnt as big during his time. It was never as big as it has become big today.

The Peoples Conference has a support base limited only to Handwara. How does that square with your ambition to be a state-level leader?

There are so many new people who are coming with us. What base did the Mufti family have when they started the PDP, or what base did the National Conference have in 1996? They were totally obliterated from the ground. In 1996, they gave them the election on the platter; 2002 was a semi-platter - it was not totally free and fair, as they would want us to believe.

Why is this tendency that even if whole world joins me, you say that you are confined to a particular area? Imran Ansari left the Peoples Democratic Party and joined us. It was because of him that the PDP was strong in many areas. It was because of Muzuffar Hussain Baig that they had something in Baramulla.

People who know that the Peoples Conference is a rising party will join us. We are also going for a mass recruitment drive.

Do you think winning the mayoral election in Srinagar had some impact on Kashmir politics?

The mayoral election was totally a Peoples Conference exercise. There were four Bharatiya Janata Party candidates who supported us, for which I am thankful.

The way they (NC-PDP) portrayed it, they had boycotted it, and there was the Congress.

It was a poor mans election about day-to-day sanitation needs, day-to-day cleanliness needs. They made it secular versus communal, as if we were some great communalists out to finish off secularists.

It was one of the causes of panic, and certainly a trigger that forced the two dynasties to get together.

The two dynasties for last three decades have called each other the devil and accused each other of the worst crimes that anyone can possibly dream of. They got together to keep the third force away. Though they say they came together for the sanctity of Article 370, but all erosions came during the Congress and their time. This Congress is now the protector. This NC, which has been a party to erosions, or Mufti sahib while he was in the Congress was party to erosions, are now the new protectors. This politics of deceit has to go. I promise I will speak the truth  what I say in Delhi, I will say in Srinagar also. The pressing need is to tell the truth to our people, not to sell unattainable dreams. Not to make people delusional and drown in delusion, but to have attainable dreams.

The NC, Congress and PDP blamed you and the BJP for horse-trading of legislators. Is this true?

I have never been in power. It needs tons of money for horse-trading. Normally, money is associated with parties that are in power. I have been in a state of struggle for 16 years. Before that, my father was in a state of struggle. I have my own personal savings  I cant gather money for horse-trading. If something pertains to money, it lies with two dynasties of the state.

Do you think governor Satya Pal Malik acted in haste by dissolving the assembly?

I think he should have given me a chance. We have accepted the decision but the PDP, NC and Congress seem to be angry. I invite them go to court, and if they go to court at least it will prove our numbers.

How sure are you of your acceptability in Hindu-majority Jammu, considering your separatist background?

In politics, everybody is not going to be with you.

There is a certain class to which I appeal, who inspire me and I am able to inspire them. They will come and vote for us. Whether I am acceptable to a certain region, time will tell depending upon number of seats we get.

What is your stand on article 35A and Article 370?

Both are non-negotiable and sacred for us. My father was assaulted on the premises of the assembly as a lawmaker by NC assembly members for raising questions pertaining to the special status of the state. And today we have to hear dictation and sermon from them.

You are seen as the BJPs man in Kashmir? Isnt that a liability considering the negative reaction the party evokes in the Valley?

If something sticks to me because of the BJP, more than me it sticks to Omar Abdullah who they made the poster boy of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) regime as the first Kashmiri party to ally with them. More than me, it sticks to Mehbooba Mufti, who was chief minister in coalition with the BJP. I will go to the people and tell them what we mean. Whenever we have a tie-up with them, or had any truck with them, it was on matters pertaining to development. I was a small minister in that cabinet.

How will be your party different from National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party?

If we come to power, we will handle governance differently. There is excessive centralisation of power, ignorance, outdated laws, and an ancient financial code. We will make structural interventions all through. On an ideological front, I will promise we will not be party to any erosion, what is already lost I cant promise. I will not sign any erosion.

As far as violence is concerned, it is a very long, long battle. There are no short-term solutions and ultimate stability is a function of many factors, several of which are outside our hands.

The size of the assembly is much smaller than the contours of the problem. I am not going to come and say, give me vote for the assembly, and I will resolve it. My pitch will be based on based on truth and based on development.
The process to select 110 fighters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) will draw upon the field evaluation results of the now-cancelled Medium Muti-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) purchase deal to shorten and hasten the process, senior officials in the ministry of defence who arent authorised to speak to the media said.

In 2015, the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre scrapped the US$ 20 billion (approx INR 140 billion) MMRCA project. Instead, it opted to buy 36 Rafale aircraft from French defence manufacturing giant Dassault through a government-to-government contract with France. The ~58,000 crore deal has triggered a major political controversy, with the Opposition alleging corruption and wrongdoing in the purchase of the aircraft which the government has vehemently denied.

Strapped with an ageing and depleting fighter fleet, IAF had floated a Request for Information (RFI)  a global tender  to buy 110 fighters. Of the 110 jets, around 85% will have to be built in India under the Make in India programme in partnership with an Indian manufacturer under the Strategic Partnership (SP) route.

What was tested earlier and proved will not be put to test again, the officer said. When we evaluate fighters now, only new additions, systems of the aircraft, and modifications made to the aircraft, if any, will be put to test. We have decided not to go through the entire process again. This will substantially cut down the time, the first defence ministry officer said.

What may come as a relief to IAF is that all six global manufacturers who have responded to the RFI  Lockheed Martin F-16 and SAAB Gripen with single-engine fighters, and Boeing F-18, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and United Aircraft Corporation MiG-35 with twin-engine fighters  were also contenders for the previous MMRCA deal.

The air force is now in the process of finalising the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQR)  a list of must-have capabilities and parameters  for the aircraft. We are ensuring that ASQR takes into account the disruptive and transformative technologies that are likely to be a reality in the coming decades. The ASQR will be complete in the next few weeks, a second official involved in the acquisition process said.

We hope to get a nod from the ministry (of defence) by March 2019, the officer added.

With a new government expected to be sworn in next May, the IAF is keen to complete as much of the process as possible before that.

We hope to start the process of field evaluation by next June and complete it as early as possible, so that commercial negotiation can start, the second officer said.

Commercial negotiations are precurser to signing a contract.

The IAF spokesperson was not available for comment. Experts and former IAF test pilots who were involved in the acquisition of aircraft, however, said using previous test results is practical but advised caution at the same time.

It is not necessary to test proven points in the QSR again; all previous points on which a platform was found to be non-complaint should be checked, Air Marshal RK Sharma (retd), former Vice Chief of IAF and test pilot, said.

Importantly, when checking fresh add-ons, modifications to a platform the IAF must ensure is that they check all parameters that the modification will affect, he said

The process that follows the selection of the aircraft like commercial negotiations, etc, should also be completed quickly, he said.
China and India made some constructive, operable and forward looking suggestions during the just concluded 21st round of border talks to move forward to achieve an early solution to the dispute and to maintain peace and tranquillity at the borders, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi - the designated Special Representatives (SRs) of the two countries - held the border talks at Dujiangyan near Chengdu in southwestern Sichuan province on November 24.

Official statements, issued by both sides at the end of talks last Saturday, spoke of advancing the dialogue process to find a solution the border issue.

A statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Beijing said both sides resolved to intensify their efforts to achieve a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the vexed boundary question at an early date.

A Chinese foreign ministry statement also said both sides will continue to advance the negotiation process of the special representatives mechanism; strive for an early settlement of the boundary question.

Elaborating on the outcome of the talks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here on Monday that some concrete suggestions have been made at the talks for expediting the solution.

I want to highlight that the two sides on the issue of moving forward the border negotiations and on ensuring peace and stability and border cooperation, made some constructive, operable and forward looking suggestions. It can be said that in many areas the two sides share the common understanding, Geng said.

The two sides agreed to authorise the bilateral Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination for Border Affairs, which periodically meets to deal with issues arising between the two militaries along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to hold early harvest consultations to work agreements, he said.

The India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long LAC. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet. This was the first round of talks for Wang, who is also the foreign minister, after he succeeded State Councillor Yang Jiechi earlier this year. Wang has become the state councillor, a rank higher than the foreign minister in the Chinese governments hierarchy.

Geng said the meeting was held in a very good atmosphere. The two sides had a good talk. The two sides reached many forward looking, operable and workable conclusions. Replying to a question on plans by both sides to intensify efforts to find a solution to the border dispute, Geng said, I want to emphasise that after the Wuhan summit between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the bilateral relations have made very positive progress and reached a new stage of development. Under the current international circumstances, the strategic importance of bilateral relations is more prominent. So the two sides will follow the guidance of the two state leaders enhance strategic communication and political mutual trust, he said.

Also the two sides will work together to ensure peace and tranquillity of the border areas and move forward the settlement process of the border question, he said.

The last round of talks, held in New Delhi between Doval and Yang, took place in the backdrop of the 73-day standoff between the two militaries at Doklam over Chinese armys plan to build a road close to Indias strategic Chickens Neck corridor connecting the north-eastern states.

The standoff ended after the Peoples Liberation Army halted the plans to build the road.
Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid on Monday said that Male will retain two Indian military helicopters, which were gifted to the Maldives in 2013.

Earlier this year, former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen decided to send back the helicopters to India after relations between the two South Asian neighbours nosedived over Yameen declaring an emergency in the island nation.

Helicopters are so generously donated by India to the Maldivian government. They are being used for humanitarian purposes. Several ill people have been airlifted to Male hospital. We have seen this in the past several years that a total of 164 have been airlifted. It is also being used for sea and air rescue. We are grateful to India for providing these. We will continue to engage with India for all our needs and requirements, said Shahid, the new foreign minister of Maldives in an exclusive interview with ANI.

India-Maldives relations were strained recently due to former President Abdulla Yameens dictatorial behaviour, his growing proximity with China and Pakistan and human rights violations in his own country.

He crushed dissent, jailed several people including top judges and opposition leaders and declared a state of emergency in February, worsening the political turmoil in the country.

The country with 26 coral atolls and 1,192 islands went to polls in September to decide if Yameen will win a second five-year term. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the presidential election, defeating Yameen in what was seen as a referendum on democracy.

Shahids visit assumes significance for India, following the swearing-in of President Ibrahim Solih at a ceremony in Male on November 17, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This is the first high-level visit from the Maldives after the new government took office.

India is our best friend. India has been there for us at all hours of need be it in 1988 when there was a terrorist attack or be it the Tsunami when the entire country was inundated. Your naval ships streamed off in the Indian Ocean and the same time in Maldives archipelago. In the recent past, we had a water crisis in Male. It was India, who airlifted required water for us, Shahid told ANI.

During Prime Minister Modis day-long visit to the Maldives, Solih briefed the Indian leader about Maldives fragile economic situation. The two leaders discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives.

Both the leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each others concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. They also expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Things have started to change. We saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the swearing-in ceremony of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as new President in which people of Maldives received Prime Minister Modi. This is clear evidence that he is most welcome and the manner in which first official meeting took place immediately after the inauguration, the warmth, sincerity and conducive environment in which they discussed substantial issues was a clear signal that new era of Maldives-India relation has begun, Shahid added.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
A video of inmates drinking and making an extortion call inside the district jail in Uttar Pradeshs Raebareli is being widely shared on social media, prompting authorities to suspends six prison officials.

The viral video shows shooters Sohrab and Anshu Dixit partying inside their barrack along with four others and using a mobile phone to demand money from a trader.

In the video, Dixit is heard asking the person over the phone to provide Rs 10,000 to the jailer at his residence and Rs 5,000 to deputy jailer. He also asks the man to deliver liquor and other things inside the jail. Few bullets are seen lying on Dixits bed.

Principal secretary (home and prisons) Arvind Kumar said senior superintendent of Raebareli district jail Pramod Kumar Mishra, jailer Govind Ram Mishra, deputy jailer Ram Chandra Tewari, head warder Lalta Prasad Pandey and two warders Ganga Ram and Shiv Mangal Singh were suspended on Monday.

A departmental inquiry has also been initiated against all the officers over their alleged negligence in allowing mobile phones, liquor, cigarettes, other eatables and objectionable items inside the jail, Kumar said.

Additional director general (prison) Chandra Prakash said deputy inspector general (prison headquarters) Umesh Srivastava has been ordered to inquire into the matter and recommended further action against the alleged jail officials. He said Srivastava has reached Raebareli on Monday morning.

Prakash said the initial inquiry suggested the video was prepared by the jail inmates before November 2 and intentionally made viral on social media. He said the four jail inmates visible in the video have already been transferred to different jails on November 19.

He said Dixit has been shifted to Pratapgarh jail, Nikhil Sonker to Sultanpur jail, Ajit Chaubey to Barabanki jail and Shringar Singh to Fatehpur jail. He said two other jail inmates Sohrab and Sandeep Singh were shifted to Delhis Tihar jail and Sultanpur jail respectively following their court dates around a week before the viral video surfaced.

Jail officials had searched the barracks on November 21 during which four mobile phones were recovered from inmates featuring in the video. The jail superintendent had also lodged a first information report against the inmates and other unidentified people for violating jail norms and smuggling banned objects inside the jail.

The Raebareli district magistrate and superintendent of police had carried out a separate search on November 25 during which several contrabands like cigarettes, lighter, sweets and dry fruits were recovered from different barracks.

The state prisons administration and reform services department said earlier it had increased the security in jails and curbed the nexus between criminal and prison personnel after gangster Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi was killed inside Baghpat district jail on July 9 earlier this year.

Bajrangis murder had exposed security lapses inside jails and the influence of another gangster Sunil Rathi inside the Baghpat jail on local jail administration as well as its inmates. Rathi, who was also lodged at Baghpat jail, had allegedly shot dead Bajrangi after smuggling a pistol and multiple cartridges inside the jail.
Struggling for the last four decades to secure release of her husband who is one of the 54 prisoners of war (POW) lodged in different Pakistani jails since 1971 war, Nirmal Kour sees a fresh ray of hope.

With India and Pakistan agreeing to open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor aimed at facilitating easy passage of Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib across the border, Kour, wife of Subedar Assa Singh, says she is hopeful that it will help bring a thaw in ties and the two countries will look into the issue of PoWs to ensure their early return.

My children are waiting for their father for the last 47 years. Nothing could be a better confidence building measure than this (ensuring return of PoW), she said, while making an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for securing the release of the prisoners.

We are hopeful that Kartarpur corridor will bring the two countries nearer and our miseries will be put to an end by seeking the whereabouts of the prisoners and ensuring their early return to their families, she told reporters at her Nanak Nagar residence here. Kour said she along with other families of PoWs went to Pakistan in 2008 to look for them after meeting the then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, but returned disappointed as we were not allowed to visit all prisons.

We are hopeful that our prayers will get answered soon . We expect India and Pakistan to make a sincere effort and ensure the return of the POWs, she said. Kour said, in the absence of any help, she faced a lot of hardships while raising her five daughters and two sons and worked as a domestic help to meet their requirements. She said that Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu had helped them in the past and said, We are hopeful that he will raise our issue with Pakistan Premier Imran Khan to end our miseries. Singhs children said the family had not lost hope despite the long ordeal. I want to see my father and that is my wish. I am sure my wish will get fulfilled, said one of his daughters.

Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor. The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22. Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistans Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there.
Fadnavis also said that the Shiv Sena would remain in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party during the coming general elections.

Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that the Ram Temple issue is not a political one but a matter of faith and emotions for every Hindu. He also expressed hopes that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who visited Ayodhya recently, would get blessings of Lord Ram.

Mr Fadnavis also said that the Shiv Sena would remain in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party during the coming general elections.

The construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is not a political issue. Shri Ram is the deity of all of India. Mr Thackeray will get his blessings too, Mr Fadnavis told reporters at Karad in Maharasht-ras Satara district. Mr Fadnavis was reacting to Mr Thackerays demands that the government declare the date of construction of the Ram Temple and introduce an ordinance for it immediately.

Mr Fadnavis was speaking after paying tribute at the memorial of the late Y.B. Chavan, the states first chief minister. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar also paid tribute to Chavan in Karad along with senior leaders of the party from the region.

Meanwhile, Mahara-shtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Raosaheb Danve said the Shiv Senas stand on the construction of Ram temple supports the BJP and asserted that both the parties will jointly contest the next years state and general polls.

It is not like the Sena has backed the Bhar-atiya Janata Party recently; we have been together for decades, Mr Danve told mediapersons in Jalna, his home district.

Maharashtra BJP chief added, The dispute related to the temple or mosque is in the court. Hence, despite being in power there are limitations to what a government can do.
Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu Monday hailed the foundation stone laying of the Kartarpur corridor as the beginning of a new chapter in India-Pakistan ties and said it will act as a unifier to build bridges across old chasms.

This corridor will be a bridge between the two peoples who have so much in common, Naidu said in his address at the foundation stone-laying ceremony here.

This is a corridor that opens new doors. It is a path that opens up new possibilities. It is a unifier, building bridges across old chasms. It promotes deeper understanding and a new resolve to connect the people of our two countries through love, empathy and invisible threads of common spiritual heritage, Naidu said.

Underlining that it was the Indian government which urged the Government of Pakistan to develop the corridor, he said Indians are happy that Pakistan has accepted their long-pending demand.

This momentous, historic occasion has been made possible by the Government of Indias decision to build this corridor from Dera Baba Nanak to the International Corridor on our side, he said.

He said the demand to set up a corridor had been discussed for nearly two decades now, which is getting fulfilled today.

It is a day like no other. It is a truly path breaking, potentially transformative moment, Naidu said. It promises to be, in many ways, the beginning of a new chapter in our efforts to bring two family members even closer. This is a corridor to the shrine of peace, harmony and humanism, to the universal vision of a world as one family, to the sublime ideal of service to humanity, he added.

He, however, added that some people make terrorism their policy.

India never attacked any country. We want good relations with our neighbours. It was unfortunate that some people make terrorism their policy. We cannot tolerate terrorism and killing of innocent people on our soil, Naidu asserted.

He said India has always believed that peace was an inexorable pre-requisite for progress and but we have mutual respect.

The vice president called for a stronger focus on the five Ps that underpin the global agenda for sustainable development  People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.

During his speech, Naidu invoked the first guru of Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev, many times, and said the two countries will have to create a history that will make them and the entire world a more peaceful place.
After sitting over the sexual harassment complaint of a young woman leader for more than four months, the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Monday suspended legislator from Shoranur PK Sasi from the party for six months.

The lawmaker said the party has power to punish him and he will remain a loyal worker

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DFYI), the party youth wing, leader had filed a complaint with the party six months ago accusing him of making sexual advances. When the state leadership ignored her internal complaint, she later approached party general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

Later, the party constituted a two-member internal panel headed by state law minister AK Balan and PK Sreemathi MP to look into her complaint. The legislator had denied the allegations, claiming he was made a scapegoat in the raging faction feud in the party.

The National Commission for Women had also taken up the complaint on its own but the young woman leader refused to cooperate with the national commission headquartered in Delhi.

In her complaint, the woman leader said she was offered a hefty amount to settle the complaint and when she refused, a hate campaign was unleashed against her. She also said she could not enter the party office in Mannarkkad out of fear and sought the partys protection.

Earlier, Kerala Women Commission chairperson MC Josephine said the commission cant file a case against the legislator without receiving any complaint. Opposition Congress and BJP had criticized the commission saying it was trying to shield the accused MLA considered to be close to the official faction led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy landed himself in a fresh controversy on Monday with an insensitive comment about the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which took place ten years ago.

10th anniversary today of Paki-sponsored slaughter of innocents (except Muslims) at Mumbai, popularly called 26/11. Does anyone remember why we didnt even downgrade our diplomatic relations with the Pakis (let alone break off such relations or go to war)? Roy wrote in a tweet on the incident from his official Twitter handle.

The tweet, which appeared to give a communal tinge to the 26/11 attacks, quickly led to a backlash on social media platforms against Roy with some users calling him irresponsible and hatemonger.

The controversial tweet was quickly deleted.

I was misinformed of the Paki-sponsored killers of 26/11having spared Muslims. In fact several Muslims were killed. It was a mistake of facts and I am sorry for the same. The relevant tweet has been deleted, Roy tweeted again.

This tweet was also deleted and another one posted soon after. The tweet relating to 26/11 contained a factual mistake. It has been deleted with apologies. No further inquiries please, it read this time.

Officials at Meghalaya Raj Bhawan said Roy is likely to reach Shillong on Monday evening and a statement, if any, would be issued only after that.

The Governors tweet has evoked sharp reactions in Shillong.

Read more| Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks anniversary: Ten years on, trial drags on in Pakistani anti-terror court

Being a governor he should be aware of facts before tweeting. He should apologise to the Mumbai attack victims. Roy has a record of making insensitive comments on Twitter and the latest tweet shows old habits die hard, said Celestine Lyngdoh, president of Meghalaya Congress unit.

Editor of The Shillong Times Patricia Mukhim said if Roy has apologised for the mistake one shouldnt make a big issue over it. There are other important issues at hand than a tweet for which the Governor has apologised and deleted, she said.

Roy, who was posted as Meghalaya Governor in August isnt new to controversies. He has hit the headlines several times in the past over his tweets when he was in charge of Tripura.

In his Twitter handle, which has nearly 1 lakh followers, Roy describes himself as Right-wing Hindu socio-political thinker, writer and ideologue.

Whatever gave you the notion I am secular? I am a Hindu. My state, India, however is secular since 1976, he had tweeted in 2016 in response to a man who identified himself as a Dubai-based Marxist.

Roy had also targeted the mourners of 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Yakub Memon, following his hanging in July 2015. Intelligence shd keep a tab on all who assembled bfr Yakub Memoms corpse. Many are potential terrorists, he tweeted.

A worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since 1986, the 73-year-old was the president of the BJPs West Bengal unit from 2002 to 2006. An engineer by profession, he worked in the Indian Railways till 1990 and later joined Jadavpur Universitys department of construction engineering as a professor.

He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1990 and was its national executive member from 2002 till 2015 when he was appointed the Governor of Tripura.

Read more| Parcel reached fox: The secret operation to move 26/11 attacker Ajmal Kasab for hanging
As India on Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 carnage, the trial of seven LeT members facing charges of planning and executing the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months.

The attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the operations commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has virtually secured his acquittal with the Pakistan government indicating no plan to challenge his bail in the Supreme Court.

The six other suspects have also bright chances of acquittal with their trial witnessing bizarre twists and turns like frequent change of judges and murder of a prosecutor.

Read more: Inside Lashkar HQs in Pakistan, where Hafiz Saeed trained 26/11 attackers

On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistan-based LeT terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. A total of 166 people died and over 300 were wounded in the strikes, which lasted till November 29. Nine of the attackers were killed by police, while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after a trial in India.

In Pakistan, seven LeT suspects -- Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum - are facing charges of planning and executing the attack since 2009. There has been a realisation in Pakistan, especially among politicians, that the attacks had demolished all the past efforts to build friendly relations between the two neighbours. However, there are divergent views on whether punishing the culprits in Pakistan will help restore ties between them.

But like ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, questions are being asked in Pakistan why trial is not being completed? When PTI sought a reaction from the Pakistans Foreign Office (FO) on the status of the 26/11 trial, the FO spokesman Mohammad Faisal refused to comment in detail and just said, It is sub judice. Pakistani prosecutors are, however, quick to blame India for the delay. Chief prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told PTI the case can be concluded in a week if India sends 24 witnesses to Pakistan for recording of their statements and other evidence.

Read more: They called me Kasab ki beti: 9-year-old shot during 26/11 Mumbai attacks recounts horror

The Mumbai case will take not more than a week to conclude if India allows Pakistan to examine the boat on which the terrorists travelled to reach Mumbai and also send its witnesses here for recording of their statements, he said.

Azhar, who is also Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) special prosecutor, further said India will have to cooperate with Pakistan if it wants logical conclusion of the case.

Crime had taken place in Mumbai and onus is on India to provide full evidence to Pakistan. The Indian government has not yet either clearly refused to send its witnesses to Pakistan or allow us to examine the boat there. If it refuses, the benefit will go to the suspects and the case will be over, he said.

When asked why the government has not challenged the bail granted to Lakhvi, he said there was no strong evidence against his involvement. Lakhvi walked free from jail in April 2015 after securing a bail from the trial court, while the six other suspects are in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Abuzar Peerzada, another prosecutor in the case, said the hearing of the case in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) is being held on regular basis and the next hearing is on November 28.

Read more: 26/11 attacks anniversary: Officer who helped plant Indian SIM cards in LeT reveals how response unfolded

When asked about any possible time frame for conclusion of the trial, he said: No...it is very difficult to give any time frame...as it is not an ordinary trial (involving two countries). A lawyer associated with the case, requesting anonymity, said: Since both Pakistan and Indias interests are involved in this case...this is more of a political case than a legal one. And a political case has no time limit (for conclusion). Raja Rizwan Abbasi, a counsel for Lakhvi and other six suspects, was reluctant to talk to PTI when contacted. However, a lawyer close to him said the defence is not filing a bail petition of the six suspects as it is hoping that since enough time has passed they have bright chances to secure acquittal. The defence lawyers are optimistic about acquittal of their clients. Therefore, they are not moving their bail plea, he said.

Azhar, however, is of the view that they may get benefit only if India does not send its witnesses and other evidence.

The case is being tried in the ATC since 2009. There has hardly been any case in any ATC in Pakistan that is pending for over nine years. It appears that the state is not in hurry to decide this case since the matter is related to its arch-rival India, a senior lawyer said. Interestingly, former FIA chief Tariq Khosa too pointed out lingering on the case far too long.

Dilatory tactics by the defendants, frequent change of trial judges (at least nine times), assassination of the case prosecutor and retracting from original testimony by some key witnesses have been serious setbacks for the prosecutors, he said.

Read more: 26/11 attacks anniversary: Need to assume that it can happen again, says former home secretary

Like many others in Pakistan, Khosa too believes the case will not be over soon. Earlier in an interview to Dawn newspaper, ex-premier Sharif had questioned, Should Pakistan allow militants/non-state actors to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai?...Why cant we complete the trial?, remarks that got him into trouble.
A court in Muzaffarpur Monday extended the CBI remand of two key aides of Brajesh Thakur, prime accused in the shelter home sex scandal, by another four days.

Special POCSO judge R P Tiwari extended the CBI remand of Madhu Kumari and Ashwani by four days, though the investigating agency had sought the same for five days.

Appearing for Madhu, who was arrested last month after remaining traceless for many months, counsel Priya Ranjan alleged before the court that his client was being subjected to torture in the custody of the CBI and opposed the probe agencys request for extending the remand.

The court, however, granted the extension while warning the CBI that no torture should take place during questioning.

Madhu, who managed many NGOs, newspapers and other businesses of Thakur, was arrested on November 21, a day after she made a dramatic appearance in the district court premises with the claim that she had come to cooperate in the investigation since she was miffed over the inconvenience faced by her family members when CBI personnel visited her house to know her whereabouts.

She also claimed that contrary to reports, she had been very much in Bihar and was not on the run, pointing out that no warrant had been issued against her till then nor was she named as an accused in any case.

Read: At Bihar shelter home, doctor drugged girls, woman taught minors sex, says CBI

Ashwani, a self-styled medical practitioner who was attached to the shelter home as a doctor, was arrested on November 20 from his village in Kurhani block of the district.

Media reports have alleged that inmates of the shelter home were administered injections laced with sedatives by Ashwani, with Madhus help, before they were sexually abused.

The scandal had come to light in a report of social audit conducted by the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Thakur and a number of his employees were arrested in June by the police and the probe was handed over to the CBI in July.

Read: Centre shut over 500 child care institutes after Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal came to light

Two suspended officials of the social welfare department, Ravi Raushan and Rosy Rani, are also in jail in connection with the case. Both are lodged at the Beur Central Jail in Patna.

Thakur, who was initially shifted to Bhagalpur in view of the fact that he was a renowned citizen and his presence in Muzaffarpur could come in the way of a fair probe, is at present lodged in a jail in Patiala following an order to the effect passed by the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi Monday said it was in our best interest to heed the advice of the Constitution as not doing so would result in a sharp descent into chaos.

The Constitution proved critics like Rudyard Kipling wrong as it worked well for last 70 years and not only united 1.3 billion people, but also gave them a national identity, the CJI said later in the day, addressing the valedictory session of the Constitution Day celebrations here.

Justice Gogoi, in his inaugural address on Constitution Day function at Vigyan Bhavan here, said, It is in our best interest to heed the advice of the Constitution. If we do not, our hubris will result in sharp descent into chaos. The Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on November 26 to commemorate the Constitution being adopted. Referring to Kiplings criticism and apprehension that the Constitution might not work in a vast country like India, he said, Had he been alive today, he would have been surprised to find that India is a well-functioning polity and this is no mean achievement for the worlds largest democracy. The Constitution is working and working well for 1.3 billion people... and the credit mainly goes to the framework of the governance which is laid down in the Constitution, Justice Gogoi said.

Read: Governance is executives domain, law minister says in presence of CJI

Referring to B R Ambedkar, the CJI said the success of working of the Constitution does not depend on its nature and would rather depend on the people who work for it. The Constitution has successfully united immensely diverse people into one nation. Notwithstanding, the caste, creed and religion, we are a community because we share the same Constitution. The Constitution has the very basis of national identity. It is the source of our Indian-ness. The Constitution has succeeded in working well for almost 70 years now. The credit for this lies partially with the members of the Constituent Assembly. Justice Gogoi termed the journey of India as a republic as remarkable in last 70 years and said despite flaws and shortcomings, the citizens had accepted and amended it time and again and given new meaning to it.

Despite flaws and shortcomings, it is the spirit of the Constitution. It would not be an exaggeration to say that our Constitution is intricately intertwined with every sphere of life, be it political, social or economical. In each moment of crisis we have turned to it for refuge. This is because of our unshakable belief in Constitution in its ideals such as rule of law, democracy, human rights and so on, the CJI said.

The constitutional texts, the people, who worked for the ideals, and their undying spirit for the constitutionalism ensured the longevity of the Constitution, he said, adding that citizens were blessed to have such a rich inheritance which needed to be passed on to future generations.

Justice S A Bobde, who would be succeeding the CJI, in his speech referred to the efforts put in by members of the Constituent Assembly in drafting the Constitution and specially mentioned 15 women members and their contributions.

He also referred to the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and said the strike and its aftermath established that there was rule of law in the country as the Bombay High Court worked during the ongoing strike when all the terrorists were at large and gunshots and explosions were being heard. I remember when these terrorists were still at large in the city, we could hear gunshots and bombs exploding. We decided as a court to sit through the morning without staff ... Justice Bobde said.

He said then there was clamour for the sole surviving accused to lynched, but the rule of law prevailed, as a proper trial was conducted and the terrorist was executed by following the law and procedure.

That judgement was subject to two appeals which eventually resulted in the execution. This I think is a recent example as to how deeply entrenched the rule of law is and this is what we as courts should and do stand for, he said.

Justice A K Sikri, who also spoke at the concluding session, said the Constitution had endured, but there were miles to go.

He became emotional while talking about the constitutional rights and the plight of yje bonded labourer, the pavement dweller sleeping on railway platforms, the rickshaw puller, landless farmer and the homeless wanderer living in hellish cesspool. He said these people remind us today that they were amongst those people who on November 26, 1959 enacted, adopted and gave to themselves the Constitution.

Attorney General K K Venugopal referred to the pendency of 29 million cases in the countrys courts and said the judiciary and the government would have to come together and cooperate to find a solution to the problem so that the fundamental right to speedy justice was made available to all.

Senior advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh said the apex court lawyers should also be considered for appointment as judges in higher judiciary. PTI URD SJK ABA PKS RKS AAR
India and the United States built pressure on Pakistan on Monday to act against those responsible for the Mumbai attacks even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the opposition Congress party of politicising issues of national security on the 10th anniversary of the carnage that killed 166 people, including 28 foreigners.

As India mourned those killed 10 years ago and celebrated the courage of the security personnel who fought the terrorists in Mumbai, Modis National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government called on Pakistan to give up its double standards and bring the perpetrators to justice.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, too, urged Pakistan to act against those responsible for the attacks. The US also offered a new reward of $5 million for information on any individual responsible for the terrorist assault on Indias financial hub.

A strongly worded statement from the foreign ministry said the planners of 26/11 still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity and noted the attacks were planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory.

The statement also referred to former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharifs remarks during an interview earlier this year acknowledging that the terrorists were sent from Pakistans soil.

Read- Give up double standards: India tells Pakistan to act against 26/11 perpetrators

At election rallies in Rajasthan, Modi said the Congress used the 26/11 attacks for political gains, adding that the party was in power both at the Centre and in Maharashtra when the Pakistani terrorists, armed with assault rifles and hand grenades, laid a three-day siege to the city beginning November 26.

Back then they (the ruling side) used to say: it is a war Pakistan has waged against India...and the issue of terrorism should not be politicised, Modi said in Bhilwara. The incident shook the world, and Congress was using that to play a game of winning elections.

His remarks drew sharp reactions from the Congress, which condemned and rejected the utter falsehood.

Modi alleged that the same Congress, which once preached the message of patriotism, questioned Indias surgical strikes on Pakistani soil during NDAs?rule and asked for video evidence. Does a solider go to the battlefield with a camera? Modi asked.

In September 2016, the Indian Army announced that it attacked terrorists camps along the Line of Control using ground forces and inflicted significant casualties on terrorists in retaliation of a deadly attack on a military base in Jammu and Kashmirs Uri in on September 18 that year.

Later in the day, the Congress launched a spirited counter-attack on the Prime Minister at a time when Indias politics was heating up during the ongoing campaign for elections to five states and ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The truth is, the Modi government has compromised our national security and in the last four-and-a-half years. Lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a statement.

Today in a public rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, PM Modi turned history on its head and said that he never played politics on national security, he added, alleging that the Prime Minister and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) always used the blood and sacrifice of our jawans as a vote garnering tool.

Senior Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, Our dear citizens were lost due to acts of grave terror. I can only hope that saner elements will prevail in India and Pakistan. Terror, he said, achieves no purpose.

At his rallies on Monday, Modi also said India will never forget the 26/11 (November 26, 2008) attacks or its perpetrators. We are looking for an opportunity... the law will take its own course, I assure the people of the country.

India welcomed the US statement asking Pakistan to uphold its UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against terrorists responsible for the Mumbai attacks.

Pompeo, in a statement, expressed solidarity with India and said the barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world. He noted that six American citizens were among the dead.

It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have not been convicted for their involvement, he said.

Pompeo said the state departments Rewards for Justice programme was offering a new reward of $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual involved in planning or facilitating the attacks. This is the third such bounty offered by the US after the state department announced rewards of $10 million for LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) founder Hafiz Saeed and $2 million for Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, a senior leader of the terror group.

The Trump administration has suspended $1.66 billion in security aid to Pakistan for not taking decisive action against terrorists operating from its soil and spearheaded a move that put Pakistan on the watch list of the Financial Action Task Force.
India on Monday accused Pakistan of showing little sincerity in bringing the perpetrators of the terror attacks in Mumbai ten years ago to justice and said its planners of the still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity.

The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory. The former Prime Minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistans soil, the ministry of external affairs said.

We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice. This is not just a matter of Pakistans accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation, it said.

Read: Parcel reached fox - The secret operation to move 26/11 attacker Ajmal Kasab for hanging

Six Americans were among the 166 people killed in the attack carried out by ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists, who infiltrated Mumbai by boat and continued spraying bullets and grenades for three days around various city landmarks. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police and the lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was handed down the death sentence by a court in India.

India also welcomed the statement by the United States asking Pakistan to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates, responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26, 2008.

The Government of India will continue its efforts to bring justice to the families of the victims and the martyrs, the statement said.

It is a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 years of this heinous terror attack, the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe still await closure

Read: Inside Lashkar HQs in Pakistan, where Hafiz Saeed trained 26/11 attackers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed an attack on Pakistan, without naming the neighbouring country, which many saw was an attempt to point at his counterpart Imran Khans efforts at seeking financial aid from several allies.

Modi also hit out at the Congress for indulging in caste politics and touching a new low in politics in a reference to the main opposition partys leaders comment on the Prime Ministers caste and his parents.

Those who till yesterday threatened to drop bombs on India are begging today due to our strategy. Modis caste was not behind it. It was because of the 125 crore Indians, the Prime Minister said at a rally in Rajasthans Alwar on Sunday.

Khan visited the UAE earlier in November to seek financial assistance to minimise cash-strapped Pakistans dependence on an IMF bailout package, reports had said. And,

Saudi Arabia agreed to give Pakistan a $6 billion during Khans visit to the Gulf Kingdom. All this came after the US suspended $1.66 billion in security assistance to Pakistan.

Modi said the opposition party has forgotten all courtesies and that all this was being done under Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

The former Rajasthan Congress chief CP Joshi was heard saying in a video, which surfaced last week, that only pandits and brahmins knew about Hinduism and were learned enough to speak about it as he questioned Modis caste. Congress leader Raj Babbar had compared the rupees slide with the age of the Prime Ministers mother and Vilas Muttemwar said nobody knows the name of your (PM Modis) father.

Congressmen are abusing my mother. They are asking my caste. I am not surprised at all. Whoever is speaking is speaking at the behest of naamdar, he said, adding that the Congress which played caste politics did not confer Bharat Ratna to Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar because he opposed the party.

Modi said he wants to tell the naamdars that when the head of a country visits any foreign country, the world doesnt recognise him with his caste or Modi but identifies him with 125 crore Indians.

He also accused the Congress party of adopting delaying tactics in the Supreme Court to create hurdles in the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and playing a dangerous game of threatening the judges with impeachment.

The Congress sends senior lawyers of Supreme Court to the Rajya Sabha, where we do not have a majority ... where the numbers are different. Thats why Congress had adopted a new tactic.

When the case of Ayodhya was going on, a Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member was telling the Supreme Court not to hear the case till 2019, because there are several elections till then, Modi said.

He was referring to Congress leader Kapil Sibal, who had urged the Supreme Court to defer hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till July 2019.

Is it fair to drag the countrys judiciary into politics in this way? Is it right to put pressure on the Supreme Court and the judiciary? But the Congress men say this shamelessly in the Supreme Court, he said.

Stating that he is making a serious allegation against the Congress, the Prime Minister said: If a judge of the Supreme Court does not make the judicial schedule in accordance with their political intentions, they create hurdles in the Supreme Court which wants to hear a serious and sensitive issue like Ayodhya (that aims) to provide justice to the people.

He said that the Congress then launched a new game of threatening justices to impeach them.

This is a dangerous game. In the name of impeachment, the Congress is committing the crime of derailing the judicial system. It is stopping the Supreme Court from hearing a sensitive issue.

The Congress, which has no faith in the judiciary and on judges, is trying to capture the country by bringing impeachment on the basis of their strength in Rajya Sabha. They can never be forgiven, Modi said amid chants of Jai Shri Ram.

The Prime Minister said he wants to assure the judges and the judiciary that till the time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power, it will not allow the Congress black deeds within the temple of democracy.

We will stop it with full force. I want to tell the judges not be afraid of impeachment threats. You courageously go on the path of justice. The country will walk with you. I want to assure you, he said.

He also hit out at the Congress for disrupting parliamentary proceedings and urged the intellectuals to analyse their deeds.

(With agency inputs)
Police in Tamil Nadus Chennai are probing a case of missing slippers, saying it is not just about the footwear.

A 55-year-old Chennai resident had sought the polices help to recover his slippers, which were stolen on Sunday. Rajesh Gupta, a resident of New Washermenpet, found his slippers missing after he came out of a clinical laboratory in Tondiarpet area of the city.

Gupta, who bought the slipper last Wednesday, decided to file a police complaint at the Tondiarpet police station late on Sunday night.

I spent Rs 800 for buying the chappals. Since I had barely used the new chappals, it is hard for me to tolerate the theft, Gupta said in his complaint.

Following his complaint, Tondiarpet Police gave him the Community Service Register Receipt (CSR) and launched the probe. The receipt is given by police before filing a first information report.

We could not leave the issue by just considering it as just chappals. We have launched the probe. As of now, we have queried hospital staffs, security personnel, patients visited and locals, a police officer said.

Police will nab the accused soon, the officer said.

Last year, police in Maharashtra Pune accepted a similar complaint of theft.

Vishal Kalekar, a resident of Rakshewadi in Khed tehsil of Pune district, had reported to the police that his brand new sandal was stolen from outside his apartment and insisted on filing a complaint. Police registered a case of theft and started an investigation.
Patil said that the govt is ready to include more Muslim castes if needed.

Mumbai: The state reiterated that the Muslims will not be given reservation on the basis of religion as it will be unconstitutional.

The backward castes in the Muslim community have already been given reservation by including them in the other backward class (OBC) category, said revenue minister Chandrakant Patil Monday.

He was replying to a question asked by Congress MLA Shaikh Rashid, who alleged that the state government was being apathetic towards providing reservation to the Muslim community.

While the high court gave a stay on Maratha reservation in 2015, it did not stay Muslim reservation. Despite this, the state government withdrew five per cent reservation provided to the Muslim community. The high court said that Muslims can be given educational reservation, but the state government is not taking any steps on the same, said Mr Rashid.

Replying to him, Mr Patil said, The states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala had earlier tried to provide reservation on the basis of religion, but it did not prove successful.

According to the Constitution, the backward castes in the Muslim community have been included in the OBC category. If more castes are needed to be included, the state government is ready to make such demand to the backward class commission, said Mr Patil.

After the Maratha and Dhangar communities, the Muslims in Maharashtra have also intensified their demand for five per cent reservation in government jobs and education.
The working committee of the Himachal Pradesh unit of the Seva Dal, the grassroots front organisation of the Congress, held its first meeting in Dharamshala on Sunday.

Seva Dal state president Anurag Sharma said the organisation would play an important role to ensure the victory of the Congress candidates in all the four Lok Sabha seats of the state.

It was decided in the meeting that the organisation would be strengthened at the booth level in the state and would expose the corruption in the state and central government, the leader told reporters at a press conference.

Ever since Rahul Gandhi has assumed the charge of the national president (of the party), his efforts has been towards a massive change in the strengthening of Seva dal at the grassroots level to strengthen the Congress party as a whole, he said.

The meeting was attended by Sudhir Sharma, the party national secretary and incharge of Jammu and Kashmir; and Vilas Rawat, the general secretary of the Seva Dal.
The absence of sewer lines in 1,700 unauthorised colonies  housing around 40 lakh people  in the national capital is one of the major reasons of pollution in the Yamuna, the monitoring committee set up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for overseeing cleaning of the polluted river has said.

The river  that is the lifeline of the city as it supplies drinking water to most parts  is almost dead with high levels of toxic chemicals. The committee said sewage, mainly faecal sludge from these colonies being directly emptied into the river, adds to extremely high levels of pollutants not allowing the water body to sustain life.

The two-member monitoring committee, in an official note to the Delhi government last month, stated that in the absence of a sewerage system in 80% of the unauthourised colonies and slum custers, faecal sludge is being directly emptied into the river.

Faecal sludge has 2,000 to 8,000 mg/litres of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) load per day, which is much higher than the 150-300mg/litres BOD of sewage.

The BOD levels  oxygen needed by the river to sustain life  in Yamuna is alarmingly high.

This is because sewage from planned colonies goes to the sewage treatment plants (STPs) and is then drained into the river. However, sludge from the unauthourised colonies is collected in septic tanks by private contractors and is directly emptied into the river, thus adding to the BOD levels.

Around one-third of Delhis population is dependent on septic tanks for its daily sewerage needs, the committee said.

The faecal sludge leeches into the groundwater thus ruining the environment. It is leading to destruction of land, water and drains, for which no compensation is being demanded by government authorities, who are responsible for enforcement, it said in its note.

Of the 1,797, unauthorised colonies in the city, only 14% have been provided sewage pipelines. However, the functioning is poor, as residents are not willing to pay the charges for the same, it said.

The NGT had in July this year formed the monitoring committee and directed it to submit by December 31 an action plan on cleaning of the river.

The situation has been grim despite the faecal sludge and

septage management rules being put in place since February

2018. The committee had asked the state government to notify the rules.

When contacted the committee said, the rules were approved by the government and are expected to be notified soon.

We were told that the notification is ready and will be out soon. Once the rules are notified, implementation will be the key, said a committee member not wishing to be named.
Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid Monday alleged that former president Abdulla Yameen had tried to play India against China as a puppet master and said the new government was looking into the deals made with China to assess the debt accumulation.

Maldives knows the importance of India as it was an important partner, said Shahid who was on his first visit to India after assuming charge as the foreign minister of Maldives. The visit assumes significance as the ties between both the countries were severely strained under the previous government in the island nation.

Maldivian Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, who is also part of a delegation of minister visiting India, also said the new government had identified a number of projects undertaken with China that were bought at an inflated price and it was in the process of assessing how much debt was accumulated.

The remarks of both the foreign and finance ministers of Maldives assume significance as reports suggest that China had been trying to expand its influence over the island nation.

Ameer said, The Chinese portion of investment is taking long in assessment because all these deals took place in secrecy. Shahid targeted former president Abdulla Yameen, alleging he tried to play India against China.

Former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen tried to play India against China as a puppet master but we know the importance of India as an ally which has always come to the aid of Maldives, he told reporters at a gathering of Foreign Correspondents Club in New Delhi. He said Maldives considered India such an important partner that new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih would be making his first foreign visit to here on December 17.

Shahid, however, said that on the Belt and Road Initiative, the country would continue their cooperation with not only China but with other countries too.

Ameer said they have identified a number of projects which were bought at an inflated price from China.

These projects are China-Maldives Bridge, port development project and a project involving construction of around 1,000 housing units, he said.

We believe most of these projects have been bought at an inflated price and we are looking into them. But you have to understand that all these projects are now completed and we cannot renegotiate them. In going forward, our main objective would be to reduce the cost of these infrastructure projects, Ameer told reporters. Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail said the island nation was trying to get past instability that was witnessed in the last couple of years.

We are trying to put past last five years of instability in the Maldives and we will try to resolve all differences between Maldivian and Indian investors. In that regard, we are hoping to strengthen our bilateral trade. We are hoping to enter into a bilateral treaty with India on increasing investment, he said.

He also said they were planning to ease visa norms so that Indian investors could travel to Maldives for business.

Ameer said Maldives was mainly seeking budget support in healthcare projects among others.

Shahid said Maldives had requested India to give it a Dornier aircraft and the External Affairs Ministry had promised that it would be delivered soon.

During Yameens time, Yameen ditched the Dornier gifted by India to get aircraft from Pakistan as Pakistan was giving it as loan and they prefer loan so they could get commission from it. But we will prefer a gift and we want to continue working with the Indian government, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on November 17 in Male.

Solih, as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Partys candidate, had surprising victory over strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election held on September 23.

India-Maldives ties had deteriorated significantly under Yameen who was perceived to be close to China.

Some decisions by Yameen, including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing, also did not go down well with New Delhi.

Relations between India and the Maldives slumped further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year.

India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners. The emergency lasted for 45 days.
Two satellite-tagged female Amur falcons, Longleng and Tamenglong, named after two districts of Nagaland and Manipur, flew non-stop for five days to cover 5,700 km to reach a stop-over site in Somalia on Saturday, said Wildlife Institute of India scientist (WII) R Suresh Kumar.

They were radio-tagged in the first week of November along with a male falcon as part of Indias first project to study the route of the long-distance migratory birds. The male falcon named Manipur was reportedly killed somewhere in Tamenglong district on November 9. Tamenglong started its non-stop migration on November 9 while Longleng started on November 19.

Tamenglong reached Somalia around 1 pm (Indian time) on Saturday (November 24) while Longleng reached around 5 pm on Friday (November 23), Kumar said. They are likely to spend a few days in Somalia before embarking on their final journey to South Africa.

The falcons spend their summers at their breeding grounds in southeast Russia and northeast China. They migrate to their wintering grounds in South Africa, from where they start their return journey in April-May through Afghanistan and East Asia, undertaking a yearly journey of about 20,000 km. In between, they stop in Indias northeast, where they have been killed in large numbers in recent years, and Somalia.

In their journey, these pigeonsized birds arrive in large numbers during October in Nagaland and Manipur besides a few places in northeast India. They leave the region in November after having enough food for their non-stop flight to Africa where they spend their winters.

They visit the northeast routinely because they know the availability of food in the region even though they pass through the Indian sub-continent during the journey, Kumar said. These birds feed on flying termites and insects etc. Kumar said satellite tagging enables them to understand the birds and helps their conservation because through their migratory route they can study the environmental cues including wind pattern. The WII has radio-tagged 10 birds over the last five years.



The information gained can also help raise international awareness about the species and promote falcon conservation, he added. Kumar applauded local communities in Nagaland and Manipur for their conservation effort to save falcons in recent years.

In case of Manipur, Rainforest Club Tamenglong and state forest department have been observing Amur Falcon festival in November annually since 2015 to spread awareness about the bird among the masses.
The Ram temple in Ayodhya would have been built and the land dispute over the controversial religious site settled long ago if the BJP had its way, the saffron partys president Amit Shah said, even as he accused the Congress of repeatedly delaying the case.

Had it been our way, the case would have been settled and the Ram temple been constructed in Ayodhya, Shah said in an interview to Hindi news channel Aaj Tak on Sunday.

He claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party has always been in favour of courts hearing the Ayodhya case on a priority basis but the Congress has been delaying the case.

Recently, Congress leader Kapil Sibal argued in the Supreme Court that the Ayodhya land dispute case should be heard after 2019 (the Lok Sabha election), he said. Is it possible that Kapil Sibal could have taken a politically sensitive case without (Congress president) Rahul Gandhis nod?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also accused the main opposition party on Sunday of delaying the Supreme Court hearings in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute.

Modi said at a poll rally in Rajasthans Alwar that Congress leaders attempted to defer hearings in the decades-old dispute because of the elections before and in 2019, accusing it of dragging the judiciary into politics and undermining judicial independence.

Hindu groups, including the BJPs ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, have called for a law or an ordinance to facilitate the building of a temple at the disputed site. The RSS has also threatened a 1992-like campaign for its construction.

A section of Hindus believes the 16th-century mosque, Babri Masjid, was built over a temple dedicated to Hindu god Ram, whose birthplace is also considered to be at the site. The mosque was demolished by a mob of thousands in 1992, triggering a cycle of violence and riots across India.

Talk of the government considering an ordinance or a bill to construct a temple in Ayodhya in the remainder of Parliaments term has gained momentum after the RSS demand.

The dispute  among Indias most sensitive and divisive political issue - has slowly returned to the political centre stage over the past few months. The Supreme Court has turned down the Uttar Pradesh governments request to expedite hearing the land title dispute case and pushed the hearing to January next year.

Shah, however, said the BJP will wait for the next hearing of the Ayodhya case on January 22.

We will see. The case will come up for hearing in January. Let the case be heard (in the Supreme Court). It is not in our hand. We cant fix the date. It is for the court to decide, he said.

His comments came even as thousands of supporters of the Ram temple gathered in Ayodhya for the event by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Senas programme in the Uttar Pradesh town to mount pressure on the government on the contentious issue, which featured in the 2014 election manifesto of the ruling party at the Centre.

The right-wing group also raised the pitch for a firm commitment from the Centre on when the temple construction would begin, either through a legislation or an ordinance and for the Supreme Court to understand Hindu sentiments on the issue.

The BJP president said that the ongoing agitations over the Ram Temple, ahead of the key assembly elections in the country, were not strategic in nature when asked about their timing.

The saffron party has been in power for the last 15 years in two of the five states going to polls, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and for ten in Rajasthan.
The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Karnataka government for doing nothing and just fooling around in the investigation of killing of noted scholar and rationalist MM Kalburgi in 2015 at Dharwad.

The top court indicated that it may transfer the case to Bombay high court for supervision of investigation after looking into the status report of Karnataka government.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Navin Sinha asked the Karnataka government to file its status report in two weeks on the investigation done so far in the case.

What have you (Karnataka government) done so far? Nothing. You are just fooling around. How long will you take for completing the investigation? Tell us or we will pass orders, the bench said.

Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Karnataka government said that he will have to take instructions on the time period for completing the investigation.

You take instruction. Then we will send the matter to Bombay High Court where a similar matter is pending. You people are just doing nothing, the bench said.

77-year old Kalburgi, the former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University and a well-known scholar and epigraphist, was shot dead in broad daylight at his residence in Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad, Karnataka, on August 30, 2015. Born in 1938, he was a Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer of old Kannada literature.

The court was hearing a plea of Uma Devi Kalburgi, the widow of the slain scholar, seeking a SIT probe into the sensational murder.

Counsel, appearing for Kalburgi said that it will be better if the case is transferred to Bombay High Court for further supervision.

On March 23, the Centre had told the apex court that the NIA, being a special agency to probe national and inter-state terrorism cases, cannot investigate the killing of M M Kalburgi.

The Centre has referred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act and said the instant offence did not fall under the category of Schedule offence under the law and hence, the probe agency cannot investigate it.

The court had earlier asked the CBI and the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to file their responses in the case.

The top court had on January 10 sought the response of probe agencies NIA and CBI and the two state governments on the allegation of Uma Devi that no substantial investigation has been carried out so far in the murder case.

Kalburgis wife, in her petition filed through advocate Krishna Kumar, has alleged that there was common link between the murder of her husband and that of intellectual activists, Narendra Achyut Dabholkar and Govindrao Pansare, who too were assassinated in August 2013 and February 2015 respectively.

Dabholkar was shot at on August 20, 2013 in Pune, while Pansare was killed in Kolhapur in Maharashtra on February 16, 2015.

She alleged the investigations in Dabholkar and Pansare murder cases were in a sorry state and no progress has been made in bringing the killers to book.

The petition said that in 2016, the then Karnataka Home Minister had in a statement claimed that as per the forensic analysis of cartridges recovered from the three separate crime scenes, the three murders were linked.

It alleged that one of the weapons used in the murder of Pansare was used to kill Kalburgi and therefore coordination between Maharashtra police and Karnataka police, besides the CBI and the NIA, was required.

Although sketches of suspects were released after four days of Kalburgis murder and statement was issued by Karnataka government that conclusive evidence of nexus of murders of all three activists was found, there has been no progress in the investigation till date, the plea has said.
A 21-year-old man travelling on a Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight was deplaned and taken into custody at the Kolkata airport on Monday morning after he allegedly made a social media post from inside the aircraft saying he was a terrorist.

A co-passenger informed the captain of the flight that Yogen Poddar allegedly wrote on a social media app, saying he is a terrorist on board on a day the country is observing the tenth anniversary of the terror attacks in Mumbai.

While he was on board he was chatting with his friend on the Snapchat app with a handkerchief on his face. He had written Terrorist on flight, I destroy women hearts, which was noticed by one of the passengers on board namely Mr Benjamin Placket, who was seated one seat diagonally behind him, a Central Industrial Security Force source said.

He immediately informed the same to the captain of the flight. The captain passed the message to Jet Airways duty manager and the passenger was detained by Jet Airways security, the source said.

The pilot took the plane back to the tarmac after the incident happened at 8:20am and Poddar was taken to the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport police station for questioning. His baggage was also taken off the aircraft.

After the crew was alerted by the co-passenger, Poddar refused to show his mobile phone to the air hostess. Then the CISF personnel found that he indeed made the post, where he took a selfie with his face covered and wrote those words. We are now checking his antecedents, a police officer at the airport said on the condition of anonymity.

Also read: Jet Airways passenger suffers permanent hearing loss after cabin lost pressure

Poddar, a resident of Beliaghata area of east Kolkata, told police that it was just a prank.

He was indulging in a prank, his father Nirmal Poddar, who rushed to the airport police station, also said.

The youth will be released since he did not make any call, or issue any threat to anybody, said a senior officer of Bidhannagar Police in the evening.

The flight 9W472 with 160 passengers and seven crew members took off after it was given a security clearance by the airport staff. It was delayed by over an hour.
One person was killed on Sunday when a car hit him when he was waiting for a bus on EM Bypass in Kolkata, police said. The car was allegedly driven by a woman fashion designer. She was arrested and booked under relevant non-bailable sections, they said.

The incident happened at around 3.30 pm when the fashion designer, allegedly drunk, broke the red signal and drove across to hit one person, who was waiting for a bus to reach his workplace at the Leather Complex, a senior officer of Kolkata Police said.

She is unable to talk properly. Its quite surprising how she was driving the car. The vehicle was running at a very high speed. Initial questioning revealed that she came out of a pub in Park Street and was heading home after dropping some friends. After that, the mishap happened, the officer said.
An NRI woman tourist from South Africa was allegedly gang raped by a guide and his friend in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura district.

A case was registered on complaint lodged by a friend of the victim, who has, however, refused to undergo medical examination, putting police in a fix.

Police on Monday night arrested the two accused, guide Monu and his friend Vishnu who runs a massage parlour where they took the victim.

As per the complaint, the victim had gone to Gokul area, another pilgrimage centre in Mathura, where she was gang raped by the guide and his friend, Deependra Singh, in-charge of Mahawan police sration in Mathura, said.

The victim, in her twenties, is of Indian origin but is settled in South Africa as a Non Resident Indian. She had come to Vrindavan town of Mathura district and was staying at guest house near to ISKCON temple at Vrindavan along with her uncle and aunt for the past couple of days.

Deependra Singh said the victim was asked to undergo medical examination but she was not prepared for it.

It is said that victim complained of complications and was taken for treatment where the matter was unveiled, but was not ready to lodge a complaint and refused to undergo medical examination.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has galvanised cadres of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for election campaign in Madhya Pradesh to woo farmers, after an assessment that the party is not getting positive feedback from several parts of the state, senior RSS functionaries here have said.

The RSS is reaching out to farmers and promising farm loan relief and creating awareness among voters, one senior RSS functionary, who did not wish to be identified, said.

One of the key appeals is to people not to opt for NOTA while casting their vote. The functionary said RSS volunteers have been tasked with convincing voters upset with sitting BJP legislators that if even if they merely vote against the party, they would be playing into the hands of the Congress. We are trying to convince people by meeting heads of the families with a request to them to bail out the BJP this time...  said the above quoted RSS functionary. The organisation is particularly worried about the Congresss poll promise that it would not allow the RSS to conduct its shakhas on government land, if it comes to power.

Also Read: As Madhya Pradesh gears up for assembly elections 2018, the cry for change rises

We are creating awareness among voters about the Congress promising to ban RSS shakas on government land, the functionary said. He said the RSS runs its shakhas mostly on govt land. Any ban as promised by the Congress would impact social functioning of the organisation, he said.

Another RSS office-bearer said volunteers are also telling people the next BJP government would take care of their loans. This is to combat the Congress poll promise of waiving farm loans of up to 2 lakh within 10 days of coming to power in election bound states.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh also touched on the issue at an election rally in Khandwa district, pointing out that the Congress has not waived the loan of a single farmer in Punjab or Karnataka.

State Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta said, BJP seeking help of the RSS in elections is nothing new. It knows that without spreading hatred in society in the name of caste, community and religion, it cannot win elections. But we are confident that they will not be able to mislead voters.

State BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal merely said the BJP was contesting as it was doing in the previous elections.

Ashok Pandey, a Sah Sanghchalak of RSS in Madhya Pradesh, said the RSS is getting in touch with people in national interest.

For full coverage, click here

(With input from Anupam Pateriya in Sagar)
A terrorist organisation operating from its territory poses as much threat to Pakistan as it does to India.

For the survivors and family members of those who died in the November 26-28, 2008 terror attack on Mumbai, a decade gone by does not make the trauma any less nightmarish. They will continue to cope with the senseless loss it has created and the sorrow it has left behind. There have been instances of family members who have lost their dear ones overcoming the sense of hatred against the perpetrators. Sorrow sometimes has this rare quality of providing extraordinary catharsis when in the face of the ultimate fact of death, everything else seems a futile assertion except love and forgiveness. Remembering the night of November 26 is something very different for the survivors, and no amount of empathy can help bridge that gap between those who were caught in it and those who have not been in it. All that one can do is to respect the painful experience of those who have gone through that fateful night, from ordinary people to the local police and other emergency personnel, to the commandos who were caught up in it.

There will be some who would want to understand the motivations of those terrorists who entered the city and unleashed death all around them in a strange metropolis before they died. The lone survivor, Ajmal Kasab, did not really reveal much on what it was to be an agent of destruction. His mind remained inscrutable as he sat impassively through the trial and as he walked to the gallows. The psychology of the terrorists is not of much use when one is fighting them. The only way to deal with terrorists is to defeat the terrorists.

But there are questions, and they are complicated questions, which remain unanswered even after a decade. It is necessary for the others to ask these questions and to seek answers to them. A key question is whether the Pakistan government recognised the real dangers of an organisation like the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT), masterminding the terror attack in Mumbai. A terrorist organisation operating from its territory poses as much threat to Pakistan as it does to India. There is no such recognition on the part of the Pakistani establishment though that country has been subject to terrorist attacks in its own territory, such as the gruesome attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16, 2014, in which 139 schoolchildren were killed.

The Pakistan Army has been fighting a ruthless war against rebels in the Waziristan area, and it is a pitched battle between the rebels and the government. But Islamabad has not yet made its commitment to fight terrorism in an unqualified sense. The fight against terrorism in India, the United States and other democratic countries is to defend democracy and the basic freedoms of the people. It is an ideological battle between those who believe in democracy and the anti-democratic terrorists. The loophole in Pakistans commitment against terrorism is that Pakistans Army does not have any kind of commitment to democracy. Pakistani politicians look to democracy as an expedient, but there does not appear to be any burning belief in the sacredness of freedom. The people of Pakistan desire freedom just like people anywhere else, but it appears that Pakistans political establishment does not transform that desire of the people for freedom into a principle and a basis of the Pakistani State. There is a brave and dedicated section in Pakistan which is committed to the cause of human rights, but unless safeguarding rights become the raison detre of the State, terrorism cannot be fought effectively and successfully.

The strengthening of the cause of freedom and democracy in Pakistan is important for India. As far as India is concerned, the challenge of terrorism emerges from the territory of Pakistan. The Pakistan government can claim that it has no control over the non-state actors living in its territory. This alibi simply does not pass muster. The poisonous ideology of terrorism will spread in Pakistan itself, and the view that when terrorism is directed against India it should not bother Pakistan is counter-productive.

There is a belief, which is strong among the right-wingers in India, that terrorism poses a threat to the State, and to defend the State it is acceptable to adopt counter-terrorism measures which are not very different from that of the terrorists themselves. This view has no place for democracy and freedoms. Consequently, any society which defends itself against terrorists on these terms becomes infected with the value of ruthlessness displayed by the terrorists. Victory over terrorists should not be at the price of reducing oneself to the level of the terrorists. It is necessary to posit a higher political ideal  and that ideal is democracy.

There is need for a South Asia League for Democracy, which should necessarily involve the citizens of all countries in the neighbourhood, and which should be critical of all the governments across national borders. Governments are authoritarian by nature and there is a need for a constant critique of that tendency.

In the 1980s, when the Italian government had appeared helpless, it was the ordinary people of Sicily and some heroic judges who came out against the Mafia, and literally overcame the menace. There are some signs in Pakistan that people are getting tired of terrorism. What people in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan need to do is extend support to the people of Pakistan to stand up to the terrorists. And the government in each of these countries must be made to recognise they cant support terrorists who are fighting neighbouring governments in the guise of realpolitik.

The investigation of the Mumbai terror attack still remains inconclusive. The terror trail has not been laid bare. The role of David Coleman Headley remains unclear, and the Americans have not been forthright about it. There is a thread of conspiracy in that attack which has not been revealed. There is much work to be done on that front.
He has received requests from at least 100 candidates to campaign in their constituencies in Telangana, thanks to his oratorial skills. Anumula Revanth Reddy, the firebrand Congress working president in the state, draws huge crowds to his public meetings across Telangana, where has emerged as the partys star campaigner. Political analysts say he is a man to watch in Telangana politics.

In an interview to Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, the 49-year-old Revanth Reddy, a former Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislator, says chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) behaves like the owner and not custodian of Telangana. He is confident that the Congress will oust the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in December 7 state elections. Excerpts:

You came to the Congress from the TDP and now the two rival parties have joined hands in Telangana. Why did you opt for the Congress?

Perception is reality and reality is politics. It is a perception that TDP was formed on an anti-Congress plank. The situation demanded so. In fact, the two parties have done business in the past as well. The situation in the country is such that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and KCR are siblings in attitude, approach, decision-making and their mindset is dictatorial too. It is very unfortunate and dangerous to democracy. Our country is the largest democracy in the world. Modi and KCR both are a threat to democracy. On the other hand, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has emerged as the leader of the Opposition trying to do his best for all sections of the society and for the nation. He is not biased or power-hungry. And since we are more or less of the same age and our mindset is similar, I joined the Congress. I also wanted to take KCR head-on and for that the best platform is Congress, which gave Telangana and respected the sentiments of the people.

Also Read: Telangana assembly elections 2018: An emotional Sonia Gandhi vows to teach TRS a fitting lesson

Critics call the TDP-Congress alliance unholy. Do you think it is good for Telangana?

Definitely. I took the initiative for this alliance. I wanted to join hands with Rahulji and (TDP chief) Chandrababu Naidu in the national interest. I have not commented against TDP and Naiduji and am trying to ensure the alliance succeeds.

Are you confident that Congress will upset TRS calculations?

There are only two players in Telangana. One is KCR and his friends BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). The other platform is headed by Congress and this time there is no division or confusion among the voters. I am confident that we will win the elections.

What are your key campaign talking points?

The basis of the Telangana movement was self-rule, self -respect, social justice and fair share of representation of all sections of the society. None of these exist in the KCR rule. Only one person and one family are ruling the state. Key portfolios are held by the KCR family members and his relatives are heading all the key departments. Telangana has been at the centre of many revolutions and movements and hence people keep a close eye on the top leadership.

KCR thinks Telangana is his fiefdom with him as the king and his son the prince. He is arrogant and for the last 52 months, he came to the secretariat only 5-6 times. In the last three years, he has not gone there. KCR is behaving as the owner of the state. He is not accessible to even his cabinet colleagues, leave aside the people. Most of the time he stays in his farm house. He forgets that he is not the owner but a custodian of the state.

But you have worked with him also.

That time, we ignored some of his weaknesses simply because of the Telangana movement. We were not in politics then but mentally, emotionally and ideologically associated with the movement only and such things did not cross our minds.

You called MIM a friendly party of TRS but the same MIM was also a part of the Congress-led UPA. So, it is fine when you are with Congress but an enemy when you join a rival camp.

There is no straight alliance in Telangana but strategic. MIM is supporting TRS, which is sailing with the BJP. KCR supported BJP on all crucial issues such as Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation besides presidential, vice-president and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman elections. Asaduddin Owaisi is asking Muslims to vote for TRS. When KCR is sailing with Modi, why is Owaisi supporting TRS? People have to think about it.

Is Congress united in Telangana?

There might be different opinions but the ultimate goal and destination is one.

For full coverage, click here
Srishty Rode is the latest contestant to have been evicted from the Bigg Boss 12 house. The actor, who was banned from participating in the captaincy race for getting aggressive with Saba Khan during one of the tasks, managed to survive for 10 weeks on the show. While she cannot see eye to eye with Jasleen Matharu and wanted her to be evicted first, she calls Karanvir Bohra her favourite contestant. In an exclusive chat with Hindustan Times, Srishty opened up about her stint on the reality show, her link-up with Rohit Suchanti and the friends she made during Bigg Boss 12. Excerpts...

So how was your stay in the Bigg Boss house?

It was very, very beautiful. I loved every day. I had a great time.

What do you think has been the reason for your exit?

I have no idea. It was shocking and everybody is very surprised. This is making me happy because people didnt expect me to get out. The reactions have been very shocking and surprising and that is making me being very proud of myself.

Who do you think is playing well in the house?

People are changing. Every week, every day people change. There is a change in their attitude and their game every week. It depends on the task basically when a contestant shows their new face.

Who is the one not being his/her real self in the house?

I think its Dipika Kakar who would be different outside the house than what she is right now.

Who do you see in top three?

I really want to see Karanvir Bohra in the top three, definitely. Surbhi is also really good. She is a bit loud but if she controls her tongue and plays well, she can be in top three as well. She puts her point across and takes a stand.

Have you made any good friends in the house?

Karanvir, Rohit, Shivashish Mishra and Urvashi Vani are my good friends.

You were neither a part of happy club nor Dipikas wolf pack. Do you think it turned into a disadvantage for you?

No, not at all. I have played for 10 weeks by not being part of any group. Members of happy club as well as wolf pack have decreased in number. I have played alone and have stayed strong in the house. I think it has actually turned out to be an advantage because everyone knew that I was playing my game alone.

You were linked with Rohit and you got very emotional about it. He was supporting you and you were being friends with him.

Everything is fine between us and we will continue to be good friends. I was upset about the fact that other people were linked in the house but they linked us. That was quite irritating and was the one thing that made me upset.

Who according to you should have been evicted instead of you?

Jasleen.

Last week Salman had also played a prank by first announcing her name for the eviction and then named you?

But it was not fun but fine.

Who is the one you cannot stand at all?

Jasleen.
A prominent Islamic leader and at least 17 of his followers were killed by extremists Monday for having music in their religious ceremonies in Somalias northern city of Galkayo, say police.

Two suicide bombers exploded in front of the preachers residence, which is also a Sufi shrine, and then four gunmen stormed the building and opened fire, said Ahmed Awale, a police officer in Galkayo. At least 20 others were injured, he said.

Somali security forces responded and there was a battle with heavy gunfire in the building. Three attackers were killed in the shootout and one was captured alive, said Awale.

Somalias extremist rebels, al-Shabab, have claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack killed Sheikh Abdiweli Ali Elmi, who has hundreds of followers and has been controversial because videos show him and his followers chanting religious poems with music, which some extremists say is not Islamic. Sheikh Elmi had defended his actions, saying music is not contrary to Islamic teachings.
Sikh pilgrims from all over the world on Monday poured into Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Pakistans Punjab province to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Sikhims founder, Guru Nanak Dev.

Over 3,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims, 148 from the UK, seven from United Arab Emirates and thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from various parts of Pakistan, especially Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and interior Sindh, arrived at the gurdwara deemed as the third most sacred place of Sikh religion, to perform their rituals which include Akhand Path, Ashnan, Matha Tek and Kirtan, reports Dawn news.

Elaborate security measures were taken in and around the gurdwara where dozens of officials from the security agencies were deployed. Talking to the media, leader of the Indian pilgrims Marjeet Singh lauded the role of the Pakistani government in opening the Kartarpur corridor.

He said with this, the Pakistani government had won the hearts of millions of Sikhs living on the other side of the border. The number of pilgrims had also increased compared to last year, he added.

Raminder Singh, leader of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak committee, echoed the sentiments, saying that more corridors between the two countries needed to open. Sohan Singh, contingent leader from the Bhai Mardana Sikh committee, said every religion taught love, tolerance and respect for humanity.

Follow live updates here: Kartarpur corridor updates: Venkaiah Naidu to lay foundation stone today

However, leader of the female contingent from India, Manmohan Kaur, expressed displeasure over the mismanagement by the railways department as a result of which over 113 pilgrims were left behind at Nankana Sahib also in Punjab province.

Talking to the media, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) deputy secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said mismanagement was due to the negligence of railway authorities and the pilgrims displeasure was communicated to relevant authorities.

The Kartarpur corridor will be formally be inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday while Punjab Governor Mohammad Sarwar would host a reception in honour of the Indian Sikhs in Lahore on Tuesday.

The Indian pilgrims would visit also Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on Monday followed by Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Emanabad and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Wednesday. The pilgrims are slated to depart for their respective countries on November 30, according to Gondal.
At least 22 policemen were killed in a Taliban ambush in western Afghanistan, a health official said Monday, in another blow to Afghan forces already suffering record casualties.

The attack on the police convoy in Farah province on Sunday also wounded at least two officers, said Shir Ahmad Weda, director of the public hospital in the provincial capital.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message, saying 25 police were killed and four wounded.

Four vehicles were destroyed and a large quantity of weapons were seized, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the militants, added.

The Taliban have stepped up attacks on Afghan security forces in recent months, inflicting record casualties even as efforts to engage the militants in peace talks intensify.
A British academic sentenced to life in prison in the United Arab Emirates on espionage charges has been pardoned after the verdict threatened to strain relations with the UK.

Matthew Hedges will be permitted to leave once formalities are completed, state-run WAM news agency reported. Minutes before the pardon was announced, reporters in Abu Dhabi were shown a video of Hedges confessing to being a UK spy.

Although we didnt agree with charges, we are grateful to UAE government for resolving issue speedily, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Twitter.

Last weeks sentencing of the University of Durham doctoral student provoked a rare public spat between the close allies, with the British government threatening unspecified diplomatic consequences if the case wasnt resolved.

The UAE on Friday signaled it wanted to end the crisis, saying it hoped to find an amicable solution and was considering a clemency plea by Hedges family.

A protracted dent in relations between the UAE and Britain risked hindering Prime Minister Theresa Mays plans to build what she has called a new strategic relationship with wealthy Persian Gulf states as her government seeks new post-Brexit trade ties.

Military Presence

Britain is also beefing up its military presence in the region. In Bahrain in April, it opened its first permanent base east of the Suez Canal since its withdrawal from the Gulf in 1971. It set up a new base in Oman earlier this month.

Daniela Tejada, Hedges wife, said the pardon is the best news we could have received. Our six-plus months of nightmare are finally over and to say we are elated is an understatement.

Tejada has said her husband was arrested at Dubai International Airport on May 5 after spending two weeks in the UAE studying the impact of the Arab Spring uprisings on the countrys foreign policy and security strategy. His family said he was sentenced at a five-minute hearing, after being forced to sign a confession document in Arabic, a language he doesnt read.

Jaber Al Lamki, a UAE government spokesman, said Hedges was provided with a translator throughout the process and his case was decided over four court hearings.

Hedges work with a now-defunct security consultancy based in Dubai gave him contacts that led to his recruitment to British foreign intelligence agency M16, Al Lamki said. He collected sensitive and classified information related to the UAEs economic, political and security activities, including its role in Yemen, he said.

The sentence handed down to Mr. Hedges is fair, considering the crime he committed, Al Lamki said. Having said that, in a world of mounting threats, we recognize just how important it is for like-minded countries to work with, rather than against, one another.
US authorities have re-opened the San Ysidro port of entry into Mexico after briefly closing it following an attempt by hundreds of migrants to breach a fence, the Customs and Border Protection agency said Sunday. It announced the crossing was re-opened in a series of tweets, saying that first pedestrian access was resumed, followed by vehicle traffic.

On Sunday, US officials briefly closed the border crossing in southern California after hundreds of migrants, part of the caravan condemned by President Donald Trump, tried to breach a fence from the Mexican city of Tijuana, authorities announced.

Read more: Migrants not allowed into US until court approves claims individually, says Donald Trump

The dramatic shutdown took place only three days after Trump threatened to close the whole border with Mexico if it gets to a level where were going to lose control or people are going to start getting hurt.

Border officials in San Diego, California, said on Twitter that they had temporarily closed the San Ysidro crossing point -- one of the busiest between the two countries -- to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

The order was lifted some hours later.

Mexican Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete accused some of the migrants of attempting the Tijuana crossing in a violent way.

We are going to act and proceed to their deportation, he told the Milenio television network, adding: Far from helping the caravan, they are hurting it.

Video clips posted on Twitter showed large numbers of migrants dashing across a shallow concrete waterway toward the border. Several thousand migrants, mostly from Central America, have been gathering in Tijuana in hopes of entering the US.

Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kirstjen Nielsen later issued a statement accusing the migrants of seeking to harm border patrol personnel by throwing projectiles at them.

As I have continually stated, DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down ports of entry for security and public safety reasons, she said, adding the US would seek to prosecute offenders.

Read more: Donald Trump calls for wall funding in major border security package

Are we in the US yet?

At least 500 migrants, including women and children, had been taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Tijuana before dashing toward the border in an attempt to clamber over a first metal barrier there.

Are we in the United States yet? some asked in desperate tones.

Several hundred made it over the first barrier and were trying to cross a second -- topped with spikes -- when US border officers began firing tear gas at them even as US Army helicopters flew low overhead, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.

The migrants tried to protect themselves -- covering their faces, with mothers holding their children close. There were cries of pain, desperation and frustration as the crowd swirled over the border line and back.

Some migrants shouted that they only wanted to make their way to a better life.

But amid the stinging gas, several migrants turned back.

Trump has repeatedly warned that the large group of migrants moving through Mexico toward the US included criminals and possibly terrorists, while providing no evidence to support that.

A reported asylum deal

The US president has deployed some 9,000 troops along the border in support of Customs and Border Protection agents.

Approximately 5,000 migrants reached Tijuana over the past week, after an exhausting trip of up to 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) covered in just over a month. Many were fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras in hopes of finding asylum in the US.

Read more: Cant rewrite law: Judge bars Donald Trump from denying asylum to illegal migrants

To enter the US legally, migrants must formally apply for asylum, but the wait for those requests to be processed can last up to a year.

Trump signed a proclamation earlier this month to prevent anyone filing asylum claims except at legal ports of entry, but a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked the order, pointing to irreconcilable conflicts with immigration law.

The Washington Post reported Saturday that the Trump administration had gained the support of Mexicos incoming government for a plan to require asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their applications to be processed.

But officials in the incoming administration of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said later -- after the Post report was met by stiff criticism in Mexico -- that the agreement was not yet final.
W eve all got to pull together, apparently, and use common sense and ingenuity to help sort out the London housing shortage.

The Mayor wants more brownfield sites given over to homes  but previously built-on land always comes with problems, from what to do with existing buildings to excavating unmapped drains, or being overlooked.

Because such problems reduce profit and introduce risk, these sites dont always attract developers. Brownfield sites are not the land of the quick buck.

But what the developer turns down, turns up as an opportunity for creative thinkers prepared to put in the time.

Two beautiful homes - built on a scrap yard 1 /14 Two beautiful homes - built on a scrap yard Think creatively Brownfield sites are not the land of the quick buck. But what the developer turns down, turns up as an opportunity for creative thinkers prepared to put in the time. Like David Johnston, 64, a former graphic designer who started out in advertising but got the bug for doing up houses in his thirties. Juliet Murphy One plot, two homes Now, instead of building one big house he has built two attractive, modern, two-storey houses of 1,230sq ft, each with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a sunny walled courtyard, on a brownfield site that used to be home to a workshop for making iron railings. Bruce Hemming Low roof line The old metalworks was a single-storey block with a corrugated front and was knee-deep in accumulated rubbish. A bit like Steptoe and Son, Johnston says with fondness. Because the plot was hemmed in by houses, he and his architect Malcolm Crayton knew they would have to keep the roof lines low. After looking at the site, Crayton suggested two houses, not one  thats what a good architect does. Modern style Johnston knew he wanted a modern style, with a big living-dining area and outside space. Crayton came up with a design that sank each house down about three feet so that their attractively curved rooflines, finished in raised-seam zinc, are far lower than surrounding roofs. Bruce Hemming Planning permission The pair were confident enough not to even have a pre-planning meeting, and just submitted the plans. Apart from a request to opaque a couple of windows, the planners passed them. This meant that clearing began in winter 2016, ready for foundations early last year. Bruce Hemming Clear out the old There were more skips than you could count, says Johnston. There was also the question of unexpected old drains to deal with. Lengthy negotiations He advises allowing extra time and budget for such things, and for negotiating numerous party wall agreements  in this case, around a dozen. Pale palette The houses use a palette of pale brick, pale polished concrete, pale oak and white walls. The whitish, modulated brick used throughout is extremely pretty and runs from inside to outside, beautifully grouted with double cream-coloured mortar. Bruce Hemming Hidden homes The outer street walls are in the same brick with slatted hardwood gates. You cannot see these two houses from the pavement, which is a neat trick. Once through the gates, down a few steps, past two ornamental trees, you find the houses and their high-walled courtyards. Bruce Hemming Clever effect Whats especially clever is that there simply is no sense of being sunken, an effect helped by a second inner skylit small courtyard within each house, which draws in light and eradicates any perception of depth. Bruce Hemming Sunny courtyard Johnston now has a huge, stylish room occupying the ground floor with a sun-striped yard cut from one corner, made instantly Mediterranean with a huge olive tree in a pot that took four men to lug in. Bruce Hemming Smart kitchen The smart, white kitchen with glass splashback is non-intrusive, while a log-style gas-burner adds a homely touch. Bruce Hemming Colour scheme Among the pale colours, a black steel bespoke balustrade with narrow spindles rises elegantly to the three light bedrooms, each with built-in desk and wardrobes. Bruce Hemming Light and quiet To make the most of the space the house rises right up into the roof curves, adding pleasing volume. For a site entirely surrounded by high walls there is lots of light and it is very quiet, Johnston observes. And thats absolutely true: Walworth, did someone say? Hard to believe. Bruce Hemming

Like David Johnston, 64, a former graphic designer who started out in advertising but got the bug for doing up houses in his thirties.

Now, instead of building one big house he has built two attractive, modern, two-storey houses of 1,230sq ft, each with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and a sunny walled courtyard, on a brownfield site that used to be home to a workshop for making iron railings.

Married with two grown-up children, Johnston is using one of the houses as his London base and is selling the other.

About 10 years ago, he clocked the quirky old metal workshop, buried in Victorian backstreets in Walworth, now minutes from the sweeping regeneration of Elephant and Castle.

What it cost Cost of plot in 2014: 420,000

420,000 Cost of works: 925,000

925,000 Combined estimated value of two similar-size houses: 2.2 million

He had done a few small developments in and around Southwark, where hed gone to art college.

So he made speculative plans to put one house on the site if it became available  but the workshop was still active, and he forgot about it.

So cool: pale brick grouted in light cream blends with slatted hardwood and attractive curved rooflines finished in raised-seam zinc / Bruce Hemming

Then in 2014, the owner decided to retire. He said he was going to auction the small plot. Johnston smartly jumped in and bought it pre-auction.

He also bought an extra bit of land at the front, owned by someone else, which not only made a bigger frontage but added enclosed parking and when the 18-month build was under way, it provided that all-important on-site storage space for materials. It paid for itself, says Johnston.

The old metalworks was a single-storey block with a corrugated front and was knee-deep in accumulated rubbish.

A bit like Steptoe and Son, Johnston says with fondness. Because the plot was hemmed in by houses, he and his architect Malcolm Crayton knew they would have to keep the roof lines low. After looking at the site, Crayton suggested two houses, not one  thats what a good architect does.

Before: the Steptoe and Son-style yard

Johnston knew he wanted a modern style, with a big living-dining area and outside space.

Crayton came up with a design that sank each house down about three feet so that their attractively curved rooflines, finished in raised-seam zinc, are far lower than surrounding roofs. Because the new floor level is sunken, the eaves are, amazingly, only 13ft 6in above ground level.

The pair were confident enough not to even have a pre-planning meeting, and just submitted the plans.

Apart from a request to opaque a couple of windows, the planners passed them. This meant that clearing began in winter 2016, ready for foundations early last year.

There were more skips than you could count, says Johnston. There was also the question of unexpected old drains to deal with.

He advises allowing extra time and budget for such things, and for negotiating numerous party wall agreements  in this case, around a dozen.

The living/kitchen/dining room: polished concrete floor and folding glass courtyard doors feature / Bruce Hemming

The houses use a palette of pale brick, pale polished concrete, pale oak and white walls.

The whitish, modulated brick used throughout is extremely pretty and runs from inside to outside, beautifully grouted with double cream-coloured mortar. The outer street walls are in the same brick with slatted hardwood gates.

You cannot see these two houses from the pavement, which is a neat trick.

Once through the gates, down a few steps, past two ornamental trees, you find the houses and their high-walled courtyards.

Whats especially clever is that there simply is no sense of being sunken, an effect helped by a second inner skylit small courtyard within each house, which draws in light and eradicates any perception of depth.

Johnston now has a huge, stylish room occupying the ground floor with a sun-striped yard cut from one corner, made instantly Mediterranean with a huge olive tree in a pot that took four men to lug in.

The polished floors took weeks but are smart, with trowel marks like bird wings: Id always wanted a polished concrete floor, he says.

The smart, white kitchen with glass splashback is non-intrusive, while a log-style gas-burner adds a homely touch.

Among the pale colours, a black steel bespoke balustrade with narrow spindles rises elegantly to the three light bedrooms, each with built-in desk and wardrobes.

To make the most of the space the house rises right up into the roof curves, adding pleasing volume. But this means that storage must be wrung from every possible place, including under the stairs where it has been done subtly, with sprung doors.

For a site entirely surrounded by high walls there is lots of light and it is very quiet, Johnston observes. And thats absolutely true: Walworth, did someone say? Hard to believe

Theres no sense of these houses being sunken: David Johnston in his high-walled Mediterranean courtyard. A second, skylit inner courtyard draws light down into each home / Juliet Murphy
Napoleon had no opportunity to make a U-turn, because unlike Hitler he had taken Moscow with ease, the czar refusing to give battle.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk died 80 years ago this month  a month that sees Pakistan caught in a mercifully less acerbic controversy on the priceless utility or the pusillanimous strategy of a U-turn. The Father of Turks comes in handy here because he had some insightful remarks to make about Der Fuehrer and the victor of the battle of Austerlitz, the two personalities mentioned by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

History and the vast war literature tell us there is a world of difference between Napoleon and Hitler in terms of the Russian invasion.

Napoleon had no opportunity to make a U-turn, because unlike Hitler he had taken Moscow with ease, the czar refusing to give battle.

It was the Russians scorched-earth policy and his retreat in winter that destroyed the Grande Armee. In contrast, Hitler had a chance to make a U-turn.

Hitlers Wehrmacht offensive had indeed come to a halt on the gates of Moscow, but if his racist fanaticism hadnt stood in the way he could have extracted a honourable peace with a Stalin who was at his wits end.

After all, virtually entire European Russia was under German control. If he had shown flexibility, he could have imposed a diktat on Russia and secured vast territorial concessions in Ukraine, Poland and along the Baltic.

This defeat at the hands of Asiatic barbarians shook his confidence with disastrous consequences for him and his people.

Ataturk had read Mein Kampf and was appalled by the madness of Hitlers ideas. His (Ataturks) dictatorship, he said, had freed an enslaved people, but Hitlers had enslaved a free people.

In foreign policy, Ataturks behaviour was in sharp contrast to other European dictators of his age. He believed in minimising casualties for units under his command, and took Istanbul by bluff. His motto was Dont fight a battle you cannot win.

Military victories didnt go to his head, as for instance his refusal to advance further into the Balkans after he had driven the Greeks out of Anatolia and Asia Minor and secured eastern Thrace and the Straits Zone.

He refused when his elated colleagues pressed him to advance toward Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia. He asked them to build on what they had achieved, warning that a further push into the Balkans would unite Europe on the half-a-millennium-old war cry, The Turks are coming!

He was a Macedonian, he said, but he didnt believe in reckless adventures.

Ataturk had seen Hitler on the march  the takeover of Rhineland, his denunciation of the Treaty of Versailles, his refusal to pay reparations or to accept restrictions on German rearmament, his withdrawal from the League of Nations, his military support to Franco in the Spanish civil war, peaceful Anschluss and the 1938 Munich ignominy.

He predicted that war would break out in the spring of 1940, and though he went wrong by about six months, he had made up his mind to keep Turkey out of it.

A cool-headed general and statesman, Ataturk had come to the conclusion that Turkey must develop an understanding with the former enemy, Britain, for whose navy he had respect. Consequently, he never pressed for a solution to the Cyprus issue and thought a British naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean was in Turkeys interest.

To ensure against British hostility, Ataturk astounded his colleagues by saying Turkey must sign a secret military pact with the former enemy.

As his health deteriorated because of excessive drinking, Ataturk thought his first job was to win over Ismet Inonu, the Prime Minister angry over Ataturks lifestyle and the consequent impact on governance.

He won over Inonu by accepting all his demands, with both agreeing to retire or transfer to less sensitive posts pro-German officers in the army and foreign ministry.

He also asked Inonu to visit Moscow to gauge what Stalins intentions were and to sign if possible an economic cooperation agreement. He died a few weeks later, but Inonu remained true to his legacy and steered the country out of historys most destructive war despite immense pressures from both sides.

Ataturk was Napoleons admirer as a general but, as quoted by Lord Kinross in his biography, Ataturk, he said Napoleon started with his country and ended with himself. Though an excellent general, he thought, Napoleon was without a sound political idea, more concerned with his ambition for world conquest than with the national interest of France.

According to Kinross, Ataturk liked to compare Napoleons invasion of Russia with the Ottoman push on Vienna at the expense of the countrys internal welfare. He was aware of Napoleons remarks, I just go ahead and my progress is the result of my movement. Ataturk commented: Those who just go ahead finally knock their head against the rock of St. Helena.

By arrangement with Dawn
There are 2.1 million phone numbers on Indianas Do Not Call list, which is stricter than the federal list.

Former state Sen. David Long was behind the original telemarking law, which allows residents to register their numbers on a telemarking do not call list. (Photo: Pixabay)

Indiana lawmakers are looking for new ways to address illegal and unwanted telephone calls as telemarketers are using advances in technology to skirt the states telemarketing law.

There are 2.1 million phone numbers on Indianas Do Not Call list, which is stricter than the federal list, The Journal Gazette reported .

The state saw immediate results when the law went into effect in 2002, but advances in technology are allowing telemarketers to find loopholes. Some telemarketers now use spoof numbers to make it appear as if a call is coming from a local area.

Democratic Rep. Ryan Hatfield of Evansville said Indianas current efforts dont appear to be working or doing enough to address the situation.

I would favour a complete overhaul of the system, he said. I find it unacceptable that we throw up our hands and say we can do nothing.

Republican Rep. Jeff Ellington of Bloomington is preparing a bill to address the issue for the 2019 legislative session, which begins in January. The bill will propose increasing fines, which could lead to faster settlements with telemarketers.

Ellington said Indiana needs to invest more to combat the issue that he characterises as an intrusion on residential homes and businesses.

Im just fed up and hopefully we can accomplish something, he said.

Former state Sen. David Long was behind the original telemarking law, which allows residents to register their numbers on a telemarking do not call list. There are exceptions for charities, political calls and businesses that residents have an existing relationship with.

We came up with a solution that was fair and reasoned, Long said. Its very possible that the whole concept needs a review. I get calls constantly.

Betsy DeNardi, the director and chief counsel of Consumer Protection for Indianas attorney generals office, said there are a few issues hampering the law. She said the attorney generals office doesnt have jurisdiction over calls placed from outside the US, which means a large portion of calls are untouchable.

DeNardi said the biggest issue is that many calls arent coming from legitimate telemarketers, but are from scammers looking to steal money or information for identify theft.

They dont care, DeNardi said.

Attorney General Curtis Hill said hes committed to continue working to protect Indiana residents against nuisance callers.

I especially want to continue working with federal authorities to combat nuisance calls coming from overseas and to counter the cutting-edge technologies used by nuisance callers to avoid being identified and penalised, he said.

(Source)
Pipeline

26 November 2018

Swiss International and Unicorn Prestige are both proud to announce that today they signed a Franchise Agreement for the luxury hotel, Royal Swiss Lahore. The hotel is nearing its construction completion and is scheduled to open its doors in March of 2019.

Royal Swiss Lahore is strategically located at just 500 meters from the Allam Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Pakistan. Along with its 350 rooms and suites, the hotel will be complemented with the Swiss International's signature concepts; the Swiss Restaurant & Lounge, the Noodles & Rice, the TED & Co - Bar & Lounge, the Moods - Cigar Lounge, the Swiss Select Lounge, the Swiss Cafe Leafs & Beans, 7 Eventives Meeting venues,, the Inspirations Pool & Gym and a World-Class Spa. As a Royal Swiss, the property will express sophisticated luxury for travelers seeking state- of-the-art facilities and services in a refined and elegant environment.

Unique to the destination, the Eventives Meetings & Events venues, at the Royal Swiss Lahore will host from 500 people and up to 2,000 people in its modular sound- proofed hall. These venues are ideal for small to large meetings, conferences, weddings, exhibitions, amongst other events.

The Royal Swiss Lahore will open its doors during the time that the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is earmarking the expansion and modernization of the Pakistan's second largest airport, Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIAP), to meet the growing passenger needs during the course of the next 20 years.
Press Release

26 November 2018

Meli Hotels International takes part in a forum to celebrate the 40th anniversary of opening and reform in China

The forum organised by China Daily, the China Institute for Reform and Development and ESADE was attended by former President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, among others.

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The Meli Madrid Princesa Hotel has hosted the China-Europe Forum on reform and globalisation organised by China Daily, the China Institute for Reform and Development and ESADE in partnership with Meli Hotels International.

Over recent decades China has experienced major growth and the European Union has moved towards greater integration. The 40th anniversary of the reform and opening of China therefore focused on exploring relationships between China and Europe through three panels focused on China-Europe relationships and Chinese reform and opening, Sino-Spanish strategic relations and shared prosperity, and China's economic development and globalisation.

Among others, the panels included former Spanish president Jos Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, as well as Spanish and international experts in economics and foreign relations as well as Chinese companies and institutions, all of whom had an opportunity to describe their vision and experiences. With corporate offices in China for more than 10 years, Meli Hotels International also had the privilege to take part.

Meli Hotels International currently has four hotels in operation in China in Jinan, Shanghai, Xi'an and Zhengzhou, and seven more hotels in the pipeline under three of its most prestigious brands: Gran Meli, Meli and INNSIDE by Meli. The company aims to continue to increase its footprint in China through alliances with major industry leaders such as Greenland and partners in the Chinese travel industry such as C-trip, the biggest online travel agency in the country, Air China and China Eastern Airlines.

Meli's commitment to China has been built around respect and the integration of its brands and values with Chinese culture. An example of this is "Peng-You", a programme through which hotels adapt to the needs of Chinese travellers and respond to their expectations in its hotels all around the world.

Mara Zarraluqui, Vice President of Hotel Development at Meli Hotels International, took part in one of the panels and made the closing speech at the forum, stating that "we have always been driven by a desire to bring Spanish hospitality to new markets while at the same time being as open as we can possibly be to how we can be enriched by new markets and culture."
Supplier News

26 November 2018

Otrum and Zenros are pleased to announce the establishment of an Otrum-Zenros sales hub in Dubai to deliver Otrum products and services throughout the Middle East region. Through this new initiative, Otrum and Zenros will accelerate growth in the Middle East.

Mr. Lars Melvin, Group CEO of Zenros, states, "Zenros has the ambition to become the preferred guest room technology provider in the Middle East, to realise this dream we have taken our partnership with Otrum to a new level with this joint venture. Otrum's installation track record is exceptional and combining this with the strong regional Zenros footprint gives hotel customers great value propositions. The Dubai hub will immediately benefit all Otrum clients, and we look forward to working in close co-operation with Otrum regional partners in the Middle East."

Mr. Stein Surlien, CEO of Otrum, comments, "Today there are over 1.5 million Otrum Enterprise users per month, this is growing at a significant rate and hotel guests in the Middle East need to be able to access these services, as well as our signage and Chromecast solutions. To fuel growth, an Otrum and Zenros alliance is the ideal solution. By matching our strengths, Otrum having high performing solutions and Zenros having first-class sales with regional presence, we expect to deliver according to ambitious development plans. The Dubai hub will be supported by the wider Otrum team, including our international support centre in Norway."
Is Airbnb already mature, 10 years after its creation? A new detailed report explains why growth is crumbling.

Excerpt from Tourism Review

Is Airbnb already mature, 10 years after its creation? A new detailed report explains why growth is crumbling.

Airbnb has reached the peak in its most mature markets, Europe and the United States. This is one of the main conclusions of a new report, published by Morgan Stanley, which highlights the growing competition from Booking and Expedia in the field of seasonal rentals. The study is based on a survey of 4000 consumers in the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Germany.

According to the results of the survey, the percentage of people who have used Airbnb's services in the last 12 months (until October 2018) has increased by only two points, to 27%. By 2017, it had increased by three points, compared to eight points in 2016. The soft landing is palpable, especially since the booking frequency would have decreased by 10% per member, whereas it had been stable in the previous three years.

How can such a slowdown be explained? Morgan Stanley researchers attribute it to three main reasons: brand awareness that reaches its peak in the regions studied (86%); privacy, legality and security issues; and competition from online agencies such as Booking and Expedia. 59% of respondents use OTAs to book travel, including hotel stays but also alternative accommodation.

Click here to read complete article at Tourism Review.

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With its first hotel opening in Beijing in 2015, NUO plans to expand to cities from New York to Kuala Lumpur over the next 15 years

Excerpt from South China Morning Post

With its first hotel opening in Beijing in 2015, NUO plans to expand to cities from New York to Kuala Lumpur over the next 15 years

The world-famous Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York might now be under the control of the Chinese government  it announced in February that it had seized control of Anbang Insurance Group, which owns the hotel  but China's ambition is to set up a home-grown hotel brand that will have outlets around the world.



Spearheading the drive is the state-owned Beijing Tourism Group (BTG), which boasts over 100 hospitality, dining, fashion, transport and other industry brands.



BTG set up NUO Hotel in the city centre of Beijing in 2015 as part of its restructuring to help make Chinese brands go global. The hotel's general manager Adrian Rudin says 15 to 20 hotels under the NUO brand will be opened in 10 to 15 years in cities including Rome, Moscow, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Paris, London, New York and Dubai.

"We will start off in a few key Chinese cities first, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen," says Rudin. "Then the brand will go overseas."

The goal is to have a hotel in each major city around the world so that Chinese national leaders can be put up in home-grown hotels on their overseas trips, says Cindy Zhu, NUO's director of marketing communications.



Click here to read complete article at South China Morning Post.

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Staying innovative in your digital marketing strategy means staying up-to-date with the ever-changing digital landscape. From TripAdvisor evolving into a social travel platform with new research and sharing tools to Google Maps adding a follow button for businesses, learn more about the top things you need to know now in hotel digital marketing.

Staying innovative in your digital marketing strategy means staying up-to-date with the ever-changing digital landscape. From TripAdvisor evolving into a social travel platform with new research and sharing tools to Google Maps adding a follow button for businesses, learn more about the top things you need to know now in hotel digital marketing.

1. SEO: Google launches a follow button for businesses in Google Maps.

Earlier this year, Google added a posting feature to Google My Business listings, allowing businesses to post updates directly to their local listing. Now, Google has added a follow button for businesses featured on Google Maps so users can subscribe to a businesss updates, which will display in a new tab for users called For You. In light of this new feature, businesses will be able to launch a Google My Business listing three months prior to opening, in order to build awareness and traction.

Now hotels have a new way to engage with potential guests, keeping them in the know of spa or dining specials or driving awareness of new hotel openings on Google Maps, up to three months before the first guest sets foot in the lobby.

2. SEM: Google expands Exact Match to include close variants focused on query intent.

Google has officially rolled out exact match to include variants that share the same meaning of the keyword, including implied words and paraphrases. Now, instead of focusing on the exact wording of the keyword, Google is focusing more on the intent of the keyword to potentially reach more users with relevant ads, even when the query itself might be worded slightly differently.

In light of this change, hotel search marketers may be able to spend less time building out exhaustive lists of keywords for campaigns and more time analyzing search term reports for new and negative keywords once a campaign gains traction.

3. Display: AMP Story Ads come out of beta with Google Ad Manager support.

AMP Story Ads are full-screen ads that appear directly within a Google AMP story to promote products, services, and content. Theyre now accessible to everyone with the Google Ad Manager. Hotel brands with a strong blog presence or editorial content hub can utilize AMP Story Ads to promote content to mobile users on the go.

4. Social: TripAdvisor goes social with personal ways for travel planners to connect and share advice. The new TripAdvisor expands its community beyond travelers to also include brands, social media influencers, publishers, and friends. Travel planners can now follow and connect with individuals or content creators who share information that is relevant to their travel research and interests.

Complementing our more than 661 million reviews and opinions, TripAdvisor members will be able to create and view inspirational and helpful new forms of content including photos, videos and articles, TripAdvisor announced on their investor relations forum. Members will also have the ability to create "Trips," which can be in-depth travel guides, itineraries, or simple wish lists of things to do while traveling. Trips can be made private and saved for personal use or shared with the community to inspire and help others.

As TripAdvisor evolves more into a social community, theres potential for TripAdvisor to dramatically change the way travelers research and plan travel. While the impact of these changes remains to be seen, hotel brands should keep a pulse on these changes to find new ways to leverage in their digital strategy. HEBS Digital is currently developing best practices on ways hotels can take advantage of these new TripAdvisor features.

5. Design: Particle website backgrounds. Hotels with limited video assets that still want engaging animation throughout their web design should consider a particle background. Particle backgrounds are lightweight java script animations that allow movement to be created as a subtle part of the website background. This is a great way to make a website more exciting and interactive without overwhelming visitors.

ABOUT HEBS DIGITAL:

Founded in 2001, the firm is headquartered in New York City and has global offices in Las Vegas and Asia Pacific. Through its Smart Guest Acquisition Suite, including the smartCMS, Smart Personalization Engine, Smart Data Marketing, and full-service digital consulting and marketing solutions, HEBS Digital helps hoteliers drastically boost direct bookings, lower distribution costs, and increase the lifetime value of guests.

Part of NextGuest Technologies, HEBS Digital and Serenata CRM, the most comprehensive Hotel CRM Suite today, are the creators of the hospitality industrys first Fully-Integrated Guest Engagement & Acquisition Platform.

A diverse client portfolio of top-tier luxury and boutique hotel chains, independent hotels, resorts and casinos, franchised properties and hotel management companies, convention centers, spas, restaurants, DMO and tourist offices across the globe are all benefiting from HEBS Digitals direct online channel strategy and digital marketing expertise.

HEBS Digitals technology, website design and digital marketing services have won more than 500 prestigious industry awards, including World Travel Awards, HSMAI Adrian Awards, Stevie Awards (American Business Awards), Travel Weeklys Magellan Awards, and more.

The HEBS Digital team is comprised of thought leaders, a diverse team of experts comprised of over 33 nationalities speaking over 22 languages. Contact HeBS Digitals consultants at 1 (800) 649-5076 (North America), +64 (0) 9 889 8489 (Asia Pacific) or success@hebsdigital.com.

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JLL has advised Mystic Investment on the sale of its luxury hotel development, The Maison Albar Hotels Le Monumental Palace, in the heart of Porto.

JLL has advised Mystic Investment on the sale of its luxury hotel development, The Maison Albar Hotels Le Monumental Palace, in the heart of Porto.

The Maison Albar Hotels Le Monumental Palace first opened its doors in Autumn 2018. The luxurious 76-room boutique hotel features a wellness offering complete with spa, swimming pool and fitness suite. The restaurant, run by Michelin-starred chef Julien Montbabut, is complimented by an American cocktail bar and a Parisian style cafe. The facade of the historic building dates back to 1923, and is a listed historical monument.

The acquisition is the Paris Inn Group's first step outside of France within Europe.

Having won the "European Best Destination" award three times over the past years, Porto is an established tourism destination that will continue to gain visibility as a tourism hotspot.

Patrick J Saade, co-head European Transactions in JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group, said:

"Mystic Investment has played an important role in positioning Porto as a global tourism hub. The sale of the hotel confirms it has succeeded, and shows a conscious move for cross-border investment in the city. Paris Inn Group, is in the process of rolling out the Maison Albar brand globally and we are pleased to have helped on its first milestone abroad."

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After burning for over two weeks, killing dozens and destroying thousands of homes, the Northern California fire has been fully contained authorities confirmed on Sunday. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Camp Fire was able to put under control when firefighters surrounded it after days of rainfall in the Paradise area. A declaration of 100% containment does not mean that the fire is completely put out, but it indicates that firefighters have been able to create a successful containment barrier.

Now considered the nations deadliest wildfire in a century, the fire killed at least 85 people while 249 continue to be unaccounted for as rescue crews look through debris for human remains. It was on November 8th that the fire began in the Sierra Nevada foothills and within a day it had destroyed most of the town of Paradise. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation according to authorities.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

This news arrives after the devastating Woolsey Fire came to an end in Southern California last week. While not as destructive as the Camp Fire, Woolsey claimed the lives of three people.

California was placed under a public health state of emergency by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar after the fires caused the evacuation of two hospitals and eight other health facilities. Authorities also warn that danger still looms as rainfall after a fire places the area at a high risk for debris flow, flash flooding, and mudslides.
Toronto rapper G Milla released his solo project, LFDY almost two years ago. The artist has evidently been on his grind, ensuring that LFDY was followed up with impressive performances and efforts on his end.

He recently collaborated with Teddy Fantum in a new track with a newly released video entitled, "Torino." His latest release, however, is a solo endeavor; a forthcoming project titled On The Edge which is expected to drop in the near future.

"I Can't Tell," produced by Saintfall & The Lobby, is the projects lead single. In the song, Milla can be heard rhyming about his triumphs, tribulations, and aspirations over a smooth, melodic track.

Quotable Lyrics

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade

When I die, get that bag, boy we EMA

Aint no lemons how we living, we still winning


The goal is to teach the various ways hackers use to compromise networks and the methodology for detecting a breach.

The training is a continuation of the Rhode Island State Police Joint Cyber Task Forces objective of strengthening state.

Rhode Island State Police are hosting a cybersecurity training session for local police information technology professionals and other critical infrastructure IT professionals.

Capt. John Alfred, who leads the departments Joint Cyber Task Force and Fusion Center, said the class that starts Tuesday and last three days consists of 30 participants who represent 18 municipalities, two state agencies and two critical infrastructure agencies.

The goal is to teach the various ways hackers use to compromise networks and the methodology for detecting, containing, eradicating and recovering from a breach or malware outbreak.

The training is a continuation of the Rhode Island State Police Joint Cyber Task Forces objective of strengthening state, local and critical infrastructure.

(Source)
Prior to his tour announcement earlier this morning, Meek Mill penned a powerful op-ed in todays New York Times, urging for criminal justice reform and reassessment of the current set of prisoner rights. The Philadelphia rapper spoke from a place of first-hand mistreatment, shedding light on what he endured and the strong bias the criminal justice system currently thrives on. Like many who are currently incarcerated, I was the victim of a miscarriage of justice  carried out by an untruthful officerand an unfair judge, Meek writes.

Meek also used the op-ed to advocate for "stronger prison rehabilitation programs, updated probation policies... an improved bail system and balanced sentencing structures," as well as pressuring politicians who support the current system. We all need to hold our lawmakers accountable for supporting unfair or inhumane policies and all practices that perpetuate injustice, especially for the blacks and Latinos who fall prey to them most frequently, he added.

In addition to his publication, Meek also shared a 2-minute clip talking further on criminal justice and how the police and laws were made to protect us, but dont. The criminal justice system has a set of rights created to protect you. But do you think its really protecting us? Meek says in the video. You have the right the remain silent. What that really means  you have the right to be silenced. Doubt it. Interrogate it. Suspect it. The color of your skin can and will be used against you in the court of law.

The op-ed also announced a new advocacy group pushing for criminal justice reform called "ReformNow." Meek says that the initiative will launch soon.

Read Meeks full op-ed in The New York TimesRIGHT HERE, and peep the clip (below).

https://twitter.com/_/status/1067089704816975873


According to a new report, a young Guatemalan woman was injured as she attempted to scale a fence at the USMexico border along with her two young children. US Border Patrol agent Tekae Michael informed Buzzfeed News that the unfortunate incident occurred late this Friday around 11:25 p.m at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

The unidentified and unnamed woman is said to have landed on pieces of rebar which ultimately pierced the side of her body and buttocks when she fell. She was immediately treated by paramedics on the scene, then transported to local hospital where her wounds were tended to and her children, ages 3 and 5, were evaluated. Fortunately, her young children were not injured. The children were subsequently released to Border Patrol custody.

"Entering our country illegally, particularly over our walls, is not only dangerous, but also very foolish," said Rodney Scott, a San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent. "This woman placed her own life and her childrens lives in peril. She could have easily died if not for the quick response by our agents and EMS."

Officials are in the midst of conducting an investigation to determine how the woman and her children were able to reach the area.
"Star Trek" is arguably one of the most iconic and celebrated television series of all time. Approximately 50 years ago, the television series revolutionized American television by featuring the small screen's first-ever interracial kiss when William Shatner's character and Nichelle Nichols Lieutenant Uhura locked lips.

The seminal episode first aired on November 22, 1968, shortly after the Supreme Courts groundbreaking Loving v. Virginia decision struck down state laws banning interracial marriage. The kiss occurred during a scene in which Kirk and Uhura are forced to passionately embrace under alien mind control. In a 2010 interview, Nichols revealed that NBC had filmed two version of the scenes. In one version Nichols and Shatner kissed, and in another, the pair simply held each other to avoid upsetting the network's affiliates in the Jim Crow South. She went on to claim that Shatner deliberately sabotaged the take excluding the kiss by crossing his eyes. The scene received an overwhelmingly positive response. The mail poured in. We had more mail on that episode than any other episode in all of the time of Star Trek,  she said.

The red robe that Shatners character wore in the celebrated episode is set to be sold for as much $60,000 when it is auctioned at Propstore.com on December 1.
As Apple flourished in Cupertino, becoming the first American company worth $1 trillion, Vallco Shopping Mall rotted away in its shadow.

The 1976 mall was home to the retail giants of the 20th century: Macys, Sears and J.C. Penney, which all closed their stores in the last three years as foot traffic dwindled and shoppers shifted online. Today, Vallco is a cavernous, mostly empty space of 1.2 million square feet, with a handful of survivors such as Dynasty Seafood Restaurant and the Bay Club hanging on. On the other side of Interstate 280 is Apples new $5 billion headquarters, which includes a sleek visitor center and shop.

Since 2014, developer Sand Hill Property Co. has sought to transform the mall into nearly 2 million square feet of office space, more than 2,400 housing units and a 400,000-square-foot retail center.

Thousands of Cupertino residents have fought back. In 2016, Sand Hill Property submitted a ballot measure to win support for one version of the project, while opponents had a measure that banned office space and housing on the site and kept the retail size the same. Both measures were rejected by voters, throwing the project into limbo.

The notion of replacing Vallco with another mall seems utterly unrealistic: A quarter of Americas 1,100 shopping malls are expected to close within five years.

Opponents, who formed a group called Better Cupertino, say the project will exacerbate traffic, which is already miserable in the wake of Apple Parks opening. The added office space will also worsen the regions jobs-housing imbalance, they say.

The rate of office growth is a lot faster than it used to be. Its unsustainable, said Liang Chao, co-founder of Better Cupertino and a City Council candidate who appears headed for election with some votes left to count. When you talk about growth, its like our body. If I overeat, Im overweight. Now, shall I continue to eat? You need healthy growth.

Vallcos potential transformation would have profound effects on Cupertino, a suburban city of 60,000. The years-long battle also reflects growing unease over the Bay Areas booming economy, where jobs are plentiful but housing is scarce, particularly for less wealthy residents. Some city officials want job growth to slow down, but the roaring tech sector shows little signs of cooling.

The hardest thing Ive had to deal with is the idea that growth is infinite and unstoppable. Cities fill up, said Michael Goldman, a city councilman in Sunnyvale, which borders Apples headquarters.

The negative effects of growth include people fleeing California because of high costs, and giant companies squeezing out smaller ones, Goldman said.

Were going to have three big companies, Goldman said, referring to Apple, Google and Facebook. You know where else had three big companies? Detroit.

Cities in the region have few options to hit the brakes on job growth, but they have powerful control over land use. Projects can be stalled for years through city approval processes, ballot measures and lawsuits.

Sand Hill Property Co.

In the face of withering opposition, developers usually cut a deal, adding community benefits or scaling projects down.

Developer Sand Hill did the opposite at Vallco: Its recent plan doesnt include more than $35 million in city fees compared with an alternative project. It doesnt have a traffic mitigation plan and calls for taller buildings, up to 240 feet, close to the height of San Joses tallest towers.

Cupertino approved it in September.

The reason was SB35, a new California law that requires cities that havent met housing goals  and most in the Bay Area have not  to fast-track projects that include affordable housing. It is a powerful growth tool, exempting projects from years-long hurdles, including environmental reviews and public hearings.

Sand Hills approved plan includes 2,402 housing units, and its biggest concession is that 50 percent will be affordable, which qualifies it for SB35. Cupertino planned to add 1,064 housing units citywide between 2014 and 2022.

SB35s author, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said he fully supports the Vallco project. State laws pushing for housing are critical when there are opponents who want to freeze Cupertino in amber and who are unconcerned about whether anyone can actually afford to live in Cupertino, Wiener said in a statement last month.

The battle isnt over, but the developer has seized the initiative. It demolished a parking structure in October, and demolition of the mall is expected to begin early next year, according to a city spokesman.

A nonprofit called Friends of Better Cupertino, a Better Cupertino affiliate, filed a lawsuit against the city, saying that the project doesnt comply with SB35. It alleges that the project isnt two-thirds housing because it includes residential parking space, that its built on a hazardous waste site and that it doesnt have enough green space. (On a list of answers to frequently asked questions on its website, the city denies there is hazardous waste at Vallco.)

A separate referendum was also submitted for 2020 to block the citys alternative development plan, which prompted Sand Hill to pick the SB35 plan instead.

Were under way and were going, and we couldnt be more excited, said Reed Moulds, a managing director at Sand Hill Property. Were not going to be deterred.

The $4 billion project has full financing to move forward, and no public funds are needed to build the affordable housing, Moulds said. Sand Hills equity partner is Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund with estimated assets over $800 billion. The project is expected to open in 2021 or 2022.

Sand Hill Property Co. / Sand Hill Property Co.

More delays would be costly; construction costs continue to rise because workers are scarce, Moulds said. For a project of this size, we estimate our rate of escalation is $700,000 a day, he said.

Moulds said that the office space will help pay for the affordable housing, while housing will help support stores and offices by providing foot traffic and giving workers places to live.

All of these pieces work together to make a viable project, he said. We have other retail projects in Cupertino that are struggling to keep the lights on, not because business is bad, but because they cant get people to show up to work because their housing is unstable.

Vallcos affordable housing levels are unprecedented, said Adhi Nagraj, San Francisco director of SPUR, an urban planning nonprofit think tank.

To build 50 percent on site with no public subsidy is unheard of, he said, adding that typical projects provide 10 to 15 percent.

You can imagine a lot of Apple employees who are now struggling, sitting in shuttles ... living in these new units, Nagraj said. This is a great reuse of a dying asset, which is a mall, and converting it to a growth asset.

Project critics are doubtful that potential residents of Vallco will work locally. Young Apple employees already choose San Francisco because its more fun, said Steven Scharf, a Cupertino councilman who is sympathetic toward project opponents.

A single person is not that interested in living in Cupertino, he said.

Better Cupertino members said they support the housing but dont want the office space because of traffic.

Im a numbers person, so I certainly looked at the numbers and said, This is way too much, said Jim Moore, a 42-year Cupertino resident and retired IBM employee. That is going to change the landscape of the city.

But hed be happy to see 2,000 units of housing, especially affordable housing, and a smaller shopping center.

Moore has owned his house for decades, and his daughter was born and raised in Cupertino and worked for a clothing store in Vallco. She was previously a Cupertino public school teacher until she had her first child. She lives in San Jose.

She wasnt able to live here. This is where she grew up. This is where we are. This is where her friends are, Moore said. So Id like a good amount of affordable housing, but all the levels, not just the ones that would satisfy service workers.

Cupertinos median home value is $2.3 million, up 16.6 percent during the past year, according to Zillow. Thats more than 10 times the U.S. median, according to Trulia.

Vallcos SB35 affordable housing plan includes low- and very-low-income units, but not moderate-income units that are typically available for teachers.

Not everyone wants affordable housing. At a September public hearing, Thomas Maiello identified himself as a public school student and gave a presentation opposing affordable housing.

According to the sales pitch, the new housing units would include low-income high-density housing apartments, his presentation said. This would mean that we would have uneducated people living in Cupertino. A lot of other residents and I are concerned that this would make the current residents of Cupertino uncomfortable, and would split our city in half.

The hostile reception for Vallco stands in sharp contrast to nearby Apple Park, the 2.8 million-square-foot headquarters, which has no housing.

I was really pleased when I travel to have people say, when I said Cupertino, Oh thats the home of Apple. It was founded here, Moore said. My wife and I have iPads, and she has an iPhone. We like their products.

Moore said Apples office project is different because the site was already office space, formerly occupied by Hewlett-Packard.

The project, which was approved in 2012, also came before much of the tech boom that has flooded the highways with traffic and led to soaring housing costs. In the wake of the recession, the possibility of Apple moving away helped spur the city to green light the plan, recalls Rod Sinks, Cupertinos vice mayor.

Apple invested $75 million for infrastructure and transit improvements and paid $5.85 million for affordable housing, double what it was required. Cupertino is now studying a potential per-employee tax that would largely affect Apple.

Sinks, who has also voted in favor of redeveloping Vallco, acknowledged that traffic is a major problem, with no solution in sight.

We are a transit desert, he said. The bus system is so ineffective, its almost never an option for anyone who has an alternative.

But Sinks questions the idea of slowing down growth.

Most of us moved to Silicon Valley because of the economic opportunity. The question is, are we affording our kids that same opportunity? he said. I think were beginning to have a change of heart about housing.

Roland Li is a Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
In 2010, when I moved into my Montrose bungalow, one of the first facts I learned about my new neighborhood was that the house across from mine was called the Clark Gable house.

Before his days as Rhett Butler in "Gone With the Wind," Gable had lived in the house across from us. When we toured the house, the Realtor mentioned Gable. When I met my new neighbors, they mentioned Gable.

Soon enough, I learned that when a neighbor asked me where I lived, the best descriptor was to say, "Across from the Clark Gable house." The house was part of local lore, adding a richness to the neighborhood. The house itself was unusual  a Tuscan-style villa, three stories high, with gray walls and a greenish-blue trim, located on the same lot as a run-down fairy-tale house, complete with turrets.

According to the local lore, the original owner of the Clark Gable house had been injured in World War I. While recovering in Italy, he fell in love with the houses and decided to build a similar one once he was back in Houston. Later, it became a haven for artists.

A few months ago, the Clark Gable house sold to a developer. It was located on a large corner lot, prime real estate for the heart of Montrose.

I braced myself for the worst while holding out hope that perhaps the buyers would recognize the storied house for the treasure it was and make the decision to renovate it, rather than tear it down. Then, before I could even process what had happened, the demolition crews came on a Thursday morning.

First, they tore down the house next door, giving me a brief moment of hope that the Clark Gable house might be renovated. But early the next morning, the demolition crews came back, tearing down the walls. Within 48 hours, it was all gone, leaving my neighbors and me staring at an empty lot, with only our memories of what had been there before.

What had once been a Montrose landmark, a place that enriched our history and gave depth to our neighborhood, was nothing more than a dusty patch of ground, ready for yet another complex of cheaply built townhouses, designed to last only as long as an owner's whim and builder's liability.

Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle

Less than a day after the Clark Gable house was torn down, I flew to Rome to attend a friend's wedding. I spent two weeks traveling through Italy surrounded by history. A recurring theme for Italian history was preservation and adaptation. Rather than having been torn down and replaced with something completely new, most of the structures had a varied history. I saw ancient monuments that were later adapted by popes, ancient buildings that were turned into cathedrals.

The Senatorial Palace in Rome, designed by Michelangelo during the Renaissance, sat atop the Tabularium, which once housed the records for ancient Rome. While designing the Senatorial Palace, Michelangelo made the decision to use the Tabularium as a foundation, all so that an ancient building could be preserved while making room for a new structure. What this created was a rich layer of history, stories layered upon stories.

I found myself wanting this layered history for Houston. Our history may be brief, but it is chock-full of quirky characters and interesting stories, all of which add depth and nuance to our city. Here in Montrose, we have an abundance of homes that, though old, were built with care. My own home is no different, having weathered 100 years of Houston weather  and bad do-it-yourself renovations and absentee landlords.

In spite of all that, it's a solid home, and a peaceful one, with old wood floors, high ceilings and cozy rooms. The old homes here in Houston were built to be lived in, built to be enjoyed, built to stand for years. These were homes where people lived their lives, turning Houston into the city it is today. These are homes that, given some care and attention, add a richness to our city.

But almost every day brings news of more structures like these being torn down. We've lost the Shelor Motor Company Building downtown, and the Kirby Mansion is threatened. That's not to mention countless smaller buildings and houses that no one's ever heard of. These structures are our city's history, but every time another one is torn down, we have no choice but shrugging and moving on, accepting whatever cookie-cutter structure gets put up in its place. Before we know it, we'll become a city that looks like nowhere in particular.

Is this really who we are?

Rachel Fairbank is a science writer living in Houston.

Get the Gray Matters newsletter. It has been designed to last longer than an owner's whim and builder's liability.
For mainland media, her separatist stance has lost her the support of the people on the island". The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) now controls only six cities and counties, whilst pro-mainland Kuomintang has 15. Tsai quit as party leader but will remain as president until the end of her mandate.

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Chinese state media are putting pressure on Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (pictured) on Monday after her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suffered heavy losses at local elections at the weekend, saying Beijing would seek cooperation with newly elected officials.

Ms Tsai resigned as DPP president after her party lost power in the main cities to the mainland-friendly Kuomintang (KMT). The DPP now only controls six cities and counties to the Kuomintang's 15.

The election was seen as a referendum on the Tsai administration, two years after she became the islands first woman president.

Tsai had promised to revitalise Taiwans lackluster economy and keep the democratic island at a distance from the mainland Communist Party's pull.

But her economic leadership came under criticism as she sought unpopular labour restructuring and pension cuts, whilst wage growth  which has been flat since the 1990s  never materialised.

At the same time, the Chinese government launched personal attacks against Tsai, organised military drills near the island and worked to isolate Taiwan from the international community.

The election was overshadowed by allegations from DPP that China was seeking to influence the election through a disinformation campaign on social media and by illegally financing pro-China publications.

Despite this, Tsai took "full responsibility" for the DPP's losses and acknowledged the reversal reflected the people's will after voters queued for hours to cast their ballots. At the same time, she is expected to complete her mandate, which will end in 2020.

Tsai has said she wants to maintain the status quo with China but will defend Taiwan's security and democracy.

In an editorial, the China Daily said Tsai had ignored Beijing's "cooperative stance" and forced relations into a deadlock, and that "her separatist stance has lost her the support of the people on the island".

Since Tsai took office, the KMT sent delegations to China, where they were warmly received. Contacts can now be expected to increase.

Another state-run Chinese paper, the Global Times, said in its editorial that the DPP's "radical thinking" had led them astray. "The party needs to reflect on this failure and make an about-face on its stance in the cross-Straits ties," it said.

However, the day after the vote, Taiwan's government denounce China's welcoming of the DPP's poor showing as being a reflection of people's desire for better ties across the Taiwan Strait.

"Communications and exchanges that do not have political preconditions are the only correct way to resolve disputes and increase the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said, warning China not to try to contact newly elected local officials.
On the Fourth of July in 2016, Braden Scott came down with what seemed like just a summer cold.

But a couple of days later, when the 5-year-old couldnt swallow and was having trouble walking, his parents took him to urgent care in Beaumont. There, doctors decided he had strep throat or mononucleosis and sent him home with some antibiotics and steroids.

But Braden continued to get worse, so his parents went to a hospital later that night. I carried Braden to the car because he couldnt walk, recalled his mother, Rachel Scott.

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He arrived by helicopter to Childrens Memorial Hermann in Houston, where it soon became apparent that Braden wasnt just weak  the problem was neurological. He couldnt breathe, sit up or swallow. Except for a few muscles in his left hand, he was paralyzed.

Since then, Braden  now 7  has been fighting to recover from the physical devastation caused by acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. Its a mysterious polio-like illness that affects the central nervous system, causing weakness or paralysis. Its a rare illness, with a potentially devastating impact, and its recent resurgence has alarmed parents across the country.

The CDC has seen an increase in AFM in the past four years, with more than 400 cases confirmed in the United States since August 2014.

This year, doctors have reported 17 confirmed new cases so far in Texas and 90 nationwide. An additional 162 cases are under investigation across the country, so that number could rise before the end of 2018.

AFM is found almost exclusively in young children; the CDC says that 90 percent of confirmed cases are in patients under 18, and the average age of AFM patients is 4.

Just two new cases of AFM have been found in the Houston area this year, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services  one in Harris County and one in Galveston County. Both are children.

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The illnesss onset is sudden: A perfectly healthy person suddenly experiences weakness in the arm or legs, difficulty swallowing, facial dropping or slurred speech.

Since AFM started spiking in 2014, researchers have struggled to find a cause. After entertaining the possibility that AFM is caused by genetic disorders or environmental factors, the CDC released a report earlier this month that suggests the illness is viral.

According to the report, 99 percent of the children with AFM had a viral illness about 10 days before paralysis set in. Like Braden, they experienced a fever, a cold, a cough, and then something much worse.

At a recent therapy session, Bradens therapist removed his neck support brace, and he tried to focus on stretching up and supporting his own head.

Look at that! his mom says. Youre holding your head up like a giraffe!

Improvements are small and hard-won. Since he first fell ill in 2016, Braden has spent months at Memorial Hermann and at an in-patient rehab hospital in Dallas. He lives at home now  the Scotts have since moved to The Woodlands but he goes to twice-a-week occupational, physical and speech therapy at TIRR Memorial Hermann The Woodlands, and he does rehab work every day at home.

A cervical brace on his neck helps Braden support and control his head. A tracheostomy tube needs suctioning now and then to keep his airway clear of congestion. Hes slowly starting to build back some of his strength and abilities.

Life changed for the whole Scott family  Braden, his parents and his four siblings  almost overnight, Rachel Scott said. One day, Braden was a healthy 5-year-old; a few days later, he couldnt stand up.

We try to live our lives the same as before, she said. We want to give him as normal a childhood as we can.

But honestly, everything is different, she said. Braden has a nurse with him 24 hours a day, and the Scotts lives revolve around medical and therapy appointments.

We had to learn to live with an entirely different family dynamic, she said. Even going to dinner at a restaurant requires a complicated ballet of planning and timing.

Bradens parents are working to spread the word about AFM, to help other families recognize, deal with and maybe prevent the condition.

Rachel Scott is one of about 20 parents who traveled to Washington, D.C., on Nov. 13 to meet with CDC representatives. All have children with AFM, and all are pushing the agency to do more.

We really felt strongly that the CDC is not paying enough attention, making big enough steps in researching and preventing AFM, she said.

Even the agencys own medical advisers have criticized the CDC for being slow to get to the bottom of AFM.

Dr. Keith Van Haren, a professor of neurology at Stanford University, told CNN last month he was frustrated with how slow the agency has been in gathering data and educating doctors about how to diagnose and treat AFM.

The meeting she attended was a good first step, Rachel Scott said, but shed like to see more research and more resources devoted to the illness that has altered her sons life.

In therapy, Bradens working to get stronger so he can start to dress himself again and do other small daily tasks, said Jamie Beckham, his occupational therapist at TIRR Memorial Hermann.

Hes making progress, she said. Hes not there yet, but I do think hes going to continue to make progress.

At a recent session, she had Braden tossing bean bags into a big plastic cylinder.

One at a time, he took each turtle-shaped bag into his right hand and slowly, painstakingly passed it to his left. He tossed, then tried to reach down for another  but his arm doesnt do what he wants it to.

OK, ready? Try to bring it allll the way down, Beckham said.

Braden worked to straighten his right arm, his 7-year-old face twisting up in concentration.

You can do it. Dont give up! Beckham told him. Youve done it once. You can do it.

Bradens parents are such good advocates for AFM awareness, Beckham said, trying to spread the word about the condition so other parents can recognize AFM right away and intervene early. They dont want other parents to see their kids go through that.

And awareness is building, Beckham said. Shes heard from parents who think they see symptoms in their own children and want to rule out AFM.

Even our own therapists here  when their kids get a cold, or they get a cold, its in the back of their minds now.

And Rachel Scott knows her son is slowly improving.

Day to day, I dont think we see many changes, Rachel Scott said. I feel like we do a million miles of work with him and the payoff is very small  but small steps forward add up over time, so we continue to push him.
Two men with outsized personalities, both intent on bringing dramatic change to their societies. Two countries, side by side, with a long history of friendly trade and sometimes hostile diplomacy.

As the leftist politician Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes the mantle of the Mexican presidency Dec. 1, political experts, former diplomats and business leaders are bracing for a potential collision with self-styled nationalist President Donald Trump.

The anticipated confrontation between Trump and Lopez Obrador  commonly called by his initials, AMLO  could affect Texas more than any other state given the billions of dollars in Lone Star products that are sold south of the border.

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The possible flash points include a changing energy policy, trade protections, increased heroin and methamphetamine trafficking and an abrupt reversal of the Mexican governments costly campaign to confront the powerful drug cartels. But perhaps the biggest is the bitterness engendered by Trumps harsh immigration policies and his plan to erect an impenetrable wall along 1,200 miles of U.S.-Mexico border.

There is a rocky road ahead for the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico and the two presidents, said Duncan Wood, the director of the Wilson Centers Mexico Institute, during in a recent visit to Houston.

Lopez Obrador is a skilled politician who was mayor of Mexico City from 2000 to 2005 and national party leader, running twice for the presidency prior to winning. He and Trump are forceful, charismatic leaders with a populist, anti-establishment bent to their politics and are adept at inflaming the passions of their base supporters. And perhaps more to the point when it comes to a personality contest, Neither of them likes to be contradicted, said Wood.

Indeed, Trump had reportedly referred to the Mexican president-elect as Juan Trump, a recognition of the similarities between him and the populist Mexican politician, according to a story in Americas Quarterly.

SHORED UP: Galveston company wins second contract for Texas border wall

Both leaders have taken unexpected steps to demonstrate their resolve. Lopez Obrador has put Mexicos $218 million presidential jet up for sale, while Trump earlier renegotiated the price tag of two Air Force One replacements and claimed savings of $1.4 billion.

But Lopez Obrador has distanced himself from any semblance to Trump, who, in his opinion, fuels racism  as a political strategy and a leader who has done Mexico much damage, according to an interview with the Spanish language TV network Univision.

Vice President Mike Pence will lead the U.S. delegation to Mexico to attend Lopez Obradors inauguration.

New course for Mexico?

Observers say the Mexican leader has already given some key indications of the course he will steer.

Lopez Obradors plan to cancel the construction of the Mexico City airport, a $13.3 billion project with a third of the work already completed, sent shock waves through the investment and business sectors. With U.S. foreign direct investments in Mexico of $110 billion last year, concerns rose about Mexico as a reliable business partner.

We are already getting a sense of what an AMLO presidency might look like, since the administration has named many of the key policy personnel and moved forward on some campaign promises, such as its consultation for whether or not to keep building the new Mexico City airport, said Antonio Tony Garza, a former U.S. ambassador to Mexico.

Lopez Obrador was able to easily wrest power from outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto, whose Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) had supported global open markets and free trade. But Pena Nietos presidency was also hamstrung by unchecked corruption and what was perceived by the Mexican populace as a submissive stance when Trump met with the president and insisted that Mexico would pay for the border wall.

Trumps nationalism looks outward; it manifests in attacks on international institutions and the leaders and people from other countries, said Tony Payan, the director of the Baker Institutes Mexico Center.

Lopez Obradors nationalism looks inward to restoring Mexicos working class with subsidized policies. He is seeking to restore the state as a central economic agent, and his criticism of globalization and the (North American) free trade agreement has to do with his belief that previous administrations implemented a neoliberal economic model that punished the poor, Payan said.

Key energy policy changes

The stakes are high for the future of the U.S. economic relationship with Mexico, its third-largest trading partner with combined trade of $616 billion.

Mexico was the second largest export market for U.S. products in 2017, while becoming the largest provider of fruits and vegetables and other agricultural products, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Cross-border trade between Texas and Mexico was $187 billion.

Wood agreed that Lopez Obradors appointees so far signal a cabinet that is committed to unraveling the energy reforms signed into law in August 2014 by the previous administration, with AMLO already announcing a plan to suspend auctions for oil production contracts in the Gulf of Mexico. I am particularly worried about the energy sector and what happens next with it, Wood said.

So far, 110 oil and gas contracts representing about $200 billion in foreign investment have been granted under Mexicos reform of its energy sector and the national PEMEX oil monopoly, with U.S. companies winning the second highest number of contracts after private Mexican firms.

The energy reforms were considered to be particularly beneficial to Houstons economy, given its leadership in offshore oil exploration and production technologies.

At a minimum, the airport pullout signaled that Lopez Obrador plans to deliver on campaign promises.

In a recent speech, he pledged to rescue the oil and gas industry, from a decline in production that he blamed to the historic opening of PEMEX to foreign investment. When enacted, Lopez Obrador accused the current president of being a traitor to the country for handing over the countrys natural resources to foreigners.

The likelihood of the next (Mexican) administration impacting how business is done in the energy sector is high, said Garza, whos now counsel to the law firm of White & Case in Mexico City. The question is how disruptive will it be and if returns will be seen as justifying the additional risk.

So far AMLOs party has proposed legislation aimed at the new regulatory framework, said Garza, adding that the president-elect has been all over the board on issues having to do with gas and power, and essentially come out against fracking, all of which, if hes serious about, have the potential to impact Texas.

Gov. Greg Abbott, through a press aide, said he welcomes working with Mexicos new administration to build on economic and cultural bonds.

Governor Abbott believes that a strong relationship with Mexico, our largest trade partner, is essential to Texas economic success, said Ciara Matthews, deputy communications director. Through cooperation on infrastructure, energy, trade, and security, Texas and Mexico will continue to strengthen our long-standing relationship and bring even greater prosperity to both sides of the border.

Differences over immigration

Differences with Mexico regarding Trumps immigration policies, analysts said, could be another contentious topic.

As caravans of migrants departed Central America to seek asylum at the U.S. border in the weeks before midterm elections, Trump moved quickly to politicize the caravan by branding it an invasion and claiming that Middle Eastern terrorists and gang members were among their ranks.

Trump ordered the U.S. military to the border and meanwhile threatened to withhold foreign aid to Mexico and the Central American countries whose citizens are fleeing economic hardship and violence.

Mexico chose not to halt the migrants by force, and instead offered visas and asylum to the Central Americans in an effort to induce many to abandon the long trek to the north. Trump has declared the migrant caravans a national security threat, and ordered border agents not to accept asylum seekers who enter the U.S. away from legal ports of entry.

Lopez Obrador has repeatedly criticized Trumps xenophobic and disrespectful depiction of migrants and insisted they should receive humanitarian treatment.

During his presidential campaign, Lopez Obrador introduced a petition before the Inter American Commission on Human Rights condemning Trump for allegedly persecuting immigrants and implementing hate speeches and policies, such as the border wall, in violation of human rights, as he and a lawyer explained the action.

War on drugs

Earlier this month, Lopez Obrador said his administration will de-emphasize the fight against drug cartels, focusing instead on roots of crime, according to a Bloomberg report.

Main points of the strategy include creating a national guard and stressing regional coordination of security efforts, eradicating corruption, rethinking the prohibition of some drugs and creating job opportunities, Lopez Obrador and cabinet members have said.

This marks a dramatic departure, since both countries have intensively and extensively collaborated in a fight against the drug cartels, noted Payan of the Baker Institute.

The Mexican government launched a bloody battle against the cartels in 2006 when conservative president Felipe Calderon ordered military forces into the fight, leading to a protracted campaign that has left since an estimated of around 200,000 thousand dead and missing, including civilians, journalists, and politicians.

The new president supports the decriminalization of marijuana recently approved by the Mexican supreme court, and has discussed offering amnesty to drug cartels as part of his pacification process.

This can produce a serious disagreement between Washington and Mexico, Payan said. The war on drugs has given the U.S. agencies such as the CIA and the DEA unprecedented access to the Mexican government apparatus and its migration and security policies. Lopez Obrador doesnt like that kind of interference in Mexico, he said.

Pragmatism over confrontation

The top Mexican diplomat in Houston predicts the two presidents will avoid public disputes and instead concentrate on accomplishing their own domestic agendas.

Lopez Obrador was the head of Mexico City before and has a good track record in government, said Oscar Rodriguez Cabrera, who leaves his post as general consul of the Mexican Consulate in Houston at the end of this month.

Rodriguez Cabrera doesnt buy pessimistic views about the future relations between the U.S. and Mexico and notes that both Lopez Obrador and Trump are pragmatic politicians.

Garza, the former U.S. ambassador, notes that Trump is unpredictable and AMLO sends occasionally troubling signals.

Garza, along with experts and the business leaders, hope that the pragmatism of the two presidents will prevent a conflict that could have a ripple effect on both economies.

Payan expects Lopez Obrador will ignore the expected harsh reactions from Trump as he implements his presidential policies. He could follow with a strategy resembling a quiet resistance, reminiscent of Mexicos colonial era of obeying but not complying with mandates from Spanish rulers, Payan said.

In other words, avoiding public stridency while staying on his course, Payan said.

Business leaders, including Laura Murillo, head of the Greater Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, are intent on maintaining commercial ties estimated at $20 billion in direct trade between Houston and Mexico.

Business at the Port of Houston, the Medical Center and trade rely on import and exports between our countries, said Murillo, who has been invited to the Mexican presidential inauguration.

Wood, the Mexico expert at the Wilson Center, thinks the two leaders should continuing to exchanged official correspondence, in the form of letters as they have already and successfully interchanged to talk about their priorities, and avoid direct and public exchanges.

Forge a pen pal relationship, he advises.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

Twitter: @oliviaptallet
A student texts a list of classmates names with threatening comments to a friend. Another points a banana at a classmate and says bang. A teen tells a group of bullies he will kill them if they dont leave him alone. A fourth posts a picture to Snapchat with a gun, warning kids not to go to school the next day.

Which of those actions poses an imminent threat? Which are kids blowing off steam with poor judgment? Should any be prosecuted?

In the months after a 19-year-old gunman killed 17 at Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and a 17-year-old killed 10 in Galveston Countys Santa Fe High School, law enforcement officers and prosecutors have been flooded with calls about students making threats.

UNHEEDED: Mom warned police of gang threats to her Lamar High student

The number of those 18 and younger who have been charged with making terroristic threats in Harris County nearly quadrupled to 310 through October of this year, from 88 in 2017. The charges do not specify who the accused threatened.

Over the same time periods, those 18 and younger charged with threatening to exhibit or use a firearm on school property nearly doubled, to 64 from 34.

Harris County Assistant District Attorney John Jordan, chief of the offices juvenile division, said between the Feb. 14 Parkland shooting and the end of the 2017-2018 school year, his office charged 216 students 16 and younger with third-degree felonies or class A misdemeanors for making threats against schools or brandishing weapons. He attributed that to a combination of factors.

Its on everyones mind, immature adolescents say things to get attention and, before they know it, theyre thrown into the criminal justice system. Administrators and other students are taking every threat seriously, as they should, Jordan said. Its like a perfect storm.

The picture looks similar statewide.

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department saw a 156 percent increase in referrals for students making terroristic threats, and a 600 percent increase in referrals for the exhibition or threat of exhibiting firearms, compared to the first five months in 2016 and 2017, according to a report by Texas Appleseed, Disability Rights Texas, the Earl Carl Institute and the Texas Childrens Defense Fund.

In Galveston County, conversations about school-based threats carry extra weight. Parents in Santa Fe ISD have lambasted school officials there for ignoring signs from the 17-year-old who blasted his way through the school on May 18. The students trench coat and his increasingly odd behavior, they say, should have been cause for intervention.

SOCIAL MEDIA: HISD police investigate threat against Austin High School

Kevin Petroff, first assistant district attorney for the Galveston County District Attorney, said the pressure to catch potentially violent students has school leaders on edge. A school district police officer once called him to ask what to do with an 11-year-old who told classmates his pencils were bombs. Petroff and the officer decided against taking any legal action, opting instead to leave discipline to school administrators.

There are plenty of times where law enforcement will call us in agreement that this doesnt rise to the level of a charge, Petroff said. The problem, as weve seen, is you just never know. I think Santa Fe was a good example of that.

Judging threats

As the national media shined a spotlight on the horror of the Stoneman Douglas massacre in Parkland, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD General Counsel Marney Collins Sims began thinking of ways schools in the northwest Houston suburb could stop mass shooters before they opened fire on campus.

Counselors, school psychologists and social workers in Texas third largest school district already were being trained in basic methods to prevent and intervene in school-based violence, but Sims and Director of Psychology Services Traci Schluter wondered what more they could do. They found some schools across the country had created threat-assessment teams to analyze potential threats, determine whether they placed students in imminent danger and helped school officials coordinate responses, ranging from arrest to providing troubled students with more counseling support.

Originally used by the Secret Service to categorize threats made against presidents, the guidelines were revamped with the help of the FBI to focus on adolescent behavior. Their use in schools grew as more mass shootings shocked educators into action. After the Santa Fe shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas School Safety Center to partner with SIGMA Threat Management Associates to train school personnel statewide on behavioral threat assessments and suggested districts create teams to look into threats.

There are several models of school-based threat assessment teams, but many operate in similar ways. They often are comprised of school counselors, licensed clinical psychologists, school resource officers, school administrators and teachers. When administrators or school-based police officers learn of a threat, the team meets to determine what steps to take next.

Cy-Fair ISD officials hope to debut teams trained in the Virginia Student Threat Assessment Guidelines by the end of this school year. Under that model, school officials interview the intended victim, the person who made the threat and any witnesses. They attempt to determine whether the threat reflects actual intent to harm others: Was it a joke or made in a heated moment? Does the student offer an explanation or apology, retracting the threat and assuring school staff there was no harm intended? In those cases, school officials may be more likely to offer additional counseling and school-based discipline instead of getting law enforcement involved.

In cases that cannot be dismissed easily, schools will take precautions to protect potential victims and resolve conflicts. They are directed to conduct safety evaluations for threats found to be serious and substantive, screening students for mental health services, creating a safety plan, and conducting law enforcement investigations for evidence of planning or preparation. After all that, teams put the safety plan in place, document the students behavior and monitor whether their plans are working. Sometimes that involves arresting or transferring the student to a disciplinary alternative education program.

While Cypress-Fairbanks works to train enough staff to create such teams at each campus, Sims said the district already has created two mental-health intervention teams. At least one person on every campus is trained in suicide risk assessment.

SPREADING: Pearling officers look into assault, threat reports

The hope, she said, is to make sure every threat is handled on a case-by-case basis and to avoid creating a dragnet that siphons students into the criminal justice system.

You want to take every concern seriously, but weve got to find that balance, Sims said. I really think the community wants an appropriate and appropriately measured response.

Jordan and District Attorney Kim Ogg met with school officials during the summer to encourage similar responses. Jordan said data show their work has been effective  his office has charged only 19 juveniles with making threats or exhibiting firearms so far this school year. He said students now know they will be held accountable for making threats after many of their classmates were arrested the year before.

Frankly, the easy thing to do is what we did last year  they said the words and it meets element of the crime and students are charged, Jordan said. But the easy thing is not always the smart thing to do.

shelby.webb@chron.com

twitter.com/shelbywebb
Fifteen months after Hurricane Harvey flooded more than 200,000 area homes and apartments, Harris County has begun purchasing homes in the floodplain using funds voters overwhelmingly approved in this summers $2.5 billion flood infrastructure bond.

Using matching funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Harris County in the past month has purchased 12 homes. For this program, which combines local and federal dollars, the Harris County Flood Control District has used $53 million in bond funds to secure $159 million from FEMA. Another 512 homes are in the buyout process, and up to 400 more could be purchased using this funding source.

HEADWAY: Land commissioner touts progress on flood control

James Wade, director of the flood control districts buyout program, said his staff aims to leverage local funding to secure federal dollars, which lessens the burden for Harris County taxpayers. Homes the county is targeting for buyouts are so susceptible to flooding that engineers have concluded the cost to protect them cannot be justified.

Theres no practical flood control project that can save them, Wade said.

Over the course of the decade-long bond program, the flood control district plans to use around $180 million in local funding, plus $550 million from federal partners, to purchase as many as 3,600 buildings in the floodplain. That total would more than double the number of homes the flood control districts buyout program has purchased in its 33-year history.

Harris County plans to focus many of the buyouts on the San Jacinto River watershed, though the dozen homes purchased to date include properties on Vince Bayou, White Oak Bayou, Cypress Creek and Vogel Creek.

Melinda Rockwell and her husband Erick took a buyout after the San Jacinto, swollen by Harveys record rainfall, destroyed their townhome complex in Kingwood. The couple and their two children had lived there for four and a half years and flooded three times.

The family purchased a larger home in Humble, and agreed with county engineers that the Kingwood complex, perched precariously on the rivers sandy north bank, should not be rebuilt.

UNDERWAY: $1.4 billion in projects begin six weeks after bond passage

It is the right solution, Rockwell said, adding that the land should be returned to the floodway.

Gaye Thurman was ready to move after her home near Brickhouse Gully, in the White Oak Bayou watershed, was swamped for the fourth time in the 2015 Memorial Day floods. She remodeled the home, which she and her husband had lived in for 40 years. Dozens of prospective buyers toured the place, and complimented Thurman on the shaded backyard. None made an offer.

The first question is, has it ever flooded? Thurman said. She was upfront about the homes soggy history.

The only buyer willing to pay market rate was Harris County. In August 2017, the flood control district made a formal offer to Thurman, and she accepted. A week later Harvey flooded the property for a fifth time.

She urged homeowners in the floodplain to rid themselves of the idea that Harvey was a one-time event. Buyouts, she said, are a way out of nightmares like hers.

If you flooded once, youre going to flood again, Thurman said. I dont care what the politicians tell you. Im living proof.

Wade, of the flood control district, acknowledged some residents criticize buyouts as a bailout for homeowners naive enough to buy in a floodplain, but noted some homes predate the countys flood maps. Razing flood-prone homes also saves taxpayers in the long run because of a well-intentioned federal program gone awry.

Homeowners inside the 100-year floodplain are required to purchased subsidized insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. When these homes flood, however, owners often find themselves with properties that have sharply devalued, and can become trapped in a cycle of repeated floods and government-backed insurance payouts.

A Houston Chronicle investigation found that seven Houston homes in the floodplain racked up $9 million in federal insurance payouts, even though the combined value of the properties was less than $500,000.

Theres not a mechanism to prevent paying those damages through the Flood Insurance Program, Wade said. He added that buyouts erase those repeat homes that should have never been built.

Though Wade and the flood control district are in the process of hiring additional staff to manage more than 200 flood bond projects, the year that has elapsed since Harvey swamped 11 percent of the countys housing stock has been too long a wait for some buyout-eligible homeowners. In the spring, the Chronicle found that private buyers already had purchased 5,500 homes that flooded.

Wade said in this latest round of FEMA buyouts, about half of applicants have either dropped out of the program or sold to private developers. When firms flip homes to new buyers  who may be unaware of a propertys flood risk  Flood Control District Executive Director Russ Poppe said they hamper the districts goal to protect Harris County from future storms.

We have investors come in, and then an unsuspecting renter moves in, and the structures are stuck in the vicious cycle of flooding again, Poppe said.

More than 1,000 eligible homeowners have signed up with the flood control district, which still is accepting applications. To be eligible, homes must in a 100-year floodplain, where they are subject to repetitive flooding that is unlikely to be prevented by any flood mitigation project.

zach.despart@chron.com

twitter.com/zachdespart
Every community needs a persistent irritant  a pebble in the shoe of civic consciousness. Someone must be willing to poke and prod the better angels of our nature, lest they lapse into slumber.

Ray Hill, who died Saturday at 78, ably filled that role in Houston for decades. A tireless champion of unpopular causes, Hill fought for the rights of gay and lesbian people at a time when they were widely despised. He worked for years to make life a little better for prisoners, an even more marginalized group.

He challenged authority, and not just for the sake of being ornery. His contrariness got results.

On the streets of the Montrose area in February 1982, Hill saw a friend engaged in a confrontation with a police officer. Most people would walk the other way, but Hill got in the officers face: Why dont you pick on somebody your own size? he shouted.

Hill was arrested under a city ordinance that made it a crime to interrupt an officer performing his duties. An acquittal didnt satisfy him; he filed suit challenging the law, and in 1987 the U.S. Supreme Court struck it down, ruling that criticism of police officers was protected free speech.

One of the justices referred to Hill as a citizen provocateur, a title he liked so much he had it printed on his business cards.

Hill played a foundational role in Houstons gay rights movement, which has broadened to represent other sexual minorities. In the 1970s, after serving four years in prison for burglary and larceny, Hill organized meetings and helped to create the communitys first social and political organizations. Hill and his colleagues built an infrastructure for LGBT people to fight for the opportunity to live with dignity and participate fully and openly in society.

His work on behalf of prison inmates, inspired by his own incarceration, was equally groundbreaking. Countless inmates heard the voices of mothers, wives, brothers, sons and daughters who called into the Prison Show, which Hill hosted for many years on radio station KPFT. Outside the studio, he advocated publicly for inmates basic rights, arguing that their crimes didnt erase their humanity.

Many a night, Hill was awakened by a phone call from someone in the community needing help with a legal or personal problem. Hill always knew the right person to call, the right strings to pull.

Above all, Hill was fearless. He came out as a teenager in the blue-collar suburb of Galena Park in the 1950s  before the Stonewall demonstrations in New York ushered in the gay civil rights movement, before city Supervisor Harvey Milk was assassinated in San Francisco, before Houston banker Paul Broussard was beaten and stabbed to death by teenagers out for a night of gay-bashing.

Years later, Hill surprised many when he argued for parole for one of Broussards killers, demonstrating that forgiveness pairs well with righteous anger.

Hills final years were marred by poor health and poverty. In an August Facebook post, Hill pleaded for help in finding an affordable home that would accommodate the walker and wheelchair he used after amputations related to his diabetes. He had three heart surgeries in 20 years. He had talked of panhandling to feed himself.

These misfortunes make for an unsatisfactory coda to a remarkable life. But dont feel too sorry for Ray Hill. He preferred adventure to comfort.

Its up to all of us to ensure that his legacy  a more open, inclusive, and interesting community  remains intact.

As Texas argues about the content of textbooks, the school board debates the names affixed to campus buildings and the city contemplates erecting statuary that truly reflects Houstons most influential residents, all of us should channel our inner citizen provocateurs and agitate as Ray Hill did to give him a permanent place in our history.
by Trung Tin

The inauguration ceremony will be held in St Joseph Cathedral on 18 December. The new archbishop was the bishop of Hai Phong for 16 years, during which he gave impetus to the dioceses development. In Hanoi he will face the seizure and forced occupation of Church-owned assets.

Hanoi (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis has appointed Mgr Giuse (Joseph) Vu Van Thien as the new archbishop of Hanoi, northern Vietnam. On 17 November, the pontiff had accepted the resignation of his predecessor, 80-year-old Mgr Phero (Pierre) Nguyen Van Nhon.

Before taking over the Archdiocese of the capital, Mgr Thien was bishop of Hai Phong, also in northern Vietnam, not far from the Sino-Vietnamese border.

The inauguration ceremony of the new archbishop is set for 10 am on 18 December in St Joseph Cathedral.

Mgr Thien was born on 26 October 1960 in Ke Sat parish in Trang Liet, Binh Giang district (Hai Phong province). He studied at the St Joseph Major Seminary in Hanoi from 1982 to 1988.

Ordained priest by Mgr Giuse Maria (Joseph Maria) Nguyen Tung Cuong, Fr Thien pursued his studies between 1996 and 2000 in Paris (France). Back in Vietnam, he became professor of theology at his old seminary. In 2002, Pope John Paul II named him bishop of Hai Phong.

In 2003, Catholics make up about 2.5 per cent of the population the diocese, and could count only on 20 priests, a handful of religious institutes and congregations and some crumbling buildings.

In 16 years of service, Mgr Thien brought the number of priests to 82 and established 30 new parishes, which now number 92. In parallel, religious associations, institutes and congregations enjoyed an important development.

Between 2007 and 2016, Hanois new archbishop chaired the Youth Commission of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Vietnam (CBCV). After his term of office, he became CBCV deputy secretary general, a post he will hold until next year.

In the capital, Mgr Thien will have to deal with the seizure and forced occupation of Church-owned land and property by Communist authorities. However, the archbishop is not new to such matters.

In the past, he defended Phero (Peter) oan Van Vuon, a Catholic man arrested on the orders of Hai Phong authorities for resisting the seizure of his land and the destruction of his home in Tien Lang district.

This said, Hai Phong provincial authorities note that Mgr Thien "has had good relations with non-Catholics and the poor, and has a harmonious relationship with the authorities at all levels.

The prelate has also upgraded diocesan institutions such as the Bishops Office, the St Gieronimo Liem Minor Seminary and the Diocesan Pastoral Centre."
Houston is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the nation. But, as Hurricane Harvey reminded us, growth cant just happen without consequence. Many aspects of urbanization have to be dealt with  from the subdivision of land and the design of infrastructure at the front end to the ongoing problems of providing a wide variety of services ranging from road maintenance to police protection and flood management.

Over the last 30 years, the original systems designed to manage Houstons urbanization have gradually broken down. Theyve been replaced by a fragmented collection of rules and practices involving the city of Houston, Harris County and hundreds of municipal utility districts (MUDs). Up to now, this system has been effective in many ways. But as a new report, Growing A Governing Region , from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research suggests, stresses and strains are now becoming obvious:

n The city of Houston, strained to provide services to its own residents, has stopped annexing new territory.

n Harris County is hard-pressed to maintain roads in unincorporated areas.

n MUDs have been good service providers up to now, but many of them face enormous costs tied to upgrading their sewage treatment plants.

n The 400,000 residents of unincorporated Harris County who live outside MUDs receive few services at all.

Under the system set up by Texas decades ago, the city of Houston was supposed to manage most of the regions urbanization. The idea was that Houston would approve all development in its expansive extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), then annex the newly developed areas into the city and provide a full range of municipal services to those areas.

And, indeed, Houston continues to control review of development projects over a vast area  almost 1,200 square miles in the Houston ETJ. The Houston city planning commission reviews and approves development plans deep into Waller and Fort Bend counties. But with the exception of Kingwood, Houston has engaged in virtually no annexations for the last 40 years. Thus Houston still controls the front end of the development process but does not provide services in the long term. Yet the citys large ETJ makes it impossible for residents to consider incorporating or annexing to a different city.

As a result, more people now live in unincorporated areas in Harris County than in any other county in the nation - close to 2 million, a 45 percent increase in just the last eight years alone. But Harris County itself has no power to pass ordinances and limited power to raise revenue. (For example, unlike cities and some MUDs, the county receives no sales tax.) Thats why MUDs have emerged as the leading service providers for new subdivisions in unincorporated areas.

It should be noted that much of the unincorporated area has been included in the citys 200-odd limited purpose annexations  essentially, contracts between the city of Houston and special districts. Under such agreements, the city and the special districts (mostly MUDs) split the sales tax generated inside the district. The city agrees not to annex the district for 30 years and provides very few services to those areas.

MUDs began as a form of water district, but now many of them either provide or contract for a wide variety of services including water, wastewater, parks and law enforcement. (While the sheriff patrols unincorporated areas, many MUDs contract with either the sheriff or constables for additional patrol services.) MUDs in the Houston area have about $6 billion in bonded indebtedness, mostly for water and wastewater projects. In essence, they have become general government entities rather than special districts. Most residents have been happy with their MUDs up to now.

This situation is unique in Texas and perhaps the nation. More than 70 percent of all MUDs in Texas are located in the Houston area. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, most residents live inside cities. In Austin and San Antonio, the central city continues to annex most new developments  as was the original plan for Houston.

For now, most neighborhoods are in good shape. But in the long run, providing such services as road maintenance and sewage treatment equitably and in a cost-effective manner will not be easy. Especially under the current system, meeting the challenge would almost inevitably mean significant property tax increases. However there are many possibilities to avoid to path, including:

n The state Legislature allows neighborhoods in the Houston ETJ to incorporate or be annexed by another city.

n Neighboring MUDs join together to build facilities, especially for wastewater treatment.

n The city of Houston and MUDs renegotiate their 30-year limited purpose annexation agreements so sales tax funds are used specifically to provide services in those areas.

n Tax revenue is shared regionally to limit disparities.

n The state Legislature gives Harris County more power to deal with urban service challenges.

All too often in the past few decades, the Houston region has grown quickly without considering the long-term consequences. The regional governance patchwork has served Houston well in the short run. But it is time to think about more permanent solutions to governing the region so Houstons existing neighborhoods - and its future growth - will be more sustainable.

Fulton is the director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University.
For someone trying to demonstrate that the judiciary is not political, getting into a political fight with the president sure is a funny way to do it.

After President Trump called a judge who ruled against him an Obama judge, Chief Justice John Roberts issued an extraordinary public rebuke of the president, declaring in a statement We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. Roberts was not only wrong to speak out, but also his claim that there are no Obama judges or Trump judges was wrong.

If we do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, then why did Senate Republicans block President Barack Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia in the final year of Obamas term? And why did Democrats filibuster Trumps nominee, Neil Gorsuch, to fill Scalias seat?

Even Roberts fellow justices know there is a difference. If there were no Obama judges or Trump judges, then why did Anthony Kennedy wait for Trumps election to announce his retirement? And why doesnt Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just retire now and let Trump nominate her replacement? Because they both want a president who would appoint a successor who shares their judicial philosophy. (And, lo and behold, Trump appointed a former Kennedy clerk, Brett Kavanaugh, to succeed him).

The American people know that Roberts is wrong. In the 2016 election, exit polls showed that 70 percent of voters said Supreme Court appointments were either the most important or an important factor in deciding their vote. And polls show that Republicans expanded their Senate majority in 2018 in large part because conservative voters were angered over the lefts brutal campaign of character assassination against Kavanaugh.

Roberts is correct that we should not have Trump judges or Obama judges. It would be better for the country if every judge, regardless of which president nominated him or her, strictly interpreted our laws and the Constitution. But the reality is that not all do. While conservative presidents tend to nominate judges who exercise a philosophy of judicial restraint  follow our laws as written  liberal presidents tend to nominate judicial activists who legislate from the bench and shape the law to reach their preferred outcomes. The left believes in a living Constitution, which can be interpreted to mean whatever they want it to mean without being formally amended.

Democratic presidents have been much more successful than Republicans in nominating judges who hew to their judicial philosophy. Over the past three decades, nearly half of all Republican Supreme Court nominees have either become swing votes (Sandra Day OConnor, Kennedy) or defected to the courts liberal bloc entirely (David Souter). Even Roberts has joined the courts liberal bloc at key times, abandoning his judicial philosophy that judges should not legislate from the bench to provide the swing vote to uphold Obamacare. By contrast, not one liberal justice during the past three decades has defected to the conservative bloc or turned into a regular swing vote.

What is true of the Supreme Court applies even more to the appellate courts. Trump is right, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit is a disgrace. This is the court that ruled that the phrase under God in the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional, that the Second Amendment doesnt recognize an individual right to bear concealed arms and that bans on assisted suicide are unconstitutional.

This is why it is so important that Trump has nominated, and the Senate has confirmed, a record number of district and circuit court judges  and why liberals are aghast at the pace of Trumps judicial confirmations. As former Hillary Clinton adviser Ronald Klain complained, Trumps judicial nominees will be deciding the scope of our civil liberties and the shape of civil rights laws in the year 2050  and beyond. Everyone, left and right, knows that Roberts is wrong.

We do have an independent judiciary. Judges are not beholden to any president, including the one who appoints them. The judiciary plays a key role in our system of checks and balances. Trump judges should rule against Trump when he is wrong. That is why it is so important for the chief justice stay above politics. Roberts is right that our independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for. Rolling around in the rhetorical mud with Trump is not just bad form; it also undermines the very judicial independence Roberts is seeking to uphold.

Follow Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen.
Growing A Music Career While Protecting Your Mental Health

Sonny Stuart Winter shares advice for music industry hopefuls by recounting his experience from age 15 putting on music events and how it led to a successful industry career. Later, he talks about the role of social media and mental health, and how they relate to the music business.

_______________________________

Guest post by Sony Stuart Winter

If you're thinking of studying Music Business at University, if you're studying now, or if you're aiming to succeed in the Music Industry as an artist or business professional, then click play on the interview below, where I share my experience and advice that might just help you figure out your next step.

In this in-depth interview, I candidly talk about my experiences from age 15, putting on my very first music events that would lead to being a renowned concert promoter for 10 years. I discuss touring Europe with independent artists, grabbing any experience you can when you're first starting out in the business and my role now as International Rights Manager for Phoenix Music International, in London.

After being invited to guest lecture for Music Management students at Bucks New University, I had the pleasure of being interviewed on my experiences at University, my dissertation, life after graduating, getting experience in the business, social media and mental health, an area that is very close to my heart.

"We're at a time where we're more connected than ever but we're more lonely than ever"

Later in the video (which you can watch in full below), I open up about the role of social media on mental health. I'm a big advocate for mental health charities (which I explain below) and the support work they do but it is clear that social media is having a detrimental effect on our identity, community and sense of wellbeing.

I'm really proud of this interview. It's not often that I can truly open up about many areas that I feel strongly about so thank you to Natalia Witek & Euphoria Productions for their excellent work with the interview, filming an editing process.

I'm happy to say that I myself have just invested in some new video recording kit so expect new (and hopefully more regular) content very soon, including season two of Such Great Heights which is being filmed in the next fortnight. For now

Click Play (and don't forget to subscribe)

Until next time

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Rabat, Morocco - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments in Africa to maximize the positive social and economic power of aviation by working together to promote safe, sustainable and efficient air connectivity.

African aviation supports $55.8 billion of economic activity and 6.2 million jobs. To enable aviation to be an even bigger driver of prosperity across the continent, we must work closely with governments, said Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO, speaking at the 50th Annual General Assembly (AGA) meeting of the African Airline Association (AFRAA) in Morocco.

Safety



Safety was highlighted as a positive example of progress through collaboration. Africa has had no jet hull losses for two years running and is two years free of any fatalities on any aircraft type, its clear that progress is being made. But more needs to be done. We urge governments to recognize the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in their safety oversight programs. With IOSA carriers performing three times better than airlines not on the IOSA registry, we have a convincing argument. Similarly states must push forward greater adoption of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS), said de Juniac.

Only 24 African states comply with at least 60% of ICAO SARPS. That is not good enough, said de Juniac who encouraged states to make global safety standards a top priority.

Closer Cooperation with Governments

IATA called for an aviation agenda to focus on:

Improving competitiveness,

developing effective infrastructure,

modernizing the regulatory framework focusing on global standards and connectivity; and

ensuring a well-trained and diverse workforce.

Competitiveness

Airlines in Africa, on average, lose $1.55 for every passenger carried. Establishing competitive cost structures that enable growth and reducing blocked funds are essential to improving the competitiveness of African aviation.

Africa is an expensive place for airlines to do business. There is no shortage of examples illustrating the heavy burden that governments extract from aviation. Jet fuel costs are 35% higher than the rest of the world. User charges, as a percentage of airlines operating costs, are double the industry average. And taxes and charges are among the highest in the world. On top of that, $670 million of airline funds are blocked. Too many African governments view aviation as a luxury rather than a necessity. We must change that perception, said de Juniac.



Infrastructure

In Africa we have infrastructure problems in two extremes. In some cases it is overbuilt and expensive. In other cases, it is deficient and cannot meet demand. Dialogue between industry and government is critical to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to meet demand, that airline technical and commercial quality standards are met and that the infrastructure is affordable. Achieving that will create the platform on which aviations economic and social benefits can be maximized, said de Juniac.

Harmonized Regulation



IATA expressed strong support for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative. The low density of the African intra-continental network makes it impossible to realize the potential benefits of a connected African economy. SAATMif implementedgives Africa the potential for economic transformation. History has shown that opening markets leads to rapid advances in connectivity, said de Juniac.

To date, 27 African governments have committed to SAATM and IATA encourages the remaining 28 African Union member states to come on board quickly to enjoy the potential benefits of a connected African economy.

Sustainable and Gender Diverse Workforce

Supporting the projected growth of aviation in Africa  a quadrupling of passengers over the next two decades - will require an expanded labor force. De Juniac called on governments to develop policies to build their training pipeline to support growth and tap into the power of women to help alleviate a growing skills shortage in the region.

Read the Remarks of Alexandre de Juniac at AFRAA AGA



For more information, please contact:



Corporate Communications

Tel: +41 22 770 2967

Email: corpcomms@iata.org



Notes for Editors:


Presidential spokesperson U Zaw Htay claims that NGOs are deliberately discouraging refugees from returning. They want to be there indefinitely.

Naypyidaw (AsiaNews)  The refugee crisis on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border is a huge money-making business for international nongovernmental organisations (INGOs) that are providing assistance to over 700,000 Muslims who fled violence in northern Rakhine State last year, said U Zaw Htay, a spokesperson for the Presidents Office, at a press conference in Naypyidaw, three days ago.

The first 2,260 Rohingya refugees were supposed to be repatriated on 15 November from Bangladesh to Myanmar which they fled in 2016 and 2017. However, no one has expressed a desire to return.

Although Myanmar has said that it was ready to welcome the returning refugees, Bangladesh decided to put off the repatriation until the end of the month. Previously, the UNHRC and humanitarian organisations on the ground expressed doubts about the whole process.

For U Zaw Htay, INGOs are deliberately discouraging refugees in Bangladesh from returning to Myanmar due to their own business interests rather than security considerations.

There are a lot of food imports and supplies, he said. There is a big market there. INGOs do not want [refugees] to go back to Myanmar so that they can implement projects for a long time  health care, children, women, and so on.

The presidential spokesperson claims that refugee camps in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, are a huge market for INGOs providing food and clothing to refugees. They want to be there indefinitely, so they can do a lot of business there.

(Sumon Corraya contributed to this article)
The letter is addressed to the government authorities, asking for religious freedom, but also to the faithful of the world (and perhaps to the Vatican) asking how to behave in the face of persecution. The loor communities have suffered destructions of crosses, churches, bans on gatherings. Since 2005, the diocese has no bishop.

Rome (AsiaNews) - A group of faithful from the Diocese of Datong (Shanxi) has issued an open and signed letter, denouncing the growing oppression of the government towards the Christian community, after the launch of the new regulations on religious activities: destroyed crosses, destroyed church, meetings reduced to the minimum, impossibility in obtaining religious books ... They also seem to ask for help (perhaps from Vatican authorities) to solve the "painful dilemmas" in which they find themselves. These include the question whether by chance the Vatican, desiring diplomatic relations with China, has abandoned the persecuted Christians, using them as "scapegoats".

Since 2005, the diocese of Datong has been without a bishop. Msgr Thaddeus Guo Yingong, who began his pastoral ministry there in 1990, was the last bishop and died in 2005. Msgr Guo spent 10 years in forced labor during the Cultural Revolution. At present, according to the "Guide of the Catholic Church in China" there are 14 priests at the service of the communities of the faithful.

Open letter - Joint declaration

The events that happened today around us, we suppose that everybody has already paid attention to. These facts have a close relationship with our community of believers. Because of it, we cannot sit down silent without any concern, even more we cannot stand by with folded arms. What is worth of our concern is the freedom of religious faith since it is a fundamental human right, that cannot be violated, forbidden or taken away. Obviously, many statements and proposals of the Government, we must not necessarily agree upon and accept, some of them we even oppose. But, it is not possible to take away our freedom and right because we have a different faith. As a community of believers, we are even more concerned with the freedom of speech, since it cannot be separated from freedom of religion: without one there cannot be the other!

We now receive your control. The cross of our church and even the whole church has been demolished. The freedom of the faithful to attend our meetings is opposed. The church is forced to accept the guide of the Chinese Government. All these things make us worried and dissatisfied. As believers, we know that the future decides the present. With this joint declaration of ours we hope that you can respect the right of the Church, respect every person: this is a bottom line that cannot be overtaken.

Shanxi, Datong Diocese (Followed by eight signatures)

Facing a painful dilemma

1. From the coming into effect of the new Regulations for religious affairs, the Government continued to take restrictive measure, to forbid to buy the Bible on internet: we ask where can we buy religious books we need, through which channel can we buy them?

2. Now the Government has already strengthened its control upon our Diocese, by severely forbidding large size meetings, celebrating the Eucharist at fixed times: such prohibitions make us very sad, what should we do?

3. The Chinese Government is now strengthening its relationships with the Vatican: will the Vatican make compromises, turning us into scapegoats in order to establish diplomatic relations?

4. In front of a further step of oppression by the Government, should we keep looking silently like meek sheep or should we raise opposition?

5. Now we are without cross, without the Eucharist in a fixed place: this makes many faithful lose trust and already many of them have left. In the future it is difficult for the church to make any progress.
Saturday night, a chlorine mortar attack hit the citys western neighbourhood. Shelling is taking place every evening, the prelate notes. This time, we saw yellow smoke rise, different from the black and dense columns. Residents now fear an escalation. Damascus and Moscow call on the UN to condemn the attack. The West is silent.

Aleppo (AsiaNews)  Pro-Turkish rebel groups in the western outskirts of Aleppo "launch mortar and rocket attacks every evening" on the city, but "the attack with chemical weapons" on Saturday evening "took us by surprise. We did not expect it and it was scary, said Mgr Georges Abou Khazen, Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo, speaking to AsiaNews after the nightmare of war and violence came back to the metropolis of northern Syria.

Local sources report that more than a hundred people (at least 107 according to official media, 94 according to independent NGOs) required medical treatment as a result of breathing problems. Many of them were women and children.

"For us the attack was a real surprise, noted the prelate. It was about 10 pm and we heard the usual loud explosions. Shortly thereafter, however, we saw yellow smoke rise, different from the black and dense columns of dust and debris that follow a normal bombardment. Within a few minutes sirens could be heard as ambulances carried injured people."

"No fighting is taking place right now in the area. We are talking about civilian areas with unarmed residents," the prelate explained.

The rebels appear to have used shells containing chlorine, launched from mortars deployed in various positions along the western outskirts of the city, which was at the centre of fighting until it was liberated in December 2016.

"They bombed a sector not far from our vicariate; only later did we learn that it was chlorine bombs, Mgr Abou Khazen explained.

Local sources report that at least 30 people were seriously injured, including children.

Reacting to the incident, Russia warned Turkey to stop the attacks. Russian planes carried out a number of retaliatory strikes against positions in neighbouring province of Idlib, which is still controlled by groups linked to al-Qaeda.

The Syrian government and its Russian ally blame the chlorine gas attack on the rebels, who reject the accusation.

For now, no one has officially claimed responsibility but the Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham group is suspected. The latter did not accept the September agreement between Moscow and Ankara.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Foreign Ministry called on the Security Council to take deterrent, punitive measures against the nations and regimes that support and fund terrorism.

Unlike the past when they harshly accused the Syrian regime for the use of chemical weapons, Western governments have not yet responded to the incident.

Back in Aleppo fear about a possible escalation of violence is back. We cannot know the kinds of gases but we suspected chlorine and treated patients on this basis because of the symptoms, said Zaher Batal, head of the Aleppo Doctors Syndicate.

Symptoms, he added, include difficulty breathing, eye inflammation, shivering and fainting. Hospitals had discharged many patients.

Batal called it the first gas attack in Aleppo in Syrias civil war, which has raged for more than seven years.

"We hope that it will remain an isolated case, said the Vicar of Aleppo, but the fear is so great that it can start a new battle. Episodes like this one have been used as a pretext by Western powers to attack again in Syria. These rebel groups have lost the battle and now try by every means to hinder the return to peace, to normal life."

Moreover, "for a long time Russia and the Syrian government have warned of the risk of attack with chemical weapons by rebel groups, which possess this type of weapons and are very scary.

This raises a big question mark about our future. We hope the situation does not get worse. The Turks had promised to guarantee respect for the truce, instead they allow these attacks."
Mark Cuban hates warm beer.

On Sunday's episode of Shark Tank, Cuban teamed up with Lori Greiner to invest in BottleKeeper, an El Segundo, California-based startup that makes a stainless steel container designed to keep glass beer bottles cold while protecting them from breaking. Cousins Adam Callinan and Matt Campbell launched the company in 2013 and generated $20 million in sales during the past three years. They came to Shark Tank seeking $1 million for 5 percent of their company, which sells its flagship product for $34.99. Guest Shark and former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez didn't invest in the company, but he did test out the product by throwing a softball at a row of BottleKeepers to ensure that they do prevent beer bottles from breaking.

With $20 million in sales, BottleKeeper's founders didn't convince Cuban it was a small business in dire need of capital. "Either you guys are the world's worst business people or you don't need us," Cuban said, sipping a cold beer out of the BottleKeeper. "So why are you here?"

The entrepreneurs explained that they want to take their online-only operation into retail stores, but don't have the capital to produce the required inventory to do so. The pair spent $4 million on Facebook ads alone and hired an intellectual property lawyer for $500,000 to help them fight copycats. As a result, they've amassed a waiting list of 3,000 U.S. retail stores that want to purchase BottleKeeper's product.

Despite their impressive sales, Callinan and Campbell put themselves at a disadvantage by offering just 5 percent equity. The Sharks typically want a larger percentage of profits to incentivize the work they're prepared to do.

"This is what I call a schmutz deal," Cuban told the co-founders. "Even if you guys hit on all cylinders, where is the upside for us?"

After opting out of the deal and watching as the other Sharks offered BottleKeeper various royalty deals, Cuban changed his mind, teaming up with Greiner. The pair offered $1 million for 5 percent equity and a royalty of $1.50 per unit until $2 million is recouped, split equally between the two Sharks. The co-founders quickly accepted.
Editor's note: Inc. magazine's 2018 Company of the Year is Bird. Here, we spotlight a contender for the title.

"The screen has become the most important place in the world," says Clark Valberg, CEO and founder of InVision. Whatever your company does, whether it's a physical product or virtual service, chances are your customer experiences it significantly, and maybe entirely, on the screen of a mobile phone or computer. When today's multibillion-dollar companies like Uber and Airbnb are born, more often than not it's because they've won the war for digital real estate. Sales, marketing, customer support: "Most of your business processes are driven through that little pane of glass," Valberg says.

And that means everyone in your company needs to be able to discuss what's on that screen. That's where InVision comes in. Its software lets product designers make rapid digital prototypes and seamlessly share them with employees in other departments whose feedback is needed, from sales to legal to the C-suite. (Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, among many other high-ranking executives, is a daily user.)

Founded seven years ago in Brooklyn, InVision is used by 4.5 million people at thousands of companies, including 80 of the Fortune 100. Notable customers include Lyft, Netflix, Gap, and Starbucks. Its business model is the SaaS-standard freemium, with a subscription for up to five design "seats" costing $100 per month, depending on usage and team size. "We're focused on helping everyone in the organization become design-driven," Valberg says.

Valberg identified the need for something like InVision while running a creative agency in New York. He became frustrated by the inability to get designers and clients around the same virtual table, resulting in endless back-and-forth and the least technologically fluent participants becoming choke points. That had always been true, Valberg says, but the arrival of Slack and other distributed-communications tools suggested the solution.

Assembling the necessary talent to make his idea a reality was a challenge. Google had just undertaken a massive expansion of its Manhattan office and Valberg couldn't afford to compete with it for New York City's limited supply of coders. So instead he targeted the best engineers in places like Saskatchewan, Wichita, and Phoenix, and offered them twice what they were earning--though still far less than they could have earned in Silicon Valley or New York--as well as control over their schedules and locations.

It worked out so well, Valberg decided to eschew physical offices entirely. InVision's VP of product strategy works out of a roving Airstream trailer, with a green screen he uses during videoconferences to further confuse people about where he is. The company's head of video spent a year traveling around America without taking time off work (and did the best work of his career, Valberg says, speaking from his home office in Brooklyn).

Operating virtually hasn't exactly slowed the company down. InVision now has 800 employees (up from fewer than 500 a year ago) and a $1 billion valuation that should increase with its imminent next funding round. By those measures, InVision is already bigger than Slack was when it was named Inc.'s Company of the Year for 2015. The company has taken a meaningful bite out of Adobe's multibillion-dollar business and even forced the design-software giant to change its own products to stay competitive.

Both within InVision and at the companies that use it, Valberg is dispelling what he sees as a myth: that physical proximity is a prerequisite for creative teams. The idea that great ideas happen when people from different disciplines bump into each other at the water cooler is a thing of the past, he says.
After nine years of secrecy, an electric car startup with a whole lot of funding is revealing its vehicles to the public.

On Monday, San Jose, California-based Rivian unveiled its pickup truck at an event in Los Angeles, the first of two gas-free cars the company is revealing this week. Founded by MIT grad R.J. Scaringe in 2009, the company has racked up more than $500 million in funding while keeping a tight lid on its futuristic-looking designs.

On Tuesday, the startup pulled the lid off its SUV. Rivian says neither car will be available until 2020.

The company claims the most powerful version of its vehicles can travel more than 400 miles on a single charge. By comparison, Tesla advertises that its Model 3 sedan can travel 310 miles per charge.

Scaringe, who grew up restoring classic cars and earned his PhD in automotive mechanical engineering, founded the company with the goal of creating adventure vehicles that didn't rely on gas. The startup has been operating in stealth mode ever since; until six weeks ago, its facilities in California, Michigan, Illinois, and the U.K. didn't have any Rivian signage.

"We decided, given all the twists and challenges, to be very quiet in those early years," Scaringe says. "We said, 'Let's wait until we're ready to show the world that we've actually arranged all these pieces.' And all those pieces are now in place."

Even while it's remained mostly out of the public eye, the company already employs more than 600 people across several states. In 2016, it bought a Mitsubishi vehicle production plant in Normal, Illinois, that had been shuttered the previous year. The startup will receive about $50 million in tax credits if it hits several targets, including employing 1,000 people at the facility by 2024. Its investors include Saudi- and UAE-based conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel and Japanese firm Sumitomo.

The startup's vehicles are geared squarely at adventurous, outdoorsy types--specifically, those with money. The company is making pickups, SUVs, and crossovers that cost between $60,000 and $90,000 depending on the package. Scaringe says the company doesn't have plans to move into sedans.

Rivian will use the same chassis--essentially the body's frame--for all of its vehicles. It will look to earn extra revenue by lending the chassis to other vehicle makers. That's not uncommon in the automotive industry, but Scaringe says the company's advantage is in how easily its frame can be converted to fit vehicles in very different segments.

"Our products are very aspirational, very premium, but we can dial the performance of it down and use it in more commoditized applications," he says. He wouldn't reveal what brands the company is pursuing partnerships with, except that they would be companies "that are not directly competing with us--so they're complementary as opposed to sitting on top of us."

In any event, the company will have its work cut out for it. Tesla's very public deadline misses have demonstrated the difficulty of scaling up production of electric vehicles--or any vehicles for that matter. As Elon Musk has pointed out on numerous occasions, Tesla and Ford are the only American auto makers to have never gone bankrupt.
This week marks the 30th anniversary of the (fictional) Nakatomi Plaza siege in Los Angeles.

John McTiernans hugely influential action caper Die Hard sees the building taken over by a gang of German terrorists, famously thwarted by the barefoot heroics of off-duty cop John McClane (Bruce Willis), hiding out in the skyscraper after attending his estranged wife Hollys (Bonnie Bedelia) office Christmas party in the hope of reconciling with her.

Die Hard was first released in the city in which it is set on 12 July 1988, before opening nationwide three days later. The film cost $28m (21m) to make, but reaped $140m (105m) internationally, setting the template for a number of blockbusters that have since followed: from Under Siege (1992) and Speed (1994) to The Rock (1996), Con Air, Air Force One (1997) and White House Down (2013).

Dwayne The Rock Johnsons new release, Skyscraper (2018), is both the latest and one of the most overt imitations yet.

Die Hard made a movie star of Willis, then best known for his comedic role as a private eye opposite Cybill Shepherd in TVs Moonlighting (1985-89). It also capitalised on the sneering villainy of the late, great Alan Rickman as mastermind Hans Gruber. The actor was a regular in British period dramas at the time, making a name for himself as the memorably-wretched Obadiah Slope in the BBCs The Barchester Chronicles (1982).

Die Hard is nothing short of a phenomenon, spawning four sequels to date and a loyal fan base, many of whom claim it as their favourite Christmas film and few of whom are more evangelical than Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

What is perhaps less well known, is that the film was based on a novel: Roderick Thorps 1979 thriller Nothing Lasts Forever.

Actor Bruce Willis made his name in the 1988 film but he was not originally the first choice (Moviestore/Rex)

Thorp's book is a sequel to his previous work The Detective (1966), which is a tale of New York gumshoe Joe Leland, who is hired by a femme fatale and drawn into a web of deceit.

The Detective was also adapted into a film by Gordon Douglas in 1968 and starred Frank Sinatra in the lead.

The idea for a sequel featuring the same character came to Thorp while watching The Towering Inferno (1974), John Guillermins quintessential 1970s disaster movie about a high-rise on fire, starring Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. According to legend, Thorp dozed off in the theatre and dreamed of Joe Leland being pursued around a skyscraper by armed hoodlums.

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Frank Sinatra plays Joe Leland alongside his co-star Jacqueline Bisset in 'The Detective' (Pierluigi Praturlon/Rex)

The resulting work, Nothing Lasts Forever, is largely similar in plot to McTiernans masterpiece, barring a few name changes. Leland of course became McClane, Gruber is there too but is known as Anton Little Tony the Red Gruber, while the tower itself is the Klaxon Oil Corporation headquarters, not that of the good people at Nakatomi headquarters.

Sergeant Al Powell, memorably played by supporting actor Reginald VelJohnson, is also there, fully formed on the page.

Producers had hoped Sinatra would return as Leland for the sequel, but the crooner was realistically too old by the time it was offered to him in the mid-1980s, and so the part was offered to Arnold Schwarzenegger instead. He too turned down the offer, and instead Willis was cast in the leading role.

Alan Rickman plays the sneering villain, seen here in a scene with Bonnie Bedelia (Rex) (Rex Features)

Though Willis was not featured prominently on early billboard posters for the film due to his comparative obscurity, his sardonic delivery and way with a vest, proved central to the finished films appeal. As the trailer states: John McClane is an easy man to like but a hard man to kill.

But Thorps novel was not the only surprise literary influence in Die Hard.

In the original script, Grubers siege took place over three days. But McTiernan was inspired to change it so that all the action unfolded over the course of a single night after reading Shakespeares classic A Midsummer Nights Dream, therein ensuring the story conformed to Aristotles classic principles of dramatic unity as outlined in his work Poetics.
Oprah Winfrey's mother Vernita Lee has died at the age of 83.

Lee's family confirmed in a statement to People that Lee passed away on Thanksgiving, at her home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

A spokesperson for Winfrey told the AP news agency that Lee died on 22 November and that private funeral services were held.

Born on 2 May, 1935, Lee was a teenager when she gave birth to Winfrey in Mississippi in 1954. They moved to Milwaukee when Winfrey was six years old.

Lee was featured getting a make-over on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1990.

She is also survived by another daughter, Patricia Amanda, and four grandchildren.

Lee was predeceased by a son, Jeffrey, and by a daughter, Patricia.

Winfrey shared images of her Thanksgiving celebrations on Instagram but has remained silent on social media for the past few days.

She hasn't publicly commented on her mother's passing, though her followers have started leaving messages of support on her last Instagram publications.

Back in 2012, Winfrey paid tribute to her mother on social media.

She posted an archive photo of herself with Lee, writing next to the image: "Thank you to my mother Vernita Lee for doing the best she knew and could do in raising me."

AP contributed to this report.
On last weeks episode of Dynasties  David Attenboroughs new BBC1 series, which follows five of the worlds most celebrated but endangered animals  the film crew broke the 92-year-old broadcasters cardinal rule: never interfere with nature. When a group of emperor penguins became trapped in an icy ravine, the team dug a ramp in the ice, allowing the penguins to free themselves.

It was an unprecedented decision, but one even Attenborough himself (according to executive producer Mike Gunton) would have made. The trouble is, it just makes it all the more galling that in tonights episode, which follows a pride of lions in Kenyas Masai Mara, nature is allowed to take its course  no matter how cruel.

And, as is typical of Attenboroughs documentaries, there are about a thousand cruel moments. The Marsh Pride (which is, says Attenborough in his frail, avuncular tone, perhaps the most famous lion family of all) has been abandoned by every single one of its adult males, its survival now resting solely on the shoulders of a lioness called Charm, and her cousin Sienna.

Forced to hunt around the clock while her three-year-old son blunders around trying to bring down a two-ton hippo, and his young cousin Red ambles straight into the middle of a 20-strong hyena clan (the scene is, shot for shot, straight out of The Lion King), Charm must get down to the serious business of finding enough food for all ten of her dependents.

So high are the standards set by Attenboroughs myriad previous shows that its easy to take for granted the breathtaking cinematography. But tonights aerial shots of wildebeest swarming like ants away from the Masai Mara, infra-red footage of night hunts, and sunset-tinged close-ups of Charm, staring heroically into the middle distance, are so arresting that they surpass even the dizzying benchmark of the shows predecessors.

Thank goodness its so beautiful, because in every other way, this is pretty harrowing to watch. At one point, Sienna is attacked and badly injured, returning to the pride after several days with a chunk missing from her side. Just as she recovers, the pride is poisoned by villagers attempting to protect their livestock.

Sienna goes missing, and Charm is forced to leave her ailing young cub for dead, in order to remain with the rest of her pride. Shell never see her son, or Sienna, alive again, Attenborough sombrely informs us. Hakuna Matata.

There are moments of respite  Charms bond with her daughter, Yaya, is a sight to behold  but they dont last long. A pair of male lions arrive to stake a claim in Charms hard-earned pride, and chase out every young cub, Yaya included.

By the end, though she has two new cubs, Attenboroughs claims that this extraordinary lioness has succeeded are somewhat debatable. But watching her resilience  Shes the matriarch, shes the... dame, says one of the crew in the behind-the-scenes segment at the end  is inspiring. There are fewer than 2,000 lions left in Kenya. Shows like this remind us what a travesty that is.

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Dynasties airs on Sundays on BBC1 at 8pm
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Demonstrations at the Russian embassy in Kiev; burned a diplomatic car. Emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. The Russians talking about "trespassing" of Ukrainian ships in Russian territorial waters; but the UN countries do not recognize the Russian occupation of Crimea.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - Two Russian sight-seeing ships at the Black Sea's maritime borders opened fire on Ukrainian ginboats Berdljansk and Nikopol, which were hit and thrown off their route; also the tug "Jan Kap" was intercepted by Russian fire. The three boats were requisitioned by Russian forces; two Ukrainian sailors were injured.

The incident occurred last night inflaming an already tense situation. After the incident, protesters attacked the Russian embassy in Kiev and an embassy car was burned.

The Ukrainian parliament will decide today whether to launch martial law, given the tensions that the Russian gesture is causing. The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting today.

Russian ships opened fire on the Ukrainian ones in the Strait of Kerch, on the Russian side of Crimea. According to the Ukrainian naval command, the Russians opened fire as the Ukrainian ships were trying to exit the Russian naval space, in order to sink them. Previously the Russians intercepted the Ukrainian boats, urging them to stop under the threat of arms.

Yesterday morning, the Russian security services announced the crossing of the three Ukrainian ships in Russian territorial waters, while proceeding on the route from Odessa to Mariupol, in the Ukrainian part of the Sea of Azov. They wanted to pass through the Kerch Strait, under the new bridge recently inaugurated by Putin, but permission was denied to them. The Russians then lined up under the bridge, protected by helicopters and assault aircraft.

Ukraine accuses Russia of "declared aggressive actions"; the Russians reproach Ukrainians for having organized a "premeditated provocation". Meanwhile, for security reasons, the Kerch bridge has been closed to civil and naval traffic.

Some witnesses say that the Ukrainian ships arrived under the bridge, stopping for about half an hour, without crossing it, and then returned to the Black Sea chased by the Russians.

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating the UN convention on maritime law, which establishes sovereignty at 12 nautical miles from the shore. Since Ukraine (and most of the UN countries) does not recognize Russian sovereignty over Crimea, the issue is intricate and a harbinger of new threats.
The pieces are falling into place, says the Israeli spymaster Michael Kurtz (Michael Shannon) in episode five of The Little Drummer Girl (BBC1). So they are. His little English drummer girl Charlie (Florence Pugh) has infiltrated a Palestinian terror camp, apparently winning the trust of the remaining members of the powerful Al-Khadar family. Having acquiesced in the assassination, by the Israelis, of Salim Al-Khaddar, she persuades his big sister Fatmeh (Luna Izabal) that she and Salim had been lovers, and that she was one of the last people to see him alive before he died in a car accident in West Germany.

Kurtz picked Charlie, among other reasons, because she is an actor, and the Palestinians are duly taken in, conferring upon her the special status of martyrs widow. She is, as Kurtz had planned, getting closer to the leader of the faction, elder brother Khalil Al-Khadar.

But who is Charlie actually drumming for? Israelis? Palestinians? Herself? Both sides speak of her as part of their family, yet we know she cannot be both. Intelligent as she is, and with a certain native cunning, does she realise this? As Kurtz remarks, it is an all or nothing game now, she is either a dead body or a family member. Khalil would say the same.

Kurtz recruited Charlie remarkably easily, which leaves some doubt in the viewers mind about her sincerity. She was picked by the Isrealis to become their asset, Kurtzs very own star player in his theatre of the real, because of her sympathy for the Palestinian cause  but tempered by her disgust at the cruelty with which the longest war in the world is prosecuted by both sides. So, as the handsome Israeli agent Gadi (Alexander Skarsgard) has warned her, when she finds herself surrounded by dispossessed Palestinians grieving for dead children, she becomes ashamed deceiving them.

True enough. As she learns a little Arabic from the kids, and then sees one of them vapourised by an Israeli air strike, the sense of conflicted emotions is tangible, but never overdone (Pugh gets the balance just right). By the end of her boot camp session, featuring body slams and RPG launchers, the diminutive Charlie is a sort of mash-up of Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin and Uma Thurman in Kill Bill (thats meant as a compliment). She passes her Palestinian test of loyalty just as she has previously passed her Israeli ones.

Back in London, she assumes another role, this time with a cover story provided for her by her Palestinian bosses; a South African fascist student at the University of Durban visiting her cousin in London. Charlies handed a mousey wig, chunky brown knitwear and some thick specs that make her, now, resemble Velma Dinkley off Scooby Doo  entirely appropriate for a drama set in circa 1979. Her mission is to kill an Israeli academic who is to give a speech at a polytechnic to mark the anniversary of Israeli independence / the Palestinian catastrophe. A bomb in a briefcase is duly swapped, but discreetly scooped up by the Mossad squad hovering around in constant surveillance, and  in fact  found only to contain some pamphlets rationalising apartheid (toxic but not directly deadly). It was a clever feint by the Palestinian gang, a way to flush out any Israeli or British intelligence presence. It almost worked.

Which brings us to Charles Dance and the authentic whiff of British establishment antisemitism, or at least anti-Zionism. Dance plays the Secret Intelligence Service chief Commander Picton, to whom Kurtz turns for assistance in thwarting the attack. Picton  and it makes one wince with especial pain these days - makes no attempt to disguise his contempt for Zionist thugs, being the Irgun terrorists he encountered as junior officer at the fag end of the British mandate in Palestine, around 1948. And so you grasp, without Kurtz uttering a single syllable, the motivation, the fear if you like, that drives the Zionist project. It is one of Shannons best scenes, effective quiet foil to Pictons racist diatribe.

One nice touch at Pictons Bletchley Park style establishment is a large portrait of Ernest Bevin hanging on the staircase as Kurtz and Picton go out to catch some clean English air. Bevin was foreign secretary when the British got the hell out of the Holy Land, and was himself an incorrigible anti-Semite. No wonder all the characters, Israelis and Palestinians alike, blame the British for starting it all.

In the episodes closing moments, Charlie meets Khalil Al-Khadar, and we know that she will, in next weeks final episode, be forced to make a choice between her families.

Wont she?
Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be almost over, but you can still get a great deal on flights and holidays. You just need to know where to look.

To save you time, we've gathered together some of the best discounts by airline, wherever you'd like to go.

Last year, the travel industry offered up a host of strong discounts, including a deal from Thomas Cook which gave customers 200 off every holiday.

Air New Zealand offered 375 discounts on return flights to LA, while Expedia gave 50 per cent off selected hotels and British Airways had an array of low-priced trips across Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Seychelles.

We'll be constantly updating this year's deals throughout the weekend.

Air New Zealand

(Getty) (Getty Images)

Head to Air New Zealand's Black Friday 2018 page from Friday, 22 November for its deals. Last year, some flights sold out in minutes. As a tempting taster, 100 return flights to Los Angeles will be available on the site at 10am on Black Friday, at just 175.

Best deals:

London to New Zealand, economy flights: from 839pp, buy now

London to New Zealand via Los Angeles, premium economy flights: from 2,390pp, buy now

London to New Zealand via Los Angeles, business premier flights: from 4,144pp, buy now

Auckland to Fiji flights, seat only: from $213pp, buy now

British Airways

BA discovered major data breach on Wednesday (Getty)

Head to British Airways' Black Friday page for this year's offers on flights and holidays.

Best deals:

Grenada, Tobago and St Kitts in the Caribbean, flights and hotel: save up to 300, buy now

New York business-class flights and three nights in a hotel: from 1,119, buy now

Seychelles business-class flights and seven nights' hotel from 1,949: buy now

Rome business-class flights and three nights' hotel: from 359pp, buy now

Barcelona flights and two nights' hotel: from 99pp, buy now

Orlando flights and seven nights hotel: from 1,229pp, buy now

easyJet

easyJet charges up to 26.99 for seat selection ( (AFP)

Black Friday deals are hot right now on the easyJet website with money off holidays from Amsterdam and Barcelona to Rome and Berlin.

Best deals:

Barcelona flights and three nights hotel: 118.20pp, buy now

Paris flights and three nights' hotel: 131.13pp, buy now

Paris flights with three nights' hotel at Disneyland: 168.92pp, buy now

Reykjavik, Iceland flights and three nights hotel: 241.40, buy now

Rome flights and three nights' hotel: from 143.13, buy now

Etihad

London to Abu Dhabi: from 399, buy now

Expedia

Expedia (Expedia)

We're looking forward to the Expedia deals on its Black Friday page. Expedia offered travellers 50 per cent off certain hotels last year, as well as 330 off when spending 800 or more on select flights.

Best deals:

Paris flights and three nights hotel: from 222pp, buy now

New York flights and five nights hotel: from 1,075pp, buy now

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Orlando flights and five nights' hotel: from 756pp, buy now

Phuket flights and six nights' hotel: from 607pp, buy now

Ryanair

Many planes were parked last year due to industrial action (Reuters)

Every day this week, the budget airline is releasing deals on its Black Friday page.

Best deals:

London Stansted to Barcelona, one-way flight: 4.88pp, buy now

London Stansted to Edinburgh, one-way flight: 9.78pp, buy now

London Stansted to Venice, one-way flight: 9.78pp, buy now

London Stansted to Bologna, one-way flight: 12.73pp, buy now

London Stansted to Lanzarote, one-way flight: 9.78pp, buy now

Thomas Cook

(Alamy (Alamy)

Black Friday deals from Thomas Cook will be announced through its dedicated page. The Canary Islands, Greece and Turkey are likely to be popular.

Best deals:

Tenerife flights and seven nights hotel: from 389pp, buy now

Greece flights and seven nights hotel: from 216pp, buy now

Italy flights and seven nights hotel: from 370pp, buy now

Turkey flights and seven nights' hotel: from 234pp, buy now

Croatia one way flights from 32.99, buy now

Gran Canaria one way flights from 42.99, buy now

TUI

(AFP/Getty)

For a bargain holiday, head to the TUI Black Friday page. You can save 100 on short-haul and mid-haul holidays with the code 'BF100' or 150 on long-haul holidays with the code 'BF150'. Book before Monday and you could even win back the cost of your holiday.

Best deals:

Spain flights and seven nights hotel: from 288pp, buy now

Greece flights and seven nights hotel: from 175pp, buy now

Recommended Best Black Friday UK Apple deals 2018

Cape Verde flights and seven nights hotel: 749.88pp, buy now

Iceland flights and four nights hotel: 610pp, buy now

Thailand flights and seven nights hotel: 973, buy now

Virgin Trains

Change here? Virgin Trains arrival at Crewe station in Cheshire (Simon Calder)

Waiting to buy your train ticket home for Christmas? Last year, Virgin Trains cut prices on 250,000 first- and standard-class tickets by up to 52 per cent, and we predict it will offer a similar deal this time round.

Best deals:

Fixed-price family tickets from 65, buy now

Upgrade to first class for 10, buy now

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.
Major art museums have realised there is much to learn from clothing that is both religiously coded and fashion forward.

Earlier this year the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, hosted a fashion exhibition inspired by the Catholic faith titled Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and Catholic Imagination. With more than 1.6 million visitors, it was the most popular exhibit in the Mets history.

And now the de Young Museum of San Francisco has the first major exhibit devoted to the Islamic fashion scene. Contemporary Muslim Fashions (22 September 2018-6 January 2019) displays 80 swoon-worthy ensembles  glamorous gowns, edgy streetwear, conceptual couture  loosely organised by region and emphasising distinct textile traditions. This exhibit is a bold statement of cultural appreciation during a time of heightened anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Recommended Racists beat up Italian barman because they thought he was Muslim

In studying how Muslim women dress for over a decade, I realised a deeper understanding of Muslim womens clothing can challenge popular stereotypes about Islam. Here are three takeaways.

1. Modesty is not one thing

While there are scattered references to modest dress in the sacred written sources of Islam, these religious texts do not spend a lot of time discussing the ethics of Muslim attire. And once I started to pay attention to how Muslims dress, I quickly realised that modesty does not look the same everywhere.

I travelled to Iran, Indonesia and Turkey for my research on Muslim womens clothing. The Iranian penal code requires women to wear proper Islamic clothing in public, although what that entails is never defined. The morality police harass and arrest women who they think expose too much hair or skin. Yet even under these conditions of intense regulation and scrutiny, women wear a remarkable range of styles  from edgy ripped jeans and graphic tees to bohemian loose, flowy separates.

Streetstyle in Iran (Contemporary Muslim Fashions, de Young Museum, San Francisco)

Indonesia is the most populous Muslim nation in the world, but Indonesian women did not wear head coverings or modest clothing until about 30 years ago. Today, local styles integrate crystal and sequin embellishments. Popular fabric choices include everything from pastel chiffon to bright batik, which is promoted as the national textile.

In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis Muslims gather with flags in Trafalgar Square on October 1, 2017 Getty In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis People listen to a speaker in Trafalgar Square on October 1, 2017 Getty In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis Protesters gather with placards ahead of the annual Ashura march in Marble Arch on October 1, 2017 Getty In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis Muslims pray ahead of the annual Ashura march in Marble Arch on October 1, 2017 Getty In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis Protesters holding placards demonstrate along Oxford Street on October 1, 2017 Getty In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis Protesters gather with placards during the annual Ashura march in Marble Arch on October 1, 2017 Getty In pictures: Muslims in London protest against Isis Protesters holding flags and placards demonstrate along Oxford Street on October 1, 2017 Getty

When it comes to Turkey, for much of the last century authorities discouraged Muslim women from wearing pious fashion, claiming these styles were unmodern because they were not secular. That changed with the rise of the Islamic middle class, when Muslim women began to demand an education, to work outside the home and to wear modest clothing and a headscarf as they did so. Today local styles tend to be tailored closely to the body, with high necklines and low hemlines and complete coverage of the hair.

A stunning range of Muslim fashions are found in the United States as well, reflecting the diversity of its approximately 3.45 million Muslims. Fifty-eight per cent of Muslim adults in the US are immigrants, coming from some 75 countries. And US-born Muslims are diverse. For instance, more than half of Muslims whose families have been in the US for at least three generations are black.

This diversity provides the opportunity for hybrid identities, which are displayed through clothing styles.

2. Muslim women dont need saving

Many non-Muslims see Muslim womens clothing and headscarves as a sign of oppression. It is true that a Muslim womans clothing choices are shaped by her communitys ideas about what it means to be a good Muslim. But this situation is not unlike that for non-Muslim women, who likewise have to negotiate expectations concerning their behaviour.

In my book, I introduce readers to a number of women who use their clothing to express their identity and assert their independence. Tari is an Indonesian college student who covers her head despite her parents objections. Her parents worry that a headscarf will make it harder for Tari to get a job after graduation. But for Tari, whose friends all cover their hair, her clothing is the primary way she communicates her personal style and her Muslim identity.

Local textiles in Indonesian fashion (Contemporary Muslim Fashions, de Young Museum, San Francisco)

Nur, who majored in communications at Istanbul Commerce University, dresses modestly but is highly critical of the pressure she sees the apparel industry putting on Muslim women to buy brand-name clothing. For her, Muslim style does not have to come with a high price tag.

Leila works for the Iranian government and considers her off-duty clothing choices a form of civil disobedience. Monday to Friday she wears dark colours and long baggy overcoats. But on the weekends she pushes the limits of acceptability with tight-fitting outfits and heavy makeup  sartorial choices that might get her in trouble with the morality police. She accepts the legal obligation to wear Islamic clothing in public, but asserts her right to decide what that entails.

Designers have also used clothing to protest issues affecting their communities. The de Young exhibit, for example, includes a scarf by designer Celine Semaan to protest against Trumps travel ban. The scarf features a NASA satellite image of several of the countries whose citizens are denied entry to the US, overlaid with the word Banned.

3. Muslims contribute to mainstream society

A 2017 Pew survey showed that 50 per cent of Americans say Islam is not a part of mainstream society. But, as Muslim models and Muslim designers are increasingly recognised by the fashion world, the misperception of Muslims as outsiders has the potential to change.

Muslim models are spokespersons for top cosmetic brands, walk the catwalk for high end designers and are featured in print ads for major labels.

Today clothing inspired by Islamic aesthetics is marketed to all consumers, not just Muslim ones. Take the most recent collection of British Muslim designer Hana Tajima for Uniqlo. In its promotional materials, the global casual wear retailer described the garments as culturally sensitive and extremely versatile clothing for cosmopolitan women of all backgrounds.

Banned headscarf by Celine Semaan (Contemporary Muslim Fashions, de Young Museum, San Francisco)

To be hip today is to dress in culturally inclusive ways, and this includes modest styles created by Muslim designers and popularised by Muslim consumers. Fashion makes it clear that Muslims are not only part of mainstream society, they are contributors to it.

Liz Bucar is associate professor of philosophy and religion at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. This article first appeared on The Conversation (theconversation.com)
Sainsburys is introducing new food and drink labels that inform customers which items are needed by food banks to encourage donations.

The initiative, which launched Friday as part of the larger campaign Help to Brighten A Million Christmases, will see all 1,400 branches of the supermarket labelling priority items such as cans of fish, meat or vegetables and non-perishable juices, as well as items needed by local food banks.

Customers can then place the items in a donation area after checkout.

Recommended Almost 4 million in UK forced to use food banks

The nationwide campaign was launched after a successful trial of the labels saw an increase in donations.

The expansion is part of the supermarkets effort to increase food donations during the Christmas period as well as after - with the labels expected to remain in stores indefinitely.

During the holiday period, Sainsburys sister-store Argos will be accepting donating toys until December 16.

The goal, according to the press release, is to encourage one million food and toy donations in stores across the UK during the Christmas season.

To accomplish the goal, Sainsburys has built more than 2,100 food donation partnerships across its stores.

 Report reveals the rise of food banks

The initial campaign was started by a group of National Citizen Service graduates from Exeter who realised most customers notice donation bins after theyd done their shopping - meaning they do not end up donating.

By creating labels that inform customers of the items needed by food banks during their shopping, the number of donations tripled.

In pictures: Food banks Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Food banks In pictures: Food banks Rev Hebden and the Bishop of Oxford They were met with police when they went to deliver their open letter In pictures: Food banks Cameron's constituency office refused to open the door In pictures: Food banks The congregation waited on the other side of the street In pictures: Food banks Reasons for using foodbanks Some of the data released from The Trussell Trust In pictures: Food banks Rising numbers using foodbanks under the Coalition In pictures: Food banks Food poverty Almost a million people have used foodbanks in the last year In pictures: Food banks Food poverty scandal The Mail on Sunday accused the Trussell Trust of giving out food parcels without properly checking peoples circumstances. Getty Images In pictures: Food banks Food poverty scandal Food bank operators report that people in low-paid work are turning up during their lunch breaks seeking help Susannah Ireland/The Independent In pictures: Food banks The BNP have set up their own foodbanks Nick Griffin tweeted: For the avoidance of doubt, our BNP food banks are for indigenous Brits only. 'Minorities' all have their own (taxpayer-funded) charities. Getty

Were excited to be working together to expand Sainsburys food donation programme and to launch Argoss toy donation programme, said Claudine Blamey, Sainsburys head of corporate responsibility and sustainability. We are committed to making a positive difference in local communities and we hope our customers get on board to help brighten the lives of those less fortunate in the community.

Mark Richardson, manager of Exeter foodbank, added: The results of this initiative just goes to show that sometimes you just need a new mind on an old problem, sometimes the most simple ideas have the greatest impact.

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The permanent initiative will be the largest of its kind in the UK, according to The Guardian.
Elon Musk is probably going to live on Mars.

That is, if he doesn't die first: something that is highly likely, given how risky the journey will be. And if he doesn't die on his way to the red planet, he could easily die once he get there.

If he and his fellow travellers do manage to get to Mars and survive, life will be a difficult prospect, he has said. It is going to be lots of work and very little leisure time, he said, with the high chance that you might die from Mars's harsh environment before you get to enjoy it.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

Those were the predictions the SpaceX and Tesla boss made when asked in a new interview about his plans for living on the red planet. Mr Musk's rocket business is preparing for manned trips to Mars in the coming years, with the hope of making them relatively easily available.

"You're 47," Mr Musk was asked as part of an interview for Axios's new show on HBO. "What is the likelihood you personally will go to Mars?"

"70 per cent," he replied immediately. "We've recently made a number of breakthroughs that I'm just really fired up about."

He went on to explain that he was "talking about moving there", and that the price for the trip might eventually be only a couple of hundred thousand dollars.

Pressed on whether he was working towards building an "escape hatch for rich people", he said that the journey was going to be far more difficult than staying on our own planet would be.

"Your probability of dying on Mars if much higher than dying on Earth," he said, comparing it with Shackleton's trip to the Antarctic.

"It's going to be hard, there's a good chance of death, going in a little can through deep space," he said. "You might land successfully, once you land successfully you'll be working non-stop to build the base. So not much time for leisure.

"And once you get there, even after doing all this, it's a very harsh environment so there's a good chance you'll die there. We think you can come back but we're not sure. Now does that sound like an escape hatch for rich people?"

Despite all that he said he would "unhesitatingly" go and live on the planet, once SpaceX makes it possible.

"There's lots of people that climb mountains.," he said. "People die on Mount Everest all the time. They like doing it for the challenge."
The majority of adults in the UK who experience loneliness are afraid that no one will notice if something bad happens to them, new research conducted by the British Red Cross has found.

Approximately nine million people in the UK say that they often feel lonely, with many struggling to make lasting, social connections with others.

The British Red Cross has recently undertaken a study investigating the extent to which people across the country suffer from loneliness and social isolation, with almost a fifth of individuals stating that they dont have friends that they can turn to in times of need.

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A survey of 4,000 adults in the UK was carried out between 30 October and 15 November this year.

The findings revealed that 53 per cent of adults who feel lonely fear that they'll have no one there to support them should something bad happen to them, and one in nine people don't feel that they have anyone in their lives that they'd be able to rely on if they were experiencing a crisis.

The research conducted by the charity also found that of the individuals who often feel lonely, two thirds frequently feel completely alone even when surrounded by other people, and more than a third of people don't know how to cope with loneliness.

Zoe Abrams, executive director of Communications and Advocacy at British Red Cross, explains the importance of forging close connections with others.

"Loneliness and social isolation doesn't discriminate," she says.

"Life circumstances can change in the blink of an eye, meaning it can happen to anyone, no matter your age or background.

"We all need someone to turn to in a crisis, but the findings of our research suggest that there are many people in our communities feeling they lack meaningful, human connections."

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A recent study carried out by BBC Radio 4's All in the Mind in collaboration with the Wellcome Collection found that young people are most likely to experience loneliness, with 40 per cent of people aged between 16 and 24 stating that they feel lonely a lot of the time, in comparison to 29 per cent of those aged between 65 and 74.
Adair Turner is being provocative again. Almost a decade ago now he scandalised bankers and traders (although not the general public) when he declared the work of financiers to be socially useless.

A few years ago he made himself almost equally unpopular in central banking circles by suggesting they should consider monetising debt to rebalance their economies.

And now Baron Turner of Ecchinswells latest thesis is that politicians, everyone from the Chancellor Philip Hammond down, are talking rubbish about productivity.

What every politician always agrees is that the crucial thing we need to do is speed up the rate of productivity growth  every politicians wrong! the silver-haired 63-year-old declaims in an interview with The Independent.

Turner, whose technocratic career has taken him from the CBI, to the Climate Change Commission, to a major government review of pensions, to the chair of the Financial Services Authority, is now chair of George Soros Institute for New Economic Thinking. And the economic thinking hes doing is certainly new. Downright heretical, many would say.

So whats led him to this radical conclusion that we should stop obsessing about productivity growth? The answer is twofold.

First, he suspects automation is happening quicker than is being picked up by our official GDP statistics. Second, he thinks lots of the new service jobs being created as the mechanisable parts of the economy become more efficient are inherently zero sum, meaning they are competing for existing wealth rather than creating it.

He gives an example of street sweepers and lawyers: If we manage to create a totally effective automated street sweeping machine, nobody would have a job as a street sweeper. But if we apply IT to the limit to law, therell still be lawyers. Its just that each of these two highly paid lawyers will now have software that review not simply many cases, but every single case that theres ever been.

What do lawyers do? They fight against each other. If you make lawyer A and lawyer B both much more skilled than they were before, you cant say therell be a better product, therell just be a more intense fight.

He thinks that focusing on productivity growth in this context will not help to deliver a higher quality of living for most people. Indeed, he fears it could actually end up harming living standards, citing the example of those who provide social care for the frail elderly.

What do we do with those jobs at the moment? We reduce their status and their cost. We put them up for competitive bidding. And we bid down the price. And then we do these gig economy games where people being paid to do social care of the elderly arent even employed for movement between client one and client two; we say youre only working when youre at the client. Then we tailorise their life. We say youve got 14 minutes to clean someones bottom

The solution, Turner says, banging the desk of his Mayfair office for emphasis, is simply to stop focusing on the bottom line.

Weve just got to pay more for social care  weve just got to make something which is valued. Weve got to pay higher taxes to afford it. Theyre never going to be high-paid jobs, but we should not be using the techniques of the market to skinny them down.

He concedes the macroeconomics of his argument, laid out in an extensive lecture in the US earlier this year, is unproven. There are certainly many theoretical and empirical challenges that could be mounted. He also accepts that his thesis  saying we should focus more on distributing the GDP pie than making it bigger  will not be easily swallowed by policymaking classes.

Ten years ago I said precisely the opposite, he smiles. Thats undoubtedly [not] what I would have said when I was director of the CBI. Im still cautious about leaping to that. But sometimes a useful role in public debate is to throw something deliberately provocative into the pond!

Turner advises a start-up online bank  OakNorth  which he says has influenced his views on the rapid underlying speed of job-shedding automation.

As chair of a group called Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), made up of public and private sector experts and executives, hes also advising governments in China and India on decarbonisation.

Despite Donald Trumps withdrawal of the US from the Paris accord, Turner insists hes relatively hopefully about the prospects of cracking the problem of a rapidly overheating planet.

Were optimistic that there are bits of Indian policy that are heading in the right direction, he says. Im optimistic that China gets it, that they are determined eventually to bring down their emissions, that theyll develop renewables on a massive scale, that theyll electrify their bus fleets, etc.

The thing that frustrates me about climate change is that we could get to 2060 and we could have a pretty close to zero carbon economy. Run the numbers and its completely doable by technologies that we know how to do. It is soluble if we just get on with it.

But whats lacking from Turners employment portfolio is a major, high-profile, public sector job in the UK. Jeremy Corbyns Labour seems an obvious fit. They could use someone with Turners economic and establishment credentials.

And it turns out there has been some contact. On 19 May (the same day as Harry and Meghans wedding) Turner was to be found addressing Labours macroeconomic conference.

Adair Turners musical chairs CV Chair, Institute for New Economic Thinking since 2015

Chair, Energy Transitions Commission since 2016

Chair, Financial Services Authority 2008-2013

Chair, Climate Change Committee 2008-2012

Chair, Pensions Commission 2003-2006

Chair, Low Pay Commission 2002-2006

Director-general, CBI 1995-1999

But could he work with a party of politicians who many in the business world regard as unreconstructed Marxists, a bigger threat to the economy even than Brexit?

The answer is Id have to spend a bit more time, he says, judiciously. There are some things about some of the people around them of which I am suspicious. There seem to be some people around them who genuinely do believe that Venezuela is a well-run country. You cannot believe that and be sensible. Venezuela is a disaster and it has been destroyed by a left-wing Marxist government that had oodles of oil revenues. Youve got to say the way that the world is.

But hes certainly not shutting the door.

There are things that make me wary of that tradition on the left which can see no problems with left-wing governments. On the other hand, there are other aspects of what they are saying that do not seem all that extreme or worrying.

The supreme British establishment technocrat taking a job with a radical left Labour team? That could be a Turner provocation to put all his others in the shade.
Many austerity-struck Leave voters are switching their support to Remain since they now recognise how European Union membership benefits them, according to a new academic study.

The findings are important because they suggest that the shock referendum result two years ago can be understood primarily as an economically driven protest vote from many of these communities, rather than stemming from a deep-rooted antipathy to European Union membership itself.

The results also suggest that ending free movement for EU workers is not the dominant desire of the UK public, despite Theresa Mays focus on that goal in the contentious withdrawal agreement she has brokered.

Eleonora Alabrese and Thiemo Fetzer from the University of Warwick reached their conclusions by analysing evidence from 20,000 people provided by Survation, which was gleaned between 20 October and 2 November.

They found that many areas that supported Leave in 2016  including Cornwall, Wales, the north and the midlands  now show a significant swing to Remain.

While areas whose economy significantly depend on trade with the EU were more likely to support Leave in 2016, this link has become markedly weaker since 2016, they wrote.

While an areas receipt of structural funds from the EU was uncorrelated with support for Leave in 2016, it now is strongly associated with weaker levels of support for Leave in 2018.

They conclude: The electorate across the UK may have become more informed about potential economic consequences of leaving the EU.

The authors also note that Leave areas which had relatively high levels of EU immigration in the 2000s have also shifted markedly.

The evidence is consistent with the idea that, in the course of the more than two and a half years since the referendum, the UK public has become more informed about how integration with the EU benefits their local communities, they argue.

Previous survey and geographical analysis by Mr Fetzer suggested that the coalition and Conservative Partys austerity policies after 2010 were a crucial factor in inducing many lower-income people to vote Leave in 2016.

The austerity Remain swing

The Warwick authors used the evidence to gauge how the public felt about various compromises on the UKs relationship with the EU.

A vast majority, even in Leave-supporting areas of the UK, would favour a compromise that does involve free movement of people between the UK and the EU, they said.

This suggests that UK politics may, in the present incarnation of the withdrawal agreement, may be solving what is perceived to be a non-problem.

Leaving the Leave camp

The headline finding of the Survation poll, released earlier this month, was that in a rerun of the Brexit referendum today Remain would gain a winning majority of 54 per cent, compared with 46 per cent for Leave.

An forecasting study produced by the government earlier this year found that parts of the UK that heavily voted Leave, including the northeast and the west midlands, would be likely to suffer the most harm from the UK leaving the single market and customs union.
Oil prices edged higher on Monday after a rout that has seen Brent crude crash from $85.79 (67) a barrel in early October to below $60 this week.

The decline of more than 20 per cent has resulted from weaker global demand alongside increased output in Saudi Arabia and the US.

Donald Trump last week hailed the fall as a big tax cut for America and the world adding: Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but lets get lower.

Recommended Oil prices hit 2018 low as global supplies rise

Saudi oil production surged to an all-time high of 11.1-11.3 million barrels per day in November while the rising dollar has hurt emerging economies, reducing demand.

Prices rose ahead of the implementation of US sanctions on Iran last month but higher borrowing costs and the increasing threat posed by US-China trade tensions have helped to push oil lower in recent weeks.

BP Middle East President Michael Townshend said a further fall to below $50 was within reach.

That would be good news for motorists filling up their cars but signals concerns in the global economy.

The Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) meets in Vienna on 6 December with Saudi Arabia widely expected to push for production to be cut by up to 1.4 million bpd.

However, Mr Trump has been pressuring Saudi Arabia for no cuts at all. The US president's backing is seen as key for the Middle Eastern kingdom as it seeks to avoid sanctions over the murder of journalist Jamal Khassoggi.

Jack Allardyce, oil and gas research analyst at Cantor Fitzgerald Europe said there was no obvious catalyst for the recent slump.

It seems to have been driven by a wider impending sense of doom amidst weak equities, geopolitics, subsequent softening demand and increasing supply, he said.

A lot depends on both the result of US-Sino talks at the G20 this week, and Opec and its allies meeting on the 6th  it looks as though the market has already decided that the mooted 1.4 million barrels of oil per day cut to output isnt enough to offset the decline in demand growth projections, so if that is the number then the current level could remain into the new year (or we might see some more weakness).

If they opt to make deeper cuts  which seems unlikely given how much the US is leaning on the Saudis and Russias apparent lack of enthusiasm  then some sort of recovery is likely. As ever, benchmarks seem to move more dramatically than they really should given underlying fundamentals.
Nigeria will miss out on $6bn (4.7bn) in a scandal-plagued deal with Shell and Italian energy giant Eni for one of West Africas most promising oil fields, leading industry experts have concluded.

The oil companies 2011 purchase is mired in a huge corruption case because most of the 1bn they paid for the offshore oil block ultimately ended up being paid as bribes, Italian prosecutors allege. The Nigerian government kept just a 164m signature bonus.

Research by Resources for Development Consulting, a group of economists, lawyers and auditors, has now found that Nigeria was worse off under the deal than previously thought.

Recommended Shell faces one of the biggest corporate corruption cases in history

Its public purse also missed out on 4.6bn in shared profits from the oil field because the agreement was extraordinarily favourable to the European oil companies.

This is more than double the combined education and healthcare budget of Nigeria, a country in which, despite vast oil wealth, 87 million people live in extreme poverty.

After years of denials, Shell admitted last year that it knew much of the money initially paid for the block, known as OPL245, would pass to convicted money launderer Dan Etete, who took a cut for himself with much of the rest paid to well-connected officials.

Under the contract, just 41 per cent of future revenues from the oil block will accrue to Nigeria, according to the report by NGO Global Witness and anti-corruption campaigners at Re:Common, the Corner House and HEDA.

Typically, 65 to 85 per cent of profits from such deals go to the government that granted the licence, under whats known as a production sharing contract (PSC).

But with OPL245, Shell and Eni dispensed with the PSC structure and effectively cut Nigeria out of all future profits. Instead the government will receive only tax revenues.

Internal emails reveal that state oil firm Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) was of the strong view that one clause could be illegal.

It violated the terms on which PSCs are based, which dictate that the government have both a say and a take in the block, NNPC said.

It added that a 0 per cent royalty combined with no right to acquire an equity stake are likely to be a bitter pill for the Nigerian government. It urged Shell to consider changes.

During contract negotiations, Malcolm Brinded, then Shells head of exploration and production, informed fellow managers that the deal was unprecedented.

He wrote: The solution proposed leaves NNPC without any economic interest in the licence  a first in deepwater [offshore oil drilling] and obviously carrying some longer-term risks.

Despite these concerns, Shell managed to persuade members of the government to come round.

Nigeria's oil minister at the time of the deal Diezani Alison-Madeuke is alleged to have received cash from it (ALEXANDER KLEIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Nigerias attorney general (AG) at the time, Mohammed Adoke  who was negotiating the deal with Shell, is alleged to have been one of the bribe recipients.

Shells legal counsel in Nigeria wrote to senior colleagues in February 2011: The AG indicated strongly that he wanted the escrow agreement concluded this week.

In 2009, two Shell vice presidents were briefed that Mr Etete  the former oil minister who while in office had awarded OPL245 to a company he controlled  would keep only a fraction of the money Shell and Eni were offering because the rest goes in paying people off.

Former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete, who awarded OPL245 to Malabu, a company he controlled, in 1998 (Reuters)

According to Italian prosecutors, around 406m was withdrawn in cash and delivered to key officials including then oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and former president Goodluck Jonathan. The amount would weigh about five tonnes in $100 bills. The pair have not been charged by prosecutors in the Milan case.

Unfavourable terms

Under the 2011 agreement Nigeria will receive an estimated 7.6bn over the fields lifespan as opposed to more than 12.2bn under terms proposed in 2006. The calculations are based on Enis estimates of 550 million barrels of recoverable oil in the block at a price of $70 a barrel.

The analysis is likely to underestimate the total benefit to the companies because a later estimate from Shell suggested there could be 875 million barrels in the field. The figures also do not include revenues from gas.

The analysis is the latest development in a scandal that has dogged Shell for years.

A string of former Shell executives and current and former Eni executives as well as the two companies themselves, are on trial in Milan over the purchase of rights to the block.

Two middlemen in the deal, Nigerian Emeka Obi and Italian Gianluca Di Nardo, were convicted of corruption in September and a judge ordered the seizure of more than 93.6m from the pair.

A spokesperson for Shell said: We are aware of the latest claims from Global Witness and have responded to them directly, however since this matter is before the tribunal of Milan it would not be appropriate for us to comment in detail.

Issues that are under consideration as part of a trial process should be adjudicated in court and we do not wish to interfere with this process.

We maintain that the settlement was a fully legal transaction with the federal government of Nigeria and Eni and, based on our review of the prosecutor of Milans file and all of the information and facts available to us, we do not believe that there is a basis to convict Shell or any of its former employees.

Eni rejected any allegation of impropriety or irregularity and said that in light of the trial it would be inappropriate to comment.

The company said the technical and contractual assumptions adopted as the basis for the analysis appear to be partial and inaccurate, if not misleading.
Ancient tonic: Mushrooms making it now as coffee in the modern wellness market





LIONS Mane, reishi, chaga and cordyceps may soon be the new names to know when attending your local cafe as consumers continue seeking to replace coffee with a health-giving alternative  this time with mushrooms and fungi.

These vitamin-rich, flavour-packed functional foods are in demand for edibles, beverages and skincare products.

Americas Wholefoods Market (now owned by Amazon) predicted medicinal mushrooms would be one of the major food trends of 2018.

Their global food market experts said: Bottled drinks, coffees, smoothies and teas are leading the way. The rich flavours also lend themselves to mushroom broths, while the earthy, creamy notes pair well with cocoa, chocolate or coffee flavours.

Catnip to the wellness market

Mushrooms have been used in eastern medicine for centuries due to their concentrated health benefits. Rich in vitamins D, B, fibre, iron, zinc, selenium and magnesium, they are catnip to the wellness market.

Cafes offer mushroom lattes  a combination of reishi and shiitake mushroom powder with almond, cashew or coconut milk.

The names and flavours are as varied as their appearance. Lions Mane promises to boost brain power, Chaga is rich in antioxidants and Reishi is an antidote to stress. As with anything classified medicinal or functional, consumers are justified in wondering about their safety.

Also in Australian Food News

Teelixir has been retailing the superfood for over 3 years. We like to think of these mushrooms as superfoods more than medicinal, says co-founder, Daniel Whitechurch.

Theyre classified as tonic herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). These are substances that are safe to consume over the long-term in high doses with no known side effects, Mr Whitechurch says.

In some instances, the only negative might be if a first-time user consumed a very large dose which might cause a safe but unwanted detox cleanse. Perfectly healthy in the long-term.

As for the target market, women are making significantly higher online purchases on the Teelixir site.

Our analysis shows the majority of the online market consumers (70%) buying superfood mushrooms are female aged between 25-45. Women tend to be more health conscious than men in this industry so that isnt very surprising to us; women tend to have a bit more foresight when it comes to their health.

So, will medicinal mushrooms trump turmeric in Australian cafes?

While the bitter notes of Reishi and Chaga can be challenging to the uninitiated, it is precisely these properties that give rise to their genius in the cafe culture, says Whitechurch.

Coffee and chocolate are both bitter foods which sync up perfectly with these mushrooms. While turmeric lattes may be old in their native culture, in the West we have been consuming coffee and hot chocolates a lot longer, so if people can make them healthier and still enjoy their guilty pleasure, we think they will.
World Aids Day falls on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

This is particularly important in 2020 when people have struggled more than ever to reach support groups, and outreach in the community because of the coronavirus pandemic. The theme for 2020 is Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact.

The date for World Aids Day has been observed by UN member states every year since 1988 in a show of support for those currently living with the condition.

The virus was only identified in 1984, when it sparked a huge international scare and was wrongly assumed to only affect members of the LGBT+ community, but has already killed 35m people and infected 78m around the globe.

An Indian NGO volunteer lights candles placed on the ground in the shape of a red ribbon during an awareness rally (Arindam Dey/AFP/Getty)

In the UK, approximately 101,000 people currently suffer from HIV out of an estimated 36.9m worldwide, with 5,000 new cases diagnosed in Britain annually.

However, not everybody is equipped with the facts on how to protect themselves and others, and stigma and discrimination remain a life-changing reality for people living with HIV.

According to the National Aids Trust (NAT) one in five people living with HIV say that they have needed help with loneliness. Meanwhile, three-quarters of people living with HIV who report loneliness and isolation say they havent been able to find that help.

As such, the organisation is calling for peer support services to be made available across the UK so that people can access the help they need, when they need it, and wherever they are.

World Aids Day was first conceived of in August 1987 by World Health Organisation (WHO) publicists James W Bunn and Thomas Netter, but has been run by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) since 1996.

The Pope, the president of the United States and other world leaders all use the occasion to reaffirm their commitment to eradicating the disease, a goal the UN hopes to achieve by 2030.

The White House has proudly displayed a 28-foot red ribbon from its North Portico since 2007, stressing the Oval Offices commitment to combating Aids in the wake of George W Bush introducing the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), providing support for those afflicted around the world.

World Aids Day 2017: in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - UK Prince Harry and Meghan Markle take part in a discussion with HIV consultant doctor Laura Waters during their visit to the Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair Getty Images World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - Brazil Red balloons are released to mark the World AIDS Day in Sao Paulo REUTERS World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - France A nurse takes blood for a HIV test for French President Emmanuel Macron as he visits the Delafontaine Hospital Reuters World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - India A student displays his face and hand painted with messages in Chandigarh, India REUTERS World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - UK Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at the Nottingham Contemporary to attend a Terrence Higgins Trust World AIDS Day charity fair, on their first official engagement together. PA World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - South Africa Members of the 21 South African Infantry Battalion march to mark the World AIDS Day in Soweto AP World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - India A childhas their face painted to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS on World AIDS day in Jammu Rex Features World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - Kenya Free HIV testing booths are installed during the World AIDS Day event at University of Nairobi AFP/Getty Images World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - China Students use candles to form a large ribbon at a primary school in China REUTERS World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - India Commuters walk past a message on the World AIDS Day near Howrah Bridge, on the bank of river Ganges in Calcutta EPA World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - India An volunteer lights candles placed on the ground in the shape of a red ribbon during an awareness rally on the eve of World Aids Day in Agartala AFP/Getty Images World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - China Students of Yangzhou University Medical College standing in the shape of a red ribbon VCG via Getty Images World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - China Students hold red ribbons at a high school in Hefei, Anhui province, China REUTERS World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - Mexico The "Diana La Cazadora" monument is illuminated in red on the eve of World Aids Day in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - India Sand art on the Bay of Bengal Sea's eastern coast beach at Puri. Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik created the piece on the eve of World AIDs Day . Rex Features World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - India People hold candles around a ribbon during a ceremony to create awareness about HIV/AIDS in Ahmedabad, India REUTERS World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - Ukraine A woman has a HIV/AIDS blood test in a mobile laboratory in Ukraine AP World Aids Day 2017: in pictures World Aids Day - China The two towers of the Global Harbor shopping mall in Shaghai are illuminated with huge red ribbons Rex Features

Every year UNAIDS, the WHO and a collection of grassroots NGOs agree on the theme for the day, drawing attention to different aspects of the condition.

In 2020 that theme is "Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact".

You can buy red ribbons from NAT's online shop, request free red ribbons with a display and collection box if youre planning to fundraise for NAT in the UK, and use posters and images for your social media.

Those wishing to show support for the cause in the UK on World Aids Day can also make a donation to the National Aids Trust online.
Early on Monday morning, reports began circulating of a major breakthrough in China. Thanks to the marvels of gene editing, twin girls had apparently been born with a fantastic superpower: they were naturally resistant to HIV.

Depending on your position this result may sound either hugely exciting or downright terrifying. Gene editing (and designer babies) is a fascinating frontier in scientific research, but one with unpleasant echoes of the horrors of eugenics and the dystopian vision of Aldous Huxleys Brave New World.

However, despite the earnest interviews in which Professor He Jiankui and his collaborators described their work, for now their claims must be taken with a big fistful of salt.
Nasa is about to land on Mars. And then have a peek beneath it.

The InSight lander will scratch underneath the red planet's red surface for the first time ever.

In so doing, the space agency hopes to have a look at the mysterious seismic processes happening under the ground. And it could help illuminate mysteries about how the planet formed  and how the rest of the planets surrounding us came to be, as well.

How will we get to the surface?

First, the lander will have to successfully make its way there. Doing so is very perilous: more Mars landers have crashed and failed than have been successful, because of the difficulty of flying through Mars's thin atmosphere.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. 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Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

If the lander successfully touches down on the surface  something that is far from assured  it will get to work delving deep into its new home. It will offer an unprecedented insight into the activity beneath that dusty surface.

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Even as the craft makes its way to the ground, engineers will be using their intense practising to ensure that InSight lands so that its sensors can be used. It will be directed so that even if it lands on a rock, or on its side, it will still be able to stick its sensors into the planet and examine it.

Engineers will then decide where they are going to aim those sensors. They will then spend several weeks calibrating them and getting them into place, before they start taking scientific readings.

What will we learn there?

Once they're in, they will start taking what Nasa refers to the as the "planet's pulse". It will do so using a seismometer that picks up waves as they move through the interior of the planet, helping understand how active Mars is and what makes it that way.

As well as taking the pulse, it will collect other vital signs: it will measure the planet's temperature. Using a heat flow probe, it will look at how hot Mars's insides are, allowing us to understand how similar it is to Earth and help explore how both planets came to be.

And it will also watch the way the planet moves, tracking its slight wobble on its axis. Using very precise radio antennas, they will watch that movement, helping understand how it is affected by the sun.

So far, we have studied Mars from afar and on the ground, with telescopes, satellites and landers. By sticking sensors underneath and inside of Mars, Nasa hopes to get an insight into a planet that could one day soon become home to people.

Weve studied Mars from orbit and from the surface since 1965, learning about its weather, atmosphere, geology and surface chemistry, said Lori Glaze, acting director of the Planetary Science Division in NASAs Science Mission Directorate. Now we finally will explore inside Mars and deepen our understanding of our terrestrial neighbour as NASA prepares to send human explorers deeper into the solar system.
Nasa's InSight spacecraft is about to endure "seven minutes of terror" and might end them dead on the Martian surface.

The lander is the first spacecraft built to explore deep in the interior of Mars, digging down and trying to understand its core. But based on previous performance it may never get the chance.

More Martian craft have got lost trying to make their way through the thin Martian atmosphere than have successfully landed. Even in recent years, spacecraft have regularly failed on their approach and smashed into the surface, not to be heard from again.

The InSight lander has made it 300 million miles over six months since it jetted off from space. It will finally try to land on Monday evening UK time.

Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427  more commonly known as WR 124  and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead  sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later  having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region

If all goes according to plan, InSight will hurtle through the top of the thin Martian atmosphere at 12,000 miles per hour. Slowed by friction, deployment of a giant parachute and retro rockets, InSight will descend 77 miles through pink Martian skies to the surface in 6 1/2 minutes, traveling a mere 5 mph (8 kph) by the time it lands.

The stationary probe, launched in May from California, will then pause for 16 minutes for the dust to settle, literally, around its landing site, before disc-shaped solar panels are unfurled like wings to provide power to the spacecraft.

Recommended Latest as Nasa arrives on Mars

The mission control team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) near Los Angeles hopes to receive real-time confirmation of the craft's arrival from data relayed by a pair of miniature satellites that were launched along with InSight and will be flying past Mars.

The JPL controllers also expect to receive a photograph of the probe's new surroundings on the flat, smooth Martian plain close to the planet's equator called the Elysium Planitia.

The site is roughly 373 miles (600 km) from the 2012 landing spot of the car-sized Mars rover Curiosity, the last spacecraft sent to the Red Planet by NASA.

The smaller, 880-pound (360 kg) InSight - its name is short for Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport - marks the 21st U.S.-launched Mars missions, dating back to the Mariner fly-bys of the 1960s. Nearly two dozen other Mars missions have been sent from other nations.

InSight will spend 24 months - about one Martian year - using seismic monitoring and underground temperature readings to unlock mysteries about how Mars formed and, by extension, the origins of the Earth and other rocky planets of the inner solar system.

While Earth's tectonics and other forces have erased most evidence of its early history, much of Mars - about one-third the size of Earth - is believed to have remained largely static, creating a geologic time machine for scientists.

InSight's primary instrument is a French-built seismometer, designed to record the slightest vibrations from "marsquakes" and meteor impacts around the planet. The device, to be placed on the surface by the lander's robot arm, is so sensitive it can measure a seismic wave just one half the radius of a hydrogen atom.

Scientists expect to see a dozen to 100 marsquakes during the mission, producing data to help them deduce the depth, density and composition of the planet's core, the rocky mantle surrounding it, and the outermost layer, the crust.

The NASA Viking probes of the mid-1970s were equipped with seismometers, too, but they were bolted to the top of the landers, a design that proved largely ineffective.

Apollo missions to the moon brought seismometers to the lunar surface as well. But InSight is expected to yield the first meaningful data on planetary seismic tremors beyond Earth.

InSight also is fitted with a German-made drill to burrow as much as 16 feet (5 meters) underground, pulling behind it a rope-like thermal probe to measure heat flowing from inside the planet.

Meanwhile, a radio transmitter will send back signals tracking Mars' subtle rotational wobble to reveal the size of the planet's core and possibly whether it remains molten.

NASA officials say it will take two to three months for the main instruments to be deployed and put into operation.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Scores of people in Britain's only women's removal centre have launched a hunger strike to protest against their indefinite detention, describing living in the centre as a form of "hell".

Forty-three women are said to be taking part in the protest in Yarl's Wood, which began on Sunday. They are boycotting the dining room and refusing to eat ahead of an impending charter flight to Nigeria and Ghana, which is set to remove at least 10 residents from the UK.

One woman taking part in the strike, who wished to be referred to only as Adesola, said some of the women had been in Britain for more than 20 years and had partners and children in the country.

Speaking from inside Yarl's Wood, she said: A lot of people got married in this country. These women have got family here; theyve got children; theyve got partners. Some have been here for 27 years, and still they want to send them back.

They dont want to go. But they will drag them. People have no rights at all, no dignity. They are going to drag them by force.

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Adesola, who left Nigeria eight years ago after she was branded a witch by her husbands family after he passed away, said she received poor legal advice when she arrived in Britain, which meant she didnt initially apply for asylum, weakening her claim.

My in-laws called me a witch because I lost my husband in 2010. He died and they blamed me. They said they were going to kill me. They took all my kids from me, she said.

Thats why I came to the UK. I wanted to claim asylum, but the lawyer I saw when I came here gave me the wrong advice. I should have applied for asylum straight away, but they didnt because of the money they wanted to take from me."

Yarl's Wood holds adult women and adult family groups who are subject to immigration control. The latest figures show 410 people are detained there.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 12 November 2021 Peter Green protesting outside the Cop26 gates during the official final day of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2021 Seagulls fly around the statue entitled 'Tommy', a first World War soldier by artist Ray Lonsdale at dawn in Seaham, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 10 November 2021 Climate activists dressed as characters inspired by the Netflix series Squid Game protest as they ask Samsung to go 100% renewable energy, outside the venue for COP26 in Glasgow Reuters UK news in pictures 9 November 2021 A deer statue silhouetted at Loch Faskally in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 8 November 2021 Sunrise over St Mary's Lighthouse at Whitley Bay on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2021 Activists from Friends of the Earth during a demonstration calling for an end to all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea outside the UK Government's Cop26 hub during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2021 Protesters take part in a rally organised by the Cop26 Coalition in Glasgow demanding global climate justice PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2021 Final touches are made to a life sized Sir David Attenborough cake surrounded by animals as part of a display created by a group of cake artists during Cake International at NEC Birmingham PA UK news in pictures 4 November 2021 A spectacular display of the Northern Lights seen over Derwentwater, near Keswick in the Lake District PA UK news in pictures 3 November 2021 Police and demonstrators at a Extinction Rebellion protest on Buchanan Street, during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 2 November 2021 A person walks along the Basingstoke canal near to Dogmersfield in Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 1 November 2021 Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during Cop26 in Glasgow Reuters UK news in pictures 31 October 2021 Extinction Rebellion activists protest in Edinburgh as the Cop26 conference begins in Glasgow Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2021 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with Mapuche leader and Minga Indigena Lead Coordinator Claflin Lafkenche (right) alongside indigenous delegates at a ceremonial gathering at the Tramway in Glasgow in a symbolic gesture to mark a unified demand for climate justice PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2021 Ocean Rebellion put on a display of puking oil heads ahead of climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow EPA UK news in pictures 28 October 2021 A man dressed as Santa Claus outside Selfridges in London as the department store unveils its Christmas windows on Oxford Street PA UK news in pictures 27 October 2021 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak during a visit to Fourpure Brewery in Bermondsey, London, after the chancellor announced a cut to beer taxes in his budget PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2021 Activist Steve Bray demonstrates with a toilet outside the gates of Downing Street, after MPs voted in Parliament against the Environment Bill, allowing companies to pump raw sewage into UK rivers and seas, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 October 2021 Second World War veteran James White, 96, at the opening of the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance, marking the start of the remembrance period PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2021 Richard Ratcliffe holds up a photo of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as he protests outside the Foreign Office while on hunger strike, part of an effort to lobby the UK foreign secretary to bring his wife home from detention in Iran Getty UK news in pictures 23 October 2021 Partner of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Stella Morris and Editor in Chief of WikiLeaks Kristinn Hrafnsson attend a protest ahead of the appeal hearing over Assange's extradition, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 22 October 2021 Palace Gardener Justine Howlett adds the finishing touches to pumpkins bearing the face of Henry VIII and his wives, at Hampton Court Palace. 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PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP

A watchdog report published last year found the majority of women held at the controversial detention centre were later released into the community, raising questions about why they were ever detained.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons also raised concerns over the continued detention of women who had been tortured and two responses where the Home Office had refused, without explanation, to accept that rape came within the legal definition of torture.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who has pledged to close down the centre if Labour gets into power, said: Having visited Yarls Wood I witnessed the real suffering of these women and their desperation at being detained without hope of release.

Indefinite detention is cruel and this approach has failed. The government needs to end this disastrous, inhumane immigration detention system and to end the failed hostile environment approach. Only then will we see the change we need."

Describing conditions in Yarls Wood, Adesola, who has been there for two months, said: We havent got any human rights at all. They dont care about our health. Weve got a lot of people here with high need.

They day before yesterday two women were seriously ill. The lady was in agony and the other one was vomiting. But there was no doctor  they couldnt do anything.

Its like hell. Its like you are in prison. We're treated like we are nothing. They should close this place down.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Detention and removal are essential parts of effective immigration controls but it is vital they are carried out with dignity and respect. We take the welfare of our detainees very seriously and any detainees who choose to refuse food and fluid are closely monitored by on site healthcare professionals.

Where healthcare professionals have concerns about a detainees welfare as a result of refusing food or fluid, they are referred to the local hospital.
The UK can move to stop Brexit by attempting to unilaterally revoke Article 50, legal papers published by the government suggest.

The documents indicate that MPs would first need to direct the government to revoke the Article, which started the countdown to Britains withdrawal when it was triggered almost two years ago.

Until now the government has refused to discuss its view of the legality of revocation, but the newly released papers suggest it is a lack of political will rather than any legal barrier that is preventing a bid.

It comes as Theresa May once again defended her Brexit deal in the Commons, with MPs from all parties saying they are preparing to vote it down.

The legal papers released today form part of the governments argument in a case that is to be heard by the Europe Court of Justice (ECJ) on Tuesday, with judges possibly coming to a verdict over whether Britain can unilaterally reverse its decision to leave the EU.

The governments lawyers argued that the ECJ should not at this point be tasked to make such a ruling, but in doing so apparently revealed that it would be possible for the UK to attempt to revoke Article 50.

The papers said: For the issue of revocability of [Article 50] to become live, parliament must first have directed the government, against the governments settled policy and against the popular answer provided by the referendum, unilaterally to revoke the notice.

Second, either an EU member state or the EU Parliament must then object to the United Kingdoms attempt unilaterally to revoke. Third, all attempts at finding a consensus for revocation must fail, so that the effect of revoking the notice becomes a live issue.

 Brexit: Article 50 author says Theresa May is misleading the public on reversing result

If that stage were reached, any such live issue and dispute would be at the inter-state or EU institutional level. At that time is would fall to be adjudicated by the [ECJ] in a direct action.

Asked how significant the wording is, the prime ministers official spokesman said only that the document speaks for itself on Monday.

The ECJ is being asked by campaigners to interpret whether Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty  the mechanism by which Britain notified the European Union of its intention to leave  can be revoked legally.

Britain is due to exit the worlds biggest trading bloc on March 29 next year but it remains unclear whether Ms Mays draft withdrawal deal agreed with the EU on Sunday will be passed by MPs in parliament.

New Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay accepted that Ms May faces a challenging vote when her withdrawal deal is put before MPs in December.

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

Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme Mr Barclay said: The prime minister, after two years working day and night in the national interest, has secured a deal that respects the referendum result, and does so in a way that also protects jobs, that also gives security to EU citizens.

He added that people needed to know the dilemma now facing Britain, saying: The choice is between a deal, or the uncertainty...the choppy waters that we will move in to if this deal does not go through.

Speaking on the same programme, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said there will be no more negotiation on the Brexit agreement, insisting: This is the best deal for Britain.
Theresa May admitted she was wrong to say EU nationals jump the queue to work in the UK, as she revealed the date when MPs will decide the fate of her Brexit deal.

The meaningful vote will take place on Tuesday 11 December, at the close of five days of debate  and just two days before the prime minister heads to Brussels for another EU summit.

The date was announced as the agreement faced another torrent of criticism from all sides in the Commons, pointing to a heavy defeat and an unprecedented political crisis.

Recommended UK could attempt to unilaterally revoke Article 50 if MPs want to

Making a statement, Ms May again refused to set out a plan B, as her aides insisted she was focused entirely on changing enough minds to win the vote against all the odds.

But she did backtrack on her controversial comment  to the CBI conference last week  that EU migrants will no longer be able to jump the queue, ahead of migrants from the rest of the world.

The remark triggered a storm of criticism, being branded offensive and disgraceful by Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, and the fuel for hate crime by a leading academic.

In the Commons, the SNPs Philippa Whitford protested it was insulting to people like her doctor husband, a German national, who has been in the UK for 30 years making a contribution.

In reply, Ms May told MPs: I should not have used that language in that speech.

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 comment was a clumsy reference to the governments intention to introduce a new immigration system after 2020, when free movement is due to end, treating EU and non-EU migrants equally.

The date of the meaningful vote was set out in a letter to Conservative MPs from Julian Smith, the chief whip, which also highlighted a number of three-line whips during the following week.

If, as seems certain, the deal is rejected, Labour has said it will push for a general election by tabling a vote of no confidence in the government soon afterwards.

The number of Tory MPs speaking out against the deal has now reached 95, and hopes of Labour support have melted away  pointing to a humiliation for the prime minister who negotiated it.

In the Commons, the ranks of the Tory rebels appeared to be bolstered by Michael Fallon, the former defence secretary, who said the UK would be surrendering our vote and our veto, with nothing concrete in return.

Jeremy Corbyn made clear Labours opposition, saying: This botched deal is still a bad deal for the country and all yesterday did was mark the end of this governments failed and miserable negotiations.

The prime minister, who is about to embark on a nationwide tour to argue for her agreement, urged MPs to recognise the absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available.

Our duty as a parliament over these coming weeks is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest, she said.

But she acknowledged the looming chaos, saying: No-one knows what would happen if this deal doesnt pass. It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.
 Close Donald Trump claims May's Brexit deal favours EU and may hinder UK trade with US

Donald Trump has said Theresa May's Brexit agreement "sounds like a great deal" for the EU, and may hinder trade between the UK and US.

The US president issued his warning hours after the prime minister faced an onslaught of criticism from hostile MPs in the Commons as she pitched her Brexit deal to them, saying that rejecting the agreement would cause division and uncertainty.

The date of the MPs vote on the agreement was revealed as 11 December, giving the prime minister a fortnight to avert what threatens to be a humiliating defeat at the hands of scores of Conservative rebels.

In a debate lasting nearly three hours, Ms May was forced time after time to defend her strategy as Tory grandees and opposition members alike lined up to attack aspects of the withdrawal agreement signed in Brussels at the weekend.

She was loudly barracked by MPs as she insisted that no better deal was available than the agreement and political declaration on future relations endorsed by EU leaders.

Former minister Mark Francois branded her deal a surrender, saying opposition from Eurosceptic Tories and the Democratic Unionist Party meant it was already dead as a dodo.

Former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon described the deal as a huge gamble that involved the UK paying a 39 billion divorce bill and giving up its votes and veto without any firm commitment on future trade relations.

But Mrs May said: The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country, whichever way we voted.

This is that deal. A deal that delivers for the British people.

In a sign that she aims to go over fractious MPs heads and appeal directly to voters for their backing, Ms May said parliamentarians had a duty to listen to their constituents before taking their decision in the national interest.

But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Commons would have very little choice but to reject the botched deal, which he described as bad for this country.

With 90 or more Conservative MPs indicating they could rebel in the meaningful vote, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay admitted the prime minister faces a challenging division.

No one knows what would happen if this deal doesnt pass Theresa May

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker warned that there would be no more negotiation if MPs vote down the agreement, saying: This is the best deal for Britain ... and this is the only deal possible, so if the House says no, we would have no deal.

Ms May told MPs: I can say to the House with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available.

She said MPs faced a choice: We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people.

Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one.

Because no one knows what would happen if this deal doesnt pass. It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.

Mr Corbyn said: The prime minister says if we reject this deal, it will take us back to square one. The truth is, under this government we have never got off square one.

This botched deal is still a bad deal for the country and all yesterday did was mark the end of this governments failed and miserable negotiations.

Ms May told MPs the government had ensured that Gibraltar was covered by the withdrawal agreement and would negotiate a future relationship for the whole UK family, including Gibraltar.

A two-hour Cabinet meeting earlier heard an update from Mr Barclay on preparations for a possible no-deal Brexit, which are continuing despite the deal being agreed.

After the Commons debate, Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and effective deputy prime minister David Lidington invited opposition MPs to a briefing on the agreement.

But Downing Street sources said they were not aware of the prime minister seeking to speak to Labour MPs thought to be considering backing her deal.

Analysis by the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority of the impact of the deal on the UK economy is to be published on Thursday.

Ms May has started a campaign to sell her deal directly to the public, with visits to all parts of the UK planned.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 November 2021 ancer Maithili Vijayakumar at the launch of 2021 Diwali celebrations at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 15 November 2021 Forensic officers work outside Liverpool Women's Hospital, following a car blast, in Liverpool Reuters UK news in pictures 14 November 2021 Wreaths by the Cenotaph after the Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall, London PA UK news in pictures 13 November 2021 Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is ending his hunger strike in central London after almost three weeks. Ratcliffe has spent 21 days camped outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London without food. He began his demonstration on 24 October after his wife lost her latest appeal in Iran, saying his family was caught in a dispute between two states PA UK news in pictures 12 November 2021 Peter Green protesting outside the Cop26 gates during the official final day of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2021 Seagulls fly around the statue entitled 'Tommy', a first World War soldier by artist Ray Lonsdale at dawn in Seaham, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 10 November 2021 Climate activists dressed as characters inspired by the Netflix series Squid Game protest as they ask Samsung to go 100% renewable energy, outside the venue for COP26 in Glasgow Reuters UK news in pictures 9 November 2021 A deer statue silhouetted at Loch Faskally in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 8 November 2021 Sunrise over St Mary's Lighthouse at Whitley Bay on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2021 Activists from Friends of the Earth during a demonstration calling for an end to all new oil and gas projects in the North Sea outside the UK Government's Cop26 hub during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2021 Protesters take part in a rally organised by the Cop26 Coalition in Glasgow demanding global climate justice PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2021 Final touches are made to a life sized Sir David Attenborough cake surrounded by animals as part of a display created by a group of cake artists during Cake International at NEC Birmingham PA UK news in pictures 4 November 2021 A spectacular display of the Northern Lights seen over Derwentwater, near Keswick in the Lake District PA UK news in pictures 3 November 2021 Police and demonstrators at a Extinction Rebellion protest on Buchanan Street, during the Cop26 summit in Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 2 November 2021 A person walks along the Basingstoke canal near to Dogmersfield in Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 1 November 2021 Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during Cop26 in Glasgow Reuters UK news in pictures 31 October 2021 Extinction Rebellion activists protest in Edinburgh as the Cop26 conference begins in Glasgow Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2021 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with Mapuche leader and Minga Indigena Lead Coordinator Claflin Lafkenche (right) alongside indigenous delegates at a ceremonial gathering at the Tramway in Glasgow in a symbolic gesture to mark a unified demand for climate justice PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2021 Ocean Rebellion put on a display of puking oil heads ahead of climate change conference COP26 in Glasgow EPA UK news in pictures 28 October 2021 A man dressed as Santa Claus outside Selfridges in London as the department store unveils its Christmas windows on Oxford Street PA UK news in pictures 27 October 2021 Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak during a visit to Fourpure Brewery in Bermondsey, London, after the chancellor announced a cut to beer taxes in his budget PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2021 Activist Steve Bray demonstrates with a toilet outside the gates of Downing Street, after MPs voted in Parliament against the Environment Bill, allowing companies to pump raw sewage into UK rivers and seas, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 October 2021 Second World War veteran James White, 96, at the opening of the Edinburgh Garden of Remembrance, marking the start of the remembrance period PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2021 Richard Ratcliffe holds up a photo of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as he protests outside the Foreign Office while on hunger strike, part of an effort to lobby the UK foreign secretary to bring his wife home from detention in Iran Getty UK news in pictures 23 October 2021 Partner of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Stella Morris and Editor in Chief of WikiLeaks Kristinn Hrafnsson attend a protest ahead of the appeal hearing over Assange's extradition, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 22 October 2021 Palace Gardener Justine Howlett adds the finishing touches to pumpkins bearing the face of Henry VIII and his wives, at Hampton Court Palace. PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2021 Flooded fields near Lingfield in Surrey, after southern England was hit overnight by heavy rain and strong winds from Storm Aurore moving in from France PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2021 A wing surfer enjoys the strong winds as they surf in the sea off of Hayling Island in Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 19 October 2021 Actor Jude Law holds hands with Little Amal, a 3.5-metre-tall puppet of a nine-year-old Syrian girl, as it arrives in Folkestone, Kent, as part of the Handspring Puppet Company's 'The Walk' PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2021 A view over Southend-on-Sea in Essex, which is set to become a city in tribute to Sir David Amess MP, who spent years campaigning for the change Getty UK news in pictures 17 October 2021 Members of the Essex Bangladeshi Welfare Association pay their respects by floral tributes laid at the scene where Sir David Amess MP was killed at Belfairs Methodist Church, in Leigh-on-Sea Reuters UK news in pictures 16 October 2021 Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer, Priti Patel and Lindsay Hoyle pay respects to Sir David Amess at Belfairs Methodist Church, in Leigh-on-Sea, the site of his death EPA UK news in pictures 15 October 2021 A person lays flowers at the scene near the Belfairs Methodist Church in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after he was stabbed several times at a constituency surgery. A man has been arrested and officers are not looking for anyone else PA UK news in pictures 14 October 2021 A red deer stag during rutting season in Bushy Park, Richmond, south west London, which is home to over 300 red and fallow deer PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2021 Police officers detain a man as Insulate Britain activists block a roundabout at a junction on the M25 motorway during a protest in Thurrock Reuters UK news in pictures 12 October 2021 The aerial climate installation by Swiss artivist Dan Acher 'We Are Watching' is unveiled at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2021 A young girl is helped by a Border Force officer as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel. PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2021 People walk past a life-size sculpture of British singer John Lennon entitled "Imagine", by sculptor Lawrence Holofcener, displayed to mark what would have been the 81st birthday for the former member of the Beatles in Carnaby Street Reuters UK news in pictures 8 October 2021 WW II veteran, 96-year-old Lorna Cockayne, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), popularly and officially known as the Wrens, as a Bletchley Park codebreaker, poses for a photograph with the Legion d'honneur after receiving it during a ceremony at the Pear at Parley in Ferndown, Bournemouth PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2021 British comedian Jo Brand poses with cut-out silhouettes representing women outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters New Scotland Yard, to highlight violence against women by male police officers or former police officers AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 6 October 2021 A protester, wearing a mask of Johnson, holds a sign reading Question it all on the final day of the Tory conference Getty UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA

Her spokesman declined to confirm or deny reports that No 10 is considering a possible television debate with Mr Corbyn, something the Labour leader has made clear he would relish.

For more on the debate, please see what was our live coverage below:
Theresa Mays Brexit deal could leave the average person more than 1,000 worse off per year in the first decade outside of the EU, according to the first independent analysis of Britain exit terms.

As European leaders endorsed the prime ministers plan, new research revealed the agreement could hit the UKs economy by 100bn a year by 2030, equating to an average of 1,090 per person.

The report by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR), commissioned by the Peoples Vote campaign, also warned that the governments preferred outcome could see a 46 per cent hit to trade with the EU and a 21 per cent fall in foreign direct investment.

The report said: Our key finding is that if the governments proposed Brexit deal is implemented so that the UK leaves the EU customs union and single market in 2021, then by 2030, GDP will be around 4 per cent lower than it would have been had the UK stayed in the EU.

This is largely because higher impediments to services trade make it less attractive to sell services from the UK. This discourages investment in the UK and ultimately means that UK workers are less productive than they would have been if the UK had stayed in the EU.

It comes as Ms May was due to brief her cabinet on a dramatic weekend in Brussels, where the EU signed off on her proposals after 18 months of fractious talks.

She will also make a Commons statement where she will tell MPs to set aside their opposition to her blueprint as there is not a better deal available, an opinion echoed by senior EU figures.

The EUs sign-off paves the way for a Commons showdown over the deal, which officials in Brussels have been told to expect on 10 or 11 December.

Experts from the NIESR have been running the rule over Ms Mays withdrawal agreement since it was published 10 days ago, comparing the economic impact of staying in the EU with various scenarios.

As well as the Brexit deal, the NIESR also examined the orderly no-deal, favoured by Brexiteers, which would reduce GDP by 5.5 per cent, or 140bn a year.

If the UK remained in a customs union beyond the transition period, through the so-called Irish backstop, it would still mean a hit to GDP of 2.8 per cent a year, the equivalent of 70bn a year, the research found.

The full report will be unveiled on Monday by cross-party MPs including Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, Tory MP Anna Soubry and Labours Pat McFadden.

Sir Vince, a former business secretary, said: This is a million miles from what the Brexiters promised two years ago and will create decades of uncertainty for business and investors.

It is just a promise of jam tomorrow from a government that has so far delivered nothing but chaos.

He added: If anything, the bleak predictions contained in this report are an underestimate of severe damage our economy will suffer in the future if this deal goes ahead because it takes no account of the draining away of confidence in business and the impact on investors who no longer see the UK as a gateway to Europe.

His concern was echoed by Mr McFadden, a business minister under Gordon Brown, who said the governments argument that this terrible deal was preferable to a chaotic exit was a false choice.

This report shows that the reality of this deal will leave Britain tens of billions of pounds poorer than if we stuck with the deal weve got  inside the EU, he said.

That should be the real choice offered to the British people now. If the Prime Minister cannot get her deal through parliament the right thing is to go back to the public and give them the final say, this time setting the reality of Brexit against the option of staying in.

The prime minister will step up her efforts to sell the deal on Monday, where she will urge MPs to back the plan when it comes before parliament in December.

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She was expected to say: This has been a long and complex negotiation.

It has required give and take on both sides. That is the nature of a negotiation... And I can say to the House with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available.

My fellow leaders were very clear on that themselves yesterday.

Rejecting the deal risks more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail, the prime minister will say.
Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was set to be sworn in on Saturday for an historic second term after prevailing last year in a bitterly disputed election that sparked deadly protests and international condemnation over alleged fraud.

Hernandez appeared set to lose the 26 November election until an abrupt halt in the vote count and a shift in the results, taking victory away from his centre-left rival, Salvador Nasralla.

The opposition cried foul and more than 30 people were killed in protests that persisted through January in the impoverished Central American country. Nasralla has called for continued demonstrations.

International observers said the election was marred by irregularities and the Organization of American States called for a new presidential vote.

However, Hernandez held firm and the result was eventually ratified by the country's electoral tribunal, which is led by an ally of the president. Soon after, Mexico and the United States backed the incumbent.

Following a contentious decision by the Supreme Court in 2015, Hernandez is the first president to be re-elected since the end of military rule nearly four decades ago.

Hernandez has pledged to maintain his hard-line strategy in the fight against the country's gangs despite human rights groups' allegations of abuses.

During his first term, the homicide rate fell by almost 50 per cent, but Honduras is still one of the world's most violent countries.

Reuters
By Paulo de Souza, Science Leader  Sensor Networks, CSIRO

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell Univ./Arizona State Univ. , CC BY-SA

Curious Kids is a series for children. If you have a question youd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au You might also like the podcast Imagine This, a co-production between ABC KIDS listen and The Conversation, based on Curious Kids.

What are some of the challenges humans will face as we make plans to travel to and explore Mars?  Lynlee, age 10, Arlington, Tennessee.

Hi Lynlee. Youre not the only one wondering what a trip to Mars might be like. Elon Musk, a US businessman who has a company called SpaceX, said his spaceship will be ready for short trips to the red planet by 2019.

Meanwhile, the Mars One project, run by a Dutch company, aims to build a permanent human settlement on Mars.

Ive worked as a collaborating scientist with NASAs Mars Exploration Rover Project for the past 16 years. If you managed to get yourself a ticket to Mars on a spaceship, heres how Id advise you to prepare.









NASA/JPL, CC BY









Read more:

An Opportunity for life: finding Mars' most liveable mud





The journey to Mars

You might be travelling with other astronauts in a journey that will take between seven and 12 months, packed in a tight space. So youll need to stretch and probably find a way to have part of the spacecraft spinning to create artificial gravity. Having no gravity for a long time can cause a lot of painful health problems for astronauts.

Then theres the powerful cosmic radiation that comes mostly from our Sun. It can damage electronic equipment on board and create health problems for the crew. You and the crew will have to solve these problems on your own.

You must know every detail of the spacecraft inside out and draw on your extensive astronaut training to fix problems using only what you brought with you. You may have to 3D print spare parts from materials like titanium (using tech invented by Australias national science agency CSIRO).

Youll probably also need stuff like carbon fibre, printable solar cells, 3D mapping, robotics and cybersecurity technology. The good news for you is that CSIRO (where I work) is tackling this with its new space roadmap.

Communication will be difficult. Expect any message you send to Earth to take 20 minutes to reach its destination. Video conferencing will not be possible. Social media is still accessible, but tweets or Facebook posts will take 20 minutes to appear and responses from Earth will take up to 40 minutes to arrive.

Life on Mars

If you make it to Mars, the real challenge begins. Gravity on Mars is a fraction of what it is on Earth so everything will seem very light. A thing that weighed 100kg on Earth would weigh just 38kg on Mars.

You will need to live in Mars punishing environment. Dust storms with winds reaching 400km/h could leave you in the dark for several weeks. Its mostly pretty cold. The temperature variation between day and night is in excess of 120.

The atmosphere is not breathable: it is only 1% the thickness of our atmosphere, mostly made of carbon dioxide, argon, and nitrogen with only a small amount of oxygen.

The most interesting challenge, in my opinion, is the Martian day (also known as sol). It is around 40 minutes longer than a day on Earth. I had the privilege of working with the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity and whilst doing that I had to live on Martian time.

I arrived at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory every day at 8am (on Martian time). If that was 8am in California, then the next day I had to arrive 8:40am, then 9:20am, 10am, 10:40am. It was like having a summer daylight savings every single day.









NASA/JPL, CC BY





Growing plants on Mars is not going to be easy. The soil is really salty and acidic. It is still unclear if we should bring bacteria to Mars to help plants grow (as they do on Earth).

Finally, I would say any mistake in flight or during the exploration can hurt or kill you. The room for error is really narrow.

Why on Earth would you engage in such a dangerous, life-threatening endeavour?

I guess the answer lies in what has made humans explore throughout the centuries. We are always looking for the next frontier.





Read more:

Curious Kids: What plants could grow in the Goldilocks zone of space?





Hello, curious kids! Have you got a question youd like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to us. They can:

* Email your question to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au





* Tell us on Twitter









CC BY-ND





Please tell us your name, age and which city you live in. You can send an audio recording of your question too, if you want. Send as many questions as you like! We wont be able to answer every question but we will do our best.

Paulo de Souza has worked as a collaborating scientist with NASAs Mars Exploration Rover Project for the past 16 years.

Originally published in The Conversation.
Jim Carrey has taken a strong stance against Donald Trump and Republican junior Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in a new, fiery painting.

The actor shared new artwork on Twitter on Sunday, while urging his followers to support Hyde-Smith's opponent in Mississippi's Senate runoff election on Tuesday.

Carrey, who is used to expressing his political beliefs through his art, drew Trump and Hyde-Smith sitting behind a lectern, engulfed in flames.

Trump has his arm around Hyde-Smith's shoulders in the painting, and is holding a copy of the Bible.

Hyde-Smith, meanwhile, is depicted holding a noose.

"Mississippi you are BETTER than these hate-mongers," Carrey wrote as he shared his artwork.

He asked others to vote for Democrat Mike Espy, adding: "Show the world. Vote for Mike Espy this Tuesday, November 27th."

Hyde-Smith, who has been endorsed by Trump, has drawn ire after she was seen in a video praising a supporter by saying: "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."

She has also been criticised for a photo showing her wearing a replica hat of a Confederate soldier.

Mississippi has a history of racially motivated lynchings and violence against people who sought voting rights for black citizens.

Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Show all 10 1 /10 Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Donald Trump launched an extraordinary tirade against CNN reporter Jim Acosta during a press conference following the midterm elections Reuters Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference The US president ordered the journalist to put down his microphone and just sit down AFP Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference The row began following a question about the migrant caravan approaching the US, when Mr Trump was asked by CNNs Jim Acosta if he thought he had demonised migrants by calling the group an invasion EPA Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference I think you should let me run the country, you run CNN, and if you did it well, your ratings would be much better, said the President AFP/Getty Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference After Mr Acosta attempted to follow up his question with a second on Robert Muellers Russia probe, Mr Trump added, pointing angrily: Thats enough. Thats enough. Thats enough. Excuse me, thats enough. Mr Trump said he was not concerned about anything because the investigation was a hoax. Continuing to berate Mr Acosta, he added: Thats enough. Put down the mic. As the reporter continued to quiz him, Mr Trump became more agitated and stepped away from the podium. EPA Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Returning to the podium, Mr Trump said: Ill tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldnt be working for CNN REUTERS Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Trump continued: 'The way you treat Sarah Huckabee is horrible and the way you treat other people are horrible. You shouldnt treat people that way. She was sitting in the room listening on REUTERS Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference A second reporter, Peter Alexander, was called on by the president and said: In Jims defence Ive travelled with him a lot, hes a diligent reporter. EPA Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Mr Trump cut him off, telling the NBC News journalist that Im not a big fan of yours either, prompting laughter in the room AP Trump attacks CNN's Jim Acosta in angry White House press conference Mr Acosta continued to try to ask questions without his microphone, causing Mr Trump to tell him: Just sit down, please. When you report fake news  no  when you report fake news, which CNN does, a lot, you are the enemy of the people. REUTERS

Espy is trying to become the first African-American to represent Mississippi in the Senate since Reconstruction.

Tuesday's vote is the last US Senate race to be decided in 2018 and will determine whether Republicans pad their slim majority.

The winner Tuesday finishes the final two years of a term started by Republican Senator Thad Cochran, who resigned in April amid health concerns.

Agencies contributed to this report.
An intrepid dog has been found more than 1,100 miles away from home after disappearing 18 months ago following the death of his owner in a tragic gun accident.

Sinatra, a brown and white husky, went missing from his home in Brooklyn, New York, last year.

Somehow, the canine managed to make it all the way to the town of Seffner, in Florida - more than 1,100 miles south of New York  where he was found by 13-year-old Rose Verill.

Recommended Ikea is taking in stray dogs that need a place to sleep

Thanks to social media, the Verill family managed to track down Sinatras original owners and have arranged to return the dog.

Helped by a friend, Jeanne Baldi, the Verills first started looking for the huskys owners by having an identification chip read by a vet.

But the vet could only identify some partial information: the name Willis Les and a phone number that was one digit short.

In desperation, Ms Baldi went online and began searching for anyone who even slightly matched the information they had gleaned.

The dog in photography: 1839-Today Show all 11 1 /11 The dog in photography: 1839-Today The dog in photography: 1839-Today Elena Lusenti, 2016 Courtesy of the artist/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today Nadar (Gaspard Felix Tournachon), Paul and His Dog, c 1865 The J. Paul Getty Museum/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today Studio Bengue & Kindermann, c. 1890 Hans Christian Adam/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today Arnold Genthe, c1913 The Library of Congress/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today Lisette Model, Dog Show, New York, c. 1946 Lisette Model Foundation/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today John F. Kennedy, 1949 John F. Kennedy Library/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today Todd Webb, 79th Street, New York, 1952 Yancey Richardson Gallery/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today Bruce Davidson, East 100th Street, Harlem, New York, 1966 Magnum Photos/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today William Wegman, To Sleep, 1995 Pace/MacGill Gallery/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today Fatima NeJame, 2012 Courtesy of the artist/TASCHEN The dog in photography: 1839-Today The Dog in Photography 1839Today Raymond Merritt Hardcover, 14 x 19.5 cm, 688 pages US$ 20 |  15 |  15 TASCHEN

She found a man called Lesmore Willis on Facebook and messaged him. To her shock, Mr Willis replied to say he had indeed lost a dog.

They quickly discovered both the dog he had lost and the one found in Florida had a similar problem with its right foot and confirmed the match by exchanging photographs.

Ms Baldi said she never imagined her Facebook sleuthing would solve the conundrum, especially because she could see Mr Willis lived so far away.

I never would have thought [Sinatra] was from Brooklyn, Baldi said. I messaged Lesmore over Facebook and didnt think it would lead to anything when I saw where he was from.

Neither does she, or Mr Willis, have any idea how Sinatra managed to travel the 1,100 miles between New York and Florida.

But once Sinatras owners were found, a new tragedy emerged. The dog had originally been a 14th birthday present for Mr Williss daughter Zion.

 Dogs now accepted in Mercure hotels

She was an avid dancer and animal lover, who even started her own dog-walking business while still a teenager.

Sadly, two years later after Sinatra arrived, Zion was killed in a gun accident while at a friends house. To compound the loss, Sinatra disappeared the following year.

That was her dog and their bond was strong, Mr Willis said. She loved to take him on her walks to the store.

The love was obvious. When he was gone, it was like losing a part of her.

Ms Baldi said Mr Willis had been inconsolable when he lost the canine because the dog was such a strong connection to his late daughter.

The Willis family had put up flyers and searched across New York for Sinatra after he disappeared but had given up ever seeing him again.

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But the much-loved husky will soon be reunited with his Brooklyn family after friends of Ms Baldi agreed to take him back north to the Willis family.

Its the funniest thing, said Roses mother, Denise Verrill. Hes been such a wonderful guest and such a sweet dog. I can see why they love him so much.

"Of course hes getting a big hug as soon as I see him, Mr Willis said.

Sinatra always loved turkey legs at Thanksgiving, so Im saving him a big turkey leg for when he returns home.
Police in India have admitted it may not be possible to retrieve the body of Christian missionary John Allen Chau, a US citizen who travelled to a remote island and was killed by its tribespeople.

The 27-year-old is believed to have died on 17 November after repeatedly trying to make contact with hunter-gatherers living in isolation on the island of North Sentinel, in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands chain.

Fishermen say they saw members of the Sentinelese tribe dragging Mr Chaus body and burying him on a beach, and have been working with the police to try to identify the precise location of his remains.

But officers have now made several attempts to travel to the island by boat, only to turn back when confronted by tribespeople armed with spears, bows and arrows.

Authorities have not given up hope of retrieving Mr Chaus body but have concluded after extensive discussions with experts that it will not be possible as long as the Sentinelese resist.

They are a treasure, police chief Dependera Pathak said of the tribe. We cannot go and force our way in. We dont want to harm them.

Mr Pathak said police were still exploring their options, including what kind of friendly gesture we can make to win over the trust of the tribespeople.

But Survival International, a human rights organisation campaigning on behalf of threatened and uncontacted tribes around the world, called on the Indian authorities to abandon their efforts.

Any such attempt is incredibly dangerous, for the Indian officials but also for the Sentinelese, who face being wiped out if any outside diseases are introduced, director Stephen Corry said.

The risk of a deadly epidemic of flu, measles or other outside disease is very real, and increases with every such contact. Such efforts in similar cases in the past have ended with the Sentinelese attempting to defend their island by force.

Mr Chaus body should be left alone, as should the Sentinelese.

Ending attempts to retrieve the remains may actually be in keeping with Mr Chaus own last wishes. In his final journal entries and letters to his family, Mr Chau showed he was aware of the risks of attempting to convert the Sentinelese people to Christianity.

In one entry on 16 November, he describes kayaking to the island and encountering its people for the first time. A juvenile member of the tribe fired an arrow at him, he wrote, piercing his waterproof Bible and forcing him to retreat to the waiting boat.

Before heading back to the island that evening, he wrote in a letter to his family: You guys might think Im crazy in all this but I think its worth it to declare Jesus to these people.

Please do not be angry at them or at God if I get killed This is not a pointless thing  the eternal lives of this tribe is at hand [sic].

And then, scrawled in the margins but clearly underlined for emphasis, the words: Dont retrieve my body.

Police are now examining the only recent precedent for the case  an incident in 2006 when two Indian fishermen lost control of their vessel and accidentally washed up on North Sentinel.

Both men were killed by the tribespeople and buried on the beach. Witnesses said they were later dug up and the remains propped up on bamboo stilts, facing out to sea. Tribespeople resisted efforts to reach the island then and, ultimately, the bodies were never recovered.

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We are looking carefully at what happened then, and what [the Sentinelese] did, Mr Pathak said.

A murder case has been opened into Mr Chaus death but the suspects  the islanders  are simply listed as unknown persons. Seven people, including five fishermen, have been charged with helping him reach the island.

The wishes of Mr Chaus family are unclear, though in a statement they asked for the release of those friends he had in the Andaman Islands who assisted in his journey.

He loved God, life, helped those in need, and had nothing but love for the Sentinelese people.

We forgive those reportedly responsible for his death, the statement read.

It is unclear whether US authorities will push for the retrieval and eventual repatriation of Mr Chaus body.

A State Department official told The Independent: "We are aware of reports concerning a US citizen in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. When a US citizen is missing, we work closely with local authorities as they carry out their search efforts.

"The US Mission in India remains in close contact with local Indian authorities regarding their ongoing operations in the Andaman Islands. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment."
In the immediate aftermath of a stormy Sunday in the seas off Crimea, it felt that Russia had taken a big gamble and lost.

Whatever local military advantage they may have gained from a direct confrontation with Ukraine, the immediate consequences were surely bigger. There would be more sanctions, serious ones, and further strain on the economy and the rouble.

But the decision by President Poroshenkos administration to propose martial law seemed to play into the Kremlins hands.

Russia disputes Ukraines version of events: that three of its boats were attacked, fired on and seized without reason as they attempted to access Ukrainian-controlled ports in the Azov Sea. Russia insists that the route of the three Ukrainian vessels was a provocation, and that they had encroached on its maritime territory.

But there were obvious issues with the Russian account. First, the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait are, according to a 2003 treaty, shared waters, with free navigation guaranteed to both Ukrainian and Russian ships. Second, the distress signal received from the Ukrainian boat was approximately 1km outside of Russian national waters. And, third, a similar group of Ukrainian vessels completed the same trip just a month ago.

Recordings of interchanges between Russian and Ukrainian navy servicemen, released by Ukrainian media, suggest anything but an orderly interception. In one, a Ukrainian officer is heard desperately radioing an SOS for help. In another, what appear to be Russian officers are heard threatening to shoot to kill and demanding the Ukrainian crew appear on deck with their hands up.

Russia and Ukraine have been in de facto conflict since at least 2014  through the aftermath of the Maidan revolution, the toppling of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych, the annexation of Crimea, and a four year war in the east that has cost upwards of 10,300 lives.

But this is the first instance where Russia has admitted firing on Ukrainian military objects.

The flashpoint around the Azov Sea, located to the east of Crimea, is itself relatively new. It dates from 2016, around the time Russia began building a bridge between annexed Crimea and the Russian mainland. The Azov Sea is significant for Ukraine in that two important industrial ports are located on the shoreline to the east of Crimea and still controlled by Kiev. Access to it is via the Kerch Straight, now intersected by the bridge.

Tensions have been building for several months, with Ukraine complaining that Russian border guards have been harassing its commercial boats in an attempt to impose a de facto economic blockade. As of today that blockade is a fully declared one, with Russia having parked a tanker across the one open part of the Kerch Bridge for security reasons. It is unclear when, if ever, shipping lanes will be reopened.

The Russian seizure of three ships is a severe blow to Ukraines navy, and represents about a quarter of its fleet. Little is known of the fate of the 23 servicemen involved, or the six men reported injured (three, according to Russia). But the circumstances in some sense are a replay of the events in Crimea in 2014, during which Russia took over several vessels.

There are several reasons why Russia may have decided to act now but didnt a month ago.

First are the major anniversaries of the 2013-14 Maidan revolution and 1932-33 Holodomor famine, when millions of Ukrainians died from a starvation attributed to the Soviet leadership. The publicity from these may have been an irritant. Second, western statements of support and promises of military reinforcement may have encouraged the Kremlin to revert to a traditional policy  making opponents think twice before engaging further. Third, a worrying decline in the presidents rating may have encouraged his administration to reintroduce the Ukrainian bogeyman.

Another theory that has been presented by Ukraine-supporting publicists in the west was that this is an attempt to undermine Petro Poroshenkos administration and create instability ahead of the presidential elections in March.

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That version seems flawed. If the military turn does one thing it is to embolden the Poroshenko administration, which has been flagging in the polls far behind the frontrunner, former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The threat from Russia is a key part of Poroshenkos three-prong election offer, plastered on posters across the country: Army, Language, Faith.

It does not take a very cynical mind to connect the presidents difficult electoral situation to the proposal to introduce martial law.

No martial law was introduced after the much more violent events of 2014 and 2015. Then the possible damage to the Ukrainian economy and cooperation with the International Monetary Fund put the breaks on such a development. Ukraine has argued that this time things are different, with Russia openly admitting to military engagement. That seems a sophistic argument.

During a short address in his security council, Poroshenko said the imposition of martial law would be limited to 60 days and would not affect civil liberties. In other words, presidential elections might not be postponed as many had feared, but political rallies may be banned in the meantime.

Much of the damage has already been done. On the one hand, Moscow will be delighted by the renewal of its narrative of a junta being in charge in Kiev. On another, Ukrainians will wake up to the clear probability of a military tool being used for short-term electoral advantage.

What effect that will have on its democracy in the long run is anyones guess. But its unlikely to be a good one.
British academic Matthew Hedges, who was sentenced to life in jail in the United Arab Emirates on spying charges, has been released from prison after receiving a pardon from the countrys president.

The 31-year-old student was arrested in May while leaving Dubai airport after conducting research for his PhD thesis. He was held for five months in solitary confinement and was denied access to a lawyer during his detention.

The case sparked a diplomatic row between the UAE and the UK, which denied that Mr Hedges was working as a spy. The foreign office was criticised for not intervening more quickly in the case, but the last week has seen an intense lobbying effort by the British government on his behalf.

Mr Hedgess wife, Daniela Tejada, said the pardon was the best news we couldve received.

Our six plus months of nightmare are finally over and to say we are elated is an understatement. That he is returning home to me and the rest of his family is much more than I was ever expecting to happen this week, she said.

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, who was deeply involved in efforts to release Mr Hedges, called the pardon fantastic news.

Although we didnt agree with charges we are grateful to UAE government for resolving issue speedily. But also a bittersweet moment as we remember Nazanin and other innocent people detained in Iran, he added, in reference to Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman who has been detained in Iran for more than two years.

The pardon was issued by UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan on Sunday, and announced at a hastily convened press conference the next day. It came just minutes after Emirati officials stood by accusations that Mr Hedges was a spy.

He was a part-time PhD researcher, a part-time businessman, but he was a 100-per cent a full-time secret service operative, said Jaber al-Lamki, an official with the UAEs National Media Council.

At the closed-door press conference, journalists were shown a video in which Mr Hedges allegedly acknowledged working for MI6.

During the investigation, Mr Hedges confessed he was acting as an agent of a foreign intelligence service. He confirmed that he had collected sensitive and classified information about the UAE for that agency. The evidence, both documentary and electronic, is irrefutable, Mr Lamki said.

Mr Hedges was sentenced last week in a move described as deeply disappointing by prime minister Theresa May. A spokesman for the prime minister said: As weve been clear, we didnt agree with the charges but we are grateful to the UAE government for resolving the issue.

Both his family and the British government denied all the charges. Mr Hedges said he was in the country to research the impact of the Arab Spring on UAE foreign policy.

In the wake of the sentencing, the case was the focus of intense lobbying efforts by the British government.

Ms Tejada had pressed for his release and won assurances from Mr Hunt that the government was standing up for her husband, after she claimed it had initially put diplomatic relations with the UAE above his liberty.

During his detention, he was interrogated without a lawyer or consular access. A representative for the family said that his mental and physical health had seriously deteriorated during his time in solitary confinement.

Responding to news of the pardon, Amnesty International condemned UAE authorities for the handling of the case, and called for renewed pressure on the country to release other prisoners of conscience.

Matthew should never have been jailed after such an unfair process, and he should never have been held in the miserable conditions of solitary confinement. A pardon doesnt make up for this injustice, said Kate Allen, Amnesty International UKs director.

Matthews ordeal is a reminder that the UAE is a deeply repressive country which ruthlessly suppresses free speech and peaceful criticism, and we should spare a thought for Emirati prisoners of conscience like Ahmed Mansoor or Mohammed al-Roken who arent getting a pardon today, she added.

The scales will surely fall from the UK governments eyes now, with ministers and officials urgently reassessing the UKs entire relationship with the UAE. Wed like to see a far more robust position from the UK in defence of human rights across the entire Gulf region.
A majority of Americans oppose the US governments support for the ongoing Saudi-led war in Yemen, a survey has shown.

Some 58 per cent of respondents wanted lawmakers to curtail or halt the supply of arms for a conflict considered the worlds worst ongoing humanitarian disaster.

Only 13 per cent of Americans said they want lawmakers to maintain or increase arms sales to the US allies in the conflict  Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

But the survey, conducted by YouGov and commissioned by the International Rescue Committee relief group, also showed striking nationwide ignorance about the conflict.

The three-year conflict in Yemen has been largely ignored by broadcast media in favour of near 24-hour coverage of President Donald Trumps foibles.

The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and brought the Arab worlds poorest nation to the brink of widespread famine as winter approaches and heating and cooking fuel prices spike, according to relief organisations. But of 1,000 Americans surveyed earlier this month, a third said they had never even heard of the Yemen war.

Among those who had an opinion on the conflict, 75 per cent opposed US involvement.

Weve already made the argument that this conflict is morally and strategically bankrupt," said Amanda Catanzano, a senior director at the International Rescue Committee. "But its also politically unpopular. It doesnt reflect the perspective of the American people."

Houthi soldiers protest an offer by the Saudi-led coalition to pay compensation for victims of an airstrike in Saada, Yemen (Reuters)

The conflict has recently become a focus of policymakers in the west. The murder of Jamal Khashoggi last month, at the hands Saudi agents tied to the office of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, has sparked a debate about Riyadhs increasingly erratic leadership.

Prince Salman, as defence minister, intervened in Yemen in 2015 after Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and strengthened what had been a loose alliance with Iran.

Canada, Germany, Denmark, and Finland have already announced new restrictions on arms exports to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The US, UK, and France have resisted such action.

On Monday, a coalition of charities including Oxfam and Save the Children issued a joint statement demanding an ceasefire, the reopening of ports to humanitarian and commercial goods, and for authorities to resume paying the salaries of civil servants.

Workers unload wheat provided by UNICEF at the Red Sea port of Hodeidah in January (AFP/Getty) (AFP)

The coalition said: If the government of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Ansar Allah, and other parties to the conflict fail to take these steps, and if the United States does not use all levers of pressure to compel them to do so, responsibility for the deaths of many more Yemeni civilians will lie not only with the parties to the conflict, but with the United States as well.

US secretary of defence James Mattis has called for a ceasefire in Yemen by the end of November ahead of peace talks in Sweden next month, and a number of US lawmakers have spoken out against American involvement in the conflict, but the war rages on. "Rather than halting the fighting weve seen continued intense clashes," said Ms Catanzano. We are anticipating some debate on Capitol Hill in the coming days about future of US support for Saudi and UAE coalition. If the administration isn't ready to move on it, we hope Congress can give it the time and attention and debate it deserves.

In general, the war at the southern edge of the Arabian peninsula has received scant coverage in the US press. Of those contacted in the latest survey, 58 per cent said they did not know the US sells arms and provides intelligence to the Saudi-led coalition and 64 per cent did not know about civilian casualties.

Houthi women in September mark the fourth anniversary of their takeover of the Yemeni capital (Reuters/Khaled Abdullah) (REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah)

Nearly 30 per cent said they had no opinion on the conflict. Asked if US involvement in the Yemen war advanced American interests, 42 per cent said they did not know.

The survey found 82 per cent want congress to restrict weapons transfers and more than half want an end to all arms sales.
The Bauhaus school of design turns 100 this year. The style, recognisable for its flat roofs, white or glass-skinned walls and boldly modern details, has influenced skyscrapers, typefaces and most things in between.

Celebrations will happen around the world, but especially in Germany, where the schools original brilliance was short-lived. Founded in Weimar in 1919, the school was deemed un-German by the Nazis and shut down in 1933. The diaspora of the emigre Bauhausler simply hastened the spread of the schools influence  to some fascinating, far-flung places including Tel Aviv and Chicago.

Here are the best places around the world to see the Bauhaus style in its centenary year.

Berlin, Germany

Soho House Berlin: the ideal base to explore Bauhaus Berlin (Soho House Berlin)

Soho House enlivens a monumental 1920s Bauhaus building in Berlins Mitte district that reflects the citys turbulent past. Once a Jewish-owned department store, it became the Hitler Youth HQ, later an East German government archive repository. Its a good base to explore the Bauhaus-related events planned in the capital throughout 2019 (doubles from 296/263).

We devised an events programme to meet the needs of everyone  from those who know very little about the Bauhaus right through to subject matter experts, says Annemarie Jaeggi, director of the Bauhaus-Archiv. Pick up a Berlin Welcome Card, covering public transport across the city.

Dessau, Germany

In its 1925-32 heyday, the Bauhaus was based in Dessau, an industrial region considered to be the Silicon Valley of its time, less than two hours drive from Berlin. Stay in hall-of-residence-style digs at the Bauhaus studio building and imagine the experience of the celebrated student body there (doubles from 60). Don't overlook the nearby Masters Houses where school leaders and legends including Walter Gropius and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy lived among pine trees. Twenty minutes stroll from there is Carl Fiegers beautifully curved Kornhaus cafe, on the bank of the Elbe, where you can enjoy tea and torte.

Weimar, Germany

Hotel Elephant Weimar (Rene-T. Kusche) (Hotel Elephant Weimar)

Weimar is an ancient but vibrant student city two hours drive from Dessau. Its Hotel Elephant was recently renovated and features a delightful lichtsaal or light hall, with art covering its walls. A short walk takes you to the university buildings where the founding Bauhausler unified the art and craft schools (previously entirely separate disciplines). The Hotel Elephant has a suite named after Lyonel Feininger, the painter who designed the first manifesto cover depicting a cathedral as a crystalline symbol (Feiningers suite from 560, B&B; other rooms from 150).

Usedom, Baltic Sea

Wasserschloss Mellenthin, one of Lyonel Feiningers subjects (Wasserschloss Mellenthin)

There are many other Bauhaus locations in Germany to choose from  for example, the Weissenhof Estate in Stuttgart, or the Fagus Factory in Lower Saxony.

For a different experience, head north to the island of Usedom (three hours drive from Berlin) on the Baltic Sea. This is where early Bauhaus master Lyonel Feininger holidayed, painted and cycled. You can stay at the charming Wasserschloss Mellenthin (doubles from 100), one of his subjects. Enjoy its brewery, and bike the Feininger Cycle Trail running beside it. The nearby village of Benz has a rustic church that Feininger also painted. The Kunstkabinett gallery there specialises in Feiningers work. Youll soon see why he fell in love with the area.

Brno, Czech Republic

Villa Tugendhat (David Zidlicky)

The Bauhauss influence was soon felt abroad. Mies van der Rohe, the last director of the school, was asked by the Tugendhat family of Brno to design a house on a plot of land overlooking this ancient capital city of Moravia.

Mies created the first steel-framed building of its kind  a masterclass in the flow of space between internal and external zones. The house inspired Simon Mawers Booker Prize shortlisted novel The Glass Room, now being made into a film with Czech director Julius Sevcik. The Tugendhats enjoyed the villa for just seven years before they had to flee the Nazis in 1938. Book ahead.

London, UK

You dont have to look far in London to find Bauhaus gems. An English Heritage plaque outside the ocean liner-like Isokon Flats in north London, shows that artists Walter Gropius, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Marcel Breuer relocated there during the 1930s. It now houses the Isokon Gallery with a permanent exhibition about the building plus a shop. Elsewhere in the capital, Tate Britain and the William Morris Gallery will stage Bauhaus centenary events.

Tel Aviv, Israel

Bauhaus Centre Tel Aviv (Bauhaus Centre Tel Aviv) (Bauhaus Center Tel Aviv)

The Bauhaus diaspora adapted the schools style to new environments, but in Tel Aviv, emigre Bauhausler found a location where white, flat-roofed buildings and balconies or external walkways were better suited than in Germany given the heat and light. More than 4,000 such buildings were constructed here by 1940, many in the central White City, an Unesco world heritage site. The Bauhaus Centre Tel Aviv offers walking tours and, from January, centenary events.

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Several US cities lay claim to exemplary Bauhaus (influenced) architecture. Chicago is where Mies van der Rohe taught for the latter part of his career at the Illinois Institute of Technology, designing his signature statement towers such as 860-880 Lake Shore Drive plus some exquisite private residences: the Farnsworth House, 60 miles southwest of the city, open April-November, is well worth the drive.

Travel essentials

For more information about travel to and within Germany, visit germany.travel

For more information about the Bauhaus centenary, see bauhaus100.de/en
A leading Russian photo-journalist and charity activist has had his platinum frequent-flyer status with Aeroflot revoked for criticising the airlines chief executive.

Mitya Aleshkovsky, a familiar figure to many Russians, has almost 100,000 followers on Twitter  and at least that number of frequent-flyer miles with Aeroflot. He made four flights on the Russian airline in the first 10 days of November, and enjoyed platinum status in the carriers Bonus programme.

But earlier this month Mr Aleshkovsky learnt of new rules at Aeroflots head office in Moscow barring the airlines employees from using smartphones at work  a move apparently intended to prevent staff making unauthorised videos.

The rules were signed by the airlines chief executive, Vitaly Savelyev.

Mr Aleshkovsky promptly tweeted a copy of the rules with the comment: Savelyev has lost his mind.

Three days later, the passenger found out that the platinum status of he and his wife had been revoked, which meant that he could no longer enjoy the frills and free flights that are provided to Aeroflots most frequent flyers.

In new rules introduced for Aeroflots frequent-flyer scheme this year, the airline has the right to block accounts, cancel miles accrued and withdraw elite status of a passenger who denigrates the honour and dignity of a person working for Aeroflot through feedbacks and publications in the internet.

By questioning Mr Savelyevs mental state, Mr Aleshkovsky made what the airline calls a negative assessment of the persons personality. He was duly thrown out of the Bonus programme.

The Aeroflot boss later said: People who are insulting on social media should understand they have to be held accountable.

The argument went viral, with many people coming to the support of Mr Aleshkovsky  including Aeroflot frequent flyers who said they would send back their cards in a gesture of solidarity.

Bill Browder, a long-standing opponent of the Kremlin who has promoted laws to punish Russian human rights violators, tweeted: This kinda says everything you need to know about Russia: Aeroflot, the Russian national airline, will now cancel your frequent flyer miles if you publicly criticize the airline.

A rival of Aeroflot, the Russian airline Utair, has awarded Mr Aleshkovsky gold card status  though the carrier is only one quarter of the size of Aeroflot so it does not offer the same range of flights.

Social media has rebounded on travellers previously; in 2014, a couple who stayed at the Broadway Hotel in Blackpool criticised the property on TripAdvisor, calling it a filthy, dirty rotten stinking hovel.

The hotels terms and conditions said that unfavourable reviews would result in a 100 penalty.

In the days of the Soviet Union, Aeroflot was the biggest airline in the world, with a terrible reputation for customer service. It is now regarded as a high-quality carrier, but continues to impose some unusual rules.

Journalists can be thrown out of the Bonus programme for publishing information discrediting the business reputation of Aeroflot and anyone who violates the Rules of Passenger Conduct on the airlines flights can also have their membership revoked.

But the original regulation at the centre of this dispute, banning smartphones at work, was perhaps understandable after what happened at Europes biggest budget airline, Ryanair.

Some Portuguese cabin crew who had been caught up in a storm and were stuck overnight in Spain staged a photo where they claimed to be sleeping on an airport floor.

After CCTV footage of the stunt was published, the staff involved were sacked.
Its Christmas ad competition time and for me, the winner is Sainsburys, with its primary school Christmas show theme which manages to be heart-warming and a bit funky at the same time. The adverts star (literally) is eight year old Tia Isaac who, once she gets over her initial wobble of showbiz nerves, manages to belt out New Radicals You Get What You Give with magnificent gusto. Directed by Michael Gracey, who recently worked on The Greatest Showman, this ad is a two minute visual feast.

Ah but hold on, isnt it a teeny bit similar to the John Lewis ad that came out earlier this year? The one with a school concert where the kids perform a fabulously over-the-top homage to Bohemian Rhapsody?

 Sainsbury's Christmas advert The Big Night

Ok, I take it back, Sainsburys cant win. Because although it is brilliant, its possibly a teeny bit of a copycat. So the winner must be John Lewis with their gorgeously shot Elton John extravaganza, which basically delivers the message, get your child a musical instrument and with any luck they will grow up to be a global superstar and buy you a bungalow when you are old.

The only time I bought my daughter a musical instrument for Christmas, it backfired spectacularly, and no, not because of the racket it made. It was much worse than that.

Our daughter was eight when my partner casually mentioned that someone at work was selling a pink electric guitar for a knock-down price. Immediately I pounced on this being the ideal surprise gift for her, after all, she was a big Spice Girls fan. Wed get her an amp too; it was a brilliant idea.

Only it wasnt  she looked shell-shocked on opening her present, and was reluctant to pose for photographs with the guitar. We thought she was overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude wrong! Some weeks later, having hidden the thing under her bed, she admitted the gift had frightened the living daylights out of her, she said it made her feel anxious about letting us down if she wasnt a pop star by the time she was 10. Sorry, John Lewis, due to personal traumatic experience, you cant win this year, though the casting of little Elton is utterly adorable and totally spot on.

So, whos still in the competition? Well, Iceland has sadly ruled itself out, considering its ad has been deemed too political for broadcast. Its a shame because the cartoon Rang-tan with her clear message against the perils of palm oil is a brilliant reminder that we should all do what we can to avoid buying the stuff. But now the ad has effectively been disqualified, it cant win my competition. So were left with the usual bunch of festive runners and riders including Asda, which has done a fun montage of Christmas home-comers piling down a snowy slope by whatever means available, including some lovely choreography on skis, all to a Sixties Phil Spector tune. I was impressed.

Lidls contribution, based on upgrading your Christmas has a couple of great farting reindeers in one scene, but hasnt the budget to really compete, whilst Morrisons delivers a nice family message but not much spark. As for Tesco, its a C+ because although the intentions are good (the different ways Christmas is celebrated), the result is quite ordinary and a bit old hat. But at least its better than Aldi, which continues to flog its confusing celebrity carrot idea to death, yawn.

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Waitrose has a variety of nicely done, likeable food themed shorties including a clever in-house response to the John Lewis ad, which is very meta and initially quite funny. Which leaves us with Marks & Spencer, which loses points for its must-have slogan, as it sounds bit grabby. But otherwise, it churns out a serviceable festive job, which is perfectly okay, if you can get over the archaic idea that men helping out in the kitchen is some kind of novelty (adland is also weirdly the last place anyone can find a dishwasher). However, it is neither special nor witty enough to win my coveted prize.

Thank goodness then for the last-minute entry from 32-year-old Phil Beastall, who for 50 quid has made a tear-jerker of a Christmas ad featuring a vaguely hipsterish bearded bloke counting down the days to Christmas, only for us to see that his festive treat is listening to an annual voice tape from his dead mother  cry? My carpet is still soaked because of course the tagline love is the gift that keeps on giving, beats all the fancy handbags and must-have this and you better buy me that.

Imagine how galling it must be this year for all those big names to get trounced by an unknown on a shoestring budget. It just goes to show that sometimes the messages that work best are the ones that come straight from the heart, rather than the wallet. I still want loads of stuff for Christmas, mind.
Ten years ago, hundreds of thousands of campaigners made it clear that inaction on climate change was unacceptable. Activists with the bit between their teeth presented politicians with a draft bill on cutting emissions across the entire economy. The bills beauty was its simplicity: a law to compel current and future governments to cut greenhouse gases by a little bit year on year. Headline music acts such as Radiohead and Razorlight and acting luminaries including Jude Law and Gillian Anderson helped push the issue into the mainstream. In terms of people power, it was effective because it was bold. As a political campaign achievement, it was remarkable.

What became known as The Big Ask campaign persuaded MPs to take climate change seriously. The parliamentary consensus was remarkable, if not unprecedented. Only three MPs opposed the final bill. And so, the UKs Climate Change Act became the worlds first law to cut greenhouse gas emissions, swiftly imitated by governments around the world.

Domestic CO 2 emissions have since fallen an impressive 43 per cent. But progress is stalling and the governments official advisors now warn that the UK is off track to meet future targets.

The unpalatable truth is our government is failing us  by relentlessly pursuing fracking, granting airport expansion, slashing insulation programmes, and faltering in support for renewable energy. If they carry on, we wont be able to meet our own emissions targets in the next 10 years, let alone stop runaway climate change.

But there is  just  enough time to get back on track.

The policy solutions, while ambitious, are clear. And far from being a programme of sacrifice, real leadership would help build a safer, cleaner, fairer, and healthier world.

An accelerated transition from fossil fuelled transport, for example, will help us fight the air pollution health crisis that cuts short 36,000 lives annually in the UK.

UK forests and forest soils are already a significant store of carbon. But the UK is among the least forested countries in Europe. Restoring and enhancing these habitats should be a major priority. A happy side effect would increase protection for our struggling wildlife, and better access to nature for many more people.

Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Show all 25 1 /25 Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Demonstrators block Westminster Bridge in central London to show anger at government inaction on climate and ecological issues AFP/Getty Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges A pro environment protester is arrested by police on Lambeth bridge in London EPA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Organised by Extinction Rebellion, the protest is part of many taking place this weekend to bring attention to political inaction on issues of pollution and climate change Reuters Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges AFP/Getty Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Organised by Extinction Rebellion, the protest is part of many taking place this weekend to bring attention to political inaction on issues of pollution and climate change PA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Demonstrators on Blackfriars Bridge PA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Police with demonstrators on Blackfriars Bridge PA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges AFP/Getty Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges EPA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges A demonstrator is led away by police on Blackfriars Bridge PA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Reuters Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges PA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Reuters Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges AFP/Getty Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges AFP/Getty Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges PA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges EPA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges EPA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges EPA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges PA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Reuters Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges EPA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges AFP/Getty Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges EPA Extinction rebellion: Climate change protesters block London bridges Reuters

There is a challenge in moving away from gas-powered central heating, complicated by the governments fixation on fracking, but with new technologies emerging and an emphasis on insulating homes, it can be done. Nobody loses in this scenario: bills come down, jobs are created, older homes are made habitable and in so doing, illness and yes, winter deaths are reduced.

Importantly, public support is high, with polling from Client Earth showing a majority of the British public agree with not just immediate and urgent action, but even litigation on climate change.

People get it, ministers seemingly dont. The proposed Heathrow expansion would send aviation emissions sky-rocketing. Instead of addressing head on the frequent flights taken by a small minority of the population, the transport secretary this month announced a new air route between Heathrow and Cornwall.

This is indicative of the governments priorities.

The IPCC, the body that objectively assesses climate impact and advises world governments, recently updated its research and the top line is we can contain climate breakdown. Granted, not under a business-as-usual model, but that model has failed all but the wealthiest.

The UK can be a net zero emissions economy  that means if you release emissions, you suck an equivalent amount out of the atmosphere  by 2045. The key to net zero is government must back up its claims of climate leadership with stronger, more ambitious policy. If you think the year 2045 is futuristic, its 27 years away. Twenty-seven years ago, in 1991, Terminator 2 and Silence of the Lambs were the cinema draws, and who doesnt remember Everything I Do, the perennially chart-topping Bryan Adams cliff-topped belter with the electric guitar that needed no power.

Twenty-seven years ago feels recent; 27 years hence isnt far away.

Temporality aside, there is a devastating human and wildlife cost because of climate breakdown. Today Friends of the Earth are highlighting the English communities already on the frontline of climate chaos. From devastating floods in Yorkshire, to wildfires near Manchester, to homes crumbling into the sea in Norfolk, all are worsened by our warming world. Here and globally, with absolute consistency, its the most vulnerable people paying the highest price.

And so, on the 10-year anniversary of the Climate Change Act, its clear that these are vows that need renewing. It remains feasible to limit global warming to 1.5C. A speeded-up transition towards a clean, sustainable economy is evidently worth it, its just that the future of the planet also depends on it. The UK used to lead, we can again.

Oliver Hayes is a climate change campaigner for Friends of the Earth
Theresa May, I am American but I am writing to you from China. I moved here after your hostile environment forced me to leave England. I received a masters degree from one of your countrys top universities, I speak three languages, and I have 10 years of professional experience. Yet you deemed me too low-skilled to live in the United Kingdom, all while you demonised me for having had the audacity to want to live in the country I love and consider home. A decade ago, I would never have expected to be treated better in China than in my special relationship cousin of the United Kingdom, but here I am.

And now you are trying to say that you made me leave because of the Romanians? No  not in my name will you continue your nationalist rhetoric.

As an American, I am grateful to have freedom of movement in what is likely to be the most diverse country in the world, both culturally and environmentally. But what I wouldnt give to have the option to easily move to 27 other countries. That is such an astounding opportunity, for personal and professional growth, for cultural exchange, for education, for food and drink, for travel  pick your reason! I honestly cannot think of a negative aspect of having such an option.

But too often, the British  very much with your assistance  forget that it is a two-way street. They see the Europeans who have come not as humans who want to enjoy a new culture (supposedly the greatest culture, right?) but as welfare scroungers. This is even though EU (and non-EU) immigrants contribute more in taxes than they take out  thus subsidising the British usage of public services  because your government has told them immigrants are welfare scroungers. They see job-stealers because you use rhetoric like jump the queue when there is no queue.

As a representative of the rest of the world, let me just say how envious we are of freedom of movement, and that it is baffling to see a nation throw away such an incredible opportunity.

However, when I say we are jealous, do not misunderstand or, more likely, intentionally misquote. We are envious of the opportunity yes, but the narrative that you have helped spread that non-EU immigrants hate Europeans because they dont have to jump through the same horrible hoops you have implemented, is nonsense.

We are well aware that British citizens are allowed to move to France, Italy, Spain or Poland. They are not allowed to move to New York, or Mumbai, or here to beautiful Shenzhen. Therein lies the difference. Its very simple.

It is your government that blocks the rest of the world from living in the UK. Your government that chooses to treat the few who are able to come like criminals rather than human beings who love your country and want to contribute to it. The European Union, and certainly its citizens, have nothing to do with your hostile environment.

But you know all of this. When you say things like jump the queue, you say them not because you believe them, but because you expect the British public to not know the facts. You assume that they are uneducated on the subject.

I believe you want to sow divisions; to pit EU and non-EU against one another, to pit Remainers against Europeans while continuing to further your hostile environment against the rest of the world. You were probably surprised that the Windrush scandal got any traction, considering your government has been treating non-EU immigrants with disdain since 2010 and there had been very little backlash until this year. And now you can finally treat EU immigrants the same, as you claim the voters have given you the mandate to do. But dont you dare use my name to do it.

Laura Lundahl

Guangdong, China

Oh, the irony

Isnt it ironic that during the 2015 general election campaign the Tories were claiming that if Labour won the government would be in the SNPs pocket and now, three year later, a Tory government is in the DUPs handbag?

Gordon Whitehead

Scarborough

We need to admit our part in creating terrorists

In a highly revealing interview with the Washington Post earlier this year, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, who is accused of ordering the murder of Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi (an accusation he denies), announced that the kingdoms funded spread of extreme Islamic fundamentalism, Wahhabism, began in the 1980s as a result of western countries asking Riyadh to help counter the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Consequently, Saudi Arabia built mosques and madrassas overseas which then unleashed the Afghan Mujahideen (Osama bin Laden), from which came al-Qaeda and Isis.

But it didnt just stop there, Saudi Arabia and Qatar went on to finance and arm these same groups in Syria, murdering tens of thousands of people. Previously, their handiwork had been seen in overthrowing Muammar Gaddafis Libyan government through their support for the Libyan Islamic Fighting Organisation, which just happens to be an al Qaeda affiliate in Libya, and was the largest group in the Libyan transitional national government whom Nato bombed into power in that country a few years ago.

We have to understand that despite the fact that the west buys huge amounts of oil from the kingdom and that Donald Trump wants to continue with the sale of $110bn worth of arms to Saudi, despite the genocide in neighbouring Yemen, that we are just as responsible for the creation of these terrorists as Saudi is.

Weve made a huge mistake backing the Saudis. Unless we change our foreign policy it will continue to do enormous damage to our societies.

Mark Holt

Waterloo, London

Up-Brexiting the apple cart

One of George Bernard Shaws lesser known plays, The Apple Cart, written in 1928 and set sometime in the future, has a strangely modern ring. The main theme appears to be an argument between King Magnus and his prime minister about the extent to which a king should be allowed to express controversial opinions. That matter is quickly overshadowed by several other considerations.

First, the cabinet is composed of ministers who have widely divergent views, which they publish freely. Further, the country is effectively run, not by the government, but by an international big business called Breakages Ltd, which sees to it that no goods are produced which do not wear out and require replacing as quickly as possible.

The real climax, however, comes when the American ambassador calls to announce that the US congress has repealed the Declaration of Independence, a move immediately recognised as a clever ruse to take over the United Kingdom. Any relevance today?

Robert Gould

Edinburgh

Loneliness will get worse without action from the government

Matt Hancocks admirable response to the Gosport hospital report (Lessons have been learned, will be learned and must be applied. The voices of the vulnerable will be heard) begs the question of how the vulnerable who have neither voice nor means of communication will be heard.

Unfortunately, lessons were not learnt during the five years since the former health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, called the neglect of a million pensioners a source of national shame. The government now admits in its otherwise welcome loneliness strategy is just the start of tackling this challenge to establish a clearer picture of the prevalence of loneliness without even mentioning the million pensioners left starving through loneliness.

In apologising for the truly shocking findings to the Gosport victims families, Hancock said: Every one of those who lost loved ones was a son or daughter, a mother or father, a sister or brother. Sadly, however, there are no families to lobby for the neglected million elderly highlighted by Hunt as a national disgrace in 2013, nor for the million pensioners still left starving through loneliness in 2018. Hancock, who describes the 450 Gosport deaths as not just preventable, but deaths directly caused by the actions of others, will doubtless wish to prevent vastly more premature deaths from inaction, to further his worthy aim to create a culture where lessons are learnt.

To this end, as Loneliness could be costing private sector employers up to 2.5 billion a year due to absence and productivity losses, a 2.5bn funding boost to adult social care could prove a highly profitable investment and further the prime ministers worthy aim to eradicate loneliness in our lifetime. Properly funded prompt action could help a million pensioners left starving through loneliness and others suffering its devastating impact, especially at Christmas, who will otherwise die unknown and unloved.

Trevor Lyttleton

London NW11

A rail service with four masters

The new rail ombudsman announced today made me think of the ancient Greek saying, a slave with two masters is a free man, except the rail companies now have four. We have the Office Of Rail Regulation, Transport Focus, Network Rail and now the ombudsman (funded by the rail companies) all meant to be batting for the consumer against the rail companies, but failing abysmally. Rail passengers need one strong independent body that is clearly and unambiguously for complaints against operators, not the fuzzy mess that now exists.

Ian Lowden

Kelsall
Conversation turned this month to Turkey, and whether we should visit a country run by a strongman like Recep Tayyip Erdogan. One friend said her husband absolutely wouldnt visit Turkey, nor travel to the US while Trump was president.

This poses a bigger question: should we visit countries with poor human rights records, or countries run by regimes we disagree with? There is no simple answer.

Tourism has the ability to change a countrys fortunes. Almost 40 per cent of the Maldives GDP comes from tourists visiting its plush island resorts; in Europe, Maltas economy gets a 14.2 per cent bump from visitor dollar. That means where we travel can have a huge impact on the local people.

I travelled to Myanmar last year, spending 10 days skimming the country, from Yangon to Inle Lake to the temple fields of Bagan. Myanmar is a spectacular country, with surprisingly good food, and the Burmese were incredibly welcoming  although the timing of the trip raised a dilemma.

The trip was booked when the Rohingya crisis was unfortunately little more than a fleeting mention in The Economist. When the atrocities crashed onto international headlines, I did briefly wonder whether to cancel my trip and boycott Myanmar, as many people did.

I was warned by my travel agent not to discuss politics with any tour guides. I did anyway, and was surprised that my otherwise urbane guide in Yangon was only dimly aware of what was happening in Rakhine State (incidentally far, far away from any typical tourist itinerary). To him, the Rohingya were terrorists and responsible for the massacre of Burmese Hindus. It was ugly how little he understood about what was happening, or even the international outcry. But when news of the Rohingya plight was buried as a small news item near the back of the English language newspaper The Myanmar Times, really, would he have known any better?

In any case, my carefully curated pictures of Bagan temples and colonial architecture in Yangon went down like a ton of bricks on Instagram, where some had commented, What about the genocide? as if I was somehow unaware of what was happening within the country I was travelling to.

My first response is that visiting a country as a tourist does not mean you endorse the government and its actions. Yes, it itches that money you pay for a visa  particularly in developing countries where a visa on arrival often seems entirely unnecessary  and the airport tax often goes straight into government coffers, but even so: visiting is not the same as tacit agreement. When I travelled through Myanmar, I booked with a local travel agent, stayed in local hotels and employed local guides, ensuring that (to the best of my knowledge) money was being directed to those on the ground.

By actively staying away from these countries, we are hurting not the regime but the portion of society most in need of our tourist dollars. We hurt the shopkeepers, waiters and hotel staff, who are not to blame for the actions of their government. Judgement of Aung San Suu Kyi from tourists is small fry when the international community has swung into action and stripped her of various awards.

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And by not visiting these nations, were depriving ourselves of the opportunity to understand the regime and the cauldron it exists in, as well as exposing that nation to the thoughts of the wider community. By visiting, tourists can keep the spotlight on a repressive regime and can remind the rest of the world that an entire people isnt responsible for its government. Oppressive regimes can only thrive when nobody is around to argue against them.

This logic doesnt apply to all countries. I probably wouldnt step foot in North Korea: because travelling on a state-sanctioned tour means there is no opportunity to get a feel for how people actually live there. (Leading DPRK travel agency Koryo Tours is keen to highlight that the amount of money the North Korean government receives through tourism is very minimal and certainly not enough to fund a nuclear programme.) On a lighter note, the airline Air Koryo is meant to be absolutely dreadful.

So, go. Why shouldnt you? But when you do, be responsible. Read the paper. Spend money locally. Talk to the locals. Ask them what they think of their government (if you think its sensible to do so). Only then can we start to change things.
Plainly the odds are stacked against Theresa May getting her deal through parliament, and youd be amazed if it was approved through first time round. Labour will vote fairly solidly against it, and there will be enough disgruntled Tory MPs on either side of the debate plus the adamantine DUP to see the prime minister go down to what will inevitably be called a humiliation.

Still, shes well used to those, and must view the prospect with equanimity. The snap election; Chequers; Salzburg; cabinet resignations; threats to topple her; that awful coughing conference speech  shes got the T-shirt all right.

She will then be obliged to make a statement to parliament as to what she will do next. In the spirit of things she should probably say that she has listened to our great sovereign parliament and will ask the Europeans if they fancy going through the whole thing all over again. That will waste about a day of her time as she flies to Brussels to be told, once again, that there is no other deal available for Britain.

Im no expert on parliamentary procedure, but then the Commons can have a vote on no deal which will be voted down. After that (or before, it doesnt matter that much), Jeremy Corbyn will table a vote of no confidence in the government. This will be defeated, because the DUP will probably abstain or vote with her.

Alternatively and pre-emptively (or as well  it will get chaotic) she could table her own hybrid vote of confidence. That states the Commons has confidence in Her Majestys government in respect of its European policy. This was a device John Major used to get himself out of an unwinnable position when he was faced with getting his European legislation through the Commons in the 1990s, to ratify the Maastricht Treaty.

This would present the Tory rebels who dislike Brexit with a sharp dilemma. If they vote down Mays motion then they risk a general election or, more remotely, a minority Labour government.

The rebels would be told that May might have to resign on matter of principle in her personal policy  meaning a protracted Tory leadership contest or the arrival of some possibly unwelcome compromise candidate in No 10. This would be hard for any rebel to defend.

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act makes the old procedure of losing the confidence of the Commons more complicated, and there would have to be a confidence vote on the pure form of words prescribed in the act, but still, the danger is that wed end up with a January general election  freezing cold, dark and possibly snowbound in places. Not ideal campaigning or voting conditions. General Winter will rescue May from that possibility.

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Any single one of the Tory rebels on either side can be blamed  by their constituency associations and the voters  for inducing mayhem and heralding a Corbyn-led Marxist regime. The whips will make sure they realise that. Their friends and colleagues across the House  and they themselves  might lose their seats in the fluid politics that would follow. They would destroy the Tory party, revive Ukip, the SNP and the Lib Dems, get a Labour government, and  and here is the real point  still end up with a soft Brexit anyhow. In fact, given the Europeans stance, when Corbyn, Keir Starmer and Barry Gardiner arrive for talks with Jean-Claude Juncker, they will be given an excellent lunch and informed, once again, that is the deal and they can take it or leave it. So that means soft Brexit plus Corbyn: the worst deal of all.

Does Bernard Jenkin really want that? Bill Cash? Priti Patel? One wonders.

And what if Labour officially abstained on this vote  because it was (deliberately and cynically) hybrid? Or if a phalanx of Labour rebels did so? Or some flaky Lib Dems or SNP members? If they have not already, Mays whips should reach out and discover what the possibilities are. It is how Ted Heath got through his European legislation to take us into the European Communities back in 1971-72. He was strongly advised by his whips to offer Tory MPs a free vote  an issue of conscience above party. This gave some moral cover to the band of Labour rebels to break from the official line and abstain or vote with the government; unofficial Labour rebel whips ensured only the minimum number of Labour rebels would act on each vote, and did so on a rota system to reduce the penalties Labour would impose on any individual pro-European MP.

Heath never lost a vote. He and his team knew that the hardline Eurosceptics of their day, led by the charismatic though malevolent Enoch Powell, would vote against ratifying the accession treaty no matter what three-line whip Heath tried to impose.

A Final Say referendum would be much the best way out of the quagmire, and May, already prepping public opinion, could take her chances and try to sell it to the public against the Remain option. That would be the best way to proceed, to unite the country and act in the national interest.

If not, then eventually May can return to a vote on her deal  the Commons having eliminated no deal, an early election, a second referendum and any other alternative. Then she can say there is no alternative.

This second time round MPs on all sides would know that it really is a question of her deal or no deal, because: 1. she says so; 2. Europe says so; and 3. parliament cant offer an alternative. In such circumstances Labour and other opposition party rebel abstentions (ie pro-deal) should be enough to see her over the line, as her internal critics continue to melt under the realities of the situation. It might even be possible that Corbyn would order his troops to abstain, on the grounds that a future Labour government can clear it all up and start again. (Plus hes actually pro-Brexit anyway.)

None of this will be easy, but the prospects may be brighter for May than seem possible now  just as turned out to be the case for her predecessors Heath and Major.

There was always a chance that Heath would lose vital votes on his legislation, albeit not the principle of joining Europe, and yet he never did  through using ruses such as the free vote and cooperating closely with the Labour rebels. When John Major tried to get the Maastricht Treaty through the Commons in 1992-93, things were much dicier  smaller majority, more bastards. The bastards in his party, as Major dubbed them, mounted a formidable guerrilla war, and he had only a slim majority. Intelligent, determined whipping got his through that (led by a bloke called David Davis), as well as getting Paddy Ashdowns Liberal Democrats to support him at crucial moments  and that useful hybrid confidence motion right at the end of the process.

Major and Heath both triumphed against the odds in their wars of attrition because they showed real grit, had a clear message on the national interest, employed clever tactics, and had momentum on their side  the European side of their deals had all been done and dusted. Crucially, though, they won out because their opponents lacked a realistic alternative and, in many cases, the strength of character to resist bribes and threats. On the evidence of their failed coup against May, and their own internal splits, I doubt Jacob Rees-Moggs Dads Army will have the backbone required this time round. As Margaret Thatcher once said to a then young Eurosceptic Tory rebel in the 1990s, John Whittingdale: The trouble with you, John, is that your spine does not reach your brain.
For years it has been the snug bar bores whine that the internet has killed the art of letter writing, and it seems the old git was right.

Take the prime minister. Her grasp of the form has become so enfeebled that she has written one (and this might be unique) addressed to nobody.

That puts her an epistolary rung below estate agents. When Winkworths and Barnham Marcus write to me unbidden, as they frequently do, they know enough to begin Dear Homeowner.

Todays missive from Theresa May lacks that warmly personal touch at the start. No Dear British People. No Dear Fellow Loyal Subjects. Not even To Whom It May Concern.

 Theresa May reveals she is not sad about the UK leaving the EU

She pitches straight in to an appeal apparently aimed, despite the lack of evidence, at us all. This could be another first. So far as Im aware, no PM until now ever wrote an open letter to the populus.

If the text isnt quite as thrillingly novel (basically, its what she told the Commons 10 days ago and reiterated verbatim in the press conference), her intention is.

In yet another trailblazing first, the letter showcases a British prime minister appealing to the British electorate over the head of the British parliament.

In other countries, that would qualify as a call for revolution. Here, its just the latest last throw of the dice until the next one.

You could put in a fair shift analysing her letter for nuance and subtlety. But at risk of oversimplifying a keynote address more than three times longer than Abraham Lincolns at Gettysburg, it can adequately be precisd as follows. Heeeeeeellllllllllllllppppppppppp!

The last time she requested Brexit assistance from the public, it rewarded her by removing her majority. Understandably, her tactics have changed. Eighteen months ago  and she was very clear about this  she adamantly believed that the only democratic way to resolve the Brexit divisions was to ask the punters to express their will at the ballot box.

Now those divisions are wider and deeper, she passionately believes  and she could not be clearer about this  that the only democratic solution is to deny us a vote.

In place of a general election or second referendum, her meisterplan is to create a wave of support to sweep away resistance to her miserable fudge when she presents it to the Commons next month.

At this moment, with 80-90 Tory backbenchers and almost every opposition MP determined to vote against it, she is heading for a defeat so humiliating that even she might interpret it as a P45.

So shes abandoned the outmoded idea that a PM wins a Commons vote by persuading MPs of its merit. If a Labour government tried this trick, she would savage it as a crude appeal to mob rule.

But the mob is as unlikely to pay attention to her letter as MPs are to be intimidated if it did. This is a religious war, and the faithful will go to the deselection stake if their local parties threaten it.

Her next last throw of the dice has already been trailed. If theres one better way of upholding the democratic precepts than preventing the people from voting, its weaponising the honours system.

So far, the only known example of this is the knighthood granted, weeks ahead of the New Years list, to the Brexity backbencher now known as Sir John Hayes. He insists he wont be swayed by that, and it will be hilarious if he proves this by voting against the deal.

Yet the last thing traditionalists like me will be able to stomach is the defiling of a system that has always displayed the British state at its noblest.

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Until now, it has been flawless in identifying and rewarding integrity (Lord Archer, Sir Philip Green, etc etc). The award of the CBE to Vidkun Quisling shortly before he sold Norway out to Hitler underlines the point.

If Brexit is to be a kind of Norway super plus on the honours front, with a torrent of Ks and a fire sale at the ermine robe shop, trust in the system would be endangered. And we couldnt live with that.

Speaking of heart, the PM pledges to fight with that and more. I will be campaigning with my heart and soul to win that vote, she ends her letter, and to deliver this Brexit deal.

Cest magnifique, as someone said about the Charge of the Light Brigade, mais ce nest pas la guerre. It might be even more magnifique, and less suicidally delusional, if she relied less on heart and soul, and used her brain.

If she lands the biggest upset in a two-horse race since 42-1 shot James Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson in Tokyo, she will have sold that soul to her survivalist instincts, and saddled the country with a deal almost nobody other than herself wants. If not, her obstinacy will have taken us to the edge of the no deal nobody but the craziest of crazies wants.

For the 279th time of writing, the only intellectually coherent resolution is to try a form of democracy even more novel than a prime ministerial open letter addressed to no one. We the people, charmed though we are to be the presumed recipients of her missive, must be given a vote.
Calls to a rape crisis helpline in Ireland increased by 500 last year, figures indicate.

A total of 12,855 calls were fielded by the 24-hour service run by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre  around 48% of which were related to claims of adult rape.

The total was outlined in the centres annual report for 2017, which was published on Monday.

Last year, centre personnel accompanied 251 people to the sexual assault treatment unit at Dublins Rotunda hospital.

This report helps to inform the work of An Garda Siochana and other agencies dealing with these victimsDrew Harris

Assisted by additional funding from the child and family agency Tusla, the centre also provided face-to-face therapy for 550 clients  an increase of 10% on 2016.

The facility also provided support on 53 days to people who were making a criminal complaint either at a Garda station or in court.

The centre delivered 3,883 appointments in 2017, mostly in Dublin city centre but also through outreach services at Coolock Civic Centre, the Dochas Centre for women prisoners at Mountjoy prison and in Tallaght Hospital.

The centres head of clinical services Angela McCarthy said: We are continuing to see an increase in the number of callers and clients who have experienced recent rape and sexual assault.

Nearly 48% of Helpline contacts related to adult rape, compared to 41% of 2016 contacts.

Of new clients seen in 2017, 49% had experienced recent rape or sexual assault.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will later attend the launch of the report at the centres offices in Dublin.

Expand Close Garda Commissioner Drew Harris (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook

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He described their work as vital in providing victims of serious sexual assault with victim centred services.

This [report] helps to inform the work of An Garda Siochana and other agencies dealing with these victims, he said.

The centre said its training work had a role to play in the achievement of societal change as well as equipping others to deal with those who have suffered sexual violence.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chairwoman Ann Marie Gill said: This report not only shows that we were exceptionally busy in 2017, but that we continued to have a dual focus to ensure that those who suffer sexual violence get the support that they need and deserve and also to ensure that we are working towards a safer society where sexual violence is no longer acceptable or tolerated.

The Centres CEO Noeline Blackwell said: We are pleased to be launching this report during the annual international campaign of Sixteen Days of Activism against Violence against Women.

While we support and provide services to people of all genders, it is noteworthy that sexual violence is predominantly perpetrated against women and girls.

This means that there needs to be a particular emphasis on eliminating or at least reducing the level of sexual violence against them.

Ms Blackwell commended the good work done by garda who are fully trained in the investigation of sexual offences.

However, she said there was a lack of specialist units or investigators to deal with cases.

She said investigations, when poorly handled, could lead to victims withdrawing from the criminal justice system and being re-victimised by the experience.

When you combine this with the systemic difficulties of our court system in such trials, it is little wonder that there is such a high rate of drop-out between reporting and trial and even a very low rate of reporting, she added.

The national 24-hour helpline number can be reached on 1800 77 88 88.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak speaks with lawmakers during a parliament session to review a proposal by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to introduce martial law for 60 days after Russia seized Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea, in Kiev, Ukraine November 26, 2018. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Russian border guards have opened fire on three Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait near the Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula, raising the prospect of a full-scale military confrontation.

The incident comes on the back of a four-and-a-half year long proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine.

A look at the conflict, its roots and possible consequences:

Military escalation

Tensions have been rising in the Kerch Strait, which links the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, for a few weeks now. Shortly after Ukraine detained a fishing vessel travelling from Crimea in March, Russia increased its military presence in the area and started inspecting all vessels travelling to or from Ukrainian ports, causing days-long delays and disrupting trade. Ukraine has protested against the checks, calling them an "economic blockade".

Global impact

The ship seizure has prompted global concern and raised questions about eventual international intervention. Nato and the UN Security Council are holding emergency meetings to discuss what to do.

Russia's actions are drawing renewed Western anger - and demonstrating Russian President Vladimir Putin's resolve just days before he meets US President Donald Trump at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina.

The European Union is calling on both sides to stay calm, but is distracted by negotiations on Britain's pending departure and divided over migration, and may have little energy to deal with a new Ukraine crisis.

Ukraine's choice: Russia vs the West

The roots of the current conflict lie in autumn 2013, when the Ukrainian government was due to sign a deal supposed to open European Union markets for Ukrainian goods and put the country on a pathway to possible EU membership. That endangered Ukraine's ties with Russia, its closest neighbour and major trading partner.

The Kremlin vehemently opposed the deal, fearing an uncontrolled flow of goods through what was then virtually an open border. Despite his close ties to Russia, President Viktor Yanukovych publicly pledged to sign the deal - only to walk out on it at the last moment. Massive street protests followed, decrying Mr Yanukovych for what was seen as an attempt to deny Ukrainians a European future. A crackdown by riot police saw 130 people killed in sniper fire. Mr Yanukovych fled the capital to Crimea and was eventually whisked away by Russian special forces to southern Russia. An interim government, made up of the protest leaders, stepped in.

Crimean annexation

In February 2014, Russian officials began arriving in the Crimean peninsula shortly after the pro-Western government took power in Kiev, fanning fears of an onslaught on Russian heritage in parts of Ukraine including Crimea. Troops without insignia soon appeared in Crimea, occupying crucial infrastructure including Ukrainian military bases. It was only years later that Mr Putin publicly admitted that these were in fact Russian troops.

Ukrainian troops largely did not put up resistance and retreated.

Would-be separatist commander and Russian officer Igor Girkin later recounted how he and other Russian officers forced the hand of local Crimean politicians to pass a motion for a referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. An overwhelming majority of votes cast on March 16 2014 supported secession. Two days later, Moscow signed a declaration with self-proclaimed Crimean officials, sealing the annexation. Neither the vote nor the annexation was recognised by the United Nations.

War in eastern Ukraine

Emboldened by the annexation of Crimea, local activists, propped up by Russian operatives, took over towns in eastern Ukraine and tore down Ukrainian flags. Separatist leaders in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk held contested votes supporting a motion to break away from Ukraine.

Sporadic outbursts of violence and clashes between Ukrainian troops and the separatists spilled over into a full-blown war in May 2014, when Ukraine launched an air strike on Donetsk airport which was overrun by Russian Chechen fighters.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has since killed more than 10,000 people and displaced over one million. Large swathes of this area remain under separatist control.

The Kremlin never admitted its role in the war, portraying it as a civil conflict. But overwhelming evidence suggests that Russia has been sending a sizeable number of troops and advisers as well as weapons to the rebels, helping to tip the conflict in their favour. Media reported a massive stream of heavy weaponry and tanks crossing in from Russia.

Ukraine signed peace accords with the separatists in 2015, calling for a ceasefire and political settlement in the east. While it helped to decrease the intensity of fighting, the accords did nothing to resolve the region's political stalemate.

Church conflict

In the latest manifestation of Ukraine's resolve to break off with Russia once and for all, Kiev has stepped up its efforts to seek independence for its Orthodox church. The church in Ukraine has been tied to the Moscow Patriarchate for hundreds of years. Calls for independence have increased since the conflict began.

The Istanbul-based patriarchate, whose head Bartholomew I is considered the "first among equals" of Orthodox church leaders, in October made the first step towards recognising the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The move was decried by the Russian Orthodox Church as well as the Kremlin.

What's next?

While Sunday's incident - which some call the first overt military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine - raises the spectrum of a full-blown conflict, it is not likely that either side would want an all-out confrontation. By opening fire on the Ukrainian vessels, Moscow reinforced its message that Crimea is Russian for good and that Moscow will not allow anyone to question that.

In Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko is likely to benefit from the martial law that he is proposing. Mr Poroshenko's approval ratings have been in free-fall, and delaying the March presidential elections and playing up the Russian threat could help him get re-elected if the vote is held at a later date.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak speaks with lawmakers during a parliament session to review a proposal by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to introduce martial law for 60 days after Russia seized Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea, in Kiev, Ukraine November 26, 2018. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Ukraine's parliament has voted to support the president's motion to impose martial law for 30 days.

The move will include a partial mobilisation and strengthening of the country's air defence.

The measures before parliament also included vaguely worded steps such as "strengthening" anti-terrorism measures and "information security".

President Petro Poroshenko had asked legislators to back his motion to impose martial law after Sunday's incident near Russia-occupied Crimea when Russian borders guards opened fire on three Ukrainian navy vessels before seizing the ships and their crews.

Parliament voted overwhelmingly for the martial law motion after a five-hour debate.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned there is no fall-back position if the UK parliament rejects the draft Brexit divorce deal finally cleared by the bloc's 28 governments after a year of delays.

"There isn't a plan B. The truth is what we have here is the best deal that is available both for the United Kingdom and for the European Union," Mr Varadkar said after the special summit in Brussels.

It took the EU leaders just 38 minutes to approve the 585-page legal Withdrawal Agreement and an accompanying 26-page declaration which will inform negotiations on a future EU-UK relationship over trade and other issues once Brexit kicks in.

The formal separation is set to take effect at 11pm Dublin time on March 29 next but a transition period means nothing will change until at least December 31, 2020, and it will very probably be extended by another one or two years.

There was an air of gloom at the EU conference centre in Brussels as the UK's 46-year, frequently troubled relationship with the EU moved decisively towards the point of no return.

"Everybody around the table would like the UK to stay but we respect the decision they made in the referendum," the Taoiseach said.

After UK voters decided on June 23, 2016, to leave the EU by 52 to 48pc, formal exit negotiations opened on March 29, 2017. Deadlines last March, June and October were missed but a deal has been reached in principle.

It is expected to be approved by the European Parliament in February. But by far the bigger challenge comes next month in the UK parliament where Prime Minister Theresa May faces huge opposition from both supporters of Brexit and advocates of the strongest possible links with the EU.

Over the weekend the Democratic Unionist Party, whose 10 MPs have been keeping Mrs May's minority government in office, intensified their opposition on grounds that Northern Ireland is leaving the EU on different terms from England, Scotland and Wales.

Mr Varadkar said since it was clear the UK would not be staying in the EU, this deal was the next best thing from an Irish point of view. He insisted the agreement was the only one available and people should not seek alternatives options.

Agreement

"Let's not forget what we have here. We have an agreement that took between 18 months and two years to negotiate, it is in several parts, is over 500-pages long and as of today has the support of 28 governments," the Taoiseach said.

"What's on the table is the only deal that's on the table," he added - stressing that there was no room for re- negotiation.

The Taoiseach said the draft deal met all Ireland's key interests. "It protects the peace, affirms the rights and freedoms of European, Irish and British citizens, ensures there will be no hard Border and also insulates our economy from major disruptions in trade," Mr Varadkar said.

Doubts about the summit were banished on Saturday when a last-minute concern over the status of Gibraltar was resolved. But Mr Varadkar said planning for a no-deal scenario would continue.
Ireland's fields have suffered a 40pc drop in fertility in just a decade, sparking concerns for the future of our world-renowned farming industry.

The worrying trend is to be highlighted in RTE's flagship science show, '10 Things to Know About', which will expose the little-known effects of modern farming practices on the nation's land, which has 213 different soil types.

A recent UK report estimated that our nearest neighbours only have 100 harvests left before soils become too degraded to grow crops. And Teagasc soil scientist Dr David Wall says there is concern about the rapid decline in Irish soil fertility.

"Without a balanced mix of essential nutrients in soil, agriculture, which is a big part of the national economy, would decline," said Dr Wall

"If nothing is done, we'll arrive back in the 1960s in terms of poor yields, poor quality crops, declining farm incomes and then it will affect the whole food economy."

'10 Things to Know About' will reveal how tests on 200,000 soil samples from around the country in 2016 showed just 11pc of soils were fertile.

This is a sharp fall from the 18pc of fertile land recorded in 2006.

"Our soil nutrient reserves are being mined over time," said Dr Wall.

"The evidence from our samples show there has been a massive decline in soil fertility since 2006. It's a fast drop but it will be a slower process to get it back."

Soil fertility declines when more nutrients are removed from the earth by crops over time than are introduced back into the soil.

Dr Wall explained that the sharp drop in fertiliser use on agricultural soils in recent decades is due to factors including increased regulation and cost, poor weather and environmental concerns.

In '10 Things to Know About', which is presented by Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain and airs on RTE 1 at 8.30pm tonight, Dr Wall reveals how a drop in fertilisation coupled with more intensive farming practices, which remove more nutrients from the land, has caused the decline in fertility of Irish fields.

"Our fertiliser use has declined since 1990, our use of phosphorus and potassium [fertilisers] has more than halved - along with nitrogen, they are the biggest nutrients needed to grow crops," he said.

Ireland's grass-fed agriculture is different from the farming systems used by our European counterparts, where most of the beef and dairy herds are fed indoors on imported feed.

This leaves Irish farmers more reliant on fertile soil to grow grass to feed their animals directly.

But Dr Wall said that action is now being taken in the form of awareness campaigns to encourage farmers to introduce measures to improve the quality of the soil.

"Teagasc, through our advisory services, the dairy industry, the farm organisations like the IFA, and policymakers are acutely aware of this and there are various awareness campaigns running in recent years," he added.

"The general consumer probably sees fertilisers sometimes in a negative light because in the past we may have overused them in certain areas."
SlurryCat recently showed off its Maxi Mixer agitating a large lagoon in no time at all.

The company has said that its Maxi Slurry Mixer range is smooth in its operation and handles agitations with ease, even when the lagoon has a thick grass-infested crust.

It says the oil-bathed drive line is totally maintenance free, ensuring many years of trouble-free service, and the propeller offers the correct balance between operational efficiency and minimal power consumption.

All vital parts are manufactured in corrosion free stainless steel and the company offers various solutions and lengths, options available including:

Lengths 6-12 metres

Power Inputs from 80-300 HP

Over the Top tower models up to 8 metres high

New products

The Northern Ireland slurry machinery specialists launched two new innovative pieces of equipment this year.

Ready for use is a completely new trailing shoe injector and a new Bak Pak hose reeling system.

The new injector unit has been developed on the back of the companys highly successful trailing shoe which was introduced in 2008 and has sold over 2,300 units globally to date.

Expand Close The injector unit can easily be mounted to any tanker and then taken off and used with the Bak Pak hose reeler on the SlurryKat umbilical system. / Facebook

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Whatsapp The injector unit can easily be mounted to any tanker and then taken off and used with the Bak Pak hose reeler on the SlurryKat umbilical system.

The new injector demonstrates all of SlurryKats multi award winning innovation and experience seen in all its products.

SlurryKat says this latest design is completely new from the ground up in every way.

The main innovation, that is totally unique to the new injector unit, is that it is the only unit on the market that can piggy back carry a hose reeler containing up to 1,000m of six inch bore hose.

Until now it was only possible to carry a hose reeler like this on a dribble bar system.

This is only made possible with a further introduction of a completely new 1,000m Bak Pak hose reeler. The current Bak Pak has been the flagship umbilical hose reeling system of SlurryKat since its introduction in 2008 and has sold over 4,500 units globally to date.

It is now possible, for the first time, to work the new trailing shoe and Bak Pak together as a complete unit.

Ergonomics

Possibilities with this new trailing shoe hose reeling system are unparalleled demonstrating ergonomics and flexibility that is a must in todays umbilical slurry spreading market.

The new trailing shoe offers a fully galvanised construction, new shoe and slurry delivery design that offers a new level of precision and cleanliness for the grass previously unseen before.

The unit has flip up shoes meaning that the arms of the tractor or tanker do not need to be raised at headland turns or when crossing the umbilical pipeline.

The shoes fold up automatically prior to reconnection with the Bak Pak or when leaving the field after the tanker is emptied by hydraulic control from the tractor seat.

SlurryKats CEO Garth Cairns said: We have been working on these new products for some time now to bring something fresh and exciting to the slurry equipment market. We are very pleased with the performance and feedback on the new trailing shoe and Bak Pak.

We hope they can be even more successful than the previous generation of both the trailing shoe and Bak Pak that have been absolutely phenomenal for us over the last 10 years exceeding global sales projections year on year. He said they had more new products to unveil later this year.

The injector unit can easily be mounted to any tanker and then taken off and used with the Bak Pak hose reeler on the SlurryKat umbilical system.

Working widths presently start at 7.5 metres and 10 metres with plans to grow the range in 2018 offering a 12 metre unit as well.

The new injector goes on sale in January 2018 with the company already noting strong pre-production orders for the system. The 7.5m trailing shoe is priced at 13,995, with the 9m version at 15,995.

Under the TAMS II, low emission slurry spreading equipment measure, around 2.8m has been given in grant aid to 257 farmers.

The most popular items have been slurry tankers, trailing shoe attachment with macerator, dribble bar spreader attachment, retrofit dribble bar and an umbilical systems with base pump, hose reel and fittings.
The Brexit deal agreed between the UK and EU could create an Irish loophole around proposals in Britain to ban live exports.

Campaigners who want to see an end to live exporters believe the UKs withdrawal agreement may make a ban impossible.

Environment secretary Michael Gove said that once Britain leaves the EU, the country could ban the export of thousands of live farm animals to mainland Europe.

The policy which will likely be opposed by farming organisations would enjoy support from campaign groups pushing for a broad ban, amid rising anger over animals suffering terrible health problems and death as they are taken in trucks across the continent.

But campaigners who have studied the draft Brexit agreement, published last week, say the document could undermine plans for a ban.

The Northern Ireland backstop protocol states: Quantitative restrictions on exports and imports shall be prohibited between the Union and Northern Ireland  effectively insisting on free movement of goods.

Animal rights groups who had hoped Brexit could allow for a ban fear that instead this wording will create a loophole that would prevent one.

If Britain puts a block on live exports, sheep and cattle farmers would be highly likely to charter vessels to ship animals to Northern Ireland, from where they would be taken the Republic and then the Continent, Animal Rights Group Compassion in World Farming told The Independent.

Peter Stevenson, chief policy adviser for the group, said there was a precedent for exporters using the Northern Ireland route.

Until last month, he claimed calves were sent from Scotland to the province then driven by road to the Irish Republic before being transported to Europe.

In a recent paper on the issue, the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) in Northern Ireland said as Northern Ireland is separated from GB by a body of water there is the potential for this proposed export ban to cause greater disruption to the beef and sheep industries in NI than any other region of the UK.

It said that it is worth noting that travel times between NI and GB are short in comparison to trade from GB to the EU.

It also noted that Northern Ireland is also in the unique position of being the only part of the UK to have a land border with another EU member state which facilitates much shorter transport times.
A couple have told how they considered giving up farming after one of their cows was found to have BSE.

The case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, more commonly known as mad cow disease, was identified as part of routine testing of a dead cow at their farm in Huntly, Aberdeenshire,

Scotlands chief veterinary officer Sheila Voas has said she believes the disease was not transmitted and occurred spontaneously in the affected animal.

Farmer Thomas Jackson told BBC Scotlands countryside magazine series Landward they were shocked by the discovery as they operate a grass-fed closed herd with no new incomers.

It was hard work for me, literally being in tears, and just wanting Thomas to stop farming, wanting him to stop what he's always done, just because it was so upsettingFiona Jackson

Mr Jackson, who was was in England to attend his mothers funeral when the public announcement about the case was made, said: My initial thought was dont be so stupid, because the cow had never had any concentrates and thats where I thought it came from, so I just thought well they have made a big mistake here.

We were the least likely people as far as I was concerned to ever turn up a case.

A movement ban was immediately put in place at the farm as investigators worked to determine the source.

Tests are being carried out on the carcasses of four cows culled as a precaution while investigations continue.

The BBC reported all restrictions on the farm have now been lifted.

Mr Jacksons wife Fiona told Landward presenter Euan McIlwraith the crisis pushed them to considering giving up farming.

She said: It was hard work for me, literally being in tears, and just wanting Thomas to stop farming, wanting him to stop what hes always done, just because it was so upsetting.

Mrs Jackson added: I wasnt here when the animals were put to sleep. Thomas was. I came to see him and just thought hes just a broken man.

Hes worked so hard all his life for these animals, he loves these animals, they are really important to him.

The couple moved up from Gloucestershire six years ago to take on the farm, at which they have a small pedigree herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle.

Although the experience led them to question their future in farming, they have since resolved to keep going.

Mr Jackson said: Our whole life and all our worldly goods are invested in this farm, it not just something you are going to chuck.

His wife added: As Thomas has said, farming is his life, and its my life as well, so weve got a future here.

Landward will broadcast on BBC One Scotland on Friday at 7.30pm and the following day on BBC Two Scotland at 4.30pm.

Millions of cattle were culled in the UK in the 1990s during a BSE epidemic.

Strict controls were introduced to protect consumers after it was linked to a fatal condition called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans.

Before the discovery of the latest case, Scotland had been BSE free since 2009, earning it negligible risk status along with Northern Ireland.
Armin Capaul, the horned cow initiative (Hornkuh-Initiative) founder, poses ahead of a national vote on November 25, at the Valengiron farm in Perrefitte near Moutier, Switzerland, November 15, 2018. Picture taken November 15, 2018. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to subsidize farmers who let the horns on their cows and goats grow rather than removing them with a red-hot iron in a procedure which critics say causes pain.

Three-quarters of Swiss cows, a national symbol and tourist attraction, are dehorned or genetically hornless.

Hornless animals are easier and cheaper to keep because they cause fewer injuries and need less space. They do not have to be tied in separate pens to prevent accidents, but this means farmers can keep fewer animals.

The initiative to preserve the dignity of livestock was led by farmer Armin Capaul, who has sparked a national debate on animal rights following a campaign which began nine years ago after he listened to his herd.

But the campaign was defeated, with nearly 55 percent of Swiss voters rejecting the proposals in the final result, the Swiss government said.

Swiss Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann said the result demonstrated animal welfare standards were already high.

Swiss agricultural policy today to a large extent already meets the expectations for the wellbeing of animals, he told a press conference in Bern.

Farmers should have the freedom to operate their business as they wish. They should not be driven with incentives into a less modern direction.

The government had opposed the motion, which would have enshrined subsidies into the constitution, but agricultural workers were split, with even the Swiss farmers union refraining from giving a recommendation to its 52,000 members.

Capaul collected more than 100,000 signatures to trigger a national vote after years of political lobbying failed. His supporters liken the dehorning to castrating cats or dogs.

The Swiss government opposed Capauls move to get a 190 Swiss franc ($191.65) annual subsidy per horned animal for farmers, saying it would drain up to 30 million francs from its 3 billion franc annual agricultural budget.

When you look at them they always hold their head high and are proud. When you remove the horns, they are sad, Capaul, a bearded 66-year-old, told Reuters last week on his small farm in northwestern Switzerland.
Whether you're self-employed, employed, wealthy, or not, we all need money to fund our family's lifestyle today and for our future. Money can cause awful stress if you are not in control of your affairs. When you know where you stand and you have a plan, that brings great peace of mind.

We're all so busy that many of us do not take time to stand back to plan the future.

Do you have a pension. Do you have income protection in case of sickness? Is your company pension adequate? Are you managing to save for the rainy day? Are you maximising your inheritance tax planning?

This is specialised knowledge that the average person cannot answer effectively. And that's why we need to consult trusted experts that can advise us.

Pax Financial Planning

The company was founded in 2011 to help clients develop financial peace of mind. Paul Merriman is a 20-year veteran in the industry, having started out with Royal Sun Alliance and then Irish Life. He developed a passion for the industry and became a walking, talking encyclopaedia of financial knowledge.

All financial advisers must have a Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA) designation to give financial advice which, of course, Paul and his team have. Paul, however, also has a higher level Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification. This is the world's most respected industry designation, held by only a select number of advisers.

With offices in Dublin and Limerick, the company has a reputation for jargon-free and common-sense advice.

Its mantra is to help customers protect themselves in the event of some loss (insurance), to protect their income in case of sickness - and to maximise savings and investments.

Customer Focus

For many years, customers had a choice of dealing directly with insurers such as Irish Life, New Ireland or AIB Bank. Or they could also deal with brokers who would give independent advice and recommend the most appropriate solution, regardless of the underwriter.

The market is changing now with so much choice online. The advance of robo-advice and auto-enrolment options means that new competition from global jurisdiction could bypass the QFA function.

Pax believe that financial advice has to be tailored for each individual and can only be done via a meeting in person or a Skype/telephone call. His company's approach is to listen intently to get a full understanding of the customer's life events and wishes for the future.

Unlike generic online robo-advice, the team know what questions to ask and which issues to drill down into.

Using spreadsheets and cash-flow analysis, they use that information to paint a tailored and honest picture for the customer.

Paul told me of a recent example of a widowed lady who remarried. Her daughter and new husband didn't get on and she was concerned that it might affect his decisions if she pre-deceased him. With that sensitive information and with Paul's advice, she made arrangements to protect her daughter's inheritance.

Attracting New Customers with 'Ask Paul'

Like many other professional service industries, this sector has always been challenged with finding new customers.

I have supported many of them through the years and I know their perpetual goal is to have a strong pipeline.

The stories of Monday morning war-rooms with databases spread across the desks are very real indeed. Using modern technology and social media, Paul has cracked this challenge for Pax.

Building on his passion to educate and build trust, Paul uses scale to convince people that Pax is a credible resource for financial advice.

He developed the 'Ask Paul' brand, starting out with short video posts on Facebook. Each week he recorded himself giving advice on practical issues such as how to save interest on your mortgage or how to manage within your weekly income.

He now has 12,000 followers and interacts personally with every question he gets. He no longer has to pay for Facebook boosts as the current activity provides Pax with ongoing new business.

It's a great strategy but it is not just a walk in the park. It takes about 20 hours of his time each week, to record the review of the Sunday papers and to answer each question. But it's working.

The Future

The traditional model is for the financial advisor to listen to a customer's needs and wishes, and then to advise them on the products that best suit them. That is what Pax is all about and will continue to build on that.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Business: Pax Financial Planning

Set up: 2011

Founder: Paul Merriman

Turnover: 1.8m

No of Employees: 16

Location: Sandyford Office Park, Dublin, and John's Square, Limerick
Greencore has completed the sale of its entire US operation for $1.07bn (943m) to Hearthside.

The company has ditched its US arm just two years after forking out $749m (647m) to buy Illinois-based business Peacock Foods in what was a transformational deal for the Irish firm.

It added about $1bn a year in sales for Greencore and quadrupled its US revenues.

Greencore will now focus solely on the UK and Ireland.

The United States, where Greencore has customers such as Starbucks and 7-Eleven, has been challenging for the company, which has 13 production facilities there and employs about 2,800 people.

Earlier this year, a shock profit warning saw Greencore's shares plunge by a third, and it flagged issues at its US business.
Tanaiste Simon Coveney said he was delighted to welcome Park Place Technologies to Cork. Photo: Steve Humphreys

US-headquartered Park Place Technologies is to create 70 jobs at its new EMEA operations centre in Cork.

The roles, which are being created over the next two years, are in the area of customer service, support analysts with multi-lingual skills, and engineering with in-depth knowledge of data centre technology.

Speaking in Cork at the announcement, An Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD said he was "delighted" to welcome Park Place Technologies to Cork.

"Ireland, as a committed member of the EU, continues to resonate strongly with US companies as the location of choice from which to serve its European customer base," Minister Coveney added.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Park Place currently supports more than 15,000 organisations in over 115 countries.

The group employs more than 1,100 people in offices across the world including in San Diego, Denver, Boston, Toronto, London, Calne, Wiesbaden, Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai.

"This investment further cements our position within EMEA, and we are confident we can provide our existing customer base and potential new customers with an alternative option for their support and maintenance, and IT managed services requirements," Chris Adams, president and COO of Park Place, said.

The investment is supported by the Government through IDA Ireland.
Mid-size public relations firms will be squeezed out as more clients demand fully integrated media and communications, according to Rhona Blake, managing director at FleishmanHillard and one of the countrys best known PR consultants. Stock image

Mid-size public relations firms will be squeezed out as more clients demand fully integrated media and communications, according to Rhona Blake, managing director at FleishmanHillard and one of the country's best known PR consultants.

Its a "golden age" for firms that offer a fully integrated service - from creating ads to managing communications, but smaller firms will struggle, she said.

"Either you have the critical mass or you go down the very specialist route. The mid-sized firm trying to do everything will find it hard," she said.

Accounts just filed show FleishmanHillard recorded a surge in turnover to 11.3m last year, up from 6.8m in 2016. Costs rose almost 5m to 7.4m. Profits more than doubled to 568,083 for 2017.

The changes reflects rising media spend but also centralisation to Ireland of management of FleishmanHillard's international clients - now increasingly "hubbed" from Dublin, Rhona Blake said.

"Hubbed" business includes a mix of domestically and foreign-owned international brands like Primark and Ballymore, Fitbit and Roche.

Unusual activities this year included the royal visit by Prince Harry and Megan Markle to FleishmanHillard client Epic's Irish emigration museum; and the Pope's visit which involved a big role for Skoda - another FleishmanHillard client.

The Irish arm of FleishmanHillard is part of the global marketing and corporate communications giant Omnicom.
The Government has been warned not to scrap existing pension tax relief as part of its planned shift to so-called auto-enrolment.

The countrys biggest trade union group fears those already saving for retirement will lose out if the current tax relief is scrapped.

A report concerning auto-enrolment has sparked concern that people paying income tax at the higher rate on pension contributions will lose out.

And the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) also wants older workers to be allowed to join the new scheme once it is launched.

ICTU has made a submission which questions any move to threaten the 40pc tax relief rate, and says people should be able to contribute to the new scheme beyond the age of 60. Earlier this month, Social Protection Minister Regina Dohertys department published what are known as strawman proposals, on how the new scheme might work, and sought submissions.

The obligatory pension scheme is being brought in to address a significantly high number of workers who will have only the State pension on retirement. Just 35pc of the current private sector workforce has private pension coverage.

Unions, employers and individuals have been invited to give their opinion on the proposed system. In its submission, the trade union body fears auto-enrolment pensions will lead to a move to reduce the tax relief for employees who already have a pension.

Those who pay the 40pc rate of income tax get relief at this rate for putting money into a pension.

Workers hit the higher tax rate on income over 34,550 this year, and on income over 43,550 for a married couple.

The document suggests that for the auto-enrolment pension the State would contribute 1 for every 3 contributed by the member.

This is an effective 25pc tax relief, even if a worker in the auto-enrolment scheme is paying income tax at 40pc.

The ICTU submission, written by social policy officer Dr Laura Bambrick, says of the State contribution for auto-enrolled pension: "The proposed State contribution is different to current tax relief."

It is suggested that the State contribution be increased to 1 for every 2.50 put into the auto-enrolment pension scheme by employees: "Congress calls for the value of the State contribution to reflect the value of the current 40pc tax relief arrangement by increasing the State contribution to 1 for every 2.50 a worker saves, while the employee contribution be 5pc and the employer contribution be 7pc."

Congress has also said that Revenue should collect contributions, and all self-employed people with no employees should be enrolled. This is to discourage bogus self-employment where sole traders, with no employees, are forced to contract their services to a firm so the company avoids having to make contributions.

Issue is also taken with the suggestion the new scheme would only apply to those over the age of 23, and end at 60.

This would mean someone entering the workforce at 16 would lose seven years of pension contributions, while the State pension will not apply until the age of 68 from 2028.

The scheme should apply to workers from the age of 16, in line with PRSI (pay-related social insurance) contributions and apply beyond the age of 60. It should also apply on earnings below 20,000, the ICTU said.

It wants the auto-enrolment scheme to be mandatory, to avoid too many opting out.

The State's strawman document says the self-employed could opt-in. Making them join up would avoid bogus self-employment situations where people working for themselves have no employees but are encouraged by an employer to set up as a sole trader.

The department says Ireland is one of only two OECD countries without mandatory earnings-related pension savings.

The strawman document is a draft proposal on how the scheme could work - but is designed to generate discussion and will be revisited in the context of responses to the consultation.
Swiss-Irish food group Aryzta is due to release its quarter one trading update this morning. Stock photo

The US Federal Reserve will be very much in the spotlight in the coming week.

Minutes from the Fed's November meeting will emerge and 10 Fed committee members, including chairman Jerome Powell, will speak at an event on Wednesday. Their speeches will be useful for investors who have been dialling back their expectations for future rate hikes, having noted the cautious tone creeping into policymakers' comments of late.

In Brussels, European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi is due to address the European Parliament's committee for economic and monetary affairs today, while the EU Monitoring Agricultural Resources service publishes its monthly bulletin on crop progress and weather conditions in Europe, also today.

Elsewhere, G20 finance ministers and central bankers meet in Argentina on Friday. The host nation's government has declared a holiday to limit traffic and protests.

At home, Swiss-Irish food group Aryzta is due to release its quarter one trading update this morning.

This is the first update from the company since its shareholders marginally approved a near 800m capital hike.

UDG Healthcare releases its financial year 2018 results tomorrow, while on Thursday Britvic will release full 2018 results, and Irish Continental Group will issue a trading update.

Wednesday sees the release of the retail sales figures for October as well as the overseas travel figures, for the same month, from the Central Statistics Office.
Mitsubishi Motors board will meet today to remove Carlos Ghosn from his role as chairman after his arrest and ouster from alliance partner Nissan last week for alleged financial misconduct.

A removal of Ghosn by Mitsubishi's eight-member board, which meets at the automaker's Tokyo headquarters at 16:30 (07:30 GMT) would see an end to his chairmanship of Japanese automakers amid discontent over French partner Renault's role in the 19-year alliance.

Ghosn is the driving force of the alliance that Renault and Nissan sealed in 1999, when the Japanese automaker was rescued from near-bankruptcy. It was enlarged in 2016 to include Mitsubishi and enabled the members to jointly develop products and control costs.

The alliance vies with Volkswagen and Toyota for the ranking of the world's biggest automaker.

Even as Nissan has recovered and grown rapidly, it remains a junior partner in the shareholding structure. Renault owns 43pc of Nissan and the Japanese automaker holds a 15pc non-voting stake in the French firm. And Nissan is almost 60pc bigger than Renault by sales.

Top alliance executives are meeting this week in Amsterdam, aiming to shield their joint operations from the fallout of Ghosn's arrest as a power struggle between Nissan and Renault looms. Renault has refrained from firing him as chairman and CEO.

Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa told staff on Monday that power was too concentrated with Ghosn and that in future better communication between alliance board members and executives would help preserve independence and generate synergies among the automakers, a Nissan spokesman said.

Ghosn was pushing for a deeper tie-up, including potentially a full merger between Renault and Nissan at the French government's urging, despite strong reservations at the Japanese firm.

Nissan removed Ghosn at a high stakes board meeting on Thursday after allegations of understating his income and using company money for personal use.

Ghosn has denied the allegations, public broadcaster NHK reported on Sunday.

His firing from Mitsubishi Motors would mark the removal of the man credited with stabilising the company after it was rocked by a cheating scandal in 2016.

Nissan holds a controlling 34pc stake in Mitsubishi Motors and has two executives on the board. The other representative director is CEO Osamu Masuko, who said last week the alliance may be hard to manage without Ghosn.

While the automakers have stressed that operations and business are proceeding as normal, Nissan has postponed the launch of its high-performance Leaf electric car "to ensure that this important product unveiling could receive the coverage it merits", a Nissan spokesman said.

Shares in Mitsubishi Motors rose 3.3pc, while Nissan climbed 1.8pc, outperforming the broader market's 0.8pc gain.
Aer Lingus owner IAG is lining up a bid for UK regional airline Flybe - a move that puts it head to head with Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic for control of the business.

Flybe - headed by former CityJet chief executive Christine Ourmieres-Widener - said earlier this month that it was in talks with potential buyers, as it grapples with higher fuel costs, lower demand and the weak pound.

On Friday, the airline confirmed that Virgin Atlantic was one of the parties it was in discussions with as part of a formal sale process.

However, the London-based 'Sunday Telegraph' reported that International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), the group headed by Irish chief executive Willie Walsh that also operates Aer Lingus, British Airways and Iberia, is in pole position to buy Flybe.

In 2007, Exeter-based Flybe bought BA's UK regional airline BA Connect.

It remains heavily focused on the UK regional market, although it describes itself as the largest independent airline in Europe. The airline carries eight million passengers a year between 81 airports.

A spokeswoman for IAG said yesterday that the group does not comment on rumour or speculation, but a bid is understood to be in motion.

It's the latest move to consolidate the aviation sector by IAG, including a push to buy Scandinavian airline Norwegian that appears to have run into the ground.

IAG snapped up a 4.6pc stake in Norwegian earlier this year but efforts to lift that to a controlling stake stalled.

In the meantime, IAG group has been expanding, including its Level and Aer Lingus transatlantic routes.
In his fine introduction to this book - Being New York, Being Irish: Reflections on Twenty-Five Years of Irish America and New York University's Glucksman Ireland House - writer Terry Golway describes two memorable events for the Irish community in New York in the early 1990s which had a lasting resonance.

I remember them well, as I was involved in organising them and wrote about them in my book An Accidental Diplomat.

One was the opening of the Glucksman Ireland House on the iconic Washington Square in Greenwich Village by then-taoiseach Albert Reynolds. The other was a night-time speech by then-president Mary Robinson to an Irish community audience gathered on Ellis Island, the once famous immigration point to the US, and now a museum.

Delightfully, the Glucksman Ireland House is still going strong, and has created a wonderful legacy, as is evidenced by this book. And happily, too, Ireland's cultural and historical legacy, and the spirit of the diaspora which President Robinson invoked that balmy night, has been richly reflected. In the 25 years since, it has fostered the study of these elements as the Center for Irish and Irish-American Studies, at the adjoining New York University. It is a great story. There is wide interest in Irish culture in the United States, much deeper than we think here in Ireland, but it is often amateur - if well-meant - and disparate and unfocused. The Glucksmans gave it an academic and prestigious core.

The institution was founded by Loretta and her late husband Lew Glucksman, not just due to Loretta's passionate Irish-American background, but also due to her American-Jewish husband's great affection for Ireland (and his generosity, as funds were required and the Irish State was not so flush in 1993).

This book is a celebration of their legacy and of the hard work put in since by the centre's administrators and supporters. It is an evocative read. Terry Golway, a seasoned observer of Irish-America but also of its often unfair typecasting (come-all-ye music and dodgy Irish nationalism, etc) and sometimes uneasy relationship with the 'home country', describes the background to the House's creation.

However, the same come-all-ye music, or a better understanding of it, is described in a lovely essay by writer Alice McDermott about her son Patrick's discovery of his Irish roots through the uilleann pipes, tin whistle and flute.

Dan Barry reflects on that New York stalwart Frank McCourt and how, late in life, he created Angela's Ashes, while Ray O'Hanlon, who I knew from The Irish Echo, describes the new activism behind the Irish immigration movement, but also gay groups' attempts to join the St Patrick's Day Parade.

Meanwhile, Colm Toibin writes about being in New York when the first woman was grand marshal of the famous parade. This was also late in life, in both senses. Most of us had been to New York on student visas and holidays and Toibin wondered why he had left it so late.

The magic of New York is here invoked, but not alas in Colum McCann's rather shrill and tedious 'call to action' for immigrants and 'social justice'. A more nuanced essay on an earlier era in anti-immigrant and anti-Catholic prejudice is explored by novelist Peter Quinn, while Patricia Harty of Irish America magazine describes seeking out the achievers and celebrities in the community.

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One of these is, of course, Loretta Brennan Glucksman herself, who this year was honoured as a grand marshal of the St Patrick's Day Parade and met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, a quarter of a century after his predecessor Albert Reynolds opened Glucksman House. It has more than fulfilled the promise of engagement made by Mary Robinson on Ellis Island. Better still, the book concludes with a new poem, written in honour of Loretta by Seamus Heaney not long before his death.

It is a fitting end-piece to a handsome tribute, filled with evocative photos and images. Through personal reflections, the writers, both Irish and American, explore the achievements and changes in Irish and Irish-American culture, but also the wider developments in our sense of identity and in political life since 1993. Long may it continue.
Flying: Civil Defence volunteers are offering their drones and their skills to assist gardai. Picture: Peter Rossiter

Civil Defence volunteers are set to use drones to assist gardai - particularly in missing persons cases.

A total of 43 volunteers have received drone licences after they completed a pilot training programme.

There are now 60 trained drone pilots in 20 operational units throughout the country, the Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe, revealed.

Mr Kehoe, who attended a Civil Defence awards ceremony at the Phoenix Park, said the 20 drones were located throughout the country and in each major emergency management region.

"Civil Defence has never been afraid to change and has continued to thrive with the major transformations that have taken place down through the years," he said.

"That success is very much to the credit of everybody assembled here today and in particular to the volunteers who give of their time and expertise.

"In particular, drones have assisted Civil Defence volunteers when An Garda Siochana has requested support from Civil Defence, especially in the case of a missing person."

Civil Defence are now on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deliver an aerial search capability to An Garda Siochana to assist them in their role to find missing persons.

This service has been enhanced in the last 12 months with thermal imaging cameras which allow the volunteers to carry out effective searches at night for vulnerable missing persons.

The service is also used to assist the county Fire and Rescue Services to carry out rapid assessment of wild land fires in inaccessible areas.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Defence said that Civil Defence had invested considerably in the area of drones and training in recent years.

With these new pilots, there are now 60 trained pilots in 20 operational units throughout the State.

Each Major Emergency Management Region (MEM) has access to multiple craft and crews with specialist equipment held in reserve at a national level.
A man accused of murdering Irish charity worker John Curran, who was brutally stabbed to death in his Cape Town apartment, appeared in court today dressed in boxer shorts.

Mitspa Mzakombo Onyoka (24) was arrested at his place of work on Friday.

Prosecutor Mr Adiel Jansen said that Onyoka had been charged by police with the murder of father-of-four Mr Curran as well as aggravated robbery.

Since his arrest he had been remanded in custody at Cape Town Police Station and was dressed for court in just a pair of blue and white boxer shorts, flip flops and a t-shirt.

He was granted the services of a French interpreter, as he said his English was poor, and legal aid to seek bail.

Prosecutor Mr Jansen told Cape Town Magistrates Court: The man who is the victim here was very benevolent to Cape Town society.

He was found murdered in his flat and quite a number of items were taken."

He requested permission from His Worship Greg Jacobs for the police to take blood samples from the accused to match it with DNA as part of the ongoing investigation.

Mr Jansen said the police were also seeking information through diplomatic channels with police in the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding any previous convictions of the accused.

Magistrate Mr Jacobs told the accused: This is a very serious charge and he should appeal for legal aid and it is in his best interests if he needs help to make a bail application."

He was remanded in custody for 7 days until December 3.

John Curran previously lived in Churchtown, south Dublin, where he worked as a principal, before moving to South Africa to work with the Mellon Educate charity.

His task was to oversee the building of thousands of homes for underprivileged people and for the refurbishment and building of schools to educate children.

He had taken two months off to enjoy a farewell holiday to South Africa and had moved into a rented flat in a secure apartment complex on Buitengracht Street.

But on the morning of November 7 he was found dead after a female friend let herself into his flat and found his body on the floor behind the door.

Mr Curran was due to fly back to his native Dublin later this year.

He was stabbed multiple times to the head and chest and is thought to have died in the early hours of the morning.

After gaining a degree at Trinity College he devoted himself to teaching and had been principal of the Good Shepherd National School in Dublin for 15 years.
Amy Lee of School Street Flats, Dublin 8 pictured leaving the Four Courts today after she appeared before the Dublin District Court in relation to animal cruelty charges.Pic: Collins Courts

A mother-of-two who kept a starved husky in an emaciated state in her flat in Dublin, has been given a life-time ban on owning pets.

Amy Lee, with an address at School Street Flats, Dublin 8, was prosecuted for neglecting her husky named Sky.

After looking at photos of her dog, Judge Anthony Halpin said shame on you to the accused.

He described it as a disgraceful offence that would make any animal lover cry and she was being spared a jail sentence because of her personal circumstances.

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She was fined 100 and ordered to pay 100 in costs after she pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to three charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act.

She was accused of failing to take all necessary steps to ensure Sky was kept in a manner to safeguard her health and welfare and that the building used to contain her did cause unnecessary suffering; being reckless regarding the health or welfare of the dog and not providing sufficient food and water, at her address on September 1, 2017.

Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) inspector Liam Kinsella told Judge Anthony Halpin today he went to Lee's address after receiving a report from gardai.

The DPSCA inspector and a colleague were let in by the accused.

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Mr Kinsella said Sky was on the balcony of Ms Lee's flat.

He told the court the husky was in an emaciated state.

Photos of the pet taken at the time she was rescued were handed in to the judge.

The accused was co-operative and agreed to surrender Sky to the DSPCA, the court heard.

The husky was seen by a vet who provided a medical report for the court hearing.

Since then Sky's condition has improved significantly and she was adopted by another family 12 days after she was rescued, Judge Halpin heard.

He noted a vet's report stated the husky weighed 11.6kgs at the time she was handed over to the DSPCA. There was no evidence of illness which could provide a clinical explanation for the weight loss.

She was also found to have a ravenous appetite and in the months after she was rescued she gained 7.2kgs bringing her weight up to 18.8kgs.

Mr Kinsella told the court that when he first saw the dog she was in an underweight, neglected condition and as a result of this was suffering unnecessarily.

Lee had no previous convictions.

Defence counsel Ann Sheridan said this an awful situation and there was no excuse for the way the dog was treated.

She said her client, who is expecting a child, bought Sky for her family. However, she had suffered health problems and moved back in with her mother but left the dog behind and was there on an off.

This was a wake-up call for Lee who started attending a family resource centre after the dog was taken. She has also attended a mental health service.

Ms Sheridan (instructed by solicitor Tracy Horan) said Lee has no intention of ever keeping an animal again.

Pleading for leniency she asked the court to note her client was a single mother on social welfare, had no prior criminal convictions and was very apologetic.

Medical reports on the accused were furnished to the judge.

The offence can result in a fine of up to 5,000 per charge and a prison term of up to six months.

Judge Halpin said it was a disgraceful case and he described how the photos he had been given showed a beautiful dog who had been totally emaciated.

He was furnished with letters from the accused's doctors.

He said Lee had no problem in taking care of her own health but he added she did not bring her dog to a vet.

The husky was starved and uncared for and left in a state of suffering, he said, adding, how a person can do that to an innocent animal is beyond me".

"Looking at the photos here would bring any animal lover to ears, it really is disgraceful, shame on you," he told the accused.

The judge noted also had the power to disqualify her from being an animal owner.

He said, "what this animal was subjected to is inexcusable and, he added, he had no way of knowing how long the husky was in that condition.

He banned her from owning any animal for life and imposed a fine of 100 and ordered her to pay 100 in prosecution costs within six months.

But for the personal circumstances, of the defendant I would be considering a custodial sentence, he said.
Hundreds of women a month have travelled to Britain for abortions since May's Repeal the Eighth referendum, figures reveal.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) - the country's leading abortion provider - says 133 Irish women used its services in June.

There were 110 in July, 115 in August and 120 in September.

The BPAS has clinics in more than 60 locations and many of them are close to ports and airports with direct budget travel from Ireland.

It is understood the BPAS figures only represent a proportion of women who are continuing to take the abortion trail to Britain. An estimated nine women a day are believed to make the journey.

The ongoing demand for abortion in Britain has emerged as the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill is due to return to the Dail for report stage this week before going to the Seanad. Several amendments are to be brought forward again by both anti- and pro-abortion TDs.

One proposes the removal of the word "serious" in determining the level of risk which must be reached before a woman is deemed eligible for a termination.

There is growing concern that while the legislation may pass before the end of the year, the original target to have it operational in January with wider access to abortion will not be met.

This is because services on the ground will not be ready to deliver the extension of medical abortion up to 12 weeks and allow for terminations where there is a serious risk to the health or life or the mother.

The bill will also allow for terminations in cases of diagnosed fatal foetal abnormality.

However, basics such as GP training in the delivery of medical abortion as well as assurances on access to ultrasound have yet to be finalised.

Clinical guidelines have yet to be agreed and these are needed to ensure doctors and nurses know what to do.

A key element of the new abortion regime will be a 24- hour, seven-days-a-week phone line which women can ring for information, counselling and direction to the nearest provider. This will need to be properly manned by trained staff.

Several maternity hospitals are also worried about the impact on resources in areas such as theatre time and access to ultrasound.

The Irish College of General Practitioners, the professional and training body for family doctors, will hold an EGM next weekend and this will be important in measuring the readiness of GPs.

A spokeswoman said: "The College's position has been clear from the beginning that it favours an opt-in service for GPs who wish to provide the service, with the provision of a 24-hour helpline that patients can access directly as an essential requirement."

The GP body's board of directors have called the meeting to consult further and listen to members. However, a number of anti-abortion GPs who had lobbied for a meeting have already criticised the decision not to hear motions.

The spokeswoman said the College received a request for an EGM on October 31 but this was "invalid".
More than one third said they were not properly informed of the side effects of medication before being sent home. (Stock photo)

Long A&E trolley waits, hurried doctors and being discharged home from hospital without enough advice on drug side effects have emerged as top patient grievances in a new survey.

Some 5,997 patients  69pc of those who responded  waited more than six hours on a trolley before getting a bed.

More than one third said they were not properly informed of the side effects of medication before being sent home.

Others complained that staff were too rushed to speak to them about their concerns on ward.

Some 27pc also gave hospital food a lukewarm review saying it was poor or fair.

However, the National Patient Experience Survey also found that 84pc of patients  equivalent to 13,000  said they had a good or a very good overall experience in hospital.

The Department of Health commissioned survey, launched by Health Minister Simon Harris today, was carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).

It is the largest survey of its kind in Ireland and ran for the second time in May of this year.

The survey asked patients about their experiences of hospital care in order to find out what is working well in our health service, and what needs to be improved.

Rachel Flynn, Director of the National Patient Experience Survey Programme, said: The majority of patients, once they were admitted to a ward, spoke positively of hospital care. However, their experiences in the emergency department were less favourable. While improvements in the discharge processes were identified, there is still room for improvement in this area.

The results of the survey indicate that patients want staff to provide them and their families with more information about their treatment, and would like to be involved in decisions about their care and discharge. We must now listen carefully to what patients have said in this survey and work to deliver a more patient-centred approach to healthcare.

The minister said:The National Patient Experience Survey is an important piece of work. It gives policy makers and those working in the health service an invaluable insight into the experiences of patients in our hospitals.

The overwhelming response shows patients want to have their voices heard and it is absolutely essential the health service listens and responds when they tell their stories of care.

"I am delighted to see that there have been improvements in the discharge and transfer process and in care on the ward from last years survey, which shows that the health service is responding to the results of last years survey. There is still room for improvement but we are determined to drive reform through Slaintecare and it is vital patients remain at the heart of that change."

Liam Woods, HSE National Director of Acute Services, said: 84pc of our patients had either a very good or good experience in hospital and this is very encouraging for us all, including our staff, who have worked extremely hard over the last year to implement quality improvement plans in response to last years survey findings.

Their enthusiasm, encouragement and commitment is very much appreciated and as evidenced in this years results, is already making a positive improvement to patient experience in our hospitals.
An exciting new harbour experience will create a lively waterfront, linking numerous tourism and leisure opportunities.

A new harbour is set to be part of an ambitious 20m investment to rejuvenate a Dublin town.

Plans are afoot for a major rejuvenation project in Balbriggan to give it an economic and social facelift.

Balbriggan is the youngest town in Ireland, according to the 2016 Census, and has seen population growth of 94pc in the past 25 years.

The project - which is led by Fingal County Council (FCC) and the Balbriggan Leadership Group - intends to future-proof the area for further growth in the coming years, according to FCC chief Paul Reid. Mr Reid said the experience for tourists needs to be improved as a means of attracting them to Balbriggan as opposed to other seaside towns such as Skerries.

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Balbriggan residents were going to be to the fore of the project, he said.

"In addition to the 10m allocated for the implementation of the Balbriggan Strategy, an additional capital sum, in excess of 10m, has also been allocated for the completion of the Balbriggan to Skerries Greenway, development of Bremore Castle into a premier visitor destination, development of Bremore Regional Amenity Park, and upgrades to cycleways and connectivity in the town.

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"But the plan goes much deeper than public spaces and amenities. It will involve every area of local lives - employment, education, skills, local economy and enterprise and community affairs and integration," he added.

Mr Reid acknowledged the area has had anti-social problems in recent years and said this needed to be addressed.

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He said they were anxious to include gardai, the HSE, social protection and business communities to get a rounded approach.

Larry Finnegan, a father-of-two who has lived in Balbriggan for 14 years, wants to see more amenities for children. "I know there's playgrounds around the place, but something a bit better, somewhere you could have a picnic."

Expand Close Larry Finnegan and his daughters Alisha, 10, and Mia, 4. Balbriggan, Dublin. Picture: Caroline Quinn / Facebook

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Another local, Amanda Dunne, said it was a "fantastic opportunity for the town". She pointed out that some business premises were lying idle and had become an "eyesore".
Carly Moffitt and her partner Jennifer Cleary from Dublin celebrate after the announcing the reults of same- sex marriage referendum at Dublin Castle. Pic: Mark Condren

Forward thinking: Celebrations in Dublin Castle after the same-sex marriage referendum in 2015. Photo: Mark Condren

Ireland has been named among the top five worldwide honeymoon destinations for LGBT couples.

A global study put us in fifth position, three years after becoming the first country in the world to approve same-sex marriage by a popular vote.

The new study on the world's best honeymoon hotspots for LGBT newlyweds considered a series of factors including safety and the inclusivity of the destination.

The Latin America Travel Company named Canada - where LGBT couples have been able to marry since 2005 - as the ultimate destination for newlyweds.

Ireland was the second highest ranking European destination after Switzerland.

Ireland scored full marks in the categories of honeymoon popularity, marriage equality and forward thinking.

Meanwhile, the nation scored four out of five when it came to the romantic setting category and three out of five in the "love is in the air" category.

The study's authors said LGBT couples had to take in a number of factors when planning their getaway.

"While it shouldn't have to be the case, it remains an issue that LGBT equality and rights are not always respected in every country around the world, which can dramatically rule out certain destinations as a honeymoon choice for many couples," they said.

The company said that they had compiled the first LGBT Honeymoon Ranking to create "an exhaustive, inclusive list of all the best places for LGBT couples to honeymoon".

The authors added: "Firstly, we restricted our list to those countries where homosexuality is not criminalised.

"We then analysed factors including marriage equality, LGBT travel recognition, honeymoon popularity and romantic setting, to assess the best honeymoon destination for LGBT couples."

New Zealand came in second place in the study behind Canada, with Australia in third.

Last December, the Australian parliament passed legislation allowing gay and lesbian couples to legally wed.

It came just three weeks after Australians voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage, by a 62pc to 38pc margin, in a referendum.

The legislation added Australia to the ranks of the 27 countries around the world that have officially legalised same-sex marriage.

However, a report last year found that homosexual acts were still criminalised in 72 countries.

Some countries, including Tanzania, still impose tough jail terms.
Ireland and Malta will be the only two EU countries forced to buy their way out of their 2020 climate change obligations.

While other EU member states are likely to miss targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, only Ireland and Malta have underachieved to the extent they will have to purchase carbon permits at an expected cost of between 6m and 13m.

A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) warns that progress on ramping-up use of renewables and improving energy efficiency is slowing across the European Union.

Rising energy consumption, particularly in the transport sector, is to blame for the slowdown, the 'Trends and projections in Europe 2018: Tracking progress towards Europe's climate and energy targets' report published today says.

Based on data around greenhouse emissions, renewable energy uptake and energy consumption provided by member states, it says while the EU remains on track to achieve its 2020 targets on emission reductions and increased renewable energy use, increasing hikes in consumption need to be reversed.

It also says "renewed efforts" will be needed to meet more onerous 2030 targets.

The countries not on track to meet targets are Ireland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Bulgaria, Malta and Cyprus.

Meanwhile, Climate Action Minister Richard Bruton will today announce up to 25m in funding for building upgrades under the SEAI scheme.

The money is available to upgrade public buildings, including social housing, and is aimed at reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency in the built environment.

To date, 125m in community grants has helped fund upgrades valued at 300m to 17,500 homes and 2,000 non-domestic buildings, yielding estimated annual energy savings of 50m.
Determined: Garda forensic experts at the Caiseal Mara Hotel, which was hit by an arson attack. Photos: North West Newspix

Determined: Cllr Martin Farren at the Caiseal Mara Hotel, which was hit by an arson attack. Photos: North West Newspix

The people of a Co Donegal town yesterday came together to show their support for asylum seekers after an arson attack on the hotel where they were due to be housed.

The Caiseal Mara Hotel in the small Inishowen town of Moville was set on fire in the early hours of yesterday.

The arson has thrown into disarray the plans for the hotel to begin housing the first arrivals of a group of 100 asylum seekers in the coming weeks.

However, just hours later, local people went ahead with a meeting they had arranged to organise a welcome party for the new arrivals.

The alarm was raised at the hotel at about 4am yesterday.

The reception area was extensively damaged while there was smoke damage throughout the building.

One man in his 50s, understood to be the hotel owner, was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

His daughter is also understood to have been in the building, but was not injured.

Later in the day, the meeting to plan the welcome party went ahead, with more than 150 people turning up to show their support for the asylum seekers.

Garda Inspector Goretti Sheridan confirmed to the meeting that the fire was started deliberately.

A forensic team spent yesterday examining the scene while detectives are also reviewing hours of CCTV footage in and around the hotel on Foyle Street.

Many of those who attended the meeting in Moville's Methodist Hall, organised by Failte Inishowen, said they were horrified by the arson attack.

The principal of Moville Community College, Anthony Duggan, said the arson sent out a very poor message and the Christmas principle of welcome had been lost.

Local councillor Martin Farren said he was immensely proud of the reaction of the people of Moville.

"I said that the people of Moville would respond to the needs of these people and they have," he said.

"We obviously condemn this attack but I felt immense pride in the people of Moville today who have stood behind these people.

"We will welcome these people as we said we would and nothing has changed because of that," he said.

Mr Farren said he had spoken to an official at the Reception and Integration Agency.

"He said he will assess the damage and will assess when the building can be ready for these people but it will still be going ahead," he said.
Gardai have arrested a man involved in scouting roles over the past 30 years in respect of historic abuse allegations.

The man, who is in his 60s, was arrested in the south and taken to a garda station for questioning in respect of the allegations.

He was a very well known figure within scouting circles over the past 30 years having held a variety of positions at both troop and organisational level.

The individual is also well known in the Irish business community. It is understood the allegations relate to claims of abuse dating back to the 1980s.

These were levelled by an individual who was a juvenile scout at the time. The abuse claims also largely related to a specific scouting venue.

It is expected that the man would be released without charge with a file to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He was active in scouting circles dating back to the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI), the effective precursor to the current Scouting Ireland organisation.

The man is not understood to currently hold any position within Scouting Ireland though he remains involved on the periphery of the scouting movement.

The investigation into the allegations for which the man was detained for questioning substantially pre-dated the current controversy which has engulfed the youth organisation.

Children's Minister Katherine Zappone last week warned that both her office and Scouting Ireland were "flooded" with inquiries following the publication of a review by child protection expert, Ian Elliot, of historic scouting records.

She said inquiries had flooded in from adults alleged they had been abused as children.

That review of abuse allegations within the scouting movement found indications of 71 alleged abusers as well as 108 victims dating from the 1960s through to the 1980s.

It is unclear if the individual arrested by Gardai is one of the 71 names indicated in the review.

The review indicated that 14 of the alleged abusers had multiple victims.

The Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs was told that reports have been submitted, on the basis of the review findings, to

both the Gardai and Tusla.

Ms Zappone, who previously suspended funding for Scouting Ireland amid concerns over how it was handling the issue, said she had been assured that Scouting Ireland was committed to enforcing the highest possible level of child protection and safeguarding standards.

She acknowledged the youth organisation now faced "a very difficult time" and said she would remain in close contact with its board.
Gardai have confirmed that a missing three year old has been found safe and well.

The boy was reported missing from Bunclody, Co Wexford, this morning and gardai issued an urgent CRI alert appealing for help.

He was last seen at his home at 1.15am.

"We believe there is an immediate and serious risk to his wellbeing. That is why we've issued the CRI alert," Superintendent Liam Geraghty told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland.

Gardai have now thanked the public, media and other agencies for their assistance after the boy was found safe and well in the Bunclody area.

The CRI alert system was launched in 2012 and Supt Geraghty described its use as "rare".

This morning's alert was the seventh alert issued since the system was put in place.

Gardai confirmed to Independent.ie that a man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

Gardai also asked that the privacy of the family be respected at this time and said, owing to the nature of the incident, no further information can be shared at this time.
A motorcyclist was killed and another critically injured when their bikes were involved in a collision with a 4x4 vehicle.

The fatal crash happened about 1.30pm yesterday in Co Meath.

One of the bikers was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services. Last night, the driver of the other motorcycle was fighting for his life at James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, Dublin.

The driver of the 4x4 was reported to be uninjured.

The collision occurred on the Johnstown to Edenderry road, near the entrance to the Johnstown Estate hotel in Enfield, Co Meath. Local Fine Gael councillor Enda Flynn said the stretch of road was a particularly busy area and it there had been other serious crashes there in the past.

"There was a fatality at a crossroads there a number of years ago and there has been a lot of work done by the council to make it safer," he said.

"I'm sure the local community are very shocked to hear of such an accident."

The road was closed for a period of time while gardai carried out a forensic investigation of the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Trim Garda Station on 046 9481540 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

The tragedy brings to 13 the number of motorcyclists killed on Irish roads this year.

Last Monday, motorcyclist John Byrne (23) was killed in a crash in Wicklow which involved no other vehicles.

Separately, a driver in his 80s died following a collision with another car in the Forthcommons area of Wexford on Saturday.

The incident occurred at approximately 1.25pm when the car he was driving collided with another vehicle.

The female driver and a front seat passenger of the second vehicle, both in their 20s, received minor injuries.

Gardai are also appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053-916 5200 or the Garda Confidential line.
There are fears for a planned direct provision centre as the Department of Justice has said the future of the facility will depend on the results of a full assessment of fire damage, following a suspected arson attack.

The incident took place at the Caiseal Mara Hotel in the Inishowen town of Moville, Co Donegal in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A group of 100 asylum seekers were due to arrive in Moville in early December, but it is understood that the damage to the building from the fire may have an impact on their arrival date.

Until a full assessment of the damage has been carried out, the Department wont be able to decide on the impact of any delay that may arise from this incident, a department spokesperson told Independent.ie.

Notwithstanding this, we will continue to source accommodation, in line with our legal and humanitarian commitments, for those seeking international protection in Ireland. Ministers Flanagan and Stanton have both condemned this incident at the Caiseal Mara Hotel on Sunday.

The spokesperson added that the situation will be reassessed following the completion of the review, and that they will work alongside the local community to give the asylum seekers the "best possible support" they need.

A full investigation is underway to determine the cause of the events that took place there and the level of any damage caused. Following that review, matters will be reassessed as necessary, they said.

We remain committed to working with the local community to ensure that the best possible support is provided to those seeking international protection.

However local county councillor Martin Farren, who condemned the attack, previously said at the weekend that he had spoken with the Reception and Integration Agency and that Principal Adviser Eugene Banks confirmed the Direct Provision Centre will be going ahead at the hotel.

"He said he will assess the damage and will assess when the building can be ready for these people, but it will still be going ahead,"Mr Farren said.

The decision to accommodate the 100 asylum seekers has divided the town, with many looking forward to the new arrivals and others concerned about the effect on tourism.

Two local campaign groups, Failte Inishowen and Inishowen Together, described the incident yesterday as a hateful and cowardly act and praised local residents for supporting the future of the asylum seekers.

The dark and alarming act that happened hours before has galvanised the community of Moville to show what we are really made of- that this is a beautiful town of compassion and openness, they said in a statement.

Speaking after news broke of the fire yesterday morning, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said: I condemn this attack and those behind it in the strongest possible terms. This was a despicable incident and could have led to very serious tragedy.

I send my best wishes for a full recovery to the injured person and all those impacted by the fire. I am urging anyone with any information with regard to this fire to contact the Gardai.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and gardai have appealed to witnesses to contact Buncrana Garda Station on (074) 9320540, the Garda Confidential Line or any Garda Station.
Gardai are investigating a suspected pipe bomb attack in the capital last night.

They have launched an investigation after a number of "suspicious devices" were found at the scene of a vehicle fire in Dublin last night.

Gardai were called to the scene at Hawthorn Avenue, East Wall after receiving reports of a vehicle on fire.

However, a significant emergency response was then launched after a number of suspicious items were found under the van.

The Defence Forces explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team attended to the "viable" devices and an investigation in to the incident has been launched.

At this stage gardai believe the fire was caused by a pipe bomb exploding but further examinations are expected to be carried out.

"A van was discovered on fire at this location, following further investigation by Gardai a number of items were discovered at the scene, Defence Forces EOD were contacted and made safe a number of suspicious items which were located at the scene which were believed to be viable devices," a garda spokesperson told Independent.ie.

No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.
One in five women experience some form of domestic violence in Ireland, Women's Aid has said.

A global 16-day campaign has been kicked off with a Women's Aid purple ribbon awareness campaign, which encourages people to believe survivors of domestic violence.

The campaign challenges pervasive myths in society which minimises women's experience of abuse and blames the victim.

More than 100 events will be taking place over the next two weeks.

Margaret Martin, director of Women's Aid, said: "Every day in Ireland women are beaten, raped and abused by those closest to them - their boyfriends, husbands and partners.

"One in five women in the Republic of Ireland experience domestic violence and it can affect any woman from any walk of life.

"We understand how difficult it is for women experiencing domestic abuse to talk about what is happening.

"Many are afraid they will not be believed or they will blamed for the abuse. Others struggle to find the words to describe their situation.

"All too often, women feel alone and isolated, unaware that help is available."
Sinn Fein should consider resigning their seven Westminster seats if the party is unwilling to help pass the Brexit vote, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

With Prime Minister Theresa May desperately trying to build support for the Brexit deal, Sinn Feins seven votes could prove crucial.

However, the party is continuing its long-standing policy of abstention, whereby MPs refused to actually take up their seats in parliament.

Mr Varadkar said today that they should now change tact in order to help Ireland avoid a chaotic no-deal scenario.

He described Mary Lou McDonalds party as unusual because it isnt taking up its seats in Westminster for one reason and it isnt taking up its seats in Stormont for another.

The Taoiseach said generally people get involved in politics because they want to use the democratic process to get good outcomes for citizens.

Speaking at a Project Ireland event in Dublin this morning, Mr Varadkar went on to say that if Sinn Fein feel they got elected on the basis of abstentionist then they have the option now of resigning their seats and allowing people in those constituencies decide whether or not they want to have a say when this vote comes to Westminster.

Bear in mind there are 18 MPs in Northern Ireland, eight of those 10 including Lady Sylvia Hermon are in support of what the UK government are proposing. But seven of those eight because of Sinn Fein arent going to show up.

Ms McDonald has previously defend the partys decision not to take up the seats, saying her party will not ride in on a white charger to save the day.

She warned that there could be unintended consequences if her party took up their seats.

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar has said he expects UK politicians will have to accept the Brexit deal sooner or later.

He said it is the best deal available and cannot be reopened just four months until the UK formally leaves the EU on March 29.

Asked about contingency plans for a no-deal scenario, Mr Varadkar said they were ongoing.

We are preparing for two scenarios. One is call the central case scenario which is pretty much the deal thats been done. The second is a hard Brexit, cliff-edge, no-deal scenario.

In many ways, its the same thing, its just a graduated response upwards. We are making those preparations. But we need to be realistic here. Theres no country in the European Union that can be fully prepared for a cliff-edge, no-deal Brexit. Thats why it makes sense to agree to this deal, he said.

In response to the comments, Ms McDonald said the Taoiseach needs to catch himself on.

She said Sinn Fein has no intention of standing aside and abandon our mandate.

The reality is that the people of 'those constituencies' have already spoken and they chose abstentionist Sinn Fein MPs.

"The Taoiseach's problem is that he doesn't like the democratic choice of the people of 'those constituencies' and now makes the ludicrous proposition that there should be another election without Sinn Fein's participation, taking the democratic choice away from the people.

Ms McDonald added that if Fine Gael feels Irish politicians should take seats in the UK Parliament then they should seek a mandate and stop hurling form the ditch.

Fine Gael, and Fianna Fail for that matter, should put to the people their willingness to take seats in Westminster and to swearing an oath to a foreign power and let the people decide.

In a statement, the Sinn Fein leader said Leo Varadkar is the Taoiseach who famously said the Nationalist people in the North will never again be left behind yet he is now advocating that we reject their democratic wishes.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (RCC) has seen a rise in people who are "rethinking and re-evaluating their attitude to their sexual activity" in current and former intimate relationships and reporting rape by a partner or previous partner to the organisation.

Noeline Blackwell, CEO of the RCC, says the centre "regularly" hears from people who are "ready to look again" at sexual activity, which they believe was non-consensual with a current or former partner.

"We regularly get people who are in intimate relationships where they have suffered rape or sexual abuse and it is only occurring to them that they can talk about it and that they don't have to put up with it."

Describing how rape can happen in "a much more subtle way" within an intimate relationship, Ms Blackwell said: "This is a very contested area at the moment and this is where an awful lot of people in relationships - or who have been in relationships - are rethinking and re-evaluating those relationships. Where both parties in the relationship are re-evaluating their attitude to their sexual activity."

She continued: "Sex with no consent is what we are concerned about and that can be a very difficult area in a relationship. People will engage in sexual activity in a relationship for many, many reasons, it's not always passion and romance. As part of their relationship, they will have consensual sex in a wide variety of circumstances so that is fine but on the other hand some people have been having sex without their consent simply because they thought their was no alternative."

She explained: "This can be even in existing relationships, where people are coerced into having sex without their consent, where they are not ready, where - for instance - they might have had a child recently and don't feel up to it, where they might not want sex with someone who is drunk or, as part of the argument, someone can dominate and abuse their partner in the relationship and require their partner to have sex. And these are the areas that are much harder for us to talk about as opposed to the 'easy' ones where it is clear there was no relationship or previous consensual sex."

Ms Blackwell commended the women for coming forward, saying: "It is another area in which women's rights are being interrogated in a way that previously wasn't possible and I credit a lot of really good women - and also good men - with thinking this through and being ready to look again."

She added the action required in dealing with the relationship assault may vary from person to person: "In fact, there is a really good chance that a lot of people will say 'I was raped on that occasion because I was not consenting'. And they will need to do no more about it than that. Simply accept 'that [assault] was there, it wasn't consensual, some harm was done' and they are able to cope."

Meanwhile, the annual report also showed that a number of women have reported being raped by people they met through online dating websites.

Ms Blackwell said: "Dating sites have made dating very, very fast. There is an element that it's 'just a transaction' to a certain extent and there is no doubt about it that the dating sites themselves need to take more responsibility for ensuring that they are giving people the proper warnings."

She said social media sites also must be "much better at allowing people to report 'unhappy transactions'".

Describing how "dating sites are making so much money and they have so much power in bringing people together, often very happily", she said the dating firms also had a responsibility to deal with those using their platforms "for abusive purposes".

Ms Blackwell added that there was great difficulty in handling the fallout of reports of rape on dating sites, given the lack of traceability: "All we know is that at the end of it some people have been harmed, upset and raped by people they met through internet dating sites and often times there is no way of that person being held, even privately to account."
Green fingers: Conn and Dymphna Cooney have used their allotment in Weaver Square for eight years. Photo: Justin Farrelly

Residents living in one of the most developed parts of Dublin are protesting against the demolition of a community garden and allotments for rapid build social housing.

The Weaver Square Community Group, in the Liberties, have nurtured the area for the past seven years and are campaigning to save it. They say the Liberties has the lowest amount of green space in Dublin city.

Residents said Dublin City Council (DCC) notified them they'd be "locked out" of the 182sqm site on December 31.

Richard Stearn, from the community group, said: "There are other sites that could be used to build."

Sam Moore (40) and his wife Emily (35) use the allotments with children Colm (4) and Iris (2). "This is the only nearby green space where I can take the children to meet other families, to teach them how to grow food," Mr Moore said. DCC said the land had always been intended for housing.
Priests who die while facing accusations of sexual abuse are being denied traditional Catholic funerals, it has been revealed.

The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has voiced concerns over the funeral arrangements for stepped-down members of the clergy.

Its spokesman called the practice - which applies even if the priest was not convicted of any offence - "terrible".

Fr Tim Hazelwood said: "We're concerned at funeral arrangements for stepped-down priests or those facing accusations, particularly for priests who have been accused of something but nothing has been proved.

"I personally know an elderly priest who's been facing an accusation, which he totally denies, dating back 40 years.

"In his case, he will be denied a proper Catholic funeral, and it's causing him and his family terrible distress.

"The situation differs from diocese to diocese, but in general priests in this situation are treated terribly.

"Even members of the Kinahan gang or convicted murderers can expect proper Catholic funerals, but that's not the case with some priests, who really are treated like the lepers of Irish society."

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) has published a list of broad guidelines to Church authorities on how to discreetly conduct the funerals of clerics who had allegations made against them.

Some dioceses have adopted even more stringent policies, including rulings that funerals take place in a private chapel, that no death notice be published, that the deceased be referred to by his Christian name throughout, and not be buried in his clerical garb.

One set of diocesan guidelines obtained by the ACP suggests "consideration be given to have the funeral liturgies in a private chapel and/or a time other than the usual times".
Me and Shane are getting married tomorrow. It took a while. Thirty-two years, to be exact. Marriage is a scary business, a big commitment. You might know that you have met 'The One', the minute you lay eyes on them across a crowded bar. You might have been mesmerised, enchanted, and entirely convinced that you couldn't live without them. But you have to be certain.

We met for the first time in London when I was only 16, the minute he walked into the pub. Admittedly it was a very quiet, suburban pub but Shane was unmissable, tall, pale and skinny, with jug ears and missing teeth, sporting a mobster Crombie and an air of monstrous arrogance.

I was awe-struck by him. I became consumed by the thought of him. He says that he felt the same way, that we were destined to be together. But ours were not to be easy, uncomplicated lives and ours was not to be an uncomplicated love affair.

We grabbed hold of each other, became glued together and hung on for a ride that took us through a world of glamour and fame, creativity and ecstasy, drink, drugs and crazy, wild sex and on to madness, self-destruction and despair, violence, death, betrayal, rage, separation, and sadness and on and on towards revelation, renewal, compassion and hope for the future. Our real life together makes the Fairytale Of New York couple from Shane's Christmas song seem tame and orderly.

When you meet 'The One', you have a choice. You can dive in, marry them while you are infatuated with each other and hope for the best. Or you can wait until you are sure that the honeymoon phase has worn off and you are seeing each other in the light of having lived, no longer young, beautiful and indestructible.

When you realise that for every characteristic that attracted you, and intrigued you, there are things that you loathe and despise about each other. There have been times when you have wished each other dead - you see each other as flawed, nasty, fragile, maybe even hideous.

But when you get there, if you still look into each other's eyes and laugh at the sheer joy of each other's existing; if you still see each other's faces and know that these are the most beautiful faces that you have ever seen and know that this person is the one you would chase to hell and back, then I think you are on the right track.

Marriage is a ritual that can trigger you. I generally hate even going to other people's weddings. There are all kinds of ideas and images of how it should be, the fairytale wedding. The blushing, beautiful, virginal bride in the big white dress, the handsome, dashing groom who will carry her over the threshold of their perfect home where they will live their perfect life and have their perfect kids. And the huge, fabulous wedding with hundreds of guests, rivers of Champagne, cakes, page boys and flower girls and endless speeches.

It is hard, when you have to face the fact that you may not be that perfect couple, and you don't even know if you would want all that stuff, when the thought of a huge white wedding terrifies the life out of you.

It can be embarrassing, even, when people want to make a fuss on your behalf and you would rather be sitting quietly at home, watching the telly. And that's not even mentioning the agony of choosing who should be invited, and realising that your big day is inevitably going to alienate some of the people that you love, because you simply can't have everybody there.

Shane and I are both introverts and we decided that the only solution was to just elope together to someplace that we know nobody and nobody knows us, and keep it a secret. Which is what we have done. There will be a tiny civil ceremony in an anonymous City Hall, there will be no white dress, nobody will be 'given away', there will be no flower girls or page boys or matrons of honour. We haven't even got wedding rings.

But I have discovered something about weddings that I had not realised. People really, really want to show that they love the people that they care about. And no matter how awkward or introverted you are, the love that they have for you finds a way to smash through the walls that you put up. And when it happens, it is a magnificent thing.

We all want as much love as possible, and we mostly all try to manipulate people into loving us by making ourselves as attractive as possible. But some of us don't know how good it can feel to just be loved for who you are without having to be anything other than what you already intrinsically are. And sometimes we hide from love because we are afraid that people will see us as we are. But people can surprise you, the ways they get through to you.

So, much as we might have liked our wedding to be a non-event, and because we have found it impossible to keep it a total secret, a few of our friends and family have elected to make it a tiny but beautiful thing.

Some of them have helped with the paperwork and planning (I don't know how I ever passed an exam, I am allergic to paperwork). A few of them have travelled from far-flung places to be with us for moral support. My nephew Olan has cut short his holiday to be Shane's best man.

We have a Breatharian friend who has come all the way from Thailand to have dinner with us, even though she doesn't actually eat. Bella Freud has given me a beautiful red dress which is perfectly unfussy. Johnny Depp is going to be the wedding guitarist. My nieces are going to do my make-up. And my mother and sisters are bringing a cake and flowers.

It will be weird, but I think it will be lovely. We may even have a speech.
Helen loves colour, and this tomato shade works really well in the more informal living room. The black and white photos on the wall depict California where Helen always holidays with her family

Helen on the balcony of her apartment in Neuilly; it's a salubrious part of Paris with chic restaurants nearby. However, she chose it for its proximity to the Bois de Boulogne. Photo: Tony Gavin

The embracing horses in the hall are an old family piece, and the lamp above is by Herve Van der Straeten

Every corner of Helen Lambert Kennedy's home is furnished with carefully chosen pieces. In this part of the main living room, she juxtaposes a photograph by celebrated American photographer Slim Aarons with a Le Corbusier recliner. The 'eye' vases are from a Turkish design company, Gaia&Gino, while the other wall hanging is a framed scarf by Rene Blanchard

Helen Lambert Kennedy in her living room. Helen bought the four panels depicting elephants at the Marche Aux Puces flea market; the gold lamp, which she bought from an LA gallery, is by Paul Evans. Photo: Tony Gavin

We tend, as a race, to divide people into types - the dreamy type and the practical one; creative versus business types; sophisticated town types and country types. But of course, some people have traits of all the types, and Helen Lambert Kennedy is one of that lucky genre; she's creative, she has a business brain, and she's a country girl who loves the city life.

Nowadays, she's managing director of a big international company based in Paris, Lambert + Associates, and, as such, she deals with the sophisticated worlds of high fashion, luxury accessories and opulent interiors, but she started life as a country girl on a farm in Tipperary. She still loves that rustic world, too, ensuring that she gets to the French countryside as often as possible, even if her hectic, peripatetic lifestyle allows for few trips home to enjoy the Irish landscape.

And when she decided to look for a family home for herself and her two children - Julian (now 25), and Olivia (now 16) - she opted for an apartment next to the Bois de Boulogne, the nearest thing to countryside in Paris.

It has to be said that her childhood home wasn't purely a bucolic paradise - yes, it was a large dairy farm, and her parents kept horses, too, but it was a fine old period house, and it was here that Helen developed her taste for style. "Growing up, I always loved beautiful things," Helen recalls, adding, "We lived in Tullamore Park in Nenagh, a lovely old home, so we had nature's beauty around us - beautiful old chestnut trees, oak trees; there were nice walks; we all rode horses; and we all hunted. Also, in the house, there were paintings and furniture that were old and beautiful and had family history, so I was brought up in that kind of environment."

Expand Close Helen on the balcony of her apartment in Neuilly; it's a salubrious part of Paris with chic restaurants nearby. However, she chose it for its proximity to the Bois de Boulogne. Photo: Tony Gavin / Facebook

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Whatsapp Helen on the balcony of her apartment in Neuilly; it's a salubrious part of Paris with chic restaurants nearby. However, she chose it for its proximity to the Bois de Boulogne. Photo: Tony Gavin

Helen went to school in Dublin, and it was here she fell in love with the French language and all things French. After finishing school, she got the opportunity to go to France. "Growing up, I always wanted to go to Paris, and when I got here, it was a dream come true," Helen notes. "I got work in the advertising department of the International Herald Tribune, which was great, as there were English and American people working there too, so from a language point of view, it wasn't a hard landing."

However, her idyllic life nearly ended abruptly. "After about a year-and-a-half, my parents said, 'You must come home now'."

The dutiful daughter did as she was told, but only for a weekend. "I flew in on a Friday and I came back on Monday. I told them I had to finish my discoveries, and they accepted that." Helen continued to get work in the field of advertising in Paris, and she realised she had a flair for it. "It was a fluke or good luck; that's what I landed in and I quite enjoyed it," she says.

After some years, she got a dream job with Elle magazine. When it first launched in 1945, it was a purely French publication, but before and during Helen's time with the company, new editions were continually launched in different countries, including the UK, Germany, Spain and the US. Helen, who rose to the position of director of the international advertising team, ran the advertising out of Paris for all the editions; during her years with the company, it increased the output to 36 fashion monthlies and 22 separate editions of Elle Decoration, which is a monthly interiors magazine.

"That's what brought me to where I am today, because I worked with all the big houses of fashion and beauty - and, indeed, interiors, because we oversaw Elle Decoration, too," she notes, going on to say, "I would meet with Chanel, Dior, Vuitton, and sell them advertising campaigns. So that gave me a real opening into the business side of that world; meeting the number one and the number two of those companies was super interesting. Working for a big brand like Elle was a door-opener."

After seven years with Elle, Helen was headhunted by the company she now owns, and moved out of advertising. "I was contacted by them to come on board and run the business," the elegant entrpreneur explains, "And I did for a year-and-a-half, but I had told them I wouldn't run it forever. I was interested in buying it, and I actually did buy it 18 months later."

Expand Close Every corner of Helen Lambert Kennedy's home is furnished with carefully chosen pieces. In this part of the main living room, she juxtaposes a photograph by celebrated American photographer Slim Aarons with a Le Corbusier recliner. The 'eye' vases are from a Turkish design company, Gaia&Gino, while the other wall hanging is a framed scarf by Rene Blanchard / Facebook

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Whatsapp Every corner of Helen Lambert Kennedy's home is furnished with carefully chosen pieces. In this part of the main living room, she juxtaposes a photograph by celebrated American photographer Slim Aarons with a Le Corbusier recliner. The 'eye' vases are from a Turkish design company, Gaia&Gino, while the other wall hanging is a framed scarf by Rene Blanchard

It was a relatively small company then, and was purely a buying office for high-end goods. It still is a buying office, but it's much much more than that - the company is expert in international retail, specialising in luxury goods. "We work with top-end retailers around the world," Helen explains. "So for example, in America, we work with the Neiman Marcus group, and within that group, you've got Bergdorf Goodman, so we would source all their European product. They come to Paris, they come to Italy; we source and edit the market for them in advance; we match them with the products that will sell really well to their clients. So it's about timing; it's about the actual product; it's about pricing; it's a lot of elements. We have special edits for them, and exclusivities. Exclusivity is very important today."

Lambert + Associates has offices in Paris, Milan, Florence and London and employs a total of 60 staff, divided into teams which specialise in different areas, be it the American market, or the Chinese market; be it fashion or perfume or homewares. And they have a different level of involvement depending on the client. For example, the Chinese market has really opened up, and Helen's company was brought on board by one of Beijing's top department stores to oversee the development of their new homewares section. "We decided everything - we sourced their products; we did the merchandising," Helen says. "They have just opened another store in Xian and we are working with them on that as well."

To get the right products, Helen's teams don't just source, they also commission designers, especially on the home and interiors side of things - they commission tableware for clients, lamps and tables; indeed, anything for the home.

Helen is passionate about art, design and craftsmanship, and has just finished a book showing the work of talented artists and artisans worldwide, including that of Irish women Sara Flynn and Sasha Sykes. Titled Uncovering Unique Pieces, it will be launched in mid December.

Helen, who was awarded the French National Order of Merit in 2013 for services to the French economy, has many unique art pieces in her delightful home and her innate sense of style pervades every room. Located in the Neuilly area of Paris, right next to the Bois de Boulogne, the apartment - which is unusually large for a French apartment, with its three bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living rooms and a spacious kitchen - is in a block dating from 1928. "It's art deco," Helen says. "I liked the volume - high ceilings, high windows and lots of light."

It's obvious from the stunning decor that Helen has fantastic taste. It's a combination of a bold use of colour, interesting textures and shapes, and an eclectic mix of styles and periods; antiques are mingled successfully with ultra modern pieces, and there's a great sense of fun throughout.

Expand Close Helen loves colour, and this tomato shade works really well in the more informal living room. The black and white photos on the wall depict California where Helen always holidays with her family / Facebook

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Whatsapp Helen loves colour, and this tomato shade works really well in the more informal living room. The black and white photos on the wall depict California where Helen always holidays with her family

One theme pervades the whole interior: the wild. Four panels depict a family of elephants; there is a pacing cat; a pair of bronze horses are captured in an embrace; zebras' heads adorn cushions in the study. It all goes to show you can take the girl out of the wild, but not the wild out of the girl. Lambert + Associates, see lambert.associates

Edited by Mary O'Sullivan

Photography by Tony Gavin
I don't like group activities, I don't have a creative bone in my body, and I haven't picked up a paintbrush since I was a child. So obviously I jumped at the chance to go on a painting course for the weekend. What could possibly go wrong? A lot, as we will see.

In fairness, this wasn't just any painting course. The course was being delivered by Mick Mulcahy, a ferocious elemental force of the subconscious, whose company I always enjoy, and I felt if anyone could help to me unleash my inner artist, Mick could. I was also drawn by the fact that the course was being held at the Strand Inn in Dunmore East, Co Waterford. The Foyles, who own the hotel, are all avid painters and art fans going back a few generations, so now, they have, hugely ambitiously, set up Artform, which will be a proper art school by the sea, with various well-known artists delivering various courses.

So I knew there'd be a nice dinner, nice views, a few pints, and a few dips in the little harbour that's nestled between the cliffs and right in front of the hotel. I quite liked the idea of alternating dips in the sea with dips into the subconscious. So off I went.

Though I only did 24 hours of the course, I think I emerged from it a changed man. As we left, the others on the course were discussing doing a full week-long course, and Mick was saying how it really takes until day three to loosen up completely. My view on it at that point was that if I did a full week of it, I would probably end up questioning everything I know, having a nervous breakdown and changing my life completely.

Expand Close Brendan pictured with his finished painting, and artist Mick Mulcahy, who delivered the Artform course in Dunmore East / Facebook

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Whatsapp Brendan pictured with his finished painting, and artist Mick Mulcahy, who delivered the Artform course in Dunmore East

I'm not saying it wasn't fun, but I am probably a bit too intense to get involved in anything creative without taking it way too seriously. I had fun, yes, but something much richer and more rewarding happened to me over the two days as well. I think I learnt a little bit about myself. I found, for example, that facing up to an empty canvas is something that requires a certain amount of courage and it's something that forces you to ask certain questions of yourself. It also involves a bit of letting go, of loosening up, of relinquishing control. And that, let me tell you, is not easy.

Below the cliffs

We started with some sketching. Which sounds like a nice, laid-back activity. We went and sat on the rocks below the cliffs and Mick showed me how to pick out a picture, and frame it in your head, and then, apparently, it was simple. You just look at it, and you draw it. Which is probably easy when you're a kid, or maybe if you're a more relaxed person than me. For me, it was revelatory and hugely challenging.

So you think it's easy to just look? Think again. Because as you start to look, really look, you slowly realise that we never really look at things. We see things, sure. But we don't really see them. Looking at something with a view to sketching it requires you to look hard at the details and the essence of things, to really try and see them. And when you do this, suddenly everything becomes infinitely more complex and vivid. You wonder how we manage to walk around at all, there's so much going on everywhere. You understand then, how, in order to function, our minds kind of zone out most things into background noise or scenery.

I also understood, possibly properly for the first time, how my daughter, who doesn't have the same ability to screen out things that most of us do, gets overwhelmed by the senses sometimes. You realise, too, why artists and poets are all half mad. If you start really looking at things, and seeing all the detail and poetry in them, it's almost too much. And the more you look, the more you start picking up the moods and textures of places, the vibes that you might otherwise miss, until it all becomes a seething mass of reality.

Of course, you could argue that I'm focusing on all this because I wasn't very good at the drawing. If we were to be charitable about my drawing, we might say it was some form of naive folk art. Perhaps I would be hailed in the art world as a great outsider artist, famed for my ability to bring a childlike quality to my drawing. But the funny thing is, after a few goes, you do get better and more confident. And brave. It's all about bravery really, the bravery to attack this blank sheet, to commit to putting charcoal to it, to spoil the perfect white, to make mistakes, to attempt to convey onto the paper what you see in your head, and to inevitably fail at it. The bravery to let go and to make mistakes.

We went inside then to start making paintings of some of our etchings. And this was a whole new stage. This was where you realised that as much as this is an intellectual process, it is also a physical one. This is making, using natural materials, and you have to respect those materials, be patient with them, and accept that they have, in a sense, a mind of their own. So you have to fix your charcoal drawing first with hairspray, then you have to wait, before you apply, maybe, a wash of colour, which doesn't do exactly what you want it to do. And then you have to wait, while each wash dries. This was a slightly chaotic few hours, where we all wandered around wondering what to do next as much as we painted.

There was a certain atmosphere developing at this point among the small gang. While I thought this kind of thing would be best done alone, I started to understand the power of the group. There was an easy camaraderie there as we all struggled through; at times, admitting to each other that we were lost and didn't know what to do, borrowing various paints off each other and offering encouragement.

One of the ladies, a fairly accomplished painter, told me that she actually preferred painting in groups.

At this point, I was still struggling with letting go. I'm a pretty uptight individual, and while I can sometimes get into some kind of zone while doing a task, I was having trouble going with the flow of the art. I could see how it could become a meditative, indeed, an addictive, space, but I only saw flashes. For a few moments of the drawing, I managed to get out of my head and into just looking and drawing, but it was no more than tantalising glimpses.

That evening, I abandoned the work, dissatisfied and antsy. I dove into the sea to wash it away and get benediction; afterwards, then, a pint with Mick discussing Haile Selassie's state visit to Jamaica, and, later, delicious crab claws and lamb, and a bottle of wine.

White canvas

The next morning, I was not quite looking forward to trying to finish my pictures, but I figured I'd give them an hour and then make an excuse and blow the joint. But then I arrived in class to be told that we would all be attacking a big, perfectly clean, white canvas. To which my initial reaction was 'no way'. But I was told that's what we were doing, no exceptions.

Start, he told me, with some wash of a colour. So I picked a therapeutic sky-blue, took my courage in my hands, and dirtied the lovely canvas with it. Then, Mick suggested some nice red, which was exactly what I'd been thinking. I started applying the red in straight lines, and it was pleasing to me. I made squared-off shapes with it. And I realised that's what I wanted to do. I did not have to give into the chaos. I did not have to free myself. I could do this art thing, but impose order and structure on it. I could control it.

Except, of course, you can't. Because the materials have a mind of their own, and they are your collaborator on the picture. So that's what I ended up with. I ended up with a really simple canvas that represents my need to put order on the chaos, and the futility of trying to do that.

But you know what happened to me in the doing of it? I relaxed a bit. I let go slightly. I relinquished control just a small bit.

The thing is, I actually have no great desire to control. What I'm mainly about is a fierce resistance to anyone else trying to control me. So I think what happened was, aided by the previous night's bottle of wine still in me somewhere, and aided by the realisation that no one here, from the art to the teacher to the canvas, was trying to control me, I learnt to stop resisting.

I don't mean to make it sound like what's going on down at Artform is a kind of art therapy for stressed-out city folk. The others there were all there for various reasons, from a bit of enjoyment to maybe trying to achieve a breakthrough in their style. But equally, I think everyone goes through a sort of a process here, where you step out of reality slightly, and hang out in this nice, supportive, non-judgmental environment, and try something that for some people will be new, and challenging, and that for other people will be about perfecting skills.

I'd really recommend trying painting, and I'd really recommend Artform as a great environment in which to do it. And if you're a painter already, I think you'd get a lot out of it. And if you're not, you'll find a lovely, supportive atmosphere, from everyone from Martina, the director of the school, who is, you'd have to say, a beautiful soul; to the other painters. I suppose this kind of thing attracts nice people. If you got nothing else out of it, it was nice being around the energy of creative, slightly boho people. I think, in another life, I would have been one, so they kind of fascinate me.

For me, I'm tending to think that it would be good for me to have something like painting in my life. But, equally, I don't have time for it. But since I went to Artform, a little voice in my head has been reminding me that 10 years or so ago, I went to The Park Hotel in Kenmare for a weekend to learn something I thought I'd never be able to do, and that I didn't have time for, which was to swim. And looking back now, I realise that weekend changed my life in so many ways. So who knows? Maybe this latest lost weekend will, too.

Artform at The Strand Inn in Dunmore East allows guests to sit, breathe and appreciate a view, as they learn to paint the contrasting landscapes, where the sky meets the sea, in perfect light, with leading Irish and international artists, including Mick Mulcahy, Tony Robinson, Sean Molloy and Catherine Barron

Artform Artists will be exhibiting at the Artform Annual Contemporary Art Fair at 44 The Quay, Waterford, from November 30 until December 16

See artform.ie for details of the spring artists programme
Enlightenment can come from the most unexpected places. Up until last week, I'd never have credited gangsta rapper Snoop Dogg with having any wisdom relevant to my life - but I was wrong.

Celebrating his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the often controversial musician went in an unexpected direction during his acceptance speech. "I want to thank me for believing in me, for doing all this hard work. I want to thank me for never quitting and for just being me at all times." If you pass over the possible egotism, there's no doubting the man's hit on something important.

How many of us stop to ponder our achievements and successes, regardless of how minor or insignificant they might appear? A friend who's recently peered into the dark chasm that is the Big C told me he now starts every day with the same simple phrase: "I'm still here."

Self-affirming mantras are proven factors in helping us achieve more in our lives, with the added bonus of maintaining a more balanced emotional health into the bargain. A score of academic studies into the power of self-esteem found it provides a psychological uplift to career ambition and life intentions - especially during times of mental and physical stress.

Gratitude to ourselves for who we are and how far we've come is a personal love bomb capable of diluting serious physical pain and affliction, to say nothing of the bonus inner contentment it bestows. A first cousin of self-confidence is gratitude, a rope-bridge across the raging rapids of doubt and insecurity that plague us all.

"The world will see you the way you see yourself and treat you the way you treat yourself -your independence comes from knowing who you are and being happy with yourself." Wise words from another musician who's climbed the slippery ladder of success - Beyonce.

While it might be a little early for New Year's resolutions, I'm going to take Snoop and Beyonce's savvy sagacity to heart even more in 2019, and conduct a full-blown love affair with the person most worthy of affection - myself.

As part of this new me, I'm heading to church this weekend - but for a sermon of a slightly different kind. On Friday next I'll be genuflecting before the high altar of expert musicianship at St James's Church in Dingle for this year's 'Other Voices' gathering. A venue so small that performers must climb a ladder and enter by a side window, it has become one of the music world's annual hottest tickets.

In this low season mercifully devoid of tourist crowds and 'Star Wars' fans, 'Other Voices' wafts an atmosphere that encourages a musical interplay as entrancing as it is unusual. Last year Richard Hawley sang a duet with Elbow, followed by Mick Flannery sharing a mic with Lisa Hannigan - ensemble moments that simply wouldn't happen anywhere else.
It took just 38 minutes to put the UK beyond the Brexit point of no return yesterday after almost 46 years of EU membership. All the Euro kingpins honoured their commitment to strike a sombre tone at this special Sunday summit in Brussels, with much talk of there being "no winners".

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier gave their best 'whistling past the graveyard' efforts.

Both made the unlikely claim that the draft Brexit deal will pass the next test by being ratified in the British parliament early next month.

Pigs are more likely to fly than Theresa May's chances of getting this deal through Westminster. Her parliamentary arithmetic is truly abysmal.

The contrast between London and the other EU member states is now vast and complete.

The EU 27 have shown extraordinary unity and discipline over Brexit during the past 20 months of tough negotiations. The UK has been divided and confused.

That same EU unity of purpose was again evident yesterday with the speed of this decision and a resolute vow from all the leading players that it was "this deal or no deal".

We can totally discount the last-minute Spanish strop over Gibraltar as just an incident for the optics of internal politics.

The experience of these past 20 months of negotiations is surely a warning to other member states which might be tempted to follow the UK out of the European Union.

The reality is that the UK is getting the worst of all worlds as they must obey EU rules they used to be able to amend, shape, and even veto.

They are not getting their cake and eating it, as former foreign secretary Boris Johnson boasted on the Brexit campaign trail.

Back in Westminster, Mrs May's numbers tale of woe goes like this. There are officially 650 parliament seats. Allowing for boycotters, like the seven Sinn Fein MPs, other absentees and vote abstentions, it is generally agreed some 320 votes are needed to win.

There will be defections from Mrs May's 315 Conservatives and the 10 Democratic Unionist Party MPs, propping up her minority government, are sworn to vote against it.

She is unlikely to benefit from too many defectors from Labour's 257 MPs or the 12 Liberal Democrats. It is both those parties' policy to vote No to this deal.

The Scottish National Party has 35 MPs but is miffed over Northern Ireland getting better treatment than Scotland, and EU countries getting fishing waters access.

Tensions over fisheries could also threaten the support of the 13 Scottish Conservative MPs.

It's a hell of a hill to climb and it's very hard to view the vote in London, to be held around December 10, as anything other than a lost cause.

What would happen then? Well, right now it is anybody's guess.

The eloquent President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaite, stopped on her way into this meeting and summarised the possibilities for the journalists at the EU conference centre. Ms Grybauskaite is a former EU commissioner and knows a thing or two about how the system works.

She said the European Union should anticipate at least four scenarios after this leaders' summit which signed off on the Withdrawal Agreement, clearing the way for the UK's exit and assuming Theresa May fails in Westminster.

These scenarios include a new general election in the UK or even a second Brexit referendum. "Everything could happen, at least four possible scenarios could be in place, but it's up to the British side to decide what path to choose," the Lithuanian president said.

"It could be a second vote of the people, it could be new elections, it could be a request for renegotiations. There are at least four scenarios, I calculate," she said.

For all her erudition, Ms Grybauskaite was wide of the mark in anticipating renewed negotiations on the 585-page deal agreed yesterday.

There was unanimity that it cannot and will not be re-opened - and a no-deal Brexit is more likely than that.

That was one scenario she did not explicitly voice and it is the outcome most Irish people dread.

Commenting on that grim prospect in the Dail last week, the Taoiseach said he thought there would have to be 'no deal' talks between the EU and the UK in such an eventuality.

In sum, he was saying last week, an utterly 'no deal' outcome was simply unthinkable. Some kind of makeshift arrangement would have to be made.

But that is also a heck of an assumption to make and by yesterday he was not keen to revisit this speculation, preferring to stress the prospect of Mrs May somehow doing a Westminster miracle.

The final act of the EU end of Brexit will come next February when the European Parliament is likely to ratify this draft deal. That is assumed to be a fait accompli and the real battles are all now in London.

A popular scenario in London political circles over the past week was that Mrs May's deal might pass parliament the second time around, after initial failure. The thinking there is that the markets might react violently to a parliamentary No vote and the pound might tank.

That would put the frighteners on MPs enough to have them revisit the deal and pass it second time around.

The obverse of that theory is that the markets might be anticipating a second vote, so the pound may not fall through the floor first time round. Those MPs just might not be frightened enough.

One thing we can predict is that this will continue to be very noisy indeed. The weekend also saw the rhetoricometer doing handstands with ultra-Brexiteer Boris Johnson in Belfast to address his "fellow unionists" at the DUP conference.

The DUP did pump up the anti-deal rhetoric and party leader Arlene Foster said it may pull the rug from under Mrs May's minority government, which they have been propping up since June 2017.

Earlier, Ms Foster had gone so far as to say that a Labour government under Jeremy Corbyn was a bad scenario - but preferable to passage of this Brexit deal.

That does not look like promising ground for Mrs May. But another thing we can predict is that she will continue to fight her case.

She has clearly gained in popularity with the electorate for her courage and she has absolutely nothing to lose.

We can expect that she will begin the old game of bribing, cajoling and bullying waverers to back this deal. She will galvanise her party middle ground with an insistence it is this deal - or no deal. It will be garnished by dire warnings that Labour are waiting in the wings.

Will that be enough? Well maybe, or maybe not. It will be very interesting to observe from this side of the water.
Despite the evidence of mounting opposition to her deal, Theresa May has signed up to it without asking for a single change.

So we have ended up with the worst possible outcome. Leave voters are outraged at the betrayal of Brexit and Remain voters are asking what on earth is the point of losing all our say but still taking the EU's rules.

The political declaration, despite previous promises, does not set out a clear future relationship and raises significant issues in its own right. And the Withdrawal Agreement is fatally and fundamentally flawed.

Hundreds of pages are devoted to the Irish backstop, which kicks in automatically after the transition period. It lasts unless and until the EU decides something else it prefers can replace it.

Back in December, we advised the UK prime minister not to sign up to the Joint Report but she went ahead. And the provisos she entered to safeguard Northern Ireland's position have been deleted. Where's the final say promised to Northern Ireland in paragraph 50, for instance?

The backstop puts Northern Ireland under swathes of EU laws with no say for anyone in Belfast or London. It creates a trade border down the Irish Sea.

Those who say this backstop is good for our economy or business need to consider the effect of the trade barriers and growing divergence that would inevitably emerge, some immediately, most in future years, between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK - our main market.

It forces the UK as a whole into a customs union and taking the rules of the EU with no right to leave and no end date.

Far from being an insurance policy unlikely ever to be used, it is the baseline for the EU.

The backstop gives enormous advantage and leverage to the EU in the next stage of the negotiations on the final trade relationship. Just imagine how those negotiations will end up if this is the evidence of how we do it so far.

We are heading under this deal for Brexit in name only or the break-up of the United Kingdom. The tragedy is that it is all so utterly unnecessary since everyone, including Dublin, Brussels and London, says they are not going to have a hard Border on the island of Ireland under any circumstances.

Project Fear will now be ramped up and negotiation fatigue will be exploited to try to force people into accepting what the PM always said she would resist: a bad deal.

We will be told by the EU that nothing can be changed - take it or leave it - until, of course, the moment they change it. We may even be told all sorts of assurances can be made in London. If it's not in the legally binding Withdrawal Treaty, that would be difficult.

So the UK parliament is being presented with a plan that locks us into an EU straitjacket and leaves us divided and diminished.

Our party wants a good deal for the UK, a deal that delivers upon the referendum result and a deal that ensures Northern Ireland leaves with the rest of the UK. But it is not this deal. It is not a deal at any price.

Nigel Dodds MP is deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party
Investment bank Goldman Sachs's London staff have been told they can now have free sex-change surgery and fertility treatments.

Employees have been informed that sex-reassignment surgery and IVF treatments have been added to the company's employee benefits plan.

Goldman is not the first company to offer this to employees. In fact, Lloyds Banking Group was the first UK firm to offer sex-change surgery as an employee benefit back in 2016. Netflix and Facebook have been offering it to US staff since 2015.

In order to transition from one gender to another, patients usually require hormone treatments, breast augmentation, plastic surgery to remove or reconstruct genitals, and facial reconstruction.

The offer of free gender-reassignment surgery has been received warmly and shows companies are dedicated to promoting diversity. While this is all very impressive, the actual cost and risk to a company is, in fact, minimal.

"Committing to this form of equality allows a company to put another arrow in its quiver without terribly profound cost implications," said James Baron, a professor who studies human resources at the Yale School of Management.

According to a recent study, only one in about 10,000 to 20,000 employees typically uses gender transition coverage per year, with the average claim coming in at about 26,000.

In a concerted effort to promote this all-inclusive, all-embracing image, some of the big companies have also turned their attention to mothers. Portraying their inclusivity (and, let's face it, a desire to keep female staff in the office), many of the top firms have begun offering an array of new healthcare benefits.

Female employees with babies are now being offered fertility treatment, onsite childcare and "lactation rooms" where they can go to express their breast milk.

It is certainly welcome news that women no longer have to take their breast pumps into the office toilet.

But some companies have taken it a step further. Not only are employees now able to express their milk in peace, but they can also courier their expressed milk directly to their babies' lips. Yes, indeed. Big firms, including Goldman, IBM, Twitter and Accenture offer to transport employees' breast milk back home to their babies if they are travelling for work.

The companies deliver freezing kits to breastfeeding female employees on work trips. The frozen milk is then couriered from the hotel room back home for the baby to drink.

As welcome as this is, it also puts more pressure on women to get back to work quickly. The excuse of not being able to travel because you are breastfeeding is no longer going to be accepted as valid.

New and improved healthcare benefits are always going to be greeted with open arms and the LGBT community is pleased with the inroads being made.

The majority of people don't have any questions over their gender identity. However, there are a small number of people whose gender identity does not match the gender they were assigned at birth.

Some of these people will seek to transition gender. Some people choose to change gender without undergoing medical procedures, but some feel it is necessary for them to change physically to be truly happy. Currently, the only way to get help transitioning in Ireland is to go abroad. No transgender reassignment or 'sex-change' procedures are performed in Irish hospitals, but they can be arranged in another country and are funded by the taxpayer under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. Some 93 people have been approved for sex-change procedures under the scheme since 1999.

It is important that Irish companies look at including similar additional benefits in their plans too.

We shouldn't deny important medical care to people who, through natural circumstances beyond their control, don't fit into a traditional role, and let's get that breast milk into our babies' bottles.
Blockade: Russian jet fighters fly over a bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula with a cargo ship blocking the only exit to the Black Sea. Photo: Reuters

Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Crimea last night after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors, a move that risks igniting a new crisis between the two countries.

Russia's FSB security service said its border patrol boats had seized the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop.

The FSB said it had been forced to act because the ships - two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat - had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted illegal actions, and ignored warnings to stop while manoeuvring dangerously.

"Weapons were used with the aim of forcibly stopping the Ukrainian warships," the FSB said.

"As a result, all three Ukrainian naval vessels were seized in the Russian Federation's territorial waters in the Black Sea."

The FSB said three Ukrainian sailors had been wounded in the incident and were getting medical care.

With relations still raw after Russia's annexation of Crimea and its backing for a pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, the incident risks pushing the two countries towards a wider conflict.

Ukraine denied its ships had done anything wrong, accused Russia of military aggression, and for the international community to punish Russia.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with his top military and security chiefs amid talk of imposing martial law.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and then built a giant road bridge linking it to southern Russia which straddles the Kerch Strait - a narrow stretch of water which links the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, which is home to two of Ukraine's most important ports.

Russia's control of Crimea, where its Black Sea Fleet is based, and of the bridge, mean it is able to control shipping flows.

The crisis began earlier yesterday after Russia stopped the three Ukrainian ships from entering the Sea of Azov by placing a cargo ship beneath the bridge.

Russia backed its blockade with at least two Sukhoi Su-25 warplanes and Russian combat helicopters were also deployed in the area.
Russian border guards have opened fire on three Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Strait near the Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula, raising the prospect of a full-scale military confrontation.

The incident comes on the back of a four-and-a-half year long proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine.

A look at the conflict, its roots and possible consequences:

 Military escalation

Expand Close A ship under the Kerch bridge blocks the passage to the Kerch Strait (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A ship under the Kerch bridge blocks the passage to the Kerch Strait (AP)

Tensions have been rising in the Kerch Strait, which links the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, for a few weeks now. Shortly after Ukraine detained a fishing vessel travelling from Crimea in March, Russia increased its military presence in the area and started inspecting all vessels travelling to or from Ukrainian ports, causing days-long delays and disrupting trade. Ukraine has protested against the checks, calling them an economic blockade.

 Global impact

Expand Close Riot police line up as seen through protesters barricades in central Kiev, Ukraine. Russian border guards opened fire on three Ukrainian vessels late Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018 in the Kerch Strait near the Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula, raising the prospect of a full-scale military confrontation between the two neighbors. The incident comes on the back of a four-and-a-half year long proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov, File) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Riot police line up as seen through protesters barricades in central Kiev, Ukraine. Russian border guards opened fire on three Ukrainian vessels late Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018 in the Kerch Strait near the Russia-occupied Crimean peninsula, raising the prospect of a full-scale military confrontation between the two neighbors. The incident comes on the back of a four-and-a-half year long proxy conflict in eastern Ukraine. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov, File)

The ship seizure has prompted global concern and raised questions about eventual international intervention. Nato and the UN Security Council are holding emergency meetings to discuss what to do.

Russias actions are drawing renewed Western anger  and demonstrating Russian President Vladimir Putins resolve just days before he meets US President Donald Trump at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina.

The European Union is calling on both sides to stay calm, but is distracted by negotiations on Britains pending departure and divided over migration, and may have little energy to deal with a new Ukraine crisis.

 Ukraines choice: Russia vs the West

Expand Close Monuments to Kievs founders burn as anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kievs Independence Square in 2014 (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Monuments to Kievs founders burn as anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kievs Independence Square in 2014 (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

The roots of the current conflict lie in autumn 2013, when the Ukrainian government was due to sign a deal supposed to open European Union markets for Ukrainian goods and put the country on a pathway to possible EU membership. That endangered Ukraines ties with Russia, its closest neighbour and major trading partner.

The Kremlin vehemently opposed the deal, fearing an uncontrolled flow of goods through what was then virtually an open border. Despite his close ties to Russia, President Viktor Yanukovych publicly pledged to sign the deal  only to walk out on it at the last moment. Massive street protests followed, decrying Mr Yanukovych for what was seen as an attempt to deny Ukrainians a European future. A crackdown by riot police saw 130 people killed in sniper fire. Mr Yanukovych fled the capital to Crimea and was eventually whisked away by Russian special forces to southern Russia. An interim government, made up of the protest leaders, stepped in.

 Crimean annexation

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In February 2014, Russian officials began arriving in the Crimean peninsula shortly after the pro-Western government took power in Kiev, fanning fears of an onslaught on Russian heritage in parts of Ukraine including Crimea. Troops without insignia soon appeared in Crimea, occupying crucial infrastructure including Ukrainian military bases. It was only years later that Mr Putin publicly admitted that these were in fact Russian troops.

Ukrainian troops largely did not put up resistance and retreated.

Would-be separatist commander and Russian officer Igor Girkin later recounted how he and other Russian officers forced the hand of local Crimean politicians to pass a motion for a referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia. An overwhelming majority of votes cast on March 16 2014 supported secession. Two days later, Moscow signed a declaration with self-proclaimed Crimean officials, sealing the annexation. Neither the vote nor the annexation was recognised by the United Nations.

 War in eastern Ukraine

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Whatsapp Masked pro-Russian gunmen guard an entrance of the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk in 2014 (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Emboldened by the annexation of Crimea, local activists, propped up by Russian operatives, took over towns in eastern Ukraine and tore down Ukrainian flags. Separatist leaders in the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk held contested votes supporting a motion to break away from Ukraine.

Sporadic outbursts of violence and clashes between Ukrainian troops and the separatists spilled over into a full-blown war in May 2014, when Ukraine launched an air strike on Donetsk airport which was overrun by Russian Chechen fighters.

The conflict in eastern Ukraine has since killed more than 10,000 people and displaced over one million. Large swathes of this area remain under separatist control.

The Kremlin never admitted its role in the war, portraying it as a civil conflict. But overwhelming evidence suggests that Russia has been sending a sizeable number of troops and advisers as well as weapons to the rebels, helping to tip the conflict in their favour. Media reported a massive stream of heavy weaponry and tanks crossing in from Russia.

Ukraine signed peace accords with the separatists in 2015, calling for a ceasefire and political settlement in the east. While it helped to decrease the intensity of fighting, the accords did nothing to resolve the regions political stalemate.

 Church conflict

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Whatsapp A pro-Russian soldier flashes a victory sign while marching near a Ukrainian army base in Perevalne, Crimea, in 2014 (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

In the latest manifestation of Ukraines resolve to break off with Russia once and for all, Kiev has stepped up its efforts to seek independence for its Orthodox church. The church in Ukraine has been tied to the Moscow Patriarchate for hundreds of years. Calls for independence have increased since the conflict began.

The Istanbul-based patriarchate, whose head Bartholomew I is considered the first among equals of Orthodox church leaders, in October made the first step towards recognising the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The move was decried by the Russian Orthodox Church as well as the Kremlin.

 Whats next?

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While Sundays incident  which some call the first overt military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine  raises the spectrum of a full-blown conflict, it is not likely that either side would want an all-out confrontation. By opening fire on the Ukrainian vessels, Moscow reinforced its message that Crimea is Russian for good and that Moscow will not allow anyone to question that.

In Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko is likely to benefit from the martial law that he is proposing. Mr Poroshenkos approval ratings have been in free-fall, and delaying the March presidential elections and playing up the Russian threat could help him get re-elected if the vote is held at a later date.
A man receives oxygen through respirators following a suspected chemical attack on his the of al-Khalidiya, in Aleppo, Syria. Photo: SANA via AP

Russian warplanes attacked rebel-held areas in northern Syria for the first time in weeks after more than 100 people were treated at hospitals for a suspected poison gas attack in Aleppo.

The rebels, who have denied carrying out any poison gas attacks, accused the government of trying to undermine a truce reached by Russia and Turkey in September during a summit in the Russian city of Sochi. The targeted area is rebel-held and home to extremist groups opposed to the truce such as the al-Qa'ida-linked Horas al-Din - which has described the deal as a "great conspiracy" - and the Ansar al-Din Front.

Russian military spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in Moscow that Russian aircraft destroyed militant positions in northern Syria and blamed them for the gas attack on Aleppo.

The latest wave of shelling and air strikes in northern Syria is the most serious violation of a truce reached by Russia and Turkey that brought relative calm to the country's north for the past two months.

"The planes of Russia's Aerospace Defence Forces carried out strikes on the detected artillery positions of terrorists in the area, from where the shelling of Aleppo civilians with chemical munitions was conducted late," said Major General Konashenkov.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Thiqa News Agency, an activist collective, said air attacks pounded rebel-held areas west and south of Aleppo city.

The strikes were the first since the truce went into effect on September 17.

Syria's Arab News Agency, SANA, said Syrian troops pounded rebel positions near Aleppo "inflicting heavy losses among terrorists".

SANA said the alleged chemical attack was carried out late on Saturday by "terrorist groups positioned in Aleppo countryside" which fired shells containing toxic gases on three neighbourhoods in Syria's largest city.

Human Rights Watch's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Lama Fakih, said "serious reports of suspected chemical weapon attacks should not be left without investigation".

She added that all parties, including the Syrian government and Russia, should facilitate a probe by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Maj Gen Konashenkov said Russian chemical weapons specialists had gone to Aleppo. Russia is a close ally of President Bashar al-Assad and has intervened in recent years to turn the tide of the civil war in his favour.
Investigators are trying to find out who hung seven nooses in trees outside the Mississippi legislature early on Monday, a day before a US Senate vote that has focused attention on the states history of racist violence.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety said the nooses were accompanied by handwritten signs referring to Tuesdays election as well as to lynchings  most of them in the states turbulent past, but also one recent case that remains under investigation, of a black man whose body was found hanging in central Mississippi.

The department posted photos of the signs on social media and sought information from the public.

The @MissDPS is asking anyone who may have seen something in that area this morning or may have information on the identities of the people responsible, please contact the @MDPSMBI at 601-933-2652 or Central Mississippi CrimeStoppers at 601-355-TIPS. pic.twitter.com/p3QK1RlxWs  MS DPS (@MissDPS) November 26, 2018

One sign referred to the Tuesday run-off between appointed Republican senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is white, and Democrat Mike Espy, who is black.

The sign also read: We need someone who respects the lives of lynch victims.

Another sign read: Were hanging nooses to remind people that times havent changed.

Expand Close Cindy Hyde-Smith (Rogelio V Solis/AP) / Facebook

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Ms Hyde-Smith has drawn fire for a photo showing her wearing a replica hat of a Confederate soldier, and a video showing her praising a supporter by saying: If he invited me to a public hanging, Id be on the front row.

She said the hanging remark was an exaggerated expression of regard for the supporter, but the remarks drew sharp criticism in a state with a 38% black population. She apologised to anyone that was offended.

Mr Espy is trying to become the first African-American US senator from Mississippi since Reconstruction.

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Donald Trump praised Ms Hyde-Smith as he headed to Mississippi to lead two rallies for the senator.

The president said she has apologised and misspoke, adding that her comments were taken a certain way but she certainly didnt mean it.

Neither of the candidates has commented on the nooses.

Chuck McIntosh, a spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, which oversees the state capitol, said the nooses and signs were found starting shortly before 8am on Monday outside the building in central Jackson.

The matter is under investigation by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Mississippi Capitol Police and the US attorneys office.

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With our law enforcement partners, we are actively looking into these acts of hate and intimidation, US attorney Mike Hurst said in a statement.

Let me be perfectly clear  there is absolutely no place in our state for these unacceptable symbols or tactics to intimidate others. If we find evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that a federal crime has occurred, these criminals will be swiftly prosecuted.

Republican lieutenant governor Tate Reeves, who has an office in the capitol, called the nooses and signs reprehensible.

Mississippi has a history of racially motivated lynchings. The NAACP website says that between 1882 and 1968, there were 4,743 lynchings in the US, and that nearly 73% of the victims were black. Mississippi had 581 during that time, the highest number of any state.

Civil rights activists were also beaten and killed in Mississippi as they pushed for African-American voting rights, particularly from the end of the Second World War until the 1960s.
A group of U.S. Forest Service firefighters monitor a back fire while battling to save homes at the Camp Fire in Paradise, California earlier this month. Photo: Reuters

The deadliest wildfire in California history that destroyed the mountain town of Paradise and killed at least 85 people was 100pc contained by yesterday, according to state fire officials.

The number of people still missing from the Camp Fire north of San Francisco dropped to 249, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said. The number was revised down from 475 as people who were believed missing were found in shelters, staying in hotels or with friends, officials said, adding that many did not know they were on the list.

The Camp Fire that started on November 8 destroyed nearly 14,000 homes and burned nearly 62,000 hectares - an area five times the size of San Francisco.

Searchers will have a few more days of dry weather, but starting late tomorrow, another 5-13cm of rain is expected to drop on the Sierra Nevada foothills between then and Sunday, hampering the searchers' work and renewing fears of flash floods and mudslides, forecasters said.

"The fear is that the rain will drop in intense bursts," Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the federal Weather Prediction Centre in College Park, Maryland, said.

"All the vegetation has burned away, and that's a dangerous recipe for mudslides," Mr Hurley said.

Last week, 5-8cm of rain fell there and turned ash from the thousands of destroyed homes into slurry, complicating the work of finding bodies reduced to bone fragments.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea has warned that remains of some victims may never be found. The town of Paradise was a popular destination for retirees, with people aged 65 or older accounting for a quarter of its 27,000 residents.

Most of the victims of the fire identified so far were of retirement age.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

Thousands of people forced to flee Paradise spent the Thanksgiving holiday in warehouses in the nearby city of Chico, or with friends or relatives in nearby towns.

In southern California, more residents returned to areas evacuated in a destructive fire as crews repaired power, telephone and gas utilities.

Los Angeles county sheriff's officials said they were in the last phase of repopulating Malibu and other areas of the county.

At the height of the fire, 250,000 fled their homes.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the agreement allowing the United Kingdom to leave the European Union may make trade between Washington and London more difficult.

US President Donald Trump has said that the agreement allowing the UK to leave the European Union may make trade between Washington and London more difficult.

He also told reporters outside the White House the deal sounds like it will be good for the European Union.

Mr Trump also addressed the crisis between Ukraine and Russia and said he does not like what is happening in the region.

"We do not like what's happening either way. And hopefully it will get straightened out," Trump told reporters.

Trump said European leaders were working on the situation. "They're not thrilled. We're all working on it together," he said.

Today, Russia ignored Western calls to release three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews it fired on and captured near Crimea at the weekend and accused Kiev of plotting with its Western allies to provoke a conflict.

Speaking to reporters as he left he White House, Mr Trump also insisted he had read parts of a US government report projecting that climate change will cost the country's economy billions of dollars by the end of the century, but he does not believe the economic impacts will be devastating.

"I've seen it, I've read some of it, and it's fine," he told reporters at the White House. Asked about severe economic impacts, he said, "I don't believe it."
Shares in Faroe Petroleum soared more than 25% after its largest shareholder launched a 608 million takeover bid for the company.

DNO, a Norwegian firm which already owns more than 28% of Faroe, said it was offering a considerable premium for investors wishing to exit amid the uncertainty of the oil market.

Faroe urged shareholders to reject DNOs opportunistic, unsolicited and inadequate offer, advising them to take no action in relation to their shares.

Some analysts also said the proposal undervalues the company, and urged investors to turn down the low-ball offer.

Faroe's strong balance sheet and growth trajectory means it is relatively well insulated against short-term oil price movesAnalysts at BMO

The bid confirmed growing speculation that DNO would make an offer, after the company bought its sizeable stake in Faroe earlier this year.

DNOs executive chairman, Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, said in the event of an acquisition, the firm would retain the skills, knowledge and expertise of Faroes employees.

We intend to retain Faroes Aberdeen head office and each of the other offices, he said.

Faroe has operations in the UK, Ireland and Norway. Mr Mossavar-Rahmani said its assets would be better placed in the bosom of DNO, Norways oldest independent oil and gas company.

Shares in Faroe closed 27% higher at 159.6p.

John Bentley, Faroe chairman, said: DNOs offer substantially undervalues Faroe on every applicable metric.

The board is determined to defend our shareholders rights to receive an appropriate premium for a fully funded business which is actively progressing the delivery of its highly attractive growth prospects and is the only platform available which solves DNOs strategic challenges.

We believe that Faroe is worth substantially more than 152p per share and we urge shareholders to reject DNOs opportunistic, unsolicited and inadequate offer.

The offer comes on the back of weaker oil prices in recent weeks. The price of Brent crude has tumbled since hitting a four-year high in September, with a barrel trading at 60 US dollars on Monday evening.

Analysts at BMO said the offer of 152p per share was below their valuation of 170p per share.

DNOs bid looks opportunistic, coming on the back of recent weakness in commodity markets, they said.

Faroes strong balance sheet and growth trajectory means it is relatively well insulated against short-term oil price moves.

Cantor Fitzgerald said: While DNOs significant existing stake may make a takeover now appear ultimately inevitable, in our view investors would be ill-advised to accept what is clearly a low-ball offer.
Paramilitary police officers stand at the entrance to a private villa in Yalova, Turkey, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Turkeys state-run news agency says police are searching a villa in northwest Turkey as part of an investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (DHA via AP)

Police are searching a villa in the north west of Turkey as part of an investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the countrys state-run news agency said.

Anadolu Agency said Mondays search was taking place at a villa in the town of Termal in Yalova province.

The agency said crime scene investigators and sniffer dogs were part of the search.

Other Turkish media reports however went further, saying police were searching for the remains of The Washington Post columnist who wrote critically about Saudi Arabias crown prince.

It was not immediately clear who the villa belongs to.

Khashoggi was allegedly killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

Turkey says he was killed by a 15-member Saudi hit-squad and that his body was dismembered before being removed from the consulate.
Ukraines parliament has voted to impose martial law to fight what its president called growing aggression from Moscow after a naval confrontation off the disputed Crimean peninsula.

The weekend incident saw Russia fire on and seize three Ukrainian vessels amid renewed tensions between the neighbours.

Western leaders and diplomats urged both sides to de-escalate the conflict, and the US blamed Russia for what it called unlawful conduct over Sundays incident in the Black Sea.

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other in the dispute that ratcheted up tensions that have simmered since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and threw its weight behind separatists in eastern Ukraine with clandestine support, including troops and weapons.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked legislators in Kiev to institute martial law, something the country has not done even during the worst of the fighting in the east that killed about 10,000 people.

After a five-hour debate, parliament overwhelmingly approved his proposal, voting to impose martial law from Wednesday morning for 30 days in 10 of Ukraines 27 regions  those bordering Russia, Belarus and Moldovas pro-Moscow breakaway republic of Trans-Dniester.

The locations were identified as potentially in the front line of any Russian attack. The capital Kiev is not under martial law.

Mr Poroshenko said it was necessary because of intelligence about a highly serious threat of a ground operation against Ukraine.

Martial law doesnt mean declaring a war, he said. It is introduced with the sole purpose of boosting Ukraines defence in the light of a growing aggression from Russia.

At todays NATO Ukraine Commission meeting, all #NATO Allies reiterated their support for #Ukraines territorial integrity & sovereignty. We call for calm & restraint in the Sea of Azov: https://t.co/kePfq7a2LE pic.twitter.com/mC50QkgszC  Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) November 26, 2018

Ukraines Defence Ministry had announced earlier in the day that its troops were on full combat alert.

The approved measures included a partial mobilisation and strengthening the countrys air defences. It also contained vaguely worded steps such as strengthening anti-terrorism measures and information security that could curtail certain rights and freedoms.

Mr Poroshenkos critics reacted to his call for martial law with suspicion, wondering why Sundays incident merited such a response. His approval ratings have been plunging, and there were concerns that he would postpone a presidential election scheduled for March.

Just before parliament met to vote, he sought to allay those fears by releasing a statement revising his original martial law proposal from 60 days to 30, to do away with the pretexts for political speculation.

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said Mr Poroshenko assured him martial law would not have a negative impact on the election.

RT @USUN: In the name of international peace and security, Russia must immediately cease its unlawful conduct and respect the navigational rights and freedoms of all states.  Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) November 26, 2018

Mr Poroshenkos call also outraged far-right groups in Ukraine that have advocated severing diplomatic ties with Russia. Hundreds of protesters from the National Corps party waved flares in the snowy streets of Kiev outside parliament and accused the president of using martial law to his own ends.

But he insisted it was necessary because what happened in the Kerch Strait between Crimea and the Russian mainland was no accident, adding that this was not the culmination of it yet.

Russian coastguard ships fired on the Ukrainian navy vessels near the strait, which separates the Black Sea from the Sea of Azov, injuring six Ukrainian seamen and eventually seizing the vessels and their crews.

It was the first open military confrontation between the two neighbours since the annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine said its vessels were heading to the Sea of Azov in line with international maritime rules, while Russia said they had failed to obtain permission to pass through the narrow strait that is spanned by a 11.8-mile bridge that Russia completed this year.

While a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Moscow has sought to assert greater control over the passage since the annexation.

Ukrainian foreign minister Pavlo Klimkin said the dispute was not an accident and Russia had engaged in deliberately planned hostilities.

His Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov blamed Kiev for what he described as a provocation, adding: Ukraine had undoubtedly hoped to get additional benefits from the situation, expecting the US and Europe to blindly take the provocateurs side.

At a UN Security Council meeting, US ambassador Nikki Haley urged Moscow to immediately cease its unlawful conduct in the Black Sea.
Ukraines parliament has voted to support the presidents motion to impose martial law for 30 days.

The move will include a partial mobilisation and strengthening of the countrys air defence.

The measures before parliament also included vaguely worded steps such as strengthening anti-terrorism measures and information security.

President Petro Poroshenko had asked legislators to back his motion to impose martial law after Sundays incident near Russia-occupied Crimea when Russian borders guards opened fire on three Ukrainian navy vessels before seizing the ships and their crews.

Parliament voted overwhelmingly for the martial law motion after a five-hour debate.

We consider it as an act of aggression against our state and a very serious threat, Mr Poroshenko said.

Unfortunately, there are no red lines for the Russian Federation.

The Ukrainian navy said six sailors were wounded when Russian coastguards opened fire late on Sunday on three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait and then seized them.

Russia said three Ukrainian sailors were lightly injured and given medical assistance.

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was called for Monday, while the European Union and Nato called for restraint from both sides.

Mr Poroshenko had a phone call with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the situation, and Nato later said that, at Mr Poroshenkos request, its ambassadors and Ukraines envoy will hold emergency talks in Brussels.

Nato said Mr Stoltenberg expressed the US-led military alliances full support for Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law.

European Union chief Donald Tusk called on Russia to stop provoking Ukraine and urged the authorities to return any Ukrainian ships or sailors it is holding.
Vans parked outside a villa during a search by Turkish police near the town of Termal (DHA via AP)

Turkish police searching for the remains of killed Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi have scoured the grounds of two adjoining villas in north-western Turkey, the countrys state-run news agency reported.

Crime scene investigators and other officials aided by sniffer dogs and a drone first sealed off one of the villas near the town of Termal in Yalova province and later expanded their search to the grounds of the neighbouring villa, the state-run Anadolu agency reported.

The focus of the search was a well on the grounds of the first villa, which was being drained of water with special equipment brought to the scene.

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Turkey has maintained pressure on Saudi Arabia over the October 2 killing of the US-based columnist for The Washington Post.

Mr Khashoggi was a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Turkey says the journalist was killed by a 15-member assassination squad sent from Riyadh.

The assassins reportedly strangled and dismembered him before removing his remains, which have yet to be found.

Anadolu, without citing a source, said the villas belong to two Saudi businessmen, including one who had allegedly been contacted by telephone by some members of the Saudi assassination squad.

The agency did not name the businessman but said he was outside of Turkey at the time of the killing and had not returned in the past two months.

Ankara insists the orders for the killing came from the highest levels of the Saudi government, but not King Salman.

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The Saudi agents blamed for the killing included some members of the crown princes security entourage.

Saudi Arabia initially said Mr Khashoggi had walked out of the consulate before shifting its account of what happened amid Turkish intelligence leaks.

Riyadh is now seeking the death penalty for five members of the hit squad in a move that appeared to be aimed at appeasing international outrage over the killing and distancing the killers and their operation from the crown prince.

Saudi prosecutors maintain that the 15-man team sent to Istanbul exceeded its authority when the lead negotiator in the team decided to kill Mr Khashoggi for refusing orders to return.

Yalova governor Muammer Erol confirmed that a search related to Mr Khashoggis killing was taking place but said any announcement concerning the search would come from Istanbuls chief prosecutor, who is leading the Turkish investigation into the killing.
Woman elected chairwoman of Sisseton Wahpeton

Sisseton/Wahpeton unofficial election resultsBy Ernestine Chasing HawkNative Sun News Today Staff Writer

AGENCY VILLAGE  On January 2, 2019, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate on the Lake Traverse Reservation will welcome a new Chairwoman to lead their tribe of 13,872 members.

Ella Robertson, 44, was elected during the SWO General Election on Nov. 6 and defeated incumbent Dave Flute  1,063 to 891.

Robertson made history as the second woman elected to lead the tribe, whose reservation straddles the border of both North and South Dakota. The first tribal Chairwoman to be elected was Lorraine Rousseau in 1992 when she defeated incumbent Russell Hawkins.

Robertson, mother of four children and two grandchildren, is the daughter of Chyrel Renville DeCoteau and Edward Toto Robertson.

The new Chairwoman elect is lifelong resident of the Lake Traverse Reservation, and a member of the Big Coulee District. She is an alumnus of the Sisseton Wahpeton College, University of Minnesota Morris and received her masters degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth in Tribal Administration and Governance.

Since I was little my family always told me that I would lead our people, and I think everything that I have experienced in life, the good and the bad has led me here, now the Chairwoman elect of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, Robertson said.

When Robertson announced her candidacy to family and friends she said a young gentleman shared the following story that was passed on in his family, a story that she said further inspired her.

A long time ago the Wahpe Kute were living down near Nebraska. An enemy tribe attacked the village, the men left to fight them, protecting the people. The women watched from the hilltop as the battle went on below. The Dakota men began to fall, they were being killed and it looked like they were going to lose the battle. So the women ran down the hill, picked up weapons and began to fight to save their men. One woman picked up a bow and shot the war chief of the enemy tribe, ending the battle, Robertson shared. This is our history. Our women are strong and they will fight to protect their people. Now is that time.

The political road hasnt been an easy road for her as she said it brings division and animosity to her people each campaign season, What kept me centered was the encouragement of many men and women, young and old that believed in me and what I stood for.

Contact Ernestine Chasing Hawk at staffwriter@nativesunnews.today

Copyright permission Native Sun News Today

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Dont Trash Thanksgiving. Decolonize It

Despite the holidays false origin tale, we can celebrate with our families in ways that honor those who the day originally dishonored.By Zenobia Jeffries WarfieldYES! Magazine

Every year, more Americans opt out of celebrating Thanksgiving. Others heavily consider it.

Maybe its because they dont have friends and family to share the holiday with, or simply dont want to share the holiday with the friends and family they have.

Maybe it has something to do with the myth of Pilgrims giving thanks to Indians for helping them grow their first crop for the harvest, and reconciling that with the truth about the genocide of Indigenous peoples on this land by those settlers.

But we dont have to reject the holiday completely. We can, and should, decolonize and reinterpret it.

This tale that the new settlers held a dinner after the harvest to thank the native peoples has been told to generations who have uncritically accepted it. By now, Americans should know that this version of the occasion told in school plays and history books is nothing more than the patriotic indoctrination that is the foundation of our education system.

The celebration dates back to the 17th century. And over time, people have debated its origin and purpose.

The fact is, there is no one event from which the holiday is derived. And around the world, other countries such as Canada, Liberia, Netherlands, the Philippines, and Germany celebrate their own Thanksgiving on different days.

Some historians have documented that the tradition came to the New World with the settlers. Some say the holiday was secular. Others say it was religious. It has been observed on various dates throughout history.

In the late 1700s, George Washington declared November 26 a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. Seventy-four years later, Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November to celebrate the Unions military successes in Civil War. And in 1941, FDR signed a resolution changing the date from the last Thursday to the fourth Thursday of the month.

Since then, many have chosen to replace the traditional celebration with ones that honor their sociopolitical or familial beliefs.

In 1970, a group of Indigenous peoples in the northeastern region of the U.S. protested the day. Ever since, they and their supporters have been observing it as a National Day of Mourning . Participants gather at noon to honor Native ancestors and the struggles of Native people today. The ceremony held on Coles Hill overlooking Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts is in remembrance of their spiritual connections as well as in protest of the racism and oppression of Indigenous peoples.

Juan Gonzalez brought a message from the Council of Maya Elders to #NationalDayOfMourning. #ndom2018 pic.twitter.com/jzNPWkg2ik  ndnviewpoint (@mahtowin1) November 23, 2018

Over time, educators and parents across racial groups have approached the decolonizing process by introducing nontraditional historical texts to their students and writing letters to K-12 schools requesting such texts be taught in place of the traditional myth. They cite the harm done to young people by lying to them.

One educator suggested a number of resources, including these texts and letters

Other examples include more individual, and maybe less political or educational approaches.

Many of us celebrate what I learned later in life to call Family Day.

In some households, Pilgrims and Indians are never mentioned. Traditional American history is never mentioned.

The day is about spending time with family, and of course the culinary delights prepared by the matriarchs of our families.

My family would stand in a circle holding hands. Wed each share what were thankful for. My paternal grandmother would then pray and bless the food.

For some its about giving thanks by giving back to those who dont have families to spend time with, or a meal to eat. They go to church, visit hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, food pantries, or folks on the streets in their communities. Some sponsor dinners for families who are experiencing financial challenges.

A YES! reader shared that her family gave up their Thanksgiving turkey dinner to donate the money they would spend on food items to their local food bank.

On [this] holiday we sit down with a simple bowl of rice (which two-thirds of the world population would have been happy to have) and we made lists of all the things and people were thankful to have and to know.

Ultimately, within our families and communities and schools, we should stop, reinterpret, and repurpose traditions that are harmful, either in theory or practice.

I learned from my elders that when you know better, you should do better.

As we enter into this holiday, lets acknowledge the movement of decolonization and re-education happening in our country.

We can observe and celebrate with our families in ways that honor those who the day originally dishonored, and those who continue to struggle under oppression.

Zenobia Jeffries Warfield wrote this article for YES! Magazine . Zenobia is the racial justice associate editor. Follow her on Twitter @ZenobiaJeffries

This article originally appeared on YES! Magazine . It is published under a Creative Commons license

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Ten years ago, Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated terror attacks in Mumbai that lasted for three consecutive days. Several people were trapped; there were bomb explosions and gunfires one after the other. The wave of immense fear ran across the entire nation, which noticed an eerie silence with all eyes glued to the TV sets.

About 166 people died and hundreds of them were injured. But the scars are still afresh and probably it will take a lifetime to heal.

The country salutes those who fought to keep the city safe and saved many lives. The country pays tribute to the victims and the bravehearts who lost their lives.

Ten years after the 26/11 attacks, the entire nation is mourning together.

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Tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.

Our solidarity with the bereaved families.

A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 26, 2018

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Never forget!

#26/11  Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) November 26, 2018

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Will never forget 26/11. We have only grown stronger #mumbaikar #jaihind  Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) November 26, 2018

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Remembering those who put the nation before themselves. And our salute to the city whose resilience always made its people stronger #RememberingTheHeroes pic.twitter.com/T80KfE6chr  Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) November 26, 2018

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I offer my heartfelt tribute to the ones who put Mumbai first, till the very end. #RememberingTheHeroes pic.twitter.com/ZRVq9AaY0B  CP Mumbai Police (@CPMumbaiPolice) November 26, 2018

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Remembering our heroes of 26/11... Everyone who helped each other through the tough time.. My heart goes out to their courage and sacrifice and for all the innocent victims .. #MumbaiTerrorAttack  Arjun Kapoor (@arjunk26) November 26, 2018

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26/11. We will never forget. What has changed since, Mumbai? Are we any safer? We were promised Police Reforms, counter-terrorism training and modern equipment for a woefully understaffed and underpaid @MumbaiPolice force. Seen any?  VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) November 26, 2018

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Ten years after the Mumbai terror attacks, thoughts with families and individuals who suffered. We salute those from the police and security forces who made the supreme sacrifice that day. India remains honour-bound to securing justice, and defeating terrorism #PresidentKovind  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 26, 2018

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Today, remembering the bravest of souls who led from the front, foiled the 26/11 attacks by giving their all. My salute and deepest gratitude to the martyrs, thoughts and prayers with the families. #MumbaiTerrorAttack  Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) November 26, 2018

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.@SecPompeo: On behalf of all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the #MumbaiTerrorAttack. We stand with the families and friends of the victims, including six American citizens. https://t.co/NGj4xSGkAv pic.twitter.com/F6oI1Rhouh  Department of State (@StateDept) November 25, 2018

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Remembering the heroes of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack who sacrificed themselves for defending the country. #MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/Vj6s2EVAKI  Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) November 26, 2018

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My deepest condolences with families of those who lost their lives in the horrific terror attacks in Mumbai on this day in 2008.

We salute the heroic warriors who laid down their lives to protect their fellow countrymen. The nation is indebted to their supreme sacrifice.  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 26, 2018

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Remembering the hero's of 26/11 .. They kept nation before self .. You continue to live in our heart ...#MumbaiTerrorAttack #2611Attack pic.twitter.com/4p4PIAOo7l  Rahul Dev Official (@RahulDevRising) November 26, 2018

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10 years ! 26.11.2008

10 #Islamists from #Pakistan attacked #Mumbai & launched one of the worst terror attacks in Indian history. We lost 100s of humans ....Please dont forget... or Forgive!! #RestInPeaceHeros#terrorists #MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/DkiuGypQUO  Koena Mitra (@koenamitra) November 25, 2018

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Tukaram Omble Ji,A real Martyr....

ASI In @MumbaiPolice Was Shot 23 Times On His Chest By Kasab But Tukaramji Didn't Leave Kasab And It Was Him Due To Which Kasab Was Captured Alive...

Salute Tukaramji's Bravery And Courage.

You'll Be In Prayers Sir.

#MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/z5lYAqJMEA   SINGH    (@HatindersinghR) November 26, 2018

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#MumbaiTerrorAttack

"Hard times don't create heroes. It is during the hard times when the hero within us is revealed"#2611Attack, changed the public perception about police

NEVER FORGET, NEVER FORGIVE

Salute to those brave hearts  Rushi Pasalkar (@lost_boy_r03) November 26, 2018

#18

We salute our heroic warriors who laid down their lives to protect us. We are indebted for their supreme sacrifice. For now and forever you will inspire us.

My deepest condolences and prayers are with families of innocent victims of #MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/cy0I6hQXGJ  Nehal Shah (@NehalShahBJP) November 26, 2018

#19

#MumbaiTerrorAttack

Vo chilaatay rahe hum suntay rahe,vo marrtay rahe hum dekhtay rahe,thay kuch jo uth khar laday thay us raat,aaj uni ki yaad me kuch kehena chahata hun, ae mere veer saathion me tumare jaisa ban na chahta hun!

#26/11,2018  Smoked Ink! (@InkSmoked) November 26, 2018

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With great power comes great responsibly. For a country which is obsessed with cinema, movie stars often cast a long-lasting impact on the audiences, especially when they contribute to a social cause.

A lot of times, a lot of celebrities have used their star power to make this world a better place. Remember Randeep Hooda flew down to Kerela to extend a helping hand for the flood victims on his birthday.

Joining the bandwagon, South Indian actor Vishal, who is also the President of Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council and Secretary of Nadigar Sangam, has adopted an entire village Karagavayal.

Twitter

Located near Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu), village Karagavayal was heavily hit by Cyclone Gaja. It is said that the village was worst affected regions of the area.

Vishal has adopted the village and has promised to restore it, he told his fans in tweet below.

This village is mine. #kaarkavaiyaI thanjavur district. I swear I will bring back this village to normality and this will be my responsibility forever. Model village on the way.i luv u group #socialarchitects to help me achieve this.god bless  Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) November 24, 2018

Choreographer-turned-actor Raghava Lawrence said that he would build 50 houses to help the Gaja affected victims.

Recently, I saw a family stranded in the streets in the delta region. It was devastating to see them in such a pathetic situation. I'm planning to build 50 huts to the needy people to the victims of Gaja cyclone, he said in a press statement.

toptamilnews.com

Many more celebs including Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Vijay have contributed money for the victims of Cyclone Gaja. It is said that the villagers are moved by his gesture. Cyclone Gaja has killed 45 people and had also destroyed the crops.
The #MeToo movement brought forth a lot of names of sexual predators from Bollywood. One of them was Sajid Khan. Not one but several women opened up about sexual misconduct by him.

Actor Farhan Akhtar says he feels a sense of guilt for not being aware of the indecent behaviour of his cousin Sajid Khan, who has been accused of sexual harassment by several women. Sajid was accused of sexual harassment by two women -- actor Saloni Chopra and a journalist, following which he stepped down as the director of Housefull 4. When the allegations had surfaced, Farhan, who has been a vocal supporter of #MeToo movement, was one of the first celebrities to react and had termed them as "shocking."

"Everytime something like this has happened in the public domain, I've been very vocal with my opinion. When it came to someone within my family, I felt silence on that front would be very, very hypocritical," Farhan said.

"So pretty much on the first day when three women came out and spoke, I felt it was important for me to speak out. Sajid, being my brother, I need to now work with him, try to figure out how he can see this thing through and how it is that he can make the women who have been affected by his actions, somehow feel better," he added.

TOI

"To start with apologising is a big step. To say 'I am sorry about what I did' is a big step, it can make a person feel a lot better," he added.

Farhan said when he first heard about the accusations against his cousin, he had conflicted emotions.

"It was surprise, disappointment and strangely, because when it's a member of your family, you also feel a certain level of guilt. It's happened to all of us in the past when we hear something like this and say 'but how come someone so close to him didn't know.'

"The truth is I didn't. If I did know I would've spoken about it way before the story broke. There was this certain guilt about that, how could this be going on and I had no idea. So there were conflicted emotions," he said.

Farhan feels he wishes he had known about Sajid's behaviour and said three women spoke to him privately, accusing the filmmaker of the same.

"There were two-three women who got in touch with me privately to say 'listen you should know whatever is being said is true and he has behaved in a similar way with us as well.' These are the people I've known for 12, 15, 20 years and meet them very often but nobody ever mentioned this to me. I asked them why didn't you ever tell me?

Tiwtter

"I have been doing something with MARD for the last five years, I wouldn't have been on his side if you had brought it to my attention but somehow they weren't comfortable to speak about it," he said.

But the actor says it is ultimately a woman's decision when she wants to come out and tell her story and she should be given that environment and space.

"If someone has behaved badly with a woman and she hasn't spoken about it for ten, 20 or 30 years, it's her prerogative when she wants to speak. Even if someone tells me privately, like these three women, I cannot take their names. Can I go to the public with that? I can't because she will be answerable then for the rest of her life and may be she first want to be. It's a woman's agency," he added.

Also present at the panel discussion were politician Milind Deora and comedian Cyrus Broacha.
Its been a topic of discussion ever since a sheep that went by the name of dolly became the first mammal to be ever cloned in 1996. Then in 2015 we created the first genetically modified human embryo.

Although successful, the experiment did raise issues surrounding the use of embryos for scientific research and around creating designer babies. One of the key issues regarding this process is the fact that the unpredictability and uncertainty related to the DNA editing process of using such a technology is completely unknown and can pose a major risk to the people being born through it.

That being said a Chinese researcher now claims that hes behind the makings of the world's first genetically edited babiestwin girls whose DNA he said he altered with a powerful new tool capable of rewriting the very blueprint of life.

FOX31

Just like the cloning of the embryos prior to this experiment this would be profound leap concerning the ethical use of science and technology.

A US scientist said he took part in the work in China, but this kind of gene editing is banned in the United States because the DNA changes can pass to future generations and it risks harming other genes. The key researcher of experiment, He Jiankui of Shenzhen, said he altered embryos for seven couples during fertility treatments, with one pregnancy resulting thus far.

He said his goal was not to cure or prevent an inherited disease, but to try to bestow a trait that few people naturally havean ability to resist possible future infection with HIV, the AIDS virus.

He said the parents involved declined to be identified or interviewed, and he would not say where they live or where the work was done. There is no independent confirmation of He's claim, and it has not been published in a journal, where it would be vetted by other experts. He revealed it Monday in Hong Kong to one of the organisers of an international conference on gene editing that is set to begin Tuesday, and earlier in exclusive interviews with The Associated Press.

AP

"I feel a strong responsibility that it's not just to make a first, but also make it an example,'' He told the AP. "Society will decide what to do next'' in terms of allowing or forbidding such science.

He said he chose to try embryo gene editing for HIV because these infections are a big problem in China. He sought to disable a gene called CCR5 that forms a protein doorway that allows HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to enter a cell.

All of the men in the project had HIV and all of the women did not, but the gene editing was not aimed at preventing the small risk of transmission, He said. The fathers had their infections deeply suppressed by standard HIV medicines and there are simple ways to keep them from infecting offspring that do not involve altering genes.

Instead, the appeal was to offer couples affected by HIV a chance to have a child that might be protected from a similar fate.

Stat

As expected several mainstream scientists think it's too unsafe to try, and some denounced the Chinese report as human experimentation and as result was met with a lot of condemnation from the medical fraternity.

It's "unconscionable ... an experiment on human beings that is not morally or ethically defensible,'' said Dr. Kiran Musunuru, a University of Pennsylvania gene editing expert and editor of a genetics journal.

"This is far too premature," said Dr. Eric Topol, who heads the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California. "We're dealing with the operating instructions of a human being. It's a big deal."

WWMT.com

However, one famed geneticist from Harvard University, George Church, defended this attempt for gene editing for HIV, which he called "a major and growing public health threat." In recent years scientists have discovered a relatively easy way to edit genes, the strands of DNA that govern the body. The tool, called CRISPR-cas9, makes it possible to operate on DNA to supply a needed gene or disable one that's causing problems. It's only recently been tried in adults to treat deadly diseases, and the changes are confined to that person. Editing sperm, eggs or embryos is differentthe changes can be inherited. In the US, it's not allowed except for lab research. China outlaws human cloning but not specifically gene editing.

AP

He even went on to describe his work.

The gene editing occurred during IVF, or lab dish fertilisation. First, sperm was "washed" to separate it from semen, the fluid where HIV can lurk. A single sperm was placed into a single egg to create an embryo. Then the gene editing tool was added.

When the embryos were 3 to 5 days old, a few cells were removed and checked for editing. Couples could choose whether to use edited or unedited embryos for pregnancy attempts. In all, 16 of 22 embryos were edited, and 11 embryos were used in six implant attempts before the twin pregnancy was achieved, He said.

Tests suggest that one twin had both copies of the intended gene altered and the other twin had just one altered, with no evidence of harm to other genes, He said. People with one copy of the gene can still get HIV, although some very limited research suggests their health might decline more slowly once they do.

AP

Several scientists reviewed materials that He provided to the AP and said tests so far are insufficient to say the editing worked or to rule out harm.

They also noted evidence that the editing was incomplete and that at least one twin appears to be a patchwork of cells with various changes. "It's almost like not editing at all" if only some of certain cells were altered, because HIV infection can still occur, Church said.

Church and Musunuru questioned the decision to allow one of the embryos to be used in a pregnancy attempt, because the Chinese researchers said they knew in advance that both copies of the intended gene had not been altered.

"In that child, there really was almost nothing to be gained in terms of protection against HIV and yet you're exposing that child to all the unknown safety risks," Musunuru said.

AP

The use of that embryo suggests that the researchers' "main emphasis was on testing editing rather than avoiding this disease," Church said.

Even if editing worked perfectly, people without normal CCR5 genes face higher risks of getting certain other viruses, such as West Nile, and of dying from the flu. Since there are many ways to prevent HIV infection and it's very treatable if it occurs, those other medical risks are a concern, Musunuru said.

It's unclear whether participants fully understood the purpose and potential risks and benefits. For example, consent forms called the project an "AIDS vaccine development" program. Although He said he was present in China when potential participants gave their consent and that he "absolutely" thinks they were able to understand the risks.

WSMV.com

The study participants are not ethicists, He said, but "are as much authorities on what is correct and what is wrong because it's their life on the line."

"I believe this is going to help the families and their children," He said. If it causes unwanted side effects or harm, "I would feel the same pain as they do and it's going to be my own responsibility."

Any medical staff who handled samples that might contain HIV were aware, He said. An embryologist in He's lab, Qin Jinzhou, confirmed to the AP that he did sperm washing and injected the gene editing tool in some of the pregnancy attempts.
It was only a couple of months back that the Supreme Court struck down Article 377 which labelled so many individuals in our society as criminals. Thats why, the first Pride Parade in Delhi after the decriminalisation of Article 377 was bigger and more colourful than all the past ten editions. It was a huge crowd and even the regular attendees were pleasantly surprised by how many people have shown up simply because they didnt feel like criminals anymore.

Amidst the sea of rainbow flags, loud proclamations of celebrations and the accompanying dhol beats to which people were dancing, we spotted Tushar in his rainbow cape. We noticed that his mother was standing next to him, attending the Pride Parade and supporting not just her son, but the cause of the LGBTQA community.

In a society which stigmatises same-sex relationships and primarily so because of unawareness, Tushars mothers approach seemed to be rather unconventional. Most parents are scared of their child being gay not so much because of anything else but the question of, log kya kahenge?. You see, it is assumed that homosexual relationships go against the Indian values. Hence, we wondered what made Tushars mother to move past all these social ideas and provide her son with unconditional support. This is their story and this is the best lesson in acceptance.

It was in 2011 that Tushar decided to come out to his parents. He was still in his late teens but he was pretty sure it wasnt just a phase. He wanted to share the news with his parents and just as a measure, he asked people he met at a support group about the right way to go about it as well as the predictive reactions. However, when he came out to them, he was pleasantly surprised by the support from his mother. Talking about the exact moment when he revealed his sexuality to her, his mother told us:

I always had an inkling but when he finally told me, I felt extremely concerned about my child, about what he will have to deal with, his future. We were also pretty unaware about it all, certain terms used and how things work. However, we read up on it and over the years, weve gotten more acquainted with the community. It has been a journey for us as well.

For Tushar, it has been a journey as well but of a different kind:

Its not that you just come out and it ends there. You come out every single day. You come out to people, you come out to your family, you come out to your employers, you come out to the people around you. Like, even taking a train ride and being asked if youre married calls for a coming out of sorts. Your first support group, however, are your friends and family. If theyre supportive, thats it. When you know your family supports you, it makes you feel more powerful because you know that you have the strength.

Tushar, who currently works with the World Bank, has only recently gotten back to India after having stayed in the US for a long time and in the light of the recent judgement by the Supreme Court which decriminalized homosexuality, he said:

After the decriminalization, it is good to know that even our Constitution backs us up and upholds our rights.

After having this conversation with Tushar and his mother, we learnt something very important: We all need the support of our family and theres nothing that speaks louder than supporting your family. Tushars mom didnt push her son away as one would expect an Indian parent to do in such a situation. Instead she reached out to him by learning more about the sexaulity he identifies with. She made the effort to educate herself further. This support gave Tushar the courage to be himself, something that was evident in the way he confidently talked about his journey.
Thousands of people gathered on the streets in Delhi to celebrate love. The first pride parade post the section 377 verdict was beautiful for all the right reasons. The smell of freedom was on full display when people came out on streets and danced their hearts out.

But have lives really changed for the LGBTQ community? Have people become more receptive? Are more people coming out now?

Amidst many smiles, we managed to ask a few people what has really changed for them and the answers were just as beautiful as the celebration!

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As they say, this is just the beginning!
For S Ganesan of Pudukkottai, devastation of his own house in Cyclone Gaja was no reason to stay away from relief work. The 68-year-old man has had plunged into relief works whenever there was a natural disaster in the state since his youth. Gaja was no exception.

Despite his own house getting destroyed completely in the cyclone, Ganesan went out to collect relief materials for the victims. He managed to collect 10,000 worth relief material on Saturday alone in Karur district.

ALSO READ: Girl Kept In Hut Because She Was On Her Periods Died When Cyclone Gaja Made Landfall In Tamil Nadu

Learning about his selfless dedication, actor Raghava Lawrence has promised to rebuild his house. Ganesan, who does not know the actor, said he considered Lawrences gesture as recognition for his work.

The roof of his house, made of a tin sheet, flew 100 metres away during the cyclone. He and his wife Daivanai, 68, came out of the house minutes before the incident.

ALSO READ: Hindus & Muslims Set An Example Of Harmony, Come Together To Face The Deadly Cyclone Gaja

I didnt seek money from anyone nor did I publicise that my house was damaged in the cyclone, Ganesan said.

BCCL

Coming from a very humble background of iron scrap traders in Alangudi, he has been spending a large part of his income towards charity.

He has given dignified burials to over 5,100 unknown bodies by spending from his own pocket. For this he even had to face wrath of people from his own community, who ostracized him.

He was conferred with honorary doctorate for best social worker by Bharat Virtual University, Bengaluru.

ALSO READ: 3000 Trees Planted By Late Environmentalist 'Maram' Thangasamy On 30 Acres Devastated By Cyclone Gaja
In a news that would make the residents of Delhi-NCR feel proud, the United Nations on Sunday selected Uttar Pradesh's Noida and Greater Noida to participate in its Global Sustainable Cities 2025 initiative, officials said.

The twin-cities in Gautam Buddh Nagar district, adjoining the national capital, have been selected in the "University City" category ahead of Mumbai and Bengaluru as the only invitee from India, a senior UN official said.

Patrika.com

Overall 25 cities across the world have been selected in five categories by the UN Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) cities initiative, Senior UN Advisor and CEO UN Global Sustainability Index Institute Roland Schatz told reporters.

Mr Schatz formally extended the invitation to Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh in the presence of Shubhro Sen, the principal advisor, India, SDG Initiative.

"This is a proud moment for Noida and Greater Noida to be selected for this exciting global showcase. Now I will forward this invitation to the Uttar Pradesh government which is very positive about development works," Mr Singh said.

In the "University City" category, Noida-Greater Noida will be competing with elite university cities such as Cambridge, Palo Alto and Heidelberg.

UNGSII's Sustainable Development Goals Commitment Report (SCR) overcomes the limitations of current evaluation systems, such as inadequate transparency on evaluation criteria and methodology, inexperienced analysts, backwards-looking analysis with limited prognosis, and potential conflicts of interest.
The United States on Monday announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 2008 Mumbai attack.

The Trump administration announced this major reward (of more than Rs 35 crore) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10 Pakistan-based LeT terrorists went on a shooting rampage in India's financial hub, killing 166 people, including six Americans.

ALSO READ: Ahead Of 26/11 Anniversary, Three Suspected ISJK Terrorists Held With Explosives In Delhi

Reuters

The move comes less than a fortnight after US Vice President Mike Pence had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised this issue and rued that even 10 years after the Mumbai attack its perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

State Department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program on Monday said it is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack.

ALSO READ: Prior To Deadly 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks, Ajmal Kasab Was Given Exhaustive Sea Training

"The United States is committed to working with our international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack," it said.

Today's announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack.

ALSO READ: 10 Years After 26/11, One Man Still Remembers Kasab Grinning As He Sprayed People With Bullets

Reuters





In April 2012, the Department of State announced reward offers for information that brings to justice LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior LeT leader.

In December 2001, the Department of State designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This designation plays a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business, the State Department said.

ALSO READ: Baby Moshe, Who Survived 26/11 Mumbai Attacks Makes An Emotional Return To India For The First Time In 10 Years

In May 2005, the United Nations (UN) 1267 Sanctions Committee added LeT to the Consolidated UN Security Council Sanctions List.

The State Department said that anyone with information on this incident can contact the Rewards for Justice office via the website, e-mail (info@rewardsforjustice.net), phone (800-877-3927 in North America), or mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA).

Reuters

Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Officer at the nearest US embassy or consulate. "All information will be kept strictly confidential," it said.

The Rewards for Justice program is administered by the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $150 million to more than 100 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.
Faced with mounting foreign debt, some of which may have resulted from dubious loan agreements, the Maldives is looking at India for more budgetary support to help Male meet its development goals.

Ahead of his meeting with Indian leaders on Monday, Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid told TOI that Male was still trying to study the implications of the debt accumulated by the previous Abdulla Yameen government as figures provided by government officials on foreign debt did not necessarily "tally with the Chinese estimates".

AFP

The Maldives is said to owe close to 70 per cent of its external debt to China. "We hope that India will be generous enough to help us with the initial management of any shortfall we might face. We know that the Indian government is fully equipped to help us deal with issues like fresh water scarcity, sewerage and with our focus on the health sector," said Shahid.

Shahid will hold talks with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj on Monday and is also expected to call on PM Narendra Modi. His visit will also lay the groundwork for visit by Maldives' President Ibrahim Solih next month.

Speaking about Maldives' debt problem, Shahid said the Yameen government gave sovereign guarantees to not just state enterprises but also individuals and that the huge debt had not translated into projects.

AFP

According to sources in Male, the Yameen government is suspected to have pocketed a part of the grants and also earned a commission on soft loans. In that regard, the new government is looking closely at the controversial cost escalation of the recently inaugurated China-Maldives Friendship Bridge.

Shahid, who will soon visit China, indicated that Beijing will continue to be an important partner in the economic development of the archipelago. "Yameen played one country against another but we don't believe China can replace India or India can replace China. However, one thing which should be obvious is that the neighbourhood will get priority," said Shahid.

The minister also made it clear that no part of Maldives territory will be allowed to be used for military purposes by any foreign power. "We will review any such agreement which Yameen may have signed and renegotiate it," said Shahid.

India and the Maldives will also sign a visa agreement soon to facilitate easy access for Indian professionals to the Maldives and for Maldivians who have families in India.

AFP

The foreign minister also said that India's assistance can help the new government deliver on its promises to provide several services to the Maldivian people. "These will ensure that the Maldives turns into a middle-income country in reality and not just on paper," he said.

"India can also help us develop harbours which is on top of our agenda for improving access to islands. We can build a good transport network with help from India," added the minister.
Believe it or not, but even in the 21st century, there are a vast number of people who believe that the earth is flat. No kidding.

According to the Flat Earth theory, believers think that our beloved blue planet is shaped like a disc with the Arctic Circle bang in the centre.

Reuters

ALSO READ: According To These 13 Tweets From Flat Earthers, Our Planet Might As Well Be A Chapati In Space

Elon Musk decided to put his two cents and try to settle the debate once and for all, by adding his unique spin to the flat earth theory.

On his Twitter page, the SpaceX and Tesla founder started an online poll asking his followers to respond if the earth was in fact, flat, hollow, or both. At the time of writing this report, around 4 lakh users had voted on the poll, with 60% of people claiming the earth is both flat and hollow.

Earth is  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 26, 2018

If it wasn't clear that the whole thing was in fact a big trolling attempt of flat earth believers, then the response to Elon Musk's tweet removed any further doubts.

Flat earthers have an easy explanation for how gravity works

The earth is actually a delicous, cosmic hollow donut. True story, bro.

Or just a cube. Giant cube.

Some people just had wild beliefs. Like way out there...

... Like earth is a play-thing for a giant Alien cat

Neither... It's really a giant polystyrene ball on a string only there to entertain a giant Alien cat... pic.twitter.com/ZjbHOmVmBm  Mag Guillon (@MagArt22) November 26, 2018

This guy responded to a question with his own question

Elon is  YoIssJay (@JJAWSOME2003) November 26, 2018

Yeah, while we had a nice laugh on the expense of flat earthers, it's important to focus on what astrophysicist Neil degrasse Tyson had to say about the topic.

So yeah, sorry flat earthers. The earth is most definitely not flat. Your move.

ALSO READ: Man Who Believes Earth Is Flat Is About To Launch Himself On His Homemade Rocket
The global automobile industry is in the midst of a major disruption, potentially the biggest the industry has ever seen, all thanks to electric vehicles. For centuries, what were thought to be only short distance-limited capacity vehicles, have now stolen the main-stage from the IC engine vehicles. Dont believe it? The Tesla Model S P100D does a 0-100 kmph in 2.5 seconds. Beat that, petrol-guzzling slowpokes!

As much as the rest of the world is welcoming the new found change in its mode of transportation, India is dawdling in advancing to these options. There are many interconnected reasons to it, one of them being the reluctance of auto makers to launch such vehicles in India.

So, the need of the hour was for the homegrown firms to take a step forward. And out came a player back in 2013 - Ather. Jump to 2018 and Ather has two product offerings in India. More specifically, two electric scooters named Ather 340 and 450.

While others wait for the government to build a charging network, which of course has no timeline whatsoever to date, Ather decided to take matter into its own hands and initiated the Ather Grid that constitutes of EV chargers that Ather calls Point. With this, the company aims to cover 30 spots within a city to approximate a Point within 4 minutes of reach from any location.

But enough about the idealistic approach. How are the Ather scooters better than the conventional IC engine ones? To start with, just like any other electric vehicle, they are silent, and by silent we mean silent as a stone (check it out in the video below). They are good for the environment of course, with next to zero carbon footprint. And they come loaded with tech features.





The latter one is also a reason why the Ather scooters have an edge over other electric scooters in the market. The Ather electric scooters come with a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen on the dash that displays all the riding information as well as navigation map. In addition, there is an Ather app which shows the vehicles charge status, push navigation, ride patterns, tips for improving vehicle performance and vehicle diagnostics.

As for their performance, the Ather scooters claim a top speed of 80 kmph and a range of 75 kms on a full charge of their 2.4 kWh Li-ion battery. The scooters are also capable of reaching 0-40 kmph in 3.9 seconds.

Ather E-Scooter Dashboard

Other features on the Ather scooters include a reverse mode for reversing out of tight spaces, 20.5 Nm of instant torque, a peak power output of 5.4kW, front and rear disc brakes as well as over-the-air software updates.

Ather is not actually the first to the race. There are other electric scooters in the Indian market. But the fact that the company is one of the first and has built its scooters from the ground up in a manner that focuses on bringing more to the table than just another electric vehicle, has given it an edge over the others. This sort of also reflects in its price, which is way higher than other offerings.

Ather Grid

As of now, the visible USP of Ather is not the scooters that it has come up with. It probably is the vision that the company has for an electric future in India and its corresponding efforts to make it a reality. To date, the company has set up 25 charging points within Bangalore and is looking to expand this network. This will not only boost the utility of Athers own scooters but of other electric vehicles as well.
It has been 10 years since Mumbai was attacked by LeT operatives, killing over 160 people and injuring over 300. Apart from the bullet marks on buildings, there are deep-seated wounds and scars to remind us of the mental and physical trauma so many people went through.

Also Read: Parcel Reached Fox  The Code Word Used To Move Ajmal Kasab To Yerwada Jail For Hanging

A handful of them were lucky enough to have escaped the terrible fate. Here are the stories of seven people who were caught in the crossfire during the 26/11 terrorist attacks and yet, lived to tell the tale.



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It is impossible to forget the sacrifice of the people who ultimately rescued as many hostages as they could and got rid of the terrorists, capturing Ajmal Kasab alive. It takes more than just courage to pull off something like that.

Also Read: Meet Commando Praveen Kumar Teotia, Who Fought 26/11 Terrorists Despite Four Bullet Wounds
On the night of November 20, 2012, Ajmal Kasab was extracted from the high-security anda cell of Arthur Road prison, draped in a burqa and taken to Yerwada Central Prison Pune, where he was supposed to be hung as per the court orders.

Parcel reached fox was one of the seven codewords used for this operation  in fact, it was the last one exchanged between two senior officials before Kasab was hanged. This was used to indicate that he had been successfully transported to Yerwada prison. Apart from the then Home Minister  RR Patil  and a few top police officials, no one else knew about this.

Also Read: 10 Years After 26/11, One Man Still Remembers Kasab Grinning As He Sprayed People With Bullets

Reuters

Ajmal Kasab was the lone terrorist captured alive after a series of tragic attacks in Mumbai  including the Taj and Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus.

The 'Force One' commando team of police, armed with elaborate weapons kept an eye on the vehicle carrying Kasab. A State Reserve Police Force team also trailed the vehicle as it drove on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Mobile phones of all officers and policemen involved in the operation were switched off and put in a bag. All they had were two handsets.

Reuters

"It was a big responsibility to transport him to Yerwada prison to be hanged. A death warrant was served to him seven days before the execution," said a senior police official.

"During the entire three-hour-long journey, Kasab did not utter a single word," he added.

According to the officals, Kasabs disposition did not change even when he was handed over to the authorities at Yerwada prison at around 3:00 am that night. The next morning, November 21, 2012, the world woke up to the news that Ajmal Kasab had been hanged.

Also Read: Youngest Witness In Ajmal Kasab Case Faces Prejudice As 26/11 Masterminds Roam Free
Sadhus gather for the Dharam Sabha Hindu held to call for the construction of the Lord Ram temple, in Ayodhya Nov. 25. Hindu groups claim deity the Ram was born and a temple existed at the site of a medieval Mosque that was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992, triggering religious riots that left some 2,000 people dead across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who promised the temple would be built during his 2014 campaign, is facing pressure from Hindus to have the temple constructed. (Sanjay Kanojia/AFP/Getty Images)
Canada's Mining Monopoly in Honduras and the Refugee Mining Caravan by Billie Pierre

Sunday Nov 25th, 2018 12:51 PM

This Refugee Migrant Caravan that began in Honduras in mid-October and has grown to over 7000 people. They're currently in Mexico, with some having reached the border. Canada has significant investment, and owns a staggering 90% of the mines in Hondura, but lacks any involvement in providing any support for this humanitarian crisis.



Today, well be hearing from activists linked to Canada and Central America, who will provide us with a closer perspective on the impacts Canada has on Honduras.



Jose Luis Granados Ceja, an independent writer and photojournalist based in Mexico City who will give us updates on the Caravan. We'll hear from Stacey Gomez a migrants justice organizer. We'll also hear from Jackie Mcvickar, who has accompanied human rights social movements and land protectors in Central America for over 10 years. She will also be giving a report about the trial that is being heard right now, for the murder of Indigenous leader Berta Caceres.

Listen now: Copy the code below to embed this audio into a web page: <audio preload="none" src="https://www.indybay.org/uploads/2018/11/25/media_coop_audio_project.mp3" controls="controls"></audio>

Nobember 25 is the International Day of Solidarity with the Migrant Caravan.
A team of journalists from Liberation News traveled to Mexico in early November to document the refugee caravan. Thousands of mainly Honduran families walking thousands of miles to the U.S. border are fleeing incredible violence and poverty in their home country as a direct result of decades of U.S. exploitation and intervention in the region. These increased hardships stem directly from the 2009 U.S.-backed coup in Honduras that ousted the democratically elected progressive leader Manuel Zelaya installing a right-wing puppet government and unleashing widespread violence throughout the country.



Join us for an eyewitness report and video from PSL organizer Gloria La Riva documenting the stories of those on the caravan and the mass support they have received from the people of Mexico as they traveled to the border.



Sponsored by:

Party for Socialism and Liberation

@PSLweb For more event information: http://www.pslweb.org

Added to the calendar on Sunday Nov 25th, 2018 1:02 PM
The latest OAIC statistics found malicious attacks were responsible for 57% of notifiable data breaches (NDBs) while human error was responsible for 37%.

However, Khanjis research pointed to insider threats as a more pressing risk.

Contrary to whats being reported to OAIC, weve found employees are the greatest threat, he told Emergence Insurances latest webinar for brokers. Consider who has access to your customer lists and email contacts.

A global study conducted by Willis Towers Watson and ESI ThoughtLab earlier this year found that 87% of executives viewed untrained staff as the greatest cyber risk to their businesses.

Despite this, staff training was found to have made minimal progress when measured against the US-developed, voluntary National Institute of Standards & Technologys cyber security framework.

As humans, we keep finding new ways to make mistakes, said Gerry Power, head of sales at specialist cyber insurer, Emergence. But, with sound risk management in place, many breaches can be prevented.

Power also reiterated the risks around poor employee training, and called for better education.

Employees are the last line of defence, they must be educated to identify such things as dodgy emails and suspicious invoices, he said.
Frances largest insurer is not overly perturbed by the revenue losses. Jad Ariss, AXA's head of public affairs and corporate responsibility, told euronews: 100 million is a lot of money but, when you take into account AXA's world revenue, this is something we can absorb in terms of activity growth.

AXA was one of the first major financial firms to begin selling off coal investments in 2015, beginning with an initial 500m divestment. The insurer is committed to reaching 12 billion in green investments by 2020.

This announcement from AXA XL follows a number of coal denouncements from big ticket insurers. Generali recently became the seventh major firm to limit its insurance support for coal, joining the ranks of AXA, Allianz, Zurich, Swiss Re, Munich Re and SCOR.

Pressure is mounting from NGOs and climate change action groups for other (re)insurers to get involved. Following the Generali announcement, Greenpeace Italy climate campaigner, Luca Iacoboni, said: Its not just a matter of securing the survival of our planet, but of the insurance industry as well. Even Moodys Investor Service warned that climate change has a net negative credit impact on the (re)insurance industry.

(Re)insurers like AIG, Chubb, Mapfre, Hannover Re-Talanx, Vienna Insurance Group and Uniqa, who are all still actively insuring coal, must get with the times, move away from the dirty fuel or face public scrutiny and economic losses.
What is silent cyber exposure?

Silent cyber refers to potential cyber-related losses stemming from traditional property and liability policies that were not specifically designed to cover cyber risk. Unlike the specialist standalone cyber insurance products that are available in the market today, traditional liability policies were not designed with cyber exposures in mind and therefore may not implicitly include or exclude cyber risks. This coverage ambiguity can result in a silent cyber scenario, whereby an insurer may have to pay claims for cyber losses off a policy not designed for that purpose.

Speaking at the NetDiligence cyber risk summit in London in 2018, Johnny Fraser, cyber reinsurance broker at Capsicum Re, said: I regard silent cyber as an exposure on an insurance line of business derived from some sort of computer system, computer software virus or malicious code. We call it silent cyber because were trying to describe a situation where theres coverage ambiguity, so its neither explicitly included on an insurance policy, nor explicitly excluded.

I think its interesting the industry still calls it silent cyber. I think non-affirmative cyber is probably a more accurate description for the cyber peril. I think silent cyber is probably something that was a more accurate description six or seven-years-ago when the industry didnt perhaps place enough emphasis or attention on cyber exposures across insurance lines. In light of recent losses, regulatory emphasis, management board level attention, and media attention, theres an acknowledgement that non-affirmative is probably a better way to describe the peril.

Where do silent cyber issues crop up?

Silent cyber situations can arise in a number of different insurance coverage areas. In fact, issues can arise in any account where technology is present. Property and/or commercial general liability policies are spoken about most with regards to silent cyber. Many insureds believe cyber events should be covered under these traditional policies, especially if the events lead to property damage (or a third partys property damage), bodily injury, or business interruption.

Why has discussion around silent cyber become so loud?

Simply put  insurers are starting to experience losses.

June 2018 marked the first anniversary of the costliest cyberattack in history  NetPetya. The NotPetya attack ravaged a range of businesses from shipping ports and supermarkets to ad agencies and law firms, by encrypting their master files and demanding a Bitcoin ransom to restore access to those files. Most victims were based in Ukraine, but several global corporations were also infected  including shipping giant Maersk, advertising firm WPP, pharmaceutical outfit Merck, and FedExs TNT Express division. NotPetya resulted in silent cyber losses on non-cyber lines of business for various insurers.

There have been some big silent cyber losses in the market. This is forcing chief underwriting officers to sit down with leaders across all lines of business and ask: What are you doing about this exposure?, said David Legassick, head of life sciences, technology and cyber at CNA Hardy. The challenge comes when you actually sit down and start thinking about the exposure, what it means in the world of an insurance company and how you address it. Its a really difficult task to get your head around. Where do you start and how do you figure out what exposures youve got?

Whats the regulatory landscape around silent cyber looking like?

In mid-2017, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK released a supervisory statement detailing its expectations of firms regarding cyber insurance underwriting risk  both affirmative and non-affirmative/silent. In short: the PRA expects firms to be able to identify, quantify and manage cyber insurance underwriting risk.

Likewise, global ratings agency A.M. Best announced it expects companies to be proactive and forthcoming with their own evaluation and measurement of the exposure and accumulation of their cyber liability exposure.

There are some geographic differences in terms of regulatory scrutiny.

Luke Foord-Kelcey, co-head Aon Benfields global cyber practice group, commented: Silent cyber is not a new topic. It has been around since businesses have relied upon technology and insurers havent excluded cyber as a peril. A lot of regulators have [started] to take interest in this. Theyre not saying people should stop writing cyber. But they have asked that people manage their silent cyber exposure. This has really brought [the issue of silent cyber] to the forefront of the boards of insurance companies minds.

The interesting thing when you look at defining silent cyber is figuring out when a cyber exposure in a non-cyber class of business moves from being silent to being non-silent. For us at Aon Benfield, that doesnt necessarily mean changing how you define or cover cyber in the original policy. Rather its about managing the exposure appropriately. It might just be that you charge more additional premium. Obviously there are commercial pressures, but if youre a property underwriter and you recognize that youre already providing silent cyber, you need to allocate a premium figure to that exposure.

In what ways can insurers address their silent cyber exposures?

According to BitSight, there are multiple ways for carriers to address silent cyber. They can acknowledge and own it by affirmatively providing cyber coverage in non-cyber lines of business. However, this is not a very common practice. Most insurers seem to prefer the option of providing stand-alone cyber coverage and then noting a clear cyber exclusion in their traditional property and liability policies.

Another option is to stay silent. As the BitSight blog states: Silence is what you may call the status quo when it comes to silent cyber. Many companies choose not to affirmatively come out and say their policy is meant to provide cyber-related exposure - but in not making the language certain, they dont deny it either.

The problem is, the global property and casualty markets are filled with massive insurance programs, written decades ago with outdated exclusions. Often, policy wordings are not as up-to-date as they need to be, which leaves insurers exposed to new and emerging risks like silent cyber.

Five-years-old is ancient in terms of cyber. And yet, weve got policies out there in the P&C market that havent been re-written for 30-years. The mechanics are basically the same as they were in the 1970s and 80s, so how could those policies possibly address this risk where you have a coverage gap now opening up? said John Merchant, director of customer solutions at Guidewire Cyence Risk Analytics. Products are starting to catch up a little bit here and there but its this systemic issue, this institutional challenge within the industry, thats impeding progress. Its like a software system thats 30-years-old. To replace it is easier said than done.

How do reinsurers view silent cyber risk?

Aon Benfields Foord-Kelcey divides insurers into two silent cyber groups around the world: good silent cyber risk and bad silent cyber risk. He described an insurer with bad silent cyber risk as someone who acknowledges they have the exposure and then simply transfers that risk to a reinsurer. On the other hand, a good silent cyber risk, according to Foord-Kelcey, is a company that says: Yes, Ive got silent cyber exposure. Ive got regulators, rating agencies, corporate governance units and shareholders on my back and I need to do something about it. However, I realize that action could take three to five years, so please can I transfer that risk to you [the reinsurer] in the interim period?

What needs to change?

As cyber risk evolves and becomes even more mainstream, the insurance industry around the world needs to get rid of the coverage ambiguity around silent cyber.

Capsicum Res Fraser pointed out: The insurers that have the best understanding of non-affirmative cyber exposures will be best positioned to offer more coverage clarity, and therefore better products for their insureds. Also, the more certainty and the less ambiguity they have on this topic, the more capital the reinsurance community will free up in support.
We think fraud is a serious problem in Michigan, Van Koevering told Detroit Free Press. Rates are a function of losses, and to the extent that fraud increases losses, it inflates the premium that is paid by the next guy.

Michigan is the only state in the nation that requires drivers to purchase potentially unlimited medical benefits with their insurance. However, the state also lacks a statewide auto insurance fraud authority. This means insurers have to take matters into their own hands  with the help of a little detective work.

To root out fraud, insurers could send investigators to determine whether or not an insurance claimant is telling the truth. Some insurance companies maintain their own in-house investigators, but others turn to private investigators, who could charge between $60 and $100 an hour for their services, Detroit Free Press reported.

When an individual is caught in a potential no-fault fraud in the state, the insurers could attempt to deny the individual their benefits or compel them into a settlement. Alternatively, insurance companies can also refer cases to local prosecutors; insurance fraud is a felony in Michigan, punishable by up to four years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Chris Charow, a private investigator with Jane Doe Investigations in Commerce Township, believes that his work is not about shredding people apart.

Our job is not to catch them. It is to document the truth, he maintained.

Charow believes that while investigation work may come off as a tad aggressive, his work could help deter swindles and take the state one step closer towards being fraud-free.

What happens when you catch somebody? They get a big settlement check and there are no criminal charges filed, he explained. Start putting some penalties on this and the fraud will slow down. Thats how were going to get it to be an affordable, honest system.

Related stories:

Billionaire threatens to tackle the nations most expensive auto insurance

Michigan man sentenced for role in fake car-crash scheme
Insurance Agent, ATI Insurance

ATI Insurance in Atlanta, GA is hiring individuals with customer service experience and computer skills. Applicants who are licensed agents are preferred, but licenses are not a strict requirement  new hires without licenses will be tasked with obtaining accreditation within their first 30 days with ATI. You can apply here.

Insurance Professional, Aflac

Aflac is looking for ambitious, success-driven, career-minded individuals to serve as professionals marketing the companys products in several areas in Missouri. Individuals with strong consulting skills and presentation abilities are expected. You can visit the following links to apply for the positions in Harrisonville, Joplin, Sedalia, and Warrensburg.

Insurance Sales Agent, BizInsure

Are you interested in using an advanced technology platform to sell commercial insurance? BizInsure is looking for people like you who can fully utilize its proprietary business insurance quoting engine. All applicants must be licensed for P&C insurance in California and have experience with inside sales. You can apply here.

Finance/Insurance Coordinator, Nalchajian Orthodontics

Nalchajian Orthodontics in Fresno, CA is in need of a professional who can ensure that their orthodontic services are financially available to patients. The healthcare provider is looking for individuals with great interpersonal communication and quantitative skills. You can apply for the position here.

Insurance Agent, Ted Todd Insurance

Allstate-affiliated agency Ted Todd Insurance needs insurance agents. The agency invests in its employees, promising compensation, full benefits, and even education and training as needed. You can apply here for the post in Atlanta, GA.

Trial Attorney  Insurance Defense, Nationwide Insurance

Nationwide Insurance is on the lookout for a trial attorney in the California area. The insurer needs a seasoned litigator with more than 10 years of experience managing personal and commercial insurance defense cases. Applicants must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and must be able to relate well with business clientele. You can apply here.
Crains Detroit Business reported that nearly 1,400 of Blue Cross 6,000 employees in Detroit have applied for BlueSpace. The telework initiative began as a pilot in 2017, with 364 employees originally participating, but it was later expanded in August after CEO Dan Loepp gave the company board and senior management a positive report of the program.

Two sources close to the matter have told Crains that the expansion of the telecommuting program was driven by a need to save on costs. Executive vice-president Tricia Keith, however, maintained that BlueSpace was initiated as an employee retention and job satisfaction project.

Our pilot had strong satisfaction with the workforce. ... We need to make sure productivity remains the same or increase. We have high standards around compliance, Keith said.

Blue Cross director of corporate affairs Helen Stojic added that the program was meant to appeal to and attract millennials.

[BlueSpace] positions us as a company that responds to employee needs, approaches change deliberately but gradually, and one that is moving to be more nimble and efficient while attracting millennial talent, Stojic said in an email statement.

The decision to expand the work-at-home program comes as two insider sources claim that Blue Crosss move downtown to the Renaissance Center Towers has been costlier than expected. Some employees have also voiced their dissatisfaction over the move, sources said, due to the additional travel time to work and other associated costs.

Related stories:

Where insurance companies have stumbled in bringing and keeping millennials on board

Independent agent group endorses work at home staffing firm
Households and businesses face a $500 billion global property and mortality protection gap, according to Swiss Res latest sigma study.

Swiss Res report said that the figure illustrates increasing risk vulnerabilities emerging around the world but also presents an opportunity for carriers.

The gap represents the still elevated vulnerability to adverse events for many households and businesses across the world, and the very large opportunity for insurers to further contribute to improving resilience, Swiss Re said.

To improve resilience, particularly 10 years after the global economic collapse, Swiss Re said that private capital market products could, in part, play a role. This would be balanced out by the public sector establishing financial market standards when possible or appropriate, in areas such as sustainable and infrastructure investments.

Beyond that, however, insurance is a core element of resilience, and Swiss Re argues that public policy can help carriers expand their ability to both absorb risk and increase resilience in building projects and infrastructure.

The insurance sector has $30 trillion in total assets under management, according to statistics cited by Swiss Re, which it said can be put into play as a risk absorber.

Another factor Swiss Re said can help narrow protection gaps is innovation. The reinsurer said that innovations such as parametric insurance could broaden what is insurable for natural catastrophe risks that have been previously hard to cover, thanks to technology advances.

Double-trigger indemnity structures, and data/modeling advances will also help insurers develop innovative coverage for exposures such as business interruption, cyber, product recall and weather/energy price risks, Swiss Re said.

The full Swiss Re sigma study is called Global Economic and Insurance Perspectives 2020.

Source: Swiss Re

This article first appeared in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management.

Related:

Topics Property Swiss Re
Mining giant BHP says it will fight an unprecedented English lawsuit filed by hundreds of thousands of Brazilians for multi-billion pound damages over Brazils worst environmental disaster.

SPG Law, a British offshoot of a U.S. litigator, represents 240,000 individuals in Brazil, 24 municipal governments, a Roman Catholic Archdiocese and members of the Krenak indigenous community and has filed three legal claims for unlimited damages over the failure of the Fundao dam in 2015.

It looks set to be the largest group action heard in England.

London and Australian-listed BHP, the worlds largest mining company by market value, said it had received correspondence from the law firm but also noted it had so far committed $780 million to the Renova Foundation, an entity created by the miner and its partners to manage reparations and repairs.

BHP will defend the action and remains committed to supporting the remediation and compensation efforts of the Renova Foundation, a spokesman said.

The collapse of the Fundao tailings dam, which stored mining waste and is owned by the Samarco joint venture between BHP and Brazilian iron ore mining giant Vale, killed 19 and spilled about 40 million cubic meters of sludge over communities, the Rio Doce and Atlantic Ocean 650 km away.

Brazil charged 22 people in 2016 with offenses, including murder, over the dams collapse. The miners this year settled a 20 billion reais ($5.4 billion) civil claim with local authorities to establish a clean-up fund. Other public cases, such as a $40 billion civil reparation case, are suspended.

BHP, which has separately settled a U.S. investor class action and continues to battle Australian shareholder lawsuits, has rejected all charges against the company, current and former staff.

The latest lawsuit was filed by SPG in the north western English city of Liverpool.

SPG says it is working with 600 lawyers and law firms in Brazil and is bringing the case in England in part because a 200 pound ($259) settlement offer two years ago by the Renova Foundation to those who had their water disrupted was inadequate.

It wants to bring the case against BHP and subsidiaries in Brazil, the United States and Panama using Brazils tough environmental law, that can hold companies liable for repairing damage or compensating victims irrespective of fault or intent.

The key issue at the heart of this case is whether the parent company, BHP, is liable as a matter of Brazilian law, says SPG lawyer Tom Goodhead.

SPG said in a letter to BHP, dated Nov. 15 and seen by Reuters, that it had serious concerns about Renova approaching some of its clients, including municipalities, to negotiate a settlement in return for waiving rights to pursue other claims.

A spokesman for BHP declined to comment.

While the legal battles rage, the Samarco mine has lain dormant. Vale said in October it might resume activities in 2020. BHP is more circumspect, saying many problems remain unsolved.

($1 = 3.7261 reais)

($1 = 0.7724 pounds) (Additional reporting by Marta Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro and Jake Spring in Brasilia; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

Related:

Topics Lawsuits USA Mining
A woman has been accused of setting two fires in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Linn County court records say 48-year-old Carolyn Mittman is charged with two counts of arson.

Her attorney didnt immediately return a call from The Associated Press. Mittmans next court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 28.

Court documents say Mittman told investigators that shed set a fire Oct. 22 at an apartment and set one on Oct. 13, 2017, at her former home to collect insurance money.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Iowa
Wells Fargo & Co. is fighting to shut some customers out of a sweeping plan to compensate around 600,000 drivers it pushed into car insurance they did not need, according to court documents and a source familiar with the effort.

U.S. regulators fined Wells Fargo $1 billion in April over the insurance program and told the bank to compensate drivers who were harmed. Those drivers are also suing Wells Fargo in a federal court in California for more compensation that the bank is willing to pay.

The faulty insurance program ran from 2002 to 2016 but the bank only intends to compensate drivers forced into policies from 2005 onwards, Wells Fargo has told the federal judge overseeing the case.

Wells Fargos reluctance to compensate all drivers contradicts its pledge to help every customer who was hurt and that could intensify scrutiny of the scandal-plagued bank.

Lawyers for the drivers have argued that the compensation plan should cover the entire life of the insurance program but the bank is not persuaded, according to court documents obtained by Reuters.

Theres no credible reason why you dont go back to the inception of the program, Roland Tellis, an attorney for the drivers, said at an August hearing.

Tellis did not respond to requests for further comment.

Tim Sloan, Wells Fargos chief executive, told lawmakers last year that the bank was working diligently to make things right for every customer who was harmed.

But a lawyer for the bank argued at the same court hearing that it has already compromised by allowing payouts from 2005 to 2016, according to the official court transcript.

Wells Fargo has records from the first three years of the insurance program but those are held in a separate database to the 2005-2016 files, the lawyer said. He did not explain why the bank did not wish to access the earlier database and the bank declined to elaborate when contacted by Reuters.

Any driver who believes that he or she was hurt in the insurance program can contact the bank directly and make a claim, a spokeswoman for the bank said.

We invite them to reach out to us with their insurance information, Wells Fargo said in a statement to Reuters.

Tellis and other lawyers want a payout exceeding three times what drivers were charged, which could add costs and uncertainty to a scandal that continues to worry investors.

The final terms of the private litigation could affect the ongoing remediation plan the bank agreed with federal regulators.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) allowed the bank to limit its payout plan to the 2005-2016 time frame in its April settlement with the bank. A spokesman for the bureau declined to comment on the scope of the payout plan.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which had a part in the April fine, declined to comment. The OCCs settlement did not set a specific time frame for payouts.

Over the summer, the OCC rejected the banks plan to repay customers with Joseph Otting, head of the OCC, telling lawmakers in October that he was not comfortable with the banks effort.

(Reporting by Patrick Rucker; editing by Michelle Price and Tom Brown)

Topics Auto
Factoring family into your retirement planand other aspects of annual financial planningoften calls for significant change. Your retirement plan when youre married will look completely different from when youre single. You not only have to consider your own needs and retirement dreams; you also have to consider your spouses. If you have kids or parents who rely on you for support, financial or otherwise, that further complicates your planning.

When you make an annual financial planor update the plans you've already madeyou need to review these needs and see what might require adjustments. Heres a look at how your family might factor into your retirement plans and how to manage the challenges that come with considering multiple peoples priorities.

Saving for Kids to Attend College

Many parents want to pay for their kids to attend college, but feel the pull of competing financial demands.

College saving can be a daunting task, especially with multiple children, says Michael Briggs, an investment adviser representative with NEXT Financial Group at Horizon Investment Management Group in Springfield, MA. The advice I give my clients is, when having to choose between college saving and your own retirement, always choose your own retirement first.

Parents contributions to their own individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be used for their childrens educational expenses. The annual contribution limitsestablished by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to both traditional and Roth IRAs is $6,000 for 2020 and 2021. For individuals aged 50 and over, they can deposit a catch-up contribution for $1,000. On the other hand, if you place money in a 529 plan, it cant be used for non-educational purposes without paying taxes and penalties.

Just think of being on a planethey tell you to put your own mask on first and then help the other person. The same applies when choosing where to put your funds, Briggs adds.

Another benefit of prioritizing retirement savings over education savings is that money in qualified retirement accounts isnt counted as an asset on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). That means they dont count toward your familys expected financial contribution. Money in 529 plans in parents or students names is counted towards your familys expected financial contribution and can reduce financial aid by as much as 5.64%.

Sharon Marchisello, author of the personal finance ebook Live Cheaply, Be Happy, Grow Wealthy, agrees that funding retirement should be higher on your list than sending the kids to college. Your kids have other options for paying for collegeincluding scholarships, part-time work, and student loansbut you won't be able to borrow your way through retirement.

You help your children more by being self-sufficient, so you don't have to ask for their support in your old age, Marchisello says.

So first plan what you'll be saving for retirement; then see what you might be able to put aside to help with college for your children.

Caregiving for Elderly Parents

Speaking of caring for parents who arent financially self-sufficient in their old age, review whether this burden is likely to fall on your family. If the answer is yes, there are proactive steps you can take to defray how caregiving for elderly parents could derail your current and future financial plans.

Long-Term Care Insurance

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that about 56% of Americans who turned 65 in 2020 will need long-term care services. Long-term care can be financially devastating. According to Genworths 2020 Cost of Care Survey, a month in a private room in a nursing home, costs nearly $8,821. Imagine paying that expense for months or even years.

It's best to start planning for this before your parents are actually elderly. If your parents are approaching age 60 and you can afford long-term care insurance, paying the premium now may save you much more later if a parent needs to go into a nursing home, says Oscar Vives Ortiz, a CPA financial planner with First Home Investment Services in the Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg area of Florida.

Ask yourself whether this is the year you need to buy long-term care insurance for any of your parentsor make sure that those parents have purchased it for themselves. For every year that you postpone buying this insurance, you face higher rates based on the insureds increased age; rates can increase even further if health problems develop, or it might become impossible to get insurance at all. If your parents are paying, be sure they keep up with the premiumssometimes, you can sign up to be alerted if an older person hasn't been paying the bills.

Either life insurance or an annuity with a long-term care component offers an alternative to long-term care insurance that may be more practical for some families.

While you and your spouse are planning for your parents long-term care needs, you should be thinking about your own as well.

In many situations, its almost better financially for your spouse to die than to go into a long-term care facility, says Richard Reyes, a certified financial planner for The Financial Quarterback.

He adds that planning for long-term care can also give you more flexibility in that you wont have to depend on the government, your children, or your neighbors to take care of you; youll be able to call the shots.

If you have no care insurance or have not planned adequately for care, then obviously the only flexibility you have is what others have planned for you, Reyes says.

If you go on Medicaid, your care will be what the government prescribes it is, and who takes care of you is based on where and when there is space available for younot a great solution, he adds.

There are also many problems with depending on the family. Your kids may not live nearby or may have their own issues, concerns, and families to take care of. A spouse you depend on will likely be close to your age and have diminished physical capacities.

When someone gives me lip about having long-term care, I tell one of the spouses to lie down on the floor and ask the other to pick them up and carry them all around the house and in and out of their vehicle, Reyes says.

Life Insurance

Life insurance with a living benefit or long-term care rider can help pay for long-term care as its needed. But life insurance can also be a tool for reimbursing family members who help with long-term care after the loved one who needed that care passes away.

If you feel that you have to spend some of your money taking care of your elderly parents, then try to make sure that any life insurance policies that they have listed you as a beneficiary to repay you and replenish your investments upon their death, says Rick Sabo, a financial planner with RPS Financial Solutions in Gibsonia, PA.

If your parents dont have life insurance, cant afford it, and are likely to rely on you for help when theyre older, talk to them about purchasing a guaranteed universal life insurance policy that you and your spouse will pay the premiums on. Unlike term life insurance, which your parents could outlive, you can purchase guaranteed universal life insurance that lasts until age 121, making it essentially a permanent policy, but at a much lower cost than whole life insurance.

You and your spouse may also want to carry your own life insurance policies. The younger you are when you purchase it, the less expensive it will be. The policys death benefit could be a godsend if a breadwinner or homemaker passes away prematurely.

Retirement Timing

People of any age can start establishing retirement goals by thinking about how they want to live during retirement. Saving will be much easier when you know what youre saving for, says Kevin Gallegos, vice president of Phoenix sales and operations with Freedom Financial Network, an online financial service for consumer debt settlement, mortgage shopping, and personal loans.

Think about where you will live, if you will move to a smaller home, whether you plan on traveling, and whether you will want to work part-time. Plan to live on 80% to 85% of your current income once you retire.

To fully understand what your retirement income will be, make sure you understand any pension youre entitled to, review all your investments, and estimate your Social Security income, Gallegos says.

Planning retirement with a spouse is more complicated than planning retirement for just yourself. Youll need to create a shared vision for what your retirement will look like. Youll also need to agree on whether youll both stop working at the same time or whether it makes sense for one spouse to retire first.

Age differences between spouses are common, and these can create issues in retirement planning. At retirement, if you are 66 and your spouse is 62, for example, you will be able to get health insurance through Medicare, but your spouse wont until age 65. Thats an expense of potentially $600 to $700 a month for premiums that you must plan for, Reyes says.

Other issues to sort out include when to claim Social Security, how one spouses claiming decision could affect the others benefits, and how to claim pension benefits in a way that will be most beneficial to the spouse.

The Bottom Line

Annual financial planning for a family requires considering the needs and desires of everyone involved. You need to make strategic decisions about funding your retirement, helping children with their college expenses, caring for elderly parents, purchasing long-term care insurance and life insurance, and timing your retirement and that of your spouse.

If you plan for each of these items and learn about the different options and consequences of each choice, youre less likely to face unpleasant surprises and financial struggles that could prevent you from retiring when and how you want. Once you have a basic plan, review these decisions and expenditures each year to see whether any adjustments need to be made.
Point Roberts, WA and Las Vegas, NV - November 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) www.Investorideas.com, a global news source covering marijuana and hemp stocks and its cannabis podcast site www.potcasts.ca, report from Podcast Row in Las Vegas at this year's biggest MJBizCon show to date. Today's special edition features an interview with the management of SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: SING), Mr. Gregory P. Lambrecht Founder, Chairman, CEO and Mr. William Ralston, President and Director discuss the growth of the MJBizCon conference, the industry and their company.

Attending since the first year of MJBizCon, Ralston and Lambrecht have both witnessed first-hand the growth of the sector. Looking at their entry into the cannabis space Ralston said, "SinglePoint's history was always mobile payments, text messaging and mobile technology. When Colorado and Washington opened up selling cannabis, we thought lets go after that business. We had a mobile payments technology, they need these payment solutions and a lot of people were afraid to touch it. So we jumped in."

"We acquired GreenStar Payment Solutions and started SingleSeed that we eventually rolled GreenStar into. And there we were, processing payments in the cannabis market. From there we continued to grow and acquired DIGS. We really are an ancillary pick and shovel company and that's where we see a lot of the opportunity."

Talking about the CBD market Ralston told Investor Ideas, "SingleSeed.com is selling all of our CBD based products and we are looking at adding other brands to that site to become the e-commerce hub distributing these products."

He we went on to say, "We see a huge opportunity in the market and there may be a larger market there, as there are still a lot of people that don't want to use cannabis yet. The latest numbers that we saw are tremendous; it's almost at 40% of the cannabis market and it's just catching on. We are not only looking at selling these products but also looking at acquisitions that for us, would open up the floodgates."

In closing Lambrecht talks about their ambitious acquisition plans to add significant revenue to the company's bottom line and to uplist.

Listen to the podcast:

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Investor Ideas at Podcaster Row, MJBizCon Talks to Management of SinglePoint, Inc. (OTC: $SING) About Growth of Cannabis Sector

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November 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Sector expert Michael Ballanger muses on lessons learned and profits to be gained in silver trades.

"Even a broken clock is right twice a day."

 Stephen Hunt, The Court of the Air

There are times when every investor has to look long and deep into a mirror and determine whether a well-thought-out strategy is actionable or whether it is simply an ad hoc "hunch," barely worth chasing. With regard to silver, this is just one of those times.

In 2003-2004, I was stopped out four times under $5 per ounce trying to establish a 10-lot futures position in silver (50,000 ounces), which, at the time, demanded US$18,000 in maintenance margin. When I finally threw in the towel, my $18 grand worth of "dead presidents" was worth slightly less than $6,000.

At the time of my decision to abandon the trade, I remember a sense of impending doom as, with great regret, I returned the funds to the (joint) bank account. Days later, when the losses were detected by an appropriately suspicious spouse, one could hear the screaming of insults miles (if not counties) away. As embarrassing and emasculating as that was, the addition of insult to injury was aided and abetted by the cost of a chiropractor due to weeks of punishing couch-sleeping.

Further exacerbating my agony was silver, almost immediately upon my departure (and as if it had eyes), deciding to break out through $5 and proceeding to triple. Staring at the quote screen, slack-jawed and near-comatose, I watched with the same sense of disbelief one has when observing a slow-motion train wreck as silvermy precious silvertapped $50 in 2011. Without including the possibility of parlaying the 10-lot to something larger, the original position would have generated a $500,000 profit or something close to a 2,700% ROR. Risk management at its very worst or stepping over a $50 bill to pick up a nickel.

The chart posted above captures at once the rapture and the agony of being a silver bull. The high-fiving and champagne-cork-popping of the advance is violently replaced by the agony and self-recrimination of the decline, and while it is typical of all assets that are the focus of the hottest of speculative money, it is a market designed strictly for risk-oriented individuals such as cryptojunkies or late-cycle weed players.

Speaking of crypto and cannabis, my investment thesis for silver lies in the addictive behaviours of these largely Millennial and GenY-er-type investors, who I see as logical heirs to the throne of "speculation of choice" once it becomes necessary for them to replace the rush of rapidly rising momentum plays. In a throwback to a kinder, gentler time, the speculation of choice in the first decade of the New Millennium was silver, which outperformed all other assets by a wide margin. As you can see from the chart posted below, silver outperformed the S&P, the TSE300, and the TSX Venture spectacularly from 2003 to 2011. and it is my opinion that it will do the same in 2019 and beyond.

Asset performances since the March 2009 lows are distinctly different due to blatant interference, manipulation, and interventions that were deemed so "necessary" to avoid the systemic near-collapse of the banking system in 2008. The presence of the central banks since the 2007-2008 Great Financial Bailout. . .er. . .Crisis has served to ensure American market outperformance at the expense of moral hazard and ethical abandonment.

But ten times as bad as that is the propensity and willingness of the entire U.S.-dominated banking cartelto "join in" and one-up their respective trading desks at every turn and all dips. Equities were "ordered" higher from 2009 until Jerome Powell arrived under new "orders" and directed 33 Liberty Street to "stand down." Since the arrival of "QT" (quantitative tightening), the global markets gradually, at first, then suddenly (Hemingway, anyone?) entered into an involuntary Chapter 11, the recognition of which can only be described as refreshing (by me) and "not fair and not my f---ing fault!" by legions of smug little 30-somethings who are just now experiencing their first "correction." Repeat: a correction. Not a crash (1929, 1987), nor an economic collapse (1931-1933), or even a "deep correction" (1998)but merely a mild hiccup in the long-term trend of the S&P500.

For me, to see financial reporters like Jim Cramer and Bob Pisani joining in on the Fed-bashing party so disturbed, while watching Rick Santelli and Jim Grant and John Mauldin all part of the Fed-saluting party, is a wonderment and the true definition of a free economic society. We need more free-thinkers to man the gunboats at the G20 central banks to supercede the "global narrative," the nature of which is going to destroy the true meaning of global wealth creation, the origin of which is completely out of the hands of the global banking cartel.

To generate truly new "wealth," human labor must be applied to human ingenuity with the goal of pure financial profitability. If, as, and when that achievement occurs, truly new "wealth" has arrived, and with it, the security of a strong, labor-intensive society of working fathers and working mothers whose children grow up wishing with great alacrity the arrival of politicians capable of defining the meaning of the term "leadership."

Financial reporting has now taken over the role of the lobbyist, using the power and influence of cable and satellite TV and the Internet to attempt to sway Federal Reserve Board policy. The S&P is barely 10% off the all-time high print for 2018 but still up 279.4% since the 2009 crash lows, thanks largely to the money-printing and credit-creation mission statements of the global central banks and treasuries. Yet all we read or hear about is "the Fed is making a mistake!"

One has to wonder what the response will be when this global bear really begins to growl and snarl and gets the GenY-ers and Millennials in his crosshairs. As I have printed before, the countless interventions and manipulations have served to excessively starve this bear to the point of savage desperation and the result of failing to allow the beast to feed with normal regularity has today created an aberration of nature that will devour all in its path.

The chart posted below of the Morgan Stanley Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) has collapsed from the February peak and is now a thread away from entering full-blown bear market status thus confirming the global trend of equities and its attendant risk.

The purpose of pointing out the possibility of a lengthy bear market is that just as money will flow to defensive sectors, it will seek out new momentum plays. As mentioned above, the logical candidate is silver, a metal used in solar panels, water filtration, jewelery, ornaments, high-value tableware and utensils (hence the term silverware), in electrical contacts and conductors, in specialized mirrors, window coatings, in catalysis of chemical reactions, as a colorant in stained glass and in specialized confectionery. Its compounds are used in photographic and X-ray film. Dilute solutions of silver nitrate and other silver compounds are used as disinfectants and microbiocides (oligodynamic effect), added to bandages and wound dressings, catheters, and other medical instruments. These industrial applications make silver a viable futuristic necessity and one that the new generation of investors will more and more appreciate in the same manner in which they have embraced battery metals like lithium, cobalt, graphite, and vanadium.

For these reason, I am adding the SLV April $13 @ $1.15 calls to the trading account and will open a 50% position. I will refrain from trading this position and instead set a $10 target by expiry. I will also be ready at the drop of a hat to jettison the position on a two-day close for SLV below the 52-week low of $13.11, at which point I'll be taking a sledge hammer to the quote screen, the liquor cabinet and the medicine chest.

Broken clock be damned.

Addendum:

I concluded my missive with the following: "I am adding the SLV April $13 @ $1.15 calls to the trading account and will open a 50% position this morning." Since U.S. markets were closed for Thanksgiving, I had to wait until Friday morning to execute the trade.

Silver opened weaker on Friday on China weakness fears and a slightly stronger USD, with the SLV down $0.17 to $13.43, thus enabling the April $13 calls to open at $1.03. I am changing the limit on the call options to $1.00 and increasing the order size to a 100% position.

I like the precious metals in here for one very important reason as to timing. Everyone is fearful of a 2007- or 1987-type crash that will suck liquidity out of the precious metals along with all other risk assets. That logic is flawed because if, in fact, the U.S. markets collapse, the Fed will have no choice but to terminate its efforts at quantitative tightening, which would evoke a violent downside reaction in the USD, which in turn would put a strong bid into the precious metals. Any way you cut it, the precious metals are going to rally hard due to ideal conditions that include the very favorable COT set-up in both silver and gold.

Buy the SLV April $13 calls for $1.00 with a target price at $10 by expiry.

Disclosure:

1) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of Michael Ballanger and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. Michael Ballanger is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. Streetwise Reports was not involved in any aspect of the article preparation. Michael Ballanger was not paid by Streetwise Reports LLC for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article.

2) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

3) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article.

Charts provided by the author.

Michael Ballanger Disclaimer:

This letter makes no guarantee or warranty on the accuracy or completeness of the data provided. Nothing contained herein is intended or shall be deemed to be investment advice, implied or otherwise. This letter represents my views and replicates trades that I am making but nothing more than that. Always consult your registered advisor to assist you with your investments. I accept no liability for any loss arising from the use of the data contained on this letter. Options and junior mining stocks contain a high level of risk that may result in the loss of part or all invested capital and therefore are suitable for experienced and professional investors and traders only. One should be familiar with the risks involved in junior mining and options trading and we recommend consulting a financial adviser if you feel you do not understand the risks involved.

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Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.

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November 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) A BMO Capital Markets report discussed the progress at this miner's Suriname assets.

In a Nov. 13 research note, analyst Andrew Kaip reported highlights from a site tour to IAMGOLD Corp.'s (IMG:TSX; IAG:NYSE) Rosebel gold mine, which was limited due to a wildcat strike at the time.

Kaip reviewed the recent and future improvements at the project, which has current reserves of 5.5 million ounces and a projected mine life through 2033. For instance, IAMGOLD increased ex-pit production 23% since 2017 without expanding its fleet.

The company intends to boost hard rock capacity by 1015% by "eliminating the pebble production circuit constraint, decreasing the high power draw constraint and decreasing mill instability," Kaip explained. Design and installation of those should occur in 2019.

Kaip commented on the current strike, noting it was happening less than two months after the parties signed a new two-year contributor license agreement. "It was unclear what demands were being made, the duration and whether there will be a material impact to Q4/18 production," he wrote. Negotiations did hinder Q3/18 production and led management lower guidance to 280295 Koz.

The analyst outlined upcoming work to be done at Saramacca and the potential for underground mining there. The next steps at that project include a pit slope optimization study, slated to begin this month, followed by an environmental and social impact analysis in late November/early December. Recovery optimization test work and study are slated for February 2019. The haul road should be ready to connect Saramacca and Rosebel in April 2019 and be finished in July.

It is too early to tell whether Saramacca could be an underground operation, Kaip noted. However, ongoing preliminary assessment and pit optimization show a significant lowering of the strip ratio. "Capital and pit phasing are structured for optionality," he indicated. "Drilling is targeting about 100 meters below the current pit shell."

Kaip concluded that 2019 "stands as a year that IAMGOLD is looking to not only start up Saramacca but also continue to explore the consolidated land package."

BMO has an Outperform rating on IAMGOLD. Its target price is CA$6.50 per share; the company's stock is trading at around CA$3.34 per share.

Disclosure:

1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article.

Disclosures from BMO Capital Markets, IAMGOLD, November 13, 2018

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

Analyst's Certification

I, Andrew Kaip, hereby certify that the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities or issuers. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.

Analysts who prepared this report are compensated based upon (among other factors) the overall profitability of BMO Capital Markets and their affiliates, which includes the overall profitability of investment banking services. Compensation for research is based on effectiveness in generating new ideas and in communication of ideas to clients, performance of recommendations, accuracy of earnings estimates, and service to clients.

Analysts employed by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and/or BMO Capital Markets Limited are not registered as research analysts with FINRA. These analysts may not be associated persons of BMO Capital Markets Corp. and therefore may not be subject to the FINRA Rule 2241 restrictions on communications with a subject company, public appearances and trading securities held by a research analyst account.

Company Specific Disclosures

Disclosure 8A: BMO Capital Markets or an affiliate has a financial interest in 1% or more of any class of the equity securities of IAMGOLD.

Disclosure 8C: BMO Capital Markets or an affiliate has a financial interest in 0.5% or more in the issued share capital of IAMGOLD.

Disclosure 9B: BMO Capital Markets makes a market in IAMGOLD in United States.

Disclosure 16: A research analyst has extensively viewed the material operations of IAMGOLD.

Disclosure 17: IAMGOLD has paid or reimbursed some or all of the research analyst's travel expenses.

For Important Disclosures on the stocks discussed in this report, please click here.

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Here's your morning bulletin.

GET INFORMED ...

IRELAND: State agencies have made more than 1,250 disclosure requests to access peoples private online information from internet companies over the last five years, new figures show.

IRELAND: A total of 12,855 calls were fielded by the 24-hour service run by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre  around 48% of which were related to claims of adult rape.

IRELAND: The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is to discuss needs for border Protestant communities with Grand Secretary of the Orange Lodge.

IRELAND: A private firm has lost a High Court challenge to try and close down a car park operated at the Cliffs of Moher by Clare County Council.

WORLD: Two crew members were wounded after Russias coastguard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraines vessels on Sunday after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula, the Ukrainian navy said.

WORLD: Mexico pledged to shore up security near its border with the United States after a peaceful march devolved into chaos when US agents fired tear gas into Mexico to stop some migrants who tried to breach the border.

BUSINESS: Important advice for would-be investors: Everyone is looking for a quick and easy way to wealth and happiness.

SPORT: Johnny Sexton was last night crowned World Rugby Player of the Year on a night of sweeping success for Ireland.

SPORT: Mick McCarthy insists authority not undermined by one-shot deal.

... SOME DISTRACTION

FEATURE: Nuala Woulfe explains why were living in an eighties bubble and its down to clever marketing preying on our nostalgia.

CULTURE: From old classics to modern literary fiction and meditation, ten celebs tell Richard Fitzpatrick their favourite read of 2018.

FEATURE: The number of people they saw using dirty makeup brushes inspired makeup artist Charlene Flanagan and skin therapist Niamh Ryan to join forces and come up with a solution.
The Dublin Port Company (DPC) claims a haulage firm is overholding on a lease for a property it says is required for wider redevelopment of the port for core import and export activity.

DPC says Automation Transport is a former tenant of the two-acre site on the Promenade Road and is overholding on its lease. The property is valued at more than 1.5m.

It seeks a declaration from the Commercial Court that the lease has terminated. It also wants a declaration that Automation has breached that lease by engaging. while overholding, in the manufacturing, processing and/or production of substances including liquefied plastics.

It seeks orders restraining the defendant from carrying on any activity at the premises other than that permitted by the lease, that is a road haulage business. It also wants an order that remedial works be carried out and the property be delivered up in a repaired and good condition, in accordance with the lease.

The case was admitted to the Commercial Court list by Mr Justice Robert Haughton. The defendant's lawyers said they had no objection to the admission.

DPC property manager, Cormac Kennedy said, in an affidavit, the defendant's solicitors have denied manufacturing or processing substances on the property.

Mr Kennedy said however, they failed to provide any explanation for the activities on the site.

The property is due to be used by DPC as part of the wider redevelopment of the port, he said. DPC has been actively developing and investing in land remediation to convert property at the port which was previously used for warehousing and haulage, he said.

This is to facilitate extremely large import and export throughout with the land being redeveloped to ensure that its floor load specification meets best international standards, he said.

A masterplan to cover development for 2012 to 2040 is in place, he said.
State agencies have made more than 1,250 disclosure requests to access peoples private online information from internet companies over the last five years, new figures show.

An Irish Examiner investigation into what continues to be a highly secretive and controversial spying power also reveals:

16,500 requests for personal phone data have been disclosed by the countrys largest mobile phone operator, Vodafone, over a three-year period;

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was granted almost 100 requests to access personal data from telecos and internet firms between 2012 and 2017.

GSOC is thought to be the first State agency, with power to access communication data, to voluntarily and publicly provide figures. This followed repeated requests from this newspaper.

The Garda Ombudsmans position stands in contrast to the other three agencies that utilise the power  An Garda Siochana (by far the greatest user), the Defence Forces, and Revenue, all of which have repeatedly refused to publicly release any statistics.

This is despite EU court rulings and a judicial inquiry here, which undermined the legal basis behind the widespread and indiscriminate retention of this data and the ability of State agencies to access it through an internal process, without first seeking external authorisation from the courts or an expert tribunal.

The Irish Examiner investigation found:

1,259 disclosure requests were made to four major internet service providers (Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Twitter) between 2012 and June 2018 involving 14,000 users or accounts;

Just over 60% of these requests (768) were granted, with the rest either rejected or no data/information found;

Facebook received 537 disclosure requests, Microsoft 482, Google 217 (with an additional 13 emergency disclosure requests), and Twitter 23;

Microsoft figures show that of the 316 disclosure requests granted, 58 disclosed the content of data and 258 were non-content or communication data;

In addition to providing 10 disclosures, Twitter also complied with 30 removal requests from gardai and three from the courts;

16,490 requests for communication data were disclosed by Vodafone (which controls 45% of the mobile phone market) between April 2013 and April 2016;

Three other major telecommunication companies (Three, Eir, and Virgin) do not publish any data and declined to do so on request, although Three (which owns 39% of the mobile market) said it planned to publish data in the coming months;

GSOC was approved 95 of its disclosure requests between 2012 and 2017.

Draft legislation to address legal concerns was published over a year ago, following the publication of the Murray report, which examined the law on this area  but the final legislation, the Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2017, is still awaited.

Last month, the judge tasked with monitoring the use of the provisions, Ms Justice Marie Baker, said there was an urgency to the legislation.

State agencies use the power to access communication data for the investigation of serious crime, saving of human life, and protection of national security.

It is thought that the last published figures on communication data related to 2014 or the 2008-2012 period.

Communication data has been described as a vast store of private information regarding peoples use of their phones and digital devices.

This includes their network and history of phone contacts and their activities online  everything other than the actual content of communications.

A Department of Justice spokesman said the amending legislation was well advanced with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the committee.
A company manufacturing underfloor insulation boards is suing its insurer over an alleged refusal to indemnify it for claims arising out of shrinkage of its product.

Ballytherm of Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, says it is facing claims for damage to properties due to the shrinkage which it says is significantly due to a change in a chemical blend a Dutch firm supplied for making the boards.

Ballytherm claims insurers/underwriters Brit UW Ltd, Leadenhall Street, London, has wrongfully refused to provide an indemnity under the product liability cover of its contracts liability insurance.

The case was admitted on consent to the Commercial Court today by Mr Justice Robert Haughton.

The firm manufactures rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation boards used in the construction of residential and commercial properties.

It makes the boards with a chemical blend which previously had been bought from a German company, Bayer AG, and which was subsequently purchased from Dutch firm Covestro BV following reorganisation within the Bayer group.

Ballytherm director, Brendan Cosgrove, in an affidavit, said in March 2016, the company was notified about cracking and associated damage in a number of residential dwellings constructed by a building firm which had used the boards in underfloor insulation.

While it was initially suspected this was due to an infill product beneath the insulation, some queries arose about the structural integrity of the boards, he said. Subsequently, Ballytherm received a number of similar notifications from others who had the boards installed in their properties.

Mr Cosgrove said, following investigations, his company discovered a change in the chemical blend supplied by Covestro, between November 2014 and February 2016, may have been "a significant factor" in the shrinkage of the boards.

Mr Cosgrove said only a small proportion of the boards manufactured during that period appeared to manifest problems.

Ballytherm provided its Brit UW with a list of the parties who were claiming over damage but the insurer refused to provide an indemnity, he said.

Mr Cosgrove says the firm is entitled to an indemnity, subject to a limit of 6.5m.

It was essential that the matter is resolved as quickly as possible, he said.

The value of claims already notified exceeds 6.5m, he said.
Eight wooden panels, bearing the names of a towns war dead, will be blessed in a historic church next weekend.

A roll call of the 200 soldiers from the Youghal area who died in the First World War and Second World War is part of an ecumenical memorial service on Sunday in the towns magnificent 13th-century St Marys Collegiate Church.

For heritage reasons, the identifies of the 154 First World War victims and 36 from the Second World War conflict could only be inscribed on a wooden memorial.

The panels will be permanently installed in the churchs newly-restored Memorial Chapel section. They were designed with the assistance of local conservation consultant David Kelly and built by tradesman Willie Keniry.

Bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, the Rev Dr Paul Colton, will officiate before an anticipated attendance of 400. Ceremonies commence at 2.30pm and those wishing to lay wreaths are asked to notify Rector Andrew Orr in advance.

Army and naval groups from throughout Ireland will join church figures, relations of the fallen men and other guests. Local and national politicians have been invited as well.

Wreaths will be laid on the altar and relatives will carry twelve candles, representing world war years.

The ceremony follows seven years of research by two local men, Norman McDonald and Billy Healy.

Their interest began after accidentally discovering the grave of Private Oliver Havens at Templemichael near Youghal.

Further local discoveries included five wartime graves in North Abbey cemetery in Youghal, said Mr Healy, whose maternal grandfather survived World War One.

About 900 local people had signed up for World War One. said Mr Healy.

The mens research focused on the 1900 Youghal postal district from Ballycotton to Clashmore in west Waterford.

Data was sourced from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission while UCCs publication The GReat Sacrifice also revealed many others who died in World War One.

Loses at sea were far fewer than in the trenches, with 17 known casualties from about 200 naval recruits. Five lives were recorded as lost from an estimated 56 merchant seamen.

The youngest was 16-year old Private David Cropley from Ballycotton, with the oldest being 65-year-old Lieutenant Walter Croker-Poole from Ardmore, whose pilot boat hit a mine in the Mersey.

A sea mine episode saw five Royal Navy Reserves from Youghal perish when the HMS Laurentic sank. More names, especially from the Second World War are expected to be added when British records are released.
A student whose life was saved by CPR says she's living proof of the importance of the life-saving skill.

Amy O'Brien, a student at St Vincent's Secondary School in Cork, revealed her near-death experience as the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) presented her school with a special recognition award for training all of its staff and pupils in cardiopulmonary resuscitation as part of its CPR 4 Schools programme, supported by Bank of Ireland.

Amy's dad performed CPR on her after she lost consciousness in a freak swimming pool accident while on holidays in Spain a few years ago. She was rushed to hospital and had to have her lungs drained. But doctors said if she hadn't received CPR in the early stages, she may not have made it.

St Vincents is the first school in Cork and just the fourth nationally to receive the IHF award, which recognises remarkable efforts in CPR promotion and training.

The programme aims to create a generation of life savers - post primary students around the country who are equipped and trained to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in cardiac emergencies and to respond when someone is choking.

Performing CPR can double and in some cases triple the chance of survival for someone in cardiac arrest.

So far, 965 teachers in 363 secondary schools around the country have taken part in the training, reaching over 180,000 secondary school students.

Frances Dodd, a teacher at St Vincents, said: "The pupils have really enjoyed developing new lifesaving skills that can be used in every environment; at home, in school and in the community."

The IHF's Children and Young People Programme Manager, Laura Hickey, said they wanted to recognise the work the school has done to teach CPR in their community.

"Every day 13 people in Ireland die from a cardiac arrest and schools are an ideal setting to educate young people in CPR and reduce the incidences of death from cardiac arrest," she said.

CPR is a lifesaving skill that everyone can learn, and this programme is available to every post primary school in Ireland, equipping young people with the skills and confidence to perform CPR. St Vincents Secondary School has done tremendous work in creating awareness and taking the fear out of lifesaving.

For schools to take part in the training, two teachers must attend a two-hour workshop to equip them with the skills to teach CPR back at their schools.

They get access to the IHF's online portal which features training videos, lesson plans, student certificates, and access to free training manikins and in just 40 minutes, they can teach students to perform CPR, use an AED, and help someone who is choking.

The next CPR 4 Schools training day for teachers in Cork will take place in the Cork Education Support Centre on the Western Road in February.

Post primary school teachers interested in attending can find out more on www.irishheart.ie/cpr4schools.
A cyclist has died in a road accident in Co. Limerick.

The traffic accident happened at Ballcullane in Kilmallock at around 8pm last night.

A man in his 40s riding his bike was involved in a collision with a car before being taken to Limerick University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The driver of the car was uninjured.

This stretch of road has been closed for a forensic examination and diversions are in place.

Gardai have appealed for witnesses to contact Kilmallock Garda Station on 063-98018, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

- Digital Desk
The Government is continuing to plan for a hard Brexit despite the EUs endorsement of a withdrawal deal for Britain.

European leaders signed off on the draft withdrawal agreement at a special summit in Brussels yesterday morning, but the deal will now have to go before the British parliament where it faces significant opposition.

Prime minister Theresa May stressed that the deal is in the best interests of the British people, as it would take back control of their borders and end free movement of people for once and for all.

'We've got the best deal available, it's the only possible deal' @theresa_may pic.twitter.com/erU5LJEpPm  RTE News (@rtenews) November 25, 2018

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the best option would be for the UK to stay in the EU but he said this agreement is the next best outcome.

Mr Varadkar warned that the withdrawal agreement is the only deal on the table, stating that there isnt a plan B.

Asked whether EU leaders had discussed what they would do if the vote in the House of Commons fails, Mr Varadkar said the EU 27 had made a conscious decision not to discuss what may happen in such a scenario.

Hitting out at Brexiteers, he said it is becoming obvious that those who are opposed to this deal dont agree among themselves.

He said that as the date of the House of Commons vote draws closer, more MPs will move to support it.

As time goes on, as we get closer to the vote, it is going to become more and more obvious that the alternative to this deal is a no-deal scenario, said Mr Varadkar.

'What's on the table is the only deal that's on the table' @campaignforleo pic.twitter.com/KUhWThM3HA  RTE News (@rtenews) November 25, 2018

He said he understands the DUP, which has said it will not be voting in favour of the deal, but that the agreement is very much in line with the principals of the Good Friday Agreement.

We all accept that because of Northern Irelands unique history and unique geography, it has special arrangements that on occasion are a little bit different from the UK, said Mr Varadkar.

So I dont think that having a special arrangement relating to market regulations on industrial goods is fundamentally different from the special arrangements that exist already, its very much in line with the kind of arrangements that exist already.

Mr Varadkar confirmed that as well as preparing for an orderly exit, the Government is still planning for a hard Brexit.

He said: Then there is also a secondary set of planning which is for a no-deal scenario, even though we are closer to a deal today than we were a couple of weeks ago we still have to continue planning for the possibility of a no deal.

Fianna Fails Brexit spokeswoman Lisa Chambers said the ball is now in Ms Mays court, adding that, given the arithmetic of the House of Commons, she needs Labour votes, but at the moment she does not have them.

We are not at the end of this process, we are at the beginning, Ms Chambers told RTE. If we dont get this deal through the House of Commons, if we are unsuccessful, then we are into a vulnerable and precarious situation in terms of where the backstop is, its not there.
The minister for justice has condemned an arson attack on a hotel that had been earmarked for 100 asylum seekers in Donegal, with locals also speaking out strongly against the attack.

The Caiseal Mara Hotel in the seaside town of Moville was damaged after a blaze broke out in the building at around 4am yesterday.

Local firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to bring the fire under control, and it is understood the owner of the hotel and his daughter had to be evacuated from the building.

Gardai later confirmed that a man in his 50s was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital for treatment and that extensive damage was caused to the building. They confirmed last night that the fire had been started deliberately.

The hotel became the focus of attention after it was earmarked for 100 asylum seekers  prompting some criticism that locals had not been fully consulted. It was due to receive its first asylum seekers in the coming days.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan and the minister of state for equality and integration, David Stanton, both condemned the attack.

I condemn this attack and those behind it in the strongest possible terms, said Mr Flanagan.

This was a despicable incident and could have led to very serious tragedy. I send my best wishes for a full recovery to the injured person and all those impacted by the fire.

I am urging anyone with any information with regard to this fire to contact the gardai.

A meeting of locals concerned about the lack of information on plans to bring the asylum seekers to the town was held last week. The vast majority welcomed the move but some had reservations about infrastructure and a lack of information about the move.

Another meeting had been planned for yesterday to arrange a welcome party for the asylum seekers.

Following the fire, the meeting went ahead, and speakers reiterated Movilles welcome for the asylum seekers and condemned the attack.

Labour councillor Martin Farren told the meeting that he was immensely proud of the reaction of the people of Moville to the incident.

I said that the people of Moville would respond to the needs of these people and they have, he said.

We obviously condemn this attack but I felt immense pride in the people of Moville today who stood behind these people.

We will welcome these people as we said we would and nothing has changed because of that.

It was heartening to hear so much goodness and kindness spoken at the meeting.

Moville Community College principal Anthony Duggan said the attack, which came as the town was preparing to put up its Christmas tree, ran counter to the message of Christmas.
And so we have sign off.

During a Sunday morning meeting in Brussels, the 27 leaders of the EU, along with British prime minister Theresa May, endorsed the draft withdrawal agreement.

Although there were a few last-minute wobbles  which was to be expected from the UK but less so from Spain  the deal was signed off on without much fuss in the end.

The leaders had barely entered the cocoon of the egg-shaped European Council room when word rippled out that the single item on the agenda of this special and hastily called meeting had been dealt with.

A momentous occasion.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves. There will still be many more unexpected plot twists in the Brexit saga.

If the Brexiteers, the Remainers, and all in between thought the process which led to a finalised draft withdrawal agreement was fraught, wait until they get to the future relationship talks.

It is clear that the UK will go into trade talks with one main aim  to put its own interests first.

In a press briefing, Ms May used the phrase in our national interest six times in her opening statement.

'We've got the best deal available, it's the only possible deal' @theresa_may pic.twitter.com/erU5LJEpPm  RTE News (@rtenews) November 25, 2018

Asked if she shared the sadness expressed by German chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders, Ms May said: Well, no.

After the laughter of the mainly British journalists in the room subsided, she added: But I recognise that others do. I recognise that some European leaders are sad at this moment, but also some people back home in the UK will be sad at this moment.

The way I look at it is actually this is for us to move on to the next stage, I am full of optimism for this country and I believe that we can, with this good deal with the European Union we will remain friends and neighbours.

The meeting also got sign off on a political declaration  a rough outline for future talks on a trade agreement, which will only be hammered out during a 21-month transition period that is due to begin after Brexit happens on March 29.

The political declaration establishes the parameters of an ambitious, broad, deep, and flexible partnership across trade and economic co-operation, law enforcement and criminal justice, foreign policy, security and defence, and wider areas of co-operation.

But in reality it is only a vague document and barely touches on the nitty gritty of any real trade deal.

Whoever is tasked with steering these trade negotiations faces a difficult and protracted challenge.

While the 36 -page political declaration makes neutral reference to fishing, it merely states that both parties should co-operate bilaterally and internationally to ensure fishing at sustainable levels, promote resource conservation, and foster a clean, healthy, and productive marine environment.

It also notes that the UK will be an independent coastal state.

If only it were that simple.

Fishing and the right to fish in UK waters is just one of many contentious issues that are likely to hit significant roadblocks in any future relationship talks.

Currently, the EUs Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) gives all European fishing fleets equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds and allows fishermen to compete fairly based on a quota system.

The UK will be fighting hard to claim back their own waters by excluding European trawlers. Trade deals are notoriously complicated to get across the line.

Earlier this year, Europe agreed an economic partnership deal with Japan after a process that had begun back in 2013.

And while talks on an agreement between the US and the EU also began back in 2013, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, still has to be fully hammered out.

Even when a trade deal with the UK is struck, it will then have to face the final hurdle of ratification from the European Parliament, which introduces the possibility of another Wallonia problem.

Wallonia  a small region in Belgium which, before October 2016, was virtually unknown to anyone living outside of its territory  became the subject of much attention when its lawmakers voted to block an EU-Canada trade deal.

The small French-speaking enclave in southern Belgium held the already delayed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta) deal to ransom.

An official signing of the Ceta pact was cancelled as the endorsement of all EU member states was required. Wallonia eventually backed down and Ceta received the approval of all member state parliaments.

Any post-Brexit trade deal that is negotiated between Europe and the UK will face the same process.

But we are all getting ahead of ourselves with talks of trade talks, future relationships, and parliament ratification.

Before any of this can happen, Ms May will have to get the withdrawal agreement through the House of Commons.

We may have initial sign-off, but we are still a long way off Brexit lift off.

What happens next?

Theresa Mays Brexit deal has been backed in Brussels, with leaders of the remaining 27 EU nations approving two documents that have been two years in the making  the Withdrawal Agreement and a Political Declaration about the future relationship between Ireland, the EU and the UK.

After clearing that major hurdle, here is what lies ahead for the deal, the British Prime Minister and Britains exit from the EU.

Battle for parliamentary approval

Many thought it would be near-impossible for Ms May to secure consensus among all of the EUs leaders back when Article 50 was triggered on March 29 2017.

Furthermore, few predicted that one of the biggest threats to the deal would eventually come from Brexiteer MPs when, in the early stages of the negotiations, Remain campaigners took the British Government to the highest court in the land in order to secure a meaningful vote for MPs.

This Commons vote is the major hurdle Ms May must now overcome if her hard-won deal is to be enshrined in UK law. The vote is expected to take place before MPs break for Christmas in December.

Eurosceptic rejection

Led by figures including Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, a swathe of Brexiteer Tories have rejected Ms Mays deal and called for it to be renegotiated.

This raises the prospect of some of Ms Mays own MPs voting against the agreement when it goes before the Commons. Appearing at the DUP conference on Saturday, Mr Johnson said the deal will leave the UK a satellite state of the EU.

In the Sunday Express, Mr Rees-Mogg said the deal does not deliver on Brexit and instead of taking back control, in some areas it will leave the United Kingdom with even less control than it currently has: the vassal state.

DUP opposition

The Eurosceptics rejection of the plans stems in large part from the deals backstop provision for the border.

Hardline Brexiteers say it risks the UK being unable to ever fully leave the EU. The DUP say that the backstop would see Northern Ireland adopt a different regulatory regime to Great Britain if a wider UK/EU trade deal fails to materialise.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said the draft deal fails to protect the Union. With 10 MPs in the Commons, their support could be crucial for Mrs Mays deal to pass.

Labour opposition

Labour repeatedly warned that they would vote against any deal that does not pass six tests. Among the requirements are that it delivers the exact same benefits, fair management of migration and the protection of workers rights and protections.

On Wednesday Jeremy Corbyn branded the deal as botched and a leap in the dark. [It] breaches the prime ministers own red lines and does not meet our six tests, he said.

Uncertain future

There is growing speculation that the deal will be voted down by MPs in its current form, although the PM is expected to have several weeks to build support. Aware of the widespread opposition among MPs, Ms May is appealing directly to the public.

On Saturday she issued a letter to the nation in which she urged Britons to get behind the deal. She has also sought the backing of business in an effort to encourage MPs to support the deal.

What happens if it is voted down?

MPs rejection of Mrs Mays plan would open up several possibilities:

Britain crashing out of the EU with no deal on March 29;

Ms May having to return to the EU to ask for further talks;

A so-called Peoples Vote that could see Brexit halted altogether.

On Saturday, British chancellor Philip Hammond warned that rejecting the deal would leave Britain in uncharted territory, while he said a no-deal Brexit would unleash economic chaos.

Could another deal be struck?

EU leaders have warned they will not return to the negotiating table, however a no-deal Brexit would have damaging consequences for both the UK and EU countries. If talks are re-opened it will likely mean extending the Article 50 period well beyond March 29.

According to reports, officials in Westminster and Brussels are continuing to work on plans for alternative arrangements. The Sunday Telegraph reported that several senior ministers were working on plans for a Norway-style relationship with the EU.

Brexit: Part two

Negotiations up to this point have related to the arrangements for how Britains divorce from the EU will take place. If Ms Mays divorce deal is passed by Parliament, next comes the long process of agreeing on how the UK will trade with the bloc in the future.

Negotiators have until the end of the transition period, which could run until the end of 2022, to strike a deal. If they fail to do so that could mean the imposition of the backstop to ensure no disruption to the border.

 Ryan Wilkinson
Former members of the Defence Forces and a lobby group are combining to picket all TDs offices this Saturday to highlight the poor pay and conditions being endured by serving soldiers, sailors and aircrews.

Those behind a march on the Dail last September are calling on retired servicemen and women and families of serving members to picket constituency offices of TDs from all political parties from 10.30am to 12.30pm that day.

One of its chief organisers, retired regimental sergeant Noel OCallaghan, said politicians should realise the military family comprises the serving and retired members of the Permanent Defence Forces and the Reserve Defence Forces, along with their immediate and extended families.

[quoteIt is a group that extends in membership to in excess of 100,000 citizens of voting age. In the history of the State, no political party has ever targeted for political support at election time this extensive cohort of people as a homogenous group.[/quote]

Neither has the military family until now felt a need at election time to organise itself as a homogenous group, said Mr OCallaghan.

He added that has now changed fundamentally due to the fracture of the essential bond required to exist between government and members of the military in developed democracies such as Ireland.

He said the Defence Forces had been betrayed and not just not just because of the obviously unacceptable neglect of pay and conditions which are now self-evident as the Defence Forces are the lowest paid public servants.

The betrayal extends to the Defence Forces being downgraded to a junior minister representing defence when in actual fact the real minister for defence is the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar.
Priests are raising concerns that some of their members are being denied a traditional funeral.

It has emerged that those who die while facing accusations of sexual abuse are not entitled to a full Catholic funeral.

The Association of Catholic Priests has said that it is distressing for families, particularly for priests who have not been convicted.

Fr Tim Hazelwood from the ACP explains some of the cases he has come across.

He said: "Some of the examples are that the death notice would not be put into the newspaper or that there would be no music, no concelebration allowed, the priests' title would not be given he would be called by his first name, he wouldn't be called Father at the funeral.

"If possible, it wouldn't be held in a church, it would be held in a chapel at the time that's not the usual time for funerals. So it is kind of to get it out of the way quietly."

- Digital Desk
Hundreds of people gathered for a dusk ceremony in St Stephens Green, Dublin, yesterday to say farewell to the Hauntings Soldier on its final day on public view in Ireland.

The 6m-tall sculpture has been on loan from its British creators since early this month to mark the centenary of the ending of the First World War, in which an estimated 300,000 Irish served and 49,000 died.

The Peoples Goodbye was organised in just a few days amid public upset after an attack on the sculpture in the early hours of last Thursday morning in which it was sprayed with red paint.

Sabina Purcell, a relative of a First World War soldier and the driving force behind the move to bring the sculpture here, wore red to the ceremony in solidarity.

Like many soldiers, he has been through a lot but that is part and parcel of being a soldier, she told the crowds.

Ms Purcell addressed Irelands New Zealand community as wreaths left by the All Blacks last weekend were also covered in paint.

It is not who we are as a people, she said.

Members of the organising committee and people from the crowd came forward to give the name and regiment of the family member they had come to remember  granduncles who never came home, grandfathers who returned wounded, cousins buried on foreign soil, and those still missing in action.

The Last Post is played for the Haunting Soldier and all those soldiers for whom it was never played as their bodies were never found and no burial took place #iestaff pic.twitter.com/zz3TZVPBFZ  Caroline O'Doherty (@codohertynews) November 25, 2018

The Defence Forces attended and a piper played Amazing Grace and bugler sounded the Last Post and Reveille, the former played at the end of a soldiers service for the day or in death and the latter to rouse him in the morning or for his ascension to the afterlife.

The owners of the Soldier, Jo Oliver and Paul Richards, sent a message to the Irish public saying they felt proud to have played a part in the Armistice commemorations here. They have planted an oak tree on their farm in Somerset in remembrance.
The national rape crisis helpline had its busiest year last year with the number getting in touch reaching 12,855.

Run by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) for the whole country, the 24-hour helpline had 500 more phone calls, emails, and texts seeking help than in 2016, and over 1,000 more than in 2015.

Demand for other services provided by the organisation also increased. Therapy was provided for 550 face-to-face clients, an increase of 10% on the previous year, and personnel spent 53 days accompanying survivors to court or garda stations, compared to 37 in 2016.

Personnel also accompanied 251 people to examinations at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at the Rotunda in Dublin and provided 3,883 appointments for counselling and other services.

Angela McCarthy, head of clinical services, said while many people sought help for rapes they hid for years, the nature of the disclosures showed a trend towards reporting attacks earlier.

Nearly 48% of helpline contacts related to adult rape, compared to 41% of 2016 contacts. Of new clients seen in 2017, 49% had experienced recent rape or sexual assault, she said.

The organisations annual report will be published today at an event to be attended by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. He said it was a privilege to see the vital work being carried out and the way DRCC provided victim-centred services.

This helps to inform the work of An Garda Siochana and other agencies dealing with these victims, he said.

DRCC chief executive Noeline Blackwell praised the work of gardai who are specially trained in the investigation of sexual offences but she said there were not enough of them.

She said when specialists are not available for such sensitive investigations, they could be poorly handled and lead to victims withdrawing and being re-victimised.

When you combine this with the systematic difficulties of our court system in such trials, it is little wonder that there is such a high drop-out between reporting and trial and even a very low rate of reporting.

Ms Blackwells comments echo those of rape survivor Leona OCallaghan, who earlier this month tackled the Minister for Justice about the way rape prosecutions are conducted.

She said she barely made it through the four years she had to wait for a trial after she made her report to gardai.

DRCC chairwoman Ann Marie Gill said the organisation is continuing to have a dual focus, delivering supports and services to the victims of sexual offences but also providing training for personnel in other agencies to try to bring about societal change.

We are working towards a safer society where sexual violence is no longer acceptable or tolerated, she said.

The national 24-hour helpline is 1800 77 88 88.
By Conor Kane

Up to 100m in funding has been confirmed today for 88 projects in Irelands five cities and other large towns under the Urban Regeneration and Development Scheme.

However, the Government's allocation of 6m to a major urban regeneration project in Waterford, rather than the 20m hoped for by backers, has been described as "a major slap in the face" for the city.

The north quays rejuvenation scheme in Waterford is expected to need over 100m in total over the coming years if it is to go ahead as planned and Waterford City and County Council had hoped for an initial allocation of 20.1m to begin enabling works.

The council's CEO Michael Walsh said today they needed "greater certainty" around the Government's commitment to the project and that it "wouldn't be viable" for the private element of the regeneration to go ahead with the public infrastructure.

The first round of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund announced today earmarked 6m for Waterford, to go towards the cost of a new pedestrian bridge linking the city's north and south quays.

Eoghan Murphy, Leo Varadkar TD and Josepha Madigan at today's announcement. Pic: Roillingnews.ie

Plans have been in place for some time for a key residential, tourism, retail and office development on Waterford's north quays, with Saudi Arabian company Fawaz Alhokair to build much of the private element of the scheme.

The public aspect includes the pedestrian bridge, a new transport hub which will include moving the existing railway station, and improved roads.

Waterford TD and Minister of State John Halligan, who helped announce the 88 successful URDF countrywide along with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy, said the new bridge "will ensure vital connectivity between the existing and proposed shopping districts" in Waterford.

"This key piece of infrastructure is the first building block in a multi-million euro project that has the potential to transform our city, not just physically but also from an economic and social perspective," Mr Halligan said.

However, Fianna Fail TD for Waterford Mary Butler said the "14m funding gap" between the application for 20m and the allocated 6m "is a major slap in the face to Waterford city" and "does not bode well for the future funding".

She said there is concern in Waterford that, unless the Government provides the funding that is needed, the entire project could stall. "This is incredibly disappointing. The Government hyped up their support for this project consistently, and now the city community has been once again left short-changed by this Government."

City and County Council CEO Michael Walsh said the Saudi investors could be through the planning process by the middle of next year and ready to build the mooted shopping, tourism, office and residential complex, but will need the public infrastructure.

He said: "They can [go ahead independently] but the reality is that, without real certainty that more infrastructure is contemporaneous, they probably couldn't. They have a two year or two and a half year build, you would want to have the infrastructure coming on at the same time. It wouldn't be viable to open without it."

He said he is confident the political and official support for this "transformational project" is there, but the council "will need to see longer-term commitment" from central Government.

"We would probably have been happier if we had got eight or nine million, because we will be getting some money from the NTA [National Transport Authority] as well."

More urban funding is due to be announced by the Government early next year. "There's an element of goodwill there but we need to see it tangibly," Mr Walsh said.

Limerick city will receive more than 6m in funding to go towards developments such as Project Opera, the revitalisation of O'Connell Street, a digital centre, and a waterfront.

Local Fine Gael Senator, Maria Byrne, says its a great day for the region.

She said: "It's about bringing people into Limerick, it's about putting Limerick on the map. Limerick is a driver in the Midwest region, the city especially.

"Limerick city and county were amalgamated several years ago and it has been very very good in terms of driving the region, but we have to have a thriving city to drive the region, and certainly that's what that investment will mean today."

- Digital Desk
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is to meet the Grand Secretary of the Orange Lodge today.

Mr Varadkar and Reverend Mervyn Gibson will discuss issues affecting its members in the Republic of Ireland at Government Buildings.
An historic former bank has been reborn as a bank of ideas, the president of UCC Patrick O'Shea said today at the official opening of its new city-based centre for executive education.

The university also confirmed that it has narrowed to a handful of locations its search for another city centre location to house its expanding business school, which is on course to have 4,000 students just four years after it was established.

The comments came at the formal unveiling of UCC's new Centre for Executive Education based in the landmark former Cork Savings Bank building on Lapps Quay.

Designed by architects T and K Deane in 1839 and built for the Cork Savings Bank for 11,000 (some 40m today) and opened in 1842, the protected structure is an important part of Cork's architectural heritage.

The listed property, which was acquired by UCC from Cork City Council in 2016, has undergone extensive refurbishment, including a new extension to the rear of the building, and the addition of new meeting and lecture rooms.

Its former main banking hall has been converted into a large function room, which will be available for use for civic functions.

It is now home to the Cork University Business School (CUBS) and Irish Management Institute (IMI) progammes - combining the largest business school in Ireland with the country's top leadership and executive education institute.

It will run a series of both open and custom-courses aimed mainly at chief executives. But it will also offer executive MBAs, short courses and international master classes.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney said the building represents the ambition and commitment of UCC in leading Irelands future business and executive education.

In bringing together CUBS and IMI, professionals across a wide range of sectors will benefit enormously from the synergies and vision represented by this magnificent building which has had a long history of banking, and will now continue to enrich peoples lives and our business environment," he said.

Professor Ursula Kilkelly, Head of UCC's College of Business and Law, said the investment in the building is UCC's first step into the business community with IMI, and reflects the university's commitment to ensure the availability of world-class business education from undergraduate to leadership level to Cork and the region.

Dean of UCC's business school, Prof Thia Hennessy, said the business school has seen a 15% increase in student numbers in just four years, has quadrupled its number of international students, has hired 16 professors, and is on course to have 4,000 students soon.

The MD of Twitter's Dublin operation, Sinead McSweeney, who is also a board member of IMI, was a keynote speaker at today's event.

She said she remembered several nights during her first year in UCC sprinting passed the building at a few minutes to 11pm to catch the last bus home to Midleton in East Cork.

It's important that it's within sprinting distance of the bus and train station," she joked.

But she said Cork must be open to change and to doing things differently if it is to continue attracting foreign direct investment.

"This school will help to create a new generation of leader to enhance opportunities for foreign direct investment," she said.
The number of people they saw using dirty makeup brushes inspired makeup artist Charlene Flanagan and skin therapist Niamh Ryan to join forces and come up with a solution.

We both saw a lack of knowledge from a client perspective about the importance of using clean makeup brushes, Charlene said.

The bacteria they carry is insane and people were using amazing skincare and spending money getting expensive facial treatments done and then putting dirty makeup brushes clogged with dead skin and bacteria on their skin every day. It really dulls the skin and is a total no-no for anyone with oily or breakout prone skin

There was no easy solution on the market for people that really cut through that oil and bacteria and that still had your brushes ready to use minutes later.

Mayo mum-of-three Niamh and Sligo woman Charlene, who is expecting her second child, are using social media to educate people with health and beauty tips. On their personal Instagram accounts, Charlene shares makeup advice and Niamh chats about skin and reflexology, while their brand, Ella & Jo, focuses on their Squeaky Clean Brush Cleanser product.

Instagram is the main platform where people follow brands and people they are interested in. Its amazing for us to get real feedback from our customers practically in real time.

Both ladies have business backgrounds, which they found helpful when setting up their own company.

We both have a grounding in business and marketing and both have degrees with a business base and we think that has really helped us in a lot of areas.

They enjoy educating their followers across Instagram.

When you have put yourself out there as an expert in your field it motivates you to keep upskilling and to be the best that you can be so you are sharing the very best knowledge with people, whether that is showing a busy mum how she can hide her dark circles so she can have confidence going to the school gate or showing someone with adult acne some really easy ways to reduce their breakouts.

Some people think its all fluff but we make a difference to so many women every day and we know because they tell us.

Niamh and Charlene have struggled to juggle networking with real-life responsibilities.

We both live in the West of Ireland but we get invited to so many events. With a six-hour round trip to Dublin, we just cant attend everything, as much as we would love to. From a networking point of view that can be hard.
From old classics to modern literary fiction and meditation, ten celebs tell Richard Fitzpatrick their favourite read of 2018.

Sinead Moriarty, Writer

Educated by Tara Westover

(Hutchinson, 15.99)

Tara Westover comes from this extreme, fundamentalist Mormon family in Idaho. Her father is a conspiracy theorist. His kids births were never registered; they didnt go to school. He doesnt believe in medicine so he never took them to the doctors. She was supposed to be home-schooled but basically worked in her fathers scrapyard from a very young age. Somehow through grit and determination she insisted at around 17 that she wanted to go to school. Shed no idea about the Second World War or any basic historical facts. She was completely clueless but she goes on and ends up with a PhD from Cambridge. Some of her siblings didnt fare so well so the storys quite sad as well. I absolutely love this book.

Theo Dorgan, Poet

Europe: A Natural History by Tim Flannery

(Allen Lane, 27.00)

Europe, says Tim Flannery in his Introduction to this marvellous book, is where the investigation of the deep past began. At a time when political Europe is in turmoil, it is salutary to be reminded of just how ancient Europe is. The first distinctively European organisms appeared, says Flannery, around 100 million years ago. The first musical instrument we have was created 42,000 years ago, in the Danube corridor  an ivory flute. Such breath-taking perspectives are both terrifying and salutary. A magisterial and very readable scholarly book that will feed your dreaming self all through the winter.

Colm Williamson, Waterford Whispers News

The 12th Planet by Zecharia Sitchin

(Harper Collins, 8.99)

Allegedly translating Sumerian tablets, Zecharia Sitchins The 12th Planet describes a highly advanced race of beings who came to earth from the 12th planet in our solar system called Niribu over 450,000 years ago to mine the earth for precious metals. These gods, Sitchin claims, were responsible for genetically modifying primates on the young earth to help work the mines in South Africa called the black headed people, whom the gods later began procreating with against their own laws. Sitchin delivers an intriguing account of our ancient history. I felt like a kid again reading this book. Its a fantastic read, from a man with a brilliant imagination who seems to conveniently join the dots to suit his own story.

Paul Howard, Writer

Normal People by Sally Rooney

(Faber & Faber, 14.99)

The thing about Sally Rooney is that when I read her I cant believe shes 27. Its not just her prose style. Its what she knows at 27 about human nature and human interaction  its terrifying. Normal People reminded me of early Brett Easton Ellis  kind of like an Irish Less Than Zero, but better. I didnt particularly like the characters but I really cared about them. The sign of a good novel is when Im wondering about the characters afterwards and what happened to them. Are they OK? Which I suspect with Normal People is that theyre not OK. Sally Rooney is just the real deal. I cant wait to see what she does next.

Steve Wall, Musician/Actor

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

(Penguin Classics, 8.99)

Id never read Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment until I picked it up on my Kindle while on holidays. Its really enjoyable. Basically its a murder story, and the desperation that leads to it  to this young man committing a heinous crime. The desperation that drove him to do it

resulted in him not planning it very well. Its a gruesome outcome in the end. He doesnt make any material gains from it. Hes driven by a state of mind. You can see an awful lot of parallels in it with a lot of the grim stories that you read in the papers every week of knife crimes and domestic crimes. Even though its written many years ago, it feels quite contemporary.

Kevin Barry, Writer

You Should Have Left by Daniel Kehlmann

(Vintage, 12.55)

Daniel Kehlmann is a critically acclaimed, youngish German writer. The book is short, about 120 pages. Id never read anything by him. I was coming to it completely fresh. It absolutely plastered me to the wall. Its a ghost story about a German screenwriter who has had a big success. He goes off with his wife and his young daughter to a retreat up in the Alps. Hes struggling to write the second screenplay. Hes there with the notebook and things arent going great. Then what happens is that words start to appear in the notebook and he didnt put them there. From there on very strange things start to occur connected with time and space. What Ive always struggled with when reading ghost stories are that they are never scary, but with this one you get a really chilling sensation.

Kevin Barrys novel Night Boat To Tangier will be published in 2019.

Norah Casey, Broadcaster/Businesswoman

Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim & Renee Mauborgne

(Harvard Business Review Press, 22.00)

In my business life, strategy is my skill. I only read the book for the first time about three years ago and it blew all my thinking about strategy out of the water. When the new edition came out, I was dying to see what were the authors new thought processes. There are about a thousand examples of blue-ocean thinking that people dont know about. For example, when I grew up circuses were ill kempt. They were about animal cruelty, small ticket price. They had to move from town to town. Blue ocean thinkers came up with a circus that was adult focused; fixed venue; no animals; high-ticket price  Cirque du Soleil.

Pat Kinevane, Actor

Fear Not by Stephen James Smith

(Arlen House, 19.99)

A beautiful Dublin poet. A Young fella, an amazing urban spoken word poet. I met him years ago by accident down at the Listowel Writers Week. Hes performed all over the place with the likes of Glen Hansard. Its his debut collection. He can be really brutal and searing and then all of a sudden he turns you around and hes really tender. Hes got one poem and its like an ode to Dublin. His turn of phrase is beautiful. Hes very much at the forefront of the resurgence of the spoken word scene in Ireland. A very talented guy.

Pat Kinevane will be touring theatres in Ireland with Fishambles production of Before in the New Year.

Joan Lucey, Owner  Vibes & Scribes Bookstore, Cork

The Poetry Pharmacy: Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind and Soul edited by William Sieghart

(Particular Books, 13.99)

The spark for the book came when William Sieghart was at a literary festival years ago. Someone asked him to talk to people with a prescription pad, and hear their problems so he could recommend a poem to go with how they felt  to support them or inspire them. His collections broken down into different ailments people might have  for mental and emotional wellbeing; self-image and acceptance; losing your spark; the world and other people; love and loss; romantic boredom. Theres one for old age and getting older, or feeling a bit hopeless and pessimistic  Tolkeins All That is Gold Does Not Glitter. Theres a lovely one by Seamus Heaney  Follower, which is about his father after his father died. Youd nearly find a poem for every mood.

Dermot Whelan, Broadcaster/Comedian

Sacred Powers: The Five Secrets to Awakening Transformation by Davidji

(Hay House, 13.99)

This is by a guy who I liked his book so much I went over and studied with him in California. Im a meditation teacher. I just qualified recently. His book is everything you would need to know about meditation from a science point of view and from a more spiritual point of view. This guy teaches meditation to the military and the police forces  who definitely are in need of it. For soldiers, he would call it tactical breathing, which is language they would understand. He breaks meditation down into very simple forms. One of the questions I get asked all the time: how do I start? Give me something simple. He does something called a 16-second meditation. That is kind of my window in.
Ancient Egyptians believed shaving was associated with cleanliness but Greeks were proud of their beards, which symbolised authority and wisdom, writes Lucy Newton

Recording the human face in art is a long-held tradition, from the Roman Bust to the 15th century Dutch painting. The portrait signals power, prestige and wealth. Corporations have also used portraits to depict their leaders. For example, UK retail banks have been collecting images of their founders and chairmen since the 18th century. These paintings remain on proud display in London head offices.

For a company, the portrait provides a public face and identity to an impersonal institution. But portraits can also reveal interesting trends and attitudes towards appearances. Research I carried out on portraits with my colleague Victoria Barnes revealed some interesting results.

One article published in the journal Enterprise and Society analysed the commissioning of bank managers portraits in the early 19th century. The research showed that, from a very early stage, newly formed joint-stock banks realised the value of such art works and used them to successful create a corporate identity and signal their place in the market.

Another article, published in the Journal of Management and Organisational History, examined how Lloyds Bank began collecting portraits of past bank chairmen in the 1960s and put them on display in their head offices. One thing that stood out to us in this research is the changing patterns in mens facial whiskers over the decades. Recent fashion has embraced all forms of facial hair, but it has not always been so well accepted.

Bears were an important part of the Viking warrior uniform. Nejron Photo / Shutterstock

Ancient Egyptians believed shaving was associated with cleanliness. Greeks were proud of their beards, which symbolised authority and wisdom. Roman whiskers tended to be less luxurious and neater, while Vikings sported large beards and moustaches, their fearsome appearance adding to their formidable reputation in combat. Conversely, later armies often discouraged facial hair as beards could be seized in battle by the enemy to incapacitate a soldier.

Beards thrived in the UK in the Medieval and Tudor periods. Most of Elizabeth Is key advisers have beards in their portraits. Charles I (1600-1649) famously sported a small and neatly trimmed beard, combined with a moustache. His whiskers may have been famed but they did not prevent his execution. Then, the late 17th and 18th century witnessed the return of the clean shave in Europe, providing abundant work for barbers.

In the early 19th century, beards returned with a flourish. But they were associated with left-wing, anti-capitalist revolutionaries. Just picture Karl Marx.

Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx, authors of the Communist Manifesto. Wikipedia

Fashions changed again from the 1850s. As revolutions across Europe were extinguished, in Britain the Victorians enthusiastically embraced beards and muttonchops  big long side burns that connect with a moustache. For them, the beard signaled power, masculinity and status. This was an age when British trade, commerce and industry were in the ascendance. Masculinity was therefore on display during a period of supreme confidence and economic success. This really was a time of peak beard.

Beards and business

Within companies, the beard has a mixed history, usually depending on contemporary fashions. From 1850 to 1900, British businessmen usually had some form of facial hair. Visit the halls of many UK institutions with a history back to the 19th century and youll see a line of portraits of men with beards.

The Edwardians at the turn of the 20th century, in contrast, rejected the full facial hair of their forebears and adopted the moustache. At a practical level, those fighting in World War I shaved off their beards to ensure their gas masks fitted properly. But they often retained their moustaches. The preference for a smooth shave with only a moustache followed thereafter during a period of mixed economic fortunes for British business, interrupted by two world wars and disrupted by the loss of Empire.

As successive generations attempted to move away from the one before them, the beard found favour again in the hippy-influenced 1960s and 1970s. The Beatles led this trend. Facial hair fell out of fashion in the 1980s and 1990s, when trustworthiness in business was signalled by a clean shave. Indeed, companies such as HSBC even had a clean shave policy at this time, according to archivists Ive spoken to there. This was an era of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and free-market capitalism. And, of course, more women were visible in both politics and business.

Charles Geach (1808-1854), founder of the Birmingham and Midland Bank, sporting some serious side burns. HBSC Group Archives, 1850. J. Partridge., Author provided

Reflecting the face of corporations, company portraits reflect trends in the appearance of businessmen and women. More recently they also reflect changes in the way that companies project their identity. They are no longer merely a procession of middle-aged, white, senior male managers with beards, as seen in the portraits of 19th-century bankers. Banks now display images that are more diverse  of people from various levels of the company, of women and different ethnicities. Thus, the company portrait survives but reflects progression in the society in which it is embedded.

Changing fashions in facial hair also opens opportunities for business. Barbers services and beard products allow men to groom in style. This reinforces the growing trend for men to spend more time and money on their appearance, a trend which shows no sign of abating. A growing popularity of beards is, obviously, less good for those producing razors.

Facial hair has traditionally signalled masculinity. As 21st-century businesses are, of course, gender diverse, facial hair will never be the essential work accessory, but rather a style choice and positive vehicle for charity fundraising through initiatives including Movember and Decembeard.

After recent research in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology found that all women questioned preferred men with facial hair, there may be more than just a business case for men to keep their whiskers. Whatever the motivation for hair growth, it looks like the beard will always be with us.

This article was written by Lucy Newton of University of Reading and was originally published on The Conversation

Read the original article here.
The presidency of Donald Trump and has been widely  and often fairly  lambasted in the mainstream media, writes Robert E Gutsche Jr. But that doesnt mean that positive things cant come out of its negative consequences.

Indeed, one good coming out of Trumps time in politics is the pressure he has put on journalists to do better. While Trumps calls for violence against the press and claims that they are an enemy of the people cannot be excused, hidden beneath his plain  albeit crass  missives are lessons that could improve the medias democratic contributions. Take this tweet, for example:

Of course, much of Trumps critique is based on the fact that he doesnt like a press that doesnt further his own interests. He brands stories that dont fit his agenda #FakeNews. But some of his ideas about the media are well-founded.

First, some journalists do create division in the US  and other countries  that can lead to distrust of the media. In the UK, according to the 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer, faith in the media is now growing after a period of decline  although people are also consuming less. But its no time for complacency. There has long been great social distance between the US national press and large swaths of the country, and Trumps distaste for the former reflects the frustration felt by millions of Americans  in many cases, the very same Americans who voted for him.

To them, the national news is part of an insider politics that ignores the daily lives of Americans and focuses on career politicians instead. And while many would argue that journalists dont cause war, as Trump suggests, some certainly are known to beat the drum and even cover war as sport.

Allegiance and bias

Journalism also often suffers from an inability to admit its allegiances and bias, and a failure to thoroughly fact check articles and properly correct mistakes, deepening the distrust and playing into Trumps #FakeNews narrative.

Second, rather than fix these divides, journalists often rally around themselves, fuelling Trumps claims that journalists know his critiques to be true. As Christiane Amanpours interview with Jon Stewart correctly highlighted, Trump appeals to journalists own narcissism by attacking them. Perhaps its no wonder they spend so much time reporting on him.

President Trump has been able to appeal to journalists own narcissism by attacking them, says Jon Stewart. They take it personally, and now hes changed the conversation to, not that his policies are silly or not working  its all about the fight. pic.twitter.com/2N3V5NqZ6Q  Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) October 30, 2018

Trump leads in the self-promotion stakes, but the press is close behind. Journalistic prize culture has shaped the professional media, with some journalists developing a celebrity of their own, making themselves more important than the story. This widens the gap between the press and the people who see journalists moving in the same circles as stars and politicians, including the likes of Trump.

Third, journalism increasingly does struggle to provide a great service at the local level. In early November, Hearst Connecticut, which includes 20 weeklies, 29 websites, and eight daily newspapers, cut 30 staff in the US as the profitable company worked to position our businesses for future growth.

The Tampa Bay Times in Florida, which is owned by the Poynter Institute journalistic think tank, also announced recently the loss of 16 jobs from its newsroom. Reducing newsroom staff when journalism is needed the most fuels Trumps claims that he  and not the press  is providing a great service to citizens. It also leads to news deserts where news outlets have been decimated, leaving space for information to be delivered not by reporters, but by politicians and private interests.

Making a difference

Longstanding professional journalists may not be influenced by Trump to imagine real change. But young people appear to have the will to make a difference. University journalism courses are on the rise in the US with some reporting a 50% increase in enrolments.

Indeed, in one Boston high school, students are working with renewed energy to prove they are not enemies of the people. As one student said:

Without the free press there would be so much alienation between us and how we get our information. Wed be a one-sided mirror blindly following orders.

Certainly, most professional journalists share that sentiment. But in the age of Trump, they now need to demonstrate it, too. And now Trump has put the spotlight on the media, everyone is watching how it responds.

This article was written by Robert E Gutsche Jr, Senior Lecturer in Critical Digital Media Practice, Lancaster University and was originally published on The Conversation.

Read the original article here.
As well as internal pressures, Irans leaders have faced significant anti-government activity from ethnic minority groups, but have failed to engage, writes Brenda Shaffer.

Just before imposing new sanctions on Iran, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the countrys cabinet is in disarray, and the Iranian people are raising their voices even louder against a corrupt and hypocritical regime.

While this is clearly true, its also true that sanctions alone are unlikely to topple the government or force democratic reforms. For that to happen, foreign governments and domestic opposition leaders must take another critical step and finally acknowledge the importance of the countrys ethnic minorities and develop policies to address their demands.

As Pompeo noted, Irans leaders have been facing significant pressure from within. A major driving force of the anti-government activity has been ethnic minority groups, in particular the Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Ahvaz Arabs, and Baluch.

Each has long engaged in protests, over issues ranging from the right to use native languages in schools and courts to local health and environmental concerns to broader calls for the end of the regime.

And yet, neither the countrys current main opposition leaders nor international governments have meaningfully engaged with these groups  foregoing a potentially potent force for democratic change.

To understand why this matters, consider that approximately 50% of Iranian citizens are non-Persian minorities. Most are concentrated in Irans border provinces and share ties with communities in neighbouring countries of Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

And while the recent wave of uprisings has encompassed a variety of sectors and segments of society, ethnic minorities have been among the most vocal and forceful.

The protests and recent mass arrests centred in Khuzestan are especially important since this region is the major source of Irans oil. Irans minorities are not allowed educate their children in schools in their native language nor use their languages in government institutions, such as courts.

While tactically similar to previous protests, this years actions are different for one key reason: They are not simply about language rights or grievances over specific policies, but are directed against the regime itself.

And this opposition is likely to become more intense as the new sanctions increase economic strain on citizens. While foreign-imposed sanctions can sometimes mobilise people around their home government, this is unlikely to be the case in Iran, where anti-regime sentiment already runs deep.

Ethnic minorities activity has at times been violent. Last summer, a group of Iranian Kurds carried out an audacious attack on the Iranian parliament and Khomeini Mausoleum.

Baluch and Arab groups frequently strike Iranian military forces stationed at the countrys borders, often in conjunction with co-ethnics in neighbouring countries. Most recently, a Baluch group abducted 12 Iranian Revolutionary Guards and security personnel in Irans Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan.

In an attempt to subdue the minority groups, Iranian leaders aggressively attacked their members, both within and outside the countrys borders.

In September, Tehran launched a missile attack against the Kurdish PDKI organisation in neighbouring Iraq. In parallel, it has intensified the oppression of its own Kurdish citizens, most notably, the September hanging execution of three young Kurds, which was widely condemned outside of the country.

Iraqi soldier removes Kurdish flag

Tehrans oppression of ethnic minorities has even reached citizens who serve the regime. This includes policemen in the Iranian Kurdish provinces, who openly stated they would not act against protesting shopkeepers.

Foreign sanctions, intensifying ethnic protests, and ongoing activity by a wide spectrum of opposition groups, would seem to be a potent combination to force change in Tehran.

However, the main political leaders historically have largely dismissed ethnic minority grievances; many share the regimes Persian-centric nationalism. This gives ethnic minorities little incentive to join with these groups, as helping them gain power is unlikely to advance minority interests.

In addition, the ethnic groups are uneasy about the rising Iranian-nationalist sentiment of the current leading opposition forces, which is Persian-centric and does not accommodate minorities. Their expressions of

Iranian nationalism are contributing to scepticism among many minority groups that a new regime could bring meaningful change for them.

Any associations in Iran that promote the language or culture of the ethnic minorities are illegal and violently suppressed. Membership alone in an ethnic-based political group could lead to execution in Iran.

Iranian president Hassan Rouhan

The current uprising in Iran does not have any formal leadership or hierarchy.

The leaders of the main opposition forces, which comprised a wide coalition of interest groups  including factory workers, farmers seeking additional water supplies, bazaar shopkeepers, and promoters of freedom for women  reject recognition of minority rights, which they believe can splinter the opposition movement.

However, this splintered opposition weakens the threat against Irans rulers, who will do everything possible to foster continued discord between opposition groups, something theyve traditionally done with great success.

The US and other foreign governments must strategise about the potentially potent role of Irans ethnic minorities. Meaningful action by these countries could include giving the ethnic groups a platform in US government-sponsored media outlets, such as Voice of America and Radio Farda, that reach into Iran. This might also encourage use of political means for change, and not violent tools.

Those seeking regime change within Iran cant expect a post-Islamic Republic liberal democracy to work if half the population is, for example, restricted in the use of their own language.

While Persian could remain the state language, the ethnic minorities would feel more glued to the state and a civic identity could be formed if they could educate their children in their own languages, alongside Persian, and use their own languages in interaction with critical government institutions like courts and police.

Those seeking democracy and change in the regime in Iran must reconsider their existing policies that dismiss ethnic minority demands  failure to do so risks alienating an enormous reservoir of support.

Brenda Shaffer is a visiting researcher and professor in Georgetowns Centre for Eurasian, Russian, and East European studies and a senior fellow with the Atlantic Councils Global Energy Centre. She was previously the research director at Harvard Universitys Caspian studies programme. @ProfBShaffer
Renewed interest in military integration reflects the erosion of Europes strategic position as a result of Brexit and, in some respects, Trump, writes Carl Bildt.

Suddenly, the debate about creating a joint EU army has gained real momentum.

After French president Emmanuel Macron recently proposed the idea, US president Donald Trump disparaged it (in a tweet, of course), but German chancellor Angela Merkel endorsed it (while urging caution).

The issue came to the fore this month with the centennial of the end of the First World War, which naturally focused Europeans attention on matters of war and peace. While touring the war battlefields, Macron observed that peace in Europe is precarious, and that we will not protect Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army.

The goal of establishing a European army dates back to the earliest stages of European integration after the Second World War.

In 1954, the French parliament refused to ratify a treaty that would have established a European Defence Community and joint military force comprising West Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

After that, the structures of integration that would eventually underpin todays EU tended to be more economically oriented, and territorial defence was left to Nato and the US security umbrella.

But over the last few decades, there has been more movement towards establishing a common EU foreign and security policy, and new structures and institutions have been developed with that goal in mind. Still, todays discussion of European defence is truly novel.

Until now, the EU has primarily fostered co-operation in research and development, while various country groupings have worked to establish different defence and security capabilities. In the next seven-year budget, there will likely be substantial funding for such projects.

Macron is right to think that the EUs strategic environment has become increasingly fragile. Europeans today are confronted with a revanchist Russia, an assertive China, and a disruptive US

Although the US has expanded its military capabilities in Europe in recent years, it has previously regarded the continent primarily as a platform for operations in other theaters. And now that Trump has cast doubt on Americas commitment to defend Europe, renewed proposals for a European army should come as no surprise.

Still, Europe is home to only three countries with a robust strategic culture: France, Britain, and Russia. All three have a deep-seated institutional understanding of geopolitical power dynamics and the use of military force. Indeed, Russias own programme of military modernisation suggests that it is becoming increasingly reliant on hard power to pursue its interests.

Meanwhile, France has launched the European Intervention Initiative, a new framework uniting countries with real defence capabilities and a willingness to use them.

Most important, this new grouping will include the UK, even after it leaves the EU.

That said, Macrons vision of a European army under a central EU-level command will remain aspirational for the foreseeable future, for the simple reason that countries seldom give up their armies voluntarily.

Nonetheless, it is worth considering Macrons broader goal, which extends well beyond immediate concerns such as Trump and Brexit. In short, Macron is calling on Europe to develop a more coherent and autonomous strategy for pursuing its security and defence interests in the 21st century.

Needless to say, this project will encounter many hurdles. Russias use of nuclear forces can be deterred only by those of the US. The French and the British dont like to admit it but their nuclear arsenals are simply insufficient, especially now that Russia is upgrading its own.

Beyond nuclear deterrence, the US will also likely remain at the centre of command, control, and intelligence when it comes to continent-wide operations.

Moreover, Europeans will also have to resolve a number of internal tensions. Germany will insist that all new programmes be housed within EU structures, while demanding parliamentary approval for all operations.

But the British will no longer belong to the EU, and will remain sceptical of French talk of strategic autonomy, which could imply a weaker Nato.

The same goes for eastern EU member states, which are even less willing to countenance a delinking from Nato or the US.

Despite these difficulties, there is an emerging consensus on the need to restructure European defence. The ostensible impetus is the growing threat from Russia, China, and the broader Middle East.

But the uncomfortable reality is that renewed interest in military integration also reflects the erosion of Europes strategic position as a result of Brexit and, in some respects, Trump.

I expect that a French army  not a European one  will be marching down the Champs Elysee on Bastille Day for decades to come. But I also expect European countries to become more assertive in defence of their sovereignty, and to act collectively when it comes to security.

Carl Bildt is a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden

Project Syndicate
Polands ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has finally taken steps to comply with a European Court of Justice (ECJ) decree ordering it to reverse some of the judicial reforms that took effect in July,

Sawomir Sierakowski.

Under the offending legislation, the PiS had tried to force out disfavored Supreme Court justices by arbitrarily lowering the retirement age. It also created two new judicial chambers: one to discipline judges who step out of line, the other to review rulings handed down over the last 20 years and to decide on the validity of the elections.

By offering to reverse the retirement-age provision, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is betting that he can reinstate the ousted judges  most of whom had refused to leave anyway  while maintaining the rest of the reform package. So far, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans has opposed this halfway solution, whereas President Jean-Claude Juncker is reportedly willing to entertain it.

But while appeasing the PiS has certainly been the favored approach of Manfred Weber, the European Peoples Party (EPP) Spitzenkandidat who hopes to succeed Juncker, it is becoming increasingly hard to justify. After all, there is good reason to think that populists will suffer an overwhelming defeat in the European Parliament election in May 2019.

In Polands local elections in October, the PiS lost in virtually every municipality, including those where it once enjoyed strong support. Centrist voters clearly have had enough of the ruling partys radicalism. But, more than that, many are starting to fear that PiS leader Jarosaw Kaczynski may be steering Poland toward an exit from the European Union. How else should one interpret Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobros recent statements questioning the constitutional validity of EU agreements?

The PiSs prospects are declining precisely because it has tried to frame the European Parliament election as a plebiscite on Polands EU membership. With support for the EU within Poland exceeding 80%  the highest in Europe  this does not appear to have been a very wise electoral strategy.

Moreover, the urban voters who turned against the PiS in the recent local elections tend to be overrepresented in European elections. By trying to repair relations with the European Commission, the PiS is probably hoping that it can win back some of these voters.

But even if it succeeds, it will still have to navigate a less favorable EU-wide political landscape. When the United Kingdom leaves the EU on March 29, 2019, the PiS will lose its main ally in the European Parliament. Without the British Tories by its side, the PiS may find itself all but alone.

To be sure, Kaczynski would still have an ally in Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Yet Orban has had to see to his own interests as he fights off motions to expel his party from the EPP. As the European Parliaments main center-right party bloc, the EPP also counts among its members Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk.

Prior to assuming his current role, Tusk was Polands prime minister in the center-right Civic Platform government that preceded PiS rule. As the PiSs primary nemesis both in Poland and in Brussels, Tusk is a key motivating factor in the partys efforts to secure a spot in the European Parliaments next majority.

The PiS is counting on the fact that some EPP members  particularly Christian Democratic politicians  cannot simply ignore its overtures. The PiS could command as many as 20 of Polands 52 seats, affording it a potentially decisive role in the vote for the next Commission president.

The EUs parliamentary election is coming at time when the European center right is in retreat. It has lost ground to the Greens in Germany, to President Emmanuel Macrons La Republique En Marche! in France, to the League in Italy, and to both left- and right-wing forces in Spain, where the Peoples Party has been weakened by corruption scandals.

Against this backdrop, Poland is the odd man out. Its traditional center-right parties  Civic Platform and the Polish Peoples Party  could fare well in May, and thus may play a crucial role in coalition building and future leadership votes. Faced with a choice between the Polish opposition and the PiS, the EPP should be taking steps to help the former.

That means taking a principled stand in support of the ECJ and the European Commission, and against the PiSs violations of the rule of law. A strong showing for Civic Platform could give Poland the second-largest representation within the EPP, after Germany, and could position a center-right Pole to lead the next European Parliament.

If Weber does assume the European Commission presidency through the complicated Spitzenkandidat process, then a liberal from Macrons camp would most likely become the next European Council president. By extension, a socialist would probably fill the role of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and another liberal (perhaps from France) would take the reins at the European Central Bank. That would leave the Parliaments president to the EPP, which would be obliged to fill the post with a Pole from its second-largest party.

The prospect of Poland returning to the European fold after three years of anti-EU agitation should be welcomed by all those seeking to stem the rise of populism. Rather than accepting the PiSs overtures, the European center right should help free Poland from Kaczynskis authoritarian grip. It could set that process in motion now by adding a Pole to its list of center-right candidates for key EU posts. Choosing such candidates  Roza Thun and Danuta Hubner, for example, are highly respected MEPs who would serve all Europeans well  might persuade more Poles to choose liberal democracy.

Sawomir Sierakowski, founder of the Krytyka Polityczna movement, is Director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Warsaw and a fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018. www.project-syndicate.org
Update - 1.02pm: Speaking after the EU gave the green light to the agreement Leo Varadkar said there was no plan B if the deal is not approved in the British House of Commons.

The Taoiseach said: "There isn't a plan B. The truth is what we have here is the best deal that is available both for the United Kingdom and for the European Union. We have a backstop in place but we all agree that that's an insurance policy that has to be there, but would only need to be invoked under certain circumstances."

He added that the UK would be "more than a third country" post-Brexit given its close links to the EU.

"We are determined to make sure that the United Kingdom isn't just another third country that we have a special relationship with the EU and UK afterwards," he said.

At a briefing with Irish media following the special meeting Mr Varadkar said that people should not be focusing on alternative options.

"Let's not forget what we have here, we have an agreement that took between 18 months and two years to negotiate, it is in several parts, is over 500 pages long and as of today has the support of 28 governments," he said.

"Anyone can have a better deal or an alternative deal in their own minds but an agreement 500 pages long that 28 member states can sign up to nobody has that.

"What's on the table is the only deal that's on the table."

Mr Varadkar said the "entire European Union" was of the view that the deal could not be renegotiated.

"It wasn't easy to get to this point," he said.

Mr Varadkar continued: "What's being put in front of EU parliament and House of Commons is a deal. Any other deal really only exists in people's imagination."

Asked whether EU leaders had discussed what they would do if the vote in the House of Commons failed, Mr Varadkar said the EU 27 had made a "conscious decision" not to discuss what may happen in such a scenario.

Mr Varadkar said the best outcome for all concerned would be if the UK remained in the EU, but given that was not going to happen the draft agreement was the "next best" thing.

"I've always thought the best outcome for Ireland and for Europe and indeed the United Kingdom would be for the UK to stay in the European Union, the customs union and the single market, but we respect the decision of the British people and the UK parliament not to do that," he said.

"What we have agreed today is the next best outcome. It protects the peace, affirms the rights and freedoms of European, Irish and British citizens, ensures there will be no hard border and also insulates our economy from major disruptions in trade."

"What we need to do now is to get on with it and get on with the ratification of this agreement by the House of Commons and also by the European Parliament and when that's done, from March, April onwards, to get busy negotiating the future relationship treaty."

Earlier: UK must 'move forward' or 'open door to more division', says Theresa May

Theresa May has said British MPs will have to decide whether to back the draft Brexit deal and "move forward together into a brighter future" or reject it and "open the door to yet more division and uncertainty".

It comes after European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed that the 27 European Union leaders have endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration finally agreed with the commission last week.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has warned Britain cannot expect to get a better Brexit deal if the British Parliament rejects the agreement hammered out by Theresa May.

At a press conference in Brussels, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "Before Christmas, MPs will vote on this deal.

"It will be one of the most significant votes that Parliament has held for many years. On it will depend whether we move forward together into a brighter future or open the door to yet more division and uncertainty.

"The British people don't want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit.

"They want a good deal done that fulfils the vote and allows us to come together again as a country.

"I will take this deal back to the House of Commons, confident we have achieved the best deal available and full of optimism about the future of our country.

"In Parliament and beyond it, I will make the case for this deal with all my heart and I look forward to that campaign."

Theresa May said she was not "sad" about Brexit as the UK and EU would remain "friends and neighbours".

Asked whether she shared Angela Merkel's sadness at Brexit, Mrs May said: "No, but I recognise that others do.

"I recognise some European leaders are sad at this moment, but also some people back at home in the UK will be sad at this moment."

But Mrs May said she was "full of optimism about the future of this country".

She added: "We will continue to have that good, close partnership and relationship within Europe, within the European Union and more widely."

Mr Juncker added: "I am totally convinced that this is the only deal possible. Those who think by rejecting the deal that they would have a better deal will be disappointed in the first seconds after the rejection of this deal."

The European Commission president said "divorce is a tragic moment".

"Payments have to be made but the future understanding is one which has to be constructed.

"I don't think Britain will be a third country like other third countries are third countries.

"There is, between us, something which has the remainings of love."
An American spacecraft has successfully reached Mars after almost seven months travelling through space, allowing scientists to understand more about the planets interior.

The InSight lander touched down on Mars just before 8pm GMT, surviving the so-called seven minutes of terror  a tricky landing phase for the robotic probe, travelling at 13,200mph through the planets thin atmosphere which provides little friction to slow down.

American space agency Nasas 814 million dollar (633 million) two-year mission aims to shine new light on how the Red Planet was formed and its deep structure, by mapping its core, crust and mantle.

 Wish you were here! @NASAInSight sent home its first photo after #MarsLanding:



InSights view is a flat, smooth expanse called Elysium Planitia, but its workspace is below the surface, where it will study Mars deep interior. pic.twitter.com/3EU70jXQJw  NASA (@NASA) November 26, 2018

InSight arrived on Marss Elysium Planitia area north of its equator, described as an ideal spot for its flat, rockless surface.

It is the first attempt to reach Mars in six years. Only 40% of missions to the planet have succeeded and all have been US-led.

Scientists at Nasa waited anxiously to find out whether InSight succeeded (Nasa/PA)

Scientists from Imperial College London and the University of Oxford who created the instruments will be based at Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California to assist with the study, including selecting the best spot for the robot arm to place the seismometer.

A simulated view of Nasas InSight lander descending towards the surface of Mars (Nasa/PA)

The UK scientists and engineers involved in this mission have committed several years of their lives to building the seismometer on board, and the descent is always a worrying time.

We can now look forward to the deployment of the instrument and the data that will start to arrive in the new year, to improve our understanding of how the planet formed.

A second instrument will burrow five metres into the ground of Mars, measuring the planets temperature, while a third experiment will determine how Mars wobbles on its axis

Earlier: Nasa spacecraft has 'stuck the landing' on mission to Mars

US spacecraft on a mission to understand Mars's interior has successfully landed on the planet, the country's space agency Nasa has announced.

Our @NASAInSight spacecraft stuck the #MarsLanding!



Its new home is Elysium Planitia, a still, flat region where its set to study seismic waves and heat deep below the surface of the Red Planet for a planned two-year mission. Learn more: https://t.co/fIPATUugFo pic.twitter.com/j0hXTjhV6I  NASA (@NASA) November 26, 2018

The InSight probe touched down on the Red Planet at around 8pm GMT, slowing its speed from 12,500mph to a 5mph jogging pace in just seven minutes.

It will deploy instruments designed to probe beneath the Martian surface and collect information about the planet's deep structure.

My first picture on #Mars! My lens cover isnt off yet, but I just had to show you a first look at my new home. More status updates:https://t.co/tYcLE3tkkS #MarsLanding pic.twitter.com/G15bJjMYxa  NASA InSight (@NASAInSight) November 26, 2018

The probe landed safely on a flat plain known as Elysium Planitia close to the Mars equator.

This is the first probe to dedicate its investigations to understanding Mars' interior and scientists are hoping to find out how the planet is constructed from core to crust.

More to follow

PA & Digital Desk
Monday, November 26th, 2018 (10:35 am) - Score 1,965

A number of homes in the South Norfolk village of Marlingford were left without fixed line broadband and phone access for over two weeks after a car (Mini Cooper) crashed into one of Openreachs (BT) local telegraph poles on 6th November, causing significant damage to both the pole and its underground cables.

According to the EDP24, around 50 people along Bawburgh Road and Mill Road were affected by the outage. The problem has been particularly bad for some residents as the area suffers from weak mobile reception (more so with some mobile operators than others), which has meant that they tend to rely on the fixed line service.

One local is reported as saying that several Openreach vans did turn up with equipment to repair the pole, but they allegedly left soon after because no authorisation had been received to close the road. The good news is that most of the local homes are now back online.

A Spokesperson for Openreach said: The majority of properties in Marlingford have now had their telephone and broadband service restored. Due to the severity of the damage caused by the traffic accident, to our pole and cables, there are a few outstanding properties that need to be re-connected. We are doing everything we can to get this work finished today.

Telecoms infrastructure faces many hazards, often from unpredictable elements like the weather but also from thieves and vehicle accidents. Unsurprisingly most such infrastructure tends to be built near streets and so every once in awhile a cabinet or pole will meet their demise at the business end of a vehicle accident (examples here, here and here).

In such situations its not uncommon for more rural areas to be left without connectivity for several days or even weeks, although telegraph poles are usually a lot easier to tackle than accidents that involve damage to complicated street cabinets (all sorts of tedious issues with underground cables and power supply can arise from the latter). In this case it appears as if an admin delay or error has also hampered the repair work.

In theory the major ISPs should also be providing affected customers with compensation (upon request), although this wont become an automatic requirement until 2019 when Ofcoms new compensation scheme is formally introduced (here).

Meanwhile its unclear what happened to the woman who was driving the Mini, although we hope she is recovering.
Monday, November 26th, 2018 (12:01 am) - Score 35,399

A further 81 new locations have today (November 2018 update) been confirmed as the next to benefit from Openreachs (BT) roll-out of 330Mbps capable hybrid fibre G.fast ultrafast broadband ISP technology, which aims to cover 5.7 million UK homes and businesses by the end of 2020 (March 2021 financial year).

The G.fast (ITU G.9700/9701) service works in a similar way to existing Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC / VDSL2) technology by running a fibre optic cable to your local PCP Street Cabinet (note: VDSL2 has its own separate DSLAM cabinet  usually positioned close to the PCP cabinet), which is then fitted with an extension pod to house the line cards (this handles up to 48 ports, but it should eventually do 96). After that the service reaches your home via the existing copper cable.

G.fast generally offers two primary wholesale service tiers at 160Mbps (30Mbps upload) and 330Mbps (50Mbps upload), which ISPs market using slower average speeds due to the advertising rules. The service also attracts a fault threshold 100Mbps (here), which helps to ensure that only those able to get an ultrafast (100Mbps+) speed will be able to order it (most of those who cant should still be able to take VDSL2).

We should point out that G.fast is being seen as a complement to Openreachs separate roll-out of Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology, which is expected to cover 3 million premises by the end of 2020 and could then reach 10 million by around 2025. Crucially FTTP and G.fast will aim not to overbuild each other so as to maximise overall ultrafast coverage (a little bit of overlap is inevitable).

Consumers who order a G.fast line will be visited by an engineer (a self-install solution is coming here) and they will most likely provide you with a new Master Socket (NTE5C) and a modem (Huawei MT992), which can be plugged into an existing router. You can also expect to pay a premium of around +10-15 extra per month vs the previous generation of FTTC / VDSL2 services (those offered max speeds of up to 80Mbps).

NOTE: Todays list of 81 areas should add over 1 million premises across the UK to their G.fast coverage. So far the service has already reached 1.29 million homes and businesses.

The 81 New G.fast Locations (Nov 2018 Update) Acomb, Addiscombe, Aintree, Ascot, Bargoed (Cardiff), Barking, Barnsley, Beckenham, Beulah Hill (Croydon), Blackpool, Bootle, Bradford, Broadwell, Canonbury, Chingford, Colchester, Colindale, Dalton in Furness, Daubhill, Deal, Dover, Downloand (Croydon), Earley, Eastbourne, Eastleigh, Enfield, Faversham, Felixstowe, Feltham, Forest Hill, Godalming, Greenwich, Hamilton, Harlesden, Hatch End, Healing, Hendon, Hitchin, Hyde, Kemptown, Kentish Town, Kenton, Leicester Central, Leytonstone, Lincoln, Littlehampton, Llanrumney, Lords, Lower Holloway, Malden, Midland (Birmingham), Mill Hill, Moss Side, North Wembley, Northampton, Oldham, Pendleton, Plympton, Ponders End, Prescot, Primrose hill, Purfleet, Rainham, Rock Ferry, Rushey Green, Staylbridge, Stamford, Stoke City, Sydenham (Croydon), Teddington, Tewkesbury, Tranent (South East Scotland), Upper Holloway, Urmston (South Manchester), Wallington, Waterloo, Wembley, West Kensington, West Wickham, Willesden, Worthing Central.

One significant drawback with G.fast is that its coverage is much more limited than VDSL2. G.fast typically prefers copper lines (from street cabinet to homes) that are shorter than c.350 metres (it can work at up to c.500 metres max but only very slowly), while VDSL2 could in some cases still operate at line lengths of up to c.2km (2000 metres); albeit at much slower speeds due to signal degradation over distance.

In order to get some of the best G.fast speeds you generally need a line thats under c.200 metres and this is a big hindrance to network coverage, although future improvements (e.g. harnessing 212MHz of spectrum instead of 106MHz today) could improve this but its still a very restricted technology. On the upside G.fast is comparatively cheap and very quick to deploy (no need to dig new cables etc.).

Kim Mears, MD for Strategic Infrastructure Development, said: Currently, the UK is a world leader in digital infrastructure and services, but as the digital revolution rushes forwards and the demand for data continues to grow, we need to sure we stay ahead of the curve. Thats why were investing in faster, more reliable network infrastructure to facilitate all the activities we want to do now, and also those we havent even dreamt of doing in ten years time.

As this is a rapid commercial deployment (no public funding involved) then its widely expected that most of the areas where Openreach are deploying will be urban, which also suggests a strong competitive focus on areas where Virgin Medias faster cable (DOCSIS) network may already be present. Sadly rural areas are unlikely to benefit, although no doubt there will be a few.

One other point to make is that Openreach wont be covering 100% of every area listed for the roll-out, although the proportion of premises reached will vary from location to location and they often come back later to do further in-fill after the first deployment. In some urban areas not getting G.fast may even be a blessing in disguise as you could be more likely to benefit from FTTP in the future.

If your area isnt mentioned in todays announcement (or previous ones) then dont worry, more announcements will follow over the next couple of years.

UPDATE 28th Nov 2018  10:13am

A tiny bit of extra data has been revealed, which confirms the number of homes and businesses that will benefit in the South East (see below). Sadly Openreach has not released similar data for the other areas covered by this roll-out phase.

Berkshire 20,000

Essex 15,000

Hampshire 11,000

Hertfordshire 6,000

Kent 21,000

London 464,000

Surrey 10,000

Sussex 32,000
There are fundamentally two avenues to creating a digital transformation strategy. The first is a bottom-up approach that relies on the initiative of individual business units to modernize the processes they have the most experience working with every day. The advantage of that approach is that it tends to achieve results quickly. The downside is that those efforts are typically uneven and may not result in a meaningful, sustainable competitive advantage because rivals can quickly replicate the same capability.

The second approach relies more on leadership from the top down. That approach typically involves the CEO, along with the board of directors, mandating the adoption of a series of digital business processes that transform how an organization operates at its very core.

Of the two strategies, the most widely employed to date has been a bottom-up approach, driven mainly by line-of-business executives. But as more organizations begin to appreciate the scope of whats required to remain not just competitive, but also maintain their existence, more digital business initiatives are starting to be led from the top, says Juergen Lindner, senior vice president of SaaS for Oracle.

Its becoming a more strategic discussion, says Lindner.

Vendors Pursuing Digital Transformation Solutions from All Angles

Oracle at the Oracle OpenWorld 2018 conference announced a raft of updates to a cloud application portfolio that now spans every major business function in the enterprise. Oracle is making a case for delivering those applications as a cloud service to both lower operational costs and make it simpler to employ advanced machine and deep learning algorithms to automate most business processes using, among other technologies, blockchain databases and digital assistants.

In fact, Oracle CEO Mark Hurd told conference attendees that Oracle expects 100 percent of all cloud applications will have artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities by 2025 and that 85 percent of all customer interactions will be automated.

Oracle is hardly alone in its efforts to tap into an increased willingness to embrace digital transformation more broadly. SAP has been touting the inevitability of a new Intelligent Enterprise. SAP at the SAP Tech-Ed 2018 conference expanded on that strategy by announcing it has developed machine learning algorithms that can be employed within a set of robotic process automation (RPA) capabilities that it is making available via a SAP Leonardo framework. The goal is to automate tasks such as the processing of invoices by relying on machines to reconcile those invoices with the appropriate statement of work, says Markus Noga, senior vice president for machine learning at SAP.

In general, Noga says that while 2017 was notable for the number of proof-of-concept projects that were launched by customers, this year the intensity of digital transformation occurring across the enterprise has exponentially increased.

Its clearly expanding, says Noga. Its happening at a much wider scale.

Digital Transformation and Competitiveness

Gartner at a Gartner Symposium/IT Expo 2018 conference urged organizations to embrace a ContinuousNEXT strategy spanning everything from their organizational culture to adopting technology frameworks that will enable them to create a digital twin of almost every business process. That more comprehensive approach is required because nearly two-thirds of the CEOs and CFOs surveyed by Gartner expect business model changes that will be driven primarily by digital transformation.

To stay competitive, organizations will need to transform not just their IT environments, but how the business fundamentally operates, says Mike Sutcliff, group chief executive for Accenture Digital, an arm of the business and technology services provider focused specifically on digital business transformation.

Its a team sport, says Sutcliff.

Initially, Sutcliff says, most digital business initiatives tended to focus on customer service and marketing. But as those projects progressed, organizations are coming to realize they need to make fundamental changes to backend systems to take digital transformation to the next level, says Sutcliff. Unfortunately, legacy systems are the single biggest hindrance to digital transformation, adds Sutcliff.

To help organizations overcome that issue, Accenture Digital focuses on helping organizations leverage a range of technologies to first decouple processes from those systems in a way that makes it then simpler to modernize them, says Sutcliff.

Digital Transformation Requires Appetite for Digital Disruption

Ultimately, the degree to which any organization is going to survive and thrive in the era of digital business transformation will come down to their appetite for digital disruption, says Michael Kollar, CTO for North America for Atos, a provider of global system integration services.

Savvier companies realize they need to be the entity that drives digital disruption in the vertical industry before some unexpected new competitor winds up doing it first. Giving existing processes a digital facelift is not enough, says Kollar. Organizations need to be willing to disrupt the processes they have in place today before theres an existential threat that arrives in the form of an unexpected new rival, says Kollar.

It comes down to how much an organization is willing to become a digital cannibal, says Kollar.

Organizations also need to construct their IT services in a way that makes it simpler to adapt by relying less on monolithic applications, adds Kollar. Digital business processes need to be able to adapt to rapidly changing business conditions, which Kollar says will require organizations to deliver IT as a set of more granular microservices that can be more flexibly updated without having to necessarily rewrite an entire application on an end-to-end basis.

In addition, organizations cant be afraid of failure, notes Danny Estavillo, west regional managing director of Nerdery, a provider of IT services. That fear of failure tends to create paralysis of analysis that results in the organization not doing anything.

They need to learn how to fail fast, says Estavillo.

That also means moving beyond trying to modernize one application at a time. Too many organizations think they have a long runway to effect change when external competitive pressures are already mounting, adds Estavillo.

Each organization will, of course, need to tailor its digital transformation strategy to meet its own circumstance. Most of them would be well-advised to implement a series of strategic initiatives while continuing to encourage lines of business to, for example, embrace low-code application development tools to modernize an existing business process or create a new one on their own. Hopefully, at some point, all those efforts will one day converge in the middle.
Australian-listed energy storage company Redflow has sealed a deal to provide six ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries for energy storage at an Optus mobile phone tower in the environmentally sensitive Daintree rainforest in Queensland.

Under the deal, the Redflow ZBM2 batteries will store and supply 60 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy for the Optus mobile phone tower at Alexandra Range, in the Cape Tribulation section of the Daintree rainforest, a remote headland and ecotourism destination in Far North Queensland.

Situated 1500km north of Brisbane, the Daintree National Park became a World Heritage Site in 1988.

Redflow (ASX: RFX) says Optus selected its ZBM2 batteries for deployment at their Cape Tribulation site because of the batteries sustained energy storage capacity, tolerance of warm temperatures, remote management capability and environmentally-friendly design.

Redflows ZBM2 is a scalable 10 kWh zinc-bromine flow battery that can deliver 100% depth of discharge each day for its warranted 10 years. The ZBM2 works in warm climates without external cooling, with its performance, safety and operational lifetime unaffected by ambient temperatures as hot as 50 degrees Celsius (122F).

Made from easily recyclable or reused materials, the battery contains a zinc bromide electrolyte solution that can be cleaned and re-used after its operating life.

Redflow chief executive Tim Harris said the Optus decision further demonstrated the value proposition that ZBM2 zinc-bromine flow batteries delivered to enterprise customers including telecommunications companies.

Our batteries thrive on heat and hard work and are not prone to thermal runaway like other battery chemistries. This Optus deployment, along with Hitechs use of ZBM2 batteries for its digital television network rollout in Fiji, demonstrates how Redflow is establishing its credentials in the telecoms sector.
Australian businesses have lost $2.8 million to scammers in 2018 as hackers target business emails in a new scam, prompting the competition watchdog, the ACCC, to issue a call to businesses to urgently review how they verify and pay accounts and invoices.

The warning from the ACCCs Scamwatch service comes in the wake of reports of business email compromise scams to Scamwatch growing by a third this year.

And the ACCC warns that losses to the BEC scams represent only a fraction of total losses to this variety of scam across Australia.

According to the ACCC, BEC scams cause businesses significant financial harm, accounting for 63% of all business losses reported to Scamwatch, with the average loss being nearly $30,000.

Effective management procedures can go a long way towards preventing scams, so all businesses should firstly be aware these scams exist and that their staff know about them too, the ACCC's deputy chair Delia Rickard said.

They should consider a multi-person approval process for transactions over a certain dollar threshold and keep their IT security up-to-date with anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a good firewall.

Businesses should also check directly with their supplier if they notice a change in account details. Its vital a business dont do this just by return email or using other contact details provided. Find older communications to ensure you have the right contact details or otherwise independently source them, so they can be sure theyre not contacting the scammer.

BEC scams occur when a hacker gains access to a businesss email accounts, or "spoofs" a businesss email so their emails appear to come from the company. The hacker then sends emails to customers claiming that the businesss banking details have changed and that future invoices should be paid to a new account.

The ACCC warns that the emails look legitimate, as they appear to come from one of a businesss official email accounts, and payments then start to flow into the hackers account.

In a further warning, the ACCC says that in other variations of the scam, the hacker will send an email internally to a businesss accounts team, pretending to be the chief executive, asking for funds to be urgently transferred to an off-shore account  and hackers can also request salary or rental payments be directed to a new account.

Scamwatch has even received reports of the hackers intercepting house deposits that have been sent to conveyancers, real estate agents or law firms.

This is a very sophisticated scam, which is why many businesses only realise theyve been caught out once its too late, Rickard said.

Its a scam that targets all kinds of businesses, including charities and local sporting clubs. There is a misconception these scams target just small business, however the largest amount of reports and losses came from medium sized businesses, including one that lost more than $300,000.
Objections have been raised to a likely deal between the US and the UK that would give London the right to gain access to data held by American tech firms.

The Intercept reported that nine human rights and civil liberties bodies had written to the US Justice Department, objecting to the agreement that is sought to be struck under the CLOUD Act that was signed into law by US President Donald Trump in March.

The Act was primarily meant to make it possible for American law enforcement organisations to gain access to data held by American tech firms in foreign countries; the need for it was accelerated by a case in which Microsoft was refusing to hand over data on its mail servers in Ireland to the FBI. This data was claimed to be needed in a drug trafficking case.

But the CLOUD  Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data  Act also allows for deals between the US president and other countries to give foreign law enforcement agencies the authority to obtain data from US tech companies without a warrant. The only condition is that the target is not someone who is either a citizen of, or resident in, the US.

Negotiations on a deal of this nature preceded the CLOUD Act, with the Washington Postmore than two years ago that a draft negotiating document had been finalised.

Australia has also expressed interest in such a deal. During parliamentary committee hearings on the Australian Government's encryption bill, Labor Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus raised the issue of the CLOUD Act, asking a number of Americans who appeared before the committee as to whether the Australian bill would allow a deal with the US under the CLOUD Act.

The Intercept cited a possible scenario for the type of co-operation the UK is seeking, as outlined by the Electronic Frontier Foundation in September.

To quote the EFF: "London investigators want the private Slack messages of a Londoner they suspect of bank fraud. The London police could go directly to Slack, a US company, to request and collect those messages. The London police would receive no prior judicial review for this request. The London police could avoid notifying US law enforcement about this request. The London police would not need a probable cause warrant for this collection."

This could, however, put the privacy of Americans at risk and expose them to abuses of the Fourth Amendment that prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures.

While the CLOUD Act prohibits foreign law enforcement agencies from "intentionally targeting" an American resident or citizen, it does not prevent the foreign agency from seizing communications from Americans. If a British person under suspicion had been communicating with Americans, then the British law enforcement agency could also seize those communications.

And then such communications could be shared with American agencies. The means of collection would make the data unusable in an American court, but American agencies could re-acquire the communications after getting a warrant, a practice known as "parallel construction".

US agencies like the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency, already use information from the NSA's warrantless wiretapping programs in this manner.

Apart from the EFF, the other eight organisations to sign the letter to the Justice Department are Human Rights Watch, Access Now, Demand Progress, Fight for the Future, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Government Accountability project, Restore the Fourth and World Privacy Forum.
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Gourmet Dinner Benefits Puerto Vallarta Senior Center

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, La Leche Restaurant will host a gourmet dinner to benefit Asilo San Juan Diego, a non-profit senior citizen's home in Puerto Vallarta that has been serving the elderly members of our community since 2011.

Asilo San Juan Diego's mission is to improve the quality of life for senior citizens, offering solutions that allow them to continue in their process of personal and emotional development while generating a community culture based on respect, care and support through programs that encourage potential, allowing them to live self-sufficiently.





The center also offers local families the opportunity to enjoy a day program that cares for and supports their elderly in a pleasant space where they can receive occupational therapy, medical attention, and recreational activities.

To sustain the operation and defray the expenses of specialized, paramedical and administrative personnel, Asilo San Juan Diego counts on the support of people who collaborate with their time and donations which, in this case, is prominent cultural luminary Nacho Cadena and his son Chef Alfonso Cadena of La Leche, who are cooking up a fabulous meal to benefit this worthy endeavor.

With the aim of offering a unique and emotional gastronomic experience, Chef Alfonso shops each morning and, based on the freshest ingredients he can find, creates a unique avant-garde menu daily, reflecting French and Mexican cuisine. As a result, you never know what will be on the menu from day to day, which builds anticipation prior to your visit. Surprising presentation, fabulous service and culinary artistry await at La Leche, recently named one of "the seven best restaurants in Mexico" by Quien Magazine.

Tickets to this gourmet dinner with a cause cost just $1300 pesos per person, and are available by calling Lolita Covarrubias at 044-322-292-1182, who will deliver them to your home or office.

La Leche is located at Francisco Medina Ascencio Km 2.5 in the North Hotel Zone of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
VANCOUVER, B.C., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core Gold Inc. ("Core Gold" or the "Company") (TSX-V: CGLD, OTCQX: CGLDF) is pleased to announce that it has completed a 1,927 meter drilling campaign at its wholly owned Linderos property in Ecuador.

Results of this drilling campaign show the following select intervals:

5.94 m @ 10.78 g/t Au included within 28.80 m @ 2.56 g/t Au





7.80 m @ 5.25 g/t Au included within 19.60 m @ 2.27 g/t Au

These initial results provide evidence that the two main gold bearing mineralized structures (target 1 and 2) discovered through Core Golds preliminary surface trenching program in 2017 extend at depth.

The gold mineralization thus far identified is associated with sulphide veins cutting intensely quartz-sericite-pyrite altered felsic igneous rocks. Mineralization is contained within a NW trending fault (shear zone) related brecciated structures adding together up to 25 m wide and are oxidized to a depth of approximately 30 meters.

Late, gold bearing sulphide veins are hosted in discrete shoots within the NW trending fault zone. The controls on the localization of the high-grade gold mineralization have yet to be determined.

Moving forward, detailed mapping and structural analysis will lead to a better understanding of the controls of the gold mineralization and the development of a predictive model.

Drilling to date has tested a relatively small section of the 1km by 150 m zone of outcropping gold mineralization adjacent to, and along strike from the discovery outcrop (21m @18.51 g/t gold). The eastern half of the 1km strike extent, highlighted by trench samples of 32 m @ 3.02 g/t Au and 4.40 m @ 11.11 g/t Au (see press release, Feb. 22, 2018), has yet to be drill tested and will be targeted in future drill programs.

To date, 11 exploration diamond drill holes from 5 sites have been performed all with azimuth ranging from 33 to 276, and 6 drill holes with an azimuth of 213. Inclined depths range from 99 m to 280 m, with inclination angles from -45 to -75. A Hydro-Core 2000 portable drill rig owned by the Company was used.

QA & QC procedures and protocols have been implemented to secure accuracy for this drilling campaign. Core samples have been shipped to Inspectorate Lab in Peru, an international qualified laboratory. Details of the drill results are set forth below. Note that true widths are not stated.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: Click Here

The Linderos Project

The Linderos project is an exploration property located in the Macara County, Loja province, southern Ecuador. It is composed of four contiguous concessions totaling 14,317 hectares, located approximately 45 Km southwest of the Company's Dynasty Goldfield project. The Linderos project comprises gold-copper porphyry system style mineralization.

Within the Linderos project, the hydrothermal alterations zone covers an area of about 1.5 Km2. The porphyry is emplaced in island arc Cretaceous volcanic rocks of the Celica Formation and it is structurally controlled by a shear zone with a northwest-southeast strike. This structure hosts economic porphyry related gold mineralization associated with oxidized mesothermal - epithermal mineralized structures.

The porphyry system is formed by an initial intrusion of dioritic composition, which hosts late mineralized intrusive phases of quartz-diorite, tonalite and rhyolite-dacite composition. The hydrothermal alterations zone is characterized by the occurrence of a potassic core surrounded by phyllic and propylitic alteration halos. Mineralization is mainly related to copper and molybdenum observed as disseminated chalcopyrite and molybdenite in veinlets, mainly hosted in the quartz-diorite. Locally, an oxidation zone has been observed with occurrence of malachite and chrysocolla.

For more information on the Linderos project please refer to the Operations Overview section of our website at: www.coregoldinc.com

Qualified Person

Mr. John E. Bolanos, who is a qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Mr. Bolanos is a M.Sc. Mining Geologist from Camborne School of Mines (U.K.) and a Professional Geologist Eng. from The Central University of Ecuador (honours degree). He is a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) of the United States; Director of the Ecuadorian College of Engineers in Geology, Mines, Oil and Environment; and a member of the Mining Chamber of Ecuador. He has 28 years of experience in the exploration and mining industry throughout the Americas.

About Core Gold

The Company is a Canadian based mining company involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties in Ecuador. The Company is currently focused on gold production at its wholly-owned Dynasty Goldfield project and continued development at its legacy Zaruma mine. Mineral is treated at the Companys wholly-owned Portovelo treatment plant close to the Zaruma mine operations. The Company also owns other significant gold exploration projects including the Linderos and Copper Duke area in southern Ecuador all of which are on the main Peruvian Andean gold-copper belt extending into Ecuador.

For further information please contact: Keith Piggott, CEO

Suite 1201  1166 Alberni Street

Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3Z3

Phone: +1 (604) 345-4822

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Notice:

This news release contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking information which are prospective in nature. Such information in this news release includes statements regarding the Company's interpretation of exploration results and the potential geological merits of the Companys Linderos project. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Core Golds actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Important risks that could cause Core Golds actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to differ materially from Core Golds expectations include, among other things, risks relating to the actual results of additional exploration activities; fluctuating prices in metals and other commodities; possibility of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations; exploration cost overruns; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; currency fluctuations; availability of capital and financing to maintain the Company's operations and plans; general economic, market or business conditions; regulatory changes; timeliness of government or regulatory approvals; and other risks detailed herein and as disclosed in the Companys filings as available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Other than in accordance with regulatory obligations, Core Gold is not under any obligation and Core Gold 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.

Neither the 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.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 26, 2018) - Tudor Gold Corp. (TSXV: TUD) (FSE: TUC) (the "Company" or "Tudor Gold") is pleased to report that the final hole (CB-18-39) of the 2018 exploration season, a 90 m step-out to the north of the Copper Belle Zone, intersected 0.981 g/t gold over 563.8 meters and bottomed in mineralization. This is the widest and most strongly mineralized interval seen to date of the 69 holes that have been drilled within the zone, and more importantly, suggests potentially greater widths of mineralization continuing to the north and northeast. This new extension will be a prime target for follow-up drilling in 2019.

Hole CB-18-39 is one of the three holes reported here that were part of the nine-hole 2018 drill program on the Copper Belle zone of the Company's Treaty Creek property, in the "Golden Triangle" area of north-western BC (see map below). Results of core sampling have now been received for all of the nine holes completed. The first six holes were reported in the August 24 and October 30 news releases.

Walter Storm, President and CEO, stated: "This very positive intersection in the final hole of the year at Treaty Creek exhibits particularly strong gold values for a porphyry-style deposit. It is certainly the best result to date at Copper Belle - in terms of grade x length - being some 50% longer than the previous longest intersection. We drilled 9 deep holes in 2018, testing a large area with a wide-spaced drill pattern, a program which has expanded the Copper Belle zone to the north and northwest; discovering broad intercepts of gold mineralization adjacent to similar wide intercepts reported in 2017. The target next year will be more drilling north and northeast of Hole CB-18-39, expanding on the significant grade and scale of the gold mineralization encountered."

Copper Belle Drill Hole CB-18-39 Mineralized Intervals

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (ppm) CB-18-39 141.5 705.3 563.8 0.981 4.4 352.2 includes 141.5 185 43.5 1.21 2.8 171.7 and 194 428 234 1.147 6.1 501.6 and 437 474.5 37.5 0.352 2.8 84 and 483.5 519.5 36 0.641 2.1 282.4 and 530 549.5 19.5 1.071 1.8 407.7 and 560 563 3 1.243 1 167.5 and 569 624.5 55.5 1.719 10.4 348.3 and 632 660.5 28.5 1.521 2.4 330.9 and 666.5 705.3 38.8 0.673 1.5 305.1 EOH 705.3

* All assay values are uncut and intervals reflect drilled intercept lengths.

* True widths of the mineralization have not been determined.

CB-18-39 intersected mineralization from a depth of 141.5 m to the end of the hole at 705.3 m, averaging 0.981 g/t Au over 563.8 m. The hole also contained higher grade sections, such as 1.719 g/t Au, with 10.4 g/t Ag, over 55.5 m and, significantly, the hole ended in mineralization, grading 0.673 g/t Au over 38.8 m, indicating potential for continuing mineralization at depth.

CB-18-39 was drilled northwesterly at an angle of -72 degrees. The host volcaniclastic rocks are typically chlorite, sericite and locally potassically altered, however the more strongly mineralized intervals exhibit increased pyrite and stronger silicification than surrounding rocks. This hole also displayed more chalcopyrite than was observed in previous holes. This may indicate that copper grades could be increasing to the north. Silver values were also higher on average in hole CB-18-39, with sections such as 10.4 g/t Ag over 55.5 m from 569.0 m to 624.5 m.

Hole CB-18-39 is the northernmost hole drilled to date and has extended the length of the Copper Belle Zone approximately 90 m northeast from CB-18-37B, to a total known length of 1200 m. Hole CB-18-38; a fill-in hole in the east part of the drill grid, returned wide intercepts of gold mineralization similar to nearby previously drilled holes. Hole CB-18-36 was drilled at the west edge of the drill grid and gold-bearing intervals in this hole indicate that the zone continues at depth in that direction. Gold, silver and copper results for holes CB-18-38 and CB-18-36 are summarized in the table below.

Copper Belle Drill Holes CB-18-38 and CB-18-36 Mineralized Intervals

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (ppm) CB-18-38 20.5 40 19.5 0.561 0.6 56.7 49 52 3 0.446 1.6 37.5 59.5 134.5 75 0.514 1.2 187.8 161.5 164.5 3 1.114 1.4 192 185.5 200.5 15 0.22 1.5 118.6 215.5 362 146.5 0.545 2.8 298.7 468.5 638 169.5 0.659 1.1 76.4 includes 504.5 572 67.5 1.049 1.3 98.1 686 698 12 0.54 0.8 133.4 EOH 698.0 CB-18-36 658 704.5 46.5 0.76 2.7 93.2 736 752.5 16.5 0.276 1.6 73.8 758.5 778 19.5 0.361 1.6 51.6 EOH 805.0

* All assay values are uncut and intervals reflect drilled intercept lengths.

* True widths of the mineralization have not been determined.

CB-18-38 was a fill-in hole located approximately 60 m and 140 m from the adjacent holes (see map below), providing important information about the width, grade and continuity of the Copper Belle Zone in this area. It was drilled to the northwest at an angle of -72 degrees, parallel to the adjacent holes, and returned three broad intervals of gold mineralization; 0.514 g/t Au over 75.0 m, 0.545 g/t Au over 146.5 m and 0.659 g/t Au over 169.5 m. Additional narrower intervals included 0.561 g/t Au over 19.5 m, as well as 0.540 g/t Au over 12.0 m, which extended to the end of the hole indicating that mineralization probably continues at depth.

The gold mineralized intervals in CB-18-38 are primarily hosted by andesitic tuff and fragmental rocks that are moderately silicified, with chloritic, sericitic and potassic alteration, and are cut by abundant fine pyrite veins and later quartz-carbonate veins. Pyrite content averages about 5%, occurring as fine veins, disseminations and local coarse masses in the host rocks. Gold occurs primarily within the pyritic intervals, as well as within later quartz veins, along with rare chalcopyrite, galena and sphalerite.

CB-18-36 was located at the west edge of the drill grid, and oriented to the northwest at an angle of -72 degrees. It intersected a wide zone of faulting and brecciation that has undergone sericite alteration, with overprinted strong silicification and abundant pyrite. This fault zone, plus underlying brecciated volcanic rocks, is mineralized over a drilled length of more than 140 m, and contains a more strongly mineralized gold zone averaging 0.760 g/t Au over a thickness of 46.5 m. Later quartz-carbonate veins containing pyrite, with lesser galena and sphalerite may also contribute to the gold grades.

The nine holes drilled in 2018 covered an area measuring approximately 370 meters by 250 meters, to depths ranging from 600 to 900 meters. This area is located to the north and west of the area for which the company reported a range of 1.8 to 1.9 million ounces contained within 50 to 45 million tonnes grading 1.12 to 1.35 g/t Au determined from the drill results prior to 2018.

The most recent drilling has now extended the known length of the porphyry-style mineralized system for over 1200 meters. For locations of the 2018 and other holes in the Copper Belle area please view the map below. The Copper Belle zone has an elongate north-northeast trend, dipping at a relatively flat angle to the northwest. Mineralization appears to be related to an extensive north-northeast trending tectonic zone that may be part of the extensive Sulphurets Thrust Fault structure that also traverses the KSM property to the south.

The objective of the 2018 drill program was to better define the extent of the Copper Belle zone. The results from the 2018 holes have provided additional information about continuity and grade of mineralization that, along with the previous drill results, will be integral for a resource calculation.



Figure 1: Copper Belle Drill Hole Locations and Composite Mineralized Intervals

QA/QC

Drill core samples were prepared at ALS Global's (independent) Preparation Laboratory in Terrace, BC and assayed at ALS Global's (independent) Geochemical Laboratory in North Vancouver, BC. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the submission of blanks, certified standards and duplicate samples inserted at regular intervals into the sample stream by Tudor Gold personnel. ALS Global Laboratories quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 17025: 2005.

QP

The Qualified Person for the Treaty Creek results in this new release is James A. McCrea, P.Geo., for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release.

About Tudor Gold

Tudor Gold is a precious and base metals explorer in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, an area that hosts multiple past-producing mines and several large world-class deposits that are approaching potential development. The Company has a 60% interest in both the Electrum and Treaty Creek properties, and a 100% interest in the 18,300 hectare Crown project, all of which are located in the Golden Triangle area.

"Walter Storm"

Walter Storm

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.tudor-gold.com or contact:

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume

CEO

Tel: 416-868-1079 x 231

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially.

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and geological merits of the Treaty Creek Project and other future plans, objectives or expectations of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on 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.
TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2018 /CNW/ - Roscan Gold Corporation ("Roscan" or the "Company") (TSX-V: ROS) is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced at the Company's 100%-owned Kandiole Project in Mali, West Africa. As previously announced, a 3,500 metre Air Core ("AC") drilling program was designed to test several of the numerous, high-quality, gold geochemical anomalies. The program commenced on schedule and is expected to be completed in under a month, with initial results being announced in early 2019.

"We are excited to get on the path to unlocking the potential of the Kandiole gold project and look forward to announcing the results of our initial drilling program as soon as we can. In addition, we expect to announce plans for a follow up program including the testing of anomalies that were not drilled in this first pass program," stated Greg Isenor, Roscan President and CEO. "Our past experience and knowledge of this area has allowed us to fast forward our exploration and initiate a drilling program," continued Mr. Isenor.

AC DRILLING PROGRAM

Below and linked, are two maps (Figure 1 & Figure 2) illustrating the strong gold anomalies and the drill fences to be completed before the end of the year, as well as a property map (Figure 3) identifying the two areas of drilling. The 3,500-metre drilling program consists of approximately 77 holes (47 holes on Mankouke & 30 holes on Moussala Nord). These AC holes are designed to test the full width of a series of strong gold anomalies in termite mounds with coincident gold-in-soil anomalies.

The Mankouke property overlies a northerly-trending magnetic Siribaya structure that is interpreted to represent a regional scale thrust fault. Some of Roscan's strongest termite and gold-in-soil anomalies lies along this structure. The Siribaya Structure, and the corridor associated with the structure, hosts established resources (Siribaya - 303,900 ounces indicated at 2.34 g/t gold and 301,400 ounces gold inferred at 2.17 g/t gold1) and additional exciting new discoveries (Oklo's Seko  intercepts to 4.38 g/t gold over 45 metres2 and Komet's Kabaya  intercepts to 2.02 g/t gold over 62 metres3). The Mankouke targets have similar geochemical expressions as other discoveries on this structural corridor. Three drill fences, planned to test the stronger targets in the Mankouke area, are summarized as follows:

Line 1  tests an anomalous area up to 750 metres wide and 600 metres long with termite and soil values ranging from 102 ppb to 588 ppb gold. This target area lies in a magnetic embayment along the magnetic trend which may represent a large hydrothermal alteration zone.





Line 2  tests a target area up to 400 metres wide by 800 metres long with termite and soil values ranging from 52 ppb to 499 ppb gold. This target area lies approximately 1,000 metres to the south of the line 1 target area and along the same interpreted mineralized structure.





Line 3 lies approximately 500 metres to the south and west of line 2 target area. This drill fence will test an interpreted, approximately 1,200-metre long, parallel mineralization trend across a 425 metres wide target area with termite and soil values ranging from 127 ppb to 675 ppb gold.

Drill fences at Moussala Nord are designed to test three strong anomalous gold trends. These anomalies are well defined and appear to be associated with a strong, northeast-trending structure that is semi-parallel to, and west of, the Siribaya Structure. The three drill fences range from 225 metres to 275 metres wide with termite and soil values ranging up to 16,000 ppb gold. Two of the drill fences will cross over artisanal mining areas that are currently being mined.

It is expected that in early 2019, a follow up program of Reverse Circulation ("RC") drilling, and additional AC drilling will be initiated in areas with the most significant AC results.

1. Link to Siribaya Mineral Resource Estimate Study here. 2. Link to Oklo Resources Limited ASX Announcement here. 3. Link to Komet Resources Inc. News Release here.

GEOCHEMICAL SAMPLING PROGRAM

In addition, a crew of 25 personnel, including three senior geologists, are at the site and active in the field with soil and termite sampling. The exploration camp has been set up to support the field crews and equipped to manage all of the data being collected. The sampling program, which has been designed to cover the high priority targets and areas of interest, will result in approximately 75% of the permits being covered with termite and soil samples. It is expected that this sampling program will identify further drill targets.

ABOUT ROSCAN

Roscan Gold Corporation is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of gold properties in West Africa. The Company has assembled a significant land position of 100%-owned permits in an area of producing mines and major deposits for its Kandiole Project in west Mali. Drilling is currently underway at the Kandiole project.

Don Dudek, P.Geo., an Independent Director of the Company and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

Figure 1: Mankouke AC Drilling Lines



Figure 2: Moussala Nord AC Drilling Lines

Figure 3: Property Map

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, changes in the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, including those risks set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis as filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including that all necessary governmental and regulatory approvals will be received as and when expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as 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.
COEUR D'ALENE, ID / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / Timberline Resources Corporation (OTCQB: TLRS; TSX-V: TBR) ("Timberline" or the "Company") today announced that it drilled 46.5 feet (14.2 meters) grading 1.20% copper, 0.31% molybdenum, 25.5 g/t silver, and 0.126 g/t gold in CCEC 18-02, the first core hole drilled at the Elder Creek porphyry copper-molybdenum project in Nevada. This intercept is the first drill test within the central portion of a 2.5 mile (4 km)-wide multi-stage hydrothermal system. Hole RCEC 18-01, located 3,250 feet (1 km) to the north and previously reported, contains 0.21% copper over its entire 500 foot (152 m) length, including 0.44% copper over 110 feet (34 m), and bottomed in strong mineralization.

Core Hole CCEC18-02 Results

Core hole CCEC18-02 (Figure 1) was drilled vertically to a depth of 1,497 feet (456.4 m). It intercepted pervasively altered hornfels (after Harmony Formation shale and arkosic sandstones), feldspar porphyry intrusive rocks and hydrothermal breccias. The cross-cutting textures and breccias reflect multiple, overprinting events including emplacement of copper and molybdenum sulphides(see press release dated October 19, 2018 at http://timberlineresources.co/press-releases/). The chalcopyrite and molybdenite are concentrated (typically 2-6%) from 1,313.5 - 1,360 feet (400.5 - 414.6 meters)(Table 1), where they occur primarily within veins and the quartz-sulphide matrix to breccia which cross-cuts potassic-altered hornfels and associated porphyritic intrusions (Figure 2).

Table 1. Summary of Core Drill Hole CCEC18-02 Assay Results

Assays for the upper portion of the hole are pending.

Mineralization in CCEC18-02 is distinctly polymetallic (Cu-Mo-Au-Ag-Re)(Table 2) compared to primarily copper in reverse-circulation ("RC") drill hole RCEC18-01, which is located 1 km to the north-northwest at the Valmy copper area (Figure 1). RCEC18-01 intersected 110 feet (34 meters) of 0.44% copper as chalcocite within a near-surface, cross-cutting, altered porphyritic intrusion. The chalcocite mineralization occurs within a broader interval (500 feet; 152 meters) of 0.21% copper (see press release dated September 27, 2018), much of which is oxidized.

Steven Osterberg, Timberline's President and CEO commented, "The excellent drill hole intercepts, combined with the pervasive hydrothermal alteration, extensive stockwork veining, and magnetics data, clearly document the very large scale of the Elder Creek porphyry system that we are just beginning to drill test. We are particularly excited to see the well-mineralized copper-molydenum breccia along with associated precious metals as further evidence of cross-cutting, multiple emplacement events as expected in major porphyry systems. Our focus now is to identify a large source of these mineralized emplacements. We have mobilized a geophysical crew to conduct induced polarization and resistivity surveys over the large target area."

Figure 1. Geology, Alteration, Copper Geochemistry, and Target Areas at the Elder Creek Porphyry Copper-Gold Project

Breccia-Zone Assay Results

Assays from the mineralized hydrothermal breccia zone show general consistency and enrichment in rhenium, potassium, iron, and sulfur (Table 2). Rhenium is generally associated with molybdenum, potassium is thought to reflect intense potassic (biotite and potassium feldspar) alteration, and iron and sulfur are associated with abundant pyrite and chalcopyrite. These characteristics suggest that a robust, multi-staged mineralizing system exists at Elder Creek.

Table 2: Detailed Assays from Core Hole CCEC18-02 Hydrothermal Breccia Zone

Exploration Plans

The company has contracted Zonge Geophysics of Reno, Nevada to complete a 10 km Induced Polarization (IP)/Resistivity survey at Elder Creek. An orientation line will be completed over the location of drill core hole CCEC18-02, along with off-set lines across the 3 km diameter system. The survey will characterize the rocks for signatures associated with concentration of sulfides (IP), associated silicification (Resistivity) as hydrothermal alteration, and identification of major fault zones within the project area.

Figure 2. Copper (cpy: chalcopyrite) and Molydenum (mo: molybdenite) Sulfide Mineralization within Hydrothermal Breccia and Pervasively-altered Intrusive Rock in Drill Core CCEC18-02

Elder Creek Property

Timberline's Elder Creek copper-gold, and adjacent Paiute properties lie within the prolific Battle Mountain District of Nevada (Figure 3), approximately 11 miles (18 km) north of Newmont's Phoenix mining complex. Data compiled from over 40-plus years of exploration on the property includes only limited shallow, historic drilling in the pronounced magnetic low (Figure 4), and only shallow drilling along the north and northeastern magnetic zone targeted primarily at gold. Geologic and geophysical characteristics, and rock geochemical sampling results evident at Elder Creek (see press release dated June 18, 2018 at http://timberlineresources.co/press-releases/) are common to major porphyry copper deposits. Three primary target areas have been identified to date at Elder Creek.

Figure 3. Location of the Elder Creek Project within the Battle Mountain Mining District

Figure 4. Elder Creek Historic Airborne Total Field Magnetics with Exploration Target Areas and 2018 Drill Holes.



Timberline has the right to acquire a 65% interest in the 16 square mile (41 km2) Elder Creek property by spending US$5.1 million over 6 years through an earn-in joint venture agreement with McEwen Mining Inc. (see new release dated May 24, 2018 at http://timberlineresources.co/press-releases/).

Further technical details of the Company's Elder Creek project may be viewed at: http://timberlineresources.co/projects/ElderCreek/.

Sampling Methodology, Chain of Custody, Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Collection of drill core samples was completed under the supervision of a Company representative. Core was transported by the Company's Qualified Person to Range Front Geologic in Elko, NV where it was cut. Sampling was completed by a Company representative. After preparation of the samples, blind certified standard reference materials and blanks were inserted into each sample batch which was transported to ALS in Nevada for analyses. Samples were assayed for gold by Fire Assay of a 30 gram (1 assay ton) charge with an AA finish (ALS code Au-AA23). Samples were also assayed for a 48 multi-element using four acid ICP-MS (code ME-MS61). "Over-limits" were re-assayed using 4-acid Aqua regia digestion and ICP or AAS finish (code Cu-OG62).

Steven Osterberg, Ph.D., P.G., Timberline's President and Chief Executive Officer, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this release. Mr. Osterberg is not considered independent of the Company as defined in Section 1.5 of NI 43-101. Drill intercepts are reported as drill thicknesses; true widths of intercepts are unknown.

About Timberline Resources

Timberline Resources Corporation is focused on advancing district-scale gold exploration and development projects in Nevada. These include its 23 square-mile Eureka property, comprising the Lookout Mountain, Windfall, and Oswego projects which lie along three separate structural stratigraphic trends defined by distinct geochemical gold anomalies, as well as being operator of both the Paiute joint venture project with a subsidiary of Barrick Gold, and the Elder Creek joint venture with McEwen Mining. All of these properties lie on the prolific Battle Mountain-Eureka gold trend. Timberline also owns the Seven Troughs property in Northern Nevada, which is one of the state's highest-grade former producers. Timberline has increased its owned and controlled mineral rights in Nevada to over 43 square miles (27,500 acres). Detailed maps and NI 43-101 estimated resource information for the Eureka property may be viewed at http://timberlineresources.co/.

Timberline is listed on the OTCQB where it trades under the symbol "TLRS" and on the TSX Venture Exchange where it trades under the symbol "TBR".

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's expectations about its future operating results, performance and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the advancement of projects, and exploration potential. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "upcoming," "plan," ''target", "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to Timberline Resources Corporation, its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. There are no assurances that the Company will complete the earn-in on the Elder Creek project as contemplated or at all. Factors that could cause or contribute to risks involving forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in the Company's business and other factors, including risk factors discussed in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any 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) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Steven A. Osterberg

President and CEO

Tel: 208-664-4859

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.timberline-resources.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auryn Resources Inc. (TSX: AUG, NYSE AMERICAN: AUG, Auryn or the Company) has identified several kilometer-scale targets under copper  gold surface mineralization at its Sombrero project in Southern Peru. The targets identified tend to begin at surface and can continue to a depth of 600 meters, representing more than one substantial opportunity for skarn and porphyry mineralization.

Ivan Bebek, Executive Chairman and Director:

The Sombrero project continues to evolve as a globally significant exploration opportunity due to its scale and analogous features to the world-class mines nearby.

It is a rare opportunity to explore a project with this size and scale that has never been drilled before. We still dont know the full extent of the mineralized system, on surface or at depth however, we anticipate drill permits in the second quarter of 2019.

The Targets:

The targets are based on extensive geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys. The results of the targeting have outlined a large copper  gold system that is exposed over a 10 x 5 kilometer area (Figure 1). This scale of alteration and mineralization is similar in scale to the Las Bambas complex and demonstrates the potential magnitude of the opportunity at the Sombrero project (Figure 1). Auryn has recognized three superimposed separate target types within the observed Sombrero mineralized system:

Exoskarn high-grade gold : copper  gold targets located along the boundary between monzonitic to dioritic intrusives and the Ferrobamba limestone.





:  located along the boundary between monzonitic to dioritic intrusives and the Ferrobamba limestone. Endoskarn bulk tonnage: copper  gold targets hosted within the monzonitic to dioritic intrusive rocks





 hosted within the monzonitic to dioritic intrusive rocks Porphyry bulk tonnage: copper  gold targets that are spatially associated with monzonitic intrusive dykes and plugs.

The area currently being drill permitted (Figure 1) allows for 40 drill pads, giving Auryns technical team flexibility in the initial program to make adjustments based on the geology identified while drilling. There are a total of 7 high-priority exoskarn targets over a 4.5 kilometer strike length at the contact between the multiphase intrusive complex and the Ferrobamba limestone (Figure 2). In addition, there are a total of 6 high-priority chargeability (IP) targets over a 7.25 kilometer strike length that represent the potential for bulk tonnage endoskarn and porphyry-styles of disseminated copper  gold mineralization. Typically, these chargeability anomalies are situated between 100  150 meters below the surface, with several of them situated underneath mineralized trenches. The 2019 drill program will test for exoskarn targets, endoskarn targets and porphyry-style targets (Figure 3) with drill holes ranging from 200  800 meters in depth.

Technical Rationale:

Geologic and Geochemical Summary:

The defined targets are centered around three exposed copper  gold systems at the Sombrero Main, Nioc and Good Lucky areas, which are situated within a larger Pb-Zn mineralization alteration halo (15 x 10 kilometers) (Figure 4) that defines the known extent of the mineralization and alteration within the project area. There are three recognized stages of mineralization present within the area, which are defined below:

Stage 1: Prograde exoskarn and endoskarn development associated with the emplacement of large diorite bodies into the Ferrobamba and Gramadal limestone sequences. As part of this event fracture network copper  gold mineralization is observed within the underlying sediments within the Hualhuani and Labra Formations (Figure 3).





Stage 2: Retrograde gold  copper breccias and vein development overprinting both calcsilicate alteration within the endoskarn mineralization as well as the marble/wollastinite alteration within the Ferrobamba limestone (Figure 3).





Stage 3: Porphyry staged copper  gold veins and breccias associated with intense clay alteration and the emplacement of evolved monzonitic intrusive dykes and plugs. These evolved porphyry staged dykes and plugs are associated with a molybdenum geochemical signature (Figure 4). These porphyry targets are developed both within the larger diorite intrusive bodies as well as within the sediments of the Hualhuani and Labra Formations (Figure 3).

Drill holes PDDH1, PDDH5, PDDH6 and PDDH10 target high-grade exoskarn mineralization at the contact between the monzonitic intrusive and the Ferrobamba limestone.





Drill hole PDDH2 targets bulk tonnage endoskarn mineralization in the monzonitic intrusive and then into pophryry-style mineralization within the Hualhuani sediments through a chargeability anomaly of greater than 25 millivolts.





Drill holes PDDH3, PDDH4, PDDH6, PDDH7, PDDH8 and PDDH9 target bulk tonnage endoskarn and porphyry mineralization hosted within monzonitic intrusives through chargeability anomalies greater than 25 millivolts.

Geophysics Summary:

The use of geophysics data has proven integral to the development of targets at the Sombrero project. Through the integration of geologic mapping and magnetic and induced polarization data, Auryn has been able to identify all of the target types listed above.

Magnetics Data:

Magnetic highs have a direct spatial correlation with mapped exoskarn bodies which allows us to target, under the volcanic cover, the exoskarn that flanks the large multiphase intrusive body at the Sombrero and Nioc targets (Figure 2). A total of 4.5 kilometers of strike length of exoskarn targets have been defined along the flanks of the multiphase intrusive center, defining the Sombrero target and again demonstrating the potential size of the mineralized system at the project.

Induced Polarization (IP) Data:

A comprehensive IP geophysical survey was completed in an effort to image disseminated sulphide bodies defined by chargeability highs above 25 millivolts. These chargeability highs are interpreted to have the potential to host significant copper  gold mineralization (Figure 2).

Figure 3 illustrates two cross-sections through the Sombrero target area that demonstrate the distribution of exoskarn and endoskarn target types being observed on the surface and at depth through the use of magnetics and IP geophysical surveys. These cross-sections integrate geological mapping, surficial geochemical data from soils, rocks and trenches as well as the geophysical data. Critically, all data sets support the potential for a large-scale copper  gold mineralized system, both in skarn and porphyry-styles of mineralization, hosted within the Ferrobamba limestone, the multi-phase intrusive complex and the Hualhuani sediments.

District-Scale Opportunity:

The drill targeting exercise has been completed over the Sombrero and Nioc target areas, an area of approximately 5 x 5 kilometers. To date, work in the Sombrero district has focused on the Sombrero North licences, which includes 62,000 hectares. Auryn controls an additional 58,000 hectares in the Sombrero South project area, which is situated approximately 50-75 kilometers to the southeast of the Sombrero North project area (Figure 5). Initial follow-up work on these anomalous drainage basins has included higher resolution stream sediment surveys, reconnaissance mapping and rock sampling. The goal of this work is to identify the next mineralized system to advance towards drill targeting. Results from this work are anticipated to be released over the next several months as Auryn continues to develop new targets within the district.

Michael Henrichsen, C.O.O. and Chief Geologist:

The drill targeting process has demonstrated that the Sombrero project has the scale, continuity of mineralization on surface and required geophysical signatures to deliver a major copper  gold discovery.

We are very impressed with the geologic similarities between Sombrero and Las Bambas and are looking forward to drilling the three target types of high-grade exoskarns, bulk tonnage endoskarns and porphyry-styles of mineralization.

Michael Henrichsen, P.Geo, COO of Auryn, is the Qualified Person who assumes responsibility for the technical disclosures in this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AURYN RESOURCES INC.

Ivan Bebek

Executive Chairman

For further information on Auryn Resources Inc., please contact Natasha Frakes, Manager of Corporate Communications at (778) 729-0600 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Auryn

Auryn Resources is a technically driven junior mining exploration company focused on delivering shareholder value through project acquisition and development. The Companys management team is highly experienced with an impressive track record of success and has assembled an extensive technical team as well as a premier gold exploration portfolio. Auryn is focused on scalable high-grade gold deposits in established mining jurisdictions, which include the Committee Bay and Gibson MacQuoid gold projects located in Nunavut, the Homestake Ridge gold project in British Columbia and a portfolio of gold projects in southern Peru, through Corisur Peru SAC and Sombrero SAC.

About Sombrero

This project consists of the North Sombrero and South Sombrero properties, comprising approximately 100,000 mineral claims owned or optioned by Auryn Resources. The copper-gold Sombrero mining concessions are located 340 kilometers SE of Lima in southern Peru and are hosted in the Andahuaylas-Yauri belt. This belt is interpreted to be on the north-western margins of this Eocene-Oligocene aged copper-gold porphyry and skarn belt that hosts the Las Bambas, Haquira, Los Chancas, Cotambambas, Constancia, Antapaccay and Tintaya deposits. The project is characterized by a strong structural control and significant copper and gold values from historical surface samples. The principle targets at Sombrero are copper-gold skarn and porphyry systems and precious metal epithermal deposits.

Forward Looking Information and Additional Cautionary Language

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is information that includes implied future performance and/or forecast information including information relating to or associated with the acquisition and title to mineral concessions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different (either positively or negatively) from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers should refer to the risks discussed in the Companys Annual Information Form and MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2017 and subsequent continuous disclosure filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at www.sedar.com and the Companys registration statement on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Nearly 50 Malian organizations are up in arms. At a press conference on November 9 in Bamako, they declared that the bill on national understanding is a threat to peace, reconciliation and victims rights. The text, which was approved by the government in May, is to go before parliament in mid-December.

In a communique distributed at the press conference, civil society organizations said victims had not been involved in the drafting of the bill and that this goes against established transitional justice practice. They say victims must be fully involved in the creation of norms and mechanisms to respond to their suffering, if these are to have legitimacy.

The bill was first announced in President Ibrahim Boubacar Keitas 2018 New Year message, in which he spoke of special measures to stop prosecutions or offer amnesty for certain actors in the 2012 armed rebellion. The bill that civil society is now fighting provides for exemption from criminal proceedings initiated or envisaged against persons who committed or were complicit () in crimes or offences () occurring in the context of events linked to the crisis that began in 2012. In 38 articles, it specifies that war crimes, crimes against humanity, rape and any other crime deemed imprescriptible are excluded from the scope of the text. This is in line with President Keitas New Years message, which said his initiative was neither a boost to impunity, nor an admission of weakness, nor a denial of victims rights. The text stresses that any steps taken to benefit from the proposed measures () are voluntary and individual.

Inadequate investigations

In addition to these special measures for individuals, the text provides for introduction of a National Day of Forgiveness, a National Reconciliation Week and the drawing up of an inclusive general history of Mali.

But for 47 Malian civil society organizations, the bills provisions on prosecution of people suspected of crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious crimes are simply inadequate. We are not against national legislation, but it must come after judicial investigations, said Drissa Traore, joint programme coordinator for the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Malian Association for Human Rights (AMDH), at the press conference. But investigations are struggling to make progress. We need to wait for the results of investigations to determine who has blood on their hands and who doesnt.

So civil society organizations think the government is putting the cart before the horse. They point out that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission charged with shedding light on the crisis is struggling to make progress owing to lack of resources and a climate of insecurity. Meanwhile, the International Commission of Inquiry on Mali has only just begun its work. This commission, set up under the Algiers peace accord and officially launched on October 22, is mandated by the United Nations to investigate all war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, sexual crimes and other serious violations of international law, human rights and international humanitarian law throughout the territory of Mali. In such circumstances, the 47 organizations say there are fears that instead of ensuring facts relating to the crimes are brought to light, the laws effect be to close the door to all claims for justice, at the expense of victims rights to truth and justice.

We will not bend

What, then, does civil society want? The first thing is that the government withdraw its bill. Guisse Ramata, Executive Director of Amnesty International in Mali, says the proposed law ignores victims rights and undermines ongoing efforts for justice and truth in Mali. Signatories of the communique also call for victims associations and human rights organizations to be consulted and for their concerns be taken into account when drafting a new bill. They also call on the government to make concrete commitments to the fight against impunity by guaranteeing efficient prosecution and investigation of the most serious crimes.

But do these activists have the means to make the government back down? We will not bend, says Moctar Mariko, president of the Malian Human Rights Association, which plans other initiatives including a peaceful protest march and sit-ins in front of the National Assembly.

Civil society can also count on support from the political opposition, whose leaders came out against this bill as soon as it was announced at the beginning of the year by President IBK. But the government says it is equally determined. It is totally out of the question to think they can make the government back down through petitions, Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga told a public gathering in Bamako the day after the press conference. We cannot abandon this law, he continued, saying that the government has followed all the procedures. He said Mali was following the example of other countries that have experienced the same situation and that it was impossible to organize trials for hundreds of thousands of people. We will exempt from prosecution all those who did not commit war crimes and violence against women during the crisis, he concluded.
Hill's Pet Nutrition commits major donation for new Pet Health & Nutrition Center at Kansas State University



Monday, Nov. 26, 2018

Bonnie Rush, second from left, interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, meets with, from left, Jesper Nordengaard, Jolle Kirpensteijn and Omar Farias from Hill's Pet Nutrition about Hill's lead gift supporting the creation of a new Pet Health & Nutrition Center at the university's Veterinary Health Center. | Download this photo.





MANHATTAN  Primary care for pets has a bright future at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine thanks to a record sponsorship by Hill's Pet Nutrition.



With Hill's sponsorship  the largest corporate gift in the college's history  three strategic areas in the college's Mosier Hall will be renovated to provide approximately 16,000 square feet of new space dedicated to clinical training, classroom teaching and research. The Pet Health & Nutrition Center will be named in honor of Hill's Pet Nutrition.



"This public-private partnership will enhance our educational capacity in small animal nutrition and client communication, strengthening the preparation of our graduates for success in private practice," said Bonnie Rush, interim dean of the college. "We are grateful to Hill's for its tremendous generosity and investment in our students. This integrative partnership enhances the educational experience for K-State veterinary students through shared resources and expertise. The new experiential learning environment will strengthen our training program in nutrition and primary care, and will attract student externs from colleges of veterinary medicine across North America."



"Kansas State is an important partner for Hill's Pet Nutrition as it harbors one of the most important veterinary schools in the Midwest of the U.S., said Jesper Nordengaard, vice president and general manager, Hill's US. "We are proud to support the Pet Health & Nutrition Center as we believe that it fits seamlessly in our vision to help enrich and lengthen the special relationship between people and their pets."



By renovating the space and expanding resources, students will have the opportunity to care for their clients in a private practice environment. While pet health faculty will have the capability to operate with more autonomy, specialty services remain available when clients' needs arise, Rush said.



The renovation includes the deconstruction of Frick Auditorium to create 3,400 square feet of space on the first floor of Mosier Hall for the new Hill's Pet Health & Nutrition Center. This project also will allow the addition of a 5,000-square-foot research suite on the second floor.



"We are truly excited and grateful to Hill's for partnering with us to provide this opportunity to teach primary care skills in a facility more representative of a true companion animal practice," said Susan Nelson, clinical professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine. "The new facility will allow us to be more feline friendly and enhance student training in all areas of primary care, especially in the areas of nutrition, communication, business management, diagnostics and routine surgical procedures."

"We are honored to support this great initiative, which will put K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine at the forefront of primary care and nutrition education," said Jolle Kirpensteijn, chief professional veterinary officer, Hill's US. "We look forward to a continued partnership to create a future generation of veterinarians, fully knowledgeable and confident in making nutritional recommendations, every pet, every time."



A 270-seat contemporary auditorium will be constructed in a new area of the veterinary medicine complex. Rush said additional benefits from the renovations include provision of a comprehensive educational experience in small animal nutrition and communication with pet owners; expansion of wellness training opportunities for students; additional space for routine procedures; better capabilities to serve the wellness needs of small animal clients; dedicated space for communication training and rounds; and dedicated space for nutritional displays and nutrition consultation.



Founded more than 75 years ago with an unwavering commitment to pet nutrition, Hill's mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets. For more information about Hill's, its products and our nutritional philosophy, visit HillsPet.com or HillsVet.com, or find Hill's on Facebook using the keywords "Hill's Pet Nutrition."






Along the Silk Road: Explore art that links Asia to the West in new Beach Museum of Art exhibition



Monday, Nov. 26, 2018

The 19th-century porcelain"ImariCharger (Dutch Merchants and Ship)," 2 inches by 16 inches, is part of the "Voices: Art Linking Asia and the West" exhibition opening Dec. 4 at Kansas State University's Beach Museum of Art. The work was a bequest to the museum from John H. Kohn. | Download this photo.





MANHATTAN  The exchanges, intermingling and occasional clash of cultures between Asia and the West along the Silk Road are on display in the new exhibition "Voices: Art Linking Asia and the West," opening Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art.



The Silk Road refers to the trade routes linking Asia with the Mediterranean, Africa and Europe. This trade network flourished from the second century B.C. to the mid-15th century, enabling people, ideas, art and trade goods to move across land and sea.

In "Voices," which is part of the Beach Museum of Art's yearlong program series "Silk Road through Kansas," selected works from the museum's collection and a painting from the Kansas State University Historic Costume and Textile Museum demonstrate the exchanges still happening today between East and West by way of Kansas, even though the historical Silk Road is extinct. Works include the 1991 painting "Martin Cheng: Painter and Fisherman" by Roger Shimomura, professor emeritus of art at the University of Kansas; "Fan of Cheese and Sausage Pizza," a 2005 work by Kansas State University's Margo Kren, professor emeritus of art, that was painted on a fan she acquired in China; and the Historic Costume and Textile Museum's 18th-century scroll painting of the Virgin Mary and the Christ child with St. Joseph, which was made by a Chinese artist who fused Chinese landscape painting and iconography with Christian subject matter and some European painting techniques.



"Voices: Art Linking Asia and the West" runs through Dec. 21, 2019, and is co-curated by Aileen June Wang, Beach Museum of Art curator, and Sherry Fowler and Maki Kaneko, both professors with the University of Kansas Kress Foundation Department of Art History.



The following are activities related to "Voices" and "Silk Road through Kansas" to be offered in 2019 at the Beach Museum of Art. All events are free and open to the public, and more information is available on the museum's website, beach.k-state.edu.



 East Meets West Game Night will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24. Enjoy games we play today that actually originated from various countries in Asia and the Middle East, including chess, Mancala, Go, Parcheesi, and Snakes and Ladders. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available.



 The talk/performance "Search for Simurgh" will be 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14. Kansas State University's Kate Digby, assistant professor of dance, will share her work on the immersive, interactive performance installation "Search for Simurgh," currently in development. Digby is collaborating with experimental media artists and scientists on the piece, which draws on the writings of artist Roya Movafegh, who escaped Iran during the revolution.

 The Silk Road to Kansas: East Asian Art and Global Flow Symposium, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, will feature research presentations by students in the graduate seminar class Silk Road to Kansas: East Asian Art and Global Flow, which was team-taught by KU's Fowler and Kaneko as part of the Beach Museum of Art's "Silk Road through Kansas" project. The students conducted research on objects related to the theme of exchange in the collections of the Beach Museum of Art and Washburn University's Mulvane Art Museum.



 The documentary "Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble" will be screened from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28. The documentary is the story of how renowned cellist Ma brought together the international musical collective, the Silk Road Ensemble. Discussion will be offered after the screening and light refreshments will be provided.



 Director Dan Chen will screen and discuss his films "Just Doug" and "Ella" from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28. Chen grew up in Manhattan and now works as a filmmaker in Los Angeles. His films tell stories about being Asian American in Hollywood and growing up Asian American in a small Midwest town. A reception will follow.



 The talk and demonstration by Shozo Sato, "The History and Art of Tea," will be offered at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18. A professor emeritus at the University of Illinois, Sato is a master of traditional Zen arts and recipient of the Order of Sacred Treasure from the emperor of Japan for his contributions in teaching Japanese traditions.



"The Silk Road through Kansas" is a collaborative project organized in partnership with regional art institutions. Programs at Kansas State University are organized in partnership with the university's Asian American Student Union. The Mulvane Art Museum, the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery in Lindsborg and the Spencer Museum of Art at KU are offering related exhibitions and public events. Check their websites for more information.



Major support for the "Silk Road through Kansas" program at the Beach Museum of Art is provided by grants from the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation's Lincoln & Dorothy I. Deihl Community Grant Program and the Kansas State University Confucius Institute, with additional sponsorship by the Manhattan Broadcasting Company.






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In the National Development Plan, we said that if we were to effectively and sustainably tackle this triple challenge (unemployment, poverty and inequality), we should aim to reduce unemployment to at least 6% by 2030. We need to acknowledge that we will not be able to reach that target unless we do something extraordinary.

Shortcomings

Exploitation of the opportunities presented by these agreements has not been optimised and it is proposed that increased energy be put into identifying focus areas that should be vigorously pursued. In addition, the relationship between the Department of Trade and Industry industrial policy and trade policy could be implemented in a more synergistic way.

Its my view that the summit failed to deliver substantive conclusions that can dent the countrys high unemployment rate because it didnt ask the right questions and shied away from difficult debates.It was also intellectually lax. Take the reference to the National Development Plan, a blueprint for the country unveiled by then President Jacob Zuma in 2012. Ramaphosa, in his opening address to the summit, referenced the plan as a guideline of sorts.The problem with the statement is that it ignores the fact that the National Development Plan has been dead as a functioning blueprint for a while. Though officially released by Zuma amid much fanfare, the plan was actually never pursued under his presidency. And the country is way off the trajectory that informed the plan. Everyone who cares about these things should know this.Quoting a target from the moribund National Development Plan can also be seen as continuation of a culture of ignoring hard facts in the development of policy by the South African government.In addition, the summit ignored the great chasms that exist between stakeholders on approaches of how to create jobs. In not providing the hard evidence of what the country faces, and by not addressing deep seated differences among the main players , the summit was flawed from the start.Its almost as if the summit wanted to ensure that something positive could be reported  regardless of differences of opinions as to how the unemployment crisis is to be addressed and without having to debate whether the cause is due to policy practice , or pretence The framework agreement  which outlined five themed interventions pertaining to economic sector, SMMEs, education and skills and inclusive growth, each with its own number of sub-interventions  provided a good basis for tick box reporting. And the 275,000 direct jobs to be created a year from them is a start. But, frankly, these wont have any major impact.A number of interventions were identified on the issue of improving the business environment. But its difficult to understand how they all fit together.For instance, consider the issue of exports under the section Adopting a more aggressive approach to increasing exports. This states:The last sentence is an almost meaningless statement that makes no effort to connect to the targeted intervention areas. What about concrete issues such as market intelligence, the upgrading of infrastructure and inefficiencies?Another example of the disjointedness of the outcome was the continued heavy reliance on the Employment Tax Incentive . This has been designed to encourage firms to employ more young and less experienced work seekers. The agreement that it should be extended by 10 years with a review after five years with interim reporting provides no confidence that anybody has any idea it will work.In addition, in itself this initiative is not enough. Even with the tax incentive, its not clear in my mind that any employer would see the benefit of employing more people.What this all adds up to is that the summit never got to outlining a grand objective. Nor did it identify where the impetus would come from or how contradictory policies would fit together.My impression is that the summit wanted to create some goodwill and positive sentiment. But the reality is that it will not jolt anybody out of the zone of business as usual.The focus is on the simultaneous addressing of the 3 Rs,  retrenchment, redundancies and reskilling. Disagreement seemed to set in immediately. The trade union federation Cosatu expressed disappointment that business would not agree to a moratorium on job losses.The pact was warmly welcomed by various interested parties. In reality, the outcome was symptomatic of a broader malaise in the country: everyone wishing to buy time to get the constituencies to align so that policies can be created and some successes identified. Everybody has got their hands full at the moment. The unions cant afford to lose any more members, government cant afford to lose votes and business cant afford to lose investors.Labour minister, Mildred Oliphant, referred to the summit as a moment of truth and said, To achieve these outcomes, it will require high levels of discipline from all of us.But its just not clear how the framework agreement is actionable. And its not clear who will do what, by when, and on the basis of which information.This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article
Beyond its reputation as a quality cosmetics brand in the professional makeup industry, what gives Make-Up Designory (Mud) Cosmetics the edge is that its roots lie in education. Described as the 'Harvard of makeup schools', Mud's educational programme was developed by Hollywood makeup artists in the late 1990s, with Mud products and tools introduced later to better equip the company's students during their courses.

Brenda Botha

How were you introduced to the Mud brand and what attracted you to it?

Can you speak about the strong focus on education as part of the MUD offering?

The education element about Mud is what sets us apart from other brands.

Broadly speaking, what are the key differences between professional make-up brands and mass-produced 'drug store' lines?

How has Mud South Africa grown since its local launch in 2012?

Can you speak a bit more about the move into franchising and its benefits for the brand?

We have experienced huge demand from various entrepreneurs knocking on our door wanting to open a Mud shop, and this got us to plan for a Mud Studio model that will be sustainable in the SA retail world.

As an entrepreneur, what inspires you, personally and professionally?

What were the biggest challenges you faced along your startup journey?

Are there any notable trends you've picked up in today's make-up space?

One trend overall that we have noticed, which keeps increasing year after year is the amount of 'self-taught' makeup artists, vloggers or influencers, mainly found on Instagram.

If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of business advice, what would it be?

What's next for Mud?

The Mud make-up brand is successful in its own right. The focus on highly-pigmented products made with high-quality ingredients has led to Mud Cosmetics garnering a loyal following among the professional community as well as among amateur make-up enthusiasts.Brenda Botha is the accomplished make-up artist and entrepreneur responsible for introducing and growing the Mud Cosmetics brand in South Africa. Armed with the prestigious Cidesco qualification for Beauty and Aesthetics and more than 10 years experience in the beauty industry, she launched Mud in South Africa in 2012 after falling in love with the US-born brand from afar.Mud South Africa has since embarked on a new franchise business model, with eight franchise stores and counting, including three Mud-Certified Schools. A point of pride for Botha is that Mud remains a privately-owned business, both internationally and in SA, with a tight-knit family of Mud employees."In a world largely dominated by giant corporations, and at a time of great economic uncertainty, it's nice to know that there are still smaller, independent companies who put the needs of their customers, partners and employees first. And this is why I will always be a Mud girl," says Botha.In the spirit of #EntrepreneurMonth , Botha shares with Bizcommunity her Mud journey, and the "grit and glitter" involved in living the life of an entrepreneur.It was serendipity. During 2010 I was working for a local makeup company, but I was in the process of being retrenched. Whilst travelling back from the Pro Beauty expo Cape Town, and waiting for my luggage at the O.R. Tambo airport, a random guy approached me and started talking to me about his brand.He was basically trying to head hunt me there and then to work for his company (Mud Cosmetics - a local South African 'body shop' brand). I was not interested at the time, but still took his card. When the retrenchment became a reality a few months later, I took the card and tried to visit his website, however, the website was down. This is when I googled 'Mud Cosmetics' - and I did not find his company, I stumbled upon Mud Cosmetics, the colour cosmetics company from LA, USA.I immediately fell in love with the look and feel, the branding, the professional look and appeal. I just had a feeling that this is what I was going to do. So I contacted them that same night and enquired about the distribution rights for South Africa.My samples I ordered arrived about two weeks later, and when I received it and experienced the quality of the products, I was even more eager than ever before to work with this company!So Mud Cosmetics started in 1997 In North Hollywood, California - not as a makeup brand, but as a makeup school. The products were only part of the demand and organic growth of the brand, seeing as Mud at times required products to work better to fit in with their high-quality education. So they had to create their own.This is our niche market. 'An Educated Approach to Makeup'. Every single product we have has a small step by step section, prescribing the best tools that works in synergy with each product. Every Studio hasworkshop sessions and 'Tips and Tricks' series for our consumer clients to educate them on the best product, tools and techniques to suit their special needs.We are not in 'drug stores', as we want to control the quality of the artist who works in our stores, being qualified artists whom we can constantly train and develop to become stronger artists and eventually business owners.For prospective makeup artists, we are proud to say that Mud is the largest makeup school on the globe, and is producing award-winning makeup artists year after year.Pigment. Higher quality ingredients. Not all products are created equal - it comes down to the milling and pressing too!And apart from this, we have a team of professional industry makeup artists working with our brand manager and development teams on the product line, and each and every batch (as in every single run and re-run) of products has to be quality approved first before it gets sent out for orders.We had to shift our focus a few times due to various factors, but mainly due to the economy and the exchange rate. In 2012 we focused our attention on supplying the beauty colleges with student kits. Then we had some enquires from salons wanting to stock our product range, so from 2013 we introduced retail display units to the professional salon market. We appointed region distributors to service the various provinces within South Africa, and the brand grew in awareness and we managed to gain some of the market share.One constant issue was always to be able to have more control in terms of quality communication of the brand, customer service, stock availability and increasing our footprint nationally. Hence we started with franchising in 2018.The reason behind this was mainly to overcome the challenges we faced regarding control for quality (product availability, services, customer service, etc.) and having a national footprint.We travelled to the USA to meet with the owner of Mud International and pitched our idea and plans of growth for the African continent, and he gave us his blessing.When someone succeeds after many challenges and battles. Especially if they do it all on their own. The grit and glitter of it all!Personally, I am inspired by people with heart. Staying true to who you are, staying humble and understanding that everything we have is grace. People who have a spirit of excellence truly makes me happy!They were most definitely financial. Not starting with enough capital, and not having any cash flow for the first few months humbled us a few times. This is where we learned to stay on our knees, work smarter, adapt faster - but this also helped shape us into stronger entrepreneurs. We are thankful for every lesson learned!There have been a few. They come and go so fast. As a smaller company, it is difficult to always stay abreast of all of these trends, we are not always able to design or compile certain products that are trending due to numbers. Only if you are a big conglomerate you would be able to bring out limited-edition items, knowing full well that the trend will also pass until the next new trend comes around.Companies with massive marketing budgets pay these individuals to promote their brands on social media worldwide, with huge incentives, trips and monthly giveaways.To work on finding a balance sooner. To have time for myself too, for my health. I have a supplier who always laughs at me and jokes: "Mud always wins in your life". I have not yet managed to strike that golden balance between work, health, and personal time with myself and family. It is difficult to switch off.Yet I know that you produce better work, and give a better version of yourself if you do allow yourself that balance.Apart from the Mud Studios we will be opening year after year - we have two main focuses areas we're working on: expansion into sub-Saharan countries and opening the Mud campuses in Johannesburg (2-year plan ) and Cape Town (3-year plan).
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This seems to be the big take-home message from voters the mid-term elections, which bodes well for preserving gains from the Affordable Care Act and expanding coverage. Health care was the number 1 issue for voters according to several exit polls, beating out immigration, the economy, and gun violence, among others, with voters strongly favoring Democrats as the party more likely to protect patients with pre-existing conditions. Preserving the ACAs protections for pre-existing conditions arguably may have been the single greatest contributor to Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives from Republicans, gaining at least 30 seats.

Yet Republicans not only kept control of the Senate, they also expanded the number of Senate seats they control, adding at least three seats to be held by members with strongly conservative views. This raises questions about how much of the electorates desire for Congress to act to make health care more affordable to them and their families will translate into action in Congress; preserving existing patient protections may be the most likely outcome.

The story at the state level is very different: more states seem poised to expand Medicaid coverage; yet on other health care issues, like womens access to reproductive services or reducing gun violence, the prospects at the state level are more mixed.

Heres my take on five health care issues likely to be affected by the mid-term election results:

1. Obamacare repeal and replace is dead. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives will not allow legislation to advance to repeal, or repeal and replace, the Affordable Care Act.

Except  Congress will have to do something to preserve protections for preexisting conditions, if the courts ultimately rule in favor of a case brought by 20 GOP-led states and supported by the Trump administration that seeks to have the ACAs protections for pre-existing conditions ruled unconstitutional. A decision by a conservative Texas judge is imminent and should he rule for the plaintiffs, as many expect, it will assuredly be appealed to the higher courts; it may be up to the Supreme Court to ultimately decide. Stripping pre-existing condition protections via a court decry will be hugely unpopular with the electorate, and almost all of those elected promised to protect them (even when their own voting records suggest otherwise). However, its by no means certain that a Democratic House, Republican Senate, and President Trump could agree on a path forward to reinstate them. The best outcome would be for the courts to find that the case has no merit and rule against the plaintiffs.

And  while there may be interest in both political parties to advance bills to make the ACA more affordable for those who are not eligible for premium subsidies because they earn too much to qualify, it is hard to see a path forward that could bridge the ideological divide between Republicans and Democrats. House Democrats will also try to advance bills to overturn the administrations decisions to allow sale of short-term plans that do not cover essential benefits, yet such bills likely would die in the Senate, or face a veto from the president. States that have elected Democrats as governors and to the statehouses may pass legislation on their own to ban or regulate sale of short-term plans.

2. More low-income people will gain coverage from Medicaid expansion, upwards of half a million of them. Voters approved Medicaid expansion via referenda in three GOP-leaning states: Idaho, Nebraska, and Utah. The election results in three other states, Maine, Wisconsin, and Kansas, also bode well for expansion. Montana voters, however, voted down a referendum to continue to fund their version of Medicaid expansion via higher tobacco taxes, potentially placing coverage for their residents at risk. Republicans elected or re-elected to the governorships in other states are unlikely to expand Medicaid, and/or will seek to include work requirements that may make it more difficult for people to qualify.

3. Prospects for policies to address the high cost of prescription drugs may advance at both the state and federal levels. In his initial remarks today on the midterm elections, President Trump suggested that common-ground could be found with Congress and the Democrats on lowering the cost of prescription drugs. Many Democrats newly elected to the governorships and state legislative seats favor policies to require transparency in drug pricing.

4. Common-sense policies to reduce gun violence may be advanced in additional states, as voters elected candidates to governorships and legislatures who favor such policies; yet in other states, voters elected or re-elected candidates opposed to such policies. Voters in Washington state approved a referendum to advance restrictions on firearms. NBCs exit poll found that 60% of those who casted votes favored stricter gun control policies, including 46 percent of gun owners compared to 76% of those who dont own firearms; just one-in-ten ranked it as the most important issue facing the country. Democrats are likely to advance gun violence policies in the House, yet it is unlikely that a more conservative Senate and the Trump administration will accept them. On the other hand, the House will almost certainly reject concealed carry reciprocity, should it be taken up next year by the Senate. (In the current Congress, such legislation passed the GOP-controlled House, but was not taken up by Senate).

5. Its a mixed bag for womens health. The House of Representative will not advance or accept legislation to defund Planned Parenthood and other womens health clinics. It may try to advance bills to overturn the administrations efforts to allow broad conscience exemptions to contraception coverage, yet its hard to imagine those being accepted by the Senate. With more states under partial or complete Democratic control (governors and statehouses), bills to ensure womens access to reproductive services may fare better in those states than in the past; voters in several other states advanced measures to greatly restrict access to such services. For many women, access to necessary services will depend on where they live.

There are many other issues that are less partisan and may find common-ground in the new Congress, including improvements in the Medicare Quality Payment Program, payment for primary and comprehensive care, reducing barriers to chronic care, addressing the opioids epidemic, and reducing administrative tasks imposed on physicians and patients.

One thing is sure: Voters ranked health care as the most important issue behind their votes, and politicians who ignore them, or let partisan divisions lead to inaction, will do so at their own risk.

Bob Doherty is senior vice-president, governmental affairs and public policy, American College of Physicians and blogs at the ACP Advocate Blog.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Where there is no struggle, there is no compassion.

-Frederick Douglass

Growing up with sickle cell anemia exposed me to the field of medicine. As I go through the pain and complications, it humbles me to the point that motivates me to work harder to be the doctor I want for myself. I want to be a physician-scientist that conducts clinical research targeted toward patients like me. I believe that as a medical professional, it is important to be informed of the latest discoveries and advancements in the field and to moreover bridge the gap between the community and our health care institutions.

At birth, I was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and my journey with doctors, nurses and clinical trials at Childrens Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, began. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited condition affecting the red blood cells and various organs in the human body. Due to a lack of hemoglobin in my blood, I suffer from severe anemia which causes me to feel fatigue, faint, short of breath, dizziness and nausea. Even more, any physical activity will worsen my breathing. Every day, I must avoid triggers that will cause red blood cell sickling: cold environments, overexerting myself, and staying away from high altitudes. I have always known the importance of preventive care as I visit my hematologist every month to ensure my granulocyte counts are not elevated; having a high granulocyte count is a risk factor for death. With sickle cell anemia, I have constant episodes of sickling that produce sudden episodes of mild-to-excruciating pain.

January 10, 2018  I remember waking up at 4 a.m. to prepare myself for work. As my day started with me in a cold room, I adjusted the temperature so that I would not get sick. Around 5 a.m., I dressed in layers of clothing to stay warm during my usual walk to work. As the day went on, around 1:13 p.m., I was sitting at my workbench in the hematopathology lab and began to feel mild chest and lower back pain. I immediately started saying to myself By Jesus stripes, I am healed over an over until I was too tired to repeat. I took 800 mg of ibuprofen, and at that very moment, all I could feel was hope. That I would have enough strength to push myself to finish my lab work and that my pain will stop. I had to muster my strength to finish the day, walk home, get into bed, and try to sleep through the pain. As soon as my 10-hour shift was done, I began my trek home by foot. With every step I took, all I wanted was to cry out and to give up fighting the pain. But from past experiences, I knew that giving up will not solve anything. From then on, I focused on what I could have done to prevent my red blood cells from sickling that day. Should I have not walked in the cold to work? Did stress over my work demands and looming deadlines cause the pain? Or could my three jobs be a risk factor? These are all questions that I asked myself.

Once home, I headed straight to my room and locked the door to keep anyone from walking in on me during a time when I was suffering and to avoid them seeing me at my lowest. Hours later, I felt immense chest pain and immediately knew that I was experiencing acute chest syndrome. As I became increasingly anxious from the trauma I have from my constant complications, the only thing I could do was say, By Jesus stripes, I am healed. After tiring myself out, I called my mother at around 3 a.m. to ask that she read the Bible to me and pray until I fell asleep. During my time with her, I felt at peace even though I was still in pain. Just hearing Gods promises through the words my mother read from the Bible made me realize that even through my suffering it was important for me to rest.

The next morning, I was still in pain, but I pushed myself to head to work.

To remain active, I dedicate my time as a community advocate for sickle cell anemia with a non-profit organization called Sickle Cell Association of Houston; I have always aspired to bridge the gap between communities and the health care institutions here in Houston. Also, on my days off from my full-time job at MD Anderson Cancer Center and part-time job at Texas Childrens Hospital, I am an active volunteer at Ronald McDonald House of Houston at MD Anderson Cancer Center. There, I serve as the house manager where I support programs that address shelter needs, medical resources and food. The goal is to improve the health and well-being of children and their families which is what I aspire to do as a physician.

Every day, I am grateful for the learning experiences that the Texas Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Ronald McDonald House at Texas Childrens Hospital have to offer their employees.

Before I received an interview at MD Anderson Cancer Center, I applied for various positions for two years straight. When the time came, I was fortunate to meet with Dr. Timothy McDonnell and Mrs. Candice Evans at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Hematopathology-Research Department. If it were not for them seeing something within me that I couldnt see within myself, I would not be able to express my inner joy.

Even against sickle cell anemia, I hold both a full-time job and a part-time position at two hospitals along with working over thirty-six hours as a Lyft driver to ensure that I save enough money to apply to medical schools.

Overall, Frederick Douglass once said, Without suffering, there would be no compassion. This statement reflects my life experiences. Because of my fight against sickle cell anemia, I will forever be compassionate and empathetic to my patients. My desire is to be a living example that your disease does not have to affect your life negatively. With persistence and passion, I will do everything that I can to ensure that my future patients have access to medical care and ensure that their loved ones are supported and actively involved in their medical care. Ultimately, the purpose of my life is to do whatever I can do ethically and professionally to help people regain their lives free from pain and disease.

Bianca Bowden is a medical student.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After a more than 3,500-mile trip, the Willamette National Forest's Christmas tree arrived in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Capitol Christmas tree will be hoisted onto the West Lawn. Crews will begin to string it with lights and hang thousands of ornaments on the tree in the coming days.

The tree was the first U.S. Capitol Christmas tree to be picked from the Willamette National Forest and the second to come from the state of Oregon.

2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act, and it's also the 175th commemoration of the Oregon Trail.
Spotong celebrates township entrepreneurs

Township trade magazine Spotong recently celebrated township entrepreneurs and members of the National Tourism and Hospitality Association (NTHA) as well as Gauteng Liquor Forum (GLF) at the Dlamini Community Hall in Soweto.



The annual Spotong Women and Gentlemen in Business offers a platform to engage with township entrepreneurs who connect with their township communities and are essentially the driving force behind township economies. The participating township entrepreneurs participated in inspirational and motivational talks from industry leaders, were spoilt with loads of giveaways and prizes, and enjoyed the personal interaction with the many trade exhibitors on show.
Six of Ireland's top Country Music Stars are all set to appear on one super night!

"A Night With the Stars Christmas Cracker" rolls into the Springhill Court Hotel, Kilkenny on Wednesday 12th December for a night you won't want to miss. The evening boasts a super line-up that even Nashville would be proud of!

The performers include Drumlish native Declan Nerney, Sligo's own Patrick Feeney, the legendary Ray Lynam and Mick Flavin and popular Cork crooner Patrick O Sullivan and finally the Country Queen from Cavan, Kathy Durkin.

Each artist will showcase their biggest hit songs with a festive sprinkle in the company of Ireland's top backing band Keltic Storm, as well as KCLR's Johnny Barry. This is as good as line-up that has ever been to the venue and a rare chance to see so many top acts on the one show.

Tickets for the "A Night with the Stars Christmas Cracker" are now on sale from the Springhill Hotel reception on 056 772 1122. So keep Tuesday 12th December free in your diary folks for what is set to be a memorable night as all Country Roads are Kilkenny bound.
The Iowa State Patrol is urging drivers to slow down and to be vigilant after another one of its sergeants was involved in a crash.

The Iowa State Patrol posted on social media Sunday about an accident at mile marker 284 on Interstate-80 near Walcott.

A vehicle lost control crashing into the patrol cruiser  luckily no serious injuries. Slow down, put the phone down, and buckle up!!!, the ISP posted.

Also Sunday,trooper Jon Stickney posted on Twitter showing three mangled Iowa State Patrol vehicles that have been involved in crashes in 2018.
As we continue to explore our custom research into the metals markets and our presumption that the metals markets are poised for a massive price rally over the next few months/years, we pick up this second part of our multi-part article illustrating our research work and conclusions. If you missed the first part of this article, please take a minute to review it by before continuing further (Link to Part I).

We left off in Part I showing a number of supply and demand components and briefly highlighting our newest research using a custom Gold/Silver/US Dollar ratio index. Our attempt at finding anything new that could help us determine the future outcome of the metals markets and to either support or deny our future expectations that the metals markets are poised for a massive price advance was at stake. This new research would either help to confirm our analysis or completely blow it out of the water with new data. Let's continue where we left off and start by showing even more data related to our new custom metals ratio.

This Monthly chart showing our custom gold pricing ratio and the correlative price of Gold illustrates a number of key features. If you remember from Part I, the current ratio level (the Blue Area chart) is near the top of the Upper Boundary level (0.80 or higher). Whenever the ratio level enters this Upper Boundary level, it typically only stays there briefly before falling towards the Lower Boundary level. We've highlighted what we believe to be key elements of this type of ratio/price reaction. On the chart, below, we've highlighted every major ratio level decline from near the Upper Boundary level and the associated reaction to the price of Gold as well as the indicator reaction near the bottom of the chart. With each instance, we can clearly see that price advanced, in some cases dramatically, as the ratio level declined from the Upper Boundary towards the Lower Boundary. The biggest move occurred between 2002 and 2012 where two of these ratio rotations occurred.

Near the right edge of this chart, we can see that the ratio levels have already started to decline from recent peaks. We believe this could this be the start of a broader ratio level decrease that prompts a massive price rally in the metals markets. We believe this ratio swing could be accelerated by rotation and volatility within the US Dollar price and increased demand from Investors over the next 4~6 months.

Again, this Monthly chart paints a very big picture  planning many years in advance of this move. We believe this new metals market rally is setting up to be something that Gold traders have been thinking about for decades  a potential of Gold reaching $5000 or higher in a dramatic price rally that correlates with broader global market events. We don't know what those events are at the moment, but we could certainly guess as to the nature of their origination.

Our research supports our opinion that the metals markets are dramatically underpriced in relation to global risk and potential future events. The only thing, in our opinion, that could prevent a new price rally from forming over the next 6+ months is a continued malaise in investor sentiment or continued strength in the US Dollar. If either of these two components continues for any length of time, the price of Gold and our custom ratio will likely continue to base near current levels or slightly lower.

Our expectation is that currency issues as well as rotation or some weakness in the US Dollar will likely prompt an impulse rally in Gold where prices rally above $1300 before April 2019 and form a price base for the rest of the expected rally. Once the conditions ripen within the market and investors begin to pile into the long gold trade, the ratio will reflect this move and demand from the investor side will drive prices higher with the expectation that some type of crisis event cycle is about to unfold.

This next Monthly Gold chart shows what we believe will be the initial impulse move higher (towards and above $1300) before the rally really starts to gain speed. A rotation above $1300 would establish a new price base near or above recent highs and start the accumulation by Investors  driving the demand side of the equation. This move would also push the ratio a bit lower in support of our expectations.

This Monthly Silver chart clearly shows the extended opportunity for skilled investors ahead of this move. We believe Silver is one of the most undervalued investments on the planet right now and that our analysis supports a longer-term view that Silver could reach the $40 to $50 level very quickly if the events we suspect are unfolding actually do unfold as we are suggesting. This would equate to a 280%+ swing in price before an even bigger move higher unfolds.

This Monthly Platinum chart shows the pricing pressures over the past 5+ years that have plagued the metals markets. If you were to take a look at the custom metals ratio chart near the top of this article, you would see that this pricing pressure is related to a number of key factors  most of which relate to lack of investor demand and lack of true price exploration (rotation of the ratio levels). In other words, price levels in the metals markets have been operating in a very narrow void or any real price rotation or exploration. We believe this environment is about to end and we believe the continued price malaise will end with a massive impulse move higher.

You can see from this chart we expect Platinum to rally to near $1150~1200 in the initial impulse move, then form a base before a further price advance.

In conclusion, if our longer-term analysis is correct and prices do begin to move higher with a shift in Investor sentiment and a renewed pricing advance supported by US Dollar or foreign currency weakness, our researchers believe $2456 and $3016 levels in Gold could become prime upside price targets. To put that in relative terms, this would be a 200% to 246% price advance in Gold. One could expect Silver to advance to near $40 and $50 which would be a 278% to 348% price advance. Depending on the scope and scale of the event cycle that unfolds, these levels could be considered conservative targets for upward price moves.

Please keep in mind that this research post is very long-term in scope and expectations. This is not going to happen next week or even over a few weeks. This is going to be years in the making and it could change how you adapt your investment styles over the next few years. Our efforts to bring this advanced research to you is our attempt to alert you to a pattern that is unfolding in the metals markets that could provide you with a huge opportunity for future success. Once this pattern starts to unfold further, expect the global stock markets to start reacting to this new fear element and prepare to adjust your trading styles accordingly.

We believe you won't 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.
Maurice Jackson: Joining us for a conversation is the Mercenary Geologist, Mickey Fulp. Pleasure to speak with you.

Mickey Fulp: Thank you, sir.

Maurice Jackson: Mickey, one of the concerns that I think speculators are having in the natural resource space is this concept of peak gold. What can you share with us?

Mickey Fulp: Well, theres this idea now of peak gold. And its really morphed out of the concept of peak oil, which was promulgated by a famous geologist/geophysicist in the late 1950s on the idea that U.S. oil production would peak in 1970 and never reach that level again. His premise was based on the natural depletion of giant oil fields discovered in the United States, and he was right. But people have sort of bastardized that concept now into gold.

They took the tack that the world was running out of oil when we had reached peak production, and we would never achieve this sort of oil production in the U.S., for example, ever again. Well, lo and behold, it took 47 years for us to recover. But now were producing more oil than we ever have. So this idea that the world is going to run out of a natural resource or reach peak production is fraught with difficulty.

We produce more oil in the world right now than we ever have. And next year, well produce even more because demand continues to rise, at about 1.5% a year. So in the oil business, were now using 100 million barrels of oil a day. Five years ago, we were using about 9293 million barrels a day. And wheres that production come? Well, its come from peak, or from shale oil, and technology catches up. If the demand is there, my opinion is that the supply will be found70% of the oil in the world is still left in the ground. Ive taken that concept and applied it to the gold business.

Maurice Jackson: And what do we see as far as peak gold?

Mickey Fulp: Well, starting in 1900, the world produced 393 tons of gold. That would be something on the order of 10 to 12 million ounces a year, more or less. Now we produce 3,150 tons per gold in 2017, an all-time high. Thats 98 million ounces per year. So more than an eight times increase. And thats been driven in cycles of exploration, so things like economics, world economics, wars, prices of gold, all effect that production.

But the real key to increases in production, at least since gold was floated by Nixon in 1971, is the exploration cycle. Generally, what weve seen over the years is gold increasing, but kind of in a two steps forward, one step back way. Its a somewhat jagged line, but with these long runs of increased production. And then well have a war, well have a depression, and gold protection with the war will go down; with the depression, it goes up.

And so we keep going and going and going. Since 2008, weve been on a steep curve of increasing gold production. The CEO of Goldcorp Inc. (G:TSX; GG:NYSE) came out in the early part of the year and said all the good gold deposits have been found. Theres no giant deposits that are going to be found anymore. And the worlds going to never produces much gold. Well, I think hes talking his own book and if you look at Goldcorp, of course production over the last three years, its going down.

Its gone down 25% from 2015 to 2017. You look at the other major miners, such as Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX:TSX; ABX:NYSE), which is down 40% off its peak around 2005. Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM:NYSE) is about the same amount off its peak production in 2006. So I would take the tack, that the major gold miners have reached peak production, peak gold. But thats been filled.

Wheres all this additional production coming from? Its coming from the new companies, the new mid-tiers that have been built since the year 2005. As a whole, you know, theres about nine mid-tiers now. And then its also been filed by a number of small miners in all parts of the world. The majors are down something like, all told, 50% of their gold production since mid-2000s. Meanwhile, production is up about the same amount, its up 37% since 2008. Its filled by new companies.

Maurice Jackson: So would you say then that the majors have a flawed business plan?

Mickey Fulp: Absolutely.

Maurice Jackson: And in what regard?

Mickey Fulp: The biggest flaw in the industry amongst the majorsand it applies to other companies toois theyre focused on growth. And mining is not a growth industry. Mining is the value industry. So when prices were high, they lost a view of what they should be doing, which was producing high margin ounces. Its about the margin, the cost of production, versus the amount you sell, and thats your profitability. So theyve had this grow, grow, grow mentalitywhat I would call a New York style of capitalism. It does not work in the mining industry. And it certainly has not worked for the major gold mining companies.

Maurice Jackson: So what do you share with your subscribers? Are you more focused on juniors or mid-tiers?

Mickey Fulp: Always juniors. I dont want to own miners, to tell you the truth. Ive focused on exploration companies. I wrote a piece a couple of months ago called Why I Dont Want to Own Any Miners. Now I do own a few miners, but theyve become miners from exploration companies that I own or theyve been taken out by miners exploration. But the real value in these businesses is in the juniors. And my particular sweet spot would be the advanced explorers because I think thats where you have the lowest risks for the potential highest rates

Maurice Jackson: Mickey, if someone wants to get more information regarding your work, please share the contact details.

Mickey Fulp: MercenaryGeologist.com. I run a free subscription service as you well know, Maurice. And to get my stock picks you need to be a free email subscriber. We have a very active Twitter feed, @mercenarygeo, 55,546 Twitter followers as of today, and were quite active in that venue.

Maurice Jackson: And also, please visit our website which is ProvenandProbable.com. Mickey Fulp, the Mercenary Geologist, thank you for joining us today on Proven and Probable.

Mickey Fulp: Thank you, Maurice.

Maurice Jackson: Thank you for joining us today on Proven and Probable. Remember to like and subscribe for more conversations with the most respected names in the natural resource space. Check out our website at www.provenandprobable.com.
BERLIN, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The European Union's future ties with Britain will be discussed after Brexit, a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry said when asked about a report that the United Kingdom could possibly join the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Some senior British ministers and some Labour lawmakers are discussing the possibility of the United Kingdom joining the EFTA if Theresa May's Brexit deal is rejected by parliament, The Sun newspaper reported. "Consultation on these future ties will take place when (Britain's) exit is completed," the spokesman told a news conference on Monday.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold Writing by Michelle Martin Editing by Riham Alkousaa) Reuters Messaging: MichelleHannah.Martin.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
(Updates with closing prices) By Peter Hobson LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Zinc prices fell for a second session on Monday as expectations of weaker demand from Chinese steel mills overpowered signs that the market is short of metal. Most other industrial metals also fell on caution over the outcome of trade talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week that could influence demand for commodities. Benchmark three-month zinc on the London Metal Exchange (LME) closed down 1.3 percent at $2,487 a tonne after falling 2.4 percent on Friday.

The metal used to galvanise steel was under pressure after demand concerns drove Chinese steel prices down more than 5 percent to a five-month low. Zinc fell 2.5 percent on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) , its biggest one-day drop since August. China is the biggest consumer of zinc and other industrial metals. But prices are supported by stockpiles at 10-year lows and shortages of immediately available metal, said ING analyst Warren Patterson. "Fundamentals (for zinc) are constructive, at least in the short term," he said.

ZINC SPREAD: The premium of cash zinc to the three-month contract fell to $63 from last week's two-decade high of $97 but remains unusually high, suggesting a shortage of nearby supply.

STOCKS: Stocks of zinc in LME-registered warehouses have halved to 121,550 tonnes since August, a 10-year low, while inventories in ShFE warehouses at around 35,000 tonnes are down from almost 160,000 tonnes in March. TECHNICALS: Zinc has fallen below its 50- and 100-day moving averages, worsening its technical picture.

SPECULATORS: Speculative investors are neutral on zinc, with brokers Marex Spectron estimating their net short position at 1.4 percent of active contracts. DEFICIT: The roughly 13.5 million-tonne-a-year zinc market had a 305,000 tonne deficit over January-August, according to the International Lead and Zinc Study Group. SUPPLY: Zinc prices have fallen 30 percent from a February high as investors anticipated a surge in refined zinc output after a clutch of new mine openings.

But delays in that new supply due to bottlenecks at smelters across Asia have put a floor under prices, helping them recover from an August low of $2,283 a tonne. CHINA GROWTH: Economic growth in China is expected to hit 6.6 percent this year and slow to 6.3 percent in 2019, economists from Beijing's Renmin University said. PRICES: LME Copper ended down 0.3 percent at $6,189 a tonne, aluminium finished up 0.1 percent at $1,951.50, nickel lost 0.4 percent to $10,875, lead slipped 1.3 percent to $1,943 and tin closed up 0.5 percent at $18,900.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Top Base and Precious Metals Analysis - GFMS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Mai Nguyen in Singapore and Melanie Burton in Melbourne; Editing by Mark Potter, Jan Harvey and Adrian Croft)

LME price overview COMEX copper futures Base metals news All metals news All commodities news Metals diary Foreign exchange rates SPEED GUIDES ))
DUBAI (Reuters) - Qatar Airways will add more flights to Iran from January, the state-owned Gulf airline announced on Monday just weeks after the United States re-imposed sanctions aimed at crippling Tehrans economy.

President Donald Trump has threatened to bar companies that continue to do business with Iran from the U.S. market.

Qatar Airways will add two weekly flights to its existing Doha-Tehran route and add three weekly flights on its Shiraz service in January. It will also launch two weekly flights to Isfahan in February.

These latest launches are further evidence of Qatar Airways commitment to Iran, as well as the expansion of our network in this thriving market ..., Qatar Airways Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker said in a statement.

European carriers Air France and British Airways halted flights to Iran this year. Abu Dhabis Etihad Airways has also stopped flying to Iran, while Dubais Emirates and flydubai have consolidated some routes as part of a partnership led by their shared state owner.

Washington announced on Nov. 5 a series of sanctions targeting Irans banks, oil and shipping sectors, national airline and 200 individuals after Trump pulled the United States out of an international nuclear deal with Tehran.

The United Arab Emirates, a U.S. partner in the Gulf region that staunchly opposes Iranian foreign policy and swiftly backed Washingtons decision, has said it is fully complying with the sanctions.

The sanctions are aimed at forcing Iran to further curb its nuclear work, to suspend its ballistic missile program and its influence in the Middle East.

Qatar has forged closer economic ties with Iran since June 2017 when neighbors Saudi Arabia and the UAE cut political and economic ties with Doha, accusing it of supporting terrorism and cozying up to Tehran. Qatar denies the charges.

Egypt and Bahrain also cut ties with Qatar.
By Zandi Shabalala and Susan Taylor LONDON/TORONTO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Barrick Gold's incoming chief executive said he wants to pull together Tanzania's mining industry to tackle a "desperate" tax dispute that has snared several companies, including the firm's Acacia Mining unit.

In an increasingly acrimonious conflict that has lasted almost two years, the government has torn up mining contracts, hiked taxes and royalties, and banned raw minerals exports.

President John Magufuli, nicknamed "The Bulldozer", swept to power in 2015 pledging to secure a bigger share of resource wealth and cut corruption. Acacia was later handed a $190 billion tax bill - about four times the country's gross domestic product - for underreporting output.

The miner, 63.9 percent owned by Barrick, now faces dozens of criminal charges, from tax evasion to money laundering, with three employees arrested on related accusations Randgold founder Mark Bristow, Barrick's new CEO after its $6.1 billion acquisition of Randgold closes on Jan. 1, says fixing Barrick's mounting problem in Tanzania could require a collective strategy that has not been used there before.

"Tanzania has got a broader (mining) industry and the importance of the industry itself getting together with government is not a bad idea," Bristow told Reuters in an interview earlier this month.

While there is as yet no agreement to coordinate, "I don't think it's a bad place to start", he said.

Mining accounted for 4.8 percent of Tanzania's GDP in 2016, the last year for which figures are available. Acacia dominates the industry, followed by AngloGold Ashanti , Petra Diamonds and Shanta Gold.

AngloGold said it would consider allying with Acacia on the issue. A source at another mining company, who did not want to speak publicly, said it may be challenging to unite Tanzania's mining industry, which may "not want to inherit" Acacia's issues.

The collective approach is not assured to succeed. A new code in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which scrapped a stability agreement while hiking royalties and taxes, was enacted despite vigorous opposition from miners led by Randgold and Glencore.

But Bristow, who says he plans to intervene in Tanzania before the takeover closes, is confident he can break the impasse. "Barrick is concerned about the situation in country at the moment. It's desperate," he said.

Executive Chairman John Thornton, who last October struck a framework deal with the government that is still not enacted, said Bristow has "great standing" in Tanzania.

Under the October deal, Acacia was to pay the government $300 million, give it 16 percent ownership and split the economic benefits of its mines. Acacia, which has lost more than two-thirds of its value since early 2017, was blindsided by the deal, a source said. The biggest hurdle to its enactment is disagreement over the $300 million pay-out schedule and whether it settles the long-standing tax dispute, the source said.

One of Barrick's two lead negotiators, special envoy to Tanzania and former chief operating officer Richard Williams, recently left the company.

Barrick's head of strategy Kevin Thomson will now work on the matter with Barrick's new Africa and Middle East COO Willem Jacobs, who will take up Williams' responsibilities.

Jacobs, formerly Randgold's head of Central and East African operations, ran talks for the miner in Congo.

(Editing by Jan Harvey)
(Adds quotes from officials, background)

By Bernadette Christina Munthe

JAKARTA, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Indonesia's refined tin exports are expected to drop next year if the only tin-trading bourse in the world's top exporter of the metal continues with enforcing restrictions on some sales, a senior official of the tin exporters' group said on Monday.

The Indonesia Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (ICDX) suspended trading in mid-October of tin ingots and tin ore whose origin was verified by state-owned metals assessor PT Surveyor Indonesia following a police report relating to the sale of minerals from sources without permits. Tin exports fell 42 percent in October from the previous month due to the restriction. "If the law enforcement continues, I expect (2019 exports) to be lower than this year's," Jabin Sufianto, secretary general of the Association of Indonesian Tin Exporters, told an industry conference in Jakarta.

Sufianto estimates Indonesia's refined tin exports next year at around 72,000 tonnes, with prices seen ranging between $18,000 and $21,000 per tonne.

He said tin exports this year should reach 78,000 tonnes if disruptions caused by the certification restrictions can be resolved. Otherwise, exports would hit around 74,000-75,000 tonnes this year, he added.

Sufianto said three out of 24 members of his association has approached another surveyor, Sucofindo, for tin certification amid the investigation of Surveyor Indonesia.

Lamon Rutten, chief executive of ICDX, said the shipment delays were "disruptive" and were costing the smelters and Bangka region, Indonesia's tin mining center, "a lot of money".

Also speaking at the conference, Rutten said the exchange is waiting for guidance from the trade ministry regarding mining assessors in the country or for police to conclude their probe.

"We need something either from the ministry of trade or police to give us confidence that we can put products for sale," he said.

"Big buyers want to be able to trust the documents provided by Indonesian exporters."

Fenny Widjaja, president commissioner of ICDX, told reporters that the investigation by the Bangka police is likely to continue until February.

(Additional reporting by Wilda Asmarini Writing by Fransiska Nangoy Editing by Manolo Serapio Jr.)
FRANKFURT, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Italy could lose more than it gained from higher spending due to higher borrowing costs, the rise in which is unsustainable, European Central Bank chief economist Peter Praet said on Monday.

Italy is locked in conflict with Brussels over its plans to spend more next year than allowed under European Union rules, raising the prospect of a drawn out battle and sanctions for one of the bloc's biggest member states.

"We estimate that... the so called loosening of fiscal policy will be at least neutralized by tighter conditions and perhaps more than neutralized," Praet told a conference in Frankfurt.

Praet, an ECB board member, warned that such a rise in borrowing costs has an impact on the broader economy from banks to investment, so it was unsustainable, especially given that Italian economy is barely growing.

"This is a situation which is unsustainable, this tightening, so something will have to give," Praet said. "The increase of spread that you have now in Italy for the sustainability of the economy and also if you look at the impact on banks and insurance companies, its not negligible."

While the ECB makes policy for the whole of the euro zone, not for a single member, Praet said that the ECB will have to look at how the rise in Italian borrowing costs would impact the broader economy.

Still, for now, any spillover was negligible, he argued.

(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Stuff reports:

Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway did not get legal advice when making his decision to grant Karel Sroubek residency.

Nationals immigration spokesman Michael Woodhouse says the revelation points to the file being a simple deportation case, where a shocker of a decision was made.

No legal representation and a comprehensive file suggests to me that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) did not anticipate this being anything other than a straightforward deportation process. 

New documents now show it took him 45 minutes  and within an hour, he also considered one other deportation liability file.

In written questions to the minister, Woodhouse asked if an INZ lawyer and the ministers private secretary attended the meeting, where he made his decision on September 19.

Lees-Galloway said there was no lawyer, but his secretary and one INZ staffer attended the meeting.

In his answers, Lees-Galloway confirmed the meeting was held about 4:30pm and when asked how long it took, he said: From memory it was approximately 45 minutes.
A model of a yurt, a portable round tent used in Kazakhstan, is on view at "Kazakhstan  the Cradleland of the 'Golden Man'" exhibition in the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country and former Soviet republic, is less known in Korea, but is a vast country full of rich cultural heritage on the territory over 26 times larger than South Korea.



"Kazakhstan  the Cradleland of the 'Golden Man,'" a special exhibition at the National Museum of Korea (NMK), dedicated to the near yet far Central Asian country in collaboration with the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.



Bae Ki-dong, director general of NMK, said this exhibition is going to provide the beginning of understanding between the two countries.



"Kazakhstan is where the East meets the West and gives a glimpse into how exchanges between different cultures began. This is the first major exhibition introducing Kazakhstani culture and tradition in Korea," Bae said during a press conference, Monday.



The exhibit features some 458 pieces from the Kazakhstani flagship museum and is part of its tour around the world, with destinations such as Russia, China, Poland, Japan and Turkey.



"Korea and Kazakhstan have been strengthening their relationship thanks to some 100,000 ethnic Koreans in Kazakhstan. We hope this special exhibition is the beginning of future cooperation between the two countries," Abay Satubaldin, deputy director of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said.



The exhibit begins with "Gyerim-ro Dagger," a golden dagger excavated from a tomb in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, dating back to the sixth century Silla Kingdom (BC 57-935).



"You might wonder why we started this exhibit from a relic found in Korea, but this dagger is assumed to have come from Central Asia, considering its double-bladed style and the alloy ratio. So this dagger serves as a great example of interchanges between the East and the West, so we brought this dagger to open the exhibition," NMK curator Kang Kun-woo said.





Reconstruction of Saka chieftain's clothing in "Kazakhstan  the Cradleland of the 'Golden Man'" exhibition / Courtesy of National Museum of Korea
Rapid City police arrested two Colorado Springs men on gun and drug charges Wednesday night.

Police were initially called about people possibly smoking marijuana in a parking lot on the 700 block of Disk Drive. The driver attempted to get away but police had blocked the lot exit with a patrol car and spike strips. Police cornered the vehicle after it hit a fence.

The passenger, 29-year-old Joshua Cruz, was arrested on warrants out of Colorado. The driver, 23-year-old Billy Torrez, was initially charged with eluding police and driving under suspension.

When police searched the vehicle, they found heroin, a large amount of methamphetamine, a glass pipe, a large amount of cash and a digital scale. Three handguns were also found. At least two of the guns were determined to be stolen.

Both men were then charged with several drug and gun crimes: distribution and possession of controlled substance, possession of a firearm with prior felony drug conviction, receiving stolen property, commission of felony with firearm; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
US Military Cancels 300 Million USD Financial Aid to Pakistan. (Photo Credit: ANI)

New Delhi [India], Nov 26 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday met Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu and discussed a number of bilateral issues including co-operation in the field of agriculture and information and communication technology.

"70th-anniversary celebrations continue! EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomed Romanian Foreign Minister @teodormelescanu. Deep historical and cultural linkages have formed a solid basis for our present-day cooperation," official Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

The two leaders discussed the diversification of historical relations and boosting cooperation in the fields of agriculture, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), health and pharma, education, tourism, and culture.

"Evolving a roadmap for collaboration. Delegations led by EAM @SushmaSwaraj and Romanian Foreign Minister @teodormelescanu discussed diversifying the historical relations & boosting cooperation in the fields of agriculture, ICT, health & pharma, education, tourism & culture," read another tweet by Raveesh Kumar.

Romania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Teodor Melescanu arrived here on Saturday on a four-day official visit to the country. His visit coincides with India and Romania completing 70 years of diplomatic relations.

Melescanu assumed office on January 4, 2017, and is a member of the Romanian Parliament as the representative of the Prahova constituency in the Senate. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
MUMBAI: Sandra Samuel, the nanny who saved the life of two-year-old Moshe Holtzberg during the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, laments that the 'scars' of Chabad House have not been wiped out even 10 years later. Ms Samuel, 54, wonders why the terror attack 'scars' are still there in the five-storeyed Jewish centre in Colaba, now renamed as Nariman Light House. Two Pakistani terrorists had laid siege on this building, killing nine, including Rabbi Gavriel and his pregnant wife Rivka. Their son Moshe was saved by Ms Samuel, who visited Mumbai with Moshe, his grandparents and Israel's prime minister in January this year. There were a lot of people around including the media and she did not notice things in detail then, but when she returned to the city in May, she felt things inside the House were "terrible".

"They have kept the fourth and fifth floor same and on the third floor they have broken every thing and made (it) into one big open space. The pillar and every thing has bullet marks. It is very terrible for me. It broke me, it shook me," Ms Samuel told PTI over phone from Israel. "Why it should be there for people to see the bullet marks? I dont understand this logic," she said and cited the example of terror attacks at Taj Mahal hotel, Trident hotel, Leopold Cafe and CSTM station. "Have they all kept the marks like that only," she said. Moshe Holtzberg Arrives in Mumbai a Decade After Parents' Death In 26/11 Terror Attacks.

Recalling the "horrific ordeal" in the building 10 years ago, she said, "It was a miracle that we came out alive from there. I believe God has his own plans for everybody." After her return to Israel, memories of the terror attack made her sick and she was admitted to hospital for a week, she said. Moshe is afraid of darkness, she said. "He doesn't say anything. But in the night he wants all lights on. He is very afraid of darkness. He can't sleep even in a dim light," she said.

Ms Samuel, who was granted honorary Israeli citizenship in 2010, says she does miss Mumbai and makes it a point to visit her sons Martin (35) and Jackson (28), every two years. She works for disabled children at the Aleh Jerusalem Center since the last seven years. Every Saturday, she meets Moshe in Afula where he stays with Rabbi Shimon Rosengberg, his maternal grandfather.
New Delhi, November 26: The NDA government's handling of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir in an ad-hoc and experimental manner has pushed the state several years back, former chief minister Omar Abdullah claimed on Monday. After a hectic political week, Omar feels the BJP is yet to answer many questions, including "why it entered an alliance with the PDP and why it withdrew all of a sudden?" Another question which the people of the state will definitely be asking is why despite having 26 MLAs, the BJP decided to lend support to a two-member party (led by Sajad Lone), he said. With his National Conference already into election mode, Omar criticised the BJP over its handling of the political turmoil in Kashmir. "Keeping in mind the 2019 elections, the BJP keeps changing its goalposts, confusing people. They have pushed the state several years back," he claimed.

Commenting on the alliance of 'conflicting and contrasting' ideologies, Omar told PTI, "When the BJP and the PDP united, it was stated that the north pole and the south pole had come together and an 'Agenda of Alliance' had been stitched. Has any of the promises been fulfilled by them? Now see what has happened in Jammu and Kashmir... Look at the present political crisis in the state." Omar Abdullah Hits Back at Gautam Gambhir For Tweet on Slain Kashmiri Terrorist Mannan Wani.

"Forget about initiating talks with Pakistan, they refuse to hold a dialogue with separatists," he said. About the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Omar said, "In 2011 or 2012, there was a talk about AFSPA's withdrawal from some areas, as peace had returned. But, can we say that today. The footprint of the Army and para-military forces has doubled from where we left in 2014, only because all types of experiments were carried out in Kashmir and all of them failed." The vice president of the National Conference reiterated his views on the "unceremonious" dissolution of the state assembly by Governor Satya Pal Malik on November 21.

"Till a few days ago, the governor wanted to keep the assembly alive. Overnight, it changed only because the PDP staked claim to form a government with the help of the Congress and my party," he said. "Within no time, the BJP and its proxies pulled out their weapon of mass destruction -- Pakistan. We were accused of attempting to form a government at the behest of Pakistan. Can you beat it? Can someone ask them (the BJP) how did Mehbooba ji turn into a Pakistani suddenly when barely five months ago she was their alliance chief minister?" he said.

For the BJP, it seems my-way-or-highway policy but they need to be reminded that India is a democratic country, Omar said. "The BJP had swept the Jammu region in previous assembly elections but today, they stand exposed. They will have to do a lot of answering this time. And one should not forget (to ask) why was the assembly kept in suspended animation. Was it done to allow Lone to keep on poaching MLAs from other parties, either with money or by threatening to open cases using the NIA and the CBI," he added.

Asked about the Twitter spat with BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, Omar said, "Look I'm a fairly thick-skinned person when I need to be... if he (Madhav) had challenged my patriotism, I would have cared two hoots for his utterances. I don't need anyone's certificate about my patriotism, nor will I ever be pressured into wearing it on my sleeves.

"But the question was about my workers, nearly 3,000 of them, who have been targeted by Pakistani terror groups only because they refuse to join an anti-India bandwagon. These people died because we held on to the flag of the nation as soldiers do with the only difference being that my colleagues had no weapons to defend themselves with." Omar also drew attention to media reports that quoted senior BJP leader Seshadri Chari about a meeting he had with the NC leader in London, saying he had rejected the idea of forming a government with the BJP even then.

About Madhav's tweets, Chari was quoted by a web portal as saying, "If somebody decides to be a political novice, we can do nothing about it." However, he had said that it was not the party's official stand. To a question on a possible alliance with the Congress at a time when the National Conference has been favouring a single-party rule, Omar said, "Yes, I would wish to have a single party rule as there have been coalition governments since 2002. But having said that, let me make it clear that it's my opinion and I am yet to consult my senior party colleagues."

"I need to consult them before arriving at a final decision," he said, and added with a smile, "our party works democratically". Asked whether a third front led by Lone would be a force to reckon with in the forthcoming elections, he said, "Let us see. Let the centre first announce dates for the assembly elections."
Bhilwara, November 26: The Congress was in power when the Mumbai attacks took place but questioned the BJP government's surgical strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Monday. The prime minister was addressing an election rally here on the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror strike when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai, killing 166 people over 60 hours. Hitting out at the Congress, the prime minister said the party doubted his government's surgical strikes, conducted in September 2016. But will commandos carry cameras to provide proof, he asked.

Modi said his government had responded to terrorists and Naxals in their own language. The prime minister added that the Congress calls Naxals revolutionaries and then issues them certificates. PM Narendra Modi, Shinzo Abe Ask Pakistan to Bring Mumbai, Pathankot Terror Attacks Perpetrators to Justice.

The Rajasthan elections will be held on December 7 and the votes counted on December 11.
Mumbai, November 26: On the 10th year marking the 26/11 terror attack, the Mumbai Police also paid tributes to four hero dogs - Max, Sultan, Tiger, and Caesar - who saved scores of lives of November 26, 2008, by detecting the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the terrorists.

The hero canines were part of Mumbai Police's Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS). The four of them passed away over the last decade, and were buried with full state honours by the police department. A Decade of 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: What All Happened During Attacks and in Years to Follow.

On the unfateful day of 26/11, Max played a key role in minimising the casualties by detecting 8 kg of RDX, 25 grenades, 29 detonators, ball bearings and other shrapnel at Taj Hotels reception.

Caesar, meanwhile, brought to the police's notice two hand grenades left by the terrorists at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), along 8 kg of RDX in the vicinity of Taj.

Mumbai Police Pays Tribute to the 4-Legged Heroes:

Today, we also remember Max, Sultan, Tiger, and Caesar - the brave heart heroes from the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), who contributed immensely in detection of IEDs & saving lives in the #2611Attack #RememberingTheHeroes pic.twitter.com/VgjNIFR2fj  Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) November 26, 2018

In the 26/11 attacks, a total of 166 people were killed and over 300 injured. Investigation into the terror strike revealed that the conspiracy was hatched by Lashkar-e-Taiba, based in Pakistan.

Despite 10 years after the terror attack, Islamabad is yet to act against LeT chief Hafiz Saeed, charged by New Delhi as the prime plotter of 26/11. "India will never forget 26/11 (November 26, 2008) attack or its perpetrators. We are looking for an opportunity... the law will take its own course, I assure the people of the country. Justice will surely be done," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 09:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Washington, November 26: On the 10th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack on Monday, the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Pakistan to take action against the culprits responsible for 2008 Mumbai terror attack. He further added that if anyone provides information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating 2008 Mumbai attack, will get a reward up to 5 million dollars under the Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program. 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: 10 Years After Attack, People Left With Faded Memories of the Mayhem.

Describing the terror attack as a "barbarity", Pompeo called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their United Nations Security Council obligations to execute sanctions against those who are responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement, Pompeo said in a statement. 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: India Remains Honour-bound to Defeating Terrorism, Says President Ram Nath Kovind.

"On behalf of the government of the United States of America & all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India & the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack," he said, reported ANI.

The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating 2008 Mumbai attack: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pic.twitter.com/5oN43VAJEz  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

Pompeo further added, "The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating 2008 Mumbai attack."

The 2008 Mumbai attacks took place in November 2008, when Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates carried out a series of shooting and bombing attacks in Mumbai which lasted four days. In the terrorist attack, at least 165 people had lost their lives. Nine of the terrorist were killed by the security forces and Mumbai police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged on 21 November 2012 following the court's order.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 08:41 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, November 26: The Union Ministry of External Affairs on Monday welcomed the United States statement on Pakistan and reiterated its stand that the perpetrators will not be spared. A decade after the terror attacks of 26/11 in Mumbai, the United States called Pakistan to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against terrorists  including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

Welcoming US Secretary of State Mike Pompeos statement, Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, I welcome the statement made by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the 10th anniversary of Mumbai Terror Attacks calling upon Pakistan to bring to justice perpetrators of the attack. 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: We are Waiting for the Appropriate Time, Says Narendra Modi.

Stating more, the MEA said, We welcome statement issued today by United States calling on Pakistan to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against terrorists responsible for 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

The ministry was of the opinion that planners of the heinous crime are still roaming free in Pakistan with impunity. The Union Ministry said, Planners of 26/11 still roam streets of Pakistan with impunity. The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pak territory. We once again call on Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and expeditiously bring perpetrators of horrific attack to justice.

Launching a scathing attack and expressing anguish, the MEA said, It's a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 years of this heinous terror attack, families of 166 victims from 15 countries still await closure, with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice.

Ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists sailed to Mumbai from Karachi on November 26, 2008. They carried out coordinated attacks in which 166 people were killed and over 300 were injured. The security forces killed nine attackers, while one lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged in 2012. The plan was masterminded by Lashkars Hafiz Saeed and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 05:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Bhilwara, Rajasthan, November 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India will never forget the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and their perpetrators and was "waiting for the appropriate time" as law would take its course.

"India will never forget 26/11 attack, and neither forget the perpetrators. We are waiting for the appropriate time...." he said with a pause without elaborating as the crowd cheered him when he was addressing an election meeting here. "Law will take its course. I want to assure the country," he said.

Slamming Congress for doing politics over the 26/11 terror attacks in 2008, Modi said, "Today is November 26, when there was a Madam rule in Delhi through remote control, when there was Congress government in Maharashtra. There were Congress governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra and 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai... terrorists killed people and security forces of our country."

"It is 10 years of that attack. I can still remember when the terror attacks happened in Mumbai, election campaign was going on in Rajasthan." 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: 10 Years After Attack, People Left With Faded Memories of the Mayhem.

Modi said that the Congress leaders then used to accuse the leaders of other parties of doing politics when they condemned the attacks.

"What they (Congress leaders) said then, I still remember. They said it is a war, Pakistan has attacked India. And these people are doing politics. At this time one need to strengthen the hands of the Centre and there should be no politics on the terror attacks. They used to preach this," he said.

The Prime Minister accused the Congress of attempting to use the 26/11 Mumbai attack to win elections in Rajasthan and attacked the party for questioning the 2016 surgical strike carried out by the Indian Armed forces across the border.

"I want to ask them and Congress that 10-years ago such a big terror attack happened, whole world was shocked and Congress was playing a trick to win the elections from that," he said.

"The same Congress at that time used to preach patriotism. And when our country's forces did surgical strike in Pakistan, when they took revenge, showed their valour and gave a befitting reply to the enemies in their home, in such a crucial time, Congress asked for showing the video of the surgical strike," he said.

"Will the armed forces take cameras in their hand during such operations. At that time they did not remember patriotism," he said.

Modi also said that during his four years of rule, terror attacks have been restricted to Jammu and Kashmir.

"Remember those times when terror attacks took place across the country. We have fought against terrorism in such a way that they are unable to move out of Kashmir as they see their death," he said.

The elections for the 200-Assembly seats in Rajasthan are scheduled for December 7. Counting of votes will take place on December 11.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 02:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mumbai, November 26: In a case of terror scare, a passenger named J Poddar, travelling on Kolkata-Mumbai Jet Airways flight was apprehended at Kolkata airport by CISF today, on Monday morning. He was reportedly speaking on the phone threatening to blow up the plane and was noticed by fellow passengers.

The flight was scheduled to fly from Kolkata to Mumbai today, on Monday morning. News agency ANI tweeted the picture of the man arrested.

#Visuals from Kolkata: A passenger J Poddar travelling on Kolkata-Mumbai Jet Airways flight was apprehended at Kolkata airport by CISF today. He was reportedly speaking on the phone threatening to blow up the plane. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/nBZ3v1J8yW  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

Fellow passengers caught the man with a mask on face, talking allegedly over the phone and threatening to blow off the flight. The incident happened around 8.50 am. Investigations are on as to who the man was talking to over the phone, threatening of a terror attack.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 11:08 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Hyderabad, November 26: TPCC president Uttam Kumar Reddy Monday alleged that Telangana caretaker Chief Minister and TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has taken political corruption to the "highest levels in the country."

Launching the attack on Rao, popularly known as KCR and his son K T Rama Rao at a Meet the Press programme here, Reddy said that the TRS chief has 'degraded' Telangana and political standards in the country. K Chandrasekhar Raos Repeated Attacks on Chandrababu Naidu a Panic Reaction, Says TDP

"KCR is credited with degrading Telangana state and political standards. He is the only Chief Minister who shamelessly degraded politics in this country. But people of the state are observing it. It is a fact that there is some corruption in the political system of this country. But KCR has taken corruption to the highest level," he said.

After 'assaulting' all forms of Parliamentary democracy, he launched an attack on the media by banning or luring some of them, the Congress leader alleged. He took exception to Rao's commments on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and said a separate Telangana would not have been possible without her.

"Undoubtedly, not as a Congress leader, but as a citizen I am saying that but for Sonia Gandhi, Telangana would not have been possible..." he added. "KCR also endorsed this after Telangana formation... Who stopped you (KCR) from giving 12 per cent reservation to Muslims and Girijans? Did Chandrababu Naidu (AP Chief Minister and TDP supremo) stop you? (from fulfilling poll promises)?" Reddy asked.

The Congress has tied up with the TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samithi for the December 7 assembly polls. The TPCC chief said the Gandhi family sacrificed their lives for the country and Rao had no moral right to criticise Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, who had refused the opportunity to become Prime Minister.

On Congress' poll promises, Reddy said his party is committed to allotting 12 per cent of the budgetary funds for the welfare of Muslims.

Alleging the MIM has a tacit understanding with TRS, he said the Asaduddin Owaisi-led party failed to question the Chandrasekhar Rao government on why it did not file an appeal against the Mecca Masjid verdict, which set free all the five accused.

On Rao's claims that his government had improved the power situation in Telangana, Reddy said no new project had come up in the state in the past four and half years, except those started by the earlier Congress government.

Reacting to Reddy's remarks, TRS MP Vinod Kumar said the Congress leader was levelling such charges out of 'frustration' as the party was on the verge of losing the elections.

"I challenge Uttam Kumar Reddy to prove the charges he has levelled against our leader. He has done so out of frustration, as the Congress is on the verge of losing the elections.

It is only the TRS which has never aligned with the BJP ever since the Telangana-based party was formed," Kumar told PTI.
New Delhi, November 26: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Monday met her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid to "deepen" bilateral cooperation and ensure peace and security in the region. This is Shahid's first visit after assuming charge as foreign minister of Maldives and assumes significance as the ties between both the countries had severely strained under the previous government in the island nation. "Working together to fulfil the developmental priorities of Maldives. EAM @SushmaSwaraj and FM of Maldives @abdulla_shahid had a warm and productive meeting on deepening bilateral cooperation and to ensure peace and security in the region," MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted.

Earlier, Swaraj had "warmly" received Shahid and also congratulated him on his appointment as foreign minister. "Harmonious synergy of India's 'Neighbourhood First' & Maldives 'India First' policy. EAM @SushmaSwaraj warmly receivd (received) Foreign Minister of Maldives @adbulla_shahid on his 1st foreign visit to India. EAM congratulated FM Shahid on his appointment as new Foreign Minister of Maldives," Kumar tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on November 17 in Male. Sushma Swaraj Meets Russian Deputy PM Yuri Borisov At IRIGC In Moscow; India Looking To Invest USD 30 Billion In Russia By 2025.

Harmonious synergy of India's 'Neighbourhood First' & Maldives 'India First' policy EAM @SushmaSwaraj warmly receivd Foreign Minister of Maldives @adbulla_shahid on his 1st foreign visit to India. EAM congratulated FM Shahid on his appointment as new Foreign Minister of Maldives pic.twitter.com/lpWtDuGDEw  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) November 26, 2018

Solih, as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate, had surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election held on September 23. India-Maldives ties had deteriorated significantly under Yameen who was perceived to be close to China. Some decisions by Yameen including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing also did not go down well with New Delhi.

Relations between India and the Maldives slumped further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year. India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners. The emergency lasted for 45 days.
Bone-chilling findings of a new research say that human beings may be aware that they are dead in the moments after they die. Thats because the human brain is still active  albeit for a short time , letting the person register what is happening around him. The discovery was made by researchers from New Yorks Stony Brook University School of Medicine after studying cardiac-arrest cases in Europe and US. A persons time of death is based on the moment when the heart stops. Can Dogs See Ghosts? Here Are 5 Things Which Dogs Are Capable of That Humans Can't.

When the heart stops beating, the blood circulation to the brain ceases to function eventually. The process, however, can be long-drawn, taking hours to complete. The brain technically stays alive for a short while till the blood flow is cut off, letting the dead person know whats happening around them.

Data collected from people who have been resuscitated after their heart stopped beating showed that they could remember what happened after they were pronounced dead. They can clearly remember the conversations between the doctors and the nurses even after their cardiac activity stopped. Kerala Becomes the First State to Confirm Brain Death Through Standard Operating Procedure.

Many of them have visual and auditory memory of everything that happens around them, things that they are theoretically not supposed to know. They know when the doctors pronounce them dead. Eerily, the dead become trapped in their own body.

The concept of Near Death Experience (NDE), where people who have come back from the dead, could be explained through this mechanism. Anita Moorjani, one of the well-known cases of NDE, recollected being completely aware of her surroundings while she was in a near-death stage.

Dr Sam Parnia, the lead researcher of the study, says, What tends to happen is that people who've had these very profound experiences may come back positively transformed  they become more altruistic, more engaged with helping others.

The study could open debates about human consciousness and what happens to it after the person dies.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 05:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Experts discovered 3000-year-old mummy of a woman inside in southern Egyptian city of Luxor. The ancient unopened coffin was one of the two ancient coffins found earlier this month. It was a French-led mission in the northern area of El-Asasef necropolis on the western bank of the Nile. Authorities live streamed the unveiling of the second mummy on Saturday and disclosed its contents to viewers. This is the first time the country live telecasted the opening of a sarcophagus to the international media.

The first mummy was opened in private for examination. Reuters quoted Egypt's Minister of Antiquities, Khaled Al Anani as saying, "One sarcophagus was rishi-style, which dates back to the 17th dynasty, while the other sarcophagus was from the 18th dynasty. The two tombs were present with their mummies inside." 2100-Year Old Egyptian Mummy Thought to be a 'Hawk' is Actually a Stillborn Baby.

They also discovered 1,000 funerary statues at the site. Ancient Egyptians mummified bodies of their dead to preserve it for the afterlife. The Eighteenth Dynasty dates back to the 13th century BC, a time period which is known for the rule of Pharaohs, a title for monarchs. Mystery Behind 4000-year-old Mummy Found at Deir El Bersha, an Ancient Egyptian Necropolis Solved by FBI.

Here are pictures of the mummified woman:

This mummy was located at Al-Assasif necropolis, situated between the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings. It is the burial site of nobles and officials close to the pharaohs. The ministry said that the tomb belonged to Thaw-Irkhet-If, the mummification supervisor at the Temple of Mut in Karnak.

This year, Egypt unveiled more than a dozen mummies. Egypt expects the discoveries to improve their tourism. Egypt tourism has seen a dip since the political turmoil took made things worse in 2011. Earlier Egypt was known for its pyramids and would receive scores of tourists to visit their ancient structures. The Eighteenth Dynasty which dates back to the 13th century BC, a time period which is known for the rule of Pharaohs, a title for monarchs.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 03:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Washington, November 26: US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo on Sunday expressed solidarity with the people of India on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack and announced that Washington will reward up to USD five million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 attack. "On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack. We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world," Pompeo said in the press statement. On 9/11 Anniversary State Michael Pompeo, Says Terrorism is a Global Issue.

Pompeo further asserted that the US will call upon Pakistan, to uphold its UN Security Council obligation to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity. "It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement. We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates," Pompeo added.

"The United States is committed to seeing that those responsible for this attack face justice. The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program offers a new reward for up to USD five million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack," the statement added .

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tensions have erupted between Russia and Ukraine after Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the Crimean Peninsula. The crisis began when Russia accused Ukraine of sending its naval ships illegally into its waters.

The Russians then placed a large cargo ship under the bridge in the Kerch Strait  to blockade the only access to the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries.

But Ukraine and Russia offered conflicting accounts of the incident at sea.

The crisis unfolded according to the Ukrainian Navy as its Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats, and the Yana Kapa tug, tried to sail from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

According to the Ukrainian navy, six sailors were injured when the Russian ship resorted to unprovoked firing on Ukraine's vessels near the strait. "Small armoured vessels, the Beryansk and the Nicopol, have been damaged by enemy fire and can't move," the Navy said in a Facebook post.

"The Yany Kapu tugboat has also been forced to halt. The ships have been seized by Russian special forces," it added.

Photo: Russian RFCGS 354 'Izumrud', a Rubin Class patrol ship, deployed at Kerch bridge has visible damage, reasons not clear https://t.co/u4eNwCseYo pic.twitter.com/JCDMtFvevg via @norestfor #Ukraine  Liveuamap (@Liveuamap) November 25, 2018

Russia scrambled two fighter jets and two helicopters as it accused the Ukrainian navy ships of illegally entering its waters and said the traffic had been suspended for security reasons.

Both countries have the right to use the sea, but following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Moscow controls both sides of the strait.

Following this naval skirmish, Russia accused Ukraine of "provocative actions" by not informing it in advance of the journey. Moscow alleged that Ukrainian ships had been manoeuvring dangerously and ignoring its instructions with the aim of stirring up tensions.

A statement released by Ukraine's foreign ministry denied the allegations. "Russia's provocative actions in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov have crossed the line and become aggressive," the statement said. "Russian ships have violated our freedom of maritime navigation and unlawfully used force against Ukrainian naval ships."

In a statement late on Sunday, NATO said it was closely monitoring developments and called for restraint and de-escalation. "NATO fully supports Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters. We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 05:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
With the growing hardship in Nigeria, people who aren't looking for a way out of the country are faced with struggling to make ends meet and this includes any way possible, no matter how illegal or how harmful it may be to others.

A young man was recently caught on camera going around a female hostel at the University of Ilorin, looking through women's clothing that were spread outside to dry. In the video, the man is seen moving suspiciously around and many people believe he was looking to steal undies.

This is another popular bizarre trend in Nigeria which is believed to be for ritual purpose. With the growing trend of cyber fraudsters popularly known as yahoo boys, going into fetish practices to make their illegal deals come true, there have been numerous reports of women getting killed and their organs harvested for ritual purposes. Adding to this horrible acts is the use of women's undies for fetish purposes.

READ ALSO: Woman laments as cows stole four of her undies

See video below:

READ ALSO: Personal letter from the Editor-in-Chief of Legit.ng (former NAIJ.com)

Na wa o.

Meanwhile, famous club manager known as Cubana Chief priest recently weighed in on the fake yansh epidermic that has hit Nigeria. In a recent post, the party maker revealed that most girls in Lagos are now getting the behinds enhanced, so much that those who don't are not big girls.

PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app

Did you know? NAIJ.com (naija.ng) is now-> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better.

Why Koffi was blacklisted from the entertainment industry | Legit TV

Source: Legit
- Adams Oshiomhole has accused former president Olusegun Obasanjo of plotting to rule Nigeria by proxy

- Oshiomhole said President Buhari is working to eradicate poverty and empower the less privilege

- The APC national chairman also urged Nigerians to refrain from handing over the nation to opportunists

The All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Adams Oshiomhole, has accused former president Olusegun Obasanjo of plotting to rule Nigeria by proxy.

Oshiomhole made this statement in Kano while welcoming hundreds of members of the PDP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, who defected into the ruling party at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The APC national chairman, who made the statement while reacting to Obasanjo's claim that PDP will defeat Nigeria in 2019, urged Nigerians to not hand the nation to opportunist during the election.

READ ALSO: Just In: Buhari summons service chiefs over Metele attack

He said: Obasanjos dream to rule Nigeria by proxy will not succeed. It is a wonderful day that all the progressives have come together to reinforce power to sustain our democracy. Never again should this country be governed by opportunists.

President Muhammadu Buharis constituency is the army of the poor. We are building a country where those who work will be able to eat, not those who use telephones to make billions without working for it.

We are waiting for the message and shall respond appropriately to their message. This country must move forward. It does not belong to those who have a history of taking so much out of the system even as they cannot show what they have put into the system."

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Oshiomhole also urged Nigerians to look out for character of candidates before casting their votes in the 2019 general election.

He urged the electorate to vote for candidates with the capacity and character of serving them well.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng upgrades to serve you better

APC Is The Worst Party in Nigeria, I Regret Being a Member - on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
- A South African mercenary company, says President Muhammadu Buhari rejected intelligence warnings about operations of Boko Haram in Borno state

- The company, Specialised Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection International (STTEP), has experience working in the northeastern state

- STTEP was employed by former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 to assist the Nigerian army in rescuing the Chibok girls

A South African mercenary company, says President Muhammadu Buhari rejected intelligence warnings about operations of Boko Haram in Borno state.

The company's chairman, Eeben Barlow, made the comment on his Facebook page on Sunday, November 25.

According to Barlow, Nigerian soldiers have been reaching to him for help since his companys services were terminated by the Buhari's government.

Legit.ng gathered that STTEP, consisting of former soldiers of the South Africa Defence Force, was employed by former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 to assist the Nigerian army in rescuing the Chibok girls.

But their presence in the northeastern state caused an uproar, especially in their country - South Africa.

The countrys defence minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, was quoted to have said they should be arrested on their return to the country.

READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda

Barlow also berated President Muhammadu Buhari for claiming that Boko Haram was technically defeated when he assumed power in 2015, describing the president's comments as 'false.'

His words: There is, in a purely military sense, no such thing as a technical defeat - something the president, as an ex-military man ought to know. Sadly, he also chose to make the successes of 7 Infantry Division and 72 Mobile Strike Force (MSF) his own, when it wasnt.

President Buhari and his team were, however, part of the political leader group that led the vocal charge about STTEPs presence in Nigeria, making it a burning political issue even before they assumed office. Indeed, they made it known that the companys presence would not be tolerated under his office.

The initial 3-phase campaign strategy (known as Operational Anvil) to degrade and destroy Boko Haram in Borno state, was rejected by his advisors. Instead, pressure forced only a small part of the campaign to be successfully implemented before we were ordered to pack up and leave.

They were, however, quite happy to allow the armed forces to receive both substandard training and the incorrect equipment provided by both foreign governments and their PMCs - along with the worst possible military advice. When this approach failed, the military could be blamed for any lack of success.

He said many of the men STTEP trained as part of 72 Mobile Strike Force have remained in contact with them, pleading for our return to Nigeria.

They have also told us that they have been used to a point of exhaustion, he added.

He stated that following STTEP's departure from Nigeria, they issued numerous intelligence warnings to the Nigerian government.

These warnings covered the implications of not allowing the 72 MSF to annihilate Boko Haram in Borno province; the plans by Boko Haram to rearm and escalate their activities; the implications of regional spill-over, the impact on the armed forces; and so forth.

These intelligence warnings were all rejected in favour of a false belief. Neighbouring countries were advised not to listen to us as it was claimed to be a cheap attempt to get a contract.

Chad, Cameroon and Niger are now also reaping the benefits of rejecting intelligence in favour of an agenda-driven narrative aimed at destabilising an entire region - a region where Nigeria remains a prime target, he stated.

He noted that Boko Haram terrorists can be defeated, but added that victory requires more than a few soundbytes.

North-eastern Nigeria is an example of what can happen when intelligence is rejected in favour of a false narrative.

Dont blame the armed forces when poor political decisions result in the deaths of people, he concluded.

PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app

Meanwhile, some soldiers in the Nigerian Army deployed for anti-Boko Haram operations have accused top commanders of leading them to Boko Haram slaughter armed with obsolete weapons while diverting funds meant to procure better arms.

The soldiers made the allegations in a video, taken from a camera phone, which went viral on Friday, November 23.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have updated to serve you better.

Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Legit TV

Source: Legit
- President Buhari has reportedly cancelled his scheduled trip to Edo state scheduled for Tuesday, November 27

- This is due to the report that the venue of COAS Annual Conference which the president was scheduled to attend in Edo state has been changed to Maiduguri, Borno state

- President Buhari is expected to use the opportunity of the COAS conference to address the Nigerian soldiers at the battlefields to further boost their morale

President Muhammadu Buharis visit to Edo on Tuesday, November 27, may have been cancelled as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference, initially billed to hold in Benin City has been shifted to Maiduguri, Borno state.

President Buharis aide on new media, Alhaji Bashir Ahmad, confirmed this development on his Twitter handle on Sunday, November 25.

He said: President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to declare the COAS Annual Conference on November 28, 2018 at the Conference Hall CGH in Maiduguri, Borno state.

The conference was earlier scheduled to take place from 26 -28 November 2018 in Benin, Edo state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that arrangements had been completed by Edo state government to host President Buhari on November 27 where he was billed to inaugurate the Edo-Azura Power Plant and grace the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference.

NAN gathered that the shifting of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference from Benin City to Maiduguri might not be unconnected with the killing of Nigerian soldiers at Metele, a remote village bordering Nigeria and Chad.

Legit.ng learnt that President Buhari would use the opportunity of the COAS conference to address the Nigerian soldiers at the battlefields to further boost their morale.

It would be recalled that President Buhari had on Sunday, November 25, presided over a meeting of security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of the ongoing efforts to engage military and intelligence community towards addressing Boko Haram insurgency.

In a tweet, the presidents aide on new media, Bashir Ahmad, said all the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim and the director-general of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi were part of the meeting.

All the Service Chiefs, I-G of Police and DG of DSS were at the State House this morning. As President Buhari said (Saturday) yesterday, in the coming days, he will be engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking, Ahmad said in the tweet.

President Buhari had pledged on Saturday, November 24, to ensure that the loopholes, which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

On November 18, the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram attacked the 157 Task Force Battalion based at Metele in northern part of Borno state, killing scores of Nigerian troops. The military authorities are yet to give the specific number of casualties.

President Buhari in a statement issued by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday, November 24, reiterated his administrations commitment to the security of military personnel and other citizens.

No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of military personnel and other citizens, Shehu quoted the president as saying.

Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support, in terms of equipment and manpower, to succeed in ending the renewed threat.

In the coming days, I am engaging the military and Intelligence chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.

The president noted that fighting terrorism had taken a global dimension, which necessitated international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

He, therefore, reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

The president, however, advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of the national tragedy, saying members of the armed forces are one family, commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better.

Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Army commander, Ibrahim Sakaba, whose camp was allegedly overrun by Boko Haram in Metele has been described as selfless by his colleague

- Sakaba reportedly died alongside about 112 members of his troops when they were attacked by Boko Haram terrorists

A colleague of Ibrahim Sakaba, a lieutenant-colonel, who died alongside at least 117 of his fellow soldiers on November 18, when their base was overran by members of Boko Haram, has described the army commander as a selfless soldier.

Premium Times reports that a senior military colleague who knew Sakaba described him as a selfless commander.

READ ALSO: President Buhari, service chiefs meet over Metele attack

The officer who begged to be anonymous said Sakaba had sometime ago refused to advance for an operation due to unserviceable and lack of equipment but was threatened with court martial, the senior officer said while recalling how his fallen colleague risked his career in the preservation of the hundreds of personnel he supervised at the 157 Task Force Battalion.

During the Senate plenary on Thursday, Bala NaAllah, the Senate majority leader, who described Sakaba as his cousin urged his colleagues to adjourn plenary in honour of the commander and his men who lost their lives in services to their country.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, November 25, presided over a meeting of security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of the ongoing efforts to engage military and intelligence community towards addressing Boko Haram insurgency.

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Confirming this development in a tweet in Abuja on Sunday, the presidents aide on new media, Bashir Ahmad, said all the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police Idris Ibrahim and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Yusuf Bichi were part of the meeting.

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Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng News
- The consulate-general of Lebanon in Lagos, Elias Nicolas, has given awards to Lebanese-Nigerian organisations for their contribution to the development of Nigeria

- Nicolas expressed satisfaction with the relationship and cooperation of Nigerians with the Lebanese community in the country

- He also noted that Nigerians and the Lebanese have been committed to their friendly relations, promoting mutual understanding at all levels of engagement

The consulate-general of Lebanon in Lagos on Sunday, November 25, gave awards to five Lebanese-Nigerian organisations for their contributions to the social and educational development of Nigerians.

The awards were presented at a celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of the independence of Lebanon in Lagos, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Legit.ng gathers that the Lebanese organisations that received the awards were the Lebanon-Nigeria Initiative (LNI), Lebanese Ladies Society (LLS), the Lebanese International School (LIS) and two others.

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The consul-general of Lebanon in Lagos, Elias Nicolas, said that the awards were in recognition of the recipients commitment to the social and educational development of Nigerians.

Nicolas said that there was dynamism in the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Lebanon, which was being driven by the social commitment of the Lebanese community in Lagos, to serve the interests of Nigerians and the Lebanese.

He said: Since I started my mission a few months ago, I have been witnessing a great deal of success stories of the Lebanese communitys achievements here, not only in business but in all walks of life.

This is a showcase of the importance of cooperation and sharing of expertise between the Lebanese and their Nigerian partners.

In recognition of this, five Lebanese-Nigerian social and educational associations are being presented awards of appreciation for their commitment and devotion toward the development of their host country, Nigeria."

Nicolas expressed optimism that there would be more opportunities for Nigeria and Lebanon to continue to collaborate in the near future.

He said the Lebanese are convinced that the potentials of both countries would be further developed in the years ahead.

He said: Nigerians and the Lebanese have been committed to their friendly relations, as well as promoting mutual understanding at all levels of engagement.

We are convinced that the potential of our friendly relations with the Nigerian people is much higher than what has been achieved so far.

The president of the Lebanese-Nigerian Initiative (LNI), Faysal El-Khalil, after receiving their award, said that his organisation was only giving back to Nigeria and Nigerians as a show of appreciation."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari was conferred with the prestigious polio champion award in recognition of his uncommon commitment and leadership in the polio eradication programme across Nigeria.

The president of Rotary International (RI) , Barry Rassin, who was on a four-day official visit to Nigeria, presented the award to President Buhari at state house, Abuja, on Thursday, November 15.

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- Major-General Garba Wahab has reacted to the death of 44 soldiers who were recently killed by Boko Haram insurgents

- Wahab, a former Chief of Army Administration, blamed the attack on a military base in Metele, a remote village near the border with the Niger Republic, on information leakage

- He, however, advised the federal government to boost the morale of the troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast

A former Chief of Army Administration, Major-General Garba Wahab, on Monday, November 26, reacted to the death of 44 soldiers who were recently killed by Boko Haram insurgents at the Nigerian Army base in Borno state.

Wahab blamed the attack on a military base in Metele, a remote village near the border with the Niger Republic, on information leakage.

The ex-Army chief, who was a guest on Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily, urged the military to be careful in its intelligence gathering approach, in the war against terror.

A former Chief of Army Administration, Major-General Garba Wahab. Photo credit: Google

Source: Depositphotos

READ ALSO: Oshiomhole attacks Obasanjo, accuses him of planning to rule Nigeria by proxy

According to him, The military needs to look at information that leads to intelligence. You cannot afford to allow your information to leak. A lot of information is leaking, it is your information you turn into intelligence.

He also advised the federal government to boost the morale of the troops fighting Boko Haram terrorists in the northeast.

Wahab said: We need to reassess. Is the equipment okay? Are the troops motivated? If the will to fight is not there, it behoves disaster because you must continuously motivate them.

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''Whether you like it or not, a lot of issues are involved. And it is not only military because there is no military solution to this. You need to also look at the political issue, the economic and sociological perspectives.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that President Buhari on Sunday, November 25, presided over a meeting of security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of the ongoing efforts to engage military and intelligence community towards addressing Boko Haram insurgency.

Confirming this development in a tweet in Abuja on Sunday, the presidents aide on new media, Bashir Ahmad, said all the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police Idris Ibrahim and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) Yusuf Bichi were part of the meeting.

''All the Service Chiefs, IG of Police and DG of DSS were at the State House this morning. As President Buhari said (Saturday) yesterday, in the coming days, he will be engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking,'' Ahmad said in the tweet.

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Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Legit TV:

Source: Legit
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has approved Enhanced Salary Structure for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The president made the declaration after meeting with members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) on Monday, November 26, at the State House, Abuja.

President Buhari met with the board of PSC, led by the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris.

In a series of tweets by Garba Shehu, the SSA on media and publicity, President Buhari assured that his administration will continue to give attention to the welfare and operational needs of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) with a view to restoring its lost primacy in the internal security framework of the country.

READ ALSO: I never vowed to probe Fayose as governor - Fayemi clears the air

President Muhammadu Buhari met with the board of Police Service Commission (PSC). Photo credit: Twitter, Aso Rock

Source: Twitter

The president stated this during an audience with members of the Nigeria Police Service Commission and the leadership of Police on a Thank You visit following his approval of Rank Salary Structure Adjustment, by which salary, allowances and pension of policemen will be increased.

President Buhari regretted that the inability of the police in their constitutional role as the frontline force in the prevention of crime, had led to military involvement in the maintenance of law and order throughout the country.

According to the president: From Taraba to Sokoto, to the South-South, people dont feel secure until they see the military.

President Buhari assured that his administration will continue to give attention to the welfare and operational needs of the Police Force. Photo credit: Twitter, Aso Rock

Source: Twitter

"I am pleased to make the increase in salary and allowances in the hope that it will increase the performance index of the police and strengthen Nigerias internal security system.

President Buhari observed that the more efficient the police is, the more confident the government and citizens will be.

According to him: The military should be reserved for higher tasks. The police should be able to cope well with the challenges of armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom and such crimes."

"In every town and village, there is the presence of the police. From all these places, they should be able to forward first class intelligence to you on which to act.

There is a need to amplify the question of more men of the police, especially given the condition we are in  emergency in the North-East, pervasive insecurity and abduction for ransom and banditry in many parts of the country.

President Buhari met with the board of Police Service Commission, led by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris at the State House, Abuja. Photo credit: Twitter, Aso Rock

Source: Twitter

"I congratulate you on the success you recorded against criminals taxing people and stopping them from their farms. We are expecting more from you, the president told the police.

Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (rtd), a full-time commissioner in the Nigeria Police Service Commission, who represented the chairman, Musiliu Smith, had informed the president that the Rank Salary Structure Adjustment would enhance police welfare and morale.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, also assured that the police would redouble efforts to ensure free, fair and credible elections throughout the country next year.

Legit.ng previously reported that just days after Boko Haram insurgent killed not less than 44 soldiers in Metele village in Borno state, President Muhammadu Buhari held an emergency meeting with top security chiefs at the State House, Abuja.

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Ibrahim Idris, Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno are among those in attendance of the high-profile meeting.

Other attendees are the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, some officials of the Police Service Commission (PSC), and the chief of staff, Abba Kyari.

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Is President Buhari Really Unable to Rescue Leah Sharibu from Boko Haram? - Street Gist | Legit TV

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- Edward Pwajok says the motive behind the bill to declare June 12 as Democracy Day has no political coloration

- Pwajok who represents Jos North/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau dispelled the insinuations that it was politically motivated with the intent of buying votes in the 2019 general elections

- A Bill for an Act to Amend the Public Holidays Act which declares, May 29 as Democracy Day, and substitute it with June 12 as Democracy Day scaled second reading in the House of Representatives

Rep Edward Pwajok, Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, says the motive behind the bill to declare June 12 as Democracy Day instead of the current May 29 has no political coloration.

The lawmaker, who represents Jos North/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau, made the clarification on Monday, November 26, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

NAN reports that a Bill for an Act to Amend the Public Holidays Act Cap p40, LFN, 2004 to delete item 5 of the schedule which declares, May 29 as Democracy Day, and substitute it with June 12 as Democracy Day on November 22 scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

READ ALSO: President Buhari increases salary of Nigerian Police Force

President Muhammadu Buhari had, on June 6, directed that the nations Democracy Day would henceforth, hold on June 12 as against the current arrangement where the ceremony holds on May 29.

Pwajok, who sponsored the bill, said although President Buhari made a pronouncement on making June 12 Nigerias Democracy Day, it must have legislative backing to take effect.

He dispelled the insinuations that it was politically motivated with the intent of buying votes ahead 2019 general elections.

According to him, "I am the sponsor of the bill; I am not even going to contest any election in 2019. So which votes am I going to buy because I am the sponsor of the bill. It is not even President Buhari that brought the bill.

Left for President Buhari, maybe, he thought it was okay to make that pronouncement but looking at it as a legislator, we know that it needs a legislative backing.

Without legislation, it cannot work. We have to amend the existing law to accommodate it. Even I that sponsored the bill, I am not a Yoruba man.

So I dont have any political benefit from sponsoring this bill. There are many other bills that I sponsored.

There is no pecuniary interest; there is no political motive behind it. This one is just purely on a national interest, he said.

Pwajok, who urged Nigerians to look at issues beyond the primordial sentiment, said it was disheartening that opposition parties would always read motives to issues.

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So to me, this country is in need of this declaration. Look at how happy the members of family of late MKO Abiola were when they heard about that pronouncement. I am not a member of Abiola family.

"So the question is, when is the best time to declare June 12 as Democracy Day if you are afraid of insinuations," he said.

In a previous report by Legit.ng, the eldest daughter to late Bashorun MKO Abiola, Lola Abiola-Edewor, on Saturday, July 7, lauded President Muhammadu Buharis declaration of June 12 as the new Democracy Day, saying it is justice to her father.

Edewor gave the commendation at the Fidau prayer commemorating 20 years of the death of the presumed winner of June 12, 1993, Presidential elections who died in detention on July 7, 1998.

The prayer was organised by the June 12 Movement in conjunction with the Abiolas family at the Ikeja residence of the deceased.

President Buhari on 2019 presidential election: will you vote for him? | Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Some of the Benin bronze pieces taken to Britain over a century ago will be on their way back to Nigeria very soon

- This is becoming more certain as the Benin Dialogue Group (BDG) has struck a deal with the British government in that direction

- The process of returning the collections are based on a three-year temporary agreement between both parties

The Benin Dialogue Group (BDG) has struck a deal with the British government in order bring about the return of "some of the most iconic pieces" in the historic metal collections returned on a temporary basis to form an exhibition at the new Benin Royal Museum in Edo.

Not less than 1,000 of the bronzes are at museums in the western world, with the most valuable collection at the British Museum in London, CNN reports.

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Many administrations in Nigeria have made moves to bring back the collections since the country's independence in 1960.

The three-year agreement can represents a breakthrough for the BDG, formed in 2007 to address restitution claims.

The group comprises of representatives of several European museums, the Royal Court of Benin, Edo State Government, and Nigeria's National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

The returns are contingent on the timely completion of a new Royal Museum, adjacent to the Royal Palace that once housed many of the bronzes. Nigerian officials presented plans for the Museum at a BDG meeting in October. A spokesman for the Governor of Edo said that designs are being finalized in collaboration with the Royal Court of Benin.

Concerning the construction, a spokesman for the British Museum said: "The key agenda item (at the October meeting) was how partners can work together to establish a museum in Benin City with a rotation of Benin works of art from a consortium of European museums," the spokesman said.

"The museums in attendance have all agreed to lend artifacts to the Benin Royal Museum on a rotating basis, to provide advice as requested on building and exhibition design, and to cooperate with the Nigerian partners in developing training, funding, and a legal framework for the display in a new planned museum."

It is yet uncertain as to which pieces will be returned and how many are yet to be established. Discussion between the BDG and British delegate is underway, and the group is set to meet again in Benin City in 2019.

According to the agreement, Nigerian partners have not ceded claims for permanent restitution, and officials remain determined to secure the bronzes on a permanent basis.

Crusoe Osagie, the spokesman for the Edp state government, said: "We are grateful these steps are being taken but we hope they are only the first steps. If you have stolen property, you have to give it back."

Sarr and Savoy further recommended that key, symbolic pieces long sought by claimant nations should be immediately returned - including several French-held Benin bronzes.

The report also proposed a series of bilateral agreements between the French government and African states to bypass French laws barring museums from releasing their collections, which have proved a longstanding barrier to restitution. Such agreements would allow for permanent restitution rather than loans.

Moreover, the French government has responded to the report by announcing an initial 26 artworks will be returned to the state of Benin, with further restitution to follow.

France's example will increase the pressure on museums across Europe, which has been building on several fronts.

Grassroots campaign groups within European countries are demanding restitution, such as in Germany, where 40 organizations recently signed an open letter calling for the return of historical artifacts.

The letter prompted German institutions to conduct inventories of their collections to determine which items were acquired illicitly.

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There is also growing recognition of the validity of restitution claims from a new generation of political leaders. Leader of the UK Labour party Jeremy Corbyn has said that if elected, his government would be willing to discuss the return of "anything stolen or taken from occupied or colonial possession."

Many influential private collectors have also taken the side of African claimants, such as British citizen Mark Walker, who voluntarily returned a set of Benin bronzes captured by his grandfather.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that notable Nigerian monarchs including Oba of Benin and Ooni of Ife visit Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall in Abuja.

The British royals arrived Abuja on November 6 and remained till November 8. Abuja High Commission staff welcomed the British royals with a spice of culture.

Since their arrival, they have received warm reception from several Nigerians including monarchs, who paid a visit to the royals in Abuja. Photos of Oba of Benin, Ooni of ife, Emir Of Kano, Obi of Onitsha, Sultan of Sokoto and Shehu of Borno, all posing with Prince Charles had been making waves on the internet.

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Is President Buhari Really Doing Badly As Nigeria's Leader? - Nigeria Street Gist | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Yemi Osinbajo said the presidency is closely working with the National Assembly for the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill

- Osinbajo said that the reforms proposed in the bill reflects our collective desire to entrench transparency and sustainability of oil and gas operations in Nigeria

- The vice president said the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) represents the most ambitious and comprehensive reform in decades of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, November 26, said that the presidency was closely working with the National Assembly for the quick passage of the PIG Bill.

Osinbajo said this during his keynote address at the 18th international HSE Biennial conference, organised by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Lagos.

According to him, we are working closely with the National Assembly to ensure its timely passage.

He said that the reforms proposed in the PIGB reflects our collective desire to entrench transparency and sustainability of oil and gas operations in Nigeria to enable the country finally to realise the full potential of her hydrocarbon resources."

READ ALSO: Workers patience is running out over minimum wage - NLC tells President Buhari

He said: I am pleased to bring you the warm greetings and felicitations of President Muhammadu Buhari on this occasion of the opening ceremony of the 18th International Health Safety and Environment (HSE) Biennial Conference.

It is noteworthy that the theme of the conference, which is centred around sustainability, dovetails seamlessly with this administrations vision and policy for the Oil and Gas Industry as a vehicle for driving the industrialization and growth of the Nigerian economy in a transparent, responsible and sustainable manner.

As a gathering of all stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, I am confident that your deliberations will yield important policies and ideas that will guide government in the formulation of policies for achieving sustainable development of our oil and gas resources.

It will also serve as a model for our other extractive industries that are not yet as mature," he said.

The vice president said that no discussion about the future of the Oil and Gas could be divorced from the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which represents the most ambitious and comprehensive reform in decades of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

Osinbajo noted that though varied reactions had trailed Mr Presidents recent decision to return the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) to the National Assembly for slight amendments.

He, however, noted that resolving the security challenge in the Niger Delta remained on the front burner of this administration as we seek to create a peaceful business climate that will attract investors and bring massive development to the oil producing communities.

He said that government was sensitive to the genuine agitations of the host communities for greater participation in and control of oil and gas resources.

The vice president noted that the law and order element to the problem had to be tackled headlong to allow for a peaceful business environment.

The proposals in the host community bill currently undergoing review represent a paradigm shift in the relationship between oil and gas operators and their host communities.

And the government in collaboration with state government and other stakeholders is fully committed to comprehensive reforms that empower the communities and move them from stakeholders to actual shareholders and partners in the oil and gas business.

This will result in the formulation of a comprehensive livelihood strategy and development plan for the Niger Delta to complement the efforts of the various interventions by the Federal Government though the Niger Delta Ministry (NDDC) and the amnesty programme.

The Federal Governments commitment to the ease of doing business was reflected in the Executive Order 1 signed on May 18, 2017.

The order had five main planks including: Transparency; Default Approvals; One Government; Port Operations and Entry Experience of travellers and visitors. As the mainstay of the Nigerian Economy, there is a dire need for ease of doing business in the oil and gas sector.

The current regime of multiple and sometimes conflicting regulators/regulations is a serious drawback on the ease of doing business in the petroleum industry.

While we continue to seek to resolve these conflicts, using the instrument of law, I wish to remind the various agencies and ministries of their primary responsibility to promote efficient service delivery and serve as the engine room for driving the collective policy of one government.

I therefore enjoin all the conflicting agencies to close ranks, fine-tune and improve cooperation and document their resolutions in binding MOUs that will ease the burden of over-regulation of the oil and gas sector, he said.

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Osinjo said: I am also pleased to announce to this gathering of Environmental experts that the government has fully commenced the clean-up of impacted oil spill sites in the Niger Delta.

This is a massive undertaking that reflects the governments commitment to restoring livelihood in the Niger Delta and deserves the support of all Nigerians.

The vice president, however, appealed to the host communities to assume greater and more responsible stewardship of oil and gas infrastructure in their communities even as the government worked to incentivise their efforts through the host community bill.

Legit.ng previously reported that Senate president, Bukola Saraki, says the National Assembly will continue to mount necessary pressure to get presidential assent on the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB).

Saraki spoke at a dinner as part of activities at the ongoing 24th Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja on Monday, October 22. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dinner which ended late in the night, was attended by trade experts, industrialists, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operators and financial experts among other dignitaries.

According to Saraki, the resolve by the legislature to mount pressure to ensure the bill gets presidential assent has become necessary, given its importance to development of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

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Nigeria News Today: Will Buhari Get Votes Of Nigerian Youth? | Legit TV

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- President Muhammadu Buhari appoints Ambassador Kabiru Bala as Nigeria's new high commissioner to the Republic of South Africa

- Bala received his letters of credence from the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama

- The career diplomat joined the foreign service in 1999 and has served in Brasilia, Sudan, The Gambia, Netherlands and Thailand

Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly appointed Ambassador Kabiru Bala as the countrys new high commissioner to the Republic of South Africa with concurrent accreditation to Swaziland and Lesotho.

A statement by Sarah Sanda, the spokesperson of minister of the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Monday, November 26, said that Ambassador Bala received his letters of credence.

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Legit.ng learnt that Ambassador Bala was a career diplomat and deputy high commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom before his current appointment.

Bala reportedly joined the foreign service in 1999 and has served in Brasilia, Sudan, The Gambia, Netherlands and Thailand.

The diplomat has also served in various departments in the ministry as well as the State House, office of the chief of staff to the president as well as State House protocol.

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The statement said Bala was tasked to work towards further strengthening ties between Nigeria and South Africa.

Legit.ng earlier reported tha President Muhammadu Buhari approved Enhanced Salary Structure for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The president made the declaration after meeting with members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) on Monday, November 26, at the State House, Abuja.

President Buhari met with the board of PSC, led by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

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An incident that drew Pennsylvania State Police to Bath on Saturday morning ended up being a mental health call, with no one injured and no one charged with any crime, police said Monday.

Bath resident Shawn Heckman told lehighvalleylive.com at the scene he ventured out Saturday morning to the corner store when he encountered a state police trooper who ordered him back indoors.

State police at Bethlehem had responded in multiple vehicles, blocking off the 100 block of Main Street from about 11:40 a.m. to 12:25 p.m.

Troopers could be seen carrying semiautomatic rifles, and a Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Co. ambulance responded.

Residents told lehighvalleylive.com that police were describing the incident as an active shooter situation.

There was no active shooter, but police responded in a cautious manner based on the information they had received, Trooper Nathan Branosky said Monday.

He declined to detail the information called into police.

Troopers escorted a man from alongside a building on the block and patted him down before he climbed into the back of the ambulance and was taken away.

Police were not identifying the man.

Heckman, who lives in the area of Saturdays police activity, said he was glad to see the troopers respond the way they did in Bath. State police began covering the borough in July after officials there ended their contract for coverage by Colonial Regional police.

Thats reassuring to me, Heckman said.

Branosky, the public information officer for Bethlehem-based Troop M, said since taking over coverage, state police have helped establish a neighborhood watch and are attending monthly meetings with the group.

Were their primary police coverage agency and were happy to be there and serve the public, Branosky said.

Bath Mayor Fiorella "Fi" Reginelli Mirabito said state police are doing "an amazing job" patrolling the borough, and that she's heard positive from residents on troopers' visibility.

Weve had Coffee-with-a-Cop and our first Neighborhood Watch Group meeting with at least 40-plus in attendance for both events, she said in an email Monday. I plan on doing more programs with PSP.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Washington Township teen is charged with bringing marijuana and an open container of alcohol to Warren Hills Regional High School earlier this month.

The teen, who police did not identify because the person is a juvenile, was arrested by Washington Township police after a school resource officer reported the incident at 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 19.

Police Lt. John Kaufmann said less than 50 grams of marijuana and the alcohol were found inside the school at 41 Jacksons Valley Road. Kaufmann declined to specify where in the school the drugs and alcohol were found.

The teen is charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of an alcoholic beverage. The teen was processed and released to a parent pending further court action with the juvenile justice system.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Women comprise less than a third of the nation's science and engineering workforce, the National Science Foundation found in 2016.

But Adesola Sanusi still found success. And she wants other girls to know they can, too.

"The numbers change when you get girls who are very, very young to consider the possibilities," said Sanusi, who four years ago started a program to do just that.

Girls Coding With Girls began in 2014, when Sanusi was a senior at Warren Hills Regional High School in Washington. The six-week session that spring, organized with computer science teacher Daryl Detrick, paired 16 middle school girls with eight female high school mentors as they learned basic computer programming.

Sanusi went on to Harvard, graduating this year and quickly landing a job at Google in New York City. When she left Warren Hills, she didn't think Girls Coding With Girls would continue.

But the program has grown. This fall is its 10th session. It has 36 participants, and the 16 mentors are the most since its inception.

Next month, the program will be recognized with a 2018 Champion for Computer Science award at Computer Science Education Week in Seattle. Though this year's awards have not been publicly announced, Sanusi and Detrick gathered students and parents Monday evening to share the news.

Girls Coding With Girls still mostly follows Sanusi's original curriculum. Each session has six evening meetings in the high school library where mentors guide middle school participants in building programs. Students use the programs Scratch or Microbit to see how code is pieced together. The last two sessions are devoted to a final project.

On Monday evening, students worked on a variety of projects. Some, like fifth-grader Elizabeth Noreen and sixth-grader Ashley Nyaku, were building video games -- setting objectives, difficulty settings and scoring systems.

Others, like seventh-grader Laura Twohig, were building robots that responded to simple commands. Twohig was programming a dog. At a nearby table, fifth-grader Yesenia Rudd puzzled over the mechanics of her servo-powered inchworm robot.

Sixth-grader Julia Schulz demonstrated a program she built in which commands prompt headphone speakers to play a song, which she also input manually using sheet music.

But the reach of Girls Coding With Girls goes beyond technological know-how.

"It opened a lot of doors for me. As a middle-schooler, I never would have considered taking a computer science class," said Emma Mele, a sophomore and one of the leaders of this generation of Girls Coding With Girls.

Another sophomore leader, Sarah Korczukowski, said it has helped her build confidence in herself and others. The biggest benefit for the young students, she said, is "to have someone just behind them telling them that you can do it."

That was Sanusi's primary message when she started the program four years ago.

Emily Brundage, a middle school participant in first session of Girls Coding With Girls four years ago, is one of this year's mentors. She gushed to Sanusi, who was her mentor.

"You've achieved so much," Brundage said. "You're a huge role model for us."

Seeing that someone like them can succeed in STEM fields is one key to improving women's presence in the workforce, according to a 2010 report by the American Association of University Women. (Link goes to a PDF.)

Sanusi agreed. Technology is an exciting field with opportunity for lucrative careers and lasting impacts in so many fields, she said, but it can be lonely and alienating without peers. It can make you reluctant to speak up in class, or even make you wonder if you should even be there, she said.

But Sanusi found her way. And in doing so, she hopes to set an example for others to follow.

"Someone else is going to have a much easier time than I did," she said.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Concerns have been raised over a proposed Strategic Housing Development in Newbridge.

Glan Developments Ltd has plans to build 180 residential units at Ballymany, Newbridge. The application was lodged to An Bord Pleanala on November 2.

The proposed development is close to Ballymany Manor Housing Estate, Langton Park and Rathcurragh.

The 5.076 hectare site is at the Southern Edge of Newbridge. The application compromises of 145 two, three and four bed dwellings ranging in height from 2 to 2.5 storeys, 35 one, two and 3 bed apartments in a part four storey and part six storey block. The part 5 provision (social housing) includes 18 units, four houses (two and three beds) and 14 apartments.

The entrance comprises of a four to six storey landmark building with 35 apartments.

Concerns from Patricia Conlon, Senior Executive Planner in Kildare County Council centered on where the development links with Ballymany Manor and the landmark entrance building being overscaled for where it is. There were also concerns raised over how the apartments are designed. Ms. Conlon said access to them is a cause for anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy asked how a development of this size could be possible without the construction of a new interceptor sewer, that will connect Newbridge to the Osberstown Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Ms Conlon said the developer deals with Irish Water in this respect. Council official Joe Boland said water schemes are not the statutory role of the Council, and that it is Irish Waters call.

Cllr Mark Lynch said he had concerns over the height differences of the homes, and plans for the main entrance.

Cllr Morgan McCabe said he had traffic concerns, and said having the landmark building at the entrance of the town would look horrible. He said visually it would not be attractive and scale-wise its too high.

Cllr Joanne Pender said she had concerns for plans to do all of part 5 in one go. Kildare County Council said the Approved Housing Body likes them to be grouped.

Cllr Murty Aspell made reference to the site at the opposite side of the road, which was granted permission for development.

Public submissions to An Bord Pleanala must be made by December 6 and a decision is due on March 1, 2019.

SEE ALSO: Funding secured for ambitious plans for Newbridge Cultural and Civic Quarter

SEE ALSO: Four Kildare kids set to perform on RTE's Late Late Toy Show
Some 1.5m. worth of funding has been allocated to the project to redevelop Naas town hall and move the library there from the canal harbour.

The money comes from government coffers - specifically the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Governments Urban Regeneration Funds.

This fund has an overall allocation of 2 billion to 2027.

The redevelopment will include the moving of the Naas library from Basin Street to the town hall, the construction of a multi-purpose facility to the rear of the building, as well as meeting and study rooms in the building.

Sen. Anthony Lawlor said the fund is used to support more sustainable development through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Irelands cities and large towns, in line with the objectives of Project Ireland 2040.

He added: Naas is a key town in the development of Kildare and the greater Dublin region.

He said the money will be used for supporting urban areas in becoming attractive and vibrant places in which people choose to live, work and invest. Naas town hall is a perfect candidate for redevelopment.

He said the fund is the largest urban regeneration initiative in Ireland for decades. Other projects being funded in this round of allocations are feasibility studies for Celbridge southern relief road and second Liffey crossing and the Naas canal quarter, he said.
Former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh has confirmed her attendance for a VOTAIL 100 event at Ballinamore Library this Friday to commemorate the life of the late TD, Mary Reynolds (1889-1974).

The 2014 Rose of Tralee winner, Mairead McGuinness MEP and Sean McGowan, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, will be among the special guests at the special event to remember a local woman who became a trail-blazing TD for Leitrim and Sligo between the 1930s and 1960s.

Mary Reynolds was a long-standing member of Dail Eireann, serving as Cumann na nGaedheal/Fine Gael TD for Sligo-Leitrim between 1932-1933 and 1937-1961. When she first became a TD in 1932, she was one of just two female TDs  the other being her party colleague, Margaret Collins ODriscoll, sister of the late revolutionary Michael Collins. Mary proudly holds the record for women winning the most Dail elections, being returned in nine out the ten she contested.

Event organiser Mary McKiernan and granddaughter of the late TD said: At a time when politics was very much the preserve of men, Mary proved herself as a very able female politician in a mans world. She was the first woman, and one of just four in total, to represent the North West region in Dail Eireann. For almost 30 years, she blazed a trail in a political world largely dominated by men, from the 1930s to 1961 when she retired from politics.

The commemoration of Mary Reynolds life in Ballinamore Library this Friday at 8pm is part of the VOTAIL 100 national programme celebrating 100 years since women got the vote. Keynote speaker on the evening will be well known Irish historian Sinead McCoole while MC on the night is Noirin Clancy, Chair of 5050, an advocacy group she co-founded to promote women in politics. All are welcome.
You could own your own island and castle on Lough Key from a starting price of 90,000.

BidX1 are bringing over 200 properties to the market for their final auction of 2018. Commercial properties are being offered the following day, 13th December and includes Castle Dermott on Lough Key, Boyle as well as Bank of Ireland in Longford.

Jonathan Fenn, Director at BidX1, commented on the launch of the catalogue, "This latest auction will provide buyers with an opportunity to become part of the history of Lough Key, when the ruined McDermotts Castle goes under the virtual hammer via our digital platform.

The castle ruin and island extending to approximately 0.22 hectares (0.54 acres) is Historically known as McDermotts Castle and is located on Lough Key. It has a guide price of 90,000.

McDermotts Castle features in the Annals of Loch Ce where it was reportedly burned down in 1187 by lightning. It also featured in the final act of the conquest of Connacht in 1235, by Richard de Burgo whose army included 500 mounted knights.

Lord Lorton built the folly castle in the early part of the 19th century, as one of the adornments to the estate whose centrepiece was Rockingham House.

Also read: Boyle 2040 plan to propose link between town and Lough Key Forest Park

Isaac Weld, writing in 1832, describes as part of the castle proper two rooms, one above the other, each 36 feet by 22 feet, with walls of 7.5 feet thickness. It is not clear whether this refers to part of the original castle, or the later construction. The folly castle, used as a summerhouse, was again gutted by fire shortly before the Second World War.
LIMERICK will not tolerate abuse of our women and girls. That is the stark and unequivocal message of the Purple Up Limerick 2018 campaign which will be supported by the hundreds of people of all ages expected to take part in a rally in the city centre this Tuesday.

Starting at 1pm, 216 candles will be lit and the names of the 216 women in Ireland who have died by violence in the past 21 years will be read out to the crowd in a ceremony remembering them and marking their stolen lives. People are asked to wear purple and carry purple flags and banners as a show of solidarity.

New figures for violent deaths of women in 2018 will also be released that day, pushing that 216 figure even higher.

The ceremony, at the corner of OConnell St and Thomas St, is part of the 2018 Purple Up Limerick campaign and will kick-start the International 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women.

The aim of the Purple Up Limerick campaign is to highlight the prevalence of violence against women in Limerick and to show solidarity with those who are affected by abuse and violence in their close relationships.

The campaign also turns the spotlight on abusers, sending out the message that Limerick will not tolerate abuse of our women and girls.

According to Deirdre Barrett, who works with Adapt Houses domestic abuse services, one in five women in Ireland is affected by violence or domestic abuse.

Of the 216 women who have died violently since 1996, she explains, 139 were killed in their own homes. More than half the women were murdered by a partner or ex-partner and in the vast majority of cases, 87%, the women were killed by someone known to them.

The 16 Days of Action are intended to raise awareness of violence against women as a human rights issue at local, national and international level. Encompassing over 1,500 organisations across 160 countries, the campaign demonstrates the solidarity of women across the world organising against violence against women and working towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women.

If you or your club or group or workplace would like to support the Purple Up Limerick campaign and the 16 Days of Action, a Purple Up pack is available by emailing development@adaptservices.ie or ringing 061-412354.
THERE have been renewed calls for CCTV cameras to be installed in the Thomongate area of Limerick city as the first anniversary of the murder of pensioner Rose Hanrahan approaches.

Cllr John Costelloe highlighted the continuing absence of CCTV cameras in the locality at a meeting of the Metropolitan District Joint Policing sub-committee.

He said there have been two murders in the Thomondgate area over the past year and that there are a large number of elderly and vulnerable people living in the locality.

He said CCTV cameras would help reassure people living in the Thomondgate area and would assist gardai in preventing and solving crime.

Cllr Costello said the has made particular efforts, over the past year, to get CCTV cameras installed at the junction of High Road and New Road but to no avail.

We have a pole, we have wires, we have a junction box but we have no cameras, he said adding the delay is not good enough given the concerns that exist in the area.

The Sinn Fein counciillor noted that temporary cameras which were installed at Old Cratloe Road earlier this year had helped resolve issues relating to antisocial behaviour in a matter of weeks.

The sentiments expressed by Cllr Costelloe were endorsed by members of the JPC although, it was noted that the installation of CCTV cameras is a matter for the local authority and not gardai.

We need to push CCTV in the Thomondgate, he said.

At the same meeting, Cllr Kieran OHanlon called for additional CCTV cameras to be erected in the Garryowen area to combat antisocial behaviour.

He said cameras which were installed near Garryowen Green in recent years have been effective but that more are needed  particularly down near the well.
SEVEN projects across Limerick city centre are to get more than 6m in regeneration funding, it was confirmed this Monday.

The schemes are being given the money under the Urban Regeneration and Development scheme, announced by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Project Opera, which will create up to 3,000 jobs here, is getting 1.8m, while the revitalisation of OConnell Street is to be given 905,000.

A world class waterfront for the city centre has been given 2.7m in principle, while a social and economic model has also secured a share of 2.7m.

A digital virtual reality centre has secured funding-in-principle for 2.7m, while the Living Georgian City rejuvenation project, has also been given 2.7m in principle.

This will see old out-of-use Georgian buildings potentially transformed into living spaces and commercial units.

The funding will be matched by at least 25% in direct grants from public or private sources, and has been welcomed by local Fine Gael Senators Kieran ODonnell and Maria Byrne.

This is very welcome news for us here in Limerick City and facilitates the on-going progressive development and transformation of our city centre as a great place to live and work in. The seven projects funded here form part of the Limerick 2030 strategy for our city centre, said Mr ODonnell, who sees this as just the start of a process whereby we continue to apply and receive funding under further rounds towards the continued development of our vibrant city.

Ms Byrne added that it is a significant milestone in Limericks development.

This funding will enable these projects to move forward and for the city centre to be transformed as an attractive place for people to live, work and visit. The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund represents an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen the fabric of Limerick & the Mid-West, she added.

The scale of the funding allocated shows that this Government understands the need for proper investment in Limerick and is committed to supporting the Mid West Region.

Mr Varadkar has announced a total of 100m for projects nationwide under the urban regeneration fund.
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Limerick management has issued an urgent public appeal in response to major overcrowding in its emergency department this Monday.

According to figures published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on Monday morning, there were 68 patients being treated on trolleys in the ED and on an extra trolley or bed in the wards at the hospital in Dooradoyle.

The number of patients on trolleys at UHL is 15.5% of the overcrowding problem nationally.

In a statement to the media this Monday, the UL Hospitals Group said it is appealing to members of the public to consider all their care options before presenting to the Emergency Department at UHL.

The hospital is currently managing high volumes of patients including significant volumes of frail elderly patients with chronic conditions and complex care needs.

The spokesperson said it apologises for any inconvenience caused to patients or their loved ones who have experienced long wait times in the ED at UHL, and we would like to reassure patients and their families that we are working to alleviate the situation.

He said that members of the public are urged to consider all their care options at this time and not to attend the emergency department unless necessary. Injury Units in St Johns, Ennis and Nenagh hospitals are open for appropriate injuries.

Injury Units are open in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday and 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday at St John's Hospital.

Others with a less serious illness can be treated by their GP or out of hours GP service where their GP can refer them to an Assessment Unit the following day if required. However, if you are seriously injured or ill or are worried your life is at risk the ED will assess and treat you as a priority.
STUDENTS at the University of Limerick are to stage a boycott this Wednesday against several on-campus restaurants and cafes, due to the operators affiliation with the direct provision system.

Aramark, which provides services to three direct provision centres in Ireland including Knockalisheen on the Limerick Clare border, runs seven restaurants and cafes on the UL campus, including Eden, Chopped and Subway and the Red Raisin.

With protests set to take place on campus this Wednesday, November 28, UL Student Life, the student representative body, is asking students and staff to choose UL restaurants and cafes that are not operated by Aramark.

Instead of telling students where not to go, were giving them options of where else to go on campus because there is such a monopoly on the Aramark run places, UL Student Life Welfare Officer Lorcan ODonnell said.

There seems to be a huge amount of support from the UL community, from both students and staff, he added.

A lunchtime protest and demonstration is also set to take place on Wednesday at the Red Raisin, he added.

UL as a University of Sanctuary provides scholarships to people living in direct provision.

The student-led campaign against Aramark was launched last month as students feel it is contradictory to offer scholarships to those living in direct provision while at the same time being involved with a company linked with the system, Mr ODonnell added.

Weve sat down with the Sanctuary Scholarship Committee and the coordinators of that as well as the students themselves, Mr ODonnell said.

We want this campaign to be very much an amplification of their voices and of their campaign.

Weve sat down with them to hear what supports they want and what they might need.

They are really supportive of the campaign, he added.

Over the next month or two, if they are willing to, we are hoping to sit down with Aramark to voice our concerns and to try and see if we can negotiate some way to improve the standards of living in direct provision.

A UL spokesperson said: UL is a University of Sanctuary providing for people in direct provision by giving them opportunities to attend university, with 17 scholarships funded this year.

UL has serious concerns about the governments direct provision programme for asylum seekers, particularly with the way in which they are housed and their lack of opportunity to work or access the social services available to any other resident in the State, the spokesperson added.

UL is aware of the concerns of students on this matter and has raised these concerns with Aramark. Aramark have a contract with UL to provide food services and are performing in line with that contract.
The Frolic of The Beasts

By Yukio Mishima.

Vintage. 176 pp. $16.

Yukio Mishima's 1961 novel "The Frolic of the Beasts," a compelling tale of love and violence, has only now appeared in English for the first time. Admirers of the enigmatic Japanese master have reason to rejoice. Those still unfamiliar with his work might very well have a new entryway to one of the most vital - and troubling - literary voices of the 20th century. Of course, it's impossible to discuss Mishima's extraordinary life and work without also noting his extreme politics and the circumstances surrounding his gruesome death.

Born in Tokyo in 1925, Mishima published his first book in 1944, shortly before the cataclysmic end of Japan's involvement in World War II. His 1949 novel "Confessions of a Mask" established him as a leading voice in that nation's literary life, alongside Kenzaburo Oe, Taeko Kono, Kobo Abe and others. Remarkable novels followed, including "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion" and "The Sailor Who Fell from Grace With the Sea." For the short remainder of his life, Mishima also wrote the stories and drama (including traditional Noh plays) that defined postwar literature - and not only in Japan.

His "Sea of Fertility" tetralogy stands as one of the epic achievements of 20th-century letters. The day Mishima finished writing the fourth volume, in 1970, he led a nationalistic plot intended to return power to the imperial throne. His group of far-right extremists visited a military base and took the commandant hostage. Unable to persuade the resident soldiers to join him, he committed ritual suicide by disemboweling himself. And he knew what he was doing. The samurai practice of seppuku, or hara-kiri, was something he had described in gory detail a decade earlier in his short story "Patriotism":

"Despite the effort he had himself put into the blow, the lieutenant had the impression that someone else had struck the side of his stomach agonizingly with a thick rod of iron. For a second or so his head reeled and he had no idea what had happened. The five or six inches of naked point had vanished completely into his flesh, and the white bandage, gripped in his clenched fist, pressed directly against his stomach."

The pain of that story - not to mention the nihilistic self-righteousness - remains palpable with every rereading. The same year Mishima published that memento mori, he also wrote "The Frolic of the Beasts." Andrew Clare's translation provides a ripe opportunity to revisit Mishima's mind-set at that time.

The story is straightforward, though told in a meandering style that moves back and forth in time. As the book opens, a man named Koji is getting out of prison and arriving at a remote fishing port. There, he meets his former lover Yuko and the intrigue begins:

"As they began to walk, Yuko was seized with anxiety that it had been a mistake to take charge of this forlorn young orphan. Since deciding to care for him, she had not once experienced such a sense of trepidation, which was clearly therefore some sort of presentiment. She had even been censured for her rashness by the prison governor, who said he had never before heard of a case where a member of the victim's family had become the criminal's guarantor."

Koji has been given a job in a greenhouse and invited to live with Yuko and her husband, Ippei. Details about their complicated past arrive in a slow drip of information that we know lead toward a "final wretched incident." Ippei's aphasia - the result of a fractured cranium - complicates matters in unexpected and terrible ways. By the time we reach the end, Mishima's twisty timeline pays huge dividends. A powerful epilogue ties a neat ribbon around the plot.

Mishima's sensibilities will seem a bit dated to contemporary readers. For example, the excessive and repetitive attention to the breast size of every female character is - to put it in technical terms - yucky. On the other hand, I did enjoy underlining the many fun and weird similes. The nighttime stars are like a "huge blanket of shiny mildew growing across the heavens." The night itself is like a "colossal, intense piece of meat saturated with hot blood." A woman's face is like a "beautiful half-open sea cucumber." Let that one sink in for a moment.

"The Frolic of the Beasts" comes to us in the midst of a Mishima moment. In addition to the welcome publication of this novel, Hiroaki Sato's tremendous new book "On Haiku" includes some of Mishima's earliest poems. One of them goes, in its entirety: "Here's a stain of perfume on an old ball gown." Next spring will bring another, previously untranslated work of Mishima's fiction, his novella "Star."

By my thinking, Mishima is a magnificent and important storyteller whose implicit value system just happens to make me ever so leery. Perhaps today's rekindled interest in his work can be chalked up to coincidence. Or maybe there exists another reason some historical examples of far-right extremism and political violence and nihilism elsewhere now resonate so loudly here.

- --

Ervin is the author of the novel "Burning Down George Orwell's House" and the novella collection "Extraordinary Renditions." His most recent book is "Bit By Bit: How Video Games Transformed Our World."
U.S. Border Patrol agents working north of Laredo on U.S. 83 arrested a man attempting to smuggle 12 undocumented immigrants.

Agents from the Laredo North Station conducted a vehicle stop on a pick-up truck that was traveling north on U.S. 83. The driver of the vehicle pulled into a local store's parking lot and came to a stop. As the agents approached, they noticed several people concealed in the cargo and passenger cab areas of the vehicle.

READ ALSO: Additional charges filed in fatal crash that killed Laredo mother and daughter

The 12 passengers were determined to be Mexican nationals illegally in the United States. The driver was determined to be a U.S. citizen.

They were all arrested and transported to the Laredo North Station for processing.

The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
The Senate was able to get enough votes to pass a bill to ban anyone under 21 from getting tobacco and vaping products, but there might not be enough votes in the House to get the bill passed over the governors veto.

Lawmakers are back in Springfield on Tuesday for the final week of the session. Theyre moving through several dozen vetoes the governor issued earlier this year.

Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the Tobacco 21 measure. He said raising the age people can purchase tobacco products will push residents to buy tobacco products from non-licensed vendors or in neighboring states.

Furthermore, the existing penalty that this legislation removes for minors possessing tobacco is reasonable, provides the opportunity for education on the harmful effects of tobacco products, and is a disincentive for tobacco use, the governor wrote in his veto message. Eliminating this penalty will make it harder for communities to effectively address the public health issues connected to tobacco products.

Regardless, the Senate overrode the veto of the Tobacco 21 bill, Senate Bill 2332, earlier this month.

Upper Limits vape shop manager Jon Sharp in Springfield said the measure said vaping can help people quit smoking cigarettes.

We already consider under the law 18-year-olds to be adults, Sharp said. So the idea telling an 18-year-old they can buy a house, they can serve in the military but they cant access tobacco harm reduction seems backward.

State Rep. Robert Martwick, one of the cosponsors of the bill in the House, said it initially passed with 61 votes. Lawmakers need 71 votes to override.

I hope that we can garner the votes, but I think its a stretch to think we can pick up another ten, Martwick said.

Martwick, D-Chicago, said Rauner didnt really lean on lawmakers to oppose the bill initially. Martwick said that signified to him that its more about the policy.

I think people who voted on Tobacco 21, thats where they stand on this issue, Martwick said. So I dont know that theres going to be after almost two years of advocates trying to get people on board on this, I dont know if its possible to pick up another ten. Again I hope it is, I know theyve been working it, but I think it would be a long shot.

If the House doesnt act, the bill dies. It could come back next year.

This is the final week of the 100th General Assembly before lawmakers close up shop. The 101st General Assembly will be seated in January.
Just hours after migrant families at the southern border were tear-gassed by U.S. authorities and tensions escalated between Russia and Ukraine, President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Sunday night armed with harsh words. But his ire wasn't directed at Customs and Border Protection officers or foreign leaders. Instead, the president was in a fit over a "60 Minutes" segment about family separations at the border, accusing "Fake 60 Minutes" of running a "phony story."

The "60 Minutes" investigation into the Trump administration's controversial "zero tolerance" policy, which aired Sunday evening, found that family separations had been going on for much longer than previously reported. Citing a 2017 "pilot program" that was rolled out months before then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions's April announcement of the policy's official implementation, the report concluded that "there may never be an accurate count of how many children were taken from their parents."

The roughly 13-minute-long report appeared to leave Trump incensed, prompting the president to issue scathing back-to-back tweets in which he again erroneously claimed that his "zero tolerance" policy is "the exact same" as former president Barack Obama's and attacked the "Fake Media." Trump's immigration crackdown was met with so much backlash that he abruptly halted separations in June and that same month a federal judge ordered the government to reunify thousands of children with their families.

"[60 Minutes] did a phony story about child separation when they know we had the exact same policy as the Obama Administration," he tweeted. "In fact a picture of children in jails was used by other Fake Media to show how bad (cruel) we are, but it was in 2014 during [Obama] years."

Trump was likely referencing a 2014 Associated Press photo of immigrant children sleeping in chain-link enclosures that was widely shared after his policy was made public. The "60 Minutes" segment did not use the 2014 picture, but included images released by Customs and Border Protection in June of a facility in McAllen, Texas, that showed children being held in similar cage-like areas.

In a second tweet eight minutes later, Trump wrote that both Obama and former president George W. Bush separated children from their parents "because that is the policy and law."

"I tried to keep them together but the problem is, when you do that, vast numbers of additional people storm the Border," he tweeted. "So with Obama seperation [sic] is fine, but with Trump it's not. Fake 60 Minutes!"

Bill Owens, executive editor of "60 Minutes," told The Washington Post in an email late Sunday that "we stand by our story," but declined further comment.

The investigation included a number of interviews with experts familiar with the country's immigration system and detention facilities, as well as the account of a Honduran immigrant who was separated from his 3-year-old son. "60 Minutes" also obtained an uncensored copy of an order from the Department of Homeland Security, which revealed that their policy to separate children had started "nine months earlier than the administration acknowledged." The document stated that the policy was meant to deter immigrants, but data shows the number of entry attempts along the Mexico border has increased since March, The Post's Philip Bump reported in June.

Trump's tweets about Sunday's broadcast were met with widespread criticism, with many accusing the president of lying.

There were cases of family separation when Obama was president, but those involved children who were being trafficked or occurred if officials could not confirm that the adult was the child's parent, The Post's Seung Min Kim reported. While the underlying laws were the same during the Obama administration, Obama "did not have the same 'zero tolerance' policy," according to The Post's Fact Checker database.

Other critics slammed the president for tweeting about "60 Minutes" instead of addressing the use of tear gas on migrants at the border between Tijuana and California - a group that included mothers and children - or the tense standoff in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine.

On Sunday, a demonstration involving members of the Central American migrant caravan who were protesting the slow pace of U.S. asylum claims turned into chaos as hundreds stormed the border in an attempt to gain entry to the U.S., The Post reported. In response, U.S. border officials fired tear gas into Mexico and closed the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the largest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana. A now-viral photo of a mother and her two young children, one of whom is still in diapers, running from tear gas has since sparked intense outcry.

Thousands of miles away in the Kerch Strait, Russian vessels opened fire on a Ukrainian fleet Sunday, injuring six sailors, and seizing two of the ships, The Post reported. The conflict has resulted in Moscow closing an important water route and Ukraine's president expressing support for installing martial law across the country for 60 days. Other foreign powers including the E.U. and Canada have already called for "de-escalation."
"African American poverty has reached its lowest rate ever, lowest rate ever." - President Donald Trump, at a rally in Lebanon , Ohio, Oct. 12.

"Hispanic American poverty has reached an all-time low." - Trump, at a rally in Houston, Oct. 22.

"Hispanic American homeownership recently hit its highest rate in much more than a decade." - Trump, at a rally in Houston , Oct. 22

"Homeownership is up for African Americans - way up, every category. They're doing better than they did with the past administration or the Democrats." -

Trump, in an interview with the Daily Caller , Sept. 3.

"You look at median income for African Americans. It's at the best it's ever been in the history of our country." - Trump, in an interview with Shannon Bream on Fox News , Oct. 10

"Hispanic American median household income - Hispanic Americans - think of it - median income reached an all-time high." - Trump, at a rally in Houston , Oct. 22.

- - -

"What do you have to lose?" was the question then-candidate Trump regularly posed to minority voters. Speaking directly to Hispanic and African American voters who tend to lean Democratic, his argument was simple: Democrats had not succeeded in advancing your economic prospects - so why not give Republicans a shot?

Fast-forward two years. Now president, Trump claims he has been successful. As evidence, he points to the "lowest [poverty] rate ever," an "all-time high" median income and booming homeownership rates for Hispanics and African Americans.

Regular readers of The Fact Checker know we tend to award Two Pinocchios to anyone who gives sole credit to a president for the state of the economy. That's because the U.S. economy is complex, and the decisions of companies and consumers often loom larger than the acts of government officials. The economy is doing well, and, as we've previously reported, many of the positive trends started before Trump took office.

But Trump's claim here is more specific. Have his policies had an outsize impact for African American and Hispanic communities compared with the country overall? Let's dig in.

- Poverty rate: President Trump claimed the poverty rate for African Americans has "reached its lowest rate ever," and for Hispanics, it "has reached an all-time low." At first look, Trump's statements are correct, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The official poverty rate for African Americans fell to 21.2 percent in 2017. For Hispanics, it dropped to 18.3 percent.

But, as we've noted before, scholars increasingly believe that the official poverty estimate is somewhat misleading and not especially informative. This is in large part because transfer payments - such as the earned-income tax credit or food stamps - are not recorded as income, so their impact isn't incorporated into the official figure. To assuage these concerns, the Census Bureau introduced a second poverty measure in 2011 - the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). (This also has critics.)

The overall SPM is declining at a slower rate than the official poverty rate, dropping only 2.2 points since its peak. For African Americans, its lowest point was in 2016 with a slight uptick in 2017. Hispanic Americans, however, did see the lowest rate ever in 2017.

Despite the data, experts are hesitant to credit the president with success. Gregory Acs, vice president for income and benefits policy at the Urban Institute, said the economy is still largely a "reflection of the policy environment that was in place for the last several years" before Trump took office. Plus, he noted that the effects of the Trump tax cut, the president's signature economic achievement, were not reflected in 2017 data.

- Homeownership rate: Trump touted his impact on minority homeownership rates, telling audiences that Hispanics now own homes at the "highest rate in much more than a decade." He boasted that homeownership among African Americans is "way up," and they are "doing better than they did with the past administration or the Democrats."

Homeownership rates have declined across the board since the recession. But the housing crisis hit the African American community particularly hard. In 2004, almost half of African Americans owned homes. In 2017, African American homeownership dropped 6.6 percentage points. Jonathan Spader, a senior research associate at Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, said part of the steep decline was due to the type of loans African American households had used to finance their homes.

Hispanic households also saw a decline. A decade ago, in 2007, 49.7 percent of Hispanics owned homes. In 2017, 46.2 percent of Hispanics owned homes.

Homeownership rates for both demographics have started to recover in recent years - 2015 for Hispanics and 2016 for African Americans. The market started to stabilize, Spader explained, and once the foreclosure backlog cleared, the overall economy improved, and real wages started to increase again. And so, the recent uptick in homeownership, he says, has more to do with overall trends than any new federal housing policy.

- Median income: Median income represents the midpoint of household income - half of American households earn more, and half earn less. Trump claimed median income for African Americans is "the best it's ever been in the history of our country." For Hispanics, he said it had reached "an all-time high."

Although growth has been sluggish over the past several decades, generally speaking, incomes have been rising. Median income for Hispanics has reached an all-time high. But African American median income, which was $40,258 in 2017, still lags more than $2,100 behind its level in 2000. Plus, after gains over $1,000 in 2015 and 2016, median income for African Americans fell in 2017.

Acs explained: "The income growth we've seen is essentially a continuation of the trends once the recovery picked up steam." That's not a surprise, he noted. "We expect income to grow if the economy is growing."

(We asked the White House for comment on our analysis but did not receive a response.)

The president cited six statistics: median income, homeownership rates and poverty rate for both African Americans and Hispanics. In each case, he claimed there had been marked improvement since he took office. Only three of those statistics were numerically accurate. And in each of those cases - Hispanic American median income and the poverty rate for both African Americans and Hispanic Americans - the underlying economic trends started well before Trump took office. Plus, experts say his tax cut had yet to filter into available data.

The president is often eager to prove his economic might. But he should be more careful when promoting success. He earns Three Pinocchios.

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Video: President Trump claims to have done what he said Democrats had not: improve the median income, poverty and homeownership rates of African Americans and Hispanics. But some of those claims don't measure up to the facts.(Meg Kelly/The Washington Post)

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Warkworth resident Ruth Scandrett is looking to start a book club through the Book Discussion Scheme.

The club would meet every second month in the evening and books will be provided for free.

The scheme is a not-for-profit organisation that looks after about 11,000 readers in New Zealand.

Ruth says after discovering its she figured it would be a good way to start an open club for like-minded people, members. To join, or start your own club through the scheme, contact Megan megan@bds.org.nz
More than 100 ex-servicemen, officials and local residents gathered at the Warkworth war memorial on Church Hill for a service to commemorate the Armistice Day centenary on November 11.

Warkworth RSA president John Stephen led the proceedings and read an account of the liberation of the French town of Le Quesnoy by Kiwi soldiers after it had been in German occupation for almost four years.

Bishop John Bluck also spoke, and reflected on the huge losses sustained locally  245 men went to fight, only 65 returned  and by New Zealand as a whole, which lost more lives proportionately than any other country in the then-British Empire.

There were only one million of us here then, he said. Nearly 18,000 died and 45,000 were injured, and who knows how many more were damaged. Those losses changed us all forever.

We mourn those losses, of course, as we do every November 11 and Armistice Day. But we also remember the jubilation when news that the war was ended reached New Zealand.

There was cheering, singing, tooting, piping, rattling in what the Evening Post in Wellington called a roaring chorus of gladsome sounds.

He said that while the deeply held dream of peace on earth had failed to come to pass, people needed to pray that our children would never have to fight as their forebears had to.

Wreaths were then laid by service and local government representatives and, following the service, a special lunch was held at the RSA.

Meanwhile, a large crowd including members of the Patriots Defence Force Motorcycle Club gathered at the memorial in Matakana for a service conducted by Reverend Bryan Taylor. After the two minute silence, 25 white doves were released by school students from Matakana and Mahurangi College.
The inaugural Albert Reynolds Memorial Lecture will be delivered by former British Prime Minister, Sir John Major, on Monday, December 10 at 5.30pm in Backstage Theatre, Longford and details of how to apply for tickets for the prestigious event have been released.

A limited number of seats will be available to the public in the main auditorium. Additional seating will be provided in the Backstage Canal Studio with live streaming and a limited number of seats will be available to the public to view the live streaming.

If you are interested in attending the Albert Reynolds Memorial Lecture, please email events@longfordcoco.ie by Tuesday, December 4 at the latest.

As it is anticipated that this event will be over-subscribed, Longford County Council will allocate tickets and seats. Those who can be accommodated at the event will be notified by email.

Sinead Hussey, multimedia journalist from RTE, will be MC for the event.



Background

In 2017, the then Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Councillor Mick Cahill, proposed that Albert Reynoldss contribution to the Peace Process be honoured in his home county.

In consultation with the Reynolds family, it was agreed that a fitting way of remembering his legacy would be by way of an Annual Memorial Lecture on the broad themes of peace, reconciliation and citizenship.

Sir John Major who, along with Albert Reynolds, was responsible for the Downing Street Declaration, was the unanimous choice to give the inaugural lecture.

A letter of invitation was issued by the Cathaoirleach, and Sir John responded that he would be delighted to honour his late friend and respected colleague.



It is appropriate that the lecture is taking place on December 10, in the week of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Downing Street Declaration.

Also read: Longford Annual 2018 is on sale now
Plans to roll out a major regeneration drive across County Longford have been given a 1m cash injection.

Fine Gael councillor and Longford general election candidate Micheal Carrigy said the seven figure sum would go towards underpinning urban regeneration and development projects across Longford.

It's expected the bulk of the monies will go towards enhancement works in the Grafton Court and Shopping Centre area, St Mel's Road and Market Square.

I am delighted that Longford has been announced among the first funding allocations under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund," said Cllr Carrigy.

This fund will run until 2027, with a second call for proposals in 2019, so it is important to stress that there will be further opportunity to re-apply for future funding calls.

Project Ireland 2040 demonstrates a new approach to planning and development in Ireland, recognising that we cannot continue with a business as usual approach."

Independent Cllr Gerry Warnock took to his own Facebook page to reveal he had fielded a call from OPW Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran last night to inform him of the news.

"This vital money will allow us to commence work on project elements such as the Market Square; the Tesco Carpark and Grafton Court Regeneration as well as other street scape enhancement in early 2019," he said

"When coupled with last week's 500k towards the Canal Project, this gives us a yield of 1.5m for Longford Town Regeneration Projects in less than a week... with more to follow in 2019.

"Fantastic work by Longford County Council's Executive and Regeneration Team."
Local News, Crime, Business & Finance, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 26 2018

New Pennies for Charity Report  Released Ahead of Giving Tuesday  Details Costs of Fundraising Campaigns Conducted by Professional Fundraisers; In 2017, Professional Fundraisers Pocketed $372 Million.

New York, NY - November 26, 2018 - Ahead of Giving Tuesday and holiday season charitable giving, Attorney General Underwood today released the annual Ahead of Giving Tuesday and holiday season charitable giving, Attorney General Underwood today released the annual Pennies for Charity: Where Your Money Goes; Fundraising by Professional Fundraisers report, which found that nearly one-third of charitable donations ended up in the pockets of professional fundraisers. This years report looks at fundraising trends such as online crowdfunding as well as the percentage of funds raised that went to charities.

New York has a robust charitable sector, supported by generous giving by New Yorkers. In 2017, more than $1.18 billion was raised in New York State through 964 fundraising campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers on behalf of charities. These campaigns, which are the focus of the report, used a range of methods including special events, direct mail, and telemarketing. The report and the searchable Pennies for Charity database containing the underlying data is posted at www.CharitiesNYS.com

Of the more than $1.18 billion raised through campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers, charities netted over $812 million, or 69% of the proceeds, while professional fundraisers fees and expenses totaled $372 million, or 31%.

New Yorkers are generous in their charitable giving  and they should know how their dollars are being spent, Attorney General Underwood said. Too often, a large percentage of charitable dollars are pocketed by outside fundraisers rather than going to the cause itself. I urge all New Yorkers to be careful, and to report suspicious entities to my office.

This years report also looked at recent fundraising trends, such as the increase in use of crowdfunding platforms. Telemarketing, while continuing to decline as a fundraising method, remained among the costliest mechanisms, with 271 telemarketing campaigns by fundraisers retaining more than 50% of funds raised for charities.

Pennies for Charity aggregates information from fundraising reports filed with the Attorney Generals Charities Bureau for campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers on behalf of charities in the previous year. Professional fundraisers must register with the Office of the Attorney General and provide financial reports that break down the revenue raised and the expenses generated by the campaign.

Other significant findings from analyzing the 964 fundraising campaigns covered by this report include:

In 313 campaigns, or approximately 32% of the campaigns covered in the report, fundraisers retained more than 50% of the funds raised, with 49% or less going to the charity.

Charities retained $812 million overall of the funds solicited from the campaigns; fundraisers retained $372 million.

In 156 campaigns (16%), fundraising expenses exceeded charitable revenue. In 2017, this loss to charities totaled more than $10 million.

The Office of the Attorney General actively investigates suspect fundraising practices. In the past year, the Charities Bureaus Operation Bottomfeeder shut down the Reserve Police Officers Association, a sham charity that raised more than $15 million over a decade of telemarketing campaigns, but in some years spent less than $300 to aid reserve officers and their families. Operation Bottomfeeder also shut down a Brooklyn-based professional fundraiser, Menacola Marketing, that frequently misrepresented charities work in its telemarketing campaigns, and that retained 85% of the funds it raised for charities.

To assist charities in navigating the world of professional fundraisers, the report includes tips for charities hiring fundraisers.

The report also includes tips for donors, including specific guidance for responding to phone, direct mail, or online solicitations. Key tips include:

Take Time to Research the Organization. Make sure you are familiar with the organization, its mission, and its effectiveness before giving. Always ask for information in writing  and be wary if an organization will not provide information about its charitable programs and finances upon request. Any legitimate organization will be happy to send you information.

Consult charitiesnys.com to make sure that the organization is registered, and to learn more about its mission and finances.

Online platforms that host groups and individuals soliciting for causes do not vet those who use their service. Donors should find out whether a charity has authorized the campaign and if their contribution is tax deductible. Online platforms can be reached through their Contact Us button. You can also take a look at the sites policy statements to see how the site functions and what fees it charges.

Search the charitys name on the internet for reports of possible scams or law enforcement actions and check the charitys rating on watchdog sites like Charity Navigator ( www.charitynavigator.org ).

Know Where Your Money Will Go. Ask specifically how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and organizations your donation will support. Avoid charities that make emotional appeals and are vague in answering your questions. If you have been contacted by a telemarketer, review Pennies for Charity to see how much is spent on fundraising costs and how much is kept by the charity.

Dont Be Pressured by Telemarketers. If you receive a telephone call from someone asking you to contribute to a charity, you have the right to hang up. Often the caller is a professional fundraiser who is being paid to call you.

If you choose to consider the callers request, ask how much of your donation will go to charity and if the telemarketer is being paid; many telemarketing companies receive most of the money they raise. Be wary of claims such as all proceeds will go to charity. Telemarketers are required to identify themselves and their employer and tell you they are being paid to call you. They also must respond truthfully to your questions. Dont fall for pressure tactics, such as repeated phone calls or threats. These are signs that the organization may not be legitimate. Always remember you have the right to say no to any charitable request.

You can ask to receive information about the cause and a solicitation by mail.

Consider making a plan for your charitable giving so you are not vulnerable to sudden pressure.

Ask to Be Put On a Do Not Call List. You have the right to request to be placed on the telemarketers Do Not Call list. It is not illegal for telemarketers for charities to call telephone numbers on the FTCs Do Not Call Registry, but consumers can stop such calls by telling telemarketers not to call them on behalf of specific charities. Telemarketers are required to honor such requests. You may also ask a charity to take you off its solicitation list.

Be Wary of Deceptive Tactics and Emotional Appeals. Watch out for charities with names that resemble those of prominent or established organizationsespecially on days designated to charitable giving. Some charities use names similar to well-known charities in order to confuse donors. Be wary of emotional appeals that talk about problems, but are vague on how donations will be spent.

Dont Disclose Personal Information. Never give your social security number or other personal information in response to a charitable solicitation. Never give out credit card information over the phone or to an organization you are not familiar with.

If Donating Online or Via Text, Donate Securely. Always make sure that you are using secure methods of payment. When donating online, make sure the website is secure and includes https:// in the web address. Before hitting send on a text donation, check the charitys website or call the charity to make sure contributions by text message are authorized. Some text solicitations are scams. Also, remember that donating by text means the organization may not receive the funds until after your phone bill is paid; contributions made directly to a charity can reach them faster.

Never Give Cash. Give your contribution by check made payable to the charity.

To Help in a Disaster, Give to Organizations You Know or That Have Experience in This Work. Ask if the charity has already worked in the affected area or has relationships with local relief organizations.

Report Suspicious Organizations. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a scam is taking place, please contact the Attorney Generals Charities Bureau at charities.bureau@ag.ny.gov or (212) 416-8401.

Hanna Rubin, Director of Registrations and Fundraising Sections for the Attorney Generals Charities Bureau, authored this report, with the support of Charities Bureau Fundraising supervisor Siobhan Blank and Enforcement Co-Section Chief Yael Fuchs. Data analysis was provided by Deputy Research Director Megan Thorsfeldt. James Sheehan is the Charities Bureau Chief and Karin Kunstler Goldman is the Deputy Bureau Chief. The Charities Bureau is part of the Social Justice Division, led by Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Matthew Colangelo.
Elderly Man Makes Off with Widescreen TV from Rocky Point Business, Cops Say

Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 26 2018

Officials: A man stole a 40-inch Samsung Smart television set from Kohls.

SCPD are seeking the man who stole merchandise from a Rocky Point store.

Rocky Point, NY - November 26, 2018 - Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Seventh Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the publics help to identify and locate the man who stole merchandise from a Rocky Point store last month.

A man stole a 40-inch Samsung Smart television set from Kohls, located at 346 Route 25A, on October 30, at approximately 8:50 a.m.

The man is described as elderly, white and balding. He was wearing a zip-up cardigan sweater and khaki pants. He fled the scene in a white Nissan Altima.
Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases, Politics

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 26 2018

Heavy Rain and Snow to Create Difficult Driving Conditions During Monday Evening and Tuesday Morning Commutes.

New York, NY - November 26, 2018 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today urged New Yorkers to travel with caution as a coastal storm system is expected to bring rain and snow across the majority of the state. Rain is forecasted for the majority of the state, while areas with higher elevations in the North Country may see moderate to heavy snowfall. In the Mid-Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island regions, New Yorkers can expect heavy rainfall throughout the day, especially during this evening's commute. Flash flood watches will be in effect from 12 p.m. Monday through this evening for the downstate region due to the heavy rain. Coastal flood warnings will be in effect from 12 p.m. today until 3 p.m. and from Midnight tonight to 4 a.m. Tuesday for the vulnerable coastal localities along the western Long Island Sound. Coastal flood advisories during high tides will also be in effect today and tonight for the shores of Suffolk County, Staten Island and Manhattan. With the potential for flooding downstate and for snow accumulations upstate, drivers are being urged to travel with extreme caution and prepare for the possibility of difficult road conditions.

"Mother Nature has once again brought a heavy storm system to New York, with possibilities for heavy snow upstate and flash flooding downstate that could create dangerous driving conditions," Governor Cuomo said. "Our state agencies and emergency managers are prepared to deploy resources to communities as needed, and I encourage all New Yorkers to plan ahead and stay informed as the storm progresses."

In addition to the heavy rains forecasted for the downstate regions, lake effect snow is also expected upstate. Heavy snow is possible at times with accumulations between two to five inches for most regions of upstate and between six to 18 inches in the typical lake effect band areas of the Chautauqua Ridge and Tug Hill Plateau. The snow will fall over a 48-hour period.

A winter storm warning is in effect from 7 p.m. this evening to 7 p.m. Tuesday for Essex, Clinton, Hamilton, Herkimer and Warren Counties. Heavy snow is expected with total accumulations of four to eight inches mainly in areas of higher elevations. Winter advisories are also in effect from 7 p.m. this evening to 7 p.m. Tuesday for St. Lawrence, Franklin and Essex Counties in the North Country, with snow accumulations of three to six inches expected.

For a complete listing of weather watches, warnings, advisories and latest forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website

Safe Travel

If traveling during heavy rain, please drive with care and keep these safety tips in mind:

DO NOT attempt to drive over a flooded road. Turn around and go another way.

DO NOT underestimate the destructive power of fast-moving water. Two feet of fast-moving flood water will float your car. Water moving at two m.p.h. can sweep cars off a road or bridge.

Leave early to avoid being marooned on flooded roads.

Follow recommended routes. DO NOT ignore emergency detours to view flooded areas.

As you travel, monitor NOAA Weather Radio and local radio broadcasts for the latest information.

Watch for washed-out roads, earth-slides, broken water or sewer mains, loose or downed electrical wires, and falling or fallen objects.

Watch for areas where rivers or streams may suddenly rise and flood, such as highway dips, bridges, and low areas.

If you are in your car and water begins to rise rapidly around you, abandon the vehicle immediately.

Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:

When winter storms strike, do not drive unless necessary.

Use caution on bridges as ice can form quicker than on roads.

Wet leaves on roadways can cause slippery conditions, making it important to drive at slower speeds when approaching patches of them.

If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, a set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag.

Do not attempt to drive over flooded roads; turn around and go another way. Water moving at two m.p.h. can sweep cars off a road or bridge.

Additionally, the leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, ensure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars, be extra alert, and remember, snowdrifts can hide smaller children. Moreover, always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.

It's important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 m.p.h., which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time.

Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted.

Agency Preparations

The State Department of Transportation responds to storms with nearly 1,600 large dump trucks, over 175 medium duty plows, 14 vacuum trucks with sewer jets and hundreds of other pieces of equipment, including snow blowers, smaller plow trucks, loaders and graders. This equipment, as well as more than 3,500 operators and supervisors, are deployed across the state as necessary in advance of winter storms to help keep roads safe.

Motorists are reminded to check 511NY before traveling at www.511NY.org or by downloading the mobile app. The free service allows users to check road conditions and features a winter travel advisory system with real-time travel reports and a color-coded map indicating which state roads are clear, wet or snow covered. The system provides motorists with a helpful resource to determine if travel is advisable.
Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 26 2018

Osmel Perdomo, 14, was last seen at his home on Saturday, November 24.

UPDATE - November 27, 2018 - Police report that Osmel Perdomo has been located.

Below is the original report.

Uniondale, NY - November 26, 2018 - The Missing Persons Squad reports the details of a Missing Juvenile that occurred on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 1:00 a.m. in The Missing Persons Squad reports the details of a Missing Juvenile that occurred on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 1:00 a.m. in Uniondale

According to detectives, Osmel Perdomo, 14, was last seen at his home on Nassau Rd. He is described as a male Hispanic, 56, 145 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black pants with a black hooded sweatshirt and black sneakers. He left the scene southbound in a red sedan. His possible destination is unknown.
Local News, Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: November 26 2018

The 29 year-old male victim was a passenger in a vehicle parked on Wantagh Avenue, cops say.

Bethpage, NY - November 26, 2018 - The Second Squad is investigating a Robbery that occurred in The Second Squad is investigating a Robbery that occurred in Bethpage on Sunday, November 25, 2018 at 4:00 am.

According to detectives, a 29 year old male victim was a front passenger in a vehicle parked after being picked up at The Living Room bar located at 286 Wantagh Avenue. At this time two unknown male subjects approached the victim while sitting in the vehicle. Subject one reached through the side window of the car and grabbed two gold chains off the victims neck. The victim exited the vehicle and subject one hit the victim in the head with a bottle. The two subjects then entered a black BMW and were observed driving away south on Wantagh Avenue. The victim suffered a laceration and a contusion to his head. He was transported in a Nassau County Police Ambulance to a nearby local hospital for treatment. The proceeds were not recovered.

Subject one is described as being male, black, dreadlock hair style, slim build, 60 tall, white sweatshirt, and blue jeans.

Subject two is only described as being a black male.
One man was ordered held in lieu of $50,000 cash bail while a second man was ordered held without the right to bail after they were found to be carrying a firearm and deadly weapons.

Barkley Manuel, 25, of Randolph, and Jamaine Burton, 29, of Boston, were arrested by state police following a traffic stop in Revere late Saturday night.

According to a state police release, Manuel and Burton were riding in a Lexus with "unlawfully dark window tinting" and when the vehicle was pulled over the arresting trooper noticed an open bottle of liquor in the car. When questioned Manuel, who was driving, gave a false name to the trooper.

It was determined that Manuel was driving without a valid license and he and Burton were arrested.

A subsequent search of the vehicle turned up a semi-automatic, 9mm handgun with ammunition and that each of the occupants was carrying a knife in violation of a Revere city ordinance.

Both men were charged with possession of a firearm, third offense, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card and possession of a high capacity weapon. They were additionally charged with being an armed career criminal.

Manuel was also cited for several motor vehicle violations.
Former students of Mount Ida College filed a class action lawsuit against the school Monday, six months after the college abruptly closed.

The lawsuit names as plaintiffs the college, the board of trustees and five representatives of the college and board.

"The fallout was catastrophic," the lawsuit states of the college's decision to close in May. "Among numerous consequences, students were faced with finding an alternative institution to meet their educational goals to which to transfer - a daunting task given that transfer deadlines for most institutions had passed or were imminent; many students were left with degree programs that were discontinued or credits that could not be transferred; and many students lost their scholarships and other forms of financial aid."

MassLive first reported Mount Ida was in acquisition talks with University of Massachusetts Amherst in early April, days before the institutions announced a deal that had UMass purchasing the 74-acre campus in Newton.

The suit alleges the college violated student privacy and was negligent in its representation of college finances to current and prospective students.

Academic data was shared with UMass Dartmouth officials by Mount Ida without authorization from students, according to the lawsuit.

Regarding college finances, the lawsuit alleges "The Defendants knew of the financial distress of Mount Ida by as early as 2014. The Defendants knew that Mount Ida was teetering on insolvency and that bankruptcy was seriously being considered," the suit states. "The Defendants knew that Mount Ida was not financially viable, yet they continued to offer enrollment up until all deadlines for admissions to other colleges had passed or were imminent ... The fact that Mount Ida was teetering on the brink of insolvency was deliberately withheld from current and prospective students. The Defendants made such representations and omissions to students for the purpose of inducing [students] to enroll and remain enrolled at Mount Ida."

Three students are named in the lawsuit as defendants on behalf of the student body: Tristan Squeri, a former Mount Ida student; Madeline McClain, a prospective student from New Jersey who had planned to enroll in the fall; and George O'Dea, a former student in the college's funeral service program.

"Instead of looking forward to my last year and all that it should be, I was now reapplying to colleges like I was a senior in high school all over again - only this time I was doing it at a frantic pace, with decisions needing to be made rapidly," said Squeri. He has since enrolled at Lesley University where he is pursuing a degree in graphic design. Squeri says he will be required to enroll in extra semesters to pursue his intended minor in animation.

The lawsuit is funded by Bob Hildreth, the founder of Inversant which offers financial incentives to low-income families.

Lawmakers including state Attorney General Maura Healey have called the closure of Mount Ida a "wake-up call" and said the state needs to take "proactive steps to prevent future chaos and financial harm to students, parents, faculty and staff."

The attorney general's office opened an investigation into whether college officials violated Massachusetts law in the abrupt closure of the school.
SPRINGFIELD -- Local legislators and representatives of the Springfield Museums said a $100,000 allocation from the state budget will help expand bilingual interactive exhibits at The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, promoting literacy and the local economy.

During a press conference Monday at the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Kay Simpson, president of the Springfield Museums, said the funds are "absolutely critical support." The Dr. Seuss Museum, named after famed Springfield native and children's author Theodor Seuss Geisel, has been a "huge success" since opening in June of 2017, she said.

Operations are further enhanced by the new round of state funds that supplement private fundraising efforts, she said.

"I think most of our legislative delegation knows that this museum has turned out to be a role model for how important museums are to cultural tourism," Simpson said. "We more than doubled our attendance at the Springfield Museums during the first year of opening the Dr. Seuss Museum."

The Springfield Museums plans to add several new interactive exhibits to the Seuss museum that will be fun and help visitors improve their literacy skills in both English and Spanish, Simpson said.

State Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, said that for every dollar invested in arts and culture, there is a return to the local economy in terms of museum visitors also spending money in local restaurants, stores, and local attractions.

He said he and other local legislators have made such investments among their top priorities.

A private capital fundraising effort led by the Springfield Museums Board of Trustees generated $7 million for capital needs including the new Seuss Museum.

Other legislators attending the ceremonial check presentation were Sen. James Welch, D-West Springfield, Rep. Jose Tosado, D-Springfield, and Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield.

The bilingual interactive exhibits are "really an extension of our literacy and education program," Lesser said.

While private fundraising efforts occur, the state steps in to help, he said.

The funds are an earmark from the fiscal 2019 state budget tied specifically to the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership/Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

The Seuss museum also received a $100,000 appropriation last fiscal year.
The city of Northampton is officially on record as opposing a natural gas pipeline project that's 25 miles away, because it would enable the expansion of fossil fuel use throughout the Pioneer Valley, including in Northampton.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline's "261 Upgrade Projects" would amend an existing interstate pipeline system that passes through Agawam. The amendments -- including upgrades to Tennessee's compressor station at 1615 Suffield St. -- would let Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, one of Tennessee's customers, sell more gas in Hampden and Hampshire counties to the north.

Northampton City Solicitor Alan Seewald last Monday informed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that the city is against the related expansion plans and wishes to be considered an intervenor in the Agawam project's federal licensing docket.

Intervention status would give the city certain powers, such as the right to seek an administrative rehearing of any relevant FERC decision. It would also grant the city legal standing to challenge any Agawam-specific FERC decision in court.

FERC will decide which parties are granted intervenor status.

Columbia's expansion in the Pioneer Valley, which is dependent upon Tennessee gaining a federal certificate in Agawam, would undermine Northampton's energy policy goals and further climate change, the city's intervention petition reads.

Northampton does not want Columbia Gas to lift its moratorium on new natural gas service in the city, according to the four-page motion filed with FERC.

"The City recognizes the dangerous outcomes of climate change and supports a rapid attainment of a goal of 100 percent clean, renewable energy," the document states.

Northampton and Easthampton are currently the subjects of a moratorium on new natural gas hookups, imposed by Columbia Gas in 2014. The moratorium, premised upon the existence of pipeline constraints, "compelled the city to expand its commitment to green energy modalities," the motion reads.

"Northampton and its neighbors are on a successful course of establishing a sustainable energy infrastructure that does not rely on fossil fuels," according to the petition.

Agawam compressor station to beef up power for natural gas expansion project 6 Gallery: Agawam compressor station to beef up power for natural gas expansion project

Reached for comment last week, Narkewicz noted that the Northampton City Council in October voted unanimously to oppose the growth of fossil fuel infrastructure in the city. The vote came weeks after explosions and fires attributed to Columbia Gas rocked the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts, killing one man, injuring others, and destroying homes.

"Based on that resolution, members of the council, working with local climate activists, asked me to exercise the city's right to intervene in the upcoming FERC proceeding," Narkewicz told The Republican.

Northampton City Council President Ryan O'Donnell did not return a telephone call seeking comment.

The federal commission, which evaluates new interstate pipeline projects, may grant intervenor status to affected landowners -- and to those with environmental or other concerns -- upon showing they have a "clear and direct interest" in the proceeding which no other party can adequately represent. Petitioners must show that their intervention is in the public interest.

Any person may submit comment for or against a pipeline project, whether they are intervenors or not, and FERC must consider that input.

Northampton is not the only party seeking intervention in the Agawam proceeding. The project's online docket is crammed with petitions from individual activists and activist groups, many of whom deployed identical cut-and-paste language to describe the project.

Two established anti-pipeline groups, PLAN-NE and Berkshire Environmental Action Team, filed their motions weeks ago, and made the argument that the Agawam project should not be viewed in isolation.

Others seeking to intervene include out-of-state energy companies that buy gas from Tennessee Gas Pipeline, such as Duke Energy of Ohio and Kentucky.

As is standard, the Massachusetts Attorney General and Energy Facilities Siting Board have petitioned to intervene. Two Northampton Democrats, state senator-elect Jo Comerford and representative-elect Lindsay Sabadosa, filed petitions, as did the Longmeadow Select Board.

Longmeadow has a special interest, because Tennessee Gas wants to build a meter station at the Longmeadow Country Club. The Longmeadow project is closely related to the Agawam project, because both would help Columbia Gas with its expansion plans.

Columbia Gas has said that its plans -- called the "Greater Springfield Reliability Project" -- would allow for abundant and redundant natural gas service in the Pioneer Valley by 2020. Columbia, regulated by the state, has said that its expansion plans are dependent upon the success of Tennessee's Agawam project, which is regulated by the federal government.

Nonetheless, the Agawam and Longmeadow projects will have to undergo a two-phased environmental review in Massachusetts, the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker has decided. That review process will provide additional opportunity for public comment.

In Agawam, Tennessee plans to upgrade an existing compressor station, and build a new, two-mile pipeline loop heading north. Columbia would connect to that loop and build its own six-mile pipeline through West Springfield to Holyoke. From a Longmeadow meter station, Columbia would build a new pipeline up the east side of the Connecticut River to Springfield.

Service moratoriums in Northampton and Easthampton would be lifted via a capacity swap, where Holyoke Gas & Electric would release some of its fuel to Columbia Gas in a long-term contract.

Some members of the business community have said the moratoriums are affecting economic development, particularly when it comes to restaurants. In other local communities with pipeline constraints -- Amherst, Hadley, Deerfield, Sunderland, and Whately -- Berkshire Gas has imposed a similar moratorium.

The Greater Springfield Reliability Project is roughly described in a five-year plan that Columbia Gas filed with state utility regulators. However, Columbia has not filed any environmental or siting applications, so the route details remain murky.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. is a subsidiary of the Texas-based Kinder Morgan. The company builds and runs interstate pipelines, and sells natural gas wholesale. Columbia Gas of Massachusetts in turn sells natural gas to its retail customers via an underground distribution network.

The town of Agawam has not filed a motion to intervene in the FERC docket. Mayor William Sapelli said that Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. has always communicated effectively with local officials, and that he sees no need to file for intervention status.

Sapelli said he supports Tennessee's 261 Upgrade Projects, in part because they would replace aging infrastructure. "It's good that they are maintaining their equipment," said Sapelli.

The city of Easthampton, which also stands to see its natural gas moratorium lifted if the infrastructure projects move forward, has not moved to intervene. The FERC docket shows no petitions from Springfield, West Springfield, or Holyoke, communities that would also be affected.

Those seeking intervention status are not necessarily against a project. The deadline to intervene was Friday, Nov. 23.

Northampton motion to intervene in FERC docket for TGP 261 Upgrade in Agawam by Mary Serreze on Scribd
EASTHAMPTON -- A longtime staffer at Northampton Community Television will soon take the reigns at Easthampton Media.

Jenn Ramsay will start as executive director of Easthampton's PEG-access TV station this week, the entity's board of directors announced. The cable access station has been without a leader since May, when former executive director Kathleen Lynch was let go.

Ramsay was full-time at Northampton's PEG station for six years, where she worked with the public, took charge of production and programming, hosted community events, and took on other key responsibilities.

Before that, she worked in the private sector, freelanced in film and video, and was a technician at a commercial television station. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications and film from UMass Amherst, and has lived in the Pioneer Valley for 16 years.

PEG access television stations, authorized under federal law, offer "public, educational, and government" programming. They are best known for taping and broadcasting government meetings. Some PEG stations, such as Easthampton Media, also train the public in media production and offer a platform for home-grown content.

Easthampton Media is funded by Charter Communications customers in Easthampton and Southampton. The cable company sends 3.5 percent of its local revenues to the city of Easthampton. The city, in turn, cuts quarterly checks to Easthampton Media. The details are outlined in a ten-year cable franchise contract between Charter and the city.

A separate five-year contract -- between the city and Easthampton Media -- expired in April. Mayor Nicole LaChapelle previously said she would wait for a new executive director before crafting a new contract, and that the station would continue to receive its payments from the city in the meantime.

The station broadcasts government meetings on Channel 193, and content on channels 191 and 192. The entity hosts videos on its website. Its state-of-the-art studio in the Eastworks building was built with help from a state cultural grant procured by Lynch.

Even though the station is funded by cable ratepayers, Easthampton Media holds its board meetings behind closed doors, and does not let the public view its minutes or financial records. Board president James Zarvis has defended the policy in the past, arguing that as a non-profit, the entity need not comply with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.

In a recent email, board president Zarvis said that might change. "In January's meeting, I intend to add an agenda item to discuss making our agendas, meetings and minutes public," he wrote.

Members of the public who wish to meet Ramsay are invited to the station's production studio on Wednesday, Nov. 28, between noon and 5 p.m. The station is located in Suite 102 of the Eastworks Building at 116 Pleasant St.
HOLYOKE -- Ward 2 City Councilor Nelson R. Roman will relinquish his seat Dec. 31 and will step down as the executive director Nueva Esperanza to take a job at a Chicago nonprofit.

In his resignation letter to City Council President Todd McGee, Roman said he accepted a position to work on homeless issues on behalf of teens and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations.

"This opportunity will allow me to increase the impact of my nonprofit service while working in a new major metropolitan," Roman said. "My time in the Holyoke City Council has (been) profound and one of the most rewarding experiences of my lifetime."

Roman said he joined the council four years ago with a "robust" agenda for Ward 2. "I believe we have begun to lay the foundation with the work of the residents of the entire City and through my colleagues on the Holyoke City Council," he wrote.

He thanked McGee and the council for their support.

"I look forward to this new era in Holyoke politics, and I look forward to working with and supporting whoever is selected to serve in my stead for the next 12 months," Roman said. He plans to address his City Council colleagues during the body's Dec. 4 regular session.

In an email, McGee said Roman has been a "tremendous advocate, and asset, for the residents and neighbors of his Ward, as well as, for the people of the City of Holyoke."

"While, it will be sad to have him leave us, I know that the new position he has been offered will allow him to help even more people, and I wish him extremely well in his future endeavors," McGee said.

On Monday, Roman said he arrived at his "painstaking" decision to accept the Chicago position in late October. He said as a former homeless person who is gay and HIV positive, he wanted to devote his energy to those issues. "It's what I love the most and what I'm passionate about," he said.

Roman said his partner will make the move with him to Chicago. A Waterbury, Connecticut native, he will spend the upcoming holidays with his family.

He called several city councilors about his pending exit from the council, including conversations with Ward 3 Councilor David K. Bartley and Ward 4 Councilor Jossie Valentin. Through a simple majority vote, the council must select a candidate for Roman's seat.

Roman said he spoke with Nueva Esperanza's executive team about the job offer. He expects to leave the organization in early or mid-December.

In a Nov. 25 Facebook post, Roman said, "Well I will make it super official because I have just submitted notice to the two places I love working at and with."

He added, "I am proud of the work we have accomplished together and look forward to reflecting back on all that we have done."

Roman was first elected in 2015 and won re-election in 2017.

He will hold a farewell gathering at Capri Pizza Dec. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.
WILBRAHAM - A passenger stole a truck while police were arresting the driver Sunday, prompting officers to ask for help to identify the thief.

The incident, which resulted in the arrests of two other men, began when a security officer at Home Depot called police asking for help after being threatened by a man suspected of shoplifting, Police Sgt. Jeff Rudinski said in writing.

Police responded to the business at about 4 p.m. to find the suspects fled the Boston Road store in a black Dodge pickup truck with a Massachusetts license plate of 6ZWF90. Soon after an officer spotted the truck nearby and pulled over the driver, he said.

The officer arrested the driver for charges unrelated to the shoplifting. While the arrest was happening, the passenger jumped into the driver's seat, started the car and sped away, Rudinski said.

At the same time, another passenger ran from the truck on foot. He was found on Boston Road and arrested, he said.

The names of the two men and the charges they face have not been released. One man lives in Agawam and the other lives in Springfield, he said.

Police later learned the passenger offered the driver narcotics in exchange for a ride and the two do not know each other, Rudinski said.

The pickup truck has not been recovered and police are seeking the vehicle and the passenger who jumped into the driver's seat. The suspect, who is wanted on multiple charges, was recorded on the store camera, he said.

Anyone who can identify him is asked to call Wilbraham Detectives or Officer Karl Osbourne at 413-596-3837. People can also send a private message on Facebook.
For more than a year, Carmen Ortiz Colon's home in the mountains of Orocovis, Puerto Rico, was constantly leaking after Hurricane Maria heavily damaged the property.

"It was difficult to keep anything dry, and we suffered a lot those first few months because we did not have electricity and we needed to use candles, but the rain would always get in the house, " she said in Spanish during a phone call from her home in Puerto Rico.

Now she has a brand new roof and a dry home thanks to the efforts of Heart 9/11 and the New England Regional Council of Carpenters Local 336.

"We are currently working with professional carpenters who volunteer their time and their skills to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Maria," said Almarie Vivoni, project manager for Heart 9/11, "an expert-led, volunteer driven nonprofit disaster relief organization committed to a mission of rebuilding communities and rebuilding lives of individuals coping with disasters and related trauma" all over the world, according to its website.

Since arriving in Puerto Rico, the organization has facilitated repairs on more than 50 homes and completed roof replacements on more than 150.

Recently, Springfield City Council President Orlando Ramos, who started his career as a carpenter, joined fellow Springfield carpenter Carlos Melendez and other members of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters Local 336 to work on roof replacements for families still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in 2017.

"These are my brothers and sisters, and there was no way I was going to pass up an opportunity to go to my homeland and contribute to the rebuilding of Puerto Rico," Ramos said.

Vivoni said the people who qualify for help sustained damage to their homes, but not enough to receive full federal funding for new homes and repairs.

"We also help people who can't get help, and we put a safe roof over their head," she said. "As soon as they have a safe roof, they can receive help from other organizations."

The volunteer carpenters not only worked on repairing the homes themselves, but also taught valuable skills to volunteers on the island who are a part of Heart 9/11's mission to train locals to respond after natural disasters and tragedies.

"We have an apprentice program where we have already trained 20 people from the community to develop the skills to not only support themselves as carpenters, but to be ready to help if there is another emergency," Vivoni said.

As for Ortiz Colon and her family, they are excited to celebrate the holidays in their home.

"We couldn't really get new furniture because everything was being damaged by water every time it rained," she said. "Now I feel like I have my home back. I am so grateful to God and to all of the wonderful people who made this happen."

Ramos said it was a great experience to see Dona Carmen, (Dona a loving term for elderly women) walk into her home for the first time after the repairs.

"Dona Carmen embodies everything the Puerto Rican culture stands for," Ramos said. "She was so humble and polite and very welcoming to all of us, and I'm so glad to have met her and worked on her home. I just wish I could have stayed longer and done more homes."
SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic J. Sarno is recommending the City Council keep the tax rate for residential properties at the same rate as last year, which would raise the annual tax bill for the average single family home by $81.

The council will consider setting the tax rate during a special meeting Monday at 6 p.m. at the council chambers. The meeting will be preceded by public hearings at 5 p.m. before a finance/tax rate subcommittee and 5:30 p.m. by the full council.

Sarno is recommending the tax rates for fiscal 2019 be set at $19.68 per $1,000 valuation for residential property and $39.30 for commercial, industrial and personal property per $1,000 valuation.

The residential rate was also $19.68 in fiscal 2018, while the business rate was $39.28.

"I am pleased to announce tax rates that, if approved, will strike a balance of tax fairness for our residents with a competitive commercial rate for our businesses," Sarno said in a press release.

The average single-family home tax bill for the year would rise because of increasing home values, officials said. According to the Board of Assessors, the average single-family home is valued at $151,400 this fiscal year, as compared to $147,300 in fiscal 2018.

The taxes raised help support the $656.2 million city budget that includes all expenses including the school system.

The mayor's recommendation was developed in consultation with Timothy J. Plante, the city's chief administrative and financial officer, and Richard Allen, the chairman of the Board of Assessors.

Sarno said the proposed tax rate "demonstrates the general stability the city has seen with its tax rates. The revenue will advance the city and further promote financial stability."

It represents the 10th consecutive year of a residential rate between $19.49 and $19.83, officials said.

Overall, the assessed property valuation in Springfield increased by more than $279 million this year. The rise in property values reflect an improved real estate market, city officials said.

The new tax rates are for the year that began July 1 and ends June 30. The city sent out estimated bills the first two quarters of the fiscal year and will send out adjusted actual bills the next two quarters.

Sarno said the city, aided by revenue from MGM Springfield, has been able to "strategically invest in core services that our residents expect in education, public safety, parks/recreation and public works," and stabilize those services.

"This increase in value and the number of housing sales in Springfield is good news," Sarno's release stated. "Overall, the city's levy ceiling has risen, which enables raising more revenue to support and fund vital city services and to maintain strong finances for the city."

Sarno said that Springfield's average single-family tax bill has consistently been in the bottom 15 percent of all the cities and towns in the state for the last several years.

The assessed values reflect fair market value as of Jan. 1.

If a resident or business wishes to challenge the assessed value of their property, they can file an abatement application through the Assessor's Office. Those applications are due on or before Feb. 1.

Applicants must provide evidence to support their opinion of value, the city stated.

Sarno said: "Springfield is a city with a bright future, and it requires the necessary funds to provide overall government services to achieve its potential - from police, fire, schools, libraries, parks to DPW, seniors and youth development, job creation and beyond."

Allen said the increase in property values "is an indication that the city's recovery is continuing a solid growth in residential pricing and of businesses making substantial investments in personal property."

"Both trends are strong evidence of renewed confidence in Springfield as a place to live and to do business," Allen said.

For the second consecutive year, there is also a surtax under the Community Preservation Act that is 1.5 percent on value above the first $100,000.
WESTHAMPTON -- Developers of a five-megawatt, $8 million solar plant on a rural 139-acre property off Montague and North roads may start construction this spring, now that they have a written permit with conditions in hand.

The Westhampton Planning Board met six times to craft its Nov. 20 decision after voting Sept. 5 to approve the project, which would host more than 17,000 solar modules on 21 acres.

As one condition of the six-page permit decision, CVE North America Inc. must provide financial surety to the town in compliance with a decommissioning agreement. The applicant will be prohibited from removing topsoil, and will not be allowed to use pesticides. The decision imposes oversight measures, and requires that an engineer certify all work before a certificate of completion is issued.

CVE hopes to deploy the state's new solar incentive program known as SMART. The long-awaited Massachusetts tariff program, with a 1,600-megawatt target, is due to go live Monday.

The Planning Board and Conservation Commission held several hearings over the summer where they heard from the public. Westhampton Town Meeting voters approved a solar bylaw in May. The bylaw issues standards for roof and ground-mounted solar development.

CVE must still craft a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, or PILOT agreement, with the town. The property is being leased to the solar developers by Kurt Meehan of Agawam.
A female occupant of a car was killed and two other people injured in the Franklin County town of Health when the vehicle they were traveling in left Dell Road and crashed into a tree.

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Scott Boutell, at the Shelburn Barracks, said the female victim was pronounced dead at the scene of the 7:45 p.m. crash near Route 8A.

The two injured people were transported to a local hospital. Boutell said their conditions are unknown at this hour.

The State Medical Examiner's Office has taken custody of the woman's remains for postmortem examination.

The crash is being investigated by State Police detectives attached to the Northwest District Attorney's Office.
Former U.S. Army reservist James Morales was sentenced to 11 1/2 years in prison Monday for his role in the theft of 16 weapons from the U.S. Army Reserve armory in Worcester, as well as two attempted bank robberies after he escaped from federal custody last year.

Morales, 37, was sentenced Monday afternoon by District Judge Timothy S. Hillman in Federal Court in Worcester. He will serve 11 1/2 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Morales previously pleaded guilty to a number of charges related to the November 2015 thefts and two attempted bank robberies after he escaped federal custody a year later.

Authorities say Morales broke into the Lincoln W. Stoddard U.S. Army Reserve Center on North Lake Avenue in November 2015 by cutting a hole through the vault's ceiling. Investigators discovered that six M-4 rifles and 10 M11 (9mm) pistols were stolen from the armory.

All six of the M-4 rifles were recovered, but some of the pistols weren't found.

DNA evidence linked Morales to the scene and he was arrested days later. But while in federal custody, he escaped from the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, on Dec. 31, 2016.

After a nearly week-long chase, Morales was captured in Somerville after investigators say he tried to rob two banks.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady told the court Monday that Morales' actions placed his own life and the lives of others at risk. He also noted that the stolen weapons were the same type of firearms used in mass shootings, saying Morales made them available for "virtually anyone" to purchase.

Grady said one gun was found in a park in New York.

"Clearly the defendant has engaged in incredibly dangerous conduct," he said.

Morales appeared before the court wearing an orange prison uniform and glasses. Prior to his sentencing, he read a lengthy hand-written statement to the room about his interest in neuroscience, among other topics, discussing how past traumas contribute to criminal behavior.

He said he hopes to work with psychologists to help society better understand the warning signs of destructive behavior.

Morales also disputed what he called the prosecution's "very lazy and unimaginative" interpretation of the law, saying he hopes for more "balanced and useful" rehabilitation practices.

"In my eyes, the law is not a rigid, nonconforming entity, but a malleable, living thing," Morales said.

He also commended the Massachusetts State Police trooper who captured him after his escape from prison without the use of weapons before Judge Hillman asked him to wrap up his thoughts.

Since his escape from federal custody, Morales has been detained in solitary confinement at the Plymouth County House of Correction, according to his sentencing memorandum. His attorney, Edward P. Ryan, wrote that Morales has since been compliant with authorities and has immersed himself in writing a book about his early years.

Ryan acknowledged that Morales' lengthy statement before the court was unusual.

"It very well may be the product of being locked up 23 hours a day by yourself," he said.

The U.S. government recommended a 15-year sentence while Morales' attorney requested a sentence 7 1/2 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Ryan said that the longer sentence requested by the government is simply punitive and denies Morales the opportunity to help raise his three young children.

Given Morales' criminal history and plea agreement, federal sentencing guidelines range from 10 to 12 1/2 years.

Morales enlisted in the military at age 28 and was honorably discharged in November 2013. His attorney called the armory thefts "a crime of convinience," saying Morales had worked there while he served in the Army Reserve.

Two co-defendants in the Worcester armory case have already pleaded guilty to their charges and have been sentenced to time in prison.
Executives with Columbia Gas and its parent company, NiSource, left a Lawrence U.S. Senate Committee early after testifying about their response to a series of September explosions that damaged homes, injured dozens and killed at least one person in the Merrimack Valley.

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant and NiSource CEO Joe Hamrock, who fielded questions from Massachusetts lawmakers during the first part of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's hearing, did not remain in attendance for a panel discussion with local leaders, public safety officials and residents impacted by the Sept. 13 incident.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, noted Hamrock and Bryant's absences when seeking to ask the executives additional follow up questions.

The senator told reporters following the hearing that she believed "Columbia Gas and NiSource high-tailed it out of here because they don't want to hear from the people of the Merrimack Valley."

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, added that lawmakers had to bring Columbia Gas executives to Lawrence "in order to make sure that they were held accountable to people in the Merrimack Valley."

"But, you can see that they left as quickly as they could. You could see that they're trying their best to minimize their responsibility -- minimize their liability," he told reporters. "Minimize what they are going to be called upon to do for this community, so Columbia Gas and NiSource are here marginally because the United States Senate has made them come here."

U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, D-Lowell, meanwhile, apologized to local officials and residents who attended the morning event for company executives's early exit from the hearing.

She criticized the "shortcomings" in Columbia Gas' response to the September explosions and fires that ravaged parts of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover.

NiSource spokesman Dean Lieberman said Hamrock and Bryant "returned to the Command Operations Center in Lawrence and held a series of meetings on a variety of topics."

"Multiple Columbia Gas representatives remained in the gymnasium including claims adjusters to help customers resolve issues," he said in a statement. "I would also note that Joe and Steve have heard directly from hundreds of affected customers -- from six town hall meetings to distributing Thanksgiving meals -- and will continue to engage with customers."
Officials with Columbia Gas and its parent company NiSource apologized to Merrimack Valley residents Monday and pledged to ensure that the gas explosions that destroyed homes, injured dozens and killed at least one person in September never occur again.

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant and NiSource CEO Joe Hamrock offered their apologies and condolences to those impacted by the Sept. 13 incident in testimony during a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee field hearing in Lawrence.

They further stressed their commitment to helping residents return to their homes in the coming weeks and rebuilding trust with Merrimack Valley residents.

Offering that Columbia Gas' work "has been far from perfect," Bryant apologized "for the hardship and frustration that this has caused."

He acknowledged that Columbia Gas has "more work to do," adding that his company knows it has the responsibility to restore pipeline service to the region.

Bryant further offered his condolences to the family of Leonel Rondon, who was killed in the explosions.

"I will carry that in my heart for the rest of my life. ... I'm deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved son and brother. Each day you are in my prayers and those prayers will continue," he said.

Hamrock also said he is "deeply sorry" for what happened in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover and offered his prayers to the Rondon family.

"I am here on behalf of Columbia Gas to apologize. We are deeply sorry, I am deeply sorry," he said. "I also want to reaffirm our responsibility to repair damage as safely and quickly as possible and to express our resolve to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again."

Arguing that "an apology is not enough," Hamrock added that his company is "working around the clock to make things better."

"We're going to get everyone back in their homes and businesses. We know it's too early to ask any of you to trust us, but we're committed to restoring service," he said.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, said while she was glad to hear the officials apologize, she doesn't believe the company "takes safety seriously."

"The people in this room has been injured, you have not ... Personal responsibility means you step up in this, not just simply that you back away and talk about how other people can deal with this problem."

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
LAWRENCE -- Columbia Gas officials told Massachusetts congressional lawmakers Monday that the company was aware that engineers who worked on it systems were "not always professional engineers."

Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant, who testified at a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing focused on September gas explosions in the Merrimack Valley, acknowledged that engineers who work on the company's system may not always have certain qualifications.

"I am aware of the fact that engineers who work on our systems are not always professional engineers. That's something standard in the industry," he told Massachusetts lawmakers who convened the Lawrence event.

U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, argued that such a standard is "too low" and called on Columbia Gas and its parent company, NiSource, to address that issue by ensuring all future work is signed off on by qualified engineers.

"It's unacceptable and shows a culture of complacency to allow someone so unqualified to make decisions," he said.

NiSource CEO Joe Hamrock said while he was not personally aware of the practice, the company is reviewing it and has begun to implement changes to ensure qualified engineers are used.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the Sept. 13 explosions, noted in a recent report that "the Columbia Gas field engineer who developed the engineering plans told NTSB investigators that he developed them without reviewing engineering drawing that documented the regulator-sensing lines."

The board contended that it's "critical that an engineer with the appropriate qualifications and experience review engineering plans for a gas company, if not develop them."

It recommended that Massachusetts eliminate the professional engineer licensure exemption for public utility work and require a professional engineer's seal on public utility engineering plans.

The NTSB further suggested that NiSource "revise the engineering plan and constructability review process across all its subsidiaries to ensure that all applicable departments review construction documents for accuracy, completeness and correctness, and that the documents or plans be sealed by a (professional engineer) prior to commencing work."
Massachusetts state government plans to set up a new website to help law enforcement track hate crimes across jurisdictions, according to a letter Gov. Charlie Baker sent last week to state police chiefs and commissioners.

"We all agree that hate crimes have no place in our Commonwealth and that we must do all we can to combat them," Baker wrote.

A year ago, Baker re-established a defunct task force on hate crimes in response to an uptick in hate crimes nationally and in Massachusetts after the 2016 presidential election.

The task force gained renewed attention in the wake of a recent shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue.

Baker last week wrote letters to the state's police chiefs and commissioners and to the Municipal Police Training Committee asking them to implement some of the task force's recommendations.

One recommendation is that each police agency appoint a single point person for hate crimes, a civil rights officer who will do community outreach, review incident reports to identify potential hate crimes and ensure hate crimes are properly reported.

Baker asked the Municipal Police Training Committee to work with the state's Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to develop training for civil rights officers.

Baker wrote that the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security will develop a website in the next three months that will track hate crimes data across jurisdictions and time periods, and he asked the police to report crimes to the site.

"Ensuring that hate crime data is transparently reported, publicly available, and easily accessible is essential to ensuring the public's confidence in in law enforcement's response to hate crime incidents," Baker wrote.

Baker also encouraged police agencies to report hate crimes to an existing national database.

Baker asked the Municipal Police Training Committee to consider enhanced training on hate crimes at the police academy, potentially using a curriculum currently being tested at Randolph Police Academy.
The Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market is presumed to garner USD 18.5 billion during the forecast period (2015-2020). The market is presumed to register 6.2 % CAGR owing to the increasing diabetic population, asserts Market Research Future (MRFR). Blood glucose test strip can be referred to as a small non-reusable plastic strip. It is a crucial component of blood glucose meters that helps to monitor and control diabetes.

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Major Restraining Factors affecting the Market Growth

Blood glucose test strips are self-testing strips which let pre-diabetic and diabetic people track their blood glucose level on a regular basis without visiting a diagnostic laboratory or a clinic. With the growing diabetic population, the global market for blood glucose test strip is considered to foster during the assessment period.

For instance, as per the International Diabetic Federation, around 415 million people had diabetes in 2015. The number is estimated to reach 642 million by the end of 2040. Moreover, technological advancements such as accuracy of the tests along with awareness among the people regarding diabetes are stimulating the market growth.

On the flip side, product recall owing to the inefficiency of devices such as intense competition resulting in pricing pressure and false glucose reading are some of the major factors considered to impede the global blood glucose test strip market in the coming years.

Blood Glucose Test Strip Market is expected to be Fastest Growing Segment

The blood glucose test strip market has been segmented on the basis of technology, distribution channel, and region.

By mode of technology, the global blood glucose test strip market has been segmented into optical, thin film electrochemical, and thick film electrochemical.

By mode of distribution channel, the global blood glucose test strip market has been segmented into retail pharmacy and hospital pharmacy. Among these, the hospital pharmacy is likely to dominate the global market and is anticipated to maintain its dominance over the assessment period. The growth is attributed to the increasing preference for self-care testing among the patients to monitor diabetes.

North America is presumed to lead the Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market

Geographically, the global blood glucose test strip market span across regions namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.

Among all the regions, North America is presumed to lead the global blood glucose test strip market with $ 7.89 billion revenue. The growth is attributed to the extensive use of information technology coupled with high expenditure on healthcare.

Moreover, the presence of major medical device manufacturers and high adoption of latest technologies are considered to stimulate the market during the review period.

Europe is estimated to hold the second position in the global market and is likely to maintain its dominance during the review period. High healthcare expenditure led by France and Germany is anticipated to drive the global market.

The Asia Pacific region is presumed to expand at a rapid pace owing to the presence of major regions such as India and China which are expected to lead the market due to unmet needs. This region is presumed to expand at 12.9 % CAGR owing to the growing number of diabetic population.

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Industry Updates

January 2018: Ascensia Diabetes Care has recently announced the expansion of its strategic alliance with the Insulet Corporation which is a leader in tubeless insulin pump technology.

The expansion follows the worldwide non-exclusive development agreement that Ascensia had announced in June 2017, to connect its CONTOUR NEXT ONE blood glucose monitoring system with Insulets next-generation Omnipod System.

Major Points form Table of Content

Chapter 1. Report Prologue

Chapter 2. Market Introduction

Chapter 3. Research Methodology

Chapter 4. Market Dynamics

Chapter 5. Market Factor Analysis

Chapter 6. Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market, By Type

Chapter 7. Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market, By Treatment

Chapter 8 Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market, By End User

Chapter 9. Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market, By Region

Chapter 10. Company Landscape

Chapter 11. Company Profiles

Chapter 12. MRFR Conclusion

Chapter 13. Appendix

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Namely Cell Cycle Analysis Market Report has Been Published by Market Research Future Which Covers All the Geographical Locations with Demand, Trend Analysis with near about Forecasted results and Also Covers the Market Expectations.

Market Scenario:

The Cell Cycle Analysis Market is expected to show a prominent growth during the forecast period (20182023).

Cell cycle analysis products are used in numerous life science research activities as well as in biomedical research and clinical research laboratories. Cell cycle analysis is carried out to check the effects of various internal and external factors on cells. Increasing expenditure on cell level research by the corporate sector, government initiatives for cell research, increasing chronic genetic diseases, rising occurrence of cell-specific diseases, and cancer and aggressive strategies by market players are expected to drive the growth of the market. For instance, In March 2018, Agilent technologies which is one of the major players in the Cell Cycle Analysis Market acquired advanced analytical technologies for USD 250 million.

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The high costs of cell analysis instruments and expensive maintenance might be a problem for small research groups and it can hamper the growth of the market during the assessment period.

Company Profiles:

Becton, Dickinson and Company

Merck & Co., Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Danaher Corporation

GE Healthcare

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Olympus Corporation

PerkinElmer, Inc.

Promega Corporation

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

Miltenyi Biotech

Nexcelom Bioscience LLC.

Segmentation:

The Cell Cycle Analysis Market has been segmented on the basis of product, application, and end-user.

On the basis of product, the market has been classified as consumables and instruments. The consumables segment has been further divided into reagents, assay kits, microplates, and other consumables. The assay kits segment has been further divided into immunoassay and cell-based assay. The instruments segment has been classified into microscopes, flow cytometry, spectrophotometer, qPCR, cell counter, high content screening systems, and cell microarrays. The microscopes segment has been divided into electron microscopes, inverted microscopes, stereomicroscopes, fluorescence and confocal microscopes, phase contrast microscopes, Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopes (NSOM), and other microscopes. The flow cytometers sub-segment has been segmented into flow cytometry instruments and flow cytometry software. The spectrophotometers segment has been divided into fluorescence microplate readers, microplate spectrophotometers, and colorimeters. Furthermore, cell counters have been sub-segmented into automated cell counters and hemocytometers and manual cell counters. The synthetic High-Content Screening (HCS) systems segment includes cell imaging and analysis HCS systems and HCS software.

The market, by application, has been segmented into cell identification, cell viability, cell signaling pathway/signal transduction, cell proliferation, cell counting and quality control, cell interaction, cell structure study, target identification, and validation and single-cell analysis.

Based on end-user, the market has been divided into, academics and research institutions, hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceuticals (CROs and biotechnology companies), and other end-users.

The market has been segmented, by region, into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. The cell cycle analysis market in the Americas has further been segmented into North America and South America, with the North American market is divided into the US and Canada.

The European cell cycle analysis market has been segmented into Western Europe and Eastern Europe. Western Europe has further been classified as Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, and the rest of Western Europe.

The cell cycle analysis market in Asia-Pacific has been segmented into Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, and the rest of Asia-Pacific. The cell cycle analysis market in the Middle East & Africa has been segmented into the Middle East and Africa.

Cell Cycle Analysis Market Regional Market Summary:

The Americas are likely to dominate the Cell Cycle Analysis Market owing to the presence of well-established research and development facilities, government funding to encourage cell level research and development, and rising prevalence of cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2016, 15.5 million cancer cases were found in the US. The expenditure on cancer care in 2017 was USD 147.3 billion.

The European market is expected to be the second-largest Cell Cycle Analysis Market. The market growth in this region can be attributed to the adoption of highly advanced technology. Moreover, a growing number of life sciences and medical research institutes in Europe is contributing to the growth of the market in this region.

Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing Cell Cycle Analysis Market during the forecast period owing to the rising investments in life science and healthcare research and government support and favorable policies for the research sector.

The market in the Middle East and Africa is expected to account for the smallest share of the Cell Cycle Analysis Market due to an underdeveloped research sector, lack of technical knowledge, and poor research and development facilities.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1 Introduction

1.1 Definition

1.2 Scope of the Study

1.2.1 Research Objectives

1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations

1.3 Market Structure

2 Research Methodology

2.1 Research Process

2.2 Primary Research

2.3 Secondary Research

2.4 Forecast Model

3 Report Excerpt

4 Forecast Indicators

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Growth Drivers

4.2.1 Corporate & Government Support in Cell-Based Researches

4.2.2 High Prevalence of Chronic Genetically Diseases

4.2.3 Growing Healthcare Industry & Increasing Medical Spending

4.2.4 Rising Incidence of Cancer

4.2.5 Technologically Advancements

4.3 Growth Barriers

4.3.1 High Prices Of Automated Cell Cycle Analysis Instruments

4.3.2 Reluctance among Researchers to Use Advanced Cell Cycle Analysis Techniques

4.4 Market Opportunities

4.4.1 Growing APAC Market

4.4.2 Rising Stem Cell Research

4.4.3 Rising Cancer Researches

4.5 Macroecnomical Indicators

 Toc Continued!

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No. of Pages: 85

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The globalwas valued at US$ 8.9 billion in 2016 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 11.4% over the forecast period (20172025),Rising incidence and prevalence of multiple cancer such as ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and pancreatic cancer and growing need for treatment are expected to be major driving factors for generic oncology sterile injectable market growth over the forecast period.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2012, around 14 million new cases of cancer were reported. Moreover, according to the WHO, cancer is a second leading cause of mortality, worldwide. Furthermore, according to the Cancer Research UK, in 2012, over 4 in 10 of new cases of cancer are breast, lung, bowel or prostate cancer. Moreover, according to the Cancer Research UK, in 2014, around 356,860 new cases of cancer were estimated in the U.K. Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, approximately 21.1 million adults were diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. Therefore, rising high prevalence of cancer requires proper treatment management for better patient outcome. This is expected to aid in generic oncology sterile injectable market growth over the forecast period.

In May, 2017, India based Dr. Reddys Laboratories received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome Intravenous injection in the U.S. market. The product is a generic version of Doxil, a chemotherapy drug used in stopping cancerous cell growth. It can be used for treatment of multiple myeloma, ovarian cancer, and AIDS-related Kaposis sarcoma. This U.S. FDA authorization was an outcome of collaboration result of Natco Pharma Limited with Dr. Reddys Laboratory. Therefore, development of oncology specific generic sterile injectables and strategic collaborations by manufacturers is expected to support growth of the generic oncology sterile injectables market over the forecast period.

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Browse 28 Market Data Tables and 25 Figures spread through 140 Pages and in-depth TOC on generic oncology sterile injectable market by product type (chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, peptide hormones), by disease indication (ovarian cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and others), by distribution channel (hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies and online pharmacies), and by region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa)  Global Forecast to 2025

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Key Takeaways of the Generic Oncology Sterile Injectable Market:

The global generic oncology sterile injectables market is expected to expand at a CAGR 11.4% over the forecast period (20172025) due to rampant increase in incidence rate of cancer and other chronic conditions

Among product types, monoclonal antibodies held the dominant position in the global generic oncology sterile injectables market in 2016. This is attributed to properties of monoclonal antibody to specifically target the cancer cell and these have less side-effects compare to chemotherapy.

Among disease indications, other cancers (melanoma, brain cancer, prostate cancer, etc.) is a major disease indication segment in the global generic oncology sterile injectable market, as there have been a spur in product launches for these cancer types in the recent past

Some of the key players in the global generic oncology sterile injectable market are Eli Lilly & Company, Biocon Ltd., Baxter International Inc., Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, Mylan N.V., Sandoz International GmbH, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Pfizer Inc.

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Thewas valued at US$ 11,285.7 million in 2015 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 17.3% during the forecast period (20162024),Rise in awareness regarding the hazardous effects of smoking and nicotine consumption is expected to fuel growth of smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market in the near future.

Intervention for smoking cessation by the population is an urgent need, as the health hazards due to use of tobacco is increasing globally and is especially prevalent in emerging economies. There are different stages of smoking cessation such as pre-contemplation (the initial thought of quitting), contemplation (when a person decides it is time to quit smoking) and so on. Action is when the attempt is made at least for 24 hours and finally maintenance is when a person is smoke-free for over six months. According to The Indian Journal of Chest Diseases & Allied Sciences, published in 2014, the first-line of treatment part of smoking cessation consists of nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion and varinicline, and clonidine and nortriptalin as a second-line of treatment.

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Furthermore, in 2014, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were around 1,100 million smokers worldwide, which includes around one-third of the global population aged 15 years. The emerging economies accounted for around 70% of the global smoker population. Due to use of tobacco products, around three million deaths occur every year and two-thirds of these are recorded emerging economies. Increasing awareness among the populace is a key factor fueling growth of the smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market over the forecast period. Also, various innovations in the field of drugs and therapies by various companies in the form of various nicotine gums and e-cigarettes is expected to favor growth for smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products in the near future. Changing lifestyle leading to high prevalence of anxiety and depression globally is leading to a high number of smokers worldwide, which in turn is expected to support growth in smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products in the near future.

To know the latest trends and insights prevalent in the Smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market, click the link below:

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/smoking-cessation-and-nicotine-de-addiction-products-market-134

Government of various economies are taking initiatives to increase awareness among population regarding adverse effects of smoking, which in turn is expected to drive growth of the smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market in the near future. However, lack of funds for tobacco-prevention and cessation programs is a major factor restraining growth of the market. According to Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in 2007, only three states in the U.S. received funding from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which in turn is negatively affecting growth of the smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market.

According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, in 2010, out of 43.4 million smokers in the U.S., around 70% wanted to quit smoking and around 40% made at least one serious quit attempt annually. Therefore, increasing demand for tobacco and smoking cessation products and services creates significant opportunity to reduce tobacco consumption across all age groups. Government of various economies are adopting advanced innovation in the field of smoking cessation products in order to spread awareness among population. For instance, in 2013, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, and the European Commission revised the directive on tobacco products to include e-cigarettes in the tobacco products directive, as such products have been available in Europe since 2006 ,and were very inconsistently regulated across member states. The inclusion of novel products such as e-cigarettes and nicotine gum are projected to favor growth of the smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market over the forecast period.

Key takeaways of the market:

The global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 17.3% during the forecast period (20162024). Depression and anxiety globally is expected to favor growth of the smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market over the forecast period.

The E-cigarettes segment in the global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market was estimated to be the largest in 2015 and is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period in terms of value owing to the rise in trend of the novel products among the population.

In terms of E-cigarette sub-segment, the modular E-cigarette type, is expected to expand at a significant CAGR of 19.5% during the forecast period owing to rise in adoption rate by the college students and other chain smokers in the developing countries.

The global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market is characterized by strategic research and development and advancements in the technology of nicotine and tobacco cessation products and services. Also, the rise in awareness of the effects of smoking in the developing countries is expected to favor the smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market.

Some of the major players are Johnson & Johnson Limited, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Novartis International AG, Pfizer, Inc., Cipla Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., NJOY, Inc., Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited, McNeil AB, and Revolymer Limited

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by Sara Guaglione , November 26, 2018

is finding new ways to leverage its cultural coverage online, with the introduction of a multimedia digital series called Touchstones."writers will guide readers through influential works of art that had an impact on them.

The Touchstones series features a variety of visual and interactive elements, such as photos, music samples, video clips, GIFs and animations.

The launch is sponsored by Tiffany & Co.

An installment from New Yorker writer Doreen St. Felix on Missy Elliotts album Supa Dupa Fly, for example, displays Felixs account in text, broken up by music video clips and R&B songs that play when you hold down your mouse. Dragging your mouse across an audio player lets you "reverse" Missy Elliotts famous song Work It.

The goal was to use different visual and interactive elements to explain these works in ways that words alone might not be able to fully accomplish, Michael Luo, editor, NewYorker.com, told Publishers Daily.

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As The New Yorker's digital ambitions have "continued to grow," the company has increasingly invested in its interactive team, led by Monica Racic, Luo said.

We also wanted to experiment with different approaches to digital-first storytelling that take full advantage of the possibilities of the medium, including audio, video and interactive elements," he added.

New Yorker writer Hua Hsu takes a deep dive into Nirvanas Nevermind, while Amanda Petrusich's piece is on Janet Jacksons Rhythm Nation 1814.

Future installments of Touchstones will explore pioneering works in art, film and literature.

The hope is we can do these regularly, Luo said.

The New Yorker often experiments with interactive projects, he said (such as its interactive map on election night), but this is our first attempt at a recurring series.

For casual readers, it will offer an introduction to important works from the worlds of music, art, film, literature and more. For New Yorker super fans, it will give them insight into the personalities and tastes of their favorite critics, Luo noted.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 26, 2018

A federal judge has granted preliminary approval to a deal that calls for computer manufacturer Lenovo and ad company Superfish to pay $8.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over adware that contained security flaws.

The settlement, tentatively approved last week by U.S. District Court Judge Haywood Gilliam in Oakland, California, calls for consumers who purchased adware-laden notebooks to receive at least $40, and as much as $750, depending on whether they incurred costs as a result of the software. Lenovo, which shipped the computers, agreed to pay $7.5 million, while Superfish agreed to pay $1 million.

If granted final approval, the deal will resolve a lawsuit stemming from Lenovo's 2014 decision to bundle the ad-serving software Visual Discovery -- developed by Superfish -- with new notebooks. Soon after the computers shipped, it emerged that the adware had a security flaw that left users vulnerable to hackers.

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Visual Discovery inserted ads into a host of web pages, including secure HTTPS pages. To accomplish this, the software tinkered with Windows' cryptographic security, according to reports. The result was that the software may have placed consumers' encrypted data -- including passwords and bank account numbers -- at risk.

After reports surfaced about Superfish's problems, Lenovo said it stopped preloading the software and shut down server connections that enabled Superfish. The company also posted instructions telling people how to remove the program, and said it was working with McAfee and Microsoft to fix the security vulnerability created by the software.

Last year, Lenovo settled a complaint about the adware by the Federal Trade Commission and 31 attorneys general. The company agreed to pay $3.5 million to the state attorneys general, and to obtain consumers' explicit consent before pre-installing certain types of ad-serving software. Lenovo also agreed to allow security audits for 20 years.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, November 26, 2018

Russian state officials on Monday filed paperwork accusing Google of not removing certain search results to websites banned in the country.

If found guilty, the civil case against Google could cost the company up to 700,000 roubles, or about $10,450, according to Reuters, citing the country's communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor.

"Under Russian law, search engine operators are obliged to exclude links to resources with illegal information from the results of search results," according to Roskomnadzor's blog post. "To do this, they must connect to the federal state information system containing a list of prohibited Internet resources."

The act of not complying with Russias legal requirements breaks the countrys laws. In a English translated statement, Roskomnadzor explains that Google had not linked to a database of banned sources for Russia, which means it has not complied with the countrys rules.

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Reuters also reported that the Russian government continues to consider higher fines, such as mandating a fine of up to 1% of the companys annual revenue for failing to comply.

In the past few years, Russia has introduced internet laws that require search engines to delete the results, messaging services to share encryption keys with security services, and social networks to store Russian user personal data on servers within the country.

The proposal would amend the countys current legislation. If passed, the proposed 1% fine would affect companies such as Facebook, Google, and Microsoft Bing.

As Reuters notes, the 1% fine could lead to substantial revenue for Russia, although Googles revenue in the country is relatively small compared with the U.S. Googles Russian subsidiary generated 45.2 billion roubles -- or about $687 million -- in 2017, according to the SPARK database, which aggregates data from business registries.
New research finds that an HIV enzyme plays a crucial role in driving Alzheimers-related brain pathology by altering the APP gene. The findings warrant immediate clinical evaluation of HIV antiretroviral therapies in people with Alzheimers disease, say the authors of the study.

Share on Pinterest The revelations of a recent study suggest that HIV drugs might successfully treat Alzheimers disease.

Deemed the most under-recognized public health crisis of the 21st century, Alzheimers disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and has no known cure.

Currently, 5.7 million people ln the U.S. are living with the condition, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predict that the burden of the disease will double by 2060.

Alzheimers also puts a significant strain on the American healthcare system. According to recent estimates, Alzheimers and other forms of dementia cost the U.S. $226 billion in 2015, and loved ones spend billions of unpaid hours caring for people with the condition. About 40 percent of these caregivers develop depression.

The medical community is hard at work trying to understand how this debilitating disorder occurs and what can be done to stop it. For instance, one of the clues that researchers have so far is the so-called APP gene.

The APP gene encodes a protein called amyloid precursor protein found in the brain and spinal cord, among other tissues and organs.

While the exact role of the APP protein is still unknown, scientists have found links between mutations in this gene and the risk of early-onset Alzheimers disease. Specifically, over 50 different mutations in the APP gene can trigger the condition, accounting for approximately 10 percent of all early-onset Alzheimers cases.

New research, published in the journal Nature, offers unprecedented revelations into the APP gene. Scientists at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) in La Jolla, CA, found that the same type of enzyme that enables HIV to infect cells recombines the APP gene in a way that creates thousands of new genetic variants in the neurons of people with Alzheimers.

The findings may not only explain how APP drives the toxic buildup of beta-amyloid proteins  which is a hallmark of Alzheimers disease  but also fundamentally change how we understand the brain and Alzheimers disease, according to Dr. Jerold Chun, Ph.D., the senior author of the new paper.

Crucially, the new results suggest that antiretroviral therapies that are currently used to treat HIV may be useful for treating Alzheimers too.
Actors and celebrities are privileged, and that's a fact. But when they start using their privilege to do something good for the people, it's just a great thing to see. We've seen so many actors taking on social issues and working towards helping people and just working for the betterment of the country, especially in the time of a calamity. Now there's a new actor that has been added to this long list.

Tamil Film Producers' Council (TFPC) president and South India actor Vishal has made the announcement that he will be adopting the Kaarkavaiyal village in Thanjavur district. Talking about the same, he tweeted -

This village is mine. #kaarkavaiyaI thanjavur district. I swear I will bring back this village to normality and this will be my responsibility forever. Model village on the way.i luv u group #socialarchitects to help me achieve this.god bless  Vishal (@VishalKOfficial) November 24, 2018

In case you didn't know, the Thanjavur district has been heavily hit by the Cyclone Gaja with Kaarkavaiyal village being one of the worst affected regions in the area.

People are obviously moved by this gesture and are probably looking forward to the entire restoration. There is also a video going around on Twitter with the villagers thanking the actor for his generosity.

Actor Vishal has adopted a Village ( ,  ,  ) that has been destroyed by GajaCyclone



Here is a resident from the Village thanking @VishalKOffical & Vishal has promised that he will make this Village the best in the Country pic.twitter.com/4va3zFlrAy  Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) November 24, 2018

This is really a great news, hope every actor adopt a village from the impacted region and work for its betterment. If #Vishal really takes this serious and improve their life then definitely people will forget and forgive the past promises which he did not fulfill #kaarkavaiyaI  Arima (@Dracarys28) November 24, 2018

People are really happy with him.

Proud, indeed.

Thank yourm for your word for the People of #kaarkavaiyaI village in #Thiruvarur district... Proud ! Great example for others.... https://t.co/yfhyfGyGZJ  Mediabox Cinema (@mediaboxcinema) November 24, 2018

Looks like he won't be alone as actors like Rajinikanth, Vijay, Suriya and Vijay Sethupathi have also contributed towards the Cyclone Gaja-hit districts in the state and donated money and relief materials for the victims.

Actor Raghava Lawrence also announced that he would be building 50 houses for those in cyclone-ravaged areas.

It's great to see actors actually taking charge and doing something instead of just sending their thoughts and prayers on Twitter.
NEW DELHI (PTI): Chief of Indian Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba will begin a four-day visit to Russia today with an aim to explore new avenues for the already close defence ties between the two countries, officials said Sunday.



The Navy chief will hold wide-ranging talks with his Russian counterpart, Admiral Vladimir Korolev, and meet a number of top military officials including General VV Gerasimov, Chief of General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister of Russia, they said.



"The visit aims to consolidate bilateral defence relations with Russia, as also to explore new avenues for defence cooperation," Navy Spokesperson Capt. D K Sharma said.



Adm. Lanba's visit to Russia comes around a week after the two countries signed a USD 500 million deal for construction of two missile frigates in Goa for the Indian Navy.



Under the deal, Russia will provide design, technology know how and key materials to Goa Shipyard Ltd. for the construction of the ships in India.



Adm. Lanba is also scheduled to visit the Nakhimov Naval School and Admiralty Shipyard.



He will also visit the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and deliver a talk on Indian Navy's Perspective on Maritime Security , Capt. Sharma said.



Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India last month during which both sides had decided to further ramp up bilateral defence and security cooperation.



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 with Russia.



Russia has been India's largest defence supplier. The bilateral defence and security cooperation has been on an upswing over the last few years. The Indian and Russian navies cooperate on many fronts, including operational interactions and training.



The Indian Navy and the Russian Navy have been conducting the bilateral Maritime Exercise INDRA NAVY', since 2003 and INDRA Tri-Services Exercise since 2017.


ABCNews.com(NEW YORK) -- Alec Baldwin admitted to police that he pushed a man during a street parking dispute this month because he "stole my spot," but the actor pleaded not guilty in a New York City courtroom Monday to charges he assaulted the victim.



Following Baldwin's brief appearance with his lawyer in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday, officials made public his statement to officers who responded to the Nov. 2 dust-up near his apartment building in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood.



"He's an a------," Baldwin told New York City police officers, referring to the victim, according to newly-released court documents.



"He stole my spot. I did push him."



But the alleged victim, whose name has not been released, told police that an enraged Baldwin did more than just push him.



"I observed the defendant push me and then strike me across the left side of my face with his closed right hand, resulting in pain to my face," the victim told police, according to the court papers.



Baldwin, 60 -- an Academy Award-nominated movie star and former cast member of the sitcom "30 Rock" -- was arrested following the fracas near his home on East 10th Street.



Appearing in court Monday with his defense lawyer Alan Abramson, Baldwin pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of assault and harassment. A judge released him on his own recognizance and ordered him to return to court on Jan. 23.



Baldwin, 60, has a history of legal trouble in New York.



In 2014, after a New York City police officer issued him a summons for riding his bike the wrong way on a one-way street, Baldwin allegedly said, "I don't have identification. Just give me the f---ing summons" and "wrap this summons around your head."



Following Baldwin's arrest this month, President Donald Trump, whom Baldwin impersonates on Saturday Night Live, had a few words of encouragement for the actor, when told about the impending charge.



"I wish him luck," the president said.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
OLD SAYBROOK  A fine selection of more than oils and watercolors by New England Impressionist, William Ternes will fill Connecticut Cancer Foundations Art Gallery for the holiday season. Ternes began his career as a watercolorist becoming a signature member of the New England Watercolor Society and the American Watercolor Society.

The gallery is located at 15 N. Main St., Old Saybrook.

His oil paintings of later years retained the sparkle of his watercolors, rendered in the layered depth that oils allow. His love of color and the natural world animated his work, mostly all painted plein air until the very last years of his life.

A portion of all sales will be donated to the Connecticut Cancer Foundation.

The sale exhibition is organized and curated by Marsha Malinowski of Malinowski & Associates, Fine Art Advisory. An opening Reception and Gallery Discussion, open to the public, will be held Nov. 29 from 6-8 p.m. This exhibition is the second to be presented in the new CCF Gallery. Malinowski has long admired the artistic output of Ternes.

Weekly gallery chats will be held Dec. 1, 12-2 p.m., Dec. 5, 5-7 p.m., Dec. 12, 5-7 p.m. and Dec. 19, 5-7 p.m.

The first gallery chat on Dec. 1 includes a reception at the gallery, where guests can meet Ternes daughter in a discussion with curator, Marsha Malinowski. Refreshments will be served. For information, call 860-388-0788 or janeellis@ctcancerfoundation.org

The beauty and serenity embodied in each of his works is nothing short of inspiring. This will be the first time such a comprehensive group of his works will be exhibited in one space. Its a privilege to introduce the work of William Ternes to the CCF gallery and to this area of Connecticut, said Malinowski, who has close ties to the artists family.

William Ternes (1933 - 2014) was educated at the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University where he received a B.S. degree in Art Education and an MBA respectively. He has studied at both the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Massachusetts College of Art. Ternes paintings have been included in various exhibitions sponsored by the American Watercolor Society, Allied Artists, Audubon Artists, National Arts Club, and Salmagundi Club. He is a member of The Guild of Boston Artists, the Copley Society, and The New England Watercolor Society. In 2007, he was voted into the American Watercolor Society. His work is represented in a number of fine art galleries and has been collected internationally, including the Governor and Mrs. Peter Penfold of Tortola, British Virgin Islands where his paintings are on display at the Governors official residence. Corporate collections include Bank of America, John Hancock and Transco Corporation. Ternes also led trips and classes in Harbour Island and Lyford Cay, Bahamas, Spain, France and Ireland.

The Connecticut Cancer Foundation (CCF) is a non-profit with a 501(c)(3) designation whose mission is to financially assist Connecticut cancer patients and their families and to fund cancer research. CCF was founded in 1987 by Connecticut native John Ellis, a former catcher for the New York Yankees and cancer survivor. CCF has granted over $5 million to more than 6,000 Connecticut families dealing with the financial hardship caused by a cancer diagnosis. Our vision for including an art gallery in our new building is to use art to serve the charitable cause of helping CT cancer patients with everyday living expenses. We hope to bring extraordinary and unique artwork to this gallery with a purpose, said Jane and John Ellis, founders of CCF. For more information go to www.ctcancerfoundation.org or call 860-388-0788
The Connecticut Childbirth & Womens Center in Danbury is a 50-minute drive from Evelyn DeGrafs home in Westchester, N.Y. Pregnant with her second child, the 37-year-old didnt hesitate to make the drive  she wanted her birth to be attended by a midwife, not a doctor.

DeGraf believed midwifery care to be more personal and less rushed than that delivered by obstetrics/gynecologists. She also knew an OB/GYN would deem her relatively advanced maternal age and previous Cesarean section history too high-risk to attempt a VBAC, or vaginal birth after cesarean section.

But she had to drive roughly 35 miles to find a midwife because there arent many of them.

Despite the fact that an estimated 85 percent of women are appropriate for midwife care, midwives attend about 11 percent of births in Connecticut, said Holly Kennedy, professor of midwifery at Yale School of Nursing. Kennedy sees a direct correlation between lower use of midwives and higher maternal mortality.

If you scaled up midwives, you would avert over 80 percent of maternal deaths, Kennedy said. In Connecticut, there are 211 licensed nurse-midwives, compared to 945 licensed OB/GYNs, according to state Department of Health records. Unlike some other states, which employ midwives who do not require nursing degrees, Connecticut recognizes only nurse-midwives, who hold advanced degrees in nursing and additional training in midwifery.

The United States has the highest rate of pregnancy- or childbirth-related deaths in the developed world. According to United Health Foundation, in 2018 the maternal mortality rate for the country is 20.7 deaths per 100,000 births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy, excluding accidents. In Connecticut, the maternal mortality rate is 13.2.

Also, in Connecticut and nationwide, black women and their infants suffer disproportionately worse pregnancy-related health outcomes than white women.

Babies born to black women are more than twice as likely to die in the first year of life than babies born to white women, and black women are 243 percent more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DeGrafs second child was born vaginally at Danbury Hospital, assisted by a nurse-midwife employed by the Connecticut Childbirth Center. Her low-intervention delivery is common of births attended by midwives who, statistically, use fewer intervention than physicians during labor and delivery.

Cesarean sections, considered major surgery, carry well-established risks  higher rates of hemorrhage, transfusions, infections, and blood clots. All of these are primary causes of maternal mortality, whose rates increased nationwide (with the exception of California) by 26.6 percent between 2010 and 2014, according to a study supported by The National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Midwives are also linked to higher rates of physiologic birth and fewer adverse neonatal outcomes, according to a nationwide 2018 study, which ranked states by how well midwives are integrated into regional health care systems. Connecticut fell into the bottom third. Experts say the low ranking is due in large part to a lack of access to midwives. Many would-be nurse-midwives never get the chance to train for the position in Connecticut.

At Yale, I get at least 100 applicants for our (nurse-midwife) program. Most are highly qualified, but I can only accept 25 percent, said Kennedy, an author of the 2018 study. She explained that most federal health education dollars are directed to schools of medicine, thereby limiting resources for midwifery education, including the ability to reimburse preceptors who oversee clinical training of nurse-midwife students.

Those who do find spots in one of Connecticuts two nurse-midwife programs (Fairfield University offers a doctor of nursing practice in midwifery) may confront challenges to practicing upon graduation. Many face high debt hurdles, Kennedy says, and search the country for employers willing to repay their student loans. Those who do find jobs in Connecticut may be stymied from practicing to the fullest extent possible.

Cathy Parisi is director at the Connecticut Childbirth & Womens Center, the states only freestanding birth center. She says that while Connecticut legislation authorizes its nurse-midwives to practice to full scope care, which includes admitting privileges at hospitals that credential nurse-midwives, not all hospital bylaws reflect current state statutes; therefore, some hospitals in Connecticut do not grant admitting privileges.

Little things like that are terribly irritating, said Parisi, who suggested several possible reasons why hospitals wouldnt allow a nurse-midwife to practice within the full scope of her license, including pressure from physicians, medical staff or the hospital legal department or, simply, resistance to change.

Nurse-midwives follow the same standards of care as OB/GYNs, but the difference in how they deliver care has an increasing number of women gravitating to the midwifery model. The Connecticut Childbirth & Womens Center, which at its inception about 25 years ago delivered five or six births per month, now facilitates up to 35 per month and has increased its staff accordingly, from two to five full-time nurse-midwives.

With rare exceptions, all insurances cover midwifery services, including HUSKY/Medicaid, though some plans reimburse midwifery services at 90 percent of the physician rate, said Stephanie Welsh, vice president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives Connecticut affiliate.

While the cost to patients is typically the same whether they use a nurse-midwife or an OB/GYN, they may feel like theyre getting a better deal with a nurse-midwife.

By seeing only two to three patients an hour a midwife has time to spend with her client. Physicians simply do not have the time in their schedules to accommodate such lengthy visits for a low-risk woman, Parisi said.

In contrast, their midwife practice schedules only two to three patients per hour.

Midwifery is a relationship-based profession. One of the reasons we probably do have better outcomes is because we listen to women, Yales Kennedy said.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting. (c-hit.org).
WESTPORT  When Dr. Mark Leondires first embarked on his journey toward parenthood more than seven years ago, he was stunned by how few resources there were for him. As gay men, he and his husband, Greg Zola, faced daunting challenges on the way to becoming parents, which included finding someone to actually carry and have the baby.

In many ways, Leondires, who lives in Westport, was prepared for the journey. The medical director of Norwalk-based Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, he has been taking care of patients with fertility issues for more than 20 years, and that includes members of the LGBTQ community.

This is a different kind of fertility issue, Leondires said. Youre not infertile, but there are fertility issues.

But for LGBT couples without his experience in fertility, Leondires could understand how difficult the process could be.

The biggest hurdle our community has is how to get started, he said. And I thought it would be nice if there were more people talking about this.

So in 2012, Leondires created Gay Parents to Be, a group that provides information on how gay, lesbian and transgender people can start the process of becoming parents. It also helps prospective LGBTQ parents find legal services they might need on their journey, gives access to financial planning (through RMA Connecticut) and offers occasional informational events.

Leondires intends the program as a sort of roadmap for LGBTQ parents.

As a member of that community myself, I knew it was really complicated, and I didnt feel there were great resources for it, he said.

Some of the parents hes helped start families agreed.

Ben and Jed Ilany of Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., learned about Leondires in 2013 through the surrogacy agency they used, and he helped them conceive their two children. Both said they wished there were more outlets for same-sex couples when they began thinking about starting a family.

When you first start, you so in over your head, Ben said.

Jed agreed, and said a resource like this one can also be helpful once LGBTQ people actually become parents. He said hes the primary caregiver in his family, and he had a hard time finding parenting groups that were accepting to male parents.

Most of the stuff out there is geared toward moms, he said. I would have loved having this as just a support group.

The Gay Parents to Be website has pages for gay men, lesbians and transgender people, each of which outlines the steps involved for people from that particular group to become parents. Gay men, Leondires said, have one of the more complicated paths, which involves finding an egg donor, going through the in vitro fertilization process and connecting with a gestational carrier  often called a surrogate.

The process can take several years and cost thousands of dollars. Leondires said that for him and Zola, even getting to the point of attempting pregnancy was a little more than a year.

Their first attempt at conception wasnt successful, resulting in a miscarriage. Eventually, the couple conceived a son, then another.

In light of his journey, Leondires wanted to provide a resource for LGBTQ families where he could offer his professional expertise and connect them with the non-medical help they would need. Most of the work he does with Gay Parents to Be is through the RMA Connecticut practice, which has offices in Norwalk, Danbury, Stamford, Trumbull and Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

However, Leondires said, hes worked with people all over the globe. He said he wants the group, and the practice, to be a force for allowing anyone who wants to have a family to do that.

Love makes a family, he said. There are lots of people who want to be parents. This is a place for the LGBTQ community to come and get information  and good information.

To learn more about Gay Parents to Be, visit https://www.gayparentstobe.com/.
Campus News

Funding promise in developing nations

By ROBBY JOHNSON

I wouldnt want to spend my senior year any other way than making people realize that you have the opportunity to make such a big difference with such a small contribution. 

There are 250 million children who cannot read this sentence, according to the New York City non-profit Pencils of Promise, and thats why 15 UB students are raising money to build a school in a developing nation.

Working in conjunction with Choose a Challenge, an organization that helps students donate to charity while also raising money for an adventure trip abroad, each student aims to raise $4,000. Half of the money raised will go to Pencils of Promise, which builds schools in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos and Nicaragua. The other half will support a trip to the Peruvian Andes the students will make next summer to raise awareness for Pencils of Promise.

The trip to Peru will not be a lavish one. Each student will learn about and interact with the area and culture around them before reaching the mountains, where the trip caps off at Machu Picchu, the site of ancient Inca ruins.

The UB fundraising effort began with Alexandra Chang, a senior business administration student who wanted to find a way to give back to the community. She started looking into the charities that are supported by Choose a Challenge, and says she instantly fell in love with the mission of Pencils of Promise.

Their vision had a goal to make all the schools sustainable, says Chang. Theyre not just building a school and leaving right after, but really getting the community involved and making sure the school is still standing long after they build it. They also make sure that the educators are there and that the (local) government is going to support the school, as well as planning a means to make sure students get to the school.

Chang told her close friend Elizabeth Humphrey, a senior business administration and global gender studies double major, all about Choose a Challenge and Pencils of Promise. Humphrey says she was sold on the opportunity because shes grateful for what education has done for her.

A lot of the things Ive been able to do in my life come from being a well-educated person and coming from a well-educated family, she says. Just the simple fact that so many people dont have access to basic literacy, math, English and science skills is so disheartening. Its really important for me to help people who dont have the same backing because of a simple reason like they dont have a school in their area. I had five in my neighborhood that I couldve chosen to go to for elementary school.

Since then, 13 other students have joined Chang and Humphrey, thanks to the recruiting help of Choose a Challenge, which is organizing the trek through the Peruvian Andes.

Chang says she hopes this fundraiser and trip will show students that its not impossible to travel abroad in college, even if the financial resources arent quite there.

Ive had a lot of travel opportunities since I became a student. Ive volunteered in Madrid and I studied abroad in Hong Kong last semester, she says. A lot of students tell themselves that they dont have these opportunities because they dont have the time, the resources or the finances. I want to show that these kinds of experiences are right in front of you with the right research and a little extra work. I often hear that many peoples biggest regret from college is never studying abroad, and this isnt quite that, but it gives you a chance to go somewhere and experience something new, she says.

Humphrey agrees, adding that study abroad and travel opportunities like this one teach so much.

I studied abroad in Belize over the summer and had an internship working with the community and it was amazing. You get a very different feel for where you are when youre completely in it and learning about it, she says.

The group is still in the early stages of fundraising, but members already have raised more than $3,000. Once they reach their $60,000 goal, Pencils of Promise will have enough money to build another school to join the nearly 500 others the organization has spearheaded.

Chang encourages anyone interested in helping the UB team reach its goal to visit its Pencils of Promise page. Every bit helps, she says, because it will all go toward making a big impact.

I wouldnt want to spend my senior year any other way than making people realize that you have the opportunity to make such a big difference with such a small contribution, she says.
China's Sub Force Is Growing More Powerful. This Is What the US Navy Needs to Do to Stay Ahead
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the outgoing commander of U.S. Southern Command on Monday praised the recent decision to send a U.S. Navy hospital ship to aid Venezuelan refugees, warning that moves by China and Russia in the hemisphere should not be trusted.

"There is nothing more indicative of U.S. commitment to regional stability and bolstering of people-to-people ties than the USNS Comfort's mission to aid Venezuelan refugees fleeing their crisis-racked nation," Mattis said at the Southern Command ceremony.

"Alongside 10 partner nations and six non-governmental organizations, we are sending doctors, not bombers, to help limit human suffering," he added as he oversaw the change of command from outgoing Navy Adm. Kurt Tidd to Adm. Craig Faller.

Medical teams from the Comfort, which arrived at Colombia's northwestern port city of Turbo in mid-November, will provide aid to Venezuelan refugees. About three million Venezuelans have fled political turmoil and economic hardship. Roughly a million refugees have migrated to Colombia.

Southern Command has described the mission as a show of friendship, but the move may have also increased tensions in the region with China, which deployed its own hospital ship to Venezuela in September, The Guardian newspaper reported.

"China is doing everything in its power to entice nations in this hemisphere to put on a constricting belt and head down a one-way road that is primarily designed to support China's rise," Tidd said during the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to support the most oppressive governments, such as Nicaragua and Venezuela, he added.

"While we deploy hospital ships to the region, watch them as they deploy nuclear-capable, strategic bombers and fly around the Caribbean in a show of force. Our hemisphere has no need for such patently hollow demonstrations," Tidd said.

In May, U.S. Air Force F-22 stealth fighter jets intercepted two Russian nuclear-capable bombers flying off the coast of Alaska.

"Neither Russia nor China genuinely have this region's best interest at heart. My parting advice to you, my friends -- they should be distrusted. Latin America and Caribbean states know that, in the long run, our connections to one another will always and inevitably bear the finest fruit."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.
President Donald Trump used one of his Thanksgiving Day phone calls to service members to raise questions again on the reliability of the new electromagnetic system for launching aircraft from carriers versus older steam catapults.

In a call to the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, which was on a port visit to Hong Kong, Trump grilled Capt. Pat Hannifin, the nuclear-powered ship's commanding officer, on electromagnetic aircraft launchers (EMALS).

The first-in-class Gerald Ford, the U.S.' newest carrier and considered the most expensive warship ever built at an estimated $13 billion, features the EMALS system. The Nimitz-class Reagan uses steam catapults.

Trump first asked Hannifin about the condition of his ship. Before he could finish the answer, the president interjected, "Tell me about the catapult," according to the White House transcript of the phone calls.

"On Gerald Ford, they don't use steam, which is the first one that I've ever heard of that doesn't use steam," said Trump, who has previously questioned why the Navy went with EMALS on the Ford. "I know they have some difficulties, which I'm not happy about. They spent a lot of money. I was just curious. The steam system is tried and true for many, many years, as long as we've had aircraft carriers."

He asked Hannifin, "How do you find steam versus what they're doing on the Gerald Ford, which is electronic and digital, if you can believe it?"

Hannifin appeared ready for the question. "Yes sir, all of our Nimitz supercarriers have been using steam for decades, and we find it pretty reliable. However, the electromagnetic catapults they're running there [on the Ford] offer some great benefits," he said. "Obviously, any new piece, you've got to work through the bugs, but they offer some benefits, not only to stress and strain on the aircraft to extend service life."

Trump put Hannifin on the spot again. "So when you do the new carriers as you do and we're thinking of doing, would you go steam or would you go with the electromagnetic? Steam is very reliable, and the electromagnetic, I mean, unfortunately, you have to be Albert Einstein to work it properly."

Hannifin deftly deflected the Einstein reference. "Yes sir, you have to be Albert Einstein to run the nuclear power plants we have here as well [aboard the Reagan], but we're doing that very well," he said. "Sir, Mr. President, I would go electromagnetic 'cats.' I think that's the way to go. We do pay a heavy cost to transit the steam around the ship."

Trump responded, "Good, OK, I like to hear that. I'm actually happy about that answer because at least they're doing what they're doing, but that's actually a very good answer."

In a Navy release, Electronics Technician 2nd Class Michael Syzmanski, from Fort Worth, Texas, said he didn't mind having the president ask about EMALS.

"The president asked good questions about future technology and is very understanding of our naval systems and technology," he said. "I was very impressed and really enjoyed the overall experience."

In their holiday phone calls to service members, presidents usually avoid politics and stick to congratulating them on the jobs they do and thanking them for their sacrifices in serving the nation, but Trump broke with the tradition several times in his Thanksgiving Day calls.

In his phone call to Air Force Brig. Gen. David Lyons, commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, he seized on Lyons' comment that U.S. troops in Afghanistan are preventing terrorists from "reaching our shores again."

Trump used that comment to draw comparisons to his deployment of about 5,800 active-duty troops to the southern border to help stop "caravans" of migrant asylum seekers from crossing.

He told Lyons, "Large numbers of people are forming at our border, and I don't even have to ask you, I know what you want to do. You want to make sure that you know who we're letting in.  And we're not letting in anybody essentially because we want to be very, very careful."

Trump called the migrants "dangerous people" and told Lyons, "You're right. You're doing it over there. We're doing it over here."

He also asked Coast Guard Lt. Nick Hartmann, aboard the cutter Aquidneck in Bahrain about trade policy, which he said was a "very big subject" for his presidency. "We've been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals," Trump said.

Hartmann replied, "Mr. President, from our perspective out on the water, sir, we're seeing that there is an abundance of trade happening in the region.  There are vessels moving through the Straits of Hormuz and across the Arabian Gulf on a daily basis carrying cargo to and fro. And we don't see any issues in terms of trade right now, sir."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
The U.S. and NATO warned Russia on Monday of possible consequences for the attack upon and seizure of three small Ukrainian Navy ships -- two gunboats and a tugboat -- in the Black Sea. But they announced no immediate steps to counter the aggression.

At an emergency United Nations Security Council session requested by Ukraine, outgoing U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley condemned Russia's "outlaw actions" in violation of international law, but made no mention of whether the U.S. might toughen existing sanctions against Moscow.

"What we witnessed this weekend is yet another reckless Russian escalation" of what began with Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and its ongoing support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, said Haley, who will step down as U.N. ambassador at the end of the year.

By mid-afternoon Monday, there had been no response from the White House or the State Department to the crisis, but Haley said she was speaking after consulting with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

In similar remarks at NATO headquarters in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, "Russia has to understand there are consequences for its actions," but gave no indication of what those might be.

When asked whether there would be a NATO response, he said, "We constantly assess what more we can do. At the same time, we have to work for de-escalation."

There was "no justification for the use of military force" by Russia against the Ukrainian ships, Stoltenberg said, and he called on Russia to immediately release the ships and sailors.

The U.S. Navy periodically conducts freedom of navigation operations in the Black Sea, but there were no U.S. ships in the area when the incident took place.

The attack by the Russian Coast Guard on Sunday occurred as the three Ukrainian ships attempted to pass from the Black Sea through the Kerch Strait off eastern Crimea into the Sea of Azov for access to Ukrainian ports.

"All hell broke loose" as the Russian Coast Guard opened fire on the Ukrainian ships, which were awaiting assurances of safe passage through the strait, said Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.N., at the emergency session of the Security Council.

He said six Ukrainian sailors were wounded, a total of 24 were taken into custody, and the three ships were seized. Yelchenko said he has recordings of radio traffic showing how the Russian military planned and carried out the seizures.

In statements reported by state media, the Russian FSB, the Federal Security Service, dismissed Ukraine's charges and said the Ukrainian ships had carried out a "provocation" by violating Russia's territorial waters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of "dangerous methods that created threats and risks for the normal movement of ships in the area."

The incident is likely to complicate Trump's attendance this weekend at the G20 economic summit in Argentina. He is expected to meet on the sidelines separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump could also cross paths in Buenos Aires with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, who also is expected to attend the summit.

The president has dismissed a CIA assessment that the Crown Prince was involved in ordering the murder of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
How to use the mindat.org media viewer

Click/touch this help panel to close it.

Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. 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
General Motors is expected to announce both the closure of a plant in Oshawa, Ontario resulting in the loss of more than 2,500 jobs and company-wide restructuring sometime Monday, Nov. 26.

The Associated Press reports that a person briefed on the Detroit-based automaker's plans says the plant closure in Canada "is just the beginning" as GM readies for the next economic downturn, Trump administration changes and tariffs on imported vehicles.

The choice for this specific plant comes down to the fact that GM is focusing on its all-electric future, and that was not one of the focuses of the plant in Oshawa.

A GM official close to the decision to close the plant and lay off 2,500 employees confirmed the ordeal to A.P. Sunday night. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity as the changes have not been made public yet.

CTV News in Toronto reports the move would affect 2,500 unionized positions and 300 white-collar employees.

"While the union does not have complete details of the overall announcement we have been informed that, as of now, there is no product allocated to the Oshawa Assembly Plant past December 2019," Unifor, the union representing the affected workers, said in a news release in response to the news.

"Based on commitments made during 2016 contract negotiations, Unifor does not accept this announcement and is immediately calling on GM to live up to the spirit of that agreement."

The union says is has a meeting with GM some time Monday, and will provide an update following that.

This comes after the automaker offered buyouts to 18,000 salaries workers back in late October. At the time, GM called the buyout offers a "proactive" choice while the company was in good economic standing.

A.P. reports that it is still not known how many accepted those buyouts or if the automaker was anywhere close to meeting its goals.

The factory in Oshawa opened back in 1953, and has been used to make GM's Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierras. A.P. says a GM spokesperson declined to comment on the matter as of Monday morning.

"If GM Canada is indeed turning its back on 100 years of industry and community -- abandoning workers and families and Oshawa -- then this is a callous decision that must be fought," Jennifer French, Oshawa representative in the provincial legislator, said in a statement.

GM didn't build #Oshawa. Oshawa built GM. If it is true that @GMcanada is abandoning us, then they are in for a fight. Autoworkers & families deserve better than rumours. The Govt better be figuring out a plan... #MadeInOshawaMatters #community pic.twitter.com/wVELqWO7oe  Jennifer French (@jennkfrench) November 26, 2018
The most inspiring, hard-working and talented people in the builders merchants sector have been honoured at this years Builders Merchants Awards for Excellence 2018.

Now in its 17th year, the Awards were held in the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in London on Friday, hosted by the gloriously funny national treasure Sir Lenny Henry CBE, and attended by more than 750 people. They were judged by a panel of independent industry experts, who had their work cut out for them due to the high standard of entries.

Representatives from the Awards sponsors handed out the trophies to the winners, and BMN Editor Elizabeth Eyre opened and closed the ceremony.

Throughout the afternoon, donations were made to Variety, the children's charity, and CRASH, which provides construction services to homelessness charities and hospices. The total raised was a whopping 5,838.49.

There were two new Award categories this year  Woman in Merchanting and Supplier Account Manager of the Year.

The winners were:

Website & Digital Initiative of the Year: LBS Builders Merchants

Marketing Initiative of the Year: Howarth Timber and Building Supplies

Training Initiative of the Year: PGR Builders & Timber Merchants

Community Initiative of the Year: EH Smith

Best Customer Service of the Year: LBS Builders Merchants

Hard Landscaping Display of the Year: MKM Building Supplies (Leamington Spa)

Heating & Plumbing Merchant of the Year: City Plumbing Supplies

Independent Merchant of the Year (1-10 branches): Dorsey Construction Materials

Independent Merchant of the Year (11-20 branches): LBS Builders Merchants

Independent Merchant of the Year (21+ branches): MKM Building Supplies

National Merchant of the Year: Gibbs & Dandy

Tool Showroom of the Year: Ridgeons Timber and Builders Merchants

Timber Merchant of the Year: MKM Building Supplies (Perth)

Showroom of the Year: Coomers Timber and Building Supplies

Supplier of the Year: Digby Stone

Trainee of the Year: Alun Thomas, LBS Builders Merchant

Achiever of the Year: Paul Sheppard, Murdock Builders Merchants

Branch Manager of the Year: John Mortlock, Ridgeons Timber and Builders Merchants

Supplier Account Manager of the Year: Vicky Piercy, Pavestone

Woman in Merchanting: Anita Harrison-Carroll, Sovini Trade Supplies

Lifetime Achievement of the Year: Neil Lawrence, Gibbs & Dandy

Congratulations to all the very deserving winners and, if you were unsuccessful at the 2018 awards, please dont be deterred from entering our 2019 awards. We always want to celebrate the best and the brightest the industry has to offer.

Pictured: the Awards winners and sponsors.
General Motors kept the time of speculation short as it announced those rumored company-wide changes that it will close three assembly plants in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, Canada by the end of 2019.

The Detroit-based automaker confirmed the measures in a Monday morning, Nov. 26 news release in saying these moves "will accelerate its transformation for the future." That future is an all-electric one, and GM says in the release that these "proactive steps" will help improve overall business performance and internal organization.

GM reports that closing the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant, Lordstown Assembly Plant in Warren, Ohio and Oshawa Assembly plant in Ontario will increase its cash flow by $6 billion by the end of 2020. The Associated Press reports the move will see 14,700 employees laid off, including 8,100 salaried, white-collar workers.

Mary Barra, the automaker's CEO and chairman, said that these measures will continue GM's transformation into a "highly agile, resilient and profitable" company with some needed investment flexibility.

"This morning I spoke to Mary Barra and she advised me for the first time of the situation at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant. The news is troubling," Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said in an emailed statement.

"I have spoken to UAW President Gary Jones and the city's economic development team. They are working together to come up with a solution that works for GM and the employees. We all know there is strong demand for manufacturing space in Detroit and we are willing to work with GM to fill all the available manufacturing space at Poletown with either GM-related entities or other companies."

A.P. reports that the reductions in salaried employees represents a 15 percent reduction to GM's North American workforce. The automaker says that some of the U.S. employees will have the option to transfer to plants that will see an increase in volume.

Nathan Bomey, of USA Today, reports that GM has killed production of its Chevy Volt and Impala in North America with these plant closures. On top of this, the automaker is believed to be eyeing the Cadillac XTS, CT6 and Buick LaCrosse for the chopping block as Americans continue their intense love of trucks and SUVs.

The automaker cites "transforming product development," "optimizing product portfolio," "staffing transformation" and "increasing capacity utilization" as the three core reasons behind the cuts. In addition to the three assembly plants closing, GM will also unallocate the propulsion plants in Warren, Michigan and White Marsh, Maryland in the same timeframe.

"This is a warning and we all must be concerned about protecting jobs and keeping them in this country. I care deeply about working families hearing this news right now," U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, said in her own emailed statement.

"If we want our auto industry to continue to be the global leader in transforming mobility, federal policy must ensure we keep them at the forefront of innovation and technology. Congress must work together on bipartisan policies that keep manufacturing jobs in this country, develops clean energy, and supports infrastructure to transform our mobility future."

North America isn't the only area feeling cuts, as GM also says it will close the assembly plant in Gunsan, Korea in addition to two other non-North American plants by the end of next year.

The automaker says these measures are part of its plan to reduce its salaried workforce by 15 percent and its executives by 25 percent.

"In contrast to times past, General Motors, under CEO Mary Barra, is trying to get ahead of a potential crisis by making cuts now. A confluence of factors has triggered GM's actions: a downturn in the important China market as well as a potential downturn in the North American market - the two are GM's biggest markets; the dramatic shift by consumers from traditional cars to utility vehicles; and the impact of tariffs and trade issues," Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Autotrader, said in an emailed statement.

"GM is actually a tad late to adjusting its product line and production capacity to the dramatic car to utility shift. Ford and Fiat Chrysler already revealed their plans to largely abandon traditional cars. We had expected GM to follow suit, especially in light of 2019's labor talks with the UAW."
Americans are facing a record $13 trillion in debt. Many say that in order to combat the debt crisis, financial education should start earlier and high schools should be required to teach personal finance to all students. Others point out that research shows lessons on financial literacy in high school have no long-term impact on financial behavior. Should financial literacy be an educational requirement?

PERSPECTIVES

According to Money, the average millennial household "owes $14,800 in student loans." Writer Kerri Anne Renzulli explains that while debt averages vary across each generation, people of all ages are demonstrating a greater comfort with debt. As everyone becomes more comfortable with financing and credit, there is a greater risk that accumulated debt will never be paid off in full.

The country should take a proactive approach in preventing debt from spiraling further. Requiring personal finance in high schools with the goal of establishing financial literacy in young people before they become independent is a logical first step.

Even students understand that financial literacy is an invaluable skill. Considering most people have to learn the hard way when it comes to establishing credit, budgeting, and saving, students recognize that personal finance classes in high school could be life-saving.

According to U.S. News' Stacy Rapacon:

"A whopping 95% of US teenagers said they would value personal finance programs being taught in their schools."



The school system might not teach #financialeducation but parents can still promote #financialliteracy at home. https://t.co/y2Wrl2XR72 pic.twitter.com/PmsMwoX5xy  Pigzbe (@Pigzbe) November 11, 2018

Although it may seem like common sense, research shows that personal finance classes don't actually make a difference for most students later on in life. According to U.S. News' Susannah Snider, researchers say financial literacy can't be taught in the same way "geometry or German" might be.

Fifth grade is perhaps a bit too early to have meaningful lessons on the topic.

The fifth grade @54Elementary loved the financial literacy lesson from @streatoro ! Who wouldnt love using @mmschocolate to learn about budgeting ! #TeachMorris pic.twitter.com/aw10en6gt7  Molly Kaminski (@kaminski107) November 20, 2018

According to pension fund analyst and fiduciary expert, John Lohr, high school is the last place for financial literacy to be taught. Lohr acknowledges:

But he also points out:

Requiring financial literacy classes in high schools is a classic example of throwing what seems like a logical solution at a problem before it has been properly researched. Changing a curriculum state-wide is a massive undertaking, and so far, research shows that a financial literacy requirement would not benefit students as much as the public may think.

The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say.
ANN ARBOR, MI - A major city road project is being delayed until spring 2019 due to weather conditions and a recent labor dispute.

The $2.5-million Scio Church Improvement Project involves resurfacing the road between Seventh and South Main Street, along with installing new curb and gutter on the south side of the road, a new sidewalk on the north side and completing a sidewalk gap.

The pushback is also due to a dispute from several months ago between the Michigan Transportation and Infrastructure Association and the Operating Engineer's Local 324, when the two could not agree on a new contract.

The dispute halted major highway and local street projects around the state with MITA describing it as a defensive lockout and the union suggesting it was a mass layoff.

The project contractor is performing the necessary work this week to reopen Scio Church Road and the Seventh Street and Scio Church intersection to two-way traffic, according to the city. This includes re-striping the road and intersection for two-way traffic.

Temperatures must be above freezing with a dry road surface for the work to be completed properly, according to the city.

Stay updated here.
YPSILANTI, MI - One of Michigan's oldest active African Methodist Episcopal churches is celebrating 175 years of serving the Ypsilanti community.

Brown Chapel AME Church will have a week-long celebration starting Monday, Nov. 26, through Friday, Nov. 30, with nightly revivals starting at 7 p.m. under the theme, "Continuing our Spiritual Journey by Faith."

Brown Chapel was founded in 1843 during the earliest days of black settlement in Ypsilanti. The settlements were comprised largely of runaway slaves or others escaping racism, who migrated north to Canada and other points on the Underground Railroad, said the Rev. Jerry Hatter, the church's pastor.

"This church is rich in not just black history, but American history," Hatter said. "This anniversary is about remembering our ancestors who went through slavery and fought for us to have this beautiful facility of worship we have today. Our celebrations this week will revisit our history as we focus on worship and reaching out to help our community and serve God for the next 175 years."

The church kicked off the celebration at its Sunday service Nov. 25 with Bishop John Franklin White as its guest preacher.

"If we are to capture a greater future by serving this present age, we first must praise God for the past," White said. "With our rich history and heritage, some of us have forgotten what has been passed on to us. Some of us have no understanding of what our ancestors went through in order for us to have this facility of worship today. This week is about remembering our past and educating ourselves so that we can continue this legacy for the next generations to come."

Other invited guest preachers from the Ypsilanti and Detroit communities include:

The Rev. Mashod Evans, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Ann Arbor, Nov. 26

The Rev. William Kersey, pastor of Community Church of God in Ypsilanti, Nov. 27

The Rev. Colette Lewis Mitchell, pastor of Allen Temple AME Church in Detroit, Nov. 28

The Rev. David Jarrett, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Detroit, Nov. 29

The Rev. Robert Brumfield, pastor of Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, Nov. 30

The first members of Brown Chapel AME Church originally met in the homes of its founders, Flora Thompson and Sylas Jones.

In 1856, Jesse and Isa Steward, slaves who fled from Virginia in the 1830s, donated two lots on the corner of Buffalo and Adams streets to the congregation. The congregation began meeting in a converted livery stable until a larger church was built around 1870.

The first brick church building was opened in 1904 and became a symbol of the African American community's presence and solidity for many years, Hatter said.

The church now meets at its new building at 1043 W Michigan Ave, about a mile from the original Adams Street church. The historic building is still standing at its original site.

Future events for Brown Chapel AME's 175 year anniversary include the premiere of a documentary on the church during its 66th annual Brotherhood Banquet on Feb. 22, 2019, at Eastern Michigan University's Student Center.

For more information on the history of Brown Chapel AME Church, visit here.
FLINT, MI - A winter snowstorm canceled some flights at Flint's Bishop Airport on Monday, Nov. 26, including some departures to Florida where temperatures are expected to be in the 80s today.

Four arrivals and departures were canceled, according to the airport's website.

Two Allegiant flights set to arrive before 10:30 a.m. from Florida were canceled, along with single flights on American and United from Chicago.

Departure flights on Allegiant set for 10:01 a.m. and 11:13 going to separate Florida destinations also were canceled.

The two departures from Flint to Chicago on American and United at 10:47 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively also have been canceled.
FLINT, MI - The company managing Flint's service line replacements will postpone excavating a city ward where the success rate of finding buried lead water pipes is 95 percent.

That's due in part to some concerns about Native American remains buried in that area.

Flint's FAST Start program has excavated water lines at 9,036 homes as of April, according to a Monday, Nov. 26 city press release. Lead and galvanized pipes were found at 16 percent of those homes.

As of Aug. 15, water lines at 163 homes in Ward 5 were excavated and 95 percent of them had hazardous pipes, according to an analysis of excavations done this year.

Overall, the city has 1,165 addresses listed in Ward 5 since 2016. The water lines for about half of those homes were due to be excavated this year, Flint spokesperson, Candice Mushatt stated in an email.

But work in Ward 5 is delayed by ancestral Native American burial grounds in that area, assistant AECOM program manager Ed Tharp said at a city council Nov. 7 "investigative hearing."

The grounds are considered an archaeological zone by the State Historic Preservation Office. Of the 140 homes in that area that haven't been checked, 104 have active water accounts qualifying them for service line replacements.

None of the homes have been assigned to contractors.

Flint received the OK to dig in Ward 5 from the preservation office in February, but according to Mushatt's email, Flint contacted the tribes associated with the grounds and is awaiting a response.

The response from the tribes isn't required for work to begin, according to Mushatt's email. But, AECOM, the Los Angeles-based engineering firm contracted for $5 million to manage FAST Start, doesn't want work to start just yet.

AECOM wants to discuss the zone more with the city, have an agreement with the city to start work in the zone, give courtesy notification to the tribes and the MDEQ when the work will occur in the zone, assign it to contractors and allow contractors to schedule the work before the 5th Ward is explored thoroughly, Mushatt's email stated.

This heat map shows were lead lines are historically known and statistically predicted to be in the city of Flint. It was created using information from the city, researchers and a predictive computer model that identifies where hazardous lines are.

The burial grounds

The Native American burial grounds were discovered in January 2008 on Stone Street just south of University, Dean Anderson a state archaeologist for the State Historic Preservation Office said.

Human remains and some artifacts were found when basements were being dug up for the Carriage Town revitalization and it became apparent there were multiple burial grounds there, Anderson said.

AECOM was made aware of the archaeological zone during discussions related to preparing the plans for excavations in Phase 5, according to Mushatt's email.

The company was contracted to manage FAST Start in December 2017 and its contract is ending December 2018.

"What we've tried to do, as a matter of awareness, is to just be careful about the process if you don't know the absolute extension of the grounds," Anderson said.

In 2017, SHPO and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality worked together to ensure the proper methodology was followed for excavations in Phase 4 of service line replacements.

Before excavations in the zone can take place, SHPO had to review the addresses assigned to contractors and an archaeologist had to be on-site when digging in case artifacts or remains are found.

About 258 homes in the zone were checked following SHPO's guidelines during last year's Phase 4 of replacements, according to Eric Pocan, of the MDEQ.

"We don't affect specifically when or where that work happens, we simply say that if you're going to work in this area we just want you to be aware of the possibilities," Anderson said. "It's completely up to the DEQ and whoever is doing the work out there, the contractors, who we have no contact with."

Bill Morgan (right) of Swartz Creek and Kenneth Bennett of Gaines Twp. arrange headstones that will be laid on the ground to identify the graves of Chippewa Indians at a Chippewa Indian burial ground in Swartz Creek.Oscar Durand / The Flint Journal The Flint Journal

However, there's nothing legally binding the city to follow SHPO's guidelines for Phase 5 of work.

Nothing binding

The reason SHPO had to guide excavations in Phase 4 is because it was funded through federal WIIN allocations, Pocan said.

The National Environmental Policy Act mandates the federal government conduct an environmental assessment of any of its projects.

"Pretty much we have to write an environmental assessment and issue a report of our findings," Pocan said.

This year's phase of service line replacements is being funded by the state which has no obligation to follow SHPO's guidelines.

"Flint essentially said even if it's not a requirement of the state funding we'll go forward and follow those same type of rules with those areas," Pocan said.

As far as the DEQ is concerned, Pocan said all of the requirements have been laid out for the city and it can work wherever necessary so long as an archaeologist is on site.

"There isn't anything that's necessarily keeping them from doing work in that smaller area," Pocan said. "The whole time, from beginning of 2018, (Flint) would've been able to go and do work in that area. The state would've reimbursed the replacements."

Changing the scope of work

The city contacted SHPO on Aug. 30 because the scope of it work was changing, Pocan said.

In early June, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver banned the use of hydrovacs to dig pipes up after stating she thinks the tool misses some hazardous service lines.

A few days later, on Sept. 7, SHPO responded stating they were fine with the changes.

"The way the work gets carried out is really a matter of what works best for the project and it's a decision that's not in our hands at all," Anderson said.

After receiving the OK from SHPO, the city began contacting the tribes the MDEQ indicate are necessary for notification for any similar situation, Mushatt's email stated.

The city didn't say when the letters were sent but did state that only one tribe responded to their letter. They didn't clarify which tribe.

"To my knowledge the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe is whose been most involved in what's going on," Anderson said.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe could not be reached for comment.

Saginaw Chippewa Indian Burial ground at the corner of Stone St. and W. 4th Ave. in Flint on Friday, August 14th, 2009. Oscar Durand / The Flint Journal Oscar Durand / The Flint Journal

"I guess in my experience, the tribe doesn't usually respond to those letters," the DEQ's Pocan said. "They just get the information and occasionally one of the tribal groups will send a letter if there's going to be an issue or a problem."

Pocan reached out to the city after watching a live stream of the Nov. 7 investigative hearing and learning AECOM is awaiting responses from tribes before working in the area.

"We said, 'Yeah (Flint's) waiting on a possible response,' but that response isn't required to go into that area and do work," Pocan said. "They received the approval before the construction season started and as far as we're concerned they've been able to do work in that area the whole year if they have an archaeologist on site."

AECOM does have an archaeologist on staff, Pocan said, but it's so late in the construction season they'll likely hold off digging in the area until next year.

"So, were not necessarily waiting on anything, we just want them to do the construction in that area," Pocan said.
FLINT, MI - General Motors says plant closings and job cuts announced Monday, Nov. 26, will have no immediate impact on its plants in Flint, Saginaw and Bay City.

GM officials said they will close three assembly plants in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario, Canada by the end of 2019, including Lordstown Assembly Plant in Warren, Ohio.

That plant builds the Chevrolet Cruze, a vehicle that GM announced it will no longer sell in the United States and that has been powered by engines built at Flint Engine Operations.

Kim Capenter, a GM spokeswoman, said other powertrains built in Flint are expected to keep employment stable at the plant, which also produces engines for Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks.

Of other GM plants in Flint, Saginaw and Bay City, Carpenter said there is "no impact" from Monday's announcements. Saginaw Metal Casting Operations makes engine blocks and cylinder heads and Bay City Powertrain makes engine components for GM.

GM said it will lay off up to 14,000 factory and white-collar workers in North America and put five plants up for possible closure as it restructures to cut costs and focus more attention on autonomous and electric vehicles.

In a news release, it said the changes "will accelerate its transformation for the future."

Steve Gruener, president of United Auto Workers Local 659, which represents hourly workers at Flint Engine, said the union had yet to receive any details on what Monday's announcements would mean to the plant and his members.

The UAW issued a statement that said it will challenge the planned GM moves.

"General Motors' decision today to stop production at the Lordstown, Ohio, and Hamtramck, Michigan, assembly plants will idle thousands of workers, and will not go unchallenged by the UAW," the union's statement says.

GM employees received some information about Monday's announcements in a written message from North America Manufacturing Vice President Gerald Johnson.

"This is tough news for our manufacturing team, but necessary for us to compete," the message says. "Consumer preferences have moved away from passenger cars and we need to focus our resources on trucks, SUVs and crossovers. Cars we can produce competitively will remain in the portfolio."

The UAW statement says it will do its part "to convince GM and all American employers that the American consumer market should support American-made products by building where we buy products."
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Michigan's secret list of names designed to protect children, once the focus of complaints and a federal lawsuit, underwent a series of changes three years ago.

The Central Registry for Abuse and Neglect, a list of those who've been deemed abusive or neglectful, was labeled a "blacklist" by critics who argued some well-meaning people were caught in its web.

Michigan made changes to the law in 2015, making it easier for people to get off the list.

Did state lawmakers go far enough?

Many of the same complaints - the standard for being placed on the list falls well short of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and the label of being a child abuser when other reasons can lead to inclusion - are made today.

Cynthia VanderKodde is one of 300,000 people in Michigan on Central Registry, a database of those found to have abused or neglected children. The status prevents her from working or volunteering with children.

VanderKodde got on the list after relinquishing parental rights to her troubled daughter who she adopted. VanderKodde said she was forced to admit that she was neglectful for terminating the adoption or face losing custody of the other four she had adopted.

"It was so humiliating and painful," she said. "I'm pretty sure there are other families out there like me. We need vindication and we need someone else to know what's going on. We live in shame and embarrassment because we tried to do something right and only got severely punished for it."

The registry is designed to protect children, but critics say it can turn lives of well-meaning people upside down. Most can't volunteer at school. Others on the list have lost jobs. Even non-egregious offenses have resulted in people, seemingly guilty without a trial, being put on the list.

The contents of the list are kept secret from the public.

Unlike the state's Sex Offender Registry, which is a public, online database of defendants convicted of sexual assault, Central Registry information is available only to certain entities, including Child Protective Services, law enforcement, courts, and employers and volunteer groups involved with children.

The threshold for placement on Central Registry is lower than required for a criminal conviction. The government needs to show by a preponderance of evidence, rather than beyond a reasonable doubt, that someone committed child abuse or neglect to be placed on Central Registry.

Critics say Central Registry costs jobs, volunteer opportunities and violates due-process rights - and suggests that those on the list committed a crime. In some cases, VanderKodde said, parents are put on the registry for reversing adoptions as a last resort to protect other children in the home.

"You are guilty of abuse and neglect on a CPS level without due process, without the right to be tried by your peers on a jury," said Cassandra Drysdale-Crown, an attorney who specializes in family law at the Lansing-based Kronzek Firm.

Paula Aylward, an attorney for Allegiant Legal in Marshall, said it is "very easy" to get on the registry, and "can be very difficult" to get off.

"The only requirement is that a CPS investigator determines that there is more than a 50 percent chance that someone has abused or neglected their child, and what CPS considers child abuse or neglect can often be very different from what average people consider child abuse and neglect," she said.

"It doesn't always include physical assaults."

Rachael Wineland, Child Protective Services policy analyst, said Central Registry is designed to protect children, and is mandated by state and federal governments.

She and the state contend that due-process protections are built into the law.

A federal judge in Grand Rapids last year dismissed a lawsuit against the state alleging violations of due-process rights.

A CPS worker can place someone on Central Registry after consulting a supervisor. The investigation can include information from law enforcement and medical professionals.

Those placed on Central Registry after March 31, 2015, when the law changed, can seek removal by contacting their local Michigan Department of Health and Human Services within 180 days of placement.

If the request for removal is rejected, the case could go before an administrative law judge, and then appealed to a state circuit court judge.

Before the law changed, everyone on the registry was on for life.

Now, those placed on the registry for non-egregious acts of abuse or neglect after the law change can be removed after 10 years. Egregious violations, such as sexual assault, put offenders on the registry for life.

Wineland insisted that protections are built into the process.

"We are aware there are repercussions from being placed on the Central Registry," she said.

For VanderKodde, the placement meant she could no longer work with children. She once led a children's choir and was a youth leader for Bible study fellowship. She would like to volunteer at school but doesn't want to be confronted with a background check.

Her devotion to children - she raised five before taking in children through foster care and adoption - was once recognized by the morning show, "Live with Regis and Kelly," which gave her a new handicapped-accessible van in its "Mom's Dream Come True" contest.

VanderKodde, who graduated from Calvin College, was working at Catholic Social Services when it was suggested she act as a foster or adoptive parent. She had trained hundreds of prospective adoptive and foster parents.

She and her now ex-husband took in Alexandria 31 days after she was born.

Over the next few years, she took in a girl and two boys.

But the troubled girl took all her time, energy and attention. She had to put an alarm on the girl's door, fearful she would get out at night. Court records showed that the girl required "24/7 supervision" because of aggression and poor impulse control.

The girl was treated at several institutions, VanderKodde said.

She described it as "an absolute nightmare where there was no waking up and no help, support or solutions."

Eventually, VanderKodde felt her own life go out of control. At urging of others, she went to Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services for nearly a week.

"After my recovery I realized that at that point, I did have a sense of hopelessness," she said.

At age 7, the girl was removed from the home. The adoption was terminated two years later.

The state legislator who sponsored the bill that led to the 2015 changes has heard the horror stories.

Sen. Margaret O'Brien was a state representative when a social worker sought her help: the worker was placed on the state's Central Registry while trying to manage two troubled teens she had adopted.

As part of a security plan developed by an adoption caseworker, the social worker told O'Brien that she was to call police if her teens' behavioral problems got out of hand.

The "well-respected social worker" came to the attention of Child Protective Services because "she did what her caseworker said she should do," O'Brien said.

"It's kind of crazy. Then she finds out she was on the Central Registry, and she can't work with her employer anymore. Essentially, she lost her job and ended up on welfare."

For O'Brien, R-Portage, the story from years ago stuck with her and became the impetus to seek changes to Michigan's Central Registry. O'Brien is now a state senator.

In response to the social worker's case, O'Brien sponsored legislation in 2014 to prevent those wrongly accused from being placed on the registry. It also provided appellate avenues and requirements that those placed on the registry are notified and given appeal rights.

The changes, which took effect March 31, 2015, included a provision that those put on the registry for non-egregious offenses would be removed after 10 years, rather than stay on for life.

O'Brien said she hasn't heard as many complaints as she once did before changes were made to the law. The changes were somewhat controversial, with one side saying inclusion on the registry showed someone "had to have done something wrong," while others believed that "no one should be on it," she said.

The registry has value. For instance, she said, a parent whose parental rights to a child had been terminated would be on the registry. Otherwise, there wouldn't necessarily be a record that a parent was unfit.

She said there is a distinction between making a mistake and abuse. In some cases, parenting classes could help.

"Every parent has made some mistake with a child. Some people end up engaging with CPS."
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Grand Rapids Board of Education meeting to gather input for a superintendent search is canceled for Monday, Nov. 26, due to inclement weather and school cancellations.

The school board will reschedule tonight's meeting at City High Middle School. The school district along with the vast majority in the region was closed Monday because of a major snowstorm.

Three other superintendent public input meetings are still scheduled for this week.

Effective July 1, Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal is retiring. The district is seeking public input about the qualities and types of experience desired in the next superintendent from parents, students, staff, and the community.

The Tuesday, Nov. 27, input meeting is still scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Union High School, 1800 Tremont Blvd. NW.

The two other meetings this week also at 5:30 p.m.:

Nov. 28 at Cesar E. Chavez Elementary, 1205 Grandville Ave. SW

Nov. 29 at Gerald R. Ford Academic Center, 851 Madison Ave SE

The Kent ISD is conducting community engagement for the school district.

There is also an 11-question online survey for those who are unable to attend the meetings, or would like to contribute additional thoughts available by clicking this link - http://bit.ly/supgrps19.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - On the 25th anniversary of Kristy Couch's shooting, her killer, a so-called juvenile lifer, asked a judge for a chance at freedom.

Couch, who was four months pregnant, had stopped to help two young teens who said they had car trouble.

Instead, Stephen Launsburry got into her car at gunpoint, and forced her to drive to a remote area where he shot the kneeling woman twice in the head. She died four days later. He unborn baby did not survive, either.

On Monday, Nov. 26, Launsburry, who was 16 when he killed Couch, asked a judge to give him the chance at one day leaving prison.

Stephen Launsburry

"I'm not the same person I was, your honor, when the incident happened," Launsburry, 41, told Kent County Circuit Judge Dennis Leiber.

Launsburry, who finally admitted to firing the fatal shots after blaming his co-defendant, Gregory Wines, told the victim's family: "I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you. I'm genuinely sorry."

Kent County prosecutors asked the judge to affirm his original sentence of life in prison without parole. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a mandatory life sentence without parole is a cruel and unusual punishment for a juvenile.

Leiber, who presided over the trial in 1993, is expected to decide Wednesday, Nov. 28, if he will re-sentence Launsburry.

If re-sentenced, Launsburry would face a minimum ranging from 25 to 40 years in prison, and a maximum of 60 years. Otherwise, he will continue with the life-without-parole sentence.

Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Kimberly Richardson said the life sentence was appropriate in Launburry's case. The killing happened when he was three months shy of his 17th birthday, when he would have been considered an adult in the justice system.

She said that Launsberry said the killing was particularly heinous. The victim - a clerk at the Kent County Jail - had stopped to help only to be executed for her car and a few belongings.

Richardson said the considerations were the defendant's age at the time of the killing, his home environment, his role in the crime and maturity.

"He shot her not one time but two times, with a revolver, pulling the trigger twice, and leaving her in the freezing cold," Richardson said.

During questioning, Launsburry said he had a tattoo that said, "Heathen," on his neck, and a swastika on his stomach. The prosecutor suggested the tattoo showed a Nazi prison with a person biting on prison bars. He also had a tattoo of a gas mask, now covered by hair, on his head.

Attorney Mark Hunting said Leiber had a difficult decision to make but asked that his client get a chance at freedom. He said his client had changed from his teen years.

Launsburry said he just wanted to see his mother and get a job.

He had suffered depression and mood disorder as a teen, he said.

Launsberry said the killing happened when "I was a kid, I was stupid. ... It was a horrible thing. ... I'm an adult now. I think about the (consequences of the killing). I'm not the person I was."

Wines, 41, the co-defendant, was earlier re-sentenced to 40 to 60 years in prison but the state Court of Appeals ordered a judge to determine if the minimum was too high.

Wines was with Launsburry when they pretended to have car trouble on Grand Rapids' Northeast Side. Wines was out of sight when the Couch was killed.

They drove to Indiana with Wines' girlfriend, then stopped at a hotel. They had planned to drive to Mexico to start a new life. But when Wines told his girlfriend what happened, she convinced him to call police.

Launsburry and Wines were convicted of felony murder.
| BY Ricki Green |

Arnotts has today released Open Something Real, a heartwarming film reminding Australians that There is No Substitute for sharing moments of real connection, created by Publicis Groupe under The Neighbourhood.

Building on Arnotts instilled belief of bringing people together, the campaign is backed by research which uncovered that half (50%) of Australians believe the use of mobile devices and social media is preventing them from having more face-to-face interactions, yet only one in four (25%) admitted to sending a meaningful or heartfelt text to someone they care about only a few times a year*.

In the 2-minute film, being released today on Arnotts Facebook, Instagram and YouTube social media outlets, everyday Australians were asked to read their text message conversations to each other, face-to-face, as part of a social experiment investigating the way our communications change from devices to in-person. The heartwarming results of these funny, sometimes awkward and even emotional exchanges uncovered that often those interactions exchanged via mobile devices arent as meaningful as they could have been in person.

Open Something Real continues to highlight the meaningful work undertaken by Publicis Groupes Power of One agency model for Campbell Arnotts, building on the foundation of the brands Bring out the Biscuits premise, which was introduced in 2015. The Power of One encompasses specialty services and expertise from multiple agencies across the Groupe.

Says Michelle Foley, Arnotts marketing director, Core ANZ: Arnotts has always believed in bringing people together and the real connections that occur when we do. As a society, were connecting less than ever before, and we wanted to encourage Aussies young and old to rediscover the joy of sharing a meaningful moment with someone special to them. Its important to make time to sit, talk, and really connect and we wanted to remind people of that.

Says Rebecca Carrasco, deputy ECD: Its exciting when an iconic brand commits to a point of view that has social value beyond advertising. This is just the first wave in a suite of work for Arnotts which will continue to build that point of view for the brand, in a variety of different ways.

*The research was commissioned by Arnotts and conducted by YouGov Galaxy Research between 14-19 November 2018. A sample size of 1,034 respondents was surveyed across Australia, including both capital city and non-capital city areas.

Client: Campbell Arnotts

Chief Marketing Officer: David McNeil

Marketing Director: Michelle Foley

Marketing Manager: Lucy Frizell

Brand Manager: Elly Jean-Louis

Integrated Communications Manager: Linda Abbott

Senior Communications Manager: Amy Wagner

Agency: Publicis Groupe under The Neighbourhood

Chief Strategy Integration Officer: Kate Smither

Dep. Executive Creative Director: Rebecca Carrasco

Creative Director: Flavio Fonseca

Creative Director: Piero Ruzzene

Creative: Michael Barnfield

Chief Client Officer: Helge Gruettke

Senior Business Director: Laura Hawdon

Media Account Director: Catherine LimSam

Media Account Manager: Adrienne Grealish

Integrated Producer: Kirsty Chase

Senior Producer: Amanda Cairns-Cowan

PR: Herd MSL

Production Company: Revolver / Will ORourke

Executive Producer: Michael Ritchie, Pip Smart

Producer: Nicole Crozier

Director: The Glue Society
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Ahead of upcoming 2019-20 budget talks, Kent ISD school leaders are discussing if it has adequate staffing to support student mental health.

The regional educational service agency, located at 2950 Knapp St. NE, has approximately 3,000 students from 20 school districts attending various programs on it campus daily.

"Mental health is becoming a very hot topic," said Kent ISD School Board President Andrea Haidle, during the Nov. 19 meeting. "Are we addressing those needs adequately?"

Haidle said the issue of student mental health support was discussed at the recent Michigan Association of School Boards conference.

Ryan Graham, the new principal of the Kent Career Technical Center, told board members that a Care Council Team, launched this school year, is meeting biweekly, sometimes more, to make sure Kent ISDs "social, emotional and mental awareness is on point."

"We are putting systems in place and those relationships in place to make sure that happens," he said, noting a third mental health counselor was added this school year at the tech center.

"This is a powerful topic for us. These kids are important to us.''

One in five children in the country ages 3 through 17 have a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder in a given year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Graham said the team at the table includes: building administrators from the tech center, Kent Innovation High School, and MySchool at Kent, plus counselors from those programs, teacher consultants, and representatives for students who receive special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

"We want to make sure those three entities are as strong as they can be," he said.

"We have a lot of young men and women that stay at our ISD for almost the complete day and often they feel safe to share their thoughts, their opinions, and their ideas with us and some of those can be challenging, so we want to make sure we are addressing those."

Graham said a growing number of students in Michigan and across the country are struggling with anxiety and other mental-health issues.

Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Caniff said they have an element of counseling and mental-health support for all campus programs, but they have made it a priority to operate together more on issues.

He said they've added mental health support in recent years, including at Kent Innovation High School and the tech center.

Graham told Haidle and the board he thinks there is adequate support currently but that the Care Council allows them to have a system in place to make sure because resources can be audited.

"If we don't (have adequate staffing), we will come forward with data behind it,'' he said.

Haidle said Kent ISD is data driven. She said budget talks for next school year usually begin in January but it's not too early to start talking about such an important issue.

Kent ISD has been among the most aggressive in the state in getting staff at area districts - from teachers to bus drivers - to undergo eight hours of Mental Health First Aid Training at its campus.

Employees are learning how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness for referrals or to help someone in crisis such as contemplating suicide.

Michigan is third worst in the country when it comes to the ratio of students to counselors at 729 to 1, according to the American School Counselor Association. A ratio of 250 to 1 is recommended.

The bipartisan Michigan House C.A.R.E.S. Task Force, focusing on Community, Access, Resources, Education, and Safety, was created last school year.

The body has pushed for the school Mental Health First Aid training. Members have acknowledged many districts don't have adequate resources to support more mental health professionals.

In other Kent ISD board business:
MANISTEE COUNTY, MI -- A 44-year-old Auburn man died over the weekend after he was involved in a rollover crash in Manistee County.

Police said Brian Brissette was pronounced dead at the scene.

The one-vehicle crash occurred around 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, on Marilla Road near Sweets Ravine Road in Marilla Township.

Manistee County sheriff's deputies determined that a GMC pickup truck left the roadway and rolled several times.

The crash remains under investigation by the Manistee County Sheriff's Office. Deputies were assisted by Michigan state Police, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Munson Manistee EMS, the Maple Grove Township Fire Department and Manistee Central Dispatch.

An autopsy was scheduled to be performed by the Manistee County medical examiner.
LANSING, MI -- Michigan's administration previously touted the proposed Line 5 tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac as a safe solution at no cost to taxpayers.

Now they're seeking several million dollars in state funding for oversight of the project that could cost as much as half a billion dollars.

Gov. Rick Snyder's administration recently requested that lawmakers earmark $4.5 million for "radar current mapping, as well as planning, oversight and legal services related to the proposed Mackinac Straits utility tunnel project."

The funds are revenues above and beyond what was expected for the 2018 budget, according to Kurt Weiss, spokesperson for the Michigan State Budget Office. The Line 5 tunnel request is a fraction of the $630 million supplemental spending plan sent to lawmakers Nov. 14.

In early October the Snyder administration announced plans to house the Line 5 oil and gas pipelines in a utility tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.

The outgoing governor called it a "common-sense solution" to safeguard the Straits from an oil spill while maintaining the pipeline connection.

"The taxpayers of Michigan will benefit greatly from this project but won't have to pay for it," Snyder said in a statement at the time.

Plans call for pipeline owner Enbridge Energy to fund the construction and design of the tunnel -- a bill estimated between $350 million to $500 million.

Once completed, Snyder wants the Mackinac Bridge Authority to assume ownership of the tunnel.

Many of those details are still under discussion, with Snyder wanting to finalize them before his term ends and Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer takes over on Jan. 1. During her campaign, Whitmer criticized the tunnel plan and said she wanted to shut down Line 5.

Weiss contended that Snyder wasn't reneging on his promise of a tunnel with no cost to taxpayers.

Enbridge will still bear the full cost of construction and design, which is different from necessary state oversight of the large-scale tunnel project, he said.

"This money is really for the oversight of Enbridge, if you will, and the administration to make sure the project is managed to the state's satisfaction," Weiss said.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh said the funds will ensure that the "highest safety standards as possible" are met, that Enbridge achieves performance criteria and milestones and that the state has independence in their oversight.

"We've always been very specific saying the construction, maintenance and operations of the tunnel" will be footed by Enbridge, Creagh said.

If all goes to plan, the tunnel will be operational sometime between 2025 and 2028. The 65-year-old twin pipelines would be decommissioned only after the tunnel is completed.

It's possible the state will need more or less than $4.5 million for tunnel oversight activities, Weiss said. That'll be reassessed after construction is underway.

Creagh said some of the funds could be used to fight legal suits against the tunnel.

Some environmental groups raised concerns about the appropriation, in conjunction with their ongoing opposition to parts of the tunnel plan.

"Using public funds for Canadian oil company Enbridge Energy's risky Line 5 tunnel, especially after state officials promised no taxpayer dollars would go toward a tunnel, is irresponsible and would keep oil pumping through the damaged Line 5 Pipeline for another 10 years or more," Lisa Wozniak, executive director of Michigan League of Conservation Voters, said in a statement.

Wozniak called the tunnel a "false solution" that would keep the Great Lakes at risk of an oil spill.

Sean Hammond, deputy policy director at the Michigan Environmental Council, said in a conference call Monday morning, Nov. 26, that his organization has concerns about giving tunnel oversight to the Mackinac Bridge Authority board, whose members are not elected but appointed by governors.

Currently, Snyder's appointees hold a majority on the seven-member board.

Hammond said the organization has additional concerns about the proposed $4.5 million appropriation and the lack of a definite timeline on decommissioning Line 5.

"This pipeline is already 65 years old," Hammond said. "We know there's coating holes and other issues. We really have concerns with the way the agreement is taking shape at this point."

Finalizing agreements between Enbridge and the Mackinac Bridge Authority before Snyder's term is over isn't a sure thing.

Enbridge and the bridge authority must still agree to numerous details, including those about construction, maintenance and who pays for minor and major malfunctions of the tunnel infrastructure.

Creagh said state department representatives are working out those details. Once complete, they'll be presented to the board for discussions and approval.

The board is also awaiting a finalized agreement between Enbridge and the state, as well as action on state legislation introduced this month that would allow the authority to take ownership of the tunnel.

Mackinac Bridge Authority Board Chairman Patrick "Shorty" Gleason said the board will likely need more time than the end of December to negotiate and discuss any agreement, the Associated Press reported Nov. 24.

The Line 5 pipeline, built in 1953, runs 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Canada, and transports up to 540,000 barrels of light crude oil and natural gas liquids per day.

A worst-case scenario oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac could have an economic impact in the tens of billions of dollars, according to a recent study commissioned by an advocacy group and conducted by a Michigan State University professor.

Calls to shutdown the pipeline were renewed earlier this year, when an anchor struck it on April 1. The line was damaged with three dents and an abrasion but has since been patched up with composite sleeves.

Lawmakers still need to approve the $4.5 million request. If they do, it'll happen before Christmas, Weiss said.
Marijuana will be legal in Michigan in 10 days.

The Board of State Canvassers certified the results of the Nov. 6 election with a unanimous vote at its meeting Monday, Nov. 26.

Among the results: Proposal 1, the marijuana legalization initiative, passed with 56 percent of Michigan voters saying "yes."

Under state law, Proposal 1 takes effect as the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act 10 calendar days after the election results have been certified.

That means Thursday, Dec. 6, is legalization day in Michigan, said David Harns, spokesman for Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

On Dec. 6, adults over the age of 21 can possess marijuana in public and can consume marijuana in the privacy of their homes.

Driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal and remains illegal on Dec. 6.

The state has one year to develop rules for a commercial marijuana industry in the state, and has to accept the first business license applications in December 2019.

Some Michigan prosecutors have been dismissing low-level marijuana cases since the results of the Nov. 6 election, though the law has yet to take effect. A number of Michigan communities are also choosing to ban marijuana businesses until the state develop regulations.

-- Amy Biolchini is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact her with questions, tips or comments at abiolch1@mlive.com.

Read more from MLive about recreational marijuana.
Millennials will be flocking to Michigan in 2019 if you believe a study conducted by a leading travel research company.

HomeToGo, a search engine for vacation rentals, released the study on Nov. 15. Using a variety of factors, the results indicate that the younger generation prefers often-overshadowed, mid-sized cities to top destinations like Las Vegas or Orlando.

1,000 millennial travelers were polled on what elements influence their decision making when booking a trip. The main six influences include affordable airfares, availability of experiences, "Instagrammability," affordable food and drink, dynamic nightlife and affordable accommodations.

Three Michigan cities did extremely well when measured with those factors with Detroit, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor finishing in the top 20 of more than 500 U.S. locations examined.

Detroit received a total score of 45.18 to finish in second behind only Miami. Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor were 14th and 16th, respectively. Florida and Texas are the only other states to have three cities in the top 20.

Seven of the top 50 are in the Midwest with the Michigan cities being joined by Chicago (6), Columbus (19), Milwaukee (23) and Minneapolis (47).

"Millennials are the most travel-orientated generation in history. Living in an increasingly interconnected world, this age group are much more likely to take vacation days and spend disposable income on a trip than their predecessors," said Head of Inbound Marketing, Joanna Booth.

"We are excited to announce the findings of our research and look forward to helping millennials discover their perfect accommodation in future."

More than half of the top destinations for millennials in 2019 are in the south. California is the most millennial-friendly state, according to the study.

South Padre Island in Texas is the smallest town in this year's ranking; notable larger absentees include San Jose, Washington D.C., and Boston.

You can read the entire study, here.
JACKSON, MI - Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a bill to rename a chunk of I-94 in Jackson County after Jack Budd and Josephine McCallum, Jackson corrections officers killed on the job in 1987.

The signs are being placed between exits 139 and 141 in conjunction with the $110 million I-94 construction project, said bill sponsor and State Rep. Julie Alexander, R-Hanover.

A ceremony with the officers' families and the new signage is being scheduled, Alexander said. There's no cost to the taxpayers with this bill, as the Michigan Corrections Organization is covering the cost, she said.

Budd was stabbed to death Dec. 27, 1987, at the State Prison of Southern Michigan by a prisoner who had attacked an officer escorting him to the shower. Despite being stabbed, Budd helped subdue the prisoner, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections website. He died an hour later.

McCallum was found raped, strangled and beaten on March 24, 1987, at the State Prison of Southern Michigan. There were no witnesses, per MDOC, but the attacker was discovered and sentenced for first-degree murder.

The "Corrections Officers Jack Budd and Josephine McCallum Memorial Highway" pays tribute to the victims' families, Alexander said, but also honors the work corrections officers in Jackson County and around the state do every day.

"It's a recognition for all of our correction officers," Alexander said. "Correction officers, I give them a lot of credit, they're working in an environment many people would rather not be in."

The deaths of Budd and McCallum led to changes in the department, per an MDOC press release. Increased training, more staffing and the division of the prison into smaller, more manageable facilities came in the wake of the incidents.

"They gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to Michigan, to keep others safe," said MCO Director of Government and Political Affairs Jeremy Tripp. "Soon, thousands of vehicles on I-94 will pass by a sign that will remind the public of the sacrifice Budd and McCallum made and the tough job corrections staff walk into every day."
KALAMAZOO, MI - A popular downtown restaurant will celebrate its grand re-opening after a late September fire left the business with two months worth of cleanup and repairs.

Food Dance will open its doors again with a "Grand Re-Opening Party" from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29. The day after the event, the restaurant will resume its normal hours.

On the morning of Friday, Sept. 28, a fire started in the restaurant's kitchen hood and spread up through the exhaust ducts of the building at 401 E. Michigan Ave.

Food Dance owner Julie Stanley said the fire was the direct result of lack of cleaning by the company that cleans the hood and exhaust system.

Since the fire, Stanley said, repairs have been made and every inch of the 10,000-square-foot restaurant, market and bakery has been cleaned.

"We want to thank everyone that has reached out to us," Stanley said in an email to MLive. "From the bottom of our hearts, your encouragement has meant more than you could possibly ever know."

The Thursday re-opening event will feature a spread of hors d'oeuvres, some of Food Dance's signature menu items and new desserts and pastries made by the restaurant's new bakery and pastry chef. The bar will have beer, wine and specialty cocktails for purchase and the Food Dance Market will also be open with food items to take home.

Stanley, restaurant chef Brad McKenzie and other members of the Food Dance team will be at the event to chat with patrons and to offer tours of the restaurant's newly repaired and cleaned kitchen and bakery.

Food Dance was founded 24 years ago, and has been at its current location since 2007. Stanley said the business strives to contribute to the community by sharing a love and excitement for food and the people who grow it.

"The fire has given us this opportunity to keep working at becoming a better version of ourselves, honoring the people who love us so much," Stanley said.
CHARLESTON TOWNSHIP, MI -- A newly restored original Frank Lloyd Wright home near Galesburg is available for short-term stays through Airbnb.

The Eppstein House is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home designed by Wright, a renowned American architect who was instrumental in a forming a new style of architectural design in the mid-1900s.

Newly restored, The Eppstein House is listed on Airbnb for $300 per night.

Owner Marika Broere said she and her husband Tony Hillebrandt were taken by the idea of owning a Frank Lloyd Wright house.

"It is a dream come true," Broere said in an interview with MLive.

The home's history in the Kalamazoo area began in 1953. Located at 11090 Hawthorne Drive just south of Galesburg, the home is named after its original owners, Samuel and Dorothy Eppstein. A World War II pilot, Dorothy Eppstein worked as a research secretary for The Upjohn Co. in Kalamazoo.

The home was in poor shape when Broere and Hillebrandt purchased it, after nearly two decades of standing empty. Sold in 2016 for $368,000, the house is now owned by the couple and has been fully restored.

After undergoing 18 months of work, the Eppstein House is available for overnight stays through Airbnb.

The house is one of eight Frank Lloyd Wright houses in the area, built after a group of 12 Upjohn Co. scientists hired Wright to visit Kalamazoo in the late 1940s and draft architectural plans for them. They wanted houses they could build themselves or have someone help them build.

Construction on the Eppstein House began in 1949 and ended in 1953. It's located in The Acres, a neighborhood completely designed by Wright.

The neighborhood itself as well as each house within The Acres, also known as Galesburg Country Homes, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Like others in the neighborhood, The Eppstein House is a Usonian house, a collection of homes designed by Wright featuring similar design elements.

The Eppstein House uses lots of natural materials, has an open floor plan and large windows. It also employs practical features as radiant-floor heating and built-in shelving and cabinetry, which Wright helped popularize.

Wright, who died April 9, 1959, was instrumental in developing the Prairie School movement in architecture, an American style that broke away from the European styles that most Americans copied to build their homes in the early 1900s.

"To us the house is a piece of art," Broere wrote in the Airbnb listing.

The Airbnb listing was viewed over 500 times in the last week and has over 60 five-star reviews.

In its first year on Airbnb, the Eppstein House was fully booked through the spring, summer and fall of 2018. The winter months tend to be a little slower, Broere said, but there are already reservations made for Christmas in 2019.

The renters are usually interested in architecture and come from within driving range of the home, she said.

The couple plans to open the home to public tours at least one time every year.

The home includes many original Wright pieces and furniture and art from the same time period, Broere said.

"The goal was to make the house seem 'alive', not dull and static as a museum," she said. "We researched and investigated Wright's buildings and designs, the time period, and the materials. And took great care to apply this knowledge to the restoration.

"Even after having owned it for 18 months now, it still feels like an adventure to be there. Everything about the house is exciting. It is deceptively simple. The way natural light comes in at different times of the day, how low it is set into the hill, the outlook into the surrounding nature, the then low - then high ceilings, the materials, the historic value, the subdued colors. We can go on and on. It will never become boring."

Though originally from the Netherlands, Broere and her husband live in Canada but make frequent trips to the U.S. The couple was "pursuing the Canadian dream" of owning a little cottage when Hillebrandt "randomly" found the house online. Three days later, the couple bought the home.

"We were under the spell," Broere said.

Restoration of the home included a climate control system, new tiles in the bathroom, updates to the plumbing and electricity, fixing the concrete floors, a new roof and painting and rebuilding of fixtures, shelves and ledges.

"We saved a precious piece of cultural heritage from becoming lost," Broere said.

Though there were no laws dictating the preservation of the home, keeping to Wright's original vision was a "moral obligation" for them, she said.

The pair did extensive research, reading everything they could find about the architecture and modern design.

"We don't dare call it a renovation," Broere said. "We brought it back to what it was supposed to look like. It was a restoration."

Fred Taber, realtor with Jaqua Realtors, said in an email to MLive that he started a blog online in 2013 to track the home's restoration.

"The home is pretty much in like new condition now," Taber said. "It was a huge undertaking and the owners have done everything the right way."
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A protest organized by homeless people to highlight a perceived lack of resources caused the state's housing department to give Kalamazoo County an extra $50,000 for emergency housing this year.

On Oct. 1, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority allocated $457,897 to support "housing first" programs in Kalamazoo County through its Emergency Solutions Grant. An additional $50,000 in funding for rental subsidies was approved after the state agency learned of a month-long encampment protest in the city of Kalamazoo.

MSHDA is also providing 100 additional housing choice vouchers, raising the total offered this year to 1,047. The vouchers allow people to pay rent based on their income while MSHDA pays the rest. Generally, tenants pay 30 percent of their gross monthly income toward rent and utilities.

From August to September, close to 100 tents were set up in Bronson Park to protest a lack of housing support for low-income people in Kalamazoo County. The protesters, mostly from the homeless community but assisted by local activists, directed most of its ire toward Kalamazoo City Hall.

The encampment ended by force on Sept. 19, after City Manager Jim Ritsema declared the growing tent community was violating city ordinances and pointed to health and safety concerns. Police issued nine citations to people who were in tents and arrested 10 others for violating city ordinances.

City Commissioner Shannon Sykes Nehring was arrested for resisting and obstructing police. Monday, she said the extra vouchers and subsidies may not be helpful for people who have significant mental health and substance abuse issues.

Stephanie Oles, a homeless assistance specialist with MSHDA, said the state allocated the funds to address issues raised by the summer protest. However, the rental subsidies are available to anyone who is eligible.

Michael Rizor, one of the most outspoken members of the encampment, said Monday he's skeptical that the grant funding will improve the lives of protesters. He said landlords have refused to do business with people who participated.

Demonstrators remain scattered across Kalamazoo. Rizor said some, including himself are living in tents, while others stay at the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission or a private residence in Portage.

Housing funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and are matched by the state.

Housing Resources Inc. is responsible for allocating Emergency Solutions Grant funds each year. Around $202,500 will go to rapid re-housing programs and $143,570 to emergency shelter and homeless prevention, according to 2018 figures provided by Executive Director Michelle Davis.

Davis said it's not clear exactly how many people the extra $50,000 will help. The money covers the first month of rent and provides up to five months of rent subsidies, though $10,000 of the total will go toward paying administrative costs.

People should contact HRI to take advantage of the benefits, Davis said.

"When the encampment occurred, MSHDA wanted to help," Davis said. "We are serving encampment people with all of our resources, this is just an amount that MSHDA came up with to add to our pot."

Benjamin Leverette is the Continuum of Care coordinator for Kalamazoo County. Leverette said any amount of money that can put someone in housing is valuable, but counties across the state are blowing through their homeless prevention funds quickly.

Most Continuum of Care networks are running out of the funds within 6-8 months, Leverette said. MSHDA and HUD have recognized the situation, he said.

"If you can get families off the street or even homeless individuals it's going to make a large impact, at least in the lives in those individuals," Leverette said. "Hopefully we're able to keep moving forward down that line of people moving forward."

Oles said MSHDA distributes 28,000 housing choice vouchers across Michigan, which adds up to $166 million in rent payments each year. People experiencing homelessness get a preference for vouchers, she said.

A wait list for vouchers had 185 people on it as of Oct. 1.

Those who receive assistance are not guaranteed a rental unit. Davis said it is still difficult to find a landlord who offers affordable housing.

Rizor said it's virtually impossible for encampment members to find housing after receiving a voucher.

"The availability of units is so low because there's not a need for tenants," Davis said. "Landlords can get their units filled very quickly with people who are not low income."

When the rental market is good, as it is now, low-income people have a harder time finding housing.

According to an annual action plan approved in June, the city of Kalamazoo expects to use $2.15 million in federal entitlement grants. No Emergency Solutions Grant funding was allocated by HUD in 2018.

Note: This story was updated to fix an incorrect figure for statewide MSHDA housing choice vouchers.
Alan Jager

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - A demolition contractor, who also is a township supervisor, "had no business" taking down a building that had asbestos, according to a judge who sentenced the contractor Monday on a pollution-related charge.

Alan Jager, supervisor of Holton Township, pleaded no contest in September to attempted release of hazardous pollutants. He originally was charged with release of hazardous pollutants.

On Nov. 26, Muskegon County District Judge Harold Closz ordered Jager to pay $850 in fines and costs and $2,680 in restitution to property owner, Kirksey Investment Corp.

Jager's demolition company, Press's LLC, was enlisted by Kirksey Investment to tear down the former Anaconda Wire and Cable building on West Western Avenue in Muskegon.

Jager, who ran for the state House and lost in the August primary, said he believes the criminal charge was politically motivated. Jager was booked into and bonded out of jail on Aug. 7, the day of the primary.

"This is politically motivated. It always has been," Jager told MLive shortly before he was sentenced on Nov. 26. "Whether nobody wants me running for office...I don't know what it is. They just have not backed off on this one."

The felony initially was charged in November 2016, but the prosecutor's office decided to wait until an administrative complaint was resolved at the state level before launching the criminal case, the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Chief Trial Attorney Matt Roberts said earlier.

Jager, a former Muskegon County commissioner, was elected Holton Township's supervisor on Nov. 8, 2016. A day after the election, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality issued a violation notice against Jager for his work at the Anaconda property.

The DEQ accused him of failing to take necessary precautions - in fact even failing to inspect - for the handling of asbestos in the old factory. Jager ended up agreeing to a $10,000 fine in a March 2017 consent agreement with the DEQ, documents show.

In a courtroom statement before the judge on Monday, Jager said the owner of Kirksey Investment is a cousin to Jager's "partner." He said they were told that the asbestos had already been removed from the building before they began demolishing it. He noted they stopped work as soon as they realized asbestos was present.

"You can see where we were put into a very bad situation," Jager said, later adding, "We got ate up by family."

To which, Closz responded, "You got ate up because you had no business doing what you were doing."

Nine DEQ violations were spelled out in notices sent to Jager and Dennis Kirksey of Kirksey Investment Corp. The notices followed an inspection of the property by the DEQ's air quality division.

The violations involved the failure to:

Remove asbestos materials prior to demolition.

Thoroughly inspect the project for asbestos-containing materials.

Notify proper authorities of the presence of asbestos.

Wet the asbestos material during and after demolition.

Contain the asbestos in a leak tight container.

Have a contractor supervisor on site.

Deposit the asbestos material as soon as practical.

Asbestos was commonly used in construction because of its insulating and fire protection properties. Ceiling and floor tiles, pipe wraps and spray insulation were common products that used asbestos, which was banned in Michigan in 1974.

Once disturbed, needle-like asbestos fibers can be easily inhaled, penetrating lung and surrounding tissue, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. This can lead to fatal conditions including asbestosis, a scarring and hardening of lung tissue; lung cancer; and mesothelioma, a scarring and malignant tumor of the lung lining, according to LARA. Asbestos exposure also has been blamed for an increase in gastrointestinal cancer.

The Anaconda building, which was heavily damaged by fire in 1999, had been on the city of Muskegon's blighted buildings list for years. The city commission ordered its demolition in August 2016.

The Anaconda Wire and Cable Co. was formed in 1919 to produce copper wire. It moved to the site on West Western in the early 1920s and employment peaked at around 400 through the 1960s. But demand for copper declined and the factory closed in 1981.
NASA will start live coverage of its first landing on Mars in six years starting at 2 p.m. Monday afternoon, Nov. 26.

The landing of the InSight lander on the surface of the Red Planet can be seen as it unfolds on NASA TV, the space agency's website, social media channels and a number of other websites. For a list of live viewing events around the world, click here.

See below for a live feed of NASA TV:

--

While NASA is excited to broadcast the event, it is also hyping up the difficulty of the descent and landing phase of the mission.

"Only about 40 percent of the missions ever sent to Mars -- by any space agency -- have been successful," the space agency reports. "The U.S. is the only nation whose missions have survived a Mars landing.

"The thin atmosphere -- just 1 percent of Earth's -- means that there's little friction to slow down a spacecraft. Despite that, NASA has had a long and successful track record at Mars. Since 1965, it has flown by, orbited, landed on and roved across the surface of the Red Planet."

The lander has been en route to Mars since it first launched back on May 5 from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The mission is notable for setting out to study the Red Planet's interior using a "self-hammering" probe that will dig deeper than ever before studying its interior and looking out for "Marsquakes."

InSight -- short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport -- is set to become the first since the Apollo missions to place a seismometer on the surface of another planet or moon. It will represent the first spacecraft to touch down on Mars since the Curiosity rover in 2012.

See below for a live feed to mission control live:
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| BY Ricki Green |

Saatchi & Saatchi Melbourne has appointed Ella Ward as client service director.

Ward joins the agency with an already extensive career behind her, working both in the UK and Australia leading iconic brands such as iSelect, Twinings, SPC, General Mills, CrownBet, Australia Post, AGL, Heinz, Public Transport Victoria, along with various other Victorian and Federal Government departments, including the Australian Defence Force.

Most recently, Ward was head of account service at Leo Burnett Melbourne, and after spending some time outside of the industry, she now returns to lead Saatchi & Saatchi Melbournes fast-growing client service department.

With Rebecca Robertson already part of the Melbourne leadership team (currently on maternity leave) the appointment now sees the agency with two fantastic heads orchestrating brand leadership and client delivery.

Says Mark Cochrane, managing director, Saatchi & Saatchi Melbourne: We are thrilled to have Ella join our collective of 50-plus creative souls here in South Melbourne.

To now have two inspiring women in Ella and Rebecca partnering with our much-loved clients is incredibly powerful. We are excited by what we can all continue to achieve together.
| BY Ricki Green |

Spend on digital out of home advertising (DOOH)  i.e. video content and/or digital signs located in high traffic public locations such as high streets, airports, bus shelters, subways and malls  is expected to grow 10.1% each year between 2018 and 2021, accounting for the entirety of growth in the out of home (OOH) market as spend on traditional sites begins to decline from next year.

Digitals share of total global OOH adspend is expected to rise to 37.3%  or $14.6bn  this year, up from 34.8% in 2017, 32.4% in 2016 and 22.7% in 2012. The rapid growth of DOOH is driven in part by the higher cost-per-thousand (CPM) the format commands, but also the rising penetration of digital panels and the opportunity to combine data-driven targeting with powerful, dynamic creative.

DOOHs share is rising at a time when providers are accelerating site investment

Major providers are accelerating investment in digital sites, and this will further fuel growth over the coming years. JCDecaux is building on its existing base of 59,744 digital screens worldwide with the ongoing digitalisation of street furniture in New York, Chicago and London. Clear Channel added 450 new digital screens last year, taking its global total to 14,510, while Lamar intends to add 300 screens in 2019, adding to its existing base of 2,800.

In terms of markets, adspend figures from the latest AA/WARC Expenditure Report show half of UKs OOH ad investment is expected to be spent on digital sites this year, equating to 593m ($770m). MAGNA forecast spend in the US to reach $1.2bn, up from $582m in 2012. The Direct Place-based Advertising Association (DPAA) believes $100m of this will be traded programmatically, up from $65m in 2017.

In Germany, where Google is exploring DOOH opportunities, spend is expected to reach $285m  18% of the OOH market and more than double the amount invested two years ago; and in France, the share is forecast to be 11.9% ($183m) this year.

DOOH can deliver powerful creative in high-traffic locations

Data from the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) show that digital billboards now account for 21% of all billboards in the country, and research by Nielsen show that approximately 60% of US consumers see a digital billboard each month and 37% see one each week.

In the UK, DOOH plays a core role in the daily commute, generating 152m in adspend for Transport for London. The power of the medium is such that Global, UKs largest commercial radio group, recently moved into the DOOH sector by acquiring Exterion, Primesight and Outdoor Plus, gaining 30% in market share.

A strength of DOOH is the delivery of dynamic creative, using real-time and predictive triggers to ensure the most relevant ad is surfaced to the right people, in the right place, at the right time. The rise of digital screens, particularly on the high street, gives advertisers more choice in where and when their ad is placed, while the creative itself  especially if video  can be powerful.

OOH drives online activation, demonstrating a synergy with consumers mobile habits

Search is a key benefactor when included in the mix with OOH  mobile click through rates (CTRs) increase by up to 15% when supported by OOH. Data show 46% of US consumers used a search engine as a result of seeing an OOH ad, while 38% went on to use Facebook.

The outdoor ad revolution is not, however, problem-free. The collection of mobile phone data, for both targeting and measurement, raises privacy concerns. This is cited as a particular issue by almost one in three mobile marketers. And criticisms of the online-ad business for being opaque, and occasionally fraudulent, may also be directed at the OOH business as it becomes bigger and more complex.

While DOOH provides the opportunity of improved targeting through facial recognition, consumers are yet to be sold on the idea. A full 65.2% of those surveyed by WARC and Toluna were not happy for facial recognition to be used for personalised marketing messages.

Says James McDonald (pictured above), data editor, WARC: The combined power of digital out of home and mobile location data can be used to add greater targeting capabilities to a broadcast medium, serving programmatically-traded creative by the hour to the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

This is an enticing prospect for advertisers looking to leverage digitals strengths without the risk of ad blocking, fraud, and risk to brand safety.

Global media analysis: A round-up of DOOH

10.1% compound annual growth rate for DOOH to 2021

15% increase in mobile click through rates when used with OOH

21% billboards in America which are now digital

37% Americans who see a digital billboard at least once a week

50.1% DOOHs share of UK OOH adspend this year

66.9% consumers who are unaware that facial recognition technology can be used to measure mood

Other new key media intelligence on WARC Data

Amazon Prime Day more valuable than Black Friday/Cyber Monday

Global programmatic market to reach $75bn this year

Brand knowledge and cost efficiencies are main in-house agency benefits

Evaluating digital spend has become more difficult in the UK

Global Ad Trends is part of WARC Data, a dedicated online service featuring current advertising benchmarks, data points, ad trends and user-generated expanded databases. Aimed at media and brand owners, market analysts, media, advertising and research agencies as well as academics, WARC Data provides current advertising and media information, hard facts and figures  essential market intelligence for ad industry related business, strategy and planning required in any decision making process.
| BY Lynchy |

PHD Malaysia has hired Kiron Kesav as General Manager, Strategy and Platforms. In this role, Kesav will elevate the strategy agenda for the agencys key clients, including Volkswagen, HSBC, SCJ and Ferrero.

He will also lead on new business and product development initiatives, as well as champion the use of SOURCE, PHDs proprietary planning system that connects the networks planners across the world to collaborate on every single client brief.

An engineer turned media strategist with over 10 years of experience, Kesav joins PHD from Mindshare where he was Head of Strategy. Having worked across a diverse portfolio of blue-chip clients, Kesav has been instrumental in building integrated communications solutions covering media, content and partnerships, as well as mentoring talent across the agency.

As part of our relentless drive to Find A Better Way for brands in Malaysia, we are constantly evaluating how we can enhance our agency offering to create even more effective solutions for our clients, says Eileen Ooi, Head of PHD Malaysia. The PHD network has a rich heritage in strategic planning and by elevating our strategy and platforms offering, our clients will benefit from stronger planning insights and consumer-centric strategies that unlock even better results for their businesses.

Kesav adds: As a communication strategist, I am really excited to be joining an agency with such strong momentum in the marketplace and a truly unique client proposition. I have always been captivated by the groundbreaking work that has come out the PHD network across the world, and Malaysia is no exception. I look forward to working with the team at PHD on driving more strategy led work for the growth of our clients businesses and the industry as well.
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Atlas Cycles (Haryana) Limited has informed the Exchange that In continuation to letter dated November 16, 2018 wherein the Company had intimated about Board Meeting. Further the Company now inform that due to certain labour unrest relating to one of Company unit, consolidation was not possible and the un-audited Financial results for quarter/ Half year ended September 30, 2018 could not get prepared in time. Due to this reason, the Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company which was scheduled to be held November 26, 2018 has been postponed.Source : NSE

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IL&FS Transportation Networks | The company defaulted on the interest on non-convertible debentures due on August 25, 2020. (Image: Reuters)

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) move to allow partial credit enhancement (PCE) to bonds issued by non-banking finance and housing finance companies may not generate interest from banks due to the tight liquidity, says a report.

The RBI, on November 2, permitted banks to provide PCE to bonds issued by systematically important NBFCs and housing finance companies (HFCs), a move aimed to enhance their liquidity position.

According to a report by India Rating and Research, the RBI circular comes at the time when the overall NBFC sector is facing liquidity concerns and banks are highly selective about providing additional lending or renew their existing facilities.

"There may not be any sufficient interest from banks, as a PCE provider in the near-term, due to their lower desire to take standard senior exposure of NBFCs or HFCs under the prevailing market conditions," the report said.

It expects that PCE-backed bond issuances by NBFCs and HFCs, which are subordinated instruments for banks, will take time to take off.

The report said the move is likely to improve funding access for entities rated IND A or lower.

RBI has said the proceeds from the bonds backed by PCE from banks should only be utilised for refinancing the existing debt of the NBFC-ND-SIs/HFCs.

The report said this has the potential of reducing refinancing risk for issuers, given insurance/mutual funds may be able to participate in the offerings with enhanced ratings.

The guidelines on PCE extended to NBFCs/HFCs for bonds issuances require a minimum debt maturity period of three years.

"Long tenor PCE-backed bonds will provide adequate time to the issuer to recover from any cash flow shortfall arising from non-performing loans or asset-liability tenor mismatch," it said.

The PCE exposure of an individual bank to any bond issued by each entity is limited to 20 percent of the issuance amount, with a cumulative total PCE exposure of 50 percent of issue size provided by multiple banks.

The agency expects such enhancement levels may improve the ratings of the PCE-enhanced bonds by at least two-to-three notches above the standalone issuer rating.
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Banks under the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are changing course and chasing retail loans instead of corporate loans, The Economic Times reported.

Most lenders that are currently under PCA are public sector banks. By trying to increase the share of retail loans in the loan books, they are looking to compete with private players like ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank for market share in home and car loans.

Restrictions on lending reduced the overall loan books of these banks over the past six years, but they are fighting tooth and nail for market share in retail lending.

"On a relative basis, PCA banks are better off as they have started looking at retail lending and the focus is not just on recovery. Directionally, this should be positive and will depend on capital investment, NCLT resolutions and credit growth," Karthik Srinivasan, Senior Vice President at ICRA, told the paper.

Lenders under PCA excess statutory liquidity, which is why they have picked up portfolios and assets from housing finance companies (HFCs) and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). This may help them in the second half of this fiscal year.

According to RBI data, bank credit has increased 14-15 percent so far this year.

If a bank has capital adequacy of less than 6.75 percent, non-performing loans of over 6 percent and gets a negative return on its assets for two consecutive years, it is put under PCA.

The framework has helped in strengthening risk management at public sector banks (PSBs). Retail loans, especially low-ticket housing loans, are not a constraint as capital is a stable factor in some PCA banks.

"Public sector banks under PCA will take on private sector banks on retail, agriculture and MSME sector businesses," Mrityunjay Mahapatra, Managing Director, Syndicate Bank, told the paper.

"The retail sector has its own challenges and we will have to be careful," he was quoted as saying.

Over the last 2-3 years, these banks have been trying to bring down their exposure to large corporate loans and unsecured personal loans, thereby reducing their balance sheets by 5-10 percent each quarter.

This paved way for a 16 percent growth in retail loans and 52.6 percent growth in home loans over the past three years.
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Belgium-based insurance major Ageas is looking to expand its activities into non-life insurance segments, especially the health insurance segment, in India.

In an emailed interaction with Moneycontrol, Bart De Smet, Chief Executive Officer, Ageas, said that the company's investment in Royal Sundaram is in line with its strategic choice to expand in fast-growing markets in which it already operates, with a clear preference for non-life activities.

"The investment in Royal Sundaram in the Indian market ticks all the boxes. We will support the company in its diversification away from motor to other product lines, such as health," said Bart De Smet.

On November 14, Ageas Insurance International and Sundaram Finance said that the former will acquire 40 percent in Royal Sundaram General Insurance for Rs 1,520 crore. Currently, Sundaram Finance holds 75.9 percent in Royal Sundaram and has proposed to divest 25.9 percent.

The Euronext-listed Ageas offers retail and business customers life and non-life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs. Ageas concentrates its business in Europe and Asia.

Bart De Smet said that India is among the fastest growing economies globally. In 2018, India became the sixth largest economy in the world, and is expected to become the third-largest by 2020.

With regard to the overall general insurance industry in India, the CEO said it is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15-20 percent over the next 3-5 years (and between 8-10 percent over the medium and long-term).

"Currently there is under-penetration of the Indian market. Premiums are expected to double between 2017 and 2022. Therefore we are convinced that there is a significant potential to grow," Bart De Smet said.

With respect to Royal Sundaram, the CEO said Ageas will evaluate the areas that can be optimised, such as product development, pricing, distribution, reinsurance and risk management.

Life insurance JV

Ageas is already present in the Indian life insurance market through IDBI Federal Life Insurance, in which it holds 26 percent stake.

"At the return of investment (ROE) level, the performance of our life JV is very satisfactory. We started a business from scratch in 2008 with a limited investment and ten years later it has grown significantly (28 percent CAGR FY15-FY17)," said Bart De Smet.

IDBI Federal Life has made it to the top 15 in individual new business premiums and has been profitable for several years now. However, the Ageas CEO said that its contribution to the group's results isn't significant as yet.

In terms of investments in India, Bart De Smet said that they have been rather limited and (excluding Royal Sundaram) that they amount to approximately 30 million euro, including the initial investment and capital increases in IDBI Federal Life.
JN Gupta & Varun Krishnan

Although it isnt a straight comparison, Rentala Chandrashekhar, who resigned from the Yes Bank board, can be seen as the Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela of independent directors in India. Simply because he spoke where many others chose silence.

Chandrashekhars resignation had its moment of drama. Yes Banks first communique to the stock exchanges said he had resigned citing personal reasons. Later, the bank made another announcement leaving out the phrase personal reasons as the cause of resignation.

A day later, a media report quoted Chandrashekhar as saying he was deeply concerned about recent developments at Yes Bank and dismayed at the manner in which they have been dealt with. It is even more distressing that all this should have occurred during a critical transition period when tact, wisdom and purposeful, well-considered actions were called for.

Such candour is unusual among independent directors in India. The institution itself is not very old to begin it. Retracing its origins will add some context.

The composition of the board of directors (and the laws associated with it) has evolved over time to deal with conflict of interests and abuse of ownership by dominant shareholders, or agency problems associated with unchecked managers. Corporate India had its first brush with independent directors when the Confederation of Indian Industries published Desirable corporate governance: A code in the late 90s. This ultimately found its way into the listing agreements of stock exchanges post a report by the Kumar Mangalam Birla committee on corporate governance in 2000. It was followed by the Narayana Murthy Committee and by a voluntary code from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Unfortunately, as a class, we Indians do not believe in good conduct, although the underlying ethos of our society is good conduct. Our good conduct in most cases is an outcome of the force of law, rather than a voluntary act. Independent directors are no exceptions.

Till the adoption of the Companies Act 2013, most companies had independent directors. However, there was no legal definition of the term. In fact, there was no concept of independent director in law till the Companies Act 2013.

The Companies Act tried to ensure that nothing comes in the way of independent directors and their performance. It gave them protection against uncertain tenure with a fixed five-year term, a code of conduct, the definition of independence and stated their duties as well. Did it work? Not really.

The law can instil fear but cant inject character. Therefore, while many directors met the legal requirement of independence, in numerous cases real independence was lacking. The main reason was a lack of courage in speaking up fearing a fate similar to whistleblowers. Anyone who musters the courage to speak becomes an outcast. Due to the fear of losing potential directorships and other opportunities, most independent directors voluntarily muzzled their own voice. In many cases when the situation became difficult, they chose to resign citing personal reasons.

Sample data analysed by Stakeholder Empowerment Services shows that have been 136 resignations of independent directors between 1 January and 30 September this year in the top 500 companies (not exhaustive). In 129 cases, the independent directors have not cited any reason or have provided personal reason. Only in 7 cases, have they cited specific reasons. None of the resignations was due to any difference in opinion.

Does this mean that difference in opinion is a must for independence? And all differences must result in resignations? Certainly not. An independent director is expected to bring in an independent, unbiased, and frank opinion on issues faced by the company, proposals being put forward and on issues of strategy, performance evaluation, risk management and the likes.

Differences of opinion are the oxygen of company boards and reflect a healthy atmosphere. This leads to a well-considered, debated the decision-making process in the interest of the company. The moment differences turn into confrontations the atmosphere gets polluted and the concept of board fails. Unfortunately, while the line between dissent and confrontation is quite fine, not many are able to judge and at times cross over.

In the Indian context, Satyam is the best example where independent directors failed. Without going into details, one can safely conclude that in a majority of NPA cases, they failed in their duties. In none of the NPA cases, the public has any information about the resistance of directors. In the post-Satyam era, Kingfisher, United Spirits and Fortis/Religare are test cases of failures of independent directors. Volumes can be written on cases of diversion of funds, related party transactions and failure of governance in these companies.

Independent directors have failed not only in failed companies, but in successful companies as well. In Infosys, Narayana Murthy had cast aspersions, citing a whistleblower letter, on the entire board of acting in collusion. However, immediately after the change of chairman and getting his nominee on board, Murthy has been silent for almost two years, although many board members from the time of Vishal Sikka and R Seshasayee continue as if they have been purified by the presence of Nandan Nilekani on the board. The logic is simple: if they had sided with a person accused of lying and acting against the interest of Infosys, they failed to do their duty then.

However, a word of caution is warranted here: The jury is not yet out on the Infosys accusations. Despite accusations, independent directors who resigned from Infosys didnt open their mouth and kept silent. Why? Did they buy peace? Or did they think it would be a waste of time? Or was it against board ethics?

Such utter disregard for transparency and failure to follow the spirit of regulations have forced lawmakers to propose a few changes in norms for independent directors. First, independent directors should disclose detailed reasons for premature resignations. Second, independent directors should give a 30-day notice before resigning. Having failed the lawmakers by their behaviour, independent directors cant now complain of micromanagement.

In the Yes Bank case, apart from Chandrashekhar, two others - Ashok Chawla and Vasan Gujarathi  have also resigned. They have followed the beaten path by citing personal reasons, although media reports highlighted that Gujarathi, who was heading the audit committee, had resigned because of certain observations made by the RBI on issues related to audit and corporate governance in the bank.

It is rare to see an independent director raising a voice against the functioning of the company of where he is a director. However, it is too early to say whether Chandrashekhars bold statement is a one-off instance or signals the start a new dharma for independent directors.
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Sun Pharma, Indias largest drugmaker on November 26 entered into settlements with certain plaintiffs in the Modafinil Antitrust Litigation matter pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The company didnt disclose the quantum of the settlement amount.

The settlements extend to all claims brought by the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs. The terms of the settlements are confidential, Sun Pharma said in a statement to stock exchanges.

In the second quarter ended September 30, reported a net loss of Rs 218 crore largely due to Rs 950.5 crore write-off it took on Modafinil settlement.

A group of direct purchasers sued Cephalon, Mylan, Teva and Ranbaxy Laboratories in 2006 for so-called pay-for-delay settlements in which brand-name drug makers pay their generic counterparts to keep drugs off the market.

The purchasers said Cephalon  the innovator reached settlements in patent lawsuits it brought against Mylan, Teva and Ranbaxy in which it paid them to keep generic versions of Provigil off the market until 2012.

Modafinil, sold under the brand name Provigil among others, is a medication to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy or chronic sleep disorder that causes overwhelming daytime drowsiness.

The lawsuit said the settlements, reached in 2005 and 2006, were in violation of federal antitrust law.

Sun Pharma bought Ranbaxy for $3.2 billion in May 2015.
The Reserve Bank of India has reduced mandatory hedging requirement for borrowers raising overseas funds to 70 percent from 100 percent.

The circular comes amid the liquidity crunch in the country among the non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), which can be helped by reducing their hedging costs during overseas fundraising amid some stability in the rupee movement.

These eligible borrowers are those who raise foreign currency denominated ECBs or external commercial borrowings under Track I, having an average maturity between 3 and 5 years. They are mandatorily required to hedge their ECB exposure fully.

On a further review of the extant provisions, it has been decided, in consultation with the Government of India, to reduce the mandatory hedge coverage from 100 percent to 70 percent for ECBs raised under Track I of the ECB framework by eligible borrowers, said RBI in its notification.

A hedge is an investment process required to reduce the risk of adverse price or currency movements. A borrower has to hedge in a manner that the projected cash flows match the expectation of the borrowers irrespective of the fluctuations in the foreign currency.

Further, RBI also clarified that ECBs falling within the aforesaid scope but raised prior to the date of this circular will be required to mandatorily roll-over their existing hedge(s) only to the extent of 70 percent of outstanding ECB exposure.

Earlier this month, the central bank had eased the hedging rules by reducing the tenure required for exemption from mandatory hedging of ECB borrowings to five years from previously 10 years.

The RBI had also cut the minimum tenure for borrowing through the ECB route to three years from five years.
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Here are stocks that are in the news today:

Reconstitution of S&P BSE Sensex: HCL Technologies, Bajaj Finance to replace Wipro, Adani Ports in the BSE Sensex effective December 24, 2018.

Brent crude futures fall below $59/barrel: IOC, HPCL, BPCL, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, InterGlobe Aviation, Shalimar Paints, Apollo Tyres, MRF, Ceat, Asian Paints, Nerolac Paints etc may see some rally.

HDFC Standard Life Insurance Company: Board appointed Rushad Abadan and James Aird as Alternate Directors to Sir Gerry Grimstone (Non-Executive Director) and Norman Keith Skeoch (Non-Executive Director) respectively.

Strides Pharma Science: Company approved the participation of Strides in the Series B fundraiser of Stelis Biopharma Private Limited with a commitment of $15 million in a $100 million fundraise. Strides currently own 36.25 percent stake in Stelis, the former biopharma division of Strides.

Adani Enterprises: Company incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary namely, Mundra Copper Limited.

Infosys: EdgeVerve Systems, a product subsidiary of company, successfully implemented the ProximityPayEdge Digital Payments solution, to provide RCB Bank's customers with a digital wallet for secure contactless payments.

AU Small Finance Bank: Board approved to augment the capital by issue of Basel II compliant, Tier II, Non-Convertible Redeemable Bonds in INR, being classified as subordinated debt in one or more tranches up to Rs 500 crore including green shoe option.

IL&FS: Company is unable to pay short-term deposit including interest worth Rs 218 crore due November 22.

Cairn: Income Tax Department recovers Rs 5,500 crore by selling company's shares in Vedanta. Out of 18 crore shares attached by I-T Department, I-T now left with 25 lakh shares which will be sold shortly, said CNBC-TV18 sources.

Sundaram Multi Pap: Company has received BB- (Stable) credit rating from CARE Ratings.

Indian Card Clothing: Vinod Vazhapulli - Manager, designated as the Chief Executive Officer tendered his resignation from the said post.

Vipul Organics: Company has received a No-Objection Letter from the BSE Ltd, with respect to Scheme of Amalgamation of Efferchem Private Limited with itself.

Shree Rama Multi-Tech: Board decided to sell/ dispose of assets of Ambaliyara plant situated at Village Ambaliyara, Gujarat.

Reliance Industries: Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Limited (RIIHL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the company, has incorporated a company namely 'Jio Estonia OU' in Estonia. New company proposes to engage in the activity of software development and providing consultancy for existing and future technology initiatives pursued by the company and its subsidiaries.

Virinchi: Virinchi Hospitals commissions the first 'Out-reach Clinic' as a step towards pursuing its Hub & Spoke model.

InterGlobe Aviation: Devadas Mallya Mangalore, Chairman and Non Executive Independent Director of the company died on November 25.

Mahindra & Mahindra: Mahindra launches the Alturas G4, a luxury SUV to redefine the high-end SUV segment.

GPT Infraprojects: Company bags order valued at Rs 81.50 crore.

Suzlon Energy: CARE downgraded its rating for company's long term / short term bank facilities worth Rs 6,406 crore from BBB, Negative / A3+ to BBB-, Negative / A3; long term bank facilities from BBB, Negative to BBB-, Negative.

IIFL Holdings: India Infoline Finance, a material NBFC subsidiary of the company, has filed the Draft Shelf Prospectus with NSE and BSE for raising of funds by way of issue of non convertible debentures through public issue route upto Rs 5,000 crore in one or more tranches subject to necessary approvals.

Radaan Mediaworks: Board meeting is scheduled on November 30 to consider raising of funds through issue of securities on preferential basis.

Esab India: Board declared an interim dividend of Rs 90 per share of Rs 10 each (900 percent) for the year ended March 2019.

Mazda: ICRA re-affirmed the long-term rating for fund based limits at A and short term ratings for non-fund based limits at A1.

Bulk Deals

Silgo Retail: Overskud Multi Asset Management Private Limited sold 45,000 shares of the company at Rs 36.1 per share on the NSE.

Sirca Paint India: Gagandeep Credit Capital Pvt Ltd sold 92,800 shares of the company at Rs 218.4 per share on the NSE.

Paramount Communications: Nomura Singapore bought 28,23,126 shares of the company at Rs 8.45 per share on the NSE while Elara Capital Plc (FCCB) sold 34,68,787 shares at Rs 8.5 per share.

Talwalkars Lifestyles: Aequitas Investment Consultancy Private Limited - PMS purchased 4,64,000 shares of the company at Rs 110 per share on the NSE. Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund was the seller.

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Analyst or Board Meet/Briefings

Piramal Enterprises: Committee meeting to be held for consideration of issue of non-convertible debentures on November 28.

Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company: Company's officials will be meeting Emkay Global Financial Services on November 27 in Chennai.

Tata Chemicals: Company's officials will be meeting Fidelity lnvestments on November 26.

Container Corporation of India: Company's officials will be meeting Wen Quan Cheong, Analyst, Mawer Investment Management through Sheryl Mascarenhas, Macquarie India on December 6.

Bank of Baroda: Bank is scheduled to meet on November 29 to consider issuance of fresh equity shares to its employees.

Siemens: Company's officials will be meeting analysts/institutional investors on November 26.

Nahar Capital & Financial Services: Board meeting will be held on November 30 to announce the unaudited financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 2018.

Amtek Auto: Company's 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on December 14.

Finolex Industries: Company's officials will be meeting analysts/institutional investors on November 27.

Indian Overseas Bank: Board meeting is scheduled on November 28 to consider the proposal to issue Basel III Compliant Tier II Bonds upto Rs 300 crore.

Mapro Industries: Board meeting is scheduled on November 30 to consider unaudited financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 2018.

Supreme Infrastructure India: Board meeting is scheduled on December 1 to consider unaudited financial results for the quarter and half year ended September 2018.

Larsen & Toubro: Company's officials will be attending Morgan Stanley's Seventeenth Annual Asia Pacific Summit in Singapore during November 28-29.

HEG: Senior management of the company is scheduled to meet Analysts / Investors from November 29-30 at Hongkong, as organised by Bank of America Merill Lynch.

Orchid Pharma: Board meeting is scheduled on December 1 to consider unaudited financial results for the quarter and half year ended June 2018.

: Reliance Industries Ltd, which owns Jio, is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
Moneycontrol News

Shares of Suzlon Energy fell over 2 percent after CARE Ratings downgraded the company's debt facilities.

CARE Ratings cut the rating on Suzlon Energy's long term/short term bank facilities worth Rs 6,406 crore to BBB- with a negative outlook/AAA from BBB with a negative outlook/AAA+.

The financial services firm also cut the rating on Suzlon Energy's long term bank facilities worth Rs 10,070 crore to BBB-, Negative from BBB, Negative.

CARE Ratings also downgraded Suzlon Energy's commercial papers worth Rs 1,000 crore to AAA from AAA+.

At 1000 hours Suzlon Energy was quoting at Rs 5.43 on BSE, down 2.51 percent from the previous close.
Indias leading organised retailers reported a mixed set of numbers in Q2 FY19. Revenue growth was either subdued or below expectations due to postponement of festive season sales to Q3.

In comparison, top-line traction was seen in late Q2 and early Q3 in FY18. Therefore, retailers were forced to take price cuts to clear pre-festive inventories. Investments in store additions/refurbishment, an increase in employee costs, low conversion-to-footfall rates and build-up of working capital led to a dip in margins of most companies.

Q2 snapshot

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) and Future Retail were the standout performers on the back of decent year-on-year (YoY) sales growth and a visible improvement in margins. In contrast, V2 Retail and V-Mart were the big laggards.

The path ahead

A differentiated business model (on fronts such as brands, network, strategies, product positioning etc) has enabled each company to create a niche for itself in an industry where margins can be pretty thin and achieving high asset turns could be quite a challenge.

Going forward, heres what investors need to bear in mind from a company-specific perspective:-

Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail

Around 250-300 new stores will be added every year under Madura and Pantaloons. Branded innerwear is expanding rapidly too. Premium brands under Madura are capable of delivering strong same-store sales growth and steady cash flows. In Pantaloons, the product portfolio will be refreshed periodically to cater to a wider customer base.

Margin drivers: Most store additions will be under the franchise route to limit capex. Turnaround strategies in Pantaloons have begun bearing fruit. More unprofitable outlets in the fast fashion segment (brands: Forever 21 and People) may be shut to facilitate cost savings.

Avenue Supermarts

About 25-30 stores will be added each year, of which some could be on lease as well. DMart Ready, the companys online platform that manages home delivery processes and includes collection centres for orders placed, is expanding its reach from metros and Tier I cities.

Margin drivers: Adoption of a cluster format, wherein new outlets are situated in a 100-150 km radius from the existing ones, would result in lower logistical costs. The companys product mix is also being tweaked in favour of non-food items. Exposure to long-term debt will be trimmed from proceeds of its initial public offer.

Future Retail

Convenience stores (Easyday, Heritage Fresh) will be aggressively added to achieve last mile connectivity. About 100/200 Big Bazaar/Fashion at Big Bazaar outlets will be operational over the next 4-5 years, respectively. Partnership with Amazon would be crucial in bolstering product visibility.

Margin drivers: Loss-making eZone stores (pertaining to electronics and consumer durables) are being phased out. Integration of operational similarities between Hypercity with Big Bazaar is underway.

Shoppers Stop

Around 4-5 large format stores (i.e. Shoppers Stop) and 8-10 premium beauty product stores will be added in each fiscal year. Kiosks, experience centres and personalised customer services should help the company attract more footfalls. Womens ethnic wear is a fast-growing segment too.

Margin drivers: Contribution of the companys own brands to total sales is likely to increase to 30-35 percent by FY20 from 10-15 percent at present. Scaling up of omnichannel operations should normalise marketing expenses (as a percentage of sales). The product mix is moving in favour of branded beauty products, where margins are usually better than apparel. Repayment of long term borrowings in entirety is on the cards as well.

Trent

About 30 outlets will be added every year under Westside and Star Market formats, which deal in clothing and grocery products, respectively. Zara/Zudio outlets will be opened to capitalise on growing demand for high-end/value fashion, respectively. Tata CLiQ, the companys online arm, is also being developed further.

Margin drivers: Private label products, which constitute 90-95 percent of Westside sales, should help achieve high same-store sales growth. More brands may be launched in this space. Medium-sized grocery stores will be opened in a cluster format to keep operating costs low. Landmark stores, that cover books and stationery, have managed to break-even after facing years of losses.

V2 Retail

Store rollouts will be undertaken, primarily in northern and north-eastern India, to add 2 lakh square feet of retail space by FY19-end, thus taking the total to 1 million sq ft. The company is setting up a B2B platform to tie-up with mom-and-pop stores in rural India.

Margin drivers: To improve supply chain processes, distribution centres are being established to reduce dependence on external warehousing. The share of owned brands is slated to rise to 30-35 percent over the next two years from 20 percent at present.

V-Mart

Early onset of winters in northern India, the largest market for the company, should lead to an uptick in winter/thermal wear volumes. Most of the top-line growth will be volume-based to address the requirements of value-conscious clothing buyers. Adequacy of rainfall, an increase in minimum support price for food grains and pre-election activities will be critical in determining the rural demand trajectory. Store additions in eastern and north-eastern India are lined up too.

Margin drivers: In the kirana segment, the focus is shifting to high-margin products such as personal care, deodorants, chocolates and hand sanitisers. Economies of scale through bulk sourcing are being prioritised. The contribution of private labels is expected to increase from the 60-65 percent mark in FY18.

Outlook

Q3 will be a better quarter sequentially (ie. vis-a-vis Q2) for the sector as a whole because of festive and wedding season sales. Network augmentation is anticipated to accelerate in H2 FY19 to cash in on this demand rush.

Owing to a large population base, higher disposable income and deeper penetration of organised retail into smaller cities, we see India's consumption story remaining intact in the years to come. So, revenue visibility shouldnt be a cause of concern for any retailer, even though some degree of seasonality may be seen in a few quarters.

The main differentiator, however, will be margins. Operating leverage, rationalisation of fixed overheads, quicker operationalisation of new outlets and closures of loss-making stores/segments are among the key objectives that retailers would want to focus on in a bid to boost their bottom-line.

Additionally, a lot would depend on how risks associated with sluggish sales in the offseason, high competitive intensity and rising rent costs for commercial properties are addressed.

Which stocks should you pick

In spite of market volatility, retail stocks continue to trade at fairly demanding valuations.

DMart has been priced to perfection for long. To command such high valuations over extended periods of time, the company will have to deliver industry-leading top-line growth and superior margin consistently. This could be difficult considering the managements impetus towards sales growth, even if it results in some bit of margin moderation. In our view, better entry opportunities may be available at a later stage.

Notwithstanding the disappointment in Q2, V-Mart is one of the best performers in the Indian retail space. The companys ambitious expansion plans and healthy fundamentals appear to be incorporated in the price. This, coupled with the stocks steady rally in recent months, leaves little on the table for new investors at present.

ABFRL and Trents steep valuations suggest that prospects of a major upside are pretty remote, at least in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, we dont see any significant downside from current levels either since these stocks, despite the volatility in markets, have been fairly range-bound. Both names are investment-worthy.

While Shoppers Stop is expected to be a big beneficiary of the tie-up with Amazon and also has a large customer loyalty programme coverage, V2 Retail aims to improve profitability by strengthening its retail coverage in semi-urban and rural India. Since both stocks are trading close to their 52-week lows at this point, investors may consider taking advantage of the price correction.

Future Retail, by virtue of its diverse pan-India network and stake sale agreement with Amazon, is already a big force to reckon with. Consolidation of the business structure through phasing out of non-core segments should unlock value. The stock may be considered for the long-term.

Follow @krishnakarwa152

For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research page
Naresh Goyal (Image: Reuters)

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To save his carrier from the impending financial crisis, Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal could ask Etihad Airways to increase stake in the Indian airline, The Economic Times reported.

In exchange for funds through equity and soft loans, Goyal is considering handing over operations to Etihad, while retaining his position as the Chairman of the airline.

Sources said that Goyal and senior officials from Jet Airways held a meeting with the top management of Etihad and group CEO Tony Douglas recently.

The Middle Eastern airline holds a 24 percent stake in Jet Airways, while Goyal and his wife, Anita, hold a 51 percent stake. If the deal goes through, Etihad may own as much as 49 percent of the expanded equity base.

Goyal may dilute his stake to as low as 15 percent, depending on the size of the deal.

Tata Group, with its partner Singapore Airlines, reportedly wanted to take over Jet Airways, when the management of the company advised against it.

Private equity firm TPG was also interested in the deal but the offer didn't appeal to the management of Jet Airways, as it came with too many conditions.

Sources told the paper that it makes sense for Etihad to revive the cash-strapped airline as 11 percent of its passengers travel from India to overseas destinations and any impact on the latter will affect its passenger numbers.

Many of Etihad's investments have not brought desired returns, including the ones in Alitalia and Air Berlin. If it leaves Jet Airways out to dry, all its investments up till now will have been for nothing.
The Prime Minister's Office is mediating a discussion between bank heads and officials from the Finance Ministry this week, to settle their dispute over taxing free banking services, The Hindu BusinessLine reported.

Revenue authorities have asked banks to pay tax (service tax with penal interest and penalty) for years 2012-2017 on free services provided to customers.

If the banks have to pay their out of this, they may have to shell out around Rs 40,000 crore.

On their part, lenders have warned that this would lead to a withdrawal of free banking services provided to customers, including services to accounts opened under the government's financial inclusion scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

The tax authorities assessed the value of free services that banks provide to account holders who maintain a minimum balance. Wanting to amp up their collections, they asked banks to pay tax on these services.

The authorities are of the opinion that free services provided to customers are leading to a fall in the government's revenue.

This move may discourage people from opening new accounts and the intent behind schemes like PMJDY will not be fulfilled, S Ravi, practising chartered accountant, told the paper.

Free services provided by banks include cheque leaves, ATM withdrawals, cash deposits, monthly account and locker visits.

"Free services are ensuring that more unbanked people can benefit from banking services. If, on the one hand, you encourage more people to embrace banking, and on the other hand, free services are taxed, then banks will have to pass the increased costs to customers," Ravi was quoted as saying.

Stakeholders on both sides had a meeting in June but could not reach a middle ground. A source told the paper that the PMO was brought in for suitable intervention and resolution.
GOQii has raised funds through a series-B round of funding led by Japan-based Mitsui & Co, which is one of the most active investors in the healthcare space across the globe.

The funds will be utilized for hiring fresh talent, marketing and expanding geographically, GOQii said in a statement.

They will also strengthen the company's big data and artificial intelligence platform to drive actionable insights and provide holistic view of a users health.

Apart from the investment, the two parties have also agreed on joint collaboration. Mitsui's investment will enable GOQii to penetrate the Indian market further and will also mark its entry into Japan.

Given its ageing population and focus on preventive healthcare, Japan is ripe for the entry of players like GOQii.

"We also see a strong potential for GOQii to enter the Japanese market and are ready to help GOQii achieve its vision and ambitions. Mitsui is keen to develop new business and services in the Japanese preventive healthcare sector with the aim of providing further solutions to the evolving issues of todays Japanese society. Upon GOQiis entry into the Japanese market, we will seek cooperation between GOQii and our affiliated companies to realize our ambitions," Koji Nagatomi, COO of the healthcare and service business unit of Mitsui.

Besides Mitsui, GOQii also raised funds from new investors like Galaxy Digital, a leading blockchain merchant bank who invests via its Galaxy EOS VC fund that which is focused on developing the EOSIO ecosystem, and Denlow Investment Trust, a leading LP in several consumer and tech focused funds globally.

Many of GOQii's existing investors like NEA, DSG Consumer Partners, Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Ratan Tata also participated in the round of funding.

GCA Corporation was GOQii's exclusive financial advisor for the fund-raising exercise.
With challenges such as lack of technical knowledge, skill gap and convincing consumers about IT services, Dev IT, an Ahmedabad-based IT company has come a long way.

The company was predominantly focusing on domestic markets especially government in early years, later they opted-out to expand in foreign markets, according to Jaimin Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Dev IT.

The core functions of the company are IT advisory, IT architecture, IT implementation, and IT support.

"When we started, there was no IT business in Gujarat and if you said anyone about it, they always thought that we are working with the Income Tax Department. Being a domestic focused company, we faced a lot issues but we remained focused on what we were doing. We became a marketable IT company as far as Gujarat is concerned," said Shah.

The company faced many challenges when it came to hiring talent in the region till 2007-2008 as there was lack of knowledge about the IT industry.

"Attracting talent was really a challenge. So as an incentive, we gave 1o percent of our profits to employees," said Shah.

Eyeing Nordic region

The company is planning to invest $5 million for expansion in Nordic countries.

"After acquiring a company in 2015 with European clients and talking to existing clients we also realised that now Europe is also settling down from Brexit and industrial down time. They are also trying to adopt newer technology but they are very cost conscious," said Shah.

H1B visa

While talking about the H1B visa issue, Shah said: "Currently we haven't seen any issue because our focus is SME market in North America. What we did is that we opened our Canadian Federal entity and all our North American contracts are under the Canadian entity. We have seen growth in business after the H1B issue as people have started outsourcing their jobs. There is no act wherein outsourcing is concerned."

In 2017, the company got listed on NSE Emerge exchange. It was a bootstrapped company, started by 2 people and now employs around 900 to 1000 people in Gujarat.
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Hinduja group's flagship firm Ashok Leyland on Monday said it is well on track to meet the upcoming BS-VI emission norms across its medium and heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV) range.

The Chennai-based company said it has achieved internal milestone regarding the development of BS-VI emission technology across its M&HCV range.

"We have now achieved our internal milestone on emission capability for our entire range of M&HCV vehicles," Ashok Leyland Senior VP Product Development N Saravanan said in a regulatory filing.

The company's new technology continues to build upon the successfully proven iEGR engine platform, he added.

"We are now well on track in our preparedness for the 2020 launch," Saravanan said.

In 2016, the government had announced that India would skip BS-V norms altogether and adopt BS-VI norms.

It had stated that from April 1, 2020, only vehicles complying with the latest emission norms would be manufactured, while giving three months time to automobile firms for the transition to start selling BS-VI vehicles.

However, citing air pollution issues, the apex court had said no BS-IV vehicles would be allowed to be sold across the country from April 1, 2020.
On November 26, 2008, 10 armed terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba sailed to Mumbai unleashing one of the most brutal attacks in the history of the country, killing 166 people and injuring 300 others. The militants attacked popular city landmarks such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel leaving a trail of blood that haunts the country to this day. Here are some images from the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that shook the nation. (Image: Reuters)

National Security Guard members rest outside the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel after an operation in Mumbai on November 29. The commandos killed the last gunmen ending a three-day siege in the financial capital. (Image: Reuters)

The damaged lobby of Trident-Oberoi hotel, a day-after the operations to dislodge militants ended on November 29. (Image: Reuters)

Students hold candles during a vigil for the victims of the Mumbai attacks at a school. (Image: Reuters)

Commandos prepare to enter the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on November 28, 2008. (Image: Reuters)

People duck as gunshots are fired from inside the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai on November 27. (Image: Reuters)

Policemen are seen in the besieged Trident-Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai on November 28. (Image: Reuters)

Military personnel take position near the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on November 28. (Image: Reuters)

Military personnel take position as terrorists hurl bombs at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel (seen in the background) in Mumbai on November 29, 2008. (Image: Reuters)

A National Security Guard (NSG) commando rappels from a helicopter near Nariman House where militants were hiding on November 29. (Image: Reuters)
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla

Confident that the Congress will retain power in Mizoram, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said the BJP will have to wait another five years to open its account in the state and alleged the saffron party was trying to "buy" votes with money power.

In an interview to PTI, the nine-time MLA Thanhawla also alleged that the BJP is trying to buy votes of Chakma and Bru communities by taking their leaders to Guwahati and "brainwashing them with RSS ideology".

"As a ruling party in the Centre, they should try to open their account in Mizoram, which they have not been able to do so far. They are most welcome, but I would advise them not to try to spoil the Mizo people with money power. Money has never played any role in Mizoram. Election in Mizoram is most free, fair and peaceful," he said.

Talking about the high-decibel campaign by the BJP in the last 10 days, Thanhawla said, "Empty pots or bottles sound the loudest" and predicted that the saffron party is unlikely to get a single seat in the 40-member Assembly going for polls on November 28.

During the election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and union ministers Rajnath Singh and Jitendra Singh have launched a blistering attack on the Congress regime in the state, blaming it for under-development of the hill state.

"They are spending a lot of money in the micro-minority areas like the Chakmas and Brus. They shifted out their leaders to Guwahati just to brainwash them into the RSS ideology. Himanta Biswa Sarma is playing a big role. He has taken quite a good number of the Bru leaders to Guwahati and elsewhere and they are trying to brainwash them," the chief minister alleged.

"They are trying to purchase them with money power. I don't know how many they (BJP) can purchase. But I told them (Chakmas and Brus) that they should not (forget) their tradition of integrity by being purchasable commodity. People are trying to purchase them. Otherwise why should they concentrate only in the micro minority areas?" the Chief Minister said.

Asked about Assam Minister and BJP leader Sarma's statement that the BJP may consider alliance with Mizoram Congress, Thanhawla replied in negative. "That's the farthest thing from my mind. I wouldn't have anything to do with the BJP," he said.

The four-time chief minister, who is fighting for the third consecutive term, Thanhawla, however, said he fears the BJP may try to repeat a Nagaland or a Meghalaya kind of situation, but they will not be successful.

On possibility of the Congress MLAs being poached after the results, he said, "They (BJP) will try to do that, but they will not be able to poach Congress MLAs. Because no Mizo is a purchasable commodity."

When asked about Mizoram BJP President J V Hluna's accusation that Thanhawla had contacted Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to join the BJP, the senior Congress leader said, "He is in his dreams. These allegations are part of his wishful thinking. And lies do not have legs, they fall. This is stark naked lie. Liars do not survive in Mizoram politics."

Talking to PTI, Hluna had earlier said, "Lal Thanhawla himself, before this election, and his followers had contacted the central leadership (of the BJP) to merge the whole Congress, just like the Arunachal Pradesh. They were in contact with them... I know that he had contacted Rajnath Singh."

The Congress has been in power in Mizoram since 2008 and is eyeing the third consecutive term.

In 2013 assembly elections, the Congress won 34 seats, while the main opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF) got five and Mizoram People's Conference bagged one.

Congress and the MNF are leaving no stones unturned to woo the voters, while BJP has launched a spirited campaign to get power in this strategically important North Eastern state sandwiched between Myanmar and Bangladesh with the party's national president Amit Shah declaring that Christmas will be celebrated in Mizoram under the BJP rule this December.

Mizoram is being seen by the BJP leaders as the "final frontier" in its 'Congress-free North East' campaign as the party has already secured power in Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, besides joining the ruling coalitions in Meghalaya and Nagaland.

While Congress and MNF are contesting in all the 40 constituencies this time, BJP is fighting in 39 seats.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday termed the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yoajana (PMFBY), a crop insurance scheme, as a "big scam" and demanded that it be scrapped. He alleged that the scheme was meant to benefit insurance companies instead of the farmers.

"The (Pradhan Mantri) Fasal Bima Yojana is a big scam. It is betraying the farmers. Without the farmers' consent, the premium gets deducted from their accounts," Kejriwal told reporters in Israna village of Haryana's Panipat district.

"Then when it comes to paying compensation to the farmers for crop damage, conditions of this scheme are such that a farmer keeps paying his premiums, but does not get the claim for his crop loss," he said.

"Till the time the crop loss in a village does not cross 70 per cent, an affected farmer will not get compensation, such are the conditions of this scheme," he added.

The Delhi chief minister said this scheme should be called the 'BJP Kisan Daka Yojana' (BJP Farmer Loot Scheme).

During his visit to Israna, Kejriwal met the family of a farmer, Surjit, who recently died of a heart attack.

He said Surjit suffered a heart attack as he was unable to bear the losses he incurred after his crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains and hailstorm.

He assured the deceased farmer's family of all help and said he would donate a month's salary, which is around Rs 80,000, and ask his MLAs to do the same.

"This Fasal Bima Yojana should be scrapped and the premium collected from the farmers returned," he said.

Kejriwal said a 'Kisan Muavaza' (farmer compensation) scheme, like the one introduced by the Delhi government, should be launched if the farmers are to be given relief.

"In Delhi, we give Rs 20,000 per acre for crop damage within three months and a similar scheme should be introduced. Even if one farmer in a village suffers losses, he should be compensated," he said.

He said the compensation should be given directly to the farmers so that they do not have to run after insurance companies.

"Owners of insurance companies are good friends of Modiji and this scheme has been formulated to extend benefit to them," Kejriwal claimed.

According to recent media reports which quoted RTI information, the insurance companies have collected premium between Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore under this scheme, whereas the value of claims settled is very low, he alleged.

Kejriwal accused the Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government for going back on its promise of waiving farmers' loans.

"When the BJP came to power, it promised to waive loans of the farmers. But it has not done so," he said.

He said if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) comes to power in Haryana in 2019, it will improve the condition of the state's government schools and hospitals, which are in a bad shape.

Later, he travelled to Jind district, where he expressed solidarity with those protesting against increased enhancement costs levied by Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), formerly Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).

The resident welfare associations under the HSVP are up in arms against the state government ever since notices were served to plot holders in 20 districts, asking them to pay enhancement costs on account of additional compensation awarded to farmers by the Supreme Court.

"Not just farmers, labourers, traders, this government seems to have spared no one," Kejriwal told a gathering in Jind.

"This is not enhancement, but in a way it is extortion," he alleged.

He claimed that the enhancement notices were being served to people after every one or two years.

The Delhi chief minister demanded that Khattar give an account of these notices being served repeatedly to people. He threatened to hold a protest and burn the notices next month if his Haryana counterpart does not respond.
The Congress hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he criticised the party on issues of terrorism and Naxalism, alleging he was playing politics on matters of national security and had "compromised" the country's interests.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that lack of political action on the part of the BJP-led central government had led to disquiet at the border and an alarming security situation. He said that "16 major terror strikes" were held on security installations during the last 54 months.

The Congress' attack came after Modi said at a poll rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan that the party, which was in power when 26/11 Mumbai attacks took place, had questioned the BJP government's surgical strikes in Pakistan.

Modi said when terrorists struck the country's financial capital 10 years ago, the country was governed by "madam" through remote control, an oblique reference to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Condemning Prime Minister Modi's remarks, the Congress spokesperson alleged that "one person who played despicable politics during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack was Shri Narendra Modi".

"Politicizing of national security and sacrifice of our jawans is intrinsic to BJP.

"The truth is - Modi Government has compromised our national security and in the last four and a half years. Lack of political action and policy has led to a disquiet border and an alarming internal security situation," Surjewala alleged in a statement.

"Even as our soldiers fought inside and the nation was united in battling its consequences, the then CM of Gujarat, was standing outside at one of the attack sites, addressing the media and blaming the then UPA Government for the attack," he alleged.

He said the BJP released "blood-stained ads in newspapers for Delhi elections, opportunistically politicizing the sacrifice of our soldiers".

"Today in a public rally in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, PM Modi turned history on its head and said that he never played politics on national security. We condemn and reject the utter falsehood...," he said.

The Congress leader alleged that the prime minister and the BJP have always used the "blood and sacrifice of our jawans as a vote garnering tool".

He alleged that BJP President Amit Shah dishonoured the valour of the armed forces on October 7, 2016 by "disregarding the supreme sacrifices made in the five wars and numerous surgical strikes".

Surjewala said the BJP went to the extent of organizing events felicitating the PM in Agra and Lucknow and said, "It is intriguing and disappointing that Modi Government did not celebrate the first anniversary of surgical strike and started limited celebrations only in the second year".

Surjewala asked a set of 15 questions, including whether "it is true that in last 54 months of Modi Government, in Jammu and Kashmir alone, 426 jawans have been martyred and 278 civilians have lost their precious lives, in Pakistan sponsored terrorism".

"Is it not true that 16 major terror attacks have taken place on our security installations that include CRPF Camps, Army Camps, Air Force Station and Military Stations- Pampore, Uri, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amarnath Yatra attack, Sunjwan Army Camp, where scores of our precious lives have been lost.

"Is it not true our jawans like Shaheed Mandeep and Shaheed Narender Singh were beheaded and bodies mutilated by Pakistan, as Modi Government remained a mute spectator," he asked

Surjewala claimed that there is 500 percent increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistan, since May 2014.

"Where is the '56-inch chest' missing as Pakistan commits more than 3,000 ceasefire violations at the LoC and International border.

"Why did PM Modi invite the rogue ISI to investigate the Pathankot terror attack on March 27, 2016, " he asked
(Image: Reuters)

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It has been ten years since Mumbai witnessed one of the worst terrorist attacks India has ever seen. On November 26, 2008, 10 Lashkar-E-Taiba militants sailed into the island city from Karachi and killed 166 civilians, injuring over 300.

One person among the 166 was the co-founder of Yes Bank, the youngest private bank of India at that time, Ashok Kapur.

Kapur had gone for dinner with his wife, Madhu Kapur, at the Trident-Oberoi Hotel's Kandahar restaurant, when the shooting began. In the chaos, the couple was separated and Madhu was able to escape with the help of security officers. However, Ashok could not make it outside. His body was found on the 19th floor of the hotel.

Ashok Kapur and Rana Kapoor together started Yes Bank in 2003. He was the chairman and Rana was managing director and chief executive officer. Before this, Ashok headed Rabo India.

The family was getting over this tragic loss when a disagreement started brewing between Madhu and Rana Kapoor.

In 2009, Madhu approached the bank to nominate her daughter Shagun on the board. The demand was rejected, as it did not fulfil the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) requirements. The nomination was rejected again in 2011 and moreover, Madhus name was stricken from the list of major shareholders.

As of March 31, 2010, Kapoor had held 14.8 percent stake and Madhu held 12.68 percent.

To add fuel to fire, Kapoor published a brief history of the bank in December 2012, without any reference to Ashok or Madhu. Following this, the board appointed three directors without any consultation from the family members.

In June 2013, Madhu requested to nominate her daughter on the Board and moved the Bombay High Court. She also wanted to have a greater say in appointing directors.

In 2015, the court ruled in her favour, quashing the appointment of the three directors and declaring that both Madhu and Kapoor had the right to jointly nominate directors on the board. This decision has been challenged before a division bench, where it is pending.

This issue was brought to the forefront in September when RBI rejected the Yes Bank board's request to provide a three-year extension to Rana Kapoor as CEO. The central bank has given the board time till January 31, 2019, to find Kapoor's successor.

After RBI's orders, Madhu wrote to the board members urging them to steer clear of Kapoor's influence in their search for a new CEO. There have been reports that the two promoters are seeking an out-of-court settlement, for the sake of the bank's growth. However, no such deal has been confirmed yet.
Two lawyers who defended Ajmal Kasab in the 2008 Mumbai attack case on the directions of the Bombay High Court are yet to get their legal fees from the Maharashtra government.

While the state government says they have not submitted any bills, the lawyers say that state prosecutors are not supposed to.

The two lawyers -- Amin Solkar and Farhana Shah -- were tasked with defending Kasab, hanged to death on November 21, 2012 for killing over 166 people in Mumbai, by the Maharashtra State Legal Services Department after they were nominated by then acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court J N Patel.

A notification about their appointment was issued on June 8, 2010 after Kasab had expressed his desire to contest the verdict of the trial court sentencing him to death in the Bombay High Court.

According to the notification, Solkar was to receive remuneration equivalent to what is sanctioned for a public prosecutor, who conducts a death confirmation appeal, and Shah was to receive fees on par with an assistant prosecutor.

Keeping in tradition with the fairness of the trial, the law allows for appointment of a lawyer from the legal services department if accused is unable to do so.

Solkar and Shah had argued for Kasab in the Bombay High Court against his death sentence almost on a day-to-day basis for nearly nine months before it confirmed the death sentence on the lone gunman, who sprayed bullets barbarically on November 26, 2008.

His conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court a year later and he was hanged to death in 2012 inside the Yerwada prison in Pune.

When contacted by PTI, both Solkar and Shah said they are yet to receive their fees.

Both the lawyers said they had given the case priority as the high court was hearing it on a day-to-day basis from 11am to 5pm.

"I do not know why the state government has not made any efforts to pay us our fees. It has been seven years since the judgment was delivered by the high court. The Supreme Court confirmed the death penalty and Kasab is also dead. But we are still waiting (for the fees)," Solkar told PTI.

He said he was contemplating legal action to get his dues cleared from the state government.

"We are only asking for what is legally due to us. The law says every accused should get a fair trial. To ensure this, we were appointed to defend Kasab... then why this delay in paying us our fees," Solkar said.

Shah, on the other hand, says she has given up hopes that she will get her remuneration for appearing in the case.

"I have now given up. I consider it as a pro bono case (a case taken up voluntarily and without payment)," Shah, who had defended several accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, told PTI.

While the exact amount per hearing was not known, sources in the know put the figure somewhere between Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per day.

An official from the state government's law and judiciary department said the government would pay the fees only after the two lawyers submit their bills.

To this, both Solkar and Shah said the need to submit bills does not arise at all as they were appointed by the high court and a notification to this effect was issued by the government.

"Does the government ask for bills from the public prosecutor before giving them their remuneration?" Solkar said.

Abbas Kazmi, a lawyer who had defended Kasab before trial judge M L Tahalayani, claims he has been paid by the government for his services.

"My remuneration was given by the government soon after the completion of the trial," Kazmi said, adding he got his fees without having to submit any bills to the government.

Ten Pakistani terrorists had launched a dastardly attack on key locations in the city on the night of November 26, 2008. The terrorists killed 166 people and injured over 600 others.

The places that were attacked included the CST railway station in south Mumbai, the Taj Hotel and the Trident Hotel in south Mumbai, Cafe Leopold and Chabad House at Colaba in south Mumbai.
Devendra Fadnavis

The Maharashtra government has admitted to the Bombay High Court that it has not used the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for mitigating any natural disaster since the fund was first created in 2015.

The state government's admission comes at a time when large parts of the state have been declared drought-hit.

According to a report by Mumbai Mirror, it also acknowledged that the funds were availed for purposes other than providing relief during natural calamities.

At the moment, SDRF reserves stand at Rs 1,717 crore.

The state government made the admission while responding to an ongoing public interest litigation (PIL) on the implementation of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The SDRF and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) were created by the Centre in 2015 as contingency funds available only for disaster-related expenditure.

The Centre contributes 75 percent of the SDRF's corpus, while the state puts in the rest.

The unspent amount from the fund can only be invested in government securities and nationalised banks, the tabloid reported. The interest earned from such investments is credited to the SDRF.

The Maharashtra government did not create a separate account till the High Court directed it to do so in September this year. It reportedly acknowledged that it had violated the norms.

Around 180 out of the 358 talukas in the state have been declared drought-affected. The Maharashtra government is expected to spend around Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 crore on drought mitigation.
The BJP is practicing a frightening level of communal polarization in election-bound states and this is a huge challenge for the Congress, its strategist and former minister Jairam Ramesh has said.

In an exclusive interview to PTI, parallel to the Ram Temple buildup in Ayodhya Sunday, Ramesh said for every Amit Shah, the BJP chief, there are 10 Amit Shahs of the RSS practicing covert polarization.

He said the modern name of 'tanashaahi' was Amit Shah and that Narendra Modi was "not prime ministerial" in his election campaign as he indulged in "falsification of history and abuse of political rivals". He said Modi should not demand respect but should command respect of people as prime minister.

The senior Congress leader also noted that "false news" was the biggest enterprise in "Make in India" under the Modi government, as he accused the BJP of "manufacturing" issues out of non-issues.

"There is a high degree of communal polarization that the BJP is doing in every election and in these states," he told PTI.

The BJP and Prime Minister Modi have instead accused the Congress of diving the society by indulging in caste and religious politics and appeasement of minorities.

Attributing even the "staggering" UP mandate of the BJP to communal polarization, Ramesh said, "The only explanation I have for the UP win of the BJP is the frightening level of communal polarization which incidentally they have been trying to do in these states also. They are doing this in Chhattisgarh and certainly in MP and Rajasthan."

The 64-year-old former minister, who is a part of the Congress core group for the 2019 Lok Sabha poll planning, said there were two types of communal polarization the BJP was indulging in across the country.

"One is overt polarization, which is the language used by Mr Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi. Then there is covert polarization done by the RSS and its people through the word of mouth and house to house," Ramesh said.

"Mr Amit Shah is a good example of a person who preaches and practices the politics of overt polarization" and that "for every Amit Shah there are 10 'Amit Shahs' of the RSS who are practicing and preaching covert polarization. That is what happened in UP," he noted.

Ramesh said the Opposition "tends to miss" overt polarization and also the seriousness of covert polarization.

On a query about whether the Congress has managed to address the issue of polarization, Ramesh said, "It is a huge challenge and it is not just an electoral challenge".

"It is a challenge we have to face  whether in power or outside," the Congress leader said, describing the battle with the RSS as a "long drawn out" one. "It is not a one-off thing. It is a long drawn out battle," Ramesh added.

He said the RSS had taken years, decades to "infiltrate" the tribal areas.

On why Congress leaders like CP Joshi continue to speak out of turn and make casteist remarks to aid the politics of polarization, Ramesh said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had come out very clearly against this.

Blaming the BJP for making an issue out of it, he said, "the BJP is very skilled at creating issues out of non-issues, at manipulation of news."

Asked if Congress leaders continued to defy the party chief by making statements that harm the party's interests, he said he does not blame the leaders as their statements, including himself, have been distorted by the BJP.

"I think this is 'Make in India', Make in BJP. Fake news is the biggest enterprise in 'Make in India' during the BJP regime. The fact is that Mr Modi himself, during his election campaign, indulges in falsification of facts, he indulges in falsification of history," he alleged.

"He is not prime ministerial in his campaign. After all Prime Minister is Prime Minister. Whoever the individual, the position of PM must be respected.

"(But) the PM should not demand respect, he should command respect. It is no use Mr Modi demanding respect. He should command respect. The way he distorts history, the way he falsifies facts, the way he abuses his political opponents. And look at the way Mr Amit Shah has been talking of the NRC for example, calling people 'termites'," he said, training his guns on the prime minister for his attacks on the Congress and the Gandhi family.

"Amit Shah is the new word of 'tanashaahi'. The modern phrase of 'tanashaahi' is Amit Shah," he said.

Ramesh also pointed out to the manner in which the Reserve Bank of India has been "bludgeoned into submission" and its rights eroded and how institutional autonomy has been compromised.

"The 'institutional capture' by the RSS and the BJP is bizarre," he lamented.

Ramesh said the Congress did not face anti-incumbency in these elections and the mood of the people was clearly in its favour and it would thus fare well in the elections to these five states.

He also did not consider this as a "semi-final" to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, but said the important decisions of the Modi government  like demonetisation, farm crisis and the Rafale deal  will certainly have an impact in these state polls.
(Image: Reuters)

As India on November 26 marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 carnage, the mastermind of the attack LeT operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi has virtually secured his acquittal and his six accomplices are expecting their exoneration anytime in the near future.

The Mumbai attack case in which seven Lashkar-e-Taiba members are facing charges of planning and executing the deadly strike since 2009 is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months.

Lakhvi walked free from jail in April 2015 after securing a bail from the trial court, while the six others are in jail. After his release, Lakhvi went underground. He has virtually secured his acquittal with the Pakistan government indicating no plan to challenge his bail.

The six others - Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum - have also "bright chances" of acquittal with their trial witnessing bizarre twists and turns like frequent change of judges and murder of a prosecutor.

On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistan-based LeT terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. A total of 166 people died and over 300 were wounded in the strikes.

Nine of the attackers were killed by police, while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after a trial in India.

In a fresh development, the US Monday announced a USD 5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 26/11 attack.

Apart from the US, other countries have also asked Pakistan to bring the 26/11 attack perpetrators to justice.

There has been a realisation in Pakistan, especially among politicians, that the attacks had demolished all the past efforts to build friendly ties with India.

However, there are divergent views on whether punishing the culprits in Pakistan will help restore ties between them.

But like ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, questions are being asked in Pakistan "why trial is not being completed?"

When PTI sought a reaction from the Foreign Office on the status of the 26/11 trial, its spokesman Mohammad Faisal just said, "It is sub judice."

Pakistani prosecutors are, however, quick to blame India for the delay.

Chief prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told PTI the case can be concluded in a week if India sends 24 witnesses to Pakistan for recording of their statements and other evidence.

"The Mumbai case will take not more than a week to conclude if India allows Pakistan to examine the boat on which the terrorists travelled to reach Mumbai and also send its witnesses here for recording of their statements," he said.

Azhar, who is also Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) special prosecutor, further said India will have to cooperate with Pakistan if it wants logical conclusion of the case.

"Crime had taken place in Mumbai and onus is on India to provide full evidence to Pakistan. The Indian government has not yet either clearly refused to send its witnesses to Pakistan or allow us to examine the boat there. If it refuses, the benefit will go to the suspects and the case will be over," he said.

When asked why the government has not challenged the bail granted to Lakhvi, he said there was no strong evidence against his involvement.

Abuzar Peerzada, another prosecutor in the case, said the hearing of the case in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) is being held on regular basis and the next hearing is on November 28.

When asked about any possible time frame for conclusion of the trial, he said: "No...it is very difficult to give any time frame...as it is not an ordinary trial (involving two countries)."

A lawyer associated with the case, requesting anonymity, said: "Since both Pakistan and India's interests are involved in this case...this is more of a political case than a legal one. And a 'political case' has no time limit (for conclusion)."

Raja Rizwan Abbasi, a counsel for Lakhvi and six others, was reluctant to talk to PTI when contacted.

However, a lawyer close to him said the defence is not filing a bail petition of the six suspects as it is hoping that since enough time has passed they have "bright chances" to secure acquittal.

"The defence lawyers are optimistic about acquittal of their clients. Therefore, they are not moving their bail plea," he said.

Azhar, however, is of the view that they may get benefit only if India does not send its witnesses and other evidence.

The case is being tried in the ATC since 2009. There has hardly been any case in any ATC in Pakistan that is pending for over nine years.

"It appears that the state is not in hurry to decide this case since the matter is related to its arch-rival India," a senior lawyer said.

Interestingly, former FIA chief Tariq Khosa too pointed out lingering on the case "far too long".

"Dilatory tactics by the defendants, frequent change of trial judges (at least nine times), assassination of the case prosecutor and retracting from original testimony by some key witnesses have been serious setbacks for the prosecutors," he said.

Like many others in Pakistan, Khosa too believes the case "will not be over soon".

Earlier in an interview to Dawn, ex-premier Sharif had questioned, "Should Pakistan allow militants/non-state actors to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai?...Why can't we complete the trial?", remarks that got him into trouble.
Mumbai: A view of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai, Sunday, November 25, 2018 (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)(PTI11_25_2018_000233B)

Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) gave "sea training" to 26/11 terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab in the high seas of "Karachi", revealed a new book "Fragile Frontiers: The Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks".

The sea training, as per the book written by historian Saroj Kumar Rath, also included "how to fish", something that made Kasab think that "he had got a job and he could earn a respectable living".

"He (Kasab) was not informed by the LeT why he was being prepared as a mariner and as a fishermen," quoted the book from what Kasab told during his interrogation.

According to the book, fearing a leak, the sea route assault plan was kept secret by the top LeT commanders -- Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, Abu Hamza and others -- until November 2008.

It also said that before the D-day, the LeT tried to send attackers to Mumbai twice, but "failed on both occasions".

"In September 2008, the boat carrying terrorists hit a rock in the sea and the attackers almost drowned before their handlers rescued them. The other failed attempt was on 7 November 2008, when an alarmed captain of an Indian boat refused to surrender to the LeT and fled," it added.

The book, in one of its essay titled 'Ajmal Kasab: The LeT side of the story', recorded that the 2-year training of the recruits for the 26/11 attacks was a "joint responsibility of the LeT and the ISI".

"Each terrorist had to undergo a series of training and indoctrination sessions organized by the LeT. All the 10 terrorists recruited for the Mumbai attacks had received four stages of training and after that, received sea training as well," read the book.

As part of the sea training the recruits were taught how to read maps, how to measure the depth of the sea, how to use GPS for the sea route, how to use the nets of fishermen and how to operate a ship.

"They were also trained on how to use a fisherman's net just to mislead the Indian navy personnel in case of an enquiry."

Also, other than the sea training, the four stage training received by the ten terrorists under the LeT command was: Daura-e-Sufa (20 Days' Preliminary Training), Daura-e-Ama (21 Days' Combat Course), Daura-e-Khaas (75 Days' Advanced Combat Course), Daura-e-Ribat (30 Days' Training on Intelligence Agencies).

"Kasab received (Daura-e-Khaas) training during May-July 2008. Skills like how to open and close Kalashnikovs, firing of a gun... and how to survive 60 hours without food and still climb a mountain with a heavy load were taught.

"The Mumbai attacks continued for 62 hours and crossing the LoC in Kashmir would take 60 hours as well," it said.

Besides delving into the interrogation and confession report of Kasab, the book, also tried to answer significant questions like "Why do young boys like Kasab become terrorists in Pakistan? What is the root cause of terrorism? Or what motivates them to follow a violent lifestyle?".

Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was hanged at Yerawada jail in Pune on November 21, 2012 after the then-president Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition.

Published by Routledge India, "Fragile Frontiers: The Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks", priced at Rs 995, other than offering a lucid and graphic account of the ill-fated day also traces the changing dynamics of terror in South Asia.
Recently Congress politician and former Union Minister Manish Tewari was quoted as saying that the ruling party has surpassed leading streaming player Netflix and e-commerce giant Amazon India in terms of advertising and the Election Commission of India (EC) must take cognisance of BJP's huge ad expenses. This statement, of course, came after various news reports that BJP had topped the rankings of advertisers across all TV channels.

Tiwari also said that the EC should take note of the number of advertisements the BJP has been releasing in the run up to the general elections next year and the assembly elections in five states in December. At the heart of this controversy is, of course, the amount of money that has been spent on the ad blitzkrieg. According to an RTI filed by Ramvir Tanwar in 2018, the BJP had spent an amount of Rs. 2,221.11 crore on advertising through electronic media.

This is Seetal and in this Money Control Deep Dive, we explore just how money, big money shapes the way elections are ideated and fought across party lines.

Visibility is everything before a big election

Perception building is a big part of any kind of advertising and in recent times, it has reached unprecedented proportions in politics. As India Today reported, according to the latest Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) data, from November 10 to16, advertisements by the BJP have been aired 22,099 times on Television.

The source of the money spent on not just political advertising but on all sorts of outreach endeavours by political parties, remains a big question mark.

This bankrolling of political fortunes is though not a uniquely Indian phenomenon.

In July this year, in the run-up to the mid-term elections in the US, The Guardian ran an interesting piece with the headline that said it all, "American elections are a battle of billionaires. We are merely spectators." It went on to say and we quote, "

The rest of us, ordinary citizens without big bank accounts, will certainly play a role in the outcome this November. We cast the votes, after all. But more and more, US politics  along with civic life broadly  often feels like a spectator sport, as a growing array of billionaire super citizens battle it out in the public square." Unquote.

Closer home, Tiwari attributed the recent advertising frenzy to crony capitalism and further claimed that the electoral bonds scheme made political funding opaque and promoted ghost funding. And what are electoral bonds? The Economic Times explained in a June article, and we quote, "Electoral bonds are being pitched as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties and bring transparency in political funding. As per provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by a person, who is a citizen of India or entities incorporated or established in India." Unquote.

Transparent or opaque?

And what kind of transparency do these electoral bonds entail? Well, the electoral bonds scheme was billed as an effective tool for cleaning political funding but in March 2018, The Hindu Business Line reported that the scheme prevents the public from knowing who has contributed, how much, and to which party. And turns political funding opaque.

Political funding, reminds the piece, flows from corporates as well as rich individuals with the ruling parties usually getting the lions share of these funds. We quote, "The donors, however, take care of the opposition parties too because they understand the risk of putting all their eggs in one basket. But the incongruity of political parties depending on corporate funds to fight elections and sustain democracy at times is troubling; therefore the Government looks for ways to regulate it.

Consequently, in 2003, the Representation of People Act 1951 was amended and sections 29B and 29C inserted. Section 29B says political parties may accept contributions of any amount from any person or company except a government company or foreign source. " Unquote.

The piece further informs that Section 29C requires every political party which receives such funding to prepare a report on contributions above 20,000 from individuals and companies and submit the same to the Election Commission before the income tax returns are filed. If any party fails to do this, it will not get tax exemption for that year under the Income Tax Act.

Similarly, we learn that section 13A of the Income Tax Act 1961 provides for exemption of all voluntary contributions received by a political party from payment of income tax. But such exemption is conditional on the recipient party maintaining such books of accounts and other documents as would enable the officers of the I-T department to properly deduce the income received by it and also maintaining a record of such contributions and the names and addresses of donors as well as amounts above Rs 20,000.

The piece goes on to inform however that a Finance Act in 2017 exempted electoral bonds from the purview of section 29 C of the RP Act 1951 as well as section 13 A of the IT Act 1961. This means the income received by way of electoral bonds is not required to be disclosed in the report which goes to the Election Commission. What's more, political parties are not required to maintain any record of the same or the names and addresses of donors of these bonds. We quote," The electoral bonds scheme has been designed in such a way as to keep the identity of the donor absolutely confidential. Para 7(4) of the notification says that the authorised bank will not disclose any information about the purchaser of the bonds to any authority for any purpose." Unquote.

Why, asks the article, was such secrecy required in the case of political funding by way of electoral bonds? Especially when the existing laws allowed any amount of contributions to political parties with tax exemption but also laid down certain conditions like maintaining records of the amounts received as well as the names of donors?

We quote, "A path-breaking legal provision introduced by the Centre last year is that any contribution above Rs 2,000 can only be made through cheques, drafts, etc. This provision should adequately take care of the problem of black money flowing into the coffers of political parties." Unquote. By introducing electoral bonds, opined the piece, the government has veered from this position via a regressive measure that we repeat once again, prevents the public from knowing who has contributed how much and to which party.

So was this scheme intended, asks the piece and we quote, " to conceal from public scrutiny the identity of the corporates and moneybags who contribute huge amounts to political parties, especially to the ruling parties?" Unquote.

From funding to spending

While the funding of political parties remains a grey area, the spending is no less of a conundrum.

In August this year, reported Financial Express, all political parties barring the BJP supported the idea of capping election spending at a meeting of all recognised national and state parties called by the Election Commission.

We quote, "The BJP, the richest political party in the country, was the only one to argue against any restriction on election-related expenditure of political parties. " Unquote. Rajya Sabha member and BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav, who along with Union minister JP Nadda was present at the meeting, told The Indian Express that since all political parties have to declare their expenditure in their income-tax filings, usmein kisi prakaar ki capping nahi lagai jaani chahiye (there should not be any cap).

In August again, Ritika Chopra in Indian Express argued that limits on campaign expenditure were essential to provide a level-playing field for everyone contesting elections. Because such a scenario ensures that a candidate cant win only because she is rich. We quote, "The 255th Report of the Law Commission on electoral reforms argued that unregulated or under-regulated election financing could lead to lobbying and capture, where a sort of quid pro quo transpires between big donors and political parties/candidates. Unquote.

And what is the role of the EC in all of this?

Well, informs the piece, the Election Commission imposes limits on campaign expenditure incurred by a candidate, not political parties. Expenditure by a Lok Sabha candidate is capped between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 70 lakh, depending on the state she is fighting from. In Assembly elections, the ceiling is between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 28 lakh. This includes money spent by a political party or a supporter towards the candidates campaign. However, expenses incurred either by a party or the leader of a party for propagating the partys programme are not covered.

The incongruence in this method to curb financial irregularities is obvious.

What statistics say about electoral spending

Well, they infer quite a lot actually. Mint reported in June this year, that not only do governments tend to raise overall spending before elections, they also often spend relatively more on subsidies and transfers.

Nikita Kwatra wrote in this piece that with 2019 Lok Sabha elections less than a year away, concerns about possible fiscal slippages have begun mounting. Investors fear that the Union government may give in to the temptation of populism to counter anti-incumbency and to lift economic sentiments.

She writes and we quote, "An analysis of historical data suggests that such concerns are not without basis. Most Union governments have resorted to fiscal expansion in the year ahead of general elections, the data shows.

A 2014 research paper by Deepa S. Vaidya and K. Kangasabapathy of the Economic and Political Weekly Research Foundation showed that much of the increase in the deficit ahead of elections is because the actual spending exceeds the budgeted estimates.

That governments in democracies might be tempted to raise spending before elections has long been recognized by political business cycle theories. And Indias recent history suggests that political parties have good reasons to pay attention to such theories." Unquote.

She points out how in the last three elections, the only time that an incumbent government came to power was the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in 2009, a year in which the government increased spending significantly.

She writes how even before the global financial crisis erupted around September 2008, the government had already embarked upon fiscal expansion. It had waived off farm loans, expanded social security schemes under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), and implemented revised salaries for the central public servants as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission.

She points out that not only do governments tend to raise overall spending before elections, they also often spend relatively more on subsidies and transfers. Increased government spending before elections is also reflected in the national accounts data, which suggests acceleration in governments consumption spending in the run-up to elections.

We quote, "The NDA-I (1999-2004) and the UPA-II (2009-2014) governments remain notable exceptions to the above trend. But it is worth noting that in both cases, the incumbent coalitions failed to return to power." Unquote.

Populist spending, she warns, can destabilize the macro-economy at a time when the Indian economys vulnerabilities are growing and may even make the government slip on the fiscal deficit targets.

But why are elections so expensive in India?

Well, this question was also asked by Simon Chauchard, who is a lecturer at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, and wrote a piece for the Hindustan Times in July.

The piece opined that since with each passing election, the costs of campaigns are ratcheting further upwards, the perceived increase in campaign costs is often assumed to mean that bribes what political scientists refer to as vote-buyingmight be on the rise. We quote, "Yet what candidates actually spend their money on during these expensive campaigns remains unclear due to the paucity of credible data on real expenses." Unquote.

The research behind the article threw up some interesting facts about a case study involving an assembly election in Mumbai in 2014 where major contenders spent between Rs 1 crore and Rs 16 crore, with considerable variation across parties. Real expenses, said the piece, include a large number of gifts and handouts to voters and/or local influencers.

We quote, " In addition to targeted payments to influential citizens, money also trickled down party networks, which led to gifts and cash handouts being showered on voters in a relatively indiscriminate manner during the waning moments of the campaign.

However, gifts are not always the only, even the primary, reason why electoral campaigns are expensive. Many other expenses, from basic logistical costs to the short-term wages that candidates pay to their workers and the crowds these workers recruit, sometimes place even more meaningful constraints on candidates. Payments to campaign workers are an oft-overlooked major expenditure. " Unquote.

The piece concluded that election costs are rising not only because voters receive gifts, but also because campaigns are getting bigger and more ambitious, sophisticated, professional, and competitive.

The influence money wields

Jennifer Bussell, an assistant professor of political science and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote another interesting piece on this subject in Hindustan Times. She cited research to say that illicit funds are important in funding elections in the country even though there is a dearth of credible data on the actual costs, the sources of support for candidates, and the implications of campaign costs on governance between elections.

She wrote, "However, newly available survey data on politicians in three of Indias largest and most electorally competitive statesBihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh offer a unique and systematic view into the nature of campaign finance across all levels of elected office, from the gram panchayat to the Lok Sabha, and the possible repercussions for Indian democracy. These data, collected between 2011 and 2014 from surveys of more than 2,500 incumbent politicians, provide insights into the role of political parties in funding elections, candidates sources of campaign support, and the specific, and troubling, the importance of illicit funds." Unquote.

She was at pains to emphasise that accurate estimates of campaign spending could not be found and a key question posed by election analysts, to date unanswered, is the degree to which political parties provide financial support to candidates for office at various tiers of government . It was found that party support was far more prevalent at higher levels of office.

The keynote of her piece was that there prevails a culture of assistance in gift giving and more than half of respondents across all levels of officeand nearly all at the state and national levelreported that candidates are pressured to distribute gifts on the campaign trail. We quote, "This strategy of gift-giving helps explain the role of individual actors in supporting campaigns; even in local offices, politicians report that it is an individual party and unaffiliated actors who help to distribute funds.

Perhaps even more surprising is that more than a quarter of state legislators themselves report that they distribute gifts to help other candidates with their campaigns. In this way, it is not simply canvassing or attending rallies that are necessary to support candidates, it is taking part in fundamental, but illicit, acts of gift distribution." Unquote.

And the most frequent source of funding? Says the piece, "The degree to which politicians understand black money to be the most important source of funds is striking. If this is the case, then understanding who has influence over elected officials is not simply a question of who knocked on the most doors or who handed out the most gifts, but rather who has the ability to provide illicit sources of funds." Unquote.

How big money influences the big picture

These statements made by her become even more significant in the context of Rs 30,000 crore was the estimated amount to be spent on the last Lok Sabha elections, making it by far the most expensive electoral exercise in Indian history.

NDTV reported in March 2014 before the Lok Sabha polls that the projected expenditure to elect the 16th Lok Sabha was set to rival the $7 billion (approximately Rs. 42,000 crore) spent by candidates and parties in the 2012 US presidential elections.

N Bhaskara Rao, Chairman of the Centre for Media Studies had told PTI then, "Till recently, political parties used to spend more during election. Now, the trend has changed with candidates in most cases spending more than the parties. Now where is this money coming from? It is coming from crorepati candidates, corporates and contractors." Unquote.

NDTV had cited the CMS study according to which, while Rs. 2,500 crore was spent in the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, the amount had jumped to Rs. 10,000 crore in 2004 polls.

Rao had added that despite efforts, the electoral system lacked a "level playing field" due to unaccounted for or black money.

What kind of spending will tilt the scales during the forthcoming elections, will be worth keeping an eye on. It will also be interesting to see whether, it will be the voters without deep pockets after all who will have the final say at the end of the day.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is a "part-time leader" who doesn't understand issues concerning Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, which is going to polls next week.

Addressing a rally in Barghat (ST) constituency in Seoni district for the November 28 elections, Fadnavis also attacked the Congress for making "lofty promises" in its poll manifesto.

Chhattisgarh, also ruled by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), had voted in two phases on November 12 and 20.

"Rahul Gandhi is a part-time leader who spends most of his time outside the country. He addresses a couple of meetings when he returns to the country. He doesn't know issues of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He talks about the issues of Madhya Pradesh in Chhattisgarh and vice versa," he said.

Hailing Dalit icon B R Ambedkar for enshrining right of voting in the Constitution, Fadnavis said power to rule was confined to dynasties in earlier days.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan are the people's leaders who got the popular mandate," he said.

Terming the Congress' poll manifesto as a "bundle of lies", Fadnavis said, "At times, somebody thinks that they are not going to come to power. So, they make lofty announcements. Reality is that Shivraj ji would fulfill these promises".

"If you demand, the Congress can even make an announcement of constructing a Taj Mahal in front of your house," he said in a lighter vein.

Referring to Maharashtra, Fadnavis said the Congress can never fulfill its electoral promises "even though it is given the entire budget of Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years".

He said, "The Congress had given the slogan of 'Gareebi Hatao' (remove poverty) but instead the poor were eliminated".
Hafiz Saeed

Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a "barbarity", the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the state department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program offered a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates," Pompeo said.

Some 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was handed down death sentence by an Indian court.

The United States, Pompeo said, is committed to seeing that those responsible for the attack face justice.

The Department of State Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack," Pompeo said.

"We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world," said the top American diplomat.
Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar will on November 27 will sit on a day-long protest here to demand the resignation of ailing chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

He will hold his protest alongside RTI activist Rajan Ghate who has been on a fast at Azad Maidan here for the past 11 days demanding that Parrikar step down due to health reasons.

Parikkar is undergoing treatment for a pancreatic ailment at his residence after returning to the state on October 14 following hospitalisation at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.

While the ruling BJP has maintained that Parrikar has been looking after the affairs of governance even as he undergoes treatment, the state's opposition parties, and occasionally allies in the state government, have alleged that his health-related absence was bringing administration to a standstill.

"Things are going from bad to worse in Goa. RTI activist Rajan Ghate has been on fast for the past 11 days and the state government has not even moved an inch and is exhibiting its arrogant, inhuman attitude," Chodankar claimed on November 26.
The verbal attacks during the ongoing election campaign in Telangana hit a new low on November 25 when Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao called his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu "a mental".

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief was speaking at a public meeting at Pargi in Vikarabad district ahead of the December 7 state Assembly polls.

"I say Chandrababu is a mental. Why? Because he had once said goats should be banned in order to save the forests (by preventing grazing). When was the goat born (the species came into existence) and when was he born? Who are you to ban the goat, a creation of nature?" Rao asked.

"He (Naidu) claims that he was instrumental in putting Hyderabad on the world map. What should we do with this man," he said, hitting out at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo.

"If he is that capable, why did he fail in building Amaravati (the upcoming capital of Andhra Pradesh)? Except graphic representations, no real building has come up there.

"This kind of cheats are coming to you, seeking votes. If we are not careful, we will be cheated," Rao said in a scathing attack on the People's Front alliance of the Congress, TDP, Telangana Jana Samithi and CPI.

He claimed that the power situation in Telangana had improved drastically since 2014, but it would worsen again if his party lost in the upcoming polls.

The TRS was going to form the government by winning 103 to 106 of the 119 seats in the state, Rao claimed, citing a survey.

At a public meeting at Devarkadra, Rao alleged that Naidu had filed 35 court cases and "written 40 letters", opposing the irrigating projects in Telangana, and now, he was seeking votes in the state.

Hitting out at the Congress, the TRS chief said, "Don't you see the development here? Are you giving a Rs 1,000 pension to people in the states where your party is in power (as in Telangana)?"

Speaking at Narayanpet, the chief minister said democracy in the country had not reached "enough maturity levels" and that people should not vote carelessly.

"Many parties will come and say many things. Please listen to them and think once again before casting the vote, which is going to change our fate," he said.

Rao also addressed public meetings at Tandur, Shadnagar and Ibrahimpatnam on November 25.
December 07, 2018 / 05:01 PM IST

The caste dynamics in the state and the race for reservations

Rajasthan is a land of myriad colours, and this pluralism extends to the communities and ethnicities that make up the population of the state.

The state is made up of 89 percent Hindus, 9 percent Muslims while 2 percent belong to other religions. The Scheduled Caste (SC) population is 18 percent, Scheduled Tribe (ST) 13 percent, Jats 12 percent, Gujjars and Rajputs 9 percent each, Brahmins and Minas 7 percent each.

Among these, the Rajputs and the Jats have been at loggerheads ever since the princely states were merged into the Indian Union in 1952. At that time, the princes had fielded a large number of their nominees, and the electorate which was used to being ruled by the kings had voted for them.

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(Image: Reuters)

When buying a new car, there is something about the smell of the interiors that most motorists would consider intoxicating. While some would argue that it is one of the most attractive things about buyers a new car, you'd be surprised to know that around 10 percent of Chinese buyers complain about the smell.

According to the 2018 JD Power China Initial Quality Study, 10 percent of Chinese buyers do not like the odour in a new car.

CNBC spoke to Brent Gruber, Senior Director - Global Automotive, JD Power who said, "Unpleasant interior smell/odor remains the top industry problem in that (Chinese) market."

"To put that in context, it is nearly double the problem rate of the second-most prevalent problem, excessive fuel consumption," he said.

Now, while there are some companies that are trying to maintain that new-car smell by offering air-fresheners, Ford seems to be doing just the opposite. According to CNBC, the company has submitted a new way to eliminate the smell of a new-car.

Ford has an entire department in China dedicated to eliminating the odour in new cars.

The American automaker has submitted a new method called the "vehicle odor remediation" system to the US Patent and Trademark Office that would eliminate the new car smell.

A few years back, Volkswagen had commissioned a department to create the right set of smells to appeal customers.

This however, can be a challenge when it comes to different countries. While the smell of a new car is appealing to most, it can be harmful.

"Automobiles function as chemical reactors, creating one of the most hazardous environments we spend time in," said Jeff Gearhart of Ecology Center when speaking to CNBC.

Nonetheless, the smell of the interiors of a new car does not last long. The CNBC reports suggests that the odour decreases at a rate of 20 percent per week.
Micro-blogging site Twitter has released a new feature for Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).

Bala Murali Krishna

By all accounts, Twitter Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey had an eventful visit to India earlier this month. He hosted a town hall-style meeting at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Delhi, and met the Dalai Lama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Just when it seemed he had signed off on a picture-perfect visit to Twitter's largest and fastest-growing market outside the US, a photo emerged on Twitter upending it all.

Here is what seems to have happened. At the end of a closed-door meeting with women journalists and activists  the worst victims of hate and misogyny on Twitter  Dorsey was handed a poster by a Dalit activist with the loaded slogan: "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy". Admirably, or innocently, he held it in front of a camera, and his India-born public policy aide, Vijaya Gadde, urged many to post the photo on Twitter even though it was of a private meeting.

Nobody had evidently considered the vested Brahminical patriarchy on Twitter, as in much of Indian society. In the emerging Twitterstorm, some asked if a global CEO would have held up a poster calling for free and fair elections on a visit to China. Some saw in his action "hate-mongering". Now a court in Rajasthan has agreed to hear a case against the American.

The point of this article is not to debate the merits of that message but about the response of a social media CEO. Dorsey clearly gave the poster little thought and saw no wrong in posing with it. It might have been laudable if he had understood the true significance of that message, or stood by it, instead of apologising, profusely and quickly, when the trolling began.

The fact is, Dorsey understood or cared little about the message, and likely had even less understanding about what he was saying sorry for. Therein lies the problem with social media leadership  Silicon Valley geeks seem to know so little about the social part, and seem even less enthusiastic to learn cultural sensitivities. What they need more than anything else is Social History 101, and perhaps Politics 101.

Dorsey, like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, dropped out of college and rode on his technical chops to become a billionaire. Early in his teens, he wrote code to organise dispatch services like taxis and, inspired by internet chat messengers and SMS texts, began the revolutionary Twitter that allowed anybody anywhere in the world to share messages.

When social media emerged in the mid-2000s, along with smartphones, it represented a big leap in technology. Facebook was started in 2004, Twitter emerged two years later and the iPhone was launched in 2007. Each was individually revolutionary, bringing unprecedented change and truly creating the global village. Together, they made, arguably, the biggest impact in the post-internet world yet.

Today, social media is a decade old, and nearly fully baked. Any technological improvement is incremental, and the focus increasingly is on the 'social' part. If it still calls out to technology, it is in data harvesting or troubleshooting to identify fake news, bots and other elements that threaten all social media platforms.

Dorsey's plight has caused perverse delight to some. After all, getting trolled on Twitter was a taste of his own medicine. Yet it's unfair to many other women who have been trolled. What Dorsey faced pales in comparison compared to what a senior minister, Sushma Swaraj, endures on Twitter each day. Or what the journalist Dhanya Rajendran faced after mildly expressing disapproval of southern film star Vijay's movie. By one count, she got 30,000 messages, many threatening her with unspeakable acts of violence.

Twitter did next to nothing to stop the trolls and Rajendran was forced to eventually file a complaint with police. Rajendran's case was not an isolated one. Indian women have been among the worst victims on Twitter anywhere in the world. Still, Twitter's leadership has shown a shocking lack of sensitivity. As the recent flap showed, it could not even manage a closed-door meeting with women battered on Twitter.

Like Facebook, Twitter initially parachuted Indian-origin executives to oversee India, with early focus on signing up celebrities and teaching them how to tweet. Dorsey's visit, with Gadde at his side, was clearly part of the same approach, even though it did no good to him. While the strategy may have merits from a business or technology point of view, it has done little to raise the platform's understanding of a complex country, or its diverse peoples.

WhatsApp has stepped out of this formulaic approach by naming a local entrepreneur  Abhijit Bose, a co-founder of Ezetap  as its India head. Bose comes with some US degrees  seemingly a requirement  but is way more rooted than many others, lending the messaging platform a measure of local leadership necessary.

Its time social media firms begin to focus on the 'social', rather than fancy themselves to be technology companies.

(Bala Murali Krishna works for a New York-based startup. Views are personal)
More than a 100 years old, Mumbais Taj Mahal Palace hotel is a unique institution and the terrorist attack on it on November 26, precisely 10 years ago, impacted the psyche of Indians, especially Mumbaikars. However, Ratan Tata was determined to not only restore the structure but also send out a message that the terrorists had failed to kill the spirit of Mumbai.

Even though the Taj was reopened a month after it was attacked, it took 21 months to restore the iconic hotel to its glory. The cost of reconstruction is estimated to be $38 million. The 26/11 attack severely damaged the heritage wing of the hotel. Thus, that part of the hotel opened in phases.

As part of the restoration project, the iron pillars of the grand ballroom got a golden touch, luxury suites were completely revamped; and the domed palace wing of the hotel got back its radiance. Thats not all.

Also to avoid such an attack, security systems at the hotel too were upgraded. The Taj Mahal Palace now has a modern security system.

In an interview prior to the reopening of the Taj Mahal Palace, Ratan Tata who had promised to build every inch of the hotel had said: This flagship property, this venerable Old Lady, is going to reopen in the same glory, the same splendor of more than 100 years.

On November 26, 2008, at least 31 lives were lost and another 28 injured at the hotel.

Ratan Tata had dedicated the restored hotel to those who were killed in the 26/11 attack. In 2009, he had unveiled a 12-foot high memorial which bears the names of the 31 employees and guests killed in the attack.

After the three-day-long siege in 2008, the Taj stood in ruins. The hotel's walls was bullet-riddled and its domes and spires stayed ablaze even after the attack. But when the Taj resumed operations, it opened with more radiance than ever, making it loud and clear that people of India cannot be knocked down so easily.

Ratan Tata's did ensure the "venerable Old Lady" reopened with the same glory and splendor it radiated for over a 100 years.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte reviews the honour guard passing by during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin wall in Moscow, Russia October 24, 2018. Sergei Chirikov/Pool via REUTERS - RC11BE2B9670

Italy's governing coalition may reduce next year's budget deficit target to as low as 2 percent of gross domestic product to avoid disciplinary action from Brussels, two government sources said on November 26.

The move set off a rally in financial markets but it was unclear if the downward revision would be enough to satisfy the European Commission.

The goal in the draft budget is now 2.4 percent of GDP, much higher than the 0.8 percent set by the previous government, prompting European partners to first threaten a formal rebuke on October 23.

The leaders of both parties in the governing coalition, which is composed of the right-wing League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, signalled they are open to lowering the deficit goal ahead of a meeting to discuss the move scheduled for November 26.

The meeting, which another government source said would be at 7:30 p.m. (1830 GMT), could lead to a breakthrough in the standoff with Brussels that has roiled financial markets concerned about the sustainability of Italy's massive debt and a prolonged fight with its European Union partners.

Since presenting the draft budget two months ago, both coalition party leaders have repeatedly refused to budge on their spending plans.

The European Commission has called for a reduction of the structural deficit that adjusts for the economic cycle and one-off measures.

On November 26, League leader Matteo Salvini said Brussels had offered "positive feedback" on plans to lower the target.

Italian stocks rallied and bond yields fell by more than 30 basis points to reach over two-month lows on the prospect of a government climb down.

A meeting between Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on November 24 appeared to open the way to a softening of Italy's position.

The move also comes after the Bank of Italy warned on November 23 that rising yields on Italian government bonds were hurting private wealth and undermining the country's financial sector, making it more expensive for companies to borrow.

On November 26, the European Central Bank's chief economist, Peter Praet, said increasing borrowing costs would offset any of the possible economic advantages to hiking spending in breach of EU rules next year.

Salvini, who is also deputy prime minister and interior minister, on November 25 said "no one is stuck" to the 2.4 percent target.

Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, who heads the 5-Star, said as long as the measures in the budget remain unchanged, including the Movement's flagship citizen's income, then lowering the deficit goal is not a problem.

"What is important is that the budget contains the goals that we have established," Di Maio said on November 26. "Then if the negotiation means that the deficit (target) must come down a bit, for us it's not important."
Representative image

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck western Iran near its border with Iraq on Sunday night, the same area where another temblor last year killed over 600 people.

Initial reports said the temblor injured at least 70 people. Sunday night's earthquake struck near Sarpol-e Zahab in Iran's Kermanshah province, which suffered half of the casualties from last year's quake and where some still remain homeless.

People fled into the street after the quake in fear. State television in Iran reported the quake, while semi-official news agency Fars said it was felt across seven Iranian provinces.

Authorities said six rescue teams were immediately deployed after the quake stopped and the country's army and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard were responding. Pir Hossein Kolivand, the head of Iran's emergency department, said at least 70 people were hurt. Kermanshah provincial Gov. Houshang Bazvand similarly said there were injuries, but gave no figure for those hurt.

The 6.3 earthquake had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to the US Geological Survey. Iran state TV gave the depth as 5 kilometers (3.1 miles). Such shallow earthquakes have broader damage.

The earthquake was felt as far away as the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Iran is located on major seismic faults and experiences an earthquake per day on average.

In 2003, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake flattened the historic city of Bam in southern Iran, killing 26,000 people.

Last year's earthquake near Sarpol-e Zahab, a predominantly Kurdish town, had a magnitude of 7.3. The region, nestled in the Zagros Mountains, largely rebuilt in recent decades after Iran and Iraq's ruinous 1980s war, saw many buildings collapse or sustain major damage in the 2017 quake.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks outside 10 Downing Street in London

Prime Minister Theresa May will tell lawmakers on Monday they face a stark choice - either back the deal she negotiated to leave the European Union or reject it and take Britain "back to square one" with "more division and more uncertainty".

May secured agreement with the EU on Sunday for a deal that will see Britain leaving the bloc with continued close trade ties, a deal that was dismissed by the opposition Labour Party and other critics, even her allies in Northern Ireland.

The future of the deal, which would deliver Britain's biggest shift in foreign and trade policy in more than 40 years, now rests with Britain's parliament, deeply divided over how the country should leave the EU. The odds look stacked against May.

"This has been a long and complex negotiation. It has required give and take on both sides. That is the nature of a negotiation," she will tell parliament, according to excerpts of her statement.

"And I can say to the House (of Commons) with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available ... There is a choice which MPs will have to make," she will say, calling for them to back the deal and allow Britain to "move on".

"Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one ... It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail."

May has pledged to sell the deal to the British public and is warning lawmakers that if they reject it, Britain could face leaving the EU without a deal - something businesses say could hurt the world's fifth largest economy.

The EU has also been clear - there is very little appetite to reopen the Brexit negotiations if parliament votes it down.

Her plan will face opposition from both eurosceptics and europhiles within her party's 314 lawmakers and around 313 lawmakers from opposition parties. The 10 Democratic Unionist Party Northern Irish lawmakers propping up the government said at the weekend they will vote against the deal.

May needs to win a simple majority in parliament - 320 votes if all active lawmakers turn out and vote - but former whips, who have long studied parliamentary arithmetic, say the prime minister may end up needing only 305 votes if illnesses and abstentions are accounted for.

The prime minister has shown little sign of changing tack to try to curry favour, but will deploy some of the weapons in her armoury to try to persuade lawmakers.

But even some of her aides say they know it will not be an easy task, and that May will just try to persuade people by pressing her main message.

"I believe our national interest is clear. The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country whichever way we voted," she will say.

"This is that deal. A deal that delivers for the British people."
SEBI has come out with SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosures Requirements) (Sixth Amendment) Regulations, 2018 on November 16, 2018 synchronise it with the recommendations of the Uday Kotak Committee and suggestion by various stakeholders to a consultative paper. The brief of the Amendment along with the Changes have been discussed below:

The plethora of amendments brought by SEBI are aimed at simplifying, streamlining and bringing greater clarity in existing regulations. The amendments will provide a mechanism to protect shareholders interest by applying proper care, skills and diligence to business decisions.

The author is a Manager, Corporate Law Service Division, Vinod Kothari & Company
In a scandalous case of using public money to fund private deals, mutual fund schemes of Reliance Mutual Fund, controlled by Anil Ambani, and Franklin Templeton, have lent money to the front companies of one of the founders of Yes Bank, Rana Kapoor, against his shareholding in Yes Bank, wrote Andy Mukherjee in a piece in Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-11-25/lessons-from-il-fs-group-bankruptcy-go-unheeded-in-india

It appears that Mr Kapoor has raised as much as Rs1,160 crore against his Yes Bank shares through the holding company structure Morgan Credits P Ltd which owns 3.04% of Yes Bank. It is not clear what Mr Kapoor has done or intends to do with the money. The lending was done by a bunch of hybrid and debt schemes of Reliance Mutual Fund by subscribing to the non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of Morgan Credits in two tranches of Rs950 crore and Rs210 crore. The debentures were rated A- with a stable outlook by CARE Ratings.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will have to investigate whether there was any lending to the Anil Ambani group against this investment, as a quid-pro-quo deal. Market experts say there was, indeed, such a deal; but only the regulator can get at the truth. When contacted Yes Bank for their comments, the bank asserted that "The information is incorrect and totally unfounded."

Separately, Franklin India has subscribed to Rs630 crore of zero-coupon NCD of Yes Capital P Ltd which holds 3.27% stake Yes Bank. How has Mr Kapoor used the brand name Yes for a personal investment vehicle when he is a minority shareholder of Yes Bank is another, separate issue.

While offering a A- rating, CARE said that it primarily factored in the financial flexibility of Morgan Credits Pvt. Ltd. (MCPL) owing to its investment in shares of Yes Bank Limited (YBL) that have a significantly higher market value as compared to book valueFurthermore, the rating considers that there will be no encumbrance on YBL shares held by MCPL and the total borrowings of MCPL will not exceed Rs1160 crore (excluding accrued interest)."

Mr Kapoor apparently has committed that at all times he will maintain a margin of 50%. The accrued interest at the end of each year will be added to total borrowing to arrive at margin requirement since it is a zero-coupon NCD. Morgan is a pure investment company. Its main income is dividends from Yes Bank. If the shares fall in value and margin goes below 50%, Morgan Credits will transfer or purchase of additional Yes Bank shares to the extent of the shortfall. CARE silent on the capital structure or leverage of the borrowing company. According to market sources, the NCD structure is an innovative means to circumvent a formal pledge. The questions that arise are:

1. Did the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) know about this transaction when it refused to give Mr Kapoor another term? If yes, then hasnt RBI been shockingly lenient to Mr Kapoor? Market experts believe that this transaction and the use of the Yes brand for a private company of Mr Kapoor is a fraud on shareholders. Can the supervisory action for this be to merely end Mr Kapoors term? In the light of new findings, the RBI should be forced to disclose the basis on which it decided not to extend Mr Kapoors term. People have a right to know whether its apparently punitive action was commensurate with the wrongdoing.

2. There has been an exodus of independent directors and others from the Yes Bank board in the recent past. One would presume that they rushed for the exit after discovering Mr Kapoors personal deals and gross misuse of his position. Will SEBI and the ministry of corporate affairs question the independent directors and demand answers from them? Otherwise, the entire corporate governance code with its huge red-tape is a meaningless exercise that does nothing to protect investors.

3. It also raises serious questions about credit rating agencies. The Economic Times has reported today that SEBI wants mutual funds to ask searching questions. This again is meaningless band-aid in the light of the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) scandal and the Yes Bank findings. SEBI needs to act now, to cut the cosy dealings between rating agencies and corporate houses.

4. Given the revelations in Bloomberg, can Mr Kapoor be allowed to have any say in choosing his successor?

5. Finally, ordinary people invest in shares and mutual funds based on the assumption that all the data available in the public domain (such as audited accounts, credit ratings) are accurate and that RBI, SEBI, the ministry of corporate affairs and the Department of Financial Supervision are doing their job of protecting investors and depositors. If none of the checks and balances work, it means people are forced to take a blind bet with their hard-earned, tax-paid money. For a majority of the people of India (who are not government employees), this money is expected to see them through their retirement to the end of their lives.

6. What should people do when the regulators fail to do their job or are seen protecting fraudulent actions by failing to put out information in the public domain or initiating stringent action against wrongdoers?
Indias GDP is showing a marginal declining trend, and may grow 7.50%-7.60% in the July-September quarter, says the latest SBI report.

The SBI Composite Leading Indicator (CLI) developed by the Bank detects early signals of turning points in economic activity by taking the basket of 21 leading indicators.

The report stated that the headline Q2 Gross Value Addition (GVA) growth could be 7.3%-7.4%, due to the slowing of rural demand. Of particular concern is that non-food credit, bank deposits and sale of passenger and commercial vehicles have slowed down as compared to previous month. Also, with a slowdown in government spending in the second half of FY18-19, the fiscal impulses to growth would now be clearly missing.

However, double-digit growth was maintained during July 2018 to September 2018 in sales of commercial vehicles, domestic air passenger traffic and cement production. All these indicators pushed up GVA in the Q2 of FY18-19.

We also believe that the growth numbers in Q2 will be helped by a weak base in Q2FY17-18. We estimate that the base impact on Q2 GVA growth is around 30 bps. Based on tax collections, we subsequently expect Q2 GDP growth at 7.5%-7.6% (Q1 at 8.2%). says the report.

On the corporate front, corporate GVA which decelerated since Q1 FY17-18 rebounded in Q1 FY18-19 and exhibited positive growth of 8% and Q2 results suggest that corporate GVA has improved further to 13.82%. Manufacturing sector that grew by 5.7% in FY17-18 could now accelerate in FY18-19 with possible support from both crude oil prices and subsequent strengthening of the rupee.

Official quarterly GDP estimates given by Central Statistics Office (CSO) are scheduled to be released on 30 November 2018.
The article was published in the October 2018 issue of Morningstar FundInvestor. Download a complimentary copy of FundInvestor by visiting the website.

Most investors understand the importance of keeping costs down. For this reason, load funds--those that charge a sales fee, typically an initial charge of 5.75% for the A shares of stock funds--acquired quite a stigma among do-it-yourself investors. Most simply wrote these funds off. Thats why the Morningstar 500, found in our publication Morningstar FundInvestor, aimed at individual investors, is overwhelmingly composed of funds without sales charges.
Toronto is easily the countrys safest bet for investment funds, and one reason for that is the citys diverse economy. Unlike, say, Calgary, where a downturn in the oil and gas sector has a ripple effect, Toronto could withstand a languid industry or two.

If you look at Toronto, its the biggest economic centre in Canada and also the most stable, said Reading. Over time, values will only increase in the commercial sector. You cant just create another Toronto. Its a 24-hour, world-class city, so your investment is pretty safe in Toronto. Its a large, diverse economy and it has a lot of things going for it. If youre looking for safety in your investment, Toronto is the first place to go in Canada.

The tech sector, in particular, has taken off in Toronto and appears to be growing faster than even Silicon Valley. According to real estate firm CBRE, Toronto is the fourth-most important tech hub in North America, and while that might not seem especially impressive, consider that it was ranked 12th only two years ago.

In the last five years, Toronto has created 82,000 tech jobs, more than Silicon Valley and more than any other city in North America, said Matt Smith, a real estate broker with Engel & Volkers.

While demand for commercial real estate is through the roof in Toronto, finding adequate space is proving difficult for a growing number of companies, and that problem is not expected to abate in 2019.
Alanna Kelly

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

A tense situation involving dozens of police officers ended with a 40-year-old Kelowna man surrendering to police.

Police officers swarmed Somerville Corner complex off Cook Road on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. after a distraught man barricaded himself in a house.

South East District Emergency Response Team, police dog services, and specially trained crisis negotiators flooded the area and residents were told to stay inside their homes.

Officers holding guns stood blocking off the entrances to the complex and were turning residents away.

One police man was standing there and said shut the garage door and get inside, it was a colossal thing there, said neighbour Rod Moen.

Moen went to look out his window and an officer advised him to stay away from the windows.

Another neighbour said he watched as police cruisers rushed to the neighbourhood this morning.

I figured they were coming here and a little later I got a text (message) from my wife saying there was a massive police presence and she had to stay inside, said Mike Jervis.

The next text I got was that she had to leave the house because we were in the line of fire.

Shortly after 1:30 p.m., trained officers asked the man to exit the house with his hands in the air.

The 40-year-old Kelowna man has since exited the home, where he was taken into police custody without any further incident, says RCMP Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey.

A neighbour just a few houses down said he heard a noise on Saturday night about 11 p.m. that he thinks is connected to the incident.

I heard three loud gunshots, they were loud, said Moen. I said to the wife Ive heard gunshots before and it sounded like a powerful gun.

Police wouldnt provide any further details what lead to the man being distraught and barricading himself in his home.

The Kelowna and Southeast District RCMP wish to extend their thanks to all those residents impacted, for their patience, understanding and full cooperation, during the temporary evacuations and road closures, adds Cpl. ODonaghey.

UPDATE: 1:35 p.m.

The man involved in a lengthy police incident has surrendered to police.

RCMP called for the man to come out with his hands up, and he complied shortly after 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

The man has been placed in custody in a police car.

Tactical units have entered the house with guns drawn.

Reporter Alanna Kelly is still on the scene and will provide more details if they become available.

UPDATE: 1:30 p.m.

Kelowna RCMP have released an update on the ongoing police incident at a single dwelling off the 600-block of Cook Road.

On Nov. 25, shortly after 9:30 a.m., police responded to the residence following reports of a disturbance involving a distraught male. The man has now barricaded himself in the home.

Specially trained officers are on the scene, attempting to communicate with the man. The general public is asked to stay clear of the area.

The RCMP South East District Emergency Response Team, Police Dog Services and crisis negotiators have been called to the scene to assist.

RCMP say no further information is being released at this time.

Photo: Alanna Kelly

UPDATE: 1 p.m.

Police officers are still on scene at Somerville Corner off Cook Road.

Officers on scene tell Castanet it is a very serious situation and are asking residents to avoid the area.

Castanet has tried multiple times to reach Kelowna RCMP for more details, but has not received a response.

ORIGINAL: 12:45 p.m.

Police have surrounded a housing complex in Lower Mission and are asking residents to stay inside.

Few details are available at this time but police officers on scene say it is a live but contained situation.

Numerous armed police officers, a K9 Unit and tactical team are on scene here.

Castanet reporter Alanna Kelly is on scene and will update as more details become available.
An Odessa man charged with killing three people with his Harley Davidson on Oct. 22 pleaded guilty Monday, according to the Midland County District Attorneys Office.

The charges against Jose Benavides are three counts of intoxicated manslaughter and one count of intoxication assault.

Benavides was sentenced to 38 years in prison for each intoxication manslaughter charge with findings of a deadly weapon, along with a sentence of five years for the intoxication assault, according to a press release from the DAs Office. Those will run concurrently.

Benavides and his son, Erick G. Benavides and his uncle, Augustin S. Gomez, were riding their motorcycles around the Permian Basin and were drinking high amounts of alcohol, according to the release.

Erick Benavides was driving a Harley Davidson westbound on the outside lane of Business 20 about 8:20 p.m. He was behind a Dodge Ram driven by a Midland woman, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram article. The motorcycle rear-ended the pickup, according to the article.

Gomez, Janice Young and Joshua Brown stopped in the center shoulder to render aid, according to the press release.

Jose Benavides failed to control speed and struck the three people who had stopped to render aid, according to a previous Reporter-Telegram report.

Erick Benavides and Gomez died at the scene; Brown died while en route to Midland Memorial Hospital, according to the press release.

Lab tests revealed Jose Benavides had at least a .20 blood alcohol level, more than 2.5 times the legal limit.
Photo: The Canadian Press The Kerch bridge is seen blocked for ships entrance, near Kerch, Crimea, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018.

Russia's coast guard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine's vessels Sunday, wounding two crew members, after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula, the Ukrainian navy said.

Russia blamed Ukraine for provoking the incident, which sharply escalated tensions that have been growing between the two countries since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and it has worked steadily to bolster its zone of control around the peninsula.

Earlier in the day, Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over a separate incident involving the same vessels, prompting Moscow to block passage through the narrow Kerch Strait, which separates the peninsula from the Russian mainland.

The Ukrainian navy said two of its gunboats were struck and Russian crews boarded and seized them and an accompanying tugboat.

Russia's Federal Security Service, known as the FSB and which oversees the coast guard, said there was "irrefutable evidence that Kyiv prepared and orchestrated provocations ... in the Black Sea. These materials will soon be made public."

The FSB confirmed early Monday that it fired on the vessels to force them to stop, and then seized them.

The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides and for Moscow to restore access to the strait, which Ukraine uses to move ships to and from ports on either side of the peninsula.

Ukrainian authorities said they had given advance notice to the Russians that the vessels would be moving through the strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.

Russia said the three Ukrainian vessels made an unauthorized passage through Russian territorial waters, while Ukraine alleged that one of its boats was rammed by a Russian coast guard vessel.

The tugboat, which was rammed, was travelling with the two Ukrainian gunboats from Odesa on the Black Sea to Mariupol, an eastern Ukraine port, via the Kerch Strait.

"Russian coast guard vessels ... carried out openly aggressive actions against Ukrainian navy ships," the Ukrainian statement said, with the tugboat suffering damage to its engine, hull, side railing and a lifeboat.

The Kerch Strait is the only passage into the Sea of Azov. The strait is spanned by the recently completed Kerch Bridge, connecting Crimea to Russia. Transit under the bridge has been blocked by a tanker ship, and dozens of cargo ships awaiting passage are stuck.

Russia has not given any indication of how long it will block the strait, but a long-term closure would amount to an economic blockade of Ukrainian cities on the Azov coast. Russia's Black Sea Fleet greatly outmatches the Ukrainian navy.
If I told you that a liberal billionaire couple was spending a small fortune to try to muzzle the National Rifle Association and erode Second Amendment rights, you might logically guess that they were from Hollywood or New York City.

You would be wrong.

The elitist couple is Laura and John Arnold. They are based in Houston. And they are coming for your guns.

The power couple behind the Laura and John Arnold Foundation has been quietly funding a broad array of leftist initiatives since opening their doors in 2008. Not as visible as socialist misanthrope George Soros or as vocal as radical environmentalist Tom Steyer, the Arnolds are equally as effective.

Since 2011, the Arnolds have disbursed more than $1 billion to fund causes such as abortion, single-payer health care and far-left journalism as well as efforts to defund conservative public policy organizations. Now they are laser-focused on gun reform.

In June, Laura Arnold penned an opinion piece for the Houston Chronicle in which she announced their strategy. She wrote:

During the next five years, a $20 million investment from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation will support research into the causes of and solutions to gun violence in America. The RAND Corp., a non-partisan and widely respected research leader, is coordinating the effort. The foundation expects another $30 million in commitments from fellow philanthropic organizations to help fund this work.

What the Arnolds are hoping most people will see is that they are partnering with the non-partisan RAND Corp. Non-partisan does not mean without bias, however. Like any corporation, RAND works off incentives. And the Arnold Foundation just gave RAND $20 million (potentially upward of $50 million) in incentive to conduct a study that comes to the Arnolds desired conclusions.

That leads to the question: Why?

Well, Arnold couldnt help but expose her liberal partisanship in explaining why they were funding non-partisan research on guns. She vented that the research was necessary because Congress more than two decades ago throttled federal funding for gun research, passing the so-called Dickey Amendment, named for Rep. Jay Dickey, an Arkansas Republican and dedicated National Rifle Association ally.

Her explanation is, of course, hogwash. But its been a long-standing liberal trope to try to drum up support for anti-Second Amendment legislation. The federal government can indeed study gun issues. Furthermore, as NRA spokesman Lars Dalseide has explained, Anyone who thinks theres a lack of researchers studying firearms has been ignoring the headlines. While most are tainted with preconceived outcomes in search of supporting data, there is plenty of funding in that arena.

He said that before the Arnolds announced their new project, yet his description aptly fits their efforts too. Dalseide may have been referencing former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his anti-NRA group, Everytown for Gun Safety.

Also spending upward of $50 million, Bloomberg has been taking on the NRA directly with a massive lobbying, marketing and astroturf movement. However, there is evidence that Bloomberg is actually hampering his own anti-constitutional efforts.

For example, in 2015, Bloombergs group targeted Maine with a massive operation to try to get the state legislature there to pass stringent gun legislation. His campaign backfired. In response to Bloombergs anti-gun push, Maine expanded its gun rights laws, becoming the sixth state to allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Evidence suggests that the anti-gun push failed in large part because Maine residents pushed back against Bloombergs big-city persona that seeks to instill far-left New York City values across the country.

Thats where the Arnolds come in. They are hoping to put on a non-partisan face to increase credibility for their gun control efforts. But its a facade.

The Arnolds have a long history of massively funding extremely liberal causes while throwing a few pennies to conservative organizations to work on non-controversial issues. They have worked tirelessly to look bipartisan, but its simply not true. I recently profiled the Arnolds in an Investors Business Daily article, noting, the Arnolds  both through their foundation and their personal giving  are like mini-George Soroses. From abortion, to anti-Second Amendment work, to liberal investigative journalism, to single-payer health care, the Arnolds fund the gamut of far-left causes.

The late great Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia once wrote that frequently an issue of this sort will come before the court clad, so to speak, in sheeps clothing  this wolf comes as a wolf.

The Arnold Foundation is presenting itself as a sheep, but now you know its a wolf. And that wolf wants to take your guns. Dont let it.

Justin Danhof is the general counsel for the National Center for Public Policy Research as well as director of the centers Free Enterprise Project. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Photo: CTV

A federal judge on Sunday rejected a last-minute bid by former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos to delay his two-week prison term and ordered him to surrender Monday as scheduled.

Papadopoulos sought the delay until an appeals court had ruled in a separate case challenging the constitutionality of special counsel Robert Mueller's appointment.

But in an order Sunday, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss said Papadopoulos had waited too long to contest his sentence after it was handed down in September. Moss noted that Papadopoulos had agreed not to appeal in most circumstances as part of his plea agreement and the judge said the challenge to Mueller's appointment was unlikely to be successful in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Four different federal judges have upheld Mueller's appointment as proper.

"The prospect that the D.C. Circuit will reach a contrary conclusion is remote," Moss wrote.

Tweeting in response Sunday, Papadopoulos said he looked forward to telling the full story behind his case. In recent months, he has spent many nights posting on Twitter, as has his wife, venting anger about the FBI and insisting he was framed by the government. He has also offered to testify before the Senate's intelligence committee, which is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, if he's granted immunity or other conditions.

"The truth will all be out. Not even a prison sentence can stop that momentum," Papadopoulos wrote Sunday. "Looking forward to testifying publicly shortly after. The wool isn't going to be pulled over America's eyes forever."

Papadopoulos had filed an initial motion on Nov. 16, nearly two months after the deadline for appealing his conviction or sentence. He followed up with a request to delay his sentence pending that motion on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.

"Papadopoulos waited until the eleventh hour to seek relief; indeed, he did not file his second motion  the stay request  until the last business day before he was scheduled to surrender to serve his sentence," Moss' 13-page order states. "He has only his own delay to blame.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty last year to lying to federal agents about his interactions with Russian intermediaries during the 2016 presidential campaign. He also forfeited most of his rights to contest his conviction.

His lawyer argued that the appellate case could constitute new evidence that could allow him to mount a challenge. That case was brought by a witness refusing to comply with a Mueller grand jury subpoena.

Papadopoulos' sentence, issued by Moss on Sept. 7, was far less than the maximum six-month sentence sought by the government but more than the probation that Papadopoulos and his lawyers had asked for. Moss at the time noted that many similar cases resulted in probation but said he imposed a sentence of incarceration partly to send a message to the public that people can't lie to the FBI.

Papadopoulos, the first campaign aide sentenced in Mueller's investigation, triggered the initial Russia investigation two years ago. Memos written by House Republicans and Democrats and now declassified show that information about Papadopoulos' contacts with Russian intermediaries set in motion the FBI's counterintelligence investigation in July 2016 into potential co-ordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. That probe was later taken over by Mueller.

The White House has said that Papadopoulos was a low-level volunteer on the campaign.
Photo: Contributed

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck western Iran near its border with Iraq on Sunday night, injuring more than 500 people and sending fearful residents running into the streets, authorities said.

The Sunday temblor hit near Sarpol-e Zahab in Iran's Kermanshah province, which was the epicenter of an earthquake last year that killed more than 600 people and where some still remain homeless.

Dr. Mahmoud Reza Moradi, the head of Kermanshah's university of medical science, told Iranian state television that 513 people were hurt. Most of the injuries appeared to be minor; the semi-official ISNA news agency reported that only 33 people needed to be hospitalized.

Authorities said dozens of rescue teams were immediately deployed after the quake stopped and the country's army and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard were responding.

Officials reported damage at buildings both in town and in rural Kermanshah, as well as to some roadways. The temblor also downed power lines and caused power outages into the night as temperatures hovered around 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit).

The quake struck just after 8 p.m. in Iran, meaning most were still awake at the time and able to quickly flee.

The 6.3 earthquake had a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Iran state TV gave the depth as 5 kilometres (3.1 miles). Such shallow earthquakes have broader damage.

The earthquake was felt as far away as the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, about 175 kilometres (110 miles) southwest.
Photo: Dale Boyd

The Peoples Party of Canada now has a riding association in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding.

The new federal party held a meeting Sunday at the Penticton Library auditorium to prepare for putting a candidate forward for the 2019 federal election.

About 30 people attended the inaugural meeting for the PPC, a new player in Canadian conservative politics founded and led by Quebec-based MP Maxime Bernier.

The two-hour meeting resulted in several nominees being acclaimed.

A founding member of the PPC and organizer for the B.C. Interior, Glen Walushka, chaired the meeting which lacked some of the enthusiasm of meetings in the North Okanagan, but managed after two hours to form the board to oversee the local PPC riding association.

Steve Mitchell from Grand Forks was acclaimed as president with no others putting their name forward, as was the case for vice president Sergio Zanatta, secretary and former Grand Forks city councillor Julia Butler and directors Brad Magnus, Helen Trevors and Joel Adolph.

Steve Mitchell declined to immediately comment on becoming president of the association, saying he still had to wrap his head around the leadership role.

The tepid response for nominations to the board from the 28 people who attended the meeting was compared to pulling teeth, by Walushka during the meeting.

Walushka brushed past the notion the party has had members from extreme or far-right ideologies join the party, dismissing the issue as political verbiage.

We, over the course of the last couple of weeks, have had instances of people telling us were attracting right-wing extremists and all sorts of nasty people, people who wear white sheets over their head and that sort of stuff, Walushka said. A lot of that is nothing but political verbiage, of course, most of it, almost all of it is.

As a party of individual freedom and personal responsibility, Walushka said the area is not going to see a candidate parachuted, into the riding.

Walushka compared this period of time in the partys infancy to the big bang.

Walushka claimed the new party has garnered 35,000 members in eight weeks and advised to have the best, kick-ass candidate by the end of May, 2019.
Photo: The Canadian Press 15-month-old girls, Nima and Dawa lie in their hospital bed in Melbourne, Australia,

Formerly conjoined twins from Bhutan were released from an Australian hospital on Monday more than two weeks after they were separated in a delicate surgery.

The 15-month-old girls Nima and Dawa were joined from the lower chest to just above the pelvis and shared a liver. They were separated during an operation at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital on Nov. 9 that lasted almost six hours. A major challenge had been to reconstruct their abdomens.

"Thank you, everyone," their grateful mother, Bhumchu Zangmo, said as she wheeled her daughters from the hospital where their lives have been transformed since their arrival on Oct. 2.

The hospital's head of pediatric surgery Joe Crameri told reporters the twins had made an "excellent recovery" and were acting independently.

"I think to the staff on the wards ... they've seen a remarkable two girls, girls that we've watched over this journey who started off really attached and bonded to one another, but ultimately frustrated with one another," Crameri said.

The twins had become "incredibly anxious" after the separation when they became aware that they were no longer in front of each other, he said.

"Over the last couple of weeks, we've seen them gain confidence, we've seen them gain independence, we've seen them gain a lot of strengths," Crameri said.

Before they return to Bhutan, the girls will continue their recovery at a retreat in the town of Kilmore outside Melbourne run by the charity that brought them to Australia, the Children First Foundation.
Photo: The Canadian Press Activists rally in front of the Russian embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, on Sunday.

Ukraine's president demanded Monday that Russia immediately release Ukrainian sailors and vessels seized in a standoff around Crimea that sharply escalated tensions between the two countries and drew international concern.

The two neighbours have been locked in a tense tug-of-war since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, but the incident late Sunday, in which Russian coast guard ships fired on Ukrainian navy vessels near the Kerch Strait, directly pitted the two militaries against each other, placing them on the verge of an open conflict.

The Ukrainian navy said six of its seamen were wounded when Russian coast guards opened fire on three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait and then seized them. Russia said that three Ukrainian sailors were lightly injured and given medical assistance.

Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, chaired an emergency meeting of his Cabinet early Monday and asked parliament to introduce martial law for two months in response to what he described as Russian aggression.

"We consider it as an act of aggression against our state and a very serious threat," the president said. "Unfortunately, there are no 'red lines' for the Russian Federation."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told reporters later Monday that Kyiv believes that what happened near the Kerch Strait was no accident but "deliberately planned hostilities."

If adopted by lawmakers, the emergency measures proposed by Poroshenko will include a partial mobilization and strengthening the country's air defence. They also include a plethora of vaguely worded steps such as the "strengthening" of anti-terrorism measures and "information security."

The fate of the Ukrainian seamen was not immediately clear. Klimkin insisted that they should be treated as prisoners of war while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not say what legal status they have.

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was also called for Monday. The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides.

Poroshenko had a phone call Monday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the situation. NATO later said that at Poroshenko's request, its ambassadors and Ukraine's envoy will hold emergency talks in Brussels later Monday.

NATO said Stoltenberg expressed the U.S.-led military alliance's "full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law."

Poroshenko said at a meeting of Ukraine's national security council Monday that "we demand that (the ships and crews) are urgently turned over to the Ukrainian side" and called for a "de-escalation" of the crisis around Crimea.

Russia and Ukraine have traded blame over the incident that further escalated tensions that have soared since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine with clandestine dispatches of troops and weapons.

Ukraine said its vessels were heading to the Sea of Azov in line with international maritime rules, while Russia charged that they had failed to obtain permission to pass through the Kerch Strait separating Crimea from the Russian mainland.

The narrow strait is the only passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It's spanned by a 19-kilometre bridge that Russia completed this year. While a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has sought to assert greater control over the passage since the annexation of Crimea.
The 20-year-old man shot and killed early Sunday during what police said was a drug deal at his San Antonio home has been identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.

Luis Guerrero III was gunned down at about 2 a.m. in the 4300 block of Skelton Drive, officials said.
A man has been charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault after police say he hit and dragged a motorcycle early Friday morning, injuring the driver and killing the passenger.

Andres Guadalupe Arredondo, 22, was driving on the Interstate 10 access road near La Cantera Parkway around 3:30 a.m. Friday in a Ford pickup, according to a report from the San Antonio Police Department.
Authorities have charged a 28-year-old Schertz man in the killing of a woman who was found dead in her San Antonio home on Sunday.

Derek Conley is facing a murder charge in connection to the death of 28-year-old Lisa Meisel. He was booked into the Guadalupe County Jail on a $1 million bond.

On Sunday, the Comal County Sheriff's Office notified Schertz police of a possible homicide at a home in the 700 block of Hollow Ridge.

RELATED: Four Texas law enforcement agencies are investigating the death of a San Antonio woman

Police said Meisel's body was later discovered at her home in San Antonio and that officers were able to connect her death to Schertz home. Schertz Police Lt. Manny Casas declined to elucidate the connection between the two locations or between the victim and suspect.

"We know what happened, but we don' t know all the other details, the why and how," he said.

Schertz police secured a search warrant for the home on Hollow Ridge, and they arrested Conley on the murder charge. According to public records, Conley lives in the 700 block of Hollow Ridge.

Schertz police is now leading the investigation into the alleged killing. They're receiving assistance from the Texas Rangers, San Antonio Police Department and Comal County Sheriff's Office.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

Caleb Downs covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com |

cdowns@mysa.com | @calebjdowns
Drug poisoning kills more people each day than firearms, homicide, motor vehicle crashes and suicide, according to 2016 numbers. The toll of drug trafficking on Texans is particularly prominent because the state's proximity to Mexico makes it an popular crossing point for drug traffickers.

A recent Drug Enforcement Assessment report listed Texas as having more working relationships between street gangs and Mexican cartels than any other state, although the listing was not all-inclusive.
ZenPop Japanese Stationery Pack is a subscription box brought to you by ZenMarket filled with unique Japanese stationery and studying goods handpicked by their staff in Japan.

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

About ZenPop Stationery Pack

The Subscription Box: ZenPop Stationery Pack

The Cost: $29.50 a month with free international shipping. Save with longer commitments.

The Products: 12 or more cute and useful stationery items like pens, notebooks, stickers, and more.

Ships to: Worldwide

Good to know: Past boxes are sometimes still available via their marketplace

ZenPop Stationery Pack October 2018 Review

The box includes a thank you note with a coupon code to use on their site.

I find ZenPops info sheet to be really helpful since a lot of the packaging isnt in English. It gives you a rundown of each item and this months theme is the Bunny Rabbit.

Mini Notepad

This Lilimary Welcome to my heart sweet little notepad is 2 x 3 and is perfect to toss into your handbag. Each page is printed with one of two sweet images and contains 90 pages.

Sticky Memos

In Japan, the moon viewing is celebrated in October, where thanks is given for the rice harvest. Its also thought that the patterns on the moon look like a rabbit making mochi  can you see the rabbit on these little sticky notes? This little notepad contains 30 sheets and is around 3 in diameter.

Mini Letter Set (3 pack)

If you love bunnies, these tiny letters will give you the perfect forum to write a little love note. Im thinking these are perfect to include as a special note in a school lunch! The envelopes are 2 x 3 inches, and 6 sheets of 4 x 3 paper is included in the set.

Clip Notes (12 pack)

Im a big fan of binder clips! These are perfect to hold your page, and I even think that I might keep them in my nightstand for an easy bookmark. There are 4 each of 3 different designs, and theyre about 3 total in length and about 1 wide.

Kanahei Stickers

Before reading the insert, I didnt know that the pink bunny and the white bird were best friends  but apparently, they are. These are cute little decorative seals that go along well with the theme of the box.

Constellation Washi Tape  Retail Value $3.00

In Japan, Zodiac signs are used for fortune telling. This practice is so common, that some of the popular morning shows even have a segment where they do fortune telling each day. Regardless of the reason, this navy washi tape featuring gold constellations is very pretty and a welcome addition to my collection.

Bunny Washi Tape

Yay! More washi tape. This time, a royal blue background and a cute white bunny.

Birthday Card

The card I received says Its a little late but on the front and Please forgive me! Happy Birthday! on the inside. It features the same pink bunny and white bird best friends set, and an adorable polka-dotted envelop!

Tape Glue Stamp  Retail Value $6.50

A glue stamp? You dont say This nifty gadget works great! If youre gluing a piece of paper, you only need to stamp the 4 corners for a mess-free adhesive look. Gone are the days of the endless Elmers glue drizzles and ridges in your soggy construction paper! The insert says that this little beauty can be used around 500 times  awesome!

Pilot  Frixion Colors  Retail Value $2.60

I received a violet version of this erasable color pen. I was pleased since so many of the stationery items have pink and purple hues on them this month.

Bonus Item: Luna Plush Toy

This one is for subscribers only, so if you buy the pack as a one-time purchase, you wont get this item. This little plush toy was a favorite of my puppy Harry. Im glad I took its photo as soon as I opened the box because Luna didnt last until sunset in my home!

Verdict: ZenPop Stationery Pack had a great variety of cute stationary items. I actually liked all of the items this month and felt that they delivered exactly what I would expect from a stationery subscription. Overall, I was pleased and felt like the box itself was a good value, although I couldnt really find many of the items online.



To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, December will be your first box.

Value Breakdown: This box costs $29.50 + free shipping, which means that each of the 10 items in the box (not including the bonus) has an average cost of $2.95.



Check out all of our ZenPop Stationery Pack reviews and more stationery reviews in the Paper and Stationery Subscription Box Directory!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What do you think of ZenPop Stationery Pack?
OPPOSITION MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has challenged his Zanu PF rivals, particularly President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, to stop wasting their energy fighting him, but redirect their energy towards the real problem  the free-falling economy.

Chamisa told NewsDay yesterday that Mnangagwas government was now using every opportunity to personally attack him in a desperate move to divert public attention from its failures.

Chamisa, who is today expected to appear before the commission of inquiry led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe to give evidence into the August 1 fatal shooting of six civilians in Harare, said instead of playing blame-games, Mnangagwa ought to engage all key stakeholders, including the MDC, for a national dialogue to resolve the current socio-economic crisis.

This came after Mnangagwa and Chiwenga took turns at a Zanu PF rally in Zvimba at the weekend to lampoon Chamisa, vowing the youthful opposition leader would not rule this country.

Chamisa is not the enemy, I am not the economy, I am not corruption, I am not bad leadership and bad governance, so the focus cannot be on an individual, but the focus has to be the collective challenges Zimbabweans are facing and that we must understand, the opposition leader said.

The centre and focus of attack is poverty, price increases, shortage of basic commodities and other challenges facing Zimbabwe. Those kinds of problems are the ones that must be attacked. They must not really waste their energy on a patriot and a democrat who is trying to make lives better for the ordinary people, including even for them.

A country, a nation is not built by insults and hatred. A nation is built by love and magnanimity. Instead of my old man Mnangagwa and my uncle Chiwenga being driven by so much anger, they seem to be so angry. They must be driven by love for their country and the love for their people, Chamisa said, adding the Zanu PF leadership seemed unsettled by the level of grassroots support he commands, as evidenced by the over two million votes he garnered in the July 30 harmonised elections.

He said Mnangagwa could not credibly talk about international engagement when he is not open for national dialogue with his competition.

The opposition leader has persistently refused to recognise Mnagangwas victory in the July 30 polls, citing massive vote-rigging.

Chamisa said most Zimbabweans had now realised they were sold a dummy and were now worse off than they were under former President Robert Mugabe, who was toppled by the military last November. He said the jubilation of seeing Mugabe going had now turned into mourning.

What we are seeing is that we have gone back to the default setting of arrogance, abusing those who do not agree with him. Can you tell me why would you use police on Members of Parliament, simply because you say they didnt stand up for you? he said, in reference to last weeks incident where opposition legislators declined to stand up in honour as Mnangagwa walked into Parliament building for the National Budget presentation.

The MDC Alliance MPs were eventually ordered out of the House by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda.

Even if they stand up for you, they are not convinced in their hearts that they must respect you. Respect is earned and not forced. When you force respect, that is dictatorship.

You cannot have command agriculture, command economy, command respect and command President; command love, it is not appropriate and it does not go down well with our nation.

Chamisa said Chiwenga had a colonial mindset, similar to that of the late former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith, who declared that the country would not be liberated in 1 000 years.

Their focus must be on the economy; their focus must be on fixing the national politics. Our politics is rotten; our nation is broken; our people are forsaken; the ordinary people are forgotten and those are the real issues that we must focus on.

The nation must focus more on light rather than darkness; unity rather than division; healing rather than creating more wounds. This is my advice to them. This warrior mind is what brought this nation into the doldrums.

He said only dialogue would solve the Zimbabwean crisis.

 NewsDay

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The Maldavian budgetary crises needs an immediate attention and an assitance between $250 million to $350 million to help Male meets its development goals. According to reports, the foreign minister of Maldives Abdullah Shahid is hoping for financial assistance from the Indian Government.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Shahid, who arrived India on November 24, said that his country wants to have a substantial relationship between India and China. While launching a scathing attack on former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen, saying that he tried to be a puppet master playing India against China and vice-versa.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Shahid, who arrived in India on November 24, spoke on the Maldives maintaining a balance in relations between India and China, saying, Our policies would not be like that we would have an excellent relationship with our closest neighbor with our good friend India and also our development partner China. We would want to have a substantial relationship between these countries who generously contributed to the development of Maldives.

The previous government under Yameen increased anti-India sentiments for their own purposes. We will change it. The people of Maldives do not support this. Our government will make sure that Maldives-India relationship is on better footing, he added.

Speaking on agenda of talks with the Indian leadership, the Maldivian minister said that Male needs urgent budgetary help and is looking for Indias generous assistance and other countries in improving basic facilities, such as fresh water and sewerage.

Former President Yameen has taken the country to the brink of bankruptcy. We need urgent assistance to get the budget issues that we are having. We need budgetary assistance. We also have come into the office with a lot of pledges to the people that we need to start delivering them and we are looking for generous assistance of India and other countries in delivering this thing, especially in basic services like fresh water and sewerage, Shahid elucidated.

Asked on how he compares Maldives relationship with India and China, he said, India is India and China is China. India is our closest neighbor, and India is the largest contributor for several decades of our development. China is an upcoming market and they contribute the largest tourist arrivals to the Maldives. China has been generous in its assistance. We will not compare our friends but we have friends and special friends.

Shahid added that New Delhi has been always generous and will always be a special friend of Male.

Commenting on reports of China attempting to dominate the Indian Ocean region, Shahid further said that free movement, is of utmost importance, apart from maintaining an atmosphere of peace and security.

For us, peace and security and free movement within the Indian Ocean are of utmost importance. We also would not like tensions and conflicts in other parts of the world be dragged into the Indian Ocean. We will work with our neighbors to prevent it, he told ANI.

Shahids visit assumes significance for India, following the swearing-in of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at a ceremony in Male on November 17, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the first high-level visit from the Maldives after the new government took office in the South Asian archipelago.

During his visit, Shahid is slated to hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and call on President Ram Nath Kovind.

Before departing for India, Shahid wrote on his Twitter handle that he was looking forward to very fruitful meetings, which would give a boost to the bilateral relations between New Delhi and Male. Departing to India. Im looking forward to very fruitful meetings which will further strengthen the ties of friendship and solidarity between our two countries and people, Shahid tweeted.

Relations between India and the Maldives came under strain during former Yameens five-year rule, which saw him cozying up with China for various development projects, cracking down on dissent and imposing a state of emergency by jailing opposition leaders.

During Prime Minister Modis day-long visit to the Maldives, Solih briefed the Indian leader about Maldives fragile economic situation. The two leaders discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives.

Both the leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each others concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. They also expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has verified that 5 and not 3 people perished in the plane crush at Chemanjenjera Hills that occurred yesterday morning.

Names of the deceased have also been revealed.

Mystery surrounds the circumstances leading to a plane crash that claimed 5 lives in Chemanjenjera Hills in Village 5 Matedzi, Masvingo South under Chief Nyajena.

It has, however, since been established that that the plane had 5 occupants all of whom died.

The pilot has been identified as Barry Style, a Zimbabwean national of Buffalo Range, Chiredzi aged 48.

ZRP Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi also revealed the names of the deceased Finish nationals.

The names are Partanen Kari Leo Tapana aged 53, Ojanpaajari-Pekka 52, Vappula Heikki Antero 51 and Harri Hynninen aged 50.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now working with the families of the deceased in arranging repatriation of the bodies.

The police confirmed that the four, were travelling from Chiredzi to Victoria Falls, before their departure for Finland.

The crash has generated a lot of interest not only from the villagers under Chief Nyajenas area but the general populace.

Plane crashes are a rare phenomenon in Zimbabwe let alone in these parts of the country. Before yesterdays crash, the most recent had occurred in March last year near the Zimbabwean-Mozambique border where six business executives from Mozambique died when their plane crashed somewhere along Vumba mountains.

To the villagers in Matedzi, the site of flying debris was a rare sight.

The plane a Cessna 206 produced by the Cessna Aircraft Company is a light aircraft commonly referred to as the sport utility vehicle of the air.

According to the fly mag.com this type of plane has a powerful engine, rugged construction and large cabin, making it a popular bush plane.

Mr Tawanda Gusha, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Director Airports, said inspectors are still at the crash site carrying out possible investigations as to what could have led to the fatal crash.

The bodies of the deceased where taken to Masvingo General Hospital for post mortem.

 ZBC

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OUTSPOKEN cleric Bishop Ancelimo Magaya says President Emmerson Mnangagwa must own up to his and his partys past evils as this was the only way their hurting victims could forget the transgressions and start charting a path into the future.

The Zimbabwe Devine Destiny Network leader was addressing journalists in Harare on Saturday.

This was after former Zanu PF youth leader Jim Kunaka last week made some amazing confessions to committing acts of terror against the opposition under instructions from party seniors.

Kunaka was testifying before the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into the August 1 post-election violence in which six civilians were shot dead by what is commonly believed to be members of the army who had been deployed into central Harare on the fateful day to quell wild protests by opposition supporters.

In his comments, Bishop Magaya urged President Mnangagwa to emulate Kunaka who has admitted and shown regret for his past wrongs.

Magaya said this was the first step towards repentance.

Kunaka set the bar quite high for his erstwhile colleagues in the former party by clearly telling the nation that he regrets his involvement in cruel and dastardly acts in which violence was unleashed on civilians.

We urge the President to emulate the once junior member of his party.

Kunakas recent admissions at the Commission of Inquiry over his dark past while in Zanu PF need to be applauded, said Magaya.

In his testimony, Kunaka boldly dragged one of the Inquiry Commissioners, Charity Manyeruke into the violent acts, calling her my boss. A visibly embarrassed Manyeruke, also a Zanu PF activist, did not respond.

Magaya said it was not easy to forget about the mass killings of the 1980s and the recent shootings when those who killed continued to deny any involvement.

It is impossible in the matrix of healing and forgiveness to expect hurting people and communities to suddenly forgive, forget and heal when the perpetrators of the violence deny involvement.

Those involved in the abductions and isolated murders must, if they are keen on forgiveness and healing the nation, confess publicly their roles in these dark chapters like what Kunaka has just done.

The Psalmist says that the sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken and contrite heart, said the Harare preacher, who has been harassed and arrested by the state before for organising and joining peace campaigns which spotlighted on state brutality.

President Mnangagwa has often told the nation that it must forget about past transgressions and let bygones be bygones.

Bishop Magaya was quick to trash the statements.

Such a statement is highly unacceptable, mischievous and a failure on his (President Mnangagwa) part to own up to past evils, he said.

Asked by international media to apologise for his role in the Gukurahundi atrocities which killed an estimated 20 000 civilians in Matebeleland and Midlands provinces during a visit to Davos, Switzerland earlier this year, President Mnangagwa was adamant his signing into law of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Act were signs he was keen on redressing past wrongs.

Mnangagwas name features prominantly in the countrys most violent post-liberation episodes. He was state security minister during the Gukurahundi atrocities.

 NewZimbabwe

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Retired Lieutenant Colonel, Elliot Piki (58) who was expected to appear before the Commission of Inquiry to testify on the August 1 shootings in Harare was abducted at gunpoint from his home in Retreat farm, waterfalls around 4pm on Sunday.

Piki was abducted by masked men in black outfits driving an unmarked silver/grey Toyota double cab vehicle.

Piki, who submitted a damning document that exposes the Zanu PF government on the August 1 shootings, had been asked to testify before the commission today.

The MDC condemns the continued use of force, violence and abductions by the State. It has become a crime to oppose the government in Zimbabwe. This illegitimate government will not stop at nothing  a clear failure to break from its dark past.

This modus operandi reminds of of the chilling abduction and disappearance of Itai Dzamara over 4 years ago. Up to this day, we have not seen or heard from him.

Behold the New. Change that Delivers!

Clr Jacob Mafume

MDC National Spokesperson

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Well attempt to be sparing in our Brexit update, since the noise to signal ratio is even higher than usual right now.

As youve undoubtedly heard, the EU Council approved Mays deal as expected. May gave in to Spains demands over Gibraltar:

96% of Gibraltar voted to Remain. In response the UK has sacrificed Gibraltar to get its disaster of a Brexit deal agreed by the EU27. Abject failure. The only hope for the people of Gibraltar is Remain, via a #FinalSay #PeoplesVote

For Gibraltar #OnlyRemainRemains https://t.co/m8aFWiyUdf  #FinalSay (@finalsayeu) November 25, 2018

That concession wasnt lost on the members of the press that arent rooting for May (most notably example is the BBC, to the degree that the Twitterverse has been rounding on them regularly). It confirms the widely-held view that this Brexit puts the UK in a worse position that it was when it was in the EU. Mind you, that was an inevitable outcome, but theres no pretending any more now that a deal has been completed. And as various commentators are pointing out, May never considered less bad choices, such as joining the EEA/Efta. Mind you, we think the latter was unlikely to work, since the UK was a bad partner in the EU, and would be even harder to deal with if it were to have become the economically dominant member of the Efta. Similarly, May never began the war-level preparation required to make a crash-out something less than an abject disaster, which would have increased her bargaining leverage with the EU and would also have served as preparation for a bare-bones free trade agreement, which the UK could have conceivably sealed even in its 18 month transition period.1

The pound is trading higher despite the fact that it is just about universally anticipated that Mays Brexit pact will be voted down in December. The scheduled date is December 12, conveniently right before the December EU Council meetings of December 13-14.

May is going into a full bore media push, supposedly going over the heads of MPs to appeal to the public. Given how well her past personal selling efforts have worked (the snap elections, her various failed EU charm offensives, with Salzburg a capstone of sorts), its hard to see how this will have any impact, particularly given her bargain basement popularity ratings:

Theresa May SELL OUT!!

Theresa May couldnt lie straight in bed!!!!

Mays surrender!!!

Theresa May please look here have my granny.. take her.. take her for free!!!

 pic.twitter.com/66OGAKkxd4  ARTIST TAXI DRIVER (@chunkymark) November 25, 2018

Even with some of the Tory media pumping for May, theres not enough time to move public opinion in a meaningful way in a few weeks.

May is now asking to debate Corbyn, something she strenuously avoided during the general elections. Perhaps her point is to try to show that Corbyn, and by extension, all of the opposition, has no alternative to her scheme.

And theres lots of trumpeting of faux alternatives, such as the idea of a no-crashout no deal, which includes having the EU give the UK another year to get its act in gear. Of course, no one has talked to the EU to see if it is even remotely receptive, and if so, how high the price tag would be.

Lots of people who should know better are pushing for a second referendum, from the Independent to Tony Blair. Blairs Sunday Times open letter to EU leaders, meant as a companion piece to Mays open letter to the UK, is yet another case study in exaggerated sense of self-importance that got the UK in this mess. Blair does point out that Mays deal is unpopular and will be nixed by Parliament. So what does he propose then? That these EU chieftans step forward with an offer which deals with the principal British anxieties about Europe, which he admits is immigration. Ahem, did Blair miss that the UK didnt take any Syrian refugees? Or that it was the UK that pushed for more Eastern European members in a too-clever ploy to try to dilute the influence of the German-France axis, and the UK more than ten times the Polish immigrants than it had forecast? Oh, and he wants a second referendum too.

Macrons remarks at the press conference after the EU Council approved Mays deal are an indicator of how indulgent the EU is likely to be going forward. From the BBC:

But the bluntest warning came from the French President Emmanuel Macron, who suggested that if the UK was unwilling to compromise in negotiations on fishing, which would need to make rapid progress, then talks on a wider trade deal would be slow. We as 27 have a clear position on fair competition, on fish, and on the subject of the EUs regulatory autonomy, and that forms part of our position for the future relationship talks, he said. The president implied that without sufficient progress on trade, the backstop plan to avoid a hard border in Ireland would have to be implemented, including a temporary customs union for the whole of the UK. It is a lever because it is in our mutual interest to have this future relationship, Mr Macron said.

This is not an idle threat. As Ambrose Evans-Pritchard pointed out in the Telegraph last week, Brexit only gets harder from here on. Only a qualified majority (at least a majority of states in number constituting 65% of the population) had to approve the Withdrawal Agreement. A trade agreement is a treaty, and those require unanimous approval, including by national parliaments. The Walloon parliament initially nixed the ratification of what should have been an uncontroversial agreement with Canada. Fishing rights are an most obvious sticking point with the UK; there will be plenty of others. And recall if the UK winds up having to use the customs territory backstop, it can get out only by mutual agreement of the UK and EU, which gives the EU an initial veto. Disputes go to an arbitrator, but since the UK would have to satisfy the arbitrator that it will not have a hard border with the Irish Republic, its hard to see how it satisfies that condition otherwise.2 As Ian Dunt put it:

It doesnt matter how you look at it. You can squint with one eye, or stand upside down, or peer at it askew. You can be as sympathetic or stern as you like. It makes no difference. From every angle, on every basis, Theresa Mays deal is horrific. It is intolerable on a democratic, political, economic and logical basis. It takes one of the worlds leading powers and puts it in a diplomatic and trading stranglehold. It undermines Britains economic status, demolishes its political status, severs its territorial integrity and imposes a dangerous and unacceptable governance structure on Northern Ireland The deal offers a transition to the end of 2020. This can be extended once, but this must be done by July 2020. This is, to all intents and purposes, the new cliff edge. Without an extension, we will fall into the backstop. And no matter what wasteful lies May tells now, Britain will never pick the backstop, because it is appalling. So in July 2020 the UK will inevitably ask for an extension of transition. The EU will give it to us, but first theyll ask for money. And we will pay. Well pay them anything they ask for, because the entire structure of the deal gives the EU negotiating advantage. The extension can only last two years, until the end of 2022. But this is not enough time. The EU will be focusing on European elections until May 2019. No meaningful talks will take place until there is a new commissioner, sometime in the autumn. Then Britain needs to work out what it wants, something it has so far showed no signs of being able to do. Then it needs to negotiate it. Then it needs to implement it  a job which can be big or small, depending on the outcome of the negotiation. And then it needs to be ratified, which requires approval from every parliament, in every EU member state. The last part alone took two years for Canada. This thing is not going to be done by 2022. If 2022 ends with no deal in place, which by any realistic assessment it will, we fall into the backstop. And then the real horror story starts. Overnight we lose services access to the continent. Our customs arrangements shrivel up into a little ball. There are no transport agreements, so permits for UK hauliers will be limited to five per cent of existing traffic. There are no veterinary or phytosanitary agreements, so agricultural products will be stopped and checked at the border, causing huge disruption. There is no common regulatory regime on goods, so they will also be checked and tested. We become little more than an addendum to the EUs trading relationships with other countries. And after all that, May didnt even prevent the carving up of the UKs territorial integrity in the Irish Sea, as she claimed. There are actually two regulatory levels in the backstop proposal.

Even though we are in an overly dynamic situation, to invoke another one of Lamberts pet expressions, it would be irresponsible not to speculate.

Even though the Government lost on its procedural motion to try to bar amendments to the Withdrawal Agreement, our Clive argues that they may not get attached to the bill regardless, particularly the ones we are likely to see, that the Agreement is somehow contingent upon a second referendum, and the Kier Starmer idea of having all sorts of legal changes made supposedly so as to make it impossible for May to have a crash out if she cant get the Withdrawal Agreement passed. As we have said, the latter scheme is silly unless it has provisions that not only repeal the leave EU act but also explicitly direct the Government to rescind the Article 50 notice, since as we know, Brexit happens automagicaly unless the UK asks to back out. It is implausible to think that there would be enough votes for that in early December. From Clive:

The UK government does control parliamentary time https://beta.parliament.uk/articles/uUGNLmVo and can guillotine any attempts at filibustering on primary legislation. Itll all be down to amendments. Here it would need a constitutional layer to give an accurate opinion because UK legislation and parliamentary procedures are very obtuse. But I think theres real doubt that the clerk to the commons would accept an amendment which says, in effect, you have to have a referendum on this bill becoming law. Parliamentary procedures are designed to stop an amendment which creates a condition that might not happen (such as the UK government having to both bring forward new primary legislation, which might not get passed  such as a referendum  and then that referendum concluding in a way which supports the bill being voted on) being attached to a bill. Parliament can only conclude a bill in a way which creates legal certainty. In effect, a bill can only be passed if, as a result of that bill, the courts can look at that bill and say, without any ambiguity this is the law, this is what the law says. You couldnt have the Withdrawal Agreement pass through Parliament  whereupon it becomes law  but then have everyone (including the courts, both UK domestic and others such as the CJEU) have to then say to themselves ah, well, maybe not, well have to wait for the referendum result, whenever that is, whatever questions are on it, to know what the UKs legal position in in respect of the EU. I imagine the UK governments chief whips office is going through all this now. Itll go back to the point I raised in the above paragraph  just because Parliament is sovereign, it doesnt mean it can act like a constitutional equivalent of a drunk in a bar.

It is way over my pay grade, but I wonder whether Starmers long list of legislative changes could be required to be a separate bill. Similarly, if MPs propose enough amendments, May could well miss her December 12 target. Not that matters much; the EU is not going to cut the UK any slack when Mays deal gets voted down or if Parliament, either with the Withdrawal Agreement or otherwise, decides to have another referendum. And May telling MPs, either as part of her campaign for the Withdrawal Agreement or in trying to swat down amendments, that they cant amend the bill, that the EU is done with negotiating (obvious but something they are not disposed to hear) will not get her more votes for the bill, at least not in December.

Another factor at work is reflexivity. Mr. Market does not seem to be all that worried about the virtual  certainty of Parliament voting down the deal in December. Is he convinced it will eventually pass, or is he instead relying on the various hopium escape scenarios the political classes are cooking up? It appears they are expecting rationality to prevail when not much of that has been on offer for the last two years. Vlade flagged a Bloomberg story, Will May Get Her Deal Passed The Second Time? Markets Think So, and added:

Seems like the markets are betting on a second vote to pass the deal. Which could work only if markets very clearly panicked after the first vote. Which, if they are taking it as given it would be lost, they wont. If theres no market panic, there well may be no second vote, as it will embolden the Ultras (we told you its not a problem). To take the screaming fire in a packed theater, this is more like the fire is already raging in a theater, but everyone still sits down, because no body wants to be the first to scream it, hoping that some mystical firefighters will arrive just so.

Robert Peston provides a final bit of intelligence:

I am reliably informed by senior officials in Brussels and in foreign capitals that a request to postpone Brexit is both half anticipated and would be sympathetically received. But there would be strings. The delay could be no more than a couple of months, because there is an absolute horror of the UK participating in elections for the European Parliament at the end of May. And EU governments would want an assurance that the extra time would allow the UK to achieve a settled position, either on the Brexit it actually wants, or on no Brexiting at all. Here is the nightmare, for the UK and the EU, for them and for us. It is patently, obviously, maddeningly clear that there is no settled position in parliament on an optimal Brexit. That leads a growing number of MPs to muse that the best thing may be to cancel Brexit altogether. Some tell me that as a nation we should risk the humiliation of apologising to the EU  and the world  and just rescind our Article 50 request to leave But more MPs would blush to do so without seeking the permission of the electorate in another referendum  but it is by no means clear that the British people are less divided and more certain about all this than their elected representatives. When parliament and people are divided, there is no higher authority to consult.

Perhaps opinions will solidify as the press continues to discuss the Withdrawal Agreement. May was being uncharacteristically truthful when she said there were only three options: her deal, no deal, or no Brexit. A Lord Ashcroft poll found that only 13% of Leave voters thought that Mays agreement honours the result of the EU referendum held in June 2016. So the political obstacles to walking back Brexit may be lower that MPs perceivebut will they get the memo soon enough to act on it?

_____

1 Of course, there would still be the Irish border, issue, but had May not made her foolhardy snap election gambit, she could have opted for the sea border, particularly since she could make the case that it would be much better economically for Northern Ireland citizens. Shed still have faced a rebellion from the ERG, but she would not have had to get as many votes from other parties.

2 We remain skeptical about vaporware techno-solutions.
Mutant superbugs menace future space station expeditions  NASA RT (original).

Ancient termite megapolis as large as Britain found in Brazil CNN (original).

The YouTube algorithm that I helped build in 2011 still recommends the flat earth theory by the *hundreds of millions* Guillaume Chaslot

Free Software Messiah Richard Stallman: We Can Do Better Than Bitcoin Coindesk. Stallman: We need a state to do many vital jobs, including fund research, fund education, provide people with medical care  provide everyone with medical care  build roads, maintain order, provide justice, including to those who are not rich and powerful, and so [sic] the states got to bring in a lot of money . I wouldnt want perfect privacy because that would mean it would be impossible to investigate crimes at all. And thats one of the jobs we need the state to do.

How I changed the law with a GitHub pull request Ars Technica

Goldman revamped risk oversight shortly after 1MDB deal Australian Financial Review

Comparison sites cry foul over Google Shopping service The Register. EU anti-trust remedy not succeeding?

Markets Can No Longer Rely on the Fed Put John Authers, Bloomberg

Household debt hit a record high of $13.5 trillion last quarter NBC

Brexit

The Bright Yellow Line Over Globalization in France The American Conservative

Swiss-law first referendum fails Politico

Syraqistan

China?

Australian regulators watching non-banks for financial stability risks: RBA Reuters. A vector for contagion from China?

India

New Cold War

Trump Transition

Democrats in Disarray

Is Student Debt Forgiveness Progressive? Jacobin

Health Care

Our Famously Free Press

NPR Infomercial for Its Sponsor Amazon Omits Labor and Environmental Criticisms FAIR. The words labor, worker or employee are nowhere to be found in the six-minute report. Say, can I get that tote bag today?

Police State Watch

Dispute Over Lingerie Comment Persists, as Society Rejects Professors Appeal The Chronicle of Higher Education. The professors defense; the accusers rejoinder; difficulties of adjudication (skip to Here are five flaws that jumped out at me).

Dartmouth Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Following Professor Misconduct Allegations Valley News. Heres the URL showing the original headline, which the editors must have toned down: Lawsuit-alleges-tenured-Dartmouth-College-professors-sexually-assaulted-students. More party culture.

Class Warfare

Researchers measure carbon footprint of Canada hydroelectric dams Agence France Presse

Camp Fire  the deadliest wildfire in California history  is finally 100 percent contained after burning for TWO WEEKS Daily Mail. Contained, not extinguished. 85 killed, 249 missing.

Antidote du jour (via):

Bonus antidote:

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 7 of the United States Constitution reads:

[The Congress shall have power to t]o establish post offices and post roads

This enumerated power, as Schmoop (I love Schmoop) points out, wasnt trivial:

For most of the first century of American independence, the Post Office was by far the largest and most important organization within the federal government. Congress has the power to set up Post Offices and to build roads connecting them

James Madison explains the design behind this powerful grant of authority in Federalist 42:

The powers included in the THIRD class [of powers lodged in the general government] are those which provide for the harmony and proper intercourse among the States, [e.g.] to establish post offices and post roads . The defect of power in the existing Confederacy to regulate the commerce between its several members, is in the number of those which have been clearly pointed out by experience. A very material object of this power was the relief of the States which import and export through other States, from the improper contributions levied on them by the latter. Were these at liberty to regulate the trade between State and State, it must be foreseen that ways would be found out to load the articles of import and export, during the passage through their jurisdiction, with duties which would fall on the makers of the latter and the consumers of the former. We may be assured by past experience, that such a practice would be introduced by future contrivances; and both by that and a common knowledge of human affairs, that it would nourish unceasing animosities, and not improbably terminate in serious interruptions of the public tranquillity.

An originalist might note that neither the Framers nor Madison have any notion that the United States Post Office (USPS) might require a business model or seek to make a profit; the intent is to promote harmony and proper intercourse among the States by preventing states from charging each other rents (levies) in the manner of robber barons. This goal is expressed by the Universal Service Obligation (USO), described by the United States Post Office in 2018 as follows:

The mission of the U.S. Postal Service is to provide the American public with trusted, affordable, universal service. Congress and the President set forth this mission by recognizing the Postal Services critical role in commerce and in binding the nation together. While not explicitly defined, the Postal Services universal service obligation (USO) is broadly outlined in multiple statutes and encompasses multiple dimensions: geographic scope, range of products, access to services and facilities, delivery frequency, affordable and uniform pricing, service quality, and security of the mail. While other carriers might offer delivery on a universal basis, the Postal Service is the only carrier obligated to provide all aspects of universal service at affordable prices. To ensure funding of the USO, Congress and the President established the Private Express Statutes (PES) and the mailbox access rule, which together comprise the postal monopoly.

Of course, most requirements can be specified and implemented in multiple ways; in 2014 the USPS Office of the Inspector General wrote that the Postal Services USO is long overdue for updating and clarification. One such update would be privatizing the Post Office, once a bipartisan project, now (given Trump) less so. That project is a fine example of the neoliberal playbook; Jim Hightower gives the ugly details here. Unexpectedly, and happily, the project is stalled.

USPS Privatization is Currently Stalled

There are two key documents. The first is the administrations plan to reorganize the Federal Government: Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century Reform Plan and Reorganization Recommendations (for clarity, Ive edited out the talking points from the neoliberal playbook; primarily the pension obligations scam). From the Recommendations:

USPS has extremely high fixed costs as a result of relatively generous employee benefits combined with a universal service obligation that is understood to require mail carriers to visit over 150 million addresses six days per week. A new model that adequately finances USPS while meeting the needs of rural and urban communities, large mailers, and small businesses is needed This proposal would restructure USPS by aligning revenues and expenses to restore a sustainable business model and possibly prepare it for future conversion from a Government agency into a privately-held corporation. USPS privatization through an initial public offering (IPO) or sale to another entity would require the implementation of significant reforms prior to sale to show a possible path to profitability To address these major issues and identify solutions, possibly including private ownership, the President has issued Executive Order 13829: Task Force on the United States Postal System. The Task Force will conduct a thorough evaluation of the operations and finances of the Postal Service and make recommendations for reform consistent with this reorganization proposal The report will be available by August 10, 2018.

Two key points. First, the adminstration proposes a two-step process: Restructuring, followed by sale. Second, a Task Force will be established, and the Task Force will deliver a report by August 10, 2018.

The Task Force report is the second key document, but as of November 26, 2018, it has not yet appeared. (This has happily has not prevented postal workers unions from organizing rallies against privatization[1], or making large ad buys.) Here is a rough timeline:

August 8, 2018: Trumps Postal Task Force Has Recommendations Ready for the President (Government Executive): Trump tapped Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Office of Personnel Management Director Jeff Pon and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to head up the task force, but their staffers have led the charge. The group held meetings over the summer with an array of stakeholders, industry groups and employee representatives. While the report is completed and expected at the White House by Fridays deadline, multiple individuals engaged in discussions with the task force told Government Executive the administration will not make it public immediately. The report is already being circulated within the administration, those individuals said, but the White House will not widely release it for at least a couple of weeks. The task force is by all accounts playing its cards very close to the vest, with no details of its proposals making their way out to the groups it met with over the last few months. August 30, 2018 White House Expected to Keep Postal Task Force Report Secret Until After Midterms (Government Executive): The Trump administration is planning to keep secret until after the mid-term elections a report delivered to the president earlier this month with suggestions for reforming the U.S. Postal Service, according to individuals with knowledge of the plan. August 31, 2018: Senate Hearing on USPS Task Force Report Postponed (Multichannel Merchant): The report was delivered to President Trump on Aug. 10 The Sept. 5 hearing was to be before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. No new date has been set, pushing out any potential legislative action indefinitely. September 26, 2018: Task forces recommendations to Trump remain a mystery (Linns Stamp News): [T]he planned Aug. 10 release of the study of USPS finances has passed without any disclosure of what the presidential task force recommended to Trump. That silence has led to several public predictions that the panels proposals will never see the light of day. Two of the largest mailing organizations, the Association for Postal Commerce (PostCom) and the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, were telling its members just that in August. On Sept. 13, the DC Velocity website, which covers transportation issues, echoed that sentiment. It said that the Trump administration has shelved the release of the postal report, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Trump has been briefed on the panels recommendations, Velocity said, and was unhappy with its findings. Michael Plunkett, president of PostCom, said the Velocity account is consistent with what I have been told. Stephen Kearney, executive director of the nonprofit mailers, said, Im still assuming it will be released by the end of the year because a Treasury spokesperson said so.

Why Is USPS Privatization Stalled?

It would be irresponsible not to speculate![2] I can think of a few reasons:

(1) The rural vote. As is well-known, rural voters break heavily for Trump. Trump may not wish to alienate them by killing off one of their few community centers remaining after deindustrialization, which Post Office reforms focused on fixed costs often try to do. At least not until after 2020.

(2) Trumps beef with Amazon. Reuters:

A Senate hearing about reforming the U.S. Postal Service that could have scrutinized what Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) and others pay for package delivery has been delayed, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, moving back President Donald Trumps effort to hike the worlds largest online retailers rates.

(This is the August 31, 2018 hearing mentioned above.)

Trump has repeatedly attacked Amazon on Twitter for treating the Postal Service as its delivery boy by paying less than it should for deliveries and contributing to the services $65 billion loss since the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, without presenting evidence [Vox: Maybe Trump is somewhat right]. Trumps attacks on Amazon have gone hand-in-hand with attacks on its founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, who privately owns the Washington Post, which has published several articles critical of Trumps campaign and presidency. Trump has described the newspaper as Amazons chief lobbyist. The Washington Posts top editor has said Bezos has no involvement in its news coverage [no doubt!].

If Bezos and Trump have their squillionaire horns locked in some way, it makes sense that the Task Force recommendations would stall.

(3) The spoils have not yet been divided. Nobody talks about Post Office real estate, which seems odd to me, since they have rather a lot of it. HuffPo:

But it also owns 8,621 properties (totaling about 318 million square feet of interior space), and about 500 acres of vacant land. Most of that owned real estate is prime, downtown real estate in every town and city in America  the main Post Office and the neighborhood branches in cities, suburban branches, and big operations centers. The land is scattered all over the country, but pretty much none of it is in wilderness areas. How much is it worth? Nobody really knows. The USPS, like every government entity, doesnt regularly appraise its properties. But there is an estimate nosed about by the Right; the [Scaife-funded Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation (IRET)] reported in a 2003 paper that the USPS carried its properties on its books at $15 billion, and that in 1999, it reported that properties it sold went for about seven times book value. So by the Right Wings estimates, the owned USPS property portfolio is worth about $105 billion.

$105 billion! Thats real money! Interestingly, the USPS recently replaced its old real estate broker  CBRE, whose chair, Richard Blum, is DiFis husband, how cozy  with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). In 2017 JLL was named one of the Worlds Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute for the tenth consecutive year. So perhaps the USPS is clearing the decks for some reason. In any case, Trump used to be in real estate. So perhaps he has strong views on how the swag should be divvied up.

Anyhow, thats all I can think of off the top of my head; readers may wish to speculate further. Note, however, that these considerations  which are not mutually exclusive  could also be complicated by the two-stage structure imposed by the Task Force. Especially for real estate: Which tasks are to be allocated to the first phase, restructuring, and which to the second phase, post-sale?

Conclusion

The administration being what it is, the Task Force recommendations could be released any day, and the privatization goons would spring into action, making my speculations obsolete. But until that day comes, Ill take the win, temporary though it may be. Oh, and why not purge our thinking of neoliberal clap-trap, and bring the purpose of the Post Office back to the original, harmonious intent of the Framers?

NOTES

[1] I linked to a Google search because doesnt seem to be an aggregation of the rallies. The last aggregation I can find is at Labor Notes, from 2011.

[2] The Trump administration is often depicted as chaotic and out of control, as in many cases it is. However, in some cases  trade, and nominating judges  the administration has proven to be both competent and disciplined; its foolish to underestimate them. The Task Force looks to me like one of these cases. Conducting a Task Force, producing a report, briefing the President, and then burying the report, all without any leaks, is not an easy thing to do in Washington, but the administration seems to have pulled it off.
Yves here. Zuckerbergs woes are too much fun not to highlight.

Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg are already in hot water thanks to a New York Times expose that Facebook conceded was correct in the news dead time of last Friday. It included bombshells like this:

While Mr. Zuckerberg has conducted a public apology tour in the last year, Ms. Sandberg has overseen an aggressive lobbying campaign to combat Facebooks critics, shift public anger toward rival companies and ward off damaging regulation. Facebook employed a Republican opposition-research firm to discredit activist protesters, in part by linking them to the liberal financier George Soros. It also tapped its business relationships, lobbying a Jewish civil rights group to cast some criticism of the company as anti-Semitic.

Facebook has also failed to deflect accusations that it helped Russia get Trump elected and gave Cambridge Analytica millions of user profiles. Marina Bart explained long form why Cambridge Analyticas claims about its manipulative powers were bunkum. But we the great unwashed public should be delighted that its marketing hype is being treated seriously as grounds for making Facebook splain itself.

By Jake Johnson, a staff writer for Common Dreams. Follow him on Twitter: @johnsonjakep. Originally published at Common Dreams

After Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg refused to testify at a joint hearing with lawmakers from seven nations over his companys invasive privacy practices, the U.K. Parliament on Saturday legally seized thousands of secret and potentially explosive Facebook documents in what was described as an extraordinary move to uncover information about the companys role in the Cambridge Analytica data-mining scandal.

According to the Guardian, the documents were initially obtained during a legal discovery process by the now-defunct U.S. software company Six4Three, which is currently suing Facebook.

Conservative MP Damian Collins, the Guardianreports, then invoked a rare parliamentary mechanism that compelled Six4Threes founderwho was on a business trip in Londonto hand over the documents, which reportedly contain significant revelations about Facebook decisions on data and privacy controls that led to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It is claimed they include confidential emails between senior executives, and correspondence with Zuckerberg.

This week Facebook is going to learn the hard way that it is not above the law. In ignoring the inquiries of seven national parliaments, Mark Zuckerberg brought this escalation upon himself, as there was no other way to get this critical information, wrote Christopher Wylie, a whistleblower who was previously the director of research at Cambridge Analytica.

The irony is Mark Zuckerberg must be pretty pissed that his data was seized without him knowing, Wylie added.

This is really bad for Facebook. https://t.co/hBSJRaedFm  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) November 25, 2018

The U.K. Parliaments seizure of documents Facebook has long worked to keep hidden from the public view comes as the social media behemoth is embroiled in yet another scandal, this time over its use of a right-wing public relations firm to spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about its critics.

Facebook will learn that all are subject to the rule of law, Labour MP Ian Lucas wroteon Twitter. Yes, even them.

Addendum: The delicious part is that Parliament has the power to release the documents and is clearly inclined to, and Facebook is reduced to begging and trying to get a US judge to helpas if that will move the MPs. From the Financial Times:
Following the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in permanent session today, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, in his capacity as Chairman, will hold a press point at NATO HQ at 17:30 hours (local time).

17:30 - Press point by NATO Secretary General at NATO Headquarters (Agora)

General Information

Video footage of the press point will be streamed on the NATO website

After the event photos, video and audio files will be made available on the NATO website. Broadcast quality videos will be distributed via the NATO TV Channel. Media representatives that wish to be added to the distribution list can do so by sending an email to content@natochannel.tv

Languages

Live material from the press conference will be offered in English, French and Russian. After the event, audio files will also be made available in original sound, English, French and Russian.



Accreditation and security checks

Media permanently accredited at NATO

Media representatives in possession of a new 2018 NATO media pass can access to the NATO HQ directly by tapping their badge at the turnstiles (NATO HQ Guard House South - GHS, media entrance, NATO Headquarters, Boulevard Leopold III 1110). Media representatives not in possession of a new 2018 NATO media pass can replace their old 2018 permanent badge at the GHS.

Ad-hoc accreditation (day-pass)

Media representatives not permanently accredited and wishing to attend the event are invited to request ad-hoc accreditation directly at the main entrance of NATO HQ on Monday 26 November 2018. They will have to present an ID and a valid press card (provided by a recognised national professional body of a NATO country  i.e. Government, Professional association, Union of journalists).

Monday 26 November 2018. They will have to present an ID and a press card (provided by a recognised national professional body of a NATO country  i.e. Government, Professional association, Union of journalists). Media representatives not in possession of a valid press card are invited to send a signed letter from their editor to the NATO Accreditation Office to NATOaccreditations@hq.nato.int

Media representatives should be aware that a security check will take place, and security personnel will examine equipment and personal effects carried onto the site.

Overall Coordination Mr Damien Arnaud

Arnaud.Damien@hq.nato.int Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 5038

Accreditation Mr Angelo Pacifico

NatoAccreditations@hq.nato.int Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 83 46

TV & Radio arrangements on site and via satellite Mr Henk Dekens

Dekens.Henk@hq.nato.int Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 50 51

Mr Serge Bosmans

Bosmans.Serge@hq.nato.int Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 50 03

Mr Eric Morel

Morel.Eric@hq.nato.int Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 12 87

NATO Video on demand NATOChannel content@natochannel.tv

+32(0)2707 12 27 +32(0)2707 12 27

Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg)
On Tuesday, 27 November 2018, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet the Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada), H.E. Mr. Andriy Parubiy at NATO Headquarters.

There will be no media opportunity.

Photos and video of the meeting with the Secretary General will be available on the NATO website after the event.

Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg)
On Monday (26 November 2018), Kuwait inaugurated the offices of its first ever diplomatic mission to NATO. The ribbon-cutting inauguration ceremony was attended by Kuwait Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Khaled Aljarallah and NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Alejandro Alvargonzalez.

Kuwait is a very active member of NATO's Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. Kuwait hosts the NATO- ICI Regional Center, which was inaugurated in Kuwait City on 24 January 2017. The NATO-ICI Regional Centers objective is to improve common understanding of security challenges by creating a level of interoperability and standardisation that enables closer cooperation between NATO and its partners in the region. During its first year, 14 courses and activities were carried out at the Centre, 478 officers from ICI and GCC countries participated and were trained and 149 instructors and experts travelled to the Centre to deliver the courses.
Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, on Monday said that Male will retain two Indian military helicopters, which were gifted to the Maldives in 2013.

Earlier this year, former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen decided to send back the helicopters to India after relations between the two South Asian neighbours nosedived over Yameen declaring an emergency in the island nation.

"Helicopters are so generously donated by India to the Maldivian government. They are being used for humanitarian purposes. Several ill people have been airlifted to Male hospital. We have seen this in the past several years that a total of 164 have been airlifted. It is also being used for sea and air rescue. We are grateful to India for providing these. We will continue to engage with India for all our needs and requirements," said Shahid, the new foreign minister of Maldives in an exclusive interview with ANI.

India-Maldives relations were strained recently due to former President Abdulla Yameen's dictatorial behaviour, his growing proximity with China and Pakistan and human rights violations in his own country.

He crushed dissent, jailed several people including top judges and opposition leaders and declared a state of emergency in February, worsening the political turmoil in the country.

The country with 26 coral atolls and 1,192 islands went to polls in September to decide if Yameen will win a second five-year term. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih won the presidential election, defeating Yameen in what was seen as a referendum on democracy.

Shahid's visit assumes significance for India, following the swearing-in of President Ibrahim Solih at a ceremony in Male on November 17, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This is the first high-level visit from the Maldives after the new government took office.

"India is our best friend. India has been there for us at all hours of need be it in 1988 when there was a terrorist attack or be it the Tsunami when the entire country was inundated. Your naval ships streamed off in the Indian Ocean and the same time in Maldives archipelago. In the recent past, we had a water crisis in Male. It was India, who airlifted required water for us," Shahid told ANI.

During Prime Minister Modi's day-long visit to the Maldives, Solih briefed the Indian leader about Maldives' fragile economic situation. The two leaders discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives.

Both the leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other's concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. They also expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

"Things have started to change. We saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the swearing-in ceremony of Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as new President in which people of Maldives received Prime Minister Modi. This is clear evidence that he is most welcome and the manner in which first official meeting took place immediately after the inauguration, the warmth, sincerity and conducive environment in which they discussed substantial issues was a clear signal that new era of Maldives-India relation has begun," Shahid added.

-ANI
(As delivered)

Good afternoon.

We have just finished an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission.

NATO Allies and Ukraine discussed the serious situation in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Ukraine provided Allies with detailed information on the incident yesterday.

This morning, I had a phone call with President Poroshenko who requested the NATO - Ukraine Commission meeting. Because under the NATO - Ukraine Charter, Ukraine can request such a meeting if it perceives a direct threat to its territorial integrity, political independence, or security.

And at this meeting all allies expressed their full support for Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty.



So we call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports and allow freedom of navigation for Ukraine in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel. So we call on Russia to release immediately the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized yesterday.

And we call for calm and restraint.

This incident is a reminder that there is a war going on in Ukraine. It has been going on for more than 4 years. The Allied position has been consistent. Since 2014, all Allies have condemned Russias aggressive actions in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.

Russia must end its support to militant groups and withdraw all its forces from Ukrainian territory.

Allies will not recognise Russias illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea.

Russias ongoing militarization of Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, poses further threats to Ukraines independence. And undermines the stability of the broader region.

NATO continues to provide political and practical support to Ukraine and the people of Ukraine.

NATO Allies have imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Russia. NATO has undertaken the largest reinforcement of our collective defence in a generation. So Russia has to understand that it is consequences of its actions.

We will remain in contact with the Ukrainian government to underline our support.

With that Im ready to take your questions.

PIERS CAZALET [NATO Deputy Spokesperson]: Iryna from the Kyiv Post.

Question [Kyiv Post]: Iryna Somer, Kyiv Post newspaper. Secretary General, can we expect any concrete action from NATO side, in the case of if the situation will be even worse than they have it now? For example, can we see NATO free this friendly visit to Mariupol? Thank you.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Russia has to understand that its actions have consequences, and thats the reason why NATO has reacted so firmly against the actions of Russia against Ukraine over several years. NATO Allies have imposed economic sanctions. NATO has, not least because of the actions against Ukraine; illegally annexing Crimea, destabilising Eastern Ukraine. We have implemented the biggest reinforcement to our collective defence since the end of the Cold War, also with more presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.

And then, NATO Allies and NATO have provided strong political and practical support to Ukraine. We help to modernise the Ukrainian armed forces; we provide some support to the naval forces of Ukraine, and we are constantly assessing what more we can do to provide support and to help Ukraine. We do this partly within the NATO framework, but also some Allies provide some direct support on the bilateral level and we support and encourage that.

So, we are following and monitoring the situation very closely and we constantly assess what more we can do because Russia has to understand that its actions have consequences.

PIERS CAZALET [NATO Deputy Spokesperson]: Lorne from AP.

Question [AP]: Lorne Cook, Associated Press. Secretary General, youve often spoken about Russia's pattern of behaviour. Ukraine, by calling this meeting, obviously seems to think that this is an escalation. What's NATO's assessment? How do the Allies feel about it? Is this something bigger than weve seen before?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: What we saw yesterday was very serious because we saw actually that Russia used military force against Ukraine, in an open and direct way. We saw that they fired at Ukrainian ships; that they actually seized and captured ships and personnel, and we have seen reports that several of the personnel that were seized or captured, are wounded. So, this is escalating the situation in the region and it confirms a pattern of behaviour that we have seen over several years, where Russia illegally annexed Crimea, continued to destabilise Eastern Ukraine, and now also use a military force in a very direct way, in the Sea of Azov or the Kerch Strait So of course, this is serious. Thats the reason why NATO Allies react as we do. But at the same time, we need to work for de-escalation, for calm and restraint, because we have to avoid this situation coming out of control and becoming even more dangerous.

So, we continue to be firm and strong, but at the same time we support all efforts to find a political, negotiated solution to the crisis in and around Ukraine. And the situation in and around Ukraine, including the Azov Sea and the situation in the Black Sea, and the militarisation of Crimea, has been raised again and again in the NATO-Russia Council. We addressed it, this issue, just a few weeks ago when we had the last meeting of the NATO-Russia Council.

PIERS CAZALET [NATO Deputy Spokesperson]: Yes, please? Question here.

Question [Radio Free Europe]: Radio Free Europe, Ukrainian Service. What is NATO's reaction on obvious installation of martial law in Ukraine?

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Well, I spoke this morning with President Poroshenko and he underlined that the introduction of martial law will not hinder the working of the democratic institutions of Ukraine, and will not create any problems for the upcoming presidential election. For NATO Allies, this is of course important, that the President so clearly says that the martial law will not create any problems for the political democratic processes in Ukraine.

PIERS CAZALET [NATO Deputy Spokesperson]: We have time for one last question; gentleman at the end.

Question [National News Agency of Ukraine]: The situation deteriorating the situation in the Black Sea area and as is such. What can NATO do to reinforce its presence in that area, in the current circumstances? Thank you.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: NATO has increased its presence in the Black Sea region on land, but also with air policing over the Black Sea region, including the Black Sea, and we have a regular NATO presence in the Black Sea, with naval capabilities. Then of course we have three littoral states: Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria; and we have two very close partners: Ukraine and Georgia. And we are working with the two partners and we will also meet next week, here at Ministerial level, with Foreign Minister Klimkin. He will come to NATO and we will meet with Foreign Minister Klimkin, but also with Georgia, and we will discuss issues also of course related to security in the Black Sea region. NATO has increased its presence and we are working closely with the two partner countries, Ukraine and Georgia, and we will meet at Ministerial level next week.

PIERS CAZALET [NATO Deputy Spokesperson]: Okay. Ladies and Gentlemen, thats all we have time for. Thank you very much.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Thank you.
Polish scientists and experts from NATO and partner countries discussed future cooperative activities within NATOs Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme during the SPS Information Day held in Warsaw on 22 November 2018.

Participants networking at one of the 30 booths presenting the priority areas of cooperation of Polish research institutes.

At the event, 250 experts and scientists from Allies and partner countries, such as Finland, Ireland, Israel, the Republic of Moldova and Morocco, debated potential applications for SPS activities. Areas of discussion included cyber security, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defence, advanced technologies, and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

We want more Polish experts in the NATO SPS Programme, said Barosz Cichocki, Vice Minister of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the opening session. Dr Piotr Dardzinski, Secretary of State at the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, stressed the importance of the internationalisation of Polish research activities. He identified the SPS Programme as a key tool in promoting transnational scientific collaboration to strengthen not only peace and security within the Alliance but also with partner countries.



Assistant Secretary General Antonio Missiroli encourages increased involvement of Polish experts in SPS activities.

I look forward to continuing and deepening our good work with Polish scientists and experts. I sincerely hope that we will use this SPS Information Day to encourage and identify new collaboration opportunities in the fields of science, research, technology and beyond, stated Dr Antonio Missiroli, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges.

Poland is currently contributing to an SPS project monitoring chemical ammunition dumpsites in the Baltic Sea using autonomous underwater vehicles. The chemical warfare agents not only present a significant risk to fishermen and larger ships but also threaten marine biota.

The SPS Information Day was organised in cooperation with the Permanent Representation of Poland to NATO, the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish Ministry of Defence.
(Natural News) POTUS Donald Trump did two things last week that were vitally important for the safety and security of our country, as well as supportive of the rule of law.

He gave U.S. military forces deployed along the border with Mexico permission to use lethal force in support of Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection agents attempting to keep thousands of migrants from crossing illegally into the country. And he said he would have no problem shutting down the entire U.S. border with Mexico if it meant protecting the integrity of our boundaries.

We, as a country, either have borders or we dont. IF WE DONT HAVE BORDERS, WE DONT HAVE A COUNTRY! he tweeted.

We, as a country, either have borders or we don't. IF WE DON'T HAVE BORDERS, WE DON'T HAVE A COUNTRY!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2015

Is the president overreacting? Is this just him being a bigot and a racist? Hardly.

Developments over the weekend indicate that a growing number of mostly male, military-age migrants  who already number in the thousands with more arriving near the border all the time  plan to rush the border at various points in an attempt to overwhelm U.S. security and military forces.

This comes on the heels of an agreement reached between the U.S. and the incoming Mexican government under Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to keep migrant asylum seekers in Mexico for the time being.

As noted by The Epoch Times, more than 5,100 mostly Honduran migrants are currently crowded into a migrant camp in Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S. border in southern California. The news organization even posted a video of migrants in the camp who were lining up for food:

The line for food just outside the camp confines. Free meals are served at 10am and 5pm. There are 5,150 migrants now at the camp in Tijuana. pic.twitter.com/6BRcbcWRHg  The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) November 24, 2018

The line for food just outside the camp confines. Free meals are served at 10am and 5pm. There are 5,150 migrants now at the camp in Tijuana, the news site tweeted.

Luke Rosiak, an investigative reporter for The Daily Caller, made the observation on Twitter that women and children are suspiciously missing from photos and videos taken at the camp.

So many women and children! https://t.co/ndR9qD1NMu  Luke Rosiak (@lukerosiak) November 25, 2018

Invaders are coming

But thats not all. The Epoch Times is also reporting that organizers within the migrant camp are waiting until their numbers swell to around 20,000 when they will then rush the border and send a message to POTUS Trump to open the gates into the U.S.:

Honduran Marco Gomez, 26, arrived in Tijuana on the evening of Nov. 22, and slept under a bridge just yards from the El Chaparral pedestrian entrance to the United States.

Gomez said the plan is to wait until an expected 20,000 migrants arrive in Tijuana and then enter the United States en masse.

Well stay together and be strong, and then move on to the U.S., he said, The Epoch Times reported. Peacefully, like people going from one country to another. Marching. (Related: Mexican officials confirm DHS report that criminals ARE part of migrant caravan.)

He, like scores of other migrant males, have refused Mexicos repeated offers of asylum. In fact, Gomez and others have no plans to seek asylum in the U.S.; they want to simply cross illegally and meld into the population.

When asked about applying for asylum in the U.S., Gomez told The Epoch Times, Its a waste of time. Its a process that takes months and yearsits a long time.

Frank Martinez, another Honduran migrant who is traveling with his father, also shunned asylum. I personally and I know many people will attempt to do the same thingits to cross illegally. I will enter illegally. Because we want a better life, and Im in a hurry, he said, adding he has refused Mexicos offer of asylum.

POTUS Trump is working against incredible legal and political headwinds in his effort to uphold his oath of office to protect and defend the country. He should be supported by every American regardless of political affiliation.

Its clear were being invaded. We have a right to defend ourselves.

Read more about the migrant invasion to the U.S. at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NewsTarget.com

USAToday.com
A Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department deputy died after crashing into a power pole in Central California Sunday night, according to the sheriff's department.

Deputy Antonio "Tony" Hinostroza, 45, was responding to help with a pursuit just before 10 p.m. when he crashed into the pole outside of the city of Riverbank, which is located near Modesto, the sheriff's department reported.

First responders rushed to the scene of the crash at the intersection of Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road and tried to save Hinostroza, but he died at the scene, according to the sheriff's department.

Hinostroza served with the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department for 19 years, according to the department. During his time with the department, he worked as a patrol deputy, K-9 handler, gang detective, SWAT team member and field training officer.

Hinostroza leaves behind an adult son, according to the department.
Ukraine's parliament voted Monday to impose martial law in parts of the country to fight what its president called "growing aggression" from Moscow after a weekend naval confrontation off the disputed Crimean Peninsula in which Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels amid renewed tensions between the neighbors.

Western leaders and diplomats urged both sides to de-escalate the conflict, and the U.S. blamed Russia for what it called "unlawful conduct" over Sunday's incident in the Black Sea.

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other in the dispute that further ratcheted up tensions ever since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and threw its weight behind separatists in eastern Ukraine with clandestine support, including troops and weapons.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked lawmakers in Kiev to institute martial law, something the country did not do even during the worst of the fighting in the east that killed about 10,000 people.

After a five-hour debate, parliament overwhelmingly approved his proposal, voting to impose martial law for 30 days starting Wednesday morning in 10 of Ukraine's 27 regions  those bordering Russia, Belarus and Moldova's pro-Moscow breakaway republic of Trans-Dniester. The locations chosen were ones that Poroshenko identified as potentially in the front line of any Russian attack. The capital of Kiev is not under martial law.

Poroshenko said it was necessary because of intelligence about "a highly serious threat of a ground operation against Ukraine." He did not elaborate.

"Martial law doesn't mean declaring a war," he said. "It is introduced with the sole purpose of boosting Ukraine's defense in the light of a growing aggression from Russia."

Ukraine's Defense Ministry already announced earlier in the day that its troops were on full combat alert in the country.

The approved measures included a partial mobilization and strengthening of air defenses. It also contained vaguely worded steps such as "strengthening" anti-terrorism measures and "information security" that could curtail certain rights and freedoms.

But Poroshenko also pledged to respect the rights of Ukrainian citizens.

His critics reacted to his call for martial law with suspicion, wondering why Sunday's incident merited such a response. Poroshenko's approval ratings have been plunging, and there were concerns that he would postpone a presidential election scheduled for March.

Just before the parliament met to vote, Poroshenko sought to allay those fears by releasing a statement revising his original martial law proposal from 60 days to just 30 days, in order to "do away with the pretexts for political speculation."

Oksana Syroid, a deputy speaker of parliament, noted that martial law was not introduced in 2014 or 2015 despite large-scale fighting in the east. A state of emergency "would present a wonderful chance to manipulate the presidential elections," she said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Poroshenko assured him that martial law would not have a negative impact on the election.

Despite Poroshenko's vow to respect individual rights, opposition lawmaker and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko warned before the vote that his proposal would lead to the possible illegal searches, invasion of privacy and curtailing of free speech.

"This means they will be breaking into the houses of Ukrainians and not those of the aggressor nation," noted Tymoshenko, who is leading in various opinion polls. "They will be prying into personal mail, family affairs ... In fact, everything that is written here is a destruction of the lives of Ukrainians."

Poroshenko's call also outraged far-right groups in Ukraine that have advocated severing diplomatic ties with Russia. Hundreds of protesters from the National Corps party waved flares in the snowy streets of Kiev outside parliament and accused the president of using martial law to his own ends.

But Poroshenko insisted it was necessary because what happened in the Kerch Strait between Crimea and the Russian mainland "was no accident," adding that "this was not the culmination of it yet."

Russian coast guard ships fired on the Ukrainian navy vessels near the strait, which separates the Black Sea from the Sea of Azov, injuring six Ukrainian seamen and eventually seizing the vessels and their crews. It was the first open military confrontation between the two neighbors since the annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine said its vessels were heading to the Sea of Azov in line with international maritime rules, while Russia charged that they had failed to obtain permission to pass through the narrow strait that is spanned by a 19-kilometer (11.8-mile) bridge that Russia completed this year.

While a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has sought to assert greater control over the passage since the annexation.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin tweeted that the dispute was not an accident and that Russia had engaged in "deliberately planned hostilities," while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed Kiev for what he described as a "provocation," adding that "Ukraine had undoubtedly hoped to get additional benefits from the situation, expecting the U.S. and Europe to blindly take the provocateurs' side."

Klimkin told reporters in Kiev that the government is in talks with the Red Cross to make sure the captive seamen are treated as prisoners of war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not say whether the Kremlin considers them prisoners of war.

At a U.N. Security Council meeting, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley urged Russia to "immediately cease its unlawful conduct" in the Black Sea.

In his first public remarks since the confrontation, President Donald Trump did not specifically call out Russia's behavior.

"We do not like what's happening, either way, we don't like what's happening and hopefully it will get straightened out," Trump said.

Anne Gueguen, the French deputy permanent representative at the U.N., urged the release of the sailors and the vessels.

But Russia called Ukraine's actions "dangerous." Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council the incident was another example of Ukrainian leaders trying to provoke Russia for political purposes.

The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides. NATO said Stoltenberg expressed the U.S.-led military alliance's "full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke by telephone with Poroshenko to express her concerns and emphasize the need for de-escalation and dialogue, her office said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman, James Slack, said the incident was "further evidence of Russia's destabilizing behavior in the region and its ongoing violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity."
Thirteen sea lions have been found dead on the shores of Washington state since September, six of them from gunshot wounds and the other seven from suspected human-caused trauma, according to a wildlife welfare group.

The Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network reported that one sea lion was found with its head sliced off, according to NBC News.

Sea lion deaths are more common when fishing runs increase because humans and the animals often go for the same food, according to Seal Sitters. The most dangerous months are still to come.

Sea lions and other marine mammals are protected under federal law, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries said in a statement is investigating the deaths.
It took more than 15 years for Mississippi and other Southern states to catch up to the Supreme Court's landmark desegregation decision, Brown v. Board of Education, and many in the school systems found ways around the new system, NBC News reported.

The issue came to light again last week when the Jackson Free-Press reported that Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who faces a special election Tuedsay, attended a school in Brookhaven, Mississippi, that was founded in 1970 to flout the integration order. Its mascot was a confederate general.

Such so-called segregationist academies around the South prevented black students from entering through financial barriers and unstated discriminatory practices.

"The state of Mississippi and other states began offering private school vouchers to support this effort to bypass integration," according to Richard Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation and an expert on American education and segregation.
Congress members called for executives at the utility company to blame for September's natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts to step down Monday as they held a special hearing into the disaster.

The six House and Senate members from Massachusetts and New Hampshire who held the hearing at a packed middle school gymnasium in Lawrence took aim at the corporate culture at Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and its parent company, Indiana-based NiSource.

They painted a picture of a corporation that cut corners and lacked the internal procedures to prevent, let alone respond to, the Sept. 13 disaster that killed one person, injured dozens more, damaged more than 100 homes and left thousands without heat or hot water in the Merrimack Valley communities of Lawrence, North Andover and Andover.

"At every step of the process, there was a chance to avoid this disaster," said U.S. Sen. Ed Markey to company executives. "Instead of choosing safety, you chose savings. Instead of choosing to do things the right way, you chose to do things the easy way and the result was disaster."

Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera suggested Columbia Gas should not be allowed to operate in Massachusetts.

"Break it apart, revoke their license, make them sell their business to someone else," he said to the congressional panel. "Columbia Gas should cease to exist. No second chances."

Asked by Markey to give Columbia Gas a grade for its response on the night of the explosions, he said "those who were close to this would give them an 'F'." He said he actually broke the news of the disaster to company executives when he called them that night.

"I wasn't in contact with anybody from Columbia Gas for several hours after the event occurred," Andover Fire Chief Michael Mansfield added. "Due to the lack of communications, due to the lack of organization, the lack of their emergency planning, I would give them an 'F'."

Joseph Hamrock, CEO of NiSource, and Steve Bryant, the president of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, promised workers were doing everything in their power to restore gas service to thousands of customers despite missing an initial goal of full restoration before Thanksgiving. The company now says the process should be complete by early December.

"I know our work has been far from perfect," Bryant said.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and U.S. Reps. Seth Moulton, Niki Tsongas and Congresswoman-elect Lori Trahan of Massachusetts also attended Monday's hearing.

In addition, residents affected by the explosions attended and were invited to submit their own testimony online.

The family of 18-year-old Leonel Rondon, who was killed after a chimney dislodged and landed on him after the explosions, were among the first to speak at Monday's hearing.

"We will not let this loss be without meaning," his sister, Lucianny Rondon, said. "The grief we feel is unbearable, but we know Leonel will want us to stay strong."

Warren pushed the executives to disclose if anyone had been fired as a result of the disaster, but they declined to say. She also noted that Columbia Gas has been responsible for a number of gas leak incidents in Massachusetts in recent years.

"I just want to figure out what personal responsibility looks to you two," she said to Hamrock and Bryant. "You kept your jobs and you're still getting paid what sounds like a lot of money."

Warren then asked utility executives how much they were paid.

"My compensation is a matter of public record, and it's in the range of $5 million," answered Hamrock.

Bryant told Warren his salary is about a half million dollars. Both men said they won't take pay cuts but might lose certain incentives.

Warren also wanted to know why Columbia Gas handed out space heaters to residents that did not end up working in most of the homes in Lawrence.

"When you announced the plan to provide space heaters, did you know that almost 90 percent of the homes in the region couldn't handle them," she asked.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt testified the agency is making its investigation into the natural gas disaster a "high priority," but added that its final report is still months away. A preliminary report released last month said over-pressurized gas lines led to the explosions that rocked the Merrimack Valley.
A peaceful protest turned ugly outside of a convicted child rapist's home Saturday night in Providence, Rhode Island, WJAR reported.

Richard Gardner, 51, was released from custody on Oct. 11, after serving 30 years for kidnapping and raping young boys in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Since Gardner's release, which stemmed largely from a clerical error made by prosecutors two years ago, there have been multiple protests by angry neighbors outside his Washington Park home.

Gardner was arrested a few weeks ago after putting his mother's Massachusetts address on his marriage license, but he was released after a judge found he did not violate his probation in doing so.

The convicted child rapist lives with his new wife, Patricia, who held the vigil Saturday night alongside family and friends. The group held candles and signs in Gardner's defense and say they want to send a message to neighbors who have been protesting outside the home.

I want peace. Peace, all we want to do is live," Gardner's wife said. "We're trying to get the neighbors to see that theres an alternative way of getting their message across without hate and name calling."

Gardner appeared at the vigil, holding a candle and sign that read, Are you the same person you were 30 years ago?"

Neighbors responded once they realized what was happening, and then Providence police showed up.

While Gardner's wife believes he is a changed man, neighbors don't agree and say they'll continue to protest until he moves out of the neighborhood.

When Patricia was asked if she understood where her neighbors are coming from, she said, "I call it fair, and I call it ignorance."
A 74-year-old former Roman Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to raping an altar boy in Massachusetts went on trial Monday for allegedly assaulting two boys in Maine in the 1980s.

Ronald Paquin, who was defrocked in 2004, is charged with assaulting the boys between 1985 and 1988 in Kennebunkport, Maine when the victims were 14 or younger. Court documents indicate one of them was "substantially impaired" by drugs during the assault.

Paquin, who pleaded not guilty, used a cane when he entered the courtroom on Monday and sat between his attorneys as one of the victims testified in York County Superior Court.

Assistant District Attorney Justina McGettigan said the evidence would show Paquin gave the boys alcohol, asked them to perform sex acts on him, and performed sex acts on them on several occasions.

"All of this was while the defendant was a religious figure in their lives," McGettigan said.

The alleged victim who testified, now in his late 40s, told the jury that Paquin began taking an interest in him when he was 12 years old and continued through his teenage years. The sexual assaults took place at several locations, including a motel and a campground in Kennebunkport, he said.

He said the priest took him on trips to Hawaii, Orlando, and even a cruise to Mexico. The alleged victim said eventually their time together turned physical.

"He would tell dirty jokes. He would tell me I wanted something more from him," the alleged victim remembered, his hands and voice shaking throughout his testimony.

Jurors who were selected last week were asked a series of questions including whether they watched the movie "Spotlight" about the Boston Globe's reporting on the clergy abuse scandal.

Paquin, who was featured in the movie, was a central figure in the scandal that enveloped the Boston archdiocese. He spent more than a decade in a Massachusetts prison for sexually assaulting an altar boy.

He was released in 2015 and was taken into custody in Maine last year.

The Boston Globe reported Paquin admitted to medical evaluators that he abused at least 14 boys and said he was also abused as a child.

Other allegations against him have prompted civil settlements, but no other criminal convictions. In Maine, charges were made possible because the statute of limitations for sex crimes against a child younger than 16 was eliminated in 1999.

The second alleged victim in the case is expected to testify Tuesday.
Two men are in custody after allegedly beating and robbing a U.S. Army soldier at a Red Line station Friday.

18-year-olds Vernon Reeves and Jimmy Williams are both facing felony robbery charges after allegedly beating and robbing the 31-year-old man at the Chicago and State Red Line stop on Friday afternoon, according to the Chicago police department.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the man stopped to let a woman off the train at the stop, and then a group of young men got into an argument with him.

When he tried to exit up the stairs, the group attacked him, kicking and punching him, the Cook County Assistant State's Attorney told the Tribune.

Two other juveniles are also in custody in connection with the incident, police said.
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.

Officer Samuel Jimenez, the young Chicago officer who ran toward danger to save innocent lives as gunfire erupted inside a Chicago hospital last week, was laid to rest one week after his tragic death.

Just as a weekend snowstorm came to an end, skies cleared as Jimenez's body was escorted to his final resting place. Hundreds of mourners and fellow officers gathered for an emotional service at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines Monday to remember the officer many described as a hero long before he wore a badge.

The service quickly became standing-room only.

He was a one-of-a-kind hero," said friend and fellow officer Rafael Villegas. There hasnt been a day or a moment where I wish I was there with him that afternoon. Regardless of the outcome, I just wanted to be there.

"He selflessly and courageously ran towards danger," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. "He sacrificed his safety for the safety of others. He gave his life to save the lives of others.

Jimenez, who grew up in the citys Portage Park neighborhood, was a husband and father of three who had been on the force less than two years before his death. He was among three innocent people killed at Mercy Hospital when a gunman, who was also fatally shot, opened fire.

"Throughout his life and on the last day of his life, Samuel followed his two north stars - love of family, love of city," Emanuel said during the funeral service.

The shooting also claimed the lives of Dr. Tamara O'Neal and 28-year-old phamarcist Dr. Dayna Less. A funeral for Less was also slated for Monday.

"Many Chicagoans were saved because of you," Supt. Eddie Johnson said during Jimenez's service Monday. "Thank you so much for your dedication, commitment and sacrifice. So, on behalf of a heartbroken city and police department, Sam, may you rest in peace.

As his casket was carried out of the church, his tearful wife clutched the flag that once draped it. A line of cars stretching for miles escorted his body to its final resting place.

Mercy has set up a fund for donations to benefit the victims' families.
A winter snowstorm continued to batter the Chicago area early Monday, closing schools, canceling flights and snarling road conditions after the holiday weekend.

A Blizzard Warning was in effect overnight, ending around 6 a.m. for several area counties, including DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, Lake and McHenry counties in Illinois, as well as Kenosha County in Wisconsin, according to the National Weather Service.

Cook, DuPage, Grundy and Will counties remained under a Winter Storm Warning through 9 a.m., with Cook, plus Lake County, Indiana, under Lakeshore Flood Warnings through 12 p.m. as well.

Snowfall totals reached nearly a foot in some areas, particularly the far northwestern counties. Dozens of districts canceled school across the area, largely in the suburbs. For a full list of school closings, click here.

That heavy snowfall overnight made for treacherous road conditions ahead of the morning commute. The Bishop Ford Expressway was temporarily closed after a power line fell onto the road, Chicago fire officials said. While it reopened a short time later, travel conditions areawide remained hazardous with slick roads, high winds and low visibility.

Illinois State Police urged motorists to limit travel during the storm and to bring supplies like a cell phone, food, water, warm clothing, and blankets in case of an emergency.

Train commuters were asked to allow for extra time in their commute as well, Metra said in a statement Sunday night. While Metra planned to operate on a normal weekday schedule, passengers were asked to allow extra travel time and use caution on boarding platforms and near the tracks.

The storm also caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights at Chicago's airports during one of the busiest travel times of the year, with at least 411 flights canceled at O'Hare International Airport and 68 flights canceled at Midway Airport.

The heavy snowfall also left thousands of people without power overnight. More than 68,000 people were without electricity in Cook County alone as of Monday morning, according to ComEd, with another 26,000 impacted in DuPage.

The storm was expected to ease by Monday morning, leaving several inches of accumulation in its wake. Morning clouds will break for partial sun, though conditions will remain windy and colder with highs in the low 30s.

Lake Effect snow snowers also remained possible in the Michiana snow belts.
Heavy snow and high winds could potentially make for a nightmare commute for residents returning to work after the holiday weekend.

Snowfall totals of up to a foot are expected in some western areas, and even closer to Chicago there is the potential for heavy snows and high winds to create hazardous travel conditions for commuters at the start of the work week.

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, the last of the snow may not move out of the area until around 9 a.m., meaning that road conditions could be slippery in the morning hours.

Area Residents Enjoy Big Sunday Snowfall

A Blizzard Warning will remain in effect until 9 a.m. Monday morning, with wind gusts over 40 MPH and blowing and drifting snow expected.

Metra released a statement Sunday night calling for train riders to take extra time with their commutes on Monday.

Metra passengers are advised to allow extra travel time to their boarding station Monday morning and to exercise caution on boarding platforms or near the tracks, the agency said. At this time, Metra plans to operate a normal weekday schedule.

Chicago officials are deploying resources to deal with slick and snowy roads, and are offering tips to motorists to keep them safe.

Illinois State Police are urging motorists to limit travel during the storm, and to bring supplies like a cell phone, food, water, warm clothing, and blankets if they must travel on roadways.
President Donald Trump rallied voters Monday for Republican Senate appointee Cindy Hyde-Smith who has found herself in a closer-than-expected runoff contest after comments she made about attending a public hanging drew condemnation.

As Trump praised Hyde-Smith at two high-profile rallies in different parts of the state, her opponent, Democrat Mike Espy spoke at a predominantly African-American church and described his campaign as an effort to reach across the "chasm of racial division."

The runoff election Tuesday will decide who serves the final two years of a term begun by Republican Sen. Thad Cochran, who resigned in April amid health concerns.

The historic contest features Hyde-Smith, who would be the first woman elected to Congress from Mississippi, against Espy, who's vying to become the state's first black senator since Reconstruction.

It's a contest that has been buffeted by racial tensions after Hyde-Smith's public hanging comments. And the tensions continued right up until Election Day with the discovery of seven nooses and six handwritten signs on Capitol grounds Monday morning.

It was not immediately known who put them there. The signs referred to the state's history of lynchings and the Senate race. One sign said Mississippi needs a senator "who respects the lives of lynch victims."

At rallies in Tupelo and then in Biloxi, Trump praised Hyde-Smith and called on voters to send her back to Washington. She was appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant to fill the senate seat after Cochran retired.

"She votes for us and she votes for 'Make America Great Again,'" Trump said in Tupelo, where he was accompanied by Hyde-Smith.

Trump called her "a truly incredible leader and tireless champion" for Mississippi.

"She stood up to the Democrat smear machine," Trump said, praising her for voting to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Hyde-Smith, who has made the Trump rallies a highlight of her runoff campaign, told the crowd in Tupelo: "I worked very, very hard for you. I have stood up for you and you know I will continue to stand up for the conservative values of Mississippi."

But race has become a dominant issue as Hyde-Smith faces Espy, a former congressman and U.S. agriculture secretary.

Hyde-Smith has drawn fire for a photo showing her wearing a replica hat of a Confederate soldier, and a video showing her praising a supporter by saying, "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."

Mississippi has a history of racially motivated lynchings and violence against people who sought voting rights for black citizens. About 38 percent of the state's residents are black. Espy is trying to boost their turnout and pick up support from white voters who are uneasy with Trump or the racially tinged stories about Hyde-Smith.

Espy spoke for nearly 30 minutes Monday to a crowd of about 200 people gathered at church in Jackson. He called on his supporters to go out to vote on Tuesday "like it's a holiday."

"We've got a job to do. We need to come out tomorrow in such numbers, such strength, marching to the polls like it's a holiday," he said.

"This is a campaign that goes to the color line and it reached across the color line, across the chasm of racial division, across the chasm of racial acrimony," Espy said, saying blacks and whites share common concerns in the issues he's centered his campaign on, such as health insurance, student debt and jobs.

It's the last U.S. Senate race to be decided in 2018 and will determine whether Republicans pad their slim majority.

"If we win tomorrow, we'll be at 53-47 which is substantially more than we had," Trump said. He said of Espy, "Oh, he's far left, he's out there. How does he fit in in Mississippi?" And he told the crowd, "don't take any chances" by not voting.

Hyde-Smith's support of Trump is unmistakable. She used both her opening and closing statements of the only debate of the runoff campaign to promote Monday's presidential rallies, citing the online address to get tickets. Even on trade and tariffs, where Trump's decisions could hurt Mississippi farmers, Hyde-Smith praised the president.

After the event in Tupelo, best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, Hyde-Smith and Trump flew to the Gulf Coast for a larger rally in Biloxi where thousands of Trump supporters were waiting.

"Cindy Hyde-Smith will support President Trump's agenda, and President Trump's agenda includes a better America for all of us, every state, including Mississippi," said Virginia Olander from Bay St. Louis.

About 100 anti-Trump protesters were also there, chanting "Impeach 45" as they held signs with red strikes through Hyde-Smith's name.

Espy has emphasized that he's a moderate seeking the votes of everyone and willing to work across party lines. He noted during a campaign stop earlier Monday that he had crossed the "party chasm" to endorse the re-election of Republican Gov. Haley Barbour in Mississippi in 2007.

Democrats also have used some star power.

Former Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Espy, and three Democrats who could run for president in 2020  Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick  have been to Mississippi to campaign for the former congressman who served as agriculture secretary in 1993 and 1994 under Democratic President Bill Clinton.

For Espy, turnout is key. He must close the gap in a state where Trump received 58 percent in 2016. Mississippi hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1982.

Hyde-Smith has apologized to "anyone that was offended" by the hanging comment, saying she meant no ill will. She and her campaign have refused to discuss the Confederate hat.

Trump defended Hyde-Smith Monday. He said the comment was "a little flip" but said she apologized and that he'd "heard that loud and clear." He said he knows "where her heart is and her heart is good."

Walmart asked Hyde-Smith to return a $2,000 campaign contribution because of the hanging remark.

AP video journalist Stacey Plaisance contributed to this report.
A Milford man was arrested after a stand-off that went on for hours Monday morning and police said he is accused of assaulting his wife and threatening to kill her.

Police said the mans wife went to the police station at 3:15 a.m. Monday and reported that 38-year-old Matthew Smith told her he was going to kill her, burn down her familys home and kill any future children she may have.

In addition to the threats, Smith pulled out a knife, threatened to slice her with it and punched her in the face and eye, according to police.

She also warned police that Smith might have an unregistered firearm.

Officers responded to the house and tried to speak to Smith, but he refused to leave the house, so they called in the Regional Special Response Team and the Milford Police Departments Small Unmanned Aircraft and Robot units, according to police.

"Information shows that in the past that he has been involved in incidents, not in our jurisdiction, not in domestic violence incidents, where he was possessing weapons, but we believe they were actually secured and seized in those investigations," Milford Police Officer Mike DeVito said.

Around 11 a.m., police said they decided to knock down the back door of the house because they were concerned about a nearby high school getting dismissed since there are a lot of students who walk home in the area.

Smith surrendered and has been charged with disorderly conduct, assault in the third degree, first-degree threatening and interfering with an officer.

He is being held on a $25,000 bond.

Neighbors said it was frightening to see such a large police presence, but appreciate how officers have handled the situation.

"It's a little alarming, but it's understandable for what's going on," said Gary Strain, a neighbor.

"It's scary, it really is. I'm glad that they're taking precautions to make sure nobody gets hurt, but it is scary," added Ava Phelan, of Milford.

Nearby schools remained open, but bus drivers were notified of the incident and buses were diverted.
What to Know The leak of a flammable chemical from a plant next to the Delaware Memorial Bridge forced a sudden closure of the bridge Sunday evening.

Bridge officials said chemical plant staff requested the closure as a precaution. The shut down caused a traffic nightmare.

Ethylene oxide, a flammable and potentially hazardous chemical, was leaking from the plant.

The leak of a highly flammable chemical from a plant next to the Delaware Memorial Bridge forced an emergency shutdown of the dual-span suspension bridge on Sunday, creating a traffic nightmare during the travel rush home from the Thanksgiving holiday.

The closure happened around 5 p.m. Sunday after ethylene oxide began leaking from the Croda Atlas Point chemical plant on the Delaware side of the bridge's span. The plant, located along Cherry Lane in New Castle, Delaware, is closest to the northbound span which carries cars into New Jersey.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority said plant staff requested the bridge closure as a precaution.

Ethylene oxide is a highly flammable and acute exposure can cause lung damage and nausea, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is typically used as an ingredient to make other chemicals and can have a sweet smelling odor.

A firefighter at the hazmat scene told NBC10 that measuring equipment showed a high risk of explosion and thus warranted the highway shut down.

George Greenley, spokesman for Holloway Terrace Fire Company, told The Associated Press that if the gas cloud "would have had an ignition source it could have been catastrophic."

Fire officials waited for pressure to dissipate in the pipes at the plant before reopening the bridge around 11:30 p.m.  more than six hours after it was closed.

He says the cloud of chemical gas was "of such magnitude that it easily could have" reached the bridge.

A Croda spokesperson said it's too early to know specifics about what led to the leak, but that the company is working with state environmental control to monitor the impact.

The bridge's sudden closure during the final hours of the Thanksgiving travel rush resulted in a traffic nightmare in Delaware and New Jersey  the two states the bridge connects.

An average of 80,000 vehicles cross the span which feeds the New Jersey Turnpike and I-295 in New Jersey and I-95 in northern Delaware.

Bridge officials described the roads leading to the spans as a "parking lot" at the start of the closure.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority reported a backup of at least 2.5 miles in the southbound lanes headed for the bridge. Traffic was detoured off the turnpike at Exit 2 and onto U.S. 322.

The Croda spokesperson said the company deeply regrets the leak and that more information about what happened would be released as soon as it became available.
The holiday season is always extremely busy for plumbers. According to Baker Brothers Plumbing, Air & Electric, the Friday after Thanksgiving and the weekend that follows is their busiest time of the year, affectionately called Brown Friday.

Plumbers say the biggest culprits in kitchen drain issues are dumped cooking oil, grease and food buildup.

Most of the buildup in the kitchen line is when folks are putting all kinds if foods down their garbage disposal and putting grease down there and things like that, Baker Brothers plumber Mike Walker said.

Walker unclogs six to eight drains across North Texas every day, normally on kitchen lines that people are putting a lot of stuff down," he said. "It will be down to about an inch to an inch and a half of pipe where water is going through."

It can be more than an inconvenience. Clogs can get very expensive.

Your older houses that have cast iron and things like thatthose pipes can rot out, Walker said.

Walker explained that could cost you between $8,000 and $15,000 to replace.

Baker Brothers offers ideas to keep your pipes and drains clean and safe:

 Avoid putting stringy, fibrous or starchy waste in the garbage disposal, like poultry skins, celery, fruit and potato peels.

 Never put coffee grinds in the drain. It hardens easily and clogs quickly

 Never put pasta or bread because they expand easily

 Try using cold water instead of hot water so grease solidifies and is flushed through a pipe. Otherwise, the grease could stick to the pipe.

 Don't pour cooking oils or fats down the drain. They build up in the pipes like "clogged arteries."

 Wipe off greasy plates and pots with paper towels and then throw away the towels.
A festive holiday train is journeying through eight states, including Texas, where it will make nearly two dozen stops and distribute $171,500 in gift cards.

The Kansas City Southern Holiday Express Train started its 2018 journey in Shreveport and headed east into Mississippi.

At each of the 22 stops, gift cards for children needing warm clothing and other necessities will be distributed to The Salvation Army.

After leaving Mississippi, the Holiday Express Train will head back to Louisiana and then into Texas where there are planned stops in Jefferson, Wylie, Sulphur Springs and Pittsburg between Nov. 29-Dec. 2. See the complete schedule here.

After visiting eight states, the trip will end Dec. 14 at Union Station in Kansas City, where the train will remain on display through Dec. 18.

The train is led by KCS' Southern Belle business train and features a smiling tank car dubbed "Rudy," a gingerbread boxcar, a flatcar carrying Santa's sleigh, plus a reindeer stable and a miniature village. There's also an elves' workshop, a reindeer stable and even a little red caboose.

Each car is dressed in lights and guests who stop to see and tour the train can even meet Santa Claus. Train tours are free and open to the public and no tickets are needed. Get more information on visiting here.
Britain's parliament has seized confidential Facebook documents from the developer of a now-defunct bikini photo searching app as it turns up the heat on the social media company over its data protection policies.

A British lawmaker took the unusually aggressive move of forcing a visiting tech executive to turn over the files ahead of an international hearing that parliament is hosting on Tuesday to look into disinformation and "fake news."

The parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has "received the documents it ordered from Six4Three relating to Facebook," Committee Chairman Damian Collins tweeted on Sunday, adding that he had already reviewed them. "Under UK law & parliamentary privilege we can publish papers if we choose to as part of our inquiry."

The app maker, Six4Three, had acquired the files, which date from 2013-2014, as part of a U.S. lawsuit against the social media giant. It's suing Facebook over a change to the social network's privacy policies in 2015 that led Six4Three to shut down its app, Pikinis, which let users find photos of their friends in bikinis and bathing suits by searching their friends list.

Collins, a critic of social media abuses and manipulation, is leading the committee's look into the rise of "fake news" and how it is being used to influence political elections.

Lawmakers from seven countries are preparing to grill a Facebook executive, Richard Allan, at the committee's hearing in London. They had asked for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to appear in person or by video, but he has refused.

The U.K. committee used its powers to compel the chief executive Six4Three, Theodore Kramer, who was on a business trip to London, to turn over the files, according to parliamentary records and news reports. The committee twice requested that Kramer turn over the documents. When he failed to do so, Kramer was escorted to parliament and told he risked imprisonment if he didn't hand them over, the Observer newspaper reported.

Facebook wants the files to be kept secret and a judge in California ordered them sealed earlier this year.

The judge is expected to give guidance on the legal status of the documents as early as Monday, Allan wrote in a letter to Collins.

"Six4Three's claims are entirely meritless," Facebook said in a statement.
The California Supreme Court Monday reversed the convictions of an accused killer from Los Angeles because the jury trial wasn't stopped -- even after the defendant showed signs he had returned to a state of mental incompetence.

The opinion means Domingo Linares Rodas could receive a new trial, so long as he is deemed competent to stand trial. The high court's decision noted Rodas' long history with mental illness.

"We conclude the trial court erred in failing to suspend the criminal trial and initiate competency proceedings at the time counsel declared a doubt as to her client's competence," Justice Leondra R. Kruger wrote.

Rodas, now 62, was convicted in 2014 of one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder for the stabbings of homeless men in Hollywood. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

The convictions included the murder of Keith Fallin, who was killed on Aug. 6, 2009 while he was asleep near the Music Box Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, according to the LA County District Attorney's Office. The attempted murder convictions were for the stabbings of two other men the same day.

Jurors acquitted Rodas of murdering two other homeless men in the weeks prior to the Aug. 6 attacks.

Rodas was initially found incompetent to stand trial because of mental illness, but after several months of treatment with antipsychotic medication at a state hospital, doctors reported Rodas was ready for trial, according to the court opinion.

Rodas stopped taking medication as the trial began and was, "communicating incoherently with counsel." A defense lawyer raised the concern with LA Superior Court Judge Robert Perry, but after the judge quizzed Rodas about the charges in the case Rodas told the court he was willing to go to trial and would work with his lawyer.

The District Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel days for traffic around Los Angeles International Airport, an LAX official said.

"We're expecting a total of 120,000 vehicles at LAX by the end of the day," LAX spokesman Charles Pannunzio said.

As of 4 p.m., spotters for LAX determined it would take motorists about "22 minutes to go completely around the upper level of the airport, which is the departure level and about 14 minutes to circle the lower level, which is for arrivals," Pannunzio said.

Pannunzio also said that in order to facilitate a more orderly flow of traffic, airport officials have closed the eastway and westway shortcuts across the airport.

He also said they have closed the southbound lanes of Sepulveda Boulevard at the airport so that motorists leaving the airport must exit on Century Boulevard.

There is no word on how long that exit route would remain in place.

Pannunzio also suggested that people departing LAX tonight add an extra half hour to wait time that is normally two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights.
Call it the chaos theory for picking the next House speaker.

Those Democrats trying to stop California Rep. Nancy Pelosi from reclaiming the job say they don't need a rival candidate just yet. Instead, they plan to show that Pelosi lacks the votes to win the race. And then, they say, new challengers will emerge.

It's strategy that has other Democrats cringing at the prospect of their new House majority in disarray. They say voters swept them to office in this month's elections to govern, not become bogged down by the kind of Republican infighting that sent Ohio Rep. John Boehner to an early exit as speaker and weakened his successor, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan.

The last thing they want is a floor fight over the leadership post when Congress opens work in January.

"If the first Democratic value they see is chaos, I don't think that's very good," said Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who recently wrote an op-ed with colleagues supporting Pelosi. "I don't think it's a good look at all."

The chaos theory will be put to a test this coming week when House Democrats meet in private for a vote nominating Pelosi to become speaker in January. She held that post from 2007 to 2011, the first woman to serve as speaker.

After one potential rival stepped aside, Pelosi is expected to easily win the majority from her ranks. But opponents have hopes of denying her the broader support she needs when the new Congress holds a vote in January.

One of those organizing against her, Rep. Kathleen Rice, D-N.Y., said recently that the lack of a sure-fire challenger is beside the point. The goal is to force the question.

"The whole concept of you can't beat somebody with nobody is a Nancy Pelosi talking point," she said.

As Rice and others in the group led by Reps. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Tim Ryan of Ohio see it, it's all in the math.

At the moment, there are at least 15 Pelosi opponents, making for a razor-thin vote. House Democrats won a 233-seat majority in the 435-member House in the November midterm election, with a few races still uncalled. Pelosi needs 218 to win the job, if all Republicans oppose her, which is likely. The margin could expand slightly with absences or if lawmakers simply vote "present."

"The first step is showing that she cannot get to 218," Rice told reporters, "and then I believe the challengers will emerge that can allow new members to say, OK, here's another possibility, now I get it."

Moulton, a Marine veteran, said earlier he hopes it will be "a chaotic debate" for new leadership because "that would be healthy for the party."

But after the election delivered Democrats the House majority, it's an approach that may require a leap of faith that other lawmakers are unwilling to take, especially as Pelosi amasses an outpouring of support from advocacy groups, labor unions and even former President Barack Obama in a display of raw power.

Trying to head off that debate, Pelosi sent a letter to colleagues thanking "so many of you for the strong support you have given me" and asked that "we all support" the party's nominee for speaker when the full House votes. "Our unity is our power," she wrote.

At one point, Pelosi's opponents counted 17 Democrats on a letter against Pelosi and were hoping for more. But one by one, some of them started standing down.

A potential rival, Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, decided against a challenge, agreeing instead to lead a new subcommittee on voting integrity. Pelosi revived that panel and recommended Fudge for the post, elevating an issue important to the Congressional Black Caucus, especially after close races this month in Florida and Georgia.

Another opponent, Rep. Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., dropped his opposition after he said Pelosi agreed to have him take the lead on his proposal to expand Medicare as an option for those age 50 to 65.

As opponents regrouped, Pelosi was home for the holiday recess in California, working the phones and doling out the kinds of perks that show the potential power of being speaker in ways it hasn't been wielded on Capitol Hill.

Boehner and Ryan struggled to corral their majority since Republicans gained control of the House in 2011. The revolt from within the GOP ranks started with the 2010 tea party election and continued with the Freedom Caucus that pushed Boehner to early retirement. Ryan was able to pass the GOP tax bill into law but the right flank repeatedly flexed its muscle including during California Rep. Kevin McCarthy's recent election as minority leader.

Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., said she remembers being in the House chamber as the Boehner speaker's race teetered, and thinking the dysfunction on display wasn't good for Republicans or Democrats.

She wrote the op-ed with Beyer in part because she cannot imagine facing voters in the St. Paul suburbs back home if a floor fight emerges as the Democratic majority's first order of business.

"People in Minnesota would be very, very disappointed  from disappointed to outrage  that we are blowing an opportunity," she said. "Those voters aren't looking for chaos. They're looking for effective, responsible governing."

Newly elected members, especially those who pledged to oppose Pelosi and make way for a new generation of leaders, are caught in the middle.

One who supports Pelosi, Rep.-elect Katie Hill of California, said Democrats "need to minimize any internal party strife" and "hit the ground running day one."

Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said in a tweet: "I hope that we can move swiftly to conclude this discussion about party positions, so that we can spend more time discussing party priorities." She backs Pelosi.

Seasoned lawmakers, including Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., say now is not the moment for a public split.

"I wouldn't want to see it come to the floor, in front of the nation," Cleaver said. "I don't want to shake the confidence of the millions of people who stepped out to vote."

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
What to Know Luther Rodrick Campbell, the 25-year-old son of Luther Uncle Luke Campbell, was arrested Saturday night in Miami Beach and faces charges.

Campbells father posted a Twitter message in which he said that he has not seen or spoken to his son in 10 years.

The estranged son of a famed South Florida rapper is behind bars and facing charges after he was allegedly driving a stolen car while carrying drugs.

Luther Rodrick Campbell, the 25-year-old son of Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell from the legendary rap group 2 Live Crew, was arrested Saturday night in Miami Beach and faces charges that include grand theft auto, possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license.

According to police, officers were alerted after a tag reader on the MacArthur Causeway hit on the tag as being a stolen vehicle. The car was stopped at the 1200 block of Washington Avenue where Campbell and a woman were inside.

The woman, who was not arrested, said she met Campbell at a Downtown Miami club and he was giving her a ride home. A search of Campbell turned up a bag with a white substance in his pocket that is suspected to be cocaine.

Campbells father posted a Twitter message in which he said that he has not seen or spoken to his son in 10 years.

The younger Campbell was arrested and sentenced to probation for grand theft auto in 2014, according to the paper, and was scheduled to start a five year probation next May after pleading guilty to burglary with assault and battery as well as witness tampering from a 2017 arrest.
What to Know The brother of the current president of Honduras is facing federal drug and weapons charges, prosecutors in New York announced Monday

Juan Antonio Hernandez Alvarado, 40, also known as Tony Hernandez, was charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the US

He also faces charges for possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and making false statements to US agents, prosecutors say

The brother of the current president of Honduras is facing drug and weapons charges in the United States, prosecutors in New York announced Monday.

Juan Antonio Hernandez Alvarado, 40, also known as Tony Hernandez, was charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States, related weapons offenses involving the use and possession of machineguns and destructive devices, and making false statements to federal agents, according to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman.

Hernandez, who was arrested on Nov. 23 in Miami, is a former congressman of Honduras and the brother of the Central American country's current president, Juan Orlando Hernandez.

According to prosecutors in New York, from around 2004 to 2016, multiple drug-trafficking organizations in Honduras allegedly worked together in conjunction with prominent public and private individuals, including Honduran politicians and law enforcement officials to receive cocaine sent to Honduras from, among other places, Colombia, and to transport the drugs toward the border with Guatemala and eventually the United States.

Allegedly, the drug traffickers paid bribes to public officials, including members of the National Congress of Honduras, of which Hernandez is a former member.

Prosecutors say Hernandez is a large-scale drug trafficker who worked with others to import cocaine into the United States and was involved in processing, receiving, transporting and distributing drug shipments that arrived in Honduras.

Additionally, according to court documents, the cocaine Hernandez allegedly trafficked was sometimes stamped with his initials, "TJ."

If convicted, Hernandez faces up to life in prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and weapons charges. If convicted on the making false statements to federal agents charge, Hernandez faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Attorney information for Hernandez was not immediately available.
What to Know New Jersey lawmakers have unveiled their latest proposal to legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 and over

A small explosion went off at an Equinox on the Upper West Side on Sunday, blowing out windows, the FDNY said

An Amtrak train en route to Boston was stuck in Queens for more than five hours with "no functional restrooms," passengers said

Monday, Nov. 26, 2018

Happy Monday! Don't put that umbrella away just yet, there is more rain on the way. It will be mild, however, with highs reaching the low to mid-50s. As always, get the latest forecast at nbcnewyork.com/weather.

1. NJ Lawmakers Unveil Proposed Legislation to Legalize Marijuana

New Jersey lawmakers have unveiled their latest proposal to legalize recreational marijuana for people 21 and over.

A joint Democrat-led Assembly and Senate committee is expected to discuss the package of measures Monday.

One bill provides for legalizing an ounce of marijuana for adults 21 and older, setting up a five-person cannabis commission and taxing the substance at 12 percent.

Read more here.

2. Explosion Follows Transformer Fire on Upper West Side: FDNY

A small explosion went off at an Equinox on the Upper West Side on Sunday, blowing out windows, the FDNY said.

No one was injured.

At 6:19 p.m., there was a small explosion in the basement of the gym on Broadway between 91st and 92nd streets.

Read more here.

3. Amtrak Heading to Boston Stuck in NYC for Hours: Passengers

An Amtrak train en route to Boston was stuck in Queens for more than five hours with "no functional restrooms," passengers said.

The toilets started flushing again and the train finally started moving after about six hours. It arrived in Boston more than 10 hours after it left New York, Amtrak said.

Amtrak said debris on overhead wires caused the delays, but it wasn't clear why the train was stuck so long.

Read more here.

For the latest entertainment news and things to do, tune in to New York Live, Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m. on NBC 4 New York.
Ricky Jay, a magician, historian of oddball entertainers and actor who appeared in "Boogie Nights" and other films, has died. He was 72.

Jay died of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, according to his manager Winston Simone. Jay died Saturday.

Jay appeared in several films and television series, including as a cameraman in "Boogie Nights"; in "Magnolia" and "Tomorrow Never Dies"; and in HBO's "Deadwood." He consulted on "Ocean's Thirteen" and "Forrest Gump" and collected rare books on unusual entertainers and performers dating back hundreds of years.

His one-man shows played to packed audiences, where his sleight-of-hand artistry impressed even fellow magicians. In one famous trick, he would pierce a watermelon with a card flung through the air.

He also wrote several books on games, magic and magicians, including "Dice: Deception, Fate and Rotten Luck."

Jay was fond of stories of oddball characters, gamblers and con men in history, and wrote a book celebrating the artistry of Matthias Buchinger, an 18th-century German magician born without legs and hands.

Buchinger artifacts collected by Jay were featured in a 2015 exhibit at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"The breadth of his knowledge and appreciation for magic and the allied arts was truly remarkable," fellow actor and magician Neil Patrick Harris tweeted. "Such sad news, such a profound loss."

Jay frequently worked with the playwright David Mamet, who produced his one-man show "Ricky Jay & His 52 Assistants." That sold out all its New York City performances and won an Obie Award for off-Broadway theater productions.

A later Mamet-produced off-Broadway show, "Ricky Jay: On the Stem," played to packed houses for six months. The Associated Press called it a "whirlwind, rollicking journey through forgotten New York history - with specific attention paid to the oddball characters who thrived decades ago on Broadway."

Jay also appeared in Mamet films such as "House of Games," ''State and Main" and "Heist."

Survivors include Jay's wife, Chrisann Verges.
What to Know Vintage trains and buses will be running in the city every Sunday through December

The annual 'Holiday Nostalgia Rides' are run by the New York Transit Museum, and feature Depression-era, art deco-style trains

New Yorkers have made the event their own, with many flocking to the trains in full vintage garb

Travel back in time with a holiday pop-up that allows commuters to ride vintage, 1930s trains through the city.

Starting last Sunday and running every Sunday through December, the New York Transit Museum is continuing its tradition of placing its vintage R1-9 trains in regular service over the festive season.

Dubbed the "nostalgia train," the Depression-era, art deco aesthetic train features rattan seats, paddle ceiling fans (installed before the age of air conditioning), incandescent light bulbs, roll signs and period advertisements.

In typical fashion, New Yorkers took the theme and ran with it. It has become somewhat of a tradition for people to dress in period garb to take the ride back in time. Riders on Sunday were snapped on the cars wearing vintage-inspired dresses, pearls, hats and shoes.

Vintage buses will also be in service on the M42 bus route.

The trains depart from Second Avenue on the F line in Lower Manhattan and run along Sixth Avenue to Rockefeller Plaza before heading up the Central Park West line where the train will stop at 59th St  Columbus Circle before making its way up to 125th St on the A/C/D lines in Harlem.

The trains depart Second Avenue at 10, 12, 2 and 4 p.m. More details here.

[NATL] Top News Photos: Pope Visits Japan, and More
Russia's coast guard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine's vessels Sunday, wounding two crew members, after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula, the Ukrainian navy said.

Russia blamed Ukraine for provoking the incident, which sharply escalated tensions that have been growing between the two countries since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and it has worked steadily to bolster its zone of control around the peninsula.

Earlier in the day, Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over a separate incident involving the same vessels, prompting Moscow to block passage through the narrow Kerch Strait, which separates the peninsula from the Russian mainland.

The Ukrainian navy said two of its gunboats were struck and Russian crews boarded and seized them and an accompanying tugboat.

Russia's Federal Security Service, known as the FSB and which oversees the coast guard, said there was "irrefutable evidence that Kiev prepared and orchestrated provocations ... in the Black Sea. These materials will soon be made public."

The FSB confirmed early Monday that it fired on the vessels to force them to stop, and then seized them.

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was called for Monday morning over the escalating situation, according to U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley. The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides and for Moscow to restore access to the strait, which Ukraine uses to move ships to and from ports on either side of the peninsula.

Ukrainian authorities said they had given advance notice to the Russians that the vessels would be moving through the strait, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.

Russia said the three Ukrainian vessels made an unauthorized passage through Russian territorial waters, while Ukraine alleged that one of its boats was rammed by a Russian coast guard vessel.

The tugboat, which was rammed, was traveling with the two Ukrainian gunboats from Odessa on the Black Sea to Mariupol, an eastern Ukraine port, via the Kerch Strait.

"Russian coast guard vessels ... carried out openly aggressive actions against Ukrainian navy ships," the Ukrainian statement said, with the tugboat suffering damage to its engine, hull, side railing and a lifeboat.

The Kerch Strait is the only passage into the Sea of Azov. The strait is spanned by the recently completed Kerch Bridge, connecting Crimea to Russia. Transit under the bridge has been blocked by a tanker ship, and dozens of cargo ships awaiting passage are stuck.

Russia has not given any indication of how long it will block the strait, but a long-term closure to would amount to an economic blockade of Ukrainian cities on the Azov coast. Russia's Black Sea Fleet greatly outmatches the Ukrainian navy.

Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov include strategically vital centers such as Mariupol, the closest government-controlled city to Donetsk and Luhansk, the breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia-backed separatists. Thousands of people in those regions have been killed in fighting between Ukrainian troops and the separatists since 2014.

The FSB told Russian news agencies after the first incident that the Ukrainian ships held their course and violated Russian territorial waters.

"Their goal is clear  to create a conflict situation in the region," the FSB statement said. It did not mention that a Ukrainian tugboat was rammed.

Although a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has been asserting greater control over the passage since 2015.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said earlier that Russia's actions violated the U.N. Charter and international law, and pledged to "promptly inform our partners about Russia's aggressive actions."

"Such actions pose a threat to the security of all states in the Black Sea region," the statement said, "and therefore require a clear response from the international community."

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, after a meeting with his National Security Council, said in a statement he would ask parliament Monday to take up the issue of whether to implement martial law over the incident.

About 50-100 people gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Kiev to protest Moscow's actions.

Dmitry Kiselyov, a commentator on Russian state-controlled TV, told viewers of his Sunday evening news program that Poroshenko, encouraged by the U.S., is looking to pick a fight with Russia in the Black Sea.

The talk show host also alleged the U.S. talked Poroshenko into staging a provocation against Russia as a means to disrupt an upcoming meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at this week's Group of 20 summit in Argentina.

"What is happening now at the (Kerch) bridge threatens to turn into a very unpleasant story," Kiselyov said.
A Del Mar teen is paying it forward this holiday season by volunteering her time in medical clinics south of the border.

Reese Ger-Herscott just came back from her third trip to El Fuerte in Sinaloa, Mexico where she helped doctors provide medical and dental aid for people in need.

Ger-Herscott volunteered with LIGA International, the Flying Doctors of Mercy.

As a 16-year-old, Im definitely not the person who is doing these surgeries, Ger-Herscott told NBC 7. I am making it so the doctors and nurses and all the support staff can do their best to get through as many patients as possible.

The Francis Parker junior wants to study medicine after high school.

People are people wherever they are, so thats just important to be able to help out wherever we can, she said.

Joe Downie

Ger-Herscott comes from a family of doctors.

Her mother is an emergency room physician and her grandfather is an orthopedic surgeon; both have traveled with Ger-Herscott to Mexico on medical mission trips with LIGA International.
As a winter storm slammed the Midwest, delays and cancelations were common at airports across the country, including at San Diego International Airport on Sunday.

Determined travelers at San Diego International Airport tried to make their flights while Winter Storm Bruce was just as persistent, wreaking havoc across the nation's midsection, from the plains to the midwest, before reaching New England.

Blizzard conditions across much of Nebraska and parts of Kansas, Iowa and Missouri have canceled 600 flights headed to or from the U.S. by Sunday morning in the central plains and Great Lakes region, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

Some planned ahead when they saw the storm approaching. John Linn rerouted his son's flight home through Houston. The flight originally had a layover in Chicago.

"Which, obviously, I think is a better choice now," he said.

Some travelers, however, were out of luck. At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport more than 700 flights were canceled Sunday.

"They canceled my flight to Chicago on one airline so I had to come over book another airline," Kara Robinson said. "Now, I'm going back to the other airline and hopefully I can get my money back."

Mike Sardo, a visitor from Canada, had an entirely different approach to the delays.

"I was supposed to fly home today at noon and yesterday I said to myself why would I go back to Toronto?" he said. "The weather is much nicer here in San Diego than minus-20 in Toronto so I decided to stay."

This Thanksgiving weekend was the highest Thanksgiving travel volume in more than a decade, according to AAA. More than 54 million people traveled 50 miles or more from home  the most since 2005, and up from 2.5 million from last year.

"It was definitely the worst day to travel," Robinson said.

Few flights into and out of San Diego International Airport continued to be canceled into Monday and more delays were expected.
A four-time Olympic sprinter and American college track star pleaded guilty to a count related to forcibly thrusting papers and garbage at the Washington, D.C., embassy of the small West African nation of Equatorial Guinea.

Gustavo Envela, 50, could avoid prison time for a bizarre incident in June, but he could also face a $10,000 fine.

Envela illegally entered the grounds of the embassy, tossing trash and papers, including a picture depicting the assassination of the president of the country, according to an affidavit from the U.S. Secret Service.

Envela told the News4 ITeam hes a political activist who never threatened to harm anyone and was peacefully protesting, but the incident triggered a Secret Service investigation.

In court filings this week, prosecutors said Envela has a criminal history, including a past incident of trespassing.

Envela is a former track star at Stanford University who participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics at the age of 16 on behalf of Equatorial Guinea, then later raced at the 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympics.
Democrats gained at least 39 seats in the House of Representatives in this year's midterm elections, NBC News concluded Monday, after Ben McAdams defeated Republican Rep. Mia Love in Utah's Fourth Congressional District.

It had been NBC News' final uncalled contest until NBC News retracted its call in California's 21st Congressional District Monday night, with more votes still needing to be counted and the tally too close to call. If Democrat T.J. Cox prevails over Republican incumbent Rep. David Valadao, it would give the Democrats a 40-seat gain in the House.

Democrats' gains in the House were propelled by the largest vote margin for one party ever seen in a midterm election year, beating Democrats' previous record from the Watergate era.

Love conceded her race Monday, tearing into President Donald Trump for having "no real relationships, just convenient transactions."
The federal government's plan to run the planned border wall at the site of a historic mission along the Rio Grande would amount to an illegal government intrusion into the practice of religion, the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville says.

"It goes against the First Amendment, freedom of religion," said David Garza, a Brownsville lawyer who is representing the South Texas Catholic diocese in its battle with the government.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports at issue is a chapel in Mission, Texas, about 75 miles west of the mouth of the Rio Grande. The chapel, known as La Lomita Mission, served as sort of a regional hub beginning in the mid-1800s to care for the spiritual needs of "widely separated Catholic churches, baptizing newborns, performing marriage ceremonies and blessing the dead," according the city of Mission's website.

The government last month filed court papers notifying Brownsville Diocese Bishop Daniel Flores, who grew up and began his priesthood in Corpus Christi, that it intends to survey about 67 acres where the chapel, built in 1899, sits near a horseshoe-like bend in the river that separates the United States from Mexico. The survey is seen as prelude to the government taking at least some of the land through eminent domain to build the wall.

Flores, in a statement issued by the diocese, said no.

"While the bishop has the greatest respect for the responsibilities of the men and women involved in border security, in his judgment, church property should not be used for the purposes of building a border wall," the statement said.

"Such a structure would limit the freedom of the Church to exercise her mission in the Rio Grande Valley, and would in fact be a sign contrary to the Church's mission. Thus, in principle, the bishop does not consent to use church property to construct a border wall."

In a rebuttal to the government filed in federal court, Garza argued the diocese property should be beyond the lawful reach of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"La Lomita Chapel is a sacred building destined for divine worship to which the faithful have a right of access for divine worship, especially its public exercise," Garza wrote, noting that La Lomita is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

And even though the chapel is not regularly used for Sunday worship and other activities, it remains a place "where mass and other Catholic religious services are conducted."

The Rev. Robert Wright, a Catholic priest and a professor at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, said La Lomita was part of a series of South Texas missions established by the Oblate Missionaries after the Mexican-American War.

The war firmly established that the U.S.-Mexico boundary was the Rio Grande and not the Nueces, American Catholic authorities wanted to ensure the church had a presence in the once-disputed territory, Wright said.

"So the Oblates were asked to come in [to] take care of those new Catholic parishes along the Texas side of the border," he said.

A mission was started in Brownsville and another in Roma, about 120 miles away. Because of the distance between to the two cities, the missionaries established La Lomita, which in Spanish mean "little hill," as a midway point.

"So that's where the chapel was built and there was a little ranch house and a house for the priests," Wright said. "And that was the new mission center for the whole part of the Valley which is now Hidalgo County."

The original mission was destroyed by flood. The one that still stands, after several renovations, was built in 1899.

According to the National Parks Service, the presence of the mission sparked the development of the town, which was named Mission.

"A village began to grow around the chapel as the Oblate Fathers constructed a rectory, guest house, quarters for the lay brothers, a blacksmith shop and buggy shed and small houses for the families of the laborers," says La Lomita's entry on the Parks Service's website.

Garza said that despite the religious and historic significance of La Lomita, the matter remains far from settled and the diocese is in an uphill fight.

"We've got a rough row to hoe, no doubt," Garza said. "Eminent domain cases are hard to win, whether it's for a dam, to widen a highway or to build the wall."
Police are investigating a car crash in Worcester, Massachusetts after its victims were allegedly shot at on Sunday night.

Officers responded to the area of 86 Providence St. at 10 p.m. for a report of a car that had crashed into a wall.

When police arrived, a 21-year-old woman who was driving and a 23-year-old man who was her passenger were still in the vehicle and found that both were suffering from injuries as a result of the crash.

The victims told police they had crashed after being shot at by an unknown vehicle. According to the victims, they had been traveling on Pattison Street when the unknown vehicle pulled up behind them and an occupant inside began to fire shots at their car.

Police said the driver panicked and accelerated the vehicle in an effort to get away, lost control and crashed into a wall at the intersection of Providence and Patterson streets.

Authorities said the victims had not been shot but their car was struck by numerous bullets. A nearby parked vehicle was also hit with a stray bullet.

The driver suffered some broken bones. Her passenger received some cuts and a possible leg injury. Both victims were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Authorities do not have any information on the suspect vehicle or its occupants at this time. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 508-799-8651.
A man who allegedly struck a police chiefs cruiser while driving under the influence in Rockland, Massachusetts faced a judge on Monday.

Sixty-five-year-old Rockland resident Richard Cirignano was arraigned in Hingham District Court on multiple charges, including operating under the influence, operating a motor vehicle to endanger, failure to stop for a police officer and speeding.

Around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Rockland Police Chief John Llewellyn was driving south on Spring Street in an unmarked Ford Explorer cruiser when a man in a Ford F-150 pickup truck drove through a red light at an intersection and hit the cruisers rear passenger side, according to authorities.

The impact of the crash caused the police chief's cruiser to go off of the road and onto the lawn of a nearby church.

Llwellyn said he and his wife Susan had been heading home from a holiday gathering when the incident happened.

"We werent really injured so thats the good news," he said.

Cirignano allegedly fled from the scene and drove towards Summer Street. After checking on his wife in the unmarked cruiser, Llewellyn went after the suspect's vehicle.

"I was more angry than anything at that point," Llewellyn said.

The pursuit ended about half-mile from the scene in front of the Rockland Ice Rink, where Cirignano was arrested.

"He looked at me and said, 'sorry Mr. Llwellyn,' At that point, I had his license. I knew that he couldn't drive away," Llewellyn recalled.

In court, prosecutors asked Cirignano if he had been drunk driving.

"I'm not going to answer that," Cirignano replied.

"He said he had five or six beers at a friends house in Bridgewater," added his attorney.

Cirignano was released on personal recognizance and his license was suspended. He's due back in court in January.
A Massachusetts woman accused of assaulting her 63-year-old aunt who later died from her injuries following a fight at a Methuen home has been ordered held without bail following her court appearance on Monday.

Modesta Gomez, 23, was arraigned in Lawrence District Court on two counts of assault and battery, assault and battery on a person over 60, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection to the death of Martina Gomez. A plea of not guilty was entered on Modesta Gomez's behalf.

Police said they responded to reports of a family fight around 10 p.m. Sunday at a home on 21 Bicknell Ave. in Methuen where one woman was unresponsive.

At the scene, they found Martina Gomez unconscious and rushed her to Lawrence General Hospital, where she later died.

She had reportedly tried to break up a fight between family members when she suffered from medical distress, according to the Essex District Attorney's Office.

According to police interviews with several witnesses and family members involved in the fight, the argument initially started over Snapchat between Martina Gomez's daughter and her daughter's ex-sister-in-law.

Modesta Gomez  Martina Gomez's niece  allegedly got involved in the fight, attacking her cousin. When Martina Gomez tried to break up the fight, that's when her niece allegedly struck her.

The elder Gomez fell to the ground while her niece allegedly continued to assault her by repeatedly closing the front door on her torso while she was on the ground, semi-conscious.

Modesta Gomez then allegedly left the scene in a red Honda sedan.

A family friend said she is in shock over Martina Gomez's death and the charges against the niece.

"She is a very good person, hard worker  the whole family is hard workers...," said Aiha Ramirez. "I get like a freeze because I couldn't imagine anything. I think it was like a heart attack or something. I don't know."

The incident remains under investigation by the Essex District Attorney's Office, state police, and Methuen Police.

The Officer of the Chief Medical Examiner is performing an autopsy to determine Martina Gomez's exact cause and manner of death.

Modesta Gomez, who is represented by Attorney Ronald Ranta, is due back in court Friday for a dangerousness hearing.
Police in Vermonts largest city are investigating a report that someone lit a display supporting President Donald Trump on fire  and left it on a homeowners doorstep.

Its crazy, said Annmarie Klein of Burlington. To me, thats violent. Thats bullying. Its scary.

Klein said her husband discovered the tatters of his Trump 2020: Keep America Great! flag early Sunday.

Klein told necn that while the couple was asleep, someone snatched the flag from the pole in front of their home, lit the banner on fire, and left it on the front porch of the property.

There was no apparent fire damage to the porch.

Burlington Police confirmed to necn affiliate NBC 5 News that they received the report of the burned flag, and are looking into it.

Klein said even in a city often known for liberal politics, disagreements with lawn displays have always been respectful  until this incident.

We all get along, Klein said of her neighbors and friends who have differing political views. You agree to disagree.

Klein said the flag-burning is an indication that the political tone in America right now is not healthy. She noted that despite her support of Trump in 2016, she has also supported Democrats, does not consider the president to be perfect, and likes Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, on many issues.

It does make me sad, Klein said, looking at the destroyed flag. Im going to be 58 years old, and Ive never seen something like this before. Ive always lived in this area.

The Vermont Democratic Party, while certainly no fan of Trumps, still absolutely condemned the vandalism.

Party spokesman Christopher Di Mezzo said in a written statement to necn, Difference of thought is what makes us average Americans. But its the level of respect with which we treat that difference that makes us Vermonters  that makes us unique.

The vandalism follows an election cycle that saw Vermont praised for its political civility.

In one legislative district, Republican and Democratic rivals for an open Statehouse seat even got national attention for teaming up in a musical duet at the end of a public forum on the issues.

Vermont is a beacon of hope, defeated gubernatorial candidate Christine Hallquist said in a concession speech on election night. We showed the rest of the country what good democracy looks like.

Despite the reputation for civility, reports of racist or transphobic threats made against some candidates have Gov. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, calling for an end to divisiveness and nasty polarization, which he has described as one of the countrys greatest threats.

I know Vermont can lead the way in restoring our sense of unity, Scott said of political divisiveness last week, in a Thanksgiving message to Vermonters.

As for Annmarie Klein, she said she is trying to turn the other cheek, hoping whoever torched her familys Trump flag will start looking for what they have in common with others, instead of focusing so fiercely on what separates them.
Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV) has by far achieved the highest efficiency for the conversion of sunlight into electricity. The basis for this latest achievement lies in the special multi-junction solar cells as well as the perfect interplay between the cell and the module optics. In the EU-funded project CPVMatch, a consortium of research institutions and companies has demonstrated how to optimize both of these aspects and thus better exploit the potential of this technology. The achieved module efficiency of 41.4 % is the highest value ever measured for a photovoltaic module.

High-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) systems offer renewable electricity with the highest conversion efficiency and thus a correspondingly low use of resources especially in regions with high direct normal irradiance. In this technology multi-junction solar cells, based on III-V compound semiconductors, are used. In these solar cells, several thin subcells are stacked on top of each other in order to convert the solar irradiance more efficiently. Optical lenses concentrate the incoming sunlight onto the miniature sized solar cells. The modules are mounted on a two-axis tracking system that follows the suns path during the day.

The industrial implementation of highest efficiencies for concentrator PV modules and thus the reduction of the gap between research results and industry production were the focus of the CPVMatch project. Headed by Fraunhofer ISE, a consortium of research institutes and industry partners from Germany, Italy, Spain and France have worked on new solutions over the past 3.5 years to this end.

In CPVMatch, we have addressed all production steps for concentrator modules starting from the materials, through cell fabrication and production systems, and up to the challenges facing module manufacturing, reports Dr. Gerald Siefer, project head and group leader of III-V Cell and Module Characterization at Fraunhofer ISE. The project partners have achieved two major results: By using innovative cell architectures for multi-junction solar cells with new materials, processes and manufacturing equipment, the researchers were able to optimize the production of four-junction solar cells. Also, they were able to improve the design of high-concentration modules, primarily by modifying the optics and making use of achromatic lenses. The combination of four-junction solar cells with achromatic lenses has led to the new record efficiency of 41.4 percent for a 122 cm module.

We are extremely pleased about these results that pave the way for further efficiency increases in the concentrator technology, says Dr. Andreas Bett, institute director of Fraunhofer ISE. Photovoltaics is booming worldwide, and we see great potential for this particularly efficient module technology. It significantly decreases the use of resources for energy conversion per unit area and thus contributes to more sustainability.
New Hampshire is getting nearly $600,000 in federal funding that will go toward helping reunite children in foster care with their families.

The $544,968 from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was awarded to the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. They will spend the funding on 64 vouchers for families whose housing problems contributed to them being separated from their children.

The funding's offered through HUD's Family Unification Program. Among those targeted are young people found to be at risk of homelessness.

According to the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, an affordable housing and child welfare advocacy group, foster care costs more than $48,000 annually per family when children enter foster care. That's more than triple what it would cost to house the same family under one roof.
What to Know Newly reinstated sanctions target Iran's energy, financial and shipping sectors

The Treasury Department imposed penalties on more than 700 Iranian and Iranian-linked individuals, entities, aircraft and vessels

The US is allowing Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey to continue purchasing Iranian oil

The Trump administration was caught between allies at home and abroad and the reality of global economics as it reinstated sanctions Monday on Iran, forced to carve out exemptions for important allies and back off on measures that could have been even more punishing for Tehran.

The U.S. granted waivers to allow China and seven close U.S. partners and allies to continue importing Iranian crude and other petroleum products without penalty, bowing to concerns that a complete end to Iran's exports would cause a major spike in world oil prices and cause other economic disruptions. Trump conceded that reality on his way to a last-minute campaign event a day before critical midterm congressional elections.

"We have the toughest sanctions ever imposed but on oil we want to go a little bit slower because I don't want to drive the oil prices in the world," he told reporters. "I could get the Iran oil down to zero immediately, but it would cause a shock to the market."

The newly reinstated sanctions target Iran's energy, financial and shipping sectors and are aimed at forcing Iran to end ballistic missile program and end its support for armed movements throughout the Middle East.

The measures restore all the U.S. sanctions that had been lifted under the 2015 accord that gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program, a deal that Obama administration critics had argued was too soft on the Islamic Republic.

In reinstating the measures, the Treasury Department imposed penalties on more than 700 Iranian and Iranian-linked individuals, entities, aircraft and vessels. Among those are 50 Iranian banks and subsidiaries, more than 200 people and ships, Iran's state-run airline Iran Air and more than 65 of its planes.

The sanctions freeze any assets that those targeted have in U.S. jurisdictions and bar Americans from doing business with them. They will also affect non-Iranian companies that deal with sanctioned Iranian firms and officials.

Yet, while the administration seeks to cut off Iran's oil revenue, it is allowing Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey to continue purchasing Iranian oil as long as they work to reduce imports to zero.

"When I look at the list, it's obviously very large economies that still in many ways depend on Iran oil imports and at this time don't have any strong alternatives," said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank.

"This is part of the Trump team's trying to balance its maximum pressure campaign against Iran versus its concerns over where the global prices of oil might go and how that could negatively impact everyone including America. I don't support this policy, but if you are going down this path, it's a way to lessen the risk of economic blowback in America."

Three of the eight waiver recipients  Greece, Italy and Turkey  are members of NATO. Japan and South Korea have mutual defense treaties with the U.S. and have a key part in the North Korea denuclearization initiative. India, the world's largest democracy, plays a critical role in the administration's "Indo-Pacific" strategy, which seeks to unite countries in the region into forming a bloc to counter China's growing assertiveness.

All of them lobbied heavily to be granted the six-month exemptions while promising to further reduce or end their imports and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the waivers were based on the specific circumstances of each and the need "to ensure a well-supplied oil market."

China is the single-largest importer of Iranian oil and forcing it to look elsewhere to fuel its dynamic economy would likely have rocked the market.

For some waiver recipients, domestic concerns were paramount.

South Korea, for example, is reliant on oil imports to drive its economy. It had been consultation with the Trump administration since the U.S. pullout from the Iran nuclear deal in May. Seoul says it will reduce oil imports from Iran by a "significant" amount but the waiver will allow it to maintain a stable supply of a light form of crude known as condensate.

Seeking to deflect criticism from some Iran hawks concerned that the sanctions don't go far enough, Pompeo stressed that U.S. pressure on countries to stop buying Iranian oil had already reduced its exports by more than a million barrels of crude per day costing the country $2.5 billion revenue.

Some leading Iran hawks appeared to agree with the administration's approach.

"We are encouraged that these waivers will only be temporary and one-time," said United Against a Nuclear Iran, a prominent group that was harshly critical of the nuclear deal and the sanctions relief it brought.

In addition to the oil exemptions, Pompeo said limited waivers had been issued to allow European and other firms to continue conversion work on three of Iran's nuclear facilities.

"Permitting these specific activities to continue is an interim measure that preserves oversight of Iran's civil nuclear program," the State Department said. "This oversight enhances our ability to constrain Iran's program and keep pressure on the regime while we pursue a new, stronger deal."

Maria Danilova and Matthew Pennington contributed to this report.
Traders in Newbury and Thatcham 'needed to be protected from him'

A COURT-imposed curfew was the latest attempt to protect local shopkeepers from a prolific shoplifter.

Reading magistrate Donald Skelton told 43-year-old Alan Waters that traders in Newbury and Thatcham needed to be protected from him.

Mr Waters, who lives at Southend in Cold Ash, has racked up 33 convictions for shoplifting alone, in addition to other unrelated offences, the court heard on Thursday.

Andy Callender, prosecuting, said on this latest occasion Mr Waters had stolen meat worth 159.64 from Waitrose in Thatcham. He added: He was identified by a police officer from CCTV footage taken in the store. None of the stolen goods were recovered.

Mr Waters admitted committing the theft on July 30 and has numerous previous convictions. In January 2016 police had to use the incapacitant Captor spray on Mr Waters when he wore a balaclava into a bookmakers while wanted on another shoplifting charge.

A probation officer told magistrates at that time that Mr Waters refuses to address his drug use or engage in discussions about his criminal behaviour.

Adonis Daniel, defending Mr Waters on the latest theft charge, said his client was currently subject to a conditional discharge, but was not in breach of it because it was imposed after the shoplifting incident.

Presiding magistrate Mr Skelton, after retiring to confer with colleagues, told Mr Waters: Youre a prolific shoplifter.

Almost everything has been tried with you to get you to realise that your lifestyle is not acceptable. We have to find some way of protecting shopkeepers from you.

He said Mr Waters would be made subject to a community order with a curfew requirement.

This means that, for 21 days from the date of the hearing, Mr Waters must stay at home between 4pm and 4am each day.

The curfew will be monitored by an electronic tag.

In addition, Mr Waters was ordered to pay 85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge of 85.

Finally, he was ordered to pay compensation of 159.64 to Waitrose.
Pat Turner, an appraiser active in the Richmond, Va. market, told me if the regulators' goal is to reduce time and costs, they should cut back on the role of appraisal management companies, middlemen who add anywhere from 40 percent to 50 percent or more to what the home buyer pays. Management companies are involved in the majority of new mortgage transactions; they choose the appraisers for assignments, review the valuation and send it to their lender clients. When the home buyer is charged $500, Turner says, the appraiser may only be receiving $250, while the management company pockets the other half. Without the middleman, the appraiser might charge $350, and that's all the buyer would pay  a $150 saving.
TheatreWorks New Milford will hold auditions by appointment only Dec. 9 from 2 to 6 p.m. and Dec. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. for its upcoming production of David Mamets drama Race.

A cast of three men, including two Caucasian and one African-American, ages 30 to 50, and one African-American woman ages 20 to 30 is sought.

Francis A. Daley of Danbury will direct the play.

The play is about two lawyers who find themselves defending a wealthy white executive charged with raping a black woman.

When a new legal assistant gets involved in the case, the opinions that boil beneath explode to the surface.

When David Mamet turns the spotlight on what we think but cant say, dangerous truths are revealed, and no punches are spared.

The play has very strong language and controversial themes.

All roles are available, and both professionals and amateurs are welcome, however, the theater is a non-equity theatre and does not offer compensation.

Actors should be prepared with a monologue and to read selected sides from the script.

It is very important to be familiar with the script before auditioning. Interested actors should bring a head shot and resume.

Rehearsals will begin in early January and the play will run weekends from Feb. 15 through March 9.

Character descriptions can be found at http://theatreworks.us/actors/index.php.

For more information or to make an appointment, call the 5 Brookside Ave. theater at 860-350-6863 or email info@theatreworks.us.
The following night Solomonov and Cook will do an Israeli Soul dinner takeover in collaboration with Pacific Standard Time chef Erling Wu-Bower and pastry chef Natalie Saben at the restaurant in River North. The expansive four-course feast includes a first course of hummus with pan-roasted turnips, dates and harif hot sauce served with laffa flatbread, plus salatim side dishes (Abe Fisher beet salad; Turkish salad; grated carrots with chiles; matbucha tomato pepper salad; cabbage with onion, sumac and dill; plus roasted eggplant with peppers); a second mezze course (Brussels sprouts with baba ganoush, hazelnuts and Bulgarian feta; stuffed grape leaves with pomegranate molasses; beef tongue with beans; pickled mackerel with rye bread; and spicy carrot chraime); a third main course of Zahav's lamb shoulder and a carrot pilaf sabich sandwich with dill tabbouleh; and a dessert course of rose and hibiscus malabi custard. $100 for dinner includes tax and gratuity; drinks and cookbooks available separately. Friday at Pacific Standard Time, 141 W. Erie St., 312-736-1778, www.pstchicago.com/israelisoul
One question that has baffled mankind is after-death experience or the experience after the heart stops beating. There have been anecdotal reports of a person being able to understand and hear what is happening around them even after they have been declared dead. A team of researchers have found that the brain works for a while after the heart has stopped. The research is reported in an a journal paper titled, 'AWAREAWAreness during REsuscitationA prospective study.'

The team of scientists from New Yorks Stony Brook University of Medicine, looked at patients with cardiac arrests in Europe and the US. They noted that those of the patients who were successfully resuscitated after their heart had stopped beating could recall the conversations around them between the healthcare personnel and were aware of their surroundings.

Image Credit: Triff / Shutterstock

Study leader Dr. Sam Parnia said that the patients could describe in details what happened around them. He explained that the time death is declared is the one when the heart stops beating. As the heart stops beating, it stops pumping blood to the brain and slowly the brain begins to shut down, he explains. He added that this process of the brain shutting down slowly may take hours and the person may be dead during this time but aware of their surroundings.

The team hopes that this study would help in the management of cardiac arrests and also prevent brain damage during resuscitation of such patients. Dr. Parnia said, At the same time, we also study the human mind and consciousness in the context of death, to understand whether consciousness becomes annihilated or whether it continues after you've died for some period of time  and how that relates to what's happening inside the brain in real time.

What this study means is that people are trapped inside their dead bodies for a while after they are declared dead. According to Parnia, people change after they have had an after-death experience. Parnia warned that unlike the Hollywood movie Flatliners people who return from this experience do not come with extra visions or memories. The science fiction movie showed a group of medical students who simulated a near death experience experiments to find themselves with visions and memories from the past.

He explained that the thinking region of the brain or the cerebral cortex slows down and flat lines but the brain cells are still active. When CPR is given the heart is started again and so does the brain function. He said, If you manage to restart the heart, which is what CPR attempts to do, you'll gradually start to get the brain functioning again. The longer you're doing CPR, those brain cell death pathways are still happening  they're just happening at a slightly slower rate. What tends to happen is that people who've had these very profound experiences may come back positively transformed. They become more altruistic, more engaged with helping others. They find a new meaning to life having had an encounter with death. But there isn't like a sudden magical enhancement of their memories. That's just Hollywood jazz.
Scientists have discovered a new chemical process - also known as a biosynthetic pathway - in bacteria which could lead to a new generation of antibiotics being produced and manufactured.

Researchers at The University of Manchester's School of Chemistry say their new pathway includes an enzyme, called a carboxylase, which adds CO 2 to a precursor molecule producing a highly unusual antibiotic called malonomycin.

The team says the biosynthetic process used to produce this antibiotic could now possibly lead to the discovery and development of other drugs, helping in the fight against drug-resistant bugs and illnesses in the future. The work was carried out in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and is being published in Nature Catalysis.

International figures say antibiotic resistance could result in an estimated 10 million deaths every year by 2050, whilst the cost to the global economy could be 66 trillion in lost productivity. Across Europe alone, an estimated 25,000 people already die each year as a result of hospital infections caused by the antibiotic resistant bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Jason Micklefield, Professor of Chemical Biology at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, who led the study, said: "The rapid rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is one of the foremost global health concerns of modern times.

"Now, using a combination of bioinformatics, gene editing and in vitro experiments, we have discovered a highly unusual biosynthetic pathway to the antibiotic malonomycin. This could pave the way for a new kind of antibiotic production process."

The team originally became interested in malonomycin because it has a highly unusual chemical structure. It possesses potentially useful antimicrobial activity and has already attracted industrial attention. However, despite the interest in this antibiotic, very little was known about the biosynthesis of malonomycin, until now.

The researchers found that CO 2 was introduced into the malonomycin structure, by a carboxylase enzyme that has never been characterized in bacteria before. Malonomycin carboxylase is most similar to a carboxylase enzyme in human cells which uses vitamin K to add CO 2 to proteins in our bodies, triggering essential physiological responses including blood coagulation.

Clinically important anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin, work by blocking the function of the human vitamin K-dependent carboxylase. Prof Micklefield added: "We were very surprised to find an antibiotic-producing carboxylase enzyme in bacteria that was similar to the human carboxylase responsible for blood clotting.

"We are now optimistic that our findings might lead to the discovery of new antibiotics and may also provide new ways of making antibiotics which are urgently needed to combat emerging drug-resistant pathogens."
Because Columbus accidentally "found" the Americas while searching for a westward route to Asia, he gets the credit for sparking the Age of Discovery on behalf of Spain. Often overlooked today is the fact that Portugal was in the exploration game first, moving down and around the African coast in pursuit of gold, black pepper and the riches of the Far East.

Forgotten, too, is that these Portuguese sailors and explorers, followed by priests and merchants, left culinary souvenirs wherever they traveled over the centuries, from Angola and Mozambique in southern Africa to southern Japan; from Timor-Leste in southeastern Asia to the Bahia region of northeast Brazil; from the city of Goa in India to Macau in China.

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"The Portuguese influence is incredibly below the radar," says David Leite, author of "The New Portuguese Table" and publisher of the food blog "Leite's Culinaria."

Foods and dishes from Portugal and its various outposts have crossed and recrossed the world, according to Cherie Hamilton, the Minneapolis-based author of "Cuisines of Portuguese Encounters," a book offering recipes, history and food lore. Take feijoada, Brazil's most famous regional dish. It can be found in every former Portuguese possession.

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"The basic ingredient is beans, but in each country and territory cooks adapted the dish to the ingredients they had," Hamilton says. In the Cape Verde islands, off the coast of Africa, cooks add dried hominy, Hamilton notes, while farther down the coast, on the island of Sao Tome, fish is used instead of pork or beef. And in Timor-Leste, the feijoada-like stew calls for kidney beans, pigs ears and feet, and papaya leaves.

It was that cross-pollination of foods and flavors that so intrigued Hamilton when she lived in Brazil in the 1960s. Since then, she has lived in Portugal, the former Portuguese colonies in Africa, and Macau, where she continued to study the local foodways. That worldwide exchange of foods she experienced can still be found and tasted today  if you keep an eye out.

Consider the experience of Floyd Cardoz, the Indian-born executive chef/partner of New York City's North End Grill, while traveling though Brazil.

"We passed this sign for 'sarapatel,' which is a pork stew with pig's blood. In Goa, it's 'sorpotel,'" says Cardoz, whose family hails from the former Portuguese colony on the southwest coast of India.

Annabel Jackson, a Hong Kong-based food writer, author and expert on the cuisine of Macau, Portugal's onetime colony on the Chinese coast, says Macanese cooking has almost nothing in common with the various cuisines of China. When the Portuguese arrived, there was no one but a few fishing families, she says, leading to the development of a hybrid cuisine as settlers arrived with wives and servants from other colonies.

"The cooking can be seen to be almost entirely Portuguese in technique, with Portuguese nonperishables at its heart  olive oil, olives, wine, bacalhau  but with the addition of Southeast Asian ingredients. ... Chilies, tamarind, coconut milk, spice," Jackson notes in an email from China.

The Portuguese did not have to colonize an area to have a major food impact.

Take Japan, for example. Missionaries and traders arriving in the mid-16th century brought many customs and foods, notes Elizabeth Andoh, an American-born author, cooking teacher and Japanese food expert based in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.

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"The Portuguese influence on Japan was huge, in a single word," she says. "Tempura is probably the best known and most assimilated; it's become the signature dish of Japan."

Consider also southern New England. One taste of clam or fish chowder spiked with a sausage like linguica or chourico tells you the Portuguese are there. There's even a Portuguese-style pizza, reports author Leite, who grew up in Fall River, Mass., home to one of the largest Portuguese communities in the U.S. Leite is optimistic Portuguese and Portuguese-inspired foods are gaining more recognition globally.

"Five hundred years ago, Portugal discovered the world," he says. "And now the world is returning the favor."

Bahian fish ragout (Moqueca de peixe)

Prep: 20 minutes

Marinate: 2 hours

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Cook: 6 minutes

Servings: 4 to 6

Note:

This Brazilian dish is of African origin, writes Cherie Hamilton in "Cuisines of Portuguese Encounters," and was originally a fish ragout wrapped in banana leaves and roasted over hot coals. Today, it cooks on the stove top. Hamilton serves it with pureed yuca or manioc.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds firm white fish fillets, such as grouper, halibut or cod

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3 tomatoes, 1 chopped, 2 thinly sliced

2 onions, 1 chopped, 1 thinly sliced

1 cup fresh cilantro

4 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon each: red pepper flakes, salt

1/4 teaspoon peppercorns

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3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

1/2 cup palm oil or vegetable oil

1. Cut fillets into serving pieces. Place in a shallow dish. Puree the chopped tomato and chopped onion in a food processor with cilantro, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and peppercorns. Add lemon juice; mix well. Pour the mixture over fish; marinate, refrigerated, turning occasionally, 2 hours.

2. Place the fish fillets in a large skillet. Top with the sliced tomato and sliced onion. Pour the coconut milk and oil over the vegetables. Cook, covered, over medium heat until the fish and vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes.

Nutrition information:

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Per serving (for 6 servings): 474 calories, 29 g fat, 17 g saturated fat, 89 mg cholesterol, 5 g carbohydrates, 48 g protein, 147 mg sodium, 1 g fiber.

wdaley@tribune.com
The notion of Italian beer has long generated snickers, and for two convincing reasons: The ubiquitous brands  Peroni and Moretti  aren't very interesting and the country is known to produce another alcoholic beverage from time to time.

Well, hold the wine and snicker no more.

An Italian craft beer revolution is underway, and though it largely hovers below the American radar, it shouldn't. I've tasted close to 10 Italian beers in recent weeks and they have been uniformly excellent: varied in taste and body, but complex and rewarding. Almost all can work with food or stand alone. Most fascinating is that they rarely conform to a style; Italian craft beer is often breaking its own ground.

As owner of Andersonville's venerable Hopleaf bar and restaurant, Michael Roper is best known for his embrace of Belgian beers. But along with restaurants like Spiaggia and The Purple Pig, he has also become one of the city's primary outlets for Italian beers.

"The Italians use what they have and that's one thing that sets them apart," Roper said. "They like to use very local ingredients, and not just from Italy  from the province."

What results are intensely complex beers rich with flavor and deeply drinkable. Abundant local ingredients, like faro and chestnuts, are common, but you can also easily find fruit (peaches or blueberries), vegetables (green pepper) and spices (chili) in your Italian craft beer. Yet the flavors are handled so deftly that you might not know they're in there. Whatever you wind up tasting, odds are it will be memorable.

Aside from the aforementioned restaurants, finding Italian beers can be hit and miss. Many Binny's stores have a selection, as do liquor stores than often have a varied beer selection, like West Lakeview Liquors.

Three to try

Baladin Nora Less than 100 miles from the French border, Baladin is most often cited as the brewery responsible for launching Italian craft beer. Nora is spicy and herbal, with a strong malt body. Equally tasty is another Baladin  the sharper and less malt-driven Super Baladin.

Birrificio Montegioco Quarta Runa Strongly reminiscent of a Belgian pale, this bold, dry and refreshing ale is brewed with peaches. The sugar is fermented out, however, which makes it a deftly complex fruit beer rather than cloying.

Birrificio Troll Palanfrina A perfect example of brewing what you have, this is one of several Italian craft beers featuring chestnuts. A bit smoky and mildly sour, this is a beautifully challenging beer.

jbnoel@tribune.com
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The holiday windows that most remember with great fondness were those that depicted a theme and that began in 1944 with The Night Before Christmas. The windows were instantly popular and remained so, with the inclusion of the character Uncle Mistletoe and others and with clever new narratives. There were alarming changes in decorative philosophy after the store was sold in 1991. But in 2006, Macys took over and got the message: Never mess with Chicago traditions. The theme for this years windows is Reasons to Believe. Go have a look.
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
On this afternoon, an effort to gather the men in one place for a conversation about what this award memorializes - the art of collaboration - has resulted in a sit-down at Silvercup Studios North, where they are participating in another project they all have a hand in: a limited series for FX about director-choreographer Bob Fosse and dancer Gwen Verdon. When it was suggested that the interview focus on one galvanizing interlude of "Hamilton," and how each played their part in making it happen, the reaction was immediate and electric. It was an opportunity for them to reflect on the profound psychic-income aspect of their group achievement and the ineffable bond that feeds artistic success.
Mumbai:

Gujarat government on Monday signed two agreements with the Intimate Apparel Association of India (IAAI) and the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) to promote garment and apparel sectors.

The agreements were signed here during a roadshow for the forthcoming investor summit Vibrant Gujarat, in the presence of chief minister Vijay Rupani.

Gujarat Government signs #MoU with two esteemed textile and apparel associations, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (#CMAI) and Intimate Apparel Association of India (#IAAI) to provide support to the keen investors. #VG2019 #VibrantGujarat #ShapingANewIndia pic.twitter.com/I3nnM9ChFF  Vibrant Gujarat (@VibrantGujarat) November 26, 2018

The ninth summit is being held from January 18-20, 2019, in Gandhinagar.

Also Read | Nitish Kumar unveils 70-feet tall Buddha statue in Bihar's Rajgir

We are expecting good response this year. We expect delegates from 110 countries this year, Rupani told reporters after the event.

He said more than 30,000 delegates from 100 countries participated in the last summit.

In the eighth edition of Vibrant Gujarat last year, the state signed around 25,000 MoUs in sectors such as MSME, chemical, pharma, engineering and IT, among others.

In the 2019 edition of the summit, the state expects 25,000-30,000 number of MoUs to be signed, according to a state government official.

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New Delhi:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Meenakshi Lekhi was stranded at the Indore airport after her flight to New Delhi was cancelled at the last minute due to "technical" reasons on Sunday evening.

"Stuck at Indore Airport, people are angry and disappointed by the conduct of IndiGo officials," Lekhi said in a tweet along with a video clip of the angry passengers.

Stuck at Indore Airport, people are angry and disappointed by the conduct of Indigo officials. https://t.co/tDNvYaCxgh  Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) November 25, 2018

Read More | Pathankot: 6 men from J-K detained on basis of suspicion

The IndiGo flight 6E 8867, operated by an Airbus A320, was scheduled to take off at 9.20 pm, but the airline informed the passengers that the flight was delayed by half-an-hour. "Fifteen minutes later, IndiGo announced that it had cancelled the flight due to technical reasons," a passenger said.

"The airline also informed the passengers the flight will now depart on Monday at 12.30," he added.

Also Read | Kartarpur Corridor: V-P to lay foundation stone in Gurdaspur today

The passengers also claimed that the airline did not accept the request for providing food or hotel accommodations, alleging that the IndiGo staff was not at all cooperative. IndiGo officials could not be contacted for comments.
New Delhi :

In a bid to ease the burden on young children who are forced to carry heavy school bags, the Union Human Resource Development Ministry has issued instructions to all the states and union territories (UTs) to fix the weight of school bags according to the students class. In a letter written to all the states and UTs, the ministry also instructed schools not to give any homework to students of class I and class II. The education ministry also asked to formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects in schools.

As per the government guidelines, the weight of school bags cant be more than 5 kg for any class student. For class and I and II students, the school bag weight should be below 1.5 kg, 3 kg for classes III to V, 4 kg for classes VI and VII.

Also Read | Maharashtra Board Exams 2019: Class 10, Class 12 released timetable released; check here

To regulate the weight of school bags, the HRD ministry guidelines also say that schools should not be allowed to prescribe the students any other books than NCERT syllabus textbooks.

The ministry guidelines are in adherence to the Madras High Court order on the weight of school bags. Earlier schools would prescribe several books to students and it would increase the weight of the bag. With the new guideline, schools have been asked to stick to only NCERT textbooks that are prescribed in the syllabus, an NCERT official was quoted as saying by The Print.

The ministrys guidelines came after the Madras High Court observation earlier this year. The court had said that the children are not weightlifters and their school bags should not be loaded like containers.

Also Read | Bihar Board BSEB Class 10th,12th exam dates announced. Know Matric, Inter 2019 schedule at bihar.gov.in

The children are neither weightlifters nor schoolbags are loaded containers. Joy, happiness, enthusiasm, trolling, rolling, kicking, running, fighting, playing with other children are natural qualities of the children, the High Court had said.
New Delhi:

26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that happened 10 years ago had taken a toll on every Mumbaikar and left behind a dark scar. The pain that constantly haunts every Indian has turned a living nightmare to many. The many, who witnessed it, who heard about it, or even those who lived thousands of miles away, with friends and relatives, traumatised by the dark events. The Bollywood film fraternity on Monday paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives to protect others.

Also Read | Decorated and lit house welcomes Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in Mumbai

Producer Ronnie Screwvala and makers of upcoming flick Uri, which is based on the Uri attack of September 2016, paid their respect to the martyrs of the day, who saved many lives by sacrificing their own. They observed silence across 300 radio stations all over India on Monday morning.

Bollywood celebrities including Abhishek Bachchan, Arjun Kapoor, Vishal Dadlani, among others, took to their Twitter handle on the tenth anniversary of the dark day, 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks, to pay tribute to the victims and heroes and even exclaimed that the day cant be forgotten.

Also Read | Allegations against Sajid Khan: Surprising, disappointing and strange, says Farhan Akhtar

Here are the celebrity posts marking the Mumbai attack of 26/11 on Twitter:

Will never forget 26/11. We have only grown stronger #mumbaikar #jaihind  Varun Dhawan (@Varun_dvn) November 26, 2018

Salutes, Respects, Prayers, for the bravehearts, heroes, martyrs & more than 150 innocent lives that were lost on 26/11...a decade ago. The worst ever terror attack that was horrific, terrifying, brutal & shocking which shook the world. RIP BraveheartsMartyrs26/11  Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) November 26, 2018

Never forget!

#26/11  Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) November 26, 2018

Hosted the Memorial last year for the 26/11 attacks, standing there alongside the dignitaries I felt gooseflesh as we proudly together sang the Indian National Anthem. This is a day Mumbai stood together (again) & this encapsulates the spirit of the city.  Kubbra Sait (@KubbraSait) November 26, 2018

26/11. We will never forget. What has changed since, Mumbai? Are we any safer? We were promised Police Reforms, counter-terrorism training and modern equipment for a woefully understaffed and underpaid @MumbaiPolice force. Seen any?  VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) November 26, 2018

10 years ! 26.11.2008

10 #Islamists from #Pakistan attacked #Mumbai & launched one of the worst terror attacks in Indian history. We lost 100s of humans ....Please dont forget... or Forgive!! #RestInPeaceHerosY#terrorists #MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/DkiuGypQUO  Koena Mitra (@koenamitra) November 25, 2018

While remembering & paying tributes to the martyrs of #MumbaiTerrorAttack of 26/11, lets all fight the growing number of #WhiteCollaredTerrorists in #India, in the name of #UrbanNaxals, #TukdeTukdeGang, #LutyensMedia and #Communists.  Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 26, 2018

Remembering 26/11. Salute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives saving others.  Hansika (@ihansika) November 26, 2018

Remembering our heroes of 26/11... Everyone who helped each other through the tough time.. My heart goes out to their courage and sacrifice and for all the innocent victims .. #MumbaiTerrorAttack  Arjun Kapoor (@arjunk26) November 26, 2018

Remembering the heroes of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack who sacrificed themselves for defending the country. YYY#MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/Vj6s2EVAKI  Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) November 26, 2018

As many as 165 people were killed and over 300 sustained serious injuries after 10 members of the Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist organisation, Lashkar-e-Taiba, stormed the coastal city of Mumbai in November 2008. The terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks at several locations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, the Nariman House Jewish community centre, the Metro Cinema and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier's College.

Also Read | Mowgli: Legend Of The Jungle screening: Madhuri Dixit, Kareena Kapoor, Anil Kapoor graced red carpet event

The attacks which began on November 26 had lasted till November 29. While nine of the attackers were gunned down, a 10th terrorist - Ajmal Kasab  was captured alive. He was executed for on November 12, 201,2.

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New Delhi:

Badhaai Ho actor Sanya Malhotra, who loves dancing, has been sharing videos of her dancing on social media giving her fans glimpses of her dance rehearsals. Sanya has also choreographed Aamir Khan in the movie Secret Superstar.

While she is never seen dancing on screen, here is her journey from being a dance and yoga instructor to the becoming an actor with blockbuster films. During her college days, Sanya joined choreography society to learn new dance forms and techniques.

Also Read | Happy not being very famous: Dangal star Sanya Malhotra

To continue her passion, Sanya joined a ballet company as an instructor and eventually to explore dance she joined a school as a dance teacher. Remembering her initial days, Sanya Shared,"I was paid Rs 15,000 and I gave my first salary to my parents.

"Sanya was immensely loved by her students and she even received the title of an adjudged teacher of the year on her first teacher's day but always determined towards dance and taking a step towards her dream, Sanya auditioned for the reality show Dance India Dance and was shortlisted among the top 100 participants for which she had come to Mumbai for a couple of days.

However, things didn't work out. Sanya decided to continue to stay back in Mumbai and go for a few auditions. But it is a struggle to survive in Mumbai for an outsider and it was no different experience for Sanya but to struggle to get her big break. Sanya auditioned for a few months and during the course of time, she used to teach yoga to older women in her building.

After many auditions, Sanya received a call from casting director Mukesh Chhabra's office for a film which was for a second lead but the film eventually got shelved. However, a few months later Sanya received another call from Mukeshs office, this time for the main character in Dangal.

Sanya had auditioned and given the screen test for the same and forgotten about it until she was informed that Aamir Khan wanted to meet her. Sanya was in Delhi then to celebrate her mother's birthday and returned to Mumbai immediately only to discover that 20 other girls had also been shortlisted.

Also Read | Arjun Kapoor calls Ranbir Kapoor 'the worst relationship adviser'



Recalling how she got the role, the actress shared, "We had to go through a few more sessions. Aamir sir came to meet us in his Mahavir Phogat avatar. The sessions went on for a month, by the end of which, we were all getting impatient to know who had bagged the part as we had been asked to not take up any other work.

Then, Fatima (Sana Shaikh) and I got a call from the production house informing us that she would be playing Geeta, Mahavirs elder daughter, while I had landed the part of the younger daughter, Babita Kumari.

I will never forget that day. The rest, as they say, is history".Sanya Malhotra has had an amazing 2018 with Badhaai Ho entering 200 crore club and garnering immense appreciation for her performance in Pataakha. Sanya will be next seen alongside Nawazudidn Siddiqui in Ritesh Batra's Photograph.

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New Delhi:

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas wedding bells are ringing louder than ever. As the couple arrives in Mumbai ahead of their wedding, Priyankas house has been decorated for their welcome. Priyanka and Nick will tie the sacred knot on December 2 in Jodhpur. The pre-wedding festivities will begin from November 29, though the couple has not officially announced the dates yet.

Also Read | Allegations against Sajid Khan: Surprising, disappointing and strange, says Farhan Akhtar

The Quantico actors house in Juhu has been lit up for the occasion and it is the same place where the couple got engaged. The madly-in-love Jodi will be leaving for Jodhpur soon as the marriage is scheduled to be at Umaid Bhavan Palace. Nick reached India on Thursday evening and since then, has been spending some gala time with the bride-to-be.

Priyanka recently concluded the schedule of The Sky Is Pink in Delhi, where her groom Nick joined her on Thursday. Movies director Shonali Bose and producer Siddharth Roy Kapur hosted a small elated bash for the couple on Saturday.

Before leaving for Mumbai, the couple cut a cake and popped some champagne with the core team of The Sky Is Pink. The production team took to the official Twitter handle to share the glimpse of the celebratory night with the love-couple. They wished the soon-to-be-married couple with all the happiness, love and laughter.

A delighted big fat thanksgiving  a quintessential American festival with a formal, sit-down dinner  was celebrated by the Chopra family on Thursday. Priyanka shared the Thanksgiving picture on Instagram with a caption that read, Happy Thanksgiving.. family.. forever... The entire Chopra family was present at the occasion, to celebrate the American festival Thanksgiving that happens on the fourth Thursday of November.

Also Read | Mowgli: Legend Of The Jungle screening: Madhuri Dixit, Kareena Kapoor, Anil Kapoor graced red carpet event

Said to be a big fat Indian wedding happening at a palace, the budget of their Nuptials is going to be a king-sized affair. If the reports were to be believed, the cost of a single night stay at this expensive hotel is a whopping $60,000, which is about Rs 43 lakh in Indian currency!

Nick and Priyanka have been the toast of the international glamour circuit for a while now. From making the hot red carpet appearance at the Met Gala to vacationing together in different parts of the globe, including Mexico, the US and London, the couple is high on everybodys mind.

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Tell me which of your kids made the honor roll. Tell me about your trip to Belize. Tell me that, believe it or not, your oldest is off to college. Tell me that your basement flooded and you had to replace the carpet and the baseboards, but all is well because your parents wedding album was stored on a high shelf and was spared any water damage.
New Delhi:

Maharshi star Mahesh Babu has won hearts through the years and one stands out as a 106-year-old fan from Rajahmundry, Andra Pradesh, who travelled all the way to meet the superstar.

Relangi Satyavati Garu came all the way to meet Mahesh at the Maharshi sets. Mahesh Babu took to Instagram and shared the pictures of the special moment spent with the fan. He captioned the pictures: "It's amazing how love transcends through ages... Humbled to see & feel that kind of love coming from someone generations apart from mine.

Also Read | Arjun Kapoor calls Ranbir Kapoor 'the worst relationship adviser'



The love from my fans has always overwhelmed me but 106-year old Relangi Satyavati garu coming all the way from Rajahmundry to bless me has touched every corner of my heart.

Glad I could make her happy but in all honesty, I am happier than her. God bless her! Mahesh recently wrapped up shooting schedule for Maharshi in New York.

He was in the US for a long time where he spent some quality time with his family and later did the shooting of the film.He is currently shooting for the next schedule in Hyderabad until the end of the year.

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Mahesh Babu will be seen in much leaner and stronger look in Maharshi which will hit the screens in April 2019.
New Delhi :

As India marks the 10th anniversary of the barbaric 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday asked Pakistan to uphold the UNSC obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists and their outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates, responsible for the atrocious act. Speaking on the behalf of the US government, Pompeo said that it was an insult of the families of the victims that even after ten years, those who planned the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack could not be convicted.

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement. We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates," the US Secretary of State said in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

Also Read | 26/11 Anniversary: Kasab was smiling as he fired bullets, recalls youngest witness to identify attacker

Pompeo expressed solidarity with the Indians and said that people of America stand with the families and friends of the victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack that shocked the entire world. Among the dead, six were American nationals.

"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack. We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world," he said.

As many as 165 people were killed and over 300 sustained serious injuries after 10 members of the Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist organisation, Lashkar-e-Taiba, stormed the coastal city of Mumbai in November 2008. The terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks at several locations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Palace & Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, the Nariman House Jewish community centre, the Metro Cinema and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St. Xavier's College.

Also Read | Watch Video: PM meets 'Baby Moshe'; 26/11 survivor says 'Dear Mr Modi, I love you', wish to visit Mumbai

The attacks which began on November 26 had lasted till November 29. While nine of the attackers were gunned down, a 10th terrorist - Ajmal Kasab  was captured alive. He was executed for on November 12, 201,2.

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New Delhi :

On the 10th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid tributes to the victims of the gruesome act of terror. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, PM Modi said, Tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. Our solidarity with the bereaved families. A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.

Also Read | 26/11 Mumbai Attack Anniversary: US asks Pakistan to act against perpetrators of barbaric act

Tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.



Our solidarity with the bereaved families.



A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 26, 2018

The AAP chief also paid tributes to those who sacrificed their lives while defending the country and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.

Salute to the martyrs who protected our country during 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. My sympathy for those who lost their loved ones 10 years ago on this day. May God give these families the power to bear this suffering. This country will always be indebted to those who were martyred in this attack, Kejriwal wrote on Twitter.

Also Read | 26/11 Anniversary: Kasab was smiling as he fired bullets, recalls youngest witness to identify attacker

On November 26, 2008, 10 members of the Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist organisation, Lashkar-e-Taiba, stormed the coastal city of Mumbai by carrying out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across the city. As many as 165 people were killed and over 300 sustained serious injuries in the attacks. It took the security forces four days to neutralize the attackers. One of the terrorists, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive and executed on November 12, 2012.

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New Delhi:

Mohammed Farooq Shaikh, an accused in the 2002 Akshardham temple terror attack case, was arrested by the Crime Branch of the Gujarat police soon after he alighted from a flight at Ahmedabad airport on Monday. Shaikh had arrived from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, assistant commissioner of police Bhagrithsinh Gohil said.

Gujarat: Accused Mohammed Farooq Shaikh in 2002 Akshardham Temple attack arrested by Ahmedabad Crime Branch from Ahmedabad Airport pic.twitter.com/R5NbGc3K0X a ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

Thirty people were killed and eight injured when on September 24, 2002, two armed terrorists had attacked the temple in Gandhinagar. The attackers were killed by National Security Guards (NSG) commandoes. A The attack followed the Godhra riots in the same year.

"Shaikh lived in Juhapura before he fled to Riyadh in 2002 after the temple attack," the police official said, adding he had arranged funds for the attack.

In 2014,A the Supreme Court acquitted six convicts in the case, including three, who were on a death row. While a POTA court had earlierA convicted six accused in the case and pronounced death sentence for three, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on the investigating agencies and cited that there was not enough evidence to convict the men.

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New Delhi:

A day after declining Pakistan's invite for the Kartarpur Corridor ground-breaking ceremony, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh lashed out at Islamabad for promoting terror activities in the state and killing of Indian soldiers, adding that his minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to visit there was "his way of thinking". Singh also warned Imran Khan-led dispensation of serious consequences if it did not put an end to the violence perpetrated against India.

Reiterating his stand of not going to Pakistan on November 28, the Punjab chief minister said how could he go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed every day.

Where I thank Prime Minister of Pakistan (for Kartarpur Corridor), I want to say something to his Chief of army staff (Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa). I have been in the army and he (Pakistan army chief) General Bajwa is very junior to me in the service. When we (Capt) were in the army, the country's security was always foremost for us.

Also Read | 26/11 Attack: Pak yet to bring perpetrators to justice, says MEA

"But who teaches in the army that you kill our soldiers at the border? You use sniper to kill our jawans. Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot, Dinanagar (referring to terror attacks at Pathankot airforce base in 2016 and Dinanagar in Gurdaspur in 2015)? Singh said while addressing a gathering during the laying of the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur. The function took place at village Mann which lies near the Indo-Pak border with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and the chief minister laying the foundation stone.

In Amritsar village, people were offering prayers in the morning and you get a grenade thrown at them. Is it what is taught by the army? It is cowardice," Singh said, adding that "by firing bullets at innocent people and killing them with grenade what they get out of it, they should be ashamed of themselves".

Also Read | Kartarpur Corridor: VP Naidu lays foundation stone in Gurdaspur

"If they try to foment trouble in Punjab then Bajwa (Pak army chief) should remember that we have Punjabi blood, we will not tolerate it, said Singh while pointing out that his government after coming to power had busted 17 terror modules and recovered several ammunitions and weapons.

"If such people think of fomenting trouble here and try to weaken our Punjab, then Bajwa should know it that I will protect people of Punjab till the last drop of my blood," he said.

Speaking on Sidhu's decision to go to Pakistan, Singh said it was "his way of thinking" but "the Centre cannot close its eyes to what is happening in India as a result of Pakistan's policy and support to terrorist groups."

(With PTI inputs)

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New Delhi:

After a high-desibel political blame game between the rival parties for over a month, the campaigning for Assembly elections in poll bound Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram has come to a formal end at about 5 pm on Monday evening. While Madhya Pradesh will vote to elect 230 legislators, the Mizoram Legislative Assembly elections will be held to decide the fates of candidates in 40 constituencies across the state. Polling in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will take place on November 28, 2018. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 11.

BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years while the Congress is ruling Mizoram since 2008. The Madhya Pradesh elections 2018 is believed to be a straight fight between the BJP and the Congress with star campaigners from both the parties had been canvassing for their candidates. While Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been ruling Madhya Pradesh since 2005 the BJP has been in power in the state since 2003.

In 2013 Mizoram Assembly polls, the Congress had won 34 seats, while the MNF got five and the Mizoram People's Conference one. This time, both Congress and MNF are contesting all the 40 constituencies, while the BJP will be in the fray in 39 seats. Lal Thanhawla is currently serving as the Chief Minister of the north-eastern state.

Read | Rahul Gandhi in Madhya Pradesh: Fear of losing 2019 elections creates 'hatred' in PM Modi's mind

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi were the star campaigners for their respective parties and addressed a number of poll rallies across Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram. They exchanged barbs and traded charges, raising the political temperature in states. Several ongoing issues, including the Rafale deal, demonetisation, development, GST, corruption, dynastic politics among others, prominently figured in their speeches. BJP president Amit Shah, too, blew the poll bugle in both the states to prove his electoral juggernaut in the run up to crucial assembly polls and general elections next year.

Keeping in mind the safety and security arrangements in the states, over 78,000 paramilitary personnel have been mobilised by the Union Home Ministry for deployment in the ongoing Assembly elections in five states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

The action has been taken following several rounds of discussions with the Election Commission, which directed the home ministry to provide adequate forces under its disposal.

Read | PM Modi's Madhya Pradesh rallies dominated by his 'parents' after Congress leaders' jibes

The highest number of paramilitary personnel - around 40,000 - were deployed in Chhattisgarh which are now being withdrawn to be deployed in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. The paramilitary forces were being drawn from different parts of the country and they are being transported through several trains provided by the Ministry of Railways.

While the two-phased Assembly elections have already been held in Chhattisgarh, polling in Rajasthan and Telangana will take place on December 7.

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New Delhi:

At least eight Maoists and two police personnel were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Monday, the police said. The gunbattle took place at a forest in Kistaram area bordering Telangana when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukmas Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

Eight bodies of Naxals have been found at the encounter spot, he said. Two District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel were also killed in the exchange of fire, the SP said, adding that reinforcements have been rushed to the spot.

Read More | Congress termed Naxals revolutionary, questioned surgical strike: PM Modi in Bhilwara

Further details were awaited as the encounter was still underway, he added.

On Sunday, two Maoists were killed and a police personnel was injured in encounters in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, the police said.

The gun-battles took place when teams of police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) of and Special Task Force (STF) were out on anti-Maoist operations in Gangaloor and Madded areas.

Also Read | Mumbai Terror Attack: A decade after 26/11, has India done enough to plug security loopholes? 10 points

Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg told PTI that a combined squad of DRG and STF was cordoning off the jungles between Nilamadgu and Korinjed in Madded area, 450 km from Raipur, when it came under fire from the rebels.

The exchange of fire lasted for 40 minutes after which the Maoists fled, he said.

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New Delhi:

RJD leader Rabri Devi on Monday backed the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya but also said that a consensus is needed for the same. The former Bihar chief minister, speaking in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, said that the matter is pending in the Supreme Court and as much as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tries, it will yield no result. She also dared the BJP to construct the temple and said that for them, the temple issue is just a poll gimmick.

The issue of the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya is raging all over the country, and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition parties have consistently raised this issue and traded barbs at each other. A senior VHP activist had acknowledged that people would need more efforts to connect with this issue and this would be the biggest issue before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, according to News 18.

Read More | Akhilesh thanks people of UP for 'not taking' Ayodhya show seriously

On Sunday, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) organised a Dharma Sabha at the Bade Bhakt Mal Ki Baghia near the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas worksho with a senior religious leader asserting the dates for the construction would be announced early next year. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad claimed over 3 lakh people attended the congregation as devotees from all walks of life descended here to discuss the way forward for building the temple.

Besides the VHP Dharma Sabha, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who arrived in Ayodhya on Saturday, also addressed party workers over the issue of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference, the Sena chief said the BJP government will not return to power if they dont build Ram temple. Taking a jibe at the Modi government, Thackeray said that if the court is to decide the fate of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, then the BJP should not use the issue to gain votes in elections and tell the people that it was also a jumla (gimmick).

Also Read | Say this if Ram temple was also a jumla: Uddhav Thackeray in Ayodhya

If the matter has to go to court then dont use the issue during elections and say that brother and sisters forgive us as this was also an election jumla. But dont play with the sentiments of Hindus, Thackeray said.

Taking a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over his remark on Ram temple, the Sena leader had said, I have heard that CM Yogi had said that there was a temple in Ayodhya, it is there in Ayodhya and will always remain in Ayodhya. This is what we think, this is our faith. But the sad part that it is not visible yet. When will the temple appear?

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New Delhi :

On November 26, 2008, the coastal city of Mumbai came under the siege when a group of 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists launched a series of coordinated attacks at several locations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Palace & Tower and Nariman House Jewish community centre. The terrorists continued their killing spree for four days before security forces gunned down nine of them and captured one alive. Sadly, by the time, 165 people were killed and over 300 sustained grievous injuries. The Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai through the sea. They took a boat from Karachi to enter the city and went on the rampage in the heart of the financial capitals downtown area.

The attack exposed fault-lines in the countrys coastal security network, intelligence gathering and uncovered the lack of coordination among various agencies. But after a decade of the worst terrorist strike in Indias history, the situation has changed, and the country is now better prepared and organised to avoid repetition of barbaric attack.

Also Read | 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: US offers $5 mn reward for info on perpetrators

So, what are the lessons India has learned from 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and how far has our security improved  know in 10 points below.

Since 2008 Mumbai attack, there has been a major paradigm shift in Indias coastal security as vulnerabilities and risks were fixed and a layered maritime surveillance and security architecture was put in place, making the coastline almost impregnable. The critical gaps and vulnerabilities in the countrys coastal infrastructure have been addressed, and a robust surveillance network comprising 42 radar stations linked to a control centre headquartered in Gurgaon has been put in place. The radar stations with high-resolution cameras with a range of 10 nautical miles have been fitted. Another batch of 38 radar stations is being set up to keep a hawk-eye vigil on activities along Indias 7,500-kilometre coastline. The strength of the Indian Navy has also improved drastically. The Navy has now become a potent multi-dimensional force fully capable of safeguarding Indias interests in the seas. The Indian Navy is now fully prepared to deal with any security challenge facing the country in the maritime domain. India now has a multi-layered security architecture for coastal security, involving various agencies including the Coast Guard and the Navy. An overhaul of the coastal defence apparatus was also carried out in the last few years. A mechanism has been put into place to tracking the movement of thousands of fishing boats round-the-clock. Colour-coding of fishing boats, their online registration and issuance of biometric cards to the fishermen are some of the steps that have been taken to enhance coastal security. Also Read | 26/11 Anniversary: Kasab was smiling as he fired bullets, recalls youngest witness Data about ships, dhows, mechanized trawlers, fishing boats and all other vessels operating near Indias coasts are analysed round-the-clock. For a better coordination among the concerned agencies, an Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) has been set up in Gurgaon. The IMAC acts as the nodal agency for national command control and intelligence sharing among the Coast Guard and the Navy. A standard operating procedure has been formulated for coastal and offshore security among various institutions including the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard and agencies concerned of the coastal states to streamline the efforts of multiple stakeholders. 1,500 landing points for fishing boats are being monitored regularly besides making installation of AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders mandatory for vessels of 300 tonnes and above for their easy tracking.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi:

The Government Railway Police detained six suspicious people from Jammu and Kashmir, who were travelling by the Pooja Express headed towards Rajsthan through Delhi, at the Pathankot railway station late on Sunday night. All the six men were questioned by the police about their antecedents and according to sources, they may have a connection with terrorist Zakir Musa.

The police also seized a motorcycle from them which was booked in the same train and was taken to Ajmer in Rajasthan.

#UPDATE Six persons detained for interrogation at Pathankot Railway Station on basis of suspicion: Palvinder Singh, Government Railway Police's (GRP) Assistant Sub-Inspector pic.twitter.com/jurh9R3Bdg  ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2018

Read More | Kartarpur Corridor: Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to lay foundation stone at Mann village in Gurdaspur today

The detention of six individuals comes two days after four suspected 'terrorists' were spotted in Pathankot's Saidipur village on Friday night, prompting the state police to launch a massive search operation.

On Friday, residents of Saidipur village claimed to have spotted suspicious movement of around four people, suspected to be 'terrorists.' The police had also recovered an abandoned white Alto car, which was found around 25 km away from Pathankot, near Bamiyal area. The car was also spotted by the villagers, according to news agency ANI.

Also Read | 26/11 Anniversary: Kasab was smiling as he fired bullets, recalls youngest witness to identify attacker

On Saturday, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora said that the owner of the abandoned car which was used by suspected 'terrorists' was from Jammu. "The car owner has been traced. The person hails from Jammu," he had told media persons.

After the 2016 terror attack, Pathankot and its adjoining areas continue to be under a strict vigil. Security agencies have also been on alert after four people, travelling in a hired SUV from Jammu, had snatched the vehicle from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur area on November 13.

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Its like buying a nice watch or a nice car, he says of the price. If you buy something that holds its value and is worth it in your mind, then its worth spending that money. Now, if I were 26 and starting my family, I wouldnt be buying it. I would be saving my pennies. But Im a little bit older, and I can afford it.
New Delhi:

A soldier has been critically injured in a sniper attack by Pakistan in Machil sector of Kupwara district, says the army spokesperson, adding that he has been admitted to the 92 base army hospital. In a separate incident, terrorists attacked an army patrolling party in Tral area of Pulwama district, leading to a brief exchange of fire. There has been no report of any loss of life.

The incidents came just a few hours after Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh hit out at Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, blaming him for terror activities in the state and killings of Indian soldiers at the border.

"I want to say something to their (Pakistan) army chief. I have also been in the Army and General Bajwa is very junior to me in service. Does the Army teach (you) to kill our jawans at the border? You kill them with sniper. Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot, Dinanagar," Singh said.

On Saturday, an internal investigation into the killing of a Central Reserve Police Force man in Pulwama recently has revealed that he was killed in a sniper attack after being shot at from around 200 meters. Havaldar Chandrika Prassad, who was part of CRPFs 183 D-Coy, was hit by at least three bullets near railway station in Kakpora area of southern Pulwama district on November 18.

On November 13, in another sniper attack by Pakistan, an Indian Army jawan, identified as Lance Naik Antony Sebastian KM, was killed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati Sector in Poonch. This was the fourth fatal casualty due to sniping from across the border in four days. On November 12, Army soldier Naik Gosavi Keshav Somgir, 29, died in a sniper attack by Pakistan.

In a similar attack on November 11, rifleman Varun Kattal, 21, was killed after he was hit by a sniper in Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district. The incident triggered an exchange of fire between the two sides which also left two BSF personnel injured. A day earlier, an Army portar lost his life in a similar attack in Akhnoor sector.

On November 6, a soldier was injured when he was hit by a sniper from across the border at Kalal in Noushera sector of Rajouri, while a BSF jawan was injured in a separate incident of firing by Pakistan along the LoC in the Manjakote area of the Rajouri-Poonch sector.

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.

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New Delhi:

The cases of date rape that mostly goes unreported have frequented over the years because of lifestyle changes such as the increasingly clubbing scenes. This scenario has become even worse because the cases of date rape are often perpetrated by the person you presumed safe. These drugs are commonly used in trains and buses to rob passengers, and in youth, parties to exploit young females for drug-facilitated sexual assault.



The drugs often have no colour, smell or taste and are easily added to flavoured drinks without the victim's knowledge. Most often date rape drugs are GHP or Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, which is a hypnotic depressant.



When synthesised artificially, GHB can take the form of a white powder, much like table salt, or a clear liquid. It also comes in a liquid form that can be mixed with other liquids. They are often purchased by body builders at health food stores for their purported muscle-building and fat-burning qualities. GHB is less commonly available in the capsule form.

Also Read | Indians gear up for white Christmas, New Year this season: Report



Historically, GHB was prescribed to people who struggled to get to sleep at night. However, that usage largely stopped in 1990, when the Federal Drug Association in the United States outlawed the drug. , GHB is predominantly known in its illegal guise as a recreational drug taken by clubbers. Dosage in this scenario is much higher than naturally occurring levels of GHB  normally between 500mg and 3,000mg, compared with the 4.1-21.4mg found in an average litre of red wine.



As with most recreational drugs, the negative effects of GHB become more apparent with larger doses. While small amounts may make the user feel relaxed, a little more can lead to dizziness and general disorientation; more still can result in nausea, vomiting, and muscle spasms.

The even bigger danger that is proving with this date rape drug is that it can create an overly potent sedative effect when mixed with alcohol or illegal party drugs such as ketamine. Various studies have reported that when this drug is mixed with other sedatives, you can suffer the risks of suffering from amnesia or slipping into a coma are greatly increased under these circumstances.



Most crooks opt for this drug because after a 12-hour period and the alleged assault, GHB disappears from the bloodstream leaving the culprits to escape scotch free.

Also Read | The Quiet Space: The spell of a blade of grass



So, how can you tell if your drink is spiked?



There are a few tale-tell signs to know if your drink has been spiked. One common observation is that it lends drinks a slightly salty taste. Other sings are any unexpected change in your mood or sensory perception such as feeling sleepy, unexpected extasy or feeling disoriented could indicate an unintentional dose of GHB.



Dos and Don'ts to avoid being drugged:
New Delhi:

Chile has just opened the longest hiking-trail ever. Covering 1700 mile and 17 national parks, the trail called the Route of Parks is for the hungry nature-seekers and explorers. Stretching from Puerto Montt in the north to Cape Horn in the South, the trail connects 17 different national parks, offering travellers access to the Chilean Patagonias most epic landscapes, Andes Mountain, forests and even a few volcanoes. The Route of Parks according to the details is so massive that it even runs through other natural parks such as the Torres del Paine National Park.



According to reports, the new massive hiking trail is the result of the conservation efforts of Douglas Tompkins, the late founder of The North Face, and his wife Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, the former CEO of Patagonia. The couple is said to have purchased millions of acres of land in Chile to preserve it. And in , McDivitt Tompkins donated patches of the land to the Chilean government so that land could be set to add to or create new national parks.



"We want Chile to be internationally recognized for having the most spectacular scenic route in the world, and thus become a benchmark for economic development based on conservation. The Route of Parks is a protected heritage of all Chileans, and its 17 national parks are a challenge and an opportunity, as much for the more than 60 communities that live near them as for those who visit them," Carolina Morgado, executive director of Tompkins Conservation Chile, said at a conference organized by Imagen de Chile.

Also Read | Have you been asked out? Beware the Date Rape drugs?



And according to reports, a new website called the rutadelosparques.org have also been developed to help travellers navigate and plan a trip along the route. The website is also said to give information about the communities and each national park the hiking trail touches. The site is currently available in Spanish, but an English version is also being planned.



Fancy a 1700 mile hiking trip?
New Delhi :

The 10th anniversary of the sordid drama that unfolded in South Mumbai when 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists sailed in from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks that left 166 people dead and over 300 people injured is a chilling reminder of the failure of our intelligence and of our surveillance mechanisms as they existed. Yet, it is also a glorious saga of courage and the indomitable spirit that exemplifies Mumbai in distress. The Mumbai spirit has indeed become a password for courage and selflessness.



The terrorists carried out bomb explosions and held innocents hostage as a fightback by security forces continued for the next 60 hours. Taj Mahal Palace hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, and Leopold Cafe were among those targeted in the attack that made headlines across the world.

Suggested Read | Mumbai Terror Attack: A decade after 26/11, has India done enough to plug security loopholes? 10 points



, what saddens one most is that the mastermind of the attacks, Hafiz Saeed, continues to mock at India sitting comfortably as a free man in Pakistan. His trial and those of others who remote-controlled the ghastly attacks has proved still-born, handled as it was by not even an iota of seriousness.



Pakistan has the gumption to pretend to want durable peace even as it continues to train and infiltrate terrorists into India, especially Kashmir, fuelling terror and mayhem. Yet, we in India and countries across the world watch by when the least they must do is to declare that country as a terror state and impose sanctions against it.



The impotence of the world against terror strikes



A relatively small haven of terror survives alongside a formidable India on the strength of its nuclear power status as the United Nations and the lone superpower US look the other way. It shows the impotence of the world against terror strikes and is a sad commentary on, among others, the UN.



US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on urged Pakistan to take action against those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks as Washington offered a new reward of $5 million for helping secure their capture. This is, indeed, the best time for India to step up pressure on the US since US-Pakistan relations have soured greatly in recent weeks.

Also Read | 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack: US offers $5 mn reward for info on perpetrators



"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement. But direct US action to capture the perpetrators is still not seemingly on the agenda.



Is India better prepared ?



The attack exposed fault-lines in the countrys coastal security network, intelligence gathering and laid bare the lack of coordination among various agencies. Mercifully, however, the country is deemed to be better prepared and organised to avoid repetition of that horrendous attack.



In all fairness, the critical gaps and vulnerabilities in the countrys coastal infrastructure have been addressed, and a robust surveillance network comprising 42 radar stations linked to a control centre headquartered in Gurgaon has been organised.



This is with regard to coastal security but the next big terror attack may not come from the sea. There is indeed no room for complacency considering that China is hand-in-glove with Pakistan in sinister designs. The country has to be ever-watchful. While surgical strikes were launched on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, there is no sustained campaign to prevent alternative camps from sprouting in the enemy country.

Also Read | 26/11 Anniversary: Kasab was smiling as he fired bullets, recalls youngest witness

India's struggle to deter Pakistan from causing subversion continues



Pakistan continues to cock a snook at India through a plethora of border ceasefire violations. We just have not been able to deter the Pakistanis from causing subversion in the country. Kashmir continues to be a hotbed of Pakistani exported terror and the complicity of the Pakistan Army is all too clear.



The Pakistan nuclear capability should worry not only India but also the US but there is no concerted effort to gain effective control of its nuclear facilities or to inspect them on an ongoing basis. A multi-pronged Indian initiative is the need of the hour.
New Delhi:

In a major crackdown on global digital scams, 235 Chinese, including 36 women were arrested from three separate places by the Cambodia Police in connection with an extortion money from people over the internet, an official said on Monday.

36 women were among the 235 Chinese arrested Monday in three different villages in Takeo province, south of the capital, Phnom Penh, director of the Interior Ministrys Department of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Gen Y Sok Khy said.

The arrests were made in Tramkok and Bati districts in Takeo province at four different locations, police said.

Also Read | 26/11 Mumbai Attack: Pakistan yet to bring perpetrators to justice, says India in official statement

According to reports, the scammers operated from overseas and target mainland Chinese over VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).

Online scams by Chinese gangs that operate from foreign countries and target mainland Chinese are common throughout Southeast Asia and have been found as far away as Kenya and Spain, said an official.

Cambodia has arrested and sent at least 1,000 Chinese and Taiwanese residents allegedly involved in such schemes to China since 2012, it said.

The scams are carried out by making phone calls over the internet and employing deception, threats and blackmail against the victims. Moreover, placing phone calls over the internet makes communication costs cheap and hinders tracing of the source of the calls, the official said.

Read More | Home 'most dangerous' place for women: UN Study

The arrests followed months of surveillance and investigation. The suspects were sent to Phnom Penh for further questioning and will be deported to China, Khy said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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New Delhi:

Hundreds were injured when an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck the Iran-Iraq border on Sunday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported. The USGS said the quake was at a depth of 65 km and struck 114 km northwest of the city of Ilam in Irans Kermanshah province.

At least 115 were injured in Sarpol-e Zahab and the neighbouring Gilan-e Gharb city, Kermanshah governor Houshang Bazvand told Fars news agency, the AFP news agency reported. Buildings were damaged in various parts causing walls and roofs to fall. Six rescue teams were pressed into action and no casualty was reported so far.

Read More | Egypt upholds nine death sentences over prosecutor-general killing

No reports of any fatalities yet and most of the injured were hurt while fleeing, not due to quake damage, Pirhossein Koulivand, head of the state emergency services, the Iranian state TV said.

The Iraqi state media said the tremor was felt in capital Baghdad and in Erbil in the Kurdistan region. The earthquake struck near Sarpol-e Zahab in Irans Kermanshah province, where another quake, with a magnitude of 7.3, killed over 600 people last year. Social media users in Baghdad uploaded videos of furniture moving and chandeliers swinging, according to Al-Jazeera.

Also Read | Syria: 9 killed, several injured in chlorine-filled shell attack

Iran sits on a major fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian plates and has had many earthquakes. In 2003, a magnitude-6.6 earthquake flattened the historic city of Bam in southern Iran, killing 26,000 people.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

In a veiled attack on United States President Donald Trump, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday promised to never fight a "war on terror" inside the country's territory, claiming that those "imposed" wars on Pakistan earlier claimed lots of innocent lives while several billion dollars was lost to economy. Khan's remark came days after Trump reiterated that Pakistan doesn't "do a damn thing" for the United States despite billions of dollars in US aid for the troubled country. The United States president further threatened that the USD 1.3 billion in aid to Pakistan will remain suspended until the country acts against militant safe heavens inside its territory.

We have fought an imposed war inside our country as our war at a very heavy cost of sweat and blood and lose to our socio-economic fibreWe shall not fight any such war again inside Pakistan, Imran Khan told during his visit to Miranshah in Waziristan district earlier in the day.

Khan was accompanied by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

Lauding the "achievements" of the Pakistani Army, security forces and intelligence agencies in their war against terrorism, the PTI leader further said, "No other country or their armed forces have done what Pakistan and its armed forces have done in the war against terrorism".

PM in NWD. No other country or armed forces have done what Pak & its armed forces have done in war against terrorism. We have fought an imposed war inside our country at a very heavy cost of sweat, blood & eco. We shall not fight any such war again inside Pakistan, PM.(1/3). pic.twitter.com/prBzxWkOuq  Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 26, 2018

Read | 26/11 Anniversary: PM Modi targets Sonia Gandhi, says terror attack occurred during Congress regime



The prime minister was replying to Trumps allegations that Pakistan did not help the US in its fight against terrorism.

Khan, however, assured to contribute in the Afghan peace process along with other stakeholders as "peace in Afghanistan is critical for achieving enduring peace in Pakistan".

Talking about its role in peace and stability in Afghanistan, he briefed about operations conducted by Pakistan, ongoing operations, rehabilitation of displaced people, socio-economic development projects and fencing along Pak-Afghanistan border.

"We are for peace beyond borders especially in Afghanistan. We shall play our role in Afghan peace process along with other stake holders as peace in Afghanistan is critical for achieving enduring peace in Pakistan," Khan was quoted as saying during his visit to tribal areas.

PM in NWD. We are for peace beyond borders especially in Afghanistan. We shall play our role in Afghan peace process along with other stake holders as peace in Afghanistan is critical for achieving enduring peace in Pakistan, PM. (2 of 3). pic.twitter.com/Ddbdrtpufx  Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 26, 2018

Read | 26/11 Mumbai attack: 10 years on, India still lives in fear as terror continues unabated

In early November, the duo got engaged into a full-blown Twitter war after Trump accused Pakistan of "doing nothing" in its fight against Taliban terrorists since 2001 in Afghanistan.

....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!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2018

Miffed over Trump's allegations, Khan replied Trumps false assertions add insult to the injury Pak has suffered in US WoT in terms of lives lost, destabilised and economic costs. He needs to be informed about historical facts. Pak has suffered enough fighting US's war. Now we will do what is best for our people and our interests."

Read | 2002 Akshardham temple attack accused Mohammed Farooq Shaikh arrested

Its been a quite long time now that the US has been seeking an exit strategy from Pakistan and in recent months Washington has held direct talks with the Taliban representatives to end the 17-year long war.

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Mrs. Trump tweeted a video showing her walking among this year's holiday decorations, which also include an ornament emblazoned with the slogan for her child well-being campaign, Be Best.
Campbell Soup is in negotiations with New York City-based Third Point on a deal that would give the activist hedge fund investor a voice on board of the soup and snack company, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Third Point has been pressing Campbells to divest some businesses, with Campbells currently seeing sustained growth with its Norwalk-based Pepperidge Farm and Snyders-Lance division, the latter with brands like Cape Cod and Kettle chips.
In this ongoing column, The Digest, Entrepreneur.com News Director Stephen J. Bronner speaks with food entrepreneurs and executives to see what it took to get their products into the mouths of customers.

Amanda Klane and Drew Harrington became friends in kindergarten. About two decades later, they would team up to create Yasso, a frozen Greek yogurt company that they project to be a $100 million-plus brand by next year.

But in 2009, the pair, both former athletes who eat lots of Greek yogurt for its high protein content, struggled to nail down the science behind their food-bending idea: creating a frozen Greek yogurt that not only tasted good, but had a good enough consistency to stay on a stick.

Related: How This 27-Year-Old Took Over a Dairy-Free Ice Cream Brand and Helped It Grow to $12 Million in Sales

"We had to go out and figure out how do you actually freeze Greek yogurt and make it taste like ice cream," Klane said. "If you stick a cup of Greek yogurt in the freezer, it becomes an ice cube. The texture will be hard as a rock. So there was a lot of things we had to do."

Although Harrington and Klane both had experience with business -- he co-founded a company that created an inflatable beer pong product called Poolside Pong, and she worked for her father's food brokerage firm -- one thing became clear right away: they were not food scientists and didn't have the skills required to realize their vision.

"In the early days we tried to make it on our own, and it tasted horrible," Harrington said. "We sampled friends and family, and they were polite enough to tell us how bad it tasted. We knew at that point we couldn't do this on our own."

So Klane and Harrington, both in their early 20s at the time, enrolled in a class on ice cream at Penn State, but to save money, only did so under Harrington's name.

Related: How This Entrepreneur Found Her Sweet Spot and Scooped Up $30 Million in Sales Last Year

"We figured with 'Drew,' we could both sneak into the conference with the same name tag," Harrington said. It worked. Still, Harrington and Klane, now 33 and 32 years old, came away with the impression that this challenge was still too great to tackle on their own, so they enlisted food scientists and graduate students at the University of Nebraska to figure it out. About 40 to 50 iterations later, each taking about a week to ship to Harrington and Klane's headquarters in Massachusetts for taste tests, Yasso in late 2010 finally had a product to go to market with. Retailers jumped at the chance to stock the product, Klane said (and her connections in the industry helped get into the door).

Image Credit: Courtesy of Yasso

"We knew that we had a product that everybody was going to be looking for, because everybody loves ice cream and everybody wants to be able to eat it every day," she said. "We hit the market at the right time. People knew Greek yogurt. Health and wellness was on trend, and this fit perfectly into retailers' sets. It was something that no one else was offering."

Yasso can now be found in more than 17,000 stores across the U.S. The company was bootstrapped with funds from friends and family until 2013, when Yasso got a $4 million investment from Raptor Group. In 2017, Massachusetts based private equity firm Castanea Partners invested in the company. Yasso recently introduced Chocolate & Vanilla Swirl Bars, Fudge Brownie pints, a line for kids as well as its first seasonal flavors.

So what do Harrington and Klane attribute their success to? For one, that the actual product was hard to develop, and Harrington said that they chose to first introduce novelties (that's ice cream on a stick) because it's a more challenging product as less manufacturers can accommodate that format. Then, it was showing retailers and consumers how the product is different. Harrington and Klane also devoted time to creating packaging that separated Yasso from its fierce frozen competition.

Related: Before Halo Top Became One of America's Fastest-Growing Ice Cream Brands, It Was on the Verge of Death

"We took a disciplined approach to the question, how do we stand apart from the competitors and do things differently?" Harrington said. "Seven years later there's been a lot of copycat brands that have mimicked our packaging."

Still, from the outset, Klane and Harrington decided to follow the example of a company they admired: Ben & Jerry's.

"Why we look at Ben & Jerry's as a role model for us is that they brought a lot of fun, excitement and innovation to the category by way of their flavors, brand voice and positioning," Harrington said. "We feel that Yasso is the new era of that generation of fun, but most importantly, better-for-you dessert. We're doing the best of both worlds."

Related:

These Childhood Friends Created a $100 Million Brand by Putting Frozen Greek Yogurt on a Stick

How a Four Loko Co-Founder Became the Leader of a Plant-Based Protein Beverage Brand

These Food Industry Veterans Say That Building a Community Is the Most Important Part of a Food Startup



Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Remember that those who are in law enforcement are those who watch over us, who watch out for us, Cupich said. Every day they get up, leave their homes and family to watch out for us. And I think that maybe the best way that we can console each other and also express our gratitude for the sacrifice that has been given in the death of Officer Jimenez is as citizens, remember that law enforcement wants us all to live (together), to watch out for each other, care for each other, and then maybe we will make their jobs easier.
After three close gubernatorial elections since 2010, each one following a bitter contest between the major parties, Connecticut needs a moonshot that would give us an opportunity to move our state forward in a transformational way, boldly redefining the way in which we live for generations to come.

An earlier generation of Connecticut leaders did that in developing the Merritt Parkway in the Thirties and the Connecticut Turnpike in the Fifties, just as leaders in Washington implemented the literal moonshot in the Sixties.

Our inherent advantages as a state stem from being the home of the economic and technology powerhouse of Yale University and our location adjacent to the economic and social strength of New York City and Long Island. Exploiting these advantages can jump-start this state in ways that entrepreneurs and governmental leaders will expand on for many decades beyond our moment. That is the moonshot required for a state that has lost its vision and sense of prospect, and become mired in debates over how to raise revenue rather than how to seize its future.

We should start by recognizing that Connecticuts economic vitality is tied to Yale as a singular economic driver, what Harvard is to Massachusetts, and that this power should be extended through Fairfield County in the way the development of Route 128 radiates from Boston and Cambridge.

Connecticuts economic development requires creating an urban nexus readily accessible to the capital and social resources of New York City, something close to the economic and social center that attracts the worlds most privileged young achievers. That will also drive business and entrepreneurship to Connecticut.

If we can leverage New Havens proximity to New York City so it can offer suburban accessibility to the greatest urban center of the Northeast, Yales economic and social development potential helps to redefine Connecticuts future.

This includes three major pieces of transportation infrastructure  committing resources to overcome the bridge and track issues to create one-hour train times between New Haven and New York; bridging the moat between Connecticut and Long Island so we expand our practically accessible economic market to Long Island, including the burgeoning tech hubs of Long Island City and Roosevelt Island; and developing a regional air hub at Sikorsky Airport in Stratford that can conveniently attract passengers from both New Haven and Fairfield counties.

Talented young people have options vote with their feet  and so do the businesses that look to attract them as a human resource and as customers. Young graduates are choosing the amenities of convenience, accessibility, and the presence of others in a privileged generation who can also go where they please.

Visit Yale and ask the most gifted, empowered students in America where they plan to be after graduation. Connecticut has not just lost established corporate players like GE and Edible Arrangements, but we have lost these students, the next generation of entrepreneurs, after we have had a chance to develop that connection during their residence at Yale. After experiencing living in Connecticut, they choose to dump our state for more attractive suitors, unlike their peers in Boston. If we give them reasons to stay, that helps give Connecticut a future, and developing an attractive research and lifestyle corridor radiating through Fairfield County to New York is a start.

There is vast potential for economic development between New Haven and New York City, including corporate headquarters and enhanced lifestyle opportunities for generations to come, fostered by the connection to Yale and its global capital network.

This also would help drive economic development in other parts of the state, following the transportation spines radiating from New Haven to other economic centers in Hartford and in Eastern Connecticut, but it first requires successfully exploiting the Yale connection as an economic and social catalyst.

After eight years of stalemated government and preoccupation with fights that divide rather than unite, we cannot afford four more years of stalemate centered on the petty political fights of the moment. And we cannot afford a view that prosperity emanates from Hartford or government jobs.

What smart local leaders learn on boards of selectmen across our state is that we may have different politics, but when it comes to the moonshots that redefine our communities, we come together as civic boosters with the same interests. Now, with a former selectman in the governorship, perhaps this concept can take root in state government and redefine the community that is Connecticut.

The courage to take a moonshot can redefine Connecticuts potential as something more than our tax rate and regulatory climate. It can give Connecticut a future.

Mark A. Shiffrin, a New Haven lawyer, was Connecticuts Consumer Protection Commissioner and a member of the Presidential Transition staff of George H.W. Bush; Avi Silberschatz is the Sidney J. Weinberg Professor of Computer Science at Yale University.
Once he selected the downtown Cactus Bar and Grill, Daoud conducted surveillance of the busy bar and repeatedly pushed to carry out the attack as soon as possible, prosecutors said in the recent filing. On Sept. 14, 2012, as Daoud and the FBI agent drove to pick up the purported car bomb, Daoud prayed for the success of the attack and that it would kill many people and cause destruction, the filing alleged.
Hamburg, N.Y. -- A 5-year-old boy died near Buffalo on Thanksgiving Day after his father accidentally struck him with a vehicle he was driving.



The boy's father was backing a vehicle out of the driveway when he hit his son accidentally at around 2 p.m. Thursday in Hamburg, outside Buffalo. The boy was taken to a nearby hospital, but pronounced dead shortly after arriving, according to WIVB in Buffalo.



Police have not found any indication that drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, according to The Buffalo News. Authorities described the incident as a "horrific accident."



The child, James R. Walsh, was a kindergartner at Union Pleasant Elementary School, the News said. His parents, Patrick and Kathryn Walsh, said in a statement that their son had a strong faith in God.



"We are blessed that we have an all-consuming and powerful Lord who has given us our faith," the statement said, according to the News. "We could not do this without Him. Our community has been so uplifting to us. We are so grateful.



"James was born on Christmas morning and he LOVES Jesus. So we know he is with Him."



Mary Rozeski, James' godmother, said the boy was sweet and generous and went out of his way to be kind to his family, friends and anyone he met. He enjoyed playing in the water and going to school, the family said, according to the News.



He also loved being outside, riding his bike, playing with his sisters and was obsessed with jaguars.



James was born in Orlando, Florida. He and his parents, who are originally from Western New York, moved back to the region about three years ago, the News said.



"He was a gift," Rozeski said, according to the News. "God gave us this gift. He was a perfect angel."

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
A new entrepreneurial program being launched by the founders of a Hartford-based co-working space will be getting a $3.9 million boost from Connecticuts technology investment agency.

The funding Connecticut Innovations is providing for Upward Labs will be spread across a two-year period, according to officials with the Rocky Hill-based venture capital agency. The money will be used to develop and nurture early-stage companies looking to develop pilot programs in the smart building and aged care technology market sectors.

The program Connecticut Innovations is funding is the latest entrepreneurial effort launched by the brain trust of Upward, a 34,000-square-foot working space that opened last year in Hartfords Stilts Building. Upward Labs will use funding from the agency to invest in companies accepted into the program.

Some of the money wil go toward supporting recruitment efforts for those companies as well as providing necessary infrastructure. Upward Labs is establishing two physical labs in downtown Hartford, where companies in the smart building and aged care industries will live and work for six consecutive months.

Samantha Wanagel, general manager of Upwards co-working space, said the companies that will be part of Upward Labs already have beta-test ideas, but they cant get a pilot launched.

I dont think people appreciate how difficult it is to get a pilot launched and to find the right partner do it, Wanagel said.

The two industry segments on which Upward Labs will focus were selected in part because of their potential to be transformed by technology.

People dont stop aging and, as they do, they want it to be done in their homes, as much as possible, she said. Technology can help make that happen.

Philip Siuta, Connecticut Innovations chief operating officer and chief financial officer, said early-stage companies often lack the resources and direct access to larger organizations where they can test ideas, pilot projects and demonstrate proof of concepts.

This initiative (Upward Labs) will allow larger corporations to identify and connect with innovative technologies and continue to grow the talent in the city, Siuta said in a statement. We are excited to announce this investment and look forward to welcoming a host of young and innovative companies to Hartford in the coming years.

Companies selected for the Upward Labs program will have the opportunity to pilot their product with well-known commercial, residential and senior care program partners and to work closely with established corporations to test their pilot programs and prove efficacy. The program is expected to invest in a total of 40 companies and execute four different six-month cohorts with 10 companies in each.

Michael Cantor, comanaging partner at Cantor Colburn LLP and chairman of Connecticut Innovations board of directors, said Upward Labs is an example of a public-private partnership that is uniquely suited to helping transform Hartford into a thriving environment where millennials and others want to work, live and play.

There is a tremendous opportunity to establish and foster an ecosystem of young innovators and tech-forward thinkers in Hartford, Cantor said in a statement.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
BRIDGEPORT - A former Central High School teacher pleaded no contest Monday to sexually assaulting two special education students.

Her hands folded in front of her, Laura Calladio Ramos pleaded no contest before Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin to two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of violating a protective order.

Do you think the state has sufficient evidence that it does expose you to the risk of being convicted? the judge asked Ramos, who briefly looked up at the judge.

Probably, she responded.

Although the 32-year-old Ramos could have faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the charges Devlin said he would sentence her to a maximum of five years when he sentences her on Jan. 25.

Ramos lawyer, Edward Gavin, maintained the right to argue for a lesser term.

We looked forward to resolving this very difficult case, Gavin said later. The court is giving us the opportunity to address an appropriate sentence and we will do so at the sentencing in January.

Ramos, who is free on bond, declined comment as she left the Fairfield County Courthouse.

Ramos, of Pond Point Avenue in Milford, was first charged with sexually assaulting an 18-year-old special education student between December and April 2017 and then later charged again after police claimed she sexually assaulted another student on many occasions including in a Shelton restaurant.

Ramos resigned her teaching post after her arrests.

Police said in a video recorded statement following her first arrest, Ramos admitted having sex with the 18-year-old student "a handful of times," beginning Dec. 23, 2016 until April 2017. She said most of the time they had sex in her car.

Police said a second special education student at the high school said on June 23, 2017, that he had also had sex with Ramos.

The student said that in April 2017, he had gone with Ramos to a Fairfield restaurant. After having dinner, the two went to Ramos' car in the parking lot and had sex, police said the student told them.

On another occasion in April, police said, Ramos complained to the teen that her husband didn't want to have sex with her and then took him to a restaurant in Shelton. While at that restaurant, the teacher and her student went into the restaurant's "electrical room," where they had sex, police said.

They said the teen told them he later received a text from Ramos saying it was the best sex she ever had.

Following her first arrest Ramos was issued a court order barring her from having any further contact with the first victim.

But Senior Assistant States Attorney Ann Lawlor told the judge that Ramos violated that order when on June 22, of this year she was pulled over by police in Waterford while driving the first victim to the beach.
HAMDEN  The historic Jonathan Dickerman House has already taken enough of a hit, according to the Legislative Council.

Clerk Kim Renta said the council approved a measure to waive $2,707 in building permit fees for the home last week, which is being reconstructed after it was damaged in the May tornado.

The Town and the Hamden (Historical) Society have maintained a mutually beneficial relationship that supports the value Hamdens historic properties bring to our community and quality of life, said Mayor Curt B. Leng in a letter to council members.

The house dates back to 1792, according to past reporting, when it was built by farmer Jonathan Dickerman for his wife.

It became state property in the 1920s, when it was donated to serve as part of Sleeping Giant State Park, then passed to the Hamden Historical Society in 1961.

The society remodeled the structure to look as it did in the 18th century.

But the May tornado did not take pause to consider their careful efforts. According to documents submitted to the council, it knocked down a tree that punched a hole in the roof, damaging a beam, rafters and other parts of the structure.

But the needed repairs are not as dramatic as it might seem, according to roofer Bob Zoni.

To a person not familiar with historic structures, materials and techniques, the damage appears much worse than it actually is. It can be repaired by qualified people, Zoni said in a preservation plan submitted to the council. This is a testament to timber frame construction. Had this been a modern stick-framed house, the damage would have been far greater.

The project is expected to cost $150,000, not including materials, according to Zoni.

The historical society is currently raising funds to pay for the work.

Ken Minkema, the society president, said the reconstruction effort is expected to cost more than $250,000 when all is said and done.

The Cider Mill Barn, located next to the Dickerman House, was even more extensively damaged during the storm, Minkema said. The society is attempting to keep it standing at this point.

Insurance has defrayed some of the cost of the reconstruction work; the society has been collecting money and is hoping a state grant will come through, Minkema said. But there is more to be done.

Were on our way and were determined to do it, said Minkema. I think with all the various parties contributing and the community being very supportive, well get it done. Its just going to take time.

The Dickerman House represents a tie to Hamdens past, Minkema said. Its an everyday place, where a man and his family lived, that provides a down-to-earth sense of life at the time. If it was to be lost, a bit of Hamden would go along with it.

The town is already growing and developing rapidly  these ties to the past keep the community grounded in history, he said.

I think its really important to root ourselves like that, said Minkema, who then referenced a quote from John Quincy Adams  who we are is who we were.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
A CTA spokeswoman said additional buses were requested in the area to provide service to the route between the 54th Street/Cermak station and the Cicero station. Commuters were urged to use the No. 21 bus as an alternate means of transportation during the service disruption.
NEW HAVEN  Educating the whole child, paying attention to students social needs, personal development and family issues, is widely accepted as a part of public schools mission today.

Fifty years ago, that wasnt the case. Then along came Dr. James Comer.

A psychiatrist at the Yale Child Study Center, he is internationally known for what is commonly called the Comer model, formally known as the Comer School Development Program. It began at the two lowest-performing schools in New Haven in 1968 and is now used in more than 1,000 schools worldwide.

Comer, still fine-tuning his program at 84, knew when he started that he was approaching the poor performance of New Havens schoolchildren as a physician, not an educator. But he drew heavily on his own life story.

My father was from rural Alabama and had maybe a sixth-, seventh-grade education, Comer said. My mother was from rural Mississippi and, at most, had two years of education. He said his mothers picture is now in the Great Migration section of the Smithsonian National Museum for African-American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

The two of them sent their five children to college (who) received 13 college degrees, and it was the fact that they gave us a home experience that made that possible, that changed my life trajectory.

Comer knew his success had to have been instilled by his family life. I was doing my internship in my hometown and I saw my friends going down a downhill course, he said. That town was East Chicago, Ind., a small, tough, steel mill town tucked in between Gary, Ind., and Chicago, Ill.

I realized the difference was we had a good developmental experience. We were able to be successful in school and had opportunities in life, good opportunities in life, and my friends didnt, even though they were just as smart. One of his friends died of alcoholism, the other spent his time in and out of mental health institution and the other spent significant jail time, Comer said.

In his family, We had the kind of developmental experience so that our parents protected us, Comer said. We had the same exposures, the same near involvements with potential trouble.

They exposed us to everything educational they could find  and they gave us an experience at home that was motivational  caring, guidance, rules, high expectations and they preferred to teach (rather) than punish.

Comer had planned to become a general practitioner, but had second thoughts during his internship when I observed kids just like my friends who were going on the same downhill course as my friends.

So Comer decided to go into public health and joined the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a noncombatant service under the U.S. surgeon general. He volunteered with people who had been thrown off the welfare rolls. Their living conditions were fragmented and terrible, he said. So the question became, how do you prevent this from happening? What could I do?

I had looked at the big society through public health, but I wanted to look at individuals, Comer said. The Public Health Service sent him to the Yale School of Medicine from 1964 to 1967, where he was a psychiatric fellow and finished as a fellow at Hillcrest Children and Family Center, the same community where the riots took place after Martin Luther King was assassinated. But there were no other African Americans in the clinical program at that time.

In 1968, Dr. Albert Solnit, director of the Child Study Center, had obtained funds from the Ford Foundation to look at education as a way of improving opportunities for African Americans, Comer said. He called me back to direct the program.

Two schools, Martin Luther King and Baldwin schools, were chosen because they were the lowest-performing schools in the New Haven school district. The program later was moved from Baldwin, which was closed, to the Katherine Brennan School (now the Brennan Rogers School of Communications and Media). King is now the King-Robinson Inter-District Magnet School.

It was Brennan and King that turned around dramatically, Comer said. From the bottom of the list, the two schools rose to the top academically.

The model I used was not what was being used in education, he said. I knew nothing about schools. I knew nothing about education. I didnt have an educational background. I knew about kids.

Paul Del Gobbo of Durham was principal of Katherine Brennan School when the Comer model was introduced. It all started with him coming over and talking to me and a few representative teachers, and of course we liked what he had to say, Del Gobbo said.

Dr. Comer is a terrific guy and he believes in consensus, in making decisions, and he believes in no blame or no fault, as he calls it. We used to meet regularly and we had parents involved, teachers involved, and we made all kinds of decisions, he said. The parents were paid for three hours a day but many ended up staying all day long.

We hired parents to help teachers, Del Gobbo said. Before you know it the whole school wanted a parent working. We gave the parent staff development once a week and they loved it. Our grades improved, definitely. We had a lot fewer discipline problems, a lot fewer kids got sent to the office and we did well.

The morale was out of sight, which was terrific, Del Gobbo said. We never had an argument. Everyone had a voice. We helped the kids academically, emotionally, in every way possible.

However, once Del Gobbo left for a job in the central office and a new principal took over and there were new students and parents, the program languished. When theres change, its difficult to sustain what youre doing, he said. People have to buy into the program and when they dont things change.

The School Development Program is based on three pillars: no-fault problem-solving, in which teachers and school staff are not blamed for problems that occur or for a lack of achievement; consensus decision-making, in which you try and get everybody to think about whats good for children; and collaboration, Comer said.

Eventually, those guidelines became the culture of the school as they played them out, lived them out. Thats the way they began to live and work, Comer said. In this school we dont solve problems by arguing and fighting. We work it out.

What we did was help the teachers think differently about kids, about behavior problems first. We looked at what structures were needed to prevent those behavior problems from occurring, he said. The first step was a governance and management team that represented all the groups in the school: parents, teachers, administrators, support staff and older students.

That gave them a sense of ownership  and they had to make it happen and so they had to hold themselves accountable. They identified the goals and they developed the strategies for achieving those goals.

Two other teams, the parents team and school staff support team, made up of counselors, guidance counselors and psychologists, completed the comprehensive school plan that included the academic focus [and] a social focus so you made the school a good place for everybody, Comer said. Good relationships were promoted through all the activities you carry out in your school. Once you have good relationships, you can do everything else.

The plan changed the schools culture, in which everybody was isolated, doing their own thing, Comer said.

The program was exported to other schools. In Norfolk, Va., We combined it with Ed Ziglers program and that school that had inner-city project kids went from being last in the city to first.

Zigler, a professor emeritus of psychology at Yale School of Medicine, founded the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development & Social Policy.

The change was so dramatic the school superintendent was accused of cheating on the numbers so the school was tested again and the average score was two points higher than the first time.

Herman Clark was principal of the school, Bowling Park Elementary School, which he said was similar to a New Haven school, lacking parental involvement, high-crime community and hard to staff. He said Comer and his staff contacted him and talked to me about the Comer model and how it could improve all of the pathways to achievement, not just academics.

I think the thing that impressed me the most was the fact that they were there to work side by side with us, Clark said. This was an ideal approach. It was nonthreatening.

Clark and several teachers and parents came to New Haven to observe schools, then went back to civic organizations, PTAs and recreation centers to spread the word and, when Clark made his presentation, 400 parents attended. That alone impressed school board members  It was just a happy family of people, Clark said. On a daily basis, we had over 50 parents volunteer in our school. We ended up being the No. 1 school in the city of Norfolk in the year after implementing the Comer model.

The school is continuing to do better, he said. For a while after he left, the school lost its accreditation, but now its starting to improve again.

In addition to the three guidelines and three teams, the School Development Program has three operating principles: a comprehensive school plan with academic and social components, staff development and ongoing assessment and modification, Comer said.

Youre always figuring out how youre doing academically and socially and youre making adjustments to your answers, he said. You keep changing and so you get organic change.

The aim of the program is to attend to all needs of the child, at home, in the neighborhood and in the school, not just to focus on test scores. The problem in education is that it has focused until about the time we came along  on the academics only  and the development along the pathways needed for success in school and life have to be integrated, Comer said.

Observing how children who misbehaved were being punished and labeled disturbed and sent to him for treatment, Comer realized education is not focused on child development and teachers were there on the front lines doing the work where knowledge of child development should have been a central requirement of everybody who works with kids.

Understanding child development helps them on the job apply knowledge of children to the behavior. It helps them understand how attachment, engagement are so very important and  how social, emotional learning are all integrated, and we now know through knowledge of the brain that thats the case.

Comer knew this from his family experience and intuition. It wasnt until the end of the eighties that knowledge of the brain confirmed his theories, he said. Scientists found that the brain was being structured by the childs interactions. The child is interacting and trying to succeed and thats what grows the brain and we now know that.

Comers program was undercut by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, enacted under President George W. Bush, which focused on granting federal education money based on test scores.

No Child Left Behind focused people on curriculum and instruction and reading and math and all the other stuff they considered just stuff, unimportant, Comer said.

It was politics. They were believers and they were all middle-class, well-educated people who went to private schools, most of them, and I think most of them were true believers that that was what education was about, but in so doing they ignored the evidence, he said.

A study had been done of 29 educational programs nationally and only three showed consistently strong performance both academically and socially, he said. Ours was one of the three. The fallout of that was people said comprehensive school reform didnt work and they didnt look at the three that did work.

Education officials were looking at curriculum alone and ours isnt based on curriculum change. No one was looking at the fact that the problem in schools has little to do with curriculum, Comer said.

The Comer model was slow to gain traction because students who tend to do well in school are generally from families or environments or networks that are supportive, he said. Wherever you have families that live under economic, social stress, marginalization, trauma, social, psychological trauma, those conditions interfere with the development of kids and, when they dont develop well, they cant learn well.

You still have people who dont want that to change. They dont want that advantage to change, and you cant on the one hand complain about problems of crime, about problems of dependency, about problems of people not being committed to democracy, Comer said. All the problems we have are related to the fact that we havent done very well with our educational system.

Now, the Child Study Center is collaborating with the School of Education at Southern Connecticut State University and the New Haven Public Schools, although new leadership at both institutions has delayed progress, he said.

Comer doesnt believe hes succeeded in changing the educational culture nationally. Theres a lot of work to be done, but its hard to get to it because youve got to convince people.

Tim Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics (founded by his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver), graduated from Yale University in 1981 and taught at Hillhouse High School. I spent a year at the Child Study Center in a fellowship to be trained in 1984, Shriver said, taking a leave from the University of Connecticut chapter of Upward Bound, a program for disadvantaged youth.

Shriver returned to the New Haven Public Schools after that and really set up the field called social and emotional learning, he said. We worked within collaborations to develop curricula, disciplinary strategies, family engagement strategies, teacher-training strategies.

Shriver, who launched the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said of Comer, His impact, not just through me but through many others, has been to reshape schools into places that not only teach head but teach heart  that teach inspiration as well as inspiration.  Hes one of the most influential educators in the history of the United States.

He said the Comer model has not made as large an impact in New Haven as it might have. I think the problem in a place like New Haven has been the absence of sustained attention to implementation, he said. Dr. Comers work calls for a much longer horizon of child development. You cant just drop it in like a widget. There are no vaccines in education.

There are some good schools in New Haven and there are some fantastic teachers and there are many, many fantastic kids, but it has been spotty because the leadership has been spotty.

Edward Joyner, now a member of the New Haven Board of Education, was executive director of the Comer program , which was implemented in five school districts in Connecticut between 1998 and 2003, according to literature from the Child Study Center.

Joyner said the Comer model taught that beyond academic performance, character development really was in the best interests of society. He thought that every kid had potential.  He pushed back against the traditional notions of who would do well and who wouldnt.  I would argue that Dr. Comer has made the greatest contributions to America in terms of what is necessary to educate poor children.

Joyner said that today in New Haven, I think theres more lip service than use, although he said Davis Street, Jackie Robinson (now King-Robinson), Lincoln-Bassett and Clinton Avenue schools have shown success. I think there are pockets of excellence but what we had done in the 90s is we wanted to reform the entire system, top-down, bottom-up.

However, William Clark, chief operating officer of the New Haven Public Schools, said the Comer model is integral to how the system operates. I think it really has been  a cornerstone element of how we view education in New Haven and how we look at the whole child and how we look at the whole community thats involved in the education of our youth, he said.

Theres different takes or angles on what Dr. Comer and his group put in place 50 years ago.  The cornerstone basics are still making the school environment safe. If you dont have those systems  in place it makes the climb that much steeper. Although weve had other partners along the way, the constant has been the Comer model.

Its those tenets and those core principles you find yourself coming back to, Clark said. When you put those pieces in place you have an environment that is conducive to learning. It remains inspirational and a guidepost and something we keep going back and back and back to.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382.
HAMDEN  The Parternships Center for Adult Day Care has a new executive director and fresh energy, coming back from the brink of closure to continue providing aid for people in need and their loved ones.

Mary Beth Kiely of Deep River worked as a nurse for more than two decades, including at Bridgeport Hospital, St. Vincents Medical Center and Lighthouse Home Healthcare, before taking on the position of executive director Sept. 4.

Kiely said the center, which provides care for elderly and frail people who cannot function alone full-time, but do not necessarily need to go to a nursing home, felt like a natural fit from the moment she walked in the door.

The new role allowed her to continue helping people in need, as she had for years, without the travel that comes with serving as a visiting nurse, and work in a friendly, intimate atmosphere.

They come in here and its like their home away from home, said Kiely. It brings you a lot of fulfillment to see people happy here.

Board members Patricia Gilmore and Shirley Pripstein, the new board president, helped bring Kiely to Partnerships.

Gilmore said she has been on the board for years, joining after the place cared for her mother, who was dealing with Alzheimers disease. Her mother spent time there during the day, allowing her father some respite from watching over his wife, and for her mother to be treated with greater care than at a nursing home.

I t was a lifesaver for my family. ... I knew she was loved and taken care of here, said Gilmore. They saved my fathers sanity and mine.

Pripstein said she joined the board in July. Her wife, Jodi Tepp, spends time at Partnerships three days per week.

Pripstein said its a joy for Tepp  while she does not have the short-term memory to remember the place, she doesnt want to leave after every day there.

Partnerships provides activity and community in a hands-on, intimate environment, Pripstein said. Instead of sitting in front of the television, she can sing, walk and play games with other attendees.

Its the socialization and the interaction with the other people  theres stimulation here, said Pripstein.

Pripstein said Partnerships allows her life to function  it gives her the chance to work, shop for groceries, run errands  and provides another set of eyes, a sounding board, to help with the needs of caring for her wife.

As former Executive Director Valerie Dellarocco neared retirement in April, the center was facing a financial crunch, brought on by more clients choosing half-day sessions after the 2008 Great Recession and a drop in donations. With its diminished resources, it was at imminent risk of closure.

But with fresh energy from a newly revamped board  including a recurring donation from a member  and the hiring of Kiely, that is no longer the case.

Gilmore said they have the resources to continue for at least a year, and she plans to begin a fresh fundraising initiative, reaching out to community groups, governments, businesses and foundations on behalf of the nonprofit organization.

When they have a full roster of clients, Pripstein said, the place is profitable.

They do not have a full roster at this time, however  both full- and half-day spots are available  but with baby boomers on the horizon, the need for the centers services will grow, she said.

With the hiring of Kiely behind them and the future ahead, Gilmore said they want to make sure people in the area, both potential donors and those in need of help caring for a loved one, are aware Partnerships exists.

(We want to) get the word out that we are here; we didnt close. We dont anticipate on closing and we do have spots open for clients, said Gilmore. We want to reach out to the caregivers and let them know that there is a resource they can use.

It costs a lot more money to go into a nursing home, said Kiely. This is so much better  to come here, be interacting, be around other peers, do fun things, be safe, be able to get the medicines you need throughout the day, while your loved one is, whether working, or just taking a break.

For a caregiver, even one, two days a week, thats when you go grocery shopping, thats when you go clothes shopping, said Pripstein. Day care is a godsend for people.

william.lambert

@hearstmediact.com
A lot of people say, Oh there are so many people in the race. Its so confusing. But this is a democracy, and competition is a really good thing, Lightfoot said Monday as she filed her petitions. All of us should be tested by the voters. All of us should be compelled to articulate a vision forward, and thats what this city needs. We have been under the yoke of a machine and the status quo for way too long.
SHORELINE  A shiny, new bicycle. While this may be just a dream for some area children, the nonprofit group Roots4Relief is working to make sure it is a reality this holiday season.

Last year, the organizations first Wishing Wheels Holiday Bike Drive delivered 87 new, boxed childrens bicycles, 12-inch, 16-inch and 20-inch, along with helmets, to needy children.

This year, thanks to input from social services in Guilford, Branford, Madison and North Branford, in addition to Childrens and Families Offices in Wallingford and New Haven public schools, they hope to be able to distribute 200 bikes.

The list keeps growing, said founder John DellaVentura. Its really great to have people coming to us now and saying, Weve got some great kids that would be perfect for these bicycles.

In order to fulfill all these requests, says DellaVentura, money is being raised to purchase bikes, in bulk, from Zanes Cycles in Branford.

Donations can be made via the Wishing Wheels 2018 Holiday Bike Drive Facebook, roots4relief.com or Bishops Orchards.

DellaVentura stresses that every dollar counts whether its a dollar or $165, which is the cost this year of a full bike and helmet kit, which provides a bike and a helmet for a child ages four to 10.

Danielle Scheltens, program coordinator at Guilford Social Services, helped identify local children who would benefit from this project. DellaVentura promises confidentiality.

Scheltens said this project, along with many others, is so important to those in need, especially during the holiday season, and the families appreciate the communitys efforts.

I know that theyre very grateful and its a need that  you know a bicycle is an expensive thing and its nice that there are organizations that give this kind of opportunity to these families and the kids, she said.

We have so many other programs that are in place for these families that otherwise they couldnt maybe put their holiday meal on the table or they couldnt provide Christmas gifts to their kids. All these programs are so enormously helpful and we couldnt do all these programs if it wasnt for the whole community in Guilford.

The bikes will be delivered to the Bishops Orchards Farm Market & Winery Little Red Barn, where they will be assembled by community volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 15, 10 a.m. 4 p.m.

This event, under the auspices of the nonprofit group Roots4Relief, is in keeping with a childhood tradition started in DellaVenturas family.

The 39-year-old remembers that his family, along with the Smith, Williams and Wiegner families, pooling their money to purchase bikes in bulk from the former New Haven Toys R Us.

They would gather Christmas Eve morning at their Guilford home to assemble bikes before delivery to those in the community who were less fortunate. Now, he is passing on this tradition to his own children, Grace, 10, and Abigail, 8, and their cousins, Addison and Nora Healy, 5 and 2, respectively.

Roots4Relief was established in 2016 for the seventh-generation Bishop children, the cousins, to give back to their community. It was started by their parents, DellaVentura, his wife, Sarah Bishop DellaVentura and Matt and Carrie Bishop Healy.

Part of what Wishing Wheels is all about is not only being able to help underprivileged children in our society, but its also about helping children and families get involved and empower them to help those people, DellaVentura said.

So, really the big thing for me is to get all those families together, as a community, as a family, and work together to built these bikes, by hand, and make a connection between a bike theyre building, for a child that they dont even know. and their own circumstance and their own well-being.

For more information contact Roots4Relief, 203-871-9896.
Holiday open house

SEYMOUR  Seymour Pink, a communitys fight against breast cancer, will hold a holiday open house from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at its gift shop, 3 Franklin St.

The event will include refreshments, door prizes, discounts, Santa & Scrappy and complimentary pink gift.

For more information, call 475-675-5906.

Breakfast with Santa

ANSONIA - Breakfast with Santa will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 2 at Assumption Church Hall, 61 N. Cliff St.

Tickets are $5 for kids, $10 for adults and will be available at the door.

The event will include raffles, a book fair, photos with Santa, vendors, Chinese auction, music, lottery trees and more.

Derby Neck Library announces December events

DERBY  Derby Neck Library will present a free program, Cutting the Cord, at 6 p.m. Dec 3.

The program will explain how drop your cable TV bill and move to streaming services.

Options will be discussed, such as which service best fits your needs among those all recently added to the market.

At 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6, the library will present Dinner and a Movie for ages 18 and older. This months film is Miracle on 34th Street, and includes free refreshments and free pizza dinner.

At 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12, a program called Fighting Colds and Flu with Tea, with tea expert Philip Parda, will be held. Parda owns a company dedicated to the selection and importation of teas on a worldwide basis. A tea-tasting session is included with his talk. Seating is limited to 20; call ahead to reserve a space.

For information or to make reservations, call 203-734-1492.

The library is located at 307 Hawthorne Ave.

Derby Public Library to hold teen programs

DERBY  The Derby Public Library invites young adults ages 12 to 17 to join the fun of YA Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each week in December.

Sony PlayStation 4, Nintendo Wii, board games and Legos will be available.

Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, stop by the library, 313 Elizabeth St., call 203-736-1482 or visit www.derbypubliclibrary.org.

Valley woman hits it big

SHELTON  Valley resident Vicky OConnor was the big winner at the 2nd annual Diamond Dig fundraiser at Marks of Design.

OConnor found the top prize: a one-carat diamond from Antwerp, Belgium. More than 800 carats of precious gemstones were awarded in the event, which raised more than $11,000 for The Valley Goes Pink Campaign.

The Valley Goes Pink is a grassroots community effort throughout the Lower Naugatuck Valley to create awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection, support the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital, and showcase partnering organizations.

For more information about the Valley Goes Pink, visit griffinhealth.org/pink.

Compiled by Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
The New Jersey Attorney General's Office is looking into a complaint accusing Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner of hiding evidence, committing mortgage fraud and more, sources tell NJ Advance Media.

The office of Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has declined to say whether it is taking action in response to an Oct. 4 formal complaint sent to the office. The complaint was leaked.

However, two people with knowledge of the matter confirmed that the office of the state's highest law enforcement official has been looking into the allegations. They agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity.

Last month, three women who have worked in the prosecutor's office sent a letter to the Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey seeking an investigation of Tyner for alleged ethical violations ranging from nepotism to ignoring gender discrimination complaints.

The letter was signed by Diane Ruberton, a former first assistant prosecutor who was fired by Tyner in June after she complained about alleged misconduct; Heather McManus, a former detective lieutenant who retired earlier this year; and Donna Fetzer, a chief assistant prosecutor still working in the office.

Through their attorneys, they have declined interviews with NJ Advance Media.

Tyner, in response to a request for comment Monday, said: "We welcome any opportunity to assist the AG's Office resolve these baseless allegations."

"The great work of the women and men of the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office should not be mischaracterized or disparaged by those who do not share the same commitment to equal justice under the law," Tyner said.

Prosecutors in New Jersey are appointed by the governor and answer directly to the Attorney General.

The letter says Tyner, in financial trouble due to an expensive and unsuccessful State Assembly campaign, conspired with his family to commit mortgage fraud in 2006. County records show Tyner and his wife, Nicole Milan Tyner, sold their house to her father, Herbert Milan, for $425,000, though it was only valued at $267,000. Seven months later, he sold it back to Tyner for $1.

This allowed him to pay off the first mortgage and secure a second, much bigger one as a kind of low-interest loan, the letter said. The women wrote that the FBI may be investigating the issue.

They also accused Tyner of hiding evidence in the highest profile homicide case his administration has prosecuted: the October trial of Ferdinand "Freddy" Augello, convicted of murder for his role in the 2012 hit-man killing of April Kauffman.

The women said Tyner violated discovery rules by hiding from the defense attorney that his office had not investigated missing evidence and that the lead detective had been investigated by internal affairs.

They also accused Tyner of hiring people he was close with, including his brother, helping his friends or political allies out of legal trouble, making gender discrimination and sexual harassment complaints in his office go away and misusing forfeiture funds.

Like the Attorney General's Office, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey said it could not comment on the existence of an investigation. The spokesman did confirm that the complaint was received.

While there was substantial media coverage of the leaked letter over a few days in October, it's been a wave of silence since then, with no politicians or groups in the county publicly joining the call for an investigation.

None of the legislators representing Atlantic County residents responded to requests for comment on the issue in October.

Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Q. If I close my IRA by converting the funds to a Roth IRA, can I deduct losses from a non-IRA account against profits gained in my IRA?

-- Investor

A. We see what you're getting at, but it doesn't work that way.

When you withdraw funds from an IRA account, you must pay federal and state income tax on the taxable amount of the withdrawal.

The taxable amount is the excess amount over the IRA's "basis," said Bernie Kiely, a certified financial planner and certified public accountant with Kiely Capital Management in Morristown.

There are two ways to get basis in an IRA.

The first is when you make a non-deductible contribution to your IRA, Kiely said.

"If you participate in a pension at work and earn too much, you can contribute to your IRA," he said. "You just can't take a deduction for the contribution on your federal income tax return."

So the amount you contribute to your IRA becomes your "basis."

As long as you keep track of your basis, Kiely said, you will never pay income taxes on it.

"Since New Jersey never allowed a tax deduction for IRA contributions, any contributions you made to an IRA has basis for state tax purposes," he said.

The second source for basis is when you make after-tax contributions to your 401(k) at work.

In 2018, the law allows you to contribute $18,500 to your 401(k) plan on a pre-tax basis, Kiely said. This means you don't pay federal or state tax on the contribution.

What happens if you contribute $20,000 to your 401(k) plan?

"You contributed $18,500 in pre-tax contributions and $1,500 in after-tax contributions," he said. "You now have $1,500 in basis in your 401(k). If you rolled your 401(k) plan into an IRA, you would roll the $1,500 of basis into a Roth IRA and the remaining balance into a taxable IRA."

Roth IRAs were created by the Tax Relief Act of 1997, Kiely said. Prior to Roth IRAs, if you had after-tax contributions in your 401(k), you would roll over the entire account into one IRA account. The after-tax contributions would have resulted in basis.

So what happens if purchase an investment in your IRA and that investment loses value? Is there any income tax relief available?

The short answer is no.

Federal and state income taxes are based on the amount in excess of basis that is withdrawn from the account, Kiely said. There is no treatment of gains or losses in an IRA. You are taxed on the amount you take out.

"Let's say you invested $100,000 in GE stock in an IRA and then it dropped to $25,000 and you took out the $25,000," Kiely said. "You would pay tax on the $25,000. There are no adjustments for investment losses."

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter.
I think some of the more contentious issues were probably not going to see on an override of a veto, Republican state Rep. Tim Butler of Springfield said on WGN-AM 720. I think the Democrats will wait until spring session and when we come back in January, and maybe act on some things where they didnt get the 71-vote threshold to override a veto.
A New Jersey college gave its students the chance to pick which new restaurant they wanted on campus -- so long as it wasn't Chick-fil-A.

After students at Rider University voted for the fast casual restaurant as their top choice in the spring, the private college sent another survey this fall and excluded the fast casual restaurant "based on the company's record widely perceived to be in opposition to the LGBTQ+ community," according to the university.

"Ultimately, we decided to lean in the direction of creating a welcoming environment where differences can be appreciated and where each individual can expect to experience dignity and respect," administrators wrote in a letter explaining the decision. "In many ways, this issue is one that goes beyond our decision and touches on a complex conversation taking place throughout the country."

The decision quickly sparked backlash, with one student telling the website Campus Reform, "they sell chicken, so as far as I am concerned that should be the focus."

Chick-fil-A's corporate values have stirred controversy since 2012, when its president spoke against same-sex marriage and news reports revealed the company donated to organizations opposed to same-sex marriage.

That prompted boycotts and kiss-ins from LGTBQ advocates and a rival "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" organized by conservative politician Mike Huckabee.

Rider's decision required a difficult assessment of competing interests, the university said.

"The choices in this situation, like in so many others, were imperfect," administrators wrote. "They challenged us to reflect on our values and consider what kind of community we want to provide for those who live and learn at Rider University.

The university has asked its Center for Diversity and Inclusion to organize a campus forum so that the voices of students, faculty, staff and others can continue to be heard.

"We fully acknowledge an organization's right to hold these beliefs, just as we acknowledge the right for individuals in our community and elsewhere to also personally hold the same beliefs," campus officials wrote.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
August Wilson looked with deep concern on the 1980s in America.

In the playwright's monumental ten-play American Century Cycle examining African-American life in each decade of the twentieth century the eighties are bleak, far bleaker than any other decade. The black community in Pittsburgh is defined by crime, violence, and--worst by far--indifference to cultural history. In Wilson's 1980s, culture itself risks annihilation.

All this plays out in "King Hedley II," now running at Red Bank's Two River Theater under the direction of Brandon J. Dirden. It is a dark, challenging play treated with care and confidence by Dirden and his cast. Wilson may have considered the decade bleak, but his characters don't necessarily see it that way: for them, there is always a chance to get ahead just around the corner, as long as a just a few pieces fall into place. The violence and anger that simmers constantly under our title character--played with a sense of real danger by Blake Morris--extends to the community at large. This "Hedley" captures the clear and present volatility underpinning Wilson's black Pittsburgh.

The play marks the halfway point of artistic director John Dias's commitment to produce all ten plays of Wilson's cycle at Two River, a project in which Dirden has to this point played a central role. After acting in "Jitney" and "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," Dirden made his directorial debut with the Red Bank theater's production of "Seven Guitars." He returns to direct that play's sequel: forty years have passed and the community spirit of blues that energize "Seven Guitars" had largely dissipated.

King is a man defined by his demand for dignity and respect at any cost. He served seven years in jail for murdering a man who refused to show him that respect, and although he wishes he had not lost so much time behind bars, he is unrepentant of his crime: "I ain't sorry for nothing I done," he asserts, defiantly. He is the son of Ruby, who was a vivacious young newcomer to Pittsburgh in "Seven Guitars," but who has grown into a woman that Elain Graham shows to be overcome with worry and regret, despite an abiding determination for happiness. The play follows King and his friend Mister (Charlie Hudson III), the son of Red Carter from "Seven Guitars," as they scheme to find ways of getting ahead. Potential danger arrives in the person of Elmore (Harvy Blanks), a southern hustler and old flame of Ruby who comes with a smile that is not to be trusted and a potentially explosive secret. Blanks is an accomplished veteran of Wilson both in Red Bank (featured now in four of Two River's five productions) and elsewhere, a history that proves fruitful here in a full-bodied Elmore.

All this is accompanied by Wilson's choral character, Stool Pigeon (Brain D. Coats), himself with roots in "Seven Guitars," who worries terribly for the state of the community. In his mind, they have lost sight of history and lost contact with their spiritual guide, Aunt Ester (sounds like "ancestor," doesn't it? That's not a coincidence), and he is not shy about pronouncing danger. But the community laughs off Stool Pigeon's wisdom and ignores Aunt Ester's guidance: a terrible combination in Wilson's word that portends only further danger.

Staged with real intimacy in Two River's black box theater on a meticulously rundown set by Michael Carnahan, Dirden's "Hedley" never shies from the play's dreariness, but succeeds nonetheless in finding the energy of hope that invigorates even the darkest of Wilson's plays. King is an unrepentant murderer and criminal, but Morris shows him to be a man driven by dreams of a better life, an energy that captures the heart of his love, Tonya (Brittany Bellizeare), herself deeply worried in many ways but nonetheless in love with the spirit guiding King.

Coats's defiantly stately Stool Pigeon does important work in establishing the tone of this production. Like Toledo in "Ma Rainey" and Hedley in "Seven Guitars," Stool Pigeon is a frustrated and disregarded griot, but like he did as both of those characters on Two River's stage, Coats refuses to allow the character's frustration to overwhelm him. He shows Stool Pigeon animated by the urgency of his message, and does not let him become a raving loon, despite his treatment by the community. Like Hedley and Toledo (and, for that matter, Holloway, Doaker, Bono, Bynum, and so on throughout Wilson's oeuvre), Stool Pigeon is easy to dismiss by characters and audiences, but Coats's performance insists that the show's real wisdom comes from its seemingly unhinged prophet.

This "Hedley" shows clearly that as we reach the halfway point of Two River's Wilson project, the theater is losing no steam or enthusiasm for the work, but is rather charging ahead into the challenges and nuances of Wilson's plays. This makes for exciting and immensely valuable theater experience of New Jersey audiences well into the future.

KING HEDLEY II

Two River Theater Company

21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank

Tickets: available online (http://www.tworivertheater.org/). Running through December 16.

Patrick Maley may be reached at patrickjmaley@gmail.com. Find him on Twitter and Instagram @PatrickJMaley. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.
A Montclair lawyer arrested in Cuba earlier this month admits fatally shooting his girlfriend, but claims her killing was self-defense, his own attorney told a judge in Newark Monday.

Superior Court Judge Ronald D. Wigler, however, said the state's evidence was more than sufficient to keep James Ray III behind bars while awaiting trial on murder and weapons charges.

"I really haven't heard anything that convinces this court you have overcome the presumption for detention," Wigler told Ray, who stood before the court in a green jail uniform, guarded by Essex County sheriff's officers.

Ray, 55, is charged with first-degree murder and unlawfully possessing a weapon in the death of Angela Bledsoe, whom Montclair police found fatally shot inside the couple's North Mountain Avenue on Oct. 22.

Ray was arrested by FBI and Homeland Security Investigations on Nov. 6 following his detention by Cuban authorities on an Interpol "red notice."

Ray's attorney, Thomas R. Ashley, argued his client had been cleaning several guns he owned when Bledsoe took one and pointed it at Ray. Ray fired at her with the gun he was holding only to defend himself, Ashley said.

Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Shaughnessy, however, said Bledsoe, 44, was shot four times: once in the jaw and three times in the back.

Ashley said his client had planned to return to the United States and that he left the country only for fear authorities wouldn't believe his story.

"This court well knows that flight alone is not an indication someone is necessarily guilty," he said.

The judge appeared skeptical of the argument.

"There's really no indication you had any intention of coming back to face these charges," Wigler said.

Prosecutors have said Ray, who has been jailed at the Essex County Correctional Facility, wrote a note admitting fatally shooting Bledsoe.

The note, found by Ray's sibling in the suitcase of the lawyer's 6-year-old child, said Ray was feeing specifically to avoid a lengthy trial and the possibility of jail time, authorities said.

The handgun used to kill Bledsoe has not been recovered. In the note, Shaughnessy said in court Monday, Ray admitted disassembling the gun and disposing of the parts in Philadelphia, where he briefly lived on the street after Bledsoe's death.

If convicted of murder, the judge noted, Ray faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison without parole.

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A Ridgefield Park man who apparently couldn't find family members who he said live in a Hoboken apartment complex was arrested for trespassing and then was found to have 20 bags of marijuana.

When Bryan Hansen, 27, was located in the Hoboken Housing Authority building on Jackson Street on Nov. 20 by Police Officers Sam Williams and Marvin DeJesus, he told the officers he was visiting family in the building for Thanksgiving.

But Hansen, who was found in the seventh floor stairwell, could not identify the apartment in which they live and he was charged with trespassing.

Officers handcuffing Hansen detected the odor of raw marijuana emanating from him, authorities said, and Williams and DeJesus then found 20 small bags of marijuana inside two cylindrical tubes.

Hansen was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana within 500 feet of Hoboken Housing Authority property, possession with intent to distribute marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, criminal trespass and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.
JERSEY CITY -- The Jersey City teen shot dead in front of her friends in October was struck by bullets fired into a Brinkerhoff Street building by a man leaning out of a stolen vehicle, officials said.

Security video led to the arrest of Jersey City residents Alterik Ellis, 25, and Travis Defoe, 28, on Nov. 5 on charges they murdered Lincoln High School senior Jade Saunders, 17, and wounded three others in the Oct. 26 incident, according to the criminal complaints obtained Monday.

According to the complaint, the two accused killers do not know Saunders. The complaint does not include a motive for the shootings, but the court document provides previously undisclosed details regarding events before and after the fatal shooting.

Witnesses told police that the passenger in a vehicle had opened fire and security video recovered by detectives revealed that the car was a white 1999 Toyota Camry that was found in Newark on Oct. 29, the complaints say.

Security video also revealed that Ellis and DeFoe had gotten into the car on Oak Street Jersey City at 11:26 p.m. on the day of shooting and turned onto Brinkerhoff from Monticello Avenue just prior to the 11:35 p.m. homicide, the complaints says.

Later, Ellis is seen on security video getting out of the vehicle and walking to an apartment on Lexington Avenue in Newark, the complaints say.

Defoe is seen walking from the vehicle to Penn Station in Newark and boarding a PATH train before arriving at Journal Square at 12:45 p.m. on Oct. 27, the complaint says.

The pair were also charged with wounding a 26-year-old and two 19-year-olds that night. Police recovered nine spent 9mm rounds at the scene, officials said. Saunders, who wanted to be a hairstylist after graduating, was shot in the upper body and pronounced dead at the scene.

The state has moved to detain Ellis and Defoe through the course of their prosecution. Their detention hearings are now set for Wednesday before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale in the Hudson County Administration Building.
Not so long ago, what was then called the Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center was a place that time  and most of Hudson County  forgot. The aging building on Meadowlands Parkway in Secaucus had a well-earned reputation for poor management and some of the highest prices in the country.

Today, the facility has a new owner, new leadership, and a new name, Hudson Regional Hospital. Now comes the tough part: persuading nearby businesses, doctors and prospective patients that the new HRH can be an affordable, high-quality health care partner.

"The goal is to make Hudson Regional Hospital a true community hospital," said HRH President and CEO Nizar Kifaieh. "We understood there was a huge undertaking ahead of us, the biggest of which was reputation management. So we worked closely together on a lot of different initiatives to transform the institution."

Kifaieh, a former executive at CarePoint Health who has both an M.D. degree and a master's degree in business administration, met with The Jersey Journal at the hospital last week. He was joined by Chief Nursing Officer Felicia Karsos, who had served as president and CEO under the hospital's former owners.

The previous owners had drawn the ire of state health officials and racked up thousands of dollars in fines for overdue financial reports. When Yan Moshe, a developer who owns two surgery centers in Bergen County, took over on Jan. 1, one of his first moves was to hire Kifaieh.

Kifaieh's task is simple, if not overwhelming: to make HRH a viable option as an independently-owned institution competing against the likes of RWJBarnabas Health's Jersey City Medical Center, CarePoint Health's three Hudson County hospitals, and Palisades Medical Center, part of the Hackensack Meridian Health system.

"We are surrounded by monsters," Kifaieh said. "Big systems are engulfing everything in front of them."

So the 204-bed Hudson Regional says it will carve out a niche, not only to survive, but to thrive.

"We don't want to specialize in everything out there. We want to be known for a certain, specific thing," Kifaieh explained. "What you see in the bigger systems is they all want to be known for everything from podiatry to brain surgery. ... The smart thing to do is to figure out a niche for us that is going to serve the community No. 1 and is going to make us successful."

The hospital administration sees opportunity in a number of areas: women's and children's services, including obstetrics and gynecology; minimally invasive spine surgery and joint replacement surgery; and general surgery.

An important step toward achieving those opportunities is a stronger working relationship with Riverside Medical Group, the large primary-care and specialty group that's headquartered a couple blocks away. Today, most Riverside patients choose other hospitals over HRH  something Kifaieh hopes to change.

"All of their patients leave town, which doesn't make any sense, whether it be OB, family medicine, pediatrics," he said. "We want to be able to provide that continuity of care."

Officials with North Hudson Community Action Corp. recently toured the hospital and came away "impressed with their plans for change and improvement, especially for women's services," NHCAC President and CEO Joan Quigley said.

There is no current relationship between NHCAC, a non-profit health and social services provider, and the hospital, but Quigley said the HRH is being added to the NHCAC list of resources.

Kifaieh sees mental, behavioral and substance abuse programs as "a huge area of opportunity" for the hospital  especially since HRH has so many available beds. The Meadowlands Parkway building is licensed to hold more than 200 patients, but currently has fewer than 60 beds occupied on a typical day.

"There is a huge lack in the area," he said. "We are thinking about the full spectrum of care as it relates to the dual diagnosis, addiction plus behavioral health  in-patient and outpatient care."

The hospital has also invested in technology with the acquisition of state-of-the-art DaVinci and Globus robotic surgical equipment. The 1970s building is busy with construction, including work on a new main lobby and a new Emergency Department Kifaieh said, noting that HRH has spent roughly $8 million this year on improvements, renovations and upgrades.

The Emergency Department is also a key component in Hudson Regional Hospital's future, since an emergency room visit plays a role in shaping a person's opinion of the entire hospital.

"The reputation has been more than challenging," said Kifaieh. "We brought in new physicians who are really very well qualified, who are focused from arrival to bedside triage so we have appropriate turnaround time."

The hospital is on pace to see 14,000 patients in the ER this year and Karsos, the chief nursing officer, boasted that there is no wait time. Kifaieh noted that the turnaround time, from the moment patients arrive to the time they are seen by an ER doctor, is averaging 20 minutes.

If changing the hospital's name was the first step in the hospital's comeback, agreeing to a new contract with the health care workers' union and signing in-network contracts with major insurers were steps two and three. Both of those objectives are now complete.

"Some health care providers think they could make more money by being out of network," Kifaieh said. "We realize that's not a long-term strategy. We really want to be community- and patient- and physician-friendly. I don't want complaints from patients with a huge bill saying, 'Why are you coming after me?' We are here to stay so we want a strategy that works in the long run."

Kifaieh wasn't ready to name names, but he doesn't see the Hudson County hospital landscape staying the same for long. He pointed to the out-of-network business model and the increased cost of health care as a couple catalysts for change.

"All six hospitals won't be in business," he said. "This whole out-of-network law is going to affect people."

Kifaieh says Hudson Regional Hospital, despite not having the big-hospital resources, will compete with the other Hudson County hospitals.

"Excellent care and excellent options is our goal," he said. "We are not just a convenient hospital in your backyard. We are going to be your No. 1 choice."
Jersey City's council adopted the new payroll tax on Nov. 20. Here's what you should know about the plan.

I own a house in Jersey City but do not own a business. Will my property taxes go up?

No. The payroll tax affects businesses exclusively.

I work in Jersey City but don't live there. Will more get taken out of my paycheck now?

No. The payroll tax is not like a commuter tax that hits individual workers. It is levied on businesses.

How much is the tax?

The tax amounts to 1 percent of a business' payroll. If your total payroll is $100,000 for one quarter, you will now have to pay $1,000 to the city for that quarter.

Are there any exemptions?

Yes. The wages of Jersey City residents are exempt, so a business that employs only Jersey City residents would not have to pay the tax. A business that employs two Bayonne residents and two Jersey City residents would pay the tax only on the wages of the Bayonne residents.

Mayor Steve Fulop called this a tax on corporations. Are small businesses exempt?

No. The city was not allowed to offer any exemptions except for charities and the wages of Jersey City residents.

I run a charity that employs two New York City residents. Do I have to pay the tax?

Maybe. There is an exemption in the law for charitable organizations, but if there is any business activity not related to the charity's mission, the payroll associated with that activity will be taxed. Here is how the city spokeswoman described it: "If a for-profit organization is operating within a nonprofit, or any portion of a nonprofit is operating for profit, those portions are not exempt."

This sounds complicated. Is the city going to be able to do this?

The city says it may have to hire two additional workers to keep track of the tax collection. Newark, which is the only other city in New Jersey with a payroll tax, has three people in its office of special assessments, according to Brian Platt, Jersey City's business administrator.

How much money is the tax going to generate?

State officials told the city and school district that rosy estimates are as high as $80 million annually. Newark's payroll tax brings in $50 million.

Where will the money go?

All of the money is earmarked for the public school district.

Oh, so now the public schools will have more money for new programs, improved infrastructure and updated technology?

No. State lawmakers earlier this year gave Jersey City the ability to collect a payroll tax because the state is gradually eliminating a form a state school aid that was going to bring Jersey City's school district $175 million this year. That amount is being taken away over the next seven years. The revenue from the payroll tax is supposed to offset the loss of that money. The school district is not planning any additional spending because of the payroll tax.

I own a business in Jersey City. How often do I have to report my payroll totals to the city?

Every quarter.

What is my penalty if I don't pay the tax on time?



The city can charge you 12 percent annual interest on any taxes not paid and a .05 percent monthly penalty.

When will this tax go into effect?

It's complicated. Technically, the law goes into effect 20 days after it is approved. That would make Dec. 10 the day the tax goes into effect.

But, business owners and groups that oppose the tax have threatened to block it in at least two ways. They could try to stall the tax via referendum, which means they would have to start a petition drive and collect about 6,700 signatures from Jersey City voters who want the tax rescinded. If they are successful, the tax would be put on hold and either the council could rescind the tax on its own or the question would go before voters. That was the strategy undertaken by proponents of keeping the Katyn monument at Exchange Place. A petition drive for the payroll tax would have to start during the 20-day period following adoption of the payroll tax ordinance.

Or the anti-payroll tax coalition could sue and ask a judge to put the tax on hold pending her final ruling. The group opposed to the tax have said they believe it could be unconstitutional.

An earlier version of this story should have said the ordinance goes into effect 20 days after it is approved.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
"Despite the arctic chill, the Chatham Turkey Trot posted record numbers in funds raised and runners," said run president and founder Curt Ritter. Ritter noted, "Nearly 1,000 registered runners participated in the event, raising more than $27,000, making it our most successful race in our 10-year history!"

According to Ritter, more than $150,000 has been raised since the run started 10 years ago. Money raised benefits the Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Diabetes Research Institute, the Chatham Emergency Squad, and The Barton Center for Diabetes Education. "We thank our sponsors and all who came out in the cold to be a part of this Chatham holiday tradition," Ritter said.

Winners of the 2018 Chatham Turkey Trot:
Hoboken is seeing some changes as two of its personnel team are moving on from their city positions.

Brandy Forbes, director of community development, and Santiago Melli-Huber, communications manager, are both departing before the end of the year.

"I greatly appreciate the service to our Mile Square that both Santiago and Brandy demonstrated during their tenure working for the City," Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla said.

Forbes was appointed by former mayor Dawn Zimmer in 2009 for the six-figure salary job. Her last day will be Dec. 6.

Melli-Huber joined the city as its spokesman in March, replacing his brother Juan Melli. His last day is Friday.

"I wish them well on their next endeavor and in their professional careers," Bhalla added.

Replacements for both positions will be announced before the new year.
WEST NEW YORK -- The Board of Education approved renaming School 2 after the late Mayor Anthony M. DeFino, who served for more than two decades.

During its regular meeting Wednesday, the board voted 6-1 to rename the school after the former mayor. Trustee Lorena Portillo abstained and trustee Jose Mendoza was absent for the vote.

DeFino served as mayor from 1971 through 1995. He died in December 1996.

"He loved the kids and I, as a former superintendent of schools, know my brother did so much for the children," Rose DeFino, the late mayor's sister, said during the meeting, according to Hudson County View. "He was a brilliant man, a good father, and a good grandfather - a great husband and a great brother."

Not all approved of the decision. Trustee Matthew Cheng voted no because, he said, "I want our children to inspired by our dedicated employees, not politicians."

"In my personal opinion, and not that of the Board of Education, school buildings should be named after exemplary employees and not that of politicians," he said. "Mayor Defino faithfully served the community decades ago and is already recognized with a road named after him."

U.S. Rep. Albio Sires and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez have schools named after them in the town.
Dorothy Brown at first said she wasnt familiar with dibs, but quickly came out in favor of it. I think that it should be honored, so Im OK with people  especially when they, thats your house and you live there, and youd like to be able to, and youre paying your property taxes there, then Im OK with you getting your dibs, Brown said. So vote for me, because Im going to let you have dibs.
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After months of false starts and delays, New Jersey took a big step Monday toward legal weed, with state lawmakers advancing a bill that would legalize the possession and personal use of recreational marijuana.

Committees from both the state Senate and Assembly approved the bill, which now awaits a full vote in the Democrat-controlled state Legislature before it could be signed into law by Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

After nearly four hours of debate in a hearing room packed with about 200 people, the bill cleared the Senate budget committee, 7-4 with two abstentions, and then Assembly budget panel, 7-2, with one abstention.

This is the first official action taken by the Legislature on recreational marijuana since Murphy took office in January, in part on the promise to legalize marijuana. Prior to Monday's hearing, no legal weed bill had made it past introduction.

"This process has been a long one," said state Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, who has led the charge for legalization in New Jersey. "I started talking about this 15 years ago."

Despite the committee action on Monday, legalization is not assured.

Even the supporters of legal weed agree that New Jersey's plan could still use some work, so it remains possible that legalization could bleed into next year as lawmakers continue to tweak the legislation. The only remaining day this year where the Legislature is scheduled to be in session is Dec. 17.

"They've made good progress, but there are still changes that need to be made," said Dianna Houenou, a senior policy advisor with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, who spoke in support of legalization.

Houenou said she wanted to see improvements to language in the bill about expungement and other social justice issues.

Scutari said Monday that the bill remains a work in progress and will be changed before it gets a floor vote. It has already been amended since it was introduced last week.

The legal weed bill, which was unveiled last week, would legalize the possession and personal use of one ounce or less of marijuana for people at least 21 years old, and create, regulate and impose a 12 percent tax on commercial marijuana industry in the state. An extra 2 percent excise tax could be raised for towns which host cannabis businesses.

The legislation also aims to speed up the expungement process for people who have prior arrests and convictions for possession or distributing small quantities of marijuana. Within six months of the law's enactment, the Administrative Office of the Courts must create an electronic filing system for expedited expungements, a concept that has been the linchpin of social justice debate this year.

The main tension in the hearing on Monday was social justice versus money.

"This is still being sold under the auspices of social justice, but it's about money," said state Sen. Ron Rice, D-Essex, who has long been opposed to legalization. "It's not about social justice. It's about money for white investors.

"It's a slap in the face to people like me and people of color."

But several lawmakers on the committees later pushed back on that idea, citing the state's racially disproportionate marijuana arrest rate.

An ACLU report from last year found that black people are three times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite similar usage rates between the groups.

"Do you have a solution that's better than our current legislation?" state Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, D-Somerset, asked a group of law enforcement officials about fixing the racially disproportionate arrest rate. If they did have a solution, they did not share it before the committee.

Other opponents of legalization mentioned health concerns associated with marijuana, along with one of the more confounding issues that accompanies legalization: driving while high. Inconsistent and sometimes flawed data regarding marijuana DUIs means it's hard to draw firm conclusions.

But in the end, final passage of the legal weed bill may well come down to the balance of social justice and money. Houenou and other advocates, along with several key lawmakers, have said they wouldn't support the bill if its social justice elements, like expungements and minority participation in a future industry, were too weak.

On the other hand, Murphy has indicated he might not support a bill unless it had what he concerns an acceptable tax rate. Murphy wants 25 percent, the new bill calls for a 12 percent tax.

On Monday, Murphy declined to say whether he'd support the bill that is now moving through the state Legislature.

"It's too early to tell," the governor said during an unrelated news conference at his Trenton office.

"We haven't commented on specifics, but I am very happy that this is moving."

After the bill passed the committees, state Senate President Stephen Sweeney said the Legislature would be getting Murphy's approval on the bill before taking a full floor vote.

NJ Advance Media staff writers Matt Arco, Brent Johnson, and Susan K. Livio contributed to this report.

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Payton Guion may be reached at PGuion@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @PaytonGuion. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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As state lawmakers gather at the Statehouse in Trenton on Monday to begin publicly considering legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said he's "happy to see progress" is being made on the issue.

But the Democratic governor -- long a supporter of legal pot -- stopped short of saying whether he supports the details of the bill lawmakers are discussing at the hearing just down the street.

"It's too early to tell," Murphy said during an unrelated news conference at his Trenton office.

"We haven't commented on specifics, but I am very happy that this is moving," the governor said in first public comments on the bill since it was unveiled this past Friday.

Murphy has long wanted lawmakers to send him a measure legalizing weed by the end of the year. But negotiations on the plan between the governor and his fellow Democrats who control the state Legislature have been strained.

Murphy said Monday he didn't receive the legislation from lawmakers until "a week ago Friday."

Down the street, @GovMurphy says he wont comment on specifics of the #marijuana bill. But he says hes happy to see it out there. pic.twitter.com/7X82K5bjiu  Brent Johnson (@johnsb01) November 26, 2018

The purpose of Murphy's news conference was to lobby lawmakers on his push to increase the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour.

But marijuana is dominating the focus in Trenton. The public hearing -- the first on legal pot -- is packed to the gills with lawmakers, activists, residents, and reporters. A Statehouse committee room has rarely been this busy in recent years.

Public discussion on the 147-page "New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory and Expungement Aid Modernization Act" could be followed in coming days or weeks by full votes on the floors of the state Senate and Assembly.

In short, the legislation would legalize the possession and personal use of one ounce or less of marijuana for people at least 21 years old, and create, regulate and impose a 12 percent tax a commercial marijuana industry in New Jersey. An extra 2 percent excise tax would be raised for towns which host cannabis businesses.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Susan K. Livio contributed to this report.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.
Following a public outcry, Asbury Park officials and the city's designated waterfront developer have agreed to revisit elements of a 2002 redevelopment plan that residents, environmentalists and advocates for beach access say is outdated following 16 years of steady growth and increased crowding.

Giving opponents of several projects slated for the city's north end something to be thankful for last week, a meeting has been scheduled for this Friday, Nov. 30, between city officials and iStar, the Manhattan-based designated "master developer" under the Waterfront Redevelopment Plan. iStar's senior vice president for land and development, Brian Cheripka, said the company was open to changes in the plan.

"Although several meetings were held with city officials to discuss and revise the plans for the approved public infrastructure improvements now taking place on the north end, we are certainly willing to come back to the table to discuss the project," Cheripka said in a statement.

Cheripka said iStar will also launch a website providing information on the company's projects in Asbury Park.

Asbury Park Mayor John Moor and Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn confirmed that they and fellow council members would meet with iStar.

"We are happy that iStar has decided to come back to the table to discuss the North End development," Quinn said in an email. "We are hopeful that we can work together to make this boardwalk work for everyone and take into account the changes in Asbury Park from 2002-2018."

At its Nov. 8 meeting, the city council unanimously approved a resolution demanding that iStar halt work on the north end and renegotiate the redevelopment plan, after a large crowd turned out at the meeting in opposition to several projects envisioned bu iStar.

Opposition coalesced last month under a group calling itself Save Asbury's Waterfront after iStar removed a four-block stretch of straight, 25-foot-wide boardwalk between Convention Hall and Asbury Park's northern border with Loch Arbor. City officials said the work did not require public notice, but the abrupt removal of a cherished public amenity startled some of its users into action.

As it stands, the redevelopment plan calls for replacing the boardwalk with a narrower, meandering walkway that would wind through a patch of sand dunes.

Other beachfront projects on the north end also opposed by the coalition include a 15-unit townhouse complex known as Bradley Cove, a paved parking lot of more than 100 spaces where a gravel lot had been, and a private pool club.

Opponents say the impervious surface created by the projects would add to storm water runoff polluting the ocean, while the narrower boardwalk, pool club, townhouses and dune area would deprive the public of valuable towel space on the beach and curb the general public's real or perceived access to the ocean.

Quinn said the council had reached out to the Save Asbury's Waterfront coalition for a detailed list of the group's concerns ahead of the Nov. 30 meeting with iStar.

An organizer of the coalition, Kathleen Mumma, sent Cheripka a conciliatory email on Tuesday morning welcoming his statement, referring to iStar as "the critical partner in the city's revitalization."

In the message, Mumma said the coalition hoped to "maximize social inclusion" and beach access for residents and visitors, abide by current coastal development guidelines, be sensitive to various environmental concerns, and be transparent.

"I applaud iStar's willingness to come back to the table to revise the north end's infrastructure plans," Mumma wrote.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook
Update 11:31 p.m.: The Delaware Memorial Bridge reopened after a release of toxic gas forced its closure for about six hours on Sunday.

Croda Inc., who owns the plant where the gas leak occurred, said it had been completely contained.

"We can confirm that the situation is now under control, as the ethylene oxide release is fully contained," the statement read.

- - - - -

A vital interstate bridge in South Jersey has been shut down on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Delaware River and Bay Authority spokesman James Salmon said the Delaware Memorial Bridge was shut down around 5 p.m. due to a chemical gas leak at the nearby Croda production plant in New Castle, Delaware. The plant is located next to the bridge's northbound suspension.

Croda said in a statement the chemical released was ethylene oxide, a flammable and reactive gas used primarily in industrial chemicals. Exposure to the gas can cause serious health problems, according to the federal government.

"There are no injuries to report, but as a precaution highway traffic near the site was stopped," Croda's Marketing Director, Cara Eaton, said in a statement. "We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible to minimize further community impact."

Eaton said the company is investigating what caused the release of the gas.

Salmon says DRBA was notified to close down the bridge and to redirect traffic by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).

Salmon added DNREC officials are currently on site at the plant and there is no estimate as to when the bridge will reopen. Fire officials from New Jersey and New Castle County, Delaware are assisting with the situation.

As of 9:30 p.m., delays were spilling into nearby throughways. The New Jersey Turnpike was closed to traffic at exit 2, and delays were reported along Interstate 295 leading to the Commodore Barry Bridge, the next nearest crossing of the Delaware River, according to 511NJ.org.

The toll plaza, which would be jammed by vehicles on a holiday weekend, is empty of vehicles Sunday night after the Delaware Memorial Bridge was shut down in both directions

The bridge handles up to 75,000 vehicles in the southbound direction daily and with Sunday being one of the busiest travel days of the year, the number of vehicles doubles.

It is the only bridge in Delaware that connects to New Jersey, and is primarily used by travelers coming from 95 to the state. It also feeds into the New Jersey Turnpike and I-295.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Bill Gallo may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The first Women's March on New Jersey attracted about 7,500 marchers to Trenton the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration.

About 15,000 people packed Morristown Green in January for the 2018 Women's March on New Jersey.

Now, organizers are planning to march for a third time.

The 2019 Women's March on New Jersey will be held in Trenton on Jan. 19, organizers have announced.

The 11 a.m. march will begin at the State House Annex on West State Street and conclude on the steps of the War Memorial around 1 p.m., the announcement said. More details, including speakers and the event's mission statement, will be announced later.

"The organizers of the Women's March on New Jersey want women, here in our state, to rally together for something, not demonstrate against something," organizers said.

The New Jersey march is expected to be one of dozens of similar women's marches held around the country Jan. 19.

The largest event is expected to be the Women's March on Washington, which is being organized by the national women's march organization. Sister marches will be held in cities around the nation, including large marches in New York and Philadelphia.

The women's march movement began in 2016 as a way to send a message about women's rights and other issues after the election of President Trump. The first Women's March on Washington in January 2017, along with its sister marches around the world, attracted surprisingly large crowds and became the largest mass-protest event in the nation's history.

The marches spawned a national movement and non-profit fundraising group.

The Women's March on New Jersey is not associated with the national Women's March, Inc. organization and is not accepting any financial help from the national group for the march in Trenton, organizers said.

"We are coming together on the day of the national women's march, because we believe in the power of diverse, fierce, and compassionate women standing together in solidarity at the same time. We believe the women's march is not a brand, but, rather a powerful movement that should be inclusive, accepting and supportive of all women," the New Jersey organizers said.

In January, Gov. Phil Murphy and first lady Tammy Murphy were among the speakers at the Women's March in Morristown. Tammy Murphy used her speech at the event to reveal she had been sexually assaulted in college.

This year's New Jersey march is being organized by a steering committee with more than 50 members, organizers said.

"Our members represent issues ranging from the environment, voting rights, immigration, and gun control to Black Lives Matter, healthcare, sexual assault, criminal justice reform, education, LGBTQ rights, and more," organizers said.

Though the event is free and tickets are not required, there is an event page where marchers can register to attend and get more information.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporteron Facebook.
By Stephanie Bonne

Last week, I posted a photo of a chair on Twitter.

Seems like a little thing, but I did this in response to a tweet by the National Rifle Association, asserting that doctors should "stay in our lane" instead of studying or making recommendations when it comes to gun violence.

As a trauma surgeon in Newark and an assistant professor of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, I live in the lane of gun violence. The backlash to the NRA's admonition from fellow physicians was swift and devastating in its visual impact. Images of bloody operating rooms and blood-soaked scrubs scattered our newsfeeds.

My picture was of the trauma waiting room. I sit here when I tell parents their kids are dead. It's not that different from the other chairs in my life: the one where I eat dinner, the one where I read bedtime stories to my kids. Telling mothers they have lost their children at the hands of a gun has become such a routine part of my life, I have a chair designated for that purpose.

So, a lot of folks have asked me about this photo: the chair. Why? Well, I have a chair for all the things I ROUTINELY do: my dinner chair, my reading chair, the chair where I rock my kids to sleep. And the chair where I tell parents their kids are dead. #ThisisOurLane pic.twitter.com/MNDutybXwC  Stephanie Bonne (@scrubbedin) November 17, 2018

Firearm injury kills about 36,000 Americans each year, but injures an estimated 70,000 to 100,00 more. Here in New Jersey there were 468 deaths from firearms in 2014, 475 in 2015, and 485 in 2016, according to the CDC. Two-thirds of those killed by firearm are suicides, the rest are mostly from interpersonal violence, either domestic violence or assault. A smaller number are accidents, including accidents involving children.

As more and more people die at the hands of guns each year, and as mass shootings become part of our everyday lives, this problem has come into the forefront of our civil conversation. However, for decades, health care providers have recognized this problem and espoused a "public health approach" to combat it.

Addressing gun violence as a public health threat means we must collect data on the scope of a problem, develop solutions, test those solutions, and then implement them on a broad scale. Each of these steps, however, is systemically hindered by legislation and lobbying on a national level, most of which restricts the funding for desperately needed research and programming to address the root causes of gun violence: mental health, violence, safety and access.

Fortunately, New Jersey has chosen to be progressive in its efforts to lessen the burden of death from gun violence. Governor Murphy recently provided funding for a statewide research center to study gun violence. Using a public health approach, the New Jersey Firearm Research Center at Rutgers University will provide high-quality, multi-disciplinary research on firearm violence causality and prevention and translate this research into clear and actionable policies and programs.

On a state level, we can develop a more robust system to capture all gun injuries, as our current datasets available through the CDC are limited and incomplete. Research and innovation will design programs to prevent firearm injury, including public messaging, safety programs and violence prevention. Testing the effectiveness of existing programs, such as the community-based violence reduction strategies in Newark will be a part of the Center's mission. Finally, training future researchers and disseminating the findings and recommendations of this research will make New Jersey a leader among states on the issue of firearm injury.

Public health is part of a doctor's medical school training, and many of us have chosen additional study to increase our public health expertise. We may not have the proficiency to write policy, but we certainly can make recommendations based on our experience in caring for patients.

Surgeons and medical examiners can comment on the difference between the damage inflicted by an AR-15 versus a handgun. Sharing that learned experience is certainly within "our lane." Similarly, pointing out that our statewide trauma databanks show that firearm injury remains high despite state firearm regulations, demonstrates the need to enact national policy for universal background checks and licensing.

Not only are these recommendations in our lane, they are part of our Hippocratic Oath, where we vowed to "prevent disease whenever [we] can, for prevention is preferable to cure," and where we "remember that [we] remain a member of society, with special obligations to all [our] fellow human beings." This is our contribution to the "team sport" that is public health, whose key contributors also come from education, law, criminal justice and psychology, to name a few.

Physicians, in general, are not anti-gun, we are anti-bullet hole. Many of us believe that a public health approach to the prevention of firearm injury is possible, while still respecting the value of our constitutionally guaranteed rights. The public health approach will require surveillance of the problem, targeted intervention, education, and yes, some policy changes that we can all agree will limit death from firearms. In doing so, we will create a lane we can all live in: one that is marked by safe and healthy communities.

Stephanie Bonne, MD, FACS, is a trauma surgeon at University Hospital in Newark and an assistant professor of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

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By Doug Steinhardt

The New Jersey state constitution is rich with history and we have a small window in which to fight for its integrity. Legislative Democrats are scheming to weaken it and marginalize the value of your vote, forever.



There have been three New Jersey constitutions: 1776, 1844 and 1947. The first was never amended. The second was amended three times, to conform with the US Constitution's 14th and 15th Amendments and to provide for free public education. The current version was amended seven times, although four of those amendments were adopted in 1947, with the constitution itself. Since then, it was amended just three times, to get rid of the old county court system, in 1966 (and revised in 1995) to conform with federal apportionment laws, and in 2005 to reflect the transfer of executive power. That's it.





But now, politicians in control of the state legislature want to strike at the heart of our constitution. Their amendment doesn't solve the state's fiscal crisis or even address it. It doesn't promote the health, safety or welfare of New Jerseyans.

Instead, Democratic leadership is conniving, over the holidays, to rush through a constitutional amendment that will rig the legislative redistricting process and secure for them a permanent majority by creating legislative districts that allow greedy politicians to take you and your votes for granted.

If they succeed, they'll no longer have to earn your support, because the rules will change to perpetuate one party rule, forever. It isn't criminal, but it should be.



These same politicians blame party "bosses," but many are themselves political "bosses", they just don't want you to know it. Even worse, they abuse the powers of their office, not to give more power to you, but to take more power for themselves. Their proposed amendment debases 242 years of New Jersey constitutional history so a few, power hungry legislators can prostitute the State's constitution for their selfish needs. We're a better state. We should demand better leadership.

As voters, we deserve more respect. After all, our votes should matter.



A fair and bi-partisan redistricting process is the key to giving voters a legislative map that reflects their votes and interests.

Without competitive elections and "swing" districts, politicians get complacent. If we want to get Trenton moving, politicians must be accountable to their constituents. Elected officials must be made to work hard for your support, not take it for granted. Safe districts give us self-contented, career politicians, not problem solvers.

The bill, ACR60/SCR43, is proposed by a few, powerful men to eliminate Republican competition and perpetuate their personal power. Period.

Democrats drew the current legislative map, which has proven to be a gerrymandered quagmire. It has responded more to the will of political insiders than the state's voters. For example, in 2013, Senate Republican candidates earned 52 percent of the vote statewide, but won only 40 percent of the legislative seats. How does that happen? Gerrymandering.

The current legislative map creates very few "swing" districts and a plethora of "safe" ones. These "safe" politicians have grown carnivorous with power and now want to erase any chance that they will lose that power or have to compete to keep it. Billions of dollars of tax hikes later and we can all understand why.



Ironically, Republicans wrote the State's current Congressional map, the one that resulted in the loss of four, previously Republican congressional seats. And as difficult a pill as that is for state Republicans to swallow, that's how districting maps are supposed to work. Democrats came out in force in 2018 and the map responded to their will.



Our constitution forms the bedrock of our state's government, where legislative redistricting is something most people think about once a decade, if at all. Neither should be taken lightly or altered or amended unconcernedly. Together they form a basis for our democratic process and a handful of politicians want to rig that system for their gain. That's a big deal and New Jerseyans everywhere should care.



If you're reading this, I ask you to find your state legislator and contact him or her. Let them know that they need to earn your support, that you demand fair elections, that you don't support SCR43, and that you won't make despots out of a select few legislators. We simply can't afford it.

Doug Steinhardt is chairman of the New Jersey Republican Party.

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Federal immigration agents make mistakes all the time. They even wrongfully arrest American citizens.

Since 2012, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has released more than 1,480 people after investigating their citizenship claims, a disturbing LA Times report found.

Hundreds more spent months or years in detention before they could prove they are Americans. ICE often uses outdated government records and bad data and does cursory investigations. And it's not just citizens who have a legitimate claim to fend off deportation.

Murphy doles out $2M for legal help to undocumented immigrants facing deportation



So do other immigrants. Like Ahmed Abdelbasit, a Union City physics teacher and father of three who was sentenced to death in Egypt. Had a lawyer not helped win him asylum, he could have been deported and hanged.

Or Emilio Gutierrez Soto, a journalist who fled death threats in Mexico, and was lucky enough to be represented by the Rutgers law clinic. A federal judge agreed there is compelling evidence that he was arrested by ICE because he was critical of our government. The denial of his asylum case was overturned, and he awaits a new decision.

Or the church volunteers that ICE arrested in Highland Park, including the father of an American 13-year-old. They fled religious persecution in the late 1990's, entered the U.S. legally, and missed the deadline to file for asylum because they didn't know about it. Then they trusted our government enough to come forward and register.

They deserve a fair hearing before being separated from their kids. And given the Trump administration's amped-up deportations of harmless long-time residents, the least we can do is ensure they have lawyers. Immigration law is complicated enough without having to plead your own case.

All this is why Gov. Phil Murphy and state legislators are allocating $2.1 million of taxpayer money to get lawyers for immigrants facing deportation who can't afford them. It's about justice, not a craven embrace of law-breaking.

Conservatives argue this is nuts, that we'll be footing the bill for prosecution and for defense. But the logic is the same as in criminal court: Lives hang in the balance, and we are a nation of laws.

Pundits like Judi Franco from 101.5 brush this off as, "Your hard-earned money will be used to help an illegal 'lawyer up.'" But whether people are, in fact, here properly is exactly the issue to be determined. Why is it that conservatives assume ICE never makes an error that a court might correct? Aren't they supposed to think government is inept?

It's fair to ask whether this spending deprives other lower income families who are citizens from receiving legal aid, like people being evicted from their homes. But it doesn't. No money was taken away from Legal Services, the main nonprofit providing pro-bono lawyers, and redirected to immigrants. In fact, the nonprofit got an even larger increase in state funding, $2.5 million, for other people's legal problems.

Of course, it always needs more. In a rational world, the cost of fair representation in immigration court should fall to the federal government. But that isn't going to happen under President Trump. Meanwhile, New Jersey counties like Essex are making a killing, taking in millions of dollars a month from ICE to hold churchgoers and pizza guys in their jails.

They should use some of this "blood money" to throw in their own grants, since $2 million likely won't be enough. A spokesman for Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo previously told us he'd consider providing free lawyers to immigrants in his jail. Last week, he said the "answer is still yes, and a decision hasn't been made about how much."

Now is the time to act. At least the state is stepping up to do the right thing.

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New Jersey's most powerful state lawmaker accused Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday of "showboating" on the issue of whether to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour.

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney didn't mince his words shortly after Murphy, a fellow Democrat, held a news conference to once again lobby lawmakers to hike the minimum wage from its current rate of $8.60 an hour.

"Listen: I was the prime sponsor of minimum wage both times it was passed -- not Phil Murphy, not anyone else," Sweeney, D-Gloucester, told NJ Advance Media.

"I believe in raising the minimum wage," Sweeney added. "I don't believe in showboating and doing press conferences. If you want to get something done, then sit down with the principals and have a conversation."

Murphy and the Democrats who control the state Legislature both said they want to increase New Jersey's minimum wage. But months have gone by without a bill moving forward, and Murphy has amped up his calls to lawmakers to take action.

The governor was buoyed by an op-ed from state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin published on NJ.com on Sunday that called for "meaningful action" on the issue.

With Coughlin, D-Middlesex, joining Murphy's public push for action, the governor is left pointing his finger at Sweeney. He made several comments at Monday's news conference that appeared to be thinly veiled swipes at the Senate president.

"Over the past year, my commitment has never wavered," Murphy said. "I am ready to work alongside the leadership and do whatever is required to get this going."

Murphy's office didn't immediately respond to Sweeney's response.

The main problem, Sweeney said, is he and Murphy haven't talked about the issue. The Senate president said he and the governor haven't talked in nearly two months.

"The last time I spoke to the governor was Oct. 2, and he has not reached out to us since," Sweeney said.

While Murphy and Coughlin may agree, nothing gets done without all three of the state's most powerful elected officials forging a compromise.

"If he wants to get something done, the principals need to get in the room and we can hash this out," Sweeney said.

The last time the Legislature passed a $15 minimum wage hike was in 2016. But then-Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, rejected the proposal.

Murphy succeeded Christie in January and has said the minimum wage is one of the chief goals he'd like accomplish by the end of the year.

But Murphy has publicly -- and privately -- sparred with Sweeney, including when the state nearly shutdown in July when the two locked horns over details in Murphy's first budget.

Advocates argue New Jersey's minimum wage is too low for workers to afford housing and basic needs in such a high-cost state as New Jersey.

Opponents counter that a hike would force small business to lay off workers, reduce hours and raise prices.

The minimum wage in New Jersey is $8.60 an hour and will automatically rise to $8.85 an hour on Jan. 1.

The quarter raise is driven by a 2.88 percent year-over-year increase in the consumer price index, which is used to set the minimum wage in New Jersey each year to account for inflation.

New Jersey's minimum wage is governed by a state constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2013. The ballot question raised the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 and tied future increases to inflation.

In June, Massachusetts passed a bill to raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2023.

The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has not increased since 2009.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Samantha Marcus contributed to this report.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.
A reserve police officer in Gonzales is accused of shooting a relative and then fleeing authorities, according to WBRZ.

Desmond Lane, 24, was booked in Ascension Parish jail with negligent injuring. WBRZ reported that Lane accidentally fired a personal weapon and struck a person during a family gathering Saturday. He then panicked and fled.

Lane has been fired from the police department, and Louisiana State Police are investigating the shooting.

Read the full story from WBRZ here.
Emirati officials did not allow journalists to record the videos. In the office video, Hedges appears in a blue polo shirt and jeans. He did not appear to be injured or under duress, though the audio during the court appearance sounded garbled. Emirati officials also did not offer any context for the video clips, which ended with Hedges describing himself as being alone in the UAE, looking down at his hands.
A New Orleans police officer is accused of driving drunk with a teenage relative in his car and leading Kenner police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 10 that ended in a car fire late Saturday night (Nov. 24).

Carlos Peralta, 53, was booked Sunday with driving while intoxicated, aggravated flight from an officer and reckless operation of a vehicle, according to Jefferson Parish arrest records. Peralta, who was arrested after the chase, was driving with a 15-year-old police have described as his relative.

Peralta is a 22-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department. He has been placed on emergency suspension, according to an NOPD statement.

Kenner police responded just before midnight Saturday to a CVS in the 800 block of West Esplanade Avenue after a man, now identified as Peralta, started arguing with a store clerk who refused to sell him alcohol, according to a news release. Police said Peralta left the store and got in a car.

Shortly after, a red Dodge Avenger was seen swerving all over the roadway in the 800 block of West Esplanade Avenue, according to arrest records. Officers caught up with the car, which had a Louisiana law enforcement license plate, and stopped it in a Walmart parking lot in the 300 block of West Esplanade. They were walking up to the car when the driver, now identified as Peralta, sped off.

Kenner police, assisted by Louisiana State Police, chased the car onto I-10 into New Orleans. The car reached speeds of 110 miles per hour and was swerving between moving vehicles when police threw out spike strips and disabled a front tire, according to arrest records. The car exited at Morrison Road, hitting a curb and going off road before catching fire, the front hood becoming engulfed in flames, according to arrest records.

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The 15-year-old passenger quickly exited the car, but officers had to remove Peralta, who refused to get out after being asked several times, Kenner police said.

Peralta smelled of alcohol and failed sobriety tests at the scene, according to arrest records. Officers also found two open and cold cans of Miller Lite beer on the floor of the car. Peralta was treated at a hospital for injuries suffered in the chase.

At the time of his booking, Peralta had a blood alcohol level of 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit of 0.08, according to arrest records.

The NOPD does not and will not tolerate this type of behavior from our officers whether they are on or off duty, NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said in a statement.

WWL reports Peraltas bail was set at $31,500.
St. John the Baptist Parish detectives are asking for the publics help to identify a gunman who robbed a store on Belle Terre Boulevard in LaPlace early Monday (Nov. 26).

The holdup occurred at Birdies Food Mart around 4:45 a.m.

Sheriff Mike Tregre said a man wearing a white T-shirt and believed to be the gunman entered the store and left. The man returned about four minutes later wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and pulled a gun on a store clerk while customers in the store looked on, he said.

Surveillance video posted on the Sheriffs Offices Facebook page shows the robber holding a gun on the clerk as the employee handed over an undisclosed amount of cash. The gunman then fled.

The Sheriffs Office also posted a still photo of the suspected gunman who first entered the store wearing the T-shirt.

Anyone with information about the identity and whereabouts of the suspect is asked by authorities to call the Sheriffs Office TIPS line at 985-359-8477, the Criminal Investigations Division at 985-359-8722, or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Citizens can also submit tips on the Sheriffs Office website at http://stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.
Louisianas former education superintendent has accepted a six-figure contract to revitalize the school system in Puerto Rico, Education Week reports. The websites story comes from The Metro newspaper in Puerto Rico.

The report, which cites a report from Metro in Puerto Rico, says Paul Pastorek, a New Orleans native, agreed to a contract with Puerto Ricos Department of Education to help with various tasks, including assisting the islands school system in getting hurricane recovery funds to implement a plan under the states Every Student Succeeds Act. The contract reportedly runs until June 2019 and is worth up to $155,000, at $250 an hour, Education Week reports.

Puerto Rico was devastated in September 2017 when Hurricane Maria hit the island, leaving nearly 3,000 dead and severely damaging the islands power grid.

Betsy DeVos praises 'creative' school reforms on New Orleans visit

Puerto Rico Secretary of Education Julia Keleher told Education Week that Pastorek is particularly helpful given his post-Hurricane Katrina experience.

Not everyone approves of the decision. The report says American Federation of Teachers' President Randi Weingarten said Pastorek only seeks to further the goals of U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, which include closing schools, privatization and disinvestment from public schools."

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Pastorek was a partner at Adams and Reese in New Orleans for 27 years and served on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education before he was named state superintendent of schools in 2007. He is known for leading the states education efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and credited with helping design Louisianas school accountability measures and stabilizing the Recovery School District. Many of the education reforms he supported allowed New Orleans to become the majority charter school district it is today.

Pastorek resigned as Louisiana schools chief in 2011 to serve as an executive for Airbus Group Inc., a defense contractor based in Washington, D.C. He left that job in 2014 and was recently named the chief operating officer at his alma mater, Loyola University New Orleans.

Read the full article from Education Week.

New Orleans parents call on district to directly manage schools

Wilborn P. Nobles III is an education reporter based in New Orleans. He can be reached at wnobles@nola.com or on Twitter at @WilNobles.
Nooses hanging from trees and signs described as "hate signs'' were found on the grounds of the state Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi, Monday morning (Nov. 26), media outlets there reported.

The Clarion-Ledger reported that someone called WLBT television station between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. to tell them to get someone to the south lawn of the Capitol building. The responding television crew found two nooses and six signs, the Clarion-Ledger said.

The reporter called Capitol police and the nooses and signs were taken down, the Clarion-Ledger reported.

NBC News reported that a Capitol Police spokesman read the contents of one of the signs to the network. On Tuesday Nov. 27, thousands of Mississippians will vote for a senator. We need someone who respects the lives of lynch victims, it said.

The Clarion-Ledger noted the incident happened the day before Tuesdays runoff between Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Mike Espy for a U.S. Senate seat, a contest that became more intense after Hyde-Smith told a supporter she would be on the front row if invited to a public hanging.

The Clarion-Ledger story reported that Gov. Phil Bryant has said he is seeking the help of the Department of Public Safety and FBI to investigate the matter. Bryant, the story said, issued a statement: The perpetrators of this act will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Read The Clarion-Ledger story here.
Laws affecting panhandling in St. Tammany Parish are again being challenged in court.

Last year, a federal judge ruled as unconstitutional the city of Slidells law requiring panhandlers to obtain a license from the police department.

Now, a North Shore resident is asking the U.S. District Court in New Orleans to declare two St. Tammany Parish government ordinances as unconstitutional.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Tammy Pudas of Slidell against St. Tammany government, Parish President Pat Brister and Sheriff Randy Smith after Pudas was cited by deputies for asking motorists for money under the overpass at U.S. 190 and Louisiana 22 in Mandeville.

The suit, filed Oct. 26 by New Orleans attorney John Adcock and amended on Nov. 5, says a deputy issued Pudas a citation for soliciting on a public highway. But instead of prosecuting her on that law, the defendants have charged her in court with peddling without a permit, the petition says.

The lawsuit says both parish ordinances run afoul of the First Amendment and asks the court to declare them unconstitutional.

The peddling ordinance defines a peddler in broad terms, yet makes a number of exceptions. It requires applicants to go through a complicated process to obtain a permit, including first obtaining state and parish occupational licenses, the suit says. An applicant also must submit to fingerprinting and an investigation of ones business and moral character by the sheriff, according to the plaintiff.

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The solicitation law, meanwhile, prohibits pedestrians from going onto public highways to solicit money, employment and sales from motorists.

Both ordinances are overbroad content-based speech restrictions, the suit claims. (Pudas) was cited and prosecuted for exercising her First Amendment rights to solicit for something of value.

An attorney for Sheriff Randy Smith said in a statement that Smith was aware of the suit.

The sheriff does not enact parish ordinances, he merely enforces them, and while the sheriff fully intends to defend his agency, the primary responsibility for defending the ordinance in question rests with parish government, the statement said.

A parish government spokesman said the Brister administration was aware of the suit, but he declined to comment on the suit because the case is ongoing.

Last year, U.S. District Court Judge Lance Africk sided with the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana in declaring Slidells panhandler licensing law unconstitutional. Africk said the ordinance was substantially overbroad and went too far in prohibiting protected speech that posed no threat to public safety.

Slidell's panhandler licensing law ruled unconstitutional
Morning Joe anchors Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski married Saturday night (Nov. 24) at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., with only their respective children, five other guests and a Vanity Fair reporter in attendance, according to the magazine.

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, officiated the ceremony for the MSNBC stars in front of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. The magazine noted invitations were not sent out, vendors were not told the names of the bride and groom, nor were guests told the location of the reception dinner  a French bistro in D.C., Chez Billy Sud  until Saturday night.

Congress was out of session over the Thanksgiving weekend, and President Donald Trump was in Palm Beach, helping to keep the nuptials private.

Vanity Fair reports that despite the couples public persona, theyve kept their romantic relationship and engagement mostly private. They declined Trumps offer last year to marry at the White House during a visit. The magazine noted Scarboroughs name has been floated as a possible 2020 or 2024 candidate, but the couple denied that the decision (to marry at the National Archives) was intended to suggest possible presidential aspirations.

Read Vanity Fairs full story here.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions raised over $1.2 million during the SRNS employee United Way fundraising campaign. Pictured, front row, from left are Norm Powell, SRNS senior vice president of business services and United Way campaign executive sponsor; Seneca Johnson, SRNS; Ellen Luton, director of resource development, United Way of Aiken County; Sharon Rodgers, president and CEO of United Way of Aiken County; A.D. Bollig, SRNS employee United Way campaign vice chair; Stuart MacVean, SRNS president and CEO; Caroline Reppert, SRNS employee United Way campaign chair; Brittany Burnett, president and CEO of United Way of the CSRA; and Rina Powell, senior director of resource development, United Way of the CSRA; back row, from left are Darrell Raiford, SRNS; Dawn Moore, SRNS; Ronesha Brooks, SRNS; Bryant Archie, resource development associate, United Way of the Midlands; Dean Campbell, representative, United Way of Edgefield County; and John Haskell, chief professional officer, Barnwell County United Way.
Fortunately, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is in a position to help reverse the ominous trend. And he is not alone. Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Orrin Hatch of Utah have supported legislation that would enable immigrants to simultaneously study and pursue residency in the United States. For more than 100 years, the U.S. has benefited from international students. The stories of their contributions to our country are as prevalent as American cheese. Consider the son of a Canadian farmer, James Kraft, who comes to the U.S. and pays his way through college here by working as a janitor. He graduates, moves to Chicago and opens a business selling cheese wrapped in tinfoil. He innovates  creating Miracle Whip and Cheez Whiz. Later, Krafts humble, one-man operation becomes todays multibillion-dollar corporation, employing tens of thousands of workers.
Season 4, Episode 4: Common Ground

Its said the Highlander has much in common with the Indian savage. You think it so?

Outlander has several times drawn parallels between the Scottish Highlanders, who fought English occupation of their land, and Native Americans, who are fighting occupation by the English and other newly-minted Americans. In this weeks episode, it is drawn by the governor as he gifts Jamie 10,000 acres of His Majestys land  and warns him about the welcome he can expect.

Jamies reply, as he stares the governor down: Savagery can exist in many forms, Your Excellency. Its a beat of Jamie at his best: a natural leader, keenly aware of injustice, and determined to speak truth to power.

But his early days with Claire and Ian on the homestead are punctuated by warning visits from the Cherokee. Theyre understandably unhappy about the Frasers moving onto their ancestral lands. And the Jamie who refused to buy the governors opinion of savages is the same Jamie who refuses to move when Claire suggests they build further from the shared border.

From what youve told me, there are Indians all over these lands, he says. So no matter where we settle well have the same problem. Whether he likes it or not, Jamie is buying into the English mind-set. When they first rode through this land, Jamie nodded when he heard it was Cherokee territory, sympathetic to their fight. Now its his land, and theyre a problem.
Campbell Soup Company is on the verge of a truce with an activist hedge fund that had sought to force the sale or restructuring of the nearly 150-year-old food giant, according to two people with knowledge of the talks.

The deal would avert a shareholder vote precipitated by Third Point, the hedge fund that had sought to appoint five new directors to the companys board. The vote was scheduled for Thursday.

Under the terms of the deal, which is not yet complete, Third Point would appoint two new directors, expanding the boards membership to 14. Campbell would later appoint a third new director with input from Third Point, and seek the funds advice in selecting a new chief executive.

The company, more than 40 percent of which is owned by descendants of the inventor of Campbells condensed soup, has struggled with high debt, a decline in earnings and slumping soup sales.
Second, Democrats should challenge the president on his approach to the forever war. Despite running on a pledge to withdraw from military conflicts, Mr. Trump has escalated every conflict he inherited  largely behind a cloak of secrecy and without a clear strategy. Congress can insist on greater transparency around American military deployments, forcing the administration to specify which terrorist organizations the United States is at war with and the military objectives. Democrats should also push for a plan that removes our troops from harms way in Afghanistan, while insisting that a war against Iran cannot take place without congressional authorization. As Mr. Trump faces political setbacks at home, Democrats must be vigilant in checking military adventurism abroad.

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.

Congress can also work to end United States support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, which has precipitated the worlds worst humanitarian catastrophe. Rather than fuel the war, we should be driving the parties toward a diplomatic solution and increasing assistance to stem the spread of famine. This is even more pressing in the aftermath of Mr. Trumps shameful statement on Saudi Arabia last week that signaled that American foreign policy is for sale and that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman can act with impunity.

The House should demand all of the information that our intelligence community has developed about this terrible crime, and provide a public accounting of the facts  including when Mr. Trump and his closest aides had information that the crown prince was responsible for the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This should inform a broader review of our relationship with Saudi Arabia that looks at possible sanctions, arms sales and all Saudi actions that run counter to American interests.

More broadly, Democrats can signal a shift in priorities. On defense, expensive administration plans to modernize the nuclear arsenal and establish a space force should be scrutinized. And while Mr. Trump may have vacated American leadership on climate by leaving the Paris accords, Democrats should fight to restore United States funding to mitigate the effects of a warming planet, including mass migration and armed conflict, while pressing for the planning necessary to deal with those problems as they worsen.

Third, evidence of corruption in the Trump administration demands oversight. Never in our lifetimes has there been such a glaring concern that a president and his associates could be mixing personal financial interests with the nations business. We still dont know the depth of the Trump familys conflicts in dealings with countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia and China. Why has the administration given a blank check to the Saudi crown prince? What explains Mr. Trumps genuflecting before Mr. Putin in Helsinki?
President Xi Jinping of China has visited the Philippines, the first state visit from China in 13 years. Mr. Xis trip immediately followed the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a high-level meeting that President Trump declined to attend.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
As abortion rights have come under increasing attack in the United States, commentators have held up self-administered abortion pills as a backup plan for a post-Roe world. They point to the millions of pregnant women worldwide who are using pills to self-manage abortion, citing them as an example of what reproductive health care might look like should in-clinic abortions be made illegal.

Theres no question that abortion pills are revolutionary. In the hands of women, the pills have transformed self-induced abortion from a once-dangerous endeavor into a safe procedure. Abortion help lines have walked women through the process of self-management, sometimes remotely or even over the internet. Where abortion is illegal, black market access to the drugs has resulted in significant decreases in complications and deaths.

Yet, even with these major advances, the idea that coat-hanger abortions are a thing of the past is misguided. The International Womens Health Coalition welcomes do-it-yourself abortion pills as the extremely safe, effective and empowering technology they are. But we worry about the many women who will be left behind unless legal restrictions are removed, funding for abortion services is provided and barriers to access are eliminated.

What kinds of barriers stand in the way of on-demand, self-managed abortion? First, despite their promise, abortion pills  mifepristone and misoprostol in combination, or misoprostol alone  remain difficult to obtain worldwide, even in countries with liberal abortion laws like India and South Africa. They are often prohibitively expensive: In South Africa, a 200-milligram tablet of mifepristone, which begins the process of self-inducing an abortion, costs about $16  a significant sum for many in the country. In India, a country where the average monthly income among the urban poor is approximately $50, a $5 tablet of mifepristone can be out of reach. In the United States, abortion pills are similarly costly  from $300 up to $1,000.
The popular telling of the Boston Tea Party gets something wrong. The colonists were not responding to a tax increase. They were responding to the Tea Act of 1773, which granted a tea monopoly in the colonies to the well-connected East India Company. Merchants based in the Americas would be shut out of the market.

Many colonists, already upset about taxation without representation and other indignities, were enraged. In response, dozens of them stormed three ships in Boston Harbor on the night of Dec. 16, 1773, and tossed chests of East India tea  that worst of plagues, the detested tea, as one pamphlet put it  into the water.

A major spark for the American Revolution, then, was a protest against monopoly.

A strong strain of anti-monopoly sentiment has run through our politics ever since. America was born as a nation of farmers and small-town entrepreneurs, the historian Richard Hofstadter once wrote, anti-authoritarian, egalitarian and competitive. Hostility to corporate bigness animated Thomas Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt, as well as the labor movement, Granger movement, Progressive movement and more.

[Listen to The Argument podcast every Thursday morning, with Ross Douthat, Michelle Goldberg and David Leonhardt.]
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The administration and its allies insist that the U.S. has every right to control its borders and that those foreigners who want to come here should do so through legal channels. That sounds reasonable. At the same time, though, the current system makes it virtually impossible for many people to come  and the wait times for those who do qualify are often measured in decades.
Yet as he spoke, it seemed to me that radical wasnt the correct word for it. He was simply describing himself as an effective centrist, one who gets results. The sad thing is that in a time of national intransigence, gridlock and hyper-partisanship, effectiveness is radical.

But the problem facing Landrieu is that being any kind of centrist Democrat when the partys progressives are ascendant would be perilous.

The other issue is, ironically, Landrieus noble quest to be a racial healer.

As he told me: The thing Im most excited about is, Im leading an initiative to try to knit the South back together across race and class. He says its called the E Pluribus Unum Fund, and its primary funder is Laurene Powell Jobss Emerson Collective.

He continues, Were in the planning period to see if there is a need to or a desire to actually build an institute for racial reconciliation in the South somewhere.

But he recognizes the conundrum the all-important black Democratic primary voters in the South would be in when faced with a white man from the region and black candidates from beyond it.

As he put it:

You dont know how African-Americans in the South are going to perform if a white Democrat from the South is running against three really good African-American candidates. Weve never had that before. You could have it this time. You could have Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Deval Patrick. So, that theory has never been tested before.

It would be a hard debate stage to manage without looking like a white savior, coming to fix Americas race problem and saying that he was a better choice to do so than the women and minorities in the race.
Welcome to the Smarter Living newsletter! Every Monday, S.L. editor Tim Herrera emails readers with tips and advice for living a better, more fulfilling life. Sign up here to get it in your inbox.

Its the Monday after Thanksgiving, and were all feeling the same thing today: Its been Saturday for about 3 days and thus, Im not prepared for Monday.

Were still full of turkey, in that beautiful, lazy groove of having had a few days off, and its the kickoff of holiday season  a wonderful time of the year, but one that can have us counting down the hours of the day until we can head off to the evenings holiday party.

So, yes, youre probably going to be dragging a bit today. I know I sure will be. (Tell me on Twitter how you're getting through the day at @timherrera.)
CHICO, Calif.  The deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history, the Camp Fire, was finally brought under control by firefighters on Sunday after raging for 17 days. But for many people left homeless by the fire, the most frightening part of the disaster is just beginning.

The hardest-hit community, Paradise, Calif., was a popular place to retire, with more than one-quarter of its residents 65 or older, according to census figures. Many of them have now lost everything late in life and must start over from zero, often with little support and with major health challenges.

After a battle with throat cancer, Daniel Cayer wears a tracheostomy tube, breathes through a hole in his neck and speaks through a device pressed to his cheek. He had been living alone in a trailer park in Paradise, and had planned to celebrate his 72nd birthday with a barbecue on Nov. 8, the day the fire started. But a plume of black smoke that morning scotched those plans, and soon the flames were in the trees near his home.

He had to go  but where?

Cramped emergency evacuation shelters can be dangerous for older people with health conditions like Mr. Cayer. Infections can spread quickly, like the norovirus outbreak that sickened nearly 150 fire evacuees last week.
The most immediately critical legislation may be the seven remaining appropriations bills to ensure that the entire government remains funded past a Dec. 7 deadline. Issues including a fight over spending on border security  the Senate included $1.6 billion in its bill, compared with the Houses $5 billion  have bogged down negotiations, and Mr. Trump has threatened to veto legislation without funds for a wall at the border with Mexico.

We have the will to put the money at the border for better security and combine it with some sensible reforms, including things like a path to citizenship, things like making sure that we have workers on our fields and in our factories that we need, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Democrat of Minnesota, said on ABCs This Week. But what I dont think we should do is shut down the government. And that, again, is in his hands and his partys hands.

Lawmakers from both parties have said that they want to avoid a shutdown, and that passing the appropriations bills  which would fund a number of federal agencies, including the Homeland Security, Agriculture and Commerce Departments  is a priority for their final weeks. But any resolution needs at least some bipartisan support to clear the Senates 60-vote threshold, leaving a resolution unclear. Aides involved with the negotiations said a possible path forward might become apparent only in the coming days.

If negotiations falter, Congress could avoid a shutdown by temporarily funding the government into the new year, but that would force it to take up the appropriations fight again in January. Lawmakers have already passed spending measures covering other parts of the government.

And Mr. Trump remains a wild card. Despite attempts from Republican leaders to dissuade him, he doubled down on his veto threat during his Thanksgiving vacation in Florida.
A new book by two informal advisers to President Trump aims to buttress his claim that he is the victim of a vast conspiracy inside the federal government, and it includes an interview with Mr. Trump in which he repeats his unfounded assertion that President Barack Obama was complicit in spying against him.

The book, Trumps Enemies: How the Deep State is Undermining the Presidency, by Corey Lewandowski, the presidents first campaign manager, and David Bossie, a former deputy campaign manager, is scheduled to be released this week.

The New York Times obtained a copy of the book, which is a mix of good-time recollections about the earliest days after Mr. Trumps victory and score-settling on the part of the authors and the president.

Mr. Lewandowski and Mr. Bossie describe enemies of the president as embedded within the government, affirming most of Mr. Trumps publicly stated views about his critics, and about intelligence agency officials who have been involved in inquiries into his campaign. And their interview with the president allowed him to vent some of his deepest grievances.
That is in contrast to Sundays events, which unfolded as a direct confrontation between Russia and Western-backed Ukrainian armed forces at sea.

The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday to discuss the abrupt escalation in tensions. The episode also threatened to shake up Ukraines fragile internal politics.

At a midnight meeting, Ukraines National Security and Defense Council said it would ask Parliament to declare martial law. That raised alarms that President Petro O. Poroshenko could use the incident to delay a presidential election scheduled for March that polls suggest he is unlikely to win.

This whole story grows more complicated by the fact that during martial law, it is forbidden to hold presidential, parliamentary or local elections, as well as strikes, protests, rallies and mass actions, Mustafa Nayyem, a member of Parliament, posted on Facebook.

The Ukrainian Navy left little ambiguity in asserting that its ships had been attacked. Fighter jets used weapons against the naval ships of the armed forces of Ukraine, the navys statement said.
The Red Army Trophy Brigades took many artworks from the Germans after the war, including some that had been stolen from Jews by the Nazis. At first, Mr. Eizenstat said, the Russians seemed sympathetic to the restitution cause, and even announced the return of a work at the news conference that followed the issuance of the principles, in 1998. Since then, he said, there has been some provenance research at Russian museums that is recorded on public electronic databases. But there has been no restitution of any Nazi-looted art, he said, nor any process for their identification or handling of claims.

Italy

Mr. Eizenstat said Italy, too, started off well enough  publishing a catalog of art treasures lost during the war, including those that once belonged to Holocaust victims. And Mr. Eizenstat noted that, in 2001, the Italian government created the Anselmi Commission, which made recommendations about how Italy could comply with the principles. But their recommendations have been largely ignored, he said. Unfortunately there has been no provenance research or listing of possible Nazi-looted art in their public museums by the Italian government. He said Italy seems only to care about what the Italian government lost and said Italys cities and regions, where much of the countrys art collection is maintained, have ignored the Washington Principles.

Representatives from the five countries did not respond Monday to requests for comment or could not be reached. Each of the cited countries has defended its actions in the past. Hungary, for example, has said that it had the right to nationalize property that was left behind by Jewish families that fled the country.



Mr. Eizenstat did strike some optimistic notes and found, overall, that the glass is slightly more than half full. He noted that Austria has restituted more than 30,000 artworks and that 42 Dutch museums had recently discovered more than 170 artworks with problematic provenances. He said in an interview that the Germans are set to announce at the conclusion of the conference that Germany has restituted more than 16,000 artworks, including 5,746 art objects to Holocaust survivors during the past 20 years.

A report, due next October, from the State Department, to comply with a recently passed federal law, the Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today Act, will address a range of Holocaust-related issues, including an assessment of any progress in the return of confiscated art.
SYDNEY, Australia  Heather Rose checked into the Chelsea Hotel after a long-haul flight from Hobart, Australia, flung her bag in her room and sped to the Museum of Modern Art.

This was the spring of 2010, and Rose had a mission: to stare into the eyes of Marina Abramovic, the Serbian-born performance artist, in the atrium of the gallery.

I thought I could just walk up and be the next person, said Rose, the novelist whose new book, The Museum of Modern Love, will be published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a division of Workman Publishing, in the United States on Nov. 27.

Id never seen people running for art, said Rose, 54, who remembers people racing to get to the front of the line.
According to Bishop-Stall, a hangover is composed of two forces combining to form a third force of great evil, like warm water and a storm cluster smashing together into a hurricane. One of the forces is dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which is the reason the bathroom lines in bars are so long and why you wake up from a binge gasping for water. The second force is fatigue. Although alcohol sedates you, it wont permit access to the deepest levels of sleep, which is why you can pass out for hours and still wake up feeling (and physiologically being) exhausted.

Image

Identifying the cause of a problem, of course, is not the same as having an antidote. Bishop-Stall combs through reports and records, past and present, for purported hangover cures, of which there are many: stuff your socks with green hemlock and walk around on the leaves all day, eat orange Popsicles, drink prune juice, take kudzu-root pills, have someone bury you in hay, drink charcoal dissolved in warm milk, swallow frankincense capsules. He cheerfully tests some of the more exotic remedies, like floating in a curative Austrian lake while listening to pan pipes from underwater speakers, being palpated by a strong-handed masseuse, boiling in a caldron of herbs and hooking himself up to an IV drip of electrolytes, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, vitamins and anti-nausea drugs. None of these counteract the misery of overindulgence.

They do, however, yield insight when undertaken in bulk. All hangover cures belong to one of three categories. Some are palliative, like anti-nausea drugs. Others are distractive, like being palpated. Still others concentrate discomfort into a violent but circumscribed period of time, like being boiled in a caldron, as a kind of psychological purgative. The medical term for hangover is veisalgia, which comes from a Norwegian word meaning uneasiness after debauchery. Veisalgia hints at the scrim of despair and self-loathing that is a hangovers most elusive element, and the one that resists every dispelling mechanism we can throw at it.

You could profitably crop-dust a cocktail party with the factoids in Hungover. Consider a drinking ritual, popular in the Netherlands, that involves slurping ice-cold grain alcohol from a tulip-shaped glass, followed by a beer chaser. The name of this ritual, kopstooje, translates as little head-butt. The Spanish word for hangover, cruda, means rawness. The German word, Kater, means tomcat, presumably as in being mauled by one. Bishop-Stall even unearths an emergency-room case report about a patient who suffered from paralysis of the arm after getting drunk and passing out with it draped awkwardly over a suitcase. This victim of alcohol-induced crush syndrome was saved by emergency surgery.

Bishop-Stalls archival rooting-around is more interesting than his memoir through-line. Although hes a lovable narrator, hes also a pretty normal one, and his activities  planning a bachelor party, eating cheese, cat-sitting for his parents  dont always rise to the level of book material. But thats O.K. You expect a book about alcohol to ramble a little, and his commitment to the subject more than compensates. Many writers would have given up the project after urinating in a public fountain or wandering alone into a dark German forest or vomiting into a sombrero. Bishop-Stall does not. Two-thirds in, he admits that he is pretty much drunk every night now, which suggests that the book was written in exactly the twilight zone it aims to clarify.
 Its a sad and tragic moment.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, set a somber mood on Sunday as the leaders of European Union countries agreed to a treaty for Brexit  a plan that is as complex as it is unsure to succeed. Above, the summit meeting in Brussels.

Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain is offering a kind of middle path that leaves many cold. Her own Conservative Party is divided and the Labour Party is opposed, and she may not have enough votes in the British Parliament, which is expected to vote on the plan before Christmas.

Under the terms, Britain gets until at least December 2020 to work out the details of the divorce; in the meantime it would be out of the E.U. but still adhere to its rules and regulations. The biggest snag: how the plan averts a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, where Mrs. Mays coalition partners are rebelling.
After he mentioned several places, we said What about Millers? (behind us) and he said,Thats a good place to eat. So we went in. Had to wait for a table, so went to the bar and ordered a drink. Next minute the UPS man was behind us and put a $20 bill on the bar and said to the barman Buy my new friends a drink and left. We were astounded at his generosity and would like to say thank you again. We are still telling everyone about it.
E.U. agrees to Brexit terms

Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain has the approval of the 27 other members of the European Union on a formal divorce pact from the bloc. Now she needs the support of an outspokenly unhappy British Parliament.

Mrs. May has struggled to define how closely Britain should remain tied to Continental Europe, ultimately choosing a middle path that has left many dissatisfied.

The 585-page treaty agreed to in Brussels on Sunday deals with Britains outstanding payments to the bloc (around $50 billion), the rights of European Union citizens in Britain and vice versa, and how to prevent physical checks on goods at the border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and Ireland, which will remain in the European Union.

 Whats next: A vote in Parliament is expected before the end of the year. Britains foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said getting the votes to approve the plan was looking challenging. Heres a look at some of the other hurdles.

A model for treating overdoses

Dayton, Ohio, had one of the highest death rates from opioid overdoses in the country in 2017.

Now, with such deaths in the area down sharply, it may be an example of how best to address an epidemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. over the last decade, including nearly 50,000 last year.

The Times interviewed police and public health officials, medical workers, people recovering from opioid addiction and people who are still using heroin and other drugs about the factors that contributed to the sharp drop in mortality.

 Go deeper: This article is part of a series about the lack of access to effective opioid addiction treatment.
TOKYO  Carlos Ghosn, one of the auto industrys most powerful leaders, lost another title on Monday when the board of Mitsubishi Motors removed him as chairman, one week after he was arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of financial misconduct.

Mr. Ghosn, who was stripped of the chairmanship of Nissan last week in a unanimous vote of the board, remains in a Tokyo detention center, where he sees his lawyer for about an hour or so each day. He is being questioned by prosecutors after Nissan said that he underreported his income to Japanese regulators over several years. He has not been charged with any crime.

In a statement on Monday, Osamu Masuko, chief executive of Mitsubishi, said the board had removed Mr. Ghosn because he lost the trust of Nissan, and he cannot execute his duties as chairman and representative director any longer.

Mr. Masuko added that if Mr. Ghosn remained as chairman, it could expose Mitsubishi to reputation risk.
Closing auto plants outright  rather than idling them, as G.M. says it plans  has been rare since the industry emerged from the recession. The last permanent shutdown of a plant in the United States came in 2016 when Mitsubishi Motors shuttered one in Normal, Ill. Before that, Ford closed a truck plant in St. Paul in 2011.

More typically since rebounding from the recession, carmakers and their suppliers have restarted shuttered plants, adding new ones across the South and hiring tens of thousands of workers a year.

But demand for small and midsize cars has plunged. Two-thirds of all new vehicles sold last year were trucks and S.U.V.s. That shift has hit G.M.s Lordstown plant hard. Just a few years ago, the factory employed three shifts of workers to churn out Chevy Cruzes. Now it is down to one. In 2017 the plant made about 180,000 cars, down from 248,000 in 2013.

More broadly, the yearslong boom in car and truck sales in North America appears to be ending, said John Hoffecker, vice chairman at AlixPartners, a global consulting firm with a large automotive practice. Sales have held up well this year, but we do see a downturn coming, he said. AlixPartners forecast that domestic auto sales will fall to about 15 million cars and light trucks in 2020, from about 17 million this year.

Even though they are facing a potential slump, carmakers continue to spend heavily to develop electric vehicles and self-driving technology, both to meet regulatory mandates and to anticipate the future of driving. That shift is expected to remake the global industry and enable companies to enter new and potentially lucrative businesses, such as driverless taxi and delivery services.

At the same time, automakers have had to contend with a new political agenda in Washington. One benefit has been the corporate tax cuts enacted last year. The changes, championed by Mr. Trump and his party, saved G.M. $157 million in federal taxes in the first nine months of the year, according to the companys most recent quarterly earnings report.
Around 1912, a group of Sephardic Jews left Turkey and Rhodes, and many settled in the American South. Some made their way to Atlanta, and within a few years established Or VeShalom. They served the burekas for tea and for Saturday desayunos (meaning breakfast in both Spanish and Ladino, a hybrid of Spanish and Hebrew influenced by Turkish, Greek and Italian ).

Burekas were a piece of home that these immigrants brought with them, said Adam Kofinas, the synagogues executive director. Even today with all our technology, this is a link to our heritage. Machines could make the pastries quicker, but nothing matches handmade.

The word bureka is the Hebrew and Ladino term for borek or burek, as the pastries are known in Turkey and the Balkans. The pastries come in many different forms today, made with buttered layers of phyllo dough, laminated doughs like puff pastry, or with an oil-based dough, as its done in this community.
There has been something of a boom in American aperitivos in the last few years, with new products coming out of Colorado, California and Washington, D.C. They all have a few things in common: a slight bitterness and a bright-red color. And bugs.

Yes, bugs. Many of these drinks use the natural dye carmine, which is extracted from the cochineal, a tiny insect, to achieve their vibrant hue. This is not some weird new craft-distilling trend: Cochineals (KAHCH-i-neels), native to the Americas, have been used for centuries to lend color to everything from fabric to cosmetics to food.

For decades, Campari was the most famous spirit to use crushed cochineals for coloring. The company decided in 2006 to discontinue its use in most of its bottlings, in favor of artificial colors, because of what it called the uncertainty of supply of the natural colorant. That would have seemed to be a death knell for the insects future in liquor.
Weve long heard warnings that the Social Security program that 52 million Americans rely on for their retirement benefits could one day run out of money.

Analysts say thats not going to happen  if only because older people are such a powerful voting force  but this year the system has hit a worrisome milestone: the Social Security Administration reported that the retirement benefits paid out each month exceeded the tax revenues and interest that fund the program.

That necessitated the first dip into the Social Security Trust Fund in 35 years. By 2034, the agency estimated, it will have depleted those reserves, and its revenues will cover only about four-fifths of its promised benefits.

Theres a problem, but not a crisis, said Andrew Eschtruth, a researcher at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Its something policymakers have acted on before, and the program has always paid full benefits.
Who cares that a picture is worth a thousand words when two can be worth a career change. Take the time a young Arnold Newman stumbled across a book of Theodore Roosevelt photos and two of them stuck out.

On the cover shot, which was supposed to represent him, he looked like an overstuffed walrus, said Mr. Newman in a 1994 interview with The Boston Globe. Inside there was a picture of him with his foot on a rhino, growling like mad. I thought, My God, that is Teddy Roosevelt!

Mr. Newman went on to photograph Eleanor Roosevelt, Pablo Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright, Golda Meir, Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe, Salvador Dali, and the former president Bill Clinton: decidedly on his own terms. There would be no overstuffed costume fittings or stark studios. Mr. Newmans portraits were defined by his sitters environments, which led him to be known as the father of the environmental portrait.
He buys a new pair of shoes every year to keep up with the demands of the job.

In his time at Brooklyn Community Services, the organization has become like a family. Fellow employees and volunteers provided support when Mr. Friedmans wife of 41 years, Alexis, died in 2016.

Its painful to talk about, Mr. Friedman said. My wife was a good person, I really loved her.

They met after a woman that Mr. Friedman had been dating for six years called to say that she had met someone else.

I was so upset, I didnt know what to do, he said. Then I heard a radio ad for a dating service. He told the service that he wanted to get married; it said it would send him a letter with a list of names, ages and heights.
The contrast was even more dramatic for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who captured every county along the Hudson River and beyond, all the way to the Canadian border  except for Putnam.

[What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]

The county seems like a curious outlier, a land that Democrats forgot along the Metro-North line, a place that, at its southernmost point, is roughly 50 miles to the New York City border and yet a world away.

Republicans, who outnumber registered Democrats in Putnam by about 3,000 people, have dominated politics there for decades; the only Democratic presidential candidate to win Putnam County in the last century was Lyndon B. Johnson.

Ms. Fleming, who unsuccessfully ran as a Democrat for county executive this year, and Ms. Croft, the countys Democratic elections commissioner, know what they are up against. But you dont have to be a politician to understand how the political dynamics can shape their lives.

As a general rule, I do avoid talking about politics because the majority of the people that live here are highly conservative, and their viewpoints are very different from mine, said Paula Bryan, a county resident who said she had been harassed in Facebook groups.
To the Editor:

Re Roberts Rebukes Trump for Swipe at Obama Judge (front page, Nov. 22):

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would side with President Trump in a dispute with a Supreme Court justice, but that unlikely moment has arrived. What does Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. mean by saying there are no Bush or Obama judges? If all judges seek only to apply the law impartially, then why did we just have such a divisive battle over Brett Kavanaugh?

Come on, Mr. Chief Justice, get real.

Gail Raimi Dreyfuss

Chicago
My advice is to stay home if you can, and only go out if you absolutely need to, Hayes said Monday. I realize its been a long time off work for many people with the holiday, but it makes sense to wait until the crews have a chance to clean the streets.
As a philosopher, I have nothing to add to the scientific evidence of global warming, but I can tell you how its possible to get ourselves to sincerely doubt things, despite abundant evidence to the contrary. I also have suggestions about how to fix this.

To understand how its possible to doubt something despite evidence to the contrary, try some thought experiments. Suppose you observe a shopper at the convenience store buying a lottery ticket. You are aware that the probability that he will lose the lottery is astronomically high, typically above 99.99 percent, but its hard to get yourself to sincerely say you know this person will lose the lottery. Now imagine your doctor screens you for a disease, and the test comes out negative. But consider the possibility that this result is one of those rare false negative cases. Do you really know the result of this particular test is not a false negative?

These scenarios suggest that its possible to feel as though you dont know something even when possessing enormous evidence in its favor. Philosophers call scenarios like these skeptical pressure cases, and they arise in mundane, boring cases that have nothing to do with politics or what one wants to be true. In general, a skeptical pressure case is a thought experiment in which the protagonist has good evidence for something that he or she believes, but the reader is reminded that the protagonist could have made a mistake. If the story is set up in the right way, the reader will be tempted to think that the protagonists belief isnt genuine knowledge.

When presented with these thought experiments, some philosophy students conclude that what these examples show is that knowledge requires full-blown certainty. In these skeptical pressure cases, the evidence is overwhelming, but not 100 percent. Its an attractive idea, but it doesnt sit well with the fact that we ordinarily say we know lots of things with much lower probability. For example, I know I will be grading student papers this weekend. Although the chance of this happening is high, it is not anything close to 100 percent, since there is always the chance Ill get sick, or that something more important will come up. In fact, the chance of getting sick and not grading is much higher than the chance of winning the lottery. So how could it be that I know I will be grading and not know that the shopper at the convenience store will lose the lottery?

Philosophers have been studying skeptical pressure intensely for the past 50 years. Although there is no consensus about how it arises, a promising idea defended by the philosopher David Lewis is that skeptical pressure cases often involve focusing on the possibility of error. Once we start worrying and ruminating about this possibility, no matter how far-fetched, something in our brains causes us to doubt. The philosopher Jennifer Nagel aptly calls this type of effect epistemic anxiety.
When Cynthia Chung, 31, and Jeddy Hao, 32, found their one-bedroom apartment on Craigslist five years ago, it seemed like too good a deal.

Rent was $1,050 a month, a few hundred less than everything else in the area, with no obvious defects to explain the discount. If anything, the apartment was nicer than others they had seen: It was well sized and well maintained, with large windows and a good layout.

Ms. Chung, a wedding photographer, thought they were almost certainly walking into a scam. Mr. Hao, on the other hand, was sure he had discovered a gem. I had a good feeling about it, he said.

To Ms. Chungs surprise, he turned out to be right. Rent stabilization accounted for the lower-than-average rent. If there was any downside, it was that many of their friends lived elsewhere.
The imagination of the suburbs is stuck in a model that emerged in Orange County in the 1960s: Goldwater-Reagan voters, white-collar, conservative activists, said Matthew Lassiter, a University of Michigan historian who has also studied suburban voters.

By contrast, Orange Countys 39th Congressional District today is one of the most diverse in the country. The demographic change that Democrats hope will advantage them nationally  as long as Republicans continue to seem uninterested in courting minorities  is already well underway in these places.

Today Democrats are benefiting from both the changing nature of the suburbs and the changing preferences of white college-educated voters there who are repelled by the president. But the second trend is more precarious for Democrats.

Thats because, as the political scientist Jefferey Sellers puts it, many suburban voters tend toward an eclectic mix of preferences that can seem contradictory. Particularly in denser, close-in suburbs, voters tend to be more cosmopolitan than in rural areas and turned off by culture-war issues that animate other Republican voters. But theyre also more fiscally conservative than many urban voters, and opposed, for example, to the higher taxes some liberal policies would require.

Rural and urban America clearly have distinct politics, one emphasizing individualism and limited government, the other shared commons that require bigger government. (Its not entirely clear, though, whether these environments shape peoples politics, or if people choose to live in them because of their politics.)

In a sense, suburbia has its own politics, too. Many voters there are motivated to keep taxes from rising and to protect the benefits  good schools, open spaces, stable property values  that attracted them to the suburbs in the first place.

Moving into these environments, the political identities that move to the fore are not Republican or Democrat, or conservative or liberal, Mr. Lassiter said. They are homeowner, taxpayer and school parent.
On Thanksgiving night, the sounds of gunshots inside an Alabama mall sent shoppers diving for cover and sprinting for exits. Outside the mall, Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. pulled out a gun and rushed to protect shoppers, his family said.

But Mr. Bradford was soon dead. An off-duty police officer working security at the mall, Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Ala., fatally shot him, the authorities said. In the days that followed, the official account by the Hoover Police Department of what happened inside and outside the mall has shifted drastically.

At first, the officer was praised for stopping a gunman after two people were shot outside a Footaction store on the second floor. Then the police said that Mr. Bradford was not in fact the gunman and that the true gunman remained on the loose.

Early Monday morning, the Police Department made another statement. With certainty Mr. Bradford brandished a gun during the seconds following the gunshots, the statement said, adding that his actions had instantly heightened the sense of threat to approaching police officers responding to the chaotic scene.
The governments responsibility is to watch out, to be custodians of the proper and effective use of those funds, he said. I dont understand why they need to pay hundreds of millions of those dollars to middlemen who turn around and permit overpricing.

The pricing issues and widespread complaints of long waits and shoddy work highlight the challenges of managing a billion-dollar disaster aid program in a region that is far from the mainland, with institutions that historically have had limited outside oversight or accountability.

Puerto Rico housing officials said they were proud of the repair program, and that prices were in many cases less than those paid in other disasters, including repairs after Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the Virgin Islands, which have similar transport challenges.

Michael Byrne, FEMAs federal coordinating officer for Puerto Rico, said the housing department had done an impressive job of getting homes repaired quickly for people who had nowhere else to turn.

By the end of November, I fully expect them to have repaired about 120,000 homes, Mr. Byrne said. Thats pretty impressive.

Records show a large gap between the amounts FEMA contractors hired by the Department of Housing were paid and the actual cost of the work that was ultimately performed. Across the board, from removing debris and cleaning mold to repairing roofs and installing appliances, the amounts for labor and materials that were paid to the people who actually performed the work were only about 40 percent of what FEMA was assessed, meaning homeowners got less help than many of them expected.

In case after case, a door worth about $50 would be billed to FEMA at perhaps $700, with a succession of intermediary contractors passing along costs and profits along the way, according to Maria Elena Villalobos, who worked as both an inspector and an administrator for several companies in the housing repair program. A lot of the money went down the drain, Ms. Villalobos said.
In the Senate, Ms. Klobuchar is not in the forefront on divisive issues like immigration, but she has led efforts to curb the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, expand voting rights, address sexual harassment and protect online privacy after revelations of Facebooks data mining.

Early in her tenure, she carved out a niche in consumer protection, shepherding passage of bipartisan bills to ban lead in toys and improve swimming pool safety after several highly publicized child deaths, measures that Gregg Peppin, a Republican strategist here, said have earned Ms. Klobuchar a derisive nickname: The Senator of Small Things.

Its issues that are kind of no-brainers, and when it comes to substantive things, shes really not there, Mr. Peppin said, adding that Republicans have a second nickname for her: Cotton Candy Amy, because theres no nutritional value; you put it in your mouth and it melts away and theres nothing really there.

Ms. Klobuchar has heard the small things criticism, and resents it.

Not for a minute do I view these as small things, she said sharply. Theyre big things for the people whose kids lives were saved.

On Capitol Hill, Ms. Klobuchars reputation is not all sweetness and light; she is said to be brutal to work for. A survey of senators by the website LegiStorm found that from 2001 to 2016, her office had the highest turnover, which earned her a prominent mention in a Politico article headlined The Worst Bosses in Congress? (By 2017, two colleagues  John Kennedy of Louisiana and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland  had surpassed her.)

She acknowledged that she is demanding: I have high expectations.

But outwardly, Ms. Klobuchar is the embodiment of Minnesota nice  polite and intent on being able to disagree without being disagreeable, as she wrote in her 2015 memoir, The Senator Next Door. In an era of Twitter rants and senatorial showboats, she is the worker bee in the background, tallying up how many of her bills get signed into law: 24, she said, since Mr. Trump became president.
Days after losing her re-election bid in deep red Utah, Representative Mia Love, the only black Republican woman in Congress, condemned President Trump on Monday in a scathing concession speech, describing him as having no real relationships, just convenient transactions.

She used similar language to attack her own party, accusing Republicans of having a transactional relationship with minority and black voters.

Ms. Love, who was elected to Congress in 2014 and had been viewed as a rising Republican star, lost her election by less than a percentage point to Ben McAdams, the Democratic mayor of Salt Lake County. Her defeat  in a district that Mr. Trump carried in 2016 by seven percentage points  handed Democrats another seat in the House of Representatives, giving the party 38 additional seats in the midterm elections and helping them take control of the chamber.

Ms. Loves harsh words for Mr. Trump came in response to remarks the president made about her nearly three weeks ago: During a televised news conference the day after Election Day, Mr. Trump mocked the congresswoman for losing her race even as the votes were still being tallied.
Hi. Welcome to On Politics, your guide to the day in national politics. Im Lisa Lerer, your host.

[Get On Politics delivered to your inbox.]

I hope you all survived your Thanksgiving holidays. My takeaway: Who needs turkey when theres pie?

As we mentioned before the holiday weekend, youre going to be seeing us a bit less frequently. With election season (nearly) over, well be coming into your mailboxes on Mondays and Thursdays.

There are still votes to be counted, of course: Still good old Mississippi.

Unsurprisingly for the Trump era, the Senate runoff campaign has become a heated mess of polarized politics, racial controversy and the president.

Political strategists who are being honest with themselves (you know who you are!) will admit that no one knows exactly whats going to happen in Tuesdays election between Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, a Republican, and former Representative Mike Espy, a Democrat.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court considered on Monday whether to allow lawsuits claiming abuse of police power in retaliation for exercising free speech rights. The case concerned a claim for retaliatory arrest at a festival in a remote part of Alaska, but several justices seemed to have an array of controversies in mind.

You can think of it, Justice Elena Kagan said, as a case where an individual police officer, you know, decides to arrest for jaywalking somebody wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt or, alternatively, a Make America Great Again cap.

Some courts have said the existence of probable cause for the arrest  the person was, after all, jaywalking  is always enough to bar lawsuits claiming retaliation in violation of the First Amendment. Others have allowed juries to decide whether the officers involved intended to suppress protected speech.

The Supreme Court has been struggling to find a line separating two kinds of arrests, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said, noting that there are a range of cases.
Nearly every day for weeks, a white-haired man in a wheelchair, his body ravaged by diabetes and heart disease, has been escorted under heavy guard from a Texas jail cell to an interview room to speak about evil.

Day by day, the authorities say, he has recounted details of long-ago murders: faces, places, the layouts of small towns. He has described how he picked up vulnerable women from bars, nightclubs and along streets and strangled them to death in the back seat of his car.

The man, Samuel Little, 78, has confessed to more than 90 murders, investigators say, stretching back almost half a century. Mr. Little already is serving three life sentences for the murders of three Los Angeles women during the 1980s, but the authorities suspect him of killing women in at least 14 states. Investigators say they have established Mr. Littles ties to about 30 of the murders so far, and have little reason to doubt his confessions.

[Read More: F.B.I. says Samuel Little is most prolific serial killer in U.S. History]

By the time we are done, we anticipate that Samuel Little will be confirmed as one of the most prolific serial killers in American history, said Bobby Bland, the district attorney of Ector County, Tex., where Mr. Little is being held after a grand jury indicted him this summer for a 1994 killing.
Kikora Mason, City of Chicago's deputy digital director and person behind the @Chicago Twitter account, truly believe that Mayor Lightfoot cares and wants to do the best for the city. What keeps Mason in the communication business is the commitment to connect with people in the digital space and a goal is to make Mayor Lightfoot, the most digitally savvy mayor in the country. "The Internet is not going anywhere. And we have to learn how to navigate this space in a very smart and real way. And that's what I'm trying my best to do," Mason said.
BUENOS AIRES  Argentine authorities are looking into possible criminal charges against Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia as he prepares to attend an international summit meeting of world leaders this week in Buenos Aires, officials involved in the inquiry said.

The inquiry, centering on allegations of war crimes during the Saudi-led military intervention in neighboring Yemen, is the most significant test yet of Prince Mohammeds ability to move past the international uproar that has surrounded him since the killing of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, a Virginia resident and Washington Post columnist.

The Khashoggi case, too, is expected to be part of the inquiry as well as allegations of torture in Saudi Arabia.

The investigation in Argentina, initiated by a complaint lodged by Human Rights Watch, the advocacy group, is in its early stages, and diplomatic or other kinds of immunity may ultimately shield the prince from any potential charges. Argentine officials called it extremely unlikely that the inquiry might produce an arrest warrant before the gathering, which is set to begin on Friday.
In the photograph, a woman clutches two children in diapers, one of them barefoot, as they run from a smoking tear gas canister fired by American border officials.

That arresting image, taken in Tijuana, Mexico, by the photojournalist Kim Kyung-Hoon of Reuters, spread rapidly online. It prompted outrage after a peaceful march by Central American migrants in Mexico veered out of control on Sunday afternoon, as hundreds of people tried to evade a Mexican police blockade and ran toward a border crossing into San Diego.

In response to the chaos, which the Homeland Security secretary said included some migrants throwing projectiles at Customs and Border Protection workers, American border officials temporarily shut down the crossing in both directions and fired tear gas to push back migrants from the border fence.

The photo drew anger from many over President Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric, harsh tactics and uncompromising policies. It also made its way onto the front pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Post and other publications.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand  More than 140 pilot whales died after beaching themselves in southern New Zealand, with half being euthanized by conservation workers in a deeply saddening decision after their discovery came too late to rescue them, officials said Monday.

The stranding, in an isolated part of Stewart Island, off the coast of the South Island, was the largest in New Zealand since 250 pilot whales died last year in one of the worst such incidents in the countrys history.

The beached whales on Stewart Island were discovered in two separate groups, or pods, just as several other whale deaths and strandings were reported around the country over the weekend.

The Department of Conservation said Monday that as many as 145 whales beached themselves at Mason Bay, on the islands west side, where they were discovered by a hiker on Saturday afternoon.
Partly for that reason, Taiwans referendum law prohibits the public from proposing questions on issues of national sovereignty like the islands name, flag and territory. The president can, however, put such issues to referendum in existential emergencies, like an imminent takeover by mainland China.

While the Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally favored independence, it is not seeking to hold an independence referendum. But by holding votes on other issues and making them a part of Taiwans political culture, the government is creating the infrastructure and legitimacy that would be needed to hold an emergency referendum in the future.

Saturdays referendum furthers a long-held D.P.P. goal to get referendums institutionalized, said Michael Fahey, a legal consultant based in Taipei. Major sections of the D.P.P. always wanted to have some kind of referendum law in case there ever needs to be a referendum on self-determination, there will be a mechanism in place for doing that.

One referendum question that did approach the issue of identity concerned what Taiwan should be called at the Olympic Games and other international sporting events. In a 1981 deal with the International Olympic Committee, Taiwan agreed to compete under the name Chinese Taipei. But in recent years the people of Taiwan have increasingly sought to assert their identity, and a referendum question asked if the island should compete as Taiwan instead.

That proposal failed after a campaign warning that doing so might lead to Taiwans being banned from Olympic competition under Chinese pressure. The referendum result could allow Beijing to argue that the people of Taiwan are quite happy to be identified as Chinese.

Kolas Yotaka, a Taiwan government spokeswoman and former legislator who voted for the new referendum law last year, said the public had multiple complaints about the referendums on Saturday, including the large number of questions being asked.

We think next time well need to improve explanations of the content of the referendums, Ms. Kolas said in an interview. We also didnt have enough time to have enough public debate.
MOSCOW  Ukraines president put his nation on a war footing with Russia on Monday, as tensions over a shared waterway escalated into a crisis that dragged in NATO and the United Nations.

Russias seizure a day earlier of three small Ukrainian naval vessels and 23 sailors  including at least three wounded in a shooting by the Russian side  was the first overt armed conflict between the two sides since the beginning days of the conflict in 2014, when Russian special forces occupied Crimea.

The opening of an additional front at sea, even if Ukraine lacks a real navy, introduced an unstable element into what had been a shadowy war. The conflict pitting Ukrainian soldiers against Russian-backed separatists in the breakaway Donbas region, in eastern Ukraine, has sputtered along for almost five years with more than 10,000 people killed.

The Kremlin, along with some Ukrainian opposition figures, called the martial drumbeats echoing from Kiev a domestic political ploy by its embattled president, Petro O. Poroshenko. They accused him of fearmongering in order to delay or at least reconfigure the March 31 election that he had seemed certain to lose.
ISTANBUL  The Turkish police searched a Saudi-owned mansion south of Istanbul on Monday as part of the investigation into the murder of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, whose remains have not been found.

Irfan Fidan, the chief prosecutor of Istanbul and the leader of the Khashoggi investigation, ordered the search of the mansion, a sprawling building with a columned central portico, set amid trees in the village of Samanli, about 60 miles south of Istanbul. The area, on the Marmara coast, is a popular tourist spot known for its thermal springs.

Police officers searched the area with drones, and forensics officers, a fire brigade and sniffer dogs were at the scene on Monday, Turkish news outlets reported. The newspaper Hurriyet said that the mansion belonged to a Saudi businessman, and that it had been unoccupied for the past month. A second house, adjacent to the mansion, was also being searched, Hurriyet reported.

Mr. Fidans office issued a statement Monday afternoon saying that the search was conducted because one of the Saudi suspects in the Khashoggi case had contacted the occupant of the mansion the day before Mr. Khashoggi was killed, and the conversation may have been about disposing of his body.
The plan is to have the two students who participated in the science fair in June plus an additional student attend the Singapore event, where they will be able to present a research project, Gonzales said.
"It's not the best weather, but it is North Pole weather, Santa told the kids. This is the only way I could get Rudolph and the rest of the gang to bring me here.
A Colorado man claims that he was on intense chemotherapy and painkillers for five long years, after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer by multiple doctors, a cancer that he recently learned never existed.

The living nightmare of James Salaz, a resident of Montrose, in Colorado, began five years ago, when he went to a hospital to have an intense pain deep under his armpit investigated. His doctor told him that tests revealed two abnormalities inside his left lung. After undergoing a couple of open lung biopsies, Salaz was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, a rare form of cancer that causes cells to build up in parts of the body, damaging tissues and ultimately leading to death. Devastated by the news, he visited doctors in Montrose, Delta, Grand Junction and Denver, and they all confirmed that he had Langerhans. It turns out they were all wrong.

Photo: biker_becca/Pixabay

They said that I was the only one in Colorado that had it, Salaz recalls. I would curl up in a ball and I would just want to die because chemotherapy is bad.

So he just kept popping pain killers to cope with the pain caused by the intense chemotherapy, hoping that it would save his life. But the thing was that he wasnt getting any better. Last year, he went to see Dr. Choon-Kee Lee (who he considered his main doctor) at Montrose Hospital to ask why things didnt seem to be improving, but learned that Lee had been dismissed by the hospital. For some strange reason, they hadnt even bothered to notify his patients, so he only learned that his doctor was no longer working there while waiting for his appointment in the waiting room.

But Dr. Lees dismissal turned out to be James Salazs saving grace (if you can even call it that) as it meant he had to look for a new doctor. And it was this new doctor who dropped the bomb about his diagnosis, last year.

She called me and told me that I never had Langerhans. I have a thing called vasculitis, and she said that if we wouldve treated it five years ago, you would be good. But now its gotten so bad that its called Wagners, Salaz told NBC11. They treated something that I didnt even have and thats kind of sadyou know and I think that somebody needs to be accountable for it.



Unfortunately for Salaz, his true diagnosis appears to be much more difficult to treat due to a severe lack of rheumatologists in western Colorado. He called the office of the doctor he was assigned to and they confirmed that they had gotten his referral, but that it will probably be a year before he can actually come in for a checkup.

Recognizing that we have nearly a thousand new patient referrals in total, it could be six to eight months or even a year, depending on again when they were referred and what the issue is, said Dr. Jessica Baer Mears, rheumatologist, Arthritis Center of Western Colorado. You dont have patients that see you for a visit or two and then move on, you see them lifelong. So you are not having that flow out of the office. You really have that flow in.

In the meantime, James Salaz still has to deal with the aftermath of years of unnecessary chemotherapy. He has been diagnosed with pancreatitis, which doctors say was caused by the strong cancer drugs, and he has already been in the hospital for it twice.

Dr. Choon-Kee Lee, one of the doctors who allegedly misdiagnosed Salaz, declined NBC11s request for comment, due to active litigation.
Tullamore College students have won the Student Initiative Award at the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian Awards which took place in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road on Sunday evening, November 25.

The Offaly school won the accolade for campaigning, on human rights grounds, to revoke the deportation order of their friend Nonso Moujeke earlier this year.

When the students and teachers in Tullamore College learned that 14-year-old Nigerian student Nonso Moujeke and his mother and older brother were to be deported, the school community rallied around Nonso and started a campaign opposing the deportation, on human rights grounds.

These efforts were duly awarded last night when the Tullamore College students came away with the Student Initiative Award. The students conducted a social media campaign which was carried by all local and national media outlets and they also secured over 22,000 signatures on a petition.

The school galvanized not just the local community but their voice was heard on an international stage as they received messages of support from all over the world. On October 10, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of the Department of Justice and Equality, confirmed that the Moujeke family had been granted permission to remain in the State.

Elsewhere, Alice Leahy was named Irish Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year. Alice Leahy is director and co-founder of the Alice Leahy Trust, a befriending, social and health service for people who are homeless. Upon presenting Alice with her award, Pat Carey, chairman of the Irish Red Cross, said; Alice Leahy has dedicated a lifetime to helping societys most disadvantaged people. She has developed an unrivalled understanding of the needs of those on the margins of society and during every day of her working life she has implemented practical measures to help combat social exclusion.

Alice is also a writer, lecturer, commentator, broadcaster, former nurse, and former member of the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Sentence Review Group. She has directly contributed to public policy as a member of various policy bodies such as the Lord Mayors Commission on Crime. Alice compiled the Report on Medical Care for the Vagrant in Ireland in 1974, the first report of its kind published in this country and she served as Assistant National Director of Simon Ireland. Alice has also produced a number of educational initiatives.

In the all-female shortlist for the Journalism Excellence Award, Maggie OKane staved off competition from Katie Hannon, Political Correspondent with RTEs Current Affairs Department and Emmy-nominated journalist and filmmaker Shaunagh Connaire who has worked with the BBC and Channel 4.

Maggie OKane worked as a foreign correspondent with The Guardian newspaper for 20 years and was named British Journalist of the Year for her work in Bosnia, and Amnesty International Journalist of the Year for her work on sanctions. Maggie was also awarded an Emmy for her documentary film Baghdad: A Doctor's Story.

In recent years, Maggie created, implemented and sustained The Guardians Global Media Campaign against Female Genital Mutilation. She has now formalised the entity as an independent charity charged with the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting worldwide by 2030. As well as her ongoing journalism and film work, Maggie now trains young journalists across Africa, particularly focusing on amplifying in country mass media awareness, at academies set up and run by the Global Media Campaign.

FoodCloud was named winner of the Innovation for Change Award. One in eight people in Ireland experience food poverty yet one million tonnes of food are thrown out by Irish consumers and businesses every year. FoodCloud addresses this issue by bringing retailers and suppliers with surplus food together with local charities and community groups who assist with food supply and distribution.

See a list of all the winners and finalists on the night below:

Humanitarian of the Year

Winner  Alice Leahy

Finalists  Mark Mullan, Emma Mhic Mhathuna (In Memory)

Journalism Excellence Award

Winner  Maggie OKane

Finalists  Katie Hannon, Shaunagh Connaire

Student Initiative Award

Winner  Students of Tullamore College

Finalists - Niveta Ramakrishnan, Jessie Clohisey

Innovation for Change Award

Winner  FoodCloud

Finalists  O Cualann, Tech for Good Dublin

Corporate Impact Award

Winner - Aviva

Finalists  Fleming Medical, Amgen

Lifetime Achievement Award

Pat Hume

Special Honour

Irish Defence Forces
Fianna Fail TD for Offaly, Barry Cowen has criticised the Government for failing to fully avail of EU supports.

Deputy Cowen was commenting following meetings with EU Commission officials with responsibility for Energy and Employment Affairs.

Deputy Cowen explained, On Thursday, Cllr Eamon Dooley and I travelled to Brussels to advocate for Bord na Mona workers affected by job losses in the company and for the wider Midlands region. In meetings with officials specialising in the climate change transition areas, a range of supports available to our Government were highlighted to us."

"One such support is the Platform on Coal and Carbon Intensive Regions initiative, which Ireland currently does not avail of. The platform provides support for the economic and technological transformation of 41 coal-dependent regions in 12 European countries. This facilitates the development of projects and long-term strategies with the aim of kick-starting the decarbonisation transition process and responding to environmental and social challenges," Cowen explained.

"The EU recognises its not just coal regions that have to transition but also peat based economic areas, these carbon-intensive areas need specific supports. The Government needs to ensure that Ireland advocates for peat areas to be included in the Platform and a clear definition of carbon-intensive areas is drawn up."

"In upcoming work on the Globalisation Adjustment Fund, Ireland should work to ensure the definition of eligible areas is expanded to cover job losses due to decarbonisation. This will further open up funding opportunities for new enterprise in the Midlands region," Barry said.

"Ireland should already be a part of this initiative but the government has missed a trick by not pressing for the inclusion of the Midlands in the platform. Fine Gael needs to start fighting our corner in Europe to ensure the Midlands is not left behind, concluded Deputy Cowen.
Rosderra Meats, which is based in Edenderry, is part of Plastics Action Alliance, the new food collaboration that aims to make plastic packaging more sustainable.

Rosderra Meats and eight of Irelands leading agricultural processing and food businesses have come together to make the plastic packaging in their respective supply chains more sustainable.

Plastics Action Alliance is the new collaboration that includes market leaders from Irelands beef, poultry, pork, lamb, fruit, vegetables and packed salad sectors. Aidan Cotter, former CEO of Bord Bia, will be Chair of Plastics Action Alliance.

Members of Plastics Action Alliance, which represent significant but different elements of the agri. food sector are: ABP (beef); Manor Farm (poultry); Irish Country Meats (lamb); Rosderra (pork); Keelings (fruit), Monaghan Mushrooms (mushrooms), Country Crest (vegetables and prepared meals), Natures Best (salads) and C&D Foods (petfood).

The project will be driven by a steering committee which is made up of senior executives from each of the participating companies.

All participants will use their collective food production experience and expertise to significantly reduce problematic single-use packaging from the supply chain, whilst also introducing innovative and more sustainable alternatives. The group will also work with leading researchers in the area of plastics and packaging and leverage their extensive international networks to ensure successful outcomes.

Commenting on the launch of the collaborative programme, Aidan Cotter, Chair of Plastics Action Alliance said: The coming together of nine of the leading key players in Irish food production to look to arrive at solutions for the issue of plastics packaging is a significant development. These companies are leaders in their respective sectors and their combined experience will create a dynamic force that will likely punch well above its weight in seeking tangible solutions for the significant reduction of the use of plastic packaging on Irelands supermarket shelves.

Image caption: Pictured are some of the Plastic Action Alliance members including (L:R) Paddy Callaghan founder of Natures Best (prepared salads); John Walsh, Irish Country Meats (lamb); David Keeling ,Managing Director, Keelings Retail (fruit) Aidan Cotter, Chair of the project and former CEO of Bord Bia; Michael Hoey, Managing Director at Country Crest; Vincent Carton Managing Director, Manor Farm (Chicken); Martin Kane Managing Director ABP s operations in Ireland (Beef).
There is not one aspect of our operations this storm did not touch, he said. With no snow in the forecast for this week, his department will have time to lick its wounds and prepare for the next storm, he said.
Chhattisgarh, Punjab govts announce Rs 50 lakh to families of farmers run over in UP

Chhattisgarh's horrific accident: Nobody will be spared, justice will be done: CM Baghel

Operation Prahar-4: 2 police personnel and 9 naxals killed in Chhattisgarh's Sukma

India

oi-Deepika S

Sukma, Nov 26: Two police personnel and nine Naxals were killed in an ongoing encounter between Naxals and security personnel on Friday in the forest area of Saklar village in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.

The gun battle took place at a forest in Kistaram area bordering Telangana, around 500 km from Raipur when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukma's superintendent of police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

DM Awasthi, Special DG Anti-Naxal Ops, said, "Total 1200 security personnel from STF, DRG, CRPF's CoBRA and special teams from Telangana took part in 'Operation Prahar-4'. The operation was launched yesterday in Battalion 1 area of Naxals in Saletong, Bade Kedwal,Sakler and nearby areas."

"District Reserve Guard (DRG) team reached Sakler this morning and an encounter started at around 9:40 am. It continued for around 1 & half hour. Dozens of Naxals probably killed. 9 bodies of Naxals recovered. Two Naxals were carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh, " the officer said.

On Sunday, two Naxals were killed and a police personnel was injured in encounters in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district. The gunbattles took place when teams of police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) were out on anti-Naxal operations in Gangaloor and Madded areas.

Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg said that a combined squad of DRG and STF was cordoning off the jungles between Nilamadgu and Korinjed in Madded area, 450 kilometres from Raipur when it came under fire from the rebels.

All the Maoists belonged to the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The joint operation was launched in the core area of Maoists stronghold and the encounter has been a major success.

The exchange of fire lasted for 40 minutes after which the Naxals fled, he said. "A DRG jawan sustained a bullet injury in the neck. He is being shifted to hospital," Garg said.

The body of a Naxal was recovered along with one .303 rifle and one muzzle-loading gun from the spot, he said. Elsewhere, an exchange of fire broke out between a DRG team and Naxals around 2.30 pm in a forest near Borje village in Gangaloor area, the SP said.

In the year 2017, at least 685 Naxalites have surrendered as opposed to the 1,442 surrenders in 2016. Until 31 March 2018, at least 157 Naxalites have surrendered, the Home Ministry data states.
No protection, no hearing until we know where you are, SC tells Param Bir Singh

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26/11 10th anniversary: Sandeep Unnikrishnan always had a winning attitude

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Pictures of 26/11 martyr Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan are everywhere in his two-storey house tucked in a quiet locality in Bengaluru.

The gallery in the two-storey house of the National Security Guard Commando is full of memories and a collection of personal articles stare from the shelves and whisper stories of valour into ears of visitors.

How we treat our jawans on Major Unnikrishanan's birthday

The constant presence of these articles is painful, but also joyful and inspiring for any visitor.

They narrate the winning-attitude, valour and charitable nature of Sandeep, who lost his life while battling the Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists during the 26/11 attack on Mumbai in 2008.

Sandeep always had a winning attitude and liked Sachin Tendulkar for the same reason, his father Unnikrishnan told PTI.

"My son always had this attitude of winning in everything that he did. He liked Sachin Tendulkar for this reason.

"Sandeep always wanted our country to win. When India lost a match, he used to be very disappointed. He also used to console me whenever an ISRO project failed. He did not like defeat," the retired ISRO officer told PTI in an interview here.

Talking about Sandeep's charitable nature, Unnikrishnan said, "I did not know about it. Only after he had gone I realised it. Going through his bank balance, I only found Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000, though he was drawing a decent salary".

26/11 Tribute: Sandeep's statue unveiled in Bangalore

"I thought he could not save much because he could have been buying costly branded products. But his colleagues talked about his charity. One of his colleagues told me that he had borne all health expenses of his mother, who was suffering from a spine problem," he said.

"Also, Sandeep was regularly donating money to a number of charitable institutions. I realised this when I started receiving reminders on the renewal of donations after his departure," he added.

Sandeep was a nationalist too.

"He always supported nationalism. For him, nationalism meant that you do something good for the country, not extract benefits from it. Somebody should decide whether you are a nationalist, not that you go around calling yourself a nationalist. He always opposed these people," Unnikrishnan said.

The last message of the braveheart to his personnel while carrying out the operation was, "Don't come up, I will handle them."

These words have left a deep impression on his troop commandos.

"Sandeep used to say he did not want to see a mother weeping over his colleague's body and preferred his mother to bear the loss," said Unnikrishnan, as he recollected the sterling qualities of his braveheart son.

26/11: With no last wish, Kasab struggled as he was hanged

Major Unnikrishnan was leading a team of NSG commandos to flush out terrorists from the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai when he was fatally wounded. He was conferred the Ashok Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, on 26 January 2009.
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26/11: Cops were afraid, let Kasab and accomplice flee from railway station

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Nov 26: The photojournalist who captured the chilling image of 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist Ajmal Kasab at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, says police let Kasab and his accomplice flee from the railway station.

On November 26, 2008, Sebastian D'Souza ran out from his office next to the train station armed with nothing more than his Nikon camera and lenses, after hearing the gunfire.

26/11: With no last wish, Kasab struggled as he was hanged

The photo and testimony of 'Saby', as he is known in media circles, was to play a crucial role in the 26/11 trial, which led to Kasab's hanging in 2012.

"Had policemen posted near the railway station killed Kasab and the other terrorist inside the station, so many lives could have been saved," Saby told PTI.

In one of the most horrific terrorist attacks on the soil of India, 166 people were killed and over 300 were injured when ten heavily-armed terrorists from Pakistan ran a rampage in Mumbai 10 years ago.

"There were two police battalions present near the station, but did nothing," said Saby, who retired in 2012 and settled in Goa.

Saby, 67, won the World Press Photo award for the close-up photograph of Kasab, holding an AK-47.

He took the photos using a telephoto lens on his Nikon camera, while hiding inside a train carriage.

26/11: 10 years on, the trial still drags in Pakistan, on year 11 nothing will change either

"I ran into the first carriage of one of the trains on the platform to try and get a shot, but as I could not get a good angle, moved to the second carriage and waited for the terrorists to walk by. I briefly had time to take a couple of frames. I think they saw me taking photographs, but didn't seem to care," he said.

Having given up photography after retirement, Saby now keep himself busy with carpentry and paintings.

"I don't want to remember what I did that (November 26) night," he said, terming the sequence of events as an 'old film' which he wants to erase from his memory.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 6:48 [IST]
26/11: I felt ashamed wrote this Pakistan daily reporter on tragedys 4th anniversary

India

oi-Shubham Ghosh

New Delhi, Nov 26: Monday, November 26, 2018, marked the 10th anniversary of the horrendous terror attack in India's financial capital Mumbai by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who entered the city through the sea route and carried out coordinated attacks that continued for three days and killed 166 people and injured over 300. Some of the targets of the perpetrators included the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, Leopold Cafe and others. The deceased also included foreign nationals making the incident earn headlines worldwide.

The relations between India and Pakistan have remained sour over the matter with the former accusing its neighbour of not doing enough to bring the masterminds of the terror act to justice.

Pak constantly looking for another 26/11-like strike, India must remain vigilant: Defence Expert

How did the Pakistani media respond to the attack, even years after it happened?

A piece came out in the country's leading daily Dawn titled 'How 26/11 changed us' on the fourth anniversary of the tragedy in 2012 and it was penned by Faiza Mirza. In the piece, Mirza did not hide her shock over the terror attack. She wrote: "Although, I know for a fact that a major chunk of Pakistanis do not intend any harm to Indians, I was still appalled to find that Pakistanis were behind the attacks - an attack which paralysed Mumbai for 60 hours. I truly felt ashamed, knowing that a group of my fellow countrymen were responsible for an act of such massive destruction with complete disregard to precious human lives. Never had I felt such emotions of disgust and embarrassment. Primarily because some of the militants hailed from Pakistan, however, I must assure you that they did not represent the sentiments of true Pakistanis who bear no ill-will against Indians, Americans or innocent citizens of any other country."

She made a particular mention of Moshe Holtzberg, a two-year-old then who lost his young parents in the tragedy and became an orphan. A picture of the Jewish infant crying and screaming "Ima, Ima" (mother in Hebrew) on the day of the funeral of his parents is something that continued to haunt her.

26/11: Complete timeline of the attacks and events that followed

Mirza criticised the militants' ply of indoctrinating youths and push them towards the destructive activities of killing innocent people. "It is a fact that militant factions recruit and brainwash impressionable minds and then use them as pawns to kill innocent people. Most people are shown golden dreams of being granted a palatial mansion in heaven for persecuting Indians, Jews, Christians, Muslim minorities and other non-Muslims. What remains unfathomable is how can manslaughter of innocent men, women and children help anyone to achieve a heights of piety? God created life to be appreciated. Most of us know that such fundamentalist groups only serve one God called "money and power" and I truly feel sorry for the youth that falls for their devious traps as they hail from poor backgrounds and do not have enough awareness," she wrote.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 11:11 [IST]
No protection, no hearing until we know where you are, SC tells Param Bir Singh

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26/11: Memorial unveiled on Nariman House terrace

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

Mumbai, Nov 26: A memorial has been unveiled on the Nariman House terrace, making it the only place in Mumbai to honour all the 166 victims of the terror strikes.

Stand in Ambassador of Israel, Maya Kadosh, said, "It's a sad day for India and Israel, no country wants this connection but we have it, it makes our bond stronger. This memorial shows the connection between India, Israel and other victims of this attack."

26/11: Cops were afraid, let Kasab and accomplice flee from railway station

Mumbai's Chabad House in the Nariman House Colaba, one of the bloody targets of the 26/11 terror strikes, will be renamed as 'Nariman Light House' on the 10th anniversary of the attacks and 10 months after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit, official sources said on Friday.

Visuals from the unveiling of the Nariman Light house memorial in Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 #MumbaiTerrorAttack pic.twitter.com/efWpjjbrFh  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

The present rabbi, Israel Kozlovsky, said the rechristening ceremony will be organized on behalf of the Chabad of India Trust on Sunday afternoon, the eve of 26/11 attacks, at the main Jewish social-cultural-religious hub in the fashionable Colaba, south Mumbai.

The Nariman House, housing the Chabad House, was one of the main targets of 10 Pakistani terrorists who sneaked in through the Arabian Sea route and disembarked at a Colaba fishing jetty, barely a stone's throw.

(With PTI inputs)

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 19:56 [IST]
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus:

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus (CST), the headquarters of Central Railway, is a historic monument frequently shown in movies to depict the unrestricted arrival of strangers to the sprawling metropolis. And such is its ease of accessibility that two terrorists (one of them being Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive) entered this epicentre of Mumbai commuters' lifeline to wreak havoc for three days starting 26 November 2008. Around 50 people were killed and over 100 injured at the station premises in one of the deadliest attacks on the city.

26/11: I felt ashamed...' wrote this Pakistan daily reporter on tragedy's 4th anniversary

Chabad House renamed as Nariman Light House

The first phase of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the 26/11 terror attack will be inaugurated on Monday at the Nariman House in south Mumbai's Colaba area. Chabad House Mumbai Director Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky gestures at bullet marks from 26/11 during a media visit on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the incident.

Nariman House:

The second site, the Nariman House business and residential complex housing the Jewish Chabad Lubavitch outreach centre, is attacked. Shortly before the attack, a neighbouring gas station is blown up. This draws people to the windows, where the terrorists fire upon them. After killing a Kosher food inspector, the terrorists took the rabbi, his wife, and five Israelis hostage and subsequently killed them. The two-year-old child of the couple survived.

Mumbai's famous Leopold Cafe was among the first targets

The third site, Leopold Cafe, is attacked. Four terrorists enter the posh restaurant frequented by locals and foreigners, before opening fire on the crowd. About 10 people are killed in the attack which lasts 10 to 15 minutes. The terrorists also plant bombs in two taxis that kill 5 people and injure 15. The terrorists then proceed to the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel.

26/11: Complete timeline of the attacks and events that followed

The last site, Oberoi-Trident Hotel:

The last site, Oberoi-Trident Hotel, is attacked. Two terrorists enter the hotel via the restaurant and immediately begin firing into the crowd. They later move throughout the hotel looking for targets.
No protection, no hearing until we know where you are, SC tells Param Bir Singh

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26/11: Ten years on, India better prepared, more organised says Navy chief

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Nov 26: India is better prepared and better organised since a group of sea-borne terrorists struck at the heart of Mumbai 10 years back, thanks to a string of security measures including a layered maritime surveillance, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba has said.

"We have come a long way since then," he told PTI in an interview in his office in South Block on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11.

Another 26/11 type attack and there would be war with Pakistan

The Navy Chief said there has been a paradigm shift in coastal security as vulnerabilities and risks were fixed and a layered maritime surveillance and security architecture was put in place, making the coastline almost impregnable.

"The country is now better prepared and better organised," Adm. Lanba said when asked about possibility of terrorists taking the sea route again to mount a similar attack on India.

He said the India Navy is now a potent multi-dimensional force, safeguarding India's interests in the seas and that it is fully prepared to deal with any security challenge facing the country in the maritime domain.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai through the sea, arriving by boat from Karachi, and went on the rampage, carrying out coordinated attacks on the main Chattrapati Shivaji railway terminus, the iconic Taj Mahal hotel, the Trident hotel, and a Jewish centre - all in the heart of the financial capital's downtown area.

Over 166 people including 28 foreigners from 10 nations were killed in the nearly 60-hour assault that sent shock-waves across the country and even brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

26/11 10th anniversary: Sandeep Unnikrishnan always had a winning attitude

The terrorist strike, the worst in India's history, was seen as an attack on the country's sovereignty, and it exposed fault-lines in the coastal security network, intelligence gathering while also uncovering the lack of coordination among various agencies.

Adm. Lanba, who is also chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee, said critical gaps and vulnerabilities in the country's coastal infrastructure have been addressed, and that a robust surveillance network comprising 42 radar stations linked to a control centre headquartered Gurgaon has been put in place.

"We now have a multi-layered security architecture for coastal security, involving various agencies including the Coast guard and the Navy," he said, adding that an overhaul of the coastal defence apparatus was carried out in the last few years.

The radar stations were also fitted with high-resolution cameras with a range of 10 nautical miles. Another batch of 38 radar stations is being set up to keep a hawk eye vigil on activities along India's 7,500-kilometre coastline.

The Navy Chief said that tracking the movement of thousands of fishing boats round-the-clock was a major challenge but now a mechanism has been put into place to track them. He, however, emphasised on the need to improve intelligence gathering to further tighten the existing security apparatus.

He listed colour-coding of fishing boats, their online registration and issuance of biometric cards to the fishermen as some of the important steps as part of enhancing coastal security.

The Navy Chief said data about ships, dhows, mechanized trawlers, fishing boats and all other vessels operating near India's coasts are analysed round-the-clock.

An Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) was set up in Gurgaon which acts as a nodal agency for national command control and intelligence sharing among the Coast Guard and the Navy, he added.

Standard operating procedures have been formulated for coastal and offshore security among various institutions including the Indian Navy, the Coast Guard and agencies concerned of the coastal states to streamline the efforts of multiple stakeholders.

26/11: With no last wish, Kasab struggled as he was hanged

The Navy Chief said 1,500 landing points for fishing boats are being monitored regularly besides making installation of AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders mandatory for vessels of 300 tonnes and above for their easy tracking.

As part of efforts to further beef up coastal security, Adm. Lanba said a massive coastal security exercise, christened "Sea Vigil", covering the entire coastline as well as island territories is being organised in January next year.

"For the first time, such a mega exercise will be held," he said.

There have been biannual coastal security exercises at the level of states, but for the first time an exercise involving all coastal states, island territories and all central and state agencies is being organised.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 6:35 [IST]
No protection, no hearing until we know where you are, SC tells Param Bir Singh

26/11: With no last wish, Kasab struggled as he was hanged

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Nov 26: One of the biggest successes of the security agencies was catching Ajmal Kasab alive. Out of the ten terrorists who stormed Mumbai, ten years back on November 26 2008, Kasab was the only terrorist to have been caught alive.

His interrogation was crucial as it provided India that crucial link between the attacks and Pakistan.

26/11: 10 years on, the trial still drags in Pakistan, on year 11 nothing will change either

OneIndia spoke with several officers who were involved with the interrogation of Kasab. We also spoke with jail officials, who narrated his final moments before Kasab was hanged. The trial against Kasab was conducted at a brisk pace and he was finally hanged at a Pune jail on November 21 2012.

Kasab was very talkative says an investigator. He never realised the seriousness of the trial and always believed that Pakistan would come to his rescue. He boasted about the attack and felt that he had managed to beat the Indian agencies.

Even during the trial at which he appeared through video conferencing, he was seen smiling most of the time. He was defiant most of the times and very often would get pulled up by the judge for smiling unnecessarily.

However for Kasab, it all changed, when the death sentence was awarded to him by the trial court, Mumbai. He began understanding the seriousness at that time. A talkative terrorist had gone quiet and as he was being shifted to Pune, he told a police officer, you won, I lost.

26/11 10th anniversary: Something fishy at Machimarnagar

At his isolated cell in Pune, he was quiet. Being a condemned prisoner on the death row, he was not allowed to interact with anyone. He was reserved most of the time and waited for decisions from both the High Court and Supreme Court. The High Court conformed the death sentence awarded by the trial court, following which he filed a failed appeal in the Supreme Court. Then came the Presidential nod for the hanging.

His last moments:

Once the order to hang him came through, the date and time was fixed by the local court. Kasab was informed about this and he did not react at first. He was asked if he had any last wish, but he said, 'no.'

He was then asked, if he wished to pen down his will, to which he replied in the negative. An official at the Pune jail said that Kasab did not speak a word after the date and time of his hanging was made known to him.

The only thing, he asked the officials was whether there was room for more appeals. He resigned to his fate when he was told that he had exhausted all appeals and there was no room for any.

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The man, who challenged investigators, mocked them and smiled during the trial was very nervous in his final days. On that morning, he had his bath, wore fresh clothes and then said his prayers.

Before being escorted to the gallows, he was asked if he had any final wish. He was also asked, if he wanted to contact anyone in Pakistan. To both questions, he replied in the negative.

He remained quiet all along and did not say a word even when he was being hooded. He struggled a bit as the noose went around his neck. The signal to hang him was made and that was the end of it.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 6:11 [IST]
Cardenas said that Aftercare staff assist clients with money management skills and can help them apply for benefits that they may be entitled to, such as Medicare and Medicaid. "We also have an in-house psychiatrist at the main office," Cardenas said.
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Analysing the bio-terror threat: Why routes in Kashmir, Assam are most vulnerable

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 26: It has been ten years since India witnessed one of the worst terrorists attacks. The ten terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba landed in Mumbai by sea, following which they struck at numerous targets, which ended up in the loss of over 150 lives.

India has very often spoken about the threat the seas pose. The Mumbai 26/11 attack was one such example of how the seas were used to launch a major attack on India.

Over the years, with the advent of the social media, terror groups have constantly improved their skills. They have several tricks up their sleeve and the Intelligence and Security agencies have to remain updated at all given times to fight such threats.

26/11: India slams Pakistan for showing 'little sincerity'

Terror groups have been upgrading their skills. Their skills particularly in leveraging and improvising commercially available technological aids to support their operations have been upgraded considerably over the years.

Terrorists have also learnt to inject a high degree of surprise, speed and deniability in their operations. This has led to the Intelligence agencies constantly revamping their style of functioning.

Intelligence has over the years become more proactive. Moreover there is a dire need to be constantly informed and upgraded about the new threats so that the Intelligence can prepare itself accordingly.

Back in 2009, Ajit Doval, who is now the National Security Advisor had told this correspondent that India has tried to strengthen its protective security regime to deny terrorists tactical opportunities by hardening the targets. However in a country of India's size, vulnerabilities, limited resources and democratic freedoms, it is not possible to make all the potential targets impregnable. This leaves large gaps providing opportunities to the terrorists to take on soft targets, he had said.

Biological warfare:

When one speaks about the future of terror attacks, there is a need to mention biological warfare here. There are several terror groups, which have this capability, but have not launched a full fledged attack as yet.

While terror groups in Pakistan have the capability of launching biological strikes, none of them can independently launch biological warfare or use weapons unless and until there is a definitive nod from the government or the ISI. To this Doval had pointed out that Pakistan would do everything under the sun to exercise necessary restraint and control over terrorist groups in order to restrain them from using WMDs or Weapons of Mass Destruction against India.

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While Pakistan may exercise restraint, the threat however still looms large. A recent Intelligence report stated that nuclear and biological terrorism are the primary concerns today, with cities like Mumbai and Delhi being the most vulnerable.

While no one has gone all out in the use of biological warfare, terrorist groups have used such weapons in tested doses.

They are still testing the waters and it may be a while before they decide to completely go biological in their warfare. Security experts say that the biggest user of the biological and the nuclear weapons will be the Taliban and the ISIS. These are not run of the mill terrorist groups and both are trying to establish a government in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

The danger of nuclear smuggling is immense today. Security officials working in both India and Pakistan have identified the routes through which nuclear weapons could be smuggled. Punjab, Assam, Kashmir and Balochistan and the danger routes identified by the Intelligence Bureau officials.

There is a lot of demand for nuclear and biological weapons in these areas are they are conflict torn zones.

26/11: Cops were afraid, let Kasab and accomplice flee from railway station

As the battle intensifies, the demand for stronger weapons will only increase and terrorist groups may go that extra mile to source such material. While it is extremely difficult to source such weapons and the costs are extremely high, groups such as the ISIS and the Taliban can afford it. They are making the right contacts in Pakistan and will target rogue scientists to lay their hands on these weapons.

The challenge ahead:

The challenge ahead for the security agencies in India is immense. The threat of a biological warfare cannot be ignored or taken lightly at all. Intelligence Bureau officials are aware of the capabilities of groups such as the Lashkar and Taliban which used very sophisticated weapons.

The threat of nuclear and biological weapons being smuggled had started in the year 1998 itself. The threat of biological warfare has to be nipped in the bud itself. If terrorists manage to contaminate water with biological agents the damage will be immense.

IB officials say that the routes in Assam and Kashmir have to be monitored at all times. The threat of these weapons coming in through these routes is immense. We cannot afford a slip up even once on this front, the officer says.

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Intelligence agencies say that the target cities for terrorist groups to use biological weapons in India will be Delhi and Mumbai. In Pakistan there is a chance of the same being used in Khyber Paktunkhwa, Singh, Islamabad and Karachi. Recently intelligence bureau inputs suggested that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba too had been working on a unit to deal with biological weapons. They have been making attempts to launch a biological warfare on India.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 17:08 [IST]
Pakistan to allow India to send wheat to Afghanistan through its territory: PM Imran Khan

Another 26/11 type attack and there would be war with Pakistan

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Nov 26: Another major terrorist attack in India of the magnitude similar to the 26/11 strike originating from Pakistan could easily escalate into a regional war, scholars, former diplomats and US officials have warned ahead of the 10th anniversary of the deadly Mumbai terror attack.

Some 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack carried out by Pakistan-based 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after handed down death sentence by an Indian court.

26/11: With no last wish, Kasab struggled as he was hanged

Perpetrators of the 26/11 attack, including its mastermind and banned Jamat-ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, continue to roam freely in Pakistan, indicating that Islamabad is not serious in bringing them to justice. The US has offered a $10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.

The 26/11 attack case has entered into the 10th year but none of its seven suspects in Pakistan has been punished yet, showing that the case had never been in its priority list.

"The victims of 26/11 have yet to see the masterminds of the attack in the LeT and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) face justice; unfortunately, that is virtually impossible in Pakistan," former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official Bruce Riedel told PTI.

Riedel, senior fellow and director of Brookings Intelligence Project, believes that another terror attack in India of similar magnitude would result in a war between the two countries.

26/11 10th anniversary: Something fishy at Machimarnagar

"If another attack of this magnitude occurs, there will be war," he said.

Pakistan's former envoy to the US Husain Haqqani said: "With US-Pakistan relations in a tailspin and hawkish attitudes dominating the subcontinent, one cannot predict if and how the situation would be controlled in the event of another major terrorist attack in India, with clear linkages to groups in Pakistan".

Currently a senior fellow and Director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute, Haqqani said Pakistan "must fulfil its promise of acting" against the masterminds of the 26/11 attack.

"That it has chosen to let them operate freely raises the justifiable concern that Pakistan's deep state does not want to deter or punish terrorists responsible for attacks in India.

"In 2008, Pakistan's promise of acting against the LeT and those involved in the Mumbai attack prevented escalation of India-Pakistan hostilities. The US also helped calm things down by sharing intelligence with both Pakistan and India," he said.

Agreed a senior Bush administration official, who was inside the White House at the time of the 26/11 attack.

"That (India-Pakistan war) was a primary concern and a primary scenario that we wanted to avoid," Anish Goel, who was director of South Asia in the National Security Council of the White House at the time of the 26/11 attack, told PTI.

Noting that there was a lot of pressure on then prime minister Manmohan Singh "to react kinetically", Goel said then US president George Bush and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice had to make a lot of efforts including several phone calls to New Delhi, Islamabad and leaders of several American allies to prevent such a scenario.

Bush was very concerned, and got on phone with Singh immediately, offering condolences and urging restraint, he said. Rice travelled to the region trying to cool things.

"There's a lot of public pressure. I think prime minister Singh himself was showing a lot of restraint and was not inclined to do a counter attack right away, but there was a lot of political pressure on him to do so," said Goel.

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"The US, I believe -- I don't know for sure, you have to ask the Indian government to know -- having counseling or urging him to show restraint, gave him some sort of political leeway and maneuverability to resist the domestic political pressures from those calling for a quick counterstrike on Pakistan," he said, adding that at no point there was any evidence of military mobilisation.

"There was a sense of nervousness in the then Bush administration about a possible nuclear war in South Asia. The Mumbai terror attack started a day before Thanksgiving - a national holiday in the US - and did not end till Sunday, the last day of the long weekend. Bush not only held situation room meeting on Saturday, but also mobilised his entire administration to try and prevent escalation of the tension," Goel added.

A senior former Obama administration official said if another attack would have happened like that, it would "quickly escalates into a regional war".

The current government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already "taken a tough line" against Islamabad including a surgical strike, the official said on anonymity.

"I could certainly foresee a situation where he (prime minister Modi) escalates those quite a bit in response to the terrorist attack. Then for the US government, I just don't know if the Trump administration would counsel restraint the way the Bush administration did," he said.

The Trump administration might say they (Indians) are justified, he said.

"Not only are we not going to stop you, but we're going to help you. I don't know that they would do, but I don't know if they would carry the same message of constraints.

"So, when you're talking about what could happen in the region, if there was another Mumbai attack after the Pakistanis have promised there's no terrorists operating in our country and we're going after all of them, I could see a scenario which quickly escalates into a regional war," he added.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 6:27 [IST]
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Bhima Koregaon case: Pune court grants 90 days extension to file chargesheet

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

Pune, Nov 26: Pune sessions court on Monday granted 90 days extension to Pune Police for filing a chargesheet against four accused Varavara Rao, Sudha Bhardwaj, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves in Bhima Koregaon violence case.

The last date of filing charge sheet against four was November 25.

The four activists were arrested from various locations on August 28 for their alleged role in instigating caste violence in Maharashtra's Bhima Koregaon village on January 1.

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Earlier on November 15, the Pune Police filed a charge sheet in the case naming ten people as accused.

On January 1, violence erupted at an event to mark 100 years of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, leaving one dead and several injured, including 10 policemen. The police had filed 58 cases against 162 people during a state-wide shutdown in January following clashes in Bhima-Koregaon.

(With agency inputs)

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 21:24 [IST]
US designates Pakistan, China as countries of particular concern for religious freedom violation

Pakistan to allow India to send wheat to Afghanistan through its territory: PM Imran Khan

Citing killing of Indian soldiers, ISI activities, Captain declines Pakistan's Kartarpur invite

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Amritsar, Nov 26: Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday declined Pakistan's invitation to attend the Kartarpur corridor foundation stone-laying ceremony on the other side of the international border, citing terror attacks in his state and killings of Indian soldiers by Pakistan troops as the reason.

In a letter to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Singh said it is a historic occasion, but regretted his inability to be present.

The chief minister said his reason for declining the invitation was twofold.

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"Firstly, not a day passes when Indian soldiers are not killed or wounded on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Rather than moving towards normalcy, these incidents are escalating," he said.

Secondly, the chief minister claimed, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has started its nefarious activities in Punjab.

"Since March 2017, the state has neutralised 19 ISI-armed and controlled modules, apprehended 81 terrorists and seized 79 weapons, numerous grenades of the HG-84 type made in Pakistan's Ordnance factories with Austrian know how, and some IEDs," the chief minister claimed.

The last attack took place in Amritsar a few days ago, on a peaceful religious congregation in a village. Three men were killed and 19, including women and children, were wounded, Singh said, adding that the terrorists had been caught.

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"I hope that the prime minister (of Pak) will understand these circumstances... It will not be possible for me to be present in Pakistan on this historic occasion, despite the fact that paying my respects at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib has always been my cherished dream which will hopefully be fulfilled once these hostilities and killings are stopped," he said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor, on the Pakistan side, on November 28.
Congress warns its leaders and workers not to get complacent in the last few hours

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Nov 26: The Congress has asked its leaders in Madhya Pradesh to refrain from being overconfident. The party is getting good information from all across but it is also getting information that amidst these good news about party is inching towards victory, its leaders and workers have become complacent at the grassroots level. Congress leaders are a bit relaxed now.

Messages have been sent to the party leaders from Delhi that enthusiasm must be doubled when possibility of victory is in sight for the Congress and leaders and workers must forget rest till December 28, 2018. The party has also said that it must use all its resources to win elections till the last moment because the instruction of the high command for Madhya Pradesh is do or die. The party has also told the leaders of Madhya Pradesh that the ruling party will try to distribute money to voters in Madhya Pradesh and if the Congress leaders become complacent, the ruling party will succeed in its objective.

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Sources said that elections managers of the Congress got this information that since environment in the state was getting made in favour of the Congress, the BJP intensified damage control. The Congress has even set aside its constitution to win over angry leaders of the party by appointing them vice presidents, general secretaries and secretaries in the state in bulk. Senior BJP and RSS leaders too are visiting door to door to placate even smaller leaders of the party. Small leaders are getting calls from the senior most leaders of the party and they have been reminded of emotional and family attachment from the party.

The Congress has also got the information that 24 hours before the campaign ended in Madhya Pradesh, Unin ministers and senior leaders of the party have been appealing rebel candidates to withdraw from the elections and they will be taken care of for their such decisions. Meanwhile, the Congress high command informed Madhya Pradesh leaders regularly that there is wave against the Madhya Pradesh government not only in Bundelkhand, Mahakaushal, Vindhya and Chambal but all across the state.

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The Congress high command in its independent report also found that popularity of Madhya Pradesh CM might not have plunged but majority of people want change in Madhya Pradesh. The same report says that the Congress could get more benefited as there is no third front in the state.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 11:37 [IST]
Girl, boy found dead at rented house in Delhi's Chhatarpur

India

oi-Chennabasaveshwar P

New Delhi, Nov 26: A boy and a girl have been found dead at their rented residence in Chhatarpur on Monday. The boy was found hanging while the girl was found on the floor.

Police broke the front door and found a female lying in the inside room with blood oozing from the throat and a male (Avishek Mondal) hanging from the ceiling fan, according to news agency ANI.

Crime team and forensic lab team has been called to the spot. Further investigation in the matter is underway.

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A lady called the police that door of her flat in Chattarpur is locked from inside and she required police help.

Police reached the spot where caller informed that she lives there with her friend at first floor of the said building and she suspected something wrong.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 22:56 [IST]
HRD to come up with announcement for students who are not in same district of board exam centre

Govt puts a cap on weight of school bags: Here is what it should be

India

oi-Vikas SV

ew Delhi, Nov 26: The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has asked all states and union territories to formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects and weight of school bags.

"HRD ministry instructs all states and union territories to formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects and weight of school bags according to Indian Govt instructions," ANI quoted HRD ministry statement as saying.

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The government had earlier this year said that it was in favour of reducing the weight of school bags

and had initiated a pilot project in 25 Kendriya Vidyalayas to provide digital learning to children through tablets. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had then said while the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has recommended only two books (language and mathematics) for classes I and II and three books for classes III to V, it has also made available all their textbooks for free access through the web and mobile devices.

According to the norms, the weight of the bag for classes I and II should only be 1.5 kg and for classes VIII to X, it cannot exceed 5 kg.

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been regularly issuing circulars asking schools to ensure that the weight of the bags are in check. In a circular issued in August, the CBSE provided a list of NCERT textbooks for each class and had said that schools could use the list to ensure that they don't prescribe additional books.
US and India to join hands to further alienate Pakistan for supporting terrorism

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26/11: India slams Pakistan for showing little sincerity

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Nov 26: The Indian government on Monday hit out at Pakistan, saying those responsible for the strike that left 166 people dead still roam free.

"Pakistan is showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice. The Planners of 26/11 still roam streets of Pakistan with impunity. The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed & launched from Pak territory. We once again call on Govt of Pakistan to give up double standards and expeditiously bring perpetrators of horrific attack to justice." the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We welcome statement issued today by United States calling on Pakistan to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against terrorists responsible for 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates," the statement said.

Another 26/11 type attack and there would be war with Pakistan

"It's a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 yrs of this heinous terror attack, families of 166 victims from 15 countries still await closure, with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice, it said.

Today marks the ten-year anniversary of the deadly attacks in Mumbai, where, on 26 November 2008, 10 members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a recognised terror outfit, carried out a series of 12 shooting and bombing attacks across the city, which lasted for four days.

Pak constantly looking for another 26/11-like strike, India must remain vigilant: Defence Expert

At least a 174 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the attacks.

India has since repeatedly urged Pakistan to bring the culprits to book, even sharing evidence of their involvement. Pakistan, however, continues to act at snail's pace.
Japanese tourist stabbed multiple times in Delhi

India

pti-PTI

New Delhi, Nov 26: The condition of a 41-year-old Japanese national, who was stabbed multiple times by unidentified persons when he was headed towards a gurdwara in northwest Delhi's Siraspur, is stated to be stable, police said Monday.

The victim, identified as Tadayuki Kurihara, was allegedly attacked at around 6.30 pm by a group of men who decamped with his mobile phone and money, they said.

"The Japanese national's condition is stable," a police official said.

Sunil Arora appointed Chief Election Commissioner

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital and later, he was referred to the LNJP hospital where his condition is stated to stable and will be discharged soon, police added. Police said the victim had been on a two-month solo trip and landed in India four days ago.

Footage from CCTV cameras installed in the area are being scanned to ascertain the exact sequence of events, police said, adding that no one has been arrested so far.

PTI
Didnt think twice before getting into bed with Shiv Sena: Captain hits out at Congress

Kartarpur corridor event: Will not tolerate conspiracies by Pak Army chief, says Amarinder Singh

India

oi-Deepika S

Amritsar, Nov 26: In a stern warning to Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said Punjab will not tolerate any "conspiracies" by the neighbouring country and advised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to "control the Army and ISI" and "stop the attacks on Indian soil".

"I would like to ask Pakistan army chief Qamar Bajwa something, as a soldier. Which army teaches you to violate ceasefire and kill jawans on the other side? Which army teaches you to send people to attack Pathankot and Amritsar? This is cowardliness."

"Pakistan should be ashamed of the bloodshed [it is responsible for]. I condemn the killing of innocents by Pakistan." Captain Amarinder also cautioned, "I am warning you (the Pakistan army chief), we are also Punjabis, you will not be allowed to enter here and vitiate the atmosphere."

Venkaiah Naidu lays foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor

Referring to the grenade attack on the Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar in which three people were killed, he said: "People were offering prayers in a village and grenades were hurled at them. Is it what is taught by the Army? It is cowardliness," said the 76-year-old Singh, himself an ex-Indian Army officer.

He said that it is common knowledge that it is the Army that calls the shots in Pakistan.

"We believe in peace and we are giving a message of peace from here. But, their generals should understand that we have a large Army and we are prepared. And this should not happen as nobody wants war. We all want to carry out development in a peaceful manner," he said.

Earlier, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Singh laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab.

Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there. The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the banks of the Ravi river, about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 15:43 [IST]
Road conditions continue to be inconsistent and dangerous in areas around the region, we have had power issues across the Township including at one of our school buildings, and our bus company is unable to assure us drivers today, even given our plans for a late start, superintendent Brian Barnhart wrote.
After Pak allows access, India says yet to decide on opening Kartarpur Corridor

Migrant Kashmiri Hindus demand corridor to Sarda Temple in PoK

India

pti-PTI

Jammu, Nov 26: A prominent Kashmiri Hindus' body Monday demanded a corridor to the "world-famous" Sharda Devi Temple in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on the lines of one proposed to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district in Pakistan.

All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) of displaced Kashmiri Hindus raised the demand on the day Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu along with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district for the corridor to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.

APMCC chief Vinood Pandita and its members have been batting for the reopening of the temple for the past ten years and have even sat on fast unto death for it -- once in Jammu and for a second time at Porbandar in Gujarat.

Kartarpur corridor event: Will not tolerate conspiracies by Pak Army chief, says Amarinder Singh

The two fasts had lasted 10 to 15 days each. They had earlier also undertaken a yatra to the temple and had marched up to the last point Sharda Teon on Indian side of the Line of Control en route the temple.

"We welcome the government's decision on building the corridor to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara to facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims. We want the government to take similar steps to create a corridor to Sharda Devi Temple as well to facilitate Hindu pilgrims reach there," Pandita told reporters here.

The decision to build the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara corridor, which would facilitate the Sikh pilgrims to visit and return from the shrine without any passport or travel document the same day, was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is slated to hold the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.

On similar lines, a corridor to Sharda Devi Temple too can be built across the two side of the LoC between Tweetwal and Sharda, which are hardly few kilometers apart, the APMCC chief said.

Pandita, who earlier also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to pursue the cause, said the Centre should take this step as a confidence-building measure for the displaced community of Kashmir.

Even PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti pitched Monday for building a corridor to the temple. Sharada Peeth is an abandoned temple located in the Sharda village along the Neelam River across the LoC.

It was a major centre of learning and is regarded as one of the 18 highly-revered temples across south Asia. It was also a major centre of learning at par with the ancient seats of learning at Nalanda and Taxila.

PTI
Mission can be rescheduled again: Jitendra Singh after GSLV fails to inject EOS-03 satellite in orbit

Now, ISRO plans to set up space museums across country

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Nov 26: In a bid to educate and inform the masses about space technologies, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has decided to set up space museums across the country, including New Delhi.

ISRO chief Sivan had recently visited Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office and held discussion on the proposed Dr Kalam Knowledge Centre and Aerospace Park.

Both projects, planned in the state capital, are envisaged as a joint venture of the state government and the space agency.

Sivan informed the chief minister that the procedures regarding the Aerospace Park, coming up at Kinfra Park in nearby Kazhakkottom, would be completed within a month toink the Memorandum of Understanding.

Kerala plans aerospace park, to supply components for ISRO projects

He also requested the government to help in getting official clearances for the proposed Kalam Knowledge Centre, named after former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, at Kowdiar here.

"I had recently met Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to hand over a cheque of 2.7 crore collected as flood relief from ISRO employees. During the meeting, the CM put forth a proposal for setting up a space technology park in Thiruvananthapura.We are now studying their proposal."He said the "museums that will come up across the country will put on display satellites, rockets and models of various space assets," Sivan told ToI.

The space agency currently has around 20 space centres across the country that specialise in different areas of space technologies.

ISRO had earlier announced that it will launch a TV channel to promote scientific temper among people and conduct training camps for school students. To be named "ISRO TV", the channel will telecast science programmes and highlight the benefits of the space agency's missions in regional languages as well as English, so that it reaches people across the country.

The space agency will select students and organise training camps for 25 to 30 days, he said, adding during this period the students will be allowed to visit the laboratory and make small satellites.

Besides this, ISRO was planning to set up an incubation centre for startups with ideas in the field of space technology.
Pak constantly looking for another 26/11-like strike, India must remain vigilant: Defence Expert

India

oi-Vikas SV

New Delhi, Nov 26: The 26/11 attack in 2008 on Mumbai is something that left the entire nation shocked. The attack would not only be remembered for the brutality with which India's financial capital was attacked, but also for the lax in security.

India marks the tenth anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks today that left 166 people dead and over 300 people injured. Ten years back, 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks that lasted three days.

India came out stronger and united from the attacks, and the government took major policy changes to strengthen its anti-terror framework.

26/11 attack: Despite a bare it all confession, why Headley is still a mystery

Defence and strategy matters expert Colonel Jaibans Singh told OneIndia that despite the widespread condemnation of Pakistan for allowing its soil for anti-India activities and New Delhi exerting immense diplomatic pressure, Pakistan is looking to export terror to India. He said that it is only because India's security apparatus has been vigilant that Islamabad has not been able to orchestrate another 26/11-like stike.

"There have been lot of discussions and there have been lot of meeitngs... but the confidence building measures have been stagnated for sometime now and Pakistan is not relenting on giving encouragement to the export of terror to India especially to Jammu and Kashmir. For this reason, no meaningful dialogue can be held with the country. Under these circumstances India continues to fight against Pakistan sponsored terrorism and India needs to remain ever vigilant for any such misadventure in the future also," Col. Singh told OneIndia when asked if there has been any sort of change in Pakistan's stand.

Be it sending terrorists across LoC or supporting the insurgency in sensitive areas, Pakistan is hell-bent to bleed India with a thousand cuts. How could 26/11 have happened and can it happen again, is a question that poses itself often as we stand at the tenth anniversary of the attack. First, even if desiring such a mission was high on the wish-list of known Jehadi groups, the planning and execution were clearly beyond their capabilities; certainly, the Pakistan military or intelligence agencies had to be involved.

"Even though there has been no strike like (26/11) ... I mean the strikes at Pathankot and Uri are equivalent to what had happened in 26/11 and the intension was the same . The only reason why Pakitsan has not been able to carry out a big strike is not for want of will to do so but it is for the want of means to do so becausue the appratus over here is very vigilant. It needs to remain vigilant in the future also," the defence expert added.

26/11: Cops were afraid, let Kasab and accomplice flee from railway station

When asked if after pressure being built from the Indian side, has there has been any change in the attitude from Pakistan, the army veteran firmy said, " No".

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai through the sea, arriving by boat from Karachi, and went on the rampage, carrying out coordinated attacks on the main Chattrapati Shivaji railway terminus, the iconic Taj Mahal hotel, the Trident hotel, and a Jewish centre - all in the heart of the financial capital's downtown area. Over 166 people including 28 foreigners from 10 nations were killed in the nearly 60-hour assault that sent shock-waves across the country and even brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.
Political parties in India trying to score brownie points on Kartarpur Saheb Corridor

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Nov 26: There are many religious places in India and Pakistan where faithful from both the sides of the border want to visit but Kartarpur Saheb has been an important place for Sikhs and proposed corridor will reduce the distance from around 120 kilometres from Lahore to just three kilometres from Dera Baba Nanak Saheb in Gurudaspur district of Indian side of Punjab.

There has been a treaty between the two countries to visit the shrines of both the countries to see if they are properly managed.

Sidhu's decision to visit Pakistan his 'way of thinking', says CM Amarinder

Interestingly if Prime Minister Narendra Modi has equated the decision with falling of Berlin wall then Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has given all credit to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. But BJP MP Subramanian Swamy is not only wary of the decision but opposed to this and requested the PM to stop Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur and Hardeep Puri visiting Pakistan for a groundbreaking ceremony. A section is apprehensive that Pakistan can use this opportunity to radicalise Sikhs.

Kartarpur corridor event: Will not tolerate conspiracies by Pak Army chief, says Amarinder Singh

But the Indian government is playing very cautiously in the election year as it does not want to hurt the sentiment of anyone. So minister of external affairs of India Sushma Swaraj politely turned down the offer made by Pakistan's foreign ministry Shah Mahmood Qureshi but deputed two of her colleagues to represent India. Swaraj is apparently not going to Pakistan for the simple reason that cross border terrorism is continuing and Pakistan is now trying to revive terrorism in Punjab as well. This was the reason that Punjab chief minister Capt Amrinder Singh too refused the offer.

Swamy is of the view that proper checks like advance applications and then verifying antecedents need to be done and also wants a complete ban on people from Pakistan in the corridor. For him, Kartarpur passage is dangerous as just a passport is not enough to check. This is to recall that last week Pakistan agreed to open the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikhs on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. The decision came after New Delhi requested Islamabad to construct a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib for Sikh pilgrims to the shrine.

Pakistan has conveyed its decision to India about the opening of the corridor. Imran Khan will perform ground breaking ceremony on November 28, 2018. India also announced building and development of the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to the international border to facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur.

Kartarpur Sahib is believed to be the first Gurudwara established by the Sikh Guru in 1522 which is situated at the banks of Ravi river in Pakistan nearly three kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. Actually, Pakistan agreed to allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the shrine visa-free in the year 2000 by constructing a bridge from the Indian side of the border to the shrine.

Sidhu on his return from Pakistan in August 2018 after attending swearing in of Imran Khan said that Pakistan Army Chief told him that the Pakistan government would open the Kartarpur Corridor on Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary. Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev had spent more than 18 years of his life there. Sidhu responded to Qureshi accepting his invitation for the ceremony but political slugfest will continue for some more time.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 19:28 [IST]
No one will be able to destroy Congress, leaders joining TMC 'drama', says Venugopal

Rajasthan Election: India will neither forget 26/11, nor the perpetrators, says Modi in Bhilwara

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bhilwara, Nov 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally at Bhilwara in Rajasthan. said that India will never forget 26/11 attack, and neither forget the perpetrators.

While Addressing a rally in Bhilwara, Modi said,''The whole world was shaken, and Congress back then was giving lessons in patriotism. When the Army carried out surgical strike the country felt proud but the Congress raised questions on it, demanded video proof.''

''India will never forget 26/11 attack, and neither forget the perpetrators. Justice will surely be done, I want to assure the country.''

Rajasthan Elections: Rahul Gandhi visits Ajmer dargah, offers prayers

''Did you ever hear that I took a holiday? Did you ever hear I went somewhere for leisure or was missing for a week? I give an account of each and every decision I take and the work that I do,'' PM said.

He said,''Remember the days when there were bomb blasts every other day in the country. We fought such a war against terrorism that the terrorists are afraid to look out of Kashmir. ''

''Congress promotes casteism. They ask what is Modi's caste! When the Prime Minister of the country goes abroad, people can only see one caste- 125 crore Indians,'' Modi said.

Rajasthan polls: State cops use Karan Arjun film dialogue to encourage voters

The Prime Minister said,''Before our arrival in 2014, toilet facility in the village was not even 40 percent and in 4 years Modi made it 40 per cent to 95 per cent. This is called work, 40 per cent in 65 years and 95 per cent in 4 years.''
Pakistan to allow India to send wheat to Afghanistan through its territory: PM Imran Khan

Sidhu's decision to visit Pakistan his 'way of thinking', says CM Amarinder

India

pti-PTI

Gurdaspur (Pb), Nov 26: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said Monday his minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's decision to visit Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor was "his way of thinking" but he could not think of doing that when Indian soldiers and civilians were being killed by them.

Sidhu, a cabinet minister in Punjab, on Sunday accepted Pakistan's invitation to attend the ceremony on Wednesday, while Singh declined the invite, citing continuous terrorist attacks in his state.

As a man who has served the Indian Army, Singh said, he could not tolerate the killing of innocent Indians by Pakistani security forces and hence cannot visit the neighbouring country.

Kartarpur corridor event: Will not tolerate conspiracies by Pak Army chief, says Amarinder Singh

On Sidhu's decision to go to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony there, Singh told reporters after the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Gurdaspur, that it was "his way of thinking".

On the central government's decision to send its ministers to Pakistan for the ceremony, the Punjab chief minister said it was for them to do what they deem fit but, he added, they should have been more sensitive to the feelings of Indian soldiers and citizens.

"The Centre cannot close its eyes to what is happening in India as a result of Pakistan's policy and support to terrorist groups," Singh said.

With Pak upping Khalistan ante, why India's decision on Kartarpur should have been better timed

He said the world knows Pakistan supports terrorist activities in India, and cited as examples the attacks in Pathankot (2016), Mumbai (2008), Dina Nagar in Gurdaspur (2015) and the trouble in Jammu & Kashmir. Singh said he would not travel to Pakistan until it stops unleashing the cycle of violence in India.

"If you think (Pakistan Prime Minister) Imran Khan can stop it, that won't happen. Governments work under the army in Pakistan. Army is a power in itself. It is for Pakistan Army chief Gen Bajwa to understand that such things should not happen (again)... Armies don't fight innocent women and children, armies don't throw grenades on religious congregation, armies are there to defend the country," he said.

In August, Sidhu's visit to Pakistan for Khan's swearing-in had come under fire from opposition parties for his hug to Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Sidhu had claimed that Gen Bajwa had told him about "making efforts to open the Kartarpur corridor".

Kartarpur is in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent over 18 years of his life here. The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.

PTI
Top brass of Sangh Pariwar pitch for construction of Ram Temple from different places

India

oi-Vinod Kumar Shukla

New Delhi, Nov 26: It is not only the sages and saints have been part of the Dharm Sansad organised by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) but Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and joint general secretary Krishna Gopal too participated in these programmes at different places making it clear that they won't relent this time round. Moreover, they threatened that if ordinance rout was forced on them then they will include Kashi and Mathura in it as well.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders said that Dharm Sabhas organised at Ayodhya, Nagpur, Mangluru, Hubli, Guwahati and Shahjahapur unanimously appealed to the government that hurdle for the construction of Ram Temple must be removed as soon as possible. President of Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, RSS joint general secretary Krishna Gopal and VHP vice president Champat Rai in Ayodhya demanded that anything except Ram Temple in Ayodhya wouldn't be accepted.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat pushes for legislation on Ram temple

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwar joined the rally convened by the VHP in Nagpur demanding making law in Parliament for the construction of Ram Temple. International president of the VHP Alok Kumar said that there is no problem in making law for the construction of the Ram Temple despite the matter being in the court. He said that misinformation is being spread that law cannot be made. In a democracy, Parliament has unlimited for welfare of the people of the country. Sadhvi Ritambhara, who has long been associated with temple movement, said that the role of court in this regard has not been appreciative.

Hindu religious leader gathered at Bade Bhaktmal ki Bagia in Ayodhya and warned the Muslim community that if matter goes for ordinance, it will not just be for the Ram Temple but Krishna Janmabhoomi of Mathura and Lord Shiv Temple of Kashi (Varanasi) will also be included in it besides many others. Ram Bhadracharya of Chitrakoot claimed that a senior minister in the Modi government assured that way out for Ram Temple will be sought once model code of conduct for election in five states are over. The PM himself will preside over the meeting.

The VHP movement has gone a notch further demanding Muslims to hand over the land for temple their own. Even Allah (god) will not accept their prayer from the disputed land requesting the government that if judiciary is lingering on the matter it is legislative responsibility to facilitate it.

If Balasaheb was alive, Uddhav would be halted: BJP questions Sena's role in Ayodhya

RSS chief expressed his displeasure over court's delay in deciding the matter, saying 'justice delayed is justice denied'. "If the apex court, either due to lack of time or due to its inability to understand the sentiments of the public, is failing to give priority to the case, it is up to the government to quickly bring a law for the construction of the temple," he said.

Bhagwat had first recommended a pro-temple law during his Vijaya Dashami speech in Nagpur on October 18 this year. Leaders of various parivar outfits, even Union ministers from the Bharatiya Janata Party, immediately joined the RSS chief, raising the pitch further after the apex court in end-October dashed all hope of an early verdict saying the case wasn't a priority. Hubli meeting was addressed by Swami Akhileshwaranand Giri and Vasavlinga Swami while Mangaluru meeting was addressed by Virendra Hegde and coordination of Bajrang Dal Sohan Singh Solanki.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 10:16 [IST]
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Why Lashkar trained Ajmal Kasab as a fisherman first

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Nov 26: Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) gave "sea training" to 26/11 terror attack convict Ajmal Kasab in the high seas of "Karachi", revealed a new book "Fragile Frontiers: The Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks".

The sea training, as per the book written by historian Saroj Kumar Rath, also included "how to fish", something that made Kasab think that "he had got a job and he could earn a respectable living".

26/11: Cops were afraid, let Kasab and accomplice flee from railway station

"He (Kasab) was not informed by the LeT why he was being prepared as a mariner and as a fishermen," quoted the book from what Kasab told during his interrogation.

According to the book, fearing a leak, the sea route assault plan was kept secret by the top LeT commanders -- Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, Abu Hamza and others -- until November 2008.

It also said that before the D-day, the LeT tried to send attackers to Mumbai twice, but "failed on both occasions".

"In September 2008, the boat carrying terrorists hit a rock in the sea and the attackers almost drowned before their handlers rescued them. The other failed attempt was on 7 November 2008, when an alarmed captain of an Indian boat refused to surrender to the LeT and fled," it added.

26/11 mumbai attacks: The night India will never forget

The book, in one of its essay titled 'Ajmal Kasab: The LeT side of the story', recorded that the 2-year training of the recruits for the 26/11 attacks was a "joint responsibility of the LeT and the ISI".

"Each terrorist had to undergo a series of training and indoctrination sessions organized by the LeT. All the 10 terrorists recruited for the Mumbai attacks had received four stages of training and after that, received sea training as well," read the book.

As part of the sea training the recruits were taught how to read maps, how to measure the depth of the sea, how to use GPS for the sea route, how to use the nets of fishermen and how to operate a ship.

"They were also trained on how to use a fisherman's net just to mislead the Indian navy personnel in case of an enquiry."

Also, other than the sea training, the four stage training received by the ten terrorists under the LeT command was: Daura-e-Sufa (20 Days' Preliminary Training), Daura-e-Ama (21 Days' Combat Course), Daura-e-Khaas (75 Days' Advanced Combat Course), Daura-e-Ribat (30 Days' Training on Intelligence Agencies).

"Kasab received (Daura-e-Khaas) training during May-July 2008. Skills like how to open and close Kalashnikovs, firing of a gun... and how to survive 60 hours without food and still climb a mountain with a heavy load were taught.

26/11: With no last wish, Kasab struggled as he was hanged

"The Mumbai attacks continued for 62 hours and crossing the LoC in Kashmir would take 60 hours as well," it said.

Besides delving into the interrogation and confession report of Kasab, the book, also tried to answer significant questions like "Why do young boys like Kasab become terrorists in Pakistan? What is the root cause of terrorism? Or what motivates them to follow a violent lifestyle?".

Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was hanged at Yerawada jail in Pune on November 21, 2012 after the then-president Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition.

Published by Routledge India, "Fragile Frontiers: The Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks", priced at Rs 995, other than offering a lucid and graphic account of the ill-fated day also traces the changing dynamics of terror in South Asia.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 14:13 [IST]
With Pak upping Khalistan ante, why Indias decision on Kartarpur should have been better timed

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Nov 26: Last week the Union Cabinet approved the developing of a visa free corridor from Dera Baba Nanak village in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to the Indian side of the international border.

Arun Jaitley said that the Government of India will develop a Kartarpur Corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur, Punjab to the international border to facilitate pilgrims from India to visit the holy Gurudwara Darbaar Sahib Kartarpur on the banks of Rabi river in Pakistan where Guru Nanak Devji spent 18 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared the development to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Kartarpur corridor will provide smooth and easy passage to pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib throughout the year. Government of Pakistan will be urged to reciprocate and develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory, Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh said.

While this is a very welcome development, the question is with regard to the timing. It has clearly sent out very mixed signals, where relations with Pakistan is concerned. The decision was made just a couple of days after the attack at Amritsar, in which three persons died. The Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh pointed a finger directly at Pakistan, while blaming the ISI sponsored groups for the attack.

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh declines Pakistan invite for Kartarpur Corridor

The decision may be significant politically. The demand for a visa free Kartarpur Sahib corridor is not a new one. It was mooted first during Atal Bihari Vajpayee's bus ride to Lahore in 1999.

This is a very sensitive issue among the Sikh community. In this context if one were to look at it, then the decision can be termed as a politically significant one.

However the decision comes in the backdrop of very strong indications that Pakistan is trying to re-open the Khalistan issue in a big way. Moreover the borders have not been quiet either and Pakistan has resorted to unprovoked firing several times in the past couple of weeks.

The decision on Kartarpur also came on a day, when the Ministry for External Affairs issued a strong statement against Pakistan accusing the country of harassing Indian diplomats. The statement came in the wake of Pakistan denying Indian diplomats consular access to Indian Sikh pilgrims who are visiting holy shrines in Pakistan.

Venkaiah Naidu to lay foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor up to Pakistan border in Punjab today

The release also expressed concern at Pakistan provoking Khalistan separatism and termed this as an attempt to incite communal disharmony.

Now adding salt to the injury is the date that has been fixed to lay the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak on November 26 ie today.

Incidentally today happens to be the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai 26/11 attack that was planned, plotted and launched from Pakistan. Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu and Captain Singh will be laying the foundation stone today.

Sushma Swaraj has health issues, India committed to Kartarpur corridor, says VK Singh

Experts believe that the decision on Kartarpur is a good one. It may help in the long run where ties are concerned. It may also help keep the International Border quiet. However these are ifs and buts and knowing Pakistan's track record, the country has never known how to honour peace. To sum it, the decision overall looks good, but the timing could have been better.
US and India to join hands to further alienate Pakistan for supporting terrorism

No Lashkar in Afghanistan, no Al-Qaeda in India: The result was Mumbai 26/11

26/11 Mumbai attack: US says it stands with India, remains resolute in fight against terrorism

26/11: US offers $5 million reward for info on 'Barbaric' plotters, asks Pakistan to sanction LeT

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Washington, Nov 26: On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack on Monday, the US state department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program hason Sunday offered up to $5 million for information about the attackers who unleashed terror in India's largest city 10 years ago in a horrifying siege that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

"It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement," Pompeo said in a statement.

26/11: Ten years on, India better prepared, more organised says Navy chief

On behalf of the government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack," he said.

"We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world," he added.

India blamed the attack on the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, throwing relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors into a tailspin. Indian officials accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of working with the militant group to mastermind the attack - an allegation Islamabad denied.

As many as 166 people were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. While nine of the attackers were killed by the police, lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was handed down a death sentence.
After almost 60 years of crafting, and more than 30 years of operating booths at events such as the annual Festival of Arts and Crafts in Grayslake, Wainio of Lake in the Hills said she knows just how to arrange her booth to attract dozens of customers.
In our better interest: Taliban on NSA level meet on Afghanistan convened by India

US Congress report says Pakistan playing active and disruptive role in Afghanistan

Pakistan to allow India to send wheat to Afghanistan through its territory: PM Imran Khan

Afghanistan: 20 police personnel killed in Taliban ambush

International

oi-Vikas SV

Kabul, Nov 26: At least 20 police personnel were killed in an ambush by Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan's Jawan district, reports quoted Afghan official as saying on Monday. The ambush is said to have taken place on Sunday in Farah area of Jawan district.

Dadullah Qaneh, a member of the provincial council in Farah, said four policemen, including the deputy provincial police chief, were wounded in the attack on Sunday afternoon near Lash wa Juwayn district. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

India to be in talks with Taliban at non-official level for the first time

On Friday, a massive blast at a Mosque in Afghanistan's Mandozai district on Friday left at least 27 dead.

On October 29, an explosion was reported in PD9, in Pul-e-Charkhi area, close to the Independent Election Commission's offices.

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Story first published: Monday, November 26, 2018, 15:17 [IST]
The heavy, wet snow has caused power outages in many different areas, causing the traffic signals to go into battery backup operation, Legare said Monday morning. Eventually, the signals will go into four-way flash while still running on (battery). Ultimately, the signals will go dark if the batteries are fully drained, if power is not restored before then.
I want to comment on Man wont have to repay expenses. Youre talking about a school district where you have some of the highest property taxes in the area for the property that people have, and some of the lowest quality students in the area at the cost of all these teachers and administrators. You have an administrator who came from the Chicago Public Schools system and there are always controversies. This event is just the tip of the iceberg. These are the things that come out once in a while, and then are embedded in the system for however many years. Its not to say you cant go to a conference, but these types of things, how valuable are they really? And then you look at the cost of these things. How do they budget? Who actually pays for these  well the taxpayers pay them  and how do they allocate the funds? Then people like deciding not to take the full-effect at taxpayer expense, going out to a particular conference. Not to mention who knows what other expenses they may have written off while they were in Las Vegas, for a school conference, for a small school in Waukegan. There are plenty of conferences locally here in the Chicagoland area. I have family members who are teachers and they go to them all the time. Thats my two cents on this.
Charles Selle again criticized (Illinois Comptroller) Susana Mendoza running for Chicago mayor. For someone whos supposedly politically astute, the man simply didnt believe what he knew to be the truth, and he states it in his column. Its nothing more than sour grapes. He doesnt like Mendoza. He wont vote for her. Big deal, Charlie. Just get on with your life. In Talk of the County, theres a little blurb in there on Too much tax in Waukegan. I dont understand. Ive lived in Waukegan for 30-plus years and I havent seen where the taxes are so high. The property values have declined, as have the taxes. So this person, I dont know where they live, but they should just go out into places like Grayslake and Gurnee and see what these people are actually paying in taxes. Waukegan is a great place to live.
The tree lighting is a highlight of the holiday season for us in Lake Forest, said Lake Forest resident Amy Nicole Nayar. Each year we have family come in from out of town for Thanksgiving and the next day we celebrate Christmas together at the tree-lighting. This way we get to celebrate both holidays with extended family members who may not be able to return for Christmas in December.
A: These things happen everywhere, but in the suburbs theyre more pocketed and with a different frequency. I feel lucky to be in a place like Libertyville, where people thank you for showing up and addressing their issue. If you explain everything, people are usually more apt to be at ease. What I tell new officers, if you write someone a ticket or you have to arrest someone because thats what your job entails, if you do it with integrity and treat them with respect and they thank you at the end of it, then youve done a pretty good job. Of course not everyone is going to thank you, but weve got officers who get that response half the time or more.
With that being said, I cannot support the criminalization of anyone possessing or using tobacco products between the ages of 18 and 21, Schultz said. I know for a fact that should (this change) occur, up on every bulletin board at Great Lakes (Naval Base) will be a notice to stay away from Vernon Hills.
Today, near the war's end, he writes he was blooming blue when he truly thought he would never recover from the pneumonia he was fighting and that life seemed an awful proposition. But now, as he's healing, he is tickled by the photograph Florence had sent in a letter that took a month to reach him. He says it's good they never took a picture together since she'd be disgraced if her beauty were juxtaposed next to him.
To find trees in the desert, we often have to go up in the mountains. I grew up in the Midwest, so every once in awhile I get a yearning to ...
Juan Lopez shot ONeal, his former fiancee, in front of the hospital after he confronted her about returning an engagement ring, police said. Less was exiting an elevator inside the hospital when she was struck by a bullet, police said. Lopez died after he was shot once in the stomach by police before shooting himself in the head.
The post, since take down, struck a nerve with the community and all of the parties involved, as the Salvation Army of Porter County has apologized and banned the Hells Angels from volunteering again. The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club NWI, through a spokesman, has gone on the defensive about the clubs charitable efforts and noted that members of different ethnicities sometimes wear heritage based patches.
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Suspension of a senior Papua New Guinea TV journalist Scott Waide for allegedly airing a story considered as negative by the Board of EMTV, Kumul Telikom Holdings and Kumul Consolidated Holdings has been questioned by the media fraternity in PNG and the Pacific region.The Media Council in PNG and the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) in separate statements have described Waide's suspension as politically motivated and an attack on Media freedom.We are calling on the leadership of the PNG government to immediately drop its suspension of a senior public broadcaster, says PFF Chair, Monica Miller.There is no evidence the journalist was engaged in anything other than legitimate news gathering  journalism is not a crime.The Media council in PNG in a collective decision said the job of portraying a positive image of the country rests solely with the government of the day. The media is not responsible for this aspect of a countrys well-being. Its sole responsibility is to the people, and not to government, regardless of whether it owns some, or any media companys shareholding.The media must not bend to the whims of insecure politicians, and spineless yes-men who flaunt their authority, with impunity, and against all moral and ethical judgement.We in the media are in the business of reporting the truth. Journalists should not be looking over their shoulders, every time they work on a sensitive storyThere is no evidence the journalist was engaged in anything other than legitimate news gathering  journalism is not a crime.The Media Council in PNG in a collective decision said the job of portraying a positive image of the country rests solely with the government of the day. The media is not responsible for this aspect of a countrys well-being. Its sole responsibility is to the people, and not to government, regardless of whether it owns some, or any media companys shareholding.The media must not bend to the whims of insecure politicians, and spineless yes-men who flaunt their authority, with impunity, and against all moral and ethical judgement.We in the media are in the business of reporting the truth. Journalists should not be looking over their shoulders, every time they work on a sensitive story.EMTV Management was contacted but they referred Post Courier to the chairman of MNL Board Xavier Victor who didnt respond to text messages.Press Release
The Baltic Region is Coming Up Strong, and MARE BALTICUM is Ready to Shine Brighter

Published November 26, 2018 by Lee R

A new awards show and a new site has positioned MARE BALTICUM to grow fast!

European Gaming Media and Events has proudly announced the opening of registrations to the second edition of MARE BALTICUM at a new location.

New Site

The Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming Summit will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania on the 9th of May, 2019 at Radisson Blu Royal Astorija Hotel.

The new location has been determined as a result of a unique feedback carried out at the conclusion of the inaugural 2018 event in Riga.

Goals This Time Around

The second edition of MARE BALTICUM 2 will extend its brand of bringing together the leading companies in the Baltic and Scandinavian region for a program-packed day of quality learning and networking with local regulators and industry experts.

Speakers

Officials confirmed to speak include Lolita Sumskaite of the Lithuania Ministry of Finance; Signe Birne of the Republic of Latvia Lotteries and Gambling Supervisory Inspection, Estonia Ministry Taivo Pork of the Estonia Ministry of Finance; and Danish Gambling Authority Director Brigitte Sand, with more officials set to be announced by the end of 2018.

Topics

The summit will feature regulatory reports and trending topics about Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark and Sweden as well as provide the latest updates about the Belarusian market.

Two key new topics on the agenda include Safe Gambling and Industry Innovations, with MARE BALTICUM featuring another special IMGL MASTERCLASS to follow up on one of last year's biggest highlights.

Awards Ceremony

In addition, an awards ceremony is being added to BALTICUM for the Baltic and Scandinavian Industry. The Baltic and Scandinavian Gaming BSG Awards will be given to the top companies in their fields by independent judges in a lavish awards ceremony. Stay tuned for more details about nominations, voting and award categories!

Last Year's Testimonials

Rest assured, last year's Riga proceedings left attendees eager for more.



Bet Construct Head of Spring BME Satenik Danielyan positively gushed about the ambience, saying

"the moderators were very highly qualified and engaging people, very supportive!"

SBTech Account Director Marjan Branko called Riga "nice and productive event. Keep up the good job, guys!"

And Estonia Ministry of Finance Taivo Pork ebulliently proclaimed himself "looking forward to the next one! I will be back next year as well!"

Outlook

With so much fresh energy and ideas, the second edition of MARE BALTICUM will illustrate the status of the rapid development in another emerging region.
I always hear people in Quickly commenting that deniers can't figure out the difference between climate and weather. So is the difference between climate and weather called a (denier) and youre stupid if you think climate is weather? Or will we change the climate/weather by raising taxes and riding in a battery-operated car for a extra $10,000, where electric is made from coal? And don't forget to pay that carbon tax, youre ruining the planet with that new technology stupid. But I thought I was saving the planet with my electric car? What a great idea, and make sure you don't throw those batteries in the landfill!
Calcium Phosphate Market Trends & Key Players Analysis - The Mosaic Company, Merck Millipore, Innophos, Nutrien, Chemische Fabrik Budenheim, Gadot Biochemical Industries, Ltd., Euro-Chemicals B.V., OCP Group, Inc.

Calcium Phosphate Market

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Rising product demand as dietary supplements in prepared breakfast, enriched flour, noodle products and animal feed will enhance the industry growth. The potential application in meat products and animal feed to prevent metabolic diseases, improves milk production thereby drive the calcium phosphate market share from 2018 to 2024. Calcium Phosphate Market is estimated to surpass USD 850 million by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Request Sample Copy of This Report @Company Profiles1. The Mosaic Company2. Merck Millipore3. Innophos4. Nutrien5. Chemische Fabrik Budenheim6. Gadot Biochemical Industries, Ltd.7. Euro-Chemicals B.V.8. OCP Group, Inc.9. KEMAPCO - Arab Fertlizers and Chemicals Ind.10. American Elements11. Nitta Gelatin NA Inc.12. advance inorganics13. Elixir Prahovo doo Prahovo14. Hindustan Phosphates Pvt Ltd15. Prayon16. RUBEXCO PRIVATE LIMITED17. KemyanFactors such as change in lifestyle, disposable income, robust growth in food and healthcare sector, preference for healthy foods and growing geriatric population will favor the industry demand over the forecast timeline. Advancement in material science as product substitute may hamper the product demand.Browse key industry insights spread across 250 pages with 214 market data tables & 10 figures & charts from the report, Calcium Phosphate Market Size By Product (Monocalcium Phosphate, Di-calcium Phosphate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Calcium Acid Pyrophosphate), By End-Use (Food & Beverages [Bakery, Meat & Seafood, Nutritional Supplements, Dairy], Pharmaceuticals [Excipients, Dental Care, Active Ingredients], Drinking Water Treatment, Animal Feed, Fertilizers), Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Netherlands, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, South Africa, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco), Growth Potential, Price Trend, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018  2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Food & beverage sector holds around 50% of the overall business share in 2017. This can be attributed to increasing consumer awareness regarding calcium intake and benefits pertaining to the development and growth of muscle, enzyme functions, nerves and teeth.Development in biomedical sector such as nanomedicine, healing and preventing calcium deficiencies, lower the risk of colorectal cancer and well-built teeth and bones will enhance the industry growth. Calcium phosphate nanoparticles have gained interest owing to biodegradability and high biocompatibility properties.Monocalcium phosphate market size is expected to witness growth at over 4% up to 2024. This can be credited to changing lifestyle and increasing bakery products consumption. Increasing product usage as leavening agent in conjunction with baking soda to enhance the dough rise and fluffier will drive the industry demand. The other factors such as supplement diet, and canned foods will further support the industry growth.North America calcium phosphate market is expected to hold over 20% of share in 2017. Rising healthy and highly nutritional diet products will positively influence the market growth. The NIH (National Institute of Health), US has defined the calcium intake for every age group to reduce the consequences of osteoporosis has favor the industry demand.Fertilizers are expected to witness notable growth during the forecast period. The increasing need for high quality crop yield will influence the usage of the product. Potential application to enhance cell elongation, strengthen plant cell wall, increase hormonal process, diseases resistance, crop quality and root growth will propel business demand.Asia Pacific calcium phosphate market will witness fastest growth over the forecast period. Increasing healthcare expenditure owing to rise in geriatric population will propel the market demand. Governments focus on producing high quality crops owing to limited land availability will stimulate the product demand.Inquiry before buying @ContinueAbout Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Explore Our Blog @
Wind Electric Power Generation Markets to 2023: Enel SpA, NextEra Energy, Inc., Engie S.A., China Longyuan Power Group Corp. Ltd

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Wind Electric Power Generation: Global Markets to 2023" to its huge collection of research reports."SummaryThe wind electric power generation market growth outlook is stable with significant growth potential for electricity from residential customers. There is mounting pressure to reduce costs, improve power supply and improve efficiency of wind generation. At the same time, factors such as emerging market growth, rapid urbanization and industrialization are contributing to the growth of the market.The wind electric power generation market reached a value of nearly REDACTED in 2018 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of REDACTED to nearly REDACTED by 2023.The market for wind electric power generation is moderately concentrated. Major players in the market are Enel SpA, NextEra Energy, Inc., Engie S.A., China Longyuan Power Group Corp Ltd and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC).To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The residential segment accounted for the largest share of the wind electric power generation market in 2018 at REDACTED. The highest growth is projected to come from the residential segment, which is forecast to grow at a CAGR of REDACTED. Major factors for this growth include rapid increase in population in many countries in Asia and the Middle East and urbanization in emerging markets.Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the wind electric power generation market, accounting for REDACTED of the global market. It was followed by Western Europe and North America. Going forward, the Middle East is expected to witness the fastest growth in the wind electric power generation market, estimated at grow at a CAGR of REDACTED, followed by Asia-Pacific which is expected to grow at a CAGR of REDACTED.The USA was the largest country in terms of value in the wind electric power generation market. China and Brazil are forecast to have the fastest growth, growing at a CAGR of REDACTED and REDACTED, respectively.The market is challenged by restraints such as high investment costs, land scarcity and increasing trade protectionism.""Report Scope:This research report categorizes the wind electric power generation market by type. Product types include residential, commercial, industrial and others.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Report Includes:- 97 tables- Industry analysis of the wind electric power generation and their global markets- Country specific data and analysis for US, Mexico, Canada, France, Germany, UK, China, Japan, India, Brazil, Russia, and Middle East and Africa- Characterization and quantification of the market potential for wind electric power generation by type including residential, commercial, industrial and others- Detailed description of opportunity analysis and current trends, with a focus on technological updates, cohesive government policies and regulatory updates in wind electric power generation market- An overview of the positioning, strategies and market shares of key manufacturers, suppliers, distributers, OEMs and other industry players- Information about key components, including rotor, tower, gearbox, generators and speed control system, and their functionalities and industry application- Company profiles of the leading market players, including Enel SpA, NextEra Energy, Inc., Engie S.A., China Longyuan Power Group Corp. Ltd., and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC)"Make An Enquiry @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @
Internet Services Market to Witness Huge Growth by Key Players: Verizon, China Telecom Global, Vodafone Group, Comcast, AT&T

Internet Services Market

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HTF MI recently introduced Global Internet Services Market study with in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status to 2023. The market Study is segmented by key regions which is accelerating the marketization. At present, the market is developing its presence and some of the key players from the complete study are AT&T, Verizon, China Telecom Global, Vodafone Group, Comcast etc.Request Sample of Global Internet Services Market - Procurement Market Intelligence Report 2017-2021 @:Internet services refer to the services provided by enablers, which gives users access to the internet. They facilitate the transfer of huge amounts of data such as texts, sounds, images, graphics, and software between servers, portals, and devices such as computers, laptops, and mobiles. The broadband options provided by ISPs may differ based on the customer's location and requirements, as well as the capability of the service provider. HTFs procurement specialist forecast the global internet services market to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during the period 2017-2021.This report studies the Global Internet Services market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the Global Internet Services market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.Browse 100+ market data Tables and Figures spread through Pages and in-depth TOC on " Internet Services Market by Type, by End-Users/Application, Organization Size, Industry, and Region - Forecast to 2023". Early buyers will receive 10% customization on comprehensive study.In order to get a deeper view of Market Size, competitive landscape is provided i.e. Revenue (Million USD) by Players (2013-2018), Revenue Market Share (%) by Players (2013-2018) and further a qualitative analysis is made towards market concentration rate, product/service differences, new entrants and the technological trends in future.Enquire for customization in Report @Competitive Analysis:The key players are highly focusing innovation in production technologies to improve efficiency and shelf life. The best long-term growth opportunities for this sector can be captured by ensuring ongoing process improvements and financial flexibility to invest in the optimal strategies. Company profile section of players such as AT&T, Verizon, China Telecom Global, Vodafone Group, Comcast includes its basic information like legal name, website, headquarters, its market position, historical background and top 5 closest competitors by Market capitalization / revenue along with contact information. Each player/ manufacturer revenue figures, growth rate and gross profit margin is provided in easy to understand tabular format for past 5 years and a separate section on recent development like mergers, acquisition or any new product/service launch etc.Market Segments:The Global Internet Services Market has been divided into type, application, and region.On The Basis Of Region, this report is segmented into following key geographies, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share, growth rate of Internet Services in these regions, from 2013 to 2023 (forecast), covering North America (U.S. & Canada) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Analysis (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico & Rest of Latin America) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Europe (The U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden & RoE) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa, North Africa, RoMEA) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Rest of World {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Analysis (%) and Opportunity Analysis}Buy Single User License of Global Internet Services Market - Procurement Market Intelligence Report 2017-2021 @Have a look at some extracts from Table of ContentIntroduction about Global Internet ServicesGlobal Internet Services Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2017Internet Services Market by Application/End UsersGlobal Internet Services Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications(2013-2023) table defined for each application/end-usersGlobal Internet Services Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2023)Internet Services Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and ApplicationInternet Services (Volume, Value and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined.Global Internet Services Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales DataAdditionally Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors list is being provided for each listed manufacturersMarket Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018) table for each product typeInternet Services Manufacturing Cost AnalysisInternet Services Key Raw Materials AnalysisInternet Services Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain AnalysisMarket Forecast (2018-2023)........and more in complete table of ContentsBrowse for Full Report at:Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.About Author:HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA  08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.comConnect with us at
Cummins, Honda Profiled in Generator Sets Market 2024 Report - Kirloskar, Caterpillar, Briggs & Stratton, Generac, Kohler, Ingersoll Rand, Yanmar, Atlas Copco, Manlift Group, John Deere & More

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MarketStudyReport.com Adds New Generator Sets Market 2018  2024 research report providing information and data By Current, By Fuel, By Power Rating, By Application, By End-Use, Industry Analysis, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast spreading across 440 Pages with table and figures in it.Eminent industry participants in generator sets market includes Kirloskar, Caterpillar, Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Generac, Kohler, Cummins, Ingersoll Rand, Yanmar, Atlas Copco, Manlift Group, John Deere, Mitsubishi amongst others.Request a sample of this premium report at:The U.S. generator sets market, in 2017, was valued over USD 4 billion. Ageing electrical infrastructure coupled with worsening grid resiliency to natural disasters will enhance the industry growth. For instance, in 2017, Hurricane Irma knocked out electricity to approximately two-thirds of the power consumers of Florida. Furthermore, the insufficiency of the power grids to sustain rising demand load will further positively influence a wide-scale distribution of these units.Increasing acceptance of power backup equipment to mitigate system interruptions, and loss of in-process data across information centers will enhance the generator sets market growth worldwide. Installation of power backup equipment has become dominant in the data center with the escalating outages cost. For instance, the Delta Airlines data center, in 2016, suffered a loss of more than USD 150 million resulting from outage occurring owing to electrical grid failure.Generator Sets Market is predicted to reach over USD 35 billion by 2024. Inadequate power supply coupled with rising demand for consistent and continuous power will positively influence the generator sets market. The industry landscape is extensively driven owing to growing population and urbanization worldwide. Escalating frequency and intensity of weather-related calamities resulting in continued outages will further propel the product adoption.Europe generator sets market is expected to expand over 6% by 2024. Increasing infrastructural investments coupled with improving commercial & construction activities will offer a stimulus to the industry expansion. In addition, the ongoing growth of IT infrastructure is further enhancing the significant demand across the region. For instance, recently Amazon in Frankfurt constructed a new data center to comply with strict German data protection laws.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Gas generator sets market is set to gain over 9% by 2024. Rising implications for energy safety, concerns over conventional fuel consumption, coupled with increasing focus toward cleaner fuels will sway the business growth. Stringent emission compliances, particularly the EU Stage V limits and the Environment Protection Agency Emissions Standards will play a key role in the industry growth.Table of Content:Chapter 1 Methodology & ScopeChapter 2 Executive SummaryChapter 3 Generator Sets Industry InsightsChapter 4 Generator Sets Market, By CurrentChapter 5 Generator Sets Market, By FuelChapter 6 Generator Sets Market, By Power RatingChapter 7 Generator Sets Market, By ApplicationChapter 8 Generator Sets Market, By End-UseChapter 9 Generator Sets Market, By RegionChapter 10 Company ProfilesMore Details on this report at:Scope of this Report: Mounting digitization trend in conjunction with exponential development in data center infrastructure would also propel market growth. Massive gensets deployment as a backup power source across multifarious industries comprising financial solution organizations, insurance organizations, and information technology establishments would significantly push the generator sets market share in the years forward. Undeniably, the ease these products provide through effective power backup at the time of irksome interruptions like power outages or voltage fluxes would add momentum to generator sets market.Related Reports: -2018 Global Boat Diesel Generator Sets Industry Report - History, Present and FutureThe global market size of Boat Diesel Generator Sets is $XX million in 2017 with XX CAGR from 2013 to 2017, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2023 with a CAGR of XX% from 2018 to 2023.About Us:Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place. Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog:
Global Low Code Development Platform Market | Growing Industry Key Players -AgilePoint, Bizagi Appian Corporation, Caspio, Inc., Mendix, OutSystems, MatsSoft Inc., Salesforce.com, Inc., Microsoft Corporation and Google Inc

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In order to study the various trends and patterns prevailing in the concerned market, Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has included a new report titled Low Code Development Platform Market to its wide online database. This research assessment offers a clear insight about the influential factors that are expected to transform the global market in the near future.Get Report Sample Copy @This report provides an analysis of the Global Low Code Development Platform for the period of 2015 to 2025, wherein the period from 2017 to 2025 comprises the forecast period and 2016 is the base year. Data for 2015 is provided as historical information. The report covers all the major trends and technologies playing a major role in the growth of the low code development platform market over the forecast period. It also highlights various drivers, restraints and opportunities expected to influence the markets growth during the said period. The study provides a holistic perspective on the markets growth in terms of revenue in US$ Mn, across different geographical regions namely North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America.Low-code platforms have the capability to resolve delivery-speed problems more cost effectively, with improved performance and at greater scale, than traditional development methods. Currently, vendors are more focused on aiding organizations of all sizes with an aim to drive business creativity by rapidly transforming ideas into advanced and secure omni channel applications. Low-code development platforms have evolved as a faster way to deploy and build innovative business applications. Cloud based mobile apps will largely be attractive for enterprises, as they would want to reduce the data security issue inherent in BYOD. The growing demand for low code development platforms in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, IT & telecom, government, BFSI and education is expected to reinforce the growth of the low code development platform market over the forecast period.The market overview section of the report showcases the market dynamics and trends such as the drivers, restraints and opportunities that influence the current nature and future status of this market. The report also provides ecosystem analysis and key market indicators for the low code development platform market. The low code development platform market data estimates are the result of our in-depth secondary research, primary interviews and in-house expert panel reviews. These market estimates have been analyzed by taking into account the impact of different political, social, economic, technological and legal factors along with the current market dynamics affecting the market growth.Get Complete Report @Low code development platform market is bifurcated by type and deployment type. By type, the global low code development platform market is categorized into general purpose platform, mobile - first app platform, database app platform, request handling platform, process app platform and others. Among these, mobile - first app platform and general purpose platform are the major segments which are expected to fuel the growth of low code development platform market over the forecast period. Based on deployment type, the market is segmented into on-premise and cloud-based. Furthermore, the cloud-based deployment segment is further categorized into public, private and hybrid. Among these deployment type, hybrid cloud is the key segment which is expected to enhance the growth of low code development platform market around the globe.The report also includes competitive profiling of the key players associated with the low code development platform around the globe. The important business strategies adopted by them, their market positioning, financials, SWOT analysis and recent developments have also been identified in the research report. The competitive landscape section of the report also gives an overview about the major contributing regions/countries by these key players in order to strengthen their market position in the future.Some of the major players in global low code development platform market are AgilePoint, Bizagi Appian Corporation, Caspio, Inc., Mendix, OutSystems, MatsSoft Inc., Salesforce.com, Inc., Microsoft Corporation and Google Inc. Details such as financials, business strategies, SWOT analysis, recent developments, and other such strategic information pertaining to these players has been duly provided as part of company profiling.Market Segmentation:Low Code Development Platform Market, by DeploymentCloudPrivatePublicHybridOn-premiseLow Code Development Platform Market, by TypeGeneral Purpose PlatformDatabase App PlatformMobile - First App PlatformProcess App PlatformRequest Handling PlatformOthersIn addition, the report provides analysis of the Low Code Development Platform Market with respect to the following geographic segments:North AmericaThe U.S.CanadaRest of North AmericaEuropeThe U.K.GermanyFranceRest of EuropeAsia Pacific (APAC)IndiaChinaJapanAustraliaRest of APACMiddle East and Africa (MEA)GCC CountriesSouth AfricaRest of MEASouth AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaEnquire now @About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Information Technology Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY  12207(United State)United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559(Toll-Free)Email: sales@mrrse.com
Telecom Market 2018: Overview by key players: Verizon, China Mobile, NTT, Deutsche Telekom, China Telecom, Telefonica, Softbank, Vodafone, Orange, AT&T

Telecom

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This report studies the global Telecom market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the global Telecom market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.Telecommunications, or telecommunications (English: Telecommunication), is a way of communication using electromagnetic equipment to transmit information by wire, radio or light. Telecommunications originated in cable telegram and cable telephone invented in nineteenth Century. The invention of radio in twentieth Century and the emergence and development of electronic tubes, transistors and integrated circuits brought telecommunications to a new period of development. The applications of wireless telegraphy, broadcasting, television, satellite communications, data communications, fiber communication, and the Internet, etc. Profound changes have taken place in the human society.The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Rest of World. Annual estimates and forecasts are provided for the period 2018 through 2025. Also, a five-year historic analysis is provided for these markets. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research.Request a sample of this report @This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Telecom in US$ by the following Product Segments: RF-Based, NB-IoT, LPWAN Company profiles are primarily based on public domain information including company Verizon China Mobile NTT Deutsche Telekom China Telecom Telefonica Softbank Vodafone Orange AT&TIn 2017, the global Telecom market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during 2018-2025.This report focuses on the global top players, covered AT&T Verizon China Mobile NTT Deutsche Telekom China Telecom Telefonica Softbank Vodafone OrangeBrowse the complete report @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia IndiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split into RF-Based NB-IoT LPWAN Market segment by Application, split into Industrial Production Transportation OthersThe study objectives of this report are: To study and forecast the market size of Telecom in global market. To analyze the global key players, SWOT analysis, value and global market share for top players. To define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use and region. To analyze and compare the market status and forecast between China and major regions, namely, United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Rest of World. To analyze the global key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks. To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth. To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments. To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the market To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Telecom are as follows: History Year: 2013-2017 Base Year: 2017 Estimated Year: 2018 Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered. Key Stakeholders Telecom Manufacturers Telecom Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers Telecom Subcomponent Manufacturers Industry Association Downstream Vendors Available CustomizationsWith the given market data, QYResearch offers customizations according to the company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report: Regional and country-level analysis of the Telecom market, by end-use. Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.Place a purchase order of this report @About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Information:Hector CostelloSenior Manager  Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,
Urology Devices Market Is Expected to Generate Huge Acquisition |Major Vendors - KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG, Olympus Corporation, Medtronic, Boston Scientific Corporation

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Market Research Future has declared the expansion of the "Worldwide Urology Devices Market Research Report which gives industry Size, Shares and Forecasts till 2023.The Global Urology Devices Market is growing pervasively, mainly due to the increasing prevalence of disorders associated with the urinary tract system (UTS) and reproductive organs in men. Increasing occurrences of UTS disorders in women especially alongside the growing incidence of prostate cancer cases are escalating the market growth on the global platform.Global Urology Devices Market - OverviewAcknowledging the traction, this market is vibrating with currently; Market Research Future (MRFR) in its recently published study report giving asserts that the global urology devices market gaining further prominence will register a spectacular growth by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.1 % during the review period (2017  2023).GET FREE SAMPLE REPORT @Additional factors substantiating the market growth include the developments of in advance healthcare devices and an increasing number of patients with kidney diseases. Simultaneously, the well-spread awareness about the availability and benefits of these devices such as reduced treatment and recovery time among renal disease patients, are fostering the market growth, fueling the demand for these devices. Innovation in urology devices alongside the increasing per capita health care expenditures is supplementing the growth of this market to an extent.On the other hand, factors such as the high cost of urology devices are expected to impede the market growth. Nevertheless, the emergence of many new processes such as Israeli firm Lumenis technologys new stone-striking method  Moses method is providing impetus to the market growth, proving as game changers for urologists.Global Urology Devices Market  SegmentsMRFR has segmented its analysis into six key dynamics for enhanced understanding.By Types-Dialysis Equipment, Urinary Stone Treatment Devices (ureteral stents, lithotripsy, and others.), Endoscopy Devices, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment Devices (prostatic stents, catheter ablation, and others.), Urinary Incontinence & Pelvic Organ Prolapsed (sacral neuromodulator, urethral inserts & pessaries, vaginal meshes & slings, and others.) among others.By Technologies-Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotic Surgery among others.By Applications -Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Prostate Cancer, Urinary Stones, and Urinary Incontinence among others.By End-Users -Hospitals, and Ambulatory Services among others.By Dialysis Equipment-Peritoneal Dialysis, and Haemodialysis among others.By Regions-Europe, North America, APAC and Rest-of-the-World.Global Urology Devices Market  Regional AnalysisThe North American region is projected to continue with its dominance over the global urology devices market with the largest market share. Heading with the increasing prevalence of prostate cancer, kidney stones, and traumatic injury, among others, the region is estimated to create a significant revenue pocket during the review period (2017-2023).Factors such as the development of new urological devices alongside huge per capita health care expenses are acting as a major driving force contributing to the market growth in the region.The European region is another lucrative market for urology devices. Increasing focus on the development of new devices alongside rising government support for R&D activities is contributing to the market growth. Also, the increasing numbers of specialty services offered by various healthcare providers foster the growth of the market in Europe.The Asia Pacific region is rapidly emerging as a promising market for urology devices, growing rapidly. Increasing incidents of prostate cancer, kidney stones, and traumatic injuries are fueling market growth.Large unmet needs with huge patient pool, ever-increasing population, and improving economic conditions are presaging at the opportunities for the market growth over the forecast period.Global Urology Devices Market - Competitive AnalysisThe highly competitive market of urology devices appears to be diversified with the presence of a large number of players having a global presence. These players are heavily investing in R&D to develop advanced technologies and are adopting strategic initiatives such as expansion, and product Launch to gain the competitive edge and to sustain in the market.They compete against each other based on the devices quality, reliability, and cost. Marketers are tapping the growing markets for expansions.BROWSE COMPLETE 105 PAGES PREMIUM RESEARCH REPORT ENABLED WITH 40+ RESPECTIVE TABLES AND FIGURES @Manufacturers of urology devices create unique solutions to solve the needs and challenges of their customers, working with physicians, nurses and technicians around the world which further helps them to identify unaddressed needs. Hence, the innovations and technologies that they deliver help clinicians to provide the best treatment possible to the patients.Global Urology Devices Market - Key PlayersSome of the eminent leaders of the market include Olympus Corporation (Japan), Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Medtronic (US), C. R. Bard, Inc. (US), Boston Scientific Corporation (US), Cook (US), Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), Stryker (US), Dornier MedTech (Germany), NIKKISO CO. LTD (Japan), and HealthTronics, Inc (US).Global Urology Devices Market - Innovation NewsSeptember 21, 2018  Boston Scientific Corporation (US), a leading global medical devices manufacturer announced the launch of its kidney stone retrieval device namely LithoVue Empower Device. This device allows a single urologist to operate both a ureteroscope and a basket simultaneously during the procedure, performed via flexible ureteroscopy.Turning the two-person procedure into a single-person procedure, providing the surgeon with greater control and minimizing the risks of miscommunication. The LithoVue Empower Device ultimately introduces a novel efficiency into ureteroscopic stone surgery, making it simpler for the urologist to pick & move a stone which is otherwise a tedious procedure.Major Points form Table of ContentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market IntroductionChapter 3. Research MethodologyChapter 4. Market DynamicsChapter 5. Market Factor AnalysisChapter 6. Global Urology Devices Market, By TypeChapter 7. Global Urology Devices Market, By TreatmentChapter 8 Global Urology Devices Market, By End UserChapter 9. Global Urology Devices Market, By RegionChapter 10. Company LandscapeChapter 11. Company ProfilesChapter 12. MRFR ConclusionChapter 13. AppendixAbout 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.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312
UTI Drugs Market Is Expected to Generate Huge Acquisition |Major Vendors - Bayer AG, Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, AstraZeneca, Cipla Inc.

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This Market report Global UTI Drugs Market Research Report 2018provides detailed insight covering all important parameters including Development Trends, Challenges, Opportunities, Key Manufacturers and Competitive Analysis.UTI Drugs Market -HighlightsUTI drugs are used for the treatment of urinary tract infection caused by bacterial or fungal infections. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 50 % of women have UTI at some point in their lives resulting in more than $1 million hospitalizations per year.WHO estimates the cost of UTI infections to be annually greater than $1 billion? It has further been stated that chances of boys being diagnosed with UTI is 1% while chances of girls being diagnosed with UTI is 3 to 8%.GET FREE SAMPLE REPORT @On the other hand market constraints includes excellent efficacy of present antibiotics specially quinolones, growing drug resistance, unmet clinical needs, increasing incidence of chronic diseases etc. However, the rise of drug resistance has created the need for novel acting antibiotic.The future of UTI treatment seems to be development of biologics with greater market development especially with respect to poorly growing African market. The loss of patents, weakening developed pipelines and poor expenditure on health in African region had further constrained the market growth.UTI Drugs Market -Key PlayersBayer AGNovartis AGPfizer Inc.F. Hoffmann-La Roche LtdAstraZenecaCipla Inc.Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd.UTI Drugs Market -SegmentationThe Middle East and Africa UTI drugs market has been segmented into drug class which includes quinolones, aminoglycosides, -lactam, azoles and others. Among all these drug classes quinolones have the largest market value due to their broad variety and excellent efficacy. The share of aminoglycosides have been reduced by a small margin as this drug is resistance.Thus the current trend in UTI treatment is combined drug regimen. The market threat includes a form of substandard, counterfeit and spurious drugs have emerged. However it has to be noted that a huge unmet need exists for these drugs in the Middle East and African region.OBTAIN REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @UTI Drugs Market -Regional AnalysisDepending on geographic region, UTI drugs market is segmented into following countries: UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman; UAE is the largest market followed by Egypt. However the future market will be led by poorly developed parts of Africa due to large unmet needs.Major Points form TOC for UTI Drugs Market Research Report  Forecast to 2023Chapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market IntroductionChapter 3. Research MethodologyChapter 4. Market DynamicsChapter 5. Market Factor AnalysisChapter 6. Global UTI Drugs Market, By TypeChapter 7. Global UTI Drugs Market, By TreatmentChapter 8 Global UTI Drugs Market, By End UserChapter 9. Global UTI Drugs Market, By RegionChapter 10 Company LandscapeChapter 11 Company ProfilesChapter 12 MRFR ConclusionChapter 13 AppendixAbout 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.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312
Obesity Management Market Is Expected to Generate Huge Acquisition |Major Vendors - Pfizer Inc., Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Etc.

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Market Research Future has recently declared the expansion of a new research study to its thorough collection of research reports Worldwide Obesity Management Market Research Report 2018.Obesity management Market is experiencing moderate growth. Market Research Future (MRFR) has published a research report about the global obesity management market that envisions remarkable increase for this market with 8.4% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) during the forecast period between 2015 and 2022. In terms of cash, the market is expected to be worth the US $ 6.2 bn.Obesity management Market - Key AcquisitionsApollo Endosurgery (USA)AstraZeneca (UK)Ethicon, Inc. (USA)F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland)GlaxoSmithKline PLC (UK)Herbalife Ltd. (USA)Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.,A subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (USA)Pfizer Inc. (USA)GET FREE SAMPLE REPORT @Obesity Management Market - Growth and AnalysisThe key factors driving the market include easily accessible takeaway meals, growing awareness of weight management techniques, growing initiatives by the market players in collaboration, growing initiatives by government to raise awareness about the adverse impact of obesity on health, growth in nuclear families, growing patient population, increasing demand for inexpensive fast food, research and development (R & D) activities, and rising working population.However, the availability of low-cost alternatives, the high cost of customization, and post-surgical side effects are the major restraining factors affecting the market growth.Obesity Management Market - SegmentThe global obesity management market has been segmented on the basis of lifestyle changes, prescription weight-loss medication, surgery, and lastly region. Based on lifestyle changes, this market has been segmented into dietary changes, exercise, and others.Prescription weight-loss medication based segmentation segments the market into buproprion & naltrexone (Contrave), lorcaserin (Belviq), orlistat (Xenical), phentermine & topiramate (Qsymia), liraglutide (Saxenda), and others.On the basis of surgery, the market has been segmented into biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), and others.Obesity Management Market  Regional AnalysisThe regional segmentation of the global obesity management market segments the market into continent-based regional markets namely The Americas (North America & South America), Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (RoW).The Americas segment is the biggest regional market although North America alone can be the largest market for Obesity management. Many popular junk food brands whose trademark burgers and pizzas sell like hot cakes are based in this region, with the high purchasing power of people making consume more junk food.Europe is the second largest regional market for obesity management. Due to the reasons same as the Americas, Western Europe is a bigger market than Eastern Europe. In Western Europe, the biggest markets are France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom (UK).The Asia Pacific market is the third largest market. Due to the high population in China and India, junk food brands have a huge market here. So obesity management always has a huge demand in these countries. Other important country-specific markets in the Asia Pacific are Japan and South Korea, followed by the rest of the Asia Pacific region.BROWSE COMPLETE 75 PAGES PREMIUM RESEARCH REPORT ENABLED WITH RESPECTIVE TABLES AND FIGURES @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.Office No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312
Community Playfield provides more cost effective underground storage because there is greater space for construction activities and there is less excavation required because the existing ground we are digging up is not as high, said Darren Olson, a senior project manager with Christopher B. Burke Engineering, the firm retained by the village to determine the best path forward to ease flooding problems.
Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market Comprehensive Analysis On Top Key Companys : GSK, Roche, AstraZeneca, Array BioPharma Inc., Agennix, Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Celgene,

Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market

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Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market Report highlights key market dynamics of sector. Various definitions and classification of the industry, applications of the industry and chain structure are given. The readers will find this report very helpful in understanding the Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market in depth. The current market scenario and future prospects of the sector also have been studied. It also presents the company profile, product specifications, production value, Contact Information of manufacturer and market shares for company. The report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market.For In-Depth Review | Get Sample Copy@Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market is expected to growing at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2014 & 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Market Key Developments:In April 2018:- AstraZeneca announced that US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tagrisso for the 1st-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, (exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations), as detected by an FDA-approved test. The approval is based on results from the Phase III FLAURA trial, which were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology 2017 Congress.Market key Players: Roche, AstraZeneca Plc, Agennix AG, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Hoffman-La Roche, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Pfizer Inc., Sanofi-Aventis, Celgene Corporation, Sanofi, Merck & Co., Inc among others.Competitive Analysis:The global lung cancer therapeutics market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of lung cancer therapeutics market for global, Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and South America.Global Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market Enlightenment : The new perspective is canvassed in this Lung Cancer Therapeutics study that is incorporated patterns investigation, speculation plausibility, venture return, proposals for development, SWOT examinations and opportunity analysis of the contender; It gives briefs introduction of Lung Cancer Therapeutics publicize business survey, essential components, and benefits. The examination revelations said in the Market report ups stream and down-stream analysis to measure accomplishment in global Lung Cancer Therapeutics industry and augmentation to take choices in future; The particular study quality several highlights, of the market. It executes the steady and through and through analysis remembering the real objective to extract worldwide certainties and highlights of global Lung Cancer Therapeutics market. It looks at the Lung Cancer Therapeutics past and current information and strategizes future Market trends. It expounds the Industry production network situation concerning volume; The Research Report similarly extends the points of interest, cost structure and assembling process. It connects the age by regions, applications, and Lung Cancer Therapeutics advancement. It covers the Lung Cancer Therapeutics business change slant, upstream and downstream client audit, suggestions, promoting channels, and gear;Speak To Industry Experts, Request For Details Report@TABLE OF CONTENTSPART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYPART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORTPART 03: RESEARCH METHODOLOGYPART 04: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysisPART 05: PIPELINE ANALYSIS Pipeline analysisPART 06: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing Market size and forecastPART 07: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market conditionPART 08: MARKET SEGMENTATION Segmentation Comparison Market opportunityPART 09: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPEPART 10: REGIONAL LANDSCAPE Geographical segmentation Regional comparison North America South America Europe MEA APAC Market opportunityPART 11: DECISION FRAMEWORKPART 12: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challengesPART 13: MARKET TRENDSPART 14: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruptionPART 15: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendorsPART 16: APPENDIX List of abbreviationsToc continued!Get Full TOC @Market Drivers and Restraints: Increasing incidences of lung cancer due to rising smoking population. Players are adopting various strategies to expand their product portfolio Growing demand for targeted therapies, presence of highly efficient drugs, increase in geriatric population, and rise in the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles. Poor cancer diagnostic facilities in many developing countries. Limited options for treatment, and the vast unmet requirement for diagnosisMarket Segments:On the basis of Disease Type the global lung cancer therapeutics market is classified into: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC).On the basis of Type of Molecule the market is segmented into: small molecules, biologics.Based on geography: North America & South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa.Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market Report Provides the Following Market Data: Forecast And Analysis For The Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market On A Global And Regional Level. Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market Growth Opportunities, Market Size, Share, Trends Factors, CAGR Of Market. Target Audience For The Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market Along With Sales & Revenue Figures. Present And The Future Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market Trends. In-Depth Quantitative And Qualitative Analyses Of The Lung Cancer Therapeutics Market. Detailed Company Profiles Of The Prominent Market Players.Note: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Make an Inquiry for Discount On this Report@About Us:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-281Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com
Sterilization Pouches Market - Detailed Quantitative Analysis of Current Market Trends & Opportunities

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Sterilization pouches are the packaging pouches used to sterilize the medical devices and instruments by steam or Ethylene Oxide (ETO) and free from bacteria and facilitate aseptic presentation of the object. The sterilization pouches are well designed to provide the effective sterilization, safe handling and storage of all medical devices and instruments until the moment they used for respective purposes. The increasing consumption of sterilization pouches as the growing demand from healthcare industry plays a crucial role in the growth over the forecast period. The sterilization pouches are available in various shapes and sizes and styles such as heat-sealing and self-sealing styles to meet the needs of healthcare and other industries.Get Brochure For More Information@The global sterilization pouches market has expected to grow at a significant CAGR as demand of the one of the major ultimate end use market (healthcare industry) is anticipated to grow over the forecast period. The sterilization pouches provides the outstanding resistance to microbial penetration over the conventional medical grade papers which boost the demand of the sterilization pouches. The demand of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) sterilization pouches is rising as they are extremely stable when exposed to sterilant gases and high energy sterilization processes, which drives the global sterilization pouches market. The superior tear strength as well as puncture resistance quality is also supporting the global sterilization pouches market in higher penetration.However, the price of the sterilization pouches is comparatively high as compared to conventional medical grade papers, which may hamper the demand of the sterilization pouches as well as the growth of the global sterilization pouches over the forecast period.The global sterilization pouches market is segmented on the basis of the product type, by sterilization method, by usability, by application and geographical region.Based on the product type, the global sterilization pouches market is segmented into:Self - sealing sterilization pouchesHeat - sealing sterilization pouchesPaper and Tyvek sterilization pouchesMultiple inner pouchesBased on the sterilization method, the global sterilization pouches market is segmented into:SteamEthylene oxide sterilization (ETO)Based on the usability type, the global sterilization pouches market is segmented into:DisposableReusableBased on the application, the global sterilization pouches market is segmented into:AgricultureFood and beveragesHealthcareVeterinaryFMCGIn terms of geography, the global sterilization pouches market has been divided into five key regions, including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA). The global sterilization pouches market has expected to register moderate growth over the forecast period. North America has contributed the major share to the global sterilization pouches market due to the rapidly growing demand from sectors such as healthcare, food and beverages chemicals as they need more sterilized instruments. Europe and Asia Pacific regions are also growing at a decent growth and expected to register the significance CAGR over the forecast period due to increasing awareness about sterilization and CGMP processes. MEA is at a nascent stage and expected to register a healthy growth over the forecast period.Get Customize Report@Some of the key players of the global sterilization pouches market are Cardinal Health, Steris Corporation, Getinge Group, Johnson & Johnson, 3M Company, Synergy Health, Ampac Holdings, Certol International, Crosstex and Derma Sciences. Various global companies are contributing significant growth to the global sterilization pouches market. The key players from North America and Europe has contributed a major share to the sterilization pouches market in terms of value and volume.About Us:-We are leaders in analytics, research, and advisory services for Fortune 500 companies, scores of high potential startups, and financial institutions. Our success stories have proven why we are a preeminent provider of cutting-edge syndicated and customized research services. Leverage the best of our seasoned research analysts who hold a keen interest and enviable expertise of almost 4 million hours in global, regional, and local market intelligence.Contact Us:-Transpareny Market ResearchU.S. OFFICE:State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207, United StatesPhone: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Know the Broadband Data Card market Driving Factors and analysis by Company (by Company (Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, ZTE Corp, Novatel Wireless Inc., Zebronics, D-Link, Micromax etc)

Broadband Data Card Market

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The Broadband Data Card Market Show the industry present scenario, Global trends and market growth. The reports includes top key players analysis and analyzed worlds major region for Broadband Data Card Industry.This market research report delves deep into the global Broadband Data Card market and It highlights the recent market scenario, growth in the past few years, and opportunities for manufacturers in the future. The research methods and tools used in the completion of this study are both primary and secondary research. The study further presents details on the investments initiated by several organizations, institutions, government, and non-government bodies.Go for Sample PDF of Broadband Data Card market report:The Global Broadband Data Card Market report Report focuses on top players: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, ZTE Corp, Novatel Wireless Inc., Sierra Wireless Inc., Zebronics, D-Link, Micromax, TCL Communication Technology, Band Rich, EE Limited, Airtel, Reliance etcThe study presents an evaluation of the factors that are expected to inhibit or boost the progress of the global Broadband Data Card market. The global Broadband Data Card market has been examined thoroughly on the basis of key criteria such as end user, application, product, technology, and region. An analysis has been provided in the report of the key geographical segments and their share and position in the market. The estimated revenue and volume growth of the global Broadband Data Card market has also been offered in the report.Scope of the ReportThis report studies the Global Broadband Data Card Market, analyzes and researches the Market development status and forecasts in United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Central and South America.The Global Broadband Data Card Market report Split by product types: By Technology, By NetworkThe Market Report Split by applications, can be divided into: Personal, Commercial, OthersIf you have any special valuable requirements then go for customized report by clicking hereAn assessment of the market attractiveness with regard to the competition that new players and products are likely to present to older ones has been provided in the publication. The research report also mentions the innovations, new developments, marketing strategies, branding techniques, and products of the key participants present in the global Broadband Data Card market. To present a clear vision of the market the competitive landscape has been thoroughly analyzed utilizing the value chain analysis. The opportunities and threats present in the future for the key market players have also been emphasized in the publication.The study objectives of this report are:To analyze global Wealth Management Platform status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players.To present the Wealth Management Platform development in the United States, Europe and China.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies.To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regionsTable of ContentsBroadband Data Card OverviewGlobal Broadband Data Card by Manufacturers, Type and ApplicationManufacturers AnalysisIndustrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersMarketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersGlobal Broadband Data Card Market Forecast (2017-2025)Research Findings and ConclusionAppendixComplete Table of Contents AvailableAbout InForGrowth: We are a market-intelligence company formed with the objective of providing clients access to the most relevant and accurate research content for their growth needs. At InForGrowth, we understand Research requirements and help a client in taking informed business critical decisions. Given the complexities and interdependencies of market-intelligence, there is always more than one source to explore and arrive at the right answer. Through our smart search feature and our reliable & trusted publishing partners, we are paving way for a more simplified and relevant research.For all your Research needs, reach out to us at:Address: 6400 Village Pkwy suite # 104, Dublin, CA 94568, USAEmail: Sales@inforgrowth.comPhone: +1-909-329-2808UK: +44 (203) 743 1890
Brazil Elderly Care Market Insights with Key Company Profiles - Koninklijke Philips N.V., Intel Corporation, Exceptional Living Center, Profilico Group Ltd. and RIGHT AT HOME, LLC, Others

Brazil Elderly Care Market

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Brazil Elderly Care Market is expected to reach USD 93.7 Billion by 2025 from USD 61.5 Billion in 2017, at a CAGR of 5.5% in the forecast period 2018 to 2025. The new market report contains data for historic years 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Get Sample Copy of this Report @The major factors driving the growth of this market are increase in geriatric population, rising patient pool for chronic illness in ageing population, rising awareness of home care setting devices, increasing healthcare spending public and private in developed economies, government initiatives to provide cost-effective medical treatment for ageing population, and favorable reimbursement policies. On the other hand low penetration rate for elderly care products and high cost of elderly care services and products may hinder the growth of the market are the factors which will boost the Brazil elderly care market.The key market players for Brazil elderly care market are listed below: Koninklijke Philips N.V. Intel Corporation Exceptional Living Center Profilico Group Ltd. RIGHT AT HOME, LLC.Segmentation of Brazil Elderly Care MarketThe market is further segmented into: Product Type Service Application RemunerationBased on product type: Pharmaceuticals Housing Assistive DevicesBased on service: Institutional Care Homecare Adult Day CareThe homecare is sub segmented into: Health Care Non-Medical CareThe healthcare segment is sub segmented into: Medical Care Physiotherapy Services Telehealth Palliative Care Hospice CareThe non-medical care segment is sub segmented into: Personal Care Rehabilitation OthersBased on application: Heart Diseases Cancer Kidney Diseases Diabetes Arthritis Osteoporosis Neurological Respiratory OthersBased on mode of remuneration: Government Insurances Private Insurances Out of Pocket ServicesBased on geography: North America Europe Asia-Pacific South America Middle East and AfricaOrder a copy of Brazil Elderly Care Market Report @Table of Contents:1. INTRODUCTION2. MARKET SEGMENTATION3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY4. PREMIUM INSIGHTS5. BRAZIL ELDERLY CARE MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE6. BRAZIL ELDERLY CARE MARKET, BY SERVICE7. BRAZIL ELDERLY CARE MARKET, BY APPLICATION8. BRAZIL ELDERLY CARE MARKET, BY MODE OF REMUNERATION9. BRAZIL ELDERLY CARE MARKET, COMPANY LANDSCAPE9.1. COMPANY SHARE ANALYSIS: BRAZIL10. COMPANY PROFILE10.1. KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.10.1.1. COMPANY OVERVIEW10.1.2. KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. : REVENUE ANALYSIS10.1.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO10.1.4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS10.2. RIGHT AT HOME, LLC.10.2.1. COMPANY OVERVIEW10.2.2. RIGHT AT HOME, LLC. : COMPANY SNAPSHOT10.2.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO10.2.4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS10.3. PROFILICO GROUP, LTD.10.3.1. COMPANY OVERVIEW10.3.2. PROFILICO GROUP, LTD.: COMPANY SNAPSHOT10.3.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO10.3.4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS10.4. EXCEPTIONAL LIVING CENTER OF BRAZIL, LLC.10.4.1. COMPANY OVERVIEW10.4.2. EXCEPTIONAL LIVING CENTER AT BRAZIL, LTD. : COMPANY SNAPSHOT10.4.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO10.4.4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS10.5. INTEL CORPORATION10.5.1. COMPANY OVERVIEW10.5.2. INTEL CORPORATION: REVENUE ANALYSIS10.5.3. PRODUCT PORTFOLIO10.5.4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTSView Full Report @Related ReportGlobal Elderly Care Market  Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Elderly Care Market By Type ({Home Care (Health Care, Non-Medical Home Care), Adult Day Care, Institutional Care (Nursing Homes, Hospital Based, Assisted Living, Independent Senior Living)}), Product Type (Pharmaceuticals, Housing & Assistive Devices, Technology); Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East, Africa).Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. Get 10% Discount on Report by emailing sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com . We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com
Latest Insight of Car GPS Navigation System Market Forecast to 2023  Analyst Covers Top Players like Panasonic, Sony, TomTom, Alpine Electronics, Continental AG, Pioneer, Mitsubishi Electric, Denso, Robert Bosch

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Car GPS Navigation System receive signals from navigation satellites, which assist in vehicle tracking and positioning. These signals are received from multiple satellites thereby helping in precise positioning of the vehicle. The car GPS navigation system includes range of functionalities such as record, save music, and operate climate control functions (if equipped in car). The GPS navigation systems are largely used by the transportation and logistics industry.The Global Car GPS Navigation System Market Estimated to Grow at a CAGR of +8% during forecast period.Get Sample Copy of this Report@:Top Companies Profiled in this Report includes, Panasonic Corporation, Sony Corporation, TomTom, Alpine Electronics, Continental AG, Pioneer Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric, Denso Corporation, Robert BoschCar GPS Navigation System market research is an intelligence report with meticulous efforts undertaken to study the right and valuable information. The data which has been looked upon is done considering both, the existing top players and the upcoming competitors. Business strategies of the key players and the new entering market industries are studied in detail. Well explained SWOT analysis, revenue share and contact information are shared in this report analysis.The report includes the study of the car GPS navigation system market focusing on various growth prospects and restraints, based on the regional analysis. The study highlights Porters Five Forces analysis for the market that comprises the impact of suppliers, competitors, new entrants, substitutes, and buyers.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 Car GPS Navigation System 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.Get Reasonable Discount on this Premium Report @:This report provides comprehensive analysis of: Key market segments and sub-segments Evolving market trends and dynamics Changing supply and demand scenarios Quantifying market opportunities through market sizing and market forecasting Tracking current trends/opportunities/challenges Competitive insights Opportunity mapping in terms of technological breakthroughsTable of ContentsGlobal Car GPS Navigation System Market Research ReportChapter 1 Car GPS Navigation System Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global 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 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Global Car GPS Navigation System Market ForecastFor More Information:If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat Europe competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact:Sunny Denis(Sales Manager),(Research N Reports)10916, Gold Point Dr,Houston, TX, Pin  77064,sales@researchnreports.com,
Flame Retardants Market Expected to Reach $10,212 Million, with top key players Lanxess AG, The Dow Chemical Company, Albemarle Corporation, BASF SE, Clariant Corporation, Dover Corporation, Nabaltec AG, and Akzo Nobel N.V.

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Flame Retardants Market Report, published by Allied Market Research, projects that the global market is estimated to reach $10,212 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2016 to 2022. The epoxy resins segment held nearly one-fourth of the total market in 2015.At present, the global flame retardants market witnesses vivid opportunities due to the increase in demand for flame retardant chemicals in a wide number of end use industries. Flame retardants such as polyolefin nanocomposites find major use in the automotive industry and other end user industries such as packaging, building and construction, appliances, electrical and electronics, tools and sporting equipment.Send Enquiry on this report @Key Findings of Flame Retardants Market: In terms of value, the epoxy resins segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment during the analysis period. Asia-Pacific is projected to maintain its lead position throughout 2022 and will grow at a CAGR of 7.1%, during the forecast period. Construction industry occupied for approximately one-third of the total market in 2015. China occupied for around two-fifths of the total Asia-Pacific flame retardants market in 2015. In Europe, Germany is expected to grow at the fastest rate of 6.6% from 2016 to 2022, in terms of value.Flammable plastic materials are used in abundance in modern vehicles, foams, cables, textiles, polymer formulations for electronic applications as well as in mechanical parts. This pose a high range of fire risk. Hence, flame retardants are added to these materials to halt fires in mechanical, structural, and decorative components, such as electrical short circuits, mechanical faults, and overheating. Automotive industry is the largest consumer of brominated flame retardanthexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). HBCDD is used for plastic cabinet and casings, insolation panels and automotive textiles. Furthermore, flame retardants are added to seats to ensure safety to passengers as small flames such as cigarettes and matches could prompt ignition.Get sample copy of this report :Epoxy resins segment accounted for around one-fourth share, in terms of volume, in 2015. In response to the perennial modifications in the quality of flame retardants, efficient flame retardant chemicals are currently in high demand across the globe. Thus, increase in demand for high-tech flame retardants for epoxy resins along with increase in use of flame retardant rubber in automotive industry are some of the major drivers that fuel the demand for flame retardants across the globe.Top key players : Lanxess AG The Dow Chemical Company Albemarle Corporation BASF SE Clariant Corporation Dover Corporation Nabaltec AG Akzo Nobel N.V. ICL Industrial Products Broadview Technologies Inc.In 2015, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA collectively accounted for around half of the total flame retardants market and is expected to continue this trend due to increase in infrastructural development, specifically in China, India, Brazil, and other developing economies. Moreover, rise in per capita disposable incomes of consumers in turn drives the demand for high-tech flame retardant automobiles is one of the key factors that fuel the flame retardants market in the Asia-Pacific region.Table of content :Chapter: 1 INTRODUCTION1.1. REPORT DESCRIPTION1.2. KEY BENEFITS1.3. KEY MARKET SEGMENTS1.4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY1.4.1. Secondary research1.4.2. Primary research1.4.3. Analyst tools and modelsChapter: 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARYChapter: 3 MARKET OVERVIEW3.1. CXO PERSPECTIVE3.2. MARKET DEFINITION AND SCOPE3.3. KEY FINDINGS3.4. TOP WINNING STRATEGY3.5. PORTERS FIVE FORCE ANALYSIS3.5.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers3.5.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers3.5.3. Threat of New Entrants3.5.4. Threat of Substitutes3.5.5. Competitive Rivalry3.6. MARKET DYNAMICS3.6.1. Drivers3.6.1.1. Increasing use of flame retardant optical fibers3.6.1.2. Rising demand of flame retardants in automotive industry3.6.1.3. Increased security measures across end-use industries3.6.2. Restraints3.6.2.1. Issues related to toxicity of flame retardants3.6.2.2. Increasing prices of flame retardant chemicals3.6.3. Opportunities3.6.3.1. Emerging number of applications for specific type of plastics3.6.3.2. Changing standards of flame retardancy and fire safetyAccess Full Summary at:About Us: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:Sona Padman5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free: +1-800-792-5285UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1?855?550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb:
3D Bioprinter Market Research Report Global Forecast 2013-23 Estimated with Top Key Players like: Biobots Inc, Cellink AB, Envision TEC,Inc.

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UpMarketResearch published an exclusive report on 3D Bioprinter market delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 131 pages which highly exhibits on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability. This report focuses on the 3D Bioprinter market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type, segments and application.Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Report @3D Bioprinter 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 3D Bioprinter global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 2013 - 2023.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.For more information on this report, please visit:The following manufacturers are covered in this report: 3D Biotek, LLC 3Dynamic Systems Ltd Accellta Ltd Advanced Solutions, Inc. Bio3D Technologies Biobots Inc Cellink AB Cyfuse Biomedical K.K Envision TEC,Inc. GeSIM Luxexcel Group BV Materialise NV Nano3D Biosciences,Inc. Organovo Holdings, Inc. Poietis RegenHU Ltd. Regenovo Biotechnology Co,.Ltd3D Bioprinter Production by Region North America Europe China Japan Rest APAC Latin AmericaGet Best Discount On This Report @Global 3D Bioprinter Market: Product Segment Analysis Magnetic 3D Bio-printer Laser-assisted 3D Bio-printer Inkjet 3D Bio-printer Microextrusion 3D Bio-printer3D Bioprinter Breakdown Data by Application Medical Devices Tissue-engineered Scaffold Tissue and OrganGet Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Report @The report categorizes the market into segments by companies, end-use, type and potential regions. As an enterprise owner or a market entrant, the report offers you a comprehensive analysis beneficial for you to take a positive traction as and when needed. It offers a complete study of analytics necessary to decide on trending segments and potential market areas to operate.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.To buy this report please visit:Key Reasons to Purchase: To gain insightful analyses of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the 3D Bioprinter Industry Analysis and Forecast 2013-2023 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 Bioprinter market analysis and forecast 2013-2023.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
Crawler Crane Market 2018-2024 Growth & Regional Revenue By Global Players Terex Corporation, Konecranes, Liebherr Group, Escorts Limited, Link-Belt Cranes, Palfinger AG.

Crawler Crane Market

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The crawler crane market is witnessing demand for low-level access units, niche machines, and customized choices. Growing installation & maintenance activities for the upgrade of fire stations, street lights, glasswork, and other associated infrastructure coupled with increasing organization of several events such as concerts, corporate events, and festivals, are driving the need for these machines across several regions.Major players in the crawler crane market include Terex Corporation, The Liebherr Group, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd., XCMG Group, The Escorts Group, Komatsu Ltd., Sany Group, and Manitowoc. Companies including The Escorts Group, Furukawa UNIC Corporation, and Terex Corporation sell their equipment through specialized construction equipment distributors and construction firms across the globe.Request for a sample copy of this report @The Asia Pacific crawler crane market is witnessing a high adoption in the construction and mining sectors and expected to grow at a CAGR of over 5% from 2018 to 2024. Global companies are expanding their business operations in the region by collaborating with local manufacturers. For instance, in December 2016, Jekko s.r.l. collaborated with Lee Hyun Soo and Dennis Shin for establishing a new subsidiary, Jekko Korea in Seoul.Countries including India, China, and Japan are adopting advanced automated technologies in industrial sectors for enhancing their business operations. The escalating infrastructure development projects in countries including India will favor the crawler crane market growth.Crawler Crane Market, By Capacityo Below 50 metric tonso 50 to 250 metric tonso 250 to 450 metric tonso 450 to 650 metric tonsCrawler Crane Market, By Applicationo Rentalo Constructiono Miningo Oil & Gaso EnergyMake an inquiry for purchasing this report @Crawler Crane Market size is set to exceed USD 3 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. The shipments are expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4%.Increasing utilization of crawler cranes in the energy sector is anticipated to drive the crawler crane market growth. These machines offer heavy lifting operations at the nuclear and renewable energy sites and facilitate the operators in handling the materials efficiently. Several manufacturers have developed energy sector-specific machines that witness a high demand. For instance, Manitowoc has launched a wind power crane, Grove GTK1100, that is used for wind turbine operations such as erection and construction. Additionally, the crawler crane market is witnessing growth opportunities due to the increasing infrastructure projects across the globe.Economic growth across the globe, especially in China, India, and Southeast Asian markets, has led to a better infrastructure demand. Growing building & construction spending due to a rise in per-capita disposable income along with enhanced infrastructure in Asia Pacific and Latin America will drive the crawler crane market. Growth in Latin America will be led by an increase in infrastructure spending, mainly transportation and energy, closely followed by spending on non-residential structures. The key areas of construction growth in emerging economies are social, transport, energy, defense infrastructure, and government accommodation.Browse report summery @High maintenance costs and initial investments are the major factors hindering the crawler crane market development. The high cost is discouraging several business manufacturers and OEMs from deploying high-end machines. Companies consider that investments for automated equipment must meet the global quality and manufacturing standards. In addition, the cranes are available on lease from the manufacturers at a lower price than the newer machines. Instead of procuring a new equipment, several customers commonly prefer renting equipment, which is anticipated to hamper the market.The strong distributor relations aid companies in gaining a competitive advantage and understanding the demand for any new products in application segments. This helps companies in the crawler crane market in efficiently marketing new product lines and expanding the customer base. In July 2018, The Liebherr Group announced the opening of the companys new headquarters in Virginia. The new facility developed a production & workshop unit to support Liebherrs construction, concrete, and cranes division.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:
Photomedicine Market - Growth and Industry Revenue By Top Key Players Abbott Laboratories, Alma Lasers Ltd., Angiodynamics, Inc., Biolitec AG, Colorado Skin and Vein, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lumenis Ltd., PhotoMedex, Inc.

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The global photomedicine market was valued at $2,750 million in 2015, and is projected to reach $5,511 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 10.3% from 2016 to 2022. In photomedicine, light is emitted at specific frequencies with the help of different technologies such as laser, dichromatic lamps, and light emitting diodes. Proper penetration of light at target areas and at specific frequencies help to alter the cellular and molecular mechanism of the tissue and help in treatment of different diseases. These devices are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes for different fields such as pain management, wound healing, dental procedures, and oncology. Furthermore, photomedicine devices are also increasingly being used for different aesthetic procedures such as tattoo removal and skin resurfacing purposes.Download Report Sample @Photomedicine is the branch of medicine that involves the study of light and its application in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases. Different photomedicine technologies such as laser, fluorescent lamps, and polychromatic polarized light are used for various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. In photomedicine, light at specific wavelength is used for therapeutic purposes in different fields such as ophthalmology, dermatology, and oncology. In addition, these technologies are also used for various aesthetic purposes such as hair and tattoo removal.Increased awareness related to beauty and physical appearance among the youth, augmented R&D investment on photomedicine, and advancement in technology are anticipated to boost the market growth. The rise in the prevalence of various skin diseases such as psoriasis and acnes and eye diseases such as dry eyes and other vision problems will positively impact the market growth. The increase in incidence of neonatal jaundice and increase in awareness about the benefits of photomedicine also fuel the market growth. However, safety issues related to photomedicine devices and competition from alternative treatment methods are anticipated to hinder the market growth.Aesthetic procedures segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment throughout the analysis period. It accounted for almost one-third of the total share of the market in 2015, owing to growing adoption of minimally invasive aesthetic technology and increasing awareness of physical appearance.For More Information @The major companies profiled in the report provide extensive competitive analysis and profiles of key market players including Abbott Laboratories, Alma Lasers Ltd., Angiodynamics, Inc., Biolitec AG, Colorado Skin and Vein, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lumenis Ltd., PhotoMedex, Inc., Syneron Medical Ltd., and Thor Photomedicine Ltd.Table Of ContentChapter: 1 INTRODUCTION1.1. Report Description1.2. Key Benefits1.3. Key Market Segments1.4. Research Methodology1.4.1. Secondary Research1.4.2. Primary Research1.4.3. Analyst Tools And ModelsChapter: 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY2.1. CXO PerspectiveChapter: 3 MARKET OVERVIEW3.1. Market Definition and Scope3.2. Key findings3.2.1. Top Investment Pockets3.2.2. Top Winning Strategies3.3. Government regulations3.3.1. U.S. FDA3.3.2. Europe CE Mark3.3.3. Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW)3.4. Reimbursement Scenarios3.5. Patent Analysis3.5.1. China Patent Analysis, By Market Participant3.5.2. U.S. Patent Analysis, By Market Participant3.6. Market Dynamics3.6.1. Drivers3.6.1.1. Rise in Vision Problems3.6.1.2. Increased Awareness for Aesthetics3.6.1.3. High Incidences of Skin Problems Such as Neonatal Jaundice, Acne, Psoriasis3.6.1.4. Increase in Awareness About Photomedicine3.6.2. Restrains3.6.2.1. Product Safety Issues3.6.2.2. Competition From Alternative Treatment Methods3.6.3. Opportunities3.6.3.1. Reducing the Risk Associated with Surgery3.6.3.2. Novel Applications of Photomedicine3.6.3.3. Tapping Medical Tourism in the Developing RegionsAccess 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:
Stroke Management Market: Find Out Top Impacting Factor of Industry Growth By Opportunity and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023

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Rise in incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases drives the market. In addition, growth of geriatric population that is susceptible to stroke, and patient increase incidences of diabetes and tobacco usage are driving the market during the analysis period. However, high cost of treatment and stringent government regulations for the approval of new and advances devices and drugs is anticipated to restrict the market growth.The Global Stroke Management Market accounted for $22,581 million in 2016, and is estimated to reach $36,756 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 7.1% during the analysis period (2017-2023).Download PDF Report Sample @Stroke is the condition that occurs when the clot is formed in the artery and the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, brain cells get deprived of oxygen and starts to die. Stroke can be thrombotic or embolic. Thrombotic stroke occurs when a blood clot is formed in the arteries that supply blood to the brain. Embolic stroke forms away from brain mainly due to the blood clot or deposition of debris in the heart and narrows the brain arteries. The increase in geriatric population and diseases associated with the old age is the major factor driving the market growth. In addition, rise in incidences of chronic diseases, diabetes, tobacco consumption, and constant technological developments for stroke management fuels the market growth. However, stringent government regulations, lack of skilled professions for the diagnosis, and treatment of stroke is expected to restrain the market growth during the forecast period.Based on the type, the diagnostics segment held the highest market share in 2016, owing to increased number of diagnostics procedures for pre detection of strokes when any signs or symptoms are noticed.Based on application, the ischemic stroke segment contributed the highest market share in 2016, owing to the increase in incidence of ischemic stroke.North America accounted for 39.8% market share in 2016, and is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period and is attributed to rise in expenditure to upgrade healthcare systems and growing demand for technologically advanced devices for rapid & accurate distribution of medicines. In addition, lucrative growth opportunities in the economic emerging countries is anticipated to provide new growth opportunities for the key players in the market. However, Asia-Pacific is estimated to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period, owing to rise in government healthcare expenditure and growth in demand for healthcare devices from large pool of patient population, and improvement in healthcare infrastructure.Get Customized Report @Major companies operating in this market adopt product launch as their key development strategy. Companies profiled in this market include, Abbott Laboratories, B Braun Melsungen AG, Boston Scientific Corp., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Medtronic Plc., Cardinal Health, GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, Glaxosmithkline Plc., and Merck & CompanyOther prominent players in the value chain include Mizuho America Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Genentech Inc., Stryker Corporation, ZOLL Medical Corporation, and others.Table Of ContentChapter: 1 INTRODUCTION1.1. REPORT DESCRIPTION1.2. KEY BENEFITS1.3. 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. KEY FINDINGS3.2.1. Top investment pockets3.2.2. Top winning strategies3.3. PORTERS FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS3.3.1. Bargaining power of buyers3.3.2. Bargaining power of suppliers3.3.3. Threat of substitutes3.3.4. Threat of new entrants3.3.5. Competitive rivalry3.4. TOP PLAYER POSITIONING, 20173.5. MARKET DYNAMICS3.5.1. Drivers3.5.1.1. Growth in incidence of cardiac disorders3.5.1.2. Increase in geriatric population3.5.1.3. Rise in patient awareness3.5.2. Restraints3.5.2.1. Limited insurance coverage and high cost of devices3.5.3. Opportunities3.5.3.1. Improvement in healthcare infrastructure in emerging nationsAccess 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:
In particular the fact that there is this camp on federal ground away from everybody, thats running without oversight, without transparency and with no one really knowing what going on inside of there, is really kind of a shock, he said. To actually be there and see that makes it even the more stark.
Sodium Bicarbonate Food Grade Market Size, Share and Statistics | Leading players Profiled Tata Chemicals Ltd., FMC Corporation, Chemtex Specialty Ltd., Novacarb, Solvay S.A.

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Sodium bicarbonate food grade is a white, crystalline powder, which is used as a systematic alkalizer, buffering agent, electrolyte replenisher, and in topical cleansing solutions. It is stable in dry air and decomposes slowly in moist air. It is a mineral salt added to reverse osmosis of water and to make it suitable for drinking purpose. Thus, it is used as water softener, which removes calcium and magnesium impurities. It has several applications in food industry & households such as production of food & beverages, odor absorbent, ingredient in frozen yeast products, used as a fruit washing agent, is a major ingredient in baking powder.Get the Sample Report -Extensive demand from food industry in the major driving factor for global sodium bicarbonate food grade market. Moreover, increase in demand from pharmaceutical industry and for drinking water treatment propels the market growth. However, high doses of sodium bicarbonate in food can cause headache, nausea, and irritability, which hampers the market growth.For Purchase Inquiry -The global sodium bicarbonate food grade market is segmented based on base product, application, and geography. On the basis of base product, the market is divided into sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and nahcolite extraction. Applications covered in the study include food and beverages. Geographically, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.The major players profile in the report are Tata Chemicals Ltd., FMC Corporation, Chemtex Specialty Ltd., Novacarb, Solvay S.A., Church & Dwight Co, Inc., Natural Soda, Natrium Products Inc., Tosoh Corporation, and Asahi.Request for Customization - Sodium bicarbonate food grade is a white, crystalline powder, which is used as a systematic alkalizer, buffering agent, electrolyte replenisher, and in topical cleansing solutions. It is stable in dry air and decomposes slowly in moist air. It is a mineral salt added to reverse osmosis of water and to make it suitable for drinking purpose. Thus, it is used as water softener, which removes calcium and magnesium impurities. It has several applications in food industry & households such as production of food & beverages, odor absorbent, ingredient in frozen yeast products, used as a fruit washing agent, is a major ingredient in baking powder.Extensive demand from food industry in the major driving factor for global sodium bicarbonate food grade market. Moreover, increase in demand from pharmaceutical industry and for drinking water treatment propels the market growth. However, high doses of sodium bicarbonate in food can cause headache, nausea, and irritability, which hampers the market growth.The global sodium bicarbonate food grade market is segmented based on base product, application, and geography. On the basis of base product, the market is divided into sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and nahcolite extraction. Applications covered in the study include food and beverages. Geographically, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.The major players profile in the report are Tata Chemicals Ltd., FMC Corporation, Chemtex Specialty Ltd., Novacarb, Solvay S.A., Church & Dwight Co, Inc., Natural Soda, Natrium Products Inc., Tosoh Corporation, and Asahi.About Us:Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:David Correa5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesToll Free (USA/Canada):+1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141UK: +44-845-528-1300Hong Kong: +852-301-84916India (Pune): +91-20-66346060Fax: +1-855-550-5975help@alliedmarketresearch.comWeb:
Smart Home Market Trends, Demand and Key Players - Honeywell International Inc., Siemens AG, Schneider Electric SE, Johnson Controls Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Legrand, ABB Ltd.

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The global smart home market pegged USD 35.4 billion in 2017 and is further anticipated to become USD 89.9 billion by 2024. The market is further expected to witness a CAGR of 14.2% during the forecast period. The market is increasing every year due to constant evolution in technology globally.Request for Sample Copy of Research Report at:Smart home technology refers to a group of systems, devices and appliances that enables the users to connect to a mutual network that is controlled in a remote and independent manner. The functioning of various technologies in a home that works conjointly in a common system is also referred to as connected home.The major factor driving the growth of the global smart home market includes extensive demand for safety, convenience and security amongst the users in several developed as well as developing economies. The technology is further helping the households to manage all of their devices from a single place thus creating ample opportunities for the smart home market to grow exponentially. Smart home enables flexibility to its users in accommodating innovative appliances, devices and technology.Furthermore, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth of xx% in smart home market. The manufacturers are continuously upgrading its technology in order to make the life of users efficient and convenient for its users. Additionally, there are several initiatives undertaken by the different government and non-government authorities to help the consumers in utilizing innovative technology and ensure secure, convenient and safe environment for them.Explore Full Research Report at:Globally industry players of global smart home market are leveraging market growth by providing several automation products such as MES and DCS. The key players are establishing connected devices and are offering M2 smart solutions and services to the users.Some of the key players in the global smart home market include Honeywell International Inc., Siemens AG, Schneider Electric SE, Johnson Controls Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Legrand, ABB Ltd., Acuity Brands, Inc., Crestron Electronics, Inc., United Technologies Corporation, Ingersoll Rand PLC and Nest Labs Inc.About VynZ ResearchVynZ Research has been a trusted market research and advisory company, encompass a broad range of business organizations which belong to such diverse sectors as chemical and materials, automotive and transportation, energy and power, consumer goods, healthcare, ICT and other emerging technologies. This rich experience in varied fields has rewarded VynZ, with 60% of repeated clientele.ContactVynZ ResearchToll-Free:1-888-253-3960Website:Email: support@vynzresearch.com
In business you might not always meet with your contract partner face to face  only with an agent. Believe me, Whos who? will not help here. The LG Kaiserslautern had to decide a case on November 2, 2005 (re 1 S 56/05) where one person engaged in a business without knowing her partner. She was dealing exclusively with an agent. The agent, however, was not at all interested in paying 
BEND  Oregon is providing more abortions than its residents receive, a sign the states abortion laws are less restrictive than in some neighboring states.

According to data released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week, Oregon residents underwent 7,847 abortion procedures in 2015, out of a total of 8,610 abortions performed within the state  about 11.2 percent of abortions in Oregon were for out-of-state residents.

For comparison, in Idaho, fewer abortions (1,272) were performed than residents received (1,695), with just 4.6 percent for out-of-state residents. Washington had nearly the same number of total abortions and abortions for residents.

"We tend to assume that because abortion is legal that everybody has readily available access to the procedure when needed," said Grayson Dempsey, executive director for NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon. "The reality is that for women who are in a state like Idaho, they are often needing to cross state lines or get to urban centers to get the care they need."

According to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks abortion policy from state to state, Idaho has a number of restrictions in place that make it harder for women to access abortions. Those include state-directed counseling designed to discourage women from having abortions, a 24-hour waiting period and, for minors, consent of a parent.

Oregon has none of those restrictions.

In some cases, women living near the Oregon border may find it closer or more convenient to drive across state lines. That occurs in the Ashland area with women from northern California. The CDC did not provide data from California in the report.

Dempsey said a number of women fly from Alaska to Portland or Seattle to seek abortions.

In other cases, women may cross into Oregon to get certain types of abortions not available where they live. Women in Vancouver, Washington, can get abortions from a local Planned Parenthood clinic. They must travel to a clinic in Portland if they need a second-trimester abortion, which are not offered at the Vancouver clinic.

Oregon is one of only a handful of states that allow nurse practitioners to perform abortions. In 2006, the Oregon board of nursing was the first in the country to rule that aspiration abortion was within the scope of practice for family nurse practitioners.

"It's really increased access in small and rural communities," Dempsey said. "That is a huge way in which Oregon is not only progressive in its legislative commitment to reproductive rights but really furthering access for women in ways that have a really practical impact on women needing services."

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco recently calculated the distance to the closest abortion facility from every U.S. city with a population of 50,000 or more. They found women in 27 cities must travel more than 100 miles to reach an abortion facility.

Most women pay out-of-pocket for abortions and, because the majority are low-income women, they already face significant financial challenges in accessing abortions, said Dr. Sarah Roberts, associate professor at the university's Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health research group.

"If women are traveling to other states to avoid restrictive abortion policies, there are additional financial costs to increased travel distance, and it can force women to take time off work or find child care in order to obtain an abortion," she said.

The CDC report also showed that fewer women are having abortions now than at any time since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. Experts attribute the decline to better access to contraceptives as well as decreased access to abortion services in some states.

That's led great variation in the percentages of abortions provided to out-of-state residents across the country. Nearly half of abortions in Kansas were for out-of-state residents, the highest rate in the nation. That could reflect limited access in Missouri, where new requirements that abortion clinics must have admitting privileges at hospitals no more than 15 minutes away has left the state with just one clinic, in St. Louis. The state had five abortion clinics as recently as 2008.

Pro-choice advocates are now worried changes in the makeup of federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, could lead to Roe v. Wade being overturned.

"Many people in my movement are anticipating that may happen within the next couple of years," Dempsey said.

That could revert the country back to the pre-Roe scenario where women traveled to states like New York or Oregon to access abortions that were illegal in their home states.

A lot of women, particularly in Idaho, are already living in what I would call this post-Roe reality that everybody is fearful of, Dempsey said. It means that our commitment to reproductive rights (in Oregon) needs to continue to grow as the threat from the national level continues to hit states like Idaho further.

--Markian Hawryluk/Bend Bulletin
Portland warned drivers in Northwest Portland to move their cars Monday morning or face a hefty ticket.

Monday marked the beginning of towing season in certain leaf-clogged districts in the Rose City. Alameda and Pearl District residents will have to move their cars by 6 a.m. Wednesday. Check out the full city list of days to know when you move your car if you live or work in a leaf district included in the towing schedule.

Residents sweep leaves into the street for pickup in the various leaf districts across Portland. The Bureau of Transportation put up signs to warn drivers to move their cars so work crews can sweep up leaves.

Drivers who dont move their cars face a $201 towing fine and $27 per day the vehicle remains impounded, according to city officials.

As of 2:30 p.m, the city towed 42 cars Monday.

In October, Portland announced it would no longer charge the leaf fee, which ranged from $15 to $60, to residents or businesses in the 52 districts across the city.

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen
Nancy Pelosi seemed poised to become House speaker again after leading Democrats as they trounced Republicans in the midterm elections.

Instead, her candidacy is caught in a battle over the party's future.

On one side, progressive Democrats have gotten her to embrace more left-leaning policies on health care, climate change and education. But moderates say the party needs new leadership and that Pelosi, 78, who was demonized in Republican campaign ads, is too controversial and too liberal.

The next phase of the power struggle will unfold behind closed doors on Wednesday when Pelosi will need a majority of Democrats to secure the party's nomination for speaker. Her bigger challenge will be to gain nearly universal Democratic support when the full House votes on Jan. 3.

Pelosi's prospects of returning to the speaker's job have brightened somewhat. For one thing, no candidate has emerged from Democratic ranks to challenge her.

Also, Pelosi has started chipping away at opposition from more than a dozen incoming freshmen and incumbent Democrats who have called for new leadership. She defused one potential challenge from a prominent member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Marcia Fudge of Ohio. And the California lawmaker retains widespread support among House colleagues who say she's the best suited to help the party challenge President Donald Trump in the 2020 elections.

But Pelosi still hasn't locked up all the votes needed to prevail, and that makes this week's meeting a critical test.

The debate over Pelosi is forcing Democrats to confront an issue the party's presidential candidates will have to address again in two years: Whether to run on an expansive, liberal platform or attempt to appeal to moderates by backing centrist policies.

So far, the liberal wing of the party is winning as public opinion has moved leftward on issues like gay marriage, legalizing marijuana and expanding the role of government in health care, said Jason Altmire, a moderate Democrat from Pennsylvania who served in the House from 2006 to 2012. He said the party will have to decide: "A) How do you beat President Trump in 2020, and B) what's the best path for the country on policy?"

"The problem that Democrats are going to have," he said, is Pelosi isn't "popular in all parts of the county and if you want to keep control of the House, you have to win those swing districts that this year went the Democrats' way. If she is at the top, it is going to give Republicans the opportunity to paint the party and to paint Democrats in swing districts as being too liberal and out of step with their districts."

Pelosi, the current House minority leader who previously served as speaker from 2007-2011, has told reporters she's confident she'll be speaker.

"I happen to think that at this point I'm the best person," she said.

Her detractors, led by Democratic Representatives Kathleen Rice of New York, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Tim Ryan of Ohio, released a letter last week signed by fifteen members and members-elect, along with one candidate whose race hasn't been called by the Associated Press, pledging to vote for someone else.

"We promised to change the status quo, and we intend to deliver on that promise," the letter said. There are more Democrats who have said they oppose Pelosi but didn't sign on to the letter.

But since then, Pelosi has converted potential opponents to supporters by offering leadership positions and agreeing to changes in House rules. Rep. Brian Higgins of New York endorsed Pelosi even after signing the opposition letter.

On the House floor, Pelosi will need 218 votes for a majority - providing all members show up and vote for someone, and assuming no Republicans vote for her. Democrats will hold at least 233 seats, with the results of two contests still undetermined, according to the AP.

At the same time, many Democrats positioning themselves to challenge Trump in 2020 are putting together a progressive platform resembling that of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who lost the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination to Hillary Clinton.

Sanders could seek the Democratic nomination again, and Democrats such as Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York are making the case that voters are ready for progressive policies.

The new House majority, which will take control in January, is ready to test that theory.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus and outside groups like Move On and Indivisible endorsed Pelosi as speaker after she pledged to populate at least 40 percent of the five most powerful committees with progressives. That means Democratic membership of committees on Financial Services, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Appropriations and Intelligence will bring left-of-center priorities to policy making.

Representative Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, a leader of the Progressive Caucus, which expects to have more than 90 members in January, said polls show even voters in traditionally conservative districts now agree with progressive policies when presented in the right way.

"I've got to convince people why it's in their best interest" to embrace a progressive agenda, Pocan said. "I'll do it with data and facts."

While some candidates won on a progressive platform in GOP-held districts - Colin Allred in Texas, Katie Porter in California's Orange County and Jared Golden in Maine - others who shared their ideology fell short in statewide races.

Many of the Democratic gains in the House came from traditionally Republican districts where candidates ran as independent consensus-builders, pledging to reach across the aisle and in some cases oppose Pelosi's bid to be speaker.

Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, said Democrats need to be "a big tent party" that allows for both progressives like New York's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and more moderate members who flipped seats in places like Kansas and Oklahoma.

"You win by letting people do what they need to do to win in their district, and also by being careful not to do things nationally that put your most vulnerable members on the defensive," said Himes, who is chairman of the centrist New Democrat Coalition.

Himes hasn't said whether he'll support Pelosi. But he told Fox News Channel on Sunday: "When the top three people in the House of Representatives are in their late 70s, it would be good for us to have a more diverse group generationally."

In a Colorado House district, Democrat Jason Crow told voters during the campaign that he'd oppose Pelosi, who was branded in commercials for Republicans as a "San Francisco liberal." The Army veteran defeated an incumbent Republican. Some other newly elected Democrats took a similar approach, including Joe Cunningham in South Carolina and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia.

"I campaigned on change and I'm going to keep that promise and push for change," Crow said.

Other Democrats have resisted aligning themselves with any ideology or national figure.

Katie Hill, a newly elected Democrat who won a Republican-held seat in southern California, was endorsed by both the New Democrat Coalition and the Progressive Caucus.

"That's kind of been my campaign, that you can be both," Hill said. "The progressive platform just needs to be messaged in a way that has broader appeal."

Hill supports Pelosi and said the party needs to get past the speaker election so it can set the agenda for the new Congress and start building a record to take to voters in two years.

"Why are we having this internal strife when we don't need to?" Hill said. "Let's just take this and move on."

-- Bloomberg News
Editors note: This is a weekly Q&A focused on the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System. Got a question? Submit it to politics@oregonian.com.

Q: This week we have a reader question from JW, who asks: Is it true that the judges who decided that PERS could not be changed (when it was tested in the courts) were or are participants in PERS? If yes, isnt that a conflict of interest and therefore invalid?

A: Well, first off, some housekeeping: Thats not really what the judges have decided. There have been varying interpretations of contract law in successive decisions on PERS by the Oregon Supreme Court. In its most recent decision, for example, the court found that benefits could be changed prospectively, for future service, but not retroactively.

Having said that, the answer to your basic question is yes. Members of the Oregon Supreme Court are members of PERS (as are most legislators, who generally set the terms of the systems benefits, and some members of the PERS Board, which administers the system and makes important decisions that influence benefit levels and contribution rates).

In fact, judges, who are elected in non-partisan races, have the most generous PERS plan going, supposedly to induce them to leave potentially more lucrative private practices and go into public service. Under the most generous version of the judges plan - if they agree to serve as pro-tem judges for 35 days a year for five years after retirement with no compensation - their pensions are calculated at a rate of 3.75 percent of their final average annual salaries. That means they can earn a pension of half their salary after a little more than 13 years. For a Tier 3 general service employee, by contrast, its takes 30 years to rack up a benefit equal to 45 percent of their salary.

Judges contribute 7 percent of their gross monthly pay to the pension plan, but the state picks up this cost for them.

So yes, judges are members, and yes, Oregon Supreme Court justices can have a conflict of interest when they weigh in on the legality of changes to the PERS system. The court cases are typically launched to block prospective changes in benefits, and judges can stand to benefit from their decisions.

Some judges are more conflicted than others, such as those who served as public employees before they were elected to the court and retain a financial interest in the regular PERS retirement system.

Justices have declared their conflict of interest in written opinions but added that their participation is necessary because of the rule of necessity. In other words, the Oregon Supreme Court is the state court of last resort. Somebody needs to decide. And if they cant, who can?

The only court that could review a decision by the Oregon Supremes is the U.S. Supreme Court, and it only reviews decisions to the extent there is a substantial federal question presented, said Bill Gary, a Eugene attorney who has been involved in PERS reform and subsequent litigation for years. Most decisions in Oregon, he said, have been decided under provisions of the Oregon Constitution.

The final question, whether judges conflicts render their decisions invalid, is another can of worms. Legally, their decisions carry the force of law, conflict or not. So, it may be a moot point.

- Ted Sickinger | tsickinger@oregonian.com | 503-221-8505 | @tedsickinger
Military recruits enter the chamber one by one and don protective masks. Tear gas swirls. Then, the order: Take off your mask and breathe. Eyes well and throats tighten, and men and women training for war uncontrollably gag.

Nearly every uniform is coated in snot. Some recruits vomit.

The gas chamber exercise demonstrates to troops that their equipment works. It also shows, in a visceral way, what happens if an enemy targets U.S. forces with an agent like tear gas, commonly known as CS gas - an aerosol compound considered a chemical weapon that has been outlawed on the battlefield by nearly every nation on Earth, including the United States.

But as a riot control agent, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile is legal to use by both police and federal authorities in the United States and many other countries.

On Sunday, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents fired the chemical age nt at mostly Honduran migrants attempting to cross at Tijuana - an unusual escalation of lobbing weapons over an international border at unarmed civilians seeking refuge, drawing condemnation from Democrats.

"I felt that my face was burning, and my baby fainted. I ran for my life and that of my children," Cindy Milla, a Honduran migrant with two children, told the Wall Street Journal.

Chief Patrol Agent Rodney Scott, the senior Border Patrol agent for the San Diego area, defended the use of the gas, telling CNN that three of his personnel were struck by rocks or debris that also "dented" vehicles. None of his agents were seriously injured, he said.

Chemical weapons such as CS gas are indiscriminate and "uniquely terrorizing in their application," which necessitated their ban in combat in 1993, said Kelsey Davenport, director of nonproliferation policy at the Washington-based Arms Control Association.

Once launched in a volley or thrown into an area, chemical weapons cannot be controlled and can drift toward people who are not targets, Davenport told The Washington Post on Monday.

In battle, that would include civilians and wounded troops, and even friendly soldiers if the winds shift. U.S. battle planners in World War I accounted for U.S. casualties from its own asphyxiating gas attacks.

On the border Sunday, women and children, some in diapers, came into contact with tear gas, raising questions about whether it was a proportional response. Officials described aggressive men threatening the safety of agents; Scott said 42 people, mostly men, were apprehended on the U.S. side of the border.

A CBP spokesperson did not return a request for comment on agency policies for when it is appropriate to use CS gas, or concerns about firing over the border, or how many rounds were fired. No serious injuries of migrants were reported.

Images of children and mothers fleeing from tear gas outraged Democrats critical of President Trump's response to the migrant caravan.

Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor-elect of California, argued that images of kids sprinting from tear gas run counter to American ideals.

"These children are barefoot. In diapers. Choking on tear gas," he tweeted. "Women and children who left their lives behind - seeking peace and asylum - were met with violence and fear. That's not my America. We're a land of refuge. Of hope. Of freedom. And we will not stand for this."

Tear gas was used during protests in Ferguson, Missouri, after the 2014 police shooting death of Michael Brown, drawing similar rebukes from rights groups and citizens who said the police response was disproportionate.

Middle Eastern and African countries typically use CS gas more potent than what U.S. authorities wield - with devastating results.

In 2013, Egyptian police fired tear gas into the back of a vehicle carrying supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi to prison, asphyxiating and killing 37 people. An attorney for the men posted photos of one corpse on Twitter with a face so darkened that families believed at first that the victims burned to death.

Other people have been killed by inhaling CS gas or by the projectiles themselves.

The first of subsequent chemical weapons ban occurred after World War I, Davenport said, after the international community was shocked by twisted corpses in the trenches and horrific wounds of troops who survived with blistered skin and scarred lungs.

In the modern era, the use of chemical weapons by Saddam Hussein in war and against Iraqi civilians was a factor to push for a total ban of chemical agents, Davenport said.

The 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention banned not only the use of chemical weapons in war but also the production and stockpiling of weapons for 193 signatories, she said.

Israel has signed but not ratified the convention. North Korea, Egypt and South Sudan have not taken action.

--The Washington Post
UPDATED Monday, Nov. 26: Portland police have publicly identified the man suspected of firing a gun and charging at officers as 42-year-old Jason R. Wicker.

Jason R. Wicker

Wicker remained in the Multnomah County Detention Center on $25,000 bail early Monday. He's accused of two counts apiece of unlawful use of a weapon and domestic violence menacing, as well as a single count of domestic violence assault.

Police urge anyone who has information about Wicker or their investigation to contact Detective Karna Barnard (503-823-0881; Karna.Barnard@portlandoregon.gov) or Officer David Hughes (503-823-4106; David.Hughes@portlandoregon.gov.)

***

A man fired a gun, then charged police who were responding to a report of domestic assault in Southeast Portland's Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood on Sunday, according to Portland police.

At 5 p.m. on Nov. 25, East Precinct officers arrived at a home in the 5000 block of Southeast 118th Avenue near Raymond City Park. A man who claims to have been struck with the butt of a rifle and witnesses told officers that the suspect was inside the home and armed with several guns.

Officers said the suspect fired a weapon when he came out of the home and additional officers were called to evacuate nearby residences. When the suspect ran toward officers, he was arrested and taken by ambulance to an area hospital for assessment, then the Multnomah County Jail.

The name of the suspect has not been released. The victim was examined by emergency medical personnel at the scene and did not require a trip to the hospital. There are no known injuries as a result of the suspect firing a gun, police said.



Police said there is no longer a public safety threat in connection to this incident and people who were evacuated can return to their homes.



 Janet Eastman

Jim Ryan of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report
President Donald Trump on Monday launched what some interpreted as a pre-emptive PR attack against special counsel Robert Mueller 's final report - a day after one of Muellers most prominent critics said he expects the investigations conclusion will be politically devastating to the president.

Alan Dershowitz, an emeritus professor at Harvard Law School, has spent much of the past year arguing that Mueller's search for criminal activity in Trump's 2016 campaign is so aggressive that it "endangers democracy," as his book on the subject is titled.

Speaking to George Stephanopoulos on ABC News Sunday, Dershowitz maintained his long-held view that the president is immune from the potential crimes Mueller is focused on. He thinks the special counsel's report - due imminently, per CNN - will pose little legal threat to Trump.

Politically, though, is another matter.

"I think the report is going to be devastating to the president, and I know that the president's team is already working on a response to the report," Dershowitz said, after Stephanopoulos reminded him that several of Trump's former aides have cut plea deals and are cooperating with Mueller.

"When I say devastating, I mean it's going to paint a picture that's going to be politically very devastating," Dershowitz continued." I still don't think it's going to make a criminal case, because collusion is not criminal."

Reached by phone on Monday, as his comments pinged around the internet and raised expectations for an explosive report, Dershowitz refined them.

"What I think Mueller's going to do if he's smart is connect the open dots," Dershowitz, who has defended clients in some of the most famous cases in modern history, told The Washington Post. "He's going to lay out everything that relates to contacts between anyone in the campaign and the Russians, and the same thing with obstruction of justice. None of these things by themselves are compelling, but when you lay it out and see it all in one document, I think it will be on its face very critical of the president."

That will be a bad time for Trump, assuming Mueller's report is made public, Dershowitz said. But he also expected the president to release a rebuttal, arguing that Mueller relied on noncredible witnesses and invented crimes where Trump merely exercised constitutional powers of his office.

"The rebuttal will put a different spin on it. People who support Trump will say the rebuttal seems correct," he said. "I think by 2019, we'll be back to where we are now."

Dershowitz doesn't claim to have any special access to what Mueller and Trump are doing, though he's hardly alone in expecting the investigation's end game is imminent now that midterm elections are over.

As it happened, Trump himself opined on the matter Monday morning - not attacking the credibility of Mueller's witnesses, as Dershowitz predicts he will, but rather going after the special counsel himself.

When Mueller does his final report, will he be covering all of his conflicts of interest in a preamble? the president wrote, citing no examples. Will he be putting in statements from hundreds of people closely involved with my campaign who never met, saw or spoke to a Russian during this period?

-- John Wagner, The Washington Post
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Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities announced on Saturday the discovery of an ancient tomb in Luxor province in Upper Egypt.



Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anany said that the tomb was unearthed by an Egyptian archaeological mission working at al-Asassif area on the West Bank of Luxor.

According to al-Anany, the discovery has seen the light after five months of excavation work carried out by the Egyptian mission led by Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

"After removing about 300 cubic meters of rubble, the mission succeeded in discovering the tomb of Thaw-Irkhet-If, who was an official of the mummification shrine in Mut Temple," Waziri told Xinhua.

The walls of the tomb are decorated with colored scenes depicting the owner with members of his family, Waziri said.

Inside the tomb, excavators found two coffins with two mummies in good conditions.

Two wooden statues, a collection of 1,000 Ushabti statues carved in wood, faience and clay as well as five colored masks were found in the tomb.

In the same area, al-Anany witnessed the opening of a colorful sarcophagus of a mummified woman made of wood.

The sarcophagus was discovered by an archaeological mission affiliated to the French University of Strasbourg.

A mummy of a woman wrapped in linen was found inside the sarcophagus in a good conservation condition. The mission is set to conduct archaeological and scientific studies to uncover the historical era of the mummy.

Egypt, one of the most ancient civilizations, has been working hard to preserve its archaeological heritage and discover the secrets of its ancient antiquities in a bid to revive the country's ailing tourism sector.

Tourism sector has suffered an acute recession over the past few years because of political turmoil and relevant security issues.
High school students participating in Career and Technical Education programs through Mid Michigan College and the Clare/Gladwin RESD will benefit from brand new equipment in their skills labs.

Due in large part to major grant funding, the college is in the final stages of installing new welding and manufacturing equipment in the college's Technical Education Center.

The CTE program allows local high school students to earn both high school and college credit while developing valuable job skills that directly connect to today's manufacturing industry.

"We're making final adjustments to the newly-installed equipment now," said Shawn Troy, dean of career and workforce education at Mid Michigan College. "We're eager to get students into the lab so that they can begin learning on leading-edge technology."

This marks the final stage of a yearlong process to update the CTE programs' learning spaces. In the fall of 2017, the Central Michigan Manufacturers Association worked with Mid/CTE welding and manufacturing instructors to identify equipment that would modernize labs, increase job readiness for students and help the college become a regional training center for local companies.

Mid and the CGRESD then collaborated on a proposal for $400,000 to purchase the equipment through a State of Michigan 61c grant. That grant, one of the largest in the State, was awarded in full.

Because 61c grant funds only covered equipment purchases, Mid Michigan College applied for and was awarded a $16,000 Mini Grant through the East Michigan Council of Governments to help offset installation costs. The college funded all remaining expenses.

"Mid Michigan College strives to provide various avenues for students to achieve meaningful skills and employment. We know that people aren't one-size-fits-all. And, these CTE offerings allow high school students to get a jump start by providing practical and hands-on training that directly connects to area employment needs," Troy said. "Now, those students will learn on some of the newest and most advanced equipment on the market."
Leaders of China's classical music community examined how technology and digital media are changing symphonies, orchestras and the field as a whole at the fourth China Orchestra Administration and Management Forum in Shenzhen-a metropolis in Guangdong province that's considered as a sci-tech hub -over Nov 10-11.

Forum chairman Nie Bing, who's also director of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra that was established in 1982-three years after Shenzhen's founding-says the change has been vast since the reform and opening-up.

"Most people didn't even know how to speak Mandarin in the early years after Shenzhen became a city," Nie says.

"But we saw that people appreciated music. So, it's important for us to popularize (classical) music ... We've started to use new media and online media in recent years. We've experimented on WeChat to publicize our orchestra with good results."

Ningbo Symphony Orchestra's deputy director, Tong Ming, says the Chinese messaging app has improved publicity.

"We post on our public account every other day. The content centers on performances, including specific repertoires and musicians."

He cites an article posted on the group's account about Symphonie Fantastique, with the headline-"A love story about a fanboy pursuing his goddess"-about how French composer Hector Berlioz wrote the symphony out of his love for Irish actress Harriet Smithson.

China Philharmonic Orchestra director Li Nan criticizes the use of "clickbait".

"I can understand marketing methods, but I wouldn't recommend vulgarization and catering to audiences like this. There are some things we need to hold onto."

But Ningbo Symphony Orchestra's new media publicity has proven successful, considering the group is only three years old.

"It's remarkable that nearly all their WeChat posts get over 5,000 views," classical music recording engineer Liu Da says.

"The orchestras' posts usually get about 3,000 views each in total, which is already quite a lot."

Zurich Chamber Orchestra's artistic and executive director, Michael Buhler, explained various ways in which his group has been using technology to enliven performances and promote classical music among the youth.

The orchestra strives to innovate to create immersive theater experiences, Buhler says.

It placed transparent projection screens in front of and behind the orchestra at one performance to create a holographic effect, so older audience members could enjoy the music and the youth would also like it.

The orchestra also once brought in an artist who painted during the concert to express the music's movement with flowing colors. Audiences are allowed to take photos and film, and share these on streaming and social media platforms, which also expands the audience base.

"Teenagers are very media-driven," Buhler says.

"In one project, we gave them a piece of classical music and asked them to produce a video. And we played the five best videos in the concert. The videos move me to tears every time."

China's orchestras are also working to popularize classical music among the younger generation. This fulfills both their social responsibility to promote music literacy and their need to attract more concertgoers.

The Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra established three youth orchestras of different age groups in 2015.

"Youth orchestras can be conducive to art education for children and teenagers," Nie says. "If the kids love classical music, their parents will take them to concerts and fall in love with the music, too. I believe the establishment of our youth orchestras has promoted classical music's popularization."
A special bookshelf named "That's China" has been inaugurated at the Confucius Institute of Barcelona, with the Spanish translations of more than 200 works of Chinese modern literature on display.

"The more you know another society, the more happiness flows in other areas of life, and books are very useful for that," Montserrat Riba, secretary general of Casa Asia, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the opening ceremony on Friday.

The program aims to bring the magic of literature from the Asian country to students and visitors of the Confucius Institute, she said.

Enhancing the literature of other countries such as China is in line with the local tradition of Barcelona and its inhabitants, said the chief of Casa Asia, a consortium aims to facilitate exchanges and communication between Asia-Pacific countries and Spain.

"It is a pride that China knows our tradition and shares some aspects. I am convinced that, little by little, the response of the city of Barcelona to Chinese literature will be the majority," she said.

The "That's China" bookshelf is an important method for the world to get closer to China. China has never been so close to the rest of the world, said Mai Jia, a famous modern Chinese novelist.

He noted that societies are hidden in every book, and so, called on Spanish publishers to import the works of different Chinese authors, as they did with him at a time that he remembers as "the happiest of his life."

"I remember arriving in Madrid and seeing my face on buses. It said that I was one of the writers that people should read. That's why Spain is my favorite country," he said.

Sara Rovira-Esteva, professor of the Department of Translation, Interpretation and Studies of East Asia at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, told Xinhua that it is important to maintain the current trend of publishing about 10 new Chinese books in Spain every year.

"People are failing to see China as that exotic country and are learning to enjoy the rhythms and details of Chinese literature," she reflected.
Just like Microsofts holiday sales last Christmas, the companys Cyber Monday deals are going fast, though you can still hunt down a few decent ones.

The companys Surface and Xbox deals for Cyber Monday include discounts on the Surface Pro 6 and Surface Book 2. Historically, Microsoft has also featured a few eye-popping holiday offers, discounting good-to-excellent laptops by hundreds of dollars. Whats left among Microsofts list of PC deals this year are generally less-expensive notebooks and desktops with hefty percentage discounts amounting to a couple of hundred dollars or so.

Microsoft Two MSI gaming notebooks are on sale today, including the GP73 Leopard, shown here.

We found a couple of notable exceptions to that rulethough theyre accompanied by a couple of tradeoffs. Both the MSI GP73 Leopard-001 notebook ($1099, $250 off) as well as the MSI GE63 Raider ($1,349, $250 off) include the six-core Intel Core i7-8750H processor. The cheaper GP73 includes a larger 17-inch 1080p screen, but uses an entry-level discrete GTX 1050 GPU. The more expensive GE63 Raider pairs up the 8750H with a more powerful GTX 1060 GPU, potentially balancing the GPU and CPU a bit more equally.

In addition, Microsoft knocked $400 off the Samsung Notebook 9 Pens price, bringing it to $999. Its high price put a damper on our Samsung Notebook 9 Pen review; this discount feels much more in line with its actual value.

Mark Hachman / IDG We didnt like the aesthetics of the Samsung Notebook 9 Pen as much as some other Samsung products, but the steep discount makes it more attractive.

Microsoft is also good at offering older versions of quality notebooks at decent discounts, which makes bargain shopping an interesting proposition. Remember that Intels 8th-generation Core chips encompass several sub-generations, so a notebook with a 7th-gen Core chip may be a year or two old. For example, Microsoft is offering a Dell Inspiron 15 5000-series notebook with a 7th-gen CPU for $599.99Remove non-product link, $200 off. Its not quite the 7000-series notebook we really liked, save for the screen, but its still a solid Cyber Monday deal.

Finally, be a little wary: some of these deals arent deals at all. Case in point: Dells selling the Dell XPS 13 9370 with a Core i7 with 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage for $1,399. Its a superb laptop, but theres no deal here. We checked the configurations of our original review, and found that Dell was offering it for the same price. Ditto for the Dell XPS 15 9570 with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage; Microsofts claiming its $1,699 price is $300 off, but Amazon is offering the same machine for $300 less, or $1,399.
SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP  Lydia Hemperly was born in 1889 and lived a long life  84 years.

But that life was still cut down too soon.

Hemperly was found bound, gagged and dead in her remote home in Susquehanna Township on Oct. 22, 1974. It was remote then, anyway, as U.S. Route 22/322 was still under construction.

The autopsy shows she died of asphyxiation. Newspaper articles from the time reported multiple broken ribs.

Susquehanna Township police are investigating the 1974 killing of 84-year-old Lydia Hemperly.

And the killer or killers? They were never caught, and they could still be out there today.

Its called a cold case, but the investigation into the death of Hemperly has never technically gone cold.

Every day I come in here, I think about Lydia Hemperly, said Susquehanna Township Deputy Chief of Police Jeffrey Vargo. We havent forgotten about her.

Hes looking for the publics help to uncover any clue that may lead to an arrest. And some closure for Hemperlys family.

This is one of several cold cases under investigation in Susquehanna Township. In one, Ramon Yentzer was found shot and killed in his apartment-complex parking lot in 1978.

Hemperlys case predates that by four years.

Vargo started taking a deep dive in 2009 to find out what he could about her and the circumstances of her death. It wasnt easy. He tried tracking down family members and witnesses from the time, but almost everyone is dead now.

He used Ancestory.com, though, to find a few family members, including her great-niece Janet Fourman, who is now 86 and lives just outside of Lebanon.

From what I remember of her, she liked to have fun. She was a very jolly person, Fourman said. There was a little bar down from where she lived, and she liked to go down and tip a few.

Lydia Hemperly lived in this once remote home on Mountain View Road. Route 22/322 runs nearby now.

The memories brought a smile to her face as Fourman recalled the days when she and her sister would visit Hemperly on a Sunday afternoon.

Hemperly worked as a maid for much of her life. Though she lived alone, she was far from a hermit. Besides stopping by the small bar near her house, she was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary in Harrisburg and would often meet with her friends for some company and perhaps a beer or two.

Her husband had died many years before -- Fourman never knew him. Hemperly had three sons, all of whom died young  in their teens or 20s. Two are buried with her now at the Hill Lutheran Church in Lebanon County.

When it comes to her murder, Vargo wanted to be vague about some of the details. Parts of it have never been revealed and only the killer would know about it.

But from what he could say, and what was previously reported, no one had seen or heard from Hemperly for a few days. No one at the VFW, no family, no friends, no neighbors. No one.

On Oct. 22, 1974, a family member went to her home and found her bound, gagged and dead.

Her car had been stolen, as well, and was found several days later in Greensburg near Pittsburgh.

It was heartbreaking news to receive, Fourman said.

She didnt deserve to be murdered like that, she said.

Lydian Hemperly (lower right) enjoyed spending time with the VFW Auxiliary, where she as a member.

The search continues today, but its not for a lack of effort on the part of the investigators at the time.

There was a long list of potential suspects and witnesses that gave a lot of information, Vargo said. Every time I read a report from the 70s, I cant say how impressed I am with their professionalism and thoroughness.

And he has been in touch with a few of those investigators.

They all say they wish they would have solved this crime because of the brutality this poor lady endured, he said. Obviously, I would like to put handcuffs on the person who did this.

Vargos hope is that with the advancement of technology in the last 44 years, and with some of the evidence collected and interviews on hand, the case may be able to move forward and that getting the information out there into the public might jog somebodys memory. Maybe someone heard a conversation that strikes them as peculiar in hindsight. Maybe they saw something. And maybe that little detail is what the police need to find the killer.

And for Fourman, time moves on, but she has not forgotten her great-aunt, who is buried at the Hill Lutheran Church not far away from her home.

I drive by her grave at least every other week, Fourman said. I always stop and say maybe one day, Aunt Lydia. Maybe one day.
Both U.S. senators representing Pennsylvania are seeking more answers about the oversight of nursing homes following an investigation by PennLive.

A PennLive investigation found that many homes formerly owned by the Golden Living chain continue to rack up citations from the state Health Department even under different management. Critics and advocates for seniors say the department should be taking more action to improve nursing homes and to issue tougher penalties on companies that dont show progress. (Read the special investigation: Still Failing the Frail.)

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. said the PennLive investigation raises concerns.

Any facility that is charged with caring for older Americans must be held to the highest standard and held fully accountable if those standards arent met. This report raises serious concerns, Casey said in a statement.

I would urge state officials to take aggressive steps to remedy any deficiencies and I will continue to press the Trump Administration to hold nursing homes accountable for health and safety violations, Casey added.

Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomeys office is also seeking more information following the PennLive report. The office is reaching out to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the governors office for more information on the oversight of these facilities, said Steve Kelly, a spokesman for Toomey.

In February, Casey was one of a dozen senators to sign onto a letter urging the federal government to enforce tougher safety standards on nursing homes. The senators urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to restore regulations to ensure the safety of nursing home residents. The lawmakers said the federal government has weakened rules designed to keep seniors safe.

Earlier this month, state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said he plans to conduct another audit of the state Health Departments oversight of nursing homes.

Pa. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said he is planning a new audit of the state Health Department regarding its oversight of nursing homes.Dan Gleiter file photo

Two years ago, DePasquale conducted a similar audit and found a number of deficiencies in the states oversight. In that 2016 audit, he found the Health Department wasnt properly reviewing staffing levels at nursing homes. In addition, the department wasnt doing enough to sanction substandard facilities or properly handle complaints, the 2016 audit found.

PennLive examined care-related problems at the homes formerly managed by Golden Living. One year after Golden Living sold the licenses to its 36 homes in Pennsylvania, nearly two-thirds of those homes were cited just as often or more frequently for care-related problems.

The state said it found issues including supervisory failures that harmed residents, unsanitary conditions, insect infestations and falsified records. Overall, PennLive found managers at the nursing homes made virtually no changes to improve staffing levels.

Advocates for seniors say state regulators arent doing nearly enough to protect the 90,000 residents in Pennsylvanias nursing homes. State regulators have failed to thoroughly vet new nursing home applicants, critics said. Advocates said Pennsylvania must update its standards for minimum staffing and issue tougher penalties on homes for providing bad care.

The state Health Department has said it is doing its best to protect nursing home residents. The department said it hopes to release tougher regulations  including a new standard for minimum staffing  before the end of the year.
A federal appeals court refused Monday to revive a $5 million lawsuit filed by a prison inmate who claims he contracted tuberculosis while serving a life sentence for a robbery/murder.

Denon Kitt, who was convicted of a slaying in Washington, D.C., in the late 1990s, provided no proof that officials at the federal prison at Canaan breached any medical protocols, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit concluded.

Kitt, 42, contended he contracted TB because an infected inmate was transferred into his housing unit at Waymart, which is in Wayne County, in 2011. He appealed to the circuit court after U.S. Middle District Judge Robert D. Mariani dismissed his suit.

The circuit judges agreed with Mariani that prison officials properly screened the transferred inmate for active TB and determined he was not an infection risk at the time of his transfer to Canaan. In August 2013, that prisoner was diagnosed with active TB, which can be transmitted by coughing or sneezing.

Kitt, who represented himself in the suit, claimed the transferred prisoner should have been placed in medical isolation immediately upon arrival at Canaan because the man had been exposed to TB in 1994 and received 6 months of therapy.

Kitt was diagnosed with latent  inactive  tuberculosis in October 2013, the circuit judges noted. He received treatment and has since shown no active signs of TB, court filings state.

The appeals judges rejected Kitts claim that prison officials negligently and knowingly exposed him to a health risk. Instead, they found prison officials followed all required medical protocols.

Records show Kitt is no longer at Canaan, but is in the federal prison at Victorville, Calif.
STATE COLLEGE  In a small conference room of the State College Police Department, Lt. Gregory Brauser gestured with his black pen to the statistics in front of him.

A number of what are typically alcohol-driven offenses  aggravated assault, simple assault, sexual assaults, possession, consumption, transportation, furnishing alcohol to minors, public drunkenness and noise complaints  were laid on the paper before him.

A little less than two years ago, shock waves rippled through this college town and beyond following the events of one night that occurred in the basement of a nearly 130-year-old fraternity:

Eighteen drinks consumed in 82 minutes during a hazing ritual.

A pledge, Timothy Piazza, who fell and became unconscious following Beta Theta Pis gauntlet drinking course.

Twelve hours before anyone called 911.

Piazzas death.

Thirteen days after Piazza died, the university announced a sweeping freeze on all Greek life social activities and revoked Beta Theta Pis recognition. This short-term shutdown was followed swiftly by a late March 2017 announcement by the university of regulations on fraternities and sororities.

Penn State said it has since taken aggressive new measures to focus its Greek life community on safety. Some of these include taking control of the fraternity and sorority organizational misconduct processes, establishing a team of university-hired monitors to perform regular, unannounced spot checks of off-campus fraternity houses, according to the university.

But anyone who might have hoped that clamping down on fraternity and sorority parties would reduce underage or excessive drinking would be disappointed.

What we found is that those numbers actually went up once the fraternities were completely shut down, Brauser, a 20-year SCPD veteran, said recently. And, looking at 2018s numbers, now the fraternities are back in place but with more restrictions and more oversight on them there was no drastic change up or down.

The changes there have been noticeable. A walk through State Colleges Highlands area  frat land to many  would have proved a quiet trip this semester, with mostly dark or silent fraternity houses lining the streets. The university has even fallen out of The Princeton Reviews list of top 20 party schools for a second year in the row. Its a list that had Penn State highly ranked for more than a decade.

But, Brauser said, the underage-drinking culture at Penn State is like a balloon.

You see that the fraternities are a part of that balloon, so they squeezed on that and shut that up  but the balloon expands somewhere else, he said.

The overall arrest data shows that from Feb. 1, 2014, through Feb. 28, 2015, there were 1,119 arrests for everything from assaults to public intoxication to selling/furnishing a minor. During a similar period from Feb. 1, 2017, to Feb. 28, 2018, the arrest total was 1,285. Focus strictly on the number of arrests for possession, consumption and transportation, and the bottom line shows little change over the past couple years: the total was 474 arrests during the 2014-15 period and 460 during the 2017-18 period, with a slight decrease during the couple of years in between.

Brauser said he was surprised at the spike in the numbers. His department saw an uptick in calls from other venues, including downtown apartments as well as complexes with outdoor pools.

"Large parties that didnt exist when maybe a fraternity could have a party now theyre moving to a space that has the same capacity but maybe isnt as regulated, Brauser said.

Even though fraternities monitored themselves in a relatively unregulated fashion before, it was still better than that of an off-campus complex, he said.

The drinking culture at Penn State is apparent, from bars lining Beaver and College Avenue to the overflowing downtown apartments, but Greeks represent only a fraction of Penn State students.

Greek life, said Brauser, doesnt drive the culture. Its just a portion of it.

There is no monitoring or risk management at apartments, said James JP Brady, president of Penn States Interfraternity Council. Fraternities must follow an approved risk management plan, adhere to occupancy laws, have a RAMP certified bartender, have a CPR-trained member present and have the Compliance Coordinators walk through the house [one or two] times per event.

Lt. Gregory Brauser said underage and reckless drinking is seemingly inevitable in a college town. And the lieutenant said his goals must look more to 'make it safe and limit risks that go along with that kind of behavior'  often differing slightly from that of the university.PN

Brady, who became Interfraternity Council president in mid-October, portrays the changes of the past two years as positive ones for greek organizations.

The fraternity presidents and risk managers really seem to have built good relationships with the Compliance Coordinators, he said via email. Naturally, theres a learning curve on both sides. I think the relationship between fraternities and their compliance officers has continued to improve because of buy-in from both parties.

The compliance coordinators, seven assigned to specific houses as of September, are just one of several changes. Others include deferred recruitment and the newly introduced Greek-life Scorecard that provides information on fraternities and sororities including membership, academic performance, conduct and standards of excellence.

The 2018 data includes violations identified by Penn State starting with the spring semester.

The most recent grades show no sexual assault violations for any Greek organization, and no hazing violations from 37 active IFC houses, according to the student affairs website.

There were several violations for alcohol and "other" infractions, and 14 houses were suspended in the 2018 report.

Twenty-two IFC houses had no violations, while the most violations for a single house was five. Additionally, two sororities had violations and two others were suspended.

Were very pleased with the progress made in the last year, and we hope to continue that progress in the year ahead, Damon Sims, Penn States vice president for Student Affairs, said via email.

The new members of our organizations are buying into the new culture  Brady said. The new measures put in place put in place by both the IFC and the University are helping accomplish that. They are the new normal.

Brady, a member of the Acacia fraternity, also said that potential new members, as well as the fraternities themselves, are just as eager to rush  if not more so.

If success is defined as more regulation of Greek life, Penn State might appear to be making strides. But, the same does not appear to be resolving would could be seen as a larger problem of underage and binge drinking.

I think its important to keep in mind that Greek life only makes up about 14 percent of the student population, roughly 5,500 students out of 40,000, Brady said.

Brauser said underage and reckless drinking is seemingly inevitable in a college town.

And the lieutenant said his goals must look more to make it safe and limit risks that go along with that kind of behavior  often differing slightly from that of the university. Tasked with the big picture, Brauser said the department focuses on cracking down on those attempting to furnish alcohol to minors, perhaps leaking some air from the balloon, as well as public safety throughout State College.

But, as the former Beta Theta Pi house still sits hauntingly vacant on South Burrowes Street, everyone gets a reminder of why the university cracked down on Greek organizations.

We also maintain a zero-tolerance rule for serious hazing, and violations result in the permanent revocation of recognition of any chapter, a university statement read. In short, we will not rest in our efforts, with the hope that this kind of tragedy never occurs again.

Brauser said the universitys Greek-life Compliance Coordinators were in contact with the police department throughout the fall, meeting and making introductions.

Theyre going to be out, Brauser said.
By Thomas J. Botzman

The Keystone State has traditionally been a strong advocate for higher education, especially in providing aid directly to students so they can choose the college or university that is the right fit for them and their education.

In my view, that has made our state more innovative and competitive, increasingly efficient, and a model for how to fuel economic and social development through support for higher education. In simpler terms, Pennsylvania is the national leader in funding higher education for students with financial need.

Fifty-five years ago, Pennsylvanias executive and legislative branches created the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) as a vehicle to administer grant support to students with demonstrated financial need based on family income. From the beginning, students were able to choose whether to use the grant at a community college, a public four-year college, or a private higher education institution. Extending the aid to private institutions  which award 49 percent of college degrees in the state while receiving only 10 percent of state funding  is certainly an efficient use of resources as it limits the need for more funding at state universities. We have more than 90 private institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to complement the public university system.

Another astute action was to make PHEAA a provider of student financial aid services nationally, including loan servicing and financial aid processing through American Education Services. PHEAA receives its revenues nationally, but the funds support Pennsylvanias students after covering operating costs.

Since 2005-06, PHEAA has provided a multi-million dollar supplement each year to the benefit of students in every institution of higher education in Pennsylvania.

That amount has risen to about $100 million annually out of a total grant budget of approximately $400 million. Unfortunately, the amounts used to supplement the state-funded program have been draining reserves, so state government is being asked to fund PHEAA grants fully for the upcoming year.

It could have a negative impact on PHEAAs loan servicing business if state legislators are unable to maintain necessary reserves. As such, I am hopeful the executive and legislative branches of state government will fully fund PHEAA completely in order to support both student need and the ongoing successful business model.

PHEAA is taking an additional step that deserves support, as it began making loans directly to Pennsylvania students. The recent announcement of the loan program provides a route for students and families to receive a lower cost loan than what they would have received from the for-profit sector in the form of a PLUS loan.

Furthermore, any profit to PHEAA will once again go to supporting operational costs and grants to present and future Pennsylvanians.

That is again good news for students, their families, and taxpayers. Through strong management and carefully planned operations, PHEAA is ready to make loans more affordable while providing substantial grants that do not need to be repaid. We all want education that is accessible to all capable students and is affordable.

This is a thoughtful and astute way to support Pennsylvanias students. Those students, in turn, will be our future civic leaders, fellow citizens and neighbors, and skilled workers who will build a stronger economy in our state.

Thomas J. Botzman is the president of Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. His work appears occasionally on PennLive Opinion.
By Gary Abernathy

In how they cover President Donald Trump, our most vaunted media outlets have too often lost their way, and Trump responds accordingly. His honest, angry and dismissive retorts to journalists whom he knows are his enemies are not attacks on journalism, but on those who abuse journalistic privileges to carry out personal political agendas.

Trump recently told Fox News' Chris Wallace, "... nobody believes in the First Amendment more than I do ... I'm totally in favor of the media, I'm totally in favor of (a) free press." It is not incongruous to hold that view and still loathe a liberal media establishment seemingly bent on destroying his presidency.

But then comes the case of Jamal Khashoggi. More than anything Trump has ever said or done regarding the media, the president's shameful response to the murder of the Saudi journalist reinforces his critics' claims that he does not demonstrate a sufficient commitment to the right of free speech and dissent.

No, Khashoggi was not a U.S. citizen, although three of his children hold that distinction and he was a U.S. resident. Yes, Khashoggi's murder is merely one of countless examples of violent acts and human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia that American presidents have historically ignored. Yes, Khashoggi's writings sometimes defended groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood, considered a terrorist group by many, and in the 1980s, he developed a relationship with Osama bin Laden, but he expressed no sympathy for extremism.

But none of that matters. If it stands for anything, the United States stands for the right of free expression everywhere, even opinion that seems wrong or objectionable.

Khashoggi was, by credible accounts, ambushed, tortured, strangled and dismembered in a Saudi consulate in Turkey - all because he spoke out against the Saudi government as a contributing columnist for The Washington Post and other outlets.

There has been too much focus, including by Trump, on whether the Saudi crown prince ordered Khashoggi's murder - as the CIA reportedly concluded. All that matters is that the killing happened in a Saudi consulate in a clearly premeditated attack, and was then denied, covered up and called an accident before the Saudi government finally acknowledged it. Even if the crown prince didn't order it, Trump must hold the Saudis accountable.

As much as news outlets such as The Post and the New York Times anger the president - sometimes with good cause - they are storied and revered institutions of American independence and freedom, unique in their journalistic history and lineage. As a contributing columnist for The Post, Khashoggi represented American journalism abroad at its highest level, flawed as it sometimes can be.

In this case, there is no legitimate balancing of economic benefit vs. moral leadership. There is only one message that should come from an American president: This cannot stand. No amount of lost deals, even ones worth billions of dollars; no danger of escalating oil prices; no worries of strategic alliances can outweigh the responsibility of the president of the United States to stand tall for a free press and freedom of speech everywhere. The only acceptable response is this: If a country retaliates with the torture and murder of a journalist representing a U.S. news outlet, there will be a steep price to pay.

"America first" is a Trumpian message well-regarded across much of the heartland and within Trump's solid base. The president cited the theme among his reasons for giving Saudi Arabia a pass in Khashoggi's murder. But in kowtowing to the Saudis, Trump seemed to indicate that U.S. success is dependent upon Saudi largess, hardly a message conveying American strength.

Just a week ago, I had the privilege of speaking with graduate students at the Columbia Journalism School in New York. As I often do when addressing students in various settings, I defended many of Trump's attacks on journalists whose personal politics lead to biased reporting on this president. Were I to be in front of those students today, I could make no excuse for the president's lame response to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In his Fox News interview with Wallace, Trump said he has not listened to the audio recording of Khashoggi's brutal murder. He said he was advised against hearing it, because it was a disturbing "suffering" tape.

Listen to the recording, Mr. President. Listen to the recording. And when you hear it, remember, this was not merely an attack on a Saudi dissident for political reprisal. This was an attack on journalism itself, a vivid demonstration of what some nations would do to the very concept of a free and independent press - torture it, kill it, dismember it.

Trump often, understandably, demonstrates disdain for a news media dominated by a liberal mindset that despises him and what he stands for. But he cannot allow his scorn for organizations - even those that sometimes abuse their journalistic platforms - to diminish the ideal of journalism itself, which remains both the bedrock of a free and informed society, as well as one of the most important foundations of democracy. That is what he must defend and protect in the tragic case of Jamal Khashoggi.

Gary Abernathy, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, is a freelance writer and former newspaper editor based in Hillsboro, Ohio. His work appears occasionally on PennLive Opinion.
By Alex Horton

Military recruits enter the chamber one by one and don protective masks. Tear gas swirls. Then, the order: Take off your mask and breathe. Eyes well and throats tighten, and men and women training for war uncontrollably gag.

Nearly every uniform is coated in snot. Some recruits vomit.

The gas chamber exercise demonstrates to troops that their equipment works. It also shows, in a visceral way, what happens if an enemy targets U.S. forces with an agent like tear gas, commonly known as CS gas - an aerosol compound considered a chemical weapon that has been outlawed on the battlefield by nearly every nation on Earth, including the United States.

But as a riot control agent, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile is legal to use by both police and federal authorities in the United States and many other countries.

On Sunday, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents fired the chemical agent at mostly Honduran migrants attempting to cross at Tijuana - an unusual escalation of lobbing weapons over an international border at unarmed civilians seeking refuge, drawing condemnation from Democrats.

"I felt that my face was burning, and my baby fainted. I ran for my life and that of my children," Cindy Milla, a Honduran migrant with two children, told the Wall Street Journal.

Chief Patrol Agent Rodney Scott, the senior Border Patrol agent for the San Diego area, defended the use of the gas, telling CNN that three of his personnel were struck by rocks or debris that also "dented" vehicles. None of his agents were seriously injured, he said.

Chemical weapons such as CS gas are indiscriminate and "uniquely terrorizing in their application," which necessitated their ban in combat in 1993, said Kelsey Davenport, director of nonproliferation policy at the Washington-based Arms Control Association.

Once launched in a volley or thrown into an area, chemical weapons cannot be controlled and can drift toward people who are not targets, Davenport told The Washington Post on Monday.

In battle, that would include civilians and wounded troops, and even friendly soldiers if the winds shift. U.S. battle planners in World War I accounted for U.S. casualties from its own asphyxiating gas attacks.

On the border Sunday, women and children, some in diapers, came into contact with tear gas, raising questions about whether it was a proportional response. Officials described aggressive men threatening the safety of agents; Scott said 42 people, mostly men, were apprehended on the U.S. side of the border.

A CBP spokesperson did not return a request for comment on agency policies for when it is appropriate to use CS gas, or concerns about firing over the border, or how many rounds were fired. No serious injuries of migrants were reported.

Images of children and mothers fleeing from tear gas outraged Democrats critical of President Trump's response to the migrant caravan.

Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor-elect of California, argued that images of kids sprinting from tear gas run counter to American ideals.

"These children are barefoot. In diapers. Choking on tear gas," he tweeted. "Women and children who left their lives behind - seeking peace and asylum - were met with violence and fear. That's not my America. We're a land of refuge. Of hope. Of freedom. And we will not stand for this."

Tear gas was used during protests in Ferguson, Missouri, after the 2014 police shooting death of Michael Brown, drawing similar rebukes from rights groups and citizens who said the police response was disproportionate.

Middle Eastern and African countries typically use CS gas more potent than what U.S. authorities wield - with devastating results.

In 2013, Egyptian police fired tear gas into the back of a vehicle carrying supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi to prison, asphyxiating and killing 37 people. An attorney for the men posted photos of one corpse on Twitter with a face so darkened that families believed at first that the victims burned to death.

Other people have been killed by inhaling CS gas or by the projectiles themselves.

The first of subsequent chemical weapons ban occurred after World War I, Davenport said, after the international community was shocked by twisted corpses in the trenches and horrific wounds of troops who survived with blistered skin and scarred lungs.

In the modern era, the use of chemical weapons by Saddam Hussein in war and against Iraqi civilians was a factor to push for a total ban of chemical agents, Davenport said.

The 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention banned not only the use of chemical weapons in war but also the production and stockpiling of weapons for 193 signatories, she said.

Israel has signed but not ratified the convention. North Korea, Egypt and South Sudan have not taken action.

Alex Horton is a general assignment reporter for The Washington Post. He previously covered the military and national security for Stars and Stripes, and served in Iraq as an Army infantryman.
Health official: 'Unlikely we will reach a level of immunity in the next few years'
A South Korea-Myanmar contemporary art exchange exhibition is underway in Myanmar's Yangon to mark the 70th anniversary Myanmar's Independence and the 30th anniversary of South Korea-ASEAN dialogue partnership.

Beginning Saturday, the five-day art exhibition, held at the National Museum, is displaying 31 paintings by 12 Myanmar artists and 11 paintings by South Korean artists along with four sculptures by 14 South Korean artists.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa said, "The art of painting is not limited to people from around the world, regardless of whatever languages they are speaking. So, people speaking different languages can communicate through the message the paintings give."

The ambassador added that South Korea is trying to further strengthen its good ties with all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) including Myanmar.

Meanwhile, a South Korean cultural concert is to take place in Nay Pyi Taw next week, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Sunday.
A set of six infrastructure grants announced by state officials will bring more than $3 million to roads, trails and sidewalk projects in the region. The grants all come through the Pennsylvania Financing Authority through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program and the Multimodal Transportation Fund.  The largest grant, by far, is the $1.75 million provided to Lower Providence...
Jogioja Makes it Rain! Wins the Cash Game Festival Tallinn Trophy

November 26, 2018 Jason Glatzer

The Cash Game Festival Tallinn at Olympic Park Casino ended the festival's 2018 season in style with plenty of action both on and away from the tables.

The Cash Game Festival hosted televised feature tables twice per day, commentated on by Cash Game Festival's new host Christin Maemets. As is always the case in the 24-event history of the Cash Game Festival, there were also plenty of guests joining the booth.

Estonia's Rain Jogioja, who has been to many Cash Game Festivals in his home country but never abroad, now has a very good reason to travel to the next Cash Game Festival at Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford City on Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, 2019 thanks to winning the Cash Game Festival Tallinn trophy. Along with the trophy, Jogioja also won a package valued at 1,000 for London.

Jogioja earned the trophy by winning the most big blinds out of any of the players on the ten official feature tables. He booked a big win of 1,845 (922.5 big blinds) on Day 1's 2/2 pot-limit Omaha feature table, and never looked back.

After his big Day 1 win, Jogioja credited both luck and timing for his big win. "I got a bit lucky early on, especially with garbage hands," shared Jogioga to PokerNews. "Then I won a huge hand calling off a bluff by Franke (Cash Game Festival Co-Founder Martin von Zweigbergk) to put myself in a good position to be the biggest winner at the table."

Rain Jogioja

While Jogioja booked the biggest win in terms of big blinds, it was Barry McGleenon who won the most in terms of money during a single feature table. He won 3,605 (721 big blinds) on Day 4's 5/5 pot-limit Omaha feature table.

McGleenon has been to a bunch of Cash Game Festivals in the past along with two-time Cash Game Festival trophy winner Kevin Malone, but is usually in attendance for the vibe and partying and played very little poker so far. That all changed this festival for McGleenon and it all came down to switching from alcohol to water.

"You look surprised that I was the biggest winner," McGleenon said to PokerNews with a big smile. "See what water can do?"

Also noteworthy was Michelangelo Scalcione working his way to two big wins at the feature tables at his very first Cash Game Festival.

A handful of qualifiers from 32Red Poker also managed their way to big wins at feature tables including Christian Bauer and Stephen Groom. Meanwhile, Oliver Florea, Rikard Relander, Anton Dzhelali, Jens Henrik Riis, and Fraser MacIntyre also won their feature tables.

Cash Game Festival Tallinn Feature Table Winners

Day Player Game Profit Big Blinds Won Day 1 Oliver Florea 1/1 NLHE 204 204.0 Day 1 Rain Jogioja 2/2 PLO 1,845 922.5 Day 2 Rikard Relander 1/1 NLHE 756 756.0 Day 2 Anton Dzhelali 2/2 PLO 359 179.5 Day 3 Jens Henrik Riis 2/2 Mixed Games 573 286.5* Day 3 Michelangelo Scalcione 2/2 NLHE 348 174.0 Day 3 Christian Braeuer 2/2 PLO 1,256 628.0 Day 4 Barry McGleenon 5/5 PLO 3,605 721.0 Day 4 Michelangelo Scalcione 5/5 NLHE 475 95.0 Day 5 Stephen Groom 2/2 NLHE 576 288.0 Day 5 Fraser MacIntyre 2/2 PLO 1,240 620.0

* Designates unofficial feature table.

Jogioja joined an exclusive Cash Game Festival club that has awarded a total of ten trophies. Von Zweigbergk, Malone, and Norwegian poker pro Jon Kyte have all won the trophy twice while Heiti Riisberg, Gang Wang, and Unibet Poker Ambassador David Lappin have each won the trophy once.

Cash Game Festival Trophy Winners

Festival Date Winner Game Amount Won Big Blinds Won CGF London Sept. 20-24, 2017 Jon Kyte 2/5 NLHE 4,265 853.0 CGF Dublin Oct. 11-15, 2017 Kevin Malone 1/2 PLO 1,735 867.5 CGF Tallinn Nov. 15-19, 2017 Heiti Riisberg 1/2 NLHE 3,364 1,682.0 CGF London Jan. 3-7, 2018 Gang Wang 5/5 PLO 9,064 1,812.8 CGF Bratislava April 4-8, 2018 Martin von Zweigbergk 1/2 PLO 1,563 781.5 CGF Tallinn April 25-29, 2018 Jon Kyte 2/2 PLO8 2,698 1,349.0 CGF London July 11-15, 2018 Martin von Zweigbergk 2/2 PLO 1,500 750.0 CGF Bulgaria Aug. 8-12, 2018 Kevin Malone 2/2 PLO 1,620 810.0 CGF Bratislava Sept. 19-23 David Lappin 5/5 PLO 4,162 832.8 CGF Tallinn Nov. 21-25 Rain Jogioja 2/2 PLO 1,845 922.5

The action was equally exciting away from the tables, especially for those with the hospitality package compliment to those who won a package at a previous festival or through the festival's partners 32Red Poker, Unibet Poker, betsafe Poker, and Olybet Poker.

Organized activities included welcome drinks, pole dancing, a pub trip, a players' party, a VIP dinner, a city tour, and beer tasting. In addition, Olympic Casino provided top-notch service by award-winning staff for players each evening.

Don't Miss London

If you were unable to make it out to Tallinn, rest assured you will not have to wait too long to enjoy the next festival.

On Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, the Cash Game Festival heads back to the British capital of London at Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford City for another five days of nonstop cash game action. This marks the seventh-time the festival will be visiting London; the poker action always attracts many players from around the globe.

As usual, the PokerNews live reporting team will be on hand to report on all the events both on and away from the tables.
Sunday Briefing: Gruissem Leads partypoker's massive MILLIONS Online

November 26, 2018 Matthew Pitt

The $20 million guaranteed MILLIONS Online event kicked off at partypoker on Nov. 25 and broke the sites record for the biggest prize pool accumulated in a single day when 1,574 entries (1,332 unique entrants, 242 reentries) of $5,300 each generated a monster-sized $7,870,000 prize pool!

Some 230 players progressed to Day 2 at the first attempt with nobody bagging up more chips than the Team partypoker member Philipp Phil_Gruissem Gruissem. The talented German finished Day 1A with a 26,865,379-stack, over 2.5 million more chips than second-placed hi_all of Finland who bagged 24,126,018 chips.

Plenty of big names also progressed to Day 2 including Chris Therealmoorm Moorman who bagged up 15,374,484 chips, enough for tenth place, and Swedish sensation Viktor Isildur1 Blom (6,303,392).

Four more starting flights are scheduled for Nov. 29 and Dec. 2-4 so expect more big names to enter as they attempt to get their hands on the $2.5 million first-place prize.

partypoker MILLIONS Online Day 1A

Date November 25th Buy-in $5,300 Guarantee $20,000,000 Entrants 1,574 Prize pool $7,870,000 ITM tba

Place Player Country Chips 1 Philipp Phil_Gruissem Gruissem Malta 26,865,379 2 hi_all Finland 24,126,018 3 Ben bfzhang Farrell United Kingdom 22,549,893 4 M1KE1NBRAZ1L Canada 18,884,694 5 CASHEEEGAMEEE Sweden 18,682,668 6 marcosminini Brazil 17,276,420 7 party_KEKIMISU United Kingdom 16,826,075 8 omgitsgiraf United Kingdom 16,648,546 9 jochee Norway 15,792,679 10 Chris Therealmoorm Moorman United Kingdom 15,374,484

partypoker MILLIONS Online Schedule

Date Day Entries Sunday, 25 November MILLIONS Online Day 1A 1,574 Thursday, 29 November MILLIONS Online Day 1B Sunday, 2 December MILLIONS Online Day 1C Monday, 3 December MILLIONS Online Day 1D Tuesday, 4 December MILLIONS Online Day 1E (turbo) MILLIONS Online Day 2 Wednesday, 5 December MILLIONS Online Final Day

partypoker KO Series #38-HR: $300K Gtd [8-Max]

Date November 25th Buy-in $530 Guarantee $300,000 Entrants 815 Prize pool $417,687 ITM 104

The $10 million guaranteed KO Series concluded on Nov. 25 with a handful of $300,000 guaranteed events, including the partypoker KO Series #38-HR: $300K Gtd [8-Max] that saw 815 players create a $417,687 prize pool.

Metallist535 of Russia was the last player standing in this event, their first-place finish netting them a total prize of $71,743. This huge sum dwarfed the $26,007 PhilMcIvey1 collected for their second-place finish thanks to the champion banking $35,374 worth of bounty payments on their way to victory.

The top six finishers helped themselves to a five-figure score for the $530 investment with Chris Therealmoorm Moorman banking $10,404 after finishing fifth, a great day for Moorman with him ending Day 1A of MILLIONS Online with a top 10 stack.

Place Player Country Prize Bounty Payment Total Prize 1 metallist535 Russia $36,369 $35,374 $71,743 2 PhilMcIvey1 Iceland $25,876 $131 $26,007 3 YumYums Sweden $17,379 $5,241 $22,620 4 ebisumaru87 Sweden $11,776 $5,916 $17,692 5 Chris Therealmoorm Moorman United Kingdom $8,313 $2,091 $10,404 6 Astralncognita Ukraine $5,990 $4,466 $10,456 7 donkcallfold Sweden $4,278 $5,061 $9,339 8 Swagg3r123 United Kingdom $2,974 $1,804 $4,778

partypoker KO Series #39-HR: $300K Gtd [Mix-Max Fast]

Date November 25th Buy-in $1,050 Guarantee $300,000 Entrants 370 Prize pool $377,400 ITM 48

After finishing top of the chip counts in the MILLIONS Online Day 1A, Philip Phil_Gruissem Gruissem almost took down the partypoker KO Series #39-HR: $300K Gtd [Mix-Max Fast] but had to make do with a second-place finish.

Gruissem walked away with a combined score of $46,801 for this runner-up finish, leaving Hungarys ATM_Mage to secure a $61,784 payday.

The six-handed final table was a star-studded affair with the UKs jizonhisniz finishing in sixth-place for $9,175, Uruguays MoNddLeR banking $16,538 for their fifth-place finish and Batdog666 of Germany netting $20,161.

Third-place and a total of $25,261 went to Niklas Drulitooo Astedt who also finished third in the PokerStars Sunday Million!

Place Player Country Prize Bounty Payment Total Prize 1 ATM_Mage Hungary $37,000 $24,784 $61,784 2 Philipp Phil_Gruissem Gruissem Malta $27,380 $19,421 $46,801 3 Niklas Drulitooo Astedt Sweden $19,887 $5,374 $25,261 4 Batdog666 Germany $14,019 $6,142 $20,161 5 MoNddLeR Uruguay $10,175 $6,363 $16,538 6 jizonhisniz United Kingdom $7,030 $2,145 $9,175

PokerStars Sunday Million

Date November 25th Buy-in $215 Guarantee $1,000,000 Entrants 6,058 Prize pool $1,211,600 ITM 1,106

This weekends Sunday Million was the biggest in recent weeks after 6,058 players turned out in force to create a $1,211,600 prize pool that was shared among the top $1,106 finishers. A min-cash was worth $331 but this sum increased dramatically to $9,621 by the time the nine-handed final table was set.

Ninth-place went to Diego Die Ventura Ventura Chunga, who was the 2015 PCA Main Event runner-up. Chunga netted $9,621 from this online event. Chunga was joined at the final table by a fellow Peruvian in rmiguel2007 who fell in sixth-place for a $27,840 addition to their bankroll.

Another South American in Peter pitaufmg Gabriel busted in fifth-place for $39,671 with luckyman147 of Poland turning their $215 investment into $56,531.

When play was three-handed, you would have bet your bottom dollar that Swedens Niklas Lena900 Astedt would have swept away the opposition, but this didnt happen as the Swede crashed out in third place for $80,555.

Astedts exit left 4_VaNyA_4 of Moldova and tikidiii of Finland to fight for the title. It was the latter who would ultimately emerge victorious, banking a massive $163,574 and resigning the runner-up to $114,788.

Place Player Country Prize 1 tikidiii Finland $163,574 2 4_VaNyA_4 Moldova $114,788 3 Niklas Lena900 Astedt Sweden $80,555 4 luckyman147 Poland $56,531 5 Peter pitaoufmg Gabriel Brazil $39,671 6 rmiguel2007 Peru $27,840 7 ChiphunterTH Germany $19,537 8 karl-heinz_p Austria $13,710 9 Diego Die Ventura Ventura Chunga Peru $9,621

Niklas Lena900 Astedt finished third for $80,555

PokerStars High Roller Club: $530 Bounty Builder HR

Date November 25th Buy-in $530 Guarantee $300,000 Entrants 1,152 Prize pool $576,000 ITM 134

Andras probris Nemeth won yet another major online poker tournament on Nov. 25 when he came out on top of a 1,152-strong field in the PokerStars High Roller Club: $530 Bounty Builder HR Progressive KO. The $300,000 guarantee was smashed and $576,000 was up for grabs.

The first of the nine players to fall at the final was Switzerlands BAGBAGBAGBAG who walked away with $3,905 plus $5,551 from the bounty prize pool for a combined score of $9,456. This was approximately $2,500 more than eighth-place Ilari Ilari FIN Sahamies collected for his seventh-place finish. Sahamies is a legend in online poker circles thanks to his high stakes cash game exploits.

Maltas sitiolibre29 was the first player to lock up a five-figure score, banking $10,381 in total after busting in seventh-place. They were joined on the rail by hdjgkfgsdl ($10,469), eddycadub ($27,162) and 2Much$4U_08 ($21,501).

Kelvin Kelvin_FP:AR Kerber crashed out in third-place and saw $31,426 added to his PokerStars account, which left compris of Sweden to lock horns with Nemeth for the title. Nemeth defeated his last opponent to scoop $46,862 from the main prize pool and a cool $42,808 worth of bounties, an inflated amount compared to the other players as this amount included the bounty on his own head.

Place Player Country Prize Bounty Payment Total Prize 1 Andras probirs Nemeth Hungary $46,862 $42,808 $89,670 2 compris Sweden $34,349 $3,347 $37,696 3 Kelvin Kelvin_FP:AR Kerber Brazil $25,177 $6,249 $31,426 4 2Much$4U_08 Brazil $18,445 $3,056 $21,501 5 eddycadub Ecuador $13,527 $13,635 $27,162 6 hdjgkfgsdl United Kingdom $9,915 $554 $10,469 7 sitiolibre29 Malta $7,268 $3,113 $10,381 8 Ilari Ilari FIN Sahamies Finland $5,327 $2,609 $7,936 8 BAGBAGBAGBAG Switzerland $3,905 $5,551 $9,456

Ilari Ilari FIN Sahamies finished 8th for a combined $7,936

888poker $100,000 Sunday Sale Mega Deep

Date November 25th Buy-in $109 Guarantee $100,000 Entrants 1,453 Prize pool $145,300 ITM 136

888poker had a sale on Nov. 25 that halved the buy-ins of some of its biggest tournaments. One tournament was the $100,000 Sunday Sale Mega Deep that saw its $215 buy-in reduced to $109. It was a move welcomed by 888s players as 1,453 players turned out and smashed the guarantee by $45,300.

Austrias 23NoraB took full advantage of the chunky prize pool, coming out on top to secure a $26,488 first-place prize. They defeated Lithuanias PiktasVilkas heads-up to emerge victrious; second-place was worth $18,889.

Two other players walked away with a five-figure score to show for their effort. Russias mne_d0edt1 won $10,897 for their fourth-place finish with PAS2HOFF of Ukraine finishing in third-place for $14,530.

Place Player Country Prize 1 23NoraB Austria $26,488 2 PiktasVilkas Lithuania $18,889 3 PAS2HOFF Ukraine $14,530 4 mne_d0edet1 Russia $10,897 5 c_aguiar Brazil $7,265 6 Rodrigo sonmonedass Perez Argentina $5,085 7 RedPantRed Canada $2,906 8 LarsTheGreat Denmark $2,106

888poker $50,000 Sunday Sale Whale

Date November 25th Buy-in $530 Guarantee $50,000 Entrants 130 Prize pool $65,000 ITM 15

Another cut-price 888poker event was the $50,000 Sunday Sale Whale that cost $530 to enter this week instead of $1,050. Like the Sunday Sale edition of the Mega Deep, this event crushed its guarantee when 130 players bought in and created a $65,000 prize pool.

There were some established professionals at the final table. Andrey ifearpanic Pateychuk fell in sixth-place for $3,412 with Alessandro Wadolchimonj Sarro busting one place later in fifth for $4,225.

Finlands Niklas H8ersGnaH8 Viljamaa busted in third-place for $8,450 and was the last player not to collect five-figures from the prize pool.

SalsaFiesta of Sweden was the tournaments runner-up, a finish worth $11,050 which meant lasochobi of Argentina to pick up the lions share of the prize pool, namely a cool $16,250.

Place Player Country Prize 1 lasochobi Argentina $16,250 2 SalsaFiesta Sweden $11,050 3 Niklas H8ersGnaH8 Viljamaa Finland $8,450 4 DeucesCrackd Sweden $6,012 5 Alessandro WadoIchimonj Sarro Netherlands $4,225 6 Andrey ifearpanic Pateychuk Russia $3,412 7 YSoSerious7 Ukraine $2,762 8 spider4444 Belarus $2,275 9 IHaveNoBoss Costa Rica $1,787

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Toan Nguyen Takes Down the Master Classics of Poker 1,500 Progressive Bounty

November 26, 2018 Milko van Winden

The Master Classics of Poker just crowned another champion in Holland Casino Amsterdam. Toan Nguyen took down the 1,500 Progressive Bounty for 41,452 ($47,121) plus an impressive 26,200 ($29,783) in bounties. The Dutchman beat the Israelian poker play Eyal Eshkar heads-up to take down the lion share of the prize pool.

Nguyen has an impressive year so far, winning tournaments in the Netherlands and Vietnam. This tournament victory, however, is Nguyen's biggest score to date. His previous biggest score came at the end of August in this year when he took down the 275 WSOP Circuit Cup over at the World Series of Poker International Circuit in Holland Casino Rotterdam (27,012/$30,706).

MCOP Progressive Bounty Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize Bounties Total in  Total in $ 1 Toan Nguyen Netherlands 41,452 26,200 67,652 $76,908 2 Eyal Eshkar Israel 27,687 2,860 30,547 $34,726 3 Cem Degirmenci Netherlands 19,207 2,650 21,857 $24,847 4 Remy van der Nagel Netherlands 13,835 2,980 16,815 $19,116 5 Olvedo Heinze Netherlands 10,288 1,590 11,878 $13,503 6 Daan van Hoogmoed Netherlands 7,901 2,390 10,291 $11,699 7 Matias Knaapinen Finland 6,233 1,610 7,843 $8,916 8 Frank de Wolf Netherlands 5,021 1,490 6,511 $7,402 9 Daniyar Aubakirov Kazakhstan 4,108 5,230 9,338 $10,616

MCOP Progressive Bounty Day 2 Action

Just 17 hopefuls made Day 2 out of the 181 that started the tournament the day before.

Daan van Hoogmoed started the day as chip leader while Joris Ruijs was the ultimate short stack of the tournament. Ruijs was the first to exit the tournament when he ran ace-six in the ace-ten of Danny van Zijp. Ruijs took home 2,370 plus 1,860 in bounties.

Van Zijp ended up in 12th place himself banking 2,844 and a total of 3,840 in bounties. Others that started Day 2 but didn't make it to the final table included Paul Berende (15th - 2,370 + 1,150) and Kimmo Kurko (11th - 3,406 + 990). Boubekeur Benhalima busted out on the final table bubble of the tournament in tenth place; he had to settle for 3,406 + 2,240.

MCOP Progressive Bounty Final Table

Daniyar Aubikarov was the first player to exit the final table after he lost a big pot against the eventual runner-up Eshkar. All the chips got in the middle when Aubikarov had bottom set with pocket sevens on the king-eight-seven-queen board. Eshkar was playing king-queen of clubs which gave him two pair and a flush draw to go along with that. The river was a queen, and Aubikarov was sent to the rail as the ninth-place finisher. Aubikarov started the day with the biggest bounty on his head, and he also entered the final table with the biggest bounty, worth 5,730. He was sent to the cashier to collect 4,108 while he already had collected 5,230 in bounties. Eshkar started the final table without any bounties, and he immediately took the biggest one he could find.

The ever-smiling Frank de Wolf was the next player to hit the rail. De Wolf found himself with pocket aces, and he got it in the middle on a jack-ten-queen flop with two clubs. His opponent was Remy van der Nagel with ten-eight of clubs. The turn was a blank but the river was another ten, and Van der Nagel managed to hit trips on the river to eliminate De Wolf. The Dutchman collected 1,490 in bounties throughout the tournament, and he added another 5,021 to that by finishing in eighth position.

Frank de Wolf

It took a while for the next player to bust out of the tournament. Matias Knaapinen from Finland was the unlucky one to exit in seventh after he lost a flip against the eventual winner Nguyen. Knaapinen had pocket treys, and Nguyen was playing ace-king suited. The flop was all safe for Knaapinen, but the king on the river left him with only two outs in the deck. The river was a queen, and he didn't manage to win another plate here in Amsterdam for the Finnish players. He collected a decent 1.610 in bounties and added another 6,233 to that by finishing seventh. Nguyen started to heat up after this hand, and no one was safe anymore for the bounty hunter.

Nguyen's next victim was start-of-day chip leader Van Hoogmoed. The flop read queen-king-ten, and Nguyen continued his preflop aggression with a continuation-bet after Van Hoogmoed had checked to him. Van Hoogmoed raised all in, and Nguyen called with king-seven. He made the right decision as he was up against the queen-seven of Van Hoogmoed and the jack turn and ten river didn't change Van Hoogmoed's fate. Van Hoogmoed cashed for 7,901, and he added another 2,390 in bounty-earnings to that.

Olvedo Heinze was flying a bit under the radar since the moment the final table started, but he eventually pushed all in for his last ten big blinds and was called by Nguyen. Heinze was playing king-ten offsuit, and Nguyen had the lead with ace-seven suited. Nguyen immediately flopped an ace, but Heinze had a gutshot-straight draw as the flop also contained a jack. No queen on the turn or the river and Heinze busted out of the tournament in sixth place. Heinze took home 1,590 in bounties and won the first five-figure prize of the tournament when he collected 10,288 at the cashier.

Van der Nagel was one of the more aggressive players at the final table, but his run ended in fifth place against no other than, of course, Nguyen. The board read king-queen-five-trey, and Van der Nagel was all-in and at risk with ace-king for top pair top kicker. Nguyen turned his two pair with queen-five and held on to the lead on the seven river card. Van der Nagel collected 13,835 plus an additional 2,980 in bounties.

The third-place finisher of the tournament was Cem Degirmenci. He ended the day with a cash worth 19,207 and 2,650 in bounties. He went down against Nguyen as well in a coin flip. Degirmenci had ace-king suited, and he needed to hit against the pocket jacks of Nguyen. The flop fell seven-seven-seven and Nguyen joked about not wanting another seven on the board. The turn was a deuce, and the river was a ten and Degirmenci couldn't catch up. Nguyen his own bounty rose to 11,860 as he busted out his fifth player from the final table.

Eyal Eshkar

Nguyen entered the heads up with the chip lead. Eshkar had about 1,400,000 in front of him while Nguyen was playing 2,200,000. The Israelian player couldn't catch Nguyen who had been busting out every player since they were seven handed.

Eshkar himself went down on a king-queen-eight flop where both players had flopped two pair. Eshkar had queen-eight, but Nguyen was holding a better two pair with king-eight. The turn was a deuce, and the river was a five and that marked the end of the tournament. Eshkar took home 27,687 and 2,860 in bounties, but the big winner of the tournament won the first-place prize of 41,452 and a very impressive 26,200 in bounties.
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By James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  Democrats made dramatic gains in this months U.S. congressional elections despite getting little love from white, rural, working-class voters who two years ago backed President Donald Trump.

But the party is convinced it made important inroads in rural America  an argument supported by a Reuters analysis of election results.

Democratic sources cite wins in places like upstate New York, Iowa, Maine and Pennsylvania as evidence the party has found a populist platform that connects with those voters and could help it retake the White House in 2020.

The message, rooted in healthcare and economic inequality, was backed by research from Democratic groups such as the House Majority PAC and the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. They argued the party could reach working-class voters by focusing on economic opportunity for those without college degrees.

We took a deep dive into their motivations and concerns in order to shape Democratic messaging and find a way back, said Jeb Fain, a spokesman for House Majority PAC, which ran TV ads for candidates in Maine and New York.

As of Tuesday, Democrats had captured 36 seats in the House of Representatives, building a majority that will enable them to thwart Trumps agenda and launch investigations into his administration. Republicans retained a majority in the Senate.

Beyond the victories, Democrats increased their share of the vote in dozens of the countrys most rural congressional districts, a Reuters analysis shows.

Compared to 2016 election results, they posted gains in at least 54 districts where the share of households in rural areas was at least 39 percent, or twice the national average, even though they only won a handful of the districts.

That could bode well for Democratic efforts to win the White House and retake the Senate in 2020.

In beating Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, Trump won Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, with their combined 46 electoral votes, by less than 1 percentage point, or by a total of about 80,000 votes.

Priorities USA, a deep-pocketed Democratic advocacy group, plans to target Trump voters in the Midwest in 2020 who said they voted for a Democrat this year. According to the groups internal research, it believes it can persuade between 15 and 30 percent of those voters to support the Democratic presidential candidate.

Its certainly enough to make the difference, said Guy Cecil, the groups chairman.

Democratic officials were encouraged by the election of Democratic governors Tony Evers in Wisconsin and Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan and Senator Amy Klobuchars victory in Minnesota, another state with a large rural population.

Whitmer, who emphasized fixing the states roads, won nine counties that went for Trump in 2016. Klobuchar, who may run for president, won more than 40 counties in Minnesota that supported Trump over Clinton.

Still, the road to Democrats new House majority mostly ran through cities and suburbs, while Republicans held on to the vast majority of rural districts they were defending.

Democrats lost two tight House races in Minnesota in largely rural districts and the governors race in Iowa, reaffirming Republicans edge in those regions.

Ford OConnell, a Republican strategist who worked on John McCains presidential campaign, said Trump voters who backed a Democrat in 2018 easily could return to Trump in 2020.

People want a check on the president, OConnell said. These voters are very open to flipping back.

FROM THE GROUND UP

Democrats say they will try to prevent that with new investments and organization in places they had once surrendered as unwinnable.

Officials at the Democratic National Committee say after Democrat Barack Obama won the presidency in 2008, the party became preoccupied with defending so-called battleground areas at the expense of the rest of the country, cutting it off from huge swaths of voters.

Tom Perez, chairman of the DNC, said the turnaround began last year with the surprise win by Doug Jones in an Alabama special Senate election  the first time a Democrat had won a Senate race in Alabama since 1992  followed by Democrat Conor Lambs successful run earlier this year for a House seat in a rural Pennsylvania district long held by Republicans.

Those victories spurred greater investment in places such as Maine, where the party targeted the rural congressional district won last week by Jared Golden, and Georgia, where Democrat Stacey Abrams lost but ran a surprisingly competitive governors race.

Lambs victory provided a playbook for other rural Democrats such as Golden, Anthony Brindisi in upstate New York, and Richard Ojeda, who ran an underdog campaign in deeply rural West Virginia that drew national attention.

Although Ojeda ultimately lost, he generated the biggest pro-Democrat swing in the country for a House district from 2016  boosting the Democrats share of the vote by 20 percentage points in one of the nations most ardently pro-Trump regions.

The candidates embraced some gun rights to avoid alienating rural voters, while advocating a working-class populism that argued the booming U.S. economy was not benefiting their regions.

Like Democrats in congressional races nationally, they supported coverage for preexisting medical conditions. The opioid epidemic was a prominent issue, dovetailing with voters concerns over a repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

People of this district have historically elected moderates, Brindisi told Reuters. They want someone who will actively listen to their concerns and work with both sides in Congress to get something done.

Perez also pointed to Beto ORourkes Senate bid in Texas as a model for Democrats running in rural areas. ORourke campaigned in every county in the state and lost to Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, by less than 3 percentage points.

There remains a question of whether Democrats can, or will, adapt their rural strategies to the upcoming presidential nomination battle, which is expected to draw more than a dozen candidates.

Much will depend on whether a moderate or liberal candidate emerges from the fight  or whether the party, as it did in several key House races, finds a balance between the two.

(Additional reporting by Amanda Becker and Jason Lange; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Tom Brown)
A symposium on the cooperation between China and Latin-America was held Sunday in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province.

More than 100 experts from countries including China, the United States and Brazil exchanged views on topics such as China-Latin America cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, the construction of a community of shared future, and Latin-America's foreign policies.

China's trade with Latin-America and total direct investment in the region have both surpassed 200 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, according to Li Changhua, China's former ambassador to Chile, Columbia, and Costa Rica.

The continent is rich in resources and is China's important source of energy products, mineral resources and agricultural products, Li said.

"Though we are geologically far from each other, the people of both sides share a traditional friendship. China has become Latin-America's second largest trading partner and an important source of foreign investment," said Yu Baotao, vice president of Anhui University, the event organizer. Enditem
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Trump responded to migrants who were trying to cross the border near San Diego, CA to apply for asylum by tear gassing kids.

The BBCs James Cook tweeted:

BREAKING US agents have fired tear gas at migrants trying to breach the border between Mexico and the United States.

 @Reuters pic.twitter.com/d7fTNnbxxS  James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) November 25, 2018

His tweet was backed up by a report from the APs Chris Sherman who said on MSNBC:

The migrants, after they marched away from the shelter, eventually crossed the Tijuana River. Some tried to enter the Mexican customs area at the border crossing. Police blocked them there. They then tried to walk along the Tijuana river to where it intersects with the U.S. Border. They were there for a while. And at the very bottom of the Tijuana River, at that point, theres an earthen levee with three strands of stacked wire. Eventually, some of the migrants began to filter down to that area at the bottom and theres a small gap where the water trickles through.

And interviewing a family who was down there at the time, I was up on the side of the river watching. They said that some of the migrants opened a small hole in the wire and thats when the U.S. Agents began firing tear gas. I saw at least half a dozen, maybe ten canisters launched into Mexico. The breeze was carrying into Mexico. So we were running for several minutes to get out of the cloud of tear gas. There were lots of small children, women passing off small children to then try to run faster, people discarding their backpacks.

Video:

Trump is now tear gassing migrant children who are trying to apply for asylum. https://t.co/iodgPe5YLF pic.twitter.com/D3D853lMY6  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) November 25, 2018

Border Violence Is What Trump Is Trying to Provoke

Trump has been doing everything imaginable to try to create a crisis along the US border. These people are coming to the border arent criminals. They are asylum seekers. The Trump administration provoked this surge toward the border by implementing the policy that asylum seekers had to apply in person in the United States.

Migrants cant apply for asylum until they come to the US, but when they try to cross the border, they get tear gassed.

The United States is a nation of migrants that shouldnt be tear gassing people who are trying to apply for asylum. These are impoverished people who are seeking a better life, not violent criminals.

Trumps latest act of cruelty toward immigrants is certain to backfire on him.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.
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WASHINGTON (Reuters)  A U.S. federal judge on Sunday denied a motion by George Papadopoulos, a former aide for Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, seeking to postpone his sentence pending a separate case he hoped would lead to his conviction being overturned.

Papadopoulos will report to jail on Monday to start his 14- day sentence after judge Randolph Moss dismissed his 11th hour bid to remain out on bail.

Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents probing ties between the campaign and Russia, had sought to delay his sentence while a separate case challenging the legality of Special Counsel Robert Muellers appointment is ongoing. Moss said Papadopoulos motion lacked merit.

The court, accordingly, concludes that Papadopoulos motion for a stay pending his appeal of this decision lacks merit, Moss wrote in his ruling. Plaintiffs motion to continue bail and motion to stay his surrender date are hereby denied.

Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in October 2017. In addition to the two-week jail term, Papadopoulos was sentenced to one year of supervised release, 200 hours of community service and a $9,500 fine.

At sentencing in September he told the judge that he had made a dreadful mistake and that he hoped to redeem himself. But he soon started attacking the Mueller probe on Twitter and in media appearances, describing the investigation as unjust and politically charged.

In seeking an extension of his bail, Papadopoulos had argued that his appeal against Muellers appointment raised a substantial question and that it would be unjust to require that he serve his sentence before a ruling on this matter. But Moss cast doubts on the success of the appeal.

He has failed to demonstrate that the D.C. Circuit is likely to conclude that the appointment of the Special Counsel was unlawful and, indeed, he has failed even to show that the appeal raises a close question that very well could be decided against the Special Counsel, said Moss.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
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Trumps tweets are so false that MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace debunked them before placing them on the screen and discussing Trumps statements.

Nicolle Wallace said on her show Deadline: White House:



As most Americans started the day today counting points or steps or carbs, Donald Trump started his day by counting the hundreds of former campaign staffers who havent been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller. And a pair of tweets so detached from reality that will debunk them before we put them on the screen. The president falsely claimed that Robert Mueller has conflicts of interest, oddly cited campaign staffers who want to be called to testify by before the special counsel and churlishly repeated his demand that they investigate Democrats.

When Mueller does his final report, will he be covering all of his conflicts of interest in a preamble?

Will he be recommending action on all of the crimes of many kinds from those on the other side? Whatever happened to Podesta? And will he be putting in statements from hundreds of people closely involved with my campaign who never met, saw or spoke to a Russian during this so many campaign workers, people inside from the beginning. Ask me why they have not been called. They want to be. There was no collusion and Mueller knows is.

Now the president is counting the number of staffers who did not have contact with Russians during the campaign. A political first, no doubt.

Video:

Trumps tweets are so false that MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace debunked them before placing them on the screen and discussing Trumps statements. https://t.co/JsDQe6tdbm pic.twitter.com/sYbJXJHZ9E  PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) November 26, 2018

Nicolle Wallace Throttled Trumps Propaganda

The best way to take the zip out of Trumps propaganda and lies is to preemptively debunk them. Wallace didnt show the tweet and then debunk, because doing so would have given Trump the platform to spread his lies. Instead, she told the viewer in advance that what she was about to quote was false and detached from reality.

Trumps approval rating is stagnant because the press isnt giving him an open platform to lie. The lies are being warned of and the American people are alerted to them before Trump can put them out there.

The preemptive debunking of Trumps twitter lies is the next step is putting facts ahead of White House lies.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.
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Two nooses and hate signs were found on trees in the Mississippi state capitol on the same day that Trump will be campaigning in the state for Senate candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith.

State Capitol police are investigating the nooses and hate signs:

State Capitol police investigating two nooses and hate signs on trees. Police now viewing surveillance video of the area. pic.twitter.com/8KcdaVzeqh  Reggi Marion (@ReggiMarion) November 26, 2018

BREAKING: Nooses, hate signs found at Mississippi State Capitol https://t.co/lSIHPD0kDO pic.twitter.com/Phg7vlfV71  WLBT 3 On Your Side (@WLBT) November 26, 2018

It isnt a coincidence that with polls tightening in Mississippi and Trump arriving in the state, the racists are trying to intimidate on the eve of a Senate special election. Some Republicans in Mississippi have rejected Cindy Hyde-Smiths racism, and have committed to voting for African-American Democrat Mike Espy in the special election.

The individual or individuals who are responsible for the racist hate left at the capitol are the target voter for Trump and Hyde-Smith. Mike Espy is a long-shot to win the special election in Mississippi, even against someone who has made her racist beliefs abundantly clear.

The Obama era Republican dog whistles of racism have been replaced by nooses on trees under Trump. The racists have been emboldened and encouraged. They are out in the open now, and it is no surprise that they would carry out such a heinous act of intimidation and hate on the same day that Trump will be visiting the state and holding multiple rallies.

Trump built this, and racists are following their leaders in Mississippi.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook.
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By Sharon Bernstein

(Reuters)  U.S. Representative Mia Love, the only black Republican woman in Congress, lashed out on Monday at President Donald Trump and her party, saying in her concession speech that they had failed to fully embrace minority voters.

Love, a conservative congresswoman from Utah, narrowly lost her bid for a third term to Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, a Democrat, according to the final vote tally from the Nov. 6 elections.

Weeks before the race was called, however, Trump criticized Love at a news conference for not supporting him enough.

The presidents behavior toward me made me wonder, what did he have to gain by saying such a thing about a fellow Republican? Love told supporters in Utah on Monday. This gave me a vision of his world as it is. No real relationships, just convenient transactions.

Democrats gained at least 37 seats in the House of Representatives in the midterm congressional elections, more than enough to wrest control from the Republican majority. The results of some close races are still being calculated.

Republicans retained a slim hold on the Senate.

On Monday, Love, a Mormon whose parents immigrated to the United States from Haiti in the 1970s, accused the Republican Party of keeping minority voters at a distance and driving people who might otherwise support conservative policies into the arms of the Democrats.

Because Republicans never take minority communities into their homes, as citizens into their homes and into their hearts, they stay with Democrats, she said, noting that Democrats have just elected new black and female representatives to Congress.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump won Loves district by nearly 7 percentage points in 2016.

The day after his party lost its lock on Congress earlier this month, Trump used a White House press conference to call out several Republicans who failed to hold onto their House seats.

Mia Love gave me no love, he said in remarks that also criticized Barbara Comstock of Virginia, Peter Roskam of Illinois and others. And she lost. Too bad.

Love, 42, on Monday reaffirmed her commitment to conservative principles and did not rule out another run for office.

Im not going away, she said. But now I am unleashed. I am untethered and I am unshackled and I can say exactly what is on my mind.

(Reporting by Sharon Bernstein in Sacramento, California; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Leslie Adler)
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Democratic Representative Adam Schiff of California has his sights set on Matthew Whitaker, and he is not happy about what he sees.

Schiff is the current ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee which means that in January he will replace Devin Nunes as chairman of the powerful committee. On Sunday Schiff complained that the new acting attorney general at the Justice Department is not being transparent, and he has a big problem with that.

The fact of the matter is that Whitaker is not telegraphing what hes doing, Schiff said on CNNs State of the Union. Hes not telling us or anyone, at least in Congress.

Host Dana Bash then asked Schiff, Have you actually seen him (Whitaker) take any concrete steps to impede the Mueller investigation?

And Schiff replied: We simply dont know, but Ill tell you this Dana, were going to find out

CNNs Dana Bash: Have you actually seen him (acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker) take any concrete steps to impede the Mueller investigation? Rep. Adam Schiff: We simply don't know, but I'll tell you this Dana, we're going to find out #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/ChVF2FLjWo  CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 25, 2018



Schiffs comments demonstrate that Democrats in Congress have some very serious concerns about the acting attorney general who was appointed by Trump to replace fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Whitaker has made very clear through a series of public statements that he wants to shut down the special counsels investigation, which he believes is illegitimate.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller of course has been looking into Russian election interference in 2016 as well as alleged collusion between Trumps presidential campaign and the Russian government.

Because Whitaker has criticized the Mueller probe extensively, Schiff and other Democrats on his committee and elsewhere have demanded that he recuse himself from the Russia investigation.

Whats troubling, Schiff said, is that Whitaker has not communicated any of his plans to members of Congress such as himself, who have a right to know what he plans to do.

I dont know what steps he has taken, whether he is merely getting briefed now and deliberating on whether he will allow Mueller to subpoena the president or whether he will allow Mueller to look into this issue or giving Mueller a time when he needs to wrap up his investigation, Schiff lamented. We certainly dont know. Ill tell you this, Dana, were going to find out.

Schiff also indicated that he would be bringing Whitaker in to testify before his committee after he becomes chairman next year.

We are going to bring Whitaker before the Congress, assuming hes still in his position at the time when Democrats take over, he said. We may bring him in whether hes in that position or not, to find out the answers to these questions.

Mueller told a court last week that Whitakers appointment has no effect on his ongoing investigation.
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On Monday morning President Donald Trump threatened to close off the U.S. border permanently if need be as a way to keep what he calls an invasion of migrant refugees from entering the United States. He also demanded that the government of Mexico remove the caravans of asylum-seeking migrants who have been camping out in Tijuana, and trying to cross the U.S. border.

Trump told Mexico that so long as they removed the migrant asylum seekers they could do it anyway you want.

Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A., Trump tweeted, offering no evidence to support his claim that the migrants are criminals.

Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2018

Over the weekend complete chaos broke out at the U.S.-Mexico border near Tijuana. U.S. border control officers sent tear gas canisters raining on the penniless migrants who rushed to the U.S. border, attempting to seek asylum there. One of the busiest border crossings the San Ysidro port of entry, was completely shut down on Sunday.

When hundreds of migrants rushed the border, this prompted Mexicos Interior Ministry to pledge that they would increase border security. They said that they had arrested nearly 40 refugees who violently attempted to breach the border.

The Trump administration reportedly reached a tentative deal on the asylum seekers over the weekend with the administration of incoming Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. This deal, which was not confirmed, would keep the asylum seekers within Mexico while their asylum claims would be processed in the United States.

Historically, asylum seekers have been allowed to remain in the U.S. during the time that they have to wait for their claims to be decided.

Trump has said that the migrants are criminals despite the complete lack of evidence to support his claims.

Also on Monday the president once again asked Congress to provide money for his proposed wall along the southern border. He has said that without a funding commitment for the border wall he may have to shut down the U.S. government when funding runs out next week.
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Sometimes its easy to lose track of just how many different criminal investigations there are looking at Donald Trump, the Trump Organization, and the Trump family.

We know theres the Mueller probe, and the Southern District of New York investigation that got Michael Cohen to plead guilty to numerous felonies. There is also the New York Attorney Generals office, and the New York State Revenue Department looking into Trump, his business, his foundation, and his children for various alleged crimes.

And now, according to the New York Times, there is another group of investigators coming after Trump, his business and his family: House Democrats.

When Democrats won control of the House on November 6 it opened the doors for many prominent members of Congress to make plans to get Donald Trump, Jr., Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Eric Trump and others to come before House committees to testify. These committees will be holding hearings on the entire criminal Trump family enterprise, including Trumps children who have been intimately involved with everything the president has done.

Last week even two Republican members of Congress began questioning lvanka Trumps use of private email for government business. According to the Times, this was a sign of things to come for the presidents family.

Tom Davis, the former chairman of the Oversight Committee said, That you now have Republicans investigating members of the first family is an indication of the perils ahead for the Trumps.

As the Times said:

The Democrats are already laying out lines of inquiry that could quickly lead not just to Mr. Trump and his White House aides, but also to his immediate family. And Republicans returning to Capitol Hill next year may be forced by the changed political climate to take a harder line toward the Trump family.

Likely Democratic targets include not only the presidents personal finances and those of the Trump Organization, but also the actions taken by his sons Donald Jr. and Eric and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, during the 2016 campaign and its aftermath.

Here are areas that Democrats will be exploring that could lead to criminal liability for various individuals:

Violations of the Constitutions emoluments clause, which bans payments from foreign governments to federal officeholders. Donald Trump Jr.s involvement setting up a meeting in Trump Tower in June of 2016 with a Kremlin-linked lawyer promising dirt about Mrs. Clinton. Ties between the Trump campaign, the Trump Organization and Russia. Campaign finance law violations.

House Democrat investigations will be in addition to what is being done by Mueller, the Southern District of New York, or the New York Attorney Generals office. But according to the Times:

Democrats believe they have a broader mandate to question everything from foreign business dealings by Ms. Trump and the Trump Organization to the administration of security clearances at the White House, including the one given to Mr. Kushner.

According to insider reports, the president is not prepared for the legal onslaught he is facing from House committees. The White House Counsels Office, now has a new lead counsel, Pat Cipollone, who is hiring a raft of lawyers but they do not have experience in dealing with House investigations.

Politically speaking, this is the Achilles heel of the administration, said Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a Democrat who sits on two key committees. They have turned the government of the United States into a money making operation for the president and his family and close friends. That is the exact opposite of our constitutional design.

The White House is facing a possible flurry of congressional subpoenas that could grind government operations to a halt. Hearings will expose areas that the secretive Trump wants to continue to keep out of sight. This includes his tax returns, which he has always refused to release. The documents are a central target for House investigators because of what they will reveal about Trump criminal operations and probably ties to Russian oligarchs and organized crime figures.

If Democrats are successful in obtaining copies of Trumps tax returns they would have their first comprehensive look into the heart of the Trump Organization and the finances of the first family.

And this is exactly what Donald Trump and his family do not want to have happen.
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Lawmakers in the Ukraine on Monday are considering a request from their president for the introduction of martial law in the country. The request came after a disturbing incident in which Russian coast guard ships fired their weapons at Ukrainian navy vessels.

Ukraines president also on Monday told Russia that they should immediately release the Ukrainian sailors and ships it had captured in a naval confrontation near Crimea. The incident has escalated tensions between the two countries which already had a very troubled relationship.

Russias actions also led to international expressions of outrage and concern.

For example:

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was called for Monday. The European Union and NATO issued statements calling for restraint from both sides, as they hoped cooler heads would prevail. Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas called an extraordinary meeting of the governments security committee to discuss the Russian action.

Ukraines President, Petro Poroshenko, called a meeting of Ukraines national security council on Monday and said that we demand that (the ships and crews) are urgently turned over to the Ukrainian side and called for a de-escalation of the crisis around Crimea.

Unsurprisingly both countries blamed the other for the incident that could lead to escalation of conflicts between the two countries. Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and also supported a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine at the same time.

Ukraine said in a statement that its vessels were acting in accordance with international maritime rules as they were traveling through the Sea of Azov. Russia, however, charged that the Ukrainian ships failed to obtain permission to pass through the Kerch Strait separating Crimea from the Russian mainland.

Poroshenko held an emergency meeting of his Cabinet on Monday and also requested that the Ukraine parliament introduce martial law as a response to the Russian aggression.

We consider it as an act of aggression against our state and a very serious threat, Poroshenko said. Unfortunately, there are no red lines for the Russian Federation.

Russia, however, blamed the Ukrainians for instigating the incident.

Three Ukrainian ships which were involved in a provocation in Russian territorial waters have been delivered to the port of Kerch. The crews were obviously acting intentionally, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters. As we understand it, this provocation and the complex of provocative actions have been planned ahead of time.

A spokesperson for the European Unions diplomatic service released a statement condemning the Russian action. The statement said, in part:

We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately. 

The EU does not and will not recognise the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia.
SEE AND BE SCENE: Chip Long and Cole Poolaw from Barsa skewer white shrimp for their dish at BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festivalis Passport to Pairings at the Governor Thomas Bennett House, 3/6. Photo by Marie Rodriguez/Special to The Post and Courier
China's iron and steel industry has maintained solid growth momentum, posting notable rises in both operating income and profits from January to September.



Statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed that the industry's total main operating income surged up by 14 percent from the same period last year to 5.66 trillion yuan (816.7 billion U.S. dollars).

The industry's aggregate profit during the period amounted to 358.7 billion yuan, up 65.3 percent year on year.

Large- and medium-sized enterprises contributed 3.06 trillion yuan to the total operating income and 230 billion yuan to profits. The two figures marked a rise of 14.5 percent and 86 percent respectively.

By the end of September, the debt ratio of large- and medium-sized enterprises dropped by 3.9 percentage points from a year earlier to 66.1 percent.

Thanks to the efforts in reducing overcapacity and the production ban on substandard steel, Chinese iron and steel producers have been able to sell their products abroad at better prices.

From January to September, China exported steel products of 53.08 million tonnes, down 10.7 percent year on year, but their aggregate export value has risen 6.1 percent year on year to 298.99 billion yuan.

The export price averaged 5,633 yuan per tonne, up 18.8 percent from the same period last year.

This year, China's steel export was expected to stand around 70 million tonnes, said the ministry.

A separate report from the China Iron and Steel Industry Association said that pressure on the supply side would remain. In October, the country's daily output of crude steel averaged 2.66 million tonnes. Although the number dropped by 1.19 percent from the previous month, it remained to be the third highest in history.

As winter is usually a slow season, the association prompted local enterprises to carefully analyze the changes in demand to ensure the steady operation of the market.

It also pointed out that recovering manufacturing investment and infrastructure construction would boost steel demand, as the country had taken a series of measures to ease the capital shortage facing private firms.

"In general, the country's steel demand will hold steady," the report said.
Photo news reporters stand in an area burned by a wildfire, in Paradise, Calif. on Nov. 13, 2018. Most homes are gone, as are hundreds of shops and other buildings. The supermarket, the hardware store, Dolly-O-Donuts & Gifts where locals started their day with a blueberry fritter and a quick bit of gossip, all gone. The town quite literally went up in smoke and flames in the deadliest, most destructive wildfire in California history. AP Photo/John Locher, File
Jerrel Floyd is an Alabama raised reporter who covers Summerville and Dorchester County for The Post and Courier.
LaShunda Pugh (left) holds her daughter ZaMarrea's hand after leaving a North Charleston dialysis clinic on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018. Za'Marrea's grandmother Wendy Swinton attended the appointment, too. Za'Marrea was diagnosed with kidney failure as an infant. File/Andrew J. Whitaker/Staff
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.
Harolds Cabin, the popular eatery near Hampton Park, might develop a new cocktail named for a beloved regular, Melvin Brown  something involving rum since Brown, an emergency room doctor, is a Navy veteran.

In the meantime, the restaurant changed its name. For a few days only, it was called Mels Cabin.

A temporary sign, which was to come down Monday evening, covered the word Harolds and included the phrase Where all are welcome.

Why would a neighborhood restaurant take such measures? Because Brown, an African-American, recently was rejected for membership by the all-white Charleston Rifle Club, located about a half-mile north, along the Ashley River, at the base of the peninsulas Neck.

Three white members of the private club sponsored Brown for membership one year ago, confident that their friends stellar credentials and deep Charleston roots would convince the club to welcome its first black member. Instead, the advocates of reform ran into a wall of resistance. All it takes is six members to blackball a candidate. At least 11 cast no votes, members said.

As both a doctor and military veteran (an abbreviated list of his stellar contributions), Mel, our friend, neighbor and Harolds Cabin regular, chose to stick his neck out to join a club, restaurant co-owner John Schumacher wrote in an email. It got chopped off; we only chose to support him and offer a place where he and others will always be welcome.

Schumacher co-owns Harold's Cabin with actor and part-time Charleston resident Bill Murray. Murray is also a member of the Charleston Rifle Club and has supported the reform effort to integrate the club's membership, according to other members.

Brown said he was disappointed in the results, but that the problem rested squarely with club members who must decide their own future. Their next meeting is Dec. 3. An email seeking comment from the Charleston Rifle Club went unanswered Monday.

Brown said a high school friend was rallying others for the purpose of taking group photographs at the restaurant Monday evening while the sign was still up.

At 6 p.m. a small crowd of friends, colleagues and supporters were sipping drinks and chatting with Brown. One, Andrew McMarlin, brought a sign that read "Veterans Against Racism."

Brown, who now is merely an observer of the controversy, said he appreciated the restaurants gesture.

I was really touched by it, he said. Throughout the weekend I was hearing from all these friends, Im at Mels Cabin. 

When the eatery decided to mount its sign last week, it reached out to Brown first to make sure it was OK. Brown said he was uncomfortable with the attention at first and spoke with his wife about the plan.

She said, You take the lead on this one. Youve been to Afghanistan two times, Im sure you can weather this. 

Weathering it he is.

Theyre the quintessential bar/restaurant that Ive always wanted to have in the neighborhood, Brown said. The outpouring of love from them is great.

The name-change at Harolds Cabin is an example of community outreach and social and economic justice advocacy. Other area restaurants and leaders in the hospitality industry have provided support for charities or launched efforts to help the disadvantaged.

Dozens of local restaurants participate in Charleston Chefs Feed the Need programs that provide food to soup kitchens and shelters. Edmunds Oast supports animal rescue programs and efforts to improve the North of Morrison neighborhood, according to its website. And several eateries, such as The Glass Onion, occasionally donate a portion of their profits to local charities.

But this is the first time a Charleston restaurant has changed its name in honor of a patron.

Schumacher said its important for businesses to get involved with local issues.

Every restaurant is part of a neighborhood and a community; but communities dont need restaurants, restaurants need communities, he wrote. Every day restaurants make choices regarding their community involvement and how they can give back, mostly in ways folks arent aware of (donations, volunteering, support programs and more). We can all do more. In this instance, we simply chose inclusion.
Assistant Columbia bureau chief

Adcox returned to The Post and Courier in October 2017 after 12 years covering the Statehouse for The Associated Press. She previously covered education for The P&C. She has also worked for The AP in Albany, N.Y., and for The Herald in Rock Hill.
Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations.
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Jamie Lovegrove is a political reporter covering the South Carolina Statehouse, congressional delegation and campaigns. He previously covered Texas politics in Washington for The Dallas Morning News and in Austin for the Texas Tribune.
Economic risk or hidden opportunity? Or, is it a potential game-changer, even an economic growth driver?

These days, such questions divide experts debating demographic forecasts that China would soon become an aging society, slowing the Chinese economic juggernaut.

Thanks to an imaginative tweak of the country's reform and opening-up policy, the threat seen in an aging society may turn out to be a huge business opportunity, experts said.

By the end of 2017, there were 241 million Chinese, or 17 percent of the population, aged 60 or above. And 158 million of them, or more than 11 percent of the population, were aged 65 or above, as per the data of the National Bureau of Statistics.

The country's elderly population is increasing by 10 million annually. It is estimated that by 2020, those aged 65 or over will account for 14 percent of the population.

A forecast from the World Health Organization said that by 2050, more than 35 percent of the Chinese population will be aged 60 or above, which would make China the country with the most number of aging people.

In any other country, such figures might trigger alarm bells, given the adverse impact that an aging society has had on the Japanese economy in recent years; but in China, the discourse acquired a parallel track with a positive charge.

A report from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said elderly care is a sunrise industry whose annual sales could reach an estimated 13 trillion yuan ($1.87 trillion) by 2030 from the current 5.9 billion yuan.

Such stupendous growth is expected on the basis of the experiences of developed countries. A large base of aging people in an economy that has seen both restructuring and sustained rapid growth is a perfect recipe for growing a sophisticated market for senior-care services.

That's because people would have benefited from rising incomes and saved a bit in the past for a stable, financially stress-free post-retirement life, experts said.

On top of that, when new policy measures enable foreign investment in the potentially lucrative elderly care sector, what could have been a risk may prove to be one of the drivers of economic growth, they said.

Such interpretations appear plausible in a private nursing home in Weihai, Shandong province. Here, Sun Ying, 85, and her husband Zhang Wei, 86, experience their sunset years in quiet contentment and peace, in spite of Zhang's neurological condition that was detected three years ago.

Their peace appears to arise from the fact that they live in a community of similar age people. The community is a commercial venture that is operated by professionals who deliver services tailored to exacting standards.

The nursing home, called Dongfa House, was Sun and Zhang's choice when they realized they needed care. They did not want to be a burden on their children who live hectic lives.

Sun said: "Here (in the nursing home), each of us has a health record. Our BP (blood pressure) is checked once a week. We receive medical attention whenever required. I enjoy reading books every day, while my husband often plays with his poker-mates.

"Sometimes, student volunteers come here to perform for us. Compared with public nursing homes, we find the staff here to be more patient. Our lives have been enriched."

So are lives of all the stakeholders concernednurses, care-givers, doctors, physiotherapists, attendants, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, construction workers, florists, material suppliers, providers of various other services.

An elderly care project entails a plethora of investments, activities and services. Done on a mass scale across a vast country like China, it could help drive economic growth, experts said.

For instance, the nursing home that Sun and her husband live in charges a monthly fee of 2,140 yuan per person. They live in a mid-range 30-square-meter apartment. A high-end apartment could cost 2,460 yuan per person per month.

The fee includes a buffet meal every day. Residents undergo a physical before admission; the practice ensures no one with infectious diseases gets admitted.
Political Reporter

Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work.
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
Artist Ifrah Mansour will present a one-woman, multimedia play based on her experiences as a child during the Somali civil war at 7 p.m. Friday at the Rochester Art Center .

In the play, "How to Have Fun in a Civil War," Mansour revisits her experiences as a young girl during the Somali civil war of 1991. She confronts violence with humor, and intends to provide a voice for the refugee stories of children.

Mansour was born in Saudi Arabia. When her family returned to Somalia, they were caught up in the civil war. They fled to a refugee camp in Kenya, and when Ifrah was 7 years old, the family came to the United States and settled in Dallas.

Eventually, Mansour moved to Minneapolis, and after high school intended to go to college to become a kindergarten teacher. However, she found herself drawn to performance art, and "How to Have Fun in a Civil War" is the latest of her projects.

The play weaves together puppetry, poetry, video and stories taken from interviews with members of the Somali community.

Despite the potentially dark subject matter, Mansour declines to project despair on stage.

"Life includes humor, and I want to capture that as well as the difficult, painful and unjust things around us," she said. "To me, its more reflective of the human condition: One minute were laughing, the next were extremely sad."

Refugees need to show all sides of their personalities, she said. "Basically, I want to portray on the stage how I want to be seen in the world."

Mansour has performed sold-out shows of "How to Have Fun in a Civil War" at the Guthrie Theatre and the Childrens Theatre Company. She has also performed at the Minnesota History Center, the Minnesota State Fair and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Shes coming to Rochester in part because Sheila Dickinson, the centers artistic director, has been working with the Somali community in the Twin Cities.

"Shes part of a collective, Soomaal House of Art in Minneapolis," Dickinson said. The art center has received a grant to bring an exhibition of Somali art to Rochester in late 2019 or 2020, Dickinson said. "So shell be back," she said of Mansour.

"How to Have Fun in a Civil War" will be followed by a discussion with the artist. The play is appropriate for ages 6 and older.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for children; tickets are available in advance through rochesterartcenter.org.
Having sent two satellites into space within 100 days after its establishment, a young Chinese commercial space firm is preparing for a new launch in December.

Supported by the local government, the Chengdu GuoXing Aerospace Technology Co. Ltd. was set up in the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province in May. It has developed two experimental satellites integrated with AI technology.

"The AI technology could give the satellite a stronger capability of automatic data analysis," said Zhao Hongjie, vice president of the startup firm.

For instance, the remote sensing satellite with AI technology could autonomously identify clouds and fog, and select the useful images to send back to earth, thus greatly improving its working efficiency, Zhao said.

One such kind of AI satellite developed by the company for commercial use was sent into the sun-synchronous orbit on Oct. 29.

The company, employing more than 40 staff, most of whom are under 30, is only one example of China's emerging commercial space industry.

Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are developing cost-effective carrier vehicles with the aim to make space travel possible for ordinary people. They have also inspired Chinese entrepreneurs.

Launching rockets and satellites has long been the goal of China's state-owned aerospace companies, but private space firms are now popping up hoping to make a name for themselves in this burgeoning industry.

According to a report by Beijing-based investment institution FutureAerospace, more than 60 private Chinese firms have entered the commercial space industry over the past three years, focusing on the production and launch of satellites and rockets.

This follows a government policy issued in 2015 to encourage private enterprises in space industry.

Analysts say commercial space activity could help lower costs and increase the efficiency of space activities, and accelerate technology development.

The value of the global space market is estimated to reach 485 billion U.S. dollars in 2020 when the value of China's space market is projected to be 800 billion yuan (125.78 billion dollars). About two-thirds of global satellite orders will come from commercial customers in the next decade.

Lured by the promising market, Chinese space companies recently unveiled a series of programs to produce and launch small and micro satellites.
Joseph Charles Hill, Sr., 43, was called home by his heavenly Father on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018.

He was born Aug. 9, 1975, in St. Paul, where he lived until moving to Plainview in 2015. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Joseph Lemmons; and his mother, Janet Zeestraten. His legacy lives on through Travis, Joe Jr., Sam and Hope.

Joe was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, uncle, cousin and friend. Joe enjoyed spending time with his children and family. He was passionate about politics and fighting for what was right. Joe also enjoyed watching the Vikings, going on road trips, meeting new people and loved watching NASCAR. He made every experience an adventure. Joe prided himself on being an operating engineer, union brother and invested himself in any job he was assigned. Joe was a big presence that made others better for knowing and loving him; he helped so many to believe in themselves. He was the rock that everybody needed. He was the friend that everyone called. The family member/father that everyone could rely on and that one person who you could always turn too; his heart was pure gold and his smile lit a room.

A celebration of life will be held Friday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Local 49 Operating Engineers Union Hall, 1765 County Rd. 16 SW, Rochester, MN 55902.

Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Mason City, Iowa 50401, 641-423-0924, www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com
This is going to be the second year that we gather around the Thanksgiving table with the COVID-19 cloud hovering over us. Read more
Fox News reports on the arrest of a man suspected of killing a woman just hours after being released from state prison. David Bohart, 34, had been released from the Tucson state prison complex after serving a three-year stint for possession or use of dangerous drugs, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections. He had served two previous terms in prison on convictions for forgery and possession or use of dangerous drugs.

The murder victim is Marika Jones, 49, who was stabbed to death at home. Authorities say its not clear what connection Bohart had to Jones. However, they found a file of prison records regarding Bohart at the crime scene.

Note that Bohart was only in prison for possession or use of dangerous drugs. The federal felons for whom President Trump and other misguided conservatives seek early release are traffickers. As a group, they are more dangerous than mere users.

Bohart was a non-violent offender. His crimes were drug possession/use and forgery. Yet, it appears that he committed the most violent of crimes immediately upon release. This illustrates the foolhardiness of supposing that non-violent offenders pose very little risk of violence upon release from prison  a central assumption of the jailbreak legislation Trump supports.

The assumption did not hold true for Bohart, a genuine non-violent offender. It certainly does not hold true for drug traffickers  a class of criminal that arguably shouldnt be considered non-violent in the first place.

Without more information, Ill assume that Arizona could not have kept Bohart in jail any longer than it did. But that wont be true of the beneficiaries of jailbreak legislation, if its enacted. If that happens, some of those released from prison early  and eventually some of those who receive shorter sentences at the front end  will commit heinous crimes when, absent such legislation, they would have been in jail.

Supporters of the jailbreak bill will have to be held accountable.
John has written about the protests against the French government of Emmanuel Macron, protests that turned violent this weekend. I want to add the following observations:

First, the protests werent just this weekend, although thats when they turned up on the U.S. radar. One of my daughters was in Paris on business last weekend (the weekend before Thanksgiving) and observed some of the disruption. Its estimated that 280,000 people protested throughout France last weekend and more than 100,000 protested this weekend.

Second, news reports say that the protesters are not among Frances more marginalized citizens. Thats true in some senses. Generally speaking, the protesters arent immigrants and may not be impoverished.

But immigrants and refugees receive generous benefits from the government and are backed to some degree by strong political interests. The protesters, generally speaking, receive neither handouts nor the support of influential interests.

Third, the dispute here can be viewed as between Paris and La France profonde. The high tax on gasoline imposed by Macrons government, the reason for the protests, has comparatively little impact on most Parisians and those who live near Paris. Many of them have shops and stores within walking distance, and public transportation serves their needs well.

For those who live in the provinces, its a very different story. They tend to rely heavily on cars and often must drive fairly long distances (bus service is no good substitute in our experience), all the more so since small French towns are losing population and thus shops and stores.

In effect, Macron is placing the burden of addressing climate change (however fitfully) on the backs of Frances rural population. French elites do not share the burden.

Fourth, in this regard, disaffected French men and women couldnt help but notice the lavish ceremonies the French government put on to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of World War Is end. Macron expects ordinary French citizens to tighten their belts, but seems uninterested in any tightening that would diminish the pomp and circumstance he enjoys.

Fifth, the government was also tone deaf when it tried to confine the protesters to the Champ de Mars. These are grounds near the Eiffel Tower. They are fit for gathering, but not for demonstrating. The protesters demanded to march down Les Champs Elysees towards the presidents palace, and were right to do so. As one of the leaders said we are not in Paris for picnic.

Sixth, the yellow vests, as the main body of protesters is known, do not appear to have been responsible for the violence that broke out this weekend. This was the work of others.

Which others? The government tried to blame the violence on right-wing supporters of Marine Le Pen. However, reports Ive heard suggest that the culprits were les casseurs  the breakers  anarchistic thugs who like to smash things and have no connection to Le Pens party. Perhaps both elements were involved.

Seventh, Macron now says the government needs to listen to and address the grievances of the yellow vests. But their overriding grievance is with the gasoline tax, and Macron apparently wont budge on this. Macron seems to be clueless about, or indifferent to, the problems of La France profonde. Dialogue would appear to be futile.

Eighth, does any party in France have anything to offer the yellow vests? Marine Le Pens party might, but it carries too much baggage to be a positive force.

Ninth, naturally, President Trump got into the act this weekend. He tweeted:

The large and violent French protests dont take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection. Both of these topics must be remedied soon.

This just in from the U.S. President: The French arent protesting the fact that France isnt paying more money to the U.S. No America First for the French.

Tenth, earlier this month, Macron took a shot at Trumps nationalism by claiming, absurdly, that nationalism is the exact opposite of patriotism. The yellow vests are definitely nationalists. They are placing their economic interests above the worlds interest in reducing carbon emissions (or gestures in that direction). Trump might have asked Macron whether he believes the yellow vests are unpatriotic.

He probably does  hes that clueless. But he cant admit it.
Despite the massive growth of online shopping, Black Friday (News - Alert) still ushers in a month-long period where malls are packed with shoppers. Whether theyre looking for a specific item or are hoping to get all their holiday shopping done in one (potentially nerve-wracking) day, each year, the weekend following Thanksgiving energizes shopping malls across the country. That is, until a power outage brings everything to an immediate halt.

Such was the case at the Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville, Georgia around 4:00 Saturday afternoon, when power suddenly went out, forcing mall management to officially close the facility until power could be restored. Fortunately, Georgia Power was able to restore power quickly and the mall was able to reopen by 6:00 pm, with plenty of time for customers to get some shopping done  and likely with smaller crowds than usual given the temporary closure.

Power has been restored to Arbor Place thanks to hard work by @GeorgiaPower and our operational team. Please visit our website for hours of operation. https://t.co/gKg98stQBv  Arbor Place Mall (@ShopArborPlace) November 24, 2018

WSB-TV reporter Rikki Klaus said the cause of the outage was a mystery, as Georgia Power did not identify any issues with the power infrastructure.

Georgia Power is at Arbor Place Mall. Workers told me they found no problem, so they dont know why the malls power went out the evening after Black Friday. pic.twitter.com/P5dGAkJpuB  Rikki Klaus (@RikkiKlausWSB) November 24, 2018

While the disruption to shoppers and retailers was limited, outages can be much more devastating for businesses that havent properly prepared their technology. The systems stores rely on for their operations  including ensuring continuity between online and physical shopping experiences  are full of tiny circuitry that can be easily damaged by power surges during outages. If those circuits are damaged, systems  including servers, payment systems, web and mobile apps, and other elements critical to the shopping experience  become inaccessible and business stops, creating not only an immediate loss of revenue, but potentially sending customers to competitive businesses.

Power protection systems are designed specifically to prevent damage from surges by regulating power before it is distributed to business systems, avoiding any potential damage. In addition, UPS capabilities can provide backup power to allow systems to be manually shut down or reconfigured  or even supply extended runtime during outages to keep entire operations functioning.

Nearly every business is dependent upon technology for its operations, and most can ill-afford the extended downtime that comes with having to replace or repair damaged hardware because they didnt take appropriate protective measures. Thats true any time, but even more sure as the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear.

Edited by Erik Linask
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 08:03:01

Local language resources foster best practice in anti-financial crime compliance

ACAMS Launches Poland Chapter, Translates CAMS into Polish

Media Contact:

Ernie Gibble

ernie.gibble@adtalem.com

630-353-9920

The Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) is pleased to announce two strategic initiatives to support anti-financial crime professionals in Poland: the creation of a new ACAMS Poland Chapter, to be formally launched at a gala reception in Warsaw on November 28, 2018, and the translation of the globally recognized AML qualification CAMS (Certified Anti-Money-Laundering Specialist) into Polish.

The newly formed ACAMS Poland Chapter is an extension of ACAMS, the worlds largest membership association of certified experts in anti-financial crime. The ACAMS Poland Chapter is committed to providing a forum for subject-matter experts from Polish and international institutions operating in the space of AML and anti-financial crime compliance. The Poland Chapter will be active in sharing knowledge and developing best practice to further effective AML and financial crime detection, prevention and compliance; supporting dialog with state and European regulators and law enforcement agencies to successfully develop a solid foundation for AML, CTF and financial crime compliance; and encouraging social awareness and education in the field.

The ACAMS Poland Chapter, which will operate on a not-for-profit basis, is led by a volunteer Chapter Board comprising Chair Karol Wojtczak, EMEA Regional Head of Global FIU Procedures & Training, Citibank; Vice Chair Krzysztof Frac, CAMS, Financial Crime Compliance Manager, HSBC; Vice Chair Luiza Jarocka, CAMS, Manager Compliance Monitoring, MoneyGram International; Board Member Thijs Mientjes, CAMS, Manager FCC Surveillance Infrastructure & Monitoring, Standard Chartered; Board Secretary Aneta Szmidt, CAMS, Head of Risk & Disputes, Six Payment Services; Director of Membership Marcin Wasilewski, CAMS, KYC Ongoing Due Diligence & Initial Due Diligence Head, Credit Suisse Group; Director of Programming, Marcin Zdrojowy, CAMS, AML Compliance Director, Central Eastern Europe, Western Union.

Angela Salter, Head of Europe for ACAMS says, Change is constant in AML. ACAMS European Chapters play a valuable role in proactively addressing shifts in compliance and risk environment through education. Im delighted to have such an experienced group of anti-financial crime professionals leading the Chapter as founding board members, and am confident the Chapter will become the premier group for peer networking and anti-financial crime thought leadership in Poland. ACAMS is committed to supporting its members in the region and to making CAMS, the gold standard in AML certifications, available to the Polish-speaking anti-financial crime community in 2019.

For more information about the Poland Chapter, please consult the Chapter website at https://www.acams.org/acams-chapters/poland/.

Editors Note: Members of the media may contact Alison Taylor at ataylor@acams.org for credentials to cover the launch event in Warsaw.

About the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)

ACAMS is a member of Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE), a global education provider headquartered in the United States. ACAMS is the largest international membership organization dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and skills of anti-money laundering (AML) and financial crime professionals from a wide range of industries, with extensive resources designed to develop and sharpen the skills required for superior job performance and career advancement. Its CAMS certification is the most widely recognized AML certification among compliance professionals worldwide. Visit acams.org for more information.

About Adtalem Global Education

The purpose of Adtalem Global Education is to empower students to achieve their goals, find success and make inspiring contributions to our global community. Adtalem Global Education Inc. (NYSE: ATGE; member S&P MidCap 400 Index) is a leading global education provider, and the parent organization of Adtalem Educacional do Brasil, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, Becker Professional Education, Carrington College, Chamberlain University, DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management, EduPristine, Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, please visit adtalem.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181125005

ACAMS launches Poland Chapter, translates CAMS into Polish
China's news release system must better adapt to the development of new media to further increase its efficiency and impact in getting its message across to domestic and international audiences on the key issues that concern them, spokespersons of different government organs and State-owned enterprises said on Sunday.

"China and the world are currently facing ever-changing, complicated situations, and communication technologies are also developing rapidly, so it is important to keep up with the changes by using new media and choosing the communication method preferred by the public to help them better understand China," said Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and minister of the State Council Information Office.

Xu was speaking at the China Spokespersons Forum, jointly held by the State Council Information Office and Peking University's National Institute of Strategic Development in Beijing.

The development of China's news release system is closely linked with the country's opening-up process. The system has now been institutionalized. Furthermore, timely release of information, especially in the event of emergencies, has become a general consensus, Xu added.

To better reach the public, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson office opened an account on the popular Chinese social media app WeChat in January, said Geng Shuang, a spokesman for the ministry.

The ministry has consistently sought to improve the quality of the information released at its news conferences since the first one was held in 1983. Nowadays, it organizes more than 200 news conferences and issues 3,000 statements in different languages annually, Geng said.

"Quality of information is the lifeline of news releases. We have been trying to combine what we want to say and what concerns the media, in addition to making diplomatic expression more down to earth for the audiences from home and abroad," Geng said.

The Ministry of Defense clearly understands that using new media in letting the public hear the voice of the People's Liberation Army is a must, and it is determined to use it more efficiently in the future, said Wu Qian, a spokesman for the ministry.

The Defense Ministry opened accounts on WeChat and China's Twitter-equivalent Sina Weibo in 2015. The ministry also posts cartoons and videos on the accounts to attract the public's attention to PLA, Wu said.

Chinese State-owned enterprises have begun to attach greater importance to establishing a news release system for their branches abroad as they expand their overseas businesses, said Lyu Dapeng, a spokesman for China Petroleum & Chemical Corp or Sinopec. The company now has a team of 50 spokespersons for overseas markets and has launched Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Regardless of which media platforms or forms government organs choose to release news, the bottom line is that they should never try to cover up the facts or turn a blind eye to the public's demand for truth, said Cheng Manli, director of Peking University's National Institute of Strategic Communication.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 14:15:07

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PLANO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / Amazing Energy Oil and Gas Co. (OTCQX: AMAZ) ("Amazing," "Amazing Energy," or the "Company") today announced that management will present at the 11th Annual LD Micro Invitational on Tuesday, December 4th at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.Will McAndrew, Chief Executive Officer, will host one-on-one meetings throughout the day on June 4th and 5th, 2018, and is scheduled to present as follows:11th Annual LD Micro Invitational ConferencePresentation: 9:00 a.m. PT in Track 3Dates: Tuesday, December 4, 2018Location: Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel, Los Angeles, CAWebcast: http://wsw.com/webcast/ldmicro15/amaz/ About Amazing Energy Oil and GasAmazing Energy Oil and Gas, Co. is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company based in Plano, TX. The Company operates leaseholds in the Permian Basin of West Texas where it holds the rights within a 70,000-acre leasehold in Pecos County, TX. The Company primarily engages in the acquisition and exploitation of oil and natural gas properties with a focus on well-defined plays containing stacked pay zones on the Central Basin Platform of the Permian Basin. More information may be found on Amazing Energy's website at www.amazingenergy.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking information including statements that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipate," or similar expressions. Such forward looking-statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition, description of anyone's past success, either financial or strategic, is no guarantee of future success. This news release speaks as of the date first set forth above and the company assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof. Information concerning these and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, which can be obtained on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov Investor Relations ContactDerek Gradwell MZ GroupSVP Natural ResourcesPhone: 512-270-6990Email: dgradwell@ mzgroup.us Web: www.mzgroup.us SOURCE: Amazing Energy Oil and Gas Co.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 15:01:01

SUNNYVALE, Calif, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SANAN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CO., LTD. (Sanan IC), a pure-play compound semiconductor foundry with its advanced III-V technology platform, today announced that it has attained additional certifications for its manufacturing management systems. The company recently earned IATF 16949:2016 Automotive Quality Management System (QMS) certification, and this past June also completed ISO27001:2013 certification for Information Security Management standards compliance. These recent achievements are in addition to existing certifications which include ISO9001:2015 Quality Management and Assurance Systems, IECQ QC080000:2012 Hazardous Substance Process Management (HSPM), ISO140001:2015 Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management.



We at Sanan IC are proud of having attained these key milestones of international standards compliance for Quality, Environmental and Information Technology (IT) management systems, said Raymond Cai, Chief Executive Officer of Sanan IC. Having these procedures and disciplines in place not only gives us a solid foundation to be a world-class, large-scale wafer manufacturer, but it also shows our companys commitment to quality, security, and safety which our customers demand and which our employees expect. These management systems definitely help us strive for constant improvements in efficiency, productivity, communications, and environmental awareness.

Sanan IC offers a broad portfolio of compound semiconductor wafer foundry services, namely for gallium arsenide (GaAs) HBT, pHEMT, BiHEMT, integrated passive device (IPD), filters, gallium nitride (GaN) power HEMT, silicon carbide (SiC), and indium phosphide (InP) intended for RF, millimeter wave, power electronics, and optical communications markets. Among the various applications for these process technologies is automotive such as for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, collision-avoidance sensors, hybrid/electric vehicle (HEV/EV) charging and motor drives. With IATF 1694 compliance, Sanan ICs customers are able to meet the automotive industrys stringent quality system requirements.

To mitigate information and intellectual property (IP) protection concerns, ISO27001 compliance facilitates best-practice for an information security management system (ISMS). It sets guidelines for implementing and monitoring security measures as well as for risk management of both the companys and customers proprietary information and IP. Practicing and maintaining these security management procedures combined with the other quality and environmental systems lead to building and establishing customer confidence and trust.

About Sanan IC

Sanan Integrated Circuit Co., Ltd. (Sanan IC) is Chinas first 6-inch compound semiconductor wafer foundry, serving the microelectronics and photonics markets worldwide. The company was founded in 2014, and is based in Xiamen City in the Fujian Province of China, operating as a subsidiary of Sanan Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. (SSE: 600703). The company develops and provides GaAs, GaN, SiC, and InP epitaxial wafers and substrates with its state-of-the-art III-V semiconductor fabrication facilities. Sanan IC empowers the global community of RF, millimeter wave, filter, power electronics, and optical communications markets with its advanced process technology platform. www.sanan-ic.com/en.

Media Relations Contact

Raymond Biagan

ray@sanan-ic.com
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 05:32:02

DDFC and SRP Group sign MoU and launch design competition for homeware and jewellery designers in the MENA-region with combined prizes worth AED300,000

DDFC and Chinas SRP Group Launch Competition to Elevate Dubais Design Industry

APCO Worldwide

Christoph Diesch, +971551340892

cdiesch@apcoworldwide.com

Imaan Jooma, +97143613333

ijooma@apcoworldwide.com

The Dubai Design & Fashion Council (DDFC), established by The Government of Dubai to raise the profile of Dubai as a regional and global destination for design, and SRP Group, a Chinese company specialised in licensing products and cross-border trading, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and cultivate Dubais design industry as part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181125005

The MoU was signed by Jazia Al Dhanhani, Chief Executive Officer of the Dubai Design & Fashion Council (DDFC), and Xu Jie, Chairman of SRP Group (Photo: AETOSWire)

The signing is in line with the recent announcement of China taking the number one position of Dubais trading partners with traded goods exceeding the AED965 billion mark. The recent visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to the UAE further emphasises Chinas growing importance in the development of key sectors across the UAE and wider MENA-region, including the local design sector.

As part of the collaboration, the partners have launched the MENA-wide Silk Road Design Competition, with proposals being accepted until January 15th. The organisers are calling on design students and professional designers to submit their innovative homeware and jewellery design projects, offering the chance of winning cash prizes of up to AED60,000 per entrant.

Commenting on the partnership, Jazia Al Dhanhani, Chief Executive Officer of DDFC, said, Creative industries are playing an increasingly prominent role in the cultural and economic development of Dubai and the wider region. Fostering creative talent within this sector forms a fundamental pillar for economic competitiveness, innovative thinking and community enrichment, and is considered a key catalyst for the development of Dubais economy.

She continued: Our latest partnership with SRP Group is a testimony to our commitment to develop the local design industries, while building bridges with our trading partners from China. The MoU signing and the launch of the Silk Road Design Competition is a first step in what we hope is the beginning of a fruitful and long-lasting relationship.

Xu Jie, the Chairman of SRP Group, commented, Dubai has developed into a regional hub, serving as an important destination for Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past years, China has continued to invest into strategically important sectors of the UAE. The newly launched Silk Road Design Competition further underpins those developments by encouraging young and creative designers from the region to design homeware and jewellery products for the regional and Chinese markets.

He added: We believe that this is an excellent opportunity for the local design industry to work with a Chinese company and to create culturally rich designs that are unique to the market, while further deepening our mutual understanding of each others art and culture.

The competition will feature two design categories divided into homeware and jewellery. Each category offering a grand prize of AED60,000 for first-place, AED30,000 for second place of up to two winners and AED10,000 for third place going to three entrants.

The selection process will be headed by leading design experts invited by DDFC and SRP Group.

About DDFC:

In 2013, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued Decree No (23) determining the formation of the Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC), a member of the Dubai Creative Clusters Authority (DCCA). Established in 2014, DDFCs mandate is to raise the profile of Dubai as a regional and global destination for design and fashion, ensure the contribution of the creative industries to the sustainable development of the Emirate, stimulate trade and tourism, develop local talent, and attract companies operating in the fields of design and fashion to Dubai.

DDFC oversees, supports, promotes and drives initiatives related to 5 key design segments - Fashion Design, Product Design, Architecture, Interior Design, and Graphic Design.

For more information on DDFC visit our website: www.ddfc.ae.

DDFC Social Media:

Instagram: @ddfcdubai

Twitter: @ddfcdubai

Hashtags used: #ddfcdubai #in5ddfcmembership

About SRP Group:

Headquartered in China, SRP Group is recognized as a comprehensive service platform that connects (specializing in online and offline trading) businesses in countries along the Belt and Road. Started in 2006, the Group has developed its businesses into three core areas: philately products, online trading with payments settlement and certifications and design and distribute its own branded jewelry.

In past years, SRP Group has focused more on licensed products specially in precious metal and developed a platform that helps manage design, manufacturing, distribution of various products. The Group acquired IPs from International Olympic Committee, FIFA, and designed, distributed successfully licensed products thus became a leading company in this field in China.

In 2015, SRP Group founded Silk Road E-Station Middle East Trade FZE in JAFZA, Dubai, UAE aiming to develop its MENA market. With the capability of managing state of art manufacturing activities in collectibles in precious metals and other high-end products, SRP Group is hoping to raise awareness of high quality of Chinese products thus enabling a new way of trading in the Middle East.

Visit SRPs website to learn more: www.silkeroad.cn.

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181125005
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 13:04:45

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CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / FrontFundr, Canada's number one equity crowdfunding platform, has been awarded the Private Capital Markets Association of Canada (PCMA) Crowdfunding Innovation Deal of the Year award. The award recognizes FrontFundr's exemplary efforts offering Canadians the unique opportunity to own a piece of RED Mountain, a world-class ski resort in the West Kootenays of British Columbia.Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, CEO and Founder of FrontFundr accepted the award during the seventh annual PCMA Western National Industry Conference on November 22 in Calgary.Doug Bedard, Chair of the PCMA, presenting Peter-Paul van Hoeken the Crowdfunding Innovation Deal of the Year Award from PCMA.About the DealIn 2017, RED Mountain Resort shook up the ski industry by becoming the first ever crowdfunded for-profit resort. With FrontFundr as their Canadian crowdfunding platform, RED's "Fight The Man. Own The Mountain" campaign attracted over 700 investors who raised more than $2.5 million and earned media attention from The Globe & Mail and Bloomberg. Together, RED and FrontFundr let the world know that independence matters by keeping Western Canada's oldest ski resort a community-owned entity.Giving everyday Canadians the opportunity to invest in companies that matter to their communities and their country earned FrontFundr a place in the Private Capital Markets Awards. FrontFundr's CEO, Peter-Paul Van Hoeken, thanked those communities, saying, "Since 2015, FrontFundr has engaged investors and entrepreneurs across the country, enabling more than 30 Canadian companies to obtain the funding they need to grow. We've done this by building communities of supporters and advocates for each company's products and services. We'd like to thank our incredible community for their continued support because without them this growth and recognition would not be possible." For more information about the PCMA Private Capital Markets Awards, please visit https://www.pcmacanada.com/page/Awards For more information, images, video or to arrange an interview contact Victoria Bennett victoria@ bmwconsults.com (403) 589 7992About FrontFundrFrontFundr is Canada's leading online investment platform, operating as an online Exempt Market Dealer across the country with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. They provide access to investment opportunities in private companies and conversely, offer companies an online channel to effectively raise capital from investors across Canada. FrontFundr's priorities have always been inclusiveness, accessibility and modernization as they democratize investing in emerging and growth- stage Canadian companies. For information about how to join FrontFundr's investor community, please visit www.frontfundr.com About Red MountainLocated in Rossland, BC--RED Mountain is Western Canada's oldest ski resort. It began as a community-owned entity when Scandinavian miners first discovered the mountain, whittling skis out of lightning-struck trees.Now, through the power of the internet and the magic of equity crowdfunding, RED Mountain will be enjoyed for generations to come.In 2018, RED joined FrontFundr looking to raise 1.5 million dollars to upgrade their resort and save it from closure. Through it's Fight The Man. Own The Mountain campaign, they were able to secure the funding they needed.Their compelling narrative took off, gaining momentum and sympathy from more than just locals. An avalanche of support poured in as 744 investors backed the campaign, pledging over 2.5 million, 171% of their target goal.The campaign did more than raise capital, it increased awareness for this gem nestled in the Rossland, BC.About the Private Capital Markets AwardsPrivate Capital Markets Awards are the only national industry awards for private capital markets professionals, which recognize business leaders who help build a vibrant and successful private capital markets in Canada.In 2012, the PCMA launched these national awards as the first and only national industry awards for exempt market issuers, dealers and professionals that promote best practices and high standards of conduct in the private capital markets.For more information about the PCMA Awards, please visit www.pcmacanada.com SOURCE: FrontFundr
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 14:33:10

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC. (TSX-V: PLAN) ("Progressive Planet", "PLAN" or the "Company") has received additional results from InnoTech Alberta for its Zeolite Efficacy Trial. We have disclosed what we deem to be material in nature.The trial included two popular grow media used in the Cannabis industry. Each grow medium was placed into 28 pots. For each grow medium, seven pots containing no Z1 Zeolite functioned as a baseline and seven pots had 5%, 10% and 15% of Z1 Zeolite added by weight respectively.The objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of PLAN's Z1 Zeolite on the growth and qualities of greenhouse grown low-THC Cannabis (industrial hemp), irrigation water use and nutrient release/retention of two substrates. The first substrate was an organic grow medium specifically tailored for growing Cannabis. The second substrate was a widely used, high porosity, low density, peat-based growing medium, widely available for retail purchase in Canada, which also contains mycorrhizae.Section 39(1) of the Industrial Hemp Regulations (IHR) allows a variety of industrial hemp to be designated as an approved cultivar, provided that the variety will produce a plant that will contain 0.3% THC or less in its leaves and flowering heads. For our study, we selected the Sativa hemp cultivar X-59 (Hemp Nut). This cultivar contains compacted, profuse flower heads and is known to contain approximately 1.5% of CBD and 0.1% or less of THC at grain harvest stage according to Dr. Jan Slaski, the lead advisor of the Zeolite Efficacy Study. Finally, this cultivar of hemp is exempt from THC testing under subsection 16 (1) of the Industrial Hemp Regulations.We wish to state that the chemical composition and the cation exchange capacity of Zeolite vary for different deposits. As a result, the results from this study cannot be extrapolated for other Zeolite deposits.Prior results reported focused solely on the organic grow medium and did not include any cannabinoid analyses of flower tissue for either of the grow media.The cannabinoids analyzed included CBC, CBD, CBDa, CBG, CBGa, CBN, d8-THC, d9-THC, THCa, and THCV. We have not reported any THC compounds as the cultivar used contains 0.1% or less of THC at grain harvest as described above. A UHPLC system equipped with a UV DAD detector was used for the analyses of all cannabinoids tested.PLAN will not release all the data from the report in order to protect intellectual property, but the following material observations were made:Organic grow medium designed for growing CannabisZ1 Zeolite added to the organic grow medium improved soil moisture conservation and the retention of the majority of 19 tested elements and improved the mineral status of the flower buds.Based on calculated harvest index, flower bud yield was increased where Z1 Zeolite was added.The highest average total bud yield per category of Z1 Zeolite added was 123.2 grams per plant and this average was recorded for the seven pots which contained 10% Z1 Zeolite. The baseline with no Z1 Zeolite had a yield of 118 grams, which was not significantly different than the 10% Z1 Zeolite addition result.Z1 Zeolite did not significantly affect the production of all detectable cannabinoid compounds versus the baseline; however, total CBD ranged between 0.54% to 2.66% when Z1 Zeolite was added. Much of this variation may be attributed to genetic variability of the seed. InnoTech Alberta proposed further study of Z-1 Zeolite using clonally propagated high-CBD lines of industrial hemp and/or high THC Cannabis strains to quantify this efficacy.Widely available peat-based grow mediumZ1 Zeolite added to the peat-based grow medium did not improve soil moisture conservation or nutrient retention. This result was not unexpected as the peat-based medium is designed as a multi-use growing medium and is specifically designated as high porosity with a high content of perlite.The highest average total bud yield per category of Z1 Zeolite added was 162.8 grams per plant and this average was recorded for the seven pots which contained 10% Z1 Zeolite. The baseline with no Z1 Zeolite had a yield of 59.1 grams.In plants grown in 10% Z1 Zeolite pots, the total CBD concentration available as a percentage was slightly lower versus the organic growing medium, but the absolute total CBD amount as measured by weight was higher due to the higher total bud yield.Zeolite stimulated the production of tested cannabinoid compounds. When 5% or 10 % Z1 Zeolite was added to the grow media, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC and THC were higher than the baseline (0% Z1 Zeolite added). Total CBD available was 1.07% for the baseline with no Z1 Zeolite. Total CBD was 1.40% and 1.38% with 5% and 10% Z1 Zeolite added respectively. As with the organic grow medium, InnoTech Alberta recommended further trials using clonally propagated high-CBD lines of industrial hemp and/or high THC cannabis strains.Based on the excellent results of the study with respect to 10% Z1 Zeolite added to the widely available peat-based grow medium, Progressive Planet plans to begin selling 454-gram (1 pound) bags of Z-1 Zeolite on its website. The e-commerce platform to enable online shopping is being developed concurrently with packaging and labeling."I am very satisfied that the study confirmed our hypothesis that our Z1 Zeolite has merit when used with a widely available Canadian grow medium. Progressive Planet has an existing bagging line at the Advanced Material Centre and we plan to start selling small bags of Z1 Zeolite to Canadians who wish to use this to enhance grow media when legally growing Cannabis plants in their homes in Canada," said Stephen Harpur, CEO. Progressive Planet also plans to offer larger bags and bulk sales of Z1 Zeolite to commercial Canadian hemp and Cannabis growers in Canada in 2019.Based on the results of this trial, Progressive Planet has procured an option to lease five acres of land immediately adjacent to its Advanced Materials Centre in Vernon, BC for the purpose of growing strains of industrial hemp outdoors during the 2019 growing season. All strains we plan to grow will be designated by Health Canada as approved cultivars. In addition, an additional five acres of farm land located in Salmon Arm, BC and owned by Stephen Harpur, CEO, have been made available for the same purpose. Progressive Planet has no plans to grow any strain of Cannabis which contains high levels of THC.It is the intention of Progressive Planet to use the data gathered from this comprehensive study to focus on maxi
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 15:02:04

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CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / IIOT-OXYS, Inc. (OTC PINK: ITOX). IIOT-OXYS, Inc. (the ''Company'') announced today that it has joined the Industrial Internet Consortium, or IIC ( www.iiconsortium.org) . Also, IIOT-OXYS, Inc.'s CEO announced that he was invited to join the IIC quarterly meeting that was held in Beijing, China. This coincided with the kickoff of the Company's collaborations with partners in China to address the rapidly growing Industrial Internet market in China and Asia.Cliff Emmons, CEO of IIOT-OXYS, Inc., remarked that ''the Industrial Internet Consortium, or IIC, is the premier international industry group that is guiding and shaping the future of the Industrial Internet. Companies ranging from startups like ours to multinational giants like Bosch, Dell, Huawei, IBM, SAP, Microsoft, Oracle, Tata, GE, Boeing, Siemens, Samsung, Hitachi, and many others are members. It is an excellent venue to get the highest-level visibility into the current state and future direction of the IIoT, Industry 4.0, and where the next great business opportunities may exist. Also, for a smaller company like ours, it offers unparalleled access to senior executives at these major firms, thereby greatly expanding and deepening our opportunity for collaborations and partnerships. This move is essential to our long-term revenue growth potential and business development activities.'' Mr. Emmons also added that ''we are also doubly pleased to announce that we attended the Quarterly meeting that was held the week of November 12, 2018 in Beijing, China. It coincided with the official launch of our partnership in China to address business opportunities in China and Asia which lie in our technical sweet spot, mainly the intersection of IIoT, machine learning, and healthcare operations. We have a trusted partner, which we will soon be announcing, that has extensive experience in these fields and will provide us with a strong ally to significantly de-risk our entry into this overseas market. This is critical to a smaller early stage technology company like ours, where we cannot afford to make such a bold market move without such valued partners.'' ''We are delighted to have IIOT-OXYS, Inc. as a member of the IIC to share their knowledge and expertise in capturing and analyzing sensor data for use across many industries,'' said Dr. Richard Soley, Executive Director, IIC.Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Management's current views about future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as ''expects,'' ''anticipates,'' ''intends,'' or '' believes.'' Our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and events to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect us include, without limitation, the loss of major customers, our failure to obtain new contracts, our inability to patent products or processes, our infringement of patents held by others, our inability to finance our business and the other risks and uncertainties that are discussed in our most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release. We undertake no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.Contact:Cliff L. EmmonsCEOIIOT-OXYS, Inc.contact@ oxyscorp.com SOURCE: IIOT-OXYS, Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 12:21:03

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Image Studio

Rome 00100, Italy



Image Studio

Image Studio

+39 3288267650

email

https://imagestudio.com





# 404 Words

Rome 00100, ItalyImage Studio+39 3288267650

26 November 2018 - Image Studio provides great Italian wedding photo-shootings. If you are planning a wedding in Italy and are seeking a professional photographer and video-maker, then you came here right, because the Image Studio company can make you much happier, as well as make you feel that your wedding is special and you will never ever forget those moments, with the help of the left photos. Do not hesitate to discover the price ranges and the conditions upon which you can have a beautiful collaboration with the Image Studio guys.The website of Image Studio is a very user-friendly page that shows you how beautiful and unforgettable your wedding can be. The page of Image Studio provides details about many services that the company assures, and also a large gallery of the previous works of the Image Studio team. With a huge background and experience in the field of wedding photography, Image Studio can show you what they have already achieved. Last feature of the website, you are able to contact right there the Image Studio representatives and schedule a meeting.Why should you choose Image Studio instead of other photographer companies? First, the Image Studio services are really affordable, as they are totally user-friendly for any types of wishes. If you are wondering a totally unique photo shooting, and you have an idea, Image Studio will be welcome to help you with it, and assure that your dreams come true. Another advantages of Image Studio, they are totally welcome to your schedule. They are flexible in terms of time and locations, being able to move to your city and to make your experience unique. Yet another thing to mention, Image Studio can be the best option of yours, because of their huge experience in the field.About Image Studio:Image Studio is a company providing Italian based photography services, which can be suitable for anyone wondering a dream wedding. Focused on quality and unforgettable moments capturing, the Image Studio company can assure you the nicest atmosphere and a good relaxing mood during the photo shooting. If you are ready to plan your wedding photography event, then do not hesitate to contact the Image Studio reps and schedule a meeting for further planning. You will never regret to have chosen the Image Studio services.Contact:Company: Image StudioContact Name: Dmitri KuliukAddress: Rome 00100, ItalyEmail: info@ imagestudio.com Phone: +39 3288267650Website: https://imagestudio.com
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 16:57:55

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / Nuinsco Resources Limited ("Nuinsco" or "the Company"), one of Canada's most experienced mineral exploration and discovery companies, today announced that the Company has received conditional approval to list its common shares on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE).The listing is conditional upon sufficient funding being available and the preparation of minor updates to the National Instrument 43-101 technical report on the Company's 100%-owned, large-scale, multi-commodity Prairie Lake project in Ontario.Paul Jones, President and CEO of Nuinsco, commented: "We are obviously very pleased that a listing of the Company's shares is nearly at hand after a protracted period. Despite a severe and prolonged mining downturn, we were not only able to keep the Company compliant by ensuring continued financial transparency on SEDAR but were also able to advance several initiatives significant to the future of Nuinsco. We look forward to updating our shareholders on project activities soon." About Nuinsco Resources LimitedNuinsco Resources has over 45 years of exploration success and is a growth oriented, multi-commodity mineral exploration and development company focused on prospective opportunities in Canada and internationally. Currently the Company has two properties in Ontario - the high-grade Sunbeam gold prospect near Atikokan and the large, multi-commodity (rare-earths, niobium, tantalum, phosphorus) Prairie Lake project near Terrace Bay. In addition, Nuinsco is negotiating an agreement for gold exploitation in Egypt - a project with the potential to provide very near-term revenue.Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historic fact, that address activities, events or developments that Nuinsco believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate,""expect," and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may," "will," "can," "should," "could," or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of Nuinsco based on information currently available to Nuinsco. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of Nuinsco to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, 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 Nuinsco. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to successfully complete financings, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, production rates varying from estimates, changes in world copper and/or gold markets, changes in equity markets, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, imprecision in resource estimates, success of future development initiatives, competition, operating performance of facilities, environmental and safety risks, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain tenure to properties and/or necessary permits and approvals, and other development and operating risks. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Nuinsco disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Nuinsco believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.To learn more, please contact:Paul Jones, CEO416 626-0470 x 229Sean Stokes, Executive VP416 626-0470 x 224Cathy Hume, Consultantcathy@ chfir.com 416 868-1079 x 231Website: www.nuinsco.ca Twitter: @NWIResourcesSOURCE: Nuinsco Resources Limited
PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-26 09:03:02

Innovative Cost-Effective Solution Provides Pregnant Women Widespread Access to Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing

PerkinElmer Receives CE-IVD Mark for Its Vanadis Fully Automated NIPT Platform

PerkinElmer, Inc.

Brian Willinsky, +1-781-663-5728

brian.willinsky@perkinelmer.com

PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI), a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world, today announced that its Vanadis NIPT system has obtained CE-IVD mark for commercialization and distribution throughout Europe and other countries that accept CE marking. This non-invasive test provides screening results for trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome). The Vanadis NIPT system has been validated in an external clinical study conducted in France. The blinded study analyzed 80 samples from pregnancies affected by trisomy 21 and 670 samples from unaffected pregnancies, classifying all cases correctly, with only one sample failing to generate a result. In addition to trisomy 21, PerkinElmer conducted clinical studies to demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity for trisomies 18 and 13.

Generally, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) analyzes cell-free DNA (cfDNA) circulating in the maternal blood and has rapidly become the standard follow-up procedure for women classified as high risk following traditional prenatal screening. Measuring cfDNA from a standard blood draw to detect common chromosomal trisomies has been demonstrated with high sensitivity and specificity.

NIPT has been previously limited by the complexity, cost and capacity of existing commercially available technologies, which prevented many laboratories and obstetricians from offering reliable, and cost-effective solutions for aneuploidy screening, said Olle Ericsson, General Manager at Vanadis Diagnostics, a PerkinElmer company. With our Vanadis platform, we are taking the technical complexity out of NIPT while breaking down the cost barriers. This will enable more women to gain access to NIPT and improve the level of prenatal care on a global level.

Unlike existing NIPT technologies, which require more complex platforms such as sequencing or microarrays, the Vanadis NIPT platform is the first of its kind designed to simplify screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13. The Y chromosome can be measured as an optional marker. This cost-effective, high-throughput scalable platform measures fetal chromosomal trisomies in maternal plasma by targeted fluorescent labeling and counting specific cfDNA fragmentsremoving the costly and data-intensive steps required for gene sequencing or microarray solutions.

The promising results weve seen lead us to believe that a broad range of women throughout Europe and around the world now stand to benefit significantly from being able to have NIPT as a key component of prenatal care, said Jeremie Gautier, head of the project management team at CerbaXpert, which played a leading role in the evaluation study in France.

PerkinElmer is also currently collaborating with Women & Infants Hospital (WIH) of Rhode Island, a Care New England hospital, in a clinical validation study to evaluate an innovative test method using the Vanadis NIPT system.* The VALUE (Validation of a Lower Cost Aneuploidy Screen) study aims to test samples from approximately 2,500 women, most from an average risk pregnancy population, with additional high-risk cases added to determine performance characteristics such as detection rates and false positive rates.

The Vanadis technology has the potential to bring cfDNA screening for common trisomies to the general pregnancy population who cannot readily access NIPT at this time due to the high cost of available tests, said Glenn Palomaki, PhD, Associate Director of the Division of Medical Screening and Special Testing at WIH, and Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. This platform has the potential to be as efficient as current next generation sequencing offeringsyet could be cost-competitive with current first trimester combined screening.

For more information on the Vanadis NIPT system, please visit: www.prenataltesting.perkinelmer.com/vanadis.

About PerkinElmer

PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global leader committed to innovating for a healthier world. Our dedicated team of about 11,000 employees worldwide is passionate about providing customers with an unmatched experience as they help solve critical issues especially impacting the diagnostics and discovery and analytical solutions markets. Our innovative detection, imaging, informatics, and service capabilities, combined with deep market knowledge and expertise, help customers gain earlier and more accurate insights to improve lives and the world around us. The Company reported revenue of approximately $2.3 billion in 2017, serves customers in more than 150 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500 Index. Additional information is available through 1-877-PKI-NYSE, or at www.perkinelmer.com.

*PerkinElmers Vanadis NIPT system is not available for clinical use in the United States.

Products may not be licensed in accordance with the laws in all countries, such as the United States and Canada. Please check with your local representative for availability.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSX-V: PBX) (OTCQB: PWWBF) (FRA: 1ZVA) ("PowerBand" or the "Company"), a leading online auction and remarketing platform to buy and sell used vehicles, is pleased to announce that it is launching a dealer wholesale inventory auction network with Carpages.ca , a division of Autopath Technologies Inc. Carpages.ca provides an online listing of vehicles that can be bought and sold by consumers and dealers. Presently, Carpages.ca has over 800 dealers on its platform across Canada that list more than 80,000 used vehicles on its consumer-facing retail platform. With the launch of PowerBand's dealer wholesale inventory auction network, Carpages.ca's dealers will now be able to launch their inventory directly from Carpages.ca to LiveNet, PowerBand's instant, online auction platform. Dealers will also be able to post their inventory vehicles on PowerBand's MarketPlace auction site. Dealers will remain in control of the vehicle status and pricing, while benefitting from remarketing their vehicles on both retail and wholesale platforms simultaneously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Mike Moen, PowerBand's President and COO, commented: "The used vehicle market is growing at 7% per year, much faster than the new vehicle market, resulting in tight supply and difficulties for both consumers and dealers to source good quality used vehicles. By integrating our platforms Carpages.ca dealers will now be able to seamlessly upload their current and future used vehicle inventory into a national private dealer network comprised of hundreds of franchised and used vehicle dealerships and certified wholesale buyers. This will allow sellers to get the maximum price for their inventory, and buyers the opportunity to source supply in a very tight market." Ben Mirecki, President of Carpages.ca , stated: "We see PowerBand as a great integration partner that will enable dealers already using the Carpages.ca platform to have a way to buy and sell vehicles in a wholesale context without the high cost and hassle traditionally associated with vehicle remarketing." PowerBand and Carpages.ca will both be actively promoting the benefits of the new dealer wholesale inventory auction network to Carpages.ca's 800 customers in the next few months with the expectation that auction transactions and revenues will increase significantly in 2019 and beyond.About PowerBand Solutions Inc.PowerBand Solutions Inc. is a technology provider listed on the TSX Venture Exchange that is developing solutions for automotive and other industries that drive efficiency and transparency in the marketplace. PowerBand has developed and commercialized a leading-edge online auction platform that increases revenues and profit margins for its automotive dealership, Original Equipment Manufacturer, commercial fleet and rental company customers. PowerBand's remarketing platform, the PowerBand Exchange, incorporates the industry's latest auction technologies, inventory management, market intelligence, and appraisal processes.For further information, please contact:Richard Goldman, VP Corporate Development1-866-768-7653rgoldman@ powerbandsolutions.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future 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 reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.SOURCE: PowerBand Solutions Inc.
Six-year-old Tian Jia has looked after her father for nearly two years, after he was left paralyzed in a car accident.

She gets up every day at 6 a.m. to help her father get out of bed and into his wheelchair. She then washes his face and helps him eat, before going to school.

After Tian Haicheng from Gaotai Village, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, became paralyzed from the chest down in the car accident in 2016, his wife left with their elder son. His little daughter has since become Tian Haicheng's "little Miss sunshine."

"If it were not FOR her, I would have died already," said Tian Haicheng, adding that when the accident happened he was 37 and his daughter only 3.

"My parents are farmers and my kid is too young, I do not want to become a burden for them so I actually wanted to end my life," Tian Haicheng said. "One day I was left along with Tian Jia in the courtyard, and I asked her to move the wheelchair a little so that I could fall down on the ground, but she supported me using her tiny little arms and shouted 'dad you can't die.' I then cried like crazy and determined that I have to live on."

Every day, Tian Jia uses a home-made hoist to lift her father out of bed onto the wheelchair, and because of her tiny figure she has to go up and down the bed and wheelchair several times to adjust the direction. But she says she never tires.

After she settles her father in, Tian Jia puts his coat on, washes his face and sometimes helps him shave.

"Before I was paralyzed, she was the treasure of the family, always asking me to hold her on our way to buy candies," said Tian Haicheng. "I feel she has grown up suddenly, she now never asks for anything from me and instead brings me things for me from school, including the boiled egg they have for breakfast."

The accident indebted Tian's family, and besides government subsidies the remaining expenses come from Tian's parents who are now nearly 70. Tian Haicheng's mother sometimes looks after him, while Tian Jia learns. "No one teaches her, and she learns all by herself," Tian Haicheng said.

Tian Haicheng's mother Ma Yingxiu said: "When I looked after her dad, she would come watch and help. One day I got up and saw her dressing her father up alone."

Tian Jia is a fast learner, and also comes up with good ideas. "One time she suggested tying a spoon to my hand so that I can eat by myself, and I did it," Tian Haicheng said. "I can't imagine a life without her now."

Tian Jia is the apple of her father's eye, and the family is once again filled with laughter as Tian Haicheng has begun positively engaging in his rehabilitation training.

Besides, he's now live-streaming video of his life on social media, where he has nearly 1 million followers, in a bid to get financial support from viewers.

Their story has moved hearts of millions on the live-streaming app, Kuaishou, and support has flooded in. "Uncles and aunties sent me pretty dresses, pencils and school bags," Tian Jia said, with a big smile on her face.

"The best moment every day is walking Tian Jia to school, I wait for her outside and talk with other parents," Tian Haicheng said.

The rugged mountain road to school is never easy, especially for Tian Haicheng's electric wheelchair, but with the company of Tian Jia, the journey is joyous.
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NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, CANADA / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 /Rambler Metals and Mining plc (TSXV: RAB, AIM: RMM) (Rambler or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive subscription agreement (the Subscription Agreement) with CE Mining III Rambler Limited ( CEIII or the Investor). The Investor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CE Mining Fund III L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership whose general partner is under common ownership with the general partner of CE Mining II L.P., whose subsidiary CE Mining II Rambler Limited (CEII) is a control person of Rambler. The Subscription Agreement provides for an investment of US$2 million (the Convertible Loan) in the form of senior secured convertible loan notes (the Loan Notes) the terms of which are set out in a Convertible Note Instrument (the Convertible Loan Instrument and, collectively with the Subscription Agreement and the Loan Notes, the Convertible Loan Documents).The Loan Notes will bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum and will mature on the first business day prior to the first anniversary of the issuance of the Loan Notes. The Company's obligations under the Convertible Loan Documents will be subject to a first ranking security interest in favour of CEIII as security trustee for and on behalf of the present and future holders of the Loan Notes, and including without limitation, a first ranking security interest in the Ming Mine and the Nugget Pond Processing Facility owned and operated by Rambler Metals and Mining Canada Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Investor will also receive an arrangement fee equal to 2% of the principal value of the Loan Notes, which will be payable in cash to the Investor by December 31, 2018. The Loan Notes are convertible, in whole or in part, at the election of the Investor at a price per Ordinary Share equal to CAD$0.05 (the Conversion Price).Accrued but unpaid interest on the Loan Notes may also be converted into Ordinary Shares at the option of the holder in accordance with the Policies of the TSXV and subject to TSXV acceptance. The Company may, by a decision of its board of directors and with the sanction of a special resolution of the holders of the Loan Notes, repay the Loan Notes in full at par on a date falling prior to the maturity date.Assuming conversion at maturity by the Investor of all of the principal amount of the Loan Notes at the Conversion Price and using the Bank of Canada exchange rate as of November 23, 2018, the Investor would acquire ownership and control over a total of 52,912,000 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 7.4% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares. Immediately following such a conversion, together with the Ordinary Shares of the Company already owned by CEII, the Investor and CEII would together have ownership and control over 449,275,636 Ordinary Shares of the Company, representing approximately 63.1% of the issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares.Closing of the Convertible Loan is subject to the receipt of conditional acceptance from the TSXV and, as the Company has received such conditional acceptance, closing is expected to take place on November 26, 2018. The Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to conversion of the Loan Notes will be subject to hold periods imposed in accordance with policies of the TSXV and applicable securities laws which expire four months from the date of the closing. Pursuant to the exercise of conversion rights under the Convertible Loan Instrument, new Ordinary Shares will be conditionally issued and allotted and application will be made to the London Stock Exchange plc for their admission to trading on AIM.The proceeds received from the Convertible Loan will be used by the Company to strengthen its working capital position and for general corporate purposes. The proceeds will provide the Company with adequate working capital for approximately three months based on current projected expenditures and anticipated production. Discussions are ongoing between the Company and the Investor and the Company's other significant shareholders regarding a potential further investment in the Company to provide medium-term working capital. There can be no guarantee when or if a subsequent investment in the Company will be completed. If no such subsequent investment is completed, the Company will need to secure financing from other sources. The Company will provide an appropriate announcement regarding any potential further investment in the Company in due course, and as and when appropriate.The Investor is a "related party" to Rambler under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101) by virtue of its relationship with CE Mining II Rambler Limited, an entity which is a control person of Rambler. Accordingly, the Loan Notes constitute a "related party transaction" under MI 61-101. The Loan Notes issued by Rambler to the Investor are exempt from (i) the formal valuation requirements under Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101; and (ii) the minority approval requirements under Section 5.6 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. A material change report with respect to the Loan Notes will be filed less than 21 days prior to the closing of the transaction. This time period is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances as Rambler wishes to complete the transaction in an expeditious manner.The entering into of the Convertible Loan Documents by the Investor is deemed a related party transaction pursuant to Rule 13 of the AIM Rules for Companies. The terms of the Convertible Loan were approved by the Rambler's Non-Investor Directors (as defined in the Company's Relationship Agreement who are currently, Norman Williams, Glenn Poulter and Eason Chen) who unanimously determined that the Convertible Loan was in the best interests of the Company. The Non-Investor Directors, having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser, Cantor Fitzgerald Europe, consider that the terms of the Convertible Loan Documents are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned. In reaching this determination, the Non-Investor Directors considered, among other things, the liquidity the Convertible Loan would provide the Company with for its short term working capital. No special committee was established in connection with the Convertible Loan.This announcement has been posted on the Company's website at www.ramblermines.com and will be posted under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com ABOUT RAMBLER METALS AND MININGRambler is a mining and development company that in November 2012 brought its
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BISHOPSGATE, LONDON / ACCESSWIRE / November 26, 2018 / The Board of SolGold plc (SolGold or the Company) wishes to advise of the issue and allotment of 6,712,200 fully paid ordinary share of 1p each in the capital of the Company to Newcrest International Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of ASX-listed Newcrest Mining Ltd (Newcrest), Australia's largest gold miner and block cave mining expert.The allotment is pursuant to "top-up rights" held by Newcrest under its original August 2016 share subscription agreement.The allotment was priced at 37.14p per share, based on a 10 day VWAP, in accordance with the terms of the subscription agreement.Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange and admission is expected on or around 30 November 2018.Following the allotment of these shares, the Company has on issue a total of 1,846,321,033 fully-paid ordinary shares; 21,250,000 share options exercisable at 40p and 129,887,000 share options exercisable at 60p.By order of the BoardKarl SchlobohmCompany SecretaryBrisbane, AustraliaReferences to figures and tables relate to the version visible in PDF format by clicking the link below:Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) DisclosureCertain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.CONTACTS:Nicholas MatherSolGold Plc (Chief Executive Officer)nmather@ solgold.com.au Tel: +61 (0) 7 3303 0665+61 (0) 417 880 448Karl SchlobohmSolGold Plc (Company Secretary)kschlobohm@ solgold.com.au Tel: +61 (0) 7 3303 0661Anna LeggeSolGold Plc (Corporate Communications)alegge@ solgold.com.au Tel: +44 (0) 20 3823 2131Gordon Poole / Nick HennisCamarco (Financial PR / IR)solgold@ camarco.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 20 3757 4997Andrew Chubb / Ingo HofmaierHannam & Partners (Joint Broker)solgold@ hannam.partners Tel: +44 (0) 20 7907 8500Clayton Bush / Trystan Cullen / Laura HamiltonLiberum Capital Limited (Joint Broker)solgold@ liberum.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2222Jason Ellefson/Stephanie LariviereNational Bank of Canada (Joint Broker)Tel: +1 416 869 8414Follow us on twitter @SolGold_plcABOUT SOLGOLDSolGold is a leading exploration company focussed on the discovery and definition of world-class copper and gold deposits. In 2017 SolGold's management team was recognised by the "Mines and Money" Forum as an example of excellence in the industry, and is nominated again in 2018. The team continues to strive to deliver objectives efficiently and in the interests of shareholders. SolGold is the largest and most active concession holder in Ecuador and is aggressively exploring the length and breadth of this highly prospective, but underexplored, and gold-rich section of the Andean Copper Belt. SolGold aims to bring Alpala in to production, and build a copper gold major in the process.Ecuador dedicated to become a serious mining nationEcuador has, over the last 5 years, been recognised globally as a frontrunner in emerging mining nations as it develops regulatory and fiscal frameworks to facilitate the development of a fiscally, socially and environmentally strong and responsible mining industry.Dedicated stakeholdersSolGold employs a staff of over 450 and at least 90% are Ecuadorean. This is expected to grow as the operations at Alpala, and in Ecuador generally, expand. SolGold focusses operations on safety and strives to be reliable and environmentally responsible. SolGold maintains close relationships with its local communities. SolGold has engaged an increasingly skilled refined and experienced team of geoscientists using state of the art geophysical and geochemical modelling applied to an extensive data base to enable the delivery of ore grade intersections from nearly every drill hole at Alpala. SolGold has 86 geologists, of which 25% are female, on the ground in Ecuador looking for copper and gold, most of whom are at Alpala.About AlpalaThe Alpala deposit located on the northern section of the heavily endowed Andean Copper Belt, the entirety of which is renowned as the base for nearly half of the world's copper production. The project area hosts mineralisation of Eocene age, the same age as numerous Tier 1 deposits along the Andean Copper Belt in Chile and Peru to the south. The project base is located at Rocafuerte is an approximately three hour drive on sealed highway north of Quito, close to water, power supply and Pacific ports.Alpala has produced some of the greatest drill hole intercepts in porphyry copper-gold exploration history, as exemplified by Hole 12 (CSD-16-012) returning 1560m grading 0.59% copper and 0.54 g/t gold including, 1044m grading 0.74% copper and 0.54 g/t gold.Having fulfilled its earn-in requirements, SolGold is a registered shareholder with an unencumbered legal and beneficial 85% interest in ENSA (Exploraciones Novomining S.A.) which holds 100% of the concession covering approximately 50km2. The junior equity owner in ENSA is required to repay 15% of costs since SolGold's earn in was completed, from 90% of its share of distribution of earnings or dividends from ENSA or the concession. It is also required to contribute to development or be diluted, and if its interest falls below 10%, it shall reduce to a 0.5% NSR royalty which SolGold may acquire for US$3.5m.Over 160,000m of diamond drilling has been completed on the project. With 12 rigs currently active on the project, SolGold produces up to approximately 10,500m of core every month. SolGold is encouraged by recent drilling results, expected to further expand and enrich the existing resource base at Alpala in 2019. The Company is also encouraged by notable drill hole results outside the previous resource area which promise further growth for the 2019 drilling campaign ahead. The 2019 drilling campaign will focus on further expansion of the existing resource base at Alpala, namely high priority drill targets at Alpala SE, Alpala NW, Trivinio and Alpala Western Limb.On 3 January 2018, SolGold announced its Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). Thi
Two girls and a boy took the top three spots in this years edition of the UBA Foundations National Essay Competition as 14year old Odjegba Divine Omesiri emerged the overall winner, carting away a brand new laptop as well as an educational grant worth N2 million to study in any African university of her choice.

Miss Odjegba, a student of the International High School, Delta State, clinched the first position at the grand finale, which was held on Monday at the UBA House, Marina Lagos. She defeated 11 other finalists selected from over 6,000 entries received by the UBA Foundation from students of senior secondary schools across Nigeria. This years edition saw over 500 per cent increase in participation from pupils across every single state of the federation.

A visibly elated Miss Odjegba who was accompanied by her mother, Mrs Odjegba, said she was excited to have come top in the competition, adding that the experience has given her the confidence that she can face great challenges and emerge a winner. Winning the competition, she said, would help her pursue her childhood dreams of becoming a Gynecologist. This is something I prayed about and worked hard to achieve. I was in shock to hear my name announced as the winner and my mother and I cried for joy. I am indeed very grateful to UBA and the Foundation for this huge opportunity and making me believe in myself. This grant will go a long way to support my bid for quality education.

The second prize was bagged by Ozemoka Halimat Emesomi, aged 15, of University Preparatory Secondary School, Edo State, who won a N1.5 million educational grant and a laptop, while the third prize of N1,000,000 and a brand new lap top went to Adiankpo Ini-Iso Christopher, 16 years old. Christopher attends the Nigerian Christian Institute Akwa Ibom State. The other 9 finalists all received brand new lap tops.

Bola Atta, the MD/CEO of UBA Foundation while congratulating the winners commended them for their exceptional brilliance. Every student who sent in an entry is a winner. To be confident about your writing skills and ambitious enough to enter a competition to further enhance your educational path is laudable. For those that did not win, I would say do not be discouraged. Take it as a challenge to perfect your writing skills and enter for the competition again in 2019, she said.

According to Ms Atta, UBA Foundation, being the CSR arm of UBA Plc, makes it a point of duty to give back to communities where UBA operates. Education in any capacity, Atta noted, remains of the Foundations focus area as it is the bedrock of any nation.

In his remarks the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Plc, Kennedy Uzoka, said UBA as a bank is happy that it is touching lives and making a solid impact through this competition and the grant it gives out annually to those who emerge winners.

We have indeed noted the increase in the cost of living and have therefore increased the prize money by 100 per cent in all the categories. Seeing past winners tell their stories on the impact the grants have made on their education and particularly how the financial burden was lifted off their parents, gives us joy that our foundation is unique and deeply touching lives, Mr Uzoka said. He specifically mentioned the Each One Teach One initiative  the Foundations latest initiative where thousands of UBA staff members gave back to their communities across Africa, by imparting knowledge to students and the less privileged.

Mr Uzoka informed the gathering made up of parents, students and the media, that the essay competition has produced over 100 winners, since its inception in 2011 in Nigeria, with winners studying varied courses in Universities in Nigeria and within the African continent. He encouraged the winners to be of good character, and ensure that apart from academic excellence, they must avoid any negative action that might dent the foundations image and that of their families as they are now UBA ambassadors.

Picture of UBA Foundation 2018 Grand Finale Picture of UBA Foundation 2018 Grand Finale Picture of UBA Foundation 2018 Grand Finale Picture of UBA Foundation 2018 Grand Finale

The judges, led by Professor of English (Gender Studies) and Director of Pre-degree Studies, University of Uyo, Ini Uko stated that they were impressed with the participants who showed great promise as to what to expect of the future of Nigeria, noting that most of the students wrote intelligently and their ideas were well articulated, new and refreshing. She added that the judges were also encouraged by the fact that entries came in from students from all parts of the country.

UBA Foundations National Essay Competition has been taken to other African countries including Ghana and Senegal as well as Mozambique and Kenya. The initiative will spread to more African countries in 2019.

UBA is one of Africas leading banks with operations in 20 African countries. It also has presence in the global financial centres; London, New York and Paris. UBA provides banking services to more than 15 million customers globally, through diverse channels.
Turkish police are carrying out inspections at a villa in the northwestern province of Yalova in relation to the investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the state-run Anadolu news agency and other media said on Monday.

Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian journalist, dissident, author, and a general manager and editor-in-chief of Al-Arab News Channel who was assassinated at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 by agents of the Saudi Government.

Police are searching a villa in the Samanli village of the Termal district in Yalova, no further details were immediately available, Anadolu said.

Turkish authorities have previously carried out inspections at the kingdoms consulate and the consul generals residence in Istanbul.

According to the authorities, the inspections are part of the investigation into the killing of the journalist, who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October.

Reuters reported in October that investigators had widened their search to Yalova and a forest on the outskirts of Istanbul for the remains of the journalist.

(Reuters/NAN)
Qatar expects six F-15 warplanes will be delivered to its Air Force by March 2021, a military official said on Monday.

The official, Issa al-Mahannadi, a brigadier general, told reporters at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar that another six jets were expected to be delivered three months after the initial batch was received.

This is not a purchase; it is a strategic partnership with the U.S., Mr Mahannadi said.

Qatar in August announced that it would expand Al Udeid, which hosts the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East, to accommodate the F-15s and other fighter jets.

He said that construction on the area for the F-15s would start in 2020 and be completed by 2021, in time to receive the first delivery.

It is the first batch of 36 warplanes it agreed to buy from the United States last year in a deal worth 12 billion dollars.

Also, four more fighter jets are expected every three months thereafter.

Qatar signed agreements to buy warplanes from the U. S. as well as Europe last year.

This was done after a political dispute broke out between it and her neighbours, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain.

Qatar is also buying French Rafale war planes and Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes.

Boeing was awarded the contract for the F-15s.

(Reuters/NAN)
The Nigerian government is rallying traditional rulers in the north towards achieving a successful immunisation programme in that part of the country.

The effort is aimed at eradicating child killer diseases and also boosting the primary health care system.

The Executive-Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, at a meeting with Northern Traditional Leaders Council on Primary Health Care in Abuja on Monday, said the collaboration with the leaders will help in vaccinating the over 4.3 million children who missed previous vaccination exercises in the county.

He said apart from supporting immunisation, the meeting was convened to further request the support of the traditional leaders for primary health care in the country.

Mr Shuaib said It is the role of the traditional leaders to drive primary health care services in conjunction with their community members.

The community engagement framework that we are presenting today is a direct result of input we have gotten from traditional institutions, from community members, from development members around how we can strengthen immunisation, strengthen routine immunisation in a way that every member will get vaccine they need, every child will get primary health care that they need in a way that no child is left behind, he said.

He noted that the traditional leaders are central in Nigeria having gone over 25 months without a case of polio virus reported in the country.

He said the presence of the leaders at the meeting was a clear signal that the traditional institution and the religious institution they belong to are aligned with the fact that vaccines are safe, potent and should be made available free of charge to all members of their communities.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional leaders, Emir of Argungu, Sumaila Meira, urged people of the region to make whatever sacrifice needed to secure the future of children in the region.

The dramatic improvement in polio in Nigeria, which has been sustained today by NPHCDA has resulted in the absence of wild poliovirus in the country for 25 months.

This positive development is not sudden, routine immunisation remains very low in our communities, with many children dying of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Northern Nigeria is blessed with the traditional leadership system that has deep-rooted influence in the minds of our people. Traditional and religious leaders have continued to serve the interest of our people, and responding to their welfare and needs, the emir said.

Mr Meira called on members of the council to use their platforms to improve on community engagement for caregivers to improve routine immunisation uptake and other health-seeking behaviours of their people.

He said the council had demonstrated considerable improvement in the acceptance of vaccine and had sustained ownership of participation and other public health interventions.

The emir commended the leadership of the NPHCDA for the various strides and innovations it has brought into the primary health care system in the country.

The northern traditional leaders will continue to work with these platforms and supporting initiative aimed at improving the lives of our people. We will exercise oversight of the implementation of community engagement of the Sultanate emirate, districts, communities and wards, he added.

Mr Meira promised that the group will mobilise communities and their leaders to accept routine immunisation and continue to support it.

Nigeria hopes to attain polio-free certification by the end of 2019 from the World Health Organisation. It is one of the three remaining polio-endemic nations in the world; the other two being Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Nigeria loses many children to vaccine-preventable diseases; some of which are measles and meningitis.

Borno and Yobe states, which have been the epicentre of Boko Haram terrorism are populated with the majority of unreached children for vaccination in Nigeria.
Ibrahim Sakaba, a lieutenant-colonel, died alongside at least 117 of his fellow soldiers following a catastrophic invasion of their base in northern Borno State on November 18.

Colleagues have hailed the bravery of all the soldiers who lost their lives in the attack. But they hailed Mr Sakaba in particular for his leadership at the Nigerian Army 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, where Boko Haram terrorsits launched a surprise attack against them at about 6:00 p.m. that Sunday.

In the hope that the Nigerian Army would formally announce the passing of Mr Sakaba and other slain soldiers in the Metele attack, PREMIUM TIMES held back his identity while breaking the news on Tuesday morning.

But a week after the incident, no formal announcement has been made by the military, and no clear indication his families or those of other departed soldiers have been notified.

A senior military colleague who knew Mr Sakaba described him as a selfless commander.

Mr Sakaba had sometimes ago refused to advance for an operation due to unserviceable and lack of equipment but was threatened with court martial, the senior officer said while recalling how his fallen colleague risked his career in the preservation of the hundreds of personnel he supervised at the 157 Task Force Battalion.

The officer declined to be named to avoid a backlash from top military brass who havel been reluctant to publicly comment on the latest setbacks.

Mr Sakaba was briefly detained during the August incident, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. The Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters did not return PREMIUM TIMES requests for comments on how the military handled the incident at the time.

Perhaps for its strategic role as a formidable asset in Nigerias counter-insurgency operations  especially how its personnel have repeatedly driven jihadists away from the larger Metele area towards the border with Chad Republic  the battalion has come under repeated attacks by Boko Haram.

The base was raided on October 8 by Boko Haram, during which at least 18 soldiers were killed and eight wounded, PREMIUM TIMES learnt when it first broke the news at the time. The Army confirmed the attack, but significantly downplayed its severity, especially the scale of personnel and equipment losses.

Mr Sakaba, who was born on December 20, 1975, was first deployed in Borno State in 2014 while a major. His service number is N/10744.

Married and blessed with a son, Mr Sakaba graduated as an infantry officer in 2001 from the Nigerian Army 48 Regular Course at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Late Ibrahim Sakaba and his son

Shortly after his deployment as a staff officer at the Nigerian Army 7 Division, Maiduguri, in 2014, Mr Sakaba was involved in a skirmish with M.Y. Ibrahim, now a major-general, who was the acting general officer commanding (GOC) of the division at the time. Mr Sakaba was subsequently posted out of the Division the same year.

His appointment as the commander of 157 Task Force Battalion was his second as a lieutenant colonel, and it was characterised by his relentless complaints about poor military hardware and acute shortage of welfare supplies to his men, military sources said.

Bala NaAllah, the Senate majority leader, was amongst the first persons to acknowledge Mr Sakabas heroism.

During the senate plenary on Thursday, Mr NaAllah described the fallen officer as his cousin and the finest soldier he had ever known. The senator consequently urged his colleagues to adjourn plenary in honour of the commander and his men who lost their lives in services to their country.

The army in its first reaction to the Sunday attack on Friday evening said reported casualty figures were untrue, although it did not provide its own figures or details of how the attack occurred.

President Muhammadu Buhari commented on the attack on Saturday, vowing to ensure the end of the insurgency and as well as care for the soldiers deployed in the volatile North-East.

Atiku Abubakar, the main opposition presidential candidate, condemned the attack and offered what he saw as solutions to the 10-year campaign by the jihadists. Mr Abubakar said there should be increased and prioritised focus on both military expenditures and the timeframe required to approve them.

Late Ibrahim Sakaba

He also announced scholarships for five selected families of the fallen soldiers and urged the government to set up a trust for the care of the families of our fallen heroes.

In a video circulated this weekend, Nigerian soldiers deployed in the war-ravaged North-East blamed obsolete equipment and pervasive corruption amongst top military brass for the massive losses in personnel and equipment which insurgents have inflicted on the Nigerian military since their latest evil campaign of raiding bases began in July.
At least N121 billion of the N242 billion federal lawmakers approved for the 2019 general elections will be drawn from funds meant to cater for poor Nigerians.

The money is to be drawn from the N500 billion allocated to the Special Intervention Programme (SIP), a fund set aside for the social safety programmes of the Buhari administration.

The decision to divert the fund for this use was the brainchild of Nigerian lawmakers who picked on the cash as the best source of funding for the elections, presidency officials say.

On November 7, the Senate approved a N242 billion virement for INEC and other agencies for the conduct of the 2019 general election.

Virement means the funds are re-assigned to different subheads other than previously approved in the budget.

While granting President Buharis request on the matter, the lawmakers ordered that N121 billion be sourced from the capital allocations of 30 agencies while another N121 billion should be sourced from the SIPs.

Mr Buhari, in his letter to the Senate on July 17, asked the lawmakers to delete self-enrichment projects they smuggled into the 2018 budget to free funds for more important projects.

The president also requested that part of the funds that would be recovered after the removal of the corrupt insertions be used in financing the elections.

Mr Buhari had accused lawmakers of smuggling 6,403 projects of their own, amounting to N578 billion, into the 2018 budget.

In a letter to the Senate in July, the president said he would not submit a supplementary budget to fund priority projects or the election budget. Instead, he urged the lawmakers to remove their projects so that more money could be available for more important projects.

Nigerian senate chambers

Accordingly, I invite the distinguished senate to consider, in the national interest, relocating some of the funds appropriated for the new projects which were inserted into the 2018 budget proposal totalling N 578, 319, 951, 904 to cover the sum of N228, 854, 800, 205 required as noted above, Mr Buhari wrote.

Social Intervention Programmes To The Rescue

But in passing the 2019 election budget virement, the senators acted contrary to the presidents request.

Instead of approving funding for the election by removing the frivolous projects, the lawmakers directed the president to cut N121 billion from the special projects meant for poor Nigerians.

A presidency official familiar with the matter said Mr. Buhari was arm-twisted to accept the lawmakers action, and was disappointed that lawmakers could even suggest that money should be taken from the poor to fund INEC.

The official said the presidency has remained quiet over the matter because it does not want to be distracted at this time with any crisis with the National Assembly.

If the president implements the lawmakers resolution, the federal government will be left with far less cash for the N500 billion interventionist projects targeted at indigent Nigerians.

Programmes such as Home Grown School Feeding Programme for primary school pupils; the Conditional Cash Transfer to the extremely poor; the N-Power volunteer Corps 500,000 jobs intervention scheme for university graduates; and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, which is essentially a loan scheme handled by the Bank of Industry may suffer.

Idayat Hassan, the director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) frowned at the action of the lawmakers, saying it showed the lawmakers always act in their own personal interests.

It tells us the nature of politics in Nigeria, Ms Hassan said The politics is such that the interest of the people are never consistently followed. It is the interest of the political class that actually matters (to them). That is what is playing out.

Idayat Hassan, Director Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)

Hamzat Lawal, the chief executive officer of Connected Development (CODE), accused the lawmakers of marginalising the poor.

Now the National Assembly is dipping their hands into funds for social programmes for poor people, Mr. Lawal said. They did not dip their hands into the recurrent expenditure that pays them salaries and bogus allowances, that of the executive or heads of parastatals.

Now they want to take something that benefits poor people. It tells you that democracy as it is today and the rule of law works for the elites, not for the poor people.

We Acted In Nigerias Best Interest

But lawmakers said they took the decision with the best of intention and in the interest of the Nigerian people.

Sabi Abdullahi, the spokesperson to the Senate, said lawmakers adopted the controversial virement proposal for two reasons.

We considered two things,Mr. Abdullahi said. One was the ease with which the virement descision could be taken. The other is the historical performance of the social intervention projects.

We realised that they (the executive) have never exhausted the allocation made to the SIPs in the past years. So we believed that by viring some amounts from the allocation made to it in the 2018 budget, we will not be infringing on the SIP Projects.

What we did was done with the best of intention and to find a workable solution for an urgent national problem. Besides, all the projects in the budget are targeted at the poor and other Nigerians and it is wrong to create the impression that the poor was targeted.

National Assembly Complex

Laolu Akande, the spokesperson for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in whose office the implementation of the SIPs is domiciled, confirmed that releases for the SIPs in the past two years have been low.

The programme got N140billion out of the N500billion budgeted for it in 2017, Mr. Akande said. In 2016, only N80 billion of the budgeted N500 billion was released. So the total sum so far released is N220billion of N1 trillion budgeted for the programme within the two-year period.

The presidential spokesperson, however added, The releases so far cannot be a justification for cutting the budgetary allocations to the programme.

When asked if the budgetary cut effected by the lawmakers will affect the implementation of the programme this year, Mr. Akande said that has yet to be determined.

Buhari And The Social Investment Projects

Launched in December 2015 as part of the 2016 federal government budget, the SIP is a social safety programmes targeted at eight million Nigerians, under different schemes.

President Muhammadu Buhari

In his anniversary speech on May 29, Mr Buhari harped on the benefit of what he called the most ambitious SIP in Nigerias history.

He said,The Social Investment Programmes (SIP) has been created as a means to graduating our citizens from poverty through capacity building, investment and direct support. The major strategic objective is to restore livelihood, economic opportunities and sustenance for the poor across the country.

The SIP programmes and projects include:

a. Home Grown School Feeding Programme  About 8.2 million pupils are currently being fed from 24 States of the Federation with over 75,000 Catering Staff engaged under the programme.

b. The Conditional Cash Transfer has so far recorded over 297,000 caregivers and being trained by 2,495 Community Facilitators in 21 states. Less privileged Nigerians are now being paid N5,000 monthly stipend in 9 pilot States of Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo. Eventually the scheme will cover all the 36 states of the federation including the FCT.

c. Under the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme  About 264,269 loans had been disbursed to 4,822 societies in the 36 States and FCT, while another 370,635 are awaiting release of funds.

d. N-Power Job creation Scheme  is targeted at providing jobs for unemployed young graduates and has so far recruited 200,000 youths while the next batch of 300,000 have been selected, verified and would soon be deployed across the 36 States and the FCT. Furthermore, 20,000 non-graduate volunteers have also been selected to kick off the N-Build programme in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council and the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria.
The Academic Staff Union of Universitis (ASUU) has given conditions upon which the current industrial action will be suspended.

The president of the union, Abiodun Ogunyemi, stated the conditions in an interview on Sunday night with PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Ogunyemi said it was unfortunate that Nigerian leaders like to move in circles without resolving the challenges rocking the system.

Some of these conditions, ASUU said, include the full implementation of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) the two parties willingly signed in October 2017, he said.

So the MoA must be implemented fully before we can even talk of suspension of the strike. If they implement the outstanding issues in the MoA fully and change the leadership of the negotiating team, then we can go back to the negotiation, Mr Ogunyemi said.

After last weeks meeting by ASUU and the federal government which yielded no satisfactory results, the two parties will on Monday (today) meet at the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja.

The purpose of the meeting slated for 5 p.m. is to find a lasting solution to the ongoing strike.

The union embarked on strike three weeks ago over the poor funding of Nigerian universities, an alleged plan by the federal government to increase students fees and introduce an education bank, as well as non-implementation of previous agreements.

According to Mr Ogunyemi, the unions position is aimed at repositioning the nations universities for global relevance.

As they (schools) currently stand, they can neither attract competent foreign lecturers or foreign students who could add to their global rating.

Our prayer is that the meeting should be productive, because contrary to the peoples belief, we dont also enjoy embarking on strike. It affects us as individuals as it affects the nation.

Unfortunately, that is the language the government understands. Each time ASUU goes on strike our work is disrupted. But what work are we doing under unfavourable conditions? Mr Ogunyemi said.

Meanwhile Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), on November 19 embarked on a protest to demand increased funding for education.

The protest was titled Save education rally.

The president of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Danielson Akpan, said the the dwindling allocation of funding to the sector is saddening.

The funding keeps dropping every year, Mr Akpan said.

The head of International Relations department at the NLC, Uche Ekwe, also said much attention is not given to the education sector.

According to him, the major reason for the ongoing ASUU strike is poor funding of the sector.
A new report by the anti-corruption group, Global Witness, says Shell and Enis deal for Nigerias OPL 245 oil block reduced Nigerias expected revenue by nearly $6 billion.

The Malabu deal involves Africas most promising oil block and was struck in 2011 under President Goodluck Jonathan. The arrangement saw the Nigerian government stand as a negotiator in the controversial sale of the oil block in offshore Nigerian waters.

Two international oil and gas giants, Royal Dutch Shell and Italian Agip-Eni, paid out about $1.1 billion to Dan Etete, a former Nigerian petroleum minister who had previously been convicted of money laundering in France.

The payout immediately became a subject of a cross-border investigation spanning over six countries. Several Nigerian government officials were believed to have received several million dollars in bribes for the enabling roles they played.

Global Witness in its new report titled Take the Future said the projected lost revenue could fund Nigerias combined annual federal health and education budgets twice over.

The report draws on an analysis from leading experts at Resources for Development Consulting commissioned by Global Witness and NGOs HEDA, RE:Common and The Corner House.

The analysis of the contract terms estimated these changes could reduce the Nigerian governments projected revenue from the oil fields by $5.86 billion over the lifetime of the project when compared to the terms that had applied before the 2011 deal and assuming an oil price of $70 per barrel.

The oil giants are already facing bribery charges over the deal in a landmark trial in Milan.

The new report shows the companies altered the terms of the agreement in their favour, through the removal of profit oil which was caused by the exclusion of the Nigerian government in the signing of the Production Sharing Agreement, PSA. This, the new report says, was designed to be favourable only to the oil companies as the arrangement would give the nation a poor share of 41 per cent as against the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommendation of 65 to 85 per cent revenue.

The report posited that Nigeria should revoke the OPL 245 licence rather than allow the oil companies to make enormous profits from the deal.

Rather than revoke the deal, the Nigerian government is currently allowing the oil firms to process one of the fields in the block, called Zabazaba. Although the oil giants and their Nigerian collaborators are also being prosecuted in Nigeria, tThe government, through the petroleum minister, Ibe Kachikwu, has argued that is more interested in striking a financial deal with the oil majors.

According to Barnaby Pace from Global Witness, Shell and Eni execs set the deal up so that Nigeria would earn some $6 billion less than it could have. This scandalous deal must be cancelled.

The report noted that Shell did not comment on the specific points put to them, saying that issues that are under consideration as part of a trial process should be adjudicated in court. It added however that there is no basis on which to convict Shell or any of its former employees, adding that We believe that the trial judges will conclude that there is no case for us to answer and we are vigorously defending our position accordingly.

The report said the company also disputed the methodology and alleged that wrongful factual assumptions were made, but did not specify any particular error.

Eni on its part rejected any allegation of impropriety or irregularity, adding that in light of their ongoing trial, it would be inappropriate for us to comment on such circumstances outside the court.

The oil giant did not comment on the specific points put to them about the study other than to say the technical and contractual assumptions adopted as the basis for the analysis appear to be partial and inaccurate, if not misleading, the report said.

Both companies, together with their managers and other defendants, have denied wrongdoing and vowed to establish their innocence in the trial.

The new report also called on the Nigerian authorities to ensure proactive disclosure of details of deals struck in the extractive industry, in line with the dictates of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, EITI.

The controversial Malabu deal claimed its first convicts when a Nigerian man and his accomplice in Italy were sentenced to four years each for their roles in the controversial deal. Emeka Obi, a Nigerian consultant in England, and Gianluca Di Nardo, an Italian, stood as middlemen in connecting the parties and the transfer of the funds through international bank accounts. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/284717-nigerian-italian-jailed-as-malabu-oil-fraud-claims-first-convicts.html

They were found guilty and sentenced four years each and had some assets confiscated in connection with the case. The pair had opted for a quick trial for their roles in the deal. The process in Italian law offers a possible reduction in any sentence.
China will remain steadfast and active in addressing climate change and implementing the Paris Agreement, a senior envoy said Monday.

"The country will deliver its promises 100 percent and even better; no matter how other countries change their position or attitude," China's Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua said at a press conference.

Xie made the remarks ahead of the Katowice Climate Change Conference, which includes the 24th session of the conference of the parties to the UN framework convention on climate change.

Speaking on expectations for the conference slated for early December in Poland, Xie said China hoped due negotiations on rules for the implementation of the Paris Agreement can be concluded at the meeting.

"It will be a landmark conference for global climate governance," he said. "We hope it could send a positive signal to the international community in implementing the agreement, promoting the shift to green and low-carbon development, and building a community of a shared future for mankind," said Xie.

He said China will continue to play a positive and constructive role to strive for a successful conference with all other parties.

The Paris Agreement, agreed on by almost every country in the world in 2015, aims to tackle climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and sets a global target of keeping the average temperature rise no higher than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Ishaya Bamaiyi, a former Chief of Army Staff, on Monday, told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos how an alleged serial conman, Fred Ajudua, allegedly defrauded him of $8.4 million.

Mr Bamaiyi said that the alleged fraud occurred while both of them were both incarcerated at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Bamaiyi gave the narration while being led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Seidu Atteh, in a lengthy testimony which lasted from 9.42 a.m. to 3.15 p.m.

He said: On November 3, 1999, I was arrested and sent to Kirikiri Maximum Prisons for the alleged murder of Kudirat Abiola. I was at Block 2 which was said to be for Very Important Personalities (VIPs).

Fred Ajudua and Ade Bendel were brought to the same prison but on different days. We became friends as inmates and discussed my case from time to time. As a lawyer, he asked me to give him information on my case and I obliged, I brought the file and he studied it and said I really dont have a case as it is strictly ethnic and political case.

He promised to do something about it and said he will send his wife who is also a lawyer to see Hon. Justice Alabi, the then Chief Judge (CJ) of Lagos.

He later informed me that his wife had met with the CJ and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the then Attorney-General of Lagos State. Ajudua advised that I look for a senior lawyer who must not be a northerner and he recommended Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

According to him, Babalola was close to Obasanjo, the president at that time. After some time, his wife visited and informed us that because of the nature of the case, it was going to be expensive.

Ajuduas wife said the then CJ said that Babalola said that he will charge $15 million and I told her I could not afford such an amount.

The former Chief of Army Staff said the topic was not broached by Ajudua for a while and that Ajudua told him that he had friends who will help raise funds for Bamaiyis legal representation.

I asked him how will I refund the money? I told him I had some funds and colleagues who will assist me in raising the money but they did not want their names mentioned.

When my friends were assured of their privacy, many of them brought the money to me in the prison and I handed it over to Ajuduas representative, Mr Bamaiyi said.

Mr Bamaiyi said that he was initially sceptical about the transaction but his initial doubts were erased by Ajudua who swore on the life of Bobo, his only son and Bendel who had purportedly become a devout Christian.

The defendant said he had only one son called Bobo, he swore to me that if he cheated me, that God should take the life of his only son, Bobo.

My Lord because of that I believed him because I cannot swear with any of my children, no matter what.

Bendel told me that he had stopped doing 419 and I believed him because he had started building a church at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons and he was preaching there.

This made me believe both of them, he said.

Mr Bamaiyi told the court that Mr Ajudua informed him that Justice Ajayi, the then Lagos chief judge, had directed that Mr Babalolas professional fees should be paid through Justice J. O. K Oyewole and that Mr Oyewoles registrar will visit them in prison.

Suspected serial fraudster, Fred Ajudua. [Photo credit: PM News Nigeria]

The retired general went on to give details of how he gave the first tranche of money alleged to be Mr Babalolas professional fees to Ronke Rosulu, Mr Oyewoles Registrar.

Ronke visited us twice in October 2004. The first visit was on October 6, 2004. It was the defendant who brought her to the Visiting Room where we sat down and she confirmed she was sent by Justice Oyewole.

On the second visit, Ronke came with her daughter whom she said was in the university. This visit was conducted by ACP Garba, the prison officer in charge of the visit.

Her third visit was on November 20, 2004. This time she came with one Jonathan, the defendants boy that I knew in prison. This time the defendant did not come to the Visiting Room and the visit was also conducted by ACP Garba.

Ronke and Jonathan collected $300,000 in the presence of ACP Garba the prison officer, the money was in the form of $100 notes and $10,000 per bundle.

Ronke, Jonathan and I counted the money in the presence of ACP Garba the prison officer. When I was seeing Ronke and Jonathan off, I met the defendant waiting for them by the corridor and the three of them went downstairs and I went down to the visiting room.

My Lord, that was the first release date of the money I made which was on the instruction of the defendant.

Mr Bamaiyi informed the court that he had made subsequent releases to Ajudua at various times while Ajudua was in prison, on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for an undisclosed ailment and while he was also on bail.

He said the funds were handed over to Ajudua, Jonathan or Bendel via his wife Imuade, his son, his ADC Major Chechet, his orderly Mr Mohammed Tatda at the prison premises or at LUTH.

Ade Bendel

Mr Bamaiyi also informed the court that he kept meticulous records of all the transactions in his handwritten prison diaries of 2004 and 2005.

The dairies were presented to the court by Mr Atteh, the EFCC counsel and marked as exhibits.

Mr Baimayi reading from the entries in the diaries revealed that in 2004, Mr Ajudua allegedly fraudulently received money six times from him and received money from him 19 times in 2005.

The diary entries revealed that in December 2004, Mr Ajudua received $20,000, $400,000, $350,000, $1million and $600,000. In January 2005, the defendant received $200,000 on two occasions $700,000 and $175,000.

In February 2005, Mr Ajudua received $50,000, $500,000. In May 2005, $100,000, $20,000 and $29,200 were given to Mr Ajudua by Mr Bamaiyis representatives.

In June 2005, $450,000, $180,000, $450,000 was received by Mr Ajudua. In July 2005, $1million, $390,000, $42,000 and $177,000 was received on various occasions by Mr Ajudua from Mr Bamaiyi.

In September 2005, $15,000 was received by Mr Ajudua. In November 2005, the defendant received $80,000 from Mr Bamaiyi and on December Mr Ajudua received $15,000 from Bamaiyi.

Revealing the last time Mr Ajudua fraudulently received money from him, he said The defendant came to Kirikiri Maximum Prisons and collected $20,000 from me.

He said it was the balance of the payment for Afe Babalola professional fees, this is the last time he collected money from me.

Mr Bamaiyi said the money was received by Mr Ajudua after visiting hours in the prison. He also revealed to the court the various antics deployed by Mr Ajudua to fuel the alleged scam.

My Lord, there was a time I got worried because I was not hearing from Afe Babalola; Ajudua was on bail and he came to see me with one Barrister Richard Oma. Richard said he came from Chief Afe Babalolas Chambers.

Unfortunately, he did not come with any official letter from Chief Afe Babalola.

The DCP in charge of Maximum Prison DCP Ukobi said the defendant was coming to see me after visiting hours, the defendant came with one Kenneth who claimed he was a secret service officer.

Kenneth said he was sent to see me by the National Security Adviser Lt.-General. Aliyu Gwaso, he said that Chief Babalola and the then President Obasanjo discussed my matter and he was sent to advise me not to cause any trouble for the government.

I told him I did not have any problem in that respect as I did not commit any offence, he told me to write an undertaking and I told him I wont. When he insisted I told him he should draft it for me and if Im satisfied I will sign.

He said he would draft the undertaking and bring it back to me but I never saw him again My Lord,  he said.

Mr Bamaiyi said that following his enquiries about his promised legal representation from Afe Babalola, Mr Ajudua told him that he was waiting for a counsel from him so that Ajudua and Bamaiyis counsel will have a meeting with the SAN.

My counsel, the then Barrister Y. C Mikyau, who is now a SAN, came from Abuja and for two days he did not see the defendant and had to return to Abuja.

After that incident, I could not get in touch with the defendant again because I was told he went to Israel for a medical checkup.

My Lord, I fell sick in the Maximum Prison and I was also treated in LUTH in March 2006, when I was in the hospital one Gabriel who was assisting the defendant while he was in prison came to me and managed to give me Ajuduas number in India.

I called the defendant and I confronted him saying that Hon. Justice J. O. K Oyewole did not receive any money from Ronke, Jonathan or any other person.

He responded that the Honorable Judge could not have said that and that he will call me later.

After that My Lord, I never got across to him again, maybe he changed his number because the number never went through. I never heard from him until about six years later when he was arrested, Mr Bamaiyi said.

The former Chief of Army Staff reiterated to the court how he sourced the funds he allegedly lost to the scam.

He said: My Lord as mentioned earlier, most of the money I got were from friends, colleagues, relations and well-wishers who pleaded with me not to identify them as some of them were in government.

The other sources were from my farm products, Ive been a farmer since 1984 when I was in service, I do different things on my farm, I grow cotton, soya beans and Im also involved in animal husbandry.

My Lord, I was posted to Lagos since 1986 and I remained in Lagos till my retirement in 1999. I was able to acquire some property, two duplexes on Sanusi Fafunwa in Victoria Island which were allocated to me by the Lagos State Government.

I went into an agreement with HFP, a construction company who developed the two duplexes and rented it for six years and returned them to me, I sold these duplexes.

My Lord, I bought a duplex and flat in Dolphin Estate which I also sold, I had a duplex in Tajudeen Olanrewaju Estate Yaba which I also sold, I have a plot of land at Dolphin Estate, and I also had two bungalows in Kaduna which I also sold.

My Lord, these were the sources of the money, Mr Bamaiyi said.

He told the court that following Mr Ajuduas arrest by the EFCC, his family through Mr Ajuduas wife called Princess, his sister Gina, their counsel Mr Alex Agbaka, had tried to settle the matter out of court to no avail.

He noted that in two instances he was offered $2 million and $2.5 million by the family but rejected the offer stating that he needed a full refund of his money.

Justice Josephine Oyefeso adjourned the case until December 20 for cross-examination of Mr Bamaiyi.

(NAN)
Another meeting between the federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ended on Monday night without an agreement.

The meeting which started at about 5 p.m. at the Federal Ministry of Education was to find a lasting solution to the ongoing strike by the university lecturers.

The union embarked on the strike three weeks ago over the poor funding of Nigerian universities and non-implementation of previous agreements by the government.

Speaking with journalists after Mondays meeting, the National President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, said negotiation is ongoing and the meeting would continue at a later date.

All I can say for now is that negotiation continues and the meeting has been adjourned to a later date, Mr Ogunyemi said.

The union leader had on Sunday told PREMIUM TIMES that there were two basic conditions that could make ASUU suspend the ongoing strike. One was the implementation of the 2017 agreement between both parties; and the other the disbandment of the federal government negotiation committee headed by senior lawyer Wale Babalakin.

In a related development, Aminu Suleiman, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education Services during an oversight visit to the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu, expressed deep concern over the continued strike by ASUU.

According to a statement issued by the spokesperson Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, Mr Adamu told his guests that the federal government was determined to confine the strikes in education sector to the dustbin of history, adding however that funding remains the greatest obstacle.

The lawmaker said there is need for both parties to go beyond resolving the current strike and agree on lasting solutions that will make strikes in the education sector a thing of the past.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of reneging on his promise to lead the fight from the front against the Boko Haram.

The opposition party also challenged the president to a debate with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The opposition party alleged that the neglect of troops fighting in the North-east ed to the recent killings of soldiers.

The party made this known in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

On 18 November, the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram attacked the 157 Task Force Battalion based at Metele in the northern part of Borno State, killing scores of Nigerian troops.

The military authorities are yet to give the specific number of casualties.

Mr Ologbondiyan asked President Buhari to explain why he has been allegedly insensitive to the killing of citizens and soldiers by marauders and insurgents, particularly, given allegations that he has been distracting the Armed Forces by dragging them to participate in his re-election campaign.

Nigerians recall that at the time our troops were being attacked by insurgents, our service chiefs were attending the launch of President Buharis Next Level campaign mantra, stolen from a foreign institute.

Nigerians await President Buhari to answer for the humongous corruption in his administration; why he has failed to fulfill any of his 2015 campaign promises and why he cannot show any key development project he initiated and completed in his three and half years in office.

The PDP also challenged the president to a live, one-on-one debate with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on critical sectors of the country.

Nigerians are aware that President Buhari has been mortally afraid of facing our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in a general debate organised by independent bodies.

For this, the PDP grants him the liberty to choose a venue, date and time convenient to him to face our candidate before a neutral panel.

President Buhari must face Atiku Abubakar in person, as Nigerians are not ready to accept any representation, whosoever, from him.

If, as a Commander-In-Chief, Mr President cannot face a political debate, how then can he vigorously engage international competitors?

Nigerians can now see why our nation has been under peril in the last three and half years.

The opposition party added that Mr Buhari should be ready to face his failures and avail Nigerians of his sectoral performance scorecards, as well as, present his future blueprint, to enable the electorate weigh him alongside the partys presidential candidate.
The University of Ibadan International School, which was shut down last week, has been reopened.

The school, which has witnessed series of crises over the use of hijab by female Muslim students, was shut last week Monday after some Muslim parents insisted that the use of hijab is a constitutional right of their children.

A visit to the school around 8.am by our reporter on Monday, however, revealed that the school has been reopened.

It was observed that security men have been stationed at the entrance that leads to the main gate of the school, to maintain law and order.

Parents were asked to park their cars and allow their children walk into the school by themselves.

It was not immediately clear whether academic activities had resumed as non-students were barred from entering the premises.

The school principal, Phebean Olowe, declined comments when journalists, who were at the gate of the school, called her.

However, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) University of Ibadan, Yinka Aderinto, in a statement on Monday, maintained that the decision and outcome of the November 14 meeting of the Board of Governors of the School, should be respected by all, in the interest of the students and progress of the school.

Mr Aderinto added that individuals or groups that may seek a change in the dress code, should follow the due process of requesting for such, adding that the final decision on any such change still lies with the Board of Governors.

He said, A meeting of the Expanded Management of the University of Ibadan was held on Friday, November 23, 2018, at 5pm. The meeting was presided over by the Vice Chancellor of the University and was called to discuss the lingering religious crisis affecting the International School of the University.

The meeting was attended by Principal Officers of the University, Deans, Directors of Academic Units and Council members. The Principal of the International School, and her three Vice Principals were also present at the meeting.

After consideration of all that had happened since the crisis started on November 12, 2018, including efforts at resolving the crisis, the meeting resolved as follows: There is a need to take a dispassionate look at the rules and regulations governing not only dress code but general conduct of students in the International School, Ibadan. Such perspective will enable a deeper understanding of the principles underlying the establishment of those rules.

The International School is a private school and is guided by its own policies, rules and regulations. The meeting also noted that there is a subsisting court judgement that has affirmed the private status of the school.

Following from the above, the meeting decided that: The decision and outcome of the November 14, 2018, meeting of the Board of Governors of the School should be respected by all in the interest of the children and progress of the school.

University of Ibadan International School. University of Ibadan International School.

The status quo as regards students dress code as contained in the school rules and regulations should be maintained. Individuals or groups that may seek a change in the dress code, or any other aspect of the rules of the school should follow the due process of requesting for such but the final decision on any such change still lies with the Board of Governors.

Adequate measures should be put in place to forestall breakdown of law and order in the school. The Board of Governors be advised to reopen the school for academic activities on Monday, November 26, 2018.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing them of failing Nigerian troops on the frontlines against the Boko Haram sect.

Mr Abubakar was chided on Sunday by the APC for accepting a traditional title and embarking on a jamboree with discredited politicians barely a week after scores of Nigerian troops were killed by insurgents during a raid on their battalion.

Yekini Nabena, the deputy national spokesperson for the ruling party, said Mr Abubakar has shown that he has no leadership credentials and repeated longstanding allegations that the former vice-president was wanted in the United States on corruption charges.

Mr Abubakar, who had long denied ties to corruption either in the U.S., Nigeria or elsewhere, said in a Monday afternoon rebuttal to the APCs attack that it was unfortunate that the APC could be accusing him of doing exactly what Nigerians have now established both itself and Mr Buhari are notorious at.

The APCs insults were curious because Mr Abubakar dedicated his birthday, not to himself, but to celebrating the 100 or so heroes of the 157 Task Force Battalion of the Nigerian Army who lost their lives to Boko Haram in Borno State on November 18, according to the statement circulated by Mr Abubakars office.

Mr Abubakar, who is the main challenger to Mr Buhari in the 2019 presidential election, was turbaned on Sunday as the Wazirin Adamawa, a first-rate traditional title in his home Adamawa State. Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan were amongst Mr Abubakars political associates at the event, which took place at the palace of Lamido of Adamawa.

That the Waziri Adamawa asked for anyone who wished to give him birthday gifts to instead endow such on the families of the slain heroes is the opposite of selfishness, the statement added.

The statement reminded Nigerians of how service chiefs were invited to the launching of Mr Buharis reelection campaign in Abuja on Sunday, the same day Boko Haram thugs raided the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele, killing at least 118 soldiers with estimated 153 missing in action.

Amongst those killed was the commander of the battalion, Ibrahim Sakaba, a lieutenant-colonel.

Mr Abubakar, who condemned the massive military losses, suggested a slew of urgent solutions and proposed welfare for the families of fallen soldiers, said neither Mr Buhari nor the APC has done nearly as much as he has for the military in the wake of the incident.

Ironically, the All Progressives Congress that is now accusing Atiku Abubakar, has not seen fit to pay tribute to these gallant men who gave their lives in order to secure the lives of others. As a party, they have not issued even one statement condoling with the slain or their families, neither have they offered any tangible support to the families of these fallen heroes. Yet, they are accusing the Waziri, who has shown commitment to honouring these heroes, of selfishness.

As a matter of fact, we now know through Premium Times report, that these real Nigerian heroes were killed on November 18, 2018 which was the exact time that the candidate of the APC, Muhammadu Buhari, invited the service chiefs to attend the launch of the plagiarised #NextLevel launch at the banquet hall of the Presidential Villa.

The nation can only wonder if the Metele massacre could have been avoided if the APC and President Buhari had allowed the service chiefs to focus on their core duties, rather than on his ill fated re-election campaign.

We at the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation commend the service chiefs for beating a hasty retreat from the event as soon as they discovered that President Buhari was trying to hoodwink them.

It took Waziri Atiku Abubakar only a few hours to respond to the incident and express support, while it took the APCs President Buhari a whole week to express shock. We therefore wonder who is truly selfish.

It is left to Nigerians to compare and contrast who is a leader and who is a follower based on the conduct of these two parties.

In any case, we would like to inform the APC of Waziri Atiku Abubakars call for financial support from well meaning individuals and Institutions for the survivors of the Metele massacre, and indeed for all who paid the supreme sacrifice in the frontlines for us to be safe. Seeing as the APC spent 100 million to buy front page advertorials in all the papers on that fateful day of November 18, 2018, we appeal to them to consider donating even 10% of that amount to the endowment for the families of our heroes as proposed by Atiku Abubakar.

If they can spend 100 million to promote fraud, they should be able to spare at least 10 million to promote patriotism, the statement said.

There have been claims online that the logo that accompanied the NextLevel campaign of Mr Buharis reelection was plagiarised as unveiled at the November 18 event in Abuja.

The distributed logo, which President Buhari also shared on his Twitter handle bore strident similarities with that of the NEXT LEVEL project of Winthrop Universitys Rex Institute.

But Mr Buharis campaign spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, has denied the allegations, blaming elements in the opposition PDP as responsible for the disputed logo in circulation. He, however, did not clarify how the president found himself using the same plagiarised arts.
No fewer than 11,681 students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), would be conferred with various degrees during the 48th convocation of the institution scheduled to hold on December 1.

The vice-chancellor of the university, Benjamin Ozumba, made this known at the pre-convocation briefing at the institutions Enugu campus on Monday.

Mr Ozumba said that 9,702 of the graduates would be conferred with first degrees, diplomas and certificates.

1,979 graduates who will receive Post-Graduate Diplomas, Masters and Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) as clear evidence to prioritise quality research and academic excellence in our university.

Let me place on record that our university will award over 400 PhD degrees at the 48th convocation; this is an unprecedented record in the number of PhD degrees ever awarded by a university in a single convocation, he said.

The vice-chancellor said that three eminent Nigerians who had contributed to the development of the society would be awarded honorary doctorate degrees.

As our tradition demands, the university will confer Honorary Doctorate Degree on some eminent Nigerians, including Dr Herbert Wigwe, MD/CEO Access Bank; Dr Daniel Chukwudozie, MD Dozzy Group and Reginald Chika Stanley, he said.

He disclosed that the university would also confer the title of Professor Emeritus on Uche Azikiwe and 10 other renowned professors who had served the institution meritoriously and are still making valuable contributions to the body of knowledge.

Mr Ozumba said his achievements in the past five years included; UNESCO Category 11 Biotechnology Building at Nsukka Campus; Faculty of Social Science building, Nsukka Campus and Faculty of Pharmacy building, Nsukka Campus.

Others are; NLNG Engineering Laboratory building; Renovated Lady Ibiam Hostel, Enugu Campus; Arthur Mbanefor ICAN Lecture Theatre; University Main Gate, Enugu Campus and newly built hostel at the College of Medicine, Ituku Ozalla.

(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday presided over a meeting of security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of the ongoing efforts to engage military and intelligence community towards addressing Boko Haram insurgency.

Confirming this development in a tweet in Abuja on Sunday, the presidents aide on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, said all the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim and the Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (SSS, also called DSS), Yusuf Bichi were part of the meeting.

All the Service Chiefs, IG of Police and DG of DSS were at the State House this morning. As President Buhari said (Saturday) yesterday, in the coming days, he will be engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking, Mr Ahmad said in the tweet.

President Buhari had pledged on Saturday to ensure that the loopholes which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

On 18 November, the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram attacked the 157 Task Force Battalion based at Metele in the northern part of Borno state, killing scores of Nigerian troops.

The military authorities are yet to give the specific number of casualties.

Mr Buhari in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday, reiterated his administrations commitment to the security of military personnel and other citizens.

No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of military personnel and other citizens, Shehu quoted the president as saying.

Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support, in terms of equipment and manpower, to succeed in ending the renewed threat.

In the coming days, I am engaging the military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.

The president noted that fighting terrorism had taken a global dimension which necessitated international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

He, therefore, reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

The president, however, advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of the national tragedy, stressing that members of the armed forces are one family, commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

(NAN)
Borno elder statesman and former military governor of North Central State, Abba Kyari, has passed on.

Mr Kyari, retired brigadier general, died on Sunday in Abuja after a brief illness.

He was 80.

His eldest son, Abubakar Kyari, current senator, confirmed the death of the respected Borno elder to PREMIUM TIMES.

He said his father would be buried in Maiduguri at about 4pm Monday (today).

President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his condoled the family of the late military governor and goverments of the states he served.

In a message to the the government and people of Kaduna, Katsina and Borno states on Sunday evening, President Buhari said, We are extremely saddened by the news of General Abba Kyaris passing away, an officer and a gentleman for whom we have a lot respect.

He prayed Allah to accept his soul, and grant fortitude to the family and friends he left behind to bear the loss.

According to Wikipedia, Mr Kyari was born in 1938.

He attended Borno Middle School and Barewa College, Zaria.

In 1959 he enlisted in the Nigerian Army as an Officer Cadet. He attended the 12th Regular Officers Training School, Teshia, Ghana (March 1959  September 1959) and then the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, England (October 1959  March 1960).

He held various appointments in the army, including Platoon Commander and then Transport Offices in the 1 Brigade Transport Company, Second-in-Command and then Commander in the Nigerian Army Artillery, commander of 1 Brigade, Kaduna and Commanding Officer 5th Battalion, Nigerian Army, Kano.

During the outbreak of violence against the Igbo people in Northern and Central Nigeria in 1966, Mr Kyari assisted soldiers from the South escaping from Kaduna.

When Yakubu Gowon became the military head of state, he appointed Mr Kyari (then a Colonel) as Governor of North-Central State in July 1967.

As governor, he commissioned a master plan for the Kaduna metropolis, but in practice the plan was not followed by his successors.

Towards the end of the Gowon administration, Mr. Kyari was remembered as a cautious advocate of return to civilian rule.

Me. Kyari led the Northern delegates to the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, and was appointed Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the conference.

At retirement he was appointed to the boards of directors of First Bank of Nigeria, Standard Alliance Insurance and Merchant Bank of Commerce.

He became Chairman of Gamah Flour Mills and of Alif Engineering and Construction before he finally retired to a quiet, crisis-free life along his Polo road GRA residence in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

He is survived by nine children, among whom is Abubakar Kyari the current Senator representing Borno North Senatorial district.

He is also known to have many adopted children as well as grand and great grandchildren.
The State Security Service (SSS) on Monday said it has rescued a United States citizen, Tawanda Jackson, who was allegedly held hostage by one Mathew Adedoyin, her acquaintance whom she had met on social media.

Parading the prime suspect and his accomplice at the SSS Lagos Command, Director of the Command, Betty Adoki, said Ms Jackson, 46, who had arrived Lagos on November 11 and was received at the airport by Mr Adedoyin was held hostage on November 21, where she was allegedly raped several times by the suspect.

According to her, the U.S. Consulate in Lagos had reported to the Command about Ms Jacksons abduction and they immediately began investigation which culminated in the raid of the hideout by a team of security operatives and military personnel of the 9 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Lagos.

Ms Adoki said the suspect had lured the black American mother of five through social media, purportedly for a visit, claiming to be a wealthy prince from the Arogbatesu royal family of Ile-Ife, Osun State, with the intention of extorting money from her.

She explained that while on the dating site, Mr Adedoyin, 40, lied to the victim that he was an exporter of ginger and bitter cola, with a large plantation of cocoa and palm oil, claiming that he had a lot of slaves working for him.

He said that his father was a former king of Ife Titun, Osun State, and that he was the heir apparent to the throne, Ms Adoki said.

He further cajoled the victim that he owns several buildings in Lagos, including where Jackson was held hostage. But the victim started to suspect a foul play when he was losing patience and said he rented the place meanwhile, it was a ramshackle place he said his father owned.

She said Mr Adedoyin was discovered to have reserved Protea Hotel, Ikeja, as accommodation for the victim while in Nigeria, but deliberately moved her to another hotel, in order to prevent the monitoring of Ms Jackson by the U.S. Embassy, while he eventually seized her international passport, credit card, and United States Identity card of the victim in order to prevent her possible escape.

The suspected abductors received the victim at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on November 11 and promptly lodged her at Turn Up Hotel, Ipaja, for three days before moving her to a prepared hideout in Abule Egba, where she was held hostage.

Consequently, on November 26, 2018 about 0200hours, Jackson, was rescued from the captivity of these criminal elements who are suspected to be internet fraudsters and kidnappers, the SSS official said.

Jackson was held hostage at No. 7, Akanbi Street, Abule Egba, Ifako-Ijaiye LGA, Lagos by one Mathew Adedoyin and his accomplice, Idowu Ayeni.

She said investigation would be intensified after which the suspects would be prosecuted in line with relevant laws.

Speaking to journalists while being paraded, Mr Adedoyin, who claimed to be a real estate agent, denied abducting the victim or raping her, saying that she asked him for sex, adding that her flying down to Nigeria was on her own volition with the intention of getting married to him.

He admitted that on her arrival to Lagos, he lodged her at Turn Up Hotel, but had to move her to his friends house for her to stay pending when he could raise money for her return ticket to the United States.

He also denied seizing the victims passport, saying that he only helped her keep it safe after he realised that she was carefree with her bag containing the documents anytime they went out.

His alleged accomplice, Idowu Ayeni, said he was uncomfortable when the suspect brought the victim to his house but had no concrete plans on when they intended to leave.

Mr Ayeni, who said he works as a litigation officer with a law firm, denied having anything to do with the suspects plans, saying his involvement was letting them squat for a few days in his abode.
A man and a woman have been shot dead and the third person was left seriously injured following a shooting that took place at the Durbans Magistrate Court, South Africa on Monday.

KwaZulu-Natal Police spokesperson, Tembeka Mbele, said the shooting occurred in the divorce court just before lunch when a man opened fire on his wife and her brother.

There was a court case taking place in the divorce court between the deceased and the suspect.

In the morning, the court adjourned and just before the court resumed, the suspect began shooting his wife and the wifes brother, she said.

Mbele further said that after shooting his wife and brother-in-law, the suspect turned the gun on himself.

The suspect is now in a critical condition in hospital, after turning the gun on himself.

He is under police guard and he will appear in court when he is medically fit, Mbele said.

The suspect will be charged with double murder.

Police are still investigating the motive of the killings.

Garrith Jamieson of Rescue Care Paramedics said that their paramedics were the first at the scene when the shooting occurred.

He said a fourth person got injured as a result of broken glasses after the shooting.

(Xinhua/NAN)




Xi Yanchun:

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this press conference. The 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference will soon open in Poland. Today, the document on "China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change (2018)" was officially published. To help you gain a better understanding of the related situation, we are pleased to have Mr. Xie Zhenhua, China's Special Representative on Climate Change, here to introduce the report and answer your questions. We also have with us Mr. Li Gao, Director-General of Climate Change in the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. Now, I give the floor to Mr. Xie.

Xie Zhenhua:

Welcome to the press conference on China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change (2018). It is customary to hold such a press conference every year before the Climate Change Conference, in which we report to the public, especially the international community, on the annual progress, achievements and problems of China's policies and actions for addressing climate change. It demonstrates that China's policies and actions are completely open and transparent in this field.

This year's Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held in Katowice, Poland. It is the 24th COP and is internationally known as Katowice Climate Change Conference. Today's briefing will focus on the latest progress and major achievements of our country's response to climate change since 2017. These include climate change mitigation and adaptation, local action, broad societal participation, institutional development, improvements of basic capabilities, active participation in international negotiations and strengthening of international exchanges and cooperation. We will demonstrate the policies, actions and results of our country's response to climate change in various sectors, localities and fields.

As we all know, the Chinese government attaches great importance to tackling climate change, and regards the promotion of green and low-carbon development as an important part of the construction of an ecological civilization and a major opportunity to accelerate the transformation of economic development and adjust the existing economic structure. Since 2017, China has made positive progress in mitigating climate change, adapting to climate change, improving institutions, strengthening capacity building, encouraging local action, and raising public awareness.

In accordance with the Chinese government's work plans and specific measures for institutional reform this year, the responsibilities for addressing climate change and emission reduction have been transferred to the newly-established Ministry of Ecology and Environment. During the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection held in May this year, President Xi Jinping stressed that we will implement a national strategy for actively addressing climate change. This will include advancing and guiding the establishment of a global climate governance system featuring fairness, rationality and win-win cooperation. We will also honor the image of China as a responsible country, and endorse the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. We will act with firm resolve to implement President Xi's instructions, fully enacting the national strategy for addressing climate change. China will proactively participate and take the lead in global climate governance, and play a greater role in dealing with climate change in high-quality development, promoting ecological progress, and tackling environmental pollution.

The Chinese government has always proactively and constructively participated in international negotiations on climate change, and adheres to the principles of the UNFCCC. China upholds the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and works with all parties to promote global climate governance. We have continuously strengthened dialogues and exchanges with various parties and carried out pragmatic cooperation on climate change. While promoting South-South cooperation on climate change, we have provided vigorous support to developing countries in enhancing their capability to adapt to climate change. Our efforts and approaches have been highly praised by the international community and are widely welcomed by developing countries.

This week's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, signifies a critical juncture in the global climate governance process. We hope that the General Assembly will complete the negotiations on the implementation of the Paris Agreement as scheduled. We must properly address the financial problems, and send a positive message to the international community to implement the Paris Agreement, promote green and low-carbon industrial development, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. We will continue to play an active and constructive role in working with all parties to promote the success of the conference in Katowice.

Today we are here to announce the release of this report. Now let's get to the Q&A session, in which Mr. Li Gao and I would like to take your questions. Thank you.
The recent killing of over a hundred Nigerian soldiers during an attack on an army base in Metele, Borno State on November 18 is an isolated incident and does not mean the insurgents are having a upper hand, the presidency has said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how fighters of the terror group killed about 118 soldiers and went away with arms of the Nigerian Army battalion in Metele, Borno State.

The attack has been condemned by security analysts and many Nigerians who wondered what happened to the $1 billion released in April for firearms.

It took President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Army several days to react to the attack after furious recriminations amongst Nigerians gained traction online.

Rather than provide a specific figure of the casualty, the army used most part of its first statement on the incident to attack the media.

Mr Buhari while reacting expressed deep shock on the attack and therefore summoned defence chiefs.

The Nigerian Senate adjourned its session last Thursday to mourn the fallen soldiers.

However, while speaking about the attack on Channels TV Sunday Politics interview, Mr Buharis Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the recent attack was a mere breach and does not mean Boko Haram has not been defeated.

Nigeria, we can say, is at war in that side of the country. For some time, things had eased, Nigerian Army had had the upper hand, and like the term goes, the insurgents had been technically defeated, Mr Adesina said.

Asked of the accuracy of the statement on Boko Haram being technically defeated, he said: I believe so. That (the recent attack) was maybe a breach in security but it does not mean that Boko Haram is having the upper hand. And like the president said in the statement we issued yesterday, we will still get to the end of this Boko Haram insurgency.

This is one isolated case after a long time of the military being in charge. The military has been in charge for a long while. I agree with you this is a breach. It is sad and it is unfortunate. But then, it does not mean that Boko Haram is now in charge. They are not.

He also declined to give the number of soldiers killed.

Theres this sudden upsurge and theres that casualty figure which I do not know but which people say is on the high side. The military is the one that can tell us what actually happened, he said.

The latest attack in Metele followed months of heavy losses of both personnel and equipment which the insurgents inflicted on the Nigerian military since resuming their latest campaign in July.

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 the insurgents in August, threatening errant personnel with prosecution.

The Defence Headquarters announced last week it had taken new delivery of military equipment, boasting of a tough time ahead for the insurgents.
President Muhammadu Buharis visit to Edo on Tuesday may have been cancelled as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference, initially billed to hold in Benin City has been shifted to Maiduguri, Borno State.

President Buharis aide on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, confirmed this development on his tweeter handle on Sunday evening.

He said: President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to declare the COAS Annual Conference on Nov. 28, 2018 at the Conference Hall CGH in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The conference was earlier scheduled to take place from 26 -28 November 2018 in Benin, Edo State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that arrangements had been completed by Edo State Government to host President Buhari on November 27 where he was billed to inaugurate the Edo-Azura Power Plant and grace the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference.

NAN gathered that the shifting of the conference from Benin City to Maiduguri might not be unconnected with the killing of Nigerian soldiers at Metele, a remote village bordering Nigeria and Chad.

NAN learnt that President Buhari would use the opportunity of the COAS conference to address the Nigerian soldiers at the battlefields to further boost their morale.

It would be recalled that President Buhari had on Sunday presided over a meeting of security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of the ongoing efforts to engage military and intelligence community towards addressing Boko Haram insurgency.

In a tweet in Abuja on Sunday, Mr Ahmad, said all the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi were part of the meeting.

All the Service Chiefs, I-G of Police and DG of DSS were at the State House this morning. As President Buhari said (Saturday) yesterday, in the coming days, he will be engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking, Mr Ahmad said.

President Buhari had pledged on Saturday to ensure that the loopholes, which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

On 18 November, the Al Barnawi faction of Boko Haram attack the 157 Task Force Battalion based at Metele in northern part of Borno state, killing scores of Nigerian troops.

The military authorities are yet to give the specific number of casualties.

Mr Buhari in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in Abuja on Saturday, reiterated his administrations commitment to the security of military personnel and other citizens.

No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of military personnel and other citizens, Mr Shehu quoted the president as saying.

Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support, in terms of equipment and manpower, to succeed in ending the renewed threat.

In the coming days, I am engaging the military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.

The president noted that fighting terrorism had taken a global dimension, which necessitated international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

(NAN)
Miffed by reports quoting George Akume as blaming the Benue State Government for the violence in the state, Governor Samuel Ortom says he will report the senator to the Supreme Assembly of the Tiv Traditional Council.

Mr Akume, a former governor of the North-Central state, was recently quoted as telling President Muhammadu Buhari, when he led Benue APC leaders on a visit to Abuja, that the state government was behind the protracted violence in Benue.

He was also quoted as alleging that the state government was not committed to ending the violence.

But Mr Ortom, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, and issued to journalists on Monday in Makurdi, accused Mr Akume of refusing to tell the president the truth about the security situation.

The statement quoted Mr Ortom as expressing shock that Akume had chosen to exonerate militia herdsmen from the continued attacks on Benue rural communities.

According to the statement, Mr Ortom spoke at Tyulen in Guma Local Government, during the funeral ceremony of Rose Adzuu, mother of Mr Terseer Adzuu, a member of the Benue House of Assembly, and Frank Adzuu, Mr Ortoms Senior Special Assistant on Administration.

Since the senator has chosen to tell the President that militia herdsmen are not behind the violence, it implies that he has adequate knowledge about the killings and should explain the details to the traditional council.

The comments are shocking and unfortunate; Akume appears ready to sacrifice his people, Mr Ortom was further quoted as saying.

The statement quoted Mr Ortom as wondering why a man, who was expected to provide leadership to the younger generation, had chosen to take sides with those who have vowed to deprive Benue people of their ancestral lands.

Mr Ortom, at the funeral, reaffirmed his commitment to implementing the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, noting that it had been adjudged as the best solution to the frequent crises arising from animal husbandry.

The governor, while consoling the deceased family, stated that their mother lived a fulfilled life and died in Christ.

A former governor of the State, Gabriel Suswam, also consoled the family and prayed God to grant their mother eternal rest.

(NAN)
The Benue chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will attach 40 persons to canvass for votes in every polling unit as part of efforts to ensure victory in the 2019 general elections.

A former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, who disclosed this on Monday in Makurdi, during an expanded Caucus meeting of the party, said that the aim was to ensure that every polling unit was captured toward total victory.

We are targeting overwhelming victory; that is only possible if we can sweep every polling unit, he said.

He said that the campaigns would take a unique dimension so as to have great impact, and challenged PDP members to be very serious and committed.

No one should feel too big to coordinate a ward or polling unit for the overall benefit of the party, he said.

A former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu, in his remarks, enjoined all PDP members to participate actively in the campaigns, to ensure victory.

We have our eyes on victory and shall not allow anything to distract us, he said.

Governor Samuel Ortom, in his address, said that the party would take advantage of the poor performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to win the elections.

Mr Ortom said that President Muhammadu Buharis key men were hurting his chances by the unguarded statements that had become their trademarks.

Some of the presidents key men speak carelessly and make it difficult for the society to trust the APC, he claimed.

He said Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential flag-bearer, was capable of taking the country out of its current challenges and urged Nigerians to vote him into power.

Mr Ortom advised security agencies to arrest anyone found with illegal arms, and promised to assist them to mop up all illegal arms in Benue.

The Chairman of the party in the state, John Ngbede, urged aspirants that lost the primary elections to work with those that emerged, so as to ensure victory.

Mr Ngbede also advised the candidates to initiate peace meetings between them and those they floored during the primary elections so as to form a united and cohesive force ahead of the general elections.

(NAN)
The National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomole, on Sunday, formally endorsed the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, for a second term in office despite an unresolved bribery scandal surrounding him.

The governor is facing growing condemnation by Nigerians over viral videos showing him receiving monetary kickbacks from an unidentified contractor.

He has denied the allegations despite the overwhelming evidence first released by online new medium, Daily Nigerian, which was also vetted by PREMIUM TIMES in-house experts.

The governor is at present in court to truncate an investigation launched by the state house of assembly into the matter while the anti-graft agency, the EFCC, has indicated unwillingness to speak clearly on what it is doing to throw light into the allegations.

Mr Ganduje is seeking reelection under the ruling APC and is expected to battle 21 others opposition candidates including a female candidate.

The endorsement by the party, which took place at Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata, Kano was meant to receive 11 opposition Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirants including 50 known political allies to a senator, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who fell apart with him. Mr Kwankwaso recently defected from the APC.

Mr Oshiomole who stole the event with dancing, while endorsing Mr Ganduje, said all corrupt politicians that are regrouping into one political party fold will not escape jail.

I have said it before that progressive Nigerians will reason positively on how things has been going under APC and realign with us. Thats why Mr Ibrahim Shekarau and others reunited back into the APC.

Those that dont have the fear of God and cope with President Buharis administration are those that are united in looting public treasury, are now regrouping back to PDP, they have no hiding place. They must face the wrath of the law and we will keep them where thieves are kept.

In his speech, the elated governor, Mr Ganduje, said he wil give President Muhammadu Buhari five million votes iin 2019.

He stated that, even a blind person will notice a progressive change is in place in terms of infrastructural development in the metropolitan city and the rural areas.

He said his administration introduced rural integrated development which focused on education, health, agriculture, environment, security and roads interconnection.

APC administration in Kano is in harmony with religious clerics, traditional leaders, business people, youth and others social groups in the state, Mr Ganduje said.

Also at the event, the Governor of Jigawa State, Mohammed Badaru, railed on the opposition PDP.

He said they championed the economic recession faced by APCs administration.

Any politician with the nations interest at heart will not disassociate himself with President Buharis administration because the regime is committed toward betterment of the country and well-being of Nigerians.

Those people (PDP) are good in concocting things and lies to show people, thank God, people of Kano and Jigawa are wise enough to understand their dubious deals.

Oshiomhole endorses Ganduje for second term Oshiomhole endorses Ganduje for second term Oshiomhole endorses Ganduje for second term

Mr Shekarau, senatorial candidate for Kano central, said in 2014 he had reasons to step aside (from APC), but now he has greater reasons to step into APC again.

He said he will be a committed and loyal member of the party and will work tirelessly to ensure the success of the party.

Also the vice chairman APC North west, Inuwa Abdulkadir, called on the Kano governor not to be distracted by political adversaries.

Mr Abdulkadir said with the achievements on ground championed by Governor Ganduje, the APC administration in Kano has a brighter chance of reclaiming Kano in 2019.

The event witnessed a large turnout of party faithful including two serving senators, members of the house representatives and state assembly, as well as the state party chairman.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has condoled with the family of the late governor of the defunct North Central State, Abba Kyari.

Mr Kyari, a retired brigadier-general, died on Sunday in Abuja after a brief illness. He was 80.

His eldest son, Abubakar Kyari, who is a senator, confirmed the death of the respected Borno elder to PREMIUM TIMES. He said he would be buried in Maiduguri at about 4 p.m Monday.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, on Monday, Mr El-Rufai described late Mr Kyari as a shining star in his generation.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has sent a message of condolence to the family of General Kyari who was a shining star of his generation. Malam El-Rufai recalls that earlier this year, he had the honour to visit and thank General Kyari for his service to the state.

Kaduna State will miss his wise counsel. We note with gratitude that Allah blessed him to ripe old age.

We pray Allah to grant him Aljannah Firdaus and to uphold his family.

The North Central State was renamed as Kaduna State in 1976, when the then 12 states in the country were expanded to 19. The state was split into Kaduna and Katsina states in 1987.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Monday presented a budget proposal of N175 billion for 2019 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget proposal is 9.2 per cent above the 2018 budget of N146 billion.

The proposed budget tagged: Budget of Socio-Economic Inclusion has N95.8 billion as capital expenditure, while N79.9 billion is proposed for recurrent expenditure.

The governor said the budget proposal had a deficit of N27.4 billion which would be funded through internal and external financial interventions from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s special programmes and World Bank.

He said the budget was planned with $60 benchmark crude oil price and increased state internally generated revenue.

The 2019 budget will consolidate on the infrastructural and socio-economic gains of the outgoing year 2018, he said.

NAN further reports that the budget breakdown shows that N42.7 billion is allocated to infrastructure development; N9.3 billion for health; N26.8 billion for education and N7 billion for investment promotion.

Others are N2 billion for security; N9 billion for payment of pension while N967 million is proposed for the judiciary.

(NAN)
The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has said that the sustained protest against its operations by some of its customers are because of its stoppage of power theft by some people.

BEDC Managing Director, Funke Osibodu, made the assertion in Benin on Monday at a news conference. She said that the firm had organised more awareness for the public to understand its operations.

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state have constantly protested against the operation of BEDC, calling on the Federal Government not to renew the operating license of the company.

Mrs Osibodu said, Edo State civil society continues to attempt to disturb our operation in Benin and Sapele.

Some of their problems are that we are dislodging many of them who have been stealing power because of the mentality that they can get away with it.

It is high time the civil society groups started understanding that these illegal actions must be stopped.

Our own position is that the more power we can sell the better for us.

If some of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)s limitations are removed people will smile because they will have 30 per cent extra power.

The problem is not that of TCN alone but also that of the budgetary process.

There are no licenses to be revoked. It is not possible. There is nothing like renewal of licence. We need to do more work to make people understand the issues.

Meanwhile, Omobude Agho, Coordinator-General of the CSOs in Edo under the aegis of BEDC Franchise States Peoples Alliance, alleged that the BEDC stole from the people by not giving them electricity.

Mr Omobude stated that none of the leaders of the civil society groups had been disconnected from the company power-line because of electricity theft.

In another development, Moses Arigu, the Commissioner for National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has debunked some reports that he ordered electricity consumers who do not have meters not to pay electricity bills.

Mr Arigu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that there was no directive that those without meters should not pay their bills.

He however advised any consumer not satisfied with the estimated billing by the BEDC to report his/her grievances through the appropriate channels.

(NAN)
The federal government has signed a grant aid project with Japan for emergency rehabilitation and reinforcement of the Lagos electricity transmission substation.

The $21.088million project is to strengthen the power infrastructure of Lagos as a commercial hub and industrial centre in Nigeria.

According to a report published by The Eagle Online newspaper, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo, signed the agreement on Friday in Abuja on behalf of the federal government; while Japanese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria, Yutaka Kikuta, signed on behalf of the Japanese government.

Mr Udoma said attaining power sufficiency is one of the goals of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).of the Federal Government.

As you know, the ERGP sets out our four-year plan for the transformation of our country, the ERGP aims to restore growth, invest in people and build a globally competitive economy. But not just to restore growth, but a growth that is diversified, inclusive and sustainable, Mr Udoma said.

Amongst its execution priorities is the attainment of energy self-sufficiency in power and petroleum products, he added.

Mr Udoma recalled that in 2016, Nigeria signed an Exchange of Note (E/N) for emergency improvement of electricity supply in Abuja with the government of Japan, a project that has been completed and is now contributing to improving power supply in Abuja.

He noted that Japan had equally played a role in the design of a master plan study on National Power System Development in Nigeria.

Mr Kikuta, in his remarks, said power supply is key into industrialisation for any country as it one of the factors foreign investors consider. He said the economic position of Lagos State as a commercial and industrial centre of Nigeria underlines the strategic importance of the project to strengthen power infrastructure.

He also said the Government of Japan will host the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) 7 meeting in Yokohama, in 2019, where leaders from Nigeria and other African countries are expected to discuss ways to promote further development of the African continent and how Japan can contribute to the process.

The focus of the power sector is in line with one of Japanese principles of the TICAD process towards African countries economic and social development, he said.
An Ado Ekiti Federal High Court on Monday began sitting in the suit filed by a former governor, Segun Oni, challenging the eligibility of Governor Kayode Fayemi who contested and won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries as a sitting minister.

The matter, which was transferred from a Federal High court in the FCT, to the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, came up on Monday in Ado-Ekiti.

An aspirant in the primaries who is also a lawyer, Ajayi Olowo, approached the court to be joined in the suit as an interested party.

Mr Olowo prayed the court to join him in the suit, so as to hasten hearing in the case, saying the applicant, Mr Oni, has no case and that his application should be dismissed.

Earlier, counsel to the applicant, Anthony Adeniyi, filed a motion to amend the applicants response to the preliminary objection of the defendant, Mr Fayemi.

Mr Adeniyi also urged the court to give accelerated hearing and determination of the case, saying there was no time on the side of the court.

He said: The expiration of the matter according to law which stipulated 180 days to hear the matter would expire on December 19.

The lead counsel to the defendant, (Fayemi), Rafiu Balogun, prayed the court to grant them the privilege of addressing the court orally since they had not filed their own written amendment to counter the written application of the plaintiff in order to save the time of the court.

Judge Uche Agomohadjourned ruling on whether Mr Olowo could join the other defendants until Tuesday.

Mr Agomoh told the two parties to file and serve each other the written applications before noon on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Mr Onis counsel raised security concerns as he alleged that some party supporters attempted to stop him from accessing the court area but for the quick intervention of police who ferried him to the court premises.

But Mr Balogun allayed his fears, assuring that he would contact the defendant and applicant on security matter adding that Messrs Fayemi and Oni were members of the same APC family.

Meanwhile, Adunmo Sunday, Deputy Director with a campaign movement team known as the JKF Campaign Organisation, on Monday told the Ekiti Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, that the July 14 governorship election was free, fair and credible by all standards.

Testifying during the tribunals sitting, Mr Sunday, said contrary to the allegations of general malpractices by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Olusola Kolapo, the election was devoid of rancour and violence.

Dr Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti State [Pic: Pulse.ng]

Led in evidence by Lateef Fagbemi, counsel to Governor Fayemi, the witness informed the tribunal that the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were not biased against any parties.

Someone will be day-dreaming if they think that the election was not free, fair, credible and acceptable.

As one of the groups who monitored the election, I did not receive any reports of violence, vote buying and any malpractice.

All the agents of political parties that participated in the election signed the result sheet, he said.

He said: It is not true that INEC favoured Fayemi in the election. The allegation of vote buying is also not true and in fact, the election is one of the best conducted by INEC, the witness further said.

However, under cross-examination by Roland Otaru, counsel to the petitioners, the witness, admitted before the tribunal that his disposition on oath was based on reports obtained from other All Progressives Congress (APC) agents during the election.

The PDP and Mr Kolapo had filed the petition, praying the tribunal to declare them as winners of the election on the ground that they scored majority of the lawful votes.

They alleged that victory of Mr Fayemi was as a result of vote-buying, widespread rigging, malpractices and that INEC officials favoured the governor during the election.

Judge Suleiman Belgore, adjourned sitting until Tuesday for continuation of hearing.

Meanwhile, Mr Fayemi, who was present at proceeding told reporters that he was confident that the tribunal will do justice to all issues raised in the petition by petitioners.

Also, his counsel, Mr Fagbemi expressed optimism that the tribunal will be able to complete hearing of the petition within the time allowed by law.(NAN)
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has clarified his stance on the fate of the immediate past governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose.

Mr Fayemi spoke with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Fielding questions whether he would probe his predecessor, Mr Fayemi explained that there was never a time he said he would probe Mr Fayose.

According to him, reports of such probe are on the table of anti-graft agencies.

Well, I am sure I have (n)ever said anything about a probe and I do not say anything about probe.

Looking into books is the duty of any new governor, you need to know what you found in place, I just talked about visitation panel into the education sector in the state.

There are other sectors in the state, and it will be remiss of me not to check what we found when we came into office and share that with the citizens of the state.

It is just accountability, not probe. I am not EFCC, I am not ICPC, there are institutions that are charged with the responsibility to do that and its entirely up to them if they want to probe the governor or not.

It is not my business, I leave Fayose to God, I have said that before.

Mr Fayose is presently being prosecuted by the EFCC over an 11-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering.

Speaking on the state of education, Mr Fayemi said that Ekiti had a tradition of being the intellectual capital of the country but it seemed to have lost that edge lately.

He said that his government was working toward repositioning the sector, particularly at the basic and tertiary levels.

The governor said that he had set up visitation panels in all the tertiary institutions in the state to review and recommend what the critical and challenging issues were and how government should respond to the yearnings of the sector.

He said the government was taking specific steps to address access to education in the basic education sub-sector.

Before now, Ekiti used to be the leading state in terms of school enrollment in the country but the latest figures we received from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) makes it clear that we are lagging far behind.

We have moved from 96 per cent enrolment in the entire country to about 45 per cent meaning that about 55 per cent of our school-age children are out of school.

That is unacceptable in a state like Ekiti and we need to find out what has happened between 2014 and 2018 leading to this appalling figure in terms of school enrolment.

And one of the very first things we are doing to improve enrolment is to make sure that all fees and levies in the primary and secondary sector are removed, so we have removed that.

We have returned free compulsory and qualitative education to our basic education sector.

Mr Fayemi said that the government was also doing all it could to encourage more students to come to school.
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.




LONDON, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

34% of UK managers say that their organisation has considered automating elements of their business in order to tackle skills shortages that might come about because of Brexit.

This number rises to 44% in London, according to the Adecco Group UK and Ireland's 'Brexit: retaining talent through change' report.

The majority (71%) of managers think the UK's decision to leave the EU will make skills harder to acquire for organisations operating in Britain. A third (34%) think this regardless of the outcome of Brexit. Yet, one in five (20%) do not plan to employ any strategy to tackle Brexit-related skills shortages.

Alongside implementing technology, those organisations that are considering different strategies to manage potential skills shortages, are thinking about upskilling existing staff (35%) and increasing talent retention (25%).

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633521/The_Adecco_Group_Logo.jpg )

Alex Fleming, Country Head and President of Staffing and Solutions, the Adecco Group UK and Ireland, said: "The idea that Brexit will exacerbate the UK's skills shortage is not a new one, but with one in five businesses not planning to do anything to mitigate this, not all organisations are prepared to deal with this reality.

In order to not just succeed but thrive once the UK leaves the EU, every employer needs to have a plan for how they will address current and potential future talent challenges. Looking to other countries and how they have dealt with labour shortages can help. In Singapore, for example, organisations are being encouraged to create opportunities for older workers, and think about how they can design jobs to help extend their working lives. Alongside making better use of your existing workforce and improving your retention rates, thinking about how to attract potentially untapped sources of talent can help futureproof your organisation in the face of any skills gaps - Brexit related or not."

Dan Lucy, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies, added: "Perhaps the key thing for employers to realise is that there are lots of things they can do now to address current and avoid future talent shortages. Many of the actions employers can take will also enhance employer brand and reputation in the jobs market, creating a virtuous circle and helping position those who take action as employers of choice."

After Brexit (33%), skills shortages (27%) are cited as the next most likely factor to hinder Britain's ability to remain globally competitive. Other concerns include a lack of investment in AI (9%) and a lack of financial investment from global businesses to operate in the UK (9%).

About the research:

The survey of 1,000 managers in UK firms was carried out in October 2018 by Opinion Matters.

About the Adecco Group UK and Ireland

The Adecco Group UK&I and its brands are part of the Adecco Group, the world's leading HR solutions partner. As a Group, we provide more than 700,000 people with permanent and flexible employment every day. With more than 34,000 employees in 60 countries - 3,100 in the UK&I - we transform the world of work one job at a time. Our colleagues serve more than 100,000 organisations with the talent, HR services and cutting-edge technology they need to succeed in an ever-changing global economy. As a Fortune Global 500 company, we lead by example, creating shared value that meets social needs while driving business innovation. Our culture of inclusivity, fairness and teamwork empowers individuals and organisations, fuels economies, and builds better societies. These values resonate with our employees, who voted us number 5 on the Great Place to Work - World's Best Workplaces 2018 list. We make the future work for everyone.

The Adecco Group is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Adecco Group AG is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN). The Group is powered by nine lead brands: Adecco, Modis, Badenoch & Clark, Spring Professional, Lee Hecht Harrison, Pontoon, Adia, General Assembly and YOSS.

The Adecco Group UK&I's head office is located in London, UK. We have 11 brands, including the Adecco Group UK&I, Adecco, Adia, Ajilon, Badenoch & Clark, Modis, Office Angels, Penna, Pontoon, Roevin and Spring.

http://www.adeccogroup.co.uk

Twitter: @AdeccoGroupUKI

SOURCE The Adecco Group
(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/789319/Prof_Graham_Hughes.jpg )



H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and the Patron of the Award, will honor Prof. Hughes in a grand ceremony to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the 12th of December, alongside 15 other prestigious personalities and organizations from USA, Switzerland, Jordan, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Aribia.

According to a report recently issued by the Hamdan Medical Award, Prof. Hughes trained and qualified at the London Hospital. In 1969 and 1970, he spent two years working with a Postgraduate Fellowship in New York at the Rheumatology & Lupus Centre of Dr. Charles Christian. Professor Hughes became a Consultant Physician at Hammersmith Hospital where he set up Europe's first dedicated Lupus Clinic in 1973. He described the clotting disorder now known as Hughes Syndrome in 1983, and he set up the Lupus Unit at St Thomas' Hospital in 1985. In 1993, he received the World Rheumatology (ILAR) Research Prize for the description of Hughes Syndrome. He is a member of the American Lupus "Hall of Fame," and Doctor Honoris Causa at the Universities of Marseille and Barcelona, a Master of the "American College of Rheumatology" and founder and editor of the International Journal "LUPUS."

The report also quoted the Dean of the University of Barcelona, Prof. Miquel Vilardell, who highlighted the importance of Hughes Syndrome, saying, "There are two new diseases of the late 20th Century, namely 'AIDS' and the Antiphospholipid Syndrome, now known as 'Hughes Syndrome.'"

Notably, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences is a non-profit organization that honors researchers around the world who carry out distinguished medical research to serve mankind at large. The Award also works towards stimulating scientific interaction and enriching scientific research among doctors within the UAE and overseas.

SOURCE Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences
RED BANK, N.J., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- One of Alan Fisher's first jobs as a kid in Red Bank was to climb the clock tower overlooking Red Bank's downtown to wind the clock weekly. He and that tower have a great deal in common  they have both remained fixtures in Red Bank for six decades and have overseen its many changes.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of A.H. Fisher Diamonds and Fisher can mark the years by recounting both personal and professional milestones.

Store Front Fisher Family

As a fourth generation Red Bank resident, Fisher knows a thing or two about the historic town and its people. His great grandfather was a local woodworker and Fisher recounts his grandfather owning a successful confectionary shop just steps away from where his jewelry storeA.H. Fisherstands today.

A.H. Fisher is one of only five businesses to remain on Red Bank's Broad Street and they're celebrating a 35th anniversary because, Fisher says, of their family-first approach. Thanks to an initial referral from his grandfather, Fisher got his start in the jewelry industry in 1968 working after school, on weekends and in the summer doing repairs, polishing and machine engraving.

In 1983, Fisher was still involved in the jewelry business, but wanted to become his own boss. The same year, he met his now-wife Karen and decided to open a store of his own. Now with two grown children and a first grandchild, Fisher is as dedicated as ever and shows no signs of slowing down, even completing annual exams to stay informed on current trends and advances in technology. So enthralled with the jewelry business, Alan also has a national business, Claimlink, that works with the insurance industry to restore and replace jewelry.

"The whole diamond and jewelry business is a retail business outside the box; it's much more than buying and selling a product. There's so much to learn, there's an incredible degree of trust and relationship building involved. I've loved doing that. We don't have one-time cash and carrieswe have clients who have stayed for 30 yearswe're seeing their children now and Matthew is taking care of them."

To Fisher's pleasure, his son Matthew used his finance degree to join the family business and combined his passion for sales with diamonds and high-end jewelry. To further his education, he's even gone on to enroll at the Gemological Institute of America.

Now, Matthew manages A.H. Fisher's day-to-day operations while his dad focuses on Claimlink, which has put the store on the map with major insurance carriers around the country.

"I love running into people outside the business and they recognize us for products we've sold them. Now, Matthew, my second generation, is catering to our second generation of clients," Fisher said.

Going forward, A.H. Fisher hopes to continue to grow and provide the kind of intimate, one-on-one service that can't be replicated online or throughout national chainseven recently signing a lease that will keep them on Red Bank's Broad Street for many more years to come.

CONTACT:

Marlene Passell

(561) 877-2213

SOURCE A. H. Fisher Diamonds

Related Links

https://www.ahfisher.com


ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. today announced the acquisition of Long Beach, California-based R.T. Beers & Company Insurance Services, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

R.T. Beers & Company is a retail property/casualty broker serving clients throughout the United States, with a strong focus on risk identification and mitigation. They offer an exclusive group safety program for metal service centers. Ralph Beers, John Lavey, Guy Pakenham and their associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Scott Firestone, head of Gallagher's Southwest region retail property/casualty operations.

"We are pleased to expand our capabilities in Southern California with the insurance experience and intellectual talent of the R.T. Beers team," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "I'm excited to welcome Ralph, John, Guy and their 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


DUBLIN, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Australia Automotive Lubricants Market By Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, LCV, etc.), By Base Oil (Mineral, Synthetic, etc.), By Lubricant Type (Engine Oil, Grease, etc.), By Demand Category, By Sales Channel, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to Australia Automotive Lubricants Market By Vehicle Type, By Base Oil, By Lubricant Type, By Demand Category, By Sales Channel, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2023 automotive lubricants market is projected to surpass $ 1.4 billion by 2023 in Australia. Increasing production and sales of light commercial vehicles as well as heavy duty vehicles, primarily for trade transport is expected to propel demand for automotive lubricants across Australia in the coming years.



Additionally, growth in automotive repair services market across the country coupled with rising adoption of synthetic and semi-synthetic lubricants is further anticipated to fuel growth in Australia automotive lubricants market during the forecast period. Some of the major players operating in Australia automotive lubricants market include BP Australia Pty Ltd, Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd, Caltex Australia Limited, ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, Valvoline (Australia) Pty Limited, Puma Energy (Australia) Fuels Pty Ltd., Penrite Oil Co. Pty. Ltd, TOTAL Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) Pty Ltd, and Phoenix Lubricants Pty Ltd.



Australia Automotive Lubricants Market By Vehicle Type, By Base Oil, By Lubricant Type, By Demand Category, By Sales Channel, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2023 discusses the following aspects of automotive lubricants market in Australia:

Automotive Lubricants Market Size, Share & Forecast

Segmental Analysis - By Vehicle Type (Passenger Car & Micro Mobility Vehicle), By Internet Connectivity (3G, 4G, 5G & Wi-Fi), By Service Type, By Vehicle Connectivity, By Country

Competitive Analysis

Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities

Why You Should Buy This Report?

To gain an in-depth understanding of automotive lubricants in Australia

To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next five years

To help industry consultants, automotive lubricants distributors and other stakeholders align their market-centric strategies

To obtain research-based business decisions and add weight to presentations and marketing material

To gain competitive knowledge of leading market players

To avail of 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get the research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer's specific needs

Report Methodology



The information contained in this report is based upon both primary and secondary research. Primary research included interaction with automotive lubricants distributors and industry experts. Secondary research included an exhaustive search of relevant publications like company annual reports, financial reports and proprietary databases.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Lubricants: An Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Voice of Customer



5. Australia Automotive Lubricants Production Overview



6. Australia Automotive Lubricants Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value and Volume

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, Two-Wheeler, Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), Medium & Heavy (M&HCV), Off-the-road Vehicle (OTR) and Tractor)

6.2.2. By Base Oil (Mineral, Semi-Synthetic and Synthetic)

6.2.3. By Lubricant Type (Engine Oil, Transmission Fluids, Gear Oils, Grease and Others)

6.2.4. By Region

6.2.5. By Demand Category (Replacement Demand and OEM)

6.2.6. By Sales Channel (Authorized Distributors, Retailers, Workshops & Garages and Petrol Pumps/Gas Stations)

6.2.7. By Company

6.3. Market Attractiveness Index (By Vehicle Type and Lubricant Type)



7. Australia Passenger Car Automotive Lubricants Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.1.1. By Value and Volume

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.2.1. By Vehicle Type (Hatchback, Sedan and SUV)

7.2.2. By Base Oil

7.2.3. By Lubricant Type

7.2.4. By Region

7.2.5. By Demand Category

7.2.6. By Sales Channel

7.2.7. By Company

7.3. Market Attractiveness Index (By Vehicle Type and Lubricant Type)



8. Australia Light Commercial Vehicle Automotive Lubricants Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.1.1. By Value and Volume

8.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.2.1. By Vehicle Type (Pickup Trucks and Van & Light Buses)

8.2.2. By Base Oil

8.2.3. By Lubricant Type

8.2.4. By Region

8.2.5. By Demand Category

8.2.6. By Sales Channel

8.2.7. By Company

8.3. Market Attractiveness Index (By Vehicle Type and Lubricant Type)



9. Australia Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle Automotive Lubricants Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.1.1. By Value and Volume

9.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.2.1. By Vehicle Type (Buses and Trucks)

9.2.2. By Base Oil

9.2.3. By Lubricant Type

9.2.4. By Region

9.2.5. By Demand Category

9.2.6. By Sales Channel

9.2.7. By Company

9.3. Market Attractiveness Index (By Vehicle Type and Lubricant Type)



10. Australia Two-Wheeler Automotive Lubricants Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.1.1. By Value and Volume

10.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.2.1. By Vehicle Type (Motorcycle & Scooter)

10.2.2. By Base Oil

10.2.3. By Lubricant Type

10.2.4. By Region

10.2.5. By Demand Category

10.2.6. By Sales Channel

10.2.7. By Company

10.3. Market Attractiveness Index (By Vehicle Type and Lubricant Type)



11. Australia Off the Road Automotive Lubricants Market Outlook

11.1. Market Size & Forecast

11.1.1. By Value and Volume

11.2. Market Share & Forecast

11.2.1. By Vehicle Type (Excavators, Bulldozer, Crawlers, Dump Trucks and Others)

11.2.2. By Base Oil

11.2.3. By Lubricant Type

11.2.4. By Region

11.2.5. By Demand Category

11.2.6. By Sales Channel

11.2.7. By Company

11.3. Market Attractiveness Index (By Vehicle Type and Lubricant Type)



12. Australia Tractor Automotive Lubricants Market Outlook

12.1. Market Size & Forecast

12.1.1. By Value and Volume

12.2. Market Share & Forecast

12.2.1. By Base Oil

12.2.2. By Lubricant Type

12.2.3. By Region

12.2.4. By Demand Category

12.2.5. By Sales Channel

12.2.6. By Company

12.3. Market Attractiveness Index



13. Trade Dynamics



14. Market Dynamics



15. Market Trends & Developments



16. Value Chain Analysis



17. Pricing Analysis



18. Policy & Regulatory Landscape



19. Australia Economic Profile



20. Competitive Landscape

20.1. Competitive Benchmarking

20.2. Company Profiles

20.2.1. BP Australia Pty Ltd

20.2.2. Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd

20.2.3. Caltex Australia Limited

20.2.4. ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd

20.2.5. Valvoline (Australia) Pty Limited

20.2.6. Puma Energy (Australia) Fuels Pty Ltd.

20.2.7. Penrite Oil Co. Pty. Ltd

20.2.8. TOTAL Oil Australia Pty Ltd

20.2.9. Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) Pty Ltd

20.2.10. Phoenix Lubricants Pty Ltd.



21. Strategic Recommendations



22. Annexure (Include Dealer/Distributor List for Automotive Lubricants Company)



*Full List of Figures and Tables Available on Enquiry.



Companies Mentioned





BP Australia Pty Ltd

Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd

Caltex Australia Limited

ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd

Valvoline ( Australia ) Pty Limited

) Pty Limited Puma Energy ( Australia ) Fuels Pty Ltd.

) Fuels Pty Ltd. Penrite Oil Co. Pty. Ltd

TOTAL Oil Australia Pty Ltd

Fuchs Lubricants (Australasia) Pty Ltd

Phoenix Lubricants Pty Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/75l88b/australia?w=5

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

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Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital Square 1031, a leading real estate investment and management firm specializing in Delaware statutory trust offerings, announced today the sale of a portfolio of three manufactured housing communities located in Indiana and Ohio. The portfolio was owned by a group of DST investors who realized 116 percent total return of equity and 11.26 percent annualized total return on equity from their 1031 exchange investment.

"Capital Square is pleased to have recognized and seized the opportunity to sell this portfolio of manufactured housing communities on behalf of our DST investors, which resulted in a significant return on their investment in just four years," said Louis Rogers, founder and chief executive officer of Capital Square 1031. "We strive to provide our DST investors with the highest quality of investments and management, where we purchase desirable real estate, provide exceptional management and execute the property sale at the optimal time. Capital Square accomplished its goals many years ahead of schedule for this DST investment."

The manufactured housing portfolio sale comprised:

Timberbrook, a 103-acre, 567-lot community located at 54686 County Road 19 in Bristol, Ind. ,

, Woodlake-Sommerdale, a 65-acre community featuring 338 lot sites located at 12204 Indianapolis Road in Yoder, Ind. , and

, and Byrne Hill , a 34-acre community with 236 lot sites located at 3601 Hill Road in Toledo, Ohio .

Each property in the portfolio includes a variety of onsite amenities and is located near many employment and educational opportunities.

Since its inception, Capital Square 1031 has sponsored 51 DSTs and has completed approximately $835 million in transaction volume.

About Capital Square 1031

Capital Square 1031 is a national real estate investment and management company that sponsors institutional-quality real estate exchange programs that qualify for tax deferral under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. The company acquires multifamily properties for growth, necessary medical properties for stable income, and other real estate investments (sale/leasebacks, headquarters, offices and facilities) that have the potential to provide exceptional risk adjusted returns. By acquiring a portfolio of DSTs, investors are able to diversify and reduce the risk they would face with a single asset investment. Capital Square aims to provide real estate investors greater access to quality investments and financial planning tools to better manage and mitigate risk.

Capital Square provides a range of services, including due diligence, acquisition, loan sourcing, property management/asset management, and disposition, for a growing number of high net worth investors, private equity firms, family offices and institutional investors. Since inception, the firm has sponsored 51 DSTs and has completed approximately $835 million in transaction volume. To learn more, visit www.CapitalSquare1031.com.

Contact: Julie Leber

Spotlight Marketing Communications

949.427.1391

[email protected]

SOURCE Capital Square 1031

Related Links

http://www.CapitalSquare1031.com


ROCKVILLE, Maryland, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The coating binders market is likely to expand at a modest pace, according to the latest report by Fact.MR. The demand in the coating binders market is expected to surpass 36,000'000 tons by the end of 2018. The manufacturers in the coating binders market are shifting their focus from solvent-based coatings to water-based coatings. Stringent regulations by the governments across various countries with an aim to minimize VOC emission is resulting in the use of water-based coatings.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713666/FactMR_Logo.jpg )



In order to meet stricter VOC regulations, the demand for cheap low/no VOC solvents has increased in paints & coatings industry. Increasing investment by manufacturers is being witnessed in the coating binders market to accelerate the research and development activities to develop and offer low-VOC solvent-based coatings. Modification of equipment to work with water-based coatings is also on a rise in order to save the cost of purchasing new drying equipment.

Request For Sample Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2373

Alkyds to Emerge as the Largest Coating Binders Product

The demand for Alkyds coating binders is anticipated to grow at a significant rate, as per the report by Fact.MR. Alkyd coating binders are likely to rule the organic coating industries for a long time owing to the inherent potentials and versatile characteristics. Employing a significant amount of renewable material is one of the biggest factors for substantial growth of alkyds in the coating binders market.

The demand for alkyds is also rising owing to its low cost as derived from renewable raw materials. Moreover, increasing government regulations on chemical-based coating binders is resulting in consumers and industries moving towards using eco-friendly materials.

Water-based versions of alkyd binders are also being developed on a large scale to meet the VOC standard imposed by governments across countries. The demand for alkyds is constantly increasing in wood care, light duty industrial, automotive aftermarket, and architectural coatings.

Sales of Coating Binders to be Highest in APEJ with China Accounting for the Largest Share

There has been a substantial growth in the infrastructure and construction industry in the APEJ region. With the growing construction industry, the demand for coating binders is also rising in the region. Increasing production of semiconductor and electronic goods, as well as the significant growth in the automotive industry in China and India is likely to create growth opportunities for coating binders manufacturers.

Browse Full Report on Coating Binders Market with TOC- https://www.factmr.com/report/2373/coating-binders-market

Radiation-cured technology has been used on a large scale in China. The Chinese government is focusing on reducing VOC emission, this has impacted the use of radiation-cured technology in China. In order to comply with regulations, radiation-cured technology users have been working with coating manufacturers. This has resulted in the increasing use of UV coating technology in China.

Manufacturers in the coating binders market in China are also focusing on developing new waterborne coating solutions for furniture, construction and other industries. The development of the new coating technology in the coating binders market in the country is also accelerating. Companies are focusing on developing new coating technology for high and low-temperature resistance, anti-graffiti coating technologies, nano-smart coating, and self-cleaning coating technology are some of the advanced technologies being developed in China.

Solvent-based coating demand is declining in China and India is driven by increasing environmental concerns in the countries. However, the area of potential growth is seen in 'green coatings'. Green coating binders manufacturing companies are infusing high investment in developing eco-friendly coating binders with the same performance as compared to traditional solvent-based coatings.

The marine coating in APEJ is also expected to witness a steady growth with development in offshore engineering and shipbuilding industries. Moreover, the constant need for maintenance and repair of ships is likely to drive demand in the coating binders market.

The overall growth in the coating binders market is likely to remain steady. The demand for the coating binders is expected to expand at a 3.4% CAGR during 2018-2027.

To Buy Coating Binders Market Report, Check- https://www.factmr.com/checkout/2373/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

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Fact.MR

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United States

Email: [email protected]



Web: https://www.factmr.com/

Blog : https://factmrblog.com/

Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/

SOURCE Fact.MR
PARK RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Farbest Brands has just been named the preferred North American distributor of pea protein by Jianyuan Foods Group, a Chinese manufacturer. This announcement comes as Jianyuan will start commissioning its new, state-of-the-art production facility in the coming weeks. The new facility provides a significant increase in pea protein supply for Farbest customers beginning in 2019.

"For over 8 years we have worked closely with Jianyuan to bring their high quality pea protein to the North American market," said Daniel M. Meloro, Farbest's President and Chairman. "It is an honor to be named their Preferred Distributor allowing us to bring Farbest, our customers, and Jianyuan even closer together."

The new manufacturing plant features advanced technology that provides unprecedented control over the processing environment. New sophisticated systems will give Farbest the ability to meet and even exceed customer demands for clean tasting pea protein completely free of allergens and gluten.

"Besides improvements in the products, the new plant gives us significantly more volume to meet any customer demand," said Meloro. "Now customers can be assured of uninterrupted supply of the best pea protein on the market."

"For 64 years Farbest has brought the best quality food ingredients to North America," said Meloro. "No one can match our combination of legendary service, customer care, and high quality ingredients."

For more information about company products or Farbest's partnership with Jianyuan Foods Group, please contact Farbest Brands at 1-800-897-6096 or visit farbest.com.

About Farbest Brands

Since 1955, Farbest has been supplying the finest quality ingredients to its customers in the food and beverage industries. From proteins to vitamins, the company imports and manufactures ingredients from around the globe, providing customers with access to everything they need to optimize their formulations. Farbest is headquartered in Park Ridge, New Jersey.

About Jianyuan Foods Group

The Jianyuan Foods Group of Shandong, China, is a leading global producer of pea protein, pea fiber, and pea starch. Jianyuan utilizes a fermentation process to extract the protein, resulting in a product that's created without the use of chemicals. All of the company's raw materials are sourced from non-GMO peas grown in North America. Jianyuan's products are certified allergen free, gluten free, solvent free, and are Halal and Kosher. Its facilities are certified ISO 9001, HACCP, and BRC.

SOURCE Farbest Brands

Related Links

https://farbest.com


"#GivingTuesday has grown to a global movement with nearly every country on earth participating, uniting to do good and inspire action," said Henry Timms, executive director of the 92nd Street Y and founder of #GivingTuesday. "We are so excited to see the growth of #iGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday and how it is inspiring people to make a difference in their own communities."

Created and launched by the Catholic Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans as a New Orleans-based giving day, #iGiveCatholic has grown to yield great national impact. In 2015, #iGiveCatholic's first year, $1.36 million was raised for 112 parishes, schools and nonprofit ministries in New Orleans. Last year, $3.6 million was raised within 17 archdioceses and dioceses. Now in its fourth year, there are 29 participating dioceses and archdioceses, representing nearly 2,500 organizations.

"This is a unique opportunity for our Catholic communities across the country to rally together and support the organizations that shape our souls," said Cory J. Howat, executive director for the Catholic Foundation. "We truly believe that every person's gift makes a difference in our community, and we look forward to collectively raising millions on Tuesday, November 27."

With this year's growth, the campaign spans from Alaska to New Jersey. Our Sunday Visitor is this year's national sponsor. CapTRUST is an affiliate sponsor of this year's campaign.

According to Jason Shanks, president of Our Sunday Visitor Institute, "We believe #iGiveCatholic is a great vehicle for everyone to celebrate Catholic philanthropy. #iGiveCatholic is a creative way to engage new donors and an ideal way to collectively show the impact that Catholic donors have in our community. We are excited to sponsor #iGiveCatholic on this extraordinary national day of gratitude and generosity."

Visit www.iGiveCatholic.org on Tuesday, November 27 to support your favorite parish, school, ministry or nonprofit, or find a new one by making an online donation.

SOURCE iGiveCatholic

Related Links

http://www.iGiveCatholic.org


DUBLIN, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Spinal Muscular Atrophy Market Global Forecast by Countries, Drugs, and Companies" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global spinal muscular atrophy market and provides an all-encompassing analysis of the key growth drivers and challenges, market trends, key players and their projections for the future.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a disease that causes muscle weakness which mostly appears in newborn children. Spinal muscular atrophy disease incidence of approximately 1 in 10,000 newborns and a prevalence of approximately 1 to 2 per 100,000 persons, globally. Spinal muscular atrophy is basically 4 types - Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 and type 4. Most patients suffer from Spinal muscular atrophy type 1. According to this research Global Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 14.29 percent in future. This double-digit growth rate will happen due to the expected launch of new drugs, better reimbursement options and a decline in drugs prices.



Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type 1 develop in less than 6 months of new born children in which patients are not in a position to sit in their lifetime and normally they die within 6 months. In spinal muscular atrophy type 2, patients can sit but cannot walk. Type 2 is developed between 6-18 months of the new born children. Spinal muscular atrophy Type 3 patients can sit and walk and it developed when children age is less than 18 months. Spinal muscular atrophy Type 4 can develop during adulthood.



Spinal Muscular Atrophy Market New Drugs are expected to launch in recent years



At present only Biogen's Spinraza is approved for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy patients in the various parts of the globe such as United States, Europe, and Japan etc. Other companies are also working for new drugs development and they hope to enter in the marketplace very soon as their drugs are in Phase III clinical trials.



By Country - Market Segmentation



Spinal muscular atrophy market by country has been segmented into the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Japan. United States is a leading marketplace due to increasing number of treated Patients, favorable reimbursement policies and increase in healthcare expenditure.



By Total & Treated Patients - Population Segmentation



Spinal muscular atrophy Total & Treated Patients by country has been segmented into the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Japan. United States is dominating in the treated SMA patients globally.



By Drugs - Market Segmentation



The studies the spinal muscular atrophy six drugs (Spinraza, AVXS-101, CK2127107, RG7916, Olesoxime & LMI070) details with present and estimated global sales.



The Report has been analyzed from 9 Major Viewpoints

1. Global Spinal Muscular Atrophy Market (Present & Forecast)

2. Global Spinal Muscular Atrophy Market Share, Patients Share, Treated Patients Share (Present & Forecast)

3. Country Spinal Muscular Atrophy Market (Present & Forecast)

4. Country Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients Population (Present & Forecast)

5. Country Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treated Patients Population (Present & Forecast)

6. Spinal Muscular Atrophy Drugs Sales (Present & Forecast)

7. Global - Clinical Study on Spinal Muscular Atrophy & Drugs Pipeline

8. Growth Drivers and Challenges

9. Key Spinal Muscular Atrophy Companies Initiatives and Financial Insight



Country Covered in this Report

United States

United Kingdom

France

Germany

Italy

Spain

Japan

Drugs Details Covered in this Report

Spinraza

AVXS-101

CK2127107

RG7916

Olesoxime

LMI070

Company Covered in this Report

Biogen Inc.

Roche AG

Novartis AG

Cytokinetics Inc

Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction

1.1 Market Definition

1.2 Currency Conversion



2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Global Spinal Muscular Atrophy Market and Patients Analysis

4.1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy Market

4.2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patient Numbers

4.3 Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treated Patient Number



5. Share Analysis - Global Spinal Muscular Atrophy

5.1 Country Market Share

5.2 Patients Population Share

5.3 Treated Patients Share



6. United States



7. United Kingdom



8. Germany



9. Italy - Spinal Muscular Atrophy



10. France - Spinal Muscular Atrophy



11. Spain



12. Japan



13. Drugs Sales - Spinal Muscular Atrophy

13.1 Spinraza

13.2 AVXS-101

13.3 CK2127107

13.4 RG7916

13.5 Olesoxime

13.6 LMI070



14. Spinal Muscular Atrophy Study Status Analysis

14.1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy Clinical Study

14.2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy Drugs Development Pipeline



15. Growth Drivers

15.1 Increasing Funding for Research & Development

15.2 Biogen Access Programs



16. Challenges

16.1 High Treatment Cost

16.2 Common Side Effects



17. Biogen Inc.



18. Novartis AG



19. Roche Holding AG



20. Cytokinetics, Inc.



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/sz98kh/global_spinal?w=5





Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

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



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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SAVANNAH, Ga., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced that company President Mark Burns will be among the 2018 recipients of the National Aeronautic Association's Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award. Burns, 58, will receive the honor at the association's Fall Awards Ceremony on November 27 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

The Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award was established in 1954 by the association's board of directors to celebrate " outstanding Americans who, by their efforts over an extended period of years, have made contributions of significant value to aeronautics and have reflected credit upon America and themselves."

Along with his position at Gulfstream, Burns serves as a vice president of parent company General Dynamics. In his Gulfstream role, which he has held since July 2015, Burns has been instrumental in the development and certification programs for the all-new Gulfstream G500 and G600 as well as the expansion of Gulfstream Customer Support. The Savannah native joined Gulfstream in 1983 as a computer-aided design operator and has worked in numerous areas of the company, including Engineering, Product Support and Customer Support.

Burns, who earned a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Southern University, will be the chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association in 2019 after serving as vice chairman in 2018, and participates on the associate member advisory council of the National Business Aviation Association. He also serves on the board of directors at Georgia Power.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world's most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced more than 2,800 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the Gulfstream G280TM, the Gulfstream G550TM, the Gulfstream G500TM, the Gulfstream G600TM, the Gulfstream G650TM and the Gulfstream G650ERTM. We invite you to visit our website for more information and photos at www.gulfstreamnews.com.

More information about General Dynamics is available at www.generaldynamics.com .

SOURCE Gulfstream

Related Links

http://www.generaldynamics.com


PITTSBURGH, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- "I needed a stackable docking station for my electronics, however, I could not find one that I liked," said an inventor from Bakersfield, Calif. "This inspired me to develop a better storage unit that could organize the devices in a space-saving fashion."

She developed the ELECTRONIC MASTER to provide an organized means to store electronics that could save valuable space. This attractive unit could allow the housed devices to be easily accessed. It could also create a neater means to recharge the electronics that would be simple and easy to use.

The original design was submitted to the Fresno office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 17-FRO-635, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

Related Links

http://www.inventhelp.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ledger, a global leader in securing crypto assets, announced that it has expanded its U.S. presence to New York City and appointed Demetrios Skalkotos to lead global business unit operations for Ledger Vault, which will be headquartered from the new office. A multi-authorization cryptocurrency self-custody management solution built to secure large amounts of various digital assets, Ledger Vault is the preeminent enterprise security solution for financial institutions.

The Ledger Vault provides state-of-the-art-security by integrating the company's custom operating system, BOLOS, directly into the hardware security module chip -- making it the only crypto-asset protection company to combine a secure chip with its own custom operating system. Ledger Vault provides the information technology infrastructure for firms to completely manage and control their cryptocurrencies, allowing custodians, asset managers and traditional financial services firms to store and trade their digital assets.

"As Blockchain revolutionizes the financial system, so must the security solutions that protect it," said Skalkotos. "Secure storage of large multi-cryptocurrency funds is a highly complex challenge that cannot be solved by just implementing procedures. Institutions are looking for safer storage options along with integrated governance policies, but don't want to sacrifice convenience -- at Ledger, we believe that investors shouldn't have to compromise. Ledger Vault provides financial institutions, family offices and fund managers with secure software and a reliable governance framework -- allowing investors total control and security without sacrificing speed."

Having served in senior leadership roles at internationally recognized financial services companies, Skalkotos has decades of experience running global software and infrastructure businesses, as well as P&L's, product development, sales and marketing. Skalkotos uniquely understands the industry and is well positioned to help financial institutions, hedge funds, high-net worth individuals and family offices ensure security is top of mind as cryptocurrency investments continue to be embraced by mainstream financial organizations.

"New York City is the center of the financial world, hence having our Ledger Vault operations based in the region was a natural fit," said Pascal Gauthier, President of Ledger. "Having spent his whole career working as a leader in enterprise and financial services products, Demetrios Skalkotos is the perfect candidate to bring Ledger Vault to life and oversee its continued growth."

"As crypto becomes more widely adopted, it is critical that we scale enterprise-level solutions accordingly," continued Skalkotos. "The Ledger Vault does just that -- we are the necessary digital plumbing that will provide security custody management to the industry."

For more information about the Ledger Vault, please visit www.ledger.com/pages/ledger-vault.

About Ledger

Founded in 2014, Ledger is a leader in security and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrencies and blockchain applications. Headquartered in Paris and San Francisco, Ledger has a team of 160 professionals developing a variety of products and services to safeguard cryptocurrency assets for individuals and companies  including the Ledger hardware wallets line already sold in 165 countries.In 2018, Ledger was named as one of the "Hottest Startups in Paris" by WIRED Magazine. www.ledger.fr

Media Contact

Ditto PR

[email protected]

SOURCE Ledger

Related Links

http://www.ledger.fr


THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE: NR) today announced that management's presentations during the Company's Analyst Day being held at its facilities in Carencro, Louisiana on Thursday, November 29th will be webcast live beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern / 8:30 a.m. Central.

What: Newpark Resources 2018 Analyst Day Webcast



When: Thursday, November 29, 2018 beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. CT



How: Log onto the website at https://investor.newpark.com/news-events/webcasts-presentations for instructions and the link to the WebEx event. There will be a replay feature on this website shortly after the event has concluded.

For additional information, please contact Ken Dennard at [email protected].

Newpark Resources, Inc. is a worldwide provider of value-added fluids and chemistry solutions in the oilfield, and engineered worksite and access solutions used in various commercial markets. For more information, visit our website at www.newpark.com.

Contact: Gregg Piontek, SVP & CFO



Newpark Resources, Inc.



[email protected]



281-362-6800



SOURCE Newpark Resources, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.newpark.com


VANCOUVER and TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - NexTech AR Solutions (the "Company" or "NexTech") (CSE: NTAR) (FSE:N29) is pleased to announce that it has released a beta version of its web enabled augmented reality e-commerce solution. With a web enabled AR solution, NexTech has eliminated the biggest friction point of AR, which was having to download an app to experience AR e-commerce. Over the next few weeks NexTech will be working with its partners to install its embed code into their websites and ARitize their products enabling online AR shopping.

Demo Video Link: https://youtu.be/iYbUFmUoJPs

According to Statista USA desktop e-commerce sales in 2018 will hit $344 Billion (61%) of the $550 Billion total with mobile growing to $206 Billion (39%) of e-commerce sales. Globally e-commerce is a $2.8 trillion-dollar marketplace with the majority of it done on desktop and tablet devices.

"NexTech's web enabled AR e-commerce solution effectively addresses the entire global market for e-commerce on both desktop and mobile" comments Evan Gappelberg, CEO of NexTech. When we started looking at AR we immediately saw the wow factor and application for e-commerce but also saw a hesitation of consumers to load another app on their mobile device. With our web enabled AR e-commerce solution, we have eliminated that hesitation which we believe will open the floodgates to the rapid adoption of web enabled AR shopping experiences worldwide, this truly is a game changer".

AR has been rapidly scaling into the e-commerce landscape through early adopters like IKEA whose app lets you see the furniture in your house by overlaying a digital twin of the object in your living room. Also, by ART.com whose app lets you see a picture on the wall in your house to see how it looks. Alibaba, Starbucks, IKEA, Houzz and others have been adopting AR e-commerce because the results are increased consumer interactions and sales. Houzz reported that it gets 11X its sales conversion rates using mobile AR versus their standard app. So, a consumer is 11X more likely to buy a couch if they use AR to see what the couch looks like their house. These kinds of measurable results will continue to drive the rapid adoption of AR into e-commerce especially if no app download is needed.

"NexTech's web enabled AR platform allows small and large e-commerce websites to integrate AR into the shopping experience with just a few lines of embed code democratizing AR at scale and creating a true consumer platform" comments Reuben Tozman, COO NexTech. Mr. Tozman continues "the biggest hurdle online customers face is determining whether a certain product is right for them. AR offers shoppers the confidence that will motivate purchasing decisions. AR provides users with an in-store shopping experience, regardless of their location. Our AR platform superimposes 3D objects in various spaces, giving customers a chance to interact with digital twins from the comfort of their own homes".

NexTech is continuing to test and build out its AR e-commerce offerings which includes using AI to create a guided and knowledgeable curator who knows an individual shopper's style, sizes and preferences, as well as AR holograms acting as personal shopping assistants.

About NexTech AR Solutions Corp.

NexTech is bringing augmented reality to the Cannabis market by turning 2D products into exciting 3D consumer experiences. NexTech is currently developing a proprietary and disruptive Augmented Reality (AR) advertising and education platform that uniquely engages by connecting brands and retailers through a fully immersive 3D AR experience called Native AR. NexTech launched its ARitize app in August 2018, which is capable of hosting many brands 3D objects and augmented reality experiences. NexTech also owns a large and diverse revenue generating App Portfolio that is deployed on the iTunes and Google play store which it intends to ARitize.

On behalf of the Board of NexTech AR Solutions Corp.

"Evan Gappelberg"

CEO and Director

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be", "looking forward" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company increasing investors awareness are based on the Company's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of NexTech to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. 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 and forward-looking information. NexTech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Nextech AR Solutions Corp.
CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantitative analysis improves breast cancer screening, according to four abstracts at the 104th Annual Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting, November 2530, 2018. The investigators all used Volpara Solutions' breast imaging analysis tools, including assessment of volumetric density and compression pressure, in their research.

In the study "Using Quantitative Breast Density Analysis to Predict Interval Cancers and Node Positive Cancers in Pursuit of Improved Screening Protocols," (SSE01-03, Monday, November 26, 3:203:30 PM, Room: E451B), Elizabeth Burnside, MD, and colleagues investigated whether quantitative breast density can predict interval cancers and node-positive, screen-detected cancers in order to serve as a biomarker to consider more aggressive screening to improve early detection. The study involved 599 cases of screen-detected cancers and interval cancers and 605 controls from the UK NHS Breast Screening Programme. For each case, breast density was assessed by a radiologist using a visual analog scale (VAS) and BI-RADS 5th Edition density categories and using fully automated VolparaDensity software to calculate fibroglandular volume (FGV) and Volpara Density Grade (VDG).

The results showed that FGV predicted interval, screen-detected, node-positive, and node-negative cancers compared to controls and provided remarkable stratification of interval cancers, whereas VAS only predicted interval cancers. The quantitative nature of FGV and VDG and notable risk stratification based on relative risk indicate that these variables may be promising biomarkers for early cancer detection.

In the study "Predicting Masking Risk in Mammography," (SSE01-05, Monday, November 26, 3:403:50 PM, Room: E451B), researchers at the University of Toronto evaluated a masking index, developed to predict the likelihood of a masked or missed cancer, to stratify women at greatest risk of masking to supplementary imaging modalities. VolparaDensity software was used to analyze images from screen-detected cancers and non-screen-detected cancers. Results showed that age and BMI were relatively weak predictors of masking risk whereas volumetric breast density and new detectability measures had better performance. Adding textural measures improved predictions slightly, beyond density alone. The authors concluded that masking indexes to predict when mammography will underperform could be a valuable tool in a stratified screening program that could redirect women with highly masked mammograms to alternative or adjunct screening strategies.

In the poster "Automated Volumetric Breast Density Estimation: A Comparison with Radiologists' Qualitative Classification," (BR222-SD-SUA3, BR Community, Learning Center, Station 3), VolparaDensity software was used by Beijing Medical University, China, to analyze 7,971 mammograms. The density results were compared to BI-RADS 5th Edition visual assessments. Results showed that significantly more mammograms were classified as dense using VDG as compared with visual assessments (43.9 to 17.1%).

In the study "Mammographic Compression Variability Increased after Removing Real-Time Pressure Indicator," (SSE23-05, Monday, November 26, 3:403:50 PM, Room: S502AB), researchers at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam used Volpara Solutions' algorithms to evaluate the impact of real-time feedback on the standardization of mammographic compression. In the study, researchers evaluated the impact on a group of experienced technologists when the Sigmascreening pressure-based paddle was replaced by a conventional paddle. Results showed that the average compression pressure and variance significantly increased, leading to more over- and under-compression: the proportion of high pressures (>15 kPa) and low pressures (<5 kPa) both increased, from 11.0% to 18.8% and from 1.6% to 3.3%, respectively. The results suggested that this specific paddle-type change increased compression variability.

Volpara Solutions will showcase its entire suite of quantitative breast imaging tools at Booth 2565, South Hall, McCormick Convention Center during RSNA.

About Volpara Solutions

Founded with the goal of helping radiologists give women the most accurate information possible regarding their breast health, Volpara Solutions is the wholly owned sales and marketing arm of Volpara Health Technologies Limited of New Zealand. Available in most markets where breast cancer screening is commonplace, VolparaDensity provides an objective volumetric measure of breast density from both digital mammography and tomosynthesis data. VolparaEnterprise software is a suite of quantitative breast imaging tools for personalized measurements of density, patient-specific xray dose, breast compression, breast positioning, and other factors designed to provide critical insight for breast imaging workflow. For more information, visit www.volparasolutions.com.

SOURCE Volpara Solutions

Related Links

http://www.volparadensity.com


Chao brings to RTC deep expertise in a broad-range of issues that directly affect community health and well-beingfrom housing and finance, to mobility, social impact and civic infrastructure. In identifying Chao to lead the organization into its next chapter, the board is emphasizing the powerful role that trails, walking and biking play in creating healthy, thriving communities nationwide.

"The board is incredibly enthusiastic about the rich perspective that Ryan will bring to Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and the entire trails movement," said Kate Kraft, RTC's board chair and executive director of America Walks. "At RTC, we have long believed in the power of trailsespecially connected trail networksto deliver far-reaching benefits to communities. Ryan's leadership will be powerful in engaging new sectors in the work to connect the nation by trail."

As vice president of the Center for Civic Sites and Community Change, Chao oversaw the Casey Foundation's multisector place-based strategies. Two projects of note for the trails movement include significant neighborhood transformation initiatives in Atlanta and Baltimore intended to link economic, educational and housing programs with outcomes focused on strengthening families and communitiescommunities that are also home to emerging trail networks, the Atlanta Beltline and the Baltimore Greenway Trails Network, an RTC TrailNation project.

"Across the spectrum of my work in community change, access to safe places to walk and bike has proven to be a common need in all types of neighborhoods. I am inspired by the opportunity to connect my passion for social impact, my expertise in community reinvestment, and the promise trails hold as critical civic infrastructure," said Chao, RTC's president-elect. "In its 32 years, RTC has made an invaluable impact on the country, making possible more than 34,000 miles of trail nationwide. I'm humbled and honored to lead the organization into its next chapter and to bring to this work a strong, diverse base of partnerships that can solidify trails as necessary infrastructure and vital community assets."

In May, RTC announced the retirement of the organization's long-time president, Keith Laughlin. Under Keith's nearly two decades of leadership, RTC has grown to become the largest nonprofit organization in the country to advocate for trails and active transportation, expanding the organization's mission to include a focus on connectivityemphasizing the importance of connecting trails to create active transportation systems in every community across the country.

Chao's leadership reinforces the organization's role at the forefront of the active transportation movement, with powerful projects underway that have the potential to catalyze the development of trail networks nationwide, including:

TrailNation the organization's trail network initiative, focused on building model trail networks in places that are diverse in geography, size and scope nationwide. These trail projects are designed to be replicated and prove what is possible when trail networks, walking and biking become central to our lives.

the organization's trail network initiative, focused on building model trail networks in places that are diverse in geography, size and scope nationwide. These trail projects are designed to be replicated and prove what is possible when trail networks, walking and biking become central to our lives. Trails Transform America the organization's policy initiative to secure federal, state and local policies that prioritize public investments in trail networks, elevating the importance of trail networks as essential community assets.

the organization's policy initiative to secure federal, state and local policies that prioritize public investments in trail networks, elevating the importance of trail networks as essential community assets. TrailLink.com the premiere trail-finding website and mobile app in the country, helping more than 7 million people annually explore trails and providing the foundation for RTC's GIS database that seeks to account for every multiuse trail in the country and powers the organization's vision of connectivity.

the premiere trail-finding website and mobile app in the country, helping more than 7 million people annually explore trails and providing the foundation for RTC's GIS database that seeks to account for every multiuse trail in the country and powers the organization's vision of connectivity. The organization's research agendadedicated to building the evidence base for trails walking and biking by focusing on connectivity and the value proposition that trails deliver to all types of communities.

In addition to his experience with the Casey Foundation, Chao served as executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area-based Satellite Housing, where he led the development of affordable housing communities; the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation; and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone. Chao also is an alumnus of the Casey Foundation's Children and Family Fellowship. Chao earned his bachelor's degree in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation's largest trails organizationwith a grassroots community more than 1 million strongdedicated to connecting people and communities by creating a nationwide network of public trails, many from former rail lines. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CONTACT:

Brandi Horton, Vice President of Communications

[email protected]

direct: 202.974.5155, cell: 703.307.8891

SOURCE Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Related Links

http://www.railstotrails.org


CHICAGO, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven Corboy & Demetrio partners have been selected for the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law  Plaintiffs, and Commercial Litigation.

Thomas A. Demetrio, the firm's Co-founder, was selected in the categories of Medical Malpractice LawPlaintiffs and Personal Injury LitigationPlaintiffs. Thomas has earned a spot on both lists for 32 years.

"The selection of seven of our partners, by their peers, to Best Lawyers in America is a testament to how well our partners are regarded in the legal community," Demetrio said.

Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

Partner Philip Corboy, Jr. was selected for the 14th year in the area of Personal Injury LitigationPlaintiffs.

Managing Partner Robert J. Bingle was selected for the 5th year in the areas of Personal Injury LitigationPlaintiffs and Commercial Litigation.

Partner Michael K. Demetrio was selected for the 12th year in the area of Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs.

Partner David "Chip" R. Barry, Jr. was selected in the area of Medical MalpracticePlaintiffs for the 8th year. Chip was selected as Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in 2014, an honor also achieved by Thomas Demetrio in 2011. Before joining Corboy & Demetrio, Chip worked as a medical malpractice attorney for the defense and was recognized by Best Lawyers for several years.

Joining the list for the first time are Partners Kenneth T. Lumb in the area of Medical Malpractice-Plaintiffs and Daniel S. Kirschner in the area of Personal Injury Litigation  Plaintiffs.

About Corboy & Demetrio

Corboy & Demetrio is one of the nation's premier law firms with more than $4 billion in settlements and verdicts. To reach one of our Chicago personal injury attorneys, call 312-346-3191. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Media Contact: Helen Lucaitis, Esq., 312-346-3191(office) or 312-550-2077(cell); [email protected]

SOURCE Corboy & Demetrio

Related Links

http://www.corboydemetrio.com


LAS VEGAS, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SWX) ("SWGH") announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement under which its wholly-owned subsidiary, Centuri Construction Group, Inc. ("Centuri"), will acquire Linetec Services, LLC ("Linetec"). Linetec is a premier provider of recurring maintenance, refurbishment, upgrade, and installation services for electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure throughout the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

"This is an exciting acquisition that supports Centuri's growth plans and enables our fast-growing infrastructure services business to stay ahead of client needs and industry trends," said John P. Hester, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Gas Holdings. "Linetec will enhance Centuri's scale, increase the scope of its services, expand its reach into new geographic regions, diversify its cash flows and provide more strategic flexibility. We are confident this transaction will deliver additional value for Southwest Gas Holdings' shareholders, consistent with our proven strategy of pursuing profitable growth opportunities across all of our businesses."

Under the terms of the transaction, Centuri will acquire an 80% ownership interest in Linetec for approximately $299 million in cash, and will have the option to acquire the remaining 20% ownership interest in Linetec in increments during the next five years. The overall initial transaction cost of approximately $336 million, which includes working capital adjustments and other transaction expenses, is expected to be financed with a combination of approximately $95 million of debt from Centuri's credit facility, and approximately $241 million of cash proceeds from a SWGH public equity offering.

The transaction, which is expected to be accretive to SWGH's earnings within the first year, will broaden Centuri's capabilities in the electric services infrastructure space and extend its geographic footprint into the Southeast, including the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions. As a result, the transaction will not only enhance Centuri's service offerings for existing customers, but also will enable it to serve additional customers in new markets with an increased array of capabilities.

Paul M. Daily, President and Chief Executive Officer of Centuri, said, "This transaction supports our 2020 strategic vision, which is focused on growth, profitability and diversification of services and customers, both organically and through acquisitions. Linetec has a solid track record of success in electric transmission and distribution services, a growing position in the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions, an outstanding management team, and strong utility customer relationships. Under the company's leadership, Linetec has a history of delivering outstanding revenue and earnings growth, and we believe it will be an even stronger company as part of Centuri. We are confident this transaction will strengthen our platform and create greater opportunities to meet customers' expanding needs, particularly as utility companies encounter extreme weather events and the need to upgrade aging infrastructure."

Mick Dubea, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Linetec, said, "We are thrilled to become part of Centuri, a larger, more diversified business that has a similar company culture and shares our commitment to safety, quality, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. By joining forces with Centuri, we will have greater resources and be able to offer more diverse services as we work to become an even stronger partner to our customers. I am fully committed to a successful integration with Centuri, executing our robust pipeline of opportunities and creating value for SWGH shareholders."

The transaction is expected to close by the end of calendar 2018, subject to customary closing conditions. Following the close of the transaction, Linetec will maintain its current offices in Alexandria, Louisiana, Corpus Christi, Texas, and Russellville, Arkansas, and it will continue to be led by Mr. Dubea and its current senior leadership team.

Stifel served as the exclusive financial advisor to Centuri, while the firm of Foley & Lardner LLP served as legal advisors on the transaction.

About Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

Southwest Gas Holdings has two business segments:

Southwest Gas Corporation provides safe and reliable natural gas service to over 2 million customers in Arizona, Nevada, and California.

Centuri Construction Group, Inc. is a comprehensive utility infrastructure services enterprise dedicated to meeting the growing demands of North American utility, energy, and industrial markets. Centuri derives revenue from installation, replacement, repair, and maintenance of energy distribution systems, and developing industrial infrastructure solutions.

About Linetec Services, LLC

Linetec Services, LLC is a privately owned electrical distribution and transmission contractor that partners with utilities and cooperatives, providing electric service to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The ultimate occurrence of events and results referenced in these forward-looking statements is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results or performance to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statement. These statements relate to the anticipated acquisition of Linetec, our expectations regarding our ability to integrate Linetec, and our expectations with respect to the impact of the Linetec acquisition on our Centuri infrastructure business. No assurance can be given that the Linetec acquisition will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that we will achieve the anticipated benefits. Completion of the Linetec acquisition is subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including market conditions, general economic conditions and other factors, including those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and those set forth in the Company's other reports and information filed with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05628053

The CRISPR technology market is expected to grow from USD 562 million in 2018 to USD 1,715 million by 2023, at a CAGR of 25% during the forecast period.The CRISPR technology market is driven by various factors such as increasing funding and private investments and the growing adoption of CRISPR technology.

However, the presence of alternate technologies can hinder the growth of the market.

The CRISPR services segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The CRISPR services segment is the faster-growing segment in the CRISPR technology market, by product and service.Based on services, the CRISPR services market is segmented into gRNA design and vector construction, cell line engineering, screening services, and other CRISPR services (mediated transcriptome editing and epigenome editing services).

The cell line engineering services segment is expected to grow at the highest rate.

The biomedical applications segment, by application, is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period.

The major biomedical applications of CRISPR include gene therapy, drug discovery, and diagnostics.Across the globe, various gene therapy clinical trials are currently underway.

These factors are expected to drive the adoption of CRISPR technology in this segment.In drug discovery applications, CRISPR is used to develop more physiologically relevant models (cell lines and animal models) that correlate better to the clinical setting and thereby reduce drug candidate failure in the initial steps.

The ability of CRISPR to modify endogenous genes can help study the effect of drugs on targets along with endogenous proteins, rather than having to rely on overexpression.

Asia Pacific is expected to record the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Currently, 144 gene and cell therapy companies are based in the APAC that can potentially use CRISPR technology in the coming future.In China, gene editing using CRISPR has attracted strong government funding.

China was among the first to allow the editing of human embryos using CRISPR-Cas9, while the US and European countries banned it. As reported by Goldman Sachs, by the end of February 2018, China had registered nine clinical trials based on CRISPR-edited cells on various diseases such as cancers and HIV infection, whereas the US had registered only one trial since the beginning of 2018.

In-depth interviews were conducted with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), marketing directors, other innovation and technology directors, and executives from various key organizations operating in the CRISPR technology market.

 By Company Type: Tier 1: 28%, Tier 2: 42%, and Tier 3: 30%

 By Designation: C-level Executives: 25%, Directors: 32%, and Others: 43%

 By Region: North America: 38%, Europe: 24%, APAC: 28%, and RoW: 10%



The CRISPR technology market comprises major providers such as Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), GenScript Biotech Corporation (US), Horizon Discovery (UK), Agilent (US), Cellecta (US), GeneCopoeia, Inc. (US), New England Biolabs (US), Integrated DNA Technologies (US), OriGene (US), Synthego (US) and Toolgen (S. Korea). The study includes an in-depth competitive analysis of these key players in the CRISPR technology market, along with their company profiles, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Research Coverage:

This market study covers the CRISPR technology market across various segments.It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential of this market across different segments, on the basis of product, service, application, end user, and region.

The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in the market, along with their company profiles, key observations related to their product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will provide market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall CRISPR technology market and its subsegments.This report will help stakeholders to understand the competitive landscape, gain insights to better position their businesses, and plan suitable go-to-market strategies.

The report will also help stakeholders to understand the pulse of the market and provide them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05628053

About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

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KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With the growing number of higher education institutions and scientific research centers and their spreading in the various parts of the world, there has been a rapid development of knowledge and in its different fields. This development of knowledge carries with it new ideas and solutions to problems facing human communities.

Therefore it has become necessary to disseminate knowledge so that it becomes available and easily accessible to human communities in the various parts of the world to know its new developments and make use of it.

Based on that, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) launched an initiative under the name "The Knowledge Project" to monitor and track the progress and development of knowledge in the various fields and publish it using the different international languages so that it becomes accessible to all human communities worldwide.

The Objectives of the Projects are:

Participation in the dissemination of knowledge

Increase the scope of making useful usage of the development of knowledge worldwide by maintaining and publishing it using the different international languages.

Support scientists contributing to the advancement of knowledge by translating their publications to the different international languages.

Contribute to the provision of international references in the various fields of knowledge using the different international languages.

The Fields of Activities of the Project:

Translation:

Translation of publications that their contents constitute a new addition to human knowledge from their original languages to the different international languages.

Publication:

Collaborate with publishing houses in distributing translated publications to be available to all those who need it to make use of it.

Support and Development of Knowledge:

Extract the best experiences and practices contained in the translated publications and transfer it to communities in the Arab Countries to develop knowledge and make use of it.

Media Contact :

Faisal Alanezi

Phone: 966 13 849 9200

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

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Related Links

Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd University

SOURCE Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University

Related Links

https://pmu.edu.sa


NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowley Law PLLC is investigating potential claims against TransMontaigne Partners L.P. (NYSE: TLP) and its board of directors for breach of fiduciary duty concerning the proposed acquisition of the company by TLP Finance Holdings, LLC. Unitholders will receive $41.00 for each common unit of TransMontaigne Partners L.P. that they hold. The transaction is valued at approximately $536 million and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.

If you are a unitholder of TransMontaigne Partners L.P. and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, please visit us at: http://www.rowleylawpllc.com/investigation/tlp. You may also contact Shane Rowley, Esq. at Rowley Law PLLC, 50 Main Street Suite 1000, White Plains, NY 10606, by email at [email protected] , or by telephone at 914-400-1920 or 844-400-4643 (toll-free).

Rowley Law PLLC represents shareholders nationwide in class actions and derivative lawsuits in complex corporate litigation. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.rowleylawpllc.com .

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

SOURCE Rowley Law PLLC

Related Links

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BEIJING, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambow Education Holding Ltd. ("Ambow" or the "Company") (NYSE American: AMBO), a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, today announced its unaudited financial and operating results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018.

Third Quarter 2018 Financial Highlights

Net revenues for the third quarter of 2018 increased by 10.6% to US$15.7 million from US$14.2 million in the same period of 2017. This increase was due primarily to revenues from Boston -based Bay State College ("BSC") (acquired in November 2017 ) and higher student enrollment for the 2018-2019 academic year in the Company's K-12 schools.

for the third quarter of 2018 increased by 10.6% to from in the same period of 2017. This increase was due primarily to revenues from -based ("BSC") (acquired in ) and higher student enrollment for the 2018-2019 academic year in the Company's K-12 schools. Gross profit for the third quarter of 2018 was US$4.3 million , compared with US$4.2 million for the same period of 2017. Gross profit margin was 27.4% for the third quarter of 2018, compared to 29.6% in the same period of 2017. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily attributable to lower profit margin at BSC, as the Company is in the process of consolidating its business operations.

for the third quarter of 2018 was , compared with for the same period of 2017. Gross profit margin was 27.4% for the third quarter of 2018, compared to 29.6% in the same period of 2017. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily attributable to lower profit margin at BSC, as the Company is in the process of consolidating its business operations. Operating expenses in the third quarter of 2018 decreased by 13.0% to US$6.0 million from US$6.9 million for the same period of 2017. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues for the quarter decreased to 38.2% from 48.6% in the same period of 2017 .

in the third quarter of 2018 decreased by 13.0% to from for the same period of 2017. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues for the quarter decreased to 38.2% from 48.6% in the same period of 2017 Operating loss in the third quarter of 2018 decreased by 37.0% to US$1.7 million from US$2.7 million for the same period of 2017.

in the third quarter of 2018 decreased by 37.0% to from for the same period of 2017. Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders for the third quarter of 2018 was US$1.8 million , or US$0.04 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net income of US$2.6 million for the third quarter of 2017, or US$0.07 per basic and diluted share, as a one-time gain of US$5.7 million from the sale of subsidiaries was recorded in the prior-year quarter.

for the third quarter of 2018 was , or per basic and diluted share, compared with a net income of for the third quarter of 2017, or per basic and diluted share, as a one-time gain of from the sale of subsidiaries was recorded in the prior-year quarter. As of September 30, 2018 , Ambow maintained strong cash resources of US$62.1 million , comprised of cash and cash equivalents of US$30.5 million , short-term investments of US$27.2 million , and restricted cash of US$4.4 million .

, Ambow maintained strong cash resources of , comprised of cash and cash equivalents of , short-term investments of , and restricted cash of . As of September 30, 2018 , the Company's deferred revenue balance was US$24.4 million , representing a 38.6% increase from US$17.6 million as of December 31, 2017 , mainly attributable to tuition and course fees collected in the K-12 business segment for the 2018-2019 academic year, and tuition and fees collected at BSC for the fall semester of 2018.

First Nine Months 2018 Financial Highlights

Net revenues for the first nine months of 2018 increased by 17.3% to US$52.8 million from US$45.0 million in the first nine months of 2017, due primarily to revenues from BSC and higher student enrollment for both 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 academic years in the Company's K-12 schools.

for the first nine months of 2018 increased by 17.3% to from in the first nine months of 2017, due primarily to revenues from and higher student enrollment for both 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 academic years in the Company's K-12 schools. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2018 increased by 7.0% to US$19.9 million from US$18.6 million in the first nine months of 2017. Gross profit margin was 37.7%, compared to 41.3% in the same period of 2017. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily attributable to lower profit margin at BSC, as the Company is in the process of consolidating its business operations.

for the first nine months of 2018 increased by 7.0% to from in the first nine months of 2017. Gross profit margin was 37.7%, compared to 41.3% in the same period of 2017. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily attributable to lower profit margin at BSC, as the Company is in the process of consolidating its business operations. Operating expenses for the first nine months of 2018 were US$19.0 million , an 8.2% decrease from US$20.7 million in the same period of 2017. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues for the period decreased to 36.0% from 46.0% in the same period of 2017 .

for the first nine months of 2018 were , an 8.2% decrease from in the same period of 2017. Operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues for the period decreased to 36.0% from 46.0% in the same period of 2017 Operating income in the first nine months of 2018 was US$0.8 million , compared with an operating loss of US$2.1 million for the same period of 2017.

in the first nine months of 2018 was , compared with an operating loss of for the same period of 2017. Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for the first nine months of 2018 was US$2.0 million , or US$0.05 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net income of US$3.7 million for the first nine months of 2017, or US$0.10 per basic and diluted share, as a one-time gain of US$5.7 million from the sale of subsidiaries was recorded in the prior-year period.

Dr. Jin Huang, Ambow's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with the results achieved during this seasonally slow quarter, as they continue to demonstrate our solid growth trajectory. Both of our primary revenue streams, Better Schools and Better Jobs, continued to show strong growth with 6% and 43% year-over-year increases, respectively. Notably in the third quarter, deferred revenue grew 39% to US$24.4 million from the prior year period. This significant increase positions us well for near-term growth.

"During the third quarter, we also focused heavily on further differentiating our education services through our enhanced collaboration with schools and corporations and our increasing library of cutting-edge curriculum offerings and training programs. With our industry-leading experience, Ambow is uniquely positioned to play an integral role in addressing the gap between supply and demand for job-ready talent, in particular, helping career universities/colleges prepare students for the booming IT and technology-driven upgrades happening across nearly all industries. We're on track with implementation of our new cross-border college/university model through deepened integration with Bay State College.

"With the tuition fees from Bay State College contributing significantly to Ambow's revenue throughout 2018, we also incorporated the transition expenses related to this acquisition into our financial results, which has pressured our margins. However, with our strong cost control effort, we've been able to deliver improved operating leverage to largely offset this pressure. Our results were favorably impacted by the meaningful reduction in both operating expenses and operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues on a year-over-year basis in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2018, as well as a 23% decrease in general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of 2018 compared with the same period in 2017.

"Looking forward, we anticipate continued improvements in Ambow's overall operating performance, which will include the introduction of new revenue-generating program. We are committed to increasing enrollments across all Ambow programs while maintaining stringent cost controls, and we are confident in our ability to accelerate profitable growth and strengthen our leadership position in the career enhancement market in China."

The Company's third quarter 2018 financial and operating results can also be found on its Form 6-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts translated from RMB to U.S. dollars for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2018 are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.8680 as of September 28, 2018; all amounts translated from RMB to U.S. dollars for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2017 are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.6533 as of September 29, 2017. The exchange rates were according to the middle rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

About Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, offering high-quality, individualized services and products. With its extensive network of regional service hubs complemented by a dynamic proprietary learning platform and distributors, Ambow provides its services and products to students in 30 out of the 31 provinces and autonomous regions within China.

Follow us on Twitter: @Ambow_Education

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Ambow's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Ambow may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies, expansion plans, the expected growth of the content and application delivery services market, the Company's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with its customers, and the general economic and business conditions in the regions where the Company provides its solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Ambow undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Tel: +86 10-6206-8000

The Piacente Group | Investor Relations

Tel: +1 212-481-2050 or +86 10-5730-6200

Email: [email protected]

AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)





























As of September 30,

As of December 31,







2018

2017







US$

RMB

RMB

ASSETS















Current assets:















Cash and cash equivalents



30,457

209,177

195,303

Restricted cash



4,373

30,035

2,350

Short term investments, available for sale



7,581

52,067

128,042

Short term investments, held to maturity



19,656

135,000

93,000

Accounts receivable, net



4,524

31,069

24,511

Amounts due from related parties



102

701

-

Prepaid and other current assets, net



19,730

135,505

129,517

Loan receivable, current



6,214

42,677

-

Total current assets



92,637

636,231

572,723

Non-current assets:















Property and equipment, net



23,544

161,701

168,423

Land use rights, net



264

1,815

1,848

Intangible assets, net



13,608

93,457

96,769

Goodwill



10,653

73,166

73,166

Deferred tax assets, net



1,538

10,566

8,222

Long-term loan receivables



-

-

42,677

Other non-current assets, net



1,828

12,555

13,592



















Total non-current assets



51,435

353,260

404,697



















Total assets



144,072

989,491

977,420



















LIABILITIES















Current liabilities:















Deferred revenue *



24,437

167,836

114,396

Accounts payable *



1,874

12,869

23,414

Accrued and other liabilities *



47,373

325,357

418,998

Borrow from third party, current



6,010

41,275

-

Income taxes payable *



30,000

206,039

202,314

Amounts due to related parties *



499

3,430

3,430

Total current liabilities



110,193

756,806

762,552

Non-current liabilities:















Long-term borrowings from third party



-

-

39,205

Consideration payable for acquisitions



985

6,766

6,766

Other non-current liabilities



197

1,350

2,938



















Total non-current liabilities



1,182

8,116

48,909



















Total liabilities



111,375

764,922

811,461



















EQUITY















Preferred shares















(US$ 0.003 par value;1,666,667 shares authorized,

nil issued and outstanding as of September 30,

2018 and December 31, 2017)



-

-

-

Class A Ordinary shares















(US$0.003 par value; 66,666,667 and

66,666,667 shares authorized, 34,206,939

and 38,436,668 shares issued and

outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and

September 30, 2018, respectively)



105

721

640

Class C Ordinary shares















(US$0.003 par value; 8,333,333 and 8,333,333

shares authorized, 4,708,415 and 4,708,415

shares issued and outstanding as of

December 31, 2017 and September 30,

2018, respectively)



13

90

90

Additional paid-in capital



509,846

3,501,623

3,456,307

Statutory reserve



2,917

20,036

20,036

Accumulated deficit



(480,908)

(3,302,878)

(3,316,715)

Accumulated other comprehensive income



1,186

8,147

6,876

Total Ambow Education Holding Ltd.'s equity



33,159

227,739

167,234

Non-controlling interests



(462)

(3,170)

(1,275)

Total equity



32,697

224,569

165,959

Total liabilities and equity



144,072

989,491

977,420



















* All of the VIE's assets can be used to settle obligations of their primary beneficiary. Liabilities recognized as a result of

consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on the Company's general assets.





AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)



For the nine months ended September 30,

For the three months ended September 30,

2018

2018

2017

2018

2018

2017

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB























NET REVENUES





















Educational program and

services 51,897

356,429

291,069

15,613

107,227

85,690 Intelligent program and

services 879

6,034

8,656

37

251

8,656 Total net revenues 52,776

362,463

299,725

15,650

107,478

94,346 COST OF REVENUES





















Educational program and

services (32,177)

(220,991)

(169,661)

(11,171)

(76,723)

(60,541) Intelligent program and

services (755)

(5,188)

(6,059)

(184)

(1,266)

(6,059) Total cost of revenues (32,932)

(226,179)

(175,720)

(11,355)

(77,989)

(66,600)























GROSS PROFIT 19,844

136,284

124,005

4,295

29,489

27,746 Operating expenses:





















Selling and marketing (4,654)

(31,967)

(28,205)

(1,855)

(12,740)

(9,015) General and administrative (14,105)

(96,872)

(105,014)

(4,036)

(27,717)

(34,673) Research and development (240)

(1,647)

(4,653)

(119)

(820)

(1,941) Total operating expenses (18,999)

(130,486)

(137,872)

(6,010)

(41,277)

(45,629)























OPERATING INCOME

(LOSS) 845

5,798

(13,867)

(1,715)

(11,788)

(17,883)























OTHER INCOME

(EXPENSES)





















Interest income 781

5,367

4,010

246

1,691

1,267 Foreign exchange gain, net 22

154

740

3

19

739 Other income (loss), net 75

517

(16)

(59)

(408)

893 Gain on disposal of

subsidiaries -

-

38,145

-

-

38,145 Gain from deregistration of

subsidiaries 469

3,220

-

-

-

- Gain on sale of investment

available for sale 111

759

4,720

40

275

151 Total other income 1,458

10,017

47,599

230

1,577

41,195 INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE

INCOME TAX AND NON-

CONTROLLING

INTEREST 2,303

15,815

33,732

(1,485)

(10,211)

23,312 Income tax expense (282)

(1,939)

(8,999)

(308)

(2,113)

(4,990)























NET INCOME (LOSS) 2,021

13,876

24,733

(1,793)

(12,324)

18,322 Less: Net income (loss)

attributable to non-

controlling interest 6

39

(200)

13

89

912























NET INCOME (LOSS)

ATTRIBUTABLE TO

ORDINARY

SHAREHOLDERS 2,015

13,837

24,933

(1,806)

(12,413)

17,410























NET INCOME (LOSS) 2,021

13,876

24,733

(1,793)

(12,324)

18,322























OTHER

COMPREHENSIVE

INCOME, NET OF TAX





















Foreign currency translation

adjustments 182

1,252

981

(73)

(501)

685 Unrealized gains on short term

investments





















Unrealized holding gains

arising during period 65

446

1,506

10

66

755 Less: reclassification

adjustment for gains

included in net income 62

427

2,690

26

180

50 Other comprehensive income

(loss) 185

1,271

(203)

(89)

(615)

1,390























TOTAL

COMPREHENSIVE

INCOME (LOSS) 2,206

15,147

24,530

(1,882)

(12,939)

19,712























Net income (loss) per share 

basic 0.05

0.34

0.64

(0.04)

(0.29)

0.45























Net income (loss) per share -

diluted 0.05

0.34

0.63

(0.04)

(0.29)

0.44























Weighted average shares used

in calculating basic net

income (loss) per share 40,697,965

40,697,965

38,803,676

43,125,614

43,125,614

38,826,232























Weighted average shares used

in calculating diluted net

income (loss) per share 41,025,566

41,025,566

39,310,607

43,125,614

43,125,614

39,298,522

Discussion of Segment Operations



For the nine months ended September 30,

For the three months ended September 30,

2018

2018

2017

2018

2018

2017

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

(All amounts in thousands) NET REVENUES





















Better Schools 31,012

212,992

196,746

8,103

55,653

50,861 Better Jobs 20,885

143,437

94,323

7,510

51,574

34,829 Others 879

6,034

8,656

37

251

8,656 Total net revenues 52,776

362,463

299,725

15,650

107,478

94,346 COST OF REVENUES





















Better Schools (19,132)

(131,397)

(124,692)

(6,198)

(42,570)

(39,317) Better Jobs (13,045)

(89,594)

(44,969)

(4,973)

(34,153)

(21,224) Others (755)

(5,188)

(6,059)

(184)

(1,266)

(6,059) Total cost of revenues (32,932)

(226,179)

(175,720)

(11,355)

(77,989)

(66,600) GROSS PROFIT





















Better Schools 11,880

81,595

72,054

1,905

13,083

11,544 Better Jobs 7,840

53,843

49,354

2,537

17,421

13,605 Others 124

846

2,597

(147)

(1,015)

2,597 Total gross profit 19,844

136,284

124,005

4,295

29,489

27,746

SOURCE Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
(All amounts in US$ unless otherwise specified and reflect 100% of the project)

VANCOUVER, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Capstone Mining Corp. ("Capstone" or the "Company") (TSX:CS) releases positive results of an updated Technical Report for its Santo Domingo Iron Oxide-Copper-Gold ("IOCG") project ("Santo Domingo" or the "Project") in Region III, Chile and announces the start of a strategic process for the Project. The strategic process will explore several alternatives, including selling a portion of the Project. Santo Domingo is owned 70% by Capstone and 30% by Korea Resources Corporation ("KORES"). The Technical Report updates project economics, which benefits from significantly lower power costs and several engineering changes, including the use of desalinated water in lieu of seawater; the report also includes the addition of cobalt to the mineral resources.

"There is a shortage of high-quality, large scale copper projects and the completion of our updated Technical Report comes at an ideal time. Capstone, with the support of KORES, is commencing a strategic process for Santo Domingo which will evaluate alternatives relating to the ownership of the Project. In addition, we will consider the potential for streaming opportunities given the gold reserve and cobalt resource to help finance the Project," said Darren Pylot, President and CEO of Capstone. "Capstone is committed to the advancement of Santo Domingo and maximizing the value of the Project for our shareholders in a responsible manner that ensures our participation maintains financial flexibility for continued growth and financial security for the Company's existing operations."

"This positive Technical Report reconfirms the value of Santo Domingo as a desirable copper-iron-gold project that has an approved Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") in a mining-friendly jurisdiction with local community support," added Mr. Pylot. "The Project has an after-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of $1.03 billion and an Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 21.8%. Additionally, there are a number of opportunities related to cobalt recovery, improving gold recovery, automation and infrastructure sharing that we will evaluate in 2019 to further enhance the value of Santo Domingo."

"In addition to the approved EIA, Santo Domingo also has the Maritime Concession for a new port for the export of copper and iron concentrates," continued Mr. Pylot. "We are advancing engineering and have received three of the five long lead construction permits, with the rest expected to be received in 2019. We are targeting Santo Domingo to be construction-ready by early 2020."

Highlights



Results Highlights - Santo Domingo 2018 Technical Report Life of Mine ("LOM") (years) 17.9

First Five Years of Full Production Initial construction cost

(US$ billions) $1.51

Average annual contained copper production for first five years of full production (million pounds) 259 NPV (after-tax, 8% discount)

(US$ billions) $1.03

C1 cash cost2 per pound of payable copper produced $0.47 IRR (after-tax) (%) 21.8



Payback period (after-tax)

(years) 2.8

Average Annual for Life of Mine







Average annual production





Copper (million pounds) 134





Iron concentrate (million tonnes) 4.2





Gold (ounces) 17,000





C1 cash cost2 per pound of payable copper produced $0.02

Approximate 18 year mine life with operations expected to commence two years after a final construction decision.

Nominal average LOM plant throughput rate of 60,000 tonnes per day.

Initial construction costs are estimated to be $1.51 billion which includes a 15% contingency on total costs. The 11.1% decrease from the 2014 Feasibility Study 1 is a result of improved project infrastructure design which includes a water purchase agreement and a more favourable exchange rate.

which includes a 15% contingency on total costs. The 11.1% decrease from the 2014 Feasibility Study is a result of improved project infrastructure design which includes a water purchase agreement and a more favourable exchange rate. On a co-product basis, total C1 cash cost 3 is estimated at approximately $1.38 per pound of payable copper produced and $38.88 per tonne of magnetite iron concentrate produced.

is estimated at approximately per pound of payable copper produced and per tonne of magnetite iron concentrate produced. Sustaining capital over the LOM is estimated to be $378.6 million .

. Total LOM operating costs are estimated to be $5.57 billion , which is lower than the 2014 Feasibility Study 1 , primarily due to a reduction in the price of electricity in Chile .

, which is lower than the 2014 Feasibility Study , primarily due to a reduction in the price of electricity in . The LOM average production is 210,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per year over a period of approximately 18 years, at a 29% copper grade. The LOM average production is 4.2 million dry metric tonnes ("dmt") of iron concentrate per year over a period of approximately 18 years, at a 67% iron grade.

Metal price assumptions used for the Technical Report were a constant $3.00 per pound of copper, and utilized a consensus long-term price of $69 per tonne for 62% iron fines, to arrive at an effective $80 per tonne magnetite iron concentrate at a 66% iron content FOB Santo Domingo port (which incorporates several value-in-use adjustments to reflect the specific quality of iron-ore expected to be produced by Santo Domingo ), and $1,290 per ounce of gold.

Additional Opportunities

In 2019, Capstone will commence work to incorporate potential opportunities to increase the value of the Project:

Cobalt  This 2018 Technical Report includes an initial cobalt resource for Santo Domingo which was not included in the Project's economic model. To date, we have performed metallurgical testing which suggests that the cobalt is recoverable. A high-level trade-off study of several flowsheets was completed which suggests that the addition of a cobalt recovery circuit could be economically feasible. In 2019, the Company will continue to develop the technical and financial feasibility of producing cobalt as a by-product by conducting a preliminarily economic assessment for the cobalt opportunity.

 This 2018 Technical Report includes an initial cobalt resource for which was not included in the Project's economic model. To date, we have performed metallurgical testing which suggests that the cobalt is recoverable. A high-level trade-off study of several flowsheets was completed which suggests that the addition of a cobalt recovery circuit could be economically feasible. In 2019, the Company will continue to develop the technical and financial feasibility of producing cobalt as a by-product by conducting a preliminarily economic assessment for the cobalt opportunity. Gold  We will undertake additional metallurgical test work with the goal of improving gold recoveries.

 We will undertake additional metallurgical test work with the goal of improving gold recoveries. Automation  Potential to utilize autonomous equipment to increase safety, reduce costs and reduce overall project capital.

 Potential to utilize autonomous equipment to increase safety, reduce costs and reduce overall project capital. Infrastructure sharing  This Technical Report contemplates the construction of a port and associated infrastructure at an estimated cost of $169 million . Capstone is currently engaged in discussions with other parties to share the infrastructure opportunities.

National Instrument 43-101

A National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Technical Report will be prepared on the results of the updated feasibility by the Qualified Persons and will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.

Readers are cautioned that the conclusions, projections and estimates set out in this news release are subject to important qualifications, assumptions and exclusions, all of which will be detailed in the Technical Report. To fully understand the summary information set out above, the Technical Report that will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com should be read in its entirety.

Conference Call and Webcast Details

Capstone will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss the details of this Santo Domingo Technical Report later today, Monday, November 26, 2018, at 11:30 am Eastern Time (8:30 am Pacific Time).

Date: Monday, November 26, 2018 Time: 11:30 am Eastern Time (8:30 am Pacific Time) Dial in: North America: +1 888 390 0546, International: +1 416 764 8688 Webcast: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1884522/8B76D6FC9B84C09A17D295209D064F24 Replay: North America: +1 888 390 0541, International: +1 416 764 8677 Replay Passcode: 696500 #

The conference call replay will be available until December 21, 2018. Following the call, an audio file and transcript will be available on Capstone's website at https://capstonemining.com/investors/events-and-presentations/default.aspx.

Summary of Results



Santo Domingo 2018 Technical Report LOM (years) 17.9 Initial construction cost (US$ billions) $1.51 NPV (after-tax, 8% discount) (US$ billions) $1.03 IRR (after-tax) (%) 21.8 Payback period (after-tax) (years) 2.8 First Five Years of Full Production

Average annual contained copper production for first five years of full production

(million pounds) 259 C1 cash cost2 per pound of payable copper produced $0.47 Strip ratio (waste to ore) 3.4:1 Average Annual for Life of Mine

Average annual production

Copper (million pounds) 134 Iron concentrate (million tonnes) 4.2 Gold (ounces) 17,000 C1 cash cost2 per pound of payable copper produced $0.02 On co-product basis, C1 cash cost3

Copper (per pound of payable copper produced) $1.38 Magnetite iron concentrate (per tonne) $38.88 Total ore mined (million tonnes) 392.3 Strip ratio (waste to ore) 3.3:1 Head Grade

Copper (% Cu) 0.30 Iron (% Fe) 28.16 Gold (g/t Au) 0.04 Recovery

Copper 93.4% Iron Mass 19.1% Gold 60.1% Metal Price Assumptions

Copper (per pound) $3.00 Magnetite iron concentrate at 66% iron content FOB Santo Domingo port (per tonne) $80.00 Gold (per ounce) $1,290

Technical Report

The Technical Report is being completed using engineering and consulting firms experienced in the Chilean mining industry (Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company, BRASS Chile S.A., Knight Piesold S.A., NCL Ingenieria y Construccion Ltda., Aminpro Chile, Sunrise Americas and Roscoe Postle Associates Inc.), with significant contributions to the report made by authors detailed below in "Qualified Persons". The report is being compiled by the Wood Group's Santiago office with an accuracy range of -10% to +15% for construction and operating costs. The estimates presented in the technical report are current as of November 2018.

The Santo Domingo Project will include development of two open pit mines using conventional drilling, blasting, loading with diesel hydraulic shovels, and truck haulage, and a copper-iron concentrator designed to process a nominal 65,000 tonnes per day ("tpd") to 60,000 tpd (throughput is reduced in the latter years as the ore becomes slightly harder) using Semi-Autogenous Grinding ("SAG") and ball milling, with conventional flotation utilizing desalinated water to produce a copper concentrate. Magnetite iron will be recovered from the copper rougher tailings using Low Intensity Magnetic Separation ("LIMS"). The planned infrastructure for the Project also includes a tailings storage facility, an iron concentrate pipeline and a third party desalinated water supply pipeline; a port-located magnetite iron concentrate filter plant and stockpile; a port-located copper concentrate storage building; a desalination plant; ship loading facilities; and on-site and off-site infrastructure and support facilities.

The mine is located 50 kilometres southwest of Codelco's El Salvador copper mine and 130 kilometres north-northeast of Copiapo, near the town of Diego de Almagro, in Region III, Chile. The elevation at the site varies between 1,000 metres above sea level ("masl") and 1,280 masl with relatively gentle topographic relief. Access to the Project is one kilometre off the paved highway C-17 from Diego de Almagro to Copiapo. The magnetite filter plant and stockpile, the copper storage building, the desalination plant and other port infrastructure will be located in Punta Roca Blanca, 41 kilometres north of Caldera. The name of the proposed port development is Puerto Santo Domingo.

For the first five years of full operation, Santo Domingo will have an annual average copper production of approximately 259 million pounds (approximately 117,500 tonnes). The LOM average production is 134 million pounds of copper (approximately 61,000 tonnes) per year over a period of approximately 18 years. The total LOM copper production is estimated at 2.4 billion pounds (approximately 1.1 million tonnes).

For the first five years of full operation, the annual average iron ore concentrate production is estimated to be 3.3 million dmt. Over the LOM, the iron ore concentrate production will increase to an annual average of 4.2 million dmt, with a total estimated production of approximately 75.1 million dmt.

Mineral Resource Estimate

Following is the most recent Resource Estimate as at October 31, 2018 prepared by David W. Rennie, P. Eng., of Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. ("RPA").



Santo Domingo Mineral Resource Estimate as at October 31, 2018 Category Deposit Mt CuEq (%) Cu

(%) Au (g/t) Fe (%) Co (ppm) Measured 66 0.81 0.61 0.081 30.9 254 Indicated SDS/IN 416 0.49 0.24 0.033 26.4 238

Estrellita 55 0.40 0.38 0.039 13.7 125

Sub-Total 471 0.48 0.26 0.034 25.0 225 Total Measured and Indicated 537 0.52 0.30 0.039 25.7 229 Inferred SDS/IN 43 0.42 0.17 0.024 25.0 208

Estrellita 5 0.32 0.31 0.030 12.3 108 Total Inferred 48 0.41 0.19 0.025 23.6 197





(1) Mineral Resources are classified according to CIM (2014) guidelines. (2) Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves. (3) Mineral Resources for SDS are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.125% CuEq, and for Estrellita at 0.125% CuEq. (4) Mineral Resources are constrained by Lerchs-Grossman pits. (5) Bulk density was estimated for each block and varies between 2.49 and 4.04 t/m3. (6) Cu equivalence was calculated using metallurgical recoveries, transport costs, smelter terms and royalties provided by Capstone. (7) Mineral Resources are estimated using metal prices of US$3.50/lb Cu, US$1,300/oz Au, and US$99/t FeO conc. (8) Numbers may not add due to rounding. (9) Only copper, gold and iron were recognized in the CuEq calculation; cobalt was excluded until further studies are completed to confirm reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction.

The estimate was carried out using a block model constrained by three-dimensional wireframe envelopes. The wireframes were constructed primarily from lithological boundaries. The principal rock types used for these models were the manto-hosting volcanic and sedimentary units which were clipped against fault boundaries and wireframe models of post-mineral dykes or sills. Eight domains were created within the deposit and three of these (Zones 1, 2 and 3) were further subdivided into magnetite-rich and magnetite-poor variants. Much of the geological interpretation had been done for the 2009 and previous estimates. For the current estimate the wireframe modelling consisted of updating the earlier work with the latest drilling results. RPA notes that only minor modifications to the interpretations were required.

Grades for copper, gold, total iron and magnetic susceptibility ("MS") were estimated into the blocks using Ordinary Kriging ("OK"). Estimates of recoverable iron ("Fe_rec") and bulk density were carried out from the estimated iron and MS grades using linear regression relationships. Copper equivalent ("CuEq") grades were calculated from the estimated copper, gold, and Fe_rec, using recoveries estimated from recent metallurgical testing.

The Mineral Resources for SDS/IN were reported at a cut-off grade of 0.125% CuEq, which is consistent with the previous estimate.

Readers are advised that Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral Resource estimates do not account for mineability, selectivity, mining loss and dilution. These Mineral Resource estimates include inferred Mineral Resources that are normally considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. Even though test mining has been undertaken in areas with Measured and Indicated class Mineral Resources, there is no certainty that inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to Measured and Indicated categories through further drilling, or into Mineral Reserves, once economic considerations are applied.

Mineral Reserve Estimate

The current Mineral Reserve estimate of November 14, 2018, prepared by Carlos Guzman, (FAusIMM of NCL Ingenieria y Construccion Ltda.) for the Project is summarized below. Based on the Mineral Resource estimate, a standard methodology for pit limit analysis, mining sequence, and cut-off grade optimization, including application of mining dilution, process recovery, economic criteria and physical mine and plant operating constraints, has been followed to design the open pit mines and determine the Mineral Reserve estimate for each deposit as summarized in the Mineral Reserve table.



Santo Domingo Mineral Reserve Estimate as at November 14, 2018 Reserve Category Ore Grade Contained Metal Ore

(Mt) Cu

(%) Fe

(%) Au

(g/t) Cu

(Mlbs) Fe Conc.

(Mt) Au

(kOz) Proven Reserves 65.4 0.61 30.9 0.08 878.5 8.2 169.9 Probable Reserves 326.9 0.24 27.6 0.03 1,694.2 66.9 336.8 Total Reserves 392.3 0.30 28.2 0.04 2,572.7 75.1 506.7





(1) Mineral Reserves are reported as constrained within Measured and Indicated pit designs and supported by a mine plan featuring variable throughput rates and cut-off optimization. The pit designs and mine plan were optimized using the following economic and technical parameters: metal prices of US$3.00/lb Cu, US$1,280/oz Au and US$100/dmt of FeO concentrate; the average recovery is 93.4% for Cu and 60.1% for Au, with magnetite concentrate recovery varying on a block-by-block basis; copper concentrate treatment charges of US$80/dmt, US$0.08/lb of Cu refining charges, US$5.00/oz of Au refining charges, US$33/wet metric tonnes ("wmt") and US$20/wmt for shipping Cu and Fe concentrates respectively; waste mining cost of $1.75/t, mining cost of US$1.75/t ore, and process and G&A costs of US$7.53/t processed; average pit slope angles that range from 37.6 to 43.6; a 2% royalty rate assumption. (2) Rounding as required by reporting guidelines may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content. (3) Tonnage and grade measurements are in metric units. Contained gold ounces are reported as troy ounces.

Mine Production Schedule

The cash flow model is supported by a mine plan developed to an annual level of detail, which can be accessed HERE. Approximately 45 million tonnes of material would be pre-stripped in the year prior to start-up of operations. The LOM plan contemplates mining 1.7 billion tonnes of material consisting of 1.3 billion tonnes of waste rock and overburden and 0.4 billion tonnes of ore over an approximately 18 year mine life. The overall strip ratio for the LOM is 3.3:1. The plan developed for the Project mines higher copper grades in the first five years of the mine life with progressively lower copper grades and higher iron grades for the remaining 13 years.

Processing

The copper and magnetite recovery plant and associated service facilities will process run of mine ("ROM") ore delivered to a primary crusher feeding a conventional process of crushing and grinding of the ROM ore, copper flotation, and magnetite recovery from copper rougher tailings. Copper concentrate will be produced and dewatered at the process facility for trucking to (and stockpiling at) the port. Magnetite concentrate will be thickened on site prior to being pumped via a concentrate pipeline to the port. At the port, the magnetite concentrate will be dewatered and stockpiled. Both the copper and magnetite concentrates will be loaded onto ships for transportation to third-party smelters.

Grinding and flotation test-work has established mill design parameters and copper recovery estimates for the Technical Report. The mill will process a total of 392 million tonnes of ore over an approximate 18 year mine life at an average grade of 0.30% copper, 0.04 grams per tonne gold and 28.2% iron. Mill throughput will vary from 65,000 tpd in the first five years, to 60,000 tpd in the latter years when throughput will be reduced as the ore becomes slightly harder. Average mill throughput over the 18 year mine life is projected to be 60,500 tpd. Metal recoveries for copper and gold are estimated at 93.4% and 60.1% respectively, averaged over the mine life.

Iron recovery was determined from magnetic separation testing on the copper flotation rougher tailings. The Technical Report does not consider any process to recover the specular hematite portion of the iron. Therefore, iron recovery is presented in terms of the total mill feed mass recovery. For the life of the project this averages 19.1%, and ranges from a low of 10.1% in year five of the project to a high in excess of 25% in the last four years of the project. Testing via pilot plant indicates that a magnetite concentrate grading 66% to 67% iron can be maintained throughout the life of the project.

A detailed Mine Production Summary and Plant Feed Production Schedule showing tonnes processed, grades and recoveries can be accessed HERE.

The tailings storage system will consist of a tailings storage facility ("TSF") located north of the proposed mine. The TSF is designed to store approximately 314 million tonnes of conventional thickened tailings, which is sufficient capacity for the approximately 18 years of the project life. Storage of both desalinated and process water is proposed in lined ponds near the plant site. Water make-up is proposed to be desalinated water. Based on the conventional thickened tailings disposal method, the estimated water make-up will be approximately 1,260 m3/h (~350 L/s).

Offsite Infrastructure and Services

The Level 3 Capital construction estimate for this Technical Report included 100% of the capital requirements of a greenfield port in the Punta Roca Blanca area (Puerto Santo Domingo) on the coast 41 kilometres north of Caldera in the Atacama Region. Included in the cost estimates is the terminal station of the concentrate pipeline, storage tanks and filter plant for magnetite concentrate, a copper concentrate storage building, a magnetite concentrate stockpile, integrated building (offices, laboratories, change house and lunch room), guard checkpoint, workshop and warehouse; and ancillary facilities to support the operation. The port facility is designed to accommodate the maximum throughout requirements of 5.4 million tonnes per annum.

Access to the mine site is six kilometres south of Diego de Almagro on Highway C-17. This section is paved and in good condition. Due to the location of the planned Iris Norte pit, process facility and tailings storage facility, approximately 18.7 kilometres of the existing C-17 road will require relocation. The existing C-17 road will remain in service during the relocation effort. In addition, a new bypass road will be built around Diego de Almagro to minimize traffic impacts from the Project. The Diego de Almagro bypass is approximately 4.7 kilometres in length and will be built in the early stage of the Project.

Water and Concentrate Transport

The Project has been rescoped to use desalinated water which will be pumped to the mine/process site. Capstone has received an indicative proposal for the supply of desalinated water from a local supplier with a proven record of delivery. Desalinated water was adopted due to several compelling considerations, including improved gold and copper recoveries, lower electricity costs for the desalination process and potential access to premium pricing for iron fines.

A magnetite concentrate pipeline will transport magnetite concentrate from the process plant to the filter plant at the port via a pipeline starting at an elevation of 1,027 masl and ending at the port at an elevation of 16 masl. The copper concentrate will be trucked from the site to Puerto Santo Domingo.

Both the water and the concentrate pipelines will use the same right-of-way and will run parallel to existing roads for the majority of the distance from the mine area to the port. The pipeline route will largely follow the valleys with the single route high point located approximately 45 kilometres from the mine site near Mantos Copper's Mantoverde mine operation.

Power

Santo Domingo's mine and port sites will be connected to the national grid system (Sistema Electrico Nacional, or "SEN") which includes coal, natural gas, hydroelectric and non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) generation. The closest connection point between the SEN and the mine site is via a direct connection to the Diego de Almagro substation, located about five kilometres from the mine area.

A 220 kV transmission line has been designed to supply power from the Diego de Almagro substation to the Santo Domingo site. The line is 8.9 kilometres long, running underground for the first 0.5 kilometres. In addition, a 220 kV transmission line has been designed to supply power from Port Totoralillo to Puerto Santo Domingo. This line is 14 kilometres long.

The Technical Report has assumed a price of $72 per MWh, including all system-related charges, for electricity delivered to the nearest electrical substations to the mine site and the port site. The price is consistent with current contract rates for electricity in the SEN and has been verified with power generators currently operating in the SEN. The estimated peak demand for the mine and port is 109 MW.

Construction Cost Estimate

The construction cost has been updated and estimated at $1.51 billion as shown in the following table. This estimate is based upon a constant foreign exchange rate of 600 Chilean Pesos ("CLP") to US$1.00 during the development period and for the LOM.





Construction Cost Estimate  Santo Domingo 2018 Technical Report (US$ thousands) Mine Equipment 106,769 Mine Pre-Production Stripping 57,117 Crushing 43,396 Grinding 114,962 Flotation 57,966 Magnetic Separation 40,076 Thickening and Tailings Handling 52,976 Reagents 9,388 Copper Concentrate 12,018 Tailings Storage Facility 23,659 Plant/Mine Infrastructure 156,723 Magnetite Concentrate Pipeline 89,086 Port - Process 25,729 Port - Concentrate Handling/Loading 121,641 Port - Infrastructure 21,887 Total Direct Cost 933,395 Development  Indirects (includes EP and CM costs) 156,835 Construction Admin Costs 112,372 Owner Costs 111,831 Contingency (15% of total costs) 197,845 Total Indirect Costs 578,882 TOTAL PROJECT CONSTRUCTION COSTS 1,512,277

Mine pre-production stripping costs are estimated at $57.1 million and are included in the construction cost estimate. LOM sustaining capital, estimated at $378.6 million over the approximately 18 year mine life, is not included in the above figure. Mine closure costs have been estimated at $102 million and have been included in the financial evaluation model.

Total Project Operating Costs3



Total Project Operating Costs3  Santo Domingo 2018 Technical Report

LOM Total

(US$ thousands) LOM Average

(US$/t milled) LOM C1 Cash Cost2

(US$/lb payable Cu) Mining 2,619,572 6.68 1.13 Process 2,547,558 6.49 1.10 G&A 402,844 1.03 0.17 Sub-Total 5,569,973 14.20 2.40 By-Product Credits



(2.70) Treatment and Refining Charges and Selling Costs



0.31 TOTAL C1 cash cost2 per pound of payable copper produced



0.02

As shown, the estimated total C1 cash cost2 over LOM are estimated at $0.02 per pound of payable copper produced, when including gold and iron credits. The co-product LOM C1 cash costs3 are estimated at approximately $1.38 per pound of payable copper and $38.88 per tonne of magnetite concentrate produced.

Sensitivities



Sensitivities  Santo Domingo 2018 Technical Report Parameter or Variation Value Pre-Tax After-Tax IRR NPV IRR NPV (%) @ 8.0% (%) @ 8.0%

($M)

($M) Copper Price ($/lb) -20% 2.40 18.5 904 15.2 548 -10% 2.70 22.6 1,248 18.5 792 Base Case 3.00 26.6 1,592 21.8 1,032 10% 3.30 30.5 1,936 25.0 1,270 20% 3.60 34.4 2,280 28.0 1,506 Magnetite Iron Price ($/dmt Fe) -20% 64 23.1 1,155 18.8 730 -10% 72 24.9 1,373 20.3 881 Base Case 80 26.6 1,592 21.8 1,032 10% 88 28.2 1,810 23.1 1,182 20% 96 29.7 2,028 24.4 1,331 Total Operating Costs ($/t LOM average) -20% 11.73 30.5 2,029 25.0 1,332 -10% 13.19 28.6 1,810 23.4 1,183 Base Case 14.66 26.6 1,592 21.8 1,032 10% 16.13 24.5 1,373 20.0 880 20% 17.59 22.3 1,154 18.2 726 Initial Construction Costs ($M) -20% 1,209.8 33.5 1,835 28.5 1,276 -10% 1,361.0 29.7 1,713 24.8 1,154 Base Case 1,512.3 26.6 1,592 21.8 1,032 10% 1,663.5 23.9 1,470 19.2 910 20% 1,814.7 21.6 1,348 17.0 788

Permitting

In July 2015, Capstone received approval of the EIA for the Project. The EIA will require minor modifications as a result of improvements assessed in this Technical Report update.

In July 2017, long-lead permit applications required to start construction were submitted. Of these, we have received the Mine Development, Plant and Waste Rock Storage Facility permits. We await receipt of the Tailings Permit, upon its approval the application for the Closure and Reclamation Plan permit will be submitted.

Iron Ore Pricing

The Technical Report uses a constant metal price assumption of $80 per tonne of magnetite iron concentrate received by the Project. This assumption reflects value-in-use adjustments to the conventionally quoted 62% iron ore price. Specifically, there are premiums for producing iron ore with 66% iron content, as well as for producing a product that is low in impurities such as alumina. The $80 per tonne figure is expressed FOB Santo Domingo port.

2018 Technical Report vs. 2014 Feasibility Study1









Santo Domingo Project 2018 Technical

Report 2014 Feasibility

Study1 Change Life of mine ("LOM") (years) 17.9 18 - Initial construction cost (US$ billions) $1.5 $1.7 (11%) NPV (after-tax, 8% discount) (US$ billions) $1.0 $0.8 30% IRR (after-tax) 22% 18% 22% Payback period (after-tax) (years) 2.8 4.2 (33%) Avg. annual contained copper production for first five years of full production (million pounds) 259 248 4% C1 cash cost2 per pound of payable copper produced for first five years of full production $0.47 $0.49 ($0.02) Average annual production for LOM





Copper (million pounds) 134 128 5% Iron concentrate (million tonnes) 4.2 4.2 - Gold (ounces) 17,000 16,000 6% C1 cash cost2 per pound of payable copper produced for LOM $0.02 ($0.06) $0.08

Next Steps

Capstone is advancing Santo Domingo under a disciplined stage-gate approach. The next stage-gate will be the approval of the final design criteria upon conclusion of the 2019 pilot plant trials, which is anticipated in mid-2019. The following stage-gate will be when engineering is advanced to approximately 60% to 65% with an estimate accuracy of 10%, expected in the third quarter of 2019 and will result in the initiation of purchasing key capital equipment. The final gate will be at the point when financing is confirmed, which is expected to be in the first quarter of 2020. At each stage-gate, Capstone will evaluate the status of the Project and communicate the next steps. Each decision will reflect, among other factors, the progress made in the areas outlined above, general and project specific market conditions, the financing market, project economics and alternatives available to the Company at that time. The decisions will be targeted at maximizing the value of the Project to Capstone shareholders in a manner that ensures financial flexibility for continued growth and financial security for the Company's existing operations.

Qualified Persons

The following Qualified Persons (QPs), as defined by NI 43-101 are independent from Capstone and have reviewed and approved the content of this news release and are responsible for the preparation of their relevant portions of the Technical Report:

Joyce Maycock , P. Eng., Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company

, P. Eng., Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company Antonio Luraschi , CMC, Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company

, CMC, Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company Marcial Mendoza , CMC, Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company

, CMC, Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company Mario Bianchin , P. Geo., Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company

, P. Geo., Amec Foster Wheeler Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, a Wood company Roy G. Betinol , P. Eng., BRASS Chile S.A

, P. Eng., BRASS Chile S.A Carlos Guzman, CMC, FAusIMM, NCL Ingenieria y Construccion Ltda

Roger Amelunxen , APEG, Aminpro Chile

, APEG, Aminpro Chile Tom Kerr , P. Eng., Knight Piesold S. A.

, P. Eng., Knight Piesold S. A. David Rennie , P. Eng., Roscoe Postle Associates Inc.

, P. Eng., Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. Michael Gingles , MMSA, Sunrise Americas

About Capstone Mining Corp.

Capstone Mining Corp. is a Canadian base metals mining company, focused on copper. We are committed to the responsible development of our assets and the environments in which we operate. Our two producing mines are the Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, US and the Cozamin polymetallic mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico. In addition, Capstone has the large scale 70% owned copper-iron Santo Domingo development project in Region III, Chile, in partnership with Korea Resources Corporation, the Minto copper mine in Yukon, Canada currently on care and maintenance, as well as a portfolio of exploration properties. Capstone's strategy is to focus on the optimization of operations and assets in politically stable, mining-friendly regions, centred in the Americas. Our headquarters are in Vancouver, Canada and we are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Further information is available at www.capstonemining.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This document may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document and Capstone Mining Corp. (the "Company") does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable securities legislation.

Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company management's expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the conversion of mineral resources to mineral reserves, the ability to successfully complete the strategic review process, the ability to further enhance the value of the project, the expected timing for commencement of construction of the Santo Domingo Project, the market for project debt, Capstone's ability to raise its equity contribution to the Project, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital and construction expenditures, success of mining operations, environmental risks, the timing of the receipt of permits, the timing and terms of a power purchase agreement, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "outlook", "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" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. In this document certain forward-looking statements are identified by words including "explore", "potential", "will", "scheduled", "plan", "planned", "estimates", "estimated", "estimate", "projections", "projected", "await receipt" and "expected". Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove incorrect, including, but not limited to, the development potential of the Santo Domingo Project and current and future commodity prices and exchange rates. By their very nature 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 factors include, among others, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of commodities; possible variations in mineral reserves, grade or recovery rates; accidents; dependence on key personnel; labour pool constraints; labour disputes; availability of infrastructure required for the development of mining projects; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; objections by the communities or environmental lobby of the Santo Domingo Project and associated infrastructure and other risks of the mining industry as well as those factors detailed from time to time in the Company's interim and annual financial statements and management's discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 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 forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking statements.

Alternative Performance Measures

"Total C1 Cash Cost" and "Total Project Operating Costs" are Alternative Performance Measures. These performance measures are included because these statistics are key performance measures that management uses to monitor performance. Management uses these statistics to assess how the Company is performing to plan and to assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These performance measures do not have a meaning within International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.

Cautionary Note to United States Investors

This news release contains disclosure that has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Without limiting the foregoing, this news release refers to a technical report that uses the terms "indicated" and "inferred" resources. U.S. investors are cautioned that, while such terms are recognized and required by Canadian securities laws, the SEC does not recognize them. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of indicated resources will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "inferred resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Therefore, U.S. investors are also cautioned not to assume that all or any part of inferred resources exist, or that they can be mined legally or economically. Accordingly, information concerning descriptions of mineralization and resources contained in this news release may not be comparable to information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC.

1. See Capstone News Release dated June 4, 2014 titled "Capstone Mining Reports Positive Feasibility Study Results for Santo Domingo Project in Chile" and the Technical Report effective May 14, 2014 for full details. 2. These are alternative performance measures; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this news release. C1 cash costs are net of magnetite iron and gold by-product credits and selling costs. 3. These are alternative performance measures; please see "Alternative Performance Measures" at the end of this news release.

SOURCE Capstone Mining Corp.

Related Links

www.capstonemining.com


TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AACSB International (AACSB) announced today that the Business School at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, ESCA Ecole de Management, Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), Jyvaskyla University School of Business and Economics, Macquarie University, National Chung Hsing University, S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, the School of Accounting at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Troy University, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade de Lisboa, and the University of Mary Washington have earned accreditation in business.

Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, and the largest business education network connecting students, educators, and businesses worldwide. Through today's ratification, a total of 831 institutions across 54 countries and territories have earned AACSB Accreditation in business, with the first institution in Morocco having earned this standard of quality. Furthermore, 187 institutions maintain supplemental AACSB Accreditation for their accounting programs.

"AACSB Accreditation recognizes institutions that have demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curriculum development, and student learning," said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. "We congratulate each of the newly accredited institutions for earning this respected honor, and are pleased that students in Morocco can now pursue an AACSB-accredited business degree for the first time in their home country."

Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal focus, engagement with an AACSB-assigned mentor, and peer-reviewed evaluation. During this multiyear path, schools focus on developing and implementing a plan to align with AACSB's accreditation standards. These standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation; student, faculty, and staff as active participants; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement.

"The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of a school's dedicationnot only to their students, alumni network, and greater business community, but to the higher education industry as a whole," said Bryant. "Today's students are tomorrow's business leaders, and the addition of these thirteen institutions to the network of AACSB-accredited business schools will have a lasting positive impact, both locally and globally."

For more detailed information about AACSB Accreditation, please visit aacsb.edu/accreditation.

About AACSB International

As the world's largest business education alliance, AACSB International (AACSB) connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to more than 1,600 member organizations and over 800 accredited business schools worldwide. AACSB's mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education. The global organization has offices located in Tampa, Florida, USA; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Singapore. For more information, visit aacsb.edu.

SOURCE AACSB International

Related Links

http://www.aacsb.edu


(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/789286/MEXX_Store.jpg )

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/789285/MEXX_Store_Interiors.jpg )

The franchise store is located at Binnenstede 11 in the Cityplaza shopping centre in Nieuwegein. With 300 m of floor surface and a 14-metre store window, MEXX is the ideal location for showcasing the new MEXX and the new store concept. In addition to a contemporary collection for women, men and children, MEXX is presenting an extensive collection of shoes. The store design was realised by architectural firm Boffi Design. It has designed a minimalist, sleek concept featuring a simple and elegant look and feel. Lighting specialist Guzzini Design was engaged to develop optimum lighting for the store.

International expansion in spring 2019

The worldwide launch is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2019. MEXX will at that time open more stores and expand the distribution further into the European key markets in the Benelux, France, Greece and Germany. These are markets in which MEXX has a high level of name awareness and has had a presence for more than 25 years. Stores will be opened in Canada, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, the GOS countries and Russia in order to support the various brand market entries. Potential market introductions in Egypt and China are also being considered. The company expects a high level of growth in the so-called emerging markets.

Leo Cantagalli, CEO of MEXX: "MEXX has gone back to its roots. I'm proud that we are opening the first store in our home market of the Netherlands. This is where it all began more than thirty years ago. We've designed a stunning collection for urban professionals. In addition, we've developed a new interior concept in association with Boffi Design that optimally dovetails with MEXX's DNA. Thanks to the new store concept and a contemporary multi-gender collection, we're ready for the worldwide launch next spring."

The company has worked diligently on the relaunch over the past year. MEXX presented a spring/summer collection that was available online on MEXX.com last spring. The focus is furthermore on strengthening the organisation, entering into partnerships for a decentralised market approach and optimising the e-commerce strategy and communications via social media.

About MEXX International

MEXX International B.V., based in Drunen, the Netherlands, was founded in August 2017 by the two owners of RNF Holding, Ron Janssen and Ferry Helmer. RNF is a Dutch holding company for footwear, fashion accessories and apparel companies. In addition to his role in RNF Holding, Ferry Helmer will be highly involved in driving the MEXX brand and business forward.

MEXX International B.V. acquired solely the global IP of the MEXX brand from the Turkish Eroglu Holding and has started from a ground-zero status. The company's mission is to build a successful MEXX brand globally by inspired product design, outstanding store/online experiences and superb marketing.

The MEXX story

The MEXX brand has its roots in the 1970s. It all started with fashion designer Rattan Chadha and his business partner Adu Advaney who supplied private label clothes to department and wholesale stores in the Netherlands. By 1980, this had resulted in the creation of two well-known Dutch clothing brands - Moustache for men and Emanuelle for women. The two brands merged in 1986 to create MEXX, with the company name coming from M (from Moustache) and E (from Emanuelle), plus XX (an abbreviation for "Kiss! Kiss!"). The brand achieved revenue of over $1 billion. The global IP of MEXX was acquired by the newly formed MEXX International B.V. based in the Netherlands in August 2017.

SOURCE MEXX
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Getinge is informing about a global voluntary Medical Device Recall for the QUADROX-i Neonatal Oxygenator. To date, there are no known adverse events associated with serious injury or death. Getinge has reported to relevant competent authorities according to applicable regulations and does not expect the cost for the recall to be material.

The QUADROX-i Neonatal Oxygenator is intended for use in extracorporeal circulation during cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery for neonatal patients. The recall concerns an enclosed adapter to the device, which can cause blood leakage at the blood inlet connector. In total 22,749 units of Quadrox-i Neonatal have been distributed globally between October, 2016 and October 2018. The adapter is used in 10% of the therapy cases. In the US, the recall affects 9 customers, and has been classified as a Class I recall by the FDA. Since December 2017 the product is no longer distributed to the US market.

All concerned customers have received communication to either remove the screw adopter before usage or return the product to Getinge.

This information is released in order to inform users of mentioned Getinge products, according to standard procedure recommended by regulatory authorities.

CONTACT:

Media contact:

Anna Appelqvist, Vice President Corporate Communications

Phone: +46-(0)-10-335-5906

E-mail: [email protected]

Jeanette Heden Carlsson, Executive Vice President Communication & Brand Management

Phone: +46-(0)-10-335-1003

E-mail: [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/getinge/r/getinge-informs-about-a-voluntary-medical-device-recall-for-the-quadrox-i-neonatal-oxygenator,c2682990

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Getinge
Ibstock plc ( www.ibstockplc.com ), a leading manufacturer of clay bricks and concrete products headquartered in Leicestershire, England, has owned Glen-Gery Corporation most recently since 2014. The sale to Brickworks was initiated based on Ibstock plc's decision to refocus its business strategy on growing its core markets in the United Kingdom.

Brickworks Limited (www.brickworks.com.au), is the largest brickmaker and one of the leading building material manufacturers in Australia. Products offered by Brickworks include masonry blocks, retaining wall systems, pavers, roof tiles, precast concrete panels, timber products and more. Brickworks products are distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand.

In announcing the acquisition of Glen-Gery, Mark Ellenor, President, Brickworks Building Products North America, noted that, "We believe the transaction is an ideal market entry into the attractive U.S. industry, with Glen-Gery having established a leading market position in its core geographic area and a reputation for excellent product quality. By combining these two great businesses, we can learn from each other and become even better."

Founded in 1890, Glen-Gery Corporation (www.glengery.com) offers the market's most diverse portfolio of brick colors, sizes and textures for both commercial and residential applications in the U.S. and Canada.

Commenting on the sale, Glen-Gery President Greg Silvestri said, "We are very pleased with the opportunities presented by our new association with Brickworks. As leaders in our respective markets, we look forward to the potential for strengthening and expanding our combined companies." Silvestri also noted that, "Our partnership with Brickworks will enable shared technology advancements and innovations, and the expansion of Glen-Gery's product diversity and market coverage."

About Glen-Gery

Glen-Gery Corporation, now in its 128th year of operation, is a premier brand and award-winning manufacturer of brick and stone products, and a distributor of in-house manufactured and sourced exterior/interior building products. Glen-Gery offers North America's most diverse portfolio of clay brick for residential and commercial use in the U.S. and Canada. The company operates 10 manufacturing plants and 10 Masonry Supply Centers in the U.S and markets products through a national network of more than 500 distributors.

Contact

Tim Leese

Marketing Services Manager

Glen-Gery Corporation

(484) 335-2333

[email protected]

www.glengery.com

SOURCE Glen-Gery

Related Links

http://www.glengery.com


Focusing on Business Diversification Strategies and Achieved Double-Digit Group Revenue Growth

Newly-established Businesses in Healthcare Services Grew Rapidly and Strategic Investment Projects On-track

HONG KONG, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --



For the Six Months Ended 30 September

2018 (HK$'000) 2017 (HK$'000) Change (%) Revenue 163,913 117,069 40.0 Healthcare services segment revenue 83,599 50,028 67.1 Hospital business income 75,612 47,865 58.0 Medical insurance administration services income 2,663 2,163 23.1 Cells and tissues storage and genetic testing services income 5,324 - N/M Medical devices segment revenue 77,760 65,189 19.3 Strategic investments revenue 2,554 1,852 37.9







Gross profit 78,854 50,358 56.6 Impairment loss on other receivables(1) (92,882) - N/M Exchange gain on bank loan borrowed by the Company(2) 33,026 - N/M







Loss from operations (125,833) (100,156) 25.6 Adjusted loss from operations(3) (65,977) (100,156) (34.1) Finance costs (29,106) (199,807) (85.4)







Loss attributable to the Company's equity shareholders (155,147) (287,444) (46.0) Adjusted loss attributable to the Company's equity shareholders(3) (95,291) (287,444) (66.8) Basic loss per share (in HK cents) (5.32) (9.69) (45.1) Adjusted basic loss per share (in HK cents) (3) (3.27) (9.69) (66.3) (3) Excluding (1) and (2).

Golden Meditech Holdings Limited (SEHK stock code: 00801) ("Golden Meditech" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), a leading integrated healthcare enterprise in China, announces today its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2018 (the "Reporting Period").

During the Reporting Period, the Group's revenue reached HK$163,913,000, representing a significant increase of 40.0% year-on-year. The increase was primarily due to the 58.0% year-on-year increase in hospital business revenue. Revenue from the healthcare services segment and the medical devices segment accounted for 51.0% and 47.4% of the Group's revenue, respectively. In addition, the newly-established cells and tissues storage and genetic testing services businesses grew rapidly and contributed maiden revenue to the Group, becoming a new growth area in the healthcare services segment.

The adjusted loss attributable to equity shareholders of the Company was HK$95,291,000, a substantial decrease of 66.8% year-on-year; the adjusted basic loss per share was 3.27 HK cents, decreased by 66.3% year-on-year. Such improvement was mainly attributable to the improved operating performances and the significant decrease in finance costs.

Mr. Kam Yuen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Group, said, "With the implementation of the 'Healthy China' strategy as well as the in-depth healthcare reforms, the Chinese government continues to invest heavily in the health industry and encourages private capital to provide diversified services, creating the window of opportunities for the Group. Notably, the current uncertain economic outlook in China and across the globe might affect all industries to certain extent. While the Group follows closely to the China's healthcare policy and seizes market opportunities, it cautiously reviews new investment projects, so as to steadily improve the Group's business performance."

Continuing Operations

Healthcare Services Segment

During the Reporting Period, healthcare services revenue increased significantly by 67.1% year-on-year to HK$83,599,000, accounting for 51.0% of the Group's revenue. Revenue generated from hospital business, cells and tissues storage and genetic testing services businesses and medical insurance administration business were HK$75,612,000, HK$5,324,000 and HK$2,663,000, accounting for 90.4%, 6.4% and 3.2% of healthcare services revenue, respectively.

Hospital Business. Leveraging on its renowned international hospital brand, Shanghai East International Medical Center ("SEIMC") provides premium healthcare services in Shanghai and the surrounding neighbourhoods. In order to meet future demands of high-end healthcare services market, SEIMC is actively seeking to expand its business scale. Beijing Sunbow Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital provides international standard obstetrics, gynecology and pediatric medical services and other ancillary services such as Chinese medicines and postnatal health care center. Beijing Qinghe Hospital leased out several floors of its space and medical equipment to Peking University People's Hospital since June 2017, bringing a stable income stream to the Group.

Cells and Tissues Storage and Genetic Testing Services Businesses. Our newly-established businesses achieved rapid growth, becoming a new growth area in the healthcare services segment. Cells and tissues storage business is engaged in the cells and tissues collection, processing and storage services as well as their clinical applications. Its vision is to promote improvement in human health, such as cancer preventions and treatments, general wellbeing and anti-ageing. Genetic testing services business is engaged in the provision of high-end clinical molecular genetic testing and molecular pathology testing services.

Medical Insurance Administration Business. The Group was the first third-party administrator who assisted the government's healthcare insurance agencies in carrying out off-site real-time review process and bill settlement. Leveraging on its comprehensive domestic and international background in the healthcare sector as well as its extensive network of medical institutions, the Group is well positioned to become a leading player in the medical insurance administration sector.

Medical Devices Segment

Medical devices revenue increased by 19.3% year-on-year to HK$77,760,000, accounting for 47.4% of the Group's revenue. The medical devices segment continued to improve thanks to the increased selling price in medical device consumables as well as the Group's business focus on distribution of third parties medical equipment and consumables.

Strategic Investments

Precision Medicine Business. Golden Meditech Javadi Precision Medicine Limited ("GM Javadi"), a 40.0% joint venture of the Group, owns a renowned and brand-new day clinic in the United States of America ("U.S.") that focuses on the combined treatment of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy for various cancers. It is believed that GM Javadi would bring considerable benefits to the Group in the future.

Cell Therapy Business. Cellenkos Inc. ("Cellenkos"), a 17.4% associate of the Group, aims to develop cord blood derived T-regulatory cellular therapies in treating autoimmune diseases, and owns a stand-alone manufacturing facility in Houston that meets good manufacturing practice ("GMP") standards. Presently, Cellenkos' lead product, CK0801, is in phase I clinical trial in the U.S. and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for investigational new drug ("IND") applications for treatment on diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and bone marrow failure syndrome.

Other Investments.

Life Corporation Limited ("LFC"), a 50.23% associate of the Group, and its wholly-owned subsidiary are currently developing an automated columbarium in Singapore. The construction of the automated columbarium is expected to be completed in late 2019. The management believes that once LFC's automated columbarium business commences, it will bring better returns to the Group and its shareholders.

ASA Asset Management Co., Ltd. ("ASA"), a 50.0% joint venture of the Group, is principally engaged in the provision of real estate asset management, investment consultancy and property arrangement services (including trust agreement and financial instrument services) and owns permits in wealth management. ASA invests in Japanese properties and manages offices, residences, commercial facilities as well as healthcare premises.

Discontinued Operation

The Group completed the disposal of cord blood storage business in January 2018. During the Reporting Period, the Group no longer reports the operating results of cord blood storage business in the consolidated income statement.

Other Developments

In July 2018, the Group terminated the acquisition of 16.14% interest in Nanjing Ying Peng Hui Kang Medical Industry Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership)* due to the acquisition conditions not satisfied. The Group has since received the deposit together with the accrued interest.

In November 2016, GM Investment Company Limited ("GM Investment"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a conditional settlement agreement with Sanpower Group Limited* ("Sanpower"). Pursuant to the agreement, Sanpower agreed to pay GM Investment US$300,000,000 (equivalent to approximately HK$2,340,000,000) by five instalments within 36 months. However, it was drawn to the management attention that Sanpower was facing credit crunch during the year, but received unanimous support from creditors to resolve its current difficulties. Therefore, for prudence, the management decided to set aside a non-cash provision of HK$92,882,000(1) against outstanding receivables due from Sanpower. Such provision will not have any adverse impact on the ongoing operations of the Group.

Outlook

Looking ahead, Mr. Kam commented, "The Group will focus on business diversification strategies. Banking on our core healthcare services segment, we will steadily grow hospital business, and vigorously promote cells and tissues storage, genetic testing services, precision medicine as well as cell therapy businesses. Work on expanding and developing medical insurance administration business and medical devices segment continues. We will proactively respond to all challenges in uncertain economic environments and at the same time closely follow the China healthcare policies and explore worldwide market opportunities, with a view to creating value for the Group and our shareholders."

* The English name is for identification purpose only.

About Golden Meditech Holdings Limited (SEHK stock code: 00801)

Golden Meditech (www.goldenmeditech.com) is a leading integrated-healthcare enterprise in China. It is a first-mover in China, having established its dominant positions in several markets including the medical devices market and the hospital market in the healthcare industry, thanks to its strengths in innovation and market expertise and the ability to capture emerging market opportunities. Going forward, Golden Meditech will continue to pursue a leading position in China's healthcare industry both through organic growth and strategic expansion.

SEGMENT RESULTS

Information regarding the Group's reportable segments for the periods ended 30 September 2018 and 2017 is set out below:

(HK$'000) Medical Devices Hospital Business Medical Insurance

Administration Chinese Herbal

Medicines Cells and Tissues Storage and Genetic Testing Services Total 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 2018 2017 Revenue from External Customers 77,760 46,938 75,612 47,865 2,663 2,163 2,554 1,852 5,324 -- 163,913 98,818 Inter-segment Revenue -- 18,251 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 18,251 Reportable Segment Revenue 77,760 65,189 75,612 47,865 2,663 2,163 2,554 1,852 5,324 -- 163,913 117,069 Reportable Segment Profit/(Loss) 6,483 (3,537) (49,787) (81,773) (12,978) (12,244) (13,629) (12,700) (2,813) (3,134) (72,724) (113,388) Interest Income from Other Receivables

42,356 57,758 Interest Income from Loan to an Associate

654 -- Interest income from Loans to Joint Ventures

2,530 1,416 Unallocated Head Office and Corporate Expenses

(38,793) (45,942) Adjusted Loss from Operations(3)

(65,977) (100,156)

SOURCE Golden Meditech Holdings Limited

Related Links

http://www.goldenmeditech.com


PRINCETON, N.J., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Guerbet LLC USA, the U.S. affiliate of the global specialist in contrast media products and comprehensive end-to-end solutions for medical imaging, will highlight new and next-level product offerings and partnerships in contrast media, injectors, disposables, digital solutions, and services at the 2018 annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) in Chicago, Illinois.

At Guerbet's booth 2558, interactive workstations will provide live demonstrations of novel clinical tools for diagnostic and interventional imaging, including:

Contrast & Care, a next-level contrast media injection management solution that enables imaging centers to collect, archive, examine and share data directly with Guerbet's injectors to help radiologists with patient care, and;

Imalogix, a new self-learning neural network that enables organizations to understand and benchmark best practices from the mass learnings in real time, across a network of providers to drive continuous improvement.

Guerbet will also highlight additional key milestones achieved this year, including:

Product launches:

SeQure and DraKon, two novel microcatheters for tumor and vascular aneurysm embolization procedures



L-F Hydra Vision Digital Imaging System, a real-time digital X-ray imaging device in urological imaging





Partnership:

Joined forces with the Association for Medical Imaging Management (AHRA) "Defining Our Future" campaign, an initiative to support the education, development, and empowerment of new and future medical imaging professionals.

Guerbet's macrocyclic ionic contrast agent Dotarem (gadoterate meglumine) remains the first and only macrocyclic & ionic GBCA molecule approved by the FDA, recently surpassing its 85 millionth dose worldwide. Celebrating the five-year anniversary of Dotarem's U.S. launch in March 2013 (and its first pediatric and adult injections in July and September 2013 respectively), all on the heels of Dotarem's "under age 2" pediatric approval last September, Guerbet continues to grow its success story and make positive impacts in the field.

Guerbet also proudly celebrates the granting of the Guerbet/RSNA Research Scholar Grant, by the RSNA Research & Education Foundation to Avener Meoded, MD, of Johns Hopkins University. The $150,000 two-year grant will help fund Dr. Meoded's research using a comprehensive "omics" approach in the study of brain neuroplasticity in pediatric arterial ischemic stroke.

"Guerbet is proud to support a grantee seeking to make advances in pediatric brain neuroplasticity and enhance medical research," said Massimo Carrara, Guerbet Vice President for North America. "It is an area in which we look forward to expanding as we continue to grow."

To learn more, visit Guerbet at RSNA booth 2558, or www.guerbet-us.com/rsna2018 .

About Guerbet



Guerbet is a pioneer in the contrast-agent field, with more than 90 years' experience, and is a leader in medical imaging worldwide. It offers a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical products, medical devices and services for diagnostic and interventional imaging, to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients. With 8% of revenue dedicated to R&D and more than 200 employees distributed amongst its four centers in France, Israel and the United States, Guerbet is a substantial investor in research and innovation. Guerbet (GBT) is listed on Euronext Paris (segment B  mid caps) and generated 807 million in revenue in 2017. For more information about Guerbet, please visit www.guerbet.com

Important Safety Information for Dotarem (gadoterate meglumine)

WARNING: NEPHROGENIC SYSTEMIC FIBROSIS (NSF) Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) increase the risk for NSF among patients with impaired elimination of the drugs. Avoid use of GBCAs in these patients unless the diagnostic information is essential and not available with non-contrasted MRI or other modalities. NSF may result in fatal or debilitating fibrosis affecting the skin, muscle and internal organs. The risk for NSF appears highest among patients with:

Chronic, severe kidney disease (GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m 2 ), or



Acute kidney injury.

Screen patients for acute kidney injury and other conditions that may reduce renal function. For patients at risk for chronically reduced renal function (e.g. age > 60 years, hypertension, diabetes), estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) through laboratory testing.

For patients at highest risk for NSF, do not exceed the recommended DOTAREM dose and allow a sufficient period of time for elimination of the drug from the body prior to any re-administration.

Indications and Usage

DOTAREM (gadoterate meglumine) injection is a prescription gadolinium-based contrast agent indicated for intravenous use with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in brain (intracranial), spine and associated tissues in adult and pediatric patients (including term neonates) to detect and visualize areas with disruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB) and/or abnormal vascularity.

Contraindications

History of clinically important hypersensitivity reactions to DOTAREM.

Warnings and Precautions

Hypersensitivity Reactions: Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions have been reported with DOTAREM, involving cardiovascular, respiratory, and/or cutaneous manifestations. Some patients experienced circulatory collapse and died. In most cases, initial symptoms occurred within minutes of DOTAREM administration and resolved with prompt emergency treatment.

Before DOTAREM administration, assess all patients for any history of a reaction to contrast media, bronchial asthma and/or allergic disorders. These patients may have an increased risk for a hypersensitivity reaction to DOTAREM.

Administer DOTAREM only in situations where trained personnel and therapies are promptly available for the treatment of hypersensitivity reactions, including personnel trained in resuscitation.

Gadolinium Retention: Gadolinium is retained for months or years in several organs. The highest concentrations have been identified in the bone, followed by brain, skin, kidney, liver and spleen. The duration of retention also varies by tissue, and is longest in bone. Linear GBCAs cause more retention than macrocyclic GBCAs.

Consequences of gadolinium retention in the brain have not been established. Adverse events involving multiple organ systems have been reported in patients with normal renal function without an established causal link to gadolinium retention.

Acute Kidney Injury: In patients with chronically reduced renal function, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis has occurred with the use of GBCAs. The risk of acute kidney injury may increase with increasing dose of the contrast agent; administer the lowest dose necessary for adequate imaging.

Extravasation and Injection Site Reactions: Ensure catheter and venous patency before the injection of DOTAREM. Extravasation into tissues during DOTAREM administration may result in tissue irritation.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions associated with DOTAREM in clinical trials were nausea, headache, injection site pain, injection site coldness and rash.

Serious adverse reactions in the Postmarketing experience have been reported with DOTAREM. These serious adverse reactions include but are not limited to: arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, pharyngeal edema, laryngospasm, bronchospasm, coma and convulsion.

Use in Specific Populations

Pregnancy: GBCAs cross the human placenta and result in fetal exposure and gadolinium retention. Use only if imaging is essential during pregnancy and cannot be delayed.

GBCAs cross the human placenta and result in fetal exposure and gadolinium retention. Use only if imaging is essential during pregnancy and cannot be delayed. Lactation: There are no data on the presence of gadoterate in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, published lactation data on other GBCAs indicate that 0.01 to 0.04% of the maternal gadolinium dose is present in breast milk.

There are no data on the presence of gadoterate in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. However, published lactation data on other GBCAs indicate that 0.01 to 0.04% of the maternal gadolinium dose is present in breast milk. Pediatric Use: The safety and efficacy of DOTAREM at a single dose of 0.1 mmol/kg has been established in pediatric patients from birth (term neonates  37 weeks gestational age) to 17 years of age based on clinical data. The safety of DOTAREM has not been established in preterm neonates. No cases of NSF associated with DOTAREM or any other GBCA have been identified in pediatric patients age 6 years and younger.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

SOURCE Guerbet LLC USA

Related Links

http://www.guerbet.com


LOS ALTOS, Calif., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HeartVista, a pioneer in AI-driven autonomous MRI solutions, announced today its AI-driven, One-Click Autonomous MRI acquisition software for cardiac exams. Integrated with existing MRI scanners, the software uses Artificial Intelligence to guide image acquisition.

With a single click, MRI technologists can perform a cardiac ischemia exam in less than 15 minutes using HeartVista's AI-driven software, compared to the traditional 90-minute session.

HeartVista's software automatically prescribes the standard cardiac views in as little as 10 seconds while the patient breathes freely. A unique artifact detection algorithm is incorporated in HeartVista's autonomous protocol to detect when the image quality is below the acceptable range, prompting the operator to reacquire the questioned images if desired. An accelerated non-Cartesian 4D flow sequence is acquired in minutes, leaving enough time for the necessary calibrations prior to the myocardial delayed-enhancement acquisition. The smart in-line cardiac analysis package provides preliminary measurements of left ventricular function.

"We are thrilled to introduce the first autonomous MRI solution that incorporates years of innovation and collaboration with world-class clinicians, technologists and researchers across major institutions", said William Overall, Founder and CTO of HeartVista. "Magnetic Resonance Imaging offers one of the richest diagnostic imaging techniques today and our mission is to enable fast, efficient and simple MRI exams so patients, providers, and radiologists can all benefit."

With HeartVista's AI-driven solution, barriers for wider adoption of cardiac MRI exams may be lowered. Patients may benefit from fewer breath holds and reduced discomfort, while increasing access to imaging for patients with arrhythmia, intolerance to long exams, and other health constraints. Technologists benefit from the reduced complexity of exams, while clinicians can remotely monitor and guide the exams in real time and review scans acquired with consistency and confidence.

"We are excited to be one of the early adopters of HeartVista's groundbreaking autonomous MRI solution." said Graham Wright, PhD, Director of the Schulich Heart Research Program at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center in Toronto. "The HeartVista Autonomous MRI solution will allow us to accelerate our design and development of streamlined cardiac MRI exams and innovative minimally invasive cardiovascular therapies."

HeartVista is introducing One Click Autonomous MRI at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting in Chicago, November 25 to November 30, 2018, North Hall Machine Learning Showcase, Booth #7971. HeartVista is also presenting with its partners SIEMENS and NVIDIA at booths #7367U and #6568 respectively, at North Hall Machine Learning Showcase.

Device availability for certain features pending FDA 510(k) premarket clearance.

About HeartVista Inc.

HeartVista, a pioneer in AI-driven autonomous MRI solutions. HeartVista's goal is to significantly increase the efficiency and reliability of medical imaging for all healthcare stakeholders through artificial intelligence. Its innovative MRI technology originated in Stanford University's Magnetic Resonance Systems Research Laboratory (MRSRL). The company is funded by Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and by Khosla Ventures.

For more information, visit www.heartvista.com

Media Contact:

Lily Hu

[email protected]

(650) 800-7937

SOURCE HeartVista
Watch live-streaming of Hyundai's LA Auto Show press conference here on November 28th from 3:55 to 4:20 p.m.(Californian time): https://www.facebook.com/Hyundaiworldwide/.

The automaker will soon follow up the launch with a variety of digital contents featuring BTS as part of Hyundai Palisade 'Always Remarkable' global campaign and present them at their brand new social media account, @Hyundai.Lifestyle, through Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

The forthcoming Palisade SUV will convey a bold exterior that commands attention and has strong inherent image of safety and security, especially important with parents with growing families and active lifestyles. Palisade's styling will offer dignity with style in an understated theme that demonstrates clear differentiation worthy of a flagship SUV.

About Hyundai Motor

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is committed to becoming a lifetime partner in automobiles and beyond with its range of world-class vehicles and mobility services offered available in more than 200 countries. Employing more than 110,000 employees worldwide, Hyundai sold more than 4.5 million vehicles globally. Hyundai Motor continues to enhance its product line-up with vehicles that are helping to build solutions for a more sustainable future, such as NEXO  the world's first dedicated hydrogen-powered SUV.

More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:

http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://globalpr.hyundai.com

SOURCE Hyundai Motor Company
InsureMyTrip is the only comparison site with a recommendation engine backed by machine learning technology, to help guide travelers to the right plan.

Most experienced licensed travel insurance experts in the industry.

All recommendations are unbiased.

Only comparison site to offer award-winning Anytime Advocates claims assistance.

Only comparison site listed as a helpful resource by the US Consumer Action Handbook.

About InsureMyTrip



It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise.

About ITIJ Awards

The ITIJ Industry Awards recognize and reward excellence and innovation in the travel and health insurance sector and all of the related industries that provide their specialist services to insurers. Insurance companies, assistance firms, air ambulance operators, ancillary service providers, specialist technical businesses and cost containment companies all provide unique skills to their clients, and the ITIJ Industry Awards honor those companies that have gone above and beyond their remit to demonstrate their commitment to excellence over the past 12 months.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE InsureMyTrip

Related Links

http://www.insuremytrip.com


Dickey's is a fast-casual barbecue restaurant featuring a variety of slow-smoked meats accompanied with savory, wholesome sides. Dickey's looks forward to introducing the New Waverly to Legit. Texas. Barbecue.

"We look forward to bringing Dickey's authentic, Texas-style barbecue to the residents of the New Waverly community," says Mahendi.

Find your nearest Dickey's Barbecue Pit location here. Learn more about franchising opportunities here.

Follow Dickey's on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the nation's largest barbecue chain was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. For the past 77 years, Dickey's Barbecue Pit locations across the nation have served guests Legit. Texas. Barbecue. At Dickey's, all meats are smoked low and slow on-site, every night in every location. The Dallas-based family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and wholesome sides with 'No B.S. (Bad Stuff)' included. The fast-casual concept has expanded worldwide and includes more than 500 locations in 44 states. In 2016, Dickey's won first place on Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" list and in 2018 Dickey's Barbecue Pit made the Top 10. Dickey's Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, Franchise Times and Nation's Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

Media Contact:

Callie Head

[email protected]

Ashley Richardson

[email protected]

SOURCE Dickey's Barbecue

Related Links

http://www.dickeys.com


ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) received a contract for phase II of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block II Infrared Search and Track (IRST) program for the U.S. Navy, awarded by aircraft prime contractor Boeing.

Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will complete development, platform integration, flight test, and qualification of the IRST21 Block II sensor system. These efforts will further enhance IRST21's proven detection, tracking and ranging capabilities in radar-denied environments.

"We are continuing a long legacy of delivering unmatched sensor technologies to our customers around the globe," said Michael Williamson, vice president of Sensors & Global Sustainment at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "The IRST21 sensor system provides U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F operators with superior detection and survivability capabilities."

The IRST21 sensor system uses state of the art infrared search and track technology to passively detect and track airborne threats in radar-denied environments. Contributing to both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, IRST21 will deliver a critical warfighting capability to meet any threat and directly support U.S. Combatant Commanders' operational demands. Currently, IRST21 is mounted in the nose of the F/A-18E/F's centerline fuel tank and in Legion Pod for other fighter and on-fighter platforms.

Lockheed Martin's IRST sensor system is in full rate production and has logged more than 300,000 flight hours on the U.S. Navy's F-14 and F/A-18E/F, international F-15 platforms, and the U.S. Air Force's F-15C and F-16.

For additional information, visit our website: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/IRST21

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. This year the company received three Edison Awards for ground-breaking innovations in autonomy, satellite technology and directed energy.

Distribution Statement: NAVAIR Public Release SPR 2018-940 Distribution Statement A -Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com






Pakistan's Prime Minister is on a mission. In his first address to the nation after securing victory in the general elections, Imran Khan placed poverty alleviation among his government's top agendas. During the same speech, he expressed his willingness to learn from China's experience in this domain.



Subsequently, on the conclusion of his visit to China after taking office, he announced that his national poverty reduction plan was in its final stages. It is pertinent, therefore, to look at China's success in poverty relief and understand how Pakistan can follow suit.

The three decades following the launch of Deng Xiaoping's opening up policy saw the most significant leaps in Chinese people's economic conditions. A focused reform process and a dedicated program were the main reasons why China was able to raise millions of people above the poverty line.

The organization formed exclusively for this purpose is the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development. The office has representation at the grassroots level and is tasked to implement the central government's arrangements according to local circumstances. Few other countries have government departments whose sole objective is poverty alleviation.

The government made the process effective by creating a database of households and targeting the poorest first. Additional resources were allocated to them and agricultural reforms were implemented to improve their net income. As a result, the bottom 40 percent of the population gained the most. Their consumption growth, in some instances, was even higher than the national average.

Then there was a huge investment in human capital. While improving educational facilities added to the skill level of the labor force, health reforms improved their quality, consequently contributing to the national development.

Another innovative measure was the buildup of tourism across the country. Visitors' facilities at localities of natural and historical value were improved and promotional campaigns turned these areas into small hubs of commercial activity.

E-commerce is a major way in which people conduct business in China. In recent times, it has been used to reform rural economies. In many counties, people sell indigenous products through the internet which has substantially improved their customer base and created much higher returns on their investment.

China's plan to tackle its poverty problem through education, relocation, industry, ecological compensation and social security warrants a comprehensive study of each segment if countries like Pakistan intend to take advantage of it.

The strategy to address poverty head-on has produced tangible results. If the figures quoted by World Bank President Jim Yong Kim are to be considered impartial, more than 800 million people countrywide have been able to break the shackles of poverty. China has also been the first developing nation to achieve its poverty reduction target set under the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.

In the past five years alone, more than 68 million people have escaped poverty. According to this year's government work report, the poverty ratio in the same period dropped from 10.2 to 3.1 percent and 8.3 million people were relocated from inhospitable areas.





What China has achieved in this regard is just the beginning. Almost 270 counties are expected to be taken off the poverty list this year, 330 next year and 70 the year after.

It also does not mean that authorities are only concerned with the numbers. The strict mechanism established to evaluate if a county or a village qualifies for being struck off the list ensures that the relief work takes priority over the schedule. This is carried out through systems like inter-provincial cross-examination and third-party assessments.

The poverty relief program expected to be launched in Pakistan is the first of its kind. The government, under pressure right at the onset of its tenure to present tangible intents, has termed the program the most important component of its first 100-days package.

As per the plans revealed by Prime Minister Khan, relevant state organs are being placed under one umbrella to achieve poverty elimination objectives. The China inspired poverty alleviation drive, along with investment in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), holds enormous potential in addressing the country's fiscal troubles. As skill and labor productivity will improve, the increased connectivity will provide unprivileged people with new opportunities.

The path towards a better distribution of wealth is not an easy one. Many countries have tried different methods to achieve it. Unlike the colonial legacy of some Western countries that relied on the resources of disadvantaged nations, China is concentrated on its own human development to rise above its economic challenges. This is exactly why medium income countries like Pakistan are looking up to China to tackle similar issues of their own.

Daniel Hyatt is a Pakistan-based freelance journalist and commentator.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Designing and improving lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is crucial for extending the limits of modern electronic devices and electric vehicles because Li-ion batteries are virtually ubiquitous. Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), led by Prof. Taro Hitosugi, had previously reported a new type of all-solid-state battery , also based on lithium ions, which overcame one of the major problems of those batteries: high resistance at the interface between the electrodes and the electrolytes that limits fast charging/discharging.

Although the devices they produced were very promising and were much better than conventional Li-ion batteries in some regards, the mechanism behind the reduced interface resistance was unclear. It has been difficult to analyze the buried interfaces in all-solid-state batteries without damaging their layers. Therefore, Hitosugi and his team of researchers again investigated all-solid-state batteries to shed light on this topic. They suspected that crystallinity (which indicates how well-ordered and periodic a solid is) at the electrode-electrolyte interface played a key role in defining interface resistance.

To prove this, they fabricated two different all-solid-state batteries composed of electrode and electrolyte layers using a pulsed laser deposition technique. One of these batteries had presumably high crystallinity at the electrode-electrolyte interface, whereas the other one did not. Confirming this was possible by using a novel technique called X-ray crystal truncation-rod scattering analysis. "X-rays can reach the buried interfaces without destroying the structures," explains Hitosugi.

Based on their results, the team concluded that a highly crystalline electrode-electrolyte interface resulted in low interface resistance, yielding a high-performance battery. By analyzing the microscopic structure of the interfaces of their batteries, they proposed a plausible explanation for the increased resistance of batteries with less crystalline interfaces. Lithium ions are stuck at the less crystalline interfaces, hindering ion conductivity. "Controlled fabrication of the electrolyte/electrode interface is crucial to obtain low interface resistance," explains Hitosugi. The development of theories and simulations to further understand the migration of Li ions will be crucial for finally achieving useful and improved batteries for all kinds of devices based on electrochemistry.

This work is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Susumu Shiraki at Nippon Institute of Technology and Senior Researcher Tetsuroh Shirasawa at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.

Reference

Authors: Susumu Shiraki1,2, Tetsuroh Shirasawa3,4, Tohru Suzuki2, Hideyuki Kawasoko2, Ryota Shimizu4,5, and Taro Hitosugi*,2,5 Title of original paper: Atomically Well-Ordered Structure at Solid Electrolyte and Electrode Interface Reduces the Interfacial Resistance Journal: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b08926 Affiliations: 1Department of Applied Chemistry, Nippon Institute of Technology 2Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University 3National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) 4JST, PRESTO 5School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology

About Tokyo Institute of Technology

Tokyo Tech stands at the forefront of research and higher education as the leading university for science and technology in Japan. Tokyo Tech researchers excel in fields ranging from materials science to biology, computer science, and physics. Founded in 1881, Tokyo Tech hosts over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year, who develop into scientific leaders and some of the most sought-after engineers in industry. Embodying the Japanese philosophy of "monotsukuri," meaning "technical ingenuity and innovation," the Tokyo Tech community strives to contribute to society through high-impact research.

www.titech.ac.jp/english/

About Nippon Institute of Technology

Nippon Institute of Technology celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. Our mission was, and still is, to raise outstanding engineers who can utilize theoretical concepts of engineering in the frontline of industry. We developed our unique method using "practical engineering", making the best use of what students had learnt in technical high schools.

www.nit.ac.jp/english

About National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), one of the largest public research institutes in Japan, focuses on the creation and practical realization of technologies useful to Japanese industry and society, and on "bridging" the gap between innovative technological seeds and commercialization.

For this, AIST is organized into 5 departments and 2 centers that bring together core technologies to exert its comprehensive strength.

www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html

About Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

JST is an organization that leads Japan's science and technology (S&T) development as an innovation navigator. We aim to contribute to the lives of people and the achievement of a sustainable society by promoting S&T for the purpose of opening up opportunities in innovation. Since its foundation, JST's many outstanding achievements accomplished in collaboration with the government, universities, the industrial sector and public have been earned global recognition.

www.jst.go.jp/EN/index.html

SOURCE Tokyo Institute of Technology

Related Links

http://www.titech.ac.jp/english


AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Media and consumers are invited to watch a live webcast of the Jeep brand press conference from the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. For those who are unable to view the live program, an on-demand replay will be available at the same link immediately following the live events.

After the live webcast, consumers can tune in to the Jeep brand Facebook page for a closer look at the newest vehicle from Jeep with Head of Jeep Design Mark Allen. Immediately following the Jeep Facebook broadcast, the Jeep brand Twitter handle will host a live Q&A with Jeep Engineer John Mrozowski. And, after the Twitter Q&A, the Jeep Instagram channel will post additional exclusive looks of the new vehicle.

Jeep Press Conference

Wednesday, November 28, 9:55 a.m. (PST)

YouTube: http://bit.ly/JeepReveal

Press Conference Location

2018 Los Angeles Auto Show

North Plaza - Los Angeles Convention Center

1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, California 90015

Media and consumers can also watch the live reveal at the following Jeep brand sites:

About Jeep Brand

Built on more than 75 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left and right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options.

Follow Jeep and FCA US news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.fcanorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.fcanorthamerica.com

Jeep brand: www.jeep.com

Jeep blog: blog.jeep.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep or https://www.facebook.com/FiatChrysler.NorthAmerica/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeep or www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep or www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA

YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or www.youtube.com/fcanorthamerica

SOURCE FCA US LLC

Related Links

http://www.fcanorthamerica.com


RAMAT GAN, Israel, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Merchavia Holdings and Investments (TASE: MRHL), an Israeli investment company specializing in early-stage life science sector companies, announces that it has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in an Israeli company developing a medical device that will allow the measured and precise consumption of medical cannabis, according to a pre-defined dosage and without the need of heating. According to the MoU, the company will invest a total of $400,000 in exchange for shares representing about 20% on a fully diluted basis.

This step is part of the implementation of the company's business strategy to invest in breakthrough technologies, with major worldwide potential and in high growth markets. As part of this strategy, and following the company's announcement one month ago, about its intention to begin investing in companies in the Cannabis field, when the deal becomes a binding agreement, Merchavia will invest for the first time in the aforementioned company.

Merchavia CEO Eli Arad: "We are happy to announce the signing of MOU for a first investment in the medical cannabis sector. The company, in which we will now invest, is developing a breakthrough technology, allowing consumption of medical cannabis oil by inhaling a precise dosage without need of heating, evaporation or burning.

"This attribute is of a unique kind and represents a huge advantage in the medical market, in which consumption today is carried out through smoking, evaporation or eating, methods with a number of basic disadvantages. These include a dosage that is not precise and which cannot be controlled, a change in the characteristics of the cannabis and creation of substances during heating or burning, which are absorbed into the body of the patient in addition to the medical materials.

"We intend to continue expanding Merchavia's investments portfolio in this field, with a focus on R&D companies, which in light of reform and regulatory procedures, and scientific and technological developments worldwide, create an exceptional investment opportunity."

According to Merchavia's information, the medical cannabis market is expected to grow to about $55 billion in 2024. Sales of cannabis concentrates on the cannabis market are expected to exceed $3 billion by the end of 2018.

As part of its investment in companies in the medical cannabis sector, Merchavia will realize its capabilities in the sector through life sciences and technology investments and fulfill its investment policy in this field, as well as its international connections with leading enterprises, which are also in the field of medical cannabis with an emphasis on R&D companies. The company is conducting talks with several other companies with R&D activities related to medical cannabis.

https://www.merchavia.com

Contact:

Eli Arad

[email protected]

SOURCE Merchavia Holdings and Investments

Related Links

https://merchavia.com/


NEW YORK, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

M otive Partners will be joining renowned investor group of CC Capital, Cannae Holdings, Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Black Knight, Inc.

Stephen C. Daffron , Co-Founder and Industry Partner of Motive Partners, to become President of Dun & Bradstreet

Motive Partners today announced that it has approved a significant investment in Dun & Bradstreet, a global leader in commercial data, analytics and insights for businesses. Motive Partners will be joining an investment consortium of CC Capital, Cannae Holdings, Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. and Black Knight, Inc., which has announced plans to acquire Dun & Bradstreet. As previously announced by Dun & Bradstreet, the acquisition is expected to close no later than the first quarter of 2019.

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In connection with Motive's investment, Stephen C. Daffron, Co-Founder and Industry Partner of Motive Partners, has agreed to serve as President of Dun & Bradstreet. As previously announced by Dun & Bradstreet, Anthony Jabbour, Black Knight's Chief Executive Officer, has agreed to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Dun & Bradstreet while William P. Foley II, Executive Chairman of Black Knight, will serve as Executive Chairman of Dun & Bradstreet's Board of Directors.

Rob Heyvaert, Founder and Managing Partner of Motive Partners, commented: "Dun & Bradstreet is a high-quality business with a 100+ year history of serving its global customer base. With Steve and Anthony's experience and leadership, and with the support from this highly esteemed investor group, I am excited about Motive's investment and the opportunity to work alongside management to help realize significant value at the company."

Stephen C. Daffron, Co-Founder and Industry Partner at Motive Partners, commented: "I am excited by this unique opportunity to work side-by-side with Anthony in leading Dun & Bradstreet and look forward to working closely with management, Bill and the rest of the investor consortium to help unlock the value within this renowned company. Dun & Bradstreet is entering an important chapter in its evolution as a company and will be well positioned as a private company to increase operating efficiencies and effectively execute the company's growth strategy."

Anthony Jabbour, Chief Executive Officer of Dun & Bradstreet, commented: "Steve has been a fixture in the development and implementation of technology, data, and operational processes in financial services, having served as Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Data and in senior leadership positions at Morgan Stanley, Renaissance Technologies, Goldman Sachs and most recently, as Co-Founder of Motive Partners. I welcome the opportunity to work alongside Steve as we position the company for continued success."

Upon the completion of the transaction, Dun & Bradstreet will become a privately held company, and shares of Dun & Bradstreet common stock will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

About Dun & Bradstreet

Dun & Bradstreet helps companies around the world improve their business performance. The global leader in commercial data and analytics, we glean insight from data to enable our customers to connect with the prospects, suppliers, clients and partners that matter most. Since 1841, companies of every size rely on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity.

About Motive Partners

Motive Partners is a sector specialist investment firm that is focused on technology enabled companies that power the financial services industry. Based in New York and London and comprised of investors, operators and innovators, Motive Partners brings differentiated expertise, connectivity and capabilities to create long-term value in financial technology companies.

More information on Motive Partners can be found at http://www.motivepartners.com.

For more information please contact:

Media Enquiries

Sam Tidswell-Norrish

+44(0)7855-910178

[email protected]

Investor Relations

Brad Yankiver

+1(212)651-0200

[email protected]

SOURCE Motive Partners
VALLEY COTTAGE, New York, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

A recently released global market intelligence outlook on sustained release excipients forecasts the revenue through sustained release excipients to surpass a million dollar value by this year's end, of which just-under 1/3rd share belongs to North America.

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As a growing number of existing international patents are expiring and the prevalence of orthopedic disorders is increasing on the flipside, drug formulations and thereby sustained release excipients are constantly witnessing an impressive manufacturing outlook.

Research identifies the largest revenue shareholding categories in sustained release excipients marketplace on the basis of product type, end user, and route of administration.

Polymer is currently the largest product type category worth US$ 300 Mn , whereas gelatin represents the most opportunistic one.

, whereas gelatin represents the most opportunistic one. While oral route of administration remains highly sought after, injectable is presumed to gradually take over.

Biopharmaceutical companies and CMOs pose fierce competition to pharmaceutical companies - the dominant end user of sustained release excipients.

A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-7580

"The top five players leading the competition in global sustained release excipients landscape account for a collective revenue share of over 50%, whereas a number of relatively small companies represent the rest. A majority of competitors have a limited offering portfolio and significantly depend on product differentiation for an edge in niche treatment areas," explains a senior research analyst. "Product innovation and market expansion have been the top developmental strategies of companies so far, which are now complemented with strategic partnerships," the analyst adds further.

Multi-level Partnerships - The Key to Delivering Top Notch Excipient Formulations

FMI underlines the critical role of strategic collaborations - between formulators of sustained release excipients and stakeholders across the value chain - in shaping growth of brands as well as the entire sustained release excipients ecosystem.

While partnerships are expected to prominently focus on spotting the key challenges facing manufacturers, continued education about functionality, variability, and consistency of sustained release excipients is also be an important objective. Drug product manufacturers working in tandem with formulators of sustained release excipients is helping companies deliver best-in-class solutions addressing the most prominent pull factors associated with sustained release excipients.

Preview Analysis On Sustained Release Excipients Market Segmentation By Product Type - Gelatin based Sustained Release Excipients Polymer based Sustained Release Excipients, minerals based Sustained Release Excipients, Sugars based Sustained Release Excipients, alcohol based Sustained Release Excipients, chitosan based Sustained Release Excipients; Route of Administration - oral, Injectable, Vaginal, and Ophthalmic: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sustained-release-excipients-market

To best grasp real-time market needs, sustained release excipient formulators are most likely to strengthen interaction with end-use customers. This move offers a dual advantage as a developmental strategy - by helping manufacturers precisely understand and address the challenges facing pharmaceutical markets and stimulating development of new excipient formulations that tap into evolving needs.

A recent deal (2017) involving the combination of The Dow Chemical Company-DuPont-FMC (Health & Nutrition) has been a classic example of collaborative operation, involving channel partners as well as customers.

Request Report TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-7580

More from Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Medical devices:

Prefilled Formalin Vials Market Segmentation By Product Type - <10 mL, 10 - 20 mL, 20 - 40 mL, 40 - 60 mL, 60 - 90 mL, 90 - 500 mL, and 500 mL - 1 Litre: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/prefilled-formalin-vials-market

Segmentation By Product Type - <10 mL, 10 - 20 mL, 20 - 40 mL, 40 - 60 mL, 60 - 90 mL, 90 - 500 mL, and 500 mL - 1 Litre: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/prefilled-formalin-vials-market Opioid Withdrawal Management Market Segmented By Drugs - Opioid Agonists, Opioid Antagonists, Antidepressants; By Material of construction; By Application Area, By Distribution Channels: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/opioid-withdrawal-management-market

Segmented By Drugs - Opioid Agonists, Opioid Antagonists, Antidepressants; By Material of construction; By Application Area, By Distribution Channels: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/opioid-withdrawal-management-market Acoustic Puncture Assist Devices Market Segmented By Drug Type; By Route of Administration, By Distribution Channel; End User: Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centres, Specialty Clinics: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/acoustic-puncture-assist-devices-market

About Us

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends.

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SOURCE Future Market Insights
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Premier Health Group Inc. (CSE: PHGI) (OTCQB: PHGRF) (Frankfurt: 6PH) (the "Company" or "Premier Health"), a Company focused on developing innovative approaches that combine human skill based expertise with emerging technologies for the healthcare industry, is pleased to announce an update on its plan to expand the scope of practice within its primary care clinics to include cannabis.

The Company has engaged discussions with Licensed Producers under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulation (ACMPR), other licensed medical cannabis companies and government officials in order to establish a framework for both patient and physician education.

"With over 110,000 active patients in our clinic ecosystem it is important that we provide them with the best possible information that allows them to make informed decisions about their personal and family's health. Providing our family physicians with the appropriate tools and knowledge to prescribe cannabis or with the ability to refer patients to a specialist within our clinics is a key outcome of this initiative," said Dr. Essam Hamza, CEO of Premier.

Furthermore, the Company is actively recruiting additional physicians for its existing clinics and a cannabis focussed physician that is licensed in Canada.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Dr. Essam Hamza, MD"

Chief Executive Officer

About Premier Health

Premier Health is a Canadian company that is strategically poised to take advantage of business opportunities in the global healthcare industry. We are developing innovative healthcare approaches that combine human skill based expertise with emerging technologies, and will set the gold standard for services in locations of interest worldwide. Premier Health's subsidiary, HealthVue is focused on developing proprietary technology to deliver quality healthcare through the combination of connected primary care clinics with telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI). We currently have an ecosystem of over 100,000 active patients and have plans to rapidly increase that number both domestically and internationally. The HealthVue team has a strong track record of successfully creating value in healthcare and technology enterprises. The Management team has deep clinical, financial and operational expertise and a passion for improving healthcare for all patients.

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on Premier Health's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates, including with respect to the implementation of its shareholder communications initiative and the timing thereof. Although Premier Health believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Premier Health undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances, unless otherwise required to do so by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For Additional Information Contact:

Premier Health Group Inc.

Email: [email protected]

+1-604-617-7221



http://www.healthvue.com

SOURCE Premier Health Group Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Global quick service restaurants market is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 4.61% during the period 2018-2022 as the scope and its applications are rising enormously across the globe. Quick service restaurants (QSR) is a restaurant industry that aims to provide food to customers as quickly and on time as possible. There is no table service and the food is cooked in a short space of time. A huge number of quick service restaurants operate using the franchise model. The factors that are playing a major role in the growth of the quick service restaurants market are changing lifestyle, growth in the number of quick service restaurants, growth in new infrastructures like institutes and airports, and rising demand for fast food from consumers in developing countries. However, fluctuation in the cost of raw material and strict government policy against plastic packaging may restrain overall market growth in the years to come. Quick service restaurants market is segmented based on service type, end-user, and region. Home delivery service, eat-in services, drive-thru service, takeaway service, and other service types could be explored in quick service restaurants in the forecast period. The market could be categorized based on end-users like hotels, restaurants, cafes, and others that could be explored in the forecast period. Quick service restaurants market is segmented geographically into Americas (North America, South America), Europe (Eastern Europe, Western Europe), Asia Pacific (India, China, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia), Middle East (UAE, Saudi, and Qatar) and Africa (South Africa). Globally, North America accounted for the significant market share of quick service restaurants and is estimated to lead the overall market in the years to come. The reason behind the overall market growth could be the presence of key manufacturers in the region, the high demand for ready-to-eat meals from consumers, and a rising number of quick service restaurants. The United States and Canada are the major consumers of quick service restaurants in this region. Europe and the Asia Pacific are also estimated to have a positive influence on future growth. Europe is the second largest region with significant market share. However, Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR in the forecast period. The aspects that could be ascribed to the growth comprise growing urbanization, increasing awareness among populace regarding ready-to-eat meal, and developing quick service restaurants in emerging countries like India and China. The key players of the quick service restaurants market are Yum! Brands, Chick-fil-A, The Wendy's Company, Domino's, Subway, Dunkin' Brands Group, Starbucks, McDonald's, and Restaurant Brands International. These players are concentrating on inorganic growth to sustain themselves amidst fierce competition.

Access 142 page research report with TOC on "Quick Service Restaurants Market" available with Radiant Insights, Inc. @ https://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-quick-service-restaurants-market-2018-2022

About SEO Software:

A quick service restaurant serves fast food and has minimal table service. Based on the type of service, the global quick service restaurants market has been segmented into eat-in, take away, drive-thru, and home-delivery service segments.

Covered in this report:

The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global quick service restaurants market for 2018-2022. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.

The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEA



Global Quick Service Restaurants Market 2018-2022, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

Key vendors : Chick-fil-A Domino's Dunkin ' Brands Group McDonald's Restaurant Brands International Starbucks Subway The Wendy's Company Yum! Brands



Market driver : Rise in number of quick service restaurants For a full, detailed list, view our report



Market challenge : Fluctuations in raw material prices For a full, detailed list, view our report



Market trend: Innovation in packaging for takeaway food For a full, detailed list, view our report



Key qu estions answered in this report: What will the market size be in 2022 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space?



Browse reports of similar category available with Radiant Insights, Inc.:

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At Radiant Insights, we work with the aim to reach the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Our representatives strive to understand diverse client requirements and cater to the same with the most innovative and functional solutions.



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Radiant Insights, Inc.

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SOURCE Radiant Insights, Inc.
CHICAGO, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to the new market research "Returnable Packaging Market by Product Type (Pallets, Crates, Intermediate Bulk Containers, Drums & Barrels, Bottles, Dunnage), Material (Plastic, Metal, Wood, Glass, Foam), End-use Industry, Region - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Returnable Packaging Market is projected to grow from USD 37.9 billion in 2018 to USD 51.2 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2018 to 2023.

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Don't miss out on business opportunities in Returnable Packaging Market.

Speak to Our Analyst and gain crucial industry insights that will help your business grow.

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=231944920

Browse in-depth TOC on "Returnable Packaging Market"

78 - Tables

38 - Figures

135 - Pages

View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/returnable-packaging-market-231944920.html

In terms of volume, the Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2018 to 2023.

The Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) segment of the returnable packaging market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, in terms of volume. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the expansion of the commodity trade in emerging economies such as India and Brazil. One of the key advantages offered by IBCs is their excellent strength, high durability, and long lifespan of over 20 years. Cubic shaped IBCs are being increasingly used in various end-use industries as they offer optimum space utilization, thereby enabling the transportation of a large quantity of materials in the same space. Moreover, IBCs are stackable, which enable the packaging of goods in bulk quantities.

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In terms of value and volume, the automotive segment is estimated to lead the returnable packaging market in 2018.

The global automotive industry is characterized by the presence of complex supply chains and networks that require several processes to be integrated to enable the inbound and outbound flow of returnable packaging. Currently, several Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are using returnable packaging to enhance the efficiency of their operations by reducing the lead time required for delivering products back to manufacturers/suppliers. Returnable containers are widely used by automotive manufacturers to transport different parts of automotive components to suppliers of components. The demand for returnable packaging is continuously increasing in the automotive industry due to the pressure of cost reduction exerted on OEMs to handle competition in the market.

In terms of value and volume, the European region is projected to lead the returnable packaging market during the forecast period.

The European region is projected to lead the returnable packaging market, in terms of both, value and volume, from 2018 to 2023. The growth of the Europe returnable packaging market can be attributed to the increased awareness among consumers regarding sustainable packaging and a strong industrial base in the region. The market for returnable packaging in the European region is also supported by improvements in the economy of the region and rise in the domestic demand for packaged food products and beverages. Moreover, the increased awareness among the masses for reducing packaging waste is also expected to drive the market for returnable packaging in the European region.

Brambles (Australia), Schoeller Allibert (Netherlands), Menasha Corporation (US), DS Smith (UK), Myers Industries (US), Nefab Group (Sweden), Rehrig Pacific Company (US), IPL Plastics (Ireland), Schutz GmbH & Co. KGaA (Germany), and Vetropack Holding (Switzerland) are the key players operating in the Returnable Packaging Market. Expansions, investments, divestments, new product developments, and acquisitions are some of the major strategies adopted by these key players to enhance their position in the returnable packaging market.

Browse Adjacent Markets @ Packaging Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Industrial Packaging Market by Pack Type (Drums, Containers, Pails, Sacks, Crates), Material (Metal, Paperboard, Wood, Plastic), Application (Automotive, Food & Beverages, Building & Construction, Chemical), Region - Global Forecast to 2026

Protective Packaging Market by Material (Foam Plastics, Paper & Paperboard), Type (Flexible, Rigid, Foam), Function (Cushioning, Blocking & Bracing, Void Fill), Application (Food & Beverage, Consumer Electronics), Region - Global Forecast to 2022

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"We are pleased that Samsung's AI technologies have been successfully applied to the existing diagnostic imaging devices and have been well received in the market," said Dongsoo Jun, President of Health & Medical Equipment Business at Samsung Electronics and CEO of Samsung Medison. "As a comprehensive diagnostic imaging solution provider, we will continue to strengthen our technologies through collaboration with hospitals and healthcare professionals. We aim to bring together radiologists and AI to fill in the gaps for improved healthcare management."

Samsung showcases several types of AI based diagnostic imaging software:

Ultrasound System -- S-Detect for Breast is AI based software which analyzes breast lesions using ultrasound images, and has been implemented into Samsung's ultrasound systems dedicated to Radiology. It assists in standardizing reports and classification of suspicious breast lesions by incorporating BIRADS ATLAS* (Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System, Atlas)



According to a recently published study[1] by radiology professor Tommaso Bartolotta from the University of Palermo in Italy , S-Detect for Breast has shown to assist various degrees of improvement in the overall diagnosis of breast lesions. When using S-Detect for Breast, the diagnostic accuracy for doctors with experience of four years or less improved from 0.83 to 0.87 (AUC, Area Under Curve). S-Detect for Breast could be a useful tool for supporting and guiding breast diagnosis among non-expert breast imaging physicians (Only shape and orientation descriptors are automatically classified in the United States ).



-- S-Detect for Breast is AI based software which analyzes breast lesions using ultrasound images, and has been implemented into Samsung's ultrasound systems dedicated to Radiology. It assists in standardizing reports and classification of suspicious breast lesions by incorporating BIRADS ATLAS* (Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System, Atlas) According to a recently published study[1] by radiology professor from the University of Palermo in , S-Detect for Breast has shown to assist various degrees of improvement in the overall diagnosis of breast lesions. When using S-Detect for Breast, the diagnostic accuracy for doctors with experience of four years or less improved from 0.83 to 0.87 (AUC, Area Under Curve). S-Detect for Breast could be a useful tool for supporting and guiding breast diagnosis among non-expert breast imaging physicians (Only shape and orientation descriptors are automatically classified in ). Digital Radiography -- By using AI technology, the 'Bone Suppression' function, which reduces the bone signal from the chest x-ray image, clearly brings out the lung tissues obscured by the bones. 'SimGrid' has also been introduced as a solution to ease the workflow to replace grids, while providing excellent image quality with reduced scatter artifacts. According to a recently published study[2], 'SimGrid' provided image quality almost as good as the images taken with a physical grid.



The Auto Lung Nodule Detection (ALND) is a CAD (Computer Aided Detection) solution based on AI technology used in the detection of lung nodules and is 510(k) pending. According to a recent study[3] in press in Journal of Thoracic Imaging, ALND improved the detection sensitivity of lung cancer nodules 3 cm or smaller in chest radiographs by seven percentage points to 92 percent, compared with the average of six chest radiologists.



-- By using AI technology, the 'Bone Suppression' function, which reduces the bone signal from the chest x-ray image, clearly brings out the lung tissues obscured by the bones. 'SimGrid' has also been introduced as a solution to ease the workflow to replace grids, while providing excellent image quality with reduced scatter artifacts. According to a recently published study[2], 'SimGrid' provided image quality almost as good as the images taken with a physical grid. The Auto Lung Nodule Detection (ALND) is a CAD (Computer Aided Detection) solution based on AI technology used in the detection of lung nodules and is 510(k) pending. According to a recent study[3] in press in Journal of Thoracic Imaging, ALND improved the detection sensitivity of lung cancer nodules 3 cm or smaller in chest radiographs by seven percentage points to 92 percent, compared with the average of six chest radiologists. Computed Tomography -- Samsung has introduced the intra-cranial hemorrhage package that combines a mobile stroke unit with a radiological computer aided triage and notification solution based on AI technology.



-- Samsung has introduced the intra-cranial hemorrhage package that combines a mobile stroke unit with a radiological computer aided triage and notification solution based on AI technology. Magnetic Resonance Imaging -- Utilizing AI technology, Samsung is developing a technology to display information such as knee cartilage thickness as well as images of knee arthritis patients. The software is a prototype and not for sale in any region of the world.

At the Samsung booth, attendees will find a separate 'AI zone' that allows visitors to experience Samsung's AI technology more easily. Samsung will also host a symposium that will demonstrate how its image processing technology improves diagnostic accuracy and promote radiation safety for pediatric patients.

Through the release of new diagnostic tools that utilize diverse data based on AI technology, Samsung will continue to support healthcare professionals to improve the diagnostic accuracy.

For more information on Samsung's healthcare business, and products, please visit https://www.samsunghealthcare.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

About Samsung Medison

Samsung Medison is a global leading medical device company, founded in 1985. With a mission to bring health and well-being of people's lives, the company manufactures diagnostic ultrasound systems around the world across various medical fields. In 2011, Samsung Medison became an affiliate company of Samsung Electronics, integrating world's best IT, image processing, semiconductor and communication technologies into medical devices.

[1] Tommaso Vincenzo Bartolotta, et al. Focal breast lesion characterization according to the BI-RADS US lexicon: role of a computer-aided decision-making support. La radiologia medica. 2018 Mar 22 [2] S. Y. Ahn, et al. The Potential Role of Grid-Like Software in Bedside Chest Radiography in Improving Image Quality and Dose Reduction: An Observer Preference Study. Korean J Radiol, 2018; 19(3):526-533 [3] M.J. Cha, et al. Performance of Deep Learning Model in Detecting Operable Lung Cancer with Chest Radiographs. J Thorac Imaging, 2018 In press

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Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, the capital city of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, has received a record 4 million passengers so far this year, local aviation authorities said Monday.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Tibet office, passenger volume at Gonggar Airport, the largest airport in the region, exceeded 2 million in 2013, and 3 million in 2016.

Tibet has seen fast development of its civil aviation industry thanks to the application of new technologies and improved business modes since the country's reform and opening-up four decades ago.

Tibet now has 10 airlines operating a total of 81 routes, enabling convenient connections between Tibet and most of the major cities in China, according to CAAC.

It is estimated that the airport will see 4.3 million passengers by the end of the year.
SANDVIKEN, Sweden, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --Seco Tools, a division within Sandvik Machining Solutions, has reached an agreement to acquire the Chinese company Kunshan Ousike Precision Tools Co., Ltd (OSK), a leading supplier of solid carbide round tools. The acquisition will particularly strengthen the position and product offering to the fast growing Chinese electronics industry.

"The acquisition is aligned with Sandvik Machining Solutions' focus on growing the round tools business. We are already today well positioned in China but OSK will bring us even closer to customers", says Klas Forsstrom, President of Sandvik Machining Solutions.

"I am very happy that we have reached an agreement to acquire OSK and include them in the Seco family. OSK serves customers in the electronics and die and mould industries and this is an important step for Seco to improve its position in the fast growing Chinese market. Our combined expertise will strengthen the product offering to customers", says Lars Bergstrom, President of Seco Tools.

In 2017 OSK had revenues of 120 MSEK and 90 employees.

The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The deal is accretive to earnings per share from the start.

The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2019 and is subject to relevant regulatory approvals.

For further information, contact Ann-Sofie Nordh, Vice President Investor Relations, phone: +46-8-456-14-94 or Martin Blomgren, Press and Media Relations Manager, phone: +46-70-577-0549.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/sandvik/r/sandvik-acquires-chinese-osk,c2682533

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/208/2682533/952129.pdf Sandvik acquires Chinese OSK

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SUGAR LAND, Texas, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Trecora Resources (NYSE: TREC), a leading provider of high purity specialty hydrocarbons and waxes, today announced its upcoming conference schedule:

LD Micro 11th Annual Main Event

Location: Los Angeles

Date and Time: Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at 9:30-10:00 a.m. PT ( 12:30-1:00 p.m. ET )

* Sami Ahmad , CFO, will be available for one-on-one meetings throughout the day.

Location: Date and Time: at ( ) * , CFO, will be available for one-on-one meetings throughout the day. 6th Annual Roth New Industrials Corporate Access Day

Location: New York

Date and Time: Tuesday, December 11, 2018

* Sami Ahmad , CFO, will be available for one-on-one meetings throughout the day.

Investors interested in scheduling a meeting should contact their LD Micro or Roth representative.

There will be an audio-only live webcast for the LD Micro 11th Annual Main Event with replays available for 90 days. The slides that accompany the webcast will be available on the Company's website: www.trecora.com . To listen to the webcast please click on the link below:

LD Micro 11th Annual Main Event

http://wsw.com/webcast/ldmicro15/trec/

About Trecora Resources (TREC)

TREC owns and operates a facility located in southeast Texas, just north of Beaumont, which specializes in high purity hydrocarbons and other petrochemical manufacturing. TREC also owns and operates a leading manufacturer of specialty polyethylene waxes and provider of custom processing services located in the heart of the Petrochemical complex in Pasadena, Texas. In addition, the Company is the original developer and a 33.4% owner of Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co., a Saudi Arabian joint stock company.

Investor Relations Contact:

Jean Marie Young

The Piacente Group, Inc.

212-481-2050

[email protected]

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Among the attendees are Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie, and Senator Elizabeth Dole, who will be delivering remarks on the important role that caregivers play in our communities.

"The long-term resiliency and well-being of the military community requires ever-changing and innovative care solutions across a wide spectrum of providers," said Rene Bardorf, WWP Senior Vice President of Government and Community Affairs, who will moderate a panel at the convening. "That's why we're proud to work alongside the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to develop and support their Military and Veteran Caregiver Experience Map as a tool for action, as well as join them in advocating on behalf of America's military families."

The Military and Veteran Caregiver Experience Map documents major milestones and phases of the military caregiver journey, and measures the impact it has on their physical, psychological, financial, and social wellbeing. By mapping out key points where the right people, organizations, and service providers can step in and support caregivers as they adapt to their new way of life, EDF and WWP can help achieve better outcomes for our veterans and caregivers. WWP is also funding a collaborative partnership between EDF and National Military Family Association (NMFA) to measure the impact of caregiving on military and veteran children.

To learn more about the EDF National Caregiver Convening and how partnerships with organizations like EDF are transforming the way America's injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged at the national and grassroots, visit https://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/highlights?item=31038.

About Wounded Warrior Project

Since 2003, Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) has been meeting the growing needs of warriors, their families, and caregivers  helping them achieve their highest ambition. Learn more: http://newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.

SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project

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Baghdad, Nov 26 : A strong earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the border area between Iraq and Iran and was felt in the capital Baghdad and many Iraqi provinces, a seismic monitor has said.

The earthquake had its epicentre in Qaser Shireen border area in Iran, around 30 km from the Iraqi border town of Khanaqin, the Iraqi Meteorological Organization and Seismology said on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Citing Iran's Fars News Agency, CNN reported that at least 361 people were injured in the quake that struck Iran near the border with Iraq. Sunday's quake in the western part of Iran was about 6 miles (around 10 km) deep, the US Geological Survey said.

Buildings were damaged in various rural areas in SarPol-e zahab and Qasr-e-Shirin, causing walls of some homes to fall, Fars reported.

Panicked residents in some affected areas ran into the streets, Iran's IRNA news reported.

Tremors could be felt as far away as Baghdad. Social media users in the Iraqi capital uploaded videos of furniture moving and chandeliers swinging.

People in Baghdad felt the earthquake which lasted around one minute. It was also felt in several Iraqi provinces, particularly in the eastern province of Diyala, Xinhua reported.

Ali al-Daiyni, head of Diyala's provincial council, confirmed that there were no reports about casualties in the province.

"The earthquake hit all the cities of Diyala Province and was very strong in the eastern cities near the border with Iran, including the the cities of Khanaqin and Qazaniyah."
New York, Nov 26 : Timed for the tenth anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai attack on Monday, the US government has announced a $5 million-bounty covering all the terrorists connected with it.

The reward offered under the State Department's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Programme is for "any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the execution" of the attack that killed 166 people, a Department media note said on Sunday.

This is the third RFJ bounty from the State Department on terrorists involved in the Mumbai attack carried out by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as it casts a wider net beyond its leaders.

In 2012, the Department put a bounty of $10 million on LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and $2 million on his deputy, Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki.

The rewards have not worked so far and Saeed operates openly in Pakistan, leaving the effectiveness of the latest steps open to question.

Under international pressure, the Pakistani Punjab government put him under house arrest in January in 2017 but a review board headed by a Lahore High Court judge ordered his release in November that year.

Saeed has also been declared an international terrorist by the UN Security Council.

Before the Mumbai attack, the US had designated the LeT as a terrorist organisation in 2001 and imposed sanctions on it and the UN Security Council followed suit in 2005.

The RFJ website, which said the "reward offer extends to any individual who bears responsibility for this act of terror", mentioned four persons, who, it said, have been indicted by a US federal court.

They are Sajid Mir, Major Iqbal, Abu Qahafa and Mazhar Iqbal (alias Abu al-Qama).

The RJF website said that Mir was the handler for Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley, who was sent by the LeT on a spying mission to India to prepare for the attacks.

Ten heavily-armed terrorists, sneaked in through the Arabian Sea and attacked multiple locations within a small geographical area, killing 166 persons -- including Indian security personnel and 26 foreign nationals -- and left another 300 injured, besides inflicting huge damage to public and private properties.

Headley, whose original name was Daood Sayed Gilani, is serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his role in the Mumbai attack and in a terrorism conspiracy against a Danish newspaper.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)
Washington, Nov 26 : A major US-Mexico border crossing in San Diego was closed for hours after a group of migrants on the Mexican side rushed the border area, leading American Border Patrol agents to fire tear gas at the group.

About 500 migrants on the Mexican side of the border overwhelmed police blockades near the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Sunday afternoon, authorities in Tijuana told CNN.

As the migrants tried to cross the border, authorities on the US side used tear gas to disperse them.

Video of the scene showed a cloud of tear gas that sent people running and screaming, including families with young children.

US Customs and Border Protection said the migrants threw projectiles that struck several agents.

"Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas to dispel the group because of the risk to agents' safety," the agency tweeted.

The San Ysidro Port of Entry, which closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic for several hours, was reopened later on Sunday.

Mexico's Interior Ministry said federal and local authorities stopped the migrants from crossing the border illegally.

Those identified as having tried to illegally cross will be processed for deportation to their home countries, it added.

By Sunday night, Tijuana police had arrested 39 people, the agency said on Facebook.

The Interior Ministry described Sunday's incident as "acts of provocation" and warned that far from helping the migrants' cause, it could result in a serious incident on the border.

In response to the incident, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said: "The DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down ports of entry for security and public safety reasons.

"We will also seek to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who destroys federal property, endangers our front-line operators, or violates our nation's sovereignty."
Islamabad, Nov 26 : Sikh pilgrims from all over the world on Monday poured into the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Sikhim's founder, Guru Nanak Dev.

Over 3,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims, 148 from the UK, seven from the United Arab Emirates and thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from various parts of Pakistan, especially Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and interior Sindh, arrived at the gurdwara deemed as the third most sacred place of Sikh religion, to perform their rituals which include 'Akhand Path', 'Ashnan', 'Matha Tek' and 'Kirtan', reports Dawn news.

Elaborate security measures were taken in and around the gurdwara where dozens of officials from the security agencies were deployed.

Talking to the media, leader of the Indian pilgrims Marjeet Singh lauded the role of the Pakistani government in opening the Kartarpur corridor.

He said with this, the Pakistani government had won the hearts of millions of Sikhs living on the other side of the border.

The number of pilgrims had also increased compared to last year, he added.

Raminder Singh, leader of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak committee, echoed the sentiments, saying that more corridors between the two countries needed to open.

Sohan Singh, contingent leader from the Bhai Mardana Sikh committee, said every religion taught love, tolerance and respect for humanity.

However, leader of female contingent from India Manmohan Kaur expressed her displeasure over the mismanagement by the railways department as a result of which over 113 pilgrims were left behind at Nankana Sahib also in Punjab province.

Talking to the media, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said mismanagement was due to the negligence of the railway authorities and the pilgrims' displeasure was communicated to the relevant authorities.

The Kartarpur corridor will be formally be inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday while Punjab Governor Mohammad Sarwar would host a reception in honour of the Indian Sikhs in Lahore on Tuesday.

The Indian pilgrims would visit also Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on Monday followed by Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Emanabad and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Wednesday.

The pilgrims are slated to depart for their respective countries on November 30, according to Gondal.
New Delhi : Bhilwada (Rajasthan) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India will never forget the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and their perpetrators and was "waiting for the appropriate time" as law would take its course.

"India will never forget 26/11 attack, and neither forget the perpetrators. We are waiting for the appropriate time...." he said with a pause without elaborating as the crowd cheered him when he was addressing an election meeting here.

"Law will take its course. I want to assure the country," he said.

Slamming Congress for doing politics over the 26/11 terror attacks in 2008, Modi said, "Today is November 26, when there was a Madam rule in Delhi through remote control, when there was Congress government in Maharashtra. There were Congress governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra and 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai... terrorists killed people and security forces of our country."

"It is 10 years of that attack. I can still remember when the terror attacks happened in Mumbai, election campaign was going on in Rajasthan."

Modi said that the Congress leaders then used to accuse the leaders of other parties of doing politics when they condemned the attacks.

"What they (Congress leaders) said then, I still remember. They said it is a war, Pakistan has attacked India. And these people are doing politics. At this time one need to strengthen the hands of the Centre and there should be no politics on the terror attacks. They used to preach this," he said.

The Prime Minister accused the Congress of attempting to use the 26/11 Mumbai attack to win elections in Rajasthan and attacked the party for questioning the 2016 surgical strike carried out by the Indian Armed forces across the border.

"I want to ask them and Congress that 10-years ago such a big terror attack happened, whole world was shocked and Congress was playing a trick to win the elections from that," he said.

"The same Congress at that time used to preach patriotism. And when our country's forces did surgical strike in Pakistan, when they took revenge, showed their valour and gave a befitting reply to the enemies in their home, in such a crucial time, Congress asked for showing the video of the surgical strike," he said.

"Will the armed forces take cameras in their hand during such operations. At that time they did not remember patriotism," he said.

Modi also said that during his four years of rule, terror attacks have been restricted to Jammu and Kashmir.

"Remember those times when terror attacks took place across the country. We have fought against terrorism in such a way that they are unable to move out of Kashmir as they see their death," he said.

The elections for the 200-Assembly seats in Rajasthan are scheduled for December 7. Counting of votes will take place on December 11.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Several prominent writers, intellectuals and artists, including Nayantara Sahgal, K. Satchidanandan, Ganesh Devy and Damodar Mauzo, have expressed solidarity with farmers who will lead a Kisan Mukti March here on November 29-30.

"I am one with the farmers in all their demands. The Indian state has been ungrateful to the point of cruelty to the farmers who feed the people of our country. This cannot go on. The Indian peasant's plight defines the nation's condition and the state needs to do everything to solve their problems.

"Their genuine grievances ought to be addressed by a special session of the country's parliament and concrete solutions should be sought," said Satchidanandan, a noted Indian poet and critic, who writes in Malayalam and English.

The group has come together under the "Artists for Farmers" banner and will join the farmers entering Delhi from four different directions and will congregate at Ramlila Maidan on the night of November 29 and will march to the Parliament for a public meeting on the morning of November 30.

"The farmers from across India are demanding a special 21 day session of the Parliament on the agrarian crisis, and other related issues such as the implementation of the recommendations made in the Report of the National Commission for Farmers, which has been with the Parliament for over 12 years without consideration," the group said in a statement.

Several events have been organised by artistes, including a special cultural evening -- "Ek Shaam Kisano Ke Naam" -- at the Ramlila Maidan on November 30.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday told a Delhi court that it has received requisite sanction from the competent authority to prosecute former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis deal case.

The investigation agency, however, sought more time to get prosecution sanction against other accused in the case.

The special court was hearing the anticipatory bail plea of former Minister and his son, and the matter of taking cognisance of the chargesheet.

The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have opposed the bail plea of the father and son.

Special Judge O.P. Saini, meanwhile, extended the interim protection from arrest of Chidambaram and his son Karti till December 18.

The CBI and the ED are investigating how Karti Chidambaram allegedly managed to get clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in the Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 when his father was the Union Finance Minister.

The ED on October 25 filed a charge-sheet in the case naming Chidambaram and a few others.

The CBI had on July 19 filed a chargesheet against 18 persons in the case, including the former Finance Minister and Karti.

On August 29, 2014, the CBI had filed a charge-sheet in the case alleging that between July 2004 and September 2008, Dayanidhi Maran, as Minister in the UPA-I government, used his influence to help Malaysian businessman T.A. Ananda Krishnan buy Aircel by coercing its owner Sivasankaran to part with his stake.

Sivasankaran alleged that Maran favoured the Krishnan-owned Maxis Group in the takeover of his company. In return, he alleged, Maxis made investments through Astro Network, a sister concern, in Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd (SDTPL), stated to be owned by the Maran family.

However, a special court had dropped charges against Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi and others in the alleged kickback of Rs 742 crore in the Aircel-Maxis deal, saying the "perception or suspicion" was not backed by concrete evidence.
 Flash

Russian forces opened fire on and seized three Ukrainian naval ships in Russia's territorial waters in the Black Sea on Sunday after they violated the Russian border, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said early Monday.





The Ukrainian ships Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu breached the Russian border on Sunday morning and attempted to conduct more illegal actions at around 7 p.m. Moscow time (1600 GMT) defying orders of accompanying vessels of the FSB and Russia's Black Sea Fleet, it said.





Weapons were used to force the three Ukrainian ships to stop and then they have been held in Russia's territorial waters in the Black Sea, the FSB said.





Three wounded Ukrainian servicemen have received medical assistance and their lives are not threatened, it said, adding that a criminal case has been launched over the Ukrainian violation of the Russian border.





Earlier, the Ukrainian Navy said it has informed Russia in advance about the passage of Ukrainian vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait separating the two seas.





Three Ukrainian naval ships entered the temporarily closed waters of the Russian territorial sea circa 7:00 a.m. Moscow time (0400 GMT) and were sailing toward the Kerch Strait, the FSB Border Service in Crimea said in a statement earlier on Sunday.





The vessels aimed to create a conflict situation in the region, it said, adding that the Border Service was taking all measures to stop this "deliberate provocation" and ensure security of navigation and regulation of maritime traffic in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.





The Kerch Strait connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov has been closed to civil ships over security concerns, Russian media reported, citing sources in transport authorities.





Ukraine has accused Russia of "aggressive actions" in the Sea of Azov after Russia inaugurated a bridge over the Kerch Strait earlier this year and started inspecting commercial ships sailing through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.





Moscow rejects such accusations, saying that Crimea is part of Russia, which can exercise its sovereign rights in nearby waters, and the Kerch Strait is not an international passage.





Crimea declared to be part of Russia following a local referendum in March 2014, but Kiev and Western countries rejected the results. Russia-Ukraine relations have been filled with disputes and tensions since then.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Empowered Committee on environment to look into the management of the dung waste of over 4,200 mules used for transporting pilgrims at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

The bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta was told by the respondent, Gauri Maulekhi, that there were over 4,200 mules that carry pilgrims from Katra to Bhawan, a place on the way to the shrine.

The CEC would also examine if the number of mules can be reduced and tamper-proof radio frequency identification attached with them.

Senior counsel Krishnan Venugopal told the court that one mule excretes about 8kg of dung every day that comes to 20 tones per day of all the mules put together, which in the course of a year accumulates to a few thousand tonnes.

Senior counsel Venugopal told the court that about 600-tonne dung is used for a biogas plant and the rest is left scattered or flows into a stream close to the shrine.

While animal rights activist Maulekhi favours a complete withdrawal of the mules, the state government has said it plans to reduce the number of mules from 4,250 to 2,500.

However, the court appeared dissatisfied with the response of the J&K government. The court said its approach appears to be adversarial.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The quality of political discourse in the country has hit a rock bottom and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged his successor Narendra Modi on Monday to exercise "due restrain" in public speech.

Singh was grilled during the launch of Manish Tewari's book "Fables of Fractured Times" to comment on the new pitfalls in the language used by politicians across party lines.

"My advise to the Prime Minister is to exercise due restrain that is becoming of a Prime Minister. When the PM goes to states that are not ruled by the BJP, he has an obligation to not use the language that has now become common practise," he said.

Singh said that he and his Congress-led UPA government never discriminated in the fashion that the Modi dispensation is carrying out on a daily basis.

"We never discriminated against the BJP ruled states. (Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister) Shivraj Singhji would himself testify to this. We paid the respect that was deserving," he said.

He urged Modi to set an example.

"He is the Prime Minister of all Indians. His conduct must be worthy and consistent with the obligation he has as a PM," Singh said at the launch of the book from Konark Publishers.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The Indian government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday signed a $200-million loan agreement for improving Bihar's state highways.

A Finance Ministry release said that under the agreement signed here, ADB would provide the loan to finance the widening and upgrading of about 230 km of state highways in Bihar to all-weather standards with road safety features.

It said this loan will aid the efforts of the Bihar government to upgrade all state highways to meet the minimum two-lane standard with better surfaces and improved road safety, leading to improved connectivity.

"Since 2008, ADB has provided four loans to Bihar, amounting to $1.43 billion, to upgrade about 1,453 km of State Highways and to construct a new bridge over the Ganga river near Patna," it added.
Moscow, Nov 26 : Russia believes that the US plan to withdraw from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) will have grave consequences for the world, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday.

"We are deeply convinced that ... the destruction of one of the key mechanisms of arms control would be radically counterproductive," Ryabkov told a news briefing, adding that Russia was still ready for dialogue with the US, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The crisis of confidence will exceed all limits and complicate even more the prospects of launching any systemic talk on strategic problems and arms race prevention, which would correspond to the interests of Russia, the United States and the world community in general," he said.

In October, US President Donald Trump said that Washington would pull out of the landmark INF Treaty signed by the Soviet Union and the US in 1987 on account of Russia's alleged breach of the agreement, which Moscow had repeatedly denied.

The destruction of the INF may provoke an accelerated dismantling of the whole architecture of arms control and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Much will depend on Washington's next steps, Ryabkov said.

He said that Russia was expecting an answer from the US at the upcoming meeting between the presidents of the two countries on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Argentina.

"As far as the summit is concerned, I think it would be very important to understand and somehow clarify, or get an answer essentially to the main question: What is the US going to do next?" he said.

According to Ryabkov, Russia cannot ignore the potential deployment of new US missiles on territories that present a threat to Russia and its allies.

But if Washington agrees to constructive and concrete dialogue, Moscow will not have to be persuaded, Ryabkov said.

Although Russia believes that the INF treaty is not ideal, it still has value, and Russia was ready to work for its survival, he said.
Istanbul, Nov 26 : Four Turkish military personnel were killed and a fifth one was wounded after a military helicopter went down on Monday over a residential area in Istanbul, officials said.

Images of the crash-site in Sancaktepe, a residential neighbourhood on the Anatolian side of Istanbul, were broadcast on the television channel CNNTArk, Xinhua news agency reported.

"A military helicopter has crashed for unknown reasons. Four soldiers have been killed and one wounded," Ali Yerlikaya, the Governor of Istanbul, said in a statement.

The helicopter was a US-manufactured UH-1 Huey, a veteran two-blade main and tail rotors model single turboshaft engine, the first US military, a turbine-powered helicopter which entered production in 1960 and of which over 16,000 units have been built since.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly, called on Monday, days after the chilli powder attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, was extended by a day as the scheduled business of the House could not be completed.

Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla extended the session till Tuesday after consultation with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators.

On Tuesday, the House will discuss "the situation arising out of alleged illegal deletion of names of lakhs of voters from the voter lists in Delhi."

Two reports -- the Fifth Report of Committee on Privileges on the complaint against Section Officer Wakf Board K.A. Farooqi and the Sixth Report of Committee on Privileges on the complaint against BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma -- will also be presented on Tuesday.

On Monday, the House witnessed a detailed discussion on chilli powder attack on Kejriwal.

It passed a resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring Delhi Police under the control of Delhi government.

The Assembly also passed a resolution "to abolish the National Pension System and reinstate the old system in the interest of lakhs of government servants".
New Delhi, Nov 26 : Senior leaders across the political spectrum, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, remembered the victims of 26/11 attacks in Mumbai on this day 10 years ago and agreed that friendly relations between India and Pakistan is the only way forward.

Unveiling "Fables of Fractured Times", authored by Congress leader Manish Tewari on Monday, Singh, along with former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and former diplomat and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Pavan K. Varma, marked a moment of silence in the memory of victims who lost their lives.

Singh said terror achieves no purpose and emphasised that friendly relations between India and Pakistan is the only way forward.

"Our dear citizens were lost due to acts of grave terror. I can only hope that saner elements will prevail in India and Pakistan," he said.

Singh maintained that terror achieves no purpose and referred to the current state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir as a result of the "strained relationship" between the countries, separated at birth.

He said there is a great churning in international affairs, where changes are taking place at a rate that was "unthinkable" 10 years ago.

In an apparent reference to the terrorists from Pakistan, Abdullah said they will never succeed in dividing this nation "unless we are divided".

"Pakistan is a rogue state. The state is dependent on the Army. But if we are united, nobody is so powerful to divide this country," he said.

Abdullah urged the gathering to trust Muslims and reminded them that they are a part of this land.

"Ram doesn't need my vote nor does Allah... The elections are not being fought on developmental issues," he said.

"Do not mistrust Indian Muslims. We are a part of this land. We have never taken directions from Pakistan. We decided not to participate in the elections because they (BJP) were playing with Article 370 and 35A," he said.

Although seen largely in opposition gatherings, Varma maintained that he is very much a part of JD-U and agreed that friendly relations between the countries is the way forward.

He, however, asked the audience, how it is possible to maintain good relations when the perpetrators of 26/11 roam openly in Pakistan and spew venom on India.

The discussion also touched upon the decline in public discourse and Abdullah targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the language that is unbecoming of a PM.

Singh said that Modi should exercise "due restraint" in his speech and must act in a manner that suits a Prime Minister.

"My advice to the Prime Minister is to exercise due restraint that is becoming of a Prime Minister. When the PM goes to states that are not ruled by the BJP, he has an obligation to not use the language that has now become common practice," he said.

Singh stressed that he and his Congress-led UPA government never discriminated in the fashion the Modi dispensation is doing every day.

"We never discriminated against the BJP-ruled states. (Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister) Shivraj Singhji would himself testify to this. We paid the respect that was deserving," he said.

He urged Modi to set an example.

"He is the Prime Minister of all Indians. His conduct must be worthy and consistent with the obligation he has as a PM," Singh said at the launch of the book from Konark Publishers.
New Delhi, Nov 26 : The Delhi High Court on Monday asked Delhi University to make its stand clear on National Students' Union of India's (NSUI) Sunny Chillar's plea seeking action against Ankiv Baisoya, who had used forged certificates for securing admission into the varsity.

Chillar was the presidential candidate in this year's Delhi University Students Union election, losing to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) Baisoya.

Justice Yogesh Khanna sought DU's response on the plea, observing that there was nothing on record filed by the university after he had reserved his judgement in the matter last week.

The court has posted the matter for further hearing on December 4.

The court is hearing Chillar's plea seeking a fresh DUSU election under an independent election officer or an appropriate authority "of impeccable character and integrity".

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 university expelled Baisoya for submitting fake documents from Thiruvalluvar University at Vellore in Tamil Nadu to secure admission in the university.

On November 15, Baisoya in a Facebook post said he was resigning from his post. The ABVP, too, suspended him.

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 recommendations of the 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.

The ABVP had won the posts of President, Vice President and Joint Secretary in this year's DUSU election.
Ahmedabad, Nov 26 : The Ahmedabad Crime Branch police on Monday arrested here an alleged accomplice of the terrorists who attacked the Akshardham temple in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar in 2002, killing 31 people.

Acting on a tip-off, the police kept a watch at the Ahmedabad airport and arrested Mohammad Farooq Shaikh as soon as he landed from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The police said he had come to meet his family members.

According to the Crime Branch, Farooq Shaikh, among others, organised funds for the terror attack on September 24, 2002, by two Pakistan-based terrorists. As many as 31 visitors to the temple complex were killed and scores of others injured in the indiscriminate firing and grenade blasts.

The assailants were later killed by commandos in a night-long operation to flush out the terrorists hiding in the huge temple.

Farooq Shaikh used to live in the minority-dominated Juhapura locality in Ahmedabad and was roped in by some pro-Pakistani elements to arrange funds for the terror attack to take revenge on the killing of the Muslims in the communal riots in the state in February-March same year.

He was believed to have escaped to the United Arab Emirates soon after the terror attack and this was the first time he was coming to visit his family, the Crime Branch said.
Brussels, Nov 27 : NATO's secretary-general on Monday said Russia had no justification to seize three Ukrainian vessels near the disputed Crimea territory and called for their immediate release.

Jens Stoltenberg added to a chorus of statements from Western institutions and governments urging restraint between Moscow and Kiev after Russian coastguards fired on and seized two naval vessels and a tugboat in the Sea of Azov early Sunday, prompting Ukraine to declare martial law while the Kremlin has claimed it was dangerously provoked, Efe news reported.

"There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel," the Norwegian politician told reporters in Brussels following an extraordinary meeting between the trans-Atlantic alliance and Ukraine's commission. "So we call on Russia to release immediately the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized yesterday."

"And we call for calm and restraint," he added.

NATO has consistently backed Ukraine with regards to the country's ongoing conflict with allegedly Russian-backed rebels in the east as well as against the 2014 Russian annexation of the Crimea.

"Russia's ongoing militarisation of Crimea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, poses further threats to Ukraine's independence. And undermines the stability of the broader region," the NATO chief said.

Early Sunday, two Ukrainian gunboats, "Berdyansk" and "Nikopol", and a tugboat were seized as the made their way from Odessa in the Black Sea towards the port city of Mariupol in the Azov Sea, a journey that skirts the Crimean Peninsula, a territory that Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Moscow said the ships were seized in Russian waters after they tried to pass through the Kerch Strait linking the Black Sea to the Azov Sea.

Moscow recently constructed a bridge over the strait, connecting mainland Russia to the Crimea. At the time of the incident, a Russian cargo ship blocked the passage underneath the $3.69 billion construction Eastern Ukraine has been the theater of a civil war that since 2014 has killed around 10,000 people, according to the UN.
 Flash

The deal that will see Britain ending its membership of the European Union (EU) was approved in Brussels Sunday at a special summit of the European Council.





There was a stark message from Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, to British politicians who have threatened to reject the deal.





He said: "Those who think that by rejecting this deal will have a better deal will be disappointed within seconds the rejection of this deal."





Juncker described Britain's decision to leave the EU as a sad moment and a tragedy, but he added that he did not think Britain would be a third country (non-EU member) like any other third country.





EU Council President Donald Tusk added: "This is the only deal possible."





Leaders of EU member states backed both the 585-page withdrawal agreement setting out the terms of Britain's exit from the bloc, as well as the political declaration detailing what the UK-EU relationship may be like after Brexit.





The first confirmation of the decision in Brussels came in a one-sentence social media message from the President of the EU Council, Donald Tusk. He simply said: "EU27 has endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future of EU-UK declarations."





The stage is set for Britain to end its membership after 45 years on March 29 next year, though the following day an implementation period will start meaning there will be no changes until the end of 2020.





At the Brussels' press conference Tusk said the EU and Britain would remain friends until the end of days, and one day longer.





He added: "Ahead of us is the difficult process of ratification as well as further negotiation."





Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, said at the conference: "Now is the time for everyone to take responsibility."





There was immediate reaction from opponents of the deal, indicating that British Prime Minister Theresa May will struggle to win vital backing for today's deal when the British House of Commons has its say around Dec. 10. That decision could see Britain crashing out of the EU next March with no deal.





Opposition members of parliament, as well as MPs from May's own Conservative Party have threatened to reject the deal.





May, speaking at a media conference, said today's decision marks the culmination of talks with the EU, but also the start of a crucial national debate.





MPs in Britain, she added, will vote whether to support the deal before Christmas.





Asked if she had a plan B if the deal is rejected by MPs, May said EU leaders had said this was the only possible deal.





"It's not the case that there is another negotiation to be done. This is the deal that's been agreed, it's the only deal that's on the table," May said.





May would not be drawn when asked by several journalists if she would resign as prime minister if the House of Commons rejected her deal.





Keir Starmer, Brexit spokesman for Britain's main opposition Labour Party, said: This is a bad deal for our country. It's a failure of negotiation by a Prime Minister who has spent more time arguing with her party than working in the national interest. The result is a deal that no-one supports. Labour will vote against it."





Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), described May's proposals as worse than no deal, and worse than staying in the EU.





May relies on the 10 DUP votes at Westminster to give her minority government its slender majority.





Dodds said in a BBC radio interview: "The government is going to spend the next fortnight engaged in all sorts of project fear initiatives in order to try to get MPs to vote for something that is clearly unsatisfactory."





He added the DUP would not be bought off, saying there is absolutely no way the deal can go through.





In an attempt to win public support for the deal Britain's main national Sunday newspapers published a direct plea from May to the British public.





May said in her letter: "It will be a deal that is in our national interest, one that works for our whole country and all of our people, whether you voted 'Leave' or 'Remain'," adding it will honor the result of the 2016 referendum when British people voted by a 52-48 margin to leave the EU.





Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, in a London television interview, described the deal as a compromise, saying it was not perfect, but it could be a staging post to a situation giving Britain 100 percent of what it wants.





Britain's mainland Europe neighbors lamented the departure. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "This is a historical day, which leaves mixed feelings. It's tragic that the UK is leaving the European Union."





Merkel refused to be drawn on the consequences of the deal being rejected by the British parliament.





May will get a sense of Westminster politicians Monday when she addresses the House of Commons.





Conservative party managers hope that enough MPs will rally around May to ensure the parliamentary green light is given.
Mexico City, Nov 27 : The vast majority of the fewer than one million eligible voters who took part in a referendum on 10 projects proposed by incoming President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador supported the initiatives, the transition team said Monday.

"We are all learning from these exercises: Citizens, organisations and the media. And the trustworthiness of the referendum has been clear, in terms of citizen acceptance and improvement of procedures," future presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez Cuevas told a press conference, reports Efe news.

In this second citizen referendum, 946,081 votes were registered, somewhat lower participation than in the referendum at the end of October on whether or not to continue construction of a new airport for the capital.

Both plebiscites were organised by the Arturo Rosenbleuth Foundation, a non-profit academic institution.

"As you can see, in almost all of the questions 90 percent of the population supported these projects by the next government," foundation director-general Enrique Calderon said.

Ten "priority programmes" of the Lopez Obrador government -- due to take office on December 1 -- were submitted for consideration in the November 24-25 referendum.

Among these projects was the construction of the Maya Train, which seeks to link five south-southeastern states, Mexico's most backward region. If the public were to vote "yes" on the project, work on it would begin on Dec. 16.

The plebiscite also asked about the construction of a refinery, another railway that will connect two ports on the Pacific and the Atlantic and several social programs such as apprenticeships for young people, retirement and disability pensions and providing Internet access in all public spaces.
Lima, Nov 27 : Gianna Velarde is set to become the first Peruvian woman to compete in the Dakar Rally in the motorcycle category, an enormous challenge she could never have imagined when, at age 15, she rode a motorcycle for the fist time -- and there found the strength to overcome cancer.

"The motorcycle gave me a lot of strength, freedom and independence. Discovering all those things at that stage probably makes you a very powerful woman in a few years," Velarde told EFE in an interview.

"The motorcycle was my escape valve, my means of feeling strong and above all, feeling that I was a winner," she said.

On those two wheels, Velarde was able to withstand the 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 32 radiation treatments she received to eliminate a cancer of the lymph nodes.

"I suddenly saw I could zoom up the same hills as the men. With my helmet on, nobody knew I was a woman. I was one more in the pack. And that helped me a lot," she said.

Now 24, Gianna still has the character of the cocky girl who disobeyed her mom and learned to ride a motorcycle with her dad, an experience that turned her life around on the sand dunes south of Lima.

"With my wig and helmet, I sped around and around, I fell and came out covered in sand, but I came out feeling happy, and that was something I hadn't felt for a long time," she recalled.

Similarly, Gianna's parents tried to persuade her not to compete in the 2019 Dakar Rally, but then stopped and are now the first to cheer her on.

"The Dakar has really united my family. For me, Dakar is a chance to face my own demons and start a new chapter in my life," Velarde said.

"I'm sure the Gianna who finishes this Dakar will be a very different person and that excites me about all the experiences I'm bound to go through," she said.

Her first rally was the Inca Challenge last September, when "everything happened to me". At one point overheating and a jammed clutch made her wait for her bike to "cool off so I could continue climbing the dunes", she said.

"The second day I ran out of gas and the third day, at 2 km from the finish line, the battery gave out," the Peruvian said.

Despite the many accidents, Velarde kept going: "I didn't feel bad physically nor incapable. I navigated well and the times I got lost I was able to get back on track. Aside from any mechanical failures, I can do well at Dakar."

Whether she finishes the 2019 Dakar Rally or not, Gianna Velarde promised to keep up her university studies and her volunteer work of teaching motorcycle riding to poor children and those with cancer, to whom she wishes to transmit the same passion and feeling of empowerment that motorcycles give her
London, Nov 27 : British Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Monday that Parliament will vote on the Brexit accord on Dec 11.

After days of speculation about the date, the only thing that had been known about which was the fact that it would occur before the Christmas recess, the conservative premier confirmed on Monday that the vote will take place on the second Tuesday of December in the House of Commons, reports Efe news.

"I'm looking ahead to December 11, when this House will be faced with a decision as to whether or not it wishes to deliver on the vote of the British people with a deal that not only delivers on that vote but also protects their jobs," said May of the upcoming vote, speaking in the House of Commons.

May appeared at Westminster on Monday after, on Sunday, the 27 nations of the European Union gave the green light to her Brexit agreement, which must be ratified by the House of Commons and by the European Parliament.

"There is a choice which this House will have to make," May told the assembled lawmakers. "We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people. Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one."

"No one knows what would happen if this deal doesn't pass. It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail," she said.

Before the vote there will be a debate on the deal lasting five days and beginning on Dec. 4.

The pact agreed to between May and the European Council has been rejected by dozens of lawmakers from her party, the opposition Labour Party and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which the Tories depend on to maintain their governing coalition.

Earlier on Monday, May gave lawmakers an ultimatum to back her Brexit deal with the EU when it is submitted to a parliamentary vote or risk bringing more division to society in the United Kingdom.

May returned to the lower chamber of lawmaking a day after EU member states gave unanimous backing to a deal on the UK's withdrawal from the bloc but now must convince a majority of Members of Parliament to vote in its favor when it is put to a meaningful vote in the chamber.

The British premier took the opportunity to highlight that her deal would end freedom of movement, one of her cornerstone policies in her Brexit agenda, but once again acknowledged discontent over the Northern Ireland backstop agreement with the EU, an insurance policy set in place that would tie the UK territory to the EU to maintain a soft Irish border in the event that no final deal is reached.

MPs have criticised the UK's inability to withdraw from such a deal unilaterally should it come to pass, but May responded on Monday saying that without a backstop there would be no Brexit deal.

Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, urged May to seek a softer, Plan B Brexit deal and warned her current plan would struggle to pass the Commons vote, which would be a act of "national self-harm", he said.

"This deal is not a plan for Britain's future, so for the good of the nation the House has very little choice but to reject this choice," Corbyn said.

Another sticking point in the Brexit negotiations was the topic of Gibraltar, the tiny British overseas territory on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain's government recently ramped up its protest that the territory's future was being exclusively negotiated by the UK and the EU.

May said that her withdrawal agreement would also apply to Gibraltar and that Spain had failed in its bid to edit the deal.

The UK is on track to leave the EU on March 19, 2019, almost three years after voters narrowly opted to leave in a referendum.
Kiev/Washington, Nov 27 : Amid escalating tension with Russia over the seizure of three naval vessels, the Ukrainian parliament on Monday supported a bill imposing martial law in certain regions of the country for 30 days starting 9 a.m. local time on Wednesday.

According to a statement on the parliament's website, the legislation, which enforces the presidential decree on the martial law, was supported by 276 votes in favor, surpassing the minimum of 226 required, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier Monday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree to put into force a decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on imposing the martial law in the country for 60 days due to the tensions with Russia in the Sea of Azov.

However, later Poroshenko said he had decided to reduce the time under martial law to 30 days.

Besides, Poroshenko said that the law will be imposed not across the whole country, but only in the regions bordering Russia; Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria, where Russian troops are stationed; and the regions located on the shores of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

The Ukrainian president emphasised that "martial law does not mean the declaration of war", but a step towards strengthening Ukraine's defense.

Meanwhile, Oleksandr Turchynov, head of the NSDC, said that the martial law envisages imposing "temporary restriction of citizens' rights and freedoms".

According to the Ukrainian media, the martial law regime stipulates for a partial mobilisation of troops, curfew, a ban on demonstrations, restrictions on freedom of movement, control over the media activities, seizure of property for the needs of the defense ministry, among other measures.

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Navy said that Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, injuring six Ukrainian military sailors.

Russia's Federal Security Service said that the Ukrainian ships breached the Russian border, and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of Russia's warning.

The Ukrainian Navy said it had informed Russia in advance about the passage of its vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait, calling Russia's actions an "act of aggression".

Relations between Russia and Ukraine have been deteriorating since Crimea was incorporated into Russia in March 2014 following a local referendum that was rejected by Kiev and Western countries.

At the UN, meanwhile, political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo urged both Russia and Ukraine to step away from further confrontation at sea.

Briefing the Security Council, which met in the wake of Sunday's confrontation between vessels from the two neighboring countries off the coast of Crimea, DiCarlo urged them "to refrain from any ratcheting up of actions or rhetoric".

An "immediate de-escalation" of tensions is needed in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, she said, underlining the importance of "earnest attempts" to find a peaceful resolution to years of simmering conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Xinhua reported.

"(We) remind both (Russia and Ukraine) of the need to contain this incident so as to prevent a serious escalation that may have unforeseen consequences," she said.

In Washington, President Donald Trump said that he hopes the current confrontation between Ukraine and Russia will get "straightened out".

Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House for campaign rallies, Trump said that "we do not like what's happening either way. And hopefully it will get straightened out".

He added that European leaders and the United States were working on the situation, noting "they're not thrilled. They are working on it. We're all working on it together".
Global charity organisations have traded a Caulfield South corner site, which will become the new headquarters of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (RAOB).

Following the RAOB's recent sale of their Melbourne CBD premises.

Fitzroys agents Chris Kombi and Mark Talbot negotiated the $1.6 million sale of the vacant former bank building at 790 Glen Huntly Road on behalf of The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul.

Kombi said interest came mainly from investors, owner occupiers and value adders for the Commercial 1-zoned site of 347sqm.

Situated on the corner of Hawthorn Road the property has a combined frontage of more than 40 metres.

The Buffs, as they are referred to by members, had been headquartered at the century-old 22 Sutherland Street building in the city since 1954.

The RAOB was established in the United Kingdom in 1822.

The Australian order was established early in the 20th Century and the Club has donated money to charities including Make A Wish Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation, the Heart Foundation and Aussie Helpers.

Kombi said that the property suited the Clubs desire to relocate to the inner south-east suburbans, while its accessibility was also a drawcard.
A private Melbourne investor has put a portfolio of five strip retail properties, across the suburbs of Richmond, Malvern, Armadale and Hampton, on market including a large High Street corner block.

Located at 1276 High St, Armadale (pictured below), the property comes with a lease expiring in 2022 with two, five year options at $98,711 per annum net.

The auction is set for December 13.

Michael Ludski, one of the agents marketing the portfolio said Teska Carson had sold 19 strip retail assets worth more than $36 million on an average 3.55 per cent yield this year.

Most of our sales this year have gone to local investors with local knowledge and a keen sense of where the market is likely to sit in a few years time as Melbourne gradually approaches Sydneys population mantle," he said.

He says that there has been an "enormous spike" in enquiry for retail strip and strata commercial assets in the sub $5 million range over the last few months.

The properties, all leased and zoned Commercial 1, include:

128A Bridge Rd, Richmond  auction December 12 at 1pm on site, new two year lease with a two year option at $30,000pa net with 4% increases;

172 Bridge Rd, Richmond  auction December 12 at 12pm on site, leased to Sportsgirl at $94,759pa net (pictured above);

210 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern - auction December 13 at 12pm on site, leased to Foxes Den, which has four Melbourne outlets, at $100,981pa net;

401 Hampton St, Hampton - auction December 14 at 1pm on site, leased on a three year term with a three year option at $40,351pa net;
Melbourne based property investor Jeff Xu has sold his Victoria One portfolio of five CBD strata retail properties for $13.615 million to a Melbourne based investor.

The 452 Elizabeth Street portfolio sold on a 5.5 per cent yield and at what is thought to be a record building rate of $27,230 a square metre for similar properties.

CBRE Manager, Melbourne City Sales, Nathan Mufale, who brokered the deal with National Director Investments, Mark Wizel, Leon Ma, and Ben McMahon, said the result was unprecedented for strata retail in the Melbourne CBD.

Mr Mufale said that the properties being in a booming education precinct with a strong Asian international student catchment was a key consideration behind the high level of interest the portfolio had attracted.

Confidence in this precinct is clear as this is the third strata retail transaction on Elizabeth Street within the last six weeks.

The 452 Elizabeth Street portfolio comprises five strata retail spaces covering 500 square metres across ground, first floor and mezzanine spaces.

The portfolio has 50 metres of Elizabeth and Franklin street frontage and is located at the bottom of Golden Ages 643 apartment tower.

The properties are leased to established international tenants returning more than $750,000 per annum.

Mr Wizel said significant appreciation in land taxes for freehold assets was another important consideration for investors and that it was "another factor driving the increasing demand for strata retail assets in the CBD."
EXPERT OBSERVATION

The Victorian election victory by Labor demonstrates that championing growth with infrastructure provision succeeds over scare tactics on immigration.

In the lead up to last weekends Victorian election the state opposition proposed immigration cuts to relieve overcrowding in a similar approach to that promoted by the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

But the voters rejected the negative spin put on growth and preferred the more positive approach of Premier Daniel Andrews to build more infrastructure to manage the growth.

There is clearly an important lesson for political parties in New South Wales from the Victorian election results.

It appears that voters prefer the positive approach to managing growth to build a better future city with new infrastructure rather than an approach that halves immigration and slows down growth.

Many voters are positive about the booming economy that comes with growth and the swing to a more urban city that is occurring in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Urban Taskforce believes that NSW politicians need to champion positive ways to manage growth rather than the recent examples of the government backing down on its own plans in Ryde, the Sydenham to Bankstown corridor and the back down on the code for terrace houses.

It is also important that the NSW Opposition does not exploit fears about the changing nature of Sydney and focus on development as being a problem when it is clearly responding to community needs.

The anti-development rhetoric that many politicians are using in the lead up to the state election next March is generating a negative environment in the planning system at state government and council levels which is reducing confidence in the development sector.

The result is a big slow-down in housing approvals which will inevitably lead to less new homes being built over future years and therefore housing prices going up.

Both the NSW government and the opposition need to develop better messaging about the benefits to the economy of growth and immigration and how this can lead to an even better built environment.

Sydney is going through its biggest restructure in a hundred years as it swings from a low rise suburban city to a city that becomes much more urban with more apartment dwellers.

The 2016 census demonstrated that 30 percent of Sydneys homes are now apartments located in more urban areas.

The politicians must take this 30 percent of voters into account in their messaging as they are likely to become half of all voters within the next 40 years.

CHRIS JOHNSON is the CEO of Urban Taskforce Australia
GUEST OBSERVATION

When it comes to access to housing in Australia, the playing field is far from even.

Our recent research has found that race matters. Many Australians experience racism and discrimination based on their cultural background.

This is particularly the case for Asian Australians. They experience much higher rates of racism across a variety of everyday settings, but particularly when renting or buying a house.

Asian Australians experiences of racism

An online national survey of 6,001 Australians measured the extent and variation of racist attitudes and experiences. We examined the impacts of where Australians are born and what language they speak at home on their experiences of racism.

Our research revealed that if you were born overseas, or if your parents were born overseas and you speak a language other than English at home, you are likely to have many more experiences of racism than other Australians. Racism is experienced in a variety of settings workplaces, educational institutions, shopping centres, public spaces and online.

Survey participants born in Asia were twice as likely as other Australians to experience everyday racism. In fact, 84% of these Asian Australians experienced racism.

For those born in Australia to parents who were both born in an Asian country, rates of racism were just as high (86%).

If you speak an Asian language at home, your experiences of racism are also likely to be high. Speakers of South Asian and East Asian languages experience racism at alarming rates  85% and 88% respectively. Those who speak Southwest/Central Asian and Southeast Asian languages experience rates of discrimination (79% and 78% respectively) similar to those for all participants of a non-English-speaking background (77%).

Anti-Asian housing discrimination

Published findings for New South Wales and Queensland in the 1990s revealed that 6.4% of Australians reported having experienced ethnic-based discrimination when renting or buying a house. Our recent national study has found this proportion has increased dramatically. In recent years, 24% of Australians have experienced housing discrimination.

As with the broader pattern of everyday racism, Asian Australians are feeling the brunt of housing discrimination. Almost six in ten (59%) Asia-born participants in our study experienced racism in accessing housing. This compares to only 19% of non-Asian-born participants.

Asia-born respondents were also more likely to report frequent experiences of housing discrimination. Some 13% reported these experiences occurred often or very often. This is more than three times the average exposure of non-Asian-born Australians.

In particular, participants born in Northeast and South/Central Asia are more frequently exposed to racism in housing. And 15% and 16% respectively reported housing discrimination occurred often or very often. This compares to only 9% of those born in Southeast Asia.

The survey also found that if you have two Asia-born parents you are highly likely to experience such racism (44%). Similarly, if you speak a language other than English at home (especially an Asian language), you are more likely to experience housing discrimination (45%).

South Asian language speakers (e.g. Hindi, Tamil, Sinhalese) experience housing discrimination at a much higher rate of 63%. The rate for East Asian language speakers (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Korean) is 55%. Only 19% of English-only speakers had the same experiences.

Why is this happening?

These findings suggest that the owning and occupying of space by Asian Australians is seen as a threat to Anglo-Australian hegemony. Alternatively, or perhaps relatedly, many real estate agents and owners assume Asians are somehow suspect, or will be a lesser quality tenant or owner. This would be an echo of colonial racist thinking in which Asians were seen as biologically inferior and a potential source of racial impurity.

The repression of Chinatowns and more recent moral panics about Indo-Chinese settlement areas in Sydney and Melbourne  such as Cabramatta and Richmond  point to these stereotypes of vice, uncleanliness and chaos. Perhaps this 20th-century troubling of the white spatial order is continuing today.

Sinophobia in Australia is also emerging in debates about housing investment, donations to political parties, university campus politics, the purchase of agricultural land for mining, as well as general concerns about Chinese government influence, geopolitics and human rights issues in China. Public debate is appropriate, but emerging hysteria and sensationalism are shifting into animosity towards people with Chinese heritage in Australia.

Authorities need to act

Exclusion from an important urban resource like housing can generate profound levels of substantive inequality. This in turn is associated with health issues and poorer access to other elements of life chances like employment, transport and education. It can also generate society-wide issues like segregation and intergenerational inequality.

Australia has laws against racist discrimination in access to goods and services like housing. Our findings, among others, indicate that housing discrimination is more acute for some groups than others, particularly Asian Australians. So where is the coordinated response to this clear injustice?

Alanna Kamp, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Australian Cultural Geography, Western Sydney University

Ana-Maria Bliuc, Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology, Western Sydney University

Kathleen Blair, PhD Candidate, School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University

Kevin Dunn, Dean of the School of Social Science and Psychology, Western Sydney University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The ASX-listed real estate agency McGrath has commenced an expansionary push into rent rolls to underpin its desired recovery in the current downturn.

Its chief executive Geoff Lucas said the company had acquired two rent rolls. McGrath last reported almost 7,500 properties under management.

It has been reported that they were being bought "under market value."

Lucas indicated many agencies were trying to offload rent rolls as they focused their attention on securing sales during the downturn.

"Increasingly we are seeing real estate business owners seeking to return to a role of real estate sales agent without the attendant issues of running a business in a difficult environment," he said at the meeting.

"As a result an increasing number of rent rolls with sales businesses attached are beginning to come to market."

Lucas reportedly said McGrath had purchased the latest two new small rent rolls at below market valuation, although he declined to comment on the price paid or the number of extra rental agreements secured.

"With currently $16 million in cash and one of Australias largest rent rolls that would typically be valued at between $45 and $55 million and zero debt, were well placed to make prudent and strategic acquisitions," he said. Trading at 31 cents, the company market capitalisation is $54 million.

Fund manager shareholder East 72's representative Andrew Brown challenged the rent roll acquisitions, according to The Australian Financial Review.

"The performance [of the rent roll] is pretty disappointing ... the average return has gone down as well. Why are we acquiring more? What is the competitive advantage in managing rent rolls?"

New chairman Peter Lewis admitted the year was not "stellar" in sales or property management but said both those businesses were now stabilised.

It was time to achieve economies of scale, Lewis said.

Mr Lucas attributed the weakness of its rent roll previously to the falling number of agents over the years, which crimped referrals from landlords and the natural attrition of agreement expiration, both of which were no longer posing problems.

In McGrath's 2015 listing prospectus, the rent roll held by company-owned agencies made up 11 per cent of pre-tax and interest profits (EBITDA), while sales commissions from company-owned agencies were 71 per cent of the firm's profits.

In 2012 McGrath had 5500 rent roll properties.

Industry estate agents collect about five per cent of rents as their fee for managing properties, which is typically the licensee's most stable source of income.

Critics of the McGrath prospectus indicated the true value of a real estate agency was in the rent roll, not sales listings nor office fixtures or fittings.

At the time of the float the value of rent rolls reflected ratios from $3.00 to $4.00 on a dollar income per annum, having jumped from $2.75 over the prior two years.

There are variations as rent rolls in Queensland are more likely $2.20 to $2.80.

John McGrath, the founder of the company, told the meeting he was back helping with the listing of homes.

He has especially sought to assist agents struggling to get prestige listings from the eastern suburbs office.

He remains engaged with agent training too.

"My mandate now is to grow the marketing areas of the business, that's where I add the most value," he said.

"It wasn't always that way but I am enjoying it again ... I am starting to enjoy the feel of the business again."

McGrath told Friday's annual general meeting the worst of the housing downturn had passed.

McGrath said that prices would fall only a few percentage points further, 2 to 3 per cent.

The company endured a horror year in which it fell to a $63 million loss.

Despite the fact that its been annus horribilis for us, no doubt, we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, he said.

McGrath, who has been through five cycles in his 35-year career, said the market was one year into a correction period that would run for about two years.

I think were getting towards the bottom of the market, he said.

It may get a little bit worse before it gets better but I think that most of the price correction has been seen already  you might see 2-3 per cent more in Sydney come off, he said.
 Flash

A fresh wave of fighting erupted between the Yemeni government forces and the Houthi rebels in Yemen's western port city of Hodeidah just a few hours after the departure of the United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths.





Both warring parties ignored the UN calls aimed at de-escalating the situation in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, and engaged in armed confrontations on the ground amid heavy exchange of artillery shelling, raising questions about the fate of ongoing peace efforts.





Although both sides had declared their willingness to halt the fighting and head to participate in the upcoming UN-sponsored peace talks in Sweden, sporadic fighting and exchange of gunfire continued in Hodeidah.





An army commander said by phone that the government forces clashed with Houthi rebels in the areas surrounding the Kilo 16 area in Hodeidah, but no military progress was made.





"Houthis positioned inside the citizens' farms keep targeting our sites with artillery shells and some of our soldiers were injured as a result of the bombardment," the commander said on condition of anonymity.





He said that the government forces responded and shelled the Houthi-controlled sites with artillery gunfire, sparking armed confrontations in the same areas around Kilo 16 area.





A source of the government's media center said that several shells fired by Houthis landed on residential buildings in Hodeidah's neighborhood of Mandher, causing casualties.





"Some of the houses were partially damaged and many families were evacuated as the Houthis randomly shell the area," the source said anonymously.





Witnesses said that warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition launched a number of airstrikes against the Houthi-held areas in Hodeidah.





The Houthi-affiliated Masirah television network reported that two of the Saudi-led airstrikes hit the rebels-held district of Aljarahi in Hodeidah.





The sporadic violations and resumption of fighting raging over the control of the strategic Red Sea port city Hodeidah raised questions about the result of the UN peace efforts.





On Friday, Griffiths, accompanied by the World Food Program Chief Stephen Anderson and the UN Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande, visited Hodeidah.





During his visit to the war-torn city, the UN envoy negotiated with the Houthi leadership about a supervisory role over the strategic port in Yemen's Hodeidah, which is still under the control of the Iranian-backed rebels.





"We have agreed that the UN should now pursue actively and urgently detailed negotiations for a leading UN role in the port and more broadly ... such a role will preserve the essential humanitarian pipeline that starts here and serves the people of Yemen," Griffiths said.





However, the Yemeni Minister of Information, Moammar el-Eryani, said on Friday that it is not possible to accept any agreement that allows the management of Hodeidah's port without its return to the legitimate government's control.





The minister stressed that his government won't accept the presence of the Houthi rebels in Hodeidah, and urged the UN envoy to persuade them of leaving the strategic city and its port, handing it over to the internationally-recognized government peacefully.





Earlier in the day, Yemeni local media outlets reported that the UN envoy left the country's capital Sanaa after a three-day visit that included meetings with the seniors Houthi leaders.





Preparations are underway to hold a new round of UN-sponsored talks to end the country's years-long conflict. The meeting is expected to kick off in Sweden next month.





The state-run Saba news agency quoted the country's foreign minister as saying that "the government has informed the UN envoy to Yemen ... that it will send a government delegation to the talks with the aim of reaching a political solution."





Hodeidah, the main Red Sea port city which handles 80 percent of Yemen's imports and aid, has witnessed deadly clashes over the past few weeks between the government troops backed by the Saudi-led coalition forces and the Houthi rebels.





The government backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition has been trying to recapture Hodeidah from Houthis who seized it along with much of the country's north in late 2014.





The previous UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva collapsed in September after the Houthi delegation did not appear.
McGrath Estate Agents has announced the appointment of Ripple Wu as leading its Box Hill office.

McGrath founder John McGrath recently pinpointed Box Hill as one of his top picks in the recently released McGrath Report 2019.

Located around 14 kilometres east of the city, Box Hill is a bustling multicultural cosmopolitan suburb with strong public transport links with its own hospital and and school.

The hub is thriving with houses on large blocks that have great development potential, McGrath noted.

Despite a cooling market I believe the Melbourne offers good potential for capital growth over the long term due to solid population and employment growth, major investment in infrastructure, and affordable housing that will be a catalyst for interstate migration.

Ms Wu (pictured left) joined McGrath last month as sales agent, previously at Ray White Blackburn where she claimed to enjoy the No 2 female agent ranking in Ray White Victoria and Tasmania.

She will be a director and co-principal of McGrath Boxhill, leading a team of 12 agents.
2018 has been a difficult year in some of Australia's major property markets, however it has allowed other areas to thrive.

The outlook for Sydney and Melbourne heading into 2019 isn't that optimist from a vendors' perspective, but buyers might be happier if they secure finance, according to a number of economists.

First home buyers are back in the driving seat in certain areas across the county as prices continue to decline.

Enjoy our free e-book on how the property market has faired in 2018 and what the forecasts are for 2019.

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Faramarz Franco Davati, a student of theology as well as history, has completed the new book Alchemy of the Quran: a mixture of prophetic texts, poetry, and postulations for a new generation of readers of the Quran.

Today, wherever Muslims are allowed to freely practice their religion, moderate Muslims around the world pick and choose the parts of the Quran they will follow, using the verses that are agreeable to their culture and within the rules and laws of their societies, Faramarz Franco Davati explained of Islam today. If someone wanted to practice the whole book of the Quran word for word, he or she would have to regress, scale down, and go backward to 1400 years ago to the Bedouin culture, to match the lifestyle of that time.

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Faramarz Franco Davatis collection of essays separates what advice the Arab people of 1400 years ago needed to follow, from what still applies today. Through excerpts of the poetry of the historical Persian poet, Rumi, as well as quotes from the Quran, this book presents facts and dispels fictions surrounding this Abrahamic religion.

Faramarz Franco Davati tries to encourage Muslims in this book into thinking and reasoning when reading the Quran, instead of following it blindly. According to Davati, God dislikes people who do not think and reason (Quran 8:22), Davati believes Muslims should try to separate the main teachings of Islam from the Bedouin culture of 1400 years ago in Arabia that Islam was born into. According to Davati, We Muslims should pick and choose verses that can help us in this life and move forward that do not impose a burden on people around us by practicing our Islam, regardless if we live in a Muslim or a non-Muslim country.

Readers who wish to learn more about the magic of the Quran can purchase Alchemy of the Quran at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Miles Pelton, a retired Chief of Engineering Design at a major US Air Force base, has completed his new book So You Can Understand Physics: an intelligible blueprint that examines the understood, as well as the unknown aspects of Physics.

Current belief recognizes the assembly of quantum bits of energy to form matter, but also fails to recognize assembly (gravitational attraction) requires energy that attracts, as concluded by Newton and accepted as a principle, Pelton said of his inspiration to write. I made a rather simple deduction: if matter is made of quantum bits of energy, the principal quantum bit of energy must attract. A major quandary remained: How can bits of energy that attract other bits of energy build anything except a powerful bit of energy?

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Miles Peltons exploration of the basic principles of physics provides insight into aspects of the science that have previously remained unanswered.

The solution of that quandary opened the door to new understanding, Mr. Pelton said. A particle elementary to all subsequent creation; a composite of an attraction charge that attracts other like attraction charges, and a repelling charge that repels other like repelling charge, united by a neutral charge to mediate interaction (a neutrino) of the two opposing charges would, in response to inherent behavior, assemble to form volume, physical presence, matter.

Readers who wish to appraise this new approach to creation can purchase So You Can Understand Physics at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Journey of the Heart: a searingly honest chronicle of the authors personal struggles and the impact of her illness on her life and her family. Journey of the Heart is the creation of published author Suede Dixon, a Michigan native attended schools around the country and found her ultimate passion in reading and writing. This is her first book.

Dixon shares, Journey of the Heart is a book that profiles how a family can face tough challenges in life: manic depression, breast cancer, gender identity, loss of your mother, and, ultimately, the loss of your immediate family.

It is about loss and adversity, but it is also about inspiring others that they can overcome obstacles in life and become stronger individuals and lead productive, creative lives.

I wrote this to let people know we are worthy, that we all have gifts to give others, and to let them know they must never give up on their dreams and hopes.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Suede Dixons new book is a deeply candid and autobiographical reflection on a troubled life.

View a synopsis of Journey of the Heart on YouTube.

Readers can purchase Journey of the Heart at traditional brick and mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Journey of the Heart, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
"Dr. Tolitano has always been dedicated to providing superior and innovative clinical care. This aligns closely with CVRs mission."

Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) is proud to partner with Dominic J. Tolitano, MD, as he joins its expanding and esteemed roster of physicians treating venous insufficiency throughout the country. His practices in South Loop and Wood Dale are CVRs first in Illinois, and his Indiana practices in Munster and Hobart will expand our reach to the Northwest corner of Indiana. Dr. Dominic Tolitano is a nationally recognized cardiovascular surgeon and comes to CVR after 29 years in private practice. Dr. Tolitano was a pioneer in the industry, being one of the first to adopt the advanced non-invasive techniques to treat chronic venous disease. He has performed thousands of endovenous laser ablations during his career. I have been in a fortunate position to watch this exciting field of medicine evolve over the past decade, says Tolitano. CVR is on the cutting edge of our field and I am proud to join them.

Dr. Sanjiv Lakhanpal, CEO; Dr. Khanh Q. Nguyen, Corporate Medical Officer; Ken Abod, CFO; and Neil Collier, Chief Operating Officer, at CVR are all pleased to welcome Dr. Tolitano to the company. Dr. Tolitano is an accomplished vein specialist, and partnering with him is truly an honor, added Dr. Lakhanpal.

As an expert in the field, his past patients rate him highly for his ability to clearly communicate the signs, symptoms and treatment options for venous insufficiency. Dr. Tolitano has always been dedicated to providing superior and innovative clinical care. This aligns closely with CVRs mission to improve lives in the communities we serve by providing state-of-the-art vascular care in a compassionate and affordable manner, Dr. Lakhanpal concluded.

Dr. Tolitanos accomplishments also include:


Chromalox, a leader in advanced thermal technologies, today announced the opening of its new sales and operations office in Norway. Chromalox continues to expand our presence in the EMEA region with the opening of our new sales office in Norway. This office will support both our Norway and Sweden markets to better serve our customers for both process heating and heat tracing products, said Thierry Desseignes, President EMEAI. The new Norway direct sales office will take on the role as a key centre of excellence for providing technical support and customer service to our direct customers in the Nordic and Baltic regions.

We are very excited to support the Norway and Sweden markets with a new direct sales office and presence to support our local customers with their electiric heating needs, said Ali Aloosi, Country Head Nordic & Baltic States. The new sales office with focus on supporting the application needs of our regional customers with local support and the ability to react quickly to their needs.

The new Norway office is located at:

Vestvollveien 14 A

2019 Skedsmokorset, Norway

Contact: Ali Aboosi

Telephone: +47 (0)98 900 665

Email: NordBalticSales@chromalox.com

For more information, visit http://www.chromalox.com.

About Chromalox

Chromalox is a thermal technology company. We engineer thermal solutions for the worlds toughest industrial heating applications. Our Heat Trace segment delivers temperature management solutions for piping systems, valves, and tanks. Our Industrial Heaters and Systems segment delivers process heating solutions for revenue-generating industrial processes, and our Component Technologies segment delivers component heating solutions for industrial equipment manufacturers. Chromalox was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
CrewBloom, a 100% remote-based talent acquisition company that offers innovative and affordable ways to find and retain human capital, recently launched and completely revolutionized the call center industry as we know it today.

An Industry Unchanged

Benefitting from viability and a central role in the expansion and development of countries for the last few decades, call centers have wholly remained unchanged in the face of technology development. However, CrewBloom is changing the industry norms, helping small to mid-sized businesses benefit from a remote-based model.

Gone are the days where outsourcing was merely about hiring call centers and having their professionals complete outbound calls, said Brianna Carney, Co-Founder of CrewBloom. Were only acquiring the top 2% professionals in the call center industry. Its what uniquely defines our remote working model.

Tangible Cost Reduction

CrewBloom makes it easy for companies to access and retain human capital, boasting the top 2% of talent. The company manages end-to-end processes of recruitment and management of remote workers, freeing up time and capital along the way. Leveraging the latest technological tools and systems, CrewBloom is showing businesses how easy it is to advance past needing in-office space for a virtual, more productive team. As a result, CrewBloom is creating up to 70% reduction in overhead costs by removing the need for infrastructure and utility expenses.

Today, companies are accessing the global workforce to find the right talent at a price they can afford  and they are mostly looking to Asia, said Carney. In the Philippines, they get the best of both worlds: affordability and an adept English-speaking workforce. My co-founder, Kate Ringcodan, and I are going 100% remote for small and medium-sized enterprises. And were doing it with a vetting system that only leaves the top 2% of Filipino talent in our pool.

Skills: Hard & Soft

CrewBlooms talent is characterized by experience in sales, business development, and customer service, handpicked and thoroughly vetted before receiving the final approval. More than just the hard skills, CrewBloom also vets soft skills, measuring individuals ability to engage in natural productivity, promptness, effective customer service, and more. As a result, they are building a team of dependable, reliable, and passionate remote workers that are motivated to do what they do every day.

Since all contractors are working remotely, which promotes a good work-life balance, CrewBlooms workforce is a highly content group of people. Additionally, CrewBloom rewards for hard work, compensating generously for remote work while encouraging a work-life balance that is conducive to consistent, top-quality performance.

For more information, visit https://crewbloom.com/.
Dr. Kenneth Choi has treated his one hundredth patient using the UroLift procedure, an advanced treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dr. Choi is a board-certified urologist at Urological Associates of Southern Arizona, P.C.

Dr. Choi has been a resident of Tucson since 1986, when he began attending the University of Arizona. He earned his residency and fellowship in Urology from Yale University College of Medicine, and he has been with Urological Associates of Southern Arizona since 1999. He is proud to offer UroLift as an option to his patients who are living with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is a widespread condition among older men that is characterized by an enlarged prostate. With the onset of age, the prostate begins to grow larger, making it increasingly difficult for the individual to urinate. Eventually, it may result in a person needing to urinate more frequently because they are unable to empty their bladders consistently. Some people even find that they are eventually unable to urinate consistently at all.

BPH is associated with a wide array of serious health issues, ranging from urinary tract infections to kidney stones. The condition can also lead to other complications such as insomnia and depression, and it is associated with erectile dysfunction.

It is thought that more than 500 million adult men around the world may suffer from BPH, including more than 40 million Americans. The condition is most prevalent among men age 70 and older, but individuals who are obese, who have diabetes, or who have a family history of BPH are believed to have a higher risk of the condition.

If it goes untreated, BPH can seriously affect a persons quality of life, along with causing permanent health problems such as bladder damage and kidney problems. While the condition can be corrected with surgery, there are possible side effects that many patients want to avoid. There has been a long-time need for a more non-invasive treatment for BPH.

The UroLift System is a state-of-the-art procedure that was developed to provide an effective but minimally invasive treatment for men who are living with BPH. The treatment is simple, straightforward, and can generally be completed in one hour or less. The procedure can be done using local anesthesia, and recovery is fast, with no significant recovery period.

During the procedure, the UroLift Delivery Device will be inserted directly into the urethra, where small implants will be used to move the obstructing tissue out of the way. Once the urethra is clear and urine can pass through it again, the device will be removed and the procedure is finished.

There are numerous advantages to using the UroLift System to treat BPH. In addition to being minimally invasive, the UroLift System has repeatedly been shown to improve a patients quality of life by providing proven results. It is not associated with long-term negative complications, though there may be mild side effects that usually resolve within a month.

If you believe that you may have any of the signs of BPH, medical professionals recommend scheduling an appointment with a urologist as soon as possible. Common symptoms of BPH include difficulty urinating, increased need to urinate, or inconsistent flow of urine. If you do not want to go through surgery, you may want to ask a urologist if you are a good candidate for the UroLift System.

About the UroLift System

The UroLift System is a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) produced by NeoTract, Inc. It is the first treatment for improving the flow of urine that has been approved by the FDA, and it has been recommended by the American Urological Association. NeoTract, Inc. was founded in 2004. You can learn more by visiting their website at https://www.urolift.com/.

About Urological Associates of Southern Arizona, P.C.

Urological Associates of Southern Arizona, P.C. has been serving patients since they first opened their doors in 1969. They work to provide the latest and most advanced technology and techniques for urological conditions for both men and women. If youre in need of a urologist, contact Urological Associates of Southern Arizona today to schedule an appointment at one of their locations in Tucson, Safford, Green Valley, Bisbee, or Willcox. You can learn more by visiting their website at http://uroassociates.com/.
Dr. Walter Schindler Speaks at AIM Summit Dubai Nov. 26-27

Lawyer, investor, and thought leader Dr. Walter Schindler is participating in an energy infrastructure investment panel at the AIM summit in Dubai, today Monday November 26.

Dr. Schindler shares the panel with Founder and CEO of Susi Partners and Chairman of Crypto Fund AG, Mr. Tobias Reichmuth. The panel will be moderated by Mr. David Gibson-Moore, President of Gulf Analytica. The panel topic is Beyond Renewables: Investing in Energy Infrastructure. The panelists are by invitation only.

The three experts will discuss the current and future states of energy investments and energy infrastructure, and the future of the global energy industry.

The Alternative Investment Management Summit is a two-day conference in Dubai that brings together over 400 global executive leaders to address the shifting paradigm of alternative investments. The conference is taking place in Dubai on November 26-27.

The leadership of the Summit announced: Our goal in the upcoming event is to improve investors understanding of alternative investments from the perspective of qualified investors and industry experts. The conference focuses on quality over quantity, bringing together thought leaders with key industry representatives and investors. Invitations are exclusively targeted to key decision makers and the buy-side.

Dr. Schindler will also present his current projects, including those related to his new strategic advisory firm, Transformation, LLC, which focuses on projects and companies in energy, water, and agricultural technology.
Elisa Domenech, a Puerto Ricanborn bilingual teacher and married mother of two living in New York, has completed her new book La Ranita Anet: a valuable childrens tale about caution in the real world.

Author Elisa Domenech writes about the underlying questions that drive the story: Are your children safe? As a parent you want to protect your children from all evils, but what happens if they meet a drug-dealer frog or a dancing snake? I hope you can be there on time to save them.

Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Elisa Domenechs new book is an eye-opening story for young readers that lends them a wise word of warning against trusting strangers, consuming unknown or risky substances, or joining in with a bad crowd. Domenech attempts to open an avenue of communication between parents and children about real-world lessons that are never too early to learn.

Readers who wish to experience this discerning work can purchase La Ranita Anet at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional New York based full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
ezClocker is the scalable employee time tracking cloud-based solution that provides small businesses with several benefits usually only available to larger companies with big budgets.

Small businesses seeking the simplest and most affordable employee time tracking and scheduling software can now benefit from using ezClocker from ezNova Technologies LLC. Created specifically to be efficient yet easy-to-use, ezClocker is for the small business owner who needs a reliable employee time tracking and scheduling software that also is user-friendly. The solution is comprised of a website and three apps.

It can be used with iPhone or Android devices. Download ezClocker on the App Store or Google Play and is an ideal solution for companies with less than 100 employees, but it can be easily scaled to meet the needs of a medium-to-larger sized business. Monthly subscription pricing is based on the number of employees as follows:



The Basic Plan is $10/month and covers up to 15 employees

The Standard Plan is $25/month and covers up to 30 employees

The Premium Plan is $50/month and covers up to 100 employees

All plans offer a 30 days free trial.

Because of its affordability, scalability and intuitive use, ezClocker already has more than 10,000 active users in the janitorial, catering, landscape, health care, property management and construction industries. ezNova Technologies LLC also offers a one-month trial subscription of ezClocker at no charge.

Each subscription level includes the following features:

GPS Verification allows employers to verify if employees clocked in or out at a work site. An employees GPS location is captured and can be viewed by the employer using the apps map feature.

An employee can use their own iPhone or Android device because ezClocker is a cloud-based solution.

Easy online scheduling lets employers skip emailing employees their shift schedules and instead have them view it from anywhere using their PC or mobile device  in real-time. Employers also can create, modify, view and assign shifts to employees.

In addition to using the ezClocker mobile app, employers can also go to the website ezclocker.com to view time sheets, create schedules or export the data.

ezClocker allows for effortless exporting of data making transfer of timesheets to payroll quick and easy. In just one click, time sheets are exported to a .csv file to be sent to an accountant.

If employers want to use one device for a group of employees, they can use the ezClocker Kiosk app for iPad that allows employees to clock in/out from that one device.

ezClocker also provides push notifications so employers are notified when employees are clocked in or out throughout the day via their mobile device.

Visit https://ezclocker.com/ for more information.

Media Contact

Ria Romano, Partner

RPR Public Relations, Inc.

Tel. 786-290-6413
Gilbane Building Company Celebrates Topping Out Ceremony at Franklin County Correctional Facility

Gilbane Building Company recently celebrated a major milestone at the Franklin County Correctional Facility project in Columbus, Ohio. The topping out ceremony was attended by representatives from Franklin County, Gilbane Building Company, joint venture partner Smoot Construction and our subcontractor partners. This major milestone signifies the completion of the steel structure for the 429,000 SF new correctional facility in Columbus.

Gilbane is proud of the entire project team achieving this critical milestone, said Mark Cunningham, Gilbane Building Company Senior Project Executive. Our project team has enjoyed the working relationship weve developed with Franklin County and look forward to finishing strong and successfully delivering the project.

Gilbane Building Company and joint venture partner Smoot Construction are providing construction management agency services for the construction of the new Franklin County Correctional Facility, with the first portion of the facility slated for spring 2021 completion. The 23-acre facility will initially house a minimum of 850 beds and include a central utility plant and infrastructure to accommodate up to 2,800 beds and will include special housing for inmates with mental health or behavior problems, a medical clinic and a 300-person orientation unit.

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services  from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build and facility management services  for clients across various markets. Founded in 1873 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has 48 office locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com. Gilbane has been providing construction management services in Ohio since 1957.
On November 2nd, Folio:, the publishing industrys go-to source for news, business intelligence and peer-to-peer networking, announced its 2018 Folio: 100 Honorees. Each year, this list features an elite group of media professionals that represent the best and brightest minds in magazine and digital media today. Included on this years list was HW Medias own President & CEO, Clayton Collins.

As an agency, we work with a number of publishersno two alike. In our work with Clayton we find him to be a publisher with vision and hunger, but also one with the confidence to change his mind and seek counsel from his talented team and trusted advisors when necessary, said Ashley Mulder, COO & Senior Audience Strategist at Twenty First Digital and Claytons nominator, "With these qualities, we see Clayton possessing all the necessary traits to take the HW brand to the next level for many years to come.

The 2018 class of honorees includes individuals from organizations such as National Geographic, Adweek, New York Times Magazine, Bloomberg, Harvard Business Review, Time Magazine and many more. You can view a full list of the 2018 honorees here (https://www.foliomag.com/events/folio-100-awards-luncheon-2018).

Folio: Content Director, Caysey Welton had this to say about the 2018 honorees The Folio: 100 is a veritable whos who in magazine media. These are the folks who are changing the face of our industry, across ever sector and every discipline. Their leadership, creativity, vision and entrepreneurial spirit is truly inspiring.

At HousingWire, I have the opportunity to work with an amazing team of media professionals who are highly focused on moving the housing economy forward. Each day, our team, readers and clients enable us to try new things, push the boundaries and discover new ways to inform and engage a growing audience of business professionals, says Clayton Collins. I cant express how honored I am to be recognized by Folio alongside amazing media leaders like Peter Goldstone, Jay Kirsch, Michael Brunt, Chris Ferrell and Stephen Carter.

Honorees will be recognized at a Celebration Luncheon on Thursday, December 6 in New York City.

****

About HW Media

HW Media is the leading digital community for real estate, financial services and fintech professionals to engage, connect and gain knowledge. Founded in 2016 through the acquisition of HousingWire, HW Media is based in Dallas, TX with team members across the country. HW Media is owned by Riomar Capital.

About HousingWire

HousingWire is the most influential source of news and information for the U.S. mortgage and housing markets. Built on a foundation of independent and original journalism, HousingWire reaches over 50,000 newsletter subscribers and over 4 million unique visitors each year. Our audience of mortgage, real estate, financial services and fintech professionals rely on us to Move Markets Forward. Visit http://www.HousingWire.com or http://www.solutions.housingwire.com to learn more.

About Folio:

Folio: is the information resource publishing executives turn to for news analysis, commentary, and thought leadership in driving business strategy, value creation and revenue growth. Folio: delivers this insight across several newsletters, social media communities, special reports and live events. For more information, visit http://www.Foliomag.com.

HW Media Contact:

Caren Karris

Marketing Manager, HousingWire

ckarris@housingwire.com
This is one of the most important events each year in the Jewish community if you are single, explains Andrew Rudnick, from Mazel Events, LLC and founder of the MATZOBALL.

For those who are Jewish and single, theres only one place they will want to be this December 24, 2018  at the MATZOBALL powered by JSwipe. The event, which will be held in cities around the country, is in its 32nd year, and will be the bash that those looking to have fun and meet other singles will want to attend. Its a party each year that thousands of people attend, with many of them finding themselves getting lucky in love. The event is sponsored by JSwipe, the #1 Jewish dating app around the world. From meeting up and having fun to finding their soul mate, MATZOBALL has been the catalyst that has helped many Jewish singles find each other.

This is one of the most important events each year in the Jewish community if you are single, explains Andrew Rudnick, from Mazel Events, LLC and founder of the MATZOBALL. People know that they will not only have a great time, but there is a good chance it will be the place where a new relationship gets started. This event is literally the birthplace of many happy families, and were proud of that.

Since the first MATZOBALL was held in 1987, there have been over 400,000 people attending the mega party. Its a party that got its start when Rudnick convinced a bar owner to keep the place open for him and some friends one Christmas Eve. After meeting his future wife at that party and seeing the fun that everyone had, it became a tradition. The tradition stuck around, grew beyond what anyone would have thought possible, and has become a tradition in the Jewish singles community. However, its not all just Jewish who attend: MATZOBALL parties are the annual Christmas Eve party of the year! The majority of attendees are Jewish, though more and more, the flood gates have opened with singles of all backgrounds showing up.

This year, the MATZOBALL will be held in select cities on December 24, 2018, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Attendees must be 21 to attend. The cities that will host a MATZOBALL party this year include:

Washington D.C.  To be held at Decades. Ticket prices start at $30

Boston  To be held at the Royale Nightclub. Ticket prices start at $40.

Delray Beach  To be held at II Bacio. Ticket prices start at $30.

Fort Lauderdale  To be held at Blue Martini. General ticket prices start at $30.

Los Angeles  To be held at The Argyle Hollywood. Ticket prices start at $30.

Miami  To be held at LIV Nightclub. Ticket prices start at $50.

New York City  To be held at Capitale. Ticket prices start at $50.

Philadelphia  To be held at Vesper Sporting Club. Ticket prices start at $30.

If you are at least 21, Jewish, and single, you will not want to miss attending a MATZOBALL party, added Rudnick. Its the kind of event you will be talking about for years to come. You may even be telling your kids about how its where you and your spouse first met. Its that significant. Get your tickets early, because they will sell out, and you dont want to be left out.

JSwipe, who is the title sponsor of the event, has over 1 million users. Their app, which is available for download on iOS and Android devices, makes it easy to swipe left or right on Jewish singles nearby. Those swiping will receive a match when both parties swipe right. Their site reports that they are responsible for thousands of love stories, engagements, and babies. JSwipes mission is to bring Jewish singles together and create meaningful relationships.

In addition to general admission tickets, many venues offer upgrades, including a fast pass to move you to the front of the admission line. Some parties are also offering group table packages, which include multiple tickets for admission, alcohol, VIP lines, and more. For complete city information, ticket options and pricing, to purchase tickets, or to join the VIP list, visit the website at: https://matzoball.org.

About MATZOBALL

MATZOBALL is a yearly huge party for Jewish singles that is held every December 24th. Since the first official event of its kind in 1987, the event has been held in select cities around the nation. There have been over 400,000 people attending and it has generated over $15 million in revenue. MATZOBALL was founded by Andrew Rudnick, owner of Mazel Events, LLC. The yearly party is powered by JSwipe, the #1 Jewish dating app in the world, with users in 70 countries. To learn more about MATZOBALL, visit the site: https://matzoball.org.

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Foretold Kingdoms of the Islamic Anti-Christ: Prophecy, Politics, the Epicenter of the Armageddon, and the Final Caliphate a gripping tell-all. Foretold Kingdoms of the Islamic Anti-Christ is the creation of published author Johnny N. Spencer, a determined American student of scripture and messenger of Gods truth.

Spencer writes, For the past ten years in America, the news media and certain politicians have the tendency to make us feel that its our fault we got attacked by terrorists. We should realize by now that it is a political lie when politicians say things like Guantanamo Bay is a recruiting tool for terrorists or that there is something else that we can do as a Western Christian society is a tool to increase terrorist recruitments

and the joining of the Islamic jihad movement. Every politician or news pundit who says this is either grossly uniformed about Islam or misleading the public intentionally. No exceptions. No exceptions, because the true origin of the Islamic antagonism the world experiences with Islam is not political, it only appears that way on the surface, but it is in fact spiritual in nature and quickly moves into the realm of pure pagan religion. It is not so much of what others have done to Muslims that causes them to be antagonistic to others; it is much more who and what Islam is. The reality is all you have to do is be Jewish, Christian, or non-Muslim, in that order, to be the enemy of Middle Eastern Islam.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Johnny N. Spencers new book is an astute work emphatically meant to examine the hard facts of true Islam from a historical, religious, and scriptural context.

Spencer adeptly handles a sensitive topic in witness and in honor of the truth as revealed to him by the Spirit.

View a synopsis of Foretold Kingdoms of the Islamic Anti-Christ: Prophecy, Politics, the Epicenter of the Armageddon, and the Final Caliphate on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Foretold Kingdoms of the Islamic Anti-Christ: Prophecy, Politics, the Epicenter of the Armageddon, and the Final Caliphate at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Foretold Kingdoms of the Islamic Anti-Christ: Prophecy, Politics, the Epicenter of the Armageddon, and the Final Caliphate, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
William Kwok honored by New York State Assembly I am pleased, honored and humbled to accept this recognition. i will continue to give my best effort to spreading awareness of the martial arts by educating people in the discipline, philosophy, history, and culture of the martial arts.

New York State Assemblyman Peter Abbate has selected William Kwok to receive a Certificate of Merit and a citation of his contribution to promoting martial arts and Chinese culture. This recognition is given to individuals who improve the lives of others within their community and the Great State of New York.

William Kwok is a globally recognized martial arts educator. He is the founder of Martial Arts Education Society and the headmaster of Gotham Martial Arts in New York City. He has dedicated his life to teaching martial arts and its culture to thousands of Americans to help improve their mind and body. Besides teaching, Mr. Kwok is currently pursuing a Doctoral degree in Education at Northeastern University after he earned his master's degree from Harvard. The goal of his research is to develop a martial arts based social-emotional learning program for elementary school students.

Mr. Kwok is an inner disciple of Practical Wing Chun founder Wan Kam Leung and has been promoting his teacher's martial arts system since 2008. This month marks the 10th anniversary of Practical Wing Chun in America. "Their remarkable achievements make them truly worthy of the esteem of the community and the great State of New York," stated Assemblyman Peter Abbate. "On this occasion of the 10th anniversary of Practical Wing Chun in America, we congratulate Grandmaster Wan Kam Leung and Master William Kwok on their achievements."

"I am pleased, honored and humbled to accept this recognition. I will continue to give my best effort to spreading awareness of the martial arts by educating people in the discipline, philosophy, history, and culture of the martial arts." said William Kwok.

Along with William Kwok, nine recipients were also honored Certificate of Merit at Park Asia's 13th Anniversary Charity Gala for their dedicated efforts to their community.
With recent acquisitions in both the UK and Spain we continue to expand our global reach supporting our facilities in the U.S., Europe and China and offering a robust lineup of products to meet the needs of our very discerning customer base, said Preston Hendrix, President of Micromeritics.

Micromeritics Instrument Corporation underscored its position as a leading global manufacturer of premium products for advanced material characterization, when company scientists recently spanned three continents and multiple cities presenting some of the most advanced technologies in the industry.

Micromeritics Technical Director, Dr. Jeffrey Kenvin presented the keynote lecture at the Iberoamerican Adsorption Symposium and Iberian Adsorption meeting in Gijon, Spain. Dr. Kenvins presentation focused on using chemical adsorption for the characterization of catalytic materials.

Dr. Kenvin also delivered a plenary talk at the 7th International Workshop on Layered Materials in Krakow, Poland. The advances in characterization using adsorption and the corresponding increase in the understanding of these new materials were highlighted in his plenary talk.

Micromeritics Senior Scientist, Dr. Jacek Jagiello, also lectured at the Gijon, Spain Symposium and presented his research on using oxygen adsorption to improve the quality and reduce the time required to characterize nanoporous carbons. He spoke on the same topic at the Tenth International Symposium Effects of Surface Heterogeneity in Adsorption, Catalysis and Related Phenomena in Lublin, Poland. Dr. Jagiello was also the keynote speaker at the World Conference on Carbon in Madrid, Spain.

In Coimbra, Portugal Micromeritics Senior Application Scientist, Dr. Simon Yunes, presented the PID Eng & Tech Effi microreactor to attendees at the 26th Iberoamerican Catalysis Congress. The Effi is a fully automated system for evaluating the performance of catalytic materials in typical applications. In Delhi and Bangalore, India, Dr. Yunes delivered two lectures entitled Gas Adsorption Techniques for the Characterization of Catalysts.

Micromeritics Director of Technical Information, Tony Thornton, participated in the ISO Technical Committee 24, Subcommittee 4, Particle Characterization in Shanghai, China, as well as the ASTM Committees E29 on Particle and Spray Characterization and B09 on Metal Powders and Metal Powder Products. In addition, he attended the ASTM Committees E56 and Nanotechnology and D20 on plastics both in Washington, D.C.

Obviously, we are very proud of our scientific team and its representation on the world stage, said Preston Hendrix, President of Micromeritics. With recent acquisitions in both the United Kingdom and Spain we continue to expand our global reach supporting our facilities in the U.S., Europe and China and offering a robust lineup of products to meet the needs of our very discerning customer base.

Micromeritics recently acquired Tewkesbury, UK-based Freeman Technology, which

specializes in providing instruments for the measurement of powder flow properties and other behavioral properties of powders and Madrid, Spain-based Process Integral Development S.L. (PID Tech & Eng). PID Eng & Tech provides modular laboratory microreactor systems for the measurement of catalytic activity and for the study of yield and kinetics of chemical reactions.

Corporate Profile

Micromeritics Instrument Corporation is a leading global provider of solutions for material characterization with best-in-class instrumentation and application expertise in five core areas: density; surface area and porosity; particle size and shape; powder characterization; and catalyst characterization and process development. Founded in 1962, the company is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, USA and has more than 300 employees worldwide. With a fully integrated operation that extends from a world class scientific knowledge base to in-house manufacture, Micromeritics delivers an extensive range of high-performance products for academic research and industrial problem-solving. The implementation of tactical partnerships to incubate and deliver valuable new technologies exemplifies the companys holistic, customer-centric approach, which extends to a cost-efficient contract testing laboratory  the Particle Testing Authority (PTA). The strategic acquisitions of Freeman Technology Ltd and Process Integral Development S.L. (PID Eng & Tech) reflect an ongoing commitment to optimized, integrated solutions in the industrially vital areas of powders and catalysis. For more information go to http://www.micromeritics.com

Freeman Technology (Tewkesbury, UK) brings market-leading powder characterization technology to Micromeritics existing portfolio of particle characterization techniques. The result is a suite of products that directly supports efforts to understand and engineer particle properties to meet powder performance targets. With over 15 years of experience in powder testing, Freeman Technology specializes in systems for measuring the flow properties of powders. In combination with detailed application know-how these systems deliver unrivalled insight into powder behavior supporting development, formulation, scale-up, processing and manufacture across a wide range of industrial sectors.

PID Eng & Tech (Madrid, Spain) complements Micromeritics renowned offering for catalyst characterization with technology for the measurement and optimization of catalytic activity, with a product range that extends to both standard and bespoke pilot scale equipment. Launched in 2003, PID Eng & Tech is a leading provider of automated, modular microreactor systems for the detailed investigation of reaction kinetics and yield. These products are supported by a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of engineers with in-depth expertise in the design, construction and operation of laboratory units and process scale-up.
November is National Family Caregivers Month and Home Instead Senior Care will join the nationwide celebration to recognize the 44 million Americans who care for a family member, friend or neighbor. On average, caregivers spend 253 hours per month caring for an older adult, which is equivalent to nearly two full time jobs. Caregivers often put so much energy into caring for others, they neglect their own health and well-being, which can lead to debilitating stress.

We find so often that caregivers get burned out  and that burnout can really be detrimental to the health of the caregiver and to the care recipient, said Lakelyn Hogan, gerontologist at Home Instead Senior Care. When Im talking with caregivers, I always stress how important it is to find a support network.

The responsibility of caring for a loved one can cause emotional and physical stress. Evidence shows caregivers have elevated levels of stress hormones. Symptoms of stress include anger, anxiety, sadness, exhaustion and guilt, and may signal that a caregiver needs assistance or additional support.

Home Instead Senior Care offers the following tips to help caregivers avoid and reduce stress:



Work out. Set aside 20 minutes of your day, at least three times a week, to engage in some form of physical activity such as walking, dancing or running. Exercise is proven to increase overall health and your sense of well-being.

Prioritize your own health. Unfortunately, many caregivers sacrifice their health when caring for a loved one, which may result in the inability to provide the best care. Pay close attention to your own health and stay up to date on medical appointments.

Reach out. Its okay to ask for help and take a break. Ask family members or friends to sit with a loved one so you can have time to focus on yourself. A professional caregiver also can provide additional support, from light housework to personal care for your loved one.

Eat well. Caregiving can be time consuming and physically draining, but your body will thank you for eating fruits and vegetables instead of fast food, sugar and caffeine.

Talk to someone. Its nice to have someone to talk with who understands exactly what you are going through. Seek out other caregivers who have had similar experiences for support.

For more information on how to reduce caregiver stress, visit http://www.caregiverstress.com.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Neb., by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of care throughout the United States and 12 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members to help meet that individuals needs. Services span the care continuum from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimers care and hospice support. Also available are family care education and support resources. At Home Instead Senior Care, its relationship before task, while striving to provide superior quality service.
We are very proud to be the first AI company to receive FDA Clearance from the FDA for a system that not only helps finding suspicious abnormalities, but also helps radiologists decide whether they should be followed up

ScreenPoint Medical, a medical imaging company developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the early detection of breast cancer, announced today that it has received 510(k) Clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for Transpara detection and decision support software, designed to assist radiologists with the reading of screening mammograms.

Transpara is the first AI application for detecting breast cancer in screening mammograms to gain 510(k) Clearance from the FDA, based on its unique functionality which interactively provides support for detection and diagnosis. The Clearance was supported by the results of a multi-reader, multi-case Reader Study, which demonstrated that radiologists significantly improved detection accuracy when using Transpara for decision support without increasing reading times. In the study, the stand-alone sensitivity and specificity of Transpara was nearly at the same level as that of radiologists. The full results of the study, Detection of breast cancer using mammography: Impact of an Artificial Intelligence support system, was recently published in Radiology.

In the editorial, Will AI Succeed Where Traditional CAD Failed?, published as a companion to the Reader Study, Dr Manisha Bahl wrote: The results of the study by Rodriguez-Ruiz and colleagues suggest that integration of AI systems into routine clinical practice could help radiologists with varying levels of training and experience achieve performance benchmarks and therefore improve the quality of mammography across the country.

We are very proud to be the first AI company to receive FDA Clearance from the FDA for a system that not only helps finding suspicious abnormalities, but also helps radiologists decide whether they should be followed up, said Prof. Nico Karssemeijer, PhD, CEO of ScreenPoint Medical. This is a significant advance and we look forward to working with breast imagers in the U.S. to make AI work in clinical practice to improve early detection of breast cancer.

Transpara already has European regulatory approval (CE Mark) for use with mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) images from multiple vendors and is installed at leading breast imaging centers in Europe. Transpara DBT is still investigational in the U.S.

ScreenPoint will showcase Transpara and its integration with multiple vendor workstations at the upcoming 104th Annual Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting, November 25-30, 2018 (South Hall #2976). Two studies demonstrating that radiologists significantly improved cancer detection in mammography when using Transpara while maintaining workflow will also be presented this week at RSNA:



Detecting Breast Cancer in Mammography: A Deep Learning-Based Computer System versus 101 Radiologists (RC215-13, Monday, November 26, 11:10-11:20 AM); this will be presented in the Arie Crown Theater, as part of the Breast Series: Hot Topics.

Improving Radiologists' Breast Cancer Detection with Mammography Using a Deep Learning-Based Computer System for Decision Support, (SSK02-03, Wednesday, November 28, 10:50-11AM).

Utilizing state of the art image analysis and revolutionary deep learning technology, Transpara automatically identifies soft-tissue and calcification lesions and combines the findings of all available views into a single cancer suspiciousness score. Breast imaging professionals can use this Transpara Score to automatically identify exams that are highly likely to be normal and the exams with features indicating highly increased risk of cancer. Interactive decision support is provided to improve assessment of lesions. Information is provided concurrent during reading and only when needed. As a result, it does not slow down reading.

This is just the beginning - we will continue to bring increasingly powerful algorithms to the market, said Karssemeijer. ScreenPoint works with a growing number of partners on integration of Transpara in existing breast imaging workstations to rapidly bring the application to real clinical practice.

About ScreenPoint Medical BV

ScreenPoint Medical develops image analysis technology for automated reading of mammograms and digital breast tomosynthesis exams, exploiting Big Data, Deep Learning and the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence. ScreenPoint Medical was founded in 2014 by Nico Karssemeijer and Michael Brady, two experts in breast imaging, machine learning, computer vision, and computer-aided detection. The main office is in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

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Media Contact:

Chris K. Joseph

510/435-4031

chris@ckjcomm.com
SignUpGenius Gives Back to 38 Charities for Giving Tuesday Its especially meaningful to help empower our team in supporting causes close to their hearts  from our local schools to children in need around the world, says Dottie Bedell, Senior Human Resources Administrator.

SignUpGenius is empowering employees to give back to their favorite charities in honor of Giving Tuesday. The tech company will celebrate the giving season by donating $250 to nonprofits selected by each of its 34 staff members.

SignUpGenius will also donate $60,000  $15,000 each  to four nonprofit partner organizations based in North Carolina. The company will volunteer to help the four nonprofits with service projects around the Charlotte area on November 27.

Founded in 2012, Giving Tuesday is a global movement of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. SignUpGenius has grown its company giving each year in support of the effort.

This year SignUpGenius donations helped employees give back to organizations such as:



Friends of York County Animal Shelter, a completely volunteer-run nonprofit organization assisting York County (SC) Animal Control with socializing and re-homing the adoptable animals.

Beds for Kids assists needy families with children as they rise out of poverty. The organization delivers beds and other essential furniture items to powerfully supplement the familys resources as they become increasingly self-sufficient.

Taylors Tale is one of the worlds leading voices in the fight against rare disease. Founded to honor one little girl with infantile Batten disease, today they work to build a better future for one in 10 Americans  and 350 million people worldwide  who suffer from one of more than 7,000 rare diseases.

Our Bridge for Kids is based in Charlotte, NC with a mission to provide a safe, nurturing, respectful environment for refugee and immigrant students and their families. A place where they can adjust to a new culture, learn English and get the support they need to succeed at school and in life.

Were grateful to boost our donations this year to $68,500 for Giving Tuesday while also giving back by volunteering with our partner nonprofits in our hometown of Charlotte, says Dottie Bedell, Senior Human Resources Administrator. Its especially meaningful to help empower our team in supporting causes close to their hearts  from our local schools to children in need around the world. SignUpGenius is thankful to give time and money to serve nonprofits locally, nationally, and internationally.

SignUpGenius has donated over half a million dollars to charitable causes since the company was founded ten years ago. Along with donating to partner nonprofits, the company regularly supports causes that are important to its team members, matching employee donations to registered 501c3 nonprofits up to $500 per year per employee.

About SignUpGenius

SignUpGenius simplifies the process of coordinating events and people by providing online sign ups for nonprofits, schools, sports, churches, families, colleges, businesses and organizations. By enabling up to 18 million unique visitors per month to sign up for tasks online, SignUpGenius has done away with the need for paper sign ups, "reply-all" emails and phone trees.
Fire and Light: a compelling book of Christian poems. Fire and Light is the creation of published author T. D. Garten, a devout Christian and grandmother from West Virginia.

Fire and Light is a collection of faith-based poetry about the sorrows, lessons, and choices that we face during this journey we call life. It is about surviving and even rising above these struggles. These poems will take you on a journey of suffering and healing, failure and forgiveness, brokenness and restoration. They are about our lives, our loves, and our choices. You may cry. You may smile. In the end, if they made you look more closely at God and your relationship to Him, they have fulfilled their purpose.

These poems are born from the authors own life experiences. They are personal, heartfelt, and relatable. If you have lost a loved one, witnessed suffering, stumbled, or questioned your faith, you will be able to see yourself on some of the pages within this book. These poems are meant to invoke thought, encourage prayer, provide some insight, and hopefully, promote some healing to those in pain.

Remember, you may find yourself in a dark tunnel or amid a raging storm, but you can survive, and you can thrive. But you cant do it alone. As you read, open your heart so you may see Gods saving grace, His love, and His ability to show us the light thats at the end of every tunnel and to lead us to calm waters that lie just beyond the fearsome waves. All we have to do is trust and follow Him.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, T. D. Gartens new book is a heartfelt compilation of poetic observations divided into five parts, each of which describes a stage in the grand arc of life in general and in particularthe loss, the journey, the restoration, the creation, and the choice.

With vivid honesty and the eloquent grace of wisdom, Garten moves the readers heart to a place where they can make the right choice in their own lives.

View a synopsis of Fire and Light on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Fire and Light at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Fire and Light, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
I am honored to serve on uBiomes advisory board as they are a true pioneer in the field and give physicians a useful tool to improve patient care. Im eager to work with them to advance research on the link between the microbiome and IBD. - Dr. Wuerth, MD

uBiome, the leader in microbial genomics, announces the addition of Dr. Brandon Wuerth, MD, Founder of the website IBDwatch and Gastroenterology Fellow at the University of Louisville, to its Medical Advisory Board. Joining the board of leading scientists and doctors from around the world, Dr. Wuerth will bring to uBiome knowledge and research on IBD. The appointment will help uBiome continue its advancement in human microbiome research.

Through his website and his practice, Dr. Wuerth has touched the lives of many sufferers of intestinal and gut disorders, Dr. Jessica Richman, PhD, co-founder and CEO of uBiome, said. His interest in bringing research about IBD to the public aligns with uBiomes mission and he will be a great asset to our board of medical advisors.

Dr. Wuerth completed his internal medicine residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and is currently a second-year Gastroenterology Fellow at the University of Louisville. A sufferer of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) himself, he founded the popular website IBDwatch to broadcast news and research pertaining to IBD to both physicians and patients. His prior research has been primarily focused on gastrointestinal hemorrhage and Clostridium difficile infection, the leading bacterial cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea, and has authored three publications.

About joining uBiome's Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Wuerth said, I am honored to serve on uBiomes advisory board as they are a true pioneer in the field and give physicians a useful tool to improve patient care. Im eager to work with them to advance research on the link between the microbiome and IBD.

In addition to Dr. Wuerth, the uBiome Scientific Advisory Board also includes Dr. Joseph DeRisi (MacArthur Genius and UCSF professor), Dr. Atul Butte (head of the Institute for Computational Health Sciences at UCSF), Dr. Katherine Pollard (Director, Gladstone Institute for Data Science and Biotechnology), Dr. Joel Palefsky (UCSF School of Medicine professor), Dr. George Church (leading geneticist at Harvard University), Dr. Liz Lipski (Academic Director of Nutrition and Integrative Health Programs at Maryland University of Integrative Health), Dr. Elaine Hsiao, PhD (UCLA), and other leading scientists. The companys Medical Advisory Board includes Dr. Alan Green (Society for Participatory Medicine), Dr. Leo Treyzon (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), Dr. Cynthia Geyer (Medical Director of Canyon Ranch, Lenox), Dr. Robynne Chutkan (Georgetown University Hospital), Michael Docktor (Boston Childrens Hospital), Dr. Tiffany Lester (Medical Director of Parsley Health in San Francisco), Dr. Joel Kahn (Founder of of the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity), as well as other accomplished clinicians.

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About uBiome

Founded in 2012, uBiome is the leader in microbial genomics. The Companys mission is to advance the science of the microbiome and make it useful to people. uBiome combines its patented proprietary precision sequencing with machine learning and artificial intelligence to develop wellness products, clinical tests, and therapeutic targets. uBiome has filed for over 250 patents on its technology, which includes sample preparation, computational analysis, molecular techniques, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

uBiomes commercial products include SmartGut, the worlds first sequencing-based clinical microbiome test, which identifies microbes in the gut for patients with chronic gut conditions such as IBD, IBS, Crohns Disease, and ulcerative colitis; SmartJane, the first sequencing-based womens health screening test, which genotypes all 19 clinically relevant strains of HPV, identifies four common STDs, and surveys more than 20 vaginal microbes associated with bacterial vaginosis and other conditions; and Explorer, a health and wellness product to understand the role that food and lifestyle can play in wellness.

uBiomes platform has been used by hundreds of thousands of consumers, patients, and doctors and more than 200 research institutions around the world, including the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Harvard University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of California, San Francisco, Oxford University, and the University of Sydney.

Since its launch, the company has received widespread recognition including CNN 10: Startups to Watch, the IVY Technology Award, CNN Future 30, and was named one of Fast Companys Most Innovative Companies in Healthcare in 2016 and in Data Science in 2018, as well as a Technology Pioneer from the World Economic Forum in 2018. For more information, visit http://www.uBiome.com.
The World Trade Center Delaware is celebrating three anniversaries  one of which is the 50th anniversary of the Delaware founding of the World Trade Centers Association  with a gala on Thursday, December 6, 2018 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Hotel du Pont, 42 W. 11th St., Wilmington.

H. E. Ambassador George Christian Maior and his delegation from the Romanian Embassy in Washington, D.C. will also be in attendance, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Romanian unification.

And, of course, Delaware Day  the 231st Anniversary of Delawares becoming the First State, is on December 7.

The gala includes a pre-dinner cocktail hour, gourmet dinner, music and dancing with entertainers including the BlueBallRooms Johny Postolachi, international champion dancer and member of the Romanian Competitive DanceSport Team, and U.S. and Russian champion dancers.

Delaware is home to more than one million business entities, making us the Corporate Capital of the World, says Carla Stone, president of WTC Delaware. Thats cause alone to celebrate! This gala will be a feast for the senses, mixed with the opportunity to experience the cultural diversity that makes for a high quality business community. This is not a night of speeches, only fun and stimulating conversations with a worldwide community of professionals.

Tickets are $200 for members and $250 for nonmembers. For additional information or to RSVP, visit http://bit.ly/2B8yU3t.

About World Trade Center Delaware

The World Trade Center Delaware is the state's premier international business and economic development resource. We are a member of the World Trade Centers Association, a global network of 320 World Trade Centers with more than 15,000 employees in nearly 100 countries that helps companies to succeed in new markets, increase profitability, expand employment, and attract investment. The wide variety of sectors WTC Delaware serves include agriculture, accounting, environmental remediation, IT, medical equipment manufacturing, biopharmaceutical research and development, real estate development, and legal services.

As one of 323 World Trade Centers in 90 countries and with more than 15,000 employees, WTC Delaware is the US Agency for International Developments Making Global Local Partner for Delaware, and Associate Office of the US Department of Commerce, and EXIM Banks Regional Export Promotion partner. For more information, visit http://www.wtcde.org.

ENTERTAINERS (Select images and bios)

Ion (Johny) Postolachi

Ion (Johny) Postolachi is originally from Moldova where he trained as a competitive dancer since he was five. Ion danced his first competition when he was six, and he has competed for over 20 years, and taught for 10 years. In his career as a competitive dancer, he has represented Moldova, Romania, and Belgium. His students have completed various goals such as performing at National and International competitions at the highest level.

Pamela Hague

Pamela is currently the program director for the Foundation for Renewable Energy & Environment, a Delaware non-profit dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy. However, her passion is dance, and she has studied and performed various forms of dance throughout her life while pursuing her professional career.

Sergey Izyumov and Oksana Zaver, Professional Ballroom Dance Couple

Sergey and Oksana have been dancing together for just a little over a year, but already achieved outstanding results. They have won over 15 professional ballroom competitions all over the United States.
Chris Hendrickson, Managing Director in Ziegler's Corporate Finance Healthcare practice, stated, "Advantage has built a well-earned reputation for best-in-class service within Missouri and Illinois...

Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce its role in advising Advantage Nursing Services, Inc. (Advantage) in the partnership of its Senior In-Home (In-Home) and Consumer Directed Services (CDS) entities with Alpine Investors (Alpine) and its portfolio company TEAM Public Choices (TEAM). Advantage is a leading provider of hourly home care services, including private duty skilled nursing care, personal care assistance, and homemaker services to pediatric, adult and senior clients. TEAM is focused on serving the disabled community, facilitating self-directed care that allows individuals to employ caregivers of their choosing. Through this transaction, TEAM increased its geographical footprint, expanded its service lines and provided liquidity to Advantages retiring founder.

Since 1980, Advantage Nursing Services has been providing quality home care services to families throughout Missouri and Illinois. Advantages staff of over 1,300 nurses, home health aides and personal care attendants performs over 1.4 million care hours annually to over 1,250 clients. The In-Home and CDS entities provide non-medical services to clients receiving traditional home support and fiscal intermediary services that allow individuals with disabilities and their families to hire caregivers of their choosing.

Chris Hendrickson, Managing Director in Ziegler's Corporate Finance Healthcare practice, stated, "Advantage has built a well-earned reputation for best-in-class service within Missouri and Illinois. Its array of services, often provided by family caregivers, help clients achieve their personal goals through supportive care that promotes greater independence and choice. The partnership with TEAM, which has demonstrated success with the self-directed model across multiple states, provides a tremendous opportunity to further scale the business and Ziegler is thrilled to have represented Advantage in this transaction."

Through the investment, Advantage will have access to expanded resources and will have increased opportunities to pursue growth through organic avenues as well as additional partnerships.

John Bosen, President of Advantage, stated, "We are thrilled to begin this great partnership. Our company cultures have focused on creating an environment driven by integrity, caring, commitment, compassion, excellence, and trust. This link in service and philosophy drives us and gives me great confidence in our ability to expand the collective impact we can have on the communities we serve. TEAM gains an opportunity to expand its focus on Medicaid and other state-sponsored disability to a new geographic area while furthering its mission of providing high quality care in settings of peoples own choosing.

Josh Greenberg, CEO of TEAM, also commented, The opportunity to join forces with Advantage is very exciting. Advantages well-respected and experienced leadership team has established a vibrant culture of excellence, and TEAM shares the same passion for helping our clients live better lives through quality care. Our organizations are already driving impressive results, but the future potential that this partnership creates is boundless.

Ziegler's Corporate Finance team is focused on delivering best-in-class advisory and financing solutions for companies and organizations across the healthcare industry. In our core practice areas of healthcare services, information technology, hospitals and senior living, Ziegler is one of the most active M&A firms offering innovative sell-side, buy-side, recapitalization/restructuring, equity private placement and strategic partnering services.

For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.ziegler.com.

About Ziegler:

Ziegler is a privately held investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. Specializing in the healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance, enables Ziegler to generate a positive impact on the clients and communities it serves. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the United States, Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, equity and fixed income sales & trading and research. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com.

Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This clients experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.
Speaking at the Ghana Club 100 Awards, Mr Kwarteng said that the countrys loss to cybercrime keeps increasing which is worrying.

Ghana lost 25milllion dollars in 2016 increasing to some 69 million dollars in 2017.

READ ALSO: Report shows that Customer service in Ghana very poor

Last year we lost $69 million to cyber criminals and this year as at August, we lost $97 million so it is very worrying and therefore there is the need for education to avoid this.

Mr Kwarteng attributed the increased rate of cybercrime to the increase in electronic money transaction

The Deputy Minister said with increased mobile money transactions across the country and various e-commerce platforms both nationally and internationally, it is essential to protect patrons from fraud. To curb this canker, therefore, the government of Ghana has launched and will in 2019 introduce the cybersecurity fund to ensure that there is enough funding for safe ecological ecosystem.

He said that to curb this situation the government of Ghana will launch a cyber-security fund in 2019 to ensure there is enough funds to fight the menace.

This follows the rolling out of the Cyber Security Guidelines for the financial sector by the Central Bank.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) have hence stated some nineteen banks who have so far met the requirement.

Nana Otuo Acheampong a banking expect revealed that, the banking sector will have less than 22 banks operating next year.

He stated that, the industry will be more vibrant if it had fewer but well capitalized banks operating in the system.

Nana Otuo Acheampong said, We have been analyzing from our office here the financials that have been produced for 30th of September, 2018. So far out of the 23 or 24 we have examined more than 19 have met the minimum capital requirement, adding that, But there are still the others who are yet to publish. I would however not be happy if all the remaining banks meet the requirement. We started with 36 and we should probably end up with about 20 or 22. If we are able to do this we would get the resilience in the sector that we expect.

Mentioning some other countries as example, the Expect indicated that, Ghana can learn from West African countries such as Nigeria.

He said, Nigeria started with 89 and they ended up with 22 or so. Malaysia started with 80 and ended up with 12. So if you ask me about my expectations, well I dont expect us to end with the same number that we started with.

Some banks who are seen to meet the requirement

Based on their shareholders funds, these banks are likely to meet the minimum capital requirement of GH400 million by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

Ecobank - GH902 million

Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB) - GH1.05 billion

Barclays - GH979 million

Stanbic - GH889 million

Standard Chartered Bank - GH927 million

Fidelity Bank - GH500 million

Zenith Bank - GH702 million

National Investment Bank (NIB) - GH791 million

CAL Bank - GH622 million

Agric Development Bank (ADB) - GH507 million

Access Bank - GH467 million

UBA - GH498 million

Although the above banks are slated to meet the requirements, there are still some others who are yet to be announced.

Some other banks have merged to be able to as well meet the requirement.

Recapitalisation of banks

The Bank of Ghana has made some reforms in the banking sector to help in promoting the industry and eradicate some irregularities.

The banks are required to raise 400 million Cedis minimum capital before December 31st, 2018.

Since September 2017, commercial banks in the country have been racing against time to recapitalize.

The banks have resorted to various options such as fresh capital injection from shareholders, raising funds from the stock market or merging.

Twenty banks have so far met the requirement with the remaining working round the clock to beat the deadline.
iStock/Thinkstock(ISTANBUL) -- Turkish security forces raided two adjoining villas in an isolated area of western Turkey Monday morning as part of the ongoing investigation into the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.



Police officials told ABC News that at least 40 police officers and forensic workers took part in the search at an isolated mansion outside the village of Termal, in Yalova province.



Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Turkish official familiar with the investigation told ABC News that investigators are searching for the remains of Khashoggi's body. They took water samples from a well on one of the properties as well as from a swimming pool, he said, and all samples will be sent to a criminal lab for forensic analysis.



Turkey has accused Saudi Arabia of dispatching a 15-member assassination squad to kill Khashoggi, who was an American resident and a strong critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The assassins strangled and dismembered Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, Saudi officials admitted, before removing his remains, which have yet to be found.



On Monday morning, police and forensics teams were seen going in and out of the property, and at least one fire truck arrived at the house, according to the official Turkish state news outlet Anadolu News Agency.



The same three-story villa in Yalova was raided by roughly 40 policemen on Oct. 23 according to the Hurriyet newspaper, after it was discovered that one of the members of the Saudi hit squad who allegedly killed Khashoggi had called the owner of the villa on the day of the murder.



During the initial search in October, police said they explored the buildings on the compound, but this morning authorities returned with dogs and drones to begin a more detailed investigation of the grounds.



The owner of the villa is a Saudi Arabian businessman who left Turkey shortly after the murder and has not returned, the same official told ABC News.



Termal is a village in the Marmara region of Turkey, about 50 miles from Istanbul. It is renowned for its hot springs and rural setting, which attracts large numbers of tourists from the Gulf region every year.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
This follows an announcement from the countrys minister for Business Development, Dr Mohammed Awal Ibrahim revealing that the government will not tax startup business within three years.

The ministers announcement confirms the governments commitment to enabling the local businesses to flourish in the country.

The minister who spoke as the Guest of Honour at the 2018 Ghana Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Young CEOs summit at Kempinski in Accra, the countrys capital revealed that startup businesses will be given a 3-year tax break during the first 3 years of setup.

He explained the ministry is reviewing the Procurement Law in the country which will make the local businesses be considered much more than the foreign businesses in the procurement businesses.

The minister further indicated that the ministry a bill will send a startup law to parliament that will enable startup business not to pay taxes within the first three years. Any money earned within the three years will be pushed back into the company.

The minister then added that, As a further commitment to creating a supportive ecosystem for young Ghanaian entrepreneurs of age 35 years and below, who start their own businesses, government will through the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), grant tax holidays based on the number of persons employed by a start-up or early-stage business.

The recent budget that was presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta in 2017, the government promised to grant tax holidays to young business owners who will register with the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP).

Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal assured entrepreneurs that the relief will be enforced before the end of 2019.

This years SMEs Young CEOs Summit themed Corporate Leadership Governance & Technology: Strong Pillars for Business & Economic Growth was the second since its inception.
A raw footage of the freestyle found its way into the internet but some unimpressed fans took to social media to ridicule him.

Shatta Wale responded by threatening Ghanaians, claiming he will use someone as a scapegoat when he returns from his Europe tour.

READ ALSO: Here are all the winners of MTN HitmakerHere are all the winners of MTN Hitmaker

But BBC has dropped the freestyle video which sounds better than the raw one.
A popular tabloid page on Instagram @those_called_celebs has decided to no longer limit the bullying to celebs but now targets royalty. She shared a video of Otumfour, the Asantehene giving an advice to the president and captioned it saying, Otumfour, mani nsa woo o  but I think you are sitting on too much gold. Can you cut some and melt Asanteman? Cux Kumasi people too are crying paa cux there is no job in the city 
Prior to their new status, the family of Mr. & Mrs. Ben Ogar popularly known as the Ogoja mentally deranged couple were seen walking together with their three children, all looking unkempt.

News about their plight became topical and touched the hearts of many people across the continent including authorities of Nigerias Rivers State where they reside and some humanitarian organisations.

Subsequent to that, a search was mounted by a team from the Cross River State Government and Federal Neuro Psychiatric hospital, Calabar in the state and they have finally been located and being attended to.

According to gistreel.com, Mr. Ben and his wife lost their means of livelihood about six years ago while residing in Abuja with their two kids, and what followed was a mental disorder.

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He thought it wise to relocate with his wife to his home in Ogoja where he opted to stay in a shanty rather than his fathers house, the news website reported.

It is further reported that as soon as Mr. Ben and started exhibiting signs of mental derangement, his family rescued their first set of kids from thm.

The couple then roamed the streets of Ogoja for six good years during which they brought forth the three children they are seen in the heart-breaking photos with.

They basically have five children, but the first two are probably in a good condition due to the fact that they had been rescued early enough by family members.

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Reports say doctors confirmed after examination that Mr. Ben has been suffering from a mental disorder, while his wife is only having the folie a deux syndrome as a result of her husbands ideation.

For the children, two girls and a boy, reports say they are in very stable condition and are responding to treatment very well.

Gistreel.com reported Progress Oberiko as saying support is yet to come from the government who initiated their rescue.
Reports say prior to his backsliding and subsequent incarceration, Lee Jaerock had about 130,000-strong congregation in the East Asian country.

The man of God was accused of sexually assaulting five women in April this year, most of whom reportedly told Korea Herald that he coerced them with the name of God and raped them several times.

Just like in some other countries, experts say around 60 people in the country claim to be divine in South Korea with some having been implicated in fraud, brainwashing, coercion, and other behaviours associated with cults worldwide.

Following his trial and imprisonment, one of the rape victims was quoted by told South Korean television as saying I was unable to turn him down, ostensibly because he used the name of God in committing the act.

READ ALSO: Married woman gets stuck at the lips with boyfriend

The woman who had been a member of Lee Jaerocks church since childhood added that he was more than a king. He was God.

The court arrived at the 15-year jail term decision after it came to light during the trial that the revered man of God had raped the victims tens of times over a long period.

South Korea is known for its technological advancement with about 44 percent of its citizens being Christians.
Elozino Ogege, a level 300 student of Mass Communication had been declared missing some days ago, but was later found dead with her tongue and breasts reportedly severed from her body.

Police investigations into the murder has so far led to the arrest of the suspected murderers.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Andrew Aniamaka confirmed the discovery of the deceaseds body parts saying: All those connected with the gruesome murder of Elozino have been arrested and will duly be prosecuted.

The police boss, according to yabaleftonline.ng, added that a security staff identified as Onos Ekana, who works in Site III of the university campus, two suspected internet fraudsters popularly known as Yahoo Boys and a native doctor are currently in police custody.

A herbalist who the ritualists gave the body parts removed from the deceased has been arrested and we found the eyes of the deceased and her heart in his shrine in Warri.

During the confessional statement of the two ritualists nabbed in Umege, Abraka, they said that they have also given human parts to the said herbalist on five different occasions, though they were not specific if the five persons murdered were DELSU students.

Investigations will be concluded soon and the culprits will be prosecuted.
The 5th edition which took here in Accra, Ghana at the Accra International conference centre. It was filled with distinguished ladies and gentlemen for one of the most prestigious award ceremonies on the African continent

But our focus is about the style moments; Who wore what? Who turned heads at the event ? Who was our best dressed ? The night of many stunning looks.

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Pearl Thusi , a co-host of the 2018 Afrima from South Africa continued to be the most delightful gowns on stage , Regina Van-Helvert, looked stunning with her extra-voluminous gown as the red carpet host entirely dashing on the red carpet, and Omotola literally took the lead for Nigeria with her outfit .

READ ALSO:5 best-dressed Ghanaian celebrities at the 2018 AFRIMA Awards5 best-dressed Ghanaian celebrities at the 2018 AFRIMA Awards

Without further ado, here are your your top ten best dressed celebrities at the 2018 All Africa Music Awards.

1. Regina Van-Helvert (Red carpet host from Ghana)

2. Jackie Appiah (Actress from Ghana)

3. Daphne Nije (Singer from Cameroon)

4. victoria kimani ( Kenyan)

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5. Lyna Mahyem

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6. Pearl Thusi (TV host from South Africa)

7. Moesha Buodong ( Actress from Ghana)

8. Lydia Forson (Actress from Ghana)

9. Omotola ( Actress from Nigeria )
This is the not the first time she has attended a star-studded in a provocative dress but this time Nina stepped up her style game.

Nina gave us the attendees quite a sight as she wore a see-through silver lace lingerie with matching wrap.

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In one of her recent interviews, she disclosed that I want Ghanaian women to show off what they have, busty, plump girls, Be proud of what God gave you and show off as much as they want to.

According to her, she doesnt care what the public will say about her because know herself better than anybody.

Check out the photos below:

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Accra-based Joy FM reports that the accident occurred Sunday morning while the driver, identified as Charles Owusu, was heading to the Central region.

READ ALSO: Presidential staffers reducing by 69 in 2019- Oppong NkrumahPresidential staffers reducing by 69 in 2019- Oppong Nkrumah

He drove the Nissan Pickup car to hit the two men who were riding on a motorbike, the Police said.

The incident is reported to have happened around the Apam junction and Winneba roundabout on the Accra-Cape Coast highway.

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The bodies of the deceased have since been conveyed to the morgue at the Trauma and Specialist hospital in Winneba.

READ ALSO: Afram Plains chief praises Akufo-Addo for not coming by helicopterAfram Plains chief praises Akufo-Addo for not coming by helicopter

The driver, Charles Owusu, is currently in the grip of the Winneba Police, as invstigations begin into the incident.
This will be the second part of the tour in his bid to lead the National Democratic Congress into the 2020 general elections.

Ahead of the National Delegates Congress of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahama toured more than half of the constituencies in the Ashanti Region.

Already, Mr Mahamas flagbearship campaign tour has taken him to all constituencies in the Central, Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Brong Ahafo and Greater Accra regions.READ ALSO: Bringing Mahama back would be a disaster - Minister

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In a statement released to the media, they claim: "The Minority is however very disappointed that the funds have not been used for the intended purpose but rather diverted into areas that will not benefit the cocoa farmer in anyway."
The global banks are JP Morgan, Citigroup Inc, BofA Merrill Lynch, Absa Group Limited, Barclays BankPlc, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs International and Standard Bank Group Ltd.

In a statement released late October, the telecom firm said the initial public offering will be used to further reduce its $5 billion existing debt and grow the continents market.

It also stated that the present transaction will not involve any sale of shares by existing shareholders. Last month, Airtel also raised a $1.25 billion from six global investors including SoftBank Group International, Warburg Pincus LLC and Temasek Holdings (Private) Ltd, Temasek and Singtel.

The company is raising money to settle its existing debt, boost network capacity and expand coverage in different markets.
The brothers who are Polymer and Textile Engineering Undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka said they invented the machine to support the made-in-Nigerian initiative and to strengthen the countrys agricultural sector through technology.

Speaking about the device which they named Oghaniihu C, the students told Pulse that they were inspired to create the machine when the governor of Anambra state said he washed bitter leaves with washing machine in Europe in 2015.

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''Our Inspiration came when we heard the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano talked about washing bitter leaves with his cloth washing machine in Europe. We were challenged and came up with the idea of a machine and mash vegetables.''

They further said the machine, Oganiihu C would help in the easy processing of the foods and getting them ready for consumption.

''It promotes mechanized agriculture, now people won't see washing of bitter leaves as work since this invention has reduced the stress to the Barest Minimum', they said.
According to blogger, Linda Ikeji, the couple welcomed their child a few months ago in Texas, United States of America.

Photos released by the blog shows that the child is already grown.

PULSE reached out to Flavour's manager, Benjamin Omesiete to confirm the authenticity of the gist but he refused to confirm or debunk the news.

According to him, it is not in his place to reveal such information.

Flavour already has a daughter with former beauty queen, Anna Banner.

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It would be recalled that back in 2016, there were speculations that Sandra Okagbue was pregnant after a photo of her with a baby bump surfaced online.

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However, the gist that Flavour and Sandra Okagbue were back together as a couple was first noticed when she got a tattoo of his name on her hand.

ALSO READ: Anna Banner says she is still in love with Flavour

Sandra Okagbue gets Flavour's name tattooed on her hand

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Flavour's baby mama, Sandra Okagbue has gotten his name tattooed on her arm. Sandra Okagbue was spotted at a friend's bridal shower having fun and there the tattoo was revealed. She has the original name of Flavour, "Chinedu" tattooed boldly and quite large on her arm.

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This latest development means that these guys are back together and also no longer leaves room for separation rumors. There have always been hints of these guys getting back together for a very long time even though there hasn't been any certain fact.

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Interestingly, they were reportedly detained by members of a law enforcement agency till they surrendered all the incriminating media files through which they threatened the rich and powerful of Nigeria before running back to their home country of Canada and never looked back. It, however, seems they have inspired a flock of gay Nigerian men on the 'best career in this world' to test adulting.

According to Instablog9ja, two suspected gay prostitutes; Suraja Shehu and Yahaya Sharif, masters of the point and kill ploy have been arrested in Kano.

Like what is reported about the Matharoo sisters, Shehu and Sharif reportedly specialize in identifying rich men, obtaining their mobile numbers and using that medium to establish homosexual relationships with willing targets.

It is incredible to think that this is such a power trade in a country where homosexuality is an outlawed concept. For one, Shehu and Sharif are some very brave men because not only do they establish these outlawed relationships, they then proceed to use societal aversion to homosexuality for terrible advantage.

They use their knowledge to threaten some of those who engage them with public ridicule and disgrace if they are not given money.
According to Daily Post Nigeria, seeing the brazen murder of their kin go unsolved by a horde of visiting cultists, the Lessel youth took matters into their own hands, damning the wits of legality and justice to hell.

On Saturday, November 24, 2018, bearing bare knuckles, machetes and other unsavory weapons, they took matters into their own hands.

Their destination was the guest house the reported cultists were having their meeting. They stormed the building; unleashing the vicious fury only a thirst that sees bare revenge as justice can produce  the attack reportedly lasted for more than two hours.

The youth of Lessel reportedly pillaged raw human skin, brutally murdered and inflicted grievous bodily harm on their victims. The victims who were not killed were said to have been beaten to a pulp.

ALSO READ: Read how 2 notorious cult leaders were shot dead during Lagos gang war

An eyewitness says, The group had come to Lessel town in their numbers on Saturday night for what we gathered was their annual convention.

They ran into the okada man, who they engaged to convey some of them to a guest house in Lessel, venue of the meeting where some of them also put up.

On completing the assignment of conveying them to their destination, the cult members demanded the key of the motorbike, but the rider refused to surrender his bike to them.

They descended on him and killed him instantly. But the news of the murder filtered into town and the youths in Lessel mobilized and stormed the guest house with dangerous weapons.

A bloody fight ensued, some of the cult members were hacked to death, while others captured alive led the youths to where other members of the cult were hiding.

They were all rounded up by the youths. It took the intervention of the Police, who stormed the area, to stop the killing of more cultists, most of whom had been beaten to a pulp by the youths.

Benue State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ene Okoh has said: When we got the information, my men moved in quickly and arrested 13 persons, who were involved in the fracas, but I can confirm that nine persons were killed in the clash.
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At 161 feet (49 m), the bronze African Renaissance Monument stands on top of one of the twin hills of Collines des Mamelles, outside Dakar, as the tallest statue in Africa.

Unveiled in 2010, the project was launched by then Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade who considered it part of Senegal's prestige projects, aimed at providing monuments to herald a new era of African Renaissance.

2. 66 feet: The Great Sphinx of Giza (Egypt)

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Sphinx of Giza or just the Sphinx, is a 20.21 m (66.31 ft) high limestone statue of a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. Facing directly from West to East, it stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. The face of the Sphinx is generally believed to represent the Pharaoh Khafre.

3. 60 feet: Colossi of Memnon (Egypt)

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The Colossi of Memnon, or el-Colossat in Arabic, is actually a pair of massive stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. The statues have been standing in the Theban Necropolis for the past 3,400 years (since 1350 BC), at the west side of the River Nile from the modern city.

4. 42 feet: Queen Moremi Statue of Liberty (Nigeria)

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Queen Moremi is revered by the Yoruba people as an epitome of selflessness, bravery and wisdom. She has been immortalized in several ways with books about her, public places named after her, and the grandest of all, the Queen Moremi Statue of Liberty, which was erected in 2016 by Oba Ogunwusi in the Ife palace.

The 42 feet statue is the tallest statue in Nigeria, and the fourth tallest in Africa. Read more about the courageous Queen Moremi.

5. 36 feet: Statue of Ramesses II (Egypt)

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The Statue of Ramesses II is a 3,200-year-old figure of Ramesses the second standing. It was discovered in 1820 broken in six pieces, and previous attempts to restore it to original height proved unsuccessful until 1955. It now stands at 11 metres (36 feet) in Giza.

6. 29 feet: Nelson Mandela Statue (South Africa)

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The sixth tallest statue in Africa is the bronze statue constructed in honour of the late former South African president and anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela, in June 2013, to bring to a close the official 10-day mourning period for the much loved former state president.

The nine-metre-tall bronze statue cost an estimate of R8-million and is located at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Do not confuse this statue with six-metre-tall Nelson Mandela statue located in Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg.

7. 28 feet: Jesus de Greatest (Nigeria)

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Of course, we can't talk statues without mentioning Imo state, Nigeria. After a 43-year-old businessman, Obinna Onuoha, had a dream in 1997 to build a giant statue of Jesus, the 'tallest statue of Jesus in Africa' commenced construction in 2013. Unveiled three years later, the statue stands in St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Abajah village in Imo state.
According to a report by PRNigeria, troops destroyed operational vehicles and arms following the airstrikes that took place at Tumbun Rego, Kangarwa and Mainok.

A military officer who spoke on anonymity revealed that the air force deployed the Mi-35M, multi-role combat helicopters in carrying out the strikes.

"There were also similar attacks hours after the Sunday's attack. We expect the Nigerian Air Force to release air strike footage soon," he said.

About 118 soldiers were killed when terrorists invaded a military base in Metele village, Guzamala local government area of Borno State on Monday, November 19, 2018. The recent killing of soldiers by Boko Haram has been condemned by several Nigerians on social media.
A faction of Boko Haram led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, is affiliated to ISIS and is now known as the Islamic State West Africa (ISWA).

On Monday, November 19, 2018, members of terrorist sect Boko Haram, stormed the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele and killed over 100 soldiers.

According to an agency that dispenses information on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria, the latest air-strikes from NAF in the wake of the Metele attack, destroyed a convoy of vehicles linked to the Boko Haram fighters who wreaked havoc and deaths on the military base.

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Boko Haram reportedly used rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and AK47 rifles to raid the base before destroying a slew of armored vehicles and killing every army officer in sight.

NAF used high precision weaponry

PRNigeria reports that the air force deployed the Mi-35M, multi-role combat helicopters which delivers a more superior flight performance with high-precision weaponry in destroying ground targets.

Meanwhile, the aircraft also crossed the border into a neighboring country in hot pursuits where terrorists and stolen armored vehicles were destroyed.

The air-strikes took place in Tumbun Rego, Kangarwa and Mainok. There were also similar attacks hours after Sundays attack. We expect the Nigerian air force to release air strike footage soon.

The attackers spoke in foreign accents and languages

PRNigeria also reports that the terrorists who attacked the military base in Metele were foreigners. The agency said it received this bit of information from some of the soldiers who survived the onslaught.

One intelligence officer told PRNigeria on condition of anonymity that the attackers communicated in Arabic, French and other foreign languages and spoke in foreign accents.

PRNigeria quotes the officer as saying: Some of our soldiers who escaped after the rescue operation told us that the attackers dressed in military camouflage similar to the one worn by member countries of Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).

We learned that the attackers were not Nigerians as they spoke in Arabic, French and other strange languages when they first appeared like friendly force before they started to shoot at Nigerian troops.

There is heightened suspicion that the deadliest attacks could not have taken place without collaborators probably within the military camp or the host community who could have been communicating with the terrorists before and after they stormed the locations.

The military may likely engage in a tactical maneuver for forceful reinforcements of ground troops and air components in the affected areas in view of new developments.

Army confirms attack, offers no death toll

After a week of intense social media rage, the Nigerian army admitted that the attack on one of its bases did take place, while disputing casualty figures reported by various online media platforms.

The Nigerian army provided no death toll of its own.

President Muhammadu Buhari also broke his silence a week after the massacre, saying the attack had left himin a state of deep shock.

No responsible Commander-in-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens, Buhari said in a statement.

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Nigeria has been waging a war against Boko Haram since 2009. The terrorist sect is hell bent on establishing a hard-line Islamic caliphate in Northeastern Nigeria.

Boko Haram has killed more than 50,000 people while displacing millions, since the commencement of its insurgency against the State.

Some soldiers have lamented the obsolete equipment they have been handed to wage war against the terrorists.
Even though President Muhammadu Buhari declared in 2015 that Boko Haram had been technically defeated, the group has carried out several deadly attacks since then, with an increase in the number of attacks on troops happening in 2018.

In its latest attack, terrorists overran the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele during an attack on Sunday, November 18, 2018, carting away large cache of arms and military equipment after leaving the base strewn with the corpses of dozens of soldiers.

An account by a soldier who survived the attack noted that their location was invaded after Boko Haram allegedly issued a threat letter that it would soon take over four strategic military locations around the Lake Chad region.

Even though several reports have indicated that the number of troops casualties might be as high as over 100, the Army has failed to release an official figure even though it dismissed the figures.

While speaking about the recent attack during an interview on Channels Television on Sunday, November 25, 2018, President Buhari's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the attack does not mean that the terrorists are back in charge.

He noted that the recent attack was a breach that doesn't mean the war has tipped in the favour of the terrorists.

He said, "Nigeria, we can say, is at war in that side of the country. For some time, things had eased, Nigerian Army had had the upper hand; and like the term goes, the insurgents had been technically defeated.

"But then, there's this sudden upsurge and there's that casualty figure which I do not know but which people say is on the high side. The military is the one that can tell us what actually happened."

When quizzed over if the statement that Boko Haram has been technically defeated remains accurate, Adesina replied, "I believe so. That (the recent attack) was maybe a breach in security but it does not mean that Boko Haram is having the upper hand.

"And like the president said in the statement we issued yesterday, we will still get to the end of this Boko Haram insurgency."

"This is one isolated case after a long time of the military being in charge. The military has been in charge for a long while. I agree with you this is a breach; it is sad and it is unfortunate but then, it does not mean that Boko Haram is now in charge. They are not," he later added.
Terrorists had overrun the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele village in Guzamala local government area of Borno State during an attack on Sunday, November 18, 2018, carting away large cache of arms and military equipment after leaving the base strewn with the corpses of dozens of soldiers.

Even though several reports have indicated that the number of troops casualties might be as high as over 100, the Army has failed to release an official figure even though it dismissed the figures.

According to an account of events narrated by a soldier that survived the attack, troops ran out of ammunition after 40 minutes of trying to repel the attack in a firefight, according to a report by TheCable.

The anonymous soldier told TheCable that the terrorists were well equipped and armed with rocket propelled grenades that made repelling them an impossible task.

He said, "Our commander, Lieutenant Colonel Sakaba told us to prepare for battle after being briefed by one of our soldiers whose duty is to monitor what is coming from distance.

"We engaged the terrorists for over 40 minutes before we ran out of ammunition on that very Sunday. They were well equipped and armed with rocket propelled grenades, more than 12 gun trucks mounted with anti-air craft shooting at us from a long range.

"Some of us ran out of bullets and they overpowered us, we fled but those who could not escape were slaughtered like chicken. Our formation is surrounded by big trenches and barbed wires, which became a trap and made it difficult for them to escape. I watched many of my fellow friends die helplessly in cold blood."

Another soldier who spoke to TheCable lamented that the top Army hierarchy has failed to properly prosecute the war against the insurgency that started nine years ago. He said more than 100 soldiers fled the scene of the attack after the base was overrun by the terrorist group.

He said, "Most of our people dropped their arms and pulled off this dirty uniform. The bodies of our troops littered everywhere but we watched the news and heard army headquarters saying troops repelled the attack.

"The Army chief and other generals only sit in Abuja and lie to Nigerians whereas soldiers are being killed on daily basis. We lack manpower but nobody is telling the president the truth.

"The president should demand the whereabouts of all the soldiers deployed to Operation Last Hold to fight Boko Haram under Major General Abbah Dikko. The answer is, all of them have been crushed by Boko Haram and their new weapons and arms are what the Boko Haram is using to attack us. Please, help us tell Mr President that the service chiefs are just lying to him."

"Our lives don't matter", soldier cries out

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Another anonymous soldier that spoke to Premium Times last week also lamented that troops are facing serious challenges of inadequate ammunition and motivation to properly fight Boko Haram.

He said soldiers are being killed in the most undignified manner almost on a daily basis because of lack of resources to prosecute the battle, a situation he said has led to loss of morale among troops.

He said, "We need the world to hear how we are being sent to slaughter as though our lives don't matter.

"Some few weeks ago, about 75 of us from our own unit here in Maiduguri were deployed to the front line and it took the grace of God for about 40 of us to return alive.

"When we returned and gave our complaint, we were asked to go back again to Metele, an area near Kangarwa forest, and we have been there for about three weeks now fighting a defensive battle.

"We beg the Nigerian media to help us by echoing out our muffled voices. The children of poor Nigerians have been turned into chicken meant for easy sacrifices by our commanders.

"We are being killed on daily basis as if our lives don't matter. Of course as soldiers we signed to lay down our lives in defence of this country, but certainly not in the manner we are being presented for slaughter without dignity. A soldier should die fitting and not being chased or overpowered.

"Our morale has been dampened so badly - not only because we are not given our due allowances; but for the fact that we have been outgunned by the Boko Haram.

"The situation has gone so bad that it has gotten to a stage that soldiers would be rushing to pack up their camps and flee upon hearing the news that Boko Haram fighters are advancing.

"We have suddenly lost our spirit of launching attacks because of lack of resources to prosecute the battle. Many of us are ready to do our best, but there has been no requisite support from those sending us out there."

Even though President Muhammadu Buhari declared in 2015 that Boko Haram had been technically defeated, the group has carried out several deadly attacks since then, with an increase in the number of attacks on troops happening in 2018.
The Political Adviser to the British Deputy Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Wale Adebajo, said this at a public forum in Ado Ekiti on Monday.

The programme tagged, Enhancing Electoral Participation of Peoples Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in 2019 General Elections, had international organisations and local civil society organisations in attendance.

They included the British Department for International Development(DFID) and the Foundation For Justice and Social Development (FOJSOD).

Adebajo also said the National Disability Bill that was currently awaiting presidential assent would help in resolving some of the issues affecting the group in the country.

He commended INEC for including PWDs in its strategic plan for 2017-2021 elections, saying the British government and United States Department for International Development(USAID) were favourably disposed to the action.

When we pointed out in the Ondo governorship election the need to make the PWDs more inclusive in our elections, INEC responded positively to our response by establishing desk officers in INEC offices to take care of the PWDs.

This to us was a signal of INECs commitment to improving access to the electoral system.

We want to clear the air that the British government is not supporting any candidate in the election. We are neutral when it comes to election in Nigeria, he said.

The DFID Regional Programme Officer, Mrs Margaret Fagboyo, said PWDs should be beneficiaries of the sustainable development in Nigeria.

 In 2019, INEC must ensure that ballot boxes are placed where they can be accessed easily, the police shouldnt harass them, they should be accorded respect.

 They should be seen as critical stakeholders in any election.

We commend INEC for noticing where they are lapses and trying to improve on them.

 We cant leave these people behind while taking critical decisions just because they are having one form of disability; if this happens, definitely there will be problems, she said.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Prof. Abduganiy Raji, said INEC had identified critical areas where PWDs were having problems in the electoral system.

He said these were being tackled through policy formulation and strong legal framework.

Raji said those with disabilities were effectively sensitised before the July 14 governorship election in the state, adding that this accounted for the major breakthrough recorded in the poll.

The overall goal of this programme is to consolidate inclusive electoral process that would be in consonance with the international best practices.

In this programme, we must also identify those critical challenges affecting the participation of PWDs in elections.
This was made known in a post on Twitter on Monday, November 26, 2018, via the handle, @NGRPresident.

Buhari said this while speaking with members of the Nigeria Police Service Commission and top officers of the Nigeria Police Force at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, according to The Nation.

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The President, in a statement issued by his media aide, Garba Shehu said the government and citizens will be more confident if the police force carries out its duties efficiently.

From Taraba to Sokoto, to the South-South, people dont feel secure until they see the military. I am pleased to make the increase in salary and allowances in the hope that it will increase the performance index of the police and strengthen Nigerias internal security system.

The military should be reserved for higher tasks. The police should be able to cope well with the challenges of armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom and such crimes. In every town and village, there is the presence of the police.

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From all these places, they should be able to forward first class intelligence to you on which to act.

There is a need to amplify the question of more men of the police, especially given the condition we are in  emergency in the North-East, pervasive insecurity and abduction for ransom and banditry in many parts of the country.

I congratulate you on the success you recorded against criminals taxing people and stopping them from their farms. We are expecting more from you, he added.
Oshiomhole said this during a rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano state where he welcomed members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Kwankwasiyya Movement who defected to the APC.

According to Daily Post, the APC chairman also vowed not to allow those whom he described as opportunists rule Nigeria again.

 APC did not promise to reposition Nigeria in four years, as what the PDP destroyed in 16 years can never be fixed in three and a half years.

Today, those who through a single telephone would make billions of Naira have regrouped when they ran to Port Harcourt. They have forgotten that what they destroyed in the last 16 years could not be fixed in just three and a half years.

Today, our opponents in the PDP are crying even before the elections proper. They wrote a letter of complaint to the United Nations I wonder who will carry the letter for them, forgetting that it was them, who introduced a do-or-die affair politics during Obasanjos tenure. Buhari is highly respected across the globe, so he is bigger than rigging the elections.

Attempts being made by Obasanjo to impose a proxy president on the country in 2019 would never see the light of the day as Nigerians would vote en masse for President Buhari without the support of Obasanjo.

ALSO READ: Ganduje again promises Buhari 5 million votes in Kano in 2019

Never again will this country be governed by opportunists, who have in the last 16 years wasted the nations treasury.

On October 11, 2018, former President Obasanjo endorsed PDPs presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and promised to work with him to defeat Buhari.
Its Board Chairman, Mallam Ikra Bilbis, gave the advice at a two-day workshop for broadcast media organisations on Monday in Sokoto.

He identified some of the challenges that could mar peaceful elections to include hate speech and attacks on personality of contestants rather than issue-based political campaigns.

Prof. Jubril Ibrahim, in his presentation on Presentation of Tapestry Hate Speech Research, urged NBC to review the laws to guard against hate speech.

Ibrahim urged media organisations against spreading hate speech as it could destroy the election and the country if not well checked.

Prof. Umar Pate, who delivered a paper on 2019 General Elections: Divisive Rhetoric and Use of the Broadcast Media, said media organisations should be watchful and not air or participate in the spread of hate speech.

The Sokoto State Commissioner for Information, Mr Bello Goronyo, praised the media for playing vital role in the continued unity of the country.

I appreciate your cooperation and encourage you to continue to be the watchdogs for success of the forthcoming 2019 general elections, he said.
This was made known in a statement signed by the partys spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan on Sunday, November 25, 2018.

The party also said that Dan-Ali is insensitive to the plight of the of the soldiers waging war against Boko Haram in the North-East.

PDP chided the minister for also placing the ministry of defence logo alongside that of the APC on a memento recently.

According to Vanguard, the party also said It is also instructive to note that President Muhammadu Buhari, as Mr. Integrity, has not reprimanded the minister, ostensibly, given that the diversion of public funds for his re-election campaign is now a policy of the APC and the Presidency.

Nigerians can now see how the Presidency and the APC have turned the Ministry of Defence into their Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) to fund their re-election, at the detriment of our citizens who are being daily attacked by insurgents and marauders in various parts of our country.

The PDP notes that with these revelations, the APC has proven to be a soulless mob, which has no interest in the good of our nation, but desperate to hang onto power by all means.

Soldiers call for probe

This is following a who survived the recent Boko haram attack on a military base at Metele in Borno state for a probe of the quality of weapons procured by the military authorities.

The soldiers accused the military authorities of providing them with obsolete weapons.
On Saturday, November 24, 2018, the spokesman of the Anambra police command, SP Haruna Mohammed told newsmen that the officer was killed when IPOB members attacked his team.

Speaking on the recent development, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Jimoh Moshood said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has also ordered that the weapons stolen by the IPOB members should be recovered.

According to Daily Post, Moshood said this during a press briefing in Awka, Anambra state on Sunday, November 25, 2018.

He said On 23rd November, 2018, there was intelligence report that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) an unlawful Terrorist organization were sighted gathering in their hundreds with dangerous weapons near Teaching Hospital, Owerri Road, Nnewi about to cause disturbance of Public Peace and public safety in the Nnewi and Environs.

Consequently, Police Patrol teams led by the Area Commander, Nnewi, ACP Nnanna Oji Ama mobilized to the scene to prevent them from causing breakdown of law and order and mayhem, and destruction of lives and property.

The Police Team, while proceeding to the scene came under ambush from the IPOB members, in the process, a Police Inspector was killed, two (2) other Police Officers were seriously injured and one Police Patrol vehicle was set ablaze, and the proscribed IPOB members snatched and carted away two (2) AK47 Rifles and one Beretta Pistol with ammunition.

Moshood also said that a thorough investigation will be carried out and those found guilty will be charged for terrorism.

In September 2017, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Federal Government an interim injunction proscribing activities of IPOB following an exparte application filed by the Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami.
Retired Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, a Commissioner in PSC, gave the commendation while speaking with State House correspondents after a delegation from the commission had a closed-door meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

She said that police personnel should be encouraged in terms of welfare for them to perform maximally.

We are here on behalf of the PSC to appreciate the President Muhammadu Buhari for seeing it to that the welfare of Nigerian police officers is enhanced.

To enhance in their emolument generally and to see that things are improved not only in terms of salaries and allowances, but also seeing that infrastructure is improved; their working conditions, training expected of the police.

In our recent retreat; we were in Enugu and we saw that a lot of the training facilities are in deplorable conditions.

We will want to see that our policemen are properly trained; and our police will be able to match up with any police force anywhere in the world,

This is one the reasons why we think we need to encourage the government to do that and the president is doing same in the right direction, she said.

On his part, the Inspector-General of Police (IG-P), Ibrahim Idris, said he was excited with the whole commitment and efforts aimed at improving not only the salary but the training of the Nigeria Police Force.

ALSO READ: Buhari approves enhanced salary structure for Nigerian police force

He said that he expected more dedication and loyalty to government and people of Nigeria from the officers and men of the Nigeria Police.

On preparedness for the 2019 elections, Idris said that the police were ready to ensure a hitch-free election.

We are ready; we have gone round the country; we have conducted several bye-elections which obviously prepared us to face the main challenge next.

I am assuring all Nigerians that we are going to do our best in ensuring that we have a free and credible election next year.
Before Boko Haram insurgents killed over 100 Nigerian soldiersright inside their base on November 18/19, 2018, they had struck before, over and over again.

Premium Times investigative reporter, Nicholas Ibekwe, reminds us that weve been here before.

Boko Haram attack on the army base in Metele where over 100 soldiers were reportedly killed, is not the worst attack this year. On July 14, over 200 soldiers were slaughtered in Jili during an attack on the military base there. Due to poor reporting that incident didn't go viral, Ibekwe shared in a tweet.

The Jili attack which Ibekwe referenced above is not even the first of its kind as well. Soldiers have become easy targets for terrorists as you would expect, since Boko Haram commenced an insurgency against the Nigerian state in 2009. It is a development that should leave us all very worried. If terrorists can make mincemeat of our soldiers at will, what becomes of the rest of us?

The only reason why everyone is talking about Metele is because the social and online media just couldn't stop talking about it, forcing everyone to eventually talk about it.

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The Metele attackraises a lot of questions and concerns. How do terrorists sack an entire army base? Do our fighting forces operate without intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition or reconnaissance facilities? Were there no drones around the base? How come a military base was not secured? If our intelligence gathering is anywhere near top notch, surely this attack could have been nipped in the bud?

This wasnt a face-to-face war on the battlefield. This was Boko Haram marching to the home of soldiers and sacking them from their cubicles with merciless precision!

You could imagine the agony on the faces of the soldiers as the terrorists surprised them with sophisticated weaponry and shot them dead one after the other--from point blank range.

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I have read chilling accounts of some of the survivors--accounts of soldiers sharing stories of how they are forced to face terrorists with weapons purchased in the 80s and how they are made to go to war without food in their bellies.

One soldier narrates how Military Generals feed fat on defense budgets while sending soldiers on the lower rungs of the ladder to go confront Boko Haram fighters with as little motivation as possible.

We know about the money the federal government gave to them but the Nigerian Army has turned us into a business.

All the money federal government gave them to buy weapons Nigerian Army is buying INNOSON. All these are obsolete Oyinbo (the white man) came here and said they are obsolete. All these weapons were bought during the Shagari regime in 1983 they have turned us to business. federal government you will hear about it.

All these weapons are not genuineif you fire two times you have stoppages. This is 1983 when Shagari was head of state federal government give them money, they go and buy INNOSON, Nigerian made federal government please help us. Help us, one survivor of the Metele attack reportedly said in a viral video.

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The thrust of this essay is that Metele could have been avoided. Those soldiers who died would be alive today if this were a serious country that knows a thing or two about the sanctity of human life. Like it does everyone else, this country let those soldiers down and led them to Boko Harams slaughter slab.

President Buhari has promised to ensure thatsoldiers get what is due them henceforth. Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support in terms of equipment and manpower to succeed in ending the renewed threat, the nations Commander-in-Chief said in a terse statement.

The president has also summoned military chiefs in the wake of the attacks.

It is imperative to state here that cornering monies meant to equip soldiers on the battlefield was one of the biggest allegations levelled against Military Generals who served under the Goodluck Jonathan era. Some of those Generals are still facing trial for alleged corruption; and a certain Colonel Sambo Dasuki is still in jail for allegedly stealing over N2billion of monies earmarked to purchase ammunition for fighting troops.

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Its 2018 under a president who promised to crackdown on the kind of wanton and brazen corruption that was pretty much the norm under Jonathan, and military bosses are still being accused of depriving their men of weapons and bread. The more things change

Beyond the platitudes from all across the country however, the federal government must make sure that the families of the slain soldiers are not abandoned and that they are well taken care of by the state.

If we are really serious about winning the war against violent extremists and terrorists, we have to prioritize the welfare of our soldiers who have been dying like chickens, and arm them sufficiently.
According to an official Army statement, the girl was neutralised while trying to infiltrate DAR village with a person-borne improvised explosive device on Monday, November 26, 2018.

"The gallant troops in conjunction with hunters and vigilantes immediately cordoned off the incident area and subsequently conducted perimeter patrol around the community to ensure the area is cleared and to also exploit the area for BHT activities," the statement read.

The incident comes two weeks after troops of 251 Task Force Battalion foiled a suicide bomb attack made by a 19-year-old teenage girl in Maiduguri, Borno State on November 13.

The girl, identified as Shaidatu Adamu, was arrested by troops when she attempted to infiltrate Maiduguri to detonate her suicide vest.

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She confessed to troops that she was from Gwoza, Borno and had been in Sambisa Forest with Boko Haram terrorists for about three years.

The terrorist group has been notorious for using female suicide bombers to carry out attacks on civilian and military targets. The group has abducted more than 1,000 children in Nigeria since 2013, according to a UNICEF report.

Between April 2011 and June 2017, the terrorist group used a record 244 female suicide bombers to attack in the northeast region where it majorly operates.

While some of the suicide bombers may have willingly signed up, many are believed to be forced to strap bombs to their bodies and carry out attacks.

Some have been known to run to security operatives to assist in detonating their vests while others detonate when confronted by operatives.
According to Vanguard, the governor, who is aiming to be in the national assembly after the end of his second term, might concede the senatorial seat to Senator Rafiu Ibrahim.

It was gathered that the pressure on the governor to step down took effect upon PDP's loss at the recent house of representatives bye-election held for Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero federal constituency.

Senior special assistant to the governor on media and communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, however, denied that the governor has already conceded the senatorial seat.

He said, "As I'm talking to you, the governor is still consulting, though there are intense pressure on him to concede the senatorial seat to Ibolo/Offa axis where the incumbent senator, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim comes from."

Political pundits in the Offa/Ibolo region, led by the former deputy governor of the state, Chief Joel Ogundeji, had pressured the Senate President and political leader in the state, Bukola Saraki, to compel Ahmed to concede the Kwara South Senatorial ticket to Senator Rafiu Ibrahim who they believe will stand a better chance to win.
The former Minister of Education said this during an interview with The Guardian Life, published on Sunday, November 25, 2018.

The presidential candidate decried the spate of violence that has rocked the country and claimed thousands of lives in 2018 alone, noting that it has become worse under the current president.

She said, "This is a Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari where the primacy of the human life has been completely devalued...life is cheapened.

"The lives of Nigerians today are not any better because President Buhari became our president. As a matter of fact, the quality of lives has taken a significant beating."

The former minister said her decision to run for the presidency was fueled by her annoyance with the rhetoric that Nigerians have to always choose the lesser of two terrible choices from the ruling parties.

"I had to get to the place where listening to the political class say to us that we have to choose the lesser of two evils got me infuriated," she said.

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 Ezekwesili in the chasing pack is Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), 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 governor had first made this promise in Febraury 2018 and restated his commitment towards making it happen at a rally in Kano on Sunday, November 25, 2018.

The governor said the state is progressive and will only vote for a progressive government that'll help the Nigerian people.

He said, "APC is the only party in Kano. We have the highest number of party members. Our effort is not only to win Governorship, Presidential, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections, our intention is to provide the highest number of votes for APC in Nigeria.

"If you remember, we promised Mr President a minimum of five million votes. Kano is the home of the progressives. What do you expect from Kano apart from progressive government, administration and voting?

"That is why we are all united to give Mr President over five million votes from Kano State."

During another rally days prior, the governor had boasted that Kano is 'the home of Buhari' where his 'political umbilical cord' resides.

"Kano State is the first state that you can confirm that, come 2019, the election will be won. We're not only fighting to win the election, we're fighting to get a minimum of five million votes for Buhari," he said.

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Buhari had won 1,903,999 votes in Kano, his highest in any state, during the 2015 presidential election and is believed to enjoy massive support in the state.

During the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect the party's 2019 presidential candidate in November, Buhari won 2,931,235 votes in the direct election.

Ganduje's bribery scandal

Ganduje's promise to deliver Kano to Buhari next year comes under a clowd of doubts over his continued leadership of the state as he's currently caught in a bribery scandal.

The governor has been in the news over the past few weeks after the publisher of Daily Nigerian, Ja'afar Ja'afar, alleged that he regularly received bribes from contractors handling projects in the state.

In a series of videos in Ja'afar's possession, the governor was alleged to have received a total of $5 million in installments from a certain contractor on several occasions. Six different video clips have gone viral on social media showing the governor accepting bundles of dollar notes from the yet-to-be-identified contractor.

The governor has maintained his innocence, claiming that the videos have been doctored by his political opponents to tarnish his reputation.
A statement by Obasa's Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Rasak, on Monday stated that the Lagos Speaker also congratulated the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu not only for the victory at the Osun governorship poll, but also the recent electoral victories recorded at the various bye-elections that took place in the country.

APC won at the bye-elections that took place at Irepodun/Isin/Okeero/Ekiti Federal Constituency of Kwara State; Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa/ Constituency of Katsina State; and Toro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.

"I want to congratulate the leadership and members of our party at all levels. Not only on the Osun governorship election and subsequent inauguration of the new Governor but also on the recent victories recorded at the bye-elections in Kwara, Katsina and Bauchi States.

"These victories are clear indication of the fact that Nigerians still love our party and support our development programmes and projects at all levels," Obasa said.

In congratulating Oyetola, the Lagos Assembly Speaker stated that the incoming Governor is in better position to work and improve on the great achievements recorded by Ogbeni Aregbesola.

"He (Oyetola) worked closely with Ogbeni for eight years. He is an experienced administrator, well equipped to do the job and I have no doubt in my mind that he will succeed," he said.

Rt. Hon. Obasa also rejoiced with Ogbeni Aregbesola on a successful tenure in office. "He has performed extremely well in Osun and I know history will judge him positively," he said.

On Asiwaju Tinubu, Obasa said, "he is our Leader and for any achievement recorded in governance, he deserves the accolades because he has taught us well".

Obasa assured Nigerians that the APC administration at all levels will not relent in putting in place programmes and measures that will enhance their welfare and improve their standard of living.

"We cherish your support and prayers hence we will continue to seek for your support and prayers all the time," he said.
He said, "When we were in Abuja and dealing with the affairs of governance, you did not take lightly cultural affairs back home. By every standard, you are a cultured and a cultural person. Whatever responsibility you have at the national and international level, I know you will carry this new office with respect and dignity."

Atiku, who referred to the former president as his boss, thanked Obasanjo for his contribution to his mentoring.

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The PDP presidential flag bearer, who also celebrated his 72nd birthday on the same day, appreciated the Adamawa emirate council for conferring him with the new title which makes him second in command in the emirate.

Lamido of Adamawa tasks Atiku to carry everyone along

Speaking at the occasion, the Lamido of Adamawa said Atiku was honoured with the title of Waziri because of his immense contributions to the development of Nigeria, particularly Adamawa State, where his impact was felt in various sectors.

"Atiku has also contributed greatly to unifying the people of Adamawa and providing useful advise to the emirate.

"The position of Waziri, which is the highest in the council puts him in charge of administration of the emirate and is given to people who are educated, honest and God fearing. It's not hereditary and can go to anyone who deserves it."
Ondimu said that the driver of the tuk tuk should be apprehended and dealt with firmly for assaulting security officers in the line of duty.

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Taking sides

A Police Officer of the carries the Government symbol, Coat of Arms. To assault and beat a police officer is such a terrible criminal act that must be dealt with firmly. I hope the Tuk Tuk fellow is apprehended! the prosecutor stated on Twitter.

Netizens, however, accused the DPP official of siding with the traffic police officers without understanding the circumstances under which he resorted to physically attacking the officers.

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Police hurling stones

The officers were also seen hurling stones at the tuk tuk, with unverified reports indicating that his windscreen was shattered in the melee.

Ondimu agreed that the police officers may have engaged in a criminal manner but said such issues should be addressed through the set guidelines and independent institutions.
Atwoli, who is known for being vocal and highly opinionated, led prayers against those behind the maize scandal and called for God's intervention.

Blame Your Leaders

"God I am weak; I do not have power, I can do nothing as I'm also being fought. God save us so that this country changes," the trade unionist stated.

Atwoli was in Rift Valley during the weekend where he told residents that leaders were to blame for the woes faced by maize farmers in the region.

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"He (God) brought us to a country that is full hyenas and in the jaws of the dogs and He should deliver the country. God touch the heart of President so that he can save us," the Cotu boss said during the prayer.

"Oh God, do not leave us, if there are any thieves amidst us, please take them away from us without haste," Atwoli interceded during the prayer.

"The people who take the farmers' maize, even if they are our sons, they are evil, please take them away from our faces. We are poor and cannot handle them, send your angels to help get rid of these thieves," he added.

NSSF Troubles

During the prayer, Atwoli also interceded for the troubles at NSSF. He claimed that a powerful person was behind the woes at the NSSF board adding that there was a scheme to steal money.

"I am very weak and often opposed. Right now there's a woman who's against me. She wants me out so that the NSSF money is stolen the same way resources have disappeared from NHIF," claimed Atwoli in the intercession.
This is according to the soon to be published memoir by activist Miguna Miguna who was part of the planning committee for the parallel swearing in ceremony.

In Treason: The Case Against Tyrants & Renegades, Miguna writes that the team was concerned that the security situation was likely to hamper their plans to swear in Odinga in Kenya.

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James Orengo

The former Prime Minister then directed his lawyer and confidant Siaya Senator James Orengo to reach out to his ally  President Magufuli to facilitate a parallel swearing in ceremony in Tanzania.

According to Orengo, Magufuli believed that leadership was a gift from God and that if God had not given Raila that gift,there was no reason to pursue our plans and that Raila should forget about being sworn in as The Peoples President, Miguna recalls, noting that the team was not pleased with the response.

In other words, Magufuli was of the view that God did not want Raila to be the president of Kenya. I found such statements to be outrageous. God had not manipulated the August 8, 2017 General Election, the Canada-based Kenyan lawyer adds.

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Inauguration Speech

The self-declared NRM General further records that the initial swearing in ceremony had been scheduled to take place on December 12  only to be cancelled three days to d-day.

On December 9, Miguna writes that he spent five hours preparing Odingas inauguration speech, which was agreed on by Orengo and ex-Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama.
A veteran pilot and aviation safety expert has come up with a theory that the pilots of doomed flight MH370 were killed when a fire consumed all the oxygen in the cockpit, knocking them out.

Ross Aimer, who used to fly for United Airlines, believes the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200's lithium-ion batteries might have caught fire, spreading so quickly the pilots would have had no time to save the plane with 227 passengers on board.

Speaking to RadioLIVEs Mike Puru, Mr Aimer was quick to suggest this was just a theory.

"My goal, mainly, was to spark some interest in the search, he said.

Itll be a shame [to] never find out about the biggest mystery in aviation.

MH370 had more than 220kg of lithium-ion batteries on board. A lithium-ion battery fire brought down a UPS Airlines flight in Dubai in 2010, killing two people. There has also been a rise in lithium-ion mobile phone batteries catching alight on planes.

An investigation earlier this year said a battery fire was highly unlikely to be the cause.

Another clue Mr Aimer points to is that the plane's flaps - used to slow the aircraft down ahead of landing - are believed to have been up when the plane hit the water.

MH370 vanished in March 2014, and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the Indian Ocean.

Listen to the full interview with Ross Aimer above.



The Long Lunch with Lynda Hallinan, 12pm - 3pm on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the rova app on Android and iPhone.

RadioLIVE/Newshub.
Why is there so much workplace bullying that takes place in New Zealand?

Mitch Harris is joined in studio by Alan Hulse, Director of Culture Safe, to talk about different aspects of workplace bullying in New Zealand.

Mitch invited Mr Hulse into the studio after hearing the story of Mariya Taylor. She was sexually harrassed, bullied and locked in a cage while working with the New Zealand Defence Force.

After leaving it too late to lodge a case when the statute of limitations ran out, the Defence Force made headlines after wanting $200,000 from her to pay for court costs.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told media last Friday that regardless of whether or not costs are awarded, the payment won't be sought.

"This case is devastating. It makes for devastating reading. It wouldn't be right to pursue those costs, so they won't be," Ms Ardern said.

Night Talk with Mitch Harris, 8pm - 12am Monday to Thursday nights on RadioLIVE, and streaming live to the rova app on Android and iPhone.

RadioLIVE.
BNSF Logistics has expanded its fleet with a TEXX 900 wagon for transporting abnormal loads. The 20-axle shiftable well wagon has a capacity of more than 400 tonnes and can be moved 330 mm up, 280 mm down and 355 mm sideways. The TEXX 900 is one of three similar ...
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Railway Co has become one of the first international affiliates of the UKs Rail Safety & Standards Board.
The book, written by the Afro-Trinidadian historian in 1938, charts the history of the Haitian Revolution of 1791-1804 and tells the story of the only successful slave revolt in history.Award-winning British playwright, director, actor and broadcaster Kwame Kwei-Armah has now signed up to adapt the project for television. The 10-part series, which will start with the first slave revolt of 1791 and end with the Haitian declaration of independence in 1804, will explore the nature of leadership, its compromises, its glories and the range of personal cost it claims.Some books change you; other books change everybody who reads them. The Black Jacobins is one such book, Armah commented. By introducing me to the Haitian Revolution, to a man, to a people and to a time that redefined the way the mighty military nations of Europe saw see themselves in relation to the rest of the world, viscerally tilted my axis and changed the way I see the world we live in today. Bryncoeds rock-solid production team, experience and expertise put this generation-defining story in the best hands for dramatic interpretation for global audiences.Added Bryncoed founder and creative director Foz Allan: C L R James unflinching analysis of the Haitian Revolution captures what, in those days, must have been unthinkable  the liberation of the largest slave colony in the Americas and its transformation into a new nation. When I set up Bryncoed , my vision was to produce drama that reminds us of our humanity and shows us that there is more that unites than divides us. The Black Jacobins is exactly that drama.
Allview's decision to become a player on the Android smart TV market is part of a broader strategy, aiming to become the European brand with the largest number of certified Google TVs in 2019.From December, Allview will be selling smart TVs with Android TV and integrated Google Assistant , becoming the only brand in Europe that also has a signed contract with Google in this regard.Allview believes that closing the deal is a recognition from Google in terms of the capacity that the local brand has demonstrated in Android integration on several product types. At this time, only 60 TV models around the world are certified by Google, and some of them have been developed by the Allview brand.We are permanently seeking to offer advanced technology at affordable prices. Android smart TVs will change the perspective of users, giving them the content and apps they choose into menus specifically organised to be highly accessible, remarked Allview general manager Lucian Peticila. The users will get Netflix installed, certified, and available from the first second of running, alongside YouTube and Google Play Games.
For all the debate, uproar and resignations over the draft Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU, its worth remembering that the future EU-UK trade deal has not yet been decided. This will only be negotiated in detail after the UK leaves the EU on March 29 2019. What it will look like is very much still up for discussion and Theresa May could yet keep the promises she made in her Brexit white paper back in February 2017. This includes leaving the single market and customs union, signing a trade deal that ends free movement of people and remove the UK from the European Court of Justices jurisdiction.

Ever since Brexit was on the cards, comparisons have been made between the UK and a number of countries that have a close working relationship with the EU. Norway, Switzerland, Canada or a hard, WTO rules-only Brexit have been the options most commonly put forward for the UK to follow. But there is one option that has largely been absent from discussion: Ukraine.

A country that conjures images of its ongoing conflict with Russia, Ukraine might not sound like somewhere that the UK wants to copy. Yet the style of Ukraines relationship with the EU is one that aligns with the prime ministers objectives, as outlined in her white paper. While many of these did not make their way into the Withdrawal Agreement, they could still form part of the future trade agreement that the UK is yet to work out with the EU.

According to our research, a Ukraine-plus agreement is feasible and could achieve:

* An end to EU law applying in the UK

* No free movement of people

* Access to the EU single market

* The ability to make its own trade agreements with third countries

* Collaboration with the EU on security and defence policy

Ukraines deal

Ukraine, like Canada, has a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU (DCFTA). This gives it preferential access to the EUs 500m strong consumer market. The Ukraine-EU agreement eliminates more than 98% of trade duties for both parties.

The DCFTA is complemented by a process of legal adjustments in the number of laws that regulate financial services, telecommunications services, postal and courier services, and international maritime services. If the UK had something similar, this would smooth over the key barrier to trade for Britains all-important service sector.

The provision on free movement of capital in the DCFTA also includes standard safeguards to ensure the stability of both sides financial systems. Moreover, dispute settlement and mediation mechanisms are in place and a panel can make recommendations to the Association Council, a body created to govern EU-Ukraine affairs, in case of dispute or any further proposals for cooperation. Plus, the EU supports Ukraine through a financial and technical assistance programme that helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular.

There is visa-free travel between Ukraine and most EU member states but no right of free movement of people, which limits migration from Ukrainian citizens. They are allowed to travel for up to 90 days in a 180-day period for tourism, business purposes and to visit friends and relatives. Something similar would help the UK to achieve one of its main objectives of controlling its borders.

A Ukraine-plus agreement for the UK could also have security elements, as well as maintaining cross-border crime and terrorist collaboration. The EU-Ukraine agreement provides defence, military and political stability considerations that can provide a good example for a EU-UK agreement. The UKs strength in security and defence are both features the EU will want to keep close links to. Maintaining political stability on the island of Ireland will, of course, need special considerations in the case of a UK-EU agreement.

The DCFTA is much more than a classic free trade agreement. It opens markets through the progressive removal of customs duties and restrictions on services and public procurement. It also ensures fair competition between EU and Ukrainian firms by safeguarding workers rights and environmental standards, as well as respecting intellectual property rights and competition law.

When it comes to laws, the DCFTA lays the groundwork for the gradual alignment of Ukrainian norms and standards on food safety and technical regulations with the EU. Seeing as the UK is already aligned on these but wants to reduce EU influence over its laws, this can likely be open for negotiations in a Ukraine-plus deal.

A Ukraine-plus arrangement could therefore be the deal that May is looking for  no European Court of Justice oversight, a trade deal that does not include free movement of people, room for third country agreements and security and defence collaborations. This could achieve most of Mays white paper objectives and appeal to the different factions in her party.

Ursula F Ott, Professor of International Business, Nottingham Trent University and Pervez N Ghauri, Professor of International Business, University of Birmingham

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/26/2018



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

featured three couples getting into a dramatic fight and Fernanda Flores meeting with Jonathan Rivera 's mother going poorly during Sunday night's Season 6 episode on TLC.features couples separated by land and sea bringing the foreign fiances to the United States so they can tie the knot within 90 days. Otherwise, the American individuals risk losing love and having their significant others return to their home countries.Season 6 of stars Jonathan, a 32-year-old from Lumberton, NC, and Fernanda, a 19-year-old from Mexico; Colt Johnson , a 33-year-old from Las Vegas, NV, and Larissa Christina Dos Santos Lima , a 31-year-old from Brazil; and Kalani Faagata , a 29-year-old from Orange County, CA, and Asuelu Pulaa , a 23-year-old from Samoa.The remaining couples are Steven Frend , a 20-year-old from Bowie, MD, and Olga Koshimbetova , a 20-year-old from Russia; Ashley Martson , a 31-year-old from Mechanicsburg, PA, and Jay Smith , a 20-year-old from Port Maria, Jamaica; and Eric Rosenbrook , a 40-year-old from Baraboo, WI, and Leida Margaretha , a 29-year-old from Indonesia.Below is the latest on each couple, according to the new episode:Colt and Larissa had 59 days to wed in the United States on Larissa's K-1 visa..Larissa didn't like Debbie's cooking and compared it to bland hospital food. She therefore asked them to join her at a Brazilian steakhouse to celebrate her engagement with Colt.Larissa said she'd like her wedding guests to feast on Brazilian food at a similar restaurant. She hoped Colt would pay for the wedding she wanted, but he admitted the steakhouse was very expensive."I think Colt is not quite ready to get married and Larissa and I have our problems. So I really can't say if she's the right one for him or not," Debbie told the cameras.Colt needed to make sure he could live with Larissa and get along before marrying her. He acknowledged love isn't enough.Colt later upset Larissa by telling her that he was only 97% sure he wanted to marry her. He therefore attempted to make things up to her by showing her a potential local venue for their wedding reception. Colt told the woman who worked at the bistro he had been together with his fiancee since February.But the day turned sour when Larissa grew angry about how Colt talked to and appeared to flirt with the woman. He complimented the woman's glasses, but Larissa insisted she should be the only woman whom Colt compliments."Larissa has her dramatic moments. She'd like me to be more calm and collected... I think Larissa expects me to be more reserved and not friendly to the opposite sex and focus all of my attention on her," Colt told the cameras before apologizing to his fiancee.Larissa was still pissed and said she didn't want to marry a "whore" and he needed "to make up his mind" and prove he was really serious about their marriage.Upon leaving the hospital, they were both tired and overwhelmed and getting on each other's nerves. Olga hoped they would become a family once they could get settled at home.Steven told Olga that she could never tell him not to touch their son. He was upset she didn't say please and thank you, and Steven said he wants his son to grow up with manners.Olga argued, however, Steven was acting rude and rushing her like a "crazy" person.Olga started to cry in the backseat, and Steven admitted he doesn't like being told what to do."I need to be more patient with her and calm down... and not be so intense with her," Steven confessed."I really do want to be with her, but we are still learning about each other... I need to figure out how this is going to work before Olga's K-1 visa is approved and she comes to America with me."Steve admitted having a baby was a lot harder than he had anticipated and he didn't like how he was fighting with Olga all morning. Olga asked Steven to not freak out so quickly, and he promised to work on it."I don't think he can control himself when he starts. His temper is like a volcano," Olga said in a confessional.Jay had been in America for two months and said things weren't going well because he no longer had friends or his tattoo business. Jay said he had given up a lot to live in the United States with Ashley.Jay was struggling to communicate with his fiance, but he just brushed it off as being a guy of "not many words."Jay then received some text messages from a former female client. Ashley said the woman was just trying to get attention and open the lines of communication, but he called her "ignorant" for no reason.Ashley said if Jay cheated on her in the United States it would be a huge slap in her face and their relationship would not last.Jay figured Ashley didn't trust him because of his past and the fact he was a player in Jamaica. Ashley said he shouldn't be answering texts from anyone in Jamaica except for his family members.Jay disappeared at midnight and said he went to buy something for his phone, but Ashley was skeptical, especially because she said she had been cheated on in her past relationships.After getting into a fight, Jay made Ashley a nice meal, Jamaican chicken, to make it up to her. Jay said he would always have to take responsibility for the arguments in their relationship because she always thought she was right.While eating, Ashley noted they needed to have better communication, meaning she needed Jay to open up and talk to her more. But Jay demanded his fiancee stop being spiteful and listen to him better.Ashley simply didn't like how Jay left the house without telling her, but Jay didn't feel he had to tell her where he was going every time he chose to leave their place. Jay said he's not a 13 year old and being confined to her home is like "being in jail."Leida's family was going back to Indonesia and they were disappointed in Eric and his apartment, but he asked them to trust him and promised he'd make Leida and Allessandro happy.Leida sister refused to say goodbye because she didn't approve of the relationship and thought Leida was going to be making a huge mistake by staying in America.Leida had a hard time saying goodbye to her family and she hoped she was making the right decision by staying with Eric in Wisconsin.Once Leida's family left, the couple cleaned his apartment together and Leida complained that Eric's daughter seemed to leave the place a mess on purpose. She wasn't happy at all, but Eric pitched the idea of buying a big single-family home.Eric insisted his daughter Tasha didn't trash the place intentionally, but he was nervous about their meet and greet for the first time. Eric admitted Tasha can be "hot-headed," while Leida can be "standoffish and impatient" at times.Eric told Leida it was absolutely necessary she be nice to Tasha and get along with her because they're all going to be family.When Tasha and Leida met, Tasha felt like Leida didn't even acknowledge her existence or look her in the eye.Leida said she was upset and pissed off because she didn't expect the apartment to be such a mess. Tasha, however, said she didn't leave it that way on purpose and felt bad about the situation."I want you to move out. I don't think we can work this out," Leida told Eric's daughter. "I want you to move out today."Tasha said that wasn't happening and she wasn't going to change her lifestyle just to fit Leida's needs because her name was also on the lease. Since Tasha wasn't ready to go immediately, Eric suggested Tasha should stay in a motel for the time being.Leida soon discovered Eric had been paying most of the bills for his apartment, and she was really angry he didn't tell her about it.Kalani said there was "awkwardness" with Asuelu ever since their blowout argument over Oliver's car seat.The couple therefore took a break and had a little fun. Kalani's brother Nick therefore attempted to teach Asuelu how to ride a bike. Nick said Asuelu needed to work on his maturity before Kalani should marry him.Kalani admitted to her brother she was pushing the wedding date off and had nothing planned."I know I love him, but I just feel like I'm not really sure if I want to marry him at this point. I feel like he's done some weird things with the baby," Kalani said."I expected him to be a good father and husband, but I don't think he's responsible enough to be a good father to Oliver. I don't trust him... it's like leaving two kids alone at home, and I don't like it."Kalani didn't like how Asuelu tended to shut down in conversation. Nick was very supportive and offered to watch Asuelu watch Oliver. Kalani needed Asuelu to prove he can be responsible and Oliver would be safe under his guardianship.Later on, Asuelu spent some time with Oliver, as Nick watched his every move. Asuelu wanted to prove he could take care of his son by himself, and he was happy Kalani was starting to trust him.When Nick asked Asuelu what was his favorite thing about being a dad to Oliver on their way to a store to buy pajamas, Asuelu replied, "Because he's white and his mom's from America," which really worried Nick.Nick was hoping he could help Kalani decide what would be best for her and his nephew, and while shopping, Asuelu put his son on his shoulders. Nick told Asuelu he shouldn't do that because it wasn't safe, but Asuelu insisted Oliver was fine and Nick should probably mind his own business.Nick came to the conclusion Asuelu shouldn't be left alone with the baby and he wasn't ready to be a father. But Asuelu was growing tired of being told he's wrong all the time."If he's still doing dangerous things with the baby, I'm not marrying him," Kalani told the cameras.The couple had 40 days to wed and were headed to Chicago so Fernanda could meet Jonathan's mother and sister Jackie.Fernanda was excited but she was also a bundle of nerves, and so was Jonathan, who admitted this meeting was very important and might determine the future of his relationship.Jonathan failed to mention to Fernanda how his mother had been frantic over their engagement. His little sister was also 22 years old at the time, so he noted it was "different" to have a fiancee even younger than his "baby sister."Jonathan and Fernanda first met with Jackie and her boyfriend, and Jackie acknowledged she wouldn't be ready to get married at her age. Jackie also said she was ready to kill her brother for proposing marriage without consulting his family first.Jonathan said he avoided the consultation because he knew what he wanted and predicted his family would try to deter him from popping the question. Jackie, however, was optimistic Jonathan could mend his relationship with his mother.While exploring Chicago, Fernanda fell in love with the city and could envision herself living there permanently.Fernanda then met Jonathan's mother, Ceci, who was disappointed her son had missed Christmas to propose to Fernanda. Ceci hoped Jonathan's relationship was real, and she was alarmed to see her son wearing a wedding ring.Fernanda insisted to Ceci that despite her age, she really wanted to get married. Fernanda soon learned Jonathan and her mother didn't speak to each other with respect at all.Ceci would've liked to see the couple wait a while to wed, but Jonathan said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Fernanda and his mother would come to see how wonderful she is.Fernanda then invited Ceci wedding dress shopping, and Ceci said she would think about it.Fernanda felt disappointed after the meeting because she didn't feel like a welcomed member of her fiance's family. She had no support from them, much unlike her own family back in her native country.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/26/2018



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Larissa Christina Dos Santos Lima has opened up about why she left her children back in Brazil.Larissa currently stars on the sixth season of with her fiance Colt Johnson , who currently resides in Las Vegas, NV.Larissa and Colt have been shown planning a wedding and getting adjusted to their new life together in the United States -- but there has been no mention of the Brazilian beauty's children.Larissa recently confirmed she is a mother of two kids whom she left in Brazil earlier this year when she moved to America, and now she's explaining in an Instagram statement why she does not have custody of either child."Hi everyone, I would like to address something about my kids," Larissa, 31, wrote on social media."I really did not want to talk about them, because they are young and they can't make choices yet, I don't know if they wanted to be exposed or not. But, once I am really tired of all these rumors and in respect to my followers, I will make a brief about what happened in my past."When Larissa was a nursing student in college, she said she left school against her father's wishes and moved in with her then-boyfriend in another state."We lived together for [two] years and had a son, the relationship did not [work] out, we had a very bad [break] up," wrote Larissa, who previously revealed to In Touch Weekly the man's name is Marcos Hack."Once the father was not paying child support and my family were not talking to me, I found myself, financially and emotionally unable to take care of my son. I spent all my savings and I tried everything to find a job, but in Brazil, as everyone knows, life can be very hard sometimes."Larissa continued, "For this reason, I decided to let his aunt adopt him, she was always there for me and she loved him very much. This decision still breaks my heart today and it is a very delicate matter to me. It is a regret that I have to live with and I don't need anyone point the finger on my face.""I already suffered enough. I really hope I can reconnect with him one day when he is old enough to understand that I made the best decision I could," the reality TV star said.Larissa told In Touch earlier this month Marcos is a crossdresser and bisexual who allegedly cheated on her with "many other men.""He broke my heart in many pieces back there, I got really depressed. I found myself unable to take care of our son and his sister adopted him... He is a loser," Larissa had said, adding that Marcos allegedly stole $20,000 from her and ruined her credit.A few years after her failed romance with Marcos, Larissa said she entered a relationship with a different man and the former couple had welcomed a daughter together.Larissa explained she attempted to take care of her daughter by working a minimum-wage job at a clothing store with no help from the little girl's father.By that time, Larissa had apparently repaired her relationship with her father, and so he took care of his grandchild when Larissa worked."I always [took] care of her and now she is with my father in Brazil temporarily. My father is a retired military man and he and his wife are great grandparents, they have a lot of time for her, I talk to them every day on WhatsApp and I plan to bring her to live with us very soon," Larissa shared on Instagram."I wanted to try my life here with Colt first, I want to move to a 'biggie house' and make sure the relationship will work out before I bring her. I also want to open my business to be able to support my daughter," she concluded.Prior to Larissa's confirmation that se has two children back in Brazil, online rumors had claimed Larissa had three kids who were still living in the country without her.
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With finals on the horizon, exercise becomes more relevant as a great way to burn off that Thanksgiving turkey weight and to relieve the stres
'It's looking odds-on there won't be a data protection law before this edition of the Lok Sabha is dissolved.'

'This limbo has enabled all sorts of businesses that would be illegal in countries that do have data protection laws,' notes Devangshu Datta.

Two years after the lunacy of demonetisation, the government is still brazenly defending that monstrous policy action. It says demonetisation helped in digitisation and formalisation of the economy.

Even if those were useful goals, was the payoff worth 100-odd lives?

Of course, formalisation and digitisation weren't supposedly the original objectives.

Those buzzwords started being thrown around only when it became obvious that most of the cancelled notes would return.

Moreover, if the government had actually been serious about digitisation, it would have spent the past two years putting in place an ecosystem to promote and support that digitisation.

Instead, we live in a country where a data protection law still doesn't exist.

Large chunks of India continue to be hobbled in terms of the physical infrastructure required to support digitisation.

India has among the world's slowest 4G data transfer speeds -- about a third lower than the global average.

It also has one of the highest rates of mandated shutdowns.

There is an Internet shutdown somewhere in India every third day or so.

Local administrations and the law enforcement machinery respond to any hint of potential law and order disruption by cutting off data networks.

These blame for these issues can be laid squarely at the government's door.

It has displayed no urgency whatsoever in drafting a data protection Bill, and by following it up by using its parliamentary majority and whatever equity it may possess, to pass such a Bill.

Instead, it chose to waste a great deal of time arguing that privacy was not a fundamental right.

Nor has the government cracked the whip, or considered deploying a carrot and stick policy to encourage telecom service providers to build faster networks, with higher capacity.

It could, for instance, have offered better spectrum licensing terms for networks with higher speeds, and at the same time, it could have threatened service providers with punishments if they didn't meet minimum standards.

Where the attitude of the administration in relations to shutdowns is concerned, the less said the better.

Network shutdowns are ridiculously easy to mandate in the prevalent culture and deployed as a default option, rather than a last resort.

As a result of this lackadaisical attitude, it's looking odds-on that there won't be a data protection law on the statute books before this edition of the Lok Sabha is dissolved.

A draft might be ready by the Winter Session of Parliament, but that session is bound to be marked by massive disruptions and dominated by the fallout of the five assembly elections scheduled in the next few weeks.

The Budget Session will be even worse in terms of noise-to-work ratio because the general election will be looming ever closer.

If those two windows are missed, we'll have to wait until the next government is installed before a data protection Bill is tabled.

That implies another eight months, at the very least, of limbo, when it comes to data protection.

That limbo has enabled all sorts of businesses that would be illegal in countries that do have data protection laws.

India's politicians have made a great deal of noise about Facebook and Cambridge Analytica misusing data.

The fact is, homegrown data mining outfits -- 'Jhumritilaiya Analytica' and 'Kakinada Analytica' if you like -- have misused Indian data to a far greater extent.

The ongoing series of elections campaigns will be based on heavy-duty data mining.

There are multiple outfits blatantly offering data, linking voter IDs to Aadhaar numbers, mobile numbers, credit card and debit card usage, and social media accounts.

For a small fee -- about Rs 10 per voter seems to be the going rate -- they will push out messages designed to micro-target and influence voters.

During a recent media investigation, some of these 'miners' made tall claims about swinging 5% to 6% of voters through their messaging.

Tall claims aside, mining data of this type should be illegal.

Yet, it may not be.

Political parties seem to have plenty of money to burn two years down the line.

These outfits will pick up clients, collect fees, exert their 'influence' for what it's worth, and disappear before there is a data protection law.

Was this the sort of digitisation demonetisation was supposed to empower?
'It is not with feelings of devotion or piety that these people are gathering.'

'It is mostly with emotions of hatred.'

'Listen to their slogans and their rhetoric and this becomes immediately clear,' says Aakar Patel.

IMAGE: A scene from Ayodhya, November 25, 2018. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

I was a few days short of my 23rd birthday on December 6, 1992. That evening I was at my friend Rajiv Desai's house and he told me that the Babri Masjid had been pulled down.

I felt excited by the thought that something new and radical had happened. The next morning I went to open our little shop in Surat's textile market but everything was shut. I telephoned my father to ask what I should do and he said I should wait a while and then return.

On my way back my bike was stopped in a neighbourhood and I was asked my name. I said it and the man said 'Don't come back here please.'

From our eighth floor flat I could see that by 1 pm, there were several columns of smoke going up all over Surat. I had never seen mass violence before and in a few days over 500 people, mostly Muslims, would be butchered in the city.

The columns of smoke were from Muslim homes and businesses being systematically looted and burnt.

Of course, my excitement had long vanished by then as the realisation came that something new and radical had indeed happened but it was not in any way positive.

We were punishing the Muslims after having destroyed their structure. Why? This was not easy to answer.

The writer V S Naipaul, who spoke no Indian language but was able to examine our society quite deeply, felt that the movement against the mosque was a positive thing. His explanation was that Indian society was the way it was -- meaning poor, dirty and uninventive -- because the Hindu mind remained colonised and needed to be liberated.

The violence and energy released by the demolition would bring positive intellectual change.

This was not based on scholarship, but his impressions. If one thinks about this seriously it is quite ridiculous.

It assumes that all the centuries of rule by different dynasties -- Afghan, Turk, Mughal and Persian -- which all fought each other, were one continuous thing.

It assumes that colonising rulers who were not Muslims (for example, the Maratha Gaekwads in Baroda or the Scindias in Gwalior) were different and did not tax or oppress their populations. It assumes also that all parts of India were ruled by Muslims. This is not true.

Naipaul was not an academic and therefore not challenged properly on his thesis. No proper scholar would make such a sketchy argument and none has.

Did the collective Hindu mind get liberated on December 6, 1992? No, it did not. We are not a different nation in any way.

The big change in our collective thinking came from the liberalisation policy of Manmohan Singh in 1991 and not the vandalism of 1992.

Perhaps Naipaul meant in the long term, but then a quarter century is the long term and already we live in a time when most Indians alive today were born after the demolition. Surely it cannot have affected them.

There is no liberation. The one change that has come is that we have become more easily communal in our expression as a nation.

Today the political parties and the mass media can say reckless things that they perhaps hesitated from saying before 1992.

We had news that 200,000 people from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh were gathering in Ayodhya.

Some 5,000 Shiv Sainiks under Uddhav Thackeray and his son also went.

They announced, rather ominously, that this will be the last Dharma Sabha in Ayodhya.

The reason they are doing this is to put pressure on the BJP government to start building the temple before the elections. As if this Bharatiya Janata Party needed encouragement to do this.

If there is a reason the BJP is in power today it is largely because of its actions in 1992.

The sentiment that made the BJP popular in that period was negative. Meaning that it was communally charged. It was against the mosque rather than in favour of the temple.

This is why the Ram Janmabhoomi movement collapsed after the demolition and the violence it produced.

It remains negative today and it is intended to punish other Indians.

It is not with feelings of devotion or piety that these people are gathering. It is mostly with emotions of hatred.

Listen to their slogans and their rhetoric and this becomes immediately clear.

Nothing positive and productive can come out of such bitterness and hate. Naipaul did not understand that. But then for him the stakes were low. He could offer his casual opinions on our society and take a return flight back to his home in England.

We have to live in this country with other Indians. We should be wary of the demons we let escape when we set about liberating the collective Hindu mind.

Aakar Patel -- winner of the 2018 Prem Bhatia Award for Political Reporting -- is Executive Director, Amnesty International India. The views expressed here are his own.
'In this country, if any government acquires one of these images -- anti-farmer, or anti-poor or corrupt -- the government doesn't survive.'

'The Modi government is fast acquiring that anti-farmer image, that is why it is nervous.'

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi at an election rally in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, November 20, 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo

"If farmers's prosperity could be measured by words that the government offers them, then the Modi government would have definitely made the farmers more prosperous. But if you measure it by actual action and actual money spent, then there is actually nothing on the ground," Swaraj Abhiyan President Yogendra Yadav tells Archis Mohan.

What is your assessment of the recent farmers protest by the Naresh Tikait-led Bharatiya Kisan Union and the Narendra Damodardas Modi government's response?

We should look at the protest in the context of the widespread farmers upsurge that we have seen all over the country in the last year-and-a-half, to be precise beginning in Maharashtra on June 1, 2017, followed by Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh. Since then we have seen a series of protests, under different banners.

Occasionally some big banners like the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSSC) have also emerged. We saw a protest by the AIKSSC (which comprises nearly 190-farmer outfits) last November, a kisan bandh, gaon bandh call in June this year, this particular BKU march and the proposed AIKSSC protest on November 30.

What unites these apparently diverse organisations in protests is the disquiet with the existing regime -- the current regime is anti-farmer; and the two demands that every single farmers' protest has asked for.

These two are: Firstly, remunerative price defined as input plus 50 per cent as the statutory right of the farmer and secondly, a one-time farm loan waiver.

So interestingly in this protest march last month, these were the top two demands farmers raised. They are not part of the AIKSSC banner and the organisation that is seen to be somewhat close to the current regime even they were constrained to raise these issues.

But I am not sure what the farmers march achieved. The BKU, led by Naresh Tikait, is an influential caste-based farmer organisation. It led a fairly peaceful and large demonstration and I thought the decision to prevent them from entering Delhi was completely unjust. Their charter of demands had almost no demand which was outlandish.

The BKU, of late, has been seen to be close to the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). I thought the BJP would wish to make some concessions to shore up its own image, but finally when I saw what the government has apparently conceded, I must say I was disappointed.

I am not sure what has been gained on two critical issues of remunerative prices and loan waiver.

There is not a word on income guarantee for farmers.

On old diesel tractors being phased out, the government simply said it will appeal to the National Green Tribunal.

You don't walk 300 kms from Haridwar to Noida for a ride to Kisan Ghat. I am not sure, unless something I have missed, or was unspoken or unwritten, I don't know what was achieved for the farmers of India.

You said the Modi government is anti-farmer. But some might argue that it has been proactive in announcing several schemes to improve the farmers, including increasing the minimum support price.

One thing that the government has been very proactive about is publicity.

If farmers's prosperity could be measured by words that the government of India offers them, then the Modi government would have definitely made the farmers more prosperous.

But if you measure it by actual action and budgetary allocation and actual money spent, then there is actually nothing on the ground.

The problem is the government speaks so much about MSP that it has led ordinary people to believe that it must have done something nice on MSP.

In reality, all the three claims on increasing MSP -- including in the Budget and most recently after the farmers march -- made by this government are factually false.

The government said it had fulfilled their electoral promise, which it has not, because the promise was to provide farmers income based on the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, that is input cost plus 50 per cent.

However, what the government has done is announced partial cost, called A2+FL in technical terms, plus 50 per cent.

The government has claimed it to be a historic increase, which is patently false.

The highest rise, which naturally happens in pre-election years, was in 2008-2009 and not 2018-2019.

If you look at the entire five-year tenures, UPA-I saw the highest, while that during UPA-II was the lower. The current NDA's is much lower than both of them.

The third claim was they have given a big bonanza to farmers, that is currently being tested because the important thing is not what you declare as MSP, but what the farmers get.

We are in the first week of procurement and a recent analysis (by Harish Damodaran in The Indian Express) showed every commodity, except cotton, farmers were getting prices much below MSP.

The government procurement has failed in two of three crops that have arrived -- moong, urad, soybean and now bajra.

In all of these, with some exceptions, the government is simply not procuring.

MSP is purely on paper. All the claims of the government with regard to MSP are false.

What is different about this government is the scale and amplification of propaganda which is extraordinary, I must say.

But do you think any government has the wherewithal to procure on MSP? Secondly, how do loan waivers help?

I have increasingly come to think that there is a limit to State intervention in the market.

Frankly, I do not think the government can procure all the 24 crops for which MSP has been declared and handle it in any intelligent way. So, we have to think of ways.

I have looked very closely at the Telangana experiment under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, that encompasses direct income support. So, unlike many friends in the farmers movement, I am open to income support rather than price support.

But in the short term, price support is the only way and this is the promise the BJP made in its election manifesto. That is what it should begin with, but gradually think of transitioning to direct income support.

On loan waiver, frankly it is not a solution by itself, and if done frequently can hit rural banking and damage those very farmers for whom these are demanded.

We are demanding farm loan waiver as a one-time waiver to be done to supplement the income support that we want.

If you waive someone's loan without giving him income support, the farmer will be back after two years demanding another loan waiver.

To my mind, a loan waiver is a necessary component at this stage of a package of which central component is income support.

Today, if you give farmers such an income support, they won't be able to utilise it as it would go into debt servicing. So, it is only a one-time solution.

The reason why a one-time solution is required because farmers have simply no capacity to pay.

The reason they don't have the capacity is not because of their own lethargy, or their own mistakes, but because of a systematic policy bias that has kept price of farm produce suppressed for almost five decades.

In any sector of the economy, if you are in a debt trap for reasons that are not of your making, the economy should step in to rescue you.

This happens for industry, for the corporate sector and the same logic must apply to farmers.

But I must reiterate I am against the culture of repeated loan waivers.

Farmers, it is said, are too divided to vote as a bloc. What is your assessment of the influence, if any, these farm protests would have on the coming assembly and the Lok Sabha elections?

In the last one-and-a-half years, if you look at several struggles -- in Maharashtra, the Nashik to Mumbai march, milk agitation; several agitations in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, rise of farmer polticians, gherao in Punjab by farmers, struggle in Chhattisgarh, ongoing agitations by Karnataka farmers -- this is an unprecedented phase in the history of the farmers movements.

Something like this packed in such a short time has not been witnessed since the late 1980s.

I think what the cumulative impact of all this is that the current government is acquiring the reputation of being an anti-farmer government.

In this country, if any government acquires one of these images -- anti-farmer, or anti-poor or corrupt -- the government doesn't survive.

The Modi government is fast acquiring that anti-farmer image, that is why it is nervous.
IMAGE: Mohammed Farooq Shaikh arrested by the crime branch in connection with the 2002 Akshardham temple terror attack case, in Ahmedabad. Photograph: PTI Photo

Over 16 years after the terror attack on the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, that claimed 34 lives, the police on Monday arrested a man allegedly involved in the assault case on his arrival at the city airport, officials said.

Based on a specific tip-off, Ahmedabad Crime Branch officials nabbed Mohammed Farooq Shaikh (47) as soon as he arrived at the airport from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he had been living since 1994, said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Bhagirathsinh Gohil.

"We have arrested one Mohammed Farooq Shaikh from the city airport upon his arrival from Saudi Arabia. Shaikh used to live in Juhapura area of the city. He was part of the conspiracy to carry out the attack on Akshardham," he said.

Elaborating on Shaikh's alleged role in the episode, the officer said the accused was involved in collecting funds for the operation with the help of banned Pakistan-based terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Gohil said Shaikh had been living in Riyadh since 1994 and hatched the conspiracy with others to target the temple to avenge the killings of minority community members in the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

"He watched the videos of Gujarat riots and decided to avenge the killing of Muslims. As part of the conspiracy to spread terror in Gujarat, Shaikh held meetings with terror operatives linked with Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba there," said Gohil.

"Shaikh is accused of collecting and sending funds to carry out the attack on Akshardham temple. The money sent by Shaikh was used in buying firearms used by the terrorists," he added.

On September 24, 2002, two armed terrorists entered the Akshardham temple complex in Gandhinagar and opened fire on devotees, leaving 34 dead and injuring 84 others.

The attack had taken place seven months after Gujarat was rocked by widespread communal violence triggered by the torching of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra station.

The attackers were subsequently killed by National Security Guard (NSG) commandos.

The Supreme Court had, in May 2014, acquitted all the six convicts in the case, including three awarded the death sentence by the trial court, for want of sufficient evidence against them.
IMAGE: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu speaks with Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh during foundation stone laying ceremony for Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, at Dera Baba Nanak, in Gurdaspur, on Monday. Photograph: PTI Photo

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the banks of the Ravi river, about three-four km from the border in Pakistan.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said the corridor construction work will be completed within four months.

Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Hardeep Singh Puri and Vijay Sampla were also present at the event.

The Punjab government had launched year-long celebrations to commemorate the 550th Parkash Parb (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev on November 23.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.

IMAGE: Naidu, Singh and others light the lamp at the ceremony. Photograph: Kind courtesy VPSecretariat/Twitter



However, the Punjab chief minister did not miss the chance to hit out at Pakistan and its army chief for promoting terror activities in the state and killing of Indian soldiers.

He warned the Imran Khan led dispensation of serious consequences if it did not put an end to the violence perpetrated against India.

While thanking Khan for reciprocating India's move on developing the Kartarpur corridor, Amarinder, a former army officer, asked Khan to rein in his army and bring an immediate end to terror against Indian armed forces and citizens.

Reiterating his stand of not going to Pakistan for ground breaking ceremony of the corridor there on November 28, Amarinder said how could he go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed everyday.

Where I thank the prime minister of Pakistan (for Kartarpur Corridor), I want to say something to his Chief of army staff (Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa). I have been in the army and he (Pakistan army chief) General Bajwa is very junior to me in the service.

"When we (Capt) were in the army, the country's security was always foremost for us.

"But who teaches in the army that you kill our soldiers at the border? You use sniper to kill our Jawans. Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot, Dinanagar (referring to terror attacks at Pathankot airforce base in 2016 and Dinanagar in Gurdaspur in 2015), Amarinder said.

Amarinder further lashed out at the Pakistan army chief while referring to the recent Amritsar grenade attack on Nirankari Bhavan in which three people were killed and over 20 people were injured.

"In Amritsar village, people were offering prayers in the morning and you get a grenade thrown at them. Is it what is taught by the army? It is cowardice," the chief minister said.

He said 'by firing bullets at innocent people and killing them with grenade what they get out of itthey should be ashamed of themselves'.

"If they try to foment trouble in Punjab then Bajwa (Pak army chief) should remember that we have Punjabi blood, we will not tolerate it," said Amarinder while pointing out that his government after coming to power had busted 17 terror modules and recovered several weapons and ammunition.

"If such people think of fomenting trouble here and try to weaken our Punjab, then Bajwa should know it that I will protect people of Punjab till the last drop of my blood," he said.

Amarinder Singh said everyone knew that the Army calls the shots in Pakistan.

"The Pakistan PM should rein in his army as ISI which works under army works against us..Such army chiefs (referring to Pak army chief) should understand that we have bigger army than they have and we are fully prepared.

"There is a limit to it if you do it repeatedly (provoke) then India will also have to think," said Amarinder adding, "Nobody wants war. We want peace and development."

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after the function, the chief minister said, "Armies don't fight innocent women and children, armies don't throw grenades on religious congregation, armies are there to defend the country..".

Lashing out at those who felt he should have accepted Pakistan's invitation to participate in their ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor, Amarinder asked how he could go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed by them everyday.

"I am saying this because some things came up in Facebook in which many are saying Capt Sahab why don't you go there. How will I go? I cannot forget my responsibility towards my citizens, I cannot go there.

"Because before reaching Kartarpur Sahib, I will have to go through Pakistan and Pakistan government is out of control," Amarinder told the gathering.

He said paying respects at Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib has always been his cherished dream which will hopefully be fulfilled once these hostilities and killings are stopped.
IMAGE: BJP President Amit Shah waves at supporters at an election roadshow in Indore. Photograph: PTI Photo

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah said on Monday his party believed that a grand Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya soon and accused the Congress of putting hurdles in its construction.

He said the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case is pending before the Supreme Court and it remains to be seen what happens there.

"All people wish that a Ram Temple should be build in Ayodhya soon. We also want that a grand Ram Temple should be build soon," Shah said.

The BJP chief was talking to reporters on the sidelines of his roadshow in Indore on the last day of campaigning for the November 28 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh.

He alleged that the Congress was putting hurdles in the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

To a query on whether the Centre plans to bring an ordinance or enact a law to clear the way for construction of the temple, Shah said, "The Supreme Court has posted the hearing on Ram temple to January. Let's see what happens."

The Supreme Court last month had said that an "appropriate bench" will decide in the first week of January the schedule of hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case.

To another query, Shah expressed confidence the BJP would sweep the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls for the fourth consecutive time.
The construction of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib corridor across the India-Pakistan border has been likened to the fall of the Berlin Wall by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Here's why the corridor is important.

IMAGE: Paper artist Gurpreet Singh shows a paper model of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo

Why is Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib sacred for the Sikhs?

Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district.

It was established by Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, in 1522.

The first gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built there, and Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died there after spending more than 18 years of his life in Kartarpur. It is only fitting that the initiative has been given the nod on the 550th birth anniversary of the Sikh guru.

What is the significance of Kartarpur corridor?

Both India and Pakistan have announced that stretches would be developed in their respective areas, linking Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan.

The corridor, once built, will give Indian pilgrims easy, visa-free access to the shrine in Pakistan.

The length of the corridor will be four km, that is, two km on each side of the border.

Indian pilgrims will be given visa-free access to the gurdwara, making it the first such cross-border initiative between the two nations. It is also expected to strengthen people-to-people contact.

How did India and Pakistan reach an agreement on building the corridor?

There had been a longstanding demand in India to open a corridor between Dera Baba Nanak shrine and Kartarpur Sahib.

During the 1999 visit of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpyee to Lahore, it was proposed that visa-free access to be granted to Sikh pilgrims to visit the shrine.

India and Pakistan agreed to the proposal soon thereafter.

In 2010, then chairman of the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board, Sayed Asif Hashmi, offered to complete the required modalities for the construction of the corridor once India also agreed in principle on the same proposal.

However, no official announcement of opening of the corridor was made from either side.

In May 2017, the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs ruled out the construction of the corridor, citing poor state of relations with Pakistan.

Why did the issue regain focus?

In August this year, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had come under fire from opposition parties after he visited Islamabad to attend the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan and hugged Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa there.

In his defence, Sidhu had claimed that he did so as Bajwa told him that the Pakistan government was working for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor.

However, in October, the Pakistan foreign office said that the opening of the corridor will be delayed until there are talks between the two countries.

The statement came after India called off a proposed meeting of foreign ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

On November 22, the Union cabinet cleared a proposal to develop the corridor. The decision coincided with the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Hours later, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Islamabad has conveyed to India its decision to open the Kartarpur corridor.

The ministry of external affairs sent a letter to Pakistan, urging it to construct the corridor on its side.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone for the project on the Indian side on Monday. On November 28, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will do likewise.

Not without controversies, though

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoped the Kartarpur corridor would act as a bridge between the peoples of India and Pakistan that might lead to a better future as he referred to the fall of the Berlin Wall to underline the importance of people-to-people contact.

The prime minister referred to Partition saying, "What has happened in 1947 has happened."

However, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh declined Pakistan's invite to attend the ground-breaking ceremony for the corridor, citing terror attacks in his state and killings of Indian soldiers by Pakistan troops as the reason.

It was also reported that Sikhs visiting Gurudwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan on the occasion were not allowed to meet Indian high commission officials.

However, now that the corridor has been announced, sources say that India wants no restrictions on the number of pilgrims.

They also said there must be free and readily available consular access for Indian citizens on the Pakistani side.

Moreover, India wants the corridor to be kept open for 24 hours on all days.
On the 10th anniversary of 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, India on Monday once again asked Pakistan to give up 'double standards' and expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice.

The External Affairs Ministry said Islamabad has been showing 'little sincerity' in punishing those involved in the terror attack and its planners are still roaming the streets of Pakistan with 'impunity'.

It noted that a former prime minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistan's soil, a reference to Nawaz Sharif's remarks on the issue.

"We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice," the MEA said.

"This is not just a matter of Pakistan's accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation," it said.

India also welcomed the US statement Monday calling on Pakistan to uphold UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT)and its affiliates.

A total of 166 people including 28 foreigners from 14 nations were killed in the terror attack carried out by a group of Pakistani terrorists belonging to LeT.

The case, in which seven Lashkar-e-Tayiba members were facing charges of planning and executing the strike, is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court. India has been pressing Pakistan to expedite the trial.

"The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory. The former prime minister of Pakistan had earlier this year admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistan's soil," the MEA said.

In an interview to Pakistani daily Dawn in May, ex-premier Nawaz Sharif had questioned, "Should Pakistan allow militants/non-state actors to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai?...Why can't we complete the trial?"

The MEA said Indian missions organised memorial events in the countries whose nationals were killed in the attack.

"It is a matter of deep anguish that even after 10 years of this heinous terror attack, the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe still await closure," the MEA said.

It said India will continue its efforts to bring justice to the families of the victims and the martyrs.
Minority conference organised by the JD-U turned out to be a poor show with few from the Muslim community attending it, exposing the falling credibility of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as a secular leader, says M I Khan.

Photograph: PTI Photo

After the Janata Dal-Uniteds minority conference in Patna last week turned out to be a poor show, with most chairs remaining empty, Bihar's ruling party leaders are a worried lot.

The party had organised the conference as a part of the JD-Us strategy to send a political message that the secular image of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is intact despite his return to the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance fold last year.

But the JD-U failed as few Muslim party workers, supporters and sympathisers attended the conference held on November 22 at S K Memorial Hall in Patna.

It is probably for the first time in the last two decades or more that a minority conference witnessed such a poor response.

It was a big setback and embarrassment for the Muslim leaders of JD-U, who tried hard to project that Muslims are secure under Nitish Kumars rule and stressed that there is no threat to Muslims despite the party joining hands with the BJP.

It was none other than Nitish Kumar who had repeatedly claimed, without naming his ally BJP, in recent months that he will not compromise with communalism and will continue to play secular politics.

At the conference, even after top leaders of JD-U highlighting the achievements of the state government vis a vis minorities -- particularly schemes meant to benefit Muslims -- and projected Nitish as a champion of the Muslim cause, a large number of chairs remained empty in the hall.

The embarrassment on the faces of organisers unmistakable.

A few Muslim JD-U leaders termed the no-show as "unexpected".

Bihar Minority Welfare Minister Khurshid Firoz Ahmad -- against whom a fatwa was issued last year for saying 'Jai Shri Ram' -- admitted that the poor turnout surprised him personally.

But senior JD-U leader R C P Singh downplayed the poor show, saying he was satisfied with the attendance.

More than a dozen Muslim leaders of the party, including former legislators and others, were present in the conference but they failed to attract people from the community despite elaborate arrangements -- including specially cooked chicken and mutton biryani.

Muslims are not happy with Nitish Kumar after he joined hands with the BJP. Since then, cases of communal tension have increased in Bihar in an unprecedented manner and over a dozen districts witnessed riots.

"We had voted for the Grand Alliance (of the JD-U, the Rashtriya Janata Dal of Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Congress) to defeat the BJP in 2015. But Nitish betrayed us by forming a government with the BJP, which is more powerful under Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, unlike in 2013 when Nitish broke alliance with the party, Dr Roomi, a homeopathic doctor in Gaya district said.

Nayiar Fatmi, a Muslim activist in Patna, said communal tensions have become common in Bihar after Nitish joined hands with the BJP.

"Muslims in Bihar are a soft target for the Hindutva forces as Nitish Kumar is not in a position to rule as per his wish. Now, the BJP is playing a big brother and that bothers Muslims, Fatmi said.

The poor show at the conference has exposed Nitishs waning credibility as a secular leader. It is said that he is no more seen as a leader who can fight the BJPs communalism against Muslims, who constitute over 16 per cent of the total population in Bihar.

Muslims in Bihar are openly voicing their opposition to Nitish.

In the last 15 months, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat visited Bihar four times to strengthen the outfit's base.

"The RSS chief regularly visits Bihar, thanks to Nitish Kumar's silent support to Hindutva forces, Mahtab Ansari, a retired school teacher said.

According to psephologists here, the opposition RJD and Congress are set to gain the support of Muslims, even of the sections which are traditional JD-U voters.

It was evident early this year when the RJD wrested the Jokihat assembly seat from the JD-U in a bypoll. RJD candidate Shahnawaz Alam won the seat by over 41,000 votes.

The Jokikhat seat fell vacant following the resignation of JD-U MLA Sarfaraz Alam, who joined the RJD.

Jokihat is a Muslim-dominated area, considered a stronghold of former Union minister and Shahnawaz Alam's father Mohammad Taslimuddin, who died last year, leading to a bypoll for the Araria Lok Sabha seat.

This was the second time this year when the RJD contested polls in the absence of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is in jail after being convicted in the fodder scam.

The RJD, under the leadership of former deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, proved again that it has an edge over the JD-U when it comes to minority votes.
The outreach centre -- one of the sites of the 26/11 attack -- will be turned into a memorial dedicated to all the victims.

IMAGE: Chabad House Mumbai Director Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky gestures at bullet marks from 26/11. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo

The first phase of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the 26/11 terror attack will be inaugurated on Monday at the Nariman House in south Mumbais Colaba area.

The Nariman House, which houses an outreach centre of the Jewish Chabad movement, was one of the theatres of terror on November 26, 2008, its siege ending with National Security Guards commandos storming the building and gunning down two terrorists who had taken its residents hostage.

The first phase of the memorial will comprise of a plaque on the roof of the building inscribed with the names of those who died in the 26/11 attack, Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky said on Sunday.

Signifying a new chapter of peace and a beacon of light, the building itself would be called the Nariman Light House from Sunday, he informed.

IMAGE: Ten years ago, two terrorists -- Babar Imran and Nasir -- had raided the Jewish centre at the Nariman House and killed four of its residents, including Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his pregnant wife Rivka. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

This is the only place which is dedicated to the victims of the 26/11 attack. The Taj (hotel) has one and the Oberoi (hotel) has a plaque, but those are only for the people killed at those places, the Rabbi said.

As we know, it was not six different attacks. It was one attack at six different places. We felt that we needed to make a place which will commemorate all those killed, he added.

The plaque would have water constantly streaming from a fountain, signifying the flow of life, and would be surrounded by plants, Kozlovsky said.

IMAGE: Chabad House Mumbai Director Rabbi Israel Kozlovsky and Chief architect Eliav Nahlieli inside baby Moshe's room at the site. Moshe survived the attack thanks to his Indian nanny Sandra Samuel. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo

Six planks with the paintings of the six places targeted that day -- the Taj and Oberoi hotels, the Leopold Cafe, the Kuber boat, the CamaHospital and the Nariman House -- would be another feature of the memorial, he added.

The Nariman House will be called the Nariman Light House from Sunday and will serve as a beacon of light. It will be symbolic of the fact that there is light at the end of every tunnel. It is only through positivity that the message of peace can be spread across all humanity, Kozlovsky said.

IMAGE: The first phase of the memorial will comprise of a plaque on the roof of the building inscribed with the names of those who died in the 26/11 attack. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The second phase of the memorial, expected to be completed in a year, would be located on the fourth and fifth floors of the building and would be themed from darkness to light, Kozlovsky said.

It would tell the world that the only way to lead life was to abide by the virtues of humanity, spread positivity and become a harbinger of hope, the Rabbi added.

IMAGE: Talking about the memorial, the Rabbi said that it would tell the world that the only way to lead life was to abide by the virtues of humanity, spread positivity and become a harbinger of hope. Photograph: /Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

On the evening of November 26, 2008, two terrorists -- Babar Imran and Nasir -- had raided the Jewish centre at the Nariman House and killed four of its residents, including Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his pregnant wife Rivka.

Their son Moshe, who was two years of age at that time, had survived the attack after being rescued by his Indian nanny, Sandra Samuel.

IMAGE: A passerby looks at the bullet marks outside Chabad House at Nariman House. On Sunday itself, the house was renamed as Nariman Light House. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo

In the ensuing firefight with the NSG commandos, the two terrorists were killed.

Commando Gajendra Singh Bisht had also made the supreme sacrifice during the operation.
Ten years back, 10 Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorists sailed into Mumbai from Karachi and carried out coordinated attacks that lasted three days.

The terrorists carried out bomb explosions and holding innocents hostage as a fight back by security forces continued for the next 60 hours. Taj Mahal Palace hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, Leopold Cafe were targetted in the attack that made headlines across the world.

On Monday, India marks the 10th anniversary of the attacks that killed 166 and scarred our psyche forever.

A policeman pays his respects at the police memorial site to mark the tenth anniversary of the November 26, 2008 attacks, in Mumbai. Family members of the policemen who lost their lives during the attacks were also present during the ceremony. The Mumbai Police posted a message on its Twitter handle which read, "Remembering those who put the nation before themselves. And our salute to the city whose resilience always made its people stronger". Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Senior Police Inspector Vijay Salaskar was one of the police officials who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 60-hour-long attack. Salaskar's daughter Divya said nothing could compensate for the pain the incident had caused. "The whole city remembers this day very painfully. Ten years down, we have came a long way but the pain is very much the same. When you lose a loved one like a father or a husband, there is nothing to compensate for that kind of pain," Divya said. She added that the city was safer and there was more awareness among people. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Members of the police band play the bugle at the memorial service. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Policemen and members of the dog squad at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus where the terrorists had opened fire at passengers when they made their way into the city. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

A woman poses for a street photographer in front of Taj Mahal hotel. As many as 31 people were killed in a three-day siege at the hotel. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

A bullet hole in a wall opposite to the Nariman House, one of the targets of the November 26, 2008 attacks. From Sunday, the centre was renamed as the Nariman Light House to represent a beacon of hope. Terrorists killed eight people here including Rabbi Gabriel Holtzberg, his pregnant wife, and five others, out of which five were Israeli citizens. The 2-year-old son, Moshe, of the Rabbi couple, was the lone survivor of the attack at Nariman house. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters
Grandparents of Moshe Holtzberg, who survived the 26/11 carnage at the age of two, talk of how questions by the now 12-year-old boy only add to their grief.

IMAGE: Moshe, now 12, earlier in this year had returned to Nariman House in Mumbai where his parents were gunned down by terrorists on that fateful night of November 26, 2008. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Time heals, they say.

But for Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg -- the grandfather of Moshe Holtzberg who survived the 26/11 carnage at the age of two, having lost his parents to the terror attack on the Nariman House -- time hasnt healed their trauma despite a decade going past.

In 2008, on this day, Moshe became an orphan. His father Rabbi Gavriel and mother Rivka, who was five months pregnant at the time, were killed by Pakistani terrorists along with four other hostages at the Nariman House, Mumbais Chabad Lubavitch Jewish centre.

Moshe was in the same building that time. His Indian nanny Sandra Samuel found him sitting next to his parents bullet-riddled bodies, crying and alive. She risked her life and fled the building with the baby.

The boy, who is now 12 years old, lives in Israel with his maternal grandparents. Sandra, 54, has been felicitated by the Israeli government as a honourary citizen. She lives in Jerusalem but visits Moshe every weekend.

Time heals, they say, but for us the pain has only intensified over the last 10 years as we see the boy growing, Rosenberg said on the 10th anniversary of the nightmarish attacks that shook the world.

As Moshe grows and his inquisitive mind raises questions it is increasingly difficult for us to handle, he said, adding that it hurts them immensely when he asks about his parents and why he is growing up with his ageing grandparents.

We are growing old and his questions are quite natural, Rosenberg said.

IMAGE: Moshe, pictured here shortly after the attacks, was only 2 when his parents died. He then moved to Israel and now lives with his grandparents -- Yehudit Rosenberg and Shimon Rosenberg. Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters

The grandfather, however, is very appreciative of the support his family has received from the Indian government and people, which makes him believe that it is a shared pain.

I appreciate the government and people of India for the way they have stood by us and made us feel that it is a shared pain. We thank them for the relationship they have built with us and the warmth they have extended to us, he said recalling the familys trip with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Mumbai early this year.

People can say and complain about all sorts of things like security lapse, etc, but we believe in God. The feeling of oneness demonstrated by Indians is heart-warming and we appreciate it a lot, Rosenberg asserted.

Moshes nanny Sandra said Moshe has grown into an intelligent boy.

I cant believe its been 10 years. Feel as if it was just now. The thought of it trembles me and is terrifying but the sight of Moshe gives a lot of strength. He is now such an intelligent big boy who will have his bar mitzvah next year, Sandra said.

Bar mitzvah is a ceremony performed for Jewish boys at the age of 13. Some Israeli scholars compare the ceremony to the Hindu upnayana or the sacred thread ceremony.

Sandras pictures of holding the little boy close to her chest after escaping from the place touched the hearts of millions of people all over the world.

I will always regret not being able to do anything for Rivka and Rabbi Holtzberg. Also that they can not see their child growing up. He is such a bright child. They would have been proud of him, a choking Sandra said.

IMAGE: Talking of his visit to Nariman House in January this year along with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the pain was just to traumatic and he was deeply impacted by the site. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

The family celebrated Moshes 12th birthday about three weeks ago at his school and at home with close family as per the Hebrew calendar. As per the Gregorian calendar, he will turn 12 on November 28.

The boys grandparents had planned to celebrate his bar mitzvah next year at the Chabad House where he was born and lost his parents, but seem to have changed their mind following their trip in January to India with Netanyahu.

The pain is just too traumatic for him to go through once again. He was deeply impacted by the site during his visit and his psychologist also feels that it would not be a good idea to push him to celebrate his bar mitzvah there, Rosenberg said.

In an emotional meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 5, 2017 in Jerusalem, the young boy expressed his wish to be able to visit Mumbai.

I hope I will be able to visit Mumbai, and when I get older, live there. I will be the director of our Chabad House...I love you and your people in India, Moshe told the prime minister who embraced the young boy on seeing him.

Modi responded by saying, Come and stay in India and Mumbai. You are most welcome. You and your all family members will get long-term visas. So you can come anytime and go anywhere.

Netanyahu had then promptly asked Moshe to join him when he travels to India, a promise he did not forget and the family accompanied him during his trip to India earlier this year.

India issued 10-year multiple entry visas to Moshe and his grandparents to ease their travel to the country in August 2017. Modi is said to have personally followed up on the matter as promised to Moshe during their meeting.

In 26/11, ten Lashkar-e-Tayibe members carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. The attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on November 26 and lasted till November 29. At least 174 people, including nine attackers, died and over 300 were wounded.

Eight of the attacks occurred at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Oberoi Trident, the TajPalace and Tower, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, the Nariman House, the Metro Cinema, and in a lane behind the Times of India building and St Xaviers College. Explosions took place at the Mazagaon docks and in a taxi at Vile Parle.
The United States Customs and Border Protection closed the border between Tijuana in Mexico and San Diego in California and used tear gas on migrants and refugees, including children, whoever tried to cross the border fence.

The incident took place because of rising frustrations among immigrants due to slow processing of their asylum claims by the US authorities.

Thousands of immigrants have arrived at the US-Mexico border in the recent weeks from all over Central America, fleeing violence, poverty or political persecution in their countries.

Al Jazeera reported that more than 5,000 migrants and refugees have been cramped into a Tijuana stadium complex, near the Mexican border, that is more than 2,000 people over capacity.

In the previous week, Trump threatened to shut the US border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time, fearing the collective exodus of the refugees and deployed thousands of US military troops at the border, giving them expanded powers, including the use of force.

Here are glimpses of what happened at the border.

A migrant family from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands traveling from Central America en route to the United States, runs from tear gas released by US border patrol near the fence between Mexico and the United States in Tijuana, Mexico. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

A migrant girl from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands travelling from Central America en route to the United States, cries after running away from tear gas thrown by the US border control near the border wall. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Rosa Villa, 30, and her five-month-old son Esteban from Honduras, part of a caravan of thousands travelling from Central America en route to the United States, are pushed back from the border wall. Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

US soldiers and border patrols fire tear gas towards migrants, part of a caravan of thousands travelling from Central America. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Migrants, part of a caravan of thousands from Central America trying to reach the United States, run from tear gas released by border patrol. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters
The case is being tried in the Anti-Terrorism Court since 2009. There has hardly been any case in any ATC in Pakistan that is pending for over nine years.

As India marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 carnage on Monday, the trial of seven Lashkar-e-Tayiba members facing charges of planning and executing the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad high court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months.

The attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the operations commander of the LeT, has virtually secured his acquittal with the Pakistan government indicating no plan to challenge his bail in the Supreme Court.

The six other suspects have also 'bright chances' of acquittal with their trial witnessing bizarre twists and turns like frequent change of judges and murder of a prosecutor.

On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistan-based LeT terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai.

A total of 166 people died and over 300 were wounded in the strikes, which lasted till November 29.

Nine of the attackers were killed by police, while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after a trial in India.

In Pakistan, seven LeT suspects -- Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum -- are facing charges of planning and executing the attack since 2009.

There has been a realisation in Pakistan, especially among politicians, that the attacks had demolished all the past efforts to build friendly relations between the two neighbours.

However, there are divergent views on whether punishing the culprits in Pakistan will help restore ties between them.

But like ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, questions are being asked in Pakistan 'why trial is not being completed?'

When PTI sought a reaction from the Pakistan's Foreign Office on the status of the 26/11 trial, the FO spokesman Mohammad Faisal refused to comment in detail and just said, "It is sub judice."

Pakistani prosecutors are, however, quick to blame India for the delay.

Chief prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told PTI the case can be concluded in a week if India sends 24 witnesses to Pakistan for recording of their statements and other evidence.

"The Mumbai case will take not more than a week to conclude if India allows Pakistan to examine the boat on which the terrorists travelled to reach Mumbai and also send its witnesses here for recording of their statements," he said.

Azhar, who is also Federal Investigation Agency special prosecutor, further said India will have to cooperate with Pakistan if it wants logical conclusion of the case.

"Crime had taken place in Mumbai and onus is on India to provide full evidence to Pakistan. The Indian government has not yet either clearly refused to send its witnesses to Pakistan or allow us to examine the boat there. If it refuses, the benefit will go to the suspects and the case will be over," he said.

When asked why the government has not challenged the bail granted to Lakhvi, he said there was no strong evidence against his involvement.

Lakhvi walked free from jail in April 2015 after securing a bail from the trial court, while the six other suspects are in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Abuzar Peerzada, another prosecutor in the case, said the hearing of the case in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) is being held on regular basis and the next hearing is on November 28.

When asked about any possible time frame for conclusion of the trial, he said: "No...it is very difficult to give any time frame...as it is not an ordinary trial (involving two countries)."

A lawyer associated with the case, requesting anonymity, said: "Since both Pakistan and India's interests are involved in this case...this is more of a political case than a legal one. And a 'political case' has no time limit (for conclusion)."

Raja Rizwan Abbasi, a counsel for Lakhvi and other six suspects, was reluctant to talk to PTI when contacted.

However, a lawyer close to him said the defence is not filing a bail petition of the six suspects as it is hoping that since enough time has passed they have 'bright chances' to secure acquittal.

"The defence lawyers are optimistic about acquittal of their clients. Therefore, they are not moving their bail plea," he said.

Azhar, however, is of the view that they may get benefit only if India does not send its witnesses and other evidence.

The case is being tried in the ATC since 2009. There has hardly been any case in any ATC in Pakistan that is pending for over nine years.

"It appears that the state is not in hurry to decide this case since the matter is related to its arch-rival India," a senior lawyer said.

Interestingly, former Federal Investigation Agency chief Tariq Khosa too pointed out lingering on the case 'far too long'.

"Dilatory tactics by the defendants, frequent change of trial judges (at least nine times), assassination of the case prosecutor and retracting from original testimony by some key witnesses have been serious setbacks for the prosecutors," he said.

Like many others in Pakistan, Khosa too believes the case 'will not be over soon'.

Earlier in an interview to Dawn newspaper, ex-premier Sharif had questioned, "Should Pakistan allow militants/non-state actors to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai?...Why can't we complete the trial?" remarks that got him into trouble.
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asked Pakistan to act against those responsible for the barbaric 2008 Mumbai attacks as Washington announced a new reward of $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of those involved in the carnage.

IMAGE: Indian Army soldiers take position during a gun battle at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai on the last day of the Mumbai terror attack in 2008. Photograph: Desmond Boylan/Reuters

The Trump administration offered the new reward (of over Rs 35 crore) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10 Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayiba terrorist went on a shooting rampage in India's financial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans.

Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a 'barbarity', US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including the LeT and its affiliates.

'It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement,' Pompeo said in a statement, making it clear to Islamabad that the Trump administration was not not happy with the slow pace of the trial involving seven LeT suspects, including its operations commander Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, who is out on bail.

'We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and its affiliates,' Pompeo said.

'The US Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted in the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack,' the State Department said in a statement on Sunday.

'Key members of this heinous plot remain at large, and this investigation remains active and ongoing. This reward offer extends to any individual who bears responsibility for this act of terror,' the RFJ said in a separate statement.

The move comes less than a fortnight after Vice President Mike Pence had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised thisissue and rued that even 10 years after the Mumbai terrorist attack its perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

From November 26 to 29, 2008, a total of 10 terrorists associated with the LeT carried out a series of coordinated assaults against multiple targets in Mumbai, the State Department statement said.

"The United States is committed to working with our international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack," it said.

The State Department's new announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack.

In April 2012, the Department of State announced reward offers for information that brings to justice LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior LeT leader.

Under this, Washington announced a $10 million bounty for information leading to Saeed's arrest and conviction but, despite periods of detention over the years, he has remained free in Pakistan.

In December 2001, the Department of State designated LeT as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. This designation plays a critical role in the fight against terrorism and is an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to get out of the terrorism business, the State Department said.

In May 2005, the United Nations 1267 Sanctions Committee added LeT to the Consolidated UN Security Council Sanctions List.

The State Department said anyone with information on this incident can contact the RFJ office. Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Officer at the nearest US embassy or consulate. "All information will be kept strictly confidential," it said.

Since its inception in 1984, the RFJ programme has paid over $150 million to more than 100 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide.

Meanwhile, a senior Trump administration official has said that except for designating Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism, the United States is looking at all possible tools at its disposal to convince Islamabad that it is in its interest to crush terrorist groups.

"The focus of the discussions has not been on designating Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, rather how to use other tools at our disposal to convince Pakistan that it is in its interest to crack down on terrorist groups," the administration official told PTI.

"Pakistan has a stark choice: Cooperate and enjoy the benefits of close relationship with the US and the rest of the world, or face international isolation if it chooses not to change its behaviour," the official said in response to a question.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, Trump administration officials say they are looking at ways through which they can convince Pakistan to change its behaviour.
The Jat community is itching to end its brief dalliance with the BJP, but it is also upset with the Congress, the party they have traditionally supported, for not giving them their due, reports Archis Mohan.

IMAGE: The Jat community is important in the Rajasthan polls as it comprises nearly 10 per cent of the state's 47.6 million electorate. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters

The Congress has a Jat headache in Rajasthan. The community is itching to end its brief dalliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, but is also upset with the Congress. The Jats believe they have never received their due from the Congress, the party they have traditionally supported.

Hanuman Beniwal, a 46-year-old Jat leader, is the face of this Jat political aspiration. An independent legislator, Beniwal launched his Rashtriya Loktantrik Party on October 29.

Beniwals party is contesting 58 of the 200 seats in the assembly polls, scheduled for December 7. Beniwal has an alliance with former BJP leader Ghyanshyam Tiwaris Bharat Vahini Party.

The Congress has taken to call Beniwal, sacked from the BJP in 2013, and Tiwari, the "Trojan horses" of the BJP. Beniwal is a popular leader in Nagaur, but has little influence in rest of the Shekhawati region comprising Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Churu.

The Jats had deserted the Congress in 2013 assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha polls, but are now returning to its fold. Congress strategists, however, are more worried that any success Beniwal, a former student leader, gets in the forthcoming elections could spur a third force in Rajasthan politics.

In his speeches, Beniwal appeals to fellow Jats, tribal Meena community, Muslims and Meghwals, a Scheduled Caste, to join hands to offer an alternative to the Congress and the BJP. The idea has potential, and can become powerful in the hands of a more adept politician, someone like Chaudhary Charan Singh. But Beniwal is a lightweight, said Pintu Sangwan, 40, a Nagaur-based political worker.

IMAGE: Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot during an election campaign for the state assembly at Tonk. Photograph: PTI Photo

The Congress historically has had tall Jat leaders in Parasram Madherna, Ramniwas Mirdha and Sisram Ola. Jat youths, mostly in Nagaur, are unhappy the Congress never made a Jat the chief minister of Rajasthan.

Jats comprise nearly 10 per cent of the states 47.6 million electorate and are influential in Shekhawati and Marwar. They compete for political influence with Rajputs, who are 5-6 per cent, and Gujjars, also 5-6 per cent.

While Rajputs have supported the BJP, the Gujjars gravitated towards the Congress after the emergence of Rajesh Pilot, and now see in his 41-year-old son Sachin the future chief minister.

In 1998, Maderna was set to become the CM before Ashok Gehlot pipped him to the post. As CM in 2011, Gehlot sacked Madernas son Mahipal from his ministry after he was named in the Bhanwari Devi case. In this election, the Congress has fielded Mahipals young daughter Divya Maderna from the Osian constituency in Jodhpur.

The Mirdha clan is at war with itself. Ramniwas Mirdhas son Harendra represents one side of the family, while Nathuram Mirdhas nephew Richhpal Mirdha and granddaughter Jyoti Mirdha represent the other. The Congress leadership is keen that Jyoti, a former Lok Sabha member, steps up to a leadership role, but worried at her disinterest. Harendra has turned a rebel in Nagaur after Congress didn't field him.

Congress strategists are desperate for the emergence of a strong Jat leader within its ranks, but the Madherna and Mirdha clans have mostly disappointed. This is where Beniwal, with his fiery speeches and nearly half dozen recent farmer rallies, has become a source of concern.

Support of Jats is crucial for the Congress since the community also has a symbiotic political relationship with the Muslims. The Congress has fielded Muslim candidates from Churu and Nagaur constituencies, and Jats in adjacent ones.

The support of Muslims will help the community win back the control of gram panchayats and cooperative banks from the Rajputs, Harsh Chaudhary, a Congress leader in Churu, said.

Jats have become champions of Hindu-Muslim unity. Jats and Muslims live in harmony here and we will not allow any riots, Ashok Sihag, a big Jat farmer near Bikaner, said.
Contributed photo

MORRIS - Social Services Director Laurel Gillotti identified 18 local families in need of some help to enjoy a happy thanksgiving, and a large number of town residents stepped forward to help their neighbors.

Allen Schoenbach and Ron Lawrence transported donated food from Litchfields DiFranco Restaurant and several other businesses in Torrington. The Friends & Neighbors organization donated apple cider; Womens Fellowship at Morris Congregational Church donated all the potatoes; the Morris Fire Company held a collection among their members to purchase 18 frozen turkeys; and Connecticut State Police officers Steve Sordi and Nick DelTorto shared items donated to their food drive.
LITCHFIELD  The Camelot years  the phrase immediately conjures the time that the Kennedys were in the White House. And, as with so many other things, Jacqueline Kennedy decided that this would be the term to forevermore define her husbands short time as president.

It was during an interview for Life Magazine that Mrs. Kennedy related that the president was a fan of the Broadway musical Camelot, which opened on Broadway in 1960 and closed in 1963. The music had been written by Alan Jay Lerner who was a classmate of Kennedys at Harvard University.

President John F. Kennedy and his family brought new life and vigor to the country. He was young and so bright, had a charming, vital wife, and two beautiful young children. And their menagerie. During his brief tenure at the White House, there were as many as nine dogs, a cat, parakeets, hamsters, rabbits, deer and seven horses.

But it seems that dogs were their first love. And in a recent book The Dogs of Camelot, authors Margaret Reed and Joan Lownds tell the story of the Kennedys and their passion for dogs, describing all of them and their place in Camelots animal history.

Reed, owner of Canine Training and Behavior Services in Wilton, had a personal experience with one of the Kennedy dogs when she was a child.

In the summer of 1963, when I was four-years-old, my family rented a house on Cape Cod, in Hyannis Port, Reed explains. One day a large German Shepherd came onto our property. As I sat on the ground pulling weeds he meandered over with a slobber-covered ball, wanting me to throw it for him. But every time I reached for the ball, he would quickly grab it and start the process all over again. That dog turned out to be Kennedys German Shepherd Clipper.

Reed got to meet the president and never forgot her encounter with Clipper. And some 50 years later, at a fundraising event for the Park and Bark Dog Park, she encountered a German Shepherd that reminded her of the infamous Clipper.

I wanted to find out what happened to him, says Reed, and the research became a book.

And its quite a book  a love letter to all four-legged creatures who enter our lives and teach us so much. Reed started writing the book in 2011 and made several visits to the JFK Library in Washington, D.C., working with archivists, researching documents and conducting interviews with former cabinet members, advisors, relatives, and friends.

At a certain point, Reed asked her friend Joan Lownds to help get the project over the finish line.

Lownds, a journalist who started out at The Litchfield County Times and worked at The New Haven Register and The Greenwich Citizen, is the author of Man Overboard: Inside the Honeymoon Cruise Murder.

We met when I was doing a story for on Peg and her business for The Wilton Bulletin. We were both big fans of the Kennedys  JFK had been my childhood hero, so she and I just clicked. I had done a lot of reading about the family, but never knew he was such a devoted lover of animals.

Reed and Lownds wrote the book together and both came away with a new perspective on the family.

The hardest part was the research because there really werent many files on the dogs, says Reed. I wanted to get it right. I was fortunate in finding cabinet members from the administration, JFKs speechwriter Ted Sorensen and White House Social Secretary Nancy Tuckerman, who served as Jacqueline Kennedys personal secretary after the presidents death.

While there was a belief that it was Mrs. Kennedy who was the dog lover, it was really JFK.

He felt he could trust them better than most people, Reed says. He was very allergic to dogs and yet they were a constant in his life.

Lownds recalls one anecdote that illustrates his passion for pets.

JFK was so close to his dogs that during the Cuban Missile crisis, on the brink of nuclear war, he called for Charlie, his Scottish Terrier and pet him while he made his decision.

The Dogs of Camelot offers up many more anecdotes and facts about the time Kennedy was in the White House. While there have been countless books about Jackie and about Jack, there have been few that concentrate solely on their four-legged companions. Illustrated with many archival photographs, the book is a treasure for animal lovers and for those who admired the Kennedys. Reed and Lownds have done a brilliant job in bringing back memories of the short but remarkable era of the Kennedys  and their pets.
The Wamogo Class of 2019 sponsored a Turkey Suit fundraiser that benefitted the Holiday Support Services Drive for local Regional School District 6 families.

Students and staff donated to the fundraiser to see who would raise the most money and have the privilege of wearing the turkey suit on the day before Thanksgiving recess.
At least 10 ethnic Phnorng villagers protested on Monday in Cambodias Mondulkiri province to demand an end to a sand-dredging operation carried out in a wildlife sanctuary in the Bou Sra commune of the provinces Pech Chreada district, local sources said.



Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service on Nov. 26, Sraing Soeuna resident of Bou Sras Pou Toeut villagesaid that villagers had earlier seized dredging machines used in the operation, which they said had been launched in secret and was still unlicensed.



The projects owner had already blocked the upper end of the stream being dredged, reducing the villages daily fish supply and interfering with local religious practice in the forest, Sraing Soeun said.



This is affecting the communitys forest, preventing us from holding religious services, Sraing Soeun said, adding that the dredging is being carried out within the boundaries of a protected zone, the Phnom Naim Lea wildlife sanctuary.



Nowadays, authorities wont protect the community or our natural resources. Instead, they try to destroy them, he said.



Also speaking to RFA, another Phnorng villager, Kreung Tola, said that villagers had seized the operations dredging equipment in order to demand that the project be suspended, as local residents had never been consulted before it was launched.



We request that the dredging be suspended because the project has no documentation, he said.



We are also asking that commune and district authorities not join hands with [the business owner], and that they help us, the villagers, instead.



The residents are getting poorer and poorer, while the project owner is getting more and more rich, he said.



Calls seeking comment from the reported business owner, a provincial official of Cambodias Ministry of National Assembly and Senate Relations named Nak Ven, rang unanswered on Monday.



Bou Sra commune chief Yeut Sarien was also unavailable for comment on Monday.



Promise to inspect



Speaking to RFA, Ty Sophalan official of the Mondulkiri provincial office of Cambodias Ministry of Mines and Energysaid that he had only just received news of the dredging operation and would send colleagues to inspect the dredging site.



In the past, area residents used to dredge sand at that same location to build their homes, but now Ive heard that machinery is being used, so I will inspect the area in question, he said.



Authorities should consult with the local community and provide them with clear information before authorizing projects of this kind in the area, local coordinator for the rights group ADHOC Eang Mengly said.



This strongly affects ethnic minority residents, since they depend on the use of local water resources, he said.



And if chemicals or gasoline are used in these sand dredging activities, this will affect water conditions and may cause residents to face health concerns and other issues."



Dredging operations in Cambodia have sparked frequent protests, with environmental activists working to expose irregularities in Cambodias trade in dredged sand with foreign countries and helping villagers organize to protect their land.



Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has resigned as leader of the island's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after it suffered significant losses to opposition Kuomintang (KMT) nationalists in local elections over the weekend.



The DPP lost around half of the cities and counties it won in its 2014 island-wide landslide, while losing the mayor's race in Kaohsiung, which it has controlled for 20 years, in a shock defeat to KMT outsider Han Kuo-yu.



"Now that I have resigned as party leader, the DPP will undergo organizational reforms," Tsai told journalists after accepting responsibility for the election result. But she declined to accept the resignation of premier William Lai.



Meanwhile, Han, now mayor-elect of Kaohsiung, said the city will be reaching out to Beijing after two years of strained ties that have marked Tsai's presidency.



"My position on cross-straits relations is that of the 1992 consensus," Han said, referring to an informal agreement between the Chinese Communist Party and the then-ruling KMT that Taiwan is a province of a yet-to-be reunified China, and cannot therefore seek membership of international bodies.



"And it is because of the 1992 consensus that, when Kaohsiung reaches out to the rest of the world, we will do so with no barriers in our minds," said Han, who was elected on a platform promising economic benefits from closer links with the communist government in Beijing, which has never ruled Taiwan.



The mainland Chinese state media reacted with glee to the defeats inflicted on the DPP at the polls, blaming the results on dissatisfaction with Tsai's administration, and policy of ignoring the 1992 consensus.



"The Tsai administration's secessionist stance has not only soured its crucial relations with the Chinese mainland, but also made it unpopular with people on both sides of the straits," the China Daily said in an editorial.



"The election shows that the Tsai administration has betrayed Taiwan's interests and become a troublemaker whose actions have drifted farther away from the practical needs of the Taiwan people and the historical truth of the consensus there is only one China."



Tsai has refused to endorse the 1992 consensus, also known as the "One China" policy, and Beijing has retaliated with military saber-rattling and a campaign to isolate Taipei still further on the world stage.



The Global Times called on Tsai to "make an about-face" on the 1992 consensus in the wake of the election result.



The elections were marred by fears of growing influx of covert funding backed by Beijing, and government accusations that Beijing was using social media to try to influence the election result.



On the same weekend, pro-Beijing candidate Yan Chang took a seat in Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) left vacant by the disqualification of a pro-democracy lawmaker whose oath of allegiance was ruled invalid by China's parliament.



Economic arguments



Hung Chih-fu, politics professor at Taiwan's National Cheng Kung University, said Beijing has recently stepped up campaigns to influence the results of democratic elections in Taiwan and Hong Kong in its favor. Its hallmark is the use of primarily economic arguments.



"They ride along on the coattails of the economic card," Hung told RFA on Monday. "That's to say that they use democratic means to push their agenda in both places."



"Previously, the methods they used were pretty crude, and didn't really have the desired effect," he said. "Now, they are gaming democracies; playing them at their own game ... [and] they are getting better and better at ... influencing political developments in both places."



Hong Kong political commentator Sang Pu agreed, saying that the issue of Chinese influence still isn't widely understood among many voters, and that Han's victory in Kaohsiung showed how effective economic arguments are in winning voters over.



"The economy card has been played for all it is worth," Sang said. "Han Kuo-yu was elected mayor of Kaohsiung on the basis of it, and in Hong Kong, Yan Chan stood on an economic platform."



"Economic arguments and campaigns are becoming very, very common," he said.



Taiwan voters also rejected the idea of gay marriage in a referendum that had been intended to pave the way for the legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan.



In a blow to the island's liberal reputation in the region, more than two-thirds of voters endorsed the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.



The referendum result comes after a 2017 constitutional court ruling that same-sex couples have the right to marry set a two-year deadline for the government to legislate.



LGBT groups said they are considering a legal challenge to the vote, citing a misinformation campaign by anti-groups during the referendum campaign and more than 2,000 reports of electoral rule-breaking.



Support for self-rule



Taiwan was ruled as a Japanese colony in the 50 years prior to the end of World War II, but was handed back to the 1911 Republic of China under the nationalist Kuomintang government as part of Tokyo's post-war reparation deal.



When the 1911 regime fled to Taiwan in 1947 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communist troops, the Republic of China government ceased to control most of China, though it continues to be the official name of the Taiwan government.



The island began a transition to democracy following the death of Chiang's son, President Chiang Ching-kuo, in January 1988, starting with direct elections to the legislature in the early 1990s and culminating in the first direct election of a president, Lee Teng-hui, in 1996.



Recent opinion polls indicate that there is broad political support for self-rule in Taiwan, where the majority of voters identify as Taiwanese rather than Chinese.



But Beijing regards the island as part of China, and has threatened to invade if Taiwan seeks formal independence.



Reported by Jing Yuan and Hwang Chun-mei for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Chung Kuang-cheng for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Hundreds of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, including children, shout slogans as they protest against their repatriation at the Unchiprang camp in the Teknaf area of Cox's Bazar district, southeastern Bangladesh, Nov. 15, 2018.

Rohingya Muslims on Monday staged a protest in several refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh against the United Nations refugee agency for refusing to identify their ethnicity as Rohingya on smart cards issued to them.

The protesters also urged aid groups not to share their biometric data and copies of documents with Myanmar officials who they fear might use the information against them.

Rohingya leaders in the sprawling settlements in the Ukhia area of Coxs Bazar district where the cards are being issued also called for a three-day work strike in a bid to force the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to include their ethnic identity on the smart cards it has been issuing to them, according to a statement they released.

Markets and shops stopped operating in camps observing the strike, and Rohingya who work for NGOs and the UNHCR and as teachers, health care workers, and builders refused to do their jobs.

They are insisting that the smart cards, which identify them as forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, specify that they are ethnic Rohingya.

Myanmar says the Rohingya are Bengalis  illegal immigrants from Bangladesh  and systematically discriminates and denies them citizenship, though many have lived in Rakhine state for generations.

The refugees also called on officials and aid agencies to stop collecting their biometric and family information and to allow them to speak with UNHCR officials about their demands.

We are very worried about the biometric data that UNHCR wants to collect, the statement said, according to a Reuters report.

We believe UNHCR can share this data for repatriation with the Myanmar government, and the Myanmar government can use it to label us as ARSA member[s] or as Bengali foreigners like in the past, or to make trouble for our families, it said.

The Muslim militant group the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) carried out deadly attacks on police outposts in northern Rakhine state in August 2017, triggering a campaign of violence by the Myanmar military that targeted the Rohingya.

The UNHCR says the data are not being collected to give to Myanmar officials for planned repatriations, but rather for a verification process that will ensure the refugees can access services in Bangladesh, Reuters reported.

Khin Maung, a Rohingya who lives at the Thaingkhali refugee camp, told RFAs Myanmar Service that none of the Rohingya refugees wants the ID cards.

If we have to use cards, we need to be mentioned as Rohingya on them, he said.

The UNHCR and human rights groups have warned that conditions are not yet ripe for the Rohingya to return to Myanmar, where their safety is not guaranteed and where they will likely continue to be persecuted.

On Sunday, about 100 protesters, including Buddhist monks, marched through Rakhines state capital Sittwe to demonstrate against the planned repatriations of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh, Agence France-Presse reported.



Blame it on the INGOs

Prior to the latest protest and strikes in the camps, Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay accused international NGOs (INGOs) of putting their own business interests ahead of those of the refugees by trying to keep them in the Bangladeshi camps.

In Bangladesh, there is a big market for food and other stuff for these refugees, he said during a government news conference on Nov. 23. The INGOs also dont want these refugees to return home, so they can work on their projects and make money as long as [they] stay there.

There are a lot of INGO projects such as ones for women and children, he said. It is a really big business there. Thats why the INGOs are urging the refugees not to return. That is where the problem exists.

But Alo Hussan, a refugee from Kutupalong refugee camp, pointed out that INGOs are providing assistance and support for the Rohingya because they arrived in Bangladesh with nothing when they fled from Myanmar.

I really question why the Myanmar government said the support from INGOs is a business, he said.

Myanmar signed an agreement with Bangladesh a year ago to repatriate some of the more than 720,000 Rohingya who fled Rakhine state during a brutal crackdown by state security forces. The much-delayed program is now set to get underway in January after a national election in Bangladesh in December.

We dont want to wait until December or any other date, Alo Hussan said. We will return home tomorrow if the Myanmar government agrees to our demands.

The Myanmar government has said that it has been ready to take back refugees since Jan. 23, but it has blamed delays on Bangladesh not fulfilling its part of the agreement.

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in late October to begin repatriating Rohingya refugees, but none of the first group of 2,200 approved for return showed up at the border for processing on the appointed day amid protests in the camps in Bangladesh, with the Rohingya demanding justice, the restoration of their citizenship rights, and access to basic services before going back.

Myanmars agreement with Bangladesh, as well as a memorandum of understanding the country signed with the UNHCR and the United Nations Development Programme to assist with the repatriation of refugees, specifies that the Rohingya must return voluntarily.

A report issued by U.N. investigators in late August detailed atrocities committed by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya during the 2017 crackdown and called for those responsible to be prosecuted for genocidal intent.

The Myanmar government has largely denied the atrocities and called its clearance operations in northern Rakhine state a necessary counterinsurgency against Muslim terrorists.

Reported by Htet Arkar for RFAs Myanmar Service. Trsanslated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The family of a jailed Vietnamese pro-Democracy activist suspects that the latest in a series of health problems during his incarceration could be the result of poisoning at the hands of prison authorities.

Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, who has been serving a 16-year sentence under Article 79 of the countrys penal code for writing online articles criticizing the Vietnamese government, had a monthly visit with his family on November 24, at Prison No. 6 in Nghe An Province, where he discussed in detail a case of sudden illness.

Trans brother, Tran Huynh Duy Tan told RFAs Vietnamese Service that during the visit, Tran said that on November 20 at around 5:15 a.m. he felt very dizzy, was sweating profusely, and that after drinking water he had a bout of bloody vomiting and a headache.

He checked his own blood pressure, which was extremely high at 150/110, the brother said. Normal blood pressure is between 90/60 and 120/80.

According to the 88 Project, while resting, Tran vomited a yellow and green liquid.

The Illinois-based Vietnamese political prisoner advocacy nonprofit said the prisons medical staff then examined him and gave him two pills for cerebral blood flow deficiency, which he also immediately regurgitated.

At about 7 a.m. his blood pressure returned to normal and he was able to eat breakfast, but felt very tired all day, said Trans brother.

His health returned to normal the following day. The sudden nature of the vomiting combined with the rapid return to health is what caused the family to suspect foul play.

During the visit Tran also asked his family to consult a doctor to determine possible causes of his sudden illness. He also said that since that day he is refusing to eat prison food, instead subsisting on instant noodles.

He said that prison guards threatened to stop providing him with boiling water to cook the noodles, but said he would eat them raw if necessary, Trans brother said.

The 88 Project wrote that the prison now appears to be trying to make life difficult for Tran, taking away not only his access to boiling water, but also denying him a flashlight, a sphygmomanometer, or a glucose meter. When he asked them to explain their legal basis for taking away these privileges, he got no reply.

RFA reached out to Dr. Dinh Duc Long of the Post Office Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss the familys suspicions.

I dont have his health records. I only have the information the family provided. I think the vomiting might just be a sign of an empty stomach, the doctor said.

However, cerebral blood flow deficiency, which is what the prisons health officers diagnosed, should be immediately treated, he added.

RFA attempted to contact the prison using its publicly listed phone number, but was unable to connect.

The 88 project said that the information about Trans sudden illness matches that which a foreign diplomat last week relayed to Le Cong Dinh, a U.S.-trained human rights lawyer who was sentenced to five years in the same case against Tran in 2010.

The diplomat said that authorities are trying to use mental torture to force Tran to confess guilt so he can be released and stay inside Vietnam, as he refuses to accept exile as has been offered by the Vietnamese government.

According to previous RFA reports, Trans health has been an ongoing issue this year. In August he had initiated a hunger strike and family members described him as tired and thin, while in April they were worried that the absence of light in his cell was causing him vision problems.

Reported by An Nguyen for RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Amnesty International has criticized the refusal of a court in Russia's Chechnya region to release a leading activist on bail.

The Shali City Court on November 26 rejected a bail request for Oyub Titiyev, the head of the prominent Russian human rights group Memorial's office in Chechnya, whos been detained since January. The judge reportedly stated that the defense did not present enough evidence to mitigate the previous grounds for his arrest.

"The decision not to grant bail to Oyub Titiyev once again demonstrates the political motivation of the case against him. He has committed no crime, having been jailed on completely fabricated drug charges, and must be released immediately and unconditionally," Amnesty International Russia researcher Natalia Prilutskaya said.

"This case is an affront to justice which highlights the Chechen government's intolerance of opposing views and is further evidence that human rights defenders jailed in Chechnya cannot rely on the tools of justice to help them," Prilutskaya added.

The United States, several European Union member states, and the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner have condemned Titiyevs arrest and expressed concerns about the case.

Titiyev has been in custody since he was detained by police in Chechnya who said they found a plastic bag with some 180 grams of marijuana in his car. He and his colleagues contend that the drugs were planted and have described the case as part of an effort to push Memorial out of Chechnya -- ruled for years by Kremlin-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov -- and other parts of Russia's North Caucasus.

Memorial has called the charges against Titiyev "bogus," saying they were "clearly fabricated as a means of silencing him."

Natalya Estemirova, Titiyev's predecessor as head of the Memorial office in Chechnya, was abducted near her home in the Chechen capital Grozny in July 2009 and shot dead. Nobody has been convicted of her killing.

In August, Kadyrov threatened to ban human rights activists from Chechnya once Titiyev's trial is over.

Rights activists say that Kadyrov, who was appointed to head Chechnya by President Vladimir Putin in 2007, rules through repressive measures and has created a climate of impunity for security forces in the province.



Kremlin critics contend that Putin has given Kadyrov free rein because he relies on him to keep a lid on separatism and insurgent violence after two devastating post-Soviet wars in the region.
At least 20 Afghan police officers were killed when their convoy was ambushed in the western province of Farah, officials say.



A spokesman for the provincial police, Muhebullah Muheb, told RFE/RL that the newly appointed police chief of the Lash-e Juwayn district were among those killed in the November 26 attack, which was claimed by the Taliban.



A deputy provincial police chief was also said to be among the dead.



A spokesman at the provincial hospital was quoted as saying that a total of 22 bodies were brought in from the assault.



Two members of the provincial council, Dadullah Qaneh and Shah Mahmood Naeemi, said at least four officers were also wounded.



The convoy came under fire as it was heading to Lash-e Juwayn for the introduction of the newly appointed district police chief, according to a third council member, Abdul Samad Salehi.



Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi claimed that four vehicles were destroyed in the assault and large quantities of weapons were captured.



Farah is a sparsely populated province on the border with Iran where the Taliban controls large parts of the countryside.



A number of Taliban attacks has left more than 100 Afghan police officers and soldiers dead in the province this month alone.

Afghan security forces have struggled to counter attacks from the Taliban and other militant groups since the withdrawal of most NATO combat troops in 2014.

President Ashraf Ghani said earlier in November that nearly 29,000 Afghan police and soldiers had been killed since the start of 2015 when they took over primary responsibility for Afghanistans security.

During the same period, 58 American were killed, he said.

With reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa
KYIV -- A dusting of snow and unease fell over Ukraine one day after Russian Coast Guard vessels fired on and detained three Ukrainian military ships and their crews off the Crimean coast, igniting rioting outside the Russian Embassy and public demands for retaliation.

The November 25 incident marked the most significant escalation of tensions in the shared Sea of Azov this year and the first time since Russia's unrecognized annexation of Crimea four years ago that Moscow has publicly acknowledged opening fire on Ukrainian forces.

The Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces was on full combat alert ahead of an extraordinary session of parliament on November 26, when lawmakers backed a decree by President Petro Poroshenko to impose 30 days of martial law in response to the skirmish.

Here's what went down, what has happened since, and what it all could mean:

What Happened And Where?

The Ukrainian and Russian versions of events differ, with each blaming the other for instigating the incident.

Kyiv said the Russians' actions violated a 2003 bilateral treaty designating the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait as shared territorial waters and the UN Law of the Sea, which guarantees access through the strait.

Russian officials said the Ukrainian ships were maneuvering dangerously, requiring the strait to be temporarily closed for security reasons. Moscow has since announced the reopening of the strait after using a cargo ship to block passage beneath a controversial new bridge connecting Russia with occupied Crimea.

But what isn't disputed is that a Russian Coast Guard vessel, the Don, slammed into a Ukrainian Navy tugboat as it escorted two military vessels toward the Kerch Strait in the direction of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which lies on the coast of the inland Sea of Azov. A series of dangerous events followed.

According to the Ukrainian Navy, the transfer of its vessels from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol was planned in advance. It said that while en route on November 25 the ships had radioed the Russian Coast Guard twice to announce their approach to the Kerch Strait but received no response.

Hours later, as the boats approached the strait, they were intercepted by Russian Coast Guard vessels. A video recorded aboard the Don and shared by Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov appeared to show the chaos that ensued, including the moment that the Russian vessel collided with the Ukrainian tugboat. The tugboat suffered damage to its engine, hull, and guardrail, according to the Ukrainian Navy.

Ukrainian authorities said the Russian forces subsequently opened fire on its vessels, badly damaging them. Russia said its forces fired on the Ukrainian boats as a matter of security.

As the incident unfolded, Russia blocked the Kerch Strait -- the only passage to and from the inland Sea of Azov, which is jointly controlled by Russia and Ukraine -- by anchoring a freighter across the central span of its six-month-old Crimean Bridge.

At least six Ukrainian servicemen were said to have been wounded, including two seriously, a National Security and Defense Council official and a Foreign Ministry official told RFE/RL on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment officially to journalists. They said around midday on November 26 that there had been no contact with 23 sailors aboard those vessels. The ships and crew were detained and brought to the Russia-controlled port in Kerch, in annexed Crimea.

Early on November 26, Kerch FM, a local radio station and news site, published photographs and a video of what it claimed were the detained Ukrainian Navy vessels moored at the port in Kerch.

Meanwhile, Poroshenko's permanent representative for Crimea, Borys Babin, told the 112 Channel that at least three of six wounded Ukrainian servicemen had been transferred to Moscow for medical treatment. Russian Ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova reportedly told Ukraine's Hromadske TV that three others were being treated at a hospital in Kerch.

Poroshenko Calls For Martial Law. What Would That Mean?

From Kyiv's perspective, the sea skirmish marked a significant escalation in a long-running conflict and perhaps the opening of a new front at sea. Until then, the fighting in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have battled Russia-backed separatists since April 2014, had been mostly a land war fought in trenches and with indiscriminate heavy artillery systems, albeit with mounting confrontations at sea as Russia bolstered its military presence there.

At an emergency cabinet meeting after midnight on November 26, Poroshenko called on parliament to support a declaration of martial law to respond to Russia's attacks and its effective blockade of the Sea of Azov. His call was heeded by parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy, who convened an extraordinary session for the late afternoon.

With a powerful coalition in parliament supporting Poroshenko, passage was virtually assured. Even some members of parliament who frequently oppose the coalition quickly voiced support for the measure, including Self Reliance party leader and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy.

But some lawmakers expressed concern about the move. Mustafa Nayyem, a member of Poroshenko's party who is often critical of the president, wrote on Facebook that "the president must indicate the JUSTIFICATION of the need to impose martial law, the BORDER of the territory in which it is to be introduced, as well as the TERM for its introduction."

"In addition," Nayyem argued, "the document should contain an exhaustive list of constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens that would be temporarily restricted."

The proposal from the National Security and Defense Council that Poroshenko announced he had signed on November 26 listed some of these things, according to a text published on the president's official site.

The initial text called for partial mobilization, the immediate organization of air-defense forces, tightened security at borders with Russia, increased information security, an information campaign to present facts about Russia's "aggression," increased security around critical infrastructure, and more. It can reportedly be canceled at any time.

The text reportedly made no mention of the scheduled presidential election in March, which some critics fear could be postponed. But presidential adviser Yuriy Biryukov said before the decree was published that Poroshenko's administration would not do that, adding that there would be no restrictions on freedom of speech.

As passed by lawmakers later on November 26, martial law was to be imposed from November 28. The order sets out extraordinary measures including a partial mobilization, a strengthening of Ukraine's air defenses, and several activities with broad wording -- such as unspecified steps "to strengthen the counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and countersabotage regime and information security."



Martial law will be introduced in areas of the country most vulnerable to "aggression from Russia."

Why Now?

Poroshenko and the martial law decree say it is necessary for national security. Specifically, the decree states it is "in connection with the next act of armed aggression on the part of the Russian Federation, which took place on November 25, 2018, in the Kerch Strait against the ships of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

Beyond that, he hasn't said much else about the timing or aims.

The introduction of martial law represents an extraordinary and unprecedented move. No martial law was imposed during Russia's occupation and annexation of Crimea in early 2014 nor at any point since hostilities began a month later in eastern Ukraine -- even when Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were dying at the height of fighting that summer and in early 2015.

Back then, Ukrainian officials worried publicly that a declaration of martial law could severely damage the country's ailing economy and disrupt cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Today, the economy has seen some recovery and the IMF recently promised Ukraine another financial bailout.

There could be other reasons, as some on Ukrainian social media pointed out after the president's proposal was made public.

Poroshenko's approval ratings have declined dramatically in recent months. He's now lagging far behind his highest-profile opponent, former Prime Minister and Fatherland party leader Yulia Tymoshenko. Some Ukrainian and foreign observers have suggested that Poroshenko, who has tried to capitalize on the threat from Russia with a three-pointed election slogan -- Army! Language! Faith! -- might benefit from playing up Russian hostilities.

Also, under martial law, some fear Poroshenko could try to cancel or postpone elections. For its part, Ukraine's Central Election Commission reportedly stated that holding elections under martial law would be possible.

Meanwhile, in Russia, President Vladimir Putin's own approval ratings have sunk in recent months as Russians vented anger over controversial pension reforms. Putin's purported order to special forces to seize the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine came in March 2014, with his approval ratings sagging.

But tensions in and around the Sea of Azov have been mounting for some time, with the Ukrainian military and Border Guard Service telling RFE/RL in August that it felt like only a matter of time before the situation would worsen.

How Did We Get Here?

Confrontation has been brewing in and around the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait for months, if not years, as RFE/RL reported from Mariupol in August.

The situation began ramping up in May, when Russia opened a 19-kilometer, rail-and-highway bridge over the Kerch Strait connecting mainland Russia with the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The bridge's low height restricted the types of merchant ships that could pass, decreasing traffic to service Ukrainian ports in Mariupol and Berdyansk. For those cities, their ports are economic lifelines.

Both sides increased their military presence in the Azov region. And Kyiv accused Moscow of harassing ships bound for Mariupol and Berdyansk. Ships operated by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) have since detained more than 150 merchant vessels, holding them for up to several days, at considerable cost to the companies and the ports.

Each side has detained the other's vessels. In March, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service detained a Russian fishing boat and impounded it in Berdyansk. Just last week, Russian Border Guards seized a Ukrainian fishing boat and impounded it in the Russian port of Yeysk, about 60 kilometers southeast of Mariupol.

How Will The International Community Respond?

An emergency United Nations Security Council meeting held later on November 26 failed to offer any solutions.

Much of the international community, which dismissed Russia's claim to Crimea in a UN vote in 2014, has largely sided with Ukraine.

Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said free passage of the Kerch Strait was guaranteed by the 2003 treaty signed by Russia and Ukraine. "The Agreement must be respected. It is of utmost importance to avoid any further escalation in the region," he said in a statement.

Chrystia Freeland, the Canadian foreign minister, tweeted her support for Kyiv. "Canada condemns Russian aggression towards Ukraine in the Kerch Strait," she wrote. "We call on Russia to immediately de-escalate, release the captured vessels, and allow for freedom of passage. Canada is unwavering in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty."

U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker, who has been particularly critical of what he calls "Russian aggression" against Ukraine, tweeted, "Russia rams Ukrainian vessel peacefully traveling toward a Ukrainian port. Russia seizes ships and crew and then accuses Ukraine of provocation???"

But U.S. President Donald Trump did not name either country in a brief response to a reporter's question about the confrontation. "Either way, we don't like what's happening. And hopefully they'll get straightened out. I know Europe is not -- they are not thrilled. They are working on it too. We are all working on it together," Trump said.

Statements of condemnation were welcomed in Kyiv, but some Ukrainian officials privately expressed to RFE/RL their frustration with such statements. What they would prefer, they said, is for their international partners to apply fresh, harsh sanctions against Russia over the skirmish.

What's Russia's Next Move?

With Ukraine under martial law, this is perhaps the biggest lingering question. The short answer is that no one knows.

Russia's flagship news program claimed the Kerch Strait incident was a Ukrainian provocation ordered from Washington in a bid to sabotage an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Putin at this week's Group of 20 (G20) summit in Argentina.

If Russia's state media provide any indication, the Kremlin might well play up the incident as a demonstration of Ukrainian aggression and perhaps a pretext for further actions against Ukraine. But what kind of actions remains to be seen.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, offered no specifics but warned the Kyiv "regime and its Western patrons" of "serious consequences" of the skirmish at sea.

"Clearly, this is a well-thought-out provocation that took place in a predetermined place and form and is aimed at creating another hotbed of tension in that region and a pretext for stepping up sanctions against Russia," the ministry said.

"We are hereby issuing a warning to Ukraine that Kyiv's policy, pursued in coordination with the United States and the EU, that seeks to provoke a conflict with Russia in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea is fraught with serious consequences."

It added: "The Russian Federation will firmly curb any attempts to encroach on its sovereignty and security."
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Ethnic Kazahks from China's northwestern Xinjiang region called for the release of relatives that have been held in China after traveling there at the request of Beijing.
ASTANA -- Ethnic Kazakhs from China's northwestern region of Xinjiang say their relatives with permanent residence permits issued by Kazakhstan have been barred from leaving China after traveling there at the request of Beijing.

Several ethnic Kazakhs from Xinjiang told reporters in Astana on November 26 that their relatives were summoned by Chinese authorities to go to Xinjiang and, despite having received permanent resident status in Kazakhstan, have not been allowed to leave.

Speaking at a news conference, they said Chinese authorities confiscated Kazakh documents and Chinese travel passports from their relatives after they went back to China to deal with bureaucratic necessities.

Zhainar Serikqyzy told journalists that her 82-year old grandfather, Raesh Qazbekuly, obtained a Kazakh residence permit and was ordered by Chinese authorities to return to Xinjiang for documentation needs in September 2017.

He has been unable to return to Kazakhstan ever since, Serikqyzy said. She said that an uncle also had to go back to Xinjiang in 2017 for bureaucratic reasons, but was detained upon his arrival and has been held incommunicado since then.

The Kazakhs also said that they had asked Kazakhstans Foreign Ministry earlier to help them to get their relatives back from China, but that the ministry said Kazakhstan cannot interfere in China's internal affairs.

Foreign Ministry officials did not immediately comment on that allegation.

Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said there are 14 ethnic Kazakhs who are barred from leaving Xinjiang for Kazakhstan because they are accused of violating regulations and holding passports of both countries simultaneously.

Smadiyarov also said that, in all, 29 Kazakhs had been detained in China in recent years on suspicion of illegally having dual citizenship, of whom 15 had been released.

'Reeducation Camps'

According to Smadiyarov, between January and September of 2018, some 2,500 ethnic Kazakhs had been able to abandon their Chinese citizenship in a simplified process as it had been agreed by Astana and Beijing.

In several public gatherings and rallies in Kazakhstans largest city, Almaty, earlier this year, ethnic Kazakhs urged Kazakh authorities and Western countries to help release their relatives from so-called "reeducation camps" in Xinjiang.

After Kazakhstan gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, many ethnic Kazakhs from Xinjiang and elsewhere benefited from Kazakhstan's state program for the resettlement of ethnic Kazakhs into the country.

Many of them obtained permanent residence in Kazakhstan or Kazakh citizenship but continue to visit Xinjiang on a regular basis either to see relatives of due to bureaucratic necessities.

The United Nations human rights officials said in August that an estimated 1 million Muslims, mainly Uyghurs, from Xinjiang were being held in "counterextremism centers" in China and millions more have been forced into reeducation camps.

Seprately on November 26, a group of ethnic Kyrgyz originally from Xinjiang urged Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov to seek the release of at least 50,000 relatives and others who they say are being held in the camps.

Uyghurs are the largest indigenous community in Xinjiang, followed by Kazakhs, and the region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and Hui, also known as Dungans.

Han, China's largest ethnicity, are the second largest community in Xinjiang.

China denies the facilities are internment camps. Officials say they are part of a "vocational education and training program" that helps people to "see clearly the essence and harm of terrorism and religious extremism."

In October, the state-run China Daily newspaper said in an editorial that Muslims in Xinjiang were vulnerable to foreign extremist propaganda and needed education and vocational skills.

The editorial accused the western media of "double standards" when it comes to reporting on Xinjiang, adding that the "false picture" of the region in the foreign media was "aimed at smearing the Chinese government."
BISHKEK -- A group of ethnic Kyrgyz originally from the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang have urged Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov to seek the release of their relatives from "reeducation camps" in China.

In an open letter addressed to Jeenbekov on November 26, the Kyrgyz repatriates said that at least 50,000 ethnic Kyrgyz are being kept in such camps in Xinjiang. The authors of the letter said that those being kept there have been held incommunicado, sometimes for more than two years.

Kazakh repatriates from Xinjiang held several public events in Almaty in recent weeks, urging Kazakhstans authorities and Western government to help release their relatives from such camps.

Investigations by the United Nations revealed in August that an estimated 1 million Muslims from Xinjiang were being held in "counterextremism centers" and millions more have been forced into reeducation camps.

China denies the facilities are internment camps.

Officials say they are part of a "vocational education and training program" that helps people to "see clearly the essence and harm of terrorism and religious extremism."

An estimated 200,000 ethnic Kyrgyz are currently living in Xinjiang, mainly in the Kyzylsu-Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture near the Chinese-Kyrgyz border.

Uyghurs are the largest indigenous community in Xinjiang, followed by Kazakhs, and the region is also home to ethnic Tajiks and Hui, also known as Dungans.

Han, China's largest ethnicity, are the second-largest community in Xinjiang, which borders Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
Russia has accused Ukraine of planning and staging a deliberate "provocation" for political purposes following a naval incident in the Kerch Strait that marked the first public acknowledgement by Moscow of its forces firing on Ukrainian troops since the onset of fighting in eastern Ukraine nearly five years ago.

Kyiv insists Russia is waging a "hybrid war" on Ukraine, and that the ramming, firing-on, and seizure of its vessels with their crews outside the Sea of Azov is just the latest attack in a long-running, separatism-fueled conflict with Moscow and its proxies.

The UN Security Council called a special session for later on November 26 to discuss the situation.

"We're dealing with a very dangerous provocation, and this of course demands special attention and a special investigation," Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on November 26. He said the Kremlin would refrain from further comment until the Russian Foreign Ministry made a detailed statement about the incident.

Kyiv regards the incident as evidence of continuing Russian aggression in a region where Moscow used to call the shots, and alleges that Russia continues to wage a hybrid war against its smaller neighbor.

'Worst Fears Confirmed'

Moscow counters that Ukraine's government is provoking conflict under orders from Washington.

"Literally the whole basis of the politics of Poroshenko and his regime is a provocation," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook, without citing any evidence.

Chalking the incident up to efforts by the Poroshenko administration to raise his approval rating and distract from domestic issues, Zakharova's statements echoed those of other Russian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin.

Karasin claimed that the Sea of Azov had been specifically chosen for its strategic location -- where "provocative activities by Ukraine can bring rapid and required results for an international scandal."

"Unfortunately our worst fears have been confirmed," Karashin told RIA Novosti.

Russian state media have given generous coverage to the incident, devoting several live TV debates to the issue. "Maritime Aggression" was the title of a report on the prime-time Sunday evening show News of the Week, in which Russian state media boss and presenter Dmitry Kiselyov claimed the clash near the Kerch Strait was a Western-led provocation aimed at undermining a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Argentina on November 30.

"Ships of the Ukrainian Navy are still in our territorial waters, but they're adrift. They're waiting for something," Kiselyov said on the evening of November 25, as news of the event was still unfolding. "It's unwise to sink the trespassers, since that's clearly exactly what they want. All we can do is pray that the rusty old barges of the Ukrainian Navy don't sink themselves, as they'll pin that on Russia in any case."

Russia has bolstered naval forces into the area over the past year -- with an overmatched Ukraine trying to do the same -- and routinely detained Ukrainian vessels in waters that Kyiv still regards as its own or at least shared, according to a bilateral agreement from 2003.

In an interview with news channel Rossia 24, the Moscow-installed leader in Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said the conflict is being provoked by "psychologically abnormal people" in Ukraine who have no concern for the fate of their citizens. "Crimea has returned to Russia forever," he said. "So there's nothing in the cards for them."

'Military Adventurism'

The United Nations gave overwhelming support to a 2014 resolution underscoring Ukraine's territorial integrity following Russia's seizure of Crimea and with Russia-backed separatists fighting for control of swaths of eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Russian officials have also publicly targeted international support for Ukraine's version of the November 25 events, calling out their counterparts in the European Union for risking further escalations with their statements of support for Kyiv.

After European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted that he condemned Russia's use of force in the Sea of Azov, Andrei Klimov, a member of Russia's Federation Council, issued a bitter rebuke and accused the EU of encouraging Ukraine's president to engage in "military adventurism."

"The EU does not understand the consequences of such decisions, that it encourages such actions by Poroshenko," Klimov told RIA Novosti. "This is the same as placing a machine gun and flame thrower in the hands of a psychopath and watching how he acts in a recreation park where people are taking walks."

Poll Boost?

Yet while the Russian narrative has zeroed in on the notion that Poroshenko is angling for approval ratings ahead of a planned vote in Ukraine in March, some commentators in Russia painted the incident as a ploy by Russia's president to improve his own political standing.

"Putin's approval rating this month is 66%, slowly going down to its lowest pre-Crimean level," Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote on Twitter, referring to a period before Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 boosted outward displays of patriotism and raised Putin's domestic ratings. "Why not to mobilize domestic audience, demonstrating military force in the sea?"

But if this was the Kremlin's tactic, at least some Russians appear convinced that it might have unintended consequences.

Vladimir Milov, a prominent member of the Russian opposition, argued that the Ukrainian Navy might have been trying to test Russia's resolve in preventing it from entering the Kerch Strait.

"If the goal was to scare the Ukrainians so that they 'stop trespassing,' then the way this was done they'll definitely 'trespass' again," Milov wrote on Facebook. "There'll be consequences for Putin, 100%, talk of a new round of sanctions will now get a fresh impulse."
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned that the planned U.S. withdrawal from a Cold War nuclear arms treaty could critically undermine stability in Europe.

Ryabkov said on November 26 that Russia was expecting a U.S. deployment of new missiles in Europe after Washington withdraws from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), despite Washington denying it has such plans.

The 1987 INF Treaty prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing, producing, or deploying ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,000 kilometers.

Amid persistent tension between the United States and Russia, both sides accuse each other of violating the accord, and U.S. President Donald Trump last month declared his intention to withdraw the United States from it, triggering angry reactions from Moscow.

Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, are expected to discuss the matter on the sidelines of the November 30-December 1 summit of the Group of 20 (G20) in Argentina.

Ryabkov told a news conference that Russia was open to talks on the issue with Washington but added that Moscow was skeptical about assertions that no new missiles would be deployed in Europe.

"We hear [the denials] but nothing more," Ryabkov said. "Plans have been changed many times before. We don't want to be disappointed in our [U.S.] colleagues again and therefore we are assuming the worst-case scenario in our military planning."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said he did not believe there would be new deployments of U.S. missiles in Europe, while U.S. national-security adviser John Bolton said Washington was a long way from taking decisions about deploying such missiles.

Ryabkov said the United States would be able to deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe "within years," something he said would fuel a dangerous arms race.

"In the event of such a deployment the Americans would gain significant extra capabilities, allowing them to strike at targets deep inside Russia," he added.

The diplomat also said that, if the United States stations the currently banned missiles in Europe, Moscow's response would be "effective." He did not elaborate.

Putin has said that Russia would be forced to target any European countries that agreed to host intermediate-range missiles.

With reporting by AP and Reuters
A man who was injured in one of at least five recent bridge collapses in Russia has died.

Authorities in the Voronezh region said on November 26 that the man, who suffered serious injuries in the accident five days earlier, died in a hospital in the city of Borisoglebsk.

He was injured when a bridge over the Savala River collapsed when two trucks carrying wheat were traveling over it, officials said.

Part of the bridge was being repaired at the time.

At least five bridges in Russia have collapsed since early October, underscoring problems with the country's infrastructure and the safety of its roads and other facilities.

A total of five people were killed, including two who died when a bridge in the Khanty-Mansi region of Siberia collapsed on November 5 while undergoing repairs.

On October 30, a massive floating dry dock sank at an Arctic port, injuring four workers and leaving one missing after a crane crashed down on the deck of Russia's only aircraft carrier.

One of the injured men died later in the hospital.

With reporting by TASS and RIA Novosti
Russian rapper Husky was released from jail on November 26 after a court cancelled an earlier ruling imposing a 12-day sentence.

A lawyer for Husky, who has a wide following on YouTube, said on November 26 that his client was freed following the new ruling by the Pervomai District Court in the southern city of Krasnodar.

Husky, 25, whose real name is Dmitry Kuznetsov, is known for songs mocking the authorities and criticizing police brutality in Russia.

The court had sentenced him to jail for hooliganism on November 22.

The lawyer, Aleksei Avanesyan, wrote on Facebook earlier on November 26 that the court decided to reverse its earlier ruling.

The court did not immediately explain its decision to reverse the ruling.

Husky had been due to perform in Krasnodar on November 21 when prosecutors warned the club hosting the event that his act had elements of what they termed "extremism," and the show was moved to another location.

But authorities shut off power and Husky's fans poured outside the venue.

Videos posted online showed the rapper performing on top of a car, with fans chanting the lyrics, before police detained him.

Crowds of fans blocked the police vehicle, demanding Husky's release.

Police eventually persuaded them to disperse.

Russian authorities have in recent years used a vaguely worded law on extremism to pursue government critics.

Krasnodar police said that the owner of the vehicle on which Husky performed filed a complaint for property damage, a charge that may carry a longer jail term.

Husky said he was willing to pay compensation for any damage to the vehicle.

"I acted in such a way because I faced a situation when I felt an obligation to talk to the people who had bought tickets," he told the court on November 22.

A new wave of Russian rappers is widely credited for channeling young Russians' frustration with the political system and lack of economic prospects.
KYIV -- The Ukrainian parliament has voted to impose martial law for 30 days after Russian forces fired on Ukrainian ships and seized 23 sailors in the Black Sea off the coast of the Russian-controlled Crimean Peninsula.

The vote on November 26 came as tensions between Moscow and Kyiv reached new heights after an unprecedented maritime incident, in which a Russian vessel rammed a Ukrainian Navy tugboat and captured more than 20 servicemen.

After heated debates, lawmakers backed President Petro Poroshenko's request to bring in martial law that would last 30 days starting from November 28.

The measures will include a partial mobilization, a strengthening of Ukraine's air defenses, and several with broad wording -- such as unspecified steps "to strengthen the counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and countersabotage regime and information security."

Martial law will be introduced in areas of the country most vulnerable to "aggression from Russia."

In a parliament that is composed of 450 deputies, 276 lawmakers voted in favor of the plan, with 30 voting against.

Lawmakers also stated that the next presidential election in Ukraine will take place on March 31, 2019.

The decision marks the first time Kyiv has taken such a step since Russia seized Crimea in March 2014, following the downfall of Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych, and backed separatists fighting Kyiv's forces in a war that erupted in eastern Ukraine the following month.

Before submitting the decree, Poroshenko had demanded that Russia immediately release the ships and sailors, who he said had been "brutally detained in violation of international law."

He also urged Moscow to "ensure deescalation of the situation in the Sea of Azov as a first step" and to ease tension more broadly.

But Russia gave no indication it would release the sailors. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that the Ukrainian sailors would be held responsible under Russian law for violating the border, but did not specify what that meant.

Western Criticism

Western leaders criticized Russia and echoed Kyiv's call for the release of the Ukrainian servicemen.

Speaking at a November 26 meeting of the UN Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned Russia that its seizure of three Ukrainian vessels was an "outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory" and "an arrogant act that the international community must condemn."

Haley added that "the United States would welcome a normal relationship with Russia. But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible."

"We do not like what's happening either way. And hopefully it will get straightened out," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters as he left the White House.

Trump said European leaders were working on the situation.

"They're not thrilled. We're all working on it together," he said.

U.S. Secretary Of State Mike Pompeo said Russia's seizure of Ukrainian vessels represented "a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law."



"The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters," Pompeo said in a November 26 statement where he also called on both sides to exercise restraint and abide by their international obligations and commitments.

European Council President Donald Tusk condemned the "Russian use of force" and tweeted that "Russian authorities must return Ukrainian sailors, vessels & refrain from further provocations," adding: "Europe will stay united in support of Ukraine."

For his part, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to release Ukrainian Navy ships and sailors, saying there was no justification for Moscow's actions.

"What we saw yesterday was very serious," Stoltenberg told a news conference after an emergency meeting of the Western military alliance held at the request of Ukraine.

"All allies expressed full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," he added. "There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel, so we call on Russia to release immediately the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized yesterday."

The U.S. mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said that the OSCE's Permanent Council would meet in Vienna to discuss "Russia's aggression against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait" -- the narrow body of water, now spanned by a bridge from Russia to Crimea, that is the only route for ships traveling between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, where Ukraine has several ports, including Mariupol.

Poroshenko spoke by phone to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a key player in Western efforts to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The imposition of martial law could give his government the power to restrict public demonstrations, regulate the media, and potentially postpone a presidential election slated to be held in late March, among other things.

Speaking to lawmakers amid turmoil inside parliament and protests by nationalists outside, Poroshenko -- who polls indicate faces an uphill battle for reelection -- promised that citizens' rights would not be restricted and the vote would be held on schedule.

While the initial decree he put forward called for a 60-day period of martial law, he adjusted that down to 30 days.



Three of Poroshenko's four predecessors as president of Ukraine, which gained independence from Moscow in the 1991 Soviet collapse -- Viktor Yushchenko, Leonid Kuchma, and Leonid Kravchuk -- had warned against approving the martial-law decree as submitted. They said that, if lawmakers were to pass it, they should ensure it was amended to make clear that basic rights and freedoms would be preserved and elections would not be canceled.

'Threat Of Large-Scale Invasion'

Poroshenko's decree said that martial law was needed due to the naval incident, which it called "another act of armed aggression," as well as "other aggressive actions of the Russian Federation in the Azov and Black Seas."

It also cited "the ongoing threat of a large-scale invasion of Ukraine by the armed forces of the Russian Federation and the occupation by the Russian Federation" of Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Kyiv of violating international norms with "dangerous methods that created threats and risks for the normal movement of ships in the area."

An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was called for later in the day, and NATO ambassadors were meeting their Ukrainian counterpart in Brussels to discuss the situation.

In a sharp escalation of tension between the two countries, Russian forces on November 25 fired on two warships, wounding six crew members, before seizing the vessels along with a Ukrainian Navy tugboat.



Kyiv said it had not been in contact with 23 sailors who it said were taken captive.

The three Ukrainian vessels were being held at the Crimean port of Kerch, the Reuters news agency quoted an eyewitness as saying on November 26. The witness said people in naval-style uniforms could be seen around the ships.

The Russian gunfire and seizure of the vessels and crews came on a day of heightened tension after Russia prevented the boats from passing from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukrainian authorities of using "gangster tactics" -- first a provocation, then pressure, and finally accusations of aggression.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), which oversees the country's border-guard service, said its forces fired at the Ukrainian Navy ships to get them to stop after they had illegally entered Russian territorial waters.

"In order to stop the Ukrainian military ships, weapons were used," the FSB said. It also confirmed that three Ukrainian Navy ships were boarded and searched."

But the Ukrainian Navy said its vessels -- including two small artillery boats -- were attacked by Russian coast-guard ships as they were leaving the Kerch Strait and moving back into the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Russia's "aggressive actions" violated international law and should be met with "an international and diplomatic legal response."

Demonstrators protested outside the Russian Embassy in Kyiv late on November 25.

Earlier on November 25, Kyiv said a Russian coast-guard vessel rammed the Ukrainian Navy tugboat in the same area as three Ukrainian ships approached the Kerch Strait in an attempt to reach the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov posted a video of the ramming on his Facebook page.

Mariupol is the closest government-controlled port to the parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists.



It has been targeted by the anti-Kyiv forces at times during the war that has killed more than 10,300 people since it erupted shortly after Russia seized Crimea.



In a reference to Russia, the Ukrainian Navy said the collision occurred because "the invaders' dispatcher service refuses to ensure the right to freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements."

"The ships of the Ukrainian Navy continue to perform tasks in compliance with all norms of international law," the Ukrainian Navy said in a statement. "All illegal actions are recorded by the crews of the ships and the command of Ukraine's Navy and will be handed over to the respective international bodies."

"The ships of the Ukrainian Navy continue to perform tasks in compliance with all norms of international law," the Navy said in a statement.

NATO Calls For Restraint

After that incident, Russian authorities closed passage by civilian ships through the Kerch Strait on grounds of heightened security concerns.

Russian news agencies quoted a local port authority as saying that the strait was reopened for shipping early on November 26.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said NATO was "closely monitoring developments" and was "in contact with the Ukrainian authorities, adding: "We call for restraint and deescalation."

"NATO fully supports Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters," Lungescu said. "We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law."

The spokeswoman stressed that at a summit in July, NATO "made clear that Russia's ongoing militarization of Crimea, the Black Sea, and the Azov Sea pose further threats to Ukraine's independence and undermines the stability of the broader region."

The Foreign Ministry of Turkey, which lies across the Black Sea from Ukraine and Russia, called for calm, voiced concern and stressed that "passage should not be blocked on the Kerch Strait."



Russia claimed it did nothing wrong. The FSB accused the Ukrainian Navy ships of illegally entering its territorial waters and deliberately provoking a conflict.



The Sea of Azov, the Kerch Strait, and the Black Sea waters off Crimea have been areas of heightened tension since March 2014,when Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine and began supporting pro-Russia separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

A 2003 treaty between Russia and Ukraine designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters.

But Moscow has been asserting greater control since its takeover of Crimea -- particularly since May, when it opened a bridge linking the peninsula to Russian territory on the eastern side of the Kerch Strait.

Both sides have recently increased their military presence in the region, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of harassing ships heading toward Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov, such as Mariupol and Berdyansk.

The Ukrainian Navy said it was a Russian border guard ship, the Don, that "rammed into our tugboat." It said the collision caused damage to the tugboat's engine, outer hull, and guardrail.

Russia's ships "carried out openly aggressive actions against Ukrainian naval ships," the statement said, adding that the Ukrainian ships were continuing on their way "despite Russia's counteraction."

The FSB, however, said the Ukrainian ships "illegally entered a temporarily closed area of Russian territorial waters" without authorization. In a statement, it did not mention the ramming of the Ukrainian tugboat.

With reporting by Christopher Miller in Kyiv, Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels, AFP, AP, Reuters, UNIAN, and Interfax
Belize automotive company invests 60 million in Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Q.R.  An automotive company is nearing completion of their 60 million peso facilities into the Mexico market with the opening of a new branch in the state of Quintana Roo, Caribbean Tire de Mexico.

Belizean company Caribbean Tire, who are in the sale of tires, lubricants and automotive services, will open its first branch in Mexico in the states capital city of Chetumal.

Bernardo Cueto, general director of the Institute for the Development and Financing of the state, says that this part of the country continues to be a great investment attraction, not only the tourist areas. Cueto says in this case, the south of the state represents a great opportunity for economic diversification, adding that the investment for Caribbean Tire is in excess of 60 million peso.

David Reiner, executive of Caribbean Tire Belize, expressed his satisfaction with the project that he explained, has been in the planning since 2014. He explained that in 2016, the company began the construction of its facilities with an area exceeding 2,780 square meters, which when finished, will house a center of automotive services, tires, tools and auto parts as well as a vehicle showroom.

Cueto says that the new facilities will open opportunities for Korean and North American companies to consider Chetumal as the headquarters of their operations due to the strategic alliances that Caribbean Tire has with companies from those nations.
President elect requests support for creation of national guard

Mexico City, Mexico  In a public address, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador requested the support of members of Mexicos national defense in the creation of a National Guard.

Accompanied by General Salvador Cienfuegos, head of the Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional along with the Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Francisco Vidal Soberon, the president-elect explained that there is no coordination between the military forces and the federal police, adding this is the reason he is proposing the creation of a National Guard.

The problem is that everyone acts on their own, he said in he address. On the one hand, the army, on the other the navy, the federal police, the ministerial police, the state police. Why do not we join together? If we have a national guard for public security, which is what we are proposing, we could unite to give peace and tranquility to our people.

In his message at Military Field 1A of the Secretariat of National Defense, the future president summoned the members to face the violence that lives in Mexico.

I come to summon them so that together in accordance with the constitution we can face the serious problem of insecurity and violence in our country.

It is not only for the defense of the nation, but public security because that is what Mexicans need. I come to ask for your support, not to impose anything, he said.

He explained that a constitutional reform was presented so that the national guard could be carried out and thus, deal with public security tasks. He did not rule out the possibility of a public consultation on a new security force.
Woman dies after being hit by truck in Cancun Hotel Zone

Cancun, Q.R.  A woman who was hit by a vehicle as she got off a public bus in Cancun has died.

While crossing Boulevard Kukulcan after stepping off a public bus, a woman, who was a worker in the Cancun Hotel Zone, was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The accident occurred at kilometer 16.5 of the Boulevard Kukulcan.

Reports say that the woman was walking across the second lane when she was hit by a truck. Police and paramedics arrived. She was transported to hospital but died from her injuries.

The driver of the truck, a 33-year-old male, was arrested by members of the tourist police and transferred to the offices of the Traffic Directorate for legal processing.
A CAR was torched by arsonists in Wales.

Firefighters from Aston station were called to Orchard Lane at 8.20pm on Friday to tackle the blaze, a spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said.

The fire is believed to have been started deliberately, she added.
The statement about the use of the Gokhran polished diamonds in the USSR industry as industrial diamonds was very common in the specialist literature. For example, The attempts to set up a regular legal import of diamonds failed: in the climate of military and political confrontation between the USSR and western countries and the subsequent cold war, foreign diamond suppliers, first of all De Beers, refused to trade with the USSR. The Gokhran polished diamonds were the other source of diamond tools: the stones were removed from the confiscated jewellery pieces and then recut.1

Failed attempts to import legally were just a tribute to the industry legend, the archive documents confirm that the USSR, in fact, did not have the slightest problems in importing industrial diamonds. And the issue of the Gokhran polished diamonds requires further study as there were cases of their industrial use.

The Gokhran was established in 1920 and its Diamond Fund was initially formed mainly thanks to the polished diamonds confiscated directly from the aristocracy representatives, affluent persons and churches. Later on, a more human Torgsin came in that was set up to buy up precious metals and precious stones from the population (probably, at the lowest possible cost) to be exported for convertible currency. In 1933, a Central polished diamond Repository was set up in the Torgsin and over 300 buying-up centres were open in the country that bought up polished diamonds from the population. From those buying-up centres, the polished diamonds were transported to Moscow by courier (under the agreement between the Torgsin and the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs). The Gokhran, Committee of Reserves under the Council of Labour and Defence and several offices working under the auspices of the People's Commissariat for Foreign Trade accumulated those polished diamonds.

The data on buying up the industrial diamonds by the Torgsin from the population is of interest. According to classified Regulation No.32 of the Hard Currency Commission under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR dated 21.02.1935, In quarters 1 and 2, 1935, the Torgsin should hand over the industrial diamonds to the People's Commissariat for Heavy Industry that were bought up in the USSR for a sum of 40,000 gold roubles based on the import prices.2 This poses the expected question: where did the Soviet population get industrial diamonds for such a significant sum of money? At that time, diamonds were only imported and never supplied to retail chains or sold to the population. The answer lies in the imperfection of the Torgsin purchase pricelists and low qualification of the Torgsins diamond evaluators. The pricelists were inadequate, diamonds were practically evaluated by their weight only. As a result, a lot of small-size polished diamonds with flaws were bought up that at the level of the Central Polished diamonds Repository were considered unprofitable to be exported and were categorized as industrial diamonds and transferred to the industry.

This failure had no effect on the profitability of the Torgsins trade in polished diamonds as they were bought up from the population at the prices 2 to 5 times lower than the world ones.3 By 1936, the Torgsin had sponged the USSR population of almost all the polished diamond and gold potential and ceased to exist. That buying up of the polished diamond was continued by the Yuvelirtorg, but trading was sluggish and the target was not hit almost all the time.

In 1938, A. Bruk, one of the Yuvelirtorg top executives (he was the expert of the Central Polished diamond Repository in the Torgsin) brought a proposal to the government to stop exporting the polished diamonds and set up an inventory for the defence industry using the stones bought up from the population. However, this initiative was viewed very unfavourably by E. Chvyalev, the Peoples Commissar of Foreign Trade of the USSR. Chvyalev wrote in his letter to A. Mikoyan The price received for 1 carat of export-quality polished diamonds was much higher than the import price of one carat of industrial diamonds. In view of this, it is inexpedient to use the export-quality polished diamonds to build up the industrial diamonds inventories. If it is necessary to make inventories for our defence industry, as it is said in the letter by A. Bruk, this inventory, without doubt, should be made by means of purchasing the appropriate quantity of the industrial diamonds but not due to ceasing the stone exports.4

Chvyalev put the blame on Bruk for being unable to complete the plan of buying up the polished diamonds from the population. According to the Peoples Commissar of Foreign Trade, that was the reason of the Yuvelirtorg officials pathetical care of the need of the defence industry in the industrial diamonds. Mikoyan shared the Chvyalevs position and Bruks initiative was declined, the polished diamonds were still considered as an export asset only.

Still, there were cases of using the Gokhran polished diamonds for industrial purposes. In 1947, P. Parshin, the Minister of machine building and instrument-making of the USSR, addressed the Council of Ministers with a request to provide the Rosa-shaped polished diamonds required to manufacture the marine chronometers ordered by the Ministry of Defence.5 On November 12, 1947, V. Molotov signed appropriate instruction of the Council of Ministers of the USSR No.16805rs, addressed to the Ministry of Finance of the USSR and Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, where the Gokhran belonged to at that time.

But Parshins request was not caused by the deficit in the industrial diamonds at his ministrys enterprises. He received as much diamonds as he asked for, the problem was that there were no cutters and polishers able to turn a rough diamond into a chronometer part required.

A Rose cut (also known as an 'Antwerp Rose' cut) is an old diamond cut with the lower part of the stone being absolutely flat. In fact, such a polished diamond is a ready thrust bearing able to withstand axial loads. Parshin needed exactly those bearings. But there were no skilled workers to make them, at that time there were no such a profession in the USSR like a diamond cutter who could turn rough diamonds into polished ones. So, they had to use the polished diamonds made by the craftsmen of the 19-th century. And Parshin sent the rough diamonds received for that order to the Gokhran.

So, the episodes of using the Gokhran polished diamonds for industrial purposes did happen but they had no decisive influence. They were exceptions that proved the rule: the USSR had never incurred a deficit in diamonds for industry.

Sergey Goryainov, Rough&Polished





1Teslenko V. The organization of the trade in precious stones. .: Infra-, 1997. . 133.

2The State Archive of the RF. . 5446. . 16. . 1143. . 3.

3Russian State Archives, Economy. . 4433. . 1. . 127. . 8.

4The State Archive of the RF. . 5446. . 22. . 685. . 3.

5The State Archive of the RF. . 5446. . 49. . 1744. . 3.





We continue to publish archive documents on diamonds:

1. The State Archive of the RF. . 5446. . 49. . 1744. . 3. The request of the Minister of machine building and instrument-making of the USSR, P. Parshin, for the Rose polished diamonds.









2. The State Archive of the RF. . 5446. . 49. . 1744. . 2. The letter of the Ministry of finance of the USSR about the Rose polished diamonds for the Ministry of machine building and instrument-making of the USSR.









3. The State Archive of the RF. . 5446 . 49. . 1744. . 7. The instruction of the Council of Ministers of the USSR about the Rose polished diamonds.









4. The State Archive of the RF. . 5446. . 12. . 351. . 2. The letter of the Peoples Commissar of Foreign Trade of the USSR about the reevaluation of the Diamond Fund. From the document, it shows that the Diamond Fund is considered as an export asset only.












Captain Amarinder Singh

Spokesman News Service: Dera Baba Nanak, November 26: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday vowed to protect his state and its people from the terror unleashed from across the border till the last drop of his blood, warning Pakistan of serious consequences if it did not put a stop to the violence perpetrated against India.

Even as he thanked Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan for reciprocating Indias move on developing the Kartarpur Corridor, the Chief Minister was scathing in his criticism of Pak Army Chief General Bajwa for promoting state-sponsored terror through brutal killings of Indian soldiers and innocent citizens.

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He urged the Pak prime minister to rein in his army and bring an immediate end to terror against Indian armed forces and citizens, or else be ready to face a strong reaction from India, which has a bigger army than the neighbouring country. Taking a strong stand on the issue of terror, which was immediately endorsed and backed by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, the Chief Minister said India was a land of peace and did not want violence, but was prepared to counter Pakistans aggression in kind if its peace and sovereignty continued to be threatened.

Pak Army Chief General Bajwa

Lashing out at those who felt he should have accepted Pakistans invitation to participate in their ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor, Captain Amarinder asked how he could go there when innocent Indian citizens and soldiers were being killed by them every day. I want to go to Kartarpur, and also visit Nankana Sahib and Panja Sahib gurdwaras again, but cannot go there as I have to pass Pakistan, which is killing my people every day, he asserted.

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Pointing out that Punjab had seen bloodshed for 20 years, said Captain Amarinder said while his family had close ties with Kartarpur Sahib, he, as chief minister, had a responsibility to the people of his state, which Pakistan was trying to weaken. Lashing out at the Pak army chief, Captain Amarinder said as an ex-army man himself he saw no justification in killing soldiers, which he described as an act of cowardice, not becoming of army personnel. Soldiers are taught to protect and serve their nations, not to kill innocent people, he added.

Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan

The Chief Minister called for immediate removal of General Bajwa and said the Pak army should learn the message of love and brotherhood, propounded by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Captain Amarinder recalled the 26/11 Mumbai attacks as a grim reminder of Pak-sponsored terrorism in India. He further pointed out that the Dina Nagar and Pathankot attacks in Gurdaspur district also stood out as major examples of the terror unleashed by Pakistan in this part of Punjab.

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Describing terror as madness, Naidu said he fully endorsed Captain Amarinders views and vowed that India will not allow its people to be killed. While India wants peace and promotes friendship, it will not allow terrorism to breed on its soil, he said, urging countries that support terror to shun this path. Peace is requisite for progress, said the Vice President, asserting that India wants peaceful relations with its neighbours and wanted them to change their mindset to embrace peace.
Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu

Spokesman News Service: Dera Baba Nanak, November 26: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday said Navjot Singh Sidhus decision to go to Pakistan for their ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor was his way of thinking but he personally could not think of going there while Indian soldiers and civilians were being killed by them.

As an army man, he could not tolerate the killing of innocent Indians, said the Chief Minister, pointing out that even today an Indian army personnel was killed by Pakistani snipers. He could not go to the neighbouring country in these circumstances, he said, in an informal chat with media persons after laying the foundation stone for Kartarpur Corridor.

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As for the Central Governments decision to send its ministers to the Pak ceremony, the Chief Minister said it was for them to do as they deem fit but he personally felt thought should have been more sensitive to the feelings of Indian soldiers and citizens. The Centre cannot close its eyes to what is happening in India as a result of Pakistans policy and support to terrorist groups, said Captain Amarinder.

The Chief Minister said the world knows about Pakistans role in perpetrating terrorism in India, as manifest in the attacks in Pathankot, Mumbai, Dina Nagar and, of course, Jammu & Kashmir. The Central Government if also fully aware of this, he added, reiterating his stand that till the cycle of violence unleashed by Pakistan against India came to a stop, he would not travel to that country.
Ugandas export receipts in September 2018 amounted to US$ 300.12 million compared to USD 298.84 million in August 2018, according to the latest Performance of the Economy Report, published by the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MFPED).

The report attributes the increase majorly to increased volumes of gold and tobacco by 36.9 percent and 55.1 percent respectively compared to the previous month.

Compared to the same month in 2017, the improvement in export receipts in September 2018 was on account of increased volumes of gold, tobacco, fish and sugar, the report reads.

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However, according to monthly the report, export receipts from coffee Ugandas main export earner, declined both in value and volume compared to the previous month and the same month in 2017. The decline is due to mainly low international prices following higher production in Brazil; as well as lower production volumes especially from Masaka and South-Western regions which are the main coffee growing regions.

Destination of Exports

The East African Community (EAC) remained the major destination for Ugandas exports in September 2018, followed by the Middle East and Rest of Africa. Exports to the EAC region grew by 11.6 percent from US$ 104.94 million in September 2017 to US$ 117.09 million in September 2018. Kenya took the largest share of EAC exports (48.3 percent), followed by Rwanda (19.4 percent) and South Sudan (18.3 percent).

Merchandise Imports

Meanwhile Ugandas value of imported merchandise declined to US$ 462.4 million in September 2018, from US$ 501.60 million recorded in the previous month. The decline was driven by a decrease in the values of both Government and private sector imports Volumes and prices of non-oil imports dropped by 6 percent and 2 percent, respectively, partly explaining the decline in the value of imports, the report reads.

Compared to the same period the previous year, the value of imports declined by 3.2 percent. Whereas the value of private sector imports increased by 19.4 percent, the decline in the value of Government imports more than offset the increase.

Origin of Imports

Asia remained the largest source of imports during the month, contributing 42 percent of the total merchandise imported. Middle East and EAC contributed 20 percent and 15 percent respectively of the total imported merchandise, making them the second and third largest sources. Of the imports from Asia, 77 percent was from India, China and Japan while of the merchandise imported from the EAC, 89 percent was from Kenya and Tanzania.
A large volcanic eruption shook Deception Island, in Antarctica, 3,980 years ago, and not 8,300, as it was previously thought, according to an international study published in Scientific Reports, in which researchers from the Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera have participated. This event was the largest eruption in the austral continent during the Holocene (the last 11,700 years after the last great glaciation on Earth), and was comparable in volume of ejected rock to the Tambora volcano eruption in 1815. The eruption formed the caldera of the volcano, one of the most active in Antarctica, with more than 20 eruptions registered in the last 200 years.

In the study, whose first author was Dermot Antoniades, from the University of Laval, Canada have taken part researchers from the Universities of Barcelona (UB), Salamanca (USAL), and Cambridge and Leicester (UK), CREAF, the Centre for Research, and Monitoring and Evaluation of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, and Centre for Hydrographic Studies (CEDEX).

According to the age published in this new study, a volcanic eruption caldera collapse type took place 3980 years ago. The emptying of the magmatic chamber, the zone of magma accumulation that fuelled the eruption, during this violent eruptive event caused a sudden pressure drop which in turn caused the collapse of the upper part of the volcano. As a result, a depression between 8 and 10 kilometres in diameter was formed, which is what today gives to Deception Island its particular horseshoe shape. The caldera collapse would have caused a seismic event of great magnitude whose trace was recorded in the sediments accumulated in the lakes' bottom of Livingstone Island.

The lacustrine sediment cores were recovered during the Antarctic campaigns of the HOLOANTAR project, between 2012 and 2014. This fieldwork was lead and coordinated by Marc Oliva, then researcher at Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento of the University of Lisboa and now Ramon y Cajal researcher at University of Barcelona (UB). Oliva is coauthor of this study.

"The initial objective of the study was purely climatic, since we wanted to reconstruct the climate fluctuations of this region for the last 11,700 years using different proxies found in the sediments of the Byers Peninsula lakes, about 40 kilometres north of Deception Island. However, the presence of a different sediment layer in all lakes and of the same age after a thick layer of tephra surprised us," said Sergi Pla, researcher at CREAF and coauthor of the study.

"Later geochemical and biological analyses indicated us that these sediments had terrestrial origin and were deposited abruptly in the lake's bottom. These results suggested the occurrence of a major earthquake that affected all this area; put us on the track that, perhaps, we were not facing a common earthquake but the one generated by the collapse of the caldera of the Deception Island volcano. From here on, we pulled the thread," explained Santiago Giralt, researcher at ICTJA-CSIC and co-author of the study.

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The exact date of the eruption was obtained using different geochemical, petrological and paleolimnological techniques applied on the sediment cores from 4 lakes of the Byers Peninsula from Livingston island.

These sedimentary records contained several direct and indirect pieces of evidence of the volcanic event that occurred in Deception Island. "The recovered sedimentary records showed a common pattern: first the volcanic ash from Deception Island eruption, overlaid by a sediment layer almost one meter thick composed by material dragged from the lakes' shores to their bottom due to the large earthquake and, finally, the common lake sediments, which are characterized by an alternation of clays and mosses," explained Santiago Giralt.

One of the challenges that faced this study was to characterize the origin of the ashes produced during the volcanic eruption. For that, pressure and temperature conditions of the magmas that originated this eruption were calculated using the ashes present in the sediment cores. "Using this methodology, we were able to estimate the depth of all studied samples and to determine if they were part of the same magma and eruptive episode," said Antonio Alvarez Valero, researcher from the University of Salamanca (USAL) and co-author of this study.

The study also estimates that the eruption had a Volcanic Explosive Index (VEI) around 6 which possibly makes it the largest known Holocene eruptive episode in the Antarctic continent.

"This colossal episode of eruptive caldera collapse ejected between 30 and 60 cubic kilometres of ash, comparable in volume to the eruption of the Tambora volcano in 1815, an event that is attributed to a global temperature cooling that resulted in a series of bad harvests in Europe, in what is known as the "year without summer," explains Adelina Geyer, ICTJA-CSIC researcher and co-author of the study.

"It is very important to be able to date this type of eruptions that allow us to understand the climatic changes caused by volcanic eruptions, in this particular case at high austral latitudes," adds the Geyer.

As suggested by this study, this eruption could have had significant climatic and ecological impacts in a large area of the southern region, although more studies and new data are needed to precisely characterize what the real effects on the climate of this large eruptive event.
Security Council Elections 2017

To view the full report, please download the PDF here.

The 71st session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to hold elections for the Security Council on 2 June. The five seats available for election in 2017 according to the regular distribution among regions will be as follows:

two seats for the African Group (currently held by Egypt and Senegal);

one seat for the Group of Asia and the Pacific Small Island Developing States (the Asia-Pacific Group, currently held by Japan);

one seat for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC, currently held by Uruguay); and

one seat for the Eastern European Group (currently held by Ukraine).

The five new members elected this year will take up their seats on 1 January 2018 and will serve through to 31 December 2019.

In addition, Italy is committed to relinquishing the seat it has held since 1 January 2017 after serving for one year, and a by-election will thus be held for one seat for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). Two WEOG seats are usually up for election in even numbered years, but this years by-election will be held because Italy and the Netherlands agreed to split the 2017-2018 term. The new member from WEOG will serve a one-year term from 1 January to 31 December 2018, completing the 2017-2018 term.

At press time, all six candidatesCote dIvoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Peru and Polandare currently running unopposed as sole candidates for their respective regional groups.
The Peacebuilding Commission and the Security Council: From Cynicism to Synergy?

To view the full report, please download the PDF here.

For much of its existence, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)which was created as an advisory body to the Council and the General Assemblyhas been looked at cynically by some members of the Security Council, as not providing much-added value to the Councils work. Council members, but also the UN general membership and many among the staff in the UN Secretariat, have viewed the PBC as something of a disappointment. They have questioned its ability to advise about conflict-affected situations and have found its meetings redundant, duplicating discussion and information provided by the Secretariat during Council sessions. The PBCs supporters, in turn, have criticised the Council for not being receptive to working with the PBC, thus limiting its ability over the years to demonstrate its value. Tensions have existed since the PBCs creation in 2005, which occurred as Security Council reform stalled, with the P5 seeing the PBC as a forum created by member states to discuss peace and security issues, encroaching on the prerogatives of the Security Council.

Reviews in 2010 and 2015 of the UNs peacebuilding architecturecomprising the PBC, the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO)found that the PBC had not fulfilled the expectations envisioned when it was created to fill what then Secretary-General Kofi Annan called a gaping hole at the UN in its support to post-conflict countries.

Since the 2015 review, however, there has been new momentum towards strengthening the PBC and improving its relationship with the Council. The review culminated with the adoption in April 2016 by the Security Council and the General Assembly of substantively identical resolutions. To the surprise of many at the UN, the resolutions incorporated most of the ideas of the Advisory Group of Experts (AGE), which had prepared a report as part of the review process. The eight-page resolutions (S/RES/2282 and A/RES/70/262), the UNs most comprehensive on peacebuilding, expanded the understanding of peacebuilding as activities to be undertaken not only in post-conflict situations but also in order to prevent conflict in the first place, as well as during peacemaking and peacekeeping. The same sort of interventions often required in countries after armed conflictrebuilding government institutions, promoting reconciliation between different communities, restarting economic developmentare similar to the challenges many countries face before they fall into conflict: institutions are often already weak, groups of people are marginalised, and economic opportunities are limited. This broader notion of peacebuilding was reflected in the definition of sustaining peace in the two resolutions, which has since become central to the UN reform agenda of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Changes in the PBC in recent years have included expanding the country situations it considers beyond the six countries that made up its agenda over the first decade of its existence, while increasing its focus on the regional dimensions of peacebuilding and enhancing cooperation with regional and sub-regional organisations. According to diplomats, PBC meetings have become more interesting and substantive compared to just a few years ago. Among the P5, there have also been signs of increasing interest in and openness to the PBCs supporting the Councils work.

Moreover, under the Secretary-Generals proposed reform of the peace and security pillar of the Secretariat, the PBSO would be bolstered and assume a stronger cross-pillar bridging role in the future as part of a new Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. The PBC seems poised to see its role enhanced as part of these reforms, which seek to increase UN attention to conflict prevention and sustaining peace by addressing the fragmentation of the UN departments, agencies, and intergovernmental bodies.

The reason for creating the PBC made great sense conceptually: to ensure sustained attention to post-conflict countrieswhich would often wane following the withdrawal of a peacekeeping operation or reaching benchmarks such as the holding of electionsand prevent their relapse into conflict. Likewise, the concept of sustaining peace and the PBCs potential role as outlined by the AGE are generally viewed as well considered. However, these ideas and the envisioned role for the PBC have not been easy to apply in practice, for both practical and political reasons. While there is new momentum that has not existed for some time to enhance the PBC, the challenge remains to translate this energy and vision into a more effective UN body.

This is Security Council Reports sixth report on the PBC and the first following the 2015 review. This report will look at developments in the PBC and its relationship with the Security Council since our last report published in April 2013. It covers not only the 2015 peacebuilding architecture review but also initiatives to advance key ideas regarding the PBC in the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. The report also seeks to consider challenges in fulfilling the objectives of the PBC while setting out ideas, many of which are currently being developed among member states and by the Secretariat, to enhance the PBCs contribution to the Security Council and make a more meaningful impact on the countries it considers.

The following are some of the main areas of promise for the PBC to improve its relationship with the Security Council and support to conflict-affected or fragile countries:
The UN Secretary-General Selection and Appointment Process: Emerging from the Shadows

To view the full report, please download the PDF.

Security Council Report published its first report anticipating this selection and appointment processAppointing the UN Secretary-Generalin October 2015, setting out the history of the process and procedure, and describing previous proposals for change. Our second reportAppointing the UN Secretary-General: The Challenge for the Security Councilexamined the major developments from October 2015 to June 2016. Throughout the process, we recorded the developments in SCRs regular publications, the Monthly Forecast and Whats in Blue. This final report provides a comprehensive account of developments in the Security Council and General Assembly from the beginning to the end of the process, describing the major changes that culminated in the choice of Antonio Guterres as the next Secretary-General. It includes an assessment of the process based on interviews with the key actors from the Council, the General Assembly and civil society, as well as observations and options for improving the process further.

On 6 October, in a decision which Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin described as maybe the best success of the Security Council in the past five years, the Council recommended to the General Assembly that Antonio Guterres be appointed the ninth UN Secretary-General for a term of office from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. On 13 October, the General Assembly adopted its resolution making the appointment. The selection process that resulted in this appointment was the culmination of a historic change in a process that had been shrouded in secrecy throughout its history. It also marked the first time since 1950 that the General Assembly played a significant role in the selection of the Secretary-General.

The UN Charter devotes just 16 words to the appointment of the Secretary-General. Article 97 of the Charter states:

The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

In 1946, General Assembly resolution 11 (I) established ground rules for the appointment process, including terms and conditions of employment, length of term of officesubject to modificationand possibility of reappointment. It also declared that it would be desirable for the Security Council to proffer one candidate only for the consideration of the General Assembly.

For 70 years, the most significant evolution in this process took place within the Council, as it introduced the use of straw polls to determine the viability of candidates ahead of a formal vote. Since 1997, members of the General Assembly have discussed several proposals aimed at improving the transparency and inclusivity of the selection process, and finding a role for the wider membership of the UN, but these discussions led to no change in the process.

Regarding the selection process that was to culminate in 2016, a strong civil society campaign for change, and a mood among members of the General Assembly that they were not willing to acquiesce quietly in a business as usual exercise after years of increasing frustration at the lack of progress in Council reform, were the drivers behind significant changes in the process. Key roles among member states were played by Costa Rica and Estonia on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group, and Croatia, as one of the two co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly (hereafter the Revitalization Working Group). A strong president of the General Assembly was crucial to effective implementation of the changes. An active group of elected members ensured that the new mood was reflected in the Council, and permanent members, while retaining ultimate control, accepted that the process had undergone some fundamental shifts as a result of the changes generated by the General Assembly.

The first step was a groundbreaking General Assembly resolution, adopted in September 2015, that created the framework for a more transparent process. This led to unprecedented public dialogues with the candidates that tested a broad set of skills, providing the UN membership as well as a global audience with an insight into the thinking of candidates and how they presented themselves in front of a large audience. Council members had to come to their decision on a recommendation to the General Assembly in very different circumstances than in the past. While the modalities in the Councilstraw polls and a private meeting to vote on the recommendationwere not much different from past selection processes, the environment created by the preceding transparent process in the General Assembly impacted the Councils decision-making.
She teaches English and history at Coliseum College Prep Academy in East Oakland, but Becca Rozo-Marsh knows how to do the math.

She could earn more money by leaving Oakland Unified School District and getting a job in another school district. Even so, Rozo-Marsh wants to continue working in the community where shes gotten to know the families of her high school students over seven years.

I know there are a lot of teachers that are being forced to leave, said Rozo-Marsh, who was raised in El Cerrito and graduated from Berkeley High School. They want to make the choice to stay, and they cant afford to live here. But leaving destabilizes our schools.

Oakland pays teachers a starting salary of roughly $46,000, while nearby San Leandro Unified pays $60,000, Hayward Unified pays $61,000 and Fremont Unified pays $65,000, according to the California Department of Education. Differences in the way benefits are offered may mean the amounts cant be directly compared.

Even so, its barely enough to get by in Oakland, where the average rent is $2,527, according to RentCafe.com, a real estate tracking website. Rozo-Marsh and a friend own a home in Oaklands Laurel district, but they have roommates.

To afford our mortgage in Oakland on the salaries we have, we have six people living there, she said.

Oakland public school teachers have been working without a contract since July 2017. Negotiations on a new contract have gone on so long that teachers have threatened a citywide strike.

Teachers Ive spoken with, including Rozo-Marsh, argue that the school district is underfunding classroom education and that teachers are paying the price. The next negotiation session is scheduled for Wednesday. A strike is likely if demands arent met, according to the Oakland Education Association, the teachers union.

Oakland teachers are demanding smaller class sizes. Rozo-Marsh has two classes with more than 30 students in each. Teachers have requested a 12 percent raise over three years. The school district countered with about a 2 percent increase over three years.

Thats not enough to make the district attractive for teaching talent. Even some district representatives agree that the teachers are justified in asking for more money. But Board of Education member James Harris told me the district cant afford to do right by its teachers.

Our problem, as a district, is that we are too large. We operate too many schools, Harris said. What we wont do is put ourselves and our city on the hook for money we dont have, so we have to be thoughtful and smart about how were doing this.

So far, the district hasnt been thoughtful or smart. Oakland Unified has been hemorrhaging money for years. It faces a $30 million budget shortfall next year and a $60 million deficit the year after that.

The district is not alone in poor money management. In June, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the Education Trailer Bill, which will provide financial relief to districts across the state. Funding from the bill will cover up to 75 percent of the Oaklands shortfall next year, up to 50 percent the next year, and up to 25 percent in the third year.

But that wont necessarily help the teachers.

Teachers are just sick and tired of being pushed around, and the quality of education is eroding because people arent coming into this profession anymore, said Ismael Armendariz, vice president of the Oakland Education Association.

Teachers are leaving Oakland at an alarming rate. The district reported a teacher attrition rate of 22 percent last year  higher than the 11-year average of 18.5 percent.

According to Armendariz, the district had 571 teacher vacancies last year, and 40 positions remain vacant. Teacher vacancies mean more crowded classrooms, and less time for teachers to spend with individual students.

Thats something Oakland cant afford. According to the Scholastic Reading Inventory, an assessment of reading performance, only 36 percent of students in the Oakland district were reading at or above grade level in spring 2017. A total of a 41 percent of students lagged more than one year below grade level.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The district has to do something fundamentally different in order to improve education, Armendariz said. We believe that starts with keeping quality teachers in Oakland.

Teachers want more than a raise, according to Armendariz. They want more control of their classrooms and how money is allocated to schools.

Its about fundamentally changing the way the district does business, he said. Weve allowed them for too long to invest in things that havent improved student outcomes, and now were saying thats enough.

This contract is going to be settled this year. We are not going another year without a contract. That is not going to happen.

I asked Harris, the school board member, what the district will do to avoid a work stoppage, which will hurt the students.

I hope we can find a place where we understand the reality that we sit in right now, he said.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
Alameda County will eliminate many of the criminal justice fines and fees traditionally saddled on defendants, handing a major victory to reform advocates and becoming just the second county in the nation to do so.

The new policy will also work retroactively, forgiving outstanding debt from about 34,000 people. The Board of Supervisors approved the measure Tuesday.

Officials from the affected departments  Sheriffs Office, Public Defenders Office and Probation Department  backed the changes, saying the costs were often a crippling burden on poor defendants.

The people who have been involved (in the criminal justice system) are disproportionately persons of color or that are economically challenged, said Chief Probation Officer Wendy Still, who began the reform effort two years ago. Fines and fees act as one more huge barrier for these individuals.

At the boards public protection meeting in September, department heads described the current system as a high-pain, low-gain model. The county would charge a criminal defendant a fine or fee for programming  such as public defender services or participation in work programs in lieu of incarceration  and when the defendant couldnt pay the tab, the county would recoup only a fraction of the costs.

The result added up to more than $26 million in debt owed in Alameda County, with some fees dating back more than a decade. The three departments collected on average about $1.45 million a year from defendants.

Tuesdays vote directs state dollars to backfill this hole, with funding used to divert people convicted of low-level felonies to county jails. This money is contingent on a sales tax, however, and if that stream is cut off each department must bear its own costs.

The probation department collects about $563,000 a year for supervision, drug testing and diversion costs. The Sheriffs Office takes in about $348,000 for its work program, which allows defendants to perform light manual labor in lieu of incarceration and requires fees to be paid up front. And the public defenders office receives about $226,000, which comes from defendants who receive an income but not enough to qualify for a public defender.

There are fees being assessed when our clients clearly cant afford to pay them, said Public Defender Brendon Woods. Even what seems like a nominal fee  $300, $400  that is a huge amount to our clients, who barely have an income as it is.

Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle 2015

Alameda Countys move comes on the heels of neighboring San Francisco, which in May became the first county in the nation to approve similar reforms.

For the Sheriffs Office work program, the fee waiver may mean more Alameda County jail inmates are able to participate, said Sgt. Ray Kelly, a spokesman for the agency.

The fees were nominal, Kelly said, but for some of the people who havent been able to afford it, they can apply without being worried about the financial side.

Our end goal is to keep people out of jail. We dont want you in our jail, Kelly said. So, if were trying to reduce recidivism and get people back on their feet, for the sake of $300,000, I dont think were going to argue about that.

The decision is all but final. A change in ordinance requires one more reading before the board, which is scheduled for December.

Richard Vogel / Associated Press

Uptick in pot DUIs vexes prosecutors

January will mark the first anniversary of legalized recreational marijuana in the state, and officials say the rise in driving under the influence of marijuana correlates with decriminalization.

This year, researchers predicted California drivers would follow in Colorado and Washingtons tracks with a rise in marijuana-related DUI cases.

DUIs, both alcohol- and drug-related, were the main factor in 4,033 crashes this year in the Bay Area, according to preliminary California Highway Patrol data. State data show the number of DUI offenses actually decreasing, but impaired driving still remains a problem.

Cannabis is the most commonly found drug in drivers killed, said Tim Weisberg, a spokesman for the states Office of Traffic Safety. Alcohol, while a drug, has its own category.

No tallies exist for 2017 and 2018 marijuana-related arrests, Weisberg said, but officers were more likely to find marijuana in the system of drivers tested in 2016 than those tested in 2006.

California laws declare drivers unfit to drive if their blood alcohol content exceeds 0.08 percent, but no such law exists for marijuana. To get an accurate idea of how much active THC is impairing someones driving skills, officers would have to check the levels in the drivers brains fatty tissues.

James Leonard, who oversees the Santa Clara County district attorneys central misdemeanor team, said that introducing legislation to regulate intoxication levels is difficult, because theres no way to measure a baseline amount of THC that indicates when a person is too high to drive.

You could have a high amount in your blood and not be seriously impaired, because its not in your brain, Leonard said. The only way we can (check) that is doing a biopsy in your brain and, obviously, were not doing that unless youre dead.

Twelve percent of the 40,000 cases filed by the Santa Clara County district attorneys office in 2016, or about 4,800, were DUI-related, Leonard said. Of those, 164 cases involved drugs, which could include narcotics, marijuana or prescription medication.

Bomb suspects former boss rallies support

A community organization in the East Bay is rallying support for a 23-year-old man accused of bringing an explosive device to a march in July that detonated and injured Oakland police officers.

Alameda County Sheriffs Office

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

After an Alameda County judge declined to reduce Giovonni Gaines $3 million bail on Nov. 16, the executive director of Waterside Workshops, a Berkeley nonprofit that employed Gaines, launched a fundraising initiative for his legal costs.

Though it is very unfortunate that this occurred, Gios alleged involvement should not change the course of a promising young life, Amber Rich wrote in an email to supporters.

Gaines has worked at Waterside Workshops, which provides vocational education, as a bike mechanic and instructor since 2015. He taught classes and helped people fix their bikes. Rich, the organizations executive director, said she hopes to raise $50,000 for Gaines legal defense and to counter what she believes is a media narrative exaggerating the severity of the incident.

Authorities said Gaines attended a July 23 Oakland march honoring Nia Wilson, an 18-year-old woman who was stabbed to death a day eariler on the MacArthur BART Station platform. Gaines allegedly handed a 13-year-old an explosive device, which police said was a modified firecracker, and instructed him to throw it. The device exploded and injured 10 police officers.

From what Ive read, the object in question was a firecracker, and it was July, Rich said. If (Gaines) came from a wealthy family he would be out of jail, and that wouldnt change anything about the case.

Gaines has been a role model in his East Oakland community, she added, and until now has avoided trouble with the law.

Charges against Gaines, who was arrested Nov. 1, include possession of a destructive device and exploding a device to cause bodily injury. His next court date is Dec. 3.

Roundup: The biggest crime news from last week

Reuben Foster was released by the San Francisco 49ers after being arrested a second time on domestic violence charges.

A self-employed handiman and part-time construction worker was arrested as a suspect in one of nine fires at East Bay construction sites.

A Facebook executive whose brother died last month after being tased by San Mateo County Sheriffs deputies said video footage contradicts law enforcements claims that the force was justified.

In the latest cold case to be cracked by a genealogical website, Santa Clara County officials arrested a 74-year-old Hayward man in the 1973 killing of 21-year-old Leslie Perlov in Palo Alto.

A senior pastor at a Sunset District Lutheran Church was among five suspects San Francisco police arrested last week in a sweeping child-porn bust.

An employee at a San Francisco wheelchair company is charged with murdering the companys CEO over what police are calling an embezzlement dispute.

Megan Cassidy, Gwendolyn Wu and Ashley McBride are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com, gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com, ashley.mcbride@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy @gwendolyawu @ashleynmcb
In 21 months as the nations attorney general, Jeff Sessions affected no area of public policy more than immigration, from his zero tolerance orders to arrest and prosecute all unauthorized border crossers to establishing new rules speeding up deportations and limiting legal challenges.

But with his dismissal by President Trump the day after the Nov. 6 election, one part of Sessions immigration agenda remained unfinished: his reconsideration, and often reversal, of pro-immigrant rulings by the immigration courts, particularly on the rights of migrants seeking political asylum in the United States.

Because immigration courts are a branch of the Justice Department, the attorney general has the authority to review and overturn their rulings. Sessions used that authority at an unprecedented pace, reversing decisions that had allowed immigration judges to delay or postpone hearings to give immigrants time to apply for legal status, and eliminating grounds for asylum that were commonly invoked by migrants from Central America.

In October, he announced plans to reconsider a ruling that, if repealed, would keep thousands of asylum-seekers locked up even after they convinced hearing officers that they had a case for fearing persecution in their homeland.

Zach Gibson / Getty Images

A 2005 ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals allowed immigrants seeking asylum to be freed on bond after an immigration officer ruled that they have a credible fear of persecution if deported. They remain free until the immigration courts decide whether their fear of persecution is well founded, entitling them to asylum, a work permit and legal residence. If not, they can be deported.

That determination sometimes takes a year or longer. Immigration rights advocates and legal commentators say tens of thousands of asylum-seekers would be locked up for that period if the attorney general overturned the 2005 decision.

Its a dramatic change in policy ... part of a pattern of efforts to implement the zero-tolerance policy that Sessions declared in April for unauthorized border-crossing, said Kevin Johnson, UC Davis law school dean and an immigration law expert.

This was Sessions, on his own initiative, trying to rewrite immigration law, said Paul Wickham Schmidt, a retired immigration judge, former chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals and publisher of the ImmigrationCourtside blog.

Now the decision will be left to Sessions successor. Or maybe not.

Stephanie Keith / Getty Images

Matthew Whitaker, Sessions former chief of staff, is serving as acting attorney general. The Justice Department declined to comment on whether Whitaker would handle the immigration cases reopened by Sessions. And because Whitaker has not been confirmed by the Senate, his authority to act has been questioned by some legal analysts and, in a filing in the asylum case, by the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Whitaker, who has not been confirmed by the Senate, is not constitutionally empowered to take action under any federal regulations, including the regulation that puts the attorney general in charge of the immigration courts, lawyers for the 15,000-member association told the Justice Department. The Justice Department says its own legal analysis supports Whitakers temporary appointment.

The lawyers group also argued that Sessions procedures in the immigration cases were one-sided  mostly choosing cases in which the immigrant had no lawyer and the Justice Department has not provided public access to the written arguments filed by either the government or private advocates on either side. The process, the group said, is ripe for abuse.

Whitaker hasnt said nearly as much about immigration as Sessions. But in 2014, while running unsuccessfully for a U.S. Senate seat in Iowa, he said in an interview with a conservative blog that the nations border is under assault on a daily basis from people trying to bring illegal people and illegal drugs into our country.

When he announced reconsideration of asylum-seekers eligibility for bond release, Sessions said he was responding to a recent Supreme Court ruling against other categories of undocumented immigrants.

John Moore / Getty Images

In a 5-3 decision in February, the court said federal law does not entitle immigrants held in detention  legal noncitizen residents charged with deportable crimes and undocumented migrants who apply for asylum when they reach the border  to bond hearings every six months.

The ruling reversed a decision by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, where the justices returned the case to consider whether immigrants are entitled to periodic bond hearings on constitutional grounds or can be held indefinitely while awaiting deportation proceedings.

The February ruling did not involve immigrants who cross the U.S. border, are caught and then apply for asylum. Under the 2005 immigration board ruling, those who pass their credible fear interviews  a substantial majority of the applicants  are eligible for release on bond while their cases are pending.

But Sessions said last month, before his firing, that he would decide whether the 2005 ruling that allowed their release should be overturned in light of the Supreme Court decision.

The case Sessions used to test his resolve to overturn the ruling involves a man from India who was arrested for illegal entry, claimed asylum and was granted bond in June by an immigration judge. But because he couldnt afford to pay the $17,500 bond, he remains in detention in San Diego while the acting attorney general decides whether the man should be eligible for any bond while his case is pending.

The outcome appeared predictable, at least during Sessions tenure. In an October 2017 speech to immigration judges, he said too many people were being found eligible for asylum and set free while their claims were pending, in part because of dirty immigration lawyers who are encouraging their otherwise unlawfully present clients to make false claims of asylum.

Sessions ruled in June that immigrants fleeing domestic or gang violence in their home countries would be ineligible for asylum in nearly all cases. Overturning a 2014 ruling by the immigration board, he said victims of privately inflicted violence would seldom be able to prove that the government of their homeland was unable or unwilling to protect them.

That decision is being challenged in a lawsuit by immigrants, joined by California, 18 other states and the District of Columbia, in federal court in Washington, D.C.

The new case on bond release could also affect the dispute over the separation of undocumented parents from their children.

Since January, hundreds of children have been taken from their parents and held in detention centers. Trump, meanwhile, is seeking to withdraw from a 1997 legal settlement that entitles detained immigrant minors to be housed in state-licensed facilities and released to a family member or other sponsor as soon as possible, generally within 20 days. He wants them held along with their parents, who will include detained asylum-seekers if they lose their eligibility for release on bond.

If they want to stay with their kids, then the family has to be detained together if asylum-seekers are no longer eligible for release on bond, said Schmidt, the retired immigration judge. It puts pressure on people to can their (asylum) claims and say, Just send me home.

Prolonged detention also would make it harder for immigrants to find lawyers, hurting their chances to win their asylum cases, eight law professors who run their schools immigration clinics said in a filing with the Justice Department.

Reversing the 2005 immigration board decision would be a step toward arbitrary and punitive detention, they said.

Advocates of detaining immigrants who face possible deportation argue that they will disappear if released on bond, although studies have found that a large majority of asylum-seekers return to court for their hearings. The flip side, Schmidt said, is that denial of the right to release on bond sets up a future court case on how the indefinite detention of children and non-dangerous asylum-seekers is constitutional.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com
The worlds two largest economies  represented by President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping  will be holding talks at this weeks G20 meeting in Buenos Aires.

Normally, the United States competitive but cooperative relationship with China would ensure a tense but productive conversation. Thanks to Trumps decision to wage tariff war on China, however, its tough to predict what will happen this time.

Getting American workers a better deal was one of Trumps biggest campaign promises.

Hes certainly taken plenty of action to rachet up the trade pressure on the other major world economies.

First, he implemented about $10 billion worth of tariffs on imports of washing machines and solar panels; those took effect in January. Then, in February, came steep steel and aluminum tariffs that targeted many of our trade allies, including Mexico and Canada.

Trump believed the tariffs would force Mexico and Canada to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

They did not.

In September, the three countries agreed to a new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, and it contains some modest new protections for American workers. But the result fell short of the major promises Trump made, and most of those improvements were cribbed from the Trans-Pacific Partnership  a deal that Trump scrapped when he took office.

Plus, the legislatures of all three countries have to sign off on the deal, and theres plenty of evidence to suggest they will not.

Similarly, Trumps decision to brandish tariffs against China is unlikely to produce the gains hes promised.

He imposed 25 percent tariffs on imported Chinese products in July and September. Yet so far China hasnt budged on Trumps demands, which include reducing our bilateral trade deficit, improving market access for U.S. companies, and better protecting U.S. intellectual property.

Some of Trumps demands, especially related to markets and intellectual property, are correct. But tariff threats wont persuade China to change.

If anything, China is digging in. At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this month, officials failed to agree on a joint statement as the U.S. and China fought over trade and security.

Meanwhile, the U.S. stock market just registered its worst Thanksgiving week since 2011, and the International Monetary Fund warned last month that it is lowering its global growth projections, partly because of rising trade barriers.

Everyone loses in a trade war. This week, Trump has the chance to try a different approach. He must take it.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
Most U.S. airlines allow fliers to buy their way into its airport lounges by paying a $50-$70 fee at the door, but last week, Delta Air Lines became the first carrier to eliminate this option entirely.

Delta said the decision to stop sales of single visit passes was spurred in part because its Sky Clubs are too crowded.

Eliminating single visit passes effectively means access to Delta's lounges are restricted to Sky Club members, international premium cabin fliers, SkyTeam elites on certain international itineraries and certain premium Delta or American Express credit card holders (those with lower-tier cards will still need to pay a discounted $29 entrance fee).

We've seen airlines act in unison on decisions like these, particularly when it comes to lounge access, so might we see one time use passes go away at other carriers? Probably. Crowding has become a major issue at all airport clubs.

The Priority Pass lounge network is working to reduce crowding and keep its members happy by partnering with airport restaurants, providing members with discounts or credits. American Express has tightened the screws on admittance to its popular Centurion Lounges, too, disallowing day passes for certain Amex cardholders.

But for now at least, as we face the busy holiday travel season, one-time or day passes are still available at most airline clubs.

-American Airlines tells us there are no plans to do away with the $59 day pass it offers fliers for access to Admirals Clubs. However, day passes may not be sold or accepted at Admirals Clubs, at Boston-Logan, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth or Pittsburgh because of on-going construction.

-United Airlines also says it has no plans to change its one-time use pass offering, which fliers can buy for $59 at United Club locations. The passes are a well advertised perk for the United MileagePlus Chase Visa credit card, who receive two per year as part of the benefits. When club locations become too crowded, one time use pass holders are usually the first ones to be turned away at the door, however, so access can be hit or miss.

Related: Here's how you can score a 65K United miles bonus for getting the Explorer card

-Alaska Airlines operates seven Alaska Lounges (none of which are located at Bay Area airports) and also sells a $50 day pass that's good for multiple uses within the 24 hour period. From September 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature cardholders can purchase a day pass for a discounted rate of $25.

Delta, American and United have in the last year all raised prices and mileage redemption rates for annual memberships to its respective lounges. Delta hiked its individual annual club membership rate by $50 to $495, effective January 1.

The carriers also added new rules that require lounge visitors have a same-day boarding pass on the respective airline or an airline that's a member of the same alliance.

These changes make the barrier for entry to airline lounges tougher in the new year. On the flip side, frequent fliers have complained that lounges have become increasingly overcrowded in recent years. It finally looks like airlines are tightening access to make the experience a bit more exclusive.

Here's Delta's rational for making the change which is now posted online:

"Each day we're continuing to invest in the Club to provide an elevated experience, and today access to the Club is in higher demand than ever. To ensure we can continue to provide an exceptional Club experience and take care of guests that choose to fly with us or with our partners, we are making the following changes:

Starting November 15, 2018

-We'll no longer sell the $59/5,000 mile Single Visit Passes

-Any Single Visit Passes that guests already have will be accepted through the expiration date printed on the pass, as long as they are being used in conjunction with same-day ticketed air travel on Delta or partner airlines."

Do you think airline lounges are getting too crowded? Will this fixes work? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

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Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis.
Police are searching for a man they say broke into a home in South Berkeley on Sunday morning and sexually assaulted a woman inside.

About 6 a.m., police said the man illegally entered a residence on the 2400 block of Blake Street, in the south campus area of UC Berkeley. The man burglarized the home and sexually battered a female resident inside before fleeing, said Berkeley police Lt. Peter Hong.
Tampa police on Monday released audio of the 911 call alleging an attack by Reuben Foster, the former San Francisco 49ers linebacker who was released from the team following his weekend arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence battery.

My ex-boyfriend took my phone and broke it, and slapped me in my face, a woman told the dispatcher, noting that she was at a Grand Hyatt in Tampa, Fla..
Living in San Francisco, you can easily get caught up in your own little enchanted foodie heaven, convinced the center of the food universe exists within its 49 square miles.

You might think there's no reason to deal with the hassle  the BART delays, the traffic, the giving up of your parking space  to leave to eat anywhere else on a Friday night, except maybe to head over to the nearly equally urban Oakland or Berkeley where many would agree the food rivals the city's.
Angry San Francisco Giants fans are rallying around a call to boycott their team after billionaire team co-owner Charles Johnson donated to the campaign of controversial Mississippi U.S. Senate candidate Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Johnson and his wife each gave $2,700 to Hyde-Smith, a Republican who is campaigning in a runoff election Tuesday for a Senate seat to which she was appointed earlier this year.
Nearly every day for weeks, a white-haired man in a wheelchair, his body ravaged by diabetes and heart disease, has been escorted under heavy guard from a Texas jail cell to an interview room to speak about evil.

Day by day, authorities say, he has recounted details of long-ago murders: faces, places, the layouts of small towns. He has described how he picked up vulnerable women from bars, nightclubs and along streets and strangled them to death in the back seat of his car.

The man, Samuel Little, 78, has confessed to more than 90 murders, investigators say, stretching back almost half a century. Little already is serving three life sentences for the murders of three Los Angeles women during the 1980s, but authorities suspect him of killing women in at least 14 states. Investigators say they have established Littles ties to about 30 of the murders so far, and have little reason to doubt his confessions.

By the time we are done, we anticipate that Samuel Little will be confirmed as one of the most prolific serial killers in American history, said Bobby Bland, district attorney of Ector County, Texas, where Little is being held after a grand jury indicted him this summer for a 1994 killing.

RELATED: How Texas' most notorious serial killers were caught

Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, was convicted of 49 murders in Washington state during the 1980s and 1990s, the highest number of murder convictions for an American serial killer.

How a serial murderer could go on killing for years, apparently without anyone noticing a pattern, seems perplexing. But even the most effective police departments solve only about three-quarters of homicides, meaning that thousands of people get away with murder each year. Also, the killings Little is said to have admitted to occurred in a wide range of counties and states. Many of the women whom Little is believed to have killed were poor and addicted to drugs, alcohol, or both  a group of people who often are not reported missing for weeks and sometimes receive fewer investigative resources than others.

It was DNA evidence collected over years in the criminal justice system that first connected Little to several women who had been killed. Then, this year, a Texas Ranger named James Holland visited Little in a Los Angeles County prison and succeeded in winning his confidence, authorities said. The stories began to tumble out, setting off a transfer to Texas and a frenzy of visits from investigators with cold cases from all over the nation.

Part of Littles impetus for talking now, investigators say, is that he seems to prefer the Ector County jail to the noisy, often chaotic environment of a Los Angeles County prison. Investigators who have spoken to him say he also appears to enjoy the attention he is receiving as he recites details only a killer would know, after decades of discussing them with no one.

Officials in Texas said Little would not be made available for an interview for this article and a public defender who recently represented him declined to comment.

As the weeks have passed and new cases and details have emerged, more than a dozen local investigators, along with the FBI, have flocked to Texas to speak to Little in person.

Authorities say Little displays no sign of remorse while discussing the killings. He is exacting with certain details, they say, including where he left the womens bodies years ago: A dumpster, near a hog pit, under a pecan tree. The investigators say he is matter-of-fact about his actions, and sometimes even chuckles about them; other times, they said, he speaks so quickly, with such excitement, that they struggle to understand his words.

Believe it or not, you only see evil a few times in your career, said Tim Marcia, a cold case detective with the Los Angeles Police Department who dealt with Little on the three killings he was convicted of there. Looking into his eyes, I would say that was pure evil.

In many ways, the investigation into Little began in earnest in 2012 when Marcia and his partner, Detective Mitzi Roberts, tracked him down at a homeless shelter in Kentucky after his DNA had been found to match two Los Angeles murder victims from the 1990s.

At the time, Little had served fewer than 10 years in prison, though he had amassed nearly 100 arrests in numerous states over more than 50 years. The charges ranged from kidnapping and rape to armed robbery.

He got off over and over and over again, said Beth Silverman, the Los Angeles County prosecutor who ultimately won three murder convictions against Little. There are a lot of agencies around the country that dropped the ball on this case.

Silverman and others say the killings were sexually motivated, but she also said that Little takes offense at being called a rapist. He says erectile problems make that impossible. But he is believed to have raped some of his victims, and Littles semen has been found on some of the womens nude bodies or on their clothing.

The way he gets sexual gratification is during the strangulation, Silverman said.

During his interrogation of Little in October, Sgt. Michael Mongeluzzo, a detective in Marion County, Florida  where Little has confessed to killing 20-year-old Rosie Hill in 1982  said he had been astonished by Littles ability to recall various specific details about the 36-year-old crime.

Its scary the clarity he has about certain things after all this time, Mongeluzzo said. He remembers names and faces.

Little, detectives say, is a charismatic psychopath who would brutally beat his victims before strangling them. A former boxer, he punched with such force that when he struck one of his victims in the abdomen he broke her spine, according to the autopsy report.

Mongeluzzo said he had wondered aloud during the interrogation how Little had managed to avoid arrest for so long. Little, he said, had an answer.

I can go into my world and do what I want to do, Little said, according to Mongeluzzo, describing neighborhoods around the nation where poverty, drug addiction and unsolved murders are common. I wont go into your world.

Little has told investigators that his mother had been  in his words  a lady of the night.

But many other details about his childhood are unclear, although investigators said he may have been born in jail during one of his mothers arrests. He was raised mostly by one of his grandmothers in Ohio.

In Opelousas, Louisiana, a town of 16,000, Donald Thompson, the police chief, said he has been haunted by a killing for years.

In January 1996, the naked body of Melissa Thomas, 24, the cousin of Thompsons wife, was found under a pecan tree in a small cemetery behind a Baptist church.

At the time, Thompson was the departments lead investigator on the case. He said he always suspected the killer had been an outsider because no one in the tight-knit town had any information.

Last month, Thompson got a call from Texas that Little had confessed to the murder, and he sent one of his detectives, Sgt. Crystal LeBlanc.

Over two hours, LeBlanc found that Little knew the towns streets, its bars, the location of the little church cemetery.

Little told LeBlanc that he met Melissa Thomas on a street and they drove to the cemetery to use drugs. He said when they moved into the back seat to have sex, he began to stroke her neck and Thomas became alarmed.

He said that she said, Why do you keep touching my neck? Are you a serial killer?' LeBlanc said.

Little said he became so enraged that he strangled her to death, according to LeBlanc.

Toward the end of the interview, LeBlanc said she asked about Littles religious beliefs. They spoke about the nature of sin. He told her he had no need to fear God.

He said God made him this way, so why should he ask for forgiveness? she said. He said God knew everything he did.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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.
SANTA CRUZ (BCN)



A pedestrian was hit and killed on state Highway 1 early Saturday morning in Santa Cruz, California Highway Patrol officials said today.



The 44-year-old Watsonville man was in the third lane of the highway just north of Emeline Avenue at 4:38 a.m. when he was hit by a 2018 Toyota Corolla and a 2016 Ford F-250, according to the CHP.



The roadway was wet and the sky was dark and cloudy at the time of the crash, CHP officials said.



The crash is still under investigation and no further information was immediately available. The Santa Cruz County coroner's office will release the man's identity once his family members are notified.





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SAN FRANCISCO(BCN)



A loophole that law enforcement officials say hinders prosecution of auto burglars would close under legislation being proposed by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco.



Wiener plans to introduce a law that would eliminate a requirement that prosecutors must show a car's door was locked during an auto burglary, even if the window was bashed in.



The new legislation would make forcible entry sufficient to prove the crime.



"The explosion in auto break-ins we're experiencing is unacceptable, and we need to ensure our police and district attorneys have all the tools they need to address it," Wiener said.



Wiener introduced similar legislation earlier this year under Senate Bill 916, but it didn't make it out of the state Senate appropriations committee.



San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon supports the legislation, saying the loophole has allowed some suspects to elude prosecution.



Under current law, prosecutors have a difficult time making a case if an offender broke a window and entered a car, leaving it unlocked or the door open. A case against a suspect could also falter if a victim returned and unlocked the car's door before police took a report.



San Francisco police Chief William Scott said the legislation would provide "a very useful tool to help us reduce vehicle burglaries by making it easier to successfully prosecute these crimes."



Vehicle break-ins are down 16 percent this year and police have made 31 percent more arrests compared to 2017, Scott said.





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After a weeklong search for the victims of the Camp Fire, California Task Force 3 has been demobilized and is heading back to the Bay Area today, the Menlo Park Fire Department reported.



Fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman said 45 members of the task force, along with their two search dogs, searched almost 2,000 structures in Magalia, about five miles north of the town of Paradise.



"The team was honored to be there, but it's hard to feel completely finished with so many people still missing," Schapelhouman said in a news release. "Many feel like they're leaving a little piece of themselves behind."



The task force is headed to the Teams Special Operations warehouse in East Palo Alto. Another group of firefighters dispatched to Butte County from San Francisco also returned home this week, according to the firefighters' union.



The Camp Fire in Northern California's Butte County was contained this morning at 153,336 acres, Cal Fire reported.





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BERKELEY (BCN)



Three men were arrested after they allegedly robbed a man who was near the University of California Berkeley campus on Friday evening, according to police.



Police said the victim was near the intersection of Bancroft Way at Telegraph Avenue around 7:30 p.m. when the men took the man's shoulder bag, along with two shopping bags, and fled north through the campus.



According to police, the victim's property was found in Lower Sproul Plaza. The suspects were later arrested in San Francisco, police said, but weren't identified.



No further information is immediately available.





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China Aviation Daily | Nov. 23, 2018

ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu set the tone for the Second ICAO Air Transport Meeting for the Caribbean being held in Georgetown, Guyana, this week, stressing to the attending government and industry officials that "continuous compliance with ICAO global standards, and the fostering of a dependably profitable and sustainable operating environment, are the most important steps toward realizing aviation's unique socio-economic development multiplier effects."

"Such efforts should include the liberalization and modernization of the regulatory framework of international air transport, which is still predominantly governed by a complex patchwork of over 5,000 bilateral air services agreements and arrangements," Dr. Aliu said. "Removing this key impediment and streamlining the global regulatory framework will allow for more harmonized operations in line with ICAO's core compliance objectives."

Another key point of the ICAO Council President's opening address was the continuous proliferation of taxes and levies on aviation operations which are having negative long-term impact on both operators' bottom lines and the general sustainability of air services.

"These taxes and levies are at odds with ICAO's related policies which seek to foster a reasonable but more dependable and sustainable generation of government revenues," he underscored.

The need for all stakeholders to work together and plan for the development, expansion and modernization of aviation infrastructure to cope with the projected exponential growth in traffic volumes, was also emphasized by Dr. Aliu. "And ICAO has been working very hard to raise global awareness and the political will in States and Regions toward governments' development, expansion and modernization of national aviation infrastructure," he noted.

President Aliu further encouraged member States to take pragmatic measures to ensure a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate to support aviation development. He added that "ICAO, for its part has embarked on helping States to develop better business cases and foster partnerships with donors and investors under the ICAO World Aviation Forum (IWAF) initiatives," and reaffirmed ICAO's commitment "to continue to provide the required leadership and drive global progress on its core Strategic Objectives, including safety, security and environmental issues."

In concluding, Dr. Aliu commended the African Union and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for co-organizing a special session at the Guyana event on Promoting Air Links between Africa and the Diaspora, and added that "it is hoped that we will deliver some far-reaching decisions at this event, including on the establishment of an aviation development financial framework for the African and Caribbean Regions."

The Guyana meeting organized in conjunction with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), attracted over 250 participants from 27 States and many international organizations.

While in the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, President Aliu, accompanied by ICAO Directors Mr. Boubacar Djibo and Mr. Cintron Melvin, held bilateral discussions with the Prime Minister and First Vice President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Hon. Moses V. Nagamootoo During his audience with the Prime Minister, Dr. Aliu thanked the State for hosting the Second ICAO Air Transport Meeting for the Caribbean, and congratulated the State on the significant progress being achieved in compliance with ICAO SARPs and the efforts being made to improve and modernize local airport infrastructure.

Dr Aliu also held a meeting with the Ministers of the CARICOM States and set the stage for follow up meetings and engagements to further enhance regional assistance and cooperation between CARICOM Member States themselves, as well as with ICAO.

The importance and role of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Organization (CASSOS) was another critical area of important discussion, notably with respect for the need for States to support it as a viable solution to help them achieve compliance with ICAO SARPs.

Another very important issue discussed was the strengthening of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCA), and the opportunity for it to have a stronger and better-defined role and responsibility, as well as addressing other such opportunities to ensure that States receive full benefits in terms of oversight cooperation.

Contributed by ICAO
The past two months have been a maelstrom for Christine Blasey Ford, who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, accusing then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault when the two were in high school.

Before the hearings, Ford lived a life devoid of national attention. She was a professor of psychology at a small university in Palo Alto, where she lived on a quiet street with her husband and two children.

The film of her security  and privacy  was peeled off after the hearings, and continued long after Kavanaugh was confirmed. Ford said she had to move at least four times to escape death threats, and had to hire a security detail to protect her and her family.

More news 49ers release Reuben Foster after string of disturbances

On Nov. 21, Ford opened up about her experience over the last few months in a GoFundMe post, thanking those who contributed donations, letters, and acts of support. Tens of thousands of people donated to the campaign to surpass its $150,000 goal. Currently at $647,610, Ford announced she was closing the account to further donations.

"Your tremendous outpouring of support and kind letters have made it possible for us to cope with the immeasurable stress, particularly the disruption to our safety and privacy," Ford wrote in the statement. "Because of your support, I feel hopeful that our lives will return to normal."

Ford said the donations through GoFundMe went toward a security service, a home security system, and temporary housing during their frequent moves.

"Dr. Ford and her family have tremendous gratitude for the generous crowdfunded contributions they have received," her lawyers told NPR. "These funds have been used exclusively for necessary costs of physical security and housing occasioned by coming forward about her sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh."

Ford also wrote that any funds that did not go toward security would be given to organizations that support trauma survivors.

"Although coming forward was terrifying, and caused disruption to our lives, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my civic duty," Ford wrote.

Read Annie Vainshtein's latest stories here. Email her at avainshtein@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @annievain
ROME  Italian film-maker Bernardo Bertolucci, who won Oscars with The Last Emperor and whose erotic drama Last Tango in Paris enthralled and shocked the world, died Monday. He was 77.

Bertoluccis press office, Punto e Virgola, confirmed the death. Italys state-run RAI said Bertolucci died at his home in Rome, surrounded by family.

He will be remembered among the greatest in Italian and world film, the Venice Film Festival, which awarded Bertolucci a lifetime achievement award, said in a statement.

Bertoluccis movies often explored the sexual relations among characters mired in psychological crisis, as in Last Tango, which was banned in his own Italy for over a decade. The self-professed Marxist also did not shy away from politics and ideology, as in The Conformist, which some critics consider Bertoluccis masterpiece.

Despite working with A-list American and international stars, Bertolucci always defended his own filmmaking style against what he said was the pressure of the U.S. film industry. He maintained critical success for most of his career, weathering the controversies that his sexually provocative work would stir and some commercial flops.

When it comes to commercial cinema, I have the strange pleasure of feeling that Im from another tribe, an infiltrator, he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera in 1990.

He was honored for lifetime achievement at the Cannes film festival in 2011.

Bertoluccis movies also bore the imprint of the directors own experiences in psychoanalysis. He always said that making films was his way of communicating with the audience. It was his personal language.

Maybe Im an idealist, but I still think of the movie theater as a cathedral where we all go together to dream the dream together, he said upon receiving an award from the Directors Guild of America for his 1987 film The Last Emperor.

That movie brought Bertolucci his greatest success. In 1988 it won all nine Academy Awards that it had been nominated for  including best movie and best director.

The film  the first Western feature to win permission to shoot in Beijings Forbidden City  follows the life of Chinas last emperor, from child-king at the end of the Qing Dynasty to war criminal and finally to an ordinary citizen in the Peoples Republic.

Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, who often worked with Bertolucci and won one of his three Oscars with Last Emperor, compared the director to William Faulkner.

His style is not unlike that of Faulkner wholl go on for 30 pages without a period. Bernardo doesnt just use the camera to convey just one sentence. Everything flows into everything else, said Storaro.

Bertolucci was born in Parma on March 16, 1941, the son of poet Attilio Bertolucci and his wife, Ninetta. The family moved to Rome when Bertolucci was 13.

Bertolucci was married to the English writer and director Clare Peploe. They had no children.

Nicole Winfield is an Associated Press writer.
MOSCOW  The Ukrainian navy said Sunday that Russias coast guard opened fire on and seized three Ukrainian vessels and wounded two crew members in the Black Sea after a tense confrontation off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula.

Ukraines navy said two of its vessels were struck and that Russian coast guard crews boarded them and a tugboat and seized them. The Russian Federal Security Service, which is known as the FSB and is in charge of the coast guard, said it has evidence that Ukraine was responsible for the clashes.

There is irrefutable evidence that Kiev prepared and orchestrated provocations ... in the Black Sea, the FSB said in a statement. These materials will soon be made public.

There have been growing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, which annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and has steadily worked to increase its zone of control around the peninsula.

Earlier Sunday, Russia and Ukraine traded accusations over another incident involving the same three vessels, prompting Moscow to block passage through the Kerch Strait.

The Ukrainian vessels apparently sought to travel through the strait to other ports in Ukraine, and Ukrainian authorities said they had given advance notice to the Russians.

The tensions began Sunday morning. Russias coast guard said the three Ukrainian vessels made an unauthorized crossing through Russian territorial waters, while Ukraine alleged that one of its boats was rammed by a Russian coast guard vessel.

The Kerch Strait is a narrow body of water between Crimea and the Russian mainland.

The incident began after the Ukrainian navy claimed a Russian coast guard vessel rammed one of its tugboats, which was traveling with two Ukrainian navy artillery boats from Odessa on the Black Sea to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, via the Kerch Strait.

Russian coast guard vessels ... carried out openly aggressive actions against Ukrainian navy ships, the Ukrainian navy statement said. It said a Russian coast guard ship damaged the tugboats engine, hull, side railing and a lifeboat.

Russia then blocked off the strait.

The Kerch Strait is the only passage into the Sea of Azov beyond it. The strait is crossed by the recently completed Kerch Bridge, connecting Crimea to Russia. Transit under the bridge has been blocked by a tanker ship, and dozens of cargo ships awaiting passage are stuck.

Russia has not given any indication of how long it will keep the strait blocked off, but a long-term closure to civilian traffic would amount to an economic blockade of Ukrainian cities on the Azov coast.

Matthew Bodner is an Associated Press writer.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The NYPDs 123rd Precinct got a new commanding officer on Monday, as Capt. Timothy Wilson took the helm of the South Shore precinct, replacing Deputy Inspector Kenneth Noonan.

Wilson, a Staten Island resident, joined the NYPD in 1999, working at the 1st Precinct in Manhattan. He gradually climbed the ladder as a sergeant at the 72nd Precinct in Brooklyn, lieutenant at the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn, and captain at the 7th Precinct in Manhattan, before being assigned to Brooklyn North Narcotics.

Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, the NYPD borough commander, commented on Wilson, saying: He is a respected commander who brings with him an array of experience that I believe will be beneficial to the community in the 123. We are very happy to have him join the team.

Although the 123rd Precinct traditionally doesnt see as much crime as other borough precincts, the new commanding officer will still have challenges regarding the spikes in grand larcenies (from 119 in 2017 to 170 this year) and grand larceny autos (from 20 to 30), according to NYPD CompStat data.

Noonan served as commanding officer of the precinct since May of 2016, moving over from the 121st Precinct.

He posted a farewell letter on the 123rd Precincts Twitter account.

I depart the 123rd Precinct and Staten Island for a new assignment, I will always feel there is more to do. The support I have felt throughout this ride from the North Shore to the South Shore has been transformative, he wrote.

Noonan noted in his letter that he had never worked on Staten Island before, and after 2  years of working with the precinct, he experienced resiliency among the community which inspired him.

As we worked together solving problems, I saw amazing things happen, he said.

The end of his tenure on the borough was not without controversy, however, as members of the Sergeants Benevolent Association protested outside the Tottenville stationhouse on Nov. 18, alleging he displayed abusive and threatening behavior to subordinates.

Despite the protest, Noonan received a promotion to deputy inspector last week, receiving publicsupport from Police Commissioner James ONeill. He is being assigned to the Counterterrorism Bureau, a NYPD spokesman said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A borough man who authorities said robbed two hotels on Staten Island two years ago has some new living quarters: A cell in a federal prison upstate.

Marc Luna, 26, was recently sentenced to nine years behind bars, along with five years post-release supervision, online federal court records show.

Authorities said Luna and fellow Staten Islander Angel Santiago, 25, held up the Hylan Inn at 1274 Hylan Blvd. in Grasmere and the Ramada Inn at 535 N. Gannon Avenue in Willowbrook in 2016.

The defendants also attempted to stick up the West Shore Motor Lodge at 2600 Veterans Road West in Charleston, said court papers.

The Hylan Inn heist occurred on July 30, 2016, and the other two on Aug. 5 of that year, an indictment said.

According to Advance reports, two men allegedly robbed the Ramada Inn at around 6 a.m., then bolted on foot. One suspect was armed with a gun, a police spokesman said at the time.

An attempted armed robbery also was reported at the West Shore Motor Lodge a few hours earlier, at around 4 a.m., police said. The suspects allegedly confronted the desk clerk at the motel, police said then.

The clerk said the two men ran into the check-in area and held up a gun to the bulletproof office glass, the Advance reported.

The suspects then tried to open the door to the office but couldn't, because it was bolted shut. "They said, 'Open the [expletive] door.' I told them to get the [expletive] out of here," said the employee. The defendants left empty-handed. The incident was over within seconds, the clerk said.

In January of this year, Luna pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to robbery, robbery conspiracy and possessing and brandishing firearms during a crime of violence.

Under the firearms plea, the defendant admitted to sticking up the Hylan Inn with a gun and stealing cash.

Santiago had previously pleaded guilty to similar charges. He awaits sentencing.

Luna was sentenced to seven years in prison and five years post-release supervision on the gun conviction.

He received two years in prison and three years post-release supervision for the robbery and robbery-conspiracy convictions.

The robbery and robbery-conspiracy sentences will run concurrently to each other.

However, the two years incarceration on those convictions will run consecutively to the gun-convictions seven-year prison sentence, for a total prison term of nine years.

Online federal Bureau of Prison records show the defendant is currently housed upstate in Federal Correctional Institute, Ray Brook.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- One World Observatory is offering its immersive holiday experience this year, called Winter ONEderland: A Holiday Experience Above It All."

The holiday family-friendly experience features a snowy sky pod journey, interactive displays and visits from Santa Claus -- all from 1,776 feet high.

One World Observatory -- the indoor observatory at the top of the One World Trade Center -- will unveil the experience to visitors on Monday. Last year, the transformed Observatory drew more than 300,000 guests during the holiday season.

We couldnt be more excited for our second holiday celebration here at One World Observatory, said Keith Douglas, managing director of One World Observatory. We are extremely proud to be one of the many seasonal destinations guests can enjoy in Lower Manhattan, and are looking forward to spreading the holiday cheer.

The experience will include:

One World of Wonders -- A multi-media experience where guests join Winter ONEderland mascot Ollie the Owl as he takes flight, journeying past the wonders of the world -- both ancient and modern.

Glacier Cave -- Guests will wander through a magical underground winter grotto ornamented with crystals and icicles.

Snowy SkyPod Journey -- Visitors will delight in the thrill of snowfall while riding above New York Citys sparkling skyline in the fastest elevators in the Western Hemisphere.

Giant Snow Globe -- Visitors can marvel at a giant snow globe showcasing New York Citys famous skyline, and enjoy the ultimate social media selfie moment.

Santas Sleigh -- Parents can reserve a time for kids to visit with Santa and ride with him in his sleigh over New Yorks roof tops. Professional photographers will capture this moment.

The Observatorys 101st floor bar and restaurant, ONE Mix and Dine, will offer small batch wines, local beers on draft, hand-crafted cocktails and seasonally inspired festival fare.

Holiday cocktails will include the 5th Avenue, made with cinnamon infused whiskey and Irish cream, Winter in Central Park, a vanilla-infused vodka with white chocolate liqueur and peppermint and ONEderland Eggnog, a mix of premium cognac, a special liqueur blend and cinnamon.

The experience will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Nov. 26-Dec.20. Beginning on Dec. 21, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with special hours on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Tickets are on sale now at oneworldobservatory.com.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The cause of death of a partially clothed and burned woman found in a Richmond Valley park Sunday afternoon remains a mystery.

Law enforcement sources said the woman, who had been reported missing earlier this month by her family, has a mental illness.

Police have yet to release the womans identity.

One law enforcement source said police are investigating whether the death is suspicious due to where and how she was found. Another law enforcement source said the body had been in the woods for at least two weeks before being discovered.

The body was discovered in the woods of Long Pond Park at Bartow Avenue and Eugene Street after passerbys called 911 at about 1 p.m., a police spokesman said. According published reports, two teenagers found the body.

However, the medical examiner has yet to determine the cause of death.

City firefighters (FDNY) responded at 1:03 p.m. to a report of a burned body at the location, said an FDNY spokesman. Once on scene, FDNY notified the fire marshal and police, said the FDNY spokesman.

Police have yet to determine if a fire burned her clothes off, and why she was found partially naked, sources said.

The body, when found by police, was also partially decomposed, a police spokesman said.

EMS responded the the 911 call and pronounced the woman deceased at the scene, police said.

Police have roped off a home on Bartow Avenue not far from the scene of the crime, and could be seen talking to residents of the area. A throng of media has assembled at the house as well.
The North Shore Renaissance that we have talked about for years continues to move forward. We are opening new schools, renovating and opening parks, and strengthening our small-business corridors. A potential next step in this renaissance is a rezoning of our Bay Street Corridor, which would allow industrial land connecting the centers of Tompkinsville and Stapleton along the Staten Island Railroad to be developed for commercial and residential use. Our goal is to ensure that our neighborhoods remain vibrant, walkable, well-planned and affordable for those who want to continue to live here, with all the infrastructure needed to make our neighborhoods a great place to live.

After nearly three years of community input, the Department of City Planning has released its draft Environmental Impact Statement, beginning a seven-month period of public review, culminating in a vote at the City Council. My position with the administration over the last three years has been clear: We will not undertake this rezoning without public investments in appropriate infrastructure to support a future increase in density.

For far too long, zoning on Staten Island has been altered parcel by parcel, with little regard for the greater picture. Now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity for comprehensive waterfront planning and significant investment in infrastructure, including school seats, an enhanced sewer system, open space, and a brand new, state-of-the-art Cromwell Center in Tompkinsville.

As we enter the formal public review process (ULURP), we must all ask ourselves how we want the North Shore to look and function decades from now. Do we want to move forward as we have for decades on a piecemeal basis, with developers approaching the city for a small rezonings of one parcel after the next, with little regard to how they fit together? Or do we want to take a comprehensive look at Tompkinsville and Stapleton, and work together on a rezoning that includes long-term planning, enhanced public waterfront access and capital investments in our infrastructure?

Since this rezoning was first proposed three years ago, I have spent a lot of time listening to constituents concerns in formal meetings, informal conversations, a Stapleton town hall and a Local Advisory Board of community residents. Besides our infrastructure needs, the most pressing concern I hear in these conversations is the need for housing for all ages and income levels, especially for longtime residents of the North Shore who fear being squeezed out by the high cost of living.

A rezoning would allow for the private developmenton lots currently zoned for industrial usesof residential buildings where the majority of units would rent at market rate, and a portion of units would be set aside for low- and middle-income individuals and families, similar to the residents who currently live in these neighborhoods. Our boroughs rich manufacturing history will continue to thrive in the western portion of the Island, while this section along Bay Street and the underutilized Staten Island railway will better meet our commercial and residential needs.

The right mix of market rate and affordable housing will provide space for seniors, families, young professionals and more, preserving the culture, fabric and opportunity of our North Shore neighborhoods. When Mayor deBlasio proposed this and other rezonings in his 2015 State of the City address, he reminded us that New York City is not a gated community, that our city can only remain great if families can thrive in the neighborhoods they have called home. And we can reach that goal with a viable neighborhood plan.

We do so with a special commitment to those who currently live here. The mayor has allocated $36 million to provide free legal representation in housing court for all tenants in rezoned neighborhoods facing harassment, building neglect or eviction proceedings.

If this rezoning moves forward, we will not see development overnight. Rather, we would lay a responsible blueprint for property owners to follow when they do decide to develop. This blueprint would respect waterfront view corridors and enhance public access to our waterfront. While infrastructure improvements would move forward as soon as possible, the rezoning blueprint we create will not be fully realized for decades.

The decisions we make in this public process will shape the future of our North Shore. My priority in these discussions will be creating a vibrant neighborhood and boosting quality of life  with the hope that the North Shore of tomorrow will continue to provide the same life-giving opportunities for our grandchildren as it did for our grandparents.

(Debi Rose is the councilwoman for Staten Islands 49th City Council District.)
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It only took a day for the royal commission hearings featuring the National Australia Bank to make a mockery of the bank's new management mantra EPIC  Empathy, Perform, Imagine, Connect.

Earnings, Profit, Incentivised, Conflicted would have been a more suitable pre-royal commission acronym  in the time before the bank saw the light.

At the very least the community would agree there was nothing EPIC about the behaviour of many participants in the Australian financial services community. On this score it was an EPIC fail.

NAB boss Andrew Thorburn: Points the finger at Andrew Hagger Credit:webcast

Monday was National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburns turn to front commissioner Hayne, admit the banks failings and attempt to convince him that (a) the bank had learned its lesson and (b) the mistakes would not be made again once outside the public glare of the commission.
National Australia Bank chairman Ken Henry has admitted it could take 10 years for NAB to fix its culture issues and says boards should not be responsible for "ensuring" eradication of misconduct inside a bank.

Dr Henry's frankness about the bank's culture issues came as he gave evidence at the royal commission in what is the last week of public hearings.

National Australia Bank chairman Ken Henry at the banking royal commission. Credit:Internet

He took to the witness box after NAB boss Andrew Thorburn was forced to explain why senior executive Andrew Hagger left the bank over his dealings with the corporate regulator when three other executives, including Mr Thorburn were shown to be deeply involved in the matter.

Dr Henry delivered the bombshell while being quizzed by counsel assisting, Rowena Orr, QC, about how the bank was going to resolve the cultural issues that led to the misconduct revealed at the commission, including NAB's fees-for-no-service scandal.
US President Donald Trump demanded General Motors Co add a new product to replace a plant in Ohio that the company said it planned to close next year due to lagging small-car demand.

The largest US automaker said on Monday it would cut thousands from its North American workforce, slash production and eliminate some slow-selling car models. GM also plans to close an assembly plant and a transmission plant in Ohio, along with an assembly plant in Canada.

Trump told reporters he was not happy with GM's decision to idle a plant in Lordstown, Ohio.

"I have no doubt that in the not too distant future, they'll put something else. They better put something else in," Trump said.
Mr Alford told the committee it was "wholly sustainable" for franchisees to be required to pay network access fees to RFG and a franchise service fee. However he conceded the network access fee was not regularly disclosed to franchisees as "there was no requirement to do so". Former RFG chief executive Tony Alford (left) in his Donut King race suit. Credit:Instagram Racing cars Mr Alford estimated since 2006 around 10 racing cars had featured RFG logos which he said he paid through salary sacrifice.

"The Alford family would purchase the cars, own the cars and run the cars," Mr Alford said. He said suppliers were instructed to invoice RFG for costs associated with the cars. Mr Alford claimed this was not a mechanism to avoid tax, saying "no, it was just a simpler arrangement". Alicia Atkinson gives evidence at the hearing on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Relationships and properties Loading The committee probed the relationship between Mr Alford and Ms Atkinson. Ms Atkinson said she had "no domestic relationship" with Mr Alford however said the pair did share a house together on holidays in Port Douglas. Mr Alford and Ms Atkinson told the committee they owned commercial and residential properties together through various entities but refused to provide further details of the properties.

Ms Atkinson confirmed one of these properties is a former RFG property, 18 Commercial Drive in Ashmore, although denied it was worth $2.75 million. Senator Deborah O'Neill asked Mr Alford and Ms Atkinson about the contrast between their financial situation and other witnesses who have had associations with RFG who are "in abject poverty". "You and Ms Atkinson hold property of such number that you can't even answer a question of how much you have got," said Ms O'Neill. "Franchisors seem to have lucked out and got out and made an awful lot of money and those who were caught in the system with a set of unfair contract terms which has cost them their home and their marriage and their health. Ms Atkinson how can it be that you ended up with sufficient money to purchase millions of dollars worth of property and other franchisees are bankrupt?" Senators Deborah O'Neill and Michael Sukkar listens as Tony Alford speaks. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Ms Atkinson said she had mortgages on the properties and "there is no smoke and mirrors".

She said her association with RFG had cost her "significant monies", although she remains an RFG franchisee through her ownership of the Harbour Town Donut King in Queensland. Loading Ms Atkinson told the committee she is considering taking legal action against RFG. Former RFG chief executive Andre Nell also appeared at the hearing via videolink. At the end of the hearing Ms O'Neill stressed how important it was for Mr Alford, Ms Atkinson and Mr Nell to appear before the committee.
A former actor, Katherine understands the stresses of stage life. Being a company manager is like being a mum to everyone, at times, she adds.

11am

Katherine grabs some desk time in her office just behind the theatre. I have a lot of admin work to do, but you don't know what to expect from day to day; some days you get 20 emails done, the others nothing, because theres so much happening to deal with. This job is varied, and that's why I like it.

Midday

The first performance of the day has begun, and Katherine is monitoring the skies closely. Clearly, nobody told the Sydney weather that the play on Pop-up Globes stage today is A Midsummer Nights Dream, not The Tempest. The heavy rain looks like it could bring things to a halt  and its happened before. We had to cancel the opening night of The Merchant of Venice, says Katherine.

Colleagues are calling Katherine from off-site, even overseas (from Pop-up Globes New Zealand headquarters) for live updates. I have to feed the information to the people who make the decision to cancel the show, she says. Im talking to front of house, making sure theyre prepared if there has to be an evacuation; I'm ensuring that the stage managers know whats happening. Its a scary thing because youre there on site, with 800 children in the auditorium and you feel anxious.

Katherine Shearer thrives in her role as company manager of Pop-up Globe, the worlds first full-scale temporary working replica of Shakespeares second Globe. She is pictured here on the Pop Up stage at EQ, Sydney. Credit:Quentin Jones

2pm

The show goes on, but the rains still causing problems for Katherine. The area under the Pop-up Globes stage, known as Hell by the company, is becoming more swamp than inferno. The fairies were wading through with bare feet, says Katherine, so weve put planks in to walk on.

Meanwhile the area above  the Heavens  has sprung a few leaks and Katherine positions buckets beneath. The quick thinking crew improvise with repurposed items such as old guttering, and the show proceeds safely.

Katherine takes a deep breath.

4pm

The Pop-up Globe is as authentic as possible to the 1614 original - no amplification, air conditioning or heating  and now the modern portable toilets have decided to add to the Jacobean vibe by breaking down and emitting an odour worthy of the era of open sewers. During the wait for a contractor, Katherine finds herself wading in, trying to fix the malfunctioning pumps.

All is well soon after, but its an example of the eclectic nature of her job. Some days you just have to live with shit! she laughs.

7.30pm

After a long, busy day, Katherine stops for a moment to take in some of the electrifying performance. The beauty of this job is watching 30 talented beings each week on the stage plus two fantastic musicians, and the audiences reaction, she says.

I know they put their heart and soul on the line on stage. I often have tears of joy in my eyes watching the shows, for the sheer delight of being part of such a company that I see bringing audiences smiles, gasps, laughs and an unforgettable experience. I have to pinch myself I get paid to do that!

Pop-up Globe, the worlds first full-scale temporary working replica of Shakespeares theatre, the second Globe, has popped up at The Entertainment Quarter Moore Park. Book now to enjoy the extraordinary experience of Shakespeare like it's 1614. Tickets are selling fast, the season closes on December 16, and many dates are already sold out. Book now for A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth and Merchant of Venice at popupglobe.com.au.
A quiet war is being waged in parks and primary schools across Australia against a once beloved piece of play equipment.

Proponents say they encourage children to play outside in an age dominated by screens and video games, build upper body strength, balance, risk management and resilience. But those who want to see them replaced say they are among the leading causes of childhood accidents and can lead to traumatic injuries.

Arlo (8) and Mina (4) love the monkey bars at their local park in Footscray. Credit:Chris Hopkins

They may be one of the least flashy bits of hardware on the playground, but the reputation of the humble monkey bars is under siege.

Lisa Sharwood, an injury epidemiologist at the University of Sydney, said despite playground safety standards improving, monkey bar injuries were on the rise in Victoria.
A resident at a Canberra aged care home was allegedly given the wrong medication in the weeks before she died, a coroner's court heard Monday.

The woman's condition had deteriorated and she was taken from Goodwin Village in Ainslie to Calvary Hospital, where she died on February 20, 2016. She was 89-years-old.

Her death will be examined at an inquest in the ACT Coroner's Court next year.

Counsel assisting the coroner Sarah Baker-Goldsmith told the court on Monday that a doctor at the hospital had referred the woman's death to the coroner two days after she died.

It is alleged that while the woman was at the aged care home on February 9 she received Lyrica and Targin - medications she was not prescribed.
A Penfolds 2017 Reserve Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills took out the Len Evans Memorial Trophy for Champion Wine of Show at the National Wine Show last week.

This outstanding exhibit, according to chair of judges David Bicknell, also won the top chardonnay and the best white wine of the show.

Chair of judges David Bicknell confers with judges at the National Wine Show. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

The major awards, as always,are just a small snapshot of the reality of what happened during judging, he said.

I cannot recall a show that I have been involved in, where the final judging was so close between many different entries.
Attacks on a Canberra rabbi's home and a series of threatening phone calls to a local synagogue were among a rising number of reports of anti-Semitic crime in the ACT in the past year, according to a new report.

The release of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry's report comes amid claims over the weekend that a local Jewish teenager was sent "heil Hitler" messages via social media, and asked on the phone whether her "family enjoyed being gassed".

Rebbetzin Chasia Feldman and Rabbi Shmueli Feldman with the Torah at Chabad ACT. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

ACT Police confirmed it is investigating the allegation.

The attack has prompted a local Jewish leader to demand police do more to combat anti-Semitism, which he fears is seeping into mainstream society.
The scenario we're about to describe is one that could happen easily on Canberra's increasingly busy shared paths, if reported rises in conflict between the city's pedestrians and cyclists are correct.

Incidents of pathway aggro flare up, the pedestrians accusing cyclists of riding too fast. The cyclists shake their fists at pedestrians for ambling along unaware of their surroundings, wearing headphones, and stepping out into their path at the most dangerous possible time.

Cyclists from Pedal Power Mark Boast, Richard Bush and Michelle Weston are concerned about overcrowding on lakeside paths. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos

Pedal Power reports there are more conflicts between the two, and that Canberra's congested shared paths are partly to blame. Having encouraged motorists to shun their cars, ease peak-hour motor traffic, and cycle instead, the territory government may have another problem on its hands.

In an ideal world, pedestrians and cyclists would work it out themselves and hopefully apply a liberal dose of commonsense and civility. Any observer of motorist behaviour, just about anywhere, would know that vision seems beyond reach on the roads. Why should it be any different on a shared path?
Its back to the future for Sydneys great western expanse, with NSW Labor HQ on Sussex Street finally landing on a replacement for the embattled Emma Husar in the marginal seat of Lindsay.

Back in August, after the leak of allegations made against the Labor MP being investigated by barrister John Whelan, Husar said she would not be contesting the next federal election.

Lindsay MP Emma Husar has been trying to keep her job at the next federal election, after earlier saying she would quit. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Relations between her and Sussex Street boss Kaila Murnain grew icy.

Husar has been manoeuvring to walk back her August position, meeting with Murnain and speaking with Labor leader Bill Shorten in the last week.
Liberal Democratic Party Senator David Leyonhjelm has launched a fresh bid to have Sarah Hanson-Young's Federal Court defamation case against him thrown out of court, arguing it stifles freedom of speech in parliament and amounts to a breach of parliamentary privilege.

In August this year Senator Hanson-Young became the first sitting Australian politician to sue a fellow parliamentarian under uniform national defamation laws.

Senator David Leyonhjelm. Credit:AAP

The Greens senator is suing over a series of comments Senator Leyonhjelm made to the media in the aftermath of a heated parliamentary debate on June 28 about violence against women, during which he told Senator Hanson-Young from the sidelines that she should "stop shagging men".

Defamation cases involving sitting politicians are rare because insults hurled between foes in parliament are protected by parliamentary privilege and cannot form the basis of a court case.
It was costly, protracted, and led to one of the best-read defamation judgments of the year.

Now the Federal Court defamation battle brought against former federal Labor leader Mark Latham by journalist Osman Faruqi has been settled out of court.

Osman Faruqi.

On Monday, lawyers for Faruqi, an ABC journalist and former political editor of pop culture website Junkee, said Mr Latham  now the NSW leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation  had agreed to pay damages and legal costs to settle the case over claims Faruqi supported "anti-white racism".

Law firm Maurice Blackburn, for Faruqi, would not provide the exact damages figure but said in a statement that damages plus legal costs "could exceed $100,000", once the costs were assessed by the Federal Court. The figure was disputed by Mr Latham's lawyers.
The unsuspecting victims answered ads on Gumtree, hoping to buy a second-hand car. Instead, guns were shoved in their faces and their money stolen.

When Tyson Jessen learnt he was a suspect over the terrifying crimes, he fled north. It was a move that came to a dramatic end when he was shot dead by police in a Queensland hospital this month.

Heavily tattooed across his neck and face, Jessen arrived in Ipswich, west of Brisbane, looking vastly different to the 19-year-old man who had walked into a Melbourne court, alongside his mother, nearly 10 years ago.

Jessen pictured here in 2009. Credit:Justin McManus

Back then, Jessen was in court to answer charges over setting a 60-year-old man alight.
A man accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl who he allegedly groomed through social media was last month granted strict NSW Supreme Court bail which included a condition that he not access the internet.

John Blair Burns, 28, who was living at Glendale since being granted Supreme Court bail in October, did not come up from the cells at Toronto Local Court on Monday or apply for bail after he was charged on Sunday with aggravated sexual assault on a victim under the age of 16, procuring a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity and breaching his bail.

Police say they stopped Mr Burnss car at Cardiff about 1am on Sunday. A check of his bail conditions revealed Mr Burns was in breach of a curfew and he was arrested and taken to Toronto police station. A 16-year-old boy and a girl, 13, who were in the car with Mr Burns, were taken into police care.

But Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad detectives were called in after the 13-year-old girl disclosed that she had allegedly been sexually assaulted by Mr Burns, police said.

Detectives allege that Mr Burns sexually assaulted the girl at a home at Lake Macquarie after the pair met on a social media application.
Just before he was jailed for life for murder, corrupt former detective Roger Rogerson unilaterally decided to increase an extortion demand from $15 million to $50 million, a Sydney jury has heard.

Former boxer Lucky Gattellari, 68, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiring to extort millions of dollars from Ron Medich, his former friend and business partner.

Roger Rogerson was jailed for life for the 2014 murder of student Jamie Gao. Credit:Daniel Munoz

Gattellari told the jury that he had come up with an initial plan to entice Medich into a trap by offering to change his evidence at Medichs murder trial in exchange for millions of dollars.

Police were informed of his plan to trap Medich, Gattellari told the jury. He also said that once the millionaire developer agreed to Gattellaris terms, it was his intention to have an undercover police officer involved to catch Medich.
NSW Detective Sergeant John Breda knows how close he came to death.

The decorated child abuse squad investigator suffered catastrophic injuries on Australia Day this year, when he was stabbed in the Maroubra Junction Hotel, as he and two colleagues tried to arrest an alleged sex offender.

NSW Police Detective Sergeant John Breda with Princess Beatrice of York at a hospital fundraiser last week.

The medical case remains one of the most intense and complex to have passed before surgeons at St Vincents Hospital in Sydneys east.

"It's a miracle that I'm still here," he told the Herald in his first public comments since the stabbing on January 26.
Defence was studying the impacts of the PFAS levels found in the streams and groundwater on humans and results would be published in the first quarter of 2019, it confirmed. More detailed tests on fish in the Bremer River by the Department of Defence have not yet been finished, but tests earlier this year found "PFAS concentrations found in the fish exceeded the Food Standards Australia New Zealand trigger levels". Fish caught in the Bremer River and Warrill Creek still cannot be eaten, according to Queensland Health, on advice from Defence. PFAS Study into RAAF Base Amberley November 2018. Toxic chemical above drinking water standards in some locations. Queenslands Environment and Science Department also confirmed the study of the human impact of the toxic firefighting foam coming from RAAF Base Amberley would be finished by early 2019.

The toxic firefighting foam was found at above drinking-water standards at both the Bremer River and Warrill Creek beside the air base. In June, News Corp reported the Department of Defence buried "thousands of tonnes of soil and sludge" containing the toxic foam about 30 metres from Warrill Creek. Research by the Department of Defence revealed the major problem in a detailed environmental consultants' report issued this month. The report, which began in 2016, identifies the sources of PFAS on the base itself and off the base. This section also reveals nearby fire stations as off-base sources of the firefighting foam. The complex two-year study has completed soil, groundwater and river studies. All these studies find some zones where "very high" levels of the toxic chemicals breach national guidelines and other areas where guidelines are not breached.

It raises concerns at high levels of PFAS found near Walloon (north-east) and in the south-east towards the Ipswich suburbs of Leichhardt, Wulkuraka, One Mile and Yamanto. Ipswich residents were informed at a public meeting on November 14 about the results from more than 428 counts at groundwater locations, on-base locations and off-base locations. Ipswich City Council said it was aware of the study's findings and that some residents were cautiously nervous. It helped erect "Don't Eat Fish" signs in July and was waiting on research from Defence. The report, RAAF Base Amberley PFAS: Detailed Site Investigation, is the first investigation of the problem revealed by Brisbane Times in 2015. In a detailed, two-page reply to Brisbane Times about the report, the Department of Defence confirmed there were serious concerns about eating domestic chicken eggs and that fish from the Bremer River or Warrill Creek should not be eaten.

"Potentially elevated exposure risks have been identified in some areas associated with consuming eggs from domestic chickens and fish caught from Warrill Creek or the Bremer River, it said. Based on an assessment of the results, Queensland Health advised the community in June 2018 not to consume fish caught in the Investigation Area. This advice applies to fish caught in the Bremer River and Warrill Creek near RAAF Base Amberley. This interim advice currently remains in place and is a precautionary approach to minimise potential PFAS exposure until further testing and analysis is completed. Health Minister Steven Miles is waiting on testing of fish in the Bremer River for detailed PFAS testing. Credit:Chris Hyde Queensland Health said it had not received any further results from the October 2018 testing of fish in the Bremer River and Warrill Creek from the Department of Defence.

"Queensland Health is not aware of any further testing for PFAS being undertaken by the Department of Defence in Warrill Creek or the Bremer River, but Queensland Health and the Department of Environment and Science have requested that this be undertaken," the department said in a statement. Health Minister Steven Miles told State Parliament earlier this month that a bill he introduced to the house would force authorities to promptly warn the public of health concerns from pollution. The legislation, yet to pass the House, would give Queensland's Chief Health Officer the right and power to name, shame and fine polluters $21,110. "Both in my time as environment minister and now as health minister I have been concerned to see the number of pollution events in Queensland where the polluter has flat out refused to inform the public," Mr Miles said. "Most recently we have seen a number of incidents of contamination of waterways from PFAS, a compound used in firefighting foams.
Youve just seen the Apollo astronaut movie First Man and youre as pumped as Neil Armstrongs spacesuit. You want to get into the heavens yourself and further humanitys cosmic calling. Well for you my friend, theres never been a better time to be alive.

Virgin Galactic will soon be taking up space tourists, the European Space Agency is talking about building a Moonbase, and for the truly starstruck, NASAs working on rocketry to take astronauts all the way to Mars. Elon Musk even claims hell be regularly launching 100 Marsnauts at a time to live on the red planet: hes talking colonisation. (No he didnt announce that while smoking that joint on air.)

I too am over the Moon about our sci-fi-like space future, but heres the thing: the human body was never designed for living in space. You dont hear much about it, but many of the astronauts who have already spent a few months up there have developed, for example, vision problems - and at least some of the eye damage could be permanent. (Its caused by the lack of gravity, which means pressure builds up in the head.) And this is after just being on board the International Space Station, which orbits a miserable few hundred kilometres up. If interplanetary pilgrims were to settle on the Moon or on Mars, far away from the Earths protective magnetic field, theyd also have to contend with deadly space radiation.
More than $5 million worth of Melbourne real estate has been frozen as part of an investigation into offshore funds allegedly being laundered in Australia by Chinese nationals.

Australian Federal Police restrained residences in Glen Waverley and Southbank, as well as a commercial property in Oakleigh South on Thursday. The combined value of the properties is $5.2 million.

The operation follows separate restraint action and search warrants that were executed in Melbourne and Sydney on November 14 and 15.



Cars were among the luxury goods seized in raids on November 14 and 15. Credit:Australian Federal Police

In those raids, more than $8.5 million worth of jewellery, cars and other luxury items were seized by federal police.
Just under 17 degrees now ahead of a mostly cloudy top of 20. More of the same on the way for the rest of the week. Pleasingly, the gloom breaks on Saturday with a partly cloudy top of 30.

Heads-up for passengers who need lift access at Flagstaff station. It's not working between 9.30am and 2pm. You'll need to use Melbourne Central or Flinders Street stations instead.

There's also currently major delays on the Belgrave line.

That's it for us today. Chloe Booker will be with you from 6am tomorow. Toodles.
A Melbourne man has been jailed for fatally stabbing his love rival with a hunting knife after discovering the other man had married his long-term partner.

Hung Anh Vu attacked Hung Viet Nguyen, 44, with the 16cm blade after luring him to Sunshine West in August last year, to confront him over his affair with Laura Chan.

Hung Anh Vu at an earlier court hearing. Credit:AAP

The 47-year-old was fuelled by rage and resentment after finding out the pair had married in 2015, and that Mr Nguyen had lived with her while he served time in prison for a drug-related offence.

Vu was released in 2016 and had been living with Ms Chan and their children at the time of the attack.
There are many ways one might paint Bronwyn Bishop  perched atop a tank, or swinging from a helicopter  if granted absolute latitude. But her official portrait, unveiled in Parliament House on Monday, immortalises the former Speaker at her best: poised, smiling and resplendent in Liberal blue.

Ms Bishop briefly turned maitre d' for the event, ushering guests to their seats as the ceremony got under way. It was standing room only in the Members' Hall, packed out by friends and admirers  with a grey tinge to their hair, certainly.

Former speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Sky News host Paul Murray at the unveiling of her official portrait on Monday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Sky News host Paul Murray, who is now Ms Bishop's colleague, paid tribute to the 76-year-old as a trailblazer and role model for young women looking to enter politics or simply take on the world.

"As the father of two daughters, I am so moved and inspired that if they ever get the chance to walk these halls, they will see the portrait of a woman who didn't have the door opened for her  but she kicked it in and blew it off its bloody hinges," Murray said.
The federal bureaucracy is investigating fewer public servants for corruption and most bureaucrats believe corrupt behaviour would be detected in their workplace, despite growing momentum for a new integrity watchdog.

Nearly 4400 bureaucrats reported seeing what they believed was corruption in a government agency, about 4.6 per cent of the federal workforce surveyed, the public service commission's latest report on the bureaucracy said.

Public servants told a survey the most common forms of perceived corruption they saw were cronyism and nepotism, but more than two-thirds of bureaucrats said it would be hard to get away with corrupt conduct at their workplace.

Findings from the Australian Public Service Commission's census of the bureaucracy's workforce, released on Monday, clash with deteriorating perceptions of government integrity outside its agencies and MPs' offices.

Australia has slid four places in anti-corruption advocate Transparency International's rankings of perceived government integrity since 2013, to 13th. Other surveys show trust in all levels of Australian government has declined.
The Morrison government waved through approval for a luxury tourist development and helipad in the pristine Tasmanian wilderness despite three official expert bodies lashing the proposal or calling for it to be rejected, documents show.

The decision threatens to open the floodgate to a host of other private tourism operations proposed for the World Heritage-listed area  an encroachment the United Nations has warned may damage the internationally-renowned natural treasure. Conservationists say the government ruling proves federal environment laws must be overhauled.

A scene in the Walls of Jerusalem National Park, near an area of Tasmanian wilderness where a helicopter-accessed luxury tourism development is proposed. Credit:Grant Dixon

Days after Melissa Price became Environment Minister in August, the government gave the nod to a highly contentious proposed luxury camping resort and helicopter landing pad at Halls Island, in Tasmanias Walls of Jerusalem National Park.

The project is now awaiting council development approval.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been warned of a brutal defeat at the next election unless he takes swift action to repair the Liberal Party in Victoria, amid warnings the horror result in the state election leaves the division unready for the federal campaign.

Liberals are intensifying pressure on the partys state president, Michael Kroger, to leave his job early and make way for a new team to fight the federal election, with the first test of the partys direction coming at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison in question time on Monday, after the state Liberal Party's defeat on the weekend. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Morrison brought federal Liberal MPs together in Parliament House on Monday morning to debate the outcome of the state election, where the powerful swing against the party puts at least five of its federal seats in danger.

Fairfax Media was told the meeting heard calls for Mr Krogers removal in order to end the internal feuds that have undermined the party, but he appears to have the support of senior Victorian Liberal cabinet ministers including Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Saturday's Victorian election was a bloodbath for the Liberal Party and a raging success for Labor and Premier Daniel Andrews.

However, results were not so decisive in every single seat, with votes in eight of them still being closely scrutinised. Some of the seats in the list below - particularly ones like Hawthorn, Brunswick, Ripon and Prahran - could need a recount.

The VEC wouldn't comment on where it thought recounts would occur but did say that updates on current counts would be available by Wednesday. Below are the eight legislative assembly seats still to be decided. A full breakdown can be found at The Age's live results page.
Vatican City: Pope Francis says the "sickness of consumerism" is the enemy of generosity as he called for the faithful to give a little something to the poor.

Francis made the comments during his morning homily Monday, so-called Cyber Monday when online retailers woo shoppers with bargains ahead of Christmas.

Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience, in St Peter's Square. Credit:AP

Francis made no mention of Christmas shopping - in Italy, the official season begins December 8 - but his plea for generosity will likely be repeated in coming weeks.

Francis said giving away clothes, shoes or groceries can help the poor: "How many pairs of shoes do I have? One, two, three, four, 15, 20? ... If you have so many, give away half."
Geneva: Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to subsidise farmers who let the horns on their cows and goats grow rather than removing them with a red-hot iron in a procedure that critics say causes pain.

Three-quarters of Swiss cows, a national symbol and tourist attraction, are dehorned or genetically hornless.

Farmer Armin Capaul on a meadow with his cows in Perrefitte near Moutier in the canton of Berne, Switzerland,. Credit:EPA

Hornless animals are easier and cheaper to keep because they cause fewer injuries and need less space. They do not have to be tied in separate pens to prevent accidents, but this means farmers can keep fewer animals.

The initiative to preserve "the dignity of livestock" was led by farmer Armin Capaul, who has sparked a national debate on animal rights following a campaign that began nine years ago after he "listened" to his herd.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates said on Monday it pardoned and released a British academic sentenced to life in prison on spying charges, ending a diplomatic dispute with its longtime Western ally while still alleging the researcher spied for MI6.

Undated photo showing Matthew Hedges with his wife Daniela Tejada. Credit:PA

Matthew Hedges' months-long detention and sentencing last week came as relations between Britain and its onetime protectorate have been strained since the 2011 Arab Spring, the tension only worsening with the UAE's military campaign in Yemen and its boycott of Qatar.

Tens of thousands of British expatriates nevertheless fill lucrative jobs across the sheikhdoms of the UAE and more visit as tourists.

Emirati officials insisted they had developed a strong case against Hedges.
Washington: Despite a high likelihood of dying even before arriving and daily conditions hostile to human life, Elon Musk said in an interview on Sunday that he'll probably move to Mars.

Elon Musk Credit:AP

The SpaceX and chief executive said there's a "70 per cent chance" he'll get to Mars within his lifetime, with plans to permanently resettle on the Red Planet.

Musk said his desire to colonize Mars is driven by the same passion that fuels people to climb mountains - for the challenge.

"We've recently made a number of breakthroughs that I am just really just fired up about," Musk said during an interview with Axios on HBO.
The Caribbean Diaspora Scholars invites all Caribbean citizens, advocating for a full and equal participation in all aspects of society, to the 3rd Raising the Curtain on Race (RCR) Conference which will be held in Curacao on December 6, 7 & 8. The RCR conference is a collaboration between Curacao National Commission for UNESCO, the University of St. Maarten and the Eastern Caribbean Public Health Foundation on St. Eustatius.

The 2018 theme of the Conference is Race and Development. The conference will be a continuation of the 2015 and 2016 dialogues of how we can work toward the common goal of equality and equity for all. The conference was canceled in 2017 due to hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Some specific issues that will be discussed at this years conference include 1. The need for a de-colonial framework for research; 2. Promotion of inclusive developmental projects for the Caribbean communities; 3. Exploring history and memory through a decolonized framework suited for the Caribbean; 4. Restoration and repair of the history and memory of the former colonized Caribbean islands; and 5. The role of education and identity formation to create an inclusive society.

The first two days, 6th and 7th of December will take place in the meeting room of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports. A special event is organized In the evening of the 7th for the local launching of the book Smash the Pillars: Decoloniality and the Imaginary of Color in the Dutch Kingdom edited by Melissa F. Weiner and Antonio Carmona Baez. Some of the contributors to this volume will be present at this event.

The venue of the conference will change on December 8th of to National Archeological Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM) at Johan van Walbeeckplein 13. The conference concludes with a special Community dialogue meeting, where individuals and community-based organizations will exchange experiences. The goal is to jointly create a realistic agenda of priority actions to be undertaken, to ensure that our societies are inclusive and ensure equal and equitable development for all.

Conference registration price is $35 until December 5th. Conference fee increases to F$45 as from December 6th. The registration fee will include lunch and beverages on the days of the conference. Entrance for students is free with valid student ID.

For more information about the program, registration and online payment, please visit our webpage at www.raisingthecurtainonrace.org or send and email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
PHILIPSBURG:--- K1 Britannia Foundation and Kidz at Sea Foundation recently celebrated the graduation of eight students in its maritime training course sponsored by Holland America Line. The course was free of charge for all participants.

The celebration was held onboard Aquamanias Lambada as a way to give the students families an opportunity to participate in their new career. Present during the celebration were the students, invited family, and friends, alongside training instructors, Kidz at Sea, K1 Britannia representatives and other invited guests and supporters.

The course was made possible as a result of Holland America Line reaching out to K1 Britannia Foundation in March 2018, enquiring how they could assist the island in its long-term recovery after hurricane Irma. One of the many concerns that were discussed was the lack of employment opportunities post-Irma for Sint Maartens youth. K1 approached Kidz at Sea, a well-known foundation promoting career opportunities for young people in the maritime sector to collaborate on the initiative. The 3-month long course gave the students the skills and internationally recognized certifications needed to find a job in the short term and a career for life.

Over the three months, participants learned about sailing and boat maintenance and obtained 7 certifications; including obtaining the small commercial vessel (CSV) boat master 1 license for sailing vessels up to 36 feet and a powerboat endorsement for up to 28 feet.

All graduates were successfully in obtaining the US Sailing Association qualifications such as basic keelboat, basic cruising, bareboat cruising and completed a coastal navigation course. In addition, they received the international certification STCW 2010 which is the minimum qualification standards for any on water maritime position; providing an entry to professional careers on Island, onboard Cruise Ships, Yachts or Merchant ships. They also obtained their VHF Radio license and a certificate for completing the basics of vessel maintenance.

This is a very proud moment because this is the first group ever in St. Maarten that will have the boat master 1 license for sailing vessels up to 36 feet and a power boat endorsement for up to 28 feet, Garth Steyn, founder of Kidz at sea said during the graduation ceremony, reflecting on how impressed he was by the students during the course. The fact that the majority had never sailed before, during their final exams they all came out showing confidence and that they had developed seamanship skills. They also learned the importance of showing up on time, teamwork and that there is no I in a team.

Khristopher Hinds, one of the students reiterated this saying I came into this course not knowing anything about sailboats and navigation and proper boat terminology; however, I can safely say from the day I started to now, my brain is full. Knowing that when Im done with this program, I am guaranteed a job because of my accomplishments; this course isnt only just to give you your license, this is THE stepping stone to a successful career. My options are very broad.

Looking into the future, Lorraine Talmi, President of Kidz At Sea says that the outlook is very positive. The students have been given all the tools they need to succeed in the marine industry its their job to use it to maximum capacity now.

Participating in this course helps me learn so much more than just about boats, it has taught me about discipline, responsibilities, respect and teamwork. Those things were instilled in us and expected of us which will help us far more in life than anything else said Lamar Halley, another student of the course.

This program has been opening doors for me that I typically wouldnt be able to open by myself. Also, it motivates me to keep pushing because I realize that nothing is impossible continued Khristopher Hinds.

We are very thankful to Holland America Line for investing into these youths by making this course possible. The interest of international companies like Holland America Line in helping St. Maartens youth is something positive that came out of hurricane Irma. As organizations, we look forward to continuing to work together to give more youths opportunities through apprenticeship programs in the months and years to come said Priya Thirumur, co-founder of K1 Britannia Foundation.
CAY HILL:--- St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) is elated to announce that it has officially received the building permit for the construction of the new hospital for which a groundbreaking ceremony is planned on December 3rd, 2018.

SMMC General Director, Kees Klarenbeek stated: It is great to see that the new hospital project that we started to plan for back in 2015 has now come to a phase whereby we will officially break ground making way for the construction works to officially start!

Klarenbeek continued: We want to thank the SMMC team for their dedication and patience, the Tripartite members for their continued collaborative efforts, Minister of VSA Emil Lee and his cabinet for the tireless efforts and of course the hardworking folks over at VROMI for their diligent and expedited work and for making sure we had our Ts crossed and Is dotted. Thank you all!

SMMCs Manager Facilities, Erika v/der Horst echoed the same sentiment: We are happy to have the permit in our hands and look forward to the constructions works to commence. The project is slated to be completed in the next 3  4 years and during this time we will closely communicate with our patients, neighbors and community at large about the developments of the new hospital.

Van der Horst also reminded companies to pre-register for the hospital related World Bank funded public tenders that will start to be announced from early December. Interested companies can review the projects and pre-register via the special World Bank section on the SMMC website: smmc.sx/World-Bank/Projects or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Network Automation Market 2018-2024 Top Key Industry Players: Arista Networks, Cisco, Fujitsu Global, HCL Technologies, IBM, IPsoft, Juniper Networks

Posted by Publisher Telecommunication

Network Automation Market in service segment is projected to register a CAGR of more than 30% due to a rise in outsourcing activities of networking companies. Traditional IT service providers, technology specialist vendors, automation product vendors and enterprise product vendors are some of the third-party IT service providers offering networking solutions to their end users.?

The outsourcing of back-end functions to third-party IT service providers boost their operational efficiency and reduce the deployment costs by around 40%. Furthermore, the deployment of third-party vendors enables the businesses to cut down their operational cost by around 60%. Automation Anywhere, TCS, Wipro, and Salesforce.com are some of the key vendors that offer highly secure and scalable data to enterprises.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2805

Global Network Automation Market was estimated at over USD 1.7 billion in 2017, and is set to exceed USD 7 billion by 2024. The network automation market growth is attributed to the growing adoption of network function virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking to modernize the IT environment of the enterprises. The NFV technology enables the service providers to consolidate the several network equipment into a single physical hardware. Furthermore, supportive government initiatives for the commercialization of 5G network technology to reduce the OPEX and CAPEX also foster the market growth. In addition, the flexibility and scalability offered by the technology also augment the demand for the market.?

The SD-WAN held a market share of more than 67% in the network automation market in 2017. The automated provisioning principle of SD-WAN technology helps the enterprise to send data packets to its branches without having to configure any changes. Moreover, the cost-effectiveness of the SD-WAN will also foster the market growth. The technology has the potential to reduce the deployment cost by approximately 40%. CloudGenix, Aryaka Networks, and Citrix are some of the leading key players that offer the technology to their users. In July 2018, Citrix partnered with Microsoft Azure to offer consistent productivity and enhanced user experience to their end users.?

The virtual network infrastructure segment is expected to register a CAGR of more than 29% over the forecast timeline. Virtual networks allow businesses to communicate within the same network without any ambiguity. For instance, Hackensack University Medical Center adopted Citrix Systems? virtual computing mechanism to assist its patients online. Moreover, the implementation of virtual networks into existing networks also assists organizations to address the networking issues by eliminating unused IPs and network interfaces.

Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis:

1. Arista Networks

2. Cisco?

3. Fujitsu Global?

4. HCL Technologies?

5. IBM?

6. IPsoft?

7. Juniper Networks?

8. Micro Focus

9. Puppet?

10. Red Hat?

11. Riverbed Technology?

12. SolarWinds?

13. Wavestone?

14. Intraway?

15. BMC Software

Make an inquiry for buying this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2805

Network Automation Market, By Type

o LAN

o WAN

o Data Center Networks

o Cloud Networks

o Wireless Networks

Network Automation Market, By Component

o Software?

o Intent-based networking

o SD-WAN

o Network Automation Tools

o Services?

o Professional Services

o Managed Services

North America accounted for the highest market share of more than 50% in the network automation market in 2017 due to the presence of large key vendors and startups in the region. Further, the adoption of recent technologies, such as intent- based networking, SD-WAN, and DevOps, in the region will strengthen the market growth over the forecast period. The evolution of Industry 4.0 will also boost the deployment of automation technologies into manufacturing sector.

The Asia Pacific network automation market is expected to record a CAGR of more than 28% over the forecast period. The surge of investments in the 5G technology will propel the market growth of automation vendors in this region. For instance, Japan?s leading telecom providers invested around USD 45.5 billion to boost the 5G infrastructure in their country. Furthermore, macroeconomic factors such as urbanization and an upsurge in disposable income of end users will have a strong impact on the market growth.

The key players operating in the network automation market are 6Connect, Anuta Networks, Apstra, Arista Networks, BlueCat, BMC Software, Cisco, Cumulus Networks, EfficientIP, Entuity, Fujitsu Global, Gluware, Inc., HCL Technologies, HelpSystems, IBM, Intraway, IPsoft, Itential,Juniper Networks, Micro Focus, NetBrain Technologies Inc., Network to Code, Onapsis Inc., Puppet, Red Hat, Riverbed Technology, SolarWinds, Veriflow, and Wavestone.

Browse key industry insights spread across 310 pages with 432 market data tables & 42 figures & charts from the report, Network Automation Market in detail along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/network-automation-market

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.
Georgetown, SC (29440)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable.
Artist's illustration of a swarm of spacecraft flying out of the solar system at a velocity of over 75 miles per second to reach the solar gravity line, where they could view focused light from an exoplanet.

An innovative deep-space concept that relies on a solar gravity lens (SGL) to enable enhanced viewing of exoplanets is under study by researchers at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and The Aerospace Corporation.

The SGL would provide 100-billion-fold optical magnification, allowing it to show details as small as 6 miles (10 kilometers) across  similar to being able to spot something the size of New York City on an exoplanet, study team members said.

As detailed in a press statement from The Aerospace Corporation, according to Einsteins theory of relativity, light traveling through space will bend if it passes near sufficiently massive objects. This means that distant light will bend around the periphery of the sun, eventually converging toward a focal region as if it had passed through a lens. [13 Ways to Hunt Intelligent Aliens]

The SGL mission concept would send a swarm of spacecraft to that region to view the focused light.

Array of detectors

"SGL requires placement of an array of detectors that starts to observe the light from exoplanets once they arrive at a distance of approximately 50 billion miles or 550 astronomical units [AU] away from Earth," said Tom Heinsheimer, Aerospaces technical co-lead for SGL. (One AU is the Earth-sun distance  about 93 million miles, or 150 million km.)

"To get to that solar gravity line," Heinsheimer said, "the swarm of spacecraft will need to use a solar sail to fly out of the solar system at a velocity of over 75 miles per second."

Artist's illustration of the "Solar Gravity Lens" concept, which has received funding from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts program. (Image credit: The Aerospace Corporation)

Stay in line!

Navigation and propulsion technologies will need to keep the sensors on the spacecraft flying in the 1-mile-wide (1.6 km) line that contains the light from the exoplanet. The roundtrip communications link of 6 light-days will make ground control of the spacecraft impractical, so the spacecraft will need to be adaptable and able to learn from experience.

To undertake the two-year SGL study, Aerospace was awarded $130,000 via a Phase II award from the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program through a contract with JPL, which leads the overall NIAC study.

You can learn more about the SGL idea  which remains an early-stage concept, far from an official mission  via NASA's NIAC site.

Leonard David is author of "Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet," published by National Geographic. The book is a companion to the National Geographic Channel series "Mars." A longtime writer for Space.com, David has been reporting on the space industry for more than five decades. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. This version of the story published on Space.com.
We open on a man visiting a girl in what appears to be some sort of hospital - whether shes in for mental or physical concerns is unknown. The conversation makes it VERY clear that she is expected to carry out some sort of suicide bomb on a plane, with her son on board. Shes getting out in four days - maybe this is a jail and I totally misread the situation?



Cut to the team out in the middle of nowhere, waiting on a contact. Tobin Shaked pulls up - a former Mossad man whose daughter they recently saved - and tells them theres new intel about the Patton Project. The Patton Project, youll remember, is the group that inspired the radicalism Kensi had to fight last season when the U.S. soldiers held their own nuclear base hostage. Turk shows up to corroborate the evidence, saying that Patton Project members have started to meet at Venice Beach.

















The team isnt sure about all of this, but Ochoa basically tells them that their actions in Mexico have justified their involvement in something like this. The team does a little bit more research to determine the kind of man theyre getting involved with and it becomes clear that that the last Patton Project member that Shaked identified was tortured to death.Callen confronts Ochoa to say that the team is not just a bunch of assassins for hire and he basically says tough luck.The team stakes out Venice Beach (honestly, HUGE miss that none of the actors were doing pull-ups in this scene, thats literally what Venice Beach is for) for a meeting between two members of the Patton Project and Kensi IDs Colonel Trevor Lawford speaking with someone. Lawford gets away and when they corner the unidentified contact, he throws himself off a building in a weirdly slow motion scene.The team collectively decides that theyre not executioners, so Shaked says that if theyre unwilling to kill Lawford then the what Patton Project does from here on out is from them.The Wonder Twins discover that Lawford has recently visited over 50 psychiatric hospitals, which is not good news. Hes praying on the unstable and using them to carry out his mission. The team tracks him to a hotel and arrest him.As Sam and Callen are questioning Lawford at the Boat Shed, Ochoa brings Shaked in to conduct his own questioning. He kicks the partners out and blackmails Lawford with falsified recordings of his wife and daughter in order to get him to confess his involvement with the Patton Project. Thats definitely not legal, and theres no way the team is gonna deal with this guy for longer than they have to.They confirm that the Patton Projects mission is to start a war between Muslim countries and the U.S., and the Wonder Twins have recently discovered that Lawford has been going through airport security over and over, searching out weak spots. They determine that he must be setting up the people hes brainwashed in mental institutions to bomb planes that are carrying Muslims previously on the no-fly list, thus resulting in the assumption of guilt on the Muslims.Through a little computer trickery/hackery, they find theres a flight about to take off with a girl Lawford has recently visited and a previously no-fly Muslim onboard. They ground the plane and Sam walks through it with Lawford until they ID the woman from the beginning clip.Shes holding her baby through all of this, yall. When Kensi is examining her and calling in the bomb squad later, that seems to also be the fact she has the hardest time with. She was going to suicide bomb a plane while holding her own baby.Kensi promises her shes going to get her the help she needs. I certainly hope wherever she goes this time does not allow unidentified visitors.Back at the office, Callen and Sam confront Ochoa about the fact that hes seemingly volunteered them for assassination duties, but he avoids the entire conversation by presenting Sam with a new car.Sam and Callen take Turk to get some drinks and Im ready for Hetty to come back.
S houlder pads, pie crust collars, skirt suits and pearls - there can be no doubt an 80s revival has swept through fashion over the last year.

Until very recently though, theres been a crucial piece of the puzzle missing: the padded velvet headband.

A fundamental component of any self-respecting Sloane Rangers uniform, the padded headband enjoyed its heyday in the 80s, favoured by the likes of the King's Road set, namely uber Sloanes Princess Diana and Sarah, Duchess of York - Alice band super fans.

And now, thanks to Pradas Spring/Summer 2019 show in September - where every single model sported a headband so oversized it looked like a halo - the Alice band has well and truly returned.

Diana, Princess of Wales / PA Archive/PA Images

Sarah Ferguson and Princess Beatrice / PA

The perfect accompaniment to our favourite polka dot dress, the padded Alice band is not only a quick fix to keep your hair looking tidy, but it also adds regal gravitas and polish to any outfit.

See it in action on Kate Middleton recently, for example. The black velvet hair accessory she wore to the Armistice service at Westminster Abbey earlier this month was nothing short of a sartorial triumph.

Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge attend an Armistice Service at Westminster Abbey, November 11 2018 / Getty Images

Alice bands on the Spring/Summer 2019 runways

Getty Images

Muccia Prada sent an army of headband-adorned girls down the runway for the Prada SS19 show.

Getty Images

From soiree-ready satin to bad girl studs, the show proved oversized 'matador' headbands make the ideal hair accessory to virtually any ensemble.

Getty Images

At Chocheng's Spring/Summer 2019 show, there they were again, in a more minimalist, 60s aesthetic this time.

Getty Images

And also at Miu Miu, where most of the models wore slimmer 'school girl style' designs.

...and now they're popping up all over the 'gram too

Get the Look:

Net a Porter

Jennifer Behr Braided velvet headband, 215. Shop it here

Hummingbird Design

Hummungbird Design Padded Velvet Matador Band with Rose Gold, Diamante and Faux Pearl Flower Jewels, 38.99. Shop it here

(H&M) / H&M

H&M Velvet Alice band, 4.99. Shop it here

Anthropologie

Anthropologie Celestial velvet headband, 28. Shop it here

Anthropologie

Anthropologie beaded leopard-print headband, 34. Shop it here

(&OtherStories) / &OtherStories
A s Carlos Ghosns incarceration without charge drags on, it is increasingly obvious that this is a coup detat. The plotters: Japanese managers opposed to his plan to increase Nissans domination by its French partner Renault.

Ghosns strategy, we now know, had caused huge friction with his Japanese chief executive; the same Brutus who so roundly condemned his Caesar in that surreally stage-managed press conference last week.

Whatever prosecutors end up charging him with under Japans pitiful excuse for a justice system, Ghosns career at Nissan is dead.

So, it becomes ever more likely that Nissan will reverse his integration strategy and move further away from Renault. But what implications does that have for the UK?

Unions worry it could damage investment in Nissans Sunderland plant. Ghosn was committed to the British factory, and without him at the helm, that focus could drift elsewhere, goes the thinking.

Thats not necessarily how the Japanese establishment sees it.

In May, an influential article appeared in the Japanese press that got less attention here than it deserved.

It was penned by management consultant Kenichi Ohmae, highly regarded in Japans tightly knit business world and closely read by Nissans Japanese management.

In it, he made an impassioned argument why Nissan must fight Ghosns project for a creeping takeover by Renault.

Ohmae said Nissan was by far the stronger company, suggesting Ghosn flattered Renaults finances by using its factories in France and Brazil to make Nissan cars.

He declared Ghosn was trying to turn the alliance, which also includes Mitsubishi, into a French flagbearer for President Macron.

He even suspected Macron was going to reward Ghosn with a ministerial position.

Given how the French government dropped Ghosn like a hot baguette after his arrest, that last point looks wide of the mark. But what looks more prescient was his suggestion that Nissan should row back from the partnership. Possibly entirely.

Sure, Ohmae says, sans access to Renaults French factories, Nissan would be left with too few plants in Europe, but it could counter that by ramping up production in Sunderland.

That makes clear sense: Nissan has already invested heavily there, making it one of the most efficient car factories in the world.

The supply chain around it has become increasingly close and integrated, capable of supporting a production ramp-up relatively quickly.

To top it all, Downing Street will clearly bend over backwards to offer its support; remember how Ghosn secured secret personal guarantees from Theresa May about the plants post-Brexit future?
H ave you been to Coal Drops Yard yet? The last time I was in this bit of Kings Cross was at a club called The Cross in the early Noughties. The less said about that the better.

The area once known for its rave scene, with legendary nights held within the caverns of what were Victorian Londons stores for imported coal, has been transformed into a place where art, commerce and culture come together  or, to put it more prosaically, somewhere to get all your Christmas shopping done without losing your mind/temper/ patience.

On Saturday afternoon the Thomas Heatherwick-designed yard  two levels of shops and restaurants near Kings Place  was just bustling enough. We could happily push our Hummer of a Bugaboo in and out of shops without causing a scene and I didnt once get that frazzled, fed-up hot flush I normally associate with hours of Christmas shopping, where all I want to do is find a quiet corner of the John Lewis haberdashery department and curl up in a ball whispering Your Song over and over again until someone tells me vouchers are perfectly acceptable gifts, and I can go home.

It helps that there are a handful of good places to refuel such as Barrafina and the new (and excellent) Hicce when the going gets tough, and also that the shops themselves are pleasant experiences. I was offered mince pies in one, watched the in-house candle-maker at work in another and had the chance to chat to staff because there wasnt a queue of Grinches at the tills.

Coal Drops is the anti-mall; some chains (eg COS) are tucked innocuously among cool concept stores such as Wolf & Badger and Bonds  its nice to not have to trek to an obscure corner of Hackney to find them. Such well-designed retail destinations will transform how we shop in London. Im hoping the Design District being developed near where I live in Greenwich is next, and I need never brave Oxford Street at this time of year again.

Babies with attitude: its a London thing

Babies from London are the rudest and the least likely to say sorry among their first words, according to new research revealed in Babies: Their Wonderful World on BBC Two tonight at 9pm.

Language researchers studied more than 2,000 babies around the country and concluded that Londons little ones had the worst attitude. Perhaps in preparation for life in the capital parents have been following the Kate Moss method  never apologise, never explain.

I look forward to finding out what London babies first words are. Could you move down, please?

Black Friday boycott an empty gesture

Fashion and style influencers are cottoning on to the fact that endless consumption of stuff and a lack of interest in the ethical provenance of what we buy is not sustainable any more and has to stop.

This raises an interesting tension, when their entire raison detre is buying and wearing clothes and promoting a lifestyle that doesnt come cheap.

But consciousness is better than nothing, I guess, and if they are using their platforms to raise awareness of issues around sustainability and the need to think more before we buy, then more power to them.

I couldnt help but be a bit cynical, though, of many of these high-profile editors and fashion industry veterans boycott of Black Friday, and their various Instagram posts about rebranding it Buy Nothing Day.

These are people who get most of their clothes gifted to them by brands and wouldnt be seen dead shopping in the sales.

Black Friday may be a hellpit of mindless consumerism but its also a chance for many people to afford things that they and their families need.

Hollywood is out of the closet now

Rachel Weisz / Getty Images

There are so many films out with lesbian love stories at their heart. Colette , with Keira Knightly and Denise Gough, is a well-dressed romp, Disobedience, set in north Londons Orthodox Jewish community and starring Rachel Weisz, pictured Rachel McAdams as lovers, is nuanced and understated while Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Weisz (again) in The Favourite promises to be serious Oscars fodder.
I magine a people living entirely free  an island nation that makes its own rules, and maintains a proud independence from the rest of the world. Imagine a place where the will of the people reigns supreme, and meddling globalist elites hold no sway. Sounds marvellous, doesnt it? Such a place is North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal, where earlier this month members of the Andaman tribe are believed to have killed 26-year-old John Allen Chau , a missionary who trespassed on their territory in the hopes of declaring Jesus to them.

Most of us feel sorry for Chau, of course, mixed though our feelings may be about the people who ring on our own doorbells to declare Jesus. And the meddling global elites are now at sixes and sevens about how to proceed. The general rule, which Chau well-meaningly violated, is to leave the Andaman folk the hell alone. We dont, as a matter of policy, land anyone on North Sentinel Island, and that includes policemen. Likewise, the question of whether a crime has been committed is a moot one  in the sense that nobody in the Andaman tribe has signed up to any of the 10 Commandments, let alone to the sublunary laws that frown on this sort of thing.

But, naturally, Chaus family would like his body back. How to get it? Anthropologists note that the last time this happened, when a fishing boat was wrecked on North Sentinel and its occupants were likewise done for, their bodies were propped on the shore facing the sea a week later. If the same thing happens with the unfortunate Chau, theres the thought that we could zip in and grab him. But as one anthropologist gloomily notes, Chaus showing up violated the peoples will and this retrieval of the body will again violate the will of the people.

Ah, that phrase. The will of the people. Im tempted to say that this situation is a bit Brexity: what says take back control more than being able to string up adventure tourists? But of course theyre not exiting anything; they didnt join in the first place.

The figs given count, of these North Sentinelese folk, is rapidly approaching zero. These islanders  theres about 100 of them, apparently, but nobody knows for sure because census-takers are wimps, and dont care about demography enough to risk being shot to death with arrows  do as they please. And why shouldnt they?

"On the one hand we have self-determination and non-interference; on the other we have human rights"

It seems to me an intriguing test case. On the one hand, we have the apparently liberal principles of self-determination and non-interference and cultural relativism. On the other, we have the also apparently liberal notions of universal human rights, global interventionism and missionary morality.

Here, in crystalline form, are the same arguments we saw over Iraq and Libya, and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi . But we dont make any money out of the North Sentinelese, so I expect itll remain a curiosity item for the inside pages.

In defence of Leaves Dominic Cummings

Its reported that Benedict Cumberbatch  who plays the Vote Leave chief Dominic Cummings in the Brexit drama The Uncivil War  has been throwing his weight around on set, complaining that the scripts portrayal of Cummings is too sympathetic. He wants a much darker figure.

Im every bit as much of a handwringing Remoaner as Cumberbatch, but I think he lets himself down here.

I know Dominic Cummings a little. Hes married to a very old friend of mine. And though I think hes a bit of a loon  I think so of most of my Brexit-supporting friends, I hasten to add  and I deplore almost everything he seems to stand for, he has been nothing but delightful in our personal dealings.

And his public self  telling the pompous chairs of select committees to get stuffed; saying on the record things most of us confine to our locked diaries  is not dark but, in its pugnacious way, quite hilarious.

The interesting work for an actor is inhabiting the persona of someone different from you. And the childish insistence that those we disagree with are villains or monsters is a lot of what has got us into this stupid global bin-fire in the first place.

Bring on Dame Doom Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones / Rex Features

Catherine Zeta-Jones is, she confides to an interviewer, known to her husband as Dame Doom, owing to the speed with which she zooms to a worst-case scenario.
For Republicans in New York, things are looking pretty bad. The party did not exceed 40 percent in a single statewide election this month and Democrats have won sizeable majorities in the state Senate and Assembly. This means that Democrats are poised to take action on liberal priorities such as codifying Roe v. Wade, the DREAM Act, marijuana legalization, bail reform and maybe even single-payer health care.

Blocking Democrats from succeeding in those efforts will be particularly difficult because the tools available to a minority party in the state Legislature are much weaker than at the federal government level. There is no legislative filibuster in the state Senate and  unlike some other states  New York does not require a supermajority to constitute a quorum in the state Legislature or to pass a state budget. Changing these limitations by amending the state Constitution is also nearly impossible, because the party would need a majority in both houses of the Legislature, or an opportunity to hold a state constitutional convention  which will not happen for nearly 20 more years.

Republicans do have some options to hinder Democrats legislative efforts, but there appears to be little appetite to take an obstructionist approach in the legislature. I would not encourage my colleagues to do that, said state Sen. Fred Akshar. Instead, GOP lawmakers say they want to speak as loudly as they can in opposition to some Democratic proposals while finding common ground on other issues. Ultimately, the GOPs political fortunes could depend on whether Democrats raise taxes and increase spending in their drive to enact progressive legislation. If that were to happen, Republicans hope it would alienate enough voters to help them win back enough Senate seats to stop Democrats from relegating them to a permanent legislative minority through redistricting.

A big X factor in this strategy is Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is expected to continue being a moderating influence on the most liberal tendencies of Democratic lawmakers. He has continued to stand by a 2 percent cap on state spending increases and opposition to raising taxes. Nonetheless, Democratic lawmakers could push him to compromise on these points. If that happens, Republicans could buttress their arguments that they are the party of fiscal discipline and low taxes rather than simply state-level acolytes of President Donald Trump, whose statewide unpopularity was blamed for Republican losses in the election.

I think a lot of the results a couple of Tuesdays ago emanated from personal dislike to hatred for the president among the majority of New Yorkers, said state Sen. Phil Boyle. We have to show as a Republican Party that we are not Donald Trump.

Being the minority party has its drawbacks, but it does allow the Republicans to present their own policy agenda without the burden of governing. You can speak freely about things when you dont have to guard members, said Republican consultant Bill OReilly. Theres something liberating about that that could plant seeds for a new Republican Party in New York.

There are not many mechanisms for Republicans to disrupt legislative business, but a close reading of Senate and Assembly rules could give them options in certain circumstances  such as the minority party deploying obscure procedural obstructionist tactics. That stuff has never happened in Albany, said GOP consultant Tom Doherty.

But it is possible  and it was proven effective by congressional Republicans during the Obama presidency. Its hard to look into the future to get that exact things that would be said or the exact strategy that would be employed, Republican Sen. Patrick Gallivan said. But in a general sense, I think we have to be extremely loud and demand accountability and ensure there is a process and there is debate.

Assuming rules for the upcoming session remain the same as before, five GOP state senators could force a slow roll call during final votes. This is just one delaying maneuver that would have added potency towards the end of the legislative session when lawmakers are more rushed. If Republicans made such moves at the right time, it could also help whip up the public against Democratic legislation. But the challenge is always making people understand the reasons behind obstructionist moves, said Republican Assemblyman William Barclay.

Another option available is for Republicans to propose amendments to legislation in hopes of not only taking up time, but forcing Democrats to make politically difficult votes. Suppose a Republican lawmaker in either chamber proposed an amendment to an unrelated bill that included language against raising taxes. Even if didnt pass, it could get provide the GOP with a handy attack line  that a Democratic opponent voted for raising taxes  in later elections.

Republicans could also find common ground with some Democrats to pass an amendment that would make it politically toxic to other Democrats  a poison pill that might prevent ultimate passage of the legislation.

But adopting an obstructionist posture in the Legislature is not as easy as it would have been had Republicans kept Democrats to a slimmer majority in the Senate. If Republicans have to convince eight or nine Democrats to pass an amendment or vote down a bill, they will have a steep hill to climb. The ways the rules are set up in New York, the opportunity to effectively affect policy would only happen if you induce enough members of the majority party to switch over, said James Battista, an associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo.

Republicans do have some experience with pitting Democrats against each other. Most famously, that happened in 2011 with the formation of the Independent Democratic Conference  a group of breakaway Democratic state senators who threw control of the state Senate to the GOP. The Republicans held control even after the IDC returned to the Democratic fold earlier this year because Democratic state Sen. Simcha Felder continued to caucus with Republicans. There was also the infamous coup in 2009 when two Democrats conspired to bring back Republican control in the state Senate. I feel like its going to be deja vu all over again, Republican state Sen.-elect Daphne Jordan said hopefully.

This time around, it will be more difficult to convince many Democrats to switch sides on even just a single vote, because six out of the eight members of the IDC lost primaries and their replacements were successful in part by attacking the idea of Democrats allying with the GOP. That does not preclude Republicans from leveraging Democratic divisions in other ways, especially in the state Senate, where Republicans still are arguably within striking distance of a majority.

While the Democrats have a strong majority in the next year, their caucus may not be as united as it might appear, especially on certain issues that divide Democrats along geographic and ideological lines. This includes issues pitting New York City Democrats against their colleagues from upstate and the suburbs, such as Metropolitan Transportation Authority funding. If theres an extreme on one side where they try to pass some very New York City-centric legislation, it will have consequences, said Barclay, who represents an Assembly district outside Syracuse.

Moderate Democrats might also find common ground with Republicans in stopping progressive pushes for universal rent control or single-payer health care. Swaying nine Democrats to their side to form a Republican-led majority on such issues is plausible  assuming Republicans can remain united in opposition. However, they might not even need to do much of the heavy lifting on those issues because Cuomo has already fed divisions among Democrats. In October, Cuomo reportedly got eight state Senate candidates on Long Island to sign a pledge that included a demand that New York City pay its fair share for the MTA. A centrist Democratic governor can be a powerful tool for Republican efforts to put a check on the Legislature, but some Republicans see how it could also endanger Republicans political opportunities later on. I think the governor is going to keep control for two years, Republican Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick of Long Island said. So that these senators in the suburbs can be reelected.

But Republicans can take comfort in the fact that one-party rule does not guarantee partisan cohesion nor political longevity. In the early 1970s, Republicans controlled both houses of the Legislature and the governors mansion, four-term Republican Gov. Nelson Rockefeller was at the height of his powers and Democrats were a deeply divided opposition party  much to the glee of the GOP, The New York Times reported at the time. Yet Republicans were not always in lockstep agreement with the priorities of Rockefeller following the 1972 election, when Democrats lost ground in New York and the partys nominee also lost 49 out of 50 states in the presidential election. It was a definitely a low point for Democrats, but they would take the Assembly within a few years and Republicans would only elect one more governor in the following five decades.

Democrats achieved this turnaround by presenting new leaders with new approaches to politics. Republicans see a similar need to rebrand themselves for a new era of state politics, or else they risk becoming as irrelevant in New York as the GOP has become in California. We must recruit strong candidates who can compete and win in every region of the state, Republican Senate Leader John Flanagan, who survived a challenge to his leadership earlier this month, said in a statement. We are going to spend the next two years aggressively highlighting the differences that exist between ourselves and the incoming Democrat majority.

A robust policy agenda could prove to be Republicans most potent option at a time when their power in state government is at its lowest point in recent memory. Although we dont have the votes in either houses to stop legislation, we still have a real soap box and I suppose we will have to use that the best we can, Barclay said.

With all the seats in the state Legislature up for election in 2020, a policy agenda with a wider appeal than what Republicans offered in 2018 could give them a good opportunity to gain seats  if not control  of the state Senate. But the upcoming election could also mean even more trouble for the state GOP in a year when Trump will likely run for reelection and Democrats will be highly motivated to turn out.

State Republican Party Chair Ed Cox  who like Flanagan survived calls to step aside over Republican losses in the 2018 elections  said that the partys statewide candidates offer a good example of the road ahead for the GOP in New York. Its not about obstruction but rather doubling down on offering an alternative to the policies of progressive Democrats and Cuomo alike, he said. Were going to be doing what we were doing in the campaign and that was, on the New York state level, pushing good policy, he said. Its going to continue to be about what New York needs.
Olulodes work Shes Like My Sister was named one of the top 10 submissions to the Standards Art Prize and was displayed at the National Gallery. The artist, above with some of the works for the new exhibition, all on blue canvas, said the series is about Londons black and LGBTQ communities, and nightlife in the capital. The pieces, which will be shown until December 17, take their name from a line in the poem Fantasy by Harlem Renaissance poet Gwendolyn Bennett.
F ilm fans around the world learned of the death of Bernardo Bertolucci today, after the director passed away at the age of 77.

The Oscar-winning director was an acclaimed filmmaker, with an international following and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

A spokesperson for Bertolucci confirmed to the BBC that the director died of cancer in Rome.

The likes of Antonio Banderas and Cannes Film Festival organisers paid tribute to Bertolucci earlier today.

Who was Bernardo Bertolucci?

Bertolucci was one of the most celebrated European directors of the 21st century.

Born in Parma in 1941, the Italian clocked up directing credits on 21 feature films. Me and You, released in 2012, is the last movie he helmed.

He started young, beginning as an assistant director on Pier Paolo Pasolinis 1961 film Accattone, before directing his first film La Commare Secca at the age of 21.

Acclaimed: The influential Bertolucci is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame / Valerie Macon/Getty Images

His most notable work was the erotic thriller Last Tango In Paris in 1972, starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. The film was seen as highly controversial at the time but has since come to be seen by some as a classic of its kind  read more about it below.

Bertolucci also directed the Conformist, Stealing Beauty, 1900 and The Sheltering Sky, before winning the biggest critical acclaim of his career for the film The Last Emperor.

The movie, a biopic of Chinese emperor Pu Yi, won a total of nine Oscars in 1988, with Bertolucci receiving the awards for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

His influence was recognised with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008, five years after the release of one of his most well-received films, The Dreamers.

Why is Last Tango in Paris controversial?

Last Tango in Paris: Director Bernardo Bertolucci with Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider / AP

Bertoluccis film Last Tango in Paris was the subject of much controversy upon its release in 1972.

The film focused on a middle-aged American businessman and a young Parisian woman, played by Brando and Schneider respectively, who enter into a deeply passionate relationship.

While things are initially kept anonymous, Schneider's character Jeanne attempts to break things off after Brando's character Paul reveals details about his life, resulting in shocking and tragic circumstances.

The movie featured explicit sexual imagery and a rape sequence which was cut in America upon its initial release.

The film was the subject of frenzied press coverage at the time, with reports of viewers vomiting in screenings due to its extreme nature. Christian campaigner Mary Whitehouse also called for the film to be banned completely from being released in the UK.

Schneider was just 19 at the time and described the filming experience as humiliating, saying in an interview with the Daily Mail: "To be honest, I felt a little raped, both by Marlon and by Bertolucci. After the scene, Marlon didn't console me or apologise. Thankfully, there was just one take."

Brando also allegedly had misgivings about his on-set experiences. Schneider told the Sydney Morning Herald: The humiliation was very strong. Marlon said he felt raped and manipulated by it and he was 48. And he was Marlon Brando.

Bertolucci spoke about the films most distressing scene during an interview in 2013, saying: "I feel guilty, but I don't regret it.

What is The Dreamers about?

Indie hit: Louis Garrel, Eva Green and Michael Pitt starring in The Dreamers

One of the most significant films of Bertoluccis later period, 2003s The Dreamers is set against the backdrop of the 1968 Paris student riots.

The film is a tale of sexual enlightenment, following an American exchange student who meets a brother and sister with an unusual relationship after moving to Paris, forming an unlikely love triangle.

The romantic drama follows the three teenagers as they become more intimate and play increasingly prominent roles in the protests.
You might have thought that debutante balls were a thing of the past  a relic from the 1950s, when young women would be formerly "presented" in society.

And in many ways they are: the last debutante ball at Buckingham Palace took place back in 1958, when 1,400 girls were presented to the Queen, marking the end of a 200-year tradition. "We had to put a stop to it" said Princess Margaret, "every tart in London was getting in."

And yet, around the world today, debutante balls are still going strong.

The Queen Charlotte's Ball (Getty)

But if there's one ball in particular that's become the most exclusive and sought-after, it's Le Bal des Debutantes. Held in Paris and organised by PR extraordinaire Ophelie Renouard, the ball has now been running for 25 years.

The ball - known simply as 'Le bal' - is now more popular than ever with Hollywood as well as European royalty. Last year's debutantes (there are always 20 girls and 20 boys) included Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillppe's daughter, Ava, comedian Steve Harvey's daughter Lori, as well as model Stella Tennant's daughter Cecily Lasnet.

Attendees traditionally come from well known families, which can range from minor European royals to the children of American businessmen or celebrities. Previous "debs" have included Sophia Rose Stallone, Bruce Willis's children Tallulah and Scout Willis, Autumn Whitaker (Forest Whitaker's daughter) and Kyra Kennedy (daughter of Robert Kenndy Jr.), who mingle with Princesses and scions like Laila Blavatnik, the daughter of British-American billionaire Len Blavatnik.

This weekend, Forest Whitaker is set to return to Paris for the ball with his 20-year-old daughter, True.

True Whitaker, who will attend Le Bal des Debutantes this weekend. / Dave Benett

If the set-up wasn't old fashioned enough, the young women attending the ball are provided with an "escort" - a young man from a similarly well known family. Each debutante is also dressed in a bespoke couture gown.

Eleanor Sum Yi attends a Dior fitting ahead of Le Bal des Debutantes. / AFP/Getty Images

Big name fashion houses offer up their services for the event. Last year's attendees wore dresses by Chanel, Emmanuel Ungaro, Elie Saab, Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier and Zuhair Murad.

When Ava Philippe attended last year she was dressed in a black and white ballgown by Giambattista Valli haute couture and danced with Maharaja Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur.

The Queen might have ceased her own debutante ball back in the 1950s, but the annual Queen Charlotte's Ball keeps the tradition going in the UK. The ball was first held in 1780 by King George III to celebrate the birthday of his wife, Queen Charlotte, and to raise money for a maternity hospital.

These days, tables at the event start at around 3000. Girls wear white dresses for the occasion and places are awarded via interview (we assume part of this involves the candidate circling the room with a book on their head.)

Reflecting the tradition of debutante balls becoming more international, Queen Charlotte's Ball is attended by young women from China and Russia as well as wealthy Brits.

Attendees of Queen Charlotte's Ball in London (Getty)

Ophelie Renouard, who organises La Bal des Debutantes in Paris, told the Daily Mail that that her upbringing prompted her to bring a broader mix of nationalities to the event. My father, a 13th generation Parisian, went to university in America and led a very international life. I went from Cambodia to boarding school and didnt live in Paris until I was 18. Because of my background, friends and interests, I dont feel Parisian.

Lady Amelia Windsor attending the Debutantes Ball at the Automobile Club, wearing Elie Saab. / Getty Images

She also explained how she finds her 'debs': "I started with my own address book and from there I have created a network not only in Europe but also in places such as China and Russia. I always go through my friends when I look for girls and I refuse to join any Internet networking site" - we assume that includes Instagram.

While Renouard prefers the old school route, these days the ball's attendees aren't shy in posting shots of themselves at #lebal on social media.
Back in the day, pre-Harry, Meghan Markle shared everything on Instagram - from shots with her close pal Priyanka Chopra to her favorite avocado toast. Then she met the world's most eligible royal and her account was swiftly shut down.

And while Harry and Meghan are undoubtedly working on bringing their Instagram presence back as they embark on their post-royal life, there are plenty of other Princes, Princesses, Queens and Maharajas to follow on social media if it's regal content you crave.

Princess Beatrices account might be private, but the rest of these royals have completely public profiles, whether it's the always-slick Queen Rania of Jordan or Arthur Chatto sharing (one too many) shots of his six-pack.

Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden

There's nothing quite as annoying as a couple going over the top on social media... unless, of course, they happen to look like a Disney Prince and Princess. Prepare for plenty of photos of Prince Carl Philip (who bears more than a passing resemblance to Jamie Dornan) and his wife Princess Sofia's happily ever after, which includes candids of their very cute kiddos. One thing you won't see? Throwbacks of Princess Sofia when she was a reality TV star.

Lady Amelia Windsor

Signed with Storm Management, Lady Amelia, who is the third cousin of Princes William and Harry, likes to share all of her most glamorous moments. From fashion week to festivals and every sun-soaked vacation in between, Amelia is also a fan of a good floral arrangement.

Lady Kitty Spencer

Princess Dianas niece is a model with Storm Management, so you can also expect plenty of runway shots and front row moments, where she's often dressed in Dolce & Gabbana and Bulgari (she reps both).

Marius Borg Hiby

Marius Borg Hiby doesn't have a title, although he is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. He has taken a leave of absence to attend college in the United States, and though he doesn't post often, when he does, you can expect plenty of puppy content and sunny surf shots.

Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie is newer to Instagram, starting her own account before her 2018 wedding. But she keeps us updated regularly through her stories and her feed, where she'll often share photos of her sister, Princess Beatrice (whose account is private), her mother, plus a few funny throwbacks.

Pauline Ducruet

Grace Kellys granddaughter started her own clothing line, Alter, in 2018, so you can expect plenty of fashion content as she hops from Paris to Monaco and New York City. Plus, she posts the occasional puppy pic or yoga pose if that's more your speed.

Camille Rose Gottlieb

Fun fact: Camille spent three years of her life growing up on a circus when her mother (Princess Stephanie of Monaco) dated an elephant trainer. These days, she's most often photographed poolside or dragging on a cigarette - where she bears more than a passing resemblance to her grandmother Grace Kelly.

Maharaja Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur

Maharaja Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur escorted Reese Witherspoons daughter Ava Phillipe to Le Bal des Debutantes in 2017. He's better known as 'Pacho' to his friends and his 160k Instagram followers, who follow his fabulous life of polo matches, parties and posing for French Vogue.

Princess Olympia of Greece

Princess Olympia of Greece has an Instagram feed filled with lavish activities, whether she's partying with Nicky Hilton or visiting her native Greece. Having graduated from New York University in 2019, Olympia has made the city her new home, but you can still expect plenty of jet-setting. You can also find stylish shots with her cousin Talita von Furstenberg and a bit of food blogging.

Arthur Chatto

With a habit of posting topless photos, Queen Elizabeths great-nephew is no wallflower. Follow for the inside view of family events (including royal weddings) and pictures of his girlfriend, which have disappointed quite a few of his 150k+ fans.

Queen Rania of Jordan

Queen Rania is the ultimate when it comes to elegant outfit inspiration. The former Apple employee and current human rights advocate has a penchant for sleek pussy-bow blouses, crisp shirts, and dresses by designers like Sacai and Victoria Beckham.
I n the hierarchy of power moves, the pull-up reigns supreme. It is a feat of strength and sinew; not to mention a powerful way to peacock. Hitherto the pull-up has been a niche fixation  beloved of the theatrical strongmen who colonise a corner of the weights room, to the alienation of all others. But recently, due to its social media pulling power (the tag #pullups conjures more than two million posts on Instagram) the ultimate power move gone mainstream.

Gymbox  which has 11 gyms in London  recently launched a pull-up class, False Grip, a debilitating 45 minutes navigating a set of rings suspended from the ceiling. Haul yourself up; feel it in your biceps and deltoids for the rest of the week. Equinoxs Pure Strength class is a ferocious circuit alternating weight lifting with pull-ups, planks and deadlifts. And Kim Ngo, 1Rebel Master Trainer, Class Passs female trainer of the year, and one half of fitness superforce Food and Lycra, holds pull-up masterclasses at Hybrid Fitness in Whitechapel  last weeks back by popular demand sold out ahead of time. The workshops are pitched at beginners, experts and everyone in between  Ngo focuses on form, technique and getting you your first, or your next, pull-up.

Getty Images

If you can master one, theres real merit to the move. Besides Instagram likes and a high five from your gyms resident body-builder, pull-ups strengthen muscles in your shoulders, arms, upper back and core, improving your posture. Though guns dont guarantee success. Being able to pull up your own body weight is no easy feat, says Rob Allan, a personal trainer at Equinoxs St Jamess studio. You may be lifting significant kilograms on the gym floor but a pull-up is a sign of true strength.

Allan recommends building up, gradually. Start with a dead hang in a neutral grip  hands on the bar, shoulder width apart  and hold yourself hanging, arms straight, for as long as you can. You want to aim to be able to dead hang for 30 seconds. From there, develop into an active hang: engaging the lats and pulling the shoulders away from your ears, keeping arms straight. Start with 10 reps of this to get your body used to being in an active position. Next, you can try an assisted pull-up, using a resistance band that can support the feet and help propel you up. Lastly, ditch the band and go solo. Other moves that can help you gather the strength to go on the pull include seated rows and shoulder presses.
W hat to do

While promoting her star-making film Crazy Rich Asians, Gemma Chan was widely praised for championing Asian designers at the many stops along her tour. When she returned to the city for New York Fashion Week, her show of support propelled herself  and CRA co-star Awkwafina  to front row seats at Nepalese-American designer Prabal Gurungs spring 2019 show.

Get your fix of Gurungs vibrant designs by visiting his newly opened flagship store on 367 Bleecker Street (prabalgurung.com) before taking a stroll along the nearby High Line, the elevated public park that is one of Chans favourite spots on the West Side (thehighline.org).

Where to stay

Chan first stayed at the Gramercy Park Hotel during a trip to the Big Apple in 2015, following in the footsteps of Hollywood royalty (Humphrey Bogart), political royalty (John F Kennedy) and rock royalty (the Rolling Stones) (gramercyparkhotel.com).

The High Line, a public park created on a disused railway in New York / Group Published Images

The aesthetic of the hotel, the result of a creative collaboration between boutique hotelier Ian Schrager and artist Julian Schnabel, is opulent and sensual, providing a lavish hideout for its residents. Guests are also granted access to the only private park in Manhattan, after which the hotel and neighbourhood are named; Chan calls it a real oasis in the city.

Where to eat and drink
M ore than 10,000 has been raised for the family of a young father who was brutally stabbed after he "tried to break up an argument".

Zakaria Abukar Sharif-Ali died on Saturday after stepping in to calm down a row outside of a nightclub in Shoreditch.

The father-of-two was attacked by two men before collapsing outside the Rolling Stock club, in Kingsland Road, at about 6.30am.

A crowdfunding page has been set up for the 26-year-old to support his wife and two children, a four-year-old boy and two-year-old girl.

Zakaria Abukar Sharif-Ali, 26, was stabbed to death outside a club in Kingsland Road

The page, which was only set up one day ago, read: My best friend and brother tragically passed away on November 24.

Police tape: A cordon in place at the Shoreditch intersection after a man was stabbed to death / Sarah Jardine

His death was a shock to everyone, and he leaves behind his two children. Zakaria Sharif-Ali was an incredible father, son, brother and friend.

His character and personality made an impression on everyone he met - his genuine personality, sense of humour and desire to help and befriend others touched everyone who knew him, whether you met him once or were a close friend.

This fundraiser is to help Zakaria's young children and wife in the bereavement of their father and Husband. His family are reeling from this terrible shock.

The death of a son is traumatic and draining mentally and physically for the entire family, and I want to do what I can to lessen the financial burden so that can be one less thing for them to worry about.

One donator wrote: I met him twice and still remember his character. I am shocked and hurt that a brother like him was murdered. I have nothing else to say, but just pray for his family.

As of Monday evening the page had raised a huge 10,460 from nearly 400 supporters.

Mr Sharif-Alis sister, Bushra, told the Standard he was well-known in the community.

She said: He was a good community man, a good friend, husband and son. He impacted everyone around him. He volunteered in Gambia and was religious.

Weve had so many friends come to the house since it happened. He was a good man, he didnt deserve this.

She said her brother intervened in a fight, adding: He stepped in to stop it, thats what we know from what the police told us. And thats the kind of guy he was.

The crowdfunding page can be viewed here.
A retired police officer has defended the Met's new tactic of ramming fleeing moped thugs saying those who commit crimes "choose the consequences."

Retired London police officer and author John Sutherland has spoken out after a backlash to the polices new hardline war on moped gangs which was unveiled last week.

Last week, the Met released dramatic footage which showed police pursuing suspected moped criminals and ramming into them to stop drivers in their tracks.

The footage was widely praised by members of the public and former officers alike, but also attracted some criticism.

Tactical contact: dashcam footage shows a thug sent tumbling over the bonnet of a police car

In response to the Mets announcement, Minister for Policing and Fire Service, Nick Hurd MP said: Met Police have done an excellent job getting on top of a very nasty spike in moped-enabled crime, often linked to violence  tactical contact by trained officers is a legitimate tool.

Mr Sutherland has written a lengthy blog post on the subject, defending it.

He wrote: There is an order to everything that happens in life. In each of the clips shown, a crime has been committed before the police ever get involved. The crime is the first thing. The police response is the second thing.

If the crime hadnt been committed, there would be no need for the police to act. If the rider hadnt failed to stop, there would be no need for the police to intervene.

Its strange how easily we can forget these things sometimes.

Mr Sutherland also claimed officers could be, at times, Damned if you do and Damned if you dont.

He said suspected criminals who use mopeds to commit crimes face consequences for doing so, though.

He added: If you choose to steal a moped, then you are choosing the consequences of doing so.

If you choose to steal and snatch and mug and stab and harm, then you are choosing the consequences of doing so.

John Sutherland at training school in 1982 / John Sutherland

If you choose to fail to stop for the police, you are choosing the consequences of doing so.

Mr Sutherlands blog post was widely shared with many praising the retired officer for writing about it.

Chief Inspector Jon Lloyd, of the East Midlands, shared the article and said: Another pitch perfect post John.
A young father who was stabbed to death outside a nightclub was acting as peacemaker trying to break up an argument when he was killed , police said today.

Zakaria Abukar Sharif-Ali, 26, had stepped in to calm a row outside a nightclub in Shoreditch when he was attacked by two men.

The father-of-two collapsed outside the Rolling Stock club in Kingsland Road after the attack shortly before 6.30am on Saturday.

He was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency surgery but died two hours after he was admitted.

Detectives today issued descriptions of two men they are seeking in connection with the killing as Mr Sharif-Alis family described him as a family man who had recently launched a food delivery business.

His sister, Bushra, told the Standard: He was a family guy. He has a four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter.

Police tape: A cordon in place at the Shoreditch intersection after a man was stabbed to death / Sarah Jardine

He was a good community man, a good friend, husband and son. He impacted everyone around him. He volunteered in Gambia and was religious.

Weve had so many friends come to the house since it happened. He was a good man, he didnt deserve this.

She said her brother intervened in a fight, adding: He stepped in to stop it, thats what we know from what the police told us. And thats the kind of guy he was.

Mr Sharif-Ali set up an online takeaway business called Flipping Burgers with a friend, and had returned to university to study sociology at London Metropolitan University.

He married Ramla Buwe in 2014 but she had moved back to her native Canada with their two young children.

Another sister, Khuluud, 24, said Ms Buwe was broken by her husbands death. She said he had been trying to arrange visas to bring his wife and children back to live with him in the UK.

She told the Standard: My brother wasnt involved in the things that come with knife crime. He was the kind of person to try and get people away from that and help people.

He always wanted to help people. He was the kind of person to approach a homeless person and say, how can I help you?

His father Abukar said: He was my eldest son.. everyone loved him. Its difficult to find a bad thing to say about him.

Detective Inspector Rita Tierney said Mr Sharif-Ali had been in the club with friends when a relatively minor disagreement broke out, though he was not involved.

When the club closed the dispute continued outside and grew more heated.

She said: We know that the victim was trying to intervene in the argument and was trying to act as a peacemaker. He was not causing any trouble that we can see but was trying to settle this dispute.

She added that detectives were hunting two men, one described as Turkish or Greek looking, dark skinned with short dark hair, about 5ft 10in tall and in his mid 20s.

The second man was white, about 6ft with a round face and a fluffy ginger beard.

DI Tierney added: We are keen to hear from anyone who has information about what happened and who was involved.

The murder is believed to be the 127th in London so far this year.

Friends have launched a JustGiving page to pay for funeral costs and support the family. It has raised more than 8,000 so far.

His friend Zakariya Yahiaoui said: I loved, admired and respected Zakaria immensely. He was an amazing dad and loved his kids more than anything. He respected his mother and father and they were his world.
A Range Rover was stolen in seconds from outside a couples 1.3 million home by a thief using a wireless scanning device.

Marius Brazauskas activated the re-programming equipment to pick up the 89,000 cars security code and open the door. The thief then only had to press the start ignition button before he was able to drive off in the early hours.

CCTV footage showed Lithuanian gang member Brazauskas, 32, driving the vehicle away within 20 seconds of walking up beside it.

Trainee nurse Sanaz Atashb, 32, said she and husband Ramin Ghaderi, 42, woke to find their silver Vogue model had vanished.

Gangster: Marius Brazauskas approaches the car / Sanaz Atashb

The cars entry fob was still inside their home in Totteridge, north London. She said: It was in the middle of the night at 1.28am. We were asleep. The car is right below our bedroom but we didnt hear the ignition. We were shocked. Definitely they had monitored us and knew when we were in the house.

Brazauskas then starts the vehicle / Sanaz Atashb

The couple called police and they arrested Brazauskas later that night after he was spotted driving a Ford Fiesta with fake number plates in convoy with another car. The Range Rover had been left in an isolated spot six miles from the owners home.

The thief then reverses off the drive (Sanaz Atashb ) / Sanaz Atashb

Brazauskas was carrying a drill and a stolen bank card, which he said hed found earlier, and was arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal.

When officers checked his mobile phone, it showed he had been looking at the location where the Range Rover had been left before the theft on July 18.

Marius Brazauskas / Hertfordshire Police

The police took us to the car, said Ms Atashb. Our stuff had been pulled out and thrown everywhere and they had ripped out the boot and found the tracker and switched it off.

The mother-of-two added that police told her that 25 four-wheel-drive vehicles had been stolen from Totteridge in the last year.

Brazauskas of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to 22 months in prison at St Albans crown court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal and theft of a bank card.

He also admitted driving without insurance and not having a licence.

Judge Michael Kay QC said: Its a matter of some concern that there have been many cases before this court involving organised groups of men from Lithuania who are committing this type of offence.
Concurs de granturi adresat COMUNITATILOR (APL) pentru sporirea rezilientei lor la schimbarile climatice si FEMEILOR ANTREPRENOARE in vederea dezvoltarii unor afaceri prietenoase mediului
S enior business leaders in London have written to Sajid Javid today warning of a severe skills shortage if a 30,000 minimum salary cap is applied to foreign workers after Brexit.

The letter to the Home Secretary said the proposal was inappropriate and failed to recognise the contribution lower paid roles make to the economy.

It added the salary cap would have a detrimental impact on the ability of London businesses to recruit staff.

Signatories include Sue Terpilowski of the Federation of Small Businesses, Jasmine Whitbread chief executive at business group London First and Colin Stanbridge chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has also added his voice.

Sadiq Khan has also added his voice (Photo: Michele Tantussi/Getty Images) / Getty Images

Their letter is in response to the Migration Advisory Committees recommendations on changing the UKs immigration policy after the Brexit transition period ends in 2021.

The MAC recommended that the Government scrap the current freedom of movement that gives preferential treatment to workers from the European Economic Area.

The immigration shake-up would mean the 30,000 minimum salary required for those from outside the EEA would be extended to all migrants.

The aim is to prevent cheap labour driving down wages in the UK, but critics say Londons economy would suffer as a result.

In their letter, the leaders wrote: London is more than twice as dependent on EEA workers than the rest of the UK ... these proposals could lead to a severe skills shortage.

TODO: define component type apester

According to City Hall research, EEA workers make up a third of jobs in Londons construction sector, over a quarter in the hospitality sector and more than one in 11 of Londons health workforce.
A Jewish woman who rebelled against her ultra-orthodox upbringing has won a hugely acrimonious court battle against her strictly religious ex-husband over their 1.4 million family home.

Miriam Kliers, 46, decided enough was enough in 2012 when she left her husband of 17 years Schlomo Kliers and fled the Hasidic community in Stamford Hill where she had been raised.

She later spoke out about restrictions placed on women, her difficulties getting an education, and the sinister balance of power in relationships in the community.

Mr Kliers remained in the family home with their three children but in April this year he lost a legal wrangle over the property and was ordered to leave. In response he filed for divorce and accused his ex-wife of adultery and unreasonable behaviour by turning against their religious lifestyle.

However, a High Court judge said the divorce petition was a cynical ploy by Mr Kliers, 46, to claim a larger share of the property.

Schlomo Kliers accused his ex-wife of adultery and unreasonable behaviour by turning against their religious lifestyle / Richard Gittins/Champion News

Mrs Kliers is due to receive 810,000 from the sale of the home, once debts are paid, compared with 165,000 for Mr Kliers, and is pursuing a court order to force him out of the house.

In an appeal by Mr Kliers, Judge Patrick McCahill heard how arranged marriages are common in some traditionalist Jewish communities, with women expected to be the breadwinners while men commit themselves to religious study.

The couple married in 1995 but Mrs Kliers left the relationship in 2012. She ended her marriage with a factual separation and obtained a Jewish divorce in 2013, going on to find a new non-Orthodox partner and gain a degree from the Open University.

In April, Judge Murray Rosen QC awarded Mrs Kliers a three-quarters stake in the family home, based on money her father had contributed to the purchase price.

The 1.4m family home in Stamford Hill / Champion News

He rejected Mr Klierss attempt to have the case sent to the family courts where he could have fought to keep all the equity in the property, and Judge McCahill last week upheld that decision on appeal. In a bitterly disputed case, where everything has been disputed, the judge was entitled to conclude that the divorce petition on grounds of behaviour was a cynical ploy with Mr Kliers having a cynical ulterior motive, said Judge McCahill.

Nicholas Fairbank, for Mr Kliers, argued that a family court was the only fair arena for the dispute, adding: Mr Kliers may be forced into rented accommodation. Peter Shaw QC, for Mrs Kliers, said Mr Kliers has been dodging a possession application since May and is still living in the house with his new partner and his children.
H ouse prices will fall and mortgages become more expensive in a botched Brexit, ministers were warning in a bid to turn the public against Jacob Rees-Moggs vision of a no-deal exit from the European Union.

Senior ministers who support close trading ties with the EU were urging the Government to be more forthcoming about what crashing out would mean for families homes and jobs.

The Cabinet was meeting this morning to finalise plans for a PR blitz to sell Theresa Mays widely-opposed exit agreement to the country.

But some ministers were refusing to accept that either no-deal or no-Brexit were the only alternatives, and at least five Cabinet ministers were keeping a Plan B in reserve of pursuing a Norway-style relationship if Mrs Mays blueprint is voted down in the Commons on December 12.

We have been less forthcoming then we might have been, said a minister. Crashing out would be unbelievably difficult for the country. We would see wholesale factory closures and shortages at ports.

At least five Cabinet ministers are keeping a Plan B of pursuing a Norway-style relationship in reserve / AFP/Getty Images

"It will become much harder for people to get a mortgage, so its bad for those who are on the property ladder and for those who want to get on it. Parliament needs to be aware of what the choices are and what the consequences of those choices would be. In key developments:

The new Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay, confirmed that the Government will decide shortly whether to hold a head-to-head TV debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn on the exit agreement.

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The Bank of England and Treasury will both issue official analysis of how Mrs Mays deal would compare with a no-deal Brexit. The Bank is expected to warn of the risks for home loans in its regular Financial Stability Report on Wednesday.

A think tank analysis said Mrs Mays deal would cause a 30 per cent fall in total bilateral trade with the EU in the long run. Anti-Brexit campaigners said the findings from the National Institute for Economic and Social Research backed the case for a fresh referendum.

Labour whips announced they will suspend days off from the Commons in the new year to allow time for possible emergency legislation.
T heresa May must embark on the tough task of persuading MPs to back her deal after overcoming the hurdle of EU support.

She faces a fierce backlash at home, after winning the support of every European Union leader at a special Brexit summit.

On Monday, she is to direct her MPs to back it, as she continues to insist the plan proposed is the best possible.

This comes as EU chiefs insisted it is the only deal which will be forthcoming.

Theresa May met with EU leaders in Brussels over the weekend / Getty Images

Below is an outline of some of the key challenges she might face in coming days.

Two-week struggle ahead of vote

The Prime Minister is due to gather her Cabinet on Monday ahead of making a statement to the Commons.

This marks the start of her roughly two-week-long mission to turn the tide of opposition in Westminster to her deal.

The Prime Minister confirmed on Sunday that MPs will have their say on the deal before the Christmas recess.

Theresa May says rejecting Brexit deal will 'open door to division'

This proposal comprises of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration of future EU-UK relations. According to reports, it has been touted to take place on December 12.

To be written into UK law, the deal must get the majority support of MPs.

Mrs May has declared one of the most significant votes that Parliament has held "for many years".

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Brexiteer backlash

Eurosceptics, led by figures including Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, have rejected Mrs May's deal and called for it to be renegotiated.

This poses the dilemma for Mrs May that some of her own MPs will vote against the agreement when it goes before the Commons.

Boris Johnson says Britain is on the verge of making 'historic mistake' if it accepts current Brexit deal

One of the chief critics, Mr Johnson, branded the PM's deal a "disaster" and a "humiliation" for the UK and called for it to be voted down, writing in the Sunday Telegraph.

Then, in the Sunday Express, Mr Rees-Mogg said the deal was a "failure".

He is also calling for Mrs May to be replaced.

Dismissal from the DUP

A key sticking point throughout negotiations has been the so-called backstop for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The Eurosceptics' rejection of the plans stems largely from this.

Hardline Brexiteers say the proposal risks the UK being unable to ever fully leave the EU.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster has slammed the deal / AFP/Getty Images

In turn, DUP politicians say the backstop would see Northern Ireland adopt a different regulatory regime to Great Britain if a wider UK/EU trade deal fails to materialise.

On Sunday, DUP leader Arlene Foster said there were no circumstances under which her party would vote for the deal in its current state.

There have also been threats to review the agreement between the DUP and the Conservatives which sees the former prop up the latters minority administration.

Opposition from the Labour party

Labour, prior to the deal being agreed, repeatedly warned that they would vote against any plan that does not pass six tests it set out.

Among these points are that it delivers the "exact same" benefits, fair management of migration and the protection of workers' rights and protections.

The party leader Jeremy Corbyn said the deal does not meet the provisions and "is the result of a miserable failure of negotiation that leaves us with the worst of all worlds".

He has stated his party will stand against the deal.

Jeremy Corbyn has been among the public figures to slam the deal / Getty Images

Public opinion

In recent days, Mrs May has been appealing directly to the public to get behind the deal.

This included penning an almost 800-word letter to them, in the hope that popular support will influence hostile MPs back at Parliament.

She has already taken part in two radio phone-ins and on Saturday wrote it was time to "get on with Brexit".

In a tour somewhat like an election campaign, the PM will travel around the four nations of the United Kingdom in a last-ditch drive to drum up support.

On Monday the Daily Telegraph reported Mrs May had thrown down the gauntlet of a TV debate to Mr Corbyn.

A Labour spokesperson said he would "relish" the opportunity.

There have been major protests for a Peoples Vote, with hundreds of thousands marching in London to call for one, in a move backed by a range of politicians.

What if she fails?

If MPs reject of Mrs May's plan, it open up several possibilities.

Britain could leave the EU with no deal on March 29, which appears to be the EUs firm stance should the deal not be accepted.

Alternatively, Mrs May might return to the EU to ask for further talks or a so-called People's Vote that could see Brexit halted altogether.

Juncker urges Parliament to accept Brexit deal

Mrs May is expected to tell the Commons on Monday that rejecting the deal would "open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail".

Previously, Chancellor Philip Hammond warned rejecting the deal would leave Britain in "uncharted territory".

He said a no-deal Brexit would unleash "economic chaos".

Could a different deal be struck?

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker led warnings on Sunday that there could be no return to the negotiating table if the deal were not accepted.

He has said this multiple times and other EU figureheads have echoed this stance.

However, a no deal Brexit would have damaging consequences for both the UK and EU countries.

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) gestures as he arrived for a special meeting of the European Council to endorse the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement / AFP/Getty Images

Therefore, the stern posturing could potentially shift and if talks were re-opened it would likely mean extending the Article 50 period well beyond March 29.

According to reports, officials in Westminster and Brussels have been working on plans for alternative arrangements.

Brexit number two

These negotiations so far, which have taken the best part of two years, have related to the arrangements for how Britain's divorce from the EU will take place.

Now, if Mrs May's divorce deal is passed by Parliament, comes the long process of agreeing on how the UK will trade with the bloc in the future.

Theresa May with Jean-Claude Juncker / Getty Images

This leaves those negotiating until the end of the transition period, which could run until the end of 2022, to strike a deal.
M Ps will vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal in the Commons on December 11 after five days of debate.

The Prime Minister confirmed in the House of Commons on Monday that the vote would be taking place in just over two weeks.

MPs will debate the proposals from December 4, according to a timetable set out in a letter from chief whip Julian Smith.

The letter, obtained by Business Insider, has told MPs to expect debate on the deal to take place on December 4 to 6 and December 10 to 11.

The Prime Minister fielded more than two and a half hours of questions from MPs on her Brexit deal this afternoon / AFP/Getty Images

Mr Smith told MPs that attendance in the voting lobbies should take priority over any Christmas gatherings.

News of the debate comes as Mrs May this afternoon told the House of Commons that she has secured a Brexit deal which "delivers for the British people".

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The Prime Minister warned that rejecting the deal would put the UK on the path to division and uncertainty as she sought to win support from the Commons.

And she confirmed that the meaningful vote will be held on Tuesday, December 11.

She said: "I'm looking ahead to December 11th, when this House will be faced with a decision as to whether or not it wishes to deliver on the vote of the British people with a deal that not only delivers on that vote but also protects their jobs."

But Mrs May was loudly barracked by MPs as she insisted that no better deal was available to Britain than the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on future relations endorsed by EU leaders in Brussels on Sunday.
A day after EU leaders finally endorsed the Prime Minister's Brexit deal , Mr Juncker said: "This is the only deal possible. So, if the House (of Commons) says no, we would have no deal."

"It's not the intention of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, nor of the Parliament, to go for a second referendum. This is the deal."

"I don't understand why the British people, and I like the British people for so many including historical reasons, why they are feeling that they are humiliated.

"I don't see that because numerous points of view of the British have been taken into this deal. So, this is not a humiliation for Britain. Everybody is losing."

Theresa May is facing a two-week battle to get her Brexit deal through parliament / EPA

Mrs May will today direct MPs to back her Brexit plan or risk crashing out of the European Union with no deal.

The Prime Minister is embarking on a two-week struggle today to save her Brexit deal and her leadership, with a Commons vote predicted to take place before MPs break for Christmas with December 12 a likely date.

Theresa May and European Council president Donald Tusk meet during a special EU summit in Brussels / EPA

Mrs May will face the Commons after EU leaders endorsed her Brexit deal yesterday and made it clear it was not up for renegotiation.

Mrs May will tell the Commons "with absolute certainty" that "there is not a better deal available".

In a busy day for the PM, she is due to host her ministers at 10.30am before conducting her speech at 3.30pm.

"This House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one... It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail," she is due to say.

The Prime Minister will warn rejecting her deal will "open the door to more division and uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail".

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Before making her speech, a National Institute of Economic and Social Research analysis of the Brexit deal is set to be released at 12pm.

It will look at the potential economic impact of the agreement.

Theresa May says rejecting Brexit deal will 'open door to division'

At a historic summit in Brussels on Sunday, the leaders of the remaining 27 member states took less than 40 minutes to approve the deal.

Mrs May will now put it to a vote of MPs before Christmas but faces a battle to get it through the House of Commons in the face of intense opposition on both the Leave and Remain-supporting wings of her party.

Michel Barnier, the EU's Chief Negotiator, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Council President Donald Tusk / EPA

She has already started a campaign of selling her deal directly to the public in the hope their support can win round MPs opposed to the plan before the Commons vote.

Part of that plan could include a televised debate with Jeremy Corbyn, the Daily Telegraph reported.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "Jeremy would relish a head-to-head debate with Theresa May about her botched Brexit deal and the future of the country."

A televised debate between Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May has been rumoured / Getty Images

In her Commons statement the Prime Minister will say: "Our duty as a Parliament over these coming weeks is to examine this deal in detail, to debate it respectfully, to listen to our constituents and decide what is in our national interest.

"There is a choice which MPs will have to make. We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people.

"Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one ... It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail."

She will say that "the national interest is clear" and "the British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum".

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson branded the Prime Minister's deal a "disaster" and a "humiliation" for the UK

Boris Johnson branded the Prime Minister's deal a "disaster" / AFP/Getty Images

In his regular Daily Telegraph column, he said: "The other EU countries have signed the deal immediately, because they know that they have us exactly where they want us.

"We are a satellite state - a memento mori fixed on the walls of Brussels as a ghastly gaping warning to all who try to escape."

More than 80 Tories have rejected the deal, with opposition parties - and Mrs May's allies in the DUP - also set to oppose it.

DUP leader Arlene Foster (right) and deputy leader Nigel Dodds are among those to speak out against the deal / PA Wire/PA Images

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, deputy DUP leader Nigel Dodds demanded the Government go back to the negotiating table "rather than waste any more time putting forward false choices".

"We are heading under this deal for Brexit in name only or the break-up of the United Kingdom," he warned.

"The tragedy is that it is all so utterly unnecessary."

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted Mrs May could carry on as Prime Minister if she was defeated.

Jeremy Hunt has said the PM could stay on in her role even if her deal is rejected by the Commons (REUTERS) / Reuters

"Absolutely she can," he told BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show.

Pressed on whether the Government could collapse, he acknowledged: "It's not possible to rule out anything."

Mr Corbyn said the deal "is the result of a miserable failure of negotiation that leaves us with the worst of all worlds".

At a press conference in Brussels, Mrs May refused to be drawn on whether she would stand down if she lost the vote, despite being repeatedly pressed on the subject.

"I am focusing on ensuring that I make a case for this deal to MPs," she said.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker led the warnings there could be no return to the negotiating table if the deal - comprising the Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration of future EU-UK relations - was rejected.

"This is the deal. It's the best deal possible and the EU will not change its fundamental position when it comes to these issues," he said.

"Those who think by rejecting the deal that they would have a better deal will be disappointed in the first seconds after the rejection of this deal."

Irish premier Leo Varadkar said: "There isn't a plan B. What's being put in front of EU Parliament and House of Commons is a deal.

"Any other deal really only exists in people's imagination."
T hirteen expat Brits who tried to challenge Brexit because they were not able to vote in the EU referendum have had a court appeal rejected.

EU judges have dismissed a case brought by the group, which included a Second World War veteran.

Harry Shindler, a 97-year-old living in Italy, was among the 13 expats who complained that Brexit would deprive them of EU citizenship.

But on Monday, the EUs General Court dismissed the action as inadmissible. It said the EU Council's decision to accept notification of Britains withdrawal did not in itself carry any definite consequences for their rights.

Julien Fouchet, a French lawyer acting for the group, said he would appeal to the Court of Justice, the EU's top court.

"Unacceptable," he tweeted. "The fight goes on."

Lawyer Julien Fouchet said he would take the case to the European Court of Justice / Francois Lenoir/Reuters

Mr Shindler had demanded that all expats be given a vote in the referendum to London's High Court. Judges there ruled two months before the 2016 referendum that this would be too difficult for the authorities.

On Tuesday, the European Court of Justice, in Luxembourg, will hear a case brought by Scottish politicians who oppose Brexit and want judges to rule on whether the Article 50 notification process can be unilaterally revoked by the British government.

They hope that can strengthen a campaign to have Brexit halted altogether, although Prime Minister Theresa May continues to insist Brexit will go ahead.
 Shouty Brexit man has come up with an "ingenious" way of keeping himself on TV despite broadcasters erecting five-metre high platforms at Westminster.

In recent weeks, campaigner Steve Bray has become notorious for popping up on news broadcasts with his anti-Brexit background shouting. On Monday, networks erected five-metre platforms outside Parliament. But Mr Bray still found a way of making his presence felt.

He used a huge pole to wave an EU flag in the background, which was pictured on a BBC broadcast in College Green on Monday.

He even accused the corporation of censorship, tweeting: How much have these TV towers cost the BBC? (An anonymous source suggests 10,000). And to what ends?

"If the panorama at Westminster includes anti-Brexit protestors, why wouldn't they include us?

Sky News reporter Adam Boulton attracts the unwanted attention of anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray earlier this month / Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

At what point is this censorship?

But BBC political journalist Joey DUrso responded: Hi Steve, the BBC regularly puts up a podium on College Green for big political moments (like this week).

Mr DUrso said a podium was used in March last year, when Article 50 was triggered to leave the EU.

Staunch Remainer Mr Bray has hijacked dozens of political broadcasts and interviews in recent weeks.
T heresa May is facing her toughest ever challenge as Prime Minister as she spends the next fortnight campaigning to get her Brexit deal through Parliament amid fierce opposition.

On Sunday Theresa May cleared a major hurdle as EU leaders signed off on the deal during a historic summit in Brussels, following extensive negotiations.

However, the British Prime Minister still faces fierce opposition to her divorce deal, with more than 80 Tory MPs so far declaring they intend to vote against the plan.

Mrs May now faces the fight of her political life as she prepares to spend the next weeks campaigning for the deal across the country before seeking a Parliamentary vote.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May / AFP/Getty Images

The vote, the Prime Minister's next major obstacle, is expected to take place before MPs break for Christmas in December.

With high-profile Tories such as Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg rejecting the deal and calling for it to be renegotiated, Mrs May faces an uphill battle in trying to save her Brexit deal.

Many believe that the document will be voted down in its current form, although Mrs May is likely to have several weeks to build support from both MPs and the British public.

Mrs May spoke after leaders of the 27 remaining EU member states approved her deal / Getty Images

Unanimous support was given to the withdrawal treaty and the 26-page political declaration after less than an hour at the summit in Brussels on Sunday.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned as he arrived at the summit that Britain cannot expect to get a better deal if Parliament rejects the agreement.

He told reporters: "This is the deal. It's the best deal possible and the EU will not change its fundamental position when it comes to these issues.

Mr Juncker's comments were echoed by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte who urged MPs to give their approval in next month's expected "meaningful vote" in the House of Commons.

"This is the deal on the table. I don't think there is anything more now. I don't want to contemplate a no vote. I think there will be a yes vote," he said.

"I think this is the best we can all do - both Theresa May and her Government as well as the EU. I do think she has everything now to argue for a yes vote in the British Parliament."

President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (L) arrives for a special meeting of the European Council / AFP/Getty Images

However, while the deal was being rubber-stamped at the summit, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith was telling Sky News that it would be "very, very difficult" to support the Prime Minister's deal arguing that "far too much has been given to the EU."

He told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "Well I don't want to stay in the EU. I campaigned and voted to leave the EU.

I don't believe that, so far, this deal delivers on what the British people really voted for, take back control of your borders, your laws, your money. I think it has ceded too much control."

He added: "I believe the Government needs to go back and say things like 'the backstop, we simply cannot agree it and you must take all of that reference out' and things to do with the Court of Justice.

That would make this a better deal, but right now the balance is definitely tilted against this being a deal, I'm afraid, that delivers on what the Government said they would deliver, which is leaving the EU and setting out to be able to do our own trade deals.

"We won't be able to do our own trade deals if we're bound into the customs union, that is single one of the most important things that people voted for."

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The Sunday Times reported that Chancellor Philip Hammond - who warned on Saturday of "economic chaos" if there is no deal - is working with David Lidington, Amber Rudd, Greg Clark and David Gauke on trying to persuade Mrs May to adopt a softer Brexit which may be able to get through Parliament if her plan is rejected.

Mr Hammond has dismissed the report as fake news.
A British academic who was convicted of spying in the UAE was pardoned on Monday following international pressure over his release.

Matthew Hedges was arrested at Dubai Airport in May for alleged spying and handed a life sentence by a court in Abu Dhabi last week.

But those who know the 31-year-old say he is not an intelligence agent, and insist he was in the Emirates to do research on his PhD thesis.

This is what we know about Mr Hedges, who his wife Daniela Tejada called "innocent victim in all of this".

Mr Hedges was on a research trip when he was arrested / AFP/Getty Images

Who is Matthew Hedges?

Mr Hedges, who is originally from Exeter, is a 31-year-old student at Durham University studying the effects of the Arab spring on the gulf states.

But Mr Hedges has an established career in research and consultancy, and since 2016 has been an advisor for consultancy firm Gulf State Analytics.

Calling himself an "intelligence analyist", he also specialises in corporate investigations, due diligence and research, while his extensive research in the Middle East covers a number of topics.

He has also written a number of articles for publications including Defense News, Gulf States Newsletter, Military Balance, Defence Procurement International and the Middle East Policy Council.

Born in Surrey, Mr Hedges has spent a lot of time in the Emirates - his family worked there and consequently he spent holidays there when he was younger.

He worked in the area for a number of years and was well known among the "Emirati political elite" but according to the BBC could not read or speak Arabic.

His MA thesis from the University of Exeter was titled: "What has driven the UAE's military spending since 2001?".

Why and when was he arrested?

Officials accused him of spying / EPA

Mr Hedges was arrested at Dubai Airport as he tried to leave the country on May 5 following a two-week research visit.

The doctoral student is understood to have travelled to the UAE in April to examine the impact of the Arab Spring revolutions on UAE foreign and security policy, and to have interviewed people about this during his trip.

But two weeks later the UAE government arrested the academic, saying he had been charged with spying for and on behalf of a foreign state and he was reportedly held in solitary confinement for months.

At a hearing on October 24, a court-appointed lawyer insisted he was innocent, arguing that notes from his research did not contain anything confidential and the court should review them.

Ms Tejada denies accusations he is a spy / AFP/Getty Images

The court had agreed and postponed the hearing until Wednesday, November 21.

Mr Hedges had been freed from detention on October 29 and was staying in Dubai, with an ankle tag monitoring his movements.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt raised his case on a visit to Abu Dhabi on November 12, speaking to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, and foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed.

Mr Hedges was sentenced to life in jail on Wednesday, November 21. Prosecutors said Mr Hedges confessed to all the charges put before him but his family said the hearing lasted less than five minutes and his lawyer was not present.

Ms Tejada was allowed into the courtroom but a Reuters journalist was barred and it was closed to the public.

On Monday, Mr Hedges was pardoned following international pressure but the UAE said it still stood by the charge against him.

What has the UAE said?

A video appears to show Mr Hedges confess to being an MI6 captain / AFP/Getty Images

In a press conference on Monday, UAE officials showed a video in which Mr Hedges appears to confess to being a captain in MI6 at a court hearing.

Another clip appears to show Hedges speaking to someone in an office and saying: "It helps the research to go in in an easy way."

Then, Mr Hedges is seen snapping his fingers and adds: "Then it becomes MI-6."

Officials did not allow members of the media to record the clip.

An official told reporters at the press conference in Abu Dhabi that Mr Hedges was "100% a full-time secret service operative" who was in the country "to steal the UAE's sensitive security national secrets for his paymasters".

What have his friends and family said?

Professor Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said there is "no reason to believe that Matt was conducting anything other than legitimate academic research".
S ainsbury's is introducing on-shelf labels to help encourage customers to donate much-needed items to food banks.

Following a trial at a store in Exeter, the labels will be rolled out nationwide, informing customers of what their local food banks need.

Customers are then able to put the donations in an area after the checkout counters.

The labels are part of a Christmas campaign by Sainsbury's and Argos to help families in need over the Christmas period.

Amber broad places a new sign next to a priority item at Sainsbury's / PA

Argos customers will be able to donate toys until December 16.

According to Sainsbury's, the food donation labels will remain in its stores indefinitely as its food donations scheme runs year-round.

Priority food products include tinned meat, tinned vegetables, pasta and rice.

The initiative was started by a group of National Citizen Service graduates from Exeter.

The group came up with the labels after realising that customers were noticing the food bank donation bins after finishing their shop, meaning that it was too late to donate.

Following a trial of the labels at the Exeter store, food donations tripled.

Claudine Blamey, Sainsbury's Group Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability said: "We're excited to be working together as a group to expand Sainsbury's food donation programme and to launch Argos' toy donation programme.
A n average of 137 women around the world are killed by a partner or family member every day, new research from the UN has revealed.

New figures released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found that 87,000 women were killed in 2017.

Of that figure, more than half (50,000) were killed by a partner or family member.

The study found that while the majority of intentional homicide victims are male, women comprise the victims of 82 percent of intimate partner murders.

Dowry and honour killings were one of the reasons cited.

Neha Sharad Chaudry was 18-years-old when she was killed in a suspected honour killing, according to the BBC.

She was killed on her 18th birthday after going out to celebrate with her boyfriend. Her family did not approve of the relationship.

Her parents and another male relative are accused of killing her in their home on the same evening.

The largest number of females killed by their partners or relatives were in Asia. The Oceania region had the lowest number of women killed by their partners or family.

The report said: The death of those killed by intimate partners does not usually result from random or spontaneous acts, but rather from the culmination of prior gender-related violence. Jealousy and fear of abandonment are among the motives.

UNODC executive director Yury Fedotov told Time: Women continue to pay the highest price as a result of gender inequality, discrimination and negative stereotypes.
A plane missed its destination by almost 50km after the pilot drifted off in the cockpit.

The Vortex Air pilot was flying from Devonport in Tasmania to neighbouring King Island when he fell asleep, officials said.

The 6.21am flight was forced to make the embarrassing U-turn on Thursday, November 8, when it missed its landing by 46km.

Despite there being no damage to the nine-passenger Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-TWU, the incident was still classed as 'serious' by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

It was one of seven flights made by the plane that day.

A Piper PA-31 plane / Shutterstock / Markus Schmal

An ATSB spokesman said: "The ATSB is investigating a pilot incapacitation involving a Piper PA-31, VH-TWU, operated by Vortex Air, near King Island Airport, Tasmania on 8 November 2018.

"During the cruise, the pilot fell asleep resulting in the aircraft overflying King Island by 46km.

"As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the pilot and review operational procedures.

"A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation."
D onald Trump has taken aim at Theresa May's Brexit deal, suggesting it could make trade difficult between the US and UK.

The US President said the deal sounds like a good deal for the European Union.

Speaking to reporters outside of the White House, Mr Trump said that as the Brexit agreement stands, the UK may not be able to trade with the US.

Mr Trumps comments come as he was about to depart for a trip to Mississippi.

Mr Trump said he it "would not be a good thing", if the UK could not trade with the US / REUTERS

He said: Sounds like a great deal for the EU, and I think we have to do this:

I think we have to look seriously at whether or not the UK is allowed to trade because you know right now, if you look at the deal, they may not be able to trade with us.

That wouldn't be a good thing. I don't think they meant that, I don't think the Prime Minister meant that and hopefully she'll be able to do something about that but right now as the deal stands they may not be able to trade with the US and I don't think they want that at all, that would be a very big negative for the deal.

TODO: define component type apester

Mr Trump added he hoped Theresa May would be able to address the problem, but he did not specify which provision of the deal he was concerned with."

Labour MP Tulip Siddiq said Mrs May should "ditch this deal", in response to Mr Trump's comments.

She added: "This is a major blow for the Prime Minister".

Theresa May and Donald Trump / AFP/Getty Images

Michael Fabricant MP also responded to Mr Trump, saying: "Trump is spot on.

"It's a great deal for the EU."

MPs are due to vote on Mrs May's Brexit deal in the commons on December 11, after five days of debate

They are set to debate the proposals from December 4, according to a timetable set out in a letter from chief whip Julian Smith.

News of the debate comes as Mrs May this afternoon told the House of Commons she has secured a Brexit deal which "delivers for the British people".
A Chinese researcher today claimed to have helped to create the worlds first genetically-edited babies.

He Jiankui said twin girls Lulu and Nana had been born after having their DNA edited to prevent them contracting HIV in future.

But UK experts described his work as monstrous, despicable and a publicity stunt and said it put the girls future health at risk.

Details of Mr Hes work emerged after he gave an interview to the Associated Press.

He altered embryos for seven couples who had agreed to take part in exchange for free fertility treatment.

He Jiankui, left, and Zhou Xiaoqin work a computer at a laboratory in Shenzhen / AP

Eleven embryos were used in six attempts before the twin pregnancy resulted. One twin had both copies of her intended gene altered and the other had just one - meaning she could still contract HIV.

The girls were reportedly born in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, where Mr He has a lab at Southern University of Science and Technology of China and two genetics companies.

There has been no independent verification of his claim and the parents involved declined to be interviewed or identified.

Mr He said his aim was to bestow an ability in humans to resist HIV infection.

I feel a strong responsibility that its not just to make a first, but also make it an example, he told AP. Society will decide what to do next.

He sought to disable the CCR5 gene that allows HIV to enter a cell. All of the men in the trial had HIV and all of the women did not. The men had their infections suppressed to minute levels.

The participants were recruited via a Beijing AIDS group called Baihualin, which said prejudice against people with HIV meant it was not uncommon for them to lose jobs or struggle to get medical care.

Today UK experts were united in condemnation and called for international regulation on gene editing to guard against designer babies.

They said it also failed to recognise that there were safe ways to prevent HIV transmission from parent to child and that treatments existed to allow the disease to be treated lifelong.

Professor Julian Savulescu, of Oxford university, said: If true, this experiment is monstrous. The embryos were healthy.

This experiment exposes healthy normal children to risks of gene editing for no real necessary benefit. In many other places in the world, this would be illegal - punishable by imprisonment.

These healthy babies are being used as genetic guinea pigs. This is genetic Russian Roulette.

Professor Joyce Harper, of UCL Institute for Womens Health, said it was premature, dangerous and irresponsible.

TODO: define component type apester

She said: Before this procedure comes anywhere near clinical practice, we need years of work to show that meddling with the genome of the embryo is not going to cause harm to the future person.

Dr Dusko Ilic, of Kings College London, said: Why has He Jianhui done this? The first thing that comes in mind is to claim fame of being the first.

If this can be called ethical, then their perception of ethics is very different of the rest of the world.

Dr Sarah Chan, of Edinburgh university, said: Playing with childrens health and families hopes in order to use them as a means for a cheap publicity stunt is nothing short of despicable.

Dr Channa Jayasena, of Imperial College London, said: Will this open the door for designer babies who have been selected for specific physical and behavioural traits?
D onald Trump has said of the dire economic warning in his own governments climate change report: I dont believe it.

The president said he read some of the report, which predicted climate change will cause severe economic harm to the US.

The paper said the country faces losing billions of dollars by the end of the century, but Mr Trump appeared unconcerned at a White House briefing on Monday.

He told reporters: I've seen it, I've read some of it, and it's fine." Asked about the projected economic impacts, he said: "I don't believe it."

He continued: And heres the other thing. Youre going to have to have China and Japan and all of Asia and all of these other countries.

You know, it addressed our country. Right now, were at the cleanest weve ever been, and thats very important to me.

Donald Trump: 'Right now, the US is at the cleanest weve ever been' / Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

But if were clean and every other place on Earth is dirty, thats not so good. So I want clean air, I want clean water. Very important.

Mr Trump has made a number of hotly-disputed claims about climate change during his presidency.

Donald Trump: 'If were clean and every other place on Earth is dirty, thats not so good' / Win McNamee/Getty Images

Only last week, Mr Trump was ridiculed after he suggested the recent freezing weather in the US was proof that global warming didnt exist.

Last year, Mr Trump announced he would pull the US out of the Paris Agreement, a treaty in which nations pledge to reduce carbon emissions. It could leave America the only country in the world not to be signed to the deal if Mr Trump fulfils his pledge.

He also rolled back Barack Obama-era environmental and climate rules such as the Clean Power Plan, while seeking to boost output of oil, gas and coal for domestic use and for shipping to allies and partners.
He Jiankui said twin girls Lulu and Nana had been born after having their DNA edited in a bid to protect them from HIV.

Fertility expert Professor Robert Winston condemned it as a really shocking episode that risked creating mutant babies.

Others described the experiment as monstrous, despicable and a publicity stunt, and said it put the girls health at risk.

Lord Winston told the Standard: These children have undergone an experiment and cant give informed consent. This is totally unethical.

He Jiankui said twin girls Lulu and Nana had been born after having their DNA edited / AP

There is no question that what these people have done  if they have done this  is dangerous, highly dangerous. The chance of getting a mutant baby  is very high indeed.

Details of Mr Hes work emerged this morning in an interview with the Associated Press, although this afternoon doubt was being cast on his claims, also made in a YouTube video, as several organisations, including a hospital, denied involvement.

Details of Mr Hes work emerged this morning in an interview with the Associated Press, although this afternoon doubt was being cast on his claims / AP

Mr He said he had altered embryos for seven couples who had agreed to the procedures in exchange for free fertility treatment. He said 11 embryos were used in six attempts before the twin pregnancy resulted. One twin had both copies of her intended gene altered and the other had just one  meaning she could still contract HIV.

The girls were reportedly born in the city of Shenzhen, where Mr He has a lab at Southern University of Science and Technology of China and two genetics companies.

The university said it had been unaware of the work and was investigating. It said Mr He had been on leave without pay since February, and described the work as a serious violation of academic ethics and standards.

It is illegal in the UK and most other countries to implant edited embryos in a woman, but editing in the laboratory for research is permitted.

Mr He said his aim had been to bestow an ability in humans to resist HIV infection. I feel a strong responsibility that its not just to make a first, but also make it an example, he told the news agency. Society will decide what to do next.

He sought to disable the CCR5 gene, which allows HIV to enter a cell. The men in the trial had HIV and the women did not. The men had their infections suppressed to minute levels. The parents of the twins have declined to be interviewed or identified.

The participants were recruited via an Aids group in Beijing called Baihualin, which said prejudice against people with HIV meant they commonly lost jobs or struggled to get medical care.

UK experts called for international regulation on gene editing to guard against designer babies. They said the experiment failed to recognise that there were safe ways to prevent HIV transmission from parent to child, and that the disease was treatable.

Lord Winston said the use of editing technology was not 100 per cent reliable, and feared for the impact on the twins character, mentality and other aspects of their health.

Professor Julian Savulescu, of Oxford University, said: If true, this experiment is monstrous. It exposes healthy children to risks of gene editing for no real necessary benefit. These healthy babies are being used as guinea pigs. This is genetic Russian roulette.

Professor Joyce Harper, of University College London, called it irresponsible. She said: Before this procedure comes anywhere near clinical practice we need years of work to show that meddling with the genome of the embryo is not going to cause harm to the future person. Dr Dusko Ilic, of Kings College London, said: If this can be called ethical, their perception of ethics is very different from the rest of the world.
I ndia has paid tribute to the 166 victims killed in the Mumbai terror attack ten years ago today.

Mourners and senior politicians gathered to pay their respects and lay wreaths at a Martyr's Memorial in downtown Mumbai on the anniversary of the brutal assault.

The attack, which sparked fears of war with Pakistan, lasted three days and targeted two luxury hotels, a Jewish community centre, a tourist restaurant and a crowded train carriage.

Victims included Indian security personnel and 26 foreign nationals, with over 300 injured.

Members of the Mumbai Police pay their respects at the Police Memorial / AFP/Getty Images

The Jewish centre, Chabad House, unveiled a memorial to the victims on Sunday, renaming the centre the Nariman Light House.

The ten Pakistani gunmen who waged the attack, believed to be linked with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, were killed or captured.

Chef Raghu Deora narrowly escaped death after he was lined up and shot with colleagues at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel's private club, The Chambers.

The 44-year-old was hit in his abdomen and leg, but was evacuated by hotel security and rushed to a hospital. It took him more than three months to recover.

He said: "I was found out by the terrorists. They got me out. Me, along with two more guests, we were made to stand in line and we were shot point blank.

"My entire family is from the army background and nobody's got shot other than me."

Mr Deora admits that life has changed post-26/11, as the attacks are known in India, and says the assault made Mumbai more security conscious.

He added: "I will look at the bags lying on a bench twice. Before I would not do that."

Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and CEO of The Indian Hotels Company, said: "I don't think 10 years is long enough to forget if one was ever able to forget this dark moment in the history.

"Taj Mumbai is not just a hotel. It's a landmark, a monument in itself. It was an attack on Mumbai.

"Post 26/11, we spent a lot of money with the help of an international organisation in improving our security and safety standards."

Indian officials accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of working with the militant group to mastermind the attack - an allegation they denied.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement today that those who planned the attack had not been convicted, and offered a new $5 million reward for information.

He also called on Pakistan to implement sanctions against those responsible.

Mr Pompeo said: "It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after ten years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter: "Tributes to those who lost their lives in the gruesome 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.

"Our solidarity with the bereaved families.

"A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks."

President Ram Nath Kovind added: "Ten years after the Mumbai terror attacks, thoughts with families and individuals who suffered.

"We salute those from the police and security forces, who made the supreme sacrifice that day.
A Syrian man who spent over six months inside Kuala Lumpur's airport terminal has now reportedly been offered refuge in Canada.

Hassan Al Kontar, 36, documented his life living in the tiny arrivals area of Kuala Lumpur's budget airport on Twitter.

He explained how he relied on two meals a day of chicken and rice from airlines.

On Monday, he announced on his Twitter account that he was headed for Canada despite being detained two months ago and taken to a immigration detention centre.

Hassan al Kontar meets with supporters upon his arrival in Vancouver / AP

It was feared that he would be sent back to Syria from Malaysia however he told his followers: "the past is no longer with us. What is important is today and tomorrow."

"Today I am in Taiwan international airport and tomorrow I will be reaching my final destination, Vancouver, Canada.

"For the last eight years, it was a hard, long journey, for the last ten months it was hard. I could not do it without the support without you and I could not do it without my family, my Canadian friends, my lawyer, thank you all.

"I will keep you updated."

Thousands of people signed a petition for Mr Al Kontar to be granted asylum.

He is from Damascus and had been living in the UAE when war broke out in Syria.

Mr Al Kontar resided in the arrivals area of Kuala Lumpur International Airport for over six months / Getty Images

He was unable to renew his passport as he had not done his compulsory military service.

He overstayed his visa and was arrested.

But in 2017, he was able to get a new passport before he was deported to Malaysia.

After attempts to get to Turkey and Cambodia, he ended up back in the arrivals hall of Kuala Lumpur International Airport where he resided for over six months.

His plight gained media attention as people compared his story to the Tom Hanks film The Terminal.

During his time at the airport, Mr Al Kontar was helped by a group who were attempting to get him asylum in Canada.

The group filed a refugee sponsorship application to Canada on his behalf in April. However the processing time can take up to 23 months.

Canada's Caring Society started a petition to allow him to go to Canada on humanitarian grounds until his application is processed.

In a statement to the Standard, the group confirmed that Mr al Kontar has been resettled in Canada.

Laurie Cooper, a volunteer with Canada Caring Society said: "We are so relieved that Hassan will be coming to Canada. It is a unique and very difficult situation. We are really grateful to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and to the Canadian officials who worked so hard to resolve Hassan's predicament.

"We are proud that Canada was willing to step up and help Hassan when so many countries around the world are closing their doors to refugees."
T he Duke of Sussex is the latest member of the monarchy to visit Africa in the wake of Theresa May's push to deepen trade ties with the continent following Brexit.

Harry has begun a two-day trip to Zambia and is following in the footsteps of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall who toured three African nations earlier this month.

Theresa May made a high profile trade mission to Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria during August and September, in an attempt to bolster Britain's post-Brexit fortunes.

The duke, who is visiting without pregnant wife Meghan, highlighted the growing economic ties between the UK and Zambia during a reception which celebrated the relationship between the two countries.

Prince Harry talks with Zambia's President Edgar Lungu during their meeting at State House, in Lusaka / AP

He told guests: "Britain is Zambia's oldest relationship. It is one that has thrived over the past 54 years, and it continues to evolve - from the UK's development assistance, to growing mutually beneficial trade and investment.

"The British Chamber of Commerce is exemplary of that. The chamber, working together with the British High Commission, has launched an effort to contribute to Zambia's economic development - making it easier to do business in Zambia, and encouraging more British companies to trade and invest here."

Prince Harry was greeted at the airport upon arrival / REUTERS

Speaking at the residence of Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, Britain's High Commissioner to Zambia, Harry added: "There are many well-established British companies here already and more are arriving. By creating jobs and wealth, the private sector is a catalyst to ending poverty."

When he arrived in Zambia earlier today, the Duke of Sussex was met by nine-year-old Jane Chawanangwa, who presented the prince with a large bunch of flowers at the airport.

The duke also met Zambia's president Edgar Lungu during a meeting at State House in the capital Lusaka.

Prince Harry is on a State visit to Zambia at the request of the Commonwealth office and is expected to attend various events in the Southern African country / AP

During his visit, Harry will visit Burma Barracks to attend an event commemorating the contribution of Zambian's forces during the First and Second World Wars.

He will also travel to BongoHive, Zambia's first technology and innovation hub.

The organisation provides a range of start-up and tech programmes, workshops and events all focused on making Zambia Africa's next hotbed of innovation.
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A Russian military ship was ordered to squash a Ukrainian boat in a maritime clash off the coast of Crimea, a dramatic recording claimed today.

The footage appears to show one of their ships deliberately ploughing into the much smaller Ukrainian vessel.

In the video a man can be heard shouting: Squash him, well done, squeeze him from the right...

According to Ukrainian sources, six of their naval crew were wounded and 23 were detained after the Russians opened fire on the boats and seized two armoured ships and a tug.

The UN Security Council was today due to hold an emergency meeting about the incident / AP

The UN Security Council was today due to hold an emergency meeting about the incident, US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley confirmed, while in Ukraine its Parliament was holding a vote on whether to introduce martial law.

The Ukrainian vessels were hit in the Kersh Strait which has been at the centre of tensions between the two countries after Russia annexed the peninsula in 2014.

The Ukrainian vessels were hit in the Kersh Strait / REUTERS

They had been sailing from Odessa in the Black Sea to Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, which involves travelling through the strait.

After being rammed the Russians blocked access into the Sea of Azov by moving a tanker across a narrow stretch of water under the newly built Putin bridge which connects mainland Russia to Crimea.

The vessels had been sailing from Odessa in the Black Sea to Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov / AFP/Getty Images

The strait was reopened following the confrontation.

Russia has alleged Ukraine orchestrated the incident to boost the poll ratings of president Petro Poroshenko in coming elections.

Vladimir Dzhabarov, a senator and vice-chairman of the Russian upper chambers foreign affairs committee, said: All of this has been orchestrated by Poroshenko, who is lagging behind in the (presidential) election (campaign).

His goal is to introduce the state of emergency in Ukraine to cancel the elections or set all Ukrainians against Russia in order to try to improve his approval rating with the help of a new wave of anti-Russia sentiments.

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The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Natalia Galibarenko, told Radio 4s Today programme this morning they had not been provocative and have a right to access the Sea of Azov.

She said: This time we have an open act. Russia is not hiding anymore.

It was not provocative on our side because according to the legislation and according to the agreement dated 2003, Azov Sea is the internal sea of both Ukraine and Russia so we possess the same rights. If our ships are going somewhere we are just informing the Russian Federation and vice versa.

We did all the procedures on our side.

TODO: define component type apester
T aiwan has voted to reject same-sex marriage quashing hopes that the country could be the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex unions.

People in Taiwan headed to the polls over the weekend and voted against a number of questions on same-sex marriage, including a questions that asked if marriage regulations should be used to guarantee the rights of same-sex couples to get married.

It comes after a high court ruled in favour of same-sex unions last year and ordered that they be legalised within two years.

The ballot is advisory only and the government said that it would still press on with new laws but they would now be weaker.

According to the BBC, authorities in the country will pass a special law without amending the civil code.

This could mean that gay couples are given legal protection but are not allowed to marry.

The referendum result will be a blow to gay rights activists in the country who have been working to ensure that progressive Taiwan would be the first country in Asia to recognise same-sex marriage.

In the run up to the elections, opponents of same-sex marriage held rallies and mobilised votes online.

CNN reports that rumours were circulated on social media as to what could happen in Taiwan if same-sex marriage became legal. There were also reports that other places who have passed same-sex marriage laws have regretted it.

TODO: define component type apester
F our soldiers died when their helicopter crashed down in a residential area of Istanbul.

The Turkish military personnel were engaged in a training exercise when the chopper fell into a residential area.

Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, who visited the scene, said an investigation was underway as he confirmed the deaths. Another soldier is in intensive care.

Though some reports stated the helicopter hit an apartment block, there were no reports of civilians being injured during the tragedy.

Emergency service crews rushed to the scene / AP

"These heroic aviation personnel of ours made an effort to make an emergency landing for reasons we do not yet know," Mr Akar told reporters at the scene.

"It is understood that they made a great effort to do this without hurting anyone."

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya told the state-owned Anadolu news agency that the cause of the crash had not yet been determined.

Rescue workers sorted through the debris at the scene, where the helicopter lay on its side on the street.

The craft was crushed in the tragedy, with large sections crumpled and destroyed.

A large section of the aircrafts tail end rested on the other side of the road.

Mr Yerlikaya was quoted as saying the helicopter hit the roof of a four-storey apartment building as it attempted an emergency landing, by broadcaster NTV.

The helicopter went down in the Sancaktepe district of Istanbul which is on the eastern edge of the city's Asian side.
B ritish academic Matthew Hedges was today dramatically freed from jail in the UAE after being granted a presidential pardon from a life term.

The Durham University PhD student was still accused of being an MI6 spy but was named among 785 prisoners being freed ahead of the UAEs National Day on December 2.

His elated wife Daniela Tejada, who has publicly fought for his release, was stunned by the news, saying she had been brought back to life and cannot wait to have Matt back home.

The presidential pardon for Matt is the best news we could have received, she said.

Im so happy, so relieved and really incredulous that it is all happening finally.

An Emirati official announces the full pardon for Matthew Hedges, who was convicted of spying in the country

She told of an absolutely nightmarish seven months after Mr Hedges, 31, was arrested at Dubai Airport as he tried to leave the country on May 5.

Mr Hedges was kept in solitary confinement for months and suffered panic attacks.

Just minutes before the pardon was announced, UAE government spokesman Jabel Al Lamki showed journalists a video of Mr Hedges which purportedly showed him confessing to being a captain in MI6 researching which military systems the UAE was buying.

He claimed Mr Hedges, originally from Exeter, had been gathering information from targets using two different identities.

He was part-time PhD researcher, part-time businessman, but he was 100 per cent a full-time secret service operative, alleged Mr Al Lamki.

Mr Hedges has been found guilty of espionage. He sought out sensitive information...he was here to steal the UAEs sensitive national security secrets for his paymasters.

Mr Hedges pictured with his wife / AFP/Getty Images

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt rejected the allegation, as did Ms Tejada who said that in my heart I know that he isnt a spy.

Asked about the fact that he was being pardoned rather than the spying charges being quashed, she said: If that is what it takes for him to be back I just welcome the news.

Mr Hedges had been researching the UAEs security strategy as part of his PhD studies and his family say he did not get a fair trial.

His life sentence was handed down in a five-minute hearing last Wednesday.

He is said to have signed what transpired to be a confession in Arabic which he could not understand.

Mr Hunt stressed: We never saw any evidence for these charges against Matthew Hedges and we made that clear. The UAE authorities, to their credit, have been willing to listen to us in the last few days.

Jeremy Hunt said Mr Hedges' release was "fantastic news" / AFP/Getty Images

Matthew Hedges is coming home.

The presidential pardon was made on the orders of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

It allowed the UAE to defuse a diplomatic bust-up with the UK, a traditionally ally, while defending the courts findings on Mr Hedges.

Responding to the act of clemency, Mr Hunt said he respected that the UAE had an independent, judicial system and thanked Emirati leaders for being true to their word in listening to Britains protestations that Mr Hedges was innocent.

He praised Ms Tejada, originally from Bogota in Colombia, who had been to hell and back during her campaign to get her husband released.

I think its closure on this chapter, the Foreign Secretary added.

TODO: define component type apester

But in a way its a bittersweet moment because in Iran we have Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an innocent woman, who is still in prison nearly three years now and indeed there are other British citizens and other citizens from other countries also wrongly imprisoned in Iran as well.

We must never forget them either.

UAE foreign minister Dr Anwar Gargash said the pardon would allow the UAE and UK to return our focus to the underlying fundamental strength of the UAE-UK bilateral relationship.

He added: It was always a UAE hope that this matter would be resolved through the common channels of our longstanding partnership. This was a straightforward matter that became unnecessarily complex despite the UAEs best efforts.

Professor Stuart Corbridge, vice-chancellor of Durham University, said: We are absolutely delighted to learn the news of Matts impending release.

It is paramount that he is now allowed to return home to Daniela and his family as quickly and safely as possible.
U kraines president has backed martial law and imposed a military government as the Russian boat crisis continued to escalate.

After Russia seized three Ukrainian vessels in the disputed Crimean Peninsula, president Petro Poroshenko has introduced martial law: involving a military government and the suspension of ordinary law.

He claimed the 30-day measure, which was approved by parliament on Monday evening, was to strengthen Ukraines defence against a pretty unpredictable neighbour. Martial law has never been imposed in Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other in the latest dispute, which further escalated tensions since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and threw its weight behind separatists in eastern Ukraine with clandestine support.

Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko gestures during a parliament session in Kiev on Monday evening as martial law was imposed / Efrem Lukatsky/AP

In a statement on Monday, president Poroshenko said: Martial law does not mean the declaration of war. It is introduced solely for the purpose of strengthening Ukraine's defence against the background of growing aggressiveness from Russia.

Our joint responsibility, first of all mine, as of supreme commander-in-chief, is to protect Ukraine. And Ukraine's defence is not only the defence of territory or military equipment. This is primarily the protection of people.

We must be as prepared as possible for any action by our aggressive, volatile and, unfortunately, pretty unpredictable neighbour.

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Martial law will come into force on Wednesday. He claimed there was an extremely serious threat of further aggression from Russia.

He said: Reconnaissance data suggest an extremely serious threat of a land-based operation against Ukraine. I have a document of intelligence in my hands, a summary of our intelligence data.

Here on several pages is a detailed description of all the forces of the enemy located at a distance of literally several dozens of kilometres from our border. Ready at any moment for an immediate invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian activists burn flares during a rally in front of the Russian Consulate in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Monday / EPA

A rifle hanging on the wall will go off sooner or later.

The proposed measures include strengthening of the country's air defence. It also contained vaguely worded steps such as "strengthening" anti-terrorism measures and "information security.

It came as a dramatic recording suggested a Russian military ship was ordered to squash a Ukrainian boat in a maritime clash.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addresses parliament on Monday evening / Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

The footage appeared to show one of their ships deliberately ploughing into the much smaller Ukrainian vessel.

In the video a man can be heard shouting: Squash him, well done, squeeze him from the right...

According to Ukrainian sources, six of its naval crew were wounded and 23 were detained after the Russians opened fire on the boats and seized two armoured ships and a tug.

Russia has alleged Ukraine orchestrated the incident to boost the poll ratings of president Poroshenko in coming elections.
A n emergency United Nations Security Council meeting has been called after Russia seized three naval ships off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea on Sunday.

US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley tweeted that the meeting has been called for 11am on Monday.

However Russia blames Ukraine for provoking the incident, which has sharply escalated tensions that have been growing since the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Russias FSB security service said early on Monday that its patrol boats had seized the vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop.

Russian jet fighters fly over a bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula / REUTERS

The FSB said it had been forced to act because the ships  two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat  had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted illegal actions and ignored warnings to stop while manoeuvring dangerously.

A statement from the FSB said: "Weapons were used with the aim of forcibly stopping the Ukrainian warships

"As a result, all three Ukrainian naval vessels were seized in the Russian Federation's territorial waters in the Black Sea."

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The FSB said three Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the incident and were getting medical care. Their lives were not in danger, it said.

Ukraine denied its ships had done anything wrong, accused Russia of military aggression, and asked for the international community to mobilise to punish Russia.

Ukraines president Petro Poroshenko met with his top military and security chiefs and said he would propose that parliament impose martial law.

Protesters set up paper ships on the tyres during their rally near the Russian embassy building in Kiev, Ukraine / EPA

Russian politicians denounced Kiev, saying the incident looked like a calculated bid by Poroshenko to increase his popularity ahead of an election next year.

Late on Sunday, protestors took to the streets outside the Russian embassy in Kiev.

People were seen throwing flares during the rally.

The European Union said in a statement it expected Russia to restore freedom of passage via the Kerch Strait and urged both sides to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation. A NATO spokeswoman issued a similar appeal to both sides.
I talian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, who directed multiple hit films, has died aged 77.

Bertolucci, best known as the man behind Last Tango in Paris and The Last Emperor, died in Rome on Monday morning.

His film career also saw him at the helm of The Conformist, The Sheltering Sky and The Dreamers. His final feature, Me and You, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012.

A spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that he died after a short battle with cancer.

Last Tango in Paris: Director Bernardo Bertolucci with Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider / AP

The award-winning director had been using a wheelchair for over a decade after unsuccessful herniated disc surgery in 2003 left him unable to walk.

Born in 1941, the Parma-native directed his first film, La Commare Secca, at the age of 21 but it was Last Tango in Paris starring Marlon Brando that catapulted him into the limelight.

His later work, The Last Emperor, won nine Oscars in 1988 including the coveted Best Picture accolade.

The film, starring John Lone and Peter OToole, was a biopic of Chinese emperor Pu Yi.
L ove Island star Ellie Brown has proved she is well and truly over Charlie Brake by dumping photos of them together, weeks before a show reunion.

Brown has proved that she is ready to de-clutter her life of Brake by chucking out canvases of their faces into an industrial bin.

The moment was captured by close friend and co-star Kaz Crossley, who filmed Brown and posted the video alongside the caption: Thank u, next #menaretrash.

Over: Charlie Brake and Ellie Brown split in September after just a few months / Hewitt / Splash News

Brown and Brake had a tumultuous time during their short romance, with Brake accused of flirting with other girls on nights out and turning up drunk to the Love Island reunion in July.

Posting on her Instagram story, she wrote: Firstly, I just want to say a massive thank you to everybody who has sent me lots of love since Tuesday but I beg you to please stop coming to me with articles that claim I brought this on myself.

By no means am I saying I was the perfect girlfriend but I adored Charlie from the bottom of my heart and he knows that.

I am trying to deal with this as best and as quietly as a possible but it is hard and if you really believe that you are just as cowardly as the person who said it.

Statement: Ellie Brown posted an emotional comment after her split from Charlie Brake / Instagram / Ellie Brown

She concluded that she didnt even know what to say about the situation, before ending her emotional post with a red heart.

The class of 2018 are set to dish the gossip with Caroline Flack as part of ITV2s festivities later this year.

All of the Islanders, apart from Josh Denzel who is away, will be part of the fun - including the couples who are no longer loved up.
C hin Han is a film and TV actor who has appeared in Christopher Nolans The Dark Night, Contagion, and  most recently  the pacy action caper, Skyscraper, alongside Dwayne The Rock Johnson.

Han, 48, plays a wealthy tech entrepreneur to Johnsons ex-FBI agent who needs to rescue his family from a flaming skyscraper. Han lives in LA, and is currently writing his own scripts.

1. Tell me about Skyscraper, and your role in the film

Skyscraper is a throwback to the great disaster movies from the 70s and 80s like . The Towering Inferno, Die Hard, The Poseidon AdventureI would even say The Fugitive and Cliffhanger. Its about security specialist Will Sawyer who comes to China after a personal tragedy to inspect this building thats 225 stories in the sky, that has ever been built before and the architect and the owner of the building. The name of my character is Zhao and he is a visionary, enigmatic entrepreneur, technopreneur.

2. What were the most memorable moments on set?

The most memorable moment I think was shooting the climax of the movie with Dwayne because the backset piece was very complicated to shoot. It actually takes place in a hall of mirrors with a lot of holograms and projections and that took more than a week to shoot. It was very carefully choreographed and had multiple cameras and even more visual effect cameras. It was a full on dance of a scene to do because you dont quite know whether youre shooting at your enemy or shooting at a reflection of him or shooting at a reflection of a reflection of him. You have to make sure that you dont shoot the wrong person either so that was a lot of a fun to shoot with Dwayne and Roland Moller.

Death-defying: Dwayne Johnson as Will Sawyer in Skyscraper / 2018 Legendary Features Productions

3. What is it like filming an action film?

Its a lot of fun. You get to do a lot of things that you dont normally do in real life. There were so many things like shooting on the run, reloading with all kinds of different weaponry, attack formations and knowing the safety measures you take in any kind of emergency so I feel kind of well versed in most forms of self-defence.

4. What is it like to work with the Rock?

The Rock is such a pleasure to work with, people know him from all his action movies and his wrestling days but I think people also forget that he really is a fine actor as well. I think that his dedication to creating a role is on par with any classically trained actor Ive worked with. We worked with the director Rawson Thurber at length to develop the relationship between these two seemingly disparate characters that actually have a lot in common, the will to live and to create something good.

5. Did you do your own stunts?

I did as much as I could do. I can say this, I did a lot of running. Its a very tall building, lots of flights of stairs to take. So a lot of running, lot of gunning. The more intense sequences I always defer to the professionals. These guys are the unsung heroes of the industry.

6. Home is.

Wherever Im filming. It really is the life of a, I keep thinking of these Vaudevillian troops of actors that travel from place to place to perform and I kind of feel like thats my life and has been my life for the past 10 years while Ive been here in Los Angeles.

7. Who is your hero?

Theres so many legendary actors. I was just invited to the Academy this year and that was quite a moment for me to take stock of all the work Ive done over the years but also to consider the community Im in. And at that point I started to think about that question who are my heroes? and were all part of the collective brain of artists. I would say people like Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, before that you have actors like Marlon Brando and currently you have incredibly versatile and talented actors like Ryan Gosling. Im spoiled for choice, there are many here who inspire me and some of whom Ive worked with before as well. The late Heath Ledger, working with him on The Dark Knight was really one of the highlights of my career. These are the people and I enjoy it very much.

8. What superpower would you want?

I actually consider being Dwayne Johnson a superpower. Id like to be DJ, I dont know how he manages to pack as much work as he can into a 24 hour work day. He has a TV series on, working on how many movies, sportswear business and a movie ticketing business. To do all that and still come to set with the amount of energy that he has. Trying to keep up with him is crazy enough. I cant imagine him sleeping. Ever.

9. Best thing someone in the streets said to you?

Hey Jackie, I loved you in Rush Hour 1, 2 and 3. NI love Jackie Chan by the way, It is flattering to be compared to him.

10. If you could only be remembered for one thing?

I would like to be remembered for being a fabulous and great uncle to my nine nieces and nephews. I adore them but I dont seem them enough.

11. Whats next for you?
T he crew of Sir David Attenboroughs Dynasties broke the rule of no intervention for a second time this series to alert vets to a poisoned lion cub while shooting in Africa.

The third and final instalment of the BBC series followed lions in Kenyas Masai Mara as they face poisoning from humans.

One lioness, named Charm, was forced to abandon her youngest male cub after he ate poisoned meat and struggled to keep up with the pride.

One emotional cameraman said: Its just entirely wrong, isnt it? Lions are so endangered.

Abandoned: Charm left her dying son to follow the pride / BBC

A veterinary crew were then filmed racing to the scene in a bid to save the young cub. But what viewers were unaware of was how their arrival was a result of members of the film crew calling for help.

The Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit recorded what happened in an incident report, which noted the pride were seen during the morning behaving strangely by a BBC crew filming them.

The report continued: They informed Masai Mara National Reserve Management and Governors Camp management, who in turn sought the veterinary units help.

Tough decisions: Charm with her dying son / BBC

Viewers were reduced to tears as they watched the unsuccessful rescue mission with one tweeting: Crying! That poor baby! Im so glad the wildlife vet got involved and tried to save him. So tough to watch.

Another posted: #Dynasties lions. So hard to film the poisoned lions. Couldnt see to focus for tears. @BBCEarth.

A third wrote: Lump in my throat, tears in my eyes again! #Dynasties.

The move comes a week after crew members stepped in to save a waddle of penguins after they became stuck in a gully, separated from their colony.

Dynasties: David the chimpanzee recovers after being beaten

One cameraman was close to tears as he watched them battling the elements as they struggled to haul themselves out. I know it's natural, but it's bloody hard to watch, he said.

The crew then made the decision to take drastic action and dig a shallow ramp to help save the penguins.

Addressing the decision, BBC Earth tweeted: In an unprecedented move, the crew decided to act.

They dug a shallow ramp in the hope that at least some of the penguins would use it to save themselves #Dynasties.

The crews decision to step in comes after they previously hit back at claims they should have stepped into save a baby elephant dying from dehydration on BBC series, Africa.
I m A Celebrity viewers refused to watch after the contestants were forced to endure a savage X Factor-inspired live trial.

Nick Knowles, Noel Edmonds, Harry Redknapp, Malique Thompson-Dwyer, Emily Atack, Sair Khan, Anne Hegerty and Fleur East took part in Jungle X Factor in a bid to bag time for John Barrowman, James McVey and Rita Simons to complete a quest across the Australian outback.

The VIP campers were tasked with downing blended pig penis, eating live bugs and being placed in a container with green ants while wearing a mouth guard.

Viewers refused to watch the savage challenges, with many left gagging.

Atack and Thompson-Dwyer were up first and positioned into giant Xs filled with biting green ants. They had their mouths prized open and were tasked with singing songs for their campmates to guess.

Atack was left screaming as she attempted to belt out the tracks from previous X Factor contestants while being bitten all over. They completed the Sting-off before the others took part in Sick Chair Challenge. They had to bite the heads off of witchetty grubs, which saw Hegerty gag as she attempted to swallow the live critter.

Down it: Anne Hegerty knocks back a pint of fish eyes / James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock

Judges Critter-cism was up next and saw Edmonds down a pint of vomit fruit, Hegerty fish eyes, Atack turkey genitals and Redknapp blended pig penis all within 30 seconds each.

The final challenge  Dreadlock  required East and Knowles to unlock padlocks in boxes filled with snakes.

The group successfully completed the gruesome challenges, bagging 85 minutes for their campmates to complete their quest.

I'm a Celebrity .. Get Me Out of Here! 2018 - In pictures 1 /19 I'm a Celebrity .. Get Me Out of Here! 2018 - In pictures ITV/REX Harry Redknapp and wife Sandra ITV/REX Top trio: Malique Thompson-Dwyer, Fleur East and Harry Redknapp ITV/Rex/Shutterstock Emily Atack strips off to take her first jungle shower Rex Features John Barrowman celebrates getting 10 stars for camp with Harry Redknapp and John Barrowman Rex Features Anne Hegerty takes on Monstrous Monoliths - but only manages to secure two stars ITV/Rex Emily Atack provides comfort for Anne Hegerty on day one ITV/Rex/Shutterstock Emily Atack takes a dip in the jungle creek ITV/Rex John Barrowman takes on the Scary Rose ITV Anne Hegerty tells her campmates about her Monstrous Monoliths trial ITV/Rex Yellow team sank as they attempted to beat Red Team on the epic race to camp ITV/Rex/Shutterstock Emily Atack and Nick Knowles take on the Class of 2018 Dingo Dollar Challenge ITV Nick Knowles and Anne Hegerty wake up in the hut ITV Giggles: Holly Willoughby and Declan Donnelly were in hysterics as they watched Harry Redknapp ITV Rule enforcement: Nick Knowles and Noel Edmonds ITV/REX Harry Redknapp shares an awkward anecdote about an intimate moment with wife Sandra ITV/REX Fleur East takes part in a messy Bushtucker Trial ITV/REX The girls take turns popping each other's spots ITV/REX ITV/REX
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Health Minister Sorina Pintea said in Bistrita on Monday that the number of requests made by doctors to work abroad has almost halved according to data centralised by the month of August, while the number of requests to return to Romania has increased.

"There is some partial data, because we have requested an audit of the Court of Auditors in this area, and some statistical data have been processed by the month of August. Yes, the applications filed by doctors to work abroad in need of compliance certificates fell by about 45-50pct. But, there are many requests to return to Romania," the minister said.

Pintea spoke of the intention of the Health Ministry to held competitions for doctors' positions at national level, so that there is a fair distribution throughout the country.

"Unfortunately, the Ministry of Health cannot control the number of posts that hospitals bring to the competition (...) Practically, the regional division of doctors is somewhat unfair. University hubs and big cities are overcrowded, while small towns, the rural area is lacking in physicians. We will try to achieve a centralisation of posts so that we can organise these competitions nationwide, so we can spread the number equitably throughout the country," Pintea explained.

She gave as an example the situation of family physicians' offices in the countryside, saying that about 700 of them are vacant.

Asked if there is a guarantee that resident family physicians will go to rural areas to fill the vacancies, Pintea said that a solution to this should be found by 1 January 2019 so that those residents will serve Romania in the first place.

"When we promoted this decision in the Government on Friday [increasing the enrollment figures for residential training], the minister of finance raised this issue. By January 1, we will think of a solution, so that those in whom Romania invests will serve Romania in the first place," said Pintea.
Prime Minister Viorica Dancila stated on Monday that she requested Deputy Prime Minister Paul Stanescu's resignation from the Gov't but he refused to act upon it according to Agerpres.

"Given that I have signed the removal from office, it is natural that we want him changed. It is a closed deal, voted upon in the Executive Committee, I say we look towards the future and see how we can solve this. I have talked about the resignation with Mr. Paul Stanescu, I asked him to do this. Mr Deputy prime Minister Paul Stanescu would not resign," Dancila said in Parliament.

The premier specified that there has always been openness for dialogue on her behalf with President Klaus Iohannis."I have called Mr president, I told him I will be sending the new reshuffle proposals, Mr president said ok. I sent [them, ed.n.], I saw they were rejected, I sent them again. Mr president did not have any discussion, he went public and said that after 1 December he will make these nominations. When confronted with such a statement, what can we discuss upon? (...) If asked, I will talk to Mr president. So there has always been openness, we had balance and consensus, but this must not be one-sided, it must come from both parties, from everybody. (...) If it only comes from me and we have a discussion and after a few days they come and request the resignation again. Each time I was invited I followed up on it precisely to clarify certain aspects, precisely because Romania's Government has the responsibility of taking over the presidency [of the Council of the European Union, ed.n.] and I believe that in order to have a successful presidency a joint effort is needed, teamwork," Dancila pointed out
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis is paying an official visit to Paris, France, on Monday and Tuesday to attend the inauguration of the Romania-France Cultural Season, which marks ten years since the signing of a strategic partnership statement, and the celebration of the Centennial of Romania's Greater Union of 1918.

On Monday evening, Iohannis is scheduled to meet leaders of the Romanian community in France at the Embassy of Romania in Paris.

On the second day of his official visit to France, Iohannis will meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

On Tuesday, President Iohannis will attend a concert commemorating the WWI fallen soldiers, at the Invalids' Dome. On the same occasion, a joint stamp bearing the effigy of General Berthelot will be released as part of the Greater Union Centennial events.

The launch of the Romania-France season will take place at the Georges Pompidou Centre, in the presence of President Klaus Iohannis and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. The two presidents will visit the exhibitions of the artists Ciprian Muresan, Serban Savu and Adrian Ghenie and will deliver speeches.

Later, the two presidents will hold talks at the Elysee Palace focusing on the special nature of the bilateral relationship, deepening the strategic partnership, strengthening economic co-operation and the role of the Romanian community in France. At the same time, views will be exchanged on current EU affairs, including in the context of Romania preparing to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as well as items on the international and security agenda.

Iohannis will also take part in a lunch to be offered by Macron in his honour and in the signing ceremony of an updated statement on a strategic partnership between Romania and France.

Initially, the Presidential Administration announced that President Klaus Iohannis will pay an official visit to France on Tuesday and Wednesday. Subsequently, the Presidential Administration told AGERPRES that the President has rescheduled his visit to Monday and Tuesday to be able to attend a solemn session of the Romanian Parliament dedicated to the Greater Union Centennial on Wednesday.
Eric S. MARGOLIS

Hardly anyone noticed. The Trump administration quietly changed Americas long-held position on Syrias strategic Golan Heights while attention was focused on the raucous political carnival in Washington. Though barely noticed, the policy change had enormous importance and will lead the United States into a lot of future Mideast misery.

The Golan Heights is a volcanic plateau that abuts Syria, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. The plateau rises abruptly from the plain of Galilee, providing dominance of the entire region. To the north, Mt Hermon rises to over 9,000 feet (2,814 meters); the plateau slopes down at its southern extremity.

Golan provides the headwaters of the Jordan River and 15-20% of Israels water from its snow-capped north. Israeli artillery atop Golan can hit Damascus and its airport. Electronic intelligence systems on Golan look down onto southern Syria, intercepting all communications and detecting troop movements.

The plateau is quite fascinating. I have walked most of the Israeli-held side, observing dug-in tanks, artillery and small forts surrounded by anti-tank ditches. Burned out wrecks of Syrian tanks and armor litter the countryside. Ive also walked the Syrian side and explored the wrecked Syrian town of Kuneitra that was leveled by the Israelis in 1967.

Israel seized Golan in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and annexed the plateau in 1981. Almost all of Golans Arab population was driven out by the Israelis. The UN and US demanded that Israel return Golan to its rightful owner, Syria. After 1981, Israel moved over 20,000 settlers onto Golan to cement its control of the strategic heights and its water sources.

During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Syrian forces came close to pushing Israeli forces off Golan. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. For still unknown reasons, the Syrian armored offensive abruptly halted just as it reached the western edge of the plateau overlooking northern Israel.

My understanding is that Soviet recon satellites saw Israel deploying its nuclear bombs and missiles from their cave shelters. Moscow warned ally Syria that it risked nuclear attack by Israel unless its forces halted their advance so the Syrian offensive stopped on the verge of tactical success. This allowed Israel to concentrate enough reserve armored divisions to successfully counter-attack and drive Syria from the heights.

Since 1973, Americas policy has been to demand Israel relinquish Golan while quietly allowing US tax deductible funds to expand Jewish settlements on the plateau. Israel even reportedly offered to return Golan in exchange for a peace deal with Syria, but the secret terms of the deal were too onerous for Damascus.

The Trump administration abruptly changed US Mideast policy. First, it announced the US Embassy would move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, meaning that it rejected the idea of a Palestinian state with its capital in the old city of Jerusalem. Now, the White House has quietly accepted permanent Israeli control of Golan, though it violates international law and past US policy.

Its clear that US Mideast policy is firmly under the control of the neocons aligned to Israels expansionist far right parties. In fact, it is impossible to see any difference between the policies of Israels hard rightwing leader, Benyamin Netanyahu, and President Donald Trump. They are joined at the hip. A coterie of pro-Israel lawyers and property developers from New York City have completely taken control of Mideast policy.

More important, what the change in US Golan policy means is that Trump & Co are giving a green light to further Israeli territorial expansion. Now that Washington, which decries Russias much more justified annexation of Crimea, has approved the illegal annexation of Golan, what could be next? Likely further chunks of southern Syria, an invasion of Lebanon and annexation of its water resources.

Saudi Arabia and its little ally, the United Arab Emirates, have already been given a green light by Washington to carve out strongholds in Yemen and along the strategic Red Sea coast. This is the Mideast peace settlement that candidate Trump promised; an increasingly close alliance with the Mideasts most reactionary states, notably the murderous Saudi regime. This bodes ill for the United States.

ericmargolis.com
On November 24 the head of the British army, Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-Smith, was reported as saying that Russia today indisputably represents a far greater threat to our national security than Islamic extremist threats such as al-Qaida and Isil, and that The Russians seek to exploit vulnerability and weakness wherever they detect it We cannot be complacent about the threat Russia poses or leave it uncontested.

What threat? Does Britain really feel threatened militarily by Russia? The absurdity of this assertion beggars belief.

Carleton-Smith is apparently convinced that Russia has embarked on a systematic effort to explore and exploit Western vulnerabilities, particularly in some of the non-traditional areas of cyber, space, undersea warfare.

Lets ignore the fact that undersea warfare might be reasonably described as traditional because it has been conducted since at least the siege of Syracuse in 414 BC, while the first functioning (if unsuccessful) military submarine was the Turtle in the American Revolutionary War of 1776, and consider cyber warfare.

In 2014 NBC News reported that Documents taken from the National Security Agency describe techniques developed by a secret British spy unit called the Joint Threat Research and Intelligence Group (JTRIG) as part of a growing mission to go on offense and attack adversaries ranging from Iran to the hacktivists of Anonymous. According to the documents, which come from presentations prepped in 2010 and 2012 for NSA cyber spy conferences, the agencys goal was to destroy, deny, degrade [and] disrupt enemies by discrediting them, planting misinformation and shutting down their communications.

NBC went on that According to notes on the 2012 documents, a computer virus called Ambassadors Reception was used in a variety of different areas and was very effective. When sent to adversaries, says the presentation, the virus will encrypt itself, delete all emails, encrypt all files, make [the] screen shake and block the computer user from logging on . . .

So Carleton-Smith thinks Russia is entirely at fault, and a greater threat to Britain than Islamic State, because it is taking action in cyber-world to try to counter all the British (and US and Australian) efforts to destroy, deny, degrade and disrupt un-named enemies by discrediting them, planting misinformation and shutting down their communications.

As to space, perhaps Carleton-Smith needs to be reminded that a week after he was appointed head of the British army on June 11, 2018, President Trump declared I am hereby directing the Department of Defense and Pentagon to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces. Our destiny beyond the Earth is not only a matter of national identity but a matter of national security.

In one of his disjointed rambling speeches Trump had already given notice that Space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air, and sea. We may even have a Space Force, develop another one, Space Force. We have the Air Force, we'll have the Space Force.

His initial comments were off-script, but his potentially devastating fantasies were given substance by later actions  and it is therefore not surprising that the world sat up and took notice, and that China and Russia are developing plans to counter this obscene extension of the global aggression displayed by Washingtons Military Industrial Complex and its well-rewarded Congressional cheerleaders.

Then we come to Carleton-Smiths undersea warfare (which happens to be the title of the US Navys professional magazine of the undersea warfare community). This is an intriguing inclusion in his list of Russian threats to Britain, because recently there were other (non-traditional?) undersea operations in the Arctic, named ICEX 2018. Concerning these manoeuvres it was reported that the submarines USS Connecticut, USS Hartford and the Royal Navys HMS Trenchant, spent 105 days under ice while steaming over 21,000 nautical miles. Combined, they performed 20 through-ice surfacings including the first three-submarine ICEX since 1991.

The Arctic is extremely important to Russia as a potential source of minerals and a commercially important shipping route, as the ice continues to melt. As observed by Russias defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, The Arctic has turned into an object of territorial, resource and military-strategic interest for a number of states. This could lead to growth in the potential for conflict in this region.

The potential for conflict was highlighted by the US-UK submarine manoeuvres and a number of other indicators described in SCF, not the least of which is Britains parliamentary declaration that NATOs renewed focus on the North Atlantic is welcome and the Government should be congratulated on the leadership the UK has shown on this issue.

Which brings us, finally, to Carleton-Smith and NATO, which organisation he greatly admires. He believes the military alliance represents the centre of gravity of European security, insisting that it has been extraordinarily successful and therefore In my experience, we should reinforce success.

That would be the NATO success that destroyed Libya in a nine-month aerial blitz that resulted in anarchy and expansion westwards of Islamic State. As I write, Voice of America is reporting that at least nine security service members were killed in a suspected Islamic State group attack in the south-eastern Libyan town of Tazerbo which rather makes nonsense of the Carleton-Smith claim, in his interview with the Daily Telegraphs foreign editor, a sycophantic creep called Con Coughlin, that The physical manifestation of the Islamist threat has diminished with the complete destruction of the geography of the so-called Caliphate.

Then there is the US-NATO extraordinarily successful conflict in Afghanistan, where the death of yet another US soldier has just been notified along with news that 27 Afghan soldiers were killed in a bomb explosion while they were praying. This is somewhat at variance with views of Carleton-Smiths father, Major General (retired) Sir Michael Carleton-Smith, who told his local newspaper that the war in Afghanistan undoubtedly it has been worth it. Afghanistan still has massive problems, but its a better place now than it was when we went in. What garbage.

But then we realise that there is a bigger picture, as explained in the UK Defence Journal which tells us that Further to the Defence Select Committees report Carleton-Smith stated that the defence budget should be in direct proportion to the threat. This remark was made more poignant by the fact that the previous day, Lt Gen Frank Leidenberger from Germany referred to the good old days of the Cold War, and suggested that in 2018, we are in a lukewarm war. Mark Lancaster MP (Minister of State for the Armed Forces) was another who argued that the threat now is as bad as it was during the Cold War.

When you want more money, you hype the threat.

Carleton-Smith ended his address to the Royal United Services Institute in London by saying we are all custodians of something exceptionally precious, not just our Army, but our nations Army and its made of flesh and blood  and beating hearts.

And damn-fool generals.
It seems that the quartet (US, Israel, UAE and MbS himself, naturally), acting in the cause of exonerating MbS, think they have got their coup with Trumps maybe he did, but maybe he didnt, exculpation. They are probably quite pleased with themselves. MbS may stay for now, and embarrass everyone at the G20, by ostentatiously trying to shake hands with leaders, in front a phalanx of photographers, as leaders try to dodge the tainted hand. But if MbS does weather the crisis, what it shows more than anything else is how well MbS has succeeded in destroying the al-Saud family as a joint leadership enterprise, and in undercutting Saudi Arabias Islamic credentials. President Trump and Jared Kushner  quite oblivious  colluded in this outcome.

And the outcome: Yes, as Pepe Escobar, lately was being told in Istanbul: The Erdogan machine has sensed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity [i.e. laffaire Khashoggi], to simultaneously bury the House of Sauds shaky Islamic credibility, while solidifying Turkish neo-Ottomanism, but with an Ikhwan [i.e. with a Muslim Brotherhood  style] framework. This is heady stuff  maybe the Arab world is not so anxious to welcome back, with open arms, either the Ottomans or the Muslim Brotherhood. But nonetheless, with the Gulf so discredited in terms of its legitimacy, Erdogan is probably right to think that he is pushing at an open door.

And strategic interests are giving Erdogan a strong tail-wind in his bid. Erdogan has secured  as part of the package to try to get Turkey to lay-off with its Khashoggi drip-drip leaks  an end to the Saudi siege on Qatar. It is possible too, as part of the deal, that the Qatari Emir (we are told) might visit Riyadh in the near future, and that some sort of cold  very frigid  reconciliation will be conducted with MbS. The point is that Qatar is greatly beholden to Erdogan for ending the siege (and for the earlier stationing of Turkish troops in the Emirate, to protect it, against any Saudi attack), and like Turkey, the Emir is a generous Muslim Brotherhood patron.

Turkey also enjoys a close strategic relationship with Iran (though they have their differences over Syria). The two states have a strong shared interest in seeing an end to American forces occupying parts of Syria, and putting a stop to the Israeli-sponsored Kurdish project in the region. And again the Muslim Brotherhood enters into this equation  the latters flirtation with Saudi Arabia is finished, and parts of the movement (it is still fractured from the Gulf-led war against it) are returning to old comrades: Hizbullah and Iran (the Muslim Brotherhood never parted from Turkey). In short, the Muslim Brotherhood seem destined to become Turkeys Arab foot-soldiers in the battle to take the mantle of Islamic leadership away from Saudi Arabia.

Beyond the convergence of political interest however, there is oil and gas too. Russia is the mastermind here, with Turkey acting as the putative pivot. Moscow is quietly stitching together a new energy axis: Qatar had already injected needed cash into Russian oil giant, Rosneft, giving it a substantial stake in the latter  as well as providing Rosneft with the means to buy into Egypts huge Zohr gas field. And Qatar is co-operating closely with Iran on exploiting their shared North Dome/South Pars gas field (the largest in the world) in the Persian Gulf  with Qatar recently, substantially expanding its LNG facilities. Iraq too has just agreed to co-ordinate oil and gas operations with Russia.

It is not hard to see what is afoot here: This week Russia completed the link to the pivot (Turkey)  the undersea gas pipeline TurkStream, linking Russia with Turkey. As Pepe Escobar notes, TurkStream is projected as two lines, each capable of delivering 15.75 billion cubic meters of gas a year. The first will supply the Turkish market. The second will run 180 km to Turkeys western borderlands and supply south and southeast Europe, with first deliveries expected by the end of next year. Potential customers include Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Serbia and Hungary.

And phase Two? Well, soon the old plan of a regional pipeline from the Persian Gulf through Iran and Syria, to Europe (possibly via Turkey), may become again politically viable (i.e. in the interests of all parties in the new regional re-alignment.) What does this signify? It suggests that the Qatar-Turkey-Iran-Russia axis may dominate in Middle East energy production, pushing Saudi and the UAE into the place of second fiddle. And let us not ignore Iraq. Apart from its energy co-operation accord with Russia, Iraq has also just signed a free trade agreement with Iran  despite threats from American officials. (The efforts to keep Iraq within the US sphere of interest do not seem to be working well.)

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given to Turkey to bury the House of Sauds Islamic Credibility, and to resurrect Istanbuls ancient claim to leadership of the Islamic world, naturally has stirred alarm and a deep sense of vulnerability in the Gulf.

MbZ is leading a push by the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain to re-establish the Arab prerogative in Syria  in order to join with President Assad in pushing back non-Arab (i.e. Turkic and Iranian) influence across the Levant. (No doubt, part of this MbZ initiative is to distance, and to differentiate himself, from the now tainted MbS).

And the atmospherics across the Sunni Levant are today extremely hostile towards MbS, we hear from recent visitors to the region. It is putting into question the Custodianship of the two Holy Sanctuaries (Mecca and Medina): The Khashoggi barbarism has forced attention onto the issues of personal safety, as well to that of the financial exploitation of pilgrims at Mecca. Ordinary pious Muslims are questioning whether it is worth undertaking pilgrimage  there is a movement advocating for boycott. This aspect of popular outrage should not be underestimated: the Sanctuaries are a significant component of identity (together with Jerusalem).

MbZs initiative to try to save the Levant from non-Arab influence may have the side-effect of returning Damascus to the Arab fold (which is to say, its seat at the Arab League), and will be welcomed in Damascus on that account alone. Moreover, the initiative represents more broadly a political recognition of the regions strategic realities by the Gulf. That too can only help in bringing about a broader internal reconciliation domestically, and the full marginalization of the jihadists in Syria.

But to look for more than that would be wishful thinking on the part of MbZ and his western advocates  we suggest. Syrians generally are not so open to the claims of pan-Arabism as they were in the past. They were, after all, betrayed by this Arab ideal, multiple times. The claim of a greater Syria has dimmed, and a current of steely, Syrian, Arab nationalism is more evident. It will be a tougher, more assertive Syria that emerges from this war. Damascus may be open to Gulf rapprochement, but it will not suffer any lectures on the ideals pan-Arab nationalism from those who waged war against this ancient Arab nation, nor against those who supported Syria through its dark nights.

Those who are in the quagmire now are not Russia (as Obama confidently forecast), nor Syria, nor its allies. The wheel has turned. It is now the Gulf States, fearful for their own futures, should the family al-Saud implode, who are in a quagmire of crumbling credibility, and legitimacy  and Israel, too, is in its own separate quagmire, albeit for different reasons. Israel deliberately opted for a path that pitted it aggressively up, and against, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Turkey (via Kurdish proxies), and Hizbullah. Netanyahu presumably hoped to capitalize on Trumps lack of nous concerning the region, and on manipulating MbS overt ambition. Israel escalated this overt hostility (through hundreds of air incursions over Syria), to the point of clashing, and endangering the Russian military interest  by insisting Israel must freely, and regularly, bomb Syria.

Well, the Russian military command have had it  enough of Israeli air incursions. They want stability in Syria. Netanyahu bet on leading Trump, Kushner and MbS  a slender, unrepresentative, stratum  into a remake of the region  and lost: Netanyahu lost Israel its freedom of the skies over the northern tier of the Middle East. Putin now declines a meeting with Netanyahu. Bibi has painted Israel into a corner where it now has to decide whether to risk going for broke against much of the region and its Palestinian subjects; or, as Gulf leaders presently are doing in Damascus, acknowledge uncomfortable realities, and try to make do.

The other question is why does Erdogan pursue the drip, drip of Khashoggi evidence, when Trump and the European establishment would dearly like him to stop? Why does he not take what is on offer and shut up? Answer: because he too, was fearing being trapped in Turkeys own particular quagmire. Khashoggi was the chance to turn the tables  and Erdogan is taking it.

Yes, Turkish rhetoric has been somewhat florid, but behind it lies substantive Turkish concerns: Erdogan can see that Turkey is being deliberately pressured at its maritime and land based borders, and has been subject to Lire and financial sanctions attrition internally (now halted  thanks to Turkeys careful leaking of the Khashoggi evidence). On the maritime border, Erdogan can see plainly that Israels EastMed gas pipeline, via Cyprus to Europe, when completed, will likely leave Turkish North Cyprus bereft of pipeline revenues. He sees also the probing by western oil majors (pursuing EU/US interests), steaming into (disputed) waters claimed by Turkey and the Turkish-administered North Cyprus.

Then there are the Kurds, supported by Israel and European states, avidly trying to establish a Kurdish belt for the length of Turkeys southern border. And to the east, the new, pro-western colour revolutionary government of Nikol Pashinyan in Armenia. Pressure all around. All these exacerbated tensions, as well as the earlier financial attrition, spelled out a US containment policy  and even an eventual further coup being plotted against Turkey  in the Turkish assessment.

No wonder the euphoria in Istanbul. Erdogan is skilfully  and strategically  using Khashoggi leaks dribbled out in the media. He is using them to exit from the threat of the Gulf-led project to plunge rival Turkey into a quagmire of encirclement, whilst watching at the same time, those who facilitated the attempted coup against him last year squirm (the Turkish press identified MbZ and MbS in particular as facilitators)  as the vice of crumbling credibility tightens on them, inverting the paradigm.
Those who have been saying that the West has turned Russia into a scapegoat to be blamed for each and every thing that goes wrong have been proved right. We have witnessed concocted stories invented to denigrate Moscow that have gone viral as directed by the secret services. The UK, the country that is spearheading the anti-Russian information campaign, offers a good example that illustrates how this is being done.

An online group of hackers known as Anonymous has just revealed covert UK activities in the EU. According to the documents released by that group, London is in the midst of a major program to interfere in the internal affairs of EU members, the US, and Canada. Anonymous threatens to release more information on the clandestine operations of the UK government, unless it agrees to remove the shroud of secrecy protecting those information-warfare efforts. On Nov. 24 Twitter deleted RT comments on the issue. The UK knows it has friends it can rely on in a crunch.

The Integrity Initiative is a London-based organization set up and funded by the government-friendly Institute for Statecraft, in cooperation with the Free University of Brussels (VUB) to wage information-warfare operations against Russia. Anonymous calls it a "large-scale information secret service." It aims to change attitudes in Russia itself as well as the influence of Russian natives living abroad. The Integrity Initiatives budget for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2019 is estimated at 1.96 million ($2.51 million). The network has received grants from NATO, the US State Department, and Facebook.

The Initiatives operations have been kept under wraps. Its activities are conducted by clusters of local politicians, journalists, military personnel, scientists, and academics involved in anti-Russian propaganda efforts. The list includes William Browder, a US-British businessman convicted in absentia in Russia for tax evasion.

The Integrity Initiative network has offices from which to conduct its covert operations in France, Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Norway, Serbia, Spain, and Montenegro. Its plans to expand to the US, Canada, Eastern Europe, and the MENA region are already underway.

The Anonymous hackers mention Operation Moncloa that was launched in June in Spain to prevent Pedro Banos, a colonel known for his Russia-friendly views, from being appointed the new head of Spain's influential national security agency.

Its all part of a broader picture. In March, Prime Minister Theresa May promised to defeat Russia with a new cyber-warfare initiative titled the Fusion Doctrine. Back then, Ms. May told British intelligence services to use social media to prevent the spread of misinformation. In other words, she has pulled the military into this anti-Russian propaganda effort. Security sources have floated the idea that that the UK must harness soft power and counter-propaganda on social media networks. Is it possible to imagine any media remaining independent in a country where they're part of a "soft power strategy" implemented by the government under the rallying cry of protecting national security?

This is the origin of so many fantasies about Russia and the imaginary threat it poses. The plan included an enhanced role for the BBC World Service to promote British values abroad, ensuring that the Ofcom shuts down media organizations that fail to meet high British standards. Only gullible people can believe that such values and standards exist. Russia has been used as a bogeyman to justify measures aimed at killing off the freedom of the media. Any story about Russias nefarious deeds spread by British news outlets should be taken with a grain of salt.

The UK government is facing some hard times. The Brexit deal with the EU is headed to parliament for approval. Its impossible to predict whether the MPs will vote yes or no. Both outcomes threaten the very existence of the United Kingdom. The use of the Russian threat is seen as one way to keep the nation united and the media under control.

Keeping its activities out of the public eye, the government is doing exactly what it has so indignantly accused Russia of. The pot is calling the kettle black. As the freedom of the press is being suppressed and the media networks are following the governments instructions about what information they should offer their readers, UK officials continue to brazenly deliver their pompous speeches about the need to protect those very values to which the government itself poses the greatest challenge. Anonymous is right  any responsible government must explain the intentions behind the Integrity Initiative, how exactly it is funded, and why its activities should be shielded from public view.
Once more Iranian oil exports are hit by sanctions and Iran is reviving its usual array of deceptions to try and hide efforts to export illegally to customers willing to risk discovery and punishment when the Iranian deceptions fail. The last time (2012-2015) Iran got hit by an oil export ban shipments dropped from 2.6 million barrels per day to a million barrels per day. As the sanctions were once more imposed in late 2018 Iranian exports quickly fell from 2.8 million barrels per day to 1.8 million barrels. It wont be until mid-2019 before legal shipments decline to a million barrels per day. The delay is caused by exemptions given to eight export customers who need time to shift to another supplier. Some of the exemptions are permanent which is why the exports never hit zero. There are plenty of other suppliers because there has been a world oil glut since 2010 because of fracking in North America (and now elsewhere). The OPEC oil cartel has restricted production to try and drive the oil price up but that only worked for a while and even before Iranian oil sanctions were revived the oil price was declining again. So there are plenty of oil producers willing and able to replace Iranian exports. Illegal Iranian oil exports are sold at a lower price because of the risk (financial costs if caught) and that also contributes to keeping oil prices low.

Iran is not only reviving its efforts to hide ship movements but expanding them. One reason the oil sanctions returned was that after most sanctions were lifted in 2015 Iran continued to smuggle weapons by sea, using the same deceptions it employed to try and get around the oil export ban. The difference was that most of the ships Iran used for the arms smuggling were small enough (under 300 tons) that they were not legally required to carry an electronic beacon. But some larger Iranian weapons smuggling ships illegally turned off their beacon and, as the saying goes, ran dark. It was this continued smuggling and other unfriendly activity that brought back the oil embargo.

The primary technical deception was having its ships carrying contraband turn off their AIS (Automated Identification System). AIS was originally developed to make it easier to track ships at sea and was rapidly adopted by most large commercial vessels in the 1990s. AIS is essentially an automatic radio beacon (transponder) that, when it receives a signal from a nearby AIS equipped ship, responds with the ship's identity, course, and speed. This is meant to enable AIS ships to avoid collisions with each other. The original AIS only had a range of 20-35 kilometers but by 2006 space satellites were developed that could track AIS transmissions worldwide. Commercial ships have become very dependent on AIS, which has greatly reduced collisions (and crew anxiety) at sea. After 2000 international agreements mandated that ships larger than 300 tons, and all passenger ships, carry and use AIS at all times.

While this made it practical to track all high seas commercial traffic, it was also exploited by smugglers and pirates. Some ships traveled (in violation of international law) with its AIS and other trackers turned off. Usually, only criminals turned these devices off, and this was often discovered when navies spotted one of these silent (AIS not broadcasting) ships at sea. It didnt take long for some intelligence agencies (those with ocean surveillance space satellites and lots of ships and subs at sea) to exploit the silent AIS ploy to create better ways to track smugglers by noting when some ships turn off their trackers and then turn them on again as they are about to enter a port (or some other area where AIS use is mandatory). Some nations, like Iran and North Korea have tankers and cargo ships that are often found running dark. Naturally intelligence agencies developed methods to take advantage of this and a growing number of smugglers, usually North Korean, are detected and tracked because of AIS manipulation. Iran had an easier time concealing arms smuggling because they could use smaller ships. Actually, for getting arms to Shia rebels in Yemen Iran used a lot of small ships that are not required to use AIS. These could be, and were, tracked by satellite but it was more difficult. Oil smuggling is another matter as large ships (tankers) are used and they are easier to spot from orbital space (or by recon aircraft and UAVs).

Before AIS came along most large ships carried (and still carry) INMARSAT, which enables shipping companies keep track of their vessels, no matter where they are on the planet. INMARSAT became available in the 1980s and uses a system of satellites which transmit AIS-like signals to anywhere on the oceans. It only costs a few cents to send an INMARSAT signal to one of your ships, and a few cents more to receive a reply. The trackers and satellite-based navigation systems in general soon proved invaluable by preventing collisions or running into reefs, rocks, or (in bad weather) coastline.

The smugglers soon responded to intel agency tracking of AIS activity with new tricks. Back in 2012, Iran was caught hacking AIS signals. Iran was sending false AIS signals to assist its smuggling operations. After 2012 security researchers found even more ways to hack AIS and is calling for changes in the AIS software to make more difficult to spoof (send false signals). Iran is expected to try this again, despite the increased security measures in the AIS software.

Iran has been working for some time to come up with ways to confuse the international ship tracking system, mainly to support their arms smuggling activities. These maritime security technologies were developed as a safety feature and have proved valuable in other ways as well by providing the positions of ships caught in storms or taken by pirates. All ships now use GPS coordinates to record location and constantly report that back to the home office. Iran exploited this by having two of its ships trade INMARSAT IDs while they are near each other, leaving the U.S., or anyone else checking INMARSAT data, unable to track ships that have been switched. Well, for a while at least. Once the intel people caught onto this scam the developed ways to counter it. This is very much a matter of move and counter move when it comes to exploiting or creating AIS vulnerabilities.

Because these tracking systems were, after 2000, required by law (international agreements) for all seagoing vessels this new tech was particularly useful in counter-terror operations. Coast Guards the world over have also found the systems a big help. But apparently pirates in some areas have gained access to the systems (via bribes or theft) and a large number of pirate attacks appear to have been helped by technology meant just to safeguard ships at sea. But overall the tracking systems have done far more good than bad. That largely ended by 2012 as counter-piracy operations and better security inside the AIS operation made it much more difficult to be a pirate.

Iranian abuse of the AIS system is not appreciated by the shipping companies and ship crews. The Iranians have been found moving tankers around the Persian Gulf with AIS turned off. The Iranians do this in other parts of the world where there is a lot of ship traffic. This puts ships of many nations at risk and despite Iranian denials, there are enough ships reporting encounters with Iranian ships running dark to confirm what Iran is doing. All this outlaw activity turned more and more former allies, or neutrals, against Iran. While Iranian leaders wont admit to that trend, the majority of Iranians understand and that is one of the reasons the Iranian government has had to deal with a growing number of anti-government demonstrations in the last year. Some Iranian leaders are even speaking up and, as the foreign minister recently commented to European counterparts, Iran would change its policies if it was the will of the people. Translated into plain English he was saying that the Iranian leaders would be willing to behave if faced with a serious nationwide rebellion.
China is again proposing to fund the construction of the 135 kilometer Kra Canal that would cost $30 billion and connect the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The canal through the narrowest part of Thailand has been proposed for centuries but the expense and lack of sufficient economic incentive thwarted all earlier efforts. The emergence of major economies in East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan) have changed that calculation. A canal that would shorten voyages between East Asia and point west by 2,200 kilometers (two days at sea) compared to going through the Malacca Strait makes it worthwhile for about 30 percent of the current Malacca traffic (especially large tankers or container ships) to pay a large canal transit fee (over $100,000 for a large vessel). It works for the Panama and Suez canals, although those two save ships much larger amounts of time (to go around the southern tips of South America or Africa). But the Malacca Strait handles a much larger percentage (about half and two-thirds of all tanker traffic) of world sea transport traffic. China is especially eager to incorporate the Kra Canal into its Obor (One Belt, One Road) project that has China financing and building roads, railroads, pipelines, ports and canals and ease travel via Eurasia and adjacent waterways. Nations who benefit by being next to the Malacca Strait always opposed the Kra Canal but now Malacca is becoming crowded to the point to overload. The canal would greatly reduce the roads connecting the four southernmost provinces with the rest of the country. Bridges over the canal are expensive (they must be high enough to let the largest ships pass) so there would be few of them. Panama only has two bridges (with one more being built) and Suez also has two (one for rail traffic) and a tunnel. With the Chinese bridge construction would probably be part of the canal project. Thailand needs the bridges because most of the very lucrative tourist resorts are on those four southern provinces.

Election Hustles

One indicator that the long-awaited return of democracy (national elections) will take place soon (late February 2019) is the military government ordering state-owned enterprises (which comprise a few percent of GDP and even less of the workforce) to increase investment as much as possible in order to boost financial results. Thats a desperate move but the military government is eager to improve national economic performance before the elections. In the third quarter of 2018 GDP growth was only 3.3 percent. Earlier in the year 2018 GDP growth was expected to hit 4.1 percent for the year but the reality was worse with 2018 GDP growth certain to be less than four percent. Paying attention to what people want wins elections, not just ordering people to do what some generals and their cronies think is best. Eventually, the coup must end or face the risk of a nationwide insurrection. As with past coups, there will be elections and the generals want to ensure that a vindictive elected government doesnt get power and seek revenge. The most obvious potential error the generals made was changing the constitution to give the military more power permanently. The other damaging policy was depending on China (for weapons and investment) despite the knowledge that such an approach drives away traditional (Western) business partners. The continuing decline in their ratings indicates a failure to deal with these problems.

Another obstacle is the fact that most Thais prefer to maintain the alliance with the United States rather than do more business with China. It was the American connection that made Thailand a popular (and profitable) place for Western (especially American) firms to set up Asian manufacturing operations since the 1960s. Thailand became one of the most prosperous nations in the region with per-capita GDP increasing tenfold from 1960 to 2016. Thais expect this to continue but instead Thai GDP growth has fallen behind all of the neighbors since the 2014 coup. The army realized the economic problems could not be ignored. Unemployment is still low (under two percent) but income was declining as are opportunities for getting better jobs. As far as the economy goes everyone else in the region is doing better and the military cannot hide that or explain it away.

November 24, 2018: In the north (Phrae Province), a temporary police checkpoint caught some drug smugglers by surprise (which was why the temporary checkpoints are used) and although the smugglers pickup truck turned and sped away the police caught up with the vehicle and two of the three men in it were arrested. The truck held five million methamphetamine pills. Elsewhere in the north (Chiang Rai Province), soldiers near the Burma border ambushed seven Burmese smugglers carrying drugs into Thailand. The troops killed five of the smugglers (who were carrying a million methamphetamine pills) but the other two escaped back into Burma. The six million meth pills seized in one day were worth nearly $20 million (consumer cost). Thailand continues having problems with the drug trade in neighboring Burma, where the northern tribes fight to resist government efforts to suppress the drug production. The largest state in northern Burma (Shan state) illegal drugs are the mainstay of the economy. The Burmese methamphetamine is a regional problem and in each of the last few years over a billion dollars in meth (usually in pill form) was seized in neighboring countries. After 2008 annual seizures rapidly increased and are now several hundred million doses of methamphetamine, worth over a billion dollars. Methamphetamine is the most popular drug in Southeast Asia and there are believed to be nearly a million meth addicts in Thailand, plus many tourists who indulge. Most (nearly half) of the seized pills are taken in China, followed by Thailand and most of it is coming from meth labs in northern Burma. The Burmese meth has become hugely popular in China, which is pressuring the Burmese government to do more about the problem and that has resulted in more police activity up there, but not enough to put a dent in the drug business. The Thais and Chinese are aware that the Burmese drug gangs have local security forces on the payroll, which is why these clashes with Burmese drug smugglers only seem to happen in Thailand. China plays down the fact that the smugglers dont have much trouble on the Chinese side of the border because of the corruption.

November 16, 2018: The government extended the state of emergency in the Moslem south for another three months. The government has been doing this since 2005. This gives the police and army additional powers of search and arrest. Some problems are not solved by a state of emergency. For example, the three southern provinces have suffered a major measles outbreak this year, infecting 2,300 so far and killing 18. Most of these victims are children who comprise nearly all the fatalities. The source of this outbreak is a number of local Islamic radicals who have persuaded (or intimidated) many parents to not have their children vaccinated because of rumors that the vaccine was actually a plot by non-Moslems (most Thais are Buddhists) to poison Moslem children or pollute them because vaccines are believed to contain material from pigs (which are considered haram, or unclean, for Moslems). Its not just measles vaccine that gets denounced but other vaccines as well. The most senior Moslem clerics in the south preach that the vaccines are safe and not haram (forbidden) but that does not prevent many parents from believing the myths even if they have not been threatened.

November 12, 2018: Thailand has been identifying and expelling Burmese in the country illegally. So far over 2,000 illegals have been arrested and sent back to Burma. The crackdown began in early October and it is estimated that over 10,000 illegals have returned to Burma, most of them voluntarily. Meanwhile about 20,000 Burmese enter Thailand each month legally to take unfilled jobs. This sort of thing works both ways. About 10,000 Thais in South Korea (legally) to work were recently rounded up and expelled for overstaying their visas. Many Thais continue to go overseas temporarily for better paying jobs. Israel is a favorite destination because since 2000 (when the Palestinian leaders declared war on Israel) most Palestinians who had long worked in Israel were no longer allowed in. Currently, some 20,000 Thais are in Israel replacing unavailable Palestinians.

November 2, 2018: In the south (Pattani province), two local defense volunteers were shot dead by men on motorcycles. The defense volunteers were on duty guarding a marketplace. The killers grabbed the weapons of the dead men and fled. Violence in the south continues to decline and killings are investigated to not only to catch Islamic terrorists but also to discover if it was simply a robbery or someone settling a private or family feud. There has always been more crime in the south, in part because of the busy smuggling gangs moving goods in and out of Malaysia. Those gangs spawned lots of other crime and eventually the current separatist/Islamic terrorist violence.
Bay of Plenty

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The most tattooed person in the world was among the star attractions at the New Zealand Tattoo and Arts Festival in New Plymouth over the weekend.

Auckland-born but Australian raised Lucky Diamond Rich is tattooed from head to foot and then some.

The sword-swallowing, chainsaw juggling, unicycle-riding phenomenon that is Lucky Diamond Rich has been the Guinness World Record holder for the most tattooed person since 2006.

And it's not hard to accept the claim he is 100 percent tattooed.

His skin is a mass of bluey-green, including his head and face which is set off by two tufts of flame-red hair above each ear.

The 47-year-old has been a circus performer since he was eight years old and got his first tattoo when he was just 16 in Kings Cross, Sydney's infamous red-light district.

And things just took off from there.

"Well it just starts with one tattoo... I'm still trying to finish my first one," he says.

"The question of the commitment wasn't really that great, because I was already committed anyway.

"Being an entertainer and being someone that comes from circus and performance... tattoos and circus have had a connection for hundreds of years."

Lucky is tattooed between the toes, on the eyelids and even on his gums.

And he learned the hard way what it took to reach 100 per cent.

"The previous record holder Tom Leppard. Rest his soul. Tom's not with us anymore, but the previous record holder was 99.9 per cent and I couldn't believe that he didn't get tattooed 100 per cent.

"I didn't understand it you know. Why would you do that?

"And then I got the bits done which he didn't... I realised why he didn't."

Lucky says he has no regrets about his tattoos.

"Regrets are like complaining about the weather.

"I don't regret anything, because anything I've ever done right or wrong I've learned from it. In actual fact I've probably learned more from doing things wrong than doing them right.

"I've always been encouraged to celebrate my differences and I guess the tattoo world has enabled me to do that."

A recovering addict and qualified social worker, he says his look could be a great tool.

"This is a powerful thing, man, being this tattooed.

"I can go into jails, I can go into bike clubs, I can go anywhere I want, man, and actually carry a message which is that you can come out of a dark place and you can live in the light, mate.

"And I'm the living proof of that."

More than 7000 fans were expected to go through the festival gates this weekend to check out 300 tattoo artists from around the world.

The event had its highest number of women tattooists - 50.

Among them was Australian Lauren Winzer whose delicate style has found favour with popstars, such as Miley Cyrus and Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner.

Ms Winzer admitted tattooing celebrities could be a bit nerve-racking.

"The first time I tattooed Miley, I was nervous because I'd never really met a big celebrity before and I didn't know if we would have anything in common.

"But she kinda made me feel like she was really normal, which was sweet.

"Sometimes I don't even know who the people are that are famous who I'm tattooing, which really helps because then I'm not freaking out about it."

She says her style was accessible to people put off by heavy tattoos.

"I kinda do two different styles, one being traditional looking but with really girlie poppy colours, and then on the opposite side really fine-lined delicate stuff. That's kinda been a new thing that's been popular in tattooing in general as well in the last couple of years.

"And I think that's probably why it's becoming a bit more normal because there are people out there who don't want a big crazy tattoo and now they can get involved as well."

As for the punters ... their choice of tattoo and the reasons behind them remained as diverse as ever.

McKenzie from Hamilton was going for something feline in nature.

"I'm getting a portrait of my cat because she's great so why not."

Feilding's Marie Shepperd is celebrating a milestone of sorts.

"I'm getting an arabesque done on my arm. It's to represent me starting a new life. I've recently separated from my husband."

Another Hamiltonian, Dave Watson, was getting the base of his head, neck and shoulders tattooed by Samoan artist Geoff Thomas.

Mr Watson was paying tribute to his mother.

"I lost my old lady a year ago, so decided to get something for her. She died of spinal cancer so from the head to the back and I've got a cancer ribbon in the back."

Aucklander Dominique Serville was getting work done on his traditional Japanese body suit.

"I've always been interested in Japanese artwork and I've sat on an image that I've loved for two to three years and I've followed Tom McMillan for a long time and love his work and I gave him the artwork and a few ideas and here we are."

Not tattooed and not inclined to get tattooed? Take a word of advice from Lucky Diamond Rich the world most tattooed person.

"Enjoy not being tattooed!"
It is New Zealands fifth-largest city, yet Tauranga is the only one where women are deprived of easy access to safe, surgical abortion services.

Now, abortion rights proponents are calling for services to be re-established at Tauranga Hospital, which stopped preforming abortions in the early 2000s.

Abortions are a very common medical/surgical procedure, says Abortion Rights advocate Alison McCulloch, yet women in Tauranga seeking a termination have to travel 120 kilometres to Thames in one direction, or 63km to Rotorua in the other.

Its very harmful to women to have to bear the shame and stigma that often comes with an abortion, says Alison.

I think easier access to safe abortion care is important, and this service should be available to women in their home area.

Major cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton all provide a surgical abortion service. Smaller cities than Tauranga, like Napier/Hastings and Dunedin, also offer the service.

Tauranga Hospital previously offered surgical abortion services, however medical, surgical and support staff were free to decline work in such a sensitive area if they wished, and a lack of capacity saw authorities move the procedures elsewhere.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board planning and funding senior portfolio manager, Mike Agnew, says the decision to move the service from Tauranga Hospital was made by the Health Funding Authority, prior to the creation of District Health Boards.

He says HFA wanted to provide abortion services on a regional basis for the five Midland DHBs: Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti, Taranaki, and Waikato. At the time, these regional services were delivered out of Tokoroa and Thames Hospitals.

The BOPDHB have recently collaborated with Lakes DHB to develop a sub-regional - Lakes and Bay of Plenty - surgical termination service, after receiving notice that services provided by Waikato DHB in Tokoroa were going to cease, says Mike.

He says the BOPDHB have no plans to make surgical abortions available in Tauranga in the near future.

Tauranga Family Planning Clinic has stepped in to fill the void, providing medical abortions for women who are less than nine weeks pregnant. Over the course of two days, women are given two lots of drugs before being told to return home to miscarry.

Its a great start, but I dont think its enough, says Alison. There are many reasons women might need or choose a surgical abortion rather than medical.

I guess the most obvious is that they might be more than nine weeks pregnant.

The Family Planning medical abortion service is currently offered just one day per week, because of the existing pressure of their workloads.

Marlene Ware, a social worker for Tauranga Hospital from 1985-2005 when terminations were available, dealt with many women confronted with the trauma of an unexpected pregnancy.

It was her job to inform the women of their options, from termination and adoption or foster care to keeping the baby. Offering emotional support was also a big part of her job description, and she witnessed first-hand the added pressure put on pregnant women who had to travel for surgical abortion services.

Organising time off work, making arrangements for other children and having someone to drive them there and back were all common issues  and that was before they dealt with the emotional strain.

What Tauranga couldnt provide women with unwanted pregnancies, Thames could.

There was capacity, medical staff who were supportive, and operating surgeons who were willing to provide that service, says Marlene.

Normally, a woman would have counselling beforehand, which was offered at Tauranga Hospital, and probably helped women make a decision without feeling rushed.

However, going to Thames or Rotorua means the whole process is condensed into just one day.

It is difficult for that woman to withdraw from a process that seems well underway.

Statistics show a sharp increase in induced abortions last year - up 462 on the previous year. StatsNZ tells us that 13,285 induced abortions were performed on women aged 15-44 years by hospitals or licensed abortion clinics.

But the data is confusing. Is it a spike, or an indication of things to come?

The rate has been falling for quite a number of years, so its hard to tell if its headed on an upward trend, or stabilising, says Alison.

The criteria for abortions is much debated. They are legal when a pregnant woman faces a physical or mental health danger to her life. They are also legal if there is a risk of the foetus being handicapped.

If the abortion does not fit these criterion, it is a crime under the Crimes Act. The Minister of Justice has signalled an intention to change this to a health issue rather than a crimes issue.

Right to Life also took the government Abortion Supervisory Committee to court for a judicial review of the granting of an abortion licence to the NZ Family Planning association, to operate an abortion clinic in Tauranga.

*The Weekend Sun asked several Right to Life advocates their opinion. At the time of going to print, they have not responded to our questions regarding this issue.
Bay of Plenty

We are looking for a storeman with an OSH forklift license. You will need to be physically for as the job is about 70% forklift...



View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz
A stir fry left a sharp taste in the mouth for one Tauranga couple as they discovered a needle inside a capsicum.

Will Taylor cooked the stir fry for his girlfriend on Sunday using a red capsicum purchased from Countdown Bureta Park the day prior.

"She bit into it and it scratched the side of her tongue," he says. "Thankfully it hasn't done any serious damage or had any effects from it."

Will says they inspected the piece of food and discovered a small needle had been inserted into the vegetable.

"It was about an inch and a half long. I've still got it in case police or MPI need to look at it."

Will says he contacted the store immediately and informed them.

"They were not too sure what the response should be. They did say they were going to take them off the shelves. I just want people to know so they can watch out."

A Countdown spokeswoman says the store has referred the matter to the New Zealand police who will investigate.

"We take food safety incredibly seriously and will work closely with both the NZ Police and MPI to cooperate fully with their investigation."

The capsicum was not the only fruit purchased last Saturday spiked with needles.

A strawberry was discovered to also contain a needle which which was purchased at a FreshChoice supermarket in South Canterbury sparking an investigation from MPI.

MPI spokeswoman Helene Ambler confirmed the strawberries in question were New Zealand grown.

"The person who found the needle was not harmed.

"The matter has been referred to the police who are leading the criminal investigation.

"MPI will provide support and information to police, where needed, and work to mitigate any public health risk."

Helene says at this stage, MPI does not have any reason to believe the incident was more widespread.

"Our advice to consumers remains: if you see something out of the ordinary, please take it to your retailer or give us a call on 0800 00 83 83."

-Stuff/Matt Shand
In todays weather forecast we are expecting a few showers developing this morning, with some heavy from the afternoon. Also a light wind.

Its a two-clothing layer day today with a high of 21 and an overnight low of 14 degrees. Humidity is 95 per cent.

High tide is at 10.40am and low tide at 4.50pm (Tay St). Theres a sea swell of 0.6m and sea temperature is 18 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 8.12pm.

If youre going fishing the next best fish bite time is between 4 and 6pm.

On this day in NZ history in 1849 was the death of Te Rauparaha. The formidable Ngati Toa leader had dominated Te Moana-o-Raukawa - the Cook Strait region - from his base at Kapiti Island for nearly 20 years.

In 1935 the first Labour government won power. The 1935 general election has long been seen as a defining moment in New Zealands history. Undermined by its failure to cope with the distress of the Depression, the Coalition government was routed by the Labour Party led by Michael Joseph Savage.

In 1940 a liner sunk off the East Cape. The 16,712-ton New Zealand Shipping Company liner Rangitane was intercepted and sunk 550 km off East Cape, with the loss of 15 lives.

In world history on this day in 1919 Bulgaria signed a peace treaty with the Allies at Neuilly, France, fixing war reparations and recognising Yugoslavian independence.

In 1936 Great Britains Anthony Eden warned Adolf Hitler that Britain would fight to protect Belgium. In 1967 Charles DeGaulle vetoed Great Britains entry into the Common Market again. In 1970 Syria joined the pact linking Libya, Egypt and Sudan.

In 2001 the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a hydrogen atmosphere on planet Osiris, the first atmosphere detected on an extrasolar planet.

In 2005 the first partial human face transplant was completed in Amiens, France.

Today is the birthday of Anders Celsius, the astronomer who devised the centigrade temperature scale. He was born in 1701. Its also the birthday of Caroline Kennedy, author, attorney, only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Jackie Bouvier. Born in 1957 she was named US Ambassador to Japan in 2013 and once said To the extent that we are all educated and informed, we will be more equipped to deal with the gut issues that tend to divide us.

To get involved in activities around the Bay of Plenty, please check out our Whats on page.

Have a great day!
A sense of urgency is required to rethink how we prepare our young people to thrive in an era of innovation, according to an internationally renowned educationalist who was in Tauranga recently.

A guest of Priority One and the University of Waikato, Dr Tony Wagner is globally recognised for innovative teaching practices and was previously co-director of the Change Leadership Group at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

The creative problem-solving skills that businesses increasingly need in their people are not being taught in our education system, which was developed a century ago to produce a workforce for a world that no longer exists," says Tony.

"As a community, we need to foster and encourage creativity and initiative in young people to help them to navigate a world of constant change.

During his three day stay in Tauranga, Tony spoke to University of Waikato staff and postgraduate students on new ways of teaching and was the keynote speaker at an event at Whareroa Marae about rethinking education in a Maori context.

He talked with teachers and senior leaders from the sub-regions secondary schools on ways to help prepare young people for success in a world of rapid change.

This included how success is taught and measured in schools and the precedent that sets for the type of employees companies recruit.

The work required to prepare students for employment is much more complex than it used to be and this will continue to be the case into the future.

While we understand that the workplace will become increasingly automated Tony says we need to teach students to think creatively and develop the soft skills such as empathy  neither of which can be replicated by robots yet.

We learn through trial and error and the ability to fail is key to innovation, yet our education system does not reward this way of thinking and working," says Nigel Tutt, Chief Executive of Priority One.

"We need to encourage curiosity and imagination in our young people to enable them to be creative problem solvers and the active citizens we need for the future.

Tony says in the modern world, knowledge is everywhere and is easily accessible. While content knowledge still matters, it's the soft skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity that matter more - and motivation that matters the most.

The world now cares about what students can do with what they know, and this needs to be reflected in how we measure their success.

Priority Ones Instep manager, Lyn Parlane, says Tony is passionate about changing the education pipeline so it works better for both the business community and students.

Its about how leaders support the next generation of critical and creative thinkers and what is needed for the innovation economy age. We need to adjust what we are doing and actively involve informed thinking around education and business.

Tony was impressed by the strong linkages between education and business that he experienced while he was in Tauranga and felt this provided a great opportunity to drive the change that is needed.

Education, business and civic leaders need to advocate for change, helping people understand the urgent need for things to be done differently and the huge risk to our future workforce if no change is made."

There are some outlier teachers that understand the need for change and are working collaboratively in our schools to create innovative programmes to facilitate this," says Lyn.

"These teachers need to be supported by parents, who are important influencers in the lives of students, who understand the need for change and can help drive this transformation."


ROME, N.Y. -- An 18-year-old man was shot and a dog was killed Saturday in Rome during a "drug deal gone bad," according to Rome police.

Rome police were called to the 100 block of North Doxtator Street at 8:08 p.m. Saturday. Officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg.

Officers were alerted to a nearby home on West Liberty Street. Officers entered the home and found two men fighting over a handgun, police said. The men were taken into custody without incident.

The victim was transported to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Utica for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.

According to reports, the fight erupted during a "drug deal gone bad," police said. Two men and a woman went to 806 W. Liberty St. to get narcotics and attempt to rob the Antoine D. Williams, the resident, police said.

During the attempt, a handgun was pulled out and at least one shot was fired. One of the three men was struck, along with a dog that was inside the home. The dog died at the scene from his injuries, police said.

During the investigation, detectives executed a search warrant at 806 W. Liberty St. Officers recovered 158.8 grams of cocaine/crack cocaine, 4 pounds of marijuana, cash and a loaded handgun.

Williams, 27, faces the following felony charges:

Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

First-degree assault

Kendell L. Savage, 23, of 606 Parry St., was charged with second-degree criminal contempt, a misdemeanor, police said.

The investigation is still ongoing and further charges are pending.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police say a 46-year-old woman stabbed her 47-year-old boyfriend during a fight this weekend on the South Side of the city.

Chavella Conningham, of Syracuse, is accused of stabbing her boyfriend in the arm at about 8:35 p.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of Bellevue Avenue, police spokeswoman Sgt. Julie Shulsky said in a news release.

When city police and AMR ambulance responded to a domestic-related 911 call, they found the man with a 2-inch cut to his arm, Shulsky said in the release.

AMR took the victim to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse for treatment. His injury is not considered life threatening, police said.

Officers arrested Conningham at the scene. She was charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor.

Conningham was sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center in Syracuse before she was arraigned on the charges. She was no longer in jail Sunday night, records show.
Syracuse, NY - The CNY Jazz Orchestra makes its Oneida Performing Arts debut on Saturday December 1st with a holiday-themed big band concert featuring Grammy nominee Jane Monheit, who will be kicking off her holiday tour. She'll celebrate the Great American Songbook as well as seasonal favorites. Tickets are $40, available at www.oneidaperforming arts.com or www.cnyjazz.org and include a dinner and concert package or a unique after-party drink special.

Blessed with "a voice of phenomenal beauty" (Stephen Holden, New York Times), Jane has established herself as one of today's best and most important jazz artists. She has strong Central New York connections, being the daughter-in-law of legendary keyboardist and arranger Rick Montalbano, a resident of Rome, NY. A Long Island native, Jane attended the Manhattan School of Music, graduating as the recipient of the William H. Borden Award for outstanding accomplishment in jazz. At the age of 20, she was first runner-up in the 1998 Thelonious Monk Institute's vocal competition. Soon after, Jane released her debut album, Never Never Land, on N-coded Records, the label founded by super-producers Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen, and Phil Ramone. It was voted Best Recording Debut by the Jazz Journalists Association, staying on the Billboard jazz charts for a year. Since then she has recorded for many labels and has established herself on the international festival scene as a mainstay in the American jazz vocal tradition.

"This is a cool development for us, to be invited to perform in another concert series with a national artist," said Larry Luttinger, founder of the CNY Jazz Orchestra. "And, we've never done a big band holiday program. We hope to bring a strong contingent of our fans to enjoy this 'first of its kind' offering."

What: Oneida Performing Arts Concert Series

Who: Jane Monheit with the CNY Jazz Orchestra

When: Saturday December 1st, 7:30 pm

Where: Oneida High School Auditorium & nearby restaurants

Tickets: $40 including dinner or after-party

Details: https://www.oneidaperformingarts.com/cny-jazz-orchestra
It's the familiar story of "The Nutcracker" but with a twist. On the eve of the Russian Revolution, a girl unravels the truth behind her dreams and nightmares as a mysterious stranger blurs fantasy and reality. Another twist: you enter her world as a guest at a holiday celebration, moving from room to room in her house to encounter objects and uncover family secrets as the roar of protesters filters in from outside. And the biggest twist of all: you decide which of the play's three actors to follow.

"Marie and the Nutcracker Prince" introduces audiences to immersive theater, an interactive form of stagecraft which removes all the structural barriers that separate audience and actors in traditional theater. Instead of sitting, audiences stand and walk through the theater space. To see how the story unfolds, they must explore the set, literally follow the characters, and choose one over another when they separate and pursue their individual paths.

An original play developed and produced by Breadcrumbs Productions, "Marie" premiered in Syracuse on Nov. 23 at SALTspace, a black box performance space on Marcellus Street, and will travel to a handful of area venues through Dec. 23.

The three-member cast assumes multiple roles. Breadcrumbs associate producer and director Maya Dwyer plays the title character Marie, Breadcrumbs founder and artistic director Tanner Efinger is the stranger, and Tallon Larham is Marie's godfather, an enigmatic inventor with political ties. Their strong performances -- which include singing, dancing, improvisation and stage combat -- not only demonstrate their versatility but break down the fourth wall between performer and theatergoer, drawing onlookers into the action.

Designer and stage manager Andrew Hughes functions as a fourth player, guiding participants from one room to another, pulling open doors, distributing audience props, and operating lighting and sound equipment. Through simple, effective staging techniques and lighting design, he converts the lobby of the SALTspace into a multi-room house with a handful of vignettes that suggest separate rooms. A blue-lit side space becomes Marie's bedroom, the black box theater is a dreamscape of swirling lights and deep resonant sounds, and a hallway lit by flickering candles leads to an unheated cinderblock room representing the poverty and deprivation of the streets. Together, they create a well-defined narrative space that is both dreamlike and spare.

Audiences used to the typical dialogue-dependent three-act play may find this one-hour production scant in comparison -- it's more atmospheric than structured, more moody than explicative. The story is uncomplicated, outlined in broad strokes, vague in spots; for the audience to roam freely while still catching critical plot points and character shifts, by necessity key actions and moments of dialogue repeat several times so that nothing is missed.

The fun in this type of production is the exploration; it's a thinking person's holiday-themed 'haunted' house minus the shocks and gore but with all the delights of discovery.

If you're looking for a joyous feel-good Christmas show, move on; but if you're up for something different, this politically-themed reimagining of the classic Nutcracker story is intriguing, unlike anything else you will see this season. It's also the kind of event that is best when small and intimate; on review night the audience numbered just under three dozen, giving us all plenty of room to observe events up-close and move from place to place without overcrowding.

"Marie and the Nutcracker Prince" will be traveling to Oneida, Auburn, Geneva, Cortland, and Binghamton as well as returning to SALTspace during its run. It's the kind of show that's likely to flex and change with each venue, adding to its uniqueness. Location-specific dates are below.

The Details:

What: "Marie and the Nutcracker Prince" presented by Breadcrumbs Productions

Where: SALTspace, 104 Marcellus St. Syracuse - Dec. 8, 22 and 23

Oneida Community Mansion House, Oneida - Dec. 1

Cayuga Museum, Auburn - Dec. 7

Rose Hill Mansion, Geneva - Dec. 9

The 1890 House, Cortland - Dec. 14 and 15

Phelps Mansion, Binghamton - Dec. 20 and 21

Length: 60 minutes with no intermission

When seen: Saturday, Nov. 24 at SALTspace

Family Guide: High schoolers 16 and above

Runs through: December 23

Ticket information and reservations: Breadcrumbs Productions website www.breadcrumbsproductions.com/nutcracker

CNY Theater Guide
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse-based medical marijuana company NYCanna is no longer locally owned. Acreage Holdings, of New York City, bought the business in August.

But Syracuse executives involved in launching the company are still active in the marijuana business elsewhere.

The entrepreneurs who founded NYCanna are trying to start similar businesses in other states. And a Syracuse public TV executive who invested in NYCanna has moved on to oversee Acreage Holdings' marijuana operations nationwide.

Robert Daino, who led Syracuse public broadcaster WCNY for 13 years as president and CEO, has taken a job as chief operating officer at Acreage Holdings. The company owns marijuana businesses in 14 states.

Robert J. Daino, longtime president and CEO of WCNY, has taken a new job as chief operating officer of marijuana company Acreage Holdings.

Acreage Holdings went public this month on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The company was valued at about $2.8 billion, according to Investor's Business Daily.

Daino met the principals of Acreage Holdings last year, when both invested in NYCanna, Daino said. Licensed by the state in August 2017, NYCanna grows marijuana in the former New Venture Gear factory in DeWitt.

After Acreage bought 100 percent of NYCanna over the summer, company principals recruited Daino to be their COO.

"Having the opportunity to make an impact nationally in this space was quite appealing to me,'' Daino said in a September interview. He said his goal is to make his company "the most trusted source and brand'' in the marijuana industry.

Acreage Holdings aims to become the biggest marijuana company in the country. Its board of directors includes former House Speaker John Boehner, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and William Weld, ex-governor of Massachusetts.

Former public TV executive Robert Daino of Syracuse is now chief operating officer of Acreage Holdings, a New York City company that acquired Syracuse-based NYCanna.

Acreage opened its first New York dispensary this month in Buffalo. Like Acreage stores in other states, the Buffalo location is branded The Botanist.

The sale of NYCanna meant that its founders -- including Syracuse-area businessmen John Vavalo, Dennis DuVal and Dino Dixie -- no longer had anything to do with the local marijuana operation. But they are still active in other states.

Under the company name Terradiol, the entrepreneurs are seeking licenses outside New York. Ohio granted Terradiol a provisional license in November 2017 to grow marijuana at a facility in Canton.

Terradiol or its affiliated companies also have applied for licenses in Maryland and Pennsylvania. To date, the company has not received licenses in those states.

Contact reporter Tim Knauss | email | Twitter | 315-470-3023
Allen Naples, who serves on the boards of CenterState CEO, Onondaga Community College and other nonprofit organizations, is M&T Bank Regional President for Central New York.





By Allen Naples | Special to Syracuse.com



Every year, Hueber-Breuer Construction deploys nearly its entire team to volunteer projects across the region on its Community Volunteer Day. They put their skills as builders to work, and they also provide extra sets of hands to help local causes that benefit our neighbors.



At VIP Structures, their team hit the streets of downtown Syracuse for a cleanup project earlier this year. More recently, they connected with students from a local junior high to introduce them to design-build fundamentals, inspiring the kids to redesign their computer lab.



Both companies are leaders in the local construction industry. It's an industry where meeting timelines is everything and completing jobs on budget is essential. Still, they find time and resources to get involved in our community and give back.



For family businesses like these two firms, which will eventually pass the torch to the next generation, the charitable contributions and volunteer activities have a purpose beyond the immediate community impact.



They're also designed to inspire the forthcoming generation of business leaders to understand and adopt the civic and community responsibilities of today's CEOs and company presidents.



This region is home to hundreds of small and mid-sized businesses. Many of them are multigenerational, family-owned businesses with top executives who are nearing retirement. Integrating community involvement and philanthropy into succession plans provides a path to a more engaged business community and a stronger Syracuse and Central New York.



Since 2000, at least 80 locally owned companies have gone through consolidations, closures or sales to out-of-state firms. As more and more Central New York-based businesses have been sold to corporations headquartered outside of New York state, charitable giving has declined for local nonprofits. Exacerbating the problem, local governments are financially strapped, and the need in our community only continues to grow.



It has created a situation that requires local business leaders to step up their efforts and ensure those next-in-line at their companies follow their example.



Leading a business, especially in this community, brings a greater responsibility than increasing revenues and delivering for customers. Business leaders in Central New York also become stewards of our community's growth and advocates for our region's needs.



As new leaders take the helm at local companies, they have a tremendous opportunity to guide the future of our community. Knowing how, when and why to get involved will empower them to support the success of our region as they strengthen and expand their businesses.



Considering philanthropy and community involvement in the context of succession planning delivers important benefits on three fronts: For companies, it extends corporate values into future generations. For employees, it helps them connect with causes and organizations they can get passionate about. And for the community, it grows the ranks of active, informed leaders striving to make difference.



Fortunately, the rising generations tend to be highly interested in community impact. Among Millennials, 94 percent want to use their skills to benefit others, 57 percent would like more companywide service days, and 47 percent recently volunteered on their own for a cause they care about, according to the Millennial Impact Report.



Business can serve as a vehicle to channel their interest, amplifying their ability to influence issues that matter to them while preserving the values and legacy of the company for years to come.



In fact, at VIP Structures and Hueber-Breuer Construction, their next generations--Katherine Nutting and Meg Tidd at VIP and Andy Breuer and Charlie Breuer at Hueber-Breuer--are now leading the way with their firms' community involvement efforts. These emerging leaders recognize the impact they can make and are bolstering their businesses' work to elevate our region.



In my roles as regional president of M&T Bank and as a volunteer in our community, I'll continue to advise friends, colleagues and customers to build succession plans that prepare future leaders for their civic responsibilities. Our community's future depends on it.




Karen Tumulty is a columnist covering national politics for The Washington Post.

By Karen Tumulty | The Washington Post

Donald Trump's presidency has been a sort of civics lesson in reverse.

Nearly every day, we learn that much of what we had long assumed to be guardrails against the abuse of presidential power simply does not exist.

That is, it does not exist in law. By and large, it is only because Trump's modern predecessors followed certain norms that Americans assumed their presidents would disclose their tax returns, divest their business interests, refrain from putting close relatives in top White House jobs and otherwise avoid blatant conflicts of interest.

Trump has obliterated all of those expectations.

Now comes another one shattered, with last week's report in the New York Times that the president wanted to order the Justice Department to prosecute two of his political adversaries, his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton and former FBI Director Jim Comey.

Trump reportedly was talked out of it by then-White House counsel Donald McGahn. But McGahn is now gone, and Trump appears to be still mulling the idea, even as he rages about a twin obsession: Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

As recently as Nov. 15, Trump groused on Twitter: "They won't even look at all of the bad acts and crimes on the other side."

The president has also fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whom he considered insufficiently loyal, and put in his place, at least temporarily, Matthew Whitaker, a vocal critic of the Mueller probe and presumably someone Trump views as more likely to look after his interests.

All of this is a reminder that the premise that presidents will keep their fingers off the scales of justice is a relatively recent development in our history, dating only as far back as the outrage over Richard M. Nixon's abuses that were uncovered during Watergate.

Nixon was far from the first to see no barrier between the White House and the Justice Department. Theodore Roosevelt stage-managed antitrust prosecutions. Lyndon B. Johnson had the FBI spy on rival factions in his own party at the 1964 Democratic convention. And, most famously, John F. Kennedy appointed his brother as attorney general.

What grew up after Watergate was an informal policy, initiated by President Gerald Ford, under which presidents limit the number of White House officials who could communicate with the Justice Department about active investigations, and the circumstances under which they could do so.

But presidents do not have to make those policies public and can change them at will.

That should be fixed, and a bipartisan task force put together by the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law has come up with some sensible, restrained ways to do it.

The proposals are included in a wide-ranging set of ideas for reform that the task force put out in early October.

Among them: a requirement that every administration publish its policies for contacts between the White House and law enforcement agencies, and that law enforcement agencies maintain a log when they hear from the White House regarding specific criminal or civil enforcement matters. Relevant congressional committees and the Justice Department's inspector general would have the ability to inspect those logs.

"If someone knows there will be a record of their contact, they will likely take care to ensure it is appropriate," noted the task force, which was co-chaired by former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, R, and Preet Bharara, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York who was fired by Trump in March 2017.

That no such record currently exists was one of the concerns that prompted Comey to start writing memos to himself about his early conversations with Trump. They contained some explosive allegations, including that the newly inaugurated president demanded loyalty from his soon-to-be-fired FBI director, and that Trump argued the agency should drop its investigation of contacts with Russia by his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

The presidency is an institution invested with enormous power and enormous leeway for how to use that power. Trump's two years in office have revealed how few legal and political tools there are for curbing a chief executive who does not feel constrained by norms -- or, for that matter, by shame, ethical standards or fear of public backlash.

Nowhere is the potential for overreach more dangerous, however, than in the application of our laws. Using that power to reward friends and punish adversaries marks the dividing line where a president becomes a tyrant -- and it is one that Trump seems determined to cross.



Editorial cartoons for Nov. 25, 2018: Thanksgiving, Saudi prince, Mueller, the wall
U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley is calling on Russia to "immediately cease its unlawful conduct" in the Black Sea near Crimea during a United Nations Security Council meeting Monday.

The Ukrainian navy says Russian ships fired on and seized three of its artillery ships Sunday. The incident sharply escalated tensions that have been growing between the two countries since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Anne Gueguen, the French deputy permanent representative at the U.N., urged the release of the sailors and the vessels. She said Sunday's incidents show the need for de-escalation and a long term resolution to the dispute over Crimea.

Russia, meanwhile, called Ukraine's actions "dangerous" and said the three Ukrainian vessels illegally crossed into Russian waters.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council the weekend incident was another example of Ukrainian leaders trying to provoke Russia for political purposes. He claimed Porschenko needed a war ahead of the March election to gain support from the public.

RT @USUN: This is no way for a law-abiding civilized nation to act. Impeding Ukraines lawful transit through the Kerch Strait is a violation under international law. It is an arrogant act that the international community must condemn and will never accept.  Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) November 26, 2018

RT @USUN: In the name of international peace and security, Russia must immediately cease its unlawful conduct and respect the navigational rights and freedoms of all states.  Archive: Ambassador Nikki Haley (@AmbNikkiHaley) November 26, 2018

From earlier:

MOSCOW (AP) -- Ukraine's president demanded Monday that Russia immediately release Ukrainian sailors and vessels seized in a standoff around Crimea that sharply escalated tensions between the two countries and drew international concern.

The two neighbors have been locked in a tense tug-of-war since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, but the incident late Sunday, in which Russian coast guard ships fired on Ukrainian navy vessels near the Kerch Strait, directly pitted the two militaries against each other, placing them on the verge of an open conflict.

The Ukrainian navy said six of its seamen were wounded when Russian coast guards opened fire on three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait and then seized them. Russia said that three Ukrainian sailors were lightly injured and given medical assistance.

Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, chaired an emergency meeting of his Cabinet early Monday and asked parliament to introduce martial law for two months in response to what he described as Russian aggression.

"We consider it as an act of aggression against our state and a very serious threat," the president said. "Unfortunately, there are no 'red lines' for the Russian Federation."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told reporters later Monday that Kiev believes that what happened near the Kerch Strait was no accident but "deliberately planned hostilities."

If adopted by lawmakers, the emergency measures proposed by Poroshenko will include a partial mobilization and strengthening the country's air defense. They also include a plethora of vaguely worded steps such as the "strengthening" of anti-terrorism measures and "information security."

The fate of the Ukrainian seamen was not immediately clear. Klimkin insisted that they should be treated as prisoners of war while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not say what legal status they have.

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was also called for Monday. The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides.

Poroshenko had a phone call Monday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the situation. NATO later said that at Poroshenko's request, its ambassadors and Ukraine's envoy will hold emergency talks in Brussels later Monday.

NATO said Stoltenberg expressed the U.S.-led military alliance's "full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law."

Poroshenko said at a meeting of Ukraine's national security council Monday that "we demand that (the ships and crews) are urgently turned over to the Ukrainian side" and called for a "de-escalation" of the crisis around Crimea.

Russia and Ukraine have traded blame over the incident that further escalated tensions that have soared since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine with clandestine dispatches of troops and weapons.

Ukraine said its vessels were heading to the Sea of Azov in line with international maritime rules, while Russia charged that they had failed to obtain permission to pass through the Kerch Strait separating Crimea from the Russian mainland.

The narrow strait is the only passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It's spanned by a 19-kilometer (11.8-mile) bridge that Russia completed this year. While a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has sought to assert greater control over the passage since the annexation of Crimea.

"There is no doubt that it was done by blessing or, perhaps, even a direct order from the top," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "While planning that provocation, Ukraine had undoubtedly hoped to get additional benefits from the situation, expecting the U.S. and Europe to blindly take the provocateurs' side."

He urged the West to "calm down those in Ukraine who are trying to unleash a military hysteria to get political gains in connection with the planned elections" -- a reference to Ukraine's presidential vote in March.

A motion to introduce martial law requires a simple majority of votes in the 450-seat parliament, which Poroshenko's party controls. If martial law is introduced as proposed for 60 days, it will derail the presidential election campaign, which was expected to start on Dec. 30 with the vote in March.

Some lawmakers lashed out at Poroshenko's move as an attempt to influence the vote. Polls show Poroshenko trailing far behind arch-rival Yulia Tymoshenko.

"Martial law in Ukraine would present a wonderful chance to manipulate the presidential elections," said Oksana Syroid, a deputy speaker of parliament who is a member of the Samopomich faction.

She noted that martial law was not introduced in 2014 or 2015 despite large-scale fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in the east.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Peskov, said that Poroshenko's initiative to introduce martial law "clearly smacks of electoral intrigues."

"We believe that it's wrong and dangerous to solve electoral tasks by waving a flag of war," he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters from far-right party National Corps waved flares in the snowy streets outside the Ukrainian parliament Monday. They brandished yellow-and-blue flags with the Ukrainian national symbol, the trident, and a huge white banner reading 'Don't back down!"
Cutting ribbon to open the exhibition

Addressing the opening ceremony, Hungarian Ambassador Ory Csaba highlighted the flourishing political, economic and cultural ties between Vietnam and Hungary since the two countries set up diplomatic ties nearly 70 years ago, adding that Hungary will open a culture and community center in Hanoi in the future.





Visitors to the exhibition (Source: toquoc.vn)

According to Luong Xuan Doan, vice chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, the world is attening and cultures can exist at global levels. At the very beginning of the new century, Vietnam is still an interesting and trustworthy art destination for international artists to exchange and communicate with each other.

The exhibition will run until December 2nd. It will be repeated in Ho Chi Minh City from December 19th to 26th, and in Hungarys capital city of Budapest in 2020./.
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Theresa Payton, CEO of Fortalice Solutions, is one of the most influential experts on cybersecurity and IT strategy in the United States. She is an authority on Internet security, data breaches and fraud mitigation.

She served as the first female chief information officer at the White House, overseeing IT operations for President George W. Bush and his staff.

With the U.S. midterm elections fast approaching, both Paytons observations about the current cybersecurity threat level and her advice about shoring up the nations defenses carry special weight.

In this exclusive interview, she also shares her views on social networking, privacy, and the changing playing field for women who aspire to leadership roles in technology.

TechNewsWorld: What is the chief cyberthreat to the upcoming midterm elections?

Theresa Payton:

My biggest worry and concern is that citizens will not trust election results and that the election process will lose legitimacy. We know that the Department of Homeland Security, working with state election officials, have raced against the clock to secure voting systems. Our U.S. intelligence agencies have repeatedly been on the record stating there is no evidence that cybercriminals modified or deleted any votes in 2016.

The next area of concern is for the communications, contacts, and digital campaigns of candidates being broken into and doxed. While the news focuses on securing the votes and the voter databases of the midterm elections, there is not a lot of attention on whether or not campaigns take threats targeting their campaigns seriously. Nothing would hit closer to home for a candidate than if their election was hacked and they lost  or won.

Cyber is certainly a buzzword, but its not a word without meaning. With the onslaught of breaches, candidates should be laser-focused on cybersecurity.

TNW: What should federal officials do to shore up election security? What should state and local governments do? Where does the buck stop?

Payton:

Its crucial that elected officials on the left and right not politicize an issue in the short term that will have grave long-term consequences for national security.

Defensively, we need to harden our election infrastructure at the local level. This is the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security.

DHS needs to continue to work at the local level with state election officials, but also to provide much more robust cybersecurity capabilities for protection and detection at the campaign level.

We also need to be sure that the intelligence and homeland security community is effectively sharing information and tools, techniques and tactics.

TNW: How serious are concerns that election interference might be caused by tampering with back-end election systems? What can federal agencies do to address the problems of outdated voting equipment, inadequate election-verification procedures, and other potential vulnerabilities? Is there an argument to be made for some level of mandatory federal oversight of state and local voter systems?

Payton:

There are grave concerns about election interference and the race to secure them, globally, is under way. The idea that voter databases could be seeded with falsified data or modified has been around for decades, but the technical know-how and motive has caught up with that idea. Election officials in a race towards automation and efficiency may have helped criminals along, but its not too late if we act now.

Today, there are entire countries totally relying on electronic voting: Brazil, since 2000, has employed electronic voting machines, and in 2010 had 135 million electronic voters. India had 380 million electronic voters for its Parliament election in 2004.

It is easy to see why electronic voting is the wave of the future and how the United States could model its own voting system after these countries. Its faster, cheaper and more accessible for those with disabilities. Also, would you miss the experience of, or the reporting of, the every-election-day headline of Long Lines at the Polls Today? Probably not. That is certainly less painful than a recount though.

We are headed towards electronic voting as the sole system we use despite these facts:

The U.S. intelligence community developed substantial evidence that state websites or voter registration systems in seven states were compromised by Russian-backed covert operatives prior to the 2016 election  but never told the states involved, according to multiple U.S. officials, NBC News reported earlier this year.

Russia hacked the Democratic National Committees emails with the intention to interfere with the U.S. election process, according to the director of national intelligence, James R. Clapper Jr., and the Department of Homeland Security.

As far as we know, despite the scans and alarm bells, no outside entity has changed any records in the registration database.

Scams such as text your vote were more prevalent than ever, and will increase as electronic voting becomes more widespread.

The good news is our government took this very seriously. Prior to the midterm elections, the Department of Homeland Security offered state election officials cyber hygiene scans to remotely search for vulnerabilities in election systems. They also conducted threat briefings and onsite reviews, as well as released a memo of best practices  guidance how best to secure their voter databases.

Some have called for more federal oversight and moving towards a more restrictive security model, but the states own the voting process. Providing year-round briefings from DHS, FBI, CIA, and NSA would prove to be very helpful over time.

Also, we have to remember elections are decentralized. Sometimes there is security in obscurity. Each state in our country, plus the District of Columbia, run their own election operations, including voter databases. A hostile nation state could not feasibly wipe out each system with one wave of their magic wand.

How we vote, though, is just one-way our elections could be compromised. Another concern going forward must be disruption of Internet traffic, as we saw occurred just days before the last presidential election cycle on Oct. 21st, 2016, when the Mirai botnet crippled part of the Internet for hours.

A massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacked a host server causing major disruptions to some of the most highly visited websites in the United States. The attack was in two waves, first on the East Coast and then on the West Coast.

As our country votes on Election Day in different time zones, and polling stations close at different times, the similarity is chilling.

However, we need everyone to turn out to vote. The focus on bolstering our election security defenses is reassuring. What we know is the warning signs are there. As we move towards the future, and focus on creating and protecting a new system to collect our votes, we need to protect the one we already have.

Two things you can be sure of after this years election: Eventually, every vote you cast in a United States election will be electronic, and one of those elections will be hacked. No doubt about it. But the recount in 2016 in Wisconsin reminds us all why we need a backup.

TNW: What are some ways candidates and campaigns can shore up their cybersecurity without draining their war chests? What are some of the practices they should implement in the very early days? A campaign thats very secure ultimately might lose due to lack of visibility. How can campaigns strike the right balance?

Payton:

Never before have campaigns collected so much essential information that would be lucrative to so many cybercriminals. Credit card numbers, bank account information, addresses, online identities. The assets go on and on, and cybercriminals are just like bank robbers in the old days: They follow the money.

That is why in todays day and age, if you are on a campaign, whether it be state, national or local, you need to be as vigilant about protecting data as any business. Otherwise, you will lose your customers  also known as constituents and voters.

Anyone on a tight budget can follow these guidelines to protect their campaign assets:

Make it as hard as possible on cybercriminals by separating donor information details onto a completely separate domain name with separate user IDs and passwords from the campaign. For example, your campaign domain might be VoteSallySue.com, but donor details would be stored at MustProtectDetails.com. Using that same practice, run all of your internal communications on a domain name thats not the campaign name  i.e., email addresses should not be henry@VoteSallySue.com but rather henry@MustProtectDetails.com. Increase the level of protection for internal messages by using encrypted messaging platforms for internal communications, such as Signal or Threema. Also, be sure to encrypt all of your campaigns donor data. We have yet to hear a report of a campaigns donor data being hacked and used for identity theft, but we will  of that I am sure. It would be too lucrative not to try. Once it is hacked, it will be hard to restore confidence in your operation. Just ask any major retailer, bank or organization who has recently been hacked, and they will tell you. I dont even need to use their names, you know the headlines. Train technology and campaign staff to spot spearphishing emails and scams. Oh, sure, you think everyone knows not to click on that link, but recent studies illustrate doing just that is the No. 1 cause of breaches among employees. Another safeguard that raises the bar in terms of security is implementing two-factor authentication wherever feasible. When you use a platform that employs two-factor authentication, dont you feel safer? Possibly annoyed, as well, but certainly reassured that the extra step has been taken to secure your data. Dont you want the electorate to feel the same way? Finally, post a privacy policy thats easy to read, easy to find, and youll find voters have more confidence in just your agenda.

TNW: How well  or poorly  have Facebook, Twitter, Google and other tech companies addressed the problems that surfaced in 2016?

Payton:

I was encouraged to hear that with less than three weeks to go for the U.S. mid-terms, that Facebook has stood up a war room to combat social media community manipulation as the world heads into elections this fall and winter.

They have also said they have war-gamed a number of scenarios to ensure their team is better prepared for elections around the globe. Much is at stake, so the fact that Facebook also integrated the apps they have acquired  such as WhatsApp and Instagram  into the mix of the war room is a great idea.

If I were to give them advice, I would suggest that another great step to take would be to create a way to physically embed representatives from law enforcement, other social media companies  including Twitter, Linkedin and Google  and to allow election officials around the globe to have a red phone access to the war room.

TNW: What are some of the most pressing cybersecurity problems facing social networks, apart from their use as political tools?

Payton:

The ability to change their business and moderator models, in real time, to morph quickly to shut down fake personas, fake ads, and fake messaging promoting political espionage, even if it means higher expenses and loss of revenue. Social media companies have made a lot of progress since the 2016 presidential elections and claims of global-wide election meddling, but the criminals have changed tactics and its harder to spot them.

On the heels of the August 2018 news that Microsoft seized six domains that Russian Internet trolls planned to use for political espionage phishing attacks around the same time that Facebook deactivated 652 fake accounts and pages tied to misinformation campaigns, Alex Stamos, the former Facebook security chief, posted an essay in Lawfare, and stated that it was too late to protect the 2018 elections.

TNW: What role should the government play in protecting citizens privacy online?

Payton:

As the Internet evolves, laws and regulations must change more rapidly to reflect societal issues and problems created by new types of behavior taking place online. Never before has the world had access to statements, pictures, video and criticism by millions of individuals who are not public figures.

The Internet provides us with places to document our lives, thoughts and preferences online, and then holds that material for an indefinite period of time  long after we might have outgrown our own postings.

It also provides places where we can criticize our bosses, local building contractors, or polluters.

This digital diary of our lives leaves tattered pages of our past that we may forget about because we cannot see them, but they could be collected, collated, and used to judge us or discriminate against us without due process. The government needs to think ahead and determine which laws need to be enacted to protect our right to opt in and out of privacy features and to own our digital lives and footprints.

TNW: What is your opinion of Europes right to be forgotten law? Do you think a similar law would make sense in the United States?

Payton:

The European Unions right to be forgotten sets an interesting precedent, not just for its member countries but for citizens around the world. It is too early to know what the long-term impacts of the EUs decision to enforce a right to be forgotten with technology companies will be. However, its a safe bet the law will evolve and not disappear.

There are concerns that giving you or organizations more control of their Internet identity, under a right to be forgotten clause, could lead to [censorship] of the Internet. Free-speech advocates around the globe are concerned that the lack of court precedent and the gray areas of the EU law could lead to pressure for all tech companies to remove results across the globe, delinking news stories and other information upon an individuals request.

A quick history lesson of how this law came about: A Spanish citizen filed a complaint with Spains Data Protection Agency and indicated that Google Spain and Google Inc. had violated his privacy rights by posting an auction notice that his home was repossessed. The matter was resolved years earlier but since delete is never really delete and the Internet never forgets, the personal data about his financial matters haunted his reputation online.

He requested that Google Spain and Google Inc. be required to remove the old news so it would not show up in search engine results. The Spanish court system reviewed the case and referred it to the European Unions Court of Justice.

Here is an excerpt of what the May 2014 ruling of the EU Court said: On the Right to be Forgotten: Individuals have the right  under certain conditions  to ask search engines to remove links with personal information about them. This applies where the information is inaccurate, inadequate, irrelevant or excessive for the purposes of the data processing . A case-by-case assessment is needed considering the type of information in question, its sensitivity for the individuals private life and the interest of the public in having access to that information. The role the person requesting the deletion plays in public life might also be relevant. In the U.S., implementing a federal law might be tempting, but the challenge is that the ability to comply with the law will be complex and expensive. This could mean that the next startup will be crushed under compliance and therefore innovation and startups will die before they can get launched.

However, we do need a central place of advocacy and a form of a consumer privacy bill of rights. We have remedies to address issues but its a complex web of laws that apply to the Internet. Technology changes society faster than the law can react, so U.S. laws relating to the Internet will always lag behind.

We have a Better Business Bureau to help us with bad business experiences. We have the FTC and FCC to assist us with commerce and communications. Individuals need an advocacy group to appeal to, and for assistance in navigating online defamation, reputational risk, and an opportunity to scrub their online persona.

TNW: What is your attitude toward social networking? Whats your advice to others regarding the trustworthiness of social networks?

Payton:

Social networking can offer us amazing ways to stay in touch with colleagues, friends and loved ones. Its a personal decision as to how involved you are online, how many platforms you interact with, and how much of your life that you digitally record or transact online.

If you want to be on social media but dont want to broadcast everything about you, I tell my clients to turn off location tracking  or geolocation tools  in social media. That way you arent checking in places. Cybercriminals use these check-ins to develop your pattern of life and to track your circle of trust. If a cybercriminal has these two patterns, it makes it easier for them to hack your accounts.

Register for an online service that will give you a phone number, such as Google Voice or Talkatone. Provide that number on social media and forward it to your real cellphone. Avoid personality surveys and other surveys  they are often very fun to do, but the information posted often gives digital clues to what you may use for your password.

Always turn on two-factor authentication for your accounts, and tie your social media accounts to an email address dedicated to social media. Turn on alerts to notify you if there is a login that is outside your normal login patterns.

The amount of personal information you choose to share is up to you  and everyone has to find that limit of what is too much  but at the very least, never give out personally identifiable information like your address, DOB, financial information, etc.

TNW: As the first woman to serve in the role of CIO at the White House, under President George W. Bush, how did you feel about becoming an instant role model for girls and young women interested in tech careers?

Payton:

Its an honor to think about the opportunity to give back and to help along anyone that wants to pursue this career path, especially young women. Candidly, we need everyone to fight the good fight. My heart breaks when I see computer and engineering classes with very few women in them.

We did not reach out to the women early enough, and when I talk to young women in high school and college about considering cybersecurity as a career, many of then tell me that since they have had no prior exposure they are worried about failing, and that its too late now to experiment. To which I tell them that its always a great time to experiment and learn new things!

Prior to taking on the role at the White House, I had been very active in women in technology groups and was passionately recruiting young women to consider technology careers. At the time I was offered the role and accepted, I candidly didnt have an immediate aha moment about being a role model for women because of that specific job. I was most focused on making sure the mission was a success. I see it now and its an honor to be able to be a role model and I strive to live up to that expectation.

The cybersecurity industry can do more to help women understand the crucial role that cybersecurity professionals play that make a difference in our everyday lives. Unfortunately, hackers, both ethical and unethical, are often depicted as men wearing hoodies over their faces, making it difficult for women to picture themselves in that role as a realistic career choice, because they dont think they have anything in common with hackers.

Studies show that women want to work in professions that help people  where they are making a difference. When you stop a hacker from stealing someones identity, youve made a difference in someones life or business. At the end of the day, the victims of hackers are people, and women can make a tremendous difference in this field. This is something the industry as a whole needs to do a better job of showing women.

TNW: Youre now the CEO of a company in the private sector. Can you tell us a little about what Fortalice Solutions does, its mission, and your priorities in guiding it?

Payton:

Fortalice Solutions is a team of cybercrime fighters. We hunt bad people from behind a keyboard to protect what matters most to nations, business and people. We combine the sharpest minds in cybersecurity with active intelligence operations to secure everything from government and corporate data and intellectual property, to individuals privacy and security.

At Fortalice, our strengths lie in studying the adversary and outmaneuvering them with our human-first, technology-second approaches.

TNW: How have attitudes toward women in powerful positions changed  for better or worse  in recent years?

Payton:

Although thankfully this is beginning to change, I am typically the only woman in the room  and that was common in banking as well as technology. I had to learn how to stand up for myself and ensure my voice was heard. Ive had more than my fair share of times when my technical acumen has been discounted because Im female.

Ive learned that grace and tact go a long way, and Im very, very proud to say that my company is nearly dead-equal male/female. We even started an organization called Help A Sister Up  you can find us on LinkedIn  thats dedicated to advancing women in technology and serving as a rallying point for them and their male advocates. We post job openings, interesting articles, avenues for discussion. Please join us!

TNW: Whats your advice to girls and women entering technological fields about whether to seek employment in the private or the public sector? What are some of the pros and cons, particularly from the standpoint of gender equality?

Payton:

An April 2013 survey of Women in Technology found that 45 percent of respondents noted a lack of female role models or [the encouragement to pursue a degree in a technology-related field].

Its been proven that professional mentorship and development dramatically increase participation in any given field, so the lack of women in cybersecurity is really a compounding problem  we dont have enough women in cyber because there arent enough women role models in cyber.

While connecting with other women has had its challenges, there are wonderful women in cyber today. Look at Linda Hudson  currently the chairman and CEO of The Cardea Group and former president and CEO of BAE Systems Inc.  shattering the glass ceiling for women behind her. Also, up-and-comer Keren Elazari, a global speaker on cybersecurity and ethical hacker out of Israel.

Ive been very lucky to work with wonderful, inspiring women in cyber, but I recognize that my exposure might be more than women starting their career. This brings me to my next point: I recommend all cyber practitioners, and especially women, take advantage of all the amazing free tools out there from RSA, TED talks, and even YouTube.

You can watch speeches from veteran cybersecurity professionals about their careers, hear their advice on how to succeed, and learn new skills to keep you competitive in the workplace. Consider free online courses in cybersecurity or popular programming languages like Python.Ask your colleagues to show you their favorite geek gadget or ethical hack.

There are some excellent security frameworks and guidance available for free online, such as the NIST framework, CIS Critical Security Controls, SSAE 16, and discussions on GDPR. Leverage social media to hear whats on the minds of security experts. You must be a constant student of your profession in this field.
In brief: Google likes to pride itself as one of the more inclusive tech companies, but there are plenty who disagree. The firm has just settled a racial discrimination claim with a British contractor who says it failed to protect him from abuse during his work for Google Maps.

According to the Guardian, Ahmed Rashid (not his real name), a UK citizen of Moroccan descent, was contracted to surreptitiously gather information about the strength and range of wifi signals inside individual stores in the targeted shopping centers in the UK. The data could then be used to improve the accuracy of Google Maps.

Rashid said that the secretive nature of his work meant he was harassed, racially profiled, and accused of acting like a terrorist in the malls. He claims Google didnt inform some locations about the visits and told contractors not to identify themselves to store employees, despite carrying backpacks and laptops. Rashid said that as the only visibly Arab member of the team, he faced extra harassment from security staff but wasnt allowed to reveal that he worked for Google.

One of Rashid's white colleagues says Google should have done more to shield him. It would have been helpful to all of us to have ID because we all got stopped, but a lot of us didnt have problems because we were white. Google could have done more to help him.

Rashid reported the incidents to Google and asked that he be allowed to wear an ID badge, but the company ignored these requests. After later complaining about being followed by security at a mall, a new contract he was promised was withdrawn later that same day.

Google settled Rashids claim for 4000 (about $5120). Part of the settlement forbids him from talking about what happened, but he spoke out after seeing Google staff stage a global walkout to protest sexual harassment and discrimination at the company.

In a statement to the Guardian, Google said, All employees and contractors are provided with clear guidelines that outline the details of their project and role, and theyre instructed to be forthright about the fact that theyre working on behalf of Google. It added that it did not require permission to check wifi signals as this was publicly available information.

Image credit: Shutterstock
In brief: Nvidia has been complaining about the crypto hangover that left it with excess inventory, but having a massive number of unsold GTX 1060 cards isnt its only concern. As the price of Bitcoin keeps on falling, the green teams stock has plummeted to its lowest point for 16 months.

After holding steady around the $6000 mark for months, Bitcoin started to fall a couple of weeks ago. Its currently sitting just above $4000, having reached a low of $3755the lowest its been since September 2017 and a far cry from the near $20,000 peak it hit last December.

Part of Bitcoins decline has been blamed on Bitcoin Cashs hard fork. Confidence in cryptocurrency has also been knocked by the Justice Departments investigation into whether Bitcoins surge last year was the result of market manipulationspecifically, traders using Tether to drive up its price.

Nvidia admits it failed to predict the cryptomining markets sharp decline. With mining barely profitable, demand for graphics cards such as the GTX 1060 has fallen drastically, leaving the firm with excess channel inventory.

As noted by PC Gamer, the news saw Nvidias share price fall 10 percent last week and is now at its lowest price since July 2017. While this wont be welcome news for the company, less demand for GPUs from cryptominers does mean availability and the cost of graphics cards should remain stable. One other possible effect, however, may be that Nvidia wont release its mid-range Turing cards, including the RTX 2060, until it clears its excess of GTX 1060s, which could take three to six months.

Image credit: Shutterstock
A hot potato: The App Store might be considered a monopoly and could be forced to make changes depending on the ruling of Apple v. Pepper by the Supreme Court. The lofty 30 percent sales fee is being challenged by developers.

Apple is officially off to the Supreme Court today to fight an antitrust case that claims the App Store operates as a monopoly. After years of ongoing litigation between developers and Apple, the lack of clarity regarding how entities can control their digital platforms will be forever changed.

The case of Apple v. Pepper narrowly avoided being thrown out because existing antitrust laws may only apply to the App Store if consumers are considered direct purchasers. One federal judge from Oakland, California had previously ruled that consumers are not directly buying from developers and that the higher fees being paid were the fault of developers, not Apple's 30 percent fee for using the App Store.

Going to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Apple was classified as a distributor of apps that are sold directly to consumers, giving developers the right to bring suit against the company under antitrust laws.

Today marks the beginning of a legal battle that will determine the extent of control that can be exerted over a global product platform. Apple's routine sales of tens of millions of iPhones and billions in App Store revenue certainly point to the idea that developers are being gouged on sales fees.

More than 30 state attorney generals have backed Pepper in the case, notably including support from both Texas and California. Apple has said that a ruling against the company could be a threat to the entire e-commerce industry and would open the doors for consumers to file dozens of suits against other businesses.
It seems General Motors (GM) is starting to shift its focus away from traditional gas-powered cars if recent events are anything to go by.

On November 14, we reported that GM, Tesla, and Nissan had teamed up to preserve electric vehicle (EV) tax incentives. The partnership was formed out of a collective desire to keep the cars appealing and affordable for the general public.

Now, according to Reuters, GM is putting even more emphasis on its EV efforts. Specifically, the company is planning to "double" the resources it dedicates to its EVs and self-driving cars over the next couple of years.

...the company is planning to "double" the resources it dedicates to EVs and self-driving cars over the next couple of years

Of course, that money isn't appearing out of thin air. To fund its goals, GM is slashing 15 percent of its North American contract workers while cutting production of its vehicles with the worst sales. The money freed up by these cuts will be used to strengthen the development of GM's electric vehicles, as well as its upcoming autonomous cars.

Furthermore, GM will be halting production at several of its factories and plants throughout Ohio, Michigan, and Maryland. These shutdowns are expected to take place as soon as next year.

There may be a slight hitch in GM's plans, though. Reuters says the United Autoworkers Union is planning to fight the carmaker to the end. The labor group claims GM's decision will "not go unchallenged." Whether or not the UAW can actually stop GM from accomplishing its goals remains to be seen.
It's not so surprising when reports say there are Malware-infested apps roaming freely around the Play Store. Google's digital marketplace is notoriously unsecure, thanks in large part to it being so massive, meaning the company doesn't always get to filter out unruly ones and duds.

However, when those apps are downloaded by half a million of people, then it's a different situation altogether. Such is this recent report from a security researcher, who just discovered that a hacker group managed to smuggle 13 "games" into the Google Play Store, which have collectively been installed more than 560,000 times.

Google Play Store Infected With Malware Again

The malware, posing as games, pretend to be driving simulators, complete with very convincing screenshots and respectable icons, to boot. However, they fail to even launch once downloaded and proceed to install an APK, which runs, hides itself, then displays ads when the user unlocks their device.

ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko was the first to discover this malicious behavior. Some of the apps, which were all published under the name Luiz O Pinto, were so popular that they even managed to get to the Google Play "Trending" chart despite having no actual functionality. Needless to say this highlights Google's highly lackluster monitoring and supervision of nefarious rule-breakers within its own platform.

At the time of writing, Google has officially removed the apps. Even so, the incident reminds everyone that the company has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to ensuring apps inside its store won't cause any damage. It's also a reminder that an app endorsed by Google Play Store itself doesn't necessarily have a "seal of guarantee" when it comes to safety. As such, users must always stay vigilant, at least until Google finds a better way to deal with scenarios like this.

It's Not Just Google Play

Of course, Google isn't the only company to have had bad actors within its storefront. Both Apple and Microsoft have had similar experiences in the past, which proves no digital store is 100 percent safe when it comes to malware-infested programs.

For its part, Google is aware that it needs to do better on this front. In January, the company disclosed that it had managed to pull more than 700,000 malicious apps from the Play Store just last year. It needs to be far more aggressive, of course, especially when malware-infested apps make it through the trending page undetected.

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Sheriff Louis Ackal was all smiles as he strode into the fading sunlight outside the federal courthouse in Shreveport.

A jury had just cut him loose, acquitting him of allegations that hed directed a squad of Iberia Parish drug deputies in a campaign of wanton beatings, false arrests and lies to cover it all up.

Ackal faced the cameras, raspy and relieved. He credited the FBI with ridding his office of a band of rogues, while in the same breath accusing the Justice Department of a smear job.

The prosecutors had the bad guys, but they wanted my scalp, he groused that afternoon in November 2016. I'm going to go back to New Iberia and make sure my house is very clean.

Back home, some New Iberians werent so sure.

To some residents, it seemed that Ackal  called out for unconstitutional aggressiveness on the streets  was giving the streets back without a fight.

The accounts of lawless deputies and videotaped abuses inside the Iberia Parish Jail had cast a harsh glare on the parish seat, a city of 30,000 buckling from an oil industry downturn that left historic Main Street pockmarked with vacant storefronts.

Now, a style of deliberately racist policing that had grown familiar to residents in the citys troubled West End and other poor, black pockets of town  enclaves known as Little Brooklyn and Black Manila, and Ann Street, a heavy-shooting zone a mile down the bayou from the West End  was out in the open.

And the evidence was jarring.

Slur-laden insults of black West Enders from the sheriff had set the tone, deputies testified. But Ackal had gone further, some said, regaling them with tales from his days as a state trooper.

Ackal headed for the bathroom as former Deputy Jason Comeaux began telling a federal judge one particularly sordid story. Comeaux said Ackal had bragged often that hed once jumped out of a dumpster and fatally shot three n****** during a sting against violent heroin dealers in New Orleans, then escaped suspicion by handing investigators a clean weapon.

The message: Anything that you did would be OK as long as you covered it up, said Comeaux, one of the most prolific admitted abusers.

U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter barred Comeaux from telling his story to the jury at Ackal's trial.

It was no secret

That the beatdowns and false arrests went unchecked, year after year, is what disturbs Robby Bethel most, and surprises her least.

It was no fluke, said Bethel, a West End activist whose mother was the first African-American elected to the parish School Board.

The trial of Sheriff Ackal is when everything that the community had been saying, and no one was listening  the ugliness of what was actually taking place  was coming out of the mouths of those in the community that were supposed to be protecting and serving, said Bethel, 57.

It was no secret in our households. We knew. ... They knew we knew, she added. The community understands exactly what was occurring. But who were they gonna tell?

The reluctance to speak up against the sheriff runs deep in the West End. It permeates the neighborhood, Bethel said  a product of fear and low expectations.

Peggy Gerac, who stepped down in 2016 as a city councilwoman for much of the West End, acknowledged that the unlawful acts of Ackals deputies had slipped past her.

Some of the things the boys would talk about who had been incarcerated, they come to see me. I heard about a lot of it. A lot of it, Gerac said. I never heard about (Ackal) directly but about the officers. I said, 'If you dont want to go to jail, stay out of trouble.' 

But it wasnt that simple in the West End, where disgraced deputies admitted to a habit of targeting young black men to chase down and beat.

Gerac, who is black, had been in the losing faction when city leaders narrowly endorsed a move in 2004 to disband the New Iberia Police Department and contract with the sheriff to police the city.

It was a fraught decision almost from the start. During the 2006 Sugar Cane Festival, the citys signature event, deputies under then-Sheriff Sid Hebert fired tear gas into a crowd of black residents on South Hopkins Street, prompting a lawsuit and calls for a federal probe.

Hebert retired, and Ackal, a former State Police narcotics commander, narrowly won election in 2007 on a promise of drastic changes and a tougher approach to drugs.

His support was particularly strong in the citys whitest precincts  many of them across Bayou Teche from downtown New Iberia and the West End. Four years later, he was re-elected by a wide margin against two challengers.

Unknown to voters at the time, Ackals 2011 landslide came six months after an infamous shakedown in which several of his deputies led four inmates into the jail chapel, one after the next, to pummel them.

One deputy, Byron Lassalle, wedged his baton between his legs and made one inmate suck on the baton as I thrust it into his  into his throat, he admitted on the stand.

Ackal took 75 percent of the parishwide vote in 2011, and about half in heavily black precincts. But that would change.

A video emerged in early 2015 showing a black Iberia Parish inmate prone on the ground, being attacked in a jail yard by a police dog and stomped on by its handler, a sheriff's deputy. Other inmates sat a few feet away.

Ackal won again later that year, thanks to two-thirds support in heavily white precincts, but his backing in some largely black districts shriveled to below 20 percent.

'We can never go back

A federal indictment in March 2016 charged Ackal and Gerald Bubba Savoy, who supervised the narcotics squad, with civil rights and conspiracy counts. Savoy would plead guilty.

By the time Ackal faced a jury later that year, doubts about his commitment to policing the city were mounting.

He had by then disbanded an aggressive street squad, dubbed IMPACT, whose deputies had cross-pollinated with the gung-ho narcotics agents at the center of the FBI investigation. Much of IMPACTs focus was on the West End, the locus of drug activity and gun violence in the city.

A lot of people would like to see that (return), but we cant, Capt. Wendell Raborn, the Sheriffs Office spokesman, said last year as he sat in his office at the offices training academy. We can never go back to the heavy-handed, look-the-other-way style of law enforcement. Society will not accept the law enforcement of the 50s and 60s.

Still, some in New Iberia werent accepting the watered-down policing that Ackals office served up after the scandal. Not while shootings and break-ins spread through the city.

Ackals $6 million-plus annual contract to police New Iberia called for a minimum of 10 deputies on patrol across New Iberias 11 square miles.

Often, fewer than half that number rolled out, said David Naquin, a retired St. Mary Parish sheriff who reviewed the agreement for the city in 2016.

They might have been giving them five, maybe four, on many nights, Naquin said. It was pretty obvious they were not meeting the contract.

In the meantime, residents were complaining of unchecked violence.

A lot of it was the stuff coming out of the trial and pretrial. The people just lost confidence in him, and when you do that, you lose control pretty quickly, Naquin said. There were numerous calls, crimes going unreported, because people didnt think anything would happen.

Vacating convictions

Bofill "Bo" Duhe took over as district attorney a year before the indictments, as numerous deputies lined up to plead guilty.

Duhe described an exhaustive internal review of hundreds of cases involving the offending deputies, dating back to 2008. Duhe's office deemed 90 cases to be so tainted they had to be dropped.

Many were drug throw-downs  the kind of he-said, she-said possession busts that discredited deputies admitted theyd concocted to justify gratuitous beatdowns.

Just recently, Duhes office and defense advocates finally agreed on the last of 17 convictions and sentences to be discarded on account of the scandal, with another ruled invalid by a judge. The dubious arrests had taken place as recently as 2015 and as far back as 2008, during Ackals first year in office  and every year in between.

All but one, a burglary rap, came in drug cases, mostly for possession. All told, those defendants  mostly black, but also white, Asian and Hispanic  had served about four decades in jail on sketchy charges.

Those figures dont include dismissal of the life sentence Anthony Daye had been serving as a habitual offender from a pot arrest made by two Iberia Parish drug agents  Comeaux and Bret Broussard  who admitted fabricating similar evidence in other cases.

Daye was the suspected driver in the 2010 robbery-turned-murder of a popular New Iberia barber, Clifton Williams. Daye became known for something else when deputies beat him with their batons, fists and knees inside the jails chapel, a venue chosen because it had no cameras.

Daye claimed he was a victim of payback for Williams killing. Duhes office agreed to drop the pot case last year, although Daye is set to be tried in February in the murder case.

Broussard, one of the deputies accused of planting the weed, had a wooden baton he called Walter, named for one of the first men he beat with it.

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He kept, you know, running his mouth to us, Broussard said of the baton's namesake.

Even while jailed, Daye was awarded $20,000 last year in a settlement with Ackals office over his jail beating.

He is among a few dozen known plaintiffs who have settled civil suits against Ackals office, to the tune of more than $3 million. At least 15 others are lined up behind them today. A federal judge recently corralled those cases together, aiming to streamline settlement talks.

By mid-2016, Ackal was ousted from a statewide sheriffs' insurance pool because of the frequency and severity of the claims that weve incurred on your behalf since 2009, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Mike Cazes wrote, explaining the expulsion.

Clayton Burgess, a Lafayette attorney representing many of the plaintiffs, said the scandal laid bare the fragility of the criminal justice system in Iberia Parish and across rural Louisiana.

The same apparatus that had failed to expose a malignant culture of violence and corruption was now buckling under the weight of the fallout.

Ackal cases broke the system, with no ramifications to him, Burgess said. He described the admitted abuses by the deputies as probably the most egregious actions of any sheriffs department in the nation.

So many people lied under oath. You couldnt believe any of them, he said, by way of explaining Ackal's acquittal.

It rolled for years. They never got caught. Fellow officers never turned on them. No one in the state system stopped it at all, Burgess said.

Had the feds not come down here, it would still be going on. It was a perfect example of how lying, thieving and beating people works.

Rising tide of violence

Ackal was spot-on about one thing: His rural Sheriffs Office had largely turned into an urban police force.

The vast majority of crime handled by his deputies fell inside the city limits. And the West End, with one-tenth of Iberia Parish's population, accounted for fully half of its shootings and killings.

The worst of the violence radiated out from South Hopkins Street, a moribund stretch of eateries, hair salons and hangouts that West End residents often traverse by bicycle or on foot.

It was a few blocks off South Hopkins, on Shot Street, where Shawn Benjamin absorbed a barrage of gunshots on a February afternoon last year. Two months later, a different man took a bullet in the face while riding in a pickup truck on South Hopkins.

A week after that, more slugs ripped through a house a few blocks down. Deputies found Bertha Mae Hill, 80, dead behind her front door.

The tide of violence was rising. While the parish had recently averaged fewer than five homicides per year for at least six years, the homicide toll reached 10 in 2016, as Ackal awaited trial and his deputies flipped like flapjacks.

Hill was among eight people killed in the parish last year, a figure that was eclipsed in the first half of 2018, when nine people were killed.

All those gunned down were between the ages of 20 and 28. Eight of them were black, and five came from the West End. Two others have been killed in the city since then.

Toussaint Johnson Jr., 28, was left to die on Corrine Street. Hed walked a few blocks to a convenience store on South Hopkins and never came home, said his mother, Loretta Singleton. She said a detective told her a girl her son knew "saw everything" but was refusing to cooperate.

So many people see my son killed and nobodys talking, she said. It wasnt dark. The streets was still full. Its hard. I lost my child to the streets and for what? I feel like its going to be like all the rest. Nothing.

Things got dire enough last year that State Police were enlisted to run details through New Iberia. Over two weeks, the detail of 11 troopers seized a host of drugs and weapons, and made 38 arrests.

It was low-hanging fruit. A void in street-level policing had filled back up with the narcotics trade and all that goes with it  the shootings, the homicides, the terrorizing, lamented Duhe, the district attorney.

Sitting behind his desk in the Iberia Parish courthouse, upstairs from Ackals office, Duhe described a spike in violence in the West End, and a decline in help from residents.

Thats more recent. You used to get a lot more community cooperation, said Duhe, a longtime prosecutor in the office before he ran unopposed for the top seat in 2015.

Its not unusual for people at shootings in that area to not see anything. Thats a normal approach. Im not faulting that community. I certainly understand, in circumstances, that fear.

The result plays out in a downtown courthouse where murder convictions are rare  with none since 2015.

I dont talk to cops

The outcome of Benjamins shooting was typical. While recovering in a hospital bed, hed identified 24-year-old Jashawn McCoy in a photo lineup as Curious, the man who shot him up.

But now, Benjamin was refusing to meet in person with Iberia Parish sheriffs detectives. Acquaintances said he toggled between New Iberia and Houston, and that hed bolted for Texas.

Deputies got a warrant for McCoys arrest. Months later, they found him at his aunts house on Mississippi Street, near where Benjamin was shot. In the police interview room, he planted his forehead on the table and remained silent.

The charges mounted against McCoy. Crime analysts matched one of his fingerprints with a print left on a window of a car that three men had driven into the West End the previous December to buy drugs. Two of them departed Shot Street with bullet wounds. The lucky one took a slug in the wallet.

Now, McCoy faced four counts of attempted murder. But prosecutors had only one eyewitness  Benjamin  who had little enthusiasm for the task.

Not that there werent other people who saw what happened.

Terry Honore, a West End native with a lengthy felony history, was hanging out recently beneath the oaks near where Benjamin was shot. Honore said he was there, watching him get hit 13 times, as McCoy blasted away.

(Benjamin) was cool, calm and collected, Honore said. I kept him calm.

The two men  shooter and victim  were cousins. Benjamin and McCoy had quarreled, and the younger man responded with gunfire, Honore said, though he declined to share the story with law enforcement.

I dont talk to cops, Honore said. Ive been jumped on by a lot of sheriffs deputies, narcs. I got f***** up by a lot of them in jail, too. I respect the law, but the law doesnt respect their own law. Go about your business; Ill go about mine.

In June, McCoy agreed to plead guilty to battery in a deal with prosecutors to resolve all four attempted murder counts against him. He received an eight-year prison sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Nicole Burke said she was left with little choice short of jailing Benjamin to compel him to testify against McCoy. Even then, who knew what hed say?

We couldnt get him into the office to talk to us, Burke said.

They took our streets

Shot Street was an early haven for crack and heroin in the early 1990s, said Donovan Davis, an evangelist and former West End drug dealer who has spent nearly 14 years in prison over the decades.

It was a convenient place to short-stop  to try to catch customers before they reached higher-volume dealers in the public housing development farther back.

It was the first street I dealt drugs on, one of the most notorious streets, Davis said.

He proudly reeled off a roster of early hustlers in the New Iberia drug trade, founding fathers of a culture of block-level street gang rivalries.

Davis sat with one of them, Roy Elow, at a picnic table on South Hopkins Street. Elow, 41, said there were times when police hardly ventured into the darker recesses of the West End.

As a young teen, Elow set up shop in the 700 block of Mixon Street.

I was off the porch before my peers, he said. I learned narcotics real fast.

Elow paused when asked about his legacy. He glanced around a shattered neighborhood that in the days of segregation drew the likes of Otis Redding and Ike and Tina Turner to its nightclubs.

I kinda feel bad, he offered. Look what we started. Look what it has become.

Elow, though, described a siege at times under Ackal.

They wasnt patrolling the streets. They took our streets. Out here every day, riding with lights off, no headlights, he said.

If they see you out, they jumping out. If you asked questions, you were subject to getting your ass whooped. If you didnt have nothing and they wanted you, they put something on you. The thing is, the streets wasnt wild like they is now.
With Louisiana supporting many foster children even after they turn 18, under a law passed this spring, the states foster care providers have coupled with a national nonprofit to simultaneously provide better support of those youth, aimed at improving what happens to them as adults.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services was awarded a $3 million matching grant this fall to implement a case management model that intensively supports youth as they age out of foster care. The grant runs over three years, during which DCFS officials will work with staff from the national nonprofit Youth Villages to train current and new case managers across the state. They'll also partner with local organizations to support their work and sustain the program for future years.

We knew we were already in the process of expanding foster care and we wanted to be able to do it and do it very well, said Christy Tate, the child welfare manager over youth programs at Louisianas DCFS. And this was what we selected to get these outcomes.  One of the countrys only programs that show effectiveness with this age group.

+2 Louisiana family services agency working on expanding foster care eligibility to age 21 Department of Children and Family Services officials got what they wanted this summer when Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, passed a bill se

Youth Villages awarded similar grants to children and family organizations in Washington, D.C, Illinois and Los Angeles County; however, only Louisiana and Washington planned to implement the model  called YV LifeSet  directly into their state-run agencies. The other two jurisdictions plan to incorporate the model with local private partners.

This spring, the Louisiana Legislature expanded foster care services for youth aging out of the system  18-year-olds who have not been permanently adopted  by allocating funds that will support the young adults through their high school graduation or until age 21, whichever comes first. However, the law falls short of supporting all foster youth until age 21, as many advocates hope will come next.

Louisiana is really committed to doing something new and different for these young people, said Jessica Foster, the executive director of strategic partnerships for Youth Villages. They really want to incorporate this model into their practices and improve the quality of their services.  We believe that is a transformative vision.

Foster said the YV LifeSet model works to bring case workers face-to-face with their older clients more often and provide them with a more intensive support network, helping them with all aspects of their lives from bank accounts to housing to therapy. In the last five years, an average of 160 youth have aged out of foster care in Louisiana each year, according to numbers from the Department of Children and Family Services. Research has shown that youth aging out of the foster care system, especially those without a good support system, are at a higher risk of adversity as adults, including homelessness and unemployment.

We really want to do something different that helps (the youth) become more independent and improve their outcome for functioning in society, Tate said. The YV LifeSet model has been shown to increase youths employment and earnings and decrease economic hardships, homelessness, mental health issues and violent relationships.

Currently in Louisiana, Tate said, case managers typically see young adults in the system about once a month and help them to connect with services, usually outside of their direct purview. But, she said, funds and training from Youth Villages should provide youth with direct contact with a case manager about once a week and have their case managers provide many services directly.

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Its a more intensive case management model, Tate said. Theyre seeing the youth more often.

Louisiana trying to extend foster care program until age 21 Louisiana started a modest expansion of the foster care program last month, paying for students to finish high school, rather than immediately

Youth Villages will train DCFS staff to provide services and interventions, like cognitive behavioral therapy and emotional regulation.

For the young people, it can be exhausting to have to get to know six to seven people to have all their needs met, Foster said. With YV LifeSet, we will train the DCFS workers to be cross-responsive.

Kayana "Keedy" Bradley aged out of foster care herself a few years ago and has become an advocate for other youth like herself. Now 22 and a senior at the University of New Orleans, Bradley has worked to ensure she will not be part of the negative statistics about adults who aged out of the system, but she said it wasnt easy.

It was hard to figure out where I was going to stay or how much it was going to cost, or even how I was going to move, Bradley said, remembering she was too young to sign her lease when she needed a new place at age 18. It was scary at the time, feeling like I didnt have anybody to help me out.

While she had a social worker on her case, she said, that person often changed and they werent very active in her life. So she hopes this new grant and model will change those outcomes.

I think the program is a good start in the right direction to have mentor and leaders to be able to guide the youth, Bradley said. Theyre not ready to be on their own  . Children are still developing and still learning (at that age).  How can you just send them out on their own and not make sure they had their own support system?

Bradley is most hopeful that this support will not end after the three years of the grant, and it becomes a cornerstone of the system. Tate said that is their goal and they are working to ensure safeguards, like training their own staff, so its sustainable.

Sometimes when a program is started in a state, its only going for a limited time, Bradley said. If we start a program lets finish it all the way through for the benefit of the youth.
A Zachary man's conviction for trafficking large quantities of cocaine in the Baton Rouge area has been affirmed by a federal appellate court.

Wilbert Mathes, 42, was found guilty in 2016 and later sentenced by U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick to 27 years in federal prison. She also ordered him to forfeit $593,000 in drug proceeds.

Trafficker who sold cocaine in Baton Rouge area gets 27 years in federal prison A drug trafficker who sold large quantities of cocaine in the Baton Rouge area was sentenced Tuesday to 27 years in federal prison, Acting U.S

Mathes shipped cocaine from Houston to Baton Rouge and sold it here in 2010 and 2011, federal prosecutors said. He led a large drug enterprise involving seven other men who were convicted in separate trials.

Mathes' brother, Broderick Mathes, 41, of Baton Rouge, pleaded guilty in the case to drug, firearm, conspiracy and other federal charges and was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison.

BR man sentenced to 17-plus years in federal prison in drug trafficking case A Baton Rouge man was sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison Thursday for his part in a drug trafficking network that operated in t

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans affirmed Wilbert Mathes' conviction last week.
The widow and children of a former BREC commissioner shot to death last year have obtained a $5.6 million judgment against Ryan Sharpe, the alleged serial killer accused  but not yet tried or convicted  in the killing.

State District Judge Tim Kelley issued the default judgment after Sharpe, 37, of Clinton, failed to answer a wrongful death lawsuit filed in December by Carroll Breeden Sr.'s widow and five children.

+2 Victim's family files wrongful death lawsuit against alleged East Feliciana and Baton Rouge serial killer The family of Carroll Breeden Sr. has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against alleged serial killer Ryan Sharpe, who is accused of fatally shoo

Sharpe is accused in a string of four shootings, three of them fatal, during a four-month span beginning in July 2017 and within a 25-mile radius of the Clinton area.

Sharpe allegedly shot Breeden from a moving vehicle on Sept. 19, 2017, while the 66-year-old Breeden was doing yard work at his Pride-Port Hudson Road home just across the East Feliciana Parish line in East Baton Rouge Parish.

Baton Rouge lawyer Kirk Patrick, who represents the Breeden family, said the lawsuit "was never about the money and still isn't."

"No amount of money could ever repay the family for what this man has taken from them," Patrick said. "What is important is that Judge Kelley heard our evidence  and in turn provided the family with the only thing he could, an award of damages.

"The family felt that Sharpe should be held accountable for his actions in every way possible, which includes civilly as well as criminally," Patrick added.

Sharpe, who has pleaded not guilty in all four shootings, told investigators he shot the men to fill hunting "tags" issued to him by the government, according to an East Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office report. Sharpe said he had other tags that hadn't been filled when he was arrested in October 2017, the report states.

Sharpe, who is accused of fatally shooting Thomas Bass and Brad DeFranceschi in East Feliciana and also shooting and wounding Buck Hornsby in that parish, was found incompetent to stand trial by an East Feliciana judge in August.

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Sharpe is currently receiving treatment at the state mental hospital in Jackson.

In late May, Kelley awarded $2.5 million in wrongful death damages to Breeden's widow, D'Ann Watson Breeden, and a combined $2.5 million in wrongful death damages to his five children.

The judge also awarded $500,000 to Breeden's wife for mental anguish and emotional distress; $100,000 in survivor damages; and about $12,000 for funeral expenses.

+8 Alleged East Feliciana serial killer found incompetent to stand trial, judge rules A judge in East Feliciana ruled Tuesday that alleged serial killer Ryan Sharpe is not competent to stand trial, a decision that will halt crim

Two of the three doctors who examined Sharpe in the Breeden case in East Baton Rouge concluded he is not currently competent to assist his attorney, Tommy Damico. A state judge in Baton Rouge is scheduled to rule on Sharpe's competency in that case in late January.

+8 Alleged East Feliciana serial killer told authorities he killed three men to fill hunting 'tags,' filings show A man accused of killing three Clinton-area men last year told investigators he shot them because  as though he were deer hunting  he was "f

Damico, who represents Sharpe only in the criminal cases, questioned how a default judgment could be entered against someone who is mentally incompetent.

"If they served him and he's incompetent, I don't know how they could get a default judgment," Damico said. "The competency of the client was certainly pending."

As for the $5.6 million judgment, Damico said Sharpe "does not have that kind of money." The attorney also said Sharpe doesn't have insurance to cover the judgment.

Sharpe is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of DeFranceschi, 48, outside his home on the Avondale Scout Reservation on La. 63 in Clinton; with second-degree murder in the slayings of Bass, 62, outside his La. 960 residence, and Breeden; and with attempted first-degree murder in the shooting injury of Hornsby outside his home, which is close to La. 63.
Dikisha Hardnett Viges never worried that her older brother would be in danger of falling victim to gun violence "because of type of person he was"  a loving family man with a generous heart.

But on Friday evening, Desmond Hardnett, 29, became the latest gun violence statistic in Louisiana's capital city.

In addition to being devoted to his family, Hardnett was proud of his work as an agent for the nationally recognized Baton Rouge rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again, who was himself arrested in a shooting on Kentucky Street last year. One of the probation conditions for the rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, was that he perform 250 hours of community service  or alternatively produce a recording condemning the promotion of violence in rap music.

NBA YoungBoy has made a name for himself nationally with recent songs on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Alleged co-gunman of Baton Rouge rapper NBA YoungBoy arrested in 2016 drive-by shooting Another associate of Baton Rouge rapper NBA YoungBoy has been arrested amid heightened scrutiny of longstanding local rap beefs that authoriti

"Helping (NBA YoungBoy) grow, traveling to concerts, making music videos. That was just a big thing in his life," Viges said of her brother. "He was always into music."

Hardnett grew up in Baton Rouge and worked in construction and landscaping before finding his passion in the music industry, his sister said.

On Friday just before 6 p.m., Hardnett was chatting with family and friends on Nairn Street when someone pulled up in a vehicle and fired several shots, killing Hardnett and injuring a woman standing near him. Viges said about five or six witnesses watched in shock as Hardnett fell to the ground outside his uncle's house  next door to his childhood home.

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Both victims in the shooting Friday were transported to the hospital, where Hardnett later died. Police said the woman's injuries appeared non life threatening. Investigators have not yet identified any suspects or motives, though police confirmed that shots were fired from a passing vehicle, which left the scene immediately after the shooting.

Man dies in hospital after Friday night double shooting on Nairn Drive, police say A man was killed and a woman was injured in a shooting on Nairn Drive Friday just before 6 p.m., said Baton Rouge police spokesman Don Coppola Jr.

Hardnett's family is continuing to search for answers days after losing the man they called "Dump," a nickname he received because he loved to play with dump trucks as a child.

"I wouldn't think anyone would want to harm him because he never did no harm and never looked for trouble," Viges said. "We are lost for words because we don't understand. This hurt a lot of people in the Baton Rouge community."

Viges described her brother, who was born only 15 months before her, as central to their family, always hosting crawfish boils and barbecues whenever he could think of a reason to celebrate. She said he was "the king of family functions" and wanted everyone to be together, especially after their mother and grandmother both passed away in recent years.

Hardnett's sister said he consistently bought his nieces and nephews the most extravagant gifts possible. She said Hardnett got married last year and he and his wife were planning to have a baby.

"He loved the kids more than anything," she said. "He didn't have any children of his own, but he wanted a child so bad and I just hate that he never got that.  But he had a purpose in life and that was to give."
The grandmother of a middle schooler involved in a scuffle with a Brusly police officer last month  a confrontation caught by a school office camera  says the student suffered physical and psychological injuries in violation of his civil rights.

A videotape leaked to the media shows Officer Anthony "Kip" Dupre wrestling the Brusly Middle School student to the ground and then picking him up and slamming him to the floor during an Oct. 5 encounter. Attorney Kwame Asante told reporters Monday the child's family believes it has been deceived and that authorities weren't open about the officer's actions until the video came into public view.

Dupre claimed the student had reached for his service weapon and the video appears to show the officer handing his holstered gun to a school staffer to get it clear of the melee on the floor of the school's administrative office. Asante said the child "blacked out" during the struggle and can't remember exactly what happened.

The student received bruises and swelling around his nose and eyes and a cut on his chin that lost "a lot of blood," Asante said.

Doris Snearl, who has been raising her grandson for the past five years since his mom died of cancer, said the incident has exacerbated his existing psychological and behavioral issues that arose after the death of his mother. She said he has been hospitalized for mental health treatment since the incident because he's becoming agitated and having trouble sleeping.

State Police started investigating the incident after local authorities requested their help and the investigation remains ongoing. Asante said his recent conversations with State Police investigators led him to believe the student had done something to escalate the struggle.

"Then I saw the leaked tape and just was like, y'all lied to us!" Asante said. "We were angry.  We've seen the history of these type of incidents and what they have done to our community. That the impact and the trauma isn't just with the family  it destroys the fabric of trust."

Asante said the problems started the morning of the incident because his client was assigned to detention for cursing on the playground. The student had gotten into a disagreement with an administrator over how long he had to sit in detention with no breaks. When the administrator told him to go back to detention for a second day in a row, the student said he was going to the office to call his grandmother instead.

He then went to leave the office, which is when the struggle began.

The video, which was first shown on WAFB-TV earlier this month, reveals parts of the struggle. But a desk blocked some of what happened from being recorded on the school surveillance camera. At one point Dupre can be seen rapidly thrusting his right shoulder and arm up and down apparently toward the youth as if punching him, while the much larger man had the teen pinned to the ground.

Brusly Police Chief Jonathan Lefeaux saw the videotape and requested a State Police investigation into the conduct of the officers involved. Asante also called for a complete investigation and said the family is considering a lawsuit, possibly against both the school system and the police department.

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Lefeaux said many of Asante's "concerns mirrored my concerns when I saw the video," which he said reveals "a very unfortunate incident"  one that could involve the use of excessive force  that has unsurprisingly caused a stir among Brusly residents.

Dupre and a second officer, Dan Cipirano  who arrived near the end of the struggle and helped handcuff the student  were placed on paid leave last month. But both have since resigned at Lefeaux's request. Neither officer had his body camera on during the scuffle.

The police chief noted that Dupre had received the appropriate training to become a school resource officer  a move he had made in recent months. Lefeaux also said he's hoping State Police will conclude their investigation soon. State Police spokesman Senior Trooper Bryan Lee said it remains ongoing.

"We're trying to do the right thing, but it's taking so long that people think we're trying to cover it up," Lefeaux said. "And that's killing me."

Officials with the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office have said the office plans to bring the incident before a West Baton Rouge Parish grand jury regardless of what the State Police probe finds.

Lefeaux has said he was familiar with prior incidents related to the teen that happened outside the school. Snearl said Monday she has called the police on her grandson a couple times because of behavioral problems.

The child has been placed in alternative school for the rest of the year because of the incident. But his grandmother and attorney want him to return to his school, saying he isn't receiving the support he needs to learn, especially now. They denied that the student had been involved in prior violent or threatening encounters with the school resource officer before the incident.

Snearl said her grandson couldn't explain to her what happened after the fact, telling her only that he had "blacked out."

"He was quiet. He didn't say anything really," she said. "He just was quiet and I hugged him."

+2 Leaked video: Brusly officer slams middle school student twice; police chief shocked Video footage of a police officer wrestling with a 14-year-old Brusly Middle School student last month has leaked in the midst of a Louisiana 

Can't see video below? Click here.
Attorney General Jeff Landry's recent announcement that he will run for re-election next year put an end to speculation that Landry was gearing up to run for governor, but it also has set the stage for another possible hotly contested statewide race.

No Democrats have announced plans to challenge Landry, a Republican, in the attorney general's race next year.

Among some of the bigger names that have been floated in Democratic circles as possible options: House Speaker Pro Tempore Walt Leger III, of New Orleans; state Sen. Eric LaFleur, of Ville Platte; and state Sen. JP Morrell, of New Orleans.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is the only Democratic statewide officeholder in Louisiana, and Democrats have struggled in more recent statewide races.

In the 2016 U.S. Senate race, Democrat Foster Campbell, who has been on the Public Service Commission since 2003, received less than 40 percent of the vote. The following year, Democrat Derrick Edwards received about 44 percent of the vote in the race for state treasurer.

No Republicans have floated a serious same-party challenge to Landry, and a recent poll conducted by a different Republican official's campaign team found that Landry is viewed favorably by a strong majority of voters who identify as Republicans.

Landry, who took office in January 2016, is the president of the National Association of Attorneys General and on the executive committee of the Republican Attorneys General Association.

"We have a great story to tell that the voters of the state are going to appreciate and embrace," Landry said in a recent interview with The Advocate. "I believe that our record is going to be a great story for Louisianians."

With Jeff Landry not running for Louisiana governor, here's how race is shaping up Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has ended speculation that he might mount a run for governor next year by announcing Wednesday that he 

Landry's campaign fund had more than $1.2 million in the bank, as of the end of 2017  the most recent report available. The next disclosure is due at the start of the year.

Separately, Landry heads the Louisiana Conservative Majority PAC, with its mission to elect conservative Republicans to the state Legislature, where Edwards also has faced resistance. The political action committee had nearly $700,000 cash on hand at the start of November  its most recent filing.

Landry previously spent two years in the U.S. House before he lost a re-election bid in a redrawn district after the state lost one of its congressional seats. He describes his short stint in the House as having to beg for scraps  one of 435 voting members in a chamber were many have built up decades of seniority and clout.

"When you really look at it, that time in the House of Representatives versus my time as attorney general, this certainly is a position where you can actually effect change," Landry said.

Landry said he's found comrades among other Republican attorneys general.

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"We've seen a lot of successes that Republican AGs have had when we band together," Landry said.

But he's also been a frequent, and outspoken, foe of Edwards. Landry spent months toying with the idea of challenging Edwards in the governor's race and has regularly challenged the governor's agenda. Landry, a staunch conservative, has sued to stop the governor's executive order protecting LGBT people from discrimination in state government; signed onto an anti-Obamacare lawsuit that threatens Edwards' signature achievement of expanding Medicaid; challenged Edwards' board appointments; and questioned the governor's position on the death penalty.

Their frequent sparring has prompted sharply written letters and frequently bubbled up in media coverage.

"I was surprised to hear about a letter from (Landry) through media reports yesterday, but given the many inaccurate comments he made, I felt compelled to respond," Edwards wrote on Twitter over the summer.

Landry rejects the notion that he has intentionally been politically antagonistic against the Democratic governor.

"That has never been the case," he said. "It's always been about putting the people of Louisiana first, rather than politics."

Landry had previously said he would not run for governor only if he felt that Republicans had a candidate well-suited to defeat Edwards. Nonetheless, he didn't wait for U.S. Sen. John Kennedy to make his much-anticipated announcement about whether he will run. Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone is the only Republican to formally enter the race to date.

"We've got one who has a lot of resources to pledge, and we have a potential another that I anticipate getting in soon," Landry said. "I'm really comfortable with that."

Giving a peek into his re-election strategy, Landry said crime will be one of the hot-button topics in the race.

"We're going to make crime a major issue," he said. "We're seeing violent crime affect people throughout the state."

His office has focused heavily on Medicaid provider fraud cases and targeting online child predators.

"We've also done so much in the fight to try to stem the opioid epidemic," Landry said.

"I'm most proud of our team," Landry said of his track record to date.
Once the newly elected Congress reconvenes in January, all eyes are going to be on House Democrats, whose big Election Night earlier this month positions them to take over control of the chamber and lead every committee. Among other things, that means that Louisianas best-known Republican, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, will see his profile as his partys chief vote-counter shrink.

There is one Louisiana Republican who may become more prominent, though. While much of the world was busy prepping for Thanksgiving, U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson of Benton won an all-GOP vote to head the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of House conservatives that counted 150 members in the outgoing Congress. Its a job thats been held by quite a few members whove gone on to bigger things, including Scalise, Freedom Caucus Chairman Jim Jordan, former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and Vice President Mike Pence.

Louisiana congressman to chair conservative House group that boosted profile of Pence, Scalise WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana won a race to chair the Republican Study Committee, a large caucus of House conservatives tha

If Johnsons name isnt as familiar as his predecessors, theres good reason. His election comes less than four years after he won his first elective office, a special election for Louisiana House, and just two years after he went to Washington. A constitutional lawyer whose policy positions line up with the religious right, Johnson has also tried to take on the challenging task of bringing civility back to Congress along with Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor of Florida.

Louisiana has a long history of sending members to Congress who stayed for a long time and built up seniority. Scalises path since his election 10 years ago followed a new model, one in which its possible to rise through the ranks in relatively short order. Judging by Johnsons win, this may be the new normal.
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The holiday shopping season brings memories of one of the icons of Canal Street's heyday as a merchandising mecca: D.H. Holmes. Although its flagship department store on Canal Street was the best-known, by the time it closed in 1989, the Holmes name was on 18 stores across the South.

Blakeview: Werlein's, 175 years later This year marks the 175th anniversary of the start of the music store business that made the Werlein name synonymous with sheet music and inst

The company was founded in 1842 by Daniel Henry Holmes, an Ohio native who was orphaned at age 2 and took a job with a dry goods merchant at 16. After a few years, he came to New Orleans and opened his own store on Magazine Street. In 1849, Holmes opened a much larger store  one of the country's first department stores  in the 800 block of Canal Street.

The four-story store became a local landmark. Like other Canal Street stores, its decorated display windows enticed shoppers at Christmas. The clock outside became a local meeting point, immortalized in John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces." Outside the building, there is now a statue of Ignatius J. Reilly (as portrayed by actor John "Spud" McConnell).

Blakeview: The 70th anniversary of Mr. Bingle This holiday season marks the 70th anniversary of the debut of a Crescent City Christmas character who is still going strong: Mr. Bingle. The 

By the 1980s, the Holmes chain included stores in the Lakeside, Oakwood, Esplanade and Belle Promenade malls. Dillard's bought the chain for $40.4 million in 1989. The Canal Street store was converted into a hotel, now known as the Hyatt Centric French Quarter.
It was the third Saturday in November, and New Orleans City Councilwoman Cyndi Nguyen was sipping coffee in a nondescript meeting room near the entrance of the East New Orleans Regional Library.

Facing her were a dozen residents, who had come to nurse styrofoam coffee cups of their own and grill her about everything from blighted buildings and trash to a lack of jobs and businesses in their neighborhoods.

Although a Walmart opened in New Orleans East in 2014, one woman said she laments the area's lack of a Rouses grocery.

Another decried "a clear disparity of services within Uptown versus within this community," particularly when it comes to litter-filled neutral grounds.

Nguyen nodded and calmly tried to explain that grocers don't open stores just because a council member wants them to, and that trash is not unique to New Orleans East.

I was in Slidell just this morning, off of the I-10, and I was literally shocked because somebody threw something out of the car, Nguyen said. And Im like, In Slidell? Get out of here!

Nguyen is quieter and less in the public eye than some of her more seasoned colleagues on the council. But in the seven months since her inauguration as District E's representative, the former community organizer and nonprofit director, the city's first Vietnamese-American elected official, has found her own ways to connect with residents of her district.

She shines during her coffee sessions, relaxed and sometimes witty as she discusses city problems and pet issues.

She easily connects with residents at barbershops, nail salons and other small gatherings regardless of their economic or ethnic backgrounds  one likely reason for her landslide victory last year over longtime Councilman James Gray, who is black, in a district that is 87 percent African-American.

She's learned the primary thing residents of her district have been demanding in the 13 years since Hurricane Katrina heavily ravaged the district: the jobs and opportunity that come with economic development.

"I've been part of that 13 years of frustration as well," she said. "So I know the eagerness is there. But you've gotta do it right."

In response, Nguyen has been quietly working with Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration on a strategy to bring investment into the district.

Nguyen chairs the councils Economic Development and Special Projects Committee, which deals with several projects in her district. She supports plans by Cantrell to tap a consultant for advice on how best to revitalize the abandoned Six Flags amusement park, as well as the site where the old Lake Forest Plaza shopping center once stood and the former site of Lincoln Beach, an amusement park for black New Orleanians on Lake Pontchartrain in the years before desegregation.

Nguyen also wants to see plans drawn up for the redevelopment of stretches of major roads in her district, in the same way that Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in Central City has attracted restaurants, shops and small offices.

Shes also dropping little hints that District E, which comprises New Orleans East and the Lower 9th Ward, needs a new attitude. She calls her district The E, while the Lower 9th Ward has become The L9, nicknames she hopes will subtly shift public perceptions.

Still, her own ideas for some of the district's most notorious boondoggles and persistent areas of blight can seem a touch outlandish.

Nguyen wants to turn the old Six Flags site, which has been abandoned since just before Katrina, into an indoor water park. The closest outdoor water parks are in Baton Rouge and Gulfport, Mississippi. An indoor park, she said, could be a moneymaker year-round.

That, plus a rehabilitated Lincoln Beach, could help change New Orleans' reputation from "just a place where you can get drunk" to a city suitable for the whole family, she said.

Nguyen acknowledged that the biggest roadblock to change in her district has been trouble finding firms willing to invest capital.

Investors have been less willing to pour money into the East and the Lower 9th Ward, as both are far from the city's major tourist attractions and have struggled with either blight or population loss since Katrina. To address that, Nguyen is trying to change the way people talk and think about their neighborhoods.

"I think many times we say how we feel, but we don't think of how that can really harm the entire district," she said.

Though she pointed to programs run by the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority and other agencies as ways to bring more homeowners and renters to the Lower 9th Ward, she also plans to introduce two new ordinances to help spark development.

One would clear the way for development along North Claiborne Avenue by easing zoning requirements there. The other would designate the Lower 9th Ward as a "historic urban development area," which she hopes will link the area to specific tax credits and grants.

Nguyen's office is working with developers to understand exactly what would inspire them to invest, she said.

She outlined those strategies after leaving her "coffee and conversation" event, one of a half-dozen meet-and-greets on her calendar that day and one of dozens she's hosted since January in a bid to meet as many residents as possible.

Though it's that type of energy that helped land her an upset election victory, she admitted she has had a lot to learn about other parts of governance, such as the annual city budget or how to represent numerous residents with different views.

But if her constituents take nothing else away from her tenure, she wants them to know she's trying to bring about the development they want.

"Im going to continue to work hard," Nguyen said. "Im going to continue to be accessible, and Im going to be honest with them."
Kenner police arrested a veteran New Orleans cop who they said led them on a drunken, 18-mile car chase late Saturday that exceeded 110 mph and culminated in a fiery crash after he drove over spike strips.

Carlos Peralta, 53, faces counts of driving while intoxicated, aggravated flight from police and reckless operation of a vehicle, jail records in Jefferson Parish showed.

During the chase, he had a 15-year-old relative in the passenger seat who appeared to emerge physically unharmed.

After being treated at a hospital for unspecified injuries, the 22-year New Orleans Police Department officer was jailed Sunday but posted bail and was released Monday.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison said Peralta has been suspended.

I have been very clear the NOPD does not and will not tolerate this type of behavior from our officers whether they are on or off duty, Harrison said. We will not allow the actions of one to stain the significant progress this department continues to make as a whole to provide the citizens of New Orleans with a world class department.

According to Kenner Police Lt. Michael Cunningham, officers received a call about 11:55 p.m. Saturday that an apparently inebriated Peralta had created a disturbance at a pharmacy in the 800 block of West Esplanade Avenue because a clerk refused to sell him alcohol.

He sped away in a red Dodge Avenger that matched the description in an earlier call that reported a driver "swerving all over the roadway" about six blocks away, Cunningham said.

Cunningham said Kenner officers soon pulled the off-duty Peralta over into the parking lot of a Walmart in the 300 block of West Esplanade. But as officers approached the car, Peralta sped through the parking lot, pulled onto Loyola Drive and began driving toward the lake, police said.

Police said Peralta drove recklessly through Kenners University City subdivision  where he lives  in an apparent attempt to evade them. He eventually emerged on Loyola again and drove south toward Interstate 10, where he headed east at more than 110 mph, police said.

Peralta swerved in and out of traffic, forcing some cars to leave the roadway, police said. Eventually, State Police used spike strips to blow out Peraltas front passenger tire, prompting him to exit at Morrison Road in New Orleans East, according to authorities.

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Peralta struck a curb on Morrison and momentarily left the roadway as his car ignited, police said. He finally pulled into a gated parking lot in the 5700 block of Morrison after flames engulfed the front of his car.

The teenage passenger immediately left the car. Peralta refused commands to get out, and officers had to pull him from the burning vehicle, police said.

Peralta allegedly was incoherent, smelled of alcohol and failed a field sobriety test.

Police booked Peralta into the Jefferson Parish jail in Gretna on Sunday, records showed.

Peralta has hired lawyer Eric Hessler to represent him. Although Hessler is an attorney for the Police Association of New Orleans, he said Peralta retained him privately.

Hessler said he had no comment on the case.

City records show Peralta joined the NOPD in September 1996 and worked in the 2nd Police District, which patrols Uptown.

At the time of his arrest, he held the rank of senior police officer, with an annual base salary of $60,000.

It does not appear this was the first time Peralta has been accused of breaking the law. A man with his name and date of birth was charged with second-degree battery in 2007 as well as second-degree rape in 2008 and 2010, Orleans Parish Criminal District Court records show. However, prosecutors dropped each of those cases.

Peralta is one of at least three NOPD officers to have been arrested and suspended recently following allegations of driving drunk while off duty. Two members of the agency's child abuse investigations unit were arrested after separate Sept. 9 car crashes in New Orleans in which authorities said they found both officers to be intoxicated.
St. Tammany Parish residents who are concerned about the way surging growth in the area may increase the risk of flooding are fighting back against proposed changes in how developers deal with that risk.

More than 50 parish residents attended a special St. Tammany Parish Council meeting this month to speak out against a proposal that would give developers more leeway in how they manage the impact of new buildings on the flow of water, particularly in flood-prone areas.

The proposal, which is up for a Dec. 6 vote by the council, would potentially allow developers to use a single stormwater detention pond to meet two separate flood-mitigation rules.

Developers say the measure would simply enshrine into law practices they've been allowed to use in the past and wouldnt increase flood risk. But residents say the increase in new housing developments  and the paving and concrete that come with them  means their homes are more in danger of flooding and that developers are trying to shirk their responsibility.

Every time theres a major rain event, the flooding is worse, said Marvin Lee, who spoke at the meeting this month and bought his home in the Tuscany West development two years ago. As more and more homes are built nearby, the flooding gets worse and worse, he said.

John Martin, president of the Goodbee Civic Association, said the proposed change could lead to higher flood insurance rates across the parish. He wants parish officials to make the ordinance as stringent as possible.

We dont need to weaken the ordinance and give developers little ways to get around it, he said.

Residents begged council members to move cautiously.

Chairwoman Michele Blanchard said she will ask the council to delay the December vote and form a task force that could consider the matter further.

St. Tammany, which developers claim has some of the most stringent flood-mitigation rules in Louisiana, now requires property developers to lower the rate of stormwater runoff in new developments below what the rate would be if the land was left untouched.

That typically means digging a detention pond. Detention ponds collect stormwater but allow it to run out slowly, whereas retention ponds hold the water for longer, generally until it evaporates.

But another rule that developers need to follow deals with the increase in runoff that occurs when developers bring in fill to raise buildings in flood-prone areas.

The parish requires those developers to keep the lands capacity to store water the same as before the fill was brought in. The concerned residents say that means developers ought to be digging separate ponds to deal with that risk, instead of letting a single pond do double duty.

Currently, the ordinance is being interpreted by the parish government as requiring developers to handle those two types of mitigation separately.

But doing so can be difficult on some tracts of land where there isn't enough space for two ponds without giving up space for homes.

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Parish Planning Director Sidney Fontenot said the question of whether developers should be allowed to use stormwater detention ponds to mitigate for fill has been debated for nearly two years.

Parish officials decided to put something in writing and ask council members to make a policy decision, he said, because the issue isnt related to engineering but is an acceptance of risk question.

Representatives of some local developers disagreed that the rule change would have a major impact.

Attorney Paul Mayronne said the proposal is simply a clarification that would make the ordinance line up with an interpretation that has been used by the parish government for years.

The rule, which is often referred to as a "no net fill" ordinance, requires developers to dig a hole to offset fill that's brought in, he said.

He said the same pond could serve both purposes since stormwater would drain out before the space would be needed for water from a rising stream.

Mayronne called St. Tammany's rules the most onerous in the state when it comes to putting in fill.

Attorney Jeff Schoen echoed those sentiments, adding that he is a property owner and has a stake in the question. He blamed flooding on a number of factors, including state and federal highways that have acted as dams and drainage, both private and public, that has not been adequately maintained.

Water from undeveloped tracts of land has ended up in developed areas, he said.

The proposed change isn't an out for developers, he said, but "brings the consistency and clarity we all deserve."

But homeowners harped on recent flooding in the region as an argument for caution. Some were adamant in rejecting the proposed change as too risky, with speakers citing floods that have occurred not only in St. Tammany but also in Tangipahoa Parish and Baton Rouge.

Wendy Kidd, who also lives in Tuscany West, said she moved to St. Tammany from Indiana without knowing about water and runoff issues.

"Now I'm scared to death," she said. "It doesn't make sense that any home flooding would be an acceptable risk to our elected officials."

Steve Pierce warned the Parish Council that people might look back at this change in the law and consider it the biggest man-made disaster in Southeast Louisiana.

"I'm uneducated, anybody can tell that. But I can see it ... we're filling this place up from Baton Rouge to Slidell," he said.
Some of the most prominent faces of 60 Minutes have spoken publicly about the show's botched Lebanon operation for the first time.

As part of the program's 40th anniversary, 60 Minutes reporters  past and present  have been asked to reflect on their career highs and lows, for the episode airing this Sunday.

For presenter Tara Brown, the events of April 2016 were a definite low point. That month, she and three other Nine Network employees were arrested in Lebanon over allegations of child abduction. The crew was filming a segment about a mother whose estranged husband had left Australia with their two children.

The group was held in prison for two weeks. They were released after Nine reached a financial settlement with the estranged husband, Ali Elamine, resulted in him dropping all charges.
Melbourne might not have Sydney's harbour but you can't say our waterside dining lacks intrigue. On the Yarra you'll find Arbory Afloat valiantly faking Amalfi coast vibes on an umbrella-festooned barge. If you want to get really freaky, the Maribyrnong aquatic centre is home to El Toucan, a cafeteria selling seriously traditional Colombian. Truly. We're talking tripe soup, fried livers, passionfruit juices, chorizo-stuffed arepas and hangover-busting patacones  a sort of nacho situation starring pulled beef layered over chewy sweet discs of plantain. (Hot tip: swim first.)

For those who have something a little more sunset and sandy in mind, you'll have to head to St Kilda, the suburb that has exploded in a summery froth. The Espy, the once gloriously grand and later gratuitously scuzzy music venue that knows all your secret shames, has risen like a fancy phoenix with six floors of band rooms, restaurants, bars and professional podcast studios for community use. The Prince Dining Room is about to bring the ex-Circa site back to life at any minute.

Go-to dish: Potato cakes with saltbush at Captain Baxter. Credit:CHRISTOPHER HOPKINS

In light of this, Captain Baxter, the restaurant crowning the Sea Baths, has had a nip and tuck to level up with its new opponents.

When Baxter opened in 2014, it was a glittering, bright and breezy magnet to those who wanted to be wedged exactly between a sunset and the perfect filter; a well stocked bar and the beach. The dress code was talons, tees and tans. That hasn't changed, but there is a fresh look in 2018, and new chef blood in the form of Tim Martin (ex-European), and Adrian Hawkins (ex-Est) have joined executive chef Matt Dawson in nudging the menu in a fire and fish-focused direction.
Hundreds of homes are at risk and two properties have already been claimed as the Deepwater and Round Hill bushfires force hundreds to flee from the central Queensland coast communities.

The Queensland Premier said much of the state was in the grips of "unprecedented" heatwave conditions on Monday, which, combined with high humidity and strong winds was making an already tough battle even harder for firefighters.

A hundred rural NSW firefighters are on their way to help fight the central Queensland bushfires. Credit:NSW RFS

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the fire had generated flames 10-12 metres high, covered 11,000 hectares and forced the closure of Wartburg State School.

"We expect the fire to turn and head back towards Deepwater and Baffle Creek," she said.
A patron was stabbed with a steak knife in a high roller room at Crown Casino on Saturday night, while more than 20 men were involved in a wild brawl after being refused entry to a bar at the Southbank gaming venue.

A dispute at a restaurant in Crown's Mahogany Room turned violent about 11pm on Saturday, when plates and glasses were hurled by a group of diners before a man was stabbed.

Crown Casino security staff erect a screen around the stabbing victim.

Photographs and video obtained by The Age show Crown security staff immediately partitioned off the area, as patrons continued to gamble just metres away in the exclusive gaming area.
Tickles, laughter and tears of joy accompanied formerly conjoined twins Nima and Dawa as they were farewelled from Melbourne's Royal Childrens Hospital.

Happiness is a national goal in their homeland of the landlocked Asian kingdom of Bhutan, and their mother Bhumchu Zangmo beamed as she wheeled her girls out of the Platypus ward on Monday.

Nima and Dawa leave hospital with their mother Bhumchu Zangmo. Credit:AAP

From an uncertain future when the twins were flown to Australia by the Children First Foundation less than two months ago, they are now successfully separated, sparky and in rude health.

The monarchy of Bhutan sent the hospital a personal letter of thanks for caring for their two little subjects, who were born joined at the chest and sharing a liver.
Police are urging three teenagers to hand themselves in following a violent home invasion in Melbourne's south-west 10 days ago.

Police were called to a home in Peppermint Crescent in Wyndham Vale about 5.40am on November 17 after five males allegedly forced their way into the house.

Detectives from the Wayward Taskforce arrested and charged two teenagers in relation to the incident last Wednesday and are now seeking three more.

"Detectives are appealing for the three teens to come forward to assist with enquiries in relation to the aggravated home invasion," a police spokesman said.

"The teens are known to frequent the Collingwood, Sunshine and Werribee areas."
Former WA MP Dennis Jensen has failed in a legal bid to find out who leaked erotic passages from a fictional book he authored to a journalist from The Australian.

The ex-Member for Tangney is suing the publication and its chief WA reporter Andrew Burrell for defamation in the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Dennis Jensen. Credit:AAP

The lawsuit follows claims by Mr Jensen that he lost the 2016 pre-selection for his seat due to a well-organised "political back-stabbing" campaign against him.

As part of his case, Mr Jensen last week was unsuccessful in his attempt to force Mr Burrell to reveal his sources in relation to two articles he wrote on March 31 and April 1, 2016.
Mr Morrison confirmed to Parliament on Monday that a commission was the subject of cabinet deliberations, while Mr Porter told reporters he was working on a policy to revamp a complicated system of existing authorities. We are committed to reform in this area, the reform will not be inconsequential, the reform will improve rather than degrade the present integrity arrangements, Mr Porter said. But we are not simply recklessly adopting a cut-and-paste model from NSW from the crossbench. What we will do is provide great detail about the ways we can improve an already complicated but actually quite well-functioning system. Mr Porter warned against adopting a new agency akin to the Independent Commission Against Corruption in NSW, saying it and similar authorities in other states had made findings that ruined careers and were later overturned by courts.

Loading Avoiding that type of excess, those failures at a federal level, which is immensely more complicated in the type of bureaucratic structures they have at state level, is very important. Mr Porter said the questions included the scale of the powers of the new agency and whether it would hold public or private hearings. The comments came after the Coalition chose not to vote against a motion in the House of Representatives to support a new National Integrity Commission, a show of sentiment in the Parliament rather than a move that can force the government to act. The motion was used by Labor, the Greens and other MPs to support a private bill from crossbenchers Cathy McGowan and Rebekha Sharkie to set up the watchdog because of impatience over the governments delays and objections.

In a strong warning about the crossbench proposal, Mr Porter said the bill was so wide it could put public officials and even ABC journalists in the dock for corruption over minor questions of impartiality in their jobs. The government was facing a likely defeat because the motion had the support of Labor, the Greens and six crossbenchers  Adam Bandt, Bob Katter, Kerryn Phelps and Andrew Wilkie as well as Ms McGowan and Ms Sharkie. Attorney-General Christian Porter with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen In a tactical decision to avoid a formal division on a vote it would lose, the government made no objections when the House of Representatives agreed to the Senate resolution, although this does not mean it has approved a new law. Mr Porter warned that the bill was worded in such a way that it meant any public official could be declared corrupt over minor issues like administrative irregularities.

Hundreds of thousands of civil servants would potentially be declared corrupt for the most minor matters, he told Parliament. Mr Porter said that under one part of the crossbench bill, anything that any official did that might impair public confidence in the public service might also be branded as corrupt. There are eight codes of conduct across the public sector for a variety of departments and agencies, he said, adding that turning a breach of these codes into a trigger for a corruption inquiry could set the bar too low. Transparency International Australia non-executive director AJ Brown, a professor of public policy and law at Griffith University, said Mr Porters warning was based on a broad reading of the definition of corruption. The National Integrity Commission Bill 2018 uses the same definition of corruption applied by the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption and which had been tested in the High Court.

Professor Brown said the definition refers to honest and impartial exercise of official functions but was generally applied to officials to prevent them from favouring contractors, rather than being applied to journalism. Im not sure the definition needs tailoring for the commonwealth but it is something that could be clarified fairly easily, he said. Its legitimate to raise questions that reinforce the need for safeguards. But this emphasises that if the government has a definition of corrupt conduct it believes should be operationalised, then it should put it on the table. An open letter from 34 former judges issued on the weekend urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to set up a strong, effective and independent national integrity commission.
The Premier also said on Monday that a high-level government job could be found for Reason Party MP Fiona Patten who looks to have lost her upper house seat in the election.

With a cabinet reshuffle looming in the wake of Labors landslide election victory on Saturday, Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins announced on Monday morning that she would step down for personal reasons.

Newly re-elected Premier Daniel Andrews has lashed out at his defeated Liberal opponents, accusing them of race baiting and scare tactics in their disastrous pitch for government.

At a press conference on Monday, Mr Andrews said it was time to refresh his front bench.

"It's a very strong team, I'm very proud of all of them, but there will be changes in cabinet and I think that's a good thing," the Premier said.

"It's always good to have some new blood, people who, you know, fresh legs are always good."

Mr Andrews told ABC radio on Monday that elderly voters in his electorate of Mulgrave received phone calls from the Liberals during the campaign, with the caller suggesting the residents were not safe in their homes.

Im referring to people in my electorate, for instance, being telephoned by our political opponents... and being asked Im just calling to make sure youve got enough locks on your doors, Mr Andrews said.
Preference whisperer Glenn Druery could make hundreds of thousands of dollars for complex deals that look set to give micro and minor parties a quarter of the Victorian Parliaments upper house seats.

On Monday, it appeared that up to 10 crossbench MPs may be elected to the parliaments 40-seat Legislative Council, up from the five in the previous parliaments upper house.

'Preference whisperer' Glenn Druery. Credit:Andrew Meares

At least six of those likely upper house winners are thought to have done deals with Mr Druery to get elected.
After the kind of belting the Liberals received at the Victorian election on the weekend, it's natural for the finger-pointers and the claimers of unearned credit to be out in force.

Politicians and their shills are experts at telling themselves the useful deceit, "if I win it's because I'm a genius, if I lose it's because of all you idiots".

They will read the tea leaves in any way that suits their political agendas, their rationale for an electoral loss will always reflect positively on their pet political projects, and their internal political enemies will always have an uncanny ability to be entirely responsible for disaster.

WA Liberal leader Mike Nahan has just over two years to avoid the fate visited on his Victorian counterpart Matthew Guy at the weekend's Victorian election. Credit:Rebecca Le May

Of course, the truth is more complex and there is never a single reason for a bollocking at the ballot box.
Beijing: A Chinese scientists claim that he has created the worlds first genetically edited babies has provoked a strong backlash from Chinas science community, with several institutions supposedly linked to the discovery distancing themselves from it.

Hundreds of Chinese scientists signed a letter on social media on Monday which condemned direct human experimentation as crazy.

He Jiankui claims he helped make the world's first genetically edited babies: twin girls whose DNA he said he altered. Credit:AP

He Jiankui, a researcher in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, said he altered the genes of a pair of twins while they were embryos to make the babies resistant to the virus that causes AIDS, the Associated Press reported. He was not available to comment, his spokesman said.

The university where He works also moved to swiftly distance itself from his research, after he claimed to have altered embryos from seven couples during fertility treatment.
Moscow: President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday that he is introducing martial law across Ukraine for 30 days, starting on Wednesday, triggering a sharp escalation with neighbouring Russia.

Parliament still needs to ratify the proposal, though the bill is widely seen as sailing through.

The move came as the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, warned Russia that its seizure of three Ukrainian vessels was an "outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory" and "an arrogant act that the international community must condemn".

A video screenshot taken from a Russian Coast Guard vessel purports to show the Russian coast guard and a Ukrainian tugboat collide in the Kerch Strait on Sunday. Credit:Russia's Federal Security Service

Russian ships fired at and seized Ukrainian vessels in the Black Sea on Sunday. Several Ukrainian sailors were injured, and 24 were detained by Moscow for provoking the incident by the Kerch Strait, a narrow strip of water separating the Black and Azov Seas.
Ankara: Turkish police have searched a Saudi businessman's villa where prosecutors believe Saudi operatives may have hidden the dismembered corpse of Jamal Khashoggi, authorities said on Monday, local time.

Investigators descended on the mansion and a neighbouring property in the province of Yalova, south of Istanbul, as part of their ongoing search for the body of the murdered Washington Post columnist.

The villa reportedly belongs to businessman Mohammed al-Fawzan.

Istanbul's chief prosecutor said that on October 1 - a day before Khashoggi's death - a member of the 15-man Saudi hit squad called Fawzan.
The boys of Baraboos class of 2019. Photo: @jules_su/Twitter

Two weeks after a photo of 60 boys from Wisconsins Baraboo High School class of 2019 appearing to make the Nazi salute went viral, a school district official said in a letter that they are not in a position to punish the students for their actions because of their First Amendment rights, the New York Times reports.

When the photo first gained national attention, Baraboo superintendent Lori Mueller said in a statement that the school district was extremely troubled by the image, that hate has no home in the Baraboo School District, and that they would be launching an investigation into the incident. Then, in a follow-up letter to parents a couple of days later, Mueller apologized for the pain the photo caused, but also noted that they cant know the intentions in the hearts of those involved.

"We understand the moral responsibility we have to be relentless in our work to create a culture in which racism is not tolerated.... We are so very sorry that the actions of some of our students so understandably and deeply hurt people around the world." pic.twitter.com/zvswuTO25E  Baraboo Schools (@barabooSD) November 14, 2018

This is apparently not the first time Baraboo officials have used the First Amendment to protect students displaying racist behavior. After journalist Jules Suzdaltsev shared the disturbing photo on Twitter earlier this month  writing, If anybody from Baraboo High School in Wisconsin can clue me in on why it appears the entire male class of 2018 is throwing up a Sieg Heil during their prom photos  that would be great,  he began receiving messages from Baraboo alums. They told him that some boys in the picture had made racist statements before, and that one shouted White power! in the halls of the school following Donald Trumps election. When they alerted administrators, they say the school told them that they couldnt do anything to discipline the boy because of his First Amendment rights.

Several students have echoed this theme of administrators voicing their politics instead of dealing with complaints. pic.twitter.com/zT4hwKMQ24  Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) November 12, 2018

One of the boys told Suzdaltsev that Peter Gust, the photographer who snapped the picture of them before their prom, told the students to to make the sign. Gust denies this, telling WISC that he was simply telling the boys to wave good-bye to their parents.

Shortly after Sezdeltsev posted the image, the Auschwitz Memorial shared his tweet, writing, This is why every single day we work hard to educate. We need to explain what is the danger of hateful ideology rising. Auschwitz with its gas chambers was at the very end of the long process of normalizing and accommodating hatred.
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Over the weekend, it was revealed that parents-to-be Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be moving out of their Kensington Palace digs and into a cottage on the property of Windsor Castle, about 20 miles outside of London. The news came amid weeks of shady tabloid stories about the millennial members of the British royal family: Namely, Meghan is said to work too hard (the horror), and there have been murmurs about a possible rift between Prince Harry and Prince William. (Meanwhile, Prince Charles has received a seemingly unprecedented amount of positive stories in the buildup around his recent 70th birthday, hmmm.) And now, rumors are circulating that there might be tension between Meghan and her matching sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.

So, is any of it true? Lets break it all down.

First, lets take a look at the Prince William and Prince Harry rumors.

Prince Charles, the future king, turned 70 earlier this month. In the weeks leading up to his birthday, the heir to the throne received a ton of positive press  while his two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, received a ton of shade from the British tabloids. There were stories (from excerpts of a new Prince Charles biography by royal reporter Robert Jobson) that Prince William is a little grand (whatever that means), and that Prince Harry had a pre-royal wedding temper tantrum. As Lainey Gossip pointed out, the stories were peculiar  given Jobsons access to Prince Charles, were the stories coming from inside the palace?

Amid all of that, it was revealed that Prince William and Prince Harry would be splitting their royal courts. That means these two adult men who currently have completely different roles (as one will be king and the other will not) and yet share one office would be splitting their office into two, which would allow them to focus on their different interests and different royal duties.

Some tabloids, of course, are claiming the split is actually a symptom of a rift between the two. However, a source told the Times, The brothers have leant on each other and looked after each other since their mother died. But now they have their own families, they no longer rely on each other as before. Royal historian Robert Lacey also told the Daily Beast, It makes sense because although they will act as a team in future, the functions of the team members will change. So, the general consensus between those in the know seems to be: The split is just a practical thing.

Yet, the Sun broke the news of Prince Harry and Meghans impending move  and the story stated that there has been some tension between the two brothers, though it provided no further details about what might be making things tense. Whether theres any truth to the rumors of  to quote Lainey Gossip  boy shit has yet to be seen.

Simpler times? (Or rather, two weeks ago?) Photo: Paul Grover/Getty Images

Okay but more importantly, is it true that Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton are fighting?

Given that there are rumors of a possible rift between Princes William and Harry  and that Meghan Markle has been on the receiving end of a ton of shady stories about her (good) work ethic and passionate opinions  it should come as no surprise that there are also rumors about infighting between Meghan and Kate. In a Sunday report about Sussexs upcoming move, the Daily Mail quotes a source as saying, Kate and Meghan are very different people. They dont really get on.

To dissect this, lets take a step back. After Meghans relationship with Prince Harry was revealed, it was widely reported that Kate was one of Meghans closet allies as the former actress transitioned into royal life (and royal fashion). The pair have often been spotted smiling at each other at official events, and also attended Wimbledon together, where they smiled some more. Rumors of a rivalry between the two have been repeatedly shot down.

Does that mean Kate and Meghan are absolute best friends? No. Does that mean they dont occasionally disagree and get annoyed at each other? Also no. Overall, it seems Kate and Meghan are friendly, but as a person who has relatives, I would not be surprised if they occasionally piss each other off. Thats the thing about family; youre different people and youre essentially stuck together for life (well, sometimes), so you dont always like each other. Just like any in-laws, Im sure that Meghan and Kate occasionally have tiffs or want to avoid each other.

But theres no indication of any all-out war between the two  and Id be careful of tabloid stories that suggest otherwise, since both Meghan and Kate have their inner circles locked down tight. Their closest confidants wouldnt leak this sort of story.
The Innocent Man is a brand new series about two Oklahoma murderers, based on John Grisham's best-selling non-fiction book, set to be released on 14 January.

Grisham's book, The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town, brought international attention to two murders which took place in the town of Adam Oklahoma in the 1980s, as well as the unusual events that followed.

The six-part series features interviews from the victims' friends and families, as well as residents from the rural town, journalists and other people who were involved in the case.

Author Grisham described the documentary as 'gripping, compelling, and ultimately just as heartbreaking as the book'.

He added: "Though I know the story well, I can't wait to watch it again."

Tweeting the trailer for the chilling docuseries, the author - who usually writes fictional books, told his followers: "If I wrote The Innocent Man as a novel, folks probably wouldn't believe it."
Police investigate the scene of a shooting near the Chinatown neighborhood where four people were shot in an apparent road rage incident on Sept. 19, 2018, in Chicago, Ill. A 6-month-old infant boy and a 13-year-old girl were among the victims. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

4 Dead, 19 Wounded in Chicago Shootings Over Thanksgiving: Reports

Shootings across Chicago have left four dead and 19 others injured over the Thanksgiving weekend, including a teenage boy who was shot during an armed robbery on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, in the Thanksgiving Day incident, an off-duty officer was sitting in his personal vehicle when two teenagers approached him. Chicago Police Deputy Chief Al Nagode said a 16-year-old pointed a gun at the officer, and he handed over his belongings.

The second boy, a 17-year-old patted the officer down and found another wallet that contained his Chicago Police Department badge, Nagode said. The other teen then pointed his gun at the officer, who was not named, and told him to not move.

Somehow, the officer shot the 16-year-old, and the other teen ran away with the officers belongings, the paper reported.

The shot teen was sent to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, and was pronounced dead right after he arrived. The teen was identified as Sarge Junior, the Cook County Medical Examiners office stated.

The other teen was arrested and was charged with armed robbery and other charges, said police.

The latest deadly shooting in Chicago occurred on Nov. 25 on the West Side, the report said. A man in his 20s was found dead in the 3600 block of West Lexington. Officials said he was shot in the chest, but other details are not clear.

A man was shot dead and another wounded on the day after Thanksgiving in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side, said the report. They were sitting in a vehicle when a white Porsche SUV drove by them and someone inside opened fire, hitting both.

The Chicago Tribune notes that 2,693 people have been shot in Chicago in 2018, which is about 633 fewer shootings than in 2017. There have also been 508 homicides in Chicago in 2018, according to the Sun-Times data.

Violent Crime Down in 2017

In September 2018, the FBI said Americans committed fewer violent and property crimes in 2017, according to statistics. The violent crime rateincluding offenses such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assaultdropped by almost one percent and is still about 4 percent above the 2014 rate. The murder rate dropped by 0.7 percent.

After historic increases in violent crime in 2015 and 2016, we are beginning to see encouraging signs, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement at the time. But our work is not done. While we have made progress, violent crime and drug trafficking continue to plague our communities and destroy the lives of innocent, law-abiding Americans.

Of the estimated 17,284 murders in 2017, more than half occurred in larger citieswith populations of more than 100,000.

There are fewer than 300 such cities in the United States, and while they account for less than 30 percent of the countrys population, many of them contribute far beyond their share to national crime rates and have done so for years, even decades.

Reuters contributed to this report
The headquarters of German engineering conglomerate Siemens AG stands at twilight on Aug. 23, 2018 in Munich, Germany.(Lennart Preiss/Getty Images)

ABB, Siemens CEOs to Visit Saudi Arabia for Supplier Conference

ZURICHThe chief executives of ABB and Siemens are traveling to Saudi Arabia to attend a supplier conference, just weeks after they pulled out of an investment event in the country following the death of a journalist.

ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer and Joe Kaeser from Siemens will travel to Dammam for an event organized by Saudi Aramco called In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) which is due to take place on Nov. 26-27.

The pair had been among the executives who boycotted an earlier investment conference following the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who was critical of the Saudi government.

During his trip Spiesshofer will visit an ABB factory in Dammam, and will also meet representatives from Saudi Aramco, one of ABBs most important customers in the region.

Among other attendees at the IKTVA event are Paal Kibsgaard from Schlumberger and Jeff Miller, CEO of oilfield services company Halliburton.

Alongside being a responsible partner to our customers, we act as a responsible employer to our workforce. Therefore, our CEO will meet some 200 employees at our plant in Dammam during his trip to Saudi Arabia, ABB said in a statement on Nov. 25.

In addition, the CEO will also be meeting one of our most important customers in the region in order to foster further dialogue with them.

A person familiar with the situation said Spiesshofer was only taking part in the opening ceremony, and would not be a speaker or a panelist.

Siemens confirmed the attendance of Kaeser at IKTVA, where he is among the speakers, but said the executive would not meet with officials from the Saudi government.

This is a business trip to the Middle East where Mr. Kaeser will visit customers and business partners in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia among others, a Siemens spokesman said.

In Saudi Arabia he will visit only our customer, Saudi Aramco, in Dammam.

More than two dozen top officials and executives from the United States and Europe boycotted an investment conference last month over the killing of Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government and a columnist for the Washington Post, was killed on Oct. 2 when he went there to pick up documents for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman.

By John Revill
Pakistani mourners carry the coffins of victims who were killed in an attack at the Chinese Consulate, during a funeral ceremony in Quetta on Nov. 24, 2018. (Banaras Khan/AFP/Getty Images)

Attack on Chinese Consulate in Pakistan Puts Motivation of Belt and Road Under Scrutiny

In Pakistan, local dissent against Chinas mega-projects recently boiled over, with an attack at the Chinese consulate in Karachi that left four people dead and has sparked a debate about the true price of Beijings multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects in countries around the world.

On Nov. 23, three attackers belonging to the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) drove an explosives-laden car into the Chinese consulate, trying to enter the visa section, according to Reuters. The three attackers were killed by police after engaging in a gun battle. While it wasnt clear if the car exploded, the violence left two police officers and two bystanders dead.

The attack was driven by BLAs opposition to Chinas growing influence in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. In a telephone interview with Reuters about the attack, Jiand Baloch, a spokesperson for BLA, stated, China is exploiting our resources.

Balochistan was under British rule before being annexed by Pakistan in 1947. Locals in Balochistan are unhappy that they remain poor. despite abundant natural resources in the region. They accuse the Pakistani government, and now the Chinese, of unfairly exploiting the region.

The militant BLA became active in 2000, with operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The group has been identified by Pakistan and the UK as a terror group.

China has financed several infrastructure projects in the region under Beijings One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road), an initiative launched in 2013 with the objective of increasing geopolitical influence by building up trade routes linking China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

The ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is Chinas most important OBOR project in Pakistan, with investments topping $57 billion. The Chinese regime seeks to build a transportation network, mostly through railways, to link Kashgar City in the China-ruled region of Xinjiang with the Pakistani seaport of Gwadar, which is in Balochistan. Beijing hopes the CPEC can serve as an alternative trade route to reduce vulnerability risks: currently, it heavily relies on traveling the Strait of Malacca for energy imports.

BLA and other Baloch groups have often targeted Chinese workers since CPEC was introduced in 2015, according to Al Jazeera, labeling the Chinese project an imperialist endeavor.

In August, three Chinese engineers at a copper-gold mining project in the Pakistani town of Saindak, located in the Chaghi District of Balochistan, were injured when a BLA member launched a suicide bomb attack on a bus, according to Pakistans English-language newspaper Daily Times. The project is operated by a subsidiary of Chinas state-owned China Metallurgical Group.

Balochistan is rich in minerals such as coal, iron ore, marble, and limestone, according to the provincial governments website. Beijing is known to rely on imports of natural resources to drive the growth of its manufacturing sectors. Minerals are one of the biggest export categories in PakistanChina trade, according to an Oct. 12 announcement by Chinas Ministry of Commerce. Bilateral trade between the two nations reached $13.2 billion in 2017.

Balochi locals also are concerned about the influx of Chinese nationals as a result of CPEC, according to a December 2016 article by Pakistans English-language daily newspaper The Nation, citing a report by the Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), which projects that the Chinese population will overtake the native population by 2048.

The report points out that Chinese settlers and investors, who have been buying up lands in Balochistan, will eventually leave unskilled natives without a piece of their own land.

Beijings Agenda

China observer Chen Pokong, in a YouTube video uploaded Nov. 25, explained what drives China to invest in Pakistan.

[The Chinese regime] wants to secure its rule in China, stated Chen, explaining that though the Communist Party has tried to protect its rule through a myriad of tactics such has enforcing online censorship, persecuting dissidents, and limiting any form of judiciary independence, it doesnt feel secure in its power.

Through OBOR, Beijing seeks to improve its image abroad and establish itself as a major global power capable of bringing big business to different countries. In that way, the Communist Party can further claim its ruling legitimacy, Chen said.

Chens remarks are echoed in an Aug. 3, 2018, editorial by Papua New Guinea media Island Times. The article pointed out China has enjoyed strong domestic growth; yet, if one day such growth proves unsustainable, Beijing might use its growing clout in Pacific island countries to demand financial support, or economic concessions, from major regional players, such as the United States. Those concessions might prove to be a lifeline for embattled leaders in Beijing desperate to keep their facade of political legitimacy from collapsing, the article stated.

Papua New Guinea is also heavily targeted by Beijings OBOR. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Beijing had invested more than $1.9 billion in the island country as of September 2017, with infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and hospitals.
Baby Girl Who Underwent Spinal Surgery in the Womb Is Born Healthy: Reports

An infant girl who underwent spinal surgery while in her mothers womb was born healthy, according to UK media reports this week.

Georgia Axford, 19, and Tyler Kelly, 21, said the girl had spina bifida, described by health officials as a gap in the spine, when they got an ultrasound in the 20th week of Axfords pregnancy.

'It was just the best feeling to see her'    Daily Mail     

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says some can live with no disability, but other people may even be paralyzed due to the condition.

According to Gazette Series publication, the couple was advised to get an abortion, but they instead opted to get the surgery. The surgery was not available in the United Kingdom, so the pair had to head to Germany and pay more than $11,000. The baby, named Piper, had the operation in University Hospital Giessen on June 13, and the spinal gap was closed.

She is doing really well, Axford said of the girl, according to the Gazette on Nov. 19. It is beautiful to see her little smile, she is a well behaved little baby and the doctors hope that the operation will help in the years to come.

Tissues at the ready  a wonderful story to start the week. Piper is a pretty special little girl.    Gazette Series  Gloucestershire, Thornbury, Yate and Chipping Sodbury     

She added: We just cant describe how grateful we are that people came together. When there is a crisis it was nice to see so many people support us.

About a year ago we knew nothing about it, then because of the support we knew about the procedure, Axford added. We got messages from all over England and we would advise any of those people that find themselves in the same situation to look at the procedure.

The operation was expensive, but Kelly said he would make the same decision again.

Piper is living her life and the doctors have said that her legs do work, he said. We know there will be issues down the line but we will have to deal with them when they come.

The family hopes the girl can sit up by herself in a few months and then they will know if the procedure is a success.

In a couple of months shell be able to sit up by herself so that might help show if it worked, Axford told the Daily Mail.

Diagnosis

Spina bifida can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after the baby is born. Spina bifida occulta might not be diagnosed until late childhood or adulthood, or might never be diagnosed, says the CDC on its website.

It adds: Spina bifida happens in the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows shes pregnant. Although folic acid is not a guarantee that a woman will have a healthy pregnancy, taking folic acid can help reduce a womans risk of having a pregnancy affected by spina bifida. Because half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, it is important that all women who can become pregnant take 400 mcg of folic acid daily.

Spina bifida can range from mild to severe. Some people may have little to no disability. Other people may be limited in the way they move or function. Some people may even be paralyzed or unable to walk or move parts of their body, it says.
Lu Shiow-yen (C), from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, speaks after his victory in the Taichung mayor race following local elections in Taipei on Nov. 24, 2018. (AFP/Getty Images)

Nationalist Party Wins Landslide Election Victory in Taiwan

TAIPEI, TaiwanThe ruling party of Taiwan suffered a major defeat in elections that took place on Nov. 24.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost two important mayoral races in Taiwans central city of Taichung and the southern port city of Kaohsiung to the opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), which has in recent years taken a Beijing-friendly stance.

While Taiwan is a de facto country with its own constitution, elections, currency, and military, Beijing views the island as a renegade province that must be united with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Since Taiwan held its first direct presidential election in 1996, Beijings authoritarian regime has sought to influence political parties into adopting more Beijing-friendly policies. While the DPP is known for advocating formal independence from mainland China, current President Tsai Ing-wen, who belongs to the DPP, has said she wishes to maintain the status quo.

In all, the DDP, which going into the election controlled 13 cities and counties out of a total of 23, retained only six cities and counties, while the KMT, which controlled six cities and counties, won nine more regions, bringing the total under its jurisdiction to 15.

Tsai has since announced her resignation from the DPP chairwoman position, saying that she is responsible for her partys poor election performance. At a press conference on Nov. 24 announcing her resignation, Tsai said: Democracy has taught us a lesson today. We should be humble and embrace peoples higher demands.

In Kaohsiung, the DPP has governed the port city for the past 20 years, with a large electorate base there. Thus, the defeat of DPP candidate Chen Chi-mai by KMT candidate Han Kuo-yu was considered a major upset.

In Taichung City, the incumbent and DPP mayoral candidate Lin Chia-lung sought to retain his seat and was widely expected to win the election. However, Lin ended up losing to KMT candidate Lu Shiow-yen by 200,000 votes.

In Taipei, Ko Wen-jo, an independent candidate, won reelection, defeating both KMT and DPP candidates. However, KMT candidate Ting Shou-chung, who finished second with only 3,254 fewer votes, said hell challenge the election results.

Relations With Beijing

The results have analysts talking about its ramifications for cross-strait relations.

Chen Weijian, an editor with Beijing Spring, a U.S.-based pro-democracy publication, said in a recent interview with Voice of America (VOA) that while some people might interpret the KMTs overwhelming victory as a win for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he said that instead, the elections are a major blow to the Chinese regimes authoritarian system.

The Taiwan election once again demonstrated what is democracy. Any win by a political party is a win for democracy, Chen said.

Beijing, in a move to boost the KMT and marginalize the DPP, has preferred to work with cities and counties that are under KMT control, such as offering more cultural and economic exchanges and programs. Kaohsiung Citys victor, Han Kuo-yu of the KMT, had run on a campaign platform of better economic ties with China.

In response to Taiwans election results, the Partys mouthpiece newspaper Peoples Daily published a Nov. 25 editorial on its official WeChat account, a social-media platform, stating that the DPPs defeat was to be expected because it represents useless and terrifying ideologies.

In a sign of how China might act following the KMTs victory, the editorial claimed that after Han takes office next year, China will buy more milkfish and grouper exports from Kaohsiung.

But when Tainan City cannot [do the same], surely Tainan residents will feel upset, stated the Peoples Daily article, implying that the citywhich saw the DPP mayoral candidate winwill be subject to Beijings retaliation.

As for public sentiment regarding Taiwans relations with China, Taiwanese online media Up Media, in an opinion article published on Nov. 25, pointed out that neither DPP nor KMT candidates mentioned at length their positions with regard to their China policy, indicating that there is a consensus among the general Taiwanese public that unification with China isnt an option.

Meanwhile, the issue of Taiwans identity was also presented on the ballots as one of the 10 referendums. Voters were asked whether the island country should be called Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei at international sporting events such as the Olympics. In the end, the referendum was voted down. Analysts believe this was partially due to fear that athletes would be barred from participating in international sporting events, if the name change were to happen.

Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee had warned that Taiwan may lose its right to compete in the 2020 Games should it decide on a name change.

Nonetheless, observers say the referendum making it to the ballot reflects a growing concern in Taiwan about Chinas vamped-up efforts to pressure countries into adopting Beijings sovereignty claims.

Watch Next:

How China Subverted an Election

There may be free and open elections in Taiwan, but the Chinese Communist Party has been actively working to ensure that the elections go its way.
Berkeley Student Senator Faces Backlash for Standing Up for Her Faith

BERKELEY, Calif.Student Senator Isabella Chow, who recently abstained her vote on a resolution to support the interests of transgender students because of her traditional Christian beliefs, has been targeted by protests at UC Berkeley.



If trans students are under attack, what do we do? a female student leader in the campus repeatedly shouted on the evening of Nov. 7th before the student governments senate meeting. Stand up, fight back! hundreds of students responded.

On Oct. 31st, the Senate of the student government in Berkeley was scheduled to vote on the pro-LGTBQ resolution, and each student senator in the Senate meeting had three voting options: yes, no, or abstain.

Chow abstained her vote, while the other 18 student senators voted yes.

In Gods eyes and therefore my own, everyone of you here today and in the LGBTQ+ community as a whole is significant, valid, wanted and lovedeven if and when our views differ, Chow stated in an open letter explaining her decision.

She also said that to love another person does not mean that she would silently concur the choices of that person.

I believe that God created male and female at the beginning of time, and designed sex for marriage between one man and one woman, Chow said in the letter.

Chow said in her letter that her decision was based on conversations between herself and the Christian community she represented.

Chow concluded in her letter: I again affirm with all my heart that each one of you in this room deserves nothing less than respect, acknowledgement, legal protection and love, and the Christian community is here to love and serve this campus in the way that we best know how.

After Chow published her open letter, more than 1,000 people signed a petition demanding that she resign from the student government or face a potential recall.

On social media, Chow was addressed with comments such as mental imbecile, horrible person, see you in hell, and others.

She could have merely abstained, said Regan Putnam, president of the Queer Alliance Resource Center, the organization that originally requested the bill from the student Senate. Nobody asked her to explain her vote.

Putnam seemed to indicate that if Chow had not addressed her religious beliefs in writing, then she wouldnt have faced such massive backlash.

Some people have wondered if students are being pushed to hide their religious beliefs on the Berkeley campus.

This is classic in a very liberal school like Berkeley, to be very hypocritical in a school called the home of free speech, said Paul Preston, a former high school administrator, a radio talk show host, and the founder of the Agenda 21 radio station.

The reality check [on Berkeley] is just free speech for a few, Preston said.

The students protesting on campus on Nov. 7th held a big banner that said: Senator Chow, Resign Now.

I am ashamed of you all sitting here who have not denounced her [Chow], said Alyssa Lou who pounded on the podium at the meeting.

I am not attacking your [Chows] religious views. I grew up in Texas, added Lou, who was also a former student senator.

We dont live in a republic [state] any longer, said Preston. It is anything but free speech in Cal-Berkeley  They are the enemies of our constitution.

Preston said Christians have been discriminated against at Berkeley in the past. However, the school hasnt said anything about it in public, while the students are often supported by their liberal professors in their political actions.

Chow told The Epoch Times that nine student organizations, which she used to be a part of, had already cut their ties with her, including her own political party in Berkeley.

I am morally outraged, said Paul Taylor, the former California Republican candidate for the US Senate, who talked to The Epoch Times after learning the news.

Taylor said if the freedom of opinion could be taken away from Chow, it could be taken away from anybody, and eventually there will be no freedom, and it doesnt pick preferences on [peoples] colors.

Chow, a 20-year-old third-year student in Berkeley who speaks both English and Chinese and has a double major in business and music. Chow is a first-generation American, and her father is from Cambodia, while her mother is from Malaysia.

She follows her heart, and her heart teaches her to be herself, said Ellen Lee Zhou, who was the Chinese-American independent candidate for San Francisco mayor in this years election.

Zhou said she supported Chow for her rights under the constitution.

Facing the students who called her to resign and may possibly call for her recall, Chow was firm and stated that she was not planning to resign, as different voices need to be heard on the campus.
Beyond the Bombast: What Mississippis Senate Candidates Promise Constituents

With all but one midterm election decided, national attention has turned to the U.S. Senate runoff race in Mississippi between incumbent Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Mike Espy.

Hyde-Smith, who was appointed by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant to replace retired Sen. Thad Cochran in April, is now having to fight for her seat against a challenger who she defeated by little more than a percentage point earlier this month.

Overall, Republicans in the four-way race did better than the Democrats. The other Republican in the race, Chris McDaniel, had about 16 percent of the vote, compared to Democrat Tobey Bartees 1.4 percent. Hyde-Smith should enjoy a decided advantage if she can convince McDaniels voters to support her in the runoff election on Nov. 27.

That Hyde-Smith would be ahead shouldnt come as a surprise considering her alignment with President Donald Trump, who won the state by almost 18 points. Mississippi is a traditionally red state, with the three of the four House representatives being Republican and the other senator, Roger Wicker, also being Republican. The state leadership is also firmly in GOP hands, with the governor, the state House, and the state Senate all controlled by the GOP.

The Cook Political Report puts the race as only leaning Republican, however, and some commentators have predicted softening support for Hyde-Smith related to comments shes made and photographs that are being used by her opponents to portray her as racist.

Both of the candidates have a background in agriculture, which is the largest sector of Mississipis economy, and both have experience in Washington. Thats where the similarities end.

Hyde-Smith, 59, served as the states commissioner of agriculture from 2011 to 2018. She also served for eight years in the Mississippi state Senate, where she was chair of the Agriculture Committee.

Espy, 64, served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993 and as U.S. agriculture secretary in the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1994. While he resigned amid accusations that he improperly accepted gifts from companies regulated by the USDA, he eventually was acquitted at trial of corruption charges brought against him.

While Hyde-Smith has taken a brazenly conservative stance on most issues, Espy has also played up his willingness to work with conservatives, and hasnt promoted some of the more left-leaning policies of his party, such as open borders and Medicare for all.

The Economy

In talking about the economy, Espys campaign website says he promotes worker training and building infrastructure to support business, such as statewide broadband. He opposes Trumps tax cuts, saying they didnt have the effect intended.

Hyde-Smith says on her campaign website that she supports increasing national energy production to promote the economy and improve national security. She supports Trumps tax cuts, and believes in eliminating burdensome federal regulations to aid businesses.

Health Care

On health care, Espy believes in expanding funding of Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and bringing down insurance premiums, high deductibles, and placing caps on individual health costs.

Hyde-Smith believes the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, should be repealed. She supports common-sense, patient-centered health care reforms, as long as it doesnt expand the governments role in health care.

The Border

Espy has said he doesnt believe in building a wall on the southern border, but does believe in a secure border and enforced immigration laws that are fairly applied to all.

Hyde-Smith is a proponent of a stronger border and has supported Trumps wall. On immigration, she says immigrants should come into the country legally.

Education

Espy says he wants to make college and post-secondary education more affordable by increasing interest subsidies on student loans and by stopping predatory for-profit schools from exploiting adult learners.

Hyde-Smith says she wants more state and local control of public education, while recognizing the role of the federal government to support educational achievement across the country.

Trump Bump?

Hyde-Smith has Trumps full backing, and the president is planning to travel to Mississippi on Nov. 26 to campaign for her, saying she is an outstanding person who is needed in D.C. She shares his position on the border, the military, crime, health care, and the Second Amendment.

Trump was asked by a reporter about a comment in which she said she would be in the front row if she were invited to a public hanging, a comment she later apologized for but said it had been twisted and weaponized by her opponents. Trump said she made it somewhat in jest and that she felt bad about it.

Ive gotten to know her well, he told reporters Nov. 20. Shes a person that loves the people of Mississippi, she loves the people of this country. Shes going to be a great senator.

He said he wasnt worried about her chances of winning because she has done a fantastic job in a short period of time since taking over for Cochran.

His rally stops are to include Biloxi and Tupelo, Mississippi.

I will be in Gulfport and Tupelo, Mississippi, on Monday night doing two Rallies for Senator Hyde-Smith, who has a very important Election on Tuesday. She is an outstanding person who is strong on the Border, Crime, Military, our great Vets, Healthcare & the 2nd A. Needed in D.C.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2018

Besides supporting her personally, Trump is also trying to solidify Republican control of the Senate, which he has complained is hardly a majority now with 51 Republicans, 47 Democrats, and 2 independents who both caucus with the Democrats.

I always say, if a senator catches a cold, we dont have a majority, he told reporters on Oct. 24.

Watch Next:

Communists Detail Plans to Subvert U.S. Democratic Party

The Communist Party USA explained plans on May 23 to subvert the Democratic Party, alongside socialist and communist organizations.
Bodycam Shows Rooftop Shooting of Man by Milwaukee Officers

Warning: Footage is graphic

A body camera video released by the Milwaukee Police Department shows an officer shooting a man on a rooftop, and according to reports, he had no gun in his hand.

Jerry Smith Jr., 19, said he was unarmed when police shot him twice, WISN-TV reported.

That moment when I got shot I felt like I was going to die, Smith said, according to the report. OK, I ran, but he, the officer, scared the hell out of me, man. He got off that bike grabbing his gun, grabbed the gun. Cause I matched the description of someone having a gun, I ran.

Smith survived the shooting, but he underwent several surgeries and will suffer partial paralysis in his right leg, the Journal Sentinel reported.

People just need to see this, Daniel Storm, a private investigator working on Smiths case, said.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern, however, said in June that the two officers involved were justified in using deadly force because they thought Smith was armed or was going for a gun. No gun was found, and Smith, who doesnt have a criminal record, wasnt charged with a crime in the incident, the paper reported.

In the video, an officer says, He doesnt have a gun in his hand, but he was hiding behind the AC.

As the officers climb the stairs to approach the man, hes ordered to put his hands in the air and turn around. He puts his hands up to the sides and continues facing the two officers.

Then he leans to get on the ground. The officers havent yet made the command. Lovern said the officers thought Smith had a gun hidden behind the AC unit.

An officer then fires at Smith. The other officer thought Smith opened fire and also shot Smith.

Violent Crime Down in 2017

In September 2018, the FBI said Americans committed fewer violent and property crimes in 2017, according to statistics. The violent crime rateincluding offenses such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assaultdropped by almost one percent and is still about 4 percent above the 2014 rate. The murder rate dropped by 0.7 percent.

After historic increases in violent crime in 2015 and 2016, we are beginning to see encouraging signs, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement at the time. But our work is not done. While we have made progress, violent crime and drug trafficking continue to plague our communities and destroy the lives of innocent, law-abiding Americans.

Of the estimated 17,284 murders in 2017, more than half occurred in larger citieswith populations of more than 100,000.

There are fewer than 300 such cities in the United States, and while they account for less than 30 percent of the countrys population, many of them contribute far beyond their share to national crime rates and have done so for years, even decades.

While the national murder rate inched down to 5.3 per 100,000 residents, it spiked by 15 percent in Philadelphia, to a rate of more than 20 per 100,000 residents. Columbus, Ohio, saw a massive 54 percent murder rate increase, reaching nearly 16.3 per 100,000 residents.

Reuters contributed to this report
A Central American migrant tries to bring down part of the border fence between Mexico and the United States, near El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, Baja California State, Mexico, on Nov 25, 2018. (Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Caravan Charge Reveals Weakness in Border Structures

Existing fencing was 'quickly torn apart' by estimated 1,000 migrants who stormed the US border on Sunday

After some 1,000 Central American migrants attempted to break through the U.S.Mexico border in Tijuana near San Diego, a senior U.S. Border Patrol agent said such places where the border fencing could be readily overwhelmed need a wall.

Without a doubt we could use a wall in an area like that, Brian Hastings, deputy chief of law enforcement operations, told The Hill on Nov. 26.

Long parts of the fencing are made of landing mat, corrugated steel used as helicopter landing pads in the Vietnam War and installed on the border a quarter-century ago.

It is certainly out of date and does not meet our requirement for what we need with a wall, Border Patrol Chief Carla Provost told Fox News on Nov. 26.

The migrants came in caravans mostly from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. On at least two occasions on Nov. 25, they were spotted breaking through the fences.

At one spot, a group of migrants found or made a gap between the old corrugated fencing and the newer anti-ram fence, where they were repelled by U.S. law enforcement using tear gas.

On another occasion, a group of migrants climbed over and yanked down a part of the fence.

[It] was quickly torn apart, if you will, by several of the subjects there, who were also throwing rocks and projectiles at our agents, Hastings said.

Mexico Interior Ministry stated it will track down and deport anybody who was part of the group crossing into the United States illegally.

Rodney Scott, the chief Border Patrol agent in San Diego, said on Nov. 26 that authorities had arrested 42 people. The vast majority of those assembled at the border were economic migrants who would not qualify for asylum, he told CNN, adding that there were few women and children.

What I saw on the border yesterday was not people walking up to Border Patrol agents and asking to claim asylum, Scott said.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers were struck by projectiles thrown by caravan members and perpetrators will be prosecuted, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson wrote on Twitter Sunday night.

President Donald Trump called on Nov. 26 for Mexico to deport the migrants back to their countries.

Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries, he wrote on Twitter. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be.

He also repeated his call on Congress to approve funding for a border wall, a signature campaign promise of his. Congress so far passed $1.6 billion for border fencing in the 2018 budget with possibly more in the 2019 one, but Trump would prefer to have the wall built in one go.

His administration previously requested $18 billion for the wall, while House Republicans proposed $25 billion. Trump has previously said hed be willing to shut down the government over the border security funding.

Organized

Hastings said Border Patrol is arresting about 2,000 people a day regardless of the caravan. In fact, a similar incident happened exactly five years ago in the same area when a group of about 100 rushed across the border in Tijuana, hurling rocks and bottles at Border Patrol agents, who forced them back to Mexico with pepper spray and other intermediate use-of-force devices, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported at the time.

The caravans, however, add an element of organization that appears to be unprecedented.

About 6,000 migrants are gathered in Tijuana and another 2,000 in the Mexicali area, some 75 miles east of Tijuana, as several of the caravans reach the border. Several thousand more are still expected to arrive.

We have not seen a caravan in the past that is so willing to use violent methods and force, sheer numbers, to overwhelm and basically get what they want, Hastings said.

Most of the migrants are military-aged men looking for jobs or better-paid jobs, based on interviews conducted by The Epoch Times. Some of them mentioned the high crime rates in their home countries, others stated they embarked on the journey for personal reasons.

The interviewees mostly said they were expecting to apply for asylum in the United States, despite the fact that asylum is only allowed for people escaping certain kinds of persecution. Only 9 percent of Central American migrants who claim asylum at the border are granted it by an immigration judge, according to the Justice Department.

The caravans appear relatively well organized, especially the first one that had a group of people in reflective vests corralling the migrants on roads. On one occasion, one of the organizers was recorded inviting people to board a semi-truck in southern Mexico. On another, the migrants were apparently being transported in charter buses from a Mexican rental company.

Motives

Instigators of the caravans appear to be targeting U.S. immigration policy, trying to weaken the Trump administration and the United States, according to Col. Fred Peterson, former chief public affairs officer of Joint Task Force North, the Defense Departments counter-drug and anti-terrorist operation.

This is a very well-funded operation, he told The Epoch Times. Its not spontaneous at all.

The migrants themselves are being exploited for political purposes, he said. Theyre just props in a political, staged play.

He anticipated that the instigators would intentionally put the migrants in dangerous situations so as to create an incident that could be weaponized against the United States.

I would expect them to stage an event where innocents are intentionally killed, he said.

According to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Honduran President Juan Hernandez said the caravan was organized by leftist organizations and financed by Venezuela.

One of the caravan organizers was Bartolo Fuentes, a former lawmaker for the Liberty and Refoundation (Libre) party, which controls almost a quarter of the Honduran legislature and advocates socialism. Fuentes was detained in Guatemala and returned back to Honduras.

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Brian Hastings as the Border Patrol Chief; it also misstated the amount and nature of border security funding approved by Congress. The Epoch Times regrets the errors.

Reuters contributed to this report.
British investigator, Peter Humphrey, addresses the media in front of a screen showing him in a Chinese state TV interview, during a press conference in London, on Nov. 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

British Man Seeks Broadcasting Ban for Chinese State TV After Forced Confession Aired on UK Airwaves

LONDONA British corporate investigator filed a complaint on Nov. 23 to U.K. regulators about Chinas state-run broadcaster, saying its British license should be revoked because it aired his forced confession while he was imprisoned in China.

Peter Humphrey submitted the complaint against China Central Television (CCTV) and its international division, China Global Television (GCTN), for violating British broadcasting rules.

Humphrey and his wife, Yingzeng Yu, a Chinese-born U.S. citizen, spent two years in prison after being convicted of illegally acquiring personal information of Chinese citizens.

The couple, who ran a corporate investigation firm, had been hired on contract by pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline to look into a security breach, but became collateral damage when the Chinese authorities began investigating GSKs alleged bribery practices.

The pair was shown separately on Chinese state television purportedly confessing their crimes, but Humphrey said it was done under duress and that he was sedated.

CGTN is available on free and paid television channels in Britain. The broadcaster is reportedly expanding its presence in Europe with a new studio and production center set to open in London by the end of the year.

Humphrey says he was forced to confess twice.

It always happened after or amid a massive wave of international press coverage of our case, so it was part of a propaganda war, he said.

Humphrey got help with his case from Peter Dahlin, a Swedish activist who was also detained in China and allegedly forced to confess on air after authorities cracked down on his human rights group.

Dahlins new rights group, Safeguard Defenders, says it has documented more than 100 forced confessions shown by CCTV. At least eight were broadcast on British airwaves, he said.

Many people think CCTV merely broadcasts these, theyre made by police and (the station is) forced to broadcast them, but its journalists are actively engaged in these reports, Dahlin said.

By filing the complaint, Dahlin said they want to influence the broadcasters behavior, so it will abide by basic standards, both regulatory standards in Britain but also journalistic ethical standards.

Britains communications regulator, Ofcom, said it was assessing the complaint as a priority and would take necessary enforcement action if it found any rules had been broken.

In 2012, Ofcom revoked Iranian state-owned Press TVs license following a complaint by Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari that the station aired an interview with him while he was detained. Bahari said he was forced to do a scripted interview with his captors, who threatened him with execution.

By Kelvin Chan.
Central American migrants are blocked by Mexican police forces as they reach the El Chaparral border crossing, in Tijuana, Baja California State, Mexico, on Nov. 25, 2018. (Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Caravan Storms US Border as Mexico Denies Deal on Asylum-Seekers

A caravan of Central American migrants attempted to force its way into the United States on Nov. 25 at the San Ysidro border crossing from Tijuana, Mexico.

Some 2,000 migrants participated, a Mexican federal police officer said, while 39 migrants were arrested for causing fights and disturbing public peace, according to a Mexican police spokesperson. No injuries were reported. Several U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were hit by projectiles, the agency said on Twitter.

More than 6,000 migrants have gathered in Tijuana, most of them from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. They planned to march toward the San Ysidro border crossing and seek entry into the United States at noon on Nov. 25.

U.S. authorities prepared by shutting down the crossing for better part of the day and deploying hundreds of additional CBP officers. On the Mexican side, some 1,000 federal police officers, most appearing in riot gear, were deployed to prevent the migrants from crossing illegally.

Migrants have attempted to slip through the Mexican police lines to find gaps in the border fencing. While at least one group successfully broke through the fence, they appeared to be forced back out by law enforcement with the help of tear gas. At another point, the migrants climbed over and damaged a part of the fencing. It wasnt clear how many were able to get through.

Tijuana Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum has declared a humanitarian emergency in the city, in anticipation of thousands of more migrants due to arrive soon. He has repeatedly expressed frustration with the migrants behavior.

I will not allow our bilateral relationship to be fractured by the bad actions of the migrant caravan, Gastelum said in a Nov. 25 tweet. Theyre doing things outside of the law. We are affected at the border crossing. Many Tijuanans work, study, and visit the United States in healthy peace.

Several hundred locals protested the caravans presence on Nov. 18, while reports of crimes committed by the migrants started to pile up. Most of the crimes appear minor, such as public intoxication and fighting, though one attempted rape of a 15-year-old migrant girl by an older migrant was reported.

On-and-Off Asylum Deal

Meanwhile, an official from the incoming Mexican government denied a tentative deal with the United States that would have required migrants who apply for U.S. asylum to wait for the resolution of their claims in Mexicoa plan dubbed Remain in Mexico. It was the same official, however, quoted earlier as confirming the deal.

For now, we have agreed to this policy of Remain in Mexico, said the incoming Mexican Interior Minister Olga Sanchez Cordero, according to The Washington Post, which reported Nov. 24 that it interviewed Sanchez Cordero. She was quoted as calling the plan a short-term solution.

The medium- and long-term solution is that people dont migrate, she said. Mexico has open arms and everything, but imagine one caravan after another after another. That would also be a problem for us.

U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to confirm the deal in a Nov. 24 tweet.

Migrants at the Southern Border will not be allowed into the United States until their claims are individually approved in court, he said. We only will allow those who come into our Country legally.

Hours later, however, Sanchez appeared to backtrack.

There is no agreement of any sort between the incoming Mexican government and the U.S. government, she said in a statement, Fox News reported.

Sanchez is to take office on Dec. 1, together with President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Caravan Phenomenon

Its nothing new for people from the three Central American nations to attempt entering the United States illegally. About a million have been caught by Border Patrol since 2013 (pdf).

Usually, however, they make their attempts in the Rio Grande Valley, commonly paying thousands of dollars to human traffickers who take small groups across the border by cartel-controlled drug smuggling routes.

The caravans, on the other hand, are hundreds or even thousands strong and have traveled towards the heavily fortified port of entry on the West Coast, a trip about twice as long than to the Rio Grande Valley.

This phenomenon and how its manifested itself is absolutely unique to anything that we had seen in the past, said Robert Perez, acting deputy CBP commissioner, speaking to Fox News on Nov. 25.

The first caravan embarked from the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on Oct. 13 with at least three more following from other areas in the weeks after.

The Tijuana Mayor said the caravans are maliciously organized with the goal of creating trouble.

Vice President Mike Pence was told by Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez that the first caravan was organized by leftist groups and partially financed by Venezuela, Pence told Fox News on Oct. 26.

The migrants usually express a wish to claim asylum in the United States, but only 9 percent of Central Americans claiming asylum at the border are ruled eligible by an immigration judge, according to the Justice Department.

The migrants interviewed by The Epoch Times mostly said they seek jobs or better-paid jobs in the United States. Asylum, however, requires facing a danger of being persecuted, such as for ones religion, race, political opinion, or belonging to an oppressed group.

On Nov. 9, Trump issued a proclamation to deny the option to claim general asylum to illegal crossers (other types of asylum that require a higher burden of proof would still be available). But the proclamation was attacked in court and on Nov. 19 a federal judge from the 9th Circuit Appeals Court put the measure on hold.

Shutting the Border

Trump has tried to dissuade the migrants from coming illegally. Hes sent nearly 6,000 troops to the border to fortify fences and crossings with razor wire. Hes even authorized the troops to use force to protect Border Patrol agents if need be.

The president has also tried to end the policy of catch and release, where illegal border crossers are released into the country while awaiting their immigration court hearings often scheduled years ahead. Such migrants will now be held in tent cities at the border instead, Trump said on Oct. 29.

If all else fails, Trump warned hell shut down the border completely.

There is no way that the United States will, after decades of abuse, put up with this costly and dangerous situation anymore! he said in a Nov. 24 tweet.

Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.

Correction: A previous version of the article misstated the rate of granting asylum by immigration judges to Central American migrants requesting asylum at the border. The Epoch Times regrets the error.
Casey Anthonys Father Is in Incapacitating Condition After Car Rolls Over in Crash: Reports

The father of Casey Anthony, the woman who made headlines when she was acquitted in the death of her 2-year-old daughter in 2017, was involved in a serious car crash in Florida on Nov. 24.

NBC2 in Florida reported that George Anthony was driving on Interstate 4 in Volusia County when he lost control of his Toyota 4-Runner and swerved to the side. His vehicle flipped several times, crossed three lanes, and finally stopped in a median.

George Anthony suffered incapacitating injuries, troopers said.    WESH 2 News     

Anthony was then rushed to the Halifax Medical Center, and a trooper who responded to the scene said his injuries were incapacitating, the NBC affiliate reported. He was the only person in the vehicle.

Fox35 reported he was in serious condition.

He and his wife, Cindy, were thrown into the national spotlight a decade ago after Casey was arrested in connection with the disappearance of her girl, Caylee. Cindy reported the girl missing in June 2008 about a month after the girl was last seen.

Casey was arrested on charges of child neglect, and she told police the girl disappeared with a babysitter, but Caylees remains were discovered in a wooded area in December 2008, Fox News noted.

Casey was eventually found not guilty in 2011.

I dont believe [the drowning]. Thats a bunch of bull to me, George Anthony said in an interview, Fox reported. He was referring to a claim that the girl was drowned.

He said, Thats too easy of a story to bring up cause if that wouldve happened, I think my daughter wouldve at least had the common decency or common sense inside to call 911 and say something.

George also stated he no longer talks to his daughter, who he says should be behind bars and have her suffer like  Caylee suffered, according to the report.

Whatever life she has, I hope she makes something positive for it. Am I ever gonna speak to my daughter again? No. Were done because when all this stuff happened, I lost my daughter and my granddaughter. I lost them both, he said.

He also previously said, Stay away. Stay away from me. If she wants a relationship again with her mom, shes got a lot of explaining to do, but I dont want to hear it no more. I dont want to see her, Crime Online reported.

Violent Crime Down in 2017

In September 2018, the FBI said Americans committed fewer violent and property crimes in 2017, according to statistics. The violent crime rate, including offenses such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assault dropped by almost 1 percent and is still about 4 percent above the 2014 rate. The murder rate dropped by 0.7 percent.

After historic increases in violent crime in 2015 and 2016, we are beginning to see encouraging signs, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement at the time. But our work is not done. While we have made progress, violent crime and drug trafficking continue to plague our communities and destroy the lives of innocent, law-abiding Americans.

Of the estimated 17,284 murders in 2017, more than half occurred in larger cities with populations of more than 100,000.

Reuters contributed to this report
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen announces her resignation as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after local elections in Taipei on Nov. 24, 2018. (Ann Wang/Reuters)

China Heaps Pressure on Taiwan President After Poll Defeat

TAIPEIChinese state media heaped pressure on Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Nov. 26 after her ruling pro-independence party suffered heavy defeats in local elections over the weekend, as party officials sought to work out what went wrong.

Tsai, who faces a presidential election in a little over a year, resigned on Saturday as chairwoman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after losing key battleground cities in mayoral polls to the China-friendly Kuomintang.

The DPP now only controls six cities and counties to the Kuomintangs 15.

Han Kuo-yu, the Kuomintangs mayor-elect in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, and the most high profile of the partys winners, said he would open the door to contacts with China.

Beijing has refused to deal with Tsais administration since she took office in 2016, accusing her of pushing for the islands formal independence.

That is a red line for China, which considers the democratic island sacred Chinese territory.

Tsai has said she wants to maintain the status quo with China but will defend Taiwans security and democracy, especially in the face of ramped up Chinese pressure such as whittling down Taiwans dwindling band of diplomatic allies.

In the run-up to the elections, Tsai had warned against Chinese efforts to interfere and urged that people must stand up for democracy.

The Kuomintang has sent delegations to China since Tsai took office, where they have been warmly received, and that contact is now likely to increase.

Hung Mong-kai, a Kuomintang spokesman, said he was certain there would now be more interaction with China.

No Excuses

Chiu Chui-cheng, deputy minister of Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council, told Reuters the government had always welcomed exchanges with China, but Beijings political preconditions had hindered such contacts.

We are always positive on city-to-city exchanges with mainland China, but its them who set a limit: they treat blue and green differently, he said, referring to the colors representing the Kuomintang and DPP.

Close Tsai aide Chen Chu, secretary general of the presidential office, said there were no excuses for the poor performance and that they had to think deeply.

The one who really needs to change is me, Tsai wrote on her Facebook page, adding that the administration would take a thorough look at major policies and personnel. She did not elaborate.

Senior DPP member and legislator Lo Chih-cheng told Reuters the party had failed to please anyone with its moderate approach to both China and domestic issues, and the DPP needed a re-think and maybe a more radical agenda to reach its core supporters.

The party is in turmoil, Lo said, suggesting one way to please people would be to try to win back some of the smaller countries with which China has ties.

Weve been pushed into a corner, without fighting back. And that again disappointed our supporters, he said.

Still, Taiwans stock market was cheered by the Kuomintangs gains, closing up more than one percent. The Taiwan dollar also strengthened.

China has done little to hide its glee at the DPPs poor showing.

One source with ties to Chinas leadership, asked how Beijing felt about the outcome, told Reuters simply: Theyre really happy.

By Ben Blanchard & Yimou Lee
Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as House Minority Leader at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. on Nov. 7, 2018. Pelosi has recently made a deal with the Congressional Progressive Caucus to give members more positions of power in return for support in her race to become the next Speaker of the House. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Congressional Progressive Caucus Has Extensive Ties to Marxist Organizations

Commentary

The Congressional Progressive Caucus is by far the largest and most influential coalition in the federal government. It is also the most radical, having extensive ties to several major Marxist organizations.

Buoyed by an influx of new far-left members, the caucus has struck a deal with Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi to significantly increase socialist power in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The deal will see more Communist Party USA (CPUSA) and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) supporters appointed to key congressional committees and enjoy a greater role in influencing legislative priorities.

The quid pro quo? Support for Pelosi in her tight race to become the next speaker of the House.

It wasnt a coincidence that moments after Nancy Pelosi promised progressive House leaders more power in the next Congress, a host of liberal groups announced they were supporting her for speaker, Politico recently reported.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, who is expected to co-chair the Progressive Caucus next year, left a Nov. 15 meeting with Pelosi in the Capitol and proclaimed that her members would have more seats on powerful committees and more influence over legislation.

Pelosi, herself a member of the caucus before resigning to become speaker of the House in 2006, is well aware of the progressives growing power.

After all outstanding House races are settled, the Congressional Progressive Caucus will increase its membership from 78 to around 95 members next yearabout 40 percent of the entire Democratic Caucus. Progressive Caucus leaders are using that leverage to secure influential House committee assignments.

Thursdays meeting with Pelosi included Jayapal and current Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Mark Pocan (D-Wis.). One request to which Pelosi agreed was to give the Progressive Caucus proportional representation on what lawmakers call the A committees: the Appropriations, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services and Intelligence committees, the Politico article continued.

The upcoming 116th Congress will bring the Progressive Caucus to the peak of its power, simultaneously increasing the influence of its allies in the U.S. communist and socialist movements.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has deemed the latest crop of radical recruits the most progressive freshman class in modern U.S. history.

This development must be gratifying for Sanders. As a freshman himself, he founded the caucus in 1991 with DSA member Congressman Ron Dellums (D-Calif.) and DSA/CPUSA friendly Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

The DSA itself provided organizational help to get the caucus off the ground, according to the January/February 1998 issue of DSA publication New Ground.

The DSAProgressive Caucus relationship remains strong, and high level.

Democratic Socialists of America

In a July 2018 DSA National Political Committee (NPC) meeting, DSA leader Maria Svart updated members on relations between the new Pro-Cuban Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (author of Oye, Trump, which translates as Listen up, Trump), far-left California Rep. Ro Khanna, and the Progressive Caucus.

[Svart] reported developing outward relationships through [DSA member] Jose La Luz to Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador which we can pursue if the NPC wishes, with Congressman Ro Khanna and the Progressive Caucus, in the future with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and with several mainstream progressive groups at a conference on planning responses in case of a national security crisis, the report stated.

The 116th Congress will include at least three former DSA members: Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), and two new comrades Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). At least a dozen more can be considered as moving in the DSA orbit including Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) and Progressive Caucus co-chair Mark Pocan (D-Wis.).

Communist Party USA

The CPUSA also has a long history with the Progressive Caucus.

A February 2002 report by Joelle Fishman, chair of the Political Action Committee, Communist Party USA to the Partys National Board evaluated the usefulness of the caucus.

Although this Caucus is not large enough to control the Congressional agenda,  the existence of this group of 57 members of Congress  provides an important lever that can be used to advance workers issues and move the debate to the left in every Congressional District in the country, the report stated.

A report highlighting the CPUSAs connection to the by-now-much-larger Progressive Caucus was delivered at the 14th International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties, held in Beirut, Lebanon, from Nov. 22 to 25, 2012, by the late Erwin Marquit, a then-member of the CPUSAs International Department:

The Communist Party USA not only welcomes the reelection of President Barack Obama, but actively engaged in the electoral campaign for his reelection and for the election of many Democratic Party congressional candidates.  In our electoral policy, we seek to cooperate and strengthen our relationship with the more progressive elements in Democratic Party, such as the Progressive Caucus in the U.S. Congress, a group of 76 members of the Congress co-chaired by Raul Grijalva, a Latino from Arizona, and Keith Ellison, an African American Muslim from Minnesota.  In its domestic policy, for example, the Progressive Caucus has put forth a program for using the public sector to deal with unemployment. It has opposed the use of the so called war on terror to incarcerate U.S. citizens indefinitely without criminal charges. In its foreign policy, the Progressive Caucus and the Black Caucus are outspoken in their opposition to U.S. imperialist policies abroad. The Progressive Caucus, now that Obama has been reelected, will be playing an important role in contributing to the mobilization of mass activity on critical issues to bring pressure on the Congress and administration to act on them.

Progressive Caucus leaders Raul Grijalva and Keith Ellison both have long histories with the CPUSA, along with many other prominent Caucus members including Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), and Gwen Moore (D-Wis.). Former caucus activist Nancy Pelosi herself was very tight with some CPUSA personalities at the beginning of her political career in San Francisco.

The CPUSA and DSA do not spend their time and money electing Democrats purely for love. They expect a return on their investment.

Virtually every major plank of todays Democratic Partyfrom single-payer health care, amnesty for illegal aliens, normalization of relations with communist Cuba, $15 per hour minimum wage, and othersoriginated with the CPUSA or DSAor from their foreign masters. It is not the slightest exaggeration to say that the communists and socialists drive Democratic Party policy formation.

With nearly 100 membersincluding a fresh cohort of ultra-radical recruitscoupled with unprecedented potential to influence legislative priorities thanks to Pelosi, the caucus is positioning itself to assert extraordinary power.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus is effectively part of the world communist movement. And its about to become the dominant faction in the Democratic Party.

Trevor Loudon is an author, filmmaker, and public speaker from New Zealand. For more than 30 years, he has researched radical left, Marxist, and terrorist movements and their covert influence on mainstream politics.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Stock photo of an ambulance in Toronto. (Michael Gil via Wikimedia Commons)

Driver Crashes Into Home, Killing Little Boy, Critically Injuring Friend: Reports

A Georgia boy is dead and another is in critical condition after a driver lost control of his vehicle and slammed into a home on Covington last week, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The driver, Karlrio Kelsey, 34, is expected to face charges in the case. Hes accused of losing control of 1997 Dodge Ram on Kirkland Road before he slammed into a garage about 82 feet away from the roadway. The garage had two children inside.

Luke McWilliams and Braden Stevenson, both 12, were searching for a pet hamster in a garage belonging to Bradens grandmother, AJC reported. Thats when Kelseys Dodge Ram slammed into the garage.

Braden Stevenson was on the phone with his dad on Monday when tragedy struck.

His father tells me the story, at 11. @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/CH1g1WFtWc  Justin Wilfon (@JustinWilfonWSB) November 22, 2018

The vehicle ran over Luke and pinned Braden against the wall, the report said.

Braden was rushed to Piedmont Newton Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Luke was flown to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, underwent several surgeries, and is now in critical condition.

Other details about the case are not clear.

While waiting through his initial surgery, we discovered a car lost control and went through a garage, trapping Luke under a parked van in the garage, and pinning his friend Braden Stevenson between the car and the wall, reads a GoFundMe for Lukes family. After seven hours of surgery, at just 12 years old, he now has a plate from his hip to his knee, pins in both knees, a halo to hold his tibia and femur together, and 41 units worth of blood transfusions due to the significant amount he lost.

Braden was on the phone talking about the missing hamster with his father  at the exact moment of impact. The horror of this tragic accident and what Cory heard on the other end of the phone line, as his son instantly became unresponsive, cant be described in words and is beyond a parents [worst] nightmare, says a GoFundMe for Bradens family.

Traffic Deaths Down Across US in 2018

U.S. traffic deaths fell 3.1 percent in the first six months of 2018, according to preliminary figures released in October 2018, Reuters reported.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 2017 traffic deaths fell by 1.8 percent to 37,133 after traffic deaths rose sharply in the previous two years, according to final figures.

The U.S. traffic fatality rate fell to 1.08 deaths per 100 million miles traveled for the first half of 2018.

The fatality rate in 2017 was 1.16 million deaths per 100 million miles traveledthe second highest rate since 2008.

This is good news and bad news, said Deborah Hersman, CEO of the National Safety Council, CNBC reported. The total number of fatalities is not getting worse, but the situation is not getting better.

Hersman cited distracted driving and higher speed limits for the number.

There are a number of states that have raised speed limits, some now have stretches at 80 or 85 miles per hour, she said in the CNBC report.

In Texas, for example, she estimated that traffic fatalities jumped 7 percent from 2015 to 2017, in part due to higher speed limits in the state.

We know its happening even though distracted driving data is hard to come by, she said of drivers using smartphones while behind the wheel. Police reports on accidents often dont report if the driver was distracted and in many accidents, people dont self-report themselves.
EU Signals Little Hope for Italy by Setting Firm Line on Brexit

The European Unions take-it-or-leave-it stand on Brexit doesnt bode well for Italys populist government, locked in a standoff with Brussels over its spending push to fund election promises.

As law professor-turned-premier Giuseppe Conte lobbied Germanys Angela Merkel, Frances Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels during the weekend, the bloc left Theresa May with little room for political maneuvering to sell Brexit in the U.K. Parliament. Leaders insisted the Brexit deal was the best available and non-negotiable.

If Conte and his euro-skeptic deputies Matteo Salvini of the anti-migration League and Luigi Di Maio of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement were hoping for concessions from the EU, the stance on Brexit must have left them disappointed. Conte is expected to brief the pair in Rome on Nov. 26, with still no end in sight to the budget standoff.

All Conte won at a working dinner with Juncker on Nov. 24 was a pledge to continue talks over coming weeks as Italy seeks to avert, or delay, possible fines.

Conte was left acknowledging that the dinner didnt resolve matters and voicing optimism that the dialogue ahead could stop the EU cracking down on Italy over a 2.4 percent budget deficit target for next year and concernsshared by financial marketsof an impact on the countrys debt mountain, the euro areas biggest in real terms.

Atmosphere, Trust

Theres a good atmosphere, mutual trust, Conte told reporters after the summit. Were confident we can complete the process to our mutual satisfaction. Asked if he would discuss lowering the 2.4 percent target with Salvini and Di Maio, Conte replied: We always discuss the reforms and what is needed to carry out the promises we have made.

On arrival at the Brexit summit, Conte held up a thick dossier that he previously gave Juncker, entitled A new path for a better future. Italys new strategy for social and economic growth.

This is what we talked about, Im giving you a preview, Conte said. We talked about these, in five months we are revolutionizing the country and we will continue to do so. His office said the report details past reforms and those due in coming weeks, focusing on a plan to boost investments.

Debt Concerns

What irks the commission and investors most, however, are the targets for a 2.4 percent deficit and 1.5 percent economic growth next year, amid concern about the impact on Italys debt mountain, the biggest in the euro area in real terms. Salvini and Di Maio have refused to budge on these. Conte said budget targets were not discussed with Juncker.

At the dinner Juncker said spending cuts of 6 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to 7 billion euros may be enough to trim the 2019 deficit, newspaper La Repubblica reported Nov. 25. Juncker also called for Salvini and Di Maio to stop their verbal attacks on the EU, the paper said.

Conte may offer to postpone to April the start of a citizens income for the poor, a landmark Five Star pledge, and a reform to lower the retirement age, a League promise, in order to recover as much as 5 billion euros that would be used for investments, newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore said.

Salvini Tweets

Highlighting the pressure on the premier, Salvini framed the working dinner from afar. As the dinner began, Salvini tweeted a tough message for Brussels: I demand RESPECT for the 60 million Italians who, with 5 billion given as a gift every year to Europe, dont want INSULTS, they want the possibility to study, work, retire. They sent me into government and I answer to them, and I dont retreat.

After the dinner ended, Salvini stated in a message sent by his office: Good Conte. Dialogue and common sense in Italys interest, no step backwards but a will to properly assess timing and numbers for spending and investments.

Juncker sounded an affectionate note. We are not in a war with Italy, he said early Nov. 25. He added, speaking in Italian: Ti amo Italia (I love you Italy.) Juncker said he and Conte had agreed to keep in permanent contact to help reduce the differences between the two sides.

The commission said this month that Italy wasnt respecting EU rules on borrowing, which may lead to a so-called excessive deficit procedure. That could involve fines of 0.2 percent of Italys gross domestic product, increasing to 0.5 percent if Rome doesnt amend its budget.

By John Follain
Famous Buddhist Monk in Taiwan Outed As Homosexual Drug Abuser

Shi Kai-hung was expelled from Tungshan Temple, a Buddhist holy land

Monk Shi Kai-hung, former secretary general of the Taiwan Chinese Buddhist Youth Association, has been expelled from his position at Tungshan Temple after it was revealed that he had abused illicit drugs and carried out homosexual relationships with male believers and other monks, violating the precepts of Buddhist religion.

Taiwanese magazine Mirror Media published a set of articles exposing Shi Kai-hung, who lived in Tungshan Temple in Miaoli County. On Sept. 30, following the scandal, he moved to the nearby Chungfo Temple.

Shi Kai-hung, 29, was the eighth secretary general of the Taiwan Chinese Buddhist Youth Association and its ninth standing director. He is the senior disciple of Shi Ching-yau, current Chairman of the Taiwan Chinese Buddhist Association.

By Chinese Buddhist tradition, all monks take on a Buddhist name containing the surname Shi, the initial character in the Chinese translation of the Buddhas name, Shakyamuni.

In September, a 21-year-old monk called Shi Shan-chih said that he had been the boyfriend of Kai-hung for more than a year, when both of them lived in Tungshan temple. Earlier this year, however, Kai-hung made friends with a male believer surnamed Cheng. At first, Cheng and Shan-chih werent familiar, but this changed after a car accident that occured this summer, Mirror Media reported.

The accident wasnt serious, but Kai-hung pushed all the responsibility to Shan-Chih, who didnt even have a drivers license, but was reportedly driving the evhcile with Kai-hung in the passenger seat. Cheng thought Shan-Chih had been wronged and befriended him. The two downloaded hundreds of videos from Kai-Hungs cloud storage showing his drug-fuelled sexual activities. The videos amounted to over 200 gigabytes of data.

After they gave three of the videos to the management team of Tungshan, Cheng was beaten by six strangers and forced to write a clarification saying that: What I did to Kai-hung damaged his reputation and caused a misunderstanding about him at Tungshan Temple. I have deep regret for what I did, and I beg forgiveness!!

However, because a naked man shown in the videos was undeniably Kai-hung, the temple expelled him on Sept. 20. Kai-hungs mentor Ching-yau tried to protect him, but the Tungshan temple management upheld its decision and said Kai-hung had failed to conduct himself like a monk, and that he had broken Buddhist precepts.

Buddhism is one of the main religions in China. Since Buddhism was introduced to China around 200 B.C., Buddhists have being lived in monasteries and followed the precepts, which include prohibitions of immoral behavior such as killing, stealing, drinking, or sexual relations.

In recent years however, a growing number of scandals has shaken the Buddhist establishment in China.

Shi Xuecheng, former president of China Buddhist Association and abbot of Beijings Longquan Monastery, was embroiled in a scandal this August when two of his female disciples, senior nuns Shi Xianjia and Shi Xianqi,posted a 95-page article saying that Xuecheng had acted under the cover of Buddhist teachings to sexually abuse multiple female disciples and embezzle hundreds of millions of yuan over the years.

While reports and other online material about Xuechengs scandal were soon deleted by censors, the Chinese communist authorities were forced to act on the nuns accusations. Following investigation, Shi Xuecheng resigned from all his positions on Aug. 15.

Shi Yongxin, abbot of the storied Shaolin Monastery and vice president of the Communist Party-controlled China Buddhist Association, was revealed to have fathered two illegitimate children with different women. He also carried out illicit relationships with several nuns and believers, embezzled money, and committed other offenses.

After the scandal, provincial authorities in Henan, where Shaolin is located, the China Buddhist Association worked very hard to protect him, so he has kept his positions.

In addition to the leaders of the China Buddhist Association, many ordinary monks have violated the precepts as Buddhism becomes increasingly ritualized and commercialized. Many photos circulating on Chinese websites show monks walking on the streets, arm in arm with beautiful women.

Many Buddhist recruitment notices are seeking men to become monks, and advertise salaries of up to 80,000 yuan ($11,500) a month. The notices say that men who become monks are not allowed to smoke, drink, or have sexual relations while at work in temples or offices, but are free to do as they desire after working hours are over.
A Texas real estate agent who went to Mexico for a plastic surgery operation has died after the procedure was botched, according to reports. (Laura Avila selfie / Facebook)

Fiance of American Woman Who Died After Botched Surgery in Mexico Plans Lawsuit

The fiance of the American realtor who crossed into Mexico to undergo plastic surgery and suffered severe brain damage from the botched procedure said he plans to sue after his bride-to-be died on Nov. 24.

Enrique Cruz said that he knew his fiancee, Laura Avila, was going to die after suffering the brain damage but it still hit him unexpectedly.

My next mission is justice for Laura, he wrote on Facebook. After paying all the hospital bills and giving some financial support to her humble family, I will tenaciously be pursuing the lawsuit against the criminals that killed her.

Avila had traveled to the Rino Center in Juarez on Oct. 30 to get a nose job and breast implant replacement because it was cheaper than in the United States.

But the procedures never happened because the injection of anesthesia prior to surgery was done in the wrong place, causing a heart attack that led to brain swelling and, ultimately, death.

They injected anesthesia in her spine at the clinic and instead of flowing down her body, it went into her brain, which caused severe swelling, Avilas sister Angie Avila told WFAA.

Laura Was Mistreated

The family was forced to pay the full price for a four-day hospital stay before they were able to move Avila to the United States. Doctors at the hospital in El Paso told the family that she wouldnt recover from the brain damage. She was later moved to a hospice before she died.

The family has raised more than $81,000 through a page on GoFundMe.

In a statement on Nov. 18, the family said Avalas condition was the result of Mexican doctors being more concerned about profits than health care.

Laura was mistreated by doctors in Mexico who were more interested in luring American consumers to their country for the income generated from the promise of discounted medical services than in providing proper patient care, the family said in a statement released by Larry Friedman, the family attorney.

Now the Rino Center has been shut down and besides the planned lawsuit, Cruz wants criminal charges for the doctors involved in the botched procedure.

Weve already hired some attorneysthats what helped close the place down already, Cruz told CBS. Were after the doctors for negligence and now murder.

No formal charges or lawsuit has been filed as of yet.

Americans Travel to Mexico for Health Care

Avilas family has said they want to share her story widely because of how many Americans travel to Mexico for plastic surgery and other procedures, such as dental work.

Dental care can be up to 60 percent cheaper than in the United States and bariatric surgery can be up to 70 percent cheaper, according to the Pacific Standard.

There was a lull in people traveling south after Obamacare was implemented but Americans soon discovered the system wouldnt provide what they were hoping for, according to Deepak Datta. Datta runs the Medical Tourism Corporation, a Dallas-based company that facilitates medical care for about 500 to 600 patients who travel from the United States and Canada to Mexico every year.

When the Affordable Care Act came, there was a lot of hope, and a lot of people who needed [nonemergent medical care], for example, knee replacements  they decided to hold off. They had a lot of hope Obamacare would take care of that, Datta told the magazine. But as time proceeded, that hope evaporated. So we had a lull in those types of procedures for a couple of years, and they are back again, going to Mexico for [these treatments].

The exact number of Americans who travel outside the country for medical care isnt known. The research paper Medical Tourists: Incoming and Outgoing, published in the American Journal of Medicine in July, estimated that 1.4 million Americans sought health care in foreign countries in 2017 and predicted that number will rise by 25 percent this year. That figure was already nearly double the Americans who traveled for medical care in 2007. Mexico is one of the most popular destinations for so-called medical tourism, ranked No. 4 on the papers list behind Costa Rica, India, and Malaysia.

The paper said that some 14 million to 16 million people traveled outside of their countries for medical care in 2017. Each medical visitor spends an average of $3,800 to $6,000 per visit.
An infant that police have dubbed Baby June was found dead off the coast of Floridas coast several months ago, but police have now just ruled the case a homicide. (Palm Beach County Sheriff)

Florida Officials Say Baby June Case Is Now a Homicide Investigation

An infant police have dubbed Baby June was found dead off the coast of Floridas coast several months ago, but police have now just ruled the case a homicide.

The child was found 75 to 100 feet off the Boynton Beach Inlet in June 2018, according to Palm Beach County Sheriffs Capt. Steven Stravelli.

This case is a homicide, said Capt. Steve Strivelli on Nov. 26, Local10 reported. A medical examiner confirmed the cause of death, but no further details were revealed.

Authorities said they think the baby may have drifted to the north from Broward County, but they havent elaborated, the report said.

Officials believe the girl, who has not been identified, was between four and seven days old when she died, according to the report.

He said police have only received 16 tips in the case since June. None of those tips have led to anything for us in this case and we are still desperate for anything that we can get from the public, Strivelli said.

The baby is half-Asian, half-African, he said. Most often a person with this 50-50 split would be found in areas like Barbados, Trinidad or Jamaica, or from those areas originally, Strivelli told the news outlet. According to CBS12, the baby, namely, has Central Asian ancestry.

Weve got the DNA in the database and its going to be continually run by Parabon, said Strivelli. Im confident that some day well figure out what happened here, but Im not willing to wait 50 Years. I want to see what we can do now.

And meanwhile, he added, the child was also likely born in a hospital. Some hospital somewhere has evidence of this child being born, but we just havent found it yet, he said. WPTV reported the childs umbilical cord was cut.

Officials are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case.

We hate seeing this and we want to get to the bottom of what happened, said Strivelli. Were not going to stop here. This case is not going to close until we get completion.

The sheriffs office said they checked records of every child born in Palm Beach and Broward counties, but theyve had no luck with a match, WPTV reported.

If you have any information about the case, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-TIPS, or the Special Victims Unit of the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office at 561-688-4155.

Crime Down

In September 2018, the FBI said Americans committed fewer violent and property crimes in 2017, according to statistics. The violent crime rateincluding offenses such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assaultdropped by almost 1 percent and is still about 4 percent above the 2014 rate. The murder rate dropped by 0.7 percent.

After historic increases in violent crime in 2015 and 2016, we are beginning to see encouraging signs, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement at the time. But our work is not done. While we have made progress, violent crime and drug trafficking continue to plague our communities and destroy the lives of innocent, law-abiding Americans.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Four people were shot dead in a West Philadelphia basement on Nov. 19, 2018. (FOX)

Four Identified in Philadelphia Basement Execution

Four people who were recently found dead in a basement in West Philadelphia have now been identified.

Police officers found the four in a home on the 5100 block of Malcolm Street after 12 p.m. on Nov. 19. Each had a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.

The deceased were identified on Nov. 26.

The two male victims were identified as William Taylor, 31, and Akeem Mattox, 28. They were cousins and both lived on the block where they were found, reported ABC 6.

The two female victims were identified as Tiyaniah Rakele Hopkins, 20, and Yaleah Hall, 17. They both lived in the 2600 block of North 9th Street.

No suspects have been named by police officials as of yet.

After officers found the bodies, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross described the killings as executions.

All four of these individuals were executed, Ross told CBS, adding that this was an absolutely evil thing to do.

He said that a neighbor heard three or four bangs on Nov. 18 around 10 p.m. but thought that it was from ongoing renovations at the house.

This block here is normally known as non-violent, said neighbor Lucille Walker. Im really surprised to come home and hear this.

Higher Murder Rate

Philadelphia ended 2017 with more homicides than it had since 2012.

The city had 314 murders as of Dec. 28, an increase of about 13 percent over the previous year, reported the Associated Press (AP).

According to October statistics, the murder rate is continuing to increase. Local station ABC 6 reported that as of October, 256 people have been killed in the city, which is 24 more murders than the same time last year.

Philadelphia Police Captain John Ryan told the broadcaster, We did have a very violent August. We recorded 41 murders in August and there were 19 murders in August last year.

Some noted the citys drug problem, particularly with opioids.

Territorial disputes and people that are on drugs. They gotta go out and start robbing people so you have all this violence, violence, violence, John Appledorn of the Citizens Crime Commission said.

Officials said that most of the violence is perpetrated by a small group of people.

Its a very small minority committing most of the havoc, Philadelphia Police Capt. Sekou Kinebrew told the AP. The groups use violence means to accomplish their economics goals, he added.

Some people called for more police intervention while others said education is key.

A lot of times, it is the young people pulling the trigger. Many of them will end up feeling cynical and feeling jaded, and feeling hopeless and they harden themselves to this reality, Scott Charles, trauma outreach coordinator at Temple University Hospital, told KYW. It really is a consequence of young people who have given up on hope, young people who have been exposed to high levels of violence, who have been hardened, where there isnt the sense of compassion for others.

He said the answer lies in investing in vocational programs, or mentoring programs, or the kinds of programs that will help fulfill these young people.

Despite the rise in homicides, Philadelphia is seeing fewer shootings, rapes, and gun robberies, leading some experts to say they dont know what exactly is behind the increase in killings.

I dont really think we have a clear sense yet of what could account for increase in deaths relative to trending downward of other crime, Jordan Hyatt, an assistant professor in the criminology and justice studies department at Drexel University in Philadelphia, told the AP.

From NTD News
President Donald Trump walks with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker to the Rose Garden of the White House for a joint press conference, in Washington on July 25, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Future of USEU Talks Unclear

Major issue between Washington and Brussels is centered on agriculture, expert says

WASHINGTONThe United States and the European Union are still continuing with negotiations on all levels, but there is a lack of clarity surrounding the future of a U.S.EU trade deal.

The United States and the EU declared a new phase in relations in July and agreed to work together towards zero tariffs, zero nontariff barriers, and zero subsidies on non-auto industrial goods.

Despite a temporary ceasefire on trade, there is a lack of clarity on the specifics of U.S.EU trade talks. And it isnt known whether Trump will hold a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during the Group of 20 (G-20) summit in Argentina this week.

Talks between Washington and Brussels have been sidelined in the past few months because of the U.S.MexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA).

Its been very clear the administration has spent enormous amounts of energy on USMCA, with probably less energy on the U.S.EU conversations, said Heather Conley, senior vice president and director of the Europe program at the Center for Strategic International Studies.

U.S. tariffs are still in place against the European Union. European Union countermeasures are still in place against the United States, she said, adding that its unclear what the negotiation between both sides would cover.

Speaking at a conference in Berlin on Nov. 12, Juncker said the EU was continuing with negotiations on all levels to avoid a new trade war with the United States.

The EU officials reject any potential auto tariffs that may arise from the U.S. Commerce Departments Section 232 national security probe. New recommendations by the Commerce Department have been submitted to the White House and are being reviewed by various federal agencies.

The Section 232 investigation could allow the Trump administration to impose nearly 25 percent tariffs on auto and auto part imports.

The Scope of Trade Talks

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer met with European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom on Nov. 14. Both sides discussed regulatory cooperation issues and the parameters of future negotiations. After the meeting, Malmstrom told reporters that they didnt talk about auto tariffs but instead focused on enabling EU countries to buy more U.S. soybeans and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Malmstrom also said that Brussels wants to do a limited trade deal on industrial goods, including autos, to reduce tariff rates to zero for both sides.

However, the scope of these talks cant be determined until early 2019, when the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) completes its consultation process with the U.S. Congress. In addition, EU needs to receive a negotiating mandate from EU member states to launch formal talks with Washington.

According to Conley, Washingtons objectives in trade talks will be revealed in mid-December when the administration presents them to Congress. However, a major issue between Washington and Brussels is centered on agriculture, she said. Washington wants to include agriculture in the future agreement but the European Union has no mandate to do that, she said.

Certainly there are very strong voicesFrench government voices, in particularthat do not want that to happen.

The relationship between President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron has turned sour recently.

On Nov. 13, Trump criticized Macron over tariffs in a tweet, saying: 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 interaction between Trump and Macron during the G-20 summit is going to be a very hot topic, Conley said.

Ceasefire on Trade

In July, the United States and the EU declared a new phase in relations, reaching a trade deal. Trump and Juncker agreed to work together to remove tariffs and other trade barriers on all industrial goods other than cars. Both leaders also agreed to cooperate against unfair trade practices and to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO).

As part of the agreement, the Trump administration agreed to put on hold any new tariffs, while the EU pledged to increase imports of soybeans and LNG.

Both leaders also agreed to establish a dialogue on standards to ease the non-tariff barriers and to lower costs.

After the announcement, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told reporters that steel and aluminum tariffs would remain in place during the negotiations. Ross also said the investigation into auto tariffs would continue.

Starting June 1, the United States had imposed a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum from its trading partners, including the EU, under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. In response, the EU had begun charging import duties of 25 percent on a range of U.S. products.

Trade and investment flowing between the United States and the EU create the worlds biggest economic relationship. The economies have a nearly $1.2 trillion bilateral trade relationship and account together for about half of the worlds gross domestic product.

The transatlantic relationship also affects the health of the global economy, as either the EU or the United States is the largest trade and investment partner for almost all other countries in the global economy.
Heart-breaking Decision to Euthanize 70 Stranded Whales in New Zealand

Authorities have euthanized dozens of pilot whales after a group of 145 were stranded and left dead or dying on a New Zealand beach.

Half of the whales, from two different pods, survived the stranding, but with no prospect of being re-floated the Department of Conservation (DOC) said that they had made the heart-breaking decision to euthanize them.

The two pods were stranded at Mason Bay on the remote southern Stewart Island, approximately 2 km apart, on Nov. 24.

They were discovered by a hiker in the sparsely-populated island in the south pacific.

According to DOC Rakiura Operations Manager Ren Leppens, half of the whales had already died by the time they were found.

They decided to euthanize the remainder because of the condition of the whales, and the remote, difficult-to-access location.

Heart-breaking Decision

Leppens said in a statement, Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully re-float the remaining whales was extremely low.

The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanize.

However, its always a heart-breaking decision to make.

The island, some 650 square miles in area, is home to around 400 people.

The beach was the site of three previous mass strandings. In 1998 more than 300 whales beached themselves at the spot.

New Zealand has more recorded strandings than almost any other part of the world, typically the long-finned pilot whales like those stranded on the beach as at Mason Bay.

Other locations with a history of mass strandings that form natural whale traps, such as Farewell Spit on the North Island, can be monitored for signs of whale activity. But with so few people on the island, Mason Bay cannot be monitored.

Although marine mammal strandings are relatively common in New Zealand, with around 80-85 incidents a year, they are mostly of single animals, according to the DOC.

Mass strandings are much rarer.

Herd Behavior

Pilot whales are one of the most populous whale species. They get their name from the way they travel in pods: One male leads the way as a pilot with the rest of the pod of up to 200 whales following.

They show very strong herd behavior.

The tight social cohesion and pilot behavior could be an important factor in stranding, and then re-stranding after being rescued and refloated, according to some researchers.

However, the reason for strandings of whales and dolphins is not fully understood said the DOC. Possible reasons include: Sickness, navigational error, geographical features, a rapidly falling tide, being chased by a predator, or extreme weather.

Some conservation campaigners have suggested high-intensity sound waves from oil and gas exploration, and the use of naval ship sonar could also be interfering in the animals navigation systems.

However, conservation officials note that these should not be confused with natural whale traps, such as the one at Farewell Spit, where whale strandings have been noted for centuries.

The largest recorded stranding of pilot whales was back in 1918, when over 1,000 were trapped on the shores of the remote Chatham Islands, which lie 500 miles due east of New Zealand in the south pacific ocean.
Hundreds of Migrants Who Tried to Violently Cross US Border to be Deported

Hundreds of migrants rushed the southern United States border in California on Nov. 25, while chucking projectiles at Border Patrol agents. They were pushed back by tear gas and some will be deported by Mexico.

Hundreds of people rushed the border, dismantled part of the fence, and began streaming through the opening. But they were pushed back by tear gas launched by United States officers as they tried to cross a second wall.

Mexican Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete said that the migrants were encouraged by some of the caravans leaders to rush the border.

The group managed to bypass a security cordon and scrambled to try and dismantle the fence and illegally enter the United States. Some 2,000 migrants participated, a Mexican federal police officer at the scene told The Epoch Times.

Now Mexican authorities say theyll deport a portion of the 500 of the migrants who tried to enter America.

Migrants who participate in these violent events who are fully identified will be deported immediately, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement. Such provocative acts, far from helping their objectives, violate the legal migration framework and can result in serious incidents on the border.

Mexico said it would repair the damaged fence but would not deploy military forces to the border.

The border rush came as thousands of migrants streamed into Tijuana in the past week, triggering a humanitarian crisis, after some analysts wrongly claimed earlier in November that the caravans would never reach the United States. The Ministry of Interior said the main caravan has 8,247 people, with 7,417 of those located in Tijuana or nearby Mexicali.

The other caravans with thousands of people each were still on their way to the border.

The ministry said that migrants should accept the asylum offered by Mexico, noting that it includes work, health care, education, and other benefits.

Migrants were offered temporary asylum under the program while they were in southern Mexico, but most migrants rejected the offer.

After the clashes in Tijuana over the weekend, freelance reporter David Agren noted, These difficulties in Tijuana were predictable weeks ago, but the caravan pushed onward to the border anywayand those accompanying it discouraged migrants from accepting Mexican offers to temporary work visas or asylum.

On Sunday, Mexicos Interior Ministry said that the country has sent 11,000 Central Americans back to their home countries since Oct. 19. Of that number, 1,906 were part of the caravans.

Violence

The migrants, who are overwhelmingly young males, attacked Border Patrol agents by hurling rocks at them. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) considers a rock a weapon.

Today CBP personnel were struck by projectiles thrown by caravan members. Such actions are dangerous and not consistent with peacefully seeking asylum, said Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.

The perpetrators will be prosecuted. I will continue to aggressively support DHS personnel as they work to safely secure our border, she said.

She said that the government was forced to close the San Ysidro border port of entry because of the large number of migrants trying to illegally enter the United States.

Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 26, 2018

They attempted to breach legacy fence infrastructure along the border & sought to harm CBP personnel by throwing projectiles at them, she said. DHS will not tolerate this type of lawlessness and will not hesitate to shut down [Port of Entries] for security reasons.

President Donald Trump noted that some of the migrants continued waving the flags of their home countries even while trying to enter the United States, and said many of the migrants are stone-cold criminals.

Some members of the caravan carried Honduran flags and yelled, We are not criminals! We are international workers, reported 10 News.

Trump said that Mexico should deport the migrants.

Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL! he said in a statement on Nov. 26.

History

Large groups of migrants have tried crossing the border before, with a group of more than 100 clashing with Border Patrol agents in November 2013.

The Los Angeles Times reported at the time that agents were pelted with rocks and bottles, leaving several injured.

Agents said the incident harked to the days in the 1990s when migrants would run across the border en masse, in so-called banzai runs that would overwhelm agents, the Times reported.

As the crowd Sunday crossed the Tijuana River into California, more than one dozen agents responded to the border fence atop the levee and deployed pepper spray to hold them back, triggering the melee, the report continued.

In 2007, the Border Patrol said that agents were attacked nearly 1,000 times over a one-year period, prompting them to use tear gas and pepper spray. Officials said the tactics could save lives. Some migrants would hurl large rocks at agents to distract them as groups crossed the border. About two-thirds of the attacks were with rocks and most of the rest were physical assaults.

Border Patrol Agent Joseph Ralph told The Associated Press that he had been hit by rocks 20 times between 1987 and 2007. You find yourself trying to take cover, he said.

Another agent, Elley Taylor, was driving a vehicle when a large rock struck the hood of the car. The only thing you can think is, Im glad that that wasnt my head. Theres no way to see it coming, Taylor said.

A Border Patrol agent was killed by rock throwers in an ambush in 2017. Ralph said he suffered a broken shoulder blade while another agent in 2017 was rushed to the hospital after getting hit by a large rock in the chest.

From NTD News
Hundreds Wounded in Western Iran Earthquake, No Fatalities

DUBAIIran said on Nov. 25 that no fatalities had been reported but that more than 400 people were injured after an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck near its western border with Iraq, Iranian state TV reported.

The tremor was also felt in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and in Kuwait.

We have had 411 injured, 80 percent of whom have been treated and released  No fatalities have been reported, Houshang Bazvand, governor of the western province of Kermanshah, told state TV.

Fears of aftershocks sent people in several cities in Kermanshah province out onto the streets and parks in cold weather, Iranian media reported. Rescue teams were immediately deployed to the quake-hit area.

No reports of any fatalities yet and most of the injured were hurt while fleeing, not due to quake damage, Pirhossein Koulivand, head of Irans emergency services, told state TV.

State TV reported minor damage at some buildings in the area. The quake triggered landslides but officials said all the roads in the area remained open to traffic and that electricity had been restored in most of areas hit by the tremor.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 40 miles and struck 71 miles northwest of the city of Ilam, close to Irans border with Iraq.

Iranian media said tremors were felt in at least seven provinces of Iran, most strongly in Kermanshah province, where last year over 600 people were killed and thousands injured in Irans deadliest earthquake in more than a decade.

Local officials said reconstruction undertaken after that strong quake should mean there would not be casualties in the area, where some people still remain homeless following last years tremor.

Kermanshah governor Bazvand said more than 200 people were injured in the town of Sarpol-e Zahab, about 10 miles from the border, near the quakes epicenter.

The Iraqi Geological Survey said the quake had been felt in Baghdad, where the interior ministry said no damage or casualties were reported, Erbil in the Kurdistan region, and other Iraqi provinces.

The quake was felt in some areas of Kuwait but no damage was reported, state news agency Kuna said.

Fortunately, the quake was not near bigger cities. But it might have caused damage in villages and I hope not that many villages are located where it hit, Ali Moradi, head of Irans seismology center, told state TV.

Iran sits astride major fault lines and is prone to frequent tremors. Last November, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit the Kermanshah province. In 2003, a quake of a magnitude of 6.6 in Kerman province killed 31,000 people and flattened the historic city of Bam.

By Parisa Hafezi

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Judges Stabbing Reflects Turbulence in Chinese Judiciary System

A female judge in the metropolis of Chongqing, southwestern China, was injured in a knife attack by a man who had recently been released from prison, the latest in a string of violent crimes against judges that highlight longstanding troubles in Chinas legal system. A police officer was also injured in the Nov. 22 attack.

Chinese judges are frequent targets for assault, and many ordinary Chinese applaud those who take vengeance on judges, police, and other officials because of rampant corruption and frequent miscarriages of justice, current affairs commentator Yu Qingxin wrote in a 2016 analysis published by the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times. She says this abnormal social phenomenon is rooted in the authoritarian rule of the Chinese Communist Party.

Tian Xiao, 53, a senior judge at the Nanchuan District Court who has presided over criminal cases for 24 years, was attacked by ex-convict Zeng Chuan near the court building. According to the court, Tian was stabbed in both legs, and police officer Liu Yan, who stepped in to protect the judge, was stabbed in the abdomen and chest.

While the Nanchuan Court didnt indicate a motive for the attack, it was noted that Zeng had been jailed twice, and was most recently released on Nov. 11. Tian had presided over his latest trial.

One Chinese social-media user wrote: I dont know the details of the story between the judge and the suspect, but judging from the results of a lawsuit I personally experienced this year, its likely the judge had it coming.

Another said, On the surface, a woman was stabbed, but actually, the knife was directed at the broader political and legal system in China.

When there is no justice, there must be resistance! reads a third comment. In China, the court is the darkest and most inhuman place.

Other netizens noted that in order for the attacker to assault Tian, he would have had to be prepared to serve a life sentence, if not be executed.

We should not encourage violence, but its a different matter when it comes to judges who do not carry out their duties according to the spirit of justice. They do not only hurt individual victims, but damage the entire concept of justice, said one commenter.

In recent years, multiple Chinese judges have been injured or killed, many of them due to dissatisfaction with the legal process.

On Jan. 26, 2017, Fu Mingsheng, a retired judge in Guangxi Province, Southwestern China, was stabbed to death in his residence by a man named Long Jiancai. Twenty years earlier, Long had been involved in a domestic case in which Fu ruled that he had to divorce.

In February 2016, Ma Caiyun, a female judge of the Changping District Court in Beijing, was shot and killed by two gunmen outside her residence; her husband Li Fusheng was wounded. One of the assailants was the plaintiff in a post-divorce property dispute that Ma had presided over. The suspects committed suicide after the slaying.

In September 2015, a man called Hu Qinggang stabbed four judges in the office of the Intermediate Court of Shiyan in central Chinas Hubei Province. Hu had been dissatisfied with the second-instance judgment of a labor dispute case, according to the official report.

In June 2010, Zhu Jun, the captain of a guard unit at a post office in Lingling District, Hunan Province, opened fire at a judicial building with his submachine gun, killing three judges and leaving three others wounded. The same month, six judges were wounded in the neighboring province of Guangxi, when a suspect splashed them with sulfuric acid.

Gu Qinger contributed to this report
Madeleine McCann Case: Police Investigate Theory Girl Disappeared Trying to Find Parents

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, the then-3-year-old U.K. girl who went missing in 2007 in Portugal, are looking into a theory that she left her parents vacation apartment to find them.

The theory revolves around the girl waking up and wandering out of the vacation home in Praia da Luz, Portugal, according to The Sun. Detectives working with the Metropolitan Police discussed the matter with Portuguese police, the report said.

Previously, detectives looked at whether the girl wandered off while searching for her parents, who were at a nearby bar. Madeleine may have been hit by a drunken driver, who then took her body and buried it, they speculated, according to the publication.

A meeting took place recently at the HQ of the General Attorneys Office, which was attended by the prosecutor from Portimao who is in charge of the Portuguese inquiry, said a source to Daily Mail and Sun. One of the lines of investigation that continues to be pursued is that Maddie could have walked out of the holiday flat herself.

Detectives involved in the case have not commented on the Suns report.

It comes about two weeks after UK Metropolitan Police announced they secured another $192,000 from the Home Office to continue an investigation into the girls disappearance. We have confirmed that Special Grant funding of 150,000 will be provided to the Metropolitan Police Service for the six-month period to 31 March 2019, said a representative to Sky News.

So far, about $15 million has been spent on the investigation.

Gerry and Kate McCann, her parents, have been vocal about finding the girl, who would be a teenager today.

Life is full and busy which helps but Madeleine is still missing and she is still dearly missed, they wrote in May 2018 on the anniversary of the girls disappearance. Information continues to come in (incredible as it may seem after so long, although we are grateful for that) and work goes on. Perseverance and hope remain.

Last week, a report from the Daily Mail said they had two active and specific leads in the case.

Metropolitan Police officers had a sit-down meeting with Madeleines parents to tell them exactly where they were with their inquiries, a Whitehall source told the Daily Mail.

They informed them they had two specific and active leads that still needed to be chased and that although the investigation was taking longer than they initially thought, officers said they were confident and hopeful they could get a result, a source continued.

A former detective, David Edgar, speculated that the girl may be alive yet hidden.

There is every possibility that Madeleine is still alive and could be hidden somewhere and having no idea that she is at the center of a worldwide hunt for her, former detective David Edgar told The Sun in October. Edgar was employed by the McCanns for three years before Metropolitan Police detectives took over. She could literally be anywhere in the world but my hunch is that she is in Portugal, he said.
Malaysia Says Former PM Najibs Office Ordered Changes to 1MDB Audit Report

KUALA LUMPURThe office of former Malaysian premier Najib Razak ordered changes to a 2016 audit report of scandal-plagued state fund 1MDB, including removing mention of financier Low Taek Jhos presence at a board meeting, authorities said.

Financier Low has been described as a central player in the alleged corruption and money laundering at 1MDB, according to Malaysian and U.S. authorities investigating the fund. He had no official role in 1MDB, but advised on investments and negotiated deals for the fund, the authorities have said.

Najib, ousted in a May 9 election by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, is facing multiple charges of graft, abuse of power, and criminal breach of trust related to 1MDB. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and has consistently denied wrongdoing.

In a statement dated Nov. 24, Malaysias auditor-general Madinah Mohamad said several findings from the audit report submitted in February 2016 to Najib had been dropped and amended.

The former prime minister ordered the deletion of the paragraph containing two versions of the 1MDB financial statement for the year ended 2014 and directed an investigation to be carried out by the enforcement authorities, she said.

The audit report before the amendments has been submitted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police for further investigation, Madinah said.

Law firm Shafee & Co., which is representing Najib, said in a statement on Nov. 25 that it was standard procedure in any audit process that the auditors and the audited would ordinarily meet to discuss the draft report for clarification and to correct any inaccuracies, if any, before the report is made final.

Shafee & Co. said Lows presence at a 1MDB board meeting had been disclosed in parliament in December 2015 when the finance ministry stated that Low was there to represent Prince Turki Bin Abdullah as the owner of PetroSaudi Inc.

Madinah had said in Nov. 25 statement that Najibs private secretary had directed the former auditor general to drop the paragraph on the presence of Low Taek Jho in one of the 1MDB Board meetings on the ground that it is sensitive and to avoid the fact being twisted around by the opposition.

MACC said in a separate statement that it had launched an investigation into the claims of amendments. It said it had gone over the original audit report to compare with the final draft report that was released by the state audit department, and will soon call in witnesses.

In an interview with Reuters in June, Najib said he should not be blamed for the scandal at 1MDB and that he knew nothing about money from the state fund appearing in his personal account.

Low, who is at large, has previously maintained his innocence.

Malaysia, under the premiership of Najib, had classified the audit report in 2016 under the Officials Secrets Act when the funds financial troubles were being investigated. The Mahathir government in May declassified the report that showed senior officials at 1MDB withheld information from its board.

By Liz Lee

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Maldives Says China is Building Projects at Inflated Prices

NEW DELHIMaldives new finance minister said on Nov. 26 that China is executing infrastructure projects at vastly higher prices than originally proposed but the island nation cannot get out of its commitments now.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solihs administration, which took office this month, is reviewing contracts awarded by his predecessor Abdulla Yameen. Most went to Chinese firms and are feared to have left the country in debt.

During a five-year building spree, China built a sea bridge connecting the capital city of Male to the main airport on another island and is developing the airport itself as well as building mass housing on land reclaimed from the sea.

But Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer told reporters during a visit to New Delhi that his officials had spend the first week in office trying to reconcile loans that the previous government took for these projects and the sovereign guarantees that it gave for them.

We believe that most of these projects are at inflated prices, and so we are looking at them, Ameer said.

But he said the government could not go back on the contracts because many of these, including the bridge, were already completed.

We cannot do much in terms of renegotiation but going forward our objective would be to reduce the cost of our infrastructure projects, he said.

One of the projects was a hospital in Male awarded to China which had already run up a cost $140 million, far more than a rival offer $54 million that was originally made, Ameer said.

Signs of the infrastructure boom are everywhere in Male, from where tourists are whisked off in high speed boats to luxury resorts built on atolls.

Yameen also leased Chinese developers an unspecified number of islands to build resorts for tourists, a fifth of whom are Chinese, in a dramatic expansion of ties since Beijing opened its embassy in the Maldives eight years ago.

China has built ports, bridges and highways in countries stretching from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and its ally Pakistan as part of its One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road) initiative for a trade and transit corridor across Asia and into Europe.

But of late it has faced criticism that many of its massive projects costing millions of dollars are pushing the smaller countries into debt.

India, which has been traditional partner for most of the South Asian countries, has in addition viewed the expansive Chinese diplomacy as aimed at securing an outpost in some of the island nations such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid said he had assured Indian leaders that his country wanted the best of ties with its immediate neighbors and would return to an India First policy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Solihs inauguration and said India stood ready to help the country tide over its financial difficulties.

China has underwritten millions of dollars in loans for infrastructure in the Maldives, located along its busy shipping route to the Middle East.

By Sanjeev Miglani
David Bohart, 34, was released from the Tucson state prison complex on Nov. 19 and failed to check into a state-mandated treatment facility in Cottonwood, AZCentral reported. When he didnt appear, a warrant was issued for his arrest. (City of Tuscon)

Man Allegedly Kills Woman Hours After Hes Released From Prison: Police

Just hours after a man was released from an Arizona prison, police say he allegedly killed a woman.

David Bohart, 34, was released from the Tucson state prison complex on Nov. 19 and failed to check into a state-mandated treatment facility in Cottonwood, AZCentral reported. When he didnt appear, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The Tucson Police Department said police and officials with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested him at a hotel on suspicion of killing Marika L. Jones, 49, the report said.

He was arrested on the warrant and suspicion of second-degree murder. Officials said he was booked into a Pima County jail on Nov. 23.

Police discovered the body of Jones at a home along with a file of Boharts prison records, AZCentral reported.

While investigating the scene, officers advised detectives that an unidentified male had called 911 on Monday (two days prior) to report that he had just been released from prison and had killed his girlfriend, said the City of Tuscon in a news release on Nov. 24.

He did not give a real name and said he did not know the exact address where the incident occurred. Officers worked that information, but were not able to locate anything on Monday. The area given by the unidentified male was the same area of the homicide they were currently working. During a search of the residence, detectives said they located a Department of Corrections file box belonging to the suspect.

Jones next of kin have been notified, officials said.

Officers from Operations Division East responded to the residence and found the home unsecure. When officers entered, they located a deceased female with obvious signs of sharp force trauma, officials said in the release.

The Department of Corrections website said Bohart was sent to prison on Aug. 4, 2016 and was released on Nov. 19, 2018. He had served time prior to that prison stint. One was for a forgery conviction and another was for possession or use of dangerous drugs, AZCentral noted.

Anyone with information about the case are being asked to call 88-CRIME.

Violent Crime Down in 2017

In September 2018, the FBI said Americans committed fewer violent and property crimes in 2017, according to statistics. The violent crime rateincluding offenses such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assaultdropped by almost one percent and is still about 4 percent above the 2014 rate. The murder rate dropped by 0.7 percent.

After historic increases in violent crime in 2015 and 2016, we are beginning to see encouraging signs, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement at the time. But our work is not done. While we have made progress, violent crime and drug trafficking continue to plague our communities and destroy the lives of innocent, law-abiding Americans.

Of the estimated 17,284 murders in 2017, more than half occurred in larger citieswith populations of more than 100,000.

There are fewer than 300 such cities in the United States, and while they account for less than 30 percent of the countrys population, many of them contribute far beyond their share to national crime rates and have done so for years, even decades.

While the national murder rate inched down to 5.3 per 100,000 residents, it spiked by 15 percent in Philadelphia to a rate of more than 20 per 100,000 residents. Columbus, Ohio, saw a massive 54 percent murder rate increase, reaching nearly 16.3 per 100,000 residents.

Petr Svab contributed to this report.
British academic Matthew Hedges in an undated photo supplied by his wife Daniela Tejada. (Daniela Tejada/Handout via Reuters)

Matthew Hedges: British Academic Jailed for Spying Has Been Pardoned by UAE

LONDONA British academic who was jailed for life in the United Arab Emirates on charges of spying has been pardoned by the president and released.

Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student from Durham University, was pardoned by President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Nov. 25 as part of mass clemency for more than 700 prisoners to mark the countrys National Day.

According to a statement quoted by state news agency WAM, Hedges will be allowed to leave the country once formalities are completed.

Jeremy Hunt, Britains foreign minister, said the pardon was fantastic news, and although the UK government did not agree with the charges brought against Hedges he was grateful to the UAE govt for resolving [the] issue speedily.

Hunt had lobbied intensely for Hedgess release and after his sentence was handed down on Nov. 21, said there would be serious diplomatic consequences.

However, on Monday, Nov. 26, the UAE released a video of Hedges apparently confessing to being an MI6 agent.

According to reporters at a press conference, Hedges said in the video that he used his doctoral student status as cover to approach sources. He reportedly said he was researching the UAEs military systems and held the rank of captain, a position that doesnt exist within MI6. The clips have not been shared for broadcast by the UAE.

His family and university have maintained that Hedges is a talented researcher who fell foul of the UAEs justice system.

The UAE cast him as a British spy who was convicted of espionage offenses.

Part-Time PhD Researcher, Part-Time Businessman

At the press conference, Jaber al-Lamki, spokesman for the UAE, claimed that Hedges sought information on the ruling families and their networks and was attempting to gather classified information on the UAE military and political role in Yemen.

In fact, Mr. Hedges took advantage of the openness granted academic researchers in this country. We are a country that hosts branches of some of the worlds finest academic institutes and we pride ourselves in our contribution to scientific advancement and academic pursuits, al-Lamki said.

He said that Hedges had used two identities while in the UAE: A doctoral researcher and a businessman.

He was a part-time PhD researcher, a part-time businessman, but he was a 100 percent full-time secret service operative, he said.

However, the UAE also said in a statement that a gracious clemency was granted on Sunday in response to a letter from the Hedges family bearing in mind the historic relationship between the UAE and the UK, according to the Guardian.

Hedgess wife Daniela Tejada, who has campaigned for his release, tweeted, The presidential pardon for Matt is the best news we couldve received. Thank you friends, family, media, academics, and the wider public for your undivided supportIve been brought back to life.

Tejada was in the UAE but flew back to the UK immediately after Hedges was originally convicted on Nov. 20 to appeal directly to the British government.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 Tejada said, Its taken me by surprise and Im just so happy and so relieved and really incredulous that it is all happening finally.

Its been an absolutely nightmarish seven months already and I cant wait to have him back.

She rejected the claim that her husband could be an MI6 agent, saying, In my heart I know that he isnt.

A doctoral student at Durham University, Hedges had been held in the UAE since May 5, after being arrested at Dubai International Airport following a two-week research visit. According to the universitys website, his department researches civil-military relations, political economy, and tribalism.

Hedges said he was in the UAE to research the effect of the Arab Spring pro-democracy uprisings on the countrys foreign policy.

He was convicted solely using evidence gathered from his research notes, according to his family.

Hedges was forced to sign a confession in Arabic that he didnt understand, his family said, and his health deteriorated while in detention.

Amnesty Internationals UK Director Kate Allen said in a statement: This is a huge relief and goes some way to righting a wrong after Matthews grossly unfair trial. Now Matthew needs to be speedily released and allowed to return to the UK.

Matthew should never have been jailed after such an unfair process, and he should never have been held in the miserable conditions of solitary confinement. A pardon doesnt make up for this injustice.
Financier and philanthropist George Soros and his wife, Tamiko Bolton, at the German Foreign Ministry on June 8, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Mega-Donor George Soros Began Targeting Arizona and Georgia Elections in 2015

Billionaire activist George Soros helped fund Democratic efforts to flip Georgia, Arizona, and Florida in the recent midterm elections, and he nearly ran the table. All three states had razor-thin margins of victory in either U.S. Senate or gubernatorial racesor both in Floridas caseand all three states are traditionally Republican-leaning, if not Republican strongholds.

While Soros is indeed a controversial figure often accused of wild conspiracies, the strategy of turning select red states Democrat blue is laid out in his Open Society Foundations documents. According to a white paper called U.S. Programs 20152018 Strategy, the progressive organization began funding activist operations in Arizona and Georgia in 2015, with the 2020 presidential election being the ultimate goal.

Beginning in 2015 with initial investments, U.S. Programs anticipates seeking to have national impact by and in 2020, through targeted work in a small number of states. States such as Arizona, Georgia, or North Carolina, are quickly changing demographically and rising in political significance, the document states.

Soros, a convicted felon and hedge fund manager, is one of the worlds richest men. Forbes currently lists his net worth at $8.3 billion, a significant decline since his $18 billion personal wealth transfer to the Open Society Foundations in 2017.

Known as the 2020 Project, Open Societys funding efforts have been aimed at building the capacity of community-based organizations to catalyze political engagement throughout the year and not solely around elections, and they feature coordination with our anchor and core grantees, Democracy Alliance partners and other donors, and field leaders, such as Planned Parenthood, progressive labor, and other allies.

Thats exactly what transpired in Georgia, where Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams began receiving a large and mysterious influx of political donations purportedly for her voting rights activities. Abrams was an obscure member of the Georgia state House of Representatives at the time.

According to public records, Abrams raised $12.5 million by 2016, through two voter registration nonprofits she founded, called Third Sector Development and Voter Access Institute. She personally benefited by nearly half a million dollars, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported in September.

In the lead-up to 2018, Abrams organized a statewide voter registration drive known as the New Georgia Project. The effort relied on support from wealthy progressive donors, who continued giving millions to her gubernatorial bid that ultimately fell short of victory by 0.4 percent.

Abrams has consistently refused to acknowledge where the money came from, although in a March interview she thanked Soros. George Soros and the Soros family have demonstrated nothing but deep investment and commitment to social justice. That is how I came to know them because they were early investors in the New Georgia Project, she said, adding, I am proud to have their support.

Abrams is continuing to fight the Georgia election result through a lawsuit funded by a new political action committee. She remains well-positioned to campaign for a U.S. Senate seat in 2020 and to support the eventual Democratic presidential nominee.

In Arizona, Soros and his son Alexander, who serves as deputy chair of the Open Society Foundations and as a member of organizations U.S. Programs Advisory Board, helped to underwrite a mysterious super PAC that launched attack ads against Republican U.S. Senate candidate Martha McSally.

The group, called Red and Gold, failed to provide required financial disclosure documents to the Federal Elections Commission until after the Arizona GOP primary election. But by then it had already spent $1.7 million solely attacking McSally in an attempt to boost her primary rivals. McSally nevertheless became the GOP nominee to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake.

Red and Gold received the $1.7 million infusion from the Senate Majority PAC. The coordinated effort had ties to Alexander Soros, reported the Arizona Republic, the states largest daily newspaper. After the primary, George Soros gave $600,000 to Red and Gold and another $425,000 to Priorities USA Action for anti-McSally attack ads.

McSally was slightly ahead of Democrat Kyrsten Sinema on Nov. 6, but she eventually lost by 38,197 votes amid post-election day ballot counting.

Arizona was expressly named in the Open Society Foundations strategy documents, and the Soros-backed Democracy Alliance increased its Arizona activism after the spectacular election loss of Hillary Clinton in 2016. According to The New York Times, Soros not only spent millions on the 20142016 election cycle, but he personally lost $1 billion in the financial markets for betting against Donald Trump. The 2018 midterms would be the first chance to regain lost ground.

Democracy Alliance is a collective of wealthy center-left and left-wing political donors with Soros as its centerpiece. It supports a sprawling activist infrastructure with so-called dark money, which hides donor identities, and requires its grantees to sign nondisclosure agreements.

In 2005, Democracy Alliance held its first donor conference of 50 partners in Phoenix. After 2016, the groups president, Gara LaMarche, told donors at a national summit to keep your eyes on Arizona, Georgia, and my beloved Texas. The groups 2018 spring conference was held in Atlanta.

In neighboring Florida, gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum was bankrolled by millions in outside-the-state funding that originated with Soros. Florida is the holy grail, Gillum allegedly told the elder billionaire, according to Politico.

His political committee has brought in $3.8 million from people affiliated with the Democracy Alliance of big donors, out of a total of $9.6 million. And the money is still coming in: California billionaire Tom Steyer pledged $5.2 million to Gillum on Wednesday, Politico reported Oct. 11.

Like Abrams in Georgia, Gillum narrowly lost a close election to a Trump-aligned Republican, but his Soros-led backers are banking that their strategy will put progressives over the top in key states in 2020.
Mr. Huber Goes to Washington

From the moment it was announced that Jeff Sessions was resigning as attorney general, to be replaced by the far-lesser-known Matthew Whitaker, the mainstream media began pushing a narrative that President Donald Trump is preparing to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.

Trump critics are convinced what the country is seeing right now is a slow-rolling repeat of the infamous Saturday Night Massacre of the Watergate scandal. President Richard Nixon, who was desperate to stop the probe before it reached the White House, ordered Attorney Gen. Elliot Richardson to fire special counsel Archibald Cox. Richardson refused, and resigned. Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus also resigned, rather than follow Nixons order.

It then fell to the solicitor general, Robert Bork, to fire Cox. Nixons desperate gambit to stall the Watergate investigation failed to save his presidency, and he resigned from office shortly thereafter.

Using the events of 1973 as their template, some Trump critics are assuming that Sessions was ordered to fire Mueller and he refused, which led to his being forced to resign so that a more compliant person could move into the post. So, its assumed that Whitaker is Trumps personally handpicked attack dog who will do whatever the president commands him to do.

This hysterical narrative assumes that Trump sees Mueller and his team as a real threat to himself and to his administration. For two weeks now, anti-Trump forces have loudly beaten the drum that Muller mustnt be fired under any circumstances. Outgoing senatorand fierce Trump criticJeff Flake of Arizona has thus far made good on a promise to not vote to confirm any more judges until the Senate brings to the floor an unconstitutional bill he authored that literally makes it impossible for Mueller to be firedby the president, by the attorney general, or anybody else.

This narrative depends on accepting the belief that the Mueller team, which has been leaking like a sieve for more than a year and a half, has found real solid evidence of the Trump campaign colluding with the Russians but has managed somehow to not leak it to the news media. And, in addition, that Trump is growing increasingly desperate to stop the investigation before that evidence is publicly revealed.

Washington has a leak culture. It would defy belief that the Mueller team has had in its possession, for even a few weeks, a smoking gun that would supposedly bring down a presidency, and that it didnt leak that information. Any reporter that could get their hands on such a smoking gun and break the news would instantly enter the history books. So would their source, who would instantly become the new Deep Throat, the inside official in the Watergate scandal that brought down the Nixon presidency.

Well, the conventional take is, as usual, wrong. Once again, Trump has the mainstream media looking in the wrong direction and unprepared for what is about to actually happen.

The Mueller Russia probe will be allowed to end of its own accord, with the conclusion that there was no Trump campaignRussia collusion and that no Russian activity influenced the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. All the real movement is actually toward the unveiling of the true scope of the Spygate scandal. A big sign of this was broken on Nov. 20 by John Solomon of The Hill, in a report titled House GOP to Hold Hearing Into DOJs Probe of Clinton Foundation.

Huber Coming to DC

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) revealed during an interview with The Hill radio program Rising that U.S. Attorney John Huber of Utah is scheduled to come to Washington on Dec. 5 and give testimony to the House Oversight Committee about his investigation into issues surrounding the Clinton Foundation.

Meadows gave no indication in the report by Solomon whether the scheduled Dec. 5 hearing will be open to the public.

Huber first came to national attention in March, when then-Attorney General Sessions revealed in a letter to Congress that Huber was leading a team of U.S. attorneys that was working in tandem with Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz on several key investigations that arose from issues surrounding the 2016 election.

Horowitz and Hubers team of crack investigators and U.S. attorneys have spent more than a year and a half slowly and painstakingly working their way backwards through the Spygate maze.

The inspector general began his latest investigation by focusing on the moment that top officials from the DOJ and FBI requested a FISA warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) to spy on minor Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page and, by extension, on the entire Trump campaign itself.

Steele Dossier

Its long been alleged by Republican members of the investigative committees such as Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and the aforementioned Meadows, that there were key omissions and deliberate misrepresentations in that warrant, most of which revolve around what has come to be called the Steele dossier, after its creator, former MI6 intelligence agent Christopher Steele.

In taking a deep dive into the Steele dossiers contents and how those documents were presented to the FISC, Horowitz and Huber, by necessity, had to examine where the dossier came from, who paid for its creation, and exactly how it got to the FBI, so the agency could make use of it.

Following the money led them straight to the law firm of Perkins Coie, and from there, to the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign. Hillary Clinton tried to hide her connection to the Steele dossier by laundering the money through Perkins Coie, but Horowitz is a bloodhound, who followed the trail to the true source.

The revelation that Clinton paid for the creation and the dissemination of the Steele dossier, which was widely reported by U.S. media, came straight from Horowitz in October 2017, when he first called attention to his Spygate probe by briefly surfacing to hand some of the evidence he found to Congress.

That initial handoff of evidence included Clinton trying to hide her connection to the Steele dossier by laundering the money through Perkins Coie, as well as the first batch of the now infamous Peter StrzokLisa Page text messages.

What Horowitz and Huber have documented is that one of the political campaigns involved in the 2016 presidential election actually managed to pay for the creation of a series of politically motivated (and likely fake) intelligence reports that ended up being used by political partisans inside federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to spy on and attempt to entrap the other campaign.

To use the fake intelligence reports to get approval for surveillance of the Trump campaign, all that former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, Strzok, and others involved in this scandal had to do was hide from the FISC where the Steele dossier really came from and who actually paid for it. Which they did.

Fully ponder that for a minute. Theres no way that the top CIA/DOJ/FBI people involved in setting up the Crossfire Hurricane operation to try to entrap the Trump campaign didnt know the evidence they were presenting to the FISC came straight from Clinton, who paid Fusion GPS handsomely for its invention. The Russian collusion wasnt real and they all knew it from the start. This has been, as the president has repeatedly claimed, a witch hunt where the witches arent real.

Now, Huber is coming to Washington on Dec. 5 to discuss some of what he and Horowitz have found. Was the Clinton Foundation involved in any of the money laundering that went on? Well soon know.

Brian Cates is a political pundit and writer based in South Texas and the author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion  But Here It Is Anyway! He can be reached on Twitter @drawandstrike.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Neuroscientists Identify Surprising Low-Tech Fix to the Problem of Sleep-Deprived Teens

Poor sleep can leave teens ill-equipped to learn, but one likely solution is right in our faces

Healthy sleep leads to healthy brains. Neuroscientists have gotten that message out. But parents, doctors and educators alike have struggled to identify what to do to improve sleep. Some have called for delaying school start times or limiting screen time before bed to achieve academic, health and even economic gains.

Still, recent estimates suggest that roughly half of adolescents in the United States are sleep-deprived. These numbers are alarming because sleep is particularly important during adolescence, a time of significant brain changes that affect learning, self-control, and emotional systems. And sleep deficits are even greater in economically disadvantaged youth compared to more affluent counterparts.

Developmental neuroscience lab research shows one solution to the sleep deprivation problem that is deceptively simple: provide teens with a good pillow. Because getting comfortable bedding does not involve technology, expensive interventions or lots of time, it may be particularly beneficial for improving sleep among underresourced adolescents.

Consistency Over Quantity

Studies have shown that seemingly small differences in the quality and duration of sleep make a difference in how the brain processes information.

Sleep acts like a glue that helps the brain encode recently learned information into long-term knowledge. It also improves focus in school because sleep helps dampen hyperactive behavior, strong emotional reactions, and squirminess. This means that students who are normally dismissed from the classroom for disruptive behavior are more likely to stay in class if theyre not sleep-deprived. More time in the class leads to more learning.

Originally it was hypothesized that the number of hours asleep was most important for healthy brain development over time. But when tested in a study, the findings were surprising. Instead, adolescents whose sleep is inconsistent across the school week, varying by as much as 2.5 hours from one night to the next, exhibited less development of white matter connections in their brains a year later than those who slept a more consistent number of hours per night.

White matter connections help process information efficiently and quickly by connecting different brain regions, similar to how a highway connects two cities. Adolescence is an important time for paving all the brains highways, and this research suggests sleep may be vital for this construction.

Better Sleep Comes With Better Bedding

So what are the primary sleep ingredients that contribute to healthy brain development? My lab designed a study to investigate.

We equipped 55 14- to 18-year-old high school students across Los Angeles from different socioeconomic backgrounds with actigraphs, wristwatch-like monitors that track sleep quality. Higher sleep quality is defined by fewer awakenings per night. Those are times in the night when sleep rhythms are disrupted and the person is briefly awake or moves into a lighter stage of sleep, whether theyre consciously aware of it or not. In our study, adolescents had an average of five awakenings per night that ranged in duration between less than a minute and over an hour.

After two weeks, they came into the lab to have their brains scanned. We were interested in measuring the connections among pathways in the brain involved in self-control, emotion and reward processingthe same ones that are important for reducing impulsivity and staying focused in class. Unsurprisingly, adolescents with better sleep quality had better brain connectivity. That is, connections among key brain regions were stronger.

But the more important, and surprising, discovery was what we found when we dug deeper into identifying the reasons some adolescents got better sleep than others. Was it less technology in the bedroom? Darker rooms? Less noise? Higher socioeconomic status? Not in our study.

Adolescents who reported greater satisfaction with their bedding and pillows were the ones who had greater sleep quality, and greater sleep quality was associated with greater brain connectivity, an effect that cut across socioeconomic lines. Conversely, adolescents in our study with low brain connectivity and poor sleep quality exhibited greater impulsivity than those with high connectivity and sleep quality, illustrating the real-world effects on behavior.

So is there a perfect pillow? We found that one size doesnt fit all. For some people, a flat pancake pillow soothes them into a sound slumber. For others, only a super puffy cloud will do. And although our findings were strongest for pillow comfort, bedding was important too.

Sleep Interventions to Close Achievement Gap

In every measurable domain, young people reared in poverty experience poor outcomes. Compared to more affluent peers, they show poorer academic and cognitive performance, psychosocial well-being, and physical health. These gaps have been the focus of intense debate and research but they remain wide and persistent.

The availability and quality of basic needs, including food, health, parental warmth, and shelter, helps explain some of the discrepant outcomes between high and low-income adolescents. But researchers have sorely underemphasized sleepan equally important basic need that may be an untapped solution to the achievement gap.

In a time of borderline hysteria over the effects of technology on sleep and brain development, little attention goes to the fundamental elements of good sleep in adolescents. Ensuring they have comfortable bedding may help improve sleep in all adolescents, particularly among poorer families. And its a lot easier to convince parents and teens to invest in pillows than to bicker over phone privileges.

Adriana Galvan is professor of psychology at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles. This article was first published on The Conversation.
Pilot Overshot Airport by 30 Miles After Falling Asleep, Say Authorities

Aviation authorities are investigating after a pilot allegedly fell asleep and overshot the airport by nearly 30 miles.

According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), the 5-seater passenger plane on a charter cruise had to turn around after missing the runway by 46 kilometers.

The incident occurred in Tasmania on Nov. 8 and came to light after local media unearthed the report.

Flight tracking data obtained by The Australian showed that the plane was on its seventh trip of the day.

The small double-propeller plan had flown from Davenport on Tasmaniaan Australian island about the size of Ireland that lies just to the south of mainland Australia in the south pacific.

The Piper PA-31 was heading to an airport about 150 miles away on the much smaller King Island.

The ATSB is investigating a pilot incapacitation involving a Piper PA-31, VH-TWU, operated by Vortex Air, near King Island Airport, Tasmania on 8 November 2018, stated the ATSB report.

During the cruise, the pilot fell asleep resulting in the aircraft overflying King Island by 46km, the report reads. As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the pilot and review operational procedures.

The investigation will be completed by spring of 2019, according to the ATSB, which classifies it as serious incident of flight crew incapacitation.

Forty Winks Allowed

The travel company, Vortex, declined to comment on the incident, according to the Daily Mail Australia, and had not responded to a request to comment from the Epoch Times at the time of publication.

According to their website, Vortex provides a fly-in-fly-out experience direct to tourist destinations in the area, including the surf breaks on King Island.

Modern technology allows pilots to hand over the controls to the autopilot within minutes of take-off, while they monitor for potential weather issues, turbulence, and consider adjusting altitude for passenger comfort.

With room for only one pilot, cat-napping on the 5-seater Piper PA-31 would appear to be in breach of regulations.

On larger passenger planes with more than one pilot, grabbing forty winks in the pilots seat is not only allowed, but recommended in some situations as a safety-enhancing maneuver, as long as stipulated regulations are followed.

Like many professions, pilots have to follow strict guidelines to combat potential fatigue. On long-haul flights, pilots and crew are required to take bunk rest in their own special sleeping compartment, where they can spend up to half of longer flights.

FBI Storm Airbus that Overshot Airport by 150 Miles

A survey in 2013 found that over half of pilots had fallen asleep while in charge of a plane. More worryingly, 29 percent said that they had awoken to find their co-pilot also asleep.

In the same survey, half of the pilots said that fatigue was the biggest threat to flight safety.

In 2009, passengers were shocked when FBI agents stormed their delayed Airbus 320 shortly after it landed in Minneapolis and rushed through to the cockpit.

Unknown to the passengers, the flight from San Diego had overshot the airport by 150 miles. Authorities had been unable to raise the pilots on the radio, and were preparing to scramble F-16 fighters for an interception as the aircraft flew into the neighboring state of Wisconsin.

Radio contact was finally made over an hour later.

The pilots said they were distracted because theyd been engaged in a heated discussion on airline policy.
Reasonable or Racist? Trumps Policies on the Central American Caravan

A federal judge in San Francisco has blocked President Donald Trumps Nov. 8 directive that stipulates that requests for asylum must be made at a port of entry.

The judges action follows a jaw-dropping Nov. 1 lawsuit from lawyers representing 12 Honduran migrants. They filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia opposing the presidents announced asylum policy. The petition accused the president of unconstitutional abuse of the caravanners lawful right to seek asylum in the United States. At the time, the plaintiffs were more than 500 miles from the U.S. border.

Are their claims valid?

Lets look at the facts. First, do the Central American migrants meet the basic criteria for protection under the existing asylum statute? Second, has the president overstepped his authority by issuing a directive that applicants must apply at a port of entry?

If the answer to both is no, then perhaps Trump is correct in his handling of the matter. Then we would owe him a national thank-you. If the answer to both is yes, we would have a major problem: a president overstepping his authority.

Reacting to what he described as an invasion, the president deployed 5,000 troops to the Mexican border to install barbed-wire fences and other barricades to impede the estimated 7,000 to 10,000 migrants from entering the country; he issued a directive that asylum-applicants must apply at ports of entry.

Trump detractors accused him of using the caravan as part of his midterm strategy to elect Republicans. They have blasted him for ceasing to talk about the caravan since the midterm elections. His supporters say the president has already taken strong deterrence measures; what else is there to say?

Foreigners coming to the United States are admitted as immigrant or non-immigrant, while asylees and refugees are a different category. Asylum is a special category of immigrant admissions that differs from the normal visa categories for legal entrants. Under U.S. law, an asylee is a foreign national in the United States or at a port of entry who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality, or to seek the protection of that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Persecution or the fear thereof must be based on religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

The criteria for asylum says nothing about fear of gang violence or domestic abuse, impoverished living conditions, or a desire for employment.

In 2016, Stephen Dinan of the Washington Times reported, Nearly one out of every 10 illegal immigrants crossing the southwest border was demanding asylum, using what he described as magic words to claim they fear their home country, and turning a program intended to be a humanitarian lifeline into a new path for unauthorized migrants to gain a foothold in the U.S.

The number of claimants jumped to 94,000 in 2016 from 5,000 in 2009. That prompted then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to issue a June 11 ruling that announced the Trump administrations return to existing law on asylees, which was more restrictive than the Obama administrations expansion to include domestic violence and gang-related fears. Sessions noted that an alien may suffer threats and violence in a foreign country for any number of reasons relating to her social, economic, family or other personal circumstances, but that wouldnt be covered under the asylum statute.

Perhaps the president acted decisively because our nation faces a crisis fueled by leftist lawyers and socialists, who some observers say are behind the caravan from Central America.

The caravans existence has taken the asylee problem to a new level of escalation. Not acting would encourage more illegal migration from would-be asylum seekers. Theres also the matter of fairness to the thousands of other foreign-born people waiting their turn to legally enter the United States. What would it have said to them had the U.S. government allowed thousands of people traveling en masse to leapfrog over those seeking to follow U.S. law?

Lawyers for the caravan migrants have accused the president of violating existing asylee law, by pointing out that the asylee statute says a person can apply within the country, as well as at a port of entry. Perhaps, the caravan lawyers textual analysis is legitimate on its face. However, I believe the president could remedy this problem by modifying his Nov. 8 directive by offering additional clarifying language.

The new language might re-emphasize that the directive applies to the threat posed by the caravan of thousands camped outside the Mexican border and the entrepreneurial members who break off and enter through other locations.

Even if the asylees were allowed to enter the country to apply, the overwhelming majority wouldnt be allowed to remain, and their presence would tax an already overburdened system. According to immigration asylee records, more than 75 percent of Central Americans asylee claims are denied. Given that this is the case, Trumps actions are reasonable and rational. Likewise, the liberal judges ban of the presidents directive has become a usual and customary reaction to Trumps actions.

Until Congress takes the initiative and reforms immigration law, presidents will continue to take unilateral action to address what they see as national threats. Since 2016, Trump has vowed to protect U.S. citizens and the sovereignty of our nation. Just as in other areas, he has exercised strong leadership, which, combined with lack of action from Congress, has manifested itself in the executive actions we have witnessed and the challenges from the left.

Whether or not the president ultimately prevails, his supporters believe he is motivated by love of nation and not bigotry toward foreigners.

Carol M. Swain is a former professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University and a James Madison scholar at Princeton University. Her most recent book is Debating Immigration: Second Edition (2018).

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The logo of Nissan is seen during the 88th International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, March 6, 2018. (Pierre Albouy/Reuters)

Renault-Nissan Leaders to Meet Amid Tensions Over Ghosn Ouster

PARIS/BEIJINGRenault-Nissan executives will attempt this coming week to shield their joint operations from a looming power struggle between the carmakers, following alliance boss Carlos Ghosns shock arrest over misconduct allegations.

Top executives from both manufacturers and third partner Mitsubishi will attend mid-week operations committee meetings in Amsterdam that had been planned before Ghosns Nov. 19 detention in Japan, the companies confirmed.

There is no change in our alliance relationship, a Mitsubishi spokesman said.

While Nissan and 43.4 percent-owner Renault have vowed to safeguard the partnership, the Japanese carmakers Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa also made clear he wants to end its French parents control of the alliance, as he moved swiftly to oust Ghosn as chairman.

Ghosn, 64, and alleged co-conspirator Greg Kelly, a fellow Nissan director, both deny accusations that they under-reported Ghosns compensation, misrepresented Nissan investments and made personal use of company funds, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

Renault has refrained from dismissing Ghosn as chairman and CEO, while demanding that Nissan share findings from the months-long internal investigation that led to his arrest. Ghosns duties have been delegated to second-in-command Thierry Bollore and board director Philippe Lagayette.

Rights Dispute

Behind the scenes, fundamental differences have opened up over Renaults rights under the alliances Restated Alliance Master Agreement (RAMA), sources familiar with the matter said.

Nissan, the larger partner by sales, has also revived a long-held ambition to force Renault to sell down its controlling stake.

On the eve of Ghosns Nov. 22 ouster from Nissan, Renault informed Saikawa and his board colleagues that it planned to appoint a fourth director under the terms of the 2002 founding pact, Reuters earlier reported.

In his formal response, the Nissan CEO insisted Renault had no right to make further appointments. The French company currently has three Nissan board membersincluding Ghosn, whose directorship can be revoked only by a shareholder meeting.

The number of Renault managers on Nissans executive committee might even be reduced, one company official told Reuters. Discussions might include whether to let Renault keep its two positions, he said.

The French government, Renaults biggest shareholder, weighed in on Nov. 25. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said he was still waiting for evidence of wrongdoing by Ghosnadding that a new audit would be carried out at Renault.

Efforts underway to secure and deepen the Renault-Nissan alliance must respect the crossed shareholdings such as they are today, the minister also told BFM TV. Nissan currently holds a reciprocal non-voting 15 percent stake in Renault.

Investor Pressure

Saikawas independence struggle is already drawing support from investors keen to unlock the discounted value of Renaults large holding in its Japanese affiliate.

The relationship between Nissan and Renault needs to be rebalanced, Evercore analyst Arndt Ellinghorst said on Nov. 25. We urge Renault to sell down its stake in Nissan  toward 25 percent (and) use the proceeds to buy back its own stock.

At Nissans Nov. 25 board meeting, Renault appointees also voted to eject Ghosn. They did so after reviewing 400 pages of internal findings, sources said  but are barred from sharing the information even with the French carmaker.

The Amsterdam gathering is likely to see Bollore and Saikawa meet face-to-face for the first time since Ghosns arrest, sources close to the companies said.

These are purely operational sessions, a Renault official said.

All three carmakers have stressed that operations and alliance business are proceeding as normal. Nissan, however, called off the launch of a high-performance Leaf electric car, canceling Nov. 28 events in Yokohama and Amsterdam.

A Nissan spokesman gave no reason for the postponement and said the company had yet to set a new date for the announcement.

By Laurence Frost & Norihiko Shirouzu
An oil tanker passes a fisherman as it enters a channel near Port Aransas, Texas, heading for the Port of Corpus Christi, on July 21, 2015. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Shale Boom Raises Specter of New Glut: Gulf Coast Oil Terminals

The race to export U.S. shale oil overseas is about to get fierce, with at least nine proposed terminals angling for a piece of a very limited pie.

Within 18 months, new pipelines opening in the nations most prolific shale basin promise to carry an added 2 million barrels of oil a day to the Gulf Coast. But the extra crude will arrive at a time when existing terminals in the Corpus Christi area can already offer about 300,000 barrels a day of unused capacity.

Meanwhile, some of the terminals proposed are being designed to load a supertanker every other day, each capable of carrying 2 million barrels. The result: Its likely only one or two new terminals are needed, with the edge going to companies such as Enbridge Inc., whose Freeport, Texas, effort could be fed by two pipelines it already owns interests in.

Anyone can build a terminal, said Chief Executive Officer James Teague of Enterprise Products Partners LP, one of the first companies to export oil from the U.S., in a conference call last month. But its whats behind that terminal that determines its success.

Or in other words, success in the terminal business is as much about securing the barrels as it is about shipping them out.

U.S. oil exports have soared to nearly 2 million barrels a day since a near four-decade moratorium was lifted in late 2015, just as shale production kicked into high gear. Trafigura Group Ltd. and other trading houses have jumped at the opportunity to send those supplies to Europe and Asia.

But theres been a problem: Pipeline shortages, particularly in the prolific Permian Basin, have limited how much oil makes it to the coast. Now, anticipating an end to those woes with three major new pipelines expected to open in 2019, several companiesincluding Trafiguraare lining up with plans to provide terminals that can take advantage of the change.

Enbridge hasnt released many details on its proposal for Freeport, which is about 175 miles northeast of Corpus Christi.

But it would likely be fed by the companys own Seaway pipeline system, which runs south from the U.S. storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, as well as the Gray Oak pipeline it owns a stake in. Once completed, that pipe will run southeast from Midland, Texas, in the heart of the Permian, into Freeport and Corpus Christi.

To date, Singapore-based Trafigura is the only known company thats submitted a formal permit application to build a deepwater terminal in the Corpus Christi area. The companys Texas Gulf Terminals would move crude to a single-point mooring system a few miles offshore, where they would plan to load a supertanker every other day.

Drawing Fire

But as the first out of the box, Trafigura is also the first to draw fire. The Port of Corpus Christi has hired a lobbyist to voice their concerns about the plan, according to the Caller-Times newspaper. The proposal would include an onshore storage facility and a booster station, the newspaper reported.

The lions share of crude exports now leave from around Houston given the expansive network of inbound pipelines, storage tanks, and dock space in the Houston Ship Channel. But that activity can also prohibit new growth, some say, with concerns about congestion limits.

That makes Corpus Christi, a steadily growing export hub, an attractive option. Many new Permian pipelines slated to come online are ending up there, pushing an infrastructure bottleneck from the shale play south. That ultimately builds a strong case for new terminals to be constructed.

Five Proposals

Trafiguras proposal is one of five for the Corpus Christi area that would rely on the three new pipelines coming online in 2019. They comprise the Plains All-American Pipeline LPs Cactus II conduit, with a capacity of 585,000 barrels a day; Epic Midstream LLCs EPIC line, with 600,000 barrels a day; and the Grey Oak line, owned jointly by Enbridge, Andeavor, and Phillips 66, with about 900,000 barrels.

Beyond Trafigura, the other companies proposing terminals for the area include Magellan Midstream Partners LP, Carlyle Group LP, Buckeye Partners LP, and Flint Hills Resources LLC.

For its part, Buckeye said that its marine terminala joint venture with Phillips 66 and Andeavorwill have storage capacity and connectivity to the Gray Oak pipeline. Meanwhile, Magellan has floated the idea of building its own pipeline from Cushing to Houston and then to Corpus.

Closely-held JupiterMLP, meanwhile, is following the path of Enbridge, proposing a terminal miles away from the Corpus Christi mash-up.

Brownsville, Texas

Its effortin Brownsville, Texas, about 163 miles south of Corpus Christihas no domestic crude pipeline connections. Instead, the company aims to build its own pipeline to the Permian Basin.

The more congested it gets, the longer it takes, said CEO Tom Ramsey of JupiterMLP. On the question of how many will succeed, he said The number may be two or three, but youre going to need more than one.

By Catherine Ngai
Business magnate George Soros arrives to speak at the Open Russia Club in London on June 20, 2016. (Reuters/Luke MacGregor/File Photo)

Soros Foundation to End Operations in Turkey After Baseless Claims by Erdogan

ISTANBULGeorge Soross Open Society Foundation said it will cease operations in Turkey, days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the billionaire philanthropist of trying to divide and destroy nations.

The organization said Nov. 26 that its no longer possible to work in Turkey after it became the target of baseless claims in the media and a renewed investigation by Turkish authorities into mass protests against Erdogans government five years ago. It said the Turkish Interior Ministry was renewing attempts to prove that the Soros foundation was behind the 2013 Gezi Park protests, one of the biggest political challenges to Erdogans 15-year rule. The foundation has denied any link to the protests.

Erdogan denounced Soros last week while speaking about the detention of 13 activists and academics accused of supporting attempts by jailed businessman and rights advocate Osman Kavala to revive the Gezi protests.

The person [Kavala] who financed terrorists during the Gezi incidents is already in prison, Erdogan told a meeting of local administrators on Nov. 21. And who is behind him? The famous Hungarian Jew Soros. This is a man who assigns people to divide nations and shatter them. He has so much money and he spends it this way.

One of the 13 people detained on Nov. 16 was Hakin Altinay, who helped establish the Open Society Foundation in Turkey.

All but one of the detainees were later released, but not before the European Union and the United States expressed concern about their cases.

Ankaras Western allies have repeatedly criticized the arrest of tens of thousands of people since a failed military coup in Turkey in July 2016.

Soros, a U.S.-based financier and philanthropist, and his Open Society Foundation have also come under fire in Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban accuses Soros trying to undermine Europes Christian culture by promoting mass migration, a charge the financier denies.
The Supreme Court of the United States in Washington on June 30, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Supreme Court May Allow Apple App Store Class-Action Lawsuit to Proceed

Apple Inc.s App Store holds an unlawful monopoly that harms iPhone owners by forbidding competition in app sales, a lawyer for owners hoping to pursue a class-action lawsuit against the company told the Supreme Court.

During oral arguments Nov. 26, the justices seemed broadly amenable to the idea that the App Store as it is currently organized may run afoul of federal antitrust laws.

Apple and the Trump administration take the position that iPhone owners lack legal standing to sue under such laws, on the theory that they are purchasing apps directly from developers, with Apple acting merely as the developers agent.

A ruling against Apple, which would allow the consumers stalled antitrust suit to move forward, would send shock waves through Silicon Valley and the world of electronic commerce. App Store sales brought Apple about $11 billion in commissions last year and developers a reported $26 billion.

Apple became the first publicly traded company ever to hit a market capitalization of $1 trillion in August. The figure climbed even higher to $1.1 trillion last month, before receding to its current valuation of about $828 billion.

In Apples unique marketplace, the App Store, iPhone users are only allowed to purchase approved apps that use the companys operating system known as iOS. Users cannot purchase apps elsewhere. Apple charges a 30-percent commission to developers.

No other e-commerce distributor  does what it does, lawyer David C. Frederick told the court on behalf of lead plaintiff Robert Pepper of Chicago and other consumers. In every other instance  there is an alternative to buying the product.

Apple doesnt even do this with its own computer software, he said. If you buy software, you can buy it open source and you do not have to buy it through Apples monopoly chain.

In the App Store, Apple has found ways using technology and contractual constraints to limit the opportunity of a competitive market to flourish, Frederick said. If a competitive market did flourish, the prices that iPhone owners pay would be lower.

Justice Stephen Breyer seemed to encourage Frederick during oral arguments.

Unless were prepared to overrule, which wasnt our case, Alcoa, I think all youd have to show is, one, they have monopoly power, and, two, they achieved it through  more restrictive than necessary practices, end of your burden.

Legal Fiction

In the case before the high court, the Cupertino, California-based company tried to bury the now 7-year-old class-action lawsuit and a federal judge in nearby Oakland obliged, finding the consumers involved werent direct purchasers of the apps. The higher fees they paid for apps, that court found, had been passed on to them by developers, not by Apple.

But that finding is problematic. It relies on a judicially imposed legal assumption helpful to Apple that was created in a decades-old Supreme Court case called Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois.

Led by Texas and Iowa, 31 states filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the Apple case supporting the consumers and urging that the legal doctrine enshrined in the Illinois Brick ruling be overturned because in their view it is outdated in todays marketplace.

In that landmark 1977 decision the high court adopted the legal fiction that illegal overcharges are never passed on to end users by intermediary parties who bought from an antitrust violator, according to the states.

After losing in Oakland, the consumers appealed to the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which resurrected the case, determining that the consumers made direct purchases from Apple within the meaning of Illinois Brick and therefore have standing.

Apple appealed. On June 18, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.

Litigation Scheme

While Apple attorney Daniel M. Wall was explaining during oral arguments how the money that passes through the App Store gets divided, Breyer interrupted him, saying I dont see anything in Illinois Brick that conflicts with that.

Wall shot back: Everything in Illinois Brick conflicts with that.

Breyer continued, saying, If Joe Smith buys from Bill, who bought from the monopolist, then we have something indirect. But, if Joe Smith bought from the monopolist, it is direct. Thats a simple theory.

Now, I cant find in reason, or in case law, or in anything Ive ever learned in antitrust, anything that would conflict with that, the justice said.

What conflicts with that, in this case, is that the alleged monopolization, Wall said, which is over the distribution function, allegedly first manifests in a 30-percent commission. Consumers do not pay the 30-percent commission.

Justice Samuel Alito told Wall there was something that troubles me about your position.

The Illinois Brick case was not about the economic theory, Alito said. It was about the courtsthe courtsthe basis for the decision was not economic theory, as I read the case. Its the courts calculation of what makes for an effective and efficient litigation scheme.

And maybe your answer to this question is that the validity of Illinois Brick is not before us. But I really wonder whether, in light of what has happened since then, the courts evaluation stands up.

Alito offered a hypothetical to Frederick.

If this case were to go to trial as a class action, would every app purchaser potentially be entitled [under an antitrust statute] to three times the 30-percent overcharge, or would it depend on the particular app?

Frederick replied that he wasnt sure how the evidence would be presented at trial.

But the trial should be allowed to proceed to deter antitrust violations in the marketplace, he said.

This court has made very clear in its cases that the point of having that deterrence is to avoid having the monopolist in this case act in a way that its not penalized for its monopoly behavior. And if you were to suppose that it was just a single damages problem, it would be easy for monopolists to simply act, and, if they get caught, they just simply pay over what they caused in damage, but the idea behind the Clayton Acts treble damages remedy is designed to deter actions just like this.
Teacher Goes the Extra Mile to Care for His Pupils in Battle-Torn Syria

If there will be no education, all the youngsters will become fighters, says Abdulkafi Alhamdo

TEL AVIV, IsraelA few years ago, Abdulkafi Alhamdo stood in front of his class of 9- to 10-year-old children in Aleppo, which was under attack by Syrias Assad regime at the time. It was a makeshift classroom, the living room of an abandoned apartment, and there was a smell of destruction in the air.

Soon after the class started there was a knock on the door and one of his pupils, Amran, stood there. After Alhamdo asked him why he was late, he said in a choked voice: My father and my sister were killed yesterday in the attack. I came to tell you.

After protests erupted in Syria in the spring of 2011, Alhamdo could have fled the country, as many of his friends and neighbors did. But he stayed for the sake of children like Amran who were going to need all the kindness and stability they could get as the protests escalated into armed rebellion following a brutal crackdown by Bashar al-Assads government.

I love my pupils very much. We have a very close relationship. I always ask them how they are doing and if they are safe. I stayed in Syria for them, he said by phone from Idlib in northwestern Syria.

After seven years of war and destruction, we need to do something good. We have to educate the next generation. Believe me, if there will be no education, all the youngsters will become fighters, they will probably join extremist organizations.  People will have a horrible future. Thats why we are here.

In those seven years, many areas of the country have seen fighting and deadly airstrikes, and government forcesbacked by Iran and Russiahave made gradual but significant advances.

Of late, Assad has been threatening an all-out assault on the rebel-held city of Idlib, where Alhamdo now lives with his wife and two children and teaches English literature at a university. On Nov. 24, eight people were killed in south Idlib province after airstrikes targeting a school, Alhamdo said on his Facebook page.

Because of the trauma and turmoil the conflict brings with it, Alhamdo said he and his fellow teachers have always endeavored to show the utmost compassion and caring for the children. We asked him to elaborate on that.

Teaching Under Siege

The Epoch Times: How do you bolster the childrens well-being in such circumstances?

Abdulkafi Alhamdo: When Aleppo was in the front line, we teachers understood that we had to be very careful with the children. For example, when a child misbehaves in class you cant say to him bring your father because it may be that his father is dead. Even a simple question like why are you late? isnt good.

In Aleppo I was teaching subjects including English and math, but first I was thinking about their soul. I would go home thinking: What shall I do with this child? There is always time to teach, but first of all I had to take care of the people, think about food. I used to tell them jokes and helped them forget the bad things, only then would I start to teach. We tried to build a curriculum based on character development rather than based on knowledge. We used to ask them if they were happy.

The children didnt feel hate or jealousy, they loved each other. Every time when something bad happened, when someone lost his father or mother, we all came to this childs house to give condolences. I would tell this child that he will grow up to be as good as his mother was, good like his father was. I would tell him that they would want him to grow to be good in the future. We tried to stay with the child until he could return to class.

The Epoch Times: How did you keep the children safe?

Mr. Alhamdo: When we read that 41 children had died in one deadly bombing in Homs, we decided to stop teaching in regular schools. We decided to form small schools and we taught in private homes, in apartments and in shelters. In each small school, we had 100 pupils. If there were three empty apartments close to each other, it became a school. When they werent in shelters, we taught on the third floor. The lower floors are more dangerous. Most schools were like this.

The Epoch Times: Did you talk with them about death and about the hard times theyre going through?

Mr. Alhamdo: Most of the time I spoke with them about how life is much better than death. We dont like death and cherish life. I didnt want them to think that death lies at the end of our situation. I emphasized: Live your day, forget what could happen tomorrow. Live your day as if you will live forever. Sometimes I would refer to the ideas written in their books and compare to their lives in a funny way. When I teach, I always try to elevate their spirit and get them out of their sadness and their worries.

The Epoch Times: How about the parents. Did they want to send their kids to school?

Mr. Alhamdo: The parents didnt want them to go. There was a time in which seven of my pupils and four colleagues were killed when we were at school together. A pilot directed [the bombs] straight at our school.

Imagine those 8-, 9-, 10-year-old children leaving their families and homes to attend school.

That is why I call my pupils heroes. They are noble heroes.  They have bombs falling on them and they still come to school. Once, I saw two of my pupils, a 6-year-old and his sister, 11 years old, walking to school and a bomb suddenly fell near them. Fortunately, they werent hurt. They ran home to find shelter. You might expect them to stay home, but three minutes later they called me and said, Lets go to school together.

[In Idlib once,] they bombed us in the middle of an exam. Every time a bomb was supposed to fall, I told the students to breathe deeply, to count to three, and it was over. We teachers treated the situation like it was a joke.

The Epoch Times: In 2016, when you were evacuated to Idlib from Aleppo, you left with your pupils. Do you still see them?

Mr. Alhamdo: We said goodbye and each of them went his own way. At the moment of separation, I told them that they are the future of our country, that they will be able to become teachers themselves and take care of their students. I saw some of them here. They are 15 and 16 years old now.

The Epoch Times: Assad has threatened to launch an offensive in Idlib. If that happens, what will you do?

Mr. Alhamdo: If the Syrian regime will attack, I expect the worst-case scenario, a disaster, maybe genocide. Until now I used to look forward to the future. If something that bad will happen I will lose my future, lose my past, lose everything. I will start thinking of death. I will not be the only oneeveryone will think this way. The day this will happen, people will oppose it until death. We will never agree to live under the Syrian regime.

This is the reason why we focus on the present moment. Even if I will go to the university knowing that the destruction will start tomorrow, I will go anyway. I will go tomorrow without thinking of the day after tomorrow. If something bad will happen, it will occur against our will. But at least we will know that we had tried.
A member of the audience holds up a placard as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders discusses Medicare for All legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Sept. 13, 2017. Today, many people are concerned about "rights" to "free" healthcare and other state benefits, but do they come at the cost of true freedom? (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

The Will to Control, the Will to Obey, and the Will to Be Free

Commentary

In a previous article, I described six kinds of freedom. And all my life, I have believed that in a democracy, freedom is the dominant passion of the people. But now I think not.

It is perhaps more correct to say that in modern times, at least, what we observe is a kind of shifting interplay, or a three-way struggle, between different aspects of Will. I think of these as the Will to Control, the Will to Obey, and the Will to be Free. These may be variously manifested in ourselves, in our relations with others, and in the political lives of nations.

Control

The Will to Control is the most obvious. It is expressed powerfully by most of us very early in life. The hysterical, out-of-control child who is actually seeking control of a parent or sibling in order to satisfy a want is the paradigm: hysteria as a form of control.

In the adult, the Will to Control is often the flip side of the Will to be Free, in that none is freer than he who can control his own circumstances and laws. In this last sentence lies the enduring theme and contradiction of all modern democratic theories, however, because obeying a law you make for yourself cannot be called obedience. It is more like a fulfillment of personal ambition.

Indeed, the deepest paradox of modern democratic theory is the idea that we can set up systems for controlling and obeying only our own laws, so that we can be free from others control.

This belief persists, despite the fact that many non-democratic regimes have existed throughout history in which citizens were far more free than we are today. For starters, citizens (though not their slaves, who were noncitizens) were freer (less regulated and taxed) under ancient Athenian democracy than citizens of our modern democracies.

Many historians consider the citizens of ancient Rome, especially under the first post-democratic Roman Empire of Caesar Augustus (died A.D. 14), to have been the freest of all.

Those who lived under the British-based modern democraciessuch as the United States and Canadafrom the mid-1800s to about the middle of the 20th century were also more free than we are now. Although they had fewer listed (or newly invented) paper rights to brag about, they had more inherited traditional and actionable rights that were assumed by all and protected by powerful custom and common-law precedent.

They also suffered far less taxation and suffocating regulations than we do. Just over a hundred years ago, even the smell of an income taxor any other tax on laborwas sufficient for citizens to march in the streets crying that they were about to become miserable tax slaves, for a tax on goods and imports was considered acceptable, while a tax on labor was considered deeply immoral. But we are all tax slaves now.

In ordinary life, the Will to Control is most visible in the storied career climb to the top, and the general drive for financial success. In politics, its embodied in the party organizer and, above all, in the schemer (most politicians in democracies, who must rely on popularity at all costs) who is always ready to manipulate others as a means to some cherished political ambition.

In realpolitik, control-hysteria finds its ultimate expression in pogroms, liquidations, genocides, tortures, and concentration camps. The historical prototype is the tyrant, andmost dangerous of allthe beloved modern dictator, described with such fawning terms as Redeemer, Fuhrer, or Duce, because he has archlyand usually democraticallydiscovered in the masses a latent Will to Obey.

On that score, we tend to invoke apathy as an excuse for such fawning obedience, as if the apathetic have no will. But on the contrary, apathy is among the strongest expressions of an active Will to Obey in all who deeply yearn to surrender the burdens and responsibilities of controland especially in those who wish to escape the responsibilities entailed by their own freedom.

Obedience

In ordinary life, we see this obedience-relief at work in the misbehaving child who in truth is yearning for guidance and so eventually submits to real authority; in the employee who happily performs slavish, even demeaning work in exchange for a mediocre salary and the guarantee of ample benefits; and generally, in all those who seek the peace of security and the avoidance of riskwhich is to say, most people.

No one understands this better than the harried control freak who comes to heel the moment he encounters a superior power. He is the type who isas Churchill put it when describing the authoritarian personality of the Hun either at your throat, or at your feet.

Politically, the Will to Obey is visible in the stunning apathy of the masses, notoriously and dramatically so in the ease with which one camp guard with a cheap pistol can control thousands. Less dramatically, but oh, so prevalently, is the willingness of the masses everywhere to surrender so much in the way of their basic freedoms for welfare, health care, government pensions, and countless regulations and programs designed to control myriad aspects of their daily lives.

In the wake of failing religious belief and moral authority, people look to such redemptive political regimes because they promise a progressive secular salvation. This promise is easily met by leaders who understand the intimate relationship between the Will to Control and the Will to Obey.

Freedom

The pure Will to be Free is another matter. Though we imagine it the strongest and most noble aspect of Willand this is certainly true for the very few truly noble peopleit is for most the weakest form of Will, trumped everywhere by the desire for control and obedience.

By any fair estimate, only about a quarter of human beings on the planet today enjoy anything close to a free society (and, as mentioned, even our free democracies are objectively far less free than were the same societies in quite recent times).

Even though we all have tasted the delights of personal freedom, it is usually experienced physically, as a personal indulgence to do or to have whatever we want, however briefly. Or we have experienced it as one of those sweet moments that come after some keen but long-denied satisfaction has finally stilled the yearning soul.

It is no accident that today, when the claims of the body and its appetites trump spiritual concerns, our contemporary clamoring for freedom comes down to a kind of endless striving, not for true freedom and its burden, but for rights to sexual pleasures, to abortion, to euthanasia, to free medical care, to welfare benefits, and so onall of which have to do with the wants of, or fears for, our own bodies, but have little to do with the body politic.

Although modern democratic systems begin with the Will to be Free, they can quickly transform into regimes more concerned with Control (by the few) and Obedience (by the rest).

The astute German-Italian sociologist Robert Michels famously argued that all democracies obey an iron law of oligarchy, and they all inevitably end as such.

And I have argued in a previous article that the pattern for all Western democracies is something that ought to be called libertarian-socialism, in which the most cherished freedoms are purely individual and private (and to repeat, concern mostly sex and our bodies), while states take up the responsibilities of the broader aspects of our lives (in the form of multilayered government services, benefits, and guarantees for which we free citizens are very heavily taxed).

This is so true that the ostensibly free citizen, who in many nations now pays half of his income in taxes of all kinds, in effect works half of every year for the state.

Looking only at the recent history of the moral and intellectual contortions required to justify our underlying ideal of freedomof control of the free masses by themselveswe may conclude, especially in view of the number of responsibilities and real freedoms we have either spurned or surrendered to the state, that this ideal stands as somewhat of a monument to human cleverness and self-deception.

William Gairdner is an author living near Toronto. His latest book is The Great Divide: Why Liberals and Conservatives Will Never, Ever Agree (2015). His website is WilliamGairdner.ca

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Makeover of handicrafts

The production facility of Vu Thanh Liem, Director of Hahanco Manufacturing and Trading Limited Company, in Thuy Ung village, Thuong Tin district, Hanoi, is one of the few production establishments to have signed a contract to make jewellery with world famous brand Hermes. The bracelets, necklaces and earrings with elegant and beautiful designs and eye-catching colours have surprised visitors.

Products under the designs of Hermes brand are showcased in Vu Thanh Liem's family.

Even familiar horn combs that were popular in the domestic market have been made with sophisticated, soft and elegant designs according to the requirements of Japanese customers. According to Liem, a comb with a simple design was sold at just tens of thousands of Vietnamese dong in Vietnam but other high-grade products are priced over VND700,000 in Japan. Meanwhile jewellery made by Hahanco for Hermes serve the high-end segment of customers with prices from several millions of Vietnamese dong to over VND10 million.

Horn combs for Japanese customers

Viet Quang Bamboo and Rattan Company led by artisan Nguyen Van Tinh in Phu Vinh village, Phu Nghia commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi, are also making products worth thousands of US dollars under orders from Japanese customers.

However, it is not easy to find designers with high aesthetics on this field, said Vu Thanh Liem. Therefore, most handicraft enterprises and facilities only produce luxury products under the designs from foreign partners.

Jewelries were made under orders from foreign partners.

It is a fact that very few students want to pursue the design of handicrafts. A teacher from Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City said that every year she directed her students attention to traditional handicraft products, however, many of them chose to design modern products.

Supporting the design for trade villages

The Hanoi Promotion Agency (HPA) is one of the agencies to have helped trade villages find the way to change designs, contributing to promoting exports and expanding the domestic market, particularly towards the high-end segment of customers. The agencys Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Mai Anh said: We realise that enterprises have immense potential but are weak in terms of design. Their highly qualified craftspersons can create highly sophisticated products, meeting the requirements of the most fastidious customers. However, without eye-catching designs, they cannot promote their creation. The craftspersons from Vu Thanh Liems facility have created numerous jewelleries for the Hermes brand that have been sold at prices of thousands of US dollars via the internet.

At the Vietnamese Regional Specialties Fair  One Village One Product (OVOP) on November 21 at the Vincom Mega Mall Royal City in Hanoi, enterprises and trade villages showcased their latest products.

According to the HPAs Deputy Director, the agency had hired foreign experts to design a package of exported products for trade villages. In 2017-2018, the centre continued to support the villages in design, but it was not easy. Representatives from the HPA visited many places, including Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, to learn about new trends of design and 3D technology but it was not easy to invite experts to design, said Deputy Director Mai Anh.

She also noted that, in order to dominate the domestic market and expand exports, it is crucial to promote the design, bringing a high competitiveness for products. We would like to receive more attention from the Government and local authorities to obtain macro policies to promote the export of handicrafts, added Mai Anh.

Lacquer products for exports from Chieu Ha facility, Thuong Tin district, Hanoi
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About 5,400 adherents of Falun Gong gather in Taipei's Liberty Square in Taiwan to form an image of the English-version of the book "Zhuan Falun" on Nov. 24, 2018. (Sun Hsiang-i/The Epoch Times)

Thousands From Around the World Gather in Taipei to Form Image of Book That Guides Their Spirituality

TAIPEI, TaiwanMore than 5,000 people gathered in Taipeis iconic Liberty Square on Nov. 24 to form an image of a book that has helped to guide tens of millions of people around the world on self-improvement.

The book, Zhuan Falun, is the main book of teachings for the spiritual practice Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, a traditional meditation practice based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Its founder, Li Hongzhi, introduced the practice in a series of public lectures in 1992.

The image of the books English translation was assembled by roughly 5,400 adherents of Falun Gong from around the world, who were clad in dark blue, yellow, and white and sat on corresponding color-coordinated mats that made up the outline of the image.

Adherents dressed up in yellow made up the letters on the cover of the book, with the words Zhuan Falun, followed below by their corresponding Chinese characters, as well as the words English version with its translation in Chinese characters underneath. Finally, Mr. Lis full name appeared at the bottom of the book cover.

The multiple yellow stripes coming out of the book cover represent rays of light.

Local Falun Gong practitioners in Taipei placed all 5,000-plus mats required to stage the image formation, over the course of three days beginning on Nov. 21, sometimes under drizzling rain.

Character formation is a tradition dating back to before the Chinese regime began persecuting the practice in mainland China in 1999. Feeling threatened by the groups enormous popularitythere were about 70 million to 100 million practitioners in China by the late 1990s, according to official estimatesformer Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin ordered adherents around the country to be thrown into prisons, brainwashing centers, and labor camps, in an effort to force them into giving up their faith.

Unlike China, adherents in Taiwan have been allowed to practice their faith freely.

After the persecution began, Taiwanese practitioners wanted to keep the character formation tradition alive, for the purpose of bringing awareness to the ongoing persecution in mainland China. The image formation has become an annual event in Taiwan since 2000.

Of the 5,400 adherents who attended, about 600 came from other countries, including Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Brazil, and Finland.

Wu Ching-hsiang, a retired architect and a Falun Gong adherent, drafted the blueprint for the character formation. He explained the reason why the cover image of the English-version of Zhuan Falun was selected this year, in an interview with Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that is dedicated to reporting about the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

The book is very popular worldwide. It is translated into 40 different languages, Wu said. Images of this character formation will now be seen on the internet. So we hope that more people would come to know about this book, for it has benefited so many people physically and mentally.

Huang Chun-mei, the activitys organizer and deputy chairman of the Taiwan Dafa Association, said that she hopes there will be opportunities to assemble cover images of Zhuan Falun in different languages in the future.

Mr. Chen, an engineer from Chongqing City in mainland China, was also at Liberty Square while on a trip to visit Taiwan.

Truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance are important for the stability of any society, Chen told Minghui.org. He added that Beijing should end its persecution of Falun Gong adherents in China.
James Alex Fields Jr., (L) is seen attending the rally in Emancipation Park before being arrested by police in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 12, 2017. (Reuters/Eze Amos/File Photo)

Trial Begins for Man Charged With Murder at Charlottesville Rally

CHARLOTTESVILLEJury selection began Nov. 26 in the trial of the man accused of killing a woman by driving his car into a crowd of counterprotesters after a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year.

James Fields Jr., a 21-year-old Ohio resident, faces 10 criminal counts in Virginia, including first-degree murder and malicious assault. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which could send him to prison for the rest of his life.

Fields was among several hundreds of white nationalists, national socialists, and others who converged on the town, home of the University of Virginia, to protest plans to remove a statue of a Confederate war hero from a local park. Some of the rally goers engaged in fights with some of the large crowd of counterprotesters on scene, including Antifa and Black Lives Matter.

After the rally, Fields plowed his vehicle into counterprotesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Hayes and injuring dozens of others, prosecutors say.

One of his attorneys, John Hill, told prospective jurors that the defense would present testimony showing the defendant thought he was acting in self-defense. Hill also told them to expect medical and mental-health testimony.

Federal prosecutors have said Fields routinely promoted racial ideologies on his social media accounts and expressed support for Adolph Hitler and the Holocaust.

On Nov. 26, Fields appeared calm after entering a heavily guarded Charlottesville Circuit Courtroom wearing a dark suit, dark-rimmed glasses, and a light-colored tie. As jury selection began, he frequently turned toward the audience in the courtroom.

Circuit Court Judge Richard E. Moore said 12 jurors and four alternates would be chosen to hear the case, which could last until Dec. 13.

In June, the Department of Justice said it was also indicting Fields on 30 federal hate crimes charges, for which he could face the death penalty. Fields also pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.

On Nov. 26, Charlottesville Commonwealths Attorney Joseph Platania emphasized to prospective jurors that prosecutors were not seeking a death sentence on the state charges.

Jury selection is expected to continue Nov. 27, with opening arguments later this week.

By Gary Robertson. Epoch Times staff member Petr Svab contributed to this report.
Trump Threatens to Close US-Mexico Border Permanently After Migrants Stormed Border

President Donald Trump threatened to permanently close the United States-Mexico border on Nov. 26, after thousands of migrants stormed the border and tried to illegally enter the United States.

Some migrants dismantled a portion of the border fence north of Tijuana and began filing through. As they approached a second fence. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents fired tear gas, forcing the migrants to flee.

Trump took on the issue early Monday, stating on Twitter: Mexico should move the flag-waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries. Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was among those who said they supported closing the border, although he indicated that it could be temporary.

You have to really hate President Trump to not understand the problems created by the caravans. He is right to push back in order to deter future waves of illegal immigration, Graham said on Twitter.

I support President Trumps decision to close the border until we can get a handle on the chaos created by the broken laws governing asylum. We must have money for border security/wall and must change asylum laws.

Now or Never

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, also urged his colleagues to pass funding for a wall on the southern border after Sundays border rush.

Its about time Congress show as much resolve to SECURE our border as the individuals seeking to tear it down. We have to fund the wall in December. Its now or never, he said. While a Republican majority holds in the House until the end of the year, after the lame duck session the majority will shift to the Democrats.

The comments came as Mexico moved to deport a portion of the 500 migrants who took part in the border rush and as CBP confirmed that it fired tear gas after multiple migrants lobbed projectiles at Border Patrol agents. The agency shut down the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Sunday after a large group of migrants tried illegally entering the United States through it.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said that the projectiles struck Border Agents. Such actions are dangerous and not consistent with peacefully seeking asylum. The perpetrators will be prosecuted. I will continue to aggressively support DHS personnel as they work to safely secure our border, she said. In another tweet, she said officials wont hesitate to shut down Ports of Entry for security reasons.

Recent Rule Change

The Trump administration instituted a rule change to the federal immigration law earlier this month, barring migrants who enter the United States illegally outside of official ports of entry from applying for asylum.

The rule change came as numerous migrants admitted to news agencies throughout their trek from Honduras and El Salvador, that they wouldnt qualify for asylum. Some admitted to being previously deported for criminal convictions in America, including attempted murder and drunk driving. Others didnt specify why they were deported but said they had been. Its a felony crime for a foreign national who has been deported to re-enter the United States.

Others said they were fleeing poverty, which is not an applicable condition for asylum. Current federal laws require a narrow set of circumstances for asylum seekers, primarily persecution by a government. Another reason cited by some migrants for fleeing their countries, gang violence, also doesnt fall under asylum requirements.

A federal judge claimed that the rule change was unconstitutional but Trump vowed to fight the ruling and said he expects the Supreme Court to ultimately rule in his favor. In recent years, a number of district court rulings have been overturned by the Supreme Court. For instance, according to RealClearPolitics, from 2010 to 2015, the Supreme Court overturned 79 percent of the 9th Circuit Courts decisions.

From NTD News
US Condemns Russias Seizure of Ukrainian Ships

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has criticized Russias seizure of Ukrainian naval vessels, calling it an outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Nov. 26, Haley said the move was another reckless Russian escalation in the years-long war. Haley noted that she spoke to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before making the statement.

Sundays outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory is part of a pattern of Russian behavior that includes the purported annexation of Crimea and abuses against countless Ukrainians in Crimea, as well as stoking conflict that has taken the lives of more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine. And it shows no sign of decreasing, Haley said.

According to Ukraine, Russian military boats fired at a pair of Ukrainian navy vessels and a tugboat on Nov. 25. The Russians rammed at least one vessel and wounded several Ukrainian crew members. Ukraine claims six people were wounded; Russia reported three injuries. The seized Ukrainian boats were towed to a nearby port.

The skirmish transpired in the strategically significant Kerch Strait, where a Kremlin-built bridge connects Russia to the southeastern portion of Ukraine thats occupied by Russia-backed forces.

Russia said the Ukrainian ships illegally crossed into Russian waters. Ukraine contends that its vessels followed international maritime rules.

Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraines ambassador to the U.N., told the officials at the emergency meeting that Russia orchestrated the incident. Yelchenko claims to have tapes of radio traffic that would prove his allegation.

All hell broke loose, Yelchenko said, adding that Moscows act of aggression breached several bilateral and international agreements.

Russias Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polanski dismissed Ukraines claims and blamed the scuffle on Kievs aggression. A spokesman for Russias Federal Security Service, which oversees the coast guard, said that the Ukrainian boats breached Russias territorial waters, executed dangerous maneuvers, and failed to heed warnings. FSB plans to share the evidence, according to Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Russian president.

This is a very dangerous provocation, which requires particular attention and a special investigation, Peskov said.

Ukrainian officials now believe that Russia may be preparing to seize more of Ukraines territory, according to Yelchenko. Poroshenko said hes in possession of intelligence suggesting a serious threat of a land-based operation against Ukraine by Russia.

I have a document of intelligence in my hands.  Here on several pages is a detailed description of all the forces of the enemy located at a distance of literally several dozens of kilometers from our border. Ready at any moment for an immediate invasion of Ukraine, he said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered 30 days of martial law in response to the incident. Poroshenko wrote on Twitter that he declined to impose martial law for 60 days to avoid affecting residential election campaigns. Ukraines constitution calls for an election on March 31, 2019.

A video filmed from aboard a Russian vessel shows Russians chasing the Ukrainian tugboat and ramming the vessel.

Interfax news agency quoted Russias human-rights commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, as saying Nov. 26 that 24 Ukrainian sailors were being detained. Three of the sailors were wounded but werent in serious condition and were recovering in a hospital.

A Reuters witness in Kerch, a Crimean port, said the Ukrainian vessels were being held there on Nov. 26.

Domestic politics in Moscow and Kiev add to the combustibility of the situation. Poroshenko faces a tough reelection fight early next year, with opinion polls showing him trailing his opponents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has also seen his high approval rating fall because of unpopular domestic policies. In the past, successful military action beyond Russias borders has buoyed his popularity.

The governments of several European nations, including the United Kingdom and Germany, also condemned the seizure of the ships and demanded that Russia free the vessels and guarantee safe passage through the strait.

Reuters contributed to this report.
David Romrell, a South Salt Lake Police Department officer and Marine veteran, in a file photo. Romrell was killed on Nov. 24, 2018. (Officer Romrell memorial fund./GoFundMe)

Utah Police Officer Dies After Burglary Suspect Intentionally Ran Him Over

A Utah police officer has died after a burglary suspect intentionally rammed into him.

South Salt Lake Police Department Officer David Romrell responded to a burglary call on Nov. 24 and was intentionally struck by a vehicle fleeing from the crime scene at a business on South West Temple, just north of the intersection with Price Avenue.

As the car sped toward Romrell, another officer fired and struck the driver, killing him. He was later identified as Felix Anthony Calata, 31, of West Valley City.

A passenger in the vehicle fled on foot but was apprehended a short time later.

Police officials later said the passenger was questioned but released because there was no evidence that the passenger had committed a crime.

Marine Veteran

Before joining the force, Romrell was a U.S. Marine.

Whether it was in police blues or the uniform of a United States Marine, David Romrell fought valiantly to preserve peace and protect us, our community, and nation, said Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes in a statement after Romrell died.

May God now grant peace to his soul and comfort to his family and friends.

Officer Romrell was exemplary in every way, and I feel humbled by the service he gave his country as a Marine, as well as the service he gave our communities here in Utah, added Gov. Gary Herbert in a statement.

Romrell served several tours of duty as a Marine before becoming a South Salt Lake police officer 11 months ago, reported Desert News.

As much as we know the risk of this job, were not prepared for this. Its taken us by surprise. Its very painful, police Chief Jack Carruth said during a press conference early Sunday. He did everything right but was targeted by this vehicle as it fled.

Family and Friends Mourn

Romrell was being mourned by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife and his 4-month-old son.

Friends and neighbors told KUTV that the Romrell family moved into their West Jordan neighborhood over the summer.

The family made a big impact despite living there only half a year, they said.

Neighbors said Romrells widow took their baby to be with family to grieve. She asked for peace during the grieving process.

The neighborhood put up blue bows and American flags to express support for the fallen officer.

Meanwhile, family members of Calata released a letter expressing sympathy for Romrells family.

Saturday night we went to bed just as any other night, when suddenly the shrieks, screams and cries, of our sister tore through our peaceful home. Felix, is dead! She screamed! We didnt know the details yet of what had happened but we knew Felix, had been on a downward spiral for a long time now. We knew he wasnt the same person who started dating my sister, 12 years ago who was romantic and funny, wrote Calatas former brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Manuel and Claudia Lopez, reported Fox 13. Manuel Lopez was also a Marine.

The pair said Calata had many run-ins with the law in recent years, prompting their sister to leave him and take his two children away to Texas so theyd be safe. When she heard about his death, she hadnt heard from him in months.

Your husband, died a HERO! Our niece and nephew dont have to know the horrendous things their father has done but they WILL honor your husband, they wrote. We are all heartbroken by this and we are hurting too. If there is anything you may need from us to help you find peace, please reach out. Your precious baby doesnt deserve to be left without a father. We are very sorry for your loss.

Previous Crash

Court records indicate that Calata was involved in a fatal crash on March 25.

He was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee when he ran a red light, hit another vehicle, and rolled. A passenger with him, 44-year-old Danyelle Marie Jennings, was ejected from the Jeep and killed, reported Deseret News.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said that officials spent months gathering evidence and were finally ready to file charges.

Attorneys were scheduled to meet on Dec. 6 to screen a charge of manslaughter in the case, Gill said.

From NTD News
A woman in Pennsylvania gave an unusual excuse to police after she was caught driving on railroad tracks: The GPS told me to do it. (Duquesne Police Department/Facebook)

Woman Claims GPS Told Me to Do It After Driving on Railroad Tracks, Police Say

A woman in Pennsylvania gave an unusual excuse to police after she was caught driving on railroad tracks: The GPS told me to do it.

Thats more or less what a woman told officers with the Duquesne Police Department earlier this week, according to a Facebook post from the office.

The woman, according to police, was 100% sober and had no medical conditions affecting her decision-making.

The unnamed woman from Sewickley was pulled over near the railroad tracks at Grant Avenue and State Route 837 at 10 p.m. local time on Nov. 21.

An accompanying photo posted by the Duquesne Police Department shows the womans car straddling one of the train tracks.

When asked by commenters, the department clarified that the woman didnt turn onto the tracks, as the photo might suggest. This vehicle was going straight on the highway and veered off, the department said.

Police said the womans car was towed from the tracks and she was cited for careless driving.

It happens all the time there, one Facebook user wrote. Kinda head shaking.

Next to the railroad tracks is a roadway that other drivers use.

Duquesne, in Allegheny County, is located near Pittsburgh.

Not the First

The woman isnt the first to get misled by GPS. In May, police in Iowa issued a warning to drivers after four people got stuck in dirt ravines, according to the Des Moines Register.

The GPS systems took drivers down a basically non-existent road thats dangerous for motorists, the Register noted.

Use your brain, said Mount Vernon Police Chief Doug Shannon, reported The Register. If your brain tells you not to go down, thats probably not a good way to go.

If your GPS is telling you that on your phone, obviously theres better routes, Shannon said.

In July 2018, a man drove an 18-wheeler truck into the Atlantic Ocean before a beach stopped his vehicle from going any further, the Charlotte Observer reported, adding the driver said he was misled by GPS.

Carl Seto, who towed the 18-wheeler out from the sand, said he rescues several buses from the sea each year, presumably due to GPS problems, the Virginian Pilot reported.

They dont follow the signs, Seto said, according to the Pilot. They just keep going.

And New York State Police said a bus driver that smashed into a Long Island overpass was using a noncommercial vehicle GPS device, the New York Post reported in April. The crash left two teen girls injured and hospitalized.

He did not seem to be familiar with commercial vehicle restrictions on the parkway https://t.co/waJjoKpPOv  New York Post (@nypost) April 9, 2018

You would think that drivertheres signs everywhereif he drives for a living, these are the things hes required to know, Stephen Martinez, the father of a girl on the bus, was quoted as saying.

Traffic Deaths Down Across US in 2018

U.S. traffic deaths fell 3.1 percent in the first six months of 2018, according to preliminary figures released in October 2018, Reuters reported.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 2017 traffic deaths fell by 1.8 percent to 37,133 after traffic deaths rose sharply in the previous two years, according to final figures. The U.S. traffic fatality rate fell to 1.08 deaths per 100 million miles traveled for the first half of 2018.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Watch Next:

Video Shows Driver Trying to Overtake Another, Crashes
'Lord of the Rings' actors Liv Tyler and Elijah Wood pose for photographers during a press conference in Tokyo, Feb. 20, 2002. (Toru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images)

Writer Thinks Lord of the Rings Is Racist Toward Orcs

A relatively unknown writer criticized J.R.R. Tolkiens writing in The Lord of the Rings as racist.

Andy Duncan made the comment on the Geeks Guide to the Galaxy podcast run by Wired Magazine.

Its hard to miss the repeated notion in Tolkien that some races are just worse than others, or that some peoples are just worse than others, said Duncan, via Wired.

Duncan doesnt like how orcs are depicted in Tolkiens world, and considers their portrayal unfair. The cannibalistic, violent, and malformed creatures work for the main antagonist in The Lord of the Rings.

Duncan released a collection of stories, one that parodies what he believes is the racism he sees in Tolkiens classic work. He tries to bridge this to what he perceives as racism in politics.

Senator Bilbo is this parody in which you have this racist demagogue stomping around the world of the halflings, in a sort of desperate holding pattern to keep at bay all the change that is coming about as a result of what seems to have been the War of the Ring, Duncan said in the podcast.

Tolkien died in 1973. His precursor work to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, was published 80 years ago in 1937. Many fantasy writers after him carry a little bit of his inspiration in their work. Even the writers trying to modernize the genre are doing it on the now-familiar fantasy storytelling platform Tolkien built.

Tolkien was known for comprehensive world building, complete with languages. His works are still a source of inspiration for fans. His son, Christopher Tolkien, took on the huge task of preparing for publication the massive works that remained unpublished after the elder Tolkiens death.

Comments under a Daily Mail article about the alleged racism in Tolkiens work are full of incredulity and shock.

Comments on Racism in Lord of the Rings

[W]hat an idiot they are fiction and just like other fiction some as to be the bad guys and the orcs drew the short straw it seems, commented mr fredee.

Get a grip pal. Also there could be a rare exceptional good orc just like there could be a rare evil dwarf or elf. Its fantasy writing and meant to be treated as such, commented Bane of Sterling.

If this doesnt qualify as taking the outrage thing to new heights, I cant imagine what is. Jeez. Get over yourself. Get a pet dog or a fish something, commented RidgerunnerAK.

Tolkien was known for his service in war, fighting in World War I against Germany. He also wrote two letters outraged at being asked to prove his Aryan heritage when he tried to get a German-language edition of the Hobbit published during Hitlers reign.

If I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people, Tolkien wrote back to the Rutten & Loening publishing house.

Tolkien told the publishing house he had German ancestry but was an English subject. His reply expressed his annoyance at the inquiry.

I cannot, however, forbear to comment that if impertinent and irrelevant inquiries of this sort are to become the rule in matters of literature, then the time is not far distant when a German name will no longer be a source of pride, wrote Tolkien.
Ben Barnes, who has overseen Connecticuts state finances for eight years as Gov. Dannel P. Malloys only secretary of policy and management, was named Monday as the chief financial officer for the states sprawling system of community colleges and regional state universities.

The appointment of Barnes gives the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities an expert in public finance at a pivotal juncture, while inviting inevitable questions of favoritism. CSCU President Mark E. Ojakian was Barnes deputy for a year at the Office of Policy and Management and then his boss for three as Malloys chief of staff.

Barnes, 50, who had jobs in municipal finance and administration for Stamford, Bridgeport and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities before becoming the OPM secretary, succeeds Erika Steiner, who is retiring at weeks end. Barnes will begin the job on Jan. 4, a week before Malloy leaves office.

What I think is important to understand is there was a very thorough and independent and transparent search process that began in July, said Ojakian, who was hired as president by the Board of Regents for Higher Education in September 2015. Im very comfortable with the process we went through.

Ojakian said there was no similar explanation of the search process five years ago when Steiner was hired after a career in private industry, most recently as chief financial officer and treasurer of Lydall, a manufacturer in Manchester.

CT Mirror reported in September that Barnes was one of four semi-finalists to be interviewed by a search committee, senior staff and leaders of the Board of Regents. The search committee was led by Dimitrios Pachis, the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Eastern Connecticut State University, and included Scott Jordan, the CFO of UConn.

I think there will be a lot of interest this time. Theres already been interest in terms of the story back in September when he was in the building and was a semi-finalists for job, Ojakian said. So, we want to be able to frame the conversation to talk about why this is the right choice, why he will make that positive difference in our system and why there may be some political noise over this. I get it.

The CSCU system covers all of public higher-education outside of the University of Connecticut. The system includes 12 community colleges, an online university, and the four regional state universities: Eastern, Central, Southern and Western. It has a combined budget of $1.3 billion and a student population of 82,000.

The system faces the twin pressures of dwindling state financial support and a shrinking college-age population that has contributed to enrollment drops over the last five years of eight percent at the regional universities and three percent at the community colleges.

But industry groups and Gov.-elect Ned Lamont, a Greenwich businessman who has taught classes at the Central Connecticut State University, have said the community college system is vital to meeting work-force requirements.

Currently, about 36,600 public school students graduate from high school each year. In 10 years, 4,700 fewer students will be heading off to college or a career each year - a 13 percent decline. Connecticut is expected to have the nations second-largest proportional decline in public school students in the nation, the U.S. Department of Education recently reported.

Ojakian said Barnes is best-equipped to serve the system through a period of transition and retrenchment.

He understands state finances. He understands higher education. I think he will be creative in offering solutions to myself and the board as we face increasingly difficult financial times in the future, Ojakian said.

The search committee recommended three finalists to Ojakian, one of whom dropped out. Ojakian made the hire in consultation with the board. He did not consult with the incoming Lamont administration.

His talent was unmatched. His overall knowledge of the system and vision for the system is extraordinary, said Pachis, who led the six-person search committee. He knows what the role of the CSU system is all about.

As the chief financial officer, Barnes will oversee a system of once-autonomous institutions that still lacks a central financial reporting system. But he no longer will have one of his responsibilities as OPM secretary  negotiating a budget with the General Assembly.

During his tenure, the state faced a chronic fiscal challenges, beginning when Malloy took office in January 2011 and faced an inherited shortfall of nearly $3.7 billion and no budget reserves. The new governor faces a projected shortfall of $1.7 billion, but reserves of $2 billion.

I wish we could have done more, but we did a lot, Barnes said.

Barnes, who made $209,439 as OPM secretary, will be paid $213,600 as chief financial officer and serves at the pleasure of the systems president. Steiner was paid $204,400.

With more than five years of state service, Barnes already is vested in the state pension system. He is eligible to retire at age 63. State employees get lifetime health benefits after 10 years of service, but they cannot be used until the employees age and years of service add to 75.

As the father of 6-year-old twins, Barnes said he is an unlikely candidate for an early retirement. He also has children ages 18, 22 and 25 from a previous marriage.

The 17 colleges and universities in the Board of Regents system currently gets about 60 percent of its funding from the state budget. State funding has been scaled back by $66 million over the last five years, a 19 percent cut. This has caused regular tuition increases. After several years of pay freezes and other concessions, unionized employees in the Regents system are slated for two years annual 5.5 percent increases.

Efforts to shed administrative costs through a system-wide reorganization were rejected by an accrediting agency earlier this year, limiting the immediate limited options to scale back spending on non-instructional positions
Emmy Stallings of Oakdale loves that shes able to work from home and set her own schedule.

The mother of three young children is one of the first 37 home bakers to receive a license under Connecticuts new Cottage Food Law, which went into effect on Oct. 1.

For a $50 annual licensing fee, Stallings and others are allowed to sell what they cook in their home kitchens directly to consumers at events such as farmers markets or local fairs and festivals.

Stallings, who owns The Cookie Nook, said aside from spreading the joy of decorated cookies, her kids are also proud to say their mom is The Cookie Nook.

The driving force behind Connecticuts Cottage Food law was outgoing state Rep. Melissa Ziobron, R-East Haddam, who saw it as a way for residents like Stallings to generate additional income doing something they love.

It wasnt easy. Connecticut struggled for years to create a cottage food law.

After an unsuccessful attempt in 2013, it looked as if legislation in 2015 provided a path forward, but the rules were never finalized. Then earlier this year those Cottage Food industry rules became part of an omnibus consumer protection bill. The measure passed the Senate unanimously and the House 142-8.

With this bill and the legislation we passed three years ago, we now have law on the books that sensibly lowers the barrier for home producers, in order that they may bring their products to market, Ziobron said when the bill was signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in June.

The process by which the law passed means there was little, if any debate about the legislation. It also means there will now need to be a push to educate the public about the industry.

There are several rules that cottage food producers must follow.

Cottage food products must be pre-packaged and labeled with the bakers name and physical address. They also must include the name of the product, and the ingredients in descending order by weight along with any allergen information. Somewhere on the package it must say Made in a Cottage Food Operation that is not Subject to Routine Government Food Safety Inspection.

There are a number of items that are not allowed to be produced under a cottage food license because they are considered dangerous. No low acid canned foods, garlic in oil, fresh fruit or vegetable juices, dehydrated meat, fruit butters or beverages are allowed under the license.

Also, pets, infants, or children under age 12 are prohibited from being in the kitchen during the preparation, packaging, or handling of any cottage food products.

The Department of Consumer Protection is also able to come inspect a home kitchen to ensure compliance with the laws.

The two-page application asks cottage food producers to specify what types of products will be produced and the production method to ensure safety.

Meredith Newman of Meredith Lee Events was the 36th resident to get her Connecticut Cottage Food license.

She said baking has always been her passion and the new law made it easy for her to apply.

She said its too expensive to rent space in a commercial kitchen and she was never one for being a law breaker, so she was excited to be stepping out of the cookie shadows.

Under the new law, a cottage food operator must attend a food safety training program that includes training in food processing and packaging before obtaining a license.

Newman, who is now able to sell everything from cakes to tarts and experiments with vegan and gluten free options, said she paid $15 to take a course online.

She said shes on public water in Hartford so the approval process for the license took less than a month.

Aside from the 37 licenses that have been granted there are 15 applications pending, according to the Department of Consumer Protection.

The Office of Fiscal Analysis estimated that 100 licenses will be issued in the first year and up to 500 licenses once the program is in full operation.

Under Connecticuts law, cottage food producers are not allowed to have annual gross sales over $25,000 a year.

This story may have been modified from its original version. See the original at ctnewsjunkie.com.
In what one analyst called an alarming trend, nearly one-quarter of jobs created in the past year in Illinois were government positions.

Government jobs in Illinois outpaced manufacturing jobs in the most recent jobs report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Government jobs grew more than 14,800 over 12 months. Manufacturing grew by 12,800.

Wirepoints founder Mark Glennon said the growth of manufacturing jobs is good, but even those gains were outpaced by government hiring.

This imbalance between the growth rates is not healthy, Glennon said. If government is growing faster than the private sector, weve got a problem.

He said Illinois growth in manufacturing coincides with President Donald Trumps economic policies designed to improve the countrys manufacturing sector, but in Illinois, the growth of government jobs still outpaces manufacturing growth.

IDES said most of the new government jobs over the past 12 months, most were from local governments. There were 1,400 new state government jobs, but 1,100 fewer federal government jobs.

Across all sectors, Illinois gained 59,300 jobs over the last 12 months in Illinois. Government posts made up a quarter of that.

Glennon said the addition of new tech and communication jobs is great for downtown Chicago, but more rural areas where manufacturing provides a good salary is very important to the states overall economy.

It adds to the payroll costs, which is the largest component of government spending and I dont see much hope for reduced overall costs of government, Glennon said.

IDES said local units of government added jobs across the board. While municipalities and park districts hired employees, most of the jobs were at school districts. Glennon said that makes sense.

I would suspect school districts because we had that big jump in spending on school districts, Glennon said. The new school funding formula added $350 million, so that presumably goes largely into payroll.

Glennon said government growing faster than blue-collar manufacturing jobs is a troubling trend that could lead to more fiscal instability and more burden on taxpayers.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded $30 million to public housing authorities nationwide, including $122,171 to Madison County Housing Authority.

According to a news release, the group will work closely with local public welfare agencies to identify youth at risk of homelessness and families whose lack of adequate housing is the primary reason their children are in foster care. In Illinois over $2.3 million was allocated to facilitate the unification of over 230 families across Illinois.

This funding will make 3,000 vouchers available for families who are unable to secure affordable housing for their children or dependents.

HUD is committed to helping parents and caregivers obtain safe and affordable housing for their families, said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. This investment will allow thousands of children to leave the foster care system and live with their families so they have the opportunity to thrive together.

With this investment, Secretary Carson takes a major step forward in his plans to ensure that HUD resources provide a platform for strong families and opportunities for self-sufficiency, said Ruth White, executive director of the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare. We applaud the Secretary for leading the way towards interagency collaboration that will reunify thousands of children with their parents, improve the economic prospects for youth leaving foster care, and ultimately reduce costs.

The funding announced today is offered through HUDs Family Unification Program (FUP), which provides rental assistance to parents struggling to provide adequate housing for their children. Additionally, this funding can be used to help provide stable housing for young adults (ages 18-24) who have aged-out of the foster care system. Like HUDs Housing Choice Vouchers, these vouchers allow families to rent housing from a private landlord and generally pay 30 percent of their monthly adjusted gross income towards rent and utilities.

According to the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare (NCHCW), an affordable housing and child welfare advocacy group, keeping children in foster care is an expensive alternative to affordable housing. On average, it costs more than $48,000 annually per family when children enter foster care. By contrast, housing and services to keep a family together costs approximately $15,000 annually per family. Supportive services for FUP families and youth are provided by agencies funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A $20 million investment in FUP vouchers saves more than $134 million in foster care costs.

Housing authorities that are awarded vouchers work closely with local public welfare agencies to identify youth at risk of homelessness and children who were placed in foster care due to lack of adequate housing.
John Killam was so impressed with Morgan County that he had to share his good fortune with kinfolk back in England in 1831.

Killam, who settled four miles west of Jacksonville in 1829, described the fertileness of the land and the abundance of wildlife.

This is a very fine country; the prairies have a fine clear soil, from two to three feet deep, he wrote in a letter to his brothers and sisters. There is plenty of game here, deer, rabbits, turkeys and partridges; hens, ducks, geese and other fowls; and all are free to hunt them.

Land is [about $1.40] per acre. We have bought 510 acres of land. There is no tithe nor tax on land till it has been bought five years, and then [2 cents] per acre. There is a small tax on cattle and farming utensils, but no other things, Killam wrote. I would rather be in Morgan County with one shirt than in England with $2,500 in my pocket.

Killam was one of many natives of Yorkshire, England, who emigrated to Morgan County between the 1820s and 1850s. And scores of those immigrants settled near the town of Lynnville, which was founded in 1831.

Many had large families and had responded to the promise of America they read about in leaflets advertising available lands, said Elizabeth Hardy of rural Jacksonville, a descendant of Yorkshire immigrants Ralph and Mary Richardson Megginson, who came to Morgan County in 1832.

Besides Killam, other Yorkshire people who established homes in western Morgan County were families such as Allinson, Bateman, Boddy, Campbell, Coultas, Denby, Eyre, Gill, Groves, Hall, Hembrough, Hills, Lazenby, Leach, Megginson, Middleton, Moody, Newby, Potter, Ranson, Rawlings, Richardson, Scott, Sturdy, Tuke and Vasey.

The adventurous ones came first, and then either wrote back or traveled back to encourage friends, relatives or neighbors to emigrate, Hardy said.

One of the first Yorkshire natives to arrive in this area was Adam Allinson, in 1822. He first bought land where the county poor farm was later located, northwest of Jacksonville, and also land on which Illinois College now stands, according to an Allinson family history.

Allinson built a log cabin near Lynnville, where he lived for several years before constructing a large Greek Revival-style house atop Olmsteads Mound, which later was named Allinsons Mound, a short distance north of Lynnville.

The Allinson home, which was completed about 1832 and was a county landmark until it burned in 1944, supposedly provided shelter for other Yorkshire immigrants until they could build their own homes.

It was natural for the acquaintances to want to settle near each other for many reasons, such as safety, relationship, help, advice and need for school and church development, Hardy said. The Yorkshire people established Wesley Chapel, also known as Point Church, a Methodist congregation, and Point School in their neighborhood.

We now realize they brought with them the willingness and determination to work, as well as the family closeness, and no doubt there were some who referred to the area west of Jacksonville as Little Britain, Hardy said.

Hundreds of descendants of Morgan Countys Yorkshire immigrants still live in the Jacksonville area, including some who continue to farm the land their ancestors bought more than 150 years ago.

This Way We Were story was first published Jan. 8, 2007.
9 hours ago

US GDP slowed sharply in Q3 but big rebound expected in Q4

WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. economy slowed to a modest annual rate of 2.1% in the July-September quarter according to the governments second read of the data, slightly better than its first estimate. But

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Aussie tourist robbed at gunpoint in Phuket exposed as fake

PHUKET: The 19-year-old Australian tourist who reported to police that he was robbed at gunpoint early Saturday morning (Nov 24) after being abandoned by his taxi driver has confessed that his claim was fake, police have confirmed.

tourismpolicecrime

By Tavee Adam

Monday 26 November 2018, 12:15PM

Australian tourist Terrance John White, 19, from Innisfail, Queensland, confessed to police that his claims of being abandoned by a Phuket taxi and being robbed at gunpoint were fake. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Terrance John White, 19, from Innisfail, Queensland, reported to police on Saturday that he was left by the side of the road in Nai Yang at about 3am that day after reportedly having an argument with the taxi driver over not using the meter to calculate the fare.

White also claimed that while he was walking along the road, four people turned up and robbed him at gunpoint.

He claimed the robbers made off with B10,000 and his iPhone.

White, along with officers from Sakoo Police Station  located south of Phuket International Airport and in the vicinity of where the claimed robbery took place  reported the incident to Thalang Police at 4pm on Saturday. (See story here.)

However, Lt Col Kittiphum Tinthalang of the Thalang Police confirmed to The Phuket News this morning (Nov 26) that White has now confessed that his claims of being robbed  and even of the taxi driver not using the meter  were fake.

The reality is that he was very drunk and he lost his property himself and he didnt know where it was, Col Kittipoom said.

White confessed to police that his claims were fake while being questioned by officers at Thalang Police Station on Saturday, Col Kittipoom added.

He also said that the taxi driver didnt abandon him on the way. The driver took him to his hotel, and he even confessed that he puked in the taxi, too, Col Kittiphum said.

Col Kittiphum that no charges will be brought against White for the fake report.

Now everything is clear and finished, we can laugh, he said.

Fake reports filed with police in Phuket can bring serious consequences. In 2012, Australian Stevie Bamford, then 21, was sentenced to 15 days incarceration at Bang Jo Detention Centre for giving a false statement to the police that she was raped in Patong. (See story here.)

In 2013, 19-year-old Danish national Morten Budtz Berthelsen was sentenced to six months in jail, suspended for two years, and fined B500 for making a false report to Kamala Police, in which he said he was attacked and robbed by a Thai gang at Kamala Beach. (See story here.)
Family weekend Art Fair

Start From: Saturday 1 December 2018, 12:30PM to Sunday 2 December 2018, 04:30PM Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.

BBQ Brunch and Brushes on Saturday 1st December from 12.30 to 4.30pm. B1,650 includes BBQ brunch, art materials and artistic instruction from local artist Kat Jones. B750 for BBQ Brunch only, B500 for Kids BBQ. B900 for art instruction only, B500 for kids (from 2pm to 4pm). Seating is limited to 45 guests. Welcome Back Brunch for Ride4Kids on Sunday 2nd December from 1pm to 4pm. The Welcome Home Brunch for the intrepid Ride 4 Kids team returning to Phuket after their 200 km ride from Phuket to Krabi. B1,000 for Family Style Brunch, B500 for Kids BBQ. Seating is limited to 45 guests so book your seats early with Jade or Tina. To book any of these events, contact: Jade@tastebargrill.com - Tel: 087 886 6401 or Tina@phukethasbeengoodtous.org - 080 143 9554
Phuket Kings Cup Regatta returns

SAILING: The 32nd Phuket Kings Cup Regatta will be held from Dec 1-8, 2018. Asias biggest and the most prestigious sailing regatta will be held at its traditional home on the popular resort island of Phuket and this year the focus will be split between the keelboats, multihulls and the next generation of sailors in the International Dinghy Classes.

Sailing

By Press Release

Monday 26 November 2018, 04:26PM

The Phuket King's Cup Regatta is organised by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organising Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, the Royal Thai Navy and the Province of Phuket

The action will start on Dec 2 with registration for all classes and sail measurements with a practice race for keelboats and multihulls, Skippers briefing and the Opening Ceremony at Beyond Kata Resort, Phuket.

There will be five days of racing for the keelboats and multihulls, with a reserve day on Thursday, Dec 6. For the International Dinghy Classes, four consecutive days of racing will start from Wednesday, Dec 5. The comprehensive classes contested by the International Dinghy fleet are Optimist Boys and Girls, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Laser Standard, 420 and 470.

Kevin Whitcraft, President of the Organising Committee, said, "We are pleased to welcome all international and Thai sailors to this years regatta, which has long been continuously organised for over three decades. Aside from large fleets of keelboats and multihulls, we have also continued focusing on dinghy fleets.

The Dinghy Classes is a fast-growing racing program designed to promote and encourage youth sailing in Thailand. Many of the young sailors competing will go on to join the crews of full-size keelboat and multihull racing teams, and compete in the larger Phuket Kings Cup Regatta in future years.

Race day prize-giving will be presented during the week. The Royal Awards Ceremony will be held on Dec 8 at Beyond Resort Kata.

The Phuket Kings Cup Regatta won the prestigious Asia Boating Awards  Best Asian Regatta in 2016. The award recognised the extraordinary efforts of the organizers of Asias premier regatta, in terms of its exceptional organisation, promotion, course quality, entry size, competitiveness and social aspects. It was one of many awards the regatta has collected over 32 years.

For three decades, the Phuket Kings Cup Regatta has been the pinnacle of international regattas in Asia, initially dedicated to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej for his passion and support for the sport of sailing and in honour of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.

The Phuket King's Cup Regatta is organised by the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Organising Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Royal Thai Navy, Yacht Racing Association of Thailand, and the Province of Phuket. The most prestigious regatta in Asia includes Phuket Dinghy Series, International Dinghy Classes, Keelboats and Multihulls amongst its competitive classes
Urgent order issued to fix dangerous Phuket road

PHUKET: The contractor responsible for the four-kilometre-long section of Thepkrasattri Rd that is being resurfaced  and has caused dozens of motorbike accidents resulting in injuries  has been ordered to make the road safer and to expedite the roadworks.

transportaccidentsconstruction

By The Phuket News

Monday 26 November 2018, 03:12PM

The contractor, Chaiyakorn Co Ltd, will take urgent steps to help prevent the number of accidents along the section of Thepkrasattri Rd being resurfaced. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung gave the order at a special meeting held yesterday (Nov 25), explained a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department.

At the meeting it was revealed that 36 people had reported being in accidents along the section of road undergoing repairs.

The meeting yesterday was held at Thalang District Office with Phuket Highways Chief Somwang Lohamut, officials from the Damrongdharma Centre (Provincial Ombudsmans office) and a representative from the contractor Chaiyakorn Co Ltd present.

The meeting was held after officials conducted an inspection of the roadworks, along the northbound lane of Thepkrasattri Rd from near the U-turn near Thalang office of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to the main Makro store in Thalang.

The inspection followed a slew of complaints from local residents, at the time confirming that more than 20 people had been injured in motorbike falls along the section of the dangerous road, with nine people injured in falls from motorbikes on Loy Krathong night last Thursday (Nov 22), and another person injured the next day. (See story here.)

I have received a report explaining that the 36 people have been injured in accidents because of these roadworks, V/Gov Prakob said.

I want the Phuket office of the Highways Department and the construction company to solve the problems presented: too much dust, lack of traffic signs, to speed up construction, and to provide assistance to the 36 people who were injured in accidents because of the road construction.

V/Gov Prakob urged all person injured in falls due to the roadworks to file complaints with the Damrongdharma Centre.

Please bring all evidence of the injuries and accidents, including your own statements (explaining the accident and injuries sustained) and ID cards, and police reports, to the Damrongdharma Centre, V/Gov Prakob said.

We will accept only complaints filed at the Damrongdharma Centre, he added.

The representative from Chaiyakorn Co Ltd, who was not named in the Phuket PR office report, agreed to follow all instructions to mitigate the dangers of the roadworks as soon as possible.

We will be happy to resolve the problem and to post more signs warning of the roadworks, the representative said.

Village headman and district officials can show us where they want the signs to be installed so they are clear and help to prevent accidents.

As for the dust problem, we will have water sprayed on the surface more often so the dust does not affect people in the area,

The representative also agreed to speed up the construction so that the roadworks are completed as quickly as safely possible.

Last Friday, one official at the Phuket Highways office told The Phuket News that the roadworks was already scheduled to be complete within one month from the projects commencement on Nov 13.

Also, Phuket Highways Chief Somwang last Friday explained that the uneven surfaces were expected to continue for about one more week.

In the meantime, I urge motorbike riders to slow down while riding through the area. I recommend that they do not drive faster than 40km/h, Mr Somwang said. (See story here.)
Read the South Dakota Supreme Court ruling on recreational marijuana

The ruling, released Wednesday morning, ended months of speculation about how the issue on recreational marijuana in South Dakota would play out.
NORRISTOWN  A Pottstown man potentially faces decades in prison after he admitted to his role in a corrupt organization, specifically, to distributing the deadly drug fentanyl and cocaine for the drug ring, primarily in the Pottstown region but also in Berks and Lehigh counties.

Aaron Ace Ramseure, 31, of the 900 block of North Hanover Street, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court on Monday to 16 felony charges, including corrupt organizations, conspiracy to deliver controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver heroin, fentanyl and cocaine in connection with incidents that occurred between November 2015 and June 2018.

Judge Risa Vetri Ferman deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Ramseure, who will remain in the county jail while awaiting sentencing. Assistant District Attorney Tonya Lupinacci is prosecuting the case.

Ramseure, who is represented by defense lawyer Jodi Griffis, faces a possible maximum sentence of 10-to-20-years in prison on the corrupt organizations charge alone and the possibility of decades in prison when the individual drug delivery charges are considered.

Ramseure was one of five men arrested in June during an investigation dubbed Operation Poison Control.

At the time, District Attorney Kevin R. Steele alleged the men were delivering poison to drug-addicted people in the region.

Authorities identified David Tyrone Cooper, 43, of the 1000 block of Saylor Street, Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, as the leader of the alleged corrupt organization. Saylor is still awaiting court action on drug-related charges.

At the time of the arrests, Steele characterized Ramseure as second-in-command to Cooper, one of Coopers right-hand men.

Others charged, and still awaiting trial, in connection with the drug operation included:

Miguel A. Migz Figueroa Jr., 34, of the 700 block of Lance Place, Reading, who was identified in court papers as Coopers fentanyl, heroin and cocaine supplier; Jerome Beverly Tucker, 63, of the 400 block of Chestnut Street, Pottstown, who authorities alleged was to cook the crack cocaine and prepare it for distribution; and Christopher Saunders, 25, of the 400 block of King Street, Pottstown, who was identified as Coopers stepson and a member of the organizations upper echelon and who allegedly was responsible for overseeing the distribution of cocaine and fentanyl in Pottstown.

Investigators with the district attorneys Violent Crime Unit said the organizations criminal activities were reported to police by nine confidential informants and three anonymous concerned citizens. The investigation also utilized electronic surveillance including wiretaps on the suspects phones, visual surveillance, controlled drug buys and seizures of evidence with search warrants.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Cooper was previously jailed for about 10 years on drug trafficking charges and while he was preparing for release from a state prison in 2015 he formulated a plan to distribute drugs in Montgomery County, according to the criminal complaint.

This investigation revealed Cooper accomplished his goal, detectives wrote. This plan included the enlistment of various sub-dealers, including his stepson, Chris Saunders.

On June 1, 2018, detectives intercepted phone calls between Cooper and his alleged confederates that revealed Figueroa was to deliver fentanyl to Cooper at the Muhlenberg Township residence, according to court papers. Surveillance was established in the area and detectives observed Figueroa arrive in a Honda Odyssey and meet with Cooper.

During a subsequent search of Coopers residence, detectives seized cocaine, drug packaging materials and a firearm, according to the arrest affidavit. Detectives alleged the cocaine was obtained from Figueroa.

Figueroa also utilized a concealed compartment, or void, in the rear of the Honda Odyssey to conceal drugs. A state police trooper trained to identify such altered vehicle compartments searched the vehicle and discovered two bags of fentanyl, nearly 200 grams, and a Glock .40-caliber firearm.

Officials said the fentanyl seized could have been divided into 6,600 doses on the street.

Searches also were conducted at other residences in Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh counties and resulted in the seizure of drugs, seven firearms and $34,000 cash, court papers indicate.

The arrests were the culmination of a joint investigation by authorities from Montgomery, Berks and Lehigh counties, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and Pennsylvania State Police.
Strutting isnt just for turkeys anymore.

Were reminded of this nearly every day, but Donald Trump outdid himself Thanksgiving Day when a reporter asked the president what hes most grateful for. In a nutshell, with only a tiny bit of editing: himself. OK, he mentioned his family first but then went on to extol his own virtues.

Of course he did. Thanksgiving, after all, is really about Trump, nest-ce-pas? One can hardly wait for Christmas when well learn, oh joy, that unto the world a Trump was born.

Meanwhile, we have a few weeks to digest his self-appraisal. Elaborating upon his gratitude, Trump told a press gaggle at Mar-a-Lago: This country is so much stronger now than it was when I took office that you wouldnt believe it.

Correct. You wouldnt believe it.

He also said, Ive made a tremendous difference in the country.

Indeed. (See midterm elections 2018.)

And when it comes to foreign policy and Americas status in the world, not that anyone asked, he said:  When I see foreign leaders, they say, We cannot believe the difference in strength between the United States now and the United States two years ago.'

If true, he surely was referring to Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commonly referred to as MBS, and not the nations of NATO, many of which have lost faith in the U.S. since Trump took office.

He cant have been referring to Germany, which recently canceled arms sales to Saudi Arabia given MBS apparent responsibility for last months murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. German Chancellor Angela Merkel did the thinkable  cut off all arms sales to Saudi Arabia  while Trump has done the unthinkable: Dismiss the Central Intelligence Agencys conclusion finding that MBS ordered the Washington Post columnists killing and dismemberment.

Give the president credit where due: He tells it like it is, which is that were going to pretend the CIA report is wrong and continue as before. Maybe MBS knew about it, maybe he didnt, says Trump. Sure, and maybe some Mexicans are nice people, maybe not. Yes, sure, sure, that awful slaughter and dismemberment thing was bad, really bad, but lets not allow an over-there thing interfere with arms sales and, who knows, perhaps some future Trump developments.

Merkel earlier had said Germany would cancel future arms sales pending the investigation into Khashoggis death. She has now ended current sales, and Denmark and Finland have followed suit. But the U.S., England and France, as of this writing, failed to take such measures. Obviously, geopolitical considerations are complex, but there are surely other options to suspending arms sales, though such a move by the U.S. would doubtless be welcome in other parts of the Arab world. Yemen comes to mind.

Since 2015, when Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries formed a coalition to combat Yemens Houthi insurgency, the civilian cost has been devastating. The situation is beyond dire, with hundreds of thousands dislocated and tens of thousands killed, including nearly a generation of children. The London-based Save the Children organization estimates that 85,000 children may have died of hunger and disease since the conflict began.

This is no mere sidebar to U.S. strength, as Trump measures it, but is paramount to his flawed argument that we cant afford to criticize MBS lest we blow a big, big deal. Apparently, hed rather implicitly condone the murder of a journalist (and U.S. resident) and turn a blind eye to what some have termed genocide in Yemen, assisted by the U.S.

Unsurprisingly, the White House refuses any suggestion that taking a moral stance is appropriate or necessary. But if strength is what Trump wants to convey, he should do exactly that. He could say that America is committed to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and considers a free press essential to a free society. Therefore, either the arms deal is dead or MBS is no longer our negotiating partner.

Trump might further add that America wont play a role in a war made worse by the coalitions involvement  and hold Saudi Arabia to account for any war crimes it has committed. For real strength is about taking a moral hardline even when it hurts. As improbable as these scenarios are, theyd at least give Trump something to strut about.

Kathleen Parkers email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com.

(c) 2018, Washington Post Writers Group
Carlos Ghosn has hired U.S.-based law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to defend himself against allegations of financial misconduct in Japan, a person familiar with the matter said.

Mr. Ghosn, who leads French auto giant Renault SA as chairman and chief executive, and who formerly served as Nissan Motor Co. chairman, has been detained in a Tokyo detention facility since Monday. Japanese prosecutors arrested him on suspicion of underreporting his compensation at Nissan by about $44 million (U.S.) over a five-year period.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK on Sunday reported Mr. Ghosn has told prosecutors that he denies wrongdoing.

Nissan said it went to authorities after an internal investigation uncovered significant acts of alleged financial wrongdoings. Nissans board on Thursday voted to oust Mr. Ghosn as chairman.

Mr. Ghosn hasnt been charged with any crime. A Tokyo court on Wednesday approved the detention of Mr. Ghosn through late this week. In Japan, suspects can be held and questioned for weeks without formal charges.

In addition to the allegations made by prosecutors, Nissans investigation alleged that Mr. Ghosn used corporate money to buy and renovate residences he used in Beirut and Rio de Janeiro, a person familiar with Nissans investigation has said. Prosecutors have so far not said publicly whether they are investigating that issue.

The Ghosn family believed the residences in Rio de Janeiro, Beirut and other locations were corporate housing, whose purchase went through the normal channels for Nissan approval, a person familiar with the family has said.

Brad Karp, chairman of Paul, Weiss and a noted defense attorney for big Wall Street banks in securities matters, will represent Mr. Ghosn along with another of the firms partners, Michael E. Gertzman, the person familiar with the matter said.

In Japan, Mr. Ghosn has retained former prosecutor Motonari Otsuru, who is now in private practice, this person said. Japans public broadcaster NHK reported his hiring last week.

Mr. Karp has represented dozens of corporations in securities and regulatory cases, including JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America, according to the firms website. He also represented the National Football League in its settlement of hundreds of lawsuits filed by former players alleging the league concealed risks associated with concussions.

Last decade, Mr. Karp helped Citigroup Inc. win an arbitration case over the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which had argued that its $7.5 billion investment in Citigroup had been made on the basis of fraudulent statements by the New York bank.

Mr. Ghosn has met with Mr. Otsuru at least once during his detention, the person familiar with the matter said.

The 64-year-old businessman is among the worlds most prominent executive, having forged a globe-spanning alliance between Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Renault.
A look back at how the General Motors plant in Oshawa has evolved.

1918: McLaughlin Motor Co. and Chevrolet, which both had vehicles constructed in the building that would become the Oshawa Assembly, merge into General Motors of Canada.

1937: More than 4,000 General Motors workers go on strike in Oshawa, calling for an 8-hour day, better wages and working conditions, as well as a recognition of their new union, the United Automobile Workers.

1953: Production of Pontiac, Chevrolet and Buick models begins on Nov. 7 at the official Oshawa Assembly for General Motors Canada.

1955: Almost 10,000 workers strike for 148 days in Oshawa, asking for health care, more secure working conditions and higher wages. The strike extends to other, smaller GM plants, such as a Londons which manufactures diesel engines and only employed 600 workers. At this time, even the mayor of Oshawa worked at the plant.

1970: UAW workers at GM go on strike for 94 days. Its settled just before Christmas.

Read more:

GM confirms Oshawa Assembly Plant will stop production in 2019, affecting more than 2,500 jobs

GM overhaul spells end to century of automaking in Canadian hub

Ottawa looking at all options as GM closes Oshawa plant

1984: For thirteen days, across thirteen plants, including Oshawas, 36,500 General Motors workers go on strike in Canada, winning a new agreement that includes necessities such as extra payment for overtime work. The strike is matched by a similar one in the U.S.A.

1985: The Oshawa plant shuts down to revamp and switch from continuous assembly line construction to a new system of flexible manufacturing.

February 1986: Sales for GM Canada rise to a record $19 billion for 1985, making it the company with the largest value of sales in Canada.

March 1986: A crane falls across the main power supply for the two Oshawa plants, sending 4,000 workers home for the day, preventing the assembly of 1,400 cars while the crane is removed.

March 1986: GM Canada invests $2 billion in the Oshawa Assembly plant, the largest single investment by a Canadian manufacturing company at the time, with the aim of boosting production from 500,000 vehicles to 720,000 annually and creating the largest automotive complex in North America.

September 2007: The United Auto Workers union and GM are unable to reach an agreement, resulting in 73,000 workers walking off the job for two days in the first national strike since 1970.

June 2008: Angry Canadian Auto Workers blockade the entrance to GMs headquarters after the announcement that the Oshawa truck plant will be shut down.

December 2008: Canadian branches of the ailing U.S. automakers are offered $3.29 billion in bailout funds from the Canadian government in order to keep Canadian branches running while the companies are restructured and rebuilt.

June 2009: GM files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The U.S. government takes ownership of 60.8 per cent of GMs stock, the Canadian government 11.7 per cent, the UAW 17.5 per cent, and bondholders 10 per cent. By the time the restructuring is over, GM hopes to lose 14 factories, 29,000 workers, and 2,400 dealers.

November 2010: General Motors holds its first IPO, raising $20.1 billion US in the biggest initial stock offering in U.S. history. The days trading closes with 478 million shares sold at a price of $33.

January 2012: With nine million vehicles sold in 2011, GM is officially the top automobile manufacturer in the world and the largest automaker in China.

May 2014: GM announces a recall of more than 2 million vehicles, bringing the total for the year to more than 13 million, the result of problems with parts including seatbelts and ignition switches.

June 2014: GM releases the results of an internal probe relating to delayed recalls and the deaths of at least 13 people, resulting in the dismissal of 15 employees and the discipline of five. The companys CEO, Mary Barra, announces GM will create a program to compensate those injured or killed by the defective cars.

February 2015: More than 4,180 claims have been filed against General Motors, alleging the automakers vehicles with faulty ignition switches caused deaths and injuries. So far, 128 claims have been ruled eligible, including 51 deaths.

June 2018: In a letter to the U.S. Commerce Department, GM warns that the proposed tariffs by the Trump administration could force the company to cut jobs and raise the price of cars.

Sunday: Unifor receives notification from General Motors that the company will make a major announcement that will impact its global operations.

Monday: GM announces it will stop production in Oshawa at the end of 2019.

Alexandra Jones is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @AlexandraMaeJ

Emerald Bensadoun is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @twerk_vonnegut

Correction  November 27, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly referred to then McLaughlin Motor Co. as McLaughlin Buicks.

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For Scott Richards, an electrician whos been with General Motors for 32 years, news that the auto giant will cease production at its Oshawa plant brought on a grim sense of deja vu.

On Monday morning, dozens of workers left the facility to stand in the frigid rain, having stopped work as they waited for details on the companys plans.

Its sombre in there. This is the third time Ive been through this, and its awful, said Richards, who has worked at two other plants that are now closed.

Ill be OK, because I could probably take a package and retire. But I really feel awful for the people whove been here 10 or 12 years.

GM officially announced Monday it will stop production in Oshawa at the end of 2019, confirming media reports from Sunday evening.

The move, sparked anger and uncertainty in the GTA and across Canada as politicians and workers reacted to the decision. Its part of a broad restructuring at GM, which is also ceasing production at four plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland, in order to cut costs and focus more on autonomous and electric vehicles, the company said.

Richards, whose grandfather and father both worked for GM, doesnt expect his daughter to carry on the family auto work tradition.

Id tell her to go into something else. And thats sad, because Ive made a good living here, he said.

This is a place where you can work, make enough to buy a house, put a little bit away. And places like that are fewer and further between.

According to GMs website, production at the Oshawa plant began on Nov. 7, 1953. In the 1980s, it employed roughly 23,000 people. Now, GM spokesperson says, there are about 2,600 hourly workers and about 300 contract and salary employees.

Those workers take immense pride in what theyre doing, Richards said. This is the best product in the world. Theres no reason for the company to have done this.

David Paterson, GM Canadas vice-president for corporate and environmental affairs, told the Star in a phone interview that of the 2,600 hourly workers, half are eligible for a full pension.

Under the plants union contract the company has to give notice of any significant change where it could end production, he added. The plants products, the Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Impala sedans as well as the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks, are being discontinued at the end of 2019.

We have to give notice because we need to then wind down the workforce, said Paterson.

So that will happen in stages, the first will be around the summer of next year, well lose about a third of the employees in the plant and then the other two-thirds would be at the end of 2019.

Paterson said the company has tried for a year to see if it could find any product to put in Oshawa after the end of 2019.

Because were at capacity and because the car market moved away, we were not successful, he said.

We have the best technology in the plant already, we have the best workers in the world in the plant, we just dont have the product.

On top of a previously announced closure of a plant in South Korea, GM will cease production at two other plants elsewhere in the world by the end of 2019, he added.

For the last several years, as gas prices have remained low, consumers have gravitated toward bigger, roomier vehicles like pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles. Demand for small and mid-size cars has plunged. Earlier this year, Ford said it would stop making sedans for the North American market and announced cuts in its workforce.

Jerry Dias, the national president of Unifor, which represents workers at the plant, told members packed into a hall at the Oshawa headquarters of Unifor Local 222, they are not closing our damn plant without one hell of a fight.

Speaking to loud cheers at the fiery news conference Monday afternoon, Dias said hes already spoken to the provincial government and is flying to Ottawa on Tuesday to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Read more:

Opinion | David Olive: Is it time for Canada to have its own automaker?

A timeline: GMs century of building cars in Oshawa

GM says it will cut 15% of salaried workforce in North America

We have to use every trick, every tool of government to make sure GM understands theyre not going to take advantage of this country, Dias said.

He later told the Star that workers at the plant make roughly $36 an hour.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is vowing to support workers affected by the General Motors plant closure in Oshawa. The federal government says it is weighing all options to assist auto workers.

GM is making a foolish decision that doesnt make sense according to their own metrics. This is their best-run plant, he said.

Both the province and federal government acquired GM shares in 2009 after providing about $10.6 billion in aid to the automaker. They unloaded the last of the shares in 2015, a decision Dias said sure doesnt help with their leverage now.

At Mr. Burger, a nearby diner which has been in Oshawa for 42 years, the news hit hard.

When you know how people are dependent on GM, it hurts, especially around Christmastime, said owner James Panos, whose great-grandfather worked for GM.

Panos, whose house specialty is the GM burger  topped with bacon, ham and cheese  estimates 25 to 30 per cent of his customers work at GM.

And the other 70 per cent are probably related to or friends with someone who does, said Panos, whose diner is about a five-minute drive from the GM plant. He frequently delivers orders there.

In a statement, Unifor leadership said they do not accept the closure of the plant as a foregone conclusion. Workers at the Toronto Star are represented by a different Unifor union local.

The union is assuring members that we are calling on General Motors Canada to allocate product to Oshawa. The Oshawa assembly plant is GMs most decorated plant with a highly skilled, committed workforce.

The statement added our plant has been in this situation before with no product on the horizon, and we were able to successfully campaign for continued operations.

With files from Star wire services

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.

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Its time to give serious thought to creating the countrys first Canadian-owned automaker.

The announcement today by General Motors Co. (GM) that it is assigning no new products to GM Canadas landmark Oshawa plant after 2019 puts the facilitys future in doubt.

Nationalizing GM Canada is a compelling proposition. It would not only save jobs but create them, as Canada repatriated the engineers, designers and experts in advanced manufacturing who have been obliged to make their careers abroad.

It would be a significant advance in economic sovereignty, in a Canada that is stunted by its status as the worlds biggest branch-plant economy.

Canada is one of the worlds biggest and oldest automaking jurisdictions. We were building motorized vehicles in Southern Ontario for about half a century before what is now Honda Motor Co. Ltd began its transition from bicycle to vehicle maker.

Yet Canada is one of the very few major automaking regions without an automaker of its own.

Read more:

GM confirms Oshawa Assembly Plant will stop production in 2019, affecting more than 2,500 jobs

GMs century of building cars in Oshawa

GM to close four U.S. plants in massive reorganization push

Germany, with Volkswagen, and South Korea, with Hyundai/Kia, built major automakers from wartime ruins. (VW was destroyed by wartime bombing.)

And an Elon Musk erratic in his ambitions managed with a 15-year-old start-up, Tesla Inc., to force the global industry to commit heavily to electric vehicles (EVs).

GM Canada is no start-up, but an entrenched powerhouse whose change in ownership would make it stronger still. Its parent, after all, drove itself into bankruptcy less than a decade ago, and GMs complacent corporate culture has not changed since.

It is not a coincidence that Magna International and Linamar Corp., the independent, Canadian-owned auto-parts giants, are among the most innovative firms in the global auto industry. And they have the growth potential that comes with being multinationals.

By contrast, the Detroit Three automakers and Southern Ontario latecomers Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. exist mostly to supply the U.S. market.

We were just reminded of the dangers of being held hostage to that market when Ottawa signed a free trade deal with the U.S. that it dislikes. It did so because U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to eviscerate the Canadian economy with a tariff of as much as 25 per cent on U.S. vehicle imports from Canada, with an estimated loss of 186,000 Canadian jobs.

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What a bizarre turn that was. The U.S. threatening to weaken, if not destroy, U.S. firms in Canada that have been hogs at the trough of Canadian corporate-welfare largesse. One of them, GM, was bailed out in 2009 in part by Ottawa and Queens Park to the tune of about $10.8 billion.

The U.S.-Canada bailout of GM saved about a million American jobs. Now this.

But then, the Detroit Three automakers have for decades subjected Southern Ontarians to traumatizing actual and threatened closure of assembly and parts plants.

Theyve never even built cars for the unique Canadian market, save the occasional cheesy rebadged version of a U.S. model.

Despite the repeated threat of closure at GM Oshawa, or perhaps because of it, the plants remarkable 2,690 employees have made that facility among the highest-ranked in the global industry in both product quality and productivity. (The number of person-hours required to build a vehicle.)

While GM Oshawa is the current focus, ultimately the fate of GM Canada is on the line. After all, Oshawa is GM Canadas crown jewel.

And so, we have a decision to make. A while back, GM killed the Australian auto-manufacturing industry by closing its venerable Holden division there. Canberras blase reaction was to reconcile itself to Australia no longer participating in one of the worlds most important industries.

Obviously, Canada has that option. Just accept the jeopardized status of GM Oshawa, and pray the rest of GM Canada doesnt eventually meet with a similar fate.

But theres a more compelling option, an act of economic nation-building.

By purchasing GM Canada in its entirety, Canada would own a major, vertically integrated automaker. GM Canada operates assembly and parts plants, engineering labs, distribution centres, a nationwide dealership network and a cold-weather testing centre in Kapuskasing.

Why would we buy GM Canada? It is a 20th-century manufacturing business, many would say, when our focus should be on homegrown artificial intelligence (AI), alternative energy and other 21st-century technologies.

Would it be viable, or another ill-fated Bricklin?

And do we have the money and inclination to do this?

We do have the money. Canadas four largest public-pension funds alone command more than $1 trillion in assets. Ottawa would eventually spin off the new auto company to the private sector, as it did with Air Canada and Canadian National Railway Co.

As to inclination, the Harper and Trudeau governments blocked no fewer than four foreign takeovers deemed counter to Canadians best interest.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is vowing to support workers affected by the General Motors plant closure in Oshawa. The federal government says it is weighing all options to assist auto workers.

And the Trudeau government has nationalized the Trans-Mountain pipeline project. The goal is to liberate Canada from its reliance on the U.S. as sole market for Canadian oil.

We would invest in a Canadian-owned automaker because the global auto industry is at the forefront of technological innovation, including the AI that is key to EVs and driverless vehicles.

GM Canada is no Bricklin start-up, but a deeply entrenched, multibillion-dollar enterprise with significant market share.

As noted, a truly Canadian and independent automaker would attract the auto worlds brightest talent. And its creation would encourage all branch plants to get into line as responsible Canadian citizens.

Confronted with the possibility of confiscation of its entire 110-year old investment in Canada, GM would negotiate a fair-price sale of GM Canada. The deal would include the new firms continued ability to sell the strongest GM-branded products in Canada, Chevrolet and GMC, while taking a pass on slow selling Buick and Cadillac.

A rechristened GM Canada would design vehicles for Canadians. And, learning from that, it would devise winning vehicles for niche markets worldwide, becoming a geographically diverse firm. It would export to both major and emerging economies. The latter are the worlds fastest-growing markets, where Canada has high and favourable brand recognition.

And an independent Canadian automaker would no longer be yoked with production of marginal GM products, which has repeatedly been GM Oshawas fate.

There would be some who would fret that Canada was becoming closed to business by effectively seizing a sizeable foreign asset. To which the response is that theres no point being open to businesses that act against the Canadian public interest.

According to the old expression, one either acts or is acted upon. We have allowed GM to act upon us in disagreeable ways long enough.

There are other examples of injurious branch-plant impact on Canada. But for now, lets make an example of GM. And well see how it goes from there.

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  February 1, 2019: This column was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Toyota Corp. transitioned from making bicycles to cars.

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S&P futures are bouncing early after a week many bulls would like to forget. Coming off the third week since mid-October where nearly $1 trillion (U.S.) in market value was wiped out, risk assets appear to be back in favour, if developments in Europe are any guide. With the exception of February and March this year, you would need to return to the latter half of December 2015 and into January 2016 to find sell-offs of this magnitude.

Investors look to be shrugging off developments that Russia fired upon and seized Ukraine warships near the Crimea peninsula Sunday, just days ahead of the Group of 20 talks set to get underway in Argentina. An emergency UN Security Council meeting will take place around 11 a.m. in New York, where some resolution will likely be sought. Delegations for the G20 are slated to arrive today ahead of formal discussions Friday and Saturday.

Some are pointing to Italian willingness to negotiate with the EU over its budget and EU approval of the Brexit deal as easing tensions. There also appears to be a collective shrugging of new reports that Saudi oil production has risen further than what was reported last week  itself a record. Oil assets are rising despite reports of additional new supply, as oil, like some metals is now below cost support, according to Goldman Sachss Jeffrey Currie in an earlier note. G20 talks are also being flagged as a potential opportunity for Saudi Arabia and Russia to come to a better agreement to balance oil supply. Currie also discussed the propensity for global growth in 2019 to reach 3.5% and a lack of any evidence for recessionlike weakness in demand. Its unprecedented for all asset classes to be down in the absence of a recession, he wrote.

Go Backward Before You Can Go Forward

Given the dramatic reversal this morning, leaders Friday, which included defensive names, will be in focus. Airlines (AAL, JBLU, UAL) were clearly the beneficiaries of lower oil prices Friday (though WTI is up 1% and Brent up 1.8% early Monday), while many of the rate-sensitive sectors (utilities, real estate) have led the S&P for nearly three straight weeks. Figure it should come as no surprise as the 10-year yield has declined ever since the last FOMC decision early this month. And as the S&P has shed more than 4% since mid-October, many of the aforementioned sectors have risen.

Federal Reserve Chairman Powells speech Wednesday will likely have the market perched on pins and needles for his thoughts on inflation and the growth outlook, and perhaps any insight into whether the recent market struggles have raised the spectre of FOMC action or inaction. FOMC minutes from the Nov. 8 meeting come on Thursday.

In other reversals, Logitech late Sunday confirmed the termination of talks to acquire Plantronics  less than a month after initial reports indicated Plantronics was on the block. Will be watching shares of other communication and messaging services like j2 Global, and Turtle Beach Corp. (the fourth best performer in the Nasdaq this year), which competes with Logitech in the computer peripherals business. Activist Third Point and Campbell Soup Co. have also changed their tack, as the two are said to be nearing an agreement to end their proxy fight, according to the WSJ.

The Rockwell/UTX deal approval Friday too, is likely providing that much-needed optimism ahead of the U.S.-China talks this coming weekend. The surprise approval came after the Chinese declined to approve another high profile deal in Qualcomm/NXP Semi earlier this year that many saw as a proxy for deteriorating U.S.-China relations. Orbotech and Oclaro rose Friday as they are also in pending acquisitions that require the Chinese nod. Many of the tech giants (like INTC, MSFT, NXPI, AMD, MU) with China exposure are due to present at upcoming conferences, and so any bullish sentiment on relations should help remove any overhang before executives present.

Your 66-Hour ICYMI

Heres some stuff you might have missed since Fridays early close.

The two-week old Camp Fire blaze in California has been fully contained; border crossing between Mexico and the U.S. was closed as migrants approach and tear gas was fired; Barrons cover story looked at the collapse in values seen by the FAANG names in recent weeks, while also looking at the prospects for why the FOMC may pause on interest rate hikes  an issue Bloombergs Emily Barrett and John Authers also evaluated following the recent market concerns; China researchers said they contributed to the first gene-edited babies, according to the AP; EU approved the Brexit deal, putting the terms of the exit squarely in the hands of Theresa May and her party; Texas A&M upset LSU after a whopping seven overtimes, providing a windfall to those taking the over (146 combined points); the N.Y. Giants post-season hopes were effectively quashed; Ohio State sent a message with its upset of #4 Michigan; President Trump presumably referred to himself as President T in thanking himself for lower oil prices; as far as coining fresh terms, golfer Phil Mickelson took home the $9 million prize for winning The Match in his duel with Tiger Woods in the fourth playoff hole and after multiple concessions by both parties, but also set the golfing Twitter universe aflame when describing a potential shot he was to attempt using #sidesauce, and the pay-per-view showing ended up being free for many after technical difficulties.

Notes From the Sell Side

Cognizant is being pushed and pulled this morning with dueling analysts from Goldman Sachs and Cowen upgrading and downgrading, respectively. Goldman seems to be prevailing with shares up 1.7% early after the analyst expects sustained improvement in revenue growth in the next few quarters on improving trends in health care, Communication Media and Financial services.

Cowen also issued its best ideas list for 2019, highlighting DXC Technology as its top pick with a simultaneous upgrade. Shares are indicated up 3% in the pre-market after analyst Bryan Bergin sees more than 30% upside given its depressed valuation and risk/reward. Shares are now de-risked with a team of proven operators poised to stabilize revenue.
Desperate times call for desperate measures in Canadas supply-constrained pot industry.

National Access Cannabis Corp., the countrys largest private marijuana retailer with 17 stores, has a team of five people watching 24/7 for new inventory from Albertas provincial regulator, which controls wholesale pot distribution.

At 3:30 in the morning all of a sudden $4,000 (U.S.) worth of inventory is made available yet in seven minutes its drawn down, meaning that other big competitors are doing the same thing, Mark Goliger, chief executive officer of Ottawa-based NAC, said in a phone interview Friday.

Its evidence of the severity of the supply shortages that have plagued Canadian cannabis retailers since legalization on Oct. 17. Quebecs government-controlled retailer has restricted its operating hours to four days a week, while Alberta has temporarily halted the issuance of new retail licenses due to lack of product.

This will affect NACs plans to have 50 stores open nationally by the end of the year and may result in cash flow constraints depending how long the ban lasts, Goliger said. NAC, which operates the Meta and NewLeaf banners, has 13 stores in Alberta and was aiming for 25 by the first quarter of 2019.

We have employees that were set to open those stores, so we have HR costs, and then carrying costs of leases, where stores are going to be sitting dark although the construction is complete and they could be making revenue, he said.

NAC has a joint venture with Second Cup Ltd., which is planning to convert two of its Alberta coffee shops into cannabis stores and has identified more than 20 locations in Ontario, where the government will start accepting retail applications in December. For now, marijuana sales in Canadas most populous province are limited to a government-run website, with the first stores expected to open in April.

Ontario has restricted licensed producers and their affiliates to just one store each, but NAC is not a licensed producer so its free to open as many as 75, the cap for individual retailers. Goliger said NAC plans to hit the 75-store threshold but isnt sure yet what the breakdown will be between Second Cup locations and new locations.

Shares in NAC have dropped almost 50 per cent from a peak in July, giving it a market value of about $107 million (Canadian).
In its pricing, logistics and financial controls, Canada Post is running like a top.

The Canada Post Group of Companies, as its formally known, is consistently profitable. Net income in its latest year was $144 million, a near-doubling over the previous year. The United States Postal Service (USPS), by sharp contrast, reported a loss of almost $4 billion(U.S.) in the fiscal 2018 results it released Nov. 14  the USPSs 12th straight year of losses.

In a transformation for the record books, Canada Post reinvented itself, cutting its reliance on a lettermail business that the Internet has been killing off, and becoming a parcel-delivery service tailor-made for the new world of e-commerce.

Unfortunately, there was no parallel reinvention of Canada Posts labour-relations practices.

In recent years Ive spoken with about 20 postal workers, mostly letter-carriers and truck drivers. And about 20 of them have brushed off my thanks for their excellent service to complain of stress from overwork, lack of job security, and meddlesome, insensitive supervisors. There is a cure for this, short of another round of rotating strikes. Canada Post needs a new board chair and a new CEO and top management team focused on building a harmonious workplace.

What weve learned in the latest dispute is that even the greatest expertise in logistics, automation efficiencies and financial controls is insufficient to prevent an otherwise estimable enterprise from grinding to a halt because of chronic and widespread disrespectful treatment of employees.

Read more:

Senators to resume debate on postal legislation after taking a day to reflect

Opinion | Heather Mallick: Why Canada Post doesnt deliver for Canadians

Mediators mandate for Canada Post and CUPW expires as back-to-work bill looms

Will Canadian business ever kick its U.S. addiction?

Canada might just be more committed to global trade than any other country, in striking contrast with a Canadian business sector that is perhaps the least intrepid among its world peers.

Its worth noting that the Americans who cracked global markets were the likes of IBM Corp., Coca-Cola Co., Procter & Gamble Co., Microsoft Corp. and most recently Facebook Inc. and Amazon.com Inc.

Their Canadian counterparts in that role have been politicians: Lester Pearson (the 1965 Auto Pact), Pierre Trudeau (the first Team Canada trade missions to China), Brian Mulroney and Jean Chretien (the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and its successor, the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA) and Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau (the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA; the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP; and a renegotiated NAFTA, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA).

In last weeks federal mini-budget, Ottawa is yet again striving to help Canadian business strengthen and widen its export prowess. The feds are spending $14 billion on accelerated corporate investment writeoffs, and more than $1 billion to upgrade Canadian transportation infrastructure to get Canadian goods to export markets beyond the U.S.

Yet its reasonable to wonder if that will do any good.

A recent analysis shows that European exporters to Canada are making much more use of CETA than Canadian businesses. And the federal finance ministry notes that Canada is far behind its G-7 peers in exports to emerging markets, the worlds fastest-growing economies.

The real solution might be federal largesse that is earned only by Canadian firms able to report that more than 30 per cent of their exports are to non-U.S. markets.

Stunning fall of a corporate superstar

The downfall of Carlos Ghosn is a reminder that reputation is fleeting.

A brilliant industrial strategist with an iron gut for risk, Ghosn revived one major automaker, Renault S.A., and rescued another, Nissan Motor Co., that had one foot in the grave.

Ghosn was also an empire builder: The enterprise from which he retired, last year, combined Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

But on Nov. 19, Ghosn was detained by Japanese authorities on suspicions that Ghosn had for years understated his compensation in regulatory filings. Thats a polite way of describing an alleged tax cheat.

It has since been revealed that Ghosn raided Nissans treasury to buy at least five homes.

Though he has not been convicted of anything, Ghosns reputation is already in ruins. A Japanese press that long fawned over him now dismisses Ghosn as having gone from hero to zero.

At the height of his renown, Ghosn was a populist hero in Japan, an exemplar of continued Japanese industrial strength in the shadow of a rising China. He was routinely mobbed for autographs during plant tours, and starred in a series of manga comic books.

But today, Ghosn is a symbol of the widespread moral rot in Japanese industry, notably the auto sector, source of the deadly exploding air bag (Takata Corp.), a quality scandal at Mitsubishi, and the recall last year of 1.2 million Nissan vehicles whose quality approval for years had been conducted by unqualified inspectors.

The global auto industry has lost two giants this year. But the late Sergio Marchionne, who died in July after turning around Fiat SpA and Chrysler Corp., did not leave in disgrace as Ghosn has.

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The annual event aims to connect female diplomats and the spouses of diplomats in addition to introducing the culture of countries in the region.

This years event gathered nearly 30 booths promoting the culture of countries in the region including China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor Leste.

The Vietnamese booth introduced international friends to diverse cultural products including paintings, books, souvenirs, ao dai (traditional dress), and documents on the Vietnamese culture and popular tourism sites.

Vietnamese delicacies prepared by officials from the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos were also showcased at the party which attracted much attention from the other delegates.

Vietnamese female diplomats and spouses of diplomats in Laos have actively participated in the annual event for years, contributing to consolidating the relations between the Vietnamese Embassy and other agencies of Laos, as well as foreign diplomatic corps in Laos, while promoting Vietnamese culture to international friends.
EDMONTONOn the front page of the Edmonton Bulletin, a story warns that more than 100 people have fallen ill with influenza in the last few days alone. But the deadly virus was not the top story  not with the war on.

Instead, the news was dwarfed by a much bigger, much bolder headline at the top of the page: Allies Reach the Border of Holland. The news was reported on Oct. 21, 1918, when the armistice between the World War I allies and Germany was weeks away from being signed on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Though 60,000 Canadians were killed in service during the war, the threat closer to home was just as insidious: In the end, the government estimates, up to 55,000 Canadians died in the pandemic.

The news about influenza was so grim that newspapers downplayed its severity out of concern for public morale, explained Suzanna Wagner, a University of Alberta masters student researching one of the deadliest influenza outbreaks in the world.

Initially the papers didnt report on it at all. It later became known as the Spanish Flu because Spain, a neutral country during World War I, did not have wartime censorship and was the first country where news coverage of flu originated.

It was the young, healthy people that were getting sick and dying, primarily, said Wagner. As Canadians were just coming to terms with the losses of war, now the flu is coming in and killing more.

While the Spanish Flu has long since passed, strains just like it are alive and well today. Public-health officials warn that its important to remember the harsh lessons of the past so we can be prepared for the next big outbreak.

Read more:

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Alberta law students killed in the First World War to be posthumously admitted to the bar

Why are so many mountains in Kananaskis named after British warships from the First World War?

The pandemic hit Canada between 1918 and 1920, with the deadliest wave occurring in late 1918. Most of the people killed in Canada were young adults between the ages of 20 and 40, according to government archives.

Around 4,700 of those died in Alberta between late October 1918 to 1919  exact dates are hard to pin down, Wagner said, due to poor record keeping  when the flu outbreak was at its deadliest.

Newspapers reported provincial bans on large gatherings, which prompted the closure of schools, churches and cinemas for months at a time, Wagner said. They also emphasized following basic precautions, like carrying personal handkerchiefs, and discouraged giving into panic  almost giving the impression that if you give in to fear, you might get sick, Wagner said.

A provincial edict made it mandatory in Alberta to wear face masks outside the home, starting on Oct. 26, 1918. Before the enforcement of masks was lifted on Nov. 23, hospitals were struggling to keep up with the rising number of cases. Around 31,000 cases of influenza were reported in the province in 1918.

In Edmonton, there werent enough hospital beds, which cost $2.50 a night in the pre-universal health care days. The shortage prompted the city to turn to the University of Alberta for help, which resulted in Pembina Hall being turned into a 123-bed emergency ward from Oct. 26 to Nov. 27, 1918. By the time it was shut down, 72 people died there.

Similar efforts were made in Calgary at Colonel Walker School, Wagner said, but of the two big cities in Alberta, Edmonton was hit worse: 445 people died in Edmonton in 1918 versus 340 in Calgary.

Calgary actually got off pretty lightly in terms of fatalities, Wagner said.

Newspaper records show many children were orphaned. Wagner recalled one heartbreaking story in which two young children ran into a nurse on the street outside their home in Edmonton and reported that their mother would not talk to them. They were not old enough to comprehend that she was dead.

An immense pandemic like the Spanish Flu imparted many lessons, said Wagner. In Edmonton, newspapers called upon people to volunteer to take care of the ill, as there werent enough nurses to keep up with the demand, reflecting a spirit of generosity and even sacrifice that shone through during a grim time.

The pandemic also played a big role in planting the seeds for the creation of a federal department of health in 1919, according to Mark Humphries, a researcher at Wilfrid Laurier University. Later named Health Canada in 1993, the department was the first dedicated body within the government responsible for all matters and questions relating to the promotion of the health and social welfare of the people of Canada, according to the House of Commons debates at the time.

Spanish Flu is not much different from the flu nowadays in terms of symptoms, such as fever, aches and coughs. The difference, however, was the lack of understanding of the illness at the time. Doctors falsely believed it was derived from bacteria, not a virus, Wagner said, which led to ineffective treatments.

The influenza virus continues to circulate around the world, but a lot more information has been obtained within the past century on what the virus is, how it changes over time and, most importantly, how to protect vulnerable people from it, according to Dr. Chris Sikora, a public health officer with Alberta Health Services (AHS).

We have immunization as a tool to help protect the population, he said.

AHS data shows only around a quarter of Albertas population has received the flu shot consistently over the last three years. Sikora said its important to remain vigilant and get immunized as the emergence of a new, dangerous virus is always possible.

The reality is that flu is a disease that is still out there, and it causes pandemics, Humphries echoed. This could in some ways happen again.

Correction - April 16, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said the influenza pandemic was called the Spanish Flu as Spain was the first to name it. In fact, Spain was the first country to report freely about it.

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My family history is a fiction says Beatriz Pizano, from the centre of the Theatre Centres cavern of black space. But this isnt a warning; Pizanos warmth in this line is more of an invitation.

In Dividing Lines, an invigorating new solo piece created by the actor, writer and artistic director of Aluna Theatre, Pizano takes the audience through a generational journey, her journey, bookended by the deaths of mothers.

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Pizanos life does, in fact, begin like a Disney fable: the youngest of three, Pizano was a gorgeous kid in Colombia (with the help of a projector, a childhood photograph blown up to the size of the theatres back wall dwarfs the adult Pizano standing before it) with a young, pretty mother, Amparo, who died when she was 2.

Her father, Fabio, whom she calls The Marlboro Man, retreats from family life out of heartbreak. The three orphans first found a home with unfriendly grandparents  its unlikely Pizano would call them evil, but they certainly werent kind. But there was a happy ending, when Pizano settled with the couple who would raise her, her aunt Julia and uncle Jorge, the metaphorical Fairy Godparents.

But this isnt really a story about Pizano herself, its a story about death; specifically, Julias death and the part Pizano played in it.

Her adolescence under the guidance of Julia and Jorge, she says, left her with several invaluable life lessons that she has taken to heart, the overarching theme of which bestowed a fierce independent spirit within Pizano but one sensitive to the needs of others. These lessons, and the life Pizano leads after moving to Canada, crystallizes in Julias nursing home in Medellin, where she suffers from Alzheimers. (Pizano calls it her Calvary; though shes not religious Catholicism is highly influential in how she constructs the story of her family).

Pizano is the one who has to decide what kind of ending Julias fable gets.

Pizano is unclear about when exactly Julia died, but there has evidently been some time between that event and the piece of theatre shes performing, directed by Trevor Schwellnus.

A self-described romantic, Pizano treats the entire story  both her own history and her parents as well as the emotionally complicated issue of euthanasia  with softness and humour.

Schwellnuss projection design, heavily involving Pizanos vintage family photos, creates a large patchwork of images, a theatricalized version of a handmade quilt passed on through generations. And theres a tenderness when Pizano speaks about her home country, the place that allowed her mother to have a peaceful death with legal euthanization.

On the doctor who performs it, Pizano bestows an angelic personality. Its unclear whether such a beautiful man can possibly exist as she describes or if its all part of the myth that a mourning daughter has constructed to ease the loss of her mother.

The moments after Julias death, in comparison, feel rushed, almost as if Pizano doesnt want to dwell on her own healing process or has already spent too much time thinking about it. The audience though, one likely sufficiently moved by the rest of Pizanos and Schwellnuss creation, might need more closure.

Carly Maga is a Toronto-based theatre critic and a freelance contributor for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @RadioMaga

Dividing Lines

Written and performed by Beatriz Pizano. Directed by Trevor Schwellnus. Until Dec. 2 at The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St. W. TheatreCentre.org or 416-538-0988
BURNABY, B. C.The last time Pierre Lemaitre put on his RCMP uniform with pride, it was Oct. 14, 2007, the day he responded to a call about a fatal police confrontation at Vancouvers airport, his widow says.

He was never the same after Robert Dziekanskis death, Sheila Lemaitre testified Monday at a coroners inquest into her husbands death by suicide.

He wasnt my husband, she said. Pierre changed from being the most caring, loving, sweetest husband. ... He got progressively angrier and more and more anxious.

Lemaitre handled media relations for the Mounties in the days following Dziekanskis death and was later accused of misleading the public. However, an inquiry into the Polish immigrants death concluded Lemaitre didnt know some of the information he had given was inaccurate.

Sheila Lemaitre testified that on the day of the airport altercation, he communicated the information he was told to give to media. It was only a day later that he learned a citizen-shot video existed that contradicted some of his statements, she said.

He had told reporters that Dziekanski was stunned with a Taser twice, but the man had been jolted five times. Lemaitre also repeatedly described him as combative, but the video showed he was relatively calm when RCMP officers arrived.

Lemaitre immediately urged his supervisors to allow him to correct the information, but he was ordered not to, she said.

It progressed, then, rather quickly into a very difficult situation, she said. Pierre was very upset when he would return home after work after that.

Media reports described her husband as an RCMP spin doctor and liar, she said, and that upset him. He would scream at the TV that he wanted to correct the information he had given out to reporters.

He wasnt allowed to, she said. It was really hard for him.

Lemaitre was transferred off the case after two days and eventually moved to the traffic department, which he compared to being put out with the trash, his widow said. He felt belittled and disrespected by his colleagues, with one calling him redundant, she said.

Her husband had suffered from anxiety and depression for years and was first prescribed medication in 1993. It was related in part to traumatic scenes hed witnessed as an officer and his estrangement from his daughters after his divorce from his first wife, she said.

But it grew much worse after Dziekanskis death and he took several stress leaves from work.

Her once caring husband who felt strongly about womens rights became abusive, said Lemaitre, who is a former police officer.

He couldnt explain to me why he was angry sometimes, or why he was feeling the way he was, why he was so anxious, she said.

He described it as a rage in his head, burning in his brain that he couldnt control, she said.

He also began buying model trains and planes, but she said he would never finish building them. He accrued large credit card debts, she said.

About four weeks before his death he switched medications, and when she expressed concerns about side effects, she recalled him replying, I have to try something. I cant live like this.

On the morning of his death, there was TV news coverage about a verdict that was set to come out in the perjury trial of an officer involved in the Dziekanski case. She muted the TV and switched channels, but he may have seen it, Lemaitre recalled.

He seemed quiet that morning, but she followed her usual routine of walking their dogs and picking blueberries on their farm in Abbotsford. When she returned home, Lemaitre said she found her husbands body in the basement.

I said, Oh no. No,  she remembered through tears.

She said she believes he had made up his mind about killing himself days earlier. He had done errands that involved heavy lifting, which she couldnt do because of an injury.

She said Lemaitre always dreamed of becoming a police officer and he knew he would see upsetting scenes. But he was always able to pick himself up from those experiences, she said.

What we have difficulty with is when were beset with attacks from within. Its a whole other issue when ... you dont have that internal support, when the people you work with are the source of that pressure and pain, Sheila Lemaitre testified.

Thats when Pierre could no longer pick himself up.

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SAINT JOHN, N.B.  The activities of police officers at the Richard Oland murder scene will be under close scrutiny as his sons retrial moves into its second week, resuming Tuesday.

Dennis Olands defence lawyers describe the conduct of the murder investigation by the Saint John Police Force as inadequate, and they have made it clear police activities will be a focal point of the defence strategy.

Failure to properly preserve the crime scene and a rush to judgment in deciding Dennis Oland, a financial planner, was the one and only suspect in the killing are among the chief issues.

In this case, an issue will be the manner in which the Saint John police force handled the investigation of the homicide and their conduct in performing that crucial police function, defence lawyer Alan Gold told the court last week.

Dennis was the last known person to see Richard Oland alive, but to the police, that word known evaporated very quickly.

Within hours of Richard Olands body being discovered on July 7, 2011, Dennis was identified by police as their prime suspect.

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On Monday, the Oland family urged the New Brunswick Police Commission to move forward with its inquiry into the police murder probe, which was put on hold pending the outcome of Olands legal case.

We are confident that findings from such an inquiry will support the conclusions that the investigation was filled with missteps and Dennis should never have been charged, they said in the statement.

There is a significant public interest in investigating the deficiencies in the Saint John Police Force as soon as possible so that these deficiencies can be remedied.

Already two police officers have told Olands trial about the numerous officers who visited the murder scene. About 20 police officers made their way to Olands uptown Saint John office on the day his beaten body was discovered on the floor by his desk.

Gold suggested during cross examination of Const. Duane Squires it was like a sightseeing tour. In addition to the steady stream of police officers, there were also paramedics, the coroner and funeral home workers who assisted with removal of the body.

The defence is raising questions about objects that may have been moved at the crime scene, the lack of attention paid to a possible back door escape route and the failure to protect the scene from contamination.

Gold named a number of the officers who visited the bloody scene that day, noting their various ranks. They included Deputy Chief Glen McCloskey, whose attendance at the crime scene raised questions during Olands first trial.

Another officer said McCloskey suggested he not tell the court about McCloskeys visits to the murder scene.

This was supposed to be the subject of a hearing before the provincial police commission, but McCloskey retired before it could be held. The commission only investigates officers on active duty.

In the coming days, there will be questions about police use of a bathroom at the crime scene before it was forensically tested.

Squires said he was relatively new to police work and homicide investigations in 2011. He said he would do things differently today in terms of protecting such a scene.

Oland, 50, was charged in 2013 with the second-degree murder of his father, a multi-millionaire businessman and member of the prominent Maritime beer-brewing family. He was found guilty after a 2015 jury trial, but the conviction was set aside on appeal and a new trial ordered.

Even before testimony began at the retrial, the conduct of the Saint John police was called into question after it was learned an officer accessed an internal police database to search the background of prospective jurors. This was in violation of a 2012 directive from the Supreme Court of Canada and resulted in a mistrial and dismissal of the jury.

The Oland trial now is being heard before judge alone.

The police commission says it will investigate police involvement in the mistrial, but not until the current trial is over.

The Olands said Monday the commission has no principled reason to hold back a probe now, since there is no longer a jury to prejudice.

Our certainty that the investigation into Dick Olands murder was flawed, incomplete, and most certainly tarnished by the actions of the Saint John Police Force, remains unchanged. Dennis Oland is innocent of Dicks murder. We have never wavered in this belief, the family said in the statement.

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First-time shoplifters will no longer be prosecuted in two of Torontos busiest police divisions as part of a pilot project that, if successful, will go citywide.

The program  called Shop Theft  allows privately employed theft prevention officers to release an accused after the details of the incident are called in to a division, as opposed to waiting  sometimes for hours  for police to answer the low-priority calls.

The six-month pilot will run in divisions 51 and 52, which encompass the area south of Bloor St. from Spadina Ave. east to the Don River.

During that time, alleged offenders can be released for non-violent shoplifting incidents through the program as long as they meet certain criteria  they must be 18 years of age or older, the items they are accused of stealing are worth less than $1,000 and they have identification.

The investigation is no different than the officer being there in person, says Paul Rinkoff, a Toronto police staff sergeant who is in charge of the project.

The investigation is going to mirror that, just over the phone, he says. There are a number of criteria where police will still attend and that includes if any party asks for police attending.

Accused shoplifters who are released through Shop Theft wont be charged, although Rinkoff notes that police reserve the right to lay a charge later by summons, depending on the circumstances of the crime.

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Letters to shoplifters threaten legal action if hundreds in damages arent paid  even if the goods are recovered

The pilot, which began Nov. 1, is part of the services efforts to modernize. The program will be reviewed at the 90-day-mark and then again at the end of the six months to determine if the TPS will implement it in all its divisions.

What weve been trying to do through the modernization process is make sure that our police officers are where the public needs them the most, says Meaghan Gray, acting director of corporate communications for the Toronto Police Service. And maybe responding to  shoplifting calls  that can be held just as efficiently by a theft prevention officer partnered with us over the phone  allows us to reassign those officers to more pressing calls for service.

The new procedures could lead to an increase in the number of accused shoplifters, says a U.S. academic, and to the increased use of a controversial practice by retailers called civil demand recovery letters, which threaten legal action if the accused doesnt pay hundreds of dollars in punitive damages, even when the items are retrieved.

The letters are already in use in Canada, but are used more widely in the U.S. because of state legislation introduced there in the 80s and 90s, meant to decriminalize shoplifting, that allows retailers to go after accused shoplifters for damages civilly by way of the demand letters.

The result of the legislation was a sharp increase in the number of accused shoplifters, says Ryan Sullivan, a professor at the University of Nebraska, and retailers began to not only go after the accused for damages using the letters, but in court as well where the defendant could be ordered to pay the value of the stolen item if its damaged or not recovered.

Most statutes in the U.S. permit such civil demands to be made even if the person was not found guilty of shoplifting. A mere accusation is enough, says Sullivan. If a person is acting suspiciously in a store, a security officer may detain them and interrogate them in a back room with no access to a phone or an attorney.

During this interrogation, they are often required to provide their drivers licence; from this they obtain their mailing address. Minors are asked for the name(s) and address of their parents as well, says Sullivan. This information is then entered into a database that is provided to, or sold to, one of the professional collection companies (that) generate and send these civil demand letters by the millions.

Canada doesnt have specific legislation that allows the use of demand letters, but lawyers adopted the practice here soon after the laws were passed in the U.S.

Its not known how often the letters are sent out, but this year, Toronto had 16,667 shoplifting incidents reported to Toronto police as of October 30.

Here, an accused can sometimes wait hours for officers to attend, and if charged, are given a Form 9, which directs them to attend court at a later date. Offenders are often dealt with through the courts Direct Accountability Office, where they receive sanctions that require them to donate money to a charity or attend a stop-shoplifting program before the charges can be stayed.

Obviously if theres violence involved or if violence is feared, theyre calling 911, says Gray of store security.

For each arrest, theft prevention officers will be required to fill out a form, with details about the alleged occurrence and the accused, that will be forwarded to police. The person is also read their right to counsel, says Gray, and told they are being released. Theyll take with them a notice of apprehension that lists their name and why they were detained.

The form also stipulates that a criminal summons may be obtained by the Toronto Police Service on that charge. The summons will be served on you at a later date, and its separate and apart from any civil proceedings that the victim, being the store, may commence against you, she says.

Typically, criminal justice penalties are in place to deter others from committing a crime. Rinkoff says the ability under Shop Theft for police to charge an alleged offender at a later date should be enough to stop others from shoplifting.

Police forces in major cities around the world have been looking for ways to reduce their budgets. In London, British police dont attend shoplifting incidents unless the stolen items are valued at 200 pounds or more, roughly $340 in Canadian dollars.

This program is designed to process minor retail thefts in a more efficient manner, says Rinkoff.

Its great for the stores because they gain efficiencies, he says. Theyre able to have faster turnover, so their loss prevention officers are able to get back on the floor, protecting the property in their retail store.

Peel Regional police have run a shop theft release program with large chain retailers since 1997.

More than 1,000 people were released through their program in 2017, about a quarter of all alleged shoplifting incidents in the region reported to police. Officers were required to attend the remaining incidents because the accused didnt fit the criteria for release, which are similar to those being used by the TPS and include that the alleged offender has to be at least 18 years old and hasnt been released through the program in the past 12 months.

The program has been a success, says Sgt. Mike Lockington, who is in charge of crime prevention for Peel Regional police.

Stores benefit because loss prevention officers can get back on the floor looking for more offenders, he says. The less of a drain on resources for police the better and the same for the retailers.
When she prepares a meal for her family, Martha Lozada has to negotiate her way around her teenage sons bed.

A makeshift curtain across the kitchens entrance barely serves as a privacy screen for Rafi, 14, and does little to shield his ears from the clinking and clanging in the kitchen.

Her two children used to share a room in their two-bedroom Flemingdon Park apartment, but now, with both having hit puberty, her son stays in the living room while her 16-year-old daughter occupies the second bedroom.

I want to move into a bigger apartment, but Im not able to do it because its too expensive, Lozada said. My son has to stay in the living room.

Lozadas family lives in what Statistics Canada classifies as unsuitable housing  lacking enough bedrooms for the number of people it houses. Some 36 per cent of households living in one-bedroom dwellings in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area are not suitably housed, according to Statistics Canada data in a recent study from Malone Given Parsons, a planning consultant firm.

The figure dips to 21 per cent for those like Lozada, living in two-bedroom accommodations.

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Housing suitability refers to whether a private household is living in appropriate accommodations, according to the National Occupancy Standard. Developed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the suitability requirement hinges on whether the dwelling has enough bedrooms for size and composition of the household, and assesses the required number of bedrooms per household based on the age, sex and relationships among household members.

Lozada, 50, who works at the Flemingdon Park Ministry, relocated here from the U.S. in 2009 with her husband and two children. They have lived in the same St. Dennis Dr. apartment since.

Lozadas living conditions arent uncommon in Flemingdon Park, where affordability is a key hurdle to appropriate housing, says Rev. Beverley Williams, executive director of Flemingdon Park Ministry.

This is 100 per cent what were seeing, Williams said. I see cases where a one-bedroom apartment is all they can afford, but theyre a family of six.

Williams, whose ministry runs a host of programs including a community drop-in centre in Flemingdon Park, says shes witnessed varying degrees of unsatisfactory housing.

I know of one family where the parents were sleeping on the floor of the dining room on a mattress and the one bedroom is where all the children were, she said.

Williams said the bulk of residents in unsuitable housing live in low-income and rental housing, filled largely with refugees, immigrants and the working poor.

But the unsuitable tag isnt limited to the confines of Torontos marginalized communities.

Planner Matthew Cory, a downtown Toronto condo-dweller who is the lead contributor to the MPG study, titled Greater Toronto and Hamilton and Area Land Supply Analysis, says his own living arrangement could be deemed unsuitable.

Im technically in that situation, because I live in a one-bedroom-and-den downtown and I have two kids, Cory said. Technically I should have at least two bedrooms.

Cory said Lozadas dilemma is a more severe case of ill-suited accommadations.

If people choose to be, like me, in that category, thats fine, Cory said. If you have no choice  thats not good.

The National Occupancy Standard stipulates that there should be no more than two persons per bedroom. Children less than five years of age of different sexes may reasonably share a bedroom; Children five years of age or older of opposite sex should have separate bedrooms; Children less than 18 years of age and of the same sex may reasonably share a bedroom; and single household members 18 years or older should have a separate bedroom, as should parents or couples.

Using this measure, households that would require at least one additional bedroom are experiencing some degree of overcrowding.

The problem is more common among those who rent, according to another study by the Evergreen Housing Action Labs Missing Middle Working Group.

That study, also released this week, based on census data and numbers from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., found the number of households in unsuitable housing to be 31 per cent for those who rent, three times higher than those who own, at 8 per cent.

There are a lot of people in our city who are living in unsuitable housing, said Michelle German of Evergreen, a housing-focused non-profit organization. The burden is heaviest for those living in rental accommodations and its heaviest for families.

Both Cory and German said much of the problem delves from a deficiency in the right mix of housing-types, sizes and available locations in the city.

German hopes the study will spur gentle density in the way of laneway housing, secondary suites, six-plexes: different forms that meet the wide range of needs.

Our most vulnerable communities and families are experiencing this at higher rates  the solutions should be geared toward our most vulnerable communities, German said.

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A now ex-Toronto police officer who committed an egregious breach of public trust by stealing and eating cannabis-infused chocolate  while on duty  has received a nine-month conditional sentence, six months of it to be served under house arrest.

Former constable Vittorio Dominelli, 36, made a reckless, immature and impulsive decision to ingest evidence stolen from a just-raided Toronto pot dispensary, committing multiple breaches of trust in doing so, Ontario Court of Justice Mary Misener said in a Newmarket courtroom Monday.

She rejected a defence recommendation that Dominelli receive a conditional discharge  leaving him with no criminal record  saying his conduct needed to be sternly denounced with a jail sentence.

Misener said she would not be carrying out her duties to protect the rule of law, if I were to grant a discharge to an officer who tampered with evidence in a criminal investigation. A discharge is contrary to the public interest.

But the judge also noted Dominellis motive wasnt tied to corruption and appears one driven by reckless curiosity.

Regardless, Dominelli not only stole evidence he endangered the public with his self-induced intoxication. He was wandering outside in a haze while on duty and armed with a firearm.

The consequences of his actions are very serious and the ramifications go well beyond this case, Misener continued, noting criminal charges were withdrawn against seven people charged in connection to the pot dispensary bust.

In addition, when a police officer tampers with evidence, he undermines the public trust in the integrity of investigations and prosecutions and lends credence to allegations of evidence tampering.

By all accounts, Dominellis thirteen years on the force were served with distinction. He is also a devoted husband and father with an impeccable personal reputation, the judge said.

Not only is his record unblemished, it is highlighted with accolades from his supervising officers and from members on the public. Other mitigating factors were his decisions to plead guilty and resign.

Those features entitle him to serve the jail sentence in the community, Misener said.

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She noted that Dominelli has suffered tremendously, losing a lucrative career and the humiliation of the episode living on in infamy on the internet.

The January incident became the subject of widespread mockery after it was reported that Dominelli and his partner that night, Const. Jamie Young, became so intoxicated they had to call for backup.

Young faces one count of criminal breach of trust and attempting to obstruct justice. The charges against her have not been proven.

Send an ambulance, Dominelli could be heard telling an emergency dispatcher in a radio call played in court earlier this month.

Whats going on? the dispatcher asks.

I think Im going to pass out  Im just light-headed, he responds.

In an agreed statement of facts presented earlier this month, the court heard Dominelli had put three full cannabis chocolate bars in his pocket after helping seize evidence from a dispensary raid.

Later, while still on duty conducting surveillance at an after-hours club, Dominelli and Young discussed how neither had used cannabis before and decided to try the chocolate, according to the agreed statement of facts.

The chocolates packaging  which had warnings instructing consumers to take a small portion and wait 40 minutes  was later found empty.

I realized instantly what a stupid thing I had done, Dominelli said in a summary of his evidence submitted as an exhibit. I just wanted medical help.

Dominelli, Young and another officer who slipped on the ice after responding to the call for help were all taken to hospital that night. The officer who fell suffered a serious concussion and remains unable to work.

Appearing weak  lawyer Peter Brauti earlier told the court his already thin client had lost 12 pounds  Dominelli briefly addressed the court earlier this month, after pleading guilty to attempting to obstruct justice.

He told Misener that above all, he was truly remorseful about the incident, knowing that it has had dire consequences for his family, Toronto police and more. The former officer said he understood the impact of what he did and thats why I have been attempting to co-operate in any way that I can, he said.

This is something that I know will change my life, for the rest of my life, he told the court.

Becoming emotional, he said he wanted to serve as a role model to his three daughters, despite actions he acknowledged turned his familys life upside down.

I just want my kids to see me as a good person, he said, his voice breaking. If I can set an example for them it could be that I tried to do what was right after what I did was wrong.

Misener, Crown Philip Perlmutter and Brauti each called Dominellis actions stupid, with Misener at once point calling Dominellis actions, while not fuelled by corruption, were that of a complete idiot.

On Monday, Misener also ordered Dominelli to perform 60 hours of community service, on top of the 40 hours he has already served. Perlmutter withdrew a breach of trust charge.

Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis

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Katherine Smylie gradually lost her health, her career and mobility and no one could explain why.

Her Edmonton doctors tested her. They concluded she was fine.

That diagnosis was at stark odds with what the 47-year-old was experiencing: After a double mastectomy led to breast augmentation surgery in 2012, Smylies symptoms began piling up  from severe pain to hair loss, poor sleep, dry eyes, memory loss, irritable bowel syndrome, low libido, brain fog, exhaustion, migraines and an inability to complete basic work or household tasks.

By 2016, she was too sick to continue working.

I couldnt figure out why this was happening, she said. I never thought in a million years that (breast implants) were the reason why I was getting sick.

Smylies textured Biocell implants  made by industry giant Allergan  have come under scrutiny among a growing number of plastic surgeons who are documenting high incidents of health problems. Some are blacklisting the once-popular devices and calling for their removal from the market, a Toronto Star/CBC/Radio-Canada investigation, in partnership with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, has found.

Device makers defend the safety of textured, rough-surface implants, in part, through industry funded studies authored by researchers who are paid consultants. This has led to conflict of interest allegations that medical associations and physicians acknowledge have merit.

Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration acknowledge a connection between textured implants and lymphoma  a phenomenon that has not emerged with smooth-surfaced breast implants.

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Biocell implants remain on the market and inside millions of women across the continent.

Textured implants, designed to keep the devices from moving inside the body, were first embraced by plastic surgeons three decades ago and quickly grabbed dominant marketshare through the 1990s and early 2000s. They have since declined in popularity  down to about 12 per cent of the market today in North America  as evidence mounts of complications, movement post-implantation and connections to a rare form of breast-implant-related cancer called BIA-ALCL. But the North American market is an anomaly. Worldwide, textured implants remain popular.

There are 25 confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL in Canada  according to yet-to-be published data compiled by two prominent plastic surgeons  of which 23 are linked to Biocell implants. Last week, French authorities announced a review of textured implants, noting the countrys 53 confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL had an over-representation of textured breast implants. Out of 272 BIA-ALCL cases documented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 242 were found to have textured surfaces  89 per cent.

Allergan declined interview requests for this story and issued a statement that did not specifically address its Biocell implants. Patient safety is Allergans highest priority, the company said in a statement, and the safety of its breast implants is supported by extensive pre-clinical device testing, more than a decade of worldwide clinical use, as well as a large number of peer-reviewed and published studies.

Based on information provided by manufacturers and a variety of other sources, health authorities around the world have monitored the safety of implants and are not recommending any change in implant availability, current practice, post-implant care and check-ups, the companys statement reads.

Theres a real problem here, said Dr. Donald Mackay, a plastic surgeon and associate chair of the surgery department at PennState Hershey who stopped using textured implants, as did all faculty at the teaching hospital, in 2016.

Im embarrassed that we as plastic surgeons havent managed to sort this out....Its been one of the most frustrating things for me that I cant convince our leaders in industry that we have a problem hereIts staring us in the face.

The latest warning about Biocell is a Vancouver study that found more than 85 per cent of the Biocell breast implants analyzed had failed  defined by a range of outcomes, including hardening, pain, rupture and other abnormal findings. That failure rate was well beyond that of any other type of implant.

I think were close to the point where its probably a device that should be removed from the market, said Dr. Nicholas Carr, a Vancouver plastic surgeon and senior author of the study which analyzed 539 implants that were removed by him from his patients. There have been voices arguing for that.

The study found Biocell implants had the shortest lifespan (from implantation to explantation) and were more frequently associated with pain. Just under half of the Biocell implants  42 per cent  developed double capsules, a formation of two distinct layers of tissue around the implant separated by fluid that was not observed with any other implant type.

In an interview, Carr said the Biocell textured implants stood out as havingan array of abnormal inflammatory type findings wed never seen before.

In a statement, Health Canada said it reviews scientific literature, including the Vancouver study, noting that these studies are based on small population samples over a large period of time and that researchers and surgeons have recognized the confusing effectiveness evidence with regard to textured breast implants and further investigations are planned by clinical researchers.

In 2011, Alberta plastic surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Hall-Findlay was one of the first to raise concerns about Biocell implants in a study that found double capsules were only seen with the Biocell textured surface implants.

She stopped using the implants a decade ago.

I now look back at all cases with textured implants and can say my complication rate with those has been way higher, said Hall-Findlay, who had a patient with ALCL in 2012. Why are we ignoring the elephant in the room?

Toronto-raised-and-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Swanson proposed the immediate abandonment of textured implants at a Canadian plastic surgery meeting in June 2016. He said there were physicians who supported his statement, but little in the way of change or public awareness has followed.

I dont think the word has really gotten out on this, said Swanson, who practises in Kansas City.

Heres his theory on why that is: There is a heavy commercial influence keeping them in the marketplace.

That commercial influence includes company-funded research that attributes adverse events to surgeons not being adequately sterile when inserting the implants rather than faulty implants.

Most of the (researchers in the U.S.) are funded by industry, he said. These are profitable implants that have been put inside millions of women. Ironically, none of the recommendations include simply not using textured implants...You can look for a cause if you like, but in the meantime, you should take these off the market because theyre causing risks to women.

Swanson used textured implants in the 1990s but he grew to dislike them because they failed to reduce capsular contracture  the formation of scar tissue around implants that can become hard and painful  as promised. He stopped using them in 2000, switching to smooth-surfaced implants.

I suspected for a few years now that this would become a crisis, said Swanson. And I think its on the verge of that happening. I think there are surgeons who will be concerned about their liability and I think they should be.

Toronto plastic surgeon Dr. Frank Lista stopped using textured implants in 2013 after co-authoring a study based on the outcomes of 440 patients with an Allergan textured implant. The study detailed a 16.6-per-cent complication rate and 10.7 per cent of patients requiring another operation.

This is the biggest controversy in plastic surgery, he said in an interview. Theres a lot of money involved. The companies have a lot of money invested in the development and propagation of these implants. And there are surgeons who have staked their reputations on the advantages of these implants. Those guys are really concerned about that, not from a purely financial viewpoint, but from the reality that what youve been doing in the best interests of your patients, and youve been talking about and promoting, maybe isnt in the best interests of patients anymore. Thats a huge course adjustment in your life. Thats a cold awakening.

There is plenty of published academic literature defending Biocell implants. The authors of those papers frequently identify themselves as paid company consultants, stockholders or even employees.

A 2014 study summarized the recommendations of five plastic surgeons who have performed numerous breast augmentations with Biocell implants and concludes that the benefits, including low rates of rippling  ridges or wrinkles in an implant that are visible through the skin  far outweigh the small risks.

The study, published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, discloses Allergan as having provided financial support for manuscript, writing and editorial assistance as well as for the authors attendance at a 2013 meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. Four of the five authors identified themselves as consultants and/or speakers for Allergan. One also listed himself as a shareholder and royalty recipient.

Following Hall-Findlays study, the journal that published it  Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery  ran a letter from five authors that questioned her findings, citing the widespread clinically important benefits of texturing. Three of the authors were Allergan consultants and two were company employees.

This whole industry paying plastic surgeons is making me angry, said Hall-Findlay. My problem is that (device manufacturers) paid a lot of plastic surgeons money which meant that as key opinion leaders they kept promoting this product way longer than they should haveSome plastic surgeons have put their heads in the sand because they dont want to acknowledge theres a problem and some because they had a vested interest in this.

A study published last year found that despite complications linked to a specific model of Allergan textured implants, the devices remain a safe option. The lead author is a paid consultant and speaker for Allergan and a co-author is an Allergan employee and stockholder.

An Allergan spokesperson said the company adheres to all legal and regulatory requirements for training physicians on the safe use of our products, and transparency in our interactions with physicians around clinical research.

Toronto Star investigative journalist Rob Cribb on the controversy surrounding Biocell's textured implants. The Star/CBC/Radio-Canada investigation is part of the first-ever global examination of the medical device industry and its overseers. Over the course of a year, more than 250 journalists at 58 news organizations in 36 countries spoke with hundreds of doctors, researchers, industry insiders and patients.

The financing of plastic surgeons by industry creates physician bias, said Toronto surgeon Lista.

Can being paid $100,000 or $300,000 introduce bias? he says. Ive never met a surgeon who doesnt want the best thing for their patients. But it gives a bias to your belief. You dont even know youre being affected. The bias has been influencing you unconsciously. Thats how it is.

According to public registers, more than half of American plastic surgeons have declared financial relationships with industry.

Dr. Nicholas Vedder, chief of plastic surgery at the University of Washington and president of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, said many of his colleagues are on the take.

I am always aghast when listening to a presentation by a surgeon promoting the benefits of something like textured breast implants, of which there is growing and almost incontrovertible evidence are linked to the development of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, only tosee that they are receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars, in some cases, millions of dollars, from the implant manufacturer making textured implants.

For manufacturers, the cost-benefit analysis is obvious, Vedder said: They know how effective it is to have key opinion leaders promoting their interests and are happy to pay big money for it.

For the first time, the American Association of Plastic Surgeons will require prospective presenters at its next annual conference to disclose the money they have received from industry over the past three years. We have no idea what its impact will be, but those of us in leadership feel very good about it and providing leadership for our specialty in (conflict-of-interest) disclosure, said Vedder.

In its statement, Health Canada said promotional activities by pharmaceutical and medical device industries can help create awareness of products but can also lead to certain purchasing practices, unduly influence prescribing behaviours and lead to inappropriate prescribing.

Some plastic surgeons have been warning their patients about textured implants. In 2016, a Texas plastic surgeon who had stopped using Biocell warned of links between implants and lymphoma, writing it seems that the lymphoma occurs in textured Biocell implants, calling models made by Allergan, the most likely culprit.

Allergan will not say how many Biocell devices have been implanted in Canada. Plastic surgeons interviewed say that as much as 70 per cent of the market could have been textured during the peak of its popularity, mostly in the 1990s.

Were talking well in excess of thousands (implanted in Canada), Carr said in an interview. It was certainly a lot.

A recent Penn State survey of 824 North American plastic surgeons found 40 per cent still using textured implants.

Two patients whose implants were analyzed in Carrs study agreed to an interview on condition that they not be named because their family members and colleagues are not aware of their implants.

One, a Vancouver woman in her 30s, got the implants eight years ago. Seven months ago, she noticed severe swelling in the right breast.

The first thing they told me was that it was cancer. It was a lot of emotion for a girl who is five months pregnant and has dealt with cancer with my dad. I couldnt sleep for weeks.

She had surgery within five days. It turned out that a pocket of fluid had formed around the implant  not cancer. Because she is pregnant, she will wait until after giving birth to have the second implant removed.

The other patient is a Vancouver woman in her 40s who got textured Allergan implants in 2012. Everything was fine for years. But a test earlier this year showed that although she had tested negative for cancer, her lymph node was covered in silicone from a ruptured implant.

It was shocking. When my pathologist read this out loud, he said, Wow, Ive never seen this before. He said, Your body is having a reaction to silicone.If I had not gone for the mammogram I would never have known.

Biocell implants remain beneath the public radar because there are few mechanisms in Canada to inform the public of any concerns, say experts.

Youd expect some mechanism for public reporting, says Carr. I dont think that system is intact. The feedback loop isnt there. If you go to Health Canada or the FDA and ask a simple question like how many Biocell implants have been removedI dont think you could find that data, even though industry may have it.

Absent clear public reporting of adverse events, it was anecdotal  but conspicuous  problems with Biocell implants that led Carr to analyze his patient records.

Even physicians, he said, have a hard time detecting the broader trends and health issues with devices until they perform enough procedures to spot patterns.

The flow of information from adverse event reporting, industry monitoring, industry reporting to government and back to physicians and consumers is currently not reliable, said Carr. Its not a terribly good system.

In March, Katherine Smylies research led her to a clear decision: I wanted them out. She had trouble finding a physician who would do it.

In March, Katherine Smylies research led her to a clear decision: I wanted them out. She had trouble finding a physician who would do it.

They all told me that I was crazy, that there was no such thing as breast implant illness, she said. I was told by numerous doctors, neurologist, family physician, plastic surgeon, that I was out of my mind.

She eventually found a specialist in Florida who performed the surgery last month.

Already, most of her symptoms have vanished or eased, she said.

Such a big difference. (It is a) sigh of relief.

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California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman is facing calls to step down in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations.

Daraka Larimore-Hall, the state partys vice-chairman, told the Washington Post that he sent a letter on Tuesday to the partys secretary calling for Baumans removal after being approached by several party staff members who told him they had been sexually harassed and assaulted by Bauman.

Larimore-Hall said he first filed a complaint with the partys human resources department and called on Bauman to step down. After Bauman refused, Larimore-Hall initiated the formal process of calling for Bauman to be ousted.

In the days since the first brave souls have come forward, they have been joined by others with similar stories and experiences, Larimore-Hall said in the letter, calling the allegations credible, corroborated and utterly heartbreaking.

He asked that Democrats honour these survivors by respecting their desire to be left alone, and in some cases to remain anonymous. A copy of the letter was leaked online Sunday; Larimore-Hall confirmed its contents.

Bauman has been California Democratic Party chairman since May 2017. He is the first openly gay person to lead the party in the state.

Bauman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday afternoon. In a statement Saturday to the Sacramento Bee, he said a prompt, thorough and independent investigation of the allegations has been undertaken by a respected outside investigator.

I take seriously any allegation brought forward by anyone who believes they have been caused pain, Bauman said in the statement, adding that he looks forward to putting these allegations behind us and moving forward as unified Democrats.

The California Democratic Party did not respond to requests for comment. The partys Womens Caucus commented on the allegations in a statement posted on its Facebook page Saturday.

The California Democratic Party Womens Caucus believes that each and all of us  especially elected party leaders  must create a culture of dignity and respect and use our powers to fight harassment, discrimination, bullying, and abuse, the statement reads. We support victims coming forward with a path to justice, due process, and transparency so that our party can do the hard work of building a culture of respect and equity for all.

In a Friday tweet, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also weighed in on the matter, calling the allegations against Bauman shocking and suggesting that California Democrats replace him with Stanford University law professor Michele Dauber.
LONDONMatthew Hedges, the British academic who was sentenced last week to life in prison by the United Arab Emirates on spying charges, was pardoned Monday with immediate effect, the Emirati government announced, after British officials lobbied to have him released.

The conviction of Hedges and the severity of the sentence had been met with outrage in Britain where Prime Minister Theresa May promised to raise the issue with the United Arab Emirates at the highest level.

Both the British government and Hedges wife, Daniela Tejada, have denied that he was a British spy. Family members have said that he was made to sign a confession written in Arabic, which they said he does not read or speak.

Hedges, 31, a graduate student at Durham University in England, was pardoned by Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the emir of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates, the government said.

Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary, recently travelled to Abu Dhabi and discussed the case with senior officials, including the crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed, who is considered the de facto ruler.

Reporters at the Abu Dhabi news conference were shown a series of short video clips in which Hedges confessed to espionage, including gathering information on the Emirates military equipment purchases, according to several news organizations, but they were not allowed to record the video and the government did not release it.

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In the video, he admitted to being an agent of MI-6, the British spy service, and gave his rank as captain, a position that does not exist in the agency, the news organizations reported.

He was part-time Ph.D. researcher, part-time businessman, but he was 100 per cent a full-time secret service operative, said Jaber al-Lamki, a spokesman for the Emirati government.

He said that Hedges was pardoned in response to pleas from his family and in consideration of the historical relationship and the close ties between the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Hedges, who colleagues said was conducting research for a doctorate about the effects of the Arab Spring on the United Arab Emirates approach to diplomacy, was arrested in May just before he was scheduled to fly out of the country.
CAIROFive international charities on Monday urged the United States to halt all military support for a Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemens Shiite rebels, saying it would save millions of lives.

A joint statement by the International Rescue Committee, Oxfam America, CARE US, Save the Children, and the Norwegian Refugee Council said that 14 million people are at risk of starving to death in Yemen if the parties to the conflict dont change course immediately.

The warring sides have undermined Yemens economy with policies and practices that have caused rampant inflation while the value of currency plummets, it added.

Starvation must not be used as a weapon of war against Yemeni civilians, the statement said.

The charities called on the U.S. to back up its recent call for a cessation of hostilities in Yemen with genuine diplomatic pressure, mainly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a key coalition member.

A survey commissioned the International Rescue Committee found that 75 per cent of Americans oppose U.S. weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The YouGov survey showed that 82 per cent believe Congress should vote to end or decrease arms sales to the two Gulf Arab countries.

David Miliband, president of the IRC, said America is fuelling a crisis that has severe consequences for millions of civilians.

YouGov surveyed 1,168 respondents online from Nov. 7 until Nov. 9. The poll had a margin of error of 3.3 per cent, IRC said.

International outrage over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in October has focused attention on Yemens civil war, prompting the U.S. to scale back its support for the coalition and call for a ceasefire by the end of this month.

In March 2015, the U.S.-backed, Saudi-led coalition unleased a full-scale military campaign against Iran-allied Houthi rebels who had captured most of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

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.

If it doesnt cease its military support for the coalition, the United States, too, will bear responsibility for what may be the largest famine in decades, the charities said.

Yemeni officials on Monday said fighting has flared up again around the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, with more than 25 combatants killed over the past two days from both the rebel and government-backed side. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

The U.N. envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, meanwhile met with Yemens vice-president, Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, according to Yemens state-run news agency SABA.

Griffiths, who visited Hodeida on Friday, has been shuttling between the two sides trying to secure a ceasefire and lay the groundwork for peace talks.

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Nearly every day for weeks, a white-haired man in a wheelchair, his body ravaged by diabetes and heart disease, has been escorted under heavy guard from a Texas jail cell to an interview room to speak about evil.

Day by day, authorities say, he has recounted details of long-ago murders: faces, places, the layouts of small towns. He has described how he picked up vulnerable women from bars, nightclubs and along streets and strangled them to death in the back seat of his car.

The man, Samuel Little, 78, has confessed to more than 90 murders, investigators say, stretching back almost half a century. Little already is serving three life sentences for the murders of three Los Angeles women during the 1980s, but authorities suspect him of killing women in at least 14 states. Investigators say they have established Littles ties to about 30 of the murders so far, and have little reason to doubt his confessions.

By the time we are done, we anticipate that Samuel Little will be confirmed as one of the most prolific serial killers in American history, said Bobby Bland, district attorney of Ector County, Texas, where Little is being held after a grand jury indicted him this summer for a 1994 killing.

Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, was convicted of 49 murders in Washington state during the 1980s and 1990s, the highest number of murder convictions for an American serial killer.

How a serial murderer could go on killing for years, apparently without anyone noticing a pattern, seems perplexing. But even the most effective police departments solve only about three-quarters of homicides, meaning that thousands of people get away with murder each year. Also, the killings Little is said to have admitted to occurred in a wide range of counties and states. Many of the women whom Little is believed to have killed were poor and addicted to drugs, alcohol, or both  a group of people who often are not reported missing for weeks and sometimes receive fewer investigative resources than others.

It was DNA evidence collected over years in the criminal justice system that first connected Little to several women who had been killed. Then, this year, a Texas Ranger named James Holland visited Little in a Los Angeles County prison and succeeded in winning his confidence, authorities said. The stories began to tumble out, setting off a transfer to Texas and a frenzy of visits from investigators with cold cases from all over the nation.

Part of Littles impetus for talking now, investigators say, is that he seems to prefer the Ector County jail to the noisy, often chaotic environment of a Los Angeles County prison. Investigators who have spoken to him say he also appears to enjoy the attention he is receiving as he recites details only a killer would know, after decades of discussing them with no one.

Officials in Texas said Little would not be made available for an interview for this article, and a public defender who recently represented him declined to comment.

As the weeks have passed and new cases and details have emerged, more than a dozen local investigators, along with the FBI, have flocked to Texas to speak to Little in person.

Authorities say Little displays no sign of remorse while discussing the killings. He is exacting with certain details, they say, including where he left the womens bodies years ago: a dumpster, near a hog pit, under a pecan tree. The investigators say he is matter-of-fact about his actions, and sometimes even chuckles about them; other times, they said, he speaks so quickly, with such excitement, that they struggle to understand his words.

Believe it or not, you only see evil a few times in your career, said Tim Marcia, a cold case detective with the Los Angeles Police Department who dealt with Little on the three killings he was convicted of there. Looking into his eyes, I would say that was pure evil.

In many ways, the investigation into Little began in earnest in 2012 when Marcia and his partner, Detective Mitzi Roberts, tracked him down at a homeless shelter in Kentucky after his DNA had been found to match two Los Angeles murder victims from the 1990s.

At the time, Little had served fewer than 10 years in prison, though he had amassed nearly 100 arrests in numerous states over more than 50 years. The charges ranged from kidnapping and rape to armed robbery.

He got off over and over and over again, said Beth Silverman, the Los Angeles County prosecutor who ultimately won three murder convictions against Little. There are a lot of agencies around the country that dropped the ball on this case.

Silverman and others say the killings were sexually motivated, but she also said that Little takes offence at being called a rapist. He says erectile problems make that impossible. But he is believed to have raped some of his victims, and Littles semen has been found on some of the womens nude bodies or on their clothing.

The way he gets sexual gratification is during the strangulation, Silverman said.

During his interrogation of Little in October, Sgt. Michael Mongeluzzo, a detective in Marion County, Florida  where Little has confessed to killing 20-year-old Rosie Hill in 1982  said he had been astonished by Littles ability to recall various specific details about the 36-year-old crime.

Its scary the clarity he has about certain things after all this time, Mongeluzzo said. He remembers names and faces.

Little, detectives say, is a charismatic psychopath who would brutally beat his victims before strangling them. A former boxer, he punched with such force that when he struck one of his victims in the abdomen he broke her spine, according to the autopsy report.

Mongeluzzo said he had wondered aloud during the interrogation how Little had managed to avoid arrest for so long. Little, he said, had an answer.

I can go into my world and do what I want to do, Little said, according to Mongeluzzo, describing neighbourhoods around the nation where poverty, drug addiction and unsolved murders are common. I wont go into your world.

Little has told investigators that his mother had been  in his words  a lady of the night.

But many other details about his childhood are unclear, although investigators said he may have been born in jail during one of his mothers arrests. He was raised mostly by one of his grandmothers in Ohio.

In Opelousas, Louisiana, a town of 16,000, Donald Thompson, the police chief, said he has been haunted by a killing for years.

In January 1996, the naked body of Melissa Thomas, 24, the cousin of Thompsons wife, was found under a pecan tree in a small cemetery behind a Baptist church.

At the time, Thompson was the departments lead investigator on the case. He said he always suspected the killer had been an outsider because no one in the tight-knit town had any information.

Last month, Thompson got a call from Texas that Little had confessed to the murder, and he sent one of his detectives, Sgt. Crystal LeBlanc.

Over two hours, LeBlanc found that Little knew the towns streets, its bars, the location of the little church cemetery.

Little told LeBlanc that he met Melissa Thomas on a street and they drove to the cemetery to use drugs. He said when they moved into the back seat to have sex, he began to stroke her neck and Thomas became alarmed.

He said that she said, Why do you keep touching my neck? Are you a serial killer? LeBlanc said.

Little said he became so enraged that he strangled her to death, according to LeBlanc.

Toward the end of the interview, LeBlanc said she asked about Littles religious beliefs. They spoke about the nature of sin. He told her he had no need to fear God.

He said God made him this way, so why should he ask for forgiveness? she said. He said God knew everything he did.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.An Ohio man charged with killing a woman during a white nationalist rally in Virginia plans to argue that he believed he was acting in self-defence when he drove his car into a crowd of counter protesters.

A lawyer for James Alex Fields Jr. offered a glimpse of the defence strategy as jury selection began Monday in Charlottesville, fifteen months after this quiet Virginia city became a flash point for race relations in the U.S.

The Unite the Right rally on Aug. 12, 2017 rally drew hundreds of white nationalists to Charlottesville, where officials planned to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Hundreds more showed up to protest against the white nationalists.

The two sides began brawling before the rally got underway, throwing punches, setting off smoke bombs and unleashing chemical sprays. Later, 32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed when a car authorities say was driven by Fields plowed into a crowd of counterprotesters.

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Afterward, President Donald Trump enflamed racial tensions when he said both sides were to blame, a comment some saw as a refusal to condemn racism.

Fields attorney John Hill told a group of prospective jurors Monday the jury will hear evidence that Fields thought he was acting in self-defence.

Hill asked if any of the prospective jurors believe using violence in self-defence is never appropriate.

Nearly all of the 68 prospective jurors in the first group to be questioned said they had read or heard about the case.

About 20 people said they had formed an opinion in the case. When asked if their opinion was so strong they could not put it aside and decide the case based only on the evidence, no hands were raised.

Fields was photographed hours before the attack with a shield bearing the emblem of Vanguard America, one of the hate groups that participated in the rally, although the group denied any association with him.

Pretrial hearings have offered few insights into Fields or his motivation. A Charlottesville police detective testified that as he was being detained after the car crash, Fields said he was sorry and sobbed when he was told a woman had been killed. Fields later told a judge he is being treated for bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and ADHD.

Star Peterson, whose right leg was virtually crushed by the car, has had five surgeries and still uses a wheelchair and cane. She sat quietly in the courtroom Monday watching the proceedings.
Under a merciless sun, a dozen Chinese construction workers survey an empty expanse of desert, preparing to transform it into the heart of a new Egyptian capital.

The workers are employed by Chinas largest construction conglomerate through a $3 billion (U.S.) contract from an Egyptian company, with financing from Chinese banks. They are erecting a thicket of 21 skyscrapers, one as tall as the Empire State Building.

The presence of Chinese labour and largesse on the sands of Egypt is a testament to Chinas global aspirations. After centuries of weakness and isolation, China is reclaiming what its leaders regard as its natural destiny  supremacy in Asia, and respect around the planet. Through the ventures in Egypt and elsewhere, China is exploiting its formidable economic clout to expand its geopolitical influence, directing investment to woo governments that control vital assets.

A traditional ally of the United States, Egypt controls the Suez Canal, a vital shipping passage where a threat to access could impede Chinas movement around the globe. In constructing a central piece of the futuristic capital, China is ingratiating itself with the canals ultimate gatekeeper, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, while rendering his grandest visions dependent on friendly relations with Beijing.

Chinas reach for commercial expansion along with diplomatic influence guides an array of Chinese undertakings, from rail networks and highways taking shape across Africa and Latin America to ports and power stations being constructed in Eastern Europe and South Asia. In Southeast Asia, Chinese entrepreneurs are engineering a crop of web companies just as China projects growing military power in the South China Sea.

Little more than a decade ago, Chinas forays beyond its borders were mainly about bringing home energy, minerals and other resources, often from countries forsaken by the West as pariah states like Iran, Sudan and Myanmar. In foreign policy, China pursued a sole obsession  peeling off diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory. Even as China skirmished with neighbours over contested islands, it accepted the dominance of the U.S. Navy.

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Those days are over.

Under the muscular leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has cast off previous restraints, rejecting deference to a U.S.-dominated global order as an impediment to national revival. In matters of commerce and national security, China is competing with the United States, even in traditional American spheres of influence.

From a Chinese perspective, this reordering is merely an overdue reversion to historical reality as Beijing demands consideration commensurate with its stature.

In the telling of the ruling Communist Party, Chinas modern history is the story of Chinese mastery degraded by colonial depravity. China is the land that invented the compass, gunpowder, paper and printing, amassing stupendous wealth while Europe was still backward. Then came centuries of humiliation  Britains profiting from forcing opium on the populace, Japanese brutality, demeaning lectures about human rights from hypocritical Americans. Now, China is intent on securing its own fate.

China wants to be a great power in the world, said Paul Heer, a former chief national intelligence officer in East Asia for the United States, who now teaches at George Washington University. They think the rest of the world owes them recognition, and a return to what the Chinese see as their rightful place.

Nowhere are Chinas designs clearer than in Asia. China has overtaken the United States as the leading trading partner with Asian nations while pushing back against American naval primacy in the South China Sea. China is disrupting American alliances in the region, from Japan to Singapore to Australia.

Beyond its backyard, Chinas ambitions are boundless. It celebrates its Belt and Road Initiative, a vast collection of infrastructure projects around the world, as the means of recreating the Silk Road, the trails navigated in ancient times by merchants carrying goods between Asia and Europe.

Xi Jinping is leading a China that has influences in all corners of the globe, said Zhang Baohui, a professor of international relations at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. The 2008 financial crisis in the West was the turning point for China. Beijing started to embrace a triumphal mindset, and pursued global leadership with new confidence on the back of the Wests perceived flaws.

Chinas assertive role in world affairs is grounded in its domestic needs. It is at once spreading into new markets, generating fresh demand for its factory wares just as growth slows at home. It is projecting military strength and influence when the legitimacy of the Communist Party rests on bolstering economic fortunes and international esteem.

Among its neighbours, Chinas rise provokes fears that an unwanted piece of history is being resurrected  the old tribute system that cemented Chinas status as the Middle Kingdom. For centuries, other nations bowed in recognition of Chinas imperial might, bestowing gifts on the emperor and accepting vassal status to secure trade and peace.

Beijing now confronts accusations that it is directing investments to ensnare partners in debt traps as a means of seizing their assets. Last year, Sri Lanka handed control of a port to a Chinese venture after failing to pay back Chinese loans. Malaysia recently cancelled a pair of projects involving Chinese financing. Faced with pushback abroad and concerns about mounting debts at home, China is reassessing the breadth and cost of its global ventures, although the scope remains vast.

For the Western powers whose order has prevailed since the end of World War II, China poses a foundational challenge. The United States and its victorious allies erected institutions that were  at least rhetorically  designed to keep the peace by promoting trade and fair competition. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have dispensed aid with conditions, though frequently drawing accusations that they have failed to comply with their standards on protecting human rights and the rule of law.

Chinas investments come with no such strictures. China bankrolls autocrats who control geopolitically valuable real estate. China demands only that its companies gain a piece of the action while recipients eschew criticizing Beijing.

Chinas challenge to the Western-dominated order is amplified by the reality that its primary architect, the United States, is now led by an avowed nationalist. As U.S. President Donald Trump wages a trade war and derides international co-operation, he has generated doubts about the perseverance of the liberal democratic philosophy the United States has long championed.

Xi has sought to fill the vacuum. He has cast himself as the leader of the rules-based international trading system, even as China faces accusations of stealing intellectual property, subsidizing state-owned companies and dumping products on world markets at unfairly low prices.

Whats happening in the United States gives China this golden opportunity to portray itself as the defender of the international order, said Jessica Chen Weiss, a China expert at Cornell University.

Threatening Competition and Cohesion

If the new Silk Road is in part about moving goods from Chinese factories to customers in the rest of the world, the trail seems certain to pass through Central and Eastern Europe.

Already, Chinese investment has turned the Greek port of Piraeus into the busiest shipping hub on the Mediterranean, a gateway to the rest of the European Union, with its 500 million consumers. China has promised to help finance the construction of a high-speed rail link from the Serbian capital, Belgrade, to the Hungarian capital, Budapest. It has also pledged to turn the region into a transportation corridor laced with highways, airports, rail, ports and power stations.

This reality frames the proceedings of the 16-plus-1 group, an economic bloc that China has forged with 16 Central and Eastern European nations. Its latest summit convened on a drizzly day in July in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. Officials from the 16 governments  among them the newest, least-affluent members of the European Union  posed for photos with the delegation from China, the one nation wealthy and ambitious enough to finance their visions.

Leaders in the rest of the European Union construe the group as a stealth assault on the rules and cohesion of their bloc. In offering financing for infrastructure projects, China has positioned itself as an alternative to EU development funds.

Europes money comes with rules protecting labour and the environment, while requiring that projects be awarded to companies on the basis of competitive bidding to ensure fair competition. China tends to distribute its funds with far simpler demands: Chinese companies must gain work, free of competition, while Beijing secures an international ally.

EU officials are especially worried that Chinese money could weaken the pressure Europe is applying on members that have been breaching democratic norms. Europe has threatened to withhold development funds from Poland and Hungary as punishment for their turns toward authoritarianism. Both have packed courts with government-friendly judges and menaced the press.

Its a mutually beneficial co-operation based on mutual trust without any kind of attempts to interfere into domestic issues, Hungarys foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto, said in an interview before the summit in Sofia.

Bulgaria has high hopes for Chinese investment on highway projects linking its ports. The Bulgarian government has broken with other EU members in declining to join international statements condemning Chinas human rights record. As Bulgarian officials prepared at the gathering to meet Chinas premier, Li Keqiang, they planned to stick to business.

We are talking about different conversations, concrete conversations related to infrastructure, and other conversations related to the level of democracy and human rights in China, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev of Bulgaria said in an interview the day before the event. It would not be polite and constructive if we try to merge them into one.

The summit convened in a hulking convention centre that harks back to era of Soviet domination. At a news conference, the Chinese and Bulgarian prime ministers offered assurances that the 16-plus-1 bloc does not aim to divide Europe.

Li sought to allay European worries that China poses a challenge to its rules. He promised that Chinese-financed projects will be awarded on the basis of competitive bidding.

There needs to be open and transparent tendering, the Chinese premier declares.

But the Serbian prime minister, Ana Brnabic, has just undercut that assertion. Asked moments earlier about the high-speed rail from Belgrade to Budapest, she said Chinese companies have been promised construction work.

China is a strategic partner, she said. We are not putting out tenders.

Investing for the Future

As a currency crisis ravaged Indonesia two decades ago, angry mobs tore through West Jakarta, killing hundreds of ethnically Chinese merchants. Yet Cheng Tao, a Chinese software engineer turned venture capitalist, can look down from his highrise office on the same neighbourhood and see a tranquil centre of Chinese life  grocery shops, restaurants and his own sons school.

Cheng, 34, is part of an influx of young Chinese financiers, engineers and web designers who rent space in an area full of technology companies. He first came to Indonesia a decade ago with the Chinese telecom company Huawei. He and other veterans of large Chinese conglomerates are increasingly unleashing their own startups.

Ten years ago, there were no mainland Chinese here, Cheng said as he sips tea imported from China. We see opportunities here that no longer exist in China.

The thriving Chinese startup scene in a neighbourhood once devastated by anti-Chinese terrorism illustrates Chinas deepening engagement in Southeast Asia. Only a few years ago, Chinese companies in the region were mainly focused on purchasing natural resources. Today, China is investing for the future, seeding innovative industries with money and brainpower.

Last year, Chinese investors participated in funding rounds for Indonesian startups that accounted for 95 per cent of the value of those companies, according to a survey by Google and A.T. Kearney, a global management company.

China is Indonesias Silicon Valley, said Adrian Li, a venture capitalist who has a Stanford MBA and moved to Jakarta from Beijing in 2014.

Chinas place in Southeast Asia has proceeded deliberately, and just as the United States has ceded ground.

Back in 2003, the prime minister at the time, Wen Jiabao, addressed the yearly gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. A decade later, President Barack Obama did not attend the annual conclave, held that year on the Indonesian island Bali. It was a noteworthy absence given that Obama had spent time in Indonesia in his youth.

Chinas new president, Xi, showed up. He even addressed the Indonesian parliament, using the occasion to announce a new institution  what would become the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, now a rival to the World Bank.

While heads of state forge ties amid pageantry, Chinese businesses have been quietly yet persistently making inroads in Indonesia, guided by bottom-line concerns. At home, Chinese web companies are running out of new customers. Indonesia, a land of 260 million people, is adding more internet users than anywhere else on Earth.

Jack Ma, the founder of the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba, was early to appreciate this reality, pouring major investments into local shopping startups, including $1.1 billion last year into Tokopedia, a thriving online marketplace. During the Muslim holy month of Ramadan this spring, the Tokopedia site drew 78 million people, a 70 per cent increase from the previous month.

Such potential fortifies Mas determination to stay ahead of his biggest global competitor  Amazon. The American e-commerce company operates in Singapore but has yet to significantly penetrate Southeast Asia.

Alibaba has put more than $3 billion into a former regional competitor, Lazada. Its Alipay digital payment system operates across Southeast Asia. Ma sits on advisory boards in the region that will help set standards and shape consumer perceptions, expanding Chinas traditional reach.

Military Buildup

Beyond money and clicks, China projects its power through a more traditional display of strength  military might.

Alex Pama has watched it unfold from uncomfortable proximity. In the 1990s, when he was a junior officer in the Philippine navy, he saw Chinese boats landing on Mischief Reef, a glorified collection of rocks claimed by the Philippines in the South China Sea. Chinese crews erected shelters to mark the territory, then began pouring concrete for larger buildings.

The Philippines sought help from its former colonial overseer, the United States. But the Clinton administration demurred. The U.S. Navy was still smarting over losing access to Subic Bay, its longtime base in the Philippines.

That decision was a historic turning point, said Pama, who would rise to become admiral of the Philippine navy. From then on, the United States shrank from the region, relinquishing the seas to China.

Thats when the appeasement started, Pama said.

Two decades later, Xi ordered the buildup of Mischief Reef and other outcroppings in the Spratly archipelago into islands bristling with reconnaissance gear, aircraft hangars, runways, deepwater harbours and, most recently, short-range missiles. Those bases and Chinas maritime buildup have given Beijing effective control over one of the most heavily trafficked waterways on the planet.

The U.S. should have been more assertive back then and now, said Pama, now retired.

Dominating the South China Sea and unseating the United States have become central objectives in Xis bid to return China to glory. Last year, China for the first time staged aircraft carrier drills using advanced fighter jets in the South China Sea.

Chinese state-owned companies control two Chinese-built ports on the Indian Ocean, in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Two more are on the drawing board for Myanmar and Bangladesh, helping China achieve its maritime strategy of a string of pearls stretching from the mainland to Port Sudan in Africa. Last year, China opened its first overseas military base, in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa.

China has presented these moves as defensive. But the United States and its Asian allies warn that Beijing has positioned itself to hold global trade hostage while diminishing the American presence. Chinas emergence as the regions dominant commercial power combined with its moves toward maritime supremacy has heightened the sense that a changing of the guard is underway.

Over the long term, Chinas power and influence will undoubtedly weaken and ultimately abolish U.S. dominance in the region, said Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing, who advises the government.

The perspective gained momentum during the 2012 standoff at Scarborough Shoal, a horseshoe-shaped chain of reefs that is much closer to the Philippines than to China.

As the Philippine navy challenged Chinese fishing boats, the Obama administration brokered a deal in which both sides would withdraw. The Philippine vessels departed, but some of the Chinese boats stayed.

China has controlled the shoal ever since. Emboldened, China began construction of seven artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago.

China appears reluctant to build a full-fledged military base on the shoal, lest it stoke nationalist anger in the Philippines, damaging relations with its pro-China president, Rodrigo Duterte.

Any reclamation will outrage the Duterte government, said Zhu Feng, the executive director of the Center for the South China Sea at Nanjing University. China cant afford to lose a good friend like that.

But many Philippine officials fear that this is merely a pause before an inevitable Chinese expansion.

Two large maps of the South China Sea cover the walls of the office of Gary Alejano, a Philippine congressman and former marine. He shows visitors how the Scarborough Shoal sits on the edge of the Bashi Channel, the Chinese navys entryway into the western Pacific. He points out the artificial islands in the Spratly archipelago. He notes Mischief Reef, where Chinese fighter jets have landed.

Unless someone confronts them, those jets will remain there, using the hangars China built, Alejano said. Philippine navy vessels rarely patrol the area, he said.

Right now, you can feel that China controls the South China Sea, Alejano said. And the U.S. comes in and out.

Owning the Choke Points

As China charts its global reach, six zones demand special attention: the maritime choke points.

The entryway to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean. The passageway from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean via the Strait of Malacca. The corridor separating Europe from Africa at the Strait of Gibraltar. Bab el Mandeb, off Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. The Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Access to the Mediterranean from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal.

At any one, an outbreak of hostilities could imperil Chinas free movement around the globe, jeopardizing its exports and access to resources.

These zones have historically been policed by U.S. naval power, which has made Chinas access dependent on peaceful relations with the United States. To liberate itself, China has been lavishing investment on governments that control the choke points.

Which is how China became financier and developer for the grandiose capital being constructed by El-Sissi in the reddish-brown desert east of Cairo. El-Sissi craves investment and allies at a time when much of the world has recoiled from his brutal crackdown on dissent.

In an interview, Gen. Ahmed Zaki Abdeen, who heads the Egyptian state-owned company overseeing the new capital, railed against U.S. reluctance to invest in his country.

Stop talking to us about human rights, he said. Come and do business with us. The Chinese are coming  they are seeking win-win situations. Welcome to the Chinese.

In backing the new capital, China has furthered an age-old aspiration for the Egyptian powers that be: taming the desert. The project aims to construct a city of 6.5 million people, replacing crumbling Cairo with a technological metropolis engineered to rival Dubai. Construction is expected to take 15 years while costing 200 billion Egyptian pounds, more than $11 billion.

Under a master agreement signed in October 2017, China Construction is building the capitals central business district. A consortium of Chinese state-owned banks is lending $3 billion to finance a first phase expected to be completed in three years. Egypt is obligated to spend the money by hiring the China State Construction Engineering Corp. A second phase is expected to run $3.2 billion.

Yu Wenchuan dons a yellow safety vest as he works security at the China Construction site. Born and raised in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, Yu, 24, complains about the 100-degree heat and the conspicuous absence of spicy noodles. But he is resigned to spending the next eight years in Egypt.

This is a good way to get experience, he said.

Under the contract, 35 per cent of construction materials can be brought from China. Even some of the 65 per cent procured from domestic sources stands to enrich China, given the presence of entrepreneurs like Xin Zhu.

Seventeen years have passed since Xin landed in Cairo from his native Hubei province. There, he oversaw a factory that processed slabs of granite and marble into flooring and countertops. He had heard that Egypt was rich with quarries full of high-quality, low-priced rock.

He took control of a lot in an industrial area outside Cairo. He endured terrible roads and power failures. I was like a pioneer, he said.

Today, Xins company employs more than 100 people, mostly migrants from China. He ships most of his production to China. But he aims to sell into the new capital, profiting as Beijing erects a veritable Pharaonic monument for Egypts authoritarian leader.

I was looking for new opportunities outside China, Xin said. More development is good for our business.

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WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALANDMore than 140 pilot whales died after beaching themselves in southern New Zealand, with half being euthanized by conservation workers in a deeply saddening decision after their discovery came too late to rescue them, officials said Monday.

The stranding, in an isolated part of Stewart Island, off the coast of the South Island, was the largest in New Zealand since 250 pilot whales died last year in one of the worst such incidents in the countrys history.

The beached whales on Stewart Island were discovered in two separate groups, or pods, just as several other whale deaths and strandings were reported around the country over the weekend.

The Department of Conservation said Monday that as many as 145 whales beached themselves at Mason Bay, on the islands west side, where they were discovered by a hiker Saturday afternoon.

Ren Leppens, the departments operations manager for the island, said the hiker walked for two to three hours to alert conservation staff. Half of the whales were already dead by the time rangers reached the two pods, leaving the rest to be euthanized.

Its deeply saddening, said Mr. Leppens, who added that the whales, which might have been stranded as early as Friday, had started to get covered in sand by the time they were found. Poor weather meant that experts could not be flown in to figure out how to help rescue the whales, so euthanizing them was the only option, he said.

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Leppens said the beach was the site of three previous mass strandings. More than 300 whales beached themselves at Mason Bay in 1998.

The Department of Conservation said the events are believed to happen when whales make navigational mistakes while chasing prey, escaping predators or trying to protect sick members of the group, but more than one factor could contribute.

Last February, 250 whales died after hundreds became beached at Farewell Spit, one the most common locations for whale strandings in New Zealand. They died after 500 rescuers frantically tried to refloat the animals.

Krista Hupman, a marine mammal biologist for the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand, said whale conservation groups kept a close eye on Farewell Spit and were ready to convene rescue teams at short notice when the animals appeared to be swimming toward the coastline.

But without that initial sighting, were out of luck, she said, referring to the remoteness of the stranding at Stewart Island, which is home to just 402 people.

At the opposite end of the country, rescuers at Ninety Mile Beach, near the northern tip of the North Island, delayed efforts to refloat eight stranded pygmy killer whales until Tuesday because of bad weather. Four whales had died on the beach as of Monday. Two other whales beached themselves elsewhere in New Zealand, officials said.

The Department of Conservation said the deaths were unlikely to be related, and Hupman, the whale biologist, said strandings were common in New Zealand at this time of year.

While New Zealand is known to have an unusually high number of whale strandings, she said, scientists did not know why they were so frequent, the reasons behind them, or whether refloating the animals was the best way to respond.

Leppens, the Department of Conservation operations manager, said that the remote location meant conservation staff would leave the whales on the beach to decompose and let nature take its course.

But the exact circumstances of the stranding remained a mystery.

The sooner technology can race forward and give us a better idea of why this happens, the better, he said.
ROMEItalian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci, who won Oscars with The Last Emperor and whose erotic drama Last Tango in Paris enthralled and shocked the world, died Monday. He was 77.

Bertoluccis press office, Punto e Virgola, confirmed the death in an email to The Associated Press. Italys state-run broadcaster RAI said Bertolucci died at his home in Rome, surrounded by family.

He will be remembered among the greatest in Italian and world film, the Venice Film Festival, which awarded Bertolucci a lifetime achievement award in 2007, said in a statement.

Bertoluccis movies often explored the sexual relations among characters stuck in a psychological crisis, as in Last Tango. The self-professed Marxist also did not shy away from politics and ideology, as in The Conformist, which some critics consider Bertoluccis masterpiece.

Despite working with A-list American and international stars, Bertolucci always defended his own filmmaking style against what he said was the pressure of the U.S. film industry. He maintained critical success for most of his career, weathering the controversies that his sexually provocative work would stir and some commercial flops.

When it comes to commercial cinema, I have the strange pleasure of feeling that Im from another tribe, an infiltrator, he told Italian daily Corriere della Sera in 1990.

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He was honoured for lifetime achievement at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011.

Bertoluccis movies also bore the imprint of the directors own experiences in psychoanalysis. He always said that making films was his way of communicating with the audience. It was his personal language.

Maybe Im an idealist, but I still think of the movie theatre as a cathedral where we all go together to dream the dream together, he said upon receiving an award from the Directors Guild of America for his 1987 film The Last Emperor.

That movie handed Bertolucci his greatest success. In 1988 it won all nine Academy Awards it had been nominated for, including Best Movie and Best Director.

The movie  the first Western feature film to win permission to shoot in Beijings Forbidden City  follows the life of Chinas last emperor, from child king at the end of the Qing Dynasty to war criminal and, finally, ordinary citizen in the Peoples Republic.

It was filmed in the lush and vivid style that was one of Bertoluccis trademarks. It featured grandiose scenes and intimate moments, and a flashback structure that is typical of biopics.

The last emperor of Italian film is gone, said Oscar-winning director Roberto Benigni and his wife, the actress Nicoletta Braschi, on learning of his death. In a statement carried by the ANSA news agency, the couple said his work remains among the marvels of the 20th century.

Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, who often worked with Bertolucci and won one of his three Oscars with Last Emperor, compared the director to William Faulkner.

His style is not unlike that of Faulkner wholl go on for 30 pages without a period. Bernardo doesnt just use the camera to convey just one sentence. Everything flows into everything else, said Storaro.

Bertolucci was born in the northern city of Parma on March 16, 1941, the son of poet Attilio Bertolucci and his wife, Ninetta. The family moved to Rome when Bertolucci was 13.

He had originally wanted to be a poet like his father but later turned to movies.

He began his career while still a student at the University of Rome as an assistant director on Pier Paolo Pasolinis film Accattone. A year later, in 1962, he made his first film The Grim Reaper, about the murder of a prostitute.

Soon he established himself as one of the brightest young stars of international cinema. By his early 30s, he had already directed highly acclaimed movies: Before the Revolution in 1964, a reflection on politics and the middle class set in the directors hometown; The Spiders Stratagem in 1970, the story of a man who returns to the scene of the killing of his father, an anti-Fascist hero, to discover a web of lies; and The Conformist, which is based on an Alberto Moravia novel and depicts the struggle of a man, Jean-Louis Trintignant, to conform to society in Fascist Italy.

But it was with Last Tango that Bertolucci shot to stardom and notoriety.

The film, starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider as a middle-aged man and younger woman who engage in a brutal sexual relationship in a bare Paris apartment, shocked the world and incurred censorship in his native country.

But its raw and improvisational style also earned Brando and Bertolucci Oscar nominations, and was likened by New Yorker film critic Pauline Kael to Stravinskys The Rite of Spring as a revolutionary work of art.

The movie was banned in Italy just after its release in 1972 and was not released again until 1987. The case went back and forth in the courts until the high criminal court banned the film in 1976 and ordered all copies confiscated and destroyed. Bertolucci, Brando and Schneider, as well as the producer Alberto Grimaldi, were sentenced to two months in jail and a fine of $40 (U.S.) each, although the jail terms were suspended.

Schneider herself would say she was traumatized by the movie. The actress, who died in 2011, was just 19 during filming and told the Daily Mail in 2007 that a rape scene involving a stick of butter was included without warning.

I should have called my agent or had my lawyer come to the set because you cant force someone to do something that isnt in the script, but at the time, I didnt know that, she said.

Marlon said to me: Maria, dont worry, its just a movie, but during the scene, even though what Marlon was doing wasnt real, I was crying real tears. I felt humiliated and, to be honest, I felt a little raped, both by Marlon and by Bertolucci. After the scene, Marlon didnt console me or apologize. Thankfully, there was just one take, she said.

Bertolucci then embarked on his most ambitious project, a four-hour epic tale on the lives of two boys  Gerard Depardieu and Robert De Niro  through the political upheavals of the past century in Italy. The movie, 1900, won some critical praise but ended up a spectacular commercial flop.

Bertoluccis later movies included The Sheltering Sky, featuring Debra Winger and John Malkovich as an American couple trying to inject new life into their relationship during a trip to Africa. The 1990 work won Bertolucci a nomination at the Golden Globes.

He also directed Little Buddha in 1993 with Keanu Reeves as Siddharta; Stealing Beauty in 1996 starring Liv Tyler as a teenager discovering sex during a trip to Italy; The Dreamers, again an erotic drama set against a political backdrop  in this case the 1968 student riots in Paris  starring Eva Green and Louis Garrel as cinema-loving siblings who strike up a friendship with visiting American student Michael Pitt. The film featured full-frontal male nudity but was released uncut in the United States.

Bertolucci was married to the English writer and director Clare Peploe. They had no children. Peploe is the sister of Mark Peploe, a screenwriter and close friend of Bertoluccis who worked with the director on a number of projects.

Punto e Virgola said Romes city hall would host a wake for Bertolucci on Tuesday. A commemorative ceremony open to the public is being planned for a later date, it said.
Whos willing to get arrested if it comes down to that? Pastor Cleve May asked two dozen members of his congregation in the parking lot at CityWell United Methodist Church early Friday morning.

Hands shot up without hesitation. The congregants were preparing a sort of migrant caravan of their own, shuttling a single Mexican immigrant on a 15-mile journey from the church in Durham, North Carolina, to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office building in Morrisville. The undocumented immigrant, Samuel Oliver-Bruno, had an appointment.

It was supposed to be routine, just a fingerprint  a step on the road to a deportation reprieve. Oliver-Bruno, a 47-year-old father to a U.S.- citizen son, had been living in a Sunday-school classroom in the church basement for the past 11 months, a refuge where immigration authorities couldnt arrest him. His appointment with USCIS would mark the first time he stepped beyond the church property line since then, and what seemed like half his church went with him because, May said, we dont really believe that sanctuary is just a building.

The sanctuary went with Samuel to this office, he told The Washington Post. We were gonna go in this office together.

The caravan arrived at the office about 8:45, where nearly 100 other people had already gathered. They prayed in the parking lot, and as Oliver-Bruno went inside with his son, his attorney and his pastor, the group started singing a Spanish hymn right outside the door.

It didnt last long. Two minutes later they traded the singing for screaming.

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No! Theyre arresting him! one woman yelled.

The congregants and other supporters began banging on the glass windows and doors, yelling as they watched U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in plain clothes tackle Oliver-Bruno and his son to the ground in the waiting room. The son wouldnt let go as officers began dragging his dad toward a back door  and the dozens of gatherers followed, sprinting around the corner to meet the agents.

That marked the beginning of a nearly three-hour standoff with ICE, during which the congregants and other community members sought to physically block the arrest of Oliver-Bruno by surrounding a government van and refusing to move, singing Amazing Grace and chanting, Let your people go! The stakes for Oliver-Bruno, whose wife suffers from lupus, were too high to step away, May said.

We told the police chief, We understand this is your job, but we need you to understand that as a matter of conviction we cannot move, and you will have to arrest us, May recounted.

A total of 27 people were arrested, including May and Oliver-Brunos son, the Morrisville Police Department said. Daniel Oliver-Perez, 19, faces charges of assaulting a government official, for the skirmish during which he attempted to prevent officers from arresting his dad.

In a joint statement, Democratic Reps. David Price and G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina said they were alarmed by the manner in which Oliver-Bruno was arrested, describing it as entrapment at worst and a Catch-22 dilemma at best, saying USCIS appeared to act in concert with ICE. They asked USCIS to grant Oliver-Brunos deferred action on the deportation, saying his wife and U.S. citizen son would suffer greatly if Mr. Oliver-Bruno is removed from the country.

USCIS spokesperson Michael Bars later said in a statement: As a matter of policy, USCIS is unable to comment on specific cases related to pending litigation. Importantly, however, the agency does not schedule an appointment at our Application Support Centers for an applicant who does not have a pending immigration benefit application or other request. USCIS is committed to adjudicating all petitions, applications and requests fairly, efficiently, and effectively on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet all standards required under applicable law, policies, and regulations.

May said the church opened its doors to Oliver-Bruno last December under the decades-old church sanctuary program, in which congregations across the country offer to provide refuge to immigrants facing deportation. The congregation at CityWell United Methodist Church tried to make the former Sunday-school classroom homey for Oliver-Bruno, bringing him an air mattress and nightstand and TV and a lamp.

But while they called it a sanctuary, May said, they also knew it was like being on house arrest. Oliver-Bruno didnt leave to watch his son graduate from high school. He didnt leave to accompany his wife to the doctor, or to run an errand or see a movie. He just stayed at church, leading a Bible study in Spanish and sometimes playing in the church band.

He became very intimately apart of who we are as a congregation. It was a really beautiful thing in a lot of ways, but also a really tragic thing, May said. It was never far from anyones mind, and it was often on our lips, that Samuel was experiencing a very cruel form of house arrest, almost in isolation.

Oliver-Bruno first came to the United States in 1994 to live and work in Greenville, North Carolina, and lived there with his wife, Julia, who had lupus, a serious autoimmune disease. In 2011, they decided to return to Mexico because Oliver-Brunos parents health was failing, according to his church. (May said the family was declining interview requests for the time being).

But the lupus was a problem. Doctors in Mexico were no match for those in Greenville, who had treated and monitored Julias illness. Three years after arriving back in Mexico, they knew it was time to make the journey back over the border illegally when she started coughing up blood, May said. This time, however, Oliver-Bruno was arrested and convicted of attempting to enter the country with fraudulent documents.

In a statement, ICE spokesperson Bryan Cox told the Raleigh News & Observer that authorities decided he could stay in the country under an order of supervision. May said he was allowed to stay because of Julias failing health: Crossing the border months ahead of Oliver-Bruno, she underwent heart surgery upon her arrival in Greenville.

Oliver-Brunos reprieve and supervision order lasted until November 2017, when it was revoked and he was ordered removed.

Mr. Oliver-Bruno is a convicted criminal who has received all appropriate legal process under federal law, has no outstanding appeals, and has no legal basis to remain in the U.S., Cox told the News & Observer explaining why Oliver-Bruno was arrested.

Back in the USCIS parking lot Friday, the ICE agents were trying to tell the crowd to quiet down, competing for a chance to speak over chants of Shame! By then, protesters had fully surrounded the ICE vehicle, an unmarked minivan.

Listen up! yelled an agent who identified himself as an assistant field officer The only way this is gonna go down is this way: Hes been ordered removed from the United States. Thats it. I know the law, OK? So what were going to do now  youve got to disperse.

The singing in Spanish began again.

Step back! he said to a woman wailing on the hood of the van.

She didnt move.

You have the discretion, sir, a man yelled to the officer. You have the power, sir. Theres a higher law, sir.

Eventually the agent stepped out of the crowds centre, and the police arrived, watching on the outskirts as the people again broke into song. They sang the civil rights anthem, We Will Not Be Moved, invoking Samuels name, and then Amazing Grace, extending their hands toward the van, where Oliver-Bruno and two ICE agents were listening. The crowd alternated between silence and singing and prayer, sniffling and sometimes crying out.

His only crime was wanting to take care of his family! one woman yelled.

By the end, nearly 30 people remained when police placed them under arrest for obstruction. They were booked into the Wake County Detention Center with Oliver-Bruno.
ANKARA, TURKEYThe Open Society Foundations, which is funded by George Soros, is pulling out of Turkey days after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the billionaire philanthropist of attempting to destabilize his country.

The foundation, which has backed projects to improve education, womens rights and encourages democratic reforms, said baseless accusations had made it impossible for it to continue operating in Turkey.

The foundations Turkish chief was among 13 activists detained in Turkey this month, accused of supporting mass anti-government protests in 2013 and of links to jailed businessman, Osman Kavala.

Erdogan has accused Kavala of financing the protests and claimed the Hungarian-American Soros was behind him.

Erdogan said: The famous Hungarian Jew Soros is behind (Kavala). This man has a lot of money that he uses to divide nations.

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ANKARA, TURKEYPolice searched a mansion in northwestern Turkey belonging to a Saudi citizen on Monday after investigators determined that the man had been in contact with one of the suspects in the slaying of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkish officials said.

Crime scene investigators and other officials, aided by sniffer dogs and a drone, scoured the luxury villa near the town of Termal, in Yalova province, and later expanded their search to the grounds of the neighbouring villa, the state-run Anadolu agency reported.

Police spent around 10 hours searching the two villas for the journalists remains, Anadolu reported, without saying if any evidence or trace had been found.

The Istanbul prosecutors office said Mansour Othman Abbahussain  a member of a 15-person squad sent from Riyadh to kill Khashoggi  had contacted the mansions owner, Mohammed Ahmed Alfaozan, by telephone a day before Khashoggis Oct. 2 killing.

It is being assessed that this conversation was geared toward the disposal (or) the hiding of Jamal Khashoggis body after its dismemberment, the prosecutors statement read. It did not mention any possible findings at the site.

Turkey has maintained pressure on Saudi Arabia over the killing of the U.S.-based columnist for The Washington Post. Khashoggi was a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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A 15-member assassination squad sent from Riyadh strangled and dismembered Khashoggi. His remains have yet to be found.

Ankara insists the orders for the killing came from the highest levels of the Saudi government, but not King Salman. The Saudi agents blamed for the killing included some members of the crown princes security entourage.

Saudi Arabia initially said Khashoggi had walked out of the consulate before shifting its account of what happened amid Turkish intelligence leaks. Riyadh is now seeking the death penalty for five members of the hit squad in a move that appeared to be aimed at defusing international outrage over the killing and distancing the operation from the crown prince.

Saudi prosecutors maintain that the 15-man team sent to Istanbul exceeded its authority when the lead negotiator in the team decided to kill Khashoggi for refusing orders to return.

Anadolu agency, without naming a source, said the owner of the mansion was outside of Turkey at the time of the killing and had not returned in the past two months. The focus of the search was a well on the grounds of the first villa, which was being drained of water with special equipment brought to the scene, the agency reported.

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KIEV, UKRAINEUkraines parliament voted Monday to impose martial law in parts of the country to fight what its president called growing aggression from Moscow after a weekend naval confrontation off the disputed Crimean Peninsula in which Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels amid renewed tensions between the neighbours.

Western leaders and diplomats urged both sides to de-escalate the conflict, and the U.S. blamed Russia for what it called unlawful conduct over Sundays incident in the Black Sea.

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other in the dispute that further ratcheted up tensions ever since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014 and threw its weight behind separatists in eastern Ukraine with clandestine support, including troops and weapons.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked lawmakers in Kyiv to institute martial law, something the country did not do even during the worst of the fighting in the east that killed about 10,000 people.

After a five-hour debate, parliament overwhelmingly approved his proposal, voting to impose martial law for 30 days starting Wednesday morning in 10 of Ukraines 27 regions  those bordering Russia, Belarus and Moldovas pro-Moscow breakaway republic of Trans-Dniester. The locations chosen were ones that Poroshenko identified as potentially in the front line of any Russian attack. The capital of Kyiv is not under martial law.

Poroshenko said it was necessary because of intelligence about a highly serious threat of a ground operation against Ukraine. He did not elaborate.

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Martial law doesnt mean declaring a war, he said. It is introduced with the sole purpose of boosting Ukraines defence in the light of a growing aggression from Russia.

Ukraines Defence Ministry already announced earlier in the day that its troops were on full combat alert in the country.

The approved measures included a partial mobilization and strengthening of air defences. It also contained vaguely worded steps such as strengthening anti-terrorism measures and information security that could curtail certain rights and freedoms.

But Poroshenko also pledged to respect the rights of Ukrainian citizens.

His critics reacted to his call for martial law with suspicion, wondering why Sundays incident merited such a response. Poroshenkos approval ratings have been plunging, and there were concerns that he would postpone a presidential election scheduled for March.

Just before the parliament met to vote, Poroshenko sought to allay those fears by releasing a statement revising his original martial law proposal from 60 days to just 30 days, in order to do away with the pretexts for political speculation.

Oksana Syroid, a deputy speaker of parliament, noted that martial law was not introduced in 2014 or 2015 despite large-scale fighting in the east. A state of emergency would present a wonderful chance to manipulate the presidential elections, she said.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Poroshenko assured him that martial law would not have a negative impact on the election.

Despite Poroshenkos vow to respect individual rights, opposition lawmaker and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko warned before the vote that his proposal would lead to the possible illegal searches, invasion of privacy and curtailing of free speech.

This means they will be breaking into the houses of Ukrainians and not those of the aggressor nation, noted Tymoshenko, who is leading in various opinion polls. They will be prying into personal mail, family affairs ... In fact, everything that is written here is a destruction of the lives of Ukrainians.

Poroshenkos call also outraged far-right groups in Ukraine that have advocated severing diplomatic ties with Russia. Hundreds of protesters from the National Corps party waved flares in the snowy streets of Kyiv outside parliament and accused the president of using martial law to his own ends.

But Poroshenko insisted it was necessary because what happened in the Kerch Strait between Crimea and the Russian mainland was no accident, adding that this was not the culmination of it yet.

Russian coast guard ships fired on the Ukrainian navy vessels near the strait, which separates the Black Sea from the Sea of Azov, injuring six Ukrainian seamen and eventually seizing the vessels and their crews. It was the first open military confrontation between the two neighbours since the annexation of Crimea.

Ukraine said its vessels were heading to the Sea of Azov in line with international maritime rules, while Russia charged that they had failed to obtain permission to pass through the narrow strait that is spanned by a 19-kilometre (11.8-mile) bridge that Russia completed this year.

While a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has sought to assert greater control over the passage since the annexation.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin tweeted that the dispute was not an accident and that Russia had engaged in deliberately planned hostilities, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed Kyiv for what he described as a provocation, adding that Ukraine had undoubtedly hoped to get additional benefits from the situation, expecting the U.S. and Europe to blindly take the provocateurs side.

Klimkin told reporters in Kyiv that the government is in talks with the Red Cross to make sure the captive seamen are treated as prisoners of war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not say whether the Kremlin considers them prisoners of war.

At a U.N. Security Council meeting, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley urged Russia to immediately cease its unlawful conduct in the Black Sea.

In his first public remarks since the confrontation, President Donald Trump did not specifically call out Russias behaviour.

We do not like whats happening, either way, we dont like whats happening and hopefully it will get straightened out, Trump said.

Anne Gueguen, the French deputy permanent representative at the U.N., urged the release of the sailors and the vessels.

But Russia called Ukraines actions dangerous. Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russias first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council the incident was another example of Ukrainian leaders trying to provoke Russia for political purposes.

The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides. NATO said Stoltenberg expressed the U.S.-led military alliances full support for Ukraines territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke by telephone with Poroshenko to express her concerns and emphasize the need for de-escalation and dialogue, her office said.

British Prime Minister Theresa Mays spokesman, James Slack, said the incident was further evidence of Russias destabilizing behaviour in the region and its ongoing violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity.

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Should a taxi drivers right to earn a living trump the right of passengers to feel safe whenever they get into a cab?

Thats the question at the centre of a little-publicized decision made by the Toronto Licensing Tribunal on Oct. 25.

In carrying out its mandate to balance the protection of the public interest with the licensees need to make a living, it sided with the driver  even though he is facing multiple criminal charges including sexual assault against a female passenger.

The cases raises at least five alarming questions about oversight of drivers.

Chief among them is whether the tribunals mandate gives too much leeway to an unelected, independent, quasi-judicial body of seven citizens.

Kristine Hubbard, operations manager of Torontos largest taxi fleet, Beck (which did not employ the driver in question), thinks it does. She suggests there should be automatic suspensions for drivers who run afoul of the law.

That sounds like a sensible start.

As reported last week by CBC News, the case before the tribunal was that of Scarborough cabbie Golam Mustafa.

He was charged with sexual assault, nine counts of fraud, nine counts of using a stolen credit card and nine counts of possession of stolen property in connection with an incident on Aug. 25.

On that day, police report a 32-year-old woman was sexually assaulted after getting into a cab. When she fled the taxi, she left her purse behind.

The taxi driver then took her credit card and used it at multiple locations to make purchases, police say.

And that raises the second issue. Mustafas case easily might never have even come up before the tribunal. Thats because there is no formal way for the city to know when a taxi driver has been charged with a criminal offence other than having the citys municipal licensing and standards department (MLS) staff scan police media releases so they can alert the tribunal.

In this case, eagle-eyed staff caught it, reported it to the tribunal and recommended that Mustafas licence be suspended.

Instead, the tribunal members chose to place conditions on Mustafas licence, including that he not accept unaccompanied females as passengers, not allow a female to sit in the front seat of his cab, not drive overnight, and let MLS know the outcome of his criminal case.

That eyebrow-raising move raises the third and fourth issues.

While those conditions must be visible on Mustafas photo card attached to the dash, its unlikely, as Hubbard points out, that most passengers even look at the card before getting into the cab.

Further, it provides for no oversight to ensure drivers will live up to the conditions and report back after their legal cases are heard.

Now for the fifth. There is no formal reporting procedure to alert cab companies when drivers are criminally charged, so that they can suspend drivers themselves if they feel it is warranted. Instead, Hubbard says they rely on what they read in the media, where charges may or may not be reported.

Mustafas lawyer says he was suspended by the company he drove for (which was not identified) on Nov. 14. But he could still be driving: in addition to the three biggest cab companies there are more than 4,000 independent owners he could work for.

Sadly, this is not the first case to draw attention to the issue of safety for women in cabs. Media reports and civil and criminal cases point to the fact that women are propositioned, assaulted and even raped all too often by taxi drivers. (Ride-sharing services do not have a better reputation.)

If they and other vulnerable citizens are to feel confident they will arrive safely at their destination when they get into a cab, the tribunal must always err on the side of public safety when it makes its decisions.

Its time for the city to overhaul the entire oversight procedure for taxi licenses. It should start by rewriting the tribunals mandate and setting up formal reporting procedures for any driver facing criminal charges.
The brutal murder and dismemberment of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a murder that was apparently ordered by Saudi Arabias crown prince means Canada has some decisions to make.

The most obvious one involves a multibillion contract to supply light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia, which is waging a merciless war against men, women and children in Yemen.

Should Canada renege on that contract given that the Saudi royals have shown themselves to be a rogue regime that is willing to murder whomever they want whenever they want without fear of consequences?

Canada also has another business arrangement with Saudi Arabia that perhaps we should also consider cancelling.

According to the National Energy Board (NEB), Canada imports approximately 80,000 barrels of oil a day from the kingdom, about 12 per cent of our total oil imports.

That amounts to about $2 billion a year that we pay Saudi Arabia for oil that is refined in New Brunswick and consumed mostly in Eastern Canada as gasoline, diesel, or airplane fuel. The Irving refinery in St. John, N.B., counts on Saudi Arabia for forty per cent of its crude oil.

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Maybe we should be calling that oil dirty oil.

Given that Canada is the fourth largest oil producer in the world and has more than enough oil to supply the whole country, it has long irked Western oil producers that while opposition to pipelines and tanker traffic on the West Coast has met with vociferous opposition, oil tankers from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Nigeria, and Norway regularly unload on the East Coast and yet there is not the same outcry.

Sure, the oil imported on the East Coast is a lighter, sweeter crude than the tarry diluted bitumen that would be exported from the West Coast.

But given that we might want to think about cutting off Saudi Arabia, which supplies the second highest volume of oil imports after the U.S, because of its mafia-like behaviour, perhaps we should reconsider that Energy East pipeline project TransCanada mothballed a few months back.

It looks pretty good right now given that both the Trans Mountain and the Keystone XL pipelines are stalled indefinitely.

If Energy East were to be revived would opposition in Ontario and Quebec be quite so strong if people knew they were making a choice between Canadian oil and Saudi Arabian oil? And what if the tarry diluted bitumen could be upgraded in Alberta so it was less of an environmental threat?

That was a possibility touted by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley last week. Her government pledged to invest $2 billion in partial bitumen upgrading facilities. Six private sector proposals are being looked at and if they come to fruition the oil moving through the pipelines would be thin enough not to require diluents, which takes up pipeline capacity.

With increased pipeline capacity the current of glut of Alberta oil would be reduced, which could mean higher prices for Alberta bitumen.

Of course, all these proposals would take a few years to become reality. But the fact remains: demand for oil is not going to totally dry up any time soon. Demand will decrease eventually but oil will still be needed for some years to come so we can have gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and petrochemical feedstock to make all the plastics we use.

Right now most of the oil Canada produces sells into the United States for about $15 a barrel. At the same time we are importing oil from places like Saudi Arabia for a much higher price. How does that make any sense?

Its also clear that given the upsurge in shale oil production in the U.S, our trusty customer doesnt need our oil as much as it used to. That combined with President Trumps volatility when it comes to trade could put our oil exports in danger.

Theres a lot of uncertainty in the world these days. What better time for Canada to make sure we dont have to depend on anyone else but ourselves when it comes to energy?

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Ever since he took office, Premier Doug Ford has gone out of his way to cast himself in the role of federal kingmaker.

From day one he has made no secret of the fact that he is making it a priority to see Justin Trudeau voted out of government next fall.

But as Ford is currently learning at his own expense, the undeniable national influence that attends the role of Ontario premier cuts both ways.

His ambition to play kingmaker in next falls federal vote is really the first casualty of his mishandling of the Franco-Ontarian file.

Notwithstanding the premier's damage-control efforts, the dust is unlikely to settle on the backlash he has engineered when he reneged on his promise to Ontarios francophone community to pursue the project of a French-language university.

The decision to eliminate the post of commissioner of French-language services  a move devoid of a fiscal rationale as the money saved, if any, amounts to a drop in an ocean of spending  only added insult to injury.

Read more:

Opinion | Chantal Hebert: Andrew Scheer leads where voters may not follow

Tory MPP Amanda Simard breaks ranks over French-language cuts

Opinion | Thomas Walkom: Doug Ford is Justin Trudeaus not-so-secret weapon

Late Friday, Fords office announced it was restoring a full-fledged portfolio for francophone affairs within the cabinet and adding a senior adviser on Franco-Ontarian affairs to the premiers staff.

But it will take more than the closing of the barn door after the horse has bolted to turn Fords status back from liability to his federal cousins to major asset in next falls campaign.

In Quebec and other francophone regions of the country, Andrew Scheers kinship with the Ontario premier has become a toxic feature of his leadership.

No federal leader can afford to write off the 100 and so ridings where francophone voters determine the electoral outcome without dramatically reducing his hope to lead his party to victory. As large as Fords audience may be in Ontario, it cannot make up for the Conservative Party of Canada being written off on account of his actions on the language rights front by voters in almost a third of the countrys ridings.

Nor is looking like the junior partner of a premier  regardless of the size of the province the latter happens to run  conducive to becoming prime minister.

Scheer can only hope the backlash that has attended Fords dealings with Ontarios francophone community will pre-emptively induce caution in New Brunswick.

Premier Blaine Higgss incoming Tories are not considered particularly francophone-friendly and his minority government depends for its survival on a party that is pushing for a reduction in the officially bilingual provinces French-language services.

The Quebec reaction to the Ontario news was as furious as it was swift, for in the era of social media the news travel faster than ever.

For the first time in its 14-year history, Tout le monde en parle, the provinces much-watched television talk show, devoted an entire segment to a political story pertaining to Canadas francophone diaspora on Sunday.

It notably featured Amanda Simard, the Ontario Tory MPP who has been calling on her government to reverse course. She is becoming a bit of a household name in Quebec. Her riding of Glengarry-Prescott-Russell switched from the Liberals to the Tories last June, making it an outlier of sorts among the provinces francophone strongholds. On election night, Simard had assured her constituents they had nothing to fear from a Conservative government.

Over the past decade, Quebec has been re-engaging in the affairs of the federation. In the current Parliament, 68 of its 78 MPs belong to federalist parties. Its incoming CAQ government was elected on a federalist platform. This Quebec backlash is not a by-product of a particularly vibrant sovereignty movement.

If Quebecers are  as every indicator suggests  putting the option of secession behind them, it is not to see their language increasingly obliterated from the political landscape of the rest of the federation, or the hard-earned gains of Canadas French-language minorities eroded.

A thought in closing on the notion that the Franco-Ontarian community will move on sooner rather than later: Nothing is less certain.

This is not a community that gives up on its dreams easily.

As a rookie journalist working for Radio-Canada in Toronto I was assigned the Franco-Ontarian beat at a time when local communities routinely had to fight English-language school boards tooth and nail to obtain stand-alone francophone high schools.

On the weekend, someone dug one of my TV reports out of the archives. It dealt with the Franco-Ontarian communitys determination to add a francophone university to its expanding education network. The year that report was broadcast was 1980.

Chantal Hebert is a columnist based in Ottawa covering politics. Follow her on Twitter: @ChantalHbert

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ALTON  Gray Thursday through Cyber Monday was for taking care of friends and family, but for the past six years #GivingTuesday has been about everybody else.

The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the traditional start of the Christmas holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday was created by organizers in the 92nd Street Y in New York City as a way to celebrate and encourage giving worldwide. Last year more than $300 million was raised online, in addition to the value of volunteer hours, food and clothing donations and other types of giving.

About a dozen local organizations, ranging from Senior Services Plus in Alton to Jerseyvilles Kids Shouldnt Have Cancer Foundation in Memory of Jonny Wade, are among those that benefit from the charitable day. Last year, as part of its fundraising drive for construction of a new wellness center, SSP raised nearly $40,000 on the day.

For #GivingTuesday specifically, its an opportunity for people to donate back during the holidays after the large marketing weekend, said Sarah Neal, of the Alton YWCA, one of the local participating organizations. Tuesday is the opportunity, instead of buying for personal use, to be thinking about giving back to the community.

She said by going to the YWCAs website at www.altonywca.com, people can give either to the organization as a whole or specific projects including child enrichment, racial justice or youth.

Another group benefiting from the day will be the Friends of the Madison County Child Advocacy Center.

The CAC is used as a safe space for children needing to be interviewed because of allegations of sexual or severe physical abuse in a child-friendly environment. The interviews are conducted at the request of law enforcement or the Department of Child and Family Services.

Because of an increase in the number of interviews conducted each year, the CAC is increasing staff, and the physical changes are necessary to accommodate a second interview room. The project needs to be completed around the end of June for the CAC to submit grant proposals for the staff increases.

The renovations would utilize the facilitys existing space at the countys Wood River Annex to create a second interview room and several waiting rooms.

The agency is an unusual mix of public/private, with about 65 percent of its funding coming from grants or donations, and the rest from Madison County.

Carrie Cohan, the centers executive director, said they have been participating in the #GivingTuesday program for several years.

The focus on charity and giving back to the community is whats so inspiring about it, she said of #GivingTuesday.

Our plan is to do some promotions on social media tomorrow, Cohan said Monday afternoon. What were really pushing this year is our new Rooted in Hope campaign, which is a monthly campaign that would allow donors to make an impact all year long.

She said they are also collecting donations for holiday baskets that include food, family games and other items for some of the families the agency deals with that need help.

Were going to continue this momentum through the end of the year, she said. If folks cant donate tomorrow, were willing to work with them.

For more information or to donate to the CAC visit www.madco-cac.org

We are incredibly inspired by the way the #GivingTuesday community has embraced this concept for a worldwide movement, said Henry Timms, founder of #GivingTuesday and Executive Director of 92nd Street Y. As we prepare for November 27, were energized and encouraged by the communitys generosity. The levels of creativity, effort and the quality of the new ideas people have contributed and shared are phenomenal.

Local participating groups include the Alton Volunteer Emergency Corps; Boys & Girls Club of Alton; Challenge Unlimited Inc.; Junior League of Greater Alton; Riverbend Head Start and Family Services; Senior Services Plus; The Restore Network; YWCA of Alton; Friends of Madison County Child Advocacy Center; Power of the Giraffe; Kids Shouldnt Have Cancer Foundation in Memory of Jonny Wade; Pound Pets Inc.; and United Child Advocacy Network.

For more information about participants, activities or to give, visit www.givingtuesday.org, visit www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday or twitter.com/GivingTues; or contact the local agencies.
GLEN CARBON  State Sen.-elect Rachelle Aud Crowe says shes not ready to join state Democrats campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois next year.

However, I will have to review the specific proposal and consult with local law enforcement before making a decision regarding the legalization of marijuana, she said in an emailed response when asked by The Intelligencer where she stands on the subject.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker hopes Illinois will pass a plan nearly right away when the 101st Illinois General Assembly convenes in 2018. House Speaker Mike Madigan this month flipped his stance and now says he will support the legislation.

A study released earlier this month by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) predicts that if recreational marijuana would be legalized, Illinois would save $18.4 million annually in incarceration costs, generate $525 million in tax revenue ($20 million for local governments), create 23,600 new jobs and boost Illinois economy by $1 billion annually.

Crowe, a prosecutor who was assigned to the Madison County Drug Court Program, says she does support the use and expansion of medical marijuana as a substitute for prescription opioids.

I have seen first-hand the tragic effects of the opioid epidemic, she said. I support expanding the medical marijuana program to ensure patients have options when treating chronic pain without having to rely on highly-addictive opioid prescriptions that can have tragic long-term effects.

There is no current pot plan yet written to paper the consensus is smokers would have to be 21. If passed, there would be an additional six-month planning period to issue associated licenses and hammer out other details.

The issue has largely been split by party lines.

I will never support legalization, House Republican leader Jim Durkin said to the Chicago Tribune, as reported by The Associated Press. I dont like how quickly we are moving. Illinois should not be part of this lab experiment. I see no societal value.

Crowe will be taking the seat of retired state Sen. Bill Haine, of Alton. Shell be part of a super majority, with Democrats outnumbering Republicans 40-19 in the Senate and 74-44 in the House.
EDWARDSVILLE  With a smile so big you can barely see his eyes, three-year-old Princeton captures the heart and attention of anyone who has the pleasure of meeting him. If youre lucky, you may hear a story or two from the imaginative preschooler who loves fire-breathing dragons, counting, kiwis, oranges and more.

Princetons personality and educational development are flourishing thanks to the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Early Childhood Center (ECC), and of course, his mom Melody Peterson, a junior studying sociology and pre-law at SIUE.

Its definitely stressful juggling being a student and a parent, Peterson said. He is my top priority. I am incredibly grateful to have found SIUE, where both my and Princetons education is high-quality.

When considering where to pursue her bachelors, Petersons initial favorite was Purdue. But that changed when she stepped foot on SIUEs campus. Her decision was solidified when she visited the ECC.

I toured the campus and instantly fell in love, she recalled. SIUE was beautiful and inviting. It was a big school, with a small feel. When I came to the ECC, I knew immediately that Princeton would be in good hands.

According to ECC Director Rebecca Dabbs MacLean, the ECC provides a high-quality preschool experience for all children, and is strongly committed to ensuring that caliber of schooling is accessible and affordable for all, especially student parents.

When a student parent crosses the commencement stage, it changes their life and their kids lives, Dabbs MacLean emphasized. We want SIUE student parents, like Melody, to be able to access this kind of education for their children.

Recent state budget cuts led to increased tuition costs at the ECC, making it more difficult for low-income families to utilize the campus resource. Therefore, in fall 2018, Dabbs MacLean and her team worked tirelessly to secure two major grants that will aid in their support of a targeted group of families.

The grants include a five-year $705,000 award from the Illinois State Board of Educations Preschool for All program. It focuses on preparing at-risk children for kindergarten. A four-year $675,836 award from the U.S. Department of Educations CCAMPIS: Childcare Access Means Parents in School program emphasizes student parent retention and graduation.

We wrote these grants with our student parent population top of mind, and are thrilled to have received funding that enhances our educational mission, Dabbs MacLean said. The Preschool for All grant is designed to help 40 children gain preschool services.

The CCAMPIS program will make the SIUE ECCs gold circle of quality services more accessible to a larger number of low-income students, she added It is designed for students who receive financial aid and covers a large chunk of their costs at the ECC. The grant also expects us to support those students by checking in on their academic progress and building strong relationships with them to make sure all of their needs are met here at SIUE. We are offering a monthly student parent support group beginning spring 2019.

For Peterson, whose sights are set on law school next, both of these grants help ensure her and Princetons continued success.

The teachers and administrators at the ECC have been instrumental in our lives, Peterson said. They are invested in the success of not only the student parent, but also the students child. While Im in class, I can focus on being a student, and know that my son is safe and getting an excellent education. That peace of mind means the world to me.

The ECC strives to maintain a balanced enrollment of children ages 2-5 whose parents are students, SIUE faculty and staff, and surrounding community members. With this grant support, the ECC hopes to attract more student parents to offer their high-quality services to those children and families who may benefit most.

While a small portion of the grant funding supports teacher professional development, most of it is earmarked for a specific population. Therefore, Dabbs MacLean continues to emphasize the ECCs need and appreciation for community giving.

Positive early childhood experiences foster the growth and development of tomorrows leaders, she explained. We see a lot of families, outside of student parents, that would benefit from additional support to make this high-quality care affordable. We are grateful for the support we receive from individuals and businesses, and remain committed to doing our part to secure funding that changes lives.

For more information on the SIUE Early Childhood Center and how to give, visit siue.edu/early-childhood-center. For additional details on giving to the ECC, please contact Dabbs MacLean at 618-650-2256.
Hey, remember the time Freemasons secretly took over Italy ? Or that homeless woman who shot the CIA's disgraced financier ? Or when Richard Nixon tried to end the Vietnam War by pretending to be crazy ? Good stuff, right? Well don't worry, a bunch of sneaky idiots run this planet, so we will never run out of crazy, baffling, incredibly stupid real history to share with you.

6 The KGB Ordered A Bombing To Spark A War Between Jewish Radicals And The Black Panthers

From the late '60s to the early '80s, the Soviet Union ran a secret campaign to paint America as a hotbed of racism. (We know, what a far-fetched scheme, right?) For example, before the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the KGB sent fake letters from the KKK to African countries, declaring the Olympics were "for the whites only," and warning "we are preparing for the Olympic games by shooting at black moving targets ... we'll give you a reception you'll never forget." The forged letters made front-page headlines around the world, and not just so people could laugh about how shitty an all-white Olympics would be.

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The height of the campaign came in the early '70s, when the KGB wanted to spark a war between the Jewish Defense League (JDL), and Black Power groups. As part of Operation PANDORA, the KGB produced fake JDL pamphlets calling for a war against "black mongrels" who were supposedly attacking and looting Jewish businesses. They sent the pamphlets to dozens of Black Power groups, then followed them up with fake letters from African-Americans describing JDL attacks and begging for revenge.

Minnesota Historical Society

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The letters may have raised tensions, but they didn't produce the all-out street war the KGB was hoping for, probably because '70s America was not in fact run by those costumed gangs from The Warriors. So the frustrated Soviets decided that if no one was buying their fake racist attacks, they would have to carry out a real racist attack. After all, if you want racism done right, you have to do it yourself.

In 1971, high-ranking KGB officer Anatoli Kireyev ordered agents to plant a bomb in "the Negro section of New York." After the bomb went off, the agents were supposed to make anonymous phone calls claiming JDL responsibility. Fortunately the plan didn't happen, although the reasons for this are unclear (accessible KGB archive material only contains the orders from Kireyev, not any responses). Given that this was the summer of 1971, maybe nervous KGB agents had just seen Shaft and didn't want to risk it.
It is not surprising that an article under Their View in a prior Telegraph edition would blame an increase in hate crimes on president Donald Trump.

After all, everything bad that happens in this world is blamed on President Trump by the liberal press and this article was in fact a reprint from the far-left leaning St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Never mind that the left has been stirring up hate for this president since the day he was elected and numerous Hollywood actors/actresses have called for his assassination.

This along with a play held in Central Park in New York City depicting the presidents assassination.

In the minds of the left, all hate is caused by this president.

Never mind that the president stated the obvious fact that included amongst illegal immigrants are criminals and rapists.

Never mind the obvious fact that immigration from some countries is preferable to immigration from other countries.

Never mind the increased security resulting from implementing a travel ban against the countries on Obamas terrorist watch list.

In the minds of the left, all of these things are racist.

In light of the caveat included in the article it is obvious that the entire article is just an attempt to make our president look bad and once again shows the bias and contempt the media has for this president. The caveat included in the article states that hate-crime reporting by local law enforcement is voluntary and a rise in the number of departments participating could have influenced some statistics.

In other words, the percent increase numbers are meaningless since they do not include the number of departments participating each year. This is the classic definition of what has become known as fake news.

Jim Schwegel

Godfrey
Carlcare ServiceLimited was established in Hong Kong in 2009 with an aim to provideprofessional service support to mobile phones and other electronic consumerproducts, and over the years has become a leading service brand for consumerelectronics in South East Asia, Middle East and Africa. Currently, Carlcare isproviding full service support for TECNO and Itel, two worldwide famous mobilephone brands.
Companies in India as well as rest of the Asia-Pacific region are leapfrogging in the 'Intelligent Enterprise Index' to become truly digital and connected. According to a Zebra Technologies study conducted globally, countries in Asia-Pacific, including India, have scored the highest rise in the number of companies that have applied the Internet of Things (IoT) standards of digitising their physical activities.

The Asian region showed a massive spike in the number of companies rated as truly intelligent moving up from 2 to 22 per cent compared to the previous year. The global index showed a rise from 5 to 10 per cent.

While IoT expenditure rose by 4 per cent globally, the rise in India, along with rest of the region, was at 12 per cent.

Overall, the index measures to what extent companies are today meeting the criteria that makes them an 'intelligent enterprise'  how much they have connected the physical and digital operations through sensors and tags, tracking of consignments, computerised filing, mobile work flows and real-time guidance, with the rapid adoption of IoT solutions.

Based on our second annual index, it's clear that more and more companies acknowledge the value of leveraging IoT strategies, pointed out Sanjay Nare from Zebra's Technologies' India office. Most heartening, according to experts, is that resistance to adoption of such technologies is also going down. More than 90 per cent of the companies surveyed said they expected their investment in IoT to increase in the coming years.
Touched by the compassion of the nurses who tended to her...
Eight Naxals and two police personnel were killed in an encounter between the leftwing extremists and security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday, police said.

The gun battle took place at a forest in the Kistaram area bordering Telangana, around 500km from Raipur, when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, Sukma's Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena told PTI.

Eight bodies of Naxals have been found at the encounter spot, he said. Two District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel were also killed in the exchange of fire with the Naxals, the SP said.

Reinforcements have been rushed to the spot, he said. Further details were awaited as the encounter was still under way, he added.
The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala on Monday suspended its Shoranur MLA, P.K. Sasi, against whom sexual harassment charges were levelled by a woman party worker, for six months from the party's primary membership.

The decision in this regard was taken at the CPI(M) state committee meeting at AKG Centre, the party headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Left party, in a release, said Sasi was suspended from the CPI(M)'s primary membership for six months after it was found that he had conversed with a woman worker "in a manner not befitting a party leader".

The decision will be implemented after getting the ratification from the party's central committee, the release said.

A woman Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader had accused Sasi of trying to sexually abuse her following which the party had initiated a probe.

A two-member party appointed commission, comprising law minister, A.K. Balan, and Kannur MP and central committee member P.K. Sreemathy, which probed the allegations had in its report stated that Sasi had not sexually assaulted the complainant, but had conversed with her inappropriately.

Sasi, Palakkad district secretariat member, who had earlier dismissed the allegation against him saying it was a "well planned conspiracy" to malign him politically, Monday

said he would accept any decision the CPI(M) took against him and would always remain with the party.

According to media reports, the DYFI leader had filed the complaint alleging the MLA tried to sexually abuse her at the party office at Manarcaud in Palakkad.

The complaint had been sent to CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat on August 14 and via an e-mail to CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury as well.

The CPI(M) decision comes a day ahead of the Kerala Assembly session convening on Tuesday, which is likely to be stormy.


A day after a college in Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu postponed a seminar on harassment of women after criticism from the BJP, H. Raja, a national secretary of the saffron party, on Monday demanded that the event be called off.

The St Joseph's College in Tiruchirappalli had been preparing to organise an 'international seminar on harassment of women as registered in Tamil literature' on December 6-7. Late in the past week, Raja demanded on Twitter that the seminar be cancelled, alleging it sought to bring disrepute to Tamil and Vedic literature. Raja also alleged the seminar was planned by Urban Naxals and Christian missionaries to create unrest.

We want the meet to be called off. Just postponement is not acceptable. pic.twitter.com/FiBBw4Lffc  H Raja (@HRajaBJP) November 26, 2018

Following the demands from Raja and other Twitter users, Tamil Nadu Minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture and Archaeology K. Pandiarajan assured of intervention. Pandiarajan wrote on Twitter TN Govt will intervene with the College concerned and ensure this derogatory & slanderous seminar does not happen.

Thank you very much.   https://t.co/C2kICWxM8U  H Raja (@HRajaBJP) November 24, 2018

On Sunday, St Joseph's College announced the seminar had been postponed, but attributed the reason to its resources being used for relief and reconstruction work in the aftermath of cyclone Gaja.

The controversy over the event at St Joseph's College is likely to reignite criticism of the BJP influencing decisions of the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu in addition to censorship of events and opinions perceived to be critical of the BJP's ideology.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss rising tension between Ukraine and Russia after the seizure of three Ukrainian Navy ships in the Kerch Strait on Sunday.

The Kerch Strait is a narrow waterway leading to the Sea of Azov, which has been increasingly controlled by Russia since the conflict over Crimea erupted in 2014.

On Sunday, two Ukrainian Navy gunboats and a tugboat were reportedly fired upon by a Russian Border Guard vessel. Russia claimed the three Ukrainian Navy ships had entered its waters illegally. Ukraine claimed six of its personnel were injured in the incident, while Russia claimed only three men had sustained minor injuries.

In a related development, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko late on Sunday asked the country's parliament to vote Monday on whether to impose martial law in the country for 60 days given the Kerch Strait incident. Calling the attack on the Ukrainian Navy ships a deliberate action, Poroshenko claimed the imposition of martial law did not mean Ukraine would resort to any offensive actions.

The European Union and NATO called for de-escalation of the situation in the Kerch Strait and demanded Russia restore freedom of passage in the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine had been complaining of increased Russian activity in the Sea of Azov since 2014, which had resulted in harassment of its ships and checks on merchant vessels sailing to Ukrainian ports.

(With agency inputs)
(Eds: Disclaimer: The following press release comes to you under an arrangement with PR Newswire. PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.)

PUNE, India, November 24, 2018/PRNewswire/ --

 Gynaecologist and Head of IVF, Dr. Puranik gets featured in a Documentary by BBC World Service Radio



 She is the only Doctor from Asian Institute to be featured in this documentary



Popular for handling cases of those who are not fortunate or have to struggle to find a solution to enjoy the motherhood, Dr Supriya Puranik, a leading gynaecologist, high risk obstetrician and Head of IVF & Gynaecology department at Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital Nagar Road was recently featured in a Documentary Programme Titled, 'The Changing Face of Procreation' on BBC World Service Radio. BBC had programmed this documentary to mark 40 years since the first IVF baby and to let the world know about the rare IVF / ART cases around the world. The list of interviewer includes scientists, bio ethicists, doctors, and people who have used IVF to enjoy the motherhood. Dr. Puranik from Sahyadri Hospitals Pune was the only doctor from Asian Institute to be featured in this documentary which included broadcast of interviews of ten doctors and some their successful case studies.



The documentary highlighted various ways and cases of IVF and ART that have changed the way people think about motherhood, adoption and the ethical and legal challenges that the technology brings around the world. One of the most intriguing cases discussed during the BBC broadcast was that of a 49 year mother who had lost her child due to cancer and got him back through cryopreserved semen and surrogacy.



Dr Supriya Puranik says "Being an IVF specialist, I am happy that developed science and new technologies are adding pleasure and cheerful moment in human's life. In hospitals, we often see a lot of emotions and happiness whenever a woman delivers a baby and we become a part of their joyous moments." "But, in this case it was about a grief stricken mother whose son was away for studies when he faced health issues and succumbed to death. The persistent desire to have her son back and her spirit convinced me to be by her side when she needed the most. We appreciate the kind of spirit she has shown in this entire process."



This is only one case among those high risk and challenging cases that Dr Puranik handles with her skills and come out successful to bring happy smiles to the patients and their families.



Dr. Puranik's professional journey though has been fascinating but she comes from a very humble background and started her practice in smaller cities like Satara and Karad. Dr Supriya Puranik, an expert with sheer determination, hard work and adoption of latest technologies rose up the ranks in IVF and is now considered as one of the leading IVF experts in India. This can be attributed to her technical and leadership skills and her pursuit for excellence in the subject she has been passionate about.



Dr Supriya Puranik has delivered the First Test Tube baby in Satara District and has performed various high risk and lifesaving surgeries in and around Pune.



About Sahyadri Hospitals:



Sahyadri Hospitals is the largest chain of hospitals in Maharashtra with 8 hospitals across three cities of Pune, Nashik and Karad. The hospital chain has over 900 Beds, 1200 Clinicians and 2300 Support Staff providing round the clock healthcare. To know more: http:ahyadrihospital.com/



For more, please contact :



Amol Pandit, 967-333-0915,amol.pandit@sahyadrihospitals.com



Source: Sahyadri Hospitals Limited PWR

PWR
Melbourne, Nov 26 (PTI) A leading Australian bilateral trade promotion body has joined hands with a Hyderabad-based trust to screen the eyes of the underprivileged school children in five states and provide spectacles to those identified with uncorrected refractive error.

The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) has announced its partnership with the India Vision Institute (IVI) to support the "Eye See and I Learn" initiative of the Hyderbad-based trust for the underprivileged children in India.

The partnership will bring light to children from underprivileged backgrounds in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and will also help them learn better and live better, the AIBC said in a statement.

The announcement about the partnership was made at an event in Sydney during the recent visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Australia.

The IVI is a not-for-profit trust that promotes excellence in vision care delivery in India. It is a joint initiative of the Hyderabad-based LV Prasad Eye Institute and Brien Holden Vision Institute, Sydney.

It focuses on supporting research, education and technological developments to advance Indian capacity in vision correction and prevention of eye disease and blindness.

"We are extremely glad to support IVI's 'Eye See & I Learn' initiative and we will be donating 1 AUD per child for each guest attending an AIBC event, dinners etc. We will continue supporting them through 2020," AIBC Chair Jim Varghese said. PTI SMJ AKJ SMJ

SMJ
Islamabad, Nov 26 (PTI) Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from across the world have gathered at Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Pakistan's Punjab province to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Sikhim's founder Guru Nanak Dev.

Security was beefed up in and around the gurdwara - one of the most sacred places of Sikh religion - where dozens of officials from the security agencies were deployed, Dawn reported on Monday.

Over 3,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims and thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from various parts of Pakistan, especially Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and interior Sindh, arrived at the gurdwara to perform their rituals which include 'Akhand Path', 'Ashnan', 'Matha Teak' and 'Kirtan', the paper said.

The pilgrims hailed the decision of India and Pakistan to build a corridor, linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan.

Talking to reporters, the leader of the Indian pilgrims, Marjeet Singh, said, "with the opening of this corridor, the Pakistani government had won the hearts of millions of Sikhs living on the other side of the border", the paper reported.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak committee leader Raminder Singh also lauded the steps taken by the Pakistani government and said the latest step of opening the corridor would further cement relations between Pakistan and the Sikh community.

He said that the opening of the Kartarpur corridor would be a gift for the Sikh community by the governments of both sides. He said over 10,000 Sikh pilgrims would visit Pakistan on the occasion. He stressed the need for opening more corridors between the two countries, especially in Kashmir.

Leader of female contingent from India Manmohan Kaur said that visa-free entry to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur would be a great facility for Sikh pilgrims.

She also expressed displeasure over the mismanagement by the Pakistan railways as a result of which over 113 pilgrims were left behind at Nankana Sahib.

Talking to the media, Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said mismanagement was due to the negligence of the railway authorities and the pilgrims displeasure was communicated to the relevant authorities.

He said the government had decided to open the Kartarpur corridor to allow Sikh pilgrims from neighbouring India to visit their gurdwara in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Imran Khan would formally inaugurate this corridor on November 28, he said.

Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died.

Responding a question, Gondal said the pilgrims would visit Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore on November 26. They will also visit Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Emanabad and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on November 28 and then depart for their respective countries on November 30. PTI ZH

ZH
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours:



FGN14 CHINA-INDIA-BORDER

China, India made constructive proposals for early solution to border dispute: Geng

Beijing: China and India made some "constructive, operable and forward looking" suggestions during the just concluded 21st round of border talks to move forward to achieve an early solution to the dispute and to maintain peace and tranquillity at the borders, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.By K J M Varma



FGN15 26/11-US-LD REWARD

US announces fresh USD 5 million reward for information on 26/11 perpetrators

Washington: The US has announced a fresh reward of up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who was involved in the planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack, as it specifically asked Pakistan to uphold its obligations to implement the sanctions against those responsible for the act of terror. By Lalit K Jha



FGN3 US-POMPEO-26/11

US calls upon Pakistan, others to implement UNSC sanctions against 26/11 perpetrators

Washington: Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a "barbarity", the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates. By Lalit K Jha



FGN8 26/11-ISRAEL-MOSHE (RPT)

26/11 terror attack: The trauma continues, says Moshe's grandfather

Jerusalem: "Time heals", they say. But for Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg -- the grandfather of Moshe Holtzberg who survived the 26/11 carnage at the age of two, having lost his parents to the terror attack on the Nariman House -- time could not heal their trauma despite a decade has passed since the tragedy struck the family. By Harinder Mishra



FGN5 26/11-PAK-TRIAL-DELAY

26/11: Ten years on, trial drags on in Pakistani anti-terror court

Lahore: As India on Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 carnage, the trial of seven LeT members facing charges of planning and executing the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months. By M Zulqernain



FGN11 JAPAN-MITSUBISHI-LD GHOSN

Mitsubishi Motors sacks Ghosn as chairman

Tokyo: Mitsubishi Motors executives on Monday ousted Carlos Ghosn as chairman following his shock arrest for alleged financial misconduct, capping a stunning fall from grace for the tycoon credited with saving the scandal-hit Japanese firm. (AFP)



FGN10 CHINA-CHEMICAL-SPILL

Company 'concealed' gravity of China chemical spill

Beijing: The company responsible for a chemical spill that left dozens ill in east China "deliberately concealed" the extent of the leak, which was 10 times worse than reported, authorities said.(AFP)

RUP

RUP
Brussels, Nov 26 (AFP) NATO will hold an emergency meeting with Ukrainian officials at alliance headquarters in Brussels on Monday over the naval standoff with Russia off the coast of Crimea.

Russia fired on and then seized three Ukrainian ships on Sunday, accusing them of illegally entering its waters in the Sea of Azov, in a dramatic spike in tensions that raises fears of a wider escalation.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg held phone talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and officials from the two sides will meet later in the day.

"The Secretary General expressed NATO's full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law," NATO said of Stoltenberg's call.

Kiev demanded the return of its ships and sailors, denouncing "another act of armed aggression" by Russia, which annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

The Ukrainian military has been put on high alert and the country's parliament is to vote on a request by Poroshenko to impose martial law for 60 days.

Ukraine has also urged its Western allies to step up existing sanctions implemented against Russia over Crimea and its role in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between the government and pro-Moscow separatists.

Moscow blamed Kiev for the incident, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accusing Ukraine of a planned provocation and of using "dangerous methods" that put ships in the area at risk.

Russian denials drew a barbed response on Twitter from the US Special Envoy for Ukraine Negotiations, Kurt Volker.

"Russia rams Ukrainian vessel peacefully travelling toward a Ukrainian port. Russia seizes ships and crew and then accuses Ukraine of provocation???" Volker tweeted.

Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea.

Kiev has accused Moscow of blocking access for Ukrainian ships though the strait, the only way in and out of the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

The European Union warned Sunday that tensions in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait had "increased dangerously" and demanded Russia restore freedom of passage. (AFP) RUP

RUP
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours:





FGN20 26/11-US-2NDLD REWARD

US asks Pak to act against 26/11 perpetrators, offers new USD 5 million reward for info on attackers

Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has asked Pakistan to act against those responsible for the barbaric 2008 Mumbai attacks as Washington announced a new reward of USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of those involved in the carnage. By Lalit K Jha



FGN14 CHINA-INDIA-BORDER

China, India made constructive proposals for early solution to border dispute: Geng

Beijing: China and India made some "constructive, operable and forward looking" suggestions during the just concluded 21st round of border talks to move forward to achieve an early solution to the dispute and to maintain peace and tranquillity at the borders, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.By K J M Varma



FGN3 US-POMPEO-26/11

US calls upon Pakistan, others to implement UNSC sanctions against 26/11 perpetrators

Washington: Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a "barbarity", the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates. By Lalit K Jha



FGN8 26/11-ISRAEL-MOSHE (RPT)

26/11 terror attack: The trauma continues, says Moshe's grandfather

Jerusalem: "Time heals", they say. But for Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg -- the grandfather of Moshe Holtzberg who survived the 26/11 carnage at the age of two, having lost his parents to the terror attack on the Nariman House -- time could not heal their trauma despite a decade has passed since the tragedy struck the family. By Harinder Mishra



FGN5 26/11-PAK-TRIAL-DELAY

26/11: Ten years on, trial drags on in Pakistani anti-terror court

Lahore: As India on Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 carnage, the trial of seven LeT members facing charges of planning and executing the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months. By M Zulqernain



FGN17 LANKA-UNP-COMMISSION

Wickremesinghe's party says Sirisena should also be investigated in graft cases

Colombo: Ousted Sri Lankan premier Ranil Wickremesinghe's party on Monday welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to set up a commission to investigate alleged cases of corruption that took place under the UNP-led government, insisting that he should also waive off his presidential immunity and subject himself to the probe.



FGN22 MALDIVES-NASHEED

Maldives top court clears Nasheed of terror conviction

Colombo: The Maldives top court overturned a terrorism conviction on Monday against the country's first democratically elected leader Mohamed Nasheed, who fled into exile after being sentenced to 13 years behind bars. (AFP)



FGN23 BANGLA-ATTACK-TRIAL

Bangladesh court begins trial of militants over 2016 Dhaka cafe attack

Dhaka: The trial of eight militants who perpetrated Bangladesh's worst terror attack on a popular cafe here in 2016 that killed 22 people, including a 19-year-old Indian girl, began in a court on Monday. By Anisur Rahman



FGN18 JAPAN-MITSUBISHI-2NDLD GHOSN

Mitsubishi Motors fires Ghosn, CEO to be interim chairman

Tokyo: The board of Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors, which is allied with Renault and Nissan, voted unanimously Monday to dismiss Carlos Ghosn as its chairman following his arrest last week. (AP)



FGN10 CHINA-CHEMICAL-SPILL

Company 'concealed' gravity of China chemical spill

Beijing: The company responsible for a chemical spill that left dozens ill in east China "deliberately concealed" the extent of the leak, which was 10 times worse than reported, authorities said.(AFP)

RUP

RUP
Moscow, Nov 26 (AP) Ukraine's president demanded Monday that Russia immediately release Ukrainian sailors and vessels seized in a standoff around Crimea that sharply escalated tensions between the two countries and drew international concern.

The two neighbours have been locked in a tense tug-of-war since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, but the incident late Sunday, in which Russian coast guard ships fired on Ukrainian navy vessels near the Kerch Strait, directly pitted the two militaries against each other, placing them on the verge of an open conflict.

The Ukrainian navy said six of its seamen were wounded when Russian coast guards opened fire on three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait and then seized them. Russia said that three Ukrainian sailors were lightly injured and given medical assistance.

Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, chaired an emergency meeting of his Cabinet early Monday and asked parliament to introduce martial law for two months in response to what he described as Russian aggression.

"We consider it as an act of aggression against our state and a very serious threat," the president said.

"Unfortunately, there are no 'red lines' for the Russian Federation."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told reporters later Monday that Kiev believes that what happened near the Kerch Strait was no accident but "deliberately planned hostilities."

If adopted by lawmakers, the emergency measures proposed by Poroshenko will include a partial mobilisation and strengthening the country's air defence.

They also include a plethora of vaguely worded steps such as the "strengthening" of anti-terrorism measures and "information security."

The fate of the Ukrainian seamen was not immediately clear.

Klimkin insisted that they should be treated as prisoners of war while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not say what legal status they have.

An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council was also called for Monday.

The European Union and NATO called for restraint from both sides.

Poroshenko had a phone call Monday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the situation.

NATO later said that at Poroshenko's request, its ambassadors and Ukraine's envoy will hold emergency talks in Brussels later Monday.

NATO said Stoltenberg expressed the US-led military alliance's "full support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including its full navigational rights in its territorial waters under international law."

Poroshenko said at a meeting of Ukraine's national security council Monday that "we demand that (the ships and crews) are urgently turned over to the Ukrainian side" and called for a "de-escalation" of the crisis around Crimea.

Russia and Ukraine have traded blame over the incident that further escalated tensions that have soared since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and backed a separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine with clandestine dispatches of troops and weapons.

Ukraine said its vessels were heading to the Sea of Azov in line with international maritime rules, while Russia charged that they had failed to obtain permission to pass through the Kerch Strait separating Crimea from the Russian mainland.

The narrow strait is the only passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It's spanned by a 19-kilometer (11.8-mile) bridge that Russia completed this year. While a 2003 treaty designates the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov as shared territorial waters, Russia has sought to assert greater control over the passage since the annexation of Crimea.

"There is no doubt that it was done by blessing or, perhaps, even a direct order from the top," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

"While planning that provocation, Ukraine had undoubtedly hoped to get additional benefits from the situation, expecting the US and Europe to blindly take the provocateurs' side."

He urged the West to "calm down those in Ukraine who are trying to unleash a military hysteria to get political gains in connection with the planned elections"  a reference to Ukraine's presidential vote in March.

A motion to introduce martial law requires a simple majority of votes in the 450-seat parliament, which Poroshenko's party controls.

If martial law is introduced as proposed for 60 days, it will derail the presidential election campaign, which was expected to start on December 30 with the vote in March.

Some lawmakers lashed out at Poroshenko's move as an attempt to influence the vote.

Polls show Poroshenko trailing far behind arch-rival Yulia Tymoshenko.

"Martial law in Ukraine would present a wonderful chance to manipulate the presidential elections," said Oksana Syroid, a deputy speaker of parliament who is a member of the Samopomich faction.

She noted that martial law was not introduced in 2014 or 2015 despite large-scale fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in the east.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Peskov, said that Poroshenko's initiative to introduce martial law "clearly smacks of electoral intrigues."

"We believe that it's wrong and dangerous to solve electoral tasks by waving a flag of war," he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters from far-right party National Corps waved flares in the snowy streets outside the Ukrainian parliament Monday.

They brandished yellow-and-blue flags with the Ukrainian national symbol, the trident, and a huge white banner reading 'Don't back down!"(AP) RUP

RUP
Kiev, Nov 27 (AFP) - Ukraine's parliament approved the introduction of martial law in border regions on Monday, as Russian state TV aired images of Ukrainian sailors captured after Moscow seized three of Kiev's ships in a confrontation at sea.

After intense debate, 276 lawmakers voted in favour of President Petro Poroshenko's request for martial law in border areas for 30 days.

The decision came after Russian forces boarded and captured Kiev's ships on Sunday, with Moscow accusing the vessels of illegally entering Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine and its Western allies say Russia illegally blocked the strait and acted against international law by grabbing the vessels and sailors.

The martial law gives Ukrainian authorities the power to mobilise citizens with military experience, regulate the media and restrict public rallies.

Amid fears of a Russian ground offensive, Poroshenko had wanted the law to cover the entire country but it was limited to border regions after opposition from lawmakers.

Before the vote, Poroshenko had accused Moscow of a "new phase of aggression." With Ukraine's military on high alert, images of several captured sailors were broadcast on Russia's state-run channel Rossiya 24 showing interrogations by Moscow's security services.

At one point, one of the sailors is heard saying that "the actions of the Ukrainian armed vessels in the Kerch Strait had a provocatory character" -- parroting the version of events put forward by Russian authorities.

The incident has raised fears of a wider military escalation. The UN Security Council met in an emergency session, where US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned Russia against "outlaw actions".

US President Donald Trump later weighed in on the incident.

"We don't like what's happening and hopefully it will get straightened out. I know Europe is not -- they are not thrilled. They're working on it too. We're all working on it together," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The confrontation is the latest dangerous development in the conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country.

More than 10,000 people have been killed since the Moscow-backed insurgency broke out in April 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The United States and EU have already imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict and on Monday European capitals rallied behind Kiev.

Ukraine's Western allies accused Russia of using force without justification in the naval confrontation, while Kiev urged its partners to impose further sanctions on Moscow.

"These were planned acts of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine," Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told reporters in Kiev.

Poroshenko accused Russia of taking the two countries' long-running conflict to another level.

The incident showed "the arrogant and open participation of regular units of Russian troops," he said in a television address to the nation, disparaging Moscow's insistence that its forces were not directly involved in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed Kiev, saying: "The Russian side acted strictly within both domestic and international law." - 'New phase' of conflict -

The crisis unfolded as two small Ukrainian warships and a tugboat were heading through the Kerch Strait, a waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea and which is used by both Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat and then fired on the ships, immobilising all three. It said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area.

Russia's FSB security service, which oversees border forces, confirmed weapons had been fired and the vessels seized, accusing the Ukrainian ships of "violating the Russian border".

Ukraine's interior minister released a video on Twitter apparently from aboard one of the Russian ships, showing the tugboat being chased down and the collision, interspersed with commands and swearing in Russian.

Russian television networks showed a similar video, but with the voices removed and without the moment of collision.

Ukraine said six of its servicemen were injured in the incident, two seriously. The FSB said only three had suffered non-life threatening injuries and were given medical treatment.

Russian officials said 24 Ukrainian servicemen had been detained and Peskov said a criminal investigation had been opened.

"I condemn Russian use of force in Azov Sea. Russian authorities must return Ukrainian sailors, vessels & refrain from further provocations," EU President Donald Tusk tweeted.

France also called on Russia to release the sailors and ships, with the foreign ministry saying "nothing appears to justify the use of force" by Russia.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said any Russian "blockade" of the Sea of Azov was "unacceptable" and proposed French-German mediation to resolve the crisis.

Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Kiev has accused Moscow of blocking access for Ukrainian ships though the strait, the only way in and out of the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

In recent months both sides had deployed more naval and border vessels to the area. (AFP)

TIR

TIR
Bhopal, Nov 26 (PTI) The Congress alleged Monday the "weak" Narendra Modi government "compromised on" the national security by allowing a "third party mediation" in Jammu and Kashmir, days after an ex-Norwegian prime minister's visit to the state.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the policy underlines that only India and Pakistan can hold a mutual discussion on the boundary dispute and accused the central government of violating the country's 71-year-old policy to deal with the issue.

"You must have read in newspapers... I don't want to take his name, I don't disrespect him. But for the first time, Modiji has sent a former prime minister of a third country to J&K to talk with separatists...Why? This question should be asked to him," Surjewala told reporters.

He was apparently referring to the recent visit of former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik to Jammu and Kashmir where he met top separatist leaders.

Surjewala was replying to a query on Congress minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's comments on Indo-Pak relations in the context of Pakistan's announcement to develop a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, in that country.

Sidhu had said that "Pakistan would take two steps towards harmony, if India takes one".

"It has been India's policy that any mediation by a third country is not allowed and that India and Pakistan can talk mutually about their boundary dispute," Surjewala said.

He said the Modi government "cannot be expected" to take a firm step on the national security.

"Unfortunately, for the first time a weak Modi government is in power, which has knelt down before terrorists, extremism and Naxalism. We cannot expect it to take a solid step on the issue of the national security," the Congress spokesperson said.

He said the prime minister has "blurred" the traditional policy of India on Jammu and Kashmir by allowing a former PM of a third country to talk with separatists.

"Today, it's one country's prime minister, tomorrow the US would ask to mediate in Kashmir dispute, then China and Russia would also come. What are you doing? This is a compromise on the national security," he said.

Asked if Sidhu's comments amounted to his love for Pakistan, Surjewala said, "Sidhu is the minister of a state and you (media) took up his comment which is not relevant.... not under his jurisdiction".

He said the media should ask the Modi government why a former prime minister of a foreign country was invited for a joint dialogue.

India and Pakistan had last week announced that they would develop Kartarpur corridor in their respective areas, linking Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, is located across the Ravi river in Pakistan and is about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district of Punjab in India.

Surjewala said the prime minister has not kept his promise of bringing culprits of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack to book.

"Modi had said that he would bring the culprits of the 26/11 terror attack within 24 hours. What happened? Four-and-a half years have been passed (since the BJP came to power). Why this promise was not kept?" he asked.

On November 26, 2008 10 terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba attacked Mumbai. In the mayhem that followed for the next three days, 166 people including 18 police officers and two NSG commandos were killed while 308 people were injured. PTI ADU LAL MAS NSK CK
Aizawl, Nov 26 (PTI) Campaigning for elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly ended at 4 pm on Monday, setting the stage for polling on Wednesday when 7,70,395 people are expected to cast their votes in this northeastern state.

The election machinery is fully prepared to conduct free and fair polls, the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashish Kundra said. Speaking to reporters here, Kundra said he was "perfectly satisfied" with the arrangements.

Mizoram is the last bastion of the Congress in the northeast. The Congress has been in power in the state since 2008 and is eyeing a third consecutive term.

In 2013 assembly elections, the Congress won 34 seats, while the Mizo National Front (MNF) had five and Mizoram People's Conference bagged one seat.

The Congress and the main Opposition, the MNF, have fielded 40 candidates each, while the BJP is contesting in 39 seats. The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), an alliance formed by two political parties and four groups, is contesting in 35 seats.

The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) said that public meetings and door-to-door canvassing were organised in villages under the close supervision of the Mizoram Peoples Forum (MPF), the church-sponsored election watchdog.

Unlike in the past, this time the MNF skipped the common platform where contesting candidates share a stage. The display of flags of political parties and posters were minimised under the supervision of the flying squads and the MPF.

Election campaign offices have been opened in all the villages and more than one campaign office have been set up in larger villages and towns. Supporters of contestants were seen visiting relatives in other villages to garner support.

Campaigning has come of age in the state with the use of social media platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp. Campaigning via TV and radio was done as previous years, however this time social media was used extensively to woo younger voters.

On the major poll issues, the ruling Congress was seen banking on its flagship New Land Use Policy (NLUP) , which brought the party to power for two consecutive terms.

The campaign reached its peak in the final week with the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

Except Gandhi, who addressed a rally in the state capital, the other high profile leaders did not address election rally in Aizawl city.

While Modi visited Aizawl on Friday to meet BJP candidates from the district and leaders of the civil societies, he addressed a rally in southern Mizoram's Lunglei town.

Shah addressed rallies in southern Mizoram's Lawngtlai town and northernmost Vairengte town. Gandhi addressed public rallies at Champhai located on the border with Myanmar, besides Aizawl city.

The prominent leaders who campaigned in the state included Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, National People's Party (NPP) leader and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.

The Election Commission has decided to hold polling for Bru refugees in Mizoram's Mamit district, even as the leaders of the tribal community maintained that they fear for their safety in their home state.

The place of voting for 11,232 Brus, who are residing in neighbouring Tripura, has been a bone of contention, leading to the replacement of the then chief electoral officer, S B Shashank, less than two weeks before the election.

Shashank had been accused of facilitating voting by Bru voters in the relief camps of Tripura.

The Congress has floated a new policy called New Economic Development Program (NEDP) as a convergence with the NLUP under which around Rs 1 lakh each was disbursed to each beneficiary family.

The opposition MNF has promised assistance to the tune of Rs 3 lakh to each family under the Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP), closure of liquor shops and imposition of prohibition as wished by the powerful church.

The BJP in Mizoram is riding on the development works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI HCV JM SUN JM IND

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New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday paid tributes to victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and said time has come for the world community to come together to combat the menace of terrorism and isolate nations which harbour terrorists.

"The sacrifice made by the brave hearts in that inhuman attack should not go in vain and the time has come for the world community to come together to combat the growing menace of terrorism and isolate nations which harbour terrorists," the vice president's secretariat tweeted.

Naidu also remembered those who lost their lives in the attack ten years ago.

In a tweet Modi paid tributes to those who lost their lives in the incident, saying the country stands in solidarity with the bereaved families.

"A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," he said.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists arrived by sea route and opened fire indiscriminately at people killing 166, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores.

The attacks had begun on November 26 and lasted till November 29. PTI NAB

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New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Monday met her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid to "deepen" bilateral cooperation and ensure peace and security in the region.

This is Shahid's first visit after assuming charge as foreign minister of Maldives and assumes significance as the ties between both the countries had severely strained under the previous government in the island nation.

"Working together to fulfil the developmental priorities of Maldives. EAM @SushmaSwaraj and FM of Maldives @abdullashahid had a warm and productive meeting on deepening bilateral cooperation and to ensure peace and security in the region," MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted.

Earlier, Swaraj had "warmly" received Shahid and also congratulated him on his appointment as foreign minister.

"Harmonious synergy of India's 'Neighbourhood First' & Maldives 'India First' policy. EAM @SushmaSwaraj warmly receivd (received) Foreign Minister of Maldives @adbullashahid on his 1st foreign visit to India. EAM congratulated FM Shahid on his appointment as new Foreign Minister of Maldives," Kumar tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on November 17 in Male.

Solih, as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate, had surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election held on September 23.

India-Maldives ties had deteriorated significantly under Yameen who was perceived to be close to China.

Some decisions by Yameen including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing also did not go down well with New Delhi.

Relations between India and the Maldives slumped further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year.

India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners.

The emergency lasted for 45 days. PTI MPB TDS RHL
Kota, Nov 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday that after coming to power the BJP had stopped the "loot" that was being carried out under the Congress rule and "people sitting in AC rooms in New Delhi" were trying to devise strategies to oust the party.

Addressing an election rally here, he said one vote doesn't enthrone a political party or an individual but it gives power to change the country and shape its future.

Modi said people sitting in AC rooms in New Delhi were trying to devise strategies to oust the BJP from power, but they should come to Rajasthan's Kota town and see the ground situation instead.

He claimed an army of thieves had siphoned off Rs 90,000 crore to claim pension, scholarship and LPG subsidy by fudging information in government records, but one vote given to the BJP government at the Centre put a stop to such dubious beneficiaries.

"Rs 90,000 crore theft was stopped, broadband network reached 1 lakh villages, 2.5 to 3 lakh km optical fibre line was laid, 12 crore LPG connections were given in four years of the BJP government at the Centre.

"Your one vote has given speed to the country. It has the power to change the country and shape its future," Modi said.

He alleged that while it was in power, the Congress kept devising new ways to loot money.

"We stopped the work of looters, who siphoned-off money, with your one vote that formed the BJP government. Such people are criticising Modi today," he said.

The prime minister urged the people to vote for the BJP in Rajasthan to maintain the speed of development. PTI AG AAR
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid Monday alleged that former president Abdulla Yameen had tried to play India against China as a "puppet master" and said the new government was looking into the deals made with China to assess the debt accumulation.

Maldives knows the importance of India as it was an "important" partner, said Shahid who was on his first visit to India after assuming charge as the foreign minister of Maldives.

The visit assumes significance as the ties between both the countries were severely strained under the previous government in the island nation.

Maldivian Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer, who is also part of a delegation of minister visiting India, also said the new government had identified a number of projects undertaken with China that were bought at an "inflated price" and it was in the process of assessing how much debt was accumulated.

The remarks of both the foreign and finance ministers of Maldives assume significance as reports suggest that China had been trying to expand its influence over the island nation.

Ameer said, "The Chinese portion of investment is taking long in assessment because all these deals took place in secrecy."

Shahid targeted former president Abdulla Yameen, alleging he tried to play India against China.

"Former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen tried to play India against China as a puppet master but we know the importance of India as an ally which has always come to the aid of Maldives," he told reporters at a gathering of Foreign Correspondents Club here.

He said Maldives considered India such an "important partner" that new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih would be making his first foreign visit to here on December 17.

Shahid, however, said that on the 'Belt and Road Initiative', the country would continue their cooperation with not only China but with other countries too.

Ameer said they have identified a number of projects which were bought at an "inflated price" from China.

These projects are China-Maldives Bridge, port development project and a project involving construction of around 1,000 housing units, he said.

"We believe most of these projects have been bought at an inflated price and we are looking into them. But you have to understand that all these projects are now completed and we cannot renegotiate them.

"In going forward, our main objective would be to reduce the cost of these infrastructure projects," Ameer told reporters.

Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail said the island nation was trying to get past instability that was witnessed in the last couple of years.

"We are trying to put past last five years of instability in the Maldives and we will try to resolve all differences between Maldivian and Indian investors.

"In that regard, we are hoping to strengthen our bilateral trade. We are hoping to enter into a bilateral treaty with India on increasing investment," he said.

He also said they were planning to ease visa norms so that Indian investors could travel to Maldives for business.

Ameer said Maldives was mainly seeking budget support in healthcare projects among others.

Shahid said Maldives had requested India to give it a Dornier aircraft and the External Affairs Ministry had "promised that it would be delivered soon".

"During Yameen's time, Yameen ditched the Dornier gifted by India to get aircraft from Pakistan as Pakistan was giving it as loan and they prefer loan so they could get commission from it. But we will prefer a gift and we want to continue working with the Indian government," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on November 17 in Male.

Solih, as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate, had surprising victory over strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election held on September 23.

India-Maldives ties had deteriorated significantly under Yameen who was perceived to be close to China.

Some decisions by Yameen, including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing, also did not go down well with New Delhi.

Relations between India and the Maldives slumped further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year.

India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners. The emergency lasted for 45 days. PTI UZM TDS AAR
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) On the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, former prime minister Manmohan Singh Monday hoped "saner elements would prevail" between India and Pakistan to check terror activities.

He also noted that what is happening in Kashmir is an indication of the suffering that strained ties between the two nations has brought about.

Singh's comments came during his address at the launch of a book "Fables of Fractured Times" by former Union minister Manish Tewari here, for which the former prime minister lauded him.

"Today happens to be the November 26, when 10 years ago so many of our countrymen and women were butchered in the city of Mumbai due to acts of great terror that took the lives of nearly 170 of our dear citizens.

"One can only hope that saner elements would prevail between India and Pakistan to find a meaningful solution to the problem of getting a control over acts of terror. They do not achieve any purpose, as what is happening today in Kashmir is an indication of the suffering that the strained relations between our two countries bring about," he said.

Singh noted that international affairs is a subject where changes are taking place at a pace which was unthinkable 10 years ago.

He said people have to come to terms with globalisation but there are countries which had championed the cause of globalisation, but are now becoming champions of protectionism, and this is a big change.

"The European Union is in trouble and nobody could anticipate that. Britain would walk out of the European Union, or that central European countries like Hungary and Poland would switch over to a brand of nationalism which runs counter to the value system which characterises the activities of the EU," he said.

Singh said, "I hope all these issues will be debated, because they have a bearing on our country."

"We live in an increasingly interdependent world. What happens elsewhere in the world, globally and in Europe and the United States and also in the whole of Asia, has a bearing on the working of our country and what goes on in our country and how we can prevail upon the tensions that prevail in our neighbourhood," Singh said. PTI SKC SKC NSD

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Ayodhya, Nov 26 (PTI) It was the business as usual in Ayodhya on Monday, after an event-full, eventuality-free weekend with beaming school children hurrying to their schools, traders briskly hawking their wares and residents animatedly speculating on the impact of Shiv Sena and VHP rallies here on national politics.

For the first time ever, I experienced no Monday Blues, as I was eagerly waiting to meet my friends and know their views about yesterday's VHP dharam sahba," said Bhaskar Singh, a resident of neighbouring Ambedkar Nagar, who had come to Hanumangarhi temple here to offer prayers, and to catch up with his friends.

He seemed to heave a sigh of relief to find the temple town "completely peaceful" after days of tense build up of fears and excitement over the VHP's 'dharam sabha' Sunday.

The city seemed to be completely peaceful. I had absolutely no problems in navigating the lanes and bylanes of the city to visit Hanumangarhi, Karsewakpuram and other attractions," said Singh, adding he was at the VHP's 'dharam sabha' venue 'Bhaktmaal ki Bagia' on Sunday.

"I left for home about an hour before the programme got over, he said.

Brajesh Kumar who works at a hotel in the busy Rekabganj area of the district said, It was an usual Monday morning. All the eateries are open. The medical shops are selling the medicines."

"At some shops the customers' queues were rather long. The vegetable market was also buzzing. I found the city absolutely peaceful, he said.

After inauguration of the 'dharam sabha' of Ram bhakts amid holy "shloka" and "mantras", seers after seer Sunday sought to impress upon the Union and state governments the growing clamour for building a grand Ram temple at the Lord's 'janmnhoomi' Ayodhya without any delay.

Mahant Ramdas of Nirmohi Akhara in response assured the seers and all attending the 'dharam sabha' that dates for building the temple would be announced early next year during Kumbh in Prayagraj.

It is only a matter of few days and I request you all to show some patience, he counselled the congregation.

Describing the massive congregation as the proof of people's aspiration for a Ram temple in Ayodhya at the earliest, Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas chief Nritya Gopaldas urged both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to pave way for construction of the temple.

Reverberating with the chants of "Jai Sri Ram", Ayodhya stood awash Sunday in saffron, with all lanes and bylanes of the city, leading to the VHP congregation venue decked up with fluttering flags, banners and buntings of same colour.

As Lord Ram devotees, sporting saffron robes and head gears proceeded to the 'dharam sabha' venue amid slogans of har ghar bhagwa chaayega, Ram rajya phir ayaegaa, they were showered with flowers petals.

With the VHP congregation remaining peaceful, the local Muslim residents either did not seem upset.

Ayodhya Zila Panchayat member Babloo Khan, who has emerged as a key Muslim protagonist of Ram temple movement too batted for the shrine along with his supporters.

"Ayodhya is the crucible of the composite Ganga-Jamuni culture. All Muslims of the temple town want the Ram temple here," he claimed.

Ram Bhadracharya, a Hindu seer, meanwhile, claimed he had met a senior Union minister on November 23 and the minister assured him that the Ram devotees will not be deprived of their deity's temple here.

He claimed the minister told him that once the Model Code of Conduct comes to an end after the declaration of results of the ongoing assembly polls, the prime minister will take a decision on the crucial issue of opting Ordinance route to build the temple. PTI NAV CORR RAX

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Jammu, Nov 26 (PTI) The Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers Monday held a commandant level flag meeting here along International Border (IB) and discussed various issues including firing on IB, a BSF officer said.

The two sides met on Sunday too, the officer said.

The Monday meeting was held in Ramgarh forward area from 1230 hours to 1300 hours on the request of Pakistan Rangers, he said.

BSF Commandant M K Yadav participated from the Indian side while Wing Commander Mehran led the Pakistan Rangers delegation, the officer said.

"During the meeting, commanders of both the border guarding forces, inter alia, discussed various issues including firing on IB, presence of suspects in border areas and other routine issues related to border management," he said.

One such meeting was also held Sunday at Marh-Gajansu area on the same matters, he said.

Last Friday, the Indian and Pakistan armies also held a brigade commander level meeting at a border crossing in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector to adhere to ceasefire. PTI AB RCJ
New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) The JNU Teachers Association began their hunger strike on Monday against the varsity's two circulars on rescheduling the academic calendar and compliance of faculty attendance, saying "threatening" them for biometric attendance is a violation of their right to privacy.

Through a circular, issued in mid-November, the JNU administration has said seven years in the university were necessary for availing sabbatical leave by a faculty member.

In another circular issued on November 13, it announced that proposals for seminar participation, conference travel, project meetings, fellowships, including those scheduled during vacations, would be allowed if teachers comply with the directions of the university, the JNU Teachers' Association (JNUTA) said.

JNUTA wants the circulars be withdrawn immediately.

"Threatening teachers for biometric attendance is a violation, in letter and spirit, of the Right to Privacy provided by the judgments of the Supreme Court. These diktats seek to burden teaching-learning in JNU with bureaucratic rules, and make it undignified and disrespectful to the teachers," JNUTA said.

In response to the strike, the administration said JNUTA office-bearers are "determined to vitiate" the academic environment on the campus through their "unlawful activities".

Despite requests to not to hold the 'dharna' near the administration building, a "prohibited area" for such activities, the JNUTA leadership is holding their 'dharna', it said.

JNUTA has maintained that they are doing nothing illegal and the rules prohibiting a 'dharna' near the administration building is only for students.

But the administration said the hunger-strike in front of the JNU Administrative Block is in defiance of the Academic Rules and Regulations  "which is applicable to all the components of the University."

The association's 24-hour hunger strike began at 10 am. Later, it accused the JNU administration of having a "cold-blooded and apathetic response" to its protest as teachers had to sit under open skies in winter.

JNUTA said tent and other materials for their hunger strike were prevented from being brought into the campus by the order of the vice-chancellor/registrar.

The administration also barricaded the roads to the Administrative Block and posted a large number of security personnel to prevent the hunger strike from taking place at the designated venue, it claimed.

"If any more proof was needed to establish that the current JNU administration's intention of 'mutual dialogue' is hollow and that they are only interested in throttling all dissent, this is it!" JNUTA said.

In response to the varsity's statement saying JNUTA office-bearers are vitiating the academic environment, the association has dared the vice-chancellor for a public debate on the matter.

JNUTA had submitted a memorandum of demands to the executive council members before the council's meeting on Tuesday, but alleged that it was not discussed. The administration, however, said Sunday such matters needed to be routed through the department concerned, following appropriate procedures.

JNUTA president Atul Sood said, "Shocking that adminstration is defending its illegal actions and wrongfully putting the onus on teachers." PTI SLB SLB ABH

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New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) The Army is capable of taking action whenever told to do so, Army chief General Bipin Rawat has said, asserting that there will never be a situation where it will not be able to tackle a big terror attack like 26/11.

Rawat said the Army was now much more prepared to take action based on the directions given by the government.

"If we are told to take some action, we are capable and ready for it. So, there is never going to be a situation where you will not have options to tackle something like a big terrorist attack," Rawat told the India Today magazine in an interview.

He was responding to a question that if there was another attack like 26/11 today, what will be the Army's response.

Asked about the recent beheadings in the Valley, Rawat said in the last year-and-a-half, terrorists had targeted policemen, burnt the houses of panchayat members and school buildings.

"Now, they are targeting the unemployed, alleging that they are police informers. Locals now feel (militants) aren't acting in the best interests of the people of Kashmir. What we are seeing are acts of frustration in the final stages of an insurgency. It will lead to an uprising from the people who will then shun the militants," the Army chief said.

Asked about his recent comments that attempts were being made through "external linkages" to "revive insurgency" in Punjab, Rawat said the statements were based on intelligence inputs.

"We saw a terrorist act in Pathankot in 2016. We have seen some movements by terrorists taking place in areas bordering Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, especially the northern parts of Punjab. I was only reading the writing on the wall and warning the Army to be alert, because there might be a possible terrorist attack on our cantonments in Punjab," he added. PTI PR RC
(Eds: Combining Constitution Day stories of Prez, CJI)

New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) "Horrific images" of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks still remain in India's collective memory and "we are honour bound" to get justice for those who suffered, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Monday.

Speaking at the inaugural function of 'Constitution Day Celebrations' held here, Kovind shared the concern of other dignitaries who spoke about the challenges posed by terror attacks like the Mumbai 26/11.

"I refer to the terror attacks in Mumbai on this day, exactly 10 years later. Those horrific images still remain in India's collective memory. As a nation and the people, we are honour bound to get justice for the individuals and families that suffered," Kovind said.

Constitution Day, also known as Samvidhan Divas, is celebrated on November 26. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949. It came into effect on January 26, 1950.

Kovind also expressed concern over disruptions in Parliamentary proceedings as also frequent adjournment of cases in courts to the disadvantage of poor litigants.

He said justice in political arena is not just free and fair election and exercise of universal adult franchisee but it also calls for improving the transparency in "campaign finance" which the government is trying to do.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said in his address that it is in "our best interest" to heed the advice of the Constitution while asserting that not doing so would result in "sharp descent into chaos".

The Constitution is the voice of the marginalised as well as the prudence of the majority and continues to be a guide in moments of crisis and uncertainty, he said.

The second senior most judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Madan B Lokur, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Vikas Singh also referred to the 10th anniversary of the dastardly attack in which a large number of people had lost their lives.

The Law Minister said terrorists and some others speak about the human rights of terrorists but what about the human rights of the victims of such attacks.

"We need to understand that terrorists are equipped with most deadly weapons. They also claim human rights and fair trial which we must give but what about human rights of the victims of senseless killings, how to balance the two, we need to discuss and debate this," he said.

"Terrorists claim human rights since our Constitution provides it but what about the human rights of victims of terror attacks? It is something which we need to discuss and ponder about," Prasad said.

Justice Lokur said the country had faced a huge challenge posed by terrorists on November 26, 2008 when "unusually large number of men, women and children in the financial capital of the country became victims of a senseless terror attack in which more than 250 people lost their lives".

"Even today, such challenges are thrust upon us by some forces and we must continue to be vigilant to face then unitedly. The integrity of our constitution must be of foremost concern for us and we must remember that together we can meet any challenge," he said.

SCBA president Vikas Singh said there was need to have a law to "outsmart the terrorists" by ensuring that by legislation, the media is restrained from publishing the names of organisation and perpetrators of terror attacks because the whole purpose such an attack is to gain publicity.

Kovind also said the Constitution formalised the segregation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislature and has given all three pillars the legitimate rules and responsibilities to uphold the Constitution for realising its hopes and expectations.

"The duty of safeguarding and strengthening the Constitution is a shared enterprise among all three institutions, in partnership with the people of India," he said.

The President expressed his displeasure over the frequent disruption of proceedings in Parliament as also the miseries of poor litigants who have to suffer due to the adjournment of cases in courts despite the judiciary trying its best to find a solution to it.

"Disruptions in parliamentary proceedings are an unfortunate occurrence. Some have suggested that these too be seen as encroachment on the citizen's understanding of justice," he said.

"Similarly, when the judiciary tries to find solutions to frequent adjournments, simply to delay cases and inconvenience the less-well-off litigant, it enhances the quality of justice," the President said.

Adoption of the Constitution was a "milestone" in India's democratic journey, he said, adding that perhaps the "most moving word" in the Constitution is justice.

Kovind said that the Constitution is the modern scripture of independent India.

"To use a Latin expression, it is our 'suprema lex' (a Latin legal maxim that means welfare of the people shall be the supreme law). However, it is more than just a collection of articles and clauses. For us Indians it is an inspirational and living document, an ideal of the society we are and the even better society we are striving to be," he said.

The President said people were the "ultimate custodians" of the Constitution.

"The Constitution empowers the citizen, but the citizen too empowers the Constitution - by following it, by adhering to it, by protecting it, and by persevering to make it more meaningful with words and deeds," he said. PTI PKS ABA RKS SA
\R New Delhi, Nov 26 (PTI) Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign if he cannot ensure the chief minister's security, days after a man flung chilli powder at the Aam Aadmi Party chief inside the Delhi secretariat.

Speaking at the party headquarters, Kejriwal claimed that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi did much more during its three-year rule than what Modi did in 12 years as Gujarat chief minister.

"The people of Delhi are proud of their honest chief minister. I want to ask the people of the country if they feel the same about their prime minister," Kejriwal said.

He hit out the BJP-led NDA government over the alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter-jet deal, and Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi fleeing the country.

Targeting the "Gujarat model" of development, the chief minister said, "I challenge... the AAP government in Delhi did much more than he (Narendra Modi) did in Gujarat in 12 years."

Later in the Assembly, Kejriwal asked the prime minister to step down if he cannot ensure the Delhi chief minister's security.

Speaking at the one-day special session of the Assembly, which was extended by a day till Tuesday, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was behind the November 20 attack on him as it was "baffled" by the "good work" done by his government.

"Narendra Modi should resign if he cannot protect Delhi's chief minister," Kejriwal said in the House, which had met to discuss the attack on him and the alleged deletion of names from the voters' list.

Referring to a phone call from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after the incident, Kejriwal claimed, "I said either you are worthless or colluding."

Speaking on a government resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of the Delhi government, Kejriwal said 95 per cent policemen were good but "they are being made to do wrong things by the BJP".

"If Delhi Police comes under the elected government of Delhi, it will start working for the good of the people," he asserted.

The resolution, moved by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain and later adopted by the Assembly with voice votes, also stated that in view of pending such amendments, necessary steps should be initiated by the Centre to devolve certain powers to the elected government so that it is in a position to have control over the Delhi Police.

Referring to the recent attack on him, Kejriwal said, "In the last three years, four attacks were made on me. These attacks could not happen if I was not the chief minister of Delhi.

"These attacks are not on me, but on the people of Delhi instead... Modi ji is taking revenge from Delhiites for voting the AAP to power in the city," the chief minister said.

Kejriwal also hit out at Lt Governor Anil Baijal for "creating hurdles" in the functioning of the AAP dispensation.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police said the number of heinous crimes in the national capital had declined this year from last year and it was incorrect to call the city the "crime capital".

The reaction came hours after the Delhi Assembly adopted a government resolution claiming that the city has become the "national crime capital". PTI BUN VIT SLB

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Dholpur/Jaipur, Nov 26 (PTI) On campaign trail in poll-bound Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday accused Congress leaders of creating a "trust deficit" in the country's politics and said it is the BJP government which works for the development of the people.

They have not even spared the prime minister's mother. Prime minister is an institution and not an individual, he said.

Congress leader Raj Babbar had a few days back compared the falling value of Indian rupee with the age of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Hiraben during campaigning for the Madhya Pradesh elections.

There is a difference between what Congress leaders say and what they do. They created trust deficit in politics in the country and BJP has taken it as a challenge. BJP governments work and they have shown this, Singh said at a public meeting in Amber constituency of Jaipur.

He said Ravana was more intelligent and richer, yet Lord Ram is worshipped because he followed maryada (honour) in his life.

At an election rally at Rajakhedra Assembly constituency in Dholpur district, Singh said security is very important for the development of the country and the troops of the Indian Army and paramilitary forces are protecting the nation without caring for their lives.

He said Indian forces are giving befitting replies to terrorist and there will be no compromise on nation's security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to improve relations with Pakistan but the neighbouring country remained the same, Singh said, adding the jawans have been asked not to count bullets in case of firing from across the border.

Hailing PM Modi for his leadership, he claimed that India has become the fastest growing economy in the world due to the Centre's policies which is a matter of pride.

Targeting former Union minister C P Joshi for his caste jibe at Modi while campaigning in Nathdwara constituency from where he is contesting, Singh said that the country will not run on the lines of casteism.

"The country will run only on the lines of justice and humanity," he said.

Addressing a poll meeting in Rajasthan on Thursday, Joshi had reportedly said that Modi, BJP MP Uma Bharti and Hindu activist Sadhvi Ritambhara are from "lower castes" and know nothing of Hinduism. He said it is the Brahmins who are learned and know of Hinduism. PTI CORR SDA NSD
(Eds: Updating with more quotes, details)

Jaisalmer/Ajmer/Jodhpur, Nov 26 (PTI) Going all out to woo farmers and the youth in poll-bound Rajasthan, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Monday promised to waive farm loans within 10 days if his party was voted to power in the state and said the Congress chief minister would work 18 hours a day to help youngsters get jobs.

Speaking at election rallies in different parts of the state, he also described the Congress workers as "sher" (tiger) and "babbar sher" (lion) and said they had to fight at the polling booth, but gently, unlike the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Gandhi, who began his day by visiting the Ajmer dargah, the Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple, said the two leaders had become arrogant after winning elections, did not hear the voice of the people, made false promises and broke people's trust, adding that now they were left with nothing and therefore, spreading hatred and anger.

"You (people) are going to make the Congress party's government in the state. Within 10 days of government formation, the Congress will waive farm loans in the state. You can call and ask any farmer in Punjab and Karnataka, where I made the same promise and our governments fulfilled that," he said, addressing the first rally in Jaisalmer's Pokhran area.

Gandhi asserted that he and other Congress leaders like Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot will speak the truth and make promises only if they could fulfil those.

"The bond between you and me should be that of transparency. Many things can be done by being truthful," he said.

"The chief minister of the Congress will work for 18 hours a day and will be engaged in getting the youth jobs. We will put public money in improving the facilities in government hospitals, schools and setting up universities. The vacant posts will be filled and the youth will be given loans to start their own business, factories," he said, while alleging that the Modi government only worked for the top 15 industrialists in the country.

Gandhi said the free medicines scheme introduced by the previous Congress government in the state will be restarted after his party formed the government.

He also attacked the prime minister over the Rafale deal, demonetisation, GST and other issues.

Gandhi said when demonetisation destroyed the informal sector, those who had to stand in queues in front of banks were farmers, labourers, small-scale businessmen etc., but those who had black money got it changed to white in the air-conditioned chambers of the banks with the help of Modi.

He said Modi was left with nothing to speak and thus, he was lying, but the people had understood him well.

Gandhi also accused the prime minister of insulting the youth, farmers, labourers of the country as well as their parents and grandparents with his statement from the Red Fort that the "elephant was sleeping".

"He meant that the country was sleeping before he became the prime minister. This is an insult to your parents and grandparents, who put their efforts and labour and contributed in taking the country to the present stage," he said in Jodhpur.

Targeting Raje, Gandhi said in an advertisement, she had talked about a school in Bharatpur and said it had fans, furniture, drinking water, playground etc., but when journalists went there, they found that the school had nothing -- no fan, no drinking water.

The Congress chief told the party workers not to speak ill about the prime minister or the chief minister.

"You are the soldiers of the Congress and not RSS or BJP workers. Fight with manners. Do not use any bad word for anyone, be it the PM or the CM. It is their work to abuse, not ours. We will speak good of them," he said.

"You hear their speeches and compare with ours. Listen to the way Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot are addressing them. They are addressing them as Modiji, Vasundharaji with manners. On the other hand, they are spreading hatred and anger," Gandhi said.

In Jalore, the Congress chief said the December 7 Assembly election was a fight for the future of the people of Rajasthan.

"This is the fight for your future. You will not get false promises from this stage," he said.

"They (BJP) took people's money and gave it to the top 15 industrialists, which should have gone to hospitals, schools, for employment etc. Tell me one thing, why all these names are Modi -- Neerav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi -- all are one. Wherever you see, they are the same names. Someone took Rs 10,000 crore, someone Rs 35,000 crore and one gave Rs 30,000 crore to his friend," Gandhi alleged.

He also raised questions on the bullet train project.

Gandhi also accused the BJP of practising divisive politics by alleging that Modi had created two India -- one for the rich and the other for the poor -- and added that the Congress wanted one India.

Gandhi began his election meetings after offering prayers at the Ajmer dargah, the Pushkar lake and the Brahma temple.

He presented a "chadar", along with state Congress chief Pilot and former chief minister Gehlot, at the dargah, where the traditional "khadim" of his family made him perform the "ziyarat".

Gandhi was honoured by the president of the Anjuman committee, Moin Chisty. The Nazim of the Dargah committee, Shakil Ahmed, also honoured the Congress chief.

Gandhi then visited the Pushkar sarovar and the Brahma temple and offered prayers there. PTI SDA RC
Pune, Nov 26 (PTI) A court here Monday granted 90-day extension to the Pune police for filing a supplementary charge sheet against left-wing activists Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferriera, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.

The four, and another activist Gautam Navlakha, accused of having Maoist links, were arrested on August 28 following multi-state raids by the Pune Police.

However, on the directions of the Supreme Court, all the five were put under house arrest in their respective cities.

Later, as the period of house arrest got over and the apex court refused to grant further relief to the accused, police arrested all of them except Gautam Navlakha.

The four activists are now under judicial custody.

A charge sheet has already been filed in the case against activists Surendra Gadling, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut, Rona Wilson and Sudhir Dhawale (who were arrested in June) and

five "underground" Maoist leaders.

District and Sessions Judge Kishor D Vadane Monday

allowed the plea of the Pune police seeking 90-day extension

in filing the supplementary charge-sheet.

The prosecution had earlier moved an application before the court seeking extension on the ground that sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have been applied in the case.

Under the IPC, a charge-sheet has to be filed within 90

days of arrest of an accused. But under the UAPA, an extension of 90 days can be obtained from the court.

Public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar, while seeking extension for filing the supplementary charge sheet, argued that the accused were were not interrogated when they were under house arrest.

She said the investigating officer, ACP Shivaji Pawar, was busy handling the case in the district court, then in the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.

Hence, he needs more time to investigate the case

which is of serious nature, the public prosecutor said.

She said the police have recovered vast amount of electronic data during the probe and intercepted coded communication between one of the accused with Maoist cadre.

All these need forensic examination and enforcement

agencies will take some time to analyse those, she said.

Defence lawyers opposed the extension plea, asking what had stopped police to interrogate the accused while they were in their custody.

After hearing both sides, Judge Vadane accepted the

police plea.

According to police, Maoists had backed the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31 last year.

The provocative speeches made at the gathering allegedly led to violence at Koregaon Bhima in Pune district the next day. PTI SPK RSY NSD

NSD
Ahmedabad, Nov 26 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court Monday quashed the compensation awarded to farmers for land acquired for a national highway and an expressway, and ordered their redetermination in accordance with law.

The land was acquired by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for building a highway between Bhavnagar and Veraval and the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Anant Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav set aside the compensation awarded to the farmers for the two projects and sent the matter to the competent authority for redetermination.

This was done after both parties involved in the

matter arrived at a consensus, said A J Yagnik, the lawyer for

petitioners.

Twelve pleas were filed in the high court, challenging the legality of the method adopted by the land acquisition officer in arriving at the compensation amount for the farmers.

According to the petitions, the officer did not follow the

Centre's notification stating that the provisions of Right to

Fair Compensation in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and

Resettlement Act, 2013, with regard to compensation for land

owners and determination of the market value, will be followed for acquiring land under the National Highways Act, 1956.

The respondent, NHAI, continued to acquire land under

the 1956 Act, the petitions said, adding no step was taken to

update the market value of the land under acquisition.

The authorities also did not take into account a set of detailed guidelines issued by the NHAI for implementation

of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 while determining the amount of compensation, they said. PTI KA PD RSY NSD

NSD
Hotel Chocolat shares were given a boost today after the retailer said its first store in Japan had opened 'with aplomb'.

The UK-based chocolate chain has put down roots in the market as part of a broader mission to expand internationally.

Its debut shop is located at Japan's largest shopping centre - the Aeon Lake Town shopping mall in Tokyo.

Hotel Chocolate has opened its first shop in Japan. The firm launched in Hong Kong last year.

In a statement, Hotel Chocolat co-founder and boss Angus Thirlwell said the reaction to the launch was 'hugely encouraging', with customer engagement, media attention and sales performance 'all well ahead of expectations'.

'Our portfolio of products landed with aplomb. Hot chocolat drinks, our 8g sculpted chocolate batons, and our Selector range were all in high demand.' he said.

The chocolate boss added that the company was looking forward to 'unfolding the brand further' in Japan.

Hotel Chocolat, which also launched in Hong Kong last year, signed a franchise joint venture agreement to set up shop in Japan earlier this year.

Its shares rose by more than 3 per cent in early trading today to 3.25.

Hotel Chocolate CEO Angus Thirlwell (above) said the Japan launch was 'hugely encouraging'

The UK retailer's expansion is a rare sight on today's stricken High Street.

While wavering consumer confidence, falling footfall and the weak pound have taken the sting out of many firms' tails, the chocolatier has proven resilient, benefiting from stores in high footfall locations and ongoing product innovation.

It has broadened its inventory to include ice cream, hot and cold beverages, chocolate-infused booze and even beauty products, while launching a subscription service and chocolate themed events.

In its last financial year, the firm unboxed profits of 10million on sales of 116.3million.

Today's update comes amid speculation that Hotel Chocolate bosses could come under fire at its annual general meeting (AGM) later this week.

City adviser Glass Lewis has told investors to vote against chairman Andrew Gerrie, arguing that he is not independent enough because he co-owns the firm's 'Rabot 1745' joint venture - its beauty range.

Advisory firm ISS has also questioned his independence.

A Hotel Chocolat spokesman said: 'We are totally satisfied that Andrew Gerrie is able to bring an independent perspective to the governance of Hotel Chocolat.

'Andrew played a pivotal role in steering our business forward since our successful [float] two years ago. He also built Lush into a 700-store success across the globe during his 20-year tenure as chief executive.'
Accountancy firm BDO has said it is in 'advanced talks' on a merger with rival Moore Stephens.

If the deal completes the newly enlarged firm will overtake Grant Thornton to become Britain's fifth largest accountant, behind the so-called 'Big Four' of Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG.

The deal is expected to go through sometime in spring next year, with Moore Stephens to be absorbed under the BDO brand.

Accountancy firm BDO has said it is in advanced talks to merge with rival Moore Stephens.

The enlarged BDO is set to boast gross annual revenue of 590million and employ 5,000 people across the UK.

Partners of both firms have voted in favour of the merger, subject to final contracts.

BDO specialises in auditing firms on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market and the group plans to take on a second office in the City.

The deal comes as a heavy shadow looms over the accountancy sector following a string of perceived auditing failings, including in the case of Carillion's collapse.

The fallout prompted competition watchdog the CMA to launch an investigation into the UK auditing industry earlier this year due to 'concerns that it is not working well for the economy or investors'.

The dominant Big Four firms are facing continued calls for regulators to to break them up and force through changes in their business practices.

'Big Four' accountancy firms, KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, and EY, have come under intense scrutiny following recent high profile corporate calamities such as the collapse of Carillion.

Commenting on the deal, BDO managing partner Paul Eagland said: 'If ever there were a time for firms to turbo-charge their growth, it's now.'

'As a combined firm, we offer greater choice, competition and scalability to the top end of the market, and are better placed to deal with any economic disturbance from Brexit.'

'In the last 12 months - in the wake of Carillion and the subsequent focus on competition in the audit market - the UK market now has a better appreciation of BDO's capability and quality.'

'This deal increases our credibility further and proves our commitment to competing in the top-end of the market,' Eagland added.

Simon Gallagher, managing partner at Moore Stephens, said: 'To be entering final discussions to create the largest UK accountancy firm focused on entrepreneurially-spirited and fast-growing businesses is exciting - and critical for market competition.'
Black Friday turned 'bleak Friday' for bricks and mortar retailers this year as shoppers flocked online to pick up bargains.

The number of shoppers visiting retail destinations over the Black Friday weekend sunk by 5.4 per cent year-on-year, according to intelligence firm Springboard.

The declines follow falls of a similar magnitude recorded over the same weekend last year.

Footfall fell by 5.4 per cent over the Black Friday weekend, according to Springboard data

While high streets, shopping centres and retail parks missed out, the US import was a 'huge hit' for online retailers, Springboard said.

Data from Loqate/GBG found that online transactions surged by 46 per cent up to 4pm on the big day.

Of the UK's 'struggling' physical retail destinations, shopping centres were the worst hit, with a drop in footfall of 8.3 per cent on Friday and declines on a similar scale over the weekend.

'This is likely to be partially due to the fact that [shopping centres] are dominated by major chains which have a strong online presence and free delivery offering, so there is less need to visit their stores,' Springboard explained.

Diane Wehrle, Springboard's insights director, said the drop in footfall is a reflection of the larger discounts offered online.

'Online is open for business 24 hours a day and is therefore seen as a more convenient option for shoppers,' she said.

Shortly after opening on Black Friday at Bluewater shopping centre, car parks were quiet

At 8.15am, after most of the shops were due to open, Bluewater was still largely empty

If the trend for Cyber Monday follows previous years then it is unlikely that footfall will increase today. Over the past three years footfall on Cyber Monday is between 15 per cent and 18 per cent lower than on Black Friday.

The news is another blow to the beleaguered High Street, where firms are struggling to keep pace and retain relevance as more shoppers migrate online.

According to Barclaycard, frugal shoppers made more purchases on Black Friday this year, but spent less overall.

This indicates both that shoppers bought cheaper items and that retailers were offering deeper discounts.
Koninklijke Philips N.V. is the Netherlands-based health technology company. The Company's segments include Personal Health businesses, Diagnosis & Treatment businesses, Connected Care & Health Informatics businesses, HealthTech Other and Legacy Items. The Personal Health businesses segment is engaged in the health continuum, delivering integrated, connected solutions that support healthier lifestyles and those living with chronic disease. The Diagnosis & Treatment businesses segment delivers precision medicine and treatment, and therapy. The Connected Care & Health Informatics businesses segment provides consumers, care givers and clinicians with digital solutions that facilitate care by enabling precision medicine and population health management. The HealthTech Other segment comprises such items, as innovation, emerging businesses, royalties, among others. The Legacy Items segment consists mainly of separation costs, legacy legal items, legacy pension costs, among others.

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Vice President Thinh said the festival, themed Sound Bridge, is a rendezvous for the worlds leading composers and musical artists, introducing Vietnamese music to international friends.

It also offers foreign artists a chance to learn about Vietnam, its people and culture, as well as traditional folk music, thereby strengthening ties between Vietnamese and foreign composers, she said.

The Vice President added that the Vietnamese State always offers all possible support to Vietnamese composers to make the most of their talent, such as establishing the Vietnamese Musicians Association, and launching professional training establishments, such as the Vietnam National Academy of Music, the National Ballet Theatre, or the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra.

She expressed her wish that Vietnam would continue stepping up international music cooperation, contributing to the world music treasure, adding that she hopes each artist attending the festival will become a musical messenger, blossoming an atmosphere of peace and development.

Do Hong Quan, Chairman of the Vietnamese Musicians Association - the festival organizer, said that over 70 musical pieces will be performed in different genres in seven programmes during the festival.
Pics by Manusha Lakshan

No one really knows how tea originated

The tea plant, known as Camellia thea or Thea sinensis, is not indigenous to Sri Lanka. It comes in two varieties: the Chinese (Bohea) and the Indian (Virindis). The former has a hard leaf and grows in the shape of a low bush or hedge, while the latter can develop into a forest tree with a large glossy leaf. A hardy plant, it thrives under the most diverse and intense conditions of soil, climate, elevation, and treatment.



No one really knows how tea originated. Legend has it that a Chinese Emperor, Shennong, decreed that his subjects must boil water before drinking it. Somewhere in 2737 BC, leaves from a nearby tree blew into his water, and the Emperor, so it goes, was pleasantly surprised and proceeded to drink the concoction. A variant of this has it that he tested the medical properties of herbs and found tea to work as an antidote; in any case, theres no denying that it was an Asian, specifically a Chinese, beverage.



It came to Europe around the same time Europe discovered alcohol, and it came, Fernand Braudel tells us, with two other beverages: coffee from Arabia, originally Ethiopia, and chocolate from Mexico. Importing it was difficult, however, since leaves, pots, and porcelain cups had to be imported as well.



The first cargo of the beverage reached Amsterdam somewhere in 1610 on the initiative of Oost Indische Compagnie. Even then, it took a long time for other parts of the continent to acquire a taste for it: in France, the drink was not mentioned until 1635, and it provoked hostility to such an extent that in 1648, a medical student had to defend a thesis hed written on it. 10 years later though, another thesis, written this time under the patronage of a tea loving chancellor, extolled its taste.

The British East India Company began importing it from Asia in 1669. Until direct trade between Europe and China resumed in 1720-1730 (in the reigns of Yongzheng and Kangxi), however, tea consumption didnt become significant in Europe, and when it found its way to London, England overtook the Dutch. The figures Braudel quotes seemingly testify to this: in 1766, exports from Canton amounted to 15 million pounds, and of them, six million were to Great Britain. A popular legend has it that the drink became more addictive than gin, the poor mans alcohol, and became an antidote to drunkenness during the reign of George II.



In any case, it gained widespread popularity, especially after gin was subjected to heavy taxation in 1751 and grain prices began to rise soon afterwards; both these factors, Braudel surmises, may have favoured the newcomer.



I am not, however, inclined to believe everything Braudel writes, in particular because he writes, in the first volume of Civilisation and Capitalism, that the first shrubs in Ceylon were planted in 1877, after coffee had been destroyed. It is true that until tea took over, coffee monopolised our economy (or rather, the economy the British had instituted here). But it was not planted here for the first time (as a commercial crop) in 1877; it was planted in 1841 by the youngest of three Austrian brothers related to the Rothschild family, though because of the monopoly coffee exerted over the economy, along with high labour and production costs, the venture did not succeed and become profitable. Even if we discount this historical fact though, 1877 is still the wrong year; 1867 would be more correct, since that is the year in which the other two brothers opened a clearing at Ramboda in the Labookelle Estate.



The Labookelle Estate was a venture of the de Worms brothers, Solomon and Gabriel (The third brother, who had tried to plant tea in 1841, was Maurice.) At the same time, clearings were made at two other places: the Penylan Estate in Dolosbage and the Loolecondera Estate in Hewaheta. James Taylor was in charge of the latter site, which became the first commercial plantation of the crop in the island.



Teas from Loolecondera were sold in 1872, and the first consignment reached Great Britain around one year later. In 1876, the first broking firm in Ceylon, John Brothers and Co., was established, and in 1883, the first public auction, held under the guidance of the Chamber of Commerce, was unveiled in Colombo.

Demand picked up very rapidly thereafter. From 10 acres in 1867, production expanded to 4,700 acres in 1878, 32,000 acres in 1883, 364,000 acres in 1898, and 418,135 acres in 1924. By the turn of the 19th century, more than 384,000 acres had been cultivated, mostly by individual proprietors. Once these proprietors retired, they sold their estates to limited liability companies; by 1924, more than 71 per cent of the total tea acreage was owned by these companies, with more than 67 per cent of them registered in Great Britain. The most prominent local entrepreneur who had opted to venture into production during this time, moreover, happened to be the wealthiest Ceylonese of the 19th century: Charles Henry de Soysa.



The 19th century did not face many challenges when it came to teas monopoly over local and regional trade. The 20th century was a different kettle of fish altogether. The first challenge came from a glut in the market due to supplies from other countries. Ceylonese tea, which writers from Mark Twain to Conan Doyle had extolled, enjoyed an unassailable position in the world market, but even this was not enough for it to withstand the shock of prices falling down to unprofitable levels. The fall led to an increase in the tea drinking habit among Europeans, a trend that was aggravated by a crafty, well designed, successful propaganda carried on by a group of merchants and traders that called itself the Thirty Committee. Owing to the work of this committee, consumption overtook demand, the glut was addressed, and prices began to pick up. A cess that had been imposed on the export of the product was, owing to the resurgence of the product, discontinued on December 31, 1908.

Barely 10 years passed, however, before another problem presented itself. Stocks of tea accumulated in the United Kingdom in the war years were suddenly released in 1920, which exerted a severe downward pressure on prices. Ceylons growers, as a response, restricted production, and as before, the industry recovered: by 1921, the quality of the product had risen considerably, thanks to advances in cultivation.



Because of the tremendous pressure on Ceylons growers to keep up with other tea producing countries, science was resorted to, facilitating improvements in plantation and cultivation methods. This went hand in hand with the establishment of various societies: the Tea Planters Association in 1854, the Tea Traders Association in 1894, the Tea Research Institute in 1925, the Ceylon Estate Employers Federation in 1944, and, following the change of government from the capitalistic UNP to the more left-of-centre SLFP, the State Plantations Corporation in 1958.



All this bolstered the position of Ceylon tea, and in 1965 (the year of transition from the SLFPs populist nationalism to the UNPs liberal capitalism) the country became the worlds largest exporter of the crop for the first time. By this time, local growers had begun to cultivate the vegetatively propagated (clonal) variety instead of the seedlings, shortening the maturity period from five to three years.



A period of intense political shifts followed, which had a say in the evolution of the industry: a spate of takeovers of local and foreign enterprises by the government of the seventies (which limited land ownership to 50 acres), and, partly under a government headed by the daughter of the prime minister who had sanctioned and overseen those takeovers, the restoration of estates to private management in the nineties.



Today, the tea industry is not faring well, since it has consistently failed to keep its share of overseas markets, particularly black tea, despite global demand rising by five per cent per year. More than anything, this has to do with the fact that replanting was abandoned after the Ranasinghe Premadasa and Chandrika Kumaratunga Governments privatised the estates. Obviously, then, the future does not look that rosy.



Mark Twain writes, in his travelogue Following the Equator, of a fellow traveller who observes that tea has a return of investment of 40 per cent: typical of the golden era of cultivation in Sri Lanka perhaps, but a far cry from todays statistics. Whichever way you look at it though, the beverage remains our only true export brand. To abandon it and focus on other crops, as some market-oriented economists have recommended, would be (as a friend of mine recently put it) unwise and short-sighted.



The writings of Fernand Braudel (Civilisation and Capitalism) and E. C. Elliot and F. J. Whitehead (Tea Planting in Ceylon), among others, were used for this article.
There is a general speculation in the real estate trade that Sri Lanka has no promising future because a very high competition prevails among a large number of construction companies. But Blue Ocean Group had negated this theory with its tremendous success in this trade. The Group had proved beyond any doubt that the demand for condominium apartments in Sri Lanka is on rapid increase and the industry has good prospects in the long run.

People prefer to go for condominiums in consideration of their highest security, low maintenance costs and trouble free life. Many Sri Lankan families are now moving into cities like Colombo for better employments, business and higher educational opportunities for their children. As it is rather difficult and time to find separate houses for such purposes, condominiums become their easiest and quickest solution while saving their money, time and energy.

Commenting on the groups continuous success in the real estate trade, Group Chairman SivarajahThumilan (ACA, ACCA, ACMA (UK), CGMA, CPA (AUS), MCSI (UK), FM AAT (SL) ACS - Chartered Accountant) said,

It is true that there is a high competition in the real estate trade in Sri Lanka but we have achieved tremendous success through our untiring efforts to the extent of conquering many international awards. We dedicate this chain of success to our clients as we take these achievements as the reflection of the unshakable trust they have kept in us. We have established our brand name firmly since our inception by which today we have become the first choice for anyone who thinks about owning an apartment in Sri Lanka.

Our member company Link Engineering is currently handling 35 private, projects and 38 public projects all over the island. Meanwhile, Blue Ocean is doing 35 large projects in 10 cities, targeting 1250 residences at a stretch. For year 2018 alone we handled nearly Rs.55 Billion worth of projects which is supposed to be a historic record for a private construction company.It is the first- ever record in Sri Lankas real estate history for a single group to undertake such a large number of projects, at one stretch.

As another feather to its cap, Blue Ocean Group had set an impressive record of completing the six multiple condominium projects simultaneously. Within the last 3  4 months we have completedover 175 condominium units in De Alwis Avenue, Mount Lavinia, Barnes Avenue, Mount Lavinia, Lillan Avenue, Mount Lavinia, Beach Road, Mount Lavinia, De Alwis Place, Dehiwala, Inner Flower Road, Colombo 03, Gregorys Road, Colombo 07. In addition, another 125 Condo Units to be completed within the next 2 months.

There are many reasons behind this situation. Firstly, we give high importance to the locations we select for our complexes. We give maximum focus on a trouble free,decent, secure, hygienic and uncongested environment suitable for a peaceful living. Our general idea is to create an atmosphere for the residents that they are far away from the dusty, noisy and disturbing city life.

Also, to suit the customers financial capacity we have taken an additional step to classify our apartments into three categories  First Class, Business Class and Economy Class and carry out our construction works with a highly qualified team and using high quality materials.

With our experience, technical expertise and manpower we provide a constructive customer service with our own team of professionals, comprising 05 Chartered Architects, 08 Chartered Engineers, 04 Chartered Accountants, 42 Civil Engineers, 25 MEP Engineers, 58 Quantity Surveyors and 335 Staff of other professions in the Construction trade.

Our Group is now technically further strengthened with the joining of M.R. Jeyachandran (MPM(Aus) ,MBA(Aus) ,PG.Dip(B&F.Mgt), B.Sc(Hons), C.Eng.MIE(SL) as the new Chief Executive Officer. Being the former Director General of the Buildings Department and former Chairman of C.I.D.A, Jeyachandran is a highly experienced and successful team leader. His wide experience in the construction related field will be of a definite advantage to our Group.

The Groups consistent year on year improvement in financial results is a clear indication of the financial sustainability of our business model. To ensure the sustainability of the social and environmental aspects associated with our business, we continue to embrace best practices for social and environmental management. From a social perspective, our infrastructure projects across the country have a significant bearing on the communities in the area and has improved the standard of living of our stakeholders. Our work to empower these communities has made Blue Ocean Group a brand name and an exemplary corporate citizen of Sri Lanka.
SCHENECTADY  This is how business incubators are supposed to work.

Fundabilities, one of the tenants of the New York BizLab, a start-up incubator based on State Street in downtown Schenectady, recently launched a new fundraising program called SEED that helps schools raise money for their food backpack initiatives.

Fundabilities is an online crowdfunding company that works with nonprofits and charities.

Food backpack programs provide children in need with food to eat for the weekend. The food is packed into their backpacks on Friday, allowing them to bring it home discretely.

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York operates a food backpack program that feeds 6,500 students in 220 schools across 20 counties.

Fundabilities CEO Dan DeMarco attended Jefferson Elementary in Schenectady and the organization chose Jefferson for its pilot SEED program.

Under the program, a $25 donation feeds a child for a month. A $250 donation feeds 10 children for a month.

"There are so many food programs out there that deliver food to schools everywhere in America," DeMarco said. "We needed to create a program that was easy for the school to spread awareness and raise funds with little resources."

But Fundabilities didn't create the SEED program campaign on its own. The company had help from the BizLab, drawing upon the incubator's DreamTeam Marketing Initiative, which is a group of leaders in the marketing field that work with the BizLab's tenants on marketing projects. The "dream team" is a unique capability of the BizLab, which is operated by Rick D'Errico.

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The marketing dream team is made up of executives from Potratz Advertising and D2 Media in Schenectady and Gramercy Communications in Troy.

The firms and their employees donated their time coming up with the SEED pilot program, including a video filmed at Jefferson Elementary that can be used for future SEED campaigns.

"This truly was a team effort," said D'Errico, who is managing director of the BizLab and came up with the DreamTeam concept. "The team worked well together and each had their area of expertise. The finished product is exceptional. I can't thank the representatives and the companies enough for donating their time and expertise to this very worthwhile endeavor."
SCHENECTADY -- The man whom prosecutors say arranged the 2016 contract killing of 49-year-old Charles Dembrosky is headed to trial this week in Schenectady County Court.

Jury selection will begin Wednesday in the trial of Tarchand Lall, 54, who is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly paying two hitmen to kill Dembrosky to collect $150,000 in insurance proceeds.

The case is before Judge Matthew Sypniewski.

If convicted, Lall faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In May, a Schenectady County jury convicted the triggerman, Joevany "Moon" Luna, of first-degree murder and the getaway driver, Kyshaan Moore, of second-degree murder. Sypniewski later sentenced Luna, 43, to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and Moore, 28, to 25 years to life in prison.

Schenectady County prosecutors allege Lall paid the killers $10,000-a-piece to murder Dembroski. He allegedly wanted to cash in on a policy on Dembrosky's life that Lall took out in 2016. In the past, Dembrosky had worked for Lall.

During the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 19, 2016, Dembrosky was found shot once in the neck outside his Campbell Avenue home.

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Luna, a Panama native with no connection to upstate New York, had exchanged 67 phone calls or text messages with Lall in the 10 days prior to the killing, prosecutors said. They noted Luna's cellphone also number called the victim's cellphone in the hours before Dembrosky was shot to death. Cellphone data showed that on the night of the slaying, Luna and Moore's cell phones pinged off cell phone towers from Delaware to Schenectady.

Street camera footage captured the car outside Lall's residence on the night of the murder. Prosecutors said it showed Luna and Moore were there to collect the money and get directions to Dembrosky's home.

Following the verdicts, Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney said Lall tried to arrange a second murder using the same blueprint.

"The allegation is that he was trying to repeat the scheme with another victim ... trying to get somebody else murdered for life insurance proceeds," Carney said. Lall was charged with criminal solicitation.
STOCKPORT - The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that injured a man Sunday evening at a house on Pats Lane in Stockport.

Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett said in a news release that sheriff deputies were dispatched to the house at approximately 5:38 p.m. after a reported shooting.
ABU DHABI REUTERS Nov 24 2018- A senior Saudi prince cast doubt upon the reported CIA finding that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, saying the agency could not be counted on to reach a credible conclusion.



The CIA is not necessarily the highest standard of veracity or accuracy in assessing situations. The examples of that are multitude, Prince Turki al-Faisal, a senior member of the royal family, told journalists in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.



The prince, a former Saudi intelligence chief who has also served as ambassador to the United States, said the agencys conclusion that Iraq possessed chemical weapons before the U.S. invasion in 2003 showed it could be unreliable.



That was the most glaring of inaccurate and wrong assessments, which led to a full-scale war with thousands being killed, he said, speaking at an event hosted by the Beirut Institute think tank.



I dont see why the CIA is not on trial in the United States. This is my answer to their assessment of who is guilty and who is not and who did what in the consulate in Istanbul. The CIA has concluded that Prince Mohammed ordered the operation to kill Khashoggi, as first reported by the Washington Post, and briefed other parts of the U.S. government on its findings, sources told Reuters last week.
[November 26, 2018] Lacework Introduces Global Channel Partner Program

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lacework, the industry's first solution to bring automation, speed and scale to cloud security, today announced the launch of a new, global channel partner program. The new program enables solution provider partners, including Value Added Resellers (VARs), integrators and Managed Service Providers (MSPs), to bring Lacework's innovative cloud security solution to their customers that are operating their IT environments in the public cloud. Lacework has initiated the program with some of the biggest and most impactful partners in security, including Optiv, SHI and Tevora. As more enterprises move critical workloads to public cloud platforms, there is an increased need for solutions that address security of their data and assets in public clouds. Lacework recognizes that partners will play an essential role by educating and help with building the optimal program for cloud security for end customers. Partners benefit from Lacework's unified cloud security solution to meet customer demands of reliable and effective security across workloads, accounts, and containers running in cloud environments. "As more organizations look to take advantage of public cloud platforms, they're increasingly leaning on solution partners to help them define ffective security strategies," said Stefan Dyckerhoff, CEO, Lacework. "They provide a hugely valuable service, and our goal with this program is to jointly create value for customers to deliver a best in class security offering."



Lacework has designed the global channel partner program to guide solution partners to be successful as go-to providers of cloud security for their customers. The program will provide those partners with technology integration frameworks, product training and co-marketing opportunities, all of which will support the partners' go-to-market strategies. Partners who wish to take advantage of the Lacework solution can find more information about the Lacework Partner Program at: https://info.lacework.com/partners. Lacework will participate at AWS re:Invent 2018 (booth #1705), which takes place November 26-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Executives will be available to discuss how Lacework addresses the unique demands of the cloud: speed, scale and automation, and will demonstrate how security teams can minimize security risks for workloads, containers, and accounts, all without slowing down the pace of innovation. For more information on Lacework, please visit www.lacework.com.

About Lacework

Lacework is the industry's first solution to bring automation, speed, and scale to cloud security enabling enterprises to safely innovate fast in the cloud. Unlike conventional security tools built for static datacenters, Lacework is designed to self-adapt to the cloud ever-changing configuration and workloads. Just like DevOps automates code deployment, Lacework automates cloud security, empowering IT to continuously keep cloud environments secure and compliant. Based in Mountain View, California, Lacework is a privately held company funded by Sutter Hill Ventures, Liberty Global Ventures, Spike Ventures, the Webb Investment Network (WIN), and AME Cloud Ventures. Find out more at www.lacework.com . Media Contact

Jacqueline Meyler

Lumina Communications on behalf of Lacework

(669) 234-9775

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lacework-introduces-global-channel-partner-program-300754085.html SOURCE Lacework

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[November 25, 2018] Plantronics Confirms No Ongoing Discussions with Logitech

Plantronics (News - Alert), Inc. (NYSE:PLT), a market leader in the global headsets, voice, and video endpoint market, today confirmed that the Company is no longer engaged in discussions with Logitech (News - Alert) International S.A. ("Logitech") regarding a potential combination. While it is Plantronics' practice not to comment, in accordance with Swiss disclosure requirements, Logitech was required to disclose the status of the discussions following recent media reports. Logitech approached Plantronics regarding a potential acquisition and, consistent with the Plantronics Board's fiduciary duties, the Company entered into discussions with Logitech. Those discussions have ended. Plantronics will not comment further on this matter. "Our combined organization of Plantronics and Polycom (News - Alert) is working tirelessly to help our customers communicate, work, and play, wherever they are," said Joe Burton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Plantronics, "Already the market leader in Unified Communications (News - Alert) with the most comprehensive portfolio of communications and collaborations endpoints, our prospects are outstanding. We are working to reinvent the industry with valuable business insights available through unique software and analytics capabilities that span the entire portfolio of endpoints." Burton continued, "We have made great progress preparing the Company for the next phase of profitable growth, and we are very well positioned to successfully achieve our long-term strategic goals, as demonstrated by our strong second quarter 2019 results. We have seen very trong feedback from customers and partners, launched products across multiple categories in our first quarter post-close - including innovative analytics offerings that integrate deeply with our endpoints - and in September we increased both our long-term financial targets and our cost synergy targets related to our acquisition of Polycom. I have been and remain tremendously optimistic about the opportunity in front of us, and with our focused strategy and leadership team, I am confident that Plantronics will create significant long term value for shareholders."



About Plantronics Plantronics is an audio pioneer and a leader in the communications industry. Plantronics technology creates rich, natural, people-first audio and collaboration experiences so good ideas can be shared and heard-wherever, whenever and however they happen. The company's portfolio of integrated communications and collaboration solutions spans headsets, software, desk phones, audio and video conferencing, analytics and services. Our solutions are used worldwide by consumers and businesses alike and are a leading choice for every kind of workspace. For more information visit plantronics.com.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain 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. We do not assume any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new developments or otherwise. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated include the factors previously disclosed in Plantronics' reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC (News - Alert)"). For more information concerning these and other possible risks, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, and other filings with the SEC, as well as recent press releases. The SEC filings can be accessed over the Internet at http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181125005156/en/

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[November 26, 2018] Indian Social Entrepreneur Wins the First UN Geospatial Ambassador Award

NEW DELHI, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanjay Kumar, Founder and CEO of Geospatial Media & Communications, was conferred the 'Global Geospatial Industry Ambassador' Award by the UN-GGIM (United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management) on November 19 at the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress held at Deqing city in China. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/788875/Sanjay_Kumar_UN_Award.jpg ) Geospatial Media is an India-headquartered global geospatial industry think tank which provides information and ideas on use of spatial technologies in governance, businesses and daily lives, and advocates on policy issues. It facilitates collaborations among political, business and other stakeholders to demonstrate the value and benefits of geospatial technologies for governance, businesses and people via conferences, research and consulting services, and runs the popular media platform under the brand Geospatial World. Kumar has been a geospatial evangelist for over 20 years now, and in 2018 he also helped found the World Geospatial Industry Council in association with some of the top geospatial companies in the world.



The UN award recognizes Kumar's perseverance to create awareness about geospatial technologies, to connect communities and build networks. He received the award from Stefan Schweinfest, Director, United Nations Statistics Division, and Dorine Burmanje, Co-Chair, UN-GGIM and Chair of the Executive Board of Dutch Kadaster.

Recognizing Kumar's decades of unmatched contribution, Schweinfest, said, "At the UN, we endeavour to connect. We connect dots, we connect countries, we connect sectors. And Sanjay has been a great partner in helping us connect. He has a global vision and helped us connect with the private sector." Burmanje said, "The value of geospatial information and enabling technologies has only recently become more mainstream. Sanjay is one person who has contributed significantly to this value for decades, exerting leadership and promoting tirelessly the need for place-related information." "Leaders from the geospatial industry, governments and beyond are increasingly sharing his vision of bringing knowledge and technology together, based on awareness raising and partnerships," she added. Expressing his gratitude after accepting the award, Sanjay Kumar said, "I feel honored to receive this award on the noble platform of UN-GGIM and that too by the combined leadership of the industry, government and multilateral organizations. Most importantly, I have been recognized by friends who have challenged, empowered and motivated me to plunge into the unexplored." Interestingly, the award is symbolic in its physical features. It embodies a fundamental cornerstone of place and space; the Greenwich Meridian - the imaginary line that divides the Earth into eastern and western hemispheres, and the point from which longitude is measured. It reflects the worldwide relevance of place and space, and enables precise positioning on the globe. About Geospatial Media & Communications Geospatial Media and Communications is an internationally recognized organization that is committed to serving the stakeholders of the geospatial community. It aims to facilitate collaboration and demonstrate the value and benefits of geospatial technology for organizations, governments, and citizens. We drive our mission through print and online publications, regional and global conferences, market research and consultancy services. We are the creators of GeospatialWorld.net, Geospatial World Forum, and GeoBuiz report.



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[November 26, 2018] Ziyen Energy Acquires Five New Oil Assets in the Illinois Basin

Total Oil Leases Now Stand at 18





Round 2 of Funding Closes this week, Limited Time to invest at $1.50 per share SAN DIEGO, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ziyen Inc.s, a Scottish-American Company, is extremely proud to announce it has acquired the mineral rights to 5 additional oil leases in the Illinois Basin. These acquisitions based in Gibson County cover over 364 acres and have been acquired due to their close proximity to the original Ross Lease. Ziyen Inc. now has 18 oil assets in the Illinois Basin with a combined acreage of over 1650 acres. Alastair Caithness, CEO, Ziyen, Inc., stated, This is the cumulation of months of hard and diligent work, that we are extremely proud to announce we have acquired five more oil leases. These leases have amazing potential, and are all connected to our most recent lease acquisitions. Working with our local representation in the Illinois Basin, it is very important to note that these leases are strategically placed relative to the rest of our assets. As Round 2 of Funding is about to closes, it has been a fantastic 12 months for the company moving into oil production and our strategic footprint is growing with the company now owning multiple oil assets in the Illinois Basin ensuring 2019 will be an exciting year ahead for the company, stakeholders and shareholders. p>For information on investing in Ziyen Inc., please visit the company website at www.ziyen.com , or for a copy of the latest company overview, please email [email protected] .



About Ziyen Inc.

Founded in 2016, Ziyen Inc. is a Scottish-American company focused on delivering 100% Energy Independence to the USA. Initially launched as a software company providing information about oil and gas related procurement contracts, Ziyen Inc. diversified in 2017, instating the Ziyen Energy Division with the intent to produce oil in the U.S. with advanced extraction methods and technology implemented and guided by career experts in the oil and gas industry. In 2017 Ziyen acquired the mineral rights to its first oil field in Indiana, and now has eighteen oil assets. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently qualified Ziyen Inc. in November 2017 for its second round of funding, with a pre-IPO share price of $1.50. More information may be found in its Offering Circular filed with the SEC, or on its website www.ziyen.com . Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements related to anticipated commencement of commercial production, targeted pricing, performance goals, and statements that otherwise relate to future periods are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in the Companys periodic reports filed with the SEC- specifically the most recent reports which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made and based on information available to the company on the date of this press release. Ziyen Inc. assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release. Contact:

Josh Berg

Berg Capital Markets

[email protected]

Dean Holter, Esq.

Berg Capital Markets

[email protected]

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Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recorded a statement from Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara this morning over the Anti-Corruption Force convener Namal Kumaras allegations, police said.

They said that the latest statement was recorded as a part of the investigations into the alleged assassination plot on President Maithripala Sirisena and former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.
[November 26, 2018] A "Prime-Like" Shopping Experience for Everyone: Now Online Retailers Can Offer Hassle-Free Returns from Any Mobile Device with ReadyReturns

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK and PHOENIX, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ReadyCloud CRM ( https://www.ReadyCloud.com ), the CRM platform built for product-based ecommerce, is improving the online shopping experience by enabling e-retailers with hassle-free product returns. This holiday season, any online store equipped with ReadyReturns will greet customers with a friendly product returns process that supports their desktop browser or mobile device.

ReadyReturns can be integrated into an online store without any coding. Retailers set the rules of returns, including options like return-by dates, reasons, warehouses, return shipping or restocking fees, and more. ReadyReturns is a powerful tool that does not stop at online returns by including a customer service interface for agents to process returns for inbound callers



ReadyReturns is a premium extension for ReadyCloud CRM that adds a Prime-like returns process to the pages of virtually any website. It automates the retailers ideal returns policy to greatly reduce the number of touches on product returns to save cost and improve customer service. ReadyReturns now boasts an all new Mobile User Interface (MUI)along with a host of other updatesthat lets online retailers give customers the option to process a return from any internet-enabled mobile device and print the return label from their local printer. About half of all online purchases are made from a mobile device, explains Michael Lazar, an Executive at ReadyCloud. When a customer purchases from mobile, they want to return through mobile. ReadyReturns greatly improves the shoppin experience by supporting the mobile devices that customers use every day. Its Prime-like returns for everyone!



ReadyReturns can be integrated into an online store without any coding. Retailers set the rules of returns, including options like return-by dates, reasons, warehouses, return shipping or restocking fees, and more. ReadyReturns is a powerful tool that does not stop at online returns by including a customer service interface for agents to process returns for inbound callers. ReadyReturns comes with powerful reporting features that collect key insights about a return. This includes an aging report that monitors what is being returned, by whom and when to expect it. This level of predictability is something that too few retailers have today.

As a Premium Plugin for ReadyCloud CRM , ReadyReturns combines to deliver key metrics that retailers wont find anywhere else. It updates customer profiles in ReadyCloud, delivering instant insights into purchasing patterns and delivers email marketing tools to help convert a return into a second-chance sale. If youre not yet using ReadyReturns, youre not fully engaging your customers, Lazar emphasizes. Studies are finding that more than 44% of customers place a new order after processing their return. Now retailers can capitalize on second-chance sales that they wouldve missed out on before, he adds. ReadyCloud believes that all online retailers deserve a cross-channel CRM. Thats why they offer the first 2 weeks at no cost, with no credit card required to start using the service. ReadyReturns can be activated for as little as $99/month. It takes about 5 minutes to get started at: https://www.ReadyCloud.com Learn more about ReadyReturns by visiting: https://www.readycloud.com/readyreturns-ecommerce-returns-software Got questions? Call ReadyCloud direct at: (877) 818-7447. Stay in the know about returns. Read ReadyCloud CRMs Ultimate Guide to Ecommerce Returns in 2018 and start improving customer relationships today! Follow ReadyCloud on Facebook , Twitter , YouTube & LinkedIn About ReadyReturns #ReadyReturns is a premium plugin for the #ReadyCloudCRM ecommerce suite. ReadyReturns adds Prime-like returns to the pages of virtually any website. Hassle-free returns improve customer confidence and deliver second-chance sales opportunities by bringing consumers back to the site where they made their original purchase. About ReadyCloud CRM #ReadyCloud CRM is rocket fuel for customer loyalty and sales in todays ecommerce world. A cross-channel ecommerce CRM solution, ReadyCloud features robust customer order timelines complete with shipping and return information, invoice and tracking number, notes, group calendar, tagging, email marketing integrations, detailed reporting, shipping profitability reports, and so much more. New features are being added every month. ReadyCloud starts with CRM, and can be further expanded with premium plugins like #ReadyShipper , a hybrid-cloud shipping software solution, and #ReadyReturns , an automated online product returns solution. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a758bbc7-910a-4cc0-b363-10f7c9ead11c

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[November 26, 2018] NATS and McLaren Deloitte Announce New Collaboration

FAREHAM, England, November 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Relationship will bring F1 technology and data science into the aviation industry NATS, the UK air traffic service, and McLaren Deloitte have today announced a collaboration agreement aimed at transforming how operational decisions are made in the aviation industry. The companies will work together on products that combine the relative expertise of leading organisations; bringing together state-of-the-art analytics and data science with the real-world experience of network and airport capacity management. During every Formula 1 race, McLaren takes into account millions of possible scenarios to then model the outcome of a range of tactical decisions. Meanwhile, Deloitte is renowned for their experience in using data analytics to deliver large consulting projects globally. These capabilities, combined with NATS' expertise in managing congested and complex airspace and airports, are now being deployed to help the aviation industry understand and accurately predict the impact of decisions before they are even made. Performance Optimiser is the first product to emerge from the collaboration. Developed together by NATS air traffic and airspace capacity management experts with McLaren Deloitte data scientists, Performance Optimiser allows ANSPs to review and model the effect of a huge range of tactical decisions in en-route and terminal airspace - such as the use of flow regulations - in order to maximise available airspace capacity and minimise delays. The cloud-based system offers instant access to operational data, allowing the user to view a range of factors that may influence air traffic- from the level of flow regulations and weather conditions, through to the occurrence of sporting events - in order to make an informed decision that helps best manage the airspace. Performance Optimiser can then simulate how different decisions would have changed the outcome for any given day, allowing operational supervisors to not just review performance, but inform future decisions and quickly apply their learning to drive improvement. NATS is already evaluating the tool to help balance traffic flows against capacity and identify opportunities to improve performance. Martin Rolfe, NATS Chief Executive Officer, said: "On the surface, aviation and Formula 1 might seem like an unlikely collaboration, but we are increasingly looking at opportunities to work with people outside of the traditional aviation industry to find new ways to help our customers. NATS has a world-class capability in managing busy and complex traffic flows, and we're already seeing the benefits of combining that exertise with what McLaren Deloitte do so well. I'm excited to see where else this will go next."



Mark Cooper, partner for aviation technology at Deloitte, said: "As the UK airspace becomes more crowded it will be increasingly difficult to manage and McLaren Deloitte are delighted to be working in collaboration with NATS to provide a solution powered by the concept of a digital twin. By taking all of the experience and knowledge of air navigation professionals and enhancing it with advanced analytics and simulation, Performance Optimiser allows operational supervisors to make data-augmented decisions which improves both operational efficiency and consistency. This product will enable NATS as well as the global aviation community to make the best decisions in managing the airspace, and we look forward to working with them to achieve this." Mike Phillips, Director, Aviation, McLaren Applied Technologies, said: "Together McLaren and Deloitte are focusing on the growing needs of airport operations and are investing in a suite of solutions. This new collaboration with NATS enables us to deliver F1 derived simulation and analytics to air traffic management, enabling operational supervisors to make decisions based on data driven insights. The potential offered by sensors, simulation and data analytics to the airspace navigation sector is significant, but until now it has been difficult for the industry to bridge the gap between the physical and digital world. This relationship will provide NATS and its customers with data that allows them to improve operational efficiency and unlock the benefits that come with it."

Other products already in advanced development include additional airline and airport optimisation products. Note to editors: About NATS NATS is a leading air traffic management and solutions company, established in the UK in 1962 and now operating in countries around the world. NATS handled 2.6 million flights in 2017, covering the UK and eastern North Atlantic from its centres at Swanwick, Hampshire and Prestwick, Ayrshire. NATS also provides air traffic services at 13 UK airports; at Gibraltar Airport and, in a joint venture with Ferrovial, at a number of airport towers in Spain. Building on its reputation for operational excellence and innovation, NATS offers aerodrome, data, engineering, capacity, efficiency and environmental performance solutions to customers worldwide, including airports, airlines air traffic service providers and Governments. For more information visit the NATS website at http://www.nats.aero. About McLaren Deloitte McLaren Applied Technologies formed a partnership with the business advisory firm Deloitte in 2017 to build data-driven business products. The partnership draws on McLaren's simulation and analytics experience, developed and proven in the world of motorsport, coupled with Deloitte's digital and analytics experience delivering large consulting projects globally. The partnership will address complex, industry-wide challenges and improve performance across clients' businesses, initially focussed on delivering benefits in the healthcare, life sciences, retail and transport sectors. McLaren Deloitte helps clients bridge the physical-to-digital divide, enabling organisations to capture and draw insight from vast amounts of data. Together, the companies create products that offer savings, growth and productivity for our customers by simulating thousands of alternative realities, identifying the best possible outcomes and giving decisionmakers the information they need to gain a competitive advantage. About McLaren Applied Technologies Part of the McLaren Group, McLaren Applied Technologies works at the intersection of technology, data and human ingenuity to deliver quantifiable performance advantage through a range of capabilities to industry sectors undergoing large-scale disruptive change, including automotive, transport, health and motorsport. Drawing on a 30-year heritage leading the digital transformation of motorsport through electronics and data systems, we now develop transformative products and solutions that harness our expertise in electronic systems, electric drive, telemetry, software, sensor technology, simulation, predictive analytics, and design. About Deloitte In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte LLP, which is among the country's leading professional services firms. Deloitte LLP is the United Kingdom member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited ("DTTL"), a UK private company limited by guarantee, whose member firms are legally separate and independent entities. Please see http://www.deloitte.co.uk/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of DTTL and its member firms. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press. Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

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[November 26, 2018] Making it crystal clear: Crystallinity reduces resistance in all-solid-state batteries

TOKYO, Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology examined the mechanisms behind the resistance at the electrode-electrolyte interface of all-solid-state batteries. Their findings will aid in the development of much better Li-ion batteries with very fast charge/discharge rates. Designing and improving lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is crucial for extending the limits of modern electronic devices and electric vehicles because Li-ion batteries are virtually ubiquitous. Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), led by Prof. Taro Hitosugi, had previously reported a new type of all-solid-state battery, also based on lithium ions, which overcame one of the major problems of those batteries: high resistance at the interface between the electrodes and the electrolytes that limits fast charging/discharging. Although the devices they produced were very promising and were much better than conventional Li-ion batteries in some regards, the mechanism behind the reduced interface resistance was unclear. It has been difficult to analyze the buried interfaces in all-solid-state batteries without damaging their layers. Therefore, Hitosugi and his team of researchers again investigated all-solid-state batteries to shed light on this topic. They suspected that crystallinity (which indicates how well-ordered and periodic a solid is) at the electrode-electrolyte interface played a key role in defining interface resistance. To prove this, they fabricated two different all-solid-state batteries composed of electrode and electrolyte layers using a pulsed laser deposition technique. One of these batteries had presumably high crystallinity at the electrode-electrolyte interface, whereas the other one did not. Confirming this was possible by using a novel technique called X-ray crystal truncation-rod scattering analysis. "X-rays can reach the buried interfaces without destroying the structures," explains Hitosugi. Based on their results, the team concluded that a highly crystalline electrode-electrolyte interface resulted in low interface resistance, yielding a high-performance battery. By analyzing the microscopic structure of the interfaces of their batteries, they proposed a plausible explanation for the increased resistance of batteries with less crystalline interfaces. Lithium ions are stuck at the less crystalline interfaces, hindering ion conductivity. "Controlled fabrication of the electrolyte/electrode interface is crucial to obtain low interface resistance," explains Hitosugi. The development of theories and simulations to further understand the migration of Li ions will be crucial for finally achieving useful and improved batteries for all kinds of devices based on electrochemistry. This work is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Susumu Shiraki at Nippon Institute of Technology and Senior Researcher Tetsuroh Shirasawa at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Reference







Authors: Susumu Shiraki1,2, Tetsuroh Shirasawa3,4, Tohru Suzuki2, Hideyuki Kawasoko2, Ryota Shimizu4,5, and Taro Hitosugi*,2,5 Title of original paper: Atomically Well-Ordered Structure at Solid Electrolyte and Electrode Interface Reduces the Interfacial Resistance Journal: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b08926 Affiliations: 1Department of Applied Chemistry, Nippon Institute of Technology 2Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University 3National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) 4JST, PRESTO 5School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology

About Tokyo Institute of Technology

Tokyo Tech stands at the forefront of research and higher education as the leading university for science and technology in Japan. Tokyo Tech researchers excel in fields ranging from materials science to biology, computer science, and physics. Founded in 1881, Tokyo Tech hosts over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year, who develop into scientific leaders and some of the most sought-after engineers in industry. Embodying the Japanese philosophy of "monotsukuri," meaning "technical ingenuity and innovation," the Tokyo Tech community strives to contribute to society through high-impact research.

www.titech.ac.jp/english/ About Nippon Institute of Technology

Nippon Institute of Technology celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. Our mission was, and still is, to raise outstanding engineers who can utilize theoretical concepts of engineering in the frontline of industry. We developed our unique method using "practical engineering", making the best use of what students had learnt in technical high schools.

www.nit.ac.jp/english About National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), one of the largest public research institutes in Japan, focuses on the creation and practical realization of technologies useful to Japanese industry and society, and on "bridging" the gap between innovative technological seeds and commercialization. For this, AIST is organized into 5 departments and 2 centers that bring together core technologies to exert its comprehensive strength.

www.aist.go.jp/index_en.html About Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

JST is an organization that leads Japan's science and technology (S&T) development as an innovation navigator. We aim to contribute to the lives of people and the achievement of a sustainable society by promoting S&T for the purpose of opening up opportunities in innovation. Since its foundation, JST's many outstanding achievements accomplished in collaboration with the government, universities, the industrial sector and public have been earned global recognition.

www.jst.go.jp/EN/index.html View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/making-it-crystal-clear-crystallinity-reduces-resistance-in-all-solid-state-batteries-300754651.html SOURCE Tokyo Institute of Technology

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[November 26, 2018] Dubai Chamber President and CEO Appointed Chairman of World Chambers Federation

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has announced that its President and CEO Hamad Buamim has been appointed to the coveted post of Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce's World Chambers Federation (WCF), the ICC's forum uniting a global network of 12,000 chambers and their respective business communities. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005312/en/ HE Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, Dubai Chamber (Photo: AETOSWire) The announcement came during a high-level WCF General Councilmeeting which was recently held at Dubai Chamber's headquarters. Buamim, who previously served as Deputy Chair of WCF, will assume his new position at the beginning of 2019 for a period of three years, during which he will preside over meetings and activities of the WCF Chairmanship, WCF Executive Committee, and WCF General Council.



Buamim succeeds Peter Mihok, President of Slovakia's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who held the position of WCF Chairman for the last six years. The appointment marked the second time that an official from the Middle East is elected as WCF Chairman. In his new role, Buamim will supervise the WCF's efforts to foster and facilitate collaboration and cooperation between chamber leaders and their members worldwide. Buamim will present a new 100-day plan that will include several objectives, among them being strengthening the role of the WCF as a facilitator of global trade and developing smart and innovative business solutions, in addition to creating a sustainable mechanism that measures and assesses the needs, aspirations and existing challenges facing chambers.

Commenting on the WCF appointment, Buamim said: "I am honoured to take on this exciting role and I look forward to launching a constructive dialogue within the global chambers community and exploring new perspectives and ideas. By aligning our efforts and drawing on our combined expertise to maximize our impact, I am confident that we can eliminate barriers to global trade and adopt a future-ready framework that will enhance the competitiveness of our members and fuel sustainable economic growth." Editor's note Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favourable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub. *Source (News - Alert): AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005312/en/

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[November 26, 2018] Cation Capital Comments on Crescent Point's Urgent Need for New Leadership to Unlock Billions of Stranded Value

Cation Capital Inc. (together with its affiliates and associates, "Cation Capital" or "Cation"), a private investment firm that continues to raise its ownership stake in Crescent Point Energy Corp (TSX/NYSE:CPG) ("Crescent Point" or the "Company"), today commented on the ongoing value erosion of Crescent Point's share price due to the clear failure of leadership and governance within the Company. Sandy L. Edmonstone, President of Cation Capital, said, "Since the beginning of April, Cation has been working on behalf of all Crescent Point shareholders, who have and continue to suffer significant value destruction. We have made repeated, good faith efforts to engage constructively with the Company, arguing that experienced, independent leadership, executing a new strategy focused on shareholder returns, is necessary to turn around the Company and its share price. In response, the Company has taken clearly ineffective half measures. On a recent shareholder conference call that Cation hosted, there was strong participation from both institutional and individual investors, who made it clear they believe Crescent Point requires strong, independent new leadership to lead the Company on a formal value maximization process. There is significant momentum among shareholders, and it is more important than ever that Crescent Point listen to them." In the last five years, Crescent Point's stock has declined by ~90%, to the point that it now is at risk of being removed from the S&P / TSX 60 Index. In response to pressure from Cation, the Company recently abandoned its so-called five-year strategic plan and removed its Chairman and CEO. Unfortunately, neither action has slowed the pace of value destruction. Since the proxy cut-off date for the last annual general meeting, the Company's share price has declined ~60%. Not even the Company's directors seem to have faith in the Company's direction, given their minimal share purchases despite the stock being near an all-time low. The markets have not embraced the Company's changes either. Management's revised strategy clearly lacks the urgency, credibility and focus investors expect. As an example, the Company commits to a number of "transition plan deliverables" over a leisurely "12 to 24 months" with no mention of shareholder returns or value.1 Yet, each of these so-called deliverables could further destroy significant shareholder value, when pursued simply to "deliver" without regard for shareholders, as is the Company's unfortunate pattern. Equally disappointing to many investors, the Company's new Chairman and CEO are both insiders who owe their new positions to their respective predecessors and bring minimal outside exerience to these roles. They obviously lack the independence, expertise and objective credibility that the Company desperately needs to set a new course.



Faced with this situation, Cation will continue to emphasize the Company's need for an independent, experienced Chairman and CEO to lead the Company on a credible value maximization process and out of the depths of the value destruction that the current Board and management team have all caused. While the Company has rejected meeting with Cation since early April, Crescent Point Chairman Bob Heineman (and former Compensation Committee Chair) and current Compensation Committee Chair Mike Jackson will be embarking on a series of meetings with select institutional investors at the end of November. Those shareholders privileged to have the Company's ear should take every opportunity to bring forward the many critical questions that Cation has raised around governance and exactly how the Company's current leadership will unlock value for shareholders. In addition, investors should ask why a pair of board members would embark on such a series of meetings without their newly appointed CEO. Mr. Edmonstone continued, "The market is the truest barometer of confidence in the Board and management team, and with the share price at all-time lows, it is more clear than ever that change is necessary. Like many shareholders, we believe there is the potential to unlock billions in value, and remain committed to bringing change to Crescent Point and holding the current leadership accountable for the value destruction they have overseen. If the Crescent Point Board and management can't effect positive change, including installing independent leadership to lead a formal value maximization process, we reserve every right to bring about change for the benefit of all shareholders."

About Cation Capital Inc.

Cation Capital Inc., together with its affiliates and associates, is a private investment firm headquartered in Alberta, Canada. Cation invests in situations where it is able to influence operational, financial and strategic direction. Cation seeks value in companies that are experiencing financial or operational challenges, are in out-of-favour sectors or are otherwise in need of change to drive significant long-term value for stakeholders. Additional Information

The information contained in this press release does not and is not meant to constitute a solicitation of a proxy within the meaning of applicable corporate or securities laws. At this time Crescent Point has not scheduled a meeting of its shareholders and shareholders are therefore not being asked to execute a proxy in favour of the matters set forth in this press release. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cation is voluntarily providing the disclosure required under subsection 9.2(4) of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations in accordance with securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations. This press release and any solicitation made by Cation in advance of any Crescent Point shareholder meeting will be made by Cation and not by or on behalf of the management of Crescent Point. Cation may engage a solicitation agent to make any such solicitations. All costs incurred for any solicitation will be borne by Cation, provided that, subject to applicable law, Cation may seek reimbursement from Crescent Point of Cation's out-of-pocket expenses, including proxy solicitation expenses and legal fees, incurred in connection with a successful result at any meeting of shareholders of Crescent Point. As noted above, Cation is not hereby soliciting proxies in connection with any Crescent Point shareholder meeting and shareholders are not being asked at this time to execute proxies in favour of the matters set forth in this press release. Any proxies solicited by Cation will be solicited in accordance with applicable securities laws, including pursuant to a dissident information circular sent to Crescent Point shareholders after which solicitation may be made by or on behalf of Cation, by mail, telephone, fax, email or other electronic means, by public announcement and in person by representatives of Cation or proxy advisors retained by Cation or by Cation's nominees. Any proxies solicited by Cation in connection with any Crescent Point shareholder meeting may be revoked by instrument in writing by the shareholder giving the proxy or by its duly authorized officer or attorney, or in any other manner permitted by law. None of Cation or, to its knowledge, any of its associates or affiliates, has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter proposed to be acted on at a meeting of Crescent Point shareholders other than as set forth herein. Crescent Point's registered office address is Suite 3700, 400 - 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 4H2. 1 Crescent Point's "Q3 2018. Corporate Presentation," p. 15. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005166/en/

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[November 26, 2018] XebiaLabs Accelerates Enterprise Application Shift to the Cloud with Amazon Web Services

XebiaLabs, the recognized leader in enterprise DevOps and Continuous Delivery software, today announced support for new Amazon Web Services (News - Alert) (AWS) services designed to simplify and accelerate application migration to the cloud at scale. New integrations of the XebiaLabs DevOps Platform with AWS Service Catalog and support for AWS Fargate, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), Amazon Elastic Container Service for Kubernetes (Amazon EKS), and other AWS services, allow developers to easily switch workloads from traditional data centers to AWS. Companies can rely on a highly efficient, compliant, and secure enterprise DevOps process as they are moving applications to the cloud. "The combination of AWS Service Catalog and the XebiaLabs DevOps Platform provides a highly scalable and structured path to moving enterprise applications to AWS," said Clive D'Souza, Global Head of AWS Service Catalog BD, Amazon Web Services, Inc. "It was designed to allow companies to offer self-service deployments to their development teams, while supporting compliance, security, and governance requirements across the DevOps pipeline. Teams can now easily access AWS services as an integrated part of their enterprise DevOps processes, and CIOs can rest easy knowing software applications are being built securely and with control, while taking advantage of the flexibility and velocity of the cloud." Roadblocks Limiting Cloud Adoption Beyond Pilot Projects

As companies move beyond pilot projects, application development teams and IT organizations are significantly held back by the governance, organizational, and technical challenges of moving applications to the cloud. They struggle with: Lack of repeatable and reusable processes that work across cloud and traditional applications

Lack of cloud expertise available in heterogeneous application teams

Failed releases and a lack of visibility across the entire code-to-production release process

Neglected security, governance, and compliance requirements that result in substantial vulnerabilities and cost A DevOps leader at a large North American insurance company voiced the sentiment of many of his industry peers: "After initial success with our first cloud pilot application, we immediately realized that a manual approach that varied from team to team was highly inefficient and did not provide the standardization and controls we needed. In addition, the necessary cloud expertise was practically impossible to replicate across hundreds of application teams." XebiaLabs and AWS: Enterprise On-ramp for Cloud Migration at Massive Scale

Designed for Enterprise DevOps needs, the XebiaLabs DevOps Platform delivers release orchestration, analytics, and deployment automation capabilities that are optimized for the cloud. It is ideal for managing application releases across different technologies and hybrid infrastructures in a uniform way. XebiaLabs provides developers a simple path to switch from traditional environments to the cloud without the need for cloud expertise or a change in the end-to-end release process. In working with AWS, XebiaLabs is rolling out a series of new integrations and features that will simplify and accelerate the way companies migrate applications to the cloud: AWS Service Catalog and XebaLabs : Curated Cloud Resources Integrated into the DevOps Pipeline: XebiaLabs' new integration with AWS Service Catalog provides enterprises with access to approved and curated cloud resources with unmatched simplicity, speed, and control. It seamlessly connects AWS services to the rest of the enterprise DevOps pipeline and allows for a structured software release process that includes governance, compliance, and security requirements. The combination was designed to allow DevOps and cloud teams to create centrally managed DevOps pipelines along with portfolios of approved AWS services. These services are provided through AWS Service Catalog, which allows cloud administrators to pre-configure the setup, control access, and provide teams across the organization with instant access to the AWS resources they need.

: XebiaLabs' new integration with AWS Service Catalog provides enterprises with access to approved and curated cloud resources with unmatched simplicity, speed, and control. It seamlessly connects AWS services to the rest of the enterprise DevOps pipeline and allows for a structured software release process that includes governance, compliance, and security requirements. The combination was designed to allow DevOps and cloud teams to create centrally managed DevOps pipelines along with portfolios of approved AWS services. These services are provided through AWS Service Catalog, which allows cloud administrators to pre-configure the setup, control access, and provide teams across the organization with instant access to the AWS resources they need. Extensive Support for AWS and Cloud Resources: XebiaLabs continues to enhance its extensive support for a large number of AWS services, including Amazon EC2, Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), AWS Lambda, AWS Fargate, Amazon ECS, Amazon EKS, Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR), AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS), AWS Elastic Load Balancing (AWS ELB), Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), AWS CodePipeline, and Amazon API Gateway (News - Alert).

XebiaLabs continues to enhance its extensive support for a large number of AWS services, including Amazon EC2, Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), AWS Lambda, AWS Fargate, Amazon ECS, Amazon EKS, Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR), AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS), AWS Elastic Load Balancing (AWS ELB), Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), AWS CodePipeline, and Amazon API Gateway (News - Alert). Simplified Cloud Adoption for Developers with DevOps As Code and Best-practice Blueprints: The XebiaLabs DevOps Platform is designed to streamline work for all users involved in releasing software, from developers to Ops to business users. In addition to its powerful and simple GUI, XebiaLabs allows developers to manage releases, deploy applications, and provision cloud resources directly from YAML files that they can store in source control alongside their application code. New best-practice blueprints for AWS include deploying a microservices-based container application to Amazon EKS, a monolithic container application to Amazon ECS, and a big-data data lake solution.



XebiaLabs Achieved DevOps Competency Status and is an Advanced Technology Partner in the AWS Partner Network (APN)

As part of the close collaboration, XebiaLabs also recently achieved AWS DevOps Competency status and is recognized as an Advanced Technology Partner in the APN. Derek Langone, CEO of XebiaLabs said, "We are thrilled by our growing relationship with AWS and how our solution leveraging AWS can help our global enterprise customers quickly take advantage of cloud resources as a simple addition to their DevOps processes. Building on the power of AWS, XebiaLabs provides enterprises with the technology and process they need to accelerate cloud migration at any scale." Learn More

To Infinity and Beyond: Accelerating Application Migration to the Cloud (white paper)

Enterprise DevOps for the Cloud: XebiaLabs Provides the DevOps Framework for Companies Migrating Applications to the Cloud (press release)

Shift to the Cloud with XebiaLabs (XebiaLabs solutions for cloud - web page)

XebiaLabs for Amazon Web Services

Free Trial of the XebiaLabs DevOps Platform About XebiaLabs XebiaLabs develops enterprise-scale Continuous Delivery and DevOps software, providing companies with the visibility, automation and control they need to deliver software faster and with less risk. Global market leaders rely on XebiaLabs to meet the increasing demand for accelerated and more reliable software releases. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005035/en/

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[November 26, 2018] Harris Corporation Delivering Its Largest Mirror Ever for Ground-based Telescope

Harris Corporation (News - Alert) (NYSE:HRS) has shipped its largest mirror ever for a ground-based observatory that will produce the deepest, widest, views of the universe. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005483/en/ LSST secondary mirror, built by Harris Corp. (News - Alert), prior to assembly integration (Photo: Business Wire) Harris is part of the National Science Foundation team assembling the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) on the Cerro Pachon ridge in Chile. The company is providing the 3.5 meter, 3,500-pound secondary mirror and associated ground support equipment. In addition, Harris is delivering the cell assembly that stabilizes the mirror to offset the effects of gravity during operation. LSST will conduct an unprecedented, decade-long survey of the entire visible sky, detecting billions of new objects and contributing to the study of dark matter and dark energy. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2022. "The Harris-built secondary mirror for LSST continues a 50-year legacy of designing and constructing high-end optical systems that meet challenging requirements," said Murali Krishnan, vice president and general manager, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Harris Space and Intelligence Systems. "We can't wait to see the science that will be discovered." "This achievement marks the successful conclusion of a great joint effort between LSST and Harris. Numerus challenges due to the mirror's large size and convex shape were overcome with novel and custom fabrication and metrology solutions," said William Gressler, LSST Telescope and Site Manager. "The Harris team successfully completed and is delivering the world's largest active secondary mirror system. We look forward to its delivery to the summit site in Chile and future telescope integration."



U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said, "This federal National Science Foundation investment is leveraging Harris' skilled Rochester workforce to bring the farthest reaches of the universe into focus. A leader in Rochester's world-class optics and photonics industry, Harris employees are making history by manufacturing the world's largest terrestrial telescope active secondary mirror system in Rochester, New York. Their cutting-edge achievement will push scientific frontiers, enable new discoveries, and chart the universe like never before." About Harris Corporation

Harris Corporation is a leading technology innovator, solving customers' toughest mission-critical challenges by providing solutions that connect, inform and protect. Harris supports government and commercial customers in more than 100 countries and has approximately $6 billion in annual revenue. The company is organized into three business segments: Communication Systems, Electronic Systems and Space and Intelligence Systems. Learn more at harris.com. About LSST LSST's mission is to build a well-understood system that provides a vast astronomical data set for unprecedented discovery of the deep and dynamic Universe. LSST seeks to enable science in four main areas: understanding dark matter and dark energy, cataloging the Solar System, exploring the changing sky, and investigating the formation and structure of the Milky Way. LSST is scheduled to begin operations in 2022. More information can be found at www.lsst.org. Financial support for LSST comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Cooperative Agreement No. 1258333, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515, and private funding raised by the LSST Corporation. The NSF-funded LSST Project Office for construction was established as an operating center under management of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). The DOE-funded effort to build the LSST camera is managed by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC). The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science. NSF supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005483/en/

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[November 26, 2018] 5-Step Web Analytics Framework to Drive Business Performance: A Quantzig Article on Boosting Website Engagement

Quantzig, a pure-play analytics solutions provider, has announced the completion of their latest article on the five-step web analytics framework to drive business performance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005513/en/ Five-step web analytics framework to drive business performance. (Graphic: Business Wire) At present, it has become the necessity for businesses to have their own website regardless of the industry they are competing in. The company's website serves as a source of information for the visitors and is equally important as its logo and brand identity. Moreover, it acts as a medium to drive business strategies and improve user experience. The website also helps to examine the potential of customers based on their web behavior. A good website design not only contributes to better user experience but also drives high-quality traffic, which is a must for conversions. However, companies require an effective web analytics framework to become market leaders. Book a Solution Demo to know how Quantzig's analytics dashboards can help your company in smoothly navigating through the data and devise a competitive web analytics framework. "Identifying digital trends provides valuable insights to businesses, which can help them in adjusting their business strategies according to specific customers and maket needs," says a web analytics expert from Quantzig.



Web analytics framework to ace the digital strategy: Tracking hygiene metrics

Websites collect a huge amount of data pertaining to the user's location device, time on site, clicks, bounce, and user journey. Therefore, it becomes crucial for the companies to analyze hygiene metrics as it directly impacts the success of the website. Hygiene metrics basically includes parameters such as page views, bounce rates, and exits rates and gives an overview of the popularity and relevance of the website. However, parameters like conversions, demographics, and organic performance are also beneficial for the analysis of web analytics. Quantzig has been predicting digital trends and offering solutions to 55+ Fortune 500 companies for over a decade now. To know how our specialized digital and web analytics solutions can help your organization, Request a proposal now! Understanding user behavior Metrics can be easier to track but understanding user behavior is an important task for companies. Organizations usually opt for A/B testing to know the choices of their customers so that they can optimize their site accordingly. However, they also analyze user paths and reporting dashboards to get detailed information on user journey and other key metrics to understand their customers. Get in touch with our analysts to know how a web analytics framework can help you improve your digital strategy. Enable digital marketing Digital marketing plays a key role in bringing users to the website. Users are usually present in different social media channels before they visit your website. Therefore, it becomes crucial for digital marketers to choose the right medium that can successfully gauge the traffic for your website. Various components such as SEO, SEM, display ad, socials, and email marketing can make a huge impact in bringing the conversions for the channel. To access the complete web analytics framework, view the full article here. About Quantzig Quantzig is a global analytics and advisory firm with offices in the US, UK, Canada, China, and India. For more than 15 years, we have assisted our clients across the globe with end-to-end data modeling capabilities to leverage analytics for prudent decision making. Today, our firm consists of 120+ clients, including 45 Fortune 500 companies. For more information on our engagement policies and pricing plans, visit: https://www.quantzig.com/get-more-info View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005513/en/

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[November 26, 2018] Express Logic Provides Support for Infineon TriCore Microcontrollers

Express Logic, provider of the X-Ware IoT Platform powered by the popular ThreadX RTOS, today announced that it has integrated its X-Ware IoT Platform with the Infineon TriCore family of 32-bit microcontrollers. The X-Ware IoT Platform is built on the powerful ThreadX RTOS, with more than 6.2 billion deployments, and leverages the small footprint and near wirespeed of Express Logic's NetX Duo IPv4/IPv6 TCP/IP stack for IoT connectivity. Infineon TriCore 32-bit microcontrollers are used for real-time control in automotive applications, such as airbags, electronic steering support, anti-lock braking systems (ABS (News - Alert)), electronic stability programs (ESP), pedestrian protection, seat adjustment, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems, and driver assistance systems where the X-Ware IoT Platform already boasts substantial market success. With its OSEK Compatibility Kit, the X-Ware IoT Platform is a perfect fit for the TriCore microcontrollers used in automotive applications. The ThreadX OSEK Compatibility Kit is BCC1, BCC2, ECC1, and ECC2 compliant and leverages the inherent size and speed characteristics of ThreadX. In addition, the X-Ware IoT Platform has attained the highest and most dependable level of safety certifications (according to IEC (News - Alert)), including ISO 26262, IEC 61508 SIL 4, IEC 62304 Class C, ASIL D, EN 50128 SW-SIL 4, UL 60730-1 Annex H, CSA E60730-1 Annex H, IEC 60730-1 Annex H, IEC 60335-1 Anex R, and IEC 60335-1 Annex R, 1998, as well as TLS/DTLS security protocols and EAL4+ common criteria security certification.



For applications that must do more than just connect to the internet, the X-Ware IoT Platform offers a safety-certified FileX embedded FAT-32/exFAT file system, the GUIX GUI development and embedded runtime framework, and the USBX embedded host/device USB stack. "Ensuring safety and security without compromising size and performance is the leading earmark in the IoT world," said William E. Lamie, President, Express Logic. "For example, today's automobiles have more software-driven systems and sub-systems than ever. The software that manages functions like engine performance and efficiency, vehicle control, and infotainment plays a key role in the safety of the vehicle and in the communication to and from the vehicle to objects and services. The size, performance, safety, and security certifications of our X-Ware IoT Platform make it a perfect match for the future development of embedded IoT devices, systems, sub-systems, and services."

About Express Logic and ThreadX Headquartered in San Diego, CA (News - Alert), Express Logic, Inc., offers the industry's most advanced run-time solutions for deeply embedded applications, including the popular ThreadX RTOS, the high-performance NetX and NetX Duo embedded TCP/IP stacks, the FileX embedded FAT-compatible file system, the USBX Host/Device embedded USB protocol stack, and the GUIX embedded graphical user interface development toolkit. Express Logic products include full source code and are available free of run-time royalties. For more information about Express Logic solutions, please visit www.expresslogic.com, call 1-888-THREADX, or e-mail [email protected]. ThreadX, TraceX, FileX, and X-Ware IoT Platform are registered trademarks, and Safety-Critical Certification Pack, NetX, NetX Duo, USBX, GUIX, GUIX Studio, LevelX, preemption-threshold, picokernel, and UDP (News - Alert) fast path technology are trademarks of Express Logic. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005060/en/

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[November 26, 2018] Pan-American Life Insurance Group Names New Vice President Application Development and Infrastructure

Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG), a leading provider of insurance and financial services throughout the Americas, announced today that Mark Northrup has joined the company in the role of Vice President Application Development and Infrastructure. In this newly created position, Mr. Northrup will be responsible for applications development, infrastructure support and operations, and systems development across PALIG's global footprint. He will report to Scott Reitan, Senior Vice President - Administration and Information Technology. "Mark's role brings together the Development and Infrastructure functions under one group to better align with PALIG's operating model," said Jose S. Suquet, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Pan-American Life Insurance Group. "This change will allow us to improve information technology support for our Life and Health business lines and accommodate future growth while continuing to deliver excellent service to our producers and policyholders." Mr. Northrup, who was previously Chief Information Officer of Cleco LLC, has more than 20 years of global IT experience. He has held leadership positions with IBM (News - Alert), TDAmeritrade, PwC, and EY where his work required him to live and work in six differnt countries. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from State University of New York at Binghamton, a Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University and a Japanese Management Degree from SANNO Institute of Management in Tokyo Japan.



About Pan-American Life Insurance Group Pan-American Life Insurance Group is a leading provider of insurance and financial services throughout the Americas that has been delivering trusted financial services since 1911. The New Orleans-based Group is comprised of more than twenty member companies, employs more than 1,950 worldwide and offers top-rated individual and/or group life, accident and health insurance, employee benefits and financial services in 49 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The Group has branches and affiliates in Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and 13 Caribbean markets, including Barbados, Cayman Islands, Curacao and Trinidad and Tobago. For more information, visit the Pan-American Life Web site at palig.com, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @PanAmericanLife, and connect with us on LinkedIn (News - Alert) at Pan-American Life Insurance Group.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005419/en/

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A school prefect studying for his A/Ls in the Maths Stream who got into a fight with a Grade 9 student after the latter took umbrage at being disciplined by a senior, succumbed to his injuries yesterday while undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of the Kalutara Nagoda Hospital for a head injury.

The incident occurred last Wednesday (21) at a leading school in Dinagoda Beruwala, according to the police.

The deceased has been identified as Mohamed Thariq (17), while the suspect was a 15-year-old student of the same school, who was subsequently taken in for questioning following the death of the former.

The dispute between the two students had arisen because of the younger boy ignoring the bell rung by the school prefect to get everyone to be silent in class. This triggered an argument which ended with the prefect being pushed backwards by the grade 9 student causing him to fall and hit his head on the floor.

After going back to his own class, Thariq had told his teacher that he was not feeling well and was sent home after receiving some pain-killers as he had complained that his head was hurting.

Thariq had told his parents that he was not hungry and only wanted to sleep when he got home. However, the next day too the young man had complained of not being well and this worried his parents who got him admitted to the Beruwala hospital but was transferred to the Nagoda hospital as his condition had become worse. Because his condition was critical the authorities had rushed him to the Colombo National Hospital where he underwent a surgery before being transferred back to the Nagoda hospital on Friday (25). He breathed his last at this hospital two day later.

According to a hospital spokesman Thariq had suffered a brain injury after his head hit the floor during the tussle with the other student.

Kalutara Additional Magistrate Vajira Lakshman held a preliminary inquest into the death. Investigations into the case were continuing under the guidance of Kalutara SP Upul Nilmini Ariyadasa.(Indika Ramanayaka)
[November 26, 2018] Introducing QtextA; the Everyday, Real-Time Q&A App

WESTTOWN, N.Y., Nov. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- QtextA, LLC today announced the worldwide launch of QtextA, a free Q&A app for iPhone with a social networking twist that allows users to share everyday advice, recommendations and information with each other in real-time. Don Frost, the owner of Middletown DQ in New York and QtextA developer is launching the app with a special promotion at his Dairy Queen; the first 1,000 users will receive a free mini Blizzard of their choice. The goal is to introduce people to QtextA and bring more customers to Middletown DQ. Frost says "human knowledge and experience trumps artificial intelligence. Our app is about people helping people whenever they need it. Questions are instantly delivered to respondents based on their knowledge of the topic and location. One or more answers from the user community are generated and delivered quickly. If people want to direct their question to members of a group, profession or in a given geographic area, they simply use a "#" or "@" sign."



Joined by programmer Josh Freed, they set out to build QtextA for iPhone and will introduce the Android and desktop versions next year. "Users can send follow-up questions and engage in conversations while making new contacts very easily," says Frost. "When you think about it, each of us possesses a tremendous library of information and experience that can now be shared quickly and easily with others."

Additional information is available:

Don Frost

Phone: (201) 961-3631

Email: [email protected] Related Links Website App Store Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GRiBVJPtAE View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/introducing-qtexta-the-everyday-real-time-qa-app-300755048.html SOURCE QtextA, LLC

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[November 26, 2018] LearnLaunch Adds Three Ed Leaders to Board of Directors

BOSTON, Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LearnLaunch, the non-profit education innovation hub, announced today the appointment of three new members of its board of directors: Brian Fleming, Executive Director of the Sandbox ColLABorative at Southern New Hampshire University; Dr. James Tracy, the first president of the Woodrow Wilson Academy of Teaching and Learning; and Mark Miller, Managing Partner of Good Harbor Partners. The mission-focused non-profit seeking to drive innovation to transform learning is now six years old and is expanding its board. LearnLaunch is located in Boston, a vibrant ed innovation center with universities, schools, and many of the worlds leading education companies. The edtech sector alone employs more than 25,000 professionals in the Boston area. We are poised to accelerate the growth of our education innovation cluster and prepare for the next phase of innovation by schools, colleges, and entrepreneurial organizations, said Eileen Rudden, Board Chair of the LearnLaunch, Inc. Strengthening our board will position LearnLaunch for further growth and influence in the next years. The new members join Andrew Joseph, CEO of School by Design; Michael Horn, author of Disrupting Class and Blended, and Distinguished Fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute; Vijay Kumar, Executive Director, Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab and Associate Dean of Digital Learning at MIT; and Eileen Rudden, former Chief Officer of College and Career Preparation for Chicago Public Schools and LearnLaunch co-founder. Brian Fleming is Executive Director f the Sandbox ColLABorative at Southern New Hampshire University. Fleming oversees the direction and research agenda of Sandbox, which includes strategic initiatives for the university as a whole and coverage of education technology and market trends. Fleming was a Principal Consultant at Tyton Partners, a strategy consulting firm focused on education and human capital management markets, and a Senior Analyst at Eduventures, a Boston-based research firm supporting the higher education community



Mark Miller, Managing Partner of Good Harbor Partners (GHP), is a leading M&A advisor and successful former education entrepreneur. GHP provides strategy consulting, outsourced corporate development, and M&A advisory services. Miller is also a co-founder of LearnLaunch, and a member of Cornell University Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and Quill & Dagger Honorary Society. Dr. James Tracy is the first president of the Woodrow Wilson Academy of Teaching and Learning, an independent, mastery-based, graduate school of education that was incubated by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation in collaboration with MIT. Tracy served as Head of School at the Rocky Hill School, CATs Academy, Cushing Academy, and BU Academy. Currently co-chair of the Mass Robotics Work of the Future Committee, Dr. Tracy has an MA and PhD in History from Stanford University, and earned an MBA with a Certificate in Public and Nonprofit Management and an Ed.M. in Higher Education Policy, Planning, and Administration from Boston University. He was also a Columbia University Klingenstein Fellow.

LearnLaunch

LearnLaunch catalyzes a community that drives innovation to transform learning and increase achievement. Our education innovation ecosystem mobilizes educators, entrepreneurs, learners, investors, and industry affiliates. A nonprofit ed innovation hub, LearnLaunch offers learning opportunities, support services, a school pilot network, and an ed innovation co-working space. The Massachusetts Personalized Learning Edtech (MAPLE) Consortium, a public-private partnership of LearnLaunch Institute with the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, now includes 44 districts representing more than 24% of the students in Massachusetts. LearnLaunch publishes a weekly newsletter and hosts more than 30 events yearly for 3000 entrepreneurs and innovative educators. For more information, visit http://www.learnlaunch.org.



@LearnLaunch #LearnLaunch2019 Media Contact:

Jim McManus

617-523-0038 x1

[email protected]

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[November 26, 2018] SinglePoint Group International Inc. Announces New Vice President, Business Development

TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2018 /CNW/ - SinglePoint Group International, Inc. is pleased to announce and welcome Jennifer McLeod as Vice President of Business Development. Jennifer will be responsible for developing new business opportunities and creating customized solutions for customer needs. Jennifer is a well-known figure in the BPO industry with more than twelve years of experience. The last eight years of her careerwas spent at Teleperformance as Vice President of Business Development where she was instrumental in the growth of the company. Within the industry, Jennifer has also held Vice President of Business Development positions with Voxdata and CEAD fm. She also sits on the CMA advisory and has been an active member of the CMA for over 9 years, contributing frequently on Customer Experience issues.



In addition, Jennifer has a proven record of facilitating long term business relationships with both customers and industry leaders. Her strong winning attitude and personality are assets that will complement and enhance SinglePoint's ability to meet the needs of our customers as we continue to provide quality and innovative services to the marketplace. SinglePoint offers integrated customer lifecycle management and customer experience management services that will significantly improve the way you stay engaged with your customers. Please contact Jennifer McLeod at 647 292 7871 or [email protected].

For more information about SinglePoint Group International Inc., please visit the website at www.singlepointgi.com. SOURCE SinglePoint Group International Inc.

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[November 26, 2018] Kevin Pleiter joins Grant Thornton to accelerate financial services innovation

Kevin Pleiter has joined Grant Thornton (News - Alert) LLP as a principal in its Financial Services Advisory practice. Pleiter will be responsible for shaping and driving Grant Thornton's innovation efforts in financial services and will work out of the firm's Stamford and New York offices. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005036/en/ Kevin Pleiter (Photo: Business Wire) Pleiter has more than 25 years of financial services experience. He spent the majority of his career advising global financial services firms across investment banking, asset management, wealth management, and custody businesses in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. "Kevin has deep knowledge of the financial services industry and understands how technology can solve business challenges," said Nigel Smith, national Financial Services Advisory leader for Grant Thornton. "As fintech continues to transform traditional financial services firms, Kevin's lens will help us guide enterprises toward adopting technology ata manageable pace, taking a holistic, long-term approach that positions them to thrive."



Pleiter's financial services business and consulting experience began at Deutsche Bank in London before his time at Salomon Brothers and a Toronto-based fintech company. He spent the majority of his global career at IBM (News - Alert), serving most recently as vice president and senior client partner in the firm's Global Business Services unit. During his tenure at IBM, Pleiter also held a number of key global financial services industry-focused roles in London, Sydney, Boston, New York, and Tokyo, including global financial services blockchain leader and global financial markets leader with responsibility for business transformation at investment management, investment banking, custody, and wealth clients. "Kevin excels at developing practical technology solutions that simplify business challenges - a posture that dovetails perfectly with how we think about innovation at Grant Thornton," added Kevin Baril, Grant Thornton's national managing principal of Innovation. "It starts with listening, understanding the objective, and designing a solution - often enabled by technology - that offers measurable return."

Pleiter received a bachelor's degree in accounting and business law from Curtin University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut. About Grant Thornton LLP Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world's leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Grant Thornton, which has revenues in excess of $1.8 billion and operates 59 offices, works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations. "Grant Thornton" refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another's acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005036/en/

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[November 26, 2018] Apps Associates Announces Strategic Collaboration Agreement with Amazon Web Services

Apps Associates LLC has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (News - Alert), Inc. (AWS) to provide services and develop solutions for migration, hosting, and managed services (application, infrastructure) on AWS. In particular, Apps Associates will leverage its expertise and experience for customers with Oracle (News - Alert) legacy applications, databases, and technology. AWS recognizes Apps Associates as a Premier Consulting Partner in the AWS Partner Network (APN) with the knowledge, processes, and tools to help customers cost-effectively plan and execute the transition and management of complex Oracle environments to AWS. As a result of this agreement, Apps Associates and AWS are committed to provide significant resources to build and optimize related services and solutions in areas such as: Training of Apps Associates sales, marketing, and technical teams

Certification for technical associates

Marketing investment to promote the benefits of application migration to AWS

Sales enablement and customer engagement to simplify the transition to AWS

Program management and technical expertise from AWS Product and ProServe teams Apps Associates has repeatedly demonstrated this expertise over the past six years with over 80 Oracle workload migrations including 43 enterprise ERP applications. Chris Gattoni, Information Technology Manager for RISO, Inc., described his experience with Oracle migration to AWS: "Apps Associates migrated a complex set of businessapplications including Oracle E-Business Suite, Oracle Business Intelligence and Oracle Data Integrator to a single AWS environment supporting our North America operations. It worked very well and the migration process was very straight forward. The cutovers were completed smoothly, with zero business disruption. Apps Associates manages the entire environment today allowing us to focus on supporting our business and our customers." RISO is the global leader in digital duplicator technology with products sold in 150 countries worldwide. RISO, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of RISO Kagaku Corporation, from Tokyo, Japan.



Apps Associates is working with AWS in targeted strategic areas, such as Oracle migration and management. "Customers have deployed Oracle applications and technology over many years in order to run their business operations," said Terry Wise, Global Vice President of Channels and Alliances, Amazon Web Services, Inc. "We are excited to support Apps Associates as they assist more customers to migrate these mission-critical workloads to AWS, coupled with comprehensive optimization and cloud managed services." Sridhar Bogelli, CEO of Apps Associates, adds, "Our customers continue to invest in cloud transformation strategies which allow them to increase agility, drive innovation, and reduce costs. Many of these customers have legacy Oracle environments that are integral to business operations and which are often highly customized. AWS provides a market-leading breadth of services to optimize cloud-based infrastructure and applications. Apps Associates has been working with AWS since 2012, helping customers plan and execute a reliable path for Oracle on AWS. We look forward to expanding the existing relationship through this strategic initiative, reinforcing a common commitment to customer success."

About Apps Associates Apps Associates is a global IT professional services firm offering solutions for Cloud Migration and Managed Services, Analytics and Integration. Our mission is focused on customer-centric services for Oracle applications and technology which support the transformation to cloud through competency, innovation and commitment to our clients and associates. Apps Associates is a Premier Consulting Partner in the AWS Partner Network and Managed Service Provider, Oracle Platinum Partner and a Salesforce Silver Consulting Partner. Learn more about us at http://www.appsassociates.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181126005061/en/

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court today convicted former NSB Chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam for illegally allowing the purchase of overvalued shares of The Finance Company by the National Savings Bank.

Mr. Kariyawasam, the husband of former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranaike, was given a 5-year suspended sentence and a fine of Rs.300,000 by the Magistrate.

The court has made this order after considering the fact that the convicted had no previous offences and the loss resulted in, from the transaction, had been reduced after immediate action was taken to reverse the deal. (Nimanthi Ranasinghe)
They may be nice to look at, but they're terrible for air quality.

Candle season is in full swing. Those little flickering flames in a jar are an antidote to the darkness that descends so early at this time of year and an invitation to curl up for a quiet evening at home. They also look great on social media and, for photo-happy Millennials and iGens, that's important.

The Business of Fashion (BoF) reports that candle sales have been soaring. UK retailer Cult Beauty has seen a 61 percent increase in 12 months. US brand Prestige Candles has seen sales rise by one-third in the past two years. Luxury brands such as Gucci, Dior, and Louis Vuitton are offering candles as a "more accessible entry point" for customers. Candles have suddenly become cool because social media influencers are telling us so. Cheryl Wischhover writes for BoF:

"Often consumers are buying candles to use as part of their beauty or wellness routines. Some brands' best advertising comes from beauty influencers demonstrating face masks with a fetching candle flickering nearby."

All this talk of candles might give you the warm fuzzies, but there's a dark truth beneath it all. Scented candles are not as innocuous as they seem. They're in fact quite toxic and not something you should be burning in your home. Here's why.

The majority of candles are made from paraffin wax, which is the final byproduct in the petroleum refining chain. It is described as "basically the bottom of the barrel, even after asphalt is extracted." When burned, its soot contains toluene and benzene, both known carcinogens. These are the same chemicals found in diesel exhaust and "can cause damage to the brain, lung and central nervous system, as well as cause developmental difficulties" (via HuffPo).

A study at South Carolina State University compared non-scented, non-pigmented, dye-free candles that were made from either a petroleum-based wax or a vegetable-based wax. They concluded that "the vegetable-based candles didn't produce any potentially harmful pollutants [but] the paraffin candles released unwanted chemicals into the air." Chemistry professor Ruhullah Massoudi stated,

"For a person who lights a candle every day for years or just uses them frequently, inhalation of these dangerous pollutants drifting in the air could contribute to the development of health risks like cancer, common allergies and even asthma."



Fragrance isn't safe, either. Eighty to 90 percent of fragrance ingredients are "synthesized from petroleum and some of the commonly found harmful chemicals in fragranced products include acetone, phenol, toluene, benzyl acetate, and limonene" (from 2009 study "Fragrance in the Workplace is the New Second-Hand Smoke", University of Maryland). Many of the chemicals commonly used in fragrance blends have been linked to hormone disruption, asthma, chronic lung disease, and allergic reactions; nevertheless, they are not required to be listed as ingredients because they're considered a proprietary secret.

In 2001 the Environmental Protection Agency issued a report stating that burning candles is a source of particulate matter and "may result in indoor air concentrations of lead above EPA-recommended thresholds." The lead comes from metal-core wicks, which are used by some candle-makers because the metal holds the wick upright, preventing it from falling over as a cotton wick would.

If you're a committed candle lover  or celebrating Hanukkah  the safest bet is to go with unscented organic soy or beeswax candles. An essential oil diffuser can provide the fragrance, if you're really missing it. The good news is, soy candles last 50 percent longer than paraffin ones, according to Sandrine Perez of Nourishing our Children. She writes, "They also burn slower and cooler (helping to better distribute fragrance), are non-toxic, less likely to trigger allergies, clean up with soap and water, and produce very little soot."

It may be hard to pass on the scented ones, as they do look stunning and smell tantalizing, but it's not worth sacrificing your health for the sake of an attractive light, especially when healthier options do exist.
Photo via The Guardian

Earthquakes, like the one that struck in Christchurch, New Zealand yesterday, rank among the most devastating natural disasters, capable of leveling cities and causing extensive loss of life -- largely because they are so unpredictable. On Sunday, however, less than 48 hours before the quake, 107 pilot whales beached themselves and died along the nation's shores, a phenomenon that biologists have yet to fully understand. The proximity of the two events, in both time and location, have sent the Web in a frenzy over whether they are related -- and whether strandings can provide precious foresight before disaster strikes. It is important to note that biologists believe whales and dolphins beach themselves for a variety of reasons, like failing health and navigational errors, though no definitive correlation has been drawn thus far. This latest incident of mass-stranding prior to an earthquake, however, is not without precedent.

A report from The Mirror points out a that some 170 whales were stranded in Australia and New Zealand prior to the devastating 2004 quake that struck in the Indian Ocean which resulted in a tsunami that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands throughout the region. At the time, Indian professor Dr. Arunachalam Kumar suspected a relationship between the two events.

Three weeks before the tsunami, he was alerted to the whales' deaths, and wrote: "It is my observation, confirmed over the years, that mass suicides of whales and dolphins that occur sporadically all over the world, are in some way related to change and disturbances in the electromagnetic field co-ordinates and possible realignments of geotectonic plates thereof.

"I would not be surprised if within a few days a massive quake hits some part of the globe."

Scientists are currently speculating that the cause of death of New Zealand's pilot whales is due to sound reverberations in shallow water.

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday's quake, several groups of pilot whales had become stranded and returned to sea, culminating in Sunday's mass-stranding death of 107 animals. It may never been known for certain whether or not the subtle precursors to an earthquake drove them inland, but it is well-known that many animals are far more sensitive to such factors than humans.

Perhaps even more difficult than proving a correlation between strandings and earthquakes would be deciding how we should respond to these events if a relationship is found to exist. After all, we tend to be a lot better at collecting and analyzing data provided by the world around us than we are at acting in light of it.


Ahead of another parliamentary vote to curtail expenditure to the Office of Prime Minister, the government is making fresh efforts to muster the simple majority, a Minister said yesterday.

Highways Minister S.B. Dissanayake who acted as the go-between in the formation of the new government told Daily Mirror that Dissolution of Parliament hampered the process of luring UNP MPs.

He said the government could have secured at least 117 MPs otherwise.

However, he said a committee was appointed last Friday to work out fresh arrangements to win over crossovers.

We await the Supreme Court ruling. If it is in favour of dissolution, there is no issue. Otherwise, we will get a few more defections from the UNP, he said.

Meanwhile, Parliament will take up a vote on November 29 to curtail expenditure for the Office of Prime Minister.

Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said another motion would be moved on November 30 seeking to stop financial allocations to the new Cabinet.

Once the motion against the Prime Ministers Office is passed, we will go for the next step, he said. (Kelum Bandara)
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Tokyo: Mitsubishi Motors executives on Monday ousted Carlos Ghosn as chairman following his shock arrest for alleged financial misconduct, capping a stunning fall from grace for the tycoon credited with saving the scandal-hit Japanese firm. The move follows Ghosns sacking as chairman of Nissan as he faces questioning in a Tokyo detention centre over claims he under-reported his salary to the tune of $44 million over several years. During Mondays Board meeting, it was decided that he is dismissed as chairman, the firm said. The 64-year-old Brazil-born Frenchman rode to Mitsubishi Motors rescue in 2016 when the firm was battered by a fuel efficiency cheating scandal, tying it to his Nissan-Renault alliance and turning its fortunes around. afp
ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 26

Taking advantage of unaware consumers about gold purity benchmark  hallmark  more than 90% jewellers of the northern states, including Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand, are selling products without the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification.

Out of around 1.4 lakh jewellers in the northern states and one Union Territory, including some parts of Uttar Pradesh, only 2,025 of them are registered with the BIS and give hallmark guarantee to the customers. Other jewellers run their business on the basis of trust, which is often unproven as housewives seldom sell their gold. In India, selling family jewellery is a social taboo and gold is passed on from one-generation to another, where value is mostly notional rather than market-determined, said industry experts.

According to the World Gold Council, there are 385,000-410,000 jewellers in India. Out of the total, roughly 35% jewellers are based out of northern states. The annual demand for the gold in India is in the range of 700-800 tonnes.

The government wants to convert idle assets (gold) into liquid assets like any other investment options. To unlock its real value, a BIS certification is the minimum guarantee, experts said. To aware the masses, the BIS has now started making the consumer aware about the necessity of the hallmark, be it in the coins or the jewellery they purchase.

We are organising awareness camps across the region. We are educating consumers to look for the mark and also emphasise that trust lies in the hallmark and not the brand or the jeweller, BIS-Northern Regional Office Deputy Director General NK Kansara said.

To further strengthen interests of consumers, BIS has decided to allow public to offer samples for testing wherever they have a doubt about the quality of the hallmarked jewellery.

The BIS, under the Consumer Affairs Ministry, is the authority of hallmarking. The government is planning to soon make hallmarking mandatory for gold jewellery sold in the country.

While the jewellers blame lesser number of assaying and hallmarking centres, the government says mostly jewellers are doing business on faith and able to win consumer trust without hallmarking it.

It is the duty of the government to look into the needs of jewellers in trade to have hallmarking centres at every city or tehsil level so that jewellers may go for hallmarking in their own city. It is a risky affair to carry jewellery for hallmarking at far-away place, said a Ludhiana-based jeweller on the condition of anonymity.

India has 721 BIS-recognised assaying and hallmarking centres. Most of these are located in Tamil Nadu, followed by Kerala. In the northern states, the number of such centres is only 65.
Two underworld figures, 'Habarakada Wasantha and Meegoda Upul, were killed in a shoot-out with police at Rukmalgama, Kottawa, this evening.

Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the shooting occurred when Special Task Force (STF) officers visited the Rukmalgama area to gather information on organised crime in the area.

Some individuals opened fire at an STF officer, and after an exchange of fire, two people were found dead. They were admitted to the Homagama Hospital. They were dead at the time of admission, SP Gunasekara said.

The police identified the deceased as Habarakada Wasantha, who was the main suspect in the recent robbery at a Matara jewellery shop in which a policeman was killed, and the other as Meegoda Upul.

Following investigations, one micro-type machine gun and one sub-machine gun (SMG), which were used against the police were taken into custody. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

Video by Damith
Madhav Godbole

Madhav Godbole

Former Union home secretary and secretary, justice

There is never a dull moment in India. One does not have to go to a movie theatre or sit in front of the idiot box to watch a thriller. When one sees the chaos around, one wonders why nothing can be done about it. Prime Minister Modi had declared, on assuming office in 2014, he would strive for less government and more governance. Effectively, this meant providing good governance, or Ram rajya, according to the idiom of Hindutva.

The Constitution contains all ingredients of good governance: fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy and provision of checks and balances. But when it was framed, the term good governance was not current and, therefore, did not find mention in it. But the Supreme Court has inferred a number of rights, which are not explicitly recognised as such in the Constitution, as fundamental rights. These include the freedom of press, right to information, right to privacy, right to speedy trial and right to clean environment.

PIL on good governance

Against this background, I had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court in 2004, urging that good governance be recognised as a fundamental right, and the higher civil services, which are the instruments for translating this right into reality, be given freedom and autonomy for the purpose. It was pleaded that the protection given by the Constitution to the civil services, which had been grossly eroded, should be restored. The PIL had also suggested a number of steps to make the civil services more sensitive, accountable and answerable. The SC's directions would have made a perceptible difference to governance. However, it dismissed the PIL at the admission stage itself, saying it was unnecessary.

After Prime Minister Modi's announcement as above, I had hoped that the government would take the initiative and propose an amendment of the Constitution to declare good governance as a fundamental right. This would have helped bring about a number of institutional and systemic changes to make a qualitative difference in public life. Even a private member moving a Constitution amendment Bill could have helped the cause. At least the position of the government and of other political parties on the subject would have become clear. But this too has not happened though 14 years have elapsed since the filing of the PIL. Unless public pressure is built, the situation will not change.

RTI Act not fully implemented

Reference must be made to another important debilitating subterfuge which is so often adopted to undercut the rights conferred by law. Such disempowerment was seen when the benami transactions Act was made into a dead letter by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government by not formulating rules under the Act for over a decade. The same is being done by the National Development Alliance (NDA) government by undercutting the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act by keeping the posts of information commissioner vacant for months, exempting institutions like the CBI from the purview of the Act and attempting to keep out file noting from disclosure. In several states, the position of the implementation of the RTI Act is pathetic. Now that over a decade has elapsed since the Act came into force, a high-level expert committee must be appointed to examine how the law can be made more effective.

Lokpal yet to come to being

Another example of making a mockery of the legislation is the non-implementation of the Lokpal Act. Though over four years have elapsed since the passage of the law, the Lokpal is yet to come into being for one reason or the other. For a long time, the search committee was not constituted on the specious excuse that there was no leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha after the 2014 elections. The deficiency could have been made good by promulgating an ordinance to replace the words 'leader of opposition' by 'leader of the largest opposition party' in the Lok Sabha.

Clearly, the Modi government is not interested in appointing a Lokpal. One would have to wait for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections for that. By comparison, laws pertaining to the revision of the salaries and allowances of MLAs and MPs are passed without discussion on the very day the bill for the purpose is introduced and they come into effect even before the ink on the enactment gets dry!

PILs remain on paper

Article 32 of the Constitution has been acclaimed for the right conferred on a citizen to approach even the Supreme Court for enforcement of his fundamental rights. But in this wondrous land, decisions of the high courts and the Supreme Court in PILs have not been implemented for years. I had highlighted this shocking state of affairs in my book, The Judiciary and Governance in India (2008). Literally, hundreds of decisions in PILs have remained on paper.

An outstanding example of this is the non-implementation of the directions of the Supreme Court given in 2006 on police reforms. I had suggested that the high courts and the Supreme Court should set up a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of their decisions. Unless this is done, the confidence of the people in getting expeditious redress of their grievances will be eroded. That would be one more proof of disempowerment of the common man.

This litany of woes is unending. Sadly, no political party is prepared to take notice, even with the impending General Election next year.
MK Bhadrakumar

MK Bhadrakumar

Former Ambassador

The terrible beauty about India-Pakistan relationship is that it is immensely popular among the peoples in both countries. Aside a clutch of perennial naysayers, the overwhelming Indian opinion feels elated about the decision to develop a pilgrim corridor to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan. This sentiment is echoing in the words of former PM Manmohan Singh who has described the development as a good beginning. He, however, added a caveat that there still remain many hurdles on the path of people-to-people relations between the two countries and one should not underestimate those hurdles.

For the moment, the salience lies in the launch of the corridor becoming a rare bipartisan public event in India on November 26 and in our countrys public diplomacy, two days later when Pakistan PM Imran Khan is expected to perform the ground-breaking ceremony for construction work on their side. We must, therefore, savour the moment, as would the relief of rain on a parched land.

But, having said that, the hurdles cannot be wished away. Imagine the dismantling of the Berlin Wall in 1989-1990 as a standalone event instead of being the dramatic culmination of the end of the Cold War, which itself was painstakingly negotiated between the Soviet and Western leaderships. The point is, we are turning Cold War history upside down. The corridor emanated out of a Pakistani brainwave to pluck a low-hanging fruit and India could not but respond, given the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev. Hopefully, it will generate traction to move on to a broader engagement to reset ties.

PM Narendra Modis decision to depute Minister of State Hardeep Puri to represent the Union government at the function in Pakistan on November 28 is both a symbolic gesture and substantive diplomatic move. Although Puri wears the political turban in this trip to Pakistan, the fact remains that he was also in a priori history a gifted diplomat. Importantly, he is known to be a votary of a stable, predictable relationship between India and Pakistan and such profound convictions must be by their very nature deep-rooted. It is unthinkable that Modi is not aware of all that, and much more. Therefore, by deputing Puri, one would imagine that Modi is keeping all options on the table, as they say. Most certainly, it was not coincidental that Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa flew down to the LOC last week, even as the corridor decision was coming up for the Indian Cabinet, to reiterate that his country, indeed, seeks a relationship of peace and cooperation with India.

No doubt, the assessments that Puri makes in this goodwill-cum-diplomatic mission to Pakistan will have a significant bearing on Modis policy decisions ahead. Conditions are more favorable today than at any time in the recent years for a substantive, constructive India-Pakistan engagement. The main reason for saying so is that the Afghan problem is transforming in a way that meets Pakistans legitimate interests, and in the regions history, a new dawn is breaking. A US drawdown is on the cards, which brings the curtain down on nearly four decades of American interference in Afghanistan, dating back to the Saur Revolution in 1978. Suffice to say, we are entering a period of transition. Pakistans priorities are radically changing. Imran Khans surge in Pakistani politics coincides with this paradigm shift and in the ensuing recalibration of Pakistani national policies. Imran Khans first 100 days in office testify that he has his task cut out for him as nation-builder and that he is acutely conscious of it.

Alas, the Indian mindset is taking time to accept that Pakistani policy is moving away from the syndrome of the national security state to regional integration. That is because of the troubled history of India-Pakistan relations, which have had many false starts, and, perhaps, also due to subterfuge and bluff by interest groups that thrived on the adversarial relationship. Pakistan today is a much sought-after regional power and India needs to come to terms with that geopolitical reality.

Modi has significantly strengthened Indias strategic autonomy. The fact that within the week of President Trumps diatribe against Pakistan, the Modi government decided to build a corridor of friendship with Pakistan underscores the new resilience in our foreign policy by jettisoning its unipolar predicament. This becomes a solid pillar for a new foreign policy architecture with Modis imprimatur on it. Of course, the dramatic improvement in ties with China since the Wuhan summit in April between Modi and President Xi Jinping is another key pillar of this new architecture. Interestingly, Chinese ambassador Luo Zhaohui was recently quoted as saying that the relations between the two countries are at one of the best periods in history.

Again, a third pillar would be the resuscitation of Indias time-tested relationship with Russia, which had atrophied through the past decade. However, for any edifice to be rock solid and enduring, it should rest on four pillars. This is where Pakistan comes in. Pakistan is Chinas iron brother but beyond that, intrinsically, we must realise that it also happens to be a strategic hub by its great geographical location, immense untapped resources, big market and so on. Indias foreign policy will work optimally if it has a cooperative relationship with Pakistan. The singular message coming out of the corridor saga is that the country will be supportive of any bold initiative by the political leadership to create space for Indias strategic autonomy.
sanjiv@tribunemail.com

The announcement of a corridor to link the historic Darbar Sahib gurdwara at Kartarpur in Pakistan with Dera Baba Nanak gurdwara in India is a good beginning. It fulfils a long-standing demand of the Sikhs in India and also provides an avenue to explore a peace initiative. Indeed, the wide welcome that the announcement has received shows how invested the public is in the idea. Both the governments are working on developing this corridor, and the inauguration ceremonies signal the beginning of the possibility of a change in the Indo-Pak binaries.

Even as the PM led the Cabinet in deciding to go ahead with the corridor, the Centre has taken the prudent step of fielding union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri as representatives to the inauguration in Pakistan. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has opted out. In Punjab, Capt Amarinder Singh has decided not to attend the ceremony in Pakistan. His letter to the foreign minister of Pakistan reiterates how, in spite of his desire to pay his respects at the Kartarpur gurdwara, he is opting out of the inauguration because of the various disruptive activities carried out by ISI-sponsored terrorists, including the recent attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar. Hence, there is logic and conformity in his action. Also, his sending his minister Navjot Sidhu is in sync with the Centres move.

While the corridor has the potential to build bridges, it can only do so when there is general positivity in the Indo-Pak relations. Even as India remembers the 26/11 attack on Mumbai, there is anger over the handlers and masterminds of the attack not being punished and living free in Pakistan. The Chief Ministers speech at the foundation ceremony in India too chastised the Pakistan army establishment, even as he commended the two Prime Ministers for taking the initiative. Indeed, building a passage between two centres of Sikhism in both countries is a leap of faith, one that people want. It can materialise only in an environment of peace. Hope that does not prove elusive.
editorial@tribune.com

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 26

The BJP top brass on Monday firmed up its election strategy for elections to municipal corporations (MCs) of Hisar, Rohtak, Karnal, Yamunanagar and Panipat, scheduled for December 16.

At a feedback session attended by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, state BJP president Subhash Barala, district BJP presidents and district incharges where elections were slated to be held, leaders urged the party rank and file to gear up for the polls.

Party sources said good performance in MC polls, considered crucial for the party in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections early next year, would act a morale booster for the party cadre. With this end in mind, senior party leaders urged party workers to put in their best efforts for the civic polls.

A senior party leader said following feedback from district leaders, certain names had been shortlisted for the posts of mayor in the five cities.

The names would be declared around December 1, when the process of filing nominations would start for MC polls, in which elections to the post of mayor were being held directly for the first time, he asserted.

The BJP seemed confident of doing well in MC elections. This confidence stemmed from the fact that the BJP formed its first government in the 2014 Assembly elections on the strength of urban and non-Jat votes.

During the last over four years, there has been unprecedented development in urban areas, especially in cities where elections are being held. This gives the BJP an edge in the forthcoming municipal corporation elections, the leader claimed.
editorial@tribune.com

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, November 26

Hectic lobbying has been going among aspirants for the mayoral post in the BJP and Congress. The BJP has emerged as the favourite among aspirants for the post.

After a BJP meeting in Chandigarh, three main candidates  Gautam Sardana, Rekha Aron and Bhim Mahajan  have emerged as front runners. All three are turncoats who have left other parties.

Sardana had contested the Assembly poll on Haryana Janhit Congress ticket from Hisar. Aron and Mahajan had defected from the INLD two years ago.

BJP district president Surender Punia said they had forwarded the list of 12 candidates seeking party ticket from Hisar. The final decision will emerge after the due process, he said.

Congress candidates are trying to gain the confidence of the Jindal family. Former minister Savitri Jindal will have a key role in selection of candidate.

Her confidant and current Mayor Shakuntala Rajilwala is being considered as a candidate though she has denied having aspirations.

Candidates of the INLD and its faction led by Dushyant Chautala will also play an important role. The recent feud has upset their calculations as district youth president Tarun Jain has joined Dushyant.

Voter count

A total of 2,26,210 voters will cast their vote in 20 wards. The number of voters has increased by around 16,000 since 2013.
editorial@tribune.com

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 26

Five of the six girls, arrested by the police for their involvement in flesh trade, were hired online. The owner of the massage centre, which is at a distance of just 200 m from the police reporting room, is being questioned. He owns a salon in Mussoorie too. The girls told the police that they had worked there as well. However, jurisdiction limitations, especially in cases involving more than one state, act as a hindrance for the police to zero in on the kingpin of such inter-state sex rackets.Investigations revealed that the foreigner (the girl from Thailand) was brought to Shimla by a pimp, while the others, hailing from Delhi and Manipur, were hired on salary through online sites, DSP (City) Dinesh Sharma said.

There are over 200 online sites that offer escort service to tourists and residents in the state. Most are operated through conduits, while a few display photographs of girls (mostly fake) with contact numbers and providing area centric service.

The escort service is available not only at tourist destinations like Shimla, Kasauli, McLeodganj, Kullu, Manali, Dharamsala, Mandi and Chamba, but also in small towns like Bilaspur, Darlaghat, Barmana, Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, Paonta Sahib and Kala Amb. On June 28, the police had busted an online sex racket being run in the name of Shimla escort service and arrested four persons, including two women, from Mashobra in the suburbs of the town. Investigations revealed that rackets were being run from outside the state and the only mode of contact was the mobile number of the agent on the site. Agents approach hotels doing poor business and act as middlemen between corporate and small business houses. They operate through online links and mobile phones.

Rackets busted earlier

Dec 25 (2017): Sex racket busted in McLeodganj, four held

Sept 28 (2017): Two arrested, two foreigners rescued

December 22 (2015): Inter-state sex racket busted

July 19 (2015): Inter-state flesh trade racket busted, 31, including eight women, arrested

Cases registered

A total of 42 cases were registered against 151 persons, including 105 men and 46 women in the past five-and-a-half years till June 30, 2018.
editorial@tribune.com

New Delhi, November 26

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centres response as to why it should not stay the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order clearing the ambitious Char Dham project, which proposes to provide all-weather connectivity to the four holy towns of Uttarakhand.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Navin Sinha said that the Centre should file its response in two weeks. The four towns of the hilly state to be connected by all-weather roads are: Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. Advocate Sanjay Parekh, appearing for the petitioner NGO  Citizens for Green Doon  said that the NGT has cleared the project and set up a committee to oversee the project. To this, the bench said that the petitioner can go before the committee with its grievances.

Parekh said that if the project is allowed to go on then an irreversible damage will be done to the ecology which will be equal to damage done by 10 hydro power projects. He said the NGT of late had been allowing the projects to go on after constituting 15-20 committees to oversee the projects.

Parekh said the Centre was deliberately constructing the 900-km-long projects in bits and pieces to avoid the necessity of environmental clearances. He added that mountains in Uttarakhand are very fragile and if environment concerns are not taken care of then Kedarnath-type tragedy which took place in 2013, can happen again.

The Kedarnath area in the state had received unprecedented rainfall between June 14 and 17 in 2013 and the Chorabari lake there had collapsed due to cloudburst resulting in a major flash flood. Several roads, buildings and other structures were washed away and, according to the state government, the estimated death toll was around 10,000, with over 3,000 persons missing.

We cannot stay the order without hearing the Centre. Notice on stay returnable in two weeks, the bench said.

On September 26, the green tribunal had constituted a committee to monitor the ambitious project while giving its nod with some safeguards in view of the larger public interest and the countrys security in the construction of highway.

We are of the view that all environmental concerns can be addressed by having a responsible and independent oversight mechanism which may monitor the environmental safeguards during the execution of this project, the tribunal had said.

It had said that the statutory environmental impact assessment under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 was not required in view of exemption granted through notification dated August 22, 2013.

The tribunal constituted a committee headed by former Uttarakhand High Court Judge Justice U C Dhyani to oversee the implementation of Environment Management Plan (EMP) of the project. The NGT had directed the authorities to devise a mechanism to provide pedestrian pathways for devotees who undertake to do padyatra to the religious places. PTI

The petitioner NGO says
editorial@tribune.com

Srinagar, November 26

Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said instead of bloodshed and attempts to enforce silence of graveyard, the Kashmir issue could be resolved through initiatives like Kartarpur.

In a statement, Mehbooba said the decision taken by Pakistan was appreciable and the same was reciprocated with grace and statesmanship by the leadership of India.

Bold, honest and humanitarian initiatives are needed to resolve the Kashmir problem. It is worthwhile to see that the Kartarpur corridor was opened the day so many lives were taken by terrorism in Mumbai in 2009. If we continue with this response, there is no reason why the Jammu and Kashmir problem should not be settled, she said.

Mehbooba said by taking the decision of opening the Kartarpur corridor, the countrys leadership has exhibited statesmanship, and that too when the electoral exercise was on.

It has given us an idea that the electoral considerations cannot hold back the governments from taking decisions that are aimed at improving the ties between the two countries, she said.

The PDP chief also pitched for the opening of the Sharda shrine corridor in Kashmir across the LoC, where Hindu pilgrims could go.  TNS
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 25

Cold weather increases the risk of heart disease and there is a need to keep the body warm in low temperatures, said cardiologist Dr Sushil Sharma.

Dr Sharma, who is the head of the department of Cardiology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, said this while addressing people during a medical camp at Nagrota on Sunday.

Elderly and young people are especially vulnerable in winter months, particularly if the cold causes a drop in their body temperature (hypothermia). Cold weather makes your heart work harder to keep your body warm, thus increasing the risk, he said.

Accompanied by a team of doctors and paramedics, Sharma examined people for prevalence of cardiac diseases and other health ailments. More than 250 persons were screened, evaluated and given free-of-cost medicines.

People should keep themselves warm and maintain the ideal temperature, stay indoors during early morning and late evenings and take regular hot meals and drinks to give the body the energy it requires to keep warm, DrSharma added.
Sri Lankan apparel manufacturer Hela Clothing Group yesterday announced that it had secured a capital infusion of Rs.1.2 billion, by way of a mix of shareholder and new private equity investment funds from a private consortium, whose lead investor has a wide portfolio, including private equity investments in the fashion and retail space.



Subsequent to this capital infusion, A.R. Rasiah, who has been a long-standing Director of the company, will assume the role of Chairman, a media release by Hela Clothing said.



Rasiah was a former Finance Director at Nestle Lanka PLC, former Senior Director at Nations Trust Bank PLC, former Chairman of Atlas Axillia (Pvt.) Ltd and a Director of many other listed and non-listed entities.



Overwhelmed by the interest from private equity funds to invest in Hela, Rasiah together with the companys board of directors said they were pleased to secure an anchor partner with a wealth of retail and supply chain expertise.



The focus for the past 12 months was to rightsize the business and drive free cash flow generation through operational excellence, prudent cost management together with customer and supply chain optimisation strategies.



With the business now having made significant progress in those areas, the focus is now around balance sheet strengthening, both through raising equity and building cash reserves through operations, said Rasiah.



Hela plans to use this capital infusion on several fronts. The majority of the proceeds will be used to repay debt and replenish working capital, thus strengthening the companys balance sheet.

The balance of the funds will be utilized to fuel growth by enhancing and expanding its manufacturing footprint in Africa and for further operational streamlining through investments into IT and innovation, beginning with the group-wide ERP system being upgraded in partnership with SAP solutions.



Commenting on the utilization of funds, Rasiah added, Hela will continue to evolve and will be persistent in looking for avenues to become a renowned global apparel solutions provider, which embodies the true Sri Lankan spirit.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 26

Lance Naik Nazir Ahmed Wani, who was killed in a fierce gunfight in Shopian on Sunday that left six militants dead, was a decorated soldier.

The 38-year-old resident of militancy-hit Kulgam district, who had joined the Army in 2004, had been awarded Sena Medal for gallantry twice  in August 2007 and this year in August.

Locals said prior to joining the Army, Wani was a member of the pro-government militia Ikhwan.

He shunned violence having realised its futility and assisted the forces in their endeavour against terrorism. His indomitable courage and bravery led to many successful ops, said an Army official.

In an anti-militancy operation in his native district in January 2007, he eliminated four militants and won Sena Medal.

During another operation at Kund, Kulgam, in November 2017, he displayed exemplary courage in eliminating a Hizb militant and apprehending a Lashkar and Hizb ultra alive, the official said. He was decorated with Sena Medal once again for his astounding bravery on August 15 this year, he said.

Meanwhile, the Army paid tributes to the martyr in a solemn ceremony at Badami Bagh Cantonment. Lt Gen AK Bhatt, GOC, Chinar Corps, and all ranks paid homage to him.

The braveheart from Kulgam district of south Kashmir was a highly decorated soldier and had been awarded Sena Medal for gallantry twice, a Srinagar-based defence spokesman said in a statement.
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 26

Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday ruled out challenging the dismissal of the J&K Assembly by the Governor.

She said the best course would be to go to peoples court.

Since the controversial dismissal of the Assembly on November 21, which has been widely criticised and termed unconstitutional, demands have been coming from different corners that the PDP should challenge the decision before the Supreme Court. The Governor had, however, justified the dissolution of the Assembly.

Some sincere suggestions from well wishers for me to go to court against Governors dissolution of the Assembly. The PDP, NC, INC had come together to safeguard state interests. It is my considered opinion that we must go to peoples court, which is superior to any other forum, Mehbooba said in a tweet.

Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone, who had also staked claim for government formation after the PDP-led grand alliance took the step, dared Mehbooba to challenge the dissolution of the state Assembly in court.

We would be more than glad to prove our numbers on the floor of the Assembly, Lone, an ally of the BJP who is trying to create a third front in the Valley, had said.

While the PDP had already hinted that it may not go to court a day after the dissolution of the Assembly, Mehbooba has put all speculations to rest. Insiders say the PDP and its new allies  the Congress and the NC  are happy with the dissolution of the Assembly, something which they had been demanding since the collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition government.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 26

Stressing the need to let average citizens of India know what the Constitution provides for them, President Ramnath Kovind on Monday said the sacred statute book empowered people, who in turn empowered it.

In his inaugural address at a function to celebrate the Constitution Day organised by the Supreme Court here, Kovind was of the view that the government had in 2015 rightly decided to celebrate this day as a real tribute to the architect of the Constitution Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

It was on November 26, 1949 that India adopted the Constitution, which came into being on January 26, 1950. Before 2015, this day was being celebrated by the Supreme Court as National Law Day.

Terming the Constitution as the scripture of modern India, Kovind said it ensured justice in all facets of national life, be it political, economic and social and set the tone for striving for better life for all its citizens.

The President said, therefore, the duty of safeguarding the tenets of Constitution is a shared responsibility, including both institutions of government and also private players, as a lot of services, be it education or health, are now being provided by them in India. So the Constitution truly is everybodys preserve.

Noting that the very basis of Constitution is justice, the President said it is the shared responsibility of ensuring free and fair elections, eradicating poverty and providing equal opportunity.

Lamenting disruption in Parliament as unfortunate, Kovind said the absence of debate and discussion in the two houses of the highest legislative body of the country is an encroachment on the citizens right.

Earlier in his speech during the inaugural session, Union Law an dJustice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked judges to outline the contours of constitutional morality often used to declare laws unconstitutional. He said constitutional morality should be defined with clarity and should not differ from judge to judge.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gagoi said the Constitution is the voice of the marginalised as well as the prudence of the majority.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Lahore, November 26

As India on Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 carnage, the trial of seven LeT members facing charges of planning and executing the ghastly Mumbai terror attacks is still being dragged on in a Pakistani anti-terror court though the Islamabad High Court in 2015 directed that the case should be wrapped up in two months.

The attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, the operations commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has virtually secured his acquittal with the Pakistan government indicating no plan to challenge his bail in the Supreme Court.

The six other suspects have also bright chances of acquittal with their trial witnessing bizarre twists and turns like frequent change of judges and murder of a prosecutor.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistan-based LeT terrorists carried out a series of 12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. A total of 166 people died and over 300 were wounded in the strikes, which lasted till November 29.

Nine of the attackers were killed by police, while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after a trial in India.

In Pakistan, seven LeT suspects--Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum--are facing charges of planning and executing the attack since 2009.

There has been a realisation in Pakistan, especially among politicians, that the attacks had demolished all the past efforts to build friendly relations between the two neighbours.

However, there are divergent views on whether punishing the culprits in Pakistan will help restore ties between them.

But like ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, questions are being asked in Pakistan why trial is not being completed?

When PTI sought a reaction from the Pakistans Foreign Office (FO) on the status of the 26/11 trial, FO spokesman Mohammad Faisal refused to comment in detail and just said, It is sub judice.

Pakistani prosecutors are, however, quick to blame India for the delay.

Chief prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar told PTI that the case could be concluded in a week if India sent 24 witnesses to Pakistan for recording of their statements and other evidence.

The Mumbai case will take not more than a week to conclude if India allows Pakistan to examine the boat on which the terrorists travelled to reach Mumbai and also send its witnesses here for recording of their statements, he said.

Azhar, who is also Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) special prosecutor, said India would have to cooperate with Pakistan if it wanted logical conclusion of the case.

Crime had taken place in Mumbai and onus is on India to provide full evidence to Pakistan. The Indian government has not yet either clearly refused to send its witnesses to Pakistan or allow us to examine the boat there. If it refuses, the benefit will go to the suspects and the case will be over, he said.

When asked why the government had not challenged the bail granted to Lakhvi, he said there was no strong evidence against his involvement.

Lakhvi walked free from jail in April 2015 after securing a bail from the trial court, while the six other suspects are in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.

Abuzar Peerzada, another prosecutor in the case, said the hearing of the case in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) is being held on a regular basis and the next hearing is on November 28.

When asked about any possible timeframe for conclusion of the trial, he said: No...it is very difficult to give any timeframe...as it is not an ordinary trial (involving two countries).

A lawyer associated with the case, requesting anonymity, said: Since both Pakistan and Indias interests are involved in this case...this is more of a political case than a legal one. And a political case has no time limit (for conclusion).

Raja Rizwan Abbasi, a counsel for Lakhvi and other six suspects, was reluctant to talk to PTI, when contacted.

However, a lawyer close to him said the defence is not filing a bail petition of the six suspects as it is hoping that since enough time had passed they had bright chances to secure acquittal.

The defence lawyers are optimistic about acquittal of their clients. Therefore, they are not moving their bail plea, he said.

Azhar, however, is of the view that they may get benefit only if India does not send its witnesses and other evidence.

The case is being tried in the ATC since 2009. There has hardly been any case in any ATC in Pakistan that is pending for over nine years.

It appears that the state is not in hurry to decide this case since the matter is related to its arch rival India, a senior lawyer said.

Interestingly, former FIA chief Tariq Khosa, too, pointed out lingering on the case for too long.

Dilatory tactics by the defendants, frequent change of trial judges (at least nine times), assassination of the case prosecutor and retracting from original testimony by some key witnesses have been serious setbacks for the prosecutors, he said.

Like many others in Pakistan, Khosa, too, believes the case will not be over soon.

Earlier in an interview to Dawn newspaper, ex-premier Sharif had questioned, Should Pakistan allow militants/non-state actors to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Why cant we complete the trial? the remarks that got him into trouble. PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

New Delhi, November 26

At least 50 Indian star tortoises were rescued from Singapore after they were smuggled from India, said a wildlife NGO on Monday.

The tortoises were confiscated by Singapore authorities. They will now be repatriated to India and returned to their natural habitat in the forests of Karnataka with cooperation from the Indian and Singapore governments, a statement from the Wildlife SOS India said.

Investigations confirmed that Karnataka was the origin of these tortoises. A team of senior forest officers travelled with the Wildlife SOS to Singapore to conduct physical inspection of the tortoises housed at an NGO, ACRES Singapores rescue centre, the statement added.

Singapore Airlines contributed to the cause of wildlife conservation by transporting the tortoises for free, it said.

A three-member team from the Wildlife SOS India and a three-member team of Acres Singapore rescued the tortoises from Singapore to India.

Once the tortoises have completed their quarantine period of three months, the Wildlife SOS intends to initiate radio tagging and monitor these animals for survival.

Indian star tortoise is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It is one of the most trafficked tortoise species in the world owing to the unique star-like radiating pattern on their shell, the statement said.

I am relieved that these tortoises are finally coming back to where they belong. I am also delighted that the partnership between the Wildlife SOS and ACRES resulted in a successful repatriation project, said Kartick Satyanarayan, co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS. PTI
gspannu7@gmail.com

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 26

The campaigning ended in the high-stake assmebly elections for Madhya Pradesha and Mizoram on Monday.

The Congress is trying to wrest Madhya Pradesh from the three-term holder BJP while in Mizoram, the BJP is hoping to break the ground and play the kingmaker, if not the king, by supporting regional parties in the November 28 elections.

The high voltage, acrimonious electioneering for the 230-member MP Assembly saw star campaigners of the BJP, the Congress and other parties address a series of rallies and road shows.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, the star campaigners for their respective parties, freely exchanged barbs and traded charges, raising the political temperatures.

National and state issues, including the Rafale deal, demonetisation, development, GST, corruption, dynastic politics and Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led governments performance dominated the narrative.

A purported video of MP Congress chief Kamal Nath on Muslim votes also went viral in the last leg of electioneering with the BJP accusing the Congress of playing divisive politics for electoral gains.

Meanwhile, all the players have expressed confidence of winning the state.

The BJP is contesting all the 230 seats while the Congress has accommodated Sharad Yadavs Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) in a constituency.

Other parties in the fray include the BSP, the SP, the AAP and the SAPAKS, a new outfit opposed to caste-based quota system.

While the BJP is contesting under the leadership of Chouhan, the Congress has not projected its chief ministerial candidate.

In the Christian/tribal dominated Mizoram, which polls along with Madhya Pradesh for its 40 assembly seats, is being watched closely for trends for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Congress Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla has ruled out anti-incumbency and claimed a majority for the party on its own. However, the longest serving CM of the northeastern forest state is facing a tough re-election.

Apart from the anti-incumbency factor, the BJP has left no stone unturned to unsettle him whether via his MLAs or by wooing minority communities of the state.

The incumbent CM also has to contend with rivals like the Mizo National Front and the nascent Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM).

Apart from ground reports of the BJP making inroads in uncharted territories, relaxation of prohibition appears to have upset the Church and in turn harmed the Congress prospects in its main support base.

Thanhawla is now banking on a pro-farmer New Land Use Policy to cut the losses while the BJP is counting on his chief rival MNFs connect with majority Mizos and support from minority Hindu and Buddhist tribes for itself.

While the MNF claims it would win the state easily, smaller parties appear to be scuttling the hopes of its leader Zoramthangathe two-term CM of the state between 1998 and 2008.

Backed by powerful civil society groups, the ZPM (an alliance of regional parties) is believed to be quite popular among masses and the youth in particular and could even turn out to be the kingmaker, say observers.
editorial@tribune.com

Yash Goyal

Jaipur, November 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held three election rallies in Rajasthan today. Congress president Rahul Gandhi not only offered prayers at the Brahma Temple in Pushkar and the Ajmer Dargah, but also addressed three poll meetings in the state.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and UP CM Adityanath also held a series of election meetings in various areas.

Modi said casteism was filled up in Congress mind and blood as it has asked his caste. Casteism is in Congress thinking and blood. Like a newborn is given ghutti, every Congress leader is administered this poison-ism, he said addressing a rally at Baneshwardhan in Banswara district.

It does not matter who spoke that (CP Joshis anti-Brahmin remarks) because everyone knows about the naamdar who makes them speak, said Modi. One day, the Congress would ask caste of Valmiki, Tuslidas, Kabir, Sant Ravidas and other great Mahapursh, he said.

He said now the BJPs only aim was to ensure beta-beti ki padhayi, yuva ko kamai, kisan ko sinchai, bujurg ko dawai, aur jan jan ki sunvai in all states. In Bhilwara on the 10th anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, he declared that justice would be done and the perpetrators punished.

Rahul Gandhi announced that his party would waive loans of farmers within 10 days of assuming power in the state. You are going to install Congress government in Rajasthan. Within 10 day of the government formation, the Congress will waive farmers loan, he said in Pokhran constituency of Jodhpur division.

The Congress CM would work for 18 out of 24 hours to help youths get jobs. Loans of up to Rs 15 lakh would be provided to them so that they could set up an entrepreneurship, he said.

I speak truth from the stage. Whatever I say I do it. The Punjab and Karnataka governments have waived loans of farmers, he said.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Bhilwara/Kota/Jaipur, November 26

The Congress was in power when the Mumbai attacks took place but questioned the BJP governments surgical strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Monday.

The PM was addressing an election rally here on the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror strike when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai, killing 166 people over 60 hours.

Hitting out at the Congress, the PM said the party doubted his governments surgical strikes, conducted in September 2016. But if commandos would carry cameras to provide proof, he wondered.

Modi said his government had responded to terrorists and Naxals in their own language.

The PM said the Congress called Naxals revolutionaries and then issued them certificates.

The Rajasthan elections will be held on December 7 and the votes will be counted on December 11.

Loot

Addressing another election rally in Kota, Modi claimed his party had stopped the plunder that being carried out under the Congress rule and "people sitting in AC rooms in New Delhi" were trying to devise strategies to oust the party.

Modi said people sitting in AC rooms in New Delhi were trying to devise strategies to oust the BJP from power, but they should come to Rajasthan's Kota town and see the ground situation instead. He claimed an army of thieves had siphoned off Rs 90,000 crore to claim pension, scholarship and LPG subsidy by fudging information in government records, but one vote given to the BJP government at the Centre put a stop to such dubious beneficiaries.

"Rs 90,000 crore theft was stopped, broadband network reached 1 lakh villages, 2.5 to 3 lakh km optical fibre line was laid, 12 crore LPG connections were given in four years of the BJP government at the Centre.

"Your one vote has given speed to the country. It has the power to change the country and shape its future," Modi said.

He alleged that while it was in power, the Congress kept devising new ways to loot money.

"We stopped the work of looters, who siphoned-off money, with your one vote that formed the BJP government. Such people are criticising Modi today," he said.

Caste on their minds

In a third rally in Baneshwardhan in the tribal district of Banswara, the prime minister claimed caste was in the Congresss blood.

"Congress ki soch mein, Inki rago mein jaativad hai, ye jaharvad hai. Jaise kisi bachche ko janmte hi Ghuti pilai jatai hai, vaisi hi inko Jaativad ki ghutti pili jaati hai (Casteism is in Congress' thinking, in blood. It is poison. Like a newborn baby is given 'ghutti', the Congress is given the ghutti of caste)," he said.

He also raked up CP Joshis casteist remarks against him, saying: It doesn not matter who spoke that (CP Joshi's anti-brahmin remarks) because everyone knows about the 'Naamdar' who makes them speak".

Will you vote on the basis of the caste of Modi, will the future of Rajasthan be decided on the basis of birthplace of Modi, he asked. PTI/TNS
gspannu7@gmail.com

Our Correspondent

Jaipur, November 26

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday announced that his party would waive off farmers loans in ten days if it is voted to power in Rajasthan.

You (people) are going to make Congress partys government in Rajasthan. Within ten days of the government formation, the Congress will waive off farmers loans in the state, Gandhi assured while addressing a poll-bound Pokhran constituency in Jodhpur division.

The Congress chief minister will work for 18 out of 24 hours to help youth to get jobs, and cash loans (up to 15 lakh) would be provided to them so that they can open an entrepreneurship, he said.

I speak truth from the stage. You can ask any farmer in those states, the Congress does not make false promises. Whatever I say, I do it. Punjab and Karnataka governments have waived the peasants loans," he stressed.

The Congress would not be like the Modi government that has waived Rs 3.5 lakh crores of only 15 big industrialists, including Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, he said.

Congress workers are sher and babbar sher, he described the party workers suggesting that they have to fight on booths but with gentleness unlike RSS or BJP workers.

The bond between you and me should be that of transparency. Many things can be done by truthfulness. Farmers loan can be waived off and schemes like MGRENGA can be introduced with truthfulness, he said.

He also attacked the prime minister over the Rafale deal and other issues.

Targeting Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje, Gandhi said that she had in an advertisement talked about a school in Bharatpur and said the school had fans, furniture, drinking water, playground etc. but journalists went there and found that the school had nothing, no fan no drinking water.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi visited the Ajmer dargah and Pushkar and offered prayers before addressing election rallies.
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, November 26

A drug addict in his twenties, Sajjad, slit the throat of his six-month-old daughter after a quarrel with his wife in Thakuran mohalla under Bilari police station in Moradabd on Sunday evening.

According to Bilari Circle officer Randhir Singh, the six-month-old infant Aaya Noor was rushed to the district hospital from where she has been referred to the Tirthankar Medical College hospital on Delhi road.

The doctors say that her vocal cord had been damaged and she may not be able to speak, said the CO who said that besides the throat a number of fingers of the six-month-old infant had also been slashed.

Singh said that the man a daily wager was a drug addict and regularly fought with his wife for money also indulging in violence.

On Sunday, after overhearing from a neighbour about the reported affair of his wife with a neighbour Mehdi Hasan alias Dumpy and he being the biological father of the infant. In a fit of anger, he set the house on fire.

His wife had hid the child in a neighbours house for safety from where he fetched the baby and attacked her with a kitchen knife in a fit of anger.

The police have arrested Sajjad under Sections 307 and 436 of the IPC. Dumpy has also been named in the FIR.
A few of many products The Body Shop offers to control blemish prone skin

The iconic British beauty brand, The Body Shops popular Tea Tree range has been every womans go-to skin clearing product line, but how is it so effective?

While oily skin is proven to be largely hereditary, there is in fact a scientific explanation behind why some skin types are more prone to break-outs than others.

Our skins natural way of keeping lubricated is a thin, oily layer on the surface of our skin  a waxy substance called sebum. Among the 100 billion bacteria cells that call our skin home, sebum is the primary food for a type of bacteria given the name P acnes.

When pores in our skin get blocked, sebum builds up, providing P acnes with more nutrition. As a result, the population of this bacteria grows. Our bodys immune system fights back against these increasing P acnes numbers by sending blood to the affected area; causing a swelling and redness that allow for blemishes to appear.

This is where The Body Shops Tea Tree products come to the rescue!

Tea tree plants have ever-so-cleverly evolved the ability to produce chemicals that stop bacteria cells in their tracks, catching them before they get the chance to multiply. Owing to this property, tea tree extracts can speed up the healing process, getting rid of blemishes more quickly.

The Body Shop offered customers at their KCC store free skin care consultations and mini makeovers during the launch of the jumbo-sized Tea Tree Oil Skin Clearing Facial Wash.

Staying true to the brands promise of providing more natural alternatives to skincare, each product in The Body Shops Tea Tree range is enriched with varying potencies of extracted tea tree oil. Fortified further with Tamanu oil -which too possesses antibacterial properties that can blast those blemishes into oblivion-, the Tea Tree series also contains Lemon tree oil with its highly aromatic fragrance and purifying properties, helping to cleanse and soothe blemished skin.

The 100% vegan Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash is infused with Community Trade Tea Tree Oil, which along with its proven antibacterial properties, also deeply cleanses all skin types by removing impurities and excess oil -without over-drying the skin. Use this soothing gel-based face wash daily, for skin that feels notably refreshed, appears less shiny, and looks visibly clearer.

It is a little-known fact that the process by which Tea tree oil is extracted is a tricky one. Let alone the distillation process; even if the wrong variety is picked and at the wrong time, the benefits wont be as effective. Thankfully, The Body Shop works with only the most knowledgeable of suppliers who have perfected the process down to a T!

Customers at KCC participate in a #TeaTreePower selfie competition

The Body Shop in Sri Lanka has now expanded its Tea Tree skincare range to include the Skin Clearing Facial Wash in a new jumbo sized 400ml bottle, and last month, The Body Shop visited its fans at the Kandy City Centre to introduce this new product, at the same time rewarding loyal customers with free consultations and mini-makeovers. Customers that visited the kiosk were also awarded free samples, and also participated in an exciting #TeaTreePower selfie competition to stand a chance to win a Tea Tree hamper.

Problematic skin is best tackled byfollowing the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash with the Tea Tree Oil Toner, paired with the Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution serum, and the Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Overnight Mask.

Shop the new Skin Clearing Facial Wash and the entire Tea Tree range at The Body Shop flagship store in Bagatale Road, and outlets at Odel in Alexandra Place, and at the Kandy City Centre.

The Body Shops Tea Tree OilSkin Clearing Facial Wash is now available in a jumbo 400ml bottle
amansharma@tribunemail.com

New Delhi, November 26

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Karnataka government for doing nothing and just fooling around in the investigation of killing of noted scholar and rationalist M M Kalburgi in 2015 at Dharwad.

The top court indicated that it may transfer the case to Bombay High Court for supervision of investigation after looking into the status report of Karnataka government.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Navin Sinha asked the Karnataka government to file its status report in two weeks on the investigation done so far in the case.

What have you (Karnataka government) done so far? Nothing. You are just fooling around. How long will you take for completing the investigation? Tell us or we will pass orders, the bench said.

Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Karnataka government said that he will have to take instructions on the time period for completing the investigation.

You take instruction. Then we will send the matter to Bombay High Court where a similar matter is pending. You people are just doing nothing, the bench said.

77-year old Kalburgi, the former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University and a well-known scholar and epigraphist, was shot dead in broad daylight at his residence in Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad, Karnataka, on August 30, 2015. Born in 1938, he was a Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer of old Kannada literature.

The court was hearing a plea of Uma Devi Kalburgi, the widow of the slain scholar, seeking a SIT probe into the sensational murder.

Counsel, appearing for Kalburgi said it will be better if the case is transferred to Bombay High Court for further supervision.

On March 23, the Centre had told the apex court that the NIA, being a special agency to probe national and inter-state terrorism cases, cannot investigate the killing of M M Kalburgi.

The Centre has referred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act and said the instant offence did not fall under the category of Schedule offence under the law and hence, the probe agency cannot investigate it.

The court had earlier asked the CBI and the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to file their responses in the case.

The top court had on January 10 sought the response of probe agencies NIA and CBI and the two state governments on the allegation of Uma Devi that no substantial investigation has been carried out so far in the murder case.

Kalburgis wife, in her petition filed through advocate Krishna Kumar, has alleged that there was common link between the murder of her husband and that of intellectual activists, Narendra Achyut Dabholkar and Govindrao Pansare, who too were assassinated in August 2013 and February 2015, respectively.

Dabholkar was shot at on August 20, 2013 in Pune, while Pansare was killed in Kolhapur in Maharashtra on February 16, 2015.

She alleged the investigations in Dabholkar and Pansare murder cases were in a sorry state and no progress has been made in bringing the killers to book.

The petition said in 2016, the then Karnataka Home Minister had in a statement claimed that as per the forensic analysis of cartridges recovered from the three separate crime scenes, the three murders were linked.

It alleged that one of the weapons used in the murder of Pansare was used to kill Kalburgi and therefore coordination between Maharashtra police and Karnataka police, besides the CBI and the NIA, was required.

Although sketches of suspects were released after four days of Kalburgis murder and statement was issued by Karnataka government that conclusive evidence of nexus of murders of all three activists was found, there has been no progress in the investigation till date, the plea has said.  PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Thiruvananthapuram, November 26

Kerala Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas, a nominee of the Janata Dal (Secular) in the CPI(M)-led LDF government, on Monday submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The move comes after the JD(S), a key partner in the LDF, on Friday decided to replace Thomas with Chittur MLA K Krishnankutty.

Thomas handed over the resignation letter to Vijayan at the latters official residence, Cliff House, on Monday morning.

I have handed over my resignation letter to the chief minister. I am an MLA now, Thomas told reporters here.

On his performance as a minister in the last two and half years, Thomas said he could not say he was fully satisfied, but was happy as he could take up various activities during his tenure in the water resources department.

Asked if he would stake claim for the post of the state party chief, Thomas said he had not put forward any such demand and had not listed any conditions for his resignation.

Thomas said he had functioned as the state president of the party and had helped it to grow.

The party would not split and would remain in the LDF, he said.

The JD(S), headed by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has three MLAs in the Kerala Assembly.

The national leadership, which had met at Bengaluru last week, had decided to replace Thomas with Krishnankutty.

Senior JD(S) leaders from the state, including Krishnankutty and CK Nanu, the other MLA, met Gowda and held discussions in Bengaluru after which the national leadership had announced the decision to replace Thomas.

The two factions led by Thomas and Krishnankutty have been at loggerheads for quite some time over the partys lone ministerial berth.

Krishnankutty is likely to be sworn in as minister on Tuesday.

The 13th session of the Kerala Assembly is also beginning on Tuesday. PTI
editorial@tribune.com

Naveen S Garewal

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, November 26

Despite barely 10 days to go for the December 7 elections in Telangana, major political parties are yet to formally release their manifestos. However, they have been sparing no effort to look more magnanimous than others by making tall promises through political speeches.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Congress seem to be waiting for the rivals to release manifestos so that they can cover up any left out issues.

The nomination process began on November 19 while withdrawals ended on November 23. Only the TDP, Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the CPI have released their manifestos so far.

The TRS leaders have in their speeches promised a farm-loan waiver of Rs 1 lakh, enhancement of Rythu Bandhu scheme (assured income to farmers) from Rs 8000 to Rs 10,000, building of 2.6 lakh two BHK houses for the poor, pension of Rs 3,016 to unemployed and physically challenged and Rs 2,016 to all above 57 years of age under the Asara scheme.

The Congress has tried to beat the TRS by announcing a farm-loan waiver of Rs 2 lakh, a grant of Rs 50,000 for beneficiaries of 2 BHK housing scheme, subsidised sale of 9 commodities at ration shops, special privileges for SCs and STs, accidental insurance of Rs 5 lakh for all BPL families with white cards, besides free cycles to girl students and funds to migrants wanting to travel to the Gulf countries.

BJP leaders have announced to make one lakh recruitments within three months of coming to power, Rs 5,000 rent to those eligible for 2 BHK housing till they get possession, regulation of liquor sales, free transport for pilgrims etc.

TRS manifesto committee chief K Keshava Rao said the draft manifesto was ready and would be released within a day or two. NVSS Prabhakar, BJP manifesto committee chief, has also said, The draft manifesto has been submitted to party president K Laxman and will be released soon.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Kolkata, November 26

Paying homage to BR Ambedkar for giving shape to the Constitution, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that it was the responsibility of every citizen to protect the spirit of the holy book.

Today is #ConstitutionDay. Homage to Dr B R Ambedkar and all other members of the Constituent Assembly who gave shape to the Holy Book of our democracy - the Constitution, Banerjee said in a Twitter post on Monday.

We must do everything we can to protect the spirit of our Constitution - Sovereignty, Socialism, Secularity, Democratic Republic, Justice, Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality, she said in another tweet.

Constitution Day is celebrated in the country on November 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution.

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution which came into effect on January 26, 1950.

BR Ambedkar is hailed as the prime architect of the Constitution.

The Centre, in 2015, declared November 26 as Constitution Day. PTI
amansharma@tribunemail.com

Shillong, November 26

Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy posted a controversial tweet Monday that the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack was "a slaughter of innocents (except Muslims)", later apologising and deleting it, saying it contained a "factual mistake".

He tweeted it on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, in which 166 people were killed and over 300 injured.

"10th anniversary today of the Paki-sponsored slaughter of innocents (except Muslims) at Mumbai, popularly called 26/11. Does anyone remember why we did not even downgrade our diplomatic relations with the Pakis (let alone break off such relations or go to war?)," Roy's tweet said.

The governor, however, was quick to delete it and apologise.

"I was misinformed of the Paki-sponsored killers of 26/11 having spared Muslims. In fact several Muslims were killed. It was a mistake of facts and I am sorry for the same. The relevant tweet has been deleted," he said in an another tweet.

Subsequently, Roy withdrew the second tweet too and came up with a third post.

"The tweet relating to 26/11 contained a factual mistake. It has been deleted with apologies. No further enquiries please," he wrote in his third post.

On November 26, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists had arrived in Mumbai by the sea route and opened fire indiscriminately, killing 166 people, including 18 security personnel, and injuring several others, besides damaging property worth crores of rupees.

Nine of the terrorists were killed, while one-Ajmal Kasab-was captured alive and later, hanged to death in 2012. - PTI
sanjiv@tribunemail.com

KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 26

In an effort to clean up corrupt practices in public life, moves are afoot to create a permanent institutional mechanism to monitor the assets and sources of income of legislators, their spouses and associates and also to take action, including disqualification of membership, in case of undue accretion.

Several months after the Supreme Court ordered such a set-up, a meeting attended by senior officials of Parliament, Central Government, Election Commission of India and 20 state legislatures held discussions on how to implement it, sources said.

In the Lok Prahari versus Union of India case, the apex court in February directed the creation of a permanent institutional mechanism to continuously monitor assets and sources of income of legislators, spouses and associates, including dependents.

It also asked for appropriate action in case of a disproportionate increase in assets during the tenure of membersh-ip, including disqualification.

Participants pointed out that while there are rules in different legislatures requiring members to declare assets and liabilities soon after election, there is no provision to ensure compliance.

Besides, there is no provision for subsequent declaration at periodic intervals.

At the same time, there is no provision under any Act of Parliament or rules of respective legislatures to disqualify members in case of assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

To implement the SC direction, the view was that an amendment might be required to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to make disproportionate acquisition of assets as a ground for disqualification. At present, mandatory filing of assets and liability details applies only to elected MPs, with the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and Speaker of Lok Sabha making relevant changes in the Rules in 2004 for MPs to make such declaration within 90 days of election to either House of Parliament.
uttara@tribuneindia.com

New Delhi, November 26

The Human Resources Ministry has issued new directives for schools across states and union territories to issue new guidelines to regulate teaching.

According to the official order, the HRD ministry has instructed all the states and Union Territories to formulate guidelines to regulate the teaching of subjects and weight of school bags in accordance with the Government of India instructions.

Schools have been forbidden from giving out homework for students of Classes 1 and 2.

Schools should not prescribe any other subjects except language and mathematics for classes I and II and language, EVS and mathematics for classes III to V students as prescribed by the NCERT, the order said.

Students should not be asked to bring additional books, extra materials and the weight of a school bag should not exceed the prescribed limit, the order added.

The weight of school bags for students of Classes 1 and 2 should not exceed 1.5 kg, while the school bag of students of Class 3-5 should weigh between 2 kg to 3 kg. The school bag of students of Classes 6 and 7 should not be more than 4 kg, while weight of school bags of Classes 8 and 9 students should not be above 4.5 kg. The school bag of a Class 10 student should not weigh above 5 kg, the order said. PTI
gspannu7@gmail.com

New Delhi, November 26

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down if he cannot ensure Delhi chief ministers security, days after a man flung chilli powder at him inside the Delhi Secretariat.

Speaking at the one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly, which was extended by a day till Tuesday, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was behind the November 20 attack as it was baffled by the good work done by his government in the national capital.

Narendra Modi should resign if he cannot protect Delhis chief minister, Kejriwal said in the House which had met to discuss the attack on him and the alleged deletion of names from the voters list.

Referring to a phone call from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after the incident outside his office, Kejriwal claimed, I said either you are worthless or colluding.

Speaking on a government resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of the Delhi Government, Kejriwal said 95 per cent policemen were good but they are being made to do wrong things by the BJP.

If Delhi Police comes under the elected government of Delhi, it will start working for the good of the people, he asserted.

The resolution, moved by Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain and later adopted by the Assembly with voice of votes, also stated that in view of pending such amendments, necessary steps should be initiatied by the Centre to devolve certain powers to the elected government so that it is in a position to have control over the Delhi Police.

Referring to the recent attack on him, Kejriwal said, In the last three years, four attacks were made on me. These attacks could not happen if I was not the chief minister of Delhi.

These attacks are not on me, but on the people of Delhi instead... Modi ji is taking revenge from Delhiites for voting the AAP to power in the city, the chief minister said.

Kejriwal also hit out at Lt Governor Anil Baijal for creating hurdles in the functioning of the AAP dispensation.

Talking about recent strike by DTC employees, Kejriwal alleged that the LG did not give appointment to his Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot for two days to resolve the issue.

LG has time for BJP workers, (AAP rebel MLA) Kapil Mishra, but he does not have time to meet the Transport minister to end the strike... how would we run the government, Kejriwal asked.

The chief minister also advised his party MLAs to withdraw their proposal demanding the exclusion of the Delhi Police from the governments compensation scheme.

Following the attack on Kejriwal, AAP legislators had urged Kejriwal to remove the Delhi Police from the list of beneficiaries of the Delhi Governments compensation scheme under which Rs 1 crore is awarded to the kin of slain security personnel.

The AAP MLAs argued that the citys police force had betrayed the people of the country.  PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Thane, November 26

A court here has acquitted a 27-year-old man in a murder case, observing that the prosecution failed to prove the motive behind the killing.

Additional Sessions Judge SB Bahalkar, in his order earlier this month, gave the benefit of doubt to Alok Singh.

He said the prosecution failed to prove the charges under Indian Penal Code Sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) against the accused.

The prosecution told the court that the accused and the victim, Dharmendra Singh (29), were roommates and worked as operators at a weighbridge in Thanes Bhiwandi town.

On August 1, 2009, the victims family in Uttar Pradesh could not reach him on his mobile phone and enquired with the accused about him.

The accused apparently informed them that Dharmendra had left the room the previous night saying he would return after two days.

However, when the family could still not contact him, they filed a missing persons complaint with police on August 2.

The police later found the victims shoes, wallet and mobile phone lying abandoned behind the weigh-bridge and the body in a water fit located nearby.

The investigators subsequently seized some clothes of the accused and an iron rod from his room, and alleged that he had killed his roommate.

The prosecution told the court that the postmortem report stated the cause of death as cardio respiratory failure due to haemorrhagic shock because of injury to brain and fracture of skull bone with a sharp object.

The judge observed that a proper panchnama was not carried out of the items seized from the accused. I have some more reasons to disbelieve the prosecutions evidence. According to the First Information Report (FIR) and medical evidence, it appears that there were incised wounds on the head and forehead of the deceased, probably caused by a sharp object, he noted.

However, the probing officer seized the iron rod as the weapon of the crime, he said.

An iron rod is definitely not a sharp weapon. It is a hard and blunt object. Thus, even the recovery of weapon is not consistent with the prosecutions case, the judge said.

Moreover, it is important for the prosecution to prove what the motive of the accused was behind commission of the crime, he said.

The prosecutions evidence nowhere discloses the motive. Based on these reasons, I can safely conclude that the prosecution has not brought sufficient and cogent evidence to prove the guilt of the accused, the judge said. PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

New Delhi, November 26

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday met her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid to deepen bilateral cooperation and ensure peace and security in the region.

This is Shahids first visit after assuming charge as foreign minister of Maldives and assumes significance as the ties between both the countries had severely strained under the previous government in the island nation.

Working together to fulfil the developmental priorities of Maldives. EAM @SushmaSwaraj and FM of Maldives @abdulla_shahid had a warm and productive meeting on deepening bilateral cooperation and to ensure peace and security in the region, MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted.

Earlier, Swaraj had warmly received Shahid and also congratulated him on his appointment as foreign minister.

Harmonious synergy of Indias Neighbourhood First & Maldives India First policy. EAM @SushmaSwaraj warmly receivd Foreign Minister of Maldives @adbulla_shahid on his 1st foreign visit to India. EAM congratulated FM Shahid on his appointment as new Foreign Minister of Maldives, Kumar tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on November 17 in Male.

Solih, as the opposition Maldivian Democratic Partys candidate, had surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in the presidential election held on September 23.

India-Maldives ties had deteriorated significantly under Yameen who was perceived to be close to China.

Some decisions by Yameen, including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing, also did not go down well with New Delhi.

Relations between India and the Maldives slumped further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year.

India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners.

The emergency lasted for 45 days. PTI
The visit is made at the initiation of Wang Yang, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference Wang Yang.

On November 26, the Vietnamese delegation visited the headquarters of the Beijing Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference.

Receiving the delegation, Chairman of the committee Ji Lin introduced the functions and tasks of the agency, including the organisation of courses for its members to learn about the guidelines and policies of the Chinese Party and State.

VFF President Man, who is also Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, shared Vietnams experience in uniting the people and encouraging them to build new-style rural areas and civilised areas, reduce poverty sustainably and improve capacity amid international integration, as well as in raising the role of political consultation, social supervision and criticism.

The two sides noted with pleasure the positive development of Vietnam-China ties over the past time, with increasing exchanges between their agencies, including the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and its Beijing Committee with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its Hanoi chapter.

Earlier on November 25, the VFF leader had a meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in China.
The BIMSTEC, officially known as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, held its first-ever military exercise in September 2018, in Pune, India. The transnational exercise aimed to boost inter-operability among forces and exchange best practices in counter-terrorism.



The exercise came just a fortnight after the fourth BIMSTEC summit was held in Kathmandu. The summit saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding on establishing a grid interconnection to enhance energy cooperation among the seven BIMSTEC member states  Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.



Adding to the momentum, the group also gathered in Thailand soon after the military exercise to discuss the BIMSTEC Transport Connectivity Master Plan, which will be finalised in 2018 and is set to be a US $ 50 billion project.



This flurry of activity is unusual for the sub-regional grouping, which has had very little visibility even within the region in the last two decades. Established in 1997, the BIMSTEC planned to hold summits every two years, ministerial meetings every year and senior officials meetings twice a year. But the last two decades only saw three summits and from 201417 no ministerial meetings were held and the senior officials meeting was postponed seven times. Changing geopolitical realities in the region have brought about renewed interest in the Bay of Bengal. As the regional grouping of choice in South Asia  SAARC or the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation  flounders with strained IndiaPakistan relations, New Delhi has realised that the BIMSTEC would allow for a broader playing field.



Strategically located in the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and BIMSTEC not only caters to the wider concept of the Indo-Pacific and an Indian Ocean community that New Delhi espouses, it also includes two Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states (Myanmar and Thailand) in its ranks, which is crucial for New Delhis key foreign policy priorities  its Act East and neighbourhood first policies.



Both these policies aim for connectivity and development in the frontier states of Indias northeast and tackle the issue of cross-border insurgency that has plagued the region for decades. With Indias northeast sharing borders with four BIMSTEC countries, including Myanmar, the possibility of multi-regional cooperation with Southeast Asia and ASEAN makes it an attractive alternative to the SAARC.



Another major catalyst for the renewed interest in the BIMSTEC is China. The Bay of Bengal is a crucial access route to the Indian Ocean for Beijing. As such, China has launched multiple infrastructure development projects across South and Southeast Asia through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).



For some BIMSTEC members like Sri Lanka, successfully engaging in the sub-regional grouping proves its ability to play a larger role in the BRI. For others, such as Myanmar and Thailand, the BIMSTEC allows for a way to redress over-dependence on China and balance Beijing by providing access to consumer markets in India and other rising BIMSTEC economies. The BIMSTEC failed to generate interest and visibility even within the region in the last 20 years. Now that the sub-regional grouping has finally managed to gain momentum, it is crucial for the BIMSTEC to maintain it and show tangible results on the ground.



To do this, the BIMSTEC should first narrow down its areas of focus from 14 to six  trade and investment, connectivity, energy, people-to-people exchanges, counter-terrorism and the blue economy  and enhance the institutional capacity of its secretariat.



The BIMSTEC region also requires a free trade agreement (FTA), no matter how limited in scope. Even with a combined gross domestic product of US $ 2.8 trillion, intra-regional trade in the BIMSTEC barely exceeds 5 percent, compared to ASEANs 30 percent. Negotiations for a BIMSTEC FTA have been dragging on for the last 14 years.



To facilitate an FTA, connectivity should be prioritised. The Bay of Bengal is one of the least integrated regions in the world despite being home to 1.6 billion people, or nearly 23 per cent of the worlds population. A Thailand-initiated scheme to Connect the Connectivities under the pending the BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement aims to link the BIMSTEC members through a network of ports running from Thailand, Bangladesh, Indias Kolkata, Chennai and Visakhapatnam and Sri Lanka.



Putting aside the fact that the BIMSTEC has several connectivity projects in the pipeline, slow movement on the ground is a reason why the sub-regional grouping has been largely rendered ineffective until now.



The BIMSTEC should prioritise finishing up the IndiaMyanmarThailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project, which will enable sea access for Indias landlocked northeastern states via the Kaladan river in Myanmar. Both projects have lagged behind deadlines for years.



With access to the Indian Ocean and Himalayas, BIMSTEC is becoming the theatre of convergence and competition for Chinas BRI, Indias Act East policy and Japan and Indias AsiaAfrica Growth Corridor. It remains to be seen if the BIMSTEC can seize the day and utilise the momentum to remodel itself as a grouping to be reckoned with.



(Courtesy East Asia Forum)

(Nazia Hussain is a Research Analyst at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, November 26

On the 10th anniversary of the heinous 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks that killed 166 peopleincluding six Americansthe Trump administration reminded Pakistan to bring to book perpetrators of the attack.

Expressing solidarity with families of the victims who lost their lives, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has stressed that attackers of the barbaric attacks need to be punished.

The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world. It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement, said Pompeo. We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) and its affiliates.

Welcoming the US message, the Indian government called it a matter of deep anguish that families across the globe still await a closer in the case.

The planners of 26/11 still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity. The 26/11 terrorist attack was planned, executed and launched from Pakistan territory, said a formal Indian government statement. We once again call on the Government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice.

Meanwhile, US State Department Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program has offered a new reward for up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 26/11 terror strikes. Todays announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack. In April 2012, the Department of State announced reward offers for information that brings to justice LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki, another senior LeT leader, the State Department said in a statement.

However, questions are being raised about use of such a reward given Hafiz Saeed roams around free in Pakistan spewing venom against India, making a mockery of the $10 million bounty on his head.

In October, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans removed Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) and Falah-I-Insaniyat (FIF), front companies of Saeed and LeT, from its list of banned organisations after a presidential ordinance that banned them under the UN resolution lapsed.

LeT was added to the Consolidated UN SC Sanctions List in May 2005 by the 1267 Sanctions Committee.

Beginning on November 26, 2008, and continuing through November 29, 2008, 10 attackers trained by the Pakistan-based foreign terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) had carried out a series of coordinated attacks against multiple targets in Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal hotel, the Oberoi hotel, the Leopold Cafe, the Nariman (Chabad) House, and the Chhatarapati Shivaji Terminus train station, killing approximately 170 persons.

Six Americans were killed during the three-day siege: Ben Zion Chroman, Gavriel Holtzberg, Sandeep Jeswani, Alan Scherr, his daughter Naomi Scherr, and Aryeh Leibish Teitelbaum.

#Mumbaiattacks 26/11: a decade after, we continue to mourn those who lost their lives in Mumbai. France stands by India to fight terrorism. The citys resilience has been an example to the world. Salaam Bombay! pic.twitter.com/rpIZe4XQ4k  Alexandre Ziegler (@FranceinIndia) November 26, 2018

.@SecPompeo: On behalf of all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the #MumbaiTerrorAttack. We stand with the families and friends of the victims, including six American citizens. https://t.co/NGj4xSGkAv pic.twitter.com/F6oI1Rhouh  Department of State (@StateDept) November 25, 2018

David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana were indicted in a US federal court for their support of LeT terrorist operations. In January 2013, Headley, a US citizen of Pakistani descent, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for a dozen federal terrorism crimes relating to his role in planning the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and a subsequent proposed attack on a newspaper in Denmark.

He pleaded guilty in March 2010 to all 12 counts against him, including aiding and abetting the murders of the six American victims. Headley was convicted of conspiracy to bomb public places in India; conspiracy to murder and maim persons in India; six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of U.S. citizens in India; conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism in India; conspiracy to murder and maim persons in Denmark; conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism in Denmark; and conspiracy to provide material support to LeT. Rana, a Canadian citizen and longtime friend of Headley, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist plot in Denmark and providing material support to LeT.

In June 2011, Rana was acquitted of conspiracy to provide material support to the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, but he was convicted of participating in a conspiracy involving a terrorism plot against a Danish newspaper and providing material support to LeT.
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Washington, November 26

Describing the Mumbai terror attack as a barbarity, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called upon Pakistan and other nations to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against those responsible for the atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

On the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, the state departments Rewards for Justice (RFJ) programme offered a new reward for up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

It is an affront to the families of the victims that, after 10 years, those who planned the Mumbai attack have still not been convicted for their involvement, Pompeo said in a statement on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates, Pompeo said.

As many as 166 people, including Americans, were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT terrorists. Nine of the attackers were killed by the police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was captured and hanged after he was handed down death sentence by an Indian court.

The US, Pompeo said, is committed to seeing that those responsible for the attack faced justice.

The RFJ programme is offering a new reward for up to USD 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of any individual who was involved in planning or facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attack.

On behalf of the Government of the United States of America and all Americans, I express my solidarity with the people of India and the city of Mumbai on the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attack, Pompeo said.

We stand with the families and friends of the victims, whose loved ones were lost in this act of barbarism, including six American citizens. The barbarity of 26/11 shocked the entire world, said the top American diplomat. PTI
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Pathankot, November 26

Six men had been detained on suspicion from the Pathankot railway station, Punjab Police officials said on Monday.

They were on board the Pooja Express from Jammu to Ajmer in Rajasthan, when security forces stopped the train in Pathankot late on Sunday and took them in custody.

Punjab Police and their Jammu and Kashmir counterparts have been interrogating them along with other security officials.

Security agencies suspect that the detained were planning to carry out terror activities in Delhi or someplace else, a police officer said, adding that some weapons, explosives and a motorcycle had been recovered from them. More details were awaited.

Security agencies are on alert in frontier districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur as terrorists have targeted these in the past.

The Pathankot airbase of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was attacked by terrorists, suspected to be from Pakistan, on January 2, 2016. Seven people were killed in the attack.

The area has defence establishments, including the frontier IAF base in Pathankot and the nearby Mamun Cantt of the Army.

Prior to the terrorist attack on the IAF base in 2016, suspected Pakistani terrorists had carried out an attack on Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur district.

The Dinanagar terror attack took place on July 27, 2015 when three Pakistani terrorists entered from the border belt. Six people, including the three terrorists, were killed in the attack. IANS
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Gurdaspur, November 26

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday hit out at Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, blaming him for terror activities in the state and killings of Indian soldiers at the border.

The chief minister made the remarks at an event where he laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor along with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.

Sunil Arora will take charge on December 2,

He said, I want to say something to their (Pakistan) army chief. I have also been in the Army and General Bajwa he is very junior to me in service Does the Army teach (you) to kill our jawans at the border? You kill them with sniper. Have you ever been told that you killed people in Pathankot, Dinanagar, Singh said.

Referring to the grenade attack on the Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar in which three people were killed, he said: People were offering prayers in a village and grenades were hurled at them. Is it what is taught by the Army? It is cowardliness, said the 76-year-old Singh, himself an ex-Indian Army officer.

He said that it is common knowledge that it is the Army that calls the shots in Pakistan.

"We believe in peace and we are giving a message of peace from here. But, their generals should understand that we have a large Army and we are prepared... And this should not happen as nobody wants war. We all want to carry out development in a peaceful manner, he said.

Earlier, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Singh laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, which will facilitate easy passage to Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

The decision to build the passage -- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the International Border -- was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.

Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years of his life there.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located on the banks of the Ravi river, about three-four km from the border in Pakistan. PTI
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Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 25

Amid the euphoria over the thaw in India-Pakistan ties, the BJP has sounded a cautionary note over the possibility of the Kartarpur corridor being misused as a cover by the ISI in view of the Imran Khan governments decision to allow Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a US-based body campaigning for Referendum 2020, to open a permanent office in Lahore.

Drawing the attention of Punjab minister Navjor Singh Sidhu, BJP leader RP Singh tweeted: Hope @sherryontopp will confront his friend @ImranKhanPTI and tell him that opening of Kartarpur corridor cannot be used as a cover by ISI to help @sikhsforjustice to open office in Lahore for @referendum2020 as for Sikhs integrity of India is above everything else @SushmaSwaraj.

Acknowledging it was a matter of faith for the Sikhs, he contended it must not be at the cost of attempts to disintegrate India. These are two separate issues. One is a matter of faith and the other of the countrys integrity

According to reports, Pakistan has allowed campaigners of Referendum 2020 to open office in Lahore to fan anti-India sentiments during the visit of Sikh pilgrims from different countries, including India, to celebrate the Guru Nanak Devs birth anniversary.

Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh too had struck a note of caution on Saturday, saying: Any initiative is good and is welcome. Do not underestimate the hurdles...

Political observers are reading much into External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs decision to stay away from the ground-breaking ceremony in Pakistan. The Centre has nominated NDA ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Puri to attend the event. The BJP does not want any controversy during the crucial election year, say observers.
editorial@tribune.com

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, November 26

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today clarified that no visa would be required for pilgrims taking the corridor route from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.

Some mischievous people have taken to social media to spread rumours that visa will be required. Let me clarify that it will be a visa-free corridor, said Capt Amarinder in his speech during the stone-laying function.

He lashed out at Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa saying, We know who is igniting the flames of separatism. He asked Bajwa to stop interfering in the affairs of India. I want to tell him that Punjabis know well how to respond. I am not going to Pakistan as it is regularly fuelling terror attacks. As a former Armyman, I cannot even think of going there. Such activities should immediately stop if both the countries want to maintain cordial relations, the CM said.

The Centre, before deciding to send union ministers to Pakistan, should have seen what is happening in India because of Pakistans interference, he said.

Capt Amarinder urged Gadkari to ensure that the corridor was built before next Gurpurb. I will accompany the first jatha that passes through the corridor, he said.

Fulfilled long-pending demand of sikhs: Naidu
editorial@tribune.com

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 26

A section of farmers has responded positively to the appeal of the state government to not burn paddy residue, reveals data from Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana.

Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Vishwajeet Khanna said Majha and Doaba, barring the districts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran, had seen a drastic fall in the incidents of paddy residue burning as compared to the last year. He said air quality in Punjab has remained much better this year.

Ropar has seen the largest decline of 60 per cent in stubble-burning cases as compared to last year, followed by 53 per cent in Nawanshahr. A drop in farm fires was also witnessed in Hoshiarpur (45 per cent), Kapurthala (41 per cent), Fatehgarh Sahib (33 per cent), Ludhiana (26 per cent), Pathankot (25 per cent), Jalandhar (22 per cent), Gurdaspur (14 per cent), SAS Nagar (14 per cent) and Sangrur, Patiala (2 per cent each).

The trend of higher incidents of farm fires was mainly witnessed in southern Punjab. The highest number of cases were reported from Bathinda district (5,341), followed by Ferozepur (4,895), Muktsar (4,721), Mansa (3,578), Moga (3,202) and Barnala (2,688).

Although a small decline was observed in stubble-burning in Sangrur and Patiala as compared to last year, the number was highest in Sangrur (6,828) and was substantial in Patiala (3,780).

Together these eight districts contributed about 75 per cent of farm fires in the state. On the positive side, at least 1,374 villages observed zero burning of paddy residue.

A special campaign would be taken up in these eight districts next year in collaboration with PAU and NGOs, in addition to providing requisite machines for incorporating straw into soil, said KS Pannu, Secretary, Agriculture.
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Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, November 26

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib corridor today and termed it a passage of humanity, humility, faith and universal brotherhood, even as the 90-minute programme saw high drama with Punjab minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa asking Naidu if he was sitting on a BJP-managed stage after Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal touched the 1984 riots issue.

Harsimrat, who was the first to speak, started extolling the achievements of the Narendra Modi government. A few minutes into her speech, she raked up the issue of the anti-Sikh riots. The Modi government will not let the perpetrators walk free. Already two of the accused have been sentenced with one being given the death penalty. Our government knows the names of the other accused too. We will not spare them, said Harsimrat. A section of the audience started shouting slogans against the Union minister.

Even as Congress leaders questioned the wisdom of raising the riots issue at a religious event, Randhawa, who was sitting among the ministers, MLAs and other dignitaries away from the dais, quickly reached the stage and countered the Vice-President, stunning all.

Mr Vice-President, are you sitting on a stage which is being managed by the BJP? Mrs Harsimrat Badal is destroying the sanctity of the event and she should immediately be asked to discontinue her speech. This is neither a Congress stage, nor a BJP one. This is a function solely dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev and the Kartarpur Sahib corridor and, as such, we should maintain its sanctity, said Randhawa.

Naidu, sitting next to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, did not react. The CM, however, tried to pacify Randhawa, who kept insisting what Harsimrat was doing was not justifiable. Even as the CM was trying to figure out what would happen next, Randhawa initiated a discussion with Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. By this time, Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar reached Gadkaris chair and tried to ease the tension.

Seconds later, a calmed down Randhawa took his seat on the podium. A seat was earmarked for Randhawa on the stage in his capacity as the Dera Baba Nanak MLA. Harsimrats husband and former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal was sitting on the dais when the incident occurred while her brother, Bikram Majithia, was in the audience. Bikram later said that Randhawas outburst showed the narrow thinking of Congress men.

Corridor stone removed, digital opening

The actual foundation stone was removed hours before the event after Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa objected to the names of the Badals on the stone. He covered his name and that of the CM on the stone. Officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), sensing that the situation could get unpleasant in the presence of dignitaries, removed the foundation stone and replaced it with a digital one. TNS
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Gurdaspur, November 26

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said on Monday his minister Navjot Singh Sidhus decision to visit Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor was his way of thinking but he could not think of doing that when Indian soldiers and civilians were being killed by them.

Sidhu, a cabinet minister in Punjab, on Sunday accepted Pakistans invitation to attend the ceremony on Wednesday, while Singh declined the invite, citing continuous terrorist attacks in his state.

As a man who has served the Indian Army, Singh said, he could not tolerate the killing of innocent Indians by Pakistani security forces and hence cannot visit the neighbouring country.

On Sidhus decision to go to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony there, Singh told reporters after the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Gurdaspur, that it was his way of thinking.

On the Central governments decision to send its ministers to Pakistan for the ceremony, the Punjab CM said it was for them to do what they deem fit but, he added, they should have been more sensitive to the feelings of Indian soldiers and citizens.

The Centre cannot close its eyes to what is happening in India as a result of Pakistans policy and support to terrorist groups, Singh said.

He said the world knows Pakistan supports terrorist activities in India, and cited as examples the attacks in Pathankot (2016), Mumbai (2008), Dinanagar in Gurdaspur (2015) and the trouble in Jammu & Kashmir.

Singh said he would not travel to Pakistan until it stops unleashing the cycle of violence in India.

If you think (Pakistan Prime Minister) Imran Khan can stop it, that wont happen. Governments work under the army in Pakistan. Army is a power in itself. It is for Pakistan Army chief Gen Bajwa to understand that such things should not happen (again)... Armies dont fight innocent women and children, armies dont throw grenades on religious congregation, armies are there to defend the country, he said.

In August, Sidhus visit to Pakistan for Khans swearing-in had come under fire from opposition parties for his hug to Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Sidhu had claimed that Gen Bajwa had told him about making efforts to open the Kartarpur corridor.

Kartarpur is in Shakargarh in Narowal district of Pakistans Punjab province. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent over 18 years of his life here.

The Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara is about 3-4 km from the border in Pakistan.  PTI
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Islamabad, November 26

Sikh pilgrims from all over the world on Monday poured into Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Pakistans Punjab province to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Over 3,800 Indian Sikh pilgrims, 148 from the UK, seven from the United Arab Emirates and thousands of Sikh and Hindu devotees from various parts of Pakistan, especially Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and interior Sindh, arrived at the gurdwara deemed as the third most sacred place of Sikh religion, to perform their rituals which include Akhand Path, Ashnan, Matha Tek and Kirtan, reports Dawn news.

Elaborate security measures were taken in and around the gurdwara where dozens of officials from the security agencies were deployed.

Talking to the media, leader of the Indian pilgrims Marjeet Singh lauded the role of the Pakistani government in opening the Kartarpur corridor.

He said with this, the Pakistani government had won the hearts of millions of Sikhs living on the other side of the border.

The number of pilgrims had also increased compared to last year, he added.

Raminder Singh, leader of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, echoed the sentiments, saying that more corridors between the two countries needed to open.

Sohan Singh, contingent leader from the Bhai Mardana Sikh committee, said every religion taught love, tolerance and respect for humanity.

However, leader of female contingent from India Manmohan Kaur expressed her displeasure over the mismanagement by the railways as a result of which 113 pilgrims were left behind at Nankana Sahib also in Punjab province.

Talking to the media, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Deputy Secretary Shrines Imran Gondal said the mismanagement was due to the negligence of the railway authorities and the pilgrims displeasure was communicated to the relevant authorities.

The Kartarpur corridor will be formally inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday while Punjab Governor Mohammad Sarwar would host a reception in honour of the Indian Sikhs in Lahore on Tuesday.

The Indian pilgrims would also visit Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore on Monday, followed by Gurdwara Rohri Sahib in Emanabad and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on Wednesday.

The pilgrims are slated to depart for their respective countries on November 30, according to Gondal. IANS
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said they would not align with any political party at the upcoming elections, its MP and Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said today.

He told a news conference that the JVP would contest the upcoming elections with a unique policy and manifesto under the 'bell' Symbol.

He said President Maithripala Sirisena was bidding time without resolving the current political crisis which had plunged down the country into political and economic crisis.

Commenting on the Presidents claim that he joined former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to form a new Government as he was opposed to fraud and corruption, MP Herath said it was an utter lie.

The President failed to take action against fraudsters of the then and the present Government and ultimately he joined the group, which was charged with massive frauds and corruption by the commissions appointed by himself, he said.

The President has claimed that he will appoint a commission to probe fraud and corruption of Ranil Wickremesinghes government. It is a good move to probe fraud and corruption of the government led by him. We urge him to punish the culprits without confining only to reports. He failed to take action against those found guilty by the Commission to probe the Central Bank Bond scam and the PRECIFAC report, he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)

Video by Buddhi
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New York, November 26

Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can synthesise fake human fingerprints and potentially fool biometric authentication systems.

Fingerprint authentication systems are a widely trusted, ubiquitous form of biometric authentication, deployed on billions of smartphones and other devices worldwide.

However, researchers from New York University (NYU) in the US revealed a surprising level of vulnerability in these systems.

Using a neural network, they evolved a fake fingerprint that could fool biometric authentication for one in five people.

Much the way that a master key can unlock every door in a building, these DeepMasterPrints use artificial intelligence to match a large number of prints stored in fingerprint databases and could thus theoretically unlock a large number of devices.

The work builds on earlier research led by Nasir Memon, professor at NYU. Memon, who coined the term MasterPrint, described how fingerprint-based systems used partial fingerprints, rather than full ones, to confirm identity.

Devices typically allow users to enroll several different finger images, and a match for any saved partial print is enough to confirm identity.

Partial fingerprints are less likely to be unique than full prints, and Memons work demonstrated that enough similarities existed between partial prints to create MasterPrints capable of matching many stored partials in a database.

Researchers took this concept further, training a machine-learning algorithm to generate synthetic fingerprints as MasterPrints.

Fingerprint-based authentication is still a strong way to protect a device or a system, but at this point, most systems dont verify whether a fingerprint or other biometric is coming from a real person or a replica, said doctoral student Philip Bontrager.

These experiments demonstrate the need for multi-factor authentication and should be a wake-up call for device manufacturers about the potential for artificial fingerprint attacks, he said. PTI
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New Delhi, November 26

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Centre's response as to why it should not stay the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order clearing the ambitious Chardham project, which proposes to provide all-weather connectivity to the four holy towns of Uttarakhand.

A Bench of Justices RF Nariman and Navin Sinha said that the Centre should file its response in two weeks.

The four towns of the hilly state to be connected by all-weather roads are: Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Advocate Sanjay Parekh, appearing for the petitioner NGO'Citizens for Green Doon'said that the NGT has cleared the project and set up a committee to oversee the project.

To this, the Bench said that the petitioner can go before the committee with its grievances.

Parekh said that if the project is allowed to go on then an irreversible damage will be done to the ecology which will be equal to damage done by 10 hydro power projects.

He said that NGT of late has been allowing the projects to go on after constituting 15-20 committees to oversee the projects.

Parekh said the Centre was deliberately constructing the 900 km long projects in bits and pieces to avoid the necessity of environmental clearances.

He added that mountains in Uttarakhand are very fragile and if environment concerns are not taken care of then Kedranath type tragedy which took place in 2013, can happen again.

The Kedarnath area in the state had received unprecedented rainfall between June 14 and 17, 2013, causing a major flash flood.

Several roads, buildings and other structures were washed away and, according to the state government, the estimated death toll was around 10,000, with over 3,000 persons missing.

"We cannot stay the order without hearing the Centre. Notice on stay returnable in two weeks," the bench said.

On September 26, the green tribunal had constituted a committee to monitor the ambitious project while giving its nod with some safeguards in view of the larger public interest and the country's security in the construction of highway.

"We are of the view that all environmental concerns can be addressed by having a responsible and independent oversight mechanism which may monitor the environmental safeguards during the execution of this project," the tribunal had said.

It had said that the statutory environmental impact assessment under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 was not required in view of exemption granted through notification dated August 22, 2013.

The tribunal constituted a committee headed by former Uttarakhand High Court Judge Justice UC Dhyani to oversee the implementation of Environment Management Plan (EMP) of the project.

The NGT had directed the authorities to devise a mechanism to provide pedestrian pathways for devotees who undertake to do 'padyatra' to the religious places viz Yamnotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.

It also asked the concerned authorities to devise a policy whereby diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles which are over 15 years old are prohibited to ply along the entire road length of the project.

"The Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand and the Uttarakhand Administration shall devise a policy by way of introduction of E-vehicles and CNG buses in a time bound manner," the green panel had said.

The apex court had on August 27, asked the NGT chairman to accord "one clear day" to an original bench, which had heard petitions dealing with environmental clearance issues related to Chardham highway project.

The top court had clarified that since the issue appears to be a complex one and has been heard over several days by the original bench, the re-hearing can only be done by NGT on some finer aspects.

The petitioner NGO had said that the environment clearance was must for the project and the ongoing work was "blatantly illegal".

It had said the trees and mountains are also of national importance and it is the government's duty to protect and preserve them.

The Environment Ministry had earlier informed the NGT that it has received no proposal for environmental clearance of the project and hence the question of an environment impact assessment (EIA) study of such a project does not arise.

The ministry also said that under the 2006 EIA notification, only new national highways and expansion of highways over 100 km need to get prior environmental clearance.

The submission was made in response to a plea of the NGO which said that the 900 km project in the hilly state was being carried out without any environment impact assessment.

The petition of the NGO also contended that the Centre has allegedly deliberately broken it into small stretches to do away the requirement for obtaining environment clearance.

It had alleged that the road widening work to connect Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri in Uttarakhand was being carried out in violation of environmental laws. PTI
monicakchauhan@gmail.com

Colombo, November 26

Seven persons, including a former councillor, were arrested on Monday in Sri Lanka for planning to publicly commemorate slain LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran's 64th birth anniversary, police said.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which led the separatist war for a separate Tamil homeland for three decades in the island nation, was finally crushed by the Lankan military in 2009 with the death of Prabhakaran.

The seven persons, including a former northern provincial councillor VK Shivajilingam, were arrested at Prabhakaran's birth place at Velvettiturai, police said, adding that they seized a cake and banners from them.

The persons were later released.

During the LTTE's 30-year separatist campaign, Prabhakaran's birthday was celebrated as the Hero's Day or Martyr's Day. He used to deliver an annual policy speech of the outfit on the day. PTI
rchopra@tribunemail.com

Mogadishu, November 26

Al Shabaab gunmen attacked a religious centre in central Somalia on Monday, killing a cleric and 10 of his followers, a spokesman for the militant Islamist group said.

A car bomb rammed into the centre of the man who insulted the Prophet. Our militants are now inside and fighting goes on, Al Shabaab spokesman Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters.

He later said the cleric Abdiweli was killed in the attack along with 10 of his followers.

The casualties could not be independently confirmed.

Residents of Galkayo, where the centre is located, and a regional official said Abdiweli might have been targeted because his centre hosted mostly youths who played music and danced.

Al Shabaab said last year the cleric had referred to himself as the Prophet, an accusation denied at the time by Abdiweli.

We cannot know the figure of casualties right now. Al Shabaab had threatened him many times, Abdirashid Hashi, the governor of Mudug region, told Reuters.

Al Shabaab is fighting to topple the Somali government and establish its own rule based on its harsh interpretation of Islamic law. The group controls small sections on Mudug region, but it does not include Galkayo. Reuters
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Kiev, November 26

Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula in a major escalation of tensions leading Kiev to announce early on Monday that it will impose martial law.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko tweeted he will propose to the Supreme Rada (parliament) to approve the imposition of martial law following the seizure on Sunday by the Russian coastguard forces in the Black Sea, Efe news reported.

Poroshenko said that as president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and in accordance with the Constitution, he has decided to support the proposal of the Military Committee of the National Security and Defence Council (NSDC).

The Ukranian leader said he hoped the Rada would quickly approve his proposal. However, he added the state of emergency would not necessarily include the mobilisation of the Army, but added that "you have to be prepared".

He also said that martial law does not mean the introduction of restrictions on the rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens.

The Secretary of the NSDC, Oleksandr Turchynov, proposed that the martial law be in force for 60 days in order to create the conditions to repel a possible "military aggression" and any threat to the independence and territorial integrity.

He said that they were talking about the danger of a provocation not only in the Black and Azov seas, but also on land, and that they see the intense preparations of the Russian military units that are close to the northern, eastern and southern borders of the Ukraine.

He recalled that this was the first time that Russia has openly attacked Ukraine, since, until now, it had done so "secretly" through hybrid warfare methods.

For his part, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Pavlo Klimkin, described the seizure of the Ukrainian ships, during which six soldiers were wounded, as an "act of aggression." He added that now they have an aggression on Ukrainian territory and also a war with Russia in neutral waters.

The Federal Security Service (FSB, former KGB) of Russia confirmed around midnight after Sunday that the seizure on Sunday afternoon of two small Ukrainian Navy vessels and a tugboat in Russian territorial waters took place after they supposedly performed "dangerous maneuvers", something that Kiev denies.

The Ukraine maintains that its vessels were seized in neutral waters when they returned to the port of Odessa in the Black Sea from which they had departed on Sunday morning.

The FSB also admitted to opening fire on the Ukrainian ships to force them to stop, adding that their coastguards attended to the injured Ukrainian crew and that "their lives are not in danger." Ukraine had already earlier accused a Russian coast guard ship of ramming one of its tugs on Sunday, as it circumnavigated the Crimean peninsula.

Despite Russian warnings, the Ukrainian fleet continued its course to the Sea of Azov, which is why the port authorities closed the Kerch Strait.

Russia accuses Ukraine of trying to provoke a situation of conflict in the region, while the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on the international community to condemn the Russian aggression.

Tension in the Sea of Azov skyrocketed since Moscow inaugurated the Crimean Bridge linking the peninsula with Russia in May, after which inspections of Ukrainian vessels intensified, which Kiev considers a de facto blockade of its ports in the Sea of Azov. IANS
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MOSCOW/KIEV, November 26

Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval ships in a strait near Moscow-annexed Crimea, raising fears of military escalation and prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

In the unprecedented incident, Russia said it used weapons in order to stop the Ukrainian military, which it claims illegally entered its waters, confirming three Ukrainian navy ships were boarded and searched.

Ukraines navy said the incident took place on Sunday as two small warships and a tugboat were heading through the Kerch Strait, a narrow waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov that is used by Ukraine and Russia.

Russia, meanwhile, ignored Western calls to release captured ships and accused Kiev of plotting with its Western allies to provoke a conflict. Kiev in turn accused Russia of military aggression and put its armed forces on full combat alert, saying it reserved the right to defend itself.

Ukrainian lawmakers were due to decide whether to introduce martial law for two months later on Monday, a move President Petro Poroshenko has backed.

The crisis erupted when Russias border patrol boats belonging to Russias FSB security service seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors on Sunday. They had been trying to enter the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea. The FSB said it had opened a criminal case into what it called the ships illegal entry into Russian territorial waters.

On Monday maritime traffic resumed in the Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea from the Russian mainland, but Moscow showed no sign of releasing the ships and their crews. The stand-off is more combustible now than at any time in the past four years because Ukraine has rebuilt its armed forces and has a new generation of commanders who are confident and have a point to prove.  Agencies

Whats behind naval standoff?

History of dispute

Squabbles over control of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, which connects to the Black Sea to the south, are nothing new. Tensions flared in 2003 during Vladimir Putins first term as Russian president

These were calmed with a 2003 bilateral treaty stipulating that both countries could use the Kerch Strait and Azov Sea freely for commercial shipping and must notify each other while sending military vessels

Squabbles in 2018

Tensions have increased in the area this year, with Ukraine accusing Russia of persistently detaining ships sailing to and from its ports on the Azov Sea, especially Mariupol and Berdyansk, with a view to disrupting trade

Russia in turn accuses Ukraine of harassing Russian ships, and says its own checks on Ukrainian vessels are lawful and necessary to ensure the security of the area

Sunday shots

Russia seized three Ukrainian vessels after opening fire on them. Russias FSB security service said the ships, two small Ukrainian amoured artillery vessels and a tug boat, had illegally entered its territorial waters

Russia accused the ships of manoeuvring dangerously and ignoring its instructions with the aim of stirring up tensions. Ukraine said it had notified Russia in advance of the three ships movements as per the 2003 accord

What now?
The main suspect student (17) over the stabbing of a 19-year-old student at Elawaylla in Matara on Saturday surrendered to the Court and was remanded till December 3 by Matara Magistrate today.

One of the other three suspects, also aged 17, surrendered to the Matara ASP Office today over the incident.

A 19-year-old student of St. Thomas Kumara College, Matara was killed after he was stabbed Saturday afternoon near a private class at Elawaylla Road, Matara.

The victim, who was a resident of Mahahenawatte, Naimbala and was preparing for GCE (A/L) Examination to be held next year.

He was assaulted when he was on his way to the private class with two of his friends.(Darshana Sanjeewa and Krishan Jeewaka)
The first child in Trinidad and Tobago to die from Covid-19 was a seven-year-old boy who wen
I just thought I'd post this in case anyone's looking for this info. I just had an early morning (8am) flight out of Liberia.

The 1st bus to the airport leaves from very near the Municipal Terminal at 05:00am. It's literally a 30 second walk from the terminal, and you can see it from the terminal. It's on Avenida 7, between Calles 10 & 12, and you want to be on the south side of the street at the big bus stop. The airport is in the opposite direction so you think you'd want to be on the north side, but you don't. The bus picks up here and then goes into the city to pick up more passengers before turning around and heading to the airport. It heads east along Avenida 7 a ways before turning south to Avenida 25 de Julio/Avenida Central and taking that all the way to the airport.

Here's a GoogleMap link for the bus stop near the Municipal Terminal:

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Terminal+de+Buses+Municipal+de+Liberia/10.63061,-85.4434521/@10.6305652,-85.4439751,20z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m5!1m1!1s0x8f757d29c113415f:0xa7abf91e18fcc9b3!2m2!1d-85.4440852!2d10.6306412!1m0

It only took about 25 minutes, so I arrived at the airport about 5:25am and the airport was completely dead, leaving me with way more than enough time. However in the dry season there are a lot more charters so it's probably much busier.

The bus costs 510 colones or US$1 (so it's currently cheaper to pay in colones). If you decide to get a taxi, I would guess it would be somewhere around US$15, depending on your negotiation/Spanish skills.

Note: Costa Rica has an exit tax, and although some airlines include the cost in their ticket, some don't. I flew with WestJet and they do NOT include the tax, so I had to pay it myself. If you have to pay it, or if you're not sure, the area to pay it is off to the left from the main entrance, near where you enter the area to go through Immigration & Customs. They have a list posted of airlines that have already payed the tax. It's US$29, payable in cash in US$ or colones, or you can pay it with credit card or debit, but I read it's treated as a cash advance meaning you might also have to pay a cash advance fee.
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Hey all,

Wondering if you could help with a 2 weeks holiday to Vietnam, been to a few different places in Asia and wanted to try somewhere different

Me and my partner are going for 2 weeks August 2019 landing on the 18th and flying back 31st. Looking at maps/ recommendations we have the following plans so far, but it's just a really rough guide.

Fly to Hanoi from London, land 18th.

Hanoi 18th-20th

Halong bay cruise 20th for 2 days (one night)

Return back to Hanoi then fly to Phu Quoc 22nd-27th (Ong long)

Fly to Hoi Minh Chin 27th-31st then back to London 31st morning

Not sure how long to spend in each of these places, was just a rough guide but feel like I also want to travel to Ninh Binh as it's so close to Hanoi but not sure if it's easier to stay in Hanoi as we would need to fly to Phu Quoc???

Could drop some of the days in Hoi Min Chinh to stay in Ninh Binh after Halong trip. Not too worried about doing the cities for more than a couple of days.

Any help would be really appreciated!
Ok, I'll get you started. But you probably need to do a bit of research to see what appeals. Check out Travelfish.org

"We like cities but also want some beach/resort time and a bit of adventure."

Maybe have a look at Phu Quoc.

You can fly there from HCMC, and then you can fly on to Hanoi.

"are we spending too long in HCMC?"

Yes, probably.

"Are there any good locations nearby either city to do either day trips or break it up with a couple nights elsewhere?"

Down south you have the Mekong.

Up North, a couple of hours south of Hanoi, you have places like Ninh Binh and Mai Chau.

One final thing, depending on when in February you're travelling, you might want to do some reading on Tet. (Lunar New Year)

Scott
The nation expects the three main actors to resolve this crisis in the best interest of the country and for the generations to come

The events that unfolded on October 26 have led the country towards an unprecedented chaos. Almost a month later, we are still awaiting a firm interpretation of the decisions and the credibility of actions while pondering if all the sudden changes have been made in the best interest of the country and people.



Senior United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Kalutara District Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama said that it was questionable for the UPFA to remain in the government by force without the support of 113 members of the House.



Speaking to the media Welgama said the UPFA must leave the government if it did not have the support of the majority members.



We are used to sitting in the government as well as the opposition. Then why should we stay in the government by force? he asked.



Welgama was responding after the lawmakers threw chilli powder and furniture at each other and disrupted the proceedings of Parliament for a second day on Friday, November 16, 2018, forcing Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to summon police inside the House and adjourn the session until Monday, November 19, 2018.



The brawl occurred a day after the speaker announced that there is no prime minister or government, following a no-confidence motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa, the disputed prime minister.



Fridays parliamentary proceedings were to once again repeat the floor test, which was disrupted on Thursday but once again the attempt ended nowhere.



Shock waves

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 and an important event but this one was like a couple running away from their parents in the middle of the night. It was a slap on the face of everyone who clearly worked tirelessly and made many sacrifices to get President Maithripala Sirisena elected.



What led to this sudden appointment of a prime minister? According to the statements made by the president, it was largely due to the differences he had with the United National Party (UNP) leader. However, his action may not be fully justified, given the current situation we are in, while the UNP leadership is also somewhat responsible for the current stalemate.



More time and effort should have been put by both leaders to cement the Sri Lanka Freedom Party-UNP working arrangement. Many of them entrusted with the job however got lost in their ministerial trappings and lost sight of the reality.



Also, many of them were divorced from reality and failed to understand even the fundamentals of electoral politics. But the fundamental question that is asked from all quarters is whether there was justification coupled with moral, legal and ethical grounds on which the sudden decision was made?



Our society after January 8, 2015 has become more vibrant, vociferous and open. The impact of this is now seen through social media and on the streets. The chaos that followed the October 26 swearing in has once again brought uncertainty to the country, which will have far-reaching consequences, if not addressed soon by the president.



Further, if this is dragged on, this crisis will acutely polarize along class, ethnic, religious, party and regional fault lines. The political developments over the last couple of weeks have unfortunately further hardened positions and heightened acrimony unnecessarily among all communities.



Way out

The decision by Moodys to downgrade Sri Lankan governments foreign currency issuer and senior unsecured ratings from B1 (Negative) to B2 (Stable) does not properly reflect the countrys macroeconomic fundamentals and therefore, unwarranted. But they have done it and it will have far-reaching consequences, starting with the tourism and financial sectors.



The way out of this is to either honour the majority in Parliament or hold an early election. The earliest is the presidential; a parliamentary is not due till 2020. It is proposed by some, especially Rathana Thera, to have a small, all-party caretaker government led by a neutral prime minister selected from among the existing parliamentary members, a person who inspires the confidence of all parties. However, the UNP leader is not in agreement to this idea, given that he has a majority in the House.



However, at a time when our political establishment is in deep crisis, this nations religious, civil society and business leaders have an urgent responsibility to set aside their differences and prejudices, move beyond mere rhetoric and act courageously to find a way out of this predicament.

We need to resolve this problem within a democratic framework. We, Sri Lankans, will have only ourselves to blame, if we do nothing and our future generations will blame all of us for our irresponsibility, selfishness and short-sightedness.



In the final analysis, most Sri Lankans, whether they are green, red or blue, all they want is for the country to do well without compromising on our democratic institutions and ideals and simply in my view, there is nothing wrong in having that aspiration.

(Dinesh Weerakkody is a thought leader)
Hi everyone,

I'm working on scheduling a 14-day/13-night trip to Japan, which I will be visiting for the first time. I'm aiming for a mix of contemporary and traditional culture, and would love at least some time in the mountains (any mountains) - especially if there is a spiritual bent. I'm in good shape and very active, and don't mind a lot of hiking or walking. I'm traveling alone and am great with that.

Also, I'd also love to experience an Onsen, especially outdoors, but have tattoos and recognize that may limit options.

As of now, I'm planning on the following - but very open to recommendations and changes:

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo

Day 2: Tokyo

Day 3: Kyoto

Day 4: Kyoto (day trip to Hiroshima)

Day 5: Kyoto (this day will be the 21st of the month, and I'd like to visit the Toji Temple Flea Market)

Day 6: Koya-San (currently have a reservation at a temple)

Day 7: Visit Nara on my way back to Kyoto

Day 8: (???). I could probably use another full day in Kyoto; was also considering Takayama but feel that might be too much to cram in.

Day 9: Return to Tokyo

Day 10-14: Tokyo

The biggest question I have right now is if Koya-San is going to be what I want it to be; I've heard mixed reviews, that it's very crowded and less mystical than one may expect. I'm wondering if a day trip to Nikko from Tokyo won't scratch the same itch...

If I scratch Koya-San from the itinerary, it would add a lot more flexibility to my schedule. I'm trying to strike a balance between everything I want to do (Miyajima, Kanazawa, Takayama) and not feeling like I've spent two weeks rushing from place to place.

Ok, that's all I got. THANK YOU to everyone for their thoughts.

Best,

AJP
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- Wetangula claimed ODM wants to pocket all the money at the expense of ANC, FORD-Kenya and Wiper parties

- He said the money ought to be shared equitably among the four parties as they are equally important

- ODM, however, maintained it ought to control the lion's share of the money due to its large membership

The FORD-Kenya party has threatened to sue the ODM party over what it has termed as being sidelined in sharing money allocated for the Opposition.

TUKO.co.ke understands the exchequer had released money meant to benefit parties allied to National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition.

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READ ALSO: Raila meets Uhuru, agree to end dissent

Moses Wetangula, FORD-Kenya blamed the ODM Party for excluding three political partners that were rightfully entitled to the money. Photo: Moses Wetangula

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: William Ruto hosts Hassan Joho as 2022 realignments gain momentum

Party leader, Moses Wetangula, blamed ODM for excluding three political partners that were rightfully entitled to the money.

ODM is appropriating all the political parties funds being paid from the exchequer to the exclusion of ANC, Wiper and Ford Kenya, he said.

READ ALSO: It's over between me and Raila - Moses Wetangula It's over between me and Raila - Moses Wetangula

Wetangula said he would be seeking to enjoin Musalia Mudavidi's ANC Party in the suite expected to be lodged in court on Monday, November 26.

The parties allied to NASA have recently been tossed in a funds sharing dispute.

Wetangula has severally accused ODM Leader Raila Odinga of making unilateral decisions and ditching the opposition movement following the famous March 9 handshake. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

Wetangula has severally accused ODM's Raila of making unilateral decisions and ditching the Opposition movement following the March 9 handshake.

The Orange party, however, maintains it has a right to control the bigger share of the money owing to its large membership.

The Raila led party also claimed it contributed the highest number of votes to the coalition during the August 2017 General Election.

On the other hand, the three dissatisfied parties want the money shared equitably claiming they are key elements in the Opposition even with their low numbers.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Kenyans Mixed Reactions Over The 2/3 Gender Rule Bill| Tuko TV.

Source: Tuko
The early release of KCPE 2018 by the Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed caught many Kenyans, most certainly candidates, by surprise. Several reports surrounding the just-concluded examination concentrates on KCPE top performers with a lesser focus on surrounding details. While it is overwhelming that several candidates performed well despite imminent odds, the test ended with several touching stories. Below are a few of the most trending stories that will inspire you from the 2018 KCPE exams.

Source: nation.co.ke, standardmedia.co.ke, mediamaxnetwork.co.ke, standardmedia.co.ke

Source: UGC

It is beyond anyones comprehension concerning what yields good results in national examinations. While providing an enabling environment is the best way to achieve good results, several candidates confronting immediate challenges surpassed this logic by emerging top with excellent KCPE results. Impressive and motivating, right?

READ ALSO: 2018 KCPE: Two pupils tie at the top, more than 50% of candidates score over 200 marks

Excelling amidst challenges- touching stories

Here are some of the touching stories following the release of KCPE examination.

1. Candidates from insecurity prone areas rank top in 2018 KCPE exams

Most schools in Nakuru and Baringo counties were forced to leave their homes and schools weeks before sitting for KCPE examinations. Even so, several candidates from the region performed well after sitting for their exams. Patience Jelagat is one of the top cream performers from Baringo countuy who managed 430 marks from Green View Academy, Eldama Ravine. Here is an image of the 13-year old.

SOURCE: www.standardmedia.co.ke

Source: UGC

In other similar cases, Collins Kitilit managed 416 marks from Chesakam Primary School and Agostine Leretuni scored 318 marks from Sintaan Primary School found in Baringo South. Leretuni, among other 35 pupils studied on the church floor and tree shed following heavy downpours that displaced their families in May. Even though these students could have done better, their results were impressive based on the circumstances. Other top scores from the war-torn area are Jepchirchir Delphine who scored 421 from Kimalel Boarding and Victor Kemboi who scored 423 from St Josephs Catholic Academy in Kituro.

Ethnic flare-ups also disrupted normal learning ahead of the exams turning camps into study rooms for most candidates. Over 10 candidates at Takitech Primary in Nessuit garnered an excess of 300 marks, with the top student getting 353 marks. This is a clear indication that the region had the potential to shine even brighter in this years KCPE examinations.

2. KCPE candidate tops despite an earlier cancer diagnosis

Source: standardmedia.co.ke (modified by the author)

Source: UGC

A 14-year-old pupil diagnosed with bone marrow cancer attained top scores in this year's exams despite her condition. Mary Kamanthe Mutua, who ranked best in Mombasa's public schools, emerged successful scoring 415 marks. Mary fell sick about three weeks before sitting her KCPE exams, and was diagnosed with the cancer. She had a tough time moving around since she could only walk for about 50 metres before the pain became unbearable. Josephat, her loving father, had to carry her to school every morning and back home every evening, and she had to do the exam on pain killers. According to her uncle, Kyalo, Mary cried for two consecutive days when news broke she had cancer, after completing her exams. Doctors have recommended an urgent medical intervention which may include specialized treatment in India or leg amputation. In the current standing, the family needs about KShs. 3 million to facilitate her treatment overseas.

Despite the effects of the condition threatening her life and too much physical pain that she was going through while sitting for the exams, Mary still managed to excel. She was determined to pass her exams, which she did, and we hope that well-wishers will help the family raise enough money for her treatment so that she can be in good shape by the time she joins secondary school.

3. Candidate scores highly even after the sudden loss of a father

Imagine the bread-winning parent passing away before national exams and leaving you under the care of a disabled mother? Will you be in perfect state of mind to concentrate in your revision and exams? This was the case for one Arnold Deche, who sat his KCPE exams in agony at Imara Academy, Kilifi's Mtwapa, after losing his father weeks ahead of his papers. He emerged a real fighter scoring 421 marks. He is now left under the care of his mother who is not only physically challenged, but also very poor.

4. Nyamira triplets, twin tie in their KCPE exams

James Nyamweya is the proud father of the 13-year-old triplets that scored remarkable marks in KCPE 2018 from Eronge Adventist Boarding Primary. The girls were among the best students in the county, with Ruth Moraa scoring 432 marks, Esther Kemunto 403 marks, and Mary Bosibori 379 marks. But that was not all, as if to twin with other candidates in marks, Moraa coincidentally tied with Ann Kwamboka, a twin, while Kemunto got same marks as two other students from the same school. Bosibori, on the other hand, scored same as Dan Nyauncho, Ann Kwamboka's twin. This was indeed triple blessings twinning, or should we generalize and say multiple blessings? Congratulations to the families of these successful candidates.

5. Rescued Samburu brides excel in the KCPE Exams

Samburu Girls Foundation candidates did exceptionally well under the oversight of the shelter that saved them from harmful cultural practices. Even though these girls spring from poor backgrounds and have undergone hardships to flee from bad culture, a couple of them scored 371 and 373 marks.

6. Mother of 10 aged 68 scores 143 marks - insists her accountant dream is still alive

Source: standardmedia.co.ke

Source: UGC

Yes, she scored 143 marks, below average but her story is one that we could not leave out. Veronica Matilu surprised Kenyans for her dedication to sit for KCPE exams in the hope of validating her accountant dream someday. She is proud that her dream will come to pass through her commitment.

7. Street boy scores 406 marks

Overcoming all odds, Abraham John, scored 406 marks in this year's KCPE exams. People Daily reported that Abraham took to Kitale streets after becoming an orphan some years back and surviving on assistance from well wishers. While in the streets, the headteacher of King Prince Royal School, Mr. Philip Nyongesa, spotted Abraham's intelligence and allowed him to study in the school without paying even a single cent. It is our hope that Abraham will get well-wishers to sponsor his secondary school education.

8. 403 marks while behind bars

37 year-old Solomon Ngatia, a class seven dropout serving 30 years jail term for attempted murder since 2012 at Nakuru GK Prisons, obtained 403 marks in 2018 national exams. Ngatia scored 90 in English, Kiswahili 96, Mathematics 68, Science 68, and Social Studies 81.

9. 423 marks after losing one kidney and fractured right hand

On 4th August, Ashley Mwende of Mwingi was one of the students that survived a grisly road accident when their bus collided and plunged into Kanginga bridge. Despite losing one kidney and fracturing her right hand, Ashley scored 423 marks at St. Gabriel Boarding Primary School.

10. Ikombe Day and Boarding Primary outperforms big names

Before release of this year's KCPE, most people, especially those outside Machakos county, had never heard of a school like Ikombe. Last year, this little-known and remotely located public primary school ranked in the third place as the best performing primary school in the national spectrum after showing a steady increase in performance since 2012 as demonstrated below. This year, with 95 students sitting for the exam, Ikombe took the top most position nationally. Here is a breakdown of the examination year and the respective mean score that will show you Ikombe's steady rise to the top over the years.

2012, 296.14 marks

2013, 344.58 marks

2015, 357.60 marks

2016, 388.48 marks

2017, 389.844 marks

2018, 418.6 marks

Ikombe is a true story that the journey of academic excellence is a step by step process.

READ ALSO: KCPE school codes for top primary schools in Kenya

From life-threatening incidences to doing exams behind bars, most of these touching stories confirm that hard work and dedication beyond distractions pay off. Even so, 2018 KCPE exams remain one of the best executed and performed examination demonstrating the country progress in its education system, and that even those who have been through unfortunate situations can still compete and excel.

READ ALSO

Kitale man kills daughter who scored 277 marks in KCPE

68-year-old Makueni granny scores 143 marks in KCPE, determined to join secondary school

Singer Akothee to fly top 3 KCPE candidates for holiday

KCSE candidate in Homa Bay dies while giving birth

Top schools in KCPE 2018 per county

Source: Breaking News
Opposition Leader Raila Odinga has left the country for Zimbabwe where he is set to preside over a key forum on infrastructure.

According to a statement from Raila's spokesperson Dennis Onyango, the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) meeting will be opened on Monday, November 26.

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READ ALSO: Raila Odinga lands plum AU job on Mashujaa Day, accepts appointment

Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) meeting will be opened on Monday, November 26. Photo: Raila Odinga

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Breakdown of what Raila Odingas international job entails

Raila will attend the meeting under his new position as African Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa.

" He will lay out his vision for project preparation, resource mobilisation and financing mechanisms for infrastructure development in Africa," the statement read in part.

READ ALSO: Tuktuk driver captured on video stoning traffic officers in bizarre case of road rage

After attending the meeting, the former premier will return in the country on Monday, November 26.

He will also share his thoughts on attainment of smart and Integrated Infrastructure Development, among other matters, the statement read.

According to the AU, Raila's job description includes paying particular attention to the missing links along the transnational highway corridors.

According to the AU, Raila's job description includes paying particular attention to the missing links along the transnational highway corridors. Photo: Raila Odinga

Source: Facebook

The corridors include part of the Trans-African Highways Network, and he will be charged with facilitating their development and modernisation.

His job also entails crisscrossing the continent and pushing for Africa's infrastructure development agenda.

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.

When Uhuru, Ruto and Raila Met at State House. On TUKO TV.

Source: Tuko
- Italian aid worker Silvia Romania was kidnapped on Tuesday, November 20

- She was abducted in Chakama village in Malindi by people believed to be bandits

- Police identified Said Aden Said, Yusuf Kuno Aden and Ibrahim Omar as the key suspects

- KSh 1 million is being offered to anyone with information that can lead to arrest of the three suspects

- The three are said to be behind the kidnapping of the Italian when they raided a children's home in Kilifi county

Police have arrested wife to one of the suspects believed to had abducted 23-year-old Italian aid worker, Silvia Romania, in Chakama village in Malindi, Kilifi County, on Tuesday, November 20, TUKO.co.ke has learnt.

Said Adan Abdi's wife, Halima Adan, was reportedly picked up on Sunday evening at around 5pm as authorities intensified the search for the missing Italian.

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READ ALSO: Tourists cancel hotel bookings in Malindi a day after kidnapping of Italian volunteer

Coast Regional coordinator, Bernard Lemparamai with other locals leaders in Garsen. He said they were holding the suspect's wife in police custody. Photo:Tuko.

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Mombasa man serving life sentence orchestrates kidnapping and total silencing of Asian businessmen

Addressing journalists in Garsen, Coast Regional Coordinator Bernard Lemparamai said the suspect's wife was arrested in Tarasaa alongside Abdi's in-law and the two were locked up to wait for interrogations.

"We were able to arrest one of the suspects wife and his in-law at around 5pm. We do believe this is a good progress in the ongoing operation," said Lemparamai.

The abduction of Silvia Romania (pictured) has negatively affected the hotel and hospitality sector in the coast region with many guests canceling their bookings.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: 80-year-old Italian tourist commits suicide in Malindi

Lemparamai said the wife had a two-week old baby at the time of her arrest and that she was in constant communication with her husband.

"The wife has a two weeks old baby and is communicating regularly with the husband. We will be using the phone signal to trace him," he said.

The officer added the operation to find and rescue the missing Italian lady would not stop until they find her.

"We have beefed up security in our operations and we believe our efforts will not go in vain," he said.

READ ALSO: Over 250 tourists land in Mombasa from Poland

Lemparamai ruled out claims that the motive of the bandits could be ransom.

He urged members of the public to stay calm and avoid speculations.

Also commenting on the abduction incident, Garsen Member of Parliament Ali Wario said it was unfortunate and should not bring ethnic clashes between Giriama and Ormas living in Chakama and its boundaries.

"It is sad that such things can still happen in our land. Let the police deal with those guys like any other criminals, we shall not allow anybody to destruct peace and harmony among different communities living together," he said.

READ ALSO: Missing Mombasa boy killed and dumped outside their house in a sack

The MP disclosed locals from the Orma, Pokomo and Wadhei communities had joined the operation in the bushes to help the police find Romania and also smoke out the abductors.

The authorities had already revealed the identity of the three suspects who are still at large..

Besides Abdi whose wife was arrested on Sunday, the other two suspects were identified Yusuf Kuno Aden and Ibrahim Omar, all residents from Garsen.

The three are said to be behind the kidnapping of Romania when they raided a children's home in Kilifi county.

Police offered a KSh 1 million bounty on the three suspects behind kidnapping of Italian.

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.

Fuel Shortage in Kenya - GSU Officers to Escort Trucks from Depot - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko Breaking News
- Police said the driver braked instantly after a thief appeared in the racing track

- The thief was being pursued by a group of people after he stole a mobile phone

- One person died while nine others were seriously wounded

A highly charged Safari rally event in Uganda turned tragic after a racer veered off the road and ploughed into a group of spectators.

The accident happened in the afternoon of Sunday, November 25, at Busiika, Central Uganda.

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READ ALSO: DP Ruto, allies answer Musalia Mudavadi, says he will not stop dishing out cash, touring country

The accident happened in the afternoon of Sunday, November 25, at Busiika, Central Uganda. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Top Garissa KCPE candidate not happy, says lack of adequate teachers cost him good grades

Confirming the incident, Uganda Police Force said one person died and nine others seriously injured.

"Busiika motor rally accident. One confirmed dead and nine injured. The injured were rushed to Mulago, Nsambya hospitals and Kasana Luwero health centre," the statement read in part.

READ ALSO: 3 Chinese SGR officials found trying to bribe detectives with KSh 500K to face charges

Unofficial reports, however, claimed the number of fatalities and injuries was higher than what police reported.

In a chilling video captured by one of the spectators, the vehicle which was in high speed hit a bumpy section of the dusty road before it skidded out of control.

The car then flew to the right side of the road where it narrowly avoided plunging on a tree and slammed on a group of excited spectators.

According to local authorities, the driver was avoiding to hit a man who unexpectedly entered the racing track.

Unofficial reports, however, claim the number of fatalities and injuries was higher than what police reported. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

The man, police said, was a suspected thief who was being pursued by people he had offended.

"The rally driver was trying to save life of a mobile phone thief who was being chased, suddenly crossed the road which made the driver to break suddenly," the statement read.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Kenyans Mixed Reactions Over The 2/3 Gender Rule Bill| Tuko TV.

Source: Tuko Breaking News
- Ruto said he was the one who took oath to be Uhuru's principal assistant

- He told those trying to do his job to go back and re-read the Constitution

- It is understood Ruto was referring to Musyoka who declared himself Uhuru's errand boy

Deputy President William Ruto has taken a swipe at Wiper Democratic Movement party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, for declaring himself President Uhuru Kenyatta's errand boy saying that job belongs to him.

Ruto sought to clarify he was the president's legitimate principal assistant and that he would continue to discharge his duties as stipulated in the Constitution.

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READ ALSO: Wiper Party leaders angry at Kalonzo Musyoka for offering to be Uhuru's errand boy

Deputy President William Ruto on Sunday, November 25, clarified he was the legitimate principal assistance of President Uhuru Kenyatta and that he would continue to discharge his duties as such.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kivutha Kibwana demands Kalonzo withdraws his Uhuru's 'errand boy' remarks

Speaking at St Peter's Kirangari ACK in Kabete Constituency, Kiambu County, on Sunday, November 25, the DP said he took an oath to be the president's right-hand man and therefore he would be the first person to answer questions if anything goes south.

"If anything goes wrong with the work of the president or the Jubilee party, the first person that would be asked would be me, the one who took an oath to be Uhuru Kenyatta's assistant. Did you see anyone else take oath at Kasarani to be Uhuru Kenyatta's assistant?" Ruto posed.

READ ALSO: Kalonzo Musyoka meets retired president Daniel Moi days after getting government job

He told those working hard to be close to Uhuru so they can help him do his job to desist because he was the only one mandated by the Constitution to help the president carry out his duties.

"These other people are just trying to be his assistant and to find a job, but the person allowed by the Constitution to be doing that job is me. So they should stop doing what they are trying to do," he said in Swahili.

READ ALSO: Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in Juba for his new state appointment

Although the DP did not mention anyone by name, TUKO.co.ke understands he was referring to Musyoka and Opposition leader Raila Odinga who have become increasingly close to the president since the signing of the March 2018 peace agreement.

The Wiper party boss had categorically stated he would be happy to serve as Uhuru's right-hand man, remarks that he made during the burial ceremony of his father, Mzee Peter Musyoka, in Kitui County on November 9, 2018.

The funeral service was attended by Uhuru, Musyoka's National Super Alliance (NASA) co-principals Raila and Musalia Mudavadi, and several other dignitaries.

READ ALSO: Kalonzo Musyoka's security detail upgraded after he offered to be Uhuru's errand boy

The Wiper boss was a few days later appointed the new head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) in South Sudan.

The appointment came after Uhuru hinted he was also ready to work with the former vice president to foster peace and unity not just in Kenya but internationally.

Musyoka's new appointment followed that of Raila who is now a special envoy to the African Union.

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.

When Uhuru, Ruto and Raila Met at State House - On Tuko TV

Source: Tuko Newspaper
The financial woes at MTD Walkers PLC further deepened as the construction giant suffered a heavy blow to its bottom line during the three months ended September 30 (2Q19) as the company lost over a billion rupees in earnings on heavy borrowing costs and losing revenues.



MTD Walkers reported Rs.1.1 billion in negative earnings for the quarter, unchanged from a year earlier, on revenues of Rs.3.0 billion, down 20 percent year-on-year (YoY).



The construction major has unfortunately become a victim of the delayed and non-payment of dues by government to mega construction projects and the generally poor sentiments in the countrys construction sector.

As the receivables accumulated, the company had to borrow to fund its working capital to pump money into its ongoing and future projects.



But the debt has accumulated to a level where the companys revenue is barely sufficient to service such debt.



The groups rating was downgraded twice this year by ICRA Lanka Limited on deteriorating profitability and higher leverage.



On September 21, ICRA downgraded the company rating to B- with a Negative outlook from BB-, which was only revised in May.



As the company was struggling to retire a section of its Rs.3.0 billion debenture due this September, the company obtained the consent of debenture holders to defer the repayment of the debenture by two more years in return for a higher yield.



By end of September 30, 2018, MTD Walkers had Rs.4.2 billion in long-term debt and Rs.23.6 billion in short-term borrowings. Meanwhile, Rs.22 billion is due from trade and other receivables. The ICRA Lanka rating report in September said the company is to receive Rs.6.0 billion from the Urban Development Authority (UDA) for three housing development projects, which had already been handed over upon completion.



These were due to be paid six months after the completion of the projects by the UDA.



The groups equity dropped to Rs.2.8 billion by the end of September 2018 from Rs.6.9 billion a year ago due to losses accumulating to a whopping Rs.4.1 billion, which wiped off the owners equity.



Meanwhile, for the six months ended September 30, 2018, the group reported negative earnings of Rs.1.7 billion on revenues of Rs.5.6 billion, which was down by 19 percent YoY.



The group has interests in civil engineering, heavy engineering, marine engineering, trading, power generation and real estate.



Except for trading, every other business segment has fared weaker than the previous year.



Malaysia-based MTD Capital Bhd has 90.78 percent stake in MTD Walkers.



The companys share ended 20 cents or 1.60 percent weaker at Rs.12.30 on Friday.
In as much as the infamous video from Ambira Boys High School irked many, a section of netizens feel it signals the depth at which moral filth is deep-rooted in the society.

As earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, the video which went viral on Friday, November 24, showed about six learners hurling unprintable insults at senior government officials.

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READ ALSO: Uhuru wants Ambira High School boys who bragged about cheating in exams taught a lesson

The video from Ambira boys went viral on Friday, November 24, showed about six learners hurling unprintable insults at senior government officials. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Viral video of Ambira High School students insulting CS Amina Mohammed, Matiang'i after KCSE exam

The Form Four students who were celebrating completion of their KCSE exams further declared they had massively involved in exam irregularities.

Responding to the development, President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed displeasure adding the learners had been netted and would be dealt with the full force of the law.

READ ALSO: 8 Ambira Boys caught insulting CS Amina to remain behind bars for 7 more days

President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed displeasure adding that the students had been netted and will be met with the full force of the law. Photo: President Uhuru Kenyatta

Source: Facebook

Social media has since been awash with backlash against Uhuru, who a section of users accused of swinging into swift action when impunity played among the young ones while leaders who hurled similar or worse insults against each other remained unpunished.

Netizens pointed out an instance before the 2017 General Election where Uhuru had advised Opposition leader Raila Odinga to rig elections as he had lost three times in previous elections.

"Sometimes back, it was okay to steal. Ambira High School (boys) are right. Say no to double standards," a tweep identified as 007-Bully responded to the remarks by Uhuru.

Another one identified as Canek claimed the law appeared to be more punitive when non influential people flouted it.

Defending the claims, the tweep singled out instances where top government officials engaged in heated spats but the government read no offense.

"If Raila and Ruto insulted each other, Raila and Uhuru insulted each other, Moses Kuria insulted Raila, Kisii MCA insulted Uhuru, no one was arrested among them. Ambira Boys (students) too were having their freedom of speech. The law should be applied equally," tweeted Canek.

On his part, Abraham Mutai condemned the incident but blamed it on leaders who he claimed had no respect among themselves.

Lack of respect, he said, had been picked up by the learners, and that they had become good students keen enough to reproduce lessons learnt from elders.

"Am not justifying insulting the so called 'elders' but these Ambira High School (students) have presented us with an opportunity to have this discussion. The elders demanding respect are crooks and thieves. They have never set any example for the young ones, yet they are demanding respect," shared Mutai.

READ ALSO: Authorities dismiss cheating claims advanced by 8 Ambira High School students in viral video

Dspite leading a spirited fight against impunity, the president was put on the spot by Kenyans online who claimed the response by the government on the Ambira Boys case had more vigor than the drive on netting fraudsters.

"If Boinnet was serious in arresting real perpetrators instead of school kids?" wondered Kleptocracy Native who singled out multibillion scams that the government was far from uncovering.

The president, Rashid Swaleh, claimed was not justified to complain about the rot in school, citing defective polices he (Uhuru) had seen implemented in schools.

Among the defective policies, Swaleh said, was the scrapping of canning which culminated in high indiscipline.

"The day we banned canning in schools and decided to expose our children to all manner of bad manners in the name of freedom forgetting they have no capacity to deal with such extra freedom then we get cases like these," reacted Swaleh.

The following are other reaction from users who commented on the issue:

READ ALSO: Police arrest 3 Ambira High School students captured in video saying they cheated in KCSE

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Kenya news: Top Girl in KCPE 2018 | Tuko TV.

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- The students did not take plea after prosecution asked for more time for investigations

- They agreed to be detained at children cells in Ugunja Police Station for seven days

- The case will be mentioned on Monday, December 3, 2018

Eight students from Ambira Boys' High School who insulted Education Cabinet Secretary Education Amina Mohamed and her Interior counterpart Fred Matiang'i have been arraigned at Ukwala Law Court in Siaya county.

The students did not take plea after the prosecution requested for seven more days to conclude investigations.

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READ ALSO: Uhuru wants Ambira High School boys who bragged about cheating in exams taught a lesson

The eight Ambira students were filmed in a viral video hurling insults at Matiang'i and Amina while bragging about cheating in exams. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Police arrest 3 Ambira High School students captured in video saying they cheated in KCSE

Appearing before Justice Gladys Adhiambo on Monday, November 26, the students agreed to be detained at children cells in Ugunja Police Station for seven days.

The boys aged 17 and 16 were arrested between Friday, November 23, and Sunday, November 25, in Ugunja, Busia, Nairobi and Siaya.

Among the things to be investigated are their ages and assessment of the footage for actual offences to be leveled against them.

The regional DCIO Michael Baraza said he was yet to take statements from both CSs who were mentioned in the vile video.

READ ALSO: Authorities dismiss cheating claims advanced by 8 Ambira High School students in viral video

The case will be mentioned on Monday, December 3, 2018.

The eight were filmed in a now viral video hurling insults at Matiang'i and Amina while bragging about cheating in exams.

President Uhuru Kenyatta while addressing the public on Saturday, November 24, issued a stern warning to the young people saying his government would not tolerate indiscipline among students.

The president said he was proud of the young people because they were Kenya's future, but raised concern over the rising cases of indiscipline especially in schools.

READ ALSO: Police unmask 8 Ambira High School students captured in viral video insulting CS Matiang'i and Amina

The president added the young boys who had the sheer guts to publicise that they were proud to have successfully cheated in the recently concluded KCSE would be shown how the government deals with those who cheat in exams.

"We will not and we shall not entertain indiscipline and abuse from our young people. You must learn to respect your elders just as much as your elders must learn to respect and nurture you," he said.

Additional reporting by Fred Okul, Kisumu correspondent

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- Atwoli asked God to help Kenya win the war against graft lords and cartels

- He also pleaded with God to touch Uhuru's heart so Kenya can change for better

- Atwoli extensively prayed to God to get rid of the maize cartels stealing from poor farmers

- In his prayer, the COTU boss alleged there were people trying to create food shortage in Kenya

- Although he did not mention anyone, it is understood he was referring to the deputy president

- A section of Rift Valley leaders have accused Ruto of being the mastermind behind the maize scandal

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, has sent a passionate appeal to God to help Kenya deal with graft lords and more specifically the maize cartels stealing from poor farmers.

Atwoli pleaded with God to get rid of all the thieves in Kenya and liberate helpless citizens from corrupt leaders whom he claimed were now threatening to plunge the country in a food shortage crisis.

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READ ALSO: Do not give in to lords of graft and impunity - Meru leaders tell Uhuru after meeting Raila

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, sought God's intervention to help Kenya get rid of the corruption menace. Photo: Nation.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Maize cartels want me out for unmasking their faces - Kiunjuri claims

In a viral clip seen by TUKO.co.ke on Monday, November 26, the COTU boss could also be heard asking God to touch the heart of President Uhuru Kenyatta to bring change in Kenya.

"God stand with us. Touch the heart of the son of Kenyatta so that this country can change. And if there is a thief in our midst, our heavenly father remove the thief without feeling any shame, Atwoli prayed.

READ ALSO: Section of Rift Valley MPs want William Ruto investigated over maize scandal

In his prayer, Atwoli also alleged cartels were advocating for maize to be purchased at a lower price from the local farmers yet they used almost twice the government's suggested price of KSh 2,300 to produce a 90kg bag of maize.

"The people taking maize are our children, but even if that is the case, we ask you God to remove them for us. They are talking about KSh 2,300 when a bag of maize costs close to KSh 4,000 to produce. And the politicians are not coming out to fight for the farmers who don't even have school fees for their children," Atwoli said in his long prayer.

READ ALSO: Unity politics turn bitter as Western leaders savagely tear each other over Mumias Sugar woes

According to the COTU secretary general, the maize cartels were trying to create an artificial food shortage in the country so they can import the same.

"We want to see them in court. And the dangerous thing any leader should accept is to create instability in the country through shortages of food," he said.

READ ALSO: Government sets aside KSh 2.1 billion to clear maize farmers' debts, announce new prices next week

Although Atwoli did not give any names in his rather bizarre prayer, TUKO.co.ke understands he was referring to Deputy President William Ruto and other senior state officials who were adversely mentioned in the maize scandal.

The DP was accused by a section of leaders from the Rift Valley region of being the father of all maize scandals in Kenya.

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter and his Chereng'ani counterpart Joshua Kutuny alleged Ruto was advising farmers to abandon maize farming and start growing avocado and other crops because he wanted to monopolise the local maize market.

Speaking at a farmers' meeting in Eldoret on November 17, 2018, Keter alleged the DP was planning to grow over 500,000 acres of maize in Congo with the intention of importing the produce to Kenya.

"You (Ruto) have now moved up to Congo where you are planning to grow over 500,000 acres of maize...then you tell us about avocado? Even that avocado, we know you also have a factory in Botswana where you process it," Keter said .

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When Uhuru, Ruto and Raila Met at State House - On Tuko TV

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Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has always been branded some sort of a slay king thanks to his larger than life outlook in life.

Now, he has upped his game from flaunting his exquisite travels and expensive shoes to finally giving his fans a peek into what appears to be his palatial residence.

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READ ALSO: Tuktuk driver captured on video stoning traffic officers in bizarre case of road rage

READ ALSO: Iconic UK supermodel Naomi Campbell visits Kenya

Through a series of photos shared on Instagram, the stylish leader was spotted chilling on a lush green lawn right outside a pearly white mansion.

The house looks like those you only see in movies with the balconies decorated using glass finishing.

READ ALSO: 17 completely hilarious reasons why most men fear marrying single mothers with sons

The lawn furniture looks like a dream and was seen placed majestically next to a sky blue infinity pool.

Yes, the residence has an infinity pool. Makes you wonder what you are doing with your life right now and where you went wrong.

The walls of the mansion are perfectly sculpted and the decor is just impeccable. Seems like our dear governor has expensive taste. Wait, we already knew this.

If you thought the house only has one balcony overlooking the breathtaking view of nature, think again because it has a couple.

Joho's followers stared as they struggled to put their tongues back in their mouths while his critics asked him to stop flossing his wealth like an "immature" boy.

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- There were those who felt the punishment being meted out against the youngsters was uncalled for

- Others supported the arrest and detention arguing it would sent a strong message to other young people

- The eight students had recorded themselves insulting leaders and bragging about cheating in exams

- They were arrested between November 23 and November 25 in Ugunja after the video went viral

- The boys were arraigned at Ukwala Law Court in Siaya county on Monday, November 27

- They did not take plea after prosecution requested for seven more days to conclude investigations

The arrest and detention of Ambira Boys High School students who recorded themselves on camera hurling insults at Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and his Education counterpart Amina Mohammed has evoked mixed reactions from Kenyans.

Whereas some appeared to support the move by the government to use the young boys to serve as an example to the rest of their peers, others were miffed by the decision to lock up the teenagers.

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READ ALSO: Huyu ndiye mwanamke anayelipwa mshahara mkubwa zaidi ulimwenguni?

The eight Ambira students were filmed in a viral video hurling insults at Interior CS Matiang'i and Education CS Amina Mohammed while bragging about cheating in exams. Photo: UGC.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Uhuru wants Ambira High School boys who bragged about cheating in exams taught a lesson

Moments after the eight boys aged between 17 and 18 were arraigned at Ukwala Law Court in Siaya county on Monday, November 26, social media caught fire.

Kenyans trooped to Twitter to express their views and were split almost in the middle on how the teenagers should have been dealt with.

READ ALSO: Police arrest 3 Ambira High School students captured in video saying they cheated in KCSE

Some channeled their anger at President Uhuru Kenyatta who had earlier warned the government would not tolerate indiscipline among the young people.

"I want to tell you young men and women, you are our future and we are proud of you, but I also equally send a very strong warning, those young fellows who think they can do or involve themselves in negative activities...As I talk to you, those young boys are where they should be in order for them to be disciplined," a visibly angry Uhuru said on Saturday in reference to the Ambira High School students.

Below are some of the reactions from those who did not agree with the government's move to arrest the students and court's decision to send them to remand for seven days.

READ ALSO: Police unmask 8 Ambira High School students captured in viral video insulting CS Matiang'i and Amina

And the following are reactions from those supporting the arrest and detention as compiled by TUKO.co.ke on Monday:

READ ALSO: Siaya county school on fire as wave of school unrests grip Nyanza region

The eight students appeared before Justice Gladys Adhiambo who directed they be remanded for seven days at children cells in Ugunja Police Station after the prosecution requested time to conclude investigations into their conducts.

Among the things to be investigated are their ages and assessment of the footage for actual offences to be leveled against them.

The regional DCIO Michael Baraza said he was yet to take statements from cabinet secretaries Matiang'i and Mohammed who were mentioned in the vile video.

The case will be mentioned on Monday, December 3, 2018.

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Nairobi tycoon Chris Kirubi has made another public appearance months after returning from the US where he had gone for medical attention.

Kirubi was seen alongside other leaders who attended the Blue Economy conference which kicked off on Monday, November 26, at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).

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READ ALSO: Hassan Joho shares impressive photo of recovering billionaire businessman Chris Kirubi

Foreign Affairs CS Monicah Juma (left), Chris Kirubi (centre) and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko (right) pose for a photo outside KICC. Photo: Facebook / Mike Sonko

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kenyans excited after spotting healthy billionaire businessman Chris Kirubi months after receiving treatment

Unlike in his past appearances, Kirubi's health has improved and he was seen smiling and chatting with other leaders including President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The tycoon greeted President Uhuru Kenyatta as he was making his way out of KICC after delivering his speech. Photo: UGC

Source: UGC

Kirubi flew out of the country late 2017 to seek treatment in a US hospital where he had a lengthy stay until some months into 2018.

Mogul Chris Kirubi pose for a photo outside KICC with Governor Mike Sonko. Photo: Facebook / Mike Sonko

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: First photo of ailing billionaire businessman Chris Kirubi surfaces

He is known for his vast investments across various sectors ranging from media, healthcare, education, manufacturing, real estate and agriculture.

Kirubi serves as an inspiration to many on how to grow and manage wealth but has also been criticised in some quotas for being a beneficiary of illicit wealth- claims that have never been confirmed.

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Kenyans Mixed Reactions Over The 2/3 Gender Rule Bill| Tuko TV

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The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) said today that there was no alternative to the current crisis other than a General Election.

Addressing a press conference, its Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the country was in an unprecedented situation in which the Government was contemplating to boycott Parliament.

He said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya was partial.

There are strong grounds for boycotting Parliament, he said.

He said even minority Governments used to receive majority representation in the committee of selection of Parliament, but the present Speaker had departed from it.

The Committee of Selection appoints the Business Committee of Parliament commonly known as the Party Leaders Meeting.

That works out the agenda and all else. It is in the hands of the Leader of the House representing the Prime Minister. Today, the Leader of the House has no control because the Government is in minority at the Select Committee.

The Speaker has assigned five members to us, five to the UNP and one each to the JVP and the TNA. That is completely wrong, he said.

He said neither the JVP nor the TNA was entitled to seats in the Committee.

Referring to the attempt to move a No Confidence Motion on the cut off funds for the Prime Ministers Office, he said it was unlawful.

Funds are allocated in the annual budget. It has already been passed. In any case, Finance Bills can be brought by the Government, not by the opposition. No party has 113 seats in Parliament. The Speaker gave his ruling on the Committee of Selection on the basis that the Opposition got 121 votes. You have to deduct 14 seats for the TNA and six seats for the JVP. Then, the UNP has only 101 seats. We have 103 seats, he said. (Kelum Bandara)

Video by RM
Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has proposed that President Petro Poroshenko declare martial law in the country for 60 days, NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov has said.

He said this at an NSDC meeting early on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Russia has been conducting a hybrid war against Ukraine for five years, but for the first time they openly attacked the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Before it was done covertly, earlier they used their military without any insignia. We see today that the military units of the Armed Forces and the Russian FSB attacked our naval forces. We are aware of the grave consequences that occurred after that. This is why we are talking about the danger of provocations not only in the Black and Azov Seas, but also on land," Turchynov said.

"We see the active training [] of Russian military units along our northern, eastern and southern borders. This is why, Mr. President, dear colleagues, there is a proposal regarding the decision of the National Security and Defense Council to state that the actions of the Russian Federation are armed aggression against Ukraine and fall within paragraphs c, d of Article 3 of UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 of December 14, 1974. We consider it necessary to introduce in Ukraine a special legal regime to create conditions for the repression of armed aggression and national security threats to national independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, therefore we propose that the president of Ukraine declare martial law in Ukraine for a period of 60 days," Turchynov said.

As reported, three Ukrainian vessels remain seized by Russian special forces in the Black Sea after fire was opened on them. Two Ukrainian boats Berdiansk and Nikopol were struck by enemy fire and lost their course. The Yanu Kapu tugboat was also forced to stop. At least six Ukrainian servicemen were wounded.

President Petro Poroshenko held a War Cabinet due to extraordinary events in the Azov Sea. Ukraine asked for a meeting of the UN Security Council to be urgently convened.

During an emergency meeting of the National Security and Defense Council, President Petro Poroshenko supported the proposal of the War Cabinet regarding the introduction of martial law in Ukraine.
Ukraine and Moldova have discussed the implementation of new infrastructure initiatives and plans on bringing the mutual trade turnover to $1 billion by the end of the current year.

This issue was discussed during a meeting of the heads of government of Ukraine and Moldova, Volodymyr Groysman and Pavel Filip, according to the Government portal.

I want to note the positive trends in our mutual trade. According to the results of the first half of the year, we have the growth of 40% - to about $500 million. We can reach $1 billion at year-end, said Groysman.

The prime ministers met in Kyiv on Saturday, November 24. Pavel Filip took part in the commemorative events to honor the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933.

Groysman thanked Pavel Filip for his high attention to the history of Ukraine, especially its tragic years. According to him, such steps contribute to mutual understanding, mutual respect and ensure openness and constructive relations between countries.

iy
An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the Black and Azov Seas due to Russian aggression against Ukraine will take place on Monday, November 26.

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley wrote this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"An emergency Security Council meeting has been called for tomorrow at 11:00 am," she said.

Given the difference in time, the meeting is scheduled to take place at 18.00 Kyiv time on Monday.

At the same time, for official confirmation of the time and agenda of the meeting, according to the procedure, the country presiding at the UN Security Council (China) should make an official statement.

Ukraine's Mission to the UN on Sunday called on the UN Security Council president to convene an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council due to Russia's aggressive actions in the Black and Azov Seas.
The United National Party (UNP) said today that President Maithripala Sirisena should equally share the blame as the Head of State and the Head of the Government if there was any corruption during the past three and half years.

Issuing a statement, UNP Chairman MP Kabir Hashim said President Sirisena, at a meeting with the Foreign Correspondents Association in Colombo had yet again tried to justify the illegal removal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by saying it was due to corruption.

The President said that a Presidential Commission of inquiry will be established to look into cases of corruption between January 2015 and October 2018.

The Government that operated during this period was in no way 'A Ranil Wickremesinghe Government'. President Maithripala Sirisena who headed the National Unity Government was not only the Head of State but also the Head of Government. All decisions were made by a Cabinet chaired by the President. If there was corruption in the past 3  years as the President says, the President has equally to share the blame.

We welcome the appointment of a Presidential Commission to look into this period and we also insist that President Sirisena is not made immune to the investigation himself.

Furthermore, the President is reported to have said that he will not appoint Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister in his lifetime even if legally proven that he commands the confidence of the majority in the house. This is yet another blatant violation of the fundamentals of Parliamentary Democracy. The President has no choice but to act within the framework of Constitutional Provisions and the Constitution does not make provisions for personal vendettas.

Finally, the United National Party would also like to remind President Sirisena that he has not been elected for a lifetime and that his term as President comes to an end in less than 12 months, the statement said.
Russia must release the captured Ukrainian vessels and resume normal maritime traffic in the Sea of Azov.

"We call on Russia to de-escalate immediately, release the captured vessels and enable normal maritime traffic to resume," Canadas Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter.

Canada also condemned Russian aggression towards Ukraine in the Kerch Strait.

As reported, three Ukrainian vessels remain seized by Russian special forces in the Black Sea after fire was opened on them. Two Ukrainian boats Berdiansk and Nikopol were struck by enemy fire and lost their course. The Yanu Kapu tugboat was also forced to stop. At least six Ukrainian servicemen were wounded.

President Petro Poroshenko held a War Cabinet due to extraordinary events in the Azov Sea. Ukraine asked for a meeting of the UN Security Council to be urgently convened.

At a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on Monday, President Petro Poroshenko supported the proposal of the War Cabinet to introduce martial law, submit it for consideration by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) and forward it to the Verkhovna Rada.

ish
The Netherlands fully supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and considers Russias blockage of access to the Sea of Azov unacceptable.

"Severely concerned about rising tensions in the Kerch Strait. Blocking access to the Azov Sea by Russia is unacceptable. Urge all parties to show restraint and to deescalate. We will discuss in the UNSC today. The Netherlands fully supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine," Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok wrote on Twitter.

On November 25, Russian ships opened fire on three Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait and then seized them. Two Ukrainian boats Berdiansk and Nikopol were struck by enemy fire and lost their course. The Yanu Kapu tugboat was also forced to stop. At least six Ukrainian servicemen were wounded.

President Petro Poroshenko held a War Cabinet due to extraordinary events in the Azov Sea. Ukraine asked for a meeting of the UN Security Council to be urgently convened.

At a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on Monday, President Petro Poroshenko supported the proposal of the War Cabinet to introduce martial law, submit it for consideration by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) and forward it to the Verkhovna Rada.

ish
The Czech Foreign Ministry has condemned Russia's use of force against Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov, according to a statement issued by the ministry.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic is highly concerned about the escalation of tensions around the illegally annexed Crimea and condemns the use of force against Ukraine's naval forces," the statement reads.

The Czech Republic considers the blockade of free navigation via the Kerch Strait by the Russian Federation as "a gross violation of the international law."

The Czech Republic also called for the maintenance of free access into the Azov Sea, respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as for the immediate release of detained seamen and vessels.

"We encourage both sides to be restrained," the ministry said.

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In 47 years, Qayyum Khan* has been displaced three times across two neighbouring countries.

He was only a teenager when his family left for Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. They never thought the move would be permanent, but as the decades passed and one conflict melted into another, the hope of being able to return home seemed increasingly remote, more like faded dreams than a reachable reality.

In 2016, Qayyum Khan decided to move his family  including seven children, all born and raised in Pakistan  back to Afghanistan.

I dont even remember how we got on the truck, how we packed up our lives."

I dont even remember how we got on the truck, how we packed up our lives, none of it, he says, recalling the excitement he felt.

Qayyum Khan and his family are among some 5.2 million Afghan refugees who have returned home with the assistance of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency since the early 2000s.

5 things to know about Afghan refugees (Jim Huylebroek, camerman/ Laura Bowles, editor)

After raising his children with stories of his childhood home, the transition to life in present-day Afghanistan presented challenges. After only three months back in his home in Chadara district in Kunduz province, Qayyum Khan was displaced by violence for the third time.

He moved his family to Dasht-e Tarakhil area, nearly an hour east of the capital Kabul, where more than 1,000 other returnee families  many hailing from his native Kunduz  had started to settle.

While safe from violence and insecurity, the family initially found the area isolated and underdeveloped. The land and nearby fields were barren and empty, and unpaved roads made it difficult to travel long distances to seek work or attend school.

But drawing on strong community ties and help from UNHCR and its national partner ABRAR, Afghan authorities and international organizations, the community has gradually grown to more than 7,000 people.

By pooling funds given to them by international organizations, including UNHCR, which helps refugees who opt to return home, the community bought small plots of land in the area and began to rebuild their lives.

View of Kabul, Afghanistan on November 19, 2018 - UNHCR/Jim Huylebroek  UNHCR/Jim Huylebroek

A solar-powered deep water well built by UNHCR and its partner organisations in Dasht-e Tarakhil, Kabul, Afghanistan on November 18, 2018.  UNHCR/Jim Huylebroek

A weaver makes a carpet in Afghanistan's northern Balkh Province in December 2017. The woman and her family are displaced from Faryab province and came to Balkh in 2017.  UNHCR/Sebastian Rich

An Afghan returnee holds wool he sorts out for women spinners. The thread goes to make carpets and kilims as part of UNHCR's community based livelihoods project in Kabul, December 2017.  UNHCR/Sebastian Rich

A returned Afghan refugee stands behind the counter at his shop in Dasht-e Tarakhil, Kabul, Afghanistan on November 18, 2018.  UNHCR/Jim Huylebroek

In 2017, UNHCR paved one kilometre of the road leading to the community, improving access to the main road and local markets. This year, UNHCR and its partners built two solar-powered deep water wells, reservoirs and a water distribution network, to provide the growing community with a clean, dependable supply.

Efforts to encourage entrepreneurship began last year and are continuing. They include the establishment of small and medium enterprise projects for 30 men and 30 women and the funding of a carpet weaving program  offering an alternative to low-paid day labouring in Kabul, which pays the equivalent of US$1 a day. The small businesses in the area are meeting a growing market demand and are expanding.

The township, which also includes families from Baghlan province, decided to invest in their younger generations. Last year, each household raised what funds they could to buy land to build a school for their children, many of whom did not know the local languages of Pashto and Dari when they arrived.

We may not be here tomorrow, but our children will be, said Zardad, another returnee. The school, which is being built with the assistance of UNHCR, will be integrated into the Government of Afghanistans education system.

We may not be here tomorrow, but our children will be.

So that their education is not interrupted while the new school is being built, the children continue to study in temporary facilities provided by UNHCR and UNICEF. Sessions are split between morning and evening, to accommodate both boys and girls. The teachers are young men, in their 20s, from the community.

Residents are grateful for how much has changed for the better in the nearly three years since they returned, among them Haji Amooz. "We are much happier, things have improved greatly since we first arrived," he says.

While Qayyum Khan notes that challenges remain and there is much to be done, he and other residents are hopeful, highlighting that he does not regret coming back.

The needs of millions of Afghan returnees are high on the agenda of the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan, taking place this week.

Led by the Government of Afghanistan and supported by the UN, the forum aims to take stock of the progress made in recent years, and the long-term interventions and investments needed for return and reintegration to be sustainable.

*Refugees names have been changed for protection reasons.
The president noted that Ukraine did not give up on political and diplomatic means for liberating the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko says that the introduction of martial law does not mean a declaration of war.

Martial law does not mean declaration of war. Ukraine has no plans to go to war with anyone, Poroshenko said at the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine in Kyiv overnight Monday, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Poroshenko stressed that "martial law is introduced exclusively for the purposes of defense, protection of the Ukrainian land, our territorial integrity, our country's sovereignty and independence."

Read alsoPoroshenko speaks up for martial law in Ukraine; parliament to have its say on Monday

According to the head of state, martial law is needed to strengthen defenses against the background of growing aggressiveness and an act of outright aggression on the part of the Russian Federation in accordance with international law.

The Ukrainian leader has noted that the introduction of martial law does not mean that Ukraine gives up on political and diplomatic means for the liberation of the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. "We intend to continue to comply with all international obligations, including the Minsk Agreement," Poroshenko added.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening. Prior to that, on Sunday morning, the 'Yany Kapu' (Yani Qapi) tugboat of Ukraine's Navy was rammed by a Russian coast guard ship while the Ukrainian vessels were carrying out a planned transfer from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

Read alsoUkraine's Foreign Ministry: Provocations of Russia in Black and Azov Seas cross the red line

The Ukrainian side said notification about the transfer plans had been done in advance in accordance with international rules to ensure safe navigation.

Russia, in turn, claims that the Ukrainian vessels "illegally" entered the temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. The FSB alleges that the Ukrainian side did not file an application for passage and its boats were not included in the timetable for navigation through the Kerch Strait.

The Ukrainian Navy's command insists that under Articles 17 and 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 2 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian warships enjoy freedom of navigation, and therefore can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time, subject only to navigation safety regulations.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait. Six members of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them were in serious condition.

Ukraine's presidential envoy to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Borys Babin wrote on Facebook that at there were least two dozen prisoners of war as a result of a recent act of Russian aggression.
All the three boats with 23 people on board were captured by Russia's special forces.

NATO has reacted to the capture by Russia's fleet of the Ukrainian navy's boats near the Kerch Strait.

"NATO spokesperson: 'NATO fully supports Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters. We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov, in accordance with international law,'" Brussels reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Rikard Jozwiak tweeted on Sunday evening.

Read alsoUkraine's Foreign Ministry: Provocations of Russia in Black and Azov Seas cross the red line

On Sunday morning, Russia blocked the Kerch Strait passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Two small-sized armored artillery boats, the 'Berdiansk' and the 'Nikopol,' together with the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  all belonging to Ukraine's Navy  were unable to cross the Kerch Strait. They were moving from the port of Odesa in the Black Sea to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov. Later all the three boats with 23 people on board were captured by Russia's special forces on Sunday evening. Six Ukrainian navy men were reportedly wounded; two of them were in serious condition.
A criminal case has been opened following what the FSB called "violation of the state border of the Russian Federation."

Ukrainian Navy vessels  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  that were captured by Russia's coast guards in the Sea of Azov have been transported to the port of Kerch in the occupied Crimea.

Head of the Russian border guards in the occupied Crimea, Anton Lozovoi, says that three wounded Ukrainian troops have been allegedly provided medical assistance, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

The FSB also informed that a criminal case had been opened following what they called "violation of the state border of the Russian Federation."

Read alsoRussia fires to kill: Ukraine's General Staff elaborates on Russian attack on Ukrainian ships

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait. Six members of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them were in serious condition.

Ukraine's presidential envoy to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Borys Babin wrote on Facebook that at there were least two dozen prisoners of war as a result of a recent act of Russian aggression.
Ukraine demands to provide urgent medical assistance to the wounded and to ensure their immediate safe return home.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has expressed its strong protest to the Russian Federation in connection with the armed attack and capture of the Ukrainian navy ships.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its strong protest to the Russian Federation in connection with the armed attack and capture of the Ukrainian navy ships 'Berdyansk,' 'Nikopol' and the tug boat 'Yana Kapu,' as well as the wounding and capturing of members of their crews," the ministry said in a statement on November 26, 2018.

"The attack on Ukrainian ships that was carried out during a sea crossing from the port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol, in accordance with the provisions of all effective multilateral and bilateral international treaties and navigation rules, is nothing but another act of armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as defined, in particular, in Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations and the provisions of UN General Assembly Resolution 29/3314 of 14 December 1974 on the definition of aggression. Russia has de facto expanded its military aggression against Ukraine to the sea," reads the statement.

Read alsoUkraine urges EU to impose new sanctions on Russia over attack near Kerch Strait

The ministry stresses Ukraine demands to provide urgent medical assistance to the wounded and to ensure their immediate safe return home. Ukraine also demands to return the captured navy ships and to compensate for the damage caused.

"Ukraine urges its allies and partners to take all necessary measures to deter the aggressor, i.a. by applying new and strengthening existing sanctions, as well as by providing Ukraine with military assistance to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders," the statement says.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening. Prior to that, on Sunday morning, the 'Yany Kapu' (Yani Qapi) tugboat of Ukraine's Navy was rammed by a Russian coast guard ship while the Ukrainian vessels were carrying out a planned transfer from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

Read alsoUN Security Council to hold emergency meeting over Russian aggression near Kerch Strait

The Ukrainian side said notification about the transfer plans had been done in advance in accordance with international rules to ensure safe navigation.

Russia, in turn, claims that the Ukrainian vessels "illegally" entered the temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. The FSB alleges that the Ukrainian side did not file an application for passage and its boats were not included in the timetable for navigation through the Kerch Strait.

The Ukrainian Navy's command insists that under Articles 17 and 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 2 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian warships enjoy freedom of navigation, and therefore can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time, subject only to navigation safety regulations.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait. Six members of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them were in serious condition.
Meanwhile, Ukraine should primarily rely on itself, the deputy wrote.

So far, Ukraine has heard only a few partner countries voice their official position regarding the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine near the Kerch Strait, Ukraine's MP, coordinator of the Information Resistance OSINT group said Monday.

"It's Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Canada... The U.S. Congress has appealed to the president with the demand to bring Putin to justice at the G-20 summit," the deputy wrote on Facebook.

"The EU is still reacting at the level of 2014  they express "deep concern" and ask the "parties" not to make any sharop moves. (Alas, there is the same picture in NATO, where all decisions are taken by consensus: 'we call for restraint and de-escalation'). History does not teach Europe anything. At least, this is my impression at the moment (I hope to be mistaken)," wrote Tymchuk.

Read alsoUkraine urges EU to impose new sanctions on Russia over attack near Kerch Strait

"Let's see how and when the West and the UN will get things spinning. Meanwhile, just like in 2014, we should only rely on ourselves. Fortunately, our army and navy is far from the wretched level of 2014," Tymchuk wrote.

"Russian aggressors have decided to finally show their true face without hiding behind the mantra of 'we're not there'. BHhere, it was all 'Russian style' - shooting "in the back" as Ukrainian ships were heading back," the deputy wrote, noting that the disposition of forces in the area was 10:1 in Russian favor.

The deputy also mocked Russian propaganda media reports about "floating mines," which Ukrainian vessels were allegedly carrying.

Read alsoPoroshenko speaks up for martial law in Ukraine; parliament to have its say on Monday

"Stupid lies," Tymchuk wrote, adding that ramming a vessel loaded with mines would be an insane move for the Russian vessel, which nevertheless hit the Ukrainian tugboat, badly damaging it.

The West must understand the simple truth. All these talks about the alleged "provocations of the Ukrainian Navy" are not without a reason. Later, Russian aggressors might attack a civilian ship in the Black Sea, maybe a cruise ship, and they will be claiming there was some "Ukrainian torpedo" involved, Tymchuk suggests, recalling of the barbaric act of the shooting down of an MH-17 flight, when Russian media rushed to blame Ukraine.
Poroshenko is not afraid of Putin, not afraid of elections, as well as opponents, the deputy said.

Ukraine's representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) for the Donbas settlement and First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Iryna Gerashchenko has said martial law does not mean an automatic cancellation of elections in Ukraine.

"There will be elections. Martial law does not mean an automatic cancellation of elections. Poroshenko is not afraid of Putin. He is not afraid of elections, as well as opponents," she wrote on Facebook.

Read alsoPoroshenko: introduction of martial law does not mean declaration of war

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening. Prior to that, on Sunday morning, the 'Yany Kapu' (Yani Qapi) tugboat of Ukraine's Navy was rammed by a Russian coast guard ship while the Ukrainian vessels were carrying out a planned transfer from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

The Ukrainian side said notification about the transfer plans had been done in advance in accordance with international rules to ensure safe navigation.

Russia, in turn, claims that the Ukrainian vessels "illegally" entered the temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. The FSB alleges that the Ukrainian side did not file an application for passage and its boats were not included in the timetable for navigation through the Kerch Strait.

Read alsoRussian troops undergo preparations along Ukraine borders: Ukraine's NSDC secretary

The Ukrainian Navy's command insists that under Articles 17 and 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 2 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian warships enjoy freedom of navigation, and therefore can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time, subject only to navigation safety regulations.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait. Six members of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them were in serious condition.
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe today proposed a gathering of all parties to decide on an election, but said Sri Lanka's constitution must be safeguarded at all times.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said this while visiting the Sathyagaraha conducted by civil society groups against the violation of the constitution.

Political parties can discuss and decide on having an election, but it is essential that the constitution is followed when doing things, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

The constitution has been kicked aside for the first time and a Sathyagaha is being held against it, while protests are being held all over the country. The struggle to ensure the rule of law and to preserve the constitution must continue, he added.

He then thanked all those who had organized the Sathyagaraha and placed his signature on a public petition against the appointment of a new Prime Minister and government. (Yohan Perera)
NATO has called for "restraint and de-escalation."

Countries across the world and various politicians have reacted to Russia's attack on Ukrainian vessels in the Sea of Azov and called on Russia to stop violating international law.

"Today's dramatic escalation of tension in the Azov Sea waters, which resulted in injured sailors and damaged vessels of the Ukrainian navy is a result of Russian Federation's consistent breach of basic international law principles, including the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland said in a statement.

"After the illegal occupation of Crimea, flare-up of the conflict in Donbas, construction of the Kerch bridge without consent of the authorities in Kyiv, Russia breached the principle of freedom of navigation. We strongly condemn Russia's aggressive actions and call on its authorities to respect international law. We urge both sides to show restraint in the current situation, which may pose a threat to the stability of European security," the ministry said.

"Canada condemns Russian aggression towards Ukraine in the KerchStrait. We call on Russia to immediately de-escalate, release the captured vessels, and allow for freedom of passage. Canada is unwavering in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty," Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland wrote on Twitter on November 26, 2018.

"NATO is closely monitoring developments in the AzovSea and KerchStrait, and we are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. We call for restraint and de-escalation," NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu wrote on Twitter, posting the relevant statement.

"Deeply concerned about the developments in AzovSea and KerchStrait. Aggression and violation of international law undermine the security of the whole region. Romania fully supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and its rights to use its territorial waters," the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote on Twitter.

"Estonia condemns Russia's attack against Ukrainian vessels in AzovSea, KerchStrait and calls on immediate release of the ships. These actions violate both international law and Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a conscious act to escalate tension," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia tweeted.

Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, released a statement condemning Russia for the seizure of three Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Crimea after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors.

"Russia's blatant violation of international law in the Sea of Azov and their provocative attack against Ukraine's sovereignty are totally unacceptable. Russia must immediately restore the freedom of navigation through the Kerch Strait to allow Ukrainian vessels to freely use Ukrainian ports," he said.

Read alsoWest slow with response to Russian aggression  Ukrainian MP

"Russia's continued, illegal occupation of Crimea, and their ongoing attempts to destabilize Eastern Europe, directly threaten our national security interests. We cannot ignore Russia's aggression against Ukraine. I urge the President and the Administration to fully hold Vladimir Putin accountable at next week's G-20 summit. We must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Ukraine," Fitzpatrick said.

"Yes, sadly. This escalation is proof that Russia does not seem to be interested in any kind of outcome from the Ukraine negotiation process," Chairman of the German Bundestag Committee on Foreign Affairs Norbert Rottgen wrote on Twitter.

Moscow must ensure access to the Sea of Azov, German Europe Minister Michael Roth said on Monday.

"It has committed itself to that (access)," Roth told broadcaster Deutschlandfunk in an interview, as reported by Reuters.

He added that both Russia and Ukraine must de-escalate.

"Dangerous incidents today in the Sea of Azov due to aggressive Russian actions. Russia must restore free passage at the Kerch Strait. Important to de-escalate the situation now," Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen wrote on Twitter.
Russia has captured ships and crew, and then accused Ukraine of provocation.

United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker has commented on Russia's seizure of Ukrainian ships.

"Russia rams Ukrainian vessel peacefully traveling toward a Ukrainian port. Russia seizes ships and crew and then accuses Ukraine of provocation???" he wrote on Twitter on November 26, 2018.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening. Prior to that, on Sunday morning, the 'Yany Kapu' (Yani Qapi) tugboat of Ukraine's Navy was rammed by a Russian coast guard ship while the Ukrainian vessels were carrying out a planned transfer from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

Read alsoFull support of Ukraine: World reacts to Russia's attack near Kerch Strait

The Ukrainian side said notification about the transfer plans had been done in advance in accordance with international rules to ensure safe navigation.

Russia, in turn, claims that the Ukrainian vessels "illegally" entered the temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. The FSB alleges that the Ukrainian side did not file an application for passage and its boats were not included in the timetable for navigation through the Kerch Strait.

The Ukrainian Navy's command insists that under Articles 17 and 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 2 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian warships enjoy freedom of navigation, and therefore can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time, subject only to navigation safety regulations.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait. Six members of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them were in serious condition.
According to Sokhar, the Russians have long and carefully prepared for the Kerch Strait incident.

Chief editor of the Ukrainian news outlet Obozrevatel, Orest Sokhar, has said the main reason for the introduction of martial law in Ukraine may be to enable NATO to intervene in the conflict, thus the events in the Kerch Strait will have a completely different geopolitical significance.

"My sources claim this special regime is needed to improve the status of relations with the North Atlantic Alliance: something extraodrinary must happen for NATO to deploy its ships into the Black Sea. The introduction of martial law indicates this very importance," he wrote on Facebook.

According to him, the Russians have long and carefully prepared for the incident.

Read alsoNATO reacts to capture of Ukrainian navy's boats near Kerch Strait  journalist

"Since the time of annexation, this is the second pass of our naval forces from Odesa to Mariupol, where the construction of a naval base is underway. And each time, according to Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces Gen. Viktor Muzhenko and Ukraine Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ihor Voronchenko, the Ukrainian side informed [Russia] about the passage in accordance with the requirements of international law," Sokhar said.

At the same time, he recalled that Russians have been actively amassing heavy weapons near the contact line over the last two months, as well as reinforced military personnel in Crimea. During the last week, Russian TV channels were actively talking about the "greatness of the Russian fleet."

In his opinion, the aggressor's behavior can be interpreted in different ways, but the Russians were preparing for this operation, which may have a multifaceted purpose: from simple diversion of attention from the events in Donbas to a new round of aggression.
The decision was backed by 276 lawmakers.

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, has given the green light to a presidential decree on the introduction of martial law in Ukraine.

The decision was backed by 276 lawmakers. In particular, 120 members of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction voted for the introduction of martial law. The decision was also backed by 64 members of the People's Front parliamentary faction, 23 from Samopomich, 16 from the Radical Party, 13 from the Batkivshchyna Party, eight from Volya Narodu (the Peoples Will) group, and three from the Vidrodzhennya (Revival) group. The Opposition Bloc did not support that motion.

Martial law will be introduced for a 30-day period, from 14:00 on November 26, 2018, to 14:00 on December 26, 2018.

It will be effective in certain areas bordering Russia and unrecognized Transnistria.

President Petro Poroshenko listed them: these are Vinnytsia region, Luhansk region, Mykolaiv region, Odesa region, Sumy region, Kharkiv region, Chernihiv region, Kherson region, and the inland waters of the Azov-Kerch water area.

Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy also added two more regions  Donetsk region and Zaporizhia region  to the list mentioned by the president.

Parubiy noted that it had been agreed during the consultations that martial law would be introduced for a period of 30 days instead of 60, and also the decree on martial law indicated that the presidential election would take place on March 31, 2019.

Martial law is a special legal regime providing for the granting of special powers to state authorities necessary to prevent a threat. This is about a temporary restriction on the rights and freedoms of citizens, as well as temporary restriction on the legitimate interests of legal entities.

During the martial law regime, military and civilian authorities are given wider powers that allow them to use human and material resources for their needs. The "authorities" means the entire military command  from the General Staff to the leadership of individual units, as well as the entire vertical of power  from the president and the Cabinet of Ministers to village councils. Decisions can be made both at the central and at the local levels.

What does martial law in Ukraine mean? The law allows to:

- Introduce labor service for the sake of defenses, elimination of natural and man-made emergencies, and socially useful work;

- Use the capacity and labor resources of enterprises and organizations of all forms of ownership for the sake of defenses, change their mode of operation and working conditions;

- Withdraw for temporary use the required property of ministries, central and local executive authorities, territorial communities, enterprises and citizens, including vehicles, structures, cars, machinery, equipment and other facilities related to the maintenance of transport, issuing documents of the established sample;

- Set up protection of important facilities of the national economy of Ukraine;

- Impose a curfew and establish a special blackout mode;

- Establish a special mode of border crossing, restrict the freedom of movement of citizens, foreigners and stateless persons, as well as traffic;

- Check IDs of citizens, and if necessary, inspect belongings, vehicles, luggage and cargo, office space and citizens' homes;

- Raise the issue of banning political parties, public organizations if they threaten the sovereignty, national security of Ukraine, its independence and territorial integrity, as well as the lives of citizens;

- Monitor the work of telecoms enterprises, printing companies, publishing houses, television and radio organizations, cultural institutions and organizations, use local radio stations, television centers and printing presses for military needs and explanatory work among the troops and the public, regulate the work of amateur receiving and transmitting radio stations, transmitting information through computer networks;

- Seize from citizens their firearms and ammunition, cold arms, as well as from enterprises, institutions and organizations  training and military equipment explosives, radioactive substances and materials, potent chemicals and toxic substances;

- Prohibit conscripts and reservists from changing their place of residence without notifying the military command;

- Establish for individuals and legal entities the obligation to house military personnel and military units, subdivisions and institutions;

- Establish the procedure for the use of shelters, structures and other facilities to protect the population, as well as meet the needs of defense;

- Carry out the evacuation of the population, enterprises, institutions, organizations and material values;

- Introduce standardized provision of the population with basic food and non-food goods, medicines, and

- Forcibly withdraw and seize property from legal entities and individuals for defense purposes.

Read alsoMartial law does not mean automatic cancellation of elections in Ukraine  Gerashchenko

The law establishes that elections of the president, the Verkhovna Rada, and local self-government bodies cannot be held under martial law. Accordingly, it is impossible to prematurely terminate the powers of the parliament or local councils. It is also forbidden to make amendments to the Constitution and to hold referendums.

The authorities cannot use the labor of citizens on a free basis  the work for defense needs must be paid for as in peacetime. The property seized under martial law must be returned to the owner after martial law is abolished. If the property has become unusable, damages should be claimed in courts.

The article has been updated in relation to the date of the introduction of maritime law, following the clarification by NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov.
Haley pointedly noted she had spoken with President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before coming to the Security Council.

Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, accused Russia on Monday of taking "outlaw actions" against Ukrainian ships in an incident at sea this weekend, and vowed that sanctions punishing Russia's annexation of Crimea would continue.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the Security Council called by both Russia and Ukraine, Haley said the United States would welcome a normal relationship with Russia, The Washington Post said.

"But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible," she said. "The United States will maintain its Crimea-related sanctions against Russia. Indeed, further Russian escalation of this kind will only make matters worse."

Read alsoNATO chief: No justification for use of military force against Ukrainian ships

Haley pointedly noted she had spoken with President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before coming to the Security Council. So far, she is the most senior U.S. official to speak publicly on Sunday's incident.

She said Russia had acted illegally, and arrogantly, when it blocked three Ukrainian ships traversing the Kerch Strait as they sailed from Odesa on the Black Sea to Mariupol on the Azov Sea. They opened fire on the fleet, injuring six sailors. The ships, and at least 23 sailors, are now in Russian custody.
Now, the wounded crew are allegedly undergoing treatment at a local hospital in Kerch.

Russia's security forces in the occupied Crimea say the crewmen of Ukrainian Navy vessels  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  that were captured by Russia's coast guards near the Kerch Strait as they were returning to Odesa were resisting their capture.

"Now, all of them [crew] are in trauma care. They've sustained no bullet wounds, but fragmentation ones, the so-called 'secondary wounds.' They were caused by small metal fragments that flew off the hull, hitting Ukrainian troops' limbs amid shooting. According to our information, they resisted during their detention. The wounded officer is a senior lieutenant," WarGonzo reported in the Telegram-channel, referring to its sources in the security forces in the occupied Crimea.

Read alsoFull support of Ukraine: World reacts to Russia's attack near Kerch Strait

The Ukrainian seamen who are wounded in Russia's attack near the Kerch Strait are reportedly refusing to speak to the investigators. Earlier, it was reported that Russia had launched a criminal case into the "illegal crossing of the Russian border."
Ukraine seeks to protect rights of captured crew.

Deputy Minister of Justice and Ukraine's Commissioner for ECHR Affairs Ivan Lishchyna has said Ukraine is preparing a statement to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the protection of rights of Ukrainian Navy crewmen captured by the Russian Federation.

"The Secretariat of the Ministry of Justice's Commissioner for ECHR is preparing a statement in accordance with Rule 39, regarding the protection of the rights of Ukrainian sailors captured by the Russian Federation yesterday," he wrote on Facebook, promising to provide details later.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening. Prior to that, on Sunday morning, the 'Yany Kapu' (Yani Qapi) tugboat of Ukraine's Navy was rammed by a Russian coast guard ship while the Ukrainian vessels were carrying out a planned transfer from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

Read alsoCapture of Ukrainian crew: Russia says Ukrainians "resisted"

The Ukrainian side said notification about the transfer plans had been done in advance in accordance with international rules to ensure safe navigation.

Russia, in turn, claims that the Ukrainian vessels "illegally" entered the temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. The FSB alleges that the Ukrainian side did not file an application for passage and its boats were not included in the timetable for navigation through the Kerch Strait.

The Ukrainian Navy's command insists that under Articles 17 and 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 2 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian warships enjoy freedom of navigation, and therefore can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time, subject only to navigation safety regulations.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait. Six members of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them were in serious condition.
The incident happened on November 25.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko says there were 23 Ukrainians on board the three boats captured by Russia near the Kerch Strait; contact with them has been lost.

"We know nothing about the navy men, there is only information about six wounded, two of them have been wounded seriously," he said at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine in Kyiv in the early hours of Monday, November 26.

According to Muzhenko, the command receives controversial reports.

"Communications with the boats and members of the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine after the Russian Federation's action have been lost and are now being blocked. There were as many as 23 people on board the vessels," he said.

Ukraine's presidential envoy to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Borys Babin wrote on Facebook that at there were least two dozen prisoners of war as a result of a recent act of Russian aggression.

"At least six wounded; more than two dozen prisoners of war. [It's a] direct act of aggression of the Russian Federation. We expect relevant decisions by the National Security and Defense Council. The aggressor has just confirmed the seizure of the vessels and crews. If this is not the moment of truth to take certain decisions, then there is a risk that it will never happen," he wrote.

Read alsoNumber of Ukrainian navy men wounded by Russians in Kerch Strait incident grows to six

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening. Prior to that, on Sunday morning, the 'Yany Kapu' (Yani Qapi) tugboat of Ukraine's Navy was rammed by a Russian coast guard ship while the Ukrainian vessels were carrying out a planned transfer from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

The Ukrainian side said notification about the transfer plans had been done in advance in accordance with international rules to ensure safe navigation.

Russia, in turn, claims that the Ukrainian vessels "illegally" entered the temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. The FSB alleges that the Ukrainian side did not file an application for passage and its boats were not included in the timetable for navigation through the Kerch Strait.

The Ukrainian Navy's command insists that under Articles 17 and 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 2 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian warships enjoy freedom of navigation, and therefore can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time, subject only to navigation safety regulations.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait. Six members of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them were in serious condition.
Muzhenko spoke about the events that preceded the act of Russian aggression in the Kerch Strait.

Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Viktor Muzhenko, stated that Russian coast guards had "fired to kill" when attacking Ukrainian ships that were by that time heading back to Odesa after they had received no information about the possibility of passing through the Kerch Strait.

On November 23, the planned redeployment started of the Ukrainian Navy ships, boats and vessels from their permanent base in Odesa to a base in Mariupol," Muzhenko reported during a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine in Kyiv overnight Monday.

"In the course of the planned redeployment, on Nov 24, we received a message about the closure of the passage zone in the Kerch Strait area. There has been no confirmation of such closure from the international control center, which is located in Spain, he said.

Read alsoNumber of Ukrainian navy men wounded by Russians in Kerch Strait incident grows to six

Muzhenko noted that at 4:00 on Nov 25, two requests were made to the control room in the occupied Kerch about the possibility of Ukrainian vessels passing and on specifying the schedule of passage in the area of the Kerch bridge.

No information, no response has been received, and they continued to move. Later, a message was received to move to the waiting area, where the order of passage under the arch of the Kerch Strait Bridge will be determined, the Chief of the General Staff added.

He noted that at 11:00 on Nov 25, a message came and a relevant information was reported by the international control center about the closing of the passage.

Read alsoRussia seizes three Ukrainian boats, two wounded; Poroshenko gathers Military Cabinet

According to him, this information was false, since at 13:40  13:50, a Russian ship and two Russian anti-sabotage boats passed under the arch of the Crimean Bridge, although it was reported that it was impossible to pass through the Kerch Strait due to the fact that the cargo ship had run aground.

He also added that, having received no information before 17:00, the Ukrainian Navy vessels decided to return to the permanent base, Odesa. "During the passage of ships from the waiting area to the point of permanent deployment, somewhere at a distance of 13-14 miles off Crimea coast, about 40 kilometers southeast of Kerch, the ships, which were accompanied by Russian ships and vessels, were fired upon and blocked as [Russians] fired to kill, added Muzhenko.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council overnight Monday spoke in favor of introducing martial law in Ukraine against the background of Russia's outright aggression against Ukrainian ships. The move is to be considered by the Verkhovna Rada at its extraordinary meeting at 16:00 on Monday, Nov 26.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko overnight Monday spoke in favor of introducing martial law in Ukraine against the background of Russia's outright aggression against Ukrainian ships.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine issued an order to bring the Armed Forces of Ukraine into full combat readiness.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are on full alert in response to Russia's aggression near the Kerch Strait, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Facebook on Monday.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening.

Prior to that, on Sunday morning, the 'Yany Kapu' (Yani Qapi) tugboat of Ukraine's Navy was rammed by a Russian coast guard ship while the Ukrainian vessels were carrying out a planned transfer from the Black Sea port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

Read alsoTwenty-three Ukrainians on board three boats captured by Russia, contact with them lost

The Ukrainian side said notification about the transfer plans had been done in advance in accordance with international rules to ensure safe navigation.

Russia, in turn, claims that the Ukrainian vessels "illegally" entered the temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. The FSB alleges that the Ukrainian side did not file an application for passage and its boats were not included in the timetable for navigation through the Kerch Strait.

Read alsoPoroshenko: introduction of martial law does not mean declaration of war

The Ukrainian Navy's command insists that under Articles 17 and 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 2 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian warships enjoy freedom of navigation, and therefore can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time, subject only to navigation safety regulations.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait.

Six crew of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them reportedly remained in serious condition.

Read alsoRussia fires to kill: Ukraine's General Staff elaborates on Russian attack on Ukrainian ships

Ukraine's presidential envoy to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Borys Babin wrote on Facebook that at there were least two dozen prisoners of war as a result of a recent act of Russian aggression.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council overnight Monday spoke in favor of introducing martial law in Ukraine against the background of Russia's outright aggression against Ukrainian ships. The move is to be considered by the Verkhovna Rada at its extraordinary meeting at 16:00 on Monday, Nov 26
MOSCOW AFP Nov25, 2018 - Russias defence ministry on Sunday said that Syrian rebels used chemical weapons containing chlorine in an attack the previous day on the regime-held city of Aleppo.



Syrian state media and a monitor reported that around 100 Syrians were hospitalised with breathing difficulties in Aleppo after an attack allegedly using toxic gas. According to preliminary information, confirmed particularly by the victims symptoms of poisoning, the shells that were fired at residential areas of Aleppo were filled with chlorine, defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a briefing, quoted by Russian news agencies. He said that 46 people including eight children suffered from exposure to chemicals and have been hospitalised. He pointed to repeated warnings from Russia that the White Helmets rescue volunteers in Idlib were staging chemical attacks in order to blame them on regime forces.



During the seven-year Syrian conflict, the West has accused Damascus on a number of occcasions of using chemical weapons against the civilian population.
Four enemy troops were killed and another six were wounded, intelligence reports say.

Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 16 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action.

"Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in the past day. According to intelligence reports, four occupiers were killed and another six were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update published on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on November 26, 2018.

Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns and small arms to attack the defenders of the town of Krasnohorivka. The villages of Troyitske, Luhanske, Travneve, Chermalyk, Pavlopil, and Lebedynske were also under attack.

Read alsoUkraine Armed Forces on full alert

The enemy also employed 82mm mortars, shelling Ukrainian positions near the villages of Malynove, Vodiane, Luhanske, Novoluhanske, and Chermalyk, while 120mm mortars were used thrice near Troyitske and once near Luhanske.

"Since Monday midnight, Russian-led forces haven't attacked the Ukrainian positions yet," the report said.
The commander of one of Ukraine's boats managed to report the coordinates.

The commander of one of the Ukrainian armored boats at the start of Russia's attack on the Ukrainian Navy boats in the Kerch Strait area reported coordinates of the scene of the incident, namely 44 51 'N 36 23'04 "E, which were later posted on Twitter.

The spot is located 23 km off coast. That is, Ukrainian boats were attacked in neutral waters, InfoViyska posted on Twitter on November 26.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on the morning of November 25, Russia, using a tanker they claimed had "ran aground," blocked the passage in the Kerch Strait for Ukrainian "Yany Kapu" tugboat and two small-sized "Berdiansk" and "Nikopol" armored artillery boats. The vessels were on a scheduled redeployment from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

Read alsoUkraine Armed Forces on full alert

According to Ukraine's Navy, the Russian side was informed about transfer plans in advance in accordance with international rules. However, Russia's "Don" coast guard ship rammed a Ukrainian tugboat contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

Subsequently, during the passage of ships from the waiting area to the permanently-based point, somewhere at a distance of 13-14 miles from the coast of Crimea and about 40 km southeast of Kerch, the Ukrainian ships, which were accompanied by Russian vessels, were fired upon and blocked. Six Ukrainian seamen were injured, while the other members of the crews were detained.

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine decided to propose the introduction of martial law in Ukraine for 60 days to create conditions for repelling armed aggression.

Parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy announced the parliament would gather at 16:00 Kyiv time on Monday, November 26, for the special meeting.
The announcement comes as Ukraine is actively considering the move to impose martial law.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday, according to U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

"An emergency Security Council meeting has been called for tomorrow at 11:00am," Nikki Haley tweeted, sharing an earlier tweet by Nolan Peterson, a correspondent who has long covered events in Ukraine.

Peterson's tweet read: "This is the most dangerous moment I've seen in Ukraine in years. Tonight, a war that many people in America can only imagine thanks to Hollywood movies, teeters on the razor thin edge of becoming real."

The announcement comes as Ukraine is actively considering the move to impose martial law.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian coast guard ships opened fire on a group of vessels of the Ukrainian Navy  two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats and the 'Yany Kapu' tugboat  as they were leaving the Kerch Strait on Sunday evening.

Prior to that, on Sunday morning, the 'Yany Kapu' (Yani Qapi) tugboat of Ukraine's Navy was rammed by a Russian coast guard ship while the Ukrainian vessels were carrying out a planned transfer from the Black Sea port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

The Ukrainian side said notification about the transfer plans had been done in advance in accordance with international rules to ensure safe navigation. Russia, in turn, claims that the Ukrainian vessels "illegally" entered the temporarily closed water area of the territorial sea of the Russian Federation. The FSB alleges that the Ukrainian side did not file an application for passage and its boats were not included in the timetable for navigation through the Kerch Strait.

Read alsoPoroshenko: introduction of martial law does not mean declaration of war

The Ukrainian Navy's command insists that under Articles 17 and 38 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Article 2 of the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Ukrainian warships enjoy freedom of navigation, and therefore can pass through the Kerch Strait at any time, subject only to navigation safety regulations.

Later, it became known that a Russian special ops unit had seized all the three Ukrainian boats when they were leaving the Kerch Strait. Six members of Ukraine's Navy were reportedly wounded, two of them were in serious condition.

Ukraine's presidential envoy to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Borys Babin wrote on Facebook that at there were least two dozen prisoners of war as a result of a recent act of Russian aggression.
Brazil was keen to boost bilateral trade with Pakistan as both countries have great potential to enhance trade in many sectors as the Brazil has great expertise in producing renewable energy and it was producing 65 percent of energy from water and was using ethanol as bio-fuels.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : Brazil was keen to boost bilateral trade with Pakistan as both countries have great potential to enhance trade in many sectors as the Brazil has great expertise in producing renewable energy and it was producing 65 percent of energy from water and was using ethanol as bio-fuels.

This was stated by Ambassador of Brazil Claudio Raja Gabaglia Lins while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Deputy Head of Mission of Brazil Embassy also accompanied him.

The Envoy said that new governments have taken over in Pakistan and Brazil and hoped that they would focus on further strengthening trade ties.

He said that Pakistan was producing many products which had great demand in Brazil and stressed that Pakistani exporters should make more efforts to enhance exports with Brazil.

He said the volume of existing exports from Pakistan to Brazil could be further enhanced with strong efforts.

The Brazilian envoy said that many Pakistani products entering Europe were being resold to other countries including Brazil at higher prices and emphasized that Pakistani exporters should focus on promoting direct exports to achieve better results.

He said that Brazil has great expertise in producing renewable energy as it was producing 65 percent of energy from water and was using ethanol as bio-fuels.

He said Pakistan has enormous potential for hydropower while it was one of the larges sugar producer.

Thus Brazil could cooperate with Pakistan for energy production from renewable sources including hydro and ethanol sources.

He said Pakistan has also great potential for tourism and it should focus on improving road infrastructure and air service to its tourist resorts for attracting more tourists from around the world including Brazil.

He assured that his Embassy would fully cooperate with Pakistani private sector in further enhancing bilateral trade between the two countries.

Speaking at the occasion, Ahmed Hassan Moughal, President ICCI said that bilateral trade of around US$ 660 million between Pakistan and Brazil was not reflective of their true potential and both should focus on developing strong business linkages between their private sectors to explore all untapped areas of mutual cooperation.

He said frequent exchange of trade missions and organizing exhibitions on reciprocal basis would greatly help in improving trade volume. He said that CPEC has created plenty of new opportunities for business and investment in Pakistan and urged that Brazilian investors should explore JVs and investment in CPEC and in other sectors of Pakistan's economy.
The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday hailed the government decision to build the Kartarpur corridor and said that it would also help to resolve other issues with India.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :The Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday hailed the government decision to build the Kartarpur corridor and said that it would also help to resolve other issues with India

They said that business community fully support the decision to build Kartarpur corridor to facilitate Sikhs travel to the final resting place of Baba Guru Nanak, said a press release issued here.

The decision will not only help Sikhs to visit Pakistan without a visa but it can also bring Pakistan and India together while improving the image of Islamabad, said Daroo Khan Achakzai, FPCCI's presidential candidate.

Speaking to the business community, he said that both the countries had decided to allow decades-old proposal which could also pave way for resolving other disputes.

This is a significant breakthrough which was highly praiseworthy and so important that Prime Minister Imran Khan would be breaking ground it, he added.

Daroo Khan Achakzai said that political consideration had remained one the biggest hurdles in the development of the SAARC region which housed 22 percent of the world population.

The UBG leader said that SAARC was the biggest trading block in the world with the lowest level of trade and the contribution of South Asia in the global GDP was less than 2 percent and its share in exports was only 1.5 percent.

The pace of growth in SAARC region had been slower at 5 percent as compared with the other blocs, he said, adding that for greater Asia we should enhance cooperation with China, Iran, Afghanistan, and Myanmar.

He said that the cost of cross-border trading in SAARC remained highest in the world while visa difficulties had become a barrier keeping people poor therefore new trade rules should be framed.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Russia recently announced the planned expansion of the regular flight programme between Moscow and Colombo.



According to the agreement between the Russian and Sri Lankan governments dated March 26, 2012 and the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries on December 05, 2017, the Russian air carrier Rossiya Airlines Company (JSC) has been appointed for performing regular passenger, baggage, cargo and mail transfers on the conventional Moscow-Colombo route, with a flight frequency of seven days a week.

Rossiya Airlines is a member airline of the Russian national carrier Aeroflot, which is currently carrying out flights to Colombo five days a week.



The planned expansion of the flight programme is deemed to boost the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, enhancing Sri Lankan-Russian cooperation, and making the two countries even closer to each other.



Sri Lanka has up to October this year has received little over 45, 000 tourists from the Russian Federation.
(@rukhshanmir)

With the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), interference and destructive actions from terrorist groups and foreign forces is an inevitability.

BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :With the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC ), interference and destructive actions from terrorist groups and foreign forces is an inevitability.

The steady and sustained China-Pakistan collaboration will not be shaken, yet facing continuing threats, more response measures must be taken, according to an article published by Global Times, one of the leading Chinese newspapers on Monday.

One key to ensuring the smooth development of the project is to continue to promote development there, elevating ordinary people's living standards so as to improve the social foundation to implement good governance.

The country's industry, first of all must be able to produce more of the products it needs. In this regard, quite a few Chinese companies have been aiding Pakistan's development through cooperation.

China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) signed contracts for the main civil works of the Dasu Hydropower Project in Islamabad in 2017, which will create approximately 8,000 jobs for local residents while helping to modernize the energy sector of the country.

Another key is to strengthen China-Pakistan security collaboration, especially joint works against terrorism.

Over the years, a growing number of Chinese companies have set foot in Pakistan, yet news stories about them being kidnapped or attacked are not uncommon.

There is great potential for the two countries to overcome this predicament.

After the latest attack on Chinese consulate in Karachi, Chinese people appreciate the heroic sacrifice of the Pakistani police.

Apart from that, China is also looking forward to Islamabad's further investigation into the case, to better protect Chinese people in the country while collaborating with Beijing more efficiently in cracking down on terrorists.

More significantly, the two sides should also be vigilant against forces who attempt to use the attack to drive a wedge in Beijing-Islamabad cooperation.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The European Central Bank should bring more women into leadership jobs to improve gender balance, the only female member of the powerful institution's board told AFP.

Frankfurt am Main, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :The European Central Bank should bring more women into leadership jobs to improve gender balance, the only female member of the powerful institution's board told AFP.

"I'm convinced that diversity in management positions is an intelligent idea to pursue," Sabine Lautenschlaeger said.

Lautenschlaeger's appeal follows the ECB's early November vote in favour of a male candidate, Italy's Andrea Enria, to succeed banking supervision chief Daniele Nouy from next year.

Enria, presently head of the European Banking Authority (EBA) -- which crafts the banking regulations supervisors enforce -- was chosen over Irishwoman Sharon Donnery, and was last week confirmed in the new job by the European Parliament's economic and monetary affairs committee (ECON).

But several European sources told AFP they were "shocked" when during the selection process ECON chair Roberto Gualtieri wrote a letter to the ECB praising Enria's wealth of experience -- while appearing to suggest the fact Donnery is a woman was her main qualification.

As for Lautenschlaeger, she will in February leave her job as vice-president of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) -- the ECB's banking supervision arm -- in favour of one of the men on the board.

"I hope our ratio of women in central banking, as well as in banking supervision, will increase," the German central banker told AFP.

The ECB pledged early this year to step up efforts to hire more female staff.

It was still short of its stated goal of one in four high-level management posts held by women, with the figure at just 17 percent at the end of 2017.
Reacting over the killing of over a dozen innocent people in last three days by Indian occupying forces in IOK, AJK President Sardar Masood Khan said on Monday that India had declared a war against the people of Occupied Kashmir.

MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) ,:Reacting over the killing of over a dozen innocent people in last three days by Indian occupying forces in IOK, AJK President Sardar Masood Khan said on Monday that India had declared a war against the people of Occupied Kashmir

"Gruesome killing of 18 innocent youths in last 72 hours is a clear proof that blood-thirsty Indian forces deployed in Kashmir have crossed all limits and are pushing people of Occupied Kashmir to the wall," President Masood said.

Condemning the killing and harassing of the youth during cordon and search operation in Bijbehara, Palmpore and Shopian areas of Occupied Kashmir, President Masood fully endorsed the protest call given by Joint Resistance Leader (JRL) against Indian unending Indian brutalities.

"Growing Indian brutalities against innocent youth create more fury and revulsion against India and will compel the youth to resort to violent means," Masood Khan said emphasized that Kashmiri youth will never abandon their struggle for internationally recognized right to self determination.

He said that youth of Kashmir are fully cognizant of the danger and ill effects of slavery and that was reason that they are at the forefront of the struggle to liberate their motherland from illegal Indian occupation.

The AJK President said that India was interested only in keeping the land of Kashmir under its occupation to benefit from its rich natural resources.

President Masood also condemned India media, working under the direct influence of ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

The President urged international community, especially United Nations' Security Council to take notice of Indian of Indian atrocities in IOK.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik Monday called on AJK Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan and discussed the prevailing situation of human rights in occupied Kashmir, situation along the Line of Control (LOC) and ongoing process of development in the AJK.

MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) ,:Former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik Monday called on AJK Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan and discussed the prevailing situation of human rights in occupied Kashmir, situation along the Line of Control (LOC) and ongoing process of development in the AJK

Minister for education Barrister Iftakhar Gillani and other officials were also present on the occasion.

Expression his views, AJK PM said the resolution of Jammu and Kashmir issue was imperative for the durable peace in the region.

"All civilized countries including Norway, put pressure on India for the resolution of the issue so that she (India) come to the table for talks. Pakistan always supported the right to self-determination of the Kahsmiri people, but it was India which always created hurdles in the way of resolving the Kashmir issue," he said.

Farooq Haider further said that people of Kashmir want resolution of Kashmir issue accordance with United Nations resolutions so that this issue could be resolved accordance with wishes of the Kashmiris people. Kashmiri people are the core party of the dispute and they have the basic role in the negotiations, he added.

AJK prime minister said that United Nations must take notice of the human rights violations in the occupied Kashmir.

"India on one hand is victimizing Kahsmiris in occupied Kashmir and on the other hand half of million population is badly affected by the Indian firing on the LOC, routine life of the people along the LOC is also miserable," he said.

AJK premier said that AJK has a great potential of tourism, but this potential is badly affected because of Indian firing on LOC. India must respect the international law as she is targeting schools and hospitals along the LOC. Public transport and animals were also being hit by the Indian forces, he said.

The AJK premier expressed hope that Norway would play its role to exposing Indian brutal force before the International Community.

Former Norwegien premier said that he had visited occupied Kashmir before coming to AJK and had meetings with Syed Ali Gillani, Mir Waiz Umer Farooq and other Hurriat leadership and got the awareness of the situation.

"We have desire that Kashmir issue be resolved and India and Pakistan could be brought to table so this issue be resolved through peaceful means," he said.

He said, we want resolution of Kashmir issue through implementation of UN resolutions so problems of the Kashmiri people could be solved and they could lead their lives peacefully.

He said, for the significance of regional security the importance of resolving Kashmir issue cannot be ignored.

"UN will has to give attention towards this issue .He said we have keen desire that both the countries resolve the issue so their budget could be spent on welfare of their people. Later PM AJK presented souvenir to the honorable guest.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Hazza Mohammed Al-Qahtani, UAE Ambassador to Rwanda, has met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Rwanda Richard Sezibera.

KIGALI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 26th Nov, 2018) Hazza Mohammed Al-Qahtani, UAE Ambassador to Rwanda, has met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Rwanda Richard Sezibera.

During the meeting, Al-Qahtani conveyed the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to Sezibera.

He also congratulated the minister on assuming his new post. They also discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields.

The Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his country's appreciation for the distinguished ties with the UAE.

He also asked the UAE diplomat to reciprocate his regards to H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.
FIA Faisalabad have arrested seven human smugglers/human traffickers including two proclaimed offenders from various areas of Faisalabad and Sargodha divisions during the last one week.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : FIA Faisalabad have arrested seven human smugglers/human traffickers including two proclaimed offenders from various areas of Faisalabad and Sargodha divisions during the last one week.

According to FIA spokesman here on Monday, the arrested human smugglers/agents were involved in defrauding people of heavy amounts on the pretext of sending them abroad for jobs.

The accused are: Muhammad Ramazan, Muhammad Ashraf, Muhammad Yasin, Shabir Ahmad, Muhammad Mosa, Rashid Qamar Khan (PO) and Abid Rasheed (PO)Further investigation is underway.
(@FahadShabbir)

State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Monday said all out efforts are being made to make the Clean and Green Pakistan drive successful.

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Monday said all out efforts are being made to make the Clean and Green Pakistan drive successful.

Addressing the traders community here at Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), she said pollution is one of the main issues that PTI government aims at tackling through initiatives like the Clean and Green Pakistan campaign.

The minister said the government had launched 10 billion Trees Tsunami project on patron of the Billion Trees Project of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which would play crucial role in tackling climate change issues in Pakistan.

The Clean Green Pakistan campaign was launched by the Prime Minister in October and the Ministry of Climate Change is coordinating its implementation with all the provinces including Azad Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

She said Clean Pakistan goal can only be achieved through public private partnership and chamber of commerce can play a vital role in bridging the gap.

She lauded the RCCI efforts in promoting business activities in the region and also appreciated its key initiatives under Corporate Social Responsibility including plantation of 50,000 tree samplings, RCCI Dastarkhan and medical dispensary.

The minister welcomed RCCI's key suggestions for better environment like inspection of commercial and private vehicles, identification of long survival trees along with area climate, ownership and water conservation.

Earlier RCCI President Malik Shahid Saleem in his welcome address said traders are ready to join hand with the government for its efforts to address the climate change through various steps including tree plantation, ban on plastic bags and use of renewable energy.

The RCCI through its industry-Academia linkage program will initiate awareness campaign and will organize seminars and workshop to make Pakistan greener, he further added.

He informed that Pakistan is seventh in the list of ten countries which have been badly affected by the climate change. The remedy to mitigate the impact of climate change undoubtedly lies in planting more and more trees.

About six to ten degree centigrade temperature can be reduced in different parts of the country by planting trees following the international concept of urban forestry, he added.

Later, State Minister Zartaj Gul planted a sapling at the chamber lawn to mark the 50,000 number under its plantation drive.
(@FahadShabbir)

General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Hj Affendi Bin Buang, Chief of Royal Malaysian Air Force visited Air Headquarters here on Monday.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Hj Affendi Bin Buang, Chief of Royal Malaysian Air Force visited Air Headquarters here on Monday.

On arrival, he was presented guard of honour by a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) contingent, said a press release issued here by PAF Directorate of Media Affairs.

Chief of Royal Malaysian Air Force paid homage to the martyrs of PAF by laying wreath on Martyrs' Monument. Later on, he called on Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan at his office and discussed matters of professional and mutual interest.

Chief of Royal Malaysian Air Force appreciated the professionalism of PAF personnel and lauded PAF's role in the war against terrorism.

The PAF air chief briefed the visiting dignitary about ongoing indigenization projects being taken up by PAF in recent years.

During the meeting, both the dignitaries agreed to promote mutual cooperation and defence ties which will further strengthen cordial relations and friendship between the two air forces.

Chief of Royal Malaysian Air Force is visiting Pakistan on the special invitation of PAF and would also visit forthcoming IDEAS-2018 starting from November 27 at Expo Centre, Karachi.
Commander United Arab Emirates (UAE) Naval Forces, Rear Admiral (Pilot) Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nehyan visited Naval Headquarters (NHQ) Islamabad and called on Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :Commander United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) Naval Forces, Rear Admiral (Pilot) Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nehyan visited Naval Headquarters (NHQ) Islamabad and called on Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi.

Upon arrival at the Naval Headquarters, he was received by Chief of the Naval Staff, said a press release issued here by Directorate of Public Relations of Pakistan Navy.

A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Navy, clad in ceremonial dress, presented him Guard of Honour. The visiting dignitary was then introduced to Chiefs of Staff and Principal Staff Officers at NHQ.

Later, Rear Admiral Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nehyan called on Chief of the Naval Staff in his office, where discussions on professional matters and bilateral naval collaboration were held. Various avenues of cooperation including training, exchange of visits and conduct of bilateral naval exercises between the two navies were also focused.

Admiral Abbasi highlighted Pakistan's commitment and contributions in the fight against terrorism including Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) initiative against piracy and maritime terrorism.

He also briefed Commander United Arab Emirates Naval Forces regarding forthcoming Multinational Naval Exercise AMAN-19, which is being hosted by Pakistan Navy in the first quarter of 2019. Commander UAE Naval Forces lauded the role and contributions of Pakistan Navy in maintaining peace and stability in the maritime domain through global collaboration.

A comprehensive brief was also given to the visiting dignitary.

In the second leg of the visit, Rear Admiral Saeed Bin Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nehyan is scheduled to attend the 10th International Defence Exhibition & Seminar (IDEAS) 2018 and also meet Naval Field Commands at Karachi.

Pakistan Navy and UAE Naval Forces enjoy a longstanding and brotherly relationship. In the formative years of UAE Naval Forces, training facilities and technical advice rendered by Pakistan Navy laid solid foundation for the development of close ties between the two Navies. A number of senior officers of UAE Naval Forceswere trained in Pakistan.

This visit is expected to strengthen the bilateral collaboration between the two Navies.
(@mahnoorsheikh03)

The reasons for the fire also cannot be ascertained as yet.

Karachi (Point News  26th November, 2018) Fire broke out at Bahria Town Karachis Icon Tower on Monday.

In the videos surfacing on social media, the fire at Icon Tower, Bahria Town can be seen.

Fumes of fire could be seen coming out of the tower.

According to the updates on social media, no loss of life has so far been reported in the fire.

The reasons for the fire also cannot be ascertained as yet.

Rescue teams and fire brigades have been moved towards the tower to distinguish the fire.
PM Phuc suggested that the two foreign ministries continue reviewing high-level agreements and fix existing shortcomings in the collaboration of trade, investment, transportation, agro-forestry, and education-training.

He called for joint work to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the victory over the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979), reflecting the profound solidarity in combat between the two nations and raising the two peoples awareness of the importance of the historic victory.

The PM asked both sides to legally recognise 84 percent of the border demarcation and marker planting, and process legal papers for Vietnamese-Cambodians.

PM Phuc urged Sokhonn to continue working closely with relevant Cambodian authorities and localities in the relocation of floating houses of Vietnamese-Cambodians on Tonle Sap Lake in Kampong Chhnang province, as directed by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Sokhonn, for his part, said he always gives priority to developing the friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation and solidarity between the two coutries.

He vowed to work closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to build on their past achievements.

Regarding the relocation of the floating houses of Vietnamese-Cambodians, he said the province also has plans to ensure new housing for the residents, expressing his belief that both sides will soon be able to make suitable solutions in this field.
Sri Lankas IT sector main industry body, Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) in s brief statement expressed its disappointment over the current political situation in the country and called for a swift and constitutional settlement.



As an industry body, we are disappointed to see the current state of indecision and the inability to arrive at a swift settlement by the parties concerned.



We are also deeply concerned about the worldwide media publicity on the happenings in parliament and the resulting negative impact on our image in the eyes of the world. Unfortunately, this damage cannot be easily undone, SLASSCOM Chairman Jeevan Gnanam stressed.



He also expressed concern about companies who are now said to be vacillating to set up or expand their business operations in Sri Lanka due to the current turmoil.

While we understand any nation can and will encounter political changes, we ask for transparency and a consistent application of law and order, upholding the views of the judiciary and the constitution.

We urge those in authority to put aside personal prejudices and narrow agendas at this point and collaborate towards national interest. Unless this is done immediately, Sri Lanka will not be viewed as a compelling or competitive destination to attract foreign investment.



In this regard, we also ask for sustaining policies and executing initiatives already put in place with the participation of the industry. In closure, we again request a swift settlement without permitting this uncertainty to continue, while upholding the constitution and the laws of the land, Gnanam said.



SLASSCOM represent the knowledge services and innovation industrySri Lankas fifth-largest and highest value-adding exporter.
(@FahadShabbir)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Nov, 2018 ) :Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Sunday said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in first hundred days had put the country back on the path of progress and prosperity.

Talking to a private news channel, he said the government was successfully managing the pending external payments, including enhancing the export and trade volume of the country.

The foreign visits of Prime Minister Imran Khan were very successful and the government got huge economic break-though from Saudi Arabia, China and United Arab Emirates (UAE), the minister said.

Ali Muhammad said the government was considering all the options to strengthen national economy by promoting trade with the neighboring countries.

Replying to a question regarding bureaucracy, he said there were many honest and efficient officers in every institution of the country and the government was focusing to utilize their expertise.

He further said it was the prerogative of every elected government to transfer and post the officers as per demand and requirement of the institutions.

Responding to another question regarding the achievement of the government, he said the government had set the direction of the country towards progress, adding the prime minister would disclose the performance of the government on November 29.
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Nov, 2018 ) :Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) group leader Latif Malik Sunday urged the government to formulate new export policy keeping in view changing international scenario.

He was chairing the association's meeting here. Carpet Institute Chairman Saeed Khan, PCMEA Executive Committee Member and Coordinator Riaz Ahmed, Senior Member Malik Akbar, Qamar Zia and others were also present.

Riaz Ahmed and Qamar Zia briefed the meeting about their recent visit to China and details of meeting with Secretary Trade Development Authority.

Latif Malik urged the government to help resolve the issue of huge expenses on manufacturing of carpets in the country and support the carpet Association for increasing Pakistani carpets' exports. He called for resolving matters regarding arrangement of stalls at Domotex Asia/Chinafloor Fair, to be held in Shanghai, China, on March 26-28, 2019.

He said: "Domotex Asia/Chinafloor is an international trade fair for carpets and floor coverings that specialises in the Asia-Pacific region.

As an offshoot of Domotex Hannover, this fair has become the most important trade fair for floor coverings in Asia and the second largest in the world.

It takes place once a year in Shanghai and will be open to trade visitors only." The PCMEA group leader also called for preparing a comprehensive policy to increase country's exports, besides taking long-term measures to pull the county out of present crises. "Pakistani carpets are among the top carpets in the world. It is matter of great pride for Pakistani manufacturers and exporters of hand-knotted carpets that in all corners of the world there are very satisfied customers having trust and confidence in quality and workmanship," he added.

Pakistani carpet manufacturers were working hard to enhance its demand in international market. He said that due to hard work of Carpet Association, soft image of country is being improved day by day.

He said that the Association is keen for betterment of Pakistan carpet industry, invites suggestions from manufacturers, commercial exporters and foreign customers to create more awareness among consumers regardingPakistan-made hand-knotted woolen carpets.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

District Health Department of Islamabad has seized over 93,000 anti-anxiety tablets (Xanax) that were being sold in several medical stores through the distributors in the federal capital with impunity.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :District Health Department of Islamabad has seized over 93,000 anti-anxiety tablets (Xanax) that were being sold in several medical stores through the distributors in the Federal capital with impunity.

On receiving complaints regarding illegal purchase and sale of such controlled drugs particularly Xanax, Senior Drug Inspector Islamabad Sardar Shabbir Ahmed taking notice of the situation, made surprise visit to United Distributors Limited (UDL) Islamabad, which is the authorized agent of Ms Pfizer, Karachi who is the manufacturer of Xanax.

Purchase and sale record of UDL has been seized and it showed illegal distribution of Xanax to some medical stores operating in Islamabad which are not sanctioned for sale of such drug.

Accordingly, the stocks of Xanax available with UDL distributors have been sealed and case under Drug Act, 1976 has been registered against the said distributor.

The drug manufacturing firm (Pfizer) has also been issued notice to provide the manufacturing and sale record of the drug.

In light of sale record seized from UDL, purchase record of various pharmacies is being verified along with their sale record.

Nine medical stores have been raided and the drug Xanax along with purchase invoices has been confiscated from these stores.

The stores which have been raided include Sky Chemist Aabpara, City Chemist Aabpara, Health Zone Medical Store Aabpara, AL Haram Medical Store I-10 Mehtab Medical Store I 10, Services Medical Store I-10, Tariq Medical Store I-9, Hashim Medical Store I-9, and Islamabad Medical Store I-9.

All these stores have been sealed, stocks have been seized and cases under Drugs Act have been registered against their owners and pharmacists as well.

The record seized from UDL indicates illegal purchase by around 20 medical stores. Action against those remaining outlets shall be taken in next couple of days.

Sardar Shabbir Ahmed further clarified that complete audit of other distributors dealing with controlled drugs would be conducted in coming days and strict action would be taken against those found involved in any illegal activity.

He said drug which is supposed to be sold only on doctor's advice in Pharmacies were being sold in medical stores.

Meanwhile all the pharmacists serving in pharmacies have been directed to ensure their presence and compliance with the legal requirements with regard to controlled drugs.

Quantity seized includes Xanax 0.25 mg 17000 tablets, Xanax 0.5 mg 72000 tablets, and Xanax 1 mg 4000 tablets.
In pursuance of the incumbent government's effort to root out corruption from the country, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police has established an Internal Accountability Unit (IAU) to ensure transparency in its internal affairs, besides restoring public confidence in the police.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :In pursuance of the incumbent government 's effort to root out corruption from the country, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police has established an Internal Accountability Unit (IAU) to ensure transparency in its internal affairs, besides restoring public confidence in the police

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan Monday resolved that the capital police would be made corruption free force by advancing professional capabilities of its personnel and ordered to set up the IAU, immediately, a press release said.

In the light of these orders, an IAU has been established in Central Police Office, Islamabad for which an instant Standing Order has also been issued.

The IAU would report to the office of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Operations, Islamabad, while one DSP as incharge and four inspectors as members of the unit would perform their duties under direct supervision of AIG Operations. Likewise, one team for all four respective zones of ICT comprising of one inspector, one sub-inspector and two constables had been appointed.

The IAU had been established at central level to carry out internal accountability of the ICT police. The Primary purpose of IAU was to deal with complaints related to corrupt practices within police working.

This unit would provide a foresight forum for expeditious disposal of complaints of the citizens and would also help restore public confidence in police.

The main function of this IAU was to carry out discreet/fact-finding inquiries into complaints about corrupt practices, information and news/media reporting about corruption. The unit would also inquire into the allegations of misuse of government funds/vehicles/facilities.

It would also verify the complaints of indifference to welfare of police personnel, while inquiries would also be conducted on complaints lodged at Citizen Portal (PMDU) by this unit. The IAU would also look into the matters as entrusted by the IGP, Islamabad.

The IAU would record every inquiry in writing and assign it a dedicated office number. The body would be responsible to finalize every inquiry within 07 days of initiation. In case of additional timing if so required, written approval would be solicited from AIG Operations, Islamabad.

All inquiries would be approved by DIG headquarters for police officers up to the rank of Inspectors, while inquiries of Gazetted officers would be approved by the IGP, Islamabad.

After the approval of inquiry, it would be sent to the competent authority for departmental action, which would be completed in 15 days and requisite report would sent back to the office of the AIG Operations.

A dedicated helpline with number 1416 had also been allocated to the IAU for entertaining information/complaints about corrupt practices inside the Police department. Feedback of complainants' complaints would be reviewed/shared on periodic basis.
(@rukhshanmir)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has established 22 model police stations in various parts of the province to provide easy justice and access to the high echelon of power, said a press release issued from Central Police Office (CPO) here on Monday.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police has established 22 model police stations in various parts of the province to provide easy justice and access to the high echelon of power, said a press release issued from Central Police Office (CPO) here on Monday.

The model police stations established in Peshawar included police station Gulbahar, P.S West Cantt, P.S East Cantt, P.S Yakatoot, in Swat Saidu Sharif, in Mardan Sheikh Maltoon, in Haripur Kot Najeeb Ullah and Police Station Haripur, in Bannu P.S Miryan, in Kohat P.S Ustarzai, In DI Khan P.S Bandkorai and P.S Darband, in Chitral P.S Bomboryat, in Upper Dir P.S Gandigar, in lower Dir P.S Timergarh, in Swabi P.S Topi, in Mansehra P.S City Mansehra, in Tank P.S gali amam, in Hangu P.S City Hangu, in Lakki Marwat P.S Lakki Marwat and in Karak P.S Takht-e-Nusrati.

Police station is an important organ of law enforcement and is the first step in the justice ladder as well as the first point of interaction of the police activities for public and police.

Keeping this fact in view, great responsibilities devolve on its staff to restore the much needed confidence of the general public on this important unit and lay solid foundation form here for ensuring easy dispensation of justice to the complainants.

The basic purpose of establishment of model police station is to provide better environment to the general public at police station level where they can feel at home and present their confronting problems and complaints in a fear-free atmosphere.

Women desks have also been established in these model police stations for redressal of their confronting problems and grievances. Owing to it, the womenfolk are presenting their problems to the ladies police on duty without any hesitation.

Besides this, two ladies doctors are also performing duty on these desks to provide first aid to the injured persons of any incident. Due to public friendly atmosphere in thesepolice stations the gap between public and police has effectively bridged to agreat extent.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday arrested accused DDO (Shifting) KDA Muhammad Arif Khan who is responsible for causing loss to the government exchequer.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : National Accountability Bureau NAB ) on Monday arrested accused DDO (Shifting) KDA Muhammad Arif Khan who is responsible for causing loss to the government exchequer.

Arif Khan along with other accused persons are responsible for causing loss to the government exchequer to the tune of Rs 168,000,000 by creating plots on amenity areas and selling them to general public, said a press release issued here.

NAB Karachi in compliance to the orders of Chairman NAB of expediting the arrest of accused initiated the operation in Karachi Region.

The accused also signed note sheets for illegal transfer of residential plots on amenity area, despite the fact that initial allotment was based upon fake and managed documents and none of the original allottees had appeared before any of them.

In the same capacity, the accused also signed transfer letter of these plots. The accused will on be produced before the Accountability Court for remand on Tuesday.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

National Vocational and Technical Training Commission ( NAVTTC) has established a dedicated private sector engagement cell at its headquarter in order to streamline the collaboration with the private sector.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : National Vocational and Technical Training Commission NAVTTC ) has established a dedicated private sector engagement cell at its headquarter in order to streamline the collaboration with the private sector.

The cell, headed by the Executive Director of NAVTTC, would comprise of a director and four deputy directors, which is mandated to ensure proactive liaison with the private sector partners, said a press release on Monday.

According to a notification on establishment of the engagement cell, it will help in advancing the cause of skill enhancement of the youth and would pave way for the employability of the graduates of the technical and vocational education and training sector.

An active role of the private sector in planning, designing and delivery of technical and vocational education and training is a prerequisite for producing skilled workforce according to the demands of the labor market.

The newly established cell would work for better coordination through the private sector engagement for access to quality skills training through various modes including on-the-job training.

NAVTC, being an apex body of the TVET sector in the country, has given prime importance to private sector which is essential to build a demand-driven TVET system in Pakistan for increasing youth employability and industrial productivity.

It is pertinent to mention here that Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood has already inaugurated the National Skills Forum, a joint forum of NAVTTC and Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), which comprise of representative from industries, private sector and public sector organizations.

NAVTTC has also established and notified sector skill councils comprised of public and private sector representatives in the hospitality and construction sectors besides the establishment of employer-led Institute Management Committees with the support of theTVET Sector Support Programme, funded by the European Union and governments ofGermany and Norway.
Pakistan and Indonesia Monday deliberated on ways and means to enhance bilateral relations and identified the potential areas for further cooperation,mainly, in the spheres of political, defense, trade and investment, education, culture, parliamentary exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : Pakistan and Indonesia Monday deliberated on ways and means to enhance bilateral relations and identified the potential areas for further cooperation,mainly, in the spheres of political, defense, trade and investment, education , culture, parliamentary exchanges and people-to-people contacts.

The deliberations were held during the 2nd meeting of Bilateral Consultative Forum between Pakistan and Indonesia here, a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said.

The Indonesian delegation was led by Desra Percaya, Director General for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and the Pakistan delegation was led by Imtiaz Ahmad, Additional Secretary Asia Pacific,Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan.

The Consultative Forum provided an opportunity to exchange views on the priorities of the newly elected government of Pakistan.

The two sides agreed to explore ways in which bilateral economic cooperation can be strengthened.

Detailed discussions were also held on regional and global issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, Kashmir and Palestine. Two sides reaffirmed their resolve to promote closer cooperation at international fora.

Desra Percaya also paid courtesy call on the foreign secretary and reiterated the Indonesian government's commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation with Pakistan for mutual benefit.

Pakistan and Indonesia have historical relations deeply rooted in mutual respect and support at regional and global level.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The police have established Khidmat (Facilitation) Centres at Allied and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Faisalabad.

FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :The police have established Khidmat (Facilitation) Centres at Allied and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Faisalabad.

A police spokesman said here on Monday that the centres will help in providing medical treatment to policemen from the hospital.

He said that Khidmat centres would also facilitate the disputed parties for settling their issues besides helping the injured for getting medical treatment and medico legal certificates.

The centres would become functional formally from December 1.

The victims, before this had to visit police stations to get police docket but now the same would be issued at Khidmat Centres as these will be linked online with front desks of all police stations of the district, he added.
(@rukhshanmir)

The target killer of two cops and 7 other citizens was arrested by police from the limits of Bahadurabad on Monday.

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :The target killer of two cops and 7 other citizens was arrested by police from the limits of Bahadurabad on Monday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) East Ghulam Azfar Mahesar told APP that accused Ashiq Elahi alias Danish Elahi was nominated as proclaimed offender in cases of target killing of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nawaz Ranjha and Inspector Nasir-ul-Hassan. He also killed 7 citizens.

The accused was arrested by Station House Officer (SHO) Bahadurabad Police Station Shahid Chaudhry after an encounter.

SSP said that the arrested accused belonged to a militant wing of a political party.

In another encounter, SHO Bahadurabad Shahid Chaudhry arrested a street criminal Aqeel alias Silencer from Nabi Baksh area.

An accomplice of accused Abdullah 60 years was killed in an encounter with police few days back.

Accused Aqeel was arrested with the help of CCTV footages, SSP further said. The police team also recovered arms from his possession.

DSP Nawaz Ranjha was gunned down by the arrested target killer on August 17, 2010 at M.A Jinnah Road during routine patrolling while SHO Brigade Police Station Inspector Nasir-ul-Hassan was killed on July 7, 2010 in Lines Area.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) East Amir Farooqi and SSP East Ghulam Azfar Mahesar announced commendation certificates and cashreward for SHO Bahadurabad and his team.
But Fitch Ratings forecasts negative free cash flows amid SLTs need for higher capex



Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT), the leader in fixed line services and number two in mobile services, reported higher revenues and contained costs to post strong profits for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 (3Q18), but a sizeable slice of earnings had been wiped off by a hefty foreign exchange loss.



SLT reported revenues of Rs.20.6 billion for the three months under review, up 8.4 percent year-on-year (YoY).



The operating profit before depreciation and amortisation was up 26.4 percent YoY to Rs.6.5 billion as the group contained the increase in operating costs to 2.2 percent YoY.



Fitch Ratings Lanka last week affirmed SLTs national long term rating at AAA with a Stable outlook, the highest rating on the Sri Lankan scale considering the telcos strong State linkages.



The government has 49.50 percent stake and Malaysias Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd being SLTs second largest shareholder holds 44.98 percent stake. The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has 1.40 percent stake being the third largest shareholder.

Fitch expects SLT to have negative free cash flow during 2019 to 2020 with an estimated negative free cash flow of between Rs.2.0 billion to Rs.3.0 billion for 2018 due to large capital expenditure (capex) required to expand fibre infrastructure and 4G mobile networks.



Fitch said that SLTs capex is likely to remain significantly high during 2019at an estimated 28-30 percent of revenues as it aims to complete its 4G-population coverage to around 95 percent by the end of that year.



We expect SLT to continue to invest in expanding fibre coverage as it targets to connect about 1 million homes by 2020-2021 from an existing 70,000 homes currently. Typically, SLT would need to lay fibre for at least 2 million homes to get half of the households connected. We expect SLTs fibre investments to have low returns due to the countrys low broadband tariffs, Fitch said.



Meanwhile, as a notable event during the period, the group reported a foreign exchange loss of Rs.564 million for the quarter, while the nine months loss was Rs.1. 1 billion.



SLT did not specify the reasons for the whopping loss, but it had Rs.53 billion in debt out of which 25 percent was denominated in US dollars.



However, the group has cash worth Rs.12 billion and committed undrawn bank lines worth Rs.13.5 billion, which is sufficient to fund its short-term debt of Rs.13.5 billion, Fitch showed.



Meanwhile, the SLT group reported earnings of 64 cents a share or Rs.1.2 billion for the quarter under review compared to 40 cents or Rs.730 million in earnings reported for the same period last year.



For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the group reported earnings of Rs.2.21 a share or Rs.3.99 billion compared to Rs.1.79 a share or Rs.3.2 billion a year ago.



Revenue for the nine months was Rs.60.1 billion, up 6.6 percent YoY on fixed broadband and mobile usage and the operating profit (before depreciation and amortisation) was Rs.5.2 billion, up 53 percent YoY.



Fitch said barring any tax shocks, SLTs revenues could grow by mid single digits during 2019 and 2020 driven by data and fixed broadband.



We expect 4G smartphone penetration to improve from the current 25 percent with the proliferation of cheaper Chinese phones, Fitch said adding that the governments recent removal of floor rates on voice calls will have limited impact on growth.



Fitch however cautioned that SLTs National Long-Term Rating could come under pressure if it were to carry out a debt-funded acquisition of Bharti Airtel Limiteds (BBB-/Stable) Sri Lankan subsidiary, Airtel Lanka.



However, any rating action will be based on the acquisition price, funding structure, and the financial and operating profile of the combined entity, it added.

Fitch maintains a Stable outlook on the Sri Lankan telecom sector.



We expect the sectors cash generation to improve, driven by higher mobile and broadband data usage, which however, will be insufficient to fund the large capex requirement, leading to negative FCF.



We also expect the average operating EBITDAR margins to remain stable at around 34 percent (2018 estimate: 34 percent), driven by improving economies of scale in the data and home broadband segment, offsetting the negative impact of the changing revenue mix, Fitch noted.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar Monday said Pakistan would attach top priority to the promotion of social-economic development and industrial cooperation sectors in the Joint Coordination Committee of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which would be held in Beijing next month

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar Monday said Pakistan would attach top priority to the promotion of social-economic development and industrial cooperation sectors in the Joint Coordination Committee of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which would be held in Beijing next month.

He expressed these views during a meeting with Ambassador of China in Islamabad Yao Jing here.

The two sides discussed progress on CPEC projects and preparation for the upcoming JCC, planned next month.

Condemning the attack on Chinese Consulate in Karachi, the two sides expressed their resolve to further strengthen and expand Pak-China Cooperation.

The minister said bilateral relations between were time-tested, as the two sides have a long history of cordial, friendly and strategic cooperation in all areas and domains.

The whole nation is standing in support of Pak China relations and the cooperation in the shape of CPEC.

The Minister termed the attack as a conspiracy to sabotage China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"These detractors cannot change our resolve on this mega cooperation.

Evil designs of these will have to face a clear defeat" he added.

Minister assured that a thorough investigation is being carried out to apprehend the perpetrators their financiers, planners and facilitators.

Both sides expressed their agreement to continue to work together and firmly move forward with CPEC by further strengthening and expanding its base.

Ambassador Yao Jing strongly condemned the terrorist attack against Chinese Consulate in Karachi.

He appreciated the quick, prompt and effective action of Pakistan security and Law Enforcement Forces who sacrificed their lives to protect the Chinese Consulate.

He said that the terrorist attack was an attempt to impact Pakistan China relations and to harm CPEC.

He stressed that Pakistan-China brotherhood was clad in iron and such cowardly attacks could not affect it.

The minister said that Government of Pakistan was fully committed to providing foolproof security to Chinese nationals in Pakistan and CPEC projects all across the country.

The two countries will continue to cooperate to thwart the designs of hostile forces against their times' tested friendship, he added.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The much-trumpeted encroachment drive of Capital Development Authority (CDA) may not gain its desired results until scope of the action is extended to other major areas of the federal capital, where illegal establishment has eclipsed the actual beauty of the city.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :The much-trumpeted encroachment drive of Capital Development Authority may not gain its desired results until scope of the action is extended to other major areas of the Federal capital, where illegal establishment has eclipsed the actual beauty of the city.

While drive against encroachers is being eulogized, the public, at the same time, seek action in other parts of capital to give a strong message that the drive is not only in a few targeted areas.

While the CDA , mandated to oversee the drive, was busy in reclaiming the state's land from illegal occupants, the public appears less-satisfied with the pace of its encroachment campaign completely lacking monitoring mechanism to keep check on reemergence of such violators.

The civic authority had retrieved thousands of Kanal land from different areas of the capital includes The Korang Nullah, Kashmir Highway, Bani Gala, Faizabad, Sector G-12 and F-7 whereas major spots Imam Bari, Bara kahu, Sitara market, Abpara, Melody, sector G-6, G-7, G-8 and other rural areas, however did not manage to catch the attention of authorities concerned.

Expressing their concerns, the citizens on Monday urged the authorities concerned to tighten noose around encroachers who dared to challenge writ of the state by causing nuisance to the people with impunity.

Talking to APP, a resident of G-7/1 Bilal Haider said along the Nullauha, some people had encroached upon huge chunk of valuable land of the CDA in shape of slums dwellers and recently had constructed costly multi-story houses on political basis.

Although, the Islamabad high court had directed Islamabad Electric Supply Company and Sui Northern Gas and Pipeline Limited to severe their Utility connections but the authorities concerned yet to take action against influential land grabbers due to Implications.

A government employ Sarfraz Ali shopping at Abpara Market said the mobility of buyers was disturbed due to advancement of shops, mobile vendors and eateries who now had trespassed half of the road, in the market, covering maximum open spaces.

A commuter Mumtaz khan at the same market said he was stuck in the market because of parked vehicles, stalls, kiosks and two-way traffic flow in addition to absence of Islamabad Traffic Police.

A buyer Shumaila Shabir demanded urgent action against food-lets prepared chicken and fish in boiling oil might cause burn injury to a visitor in such over-crowded place due to frequent movements of public.

An eatery requested not be named said the "Municipal corporation conducts massive operation once in blue moon when we all are being told a day earlier of such crackdown by the market unions' members, alleging their contacts with some black sheep in department concerned.

The majority of shopkeepers were willingly paying heavy rent of shops in the market and later rented out to small encroachers, charging the latter Rs 500 per day.

A resident of sector G-8 Muhammad Zafran pointing out the car showrooms owners' continue defiance still parked their vehichles on pavements and along the roads despite a clear direction of apex court for dealing with such kind of encroachments.

He said they were pushed from the footpaths and said they were left with no other option but to jog the roads as the pavements were occupied these dealers.

Naveed Ahmed resident of Imam Bari regretted mushrooming illegal occupations in his area within short span which could be witnessed on main road leads to Quid e- Azam Universtiy, Muslim Colony, main van stop and other areas.

Regretting the clumsy approach of department concerned, he said, "The operational force of the CDA seems at its wits end to deal with such elements as they are still there where they were despite several complaints." He said recently the CDA had conducted an operation in the area which he termed as targeted one, reportedly.

He said his locality earlier remained a business-centric location for vendors as it was among the most visited place of the capital due to great inflow of devotees, come to pay regards and offer prayers to Imam Bari Sarkar.

Now, the shopkeepers had started opening workshops without any permit or license along the main road due to a gradual rise in use of mobility modes among public.

When contacted Director Enforcement Faheem Badsha for his department's version, he seemed unmoved despite several attempts.
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Pristina, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :Albania on Monday lent support to Kosovo's 100-percent tariff on Serbian goods, which Pristina levied last week in retaliation for what it said were Belgrade's efforts to undermine it on the world stage.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said the measure was "a political reaction to the state that knifes Kosovo in the back." He was speaking to the press in the western Kosovo town of Pec, where the two governments met to sign a deal to eliminate trade barriers on their border by mid-2019.

"Today is the time to set 100 percent tariffs in the north and to have zero tariffs in the south of Kosovo," Rama said.

The comments deepened the ire in Belgrade, where Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said that it made "no sense now to hold regional cooperation meetings after what Rama said." Albania is a key ally of Kosovo, a former Serbian province with an ethnic Albanian majority that has struggled to gain full global recognition of the independence it declared in 2008, a decade after breaking away in a brutal war.

Serbia refuses to recognise Kosovo's independence and has accused the pair of wanting to unite and form a "Greater Albania".

Already dismal relations between Kosovo and Serbia took a significant dip last week after Pristina issued the 100-percent tariff, which has reduced the flow goods.

Kosovo said the move was in retaliation for Belgrade's efforts to undermine recognition of its statehood and block it from joining international organisations, such as Interpol.

The European Union condemned the tariff, while Serbia's president has said it amounts to a de facto trade ban.

At the meeting on Monday, Kosovo and Albania also announced the end of roaming charges on mobile phones used by their citizens.
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This week's Syria peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital Astana will be attended by a delegation of 13 Syrian opposition members, the head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service said

ASTANA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) This week's Syria peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital Astana will be attended by a delegation of 13 Syrian opposition members, the head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service said.

"Thirteen members of the armed Syrian opposition plan to take part in the Astana talks on the Syrian reconciliation.

The delegation will be led by Ahmad Toma," Aibek Smadiyarov told reporters.

The new round of talks with the Syrian government will be held on November 28-29.

The opposition delegation will feature both veterans and those new to the Astana peace process, Smadiyarov added.
President of the Republic of Chad Idriss Deby has said during his historic visit to Israel he wants to open a new chapter in bilateral ties between the two nations that have not had diplomatic relations more than 40 years

TEL AVIV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) President of the Republic of Chad Idriss Deby has said during his historic visit to Israel he wants to open a new chapter in bilateral ties between the two nations that have not had diplomatic relations more than 40 years.

On Sunday, Deby held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.

"We need to melt the ice if it is possible to say so. The future is important, including the future of our relations, the future of our peoples, the future of Israel and Africa. We are here and we want to resume diplomatic relations. Your country is an important partner for us," Deby said at a meeting with Netanyahu.

Netanyahu, on his part, called Chad a very important partner for Israel.

"As a leader of an African country, an important African country, a majority of whose population is Muslim, you are coming to Israel to renew our friendship and our relationship. I think it is a testament of what is going to happen with other such countries in Africa as well, and I believe that you are paving the way for many others," the Israeli leader said.

Both leaders said that despite the rift in diplomatic relations that occurred back in 1972, Israel and Chad have never completely turned off cooperation. Deby also noted that the fight against terrorism had been one of the most important areas of bilateral cooperation.
Chinese police handed over a suspected drug trafficker to Vietnam Monday.

NANNING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : Chinese police handed over a suspected drug trafficker to Vietnam Monday.

Nong Van Khoi, the plotter of a major cross-border drug trafficking case, was transferred to Vietnamese police via the Friendship Pass in the city of Pingxiang, a busy border pass in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

In February, Vietnamese police busted a gang smuggling drugs from Laos to China via Vietnam's northern Cao Bang Province and seized 288 blocks of heroin, weighing over 100 kg in total. But the main plotter fled to China.

Vietnamese police reported the case to Chinese police. In September, Interpol also issued a red notice for Nong Van Khoi.

Chinese police caught Nong Van Khoi in the city of Huizhou in south China's Guangdong Province on Oct. 25.

China and Vietnam have conducted joint anti-drug operations in border areas since 2014.

"The joint operations have yielded remarkable results since they were launched," said Yan Qiwei, director of the anti-drug team of the regional public security department. "The two sides have strengthened exchanges and information sharing this year."As of Nov. 1, the joint anti-drug operations in Guangxi had cracked a total of 536 cases, 30 of which involved Vietnamese, and seized 741 suspects, including 43 Vietnamese suspects, and over 250 kg of drugs.
GENEVA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th November, 2018) This week's Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan in Geneva is not likely to lead to a breakthrough in the Afghan peace process, Russia's presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said.

"We are realists and we have no high expectations. International conferences are held almost twice a year but without any progress," Kabulov told reporters in response to a question whether the conference could advance peace talks with the Taliban.

Kabulov, who heads the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second Asian Department, said Russia would try to persuade participants of the conference to take action.

"You can adopt a perfect international document but if you don't act on it - which is what the Moscow format did at the November 9 meeting - nothing will come out of it. That's why we will try to persuade our colleagues at the conference that it's time we go from words to actions," the envoy said.

The United Nations will host two days of ministerial talks on Afghanistan this Tuesday and Wednesday. They will come on the heels of a Moscow meeting between the Doha-based Taliban political office and the High Peace Council, backed by ex-president Hamid Karzai.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has received a briefing on the situation in Kerch Strait and has made the appropriate contacts, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing on Monday.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th November, 2018) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has received a briefing on the situation in Kerch Strait and has made the appropriate contacts, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing on Monday.

When asked about Guterres' response to the incident in Kerch Strait, the spokesman said, "He has been fully briefed on the situation. Contacts have been made on various levels."

The spokesman reiterated that the United Nations calls on both parties to come to the table for negotiations.

On Sunday, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it intercepted three Ukrainian naval ships that illegally entered Russian territorial waters in violation of international law while moving from the Black Sea into the Azov Sea.

The FSB said the Ukrainian vessels failed to respond to warnings and instead made dangerous maneuvers, prompting the agency to detain the ships.

On Monday, the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council imposed martial law in Ukraine for a period of 30 days, and the chief of the Ukrainian General Staff has ordered the country's armed forces to be on full combat alert.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it handed a protest note to Ukraine's Charge d'Affaires Ruslan Nimchinsky on Monday over Sunday's incident in the Kerch Strait.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said the responsibility for the escalation of the conflict situation in the Azov Sea-Black Sea region lies fully with the authorities in Kiev.
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Iran is ready to export indigenous fighter jets, a senior Iranian army commander said Monday.

TEHRAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : Iran is ready to export indigenous fighter jets, a senior Iranian army commander said Monday.

"We have already taken necessary steps to export (our) products," Abdoklarim Banitarafi, head of Iran Aviation Industries Organization, was quoted as saying by Press tv.

Iran plans to sell its trainer jets as well, he added.

Banitarafi made the remarks ahead of the opening ceremony of an air show in Iran's southern Kish Island on Monday.

Iran unveiled its first indigenous fighter jet, Kowsar, in August.

The fighter jet is equipped with "advanced avionics and fire control systems" and can be used for short aerial support missions.

It also uses digital military data networks, multi-purpose digital monitors, ballistic calculation computers and smart mobile mapping systems.

The jet has an advanced radar system, enabling it to detect enemy targets. It is also equipped with a head-up display (HUD), which promotes precision targeting.

The plane can be manufactured in both single and double cockpit types, the latter of which can be used for advanced pilot training missions in addition to its combat capability.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will go on a trip to South America on November 26-December 4 visiting Argentina to attend the G20 summit, as well as Uruguay and Paraguay, local media reported on Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will go on a trip to South America on November 26-December 4 visiting Argentina to attend the G20 summit, as well as Uruguay and Paraguay, local media reported on Monday.

The G20 summit will be held in Buenos Aires on November 30-December 1, bringing together the leaders of the world's 20 largest economies.

According to the Nikkei newspaper, Abe is expected to hold talks with US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the G20 sidelines. In his talks with the US leader, Abe will reportedly reaffirm Japan's belief in the importance of free trade amid the ongoing US-China trade wars, and address the upcoming talks on the US-Japan Trade Agreement on Goods (TAG) slated to start in the beginning of the next year.

The talks with Putin will focus on the territorial dispute in the light of the recent announcement by both leaders on stepping up the peace treaty talks based on the 1956 Soviet-Japanese joint declaration, the media outlet noted.

In Uruguay and Paraguay Abe is set to have meetings with the heads of state, as well as local citizens of the Japanese origin.

On November 14, the leaders of Russia and Japan met in Singapore and agreed to advance negotiations on a peace treaty based on the 1956 Soviet-Japanese joint declaration, the only document recognized by both countries. The declaration stipulates, among other things, that Japan will regain control over Habomai and Shikotan islets following the conclusion of the peace treaty with Russia. According to media reports, Abe has promised Putin that if Habomai and Shikotan were transferred to Japan, US military bases would not be established there.

In September, Trump and Abe announced that the two countries had agreed to start bilateral trade negotiations. According to a joint statement released by the White House, the two leaders agreed to respect each government's positions which include, for the United States, market access to Japan's motor vehicle sector which will boost US jobs and production. Tokyo, for its part, wants access to US agricultural, forestry, and fishery product markets as reflected in Japan's previous economic partnership agreement, the joint statement said.
Speakers stubbornness triggered turbulence in Pment

Executive, Legislature and Judiciary cannot function in contrast to each other

PM is working to get majority in House

It is good that SLFP factions are united

Fisheries, Aquatic Resources Development and Rural Economic Affairs Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa speaks about the change of government. He served in the same post under the previous UNP-led government representing Sri Lanka Freedom Partys faction loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena. Excerpts of the interview:



QHow do you see the decision taken by the President to bring about change?



I always stand by the decisions of President Maithripala Sirisena. He takes well-calculated decisions. The President said he offered the premiership to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya first, and then to MP Sajith Premadasa. Since they refused to accept the offer, the President offered it to Mahinda Rajapaksa. He accepted the post. The President took the decision, be it correct or not. He is the head of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). I am a long-standing member of that party. I stood by the President. That is it.



QNow the new government faces a crisis in mustering the majority in Parliament. How can you resolve it?



Minister Wasantha Senanayake, who defected from the new Cabinet, returned to it. Prime Minister Rajapaksa is acting to ensure the majority. I believe there will be no problem.



QWhat do you think about the turbulence in Parliament recently?



I find fault in both sides. Primarily, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya should act in understanding with President Maithripala Sirisena. In my view, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary cannot function in contrast to each other. The three arms of governance should collaborate and follow a common path. Only then will there be stability in the country. I noticed these three arms taking different routes. It does not bode well for the country.



The President delivered an announcement to the Speaker to be read out in the House. There is a procedure to be followed in the conduct of Parliamentary affairs. I have years of experience in Parliament as a member. The Speaker, at the beginning, reads out the announcements by the President. That is the practice. Yet, he did not do it on that day. The Speaker acted in a stubborn manner and steamrolled his way in the presence of foreign envoys in the VIP gallery. It triggered turbulence in Parliament. It is not a healthy sign of any democracy. That is what I see.



QThe UNP called this an unlawful government. But the government says it is legitimate. In that context, how feasible is it for you to discharge ministerial functions?



Relevant officials, in a situation like this, tend to be neutral without doing much work. But the ministers, if they are smart enough, can do some work even under present circumstances. I do my work. My officials cooperate with me. The others can also do the same. Nothing prohibits them from working. We do normal work.



QPresident Sirisena forged ties with his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa shedding their political rivalries. Did you anticipate it?



It is the nature of politics. In fact, it is a characteristic of politics. Nobody can rule out such developments in politics.



QIs this unity good for the country in your view?



There is nothing wrong with it. The SLFP factions have united. It is good in the greater interests of the party. This should translate into the betterment of the country as well. That is my wish. We should come out of the present impasse. There are four key persons here; the President, the Speaker, the Prime Minister and the former Prime Minister. They are duty-bound to address it. We are also responsible.



QAfter the electoral defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015, you compared it to a situation in which the father is dead in a family (Appachchi Malo). You said there was no use of lamenting over and over again if the father were dead. Now, you have to do politics again with Mr. Rajapaksa whom you referred to as a dead duck. What do you feel now?



I spoke to him. His son MP Namal Rajapaksa called on me. His brother Basil Rajapaksa contacted me over the phone. I met with the Prime Minister upon his request. I categorically told him that I could not be bought over by anyone in politics. I take decisions based on ideals only. I have a party. I have a leader. I act according to my conscience. If we crossover to another party, it should not be driven by inducements in terms of money or perks. If you are a politician with ideals, you should change your party in the national interests only. It is wrong to change politics for money and perks.



During the time of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, I experienced a similar political crisis. One MP from our district joined the other side. But I did not. We sat in the opposition. After a struggle, we won again.

The President has every right to openly speak about what he feels is correct. He does not look at anything from his partys point of view

The three arms of governance should collaborate and follow a common path. Only then will there be stability in the country. I noticed these three arms taking different routes. It does not bode well for the country



QRecently, with reference to your Appachchi Malo story, you said Appachchi resurrected after being placed in a coffin made of Rukattana wood. It is a kind of wood used for anti-venom treatment in traditional medicine. What did you imply by that statement?



Take a look at the situation. We are mobbed by local and foreign journalists eager to know what is going on. Whenever they see us, they flash their mikes and bombard us with questions. It is sometimes done with disregard to our privileges as MPs.



Once, a journalist asked whether I smuggled a sharp tool into the chamber of the House. I asked him not to raise such idiotic questions (Boru Prashna). I have been in politics for 30-40 years. In fact, we did active politics during the 1988/89 terror period.



QI am asking about the Appachchi Malo story



That is what I am saying. We have buried the past. If we talk for hours, the media only highlight a few rhetorical points that sell for them. So people wonder whether we provide jokes. Some of these sayings are not even found in the traditional usage of our language. Some proverbs and sayings are not even found in traditional folklore. I myself have coined them. I am intending to publish a book on them. Once it is launched, you can read them.



QWhat is your experience in doing politics with the UNP?



I felt uncomfortable in certain instances. I boldly struggled on those occasions. I stood for the protection of local dairy farmers, dry-fish producers and the renovation of irrigation tanks. I struggled hard for it. I must tell you that our voice was heard.



QDid you wish to continue with the UNP-led government or to form an SLFP-led government?



The President is someone taking intelligent moves. He is competent enough to take quick, intelligent decisions. He is a politician with a thorough understanding on cohabitation politics. We are his followers. We can work with anyone. If President Sirisena and Prime Minister Rajapaksa can work together, why cant we?



QWill you contest the next general election under a common front with Mr. Rajapaksa?



Yes, I will! It will be a common front.



QWhat are the reasons for President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to be at loggerheads in the past?



First of all, we must understand that there were two opposing parties governing the country. Our policies are different by and large. The President is the head of State. Whatever anyone may say, the President and the Prime Minister forge with the government. The President has every right to openly speak about what he feels is correct. He does not look at anything from his partys point of view. If officials of his staff get involved in anything wrong, the President will not try to exonerate them. In that sense, he is an amazing character. Our country is not used to such personage. The President expresses himself fearlessly.
A delegation representing Kazakhstan will attend the upcoming UN conference on Afghanistan in the Swiss city of Geneva, Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said on Monday.

ASTANA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) A delegation representing Kazakhstan will attend the upcoming UN conference on Afghanistan in the Swiss city of Geneva , Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said on Monday.

"A ministerial conference on Afghanistan under the auspices of the United Nations will be held in Geneva on November 27-28. The Kazakh delegation at the event will be headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko," Smadiyarov said at a briefing.

The conference will be held at the high level with 76 countries and 25 international organizations invited to participate in the event, according to the spokesman.

"The participants of the conference are supposed to discuss issues of the long-term political and economic development of Afghanistan," Smadiyarov added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as well as Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani and Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah will also take part in the conference, among others.

Afghanistan has long been suffering from unstable political, social and security situation due to the simmering militant insurgency, including that of the Taliban and the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, banned in Russia).
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The provocation in the Kerch Strait is aimed at the artificial escalation of tensions between Moscow and Kiev and is set to be used as pretext to impose new sanctions against Russia, Russian Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich said on Monday.

VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) The provocation in the Kerch Strait is aimed at the artificial escalation of tensions between Moscow and Kiev and is set to be used as pretext to impose new sanctions against Russia Russian Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich said on Monday.

On Sunday, the FSB said that three ships of the Ukrainian Navy in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea crossed the Russian sea border, entered the temporarily closed area of the Russian territorial waters, and were moving from the Black Sea toward the Kerch Strait. The Ukrainian ships did not react to legal demands of the ships accompanying them, made dangerous maneuvers and were detained after violating Russian state borders, according to the FSB.

"The fact that this was a provocation is also evidenced by the records on the internet of the negotiations of sailors ... All of this is aimed at artificially exacerbating the Russian-Ukrainian disagreements, creating new pretexts for unwinding the thesis on the need for new sanctions against Russia, " Lukashevich said at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.

The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) earlier on Monday imposed martial law on the territory of Ukraine for a period of 60 days. The chief of the Ukrainian General Staff has ordered to put the country's armed forces on full combat alert.
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Libyan Interior Minister Fat'hi Bashagha has said that his ministry is seeking full security cooperation with Germany in training, information technology, crime control, national safety, and other security fields.

TRIPOLI, Nov. 26 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :Libyan Interior Minister Fat'hi Bashagha has said that his ministry is seeking full security cooperation with Germany in training, information technology, crime control, national safety, and other security fields.

In a meeting with German Ambassador to Libya Oliver Owcza here to discuss bilateral security cooperation, Bashagha stressed the importance of securing southern Libyan border against illegal immigration, "which has become a concern for Libya and the world." Owcza confirmed that Germany seeks to strengthen security collaboration with Libya through the UN Mission in Libya, by helping solve all Libyan security issues, the statement said.

Libyan security services struggle to train and equip their personnel amid years of turmoil.
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Lome, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) :The main opposition coalition in Togo said Monday it will boycott December 20 general elections and call for further protests over what it alleged was a "fraudulent" poll.

"We're not going to give our blessing to this masquerade being prepared," a coordinator in the coalition, Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson, told local radio.

Togo's Constitutional Court has validated ballots for 12 parties -- but not any for the 14-party opposition coalition that has staged protests in the former French colony over the past year.

Ballots for 17 independent candidates have also been approved.

Adjamagbo-Johnson vowed "we will do everything so that the elections don't happen -- we never want fraudulent elections in Togo." She said the coalition has asked the Economic Community of West African States, a regional body that has been following Togo's political crisis, to step in.

Two new demonstrations are planned for Thursday and Saturday, Adjamagbo-Johnson said.

The opposition is demanding a shakeup of Togo's electoral authority and a reboot of election preparations.

The government's security minister, General Yark Damehame, last week warned against acts of violence seeking to upset the campaigns and voting.

"A boycott is a democratic choice. One should not seek to destroy the voting booth or the ballot box," he told the radio.

Togo's crisis has been going on since September 2017, when protesters filled the streets in the capital Lome and elsewhere to demand President Faure Gnassingbe resign.

Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005, following the death of his father who reigned for 38 years.
More than 40 percent of the Moldovan population supports cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), giving preference to this organization over the European Union (EU), a report by Moldova's Association of Sociologists and Demographers showed Monday.

CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) More than 40 percent of the Moldovan population supports cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), giving preference to this organization over the European Union (EU), a report by Moldova 's Association of Sociologists and Demographers showed Monday.

Around 41.5 percent of the respondents said that they would vote for joining the EAEU, while 38.7 percent would be up for entering the EU in case Moldova had a referendum to choose between those blocs next Sunday, according to the survey.

At the same time, 5.6 percent of the respondents opposed both unions, while 7.7 percent could not decide on the answer.

The survey was held on November 1-20 among 1,189 people across Moldova.

In May, the EAEU Supreme Council voted in favor of granting Moldova the observer status.

In July 2014, Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the European Union, under which the country has to completely open its market for the European goods and services. The deal entered into force in July 2016.
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More than 60 percent of Moldovan citizens would vote against Moldova's accession to NATO in the event of national referendum, a poll conducted by the Moldovan National Association of Sociologists and Demographists revealed Monday.

CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) More than 60 percent of Moldovan citizens would vote against Moldova 's accession to NATO in the event of national referendum, a poll conducted by the Moldovan National Association of Sociologists and Demographists revealed Monday.

"We asked people about the way they would vote if a referendum on whether or not to join NATO took place on the nearest Sunday. The number of the NATO proponents continue to fall, as 22.4 percent of respondents would vote for accession, while 60.1 percent against," the program director of the association, Nikolai Bodyan, said.

According to the survey, 6.

2 percent of respondents would not even participate in a referendum, 5.4 percent did not know what NATO is and 5.9 percent were unable to say for sure.

The poll was conducted on November 1-20 among 1,189 respondents in 77 localities of Moldova. The margin of error is three percent.

The country's constitution states that Moldova is a neutral state, meaning that it does not align itself with any blocs. However, Moldova has been engaged in bilateral cooperation with NATO under the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program since 1994. A civilian NATO Liaison Office was opened in Chisinau in 2017.
Russia aims to closely cooperate with the Dominican Republic in the UN Security Council as the Caribbean nation is set to serve a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the council starting from January 1, 2019, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) Russia aims to closely cooperate with the Dominican Republic in the UN Security Council as the Caribbean nation is set to serve a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the council starting from January 1, 2019, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

"On the international agenda, our interaction will become even closer due to the election of the Dominican Republic as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. We aim at close interaction," Lavrov said at the meeting with his Dominican counterpart Miguel Vargas.

The Russian minister noted that the countries also have good prospects of expanding their economic cooperation and commended the state of affairs in other spheres of the bilateral ties.

"Our relations are also developing at the level of political dialogue in the framework of contacts between ministries and agencies on education, culture, humanitarian sphere and tourism," Lavrov added.

The Dominican foreign minister is currently paying a three-day visit to Moscow which has started earlier in the day. The latest meeting between Lavrov and Vargas took place exactly two months ago, during the 73rd United Nations General Assembly on September 26.
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Russia and Belarus, members of the Union State, are working on a deal to allow free movement of foreigners across their common border, the Union State state secretary said Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) Russia and Belarus , members of the Union State, are working on a deal to allow free movement of foreigners across their common border , the Union State state secretary said Monday.

"Crossing the border between Russia and Belarus has long been a contentious issue. We are talking simply about allowing third-country nationals maximum freedom of cross-border movement ... Participants in this process are committed to signing the agreement by the end of this year," Grigory Rapota said.

Rapota noted that a major hurdle was consular arrangements with third countries that currently allow access through designated entry points.

Any foreigner going from Belarus to Russia cannot cross the border by land but has to fly in.

Russia fears that Belarus, which has been loosening its visa rules, may be used by foreigners to slip illegally into its territory. It set up a customs zone in the western regions bordering Belarus to control the inflow of foreigners. The two neighbors agreed in June to discuss mutual recognition of visas issued to third-country citizens.
There are no reasonable alternatives to cooperation between the European Union and Russia, Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said Monday.

BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) There are no reasonable alternatives to cooperation between the European Union and Russia Russia 's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said Monday.

"In today's volatile and highly competitive world, where Russia and the European Union objectively complement each other, there are no wise alternatives to cooperation and unification of potentials," Chizhov said during the European Russian Forum in the European Parliament.

Chizhov noted that previously there were numerous channels through which Russia and the European Union could directly discuss different issues.

"Today, taking into account the high pace of the Eurasian Economic Union's growth, there are good reasons to talk about the 'integration of integrations,' a mutually beneficial, equal, and multidisciplinary cooperation of two interdependent and synergistic global integrating poles," Chizhov concluded.

During the forum, Chizhov recalled that in 2009 Russia proposed a new pan-European security agreement to European partners, who later rejected the idea.

On Monday, the European Parliament is hosting the annual European Russian Forum. This year's event is devoted to the topic of the escalating standoff between Russia and the West.
GENEVA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th November, 2018) Russia has been in constant communication with the Taliban, a militant group engaged in long-running insurgency in Afghanistan, Russia's presidential envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said.

"We have a constant communication channel open with them, which is quite enough," Kabulov told reporters.

Earlier this month, Russia hosted consultations between the Doha-based Taliban political office and the High Peace Council, backed by ex-president Hamid Karzai. The Afghan government did not endorse the council. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the meeting a step toward direct talks between the Taliban and Kabul.
UNP MP Wasantha Senanayake, who rejoined the UNP after a series of topsy-turvy events, expressed regret today at becoming an actor in the current political drama.

I have become an actor in the current political drama, and I ask pardon from UNPers in Polonnaruwa. I also ask pardon from the President and Prime Minister if I have offended them, Mr. Senanayake, who was sworn in as Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, told the media at Temple Trees this evening.

He said he had decided to return to the UNP as he felt his departure would not be favourable to the party at this crucial time. Asked whether people could expect yet another U-turn from him, he assured that there would be no more crossing over from him.

UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said Mr. Senanayake went to the Cabinet meeting recently to hand in his resignation. Mr. Senanayake was going to vote with us in Parliament last week but he could not make it to the House last Friday, he said.

Mr. Senanayake had been under tremendous pressure from the UPFA and therefore we told him to remain with them and vote with us at the right time, Mr. Kariyawasam said.

"There are others in the UNP who have been pressurized to shift sides. An MP from the Gampaha District has been offered Rs 200 million as an advance. He informed us about this during the UNP group meeting, and we have told him to be silent and vote with us at the right time, he added. (Yohan Perera)
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The Russian side of the Russian-Turkish commission monitoring the implementation of the Syrian ceasefire has registered five ceasefire violations in the country over the past 24 hours, while the Turkish side has recorded seven truce breaches, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) The Russian side of the Russian-Turkish commission monitoring the implementation of the Syrian ceasefire has registered five ceasefire violations in the country over the past 24 hours, while the Turkish side has recorded seven truce breaches, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"Over the last 24 hours, the Russian party of the Russia-Turkey Commission on violations of the Joint Agreement has registered 5 cases of firing in the provinces of Aleppo (4)) and Hama (1). The Turkish side has registered 7 cases of ceasefire violations in the provinces of Aleppo (6) and Hama (1)," the ministry said in its daily bulletin.

According to the bulletin, no humanitarian operations by Russian staff have been held over the past 24 hours.

The number of areas that signed reconciliation agreements in Syria stands at 2,518. The number of armed formations that have pledged to observe the ceasefire has not changed either, standing at 234, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Russia and Turkey, alongside Iran, are the guarantors of the ceasefire in Syria, while Moscow has also been assisting Damascus both through supporting the struggle against terrorist groups operating in the country and by providing humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians.
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UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) Russia requested an urgent meeting of UN Security Council members at 11 a.m. on Monday (16.00 GMT) to discuss the situation in the Sea of Azov, Russia's First Deputy Envoy to UN Dmitry Polyanskiy told reporters.

On Sunday, three ships of the Ukrainian Navy, in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, crossed the Russian sea border, entered the temporarily closed area of the Russian territorial waters and were moving from the Black Sea toward the Kerch Strait, according to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Another group of ships was heading for the Kerch Strait from the Azov Sea port of Berdyans'k. The Kerch Strait, which links Black and Azov seas, was closed by Russia on Sunday for civilian ships for security reasons.

Later the same day, the FSB reported that the same three ships of the Ukrainian Navy  Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yany Kapu  had been detained after violating Russian state border. The Ukrainian ships did not react to legal demands of the ships accompanying them and made dangerous maneuvers, the FSB noted.

"In connection with the dangerous development of the situation in the Sea of Azov and the events that followed them, Russia requested an urgent convocation of an open meeting of the Security Council on the morning of November 26 under the agenda item 'Maintenance of international peace and security,'" Polyanskiy said.

The meeting is tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. (19.00 Moscow time, 16.00 GMT), he added.
Russia will decisively thwart any attempts to violate its sovereignty and security, Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich said Monday.

VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) Russia will decisively thwart any attempts to violate its sovereignty and security, Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich said Monday.

"We warn that Kiev's policy pursued in coordination with the US and the EU toward provoking a conflict with Russia is fraught with serious consequences. We will heavily thwart any encroachment on the sovereignty and security of the Russian Federation," Lukashevich said during the special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.

He noted that over the past months, Kiev supported by Washington persistently heated up the issue of the so-called militarization of the Sea of Azov. Lukashevich noted that Russia repeatedly received unfounded accusations, while "in fact, Russia has no plans to create a new naval base in the Sea of Azov.

"

On Sunday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said that three ships of the Ukrainian Navy crossed the Russian sea border, entered the temporarily closed area of the Russian territorial waters, and were moving from the Black Sea toward the Kerch Strait in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

According to the FSB, the Ukrainian vessels did not react to legal demands of the Russian coastal guard ships accompanying them and made dangerous maneuvers. They were detained after violating the Russian state border.
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Samsung Electronics Co. and its medical instrument arm Samsung Medison Co. on Monday showcased various software for different medical devices powered by artificial intelligence technologies.

SEOUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Nov, 2018 ) : Samsung Electronics Co. and its medical instrument arm samsung Medison Co. on Monday showcased various software for different medical devices powered by artificial intelligence technologies.

Samsung said they unveiled the new solutions at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2018 that runs in the United States through Friday.

At the latest gathering, the tech giant introduced the S-Detect for Breast, which analyzes breast lesions using ultrasound images. The system helps doctors come up with accurate diagnoses based on big data, the company added.

"By using AI technology, the Bone Suppression function, which reduces the bone signal from the chest X-ray image, clearly brings out the lung tissues obscured by the bones," Samsung said.

Samsung also displayed a mobile computed tomography (CT) device with AI software that assists in the diagnosis of stroke.

As for MRI devices, Samsung showcased a prototype software that compares images of patients and normal people through the AI technology, helping doctors better analyze the conditions.

Samsung said such AI software is significant as it can effectively help patients receive better treatment in regions where there is a shortage of doctors.

"We are pleased that Samsung's AI technologies have been successfully applied to the existing diagnostic imaging devices and have been well-received in the market," Samsung Medison said.

"As a comprehensive diagnostic imaging solution provider, we will continue to strengthen our technologies through collaboration with hospitals and health care professionals," the company said. "We aim to bring together radiologists and AI to fill in the gaps for improved health care management."
Russia's Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and Slovenia's Adria Airways have signed a contract for the supplies of 15 Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) Russia 's Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and Slovenia 's Adria Airways have signed a contract for the supplies of 15 Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) aircraft, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Monday.

"Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and Adria Airways have signed a Letter of Intent for 15 SSJ100. The deliveries will start in the beginning of 2019.

The aircraft will be delivered under a long-term lease," the ministry said in a statement.

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft President Alexander Rubtsov said that a special maintenance center for the jets would be created.

"Together with the ADRIA Airways we will create a joint maintenance and repair organization for SSJ100 at the Ljubljana Airport. That service platform will secure the operational reliability of SSJ100 aircraft in Europe," he said, as quoted on the company's official website.
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Ukraine premeditated its recent provocation in the Kerch strait with the approval of its Western supporters, Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Monday.

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) Ukraine premeditated its recent provocation in the Kerch strait with the approval of its Western supporters, Russia 's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Monday.

"This provocation was preplanned, that is obvious.

It was okayed by the Western states," he said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

The FSB said in a statement on Sunday that it intercepted three Ukrainian ships after they illegally crossed into Russian waters while moving from the Black Sea into the Azov Sea. It added that the vessels failed to respond to warnings and instead made dangerous maneuvers, prompting the FBS to detain the ships.
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The United Nations Security Council should tighten sanctions against Russia in the wake of the incident involving Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Kerch Strait over the weekend, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko said on Monday.

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) The United Nations Security Council should tighten sanctions against Russia in the wake of the incident involving Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Kerch Strait over the weekend, Ukraine 's Ambassador to the United Nations Volodymyr Yelchenko said on Monday.

When asked what the next steps should come next following the incident, Yelchenko told reporters, "Tightening of the sanctions. This is the only way. Russia doesn't understand any other language, unfortunately."

On Sunday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) detained three Ukrainian Navy ships after the vessels violated Russia's sea border while moving from the Black Sea into the Azov Sea.

The FSB said in a statement that the Ukrainian Navy ships entered the temporarily closed area of the Russian territorial waters, and were moving from the Black Sea toward the Kerch Strait in violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Ukrainian vessels did not react to the legal demands of the Russian coast guard ships accompanying them and instead made dangerous maneuvers, prompting the FSB to detain them, it added.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces, with help from Western intelligence, are preparing a provocation in Donbas with the use of chemical weapons, Russian Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich said on Monday.

VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) The Ukrainian Armed Forces, with help from Western intelligence, are preparing a provocation in Donbas with the use of chemical weapons, Russian Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Alexander Lukashevich said on Monday.

"Information has emerged about the preparation of a provocation by the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the use of chemical weapons and the involvement of foreign intelligence services," Lukashevich said at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.

The envoy noted that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have deployed a number of missile systems on the contact line with the breakaway Donbas republics, while the shelling of settlements has also intensified.
The United States voiced its support for Ukraine after the incident involving Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Kerch strait over the weekend, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council on Monday.

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th November, 2018) The United States voiced its support for Ukraine after the incident involving Russian and Ukrainian forces in the Kerch strait over the weekend, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the UN Security Council on Monday.

"I make the statement on behalf of the United States, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. We stand united in opposing Russia's attack," Haley said. "We strongly support Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders extending to its territorial waters.

We express our deep concern over the incident which represents a dangerous escalation and violation of international law."

The FSB said in a statement on Sunday that it intercepted three Ukrainian ships that illegally crossed into Russian waters while moving from the Black Sea into the Azov Sea. It added that the vessels failed to respond to warnings and instead made dangerous maneuvers, prompting the FBS to detain the ships.
Foto Collectania meets in a sample of nearly 200 portraits from The Walter Collection, and an overview of the history of the genre from the beginnings of photography in 1839 up to the present it says a lot of how they have been represented genders, and identities

How they have portrayed themselves different societies and cultures throughout history? They have made it through novels, paintings, films and even songs, but one of the best ways to travel to the past -with a deadline: 1839, when it was invented, photography is still the portrait, a genre that says almost as much of the subject immortalized as the that triggers the camera. Travel by the mentality of different times and continents, it is what proposes the Structures of identity. The Walther Collection that, until the next two shows in February in the Fundacion Foto Collectania about 200 pictures of masters such as August Sander, Richard Avedon or Seydou Keita and contemporary photographers such as Samuel Fosso, Zhang Huan and Zanele Muholi.

When photography was born, many saw in it a way to capture the reality without being processed, such as a mirror. Daguerreotypes were expensive and not many could afford them, but those that existed were used almost as a scientific tool, a test that is beyond reproach. And it was then when it arose the will to portray to society, and, in that same year, categorizarla.

that is what made August Sanders with his legendary series on The Face of Our Time, 60 portraits that aimed to freeze the German society of the 20s according to their trades and occupations. In the exhibition there are 14 prints on gelatin and silver that are a reflection of the archetype of the emerging bourgeoisie of the time: the artist, the baker, the student, the farmer... the series of Sanders remains a point of reference even today, the majority of school text books German include them, but beyond that the series portrays, you have to wonder what it leaves out, above all because in the decade of the 20's there were already nazis.

The 'Pastry chef' from the series 'The face of our time' of August Sander.

And of the Germany of the 20's to the Africa of the 50. Seydou Keita opened a studio of commercial photography in Bamako (Mali) in 1948 and spent many citizens that were left to portray a formal way, with the framing classic study, but with clothes, add-ons, aspirational way of props (radios, expensive watches) and textile prints with fabrics typically african that reflect a new pride in full swing, and a fierce hunger of cosmopolitanism. Shortly after those portraits "highly aware", in 1959, would the independence of Mali from France and the portraits of Keita have been left for posterity as the image of the "new african".

The displays also a series of portraits attributed to Thomas Cunningham dated in 1885 of prisoners by americans. Are the first work of forensic police based on the method of the criminologist frenchman Alphonse Bertillon, who devised a system to classify offenders according to the characteristics of your face, or face (in slang, mug, hence the colloquial expression of mug shot for this type of photo). Cunningham was sheriff in Stockton, California, and took seriously the theory of Bertillon which ensured that some facial features determined psychological traits and behavior. Made up to 42.000 portraits of prisoners of different jails.

Another of the series that collects the exposure is to The Family of Richard Avedon, an interview long for the Rolling Stone magazine that was published in 1976. The assignment was to portray the presidential candidates of the united States, but Avedon decided to be a little more ambitious and embarked on a journey around the country to portray to the pantheon of the political class american. The magazine needed a whole number to publish the 69 portraits of Avedon, 24 of which you can see in Foto Collectania. The result is a uniformity overwhelming: the vast majority of statesmen, lawyers, union leaders, and the officials portrayed are middle-aged white men and all of them seem to have made the suit worn in the same tailor. Avedon, that owes its fame to its magnificent work in fashion editorials, but in the 60's and 70's was very engaged with the political movements that shook the country, outlined an elite of political power monochrome and allergic to the diversity in the background, and behind the facade of the american classic respectable, seemed to be very far from reality. A look at the portraits of Avedon, and the recent outcome of the midterms in american shows that, at least in which race and ethnic variety, much has changed in american politics in four decades.

The community queer in south Africa and the self-portraits of Samuel Fosso dressed up as the charismatic civic leaders, african americans of the 60's (of Angela Davis, Malcolm X or Mandela) complete an exhibition that serves to highlight what is prohibited but also to dissect the construction of myths and legends, identities and stereotypes.

this Is the first time that you can see in Spain a sample of the Walther Collection, the collection of Arthur Walther, a German who in the 80's made his fortune on Wall Street and in 1994 left his job as an executive at Goldman Sachs to devote himself to the collecting. More than 3,000 original works are part of the collection, which is specializing in photographers non-western, particularly african and asian. To Walther, explained to her step by Barcelona, he is especially interested in collecting the work of those photographers who portray the world outside of the western canon. That's why in recent years has focused its attention on the photography and video art, and african since the late 90's has intesificado his trips to China, a country that he met in full openness post-Tiananmen.

According to the criteria of

Updated Date: 26 November 2018, 20:01

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In an interview with Crux, the on-line Catholic news service, U.S. Cardinal Blase Cupich, describes the anti-abuse summit called by Pope Francis as the beginning of a worldwide reform intended to bring about a change in culture regarding how the Church protects children.

By Sean-Patrick Lovett

Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago is part of the organizing Committee for the February 21 to 24 meeting of Presidents of Bishops Conferences, called to focus on the protection of children in the Church. In the Crux interview, Cardinal Cupich confirms that the Committee is committed to achieving specific outcomes from this meeting that reflect the mind of Pope Francis. He also stresses the consultative role of both clerics and lay women and men, who have shown expertise and experience in the area of abuse.

A global summit for a global Church



The Cardinal emphasizes that, by calling the February summit, Pope Francis is seeking the full involvement of the global Church in assuring the protection of children around the world from clerical sexual abuse.

The Pope understands this to be a global issue, says Cardinal Cupich, and he wants to reinforce our shared commitment as a Church to establishing responsiveness, accountability, and transparency.

By calling all the Presidents of Episcopal Conferences from around the world, he says, the Pope is seeking both a comprehensive understanding of past failings, as well as global solutions moving forward.

A change of culture

Cardinal Cupich says he is aware of the high expectations for positive and concrete outcomes from the February meeting. But he adds that, in order to fully address the issue of sexual abuse, deeper transformation is needed.

Pope Francis is calling for a change of culture, continues the Cardinal. That is, a reform in how we approach ministry. For, in addition to being a crime, sexual abuse of minors by clerics is about the corruption of our ministry. This is why this meeting has to be understood as part of a long-term commitment to reform, realizing that one meeting will not solve every issue, he said.

A worldwide reform

Cardinal Cupich concludes by describing the February meeting in the Vatican as the start of a process The beginning of a worldwide reform that will need to be ongoing and will involve a process of initiatives of regional, national and diocesan levels.
Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga concelebrates Holy Mass with Pope Francis in Bangui Cathedral during the Pope's apostolic visit in November 2015 (ANSA)

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Central African Republic have called for a Day of Lamentation and Prayer in memory of all the victims of violence in the nation.

by Linda Bordoni

The Catholic Bishops of the Central African Republic have launched an appeal to observe Sunday, 2 December 2018, as a Day of Lamentation and Prayer in memory of the many victims of violence in the nation.

1 December: Day of Mourning



In a communique the Bishops' Conference said the Church invites all "men and women of good will to refrain from celebrating 1 December as a sign of mourning."

1 December is a significant date for the country as it marks the 60th anniversary of the birth of the Republic after French colonial rule.

2 December: Day of Lamentation and Prayer



It also said the bishops have established 2 December as a "Day of Lamentation and Prayer in memory of the victims in all the dioceses.

Thus, the communique added, all donations collected on the first Sunday of Advent will be destined to the survivors of the violence.

The appeal was launched during a press conference to which the political and administrative authorities, the diplomatic corps and representatives of national and international institutions, and media representatives were invited on Monday 26 November at the Archdiocese of Bangui to shed light on the unacceptable and heinous crimes committed against the civilian population.



Cardinal Dieudonne Nzapalainga, President of the Episcopal Conference launched the appeal which he said is a response to the events that continue to happen.

Following the unfortunate and repetitive events that have plunged Central African families into mourning since 2012, the most recent of which are those of Bangui, Bambari, Batangafo and Alindao, the Central African Bishops' Conference is holding its extraordinary session on 24 November 2018 and hereby issues this communique he said.

Appeal to political leaders

He underlined the responsibility of political leaders by quoting Article 1 of the Constitution of the Central African Republic of 30 March 2016 that states: The human person is sacred and inviolable. All public officials, all organizations, have an absolute obligation to respect and protect it.

Pope Francis appealed for peace in the Central African Republic this month after dozens of people were killed during an attack on a refugee camp in Alindao.


It was on 26 Nov., 2017, that Pope Francis flew from Rome on his apostolic journey to Myanmar and Bangladesh as a messenger of Peace. The theme of the Popes Myanmar visit was Love and Peace and that of Bangladesh - Harmony and Peace.

Pope Francis was in Myanmar from Nov 27-30 and then in Bangladesh from Nov 30-Dec 2. The purpose of the Holy Fathers visit to these two Asian nations, with 1.2% of Catholics in Myanmar and 1 percent in Bangladesh, was to confirm the faith of the Catholic communities and to carry Christs message of reconciliation, forgiveness, peace and harmony among the people for the common good. His visit also encouraged ecumenical and interfaith cooperation in order to be a prophetic and healing presence in the life of the nation.
Since 2012, Britain has been championing the moral issue of sexual violence used as a weapon in conflict zones through three strategies which the British Ambassador to the Holy See explains.

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

The British government has been actively combating sexual violence against women in conflict zones since 2012. A Film Festival held in London last week, and a panel discussion in Rome, are two recent events held to raise awareness.

Sr Bernadette Reis spoke with Sally Axworthy, the British Ambassador to the Holy See. She discusses three concrete areas that Britain is working on to end sexual violence in conflict. Collaborating with the Catholic Church through the network of religious men and women is an essential part of their strategy.

Initiative is born

The British governments initiative targeting sexual violence toward women in conflict began in 2012. Ambassador Axworthy said, it was born out of concern about what had happened in Bosnia where the UN estimates around 60,000 women were raped. It was kicked off with a global conference in 2014 at which Angelina Jolie and former Foreign Secretary William Hague spoke.

Legal reform

Three strategies were identified and have since been developed and implemented. The first is trying to get justice and support for survivors, Axworthy explained. These efforts include making sure this crime against women is recognized through legal reform and that perpetrators are brought to justice. Several cases have been successfully prosecuted in both Bosnia and the Congo, she said.

Stigma

Tackling stigma is the second goal. When people are victims of sexual violence, they dont just suffer on the day the Ambassador continued. Many victims are ostracized by their families and communities. In addition, she said, they might be blamed for whats happened. They might have children as a result of the sexual violence. With the help of experts, the British government has created a document and funds projects in the hopes of changing this component of the tragedy suffered by so many women.

Listen to our interview with Ambassador Sally Axworthy

Prevention

The Ambassador said that prevention is perhaps the most difficult of the three strategies. British troops serving overseas, and military and police in other countries around the world have received training in this area. Many of them belong to forces serving as peace keepers in conflict zones. These forces have been sensitized to the issue and taught how to respond to it.

Empowering women

When asked why Britain has embraced this issue, the Ambassador explained that Britain is very keen to champion moral issues like this one. It is an abuse of human rights, specifically the human rights of women. Our foreign policy is very focused on promoting and empowering women and girls. Thats why were interested and were really trying to do our best to change the situation with sexual violence being used as a weapon of war. Britain recognizes that it is a global problem requiring a global solution. Axworthy said that the British government is working with many, many other countries, primarily those experiencing conflict.

Pastoral support of victims

The Ambassador concluded saying that the British government also considers the Catholic Church as a partner in this campaign. She said that religious orders have collaborated with them. They provide the pastoral support of victims. Thats obviously something we cant do, but we recognize their contribution. The British government trains these religious especially regarding the accountability mechanisms: prosecuting perpetrators, preserving evidence, and forming cases. Were a good fit, the Ambassador said. We do different things, but together we can be more effective.
Aerial view of the city of Paradise, scorched by the deadliest blaze in California history (AFP or licensors)

A fire that ravaged Northern California for more than two weeks is now officially contained. Attention is now turned toward restoration and rebuilding.

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

California State fire officials announced on Sunday that the deadliest wildfire in the United States in the past century is now completely put out.

Spokeswoman Jennifer Erickson said that they are glad to be done with the containment of the fire, but that there is still a lot of work to be done.

The Camp Fire started on 8 November in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada north of Sacramento. In one day it destroyed almost the entire city of Paradise.

Firefighters battled the blaze for two weeks with no help from mother nature.

A winter storm came to their rescue. 18 centimeters of rain dropped from heaven over three days, putting an end to the burning flames.

19 thousand buildings were consumed in its flames. 85 people lost their lives in the fire. 250 people are still unaccounted for. The search for other victims of the fires wrath is ongoing.

Residents from evacuated areas are slowly returning to the homes spared by the flames. Crews continue to restore power, telephone lines and gas utilities.
Demonstration in Qamishli, Syria, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence againt Women, Nov. 25. (AFP or licensors)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released a message for the Nov. 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was observed on Sunday, with the UN chief stressing that violence against women and girls is not only a fundamental human rights issue but also a moral affront against them and a mark of shame on all societies.

In a message for the November 25 observance UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that such violence and abuse is a major obstacle to inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

Not until the half of our population represented by women and girls can live free from fear, violence and everyday insecurity, he said, can we truly say we live in a fair and equal world.

The UN chief also noted that at its core, violence against women and girls is the manifestation of a profound lack of respect  a failure by men to recognize the inherent equality and dignity of women  and that it is tied to the broader issues of power and control in societies.

Inequality

Noting that violence against women and girls is also a deeply political issue, the Secretary-General pointed out that in a male-dominated society women are made vulnerable to violence through the multiple ways in which they are kept unequal. This, he said, harms the individual and has far-reaching consequences for families and society.

Violence against women, Guterres said, can take many forms: domestic attacks to trafficking, from sexual violence in conflict to child marriage, genital mutilation and femicide.

He said that increasing public disclosure by all women of the sexual harassment they faced is galvanizing power of womens movements to drive action to eliminate harassment and violence everywhere.

Global action: Orange the World

Guterres said that this year, the global United Nations UNiTE campaign to end violence against women and girls is highlighting support for survivors and advocates under the theme Orange the World: #HearMeToo. He said it is designed to send a clear message that violence against women and girls must end now, and we all have a role to play.

Culture of silence

In a separate message for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Executive Director of UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women, also hit out against the culture of silencing violence against women.

She said the true extent of violence against women cannot be gauged because of the fear of reprisals and being believed. She said the stigma borne by the survivor, not the perpetrator, have silenced the voices of millions of survivors of violence and masked the true extent of womens continued horrific experiences.

The focus must change from questioning the credibility of the victim to pursuing the accountability of the perpetrator, she said, underscoring that the theme is therefore also a strong call to law enforcement.

She said that those who have spoken out have helped in realizing just how far sexual harassment has been normalized and even justified as an inevitable part of a womans life.

The UN Women chief spoke about the serious responsibility of the police , judicial institutions and employers in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of survivors and employees.

The Nov. 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence marks the launch of 16 days of activism that will conclude on 10 December 2018, International Human Rights Day.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was instituted by the UN in 1999 to honour the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, who were brutally assassinated on orders of dictator Rafael Trujillo.

Facts & figures

 1 in 3 women and girls experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most frequently by an intimate partner

 Worldwide, almost 750 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday; while 200 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM)

 1 in 2 women killed worldwide were killed by their partners or family in 2012; while only 1 out of 20 men were killed under similar circumstances

 71% of all human trafficking victims worldwide are women and girls, and 3 out of 4 of these women and girls are sexually exploited

 Violence against women is as serious a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, and a greater cause of ill health than traffic accidents and malaria combined. (Source: UN)


Crazy Horse 3 will encourage guests to saddle up in celebration of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) with Boobs & Bulls parties from Thursday, Dec. 6 through Saturday, Dec. 15.

The award-winning gentlemens club will offer a complimentary Budweiser, Bud Light or Budweiser Copper Lager to any guest with a rodeo ticket stub. Crazy Horse 3 will also offer $3 shots of Jim Beam bourbon whiskey and all the rodeo action on massive 70-inch and 100-inch high-definition televisions in the company of gorgeous, barely-dressed cowgirls.

No bulls needed with Crazy Horse 3s complimentary limo service, pending availability, using the clubs signature app or by calling 702-673-1700. The easy-to-use app, available for download on all mobile platforms, allows users to personalize their experience with features including table reservations, bottle service packages and dancer profiles.
The trial over Chu Thi Binh's VND245 billion ($10.65 million) at Eximbank is still ongoing

On the morning of November 22, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court opened the first-instance trial of the case "deliberately acting against state regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences," related to the loss of VND245 billion ($10.65 million) of Chu Thi Binh at Eximbank's Ho Chi Minh City branch.

Notably, Chu Thi Binh revealed that even if Eximbank repaid the deposits on her three saving books, she still cannot withdraw or use the money.

Regarding the court case, Eximbank affirmed its respect to the investigation of the competent authorities and the judgment of the court relating to the defendants. The functional authorities reviewed the motives behind the offense, the family circumstances, and the co-operative attitude of the defendants.

Meanwhile, Chu Thi Binh, the customer whose VND245 billion ($10.65 million) at Eximbank "disappeared," said that Eximbank must repay her the contents of the saving books like it did to other customers.

Previously, in August, Eximbank finished paying out the compensation of Chu Thi Binh, repaid her the VND245 billion ($10.65 million) that she previously deposited at the bank.

I highly appreciate the efforts and goodwill of Eximbank during the negotiations. The two sides negotiated with the legitimate interests of each party at heart, Binh said.

Since 2013, Chu Thi Binh has been depositing large amounts of her savings at Eximbanks branch in Ho Chi Minh City. Due to the huge amount of money deposited at the bank, she received VIP treatment. All transactions with Binh since the beginning of February 2017 were directly executed by Le Nguyen Hung, former deputy director of Eximbanks branch in Ho Chi Minh City.

Taking advantage of Binhs trust, Hung several times visited Binhs house to conduct bank business. Hung actually instructed the staff to make false vouchers to withdraw the money in several instances, appropriating VND245 billion ($10.65 million) from her savings books.

In February, 2017, when the savings book reached maturity, Binh discovered that her balance on the savings book did not match the balance shown in the original books, which she promptly reported to the Ministry of Public Securitys investigation agency (C44).

Earlier on March 26, C44 arrested and began the prosecution of Ho Ngoc Thuy and Nguyen Thi Thi, officers of the Eximbank branch for the charge of deliberately acting against state regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences.

Le Nguyen Hung, former deputy director of Eximbanks branch in Ho Chi Minh City, the instigator, escaped the country.
Vietnam stands alongside other nations in aiming for cleaner energy

A few weeks ago, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released a report titled Private funding opportunities for renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in Vietnam.

The report stated that Vietnam will need about $23.7 billion for renewable energy (RE) under the current Power Development Plan VII, and $1.5-3.6 billion for energy efficiency (EE). This $23.7 billion will include $7.75 billion in equity and $15.95 billion in project debt (see Table).

At least $10 billion of external capital is believed to be available now to support Vietnams transition to cleaner energy and energy saving. The figure was obtained from interviews with 13 banks, institutions, and investors under a survey.

The surveys input data came from Asia Climate Partners, the Asian Development Bank, Climate Fund Managers, Clean Energy Investment Accelerator, Dragon Capital Group, the Embassy of Luxembourg in Bangkok, the European Investment Bank, Export-Import Bank of Korea, FMO/SBI Ven Capital, Glennmont Partners, the International Finance Corporation, Japan International Co-operation Agency, KfW, Mitsubishi UFG Financial Group, Saigon Asset Management, Societe Generale, Susi Partners, Triodos Investment Management, and the World Bank.

This investment is possible if the current barriers constraining such investments are addressed, especially the low price of electricity that lowers the incentives for efficient use and the existing format of power purchase agreements that deter investors from investing in the country, said the report.

As Vietnam is strategically reforming its business sector with the establishing of a super committee for managing capital at 19 key state-owned enterprises, with a total capital of $130 billion, the creation of a fair and transparent environment and market is within reach. The priority should be the transformation of the energy sector to a transparent and competitive energy market, said Caitlin Weisen, UNDP country director in Vietnam.

Great potential

Vietnam is endowed with exploitable RE resources and could deploy 85,000 megawatt (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation capacity and a large portion of an estimated 21,000MW onshore and near-shore wind energy generation potential in short order, subject to requisite facilitation, and to resulting investor comfort, according to the report.

Likewise, biomass-based power plants attached to sugar mills and hydropower projects could be revitalised through appropriate price and non-price policy signals.

Vietnam has a large potential for saving on electricity of up to 7 per cent relative to the business-as-usual, through to year 2035, with the manufacturing sector offering the largest potential for such savings. The technical energy saving potential of some of the industry sectors, such as cement production, is estimated at 40 per cent of present day consumption per unit of output.

Expanding the RE capacity and enhancing EE will help improve Vietnams energy independence, lesser expenditures on fossil fuel purchase, and reduce environmental pollution.

The current Power Development Plan VII (PDP VII, revised 2016) targets the addition of about 24,500MW of (non-large hydro) RE capacity, broken down into solar PV (12,000MW), wind energy (6,000MW), biomass power (2,000MW), and small hydro (est. 4,500MW) through to 2030.

Removal of barriers needed

The UNDP cited the above-mentioned 13 large banks and investors as stressing that if Vietnam wants to successfully attract $10 billion into RE and EE projects, investment barriers must be eased. For example, it is recommended that the government advance energy and electricity price adjustments, among other several obstructions.

According to investors, the gradual adjustment of electricity price that would reflect the total costs of production, including environmental externalities, is essential for overcoming one of the main obstacles for investment into efficient use of energy in Vietnam.

Low energy prices do not provide financial incentives due to long payback periods.

At the very least, it would be useful to adopt a roadmap that would indicate the expected medium-term evolution of end-user energy prices in the country and provide requisite signals to institutions evaluating the returns on potential EE investments.

In 2017, the Vietnamese government issued Decree No.11/2017/QD-TTg on mechanisms for encouraging the development of solar power in the country, offering a feed-in-tariff (FiT) for utility solar power plants of 9.35 US cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for a period of 20 years.

The FiT will be applicable for projects beginning operations before June 30, 2019, except for ones in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, which have a 2020 deadline. Once the commercial operation date deadline expires, new FIT rates will be finalised.

Currently, the FiT for wind power is set by the government from November 1, 2018 at 8.5 US cent for onshore projects and 9.8 US cents for offshore projects.

However, a FiT of 15 cents per kWh is proposed by the UNDP for mainland solar power plants, which should be paid over the 20-year lifetime of the investment project. An even lower initial FiT may not attract any investor and therefore the solar PV power market would not be able to develop.

Meanwhile, power plants on islands, with 25 per cent more investment cost per kWh installed capacity, would require a FiT of 19 cents per kWh for a 20-year period.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has approved over 70 new solar power projects to be put into operation before June 2019, with the total designed capacity of over 3,000MW. This amount far exceeds the estimated solar power output of 1,000MW by 2020 in the original Power Development Plan VII.

Major investors in the solar power industry in Vietnam include German ASEAN Power, B.Grimm Power Public Co., Ltd., Trina Solar, Siemens, Schletter Group, JA Solar, Sunseap International, Nippon Sheet Glass, Ecoprogetti, Tata Power, Shapoorji Pallonji Infrastructure Capital, Gulf Energy Development, InfraCo Asia Development, and ACWA Power.

Nguy Thi Khanh, executive director of the Hanoi-based Vietnamese non-for-profit Green Innovation and Development Centre, told VIR that whereas most of the past investments in the Vietnamese energy sector have been publicly financed, future investments into renewables will attract private investors from different scales.

Insurance companies and public equities are interested in financing large-scale wind and solar projects under sufficient legal framework conditions, whereas households might invest in small-scale generation capacity, she said.

Both, company and household investment, would open new financing sources and right away reduce the public investment needs. As a side effect, the competition would increase leading to lower prices for future renewable investments when managed right, she added.
One of the historic buildings in HCM Citys District 3. The city has about 3,000 valuable old houses and villas that could face demolition if they are not renovated. - VNS Photo Duy Minh

Every year, the city loses more heritage buildings to urbanisation, poor urban planning and a lack of awareness about their economic value.

Recently, many old or historic buildings, including villas in District 3 and Binh Thanh District, have been demolished to make way for new buildings.

Many other old buildings and villas have fallen into disrepair.

Under city regulations, if the villas are museums or state-owned houses, they can be maintained and preserved.

However, a large number that are private properties have not been taken care of properly. Some of the villas are so dilapidated they are no longer habitable.

Some old villas in HCM City are managed by the state, while others are privately owned.

Most of the villas, especially those located in expensive locations in the city centre, have been replaced with high-rises.

Many owners of privately owned villas and old buildings have sold them for various reasons.

The city does not have support or management policies to help owners preserve their houses.

To save the old villas, more research and evaluation should be done to determine the value of the old villas, experts have suggested.

Cultural agencies as well as independent professional associations and professionals in the field could undertake these tasks.

Owners who are considering dismantling or repairing their buildings would think twice about doing so if they were aware of the economic value of their buildings, according to experts.

In addition, information on heritage buildings should be available on websites and in the media, preservationists have said.

Lack of funds, staff

In 2010, the city created a steering committee to manage landscape conservation and draft evaluation criteria for villa classification.

But due to financial problems, lack of manpower, and other limitations, conservation work has faced various challenges.

Architect Nguyen Van Tat, chairman of the Architectural Council at the HCM City Association of Architects, said conservation must focus not only on development but profitability.

Tat said that preserved heritage buildings could earn profits.

However, he noted that a heritage site should be free for the public to visit, and that money for preservation must come from third parties.

For example, a heritage building used to exhibit pottery could be open to the public, but the full cost of the operation would be financed by a ceramic company.

In return, the company would receive promotion as well, according to Tat.

Le Quang Ninh, chairman of the Urban Architecture Landscape Conservation Programme in HCM City, said the ineffectiveness of the preservation of old buildings and villas has been due largely to the lack of involvement of economists.

Economic efficiency is considered a key issue in the preservation of heritage buildings.

Businesses and economists must work together to work out a conservation plan with local authorities and professionals in the field, Ninh said.

HCM City has about 3,000 valuable old houses and villas that could be preserved but could likely be demolished, according to the Architecture Research Centre at the citys Department of Planning and Architecture.

Of that number, nearly 1,300 houses were built before 1975. About 168 of them are under State management and receive funds from the city for repair and preservation.

However, only eight houses remain in good condition, according to the Urban Research and Development Centre.

Valuable old buildings, mostly built during the French colonial period, include the HCM City Peoples Court (built in 1881), Kings Palace or Revolutionary Museum (1885), Majestic Hotel and Notre Dame Cathedral (1887), Sai Gon Post Office (1886-1891), HCM Citys Peoples Committee (1907), Opera House (1900) and Ben Thanh Market (1912-1914).

Many colonial villas have been renovated and now house schools, restaurants and coffee shops. Most of them are located in District 3 on Tu Xuong, Vo Van Tan, Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Le Quy Don, and Tran Quoc Thao streets.
Dat Vinh Tien receiving the KEMA certificate

The certificate is the result of Dat Vinh Tiens efforts to develop the company and professes the outstanding development of a Vietnamese firm.

In the framework of the event, Dat Vinh Tien organised the ground-breaking ceremony of the second factory in Hoang Gia industrial cluster (Long An province).

The products of Dat Vinh Tien have been tested successfully and fully meet the requirements of the IEC 61439-1 & 2 standards set, while electrical switchboards are designed with outstanding features such as high dust and water resistance (IP43), short circuit resistance of 100 kA, Form 4B.

This demonstrates the ability of a Vietnamese company to produce full products that meet the stringent requirements of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Established in 2005, Dat Vinh Tien specialises in manufacturing electric switchboards, electric panels, cable trays, air ducts, and wind outlets to distribute to strategic partners in Vietnam. The company often upgrades its manufacturing lines and organises training courses for its engineers and workers in order to manufacture products with the best quality.

It is currently the major supplier of numerous companies, including Vingroup, Coteccons, Sun Group, and Dien Quang. It also contributes to landmark projects such as Land Mark 81, Su Van Hanh Trade Centre, Diamond Island, Phu Quoc Casino, and Sunshine Centre.

Besides, it is the panel-builder supplier for Schneider Electric Vietnam since January 2009.

In the framework of the above event, Schneider Electric signed an agreement to transfer the manufacturing technology of Prisma iPM to Dat Vinh Tien.

This month, Dat Vinh Tien will open a new office and organise the ground-breaking ceremony to start the second factory in Hoang Gia Industrial Park, Long An province. The total area of the plant is over 17,000 square metres with a capacity of up to 400 employees. This is Dat Vinh Tien's next step to produce products of international standards with the fastest speed, reasonable price, and satisfying quality.

Nguyen Tran Thanh Long, director of the company, said, "Throughout its 13-year journey, Dat Vinh Tien was born and grew with the desire to become a successful Vietnamese business by virtue of and the enthusiasm of all employees and engineers. We would like to express our gratitude to all our customers, domestic and foreign partners who have always trusted and co-operated with Dat Vinh Tien and have been choosing the company's products. We will try our best every day to work together to build quality projects that reach the world."
Many streets and alleys in HCM City were severely flooded as heavy rains and high tides caused a double whammy. People pushing their stalled vehicles was a common sight. - VNS Photo Ngoc Diep

On Monday morning, there were moderate to heavy rains in Tan Tru District in Long An Province and Binh Chanh, Cu Chi and Hoc Mon districts in HCM City as Storm No 9 (Typhoon Usagi) weakened into a tropical depression.

HCM City and Long An and Tay Ninh provinces are also at risk of severe flooding in low-lying areas.

Heavy rainfall on Sunday afternoon and night and early Monday morning meant some parts of the city received as much as 400mm.

Le Dinh Quyet, deputy director of the Southern Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecastings forecast department, said this is the highest ever rainfall recorded in a 24-hour period in the city.

Tan Binh District topped with 407.6mm, Nha Be District recorded 345mm, the city centre received 301mm, and Can Gio on the coast, 293mm.

Some 60 spots in the city were reported flooded as heavy rainfall, which began on Sunday afternoon, and high tides inundated many of the citys roads and alleys.

They included Ho Ngoc Lam and Phan Anh streets in Binh Tan District; Le Van Viet, Do Xuan Hop and La Xuan Oai streets in District 9; Pham Van Chieu and Le Duc Tho streets in Go Vap; many streets in District 2s Thao Dien Ward; Nguyen Van Qua Street in District 12; Vo Van Ngan, Kha Van Can, Binh Chieu and To Ngoc Van streets in Thu Duc; Pham The Hien Street in District 8; Nguyen Huu Canh, Nguyen Gia Tri and Bach Dang streets in Binh Thanh; and 3/2 Street in District 10.

A screen grab from a mobile phone shows the HCM City drainage companys flood warning software indicating more than 40 areas around the city were submerged at 6pm on November 25.

Huynh Tan Phat Street in District 7, which is undergoing repairs, was submerged under a metre of water.

Dong Van Cong, Nguyen Thi Dinh and Nguyen Duy Trinh streets in District 2 were under 0.5 metre of water.

Many motorbikes and cars broke down on flooded streets.

Water also flowed into houses in low-lying areas, and people had to stay awake at night to prevent damage.

Nguyen Hoang Anh Dung, deputy director of the citys Steering Centre for Flood Control, said nearly 700 workers had been mobilised to clear garbage choking sewers at many places.

The centre also mobilised 27 pumps to drain water from noon on Sunday, but the citys drainage system could not handle the water, he said.

Reservoirs and other components of the water supply and sewage system would continue to work at full capacity to prevent loss of life and property, Dung said.

The losses caused so far by the flooding cannot be estimates yet, he said.

One person was reported killed by a falling tree on Nguyen Van Linh in Binh Chanh District.

Several trees also fell on Mac Thien Tich Street in District 5, Hoang Dieu Street in District 4 and Duyen Hai in Can Gio, but no casualties or losses have been reported.

An electricity pole fell on a car parked on Thai Van Lung Street in District 1, damaging it and causing a power outage at 19 homes in the vicinity.

On Sunday evening, the Southern Power Corporation co-ordinated with local authorities to cut electricity in some severely flooded areas such as District 7 and Binh Tan, Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts to ensure public safety.

Many domestic and international flights had to be delayed or diverted from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

The city Department of Education and Training has ordered the closure of schools on Monday.

The city Peoples Committee ordered schools in Can Gio District to close on Monday and Tuesday.
Herbalife Vietnam general manager Pham Tuong Huy, middle man, honours to receive the Vietnam Sustainable Businesses Award for the second year running

What does these awards mean for your company?

We are indeed honoured to receive this award, which is based on the Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) developed by the VCCI and updated annually by leading experts from the VCCI, government agencies, national and international organisations, VCCI member enterprises, and other independent experts covering a wide range of economic, financial, environmental, and community sectors.

Herbalife Vietnam continues to be listed among the Top 100 Sustainable Businesses of Vietnam by the VCCI this year, and this recognition is a great encouragement and pride for all our members and employees.

What are the most important factors helping Herbalife Vietnam continue to grow sustainably?

As a nutrition company with the purpose of making the world healthier and happier, we have been on a mission  changing peoples lives with great nutrition products and programmes  since 1980.

With our Herbalife Nutrition independent members, we are committed to providing solutions to the worldwide problems of poor nutrition and obesity, aging population, and skyrocketing public healthcare costs. Our consumers satisfaction with their choice of Herbalife and the optimal results they achieve from our products are of utmost importance to us. To achieve these goals, we offer consumers high-quality science-backed products with one-on-one support by Herbalife Independent Members and high-quality customer service.

We strive to meet the expectations of our key stakeholders and the general public on an ongoing basis.

All these are the key elements helping us sustain our growth and be recognised for our long-term sustainability agenda.

One of the most important factors behind Herbalifes success is nutrition products. Could you elaborate a bit more on your products?

The development of Herbalife nutrition products is guided by Herbalife scientific leadership made up of professionals in the fields of nutrition and health from around the world, who participate in the companys product development and testing programs.

Herbalife has more than 12 working laboratories to house the companys wide-ranging quality assurance, quality control, research and development, and testing activities. Significant investment in the latest expertise, technology, and facilities has been made at all laboratories and each one is ISO 17025-certified.

Another very important element is training. Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) is comprised of leading experts from around the world in nutrition, science, and health.

NAB helps educate and train Herbalife Independent Members on leading a healthy, active lifestyle and getting proper nutrition, including the purpose and use of our products. Independent members will provide one-on-one personalised support to customers. When combined with proper nutrition and regular exercises, Herbalife products can help make people stay healthy.

In Vietnam, Herbalife offers seven product groups, including health supplement and weight management, heart health, digestive health, bone and joint health, eye health, fitness and energy, and skin and hair health. All our products are licensed by the Ministry of Health.

Herbalife is also a brand associated with Vietnam sports as well as meaningful community support activities. Would you please share more about these activities?

Herbalife is proud to promote sports in Vietnam as the nutrition sponsor and comprehensive co-operation with the Vietnam Olympic Committee (VOC) and the Vietnam Paralympic Association (VPA) to help Vietnamese athletes achieve better performance in regional and international events such as Sea Games, Para Games, ASIAD, and the Olympic Games. As part of these long-term partnerships, we are also the official nutrition sponsor for Vietnams top athletes joining ASIAD 2018 and Asian Para Games 2018 in Indonesia during which Vietnam achieved very impressive results. In addition, Herbalife Vietnam supports the Herbalife Nutrition Foundation (HNF) and Casa Herbalife Programme to provide healthy daily meals to children in need.

In 2018, we helped open two more Casa Herbalife Programmes, and renewed partnership with two existing programmes, helping about 800 children in Vietnam access good nutrition every day of the year.
Talking at the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2018 (HEF 2018) opened on November 23 in Ho Chi Minh City, Secreatry of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan confirmed that the city would do its best to support enterprises to play a key role in the development of the citys innovative urban area.

Ho Chi Minh City will put enterprises in the centre of its innovative area designs. Photo: Le Toan

Along with that, administrative reforms will be accelerated, ensuring a good investment environment, clear and transparent legal framework for enterprises, and improving local authorities to be able to meet the requirements of enterprises.

Organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Business Association, and the Ho Chi Minh City External Affairs Department, the HEF 2018 focused on a variety of issues, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, smart city development trends, the role of innovative areas in fostering economic and social development, and the role of the enterprises in building up innovative areas in Ho Chi Minh City.

Especially, the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee introduced its plan to develop the eastern area of Ho Chi Minh City into an innovative area by attracting more investment.

This was the first time Ho Chi Minh City held this forum to highlight the role of the enterprises in building-up innovative areas and look for innovations that can connect state bodies, enterprises, scientific experts, and investors to create further innovation.

The forum also mobilised a wide range of stakeholders, especially enterprises to develop Ho Chi Minh City into an innovative city.

To set up an innovative city, Nhan said, the city has to find ways to connect the three most important factors: technological area, urban area, and education bases such as universities and research institutes.

Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2018 (HEF 2018) attracted more than 600 participants. Photo: Le Toan

Meanwhile, Dr Emmanuel San Andres, urban development expert from the APECs Policy Supporting Unit, said that Ho Chi Minh City should look for suitable partners, including policymakers, government staff, private enterprises, and human resources.

According to Dr Ahmad Magard, general secretary of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Vietnam still lacks talented human resources to create a true innovative area.

Vietnam, therefore must focus on training and improving the capacity of its human resources to meet the citys increasing demand, Magard said.

The local authorities, meanwhile, Magard added, must create more incentives for private education institutions and universities to improve their training capacity.

Ho Chi Minh City has been implementing its plan to develop itself into a smart city in 2017-2020. Key projects of this plan include building an innovative urban area in District 9, one in Thu Duc district, and two more in the eastern area of the city based on the foundations of digital economy and knowledge-based economy.

Being the biggest economic hub of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City contributes 23 per cent of Vietnams GDP, 30 per cent of the state budget, 16 per cent of the industrial output, 15 per cent of the export turnover, and 32 per cent of the whole countrys enterprises.
Dr Frank-Jurgen Richter, chairman and founder of Horasis believes in the prosperity co-operation between Vietnam and Horasis, and this organisation has been promoting Vietnam among foreign investors.

Vietnam is one of the outstanding success stories of business development and innovation, especially technology renewal which is a significant factor in the development of the country. This meeting is also an effort to integrate into the global economy and tighten economic co-operation between Vietnam and other Asian countries, Richter said.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung at the opening ceremony of Horasis 2018. Photo: Le Toan

With its young and skilled labour force Vietnam has become a favoured destination for multi-national corporations to supply goods and services globally, Dung said.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and other high-ranking officials opened Horasis. Photo: Le Toan

Tran Thanh Liem, Chairman of the Binh Duong Peoples Committee, said that Horasis Asia 2018 has brought an invaluable opportunity to share experiences and points of view to participants.

Especially through this Meeting, Binh Duong province will find important solutions to re-arrange its development sources more efficiently for better, more sustainable economic development in the coming time, Liem said.

Vietnam has posted many achievements during the past years. The countrys Global Competitiveness Index in 2018 was 77th out of 140 countries, according to the World Economic Forum. The country is also 69th out of 190 countries under the Doing Business 2019 report of the World Bank, and was 45th out of 127 entries in the Global Innovation Index of the World Copyright Organisation.

Vietnam is now home to more than 26,000 foreign-invested enterprises coming from 130 nations and territories, with the total committed investment capital of more than $330 billion.

With the purpose to widely integrate into the global economy, Vietnam has become a highly appreciated trading partner and have trade relationships with more than 200 nations and territories.

The country now is a member of the World Trade Organization and has entered 12 free trade agreements. In this November, Vietnam has officially approved the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTTP) and is actively revewing the legal documentation to approve the free trade agreement with the European Union very soon.

These FTAs have opened the doors wider for Vietnamese exports and investment from more than 50 nations, giving the opportunity for Vietnam to integrate deeper into the global value chain and manufacturing network.

The 2018 Horasis Asia Meeting was attended by more than 400 senior executives and CEOs from over 60 countries and 400 leaders from leading companies in Vietnam, as well as leaders of central and local authorities.

Binh Duong continues to be a hotbed of international integration and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, hosting Horasis shortly after successfully hosting the 11th conference of the WTA and Binh Duong being honoured as one of the The World's 21 Smartest Cities in 2019 (Smart21) by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF).

At Horasis domestic enterprises exchanged and connected with a network of senior partners, founders, and CEOs from leading companies in Asia, the region, and the world. This provided precious opportunities to seek for development partners, trade promotion and investment cooperation between Vietnam, Asia, and the world.

The 2018 Horasis Asia Meeting held in Binh Duong was an opportunity to promote Binh Duong and Vietnam among international partners as well as to improve management capacity and science and technology levels in Vietnam to speed up the implementation of smart city initiatives.

The forum was hosted by the Binh Duong People's Committee in collaboration with Horasis Global Vision Community, Becamex IDC Corporation, VSIP Group, the All India Management Association (AIMA), and Young Premier Leadership Organisation (YPO).
Horasis 2018 brings together over 400 senior executives and CEOs from more than 60 countries and 400 leaders from leading Vietnamese corporations to discuss and provide solutions, visions, new business models, and supporting startup enterprises and solutions for smart cities.

Investment opportunities

At Horasis 2018 domestic enterprises have the opportunity to interact with a network of senior partners, founders, CEOs, and leaders from leading Asian, regional, and global companies. This helps the search for development partnerships, strengthening trade promotion and investment co-operation with partners.

FDI enterprises and international participants presented on November 25 at the Binh Duong Conference and Exhibition Centre to attend at Horasis 2018.

Frank-Jurgen Richter, president of Horasis Organisation, expressed hope that Horasis 2018 will help highlight Binh Duong on the global investment map.

Binh Duong wants to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) and our forum will serve as a platform to demonstrate the province's potential," said Richter. He added that Binh Duong and Vietnam are becoming attractive targets for foreign investors and international co-operation.

Participants visited the model of New City Binh Duong at the Horasis 2018.

For many years, Binh Duong has been an outstanding destination" in attracting investment, especially FDI.

By the end of October 2018, there were 3,472 foreign-invested projects with the total capital of $31.7 billion registered in Binh Duong. With these results, Binh Duong ranks third after Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in attracting FDI.

Many foreign-invested enterprises have brought about new technologies and modern manufacturing equipment to projects in Binh Duong province

The province has not been focusing only on quantity, Binh Duong has been renovating solutions in investment attraction and inviting global brands to invest in its projects. During 2016 and 2020, Binh Duong targets attracting more than $7 billion in FDI. With the results achieved so far, Binh Duong stands is more than likely to exceed this goal.

According to experts, to attract foreign investment while ensuring sustainable development, one very important issue was the need to link foreign investment capital with high-technologies in the locality. This needs to be accompanied by the added values and environmentally friendly standards which require a limited workforce and at the same time diffuse them in industrial parks and complexes. Domestic investment capital will be encouraged in the supporting industries, aiming at gradually joining the global value chain of multinational corporations.

Binh Duong smart city

According to experts, the deeper integration of Binh Duong into the international market, including the hosting of the WTA and the Horasis Asia Forum, will provide ample opportunities to expand international co-operation.

At the same time, this also offers a stable foundation for Binh Duong to realise the plan of comprehensive socioeconomic development and building out a smart city.

"With the determination of Binh Duongs leadership to build a smart city, all interaction and activities of member delegations attending Horasis will benefit all the parties, especially discussions on Artificial Intelligence and Industry 4.0, with the constant development of education combined with doing business and innovation, said a source from Horasis.

Some participants with great experience in smart cities shared know-how to bring this concept into reality. According to estimates by the United Nations, by 2050, 75 per cent of the global population will migrate to big cities, therefore the establishment of standard city templates is extremely needed.

According to Frank-Jurgen Richter, building smart cities is absolutely necessary and Binh Duong is well on its way to becoming a member of the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF). The province has been also actively co-operating with the Dutch city of Eindhoven in its strategy to turn Binh Duong into a smart city. At this forum, delegates will be ready to discuss with the Vietnamese partners the concept of "smart city."

Mai Hung Dung, vice chairman of the Binh Duong People's Committee, said that the province will learn valuable experiences at the Horasis Asia Forum to implement its project of building a smart city.

Horasis Asia 2018 is the opportunity for corporations and enterprises over the world to learn more about Binh Duong and a great opportunity for Binh Duong to approach advanced technology and management experience gathered all across the world, Dung said.

Binh Duong is aiming to attract more investors with expertise in science and technology. Binh Duong also wants to attract more investors with smarter technologies to work in more efficient and intelligent industrial parks in the near future.

Pham Hong Hai, general director of HSBC Vietnam, commented that following the success of the World Association of Urban Science (WTA) in Binh Duong, Horasis is an opportunity for Binh Duong to promote its advantages and incentives to attract more investors for the smart city project.

Meanwhile, Truong Gia Binh, chairman of FPT Corporation, acknowledged that at this forum Vietnamese businesses will not only learn about business models and governance in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but also have the opportunity to connect and co-operate with other world-leading corporations to do something completely new.

Especially, Binh Duong will open a discussion in the forum entitled "Investment Opportunities in Binh Duong" to exchange points of view, connect partners, and introduce the potential and investment opportunities of the province to the outside world.

Priority sectors include high-tech industries, supporting industries, information technology, electricity, electronics, mechanical engineering, as well as investment in trade development, services, construction investment, infrastructure development, and human resources development.
Minh Phu will ride the waves displacing Chinese exporters in the US to improve its market share

Market niche in the US

Minh Phu is planning to issue 75.72 million stocks worth VND757.2 billion ($32.9 million) in 2018-2019. Its charter capital is expected to reach VND2.1572 trillion ($93.7 million), 1.5 times its current value.

Le Van Quang, chairman of Minh Phu, stated that the driving force behind this issuance is that the US-China trade war has raised import tariffs on Chinese breaded shrimp from 0 to 10 per cent and will hit 25 per cent by the end of 2018.

More customers from the US have submitted orders to Minh Phu for this product to substitute Chinese supply.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Minh Phu is planning to build a breaded-shrimp processing plant with the annual capacity of 40,000 tonnes on the spare land of Minh Phu Hau Giang.

Breaded shrimp is not subject to anti-dumping tax in the US. Therefore, shrimp material used in this plant will be mainly imported from India, along with second-grade shrimp from Minh Phu Hau Giang and Minh Phu Ca Mau. The new plant located in Minh Phu Hau Giang will help reduce shipping costs.

In addition, Minh Phu will invest in building refrigerated warehouses to support exportation to the US. Currently, the refrigerated warehouses in the US are overloaded, which raises costs for Minh Phu as importation is delayed by waiting for available warehouse space. Thus, Minh Phu is planning to construct a 10,000-pallet refrigerated warehouse in Los Angeles and another in New York, where its two main ports are located.

The capital invested in these two refrigerated warehouses will be sourced from the revenue of Minh Phu Seafood Corporations wholly-owned subsidiary in America, Mseafood Corporation, and bank loans. The loans will be paid from the annual retained earnings of Mseafood.

Balancing short-term and long-term targets

Minh Phu has an ideal opportunity to expand overseas. However, the company also needs to consider investing in its previous projects that are contributing to its total revenue and profits. At this time, the companys operating profit margin may drop due to investments in new projects.

According to the consolidated financial statement as of the third quarter of 2018, Minh Phu Seafood Corporations total turnover reached almost VND4.9 trillion ($213 million), up more than VND300 billion ($13 million) compared to 2017. Its accumulated turnover so far in 2018is 12.6 trillion (increased by nearly 2 trillion on year). The companys after-tax profit in the third quarter of 2018 alone and in the first three quarters of 2018 combined were VND353 billion ($15.3 million) and VND681 billion ($29.6 million), equivalent to year-on-year increases of VND80 billion ($3.4 million) and VND251 billion ($10.9 million), respectively.

According to Minh Phus deputy director Nguyen Van Diep, thanks to the relatively stable price of material input, Minh Phu can take the initiative in purchasing larger quantities of materials to make more deals, and complete larger orders of key value-added products. In addition, the companys move to control money flows also helped it to boost profit.

On the other hand, investors are concerned about whether this growth can be maintained with the construction of the breaded-shrimp processing plant as well as the two refrigerated warehouses in the US.

Tran Van Dung, an investor from FPT Securities, forecasted that in 2019 export prospects will be as smooth as this year, thence the company can continue growing thanks to increasing revenue and profit. However, because the charter capital of the company increased by 1.5 times after the issuance, its absolute profit should also be increased by 1.5 times. As a result, the company will be under great pressure to maintain dividend rates before its new projects come into profitable operation.
The conference held by Port of Barcelona in Hanoi

As part of a conference held in mid-November, the trade mission held talks with Nguyen Van Cong, Deputy Minister of Transport, on future co-operation.

The representative of the Port of Barcelona told VIR that they want to have a strategic alliance with ports in Haiphong and Ho Chi Minh City.

"Infrastructure is one of the key pillars of the Spanish economy. We have rich experience in seaport infrastructure and are willing to share with Vietnam," she added.

According to Nguyen Van Cong, Deputy Transport Minister, the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port area in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, which is near Ho Chi Minh City, is able to accommodate mainliners, directly shipping goods exported to the US and Europe without transhipment in Singapore.

"Haiphong port is now the country's second largest port with the total goods volume of 75 million tonnes and 3.6 million TEUs of containers in 2017. At present, the port only has routes to Asia and no routes to the US, Barcelona or Europe," Cong added.

"Also in Haiphong, the Lach Huyen International Gateway Port project is being developed, with the two first berths already in operation. In the future, more new berths will be built. As planned, the Lach Huyen International Gateway Port is able to accommodate 160,000 tonne vessels, meaning that Vietnamese goods can be exported directly to the EU and the US."

In addition to seeking a strategic alliance with Vietnamese ports, the Port of Barcelona's trip was aimed to boost co-operation with Vietnamese importers and exporters.

The two sides agreed to create the most favourable conditions for businesses' imports and exports.

With the upcoming enforcement of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), trade between Vietnam and the bloc in general and with Spain in particular will be further strengthened.

"In the near future, we will organise a mission of Vietnamese importers and exporters to Barcelona to promote the co-operation with firms in Barcelona. We expect that Port of Barcelona will be a transhipment port for Vietnamese goods, especially coffee, to other countries in Europe," said Cong.

At present, coffee, seafood, textile and garment, and woodwork are Vietnams key export items.

The Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam expressed hope that the visit is expected to open more business, thus strengthening trade co-operation between the two countries.
Schneider Electric and FPT will co-develop EcoStruxure

In order to maximise profits and enhance competitiveness, enterprises must accelerate their digital transformation, apply new technology to reduce costs, and accumulate resources. Nowadays, the rapid development of 4.0 technologies has set a foundation for constant emergence of smart solutions.

Nonetheless, there are still many Vietnamese enterprises that have not gotten used to this concept, and still have not caught up with the common trend of the era. By understanding that, Schneider Electric and FPT signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop and implement EcoStruxure  an Internet of Things technology platform from Schneider Electric, which helps boost and satisfy the digital transformation demand of all organisations and individuals in Industry 4.0.

Digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into every sector of an enterprise. It therefore changes the way an enterprise operates and brings more values to customers. This is a process and not a destination, and requires vigorous effort of enterprises if they do not want to lose their name in this increasingly fierce market.

Although Vietnamese enterprises have clearly defined the demands and urgency of digital transformation, they are still facing certain difficulties such as lacking of human resources and lacking of general integrated architecture. It is now high time that Vietnamese enterprises garnered support in terms of technology and human resources from pioneering companies in digitalisation and automation. The partnership between FPT and Schneider Electric in developing and implementing the EcoStruxure technological platform has shown great understanding and timely support to Vietnamese enterprises.

EcoStruxure is an open and highly-interactive technological platform which helps connect devices, support users, manage and operate systems effectively, and in a cost-efficient manner for sustainable development. With the difference and distinct features in the business model in Vietnaml, the partnership between Schneider Electric and FPT shows positive signals which plays a impulsive role in boosting the digital transformation of Vietnamese enterprises, making the process powerful and more effective.

Specifically, the EcoStruxure platform will be enhanced in terms of software maintenance, APIs, cloud solutions, assisting organisations to maximise energy management, and boosting operations and automation in the development procedure. EcoStruxure is an integrated architecture which, at the same time, solves the problem of data collection and information management, which is the key of Industry 4.0. Along with co-operation and development, FPT will assist Schneider Electric Vietnam to develop EcoStruxure resources with a target of 200 consultants certificated by 2020. FPT is also applying the EcoStruxure platform to manage and monitor the entire electricity system of the office complex F-Town 3, located at High-Tech Park in District 9 of Ho Chi Minh City. With a total value of up to $1 million, this architecture is the first smart building in Vietnam.

The final goal of this partnership is to support digital transformation, helping Vietnamese companies grasp and utilise opportunities to reach a rapid breakthrough in the digital era without being left behind.

Luc Remont, executive vice president of Schneider Electric Group said, EcoStruxure has brought benefits not only for Schneider Electric but also for its partners around the world, including FPT in Vietnam. We believe the solution will provide tremendous growth in technology and the economy for Vietnamese enterprises in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
File photo of US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. (Photo: AFP/Olivier Douliery)

"An emergency Security Council meeting has been called for tomorrow at 11:00am," she tweeted.

The meeting was requested by both Russia and Ukraine, diplomatic sources told AFP.

Ukraine's navy had accused Russia of the unprecedented incident, including firing on its vessels in the Kerch Strait, a narrow waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov that is used by both countries.

"In order to stop the Ukrainian military ships, weapons were used," Russia's FSB security service said, confirming that "three Ukrainian navy ships were boarded and searched."

Ukraine's navy said the incident took place as two small warships and a tugboat were heading through the strait for the port of Mariupol.

It said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat in "openly aggressive actions" and then fired on the ships, immobilizing all three.

It also said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker, and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area.

Ukraine said six of its soldiers were injured, while the FSB reported only three had suffered non-life threatening injuries and were given medical treatment.
Vietnam Online Startup Forum 2018 is an ideal platofrm for entrepreneurs and startup founders to access the newest trends and best practices

Around 70 per cent of startups fail in the first five years due to problems related to financial management and sales and marketing activities. To help Vietnamese startups embrace failure much more, IM Group, under the auspices of Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), has recently organised Vietnam Online Startup Forum 2018 with the participation of more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and businessmen in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the forum, around 12 keynote speakers from prestigious firms like Amazon, Nguyen Kim, Zalo Business, IM Group, and Deca.vn shared stories and best practices to overcome failure.

Le Thanh Nhan, CEO of Lecon Seafoods, established his first seafood business in 2006, which soon took off and reported a monthly revenue of $1 million. However, after five years of operations, the company faced unsurmountable challenges due to the intensifying competition in the seafood market as well as financial management problems. As a result, the company went bankrupt with mounting debts in 2014.

Based on this failure, Nhan gave some valuable advice to Vietnamese entrepreneurs. To build a successful startup, founders should be armed with financial management skills in order to gauge the health of the business, like cash flow, bad debts, and inventory.

In addition, startups should not use short-term income like capital from suppliers and banks to invest in long-term assets because it affects the business sustainable development prospects.

After the failure, Nhan started to build another startup named Lecon SeaFoods in 2015. The startup has received investment from large investors and became a partner for renowned brands like Golden Gate restaurant group and Pullman Hotel.

Beside valuable lessons from aspiring entrepreneurs, the forum also gave an insight into Vietnamese consumer behaviour in the 4.0 era, ways to optimise profits as well as ways to leverage technology to develop e-commerce businesses.

Vietnam Online Startup Forum 2018 has become an ideal platform for entrepreneurs, startup founders, brand owners, retailers, and manufacturers alike to exchange information, discuss best practices, and take steps to drive their online business forward in 2019.
Vingroup keeps pouring trillions of dollars in technology

On November 23, the management board of the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park and Vingroup signed a strategic co-operation agreement on the construction and development of Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park.

Nguyen Viet Quang, Vingroups vice president and CEO, said that the signing aims to actualise the aspiration to become a multi-sector corporation in the next 10 years with three main business sectors, including technology, industry, and trade-service, in which technology plays the main role, according to vnexpress.net.

The first project to be implemented is the smart electronics factory which has a total investment of nearly VND1.2 trillion ($52.17 million) and will be implemented soon after being granted the investment decision. It is expected to come into operation in the second quarter of 2019.

The factory is built on an area of 5 hectares and is expected to produce three or four million smart electronics products per year, both for the domestic market and exports.

Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh at the signing ceremony shared his belief that the group will soon be able to launch its Made in Vietnam high-tech products, contributing to the country's science and technology foundation. In addition, Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park management board is completing the infrastructure, creating the best investment conditions, and a legal corridor for enterprises to invest and develop Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park into a smart technology city.

Previously, Vingroup published on November 20 on its website Resolution No.51/2018/NQ-HQT-VINGROUP about establishing four subsidiaries.

Subsidiary Charter capital Per cent owned by Vingroup Main business line Address VINCSS Network Security Services Co., Ltd. VND 20 billion ($869,565) 100 researching and developing network security 7 Bang Lang street, Vinhome Riverside, Viet Hung ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi VinConnect Technology Solutions and Services Co., Ltd. VND300 billion ($13.04 million) 100 information technology services 7 Bang Lang street, Vinhome Riverside, Viet Hung ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi HMS Software Manufacturing and Trading Co., Ltd. VND50 billion ($2.1 million) 100 software production 20A floor, 72 Le Thanh Ton, Ben Nge ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City Phuc An Investment and Tourism Development JSC VND20 billion ($869,565) 85 real estate and accommodation services 7 Bang Lang street, Vinhome Riverside, Viet Hung ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi

Along with this, Quang shared with vnexpress.net that after studying the US silicon valley model, Vingroup decided to set up VinTech Technology Development JSC called VinTech City in Dong Anh (Hanoi) with the area of 70ha.

Previously in September, VinTech Technology Development JSC signed an MoU with the University of Technology Sydney (UST) on comprehensive collaboration in data analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, electronics design, mechatronics, automation, Industry 4.0, and Internet of Things (IoT).
Author Tuyet Anh (middle) from VIR receives the A prize

Under guidance from the Central Commission for Communication and Education and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on November 23, the Press and Publishing Department under the Central Commission for Communication and Education and Dien Dan Doanh Nghiep (Vietnam Business Forum) newspaper hosted a ceremony to honour the writers of the best articles on businesses, entrepreneurs, and business environment issues.

According to Pham Ngoc Tuan, Editor-in-Chief of the Dien Dan Doanh Nghiep newspaper and head of the Organising Committee, since its debut five years ago, the programme has contributed to creating a new angle and providing the society with more in-depth coverage on the business community as well as entrepreneurs.

Since its debut five years ago, the programme has contributed to creating a new angle and providing the society with more in-depth coverage on the business community as well as entrepreneurs.

The programme represents a good opportunity to praise the most eminent entrepreneurs  the soldiers of the countrys economic front  as well as the best authors for their quality articles.

The programme also highlight the people who have left an indelible imprint on national renovation, construction, and development.

This year, the Organising Committee had received more than 460 entries from nearly 40 media organisations.

Accordingly, the A prize went to author Tuyet Anh (penname Khanh An, from VIR), for a series of articles centred on the business environment.

Two B prizes went to one author from Ho Chi Minh Citys Phap Luat newspaper and two authors from Nhip cau Dau tu newspaper.

Three C prizes went to author Anh Hoa from VIR, one author from Doanh nhan Sai Gon newspaper, and the author of an article featured in Doanh nhan Sai Gon newspaper.

Five Consolation prizes went to Hong Phuc from VIR, one author from Nhip cau Dau tu newspaper, one from Gia dinh Viet Nam newspaper, one from Doanh nhan Sai Gon newspaper, and one from Dien dan Doanh nghiep newspaper.

Earlier, in June 2018 at the awards ceremony of the 12th national media awards programme in Hanoi, VIR received two prizes: a B prize for a series of articles about Vietnams 30-year foreign direct investment attraction by author Le Thi Thanh Ha (penname Nguyen Duc) and one C prize to author Tran Thi Tuyet Anh (penname Bao Duy).

The series of articles about Vietnams 30-year FDI attraction also won the second prize at the national media programme to select the best articles on external relations information in 2017.

This was the second time author Thanh Ha won the B prize and author Tuyet Anh won the C prize at the national media awards programmes.

This was also the seventh consecutive year VIR was honoured at the national media awards programmes.
Information about RCI - RCI is a pioneer of the concept of vacation exchange in the industry and is founded by Jon and Christel DeHaan in Indianapolis of the US in 1974. Currently, RCI is the worlds largest vacation exchange provider with 3.9 million members and more than 50 million confirmed exchanges since founding. - RCI has more than 4,300 affiliated resorts in approximately 110 countries globally. - RCI has a total of six affiliated partners in Vietnam, and its largest affiliate in the country in terms of exchange volume is Paradise Bay Resort Ltd. (ALMA).

As an experienced manager in hospitality, what weaknesses do you see in Vietnamese tourism?

Jonathan Mills - Jonathan Mills is the managing director for RCI Asia-Pacific and DAE Global. - Mills previous experience includes a decade-long tenure with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), where he most recently served as head of Operations for Holiday Inn Express and IHG Shared Services based in Bangkok of Thailand. - During his 25-year career, he has also worked for renowned companies such as Forte & Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, Sodexho Prestige, and Hilton International.

When I first came to Vietnam 11 years ago, it was a destination that people, for whatever reasons, did not travel to. Over the next few years when I opened a number of hotels in the country, I had the opportunity to experience local hospitality, the food, and the beaches. It then became apparent to me that Vietnam is indeed an appealing destination.

In recent years, visitor arrivals to Vietnam grew by 30 per cent year-on-year. The opportunities here are absolutely incredible. I do not see any weakness in the Vietnamese tourism market. In all honesty, with the current improvements in infrastructure (23 airports by 2020) and flexible visa regulations, the Vietnamese government is doing a great job. I believe the tourism industry will continue to thrive in the future.

RCI has been in Vietnam for five years and established a partnership with ALMA two years ago. Who are the other partners of RCI in Vietnam?

RCI acts as an ambassador for the shared vacation ownership industry, and the partnership between ALMA and RCI is a huge opportunity for Vietnamese owners to travel all over the world and vacation in other timeshare resorts. Another opportunity is that RCI sends vacation guests from all over the world to Vietnam. This way, we take on the role of an ambassador for the vacation ownership industry and for Vietnam. To date, we have a total of six affiliated partners in Vietnam, including ALMA.

You must have been in Vietnam long enough to understand that vacation ownership is a relatively new idea here. What is this concept about?

Vacation ownership allows people to own a vacation week in a resort. For those who are not able to buy a real-estate for vacation, this is a really good opportunity to stay at a second home. These days, Vietnamese people show increasing demand for travel. When they own a vacation week at a unit in an RCI-affiliated resort, they can exchange their week to stay at a different resort within the RCI network.

When you make an exchange, you put a week in RCIs inventory pool, and people from other parts of the world will take that week. For example, if you are an ALMA owner, you put a week in and exchange it for a week of stay in Las Vegas. An RCI member from another country will then take your week and stay in Vietnam. In this respect, RCI plays an integral role in the development of the tourism industry in Vietnam.

All in all, there are 5,400 timeshare resorts in 121 countries in the world, generating more than 18 million room nights in 2015. Last year, the global shared vacation ownership industry achieved nearly $20 billion in vacation ownership sales.

Asia experienced the biggest increase in sales volume between 2013 and 2015, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.3 per cent. As you can see, vacation ownership enjoys great popularity internationally.

ALMA is quite new to the Vietnamese tourism industry. Why did you decide to establish a partnership with this firm?

Our partner selection is a very stringent process. Once we affiliate ourselves with a new resort, we will support and assist them with our tools, experience, and expertise to develop and grow. This is, of course, under the condition that the affiliate operates ethically and complies with the laws of the host country.

RCI has had a great partnership with ALMA over the past two years. We are always here to support and assist ALMA in operational strategies. I believe that now is a good season for ALMA as we have seen timeshare gaining popularity in Vietnam and the volume of members coming through is tremendous.

Regarding our shared future and development directions, I suppose it is all about the customer. I would make sure that the existing or potential owners understand the product that ALMA is selling. I would encourage ALMA to make sure that the units and the amenities in the resort and the customer service are fantastic.

Vietnamese people are always interested in products with added benefits. Do you think vacation ownership should be extended with other investment benefits?

I have seen this in various markets across Asia, where a typical membership includes a medical health check. I have also seen other companies try to add in other components to the product package.

If you add value to the product, like a medical health check or an insurance policy, as long as it fits with the lifestyle experience, I think there is an opportunity.

However, vacation ownership should only be understood as a vacation or a lifestyle product, and anything rather than a condo hotel must be used as a lifestyle product, not as an investment.

You need to be careful when adding value to the product.
Zimbabwe's drought-prone southwest is facing food insecurity as livestock  the main source of livelihood  is struggling to survive and going long distances in search of water. The United Nations World Food Program says it needs about $75 million to ensure food security for Zimbabwe but so far has received only about a third of that amount. Columbus Mavhunga reports for VOA News from Bulawayo.
At least 22 people were killed in two separate militant attacks Monday in Somalia, witnesses and officials said.

In the first incident, al-Shabab militants attacked the compound of a controversial cleric in the central Somalia town of Galkayo, killing him and at least 14 other people.

Residents in the town said they woke up Monday to huge explosions, followed by heavy, sustained gunfire at the compound in the southern half of the town.

Witnesses said a car bomb rammed into the gate followed by insurgents who stormed the compound.

The compound has been the headquarters of the Sufi cleric Sheikh Abdiweli Ali Elmi and his congregation.

Al-Shabab accused him of committing blasphemy last year and threatened to kill him after he posted controversial videos on YouTube. Religious leaders criticized him for posting videos that showed the cleric pointing to a picture some thought represented the Prophet Muhammad. He was also condemned for using music in his worship services.

Elmi had denied the blasphemy accusations against him and insisted music is not contrary to Islamic teachings.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for killing the cleric.

Security forces launched an attack on the militants, killing two of them. A third militant reportedly has been apprehended.

Commander of the security forces who fought al-Shabab militants in the compound Abdulaziz Abdullahi Hogolof told journalists that four militants were behind the attack including the driver of the suicide car bomb.

Police say eight people were killed by a car bomb just after mid-day in Mogadishu.

Commissioner of Wadajir district Omar Abdullahi Hassan told VOA that security forces intercepted the car after the driver showed suspicious behavior.

He said the driver was taken away for questioning and the search of the car started when the explosion occurred.

Al-Shabab often takes credit for these types of explosions in Somalia.
The United States has closed its embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo because of what it says is "credible and specific" information about a terror threat.

The embassy in Kinshasa will remain closed at least through Tuesday, and all U.S. citizens in the DRC are "strongly encouraged" to keep a low profile.

The Congolese government is accusing the U.S. of creating "needless fear and uncertainty" by closing the embassy.

It also says Washington and others who have "no control over the electoral process" are trying to "distract" voters ahead of the Dec. 23 presidential election.

Officials did not say what they think outsiders hope to gain by distracting people. But they say election observers from the European Union and the U.S.-based Carter Center are not invited  only those from other African states.

The DRC has been trying for two years to hold an election to replace longtime president Joseph Kabila.

But violence, armed militias, and problems organizing a new vote have led to two postponements.

Kabila was supposed to have stepped down in 2016 when his second term ended. But he invoked a clause in the constitution allowing him to stay in office until a successor is chosen.

The opposition accuses him of doing what he can to keep power.
A dusting of snow and unease fell over Ukraine one day after Russian Coast Guard vessels fired on and detained three Ukrainian military ships and their crews off the Crimean coast, igniting rioting outside the Russian Embassy and public demands for retaliation.

The November 25 incident marked the most significant escalation of tensions in the shared Sea of Azov this year and the first time since Russia's unrecognized annexation of Crimea four years ago that Moscow has publicly acknowledged opening fire on Ukrainian forces.

The Ukrainian General Staff of the Armed Forces was on full combat alert ahead of an extraordinary session of parliament on November 26, when lawmakers were expected to consider backing for a decree by President Petro Poroshenko to impose martial law in response to the skirmish.

Here's what went down, what has happened since, and what it all could mean:

What Happened And Where?

The Ukrainian and Russian versions of events differ, with each blaming the other for instigating the incident.

Kyiv said the Russians' actions violated a 2003 bilateral treaty designating the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait as shared territorial waters and the UN Law of the Sea, which guarantees access through the strait.

Russian officials said the Ukrainian ships were maneuvering dangerously, requiring the strait to be temporarily closed for security reasons. Moscow has since announced the reopening of the strait after using a cargo ship to block passage beneath a controversial new bridge connecting Russia with occupied Crimea.

But what isn't disputed is that a Russian Coast Guard vessel, the Don, slammed into a Ukrainian Navy tugboat as it escorted two military vessels toward the Kerch Strait in the direction of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which lies on the coast of the inland Sea of Azov. A series of dangerous events followed.

According to the Ukrainian Navy, the transfer of its vessels from the port of Odesa to the port of Mariupol was planned in advance. It said that while en route on November 25 the ships had radioed the Russian Coast Guard twice to announce their approach to the Kerch Strait but received no response.

Hours later, as the boats approached the strait, they were intercepted by Russian Coast Guard vessels. A video recorded aboard the Don and shared by Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov appeared to show the chaos that ensued, including the moment that the Russian vessel collided with the Ukrainian tugboat. The tugboat suffered damage to its engine, hull, and guardrail, according to the Ukrainian Navy.

Ukrainian authorities said the Russian forces subsequently opened fire on its vessels, badly damaging them. Russia said its forces fired on the Ukrainian boats as a matter of security.

As the incident unfolded, Russia blocked the Kerch Strait -- the only passage to and from the inland Sea of Azov, which is jointly controlled by Russia and Ukraine -- by anchoring a freighter across the central span of its six-month-old Crimean Bridge.

At least six Ukrainian servicemen were said to have been wounded, including two seriously, a National Security and Defense Council official and a Foreign Ministry official told RFE/RL on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment officially to journalists. They said around midday on November 26 that there had been no contact with 23 sailors aboard those vessels. The ships and crew were detained and brought to the Russia-controlled port in Kerch, in annexed Crimea.

Early on November 26, Kerch FM, a local radio station and news site, published photographs and a video of what it claimed were the detained Ukrainian Navy vessels moored at the port in Kerch.

Meanwhile, Poroshenko's permanent representative for Crimea, Borys Babin, told the 112 Channel that at least three of six wounded Ukrainian servicemen had been transferred to Moscow for medical treatment. Russian Ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova reportedly told Ukraine's Hromadske TV that three others were being treated at a hospital in Kerch.

Poroshenko Calls For Martial Law. What Would That Mean?

From Kyiv's perspective, the sea skirmish marked a significant escalation in a long-running conflict and perhaps the opening of a new front at sea. Until then, the fighting in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have battled Russia-backed separatists since April 2014, had been mostly a land war fought in trenches and with indiscriminate heavy artillery systems, albeit with mounting confrontations at sea as Russia bolstered its military presence there.

At an emergency cabinet meeting after midnight on November 26, Poroshenko called on parliament to support a declaration of martial law to respond to Russia's attacks and its effective blockade of the Sea of Azov. His call was heeded by parliament speaker Andriy Parubiy, who convened an extraordinary session for the late afternoon.

It was unclear whether lawmakers would approve the proposal. But with a powerful coalition in parliament supporting Poroshenko, passage appeared likely. Moreover, some members of parliament who frequently oppose the coalition quickly voiced support for the measure, including Self Reliance party leader and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadoviy.

But some lawmakers have expressed concern about the move. Mustafa Nayyem, a member of Poroshenko's party who is often critical of the president, wrote on Facebook that "the president must indicate the JUSTIFICATION of the need to impose martial law, the BORDER of the territory in which it is to be introduced, as well as the TERM for its introduction."

"In addition," Nayyem argued, "the document should contain an exhaustive list of constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens that would be temporarily restricted."

The proposal from the National Security and Defense Council that Poroshenko announced he had signed on November 26 lists some of these things. As proposed, martial law would be introduced for a period of 60 days, beginning November 26 and ending January 25, according to a text published on the president's official site.

It calls for partial mobilization, the immediate organization of air-defense forces, tightened security at borders with Russia, increased information security, an information campaign to present facts about Russia's "aggression," increased security around critical infrastructure, and more. It can reportedly be canceled at any time.

The text reportedly makes no mention of the scheduled presidential election in March, which some critics fear could be postponed. But presidential adviser Yuriy Biryukov said before the decree was published that Poroshenko's administration would not do that, adding that there would be no restrictions on freedom of speech.

Why Now?

Poroshenko and the martial law decree say it is necessary for national security. Specifically, the decree states it is "in connection with the next act of armed aggression on the part of the Russian Federation, which took place on November 25, 2018, in the Kerch Strait against the ships of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

Beyond that, he hasn't said much else about the timing or aims.

The introduction of martial law would be an extraordinary and unprecedented move. No martial law was imposed during Russia's occupation and annexation of Crimea in early 2014 nor at any point since hostilities began a month later in eastern Ukraine -- even when Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were dying at the height of fighting that summer and in early 2015.

Back then, Ukrainian officials worried publicly that a declaration of martial law could severely damage the country's ailing economy and disrupt cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Today, the economy has seen some recovery and the IMF recently promised Ukraine another financial bailout.

There could be other reasons, as some on Ukrainian social media pointed out after the president's proposal was made public.

Poroshenko's approval ratings have declined dramatically in recent months. He's now lagging far behind his highest-profile opponent, former Prime Minister and Fatherland party leader Yulia Tymoshenko. Some Ukrainian and foreign observers have suggested that Poroshenko, who has tried to capitalize on the threat from Russia with a three-pointed election slogan -- Army! Language! Faith! -- might benefit from playing up Russian hostilities.

Also, under martial law, he would have the legal authority to cancel or postpone elections. For its part, Ukraine's Central Election Commission reportedly stated that holding elections under martial law would be possible.

Meanwhile, in Russia, President Vladimir Putin's own approval ratings have sunk in recent months as Russians vented anger over controversial pension reforms. Putin's purported order to special forces to seize the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine came in March 2014, with his approval ratings sagging.

But tensions in and around the Sea of Azov have been mounting for some time, with the Ukrainian military and Border Guard Service telling RFE/RL in August that it felt like only a matter of time before the situation would worsen.

How Did We Get Here?

Confrontation has been brewing in and around the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait for months, if not years, as RFE/RL reported from Mariupol in August.

The situation began ramping up in May, when Russia opened a 19-kilometer, rail-and-highway bridge over the Kerch Strait connecting mainland Russia with the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The bridge's low height restricted the types of merchant ships that could pass, decreasing traffic to service Ukrainian ports in Mariupol and Berdyansk. For those cities, their ports are economic lifelines.

Both sides increased their military presence in the Azov region. And Kyiv accused Moscow of harassing ships bound for Mariupol and Berdyansk. Ships operated by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) have since detained more than 150 merchant vessels, holding them for up to several days, at considerable cost to the companies and the ports.

Each side has detained the other's vessels. In March, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service detained a Russian fishing boat and impounded it in Berdyansk. Just last week, Russian Border Guards seized a Ukrainian fishing boat and impounded it in the Russian port of Yeysk, about 60 kilometers southeast of Mariupol.

How Will The International Community Respond?

An emergency United Nations Security Council meeting has been called for later on November 26 to consider the situation.

Much of the international community, which dismissed Russia's claim to Crimea in a UN vote in 2014, has largely sided with Ukraine.

Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said free passage of the Kerch Strait was guaranteed by the 2003 treaty signed by Russia and Ukraine. "The Agreement must be respected. It is of utmost importance to avoid any further escalation in the region," he said in a statement.

Chrystia Freeland, the Canadian foreign minister, tweeted her support for Kyiv. "Canada condemns Russian aggression towards Ukraine in the Kerch Strait," she wrote. "We call on Russia to immediately de-escalate, release the captured vessels, and allow for freedom of passage. Canada is unwavering in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty."

There was no immediately statement from the White House or U.S. State Department. But U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker, who has been particularly critical of what he calls "Russian aggression" against Ukraine, tweeted, "Russia rams Ukrainian vessel peacefully traveling toward a Ukrainian port. Russia seizes ships and crew and then accuses Ukraine of provocation???"

The statements of condemnation were welcomed in Kyiv, but some Ukrainian officials privately expressed to RFE/RL their frustration with such statements. What they would prefer, they said, is for their international partners to apply fresh, harsh sanctions against Russia over the skirmish.

What's Russia's Next Move?

With Ukraine considering martial law, this is perhaps the biggest lingering question. The short answer is that no one knows.

Russia's flagship news program claimed the Kerch Strait incident was a Ukrainian provocation ordered from Washington in a bid to sabotage an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Putin at this week's Group of 20 (G20) summit in Argentina.

If Russia's state media provide any indication, the Kremlin might well play up the incident as a demonstration of Ukrainian aggression and perhaps a pretext for further actions against Ukraine. But what kind of actions remains to be seen.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, offered no specifics but warned the Kyiv "regime and its Western patrons" of "serious consequences" of the skirmish at sea.

"Clearly, this is a well-thought-out provocation that took place in a predetermined place and form and is aimed at creating another hotbed of tension in that region and a pretext for stepping up sanctions against Russia," the ministry said.

"We are hereby issuing a warning to Ukraine that Kyiv's policy, pursued in coordination with the United States and the EU, that seeks to provoke a conflict with Russia in the waters of the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea is fraught with serious consequences."

It added: "The Russian Federation will firmly curb any attempts to encroach on its sovereignty and security."
Chinese health and medical ethics authorities started an investigation on Monday into claims by a scientist who released videos on YouTube saying he had altered the genes of twins born earlier this month, creating the first gene edited babies.

The Southern University of Science and Technology in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, where the scientist, He Jiankui, holds an associate professorship, said it had been unaware of the research project and that He had been on leave without pay since February.

He Jiankui defended what he claimed to have achieved, saying he had performed the gene editing to help protect the babies from future infection with the AIDS virus.

But his university said it was a "serious violation of academic ethics and standards" and scientists around the world condemned it as monstrous and dangerous.

The university issued a statement after He said in five videos posted on Monday that he used a gene-editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the genes of twin girls.

China's National Health Commission said it was "highly concerned" and had ordered provincial health officials "to immediately investigate and clarify the matter".

"We have to be responsible for the people's health and will act on this according to the law," it said in a statement.

Shenzhen's medical ethics committee said it was investigating the case. The Guangdong provincial health commission was also looking into it, according to Southern Metropolis Daily, a state media outlet.

He said in one YouTube video that the editing process, which he called gene surgery, "worked safely as intended" and that the resulting twins were "as healthy as any other babies." It was impossible to verify the claims as He did not provide any written documentation of his research.

CRISPR-Cas9 is a technology that allows scientists to essentially cut-and-paste DNA, raising hope of genetic fixes for disease. However, there are also concerns about its safety and ethics.

"If true, this experiment is monstrous," said Julian Savulescu, a medical ethics specialist at Britain's University of Oxford.

Kathy Niakan, an expert at the Francis Crick Institute in London, said: "If true...this would be a highly irresponsible, unethical and dangerous use of genome editing technology."

China's Southern University of Science and Technology It said He is on unpaid leave until 2021.

"Southern University of Science and Technology strictly requires scientific research to conform to national laws and regulations and to respect and comply with international academic ethics and standards," it said.

Asked for his comment on the university's statement, He said he had been on voluntary leave for several years to focus on his research, without specifying dates.

In the videos, He defended his work, saying in one: "I understand my work will be controversial, but I believe families need this technology. And I'm willing to take the criticism for them."

In an earlier email to Reuters, He said that he planned to share data about the trial at a scientific forum this week. He said he planned for it to also go "through the peer review process, and through a pre-print soon." A pre-print is a publication of findings made before the research is published in a peer-reviewed journal.

In an earlier telephone interview and emails with Reuters, He said he was aiming to bestow on the gene edited babies "lifetime protection" against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

He said he began his work in the second half of 2017 and enrolled eight couples. All of the potential fathers involved were HIV-positive. Five chose to implant embryos, including the parents of the twin girls, identified only by the pseudonyms Mark and Grace. The babies' names are Lulu and Nana, He said in one video.
A French-American man has given up his attempt to swim across the Pacific Ocean after a storm broke the mainsail of his support ship, organizers said Monday.

Ben Lecomte, who had completed about 1,500 nautical miles (2,780 kilometers) of the 5,000-mile (9,260-kilometer) journey, called the premature end to the swim a deep disappointment.

"We"ve faced treacherous winds, rain and ocean swells that have forced us to alter our course, and the irreparable damage to the sail is an insurmountable blow," he said in a news release.

The announcement was made by Seeker, a San Francisco-based online science publisher that partnered with Lecomte and has been documenting his attempt.

Lecomte, of Austin, Texas, set out on June 5 from Japan"s Pacific coast and was swimming an average of eight hours a day. Violent storms had already forced him to interrupt the swim after 500 nautical miles and return to Japan in late July. The mainsail broke on November 10.

The damaged ship and Lecomte are slowly making their way to Hawaii. They are collecting data on plastic pollution in the ocean, one of the scientific aims of the swim.
The head of a powerful Iraqi militia wants a formal role for Shi'ite paramilitaries in securing the border with Syria, a move that could deepen U.S.worries about Iran's growing sway over a strategic corridor of territory from Tehran to Beirut.

Iraq's Shi'ite militias, many of which are supported by Iran and oppose the presence of U.S. troops in the region, have sent reinforcements to the frontier after fighting flared between U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and Islamic State militants on the Syrian side.

Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq, urged the government to provide a more formal, long-term border protection role for the militias.

"Securing Iraq's borders with Syria is among the most important duties of the Popular Mobilization Forces right now," he said in an interview with Reuters at his office in the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf on Saturday.

"The Daesh [IS] threat against Iraq won't end as long as Syria is unstable. The PMF proved it is the military side most capable of dealing with Daesh... maybe the armed forces can invest the PMF in duties that include border security," Khazali said.

Asaib Ahl al-Haq is part of the PMF, an umbrella grouping of mostly Iran-backed and trained Shi'ite paramilitary groups. The PMF was made formally part of the security forces this year after helping the military defeat Islamic State in Iraq in 2017.

It remains separate from the military and police, however, raising questions over whom the militias will answer to and what their exact role will be if they are fully integrated into Iraq's security structure.

Khazali said paramilitary commanders should retain leadership positions and that "the government needs to provide bases and weapons depots."

The growing presence of Iran-backed militias on the frontier has caused tensions with Washington, which has special forces on the Syrian side to back Kurdish-led fighters battling IS.

A formal PMF border role would exacerbate that friction as Washington seeks to counter Iran's sway over territory stretching from Tehran to the Mediterranean via Iraq and Syria.

Iran's allies in that territory include Iraqi and Lebanese fighters and politicians, and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

The risks of having Shi'ite fighters and U.S. forces in close proximity were laid bare in July when the PMF vowed to "not be quiet" over an alleged U.S. air strike it said killed 22 of its members inside Syria.

The United States denied involvement in the strike.

The Iraqi military, which Washington supports, is deployed along the frontier, but PMF leaders have said they are taking the lead in securing it, including around the town of al-Qaim which borders Syria's Deir al-Zor province.

"The border was not secure before. Our operations have fixed that completely," a senior PMF commander said in October.

Iraq's military relied on the PMF support to defeat IS. It says the militias are now crucial to securing the sprawling Syrian border.

Iraqi Sunni and Kurdish politicians have called for disarming the PMF. They say the militias are responsible for widespread abuses including extra-judicial killings and displacing non-Shi'ite populations, and in effect report to Tehran, not the government in Baghdad.

The PMF says any abuses were isolated incidents and not systematic and that those who committed them have been punished.

US troop presence 'unacceptable'

The PMF, estimated at 150,000 members, includes groups which fought the U.S. military after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, and individuals against whom Washington has imposed Iran-related sanctions.

Members of Congress have sought sanctions against Khazali's group. Khazali denied it is currently receiving support from Iran.

"We don't expect a good future for relations between Iraq and the United States under [President Donald] Trump," he said, and reiterated his call for U.S. troops to leave Iraq.

"A [U.S.] training role is one thing but presence of combat forces is unacceptable. Parliament should oppose this. Daesh is no longer a military threat, so there should be a reduction" in U.S. troops, he said.

The Pentagon says over 5,000 troops are deployed in Iraq.

Khazali's militia started as a splinter group of the Mahdi Army, a force formed by anti-American Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr in the U.S. occupation. Under his leadership, it gained notoriety for its attacks against U.S. forces.

He and Hadi al-Amiri, the veteran leader of the Badr Organisation who contested Iraq's May general election, were among the first to announce late last year they were putting their paramilitaries under the orders of the prime minister.

Iran has provided training and weapons to both groups.
French President Emmanuel Macron, caught off guard by violent demonstrations against diesel tax hikes, warned his cabinet on Monday that the protests could tarnish France's image and said the government needed to listen to voter anger.

The 10 days of unrest, which on Saturday left some Parisian boulevards transformed into battlefields, hit Macron as he sought to counter a sharp decline in popularity, and have again exposed him to charges of being out of touch with voters.



He has shown no sign, however, of reversing the diesel tax hikes, which he says are needed to help spur a switch to greener energy, though he is now indicating a willingness to soften the blow for motorists on modest incomes.

Police on Saturday fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets at thousands of protesters who trashed restaurants and shop-fronts and set wheelie bins ablaze on Paris' upmarket Champs-Elysees boulevard, a tourist magnet.

"We shouldn't underestimate the impact of these images of the Champs-Elysees [...] with battle scenes that were broadcast by the media in France and abroad," government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said.

After meeting with business associations, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said the protests would have a "severe impact" on the economy, though it was too soon to say what the effect on fourth-quarter growth would be.

Now in their second week, the "yellow vest" protests have blocked roads across the country, impeding access to fuel depots, out-of-town shopping malls and factories.

"Behind this anger there is obviously something deeper that we must respond to, because this anger, these anxieties have existed for a long time," Griveaux said.



Protesters will be looking for concrete answers from Macron when he unveils a new longterm energy strategy on Tuesday.

Green credentials

Macron has stepped up his defense of the diesel tax, aware that the French treasury is hungry for the revenues the levy generates and that unwinding the tax would damage his green credentials.

He has earmarked 500 million euros to help poorer citizens buy less-polluting vehicles, seeking to answer criticism that his reforms have eaten into household spending.

The weekend's violence also exposed tensions within the amorphous "yellow vests" movement, so-called because the protesters don the high-vis jackets which all motorists in France must carry in their vehicles.



They strove to maintain a united front on Monday, forming a committee tasked with securing a meeting with the president and Griveaux said that would happen if they came forward with concrete proposals.
Police in Cambodia have arrested more than 200 Chinese citizens accused of defrauding people in China over the internet.

Gen. Y Sok Khy, director of the Interior Ministry's Department of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime, said 36 women were among the 235 Chinese arrested Monday in three different villages in Takeo province, south of the capital, Phnom Penh.

Online scams by Chinese gangs that operate from foreign countries and target mainland Chinese are common throughout Southeast Asia and have been found as far away as Kenya and Spain. Cambodia has arrested and sent at least 1,000 Chinese and Taiwanese residents allegedly involved in such schemes to China since 2012.

The scams are carried out by making phone calls over the internet and employing deception, threats and blackmail against the victims.
A decade after 10 Islamic terrorists laid a three-day siege to Indias financial capital, Mumbai, and killed 166 people, businessman Dilip Mehta recalls the horror of the nine hours that he was holed up in a banquet hall in a luxury hotel, wondering when the gunmen would storm inside.

I do feel traumatized when I hear of any kind of terrorist activities in the world, said Mehta, who was eventually evacuated via a fire exit.

From the mark it left on survivors and the families of the victims to the deep blow it struck to ties between India and Pakistan, the scars of the coordinated attacks that began on November 26th in 2008 still run deep.

Solemn memorial services were held in the city for the victims as India marked the 10th anniversary of the attacks, in which the heavily armed gunmen stormed multiple targets.Mumbai's police paid homage to more than a dozen officers and commandos killed in the operation against the militants.Two luxury hotels held private services while a Jewish Center, which was also attacked, unveiled a new memorial to all those who died in the assault.

Our solidarity with the bereaved families.A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.

The foreign ministry said it is a matter of deep anguish the victims of the attack who belonged to 15 countries still await closure with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing perpetrators to justice.The planners of 26/11 still roam the streets of Pakistan with impunity.

New Delhi says the attack was masterminded by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and frequently slammed Islamabad for not taking action against the man who founded the group, Hafiz Saeed. Saeed, who has been designated as a terrorist by the United Nations, has denied involvement and Pakistan says India has not produced enough evidence against him.

Announcing a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to arrests or convictions of those involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack, the United States also said that it was an affront to the families of the victims that those who planned the attack had not been convicted.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on all countries, particularly Pakistan to uphold their U.N. Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates.

Nine of the 10 gunmen who mounted the attack were killed, one was captured.He has been convicted and hanged.

According to Harsh Pant at New Delhis Observer Research Foundation, the 2008 Mumbai attacks continue to cast a shadow on India-Pakistan relations.When you talk of rapproachment with Pakistan, when you talk of talks with Pakistan, the stakeholders are very limited," he said."The question comes: why have we failed in bringing those who perpetrated these acts to book?

While Mumbai had suffered terror attacks prior to those in 2008, the strikes were the most audacious.The three-day siege put the spotlight on Indias weak coastal security - the 10 terrorists sneaked into the city on a fishing vessel.

Since then, maritime security has been strengthened and coastal police stations have been set up.On the eve of the anniversary, police officials said the city is better prepared to counter terrorist threats.

I can assure Mumbaikars that the city is safe and police are capable of protecting you from any eventuality, Mumbai Police Commissioner Subodh Kumar Jaiswal said.

Businessman Dilip Mehta took counseling for months after he faced the prospect of falling victim to a terrorists bullet at Taj Mahal hotel, where for about 60 hours, the gunmen shot dead guests and hotel staff.His life took a 360 degree turn after the attack, but he says he does feel more secure.Now with whatever precautions and measures which have been taken, I feel quite safe in Bombay," he said.
U.S. Navy Adm. Craig Faller has taken charge of U.S. Southern Command, which overseas military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Speaking at the change of command ceremony Monday near Miami, Florida, Faller said that like good neighbors, all nations in the Americas benefit from a strong neighborhood watch.

He said the threats in the region were both real and imminent, from great-power competition to violent extremism.

Faller took command from Navy Adm. Kurt Tidd, who led U.S. Southern Command since January 2016.

Tidd said U.S. Southern Command must continue to combat threats arising from failed socialist parties, incompetent leaders and illegal criminal groups serving as drivers for migration.

He warned that Iranian terror networks were trying to grow in the region, while Russia was also attempting to spread its influence in the Americas.

We must not act as bystanders to a destiny that other forces are happy to dictate, he said.

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, who led the ceremony, charged Faller with strengthening ties with allies in the region.

He praised the mutual respect, teamwork and stable military relationships the U.S. shares with allies from the region, while slamming the irresponsible leadership of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

There is more in this hemisphere that binds us together than drives us apart, Mattis said.

Prior to this post, Faller was the senior military aid for Mattis at the Pentagon.
A senior Russian diplomat warned Monday that the planned U.S. withdrawal from a Cold War-era arms control pact could critically upset stability in Europe.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday that if the U.S. deploys intermediate-range missiles in Europe after opting out of the treaty banning their use, it will allow Washington to reach targets deep inside Russia.



U.S. President Donald Trump declared his intention last month to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty over alleged Russian violations. Moscow has denied breaching the pact and accused Washington of violating it.



Ryabkov warned that if the U.S. stations the currently banned missiles in Europe, Russia will have to mount an "efficient response." He didn't elaborate.



"We won't be able to turn a blind eye to the potential deployment of new U.S. missiles on the territories where they may threaten Russia," he said, adding that such intermediate-range missiles would tilt the existing strategic balance between Russia and the U.S. "We would very much want not to get to the point of new missile crises. No one will benefit from those developments."



Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that if the U.S. deploys intermediate-range missiles in Europe, Russia will have to target the nations that would host them.



Last week, a senior Russian lawmaker warned that Moscow also could respond by stationing its missiles on the territory of its allies.



Ryabkov said that modern weapons technologies would make such U.S. deployment even more destabilizing than the positioning of U.S. and Soviet intermediate-range missiles in Europe in the early 1980s.



Such weapons were seen as particularly dangerous since they take only a few minutes to reach their targets, leaving little time for political leaders to ponder a response and raising the threat of a nuclear war in case of a false attack warning.

The INF Treaty, signed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, was touted as a major boost to global stability, helping end the Cold War. The pact prohibited the U.S. and Russia from possessing, producing or test-flying ground-launched nuclear cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (300 to 3,400 miles).



The U.S. has claimed that Russia violated the pact by testing and deploying a new ground-based cruise missile with a range exceeding 500 kilometers.



Ryabkov charged that while Moscow and Washington have been talking about the issue for five years, the U.S. long refrained from detailing its complaints and only spelled them out a month ago. He added that the U.S. declared its intention to bail out of the treaty without waiting for a Russian answer.



"It was yet another proof that our transparency has no effect on decisions made in Washington, they made up their mind long time ago and were just waiting for Russia to admit its guilt," Ryabkov said.



The diplomat insisted that the missile the U.S. said was a breach of the treaty, 9M729, never has been tested for the range outlawed by the pact. He noted that Russia has provided a detailed explanation showing that the missile's design doesn't allow fitting additional fuel tanks to extend its range and also offered details on the vehicle serving as its mount.



"It's hard to say what the U.S. accusations were based on," Ryabkov said. "It's possible that intelligence data were eagerly tweaked to serve a political order, or it could be that intelligence structures just made wrong assessments."
The ruling party in Taiwan received a message this weekend to show more achievements, including engagement with the islands old nemesis China, as the opposition camp swept midterm elections.

The Democratic Progressive Party of President Tsai Ing-wen lost all but six mayoral and county magistrate seats Saturday, the first electoral test of its two years in the presidency. Fifteen seats went to the opposition Nationalist Party, which wants closer ties with China. The ruling party advocates for more distance.

China claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan, causing decades of friction between the two sides.

I think if this year, in 2018, if the Nationalists smoothly win Taiwans city and county elections, that has some warning effects on the party in power, to let them know theyve made mistakes in the past two years, said Taipei voter Hong Wei-chi, 40, a marketing specialist.

Tsai stepped down Saturday night as party chief, though retaining the presidency, to take what she described as full responsibility for the election losses. Her premier also offered to resign, and the Central Election Commission head quit over the slow processing of ballots.

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Some voters believe Tsai hasnt done enough to lift Taiwans economy despite data that points to improvement, said Raymond Wu, managing director of political risk consultancy e-telligence in Taipei. Unemployment has fallen to 3.76 percent during Tsais term and the economy is forecast to grow 2.68 percent this year.

Others are turned off by the ruling party because it stands by statements and actions that others find problematic, said Gratiana Jung, senior political researcher with the Yuanta-Polaris Research Institute think tank in Taipei. The elections are not just local, theyre about governing style, Jung said. There are people who have criticized the governments way of communicating as being too arrogant.

Voters interviewed ahead of the vote said they were looking for local leaders who could build major new infrastructure, stimulate the economy or help particular groups such as youth.

The Democratic Progressive Party formed in 1986 to resist the then-authoritarian rule of the Nationalists, and it now embraces a list of popular liberal causes. Taiwan democratized in the 1980s. Tsais flagships achievements to date include pension reform, active support for renewable energy over nuclear power and stronger ties with the United States  a counterbalance to China.

Relations with China

Voters expressed themselves Saturday in part because they want Taiwans government to engage China, though not necessarily on Beijings terms, said Chao Chien-min, dean of the social sciences college at Chinese Cultural University in Taipei.

The two sides have not talked since 2016 because Tsai rejects Chinas precondition that each side sees itself as part of one country  a process informally known as the 1992 Consensus. China, angered by lack of dialogue, has flown military planes near Taiwan, scaled back group tourism and hobbled Taiwan's foreign diplomacy.

The Nationalists accept Beijings condition for talks, and when former president Ma Ying-jeou ruled from 2008 to 2016 the two sides signed more than 20 deals on trade, transit and investment.

But voters threw the Nationalists out of local offices in 2014 and the presidency in 2016 as they feared Ma had gotten too cozy with Beijing.

The public wants you to go accept negotiations with mainland China so previous relations, for example the 20 agreements, can keep being executed, but you need to find your own way of doing it, Chao said. It doesnt have to be the 1992 Consensus. You can find your own golden key.

Tsai must mind members of her party who advocate formal independence from China -- more than todays widely supported de facto autonomy and a red line for Beijing. China has claimed Taiwan since the civil war of the 1940s, when the Nationalists lost and rebased in Taipei.

Nationalist Party Chairman Wu Den-yih said after the elections Saturday his camp would keep advocating for stronger relations with Beijing.

Setback for same-sex marriage

Tsais party also lost ground Saturday for one of its causes, the legalization of same-sex marriage. Voters passed a referendum asking that marriage be restricted to one man and one woman despite draft legislation last year by ruling party lawmakers suggesting recognition of same-sex ties.

LGBT couples hope Taiwan will be the first place in Asia to recognize same-sex marriage, letting them share child custody and insurance benefits.

Christian groups and advocates of the traditional Chinese family structure stumped for Saturdays referendum along with a separate ballot measure that suggests using a different process to protect same-sex unions, a likely reference to keeping the civil code's marriage wording as is.Both measures passed.

Their campaign may have raised fear among voters, said Shiau Hong-chi, professor of gender studies and communications management at Shih-Hsin University in Taiwan.

They usually do not illustrate any concrete examples about why they are against (same-sex marriage) and they usually make up some facts like once the laws pass, you cannot call your father papa, you cannot call your mother mama, Shiau said.

But the referendum is advisory only, and in May 2017 the Constitutional Court ruling ordered parliament to make same-sex marriage legal within two years. Legislators, though mindful of public opinion, are obligated to carry out the legal order.
Chen Hong-zhi's notebooks are his life.

Nine years ago, Chen seriously damaged his hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with forming memories, in a traffic accident.

The 26-year-old has lost the ability to make and retain short-term memories. Instead, he painstakingly records his days in lined notebooks, crammed with entries in blue ink.

"I use the notebook to remember who I helped today, how much farm work I did, whether there was rain ... the notebook is my memory," said Chen, who lives with his stepmother, Wang Miao-cyong, 65, in a remote village in Hsinchu County, northwestern Taiwan.

"I once lost one of my notebooks. I was so sad that I was crying and asked my dad to help me find it."

Since his father died four years ago, Chen and his stepmother have lived on a government disability allowance and a small income they get from farming fruit and vegetables, which they barter with neighbors, some of whom call Chen "notebook boy."

Dr Lin Ming-teng, head of the psychiatry department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, said Chen has made remarkable progress despite his extensive brain damage.

"From the X-ray, we can see a large part of his brain in black - these are the sections that were operated on after the traffic accident," Lin said.

"After losing such a substantial portion of his brain, it is quite amazing for him to achieve what he is doing now," Lin said, adding that Chen could only remember things he had done in the last five to 10 minutes.

Lin said the damage had also affected Chen's ability to receive and process information.

"This has an effect on his relationship with his mother, too, as sometimes his mother cannot get over the fact that he forgets things," Lin said.

Wang longs to go back to her hometown in Indonesia, but she feels she cannot leave Chen alone.

"If I leave, who will take care of my son? I can't imagine his future after I die."

For now, Chen's notebooks allow him to preserve some semblance of order in his life.

"October 26 go to Beipu alone, Chen clan organization, go find phone, go Catholic church, Citian Temple, 10:38 ZZZ," reads one poignant note about a day he spent searching for, and praying to find, his lost mobile phone.

Ten days later, he found his phone, documenting the find in his notebook, of course.
A U.S. man accused of driving into a crowd of counterprotesters at a white supremacist rally and killing a woman plans to argue in court that he was acting in self-defense.

A lawyer for 21-year-old James Fields gave a glimpse of the defense strategy Monday at the start of jury selection in Charlottesville, Virginia.

John Hill, the attorney for Fields, told a group of prospective jurors that the jury will hear evidence that Fields "thought he was acting in self-defense.''

Prosecutors have charged Fields with 10 counts, including first-degree murder, which could bring a lifetime prison sentence if he is convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Fields was among a group of white nationalists who, in August 2017, went to Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest the removal of a statue honoring a general from the pro-slavery Confederacy that lost the country's Civil War.

Clashes broke out between neo-Nazi supporters and counterprotesters, and a car, allegedly driven by Fields, was slammed into a group on a street, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring dozens of others.

The trial is expected to take about three weeks.

Fields' lawyers had asked to move the trial out of Charlottesville, saying it would not be possible to find residents in the city who would were unbiased. The judge did not grant the motion, but said the issue could be revisited if lawyers from both sides cannot find an impartial jury.

Fields also faces federal hate crimes charges in a separate trial. He pleaded not guilty to those charges during a July court appearance. No date has been set for that trial.
Dozens of Tunisian rights activists and journalists staged a small protest on Monday against a planned visit by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Tunisia is one of the few Arab states where demonstrations are allowed, following a 2011 uprising that toppled veteran ruler Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and ushered in freedom of speech and the press.

The Saudi crown prince is expected to arrive on Tuesday, part of a tour of several Arab countries on his first trip abroad since Khashoggi's murder, which has strained Saudi Arabia's ties with the West and battered his image abroad.

Some 13 Tunisian civic and rights groups, among them the journalists' union, had called for a protest at the central Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis, scene of the mass protests that toppled Ben Ali in 2011.

They waved pamphlets demanding "Freedom for Saudi women" or which read "Bin Salman, you are murderer Number 1".

"The Tunisian revolution... cannot agree to receive him (bin Salman) and allow him to clean himself (with his visit) of a murder," Soukaina Abdessamad of the journalists' union told reporters. "We will stage protests on Monday and Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia has said the crown prince had no prior knowledge of the killing of Washington Post columnist at Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul last month.

After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh said Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered when negotiations to persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia failed.

Since the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of Ben Ali and triggered the Arab Spring protests that convulsed the region, Tunisia has become one of the few Arab countries where protests are permitted.
Turkish officials say a military helicopter has crashed in a residential neighborhood in Istanbul, killing four of the five soldiers on board. Authorities say the remaining soldier was taken to a hospital.

Anadolu, the state news agency, says the helicopter was on a training flight Monday when it hit the roof of a building and crashed in between apartment blocks in Istanbul's Sancaktepe neighborhood, on the Asian side of the city.

Governor Ali Yerlikaya told Anadolu that "an inspection into the cause of the incident has been started."
The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned British academic Matthew Hedges, who last week was sentenced to life in prison for espionage.

UAE officials maintained that Hedges was guilty, telling reporters he was "100 percent a full-time secret service operative," and showing videos of Hedges purportedly confessing to working for Britain's MI-6 intelligence agency.

Reporters were not allowed to record any of the videos.

An official announcement said Hedges was among more than 700 people pardoned to mark the UAE's National Day.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Britain does not agree with the charges against Hedges, but is grateful to the UAE "for resolving issue speedily."

Hedges' wife, Daniela Tejada, welcomed the pardon.

"The presidential pardon for Matt is the best news we could have received. Thank you friends, family, media, academics, and the wider public for your undivided support -- I've been brought back to life," she wrote on Twitter.

Hedges, a student at Britains Durham University, was sentenced last week Wednesday after a five-minute court appearance.

He was detained at Dubai Airport on May 5 and accused of spying in the UAE. Authorities said the Ph.D. student's research in the country for his thesis on the Gulf states security and internal policies following the Arab Spring was a pretext for carrying out surveillance for a "foreign agency."

Hedges, who was born and grew up in the UAE, was detained after interviewing local officials for his theses. According to local media, one of them became suspicious and reported him. Britain has clashed with UAE rulers in recent weeks over its human rights record and its role in the war in Yemen, where its forces have been part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Ugandan Marine security authorities continue to search for bodies after a party boat in poor mechanical condition capsized with 120 people on board Saturday in Lake Victoria. Police say 31 bodies have been recovered with more than 70 people missing and feared dead.

What started out as a fun boat ride turned tragic when an unlicensed, uninsured and unregistered vessel capsized Saturday in Lake Victoria, Africas largest body of water.

Uganda Police Director for Operations Asumani Mugenyi says all marine components of the Uganda police and army have been deployed. He says they are not sure when all the victims' bodies will be recovered.



Based on the witnesses, that many of them could be trapped in the wreckage. And we thought we would have the capacity to overturn the wreckage," he said. "We have consulted Ministry of Works and they say the water here is shallow. The ship that is available cannot operate at this place.

There have been many calls for stricter safety rules, but Ugandas marine regulations are based on a law that was enacted in 1939. The law says any vessel owner who breaches the conditions of a license, including overloading, chooses between paying a fine of less than a dollar or spending 12 months in jail.

The vessel's owner and his wife both died in the accident.

Boat operators at Mutima beach in Mukono explain what led to the latest tragedy.

The passengers came and were told the vessel had mechanical problems, but they insisted, and paid more money. But the vessel had a leak and started sucking in water. No one noticed until the boat capsized, said boat operator Adam Namudala.

Painful wait



It is a painful moment for family members of the passengers waiting for word of their loved ones. Sebuma Alex Kaluwanga lost his older brother, whose body has not been found.

So, we are here waiting, because of the situation, we are waiting to see what is coming forth, but we have not seen him," he said. "So we pray the police will continue the fight to retrieve bodies so our brother may also be found. We just need to know that we too can see his body.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has called for the registration of all motorized boats in the country to prevent further accidents.
Russia said Tuesday that Ukraine's decision to impose martial law after Russian forces seized three Ukrainian ships and their crew in the Black Sea could lead to a flare up in hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's parliament voted Monday to approve martial law in 10 of the country's 27 regions beginning Wednesday.

President Petro Poroshenko said martial law will help "strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities amid increasing aggression and according to international law a cold act of aggression by the Russian Federation." He added that Ukraine intends "to keep adhering to all international obligations."

The measure calls for 30 days of martial law - an apparent concession to opponents - which would allow for elections to be called as scheduled in December. Ukraine is due to hold a presidential poll March 31, 2019.

US: Russian action 'outrageous violation'

Russia fired on two Ukrainian naval ships and rammed a third vessel Sunday in the Black Sea, seizing the ships and accusing them of illegally entering its territorial waters.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley condemned Russia for its "outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory."

"This is no way for a law-abiding civilized nation to act," Haley said at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council. "Impeding Ukraine's lawful transit through the Kerch Strait is a violation under international law. It is an arrogant act that the international community must condemn and will never accept."

Haley told the council that she had spoken with both U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before addressing the council and her statement reflects concerns at the highest level of the U.S. government.

Russia fired on two Ukrainian naval ships and rammed a third vessel Sunday in the Black Sea, seizing the ships and accusing them of illegally entering its territorial waters.

Video purportedly showing a Russian vessel ramming a Ukrainian tug boat Sunday:

Ukraine's parliament is considering President Petro Poroshenko's call to impose martial law in the country, in the wake of the incident. If imposed, it would be the first time since the crisis between Moscow and Kyiv began in 2014 that such measures have been taken.

Poroshenko reduced an earlier version of a bill to propose 30 days of martial law  an apparent concession to opponents  which would allow for elections to be called as scheduled in December.

Poroshenko said Monday he wants to declare martial law "to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities amid increasing aggression and according to international law a cold act of aggression by the Russian Federation." He added that Ukraine intends "to keep adhering to all international obligations."

Poroshenko is demanding Russia immediately release the Ukrainian sailors and ships.

Trading accusations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Ukraine of violating international norms with "dangerous methods that created threats and risks for the normal movement of ships in the area."

NATO head Jens Stoltenberg also called on Russia to release the Ukrainian navy ships, saying "there is no justification" for Moscow's actions, while European Union chief Donald Tusk condemned Russia's use of force and reiterated the EU would stand in support of Ukraine.

At the U.N. Security Council, most members condemned the escalation, urged restraint, and called for the unconditional and immediate release of the Ukrainian sailors and the return of their ships.

Russia's deputy envoy Dmitry Polyanskiy blamed Kyiv and its western supporters for the escalation.

"This provocation was pre-planned, that's obvious, and it was with the full connivance of Western states that de facto have just given carte blanche to any actions taken by their subordinates," he said.

Ukraine's U.N. ambassador, Volodymyr Yelchenko, said his government would like to see a tightening of economic sanctions on Moscow.

"The sanctions is the only real tool that can make Russia at least start thinking of their behavior," Yelchenko said after the meeting. "Sanctions, they do bite."

Ukrainian officials say at least six sailors were wounded in the incident. They deny any wrongdoing on Ukraine's part.

"We think our sailors committed no crime whatsoever," Ambassador Yelchenko said, noting that Crimea is not recognized as Russian territory by anyone except Russia. "What are they claiming, that Ukrainian sailors committed a crime by crossing the Russian border? Where is this border? It does not exist."

Russia's deputy U.N. envoy appeared to signal the Ukrainian sailors would not be released quickly and could face a trial.

"The three sailors, they were acting in provocation and they were conducting a crime according to the laws of the Russian Federation," Polyanskiy told reporters. "Each and every sovereign country has [a] right to prosecute people who conduct crimes and unlawful acts on their territory, that's our approach."

Russia, Ukraine claims

Sunday's incident began when a Ukrainian tugboat set out to escort two navy ships from Odessa, on the Black Sea, through the Kerch Strait to the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, in the Sea of Azov.

The Kerch Strait is the only passage between the two seas.

Ukraine said Russia used a tanker to block access to the Kerch Strait, which under a treaty is shared territory.

Russia said the Ukrainian ships were violating its waters and accuses the Ukrainians of failing to inform it that three of its ships were planning to sail through Kerch, a charge Ukraine denies.

The Trump administration has previously warned Russia against trying to strangle the Ukrainian economy by harassing international shipping through the Kerch Strait.

WATCH: Ukraine-Russia relations

Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014, claiming its ethnic Russian majority was under threat from the Ukrainian government.

Fighting between pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian troops has eased in recent months, but there are still occasional deadly flare-ups.

Russia has consistently denied sending weapons and fighters to help the separatists, despite strong evidence to the contrary.
United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths met Yemeni officials in Riyadh on Monday as part of efforts to kick-start peace talks next month between Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government.



The visit comes as a tenuous calm settles over the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, a vital lifeline for imports and aid which had seen fierce clashes in a renewed offensive by a Saudi-led military coalition.



Under heavy international pressure, the Yemeni government and the coalition have largely suspended their five-month battle to seize Hodeida.



Griffiths, who is spearheading efforts to hold peace talks in Sweden in December, met Yemen's Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani in the Saudi capital, the Yemeni state-run news agency Saba said.



The Yemeni leaders discussed with Griffiths arrangements for the upcoming negotiations and possible "confidence building measures" to test the "rebels' seriousness" about peace efforts, Saba reported.



The UN envoy, who visited Hodeida last week to assess the humanitarian situation, was also expected to meet with Yemen's internationally recognized President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, a Saudi government source told AFP.



Fighting in the Red Sea city intensified in early November as coalition-backed loyalist forces attempted to enter the city, but calm returned after Griffiths arrived in Yemen on Wednesday.



Griffiths has urged the warring parties to "keep the peace" in Hodeida.



While the loyalist advance there has largely stalled, minor clashes have continued.



Military officials quoted by Saba on Sunday evening said the loyalists foiled a Huthi "infiltration attempt" into a camp in Hays, a district about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of Hodeida.



The rebels said they had detonated an explosive device near the eastern entrance of Hodeida, "destroying a [pro-government] military vehicle ... killing and wounding soldiers inside", Huthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Monday.



Loyalists did not confirm the attack.



But pro-government military officials told AFP on Monday that their operations in the east and south of the Red Sea city had been suspended.

Desperately needed respite



President Hadi  whose UN-recognized government was pushed out of Sanaa by rebels who overran the capital in 2014  has said he supports the talks but has vowed to "liberate" Hodeida.



According to the World Health Organization, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led intervention began, though some rights groups estimate the toll could be five times higher.



Humanitarian organizations are desperate to see the current peace push translate into a more permanent halt to the conflict.



UN agencies say 14 million Yemenis are at risk of starvation and the closure of Hodeida port would further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.



The UN's World Food Programme said Friday it had distributed 30,000 food baskets  each containing enough to feed a family of six for one month  in Hodeida city.



The heads of the UN's humanitarian and children's agencies have said the recent de-escalation in fighting in Hodeida is providing a desperately needed respite to hundreds of thousands of civilians.



The current effort by Griffiths is the biggest push for a peace deal in Yemen in two years.



In September, a previous round of UN-led peace talks faltered when the Huthis refused to travel to Geneva, accusing the world body of failing to guarantee their delegation's return to Sanaa or secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.



Previous talks broke down in 2016, when 108 days of negotiations in Kuwait failed to yield a deal and left rebel delegates stranded in Oman for three months.
When Dan Katt opened Good City Brewing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2016  a presidential election year - a trade war between the Trump administration and China was the furthest thing from his mind.

I dont think we even contemplated that that administration would exist, he told VOA.

He also didnt consider how one decision in particular  canning his beer for distribution instead of bottling it  would challenge his business growth.

We always planned to can our products. I dont think we necessarily expected to have our single biggest expense  packaging materials  to be affected by tariffs.

Katts cans are made of aluminum, and much of his supply comes from China. Its now subject to a 10 percent tariff.

The price of aluminum is a concern. When we buy, we buy in lots of about 215,000 cans at a time, says Katt. When we go back to market, which well be doing very soon, we expect to see a price increase on cans.

The Trump administration imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to bolster U.S. producers of those metals and protect U.S. jobs in those industries. The tariffs are starting to impact many other segments of the U.S. economy, including the growing craft beer industry, that need aluminum and steel to make their products.

President Donald Trump says the tariffs are working.

We have taken historic action to bring back American jobs by cracking down on Chinas very abusive trade practices, but thats going to work out, taking in billions and billions of taxes from China  never happened before, but they want to make a deal and thats good, he told a large crowd of supporters at one of his final mid-term election rallies in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on November 5.

A U.S. Treasury Department report supports his views, showing government revenues from tariffs are up over 30 percent this year over last.

But Brian Kuehl disagrees with the president.

"Tariffs are taxes on American citizens. When we put tariffs on steel and aluminum, it drives up the cost of steel and aluminum in the United States, says Kuehl. He is executive director for Farmers for Free Trade, a nonpartisan group chaired by former Republican Senator Richard Lugar and Democratic Senator Max Baucus. Farmers for Free Trade is campaigning against the tariffs.

Farmers for Free Trade was founded to have a long-term vision about trade and speaking about trade regardless of who is in the White House, says Kuehl, who argues that the tariffs do more harm than good to the U.S. economy.

For that reason, the group has launched a nationwide Tariffs Hurt the Heartland campaign. It includes an $800,000 multimedia advertising blitz as well as hosting public events across the country, profiling the negative impact of tariffs.

During an event in Wisconsin, Dan Katt represented one of several businesses hurt by the trade dispute.

We dont think that the current trade war with China is going in the right direction, says Kuehl. We think it's increasing costs for U.S. manufacturers, its increasing costs for U.S. farmers, and it's decreasing export opportunities. Were causing long-term damage to American agriculture and our ability to compete in foreign markets.

A foreign market Dan Katts Good City Brewing doesnt currently export to, but depends on not only for the aluminum to package his product, but also for steel used in the equipment that makes the beer.

On a more significant level, we expect to see equipment prices  stainless steel  go up significantly, he explained, standing in front of large shiny vats where the beer is brewed. We do buy equipment, stainless steel, that comes through China. So thats a concern for us as we look at continued growth and increased capacity.

Good City Brewing is one of about 75 such companies now in Wisconsin, a state with a long history of beer production. Katt says his company will continue to grow regardless of the short-term impact of the tariffs, but he hopes the U.S. and China can reach an agreement on trade before he has no choice but to pass on the increased costs to those he needs most for his new and growing business to prosper: his customers.
During a reception in Hanoi on November 26 for Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba Leopoldo Cintra Frias, the host congratulated the Party, State, and people of Cuba on their achievements in updating their socio-economic model in the spirit of the sixth and seventh Congresses of the CPC.

He also congratulated their success in amending the Constitution of Cuba, with the involvement of people from all walks of life.

The Party chief expressed his belief that the two armies deserve the trust of the two countries parties and people, and stand ready to fight for national independence, freedom, and socialism.

Frias, for his part, informed his host about the outcomes of his working sessions with the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence agencies, the implementation of the 2017-2019 cooperation plan between the two defence ministries, as well as measures to foster bilateral defence links.
In this arid part of northern Kenya, water can be hard to find, particularly in the dry season.

But a center run by the Samburu Girls Foundation - which rescues girls facing early marriage and female genital mutilation - has a new high-tech source of it.

Since June, the center, which has rescued more than 1,200 girls, has used panels that catch water vapor in the air and condense it to supply their drinking water.

"We used to have difficulties in accessing water and during a drought we could either go to the river to fetch water or ask our neighbors to give us water," said Jecinta Lerle, a pupil and vice president of students at the center's school.

But now, officials at the school say, the girls no longer have to travel for water - including into communities they have left, which could put them at risk.

"The girls can now have more time to study since there is enough fresh water to go round and there is no need to walk long distances to search for water," said Lotan Salapei, the foundation's head of partnerships.

Girls formerly trekked up to five kilometers a day in search of clean water during particularly dry periods, sometimes bringing them into contact with members of their former community, Salapei said.

The center, given 40 of the water vapor-condensing panels by the company that builds them, now creates about 400 liters of clean water each day, enough to provide all the drinking water the center needs.

The "hydropanels," produced by U.S.-based technology company Zero Mass Water, pull water vapor from the air and condense it into a reservoir.

Cody Friesen, Zero Mass Water's founder and chief executive officer, said the company's project with the Samburu Girls Foundation was an example of its efforts to make sure the technology "is accessible to people across the socioeconomic spectrum."

The panels provided to the Samburu Girls Foundation cost about $1,500 each, foundation officials said.

Zero Mass Water has so far sold or donated the panels in 16 countries, including South Africa.

Saving trees

George Sirro, a solar engineer with Solatrend Ltd., a Nairobi-based solar equipment company, said such devices can be a huge help not only to people but in slowing deforestation that is driving climate change and worsening drought in Kenya.

Often people with inadequate water cut trees to boil the water they do find to make it safe, he said, driving deforestation.

Philip Lerno a senior chief in Loosuk, where the girls' foundation is located, said he hopes to see the panels more widely used in the surrounding community, which usually experiences long dry periods each year.

He said community members, having seen the devices in use at the school, hope to acquire some of their own if they can find the funding.
Some villagers in one of Zimbabwe's driest areas are appealing for food and fear their livestock, their source of livelihoods, will die due to a lack of water. The World Food Program is asking for funds to ensure food stability during the country's "lean season."

In the dry Matabeleland region, animals are not only a sign of wealth but a source of livelihoods; they are sold or exchanged for grain, especially corn, to prepare Zimbabwes main staple food  sadza or isitshwala  a thick porridge, which is served with a relish. Crops usually fail due to low rains, so they depend on domestic animals.

Standing next to a dry well, which they had dug to get water for their cattle, 29-year-old Mpumelelo Dungeni fears for his herd.

This years drought has been severe. Our cattle are dying because there is not enough water to drink. We travel long distances for cattle to survive...We are appealing to the government to intervene and solve our water problem and food as well... It must fix our dam so that we can survive...We want food and water for us and our cattle to survive, Dungeni said.

The villagers in this Gatsheni-Matopo area say the Mabigwe reservoir dried up, leaving them with no reliable source of water for their animals. Sixty-year-old Linah Mhlanga said she now walks for hours upstream with her cattle to find water.

The donors keep saying they will come and fix the dam (Mabigwe reservoir), but they are not coming. There is no one who can come to fix it. So when the water is finished here we have to go further down there for the cattle to get something to drink, Mhlanga said.

The World Food Program says it needs about $75 million to ensure food stability for Zimbabwes lean season for the next six months for dry places like Gatsheni-Matopo.

Eddie Rowe, the WFP director in Zimbabwe, told VOA that about 2.4 million people in this southern African nation need food aid because of unusually long dry spells during the rainy season.

As we speak, we know that in almost every district, most of these households have run out of their harvests and now depend on the market and we all know the problem we are facing. not just a commodity availability problem, but prices in purchasing these basic commodities. In Zimbabwe, we have an estimated 28 percent of the rural population that is considered in a very challenging [situation] when it comes to access to and availability of food for this agriculture season 2018/2019, Rowe said.

USAID's Food For Peace program has given $22 million to the WFP to ease Zimbabwes food insecurity.

As a result, places like Gatsheni-Matopo in Matabeleland probably will get decent meals. But their animals will need water  and more drought is predicted.
It took Britains Theresa May and 27 other European Union leaders just 40 minutes to sign the Brexit deal after two years of tortuous negotiations, but the trials and tribulations of Britain's withdrawal agreement approved Sunday in Brussels are far from over.

As they endorsed the 585-page the agreement, and a 26-page accompanying political declaration that sets out the parameters of negotiating a possible free trade deal between Britain and the European Union, powerful political foes in London plotted strategies to undo it.

There is little evidence Britains embattled prime minister will have sufficient support to win legislative endorsement of the deal in a House of Commons vote next month. That was clearly on the minds of European Commission officials Sunday as EU leaders gave their backing to the terms of Britains split from Brussels after 44 years of membership.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned that Britain cannot expect to get a better deal, if its parliament rejects the agreement. Now it is time for everybody to take their responsibilities, everybody, he said.

This is the deal, its the best deal possible and the EU will not change its fundamental position when it comes to this issue, so I do think the British parliament  because this is a wise parliament  will ratify this deal, he added.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte warned British lawmakers that no better deal was on offer from the European Union, urging them to back the agreements.

If I would live in the UK I would say yes to this, I would say that this is very much acceptable to the United Kingdom, Rutte said, because the deal limited the impact of Brexit while balancing the vote to leave. In a bid to help the prime minister, he said May had fought very hard and now there was an acceptable deal on the table.

You know I hate [Brexit], but it is a given, he told reporters. No one is a victor here today, nobody is winning, we are all losing.

Opposition in Britain

Maybe it is a "given" in Brussels, but in Britain that is another matter altogether.

Both Remainers and Leavers in the British Parliament are warning that May doesnt have the necessary support with the all the opposition parties lined up against the deal and as many as 100 lawmakers, Remainers and Leavers among them, from Mays ruling Conservatives pledging to vote against it as well.

Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, said he would continue to oppose the deal because it cedes huge amounts of power to the European Union.

In Scotland, first minister and leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party Nicola Sturgeon said, This is a bad deal, driven by the PMs self defeating red lines and continual pandering to the right of her own party. Parliament should reject it and back a better alternative.

She wants a second Britain-wide referendum, like a majority of Britons, according to recent opinion polls.

The agreement calls for Britain to stay in the blocs customs union and largely in the EU single market, without the power to influence the rules, regulations and laws it will be obliged to obey for a 21-month-long transition period following formal withdrawal on March 29. The deal would allow an extension of up to one or two years should the negotiations over the future relationship not be completed by the end of 2020.

May is campaigning to sell the agreement to the British public, hoping she she can build enough support in the wider country to pressure the House of Commons to endorse the deal. European Parliament approval is almost certain.

May's warning



In an open letter to the British public published Sunday, May promised to campaign with my heart and soul to win that vote and to deliver this Brexit deal. If she is unable to do so, Britain would be plunged into what May herself has called, deep and grave uncertainty.

Her aides say she is banking on the fear factor, daring the House of Commons to vote down a deal which if rejected would leave Britain most likely crashing out of the bloc, its largest trading partner, without any agreements, which would be costly economically and would almost certainly push the country into recession.

Ominously, the Northern Ireland party, the Democratic Unionist Party, whose 10 lawmakers Mays minority government relies on to remain in power, says it will vote against the deal. And DUP leader Arlene Foster warned Sunday she is ready to collapse the government to block a deal that would see Northern Ireland treated differently than the rest of Britain.

And a senior Labour lawmaker Tony Lloyd said there was a coalition of the willing in the Parliament ready to reject May's deal and support a softer Brexit. So, if the deal is voted down, what then? A vote against could trigger a general election, a second Brexit referendum or even more negotiations, despite Brussels threat there can be no other deal.
Cameroon medical doctors say they are overwhelmed with patients as many of their colleagues seek better pay and working conditions elsewhere.

A two day old baby boy cries as his mother watches helplessly outside Sante Pour Tous, a private hospital in Cameroon's economic capital, Douala. Francine Tamenang said she has not slept since a traditional birth attendant helped her deliver the baby.

She said she wants to see the doctor because she has not got money to pay for an injection the nurse says will save the life of the baby she delivered at home. She said the doctor has not even cared to examine the baby, but is instead promising to negotiate with the pharmacist to see if the price of the drug could be reduced.

Cameroon has a population of nearly 25 million people, who have been joined by 350,000 refugees fleeing the carnage in the neighboring Central African Republic and about 100,000 Nigerians escaping Boko Haram terrorism. The country also has 300,000 people internally displaced by Boko Haram conflicts in the north and the separatist crisis in its English speaking regions.

Central African refugee Emeline Boganda said she lost her best friend at a Cameroon government health center in Betare Oya because of negligence by the hospital staff.

She said she brought her friend Mariam to the health center and no one attended to her until she died. She said she has a strong feeling that if the nurses and doctors paid just a little attention, Mariam's life could have been saved. She said she does not know what hospitals are for if not to save lives.

The vice chairman of Cameroon's National Order of Doctors, Tetani Ekwe, said the health and humanitarian needs of the displaced and refugees increase by the day, yet the doctor-patient ratio stands at one doctor per 50,000 inhabitants in rural areas instead of the one doctor per 10,000 inhabitants recommended by the World Health Organization. He said in towns like Douala and Yaounde, the doctor-patient ratio does meet the WHO standard.

He said while only 15 to 20 percent of Cameroonians go to conventional health centers, the acute shortage of medical doctors, trained nurses and laboratory technicians means not all of them can be attended to. He said with the lack of universal health coverage plans, sick people, who are quite often the very poor, cannot pay their hospital bills and resort to Cameroon traditional medicine, some of which is not scientifically proven to be effective.

More than 500 medical doctors and 5,000 nurses are trained in Cameroon every year. But in 1996, when the economy worsened, the pay of doctors was reduced by 60 percent, to about $300 per month, and many of them went abroad. Some still leave now, complaining of low pay.

In August, Cameroon reported that medical staff were fleeing hospitals in the troubled English-speaking regions after attacks left several nurses dead and many others wounded.
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga says Zimbabwes opposition will never dislodge President Emmerson Mnangagwa from office, claiming that Mnangagwa was anointed by God.

Chiwenga, who addressed thousands of people at a Zanu PF rally in Mashonaland West at the weekend before introducing Mnangagwa, attacked Nelson Chamisa of the Movement for Democratic Change, labelling him a little bishop and false prophet.

According to the state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper, Chiwenga said Mnangagwa will stay in office until he leaves on his own and not by losing power to the opposition.

In all the coming elections, no one is going to remove Shumba Murambwi (President Emmerson Mnangagwa). We are here until he feels it is the time to go and when we have fully restored our country to its former glory and when everything is in order. No one must dream of being the president. We want our country to prosper and it is time to move the country forward. Its no longer time for bickering and politics. From here going forward, we are now talking of politics of development, of building the country and moving the country forward.

Politics of childs play will not help us in any way. Shumba Murambwi is there to stay because he is an anointed one from the King. Never ever dream that after so and so years it will be your time, there is no vacancy, there is nowhere to get in. Listen and listen very carefully. To those who were howling in these last days, keep quiet and keep quiet forever. We want to build a strong Zimbabwe that can move forward. There is nothing he has done wrong, the son from the Shumba clan.

The privately-owned NewsDay newspaper also quoted Chiwenga as saying Chamisa should forget about ruling Zimbabwe.

We hear that this young preacher is going around telling people that he is on his way to State House. That is wishful thinking. There is no vacancy at State House now and forever for opposition parties We are saying [this] to you blind ones who could not see and voted for this little bishop, the false prophet. He elects himself and the fire refuses to light up. He elects himself and the birds return to the podium (bird photographed sitting on Chamisas head at an MDC rally).

Chamisa was captured on video attempting to light what his party described as a democracy flame the day his party declared him president of Zimbabwe.

Reposing to Chiwengas remarks, Chamisa wrote on Twitter, I am praying for my Sekuru Mr Chiwenga. He really needs grace! I thank him for acknowledging my faith and ordaining me a prophet. Why does he sound like the Rhodesian Smith in his not in a thousand years mantra! This Nov is when Smith declared UDI and you know it!

The MDC leader still claims that Mnangagwa was fraudulently elected president in the July 30 presidential election held this year.

Mnangagwa won the election with 50.8 percent of the vote -- just enough to meet the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a run-off against Chamisa, who scored 44.3 percent. That percentage was eventually reduced to 50.6 percent by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission before the Constitutional Court hearing.
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This story originally ran on July 19, 2014. Its being republished on the occasion of Bertoluccis death Monday morning from cancer.

New York has always embraced me, Bernardo Bertolucci reflects. The 73-year-old director is on the phone from Rome, talking about a visit he made to the city in December 2010 for a comprehensive Museum of Modern Art retrospective of his work. It was there that Bertolucci emerged from what seemed to be years of seclusion and depression and allowed the world to see him as he was  a man confined to a wheelchair, the result of several operations to deal with years of crippling back pain. That was the first time I appeared in a wheelchair in public, he says.

Of course, when Bertolucci talks of the citys embrace, hes also thinking of the momentous 1972 premiere of Last Tango in Paris at the New York Film Festival. That date should become a landmark in movie history, famously declared The New Yorkers Pauline Kael at the time, comparing the event to the premiere of Stravinskys The Rites of Spring and calling Last Tango the most powerfully erotic movie ever made. It might still be the most influential movie review ever written, and it helped make Bertolucci one of the essential international auteurs of his time.

Last Tango in Paris. Photo: MGM

But if that earlier experience with the city partly defined his career, this more recent experience helped revive it. Not just because it allowed the director finally to make peace with his disability, but also because it was during his New York stay that he read his fellow Italian Niccolo Ammanitis novel Me and You, and decided that maybe cinema wasnt over for him after all.

The novel, the story of a teenager who withdraws to the storage cellar in his apartment building, had a confined setting and stripped down dramatis personae. As a movie project, it seemed doable. I thought, I can do this movie with two characters, Berolucci says. The main characters are the boy, Lorenzo (played in the film by Jacopo Olmo Antinori), and his older, estranged half-sister Olivia (Tea Falco), who unwittingly intrudes on his basement idyll.

Of course, Bertolucci would make the story his own. If I dont fall in love with my characters, I cannot shoot, he says. I have to have this emotion, of idealized love. This is my way of making a story mine. The biggest change he made to Ammanitis novel  and here comes a spoiler  was to let Olivia, an addict, live at the end of the film. I cant do that. Because it reminds me of all the movies Ive seen where a junkie or something, at the end you know they will be dead  a kind of moralistic destiny. I decided Olivia had to walk away on her legs.

Me and You. Photo: Fiction Cinematografica

The characters in the film are Bertoluccian in other ways, too. Lorenzo has a bit of an Oedipus complex, but this time, the dilemma is treated with humor. At one point, he interrogates his increasingly uncomfortable mother at the dinner table about what she would do if they were the only two humans left and had to re-populate the earth. Its a funny scene, a marked contrast to the more tormented Oedipal yearnings of Luna, the directors deeply disturbing 1979 film with Jill Clayburgh, which got banned in some places.

Bertoluccis control over his frame is legendary, but so too is his openness to his actors: He practically let Marlon Brando walk off with Last Tango in Paris, letting the graying actor improvise for pages on end. The person who acts a character gives life and flesh to what was written, and so much more comes with that, Bertolucci says. When I shoot, I try to feel the body and the face and the weight of the actor, because the character until that moment is only in the pages of the script. And very often, I pull from the life of my actors. Im always curious about what these characters and these actors are hiding about their lives. In Me and You, that manifested itself in Olivias former career as a photographer. (Like Bertolucci, who won a major prize for his poetry at age 19, Olivia also won an important literary prize as a teenager.) When we shot the movie, Tea Falco showed me some of her photographs, Bertolucci says. Shes a real artist. She did all these ironical self-portraits. So it came from her own life, this piece of experience. In the script there is nothing about that. I often like to quote Jean Renoir, who said, Always leave a door open on the set. Because reality has to come in through that door.

In many ways, Me and You, for all its modesty and spareness, shows the director in a more playful and open mood than he has been in many years. Could it be the fact that its also his first Italian-language movie in three decades? I was pleased to hear Italian in my movie again, he says. But if you dont know Italian, you cant feel and hear a Sicilian accent. In Italy, its so surprising and kind of funny to see and hear this very sophisticated girl, Olivia, with this strong Catanian accent. He adds: English dialogues are always just what you need and nothing more  like something out of Hemingway. In Italian and in French, dialogues are always theatrical, literary. You can do more with it.

But theres something else about Me and You that feels like it may be a renewal for Bertolucci. The ongoing interplay of individual vs. society in his films has, for the past two decades or so, led to narratives of seclusion, of physical isolation. The prevailing mood has been a kind of disappointment with the world  one that the director clearly shared, and one that stood in marked contrast to the idealism of his earlier films. But now, something seems to have changed.

To understand what, though, a bit of history may be in order: Like many Italian intellectuals, Bertolucci had a love affair with Marxism throughout the 1960s and 70s. Indeed, part of the greatness of his work came from his self-aware treatment of ideology. As a child of the bourgeoisie, he presented characters struggling with the idea of revolution and class warfare. In 1964s Before the Revolution, a young middle class man wrestles with his Marxist political beliefs. In the five-hour, activist historical epic 1900, a group of peasant revolutionaries, led by Gerard Depardieu, put their feckless landowner, played by Robert De Niro, on trial; its clear that Bertolucci identifies with De Niro, but aspires to be Depardieu.

By the time 1987s The Last Emperor, a massive Oscar-winning historical drama about Chinas final monarch, came around, Bertolucci had become disillusioned with the West, and particularly with Italy. I was living in a country I didnt like at the moment, he now says of that period. Politically, everything was dissolving, and corrupt. When I went for the first time to China, it was a kind of rebirth of my desire to shoot. And The Last Emperors story could have been concocted out of Bertoluccis own psychiatric sessions: The films protagonist was born in impossible luxury and ended his days as a poor, simple, happy citizen of the Peoples Republic.

The Last Emperor. Photo: Columbia Pictures

The psychological connections to his work didnt stop there. Beroluccis next film, The Sheltering Sky, about Americans traveling in post-WWII Tunisia, was a perfect encapsulation of souls adrift in a world that didnt seem to want them. The film, starring John Malkovich and Debra Winger, was based on Paul Bowles classic novel of existential despair, but the weird sense of freedom and terror that looms over it clearly echoes Bertoluccis state of mind at this time. We were far away in the desert, he recalls. I remember sending a fax to my wife, saying how sad it was to shoot this husband and wife with a kind of glass wall between them: They can see each other but they cant communicate with emotions. Its the agony of the end of a love story. She replied, While you were shooting that wall, the Berlin Wall fell! Because back then, when you were in a remote place with very few people around, you didnt hear that kind of news. I remember Malkovich being very excited, thinking about what to wear now that the Wall had fallen. He placed a lot of importance on style.

Thinking back to that period, Bertolucci reflects: The end of communism changed the relationship I had with politics. Things became different, much less ideological. You can see that in my movies, which are all very much about myself in a certain era. In 1900, my relationship with politics was very different than when I was in China.

The despair at the end of The Sheltering Sky found its own outlet in Little Buddha, another sumptuous epic set largely in Asia, this time intercutting the life story of Buddha (Keanu Reeves) with that of a young Seattle boy who is tapped as the reincarnation of a prominent lama. Though largely ridiculed by critics the film, again, presented a remarkable progression to those in tune with the psychological through-line of the directors career. In the Buddhist ideals of self-negation and impermanence, Bertolucci had found a more spiritual outlet for his uneasy relationship with society and politics.

This sense of self-negation, of withdrawal, informs all his subsequent work. In Stealing Beauty, he presents a group of expatriates and intellectuals who have withdrawn into a villa in the hills of Tuscany, disillusioned with the world at large and with their broken ideals. In Besieged, a pianist (David Thewlis) withdraws into his Roman house, living a quiet, hermit-like existence. In The Dreamers, three young cinephiles and wannabe revolutionaries (two French siblings, played by Eva Green and Louis Garrel, and an American, played by Michael Pitt) closet themselves in a Paris apartment while the May 1968 riots rage outside. How much of this narrative withdrawal was due to the real-life physical problems confronting the director? If you think of the pianist in Besieged, and the three kids of The Dreamers, the same things have been going on in a parallel way with me, he says.

The withdrawal is, of course, always complicated by others: In Stealing Beauty, a young woman, played by Liv Tyler, comes to the Tuscan villa looking to find out which of these expatriates is her illegitimate father; in Besieged, the wife of an imprisoned African revolutionary (Thandie Newton), becomes the pianist-hermits maid; he falls for her and is forced to re-engage with the world; in The Dreamers, a rock thrown from the street literally punctures the three teens suicidal reverie. Even as Bertoluccis characters have become more cloistered, the need for re-engagement has become more urgent, more personal.

And so, in Me and You, Olivia intrudes on the young Lorenzo. Hes a young man who has refused to confront the world; shes a young woman who has engaged with the world and has the scars to show it. Olivia helps Lorenzo to discover the importance of connecting with another life; the boy, in turn, helps her gain back her self-respect and independence. The film is at once Bertoluccis most confined and most hopeful film to date. The isolation of his characters in the earlier films very often had to do with a response to external events; they turned away in disgust, or horror, or disillusionment. Here, Lorenzo turns away simply because its in his nature. The first shot of the film shows the boy with his head bowed, talking to a psychiatrist  an older man in a wheelchair  as if Bertolucci might be symbolically speaking to his younger self. The director seems to agree. I was quite shy in real life, when I was young, he says. So, I used my movies to show myself. Ive said before that inside every shy person there is a bloody exhibitionist.

To show how far Berolucci has come, its worth looking at the end of The Dreamers, in which the characters find themselves in the middle of a riot: One, rejecting violence, goes one way, while the others run towards the melee; the final image is of French riot police storming towards the screen. In Me and You, however, we see the two siblings on an empty street. As they embrace, the camera cranes up. Its like the end of a Hollywood movie, says Bertolucci. Then, they separate, and as Lorenzo walks back home, the crane begins to come down, and we settle on a close-up of the young man. In that frame, we see somebody who has grown up, and is in control. I thought of it as a kind of homage to the last shot of Truffauts The 400 Blows  the freeze frame of the very young Jean-Pierre Leaud. But Truffauts freeze-frame, one of the defining images of the French New Wave, was an uneasy one  that of a boy who had found his freedom, but didnt know what to do with it. Lorenzo, however, is clearly smiling. And that smile, one suspects, partly belongs to the director. Its the look of a man happy to be back in the world.
Aaron Sorkin. Photo: Benjamin Lowy

I have something very exciting to talk to you about. Thats how Scott Rudin, the EGOT-winning producer, began a phone call to me three years ago. The last three times hed called me to say, I have something very exciting to talk to you about, I ended up writing The Social Network, Moneyball, and Steve Jobs. So I was listening.

After several years of trying, he said, Ive got the stage rights for To Kill a Mockingbird. He wanted me to adapt the novel into a play. He was right  it was very exciting. It was also a suicide mission, and I understood that right away. This wasnt just any Pulitzer Prizewinning novel; its one that holds a sacred place on Americas bookshelf. We all read it together in seventh or eighth grade. For some of us, it was the first time we read about injustice. It was the first time the hero wore glasses. It was the first time we were lulled into a bucolic world, seen through the eyes of a child, without knowing we were about to get kneecapped when we turned the page. It was the first time we liked reading a book more than watching television. It sells more than a million copies a year, and it continues to be taught in every school district where it hasnt been banned for making Jim Crow laws look bad.

And Ive heard theres a movie.

Adding to the lore was the books author, Nelle Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird was her first novel and her last. (Go Set a Watchman, the rejected first draft of Mockingbird, was published in the final years of her life.) She never wrote again. She hid from the limelight  which cant be easy to do when your best friend since childhood is Truman Capote  and in spite of the money that comes from a blockbuster book and movie, she lived the balance of her life very modestly in the town where she was born, Monroeville, Alabama, which served as the inspiration for fictional Maycomb County, where the story takes place.

What could I do but make it all less than it was? Why invite the comparison between a legend and  not a legend? Why put on a nightly PowerPoint presentation on the difference between Harper Lees skills and my own? It would be like entering a head-to-head competition with Tom Brady in which points were awarded based on passing efficiency and handsomeness. It wouldnt be a wise thing to do. Without hesitation, I said yes.

Im an accidental writer of movies and television shows. And while its been a very happy accident, what I love most is writing plays. Not just writing them, doing them. My last play was 11 years ago. This was a chance to be in a theater again, a chance to work with Bartlett Sher (whom Scott was dangling in front of me as director), a chance to be in a rehearsal room with a company of world-class actors, and a chance to work with this material. I wanted to be a part of it.

Six months later, I turned in my first draft and it was terrible. Probably the best thing you could say about it was that it was harmless, which is probably the worst thing you could say about To Kill a Mockingbird. Basically, Id just taken the most necessary scenes from the book and stood them up. It was a greatest-hits album performed by a cover band. I sent the first draft to Scott, and the next day he called and asked me to come to New York for a conversation. Thats regular working procedure for Scott and me. These work sessions usually last three or four days and I fly home with dozens  sometimes hundreds  of notes and write the next draft. The first Mockingbird work session lasted 45 minutes. Scott had two notes.

The first was We have to get to the trial sooner. Yes. Agreed. How? I didnt know yet.

But the second note was the one that changed everything. Scott said, Atticus cant be Atticus for the whole play. He has to become Atticus by the end.

Well  duh.

Thats Freshman Playwriting. First semester, first week. A protagonist has to change. A protagonist has to be put through something and be changed by it. And one more thing: A protagonist has to have a flaw.

How did Harper Lee get away with creating a flawless protagonist whos the same person at the end of the book as he is at the beginning? Simple. In the book, Atticus isnt the protagonist  Scout is. Faced with the brutal realities of the Jim Crow South, Scout loses some of her innocence. Her flaw is that shes young. But for the play, I didnt want Scout (or Jem or Dill) to be the only protagonist. I wanted Atticus to be a protagonist too  in fact, the central one. I left Scotts office knowing what I wanted to do, not knowing how to do it, and wishing I drank. A kind flight attendant tapped me on the shoulder a few times during the flight home to tell me I was talking to myself.

Sorkin across from the Shubert Theatre moments before the first preview began. Photo: Benjamin Lowy

I went to my office and wiped the dry-erase board clean, tore down all the index cards, and deleted the first draft from my computer. I didnt want any part of that draft anymore. I made up my mind that I wasnt going to swaddle the book in bubble wrap and transfer it gently to a stage. Theaters arent museums; theyre the places we go to have  as Lily Tomlin puts it  the goose-bump experience.

The structural problem  getting to the trial sooner  was easily solvable. But how do you give Atticus Finch a flaw? Does he go from a bad guy to a good guy? A bad lawyer to a good lawyer? An abusive father to a loving one? A racist man to one who believes in equality and justice? No, no, definitely not, and no. I tried all the doors and they were locked, until I found one that swung open with the lightest touch. I didnt have to give Atticus a flaw because, to my mind, he already had one; its just that wed always considered it a virtue. Atticus believes that you cant really know someone unless you climb into someones skin and walk around in it. He believes that Bob Ewell should be understood as a man who lost his job. He believes Mrs. Dubose should be understood as a woman who recently stopped taking her medication and lives in physical pain. He believes in the fundamental goodness in everyone, even homicidal white supremacists. He believes  that there are fine people on both sides?

In the play, this set of beliefs would be challenged.

Theres a story about James Carville on the night Bill Clinton won his first term, in 1992. Clinton walked out to a floodlit podium in front of the statehouse in Little Rock to address thousands of his supporters and millions more on television. A man turned to Carville and said, My God, look at him. Hes so presidential. How did he change in just a few hours? Carville said, He didnt change  we did. Theres no event that occurs in the play that doesnt occur in the novel, but the play takes a new look at some of those events because things have happened in the past 58 years. The book hasnt changed; we have. Thats why its alarming when we abruptly discover how much we havent.

There are only two significant African-American characters in the story: Calpurnia, the maid, and Tom Robinson, the accused. In a tale about racial injustice, neither of them has anything to say on the matter. Tom begs for his life, and Cal bakes crackling bread. Its the kind of thing that would have gone unnoticed in 1960, but in 2018, using black characters only as atmosphere is as noticeable as it is wrong. Also, in this instance, a wasted opportunity. Does that mean all copies of the novel should be recalled and edited like a Wikipedia entry? Of course not. But neither could I pretend I was writing the play in 1960.

To Kill a Mockingbird is about the nature of decency. What it means to be a person. In the novel, Atticus has the answers. In the play, he would struggle with the questions. There was speculation outside my circle of collaborators that I would incorporate Go Set a Watchman into the play. Ive never read Go Set a Watchman, specifically so I could truthfully say Ive never read Go Set a Watchman.

I delivered the new draft in August 2017, a year after the previous one. Scott read it and immediately took out a two-page ad in the New York Times to announce that To Kill a Mockingbird, a new play, would open on Broadway in December 2018. Sher, about whom enough good things cant be said, was onboard to direct. Jeff Daniels signed on to play Atticus for a year (there had never even been a conversation about anyone else playing the part). Things had gotten real in a hurry.

As we started planning two workshop sessions that winter, we faced one big casting challenge. That was the kids  Scout, Jem, and Dill. The roles were potentially too difficult for child actors. Scott suggested that, just for the purpose of the first table read, we use adults. So we asked Celia Keenan-Bolger to read Scout and Will Pullen to read Jem. (Gideon Glick joined them a little later as Dill.) Wed told them it was a one-time thing and they wouldnt be moving on with the play, but as they read, it all just seemed  right. Even inevitable. It was a memory play narrated by the three kids as they tried to work through the lingering questions surrounding the death of Bob Ewell. With only an afternoons worth of rehearsal, the three of them made the subtlest of adjustments to their posture and their voices, slipping easily back and forth between the children they were and the adults they became. It simply worked, and what had been an expedient solution became the right idea.

The day of the first table read, which began with so much anxiety  what would the cast think of what they were reading? What would Bart think? Will this work at all?  ended with enthusiasm, energy, optimism, and commitment. There was a hard road ahead, but we had murderers-row creative and investment teams. The Shubert Organization offered up its flagship theater, and we had dates  September 20 to start rehearsal, November 1 to start previews, opening night on December 13. A new Broadway play at Christmas.

Thats when we were sued.

In the deal to have To Kill a Mockingbird reimagined as a play, Harper Lee had retained absolute approval over who the playwright would be. She approved me. Three weeks later, she died. (I like to think those two events were unrelated.) A woman named Tonja Carter took over as executor of Lees estate. Lees contract with Scott  which was now the estates  also stated that I would not alter its characters or depart in any manner from the spirit of the novel. Carter filed a suit in federal court in Alabama claiming Id done both.

With Jeff Daniels, left, on November 1, the first day of previews. Photo: Benjamin Lowy

New plays, like new movies, arent finished  theyre confiscated. In other words, a play isnt done until opening night. Carters suit was filed six months before the start of rehearsal. The complaint laid out a number of examples of how I had, to her mind, altered the characters and departed from the spirit of To Kill a Mockingbird. I dont know what the spirit of To Kill a Mockingbird is, and neither does anyone else. Theres certainly no legal definition, and Im not sure theres a literary one, either. Still, whatever spirit means, Im confident I didnt depart from it.

As for altering characters, Carters demand letter included a list of things these fictional characters would never do. Atticus would never take the Lords name in vain, Atticus would never drink alcohol, and Atticus would never have a rifle in the house, but that was the least troubling of our troubles. Heres an example of an exchange that takes place during an argument that Atticus and Calpurnia return to throughout the play:

Calpurnia: Jem was stickin up for you and maybe a little bit me and you made him say he was sorry.

Atticus: I believe in being respectful.

Calpurnia: No matter who youre disrespecting by doin it.

A typical black maid in the South at this time would never talk to their employer this way, Carter said.

A coupla thoughts:

Theres no such thing as a typical black maid.

Plays arent written about typical people doing typical things.

Lawyering up isnt cheap. Once the complaint was served, Scott started bleeding about $30,000 a day in legal bills. The story was news, and every headline that read HARPER LEE ESTATE SUES OVER BROADWAY PLAY looked, to a glancing eye, like it was Harper Lee who was objecting to the play and not Tonja Carter. Carter herself, we suspected, was in a tough spot. Shed been the main engine behind the publication of Go Set a Watchman, a book that had done no favors for the legacy of either To Kill a Mockingbird or Lee herself, and fans were angry. There were whispers that its release had been a money grab. Carter had told Scott shed received death threats. She likely didnt want to make the same mistake again.

We set up a meeting for the principals  Carter, Scott, and me  and held a prep session at our lawyers office the day before. Jonathan Zavin, our lead litigator, was to introduce Scott, who would offer some remarks and then introduce me. I was to explain to Carter how a play is different from a novel and do it without sounding condescending. I stared down at the table for a second, shook my head, and said, If our defense rests on my ability to explain what a play is without sounding condescending, were completely screwed.

The next morning, a snowstorm closed the airports, so the face-to-face meeting turned into a teleconference. I came into the room wearing a coat and tie and my lawyer immediately grabbed the jacket off my back and put it off camera. I never asked why. I thanked Carter for the face-to-face and told her how honored I was to be working on the material. I told her she was going to be part of a thrilling night in the theater. Then I told her that drama has rules, no less strict than the rules of music  4/4 time requires four beats to a measure, the key of C-major prohibits sharps and flats, and a piece of music has to end on the tonic or the dominant. The rules of drama, I said, were written down by Aristotle in the Poetics in 350 BC. These rules are four centuries older than Christianity. A protagonist  Yeah, we got nowhere.

I said, If our defense rests on my ability to explain what a play is without sounding condescending, were completely screwed.

Tonja Carter said to Scott and me, I think you both hate To Kill a Mockingbird (which would explain the three years we spent working on it), and we faced the scary possibility that we werent going to be able to do the play. Its not that we thought we were going to lose the case  the lawyers were confident we would win  its that Scott and his investors couldnt go into a production under a cloud of litigation, and with every passing day we were getting closer to losing our theater to another show. Was it possible that a person could win a lawsuit just by filing it?

We made a motion to have the Alabama suit moved to New York, hoping for a more sympathetic court, and it was approved. Scott also sued Carter in New York, hitting back hard at every single thing in her lawsuit and raising the specter that being simultaneously the agent, lawyer, and literary executor for Harper Lee wasnt legal. But the clock was ticking, and workshopping was underway. Scott even made a bold offer to the court: He would have the entire cast come perform the play for the judge in his courtroom  and it would be open to the press. If nothing else, wed be in the record books as the first play to close on opening night in New Yorks Southern District.

Moving the case to New York and the pressure of an immediate trial apparently broke the logjam. Carter and her lawyers agreed to meet with Scott and his lawyers in a room at the courthouse, where they would sit with a judge who would act as a mediator. After ten hours of back-and-forth, Scott called me and asked what items on Carters list of objections I was willing to alter to her satisfaction.

None of them, I said. The play cant be written by a team of lawyers.

If this isnt settled by the end of the day, Scott replied, there is no play. The end of the day was in 90 minutes. Scott and I talked about Bart and Jeff and the rest of the cast and crew, about the great work at our workshops, and about the potential of where we could go from there, and I finally said, If Tom Robinson and Calpurnia are taken off the table as issues, Ill cut Jesus Christ and Goddamit, Atticus wont have a rifle in his closet, and he wont drink a glass of whiskey after the trial.

And that was that.

The curious part of me wished wed gone to court so I could hear a federal judge decide what imaginary people would and wouldnt do. Instead, we were able to settle without damage to the play other than the unwanted publicity. (The audience was already coming in with a lot of personal thoughts about To Kill a Mockingbird. Would people now be watching the play through the lens of Who was right?) We were on.

Ive been asked if I thought Harper Lee would like the play. Of course, I dont know. No one knows or ever will. I suspect  in spite of her approval  that shed have a very difficult time with new words written by a stranger coming out of the mouths of her beloved characters in a story thats semi-autobiographical. (I know that after I left The West Wing, the first time I saw an episode that was written by someone else, I needed CPR.) My hope is that, if nothing else, Harper Lee would agree that the playwright had a deep love and respect for the book she wrote and that shed be pleased (or maybe horrified) that the themes she wrote about in 1960 were at least as relevant in 2018.

My friend David Fincher, who directed The Social Network, used to say that art isnt supposed to answer questions, its supposed to ask them. If you walk into a theater already knowing whats going to happen when the lights go down, youve walked into the wrong theater. To Kill a Mockingbird isnt a revival. Its not an homage or an exercise in nostalgia. Its a new play, directed by a genius and performed by 24 of the best actors in the world. Was it a suicide mission? Im not the judge of that, and there will be no shortage of strong opinions.

All rise.

*This article appears in the November 26, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!
Camping Birthday Party (Part 1) Season 1 Episode 7 Editors Rating 3 stars * * *  Previous Next  Photo: HBO

At one point in Birthday Party (Part 1), Joe tells Jandice that good girls dont hand out drugs at parties, after Jandice gives everyone at Walts big birthday bash some ecstasy, but honestly, her drugs save this whole entire thing. Good or bad  shes the hero here, Joe!

Jandice is right: theres an awful, awkward energy as the gang tries to celebrate the man of the weekend. Maybe its because Carleen is still missing and Kathryn wants to act like its no big deal. Maybe its just because Kathryns a dick and literally everyone in the room hates her at the moment. Its probably a mix of both. But after Kathryn unsuccessfully tries to disinvite Jandice from the party, and everyone agrees that Kathryn would not be happy with them partaking in some party drugs, it ends up being Kathryn who gives them all the go-ahead. Yes, drugs for everyone. Even she realizes that having a talent show at a 40-year-olds party is an awful idea and also they need to liven this terrible birthday weekend up. What-fucking-ever, this night couldnt get any worse, she tells the group. And thats when things really get weird.

Everyone is high out of their minds. George tries to get Jandice to have sex with him and fails; Joe gets a sad boner talking to Jandice and thinking about Carleen; Jandice makes it very clear to Miguel that they are over; Walt cant stop dancing. One of the best things that comes out of this drug-fueled evening is that, FINALLY, Kathryn and Nina-Joy hash things out.

Well, first Kathryn army-crawls across the floor to get to Nina-Joy, then they hash things out. Apparently, Kathryn is the one who told George about Nina-Joys affair, and shes sorry. NJ doesnt want to hear it unless Kathryn has actually thought about what shes done. And she has! In Kathryns first display of any self-awareness whatsoever, she admits that she was jealous of Nina-Joys sex glow, how happy she seemed just because she was getting laid. That may never happen for Kathryn.

The two ladies hold hands, share a secret cigarette outside, and bond over both admitting that neither of them wants to have sex with their husbands. Honestly, Kathryn McSorley-Jodell has never seemed so normal  all it took was a little ecstasy.

Just as Kathryn is relaying the horrors of children getting their heads stuck in between banisters to Nina-Joy, Carleen pulls up on a motorcycle. She was saved on the side of the road by a young man. She had run off to prove a point that no one would miss her if she was gone and gotten way more lost than she intended to. Now, she returns to find her friends partying without her  and walks in on Jandice pouring wine directly into Joes mouth. Carleen is really having a time.

Shes not the only one. When the motorcyclist who saved Carleen pulls of his helmet  surprise!  its the infamous Braylen (Rene Gube), whos come to the camp to profess his love for Nina-Joy. This, of course, enrages George, whos still smarting from Jandices rejection, and he threatens Braylens life. And thats the final straw for Nina-Joy. She told George that if he got angry like that again, things would be over between them, and she wasnt kidding. Shes heading back to the tents with Braylen. George is 0 for 2 with the ladies this evening.

George and Nina-Joy arent the only ones ending things at the birthday party. Carleens finally had enough  Joe broke his promise to try and remain sober for the rest of the weekend and she is over it. But yes, of course, shell take some ecstasy from Jandice  everyone else is doing it.

Then something truly spectacular happens: After also rejecting Georges advances (0 for 3), Carleen wants to perform her talent. Your girl came to throw down  and she does so, with her own rendition of Cups. Its hard to explain the joy one feels watching Ione Skye playing a high Carleen performing Cups to a room of 40-year-olds, but just know that its a lot.

People start to get extra sloppy. Including Carleen. She and Kathryn have seemingly made up, theyre dancing together  but when Carleen bumps into the birthday cake and the old Kathryn starts to creep out once more, the two sisters finally go at it. They call each other Bs and Cs and a whole bunch of other letters, until finally Carleen drops the hammer: She moved all the way to Arizona just to get away from Kathryn. That one seems like it stings.

Soon, Kathryn and Walt are the only ones left in the barn. They are both still out of their minds, but you start thinking that this could be good for them. Kathryn is actually kissing her husband and telling him how much she loves him  could Walt get his birthday wish?

No, definitely not. Kathryn tells him all about her reconciliation with Nina-Joy and that most of it came from commiserating over the fact that neither of them wants to have sex with their husbands. Just a reminder: Walt is her husband. And finally, after everything, weve found Walts breaking point.

Campfire Stories:

 As you may have guessed, Harry is the coolest babysitter. She lets Orvis eat Chef Boyardee out of the can and watch Body Heat. (Great William Hurt callback, BTW.)

 Sols townie friend swings by and after laughing over the Cups shenanigans and Sols opening up about losing her mother, the two share a sweet first kiss. Something good should come out of this weekend, right?

 Its not a skin cream, Im just getting fucked should definitely be the title of a memoir. Not mine, sadly, but someone should scoop that up!

 Ill never not laugh at the way other people continue to describe Carleen. This time its Kathryn: Though she dresses like a toddler, she is in fact, a grown woman.

 I ate a chili cheeseburger and then cried to Seinfeld, but it turned out to be E.R. Now, see, that should be the title of my memoir.

 Okay, serious question: Where can I get Nina-Joys yellow cardigan?
Kelli OHara. Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images

Three years after Kelli OHara took the stage in The King and I on Broadway, American audiences will have a chance to see her Tony-winning performance as Anna Leonowens once again. On November 29 and December 4, film distributor Trafalgar Releasing is screening a taped version of OHara and Ken Watanabes performances in the London Palladium production of the musical in movie theaters across the U.S. Ahead of the films release, Vulture called up OHara in her London dressing room to discuss how her perspective on the character changed over the course of three years, what it was like to reunite with her castmates for her West End debut, and her plans for the upcoming revival of Kiss Me, Kate.

Is there much of a difference from performing on the West End than on Broadway?

Well, I think weve all heard about the West End always and dreamed about coming over here, but its also such a change of life and the history here, and the touristy things to do here are so beautiful. My kids and my husband and I have been over here all summer and tried to do as much as we possibly could between showtimes for a great little break from the world. We kind of found ourselves one weekend at a place called Botany Bay, where we just went to the beach. It was white cliffs of Dover-looking. We stayed at this beautiful little inn. For us that was a great little getaway to the British seaside.

Its been three years since the The King and I first premiered in New York. How much has your perspective changed on the show?

The 2018 version of this feels very different than the 2015 version, in a way. I find Anna to be one of these women who, when playing her, it makes you also stand up a little straighter. I definitely love her more deeply as a mother, as someone who has a lot to learn in coming to teach. Shes also learning at the same time, and this idea of understanding and education about the other is very important. I think in 2015, with the possibility of Hillary Clinton running for president, we wanted to have a bit of a feminist story. Now, in 2018, we have that, as so many layers, but then on top of it, I was really reaching for equality and understanding.

Politically, with Brexit and Trump, thats certainly something people have turned against.

I feel so heavy about all that, and I feel like instead of being angry and very barky and difficult about it, Im starting to feel so much in my own life that there has to be some sort of gentleness, openness, understanding, and eye-opening.

I was moved to see Ruthie Ann Miles come back onstage, after the terrible tragedy she lived through. What has it been like to work with her again?

Ruthie and I are great friends. Im glad to be here with her right now. Its one of the bigger honors and purposes in my life right now, and shes amazing.

Youre doing Kiss Me, Kate in the spring. Have you thought about how you will approach that show?

Definitely. This experience makes me look at what Im about to do differently. Were going to meet in October to talk about how we make this revival fresh and why there is reason to do it at all. The score, everything like that, will be intact and respected, but I think theres also things we need to look at in the scenes and kind of give it a reason for being. I also think a great deal about the last time I saw it, with my good friend Marin Mazzie playing the role, and keep her in mind in my performance.

I was thinking about Marin Mazzies performance in The King and I, where she replaced you, after hearing about her death. Has her version of Anna been on your mind?

Marin was one of my very first real inspirations. The month I moved to New York, I saw her in Ragtime about eight times. She and Audra McDonald were my first musical-theater heroes. To pass, if you will, the role of Anna over to her, and come back and watch her do it was really one of the bigger honors of my life, to share something with her. Then she came and sang at Carnegie Hall for me the next spring, and its been hard to think of our whole community having lost her. I especially feel for my good friend, her husband, Jason Danieley, who has been a rock of a husband. I wish him all the best, and he knows that of course.

Is there any shift in what to West End audiences tend to react to in the show, as opposed to those on Broadway?

I have found them to be such beautiful listeners. People tried to warn me about British, London, audiences being different. I dont feel that much of a difference. They still come to their feet at the end, they listen, they seem engaged. I think theyre enjoying this particular production. We reference the English so much in this production that there are little laughs we get even more: Im from a civilized land called Wales. They enjoy that more than maybe American audiences did.

What were your thoughts on having the production filmed?

As much as I get nervous about something like live theater being filmed, I also am the result of having never seen live productions as a kid. I grew up in western Oklahoma, where we didnt have live theater for the most part, so my love of this art form came from watching movie musicals, and that was how I learned about this art form at all. I keep thinking of the one kid out there somewhere who cant make it to London or Broadway but sees this in a movie theater in their small town, and says, I love this art form, and I either want to go someday to do it or see it, or I want to support it here in my local town. It would be silly to assume that everybody who wants to be involved in and see theater can. This is the way to get it to people, and I think thats important.

What do you think you learned from playing Anna?

This show sits very heavy and deep for me as far as what it means to be a woman  that you can be strong, that you can take care of yourself, support yourself, but you also can have love. That you can also depend on others, that you can also learn from others. I think there are a lot of ways to just think things are black and white, and we have to be one thing or another, but in all my life I will look for the reasons to know that I can be independent, and that its okay to have a partnership in life, to learn, to collaborate. Thats in everything. Its in being a parent, being a spouse, being a friend. You walk onto the stage with a script in your hand and you start to just bark around, This is how I am, this is what I believe, and I am unchangeable. By the time youre done with it, by the time youve played it 500 or 600 times, you start to go, I have so much to learn.
Ray Donovan Ellis Island Season 6 Episode 5 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next  Photo: Jeff Neumann/Showtime

The fifth episode of the strong sixth season of Ray Donovan was a melancholy affair in which two men said goodbye to their children, one sending his son off to the Marines and the other giving up his daughter, knowing he may never return. Ray Donovan has always had a conflicted relationship with his son Conor, and he doesnt quite know what to say to him before he heads overseas, possibly to die in the line of duty like so many lost branches of his family tree. Meanwhile, Brendan Bunchy Donovan feels trapped in by his idiot father, going along with his latest scheme, but dropping off his daughter Maria with his brother Terry before he goes. Both men know they may never see their kids again.

While the Conor plotline dominates Ellis Island, Ray Donovan also has a job to do this week. Its only two weeks until the mayoral election and his boss Sam Winslow needs Anita Novak to win. Shes too far behind in the polls to stick to traditional methods, and so Ray devises a plan to boost her numbers and get Daryll Donovan back on the set of his movie, Mister Lucky, from which hes been barred for, well, being related to the guy who kidnapped and nearly killed the movies star. Those Hollywood types dont like to fraternize with relatives of people who kidnapped them. Damn liberal elites.

At the end of the last episode, Bunchy and Mickey Donovan woke up to realize that the $3 million earned from their kidnapping of Jay White had been absconded with by Mickeys sister-in-law Sandy. Almost immediately, Mickey starts trying to devise a new plan. Hes like a shark of idiocyalways swimming to the next dumb move. It starts with stealing a car across the street, which he piles Bunchy and Maria into and off they go.

Meanwhile, Ray has a nice scene with Terryhey, lets have more interaction between Liev Schreiber and Eddie Marsan soon, Ray Donovan writers. They have phenomenal, believable brotherly chemistry. Terry brings up the fact that Ray should have called him when the kidnapping went down because Terry may have been able to talk Bunchy out of itand hes not wrong. Ray notices that Terry s face is swollen and bruised, noting to his brother that fighting could kill him. Terry barely seems to care. Everybodys gotta die sometime is practically on the Donovan crest.

Speaking of the Donovan crest, much of this week revolves around Ray trying to get Conor to go to Ellis Island with him to see the Statue of Liberty. Conor, as apathetic and annoying as ever, would rather see the movie set and get high with his sister and future brother-in-law. He even says hell meet Ray at the ferry and then ditches him, which allows Ray a solo trip to see Lady Liberty. Along the way, he meets a red-headed Irish lass, who may be a ghost?!? At least the writers didnt completely oversell the supernatural new friend who Ray talks to on his trip by including an old photo of her somewhere, like the end of The Shining, but it was still an odd twist to have the friend that Ray makes on the ferry basically disappear. Before she vanishes, Ray does reveal that his grandfather died in WWII, one uncle in Korea, and another in Vietnam. Theres a lot of military death in the Donovan family. Is that why he wanted Conor to see the memorial on Ellis Island? To give him second thoughts? To say things to Conor that Ray cant say himself?

Of course, New York mayoral politics has some notable screen time this week too. First, Sam goes to Ed, the current mayor, and tries to work one last deal with him. It seems like Sam isnt sure Anita is going to win and she desperately needs that prison, so she can tear it down for her new production facility. Ed basically tells her to f-off. That means shell need Ray to do something, and wouldnt you know Mr. Donovan already has an idea. He calls in Lena and asks her to get her girlfriend Justine to do another job. There wont be any sleeping around on this one, but it does involve a vicious punch to the face from Lena to Justine. One wonders how long Justine will put up with being used by Lena and Ray, and if she could be trouble for Sam and Anita when shes had enough.

A bruised Justine goes to a tunnel in Central Park, pretends to get mugged (by Daryll, of course), and gets saved just in time by someone passing by. That someone just happens to be Anita Novak. A mayoral candidate stopping a mugging? Thats the kind of story that local news outlets devote multiple reporters to and is almost certain to goose her numbers.

While Ray, Lena, Daryll, and Anita are running that nifty little PR job, Mickey Donovans newest scheme is coming together. Stopping at a motel with his son and granddaughter, he sees a brochure for the Hampton Jitney, a bus that takes rich folks up to the Hamptons. You can almost see dollar signs in his eyes like a Looney Tunes cartoon. He scopes out the bus and tells Bunchy that theyre going to rob it. Bunchy realizes its an incredibly stupid plan, but when he gives Maria to Terry at the end of the episode it looks like hes going through with it.

The episode ends with Ray watching his buddy Mac shoot at abandoned cars with some of his cop pals as Conor takes off. Ray never quite said what he wanted to say. Hopefully hell get another chance. Meanwhile, Daryll is back on set, and it looks like Bunchy is gonna help his dad mug people on a bus.

The typical episode-ending montage leaves time this week for one more scene. Ray is drunk in his apartment when Anita knocks on the door. Hes evasive, asking what she wants, practically pushing her to leave. She doesnt. She moves into him and they kiss. She bites his lip so hard it bleeds, and Ray is snapped out of his drunken stupor. He gets rough, grabbing her neck hard and turning her around. She likes it. And Ray has sex with the next mayor of New York City bent over his kitchen counter.

Deleted Scenes:

 The music montage this week was to So Youll Aim Toward the Sky by Grandaddy. A nice deep cut for a show that always uses music well.

 The Irish lass at Ellis Island quotes Yeats. If youre wondering which poem, its Aedh Wishes For the Cloths of Heaven.

 Guess what? The Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, which Sam Winslow wants to control and where Smittys former antagonist ends up this week, is a real place thats already been co-opted by Hollywood. It was an actual prison on Staten Island until 2011, and has been a set since then, used in Orange is the New Black, Oceans Eight, and more. Read more about it here.
Marlon Brando with actress Marie Schneider and Bernardo Bertolucci in Last Tango In Paris. Photo: Keystone/Getty Images

This story originally ran on December 15, 2010. Its being republished today on the occasion of Bertoluccis death.

Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci, who died from cancer Monday at 77, was one of the most pivotal filmmakers of all time. Over the years he blended the experimentation of the French New Wave, the operatic gestures of classical Italian cinema, the sensationalism of American movies, and a lush sensuality all his own to create a complex, controversial, and personal body of work. Take your pick as to his most important film: the wildly stylized The Conformist (perhaps as influential a film as Citizen Kane), the notorious Last Tango in Paris, the sprawling, in-your-face Marxist epic 1900, the Oscar juggernaut The Last Emperor, or even the retrospectively acclaimed The Sheltering Sky. Any one would be valid. Here, the director dissects ten of the key scenes in his filmography.

The Spiders Stratagem (1970): Athos Keeps His Fathers Legacy Alive

The Scene: After discovering that his father, an anti-Fascist martyr, had in fact betrayed the Partisan cause, Athos Magnani Jr. chooses to maintain the myth of his fathers heroism.

Bertolucci: My father once told me, Youve killed me so many times in your movies. Even though Athos chooses to keep his fathers myth alive, this was the beginning of a liberation from the father figure for me. When I shot this film, in the summer of 1969, I had started to go to a shrink. Id chosen this Borges short story [The Theme of the Traitor and the Hero], and it was perfect for the beginning of analysis, because it was all about the son and the father. And I was seeing my father as Athos Magnani sees his father  as a hero and as a traitor. The end is not exactly as it is in the Borges story. [In my version, Athos] decides to maintain the myth and mystery about the fathers death  that was my decision. And at the very end of the film, he realizes that he is in a prison, because he sees that the train tracks leading out of town are covered in grass, which means that no train has passed through this town for a long time. So hes a prisoner of time, a prisoner of that story, and a prisoner of his father.

The Conformist (1970): The Death of the Quadris

The Scene: In the films climactic scene, Marcello arranges for the brutal and highly symbolic murder of his mentor Professor Luca Quadri and his wife, Anna Quadri.

Bertolucci: The Conformist was shot while I was still in the editing room with Spiders Stratagem. So the two movies in a way reflected one another, and The Conformist is also happening in the same years as the fathers story in The Spiders Stratagem  1937, 1938, more or less. Here you have a young man going to Paris with a precise mission of terminating this professor, who is somebody very important to him. In the film, the Professors phone number and address is the same as Jean-Luc Godards in Paris. It was like a message I was giving to Jean-Luc: I was a young Italian who came to Paris with his movies, and in a way, as Marcello was betraying his professor, I was betraying Jean-Luc  by accepting to do a film that was less experimental, a movie that wasnt as obsessed with the question of What is cinema? but was interested in telling a story, with characters. And again, my father said, Okay, here we have another father killed!

The Conformist (1970): The Final Shot, As Marcello Looks at the Camera

The Scene: After experiencing a complete psychological meltdown on the eve of Mussolinis downfall, Marcello denounces his Fascist friend and finds himself left alone with a young, homeless hustler. As the camera moves in on him, the still-closeted Marcello turns to look toward the hustler  and at us.

Bertolucci: We sense that Marcello is suddenly feeling who he is. He finally understands himself. That close-up was so intense. After we shot it, in the evening, I asked Jean-Louis, What were you thinking about during that scene? He said, I was thinking about the wheels of my Mercedes. You never know with actors.

Last Tango in Paris (1972): The Infamous Butter Scene

The Scene: As the anonymous sexual games played between Paul (Marlon Brando) and Jeanne (Maria Schneider) escalate, he sodomizes her, with the aid of some butter.

Bertolucci: It wasnt in the script, but we were often having little breakfast meetings with Marlon in this flat in Paris. We were both thinking that we needed to go further than the erotic scenes wed done so far. There was a baguette, and we cut it, and there was a piece of butter to put on the baguette. Then Marlon and I looked at each other. That was how the idea came. And it was very hard to tell Maria. So we did something very naughty. I didnt tell Maria what was going on. We were shooting the scene, and Marlon started to pull down her jeans  which, by the way, only in a movie can you pull down jeans, because they are so tight  and she couldnt understand, so she started to react, saying, No, no! And so he puts his hand in the butter. To somebody who doesnt know whats happening, whats going on is very violent. So she screams. She screams in part because shes outraged at me and Marlon, who was for her a kind of father figure and who was often protecting her. I think she felt betrayed by both of us. I dont think the scene could have been shot differently. I think if I had told her, it would have been very difficult to get that kind of violence out of the scene. In fact, if I had told her, there was probably no way she could have accepted. In the meantime, I was ecstatic that I could use for that erotic purpose something that is on the breakfast table every morning.

1900 (1976): The Trial of the Padrone

The Scene: Toward the end of Bertoluccis notorious five-hour-plus epic, Italys Liberation from the Fascists is quickly followed by a glorious, flag-waving parade in which the Leftist peasants put the landowner Alfredo (Robert De Niro) on trial.

Bertolucci: When we shot the trial of the padrone, Id seen two or three photographs from 1949, when Mao had got hold of China. There were many trials against Chinese padrones. I remember I had seen this photograph of farmers in a circle, and the landowner sitting in the middle. So when I shot it, I thought it was something that had a relationship with the Chinese revolution. So in a way I was dreaming of China when I was doing1900. And that dream would become reality eleven years later  

The Last Emperor (1987): The Cultural Revolution

The Scene: The Oscar winner featured a scene with ironic echoes to 1900s, as the life of Chinas last emperor ends with a flag-waving, grotesque Cultural Revolution parade.

Bertolucci: Before shooting the parade scene, I put together four or five young directors whom I had met, [including] Chen Kaige  who also plays a part in the film, hes the captain of the guard  and Zhang Yimou. I asked them about the Cultural Revolution. And suddenly it was like I was watching a psychodrama: They started to act out and cry, it was extraordinary. I think there is a relationship between these scenes in The Last Emperor and in 1900. But many things changed between those two films, for me and for the world.

The Sheltering Sky (1990): Kit Is Seduced by Belassim

The Scene: After the death of her husband, Kit wanders out into the desert and is picked up by a group of Tuareg nomads. She begins a relationship with one of their chiefs, Belqassim (Eric Vu-an).

Bertolucci: When I read the original novel, I really felt Paul Bowless homosexuality in this section. And Debra Winger is posing as a boy during the early part of these scenes. So I think that her way of looking at Belqassim was as if she was a boy looking at a man. Belqassim is very mysterious, hes always veiled. Theres a moment when hes washing her. She becomes a child, in a way. Debra Winger was always searching. She wanted to identify so much with Jane Bowles. I remember she told me one day, I know that this is the last film I will do, but that wont stop me from giving it everything I can.

Little Buddha (1993): Siddhartha Discovers Death

The Scene: After spending his whole life enclosed in his fathers palace, Prince Siddhartha (Keanu Reeves) emerges from seclusion to a parade his father has organized just for him. However, Siddhartha manages to sneak away from the procession to a side alley, where he witnesses a cremation and learns about suffering and death.

Bertolucci: James Acheson, who was the costume designer on Last Emperorand Little Buddha, was also the art director of this film. And he produced an incredible fake body for the cremation. It was perfect on the outside, but also inside. So that while it was burning, we could see all the organs burning  the heart, the liver, the ribs. A real corpse would not have burned that well. But it was outrageously detailed, and it burned perfectly. Keanu could not move his eyes while watching that. None of us could. So we had for this thing the same kind of compassion that we might have had for a real body.

The Dreamers (2003): Matthew, Isabelle, and Theo Take a Bath Together

The Scene: Young American film buff Matthew (Michael Pitt) shares a bathtub and a joint with the sexually liberated twins Isabelle (Eva Green) and Theo (Louis Garrel), as they profess their love for one another.

Bertolucci: The sexuality of that age was so wild, and it was not loaded. It has not been understood since that time. And making the film, it was always a dance of jealousy, between the characters, between the actors even. Sometimes Michael would be jealous of the other two because they could communicate in another language. Then Louis would be jealous of Michael and Eva. But they always had great elegance. Nobody ever came to me and complained about someone elses close-ups or anything like that. But there was an incredible amount of intimacy going around that flat.

The Dreamers (2003): The Interrupted Suicide Attempt, and the Riot at the End

The Scene: A hapless suicide attempt comes to an abrupt end when a brick smashes through a window, and the films three young protagonists rush downstairs to find themselves face to face with Pariss May 1968 riots.

Bertolucci: One cant help it. The brick brings them out onto the street, but I also wanted the brick to bring the street into their room. They have been in a claustrophobic state for the whole film, and now they go out. And in going out, they separate from each other  I felt I had to make this movie, because I was reading so much nonsense about 1968, all these stupid things. But this film is not from the point of view of those kids in that time, but rather the point of view of an older man looking back at that time. I wanted to talk about the youth of that boy in that moment  and that incredible relationship with the future  how they were projecting, how they were inventing. Today, kids of that age think of tomorrow, and then another tomorrow, and then another tomorrow. Back then, there was no tomorrow, there was just  The Future.
Athens Police arrested the son of a woman found who was found dead in her apartment and charged him with murder.

Officers responded to an apartment on North Malone Street in Athens around 2 p.m. on Wednesday for a reported homicide. When they arrived, they found the body of Emma Sutton, 79.

Sean Kevin Sutton, 47, was booked into the Limestone County Jail at 11:38 p.m. on Wednesday night. He has not been given a bond amount. Sean Kevin Sutton, 47, was booked into the Limestone County Jail at 11:38 p.m. on Wednesday night. He has not been given a bond amount.

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson said on Wednesday that Sutton was physically assaulted, but did not elaborate on the cause of death. He said on Thursday morning that information will likely be released sometime next week.

About 25 minutes later, they were able to locate Emma's son, Sean Kevin Sutton, 47, several blocks away. He was taken into custody and brought back to the Athens Police Department.

Sutton was booked into the Limestone County Jail at 11:38 p.m. A bond amount has not been determined.
A 12-year-old hit and killed last week on Highway 157 was laid to rest Monday.

Officials said Jayla Sutton died early Friday morning when she wandered away from her home. She was hit by a truck and died.

Sutton had attended Alabama's Institute for Deaf and Blind's Helen Keller School in Talladega since 2010. Dr. Sandra Ware, the Principal at Helen Keller School, told WAAY 31 they are taking her loss one day at a time.

"It was devastating when I heard what happened to Jayla," said Ware.

Ware said Jayla was more like family and was a vibrant child that they loved.

"The students are like siblings to each other because they grow up together and they live together so they are just like family," said Ware.

State troopers said Sutton wandered away from her home in Lawrence County on Friday. Troopers said she was about three miles from home, on Highway 157, when a pickup truck hit and killed her. Ware said their hearts are with Jayla's family.

"We are a close knit group, like a family, so we are helping each other through this. I appreciate Jayla's mother sending her prayers to our staff and saying she's praying for our staff because she knows Jayla is a part of our family," said Ware.

Ware said they have counselors on hand to help students and staff through this time. It's unclear if the driver of the pickup truck will face any charges.

The coroner's office said it looked like nothing more than a terrible accident. Sutton's family is asking for privacy at this time and asked for donations to be made to the Helen Keller School.
The Joel Nafuma Refugee Center is participating in the global #GivingTuesday campaign by collecting sleeping bags, thermal socks and shoes "to help save the lives" of homeless refugees and asylum seekers living on the streets in Rome this winter.#GivingTuesday, an annual day of giving that celebrates the power of philanthropy and generosity, takes place the week after US Thanksgiving, following the consumerist excess of Black Friday.Those interested in joining the JNRCs #GivingTuesday campaign can donate financially towards the campaign online , or purchase a sleeping bag directly through Amazon and ship it to the centre.
Rome announces permanent measures as city grapples with negative impact of mass tourism.

Rome police have been given more power and resources to tackle behaviour considered inappropriate on the streets of the capital, from eating and drinking outdoors to swimming in fountains.

Announcing the arrival of an additional 500 vigili urbani police officers, the city's mayor Virginia Raggi said the "historic" new laws would make Rome "more beautiful, safe and welcoming".

Rome police now have the power to issue 'daspos' - a ban on individuals from returning to the area in which they caused an offence - from 48 hours to 60 days.

The measures include a permanent ban on pub crawls and the public consumption of alcohol in glass containers from 22.00 to 07.00 every night, as well as prohibiting costumed "centurions" from charging tourists for souvenir photos.

The measures include a crackdown on eating and drinking outdoors in areas of historical importance, such as the Spanish Steps, while laws against swimming in the city's fountains have been made permanent.

Photo ANSA / Angelo Carconi.
Vatican Christmas tree to face "competition" from Rome's Netflix tree.

The Vatican has installed its Christmas tree in St Peter's Square, ready for decoration before being lit with energy-efficient Christmas lights on the afternoon of Friday 7 December.

The 23m-high red fir tree hails from the forest of Cansiglio, in the province of Pordenone, and was donated by Italy's northeast Friuli region. It will remain in St Peter's Square untill 7 January. The tradition of a Vatican Christmas tree was begun by Pope St John Paul II in 1982.

Work underway on this year's Vatican nativity scene. Photo city of Jesolo/CNA.

This year the tree will be accompanied by a giant Nativity scene which - in a break from tradition - will be built using 700 tons of compacted sand from the beach of Jesolo near Venice. The four artists currently preparing the crib scene come from the Czech Republic, Holland, Russia and the US.

This year's Christmas tree at St Peter's is five metres shorter than last year's 28m-high red fir, nicknamed 'Rigoglio' for its luxury in comparison to Rome's 'Spelacchio', ridiculed for its "manginess."

This year, however, Rome's Christmas tree will be sponsored by American media-serices provider Netflix which is paying the 376,000 cost to install and decorate the 20m-high fir in Piazza Venezia.

Cover photo: Vatican News
6-16 Dec. Teatro Sistina celebrates the 23rd anniversary of the Italian version of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar.

This original-language production features Ted Neeley who starred in the 1973 film version by Norman Jewison, with live music performed by an orchestra.

The hugely-successful musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice has been entertaining audiences around the world ever since it opened in Broadway in 1971.
On this afternoon, an effort to gather the men in one place for a conversation about what this award memorializes  the art of collaboration  has resulted in a sit-down at Silvercup Studios North, where they are participating in another project they all have a hand in: a limited series for FX about director-choreographer Bob Fosse and dancer Gwen Verdon. When it was suggested that the interview focus on one galvanizing interlude of Hamilton, and how each played their part in making it happen, the reaction was immediate and electric. It was an opportunity for them to reflect on the profound psychic-income aspect of their group achievement and the ineffable bond that feeds artistic success.
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He had his first solo exhibit at a small SoHo gallery in 1995. Since then, hes expanded to conceptual art and sculpture, and his work has been collected by the Whitney and the Met. A gray-haired BMA docent says that she didnt even know Waters was a fine artist until he got into the Venice Biennale, one of the worlds most prestigious art shows, last year. You know, I kept it very, very separate, he says. The art world knew it, but I never talked about it when I did press for movies, because the most hated thing in the world is celebrity art.
Members of the media were invited on a brisk 30-minute self-guided tour through the holiday wonderland of more than 20,000 feet of lights and 12,000 bows, put up over the past few days with the help of 225 volunteers. Official theme: American Treasures. The color red was big, appearing in a dramatic forest of 40 towering crimson topiary trees in the East Colonnade and on 14,000 ornaments in the Grand Foyer and Cross Hall.
Like so many of his contemporaries  the auteurs who built the canon  Bertolucci refused to countenance how his own fantasies and impulses became part of films fundamental grammar, internalized by men and women alike as what counts as beautiful, desirable and worth aestheticizing in the first place. Unwilling to interrogate his own work, now Bertolucci has left it to audiences to reconcile its contradictions  or at least allow them to coexist in an uneasy standoff. Bertoluccis contributions to cinema are enduring and undebatable, not least because they add up to so many opposing ideas being true at the same time. His gaze demands that we create one of our own, capable of perceiving pleasure and pain in equal and disquieting measure.
Maryland is one of three states whose maps are so contorted by partisan intent that judges have declared them illegal. This month, a panel of federal judges gave the state until March 7 to come up with a new map that fixes the 6th District, but Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.
My movies arent so much psychodramas as they are self-examinations, he told the New York Times in 1990. They evolve from things I learn about myself and others during the actual filming process. Anyone who knows me, he added, will testify that my participation with a project, with a story, with the characters, with my cast, reaches almost an obsessional stage.
And I love that they are called Christmas in April, because its too often that needy folks are forgotten the rest of the year. Christmas in April is always looking for helping hands to do some of the work, or for help buying materials and organizing their work days. (And in case you havent cried over any holiday ads yet, go to their website, and read some of the thank you letters they get.)
Fields, of Maumee, Ohio, near Toledo, is accused of first-degree murder in Heyers death. He also is charged with five counts of aggravated malicious wounding and three counts of malicious wounding in relation to eight of the 35 injured people. The lethal incident climaxed a day of violent clashes involving hundreds of white supremacists and their opponents. The outpouring of racist and anti-Semitic hate galvanized national attention on emboldened ethno-fascism in the early months of the Trump administration.
The area in northwestern Prince Georges remains one of the worst choke points for commuters who use the corridor to get to jobs in the District or to major job centers in the area, including University of Maryland facilities. Thousands of cars that travel that part of the road near the U-Md. campus  some 36,000 each day  will be affected by the construction. The number of vehicles using the road is projected to rise to 51,000 by 2040, officials say, as College Park and nearby communities continue to grow.
In an interview from prison, Hicks said he plans to take full responsibility for the murder and problems during his early years behind bars, including a guards stabbing. He hopes to attend college or learn a trade such as plumbing, as well as work with the foundation to carry its message of nonviolence to schools, juvenile halls and elsewhere. Weber, the judge who sentenced him, wrote to the parole board that she would join him in making presentations.
At least 24 killed in attacks in Somalia: An Islamic cleric and more than a dozen of his followers were killed in an attack in northern Somalia, police said, while a car bombing killed at least six people in the capital, Mogadishu. Police said 15 people were injured in the car blast, which appeared to have been aimed at troops. Police said Sheikh Abdiweli Ali Elmi, the Islamic leader, and 17 of his followers were targeted in the city of Galkayo for having music in their religious ceremonies, which some extremists say is not Islamic. Elmi had defended his actions, saying music is not contrary to Islamic teachings.
Theres an analogue here, though at first glance it seems like an exact opposite. In 2016, America elected Donald Trump because he seemed authentically different. He was extremely willing to bypass the old ways of doing things, or at least to burn them all down. Ocasio-Cortez is harnessing much of that same outsider energy, except in a far more uplifting mode  and many Americans find it similarly attractive. Its refreshing to watch someone who seems comfortable operating outside of the system, who seems both able to imagine a new approach to political action and also to genuinely believe that it could work.
On April 30, two coordinated suicide bombings in Kabul killed at least 29 people, including nine journalists who had rushed to cover the first explosion. I knew most of those journalists. An hour after the attack, I visited the scene. The smell of burned human flesh and blood, the destruction and depth of the brutality of the crime, struck me like never before. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for that particular attack, but the slaughter was all too much like the mass killings perpetrated by the Taliban since it was ousted from power in 2001 by a U.S.-led military coalition. The shock of my experience last spring has been compounded by the government intelligence reports Ive seen describing the true impact of the Taliban violence on our people.
The timing might also have been chosen with an eye to the political calendar in Ukraine, which is gearing up for a presidential election next March. Perhaps the Russians want to inject a polarizing element into an already divided society; perhaps this is an answer to the Ukrainian Orthodox Churchs decision to break away from Russia; perhaps they want to provoke a postponement of the election altogether. In a narrow sense, they may already have succeeded in changing the political atmosphere. At a late-night meeting Sunday, President Petro Poroshenko  now far behind in the polls  called for a period of martial law in part of the country, and parliament voted Monday to impose it. Its not clear yet what this means. It seems just to include military mobilization  Poroshenko has said there will be no restrictions on media or public gatherings, and no postponement of the election  but accusations of election meddling are already flying.
It is no surprise, then, that Trump will be in Mississippi on Monday to campaign for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in her Nov. 27 runoff election against Democratic challenger Mike Espy. Trump calls her an outstanding person who is strong on the Border, Crime, Military, our great Vets, Healthcare & the 2nd [Amendment]. She also has strong ideas about the War Between the States  the name preferred by neo-Confederates to describe what the rest of us call the Civil War. Hyde-Smith used that very term in a 2007 state Senate resolution that she introduced to commemorate a 92-year-old daughter of a Confederate soldier who fought to defend his homeland. Another bill she introduced as a state senator would have renamed a stretch of highway after Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America.
If someone knows there will be a record of their contact, they will likely take care to ensure it is appropriate, noted the task force, which was co-chaired by former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman (R) and Preet Bharara, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York who was fired by Trump in March 2017.
Amy and I are raising an 11-year-old, a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old, and we spent the better part of the last two years not with each other, missing birthdays and anniversaries and time together, he said. Our family could not survive more of that. We, we need to be together.
He said he first told investigators that he never encouraged anyone to go see Assange in the summer of 2016. However, Corsi told The Post, he amended his testimony after Muellers investigators allowed him to refresh his memory and review his emails, which were housed on a laptop he had provided under a subpoena.
With voting by mail a popular option in Utah, the outcome of the race remained in doubt until last week, when the Associated Press called it for McAdams, the mayor of Salt Lake County. For a short time, Love had pulled ahead in the count, making it appear Trumps assessment might have been premature.
Theyre not, as you know. Theyre not, Trump told reporters outside the White House when asked whether he was comfortable with the tear-gassing of children at the border. They had to use [it] because they were being rushed by some very tough people. And they used tear gas. Heres the bottom line: Nobodys coming into our country unless they come in legally.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) is questioned by reporters in the basement of the Capitol on his way to meet with fellow Democrats about his opposition to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) becoming the speaker of the House when the Democrats take the majority in January. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

A high-profile critic of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi signaled on Monday that he is seeking to hold negotiations with her about changes to her leadership team, a development that makes her ascendancy to the speakership likelier as her opponents continue to struggle to recruit a challenger.

The decision by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) to shift his attention from Pelosi  by far the front-runner for the speakership and currently running unopposed  to potential discussions over the lower-ranking positions of House majority leader and House majority whip underscored Pelosis strength and the desire of her critics to reshuffle the leadership even if she holds the gavel.

Moulton, who served four tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine, is an informal leader of a group of centrist Democrats that has been organizing against Pelosi (D-Calif.) and pushing for new leadership across the partys ranks in the House.

Pelosi, however, has given no indication that she is open to talks with Moulton about a deal for the support of moderate critics or that she would ever waver in her support for her longtime deputies, Reps. Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) and James E. Clyburn (S.C.), who are in line to hold the No. 2 and No. 3 posts in the House next year.

Still, associates of Moulton, 40, said he is hoping to sit down with Pelosi to discuss possible terms for the support of his group, in particular possibly rallying behind a younger member to be House majority leader or House majority whip, with an emphasis on bringing in a new generation to the leadership in the wake of the Democrats sweeping gains in the midterm elections.

In such a scenario, Pelosi would have to usher out either Hoyer, 79, or Clyburn, 78, from their campaign for the leadership in the coming days and get behind another candidate to secure the votes of the rebels who are opposing her bid for speaker.

Moulton has not signed a letter of support for Hoyer, who has long been allied with moderates and suburban members inside the House Democratic conference. And Pelosi critics have noted with interest that 12 years ago, Pelosi backed a challenge to Hoyer by then-Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) for the majority leader post, which Hoyer ultimately won.

Leader Pelosi wants to boil this down to a personal argument, but this is so much bigger than her, Moulton said in a statement to The Washington Post. Its about the entire, stagnant three-person leadership team and having a serious conversation about promoting leaders who reflect the future of our caucus.

House Democratic aides involved with the moderate group added that Moulton and others close to him are also willing to negotiate with her on another front: the length of her speakership.

If she can publicly guarantee that shell only be there for one year as a transitional figure, and that there will be elections for the leadership next fall, some people are more than willing to talk through that at this point, one House Democratic adviser said.

With a critical party vote scheduled for Wednesday, Moultons latest gambit is both a recognition of Pelosis ability to brush back her critics and the eagerness of moderates to wring something out of their standoff and at least spark debate over Hoyer and Clyburn, according to multiple people involved in the discussions.

Moulton told a crowd in his district last week that if House Democrats react to their victory in this months midterm elections by reinstalling the same status quo leadership team that weve had in place since 2006, then were failing the American people.

Pelosi will need to win a majority of House members when a floor vote for speaker is called Jan. 3. Fifteen Democrats have signed a letter vowing to oppose her, with another four who have said in statements that they oppose her, although that number has dropped in recent days as Pelosi has won over a number of her critics.

Currently Democrats are on track to enjoy a 16-seat majority, though that number could grow as several uncalled races are settled.

Moulton has been criticized by Pelosi supporters for organizing against the veteran Democrat. Liberal activists have floated a primary challenge to the two-term Massachusetts congressman, and he has been criticized by some constituents at town halls.

Mike DeBonis and Felicia Sonmez contributed.

Read more at PowerPost
Afghan police had previously attempted to arrest Alipur in Ghor province, but he escaped after a shootout. His release came as anger spread across the sizable Hazara community in Kabul and other provinces. During protests Sunday and Monday, officials said dozens of police were wounded by rocks and police checkpoints were burned. Hazara leaders said some protesters were wounded but there was no official confirmation.
The fact-finding mission obtained two caches of Facebook posts from an independent researcher contacted in April. This included around 200 posts that were deleted but that the researcher previously saved, according to a person familiar with the groups work who was not authorized to speak to the media. Investigators also received multiple submissions of data from the Berkeley professor McMahon and his students.
ENV - one of Vietnams first NGOs dedicated to protecting wildfire in the country, joined Four Paws and the World Animal Protection in End Bear Farming coalition to launch the Better life for Bears letter writing contest, targeting to put further pressure on bear owners to call for the end of bear farming. The letters will be sent to bear owners and used in other ENV material urging bears farmers to quit bear farming and give their bears a better life at rescue centres.

All secondary and high school students aged 11-17 across Vietnam are encouraged to send their letters to ENVs office, Room 1701, Building 17T5, Hoang Dao Thuy street, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi, no later than mid-March next year. The award ceremony for the winners is scheduled to be held in September 2019, with six individual and two collective prizes to be granted.

Children join a bear maze game at the launch of Vietnam Bear Day 2018, Hanoi, on November 26, 2018. (Photo: Education for Nature - Vietnam)



This year's Vietnam Bear Day marks one year of positive achievements in the efforts to end bear farming in the country. As of October 2018, the number of captive bears was reduced to nearly 800, down from more than 4,300 in captivity at hundreds of establishments across the country in 2005.

Also in November, three bears in captive in Dong Nai, Ben Tre and Lam Dong provinces have been handed over to bear rescue centres, bringing the total number of bears transferred voluntarily this year to 18 individuals. In addition, Ninh Binh, Can Tho and Ben Tre are the three latest provinces to put an end to bear farming this year, bringing the total number of captive bear free localities in the country to 23.

"It is time to increase the pressure of bear owners to end bear farming," Nguyen Phuong Dung, ENV Deputy Director said. "Bear owners need to understand that the bear bile farm industry in Vietnam is against the Criminal Code. The community is also turning away from this outdated activity by not using bear bile or bear products."

This years event features a letter writing contest which aims to convey messages to bear owners to end bear farming in Vietnam. (Photo: Education for Nature - Vietnam)



With the birth of multiple bear rescue centres across the country, many bear owners have volunteered to deliver their captive bears in order to let them have better lives at such specialised rescue centres, where bears are given healthcare, instinctive rehabilitation and freedom in their vast semi-wilderness, without suffering from the pain of extracting bear bile for the need of humans.

The contest provides the opportunity for the community to share their thoughts and feelings with bear owners, thereby contributing to the joint efforts to end the ruthless and illegal bear farming in Vietnam, Dung said, while calling on the community not to use bear bile, spread the message of protecting bears to those around them, and report bear violations to ENVs free wildlife hotline 1800-1522.

Vietnam Bear Day 2018 also features various communication activities aimed at raising public awareness on bear and wildlife protection. (Photo: Education for Nature - Vietnam)
UAE officials played for journalists, but did not broadcast, video clips of what they characterized as a confession by Hedges, in which he reportedly said he was a captain with MI6, Britains foreign intelligence agency. That rank does not exist in the agency.
It is unclear when the White House became aware that Montgomery was under scrutiny. He is one of hundreds of officers who have come under investigation by the Navy and the Justice Department since Francis was arrested and charged with bribery and fraud in 2013.
She said Russia had acted illegally, and arrogantly, when it blocked three Ukrainian ships traversing the Kerch Strait as they sailed from Odessa on the Black Sea to Mariupol on the Azov Sea. They opened fire on the fleet, injuring six sailors. The ships, and at least 23 sailors, are now in Russian custody.
Right now, as the deal stands, she may not  they may not  be able to trade with the U.S. And I dont think they want that at all, that would be a very big negative for the deal, said Trump, who has previously said Brexit is a fantastic thing.
It remains to be seen whether the new information will help in Turkeys search for Khashoggis remains, which could provide critical information about how he was killed. Turkey and Saudi Arabia have said that Khashoggi, a contributor to The Washington Post who had criticized the Saudi leadership, was killed by the team of Saudi agents in the consulate. But they have sharply disagreed about the events leading up to his death.
Martial law will take effect from 9 a.m. local time and will include a partial mobilization of the countrys air defense systems. About a third of Ukraines regions will be subject to the law. Under Ukrainian legislation, martial law also allows for a range of restrictions, including on the media and individual movement.
Lawyers for a suspected drugs trafficker are seeking leave to appeal an order for his extradition to Poland, despite generalised and systemic violations to the independence of the Polish judiciary.

Polish authorities are seeking the surrender of Artur Celmer (31), who is wanted to face trial in his native Poland on drugs trafficking charges. He was arrested in Ireland on foot of a European Arrest Warrant last year and his lawyers had opposed their client's surrender over radical changes to the Polish justice system, which has put the country at odds with the European Union in recent years.

Ordering Mr Celmers surrender last week, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said the High Court had originally found generalised and systemic violations to the independence of the Polish judiciary which gave rise to a real risk that fair trial rights would be breached.

However, she said the High Court was only concerned with determining whether the issues in Poland specifically related to Mr Celmer, in accordance with a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

Mr Celmers lawyers returned to the High Court on Monday seeking a certificate to appeal the decision. Ms Justice Donnelly will give her ruling on Wednesday (November 28).

Counsel for Mr Celmer, Sean Guerin SC, said the case itself was an unprecedented one. It involved a point of law of exceptional public importance and it was desirable in the public interest that an appeal should be taken.

Mr Guerin said the spectre for interference in his clients fair trial rights was two-fold.

He referred to correspondence from Judge Piotr Gaciarek of the Warsaw Regional Court to the effect that two Polish judges had recently been summonsed to disciplinary proceedings for referring cases to the European courts. Another judge, in a Polish District Court, had been disciplined for acquitting a group human rights activists, he said.

Mr Guerin said individual judges in Poland now know that making the "wrong decision" could have personal consequences for them. They could be disciplined or have their allowances cut. The knowledge of that gave rise to the possibility that other judges will simply not respect fair trial rights.

In addition, in light of comments from Polands Deputy Justice Minister, who was quoted as calling Mr Celmer a "dangerous criminal" connected to a "drugs mafia", despite the presumption of innocence, Mr Guerin said "the people in power" were signalling precisely" their particular interest in Mr Celmer.

"Short of an actual statement from a judge that he's (Mr Celmer) not going to get a fair trial," Mr Guerin said it was difficult to see how anyone in his clients position could successfully make their case.

He said the case concerned the extent to which a court could go behind the principles of mutual trust and mutual respect which underpinned international extradition. The question was one of interpretation of the CJEU judgment, he submitted.

Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Remy Farrell SC, said the court should be cognisant of the fact that the case had already been ruled upon by the CJEU.

Mr Farrell said the right to an independent tribunal was "simply an aspect" of the right to a fair trial. He said the High Court and the CJEU itself had recognised undisputed breaches to the independence of Poland's judiciary. But the question was whether those breaches "must" result in a flagrant denial of justice, and the High Court had answered that question in the negative last week.

He said further issues submitted by Mr Guerin were questions of evidence, not points of law, as was required for a certificate to appeal.

Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said she would consider her ruling and deliver it on Wednesday.

In her judgment ordering Mr Celmers surrender last week, Ms Justice Donnelly said the manner in which the Republic of Poland governs itself is a matter for the Polish people and it was the entitlement of those who are elected in Poland to enact laws in accordance with the Constitution of Poland.

Ms Justice Donnelly said the constitutionality of any laws enacted in Poland was a matter for the judiciary in Poland to rule upon in accordance with their own laws and Constitution.

She said the only reason recent legislative changes in Poland had become a concern to the High Court was because Ireland had obligations under EU law.

She said the execution of warrants was a matter of applying EU law as it has been implemented in this member state. It was not a matter of applying Polish law.

It is important to state that it is the courts in Poland and, perhaps if he were to be convicted and have that conviction upheld on appeal, the European Court of Human Rights that will have to decide whether any trial of this respondent (Mr Celmer) actually meets the Polish and ECHR standards respectively of right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial judiciary.
NAB boss Andrew Thorburn is under sustained questioning over a controversial proposal the bank made to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) about how it would compensate customers who had been charged fees, but not received advice.

NAB wanted to not automatically refund fees to customers who had signed up before the Future of Financial Advice laws (which banned commissions).

Senior counsel assisting, Michael Hodge QC, says this was not just unacceptable but absurd.

Can I suggest this to you: It's beyond simply unacceptable, it's absurd for NAB to be suggesting that it would not simply refund the fees that it had charged for services where it had no evidence of having provided those services, on the basis that had it just stuck with commissions, it could have kept the money without having to provide a service? Hodge says.

Thorburn does not necessarily agree with absurd but he acknowledges it was too technical, and too legal.

Well, absurd - absurd is the word you've used. I mean, I think when you look back on it, Mr Hodge, I acknowledge we got this wrong. I think we were - we were trying to - we had the right intent, but it - you know, we - we were looking at it too narrowly and too technically, and once you look back on it you see it's a very - it's obvious - there was a lot of complexity.

Hodge suggests bank had a revenue reason  he tables a memo to the board risk committee that mentions potential revenue at risk.

Thorburn says its not the reason, but acknowledges it was a factor.

Thorburn: "I actually don't think that was the - the reason. I don't think that was a sort of conscious or openly discussed matter, Mr Hodge, through this."

Thorburn admitted the banks proposed compensation approach was wrong and there were consequences for him, chief legal counsel Sharon Cook, and former wealth boss Andrew Hagger.

Thorburn also maintains the proposed compensation arrangement was not unethical but says it would not have earned its customers trust.
Australians are bleeding tens of thousands of dollars in retirement savings each because regulators have failed to weed out small, high-cost funds, a Productivity Commission analysis has found.

If the 50 smallest high-cost super funds were forced to merge into the top 10 biggest low-cost funds, there would be an average boost to the retirement nest eggs of Australia's 14.8 million super account holders of $22,000 each, if cost savings from high-cost economies of scale were passed on as fee reductions.

There has been a wave of consolidation among super funds. Credit:Jessica Shapiro

Australians are collectively shelling out $30 billion a year in fees on their superannuation accounts, not including insurance premiums. Retirees now fork out more in super fees each year than for power bills, a recent Grattan Institute report found.

According to a supplementary paper to the Productivity Commission's major superannuation inquiry, released on Monday, members would reap "significant" savings if more were transferred into larger, low-cost funds.
Lucie says "whole islands will disappear" as warming lifts sea levels, and the time for thinking is running out. "We cant just talk about it, we have to act," she says. "We have to make a change." While Lucie hopes to attend the main strike event at NSW Parliament, school principal Stephen Reed has been supportive, she says. Students remaining behind are expected to be involved in school-wide activities. 'Fear' is a motivator Vivienne Paduch, a 14-year-old student from Manly Selective school, says 'striking for climate action is more important than missing a day of school'. Credit:Christopher Pearce

Vivienne Paduch isn't waiting for Friday's gathering - where the Manly Selective school student will also be a speaker - to get active. This Sunday, she'll be busy at a "Crafternoon", creating banners and honing her speech. The 14-year-old says Australia needs to cut its carbon footprint "dramatically" and soon. The run of "crazy, extreme weather events" - from the NSW drought to destruction of the Great Barrier Reef and recent unusual fires within the Arctic circle - are part of her motivation. "Firstly it's fear," Vivienne says. "I'm really scared for me and for my generation and the generations that are going to come after me from the implications of what climate change will mean. "It's only going to get worse if we don't take action now. "Striking for climate action is more important [to me] than missing a day of school.

"With all the support we've got this year, I can see it happening again next year," Vivienne says. "It's very important to keep pressure on the politicians." 'Young people have to step up' Aisheeya Huq, a 16-year-old student from Auburn Girls High School, says young people 'are going to have to face the consequences' of climate change long after the current political leaders are gone. Credit:Christopher Pearce For Aisheeya Huq, a year 10 student at Auburn Girls High School, the School Strike is a natural extension of her volunteer work for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. The 16-year-old says her generation can't ignore climate change and environmental destruction and the justice issues that flow from them.

"Were going to have to face the consequences [from the work of] a lot of the policymakers and politicians ... due to their lack of understanding and perhaps care for the future," Aisheeya says. "Young people have realised that because we are going to be affected, we have to step up, and we have to do something about it." Politicians talk about the importance of education and shouldn't be surprised when students join the climate dots. "If you care so much about our education and what youre teaching us, why arent you doing anything about it?" she says. 'Massive emergency' Callum Neilson-Bridgefoot (left) and Tully Boyle, Castlemaine students who helped set off an Australian campaign. Credit:Eddie Jim

Students from Castlemaine, a town in the Victorian goldfields north-west of Melbourne, were the originators of the School Strike movement in Australia after reading about Greta Thunberg and also the special Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 1.5 degree report. Tully Boyle, a 15-year-old at Castlemaine Secondary College, has already taken part in several school boycotts, and this week took a train into Melbourne with other students to deliver demands to politicians. "It's a massive emergency," Tully says. "We want all governments to take it seriously." She says heatwaves, flooding and worsening bushfires are a portent of much worse to come if temperature rises reach 4-5 degrees - the course they are now on. Tully would like to see support for renewable energy and greater promotion of electric vehicles given priority.

"Climate change matters more for us," she says. "We need to fight for our future." Students from Castlemaine in central Victoria journeyed down to Melbourne this week to press the issue for urgent climate action from our political leaders. Credit:Eddie Jim Callum Neilson-Bridgefoot, an 11-year-old student at Castlemaine Primary School, has also taken part in four strike activities already. "Sacrificing a little bit of my education will help in the long term," Callum said. "I work really hard when I'm at school. "Any political leader can really make a difference - they have much more power than we do," he says. "Right now what they are doing is not enough."

Greta's actions were a key inspiration. "I was really moved," Callum says. "It was really brave and very powerful." 'It was so easy' Greta Thunberg, the 15-year-old Swedish student whose 'school strike' has drawn international attention and many followers. Credit:Anders Hellberg Greta Thunberg has seen her Friday vigils for action on climate change copied in many parts of the world, including Finland, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Canada and Britain. "And Australia of course!" she says. "The thing I think surprised me the most was that it was so easy," she tells Fairfax Media, via email.

"I remember thinking before I started 'why has no one ever done this before?'" The solution, she says, is to keep climate change in front of the public's attention. "All we need to do is treat it like a crisis with headlines and news reporting all the time. And I mean A L L the time," she writes. "As if there was a war going on." Greta wants her Australian acolytes to know she is aware of their actions: "I would tell them that they are making a huge difference. I read about them in newspapers up here in Europe and it's hopeful beyond my imagination. "And Australia is a huge climate villain, I am sorry to say. Your carbon footprint is way bigger than Sweden and we are among the worst in the world."
More importantly, we dont need another confirmation that we are deeply divided about who we think we are. A no vote with a reasonable showing in favour of a republic also sends a message of no confidence to the current monarch. After all, a win simply because the other side was divided is hardly a tumultuous victory.

But without any further clarity on what shape a republic might take, it may well result in a no vote. Surely Shorten remembers that it was the inner-city blue-ribbon Menzies seats that voted yes and solid Labor seats that voted no in 1999. Many republicans will vote no again out of fear of being railroaded by so-called experts into a model they dont like. Monarchists will vote no in any event. It could be a repeat of 1999. Monarchists united, republicans divided, resulting in a loss.

Opposition Leader Bill Shortens commitment to holding a general referendum on a republic is a bad mistake. It is a move purely to signal to republicans that he is one of them. He may feel the need to do that since, despite being critical of Malcolm Turnbull over the issue, the plain fact is Labor did nothing during its last time in office.

Like many republicans I have great admiration for our Queen. She is, regardless of gender, the greatest example of duty, honour and responsibility in my lifetime. I want us to have our own head of state and want it done in a sensible, respectful way, not death by a thousand cuts. All parties, monarchists and those who favour an appointed or an elected Australian head of state ought to think of the national interest rather than their own.

We should be trying to find what can unify us rather than what will divide us. That means doing the hard work of finding common ground. Its not as exhilarating as the rush of day-to-day biff-biff politics, of holding your ground and trying to knock the others down. But its what is needed to unite us. That common ground will be the need for stability.

Monarchists should be asked to consider, were there a pro-republican referendum, which type of republic they would prefer. My guess is it would be one of minimal change. Even on their most optimistic days monarchists must realise that sooner or later we are going to follow the path of so many other countries that were originally colonies and now stand on our own two feet. They might argue to postpone it as long as they can but surely it would be both prudent and conservative to have a hand in shaping the model we choose. Leaving that to the last minute, when you finally lose, is rolling the dice on a vitally important issue. A very risky proposition.

Republicans equally should stop indulging themselves and agree to work towards consensus on a model. They should ask: What is the essence of what theyre after? Surely the answer is they want our constitutional arrangements to reflect that we are a nation that has come of age. We should have an Australian as head of state. Our head of state should cheer for us first, always. Our system has served us admirably. An appointed president with the same powers as the governor-general now holds would be as close as we could get. While some dont like the idea of an appointed head of state, its worked quite well for us. We could leave the title governor-general as a nod to our history.
Julie Bannister is staring down the biggest bushfire of her life, refusing to leave her coastal Queensland retreat even as her neighbours properties burn around her.

Were used to fires, but not as big this, Ms Bannister told Brisbane Times.

Aerial pictures of the bushfire at Deepwater near Agnes Water, which firefighters were battling on Sunday, November 25, 2018.

This is the biggest one weve ever lived through.

You can hear it roaring, it sounded like a jet plane coming.
When Michelle Ostler's nearly three-year-old daughter Jewel was found at the bottom of a cold pool she'd probably been unconscious for as long as 15 minutes.

Jewel with her brothers Nathaniel (left), and Seth. Credit:Michelle Ostler

The little girl made it to hospital where a doctor told Ms Ostler that Jewel was unlikely to survive the night because "every single part" of her brain was damaged.

"There were organ donor people there [outside the door] wanting to talk to me, but I wasnt ready for that yet, I couldnt give up hope," Ms Ostler said.

For every Australian child under five who fatally drowns, about eight survive but with brain injury, paralysis and other serious and, very often, lifelong problems, finds new Australian research just published in the medical journal BMJ Open.
A Toyota Hilux ploughed into a home in Perth's north east in the early hours of Monday, forcing a family to flee to the back of their home.

Police say just after midnight the utility crashed into a parked Nissan Xtrail at the address on Small Street in Beechboro before smashing into the bedroom at the front of the house.

A family of four including a four-year-old child who were in in the loungeroom at the time of the crash escaped unharmed.

"Luckily the family wasn't inside the bedroom when the car ploughed into the house," 9 News Perth reporter Elly Cormack said.

"Luckily the family's car was parked in front of the house, it acted as sort of a buffer. There was no skid marks, that ute ploughed through here at speed and with force."
The states ruling out a WA-based climate and energy policy despite federal failure has drawn an attack from the Greens, who urged WA to join other states and take action.

The Morrison government in September dumped former prime minister Malcolm Turnbulls National Energy Guarantee, further eroding Australia's chances of meeting its commitment to the Paris accord, which attempts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and thereby save perhaps 10-20 per cent of the worlds coral reefs.

Coal must be phased out by mid-century if we are to have a chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, according to the IPCC. Credit:Peter Braig

Energy Minister Ben Wyatt recently acknowledged the Morrison governments decision meant Australia was unlikely to get a climate change policy until after the federal election.

But he ruled out a state-based approach, saying the WA government supported a national effort as the most efficient and effective way to deliver on Australias international commitments and remained hopeful that Australia would get this approach when the federal government changed.
Australia's spies wrongly intercepted the calls of at least two ordinary people - once by writing down the wrong number, and by continuing to listen in on calls despite a number being disconnected and sold to a unrelated member of the public.

Missed it by that much? A new report details the breaches our spies reported to their watchdog last year. Credit:AP

ASIO self-reported a number of breaches to the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security in 2017-18, revealed in the annual report of the watchdog.

In one case, communications to and from a device were intercepted by the agency due to "the erroneous transcription of a telephone number", the report said.

"Once it became aware of the incident, the organisation immediately took steps to cease interception of the service and the intercepted communications were deleted."
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned a British academic sentenced to life in prison for spying in the Gulf Arab country, showing videos of him purportedly acknowledging that he worked for MI-6, the British intelligence.

The announcement on Matthew Hedges' upcoming release ends a diplomatic headache for the UAE, a staunch American and British ally in the Middle East.

Jaber al Lamki, Executive Director of Media and Strategic Communications of the UAE, talks about the Matthew Hedges case. Credit:AP

However, Emirati officials made a point to insist their arrest came on solid ground, showing a closed-door meeting of journalists hastily convened in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, short video clips of Hedges allegedly acknowledging his intelligence work.

"He was a part-time PhD researcher, a part-time businessman, but he was a 100 per cent a full-time secret service operative," said Jaber al-Lamki, an official with the UAE's National Media Council.
Mexican Navy Launches OPV Reformador



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Investment in Canadas building construction edged 0.3% higher in September compared to the previous month.

The rise of $14.5 billion reported by Statistics Canada was led by a 1% gain for the multifamily residential construction sector ($4.8 billion) while the single-family sector was down 0.2% to $5.3 billion.

Year-over-year, single-family construction investment was up 5.2% while the multifamily sector gained 14.6%.

The non-residential sector was unchanged from August at $4.5 billion.

Gains in the commercial (+0.5% to $2.5 billion) and industrial (+2.0% to $0.9 billion) sectors were offset by a 2.7% decline in the institutional sector.
The Government of Canada recently launched the countrys first National Housing Strategy, which was referred to as a once-in-a-generation $40 billion investment created to alleviate homelessness and support access to affordable housing across Canada.

As part of the National Housing Strategy, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the government will allocate $31 million for building state-of-the-art, affordable, and accessible rental apartments. These units are set to cater to middle-class families in Calgary's city centre.

"Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Today's announcement will lead to over 120 new, affordable, and accessible apartments for families in Calgary's city centre. This new building will provide people with housing where kids can learn and grow, and where families have the stability and opportunities they need to thrive in their community," he said.

The new high-rise building will be built by the Kanas Corporation. It will include 121 rental housing units, which will be conveniently located near schools, public transit, and public services, including Glenmore Park and Rockyview General Hospital.

Most of the units will follow Calgary's affordability guidelines. This means that rental rates that will remain affordable for the next decade. On top of this, the building will also use energy storage and green energy sources such as wind, solar, and battery power, to help protect the environment and save families even more money.

Moving forward, the government of Canada will continue to provide affordable homes that address the needs of families across the country.
Ukraine Considering Martial Law After Russia Opens Fire on Black Sea Ships



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Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is unable to testify at a rare joint hearing with lawmakers from seven countries  representing more than 368 million people  who remain frustrated about the social media giants handling of misinformation online.

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This article was published 26/11/2018 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is "unable" to testify at a rare joint hearing with lawmakers from seven countries  representing more than 368 million people  who remain frustrated about the social media giants handling of misinformation online.

Instead, Facebook will dispatch Richard Allan, the companys vice-president of policy solutions, to answer questions at a Tuesday hearing featuring top policy-makers from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Latvia, Singapore and the United Kingdom, representatives from the U.K. said Friday.

Zuckerbergs decision against testifying at the global gathering could add to Facebooks woes with governments around the world, which have grown frustrated with the companys business practices. Its uncommon for seven countries to band together and seek to question a chief executive, reflecting the heightened threat of regulation and other punishments now facing Facebook and its peers in Silicon Valley.

In Europe, lawmakers recently have taken aim at the way social media companies handle users personal data and combat hate speech and terrorism online. The European Union previously grilled Zuckerberg at a short, controversial hearing in May. In Brazil, meanwhile, Facebook has had to battle back misinformation on its site during its most recent election, while WhatsApp emerged as a major flashpoint for candidates who felt it had been deployed deliberately to spread falsehoods.

In other countries, Facebook has big business opportunities at stake: Singapore is preparing to host Facebooks first-ever data centre in Asia, which the tech giant has said will cost US$1 billion.

"The committee still believes that Mark Zuckerberg is the appropriate person to answer important questions about data privacy, safety, security and sharing," lawmakers said jointly in a statement Friday, pointing to recent reports about Facebooks efforts to discredit its political opponents and slowness to identify Russia as a major threat.

The worldwide push for Zuckerberg to testify began earlier this year with the U.K., where Damian Collins, the leader of a top, tech-focused parliamentary committee, has probed Facebook over mishaps  including the companys entanglement with Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy that had improperly accessed personal data of about 87 million Facebook users. U.K. investigators even have fined the social media company in response, which Facebook indicated last week it would appeal.

But Zuckerberg repeatedly has declined to appear at a hearing in front of British lawmakers, including a request at the end of October to testify at a joint hearing with the U.K. and Canada.

In early November, those countries calls for the Facebook leader to appear before an "international grand committee" of policy-makers expanded to include Australia, Argentina and Ireland. Facebook leaders again said it was "not possible" for Zuckerberg to "be available to all parliaments," according to a letter sent at the time.

By Monday, Brazil, Singapore and Latvia added their voices to the campaign to persuade Zuckerberg to testify, even if by video from afar. Zuckerberg declined for a third time in a letter sent by a subordinate, instead offering Allan.

"As we have stated previously," wrote Rebecca Stimson, Facebooks head of public policy in the U.K., "Mr. Zuckerberg is unable to accept your invitation."

 Washington Post
When Dorothy Warwaruks parents brought a pump organ home, they couldnt have known it would lead her to a lifetime of volunteerism.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/11/2018 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

When Dorothy Warwaruks parents brought a pump organ home, they couldnt have known it would lead her to a lifetime of volunteerism.

This week, Warwaruk is stepping down after more than six decades of playing music in a Catholic church.

It was her parents acquiring that organ that set her on the path to where she is today.

"I remember looking at it and thinking, I wish I could play it," Warwaruk says.

She got her wish at the age of 10, when her family moved to Winnipegs North End.

They started attending St. John Cantius Church on Burrows Avenue, where Warwaruk began taking organ lessons from a nun.

Five years later, she started providing musical accompaniment during mass.

In those days, St. John Cantius held a 9 a.m. childrens mass, a 10:30 a.m. Polish mass and a noon English mass.

Warwaruk got her start leading music during the offertory in the childrens mass, before taking over the organ-playing duties in the English mass.

After high school, Warwaruk trained to become a teacher.

"I would come home from school, and I would play the organ and I would sing," she says.

"It was such a joy for me, and it was a way to let off some steam."

When she got married and moved to Erickson, Warwaruk got involved playing music in the masses at St. Judes Church. She also played at weddings and funerals, and sang in the choir. She kept up her playing commitments even as she started having children.

"When the fourth one came along, I gave up the music for awhile," she says.

As her seven children grew older, Warwaruk found herself playing in church once again.

She returned to school in 1990 to complete her education degree.

Her teaching career brought her back to Winnipeg, and in 1996, she resumed attending masses  and playing the organ  at St. John Cantius.

Warwaruk has continued to play since then, usually at two masses every Sunday.

"Its part of who I am," she says. "This music within me (is) a gift from God, and I use it as much as I can."

That faith and dedication has influenced and inspired her family, says Eugene Warwaruk, one of Dorothys children.

"Shes a person with a very deep faith," Eugene says.

"Shes found that singing and playing the organ has been her way to give something back to her parish and show her faith in God, and I admire her and love her so much for that contribution."

His mother inspired him to join the mens choir at his church, Eugene adds.

"I really credit mom with inspiring that commitment and (desire) to participate in my faith through singing and song."

Warwaruk says she enjoys cooking, baking, working out, going dancing and spending time with family and friends. So, shell have no trouble finding something to do now that shes retiring from her organ-playing duties.

"I want to have my weekends free, and Im getting tired, too. Its just time," Warwaruk says.

"Ive got 11 grandchildren and I need to spend more time with them."

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.
It took more than a year, but Gov. Gen. Julie Payette can finally check off Manitoba on her list of provinces to visit.

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This article was published 26/11/2018 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It took more than a year, but Gov. Gen. Julie Payette can finally check off Manitoba on her list of provinces to visit.

Payette, who was appointed to the position by the Liberal government in October 2017, launched her two-day trip by being greeted with cannons, a military band and salute, and the smiles of school children during a stop at the Legislature.

Traditionally, governors general visit all the provinces and territories in their first year and Payette has come under criticism for taking so long to get to Manitoba, the last province to host her.

With a huge smile on her face, Payette told a group of students from Fort Rouge and Balmoral Schools that "I'm sure it was hard missing school."

Payette then shook every student's hand and hugged at least one.

Arin Tas, an 11-year-old student at Fort Rouge School, said she was thrilled to be part of a group of Grade 5 and 6 students who met Payette.

"It is pretty interesting  I never actually met anyone like that," Tas said.

Even better for Tas, Payette spoke Russian to her.

"She said 'Hi,' and she asked how did I know Russian and I said my mother is from Russia."

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Gov. Gen. Julie Payette makes her way through the the inspection of the guard at the Manitoba Legislative Building at her official welcoming ceremony on Monday.

School principal Stacie Edgar said the students will always remember meeting Payette.

"They are very honoured, excited, and interested," Edgar said.

"Our children come from all over the world. There are probably children from seven different countries here."

Later, during a brief press scrum, Payette said her first visit to Manitoba took so long to organize because of scheduling problems including the prolonged playoff run by the Winnipeg Jets earlier this year.

"The planets are finally aligned," the former astronaut and scientist said.

Vaughan Mitchell, the province's acting chief of protocol, later said "there has been a longstanding effort to get her here before now.

"It started earlier this year and it has been her office reaching out to us."

Meanwhile, Payette said she was particularly looking forward to walking with the Bear Clan Patrol in the North End on Monday evening.

"It is an urban initiative that makes a difference in the city and that we need to continue and to shine a light on it," she said. "That's part of our role as governor general: to showcase what happens on the ground by real people and where they live."

Earlier, Payette arrived at the Legislature while the smoke was still clearing from a 21-gun salute, courtesy of the 38 Artillery Tactical Group.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Payette greets students from Balmoral Hall and Fort Rouge School in the Rotunda with Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister at the Manitoba Legislative Building.

"Hello," Payette said as she walked into the front reception area and quickly shook Lt. Gov. Janice Filmon's hand while saying with a smile "long time no see."

Payette then turned to Premier Brian Pallister and said "nice to meet you" before greeting other special guests and inspecting troops from 17 Wing Winnipeg after the Air Force band played the Royal Salute.

Later, after meeting with Pallister, she said she had presented him with a photo taken from space of Manitoba.

"I hope he shares it with you," she said.

"It is not only a friendly province but a beautiful province."

Payette said she only has time for Winnipeg this trip, but she wants to visit northern Manitoba during her next trip.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Payette tours labs at the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals at the University of Manitoba.

Payette also spent her day touring the Universite de Saint-Boniface, Fort Gibraltar, and the University of Manitoba before heading to an official reception in the evening hosted by the Lieutenant-Governor.

David Barnard, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manitoba, was at the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals to greet Payette before she was whisked away on a brief tour of the facility and several ongoing research projects by students and professors.

The projects included whether almonds benefit gut health, whether coconuts and Queen Garnet plums can help maintain healthy aging, and whether the Hemp protein can reduce high blood pressure.

PhD student Maryam Samsamikor said she has put the hemp protein into smoothies which some of the participants in her research study drink before having their blood pressure taken at regular intervals. Other participants drink the smoothies without the protein.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Payette tries a smoothie while touring labs at the Richardson Centre.

"We tried to make the recipe as yummy as possible," Samsamikor said, noting her research won't be complete until sometime next year.

Michael Janzen, the facility's research development manager, said the hope for the hemp protein research, if proven to reduce high blood pressure, is "someone would take this instead of a pharmaceutical drug."

Later, as Payette left, she called the research facility "very forward looking.

"They are working on functional food, food that will help us eat more healthily. In the future, as our population grows, it will be even more important."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/11/2018 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

firearms call leads to trio of arrests

Winnipeg police have arrested three suspects in connection with a discharge of a firearm in the 600 block of Toronto Street early Saturday.

Police responded around 7 a.m. and took a number of suspects into custody from a residence in the same block.

A loaded sawed-off .22 calibre rifle was seized from the residence. No damages or injuries were reported.

Wesley Allan Beaulieu, a 36-year-old male from Winnipeg, and Jaeda Rain Vanderwol, a 20-year-old female from Winnipeg, face numerous weapons charges.

Reginald Donald Desjarlais, 28, from Winnipeg, is charged with identity fraud for allegedly giving a false identity during the investigation. He was also wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.

All three were detained in custody.

K9 unit tracks suspect

in east kildonan arson

A 17-year-old male has been arrested in connection with a truck being set on fire in East Kildonan around 1:15 a.m. Friday.

A male had set fire to the interior of the truck in the 200 block of Bronx Avenue and fled on foot. The K9 unit and East District patrol picked up a track and observed the suspect entering a second vehicle and breaking into a garage where he stole a bike, police said.

The male was arrested with the stolen bicycle at the intersection of Bronx and Roch Street, police said.

The male has been charged with arson and break, enter and theft and was detained in custody.

Man with tattooed hand wanted in seniors robbery

Winnipeg police are circulating surveillance images of a suspect with tattooed lettering on his hand, starting with what looks like a large Y or wishbone, in the robbery of a 69-year-old woman.

The woman was robbed while she was getting mail from a community mailbox in the Burrows Central area on Sept. 29.

Police said the woman got out of her car when the suspect asked for the keys and took her purse on the passenger seat. The victim tried to grab the purse back but the male overpowered her. He fled on foot with the stolen purse, which had bank cards, cash and medication.

The victims bank cards were used by a male suspect the next day at a number of Winnipeg locations.

The suspect is described as Indigenous, in his early 20s, about 5-6 and thin. He had a moustache, short dark hair and was wearing a dark jacket, white pants and grey shoes.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to call the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

 staff
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/11/2018 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

The ball is now squarely in Justice Minister Cliff Cullens court.

Appointed in August, Cullen finds himself at the centre of a storm over the Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) of Manitoba, the agency tasked with investigating incidents involving police that result in death, injury or possible criminality.

An in-depth investigation by the Free Press revealed that the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) has, for years, been obstructing IIU investigations and ignoring efforts by its civilian director, Zane Tessler, to bring the police service into compliance with provincial law.

As justice minister and attorney general, Cullen has an obligation to act. Will he step up?

Cullens first gesture was positive. After the Free Press reported that two years of annual reports from the IIU were missing, Cullen released both volumes in prompt fashion. However, that seems to be the limit of his response.

Even though the province promised a review of the Police Services Act in last weeks throne speech, Cullen would not commit to a detailed examination of the IIU as part of that process.

"We havent heard that outcry from Manitobans yet," he said.

Cullens suggestion that there may need to be a public "outcry" to justify a review of the IIU is unusual for a number of reasons given the allegations. First, its hard to summon a public outcry over transgressions that were deliberately kept from public view.

Cullens reference to public outcry is also curious given that the minister seems to be been deliberately kept in the dark about Tesslers concerns about obstruction by the WPS. Both Cullen and his predecessor, Heather Stefanson (now the families minister), both claimed they had heard nothing about police obstruction of IIU investigations.

The Free Press investigation revealed emails and correspondence in which Tessler expressed concerns that some incidents involving WPS officers were deliberately withheld from the IIU. In these cases, the WPS Professional Standards Unit (PSU) is conducting interviews and clearing the officers involved, a practice that directly contravenes provincial legislation.

In those cases that are reported to the IIU, Tessler suggested the WPS is obstructing investigations by refusing to disclose evidentiary material or make its officers available for interviews by IIU investigators.

The fact that Tesslers concerns were not disclosed to the ministers office should be cause for major concern. At minimum, it suggests there is no mechanism in place to keep the minister up to date on the performance of the IIU.

The IIU was, at its inception, a good idea limited by bad execution. The former NDP government did follow through with a pledge to put a civilian in charge of the agency, but it did not give that civilian sufficient investigatory powers to compel evidence and testimony. It also allowed for current members of the WPS to work as investigators for the IIU, a situation that screams out conflict of interest.

However, the lack of warning to the ministers office could have far more serious implications.

It seems highly improbable that senior officials in the Justice Department would not have known about Tesslers concerns that the WPS was breaching provincial law. As he considers that issue, Cullen should remember his department has a worrisome history of hiding its dirty laundry from both the public and the minister.

Senior Justice Department officials have been able to evade ministerial oversight by using the traditional firewall between the political and prosecutorial branches of the Justice Department. The firewall is in place for good reason; it would be highly improper for a politician to direct or otherwise interfere with Crown attorneys on any particular prosecution.

However, when there is evidence of a miscarriage of justice or  in the case of the IIU  concerns that a police service is breaching provincial law, then the firewall needs to stand down.

That has not been the practice of the prosecutions branch.

Despite the fact that the prosecutions branch has a solemn obligation to act on any possible miscarriage of justice, there are repeated instances when Crown attorneys instead suppressed the details of problem cases from their political masters.

The failure to address these miscarriages of justice, and properly alert the political branch of the Justice Department, not only caused untold embarrassment for the government of the day, but was a contributing factor behind the tens of millions of dollars in compensation to the victims of the miscarriages and in costs for commissions of inquiry.

If none of that is persuasive, Cullen might remember that the IIU was created in response to the 2008 Crystal Taman case.

The mother of three was driving to work on Feb. 25, 2005, when she was rear-ended by a truck. It was driven by an off-duty Winnipeg police officer, Derek Harvey-Zenk, who evidence showed had been drinking heavily with fellow officers in the hours before the crash.

The case, handled initially by the East St. Paul police, and then later by the WPS professional standards unit, was a symphony of incompetence and corruption. The investigation was so botched, the prosecutor was forced to reach a plea deal with Harvey-Zenk that resulted in a two-year suspended sentence.

The province ordered an inquiry that condemned both the East St. Paul and WPS and led to the creation of the IIU, among other measures.

Cullen needs to move swiftly to get his own first-hand information on the battle between the IIU and the WPS. And as he does that, he should remember one overarching fact: due in large part to the Taman tragedy, the public outcry on this matter has already been heard.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
With more than 200 million people, the eighth-largest economy in the world and as a leading power in Latin America, Brazil is not a country to take lightly. What its government says and does can have a significant effect in international politics.

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This article was published 26/11/2018 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

With more than 200 million people, the eighth-largest economy in the world and as a leading power in Latin America, Brazil is not a country to take lightly. What its government says and does can have a significant effect in international politics.

When I visited Brazil last year, I was struck by how many young people welcomed the prospect of a return to military government in this crisis-ridden country. That view is also shared by far-right president-elect and former army captain Jair Bolsonaro.

For those who may not know, Brazils corrupt and brutal military government from 1964-85 was incredibly repressive, killed and tortured thousands of Brazilians, imposed strict controls on the press and shut down the national assembly. It may have restored a semblance of order and stability, but it exacted an awful price in terms of fundamental human and political rights.

When he officially takes office on Jan. 1, Bolsonaro has promised the sharpest break in Brazilian foreign policy in decades. It may be that he has dreams of a Brazil carving out a much larger role for itself on the world stage. Or he may have to settle, given the countrys pressing economic and political struggles, for a more prominent role closer to home in South America.

"Just like (Trump) wants to make America great, I want to make Brazil great," Bolsonaro told a Brazilian TV program in July. He obviously wants to strengthen relations with the United States and to build a strong personal bond with U.S. President Donald Trump.

As befitting his depiction as the "Trump of the Tropics," and known for being anti-LGBTTQ*, misogynistic and an evangelical churchgoer, he is set to turn Brazils foreign relations on their head. Like Trump, he fancies himself a "nationalist" and prefers bilateral deals as opposed to multilateral initiatives. He has talked openly about moving the Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, taking a harder line toward China (and irritating the Chinese further by visiting Taiwan), threatening to pull out of the United Nations and pledging not to criticize democracies such as the United States and Israel.

While seeking to draw closer to Washington  a marked departure from Brazils previous foreign policy posture  Bolsonaro has indicated his desire to turn up the heat on beleaguered Venezuela. He has expressed his contempt for the dictatorial rule of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and wants to stop desperate migrants from Venezuela spilling across Brazils northern border. There is even some speculation that he is open to the idea of pairing up with the Trump White House to initiate a far more aggressive response to the Maduro government.

Bolsonaro has also mused out loud about significantly curtailing diplomatic relations with Cuba, which would be a huge break with past Brazilian foreign policy. He has mentioned the possibility of terminating the successful Brazil-Cuba Mais Medicos (More Doctors) program that brings more than 11,000 Cuban doctors to the poorest rural areas of Brazil.

From an environmental standpoint, the ultra-conservative Brazilian has shown about as much faith in climate change science (by promising to walk away from the Paris Agreement) as he has in the virtues of liberal democracy. Bolsonaros impulses to develop the Amazon rainforest and to side with Brazilian industrialists, miners and cattle ranchers will bring a chill to Brazils carbon-reducing efforts and to the fate of the countrys indigenous peoples.

When it comes to relations with the European Union, he has needlessly picked a fight with the Germans by referring to refugees streaming to Europe as "human waste."

Bolsonaros recent election victory is sure to have negative consequences for Canada as well. On the commercial side, his supposed downgrading of the four-country trading bloc, Mercosur, could undercut Canadas chances of joining this customs union and thus diversifying our trade.

Cuba is also a long-standing friend of Canadas and a strained Brazilian-Cuban relationship could negatively affect relations between Ottawa and Brasilia. And Bolsonaros blatant chumminess with Trump will not endear him to the Trudeau government one bit.

It goes without saying, then, that Bolsonaros rise to power in Brazil spells bad news for Canada, Latin America and much of the world. His hard right turn in Brasilias foreign policy direction will also have damaging implications for Brazil itself.

The only saving grace right now is that Brazils social, economic and political situation is so bad that it will most assuredly handcuff Bolsonaro in the short term. But that doesnt mean he cant still do a lot of damage to the global community.

Peter McKenna is professor and chairman of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.
Recently, posters were discovered on several walls at the University of Manitoba with the statement, Its okay to be white. Other similar incidents were reported in Halifax, Regina and elsewhere around the world. Most who saw the paper printouts denounced them as hate propaganda from white nationalists.

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This article was published 26/11/2018 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Recently, posters were discovered on several walls at the University of Manitoba with the statement, "Its okay to be white." Other similar incidents were reported in Halifax, Regina and elsewhere around the world. Most who saw the paper printouts denounced them as hate propaganda from white nationalists.

Following the incident, some media outlets, including the Winnipeg Free Press, received an email from the alleged poster, who claimed he was a University of Manitoba student who papered the walls.

The student said the posters were a "protest of racially discriminatory ideology" taught at the university. He said "many professors explicitly teach in their courses that it is not okay to be white." He added that he felt the overreaction to the posters proves the presence of a "white-phobia" on campus.

One Reddit post argued that "CBC took the bait" when reporting on the posters. To people like those commenting on the Reddit thread, the poster campaign was a benign act meant to highlight liberal bias in mainstream media. But is saying "Its okay to be white" benign?

Making myths

Meaning is never produced in a vacuum. Statements have historical and cultural contexts and ideology is embedded in the language we use. Written texts can produce meaning, using rhetorical devices, like metaphor and irony.

Things start getting complicated when we mix up the cultural meanings of things for the literal meanings. The French philosopher Roland Barthes said "myths" are created when we confuse cultural meanings for literal ones. We start to believe that culture is literal instead of made. This is known as denotation versus connotation.

When this happens, a statement that is filled with cultural, historical and contextual biases appears natural and ahistorical.

"Its okay to be white," appears to be a literal, or denotative, message, but when we read it in context  against the backdrop of institutionalized Eurocentrism and current anti-racist political movements like Black Lives Matter  we see that it is far from benign.

The poster believes that white identities are no longer accepted at the university. He believes a double standard exists in conversations of cultural diversity. This attitude is aligned with the alt-right, a U.S.-based white nationalist movement.

The culture wars

I believe the self-proclaimed alt-right, an offshoot of conservatism that combines elements of racism, white nationalism and populism, is a symptom of postmodern politics of transgression and subversion. It is a symptom of the diffusion of rebellion into mainstream political rhetoric and discourse. My research looks into the ideologies of postmodern culture and the media that includes examining debates about identity politics.

Identity politics is political or social organizing "intimately connected to the idea that some social groups are oppressed." University identity politics challenged the modern, the dominant white male narratives, that helped to shape and normalize the culture of colonialism and patriarchy. This challenge has been called postmodern.

The far right as a whole is critical of postmodern identity politics, but they unknowingly identify with its practices of expression. What they demonstrate is not a new rise of conservatism, but rather, according to the Washington Post, "a co-opting of 1960s-style liberalism."

Angela Nagle writes that the online alt-right world is not evidence of the return of conservatism but a turn away from "church-going, upstanding, button-down, family-values conservatism." It is "the absolute hegemony of the culture of non-conformism, self-expression, transgression and irreverence for its own sake."

Consumer culture helps build rebels

Postmodern identity politics have been incorporated into popular media through consumer culture. Identity is a big part of branding campaigns, diffusing the politics of new social movements into commercial demands for representation, inclusion, diversity and tolerance.

Consumerism also preaches an ethic of non-conformity. Non-conformists are never satisfied with the status quo, continually seeking new ways to subvert it. For the consumer society, a non-conformist creates demand for new commodities.

Therefore, to be a rebel, to transgress and subvert the perceived status quo, is the dominant popular mode of identity.

If postmodern identity politics means subverting the Eurocentric, patriarchal and capitalist ideologies, what results from the subversion of subversion?

Co-opting the resistance

This months cover of Macleans magazine features an image of Canadian conservative political leaders, including the premiers of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, along with the leader of the federal conservatives, Andrew Scheer, and the leader of the Alberta conservatives, Jason Kenney. The caption that appeared across these men read, "The resistance."

When the left is positioned as the status quo, those opposing them appear as "resisting." But resisting what? This "resistance" is the basis of the populist moment in politics.

Populism is a conservative ideology currently reigning contemporary political discourse. Its strategy is to draw attention away from the real problem and shift it onto a false enemy or intruder whose purging will bring renewed harmony.

In the process, the reigning power is depicted as the resistance, appearing sympathetic towards "the people" against an imagined elite.

In contrast, democratic socialists like Bernie Sanders or Jeremy Corbyn, described as "left populists," oppose the prevailing neoliberal capitalism. They assign blame to the contradictions within the system, rather than some enemy or intruder who disrupted the harmony of the system. "Left populism" is, therefore, a misnomer.

Populism is the strategy of the right in the Trump era. Whether it is the "fake media," political correctness or migrant labour, Trumpian politics always locates some enemy or intruder. This is the populist strategy of reproducing dominance in the guise of resistance.

This is what is truly troubling about the "Its okay to be white" campaign. It creates the confusing myth that the ruling ideology is the resistance.

Matthew Flisfeder is an assistant professor of rhetoric and communications at the University of Winnipeg.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
Certainly not for the first time, Manitoba has reason to commend Lloyd Axworthy.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/11/2018 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Editorial

Certainly not for the first time, Manitoba has reason to commend Lloyd Axworthy.

Hes using his position as head of the World Refugee Council to push a proposal that has a Robin Hood-like appeal: drain the bank accounts of dictators and despots and use the money to help refugees, who are often forced from their countries because of the reprehensible acts of the very same dictators and despots.

Wayne Glowacki / Winnipeg Free Press files Lloyd Axworthy chairs the World Refugee Council.

"Its a morality play," Mr. Axworthy said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "The bad guys have to pay to help their victims."

At 78 years old, he is at a stage of life when most people are content to wind down their careers and enjoy more leisure. But Mr. Axworthy continues to take on the world with skills honed by his long political career that included six years as a provincial MLA and 21 years as a member of Parliament with numerous cabinet positions, including a lengthy stint as foreign affairs minister.

His latest challenge is chairing the refugee council, which is comprised of two dozen global political figures, academics and civil-society representatives. The council was created last year by a Canadian think-tank to deal with the globes migration crisis, in which 68.5 million people have been displaced by war, famine and disaster.

Mr. Axworthys council will pitch its make-the-bad-guys-pay proposal later this fall at a special session of the United Nations.

He says courts in several countries can be used to seize funds that have been frozen there. Canada, the United States and Britain have all passed legislation that lets them impose sanctions on individual human rights abusers. These so-called "Magnitsky laws" are named after a Russian tax accountant who died in prison after exposing a massive fraud by state officials in that country.

As an example of how it can work, a civil case against the son of the dictatorial leader of Equatorial Guinea resulted in a $30-million judgment, $20 million of which was later used by a charity to help the countrys people.

It will be a big job to recover the ill-gotten gains of dictators, despots and warlords, but Mr. Axworthys career equips him for the challenge.

As foreign affairs minister, his accomplishments included a global treaty restricting landmines, for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He also helped establish the International Criminal Court and the Protocol on Child Soldiers.

As an elder statesman, and as a humanitarian with the experience in global politics to back up his good intentions, Mr. Axworthy has the credibility to approach the United Nations. But, as he would likely be quick to acknowledge, hes not the only Manitoban responding to the migration crisis with this provinces traditional compassion.

Many others in this province help as much as they can, according to their personal skills, resources and stations in life. Some form small groups to sponsor a family of refugees and surround them with a supportive circle. Many others volunteer to help newcomers in programs such as after-school reading assistance and adult-to-adult mentoring. Still, others donate money or furniture to relevant not-for-profits that aim to give refugees a soft landing in Manitoba.

Rather than build a wall to keep refugees out, Manitoba keeps the door open and includes newcomers in the tapestry that is our provinces rich cultural heritage.

Were proud, but not surprised, that Mr. Axworthy is using his role on the world stage to help refugees. Hes a Manitoban, after all.
* Speaking at the opening ceremony of a business forum on November 23 in Havana, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that his government will continue to invest in Cuba and contribute to the economic development of the island nation.

* The 76th joint patrol on the Mekong River jointly conducted by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand was completed Saturday. Ten vessels and 198 law enforcement personnel participated in the five-day mission that aimed to increase police visibility and enhance security and control of 512 km of the Mekong River.

* President Donald Trump said Saturday that migrants seeking asylum in the United States via the southern border would wait in Mexico while their claims move through legal procedures, but the Mexican incoming government denied the two sides had reached any deal.

* Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba will be visiting Russia from November 26-29, in a bid to further consolidate defence ties and explore new avenues for defence cooperation, said defence sources in New Delhi on November 25.

* UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame on November 24 said security in the capital Tripoli has improved since a ceasefire agreement was signed in September.

* The Mediterranean region must transform from an arc of crisis to an arc of opportunity, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte told the fourth annual Mediterranean Dialogues (MED) conference that ended in Roma on November 24.

* Turkey is uneasy about US' plans to set up observation posts in northern Syria, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on November 24. Akar said he told the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Joseph Dunford, during an international conference in Canada that the plans would have a very negative impact on bilateral relations.

* Morocco's navy rescued 53 migrants and found 15 dead bodies in the Mediterranean Saturday, the Moroccan army announced.

* The leader of the Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) told its annual conference in Belfast Saturday that the party remained opposed to British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal.

* The Arab League (AL) on November 24 strongly condemned a decision by Israel to impose travel ban on two Palestinian officials.

* The eighth International Summit of Cities and Territorial Communities of Africa (Africities) closed on November 24 evening in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. Under the theme "The Transition to Sustainable Cities and Territories, The Role of Local and Sub-National Governments of Africa," the summit discussed appropriate shared strategies to improve the living conditions of people at the local level and means to contribute to the integration, peace and unity of Africa starting from the grassroots.

* The Houthi rebels in Yemen on November 24 pledged to attend the upcoming peace talks in Sweden, a Houthi chief said.

* Australia's Labor Party is set to win the Victoria state election on November 24, with the latest poll results pointing to a landslide victory. Early results indicated that the Labor had clinched at least 55 of Parliament's 88 lower-house seats, with big swings in state capital Melbourne, reported the ABC news channel.

* Cyprus is expected to set a new tourist record this year by attracting more than 4 million tourists by the end of this year, Cyprus Tourism Organization Chairman Angelos Loizou said on November 24.

* A New Zealand environmental official confirmed on November 24 the mandatory phase out of single-use plastic shopping bags in New Zealand that will come into effect around the middle of next year.

* China's national observatory said Saturday that a cold front will sweep across northern areas over the next few days, leading to a fall in temperature and snowfalls.

* Ten people have been confirmed dead and more than 40 others rescued in a Saturday boat accident on Lake Victoria in the central Ugandan district of Mukono, police said. Police said in a tweet the marine force was continuing with the rescue mission.
MEDIA  Shoppers took to the streets once again Saturday, this time many intentionally patronizing local businesses to pour some funds and attention to retailers who are often their neighbors as well.

Mother and daughter Eileen and Stephanie Jennings strolled along State Street looking for unique gifts  but with a purpose  their desire to support their local, small businesses as theyve done the last four years.

By mid-afternoon, they had visited 10,000 Villages, Earth & State and Kuta. The two spoke of what they liked about shopping small.

You can get unique stuff here that you cant get anywhere else, you cant get in the mall, Eileen Jennings said.

Her daughter added, And just supporting the communities.

Started eight years ago by American Express, Small Business Saturday received recognition from the U.S. Senate in 2011 as a way to support small businesses.

Here in Delaware County, there are 12,000 businesses with 100 or fewer employees and that makes up 98 percent of the countys economy. Nationally, about 60 million Americans are employed by small businesses.

When you support small business, youre supporting your local economy, the national economy and your community, Delaware County Councilman Brian Zidek said.

At local home + gifts at 29 W. State St. in Media, Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland joined store owner Kathleen Rode and Delaware County Women Against Rape interim executive director Candice Linehan in collecting Purses with a Purpose.

Through Dec. 20, this program allows community members to donate new or gently used purses filled with personal items such as gift cards, scarves, toiletries or socks that will be distributed to victims of violent crime. In exchange, Rode was offering customers of her store a 20 percent discount for making a donation to the program.

A few years ago, Rode had worked with a group of friends in Connecticut to do a similar collection for victims of domestic abuse. This year, she wanted to work locally, so she teamed up with WAR and the district attorney to affect Delco victims in a positive way.

It was so successful and seeing the outpouring of support once we were letting people know about the event was just amazing, Rode said. We were able to give out about 100 bags that particular year  We were just overcome with emotion when we were able to hand these bags over, knowing that some women wouldnt be opening anything on Christmas day and we were handing them these fun and beautiful gifts.

Linehan explained that being a crime victim can be very isolating and that can be difficult for those whove not experienced such violence to understand what such a gesture can mean to them.

It reminds our clients who have suffered a great deal of trauma that there are people out there who are supporting them, she said. Every day, theyre suffering and for us to be able to hand them over and say, Somebody thought of you, it impacts them in such great ways.

Copeland added this collection is one way to draw attention to crime victims, to support small businesses and make a difference for someone all simultaneously.

This time of year, there are victims of crime who dont necessarily have a support of family, the district attorney said. If we can brighten their day with something as small as a donation, just to make them happy and bring a smile to their face, we definitely want to. Why not take advantage of a moment like this to bring joy to somebodys face?

Local home + gifts also has another location at 11 Brookline Blvd. in Havertown that is collecting Purses with a Purpose through Dec. 20. Linehan said they will be distributed as they are received.

Back on State Street, Media resident Maureen McVeigh was visiting Earth & State, 10,000 Villages and local home + gifts.

I like that theyre my neighbors, she said. The more I support them, the more diversity of shops and restaurants I think that well have. I want them to be successful.
Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc. engages in the production and sale of cellulose products, which is a natural polymer commonly used in the production of cell phone and computer screens, filters, and pharmaceuticals. It operates through the following segments: High Purity Cellulose, Forest Products, Paperboard, Pulp and Newsprint, and Corporate. The High Purity Cellulose segment manufacture and market high purity cellulose, which is sold as either cellulose specialties or commodity products in U.S., Canda, and France. The Forest Products segment manufacture and market construction-grade lumber in North America through seven sawmills located in Canada. The Paperboard segment comprises paperboard products. The Pulp and Newsprint segment involves in the production of pulp and newsprint in Canada. The Corporate segment consists senior management, accounting, information systems, human resources, treasury, tax, and legal administrative functions that provide support services to the operating business units. The company was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, FL.

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Rancho Santa Fe photographer Betty Byrd is excited to present her first photography exhibit. Her 17 photos will be on display at the Carmel Valley Library through December.

A Rancho Santa Fe resident for over 30 years, Byrd has been doing photography seriously for the last 10 years. She is also an actress who has written two novels but wildlife photography is her most favorite art form.

There are incredible things out there for you to see, said Byrd, momentarily distracted by a crow that has perched on the librarys patioshe has been on the lookout for a raven to photograph.

Since picking up a camera, she said she looks at everything in life differently and has become addicted to the craft.

Photography has always been a hobby, Byrd said. I grew up in Arizona which is a very fascinating place to live as far as animals and creatures.

Betty Byrd's "Owl Always Love You." Betty Byrd

She recalls so many interesting things she saw without a camera in Arizona, such as locust swarms, a tarantula invasion in the Tucson Mountains and a giant scorpion in her living room. Now she is never without her camera and she has been fortunate to travel around the world to capture wildlife and landscapes

.Places she has discovered through her lens include snowy Banff, colorful Cuba, the jungles of Costa Rica, big skies and wildlife in Montana, and pony-sized horses in Iceland. On a photo safari trip to the Arctic, she walked among polar bears, giving her some unforgettable memories as well as once-in-a-lifetime shots. It was phenomenal, Byrd said.

She will be in the Louisiana swamps hoping to find some alligators on an upcoming trip to New Orleans and in August 2019, she hopes to travel to Africa.

Wildlife is her favorite photo subject and she loves big cats.

I just love it all, Byrd said. Birds are the hardest, in flight especially. If you can learn to shoot a bird in flight, you can photograph any animal well.

Byrd hones her wildlife photography skills at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Winter is her favorite time, The animals are busier the colder it is, she said. On days when San Diego gets a little rain or mist, she said she has lucked out when every single big cat is out in their enclosures.

As she has learned with wildlife photography, a big part of getting a great shot depends on luck and being there at the exact right time.

While Byrd has had photos featured in the Del Mar Fair, this is her first solo exhibit. She reached out to several local libraries to see if they were interested in showing her work. Carmel Valley Library Branch Manager Brenda Wegener responded right away, requesting an exhibit of Byrds bird photography.

Byrd hired an art installer to help do the layout for her exhibit.

I was blown away because Im so critical of each and every one of the photos I take but when I saw all the photos all together, I thought Wow, you did that! Byrd said.

Her show features pelicans and flamingos, an anhinga (the long-necked snakebird) in Costa Rica, a striking pair of owls in a forest, parrots from the Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary in Del Mar, and a owl taken at Hawk Watch, hosted by the Wildlife Research Institute at the Ramona Grasslands each winter.

The stunning shot of a peacock spreading his tail in the exhibit was taken during a trip to Castello di Amarosa in Napa. The peacock was trying to impress a peahen that was ignoring the bird. When the peahen walked away, the peacock spotted Byrd and put on a perfect show.

He was so excited that someone was looking, Byrd said.
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 Crown: Adularia Inversiones 2010 S.L., Angleboard Sweden AB, Bates Cargo-Pak ApS, Butimove, CMB Machinery and Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CROWN AP (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Aerosols & Promotional Nederland, CROWN Aerosols Italia Srl, CROWN Aerosols Nederland BV, CROWN Aerosols UK Limited, CROWN Americas LLC, CROWN Arabia Can Company Ltd, CROWN Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd., CROWN Asia Pacific Investments (T) Limited, CROWN Bevcan Espana S.L., CROWN Bevcan France SAS, CROWN Bevcan Slovakia s.r.o., CROWN Bevcan Turkiye Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, CROWN Bevcan and Closures (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Cambodia) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Dong Nai) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Beijing Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Changchun Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Danang Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hangzhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hanoi Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Heshan Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hong Kong Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Huizhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Malaysia Sdn Bhd, CROWN Beverage Cans Nanning Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Putian Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Saigon Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Shanghai Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Sihanoukville Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Singapore Pte. Ltd., CROWN Beverage Cans Ziyang Limited, CROWN Beverage Packaging LLC, CROWN Beverage Packaging Puerto Rico Inc., CROWN Cans Ghana Limited, CROWN China Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, CROWN Commercial Belgium BVBA, CROWN Commercial France SAS, CROWN Commercial Germany GmbH & Co. KG, CROWN Commercial Hungary Kft, CROWN Commercial Netherlands B.V., CROWN Commercial Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, CROWN Cork & Seal USA Inc., CROWN Embalagens Metalicas da Amazonia S.A., CROWN Emballage France SAS, CROWN Emirates Company Limited, CROWN Envases Mexico S.A. de C.V., CROWN Famosa S.A. de C.V., CROWN Food Packaging (Thailand) Public Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Hat Yai) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Nakhon Pathom) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan Germany GmbH, CROWN Foodcan GmbH, CROWN Imballaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Imgallaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Italy Finance srl, CROWN Khmer Beverage Cans Limited, CROWN Maghreb Can, CROWN Magyarorszag Csomagoloipari KFT, CROWN Metal Packaging Canada Inc., CROWN Metal Packaging Canada LP, CROWN Middle East Can Co. Ltd., CROWN Packaging (Barbados) Limited, CROWN Packaging Holdings LLC, CROWN Packaging Investment (H.K.) Limited, CROWN Packaging Ireland Ltd, CROWN Packaging Jamaica Limited, CROWN Packaging Polska Sp.z.o.o., CROWN Packaging Technology Inc., CROWN Packaging Trinidad Limited, CROWN Packaging UK Limited, CROWN Promotional Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN SIEM, CROWN Senegal, CROWN Societe Malgache d'Emballages Metalliques, CROWN Speciality Packaging BV, CROWN Speciality Packaging Investment Pte. Ltd., CROWN Specialty Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN TCP Beverage Cans Company Limited, CROWN Verpakking Belgie NV, CROWN Verpakking Nederland B.V., Caretex Asia Ltd., CarnaudMetalbox Engineering Ltd, CarnaudMetalbox Food South Africa (Pty) Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Group UK Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overeseas Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overseas Limited, Cierres Hermeticos S.A. DE C.V., Constar International, Crown Americas Capital Corp., Crown Americas Capital Corp. II, Crown Americas Capital Corp. III, Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV, Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI, Crown Brasil Holdings Ltda., Crown Canadian Holdings ULC, Crown Closures Spain S.L., Crown Colombiana S.A., Crown Comercial de Envases S.L., Crown Commercial Italy Srl, Crown Commercial Polska Sp. z.o.o., Crown Consultants Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Company (DE) LLC, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Crown Cork & Seal Receivables (DE) Corporation, Crown Cork & Seal de Portugal Embalagens S.A., Crown Cork Kuban, Crown Cork and Seal Receivables II LLC, Crown Developpement SAS, Crown European Holdings, Crown Food Espana S.A.U., Crown Foodcan Turkey Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Crown Hellas Can Packaging SA, Crown Heshan Trading Company Limited, Crown Holdings Italia Srl, Crown Holdings Spain S.L., Crown International Holdings B.V., Crown International Holdings Inc., Crown Luxembourg Holdings, Crown Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Crown Overseas Investments B.V., Crown Packaging Commercial UK Limited, Crown Packaging Distribution UK Limited, Crown Packaging European Division GmbH, Crown Packaging European Division Services SAS, Crown Packaging European Holdings GmbH, Crown Packaging Lux I S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux II S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux III S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Manufacturing UK Limited, Crown Packaging Maroc, Crown Receivables III, Crown Services Iberia, Crown UK Holdings Limited, Crownway Insurance Company, Dacro B.V., EMPAQUE, Fabricas Monterrey S.A. de C.V., Form Koruyucu Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Foshan Continental Can Co. Limited, Foshan Crown Easy-Opening End Co. Limited, Glass & Silice S.A. DE C.V., Globoplastt s.r.o., Gunther S.A.S., Haloila Bulgaria EOOD, Interstrap B.V., Josef Kihlberg AB, Kiwiplan GmbH, Kiwiplan Inc, Lachenmeier ApS, Liljendals Bruk AB, Litec France S.A.S., Mezger Heftsysteme GmbH, Mima Films S.a.r.l., Mima Films Sprl, Mima Packaging Systems S.A.S., Mivisa, Nordic S.A.S., Norsk Signode AS, Oy M. Haloila AB, PT CROWN Beverage Cans Indonesia, Package Design and Manufacturing, Prolatamex S.A. DE C.V., Quandel Verpackungs- und Foerdertechnik GmbH, SMB Schwede Maschinenbau GmbH, SMP Schwede Maschinenbau Weischlitz GmbH, SPG Denmark, SPG France Holdings SAS, SPG Germany Service Management GmbH, SPG Industrial Packaging S.a.r.l, SPG Netherlands B.V., SPG Packaging Ireland Limited, SPG Packaging Systems GmbH, SPG Packaging UK Ltd, Scybele S.A.S., Shippers Europe S.p.r.l., Signode BVBA, Signode Brasileira Ltda, Signode Hong Kong Limited, Signode Industrial Group, Signode Industrial Group AB, Signode Industrial Group Colombia S.A.S., Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Signode Industrial Group Holdings Lux S.a.r.l., Signode Industrial Group Holdings US Inc, Signode Industrial Group Lux S.A., Signode Industrial Group Mexico, Signode Industrial Group Sweden AB, Signode International Holdings LLC, Signode International IP Holdings LLC, Signode International Investment LLC, Signode Kabushiki Kaisha, Signode Korea Inc, Signode NZ Limited, Signode Netherlands B.V., Signode Packaging (Qingdao) Co., Signode Packaging (Shanghai) Co., Signode Packaging Espana S.L., Signode Packaging Group (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Signode Packaging Group Australia Pty Ltd, Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC, Signode Packaging Group NZ, Signode Packaging Systems Limited, Signode Pickling Holding LLC, Signode Polska sp. Z.o.o., Signode Singapore Pte. Ltd., Signode Sweden Holdings AB, Signode System GmbH, Signode System Packaging GmbH & Co. KG, Signode Systems (Thailand) Ltd., Signode US IP Holdings LLC, Silice De Veracruz S.A. DE C. V., Silice Del Istmo S.A. DE C.V., Silices De Veracruz, Societe Civile Immobiliere Rousseau-Ivry, Societe Civile Immobiliere des Baquets, Societe de Participations CarnaudMetalbox, Stopak India Pvt. Ltd, Strapex Austria GmbH, Strapex Embalagem L.d.a., Strapex Holdings Limited, Strapex S.A.S., Strapex Srl, Superior Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd., Superior Multi-Packaging Limited, TopFrame LLC, V.A.C. B.V., Vichisa S.A. de C.V., and Warehouse Automation Iberia S.L..
Bridgepoint Education, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides postsecondary education services in the United States. Its academic institutions, Ashford University and University of the Rockies, offer associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in the disciplines of business, education, psychology, social sciences, and health sciences. The company offers its programs primarily through online; and at its campuses. As of December 31, 2017, its institutions offered approximately 1,200 courses and 80 degree programs; and had 45,730 students enrolled. The company was formerly known as TeleUniversity, Inc. and changed its name to Bridgepoint Education, Inc. in February 2004. Bridgepoint Education, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

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BT Group plc provides communications services worldwide. Its Consumer segment sells telephones, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi extenders through high street retailers, online BT Shop, and Website BT.com; and offers home phone, copper and fiber broadband, TV, and mobile services in various packages. The company's EE segment offers 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile network services; broadband, fixed-voice, and TV services; and postpaid and prepaid plans, and emergency services network. This segment also sells 4G mobile phones, tablets, connected devices, and mobile broadband devices from various manufacturers. Its Business and Public Sector segment provides fixed voice, mobility, fiber and connectivity, and networked IT services to retailers, utilities, public sector, healthcare, sports, construction, finance, and educational sectors. The company's Global Services segment offers business communications and ICT services comprising BT Connect, BT Security, BT One, BT Contact, BT Compute, BT Advise, and BT for financial markets. This segment serves approximately 5,500 customers in 180 countries. Its Wholesale and Ventures segment enables communications providers and other organizations to provide fixed or mobile phone services. Its ventures provide mass-market services, such as directory enquiries and payphones; and enterprise services comprising BT Fleet and BT Redcare. This segment also provides broadband and Ethernet, voice, hosted communication, mobile virtual network operator, managed solutions, machine-to-machine, roaming, and media services. The company's Openreach segment engages in the provision of services over the local access network; and installation and maintenance of fiber and copper communications networks that connect homes and businesses. The company was formerly known as Newgate Telecommunications Limited and changed its name to BT Group plc in September 2001. BT Group plc was incorporated in 2001 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

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Ensign Energy Services Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides oilfield services to the crude oil and natural gas industries in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers shallow, intermediate, and deep well drilling, as well as specialized drilling services, including horizontal, underbalanced, horizontal re-entry, and slant drilling for steam assisted gravity drainage applications; and equipment and other services. It also provides coring and oil sands drilling services to the mining, and oil and natural gas industries; directional drilling and related services for conventional and horizontal drilling applications; shallow to deep well services, such as completions, abandonments, production, workovers, and bottom hole pump changes for oil and natural gas producers; and interactive pressure drilling services with self-contained systems comprising nitrogen generation and compression equipment, and surface control systems. In addition, the company rents drill strings, loaders, tanks, pumps, rig mattings, blow-out preventers, waste bins, and wastewater treatment equipment for the drilling and completions segments of the oilfield industry. Further, the company offers transportation services. As of December 31, 2020, it operated a fleet of 271 land drilling rigs, 21 specialty coring rigs, and 99 well servicing rigs. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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Cenovus Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment develops and produces bitumen in northeast Alberta. Its bitumen assets include Foster Creek, Christina Lake, and Narrows Lake, as well as other projects in the early stages of development. The Conventional segment holds assets primarily located in Elmworth-Wapiti, Kaybob-Edson, and Clearwater operating areas of British Columbia and Alberta, as well as various interests in natural gas processing facilities. The Refining and Marketing segment transports and sells crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs. This segment owns a 50% ownership in Wood River and Borger refineries located in the United States; and owns and operates a crude-by-rail terminal in Alberta. Cenovus Energy Inc. was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

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China Mobile Limited provides mobile telecommunications and related services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company offers local calls; domestic and international long distance calls and roaming services; and value-added services, such as caller identity display, call waiting, conference calls, and others. It also provides wireless Internet service, as well as digital applications comprising music, video, reading, gaming, and animation; wireline broadband services; and wireline voice services. In addition, it offers dedicated line and IDC services to corporate customers in a range of industry sectors; and basic corporate communication products comprising corporate VPMN and SMS, and tailor made solutions. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, which includes IDD, roaming, Internet, MNC, and value added business services. Additionally, it offers telecommunications network planning, design, and consulting services; roaming clearance, IT system operation, and technology support services; value-added platform development and maintenance services; mobile data, and system integration and development services; network construction and maintenance, network planning and optimizing, and training services; electronic communication products design and sale of related products; and non-banking financial services. It also provides mobile cloud research and development services; call center services; e-payment, e-commerce, and Internet finance services; and mobile Internet digital content services, as well as operates a network and business coordination center. The company serves 950 million mobile customers and 187 million wireline broadband customers. The company was formerly known as China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and changed its name to China Mobile Limited in May 2006. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Mobile Limited is a subsidiary of China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited.

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Columbus Energy Resources plc engages in the exploration, development, and production of oil and gas in Trinidad and Tobago, Spain, Cyprus, St Lucia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. It primarily holds a 100% interest in the Goudron Oilfield located in south-eastern Trinidad. The company was formerly known as LGO Energy plc and changed its name to Columbus Energy Resources plc in June 2017. Columbus Energy Resources plc was incorporated in 2006 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Johnson & Johnson: 3Dintegrated ApS, ALZA Corporation, AMO (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd., AMO ASIA LIMITED, AMO Australia Pty Limited, AMO Canada Company, AMO Denmark ApS, AMO Development LLC, AMO France, AMO Germany GmbH, AMO Groningen B.V., AMO International Holdings, AMO Ireland, AMO Ireland Finance Unlimited Company, AMO Italy SRL, AMO Japan K.K., AMO Manufacturing Spain S.L., AMO Manufacturing USA LLC, AMO Netherlands BV, AMO Nominee Holdings LLC, AMO Norway AS, AMO Puerto Rico Manufacturing Inc., AMO Sales and Service Inc., AMO Singapore Pte. Ltd., AMO Spain Holdings LLC, AMO Switzerland GmbH, AMO U.K. Holdings LLC, AMO US Holdings Inc., AMO USA LLC, AMO USA Sales Holdings Inc., AMO United Kingdom Ltd., AMO Uppsala AB, APSIS, AUB Holdings LLC, Abott Medical Optics, Acclarent Inc., Actelion Ltd, Actelion Manufacturing GmbH, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty. Limited, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Korea Ltd., Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Mexico S.A. De C.V., Actelion Pharmaceuticals Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Actelion Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Actelion Pharmaceuticals US Inc., Actelion Registration Limited, Actelion Treasury Unlimited Company, Akros Medical Inc., Albany Street LLC, Alios BioPharma, Alza Land Management Inc., Animas Diabetes Care LLC, Animas LLC, Animas Technologies LLC, AorTx Inc., Aragon Pharmaceuticals, Aragon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, Atrionix Inc., Auris Health, Auris Health Inc., Backsvalan 2 Aktiebolag, Backsvalan 6 Handelsbolag, Beijing Dabao Cosmetics Co. Ltd., BeneVir BioPharm Inc., Berna Rhein B.V., BioMedical Enterprises Inc., Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd., Biosense Webster Inc., C Consumer Products Denmark ApS, CNA Development GmbH, CSATS Inc., Calibra Medical LLC, Campus-Foyer Apotheke GmbH, Carlo Erba OTC S.r.l., Centocor Biologics LLC, Centocor Research & Development Inc., ChromaGenics B.V., Ci:Labo Customer Marketing Co. Ltd., Ci:z Holdings, Ci:z. Labo Co. Ltd., Cilag AG, Cilag GmbH International, Cilag Holding AG, Cilag Holding Treasury Unlimited Company, Cilag-Biotech S.L., CoTherix Inc., Codman & Shurtleff Inc., Coherex Medical Inc., ColBar LifeScience Ltd., Company Store.com Inc., Conor MedSystems, Cordis International Corporation, Cordis de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Corimmun GmbH, DR. CI:LABO COMPANY LIMITED, Darlain Trading S.A., DePuy France, DePuy Hellas SA, DePuy International Limited, DePuy Ireland Unlimited Company, DePuy Mexico S.A. de C.V., DePuy Mitek LLC, DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., DePuy Products Inc., DePuy Spine LLC, DePuy Synthes Gorgan Limited, DePuy Synthes Inc., DePuy Synthes Institute LLC, DePuy Synthes Leto SARL, DePuy Synthes Products Inc., DePuy Synthes Sales Inc., Debs-Vogue Corporation (Proprietary) Limited, Dr. Ci:Labo Co. Ltd., Dutch Holding LLC, ECL7 LLC, EES Holdings de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EES S.A. de C.V., EIT Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH, Ethicon Biosurgery Ireland, Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Europe) GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC, Ethicon Holding Sarl, Ethicon Inc., Ethicon Ireland Unlimited Company, Ethicon LLC, Ethicon PR Holdings Unlimited Company, Ethicon Sarl, Ethicon US LLC, Ethicon Women's Health & Urology Sarl, Ethnor (Proprietary) Limited, Ethnor Farmaceutica S.A., Ethnor Guatemala Sociedad Anomina, Ethnor del Istmo S.A., FMS Future Medical System SA, Finsbury (Development) Limited, Finsbury (Instruments) Limited, Finsbury Medical Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics International Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics Limited, GH Biotech Holdings Limited, GMED Healthcare BV, Global Investment Participation B.V., Guangzhou Bioseal Biotech Co. Ltd., Hansen Medical Deutschland GmbH, Hansen Medical Inc., Hansen Medical International Inc., Hansen Medical UK Limited, Healthcare Services (Shanghai) Ltd., I.D. Acquisition Corp., Innomedic Gesellschaft fur innovative Medizintechnik und Informatik mbH, Innovalens B.V., Innovative Surgical Solutions LLC, J & J Company West Africa Limited, J&J Pension Trustees Limited, J-C Health Care Ltd., J.C. General Services BV, JJ Surgical Vision Spain S.L., JJC Acquisition Company B.V., JJHC LLC, JJSV Belgium BV, JJSV Manufacturing Malaysia SDN. BHD., JJSV Norden AB, JJSV Produtos Oticos Ltda., JNJ Global Business Services s.r.o., JNJ Holding EMEA B.V., JNJ International Investment LLC, JNJ Irish Investments ULC, JOM Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy (Holding) Limited, Janssen BioPharma Inc., Janssen Biologics (Ireland) Limited, Janssen Biologics B.V., Janssen Biotech Inc., Janssen Cilag C.A., Janssen Cilag Farmaceutica S.A., Janssen Cilag S.p.A., Janssen Cilag SPA, Janssen Development Finance Unlimited Company, Janssen Diagnostics LLC, Janssen Egypt LLC, Janssen Farmaceutica Portugal Lda, Janssen Global Services LLC, Janssen Group Holdings Limited, Janssen Holding GmbH, Janssen Inc., Janssen Irish Finance Company UC, Janssen Korea Ltd., Janssen Oncology Inc., Janssen Ortho LLC, Janssen Pharmaceutica (Proprietary) Limited, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen Pharmaceutica S.A., Janssen Pharmaceutical, Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Janssen Pharmaceutical Sciences Unlimited Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Janssen Products LP, Janssen R&D Ireland, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Janssen Sciences Ireland Unlimited Company, Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, Janssen Supply Group LLC, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., Janssen Vaccines Corp., Janssen de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag, Janssen-Cilag (New Zealand) Limited, Janssen-Cilag A/S, Janssen-Cilag AG, Janssen-Cilag AS, Janssen-Cilag Aktiebolag, Janssen-Cilag B.V., Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Lda., Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Ltda., Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Janssen-Cilag International NV, Janssen-Cilag Kft., Janssen-Cilag Limited, Janssen-Cilag Manufacturing LLC, Janssen-Cilag NV, Janssen-Cilag OY, Janssen-Cilag Pharma GmbH, Janssen-Cilag Pharmaceutical S.A.C.I., Janssen-Cilag Polska Sp. z o.o., Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd, Janssen-Cilag S.A., Janssen-Cilag S.A., Janssen-Cilag S.A. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag s.r.o., Janssen-Pharma S.L., Jevco Holding Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Johnson & Johnson (Angola) Limitada, Johnson & Johnson (China) Investment Ltd., Johnson & Johnson (Egypt) S.A.E., Johnson & Johnson (Hong Kong) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Ireland) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Jamaica) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Kenya) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Mozambique) Limitada, Johnson & Johnson (Namibia) (Proprietary) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (New Zealand) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Philippines) Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Private) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Thailand) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson (Trinidad) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Vietnam) Co. Ltd, Johnson & Johnson - Societa' Per Azioni, Johnson & Johnson AB, Johnson & Johnson AG, Johnson & Johnson Belgium Finance Company BV, Johnson & Johnson Bulgaria EOOD, Johnson & Johnson China Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Hong Kong) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Thailand) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer B.V., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Holdings France, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., Johnson & Johnson Consumer NV, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Saudi Arabia Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services EAME Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Del Paraguay S.A., Johnson & Johnson Dominicana S.A.S., Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation Inc., Johnson & Johnson European Treasury Company, Johnson & Johnson Finance Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Finance Limited, Johnson & Johnson Financial Services GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Foundation Scotland (NON-PROFIT), Johnson & Johnson Gateway LLC, Johnson & Johnson Gesellschaft m.b.H., Johnson & Johnson GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Guatemala S.A., Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc., Johnson & Johnson Health and Wellness Solutions Inc., Johnson & Johnson Hellas Commercial and Industrial S.A., Johnson & Johnson Hellas Consumer Products Commercial Societe Anonyme, Johnson & Johnson Hemisferica S.A., Johnson & Johnson Holding GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Holdings K.K., Johnson & Johnson Inc., Johnson & Johnson Industrial Ltda., Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC Inc., Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, Johnson & Johnson Innovation Limited, Johnson & Johnson International, Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Johnson & Johnson International Financial Services Company, Johnson & Johnson Japan Inc., Johnson & Johnson K.K., Johnson & Johnson Kft., Johnson & Johnson Korea Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Korea Selling & Distribution LLC, Johnson & Johnson LLC, Johnson & Johnson Limitada, Johnson & Johnson Limited, Johnson & Johnson Luxembourg Finance Company Sarl, Johnson & Johnson Management Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical (China) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical (Proprietary) Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical B.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics Group - Latin America L.L.C., Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Medical Korea Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical NV, Johnson & Johnson Medical Products GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Medical S.A., Johnson & Johnson Medical S.C.S., Johnson & Johnson Medical S.p.A., Johnson & Johnson Medical SAS, Johnson & Johnson Medical Saudi Arabia Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical Servicios Profesionales S. de R.L. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical Taiwan Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC, Johnson & Johnson Morocco Societe Anonyme, Johnson & Johnson Nordic AB, Johnson & Johnson Pacific Pty Limited, Johnson & Johnson Pakistan (Private) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Panama S.A., Johnson & Johnson Personal Care (Chile) S.A., Johnson & Johnson Poland Sp. z o.o., Johnson & Johnson Private Limited, Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Pty. Limited, Johnson & Johnson Research Pty Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Romania S.R.L., Johnson & Johnson S.A., Johnson & Johnson S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson S.E. Inc., Johnson & Johnson S.E. d.o.o., Johnson & Johnson SDN. BHD., Johnson & Johnson Sante Beaute France, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Johnson & Johnson Servicios Corporativos S. de R.L. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision Inc., Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision India Private Limited, Johnson & Johnson Taiwan Ltd., Johnson & Johnson UK Treasury Company Limited, Johnson & Johnson Ukraine LLC, Johnson & Johnson Urban Renewal Associates, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (Shanghai) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Ireland Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson d.o.o., Johnson & Johnson de Argentina S.A.C. e. I., Johnson & Johnson de Chile Limitada, Johnson & Johnson de Chile S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Colombia S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Costa Rica S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson de Uruguay S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Venezuela S.A., Johnson & Johnson del Ecuador S.A., Johnson & Johnson del Peru S.A., Johnson & Johnson do Brasil Industria E Comercio de Produtos Para Saude Ltda., Johnson & Johnson for Export and Import LLC, Johnson & Johnson s.r.o., Johnson and Johnson (Proprietary) Limited, Johnson and Johnson Sihhi Malzeme Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, La Concha Land Investment Corporation, Latam International Investment Company Unlimited Company, LifeScan, MDS Co. Ltd., McNEIL MMP LLC, McNeil AB, McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co., McNeil Denmark ApS, McNeil Healthcare (Ireland) Limited, McNeil Healthcare (UK) Limited, McNeil Healthcare LLC, McNeil Iberica S.L.U., McNeil LA LLC, McNeil Nutritionals LLC, McNeil Panama LLC, McNeil Products Limited, McNeil Sweden AB, Medical Device Business Services Inc., Medical Devices & Diagnostics Global Services LLC, Medical Devices International LLC, Medical Industrial do Brasil Ltda., Medos International Sarl, Medos Sarl, MegaDyne Medical Products Inc., Menlo Care De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Mentor B.V., Mentor Deutschland GmbH, Mentor Medical Systems B.V., Mentor Partnership Holding Company I LLC, Mentor Texas GP LLC, Mentor Texas L.P., Mentor Worldwide LLC, Micrus Endovascular LLC, Middlesex Assurance Company Limited, Momenta Ireland Limited, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc., NeoStrata Company Inc., NeoStrata Company Inc., NeoStrata UG (haftungsbeschrankt), Netherlands Holding Company, NeuWave Medical Inc., Neuravi Inc., Neuravi Limited, Novira Therapeutics, Novira Therapeutics LLC, NuVera Medical Inc., OBTECH Medical Sarl, OGX Beauty AU Pty Ltd, OGX Beauty Limited, OMJ Holding GmbH, OMJ Ireland Unlimited Company, OMJ Pharmaceuticals Inc., Obtech Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals NV, Ortho Biologics LLC, Ortho Biotech Holding LLC, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical LLC, Orthotaxy, Orthotaxy, PMC Holdings G.K., PT Integrated Healthcare Indonesia, PT. Johnson & Johnson Indonesia, Patriot Pharmaceuticals LLC, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals LLC, Penta Pty. Limited, Percivia LLC, Perouse Plastie, Pharmadirect Ltd., Pharmedica Laboratories (Proprietary) Limited, Princeton Laboratories Inc., Productos de Cuidado Personal y de La Salud de Bolivia S.R.L., Proleader S.A., Pulsar Vascular Inc., Regency Urban Renewal Associates, RespiVert Ltd., RoC International, Rutan Realty LLC, SYNTHES Medical Immobilien GmbH, Scios LLC, Sedona Enterprise Co. Ltd., Sedona Singapore International Pte. Ltd., Sedona Thai International Co. Ltd., Serhum S.A. de C.V., Shanghai Elsker For Mother & Baby Co. Ltd, Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Ltd., Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sightbox LLC, Sodiac ESV, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Company, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Partnership, Spine Solutions GmbH, SterilMed, SterilMed Inc., Surgical Process Institute Deutschland GmbH, Synthes Costa Rica S.C.R. Limitada, Synthes GmbH, Synthes Holding AG, Synthes Holding Limited, Synthes Inc., Synthes Medical Surgical Equipment & Instruments Trading LLC, Synthes Produktions GmbH, Synthes Proprietary Limited, Synthes S.M.P. S. de R.L. de C.V., Synthes Tuttlingen GmbH, Synthes USA LLC, Synthes USA Products LLC, TARIS Biomedical, TARIS Biomedical LLC, TearScience Inc., The Anspach Effort LLC, The Vision Care Institute LLC, Tibotec LLC, Torax Medical Inc., TriStrata Incorporated, UAB "Johnson & Johnson", Vania Expansion, Verb Surgical, Verb Surgical Inc., Vision Care Finance Unlimited Company, Vogue International, Vogue International LLC, Vogue International Trading Inc., WH4110 Development Company L.L.C., XO1, XO1 Limited, Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., Zarbee's Inc., and Zarbee's Naturals.
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America; Canada; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; Asia Pacific; and Corporate and Other. The U.S. and Latin America segment markets individual and group life and health reinsurance to domestic clients for a variety of products through yearly renewable term agreements, coinsurance, and modified coinsurance. The Canada segment offers individual life reinsurance, and to a lesser extent creditor, group life and health, critical illness and disability reinsurance, through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements. The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment serves individual and group life and health products through yearly renewable term and coinsurance agreements, reinsurance of critical illness coverage that provides a benefit in the event of the diagnosis of a pre-defined critical illness and underwritten annuities. The Asia Pacific segment comprises individual and group life and health reinsurance, critical illness coverage, disability, and superannuation thr

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Great Lakes Graphite Inc., doing business as NovoCarbon Corporation, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. It holds a 100% interest in the Lochaber graphite project, which includes 45 claims covering 2,649 hectares located in the Buckingham Graphite region in Outaouais/Gatineau, Quebec. The company was formerly known as Shield Gold Inc. and changed its name to Great Lakes Graphite Inc. in May 2014. Great Lakes Graphite Inc. is based in Toronto, Canada.

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The following companies are subsidiares of Valero Energy: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC..
Best Buy Co., Inc. engages in the provision of consumer technology products and services. It operates through two business segments: Domestic and International. The Domestic segment comprises of the operations in all states, districts, and territories of the U.S., operating under various brand names, including Best Buy, Best Buy Mobile, Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, and Pacific Sales. The International segment includes all operations outside the U.S. and its territories, which includes Canada, Europe, China, Mexico, and Turkey. It also markets its products under the brand names: Best Buy, bestbuy.com, Best Buy Direct, Best Buy Express, Best Buy Mobile, Geek Squad, GreatCall, Magnolia and Pacific Kitchen and Home. The company was founded by Richard M. Schulze in 1966 and is headquartered in Richfield, MN.

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Intu owns and manages some of the best shopping centres, in some of the strongest locations, in the UK and Spain. Our UK portfolio is made up of 17 centres, including eight of the top-20, and in Spain we own three of the country's top-10 centres, with advanced plans to build a fourth. We are passionate about creating compelling experiences, in centre and online, that make our customers smile and help our retailers flourish. We attract around 400 million customer visits and 26 million website visits a year offering a multichannel approach that truly supports retail strategies. Our strategic focus on prime, high-footfall flagship destinations, combined with the strength and popularity of our brand, means that intu offers enhanced footfall, dwell time and loyalty. This helps our tenants flourish, driving occupancy and income growth. We are committed to our local communities, with our centres supporting nearly 130,000 jobs (representing about 3 per cent of the total UK retail workforce), and to operating with environmental responsibility. We have already met or exceeded a significant number of our 2020 environmental targets.

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iShares Gold Trust shares reverse split before market open on Monday, May 24th 2021. The 1-2 reverse split was announced on Wednesday, March 3rd 2021. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the closing bell on Friday, May 21st 2021. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares Gold Trust stock prior to the reverse split would have 50 shares after the split.
The following companies are subsidiares of TE Connectivity: 999 Arques Corp., ABB ENTRELEC terminal block business, ACC Telecommunications, ADC Chile Limitada, ADC Communications (SEA) Pte. Ltd., ADC Communications (UK) Holding Ltd., ADC Communications (UK) Ltd., ADC Communications Hong Kong Limited, ADC Telecommunications Equipment (Shanghai) Co., AMP Amermex, AMP Products Pacific Limited, AMP Taiwan B.V., AMP Trading B.V., AMP de Venezuela, Acalon Holdings Limited, Advanced Fiber Products LLC, Advanced Fiber Products Limited, Advanced Tube Technologies, AdvancedCath, AdvancedCath Technologies, Alpha Technics, American Sensor Technologies, Betatherm (R&D) Limited, Brantner Holding Company, Brantner and Associates, Butterfly Management SAS, C.S. Tyco Decisive Inc., C.S. Tyco Dependable Inc., C.S. Tyco Durable Inc., C.S. Tyco Reliance Inc., C.S. Tyco Resolute Inc., C.S. Tyco Responder Inc., CII Guardian International Limited, Cablotec GmbH, Carrier Kheops Bac SAS, Catheter and Disposable Technology, Celis Eletrocomponentes Ltda., Cima de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Clarebury Pty. Ltd., Codenoll Technology Corporation, Communication Expert International Investments Limited, Compagnie Deutsch Distribution SAS, Compagnie Deutsch SAS, Comtec Systeme GmbH, Connecteurs Electriques Deutsch SAS, Corcom, Corcom West Indies Limited, Cotsworks LLC, Creganna, Creganna Captial Holding Ireland Unlimited Company, Creganna Finance (US) LLC, Creganna Finance Ireland Limited, Creganna Luxembourg SARL, Creganna Medical Devices, Creganna Medical Pte. Limited, Creganna Medical Technology Unlimited, Creganna Medical s.r.l., Creganna Regulatory, Creganna Solutions Limited, Creganna Solutions Unlimited Company, Creganna Tactx Singapore Limited, Creganna Unlimited Company, Cregstar Bidco Limited, Critchley Group Limited, Crompton Instruments (South-East Asia) Pte. Ltd., Deutsch, Deutsch Connectors Hong Kong Limited, Deutsch Connectors Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co., Deutsch Connectors Trading (Shanghai) Co., Deutsch Finance SAS, Deutsch GB Limited, Deutsch Group SAS, Deutsch India Power Connectors (Pvt) Ltd, Deutsch Israel Ltd., Deutsch SAS, Deutsch Servicios S. de R.L. De C.V., Deutsch Subco Limited, Deutsch UK, F.A.I. Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, First Sensor, Grangehurst Enterprises Pty. Ltd., Hirschmann Car Communication, Hong Kong Sensors Technologies Limited, Howard A. Schaevitz Technologies, Intercontec Connector System (Shanghai) Co., Intercontec Produkt GmbH, Intercontect Pfeiffer Industrie-Steckverbindungen GmbH, Jaquet North America, Jaquet Technology Group AG, Kemex Holding Company, Kenabell Holding Limited, LADD Distribution LLC, LADD Distribution Limited, LSA, MEAS Asia Limited, MEAS Europe SAS, MEAS France SAS, MEAS Ireland (Betatherm) Limited, MEAS Norway AS, MEAS Shenzhen Limited, MEAS Switzerland S.a r.l., MEAS US Holding, MP&E, Measurement Specialties, Measurement Specialties (Chengdu) Ltd., Measurement Specialties (China) Ltd., Measurement Specialties (China) Ltd. Production Branch, Measurement Specialties Foreign Holdings LLC, Measurement Technology (Chengdu) Ltd., Medical Engineering & Design, MicroGroup, Morlynn Ceramics Pty. Ltd., Nikkiso-Therm Co., PT KRONE Indonesia, PT. Tyco Electronics Indonesia, Pfeiffer GmbH & Co KG, Pfeiffer Verwaltungs GmbH, Polamco, Polamco Limited, Potter & Brumfield de Mexico, Precision Interconnect LLC, Precision Subsea AS, Precision Wire Components, Precision Wire Holding Company, Produxx, RAYCHEM-RPG Private Limited, Raychem (HK) Limited, Raychem (Shanghai) Trading Ltd, Raychem China Limited, Raychem Dominicana S.A., Raychem Industries BVBA, Raychem International LLC, Raychem International Manufacturing LLC, Raychem Juarez, Raychem Limited, Raychem Ltd., Raychem Pacific Corporation, Raychem Saudi Arabia Limited, Raychem Shanghai Cable Accessories Ltd, Raychem Technologies Limited, Rochester Wire and Cable LLC, SEACON Advanced Products LLC, Seacon (Europe) Limited, Seacon Global Production, Seacon Produtos e Servicos Opticos e Eletricos Ltda., Sensitive Object, Servo Interconnect Limited, Shanghai CII Electronics Co., Shenzhen Century Man Communication Equipment Co., Sibas Electronics (Xiamen) Co., TCN Holding (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., TE Connectivity (Barbados) SRL, TE Connectivity (Denmark) ApS, TE Connectivity (HKZ) Holding Limited, TE Connectivity (Kunshan) Company Limited, TE Connectivity (Netherlands) Holding S.a r.l. - Irish Branch, TE Connectivity (Schweiz) Management AG, TE Connectivity (Suzhou) Co., TE Connectivity Argentina S.R.L., TE Connectivity Australia Pty Ltd, TE Connectivity Colombia S.A.S., TE Connectivity Connectors (Suzhou) Co., TE Connectivity Distribution (Thailand) Limited, TE Connectivity EMEA Holding GmbH, TE Connectivity Germany GmbH, TE Connectivity HK Limited, TE Connectivity Holding International II S.a r.l., TE Connectivity Holding International II S.a r.l. Luxembourg (LU) Schaffhausen E-Finance branch, TE Connectivity Holding International II S.a r.l. Luxembourg (LU) Schaffhausen branch, TE Connectivity Holding International II S.a r.l. (Ireland Branch), TE Connectivity Holding International S.A., TE Connectivity Inc., TE Connectivity India Private Limited, TE Connectivity Investments Holding S.A., TE Connectivity Investments Holding S.A. Luxembourg (LU) Schaffhausen branch, TE Connectivity Ireland Limited, TE Connectivity LATAM Holding S.a r.l., TE Connectivity LATAM I S.a r.l., TE Connectivity LATAM II S.a r.l., TE Connectivity Limited, TE Connectivity MOG Europe S.a r.l., TE Connectivity MOG Holding S.a r.l., TE Connectivity MOG Inc., TE Connectivity MOG Sales GmbH, TE Connectivity Manufacturing (Thailand) Company Limited, TE Connectivity Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd., TE Connectivity Morocco SARL, TE Connectivity Nederland B.V., TE Connectivity Netherlands (Poland II) Cooperatief U.A., TE Connectivity Netherlands (Turkey) B.V., TE Connectivity Netherlands Cooperatief U.A., TE Connectivity Phoenix Optix Inc., TE Connectivity Seacon Phoenix Inc., TE Connectivity Sensors Germany GmbH, TE Connectivity Services India Private Limited, TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, TE Connectivity South Africa Proprietary Limited, TE Connectivity Spain, TE Connectivity SubCom S.L.U., TE Connectivity SubCom Spain Holding S.L.U., TE Connectivity Technology Solutions Limited, TE Connectivity Tunisia Sarl, TE Connectivity ULC, TE Connectivity US Group Holding Inc., TE Connectivity Vietnam Holding Company Limited, TYCO Electronics Polska Sp.z.o.o., TYCO SUBMARINE SYSTEMS INC., TacPro, Tactx Medical, Taicang Speed & Spin Sensors Co., Taliq Taiwan Limited, Tappat Engineering Pty Ltd, TechDevice Costa Rica Limitada, TechDevice Holdings, TechDevice LLC, The Whitaker LLC, Transoceanic Cable Ship Company LLC, TyCom Holdings II SA, TyCom Networks (Peru) S.A., Tyco Electronics (AMP Korea) Malta Limited, Tyco Electronics (Dongguan) Ltd, Tyco Electronics (Gibraltar) Holding Limited, Tyco Electronics (Gibraltar) Limited, Tyco Electronics (Korea) Malta Limited, Tyco Electronics (Kunshan) Ltd, Tyco Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Tyco Electronics (Qingdao) Ltd., Tyco Electronics (Schweiz) Holding II GmbH, Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Tyco Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Tyco Electronics (Suzhou) Ltd., Tyco Electronics (Zhuhai) Ltd, Tyco Electronics AMP Guangdong Ltd, Tyco Electronics AMP Italia Products S.R.L., Tyco Electronics AMP Italia S.R.L., Tyco Electronics AMP Korea Co., Tyco Electronics AMP Manufacturing (S) Pte Ltd, Tyco Electronics AMP Qingdao Ltd., Tyco Electronics AMP Shanghai Ltd., Tyco Electronics Austria GmbH, Tyco Electronics Belgium EC BVBA, Tyco Electronics Brasil Ltda., Tyco Electronics Canada ULC, Tyco Electronics China (Gibraltar) Limited, Tyco Electronics Componentes Electromecanicos Lda., Tyco Electronics Corby Limited, Tyco Electronics Corporation, Tyco Electronics Czech s.r.o., Tyco Electronics Del Peru S.A.C., Tyco Electronics EC Trutnov s.r.o., Tyco Electronics EC Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Tyco Electronics Eta Limited, Tyco Electronics Finance Alpha GmbH, Tyco Electronics Finance S.a r.l., Tyco Electronics Finland Oy, Tyco Electronics France SAS, Tyco Electronics Germany Holdings GmbH, Tyco Electronics Group S.A., Tyco Electronics Group S.A. (French Branch), Tyco Electronics Group S.A. (Ireland Branch), Tyco Electronics H.K. Limited, Tyco Electronics Hellas MEPE, Tyco Electronics Holding Corp., Tyco Electronics Holding France, Tyco Electronics Holding S.a r.l., Tyco Electronics Holdings (Bermuda) No. 7 Limited, Tyco Electronics Holdings (Bermuda) No. 7 Limited Taiwan Branch, Tyco Electronics Hong Kong Holdings No. 1 Limited, Tyco Electronics Hong Kong Holdings No. 2 Limited, Tyco Electronics Hong Kong Holdings No. 3 Limited, Tyco Electronics Hungary Termelo Kft, Tyco Electronics Idento, Tyco Electronics India (Gibraltar) Limited, Tyco Electronics Industrial Y Comercial Chile Limitada, Tyco Electronics Integrated Cable Systems LLC, Tyco Electronics Ireland Limited, Tyco Electronics Israel Ltd., Tyco Electronics Italia Holding S.r.l., Tyco Electronics Japan G.K., Tyco Electronics Lambda, Tyco Electronics Latin America Holding LLC, Tyco Electronics Manufacturing Singapore Pte Ltd, Tyco Electronics Mexico, Tyco Electronics Middle East FZE, Tyco Electronics Motors Ltd, Tyco Electronics NZ Limited, Tyco Electronics Netherlands (Germany Holding) S.a r.l., Tyco Electronics Netherlands (Gibraltar China) Cooperatief U.A., Tyco Electronics Netherlands (Gibraltar India) Cooperatief U.A., Tyco Electronics Netherlands (India) Cooperatief U.A., Tyco Electronics Netherlands Holding B.V., Tyco Electronics Norge AS, Tyco Electronics Philippines, Tyco Electronics Precision Engineering Ltd., Tyco Electronics Printed Circuit Group LP, Tyco Electronics RIMC Holding LLC, Tyco Electronics RUS OOO, Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH, Tyco Electronics Raychem Korea Limited, Tyco Electronics SIMEL SAS, Tyco Electronics Saudi Arabia Limited, Tyco Electronics Services GmbH, Tyco Electronics Singapore Pte Ltd, Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications LLC, Tyco Electronics Svenska AB, Tyco Electronics Svenska Holdings AB, Tyco Electronics Technology (SIP) Co., Tyco Electronics Technology (SIP) Ltd., Tyco Electronics Tecnologias S. de R.L. de C.V., Tyco Electronics UK Holdings Ltd, Tyco Electronics UK Ltd., Tyco Electronics UK Ltd. (Kenya Branch), Tyco Electronics Ukraine Limited, Tyco Electronics Uruguay S.A., Tyco Electronics Verwaltungs GmbH, Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems B.V., Tyco Electronics de Venezuela, Tyco Elektronik AMP Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Tyco Global Networks Ltd., Tyco Iberia, Tyco International Services GmbH, Tyco Networks (Argentina) S.R.L., Tyco Networks (Italy) Srl, Tyco Networks (Netherlands) B.V., Tyco Networks Iberica, Tyco Submarine Systems, Tyco Submarine Systems C.A., Tyco Submarine Systems de Argentina S.A., Tyco Telecommunications Ltd., Wema Americas LLC, Wema Automotive System Private Limited, Wema Environmental Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Wema Environmental Technologies (Shenzhen) Co., Wema Environmental Technologies Ltd., Wema System AG, Wema System AS, Wema System Hong Kong Limited, Wema System Production and Distribution HK Limited, Xiamen Delixing Electric Equipment Businesss, and motec Montage GmbH.
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. provides technical, professional, and construction services. The company's Aerospace, Technology, Environmental and Nuclear segment offers scientific, engineering, construction, nuclear, environmental, and technical support services to the aerospace, defense, technical, and automotive industries. Its Buildings, Infrastructure and Advanced Facilities segment develops/rehabilitates plans for highways, bridges, transit, tunnels, airports, railroads, intermodal facilities, and maritime or port projects; develops or rehabilitates critical water resource systems, water/wastewater conveyance systems, and flood defense projects; and provides engineering design, construction management, design build, and operations and maintenance. This segment also designs and constructs buildings; offers consulting, engineering, procurement, construction management, and delivery services for life sciences clients; and provides services relating to modular construction and other consulting and strategic planning services, as well as offers services in containment, barrier technology, locally controlled environments, building systems automation, off-the-site design, and fabrication of facility modules. The company's Energy, Chemicals and Resources segment offers services relating to onshore and offshore oil and gas production facilities, processing facilities, gathering systems, and transmission pipelines and terminals; feasibility/economic studies, technology evaluation, conceptual engineering, front end loading, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and commissioning services; and engineering, procurement, and construction solutions. This segment also provides services, such as manufacturing complex, expansions, modifications, and management of plant relocations; construction management and field construction services; and services to operate and maintain facilities. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

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VanEck Gold Miners ETF's stock was trading at $25.21 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, GDX stock has increased by 28.6% and is now trading at $32.42.

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Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. engages in the mining of copper, gold and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining; Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. The South America Mining segment includes Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. The Indonesia Mining segment handles the operations of Grasberg minerals district that produces copper concentrate that contains significant quantities of gold and silver. The Molybdenum Mines segment includes the Henderson underground mine and Climax open-pit mine, both in Colorado. The Rod and Refining segment consists of copper conversion facilities located in North America and includes a refinery, rod mills, and a specialty copper products facility. The Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining segment smelts and refines copper concentrate and markets refined copper and precious metals in slimes. The Corporate, Other and Eliminations segment

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The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. V, FS (Barbados) Capital Holdings Ltd., FS Casa Rocas Holdings LLC, FS Mexicana Holdings LLC, FSI Receivables Company LLC, FSII Sweden Holdings AB, FSII Sweden Holdings I AB, FSIR Holdings (UK) Limited, FSIR Holdings (US) Inc., FSUK Holdings Limited, FSWH Company LLC, FSWH II C.V., FSWH International Holdings LLC, Fermentas China Co. Ltd, Fermentas Inc., Fermentas International, Fermentas Sweden AB, Fermentas UK Limited, Fiberlite Centrifuge LLC, Finesse Scientific Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC.
The following companies are subsidiares of Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc..
iShares S&P SmallCap 600 ETF's stock was trading at $62.31 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, IJR stock has increased by 88.5% and is now trading at $117.46.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
The Boeing Co. is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space and Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital. The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide. The Defense, Space and Security segment refers to the research, development, production and modification of manned and unmanned military aircraft and weapons systems for global strike, including fighter and combat rotorcraft aircraft and missile systems; global mobility, including tanker, rotorcraft and tilt-rotor aircraft; and airborne surveillance and reconnaissance, including command and control, battle management and airborne anti-submarine aircraft. The Global Services segment provides services to commercial and defense customers. The Boeing Capital segment seeks to ensure that Boeing customers have the financing they need to buy and take delivery of their Boeing product and manages overall financing exposure. T

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MUST LISTEN episode of the Off Kilter Show (referenced heavily during the interview with Rebecca):



Christopher Zarva at The New York Times: The Assault Against Science Continues at the E.P.A.

Gretchen Goldman from the Union of Concerned Scientists: Can the EPA Protect Us from Ozone and Particulate Pollution Without Its Experts? What to Watch

Jason Plautz at Reveal News: Trumps air pollution adviser: No proof cleaning up smog saves lives

Progressives Everywhere with Jordan Zakarin: Where the minimum wage is rising and where the fight continues

Jordan also has an ActBlue page where you can support several of the special elections going on around America HERE.

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Music clips

Intro and transition music: You Dress Like an Asshole by Not The 1s

Progressives Everywhere intro/outro: Theyre Everywhere by Jims Big Ego

Flint Water Crisis Update intro: Unclaimed by Mike Wagner/Total Strangers

Outro music: Complain (from the movie Bob Roberts) by David Robbins & Tim Robbins
iShares Silver Trust's stock was trading at $15.63 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, SLV stock has increased by 39.4% and is now trading at $21.79.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, the company had assembled approximately 285,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 37,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

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Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland.

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The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe (Services) Limited, AIG Europe Holdings S.a.rl., AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Insurance Company (Switzerland) Ltd, AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG Shared Services Corporation, AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE EOLA LLC, AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American Home Assurance Company Escritorio de Representacao no Brasil Ltda., American International Group Inc., American International Group UK Limited, American International Overseas Association, American International Overseas Limited, American International Realty Corp., American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A., American Security Life Insurance Company Limited, Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Avondhu Limited, Blackboard Customer Care Insurance Services LLC, Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Services LLC, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., Chartis Takaful Enaya B.S.C. (c), Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, Fortitude Life & Annuity Solutions Inc., Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd., Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Group Risk Services Limited, Group Risk Technologies Limited, Illinois National Insurance Co., Jefferson Eola Venture LLC, Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, MG Reinsurance Limited, Mt. Mansfield Company Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Private Joint-Stock Company AIG Ukraine Insurance Company, Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SA Affordable Housing LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., Thai CIT Holding Company Limited, The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., Western World Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Group Inc..
SociAtA GAnArale SociAtA anonyme provides financial services in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and France. The company offers retail banking services, including deposits and loans, vehicles and asset management, corporate finance, insurance, payments, investment, and online brokerage and financial information services; Internet, mobile, telephone, and service platforms; and online banking to individual and professional customers, businesses, non-profit associations and local authorities under the Societe Generale, CrAdit du Nord, and Boursorama Banque brands. It also provides international retail banking and financial services, comprising of deposit and loan products; consumer finance and car finance; mortgage facilities; corporate and investment banking; infrastructure, renewable energies, and agribusiness financing; life, retirement savings, and personal protection insurance products; vehicle leasing and fleet management services; and vendor and equipment finance services to corporate and individual customers. In addition, the company offers capital market services, such as fixed income and currencies, equities, and securities services; mergers and acquisitions, advisory and other corporate finance advisory services, and corporate banking and investment banking, as well as capital raising solutions for debt or equity, financial engineering, and hedging for issuers; transaction and payment services, comprising of cash management, trade finance, cash clearing and correspondent banking, supply chain finance, and foreign exchange services; and export finance, aircraft finance, shipping finance, real estate finance, and structured solutions and leasing. Further, it provides financial engineering and wealth management solutions; structured products, hedge funds, mutual funds, private equity funds and real estate investment solutions; and asset management solutions. SociAtA GAnArale SociAtA anonyme was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

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Thomson Reuters Corporation provides business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. The Corporates segment provides a suite of content-enabled technology solutions for legal, tax, regulatory, compliance, and IT professionals. The Tax & Accounting Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on tax offerings and automating tax workflows to tax, accounting, and audit professionals in accounting firms. The Reuters News segment provides business, financial, national, and international news to professionals through desktop terminals, media organizations, and industry events, as well as directly to consumers. The Global Print segment offers legal and tax information primarily in print format to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools, and corporations. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Thomson Reuters Corporation is a subsidiary of The Woodbridge Company Limited.

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Vanguard Information Technology ETF's stock was trading at $219.43 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, VGT shares have increased by 106.1% and is now trading at $452.31.

View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19.
UTICA-The Utica Boy Scouts held a pancake breakfast to raise money for troop 111. The parents of the boy scouts put on the entire breakfast.

If you wanted to get an early start to your Christmas shopping, they had a couple of vendors selling locally produced items.

They also had a few raffle baskets that were up for grabs.

All of the money that was raised today helps the boy scouts go on a winter camping trip called Blizzard Camp.

Its a camping trip that takes place at Camp Kingsley in Ava, New York.

The scouts themselves served as wait staff while parents and other volunteers cooked and prepared the food.

We asked the Assistant Scout Master Vickie Ford what the Boy Scouts mean to her.

Well it means family. Our troop is just an extended family and these boys just have a wonderful comradery of getting and always being there with each other




CP Foods' overseas operations to expand further



Charoen Pokphand Foods (CP Foods) is shifting its direction to overseas investment in order to tackle global economic uncertainties.

The company said it is projected that two-thirds of its revenue will come from operations out of its Thailand base.



According to CP Foods' recent report to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the company earned THB400 billion (US$12.1 billion) in the first nine months, up by 7%. Of the total, its revenue from overseas operation accounted for 67%, an increase by 12%.



In addition, it is forecast that the company's total revenue will hit THB600 billion (US$18.8 million) - with overseas sales' share at 75% - in the next five years. This growth marks a significant change in strategic direction for Cp Foods, taking into account that the revenue from foreign operation was only 30% back around 20 years ago.



The uncertainty in global economy is cited as the main reason for the change of strategic direction. Sooksunt Jiumjaiswanglerg, CEO of agro-industrial business and co-president at CP Foods, said the geographic diversification could mitigate those risks.



"We are investing in 17 countries including Thailand. International diversification helps us to mitigate the risks from economic uncertainties, breaking trade barriers and greatly reduce cost of operation in many ways," he said.



CP Foods' major overseas operation are in China and Vietnam. Investment in other countries include Taiwan, India, US, Turkey, Russia, Cambodia, UK, the Philippines, Malaysia, Belgium, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Laos and Poland, involving animal feed and farm, food processing, food service, aquaculture farm and products.



Taking Poland's operation as an example, CP Foods already exported chickens to EU market. However, the number of exported chicken is limited by EU's tariff rate quotas. Having operations in Poland helps CP Foods to break the barrier. In addition, it would save transportation cost and speed up its response to European customers, making CP Foods more competitive in European poultry market, the company said.



"Having production base in targeted markets will strengthen the company's competitiveness and facilitate businesses," noted Jiumjaiswanglerg.

The CEO cited CP Foods Vietnam as the current best performer due to the recovering pig price in Vietnam. The price is projected to remain high in 2019. As an effect of this positive outlook, CP Foods plans to raise pig production from five million per year to seven million per year.



The company also sees progress in the Philippines. Jiumjaiswanglerg added that the company will push for more investment in the country, especially in pork business, which has an export potential.



CP Foods' operations in the rest of Southeast Asia perform well in this year, largely due to the recovery of livestock price. The company's operations in Turkey has generated the same level of profit as 2017 even though the Turkish currency's value was halved this year.



However, CP Foods stated that the major threat for international operations is the outbreak of African swine fever (ASF).



Still, the company said it has been well prepared and such a development is unlikely to have significant impact on the company's performance.



As a result from recovering livestock prices worldwide, the company expects its positive momentum to continue in Q4. It is optimistic of its business's performance in 2019, largely due to overseas performances and better pig and chicken prices in Thailand.



- CP Foods
Blockchain innovation, from Williamsburg to South Korea

Troy and team Troy Wiipongwii MPP 18 (center row, pink shirt) poses with some of the people involved with the Blockchain project he instituted in collaboration with Professor Mike Tierney. Courtesy Global Research Institute

A W&M connection W&Ms Global Research Institute, in partnership with the W&M Freeman Fellows program, helped to place Troy Wiipongwii with fellow W&M Master of Public Policy student Kelsey Robarts MPP '18 at the Art Center Nabi in South Korea. Courtesy Global Research Institute Photo - of - Hide Caption

Sometimes the teacher becomes the student.

Thats just what happened when Troy Wiipongwii MPP 18 and Professor Mike Tierney 87 began collaborating on a project on blockchain technology.

What is it? The 'blocks' in blockchain are transactions, such as a purchase, made via the internet. The blocks are linked together with other 'blocks' in a chain using a specific code that includes the identifying code for both the block being added, and the block before it. This makes blockchain a sort of digital ledger and difficult to change, but clearly shows the order in which transactions happened.

In addition, blockchain is publicly accessible technology, and is used for keeping records of cryptocurrency transactions, such as Bitcoin.

The role reversal between Tierney and Wiipongwii has been enormously productive. Their project has catalyzed partnerships with W&M alumni in East Asia and launched several new business ventures.

Wiipongwii, a graduate of W&Ms Master of Public Policy Program, remembers his first meeting with Tierney, a professor in the Department of Government and co-director of W&Ms Global Research Institute.

As soon as I walked into his course on the political environment of policy making, I was talking about tech policy and blockchain as solutions to policy problems. He had no idea what I was talking about, he said, laughing.

Wiipongwii, who had previously run his own tech startup company, ended up writing a memo for Tierneys class on how the technology could be used to make foreign aid programs more efficient and effective.

The potential of blockchain stuck with Tierney.

My own research focuses on bargaining under hierarchy  how do elected leaders get their various agents to implement policy in an accountable way? Tierney said. Information problems abound. It turns out, blockchain technology has the potential to solve lots of different information problems that plague policy-makers.

More than a year later, when Tierney was presenting research on the Institutes AidData Project during a trip to East Asia, he met a W&M alum, Danny Levinson 96, who worked in the blockchain industry. Levinson asked if some bright W&M students could help him to think through a problem he was facing at work  could we get a more systematic assessment of how different governments in East Asia were regulating this new technology, as well as forecast what they might do in the future?

It was music to Tierneys ears. W&M excels at solving such public policy questions. He immediately thought of Wiipongwii.

He shot me an email that very night, Wiipongwii recalled. Writing, Youre the one who is always talking about this. What do you say we collaborate on this and turn this into a small class next semester?

They reached out to other students at W&M  some with Chinese language skills, some from the business school and others who had the technical know-how to understand how the new technology might make a difference. With input and financial support from Levinson, Wiipongwii and Tierney developed a course that introduced students to blockchain technology and analyzed changing regulatory regimes in six East Asian countries.

Among other assignments, the students worked on a white paper that they presented at the end of the semester, which is now having a real-world impact on Levinsons work.

The team had a disciplined yet creative research approach, Levinson explained, functioning as a well-managed consulting team that could prepare and deliver good market intelligence.

Tierney further reflected that ideas incubated in William & Mary classrooms, when combined with some serious sweat equity and good partners, can lead to new projects, methods and tools that have an impact in the world beyond the university.

Following the success of the class, W&Ms Global Research Institute, in partnership with the W&M Freeman Fellows program, helped to place Wiipongwii with Kelsey Robarts MPP '18 at the Art Center Nabi in South Korea. There, Wiipongwii and Robarts worked with the art centers director, Soh Yeong Roh 84, helping advise blockchain startups and design a blockchain-based reforestry project that is now under review for funding at the South Korean Ministry for the Environment.

Asked about Wiipongwii and Robarts, Soh Yeong replied, Their knowledge about blockchain and also their passion about social impact projects were a definite plus to our blockchain community here in Korea."

Wiipongwii and a business partner are now working on several projects for environmental and social impact.

Even though Ive been in the blockchain space for years, being at W&M, working with people like Mike, and having the opportunity to go to South Korea through the Institute has given me confidence and opened up professional opportunities, he said. It has completely changed my trajectory, and in the next couple of months Im confident that my partner and I will be running a multimillion-dollar company.

Meanwhile, back at W&M, Tierney continues to explore blockchain, particularly its potential applications in the international development space. Inspired by the class he created with Wiipongwii last spring, he is experimenting with a blended model of online teaching, led by practitioners in the policy world, combined with Williamsburg-based research projects. This class  a first of its kind on campus  kicks off next year.

Wiipongwii and Tierneys collaboration illustrates what W&Ms Global Research Institute hopes to achieve, supporting teams of students and faculty who are creating new knowledge and providing transformational experiences to help support the next generation of leaders.

Im thrilled that Troy has been able to combine his education in public policy with computer science and business, Tierney said. Turns out, if you have the right collaborative culture within an organization and you build a community where students feel empowered, great things happen.

Follow more of Wiipongwiis journey. Keep up with Tierneys latest research and work. Learn more about W&Ms Global Research Institute.

Author David Trichler is director of operations for W&M's Global Research Institute.
* Russian forces opened fire on and seized three Ukrainian naval ships in Russia's territorial waters in the Black Sea on November 25 after they violated the Russian border, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said early on Monday (November 26).

* The British government's Brexit deal would cost the country GBP100 billion (about US$128 billion) per year by 2030, according to media reports on a research institute's latest estimates.

* The Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were in talks to set the schedule for a joint railway inspection to modernize and connect railways across the inter-Korean border, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday.

* Afghan President Ashraf Ghani left Kabul on November 26 morning for Switzerland's Geneva to attend a key meeting on Afghanistan, the Presidential Palace said.

* Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said that he will appoint a commission to probe into the alleged fraud and malpractices which took place under the previous government led by ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

* Libyan Interior Minister Fat'hi Bashagha met with German Ambassador to Libya Oliver Owcza in Tripoli on November 25 to discuss bilateral security cooperation.

* The deadliest wildfire in the history of the US state of California that has killed at least 85 people was finally brought under control after burning for more than two weeks, authorities said on November 25.

* Nine people died and around 46 injured in two separate accidents involving passenger buses in India's northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh on November 25, said local media reports.

* Many people are still missing as the death toll from a boat accident on Lake Victoria in Uganda on November 24 has risen to 30, a police spokesperson said on November 25.

* Libya's navy on November 25 announced it rescued 113 illegal immigrants, including women and children, off the country's western coast.

* The Australian government is facing a wipe-out at the upcoming general election despite the improved popularity of Prime Minister (PM) Scott Morrison. The latest edition of Newspoll, Australia's foremost opinion poll, revealed that the governing Liberal-National Party Coalition (LNP) trails the Opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) 45-55 on a two-party preferred basis.

* At least 18 police personnel were killed after Taliban militants ambushed a police convoy in west Afghanistan's Farah province, a local official said Monday.

* The Republic of Korea 's presidential Blue House said Monday that it had yet to decide on a date for the reciprocal visit by Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), to Seoul.

* Chad's President Idriss Deby on November 25 became the first Chadian leader to pay an official visit to Israel, expressing his wish to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries.

* Sudan and Egypt on November 25 agreed to deploy joint military patrols on joint border and establish joint forces in the future to combat terrorism, official SUNA news agency reported.

* Libyan navy announced on November 25 that it had received a new Italian-made vessel (Ubari, measuring 27 meters long and seven meters wide) to support its efforts against illegal activities in the Mediterranean.

* Newly appointed African Union special envoy Raila Odinga left the country on November 25 for Zimbabwe to open a forum on infrastructure development in the continent.

* Up to 145 whales have stranded and died on a remote New Zealand beach over the weekend, local authorities said on November 26.

* Mount Mayon, the most active volcano in the Philippines, spewed ash on November 26 and is "at a moderate level of unrest," the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
Somalia (offcially the Federal Republic of Somalia) is a country in East Africa. Somalia covers an area of approximately 246,201 square miles and is unique because it has the most extensive coastline of all the countries on the African mainland. The country has a land border which covers a length of roughly 1,482 miles. Somalia shares a border with three countries: Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia. The country also has a border the Gulf of Aden which is located to the northern region and the Indian Ocean and Guardafui channel to the east, which separates the country from Socotra.

Somalia's present-day boundaries trace their roots to the medieval period when Islam was introduced to the country. During this time, some dynasties sprung up, and some greatly expanded the Somali territory. One of the best-known dynasties in Somalia's history was set up by Sultan Fakr ad-Din. During the colonial period, despite one of the most impressive resistances in Africa's history, Somalia fell under the control of the British and the Italians. By the end of the Second World War, Britain had control of both their section of Somalia as well as the Italian section. In 1960, the two sections combined and formed the Somali Republic. During this period, Somalia relied on the borders negotiated by the British and the Italians.

Djibouti

Somalia and Djibouti are separated by a border that is roughly 38 miles long and is situated on the northwestern edge of Somalia. On the Djibouti side of the border, there is only one area through which people can legally cross into Somalia, Loyada. Loyada was one of the most critical sites when creating the border between Djibouti, then referred to as French Somaliland, and the British section of Somalia. The border was finally decided in 1888, and it traces a relatively straight line from Loyada to Jaldessa.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia and Somalia are separated by a border approximately 1,019 miles long situated on the western edge of Somalia. The border between the two nations has been one of the most contested borders in the Horn of Africa region. The conflict between the two nations is often traced back to Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, a Somali leader, whose aim was to conquer the entire territory of Ethiopia. Ahmad was relatively successful as he managed to capture close to 75% of Ethiopia's territory. The Ethiopians managed to hold on to their control of the region by getting support from the Portuguese under the leadership of Cristovao da Gama.

Kenya

Somalia and Kenya are separated by a border roughly 625 miles long that is situated on the southwestern edge of Somalia. During the 1960s the border was the site of a conflict that would later come to be known as the Shifta War. The war was a result of a large number of Somali people who wanted to secede from Kenya and join the proposed Greater Somalia. According to several non-governmental organizations, more than 10,000 people lost their lives during the conflict. The conflict was resolved after the leaders of both nations signed a treaty in Arusha in 1967.


By Fox News , Nov. 25, 2018





Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, tweeted Sunday that the use of tear gas against Central American migrants who attempted to enter the U.S. illegally may have been a violation of international agreements governing the use of chemical weapons -- before he backtracked.





The Associated Press reported that U.S. agents shot several rounds of the gas after migrants tried to penetrate several points along the border at the San Ysidro border crossing between Tijuana, Mexico, and California. Migrants sought to squeeze through gaps in wire, climb over fences and peel back metal sheeting to enter.

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By Press TV , Nov. 24, 2018





The American presence is, in my opinion, a violation of the Iraqi sovereignty, Amer al-Shebli, a lawmaker, told Press TV on Friday. After ending terrorism, the previous Parliament should have taken a serious action to force all foreign forces to leave Iraq, the MP added.





Sovereignty is the most valuable asset in any nation. The sacrifices of the Iraqi people in their fight against Daesh show how important their countrys sovereignty is for them. Today, no country will allow foreign military bases on its land, said another legislator Kadhim al-Sayadi.

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Twenty-one-year-old Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford of Hueytown, Alabama, was shot and killed by Hoover, Alabama, police on Thanksgiving Day when they responded to a shooting at Riverchase Galleria Shopping Mall in suburban Birmingham.

In the aftermath of the police killing of Bradford, which was filmed and photographed by bystanders, the Hoover Police Department (HPD) has changed its story multiple times. On Friday, the HPD finally admitted that the African-American man was likely not the shooter, and that the suspect remains at large. An estimated 200 protesters marched through the Galleria on Saturday, demonstrating against Emantics killing and the subsequent efforts of the police to justify his death.

On Thursday evening, amid families engaged in early Christmas shopping, a fight broke out at the crowded Riverchase Galleria, followed by a shooting in which an unnamed and at large suspect shot a young man twice in the torso while also wounding a twelve-year-old girl, leaving both in critical condition. Chaos erupted as shoppers took shelter in shops, bathrooms and closets.

In the midst of this chaos, the Hoover Police Department came onto the scene. Police quickly claimed that they had secured the Galleria and had taken down the shooter. Photos of Bradford, lying in a pool of his own blood, immediately made the rounds on social media.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis told AL.com on Thursday, Thank God we had our officers very close. They heard the gunfire, they engaged the subject, and they took out the threat.

Bradfords parents, Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Sr. and April Pipkins, were alerted to their sons killing via social media posts. Many witnesses contradicted the police departments account of the shooting.

In one video, a man can be heard screaming, as officers stand over Bradfords body, That boy didnt shoot at nobody. Hes dead! and, They just killed that black boy for no reason He probably got a gun license and everything.

Not wishing to admit any wrong-doing, the HPD released an amended statement Friday: We regret that our initial media release was not totally accurate, but new evidence indicates that it was not. New evidence now suggests that while Mr. Bradford may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation, he likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim. This information indicates that there is at least one gunman still at-large.

Hoover police are now investigating the shooting internally, having placed the officer who killed Bradford on administrative leave. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has taken over investigation of the original shooting at the Galleria, along with the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department.

Hoover police still maintain that Bradford was brandishing a pistol when he was shot; Bradfords parents have stated that he had a concealed carry permit, which is common in Alabama. Bradfords family and acquaintances have struggled to square their knowledge of the young man with the police departments allegations.

They were so quick to rush to judgment, his father told the Associated Press. His mother, April Pipkins, said to the New York Times, That was not his character at all. Carl Dean, one of Bradfords former teachers at Holy Family Cristo Del Rey school, said of the slain man, He was a super sweet, funny, kind and goodhearted young man who never had a bad word to say to anyone. When I saw this morning that he was allegedly involved in causing the tragedy at the mall last night, I was shocked and in disbelief as well as heartbroken that this young man is no longer with us.

Both the police and Bradfords family have requested videos and photographs from the crime scene. Bradfords family has specifically asked to see body camera footage from the involved officers; the police department has not responded to those requests, nor have they confirmed or denied the existence of such footage.

Bradford is one of over 850 people who have been killed by police this year. Police kill over 1000 people in the United States on an annual basis. By contrast, 43 police officers have been killed in the line of duty during the same period. These disproportionate figures fly in the face of common appeals made to the public about the dangers of police work, claims that are used to justify arming the police with military-grade weapons as well as increasing immunity for officers who kill or disable civilians. As the numbers demonstrate, the police pose more of a threat to the general public than vice versa.

Bradfords death is already being used to frame the killing of civilians by police as an issue of race. While there can be no doubt that racism certainly plays a rotten and corrosive role in many instances of excessive force, the overarching issue is one of class. The role of police, contrary to public relations sloganeering, is not to serve and protect the public, but to protect the interests of private profit. This means that the average American, whose wealth has been funneled upwards, cannot be seen as anything other than a potential combatant in confrontations with police.

Bradfords death, like the deaths of thousands of others, cannot be addressed by anything other than a unified and class-conscious movement of youth and working people. This will not happen as long as police killings are framed as a matter of race and used to divide workers against each other in the interests of the capitalist system.
On Saturday, as hundreds of thousands joined Yellow Vest protests against French President Emmanuel Macron, riot police viciously attacked protesters on the central march on Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris. Interior Ministry sources claimed that 106,000 people participated in 1,600 protests across France, including 8,000 on the Champs-Elysees.

Police had banned protests on the eastern end of the Champs-Elysees, near the presidential palace. When protesters reached the first roadblocks, they were attacked by police units armed with assault rifles who fired water cannon, rubber bullets and thick clouds of tear gas and assaulted marchers with truncheons. Police then repeatedly marched up the avenue, attacking the protesters or trying to surround them, or tearing up the pavement and restaurant chairs to set up makeshift barricades.

Protesters responded by throwing pavement stones and fireworks; clashes continued throughout the day, as marchers chanted Macron resign or Macron get out and sang the French national anthem calling the citizenry to arms. Police made 103 arrests. Yesterday, 101 people were still being held in 48-hour preventive detention after the protest.

The Paris police prefecture's claims that violent ultra-right and ultra-left networks infiltrated the march in order to violently attack each other or the security forces are a pack of lies. The police began and were responsible for the bulk of the violence.

The Yellow Vest protest was sparked by Macron's planned fuel taxes hike that disproportionately hit suburbs and rural areas. It has a heterogeneous character, bringing together workers, contractors and small businessmen, who claim to be apolitical and to want to build a popular movement. However, their growing focus on opposition to social inequality, militarism and to Macron is striking a political chord with broad layers of workers in France and internationally.

WSWS reporters at the rally interviewed a group of workers from the Paris suburbs who denounced the crackdown. One, a public sector worker, said: The government's response, with violence, is not good. This morning they attacked us. I am a mother, I'm peaceful. They tear-gassed us. We arrived, we were at the square, then they arrived, they baton-charged us, they fired at us, we had tear gas in our eyes. No one was vandalizing anything, but they got out their water cannon. I did not expect that, they treated us with contempt.

Another worker said: Money rules, Macron is a banker  He is smashing everything. It started well before, but now we've reached the limits. I work at a hospital, and you see hospitals are closing all the time. Opposing Macron's planned pension cuts, she added: A pension is not a privilege, it is the fruit of a lifetime of labor. So retirees have to live with dignity, and today I don't think retirees live with dignity. All this has to stop  there is too much social inequality.

An older worker said, We regress, regress, regress. Our parents struggled to establish social rights, we are losing everything they won for us. I work for a company and now they only hire temps, you fart once in the wrong direction and you're fired. Workers aren't respected anymore, they treat us just as objects, nothing more. It was always going to explode one day or the other, and now it has begun.

He said, We should give the ministers 1,200 euros and see if they can make that last for a month. Our kids are struggling, they live at home until they're 30 because they can't find housing, all the entry-level jobs are minimum wage in most professions. Thank God the old folks are still there to help them, because by themselves they don't have the wherewithal. We are totally fed up.

Didier, a mason, told the WSWS: Macron he has to resign and scram. We didn't vote for him, it's very simple. That guy, we don't want him any more and he has to leave. He's made for the rich, he's not made for the working class  I had a back operation three months ago, I had a heart attack, because I worked all my life. He just sits there and collects money while we struggle. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer; we're going back to the time when we were all serfs.

Didier also denounced Macron's plans for a European army: These wars serve no useful purpose, they never do. It's like the Vietnam War, the Algerian war. They are dumb wars, with people who think they know everything sending always the same people to get killed: us. It's always the same thing. What did the First World War accomplish? Nothing.

Daniel, a shopkeeper, said: I eat pasta, more pasta, then potatoes. I'm sick of always eating potatoes  The presidents before did a lot of harm, but he is worse than the others. The population is on the street, he will have to listen or else really he is spitting on us like shit. All of France will explode if he continues, and he knows it. Daniel explained, My pension is just 480 euros a month, so they have to stop taking things from us.

The outpouring of demands reflecting the concerns of people outside the top 10 percent of society is staggering the ruling elites in France and internationally. Claims that the protests are just a tax revolt demanding smaller government are a fraud. In fact, the criticisms of social inequality and war reflect opposition to European Union (EU) policies of austerity and militarism that are reviled by workers in Europe and internationally.

Macron's apparently gratuitous attack on the Paris protest is a class issue. As it defends its wealth and privileges, the financial aristocracy is consciously hostile to the workers. Well aware that social anger and political opposition are primed to erupt, they are preparing war and militarism, including the return to universal military service in France, in an attempt to strangle social opposition. The Yellow Vests' demands have revolutionary implications, and a political confrontation between the working class and the financial aristocracy is brewing.

This is exposing the pro-corporate trade unions and allied political parties of the affluent middle class. These forces boycotted the Yellow Vest march. Instead, the Stalinist French Communist Party (PCF), Lutte Ouvriere (LO, Workers Struggle) and members of the Pabloite New Anti-capitalist Party (NPA) attended a small protest against gender violence on Opera square.

Alexis Corbiere of Jean-Luc Melenchon's Unsubmissive France (LFI) party, the ally of the pro-austerity Syriza government in Greece, has asked Macron for elections, reprising Melenchon's offer last year to be Macron's prime minister. This is a fraud and a political dead end for millions of people across France who want to remove Macron from power.

It is ever more obvious that the Yellow Vests' demands, in France and internationally, can only be obtained through revolutionary struggle and the transfer of political power to the working class.

Yellow Vest protesters, whom union officials have repeatedly attacked as neo-fascists, denounced the French unions, who have a tiny dues base and receive billions of euros in state subsidies. Daniel noted, The unions are paid by the state. They're all paid to make us swallow things  Then they say a few things for popular consumption, but they tell themselves, we won't do too much to avoid weakening the government.

Didier said, I'll tell you what I think of the unions  For me, the unions are a big fat zero. They don't do their work. They did it back in the day; after the May-June 1968 general strike, if a trade union said, 'We're striking,' there was a strike. But today when one union calls a strike, the others say 'No, guys, let's stay home.' Didier, whose relatives work at a Nestle plant in Beauvais slated for closure, added: I saw this factory, it was on strike. Half the workers were outside on strike, half were inside. That is some work the unions are doing.

He said, The unions eat from the same trough as the ministers. It's divide and rule: they are told, sit here, you'll be protected, but make sure things stays under control. We know how they work.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently announced a program calling for all campuses of the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) to set up food pantries for students in need. Recent studies on the living conditions of American college students show a devastating reality, with more than one in three students facing food insecuritythe lack of reliable access to enough food.

SUNY and CUNY are together the largest higher education system in the United States, with 64 campuses and more than 430,000 students enrolled in a degree program.

Cuomo proposed a $1 million annual budget as seed money for starting a campus food pantry program throughout the state. This program was announced back-to-back with the passing by SUNYs Board of Trustees of another $200 increase in annual tuition for all four-year SUNY/CUNY schools, raising in-state tuition (which does not include the approximately $10,000-20,000 in student fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation) to $6,870.The only vote against this increase came from the student representative on the Board. SUNY and CUNY tuition costs have more than doubled since 2000.

Before the start of the current semester, CUNY students held a rally opposing the tuition hike, as well as recent SUNY/CUNY budget cuts. Maxwell, a CUNY student attending the rally, spoke to WPIX News saying, $200 can really just mean choosing between that or rent, or choosing between that and the groceries that month.

The sobering truth of this statement is reflected in a 2018 report by Wisconsin HOPE Lab titled, Still Hungry and Homeless in Collegeits third study assessing basic needs insecurity among US college students, and the largest national survey of its kind to date. Containing responses from 43,000 students at 66 institutions in 20 states, the findings showed that 36 percent of four-year college students were food insecure in the 30 days preceding the survey, and 42 percent of two-year (community college) students were food insecure.

The study also showed that 36 percent of university students and 46 percent of community college students were housing insecure (unable to regularly pay rent or utilities) in the last year, and 9 percent of university students and 12 percent of community college students were homeless in the last yearmeaning 1 in 10 students experience homelessness every year.

One-quarter of university students and one-third of community college students said that they skipped meals or cut down the size of their meals because of a lack of money, with 18 percent of university students and 22 percent of community college students doing this at least three days in the previous 30 days. Six percent of university students and 9 percent of community college students reported going at least an entire day during the last month without eating because of a lack of money.

The Wisconsin HOPE Lab report says of the food and housing insecurity facing US college students: It is more common to endure them during college than to have all of ones needs met. This is a sad and revealing fact in the 21st century.

The WSWS spoke with Rev. Dr. Dianna Smith, the director and founder of the SUNY New Paltz Food Pantry, on the conditions facing students and staff at SUNY schools.

In response to our question of why such levels of food insecurity are so common, Dr. Smith said, I think costs. Look at what off-campus students are dealing with for rents. Theyre just through the roof. And then I think a lot of people think, Ill come, and Ill get a job and that will help.

But theyre low paying, if they are available, and you wind up with eight hours, 10 hours, and how very quickly that can get eaten up. For the off-campus students, so many come in [to the pantry] and go, This is my lifeline. This is how I get through the week. And I think thats telling. Cost of tuition has gone up, cost of books is going through the roof. If youre off campus, maybe you have some financial aid, and you use it up for everything you need for schoolthen what do you do for food? And Ive just seen such an increase.

In the last two semesters, there were 795 visits to the SUNY New Paltz food pantry from students and 80 from staff, mainly Sodexo employees who work serving food to others, but are paid so little they sometimes cannot afford to feed themselves. Sodexo is a massive French food service company with over 400,000 employees operating in 80 countries, valued at over $126 billion.

Smith explained that Sodexo workers were all the people that you see serving all the food on campus. Most, I think all, are part-time employees. When school isnt in session, they dont have work, so I think a lot of them are constantly playing catch up.

Smith spoke about one of these workers. One of the staff people that comes, he is raising all of his grandchildren alone. You know, hes a Sodexo worker. They make next to nothing. So, he survives by using the food pantry.

Smith also talked about the damaging health effects of food insecurity on younger people. I mean, think about ityoure hungry, how do you concentrate? Youre in some biology class, your stomach is rumbling. Then it begins to snowball. Your stress level goes up so youre not doing well, youre hungry, and it becomes a real crisis.

Smith summed up the broader issues facing food pantries today: Id like to see us go out of business, that students dont need us anymore. I dont think that is the reality of our world today and our country today. I just see the need being greater and greater. Is this a long-term solution? Well no. Its a stop gap.

Demonstrating that Cuomos proposal to combat widespread student hunger is little more than cheap publicity, experts at CUNYs School for Public Health estimated the annual budget needed to meet SUNY students food insecurity needs to be $55 millionnowhere close to the $1 million allocated in the state budget.

The school also released a study earlier this year showing that New York City food pantries are an unreliable resource for those who are food insecure. The report, Unreliable and Difficult-to-Access Food for Those in Need, found that food pantries are not reliably open, and when they are open have limited and unpredictable inventories which do not meet the demands of those in need.

The social anger that these living conditions have inevitably produced among students, especially working-class students, have forced the Democratic governor to make a meager gesture. The program is entirely inadequate to deal with hunger on campuses and students in New York will continue to be forced to choose between a meal, a home, and a degree.
A US government report published Friday, the congressionally mandated Fourth National Climate Assessment, has driven renewed attention to the dangers of climate change and the ongoing problems caused by Earths warming climate. It makes clear that the impacts of climate change are already being felt and that [f]uture climate change is expected to further disrupt many areas of life, exacerbating existing challenges to prosperity posed by aging and deteriorating infrastructure, stressed ecosystems, and economic inequality.

The report comes from the US Global Change Research Program and was produced by 13 federal agencies and more than 300 scientists who specialize in climate research. The first volume discusses the science behind climate change and the data showing that global average temperatures are 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It reaffirms the decades of scientific research showing that the current global temperature trends are caused by human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases.

While the assessment does not discuss the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, it must be pointed out that the category human activities does not include every human equally. The 2017 Carbon Majors Report showed that 70 percent of all greenhouse gases released from 1988-2015 came from just one hundred companies, all of which are controlled by multimillionaires and billionaires in the capitalist classes of the major countries.

The second volume details the impact global warming has already had and will have on different regions of the US. Extreme weather events such as Hurricane Michael, which killed dozens of people in October, and the Camp Fire, which is likely to have killed hundreds in California, will become normal. Data collected on 49 cities predicts that the dozens of deaths caused each year by extremely hot and cold days will increase exponentially, reaching 9,300 by 2090. Diseases including dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever will become more common. West Nile infections are expected to double by 2050, as higher temperatures provide better conditions for mosquitoes and other parasitic organisms.

Higher temperatures also have the potential to drive famine. As temperatures increase, areas such as the Midwest will produce 75 percent less corn and 25 percent fewer soybeans. Longer droughts are expected in the Great Plains, reducing the regions output of wheat, barley, potatoes, beans and other crops that are staples for the US and internationally. Fresh water sources across the country will become scarcer, especially during summers.

Another consequence of climate change will be increased internal migration. According to the United Nations, approximately 210 million people globally have been forcibly displaced as a result of extreme weather or droughts since 2008. While most of these climate refugees are from South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the 26,000 residents of Paradise, California that no longer have homes are among the several tens of thousands within the US that fall under this category, a number that will only grow as global warming intensifies.

Such conditions are socially explosive. As the assessment notes, the impact of climate change is not distributed evenly. People who are already vulnerable, including lower-income and other marginalized communities, have lower capacity to prepare for and cope with extreme weather and climate related events and are expected to experience greater impacts. In other words, those who can least afford wildfires, floods, disease and famine will be the ones who will suffer the most.

For its part, the Trump administrations response to the report was representative of the more ignorant and pig-headed sections of the US capitalist class. Trump himself tweeted two days before the report, Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS - Whatever happened to Global Warming? ignoring the massive body of science showing the difference between local weather patterns and global climatic shifts. The day the report was releaseddeliberately, on the Friday of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, when news coverage was slighta White House spokeswoman attempted to downplay the report, claiming that the assessment was largely based on the most extreme scenario and thus not reflective of reality.

This does not mean that the Democrats, whatever their left posturing, provide a progressive alternative to the Republicans on the issue of climate change. Bernie Sanders claims that the solution is to transform our system to sustainable energy, and that by doing so the US would lead the world in saving the planet and create millions of decent-paying jobs. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continues her attempts to pressure Nancy Pelosi and other leading Democrats into creating a special Select Committee on a Green New Deal.

What is missing from the remarks of all of Trumps rivals in the political establishment is the systemic source of climate changecapitalism.

Global warming is not an intrinsic product of industrial development itselfthat is the myth propounded by reactionary Malthusians and some deep ecologists, who advocate a return to primitivism. Global warming is caused by industrial development driven by the profit interests of an ever smaller and more rapacious clique of capitalist owners, who have no concern for the health and welfare of either the human population or the ecosystem as a whole.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the techniques of advanced production have spread to every country of the globe. All countries contribute to the production of greenhouse gases and deforestation, which are the main drivers of climate change. As a result, any effort to halt rising worldwide temperatures must be inherently international to have any chance of success. Despite the claims of Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez and their allies, no reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the borders of the United States would bring a halt to rising worldwide temperatures.

This applies to every country. The track record of capitalist governments the world overincluding every international agreement and climate summitshows that none of them are capable of solving the ever-growing crisis posed by climate change. The same divisions between nation-states and rival corporations that have produced economic catastrophes and military conflicts leading to world war prevent capitalist governments from coordinating the resources necessary to fight climate change.

More fundamentally, climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution. No nation-state, even one under socialist rule, would be capable on its own of having a significant impact on vast processes involving the oceans, the entire land mass of the planet and the Earths atmosphere. Molecules of air and water pay no heed to national boundaries, and the isolated actions of national governments have no more impact on climate change than the decrees of King Canute could hold back the tide.

These considerations must provide the point of departure for the international working class in developing a realistic strategy for combating the dangers of global warming and climate change.

The working class is the only class that has no social interest in maintaining the irrationality of private ownership of the means of production and the division of the world into separate, warring nation-states.

As with the other catastrophes produced by capitalismpoverty and mounting social inequality, fascism and attacks on democratic rights, and the growing threat of imperialist warclimate change is a class question whose solution requires the conscious political mobilization of workers in every country. Only through the world socialist revolution, which makes possible the organization of production on a global scale, scientifically planned and democratically controlled, can humanity gain full and unfettered access to the scientific, technological and creative capacities needed to arrest and reverse the unfolding environmental catastrophe.
Car workers at Vauxhalls Ellesmere Port plant and Cammell Laird shipyard workers in Birkenhead, both in the northwest of England, began strikes last Friday against the loss of hundreds of jobs.

At Ellesmere Port, where the Vauxhall and Opel Astra models are produced, hundreds of workers walked out in wildcat action after being informed by Unite union shop stewards that 241 jobs were to be lost at the plant by the end of next year.

According to the Liverpool Echo, one worker said those on the production line described the redundancies as absolutely barbaric. A worker said that his workmates upped sticks and went when told of the news.

The BBC cited John Cooper, a Unite convenor at the plant, who said, Theres been a growing frustration at the lack of clarity about the future. The frustration turned to anger and people took a decision. Theyre walking out.

The latest job cuts come after 60 percent of the jobs at the plant have been lost in just the last two years, with the collaboration of Unite. A total of 400 jobs went last year and another 250 earlier this year, leaving just 1,100 remaining.

The Ellesmere plant owner PSA, the French firm which also owns Peugeot and Citroen, said it had launched a 45-day consultation with the unions. Unite has been locked in negotiations for months, and no doubt the new job losses would have been imposed without any fight had workers not walked out.

The wildcat disrupted Unites collaboration to such an extent that it has refused to acknowledge, beyond the convenors initial statement, that a strike by all its members took place. On Friday morning, Unite issued a news article reporting that the jobs were to go at the plant but, as workers downed tools later that day, issued no more statements on its web page or Twitter account.

The company said the redundancies were critical to ensure that the Ellesmere Port plant develops its competitiveness during this difficult time within the industry. The restructuring is necessary to make it a competitive plant when compared to the benchmark.

The plan, as always in collaboration with the unions and to assist the company in imposing layoffs, is to achieve this essential restructuring without having to utilise compulsory redundancies.

Unite said nothing about fighting the job losses, with its statement calling only for urgent assurances over the plants future. It would be pressing for guarantees of no compulsory redundancies and for PSA to remove the uncertainty surrounding the plant by committing new models to Ellesmere Port beyond 2021.

The job losses are part of PSAs strategy to pit its global workforce against one another in a fratricidal war to the bottom, imposed by the trade unions, as the only means to secure future contracts. Last year, PSA CEO Carlos Tavares bluntly informed employees at Ellesmere Port, We need to reduce the total manufacturing costs significantly. If you look at the plant in Zaragoza [in Spain that produces Citroen models], the unions demonstrated a high level of maturity in our negotiations and we agreed a deal to make the Corsa and electric Corsa there. Yes, the negotiations were difficult, but that is what it takes.

In January, PSA announced a five-year deal with three unions at the Zaragoza plant: UGT, CCOO and ACUMAGME. In exercise of responsibility, both parties have understood that competitiveness and performance in comparison to other plants within the Groupe PSA portfolio, as well as to competitors sites, is the only way to create a sustainable future for the plant, it said. The deal includes wage moderation, variable pay linked to business performance indicators and individual performance, increase of working time, adapting working practices and operational flexibility to changing business conditions

At Cammell Laird, hundreds of workers walked out to begin an overtime ban to oppose the planned layoff of 291 workers, possibly by next March. They voted 80 percent in favour of strikes on a turnout of around 75 percent.

The jobs represent about 40 percent of those remaining at the shipyard, which first opened in 1828. Cammell Laird closed in 1993 and began operations again on a much smaller scale in 2007, after the Peel Holdings conglomerate purchased the Cammell Laird shipyard site and surrounding land.

The job losses are proceeding despite the shipyard winning a 619 million contract to support and maintain vessels for the Royal Navy over the next decade. A Cammell Laird spokesman said the cuts were required as a result of numerous contracts entering the latter phases, and without certainty in the award of similar contracts in the immediate term, the company needs to address its cost base to remain competitive.

The unions did everything possible to avoid any action, admitting that they were not in the business of fighting the cuts but only delaying them and opposing only compulsory redundancies. Unite regional official Ross Quinn said, Unite put a proposal to management using the companys own figures proving that the company could avoid dismissing anyone until February.

A GMB statement read, We have recently put to the company a credible alternative that could avert the first group being made redundant in December. If the company agree it would allow time to re-evaluate the workload throughout January and into February 2019.

Quinn said the unions plan would have allowed time for additional contracts in the offing to be secured and come on stream, and it would have also given the breathing space needed to clearly demonstrate that all compulsory redundancies can be avoided.

He pleaded, Instead of provoking industrial action, we would urge Cammell Laird to think again and sit down with the government to discuss how work can be managed to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Unite is seeking to pit shipyards in Britain against those in the rest of the world with a nationalist campaign based on the defence of British manufacturing. Last October, Unite assistant general secretary for shipbuilding, Steve Turner, said, The loss of jobs at Cammell Laird would see skills gone for a generation and be a further blow to the UKs shipbuilding industry. He called on Conservative government ministers to wake up and smell the coffee by dropping their obsession to offshore the construction of three fleet support ships for our naval carrier fleet. This is work that should be done in UK shipyards using British-made steel as part of an industrial strategy that supports jobs and communities across our four nations.

The unions at Cammell Laird, unable to prevent the strikes outbreak, have ensured that the shipyard will remain in operation for the sporadic and limited action it has sanctioned, beginning today. Altogether 16 different categories of workers will strike, but in isolation from each other. This week, fitters and welders will be out on Monday, platers and plumbers on Tuesday, and stores, riggers and labourers on the following day, etc.

If workers at Ellesmere Port and Cammell Laird are not to suffer further mass redundancies, they must adopt an alternative strategy to the dead-end offered by the unions.

The attacks on auto and shipyard workers are being imposed with the collaboration of the Labour Party. Nominally left party leader Jeremy Corbyn has refused to utter a word about the latest job losses, let alone mention the strikes. Ellesmere Port Labour MP Justin Madders said only that he wanted confirmation from the PSA Group that no compulsory redundancies will take place.

The Socialist Equality Party calls on workers at Ellesmere Port and Birkenhead to unify their struggles in a joint offensive against management. Central to this must be the formation of rank-and-file factory committees, independent of the trade unions, to forge links with autoworkers and shipyard workers throughout the UK and internationally, as the only way to combat the race to the bottom being enforced by transnational corporations.

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A special summit of the European Union Sunday adopted the treaty on the withdrawal of Great Britain and a joint political declaration on future relations. The vote was unanimous.

The 585-page Brexit deal agreed between the EU Commission and the Conservative government of Prime Minister Theresa May regulates the payments that London must make to the EU coffers after it leaves on March 29, 2019, (around 39 billion), the future status of EU citizens in the UK and of British citizens in the EU, a backstop procedure for resolving the controversial border issue between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU member Republic of Ireland, and the transitional period after Brexit.

According to the treaty, Britain will remain in the European single market until the end of 2020, must obey all its rules, but is no longer allowed to have a say in its decisions. If it is not possible to conclude a free trade agreement during this period, it may be extended for a further two years. In addition, the backstop solution for Ireland stipulates that the UK will remain linked to the EU in a customs union until a solution has been agreed for the inner Irish border.

The 26-page political declaration, which unlike the Brexit treaty has no legal force, outlines future relations in trade, fisheries, travel, security and financial services. It states the intention to build as close as possible a partnership with the UK after Brexit and deliberately leaves plenty of room for different interpretations. It is intended to make it easier for May to sell the Brexit agreement in Britain.

That the treaty will overcome the next hurdle, the vote in the British Parliament in December, seems highly unlikely, as the agreement between May and Brussels has aggravated the civil war raging between and within the Tories and all the British parties. Mays hard-Brexit Tory opponents, the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, and all the opposition parties, led by the Labour Party, reject the proposed agreement.

The Brexit hardliners accuse May of transforming Britain into a satellite state, dependent on Brussels. It is estimated that anywhere up to 80 out of 331 conservative MPs will reject itbut less than 20 rebellions plus the DUP voting against would likely scupper the agreement. At a conference of the DUP in Belfast, former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson called on the government to junk the backstop.

DUP leader Arlene Foster, on whose eight votes May depends in Parliament, also rejected the treaty because it led to the creation of a trade border in the Irish Sea and threatened the unity of the United Kingdom. She threatened May with the withdrawal of support from the DUP.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described the EUs joint political declaration as 26 pages of waffle. It was leading into the blindfold Brexit we all feared The only certainty contained within these pages is that the transition period will have to be extended or we will end up in the backstop with no exit.

May and the EU are counting on fear of an unregulated no deal Brexit minimising an inner party revolt and securing enough pro-Remain Labourites to back her and secure a majority. If Britain leaves the EU without an agreement, economic chaos is predicted on both sides of the Channel. The scenario ranges from the collapse of air traffic, long traffic jams at the borders, massive collapses in trade and shocks on the stock markets to social unrest. Credit insurer Euler Hermes expects UK exports worth 30 billion and German exports worth 8 billion to be at risk.

On Sunday morning, before the final decision of the EU summit, May published a letter to the nation, asking the British people to support the Brexit Treaty and calling for renewal and reconciliation. Brexit supporters and opponents must become one people again, she urged. In the coming two weeks she intends to conduct a massive campaign for the treaty with the support of the business community.

If parliament rejects it, which is likely, several scenarios are possible. They range from another parliamentary vote after a bit more haggling, a second Brexit referendum or new elections, to Brexit without an agreement. But even if, contrary to expectations, May were to succeed in getting the treaty through, this would merely usher in a new stage of the conflict.

The negotiations on a free trade agreement are a snake pit. Many unsolved problems in the Brexit contract have merely been postponed. This applies not only to the Irish border problem, but also to the Gibraltar issue. The Spanish government had threatened to veto the agreement if the 6.5 square kilometre rocky outcrop that Spain ceded to Great Britain in 1713 was included within the provisions as a British controlled entity. Spain insisted that this would cut across bilateral negotiations on The Rocks future, including Spanish or joint sovereignty. Social Democratic Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took the opportunity to make his mark as a defender of Spanish national interests in the current Andalusian election campaign.

The 32,000 inhabitants of Gibraltar voted 96 percent in favour of remaining in the EU in the Brexit referendum, but at the same time they want to remain part of Great Britain. Its position as a British enclave has brought unprecedented prosperity to the once completely isolated British military base. Low-taxes, deregulated financial services and a tourism boom have boosted border traffic and the economy of Gibraltar. Around 10,000 Spaniards commute daily to work in the enclave.

Finally, a compromise was agreed on, which postpones the problem and which both Sanchez and May celebrated as a victory. Spain will have a right of veto on all matters concerning Gibraltar, which will remain British overseas territory.

One can only understand the Brexit crisis and the violent political conflicts, economic distortions and social conflicts that accompany it within the framework of the deep crisis of world capitalism. Throughout the world, the ruling class is responding to growing social tensions and rivalries between the major powers by moving politically to the right, fomenting nationalism and strengthening militarism.

The EU is not combating this development but exacerbating national tensions. Since it shifted the burden of the 2008/2009 global financial crisis onto the working class through brutal austerity programmes, the EU is seen by ever broader sections of the working class for what it really is: a tool for the most powerful economic and financial interests. Since social democratic parties, trade unions and pseudo-left organisations such as Syriza support the EUs austerity policy, right-wing nationalist currents have been able to benefit from the opposition to Brussels.

The EU, with the German and French governments playing the leading role, had hoped for a failure of the Brexit referendum. But when the result was certain, they relied on its deterrent effect to keep the 27 EU member states in line. To prevent other countries from following the British example, they deliberately imposed tough conditions in negotiations with May. This has further poisoned the political climate. Europe is sliding more and more openly into the state of national rivalries that made it a breeding ground for fascism and war in the last century.

Only the independent intervention of the working class can prevent a repetition of such disasters. The growth of class struggle throughout Europe must become the starting point of a socialist movement that opposes both the EU and growing nationalism and fights for a United Socialist States of Europe.
25 years ago: Belgium rocked by general strike

Brussels railway station idled during general strike

The biggest general strike in Belgium since 1936 paralyzed the country on Friday, November 27, as a wave of workers struggles continues throughout western Europe. The strike was called by the social democratic and the Christian Union federations to protest the austerity measures adopted by a coalition government of Christian Democrats and social-democrats. The general strike was particularly effective in closing down all public transport. International trains had to be diverted. In most hospitals there was only emergency cover. The approach roads to Brussels airport were blocked and most flights severely disrupted. The port of Antwerp had already been blocked on Thursday.

Workers set up picket lines outside of major factories, as well as staging mass protests in Brussels and in regional centers like Charleroi, Liege, Limbourg and Antwerp. Many larger stores and schools were hit. Most newspapers failed to appear and the radio and television broadcast only a reduced service.

The cabinet of prime minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, a social-democrat, sought the unions agreement to a social pact which contained proposals for a three-year wage freeze and massive attacks on social security and pensions. Among the measures was the introduction of means testing for family allowances and a provision that young workers must wait nine months instead of six months before they first become eligible for unemployment compensation, under conditions where unemployment has risen by 50 percent over the past two years.

Fearing they could lose control of the rank-and-file, the unions were unable to openly accept such an obviously anti-working-class package. They left the talks, calling a series of strikes, and the government announced it would push the package through unilaterally.

The socialist union federation FGTB/ABVV had made it clear that it was not trying to bring down the government. Union chief Robert Vorhamme said this would only open the door to the main parliamentary opposition, the right-wing Liberal Party, telling the press, We explicitly say we are not striking to get the government replaced by another more conservative government. Certainly not! What we want is for the government to listen to what we are saying.

We are prepared to do our bit in this operation, he continued. We are prepared for the years 1995-96 not to get any wage increase. We are prepared for some cuts in social security. We are prepared to have measures to pay for unemployment, but against this nothing is put by the employers on the fiscal side. We find this unfair.

Other strikes and protests broke out in half a dozen European countries, including Spain, where hundreds of thousands marched in Madrid, Barcelona and other cities against austerity measures; Italy, where railway station workers staged 24-hour strikes; France, where workers from 16 publicly owned companies, including Renault and Elf-Aquitaine marched against cutbacks and threatened layoffs; and marches and protests in Germany, Britain and Austria.

50 years ago: Romanias Ceausescu opposes Brezhnev Doctrine

Ceaucescu with Czech leader Alexander Dubcek in August 1968

On November 29, 1968, Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu became the first Stalinist leader in Eastern Europe to come out against what became known as the Brezhnev Doctrine, the declaration that the Soviet Union and its allies in the Warsaw Pact had the right to intervene militarily in any Stalinist-ruled country that might be threatened with internal revolt. The policy had already been put into action with the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August.

A few weeks earlier Leonid Brezhnev, the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, had officially announced the doctrine as Soviet policy at the Congress of the Polish Workers Party. He claimed the right of military intervention where forces that are hostile to socialism try and turn the development of some socialist country towards capitalism. But for Brezhnev and the rest of the Stalinist bureaucracy this meant intervening in any country that threatened to weaken the privileges of the local Stalinists and loosen their grip on the working class.

Ceausescus opposition to the Brezhnev Doctrine was not a surprise, as he had already refused to send Romanian soldiers to assist with the invasion of Czechoslovakia. But he was opposed, not because of the violent repression of the working class, but because outside intervention threatened to interfere with his own nationalist course for Romania. Ceausescu argued, The affiliation to the Warsaw Treaty Organization does not limit in one way or another their state independence, but on the contrary, as the Treaty stipulates, is a means of strengthening the national independence and sovereignty of each participating state.

The danger of a Warsaw Pact invasion based on by the Brezhnev Doctrine caused Ceausescu and similarly minded Stalinist leaders to pursue foreign policies that would allow them to balance between Moscow and other power centers, including not only the Chinese Stalinist regime, but also the US and other western imperialist countries linked together in the NATO alliance.

Thus the Brezhnev Doctrine and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, far from strengthening the Moscow-led alliance, exposed the national tensions within the Warsaw Pact. As each national bureaucracy pursued its own path to socialism in one country they inevitably began to diverge in both economic and foreign policy.

There was nothing progressive or democratic in Ceausescus opposition to Brezhnev. Within Romania, Ceausescu oversaw one of the most repressive regimes of the period. He ordered and oversaw the arrest of thousands of political dissidents, forced the creation of a massive cult of personality, and even instituted a program where women were forced into pregnancy in an attempt to increase the population.

75 years ago: Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt meet at Tehran

Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill at the Tehran Conference

On November 28, 1943, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt met at the Soviet Unions embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran. The Soviet dictator and the leaders of British and American imperialism were gathering to begin discussions on the geo-strategic relations that would be established in the aftermath of the Second World War.

The three-day conference took place two years after the successful Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in late 1941. Allied forces, including British and Soviet troops, had ousted the government of Reza Shah, who had friendly relations with Germany, and installed his son, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, as ruler. This ensured their control over the countrys oil fields and geo-strategically critical borders.

In the period prior to the conference, the Allies had secured a series of victories, raising the prospect of a defeat of the Axis powers. German forces had suffered colossal losses inside the Soviet Union, ending the prospects of a Nazi victory on the Eastern Front. They had also been driven out of North Africa and were facing a series of challenges in southern Europe, with Sicily and southern Italy now under control of US, British and Canadian forces.

Under these conditions, the Allied powers were increasingly preoccupied with ensuring their own interests would be advanced, against their nominal allies, at the conclusion of the war. At Tehran, Stalin pushed for Allied support for the Yugoslav partisans and a recognition of an expansion of Soviet borders into Poland. The demands were a precursor to the establishment of a Soviet sphere of influence in Eastern Europe at the end of the war. The conference also discussed plans for an invasion of France, and for drawing Turkey, a neutral power, into the war on the side of the Allies.

The Tehran Conference would be followed by gatherings of the three leaders at Yalta and Potsdam in 1945, which served to establish the borders of the post-war world. Stalin, representing the interests of a privileged Soviet bureaucracy, and the representatives of British and American imperialism were united in their hostility to an emerging movement of the working class throughout Europe and internationally, which threatened bourgeois rule. They were determined to suppress developing revolutionary struggles and ensure the stability of capitalism.

100 years ago: Admiral Kolchaks troops begin westward drive against Bolsheviks

Admiral Kolchak

On November 29, 1918, the 1st corps of the Siberian Army, the largest military group of the counterrevolutionary Provisional All-Russian Government, based in the Siberian city of Omsk, and under the control of the former Tsarist Admiral Alexander Kolchak, began its advance towards Perm in the Urals, a center of arms manufacture and coal production.

The goal of the Perm operation was not only to seize this strategic city but also to encircle Soviet-controlled territory in the Russian heartland from the east. In late 1918, the Red Army had pushed back the Whites in southern Russia along the Volga River, ousting the Komuch (Social Revolutionary)-controlled Peoples Army from Samara. Nevertheless, American, British, French, and Japanese interventionist troops, along with the Czech Legion and the White Russian armies they supplied, continued to threaten the Soviet power from the north and the south.

Kolchak had seized power in the Siberian counterrevolutionary movement on November 18, ousted the Right Social Revolutionaries and established himself as a Supreme Ruler who would work closely with the Allied imperialists. He was supported by local strongmen, often Cossack atamans, who enforced brutal and at times overtly sadistic rule in the rural areas.

The Bolsheviks led a revolt in Omsk on December 22, which was crushed by the White Guard who summarily executed 500 workers and leaders, not only Bolsheviks, but also leaders of the moderate socialist parties who had rallied to the anti-Bolshevik cause and had not participated in the rebellion.

By December 24 the Whites had captured Perm. The Red Army lost 18,000 men, and although the losses of the Whites were also considerable, a Bolshevik fact-finding mission headed by Felix Dzerzhinsky and Josef Stalin reported that Red Army troops retreated in an absolutely disorderly flight of an utterly routed and completely demoralized army. By January 1919, Kolchak, facing a counteroffensive by the Reds, ordered the Siberian Army to cease its advance in the Urals and defend its gains.
The United Arab Emirates rulers granted British PhD student Matthew Hedges gracious clemency. Just days earlier a court in Abu Dhabi sentenced him to life imprisonment on charges of espionage, following a five-minute court hearing that gave him no opportunity to offer a defence.

According to Attorney General Hamad al-Shamsi, Hedges was convicted on charges of spying for a foreign country and jeopardising the military, political and economic security of the state. However, the UAE did not publish any evidence or even state on whose behalf Hedges was supposedly working, although this is widely assumed to mean Qatar, which the UAEalong with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Stateshas been blockading for the last 18 months over its support for Iran and sponsoring terrorism.

Hedges fate provoked a diplomatic crisis for the British government that remained tight-lipped following his arrest and detention in solitary confinement in an Emirati jail last May, with little consular access or contact with family members. While a comparable case in Russia would have involved a furious outcry, the Foreign Office urged Hedges family to say nothing in public about the case, claiming any publicity would impact adversely.

Hedges, 31, was brought up in the UAE and used to work for a security and political consultancy firm based there as an analyst. He had spent two weeks in Dubai researching the UAEs foreign and internal security policies for his PhD at Durham University. According to his wife, Daniela Tajeda, he was arrested last May as he was leaving Dubai and kept in such dreadful conditions that he was hospitalised at one point. Hedges has denied all accusations against him, but was made to sign a confession, written in Arabic, which he does not read.

Over 650 academics from British universities, many with campuses in Dubai, and internationally signed a petitionco-signed by Professor Clive Jones, Hedges supervisorcalling for his release and saying that Dubai could not be regarded as a safe place for academics to work. Durham and Essex are among a number of universities that have severed ties with the UAE.

The American Political Science Association published a letter calling on the UAE to release Hedges and to reaffirm the UAEs respect for academic freedom and freedom of expression.

The UAE routinely hands down long jail sentences to critics, dissidents and human rights activists, particularly after its bust-up with Qatar, when showing sympathy with its neighbour became punishable by up to 15 years in jail. Abu Dhabi has installed a vast surveillance system across the city that it purchased from an Israeli-owned security company to keep tabs on its citizens, migrant workers and tourists. The new Falcon Eye surveillance system links thousands of cameras spread across the city, as well as thousands of other cameras installed at facilities and buildings in the emirate.

Nicholas McGeehan, a former Human Rights Watch researcher in the Gulf, told the Middle East Eye that the country had no independent judiciary. Its a police state. You have these squads of people who operate completely outside the rule of law and snatch people off the street, snatch people out of airports, and disappear and torture them based on spurious allegations, or based on their background, or based on their associations that the UAE disapproves of.

The public outcry and the sham nature of the trial finally forced the British government to speak out. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was deeply shocked by the sentence, while Prime Minister Theresa May said she was deeply disappointed. Hunt finally agreed to meet Tajeda for the first time since Hedges arrest in May, despite repeated requests.

Attorney General al-Shamsi responded by pointing out that the verdict against Hedges was not final and that he had 30 days to appeal the sentence. The next day, Hunt held a constructive conversation with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAEs foreign minister, who said that his country hopes to find an amicable solution The UAE is determined to protect its important strategic relationship with a key ally.

Hedges pardon came yesterday and was one of more than 800 remissions granted by the UAE during National Day when the UAE often grants such reprieves.

Speaking on the BBCs Today programme last Thursday, Tejada said that the British did not want to upset their close ally. I got the impression that they were putting their interests with the UAE above a British citizens rightful freedom and his welfare and his right to just a fair trial, just to freedom, she said. They were stepping on eggshells instead of taking a firm stance.

The previous week, Baroness Rona Fairhead, the Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion at the Department for International Trade, headed a delegation of 50 companies at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference in a bid to boost trade following Brexit. Britain exported goods, including weaponry, and services worth 11.1 billion to the UAE in 2017 and imported 7.4 billion. Not only is the UAE the regions second largest purchaser of Britains non-military exports, it is host to more than 120,000 UK citizens who work there and is a key investor in Britain.

Fairhead said, The UAE is the fifth largest trading partner for the UK outside Europe, coming after the US, Japan, China and Hong Kong, and bilateral trade is now growing in double digits. In terms of investment, we are the biggest foreign direct investor today in the UAE.

The previous day, Hunt met Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

It is not just Britains economic relations with the UAE that are at stake. The UAE, which as a member of the Trucial States, was once under British protection, plays a crucial role in American and British imperialisms plans to undermine Iran and dominate the resource-rich region as a long-established partner in security and intelligence matters.

The UAE joined the NATO-led intervention to topple Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, where it continues to support the forces of General Khalifa Hiftar in the Benghazi region in opposition to the UN-recognized government in Tripoli. It financed, sponsored and trained proxy forces to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, and leads the Saudi-sponsored war on the ground against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

But it is increasingly, along with Saudi Arabia, pursuing its own interests that on occasion conflict with those of the imperialist powersas evidenced by the bitter row with Qatar. The UAEs Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed backed Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his rapid rise to power. Their joint opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood, shared by Egypts dictator, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has set them against Qatar and Turkey, which hosts Egyptian members of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist exiles.
Early Sunday morning, Russian warships fired on and captured three Ukrainian Navy vessels in the Azov Sea off the coast of Crimea. The military clash represents a major escalation of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which was triggered by the US and EU-backed far-right coup in February 2014.

According to the official Russian version, three Ukrainian warships illegally entered Russian territory at 7 a.m. on Sunday. Moscow then shut down the strait.

The Russian Federal Investigative Service (FSB), the Russian equivalent of the FBI, confirmed later on Sunday that Russia had seized all three Ukrainian warships. Russia asked for an emergency meeting of the United Nations.

Kiev argues that it had announced the crossing of the strait by the three navy ships but had not received a response from Russia, and that the three ships were attacked by Russian warships in an act of aggression, claiming Russia attacks Ukraine. The Poroshenko regime also claimed that two Ukrainian sailors had been injured and that one Ukrainian tugboat was hit, and demanded the immediate release of both the ships and all servicemen. It has appealed for support to the EU, the US and NATO.

Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko convened an emergency session of his war cabinet on Sunday. After that, he spoke to the countrys parliament, proposing to introduce martial law for sixty days. Officials of the Ukrainian foreign ministry have since been in frenzied discussions with representatives of the EU and NATO.

Russian media reported that SU-24 fighter jets that are based in Crimea are now flying over the Russian bridge in the Kerch Strait, and that Ukraine had sent naval reinforcement to the area. A military escalation in the Azov Sea had been prepared over months with a series of provocations by the Ukrainian regime which enjoyed the full support of the EU and US imperialism.

In late August, Kiev announced the transfer of additional forces of the Marine Corps and coastal artillery to the region.

In late September, Poroshenko officially received two Island-class Coast Guard cutters from the US in Baltimore. On October 12, Poroshenko signed a decree on the Azov Sea which claims that Ukraine had sovereignty over territorial waters in the Kerch Strait and the Azov Sea, and called for measures to counter the Russian navy.

Black Sea and Sea of Azov

The Poroshenko regime is also looking into pulling out of a 2003 agreement with Russia which provides for the equal division of the Azov Sea between both countries, and a ban on foreign warships entering the sea without the consent of both sides. Ukraines pulling out of this agreement would enable NATO warships to enter the Azov Sea.

Last month, the Ukrainian armed forces already held military exercises on the coast of the Sea of Azov, while hosting a major NATO air force drill on its soil called Operation Clear Sky. Ukraines war drills in the Azov Sea have also contributed to a deterioration of relations with neighboring Hungary in recent months, adding to the explosive tensions in the region.

Poroshenko has made the building of another Ukrainian naval base in the Azov Sea before the end of 2018 a cornerstone of his current campaign for reelection as president in March 2019. The chief of staff of the Ukrainian armed forces, Viktor Muzhenko, recently argued that such a naval base was central to Ukraines efforts to fight Russian aggression. At this point, Ukraine has two naval bases in the Black Sea region: the West Naval Base in Odessa and the Southern Naval Base in Ochakiv and Mykolaiv.

The new naval base would be located at Berdyansk, close to the territories controlled by the Russian-backed East Ukrainian separatists.

Russia too has increased its military presence in the Azov Sea, and currently has between 5070 patrol ships there which have started to inspect all vessels going to or from Ukrainian ports. Since the construction of a new Russian bridge over the Kerch Strait was completed earlier this year, virtually all ships transiting into the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea must pass under this crossing.

Poroshenkos escalation of the military conflict with Russia is driven, to a large measure, by the growing domestic crisis of his regime. Almost five years after an imperialist-orchestrated, fascistic coup brought it to power, the Poroshenko regime is mired in crisis. Recent media reports suggested that some one million people in Ukraine live on the brink of starvation.

Hundreds of thousands have left the country since 2014, fleeing war and social devastation (see: Ukraines depopulation crisis). The past months saw several strikes by Ukrainian miners, railway workers and other sections of the working class. Polls show Poroshenko with the highest negative ranking of any candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.

In its provocations, the Poroshenko regime has enjoyed the full support of both the EU and US imperialism. Washington has called on Russia to stop harassing ships in the past; EU officials have also taken Ukraines side in the Azov Sea conflict.

Behind the imperialist support for the reckless provocations of the Ukrainian regime are long-term strategic interests in control over the Black Sea region as a key bridge between Eastern Europe and the energy-rich Middle East and Central Asia. The conflict over the Azov Sea is part of the efforts of US imperialism to curb Russian influence in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and encircle the country with US and NATO-backed regimes.

Since the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, all major states bordering the Black Sea, with the exception of Russia, have become either NATO-members (Romania) or went through US-orchestrated color revolutions that brought to power thoroughly pro-US regimes (Ukraine and Georgia). Turkey has for a long time already been a NATO member.

For Russia, the Black Sea region has historically been critical for access to the Mediterranean Sea and, in particular, the Eastern Mediterranean where Russia has a naval base of its Black Sea Fleet in Tartus, in the northwest of Syria. The Azov Sea is also central to Russias control of Crimea, which continues to be the subject of an economic blockade by the Kiev regime.

An analysis by the US imperialist think tank, the Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS), noted that for Russia, Crimea is the military source, Turkey is the pivot, and the Turkish Straits are the strategic throughput; and the end goal is access to and military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean as a counterbalance to U.S. and NATO expansion eastward and its presence in the Aegean and Central Mediterranean.

Robert D. Kaplan, one of Washingtons most influential foreign policy strategists, emphasized in a recent book that Europes struggle with Russia might not occur only over the Baltics, but over the Black Sea and involve Romania. He maintained that NATO-member Romania, which also borders the Black Sea, would be the southern flank of a war against Russia, while the Baltic States and Poland would form the northern flank.

At the July 2016 NATO summit in Warsaw, NATO leaders pledged to increase their military presence in the region through the creation of the Tailored Forward Presence (TFP). Last year, NATO held a major military exercise in the Black Sea.

Despite all the Russiagate clamor of the Democratic Party-led, right-wing opposition to Trump, his administration has actually escalated the military and political support for right-wing, anti-Russian regimes in Eastern Europe, including both Poland and Ukraine. It has supplied the Ukrainian regime with various weapons, missiles and patrol ships, including Javelin missilessteps that President Obama had still shied away from.

That these US-backed provocations threaten a catastrophic escalation of the military conflict with Russia, which is already well underway through proxy forces in both Ukraine and Syria, is part of the calculation. In an October article for the National Interest, Lyle Goldstein, a research professor at the US Naval War College, openly acknowledged the ongoing provocations by the US-backed Ukrainian regime and warned that a large-scale conflict scenario in the Azov Sea would make operations in Syria look like a round of croquet.
The Victorian Labor government headed by Premier Daniel Andrews was re-elected on November 24 with an increased majority in the lower house and significant gains in the upper house. While state issues were in play, the outcome is a repudiation of the federal Liberal-National Party Coalition and its lurch, since ousting Malcolm Turnbull in August and installing Scott Morrison as prime minister, into ever more blatant anti-immigrant xenophobia and right-wing populism.

With counting is still to be finalised, Labor has won at least six seats from the opposition Liberal Party, and one that was held by the Greens. From just a one-seat majority, it may end up with as many as 55 of the 88 lower house seats. In the 40-seat upper house, Labor now has at least 19 seats and can horse-trade with several single issue minor parties to ensure the passage of its legislation.

State-wide, Labors vote increased by close to 5 percent, while the Liberals plunged by over 6 percent and the Greens by 1.6 percent. In middle-class electorates in the eastern and south-eastern suburbs of the state capital Melbourne, the swing to Labor was higher than the state average, enabling it to win the Liberal-held seats of Burwood, Ringwood, Box Hill, Mount Waverly and Bass. Labor also took a Liberal-held seat in the regional centre of Geelong and the Green-held inner Melbourne suburban seat of Northcote.

The Liberal-National coalition also faced significant challenges from self-styled local independents, in regional-rural electorates, with the National Party likely to lose the seats of Mildura and Morwell.

The Labor government went into the election with the clear support of the business establishment and favourable coverage from both television and print media. Since taking office in 2014, the party has cut payroll tax and privatised key assets, such as the Port of Melbourne, while delivering a budget surplus by strangling investment into public health and education. It has committed up to $48 billion to overcome glaring problems in Melbournes road, rail and port systems to try and improve the citys attractiveness to transnational corporate investors. And it vowed to step-up this business-orientated agenda if it were returned to power.

The Liberal opposition, echoing the right-wing cabal that largely dictates the policy of the federal Morrison government, conducted a campaign centred on law-and-order hysteria over crime and terrorism, combined with attempts to blame immigration for the dysfunctional infrastructure in education, health and transport.

While Labor received massive financial support from both big business and the corporatist trade unions, the fact that the Liberal Party was not viewed as a viable alternative left the Liberals struggling to raise donations.

The Greens suffered a debacle. Their policies are virtually indistinguishable from those of the Labor Party and their campaign was rocked by media-driven allegations of misogyny and sexual misconduct against several of its candidates. The party lost four upper house members, with only one, state leader Samantha Ratnam, being re-elected, through preferences directed to her by the pseudo-left Victorian Socialists.

In the lower house, the Greens appear to have clung on to two seats in the affluent inner suburbs of Melbourne, but Labors outright majority means it has no need to enter into any arrangements with them.

Across the state, the sordid preference swapping between a gaggle of right-wing and single-issue parties has resulted in the election, into the upper house, of up to four members of the Derryn Hinchs Justice Party, a law-and-order outfit, two members of Transport Matters, and candidates of the Aussie Battler Party, the libertarian Liberal Democrats, Sustainable Australia and Animal Justice. The Victorian Socialists won 4.5 percent of the vote in the main region they contestedthe Northern Metropolitanbut did not win a seat due to the vagaries of preference flows.

The outcome in Victoria has plunged the Liberal Party into bitter infighting nationally. Supporters of Turnbull wasted no time in blaming the result on his ousting and the nationalist demagogy, religious-laced bigotry and climate change denial espoused by many of those who organised his removal, such as former Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

On election night, former Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett demanded, on national television, that the partys state president, Michael Krogerwho played a key role in the ousting of Turnbull and presided over the Victorian campaignimmediately resign.

Writing in the Guardian today, Oliver Yates, an executive of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, who described himself as a fiscally conservative, socially progressive Liberal, warned that he and likeminded people would split from the party if it refused to reform itself. It was in a death spiral, being ill informed, out of touch and unable to attract new members, he declared.

Federal Liberal member and Turnbull loyalist Tim Wilson, who holds a Melbourne-based seat, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: The party needs to modernise, it needs to focus on the issues that connect directly with voters, and it needs to be a party for the 21st century.

The Morrison government, which must call a federal election on or before May 18, 2019, has predictably downplayed the national implications of the result. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg baldly asserted that state issues were solely to blame.

Labor spokesperson Richard Marles, however, immediately highlighted on the weekend that if anything close to the swing took place in the federal election, the government would lose at least six seats, and this was just in Victoria. Nationally, a 6 percent swing would result in the complete decimation of the Liberal Party and a landslide victory for Labor.

The Victorian result underscores that the ousting of Turnbull was not motivated by any calculation in the Liberal Party that it would improve its prospects of holding onto government. Instead, the anti-Turnbull cabal, led by Abbott and backed by the Murdoch media, was well aware that the factional removal of the prime minister would most likely lead to a major election defeat.

Turnbull was nevertheless torn down. While he had functioned as one of the most loyal US allies, under both Obama and Trump, he was nevertheless viewed by the military-intelligence apparatus as insufficiently committed to Washingtons militarist agenda against China. Among the key Liberal Party instigators of Turnbulls removal were former special forces officer and head of the Senate intelligence committee Andrew Hastie, and former army general Jim Molan.

Turnbull was also considered an obstacle to the effort to shift the Coalition even further, in an ultra-right direction. Parallel with developments internationally, sections of the Australian ruling elite are consciously seeking to cultivate a nationalist, militarist and even fascistic constituency against the growing opposition to social inequality and the capitalist system within the working class and among youth.

Abbott and his wing, modelling themselves on the so-called alt-right in the US, which has taken control of much of the Republican Party and forms the base of the Trump administration, are seeking to refashion the Liberal Party along similar lines.

The defeat in Victoria has clearly triggered a vast intensification of the ferocious factional struggle that is threatening to tear apart one of the pillars of Australias two-party political system. In the background, the other pillar, the Labor Party, is preparing to form government nationally, on behalf of the financial and corporate elite.


By Straits Times , Nov. 25, 2018





KHOST, Afghanistan (AFP) - The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group on Saturday (Nov 24) claimed a suicide attack inside a packed mosque on an Afghan army base that a senior government official said killed at least 27 soldiers.





At least 79 military personnel were wounded in the attack on the First Brigade of the 203 Army Corps in the eastern province of Khost during Friday prayers, according to casualty figures from public and private hospitals in the provincial capital.

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TUPELO, Miss. (AP)  President Donald Trump was back to the same playbook he used for the midterm elections as he returned to the campaign trail Monday to try to keep a Mississippi Senate seat in GOP hands.

While Trump has stressed his desire for bipartisan cooperation in the days since Republicans lost control of the House, the president unleashed his usual rhetoric as he stumped for Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith against Democrat Mike Espy ahead of Tuesday's runoff election.

President Trump speaking in Tupelo during a rally for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (Alvin Ivy)

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and President Trump arriving in Tupelo (Alvin Ivy) Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and President Trump arriving in Tupelo (Alvin Ivy)

President Trump speaking in Tupelo with Air Force One in the background (Alvin Ivy) President Trump speaking in Tupelo with Air Force One in the background (Alvin Ivy) President Trump speaking in Tupelo during a rally for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (Alvin Ivy)

He told a crowd in Tupelo on Monday that the runoff would "decide whether we build on our extraordinary achievements or whether we empower the radical Democrats to obstruct our progress." He claimed Espy would "vote in total lockstep" with Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and "the legendary Maxine Waters," drawing resounding boos  even though Trump has said that Pelosi deserves to become the next House speaker and that he could even find Republican members to vote for her.

The comments underscore the president's willingness to cycle between insults and flattery depending on his purpose. And they foreshadow the messaging dissonance that could mark the next two years of his presidency as Trump faces a divided Congress after two years of Republican control. Trump has said he hopes to work with Democrats on bipartisan issues, such as infrastructure and prison reform, but has also warned he'll refuse to collaborate with them if they launch a flurry of investigations against him and his administration, as they have discussed.

Trump was in Mississippi holding a pair of campaign rallies for Hyde-Smith in an eleventh-hour effort to keep the seat in GOP hands. Hyde-Smith's runoff election against Espy, a former congressman and U.S. agriculture secretary, has been far closer than expected thanks to a series of racial controversies, including a photo that emerged of Hyde-Smith wearing a replica hat of a Confederate soldier, and a video in which she said she'd be "on the front row" if invited to a public hanging.

Before he left the White House on Monday, Trump said Hyde-Smith had "apologized" and "misspoke" and "felt very badly" about her comment.

If victorious, Espy would become Mississippi's first black senator since Reconstruction and its first Democrat elected to the Senate since 1982. Trump won 58 percent of the state's vote in 2016, and Hyde-Smith has tied herself closely to his presidency.

"I am honored to have President Trump's endorsement," she said Monday as the two appeared at a chilly outdoor rally at the airport in the northeastern city of Tupelo, best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley.

Trump gave a shout-out to the "king of rock 'n' roll" after taking the stage and said that, when he was young, "other than the blond hair, they said I looked like Elvis."

Trump and Hyde-Smith were later flying to the Gulf Coast for a larger evening rally in Biloxi. Trump will also be participating in a discussion about prison and sentencing reform legislation while he's in the state.

Tuesday's winner will finish the final two years of the term begun by Republican Sen. Thad Cochran, who resigned in April because of health problems.

It's the last U.S. Senate race of the 2018 election season. Republicans held onto their slim majority in the Senate but lost control of the House. If Hyde-Smith emerges as the winner of Tuesday's runoff, the GOP would hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate.


By T imes Now News Nov. 24, 2018





London: Russia "indisputably" now poses a bigger threat to Britain's security than terrorist groups like Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda, the head of the British army said in an interview published Saturday. General Mark Carleton-Smith warned Moscow had shown a willingness to use its military to pursue its national interests while seeking to "exploit Western vulnerabilities". "Russia today indisputably represents a far greater threat to our national security than Islamic extremist threats such as Al-Qaeda and (IS)," he told The Daily Telegraph.

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For the past couple of years Egyptian star Mohamed Karim, who is known across the Middle East as a former host of talent show The Voice of Arabia and for roles in popular Ramadan soaps and local pics, has been pursuing a Hollywood career. He recently landed a plum role alongside Nicolas Cage in Highland Film Groups indie action thriller A Score to Settle, directed by Shawn Ku, whose debut Beautiful Boy (not to be mistaken with the current Felix Van Groeningen pic by the same title) made a splash. Karim started dreaming about Hollywood while attending his final high-school year in L.A. He talked to Variety during the Cairo Film Festival about his struggles in the U.S. biz with racial stereotypes and why hes happy to start breaking them with A Score to Settle, expected to hit U.S. screens next summer. Excerpts.

First off can you talk to me about your role in A Score to Settle?

The character I play is Jimmy The Dragon. Hes a Moroccan, though we dont really know where hes originally from. So hes not an Arab, which is pretty cool. Thats new to me. When I had my first meeting with the director, Shawn Ku, he told me: you are a guy who fears nothing: if someone puts a gun to your head you dont give a damn. Try to project that. Another great thing about this movie is its not about good and evil. We are all mobsters, so basically were all the same. Me and Frank, who is played by Nick Cage, used to be part of the same mob organization. Then something went wrong, so our boss asked Frank to take the fall and go to jail for 4 years. But he ends up staying there for 22 years, and I was supposed to take care of his son. The movie begins when he comes out of jail and hes coming after me and Noah Le Gros, who plays a character named Joey. Jimmy is a player. Hes smart. The reason they call him Jimmy The Dragon is he has huge dragon tattoo with the head on his back and the tail all over his shoulders, hands and forearms.

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How was working with Cage? But also with Shawn Ku, whom I believe has a background as a dancer and choreographer.

I remember one of the first scenes, its just me and Nick. It was a really really tough scene  one of the nastier scenes I would say  the confrontation between the two of us right after he comes out of jail. I love that scene because Shawn put a lot of pauses in it to let it to grow and develop dramatically. But also in the chases and the action scenes, and the shoot-outs and all these things, the pacing is really great. Also I must say that for me to be making an action movie with Nick, as my first Hollywood movie is just awesome!

How tough has it been for you to break out in Hollywood?

Well, Im trying to do something kind of outside the box and a lot of people in my country didnt understand it. I was doing my Egyptian movies and I just disappeared. But in 2015 I said: I am going to make the transition. Im going over there And while I was doing something like 2,000 auditions, one of the main things that kept me strong was watching all these YouTube videos about Hollywood celebrities who went through what I was going through. A Score to Settle came to me while I was kind of down, I had started thinking: Mohamed, what are you doing? You have a successful career here in the Middle East. You have ready-to-go projects. I dont even have to go to auditions there! They just send me the script and a contract and I sign it. All these thoughts were going through my mind and then I got that audition and funnily enough I didnt really care about it. I just thought: Im going to do my best, but Im not going to angst over it. But then I got a call back! I couldnt believe it.

You mentioned how happy you are not to be playing an Arab. Can you elaborate on that?

I got so bored of these auditions were I was always being stereotyped: they were either to play an Arab terrorist, or a diplomatIm not saying that all the Middle Eastern roles out there are bad. Of course not. There are some really interesting ones, but they are very few. Usually when I go to auditions I see all these people who look like me. I walk in the room and they are all guys with black hair and brown eyes, usually tall guys; the Middle Eastern look. From day-one I said to myself that I dont want to do these kinds of roles. I have a fan base in Egypt, I want people to be proud of me. If I can open the door [for Egyptian actors] even just a little bit, thats what I want to do. I want to play a character I can relate to.

So after Jimmy The Dragon what kinds of roles would you like to play?

I would like to play an Arab scientist, an Arab doctor. Why cant Greys Anatomy and all these medical shows have a doctor from Egypt? That said, I do see some progress being made. There are some stand-up comedians from Muslim backgrounds like Kumail Nanjiani [The Big Sick]. There is a little more diversity now, but not that much. I would like to see more.

Are you seeing any other encouraging signs pointing to more diversity in Hollywood?

When Crazy Rich Asians came out, that gave me a lot of hope. It made me think that things are going in the right direction, and that I can make it. If you think about it, the male lead in that film [Henry Golding] was a pretty obscure TV host who had not acted before. How cool is that?Also Rami Malek, whose family is from Egypt. Im so happy for him. Especially his recent movie Bohemian Rhapsody, I think thats going to help create more awareness for actors from this part of the world.

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The Federal Election Commission (FEC) formally dismissed complaints it received against Kid Rock after the rocker teased a Michigan senate run. In a ruling released this week, the FEC determined Rock did not appear to have taken even the most basic steps to become a candidate.

In 2017, Rock hinted that hed enter the 2018 Michigan senatorial race, using his concerts as a pulpit to voice his political beliefs, launching a campaign website and even selling Kid Rock for Senate merchandise.

However, a month before Election Day 2017, the rocker born Robert Ritchie admitted in an interview with Howard Stern that the whole thing was a publicity stunt. Fuck no Im not running for Senate! Are you fucking kidding me, Rock told Stern, a quote that featured prominently in the FECs decision.

Although Rocks Senate campaign was most likely a hoax, the Commissions Office of General Counsel (OGC) still asked the FEC to investigate any impropriety involved in the endeavor and if it violated the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971; the FEC ultimately announced their decision to dismiss the complaint on November 20th, the Washington Post reports.

Ritchie  who respondents credibly argue is barred from being identified as Kid Rock on a Michigan election ballot  does not appear to have taken even the most basic steps to become a candidate, the FEC wrote, noting that Kid Rock could not seek office under his rock-star moniker.

There is no evidence that Ritchie ever established a committee or campaign account, sought ballot access, hired a campaign staff or political consultants, sought to participate in a candidate debate, opened a campaign office, or solicited contributions for a campaign.

The FEC added, Accordingly, we do not believe the record in this matter  the sale of concert- themed merchandise by a musician who explicitly disclaimed candidacy  implicates concerns which are central to the Commissions regulatory mission or deserving of its resources.

Despite what Jimmy Kimmel told some gullible people, Democrat and incumbent Debbie Stabenow ultimately won the Michigan senate race on Election Day, defeating Republican candidate John James; Rock performed at a campaign rally in support of James.
Harvey Weinsteins attorney is preparing a preemptive strike, looking to undermine the accounts of additional accusers before they are brought into his sexual assault case.

The Manhattan District Attorneys Office has filed five charges against Weinstein involving two women. But detectives have also interviewed at least 14 other women who may be called to buttress the charges. Many of those women have filed civil suits against Weinstein or have identified themselves in the press.

In the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial in Pennsylvania earlier this year, prosecutors were allowed to call five women who told of their own allegations against the comedian. Though those allegations could not be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations, they were used to show a pattern of behavior that helped jurors reach a guilty verdict.

In New York, such prior bad acts witnesses are called Molineux witnesses. Prosecutors would have to ask Judge James Burke to allow such witnesses to testify. They have yet to do so, and have refused a defense request for a list of potential Molineux witnesses, saying the request is premature.

Weinsteins attorney, Ben Brafman, is preparing to file a motion by Wednesday that will attack the credibility of many of those witnesses. In the Weinstein Co. bankruptcy case, Weinstein has been allowed to access several thousand of his work emails. In a court conference call on Monday, Brafman said they included exculpatory emails involving 25 accusers.

Whats stunning, quite frankly, is that without exception, virtually every one of these women have maintained intimate, personal, very friendly correspondence with Mr. Weinstein for years in some cases after the alleged sexual assault, Brafman said.

Brafman was asking Judge Mary Walrath for permission to quote those emails, using the accusers names, in his motion to be filed Wednesday. Walrath is overseeing the bankruptcy case. She had previously allowed Weinstein to quote about 40 emails from one of the accusers in the criminal case. Brafman used those emails  many of which expressed affection for Weinstein  in an unsuccessful bid to have those charges dismissed.

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Attorneys for the unsecured creditors raised objections to Brafmans latest request, saying the women are not yet part of the criminal case, had not been notified that their emails would be published, and deserved an opportunity to respond.

The prosecutor has not named these women, said attorney Elizabeth Fegan, who represents 10 plaintiffs. Mr. Weinstein is trying to lay out these emails that these women do not have access to and have not seen.

Brafman argued that the women have already put themselves in the public arena by making accusations against Weinstein, and argued it would hamper the defense if he were not allowed to rebut the allegations. Brafman is again seeking to have the case thrown out. He intends to argue that prosecutors and police have bowed to public pressure to indict Weinstein, and did not thoroughly investigate the emails before bringing the case.

Walrath ruled that Brafman could quote from the emails in the motion, providing that the accusers names and identifying information are removed. Scott Cousins, Weinsteins attorney in the bankruptcy case, also sought and obtained permission to use the emails in defending the civil suits, provided that the plaintiffs are given advance warning.

A hearing in the criminal case is set for Dec. 20.

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Ohioans eyeing 2020? Kasich, Brown very seriously consider runs against Trump originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

As the race to challenge President Donald Trump in the 2020 general election kicks off, two Ohioans addressed speculation that they would mount runs for the White House in 2020.

On "This Week" Sunday, outgoing Republican Gov. John Kasich and recently re-elected Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown said they are considering their options, but that they have no plans to announce as of yet.

(MORE: Here's a look at where some potential 2020 candidates stand following the midterms)

"Very seriously. Im considering it," Kasich told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos when asked how serious he was about a 2020 run against President Trump.

These are earnest conversations that go on virtually every day with some of my friends, with my family, Kasich added, noting that he doesn't know when he will have to make a final decision.

(MORE: Gillibrand on a 2020 White House bid: 'I'm thinking about it')

Kasich, 66, unsuccessfully ran for president twice before in 2000 and 2016. He is term-limited as governor of Ohio and has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration.

Asked whether a challenge to Trump from within the Republican Party could gain support, Kasich said all options are on the table for me, including not ruling out a third-party run.

Lets just say that Donald Trump is nominated and Elizabeth Warren is nominated, and you have this ocean of people who sit in the middle. Is there a legitimate opportunity for a third party, bipartisan kind of ticket to be able to  to score a victory or to have a profound impact on the future of American politics? Kasich asked.

PHOTO: Ohio Governor and former presidential candidate John Kasich speaks to the press in Concord, N.H., Nov. 15, 2018. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)

Brown, like Kasich, said on This Week he is now "seriously thinking" about his own 2020 presidential run.

I havent made trips to Iowa or New Hampshire, I havent done any of those things to prepare," he said. "But we're seriously thinking about it. We're seriously talking about it with family and friends and political allies who have come to me about this."

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Brown, also 66, won re-election to the U.S. Senate earlier this month despite a trend favoring Republicans statewide in Ohio. While Brown handily won re-election, Democrats did not fare as well in the states gubernatorial election, with Republican Mike DeWine winning by 4 percent over Democrat Richard Cordray.

Brown said that he wants his message, and the message of Democrats everywhere, to be about the "dignity of work," which includes honoring and respecting "all workers whether they punch a clock or swipe a badge, whether they're raising kids, whether they're working on salary, working for tips."

PHOTO: Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, right, speaks alongside his wife Connie Schultz, left, during the Ohio Democratic Party election night watch party, Nov. 6, 2018, in Columbus, Ohio. (John Minchillo/AP)

And when asked whether he would favor another Democrat over a campaign of his own, he said the decision is more personal to him than that.

"I respect a number of my colleagues," Brown said. "I don't see this as me against any individual person."

In a crowded field of potential candidates, Brown and Kasich each said that the United States is in need of new leadership.

(MORE: Mueller report will be 'devastating' for the president: Frequent Trump defender)

Kasich said he's concerned about the president's tone and rhetoric, but also with the policies that have been implemented over the past two years, specifically pointing to rising debt and inaction on immigration. The question he said he is facing now is, "what do I do about this?"

We need different leadership, there isnt any question about it, Kasich said, adding, Im worried about our country and not just in the short term, but Im worried about our country in the long term. So the question for me is what  what do I do about this?

Brown also addressed the rise of populism in American politics and said that at its core it is about helping everyone, not blaming others for problems.

"To me, populism is never anti-Semitic, it's never racist, it never pushes people down in order to lift others up, that's the phony populism of Donald Trump," Brown said. "To me, populism respects the dignity of work and moves forward and tries to lift all boats."

Kasich honed in on Republicans' success in his state, calling 2018 a "a heck of a year for Republicans in Ohio."

He cited a "roadmap" that included cutting taxes and expanding Medicaid as the path to success, and added that "I think it's a roadmap not just for Republicans but for Democrats as well."

Brown said that he has never had a dream of being president and that regardless of what he decides about 2020, he wants to continue to focus on his message of improving life for workers.

PHOTO: The Rev. Al Sharpton welcomes Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to the podium before she addresses a post-midterm election meeting of Sharpton's National Action Network on Capitol Hill, Nov. 13, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Outside of the Buckeye State, other Midwesterners are also contemplating runs for the White House, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota.

"Well, people are talking to me about this, I think, in part because Ive worked really hard to go not just where it's comfortable but where it's uncomfortable," Klobuchar said on "This Week" Sunday.

She added that she "did well in a number of those places that Donald Trump won."

The Iowa caucuses, which will be the first primary races of the 2020 cycle, are scheduled for February 2020.

"But right now, I am just still thinking about this, talking to people," Klobuchar told Stephanopoulos. "I'm sorry to say, I have no announcement for you on your show."
Russia releases videos of sailors from Ukrainian ships seized near Crimea originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Russia has released what it said were video confessions from sailors from three Ukrainian navy ships it had seized in the Black Sea on Sunday, as Ukraine voted to impose martial law in some regions in response to the incident.

Russian coast guard ships on Sunday seized two small Ukrainian gunboats and a tug, accusing them of unlawfully entering Russian waters as they sought to cross a disputed strait that separates Crimea from mainland Russia. The Russian ships opened fire on the Ukrainian vessels before boarding them with special forces, injuring six crew, according to Ukraines navy, setting off a major new escalation in tensions between the countries.

On Monday, Russias Federal Security Service, or the FSB, which detained the men, released three videos in which three of the Ukraine sailors appear and give accounts of the incident.

PHOTO: Three Ukrainian ships are seen as they are docked after being seized on Nov. 25, 2018, in Kerch, Crimea, Nov. 26, 2018. (AP)

In the videos, which were broadcast by state media, the men identify themselves as Sergey Drach, a senior lieutenant from Ukraines SBU counter-intelligence service, Sergey Tsybizov, a gunnery look-out and Captain Vladimir Lesov, a divisional commander from Ukraines naval base 'South.'

It was not immediately possible to verify whether the men were who they said they were. Ukraine has yet to confirm the mens identities.

(MORE: Ukraine says Russia has seized 3 of its navy's ships after firing on them near Crimea)

The men  all wearing Ukrainian military fatigues and seeming to recite memorized texts -- tell the camera they had known they were entering Russian territorial waters and they had deliberately ignored repeated requests by the Russian coast guard to stop.

"We consciously ignored requests by radio to stop. I realized that the actions of the Ukrainian navy ships was of a provocative character," according to Lesov, who said he was aboard the gunboat, the Nikopol.

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The accounts were clearly intended to bolster the version of the incident that Russia has promoted -- that the Ukrainian ships had provocatively violated Russian waters and ignored reasonable requests to halt. On Monday, the Kremlins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov described the incident to reporters as "an invasion of Russian waters" and a "dangerous provocation."

Ukraine disputes that statement and said that Russia had unlawfully blocked the ships and deliberately attacked them.

The Russian account appears to be at odds with video that showed some of the incident and was shot aboard one of the Russian ships. In the video, that was posted by Ukraines Interior minister, Arsen Avakov, the Russian crew can be heard enthusiastically urging on their boat to crash into one of the Ukrainian ships.

In an expletive-filled monologue, a Russian crewman can be heard triumphantly directing his ship into the Ukrainian tug, with the Russian boat eventually slamming into its bow.

PHOTO: A ship makes its way near to the Kerch bridge, in background, near in to Kerch, Crimea, Nov. 26, 2018. (AP)

What will now happen to the men is still unclear. The three Ukrainian ships have been towed to the port of Kerch in Crimea. On Monday, Peskov suggested that Russia might prosecute them.

"Border trespassers are prosecuted according to the law, in strict accordance with legislation," Peskov told reporters after he was asked whether Russia viewed the sailors as prisoners of war. Peskov said he was unable to answer that question, but noted a criminal case had been opened into the altercation.

The incident in the Black Sea has prompted a wider international crisis, with the United Nations Security Council holding an emergency session on Monday to discuss it. It has also stoked political tension in Ukraine, where the countrys parliament voted on Monday to introduce martial law in some regions, citing the need to be ready in case of Russian attack.

Sunday's incident was an escalation of a simmering dispute between Ukraine and Russia over the waters around Crimea, one that arose out Russia's annexation of the peninsula in 2014. Ukraine has accused Russia for months of making it harder for its ships to pass through the Kerch Strait, a narrow stretch of water that separates Crimea from mainland Russia and which opens into the Sea of Azov. A 2003 treaty designates the strait and the sea as shared territory between Ukraine and Russia, but since the annexation Russia has exerted greater control over access to the strait, which Ukraine says amounts to a partial blockade.

At the U.N. Security Council, the Russian request for an emergency meeting was voted down over concerns it was the aggressor in the incident. A session requested by Ukraine went ahead, with Western countries condemning Russias actions.

Nikki Haley, U.S. ambassador to the U.N., condemned what she said was "another reckless Russian escalation" and accused Moscow of violating international law.

PHOTO: The Kerch Bridge span is open for the passage of ships, near Kerch, Crimea, Nov. 26, 2018. (AP)

In Ukraine, its parliament voted to approve a motion by President Petro Poroshenko to introduce martial law, though only after watering down his original request.

The parliament, known as the Verkhovna Rada, voted 276-30 to introduce martial law in regions bordering Russia for 30 days. Poroshenko had initially wanted it to apply nationwide and to last 60 days, but the proposal had been met with skepticism from lawmakers amid widespread concern that the move was a ploy to postpone elections in March, in which Poroshenko is not expected to fair well.

Instead, martial law will only apply in 10 of Ukraines 27 regions that are deemed at risk of Russian attack. Poroshenko, who has denied he would delay the elections, has argued martial law was necessary to ensure Ukraine was prepared in case of a Russian attack.

(MORE: NATO shows off firepower in its largest war games since end of the Cold War)

"Martial law doesn't mean declaring a war," Poroshenko said after the vote, according to The Associated Press. "It is introduced with the sole purpose of boosting Ukraine's defense in the light of a growing aggression from Russia."

Prior to the vote, Poroshenko had said Ukraines intelligence agencies had information there was a "serious threat of a ground operation" by Russia.

PHOTO: Russian jet fighters fly over a bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula after three Ukrainian navy vessels were stopped by Russia from entering the Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea, Crimea, Nov. 25, 2018. (Pavel Rebrov/Reuters)

The measures approved by the parliament allow for partial mobilization of Ukraines armed forces and for the strengthening of air defenses, but how martial law will now manifest itself remains hazy. Many of the proposals are vague, such as "strengthening" anti-terrorism measures and "information security, the AP reported.

Ukraine has not previously imposed martial law, even during the height of the conflict with Russia and Russian-backed rebels in its eastern regions, which has claimed over 10,000 lives.
ABC News

T-Mobile will pay some $19.5 million as part of a settlement with the Federal Communications Commission after a 12-hour outage in June of last year resulted in the failure of tens of thousands of emergency 911 calls. The FCC announced the agreement that would resolve its investigation into the matter, saying T-Mobile has agreed to pay the multi-million dollar settlement and implement a compliance plan with new commitments to improve the 911 outage notices given to public safety answering points, as well as provide follow-up notices to them within two hours of the initial outage notifications. On June 15, 2020, a 12-hour and 13-minute outage took place that led to congestion across T-Mobile's 4G, 3G and 2G networks, according to the FCC, and resulted in the "complete failure" of more than 23,000 911 calls.
Trump in Mississippi to boost embattled senator in midterm finale originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

President Donald Trump stumped in Mississippi Monday to buoy GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's uncertain lead on the eve of a surprisingly tight Senate special election -- signaling the severity of concerns among top Republicans after a series of controversies crippled the incumbents edge over her Democratic challenger Mike Espy.

Trump traveled Monday to Tupelo, a GOP stronghold in the northern corner of the deep red state, to headline a rally before heading to the Gulf Coast for a second rally in Biloxi. Trump urged the crowd to head to the polls Tuesday.

"Tomorrow the voters of this state will cast their ballots and one of the most important senate elections of your lives," he said. "I'm here to ask the people of Mississippi to send Cindy Hyde-Smith back to the United States Senate."

PHOTO: Cindy Hyde-Smith is introduced by President Donald Trump during a rally at the Tupelo Regional Airport, Nov. 26, 2018, in Tupelo, Mississippi. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

With Air Force One sitting perpendicular to the stage, Trump made clear that the incumbent senator had the full backing of the White House and urged the crowd not take the incumbent senators lead for granted at his first stop.

"A lot of people think were going to have a big win," he said. "Dont take any chances. Just assume you have to vote."

Hyde-Smith briefly took the stage with the president to ensure Mississippians that her candidacy is about them.

"I am honored to have Trumps endorsement," she said. "But the endorsement that is most important to me is your vote tomorrow."

Trump returned to the podium to bash Espy, branding him as far too liberal to represent the state.

"How does he fit in with Mississippi," he asked to the crowd. "Cindys far left opponent, hes far left, hes out there."

Tuesday's runoff was supposed to be a procedural hurdle for Hyde-Smith and for Republicans hoping to expand their Senate majority to 53-to-47 over Democrats and to hold onto former Sen. Thad Cochran's seat. He resigned in April due to health concerns.

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But a "jungle primary" format in the special election allowed for multiple contenders from both parties to compete for the open seat for the remaining two years of Cochran's term. Hyde-Smith needed to secure more than 50 percent of the vote to win on Nov. 6, but instead, Espy benefited from the two Republican contenders  Hyde-Smith and state Sen. Chris McDaniel  splitting the GOP vote. Espy garnered 40.6 percent of the vote, only 0.8 percent behind Hyde-Smith, and McDaniel netted about 16 percent.

The eleventh-hour move by the president to try to salvage the campaign of the last Republican candidate of 2018 puts the partys heavyweight at the center of a contest embroiled in racial controversy and comes as Hyde-Smiths lead over Espy is faltering.

In a video released on Nov. 11, Hyde-Smith is seen embracing a supporter in Tupelo at a Nov. 2 campaign stop and then telling a cheering crowd, "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row."

Days later, another video surfaced.

"Then they remind me, that there's a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who that maybe we don't want to vote. Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that's a great idea," she said to a group of supporters in Starkville on Nov. 3.

(MORE: Hyde-Smith alleges 'public hanging' comment used as 'political weapon' amid tightening Mississippi senate race)

It wasn't until a Nov. 20 debate that Hyde-Smith apologized for the comments, one which evoked language reminiscent of lynchings and the other which appeared to support voter disenfranchisement.

She called the first comment "an exaggerated expression of regard" and the latter "a joke."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives to deliver remarks as Cindy Hyde-Smith speaks at a Make America Great Again rally in Tupelo, Mississippi, Nov. 26, 2018. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

Hours before the debate, however, photos from 2014 surfaced on Facebook showing Hyde-Smith donning a Confederate soldier hat, with the caption "Mississippi history at its best."

Hyde-Smith's campaign declined to comment to ABC News about the photos.

That same afternoon, Trump defended Hyde-Smith and said it was a shame that she is facing criticism over a comment "said in jest"  in a reference to her "public hanging" remark.

"She is a spectacular senator, he said to reporters when asked about her candidacy. She came in, did a fantastic job in a short period of time. She made a statement which I know that she feels very badly about it, and it was just sort of said in jest. She's a tremendous woman, and and it's a shame that she has to go through this."

In the singular debate in the race, Hyde-Smith addressed the fierce uproar over her missteps, while still seeking to cast Espy  a former Clinton cabinet secretary  as too liberal and partisan for Mississippi.

"For anyone that was offended by my comments, I certainly apologize," she said as she read her notes at the podium. "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," she continued. "A political weapon used for nothing but personal and political gain by my opponent. That is the type of politics Mississippians are sick and tired of."

PHOTO: Senate candidate Mike Espy speaks to voters in Vicksburg, Miss., Nov. 24, 2018. (Jonathan Bachman/Reuters)

But the former congressman shot back a fiery retort during the most tense part of the debate as he stood only a few feet from Hyde-Smith.

"No one twisted your comments because your comments were live," Espy said. "You know, it came out of your mouth. I dont know whats in your heart, but we all know what came out of your mouth."

"Its caused our state harm," he continued. "Its given our state another black eye that we dont need. Its just rejuvenating those stereotypes that we dont need anymore."

(MORE: The Note: Alarms blare for GOP in Mississippi)

In the safely Republican state, a second visit by the president is unusual. But this straggler race is now suddenly competitive, and Trump's mission on Monday will be to bolster the base that delivered Mississippi by nearly 20 percentage points in 2016 in support of his anointed pick.

"Shes always had my back," the president said at an Oct. 2 rally in Southaven for Hyde-Smith. "Shes always had your back, and a vote for Cindy is a vote for me."

Mississippi, Vote for @cindyhydesmith on Tuesday. Respected by all. We need her in Washington!. Thanks!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2018

(MORE: Trump's campaign swing checks off Mississippi, a key test of support for Kavanaugh in the deep South)

But in the wake of the miscues and scandals engulfing Hyde-Smiths campaign, an emboldened national Democratic network mobilized behind Espy, buttressing his long-shot bid with support from national party leaders and resources in the final stretch.

PHOTO: Sen. Kamala Harris, a California Democrat and possible 2020 presidential candidate, listens along with Mississippi Democratic Senate candidate Mike Espy during an event, Nov. 17, 2018 in Jackson, Miss. (Jeff Amy/AP)

The unexpected shift in tenor of the race in favor of the former agriculture secretary is being boosted by potential 2020 contenders such as Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. They have been traveling to the state to stump with Espy  who hopes to deliver a potential upset similar to Alabama Sen. Doug Jones' seismic victory over Republican Roy Moore.

A loss for Republicans would mean only a one-seat gain for the GOP from the current razor-thin margin that, at times, seemed to hamper their agenda prior to the midterm elections.

In the new Congress, after Democrats flipped nearly 40 seats and gained a comfortable majority in the House, a win in Mississippi is the ending Trump needs to halt Democrats' momentum before his name is back on the ballot in 2020.
A Border Force patrol boat in Dover Marina, Kent, after seven suspected migrants were rescued from a dinghy earlier this month (Picture: PA)

More than 100 migrants who say they are Iranian have tried to enter the UK by boat in the past month, it has been reported.

The BBC said 101 migrants, including four children, have attempted to cross the English Channel since November 3.

On November 23, eight migrants were found on a dinghy in dangerous waters off the coast of Kent, telling their rescuers they had spent 12 hours at sea.

The previous day, a total of 14 people found in boats near Dover, Kent.

The migrants have all told officials that they are from Iran, the BBC reported.

Miodrag Cakic, chief executive of Refugee Aid Serbia, said the migrants could be among thousands who went to Serbia after it began offering visa-free access to Iranians in August 2017.

The scheme was originally set up to give a boost to tourism and trade between the two nations, but it was ended last month, after a total of 40,000 Iranians were said to flown to Serbia.

MORE: British soldier given bravery award for helping victims of Las Vegas massacre

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It has been reported that flights from Tehran to Belgrade would arrive in Serbia completely full, then return to Iran empty.

Info Park, a refugee support centre in Belgrade, said Serbian police estimate that up to 12,000 Iranians failed to return.

Migrants have been making the dangerous crossing to Dover (Picture: PA)

Mr Cakic said it is believed that Iranians are using false passports and more complex methods to enter western Europe, staying in hostels and hotels rather than squats.

Kaveh Kalantri, of the Iranian Association, told the BBC that human rights violations were driving Iranians out of their country.

He said: People get arrested if they have liberal or left-wing views, or if they are from religious minorities. A lot of people experience violence on a daily basis.

Iranians coming to the UK is not unusual, but the way they are coming is.

Iranian citizens have made more applications for UK asylum in the past two years that any other nationality, the Home Office says.

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Stewart Island, New Zealand

Two pilot whale pods were discovered stranded on a remote beach in New Zealand Saturday night, November 24, according to a press release by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. The two pods, about 2 kilometers apart, were found by a hiker at the southern end of Mason Bay on Rakiura or Stewart Island.

Of the 145 whales that washed ashore, approximately half of them were already deceased by the time they were spotted. Due to the nature of the stranding, the remaining whales were euthanized.

DOC Rakiura Operations Manager Ren Leppens stated in the press release that euthanization was necessary because of the whales deterioration, and the difficulty in gaining access to the shoreline.

Sadly, the likelihood of being able to successfully re-float the remaining whales was extremely low. The remote location, lack of nearby personnel and the whales deteriorating condition meant the most humane thing to do was to euthanise.

Leppens added, However, its always a heart-breaking decision to make.

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Updated: November 25, 2018 2:45 PM ET

In the aftermath of a Thanksgiving night shooting in an Alabama mall, local police have admitted to fatally targeting the wrong man, leaving a distraught family and at least one shooter still on the loose.

Police shot and killed 21-year-old Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr. on Thursday, following a shooting in the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Ala. The shooting left two people, including a 12-year-old girl, injured. In its original statement, the Hoover Police Department identified Bradford as the shooter who had been involved in a physical altercation before opening fire.

After examining evidence and interviewing witnesses, police now say that Bradford may not have shot the two youths, though they still believe he could have been part of the dispute which led to the shooting.

New evidence now suggests that while Mr. Bradford may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation, he likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim, Captain Gregg Rector of the Hoover Police Department wrote in a statement.

This information indicates that there is at least one gunman still at-large, the statement says. We regret that our initial media release was not totally accurate, but new evidence indicates that it was not.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has taken over the lead role in the investigation from the Hoover Police Department. The Hoover Police Department says it will continue to conduct a separate internal investigation of the officer who shot Bradford. That officer has been placed on administrative leave.

The revelations about the shooting has left Bradfords aggrieved family, who called him EJ, demanding answers.

When the police say give them the benefit of the doubt, well where was the benefit of the doubt for EJ Bradford Jr.? Crump said.
TipRanks

Every retail investor wants to ensure a solid portfolio return. The only question is, how? The stock market produces a vast mine of data, that by its nature forms a barrier to access. Some investors take a path of low resistance, and follow one or more market legends. These legends are the giants of the investing world, people like Steven Cohen. The billionaire trader behind Point72 Asset Management has shown that he can survive the vicissitudes of Wall Street. After recovering from Federal inve
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has mocked Fox News for using a primetime television slot for a panel discussion centred around the newly elected Democrats clothing.

Ed Henry, Fox News chief national correspondent, and three political pundits talked about the fact a pair of Ms Ocasio-Cortezs shoes are set to go on display at a Cornell University exhibition entitled Women Empowered: Fashions from the Frontline.

After a viewer alerted the incoming congresswoman to the debate, she responded with Spanish song lyrics by musical act Aventura translating as: No, its not love, what you feel is called obsession.

The rising political star said non-Spanish speakers could play Mariah Careys hit song Obsession instead  taking aim at the network for its frequent coverage of her.

 No, no es amor/

Lo que tu sientes, se llama obsesion  https://t.co/hQOlEbt26t  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 24, 2018

Ms Ocasio-Cortez, 29, will became the youngest woman in history to serve in Congress when she takes office in January.

The newcomer has been engaged in a war of words with Fox News ever since the network made jokes about her finances and clothing choices earlier this month.

A self-avowed socialist from the South Bronx, she quipped that the network has made it clear that they are far superior to [and] more intelligent than me, who theyve called a little, simple person. 

Dont worry, Fox News has made it clear that they are far superior to + more intelligent than me, who theyve called a little, simple person. So Im sure catching up to me in spoken languages shouldnt be a problem for them.



One down. Just a few more to go!  https://t.co/q2s4mYlfKl  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 24, 2018

Ms Ocasio-Cortez originally tweeted about her campaign shoes back in June following her victory against Democrat stalwart Joe Crowley in New Yorks 14th congressional district.

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She said she had won the primary because her team outworked the competition.

The Cornell exhibit will feature her worn-out shoes and includes other items of clothing from women who have succeeded in politics and other arenas  including Coretta Scott King, Janet Reno and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Some folks are saying I won for demographic reasons.



1st of all, thats false. We won w/voters of all kinds.



2nd, heres my 1st pair of campaign shoes. I knocked doors until rainwater came through my soles.



Respect the hustle. We won bc we out-worked the competition. Period. pic.twitter.com/RbpQMYTiWY  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) June 29, 2018

Ms Ocasio-Cortez, who volunteered for Bernie Sanders in 2016 presidential campaign, worked as a bartender before thrashing the 10-term representative and then-fourth-ranking Democrat in the House.

Earlier in November, a Fox News panel mocked her finances after she revealed she would have to wait for her congressional salary to kick in before she could afford to rent a home in Washington DC.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez said the news outlets reaction was very revealing to see how gleefully Fox News hosts crack jokes about working class people.

It is bizarre to see 1%-salaried anchors laugh at the US housing crisis, she added.

But her choice of clothing sparked a backlash earlier in the month after a journalist suggested she was a woman who struggles with money.

A photo taken of Ms Ocasio-Cortez was tweeted by Eddie Scarry of the Washington Times, who said: Hill staffer sent me this pic of Ocasio-Cortez they took just now. Ill tell you something: that jacket and coat dont look like a girl who struggles.

Dictionary.coms Twitter account hit out at Mr Scarry for calling the 29-year-old a girl, tweeting him with the definition: Girl. Noun. A female child, from birth to full growth. E.g. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is not a girl.
alexandria ocasio-cortez

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mocked Fox News in Spanish, claiming that the network is obsessed with her after they convened a panel to discuss her wardrobe. the Hill is reporting.

The freshman U.S. Congresswoman from the Bronx had worked as a bartender before becoming the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. As such, money has been something of an issue for her  for example, she has said that she wont be able to afford to rent a home in Washington until her Congressional salary kicks in. Nevertheless, she tries to look her best when making public appearances, and the supposed juxtaposition between her claims of being broke versus her supposed fondness for designer clothes caught the attention of the conservative network  so much so that on Saturday the network sat a panel of four people to discuss her wardrobe choices.

A Twitter user notified the freshman Congresswoman that her wardrobe was the subject of a Fox News segment.

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The gold ring, discovered by Paul Wood  believed to be linked to the Skynner family, which sold at auction for 10,000. (SWNS).

An ancient gold ring dug up by an amateur metal detector enthusiast in a find of a lifetime has sold at auction for 10,000.

Paul Wood, 64, was searching a field being developed for new houses when he found the pristine 500-year-old treasure buried under several feet of mud.

The seal ring, which dates back to between the late 1500s and early 1700s, was later named artefact of the year by the Metal Detectives Group.

Paul Wood, right, who found a gold ring while metal detecting. It has sold at auction for 10,000. (SWNS)

It was found on land in Bampton, just six miles from former Prime Minister David Camerons constituency of Witney, Oxon.

The ring is engraved with an elaborate coat of arms and crest which is believed to represent the Skynner family.

According to research carried out by driving instructor Mr Wood, the Skynners were important in the Bampton region from the 13th century onwards.

Mr Wood, from Upton, near Poole in Dorset, stumbled across the ring in August 2016.

Today (Mon) it went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbys., where it was sold to an overseas telephone bidder for 10,000.

The gold seal ring found by amateur metal detector Paul Wood, 64, in in August 2016. (SWNS)

Mr Wood said: Im really pleased the ring did so well at auction. It sold for well above its reserve price and its nice to have a windfall just before Christmas.

Ive been metal detecting since the mid-1970s and this was the find of a lifetime for me. It could be 500 years old.

Ive found broken bits of ring before but never anything like this. Its in beautiful condition. There isnt a blemish on it.

I found variations of the Skynner crest and traced the Le Skiniers who came over to England during the Norman conquest in the 11th century.

There was a Henry Le Skynner in 1287 in Brampton. The evidence is compelling.

Mark Becher, who runs the Metal Detectives Group from Aylesbury, Bucks., who organised the search, said: It took place on land sold off for housing development.

I asked if we could explore the land before the houses went up.

The homes have been built now. But for Paul, that ring, which is steeped in history and worth thousands of pounds, could have been lost forever.

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When Paul found it, he was so excited  we all were. We knew it was special. Its a high-end object that would have belonged to a person of wealth and importance.

It demonstrates craftsmanship, skill, detail and definition. Its just amazing. Gold comes out of the ground exactly as it goes in.

James Brenchley, Hansons head of Antiquities, Ancient Art and Classical Coins, said: The ring was a wonderful find and Id delighted its made a substantial amount.

A similar example can be found at Londons Victoria and Albert Museum.

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Johannesburg (AFP) - Eight suspects will appear before a South African court to face charges of illegal possession of game products including lion parts and a tiger's carcass, police said Monday.

Police found lion bones, lion meat, a tiger skin, gas cylinders, gas burners, containers, a saw, knives and other equipment when they intercepted the suspects' two vehicles headed to an unused farm in the North West province on Sunday.

"As far as how many (lions), from our side there's been no definite number really... but its quite a few of them," Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso told AFP.

"There were different parts of the lion that were there... so you can't exactly tell if its the stomach or whatever, but the lion in its entirety was chopped up basically."

Local media reports said at least 40 lions were killed.

Of the eight suspects, aged between 22 and 60, two are South African and six are Vietnamese nationals.

Once detained, the suspects took the police to a farm where a lion skin was found dumped in the bush and large machines which were believed to have been the instruments for cutting the bones were also found in a garage.

The arrest follows a three-month long intelligence driven operation by the Hawks North West Serious Organised Crime Unit in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.

But police would not say whether they believed this to be part of a poaching syndicate or an isolated incident, saying the investigation was continuing.

South Africa has 8,000 lions in captivity bred for hunting, and just 3,000 wild lions living in the country's national parks where hunting is prohibited.
Dubai (AFP) - Bahrain has said it "completely rejects" attempts to tarnish the reputation of neighbouring Saudi Arabia, whose powerful crown prince has been under intense scrutiny since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was in Manama Sunday night for talks with Bahrain's King Hamad as part of a regional tour, the state-run Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.

"The king reiterated Bahrain's complete rejection of attempts targeting Saudi Arabia," said a statement carried by BNA on Monday.

"Saudi Arabia is a nation of security, safety, justice and rights."

Prince Mohammed visited Abu Dhabi Thursday as he began his first tour abroad since the murder of the Saudi journalist in October.

Saudi Arabia has been facing intense global criticism over the killing of insider-turned-critic Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate.

The murder of the Washington Post columnist has tipped the kingdom into one of its worst crises.

He was killed and reportedly dismembered in what Saudi Arabia said was a "rogue" operation.

Prince Mohammed began his regional tour at the request of his father, King Salman, according to the Saudi Press Agency, which said he would visit "brotherly" Arab countries.

The Egyptian presidency said the prince is due to arrive in Cairo later Monday for talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

He is also set to travel to the Tunisian capital on Tuesday, a presidential source in Tunis told AFP.

Prince Mohammed is expected to attend the G20 summit in Argentina next week.
Taiwan PresidentTsai Ing-wen and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) were left reeling after a crushing defeat in local elections over the weekend.

Tsai, who resigned as head of the party in response, remains as president though analysts are divided on whether she can come back and win re-election in 2020.

China prefers the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, which traditionally seeks closer economic relations with the mainland.

Voters in Taiwan delivered a crushing blow to President Tsai Ing-wen and her independence-leaning ruling party during the weekend's local elections, leaving China with the upper hand, analysts say.

Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost mayoral elections in key cities to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), or Nationalist Party. The DPP lost its stronghold of Kaohsiung, the southern port city where it had held power for more than 20 years, during the nationwide vote Saturday for local posts .

"It was a huge defeat," Sean King, senior vice president at Park Strategies, told CNBC's Akiko Fujita on Monday on "Squawk Box."

While the vote was largely focused on economic concerns rather than the long-simmering issue of Taiwan's political status, China came out in a strong position, according to King. "I think it was issues like labor and pension reform, a lackluster economy, that did her in. But China's definitely going to claim victory here."

Relations across the Taiwan Strait ebb and flow depending on who holds power in Taipei  and tensions with Beijing have risen since the DPP swept to power two years ago.

China prefers the Kuomintang, which avoids talk of going it alone and stresses economic ties with the mainland, from which KMT troops fled in 1949 after defeat in the Chinese Civil War.

Taiwan-China relations flourished when the KMT ruled Taiwan from 2008 to 2016. Leaders from both sides  Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's then-president Ma Ying-jeou  met in Singapore for a historic summit in 2015.

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'Major comeback'

Analysts say that China is widely seen as having tried to influence the local elections through economic pressure on the self-governing island, including by discouraging tourism.

King said he expects China to reach out to KMT politicians ahead of Taiwan's next presidential vote in early 2020.

The election results left Tsai reeling, prompting her to resign as head of the DPP to take responsibility, even though she remains as Taiwan's president. Analysts, however, were divided on her political future.

"I still think she'll be the candidate (for the ruling DPP) but there is going to be challenge from within," King said. "It's an uphill battle."

The Kuomintang will now be hoping the local polls will pave the way for success in the 2020 presidential elections.

"The results were a major comeback for the KMT party, which began a process of intra-party reformation after losing the presidential election in 2016," the Eurasia Group risk consultancy said in an analysis dated Sunday. "Beijing will view the results of this election as a solid endorsement of its pressure campaign against the DPP."

Eurasia Group added that it sees Tsai  who was technically not on the ballot  as the biggest political loser of the weekend elections, with the DPP unlikely to back her for a second term in hopes that voters will accept someone else.

WATCH: Is China threatening Asia's financial center?





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Vladimir Putin

Just how big of a threat is Russia these days? There was a time when Russia was this big, looming ominous, existential threat. Former US President Ronald Reagan regarded Russia as the wrong side of a holy war, calling it the evil empire.

But since Russia indisputably lost the cold war, few have regarded them as a big, scary threat that reaches the level of national or worldwide concern until recently. The BBC cited the British army chief as saying that Russia was a far bigger threat than the Islamic State.

The Russians seek to exploit vulnerability and weakness wherever they detect it. The UK blames Russia for the Salisbury poisoning and several cyber-attacks.

While no doubt true, the observation that they seek to exploit vulnerability and weakness wherever possible is hardly unique to Russia. It is the way of nations, businesses, athletes, and any other kind of competitor. The accusations about the Salisbury poisoning and numerous cyber-attacks are rather more specific.

Click here to continue and read more...
Blac Chyna poses with platinum hair.

It looks like Blac Chynas trip to Africa for the promotion of her new skin lightening cream didnt quite get off on the right foot. A video clip that has been circulating the internet shows the reality television star nearly getting herself embroiled in a physical altercation not long after she touched down in Nigeria for the weekends events.

Soon after the recording in question was posted by The Shade Room, it went viral to show a red-clad Chyna pushing her way out of an SUV in an apparent attempt at approaching a heckler, according to Celebrity Insider. The footage shows the vehicle surrounded by dozens of chatty onlookers who observe as one of Chynas handlers tries to shove her into the ride.

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Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Boko Haram jihadists have killed four farmers near the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, in the latest bloodshed in the restive region, witnesses and a local militia leader said on Monday.

Dozens of fighters believed to be loyal to Boko Haram factional leader Abubakar Shekau attacked a group of farmers working in their field near Jiddari-Polo on Monday, said the farmers who survived the attack.

They said the Islamists hacked their victims to death and left another farmer with severe injuries.

"They came in large numbers on foot while we were picking cowpea in the field and arrested six of us while others escaped," Mala Umara told AFP.

"They macheted four to death before my eyes and left the other man seriously injured," he said.

A civilian militia leader in the city, Babakura Kolo confirmed the killings.

Umara, 75, was spared by the militants with a message to Nigerian troops stationed in Jiddari-Polo that they should brace for an impending attack from the jihadists.

"They asked me to deliver a message to the soldiers that they should be prepared for an attack soon.

"They told me the same message three times and emphasized I convey it to the soldiers," Umara said.

Abba Muhammad was also among the farmers who escaped when the militants stormed the crop fields.

"Five of them armed with guns and machetes encircled me and began asking me the location of soldiers in Jiddari-Polo," he said.

"One of them shouted that they should attack me with machetes but I instinctively bolted.

"Two of them pursued me but I was too fast for them. They took my bicycle with them," he said.

Authorities in the region could not be immediately reached about this latest attack.

Boko Haram has stepped up attacks on farmers and loggers in recent years, accusing them of passing information about the group to the military.

Last week, the jihadists killed nine farmers and abducted 12 others in an attack on Mammanti village near Maiduguri.

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On November 16, the insurgents kidnapped 50 loggers near the town of Gamboru on the border with Cameroon, four days after 15 farmers were shot dead as they worked in their fields near the garrison town of Monguno, 140 kilometres from Maiduguri.

Last month the jihadists hacked 12 farmers to death in Kalle, a remote village 17 kilometres from Maiduguri.

Despite the government's insistence that Boko Haram are near defeat, the group has recently carried out major attacks on military and civilian targets, killing scores.

Security sources said at least 44 soldiers were killed in an attack in Metele village, near the border with Niger, last week, although one soldier who escaped gave a higher toll.

AFP has reported at least 17 attempts to overrun army bases since July.

Many have been claimed by the IS-backed Boko Haram faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

More than 27,000 people have died since the start of the insurgency in the remote northeast in 2009 and 1.8 million are still homeless.
Sao Paulo (AFP) - Brazil's jailed ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's legal troubles mounted Monday as he was accused by the Sao Paulo public prosecutor's office of money laundering in his dealings with Equatorial Guinea.

"Lula used his international prestige to influence decisions made by Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang (Nguema) to benefit Brazilian group ARG in the African country," the public prosecutor's office said in a statement.

In return, Lula is believed to have received one million reais ($250,000) in bribes from September 2011 to July 2012 under the guise of donations to his charitable Lula Institute.

The alleged events happened after his 2003-10 presidency.

The Lula Institute rejected the accusations saying all its "donations received... are legal, duly declared... and used for the institute's activities, without any compensation."

According to the prosecutor, an executive at civil construction company ARG "asked the ex-president to play the role of intermediary" with Obiang to facilitate the company's business dealings in Equatorial Guinea, notably road construction.

Lula is already serving a 12-year corruption sentence for having accepted a seaside apartment as a bribe from another Brazilian company, BTP, in return for public works contracts.

The 73-year-old is the subject of five other corruption and money laundering investigations but insists he is innocent of all charges.

On Friday, he and his successor as president, and fellow Workers Party member, Dilma Rousseff, were accused of receiving bribes with money diverted from state-owned oil giant Petrobras.

They have been accused of conspiring to form a de facto criminal organization.

Lula's lawyers branded the charges as "unprecedented political persecution."

Obiang, 76, has been accused of brutal repression of his opponents as well as election fraud and corruption.

He seized power from his uncle in a 1979 military coup and has ruled the country ever since.

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In 2016, he won a fifth seven-year presidential term with nearly 94 percent of the vote.

Equatorial Guinea has become one of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest oil producers, but a large proportion of its 1.2 million population lives in poverty.

Two months ago, Brazilian police seized more than $16 million in cash and luxury items from a delegation accompanying Obiang's son, Teodorin Nguema Obiang, as he arrived in Brazil to undergo a medical procedure.
A general view of the Lord Napier former public house, in Hackney Wick, east London. Photo: Ian Nicholson/PA

Enjoy your local pub while you can  as smaller drinking holes are fast becoming extinct.

More than 11,000 British pubs have closed in the past decade since the financial crisis, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The number of pubs fell from around 50,000 to 39,000 in 2018 alone.

Organisations like the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have documented this decline over many years.

However, the disappearance of local drinking holes cannot be simply attributed to the credit crisis. The ONS data shows that it is big pub chains that are largely to blame.

Turnover at local pubs has actually been largely stable since 2008 and employment at pubs has jumped back up. There are now 6% more jobs in pubs and bars than there were ten years ago, due to pubs increasingly offering food as well as drink and therefore requiring more kitchen staff.

The number of pubs closing down is due to the big pub chains consolidating their businesses around bigger bars, said the ONS.

The large pubcos (nationwide companies with 250 or more outlets) have almost completely abandoned small pubs, disposing of lots of them in the early 2000s, concentrating instead on their bigger bars, it added.
By Ahmed Jadallah DUBAI (Reuters) - A British academic was on his way home from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after a pardon saved him from a life sentence for spying, according to a Reuters photographer. The UAE said it had pardoned Matthew Hedges after showing a video of him purportedly confessing to being a member of Britain's MI6 intelligence agency. Britain has denied he was a spy and welcomed his pardon. Hedges boarded a flight to London in Dubai, according to a Reuters photographer at the airport. Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Durham University, had been held since May 5, when he was arrested at Dubai International Airport after a two-week research visit. His family have cast him as a dedicated researcher who fell foul of the UAE's security and justice system. The UAE cast him as a British spy who was given a fair trial for grave espionage offences. The case has strained ties between the long-time allies, leading London to issue a forceful diplomatic response after last week's verdict was handed down, with a warning that it could hurt relations. The UAE president issued the pardon as part of a mass clemency of more than 700 prisoners to mark the country's National Day. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomed the pardon, which he called "fantastic news". "Although we didn't agree with charges we are grateful to UAE government for resolving issue speedily," Hunt said. GULF SECURITY The UAE had signaled on Friday that it was working on an "amicable solution" to the case after Prime Minister Theresa May had described last week's sentence as deeply disappointing. His wife, Daniela Tejada, has said he was kept in solitary confinement for more than five months and the evidence presented against him consisted of notes from his dissertation research. Last week's hearing lasted less than five minutes, she said. The UAE's ambassador to the UK has disputed the account, saying the case was "extremely serious" and there had not been a "five minute show trial." Minutes before the pardon was announced on Monday, a UAE government spokesman showed journalists a video of Hedges purporting to confess to belonging to Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and researching which military systems the UAE was buying. In the video, which was sometimes inaudible and shown with subtitles that could not be independently verified, Hedges appeared to say he approached sources as a doctoral student. The spokesman, Jaber al-Lamki, said Hedges was "100 percent a secret service operative" and aimed "to steal the UAE's sensitive national secrets for his paymasters", but did not take questions on the case. He said Hedges aimed to gather information on government figures including "members of the UAE's ruling families and their networks" and economic data related to strategic firms. Hedges had built an extensive network of contacts while working with Dubai's Institute for Near East & Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA), then returned to the UAE "on assignment as an undercover student on research trip", Lamki said. His family dispute the UAE account. They said he was an academic whose dissertation research focused on sensitive topics in the UAE such as security structures, tribalism and the consolidation of political power in Abu Dhabi. Like most Gulf states, the UAE brooks little public criticism of ruling family members, senior officials or policy and has prosecuted pro-democracy activists for what it calls insulting the country's leaders. (Additional reporting by Katie Paul; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Alistair Smout)
Heres a look at some of the companies the Yahoo Finance team is watching for you today.

Its a potential end to a battle for control of Campbell Soup. The Wall Street Journal says the food maker is nearing a settlement with investor Daniel Loeb. It would give Loeb more say over the board and end a proxy fight. Shareholders are set to vote Thursday on Loebs plan to oust the board.

GM is reportedly set to slash its car production in North America, according to Reuters. There are multiple reports that part of those cuts include closing a plant in Oshawa, Ontario. It employs about 2,200 people, and has been open since 1953. The Union says it wants GM to live up to the spirit of their contract and keep the plant running.

Amazon is making it easier to build robots online. Its just rolled out the new AWS RoboMaker. It works through the companys web services and Amazon says it provides pre-built functionality that cuts down the development cycle. Key customers like NASA and Stanley Black and Decker are already using it.

A huge deal between two of the biggest names in computer accessories is no more. Logitech says its no longer in talks for a potential deal with Plantronics. Reuters says Logitech offered more than $2.2 billon to buy Plantronics. No word on why the talks were called off.

New details this morning about just how close Tesla came to shutting down. Elon Musk told Axios on HBO that the company was quote bleeding money like crazy. They were within single-digit weeks of dying. This was during the big model 3 production ramp-up earlier this year. He called his own 22-hour days during that period quote very painful.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, European Union's (EU) chief negotiator Michel Barnier and European Council President Donald Tusk (from L to R) talk during a round table meeting at a special Brexit summit in Brussels, Belgium, Nov. 25, 2018. The European Council endorsed the agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, according to its press release on Sunday. (Xinhua)

BRUSSELS, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Council endorsed the agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) from the European Union (EU) and the European Atomic Energy Community, according to its press release on Sunday.

On this basis, the European Council invited the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to take the necessary steps to ensure that the agreement can enter into force on March 30, 2019, so as to provide for an orderly withdrawal.

The European Council also approved the Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the EU and the UK.

The European Council restated the EU determination to have a partnership as close as possible with the UK in the future in line with the Political Declaration, according to the press release.
Oshawa (Canada) (AFP) - Canadian auto workers walked off the job in protest Monday as General Motors said it would shutter a plant that has been a fixture of Oshawa, Ontario since 1953 -- drawing protests from union bosses and the country's prime minister.

News of the pending shutdown came as part of a massive restructuring announced earlier by the US auto giant that includes cutting thousands of jobs and closing seven plants worldwide to save US$6 billion.

Workers put down their tools at the start of their shift, forcing assembly lines to shut down for the day.

In a press release, GM touted its "transformation for the future," focused on new electric and self-driving vehicles, while only mentioning the plant closures in short bullets.

Outside the front gate of the Oshawa plant, some gathered in the freezing rain to block trucks from delivering parts and to express their outrage over what they saw as a betrayal, by a company that in 2009 received billions from the Canadian and Ontario governments to maintain operations in Canada.

"It's a slap in the face," said one employee of seven years, who gave only her first name Jackie.

"I just bought a brand new truck, I'm kind of worried for my family. If GM leaves, I don't know what's going to happen," echoed Karin Wright, raising the prospect of having to sell her home and relocate.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expressed his "deep disappointment" to General Motors chair and chief executive Mary Barra over its decision to halt production in Oshawa in December 2019.

Trudeau said the plant east of Toronto and its workers had been "part of the heart and soul" of the community for generations and pledged government support for their families.

In parliament, the prime minister said the move would have a "significant impact on the full community, as well as the network of suppliers."

- 'One hell of a fight' -

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GM employs 23,000 workers in Canada, including at this and two other car and engine assembly plants, research facilities and its Canadian subsidiary's headquarters.

The Oshawa closure will directly affect more than 2,500 workers who produce the Chevrolet Impala and the Cadillac XTS, as well as Silverado and Sierra heavy duty pick-up trucks.

Production began in 1953 and at its peak in the 1980s, the plant employed roughly 23,000 people. The plant recently underwent a retooling with the help of a Can$500 million federal grant.

Its operations even became a talking point for US President Donald Trump during tense Canada-US negotiations to revamp a continental trade pact.

"Every time we have a problem with a point, I just put up a picture of a Chevrolet Impala," Trump said in off-the-record comments to Bloomberg that were reported by the Toronto Star.

Federal Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, speaking to reporters in the House of Commons foyer, signaled the government's intention to "continue to defend the automotive sector."

"There is a long-standing, proud history in terms of General Motors's presence in Oshawa, so now to see this plant close... is incredibly devastating," Bains said.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford vowed to "stand shoulder to shoulder" with affected workers. "We'll do whatever it takes to make sure they get back on their feet and they get proper (re)training."

When pressed about trying to get GM to reverse course, he replied: "that ship has already left the dock."

But Jerry Dias of Unifor, the Canadian autoworkers union, said promised to fight a shutdown that "makes no sense," noting workers had signed a contract with GM that guaranteed no Canadian plant closures until at least 2020.

"We told them, they are not closing our damn plant without one hell of a fight," he told members after meeting with GM executives.
Matthew Hedges has been released from a UAE prison. (PA Images)

A British academic sentenced to life in jail in the United Arab Emirates for spying for the UK government has been released.

Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Durham University, was convicted last Wednesday in a move described as deeply disappointing by Theresa May.

A UAE official confirmed today that, although the UAE was standing by the charges against Mr Hedges, he was being pardoned alongside 784 other prisoners.

The Bank of England has released a list of more than 800 scientists who have been nominated to become the next face of the 50 note.

The list includes early favourites such as Stephen Hawking and computing pioneer Ada Lovelace, along with Margaret Thatcher, who studied chemistry at Oxford and worked as a scientist for food company J Lyons.

The Bank said it had received 174,112 nominations since the process was launched less than four weeks ago. The final decision will be made by the Bank and not go to a public vote.

More than 11,000 British pubs have closed in the past decade.

Smaller pubs have been affected worse than larger establishments, with the ONS data showing that pubs that stayed open tended to be bigger and employ more than 10 people.

The rise in larger pubs has been linked to a focus on food, as big pub companies made the shift following the 2007 indoor smoking ban.

A sex guide circulated by the Royal College of Nursing advising nurses how to help OAP patients watch porn and use sex toys has been given out to care homes.

The leaflet, called Older People in Care Homes: Sex, Sexuality and Intimate Relationships, also covers the topics of masturbation, sadomasochism and extra-marital affairs.

The new guidance was produced to help nurses and care staff advise on the taboo subject of the sex lives of the older generation.
In a post on GoFundMe thanking her supporters, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford shared what her life has been like since she accused then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.

Although coming forward was terrifying, and caused disruption to our lives, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my civic duty, Ford wrote in a post published to the fundraising site last Wednesday.

Having done so, I am in awe of the many women and men who have written me to share similar life experiences, and now have bravely shared their experience with friends and family, many for the first time, she continued. I send you my heartfelt love and support.

A group of supporters created the GoFundMe page last month to help defray the cost of security and other unexpected expenses Ford has faced since she accused Kavanaugh in September of sexually assaulting her when the two were in high school. The fundraiser easily surpassed its initial goal of $150,000 and, as of Monday afternoon, had raised over $647,000 for Ford and her family.

Ford has faced an onslaught of death threats and harassment since she came forward with her accusation. Despite her emotional testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee  and an angry denial from Kavanaugh  the Republican-led committee and the full Senate voted to install the judge on the Supreme Court for life. Ford had to relocate for security purposes, and more than a month after Kavanaughs confirmation, she is still receiving threats.

The college professor thanked the thousands of people who have contributed to the GoFundMe campaign, saying their donations helped pay for her home security system, a security detail, and housing for when she and her family were displaced.

Words are not adequate to thank all of you who supported me since I came forward to tell the Senate that I had been sexually assaulted by Brett Kavanaugh, she wrote. Your tremendous outpouring of support and kind letters have made it possible for us to cope with the immeasurable stress, particularly the disruption to our safety and privacy. Because of your support, I feel hopeful that our lives will return to normal.

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Ford announced with immense gratitude that she is closing the account and will no longer accept donations. Any of the remaining funds that are not used for security will be donated to support trauma survivors, she wrote.

I wish I could thank each and every one of you individually, she added. Thank you.

Related Coverage

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6 Weeks After Senate Testimony, Christine Blasey Ford Still Getting Threats

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Daily Digit is the story behind the numbers that make our world work. Today were looking at the launch of a replica one of the worlds most famous ships. In 2022, an exact replica of the ship  called the Titanic II  will set sail. The ship will make a two-week trip from Dubai to England, then follow the original Titanics planned route from England to New York. The ship will hold 2,400 passengers and 900 crew members  almost the same numbers as the original 1912 vessel. But this time there will be enough life jackets aboard, plus enhanced safety features. Hopefully it avoids giant icebergs!
Donald Trump has accused Central America and Mexico of trying to dump their unwanted people in the United States.

In a new tweet on Sunday, Donald Trump severely reprimanded Mexico and Central America by suggesting that they dump all of their own unwanted people and actively allow them to travel to the United States.

As the Washington Post reports, Trump stated that Mexico continually fails to stop and apprehend caravans that are heading to the United States border and suggested that they would be wise to get control of their own people, along with citizens of other countries who are using Mexico as a way to migrate to the United States. The president further noted that Democrats are largely to blame for the immigration problems that America is currently facing right now, especially with regard to the southern border.

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President Donald Trump

In wake of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggis brutal murder and dismemberment, allegedly ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself, and as the Yemen war continues to erupt, United States President Donald Trump keeps taking credit for falling oil prices. So great that oil prices are falling (thank you President T), he tweeted earlier today.

Four days ago, President Donald Trump thanked Saudi Arabia via Twitter. Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut for America and the World. Enjoy! $54, was just $82. Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but lets go lower! he wrote. Earlier this week, Trump told reporters that oil prices would go through the roof if not for his relationship with Saudi Arabia, according to CNBC.

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Im blessed By Dr. Robert Owens

When asked by the Barna Group, Do we have a personal responsibility to share our faith with others? a majority of Christians answer in the affirmative. 100% of Evangelicals and 73% of born again Christians said yes. When this conviction is put into practice however, the numbers shift downward. Only 69% of Evangelicals and 52% of born again Christians say they actually did share the Gospel at least once this past year to someone with different beliefs in the hope that they might accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Born again Christians were defined in these surveys as people who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today and who also indicated they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as born again. Being classified as born again is not dependent upon church or denominational affiliation or involvement. Evangelicals meet the born again criteria described above plus seven other conditions. Those include: saying their faith is very important in their life today; believing they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians; believing that Satan exists; believing that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works; believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; asserting that the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches; and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today. Being classified as an evangelical is not dependent upon church attendance, the denominational affiliation of the church attended, or self-identification. Many people have a hard time sharing their faith in Christ. They feel as if they dont want to be perceived as pushy. Possibly theyre afraid to speak to strangers or they dont know how to get a conversation to a place where speaking about faith might be appropriate. Heres an easy, comfortable way that my wife introduced me to many years ago. In America a common greeting is, Hi howre you doing? Most people arent really concerned with how were doing its just a greeting. However, when someone asks us a question were free to answer it and its a natural and comfortable thing to do. Whenever Im asked Americas greeting Hi howre you doing? I answer, Im blessed. The reactions are very interesting. Some just give a quizzical look. Some say, You are? which is another question. And as in the initial situation answering a question is an easy natural thing to do. Ill answer, You are? with something like I am and I wont accept anything less. Sometimes people will answer with another question something like, Why are you blessed? and this opens the door for easily speaking about Jesus gave it to me and the world cant take it away or some other friendly answer that leads directly to speaking of Jesus. Not often but every once in a while it leads to an actual chance to share the hope of the Gospel. If nothing else it opens the door to speak the name of Jesus in public. And you never know who might be listening and what the sound of that Name may have in the ripple effect of reality. Sometimes our initial response of Im blessed is met with, I am too. This opens a door for fellowship with a fellow believer and the collateral opportunity for others to hear people who arent afraid to share their faith in public and another opportunity to speak the Name of Jesus into the air of a world that needs him. This type of conversational evangelism is reflected in one T-shirt I have. It says, Im Blessed and then under that large headline it offers an answer to anyone who might ask why, You better ask Jesus. Its also reflected in the words to an old song from the hills of Missouri: Im Blessed and I know that I am since Jesus took control of my life. Im blessed and I know that I am since He gave to me a new life. Im blessed and if you happen to ask how I am my friend. Im Blessed, Im Blessed, Im Blessed So for any of us who find it hard to get started with sharing the good news of the Gospel with others why not give, Im blessed, a try since we are. Then get ready to walk through any doors God decides to open. Dr. Robert Owens teaches History, Political Science, and Religion. He is the Historian of the Future @ http://drrobertowens.com  2018 Contact Dr. Owens drrobertowens@hotmail.com Follow Dr. Robert Owens on Facebook or Twitter @ Drrobertowens or visit Dr. Owens Amazon Page / Edited by Dr. Rosalie Owens Home
Donald Trump hollers out with his arms spread and mouth wide.

President Trump and incoming Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador have reportedly struck a deal to ensure that the days of asylum seekers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border without being vetted first, are over.

According to the Washington Post, officials from both Washington and Mexico City met up in Houston last week to hammer out an agreement that commits Lopez Obradors government to restricting South and Central American migrants from venturing into the United States without first completing an application process that could take between two and five years. Present at the meeting were incoming Mexican foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. While no documentation has been signed to show that the policy is official, it is anticipated that Lopez Obrador will move to institute the so-called formidable new barriers soon after he takes office on December 1.

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donald trump outside the white house

Donald Trump on Monday threatened to close the U.S.-Mexico border, permanently if need be, due to the ongoing crisis of a migrant caravan assembled at the border in Tijuana, the New York Post is reporting.

For days now, a caravan of Central American migrants, having made their way through Mexico with designs on immigrating to the United States en masse, has been held up in Tijuana. They have found themselves unwelcome in the poor Mexican city, overflowing homeless shelters and finding themselves the subject of abuse at the hands of the citys residents and officials.

They are finding that they are equally unwelcome in the U.S. Border Patrol agents have fired tear gas at migrants trying to sneak through holes in the fence, and some have reportedly thrown projectiles at Border Patrol agents.

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Its the wildlife documentary series thats gripped the nation, but Sunday nights episode of Sir David Attenboroughs Dynasties has ignited fresh controversy.

After a family of lions in Kenyas Masai Mara ate bait-laced with poison, laid down by local tribesmen who claim the wild cats eat their livestock, one young lion cub became particularly ill.

Vets were called in to help, which breaks the traditional rule of wildlife documentary filmmaking of purely observing and never intervening.

Tragically and despite a team of vets best efforts, the cub was unable to be saved.

The crews attachment to the lions is what makes what happens next so hard to deal with, narrated Sir Attenborough.

Lion cub dying Bc a human poisoned it David Attenborough killing me #Dynasties  cmwarren (@charliewarren00) November 25, 2018

While cameraman John Aitchison said: Its just entirely wrong, isnt it? Lions are so endangered.

A Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit states that the crew did not call the vets, but rather alerted the reserves management team.

Just some adorable lion cubs to brighten up your morning k thanks bye x #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/PW2BkRuIgi  BBC One (@BBCOne) November 25, 2018

The report states: [the lions] were seen during the morning behaving strangely by a BBC crew filming them. They informed Masai Mara National Reserve Management and Governors Camp management, who in turn sought the veterinary units help.

Im exhausted watching this the poor lion cub  #Dynasties  David Johnstone (@Davejohnst73) November 25, 2018

Charm has had to abandon her young cub all because some stupid person poisoned bate. Im so angry and upset. That isnt nature. Thats man Interfering  #Dynasties  Dan Baynham (@Dan_Baynham95) November 25, 2018

Sir Attenborough defended the shows decision to intervene to Mail on Sunday and argued that as poison was involved  it wasnt interfering with the natural order of nature.

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What you are talking about is whether they intervened in something which involved human beings. Its not the same as whether you should interfere with the natural processes, he said.

A BBC Spokesperson said: The crew were, as far as we know, the first people to find the pride in an unsettled state, with some members feeling unwell.

After observing them, they were concerned and called the management of the safari lodge where they were based, who then informed the wildlife authorities. It was the authorities who made a decision to call in the specialist wildlife vets to help the lions.

This is the second time the series has been criticised for interfering. On last weeks episode the crew helped save a group of trapped Emperor penguins in an ice gully.





Read more

Dynasties to be show in ultra HD

Lions may disappear without more conservation

Sir David Attenborough wants more women to lead
Protesters wearing yellow vests, build a barricade during clashes on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Saturday November 24 - REUTERS

Emmanuel Macron on Sunday ruled out a parallel between the wave of popular discontent sweeping France and the dissatisfaction of Britons who voted for Brexit.

The French president was speaking on the sidelines of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels that rubber-stamped an agreement on the UKs withdrawal.

He promised to respond to the grievances of French people on low incomes who took part in yellow vest protests against fuel tax rises, the high cost of living and what they say is a political elite disconnected from everyday reality.

Asked if there were parallels between the Brexit vote and the French protests, Mr Macron told reporters: I dont think the situation of all our countries can be compared Brexit said a lot about the divisions and the very different positions between the City (of London) and the rest of the United Kingdom, between the young and older people."

French President Emmanuel Macron talks to media prior a special session of the European Council in Brussels on Sunday Credit: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Europe

"What that shows is that in all our democracies, it is clear that our duty is to succeed in giving back prospects, a capacity to build progress, to our popular classes and middle classes.

The grassroots yellow vest protests, so-called because demonstrators wear high-visibility jackets, began as a fuel tax revolt but have since broadened into a more general movement against inequality. Its supporters say Mr Macrons economic reforms favour the rich and penalise the poor.

More than 100,000 protesters took to the streets of France on Saturday. Several thousand demonstrators occupied the Champs-Elysees in Paris and set fire to barricades, smashed the windows of luxury shops and toppled traffic lights. Twenty-four people were injured, including five police officers, and 130 arrested.

A bulldozer levels a barricade on the Champs Elysees in the aftermath of a protest against the rising of the fuel taxes Credit: Michel Euler/AP

The government blamed the violence on a minority of ultra-Right casseurs", or troublemakers, and promised to heed the message from the streets.

More than a quarter of a million protesters blocked French roads the previous weekend.

Mr Macron, who is to address the nation tomorrow (on Tuesday), said the government would present a clear response amid speculation that he would offer compromises to soften the impact of fuel price hikes.

Donald Trump attacked France over the protests, complaining that they did not take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection.

The US president has tweeted outspoken criticism of Mr Macron since he attended Armistice centenary commemorations in Paris on November 11.
Immigrant Caravan Members Gather At U.S.-Mexico Border

U.S. border officials decided to reopen the U.S.-Mexico border near Tijuana after migrants tried to cross the border.

According to a report by ABC News, the entry port at San Ysidro  situated north of Tijuana and south of San Diego  had earlier been closed since about 11:30 a.m. Sunday but the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) reopened the border at about 6 p.m. local time.

In a statement, U.S. border patrol said that thousands of migrants from Central America are waiting in Tijuana and surrounding areas to enter the United States and seek asylum.

As the Inquisitr earlier reported, U.S. agents fired tear gas to disperse a group of migrants who managed to work a piece of the concertina wire open and tried to force their way into the country through the hole they made. In a statement released by the Border Patrol, tear gas was used to stop migrants who tried to illegally enter the U.S.

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Brussels (AFP) - European Union leaders on Sunday approved a historic Brexit deal with British Prime Minister Theresa May, and together warned rebellious MPs in London this was the best and only option available.

Leaders meeting at a special Brussels summit expressed sadness at the "tragic" end of four decades of British EU membership, but said the terms of the withdrawal were now set.

"This is the best deal possible for Britain, this is the best deal possible for Europe," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said after the agreement was approved.

Juncker emphasised that, after 17 months of gruelling negotiations, "this is the only deal possible", warning: "Those who think by rejecting the deal, they will have a better deal, will be disappointed."

The agreement prepares for Britain's smooth exit on March 29, 2019, and sets out a vision for "as close as possible a partnership " afterwards.

But May faces a major battle to get the agreement through the House of Commons, with a vote planned for next month.

MPs of all parties -- including her own Conservatives -- say they will oppose it, with many holding out hope of a better alternative.

"It will certainly not be renegotiated and there will be no further room for manoeuvre," said Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.

May herself repeated this, telling reporters in Brussels: "This is the best possible deal, it's the only possible deal."

- 'Sad day' -

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the 27 leaders had made a "conscious decision" not to discuss what might happen if MPs reject the deal.

"There is no plan B," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, adding: "This is the max that we can all do."

He was among several EU leaders to express their sadness that Britain was now a step closer to leaving the bloc.

"This is a historic summit and also historic day that evokes ambivalent feelings," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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"It is tragic that Great Britain is leaving the EU after 45 years."

Asked if she was also sad, May -- who joined the other 27 for closed-door talks after they approved the deal -- replied: "No, but I recognise that others do."

She added: "I am full of optimism about the future."

- 'Time to move on' -

The withdrawal agreement covers financial matters, citizens' rights, provisions to keep open Britain's border with Ireland and arrangements for a 21-month post-Brexit transition phase.

It is accompanied by a short political declaration setting out hopes for future ties, including security, trade and migration.

But, until it passes the British and the European parliaments, all sides are still planning for the potentially disastrous possibility that Britain leaves the EU with no new arrangements in place.

European Parliament president Antonio Tajani said a "large majority" of MEPs were in favour of the deal.

But in London, eurosceptic Conservatives and their Northern Irish allies have vowed to reject a deal they says keeps Britain too close to the EU.

DUP leader Arlene Foster said Sunday that if it passed, her party would "review" its support May's government, instead calling for "a third way, a different way, a better way".

But May repeated that it her deal delivered on the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU and said it was "in the national interest for everyone to get behind it".

"The British people don't want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit," she told reporters, adding: "It's time for our country to move on."

- Tensions on fishing -

The summit risked being derailed by a late objection to the deal by Spain over the British territory of Gibraltar.

The impasse was resolved when Britain promised to continue bilateral talks with Madrid after Brexit.

There are also concerns in EU states such as France, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands over fishing rights once Britain leaves the bloc's Common Fisheries Policy after the transition, which ends in December 2020.

In an annex to the summit conclusions, the 27 EU leaders says a fishing deal based on "reciprocal access and existing quotas" should be agreed as a priority after Brexit.
Its been 17 months in the making but  barring a last-minute hitch  the U.K. and the European Union will agree to the terms of Brexit at a special summit in Brussels on Sunday.

Yet for British Prime Minister Theresa May, whos battled opposition from all sides on her way to a deal, the hardest part is still to come  winning over critics in her own Conservative Party.

Her next task is to take the deal back to London and try to get it through a vote in Parliament. Euroskeptic Tories hate the plan to keep close to the EUs trade rules and are vowing to oppose it. If the agreement fails to win approval from the House of Commons, the U.K. will be on course to crash out of the EU in a chaotic no deal split on March 29.

Mays search for parliamentary votes became even more complicated when an 11th hour clash with Spain over the future of the disputed territory of Gibraltar erupted into a crisis that threatened to torpedo Sundays summit.

On Saturday, May backed down, agreeing to demands for a legal declaration that any new trade pact between Gibraltar and the EU would need to be separate from the deal that the U.K. strikes. May insisted that her stance hadnt changed, as the U.K. had already agreed that Gibraltar would be treated differently last year.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had threatened to boycott Sundays Brexit deal summit if she didnt comply.

While Sanchez claimed victory, Mays compromise outraged euroskeptics in her Tory party, for whom the sovereignty of the 2.6 square-mile strip of British land adjoining the Spanish coast is a totemic issue.

Owen Paterson, a former minister and pro-Brexit campaigner, said Mays concession was utterly shameful. Gibraltar should be free to enjoy the benefits of any new trade deals signed by a newly independent U.K., he told Bloomberg.

Another Tory Nadine Dorries said May had abandoned Gibraltar and capitulated to every single EU demand.

May defended her decision, insisting the U.K.s policy hadnt changed.

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We will always negotiate on behalf of the whole U.K. family including Gibraltar, she said, arriving in Brussels for talks with Tusk on Saturday. Im proud that Gibraltar is British and I will always stand by Gibraltar.

On Sunday May will be hoping for some respite. Shell sit down with the leaders of the 27 remaining EU member countries and sign off on both the divorce deal and an outline for a future trade negotiation, which will start once the U.K. has left.

I will recommend that we approve on Sunday the outcome of the #Brexit negotiations, European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted. No one has reasons to be happy. But at least at this critical time, the EU27 has passed the test of unity and solidarity.
Getty

Donald Trumps onetime advisor George Papadopoulos has been ordered to go jail, after he failed to persuade a judge to delay his two-week sentence.

Papadopoulos, who last year admitted lying to FBI agents about conversations with Russia-linked intermediaries during the 2016 presidential campaign, sought to delay the sentence while proceeding with a separate legal action challenging the constitutionality of Robert Muellers investigation.

But on Sunday, US District Court Judge Randy Moss said Papadopoulos arguments had failed to justify a delay and that he must present himself at the prison in Wisconsin on Monday.

As part of his plea deal with the team of Mr Mueller, which is investigating Russias alleged interference in the 2016 race and possible collusion by the Trump campaign, Papadopoulos forfeited most of his rights to contest his conviction.

The court, accordingly, concludes that Papadopoulos motion for a stay pending his appeal of this decision lacks merit, Mr Moss wrote in his ruling. Plaintiffs motion to continue bail and motion to stay his surrender date are hereby denied.

Papadopoulos was sentenced in September, and along with the two weeks he must spend in jail, he must serve 200 hours of community service within a year and pay a fine of $9,500 (7,400). At his sentencing hearing, the man who met with individuals claiming to have access to dirt on Hillary Clinton gathered by the Russian government, appeared contrite.

People point and snicker and I am terribly depressed, he told the judge. This investigation has global implications and the truth matters.

George worked for your success, for your country, he was building a brilliant career when he became the mean to a target, all his efforts vanished, his career interrupted ! @FLOTUS @realDonaldTrump this is totally unfair, you only can help! Pardon @GeorgePapa19 #fairness #justice  Simona Mangiante Papadopoulos (@simonamangiante) November 23, 2018

But CNN reported that since his hearing, the 31-year-old has obtained new legal representation and claimed on Twitter he was a victim in a government conspiracy and will expose a corrupt investigation.

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Specifically, Papadopoulos claimed to the judge that his prison term should be put on hold while an appeals court weighs the constitutionality of Mr Muellers appointment as special counsel.

In his ruling on Sunday, Mr Moss appeared to dismiss the claim that Mr Muellers investigation was at odds with the US Constitution and predicted the DC Circuit Court of Appeals would uphold the special counsels authority.

Based on the reasoning contained in those opinions [of other judges], court concludes that the prospect that the DC Circuit will reach a contrary conclusion is remote, he said.

Papadopoulos will be the third defendant in Mr Mueller probes to serve jail time. Previously, the Dutch lawyer Alex Van Der Zwaan stayed a month in a Pennsylvania federal prison for lying to investigators, while the Californian fake ID salesman Richard Pinedo is being held in a southern California prison until mid-May 2019.

Neither Papadopoulos, or his lawyer, immediately commented on the judges ruling. His wife, Simona, tweeted on Wednesday he would serve his time in a prison facility in Wisconsin.
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will tell lawmakers on Monday they face a stark choice - either back the deal she negotiated to leave the European Union or reject it and take Britain "back to square one" with "more division and more uncertainty". May secured agreement with the EU on Sunday for a deal that will see Britain leaving the bloc with continued close trade ties, a deal that was dismissed by the opposition Labour Party and other critics, even her allies in Northern Ireland. The future of the deal, which would deliver Britain's biggest shift in foreign and trade policy in more than 40 years, now rests with Britain's parliament, deeply divided over how the country should leave the EU. The odds look stacked against May. "This has been a long and complex negotiation. It has required give and take on both sides. That is the nature of a negotiation," she will tell parliament, according to excerpts of her statement. "And I can say to the House (of Commons) with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available ... There is a choice which MPs will have to make," she will say, calling for them to back the deal and allow Britain to "move on". "Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one ... It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail." May has pledged to sell the deal to the British public and is warning lawmakers that if they reject it, Britain could face leaving the EU without a deal - something businesses say could hurt the world's fifth largest economy. The EU has also been clear - there is very little appetite to reopen the Brexit negotiations if parliament votes it down. Her plan will face opposition from both eurosceptics and europhiles within her party's 314 lawmakers and around 313 lawmakers from opposition parties. The 10 Democratic Unionist Party Northern Irish lawmakers propping up the government said at the weekend they will vote against the deal. May needs to win a simple majority in parliament - 320 votes if all active lawmakers turn out and vote - but former whips, who have long studied parliamentary arithmetic, say the prime minister may end up needing only 305 votes if illnesses and abstentions are accounted for. The prime minister has shown little sign of changing tack to try to curry favor, but will deploy some of the weapons in her armory to try to persuade lawmakers. But even some of her aides say they know it will not be an easy task, and that May will just try to persuade people by pressing her main message. "I believe our national interest is clear. The British people want us to get on with a deal that honors the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country whichever way we voted," she will say. "This is that deal. A deal that delivers for the British people." (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
The emperor has no clothes, part 2: A century of proof--great composers and the evolution of tonality By Charlotte Cerminaro

Part one here. Proponents and composers of atonal music have claimed, for the past hundred years, that it was an inevitable course of evolution they were following, a crisis of tonality they had to solve. The dramatic changes that started to occur then, from technological advancement to geopolitical revolution, were reflected in music and art, a pattern repeated throughout history. Nineteenth century romanticism was undergoing metamorphosis to a form and future as yet unknown, in a strange symbiosis with the birth pangs of industrialization and globalization. It was at this juncture, however, that an intellectual schism developed across western civilization. Its not clear whether this divergence was a cause or a response to the massive upheaval of that time--but it was the beginning of the institutionalization of relativism in all its forms. The idea of relativism was not new. Philosophers and writers who espoused these ideas could be traced back hundreds of years. But it wasn't until Marx, Freud, Rousseau, Kant, Nietzsche and many others, that it was deemed a reasonable alternative to the enlightenment and rationalism of Judeo-Christian values and analytical thinking. This created the ideal breeding ground for ideas like nihilism, anti-theism, socialism, genocide, racism and, ironically, multiculturalism. So it was, out of institutionalized relativism and mediocrity, that atonal music was born. Here is where the schism began in art and music.

Shostakovich Composers entering this era had a difficult job. Some lived in countries that were undergoing revolution and war, many of them were under various levels of censorship. The new century brought with it a new style. Dissonance, extreme tension and edginess, larger orchestras with even greater dynamic possibilities and new technology were all being incorporated by the best composers. Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Mahler, Richard Strauss, Bartok and Britten were just a few of them. They increasingly used chromaticism, even 12-tone style, without resorting to atonality. But the extreme chromaticism introduced by the so-called second Viennese school (Schonberg, Webern and Berg) was seen as a green light for completely overstepping all tonal boundaries--including good taste. Many atonal composers seem to have no real skills. Listening to a piece by Cowell, Varese or Cage is torture enough; the realization that this random noise requires no discipline, no compositional talent and very little training, brings a despair comparable to that of the existentialists. A perfect example of these musical skills is John Cages piece titled, 433. The musicians walk on stage, sit quietly and play nothing, for exactly 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Done. While the silence is preferable to Cages typical noise pollution, it further highlights the divergence, as if separated by a deep, impassable chasm. The ultimate proof that this was not destined, nor a forced evolution, is a century of contrasting evidence. At the beginning of his career, composer Richard Strauss was toeing that line between tonal and atonal. Some of his earlier work, like the opera Elektra, is considered 12-tone music. Its also dismal, dark, terrifying. Those closest to Strauss admitted he was frightened of his own work and, in a complete turnaround, put his considerable talent to the series of tone poems (Tondichtung) for which he was known best. In 1943, Hungarian composer Bela Bartok created a new genre, drawing inspiration from traditional sources rather than rejecting them. His Concerto for Orchestra is the archetype of a concerto where, instead of a soloist, the orchestra itself is the virtuoso--individuals, sections and groups. Bartok was heavily influenced by the music of Bach. The audible through-line across the centuries--preludes, fugues and chorales--bear witness and pay tribute. There would not be room enough to mention every artist who successfully bridged this revolutionary time but I feel a significant gap would be left without the music of Gustav Mahler. I don't know of any composer today who wasn't influenced by him. He was a true innovator, mixing modalities, genres, slipping through time with ease. One of his greatest talents--weaving a few notes into a full melody, sustaining it and building it into a profound statement...full of warm, ardent power and intense beauty---was a talent shared by only a small handful of artists. Just the existence of composers like John Cage prove there's a Confederacy of Dunces. The abundance of true artistic skill and genius, a century's worth, once again begs the question: Why do modern music critics, composers, musicians, all of them--insist that their audience see what is clearly not there? The Emperor's New Clothes dont exist and no one will tell him. Charlotte B. Cerminaro is a Juilliard-trained classical musician who, in addition to being a studio and orchestral musician, enjoys writing.  2018 Home
When the wives of seven Kentucky police officers had babies around the same time, they realized they needed to commemorate the coincidence. (Photo: HUEit Photography by Vicky Lea)

A photo shoot of seven Kentucky state troopers and their newborn babies is going viral, and we have their wives to thank for the sweet snap.

When the wives of the seven police officers had babies around the same time, they realized they needed to commemorate the coincidence. The seven of us certainly did not plan to all have babies in the same time frame, one of the moms, Melissa Sandusky, told Yahoo Lifestyle. Her son, Kenley, is 4 months old.

Once we all became aware of the due dates, one of the mothers, Alison Chavies, sent out a group text to suggest that we could all have a picture taken together, Sandusky recalled. The other six women agreed. We just wanted to commemorate this special time in each of our lives that, coincidentally, we were all experiencing together, she said. The guys had a common ground of working together as troopers and now the wives have formed unique friendships to support each other during and after pregnancy. They were already pretty close. We already have a strong bond with one another being a part of the Kentucky State Police family, but now we get to celebrate new lives together, which is even more unique and special.

So Sandusky called her family photographer, Vicky Puckett with HUEit Photography by Vicky Lea. Once we agreed on a date  we had to wait until the youngest was born  Melissa organized getting custom onesies made for all the babies, Puckett told Yahoo Lifestyle. The black-and-white onesies have an American flag on the front and their dads unit on the back. There were five girls and two boys all under 6 months. The youngest was 8 days old.

Photo: HUEit Photography by Vicky Lea

The photo thats getting a ton of attention now is one of the troopers in uniform holding these tiny babies. But that almost didnt happen. Initially, we were thinking babies only, but the more we talked about it, we decided the dads needed to be included in their uniforms since that uniform is what binds us all together, Sandusky said. Then, after a little more discussion, we figured the moms should hop in a picture as well.

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So, all seven families gathered at an old building in downtown Georgetown, Ky., on Nov. 18. Puckett first captured the babies being held by their dads, next being cradled by both parents, then on a blanket in a circle with a trooper hat in the middle, as well as the babies lying in a line with each one in front of Dads hat.

Photo: HUEit Photography by Vicky Lea

And the photographer did the whole thing for free. She didnt charge anything for the session or the photos, Sandusky said. She was completely excited about capturing these sweet babies and their dads who do so much to serve and protect our state.

Puckett was happy to give them this gift since they give so much all the time to protect and serve others. We decided to do this to show our appreciation for them, she said. The first responders are out saving every day, and sometimes we forget about them coming home to these precious babies and their families.

Puckett posted the photos on Facebook that day, and her post has 900 reactions and hundreds of shares. Local news outlets cant get enough of it.

However, the families never expected all this attention. We never even made mention of that in our moms group text, Sandusky said. We really just wanted the photos as a cool memory for our families. She and Puckett joked about the possibility of it going viral. We expected some attention in Kentucky, she said.

Kentucky is blessed with the watchful eyes of the Kentucky State Police for seven days a week, 365 days a year! This Posted by Hueit Photography by Vicky Lea on Sunday, November 18, 2018

The Kentucky State Police department agrees. We are all very excited about this photograph, Sgt. Josh Lawson of the Public Affairs Branch of the Kentucky State Police told Yahoo Lifestyle. It is a great representation of who is out there behind the badge serving our communities. In this instance, we cant name all of those in the photograph, and similarly, so many of our troopers go their entire careers without recognition for the exemplary work that they do, they do so without asking for recognition. These are seven fathers who put on this uniform and put their safety and personal comfort second to citizens of the commonwealth they serve. We are proud of each and every one of them, as are their children and their families.

The positive response inspired Puckett to create a giveaway for first responders. After the session, my husband and I decided we wanted to continue to show our appreciation to first responders, she said. We decided to give away seven free mini-sessions to seven first responders at random. She chose that number because of the seven families who inspired her in the first place.

This wasnt the only first-responder photo shoot going viral over the holiday. On Thanksgiving, the Phoenix Fire Department shared a photo of eight babies lying in a circle on firefighter jackets. Here at PFD we have so much to be thankful for. At the top of our list are these 8 beautiful new additions to the PFD Family, the post read.

When a bunch of Phoenix firefighters realized they were expecting at the same time, they arranged a photo shoot thats now going viral. (Photo: Wildbird Photography)

The photo, which was posted on Thanksgiving Day, was taken by Alana Penrod of Wildbird Photography. The babies are the children of six female and two male Phoenix firefighters who all happened to be expecting around the same time. And there were even more newborns in the Phoenix Fire Department family who couldnt make it to the shoot.

Here at PFD we have so much to be thankful for. At the top of our list are these 8 beautiful new additions to the PFD Posted by Phoenix Fire Department on Thursday, November 22, 2018

Im a birth photographer, and one of the female firefighters was a client of mine, Penrod told Yahoo Lifestyle. I captured the delivery of her son, and once I followed up with her to photograph some newborn photos, she had mentioned how multiple firefighters at different Phoenix stations had recently had babies. She thought it would be a good idea to have some photos of all the recently born babies on top of their parents turnout jacket, she said. We planned out a day, a group chat was created, matching onesies were ordered and the photo shoot was a success!

When a bunch of Phoenix firefighters realized they were expecting at the same time, they arranged a photo shoot thats now going viral. (Photo: Wildbird Photography)

She really wanted to show that firefighters live happy lives. I think its common to see stories about first responders that often have intense and sometimes unfortunate undertones regarding their daily duties, Penrod said. Its nice to see another side to their lives and celebrate something as exciting as a bunch of babies being born and joining these families.

That it was mostly female firefighters was another reason she really wanted to do this shoot. I think its important to highlight the fact that women can enjoy their careers as first responders and still be amazing mothers, Penrod said. Theyre heroes both on the job and at home.

Like Puckett, Penrod was surprised when the photo spread like wildfire. I was not expecting for this to get the attention that it has, she said. I knew the parents and I loved the photos, and Im so happy to see that others do too. These parents are incredible, and I couldnt be more grateful to be able to celebrate them in some way.

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A Fox & Friends guest on Monday downplayed the controversy surrounding U.S. Border Patrols use of tear gas against migrants in Mexico a day earlier, suggesting the disabling spray makes for a fine nachos accoutrement.

Ron Colburn, a former Border Patrol deputy chief and president of the Border Patrol Foundation, said employing the weapon against hundreds of protesting migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border on Sunday was absolutely warranted.

To clarify, the type of deterrent being used is OC pepper spray, Colburn told co-host Steve Doocy. Its literally water, pepper with a small amount of alcohol for evaporation purposes. Its natural. You could actually put it on your nachos and eat it. So its a good way of deterring people without long-term harm.

On Fox & Friends, Border Patrol Foundation president defends pepper spraying latinx migrants because its natural. You could actually put it on your nachos and eat it. pic.twitter.com/QLdQXqqNno  Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) November 26, 2018

Doocy, apparently unfazed by Colburns bizarre reference to the Mexican dish, continued the interview without skipping a beat.

It looks like [Mexican officials] are trying to review videotape and figure out who some of these people were who stormed the border and theyre going to deport them back to their country of origin, Doocy told him.

News that U.S. border agents fired tear gas on hundreds of migrants protesting near the border with Mexico on Sunday sparked a public outcry. The mayhem started when a few migrants attempted to cross into the U.S. through a fence.

Children screamed and coughed as tear gas enveloped the group of migrants, according to an Associated Press reporter who was at the scene.

Colburns argument that the sprays use was more than justified prompted swift backlash on Twitter.

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Is this real? Have people gone this crazy?



Fox News guest defends using pepper spray on migrant kids: 'It's natural -- you could put it on nachos!' https://t.co/WSW9eSvIld  RavingRip77 (@RShotgun77) November 26, 2018

Fox is already covering the natural ingredients found in pepper spray, touting it can be used on nachos. Oy. https://t.co/SkBgsSHLAc  @Ironsharky (@IronSharky) November 26, 2018

This isnt the first time Colburn has taken heat for making controversial statements as a guest on President Donald Trumps favorite cable news network. In May, he claimed without evidence that a migrant caravan headed toward the U.S. through Mexico was filled with criminals and pedophiles.

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PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday praised the courage of Raed al-Fares, a prominent activist who was gunned down along with his friend Hamoud al-Juneid in Syria on Friday. Fares was a pro-democracy activist who ran a radio station in Idlib, northwestern Syria, that provided independent news and satirized both President Bashar al-Assad and opposition insurgents. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said unidentified gunmen shot and killed Fares, along with his friend Hamoud al-Juneid, in Kafranbel, home to his Radio Fresh station. "Raed al-Fares and Hamoud al-Juneid were killed in a cowardly way. They were the conscience of the revolution and peacefully stood up against the crimes of the regime and terrorists. We will not forget the resistants of Kafranbel," Macron said on Twitter. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Michael Finn, general counsel, Axalta. (Courtesy photo)



A longtime prominent general counsel is leaving Axalta Coating Systems, a manufacturer of coatings for light and commercial vehicles and industrial and refinish applications, after more than five years with the company.



Philadelphia-based Axalta announced that senior vice president, general counsel and corporate and government affairs secretary Michael Finn is leaving the company sometime before the end of the year to pursue another professional opportunity. A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for additional information about Finns departure.



In a statement announcing his departure, Finn said his time as Axaltas top lawyer has been enormously rewarding both professionally and personally and that stepping down was a difficult decision.



I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished as a team during my time with the company, and I very much look forward to watching Axalta reach new heights in the future, he said. I wish the best for Axalta and all of my colleagues at the company."



Tabitha Oman, vice president, deputy GC and chief compliance officer at Axalta, will serve as interim GC while the company conducts an executive search for Finns successor, interim CEO Robert Bryant said in the statement.



Michael's innumerable contributions go far beyond the global leadership of our legal and compliance functions, as he has been invaluable in establishing Axalta as a standalone public company, supporting our Board, leading many significant transactions, and managing complex litigation and regulatory matters, Bryant said.



Axalta was spun off from E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. in 2013, the same year as Finn joined. Since then, it has continued to grow, mostly through acquisitions, the largest of which was the 2017 acquisition of The Valspar Corp.s $420 million North American industrial wood coatings business.



Finns oversight of that acquisition earned him earlier this year the GC Impact Award from Corporate Counsel sister publication The Legal Intelligencer. In 2016, his team won the papers Legal Department of the Year award in the outside counsel management category.



Prior to joining Axalta after the DuPont sale, Finn had been VP and GC at General Dynamics Corp. for several years.
General Motors (GM) will fire 14,700 workers in North America and put five plants up for possible closure as it restructures to cut costs.

GM has said it will cut car production and stop building a number of slow-selling models. The company plans to halt production next year at three assembly plants - Lordstown, Ohio, Hamtramck, Michigan, and Oshawa, Ontario.

The news comes amid repeated claims from President Donald Trump that car and manufacturing jobs are returning to the US under his presidency.

GM also plans to stop building several models now assembled at those three plants, including the Chevrolet Cruze, the Cadillac CT6 and the Buick LaCrosse.

Also affected are transmission factories in Warren, Michigan, as well as Baltimore. GM will also close two factories outside North America, but did not identify those plants.

The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) has vowed to confront this decision by GM through every legal, contractual and collective bargaining avenue open to our membership.

General Motors decision today to stop production at the Lordstown, Ohio, and Hamtramck, Michigan, assembly plants will idle thousands of workers, and will not go unchallenged by the UAW, Terry Dittes, UAW Vice President in charge of negotiations with GM, said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he spoke with GM officials and expressed deep disappointment. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also expressed his displeasure at the move

Its North American engineering and executive workforce, will be cut by 15 per cent, or about 8,000 jobs. The company said it will cut executive ranks by 25 per cent to streamline decision making.

About 6,000 factory workers could lose jobs in the US and Canada, although some could transfer to truck plants.

The car manufacturer said it will shift more investment to electric and autonomous vehicles.

GM said the moves will save $6 billion in cash by the end of next year, including $4.5 billion in recurring annual cost reductions and a $1.5 billion reduction in capital spending.

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Those cuts are in addition to $6.5 billion that the company has already announced by the end of this year.

GM doesn't foresee an economic downturn and is making the cuts to get in front of it while the company is strong and while the economy is strong, CEO Mary Barra said, explaining the move.

The factories up for possible closure are part of GM's effort to right-size our capacity for the realities of the marketplace, as consumers shift away from cars to trucks and SUVs, Ms Barra added

Agencies contributed to this report
Smart devices can pick up the early signs of disease from urine and faeces - Peter Dazeley Getty

The bathroom is arguably the last bastion of privacy, but soon a new high-tech lavatory could be tracking your every movement.

Researchers at the European Space Agency (ESA) and MIT have teamed up with sanitation specialists to create the FitLoo which screens human waste for early signs of disease.

Data gathered by the sensors in the toilet bowl could be beamed to the users mobile phone so they can see how their health is changing or even directly to the GP so they could keep a remote eye on patients.

The toilet offers an incredible opportunity for people to gain control of their health, said Michael Lindenmayer, digital health and smart sanitation lead at the Toilet Board Coalition, which represents many leading toilet manufacturers.

At the moment is people only go to the doctor when they are sick. We do not listen to our bodies enough, but the toilet is listening every time we use it.

There is a huge amount of health information that is simply flushed into the sewers every time we go.

The project is based on automated sample testing technology already used by astronauts to monitor health in space. For example, the International Space Station (ISS) has been trialling a device called the Urine Monitoring System which tests small quantity of fluid when astronauts urinate.

Researchers have also been developing simple tests that can detect changes in glucose in urine or the presence of markers that might be an early warning of cancer or diabetes.

And scientists at Stanford University have developed a simple colour-changing paper test that, with the help of a smartphone camera, can detect diseases or spot signs of a urinary tract infection.

At the moment these are a mishmash of technologies rather than a single device, but the aim is to combine them together into a smart toilet," added Mr Lindenmayer.

You don't need to monitor for everything, as you can get a lot of information about your health from a few key pieces of data.

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The idea is that people will connect their phone to the toilet and get information about their health. If it sees something amiss, then they would go to the doctor for more detailed tests.

The ESA is currently looking for companies who will adapt their technology for use in smart toilets.

By putting sensors into public toilets, it would allow health officials to track and predict the spread of diseases in communities, giving a vital early warning of outbreaks.

Davide Coppola, project manager of the Space for Sanitation project at ESA Business Applications team, said: We have identified different opportunities for utilising space technologies and data for sanitation.

One of those is to establish preventive health information systems by combining health data from toilet smart sensors with satellite Earth observation data.

If you have 1,000 smart toilets collectively monitoring certain diseases in an area, you can use space data to fill in the gaps and calculate the likelihood of spread of diseases.

There are a number of environmental factors that influence how a disease spreads and can be monitored from space - temperature, for example, or if there is standing water nearby.

One start-up company supported by MIT, claims to already be working on a solution that could also adapt many existing toilets into FitLoos.

It is developing a small unit that can placed inside the toilet by clipping it to the rim, where it can monitor urine as it passes over it.

The company, called S-There, which is based in Bilbao, Spain, claims the device can monitor for conditions like diabetes or look for signs of protein in urine that can be an indicator of other more serious diseases.

Adrian Gomez, co-founder of the company, said they hoped to have their device approved my medical regulators and on sale by 2020.
NGOs in Gaza and the West Bank incite with European support By Pinhas Inbari

The latest round of violence in Gaza, called the March of Return, which began on March 30, 2018, was not initiated by Hamas but by civil-society organizations known as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). At first, Hamas was halfhearted in its support, but when the marches began and captured headlines in the Middle East and the world, Hamas took charge of the activities and pushed the original organizersthe civil-society contingentout of the way. The organizations that instigated the return marches and sparked the latest violent eruption in Gaza are the same ones that were behind the flotillas to Gaza, including the infamous Mavi Marmara, and they have launched subsequent flotillas. In the Palestinian power structure, two main forces, Fatah and Hamas, are usually seen as contending with each other. Yet in light of the recent events in Gaza  and the outbreak of opposition in Ramallah to Mahmoud Abbas sanctions against Gaza  it is also important to take note of the NGO network. The NGOs activity in Gaza has gained momentum. Ramallah, the political hub of the Palestinians, is host to a dense network of NGOs. There is a major difference between the respective civil societies in Gaza and Ramallah. In Gaza, the network is closely-linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe and the European Red-Green alliance, comprised of the European Left and the Muslim Brotherhood. The NGO network in Ramallah, however, belongs to the historical Palestinian Left  the former Communists and the Marxist terror organizations such as the Popular Front, the Democratic Front, and so on. Were it not for the Ramallah NGOs, these movements would have vanished long ago from the Palestinian political landscape. Europe, which finances this network, is essentially preserving them; without its support, they would not exist. Despite their different backgrounds, however, the civil-society organizations in Gaza and Ramallah cooperate and interact with each other. There are various NGOs in other West Bank cities. Those in Ramallah, however, have built up their presence, and Ramallah is not only the official political hub of the Palestinian Authority, but also of Palestinian civil societies. They preceded the Oslo Accords and work outside of the official framework of the Palestinian Authority. Such organizations tend to be active in dysfunctional regimes like the Palestinian Authority. They fill vacuums in domains critical to the ordinary citizen, such as education, health, and environmental affairs, in which a dysfunctional regime has difficulty providing services. Wikipedia defines such organizations thus: Commonly referred to as NGOs, [they] are usually non-profit and sometimes international organizations independent of governments and international governmental organizations (though often funded by governments) that are active in humanitarian, educational, healthcare, public policy, social, human rights, environmental, and other areas to effect changes according to their objectives. These organizations are of special importance in Muslim countries, where Islamist organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood or Hamas fill the void left by dysfunctional governments to establish charity organizations and, through them, to recruit supporters and build infrastructures for terror. Europe is financing most of the needs of the NGO network in Ramallah, and between Europe and this network a symbiotic relationship has emerged. The NGOs get their budgets from Europe, and in turn they provide European diplomacy with their outlook on the situation in the Palestinian Authority and the conflict with Israel. This symbiotic relationship has a destructive effect both on Europe and the Palestinian issue. The political forces that form the backbone of the NGOs in Ramallah are very radical, marked by hatred of Israel and the United States, and they foment tension between Europe and the United States. Alongside the Palestinian leftist movements, such as the Popular Front, the Democratic Front, the Communist Party and others that have long ago lost their place in Palestinian society, there are other groups, such as the Fatah Tanzim, that Europe can finance only within the NGO framework. In the most recent Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 2006, the leftist parties won only meager percentages of the vote and barely qualified for the Palestinian parliament. They maintain their political power thanks only to the NGO frameworks, which are buttressed by European money. If such groups were not so anti-Israeli and anti-American, they would devote themselves to beneficial social and public activities. Europe, however, provides them with a stage for incitement and also assimilates the toxic messages that they spread. Meanwhile, Europe is closed to Palestinian voices from outside of Ramallah  for instance, from Nablus, where the top officials oppose BDS, the top agenda item for the Ramallah NGOs. Europe may have tried to forge a pro-European leadership for the Palestinians out of the NGO network. When Salam Fayyad resigned as prime minister and set up an NGO of his own, which employed the son and wife of jailed Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, the Palestinian Authority tried to close it, but Europe stepped in to protect it. Ultimately, Fayyad gave in and shuttered his organization. The NGO Monitor website keeps close track of these NGOs damaging activities and Europes close relationship with them. The bottom line is that these NGOs continue the tradition of the 2001 Durban Conference, which tried to expel Israel and the United States from the international community. The relationship between the NGOs and the Palestinian Authority is complex. On the one hand, the Palestinian Authority fears that the NGOs are an alternative governmental network that Europe will promote if the Palestinian Authority collapses and that they are already dealing with matters that fall under the Palestinian Authoritys purview. On the other hand, the Palestinian Authority has adopted political ideas from the NGOs, such as BDS and the nonviolent struggle accompanied by European pressures on Israel. Because of the close relationship with Europe, the various terrorist fronts that make up some of the NGOs could not keep promoting terror. Instead, they developed a modus vivendi suited to what European public opinion can acceptthe peaceful (silmi) nonviolent struggle for national liberation. Arafats Fatah could not go along with this nonviolent doctrine, as the First and Second Intifadas made clear. At first, the NGOs tried, with European support, to spearhead a wide-scale public struggle in the form of strikes and demonstrations, but Fatah undermined this approach by instigating terror attacks. The Second Intifada assumed a purely terrorist nature and removed the NGOs from the stage. Fatah sees the NGOs as a competing force that endangers its rule and follows a different strategy from Fatahs ideological struggle. At the same time, Fatah is prepared to pay heed to the NGOs doctrine and to adopt parts of it that do not nullify the struggle doctrine. When the First Intifada ended and the Oslo Accords emerged, Mahmoud Abbas made statements that diverged from the Fatah strategy of struggle. At a meeting of the Fatah Central Committee in Tunis in October 1993, he declared: The era of the revolution has ended. The stage of building has begun. (How unfortunate that he has forgotten today what he said then.) The interaction between the NGOs and the Palestinian Authority is evident in the fact that the two radical leaders of the NGO network have served or are serving in official PA posts. Riyad al-Maliki is now foreign minister and has infused the NGOs methods directly into Palestinian foreign policy; Mustafa Barghouti, who is the spokesman of the NGOs, was information minister in the unity government headed by Hamas. There is, however, a difference between the two leaders. Whereas Barghouti is linked to Hamas and even to Islamic Jihad, Maliki told this writer after Hamas won the 2007 elections that if Hamas were to take over the West Bank, he and others of his generation would emigrate. Whereas Maliki makes use of the NGOs methods as official policy, Barghouti continues to act as spokesman for the Palestinian Authoritys policy of hatred and vilification. It is worth heeding what Mustafa Barghouti says because there are indications that the PLO may officially adopt his outlook or essential parts of it. A short time before the return marches in Gaza began, senior Fatah sources in Ramallah outlined to me a scenario they had planned for the West Bank: mass marches of children, women, and old people to the IDFs barriers in a way that would compel the IDF to fire at unarmed civilians, with the resulting images of the cruel Israeli war criminals disseminated worldwide. Eventually, this plan was implemented in Gaza, not in the West Bank. It is the modus vivendi of the NGOs. For many years, Mustafa Barghouti advocated an approach based on the resolutions of the Durban Conference, which focused on ousting Israel and the United States from the international community. In his interviews, he often describes Israel as an apartheid state and calls to boycott it, put the settlers on trial, and wage a nonviolent intifada against Israel, thereby mobilizing international public opinion against it. Who is Mustafa Barghouti? He was the leader of the Communist Party in the West Bank and was associated with Edward Said and Haidar Abdel Shafi, leader of the Communists in Gaza. In the 2006 presidential elections, he ran against Abbas and won 20 percent of the vote. Where he was born is unclear. He claims that it was in Jerusalem, but a more persuasive case is that he was born in the village of Beit Rima near Ramallah, in the rural area that is home to the large Barghouti clan. His claim that he was born in Jerusalem is reminiscent of Arafats assertions and may stem from his ambition to lead the Palestinians. He is a cardiologist by profession and worked many years at the Al-Makassed Hospital in east Jerusalem. His Palestinian nationalism accounts for his hatred of Israel, and his roots in the Communist Party may explain his loathing of the United States. But there is a difference between his hatred of Israel, which is vitriolic and violent, and his statements against the United States, which are circumspect and cautious but reject all U.S. peace initiatives. Together with Haidar Abdel Shafi, Ibrahim Dakkak (a Communist from east Jerusalem), and Said, Barghouti established a political party called the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI). On its Facebook page, PNI declares its goal: to adopt the option of popular muqawama [resistance], and reliance on ourselves as the path to liberation, to alter the balance of power vis-a-vis Israel. Barghouti took part in establishing [the network of] Palestinian civil-society organizations. Monitoring his statements reveals a duplicitous use of English and Arabic. In interviews to the West, he says one thing, in interviews in Arabic another. In the West, he is a liberal, a fighter for human rights who even helps Israel help itself. In Arabic, he is uncompromisingly extreme, opposes normalization with Israel, is close to Hamas (as noted, he was information minister in the unity government it headed), and dismisses the U.S. peace initiative. For example, in a taped interview with Huffington Post, Barghouti said: There isnt any place in the world where apartheid is so systematic as it is today in Palestine. This is unbelievable. You have a situation where a husband and a wife cannot be together. If a husband is from Jerusalem and his wife is from the West Bank, or the opposite, they cannot live together. This is what you see are acts of ethnic cleansing. So we ask ourselves: how do we make the Israelis change their minds? How do we convince them to stop the oppressive system which is hurting our future and their future? We have to make their system of occupation painful; and we have to make their system of occupation costly. This can be done through only two ways: either you turn to violence, which I totally disagree with, I dont believe in and I think is counterproductive; [or] you turn to non-violence and mobilizing international pressures on Israel, as people did in the case of the apartheid system in South Africa. We have the same situation in Palestine. Thats why I speak about divestment and sanctions to encourage non-violence. This is the only way we make non-violent resistance succeed, by having an international component, especially in the United States. We are not talking about boycotting Israel, or Israeli people. We are talking about boycotting occupation and about divestment from occupation and military industry that is exploiting people, that is destroying peoples lives and that is consolidating an apartheid system. In other words, the nonviolent struggle is better than a military struggle because it will gain Western sympathy for the Palestinians and generate an array of pressures on Israel that will break it as South Africa was broken; hence the comparison of Israel to the apartheid regime. This statement was made in English for the Western public. Yet in Arabic, for the Palestinian and Arab public, Mustafa Barghouti speaks entirely differently. In Arabic, he supports the Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Popular Front terror organizations. Whereas Israel is a terror state, according to Barghouti, Hamas is flexible and pragmatic. From the Hamas mouthpiece Palestine Today: In a special announcement to Palestine Today on March 26, 2007, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti confirmed that Hamas is a united movement, harmonious between the inside and the outside and making its decisions democratically and freely and without external pressures. Rejecting the description of Khaled Mashal as an extremist, Barghouti declared: he is one of the most flexible and pragmatic men I have met. Eventually it turned out that Barghouti was wrong. The inside Gaza gave the boot to the outsider Mashal, deposing him from the Hamas leadership. Responding to President Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital, Barghouti chose to publish an article on the Quds Net site of Islamic Jihad. Although in the West he speaks of a Gandhi-type popular struggle, at Islamic Jihads website he speaks in terms of the intensifying popular muqawama intifada in Palestine. Whoever posts on this site and uses the term muqawama knows what it means for the Islamic Jihad  terrorism. Barghouti walks the seam line between advocacy in the West and stretching the popular muqawama all the way to the edge of violence  without crossing the line of what the West can accept. Palestinian society is debating what is preferable, muqawama or negotiations. Yet the NGOs, at least as represented by their spokesman Mustafa Barghouti, oppose negotiations, not unlike Hamas. Whereas Hamas is against negotiations with Israel in principle, Barghouti sets conditions, such as a settlement freeze and creating a framework for negotiations. It should be noted, though, that when he presented the condition of a settlement freeze in the days of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, settlements were already frozen. Nevertheless, Barghouti opposed negotiations. Both the NGOs and Hamas opposed them, each for a different reason. The large NGO that Barghouti heads is the Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS). It was established in 1979, and Barghouti formulated its goals as: Supplement the decayed and inadequate health infrastructure caused by years of Israeli military occupation. It is non-profit, voluntary, and one of the largest health NGOs in Palestine. The problem with such an approach is that the NGO network plays the role of a government, providing services to the citizens in a dysfunctional political entity that cannot offer such services, turns it into a weapon, escalates tensions, and endorses nonviolent means for the destruction of Israel. For example, on December 16, 2017, Barghouti tweeted about an alternative national strategy that he already propounded on June 22, 2016: The failed path of negotiations has an alternative strategy of popular muqawama intifada, boycott, unity, support for tsumud and faithfulness [to the land], and restoring the integrity of the struggle among the components of the Palestinian people inside [Israel] and outside and on the occupied lands. Although Barghoutis opposition to negotiations purportedly results from Trumps policy, he emphatically opposed Kerrys peace efforts as well. He appears to be opposed to any process led by the United States, whether the Democrats or the Republicans are at the helm. When Kerry tried to promote an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, Barghouti instigated a demonstration against him. He declared: The ideas raised in what is described as a framework agreement are nothing but a prescription for eliminating the issues of Jerusalem, the refugees, borders, and sovereignty, and changing the idea of a state with full sovereignty into a Bantustan. Because the popular muqawama intifada is not catching on, the spokesman of the NGOs is trying to push it along  with fabrications. For example, this was how Barghouti described the November 2017 incident in Kafr Qusra in which Palestinians attacked Israeli hikers: Nor does Barghouti hesitate to use threatening language within the Palestinian arena. For example, after Trump declared Jerusalem to be Israels capital, he tweeted: When the alternative strategy has no muqawama intifada on the ground, one resorts to fake news tweets; the claim about 770 injured Palestinians is an invention.

Another Barghouti tweet  in Arabic: There is no Palestinian leader or person with responsibility, and there will never be one, who could dare to relinquish Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, and whoever dares even to hint of a possibility of relinquishing it, as part of a future agreement or political plan, will be stained with treason by all the Palestinians, the Arabs, and the Muslims. Writing in connection to Balfour Day, commemorated on November 2, 2017, Barghouti did not direct his words at Britain but spoke in general terms about the colonialist forces, that is, Europe as a whole. He thereby bit the hand that feeds him while repeating anti-Israeli cliches that border on anti-Semitism from the distant past. As he put it: Israel was established with the help of the colonialist forces as a base for their colonialist plans in the region and the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people in 1948, and the implanting of the longest occupation in modern history, and the entrenchment of the worst apartheid regime in the history of the human race, and recently  the destruction of stability in the Middle East. The propaganda policy of Mustafa Barghouti, the former Communist leader, has been translated by Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki  the Popular Front member who was taken from the ranks of the NGOs of Ramallah to a government post  into the official foreign policy of the Palestinian Authority. When a major dispute arose between Hamas and the PLO over an arrangement with Israel, Mustafa Barghouti traveled to Gaza to participate in events led by Hamas in the company of its leaders. Conversely, when Mahmoud Abbas gathered the PLO Central Council to decide on resolutions against Hamas, Barghouti boycotted the meetings, along with the Popular Front and the Democratic Front, which preferred to maintain their cooperation with Hamas. In an article in the Hamas publication al-Resala, Barghouti warned Abbas against taking punitive measures against Hamas. The uniqueness of Maliki as foreign minister is that whereas other foreign ministers are committed to promoting their countrys interests, Maliki is devoted to harassing Israel and has next to nothing to say about furthering Palestinian interests outside the anti-Israeli context. At present, in the aftermath of Trumps declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital, the anti-American tendency is also pronounced. As Maliki told Radio Palestine: The December 2017 [vote in the General Assembly was a worldwide referendum against the U.S. administration and] the one that initiated the move by the international collective to fight the American decision was a non-member state, none other than the state of Palestine, which succeeded to assemble all the powers and unite them to say no to the Trump policy. After Trumps Jerusalem announcement, the Palestinians asserted that they would no longer recognize the U.S. role as mediator in the peace process. That stance, however, preceded Trumps statement. When there were reports that the United States intended to close the PLO office in Washington, Maliki proclaimed: We said to the American administrationyou want to close the office? From our standpoint, no problem! But the administration will have no role in the peace process, and our saying they will have no assistance means that we will not meet with any American official, whoever it is. Maliki described the Trump plan as a plan to eliminate the Palestinian problem, and he would not cooperate with this plan. It appears that the Palestinian foreign minister regards severing ties with the United States as something positive. His attitude emerged even more clearly as he went on to demand not only the cancellation of the decision to close the PLO office but also that Congress should revoke its labeling of the PLO as a terror organization and all other decisions that offend the Palestinians. In other words, the aim of cutting ties with the United States preceded the Trump declaration and was just waiting for the right moment. Malikis policy reveals that he keeps meetings with Americans to a minimum, if at all. I could not identify a single visit by him to the United States, nor any meeting with U.S. diplomats in Ramallah. This did not begin with Trump; it was also his policy in the days of President Obama. However, Maliki was very close to Venezuela, the South American country most hostile to the United States and closest to Iran. The Civil Society in Gaza Although Ramallah is the stronghold of the NGO community, Gaza is where this community has been able to instigate recent events. The NGOs in Gaza are very different from their counterparts in Ramallah. Both have a relationship with Europe, but whereas the European tie to Ramallah is official and governmental, in Gaza, the European NGOs that are involved are unofficial. And whereas the network in Ramallah maintains the Palestinian Leftist organizations, Gazas network is linked to that of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe, and to the Left-Islam or Red-Green alliance. In Gaza, the NGOs are weak and not as prominent as they are in Ramallah. They prefer not to describe themselves as NGOs but, instead, as an authentic expression of the Gazan population. What is common to both sets of NGOs is the awareness of public opinion in the West and, hence, the emphasis on a nonviolent struggle. This is also the commonality with Mustafa Barghouti, as we will see below. Two figures lead the civil activity in Gaza, and particularly the recent return marches. Living in Gaza is the leftist activist Ahmed Abu Rteima; and in London, the Muslim Brotherhood activist Zaher Birawi, who heads the Public Committee for the Return Flotillas and Marches. The connection between Abu Rteima and Birawi exemplifies the Red-Green alliance of Europe. It also forms the basis of the phenomenon of the Return flotillas  including recent ones  and the refugee marches from Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon that preceded the Gaza marches, as well as the BDS movement in Europe. Who Is Zaher Birawi? Muslim Brotherhood activist Zaher Birawi is not from Gaza, but from the village of Asira Shimalia near Nablus. He is a member of an extensive network of Islamic and Left-Islamic organizations in Europe, and, as noted, he heads the Committee for Return Flotillas and Marches. Birawi also has a special connection to Turkey. He is the chief broadcaster of the Muslim Brotherhoods Al-Hiwar network in London, and hence a natural spokesman for the flotillas to Gaza. EuroPal Forum, an independent organization, is one of the media that he directs. As its name suggests, EuroPal Forum is a stage for promoting the Palestinian issue in Europe, in its Muslim Brotherhood guise. The organization defines itself as: Forum advocates Palestinian rights and works to achieve a positive and accurate public opinion on Palestine. A EuroPal article on the return marches offers justifications similar to the positions of the NGOs in Ramallah: The Palestinian resistance is the right of the people against the occupation, but the people and their leaders must calculate its results and make their decisions based on these calculations. Nothing at the current stage costs the occupation more and maintains more clashes and engagement with the occupation than peaceful resistance, and the Gaza Strip cannot continue to bear the high costs alone on behalf of the Palestinian national project. This is not like Hamas stance of practicing muqawama or stating the right to resistance. The difference reflects the fact that Birawi is not a native of Gaza but rather of the West Bank; he operates in Europe and deals with European public opinion and the relationship with the European Left. Hence he cannot propound the military concept of muqawama espoused by Hamas in Gaza. Yet he advocates a doctrine that is as harmful to Israel as Hamas rocket fire from Gaza. The relationship with the European Left is reflected in numerous statements on the Palestinian issue by Jeremy Corbyn and in his recent declaration that a Labour government will recognize the state of Palestine. Or in special greetings that Corbyn sent to the Muslims of Britain on a Euro-Pal page: Zaher Birawi, however, does not sharpen his arrows only against Israel. In a recent interview, he attacked Arab states for not allowing the flotillas to launch from their territory, thereby forcing the activists to embark from Europe and complicating the project. In other words, the efforts that Birawi promotes fall under the heading of the anti-Israeli struggle. They are also aimed, however, at turning Arab and European public opinion against Ramallah and in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood. Whereas Birawi operates from Europe, the main activist of the Gaza return marches is in fact someone with a leftist background, Ahmed Abu Rteima. This is an embodiment of the red-green alliance in the context of the events in Gaza. The differences between Abu Rteima and Hamas are even greater. It may be that because of his ties to Birawi and the involvement in his activity of the Europe-based Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas has not harmed him. As soon as the marches began, however, it pushed him out of the way and took command. What did Abu Rteima plan? A mass march, a happening based on the Palestinian folklore about the villages from which the Palestinians fled in 1948. In it they would climb onto the border fence and trample it without using any violence at all, while forcing the IDF to kill peace marchers and turning European public opinion totally against Israel. Abu Rteimas exclusive emphasis was to implement the right of return, not to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Hamas, however, has suppressed the right-of-return motif in favor of improving the human situation. Likewise, it did not accept the principle of nonviolent struggle, employing great violence in the fence demonstrations, though careful not to escalate to war. From the point of view of Abu Rteima, the return marches were a failure. In reference to the violence employed when Hamas took the reins, Abu Rteima said, The armed struggle is not the preferred option at this stage. He also asserted that, The bloody toll that Gaza has paid has traumatized the residents of Gaza. When reports appeared that Israel and Hamas were making progress toward a resolution, and that Qatari funds would be flowing into Gaza, Birawi and Abu Rteima spoke in different languages. Birawi, as a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, supported this course of action, stating that this would be a preparation for the continuation of the struggle in the future. Abu Rteima, on the other hand, said that distributing the money in the mosques, particularly on Fridays, would weaken the power of the marches. He also called for distributing the funds from Qatar in a socialist manner, citing sources for this in Islam. Conclusion A network of NGOs is vital in a weakened society like the one under the Palestinian Authoritys rule. The problem is that this network has been taken over by very radical elements that have turned it into a stage for anti-Israel propaganda and a barrier to U.S. peace initiatives. Without Europes support these radical elements could not exist. And the damage is double because Europe absorbs their toxic messages while any possible European relationship with pragmatic elements in the West Bank is obstructed by the dominance of these NGOs. Pinhas Inbari is a veteran Arab affairs correspondent who formerly reported for Israel Radio and Al Hamishmar newspaper, and currently serves as an analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. Home
By John Davison NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - The head of a powerful Iraqi militia wants a formal role for Shi'ite paramilitaries in securing the border with Syria, a move that could deepen U.S. worries about Iran's growing sway over a strategic corridor of territory from Tehran to Beirut. Iraq's Shi'ite militias, many of which are supported by Iran and oppose the presence of U.S. troops in the region, have sent reinforcements to the frontier after fighting flared between U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and Islamic State militants on the Syrian side. Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq, urged the government to provide a more formal, long-term border protection role for the militias. "Securing Iraq's borders with Syria is among the most important duties of the Popular Mobilization Forces right now," he said in an interview with Reuters at his office in the Shi'ite holy city of Najaf on Saturday. "The Daesh (IS) threat against Iraq won't end as long as Syria is unstable. The PMF proved it is the military side most capable of dealing with Daesh ... maybe the armed forces can invest the PMF in duties that include border security," Khazali said. Asaib Ahl al-Haq is part of the PMF, an umbrella grouping of mostly Iran-backed and trained Shi'ite paramilitary groups. The PMF was made formally part of the security forces this year after helping the military defeat Islamic State in Iraq in 2017. It remains separate from the military and police, however, raising questions over whom the militias will answer to and what their exact role will be if they are fully integrated into Iraq's security structure. Khazali said paramilitary commanders should retain leadership positions and that "the government needs to provide bases and weapons depots." The growing presence of Iran-backed militias on the frontier has caused tensions with Washington, which has special forces on the Syrian side to back Kurdish-led fighters battling IS. A formal PMF border role would exacerbate that friction as Washington seeks to counter Iran's sway over territory stretching from Tehran to the Mediterranean via Iraq and Syria. Iran's allies in that territory include Iraqi and Lebanese fighters and politicians, and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. The risks of having Shi'ite fighters and U.S. forces in close proximity were laid bare in July when the PMF vowed to "not be quiet" over an alleged U.S. air strike it said killed 22 of its members inside Syria. The United States denied involvement in the strike. The Iraqi military, which Washington supports, is deployed along the frontier, but PMF leaders have said they are taking the lead in securing it, including around the town of al-Qaim which borders Syria's Deir al-Zor province. "The border was not secure before. Our operations have fixed that completely," a senior PMF commander said in October. Iraq's military relied on the PMF support to defeat IS. It says the militias are now crucial to securing the sprawling Syrian border. Iraqi Sunni and Kurdish politicians have called for disarming the PMF. They say the militias are responsible for widespread abuses including extra-judicial killings and displacing non-Shi'ite populations, and in effect report to Tehran, not the government in Baghdad. The PMF says any abuses were isolated incidents and not systematic and that those who committed them have been punished. U.S. TROOP PRESENCE 'UNACCEPTABLE' The PMF, estimated at 150,000 members, includes groups which fought the U.S. military after the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, and individuals against whom Washington has imposed Iran-related sanctions. Members of Congress have sought sanctions against Khazali's group. Khazali denied it is currently receiving support from Iran. "We don't expect a good future for relations between Iraq and the United States under (President Donald) Trump," he said, and reiterated his call for U.S. troops to leave Iraq. "A (U.S.) training role is one thing but presence of combat forces is unacceptable. Parliament should oppose this. Daesh is no longer a military threat, so there should be a reduction" in U.S. troops, he said. The Pentagon says over 5,000 troops are deployed in Iraq. Khazali's militia started as a splinter group of the Mahdi Army, a force formed by anti-American Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr in the U.S. occupation. Under his leadership, it gained notoriety for its attacks against U.S. forces. He and Hadi al-Amiri, the veteran leader of the Badr Organisation who contested Iraq's May general election, were among the first to announce late last year they were putting their paramilitaries under the orders of the prime minister. Iran has provided training and weapons to both groups. (Writing by John Davison, Ahmed Rasheed, Editing by William Maclean)
Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May could be heading for a Brexit TV debate (Picture: Getty)

Jeremy Corbyn would relish a head-to-head debate with Theresa May about her Brexit deal, it has been reported.

Sky News said a Labour Party spokesman made the comment following reports the prime minister would herself challenge the leader of the opposition to a Brexit TV debate.

The Telegraph reported that Mrs May wants to face off against Mr Corbyn in a televised debate on a Sunday evening primetime slot.

Should Mr Corbyn decline her offer, Mrs May would go for a Question Time style format with a studio audience hosted by presenter David Dimbleby, the Telegraph said.

A Labour spokesman said: Jeremy would relish a head-to-head debate with Theresa May about her botched Brexit deal and the future of our country.

On Sunday, the other 27 EU leaders approved the terms of her Brexit deal, paving the way for a vote in parliament on her strategy.

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Labours Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, said Mr Corbyn would be happy to debate the prime minister, adding: It sounds very much like a general election campaign, I wonder if that is where it is heading.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme on Monday that Mrs May doesnt have a Plan B if, as predicted, her deal is voted down by MPs.

Earlier, Irelands leader, Leo Varadkar, made similar comments.

He said the best outcome for everyone would be if the Britain remained in the EU, but given that was not going to happen, the draft agreement was next best thing.

In her Commons statement the prime minister will say: There is a choice which MPs will have to make.

Mr Varadkar made the comments after the endorsement of the draft withdrawal text at a special meeting of the EU Council in Brussels on Sunday.

There isnt a plan B, he said.

The truth is what we have here is the best deal that is available both for the United Kingdom and for the European Union.

Story continues

Mr Varadkar said the entire European Union was of the view that the deal could not be renegotiated.

On Monday, Mrs May will challenge MPs to back her Brexit plan or risk crashing out of the European Union without an agreement.

She will face the Commons after EU leaders endorsed the deal and made it clear it was not up for renegotiation.

Mrs May will tell the Commons with absolute certainty that there is not a better deal available.

She will warn rejecting her deal will open the door to more division and uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.

The leaders of the remaining 27 member states took less than 40 minutes to approve the deal on Sunday.

Mrs May will now put it to a vote of MPs before Christmas but faces a battle to get it through the House of Commons in the face of intense opposition on both the Leave and Remain-supporting wings of her party.

Theresa May will tell MPs to accept the Brexit deal agreed by the EU (Picture: PA)

She has already started a campaign of selling her deal directly to the public in the hope their support can win round MPs opposed to the plan before the Commons vote, widely expected in the week beginning December 10.

We can back this deal, deliver on the vote of the referendum and move on to building a brighter future of opportunity and prosperity for all our people.

Or this House can choose to reject this deal and go back to square one. It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail.

More than 80 Tories have rejected the deal, with opposition parties  and Mrs Mays allies in the DUP  also set to oppose it.
By Tom Perry and Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - When a flash flood swept a group of schoolchildren to their deaths in Jordan last month, a wave of public criticism pointed to wider discontent within the kingdom. The backlash against the government on social media questioned how anyone had been allowed into an area at risk of seasonal flooding near the Dead Sea. Two ministers were sacked over the tragedy and King Abdullah ordered an inquiry. The reaction reflected the challenges facing a government struggling to win public support over a range of issues, chief amongst them tax increases needed to help plug the state's gaping budget deficit. Criticism on Facebook and Twitter has been running at a high pitch all year with little or no respite even after King Abdullah replaced the government in June following a rare wave of protests over the economy. "Prison does not scare us and the word of justice we will say as long as we live. The country must get fixed," political satirist Ahmed Hassan Zoubi tweeted on Nov. 17. King Abdullah's half brother, former crown prince Hamza, has also weighed in, taking to Twitter in September to demand a crackdown on corruption in the public sector as a starting point for reform - a call voiced by the king himself. For Jordan, a U.S. ally whose stability has been a defining feature of the Middle East for decades, this has been an uncomfortable year. The government has been forced to cut spending and raise taxes, confronted by the economic impact of years of regional turmoil and diminished Gulf Arab support as a result of falling oil prices and the Yemen war. Adding to the pressures, Donald Trump's proposed Middle East peace plan has hit a political nerve in Jordan, where millions of citizens of Palestinian refugee origin live alongside native Jordanians. Despite questions over whether the president's "ultimate deal" will get anywhere, his approach has stirred old fears of any attempt to settle the conflict in a way that would suit Israel but forgo Palestinian rights at Jordan's expense. With its stability underpinned by a powerful military and security apparatus, Jordan has developed one of the Arab world's more open economies, investing in education and infrastructure including its gleaming airport and roads. A bulwark against Islamist militancy, Jordan has made peace with Israel and absorbed waves of Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian refugees. It also navigated its way through the 2011 Arab Spring, though it still faces some of the issues that ignited regional turmoil that year, notably youth unemployment. Since the summer protests, there has been no sign of unrest in the streets. King Abdullah and his Hashemite dynasty enjoy solid support and act as a unifying force among native Jordanian tribes and Jordanian Palestinians. But not for the first time, the monarchy has come in for criticism of late. KING ABDULLAH STEPS INTO DEBATE In October, a group of retired senior military officers, tribal figures and activists from traditionally loyalist constituencies aired their grievances in a petition directed at King Abdullah. Attacking Trump's Middle East policy, the signatories urged the king to stand firm against any moves that harm Jordan. The king subsequently announced he would not be renewing a deal that has let Israelis farm Jordanian land near the border since the peace treaty of 1994 - a move that won approval at home and was seen aimed at defusing some of the anger. The petition also included a call for the monarch to devolve more powers to parliament. "Loyalty is overwhelming in Jordan but that doesn't mean there are no pockets here and there that are against even the monarchy. And they are negligible, yes, but through social media they will have a ... big voice," said Fayez Tarawneh, a pillar of the establishment who has served as prime minister and head of the royal court. With the traditional print and broadcast media loyal to the state and no organized opposition political parties, social media has become a channel for dissent. The government has launched a public awareness campaign on its dangers. "Fabricated news obstructs development and confuses public opinion," declares one of the banners erected in recent days around Amman. King Abdullah has stepped into the debate about its role in unusually strong terms, taking aim at what he described as false rumors and stories spread online in a lengthy article published in pro-government media. Addressing speculation over a month-long absence this summer, the king criticized a "wave of rumors and false stories" that had spread concerning his annual break. "The question persisted: Where is the king? Some went as far as questioning my presence even as I stood before them." "Unfortunately, some people have tried to spread rumors targeting the morale and unity of Jordanians," he wrote. There was an urgent need, he wrote, to develop laws to ensure the protection of freedom of expression but also to "combat rumors and misinformation, and counter hate speech". "Anyone who offends a Jordanian  whether from my bigger Jordanian family or my immediate family  offends me personally." "NOT AN EASY RIDE" Amnesty International said the article appeared to signal the king's support for proposed amendments to a cybercrimes law that would "deal a devastating blow to freedom of expression in Jordan". The amendments were sent to parliament in September. "They are deeply scared of Facebook," said Ali Braizat, a dissident from the town of Dhiban who has been jailed twice for opposition activities. Braizat, 55, is an unusually strident critic of King Abdullah, crossing red lines that allow criticism of the government but not the monarch. His town is one of the provincial tribal areas upon which the Hashemites built their support among native Jordanians. Many of its people have benefited from state jobs, including Braizat until he resigned in 2001. Jordan's police chief is from the area. Braizat's last spell in prison was in January, when he was held for one month. His arrest sparked protests in Dhiban. Braizat, a lawyer who also farms olives on family land in Dhiban, was a signatory of the petition, describing it as a "clear and frank" message to the king and his foreign backers. "The Jordanians are telling the king what's requested of (him)," he said. "In the midst of what's going on in the region we don't want to change the regime. But (he is) the one in charge and responsible firstly and finally for changing things." During the Arab Spring, there were protests in Dhiban but these were to demand more state jobs and services, not political reform, Braizat said. A visit by King Abdullah helped manage the situation. Jordan's financial crunch now hangs over the state's ability to finance jobs and services. Tarawaneh said the "financial squeeze" couldn't be separated from regional instability. "What is needed really is continuous dialogue within the country to explain more ... the procedures the government has to take. In certain areas, you need some surgery," he said. "It's not an easy ride." (Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Joy Duggar with enjoying time with her niece.

Joy-Anna Duggar just spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Texas. She and her husband, Austin Forsyth, took their baby boy Gideon on a trip to visit some family out west. A few photos were posted on the couples Instagram account indicating the fun time they had on their excursion.

While Joy-Annas sister, Jinger Vuolo, lives in Texas, it looks like a few extended members of Austins family resides there as well. According to a site called The Duggar Family Blog, the Forsyths celebrated the holiday Texas-style with his side of the family. The Duggar daughter is seen standing with Austin as he is holding Gideon in what looks to be in front of the San Antonio River Walk.

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The recent confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and Republicans 2016 stonewalling of Merrick Garland have upended liberals view of the Supreme Court as a protector of key constitutional rights. Now, progressives are starting to talk about how to challenge the power of the sitting Supreme Court.

The issues under discussion range from process reforms like ending lifetime appointments and enacting recusal and ethics laws to stripping the court of jurisdiction and retaking stolen seats. Many of the ideas have been debated by legal scholars in decades past, but the rise in interest among progressive political partisans is decisively new. And even though opinions on the path forward diverge, and lawmakers have yet to jump on the bandwagon, the discussions are evidence of a new adversarial posture toward the court for progressives and the Democratic Party.

The disempowerment that progressives are feeling is one familiar to conservatives who have long viewed the court with a mix of suspicion and outright hostility.

Progressives have felt that they were well taken care of in the judiciary and that we had secured a lot of important rights with this past litigation mid-century and that was going to be the way we would defend our gain, Todd Tucker, a legal scholar at the progressive Roosevelt Institute, said.

The same 20th-century rulings led by chief justice Earl Warrens court and and the early years of chief justice Warren Burgers term in office that progressives have long sought to defend  the end of segregation, the ban on compulsory school prayer and the legalization of abortion  galvanized conservative Christians into a political bloc within the Republican Party. They were joined by business conservatives looking to roll back rules and regulations established from the New Deal through the consumer safety and environmental protections of the 1970s.

The fervent opposition to these court rulings led to a better understanding among grassroots conservatives of the court as a political entity that could be changed over time. It also birthed a decadeslong campaign to remake the court as the conservative bulwark it had been for most of its history.

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In the past two months, progressives have started a similar debate on how to reform the court in opinion pieces, legal white papers, roundtables and partisan activism efforts.

The contentious confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh has lit a fire under progressives upset about a broken confirmation process and a newly hard right court. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Reforms On The Table

Legal scholars have been debating the idea of 18-year term limits for justices since at least 1986. This reform would allow each president to appoint two new justices per four-year term. Justices who are term-limited off of the Supreme Court would not leave the judiciary but would rotate out to ride the circuit courts. Some argue it is a way to lower the political temperature of confirmation hearings and is constitutionally plausible (although definitely not bulletproof). Vanderbilt University law professor Ganesh Sitaraman, however, said at a recent event hosted by the American Constitution Society that it actually raises the political stakes by making every single presidential election a referendum on the Supreme Court.

The imposition of term limits and other issues related to the personnel of the court misses the real problem at hand, Aziz Huq, a law professor at the University of Chicago, argued at the Reforming The Court panel. We are having this conversation because the court is powerful, Huq said at the New America Foundation, which was hosting the event. For that reason, he said, progressives, need to limit the power of the court.

Huqs answer is for Congress to strip the court of jurisdiction over specific issues by limiting what cases the court can hear through the Exceptions Clause. That may sound crazy  and some scholars think it is  but its in no way unheard of in American politics. Congress has routinely increased the breadth of the Supreme Courts jurisdiction, so why cant it limit it?

Limiting the Supreme Courts ability to hear cases was long a cause of populists and progressives in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The courts pro-business rulings from the Gilded Age through the Lochner-era Court in the early 20th century prompted protest from progressive lawmakers. After the court struck down a law to ban child labor  one of many such laws regulating corporate behavior struck down at the time  progressives introduced legislation to allow Congress to override Supreme Court decisions, require a supermajority vote on the court to nullify enacted laws and strip the court of jurisdiction over laws banning child labor.

Conservatives took up the mantle of attacking the courts power in the 1970s and 1980s by introducing bills to strip the court of the ability to hear appellate cases related to school prayer, school busing, abortion, the male-only military draft, police arrests and cases arising from state court decisions.

None of these bills ever passed. Instead, during the stretch of time from the Gilded Age all the way to the late-1980s Congress has increased the power of the Supreme Court by expanding its jurisdiction and discretion to hear cases.

Adding new justices to the Supreme Court is another idea increasingly popular among those progressives angered over the Kavanaugh and Garland decisions. The Constitution does not set the number of justices in stone and the number of justices has fluctuated over the years, bumping up to 10 during the Civil War. It has been set at nine since 1869.

US Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland looks at President Barack Obama after he announced his nomination in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., on March 16, 2016. (Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images)

The issue is obviously controversial as it would allow one political party to change the personnel of the court to get the partisan outcome they desire. If one party does it, then whats to stop the other party from doing the same the next time they have a chance, Sitaraman argues.

But at least one progressive push to pack the court has already begun. 1.20.21 is a public education campaign run by political scientist Aaron Belkin and backed by noted liberal Harvard Law School professors Laurence Tribe and Mark Tushnet to get progressives behind the idea of packing the court in 2021 if they have won the necessary political power to do so.

Belkin, who helped organize the opposition to the Pentagons Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy, wants to reverse the judicial theft of the seat Garland was denied by having the next Democratic president appoint two new justices. The Kavanaugh seat should also be offset by two newly appointed justices in response to disastrous nomination process and failure to fully investigate the allegations of sexual assault against the judge, he says. That would bring the Supreme Court up to a total of 13 justices.

The point of the project is to unsteal the courts, Belkin said.

This argument is pretty simple and straightforward and ignores many problems that legal scholars tend to fuss over. Will it raise the political stakes? Will it bring stability to our democratic institutions? Who cares, Belkin says.

To say that Democrats shouldnt unsteal the courts because were worried about the normative context, I think, is to ignore the very normative context that were already in, he said.

The norms are already gone. What matters to Belkin, and one imagines a lot of Democrats, is justice.

The plan for this campaign is, in many ways, like the ongoing conservative effort to establish and maintain control of the Supreme Court. Its a public education campaign to inform progressives about the past and present conservative history of the court and keep the memory of the stolen Garland seat fresh. Grassroots progressives would then pressure their elected officials to back a plan to pack the court.

Do Lawmakers Care?

These ideas and the debate around them may be percolating among progressives think tanks and online activists, but they havent broken through yet with the most important crowd: elected lawmakers. So far, Democrats in Congress have shown little enthusiasm for these ideas, or for really any ideas about changing the Supreme Court at the moment. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), the incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said he wasnt interested in impeaching Kavanaugh for his alleged lying during his confirmation hearings. And only one sitting member has openly backed adding new justices.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is one of the few elected lawmakers openly calling for an expansion of the Supreme Court. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) says he supports adding justices to court not as justice for a stolen seat, but as part of a broader effort to stabilize the court and enable it to hear more cases. Khanna supports the addition of new justices requiring a supermajority vote of either 60 or 67 senators and the end of lifetime appointments.

The idea that youre appointed by a president and then could be influencing the nation 40 to 50 years down the line is highly counter-majoritarian, Khanna said. Youre binding future generations with little accountability to a democratic will.

What Might Spur Action

The current Court led by chief justice John Roberts has been known for rulings rolling back progressive legislation, including the 2010 Citizens United ruling that legalized unlimited corporate spending on independent political efforts. That decision has animated progressives across the country along with the 2013 Shelby County decision overturning part of the Voting Rights Act, which similarly drew broad condemnation. But the post-Anthony Kennedy court has yet to issue a ruling, much less one that defines its perfidy to progressives. That time will come, though.

Caroline Fredrickson, the ACS president, is most concerned about rulings that deal with democracy like the Shelby County and Citizens United decisions. Future rulings further limiting the Voting Rights Act, preventing states from limiting gerrymandering or gutting campaign finance laws could be easily seen as partisan attempts to help the party that appointed the five conservative justices and, thus, destroy trust in the judiciary.

For Tucker, the scholar at the Roosevelt Institute, the big worry comes from this conservative court striking down progressive legislation meant to deal with climate change.

Once you start to look at the aggressive Green New Deal policies that climate scientists say are necessary to head off these irreversible impacts over these next 10 or 20 years, that is where youre going to see the rubber hit the road, Tucker said. Some of that is going to inevitably interfere with property rights, and you have to have a court thats willing to accommodate that.

And if the court doesnt agree, progressives will at least have started this policy discussion years earlier to help guide them towards a forward.

A Switch in Time?

As progressives are discussing their path to taming the court, the debate over these proposals may be serving its own purpose, according to Amanda Frost, a law professor at American University.

Im not a fan of packing the court or term limits, but Im not afraid of talking about it, Frost said.

Talking about it puts political pressure on the court. That is the real lesson of President Franklin Roosevelts failed attempt to pack the court in 1937, Frost argues.

Roosevelts court-packing scheme is remembered as an extreme overreach of power, but the pressure it brought to bear on the court may have forced at least one justice to abandon the pro-business Lochner-era jurisprudence to uphold the minimum wage. Justice Owen Roberts flip to the liberals on the issue of the minimum wage  the switch in time that saved nine  is remembered as the birth of the New Deal Court which also put a nail in the coffin of Roosevelts court-packing plan. Roberts flip made the packing plan redundant.

Theres another Roberts sitting as the swing justice today. Maybe the current chief justice will listen to public pressure when it comes calling 10 or 20 years down the line. Part of the present problem, however, is that progressives already know that he wont.

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Kinshasa (AFP) - The Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday accused Washington of sparking "needless fear" after the US embassy in Kinshasa warned of a "possible terrorist threat" against its mission in the country ahead of a key election.

"You have to distrust information coming from people who want to spread needless fear and uncertainty among the Congolese a few days before elections," government spokesman Lambert Mende told AFP.

The conflict-prone central African country heads to the polls on December 23 to elect a successor to longtime President Joseph Kabila as well as lawmakers for national and provincial parliaments.

"Now that the holding of three elections on December 23, 2018, is a certainty, those who have no control over the electoral process in the DRC are trying to distract the Congolese," said Mende, who is also the country's communications minister.

- 'Credible, specific' -

The embassy on Saturday cited "credible and specific information of a possible terrorist threat against US government facilities in Kinshasa", which were closed on Monday.

Relations between Kinshasa and the West have been strained under Kabila, and DRC's electoral commission Ceni said Monday that no EU or US observers would be invited to oversee the poll.

"There will be no invitations for EU observers or from the Carter Center," a Ceni official said, referring to former US president Jimmy Carter's organisation which has monitored dozens of elections around the world.

He said an "unprofessional" assessment by the Carter Center of the DR Congo's 2011 elections "almost provoked a war."

The EU for its part fell out of favour with Kinshasa when it froze the assets of 15 Congolese officials after Kabila extended his mandate beyond its official December 2016 expiry date.

- African invites only -

The official said Ceni had invited observers from various African organisations including the African Union, asking rhetorically: "Are elections valid only if the EU and the Carter Center are on hand?"

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Last month the Congolese authorities said the vote, for which campaigning ends on December 21, would go ahead without help from the international community.

Kinshasa has declined offers of advice, oversight and funding to organise polls in a country nearly five times the size of France.

Late last month the Congolese authorities said the vote would go ahead without help from the international community.

Kinshasa has declined offers of advice, oversight and funding to help organise the polls in a country nearly five times the size of France.

Mende serves as spokesman for Kabila's protege Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, a hardline former interior minister running to succeed him.

A police statement meanwhile said all measures would be taken to ensure candidates' security, with a 25-strong special police detail already drawn up for opposition hopefuls Martin Fayulu, Gabriel Mokia, Jean-Philibert Mabaya, Yves Mpunga and Noel Tshany.

The statement added that arrangements for others would be made by Thursday, without mentioning by name Felix Tshisekedi, son of historical opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, the late founder of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress.

DR Congo, an impoverished but mineral-rich country, has never known a peaceful transition of power since independence from Belgium in 1960.
Italian director and Oscar winner Bernardo Bertolucci has died aged 77 (Credit: AAP)

Bernardo Bertolucci, who made movies like Last Tango In Paris and The Last Emperor, has died at the age of 77.

A spokesperson for the Italian director confirmed to the BBC that he had been battling cancer and died following a short illness.

Bertolucci won two Oscars for his work, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, both for The Last Emperor, his epic 1987 biopic of Puyi, the last emperor of China.

In fact, the film won all nine Oscars it was nominated for.

He also won an honourary Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011, and was presented with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008.

Bernardo Bertolucci, left, discusses a scene with Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider during the shooting of Last Tango In Paris (Credit: AP)

However, he will likely be best known for his explicit drama Last Tango In Paris, released in 1972 nd detailing the torrid and at times sexually violent affair between Marlon Brandos American businessman and a young Parisian woman, played by Maria Schneider.

Given the infamous X certificate in the US, it was banned in many countries around the world.

Bertolucci made his break into cinema at the age of 20, becoming an assistant director to the iconic Pier Paolo Pasolini on the movie Accattone in 1961.

He directed his first film La Commare Secca the following year.

He is survived by his wife, the British screenwriter and director Clare Peploe.

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BEIRUT (AP)  The Latest on the Syria conflict (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has reshuffled his Cabinet, replacing nine officials including the minister in charge of internal security.

Cabinet reshuffles like the one announced Monday are not uncommon in Syria and have occurred on several occasions since the civil war began seven years ago.

It was not immediately why Assad replaced longtime Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shaar, who was wounded in a 2012 bombing that killed four top security officials.

Al-Shaar was replaced by Maj. Gen. Mohammed Khaled Rahmoun, who headed the powerful Political Security Directorate, one of the main intelligence agencies in the country.

The U.S. Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on Rahmoun, 61, last year.

Other ministers changed include those of tourism, education, public works, telecommunications and industry.

___

2:30 p.m.

Syrian activists say four days of fighting between U.S.-backed forces and Islamic State militants have left scores dead on both sides.

The latest round of fighting broke out Friday when IS gunmen took advantage of fog to launch an offensive from the last area they control in Syria.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 92 members of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and 61 militants have been killed since.

Omar Abou Leila, who monitors the war in Deir el-Zour from Europe, said Monday that dozens of SDF fighters were killed.

SDF fighters launched an offensive on Sept. 10 under the cover of airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition to liberate the last pocket held by IS near the Iraqi border. They have made little progress since then.

___

2 p.m.

The chief of the global chemical weapons watchdog says the organization is considering sending inspectors to investigate an alleged poison gas attack in Syria.

Fernando Arias, director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said on Monday that officials at the Hague-based watchdog have been in touch with U.N. experts "to assess the security situation on the ground for a possible deployment" of a fact-finding mission to Syria.

Syria's Arab News Agency, SANA, said the alleged chemical attack late on Saturday was carried out by "terrorist groups positioned in Aleppo countryside" that fired shells containing toxic gases on three neighborhoods in Syria's largest city, injuring dozens.

The OPCW's fact-finding mission is tasked with investigating alleged chemical attacks in Syria and reporting back to the organization and United Nations.
Herat (Afghanistan) (AFP) - At least 22 police officers were killed in a Taliban ambush in western Afghanistan, a health official said Monday, in another blow to Afghan forces already suffering record casualties.

The attack on the police convoy in Farah province follows a wave of violence across Afghanistan in recent weeks, including a suicide bombing inside an army base mosque on Friday, and intensifying efforts to convince the Taliban to end the 17-year war.

At least two police officers were wounded in Sunday's ambush, said Shir Ahmad Weda, director of the public hospital in the provincial capital.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a WhatsApp message, saying 25 police were killed and four wounded.

"Four vehicles were destroyed and a large quantity of weapons were seized," Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the militants, added.

Provincial police spokesman Mohibullah Mohib said the convoy had been travelling from Farah city to Juwain district when it came under attack.

Mohib put the death toll at five with another seven wounded.

Afghan government and military officials often downplay the casualty toll of security forces, while the Taliban frequently exaggerates the number its fighters have killed or wounded.

The Taliban and its smaller rival the Islamic State group (IS) have been inflicting record casualties on local forces this year.

At least 27 soldiers were killed in Friday's suicide attack in a mosque on an army base in the eastern province of Khost.

IS claimed responsibility for the explosion, which also wounded at least 79 service members.

That came days after a suicide assault on a religious gathering in Kabul that killed at least 55 people and wounded 94.

Since the start of 2015, when local forces took over from US-led NATO combat troops to secure the country, nearly 30,000 Afghan soldiers and police have been killed, President Ghani revealed this month -- a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged.

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Experts have warned the attrition rate is unsustainable.

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad expressed hopes in Kabul earlier this month that a peace deal to end the war could be struck before the Afghan presidential election, scheduled for April 20.

His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for such a deal to be done quickly.

But Afghan election organisers said Monday they were considering delaying the poll for three months amid fears the ballot could derail efforts to persuade the Taliban to talk.
Four weeks from oblivion, GOP Congress slumbers on By Michael R Shannon

The session of Congress that occurs after the justcompleted election and the swearing in of the new Congress in January is called a lame duck session. It will last four weeks. These are the last weeks Republicans will be in control of both houses of Congress and the White House. This was supposed to be a golden age of conservative accomplishment. In reality, it was two more years of the CantDo Caucus telling voters what they promised on the campaign trail at home, cant be done in DC. Next year the charade will be over, because the left will control the House. This brief session will constitute another Gohmert Moment, which Ive named after Louie Gohmert, the genuine Texas conservative congressman. When Gohmert first entered Congress he and other freshmen were excited about the prospect of passing truly conservative legislation. That was before he met the timid, country club conservatives who comprise House leadership. Gohmert explained at his first GOP House conference the leaderships caretaker conservatives were worried. They acknowledged the campaign has promised big things. But in Washington there was a small chance Republicans might lose the majority in two years. To play it safe, leadership wanted to do small things, win the election and keep the majority. Then, leadership promised it would be time to do big things. Gohmert disagreed, If theres any chance we might lose, then this is the time to do the big stuff. Gohmert was ignored. Hes been ignored ever since. Rachel Bovard, of the Conservative Partnership Institute, reminds us of what could be done if our placeholder GOP believed in the issues on which it campaigned. Bovard suggests this last GOP Congress, take a cue from the Democrats playbook in 2010. Like present-day Republicans, House Democrats were then about to lose their majority. Republicans, like now, were expanding their majority in the Senate. But in the face of waning power, Democrats did not fold. They fought. The left focused on Cultural Marxism and one foreign policy initiative. The Cultural Marxist hot buttons appealed solely to lefts base  a concept as foreign to GOP leadership as quantum physics is to a cat. The goal was repeal Dont Ask, Dont Tell, so homosexuals in the military could go ahead and flaunt it, and pass the DREAM Act, an amnesty for younger illegal aliens. The foreign policy initiative was the NEW START nuclear arms treaty. Sure to rev up any surviving Ban the Bomb marchers from the 60s. Bovard explains, Democrats intentionally chose to aggressively move forward on controversial legislation on which they had previously punted  likely driven by the fact that they were not sure when theyd again control both houses of Congress and the White House. The left was successful on two out of three. Only the DREAM Act failed. If our conservativesinnameonly Republicans followed that successful template, top legislative priorities during this lame duck session would be terminating the funding of the organ harvesters at Planned Parenthood; pulling the plug on PBS, NPR, NEA and NEH; fully funding President Trumps border wall, and reforming immigration law by ending the anchor baby and asylum scams. Then conservatives would miss them when they were gone. William Galston, a former advisor to Bill Clinton, said Democrats were successful because, They were prepared to pull out all the stops. Unfortunately, todays conservative stop is Curator of the Senate Mitch McConnell, who follows an extraConstitutional policy of requiring 60 votes to pass legislation in the Senate, while a simple majority works fine in the House. And what are the curators priorities for the lame duck session? The Hill reports Mitch wants to pass a criminal justice reform bill, a porkladen Agriculture bill, a foreign aid measure and ratify judicial nominations  a routine task in any other Congress but an activity for which this pack of seatwarmers expects fulsome praise. Do you see any correlation between what the conservative base wants passed and what the housebroken conservatives intend to pass? Its no wonder many conservatives were guided to the polls by muscle memory rather than enthusiasm. Evidently lame duck is a dish that can only be prepared by leftist chefs. As these dissemblers stagger toward the finish line of this Congress, I feel much like Oliver Cromwell did in 1653 when he dismissed the equally wretched Long Parliament: It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, [you are] enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money. In the name of God, go! Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at mandate.mmpr (at) gmail.com. He is also the author of Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!). Home
Lome (AFP) - The main opposition coalition in Togo said Monday it will boycott December 20 general elections and call for further protests over what it alleged was a "fraudulent" poll.

"We're not going to give our blessing to this masquerade being prepared," a coordinator in the coalition, Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson, told local radio.

Togo's Constitutional Court has validated ballots for 12 parties -- but not any for the 14-party opposition coalition that has staged protests in the former French colony over the past year.

Ballots for 17 independent candidates have also been approved.

Adjamagbo-Johnson vowed "we will do everything so that the elections don't happen -- we never want fraudulent elections in Togo."

She said the coalition has asked the Economic Community of West African States, a regional body that has been following Togo's political crisis, to step in.

Two new demonstrations are planned for Thursday and Saturday, Adjamagbo-Johnson said.

The opposition is demanding a shakeup of Togo's electoral authority and a reboot of election preparations.

The government's security minister, General Yark Damehame, last week warned against acts of violence seeking to upset the campaigns and voting.

"A boycott is a democratic choice. One should not seek to destroy the voting booth or the ballot box," he told the radio.

Togo's crisis has been going on since September 2017, when protesters filled the streets in the capital Lome and elsewhere to demand President Faure Gnassingbe resign.

Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005, following the death of his father who reigned for 38 years.
The Maldives top court overturned a terrorism conviction on Monday against the country's first democratically elected leader Mohamed Nasheed, who fled into exile after being sentenced to 13 years behind bars.

The Supreme Court said Nasheed was wrongfully charged and should not have been convicted in the 2015 trial described by the United Nations as politically motivated.

Nasheed went into exile a year later while abroad seeking medical treatment, and was branded a fugitive from justice.

"President Nasheed's entire trial was a politically-motivated sham," his lawyer, Hisaan Hussein, said after his conviction was quashed.

"It is appalling that an innocent man was unjustly forced to spend a year in jail, 35 months in exile, and was prevented from standing for political office."

The opposition icon only returned to the Maldives this month after his political rival Abdulla Yameen, who ruled the Maldives with an iron fist for five years, was beaten in a presidential election.

The strongman president jailed or exiled most of his opponents but since he departed office political prisoners have been freed and opponents abroad have returned.

Nasheed, the leader of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party, was expected to contest the September poll but was barred on account of his terrorism conviction.

His party's nominee, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, ran and unexpectedly defeated Yameen despite curbs on opposition campaigning.

Nasheed risked arrest if he ever returned to the Maldives while Yameen remained in power.

Nasheed was elected president in the Maldives first-ever democratic poll in 2008, ousting an authoritarian president who had ruled the honeymoon islands for 30 years.

But he was toppled in what he called a coup in 2012, and found guilty of terrorism three years later.

His appeal against his 13-year jail sentence had languished before the courts for years before Yameen's defeat and the case reopened.
Matthew Hedges, the Durham University academic, has been released from prison in the UAE after he was pardoned for spying. (PA)

Matthew Hedges, the British academic sentenced to life in jail in the United Arab Emirates after being convicted of spying for the UK government, has been released.

Matthew Hedges was freed on Monday after a high-profile battle with the Gulf state ally, but officials persisted in calling him an MI6 spy  a claim denied by family and colleagues.

The Durham University PhD student, originally from Exeter, was sentenced on Wednesday, in a move described as deeply disappointing by Theresa May, after being arrested at Dubai Airport as he tried to leave on May 5  he is due back on British soil on Tuesday.

Daniela Tejada the wife of British academic, 31-year-old PhD student Matthew Hedges who was jailed for life in the United Arab Emirates on an allegation of spying. (PA)

Ms Tejada said news of the pardon brought her familys nightmare to an end, and Mr Hunt described it as fantastic.

At a news conference on Monday in Abu Dhabi, officials showed a video of Mr Hedges describing himself as a captain in MI6 during what appeared to be a court hearing.

However, MI6  the foreign intelligence service  is not known to use military ranks.

An official told reporters in Abu Dhabi that Mr Hedges was 100% a full-time secret service operative who was in the country to steal the UAEs sensitive security national secrets for his paymasters.

He said the Britons pardon came in response to a letter from his family appealing for clemency and due to the historical close ties between the UK and UAE.

His highness has decided to include Mr Matthew Hedges among the 785 prisoners released, he said.

Mr Hedges will be permitted to leave the country once all the formalities are complete.

The UK takes a neither confirm nor deny approach to allegations of intelligence service membership, but Mr Hunt has previously said he has seen absolutely no evidence to suggest Mr Hedges is a spy.

In a statement following the pardon, Ms Tejada, from Bogota in Colombia, said: The presidential pardon for Matt is the best news we could have received.

Our six-plus months of nightmare are finally over and to say we are elated is an understatement.

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That he is returning home to me and the rest of his family is much more than I was ever expecting to happen this week. I thank you all for your support.

He said the Britons pardon was in response to a letter from his family appealing for clemency and due to the historical close ties between the UK and UAE.

His Highness has decided to include Mr Matthew Hedges among the 785 prisoners released, he said.

Mr Hedges will be permitted to leave the country once all the formalities are complete.

The Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, described it as fantastic news.

Mr Hedges release was confirmed after a family representative initially contradicted UAE officials who said he had been freed.

Mr Hunt said the UAE had made a very important gesture in pardoning Mr Hedges but described it as a bittersweet moment given that Briton Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe remains detained in Iran, also accused of spying.

He told Today: In a way its a bittersweet moment as in Iran, another country in the region, we have Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an innocent woman who is still in prison for nearly three years now.

Indeed, there are other British citizens and other citizens from other countries also wrongly imprisoned in Iran also.

So, you know the wonderful news about Matthew is also making us remember there are other people who are in a terrible state right now and we must never forget them either.

UAE minister of state for foreign affairs Anwar Gargash said the pardon would allow the two countries to return our focus to the underlying fundamental strength of the UAE-UK bilateral relationship, the WAM Emirates news agency reported.
Matthew Hedges and his wife, Daniela Tejada

The British academic sentenced to life in jail in the United Arab Emirates after being convicted of spying for the UK government has been pardoned.

Matthew Hedges, a 31-year-old doctoral student at Durham University, was convicted last Wednesday in a move described as deeply disappointing by Theresa May.

On Monday morning, a UAE official said the country stands by the charges against Mr Hedges, but that the academic was being pardoned, alongside 784 other prisoners, as part of the UAEs 47th National Day.

The spokesman said Mr Hedges was 100% a full-time secret service operative who was in the country to steal the UAEs sensitive security national secrets for his paymasters.

He said the Britons pardon was in response to a letter from his family appealing for clemency and due to the historical close ties between the UK and UAE.

His Highness has decided to include Mr Matthew Hedges among the 785 prisoners released, he said.

Mr Hedges will be permitted to leave the country once all the formalities are complete.

The Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, described it as fantastic news.

Fantastic news about Matthew Hedges.Although we didnt agree with charges we are grateful to UAE govt for resolving issue speedily.But also a bittersweet moment as we remember Nazanin &other innocent ppl detained in Iran.Justice wont be truly done until they too are safely home.  Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) November 26, 2018

Mr Hedges had been held in the UAE since May 5, when he was arrested at Dubai International Airport after a two-week research visit. The evidence presented against him consisted of notes from his dissertation research, Hedges family has maintained.

The official Emirates News Agency quoted UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash saying: The case against Mr Hedges was predicated on evidence secured from Mr Hedges electronic devices; surveillance and intelligence gathering by UAE intelligence and security agencies; and evidence provided by Mr Hedges himself  including a corroborated account of asset recruitment and training and the confidential information being targeted.

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His recruitment and progress within a foreign intelligence service was authenticated to the court by UAE intelligence agencies.

The gracious Presidential customary National Day pardon allows us to close this chapter and to concentrate on the many positive aspects of the relationship.

The Hedges family say he was made to sign a confession statement in Arabic that he did not understand and experienced deterioration in both his physical and mental health during his detention.

Mr Hedgess wife, Daniela Tejada, said she and the rest of his family were elated at the news he was to be freed.

She told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Its taken me by surprise and Im just so happy and so relieved and really incredulous that it is all happening finally.

Its been an absolutely nightmarish seven months already and I cant wait to have him back.

Ms Tejada rejected the UAEs claim that her husband was an MI6 agent, telling Today: In my heart I know that he isnt.

Asked about the fact that he was being pardoned rather than the spying charges being quashed, she said: If that is what it takes for him to be back I just welcome the news.




We should be grateful we did as well as we did in the midterm elections By Rachel Alexander

Conservatives are bemoaning the mediocre performance Republicans had in the midterm elections. It is typical for the party in power to lose the House during the midterm elections, but Republicans also lost some big statewide races, particularly in Arizona where a U.S. Senate seat, secretary of state and superintendent of schools all switched to blue. Overall, however, it was not quite a blue wave. Republicans won two key statewide races in Florida; a U.S. Senate seat and the governorship. So why should we be glad for this mediocre performance? Because the Democrats dominate education, the media and Hollywood (they also dominate the legal system, but thats another story for another day). And aging hippy Baby Boomers have raised the latest generation of adults, the Millennials. We should have done worse. The Democrats spent years brainwashing our children in the public schools and universities. K-12 and college youth are now taught that Republican ideals are racist, sexist, homophobic  so wrong that they must be censored out of society. Those who disagree with this groupthink are punished. It takes guts to stand up and be a pariah among your fellow students and risk getting a bad grade from your teachers. Democrats constitute 41 percent of K-12 teachers. Only 27 percent are Republicans. Half voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, in contrast to 29 percent for Donald Trump. The school administration forces liberal curriculum on the teachers, which counters any conservatism they may have. Democratic professors in college outnumber Republicans even worse, 10 to 1. The Harvard University faculty backs Democrats 96 percent of the time. One of the few faculty members there who is not a Democrat was too afraid to comment about it. Sorry, but the smart thing for me to do about this kind of issue is not to comment! he said when asked for a comment by Fox News. The Democrats control most of the media, constantly spinning the news to make Republicans look mean and Democrats look like saints. More than 96 percent of donations from media figures to either of the two major-party presidential candidates went to Hillary Clinton. The three major TV broadcast networks have the most hostile coverage of a president in TV news history  92 percent. Only eight percent of the coverage of Trump is positive. Hollywood movies do the same thing. I just watched The First Purge, which is a classic example of this bias. It features a party in power known as The New Founding Fathers of America. This administration starts a purge, where for one day a year, crime is legal and people are free to go around murdering other people and committing any crime they want. The NRA supports the purge. The administration justifies it with the need for population control of poor people. Its the same old tired Hollywood plot to portray Republicans as evil and Democrats as righteous moral crusaders. Beautiful minorities comprise the opposition fighting back against this oppressive regime. Republicans are always portrayed as old white men and Democrats as that attractive person youd like to be friends with. Teenage minds are more impressionable than adults; what are they going to think of the mostly white (translate: racist) party that wants to murder poor people? None of the stereotypes are accurate, its become pretty well-known lately that Democrats were the party of racism, and there are plenty of minorities in the Republican Party who dont buy into the Democrats lies. Millennials reached voting age after the worst of this indoctrination and consequently vote more Democratic than previous generations. This was also due to the influence of their left-leaning Baby Boomer parents. NPR exit polls from the midterm elections reported that two-thirds of people age 18-29 voted Democrat, which is a major bump from previous midterms. They also turned out in bigger numbers than they did in the last midterms. Young-adult turnout surged by 188 percent in early voting compared with 2014. One quarter of all voters now are Millennials. Ive said for years during Barack Obamas presidency that Republicans would need a celebrity in order to take back the White House due to the amount of indoctrination  and sure enough, along came Donald Trump. Trump was a Democrat for much of his adult life, and palled around with the top Hollywood elites. He was able to attract a portion of the population that is wowed by celebrities. He may not reflect conservative values perfectly due to his background, but to the lefts dismay, he is getting a lot accomplished for Republicans. And he is making significant inroads against the lefts dominance of the media by tweeting directly to the American people every day. Fortunately, there are signs things may be changing. The #WalkAway and BLEXIT movements are composed of minorities leaving the Democrat Party and exposing its deception. As technology continues to evolve, there are new areas of influence online opening up to influence the younger generations, bypassing education, the media, Hollywood and their parents. And the children of Gen X are now becoming adults, who are more conservative than the Millennials. There is some hope we havent lost it all. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, and other publications. Home
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent (L) stands watch as U.S. troops set up concertina wire at the San Ysidro port of entry during a "large-scale operational readiness exercise" which briefly closed the border crossing on November 22, 2018 in Tijuana, Mexico.

Defense Secretary James Mattis says there are 5,764 active-duty troops stationed the the U.S.-Mexico border with 2,100 National Guard members. The troops are stationed at border points in Texas, California, and Arizona.

The troops have been deployed by Donald Trump to defend the border against a caravan of thousands of Central Americans who banded together to come to the U.S. in hopes of finding asylum. Trump previously signed an executive order which would have changed the asylum policy, but this was struck down by the federal judge earlier this week.

The judges decision sparked a heated back-and-forth between Donald Trump and Chief Justice John Roberts that continued through the Thanksgiving holiday into Friday. Twitter was even more hectic than the stores as the two high-ranking officials used social media to snipe at each other.

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After nearly seven months and more than 300 million miles, NASAs InSight spacecraft touched down on Mars on Monday to cheers.

The suspenseful landing, which followed what engineers described as seven minutes of terror as the robot rapidly decelerated from 12,300 to 5 mph, is NASAs first such landing attempt on the Red Planet in six years.

Since 1960, various national space agencies have made 44 similar attempts to land on Mars, but only 18 of those were completely successful, according to NASA.

The control room at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, where InSights entry, descent and landing (EDL) team was based, erupted in cheers on Monday at the words touchdown confirmed as people jumped out of their chairs to embrace and applaud.

Our @NASAInSight spacecraft stuck the #MarsLanding!



Its new home is Elysium Planitia, a still, flat region where its set to study seismic waves and heat deep below the surface of the Red Planet for a planned two-year mission. Learn more: https://t.co/fIPATUugFo pic.twitter.com/j0hXTjhV6I  NASA (@NASA) November 26, 2018

An engineer smiles next to an image of Mars sent from the InSight lander shortly after it landed on Mars. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Engineer Kris Bruvold, bottom center, celebrates as the InSight lander touch downs on Mars. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Within minutes of its successful landing in a region called Elysium Planitia, described as a flat and smooth plain close to the planets equator, NASA shared a photo of Mars that the space agency said was taken by InSight.

 Wish you were here! @NASAInSight sent home its first photo after #MarsLanding:



InSights view is a flat, smooth expanse called Elysium Planitia, but its workspace is below the surface, where it will study Mars deep interior. pic.twitter.com/3EU70jXQJw  NASA (@NASA) November 26, 2018

Vice President Mike Pence was among the immediate well-wishers on Twitter who lauded NASAs achievement as an incredible milestone.

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Retired astronauts Chris Hadfield, Mark Kelly and Scott Kelly also expressed their congratulations to the NASA team, while noting the extreme challenges that were overcome.

Its exactly why America must continue to lead the way by investing in science and space exploration, tweeted Mark Kelly.

In New York City, revelers cheered on the landing in Times Square where the mission was broadcast live from the Nasdaq tower.

Once on Mars, InSight will drill into the ground with a probe to offer mankind a first-ever look inside the Red Planets core, mantle and crust.

Weve studied Mars from orbit and from the surface since 1965, learning about its weather, atmosphere, geology and surface chemistry, Lori Glaze, acting director of the planetary science division in NASAs Science Mission Directorate said in a release on Sunday. Now we finally will explore inside Mars and deepen our understanding of our terrestrial neighbor as NASA prepares to send human explorers deeper into the solar system.

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This illustration shows NASA's InSight lander about to touch down on the surface of Mars. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The robots journey was especially harrowing for its team of scientists and engineers, who had no control of it once it reached Mars atmosphere. Instead, NASAs EDL team spent months pre-programing the spacecrafts landing, basing their calculations off of weather reports that they received from NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

About two hours before InSight began its landing, the EDL team made some final tweaks to the spacecrafts flight path before it carried out its landing solo.

This story has been updated with additional quotes and information about the landing.

Related Coverage

Goodnight, Kepler: NASAs Planet-Hunting Telescope Has Finally Run Out Of Fuel

NASA Looking Toward Manned Mission To Mars 'Sometime In The 2030s'

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Brussels (AFP) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Monday demanded Russia free Ukrainian ships and sailors held after clashes off Crimea, warning Moscow that "its actions have consequences".

Russia fired on and then seized three Ukrainian ships on Sunday, accusing them of illegally entering its waters in the Sea of Azov, in a dramatic spike in tensions that raises fears of a wider escalation.

Stoltenberg held phone talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko before officials from the two sides held emergency talks at alliance headquarters in Brussels.

"There is no justification for the use of military force against Ukrainian ships and naval personnel, so we call on Russia to release immediately the Ukrainian sailors and ships it seized yesterday," Stoltenberg told reporters after the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission.

"And we call for calm and restraint."

Kiev accused Russia of launching "a new phase of aggression", which annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

The Ukrainian military has been put on high alert and the country's parliament is to vote on a request by Poroshenko to impose martial law for 60 days.

Ukraine has also urged its Western allies to step up existing sanctions implemented against Russia over Crimea and its role in the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine between the government and pro-Moscow separatists.

Stoltenberg said the 29 NATO allies reiterated their support for Ukrainian sovereignty, saying they would never recognise Russia's claim to Crimea.

"Russia has to understand that its actions have consequences -- that's the reason why NATO has reacted so firmly against the actions of Russia against Ukraine over several years," the former Norwegian premier said, without giving details of possible consequences but pointing to economic sanctions imposed by the West on Russia.

Stoltenberg said Poroshenko had assured him that the proposed martial law would not interfere with upcoming presidential elections planned for March 31.

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Moscow has blamed Kiev for the incident, drawing a barbed response on Twitter from the US Special Envoy for Ukraine Negotiations, Kurt Volker.

"Russia rams Ukrainian vessel peacefully travelling toward a Ukrainian port. Russia seizes ships and crew and then accuses Ukraine of provocation???" Volker tweeted.

Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea.

Kiev has accused Moscow of blocking access for Ukrainian ships though the strait, the only way in and out of the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.
Neanderthal vs human skull, both shown in profile.

New research suggests that interbreeding between early humans and Neanderthals was not the rarity scientists had once thought it was, but rather a more regular occurrence over several thousands of years.

In a study published Thursday in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, a pair of researchers from Temple University explained how the interbreeding started about 75,000 years ago  not long after early humans moved out of Africa and into Europe and certain parts of Asia. There, the early humans first encountered Neanderthals. As noted by History, earlier studies had suggested that most modern humans have about 2 percent Neanderthal DNA as a result of interbreeding between the two species.

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Theresa May is set to start a two-week blitz to try and sell her Brexit deal (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Theresa May is launching a two-week blitz to persuade the public to back the Brexit deal she signed off with the EU at the weekend.

The Prime Minister now faces the arduous task of persuading the public and MPs to support the widely criticised deal, embarking on a tour of the country in a last-ditch charm offensive.

Here is how this week is expected to play out for Mrs May:

Cabinet meeting

Ministers are meeting on Monday morning for the first time since the Brexit deal was rubber-stamped. The PM is expected to brief her Cabinet on how she plans to sell the agreement to the public and MPs, a significant number of whom are vehemently opposed to the deal. She will also attempt to persuade Brexiteer ministers, who are unhappy with elements of the Brexit deal, to publicly back her.

The Prime Minster needs to win over the hard Brexiteer faction of the cabinet.

Commons statement

Mrs May will make her pitch to MPs in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, warning that voting down her deal will lead to more division and uncertainty. She will say that no better deal is available, and that rejecting her offering risks crashing out of the EU without an agreement in place.

Battle tour

The Prime Minister will begin travelling around the country this week to try and win over voters. While this happens in front of the cameras the PMs team will be frantically battling behind the scenes in Westminster to win over wavering MPs.

Article 50 challenge

On Tuesday, judges at the European Court of Justice will hear arguments over whether Article 50, the legal mechanism Britain used to quit the EU, can be reversed. Triggered by the Government on March 29 2017, Article 50 governs the two-year negotiating period for countries leaving the EU. The ruling is expected at a later date.

PMQs

Theresa May faces another exchange with Jeremy Corbyn over Brexit (PA Images)

Mrs May will face her weekly Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday. These exchanges have been increasing hostile in recent weeks, with tough questions from both the opposition and within her own ranks.

Committee of committees

On Thursday the PM is due to appear before the Liaison Committee, which will comprise 13 chairmen of various influential Commons committees. She will be questioned on her Brexit deal and its impact on the economy, business and trade; constitutional matters; security, defence and borders and cross-border issues like transport, science and health.

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Apart from Brexit

Mrs May heads to Argentina for the G20 summit in Buenos Aires on Friday and Saturday.
BEIT UMMAR, West Bank (Reuters) - A Palestinian was shot dead while carrying out a car-ramming attack on Monday that injured three Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said. The military said one of the soldiers sustained moderate injuries and the other two were slightly hurt when the Palestinian crashed his vehicle into them along a West Bank road north of the city of Hebron. Another soldier then shot and killed the assailant, the military said. Palestinians, many of them individuals without known associations with militant groups, carried out a wave of car-ramming attacks in the West Bank in late 2015 and in 2016, but the frequency of such incidents has since decreased. There was no claim of responsibility for Monday's incident, which drew praise from the Hamas militant group as "a response to crimes carried out by the occupation", a term it uses to refer to Israel. Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 Middle East war. Palestinians seek to establish a state there and in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in 2014. (Writing by Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem; Editing by Alison Williams)
The boarded up home on Fitzalan Close, Babbinswood, Shrops, of a 74-year-old man who has died three days after being robbed by a gang of thugs who burst into his home while pretending to be undercover police officers. (SWNS)

A pensioner has died three days after being robbed by a gang of thugs who burst into his home while pretending to be undercover police officers.

The 74-year-old man, who has not yet been identified, was taken to hospital after being threatened in his house in Babbinswood, Shropshire, on November 20.

Three men tricked their way into the property on Fitzalan Close at around 8pm before ransacking his house and fleeing with cash and a wallet.

The victim was treated in hospital overnight and discharged the following morning but was found dead days later on Friday.

The incident came just two weeks after a 98-year-old was left fighting for his life following a robbery in Enfield.

The boarded up home on Fitzalan Close, Babbinswood, Shrops, of a 74-year-old man who has died three days after being robbed by a gang of thugs who burst into his home while pretending to be undercover police officers. (SWNS)

West Mercia Police are now probing whether the mans death is linked to the robbery and are still awaiting the results of a post mortem.

Detectives believe the offenders left the area in a light-coloured Volvo and are appealing for any witnesses to get in touch.

Shropshire Commander Superintendent Mo Lansdale said: Our thoughts are with the mans family and friends at this difficult time.

He has clearly suffered an unpleasant ordeal during the robbery and whether or not this is linked to his death we simply dont know at this stage.

Were carrying out enquiries into the robbery to trace those responsible and would appeal for anyone with information to come forward and speak to us.

If anyone was in Whittington on Tuesday evening and saw anything suspicious or out of the ordinary we would ask them to get in contact.

Anyone with information is asked to contact West Mercia Police on 101 quoting reference 652s 201118 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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The new normal: Fallout from the 2018 midterms By Greg Strange

Welcome to the new normal, America! Whats it all about? Well, its all part of the glorious resistance that began with the unexpected election of Donald Trump. As you will recall, the election and subsequent coronation of Hillary Clinton was going to be little more than a formality for the leftward-marching nation, after which the golden, hopey-changey policies of the Obama administration would be consolidated and enshrined until the end of time (or until we became Venezuela, whichever came first). But on the way to that socialistic, multicultural, open-bordered, gender fluid utopia, the unthinkable happened. A near silent majority of forgotten Americans issued what amounted to a collective primal scream and voted in The Donald for president. One nanosecond later, the left issued its own collective primal scream and the resistance was born. So heres how it goes. You already know that Democrats divide us by race, ethnicity, class, gender, you name it, anything that can stir up a lot of raw emotions. Then they try to coalesce all the standard victim groups into a solid block that will vote overwhelmingly Democrat. In order to pull that off they have to constantly stoke resentments and grievances among that constellation of victim groups and then offer to rescue them from their imagined oppression (which, by the way, never seems to happen since the grievances never end). The problem, though, for Democrats is that they dont always win elections. What to do then? Contest them, thats what! But wait, they cant just contest every lost election, can they? Of course not, that would be too transparently agitative. But they can contest the close ones. In a fifty-fifty nation there are plenty of close elections and that opens up a potential Pandoras box of Democrat shenanigans and dirty tricks. Its easiest to do when the Democrat candidate is a person of color because then the accusation of voter suppression can easily be trotted out since, as everybody knows, white supremacy still hangs over the nation like an oppressive pall and its always 1964 Mississippi Burning. (Well, except for that one wacky anomaly of the eight-year, twice-elected Obama presidency of color. But five minutes after that was over, the skies were again obscured by smoke from the burning of crosses and black churches from sea to shining sea.) So, in this years midterms we had person of color Stacie Abrams running for governor of Georgia and person of color Andrew Gillum running for governor of Florida. Both lost in fairly close elections, but both refused to concede right away because they had to make sure that every (Democrat) vote would be counted because, you know, given the ubiquity of white supremacy, the suppression of voters of color is as routine as sunrise and sunset. Finally, after more than a week of recounts, finding stashed away boxes of uncounted votes and endless references to voter suppression, Abrams had to give up the ghost because the numbers just couldnt be wrangled enough to go her way. But her long awaited concession speech was decidedly unconcessional: Let me be clear. This is not a speech of concession. Because concession is to acknowledge that an act is right, true or proper. As a woman of conscience and faith [not to mention color], I cannot concede that. But my assessment is that the law currently allows no further viable remedy. How magnanimous of her. Gillums concession in Florida was, by contrast, untainted by sour grapes and recriminations, which was nice. But it doesnt change the fact that his campaign was still a dumpster fire of destructive far-left policy recommendations that would have wrecked the state and charges of racism that were as carelessly thrown around as rice at a wedding. Some analysts are saying that these contested elections, which stood little chance of being overturned, were like trial runs for 2020 when the Democrats are likely to pull out all the stops in their efforts to gain more political power. Whats going on here is nothing less than the undermining of the democratic process. If citizens cant trust the election process  in the United States of America, of all places  where do you suppose that will lead? The only logical answer is division, strife and quite possibly violence. If large numbers of voters are convinced by the left that theyre being cheated  particularly people of color, whose grievances are already never-ending  then America as youve known it is over. But then, thats what the left wants. If the left  which is congenitally incapable of being satisfied with anything, anytime, anywhere  was disheartened by the failure of Abrams and Gillum to overturn the elections of their white male opponents, they still had plenty to be happy about in the midterms. They did win back the House, after all, and the election of three new Democrat women in particular are enough to make diversity fanatics howl with delight. They are Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Sharice Davids. Ilhan Omar is a Somali-American Muslim in Minnesota, typically seen in pro-sharia hijab. She views Israel as an apartheid regime that has hypnotized the world. Also, there have been allegations that she married her own brother in 2009 as part of an immigration fraud scheme. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan is the oldest of 14 children of Palestinian parents. Unsurprisingly, she doesnt care much for Israel either and she is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Sharice Davids of Kansas is one of the two first Native American congresswomen and  guess what? Shes a lesbian to boot. Whoopee! Shes like a one-woman diversity jackpot! And lets not forget Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the new Hispanic female, democratic socialist it-girl. She has a degree in economics from Boston University but still thinks socialism is the cats meow despite the glaring fact that, when it comes to economic systems, it has been the biggest epic fail in history, not to mention the most deadly. But this stalwart up-and-comer aint ready to throw in the towel just yet. Maybe all socialism needs is some serious girl power to make it all it was cracked up to be. In any case, lets hear it for diversity!

Seriously, though, it would be nice if the people voting for these walking, talking identity politics cliches were more interested in sanity than diversity. Everything that these wind-up diversity dolls will push in terms of policy will be destructive to the country. Unfortunately, half, or maybe even more, of all Americans have been hypnotized by the seductions of leftism and diversity wins hands down over sanity. One thing we can be certain of is that 2020 is going to be yet another most important election of our lifetime and you can count on things getting very ugly with contested elections galore and who knows what else. Then, after its over, things will get even uglier as either the left takes political power and forces its insanity on the country, or, if electorally unsuccessful, the left intensifies the resistance to new levels of derangement and turmoil. Unless a whole bunch of Americans wake up from their leftism-induced stupor, this new normal could turn the country into the biggest (albeit most diverse) banana republic on the planet, with our elections having to be monitored by the UN or some such authority. But at least all that beautiful diversity will be to die for. Literally. Greg Strange can be reached at gpstrange30341@yahoo.com. (c) 2018 Greg Strange. Home
Hollywood screenwriter Terry Rossio (Credit: Getty)

The screenwriter behind movies like Shrek and Pirates of the Caribbean has said that hes sorry for a tweet, in which he likened the offence caused by being called anti-vax to that of the N-word.

Oscar nominated Terry Rossio, who wrote all five of the Pirates movies, as well as Disney classic Aladdin, made the comments after Julie Benson, a writer on the series The 100, called for followers to support vaccination participation efforts in the US.

Vaccination in the US, and around the world, has seen a decline in recent years, leading to an increase in cases of diseases like measles.

My heart goes out to all the parents of vaccine damaged children, who have to not only endure the sadness of their loss, but also the vitriol of ill-informed and insensitive people (such as those here), he wrote.

Anti-Vax is equivalent to calling someone a n***** and makes as little sense.

Rossio spelled out the slur in the tweet, however.

After the fellow writer, Julie Benson, slammed Rossio for using the word on her feed, he went on to further argue his point.

The argument then became heated, with another fellow writer, Jeffrey Grubb, writing: God, this is such a good point. I remember how American founders and citizens enslaved vaccine skeptics for decades. And then, even after freeing them, the government enshrined laws to marginalize vaccine deniers and to deny them wealth and opportunity. Thats just history.

However, Rossio, in a three-part statement, has now apologised for his remarks.

(3 parts)

In a recent Twitter post, arguing against stereotyping and hate

speech, I referenced the 'n-word' (the actual word) as an example of what

not to do. That was a mistake. I am sorry. I now understand that the word has no place in any conversation, ever.  Terry Rossio (@TerryRossio) November 25, 2018

You can't make a point against hate speech and reference actual words of hate speech. That was insensitive and ignorant. I am immediately deleting the post to remove that toxic word from the

internet, where it should never appear in any context.  Terry Rossio (@TerryRossio) November 25, 2018

As the mistake was mine alone, this apology is also mine alone. A deeply

felt apology to all. I continue to stand against hate speech and dehuhmanizing lables in

any form.  Terry Rossio (@TerryRossio) November 25, 2018

Two years ago, Variety reported that Rossio had bought up the rights to tell the story of Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the discredited doctor who was eventually struck off the UK medical register after he linked the MMR vaccine to autism, on screen.

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Doha (AFP) - Qatar Airways announced Monday it is expanding operations in Iran, despite US sanctions on the Islamic republic and a Gulf diplomatic rift over accusations Doha was too close to Tehran.

The carrier will begin twice-weekly flights to Isfahan in February 2019 and increase existing services to Shiraz and Tehran in January 2019, it said in a statement.

"These latest launches are further evidence of Qatar Airways' commitment to Iran," said Akbar al-Baker, the airline's group chief executive.

Last month, Baker said services to Iran would continue despite a tightening economic and political squeeze on the Islamic republic by Washington.

The United States said it would impose sanctions on any American or foreign company that continues to do business with Iran, prompting some major airlines, including Air France, KLM and British Airways, to stop flights to Iran.

A first tranche of US punitive measures were introduced in August after Washington withdrew earlier this year from the 2015 international deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Coupled with the US sanctions, Qatar is under scrutiny from regional powers over its relationship with Iran.

Since June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a sweeping diplomatic and economic embargo on Qatar.

The four countries accuse Doha of seeking closer ties with Iran, Saudi Arabia's arch-rival, as well as supporting radical Islamist groups.

Qatar, which shares the world's largest natural gas field with Iran, denies the charges, saying its former allies are seeking regime change.
By Eric Knecht DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar expects six F-15 warplanes to be delivered to its air force by March 2021, a military official said on Monday, the first batch of 36 it agreed to buy from the United States last year for $12 billion. Brigadier General Issa al-Mahannadi told reporters at the Al Udeid air base in Qatar that a further six F-15s would be dispatched three months after the initial batch, with four more expected every three months thereafter. Qatar signed agreements to buy warplanes from the United States as well as Europe last year after a political dispute broke out between it and neighbors Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain. "This is not a purchase, it is a strategic partnership with the U.S.," Mahannadi said. The tiny but wealthy Gulf state will begin sending eight pilots per year to the United States for training this year, Mahannadi added, while transitioning some of its experienced Qatari pilots to fly the F-15s in order to establish a 53-person aircrew for them by 2023. The programs are part of Qatar's drive to beef up its air power and meet the needs of an air force that has also inked deals for 12 more French Rafale fighters and 24 Eurofighter Typhoon aircrafts since the rift with its neighbors kicked off. Boeing was awarded the contract for the F-15s. Qatar in August announced it would expand Al Udeid, which hosts the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East, to accommodate the F-15s and other fighter jets. Mahannadi said construction on the area for the F-15s would start in 2020 and be completed by 2021, in time to receive the first delivery. (Reporting by Eric Knecht, writing by Alexander Cornwell, editing by Mark Heinrich)
It remains to be seen whether the lame-duck 115th Congress will debate a sweeping overhaul of our federal criminal-justice system before we adjourn for the year. You may have heard about the legislation at hand, the FIRST STEP Act. I oppose it. I urge my fellow conservatives to take the time to read and understand the bill before signing on in support of this flawed legislation.

The 103-page bill that was released the Friday before Thanksgiving has some good parts, and I dont question the intentions of the bills proponents. But you may have noticed that they talk more about their intentions than about the consequences of the bill. As conservatives, we know that good intentions say little about actual consequences. And to paraphrase Thomas Sowell, intellectuals who generate ideas with good intentions rarely have to face the consequences of those ideas personally.

When proponents of the bill discuss the substance, they claim that nothing in the FIRST STEP Act gives inmates early release. Instead of early release, proponents say, it merely provides incentives for inmates to participate in programs. This is nothing but a euphemism. Let there be no doubt: If the bill is passed, thousands of federal offenders, including violent felons and sex offenders, will be released earlier than they would be under current law. Whatever word games the bills proponents use will make no difference to the future victims of these felons.

Proponents also claim that only low-level, non-violent offenders will benefit, and that there are adequate safeguards to protect the public. If I believed these assertions, I would support the FIRST STEP Act. But a careful reading of the bills text, as opposed to the talking points used to promote it, shows that violent felons are eligible for early release, and that many of the bills provisions go against core conservative principles.

For background, according to the Department of Justice, the Senate version of the FIRST STEP Act creates a new time credit system that allows federal prisoners to accrue credits by participating in evidence-based recidivism reduction programming or productive activities. These new credits are in addition to existing good time credits and are worth up to one-third of the offenders sentence.

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The first problem with this new system is that productive activities is defined so vaguely that, according to the Bureau of Prisons, playing softball, watching movies, or doing activities that the prisoners are already doing today will result in new time credits. The whole idea behind these incentives is that prisoners will be less likely to recidivate upon release. But if the credits are this easy to get, how will this change the behavior of serious felons?

The second problem is that while some offenders are ineligible for these new time credits based on an exclusion list, many serious violent crimes are missing from that list. Since proponents tend to misstate or misunderstand their own bill, here are some of the specific federal laws that are missing from the bills exclusion-from-early-release list:

Drug-related robberies involving assault with a dangerous weapon (18 U.S.C.  2118(c)(1))

Using a deadly weapon to assault a law-enforcement officer (18 U.S.C.  111(b))

Assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a spouse or child (18 U.S.C.  113(a)(7))

Violent carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury (18 U.S.C.  2119(2))

Trafficking heroin and fentanyl, if not also convicted of certain other charges. More than 90 percent of traffickers will be eligible for the time credits. (18 U.S.C.  841(b))

These are not low-level, non-violent crimes, nor are they obscure crimes. There are dozens of other serious violent crimes, including sex-related offenses, that are missing from the bills exclusion list. Frankly, there are almost no low-level, non-violent offenders in federal prison, as opposed to state prison, to begin with. And to the extent people are in federal prison for low-level convictions, they typically pled down from more serious charges. Most important, when there are manifest injustices in individual cases, the proper course of justice is not to simply let out thousands of serious felons but to appeal to the president for clemencies and pardons. As Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist 74, the president is far better situated than a legislature to address such cases.

Proponents also claim that we have nothing to fear because only offenders classified as having a low-level of recidivism risk can use their credits to get early release. But this requires extraordinary faith in the governments ability to predict the recidivism risk of violent felons. I understand why liberals have such faith. But it is surprising to me that conservatives, and especially libertarians, have faith that government bureaucrats can judge the state of a felons soul and predict his future behavior. Even if you trusted the current administration to do so, would you trust a future Democratic administration? Plus, if this safeguard is enough, why does the bill have an exclusion list in the first place?

Third, rather than focus on low-level crimes, the bill reduces the penalty for the crime of trafficking the highest quantities of fentanyl described in federal law after previously having been convicted of drug felonies. According to the National Association of United States Attorneys, reducing the sentence on the front end, combined with the new time credits on the back end, means that a repeat fentanyl trafficker could spend half the time in prison under this bill that he would spend under current law.

Finally, the Senate FIRST STEP Act gives judges much more discretion to ignore the mandatory minimum sentence for criminals with prior records. Since when has increased judicial discretion been a conservative principle? Proponents of this bill are suggesting that we put our faith in the wisdom of the same district-court judges who are issuing nationwide injunctions against the Trump administration for merely enforcing our immigration laws. Remember, about three-fifths of active district-court judges were appointed by Clinton or Obama. This bill relies on their discretion to keep the American people safe.

Instead of relying on summaries, you should read the bill yourself, and read letters from law-enforcement organizations, including the National Sheriffs Association, the Major County Sheriffs Association, the Major County Chiefs of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and others that came to the same conclusion I did: The bad in this bill outweighs the good.

I believe there are reforms to the criminal-justice system that align with core conservative principles, such as adding a mens rea requirement for all crimes, reducing the size of the criminal code, and limiting federal power over our lives. This bill includes none of those provisions. But it does include the priorities of the ACLU and the New York Times editorial board. That should be enough to give conservatives pause as to whether the Senate FIRST STEP Act should be rushed through the lame-duck session.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday its warplanes had carried out air strikes against militants it held responsible for firing shells filled with chlorine gas at the city of Aleppo, Russian news agencies reported. Earlier on Sunday, Moscow accused insurgents of poisoning 46 people, including eight children in the attack, while state news agency SANA said that 107 people had been injured. Russian news agencies cited Major-General Igor Konashenkov as saying that the Russian strikes had destroyed all of their targets and that Russia had warned Turkey of the bombing raid in advance via a telephone hotline. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Kiev (AFP) - Ukraine's parliament approved the introduction of martial law in border regions on Monday, as Russian state TV aired images of Ukrainian sailors captured after Moscow seized three of Kiev's ships in a confrontation at sea.

After intense debate, 276 lawmakers voted in favour of President Petro Poroshenko's request for martial law in border areas for 30 days.

The decision came after Russian forces boarded and captured Kiev's ships on Sunday, with Moscow accusing the vessels of illegally entering Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine and its Western allies say Russia illegally blocked the strait and acted against international law by grabbing the vessels and sailors.

The martial law gives Ukrainian authorities the power to mobilise citizens with military experience, regulate the media and restrict public rallies.

Amid fears of a Russian ground offensive, Poroshenko had wanted the law to cover the entire country but it was limited to border regions after opposition from lawmakers.

Before the vote, Poroshenko had accused Moscow of a "new phase of aggression."

With Ukraine's military on high alert, images of several captured sailors were broadcast on Russia's state-run channel Rossiya 24 showing interrogations by Moscow's security services.

At one point, one of the sailors is heard saying that "the actions of the Ukrainian armed vessels in the Kerch Strait had a provocatory character" -- parroting the version of events put forward by Russian authorities.

The incident has raised fears of a wider military escalation. The UN Security Council met in an emergency session, where US Ambassador Nikki Haley warned Russia against "outlaw actions".

US President Donald Trump later weighed in on the incident.

"We don't like what's happening and hopefully it will get straightened out. I know Europe is not -- they are not thrilled. They're working on it too. We're all working on it together," Trump told reporters at the White House.

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- Dangerous development -

The confrontation is the latest dangerous development in the conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country.

More than 10,000 people have been killed since the Moscow-backed insurgency broke out in April 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The United States and EU have already imposed sanctions on Russia over the conflict and on Monday European capitals rallied behind Kiev.

Ukraine's Western allies accused Russia of using force without justification in the naval confrontation, while Kiev urged its partners to impose further sanctions on Moscow.

"These were planned acts of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine," Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin told reporters in Kiev.

Poroshenko accused Russia of taking the two countries' long-running conflict to another level.

The incident showed "the arrogant and open participation of regular units of Russian troops," he said in a television address to the nation, disparaging Moscow's insistence that its forces were not directly involved in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed Kiev, saying: "The Russian side acted strictly within both domestic and international law."

- 'New phase' of conflict -

The crisis unfolded as two small Ukrainian warships and a tugboat were heading through the Kerch Strait, a waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea and which is used by both Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat and then fired on the ships, immobilising all three. It said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area.

Russia's FSB security service, which oversees border forces, confirmed weapons had been fired and the vessels seized, accusing the Ukrainian ships of "violating the Russian border".

Ukraine's interior minister released a video on Twitter apparently from aboard one of the Russian ships, showing the tugboat being chased down and the collision, interspersed with commands and swearing in Russian.

Russian television networks showed a similar video, but with the voices removed and without the moment of collision.

Ukraine said six of its servicemen were injured in the incident, two seriously. The FSB said only three had suffered non-life threatening injuries and were given medical treatment.

Russian officials said 24 Ukrainian servicemen had been detained and Peskov said a criminal investigation had been opened.

- Europe rallies behind Kiev -

"I condemn Russian use of force in Azov Sea. Russian authorities must return Ukrainian sailors, vessels & refrain from further provocations," EU President Donald Tusk tweeted.

France also called on Russia to release the sailors and ships, with the foreign ministry saying "nothing appears to justify the use of force" by Russia.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said any Russian "blockade" of the Sea of Azov was "unacceptable" and proposed French-German mediation to resolve the crisis.

Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Kiev has accused Moscow of blocking access for Ukrainian ships though the strait, the only way in and out of the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

In recent months both sides had deployed more naval and border vessels to the area.
Cairo (AFP) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Cairo on Monday, the latest leg of his first foreign tour since the killing of critic Jamal Khashoggi sparked a global outcry.

The kingdom's de facto ruler was met on arrival by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a source at the airport said.

Prince Mohammed began his regional tour on Thursday, travelling to close ally the United Arab Emirates before arriving in Bahrain on Sunday.

In Egypt, the royal's talks with Sisi are expected to focus on "reinforcing bilateral relations and on regional issues of common interest," presidency spokesman Bassam Radi told AFP.

After an overnight stay in Cairo, the crown prince is due to travel to Tunisia where protests against the visit have been organised by student bodies for Tuesday.

Around 100 people joined an initial demonstration on Monday in the capital Tunis, which had been called by the journalists' union and several NGOs and civil society organisations.

Prince Mohammed's tour comes weeks after the murder of journalist Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul.

Riyadh initially claimed Khashoggi left the consulate unharmed on October 2, before ultimately admitting he was murdered in what officials said was a "rogue" operation.

Saudi Arabia has been put under intense international pressure over the killing and has brought charges over a number of suspects, while denying the country's powerful crown prince was involved.
The scene of an eight-vehicle collision on the M25 between junction five and six near Godstone, in Kent, on Sunday. (Highways England).

Drivers ignoring road signs blocked ambulances called to an eight-vehicle crash on the M25.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called the the collision between junctions five and six on the anti-clockwise carriageway of the M25 near Godstone, Kent, at around 9am on Sunday.

But emergency services were faced with serious delays as drivers had ignored clearly marked signs telling drivers the only road users permitted to use the fast lane were emergency vehicles.

Surreys road policing unit said on Twitter: If on the M25 near the RTC between Jnc 6 and 5 please obey the lane closures. @ SECAmbulance are reporting they cannot get further resources to the scene due to the closures being ignored and the carriageway being completely blocked!

A police spokesman said there were no life-threatening injuries and the road was cleared within a couple of hours.

If on the M25 near the RTC between Jnc 6 and 5 please obey the lane closures.@SECAmbulance are reporting they cannot get further resources to the scene due to the closures being ignored and the carriageway being completely blocked! pic.twitter.com/ZJPuRuT662  RPU  Surrey Police (@SurreyRoadCops) November 25, 2018

Jack Tappin of Highways England told Sky News: A red X should be treated as equivalent to a no entry sign because it means you shouldnt be in that lane.

When drivers see a red X they should take action to safely get out of that lane and not cause obstruction for any emergency services or traffic officers.

Mr Tappin said any drivers ignoring the closures could face a 100 fine and three points on their licence.

Other road users took to Twitter to blast drivers disobeying the signs.

One driver said: Stuck on M25 in massive jam due 2 an accident. People blocking fast lane which is signed keep clear for emergency services should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

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Another added: So angry at selfish motorists for ignoring lane closed, accident signs & blocking 999 services. Should be a motoring offence. #M25 #accident.

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Can we expect a major rebound in oil prices?



By Nick Cunningham

After declining by more than 20 percent from the October peak, oil prices are showing some signs that they have now bottomed out.



WTI hit a low point at $56 per barrel on November 14 and Brent hit a low just below $65 per barrel. Both crude benchmarks regained some ground at the end of the week, despite the huge increase in U.S. crude oil inventories. In fact, rising prices in the face of the 10-million-barrel increase in crude stocks suggests that oil may have already hit a bottom. "[Y]esterday's price reaction to the US inventory data shows that negative news is now largely priced in," Commerzbank said in a note. "This is the only way to explain why an increase in US crude oil stocks of a good 10 million barrels failed to put further pressure on prices."



At the same time, crude stocks have now climbed for eight consecutive weeks, surely a sign that the market is decidedly back in a surplus situation. That is bearish, to be sure, and helps explain the collapse in oil prices over the past month.



But it also significantly increases the odds of a response from the OPEC+ coalition in early December. "[W]e believe oil is oversold and will likely bounce up from the current levels, as OPEC+ dials back production in December," Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a note on Wednesday. The bank said that it no longer sees Brent rising to $95 per barrel next year, as it previously thought, noting that "oil bulls have capitulated and so have we."



However, the liquidation of net-long positioning by hedge funds and other money managers has taken a lot of pressure out of the market. As a result, there is more room on the upside once again. "[T]he oil market is a lot cleaner now from a positioning standpoint. Given that inventories are still not too high, we believe oil prices should find some support from a fundamental perspective," BofAML wrote.



Barclays pointed to some fundamentals to suggest that things aren't as bad as they seem. For instance, OECD stocks in terms of "days of demand cover," remain below the five-year average. "Based on our balances, we expect the amount of inventories in the OECD on a days of demand cover basis to remain supportive of prices through the end of next year," Barclays said in a note.



Moreover, the waivers on Iran sanctions are temporary, and even though the U.S. was more lenient than expected, Iran should continue to lose exports in the months ahead. Indeed, the recent price crash actually gives the Trump administration a lot more room to work with, and it can take a harder line with the eight countries it granted waivers to the next time around.



Finally, lower prices could shut in marginal supply and stimulate demand. Barclays even suggests that Iran may step up threats on the Strait of Hormuz because of lower prices, while Venezuela might lose output at a faster rate.



Still, a price increase from current levels hinges on action from OPEC+. Saudi Arabia has already signaled that it intends to lower exports by 500,000 bpd in December, and that further action might be forthcoming from OPEC+. Russian officials told Reuters that they are not enthusiastic about the 1.4-million-barrel-per-day cut that was reported in the media, but that they might sign on to something more on the order of 1 mb/d.



These rumors tend to drive the market and the price gains seen on Thursday and Friday may have been somewhat driven by rising expectations of OPEC+ action. As these things go, oil traders buy and sell on the rumor. More specifically, the 500,000-bpd Saudi cut is already being priced into the market, and the potential 1-mb/d cut from OPEC+ collectively is now increasingly being factored into the market as well. Because there are now rumors of a cut as large as 1.4 mb/d, the 1 mb/d option could take on a "middle-of-the-road" option. Anything less will be a huge disappointment and could drag oil prices back down.



The IEA noted that the global supply surplus could rise to as much as 2 mb/d in the first half of 2019 based on the trajectory of the current fundamentals. It will require OPEC+ action to head that off.



Nick Cunningham is a writer for Oilprice.com where this originally appeared. Home
Solothurn (Switzerland) (AFP) - Six people, including children, died when a fire broke out in an apartment building northwestern Switzerland, apparently due to "incorrect use of articles for smokers," police said Monday.

One person was arrested following the deadly blaze, which happened in the early hours of Monday in the town of Solothurn, north of the capital Bern.

"There were more than 20 people in the building. Most were evacuated by the fire brigade, but for six people, including children, the help came too late," Solothurn police said in a statement.

"They died on the spot."

Four of the survivors were hospitalised, some with serious injuries.

Police said an initial investigation in the three-storey block indicated the fire started on the lower level, spilling smoke upwards, and was likely caused by the faulty use of smokers' items, but they did not specify what material they were talking about.

The identity and connection of the person detained were not given, nor were the identities of those killed.

But neighbours were quoted by several media outlets suggesting that asylum seekers were living in the building. A local cafe owner told AFP he believed they were mainly Eritreans.

"A resident noticed smoke at 2:10 am (0110 GMT) in the stairwell and sounded the alarm," the police statement said, adding that dozens of firefighters, along with police, ambulances and other rescue services were immediately dispatched to the building.

- 'Impossible to escape' -

Solothurn city councillor Kurt Fluri told the 20Minutes online news site that he was deeply saddened by the tragedy.

He said the fire actually appeared to have been quite small.

"It was the smoke that was the problem. It was impossible to escape from it," he said, adding that some people "appear to have jumped out of the window".

Another witness, a man who had been evacuated from a neighbouring building, also told 20Minutes he had heard that some people had jumped to escape the smoke and flames.

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"They panicked," he said.

Another neighbour, 62-year-old Franco Pedone, told the Blick newspaper's online edition that he had been jolted awake.

"I suddenly heard women shouting in the night. They were screaming like crazy," Pedone said.

And yet another neighbour told 20Minutes that he had heard screams of people stuck in the building and had seen a child being resuscitated by emergency workers.

"That was the worst," he said.
Six Sea Lions Found Shot To Death, Including One Decapitated, Off Coast Of Washington

Six sea lions have been found dead of gunshot wounds off the coast of Washington, including one that was decapitated, in the latest string of killings of the marine mammals in the region.

As NBC News reported, a total of 13 sea lions have been found dead along the Washington coast since September. Six of the sea lions were killed by gunshot wounds while another seven died of acute trauma believed to have been caused by humans, the report noted. One of the animals had been decapitated.

The killings have shocked wildlife officials.

We are concerned about a number of recent reports of marine mammal deaths caused by gunshots in the greater Seattle area. All marine mammals are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and OLE investigates all reported unlawful takes of sea lions, Greg Busch, assistant director of the NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, said in a statement.

Click here to continue and read more...
LUSAKA (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry on Monday offered Zambia support with boosting the country's dwindling elephant population, as he began a two-day working visit without his pregnant wife Meghan. The Duke of Sussex, 34, was received at Lusaka airport by dignitaries and colorfully-dressed traditional dancers, later holding a closed-door meeting with Zambian President Edgar Lungu and his ministers. As president of animal conservation charity African Parks, Harry offered to bring elephants from neighboring Botswana. Prince Harry told the president during closed-door talks that African Parks will help move between 500 and 1,000 elephants from Botswana into Zambias Kafue National Park," Lungu's spokesman Amos Chanda said. He said this should help boost Zambias tourism and create jobs, especially for the youth." African Parks manages national parks on behalf of governments to help protect animals targeted by poachers, including elephants and rhino. Botswana has the highest population of elephants in Africa, while Zambia struggles to pull in the same crowds to its more rundown safari parks. Harry is a frequent visitor to southern Africa for his conservation work and holidays. Harry and Meghan have enjoyed romantic getaways together in Botswana. Last month the royal couple visited Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga on their first official tour since marrying in May. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan on Monday filed a defamation complaint against radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leaders who have accused him and his daughter of corruption. In a speech last week, EFF leader Julius Malema said Gordhan's daughter Anisha was awarded government contracts as a result of her father's position in government. Gordhan denies any wrongdoing, and also says his daughter is not corrupt. The case between Gordhan and Malema could open a new avenue of political jostling between the parties months before a national election, where the smaller EFF is trying to use an anti-corruption platform to challenge key figures in the ruling African National Congress party. Gordhan, a former finance minister respected by international investors for standing up to former president Jacob Zuma, filed a complaint of crimen injuria and criminal defamation and asked the police to investigate any incitement to violence contained in Malema's speech. Crimen injuria is an act of unlawfully, intentionally and seriously impairing the dignity of another. Gordhan also laid another complaint at the Equality Court, seeking an apology from Malema and his deputy Floyd Shivambu, as well as damages of 150,000 rand ($11,000). "The determined defense of corruption and the corrupt, using personal attacks, racism and alleged hate speech is not acceptable and must be challenged," Gordhan said. "I have not responded until now to the absolute nonsensical and unsubstantiated attacks, but extending these attacks to my family and threatening harmony amongst the people of South Africa was a step too far. Enough is enough." The EFF spokesman did not answer calls to his mobile phone seeking comment on Gordhan's complaint. An official at the party's headquarters said the EFF leaders were meeting and could issue a statement later. Malema tweeted that he would open a criminal case against Gordhan on Tuesday on charges ranging from money laundering, corruption, racketeering to fraud. He did not provide details. Malema made the allegations against Gordhan last week at an EFF rally held outside a building where Gordhan was giving testimony at a judicial inquiry into allegations of state corruption and influence-peddling in Zuma's administration. Zuma has denied the allegations. The allegations and other scandals surrounding Zuma's nine-year rule forced him out of office in February. ($1 = 13.8090 rand) (Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by James Macharia and Alison Williams)
Madrid (AFP) - Spain has found Ryanair guilty of violating cabin crews' right to strike and work safety regulations as well as obstructing labour inspections, threatening to fine the low-frills airline for 16 infractions, unions said Monday.

The labour ministry found that the company, by emailing or calling employees to see if they would stop work before planned strikes on July 25 and 26, and September 28, had infringed on their right to strike, the USO and Sitcpla unions said.

The labour ministry confirmed to AFP that it had "given the company notice of infractions," but refused to reveal further details.

Europe's biggest low cost airline has been clashing with worker representatives for close to a year over contracts, pay and work conditions.

In July, strikes by cockpit and cabin crew disrupted 600 flights in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain, affecting 100,000 travellers.

Then on September 28, cabin crew walked out again in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain and in some countries pilots' unions also took action.

A resolution emitted by the Spanish ministry's labour inspection department on November 22, seen by AFP, said that some of those responsible for Ryanair bases in Spain had "obstructed" the work of inspectors when they showed up to investigate accusations the airline had violated the right to strike.

"Those responsible for the bases -- or those acting as such -- told the inspectors that they did not have the necessary information to duly attend to the labour inspection, having obstructed, in some cases, their verification work," the resolution said.

It added that based on those interviews it had managed to conduct with employees, it concluded that the company had violated workers' right to strike by asking them via email whether they planned to stop work, and in some cases following up by phone.

It also said the company put more staff on airport or home standby than normal, which meant there was not enough space and furniture for the higher number of employees on standby in airports, violating work safety rules.

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As such, it proposes to fine them for a total of 16 infractions -- 15 serious and one very serious -- although the exact amount is not stipulated.

Ryanair can appeal this.

The company was not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP.
Taiwan's government said Monday speeding was the main cause of a train derailment that killed 18 people last month in the first official report on the incident.

The crash on the popular east coast line also injured more than 200 people and left the Puyuma Express lying zig-zagged across the tracks in the island's deadliest rail accident for a quarter century.

The dead included eight members of a family returning from a wedding and three school children returning from an exchange program in South Korea.

The report, released by a special cabinet taskforce probing the crash, said the train was travelling at 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour, nearly double the speed limit imposed due to a curve in the track as it approached Xinma station, the crash site.

"Speeding is the direct cause of this accident," Railway Bureau deputy director Yang Cheng-chun told reporters.

"Indirect causes" that led to the speeding included mechanical problems with the train's main air compressor and the driver turning off the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system used to monitor speed in a bid to try to fix the problems, he added.

"A string of protective measures in the whole process failed one by one, and as a result the train was travelling at excessive speed at the curve," said Yang.

The driver was still communicating with dispatchers about the mechanical problems and did not slow down or hit the brake two minutes before the train flipped, according to the report.

When asked about the driver's responsiblity, Yang said the cabinet probe was aimed at clarifying the cause rather than "assigning blame."

In a separate, ongoing criminal investigation into the crash, prosecutors have said the driver is suspected of "professional negligence" over speeding and for switching off the ATP.

Wu Tse-cheng, a minister without portfolio who heads the taskforce, said there had been problems with the compressor since May but the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) has yet to clarify the cause.

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"As to TRA's responsibility, the authorities will be investigating. My view is that there will be administrative responsibilities as well," Wu said.

Passengers recalled how the train had been shaking intensely during the journey and was going "too fast" before it derailed.

According to TRA, a Puyuma Express train also derailed last year on the same line but no one was injured.

In total, Taiwan has a fleet of 19 Puyuma Express trains, all made in Japan.
There are currently 203 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association, meaning if all that matters to you is getting a J.D. and sitting for the bar exam, there are plenty of options for you to choose from.

With that said, some educational investments are better than others. Going to a top-20 ranked school with the goal of landing a Big Law position is a no-brainer, but what if your grades and test scores could realistically only get you into a lower-ranked school?

You would obviously need to conduct thorough research, but there are some red flags to look out for when considering your law school options.

Beware of unaccredited law schools. Most states only allow alumni of ABA-accredited law schools to sit for the bar exam. Some states -- California first and foremost -- will allow graduates from unaccredited law schools to take the exam, but the pass rate is discouraging.

California is already notorious for its low bar exam pass rate -- only 19.5 percent of alumni of unaccredited schools passed the July 2017 exam, and 48.9 percent of all takers.

Obviously, there are other factors in play; for example, landing in an unaccredited school suggests that the student doesn't excel in standardized testing, which affects that student's chances of passing the bar exam. Nevertheless, it's safe to assume that the level of teaching in such schools has some bearing on the bar pass rate.

[Read: Benefits, Drawbacks of Law School 1L Prep Courses.]

Even assuming one passes the bar, securing employment can prove to be an uphill battle. The legal field is extremely competitive, doubly so in states allowing unaccredited schools, simply because more schools means more lawyers.

Law firms of all sizes certainly care about your performance in school, but ranking at the top of your class in a lesser-known school still won't be as impressive as being in the top 10 percent of an accredited, more selective school.

Watch for declining admissions standards. If you're applying to law school now, that means you likely won't have your degree in hand before 2022. Therefore, you should care not only where the school is now, but also where it's headed.

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While most schools at the top maintain a relatively stable standard of scores that they take for their incoming class, things get dicier with lower-ranked schools. When a school starts admitting students with lower and lower scores and admitting a higher percentage of applicants, employers take notice and may devalue that school's alumni.

As you do your research, don't stop at the school's most recent numbers -- be sure to dig deeper.

[Read: What Is a Good LSAT Score?]

Do a cost-benefit analysis. Intuitively, one might think that higher ranked schools equal higher salaries while costs remain relatively similar across the board. Neither assumption is correct.

Costs are affected by many factors including the location of the school, whether it's public or private, and room and board costs. In fact, you'll find some of the more expensive schools on the lower part of the list.

Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University charges $57,510 in tuition despite being ranked at a tie for No. 110 in the country, while the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, ranked in a tie at No. 41, only charges $25,360.

Meanwhile, the law school at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, ranked at a tie for No. 74 in the country, boasts a median private sector starting salary of $85,000, well above many of the schools ranked ahead of it.

Where a school might leave you with a debt of more than $150,000 but a starting salary about a third of that, you might be looking at a long loan repayment period. Avoid the schools that offer less in future compensation and scholarships but more in debt.

[Read: Key Data Points to Consider When Choosing a Law School.]

Not all lower-ranked schools are created equal, and you definitely need to do your research before you apply. Employment statistics, LSAT and GPA scores for incoming classes, bar passage rates and dropout rates are all statistics that are readily available for every school and can serve as great indicators regarding the school's trajectory -- and by extension, that of your career.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith speaks to supporters at a rally in Meridian, Miss. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

MERIDIAN, Miss.  Three weeks ago, Cindy Hyde-Smith was considered a sure thing in Mississippis special Senate election, and well on her way to making history as the first woman elected to represent the state on Capitol Hill.

Hyde-Smith  a Republican appointed to her seat by Gov. Phil Bryant last spring to replace the ailing Sen. Thad Cochran  led in the polls, had raised the most money, and in a deeply conservative state where Donald Trump remains popular, had a relationship with the president and a selfie to prove it. Hyde-Smiths campaign blew up a photograph of her and Trump in the presidential limo and pasted it on the side of her campaign bus  which she dubbed the MAGA Wagon  and drove it all over Mississippi in her quest for votes.

But on Sunday, two days before voters were set to head to the polls in Mississippis closely watched Senate runoff election, Hyde-Smiths MAGA bus suddenly broke down  stranding the candidate and her campaign team on a desolate stretch of Highway 45 here in eastern Mississippi. Aides were seen fiddling with the engine panels and climbing under the bus to get the vehicle moving again, but having no luck.

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smiths campaign bus, called the MAGA Wagon, shortly before it broke down Sunday in Columbus, Miss. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

It was hard not to see the bus drama as something of a metaphor for Hyde-Smiths troubled candidacy, which has quickly gone from smooth ride to imperiled in recent days after the candidate was caught making a series of provocative remarks that have evoked the states dark history of racism.

An election that was supposed to be an easy Republican win has become mired in the clash between those who seek to honor the Old South, including its role in the Confederacy, and those who seek to present a new South, built on racial inclusiveness and shunning the ugliness of the past. It is a political race that has become all about race, and Hyde-Smith and her opponent  Democrat Mike Espy, who is African-American  have spent the final days of the campaign trying to sell themselves to voters as the candidate least likely to embarrass the state, as they both put it.

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I want to be that senator that you are very proud to support, Hyde-Smith told supporters at a stop Sunday in Columbus, Miss.

Speaking on Saturday in Vicksburg, Miss., Espy told supporters, We need someone who wont give Mississippi another black eye.

Mike Espy, the Democratic candidate for Senate, at a campaign event in Vicksburg, Miss. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

One sign that the race is uncomfortably close for Republicans is the fact that Trump was headed there Monday for rallies in Tupelo and Biloxi. Vice President Mike Pence was expected to join him for the final push.

The trouble for Hyde-Smith started after a video emerged showing the senator praising a supporter by telling him that if he invited her to a public hanging, Id be on the front row. To many, the comment invoked images of lynchings  an ominous subject in Mississippi, a state that has struggled to deal with its ugly history of Jim Crow laws.

At first, Hyde-Smith refused to apologize, telling reporters in a statement that her words had been twisted out of context by her political opponents. But then came other developments: a photograph she posted on her Facebook page of herself wearing a Confederate hat, and a second video, in which Hyde-Smith jokes about keeping college students from voting. During Hyde-Smiths silence on the subject, reporters digging into her past found she had introduced legislation as a state legislator to honor the Confederacy. They also reported her parents had sent her to a segregation academy  a private school created as an alternative to the integrated public schools.

Hyde-Smith, a former state senator and state Agriculture Department commissioner, seemed flummoxed about how to respond to the racial controversy. She issued a statement accusing her opponents of a political smear. But she didnt initially apologize, and dropped off the campaign trail almost entirely in the last week. At her one and only debate last Tuesday with Espy, who previously was the states first elected African-American member of Congress since Reconstruction, Hyde-Smith read from a carefully worded statement.

For anyone that was offended by my comments, I certainly apologize, Hyde-Smith said. There was no ill will. She accused Espy of twisting her words and turning them into a weapon to be used against me.

Democrat Mike Espy challenges appointed U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., during their televised debate in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 20. (Photo: Rogelio V. Solis, Pool/AP)

No one twisted your comments, because your comments were live  it came out of your mouth, Espy shot back. I dont know whats in your heart, but we all know came out of your mouth.

The response marked a departure for Espy, who has tried to avoid the issue of race in the surprisingly close contest. A former Agriculture Department secretary under President Bill Clinton before he was forced out over ethics issues, Espy has presented himself as a moderate Democrat in the race  perhaps a nod to the fact that any path of victory for him would require not just a massive turnout of black voters in Mississippi but support from at least some whites as well.

Ahead of the Nov. 7 vote, Espy avoided mentions of race and of Trump, focusing instead on health care, job creation and other policies intended to appeal to all voters. But in recent days, that has changed. Campaigning on Saturday night before an almost entirely African-American crowd in a downtrodden neighborhood south of downtown Vicksburg, Espy brought up Hyde-Smiths apology, which to many seemed carefully worded so as not to alienate conservatives.

Theres something about politics today where people think to express sorrow, to say that you apologize and somehow, they sense the weakness. And thats wrong. Because theres nobody perfect, he said. Everybody makes mistakes.

Mike Espy, the Democratic candidate for Senate, at a campaign event in Vicksburg, Miss. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

While he did not directly attack Hyde-Smith for her remarks and has avoided commenting on the other questions about her racial attitudes, he has cast the election as a choice between the Old Mississippi and the new. We are not going back. We are not going to yesteryear, he said in Vicksburg. Were not going back when all that stuff was done. You know what Im talking about. I want to be your representative for the future.

But its unclear whether Hyde-Smiths embarrassments will matter much at the polls in what remains a racially polarized state. Blacks make up an estimated 40 percent of Mississippis voting electorate, but turnout is often low, especially in the Mississippi Delta, home to some of the most impoverished counties in the nation and where many feel that politicians in general have left them behind.

But Espy has made a huge push to turn out that vote. Last year, he participated in events with the newly revived Poor Peoples Campaign, which is seeking to resurrect Martin Luther King Jr.s campaign to eradicate poverty. He has hired the same advisers behind Democrat Doug Joness surprise victory in neighboring Alabama  including those who operated his ground game and turned out black women in historic numbers.

There are tentative signs that Espys efforts did boost his numbers. In the Nov. 6 special election, voter turnout was about 35 percent higher than the last midterm election in 2014. Espy came within 1 percent  or 3,000 votes  of Hyde-Smith, who won 42 percent support in the election compared to his 41 percent. The election was operated as what the state called a jungle primary, allowing candidates from different parties to run on the same ballot. Hyde-Smith faced a challenge on the far right from Tea Party candidate Chris McDaniel, who got 16 percent of the vote. With McDaniel out of the race, shes expected to pick up the bulk of his support.

While Espy appears to have expanded the Democratic electorate compared to 2014, he still didnt see the turnout of as many voters as Hillary Clinton in 2016. In the runoff, hes hoping to buck the history of low turnout by Democrats in special elections. But its estimated hell need to peel off between 20 and 30 percent of Republican voters.

Laura Franey of Ridgeland, Miss., protests outside a campaign event for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Meridian, Miss. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

His campaign has admitted this will be difficult, but they say it is not impossible. Last week, Espy held an event with farmers angry about Trumps policy on tariffs. One attendee, in an interview with MSNBC, described himself as a lifelong Republican who said he was voting for Espy because he worried that Hyde-Smith would reinforce bad stereotypes about Mississippi. Espys campaign cut the interview into a last-minute campaign spot.

Republicans close to Hyde-Smiths campaign expect her to win, but internal polling shows a closer-than-expected race, with one survey showing her up by just 5 points. One GOP source, who declined to be named while discussing internal campaign data, said the momentum is all on Espys side.

That was not hard to see this weekend. On Saturday, Hyde-Smith hit the campaign trail for the first time in several days, showing up at sparsely attended events in northern and eastern Mississippi. She appeared in counties where Trump had won overwhelmingly but where Espy appeared to have a stronger than expected showing this month.

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith speaks to a supporter at a rally in Columbus, Miss. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

On Sunday, she spoke to a group of about 20 people in Columbus, near the Alabama border, where she spoke for about five minutes, emphasizing her relationship with Trump and describing the victories she had helped him achieve, including tax cuts and the confirmation of Supreme Court justices.

She made no mention of the drama that has engulfed her campaign, though she thanked her supporters for their supportive texts and emails. I am 100 percent stepping out in faith. Every morning, I ask God to put that shield of armor on me, take me out there to be the voice that we need. For some reason, God made me that voice, she said. Ive got some pretty thick skin and I can take a lot, but you have to have some pretty thick skin.

But moments later, Hyde-Smith, who has not taken questions from reporters in weeks, suddenly exited from a back door without saying goodbye to her supporters. Among those left in the lurch was a man dressed as Santa Claus who had walked over from a Christmas-themed store next door in hopes of meeting the candidate. Oh well, he said. Ho ho ho.

A man who identified himself as Santa leaves a campaign rally for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in Columbus, Miss. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

Later that afternoon, after she caught a ride and left behind her broken-down bus, Hyde-Smith appeared at a small rally in Meridian, where she campaigned with her Senate colleague Joni Ernst of Iowa. The turnout was about 20 people, and afterwards, the senator tried to avoid the media by going out a side door. She ignored questions about the racial controversy and began nearly running to escape the handful of cameras, leaving Ernst behind.

Hyde-Smith weaved around a car and finally found the SUV that was waiting for her. But she couldnt get the door open and stood there for several awkward seconds as reporters shouted questions about the race. She ignored them all, save for one. Asked how she was feeling about the campaign, she replied, I feel great!

Then she slammed the door and the car sped off.

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith waves to reporters before racing away after a campaign event in Meridian, Miss. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

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Qamishli (Syria) (AFP) - Hundreds of female protesters took to the streets of the Syrian Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli on Sunday to call for an end to violence against women.

Some banging large drums and others ululating, they marched through the streets, an AFP correspondent said.

"Underage marriage is a crime," said one sign held up by a protester, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Another demonstrator held up the picture of a woman with a swollen eye, her mouth covered with one hand.

"We must take part in this day in large numbers," said Hanifa Mohammed, 47, wearing a green jumper and a dark-coloured headscarf.

"Women must organise and reach decision-making positions," she said. "They must determine their future."

Women of all ages carried the portraits of fighters in the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), the all-female branch of the Syrian Kurdish militia.

Syria's Kurds have largely stayed out of the country's seven-year war, instead setting up semi-autonomous institutions in areas they control in its north and northeast.

Local institutions are usually co-directed by a man and a woman.

Syria's Kurds pride themselves in promoting equality of the sexes even in combat, as the YPJ play a key role in the battle against the Islamic State jihadist group.

Some protesters lashed out at neighbouring Turkey, which considers the Syrian Kurdish militia to be "terrorists".

Ankara and its Syrian proxies have led two campaigns inside Syria against the Kurds, most recently seizing the northwestern enclave of Afrin in March.

Organisers dedicated the protest to the women of the enclave, now under control of pro-Turkey rebels.
Americas Suicidal Turning Point: The Kennedy Assassinations By Michael Moriarty

I, perhaps too often, remind my readers of Lincolns prophetic warning: If America

is ever destroyed?!

It will be by suicide. Punctuation, mine. So, for 55 years of my life, Ive watched America slowly, chronically and obsessively destroy its own foundations: The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and its Bill of Rights. With the exception of Ronald Reagan, all of Americas Presidents, since the assassinations of both John F. and Robert Kennedy, have, in both parties, either ignorantly or knowingly, been massacring the above mentioned documents unrelentingly.

My Favorite Modern President Before we get to the American nightmare we are in presently, lets start with why both John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert, were seen as threats to the self-inflated keepers of their increasingly powerful army of The New World Order. In other words, America is NOT what the Declaration of Independence said it should be, but what the most powerful Americans can either MAKE it become, or, by eliminating corners of the Bill of Rights, can rewrite the American identity . How some of these men even came to power could defy even the wildest of Hollywoods screenwriters. John F. and Robert Kennedy, the tragic playboy and his equally tragic, Dick Tracy younger brother. My father, equally as Irish as any of the Kennedys, hated all of them. Perhaps for the same reason he grew to hate me. As he seemed to believe, the Kennedys hadnt worked hard enough for the blessings they had received. Like many of the American, vengefully powerful, my father, almost like myself, was a child of the nouveau riche. They were all, most inevitably, jealous of both Robert and his older brother, John. A hit! The Kennedy brothers became two, disgustingly accessible targets for The Hit. Robert himself

was turned deliberately

by his secret service

in the opposite direction,

toward his hired assassin. Johns death came from a bullet that was not from the Book Depository. Flesh doesnt blow out the back of a head hit by a bullet fired from behind the President. If it had been Lee Harvey Oswalds bullet, the Presidents blood would have been all over not just the back seat but the back of the front seat of the limousine as well Instead, the gruesome damage also decorated the back of the Presidents limousine and, of course, was quickly wiped away. The Grassy Knoll

is now as legendary

as E Tu Brute. The plot to make Lee Harvey Oswald the only assassin? Despite even the efforts of the Progressive press to control the history of the event, including Jackie Kennedys sudden inability to explain why she reached immediately toward the back of the limousine?! The most indelibly memorable moment of her life?! Even, the profoundly Progressive CNN film, The Kennedys, reports, quite clearly, Jackie Kennedys threat to divorce her husband, the President, if he didnt end his, by now, legendary affair with Marilyn Monroe. I must mention that fact to explain why the First Lady would completely cooperate with the governments version of the assassination. She suddenly had no recollection

of reaching

toward the back of the limousine?! That is where

part of the President

had been sent

by the bullet

from the Grassy Knoll. Americas Fourth Estate?! The Press?! And the fidelity

of its majority

to The Warren Report? With this nightmare, came  with, as Ive already said, the exception of President Ronald Reagan  the subsequently treasonous ambitions of both political parties, all of the Democrats and all of the Bush Republicans, to sell out America to the United Nations. The Progressive New World Order The only man seeming to oppose a New World Order, President Donald Trump, has rather revolutionary ideas of America that are quite his own. They include ending the 14th Amendment and the automatic Americanization of any child born within the United States. I oppose a New World Order but I certainly dont think it demands an end to the 14th Amendment. In coming articles, I will share my opinions, one by one, of all the Presidencies that I experienced living under, as I still am now, an American citizen. None of them, including the once-promising President of the United States, Donald Trump, come even close to my own growing admiration and respect for Ronald Reagan. If some GREAT American President, such as Reagan, doesnt come along soon? Then, as the title of this article indicates, America is slowly but tenaciously committing suicide. I will, most certainly, write my coming articles about these American Presidencies carefully. I hope that you, in turn, will read them with the same spirit. If some GREAT President doesnt come along soon? Oh, my God! As the title of this article indicates, America, as, so far, still the most divinely blessed and greatest nation in the world, is slowly but tenaciously committing suicide. Michael Moriarty is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in the landmark television series Law and Order from 1990 to 1994. His recent film and TV credits include The Yellow Wallpaper, 12 Hours to Live, Santa Baby and Deadly Skies. Contact Michael at rainbowfamily2008@yahoo.com. He can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@MGMoriarty. Home
Leah Messer is seen on 'Teen Mom 2.'

Leah Messer and Jason Jordan are back together.

Just weeks after the Teen Mom 2 cast member faced reports of a split, which were seemingly confirmed by a series of cryptic posts on social media, the mother of three shared a holiday photo with Jordan, his son, and her three kids.

Ive never been so thankful! Happy Thanksgiving!! @raylansdad416 #thanksgiving #festivities, Messer wrote in the caption of her photo.

Messer shares three kids  including eight-year-old twins Ali and Aleeah Simms, and five-year-old daughter Adalynn Calvert  with her ex-husbands, Corey Simms and Jeremy Calvert. Meanwhile, Jordan appears to have just one child.

After sharing the happy photo of her blended family with Jordan, Messer shared a video shot by Jordan as well. The video featured her and Adalynn dancing together in her living room. She then posted a couple of photos of herself, Jordan, and Adalynn standing together on a hill. The trio were looking into the distance, where tiny Christmas trees were seen.

Click here to continue and read more...
Russia fired at and captured three Ukrainian boats in the sea off Crimea on Sunday, sparking a major escalation of tensions between the neighboring countries.

The news revived memories of Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula previously controlled by Ukraine, and raised further concerns over Russias territorial ambitions.

At the center of the dispute is the strategically important Sea of Azov, a body of water bordered by Ukraine, Crimea and Russia and connected to the Black Sea by a strait to the south.

Heres what to know about the situation.

What led to this?

In 2014, Ukraine erupted in a revolution that pitted pro-Russian and pro-E.U. segments of its population against one another, reflecting internal disputes over whether Ukraine should be closer with the nuclear superpower to its east or the democratic union to its west.

Not long after, Russian soldiers crossed the border into Crimea, the peninsula in the Black Sea that became part of Ukraine after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Against that backdrop, pro-Russian protests in eastern regions of Ukraine turned violent. International observers said disguised Russian forces were engaged in supporting the rebels. Russia denied involvement.

War in eastern Ukraine has continued ever since, leading to over 10,000 deaths and 1.7 million people being displaced. And while NATO and western governments condemned Russias annexation of Crimea, they did little to stop it.

What happened on Sunday?

The hostilities began when Russia blocked two Ukrainian military boats and one tugboat from sailing under a new Russian bridge spanning the Kerch strait, the channel that connects the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea to the south.

An oil tanker was placed under the bridge to block the Ukrainian boats access. A Russian coast guard vessel rammed the tugboat, and then Russian forces fired on all three boats, eventually capturing them. Six Ukrainians were injured, two seriously, while 23 were captured. Russian helicopters and warplanes were also involved in the clash.

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Russia said the Ukrainian boats were illegally trying to enter its waters; Ukraine said they were abiding by international maritime law and a 2003 treaty that states both the strait and the Sea of Azov are shared territorial waters.

#Russia has already annexed #Crimea and facilitated wars in #Donetsk & #Luhansk, now it is seeking to take control of the Sea of #Azov from #Ukraine, as it tries to completely block off the #Kerch Strait, preventing any Ukrainian ships from going in and out pic.twitter.com/p6wc5RBRTw  Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 25, 2018

Petro Poroshenko, the Ukrainian President, responded by convening a war cabinet and tabling a vote on whether to implement martial law, which would have the effect of suspending elections scheduled for early next year that he is expected to lose.

On Sunday and Monday, NATO and western countries issued further condemnations of Russia over the hostilities at the bridge. The U.N. Security Council has called an emergency meeting to address the crisis.

Whats changed since 2014?

When Ukraine controlled Crimea, it had one side of the Kerch strait, while Russia had the other. Following Russias annexation of Crimea, it now controls both sides.

In May this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially opened a $3.7 billion bridge across the strait, from the Russian mainland to Crimea.

And in recent months, Russia has begun inspecting Ukrainian vessels entering or departing Ukrainian ports in the Sea of Azov, despite the treaties that declare the waters to be shared territory.

With Ukrainian elections approaching next March, Russia might have chosen to intervene now to foment instability. Ukrainian lawmakers are set to vote later on Monday whether to implement martial law, which could give ammunition to Poroshenkos political opponents.




While the union representing thousands of General Motors workers vows to fight for the survival of the Oshawa Assembly plant, industry analysts and government leaders concede there is little that can be done to prevent the closure of the facility.

GM announced Monday it will halt production at its Oshawa, Ont. plant and four other North American factories, cutting thousands of jobs as part of a global restructuring plan and increased focus on electric vehicles.

Production will wind down at the Oshawa facility before ending in December 2019, leaving nearly 3,000 workers without jobs. The plant is one of five GM listed as unallocated, meaning the facilities will close unless a new vehicle program is assigned to the plant.

The cuts are part of a significant restructuring plan that will see GM halt production three assembly plants  including Oshawa, Detroit, Mich. and Warren, Ohio  and two propulsions factories also in the United States. GM will also cut 15 per cent of its salaried and contract salaried workforce. The strategy is expected to save the automaker $6 billion.

They told me straight up there is nothing we can do.  Ontario Premier Doug Ford

The Oshawa Assembly plant currently produces the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac XTS, and its second line was recently repurposed as part of a $500 million investment to begin finishing production of its popular GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado trucks.

Oshawa had hardest future ahead

GM said the Oshawa Assembly plant had been running well below full capacity for several years. The company also said that with consumers shifting more towards SUVs and trucks there are no available new vehicle programs to fill the gap at the plant that will be left when production stops next year.

GM either needed to make major reinvestments  which they may do  or they had to close some plants, said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of economics at the Center of Automotive Research (CAR). She added that Oshawa likely has the toughest path ahead in terms of trying to secure future production.

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Of the three assembly plants on the list, Oshawa is the oldest and it is on the side of the border that is not advantaged with Trumps trade policy . it has the hardest future ahead of it.

That is a sentiment that Ontario Premier Doug Ford echoed on Monday. Ford said he spoke to GM officials on Sunday and asked whether there was anything that the province could do to ensure the plant could stay open.



Theyre gone, theyre done, he said during Question Period on Monday.



They told me straight up there is nothing we can do.

Union will vigorously fight decision

Jerry Dias, the president of Unifor, the union representing about 2,500 workers at the Oshawa plant, said it will not accept the closure of the plant as a foregone conclusion and demanded that GM allocate a new vehicle program to ensure it stays open past 2019.

They are not closing our damn plant without one hell of a fight, Dias told a crowd of workers in Oshawa on Monday.

#Unifor does not accept the @GMcanada announcement that no product has been allotted to #Oshawa past December 2019. We will fight for @UniforLocal222 members to keep these good paying jobs at Oshawa Assembly Plant. #canlab https://t.co/RrKOZme6IT pic.twitter.com/7ZySAvxOt6  Jerry Dias (@JerryPDias) November 26, 2018

Shell-shocked workers were sent home by the union on Monday amid word that the plant would be closing next year. Word of the pending closure began swirling Sunday night, blindsiding workers and civic officials alike. Oshawas mayor said he had no inkling of what will be the latest blow to the city 50 kilometres east of Toronto.

Unifor is scheduled to meet with GM officials on Monday afternoon.

Theyre not closing our plant, Greg Moffat, the chair of Unifor Local 222, told workers on Monday.

Impact will fall squarely on Ontario: BMO

According to a report released Monday afternoon by Bank of Montreal Capital Markets, the Oshawa Assembly closure would impact Canadas GDP by 0.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent over a full year.

From a regional perspective, the impact will fall squarely on Ontario, as the auto sector plays a significant role in the provinces economy, the report said. While the auto sector has been declining in Ontario since peaking in 2005, the analysts expect full-year growth impact from the shutdown could be in the 0.3 to 0.5 percentage point range for the province.

Both federal and provincial leaders vowed to help the nearly 3,000 people that may lose their jobs by the end of next year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that he spoke with GMs chief executive Mary Barra to express his deep disappointed at the closure.

I had a good call with Premier Ford today  were united in support for workers in Oshawa, and well work together to do everything we can to help the people and communities affected.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 26, 2018

To the GM workers in Oshawa, their families and all those impacted: we will always stand with you. I have actioned our Re-Employment and Training Services team to Durham Region and am calling on the federal government to join me in supporting those impacted by todays news. pic.twitter.com/8MTM7EUuzn  Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 26, 2018

Ford said in a statement the government is exploring measures to help workers, businesses and communities that will be affected by GMs decision. Ford also said he has authorized Employment Ontario to deploy its Rapid Re-Employment and Training Services program to help impacted workers.



In recent years, GM has been adjusting its production capacity to meet increased consumer demand for SUVs and trucks, while also ramping up its electric and autonomous vehicle programs.



The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to be highly agile, resilient and profitable, while giving us the flexibility to invest in the future, GMs chief executive CEO Mary Barra said in a statement. We recognize the need to stay in front of changing market conditions and customer preferences to position our company for long-term success.

Dennis Desrosiers, president of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants, said in a note to clients that production at the Oshawa facility has been declining for more than a decade.

The writing has been on the wall for quite some time so it was a matter of when, not whether they would make this move, Desrosiers wrote.

Can it be saved? Probably not. But it is still worth the fight to get something out of this. We might not be able to save these jobs, but GM is a very large company with a lot of economic clout and having a backbone on this issue might help us in the future.

With files from the Canadian Press

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Ottawa (AFP) - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he had expressed his "deep disappointment" to General Motors over its decision to shutter a Canadian automotive assembly plant.

The move came as part of a massive restructuring announced earlier by the US auto giant that includes closing seven plants worldwide to save $6 billion.

Trudeau said the plant's workers in Oshawa, in the east-central province of Ontario, had been "part of the heart and soul" of the community for generations and pledged government support for their families.

"Yesterday, I spoke with @GM's (chief executive and chairwoman) Mary Barra to express my deep disappointment in the closure," he tweeted.

The closure affects more than 2,500 workers who produce the Chevrolet Impala and the Cadillac XTS, as well as Silverado pick-up trucks.

Workers left at the start of their shift on Monday as assembly lines were shut down for the day.

Production began in 1953 and at its peak in the 1980s, the plant employed roughly 23,000 people.

Its operations even became a talking point for US President Donald Trump during tense Canada-US negotiations to revamp a continental trade pact.

"Every time we have a problem with a point, I just put up a picture of a Chevrolet Impala," Trump said in off-the-record comments to Bloomberg that were reported by the Toronto Star.

Federal Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, speaking in the House of Commons foyer, signaled the government's intention to "continue to defend the automotive sector."

He noted the several billions of dollars in loans and support for the sector from the Canadian and Ontario governments in 2009, while lamenting the hardship facing workers after the Oshawa plant closes.

"This is a really big deal in Oshawa," he said. "There is a long-standing, proud history in terms of General Motors's presence in Oshawa, so now to see this plant close... is incredibly devastating."

Jerry Dias of Unifor, the union representing Canadian autoworkers, meanwhile, said the closure "makes no sense."

The union, he said, "does not accept the closure of the plant as a foregone conclusion" and "will vigorously fight again to maintain these good-paying auto jobs."
Tupelo (United States) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump flew to Mississippi on Monday to try and save the Senate campaign of a Republican embroiled in controversy over racially tinged comments.

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith is locked in an unexpectedly tight runoff vote on Tuesday in what should have been reliable Republican territory for the final Senate race of the 2018 midterms.

The president rallied for Hyde-Smith in the city of Tupelo after her campaign against a black opponent was partly derailed through comments about "public hanging" -- remarks widely interpreted as alluding to Mississippi's history of lynchings.

Adding to the unease, two nooses and hate signs were found on the state capitol's grounds early Monday in Jackson, a Mississippi government spokesman told AFP. Police have launched an investigation.

Local NBC affiliate WLBT's website showed images of nooses hanging from a tree on capitol grounds.

Speaking to a crowd at the airport, gathered in front of his Air Force One airplane, Trump praised Hyde-Smith as "a very, very special woman who's going to do a special job" opposing "radical socialism and open borders."

- Focus on illegal immigrants -

Much of Trump's speech focused on his familiar campaign boasts about the strong US economy and his attempts to stamp out illegal immigration -- even while being criticized that the new policies violate human rights.

Trump yet again homed in on a group of would-be immigrants, or "caravan," that has been clashing with US border agents on the border with Mexico.

US personnel fired tear gas at migrants who attempted to rush the border from Tijuana, Mexico, in tense scenes that Trump said proved the need for a crackdown.

"When you look at the news at night and you see what's happening at the border... they're not coming through anymore, unless they come through legally," he told the crowd. "If you want more jobs and less crime, then you have to vote Republican."

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The issue resonates strongly with Trump's Republican base and he was likely to repeat the line at a second rally in Biloxi later.

Should Republicans hold Hyde-Smith's seat, it will secure their 53-47 Senate majority. Democrats reclaimed the House of Representatives in the midterm elections.

- Racially charged -

Hyde-Smith's opponent is former congressman Mike Espy, an African American who accused his opponent of having "rejuvenated old stereotypes."

Hyde-Smith, a former state lawmaker who was appointed to her US Senate seat in April to fill a vacancy, startled observers this month when she said she would be "on the front row" if one of her supporters "invited me to a public hanging."

She apologized during a recent debate with Espy and insisted her remark was "twisted" by opponents for political gain.

She was also recorded telling a small group at a university that it would be "a great thing" to suppress votes of liberal students. Her campaign said that was a joke.

Trump said earlier at the White House that Hyde-Smith felt "very badly" about her public hanging remarks. "It was taken a certain way but she certainly didn't mean it," he said.

But there have been other revelations about Hyde-Smith's past.

The Jackson Free Press newspaper reported that in the 1970s Hyde-Smith attended a private high school that helped white parents avoid integration efforts, and later sent her own daughter to a similar private school.

Photographs from 2014 have surfaced of Hyde-Smith posing with artifacts from the Civil War-era Confederate south, which supported slavery.

As a state senator in 2001, she introduced legislation to rename a highway after Confederacy president Jefferson Davis, The Washington Post reported.

With controversy swirling, several major businesses, including Walmart, AT&T and Major League Baseball, have called on Hyde-Smith to return their campaign donations.

Mississippi has voted reliably Republican for the past 30 years.

Hyde-Smith and Espy are in a runoff because no candidate gained a majority in the November 6 election, when far-right Republican Chris McDaniel gained 16 percent of the vote.

Many of his supporters are expected to back Hyde-Smith on Tuesday.
Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump piled pressure on Emmanuel Macron Sunday, pushing for resolutions to disputes on trade and defense spending, as he weighed in on the mass protests against his French counterpart's government.

Writing on Twitter, Trump showed he had been keeping an eye on Saturday's demonstrations across France and refrained from showing sympathy for the beleaguered Macron, whose once cozy ties with the US president have chilled.

"The large and violent French protests don't take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection," said Trump.

"Both of these topics must be remedied soon."

Around 130 people were arrested in France on Saturday during the nationwide protests, while 24 people were injured, five of them police officers.

The protesters -- dubbed "yellow vests" for the high-visibility jackets that are widely worn at the demonstrations -- are drawn mainly from rural areas and have vented their fury at policies they see as being pushed through by a Parisian elite deaf to their concerns.

Some of their arguments carry echoes of Trump's rallying call to "Make America Great Again" and his denunciation of "The Swamp" in Washington, including the anger that they voice at globalization.

Trump's once-close relations with Macron have been strained in recent weeks, with the US president criticizing his French counterpart on everything from his touting of a European army to his continued backing for a nuclear deal with Iran that the US has already ditched.

Trump has frequently criticized other NATO countries, including France, over their levels of defense spending and says the European Union has treated the US "very unfairly" on a range of trade issues.
Tunis (AFP) - Around 100 people protested in Tunisia on Monday against a planned visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Tunisia's presidency has said the de facto Saudi ruler would visit the North African nation for several hours on Tuesday as part of a regional tour, without providing details on the programme.

Saudi Arabia has faced intense global criticism over the killing of insider-turned-critic Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate on October 2.

He was reportedly dismembered in what Saudi Arabia said was a "rogue" operation, but CIA analysis leaked to the US media pointed the finger at Prince Mohammed.

"No to the desecration of Tunisia, country of the revolution" read a large banner displayed at the National Union of Tunisian Journalists, depicting a man in traditional Saudi dress holding a chainsaw with his back to the camera.

Around 100 people on Monday night attended a demonstration in central Tunis called by the journalists' union and several NGOs and civil society organisations.

They held up banners that read "Bin Salman, war criminal", and "Child hangman".

A poster hanging from the facade of the headquarters of the Democratic Women Association depicted a Saudi man holding a whip with a caption saying "The executioner of women is not welcome".

In an open letter to Tunisia's presidency, the journalists' union slammed "the visit of the Saudi crown prince, which constitutes a danger for the safety and the peace of the region and the world, and a real threat to freedom of expression".

His arrival, the union said, would be "a flagrant violation of the principles of our revolution".

Other protests -- organised by student bodies -- are planned at midday (1100 GMT) on Tuesday in Tunis and the city of Sfax.

Tunisia's 2011 uprising deposed longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and triggered the Arab Spring.

The Saudi crown prince is on his first foreign tour since the Khashoggi affair erupted, taking in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt ahead of Tunisia.

Saudi Arabia has warned criticism of Prince Mohammed is a "red line".
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Cruise ship at harbor. Aerial view of beautiful large white ship at sunset. Colorful landscape with boats in marina bay, sea, colorful sky. Top view from drone of yacht. Luxury cruise. Floating liner

On Saturday, Mississippi teen Briana Cry asked Twitter to help locate a friend she met on a Hawaiian dinner cruise with family in 2006 but never kept in touch with afterwards. The tweet soon went viral, and it only took 12 hours for users on the social media site to track down the girl, whom Daily Mail identified as a California artist named Heidi Tran.

Hey twitter, I met this girl on a dinner cruise in Hawaii in 2006. We were basically best friends for that night so I need yall to help me find my bestfriend [sic] cause I miss her and I need to see how shes doing now. Please retweet this so we can be reunited, Cry wrote in the initial tweet, along with a photo of her and Tran as children on the cruise.

This morning, Cry posted an update saying that the tweet had been at 9 retweets when she went to sleep. It is currently at 101,225.

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Kiev (AFP) - Ukraine demanded the release of its sailors and more sanctions against Moscow on Monday after the Russian navy fired on and seized three Ukrainian ships off the coast of Crimea.

In a sharp escalation of tensions between the ex-Soviet neighbours, Russia boarded and seized the three ships on Sunday, accusing them of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov.

The confrontation at sea has raised fears of a wider military escalation and the UN Security Council was to hold an emergency session later Monday to consider a response. NATO also called an emergency meeting on the incident.

Ukraine's military was on high alert and parliament was to vote Monday on a request from President Petro Poroshenko to impose martial law for 60 days.

In a statement early Monday, Ukraine's foreign ministry denounced "another act of armed aggression" by Russia.

It demanded "the return of the captured navy ships" and urged its Western allies "to take all necessary measures to deter the aggressor... by applying new and strengthening existing sanctions."

Moscow blamed Kiev for the incident, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accusing Ukraine of a planned provocation and of using "dangerous methods" that put ships in the area at risk.

Moscow summoned a senior Ukrainian diplomat to the foreign ministry to complain over the incident.

The crisis unfolded as two small Ukrainian warships and a tugboat were heading through the Kerch Strait, a waterway that gives access to the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea and which is used by both Ukraine and Russia.

Ukraine said a Russian border guard vessel rammed the tugboat and then fired on the ships, immobilising all three. It said the Kerch Strait was blocked by a tanker and that Russian military aircraft were flying over the area.

- Tensions over sea access -

Russia's FSB security service, which oversees border forces, confirmed weapons had been fired and the vessels seized, accusing the Ukrainian ships of "violating the Russian border".

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Ukraine said six of its servicemen were injured, two seriously. The FSB said only three had suffered non-life threatening injuries and were given medical treatment.

Russian news agencies quoted port officials in Crimea as saying the strait was reopened to traffic early on Monday.

The confrontation is a dangerous development in the long-running conflict pitting Ukraine against Moscow and Russian-backed rebels in the east of the country.

Tensions have been building over the Kerch Strait, where Russia has built a new bridge that gives it a land connection to Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014.

Kiev has accused Moscow of blocking access for Ukrainian ships though the strait, the only way in and out of the Sea of Azov to the Black Sea.

In recent months both sides had deployed more naval and border vessels to the area.

Kiev and the West have also accused Moscow of deliberately blocking ships from accessing the Ukrainian port of Mariupol, which has vital access to heavy industry in the eastern part of the country.

Mariupol is close to the region controlled by Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has caused at least 10,000 deaths since 2014.

The European Union and NATO on Sunday urged restraint, with the Western military alliance calling on Russia "to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law".

Black Sea power Turkey expressed concern on Monday while Germany said a Russian blockade of the Sea of Azov was "unacceptable".

- 'Significant escalation' -

"The incident marks a significant escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," research firm Eurasia Group said.

"Western governments will side with Ukraine against Russia over the incident... making new sanctions against Russia likely."

The United States and Europe have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Moscow for its actions relating to Ukraine.

Poroshenko held a late-night meeting of his military cabinet, proposing the imposition of martial law in Ukraine "to ensure the security and safety of its citizens".

It was not immediately clear what measures could be imposed, but the general staff said in a statement that the military was already at "full combat readiness".

Eurasia Group said martial law could have wide-ranging domestic consequences, especially with a presidential election due in March and Poroshenko behind in opinion polls.

"Poroshenko did not take this kind of action during the worst of the conflict in 2014 and 2015. This raises concerns that... it could lead to postponement of the presidential election," it said.

A few dozen protesters rallied outside the Russian embassy in Kiev late on Sunday, setting off flares and laying down paper boats in the snow as Ukrainian police looked on.
Seized Ukrainian navy vessels in Kerch in the annexed Crimea - AFP

Vladimir Putin has expressed "serious concern" over Ukraine's decision to impose martial law, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, after a confrontation at sea between the two countries.

In a phone conversation with Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Russian President also said he hoped the German leader could intervene to rein in Kiev.

Mr Putin "expressed a serious concern over Kiev's decision to put its armed forces on alert and to introduce martial law," the Kremlin said in a statement following the call.

He also said he hoped "Berlin could influence the Ukrainian authorities to dissuade them from further reckless acts," it added.

A fresh crisis unfolded on Sunday when Russian forces boarded and captured three Ukrainian ships, with Moscow accusing the vessels of illegally entering Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov.

The surge in tensions prompted the Ukranian parliament to vote Monday in favour of martial law in border areas for 30 days. Martial law gives Ukrainian authorities the power to mobilise citizens with military experience, regulate the media and restrict public rallies.

In a televised address to the nation, Ukraine's president said the move was necessary to defend Ukraine from a possible Russian ground invasion and promised that a presidential election scheduled for March would go ahead as planned.

The move is controversial - martial law has never been imposed before, even during the height of the war in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Three former presidents of the country issued a statement opposing the move on Monday.

Russia meanwhile defied calls from Western countries to release the Ukrainian vessels and 24 crew members seized in the Black Sea on Sunday.

Two modern gunboats, the Nikol and the Berdyansk, and a tug boat, the Yana Kapu, were rammed, fired on, and ultimately boarded by Russian special forces after they attempted to sail through the Strait of Kerch on Sunday.

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The vessels were en route from Odessa to Mariupol, a Ukrainian industrial and military port on the Azov Sea. Russia temporarily blocked the passage under the Kerch Bridge, which links Russia and Crimea, to prevent their passage.

A Ukrainian serviceman looks on as volunteers dig trenches near Mariupol Credit: SEGA VOLSKII/ AFP

Russia said the Ukrainian vessels had not informed the border control of their plans and that coast guards opened fire after a warning to stop "dangerous" maneuvering in closed waters around Crimea.

Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. The FSB, Russia's internal security service, said a criminal case had been opened.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by the crew members and described Moscows actions as military aggression.

Tensions in the Sea of Azov have been mounting since Russia completed the bridge between its mainland and Crimea earlier this year.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, said the incident that the Ukrainian ships illegally entered Russian waters and called it a dangerous provocation organised by Kiev.

Theresa May said in statement that the incident was "further evidence of Russia's destabilising behaviour in the region and its ongoing violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity."

US President Donald Trump said he did not like what was happening between Russia and Ukraine and was working with European leaders on the situation.

Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, called Russia's seizure of the Ukrainian vessels "a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law" and called for restraint from both countries.

"The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity," Mr Pompeo said in a statement.

The State Department said Mr Pompeo spoke by phone with Mr Poroshenko and reiterated strong US support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russian "aggression".

Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, spoke with Mr Poroshenko by telephone. Her office said the chancellor emphasized the need for de-escalation and dialogue and said she would work to help bring both about.

Nikki Haley told an emergency Security Council meeting that the US condemned Russia's actions Credit: Seth Wenig/AP

At an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, Nikki Hayley, the US ambassador to the UN, called Russia's behaviour "arrogant" and a "violation" of international law, adding: "The United States will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine against Russian aggression."

In Kiev, scores of protesters gathered outside the Russian embassy setting tires on fire and throwing smoke grenades. A crowd of nationalist protesters also gathered outside the Russian consulate in Kharkiv.

The whereabouts of the 24 Ukrainian crewmen was unknown on Monday evening.

The FSB released images of the Ukrainian vessels docked in the Crimean port of Kerch on Monday morning. Sergei Aksyonov, the head of Russian-annexed Crimea, said in a Facebook post that three crew members who had been injured were provided with medical care and their lives were not in danger.
Aden (AFP) - The United Nations' Yemen envoy is expected in Riyadh on Monday as part of efforts to convene December peace talks between Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government.

Martin Griffiths' visit comes as fighting eased around the rebel-held port city of Hodeida, a vital lifeline for imports and aid which has been the target of a fierce Saudi-backed government offensive.

Under heavy international pressure, the Yemeni government and a Saudi-led military coalition have largely suspended a five-month offensive against the Red Sea city.

Fighting had intensified in early November as coalition-backed loyalist forces attempted to enter Hodeida, but calm returned after Griffiths arrived in Yemen on Wednesday.

The UN said the envoy, who also visited Hodeida last week to assess the humanitarian situation, is due to hold talks with Yemen's internationally recognised government in Riyadh on Monday.

While the loyalist advance on Hodeida has largely stalled, minor clashes have continued.

Military officials quoted by the state-run Saba news agency on Sunday evening said the loyalists foiled a Huthi "infiltration attempt" into a camp in Hays province, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Hodeida.

The rebels said they had detonated an explosive device near the eastern entrance of Hodeida, "destroying a (pro-government) military vehicle... killing and wounding soldiers inside", Huthi-run Al-Masirah reported on Monday.

Loyalists did not confirm the attack.

But pro-government military officials told AFP Monday that pro-government forces' operations in the east and south of the Red Sea city had been suspended.

According to UN figures, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the coalition joined the conflict in 2015 to back up the government after rebels ousted it from swathes of Yemen including Sanaa.

The intervention has triggered what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Rights groups fear the actual death toll far exceeds UN estimates.
Riyadh (AFP) - United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths met Yemeni officials in Riyadh on Monday as part of efforts to kick-start peace talks next month between Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government.

The visit comes as a tenuous calm settles over Yemen's rebel-held port city of Hodeida, a vital lifeline for imports and aid that had seen fierce clashes in a renewed offensive by a Saudi-led military coalition.

Under heavy international pressure, the Yemeni government and the coalition have largely suspended their five-month-old battle to seize Hodeida.

Griffiths, who is spearheading efforts to hold peace talks in Sweden in December, met Yemen's Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani in the Saudi capital, the Yemeni state-run news agency Saba said.

The Yemeni leaders discussed with Griffiths arrangements for the upcoming negotiations and possible "confidence building measures" to test the "rebels' seriousness" about peace efforts, Saba reported.

The UN envoy, who visited Hodeida last week to assess the humanitarian situation, was also expected to meet with Yemen's internationally recognised President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, a Saudi government source told AFP.

Fighting in the Red Sea city intensified in early November as coalition-backed loyalist forces attempted to enter the city, but calm returned after Griffiths arrived in Yemen on Wednesday.

Griffiths has urged the warring parties to "keep the peace" in Hodeida.

While the loyalist advance there has largely stalled, minor clashes have continued.

Military officials quoted by Saba on Sunday evening said the loyalists had foiled a Huthi "infiltration attempt" into a camp in Hays, a district about 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Hodeida.

The rebels said they had detonated an explosive device near the eastern entrance of Hodeida, "destroying a (pro-government) military vehicle... killing and wounding soldiers inside", Huthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported on Monday.

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Loyalists did not confirm the attack.

But pro-government military officials told AFP on Monday that their operations in the east and south of the Red Sea city had been suspended.

- Desperately needed respite -

Both warring sides have expressed support for the UN envoy's current effort to hold talks, which marks the biggest push for a peace deal in Yemen in two years.

But in a sign of lingering distrust, coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki told reporters in Riyadh on Monday that efforts to hold the Sweden talks were progressing "despite Huthi efforts to obstruct them".

President Hadi -- whose UN-recognised government was pushed out of Sanaa by rebels who overran the capital in 2014 -- has said he backs peace efforts but has vowed to "liberate" Hodeida.

In September, a previous round of UN-led peace talks faltered when the Huthis refused to travel to Geneva, accusing the world body of failing to guarantee their delegation's return to Sanaa or secure the evacuation of wounded rebels to Oman.

Previous talks broke down in 2016, when 108 days of negotiations in Kuwait failed to yield a deal and left rebel delegates stranded in Oman for three months.

The heads of the UN's humanitarian and children's agencies have said the recent de-escalation in fighting in Hodeida is providing a desperately needed respite to hundreds of thousands of civilians.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led intervention began, though some rights groups estimate the toll could be five times higher.

Humanitarian organisations are desperate to see the current peace push translate into a more permanent halt to the conflict.

UN agencies say 14 million Yemenis are at risk of starvation and the closure of Hodeida port would further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

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United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United States on Monday warned Russia that "outlaw actions" like the seizure of Ukrainian ships in the Sea of Azov are preventing normal relations from developing between Washington and Moscow.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that "the United States would welcome a normal relationship with Russia. But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible."

Tensions have flared after the Russian navy on Sunday boarded and seized three Ukrainian ships off the coast of Crimea, accusing Ukraine of illegally entering Russian waters in the Sea of Azov.

The confrontation at sea raised fears of a wider military flareup.

Haley put the blame firmly on Russia for the clash, calling the seizure of the ships an "outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory" and slamming "yet another reckless Russian escalation."

But she did not specifically threaten further sanctions, instead calling for a de-escalation of tensions over Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 in a move never recognized by the international community.

President Donald Trump told reporters in Washington that he disapproved, but suggested that European governments would handle the crisis.

"We do not like what's happening," said Trump, adding that "hopefully it will get straightened out. I know Europe is not -- they are not thrilled. They're working on it too. We're all working on it together."

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned "this aggressive Russian action" in a statement calling for Russia to return the Ukrainian vessels and release the detained seamen.

Reports that the Russian vessels rammed and fired on the Ukrainian ships, injuring Ukrainian crewmen, before seizing three vessels, represent "a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law," said Pompeo.

Haley said her remarks at the Security Council followed conversations with Trump and Pompeo, reflecting "concerns at the highest level of the American government."

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The US warning comes ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Argentina later this week.

- Russia denies 'mythical' aggression -

Russia's envoy accused Ukraine of provoking the confrontation to justify the imposition of martial law and a delay of elections as polls show Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko faces possible defeat.

Ukraine's parliament voted Monday on a request from Poroshenko to impose martial law in border regions for 30 days.

Denouncing a "mythical Russian aggression," Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council: "Our country has never caused the first blow, but it knows how to protect itself."

Ukraine called for a toughening of sanctions against Russia, with Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko warning that "if unopposed, the Kremlin regime will take another and another aggressive act" leading to wider conflict.

The Ukrainian ambassador cited audio recordings of communications among Russian vessel commanders that showed they were given orders to attack the ships after they had changed course and were returning to their Ukrainian port.

France and Germany, which lead European diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, urged Russia to hand over the seized ships and release the seamen.

At the outset of the meeting, Russia suffered a setback in the council after it sought to discuss the clash in the Azov under an agenda item that described the incident as a violation of Russia's borders.

This was rejected in a procedural vote, with only China, Bolivia and Kazakhstan siding with Russia. The council then discussed the clash under a less contentious agenda item.
Three Spanish readers are reading Xi Jinping: The Governance of China at the sharing session. Photo by Han Xiaoming from Peoples Daily

A sharing session for Chinese President Xi Jinpings book, Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, was held in Madrid, Spain on Nov. 22 ahead of his state visit to Spain.

Co-organized by Chinas State Council Information Office, China International Publishing Group, and Chinese Embassy in Spain, the book fair was jointly held by Chinas Foreign Languages Press and Spanish organization Catedra China.

Nearly 200 people, including Wang Xiaohui, executive deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Juan Jose Lucas, President of the Constitutional Commission in the Spanish Senate, attended the activity.

Thanks to the increasingly closer comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain, the two countries enjoy enhanced trade cooperation and frequent cultural exchanges, said Lucas.

Xis books have received wide attention since publication, and his visit will become a golden chance for the development of China-Spain ties, Lucas noted, adding that his country will have a better understanding of Chinas present and future through the book.

Georgina Higueras, vice chair of the Catedra China and president of an association of former Spanish students in China, told Peoples Daily that the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China reflects Chinas confidence in its institution and culture, adding that every country should explore their own ways of governance and social development based on their respective history and experiences.

The increasing popularity of Xis book in Spain will help the people there understand China, and enhance people-to-people bond under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, creating better environment for China-Spain friendship, said Lv Fan, Chinese Ambassador to Spain.

Attending Spanish historian Felipe Debesa noted that he has read the Spanish version of the first volume of the book several years ago, saying he was quite impressed by the Chinese wisdom and experiences in the book.

I started reading the Spanish version of the second volume immediately after it was published, and Xis profound thoughts in the book are enlightening, he said.
Pre-operative medical equipment in operating room.

A Texas real estate agent that CBS News reported was on life support after she received multiple plastic surgery procedures in Juarez, Mexico has died. Days earlier, the 35-year-old woman from Dallas had been moved to hospice care by her family, after she was placed into a medically-induced coma.

During surgery for both rhinoplasty  commonly referred to as a nose job  and breast implant replacement at the Rino Center in late October, Avila reportedly suffered complications from the anesthesia before the surgeries were underway. The complications caused her brain to swell, and Fox News reports that the injuries led to severe brain damage for the Texan.

Her sister, Angie Avila, said that after those initial injuries, Laura suffered a heart attack and was put into a medically-induced coma to prevent the brain damage from worsening.

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The crime organizations in Israel managed to accomplish a lot over the past month, and it would have been very encouraging if the Israel Police, which by the looks of it has completely lost its deterrenceyes, there is deterrence when it come to internal terror as wellwas preparing a new plan to combat this phenomenon.

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Its not a trivial matter when criminals spray with bullets two different prisons in the space of five days in the State of Israelthe country that claims ensuring the safety of its citizens is its number one priority.

The first incident occurred last Wednesday when unknown perpetrators opened fire from a moving vehicle at the Hadarim Detention Center in the Sharon region, before fleeing the scene. The fact that no one was hurt in that incident only teaches us that when you shoot from a moving vehicle going at full speed, its hard to hit.

Ayalon prison watchtower shooting (Photo: IPS Spokesperson)

Two days later, fire was opened at the Ayalon Prison watchtower with an automatic weapon. The police explained that those responsible for the shooting tried to send a message after the conditions of imprisonment of one of the prominent criminals there were worsened. It was only a message, as if that is supposed to reassure us.

A message to Hadarim, a message to Ayalon, and a message to the officers at the Rimonim Prison after unknown suspects (how come they are always unknown, do the police have no intelligence units?) planted and detonated an explosive device under their vehicle.

And it doesnt end here. A week ago, two armed bikers approached a passenger car in Holon and shot the driver at point-blank range. The fact that it was early in the morning, in close proximity to a school, didnt really bother the shooters. It also didnt bother those who detonated explosive devices in the Hatikva neighborhood in Tel Aviv, on the Ayalon Highway and on Highway 2. The idea that those are two of the busiest routes in the country, where theres a real possibility of harming innocent bystanders, is lost on them.

Explosive devise detonated on Highway 2

That's exactly what happened in Jaffa about two months ago, when a 5-year-old boy was accidentally shot and seriously wounded after a group of criminals opened fire at a house he was standing near. The criminals are so carefree, they seem indifferent to the possibility that the police might track them down.

And all this before we even mention the latest statistics, which indicate that since the beginning of the year, some 13,000 women have experienced severe physical violence, and 22 of them were murdereddespite the fact that half of them filed police complaints.

To summarize, currently we have a police commissioner who promised to combat the rising organized crime and to ensure the safety of the ordinary citizens and is now ending his tenure amid the whistling of bullets and the thunderous explosions, as thousands of women pay a price. And the general public, startled by the incompetence, is wondering if and when this violence will affect them.
There has been a steady and significant increase in the number of patients seeking a medical cannabis license over the past five yearsalmost four times as many requests as in 2013, according to recently-released data from the Ministry of Health.

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At the same time, there has also been a sharp increase in the number of applicants who were rejectedalmost one third.

According to the data, 14,910 applications were submitted to the Medical Cannabis Unit of the Ministry of Health in 2013, while in 2018 the number of requests rose to 57,781, an increase of 387 percent.

medical cannabis (Photo: Shutterstock)

The data includes the total number of requests submitted to the ministry, whether by new patients requesting a license, requests for a change in dosage, renewal of the license or those requesting a change in their medical cannabis provider.

The rate of applications approved in 2013 was 92.5%. In 2014, the approval rate dropped to 89% of requests and by 2016 to 84.8%. In 2017, it increased slightly to 87.4%, and in 2018 87.15% of requests were approved.

The number of permits in Israel also increased significantly. In 2013 there were 12,561 people who were allowed to use medical cannabis. In 2018, the number rose to 30,507, an increase of 243%.

Medical cannabis oil (Photo: Shutterstock)

According to Ministry of Health data, 13,966 new applications for a medical cannabis license were submitted in 2018. 9,000 of the applications were approved and 4,966 were rejected. In other words, about 36% of patients' requests were rejected.

In 2013, 4,025 new medical cannabis license applications were submitted, of which 3,540 were approved and 486 rejected, or 12%.

Five years ago, in 2013, 3,862 patients applied for a change or increase in their cannabis allowance dosage, and 3,42288.6% of the requestswere approved. In 2018, the number of requests for a change or increase in dosage jumped to 11,339, of which 10,513 were approved92.7% of the requests.

The Ministry of Health also published the types of diseases for which patients received a medical cannabis license. In 2018, 1,745 cancer patients undergoing oncology treatments were licensed, as were 1,116 cancer patients suffering from symptoms of the disease or negative drug effects, 1,056 Crohn's disease patients and 154 colitis patients.

Cannabis dispensary in Canada (Photo: AP)

The largest group of patients receiving a license are those suffering from chronic pain: 17,963 people. In addition, 137 HIV / AIDS patients were licensed.

Among the license recipients were 487 patients with multiple sclerosis, 599 Parkinson's disease patients, 357 people with Tourette syndrome, 276 terminally ill patients and 3,131 people with post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, 107 adults and 131 children with epilepsy received permits, and another 3,226 people suffering from other diseases.

The data shows that most of the medical cannabis licenses are issued to people aged 40-65 (14,083). Among those aged 65 and older, there are currently 7,741 patients. Among young people aged 18-40 there are 7,358. In addition, 429 adolescents aged 12-18 and 848 children aged 1-12 are licensed to use medical cannabis. As of today, there are also 19 infants who have been granted permission to use medical cannabis.

As for gender, there are more men than women with a medical cannabis license: 19,635 men compared to 10,872 women.

Currently, a medical cannabis license is conditional on medical follow-up every three months at least during the first year of treatment. The follow-up is performed by a Ministry of Health certified physician. From the second year of treatment, a follow-up is necessary once every six months.

The initial dose of cannabis issued is about 20 grams per month (0.6 grams per day). In the event there is need to increase the dosage, the attending physician must submit a reasoned and detailed request to the ministry's Medical Cannabis Unit. Dosage increase is gradual, 10 grams at a time.

"The Ministry of Health has taken quite a while to provide us with the information regarding approvals for the use of medical cannabis," explains Attorney Or Sadan, legal advisor of the Freedom of Information Movement. "The public is eager for such information, which can shed light on a social phenomenon in which doctors and patients choose to use cannabis for medicinal purposes."
"The solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to let the women negotiate," says Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian doctor from Gaza whose three daughters were killed during Operation Cast Lead when their Jabalya home was hit by IDF tank shells.

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"There must be more women around the table. They bring life to the world and they understand what life is, and I'm sure they will succeed where men have failed. Men are motivated by ego; they tried for 100 years and failed. I am sure that ultimately the women will succeed, but even if they do not, it will not deteriorate into violence," he asserts.

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish at Shiba Medical Center (Photo: Ido Erez)

Abuelaish, who has been living in Canada for the past few years, working as a professor at the University of Toronto's School of Public Health, arrived in Israel on Sunday to attend the first international conference on removing barriers to peace in the Middle East, organized by Women Wage Peace

During the conference, experts from Israel and from around the world will formulate a position paper to be submitted to the government on ways to remove obstacles to peace.

Among the participants are Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, French Ambassador to Israel Helene Le Gal and the ambassadors of Canada, Ireland, Cyprus and Finland, and MK Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union).

The recent escalation in the south, which almost deteriorated into war, brought back terrible memories for Abuelaish. "The militant way will not put an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," he stresses in an interview with Ynet.

Meeting President Rivlin

When a reporter reminds him that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the one who halted the escalation when he urged the Cabinet to accept the ceasefire after hundreds of rockets were fired at Israel, Abuelaish notes that what sparked the events in the first place was the IDF covert operation deep inside the Gaza Strip that was discovered.

"There was desire to bring about peace via efforts by the Egyptians and the Qataris. The people in Gaza waited for calm, until this incident came and destroyed everything," he says.

And what about the arson terrorism and the attempts to breach the border fence, which have been ongoing since last March?

"If someone crosses the fence and infiltrates Israel, then he deserves to be punished, but the soldiers are not allowed to harm civilians and children in Gaza. The recent events reminded me that we have not learned the lesson, that everyone has an ego, and that there are internal problems in the State of Israel," he replies."Ahead of every election campaign, there are calls to go to war in an effort to earn more (Knesset) seats. It will not help, the blood of innocents, Israelis and Palestinians, is not intended for political gain."

Do you condemn the violence by Hamas?

"With regard to Hamas, I condemn every military action and violence. From everyone. It is not the way to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Do you understand the suffering of the residents of southern Israel?

"I share and feel their pain, and I hope you and they will feel the pain of more than 2 million Palestinianswho have been living without (running) water for over 10 years, without electricity, without work and without freedom. One must consider the pain of both sides. I see the suffering in Sderot, and we must also take into account Palestinian suffering. Israelis' lives are equal to Palestinian lives."

Are you still optimistic that peace can be achieved?

"Yes. I know that the situation is very difficult and can deteriorate, but I have hope that people will wake up one daylike in 1994 with the Oslo agreementand there will be good leadership, not like Netanyahu, someone who will recognize the rights of the Palestinians as a people, like the Palestinians who recognized the people of Israel and the State of Israel. People in Israel still believe in peace, there are a lot of voices talking about peace and a Palestinian state, and although they are a minority, we have to look for ways to increase them."

But you seem to be ignoring the stabbings and other brutal attacks lately, such as the terrorist attack in the Barkan industrial zone.

"I condemn violence, and what do you think about the attacks and everything that is happening in Gaza, and about the settlement expansion? Some people prefer to kill their son, but to not have their home destroyed. I condemn the killing of anyone.

"Let us ask how to solve the problem. The patient suffers and the patient is the Palestinian and the Israeli. You have to think about how to heal the patient and not blame him all the time. We are constantly in a cycle of blaming each other. You have to look with a good heart, and learn the lessons from what happened. We have no other choice but to live together in equality, good neighborliness and help one another."

Abuelaish, who maintains contact with his relatives in Gaza, also spoke about the difficult crisis in the Gaza Strip. "The situation in Gaza is terrible, children without a childhood, living in poverty and suffering. Children aged 15 have already lived through three wars. Children without hope, women without work, they have no freedom. The people's lives have been destroyed by the blockade," he lamented.
The Palestinian Authority's (PA) Governor of Jerusalem Adnan Gheith, was arrested overnight Sunday at his home in Silwan, a neighborhood in east Jerusalem.

The police suspect Gheith recruited an Israeli citizen or resident to serve in an armed force, in violation of the Oslo Accords International Law. He has been remanded in custody for five days.

This is the second time Gheith has been arrested. About a month ago he was arrested and questioned by police on suspicion of being part of the kidnapping of East Jerusalem resident Issam Akel, who has American citizenship, to the Palestinian Authority after the latter was suspected of selling real estate to Jews.
The police arrested overnight Monday, 32 suspects from east Jerusalem who joined the ranks of the Palestinian Authority Security Services.

During the search of the suspects' homes, tens of thousands of shekels had been seized along with the Palestinian Police's certificates, uniforms and various types of weapons.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed Sunday to support an opposition bill proposal to establish a parliamentary committee of inquiry into violence against women after he was reminded by his wife that he had voted against it.

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During a visit to a women's shelter in Jerusalem, the prime minster was asked why the coalition voted last week against the bill proposal by Zionist Union MKs Stav Shafir and Yael Cohen Paran.

"Because this was the opposition's proposal," Netanyahu responded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara visit a women's shelter (Photo: Kobi Gidon/GPO)

The prime minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu, who accompanied him on the visit, noted that "This shouldn't be a coalition and an opposition dispute. It's a universal issue."

Consequently, the opposition MKs re-submitted their proposal to the Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, demanding a prompt re-vote on the issue.

"This phenomenon has claimed many victims, and yet, for years now, despite the establishment of a ministerial committee on the issue, domestic violence has not been dealt with properly," Shafir and Cohen Paran said in a statement. "Last week, a proposal to establish a parliamentary committee of inquiry into the murder of women was presented to the Knesset and was rejected by a narrow majority."

"This morning we heard Netanyahu say that he is unaware of such a proposal, even though he himself voted against it only last week," the two MKs added. "In the same breath, the prime minister said that domestic violence must be taken seriously, and that a special committee should be established. Since the prime minister changed his mind, we can assume that when we re-submit our proposal, Netanyahu will exert his power and allow coalition members to vote for it...Sir, every day that passes may add more victims the violence statistics."

MK Stav Shaffir (Zionist Union) (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

The prime minister and his wife visited the women's shelter to mark this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. During the visit, they spoke with the shelter's residents, listened to their stories, and offered their support. Netanyahu said that domestic violence must be dealt with severely and added that he intends to take up the issue together with the Cabinet.







"Violence against women is an abhorrent phenomenon. It is a crime I discovered that we are hardly doing anything against those who are responsible for this crimeThis is terrorism in every respect," the prime minister said.

At the Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu announced his intention to form a ministerial committee on domestic violence. The committee will be headed by Netanyahu himself and include Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked, Welfare and Labor Minister Haim Katz, Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan and the Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel.

Women protest violence against women in Tel Aviv (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Meanwhile, hundreds of people took part in the annual protest rally against domestic violence in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening.The protesters marched from Rabin Square towards the city's Cinematheque Square and shouted, "the culture of rape begins inside the government," among other things.

"We are told that this is not a political issue, but when public officials drop a proposal to fight domestic violence, one cannot say it is not a political issue... we demand government action," Meretz Chairman MK Tamar Zandberg said at the rally.














Israel is working to establish diplomatic ties with the Gulf State of Bahrain, which are expected to be announced soon.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at contacts being held with the Muslim country during his joint press conference with Chadian President Idriss Deby on Sunday.

Bahrain, file photo (Photo: Reuters)

"A few minutes ago, we discussed in my office the great changes that are taking place in the Arab world in its relations with Israel. And this was manifested in my recent visit in Oman with Sultan Qaboos. And there will be more such visits in Arab countries very soon," Netanyahu said.

The Persian Gulf State, which has a population of 1.4 million, does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Bahrain has a small Jewish community of 40 people, and it is the only state in the Persian Gulf with a synagogue.

Chadian President Idriss Deby (L) and PM Netanyahu

Several Bahraini Jews hold key positions in the country. Huda Ezra Ibrahim Nunu, a Bahraini Jewish woman, served as Bahrain's ambassador to the US between the years 2008-2013. Attorney Nancy Dina Kadouri is of Jewish descent, and serves as one of the members of the upper house of the National Assembly in Bahrain, whose members are appointed by the king.

After Netanyahu returned from Oman last month, officials in Jerusalem said the next Arab country to host Netanyahu would be Bahrain.

As with Bahrain, Israel and Oman do not have diplomatic relations. The meeting was the first between the leaders of the two countries since 1996. In 2000, with the outbreak of the second intifada, Oman severed its ties with Israel.

PM Netanyahu and Oman's Sultan

Over the past several years, the media has reported on secret communications between Israel and Oman, with one report indicating that Israel was about to open a secret consulate in the port city of Muscat.

As part of the US administration's efforts to set in motion a political process between the two countries, the Americans worked to convince Oman to normalize its relations with Israel.

In the past, the Sultanate announced it would resume diplomatic relations with the Jewish State, if the latter agrees to freeze construction in the settlements.
Alexey Kornya, MTS president and CEORussias biggest mobile phone company said it reserved $840 million to resolve a possible FCPA enforcement action by the DOJ and SEC.

Moscow-based MTS said it is cooperating with an investigation by U.S. authorities into the companys former operations in Uzbekistan.

MTS said, There can be no assurance as to the form, timing or terms of any resolution to the investigation.

The company  formally known as Mobile TeleSystems Public Joint Stock Company  first disclosed the investigation in an SEC filing in March 2014, according to data provided by FCPA Tracker.

MTS shut down its operations in Uzbekistan in 2016.

Last year, Swedens Telia paid $965 million in total penalties to resolve FCPA offenses in Uzbekistan. The penalties were paid to enforcement agencies in the United States, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

In 2016, Amsterdam-based VimpelCom reached a $795 million FCPA resolution with the DOJ and SEC. Some of the penalties went to Dutch enforcement authorities.

Telia and VimpelCom admitted bribing Gulnara Karimova, daughter of the late Uzbek president Islam Karimov. Shes been under house arrest in Uzbekistan since 2014.

Starting in 2015, the DOJ filed civil forfeiture complaints against assets linked to Karimova worth more than $850 million, including bank accounts in Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Ireland.

In 2016, MTS said the DOJ and SEC had asked for information about corrupt payments to the unnamed Uzbek official referred to in the civil forfeiture actions.

____

Heres the full FCPA-related statement from MTS in its November 20, 2018 Q3 Financial & Operating Results:

In its Q3 2018 financial statements, MTS reserved RUB 55.8 bln as the potential liability with respect to the investigation being conducted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in relation to its former operations in Uzbekistan. MTS continues to cooperate with the U.S. authorities in the ongoing investigation. There can be no assurance as to the form, timing or terms of any resolution to the investigation. As a result of this provision recognition the Group finished Q3 2018 with Net loss of RUB 37.0 bln. Excluding this one-off factor, the Group would have reported Net profit of RUB 18.7 bln.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
A member of a UN Human Rights Council commission, which is investigating the events of recent months on the Israel-Gaza border, asked two Israelis living near the strip, "If that is the situation, why do you continue living there?"

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Over the weekend, Batia Holin from Kibbutz Kfar Aza and Adele Raemer from Kibbutz Nirim accepted an invitation to speak in front of the UNHRC's Independent Commission of Inquiry for events on the 2018 Gaza border and tell its members of life under the threat of arson terrorism and rocket fire.

The committee chose them because of their activities on social media: they have been keeping track of the events on the border, posting photos and videos and mostly writing about the fires that broke out over the past eight months because of the kite and balloon terrorism.

Batia Holin and Adele Raemer at the UN in Geneva

The two said that despite being invited to speak in front of the UN commission in Geneva, they lowered their expectations, knowing the United Nations' pro-Palestinian bias.

They were still surprised, though, when after describing their life under the threat of rockets, tunnels, incendiary balloon and kites and the fires they cause, one of the commission's members he asked them why they continued living close to the border.

"When I was asked why I was staying in my home and not leaving because of the situation, I realized how disconnected from reality the members of the commissions are," Holin told Ynet. "They have no idea how we live here and what the Zionist idea is all about."

"We got to the commission with a presentation and a lot of material to demonstrate to the team there, which is headed by a jurist, what our life on the Gaza border looks like. We were supposed to each appear separately for an hour and a half, but we ended up speaking for four hours," Holin continued.

"I told them about our lives under the rocket threat, about the tunnels that were found, about the tire smoke that suffocates us from the protests every Friday. The commission members don't know Israel or the Gaza Strip. They've never visited here. I had to show them on a map how close my kibbutz is to the border and explain what that means," she went on to say.

"They asked me: 'How do you explain the fact that on one Friday during the protests, the IDF killed dozens of Palestinians who came near the border fence?' I told them those protesters, who are sent by Hamas, wanted to infiltrate my home to hurt usso we have the legitimacy to defend ourselves," Holin concluded.
One of the most basic qualities in the Israeli DNA is the yearningat times moving and at times slightly patheticfor recognition, legitimization, and acceptance in the Muslim and Arab world. For a photo op with a Muslim or Arab leader, left- and right-wing Israeli leaders are ready to pay a heavy price, and sometimes it is really not worth it.

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Israel is a small isolated island in a hostile and violent environment. Therefore, it would be wise for the Jewish State to build bridges where it can, form alliances, and do everything in its power to normalize its ties with the Arab world.

Chadian President Idriss Deby (L) and PM Netanyahu

Over the past few years, progress had been noted on that front, thanks to the combination of several circumstances: the dissolvement of some of the countries in the Middle East, some countries' desire to join forces with the "neighborhood's bully" to create a counterweight to Iran, the Palestinians failing in promoting their agenda, forming an opposition to the Obama administration at the time, and now using Israel to get an "in" with the White House.

But we have to stay realistic about our new friends. Chadian President Idriss Deby's visit to Israel is "historic" since this is the first time he arrives to the Jewish State. Apart from that, there is not a lot to be impressed by. Full diplomatic relations will not be established for now, and economic relations already exist.

Israel will continue selling weapons to Debyanother African ruler with a pretty dubious record of human rights violationsonly now he has so kindly agreed to arrive in Jerusalem, visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum, and take a picture with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Chadian President Idriss Deby (L) and PM Netanyahu

It is safe to assume that the African leader has come to the conclusion that the photo op with the premier would benefit himhe needs international economic aid and any other support he can get from Washingtonno less than it would benefit Netanyahu, who wants to display political momentum before the general elections next year.

Even the Palestinian reacted in rather a feeble manner. The normalization of Israel's relations with far more important Arab countries is what's bothering the Palestinians, but they are quite helpless to stop that as well.

The more significant diplomatic ties are with countries such as Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and of course Saudi Arabia. Here, too, Israel appears to be seeking to make these relations public, while it's not at all certain the Arab nations want that.

The Iron Dome system that Israel gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who is embroiled with the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, helped him a lot, but it caused significant damage to Israel's image, especially in the liberal media.

Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (L), and US President Donald Trump (Photo: EPA, AFP)

What do we get from having the name "Israel" come up in relation to a regime that kills opposition journalists? What in it for us when US President Donald Trump uses Israel's secret ties with Saudi Arabia to legitimize his own tolerant attitude towards Bin Salman's actions, tolerance which stems from completely different considerations? It's unclear.

Let's hope that Mohammad Bin Salman remembers what Israel did for him better than Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for whom Netanyahu also did a lot in Washington, and who after several years of toeing the line with regards to Hamas has gone back to embracing the terror organization, much like former president Hosni Mubarak.

Israel is a strong country, which has a lot to contribute to the world and the countries in the region in the fields of technology, medicine, agriculture, and of course advanced weapons and intelligence systems. The last thing it needs from these countriesmost of whom have dubious regimesis legitimization.

In fact, it is difficult to see how photo-ops of an Israeli leader with a controversial ruler could benefit the Jewish State, apart from the political benefits on election night. Because the Israelis, as already mentioned, are yet to overcome their childish desire for an Arab or Muslim embrace.
El Al airline announced Monday that it would compensate 400 passengers, who flew from New York to Israel last week, and were delayed due to a snowstorm on the East Coast, landing in Athens to avoid Shabbat desecration.

The passengers will receive a round-trip ticket to Europe.

Moreover, El Al said neither the secular nor the religious public are responsible of the incident, while fully backing up its crew.
Russia's foreign ministry on Monday denied having any missiles that violate the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces arms control treaty that the United States has said it plans to quit because of violations by Moscow.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters that the missile that Washington has said is flouting the accord has not been tested at a range banned by the treaty. He said the US decided Russia was guilty before receiving evidence to the contrary.
The Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel has an admirable tradition of holding periodic culinary festivals celebrating foreign cuisines rarely enjoyed in Israel, and making them accessible to those who observe kashrut in the bargain. The most recent example was a festival of Colombian cuisine served in the hotels signature restaurant, Olive Leaf, last week.

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The Sheraton partnered with the embassy of Colombia in Israel to invite renowned Chef Diego Panesso of the famed restaurant Ambar in Pereira, central Colombia, to Israel. Chef Panesso and his sous-chef collaborated with the executive chef of the Sheraton Tel Aviv, Shimon Maman, in preparing a special three-course dinner representing highlights of Colombian gastronomy.





Atollado Vallecaucano rice with duck patty confit alioli and reduced duck sauce with anise fragance (Photo: Sheraton Tel Aviv )



The festival dinner, inaugurated by Colombian ambassador H.E. Carlos Morales Lopez, consisted of an appetizer, main course and dessert. The introductory course was a deconstructed tamal (fried or steamed stuffed cornmeal dough) with corvina fish in a Creole sauce a delicious combination.

Tamal of grouper fish criollo, with Hogao sauce, green peas and yucca chips (Photo: Sheraton Tel Aviv)

The main course was a creamy atollado a Colombian version of risotto accompanied by two empanadas (turnovers) filled with duck confit. Enhanced by demi-glace and aioli, as well as fragrance of anise, this dish was filling and satisfying.

The exotic dessert was pear poached in apple soup and cardamom syrup, served with peanut crumble and gel of maracuya a sweet tropical fruit that is a rare treat indeed in Israel.

Pear in cardamom syrup over apple soup crispy peanut nest and tropical fruits (Photo: Sheraton Tel Aviv)

The Colombian food festival was the final such celebration of 2018 at the Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel, which had hosted the So French So Food culinary festival earlier in the year.

Olive Leaf @ The Sheraton Tel Aviv. Kosher. Hayarkon St. 115, Tel Aviv. Tel. (03) 521-1111

Israel joins in the annual international week of Italian cuisine

Now in its third year, the worldwide week of Italian cuisine was celebrated in Israel this month with a series of events in the Tel Aviv area. Following its official launch at the embassy of Italy, the local chapter of l'Accademia Italiana the Italian Academy of Cuisineheld two well-attended activities celebrating Italian gastronomy.

Chef Massimiliano receiving an award (Photo: Italian Academy of Cuisine)

The most hands-on activity was a master cooking class taught by Chef Massimiliano di Matteo, an oleh (immigrant) from Italys Abruzzo region. Chef Massimiliano vaulted to fame in this country after winning the national MasterChef competition on Israel television.

Chef Massimilianos workshop led participants in creating a distinctive white menu four dishes of uniform color with very different flavors: lemon risotto with asparagus; spaghetti alla chitarra cacio e pepe (with black pepper and grated cheese); ricotta ravioli with grana Padano cheese; and vanilla panna cotta for dessert.

Traditional Italian aperitivo (Photo: Italian Academy of Cuisine)

Following the master class, Academy Delegate Cinzia Klein awarded Chef Massimiliano the Italian Academy of Cuisines Nuvoletti prize in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of Italian regional cuisine.

Towards the end of the week, the Academy joined with Tel Avivs Pankina Restaurant to host a traditional Italian aperitivo  a delightful afternoon ritual revolving around drinks and snacks: a bounteous buffet of focaccia, pizza, pasta salad, couscous salad and hors doeuvres, plus a non-stop flow hot canapes: polenta with gorgonzola, lasagne squares, arancini, and eggplant parmesan.
Chadian President Idriss Deby, arrived Sunday for a historic visit as part of an attempt to renew diplomatic relations between Israel and the Muslim central African nation. Debby is considered by many to be a brutal dictator who detains political opponents and violates human and civil rights in his native land.

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"He might not be one of the most brutal tyrants in Africa, but he is definitely a tyrant," says Dr. Irit Beck, head of the African Studies program at Tel Aviv University. He rules his country by constantly violating human rights and liberties.

Since he came to power in a 1990 military coup, he has managed to maintain political stability in Chadwhich has not been involved in any wars with its neighbors since Deby became presidentnor has it been entangled in a civil war. However, according to Dr. Beck, Debys rule did not contribute to the development of Chad or to the welfare of its citizens.

Chadian President Idriss Deby and Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: AFP)

"Although Chad has natural resources, such as oil, Debys nearest circle of trustees divide the profits between themselves  The literacy rate in the country remains low, unlike many other African states that have developed in this regard over the recent years," Dr. Beck explained.

As a result, Deby has been facing increasing criticism from his political opponentswho make themselves heard despite the presidents attempts to suppress themdue to the growing frustration among the general population.

"It is possible that this is why he is trying to reach out and develop new ties with foreign countriesin order to strengthen his rule," she emphasized.

Similarly to many other African leaders, Deby, too, began his political career as a military man. He enlisted in the early 1970s, when his country was in the midst of a civil war, and turned out to be an outstanding officer. A few years later he was sent to undergo training at the most prestigious military school in France, the Ecole Militaire, where Deby also received a pilot's license.

He became a prominent figure in Chad in the 1980s, when he commanded the rebel forces under the leadership of Hissene Habre, who later became president. Later on, the relationship between the two deteriorated due to Habres suspicions that his former comrade is conspiring to topple his rule.

In order to avoid being detained by Habres forces, Deby fled to neighboring Sudanwhere he recruited an army of followers who carried out attacks against the president. In 1990, Deby returned to Chad and seized political power in the country.

Chad is the 22nd largest country in the world in terms of territory, but its population is relatively sparse and is estimated to stand around 15.8 million. Chad is not a country with a clear Muslim majority, with only 52.1% of its residents belonging to the religion. Another 44% in the country identify as Catholic and Protestant.

Chadian President Idriss Deby (Photo: EPA)

Chad is a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The two official languages in the country are French and Arabic, while another 120 additional languages and dialects are also in frequent use.

Although the country holds presidential elections every five years, Chad is classified as a non-free state by the independent watchdog organization that conducts research on democracy, called Freedom House.

Amnesty International says government in Chad regularly commits human and civil rights violations, suppresses demonstrations and conducts arrests of human rights and opposition activists.

"Chad is violating the freedom of association and imposes restrictions on civilian organizations," stated Amnestys official report.

The civilian population in the country is also under a constant threat posed by the extremist Islamic terrorist organization Boko Haram, that commits murders, abductions and other acts of violence against those living near ake Chad, which is also shared by Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria.

The international human rights group's protests and criticism leveled at the authorities in Chad also boasts some achievements. Last April, a court in the countrys capital Najma ordered the state to release a citizen who had been jailed for six months after posting Facebook videos criticizing the government inefficiency when it comes to distributing the public resources.

Chadian President Idriss Deby (Photo: Avi Hayoun)

He was accused of undermining the constitutional order and threatening territorial integrity, and had he been convicted, he could have received life imprisonment.

The United Nations also praised Chad for taking care of some 450,000 refugees living in its territory. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said Chad was the first country in Africa to develop an education program for refugees in order to integrate them into society. In addition, as part of the program, the government integrated 108 of the refugee camps schools into the countrys education system.

Why did the president of Chad decide to visit Israel after severing the relations back in 1972? Dr. Jonathan Freeman, a researcher and lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, explained which interests the two countries might have in common.

"Chad is a country that faces many challenges that Israel is also grappling with. Firstly, Chad is fighting against many radical Islamic organizations operating in its territory, such as Islamic State and Boko Haram, and they need professional knowledge and technology in order to combat the phenomenon, stressed Freeman.

The country also endures similar climate phenomena and natural disasters, such as desertification and drought, and might require Israeli-made technology in order to deal with the problem.

"Developing a connection with Chad in particular, and with Africa in general, is important to Israel. We need this continent not only as a client for export of our technologies, but also as a diplomatic partner, Freeman asserts, adding that 50 countries of the continent represent 50 potential votes in the United Nations.

Chadian President Idriss Deby and Prime Minister Netanyahu at dinner (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom)

According to the researcher, warming relations with the countries on the continent could also help Israels aspirations to become an observer in the African Union.

One of the issues that was discussed with Deby during his visit, is Israels desire to have direct flights from South America to Israel over Central Africawhich entails flying over Niger, Chad and Sudan. President Deby reportedly agreed in principle to allow flights over his country.

Deby also made it clear that Israel is very close to a breakthrough when it comes to relations with Sudanwhich is defined by law as an enemy state but has undergone positive change in recent years and is developing close ties with the United States. Deby has promised to help Israel's efforts in this sphere.

In a joint statement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Deby welcomed the renewal of relations between the two countries, but emphasized the Palestinian issue is still on the top of the agenda as far as his country is concerned.

"We believe that peace (between Israel and the Palestinians-ed.) should reflect the principles of the Security Council, the Arab League, the Madrid Principles, and bilateral agreements between the parties," Deby added.

During a joint press conference on Sunday, both leaders refused to answer any questions regarding possible arms deals, with the prime minister bluntly stating, "We discussed what we discussed."

President Rivlin meets with President Deby (": ")

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The Chadian president also met with President Reuven Rivlin, who emphasized the central African countrys importance.

"Chad is an important country, a country that fights terror, and Israel is at your side in this just war ... Our relations will be renewed and I hope that I will soon receive the charter of the Ambassador of Chad in Israel. "

We see great importance in developing relations with Africa, the cradle of civilization. For us, Africa is the future, Chad is the future, and Israel wants to share its experience with you," Rivlin said.
Police searching houses of suspects

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Israel has increased its pressure on the Palestinian Authority (PA) in an effort to secure the release of Issam Akel, an east Jerusalem resident with American citizenship, who was detained by the PA's General Intelligence Service (GIS) six weeks ago on suspicion of selling lands to Jews.

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On Sunday, the Israel Police arrested Adnan Rit, the Governor of the Jerusalem District of the Palestinian Authority, for the third time this month on suspicion he was behind Akel's detention. Rit had been arrested at his home in east Jerusalem's Silwan neighborhood, and his remand was extended until Thursday.

Issam Akel

This move was one of a series of unusual steps the Israeli defense establishment has taken against senior officials in the PA as part of the attempts to free Akel.

Before Rit's arrest, GOC Home Front Command Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai issued an order prohibiting the Palestinian Jerusalem district governor from having direct or indirect communications with several PA officials, including the head of the GIS, Majed Farajwho is one of the heads of the Palestinian security coordination with Israelas well as the head of the Tanzim, Fatah's militant faction.

In addition, Rit was barred from entering the West Bank, including Palestinian Authority territories.

Adnan Rit, the Governor of the Jerusalem District of the Palestinian Authority

According to Rit's arrest warrant, he "is involved in the detentions of Israeli citizens by the PA, which jeopardizes Israel and its citizens' security."

Israel has also issued a stay of exit order on Adnan Husseini, the PA's minister for Jerusalem affairs, who has been involved in the persecution of Arabs for selling lands to Jews in east Jerusalem.

Lt. Col. (res.) Baruch Yedid, who served in the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit, argued that Israel should take harsher measures to ensure Akel's release.

"Israel should act against the Palestinian General Intelligence Service head, who followed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's orders to abduct (Akel). Other measures are not effective, since they do not influence the Palestinian intelligence head, nor the PA's minister for Jerusalem affairs Adnan Husseini, who strongly opposed Akel's release," he said.

Over the past few days, Fatah officials have warned Israel against raiding the detention facility where the 53-year-old Akel is held.

Akel's detention was even discussed in the Knesset Internal Affairs Committee last month, sparking ire among Knesset members over Israel's restraint in the face of the abduction of an Israeli citizen.

Equipment seized during searches of the suspects' homes

The MKs questioned whether Israel would have shown the same restraint if a Jew from Tel Aviv had been abducted instead of an Arab from east Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, the police carried out an unusually large-scale series of arrests overnight Sunday32 suspects from east Jerusalem who joined the ranks of the Palestinian Authority Security Services, in violation of Israeli law, were detained.

Uniform seized during searches of the suspects' homes

All the suspects were taken in for questioning by the police's Central Unit in the Jerusalem District and will be brought before a judge to extend their remand.

During a search of the suspects' homes, tens of thousands of shekels were seized along with training certificates from the Palestinian police, uniforms, military equipment, and various types of ammunition.
Israeli-born Ilan Laufer , 34, has accused Romanian President Klaus Iohannis of anti-Semitism after the president rejected his appointment to regional development minister.

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Laufer has been living in Romania for many years and has previously served as the countrys minister of Economy, Commerce and Business Environment.

Romania's ruling party PSD sought to appoint Laufer for the position as part of a government reshuffle, but President Iohannis refused to approve the appointment, prompting the former minister to accuse the president of anti-Semitism and claim Iohannis has also recently thwarted a plan to relocate the Romanian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Ilan Laufer

Laufers accusations were met mainly with ridicule and harsh criticism leveled at him not only by the president himself but also by the Jewish community in the country and Jewish leaders around the world.

"The accusations against Iohannis are baseless," said Radu Ioanid, the director of the International Archival Programs at the Holocaust Museum in Washington.

The leaders of the Jewish community in Romania noted that Iohannis has actually been very active in efforts to eradicate anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial in his country and in Europe at large.

The Romanian president, meanwhile, accused Laufer of "making use of such a sensitive matter for his political ends."

Romanian media reported that Laufers appointment wasnt approved after experts determined he was unsuitable for the job and would not be able to cope with the challenges involved.
US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman released the following statement: "Jared Kushner, Jason Greenblatt and I had a very productive meeting last week in the Oval Office with President Trump, Vice President Pence, Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador Bolton in which we discussed the Presidents vision for comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Reports of our meeting have been wildly inaccurate. I would like to reaffirm that the United States remains committed to sharing its vision for peace with Israel, the Palestinians and other regional and international stakeholders at the appropriate time.

"Our timing, our strategy and our messaging is and will be entirely our own. We intend to release the Presidents vision when the Administration concludes that we have maximized its potential for acceptance, execution and implementation. Moreover, Mr. Kushner, Mr. Greenblatt and I are of one mind in terms of how best to proceed. Those anonymous experts who purport to speak for the Administration on this issue are ill informed and mistaken.
The military court in the West Bank sentenced Monday a terrorist, who carried out a stabbing attack at the Ariel Junction in 2015, to 17.5 years in prison.

In addition, he was ordered to pay compensation to the victim Ohad Hertz, who was wounded, in the amount of NIS 30,000.
One can be cynical about Chad President Idriss Deby's visit to Israel. It's very easy to dismiss the diplomatic significance and to mock Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks about the historic significance of the visit and the renewal of diplomatic relations that are likely to follow. However, those who choose to take this approach miss the bigger pictureIsrael's return to being a leading state in the region.

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When Netanyahu decided almost a decade ago, upon his return to the Prime Minister's Office, to go for an African strategy, there were many who thought it was a pipe dream. The golden age of Israel and Africa, whose peak was in the 1960s, seemed a distant dream at the time, and it appeared that without significant progress in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, this strategy was doomed to failure.

Netanyahu and President of Chad Idriss Deby (Photo: AFP)

But it turns out Netanyahu was right and his critics were wrong. A strategy of formulating close ties between the State of Israel and African countries can succeed, despite the difficulties that stand in the way, and such difficulties do indeed exist. Israel of 2018 has a great deal to share with these countries, certainly more than it had 50 years ago. Therefore, a strategy that pivots toward Africa is likely to succeed, even in countries where Islam is prominent, such as Chad.

This does not mean that tomorrow morning all African countries will join the bloc of countries that support Israel in any and every international forum. Diplomatic processes take time, and voting habits of years do not change in one day even after the exchange of ambassadors. Nevertheless, we should not underestimate Chad's importance and the possibility that good relations with it can help Israel.

Chad-Israel diplomatic steps (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom)

The visit by the president of Chad, which took place at the same time as an equally important visit by the Czech president, is further proof of the prime minister's impressive diplomatic abilities. Netanyahu is a statesman at a level not usually found here, and despite his known shortcomings, he really plays in another league in this respect.

The talent with which Netanyahu navigates the Israeli ship through complex and complicated international situations must also impress those who do not necessarily support his political positions. Israel's position is improving in every aspect that can be measured numerically.

However, precisely because of these diplomatic skills it is hard not to feel that there is a vacuum in leadership. In fact, both the on the Right and the Left there is no high-ranking statesman who can take the helm with the same talent as Netanyahu. So on the one hand, it's really good that we have Netanyahu, and on the other hand, the lack of a leadership alternative is certainly not a positive thing for the State of Israel.
Iran's nuclear chief warned the European Union on Monday of "ominous" consequences if it did not follow through with action to keep the economic benefits of the 2015 nuclear agreement alive.

Ali Akbar Salehi said the European Union was "doing its best" after the United States pulled out of the deal and re-imposed sanctions on Iranian oil exports this month, even as the bloc's efforts to salvage trade ties have floundered.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on a Monday Likud faction meeting that he expects other countries to follow Chadian President Idriss Deby and form ties with Israel.

In the past, Israeli prime ministers wanted to win the worlds support by making dangerous decisions and uprooting settlements. Nowadays, this isnt the case. We are winning the worlds support with our might, said the prime minister.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot sent a clarifying letter to IDF commanding officers following Former IDF deputy chief of staff Maj.-Gen. Yair Golans criticism of Education Minister Naftali Bennett.

The IDF is the army of the State of Israel and is under the governments rule, the letter said. We must avoid personal and political considerations and dismiss voices the cause a rift between us, that distracts us from our mission.
A ceremony commemorating 10 years since the Mumbai trror attacks. (:)

X

Mumbai marked on Monday the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks that killed 166, including six Israelis. Meanwhile, the United States made a new reward offer for information on the 2008 siege.

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The Pakistani gunmen who waged the attack were killed or captured. But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that those who planned the attack had not been convicted.

Pompeo called on Pakistan to implement sanctions against those responsible and said the US was offering a new $5 million reward and was committed to seeing those responsible face justice.

The Mumbai Police ceremony commemorating the attack. (Photo: AP)

On Nov. 26, 2008, gunmen staged coordinated attacks in the heart of Mumbai. They targeted two luxury hotels, including the famous Taj Mahal hotel, a well known restaurant in the city's touristic Colaba region, and the crowded Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj train station.

The Mumbai Chabad House, a Jewish center in the city, was also attacked during the three days of carnage. Rabbi Gabriel Noach Holtzberg and his wife Rivkah, who managed the center, were killed along with six of their Israeli guests.

India blamed the attack on the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, throwing relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors into a tailspin. Indian officials accused Pakistan's intelligence agency of working with the militant group to mastermind the attackan allegation Islamabad denied.

"We call upon all countries, particularly Pakistan, to uphold their UN Security Council obligations to implement sanctions against the terrorists responsible for this atrocity, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and its affiliates," Pompeo said in a statement.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the attacks.

Netanyahu with the son of the couple who was murdered in the 2008 Mumbai attack on Chabad house. (Photo: GPO)

"Our solidarity with the bereaved families. A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks," he said in a statement.

In November 2012, India hanged the lone surviving gunman from the attacks. India has repeatedly urged Pakistan to pursue the case more actively, demanding action against those it says are responsible.
Czech President Milos Zeman spoke at the Knesset Monday during his visit to Israel, and criticised European fear and doubt in supporting Israel.

It is important and necessary to express our solidarity with Israel, since betraying Israel means betraying ourselves, said Zeman. He continued to say that he would do anything to facilitate the move of the Czech embassy to Jerusalem.
Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations is warning that rising tensions with Russia "constitute a clear threat to international peace and security."

Volodymyr Yelchenko told a United Nations Security Council meeting Monday that Russia's claim that Ukrainian ships violated Russia's borders "is an outright lie."

Russia traded barbs Monday with representatives from the United States and Ukraine at a Security Council meeting held after Russian ships fired on Ukrainian vessels Sunday near Crimea.

Russia accused Ukraine of provoking the attack by violating Russia's borders and demanded their sovereignty be respected.
Following the signing of the Brexit papers, a British political battle over the separation from the EU is expected to begin.

The deal must be approved by the UK Parliament, where no party has a majority and lawmakers range from burn-the-bridges Brexiteers to reconciliation-seeking supporters of the EU. Legislators on both sides hate the deal, a compromise that keeps Britain outside the EU with no say but still subject to the rules and the obligations of membership at least until the end of 2020 while a permanent new relationship is worked out.

Prime Minister Theresa May said Monday that Parliament will vote on the deal Dec. 11.
The Montreal River runs under the non-motorized bridge in Hurley Sunday afternoon. A fundraiser is planned for early December to raise money to fund the purchase of the rail grade between the two branches of the Montreal River to extend the non-motorized trail west.

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

HURLEY - Supporters of the effort to develop non-motorized trails in Iron County are looking to raise the money needed to continue their efforts, with a fundraiser planned in early December.

Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts will hold a fundraising dinner Dec. 2 at Sharon's Coffee Company in Hurley.

ICORE treasurer Bob Traczyk said the event, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., will feature a menu of salad, pizza, pasta and dessert.

There will also be a raffle featuring various prizes, including a bicycle, photo of Gabbro Falls and $200.

Along with t...
Universal Avenue, a Stockholm, Sweden-based provider of a digitalization platform, secured an additional US$6m in funding through a stock convertible bond.

Moor Capital made the investment. Simultaneously, one of the previously acquired bonds worth US$1m has been converted.

The company also acquired digital agency Varvet to continue to scale up its product team in a strategic move aimed at boosting the investments in its technical platform. In conjunction with the acquisition, Carl-Johan Kihlbom, a partner at Varvet, will join the Universal Avenue board of directors.

Led by, Johan Lilja, Founder and CEO, Universal Avenue digitalizes small and medium-sized businesses, by providing a platform of digital solutions (used by over 25,000 businesses).

Varvet has teamed with clients to implement change through customized digital solutions, tools and apps since its founding in 2008. The agency has worked with companies ranging from startups to large, well-established corporations such as Electronic Arts and Hemnet.

FinSMEs

26/11/2018
Perths rental market and Regional Western Australias (WA) overall market conditions are expected to see improvements next year, according to The Real Estate Institute of Western Australias (REIWA) 2019 outlook.

The capitals rental market has been posting strong results this year, thanks to stable median rents, healthy leasing activity levels, declining listings and a plummeting vacancy rate. Whats more, this trend is likely to be carried over into the next year.

REIWA analysis showed that Perth rental market should continue tracking an upward trajectory through 2019. This will be made possible by key drivers such as stable population growth and slowing new-building construction levels.

Population growth in WA is anticipated to remain steady, while new dwelling commencements are expected to slow down, and available rental stock should continue to drop. This should result in higher competition among tenants, putting further downward pressure on the vacancy rate, which recently declined below 4% for the first time in four years.

Perths overall median rent price, meanwhile, has held at $350 per week since April 2017, marking the longest period of stable rents Perth has experienced since REIWA first started recording rental data in 2001.

Having considered such positive outcome, REIWA President Damian Collins expects an upswing in median rent value.

Were at 19 months and counting of stable median rent prices in Perth. If listings continue to decline and leasing volumes remain healthy, we should see the overall median rent price increase in 2019 for the first time since September 2014, said Collins.

However, Collins also warned that any changes to negative gearing could pose a risk for both the rental sector and wider property market.

In the short term, the improvements weve observed in the rental market could see investors returning to the market, however if changes to negative gearing are legislated, this will likely dampen investor activity and have a detrimental effect on the wider WA property market just as it is starting to find its feet, he said.

In terms of Regional WA, REIWA projected overall market conditions to improve driven by investment in the mining sector.

Collins shared that Port Hedland, Karratha and Kalgoorlie are areas to watch, with the new mining projects contributing to the restoration of confidence in these regions. These projects are expected to create thousands of new local jobs, which should continue to support population growth, improve demand for housing and aid recovery.

Overall, the WA property market is expected to remain stable in the New Year.
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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.

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Namibia has sent a delegation to understudy Ghanas youth policy and possibly adopt elements that can improve their own country.

The South African country sent a delegation from the committee on Gender, Youth and Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Namibias Parliament.

Their aim is to improve the socio-economic fortunes of their youth, having been impressed with Ghanas progress in the areas of gender and ICT.

The Namibia delegation to Ghana. Source: Myjoyonline.com

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: My opponents are blind  Akufo Addo

The committee was led by Namibian Member of Parliament, Nangula Joyce Namuhuja.

Following a meeting with some executives of the National Youth Authority (NYA) in Accra, she said Ghana is an example to many African countries when it comes to youth development.

This, she said, is what Namibia wants to emulate from the West African country in the coming years.

Mrs. Namuhuja said Namibia aims to achieve the 2063 goal set by the African Union for member countries to adhere to a comprehensive development work plan for its youth.

She praised Ghanas development in Gender, Youth and ICT, insisting the country has become the benchmark when it comes to these sectors.

Welcoming the Namibian delegation, the Deputy Chief Executive officer of the National Youth Authority, Bright Acheampong, said Ghana is ready to offer any help to them.

READ ALSO: M.anifest and mum express love for each other on Twitter

According to him, it is only through the sharing of ideas that both Ghana and Namibia can develop.

There is an African Union with an agenda 2063 so once we are able to share notes and iron out the differences we will be able to move forward, he said.

Yenkasa: Some Musicians Share Thoughts on Kuami Eugene's 'Rockstar' Album| #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Menzgold was a scam from day one - Bridget Otoo

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page.

Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place.

Source: Yen
Former president John Mahama has been honoured by a Nigerian university.

The university (Igbinedion University) conferred a honoroary doctorate degree in letters on Mahama.

The prestigious award was given to the ex-Ghanaian leader on Saturday, November 24, at its 16th convocation.

Nigerian University honours John Mahama (Photo credit: John Mahama)

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Alban Bagbins driver kills two men on the Accra-Cape Coast highway

Igbinedion University, Okada is the first private university in Nigeria, established in 1999.

Mahama failed to retain his seat after losing his re-election in 2016 to then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo by one million votes.

He thus became the first Ghanaian president to lose an election after his first term.

READ ALSO: National Cathedral will be built to the glory of God - Akufo-Addo declares

He is seeking to win his party's flagbearership bid to contest in the 2020 election.

Ahead of the 2020 election, Mahama has criticized Nana Akufo-Addos government.

According to him, Akufo-Addo is the reason why there is so much hardship in Ghana.

READ ALSO: Ghanaians blast Shatta Wale for saying he doesn't respect anybody in the country

Street Quiz Ghana: What Would Be Your Message to the President Should You Meet Him? | Yen.com.gh:

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page.

Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place.

Source: Yen Newspaper
- Some headmasters have turned away some newly trained graduate teachers due to lack of knowledge in subjects they are supposed to teach

- These teachers according to certain headmasters have different qualifications from what they have been asked to teach

Some Heads of Senior High Schools (SHSs) in the Eastern Region have rejected newly trained graduate teachers posted to their schools to teach students under the Gold Track system of the Free Senior High School Policy.

According to the headmasters, the teachers posted to teach certain-subjects did not have enough knowledge about the subjects.

The headmaster of the Kade Senior High School, Emmanuel Nana Yaw Danquah said, aside that, the services of some of the teachers were not needed because the school did not offer the subjects they have been posted to teach.

Unqualified Gold track teachers rejected by headmasters Source: Supplied

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: I won't date a poor guy who can't buy me a brand new car - Kumawood actress Yaa Jackson

They have sent teachers or students who have done lets say health education to come and teach Maths, they sent more of Asante Twi teachers to us here but we dont do Asante Twi and even most of them indicated that they didnt do Twi so you could see that it has been done in a bit of haste, he lamented.

He added that some teachers with qualification in health education have been posted to teach Maths.

This he explained as unreasonable as they would not be knowledgeable enough to impart the students with the needed information.

The headmaster added that he had written a letter to the Regional Directorate of GES, releasing the teachers for reposting while requesting for qualified teachers for specific subjects needed.

READ ALSO: Anas speaks about his latest expose in Ghana

So we have written letters to take them back to the Regions and GES office to repost them to schools that need such teachers. Right now I am not getting  Physics, Chemistry, CRS.

Meanwhile Danquah said he has asked the teachers on the Green Track to remain as he await the GES to bring in the qualified teachers.

He however noted that students could not be left in the classrooms unattended to as they awaited new set of teachers needed for the specific subjects to take over from the green track teachers.

READ ALSO: Menzgold was a scam from day one - Bridget Otoo

Street Quiz Ghana: What Would Be Your Message to the President Should You Meet Him? | Yen.com.gh:

Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place

Source: Yen
- Manchester United were forced to a barren draw against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford

- The lackluster performance by United players left Mourinho fuming

- The Portuguese tactician accused his players of lacking desire during the encounter

- His remarks are now said to have angered the players who have turned the heat against their manager

Manchester United stars have reportedly expressed anger over Jose Mourinho's remarks after the Red Devil's frustrating draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday, November 24 at Old Trafford.

Speaking during his post-match conference, Mourinho claimed his players lacked desire during the match, threatening to relegate some of them to the bench in the upcoming matches.

READ ALSO: Ex-Manchester City player and manager Johnny Hart dies at 90

The 55-year-old observed that some of his players do not care enough about the results would happily party after the result, adding that he might have to pick himself in future as he truly cares about the clubs fortunes.

"My feeling is was not enough from the heart, we must play with brain, we must play with also heart and I think there was not enough heart," Metro UK quoted Mourinho.

"Whats the solution? You cannot change players natures dramatically. The solution is that probably I have to make certain choices based on heart

"And then probably I will blame myself because I will think heart is not enough and I am missing here some quality," he added.

READ ALSO: Top 5 Premier League clubs with the highest number of goals

However, the remarks seem not to have gone down well with United players, who have now turned the heat against their manager.

According to a UK Metro report citing Daily Mail, the former Chelsea manager's controversial remarks targeted Luke Shaw, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, all who he questioned their maturity.

This is not the first time Mourinho has chosen to publicly criticise his squad as he tries to get the best out of them in what is turning out to be a turgid season at Old Trafford.

READ ALSO: Arsenal beat Bournemouth at Dean Court

Last month, the Portuguese tactician took a subtle swipe at his squad after a disappointing draw against Valencia in the Champions League, asserting that some players cared more about the club than others.

United players are now said to have grown weary of Mourinhos unending verbal grenades.

Following their barren draw against the Eagles, the Red Devils currently sit seventh on the Premier League standings, 14 points behind leaders, Manchester City.

They will, however, be looking to seal a spot in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League when they host Swiss side, Young Boys at Old Trafford in their Group h clash.

The encounter would see Mourinho hand Alexis Sanchez, Ander Herrera and Eric Bailly starts.

Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place.

Source: Yen
Nana Kwasi Opoku Mintah, Chief of Kwahu Tafo in Afram Plains, this weekend thanked president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for visiting the Afram Plains North constituency by road, and seeing for himself the nature of the road network.

The problem in the chief's speech to the president was that he contrasted Akufo-Addo's actions with former presidents whom he (the chief claimed) came to the town via a helicopter.

In the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, chiefs are barred from engaging in partisan politics but this has not stopped them from going as far as to endorse political office candidates.

YEN.com.gh enumerates why it seems impossible for chiefs to abide by the constitution.

READ ALSO: Victoria Hamah hints of marriage and childbirth as she celebrates her mothers birthday

1. Chiefs also have biases

Chiefs, like many citizens of a country, have their partisan political positions. The problem is that they struggle to hide it.

It is rather easy to tell a chief's bias from how they interact with a politician they are engaged with.

2. Parties chase chiefs because they are opinion leaders

Chiefs are opinion leaders in the towns and communities that they reign. This makes them commodities in demand for politicians who want to win votes in given areas.

With the help of traditional authorities, politicians have access to hundreds, thousands and even tens of thousands of people.

3. Some chiefs are corrupt

Simply put, some chiefs are either corrupt or at least, corruptible. This makes them persons of interest for equally unscrupulous politicians.

The people of the Ga Traditional Area are probably the best to explain how politically-inclined chiefs sell lands and misappropriate funds.

READ ALSO: 7 wild photos of Maame Yaa Jackson that no man can resist

4. It is impossible for chiefs to not be political

Chiefs are supposed to liaise with politicians to bring development to people in especially rural areas. That is the way a republic government with chiefs can work.

By this process, it is impossible to ask chiefs to refrain for partisan politics.

Street Quiz Ghana: What Would Be Your Message to the President Should You Meet Him? | Yen.com.gh:

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Source: Yen
Some 176 students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) have had their certificates withheld despite being scheduled to graduate this year.

The students are being punished for misconducting themselves, the Vice-Chancellor, Very Reverend Father Professor A. Afful-Broni, said.

Speaking at the Universitys 23rd congregation held over the weekend, he said the students wont be graduated because of their misbehaviour.

UEWs Prof Afful-Broni withholds certificates of 176 graduating students. Source: MyNewsGh.com

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: My opponents are blind  Akufo Addo

The affected students were among a total of 956 graduating class of 2018 from the Department of French Education.

MyNewsGh.com reports that they were sent to Togo for some studies but conducted themselves in a manner that brought the image of the school into disrepute.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that the conduct of the said students near cost the University its scholarship schemes enjoyed by Togo.

As punishment, he said, the University Council has decided to withhold their certificates for six-months to serve as a deterrent to others.

I am saddened to announce that, of the 956 being graduated today, management has had to take a painful, but good decision to withhold the certificates of all the 176 graduating students from the Department of French Education, Prof. Afful-Broni said.

Let it be further recorded that this sanction is as a result of thorough investigations by a duly constituted investigative committee of this University, he added.

READ ALSO: Alban Bagbins driver kills two men on the Accra-Cape Coast highway

He warned that any form of insubordination, misconduct, and misbehaviour by students will not be tolerated by the University.

Meet Ghana's Peculiar Female Tiler: Faces of Ghana| #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Nigerian University honours John Mahama

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YEN's official Facebook page.

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Source: Yen.com.gh
- The assistant headmaster of the Kumasi High School, George Amposah- Duodu has denied allegations of sodomy leveled against him

- According to Amposah-Duodu he has never had contact with any of the students accusing him of taking advantage of them

The assistant headmaster of the Kumasi High School, George Amponsah-Duodo, who was suspended on grounds of sodomizing some students of the school, has denied claims of that accusation.

He rather described the allegations as baseless, saying he had no contact whatsoever with the alleged victims of his sodomy.

Lawyers of the accused have described the allegations as baseless in a letter from his lawyers, Amponsah-Duodo insisted that he has not had any contact with the alleged victim.

Kumasi High School Source: Myjoyonline

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Unqualified Gold track teachers rejected by headmasters

According to them of Amponsah Duodu, the committee which was set up to look into the allegations was necessitated by mere hearsay with out any evidence

Citi News reported that during investigations, the assistant headmasters name was cited by a final year student of the school identified as Lucien Dankwa, as having introduced him to homosexuality.

Aside Lucien, four other students are so far said to have leveled allegations against the assistant school head.

READ ALSO: Victoria Hamah hints of marriage and childbirth as she celebrates her mothers birthday

The lawyers warned that individuals making allegations against him would be subjected to rigorous cross-examinations during disciplinary proceedings.

It is our submission that the mere mention of his name without more [evidence] cannot render him liable for the charge of sexual misconduct.

They also urged the committee investigating the matter to compel Lucien Dankwa to provide proof of the allegation of sexual misconduct or homosexual act if any.

READ ALSO: National Cathedral will be built to the glory of God - Akufo-Addo declares

Street Quiz Ghana: What Would Be Your Message to the President Should You Meet Him? | Yen.com.gh:

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Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place.

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There is a popular saying that behind every successful man is a good woman.

No doubt Stonebwoys wife, Louisa Satekla, is also a good woman because by all standards, her husband is succeeding in his career.

She has thus sent out a heartwarming congratulatory message to him on being crowned the Best Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the year at the just ended All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

He beat his fiercest rival, Shatta Wale, in that category, to win that award.

READ ALSO: Wild video of Efia Odo and Shatta Wale 'banging' in bed pops up after Moesha exposed her

This means Stonebwoy has defeated Shatta Wale for the second time in a year as he already won the same award over him at the 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Award (VGMA).

Stonebwoys new award has undoubtedly excited his wife Louisa who took to social media to congratulate and also celebrate him.

Louisa wrote: Winner! Congrats my on winning the award for Reggae Dancehall Artist of the year at the All Africa Music Awards last night. You do all!

Stonebwoys wife post congratulating him on winning at AFRIMA. Photo credit: Instagram

Source: Instagram

READ ALSO: Wild video of Efia Odo and Shatta Wale 'banging' in bed pops up after Moesha exposed her

Her post has warmed the heart of her fans and followers on Instagram who have shared in the happy moment with them.

Louisa, a dentist with the 37 Military Hospital got married to Stonebwoy in June 2016.

The couple welcomed their first child, a girl, six months after their wedding.

READ ALSO: Hot list of popular musicians Efia Odo reportedly dated finally out

While Ghanaians couldnt stop talking about the fact that Stonebwoy impregnated his wife before marrying her, the musician explained the saga.

According to him, he decided to marry his wife to avoid the baby mama tag that many musicians have on them.

Meanwhile, a photo shared by Stonebwoy which was published by YEN.com.gh showed that his daughter, Catherine Jidula Satekla, named after his deceased mother, has grown beautifully and so fast.

Jidula rocked a cute BHIM T-shirt in the photo, which had her father admiring her so much.

READ ALSO: Becca loses followers on Instagram for disrespecting fans

YEN.com.gh wishes Stonewboy all the best in his career, and also all the best in his family life.

Yenkasa: Some Musicians Share Thoughts on Kuami Eugene's 'Rockstar' Album| #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo makes final decision on national cathedral construction after many objections by Ghanaians

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In recent times the Ghana Police Service (GPS) has come under a lot criticisms from the general public for improper conduct in their line of duty as well as exhibition of unprofessional behavior.

This has caused some of these personnel who are found culpable to loose their jobs and others to be interdicted pending investigations

YEN.com.gh has identified seven instances some personnel from the Ghana police service have come under serious public scrutiny.

Personnel of the Ghana Police Service Source: Supplied

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: GN Bank customer fights policeman over savings

1. Shooting of seven suspected armed robbers at Asawaase Zongo:

YEN.com.gh earlier reported a case of some 21 police officers who gunned down seven people suspected to be armed robbers. Investigations revealed that he they were not armed robbers as purported by the police

2. Sexual misconduct:

Some 14 police personnel who were on peacekeeping mission in South Sudan were accused of sexual misconduct against women whom they were supposed to protect. 14 of these officers have been interdicted and being investigated

3. Abuse on journalists or reporters:

A study conducted by the media foundation for west Africa indicates about 17 journaist who have been abused by the police in their line of duty. These is quite disturbing despite the noise being made concerning press freedom.

READ ALSO: Efia Odo dated Shatta Wale, Mugeez  Social media users claim

4. Midland incident:

YEN.com.gh reported a police man wielding a gun who abused a woman in an attempt to turm her away from the bank after several days of trying to have access to her savings.

5. Unwarranted attacks on individual:

A police personnel in an attempt to get a driver to pay a GHC0.50p toll shot at the vehicle but unfortunately ended up injuring a woman who was also aboard the same vehicle.

6. Stray bullets:

Through the actions of the police to maintain law and other they end up injuring people with bullets which were not actually intended to hurt anyone. This act alone has made the police service a very unpopular institution.

7. Bribery:

The police service has been touted by the public as a very corrupt institution despite efforts to rid the government of corruption. However, the these same people who complain are the same to go giving the police money to be forgiven for offenses committed

READ ALSO: National Cathedral will be built to the glory of God - Akufo-Addo declares

Yenkasa: Some Musicians Share Thoughts on Kuami Eugene's 'Rockstar' Album| #Yencomgh

Click here to get the latest exciting English Premier League news. Get match highlights, reports, photos & videos all in one place

Source: Yen
Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Monday arrested accused Mohammed Farooq Shaikh in connection with the 2002 Akshardham temple attack. The crime branch arrested Farooq from the Ahmedabad airport, who was allegedly involved in the temple blast.

Gujarat: Accused Mohammed Farooq Shaikh in 2002 Akshardham Temple attack arrested by Ahmedabad Crime Branch from Ahmedabad Airport pic.twitter.com/R5NbGc3K0X  ANI (@ANI) November 26, 2018

"Accused Mohammed Farooq Shaikh in 2002 Akshardham Temple attack arrested by Ahmedabad Crime Branch from Ahmedabad Airport," news agency ANI tweeted.

The crime branch, in November 2017, arrested accused Ajmeri Abdul Rashid.

Earlier, Adam Ajmeri, Shan Miya alias Chand Khan and Mufti Abdul Qyyum Mansuri were awarded death sentence by the special court set up to try the case under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).

While a local youth from Dariapur in the city Mohammed Salim Shaikh was sentenced to life imprisonment, Abdulmiyan Qadri was given a 10-year term and Altaf Hussain was sentenced to imprisonment for five years.

The Akshardham temple attack in Gujarat's Gandhinagar took place in 2002. On September 24, 2002, the attackers using automatic weapons and hand grenades had killed 32 people.

The people who lost their lives include 28 temple visitors, three commandos, including one from NSG, and a constable of the State Reserve Police (SRP).
Chinese company Vivo allotted land for manufacturing smartphones in north India

NEW DELHI, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese mobile manufacturing company Vivo has been allotted around 68 hectares of land in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh to expand its manufacturing capacity.

The land approved by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) is located in the state's business township Greater Noida.

Vivo currently has a rented manufacturing facility of about 20 hectares in the township, with a capacity of manufacturing 2.4 million mobile phones per year.

Local media reports quoted YEIDA chief executive officer Arunveer Singh as saying that the Chinese smartphones company would create 25,000 jobs.

Vivo would start construction works on the allotted land by March 2019.
MOSCOW, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian warplanes on Sunday struck militants in Syria who had been shelling civilians in the northern city of Aleppo with chemical munitions, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

The Russian aircraft bombed the artillery positions where militants carried out the chemical weapon attack against Aleppo civilians, the ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said, adding that all the targets were destroyed.

Russia informed Turkey of the airstrike in advance via a hotline, he said.

At least 107 civilians suffered suffocation as a result of a rebel attack with "poisonous gas" in Aleppo on Saturday, according to the Syrian state news agency SANA.
Market in Siegburg : Medieval market attracts visitors from across Germany

Siegburg The 27th Medieval Christmas Market has been open in Siegburg since the weekend. Merchants, jugglers and musicians will shape the cityscape until 23 December.

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The herald, as official messenger, opened the 27th Medieval Christmas Market in Siegburg alongside jugglers, musicians, the vassal Mollinarius and the city magistrate. At exactly 11am, the herald Walther von der Pferdeweide led the citys representatives through the market on Saturday, stopping here and there to taste a dish or to test for poison, and finally handed over to the mayor to say a few words.

It is great to have the craftsmen and minstrels here again. I am hoping everything runs well and peacefully, he said at his 25th opening of the Medieval Market after the craftsmen had been introduced. The blacksmith Thomas Siebel, known as Iron Thomas, who makes jewellery and knifes out of iron and happily explains his work to children and school classes, is among those taking part again this year.

Over the next few weeks, visitors can learn about the job of a wood turner from Marian Busch and his father. They will demonstrate how small decorative fir trees or toy compasses can be made out of wood. In the medieval Avernus tent, Marie Christin Gnasnick and Christopher Behling explain what can be made from natural materials like hazelnuts, logs and mussels as well as lesser known materials such as deer antler discs. Here, children can make necklaces out of natural products some of which were also used in the Middle Ages, explains Gnasnick. She has a stand at the Siegburg Medieval market for the first time and is already feeling very at home after several hours. I really like the market. It is very authentic and you only hear good things.

Visitors coming from the Black Forest

Most visitors agree. Bettina Wilbers from the Black Forest visits a friend in Siegburg every year so she can enjoy the medieval market. I think its really nice here. There are special things to eat which are not available at normal Christmas markets. This medieval flair is something quite special, says the Black Forest resident.

The culinary specialties include the bread that Otto Molnar and his team prepare in the medieval bakery. People are crazy about it! The bread has become a tradition here in Siegburg. We were here for the 19th time, says the baker. He prepares the dough, which has no additives, on site and then bakes it in a special medieval oven heated solely by wood. At first we started with two ovens but now we need five, says Molnar.

Hopes for good weather

The traditional roasting stand is also at the Christmas market again this year. Whole pigs are roasted over an open fire. Ten kilos take around an hour over the fire, so a pig is cooked in three to four hours, explains Peter Krumbiegel. However, he did not want to reveal how many pigs are roasted during the medieval market.

At the end of his speech, Mayor Franz Huhn hoped for better weather than last year. But as was clear from the first day, even rain does not appear to stop visitors from coming to the medieval market in the district town.
Workshop in the Brotfabrik : People in Beuel learn the Sabar dance from Africa

Beuel The Sabar dance comes from Senegal and is danced in clubs in all Africas big cities. It is also gaining popularity in the Rhineland.

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Africa! Africa! This has been the name of a show by Andre Heller since 2005, which to date has attracted more than three million visitors to the great halls of Europe. Alongside artistry and singing, the show is mainly about music and dance, namely African dance, more perfect and energetic than has ever been seen live here before.

Sabar is the name of the dance from West Africa, mainly Senegal, to whose rousing drumbeats the dancers display their African talent and temperament. Helena and Diene Sagna made guest appearances with the cast in the show in Germany years ago, stayed here and brought a little bit of Africa to Beuel in the Brotfabrik last Saturday, not as a show but as demonstration dancers and expert teachers in several workshops, first for beginners, then for advanced dancers and finally the so-called Afrobeat as danced today in the clubs in all Africas big cities.

Ute Baoum from Auerberg has been dancing Sabar for four years and is fascinated by the dance. Sabar is an old, traditional dance, she explains, that used to be danced at weddings or christenings in Senegal. Sabar is a word that is used both for the typical drums that are an integral part of it as well as for the dance itself and for the dance show.

Previously, only women performed this dance, which requires lots of energy and is a lot of fun. Now men also dance it, she continues. And she should know as she is married to a West African. Up to now there hasnt been a Sabar dance scene in the Bonn area or good teachers, she says.

But Diene Sagna, who has just arrived from London, and his wife Helene are trying to build something up here. Sabar, she explains, has nothing to do with the classical dances danced in Europe. Workshop participants first learn the basic steps to music and the drums played live set the rhythm.

The next step is your own improvisation, the variation of the steps learned. And when you master that and reach the third stage, the relationship between the music and dancers changes over. One or a few dancers then dance in the middle, the music chooses one of them and the drums then follow this dancer.

Although she has loved and danced African dances for more than 20 years, Susanne Niang from Beuel took part in the workshops. The communication with the drums is her challenge. First you learn the building blocks, like learning vocabulary. Then you speak whole sentences by dancing freely. Then the dancers lead the conversation with the musicians as she describes it. In Bonn, to her regret, there is no African dance scene. But lately Sabar enthusiasts have been meeting to dance on Wednesdays at 8.15pm at Dance-Discover in Kaiserstrae 1c.
Picket next to Munster : Week of action in Bonn against new NRW Police Act

Bonn Protests will be held in Bonn this week against the new NRW Police Act. A week of action against the act began on Monday, initiated by the Stop the NRW Police Act alliance.

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A week of action against the planned North Rhine-Westphalian Police Act began in Bonn on Monday. The Stop the NRW Police Act alliance said on Monday that there would be a picket next to the Bonn Munster until 2 December with a symbolic prison cell and speeches. At the end of the Bonn week of action there will be a demonstration at noon on 2 December.

The Stop the NRW Police Act alliance, made up of civil rights campaigners, parties and associations, also wants to take to the streets in Dusseldorf on 8 December to demonstrate against the planned new police act. In July, around 10,000 people took to the streets in Dusseldorf. The alliance includes the state associations from the Green and Left parties, the data protection organisation Digitalcourage, Attac and the Committee for Fundamental Rights and Democracy.

The stricter laws could result in people no longer exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression and demonstration out of fear, explained Sophie Kiebler, spokesperson for the Bonn action week. The broadening of police powers could, for example, lead to innocent people being detained more quickly and for longer simply on the basis of vague allegations.

The new police act is intended to significantly extend police powers of monitoring digital communication and handling those likely to be a threat to public safety. The state government put forward amendments in October following widespread criticism from human rights and data protection activists. The controversial term imminent danger was deleted and the surveillance of messenger services like WhatsApp or internet telephone services like Skype can only be permitted by an order in special cases.

This does not go far enough for the Stop the NRW Police Act alliance. They say that instead of the imminent terrorist threat there is now a broadly defined catalogue of terrorist crimes. The alliance is also critical because according to the draft, police can detain people who are considered a danger for a maximum of 14 days after a judges decision instead of 48 hours. They allege this is a break with the principle of presumption of innocence. In the original draft, precautionary detention of up to a month was envisaged.
China supports necessary reforms of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the multilateral trading system is severely impacted, the Ministry of Commerce said at a press conference on Nov. 23.

The multilateral trading system is now challenged by unilateralism and trade protectionism, said Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce.

He said the WTO is threatened by three factors: the dispute settlement regime is at risk of paralysis due to obstruction from certain members to fill the vacancy of its Appellate Body members; certain members raising tariffs by abusing the security exception clause; and some members taking unilateral approaches in disregard of the WTO's multilateral rules.

He remarked that China supports necessary reforms of the WTO to strengthen its authority and effectiveness.

WTO reforms should follow three fundamental principles: the reform should uphold the organization's core values of non-discrimination and open, protect development interests of developing members and address their difficulties in integrating into economic globalization, and follow the mechanism of decision-making by consensus, Wang noted.

WTO reforms should uphold its main channel status of the multilateral trading system, prioritize addressing issues that threaten the survival of the organization, make trade rules fairer and in line with the needs of the times, ensure special and differentiated treatment for developing members, and respect the development model of each member, he said.

China opposes any individual member's actions in undermining and denying the authority of the multilateral trading system, Wang said, warning that some members are obstructing the appointment of members of the Appellate Body, abusing the security exception clause to raise tariffs, and taking unilateral actions under domestic laws. All these are undermining the foundation of the multilateral trading system.

Reforms should resolve the issues as soon as possible so as to ensure the normal functioning of the WTO, Wang noted.

Wang said reforms should rectify the long-term severe distortion of international agricultural trades caused by the excessive agricultural subsidies from developed members, and relieve the severe impacts on normal international trade orders imposed by the abuse of trade remedies, especially the surrogate country approach in anti-dumping investigations.

Reforms should guarantee that the WTO rules are keeping pace with the times, and cover the topics reflecting economic reality in the 21st century.

China is willing to shoulder duties commensurate with its development level and capacities, and will not allow other members to strip its special and differentiated treatment as a developing country, Wang said.

China objects some members denial of diversity of development models and discrimination against different development models, said Wang, adding that the country is also against the practice of listing the development model issue as part of WTO reforms agenda and opposes introducing groundless accusations into the agenda, Wang said.
VANCOUVER, B.C., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core Gold Inc. ("Core Gold" or the "Company") (TSX-V: CGLD, OTCQX: CGLDF) is pleased to announce that it has completed a 1,927 meter drilling campaign at its wholly owned Linderos property in Ecuador.



Results of this drilling campaign show the following select intervals:

5.94 m @ 10.78 g/t Au included within 28.80 m @ 2.56 g/t Au





7.80 m @ 5.25 g/t Au included within 19.60 m @ 2.27 g/t Au

These initial results provide evidence that the two main gold bearing mineralized structures (target 1 and 2) discovered through Core Golds preliminary surface trenching program in 2017 extend at depth.

The gold mineralization thus far identified is associated with sulphide veins cutting intensely quartz-sericite-pyrite altered felsic igneous rocks. Mineralization is contained within a NW trending fault (shear zone) related brecciated structures adding together up to 25 m wide and are oxidized to a depth of approximately 30 meters.

Late, gold bearing sulphide veins are hosted in discrete shoots within the NW trending fault zone. The controls on the localization of the high-grade gold mineralization have yet to be determined.

Moving forward, detailed mapping and structural analysis will lead to a better understanding of the controls of the gold mineralization and the development of a predictive model.

Drilling to date has tested a relatively small section of the 1km by 150 m zone of outcropping gold mineralization adjacent to, and along strike from the discovery outcrop (21m @18.51 g/t gold). The eastern half of the 1km strike extent, highlighted by trench samples of 32 m @ 3.02 g/t Au and 4.40 m @ 11.11 g/t Au (see press release, Feb. 22, 2018), has yet to be drill tested and will be targeted in future drill programs.

To date, 11 exploration diamond drill holes from 5 sites have been performed all with azimuth ranging from 33 to 276, and 6 drill holes with an azimuth of 213. Inclined depths range from 99 m to 280 m, with inclination angles from -45 to -75. A Hydro-Core 2000 portable drill rig owned by the Company was used.

QA & QC procedures and protocols have been implemented to secure accuracy for this drilling campaign. Core samples have been shipped to Inspectorate Lab in Peru, an international qualified laboratory. Details of the drill results are set forth below. Note that true widths are not stated.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1f47515-f152-45d6-891a-0ccb39932452

The Linderos Project

The Linderos project is an exploration property located in the Macara County, Loja province, southern Ecuador. It is composed of four contiguous concessions totaling 14,317 hectares, located approximately 45 Km southwest of the Company's Dynasty Goldfield project. The Linderos project comprises gold-copper porphyry system style mineralization.

Within the Linderos project, the hydrothermal alterations zone covers an area of about 1.5 Km2. The porphyry is emplaced in island arc Cretaceous volcanic rocks of the Celica Formation and it is structurally controlled by a shear zone with a northwest-southeast strike. This structure hosts economic porphyry related gold mineralization associated with oxidized mesothermal - epithermal mineralized structures.

The porphyry system is formed by an initial intrusion of dioritic composition, which hosts late mineralized intrusive phases of quartz-diorite, tonalite and rhyolite-dacite composition. The hydrothermal alterations zone is characterized by the occurrence of a potassic core surrounded by phyllic and propylitic alteration halos. Mineralization is mainly related to copper and molybdenum observed as disseminated chalcopyrite and molybdenite in veinlets, mainly hosted in the quartz-diorite. Locally, an oxidation zone has been observed with occurrence of malachite and chrysocolla.

For more information on the Linderos project please refer to the Operations Overview section of our website at: www.coregoldinc.com

Qualified Person

Mr. John E. Bolanos, who is a qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Mr. Bolanos is a M.Sc. Mining Geologist from Camborne School of Mines (U.K.) and a Professional Geologist Eng. from The Central University of Ecuador (honours degree). He is a registered member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) of the United States; Director of the Ecuadorian College of Engineers in Geology, Mines, Oil and Environment; and a member of the Mining Chamber of Ecuador. He has 28 years of experience in the exploration and mining industry throughout the Americas.

About Core Gold

The Company is a Canadian based mining company involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties in Ecuador. The Company is currently focused on gold production at its wholly-owned Dynasty Goldfield project and continued development at its legacy Zaruma mine. Mineral is treated at the Companys wholly-owned Portovelo treatment plant close to the Zaruma mine operations. The Company also owns other significant gold exploration projects including the Linderos and Copper Duke area in southern Ecuador all of which are on the main Peruvian Andean gold-copper belt extending into Ecuador.

For further information please contact: Keith Piggott, CEO

Suite 1201  1166 Alberni Street

Vancouver, B.C. V6E 3Z3

Phone: +1 (604) 345-4822

Email: info@coregoldinc.com

Cautionary Notice:

This news release contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking information which are prospective in nature. Such information in this news release includes statements regarding the Company's interpretation of exploration results and the potential geological merits of the Companys Linderos project. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Core Golds actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Important risks that could cause Core Golds actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to differ materially from Core Golds expectations include, among other things, risks relating to the actual results of additional exploration activities; fluctuating prices in metals and other commodities; possibility of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations; exploration cost overruns; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; currency fluctuations; availability of capital and financing to maintain the Company's operations and plans; general economic, market or business conditions; regulatory changes; timeliness of government or regulatory approvals; and other risks detailed herein and as disclosed in the Companys filings as available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Other than in accordance with regulatory obligations, Core Gold is not under any obligation and Core Gold 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.

Neither the 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.
In January, 20 new governors will take over the top leadership spot in their states, becoming the bosses of 750,000 state employees in the executive branches alone."As the CEO of the state, a new governor automatically manages one of the largest workforces in the state," says Laurie Gill, incoming president of the National Association of Personnel Executives. "Theyre going to need their employees to carry out their work."We've spent nearly 30 years researching management in state and local government. With that knowledge base, and help from other management experts, we compiled a report for the IBM Center for the Business of Government on transition planning.As we wrote in the report, "If a transition isnt handled with care and thought, and according to well-established principles, the new administration is unlikely to reach the results it desires."Here is our advice for how governor-elects and their staffs should be spending the next few months.A willingness to accept invitations to speak with state employees not only helps new governors learn about potential problems but also demonstrates that they care about their workforces."If they think you dont care about them, watch out," says Sara Wilson, who was a human resources director for six Virginia governors before retiring in April. "Employees have to know youre engaged with them."When Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam started his first term in 2011, the new administration held focus groups of state employees in four of the states biggest cities. What they heard from employees, and from a survey of cabinet departments, led to a major reform of civil service laws , which overhauled how the state hires, promotes and fires people.Michigan Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer, for instance, has an opportunity to gain insight into her workforce by examining the states 2017 employee engagement survey. Through that, she would learn that nearly half of state workers believe theres a lack of sufficient staff, and roughly a third see "unnecessary paperwork" as a big barrier to productivity. While hiring more staff is a harder sell financially, cutting down on paperwork is conceivable.Getting key appointees in place, without delay, is critical to putting a strategic agenda into action and to relationship-building among the leadership team. Subject expertise is important but so is a work style thats compatible with the governor."You need to look for personalities that will fit," says Bob Blair, who has been the director of administrative services for Ohio Gov. John Kasichs two terms and first met Kasich when they were both legislative interns in the 1970s. "You dont want micromanagers, and you dont want people who cant see the big picture. You need to be looking at softer skills. Can they get along with people and build a team?"Particularly when there is a change in party, new administrations often assume that cabinet members plan to exit with their former bosses. Thats often not the case. Having conversations soon after Election Day with existing appointees about their intentions can help the new administration target the positions they need to fill.Employees who have lived through multiple transitions are often suspicious and apprehensive about the ideas and abilities of new appointees, especially if they have never have worked in government before. Getting them to convene can avoid that and foster better relationships.Of the 20 new governors, 17 are replacing people who held the states top spot for eight years or more. Many baby boomers have deferred retirement until the end of their boss term. Now, new governors can expect more and more high-level managers heading toward the door."With the administration change, well begin to see retirements tick up," says Rebecca Hunter, the director of human resources in Tennessee, where Bill Lee will replace Haslam. "Its critical to make sure that mission-critical roles have been identified and that there is a plan in place for who is going to step into those."
Since the beginning of the 21st century, Sun Belt cities have drawn flocks of new residents looking for warm weather, recreation and a low cost of living. But instead of creating widespread wealth, the influx has led to a proliferation of low-wage jobs in stores and restaurants that cater to tourists and retirees.Incomes have stagnated or shrunk since 2000 in some of the nations fastest-growing areas in the South and West, leading to concerns about their long-term prosperity  especially since many of the low-wage jobs that have been created are vulnerable to automation.Nationwide there are 10 metro areas whose populations grew more than 30 percent since 2000  almost twice the national average for metros  but whose per-capita income grew less than half the U.S. average.That includes Sun Belt cities such as Atlanta, Las Vegas, Orlando and Phoenix, along with three other areas in Florida, plus Boise, Idaho; Reno, Nevada; and Colorado Springs. The economies of those areas depend on tourism, retiree spending or warehouses  all sectors in which jobs are quickly being lost to automation technology.Places like Las Vegas and parts of Florida have seen their growth on the back of very low-wage jobs, so in a sense theyre growing poorer as they grow, said Paul Flora, an economic analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.Other high-growth metro areas such as Austin have put themselves in a better position with higher-paying tech jobs like electronics manufacturing, with average pay over $120,000 a year, Flora said.By contrast, Las Vegas economy is driven more by taxi, hotel and bartender jobs with average pay of $28,000 to $40,000, according to Floras research, set to be published in 2019.Floridas dominance as a retirement destination, especially for people of modest means, has long been a concern for the state. The large retired population tends to create relatively low-paying service jobs.The state draws more than 200,000 retirement moves a year, more than twice as many as any other state.For decades the states orange groves and tomato fields have been giving way to tourist and retirement meccas that enrich local coffers with property taxes in boom times, but provide little cushion when values fall in cyclical busts.The recession that began in late 2007 wiped out many of Floridas high-paying jobs.In the years since, construction and hospitality jobs have dominated the comeback, while higher-paying positions in finance, manufacturing, government and computer technology have not reappeared, according to a 2016 study by the states Bureau of Economic and Business Research, housed at the University of Florida.Floridas challenge is to bring back those higher-paying jobs, said the bureaus director, Christopher McCarty.The question is, how do you do that? McCarty said. To lure large employers, Florida has offered economic incentives of the kind that New York and Virginia used to attract tech giant Amazon. But the effectiveness of those incentives is debatable.More than two-thirds of Floridas incentives have been ineffective, costing the state more than the business taxes they produced, the states chief economist, Amy Baker, said last year.Outgoing Republican Gov. Rick Scott also created an $85 million fund last year, aimed at stimulating job growth indirectly with job training and infrastructure grants.The fund provided $5.5 million for roads and sewers for a business park near Ocala, one of the states high-growth, low-wage areas.Reno and Las Vegas have similar issues, compounded by the drubbing the states economy has taken because of competition from American Indian gaming around the country, said John Restrepo, a Las Vegas-based economic consultant.Like Florida, Nevadas economy is volatile because it is so dependent on tourism, which can collapse during economic downturns.We have to take baby steps away from our dependence on tourism, Restrepo said. Our growth is going to lag other areas until we get more local purchasing power from professionals and entrepreneurs with high wages.Bob Potts, research director at the Nevada Governors Office of Economic Development, said the states effort to boost wages has been successful to some degree, but more progress will be difficult.Average wages are up 20 percent in the state since 2007 but household income still lags the national average.In Las Vegas, more than 200,000 workers are in food preparation and personal care jobs that pay less than $28,000 a year. Just 85,000 workers are in management and health care practitioner jobs that pay closer to $100,000 a year, federal wage data shows.Nationally, workers are in those job categories at a nearly equal rate, around 12 percent of all occupations.The low-paying jobs that proliferate in retirement and tourist destinations are the most likely to become automated in coming decades, according to a study last year by the Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis at the University of Redlands.Workers in Las Vegas, as well as in Orlando and Sarasota, Florida, could see most of their jobs taken over by automation by 2035, the study found.The biggest targets for automation are jobs in hotels, restaurants and stores, the mainstay of employment for tourist towns. Three-quarters of those jobs are theoretically subject to automation, according to a McKinsey Global Institute analysis. (The institute is the research arm of the McKinsey management consulting firm.)Warehousing and transportation, important to a regional hub such as Atlanta, also could lose jobs to automation, the study found.However, the McKinsey report also stated that the number of customer interaction jobs such as bartenders and retail clerks could continue to grow if personal income grows, meaning more people can afford to shop and socialize.Johannes Moenius, a business professor at University of Redlands said automation can cause upheaval for people without specialized skills or advanced education, but can sometimes create as many jobs as it replaces.He cited ATMs, which made traditional bank tellers obsolete but led to more bank branches and customer service jobs.Something similar could happen with retail stores, Moenius said. Cashiers in clothing stores might be replaced by fashion consultants who help customers choose clothing to be ordered or fabricated on demand.Not all fast-growing tourist or retirement destinations ranked poorly on income growth, even in Florida. Naples on the states Gulf Coast saw spectacular growth in income, up 44 percent to about $88,000 per capita, as well as in population, up 47 percent to about 370,000 since 2000.Naples ranks high as a desirable retirement destination, with low taxes and plentiful health care, but also for wage growth and tech profits. It is one of the wealthiest metros in the country.Its easier for low-wage workers to keep their jobs in places like Naples that also have high-wage jobs, Moenius said. Other areas may suffer upheaval as workers face unemployment or move to higher-opportunity places.The places that currently have or in the future will attract high-end jobs will have positive income growth and continue to support service jobs, as long as the cost of living remains bearable, Moenius said. Other places will not be so lucky.
When Sara Watson's partner got pregnant with their son through in vitro fertilization, they were overjoyed. Then the fear came.They weren't married, so Watson had no legal rights as Eli's parent even though her eggs were used to conceive him with donor sperm. If the worst happened, Watson wondered, would she even be able to bring their baby home from the hospital?"There was this possibility that if something were to happen to Anna, my son could end up in foster care and I hadn't done anything wrong," Watson said from their home in Narragansett, Rhode Island.Three years after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that gave same-sex couples the right to marry nationwide , a patchwork of outdated state laws governing who can be a legal parent presents obstacles for many LGBTQ couples who start a family, lawyers say.But things are beginning to change. A simple hospital form that has long been off limits to same-sex couples because it only had room for the "mother" and "father" are now gender-neutral in some states. That means same-sex partners in Massachusetts, Vermont and Nevada  and soon in California and Washington state  can quickly and easily secure their parental rights with the form rather than having to spend thousands of dollars in court to get an adoption.
No governor in California history has given more former offenders a chance at redemption through a pardon or commuted sentence than Gov. Jerry Brown, who on Wednesday granted clemency to a group that included onetime drug offenders, immigrants facing deportation and a former state senator.Brown issued 38 pardons for people convicted of felonies who had completed their sentences and commuted the existing sentences of 70 more.Pardons given to three men may allow them to avoid deportation by federal immigration agents. As the Trump administration has ramped up its enforcement of immigration laws, Brown has increasingly turned his attention to the cases of immigrants at risk of deportation. On Wednesday, he granted clemency to three men facing federal removal orders from the country.Tung Nguyen arrived in the U.S. as a Vietnamese refugee. He was convicted of murder and robbery at age 16 in 1994 after a fight at a hotel that ended in the death of another man. While serving his life sentence, Nguyen would later risk his life to save 50 people in a prison riot. Brown granted him an early release in a 2011 executive order because of the act, saying Nguyen did not start the fight or participate in the stabbing that led to his conviction.Nguyen has since become an advocate for changes to the juvenile justice system and helped start an Orange County organization to help Asian and Pacific Islander inmates reenter society after prison, according to his pardon.Hai Nguyen, who was also pardoned, is not related to Tung Nguyen, but he helped him found the reentry organization for inmates and has volunteered with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization started by Hollywood producer Scott Budnick to provide a support network for people who have been incarcerated.The former Vietnamese refugee arrived in the U.S. when he was 2 and was sentenced to 35 years in prison for robbery at age 16. He served nearly 16 years in prison and was released in 2015 under a state law meant to give young people a second chance.A third immigrant, Truong "Jay" Ly, has become a restaurateur since his release from prison in 2007. He said he was grateful for the second chance to repay society for his crime, and for the approach the state is now taking toward young people and immigrants caught in the criminal justice system."Their level of maturity, their cultural is understanding is different from Americans'," Ly said. "I'm glad the governor is understanding of that."Born in Vietnam, Ly settled in East Los Angeles with his family when he was 11 after spending several months in refugee camps. He affiliated with gangs through his middle school and high school years and served more than 10 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter after a passenger in his car shot and killed a person. He was 18 at the time of the crime.Ly now advocates for criminal justice policies, helps current and former inmates and owns Stinkin Crawfish, a chain of restaurants he started with friends. He plans to open another restaurant, Sushimi Rollin, in West Covina."One supporter wrote that Mr. Ly is the exact type of person who merits protection from deportation and should be allowed to remain in the country that he now gives back to in a meaningful way," Brown wrote in his pardon.Ly said it would help him become a green card holder again.The governor commuted the sentence of Earlonne Woods, a San Quentin State Prison inmate who has received national attention for a podcast he helps produce about life in prison, "Ear Hustle." Woods, 47, has been serving a sentence of 31 years to life for his part in a 1997 armed robbery. Brown noted "accolades from members of the correctional staff and many volunteers" for Woods' behavior and leadership in helping other inmates. The commutation makes Woods eligible for parole."I believe Earlonne will continue to educate, enlighten and enrich the lives of his peers at San Quentin and the many, many people who listen faithfully to Ear Hustle," Brown wrote.The governor also took swift action on the case of former state Sen. Roderick Wright, an Inglewood Democrat who was found guilty in 2014 of lying about living in his legislative district. His record also included an auto theft conviction from when he was 19 -- a second felony that as a result required the California Supreme Court to clear the way for a gubernatorial pardon. Just a day earlier, justices recommended that Brown pardon Wright.Wright, who spent 12 years serving in the Legislature, was barred for life from further service in elected office after being convicted of felony charges including perjury and voter fraud.Brown noted the former lawmaker's long career in public service in the pardon decree."He has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law abiding citizen," the governor wrote.Wright said the action by Brown means he will no longer face the stigma of the felony convictions, which can include questions from prospective employers and limits on international travel."All of the benefits that go to a person not having a felony are huge," Wright said on Wednesday."The fact that he just looked at this objectively, I can't say thank you enough."Among the many drug offenders pardoned by Brown on Wednesday was Jason Burnett, a resident of Paradise who lost his home during the deadly Camp fire. Burnett completed his prison sentence in 2002 and has, the governor noted, lived within the law ever since -- a story similar to the dozens of others with drug crimes in their past who received pardons.Some four dozen of the commutations given by Brown were to prisoners convicted of murder. In each case, the governor's action does not release the person from prison, but instead shortens the amount of time that must be served before the case can be considered by the state Board of Parole Hearings. A number of the crimes were subject to either life sentences without the possibility of parole or sentences that would have made it almost impossible for a person to be released before dying in prison.Since returning as governor in 2011, Brown has used the holidays to take executive action on 1,341 cases of men and women who were serving time in prison or already had completed their sentences. Only former Gov. Ronald Reagan came close on clemency requests, issuing 574 pardons and 17 commutations in his eight years. Most governors of the state's modern era have intervened far more rarely.
China's central bank on Friday started issuing a set of commemorative coins and notes to mark the 70th anniversary of the issuance of Renminbi (RMB).

The obverse of a 5-gram gold coin with a face value of 80 yuan, which is set to be issued by the People's Bank of China, the central bank, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the issuance of Renminbi (RMB). [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The set comprises one gold coin, two silver ones and a new RMB note, according to the People's Bank of China.

The reverse of a 5-gram gold coin with a face value of 80 yuan, which is set to be issued by the People's Bank of China, the central bank, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the issuance of Renminbi (RMB). [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The gold coin, weighing 5 grams with a face value of 80 yuan (11.5USD), has its obverse featuring China's national emblem, with its reverse includes various designs including the former site of the People's Bank of China.

The obverse of a 1-kilogram silver coin with a face value of 300 yuan, which is set to be issued by the People's Bank of China, the central bank to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the issuance of Renminbi (RMB). [Photo: Chinanews.com]

30,000 gold coins will reportedly be issued, with a total of 63,000 silver coins to be issued with the face values of 300 and 5 yuan.

A photo shows the obverse of a 15-gram silver coin with a face value of 5 yuan which is set to be issued by the People's Bank of China, the central bank, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the issuance of Renminbi (RMB). [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Produced by Shenzhen Guobao Mint, the coins will be distributed by the China Gold Coin Incorporation.

The obverse of a commemorative note with a face value of 50 yuan, which is set to be issued by the People's Bank of China, the central bank, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the issuance of Renminbi (RMB). [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Along with the coins, a commemorative note with a face value of 50 yuan will also be issued starting December 28.

A photo shows the reverse of a commemorative note with a face value of 50 yuan, which is set to be issued by the People's Bank of China, the central bank, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the issuance of Renminbi (RMB). [Photo: Chinanews.com]
Description

GIS  27 November 2018: The fight against illicit drug trafficking is high on Governments agenda to protect the youth and the population at large. To this regard, the European Drug Addiction Prevention Project will be implemented in January 2019 on a pilot basis in forty-eight secondary schools in Mauritius and eight in Rodrigues.

The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, made this announcement yesterday at the opening of a three-day Trans-regional Operational Workshop on Heroin Trafficking into East and Southern Africa, at Le Voila Hotel, Bagatelle.

The Minister Mentor, Minister of Defence, and Minister for Rodrigues, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, and several other Ministers and personalities were present at the event organised by the European Union under the EU Act Programme.

In his address, Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted that the European Drug Addiction Prevention Project has been adapted to the country with expertise of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to sensitise the youth on the evils associated with the intake of drugs and prevent them from consuming same. The project, he underlined, is fundamental as drugs has infiltrated school premises and the situation is becoming alarming.

Mauritius, he stated, has experienced serious drug use and trafficking problems since the 1980s and has been target of drug trafficking network given its strategic geographical location as a major sea port and a tourist destination. A number of legislations, he recalled, have been put in place to curb drug trafficking, money laundering and financial crimes.

As regards to the workshop which is being attended by representatives from around 50 countries, Prime Minister Jugnauth emphasised that the presence of members from the different countries is evidence of the determination of the countries to fight drug trafficking as well as their strong commitment to cooperate in this global fight.

Furthermore, he commended the European Union for the EU Action against Drugs and Organised Crime project which assists countries in the region on the serious issue of drug trafficking. EU has been instrumental in the implementation of the regional Maritime Security Regional Project to the tune of 42.5 million Euros to finance coordinated actions in the Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region, he added.

Mr Jugnauth also pointed out that Japan has agreed to fund Mauritius for a project amounting to 2.2 million USD which aims at sharing of criminal and drug intelligence with neighbouring countries. The project will be implemented by the the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

In face of the complexity of drug trafficking, there is need to enlist support of successful experts at regional and international level in the global fight against drugs trafficking as well as the associated problems of trans-national organised crimes and money laundering, highlighted the Prime Minister. We should, he added, thus join forces to devise and adopt best practices through the transfer of knowledge, sharing of practices and experience to improving drug policies and combat organised fight against drug trafficking.
Description

GIS  26 November 2018: The promotion of the Mauritian Creole as a unifying element in the enhancement of social harmony and peace remains integral in maintaining a sense of common identity among the Mauritian population. Government is committed to cementing the nation as one and raise the status of the language on the international front.

This statement was made by the Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, at the opening of a half-day Conference organised in the context of the 13th edition of the Festival International Kreol on 24 November 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Balaclava.

Several personalities including the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Anil Gayan, the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity, and Environment and Sustainable Development, Mr. Etienne Sinatambou, and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Stephan Toussaint, were present on this occasion.

In his keynote address, Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted the importance of the Mauritian Creole as a cultural heritage derived from the intermingling of several languages used during the colonial period by our ancestors coming from India, China, Africa and Europe. He underlined that Mauritian Creole is, today, the most used vernacular language in the country while expressing his pride in its evolution and development over more than three centuries.

On this score, he reiterated Governments continuous efforts for the expansion of the language not only as a lingua franca but also as a medium of learning and teaching. He recalled the formal introduction of the language at primary and secondary level and pointed out that it is important for each and every Mauritian to have a sound knowledge of the Mauritian Creole.

The Prime Minister underscored that the celebrations of the Festival International Kreol have added up to the status and appreciation of the Mauritian Creole at both national and international levels. The fervour with which the activities are being held, he said, is evidence of Governments commitment to valorise the culture, practices, beliefs and forms of art prevalent in the country.

He further laid emphasis on the recognition of the diversity of cultures pertaining to Mauritius and Rodrigues on the international front, following the inscription of Sega Tipik, Geet Gawai, Sega Tambour of Rodrigues on the UNESCO World list of Intangible Heritage. He also expressed hope for Sega Tambour Chagos to be inscribed on the list, which he said, will put forth the narrative and musical repertoire as well as preserve the heritage of the Chagos.

Minister Gayan, for his part, emphasised that the ability to accept plurality is key to the socio-economic progress of any country while underscoring the need to safeguard the cultural richness of the Mauritian Diaspora and promote the peaceful co-existence of different religion, culture, creed and caste. H e thus called for a collective endeavour in preserving the unity and solidarity that prevails in the country.

Festival International Kreol 2018

The 13th edition of the Festival International Kreol was held from 16 November to 25 November 2018 under the theme Kreolite Nou Leritaz. This year, the activities comprised: Fizion Poezi ek Jazz; Bal Rann Zariko; Regat, Festival Kiliner ek Evolision Artizanal; Final Konkour Teat an lang kreol ek Spektak Teat; Konpetision Slam an lang kreol; Sega Lontan; Defile lamod; Sinema an Plenner; Sware Tipik; Sware Konser; Konferans and Karnaval FIK.
Description

GIS  26 November 2018: Public Sector organisations have to fuel the efforts and resources with a sense of mission and purpose that will continue to transcend the bottom line in order to turn simple and ordinary ideas into extraordinary opportunities so as to keep reaching for new heights.

The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, made this statement on 23 November 2018 at the Public Service Excellence Award 2017 ceremony at InterContinental Mauritius Resort, Balaclava. The Minister Mentor, Minister of Defence, and Minister for Rodrigues, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, the Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms, Mr Eddy Boissezon, and other personalities were also present at the event.

In his address, the Prime Minister expressed his belief in the capacity of public institutions to contribute meaningfully to improve service delivery. This Public Service Excellence Award, he highlighted, will enhance a culture of efficiency and effectiveness of public institutions in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 and the Public Sector Business Transformation Strategy. It also provides an incentive for Ministries and Departments, he stated, to go off the beaten tracks and find ways and means to do things in a more innovative and transformative manner so as to meet the needs and aspirations of citizens.

Prime Minister Jugnauth underscored that the theme chosen for this year, Fostering creativity and innovation to better respond to citizens needs, comes at an opportune time as it epitomises Governments vision to transform the Public Service. Moreover, the chosen theme, he pointed out, is crucial as it encourages creativity and adoption of innovative ways of doing business in the public service with the objective of aiming high, so that as a nation, we continue to thrive in the competitive and challenging international environment.

He underlined that the Public Service has to adopt a culture of innovation to boost productivity so that present and future generations can enjoy a better quality of life. Public Officers, he added, will have to be the catalyst of change and at the same time, demonstrate an unwavering commitment and ambition to produce long-lasting results no matter how difficult and complex.

For his part, Minister Boissezon emphasised that the aim of his Ministry is to steer the Public Service towards a dynamic, customer centric and performing institution, while encouraging team work and instilling a culture of excellence. He further underpinned that the Public Sector Business Transformation Strategy reflects Governments need to continuously evolve, innovate and transform in order to respond to and anticipate the needs of its citizens as well its local and global clients.

Public Service Excellence Award 2017

The Public Service Excellence Award 2017 aims at recognising organisational excellence and rewards Ministries/Departments or Divisions/Units that have adopted innovative and environmentally-friendly means to deal with daily challenges. It also promotes a performance-based, responsive, customer-focused and accountable public service.

The Award is attributed to the Ministry/Department or Division/Unit that has excelled in all the judging criteria being assessed, namely Strategic Planning and Objectives; Customer Centred Delivery; Leadership and Team Spirit; Efficiency and Effectiveness; and Innovation and Improvement.

The winners are as follows:

Gold Award winner: Coronary Unit, Hospital A. G. Jeetoo

Silver Award winner: Citizen Support Unit

Bronze Award winner: Operations Room, National Coast Guard

Special Award winner: Sebastopol State Secondary School

They each received cash prizes of Rs 100 000, Rs 60 000, Rs 40 000, and Rs 25 000 respectively.
Description

GIS  26 November 2018: All that we have created, built and invented during centuries is the heritage of humanity. We have to assume our collective responsibility in safeguarding the intangible heritage which represents values, expertise, skills, knowledge, understanding nature and the environment. It is the bond between the past, the present and the future, and marks our history and identity.

The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, made this statement yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 13th Session of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Maritim Resort and Spa, Balaclava. The Minister of Arts and Culture and Chairperson of 13th Session of UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun, the Director General of UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay, and other personalities were also present at the event.

In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted that immaterial elements which constitute our intangible cultural heritage, and which need to be transmitted from generation to generation, are traditions, oral history, performing arts, social practices, traditional craftsmanship, knowledge and skills, among others. He pointed out that it is the duty of one and all to respect, protect and safeguard cultural heritage through national laws and international treaties.

The National Heritage Act, he underscored, at national level, and the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and several other treaties, at international level, touch upon or concern culture and heritage. These treaties, he added, are geared towards the fostering of cultural understanding and international cooperation.

Prime Minister Jugnauth emphasised that intangible cultural heritage is connected to future generations through its dynamic evolution and the participation of the community in State-led measures is crucial for the passing of information on past, current and future safeguarding measures. Heritage resources, he observed, must be seen as sources of wealth creation and poverty alleviation. Now is the time to engineer a framework of human development from a cultural perspective while focusing on achieving a better quality of life through our cultural diversity, he added.

For his part, Minister Roopun underpinned that despite major transformation which is underway through economic and technological globalisation, Mauritius remains resolved to preserve all its cultural heritage, be it tangible or intangible. In this endeavour, he added, Mauritius is party to several UNESCO Conventions pertaining to the safeguarding and management of cultural heritage.

The Director General of UNESCO, for her part, highlighted that this year, the Convention welcomes the arrival of three new State parties, namely Kiribati, the Republic of Singapore, and the Salomon Islands.

Some 800 members from 217 countries are attending the Convention.
(TNS)  In separate votes, majorities of Akron City Council have voted to approve but not fund software that would allow citizens to see where their tax dollars go and then submit their own version of the city's budget.The software is an online dashboard that allows the public to manipulate, but not directly access, the city's finances. Residents and taxpayers can cut or boost spending in one area and then see how others are impacted, all while learning more about each municipal operation.At least 70 American cities have adopted the Balancing Act program. Some offer testimonials crediting the program for boosting community engagement in campaigns to collect citizen input and buy-in before passing levies. Others, like Norfolk, Va., have credited the crowd-sourcing opportunity for identifying solutions that turn deficits into surpluses.Akron would be the first in Ohio to implement the smart-city technology endorsed by the National League of Cities. But the council has now twice tabled or flat-out rejected paying the $8,500 cost of the software, which was narrowly approved without a dedicated funding source back in April. The annual subscription comes with a free 30-day trial.City administrators and some on the council say Akron lacks the staff to manage the program. But the software developer says he'll do it all for free. The city can look over his shoulder for quality control.Still others reject paying for the software with funds set aside each year, and never entirely used, for neighborhood grants. That council-led program was reduced this year from $100,000 to $40,000. Only one of the city's 10 wards so far this year has maxed out its share of the $1,000 grants. The remainder, which Councilman Russ Neal wants put toward purchasing the software, is rolled into the general fund.Mayor Dan Horrigan's cabinet members say the public hasn't asked for a participatory budgeting tool and the city already reports spreadsheets and annual reports online, which admittedly get little traffic. They won't spend $8,500 on more software, even if the tax dollars come from council's budget."The real reason [for not funding the software] is because the administration doesn't want it," said Neal, who administrators say asks too many questions.The eight-year councilman from West Akron has peppered Horrigan's first-term team with information requests about spending, even charging that no one outside the finance department can explain how millions of tax dollars navigate the city's many accounts. His questions have cast aspersions about six-figure contracts for painting fire hydrants and a multimillion-dollar lease of cell tower space approved so late last year that it reflected deficit spending for 2017, according to the Ohio Auditor's Office."We're always transparent with him," said Deputy Chief of Staff Annie McFadden. "We've had meetings with him on all of those topics. He just seems to ask the same questions if he doesn't like the answers."The software funding debate, which began last month and is expected to continue Monday, has raised questions about the limits and responsibilities of Akron's legislative and executive branches of government.In Neal's first funding request, Budget Committee Chair Mike Freeman said the city charter defines the powers of the council and the mayor. Freeman can't change that "anymore than I go to the snowplowing [division] and say, 'Now, you're going to use GMCs and not Fords.' "Director of Finance Diane Miller-Dawson again pointed to insufficient staff. Even if funded, the software would be implemented "without our support," she said. Neal shook his head.On Monday, when Neal reintroduced the current funding request, a tense exchange with Councilman Bob Hoch explored the limits of the council's authority."As council, we should be projecting a five-year budget on how we're going to grow the city's reserves. We don't do that," Neal said."That's not our responsibility," Hoch replied."Mr. Hoch, that is ..." Neal interjected as Hoch continued."The responsibility is to the mayor and his administration. I think with trying to do something like this and trying to tell them how to figure out the budgeting and everything is overstepping our boundaries," Hoch said."No, Mr. Hoch," Neal said. "We're supposed to work in conjunction with the administration. Council's responsibility is overseeing the city's assets and resources. That's why the administration comes to us to approve the budget. We're supposed to be able to provide the checks and balances to grow the reserves and make decisions."Councilwoman Tara Samples supports the concept, but she abstained from voting on the funding request because her ward is the only city ward that has maxed out the neighborhood grants, from which Neal would use leftovers to pay for the software. President Margo Sommerville, who like Freeman voted for the software but not for funding it, said: "I don't like the idea of taking funds we've set aside for neighborhoods to buy budget software."She suggested that Neal request the money in next year's budget. But despite Neal saying so in council meetings and emails, she and others didn't know the software's developer would do all the work at no additional cost."We gave them the fully staffed, easy-button option, if they wanted it," said Chris Adams, CEO of Engage Public, the Colorado-based creator of Balancing Act. Adams said he "heavily discounted" the package he's offering Akron because he met Neal and admired his desire to equip citizens with public information in an interactive way, letting the people assist in solving the city's pressing financial problems."I know Akron's had a tough time," said Adams, who's product has taken off in his hometown in Colorado, as well as towns in California, Virginia, North Carolina and Texas, but not the Midwest. "A lot of cities in that part of the country are in tough economic straits and I think the way to go is not hold information close but to share it with people and hold leadership accountable."
(TNS)  Ninety percent of public school districts in Suffolk County, N.Y., have signed up to use the RAVE Panic Button Mobile App since it was introduced earlier this year, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said Tuesday.At the push of a button, the smartphone system allows teachers and administrators to call 911 and simultaneously alert other authorities about an active-shooter situation or other emergency event. It also provides up-to-date information that first responders may need, such as the layout of a school building.With many Suffolk school districts set to implement the app, the system soon will be in use in most of Long Island's public schools.Nassau County introduced the RAVE app to its public schools in 2016. Fifty of the county's 56 districts now have the system up and running, plus 12 private schools, houses of worship and three libraries, police department spokesman Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun said."We are in 90 percent of all school buildings in Nassau County," he said.Bellone made the announcement at Kings Park High School, where he honored the district for being the first in Suffolk to implement the countys most recent investment in school safety technology."Today is another step forward in protecting our schools," he said, adding later that the app enhances "our ability to respond quickly and to effectively neutralize a potential threat."In Suffolk County, 64 school districts have signed up for the RAVE app out of 68 systems, plus the Western Suffolk BOCES and Eastern Suffolk BOCES regional districts and the Little Flower system for children with special needs. Of those, 24 districts have fully activated the app, 12 are in the training and testing phase, and 28 are in the process of building out their RAVE facility profiles.In addition, 11 private schools have signed up to utilize the Rave Panic Button Mobile App, with three fully deployed, four in the training phase, and four that have opted in and are working on their facility profile.Concerns about school safety have been amplified since mass shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14 and Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on May 18.Across the Island, districts have further ramped up safety measures, including updates to building infrastructure, hiring of additional school security staff and boosting mental health services for students. Suffolk Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said Tuesday the department has increased the number of patrol visits to schools, launched a text tip line dedicated solely to school safety threats and added training programs for school resource officers."The Suffolk County Police Department has been fully commited to ensuring the safety of our students at school," Hart said.In July, Bellone signed legislation for a $2 million bond to cover licensing of the RAVE Panic Button for public and private schools across the county.Unlike a traditional emergency call, a RAVE alert does not go through a call log where other emergency calls are fielded. Instead, it is given its own call log and police are dispatched immediately. The system lets police access school security cameras so they can make a plan for an active shooter, as well as allowing communication between law enforcement and first responders with those on the school premises.Suffolk Legis. Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), a former Suffolk County detective who worked on the FBI Gang Task Force, said the RAVE Panic Button app is not foolproof. He noted that the companys disclaimer says the service does not replace calling 911 and is provided for convenience only."I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but  I don't want teachers and schools falling into a false sense of security," Trotta said. "It might not work, and they recommend to you to dial 911."Adam Eisenman, RAVE Mobile Safetys director of government affairs, noted that the apps panic button does dial 911. The added benefit, he said, is that it also notifies on-site personnel, such as school resource officers, and gives more information to 911, including a callers GPS location and identity and a facilitys floor plans.Kings Park Superintendent Timothy Eagen said the district has used the app at least three times this school year "to quickly and seamlessly communicate with staff and emergency responders." Most recently, it was used to call an ambulance when a student was in medical distress, he said.
Disaster recovery funding and grant funding in general have a great deal in common. You have to have the paperwork to back up what you are doing or have accomplished with the funding.Here is a story on West Virginia that provides more details on how they are getting more supervision by FEMA on their disaster recovery projects and reimbursements, seeIt is a complicated system that we have woven together in the United States.
(TNS) - Officials with law enforcement agencies and school districts in Lincoln County, New Mexico take seriously the threat of live shooter or bombs. They have been meeting for months developing protocols and firming up plans for quick responses to threats.During the county commission meeting last week, Commissioner Dallas Draper said he has attended the meeting of the Lincoln County Interagency Unified Command Task Force and the Board for School Threat Assessment and Preparedness regularly and it was enlightening to see the type of work being done.Back in May of last year, there was an incident at the Mescalero (Apache) School (that officials there) believed to be a serious threat to students, Ruidoso Police Chief Darren Hooker said. They pushed the panic button that they needed help and the response came from all over the county. From that (incident), it was determined we need a plan for the next time. Tom Battin (who still was on the village council at the time) visited with the tribe and started the ball rolling and it continued after he left.Hooker listed the various agencies that have officers who would and could respond from municipalities, from the county, from the state and from the federal level. The meetings involve partners from the schools, parents, the district attorney. local and state government, he said.Weve established protocols and how to react and what do, Hooker said. Maps and points of contacts for the schools were drawn up. Walk-throughs were staged for leaders of the agencies to become familiar with each campus, but now the emphasis needs to shift from the leadership level to deputies, state police, Game and Fish Department officers and others to ensure they know their way around each campus.Areas of weakness were discussed.Some of the schools have very little entry access control, Hooker said. Others have cameras and you need a secret password to get in. Thats what we want. The end game is the safety and welfare of our young people.Protocols set out the ability to respond to any school for any situation, he said.We may only have a few officers on duty and when (a school) needs help, it will be everybody and anybody, he said.A Memorandum of Understanding was signed to show possible grant programs or the state that multiple agencies and schools districts have been working on threat assessment and preparedness for some time, he said.Undersheriff Mike Wood said the sheriffs office is interested in becoming an integral part of school safety.Weve been able to identify some of challenges, which include the widespread geographic nature of the county. Were continuing to meet as we do. I agree that it has been at the leadership level up to now.However, the sheriff initiated specific training on mitigation and assessment, and recently sent one deputy for other specialized training in Hobbs, where he became a certified instructor.Wood thanked the sheriffs law enforcement partners and said meeting every couple of weeks has helped us stay focused on this matter.County Emergency Director Joe Kenmore has been an active participant and State Sen. Bill Burt, a Republican from Alamogordo who represents the county, attended the last meeting. Wood said the senator was surprised to see so many different agencies working together and he pledged to keep the group informed on state money that may become available.Campuses are being digitally mapped as one step to familiarization.Theres a lot we do that is important, but to me there is nothing more important than our young folks, Wood said.Commission Chairman Preston Stone asked how swiftly school districts will be able to address weaknesses once they are identified.Are the boards willing to address them as soon as possible, he queried.Were all on the same page, Wood replied. Were only limited by resources. Most of our schools werent built to be impenetrable, but the administrations are on board and willing to take our suggestions and offer suggestions as well.Draper suggested that the interagency board make presentations to each school district, because he didnt think school board members had attended any of the sessions.I know there is a large concern in todays society and when schools were built at that time in rural Lincoln County, New Mexico, who was going to walk in and shoot our children, but today, we are just as vulnerable as anywhere in the United States, Draper said. Ive attended a couple of meetings and have been very impressed and commend everything being done.The saying is that it takes a village, and there is a village on this one, Wood said. I assure you when something happens, were the guys you want around.County Manager Nita Taylor handed out a packet showing the statewide support for proactive programs, noting that Homeland Security is involved. Presentations are being developed by the team for each school board.2018 the Ruidoso News (Ruidoso, N.M.)Visit the Ruidoso News (Ruidoso, N.M.) at www.ruidosonews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Financial savings, safety measure

'It's not the real thing'

How they began

Longtime advocate

(TNS)  Daniel Keyes, a 28-year-old Rockland man, stood in front of a 42-inch TV screen at the Bristol County House of Corrections in hopes of getting his bail lowered so he could be released from custody.As he stood there in a room at the Dartmouth facility, his image was being transmitted over a dedicated phone line to a Superior Court courtroom at the Fall River Justice Center, where a judge would decide whether the $4,000 cash bail would be reduced.Judge Mark Hallal sat on the bench and heard arguments from prosecutor Kristen Wyley and defense attorney James Hanley, also in the Fall River courtroom, on why the bail set in Taunton District Court should be either lowered or remain the same.Keyes, the only one of the principals not in the courtroom, stood motionless in the room at the county jail. The only time he spoke was to identify himself to the court.Just like any other review of a bail set in one of Bristol County's four district courts  New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro  the facts of the offense were read by the prosecutor and the defense attorney gave reasons why bail should be lowered.On this October afternoon, the defense attorney said Keyes had been in custody for 20 days and did not have the funds to make bail. Hanley asked the court to release Keyes on personal recognizance and set conditions for his release  GPS monitoring, daily reporting to the Probation Department, a condition that he not drive a vehicle  because he has a job waiting for him that won't be there much longer.Wyley said he struck the hand of a Taunton police officer with a car as he was fleeing and later crashed the vehicle. Police dogs aided in the search for Keyes before he turned himself in. The main reason for the bail was Keyes' "ability and instinct" to flee either on foot or in a vehicle even when he was told by police to stay put, the prosecution said.The judge denied the bail request.Keyes, wearing a green uniform to signify his status as a pre-trial detainee, turned away from the TV screen without expression and a corrections officer led him back to his cell.What was different about this bail review, besides being held remotely from the House of Correction, is that the defendant did not have to be transported to the courthouse by corrections officers and then back to the House of Correction when his request was denied.The video bail reviews started in September in Bristol County courts, according to court and House of Correction officials.Jennifer Donahue, a spokeswoman for the state Trial Court, described the court's use of video conferencing for bail hearings as "a public safety measure" and "a tremendous savings of security resources." Defendants who are being held at houses of correction do not have to be transported to courthouses, she said in an email to"In certain types of cases, video conferencing eliminates the need to transport a defendant or petitioner from point A to point B, avoids bringing detainees into lockups that can be overcrowded in the older courthouses, and prevents detainees from having to go through public areas to get to courtrooms," she said.Petitions for review of bail using video conferencing began as early as the 1990s between the Nashua Street and Suffolk Superior Court, she said. Video bail reviews are conducted in every county in the state with the exception of Hampshire with the respective sheriff.Videoconferencing is no longer an experiment as it is used increasingly throughout the courts of the Commonwealth, she said.Video conferencing is not used for any criminal proceeding where evidence is introduced, she said. For example, it is not used in Superior Court when judges review decisions to detain based on dangerousness. The defendant is still brought into court for those hearings.The Trial Court is piloting the use of video conferencing for American sign language interpreters and computer-assisted remote transcription in coordination with the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, she said. Video conferencing has also been utilized for remote witness participation and language interpretation.The use of video in bail review hearings is supported by Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III, Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson and Marc J. Santos, clerk of Bristol County Superior Court."The less people we move, the more cost savings we see," Hodgson said."We're happy we did it. It does serve its purpose. Any way we can deliver justice is what we want to do," Santos said."I am pleased that, as this is already occurring in other counties in the state, the video conference bail reviews are now taking place in Bristol County. This will preserve court resources, but still allow the defendant and his attorney to interact with the court during an appeal of an adverse bail ruling," Quinn said in a statement toDespite the use of technology to save money and better ensure public safety, defense attorneys question whether justice is being compromised. They have concerns about whether video bail reviews serve the defendant as well as an actual appearance in the courtroom, where attorneys and defendants can speak freely with each other whenever the need arises.Randy Gioia, deputy chief counsel, Public Defender Division, Committee for Public Counsel Services, Boston, strongly criticized the use of video conferencing for bail reviews. He said it has a disproportionate effect on poor people, is dehumanizing and detracts from the dignity of the court."It's Court TV. It's not the real thing," he said.Defendants feel disconnected because of it, and Gioia said if he was a judge he would want to see the individual in person and not on a TV screen to better assess the defendant's character."It is virtually impossible to communicate with the client," he said. Normally, a client would just tap his attorney on the shoulder if he or she had a question. There is no way to have an extemporaneous conversation with your lawyer."Gioia said one of the most important parts of building trust between an attorney and their client is communication. "Lawyers need to be able to meet and communicate with their clients face-to-face before a hearing, during a hearing and after a hearing. Talking by telephone is a poor substitute for a face-to-face meeting," he said.Jonathan Darling, a spokesman for Bristol County Sheriff's Department, said pre-trial detainees speak with their attorneys prior to bail hearings.During the one bail review observed by, the defendant did not speak with his lawyer over the phone during the bail hearing.David Siegel, a criminal law professor at New England Law, Boston, questioned whether the environment of being in a house of correction affects the judge's decision in a bail review. The judge cannot see a defendant's demeanor or body language and they might appear tired or disheveled. "It's not people's best presentation," Siegel said."Seeing someone on a screen is never the same as seeing them in person," he said.Defendants are prevented from interacting with their attorneys when the prosecutor recites the facts of a case at a bail review, he said. "The bail hearing is at the very early stage of the case and the client is a critical source of information that the lawyer doesn't have access to," Siegel said.Santos, the clerk of Bristol County Superior Court, said he has wanted to do video bail reviews for a while and began using video in the courts last year with medical malpractice review tribunals somewhat out of necessity. In medical malpractice cases, the plaintiffs are required to provide "an offer of proof," and the tribunals determine if it is sufficient for the litigation to proceed.The tribunals consist of a Superior Court judge, a lawyer and a physician and the requirement is that the physician cannot be from the same county as the doctor being sued, he said.The Bristol County Superior Court had trouble meeting this requirement because many physicians did not want to travel the distance to Bristol County, so the court began using video conferencing, he said.Santos and Superior Court Judge Thomas F. McGuire Jr. went to the Bristol County House of Correction last summer and supervised the implementation of video bail reviews, he said. The bail reviews are held at 2 p.m. in Superior Courtroom 9 at the Fall River Justice Center. The TV screen in Courtroom 9 is off to the side between the witness stand and the jury box. The defendant, while in the House of Correction, can see his attorney, the judge and the prosecutor.The staff in the county's four district courts send their bail review petitions in the mornings and they are assigned to an attorney and given Superior Court docket numbers, according to Santos.He said there has been some discussion about expanding the use of video in Bristol County Superior Court, but "nothing specific has been mentioned.""It has been good so far. It helps us streamline our end of the operation." Santos said. "When 2 o'clock rolls around, everyone is ready. Showtime."Kenneth Souza, director of intake services at the Bristol County House of Correction, said they do about 2 to 3 video bail reviews per day and between 10 and 12 a week.Hodgson, whose budget will benefit because of fewer prisoner transports back and forth between Dartmouth and Fall River Superior Court, has long been an advocate of video bail reviews. He remembers it was 2008 when he approached the Trial Court in Boston about the use of video conferencing for bail reviews.Since 2007-08, the staff at the Sheriff's Department has used video conferencing for federal immigration detainees with the U.S. Immigration Court in Boston, according to Superintendent Steven Souza. "It has worked very well. We do it in a room in the ICE facility," on the campus of the House of Correction, Hodgson said."I said this would be a great way to save us time and money," Hodgson said of bail reviews in the state courts. "It worked with federal court. It would work with state court. We're just happy it's done. We're just happy it is up and running."The sheriff said the program will save his budget money for gas and overtime in fewer transports, but just how much he does not know. He said he could not estimate the cost saving, explaining it only started in September and is too soon to tell."It will save money over time," Hodgson said.In addition to the cost saving, the video conferencing makes the system more efficient and safer. It avoids situations where rival gang members interact in the court and reduces risks to court officers and court security, who may not be familiar with the individuals and their gang affiliations, he said.
Fiber network open to all

Smart city future?

(TNS)  After two years and nearly $6 million, Centennial has a backbone.A 50-mile-long fiber-optic backbone that could eventually provide the more than 100,000 residents of this south metro community lickety-split Internet that will make moving data-intensive files or receiving smooth-streaming video a breeze.Centennial this month finished construction, started in 2016, of a 432-strand fiber network that winds through every neighborhood in this city , setting up the capability for residents and businesses to get 1 gigabit per second up and down speeds at their homes and offices.The three-loop network, dubbed FiberWorks, is already proving a boost to Isaac Herman, who owns a video game production company and works out of his Centennial home in the Willow Creek neighborhood. Herman was one of the early adopters of the new broadband service, which for now is available on a limited basis in the city.We do a lot of file transfers, said Herman, whose gigabit service went live in September and replaced service he had been getting from Comcast. The video calls (with employees and clients) are a lot better than before.Centennials foray into this arena is the latest evolution of broadband deployment in a state that has, with remarkable consistency, embraced the idea of giving local governments a role in delivering high-speed Internet . That includes eight more communities  including Aurora, Wheat Ridge, Florence and Erie  that voted earlier this month to opt out of a 2005 state law that bars municipalities from providing Internet service.There are now 101 Colorado cities and towns, as well as dozens of counties, that have cast off the mandates of Senate Bill 152, according to the Colorado Municipal League. The residents of Centennial lifted the state restriction in 2013.What the continued momentum of very successful SB 152 opt-out ballot initiatives demonstrates is how critical access to high-speed, affordable broadband is for every citizen in the state, said Tony Neal-Graves, executive director of the Colorado Broadband Office. The question is no longer if we should do it but how.The how is critical because getting into the broadband game is no cheap or easy matter. For the majority of cities and towns that have opted out of SB 152 over the last decade, the expense of launching a municipal network, coupled with sometimes challenging topography and dispersed populations, has made the venture a tall order.What is clear to me is that there are multiple approaches to address the need for broadband access, Neal-Graves said. In particular, municipalities need to determine what makes the most sense for their community based on criteria such as size of the community, access to capital and technical expertise.That could mean a full-service approach or partnering with the private sector, said Tim Scott, Centennials director of fiber infrastructure. Unlike Longmont, which is using its electric utility to build out and manage its NextLight municipal broadband Internet service , Scott said Centennial has no interest in being an Internet service provider.The city has simply laid down the raw fiber loop from which private Internet providers can lease bandwidth to service customers, he said. That dissipates the risk for the city should the broadband service prove a tough sell.Were not at all dependent on how successful a new entrant (Internet service provider) is, Scott said. They still have to go door to door and sell the service.Thats a challenge Canadian company Ting is willing to take on. The Internet service provider signed a 20-year non-exclusive lease with Centennial to provide what it calls crazy-fast fiber Internet to residents and businesses. It charges $89 a month for its gigabit service.We have seen extremely strong demand in the neighborhoods where service is available or being built, said Monica Webb, Tings director of market development and government affairs. We intend to build this out to the entire city.Webb admits that might take a couple of years, given the capital and effort involved in making the last-mile connections from Centennials fiber backbone to each individual address in the city. She said the company doesnt have an official completion deadline but expects to have 30 to 40 percent of its network built in the city by the end of next year.Though a gigabit-per-second upload and download speed is far more than the average household needs today, Webb said with the increasing number of connected devices people have in their homes and the way Internet of things technology is integrating online controls into more everyday systems  like thermostats, security networks and kitchen appliances  data demand will only continue rising.Last month the city signed a fiber lease agreement with another company, Avata Networks, to provide service to Centennials central business district.That company said it expects to start construction of its connections off the citys $5.7 million data backbone in the spring.Ken Lucas, a Centennial city council member who serves as chair of the citys fiber commission, said the 432 strands in Centennials network give the city plenty of bandwidth capacity for years to come. That could prove invaluable to the development of Centennial as a smart city, where technologically linked systems like street lights, autonomous shuttles and high-density Wi-Fi work in concert to enhance mobility and an environmental sustainable lifestyle.Guaranteed speedy Internet could also position Centennial nicely from a business competition standpoint, Lucas said.It puts us in a place where with all of these technologies coming out  autonomous vehicles and smart city applications  where we can take advantage of all these technologies moving forward, he said.
The dawn of traditional Chinese medicine is still somewhat shrouded in mystery, with many people claiming it began anywhere from 3,000 to over 5,000 years ago. What is certain, however, is that traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM, was being tried and tested long before the inception of western medicine, and is still evolving today.

Practitioners of TCM train for years, learning the intricacies of herbal medicines and physical practices, such as acupuncture, to treat and prevent health problems. Huang Shu, Director of Beijing Huangshu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, says TCM is a preferred form of treatment for many as it is natural and doesn't produce drug resistance, noting "traditional Chinese medicine is going global because, to put it bluntly, people need to stay healthy."

Huangshu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital is a center and research institution for the study, treatment, and practice of acupuncture and oriental medicine.

The 9-needle acupuncture techniques that Huang bases his practice on are grounded in the Huangdi Neijing, an ancient Chinese medical text that has been treated as the fundamental doctrinal source for Chinese medicine for more than two thousand years. "It reached a new peak in the Huangdi period [the period in which the ancient Chinese medical text was written], and gradually formed today's acupuncture and moxibustion, which both cover a wide range of treatments that we offer today," explained Huang.

TCM for a first timer

As someone who had never before stepped into the world of TCM, I visited the Beijing-based branch to discover more, and hopefully, find a solution for a neck problem I've had for a year or so. The hospital spans three floors of consultation and treatment rooms, and has an English speaking doctor to help foreign patients who want to try traditional Chinese medicine.

After a quick checkup, my doctor prescribed Chinese massage, acupuncture and cupping to loosen up and relieve the muscles in my neck and shoulder. When asked why she chose this career, she explained, "Chinese medicine is another good way to help people, not only in their bodies, but also in their mind and in their soul."

This difference became immediately apparent, as I was whisked away to a quiet room with a massage bed and handed some pajamas and a cup of hot tea to relax; a world away from my usual experience in a UK doctor's surgery. After a short massage to locate the problem area, the acupuncture began. The doctor used two needle lengths,shortones for my neck and hand and longer ones for my shoulder muscles, which felt similar to a small scratch, despite their size.

While she placed the needles, the doctor explained why she was focusing on specific areas of my body, as I questioned why I required a needle in my hand, when the pain was in my neck. She explained that traditional Chinese medicine viewsa person as "one skin," where the whole body is connected, and a change in one area of the body can affect another.

After the needles were removed, it was time for cupping, where suction is created using heat (in this case fire), which is believed to mobilize blood flow and promote healing. The sensation was bizarre, like someone pulling on slightly sunburnt skin. Although not painful, it's an unusual sensation to somebody who has never experienced it before.

While I was still in somewhat of a trance, the doctor gently moved me into a number of positions and applied pressure  amounting to an almighty crack from the problem neck area. I was starting to see why TCM had remained so popular, as I quickly realized that the dull ache in my neck had disappeared.

TCM moves overseas

TCM is no longer only popular in China, and has been slowly moving overseas for a number of years. According to Huang, although TCM had made appearances in other countries before, it really entered the western limelight in 1972 when then U.S. President Richard Nixon visited China. "When Nixon visited China, we performed acupuncture anesthesia. This incident was published by the New York Times alongside the Apollo 17 Lunar landing, which set off an acupuncture fever in the United States."

Since the 70s, China's relationship with the world has changed dramatically. China's reform and opening up policies, along with extensive foreign trade in services thanks to Belt and Road links, has promoted the development of TCM culture to the world, not to mention the move of many Chinese citizens abroad for both study and work. They brought with them Chinese medicine, which in turn has become an alternative medicine in many western countries. Moreover, details regarding traditional Chinese medicine will be included for the first time in the 11th version of the World Health Assembly's global compendium, which will be published next year, according to Thepaper.cn in September, meaning that more people will become aware of the benefits of TCM as it is further publicized by global health organizations.

According to Huang, his hospital made an early start in trade in services abroad, and opened its first overseas hospital back in 2002, with hospitals still running in Jakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia.

"Back in 1996, I was already treating patients, mostly politicians in the Philippines and in Thailand. We also receive a lot of patients from abroad, from Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. We are also establishing an exchange program with Russia, from which international students will come to study our unique acupuncture microsurgery."

Huang explains that since Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, the hospital wanted to put more focus on service trade - to export treatment and to bring in patients from other countries.

Huang Shu(L), Director of Beijing Huangshu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital posed for a photo with a German patient who had suffered from lumbocrural pain but recovered after Huang's acupuncture microsurgery treatment.

China's reform and opening-up has witnessed more TCM doctors travel to, and exchange with, even the most unexpected of countries. For example, Liang Baoping, an official with the Health Commission of Gansu Province, told xinhuanet.com in October that a project to build a TCM medical center in Madagascar is currently underway. "The Chinese government will allocate 5 million yuan (about 720,000 U.S. dollars) to dispatch experts to the center in Madagascar and to improve the country's ability in disease prevention by using TCM," Liang said.

As China opens up further to the world, more foreigners are visiting the country than ever before, meaning more come to understand and appreciate TCM. According to an article published by Beijing Daily on Oct. 15, a TCM experience center will be built for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing to provide medical services and spread TCM culture. TCM services were already recognized at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, with a plethora of western athletes such as Michael Phelps showing off the well-known marks of cupping and other TCM methods during the event.

"We have made efforts for Chinese medicine to reach the rest of the world, and now Chinese medicine is gradually becoming accepted. With the establishment of the World Acupuncture Federation and the establishment of the 20-year Acupuncture and Moxibustion Association in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and the Chicago College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is inevitable that Chinese medicine will be accepted as an alternative medicine around the world," explained Huang.

Traditional Chinese medicine modernizes at home

Although TCM has an extensive history, its roots aren't solely entrenched in the past. Doctors have been developing new techniques to use TCM as an alternative method of surgery. By studying the ancient nine-needle therapy and combining it with modern anatomy, Huang's hospital has established a type of acupuncturemicrosurgery, which, Huang assures, can solve medical problems in a less invasive way than a traditional operation.

"The remarkable characteristic of acupuncture microsurgery is that it can solve the problems that western medicine cannot remedy without surgery. Many patients come to us when they have already had an unsuccessful operation, and walk away cured."

By using acupuncture microsurgery, patients can have the treatment and go home on the same day. Those with more severe symptoms are usually advised to stay in hospital for 3-5 more days of observation. "The uniqueness of the surgery is that we can relieve patients from the need of surgical cuts," added Huang.

By combining ancient methods with modern principles and ideas, it's easy to see why TCM is standing the test of time. More than the science behind it, the draw, for me at least, is the way that traditional Chinese medicine assesses the whole body as one, the way the methodswork together and encompass your body and mind. After two hours of treatment, I felt calmer than I had done in weeks, but I also felt more centered and aware of my own body. Better yet, I have hardly felt any pain in my neck since, so the treatment's intended purpose definitely worked.

Amid stressful modern life, it's clear why so many people are looking to TCM for a holistic, drug-free way to deal with both internal and external problems, and why its becoming more popular overseas.

"Traditional Chinese Medicine is a culture that should be spread throughout the world, and my mission is to communicate it to the rest of the world," said Huang.
County confidence

'Civic duty'

Already in action

More legislative help?

(TNS)  Voting machines in York County, Pa., had few issues in this year's midterm elections, but county officials are still scrambling to replace them ahead of a state deadline just more than a year away.It's well-documented that, like many others, the county has outdated machines that are vulnerable to hacking. County officials and experts agree the machines need to be replaced  although they cite different reasons  but one aspect remains unknown.That would be how to pay for the machines, which are now estimated to cost up to $8 million  $6 million more than what was previously estimated based on the costs of the machines alone.With the deadline to replace the devices looming, at least one county official is bracing for the economic impact, which he said could possibly result in future tax hikes.But experts say the counties also can't afford not to make the switch.Security issues: The county currently uses Sequoia AVC Edge voting machines, 700 of which were purchased in 2006 for $2.1 million with help from a $4 billion wave of federal funding provided to states following the disputed 2000 elections.The machines were high-tech but also lacking an important feature: a paper trail.Experts say a "voter-verifiable paper audit trail" is crucial to protecting elections from tampering or errors. It allows voters to check that the machine recorded their choices as intended and gives election officials a second record to refer to if there's a dispute.Pennsylvania is one of just 15 states where machines with no paper trails are in use.In February, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered that any county planning to replace its voting machines must buy devices that leave a paper trail. He followed up in April by ordering all counties to have such machines by Dec. 31, 2019, preferably by the 2019 general elections.To enforce the mandate, Department of State spokeswoman Wanda Murren said the state is "strongly considering" decertifying any county machines that aren't replaced by the deadline.Under the state Election Code, counties must use voting systems that have been certified by the federal Election Assistance Commission and by the Secretary of the Commonwealth.As a result, if their machines aren't on the new certification list, they can't use the devices. The mandatory upgrade is expected to cost counties around $125 million.York County officials have said although their machines are outdated, they haven't had any issues in regards to the election security."Security wise, I have no problem with the ones we have," said Sally Kohlbus, who is acting director of the county Office of Voting and Elections while director Nikki Suchanic is on maternity leave.Kohlbus said the machines didn't have any issues during the Nov. 6 midterm elections other than a hand-full of machines that wouldn't boot-up and needed to be replaced at the polls.Previously, Suchanic also said she is confident in the machines, but "with newer technology, it's time for us to look at new voting systems."Despite the county's confidence, organizations specializing in the matter beg to differ when it comes to security.The Sequoia AVS Edge voting machine has "significant security weaknesses," according to Verified Voting, a nonprofit organization that advocates for accurate, transparent elections.David Hickton, founder of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security, took it upon himself to advocate for more secure machines by creating The Blue Ribbon Commission on Pennsylvanias Election Security in May."We have a civic duty to our citizens that elections are safe and secure," he said. "It has been demonstrated we have machines that aren't safe and secure. There has to be some general recognition that we cannot allow ourselves to be this vulnerable."To prompt change, the commission analyzes elections and drafts suggestions for the state government to address security issues.After Wolf's mandate, it released a list of recommendations , including replacing vulnerable machines, supplying additional funding to counties along with the federal government support, and carefully selecting vendors.A final report is expected to be finished by the end of the year and be placed on the governor's desk by February 2019, Hickton said.The expert said he "isn't aware of any significant problems" with voting machines during the recent midterm elections, but he still emphasized the need to replace them, adding he "sympathizes" with the financial burden counties may face."This is a necessary capital expense, but no one wants to leave the burden on the counties or entirely on the state," Hickton said. "We don't have any choice not to do it. Elections are that important."He added the state has been mostly cooperative with the agency's suggestions and ideas, and Murren said the Department of State is in the process of brainstorming funding options.But Hickton emphasized the federal government has been "woefully inadequate" in helping fund new voting machines beyond an initial $13.5 million given to the state in March, a piece of the $380 million total supplied to states in the spending package.The state matched 5 percent of the funds, resulting in $14.1 million total, but that amount will be divided among the 67 counties based on voter population. It is unknown how much York County will receive.Susquehanna County is the only state to have already upgraded their machines, having done so in November before the midterm elections.The county, with a population of just more than 40,000 and a voting population of roughly 25,000, spent $263,000 on the machines, said SarahRae Sisson, the county's director of voter registration.The process didn't take long, she said, adding the machines were finalized in early September and implemented just days before Election Day Nov. 6.Like her York County counterparts, Sisson said she thought the age of the machines was the only compelling factor. But unlike York County, she said the costs didn't present a problem because "it was something we had foreseen."But York County's road ahead may not be as smooth.The costs: A single voting machine per the requirement of Wolf's mandate would cost roughly $3,000, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.With transportation, training and other costs, it would cost York County $6 million to $8 million to replace all of its machines, York County Commissioner Chris Reilly said.The federal government reimbursed the county $1.85 million of the $2.1 million it spent on the Sequoia voting machines in 2006, but that type of help doesn't appear to be on the table this time."It's a pretty complicated process in terms of what our options are," Reilly said. "Frankly, it's not going to be anywhere near what we need. The burden is going to lie with us. I fully anticipate that's the way it's going to go down."As a result, the county "may very well" have to raise taxes in the future to help relieve the burden, he added.The county won't be making room in the budget this year for the machines, as it plans to issue a municipal bond once more machines are certified and cost estimates are provided, Reilly said.Certification process: Murren said the state is making progress certifying the different machines counties will be allowed to purchase.Currently, a system by Unisyn Voting Solutions is the only machine to be fully certified.The certification process includes rigorously examining and testing the machines before releasing a final report for certification, Murren said.An additional two systems, another from Unisyn and one from Election Systems and Software, have successfully completed all testing and the Department of State is in the process of completing the certification report and other paper work, she said.Additionally, machines from Dominion Voting Systems and ClearBallot have completed the "primary portion" of their examinations, and the state expects them to complete testing by the end of the year.A sixth system, manufactured by Hart InterCivic Inc., is beginning the certification testing in January.Once all of the machines are certified, York County will choose a device and figure out how to pay for hundreds of them.One option is to issue a bond and pay for the devices over time.The county could also take money from the contingency fund, which is used for unexpected expenses and usually hovers around $1 million, Reilly said.A third option is shifting leftover money from the general fund to the capital reserve fund, which is dedicated to long-term capital investment projects and other large anticipated expenditures.To offer help to counties like York, Sen. Bob Casey has been pushing for more funding. But the Democrat hasn't had any luck, said spokeswoman Jacklin Rhoads.The senator said it's good that governments are trying to upgrade their systems, adding, "The federal government has a duty to provide resources and funding to help states make these security investments, and I will continue to push for this critical funding.Previously, Casey requested another round of $380 million in election security funding, but that has yet to be put into legislation, Rhoads said.Casey also recently voted for an amendment to the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, that would have appropriated another $250 million for election security grants.But Republicans largely opposed the bill, and it didn't pass.Currently, a bill called the Secure Elections Act, introduced by U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, is sitting in limbo in Congress because some states thought the bill was "too prescriptive," Rhoads said.The piece of legislation "would require states to improve election security and authorizes grant funding," she added.
The historically devastating Camp Fire has displaced more than 100,000 people in California, and destroyed thousands of buildings. This meant many, many people were without a place to celebrate Thanksgiving, but Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen did their part to make sure people had a good, warm holiday meal. Together with celebrity chefs Guy Fieri and Tyler Florence, the disaster-relief organization provided meals for 15,000 individuals in Chico.

The chefs cooked 7,500 pounds of turkey for evacuees in Chico, and dinner was hosted by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. at its taproom and brewery. California officials; California State University, Chico; and the town of Paradise  all of which was destroyed by the fire  all helped, as well. Fieri, who lives in Santa Rosa in the Bay Area, cooked for first responders on November 11, and has helped feed victims of past fires. Speaking to the Reno Gazette-Journal, he said doing this was not even a question and that he recruited friends and one of his sons flew in from college. Speaking of recruiting help, Andres posted a video of volunteer Arnold Schwarzenegger last Wednesday, who saying that World Central Kitchen would not exist if it did not have volunteers.
About 30 politicians, experts and scholars from China and European countries gathered at Madrid, Spain on Nov. 22 for the China-Europe Forum on Reform and Globalization.

They conducted in-depth discussion and reviewed the process of Chinas reform and opening up, exchanging views on China-Europe partnership, Sino-Spanish relations, trade facilitation and investment liberalization, and building an open global economy.

Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Economic and Commercial Council (BCECC), said Chinas reform and opening-up success attracted much attention and its steady development was a great contribution to the world. China had become an important force for global economic recovery especially after the 2008 economic crisis, he pointed out.

Dewit, who was in Shanghai earlier this month for the first China International Import Expo (CIIE), said he was impressed by Chinas opening-up.

Nowadays, more European enterprises are looking for business opportunities in China. The country, by expanding openness, improving business environment, and treating both European and domestic companies equally , will bring more opportunities for Europe, Dewit said.

In the next 15 years, China will further open up its market. The country is expected to import $24 trillion worth of goods, attract $2 trillion foreign direct investment and invest a total of $2 trillion overseas.

In the period, the number of Chinese outbound tourists will hit 2 billion.

Chinas expanding opening-up will create new opportunities to enhance China-Europe trade and economic cooperation on a wider scope and at a higher level.

Miguel Jimenez, editor-in-chief of Spanish financial newspaper Cinco Diassaid China had made breathtaking economic achievements over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, and its innovation capabilities for technologies had been improved markedly.

The Chinese government always laid importance on innovation and increases input in science and technology, which was worth learning for other countries, he added.

Chinese economist Liu Shijin told Peoples Daily that the high-quality economic development of China would upgrade China-Europe cooperation, broaden the range of cooperation and create new grounds for growth.

Former Spanish ambassador to China Eugenio Bregolat Obiols expressed that both Europe and China were beneficiaries of economic globalization and free trade, as well as the protectors of rule-based multilateral trading system opposing unilateralism and protectionism.

The European Union (EU) remains Chinas largest trade partner for 14 years in a row, and China is the second largest trade partner of the EU.

Javier Solana, former Spanish minister of foreign affairs and former secretary general of the Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics at ESADE, said Chinas accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) marked an important case of active integration into globalization, and the EU was a firm supporter of international trading rules.

Noting that the current world was faced with uncertainties, Solana suggested the EU and China be firmly committed to building an open world economy, promote trade facilitation and investment liberalization, resist protectionism and unilateralism, and push globalization toward a more open, balanced, inclusive and reciprocal direction.

The Eurasia is a key region for Belt and Road construction. So far, China has signed intergovernmental agreements on Belt and Road with 11 EU members. China-Europe freight trains have made more than 10,000 trips, reaching 43 cities in 15 European countries.

Lv Fan, Chinese ambassador to Spain, said the volume of Spains exports to Chinas Yiwu through the China-Europe freight trains surged to $10.1 million in 2017 from less than $1.6 million in 2014.

China and Europe were respectively located in the eastern and western ends of the route of Belt and Road. The two countries could collaborate in more areas, expand channels of cooperation, explore new modes for economic growth, cooperation, governance and development, so as to share the dividends brought by interconnectivity of the Eurasia, said the ambassador.
Schatz deletes tweet suggesting chemical weapons used at US-Mexico border

Brinkwire, November 26, 2018

Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, tweeted Sunday that the use of tear gas against Central American migrants who attempted to enter the U.S. illegally may have been a violation of international agreements governing the use of chemical weapons  before he backtracked.

The Associated Press reported that U.S. agents shot several rounds of the gas after migrants tried to penetrate several points along the border at the San Ysidro border crossing between Tijuana, Mexico, and California. Migrants sought to squeeze through gaps in wire, climb over fences and peel back metal sheeting to enter.

In response to the reports, Schatz initially tweeted: Tear gas across the border against unarmed families is a new low. Approximately 45 minutes later, Schatz tweeted: Who gave the order? Did it implement or contravene policy? He then tweeted WHO GAVE THE ORDER? in all caps.

Schatz then asked: Why tear gas? Is this consistent with the Conventions on Chemical Weapons?

However, the tweet was posted for just a few minutes before it was deleted and replaced by this message: Anyone uncomfortable with spraying tear gas on children is welcome to join the coalition of the moral and the sane. We can argue about other stuff when weve got our country back.

In an exchange with opinion writer Stephen Miller, Schatz admitted that I went ahead and deleted the one about chemical weapons because I just dont know enough about what happened. He then asked Miller: Does this not strike you as excessive?

A spokesman for Schatz did not respond to Fox News requests for comment.

Schatz, a former Hawaii state representative and lieutenant governor, was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2012 to serve out Daniel Inouyes term after his death. Schatz was elected to his first full Senate term in 2016.

read ... Uninformed Dem senator tweets, deletes claim US border patrol is using chemical weapons on migrants

DS: Under Obama Administration, Border Patrol Used Pepper Spray on Around 100 Migrants

Flashbacks:
In climate politics, there is the time before the IPCC report, published in October, and the time after it. Just as the Paris agreement raised the general awareness level and made just about every country commit to a common goal  at the moment, only the US is outside the agreement  the IPCC report made it clear to everybody what it means if we fail in our common mission. The difference between a temperature rise of 1.5 and 2 degrees is immense. Not to mention what happens if the temperature rises 3 degrees  and this is the path we are on right now.

IN HELSINKI, some 10,000 people gathered for a climate march in October. They demanded climate action from their politicians. Even if Finland has made a lot of progress, we are still not on the path we should be on. When measuring emissions per capita, Finland is not best in its class, by a long shot.

You can always ask if it at all matters what a small country like Finland does in this field. Our emissions are a drop in the ocean. This is true. But the emissions on the EU level arent. As a part of the EU, Finland can have an impact. In all this discussion around the EU, Brexit and the challenges we are having when dealing with authoritarianism in Eastern Europe and economic populism in the South, I think it is quite clear that without the EU, we would have much more of a challenge in our fight against climate change. The EU is a big player, and can thus also be a leader.

So, what should we do? In Finlands case, we have challenges in three sectors: energy, traffic and our forests. The last one, the forests, is an especially tricky question. Not because of superfluous raking or fires, but because our forests are mostly private property. When we talk about the forest in Finland, we dont only talk about biodiversity or recreational activities, we talk about a source of living. And, of course, a very important industry nationally. Finland is a big global player in the production of products derived from our forests. This can be seen in Parliament whenever these questions are raised.

The Finnish climate panel, an organ appointed by the Finnish government, has clearly pointed out what it means for our climate goals if we reduce the carbon sink our forests represent. Still, the message doesnt seem to go through. To an extent, it is a question of perspective. You can make an argument that increasing logging now  as long as this increase focuses on measures that increase future production  might have a positive effect in the long run. However, you can also argue that we should be wary of any increase in harvesting timber, as much of the climate challenge depends on how we meet our near-term goals in the next decade.

The solution here is, in my view, to create the right kind of economic incentives. Today we have the EU Emissions Trading System, the European cap and trade-system through which we create economic incentives for companies to cut down on their emissions. In order to create equally efficient incentives to grow our carbon sinks, those who own forests should be paid for preserving  or growing  them. Already today, we know with great accuracy how fast the forests grow in different parts of the country. Our forests are continually monitored on a local level. It would not be difficult to create a national carbon sink market, a system that gradually also could be applied EU-wide. A part of the revenue from the ETS could be directed into this mechanism.

It is clear that the climate challenge is not only an environmental problem, but also an economic one. If we fail, it will have tremendous economic consequences. But also, if we want to succeed, we need to use the market and its mechanisms in pursuit of this common goal.

Anders Adlercreutz

Member of Parliament, Swedish Peoples Party
Media reports suggest the victims of the crash included two executives from the upper echelons of business life in Finland: Pekka Ojanpaa, 52, the chief executive of Lassila & Tikanoja, and Heikki Vappula, 51, the head of biorefining at UPM.

Four Finns lost their lives after a light aircraft crashed in Masvingo, a province in south-eastern Zimbabwe, on Friday, 23 November, confirms the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Ojanpaa was set to take over as the chief executive of Suominen, a manufacturer of non-woven fabrics and former subsidiary of Lassila & Tikanoja, in December.

MTV on Sunday reported that the two other victims were a partner at HPP Attorneys, a Helsinki-based law firm, and a board member at Game Mentor, a Helsinki-based e-sports start-up. The crash also claimed the life of the pilot of the light aircraft, Barry Styles, a citizen of Zimbabwe and partner at Buffalo Range Safaris.

The identities of the victims have not been confirmed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Both MTV and Helsingin Sanomat have reported that the quartet were in the country on a hunting expedition. At the time of the fatal crash, the Cessna 206 six-seat single-engine aircraft was en route from Chiredzi to Victoria Falls.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.

Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre) and Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini (BR) have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims of the crash on Twitter.

UPM on Saturday confirmed that Vappula is believed to be one of the victims: We owe a debt of gratitude to Heikki, who was a visionary and inspiring executive, always hungry for results. His insights and energy will be greatly missed by colleagues as well as business partners around the world, said Jussi Pesonen, the CEO of UPM.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Source: Uusi Suomi
Spearheaded by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, the initiative urges all parties to the Paris Agreement, an agreement within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to take joint, decisive and swift action to stop the global climate crisis.

President Sauli Niinisto and 15 of his fellow heads of state have signed an initiative for more climate ambition.

Current measures taken by the international community [] are not sufficient to reach the long-term goals set out in the Paris Agreement. More has to be done  and action needs to be quick, decisive and joint, it reads.

We, the heads of state and governments signing this declaration, are convinced that effective measures to combat climate change are not only necessary in their own right, but will bring about additional co-benefits and new opportunities for our economies and societies. We are confident that substantial measures will help us lead our planet into a safe, peaceful and prosperous future.

The other signatories include the presidents of Germany, Iceland, Italy and Switzerland, and the prime ministers of Sweden and the Netherlands.

The initiative was launched on the eve of the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, which according to the signatories is of particular significance as it will determine implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement.

Its signatories urge all parties to the agreement to formulate and communicate by 2020 their respective strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the long-term goals of the agreement. Global average temperatures, they highlight, have already risen by roughly 1C above pre-industrial levels, signalling an unprecedented increase in the history of humankind.

The climate crisis is a concern to all of us. Global warming impedes the global economy. It threatens various sectors including agriculture, forestry, tourism, energy and water supplies and, inevitably, it is a serious threat to peace and stability around the globe, they emphasise.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Source: Uusi Suomi
With an increasing global population, problems including global warming, grain yield and drought have become important subjects for global agricultural experts. Its no secret that the world needs to produce significantly more food to support its growing population, the challenge is how to do it and make sure it is available in the right places at the right times, Professor Cooper recently told People's Daily Online. His interest in genetics and evolution and his experience growing wheat and barley in Scotland, his home country, inspired his long-term enthusiasm in global food safety.

Professor Cooper completed his Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Ph.D. in Quantitative Genetics at the University of Queensland. After graduation, he became a lecturer at the School of Agriculture and Food Sciences at the University of Queensland, staying in this role for 10 years, going on to work at DuPont Pioneer in the US for nearly 20 years. As a global leader in quantitative genetics and plant breeding, Professor Cooper is committed to finding new strategies for genetic crop improvement and combining such genetic improvement with agricultural practices.

Throughout his career, Professor Cooper has led the development of new genetic modeling methods through continuous research and training based on genetic networks. To date, he has received a number of significant awards, including several from DuPont Pioneer and the Thomson ISI fast breaking paper award. While at DuPont Pioneer, he also researched drought adaptation and participated in the AQUAmax drought-adapted maize hybrids project. The project is now one of the largest plant breeding programs on the planet, with a breeding area spanning millions of hectares of land.

In March 2018, Professor Cooper returned to the University of Queensland to join the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Innovation as the Chair in Prediction Based Crop Improvement. One of the important things for the long term is to train people for the future, and the university is a great place to do that training. I think the University of Queensland is an advanced research institution and has a very strong global outlook. It is an exciting place to be.

Professor Cooper explained that he traveled the world to understand the diversity of different continents. I have visited China once. That was in 1993 when I came to the 8th International Wheat Genetics Symposium that was held in Beijing, he said.

It is terrific to visit the people in the genetics community in their actual environment. Then, for example, to see the Chinese Academy of science has done some of the work. At that time, what I saw was a country that had started to invest in building up the central structure for training and for research that supports future innovation of agriculture.

Professor Cooper had many opportunities to work with Chinese colleagues after DuPont Pioneer came to China. The most impressive project that Professor Cooper worked on with Chinese researchers was a large project for agricultural production, where the researchers used advanced professional and mathematical modeling to create agricultural data and special modeling methods that generated many global datasets. This research discovered new genes which determine the growth of crops in different environments and has since improved the rice yield and the hybrid maize varieties.

Talking about his experience of working with Chinese researchers, Professor Cooper said, They have a strong commitment to outstanding work, diligence to do challenging things and work very hard to solve problems when other people seem to give up.

In recent years, Professor Cooper has been watching the development of agriculture in China closely. Being a large research community, China has made many fascinating discoveries. Particularly, in this area of prediction agriculture, where many people are looking at ways of capturing a large amount of data, managing that data and attempting to discover a new pattern in this dataset using science technology.

We discussed the process while trying to build the prediction agriculture capability at the University of Queensland. That is another clear project that requires a global connection. From my perspective, all of those opportunities should include China if possible.

Professor Cooper believes that the development of agricultural science is very much related to collaboration between countries. By sharing future talents, agricultural research can be further enhanced, and more development opportunities will arise. (Peoples Daily Online/ Jin Xie)
Military men who found a higher calling

MARCELLUS OF TANGIER (THIRD CENTURY AD)

Romes ancient pagan rituals were strictly observed by its legionsno exceptions. While many Christians seem to have served as legionaries without incident, some paid a high price for their faith. In July 298 the centurion Marcellus, while in Tingis (Tangier), stood in front of his legions standards, removed his belt and sword, and refused to renew his military oath (sacramentum) because of his Christian beliefs. Marcellus was arrested and tried but would not recant. Found guilty of breaking his sacramentum and bringing disgrace to the office of centurion, he was beheaded by sword, as befitted his high status. He is now a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.

MARTIN OF TOURS (CA. 316397)

Born in the Roman province of Pannonia (roughly modern Hungary), Martin was conscripted into the Roman army at the age of 15. Around 337 he was serving in Amiens when he saw a poorly clad beggar shivering in the cold. Martin thereupon cut his soldiers cloak in two and gave half to the man. His conversion was prompted by a vision he had of Christ wearing the same cloak, a sign of approval for Martins selfless gesture. Soon after Martins baptism, he realized that he could not reconcile his continued military service with his new religion. In 357 he was imprisoned in Gaul for refusing to join Caesar Julians fight against the invading Germanic barbarians. Released when the fighting ended, Martin was discharged from the army and became a monk. In 372 he was named bishop of Tours in Gaul and served until his death in 397. During his episcopate he founded many monasteries and introduced Christianity to the rural, pagan areas of Gaul.

VARDAN MAMIKONIAN (393451)

Armenia became the first officially Christian nation in 301, but the conversion disturbed the Zoroastrian kings of neighboring Sassanid Persia. The Persians had long considered the Armenians to be Aryan cousins but now worried that they might become more friendly with the Christian emperor of Rome. King Yazdegert saw it as his duty to bring the wayward Armenians back to the true faith and in 449 instituted measures against Christians, including an edict calling on them to abandon their religion. When the Armenians balked, Yazdegert invaded Armenia. The Armenians chose Vardan Mamikonian as their commander. An experienced soldier who had previously served alongside the Persians on dozens of occasions, Vardan led a fierce defense of his homeland. At the Battle of Avarair in May 451, he commanded his army against a vast Persian host said to number 300,000. The Persians at last overcame the Armenians, and Vardan was slain. Despite that defeat, the Armenians continued their stubborn resistance, and the Persians came to see that there was no profit in persecuting Armenian Christians. In 484 a new Persian king, Balash, recognized Armenian autonomy and the right of Armenians to practice Christianity. Vardan is recognized as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church.

VLADIMIR I OF KIEV (CA. 9561015)

Grand Duke Vladimir was a descendant of the Scandinavian Vikings who had plied the rivers of medieval Russia on their way to trade with Byzantium. Settling down, these Rus established a number of strongholds, including Novgorod and Kiev. The son of the prince of Kiev, Vladimir went north to become prince of Novgorod in 970. Infamous for his brutality and barbaric practices, he was ejected from his seat by his half-brother Yaropolk in 977 and fled to Scandinavia. He then returned with soldiers, retook Novgorod, and slew Yaropolk. As sole ruler of Kievan Rus, he sent 6,000 warriors to support Emperor Basil II of Byzantium in his civil war. In return Vladimir was given Basils sister Anne in marriage, on condition that he convert to Orthodox Christianity, which he made the state religion of Kievan Rus. That led to his sainthood in both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.

IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA (14911566)

The youngest of 11 children in an aristocratic Basque family, Ignatius was mainly interested in war and gallantry as a young man. In 1521 he took part in the conflict between Spain and France, and while defending besieged Pamplona, he was wounded by a cannonball. Recuperating from his injury in Loyola, he asked for knightly romances to read but instead was given a book on the life of Jesus, which spurred his spiritual yearning. Determined to devote himself to God, Ignatius went to the Abbey of Monserrat, made a three-day confession, and hung his sword upon a statue of the Virgin Mary. He spent a year in prayer and penance at nearby Manresa, where he wrote his Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius went on to form a small company of seven men, who had taken vows of chastity and poverty and were devoted to the service of God. In 1541 Ignatius was elected first general of the Society of Jesus order, more commonly known as the Jesuits. He died in 1556 and was declared a saint by the Catholic Church in 1622. MHQ

Attorney Marc G. DeSantis is a frequent contributor to MHQ. His upcoming book, Rome Seizes the Trident, will be published by Pen & Sword.

PHOTO: Martin of Tours cutting his soldiers cloak and giving half to a beggar. Ambrogio Lorenzetti/Yale University Art Gallery

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2016 issue (Vol. 28, No. 3) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: War List | From Soldiers to Saints.

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!
In December 1941, someone leaked Americas top-secret blueprint for war for all the worldeven Hitlerto see

Chicago Tribune reporter Chesly Manly knew the document in front of him was the scoop of a lifetime. The date was December 2, 1941, and Manly was reading the U.S. War Departments most closely guarded secret, a detailed plan to defeat Germany and the Axis in a war that the United States had not yet entered and that President Franklin D. Roosevelt had vowed to keep the country out of.



Newspaper reporter Chesly Manly broke the U.S. war plan story that his publisher called perhaps the greatest scoop in the history of journalism. (Chicago Daily Tribune, Saturday, June 6,  1936 Gannett-Community Publishing) Newspaper reporter Chesly Manly broke the U.S. war plan story that his publisher called perhaps the greatest scoop in the history of journalism. (Chicago Daily Tribune, Saturday, June 6,  1936 Gannett-Community Publishing)

Manly studied the 350-page tome and wrote his story the next day. Though the plan was a military secret, Manly believed the public was entitled to know about it, and he got the go-ahead from Tribune publisher Robert R. McCormick, a strident isolationist and ardent foe of all things Roosevelt.

F.D.R.s War Plans!, screamed the front-page banner headline in the Tribunes Thursday, December 4 edition. Smaller headlines proclaimed, Goal Is 10 Million Armed Men and Proposes Land Drive by July 1, 1943, to Smash Nazis. The Tribunes sister paper, the Washington Times-Herald, played the story big, too.

The secret military plan was a blueprint for total war on a scale unprecedented in at least two oceans and three continents, Europe, Africa, and Asia, Manly wrote, and he reported that July 1, 1943, was the date fixed for an Allied invasion of Europe. The plan called for a U.S. armed force of 10 million men, more than seven times the strength at the time, with five million slated to be deployed to Europe. The War Department admitted that Britain and Russia alone could not beat Hitler, Manly noted, and that victory would require the United States to enter the war. An ecstatic McCormick congratulated Manly and the rest of the Tribunes Washington bureau on what he called perhaps the greatest scoop in the history of journalism.

The story was a complete surprise to the government and hit official Washington like a bomb. Nothing more unpatriotic or damaging to our plans for defense could very well be conceived of, Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson confided in his diary. While never denying the storys accuracy, angry government officials vowed to track down whoever had leaked the plan to Manly. The FBI interviewed hundreds of peoplebut no one was ever charged and the mystery remains unsolved to this day, at least officially. Still, there are clues, some only revealed decades later, that show how the details of a top-secret war plan ended up on the front page of the Chicago Tribune just three days before the Pearl Harbor attack.

DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR, Roosevelt had edged the United States closer to war. A peacetime draft expanded the army to 1.4 million men, up from 190,000 in 1939. Under the March 1941 Lend-Lease Act, American industry was supplying planes and munitions to Britain and the Soviet Union. Most Americans, however, wanted no part of the war. A February 1941 Gallup poll showed that 78 percent opposed entering it. The America First Committeea politically powerful isolationist group claiming more than 800,000 membersspoke for this majority and supported a potent like-minded bloc in Congress.

Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars, Roosevelt had assured voters during the 1940 presidential campaign. But his opponents labeled him a liar: isolationist senator Burton K. Wheeler, a Montana Democrat, called the president a war-minded man whose foreign policy will plow under every fourth American boy, while famed aviator Charles A. Lindbergh, who gave America First its star power, claimed the country was being lured to share with England militarily, as well as financially, the fiasco of this war.



Aviator and American hero Charles A. Lindbergh was the most famous face of the noninterventionist America First Committee. (Bettmann/Getty Images) Aviator and American hero Charles A. Lindbergh was the most famous face of the noninterventionist America First Committee. (Bettmann/Getty Images)

A dissident of a different stripe was Lieutenant General Henry H. Hap Arnold, 55, chief of the U.S. Army Air Forces. He objected to sharing secret technology with Allied nations, prompting Roosevelt to threaten to exile him to Guam. Arnolds main gripe was that Lend-Lease was siphoning off modern planes the air force desperately needed for national defense.

But while the arsenal of democracy was gearing up for war, millions of dollars were being spent with no clear idea of what it would take to beat Germany and Japan. On July 9, 1941, Roosevelt secretly ordered the army and navy to determine the overall production requirements required to defeat our potential enemies. The army assigned the main portion of this project to Major Albert C. Wedemeyer of the War Plans Division.

Wedemeyer, 44, was a curious choice. He was a vocal isolationist, colleagues later said, one of them adding he was most pro-German in his feelings, his utterances, and his sympathies. A friend of both Lindbergh and Senator Wheeler, he had even attended an America First rally.

Still, Wedemeyer gave it his all, planning for a war he did not want. He toiled for long hours in the hot, cramped Munitions Building in Washington, DC, devising what he later called a plan calculated to bring our enemies to their knees in the shortest possible time. His most shocking conclusion was that preparations would take nearly two yearsuntil July 1, 1943before US armed forces can be mobilized, trained, and equipped for extensive operations.

On September 11, 1941, U.S. Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall and Chief of Naval Operations Harold R. Stark approved the plan, known as the Victory Program. Thirty-five mimeographed copies were made, all given to military officers.

On December 4, 1941, the day Manlys story appeared in print, shocked officers stood in small groups inside the War Department, talking in hushed tones. Look at this!, exclaimed Brigadier General Leonard T. Gerow, head of the War Plans Division, as he showed the story to colleagues. Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy confronted Wedemeyer, telling him, Theres blood on the fingers of the man who leaked this information. Major Laurence S. Kuter, who had helped draft the air force portion of the plan, told a Tribune reporter, There are people here who would have put their bodies between you and that document.

Military contingency plans for time of war are far from uncommon. Indeed, Roosevelts War Department had many, even a planWar Plan Redfor hostilities with Britain. But the Victory Program was different. With its declaration that the United States must enter the war to save Britain, its target date for the beginning of offensive operations, and its specificity in the number of men and amount of materiel needed to defeat Germany, it was a blueprint for expected American involvement in the ongoing war in Europe.

The article embarrassed the White House, showing that Roosevelt was plotting for war while promising peace, but the administrations initial response was lackluster. Secretary of War Stimson was absent, undergoing dental work in New York that day, while Roosevelts press secretary, Stephen T. Early, refused to either confirm, deny, or condemn the story. That night, however, Stimson found the president full of fight, and they agreed that Stimson would give a stronger response the next day.

On December 5, 1941, Stimson met with a roomful of reporters. Speaking with uncommon vigor, the New York Times noted, he accused the Tribune and its publisher of being so lacking in appreciation of the danger that confronts the country and so wanting in loyalty and patriotism to their government that they would be willing to take and publish such papers. Privately, he saw the uproar as a chance to get rid of this infernal disloyalty which we now have working in America First and in these McCormick family papers.



An excerpt of the leaked Victory Program. (Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum) An excerpt of the leaked Victory Program. (Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum)

At a cabinet meeting that day, Attorney General Francis B. Biddle suggested Manlys story may have violated the 1917 Espionage Act by making secret military information available to potential enemies. Stimson and Interior Secretary Harold Ickes both wanted Manly and McCormick arrested. A still-angry Roosevelt ordered the FBI and the army to investigate.

While the administration directed its ire at the Tribune, the more crucial question was who had given Manly access to the top-secret document. Investigators quickly realized the reporter had seen an actual copy of the Victory Program because, they assessed, he could not have written such a complete, concise and accurate report of the plan unless the entire data were available. The War Plans Division found all 35 copies where they were supposed to be, but lax security eliminated any paper trail. At least 109 army officers and a like number of naval officers had legitimate access to the plan. The number of people who could have swiped the document and returned it without detection was, the FBI concluded, legion.

INVESTIGATORS INSPECTED the leak came from an isolationist intent on showing Roosevelts alleged duplicity, and they soon found the War Department was rife with men hostile to the presidents foreign policy. An ambitious officer trying to embarrass his boss became another possibility once the FBI discovered a clique of high-ranking officers who believed their superiors were boneheads and that victory would be won only when the top-ranking officers are replaced with more capable men.

Because of his familiarity with the plan and his known isolationist views, Wedemeyer was the prime suspect, but he adamantly denied leaking the plan. FBI agents examined Wedemeyers copy and found the parts Manly quoted had been underlined, as if Wedemeyer had highlighted them for the reporter. Wedemeyer, however, claimed he had underlined these sections when he read the story to determine how much of the plan had been compromised. Agents suspected bribery when they found a recent large deposit in Wedemeyers bank account, but he was able to prove that the money was an inheritance. The FBI never found any direct evidence tying Wedemeyer to the leak. The army, however, remained suspicious. Military investigators found him very ill at ease and continually thinking up excuses for himself and his actions.

On December 7, 1941, the question of American involvement in the war was settled when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The United States declared war on Japan the next day; three days after that, Germany declared war on the United States. But the investigation continued.

FBI Agent Joseph A. Genau and two army officers questioned Manly. A 36-year-old Texan whom an acquaintance called the picture of courtesy and grace, Manly was a veteran newsman, having worked for the Tribune since 1929. He politely but firmly refused to name his source.

Army investigators pressed him. They needed to know who had leaked the plan, the investigators said, to keep innocent heads from rolling in this thingheads belonging to some mighty fine officers who have spent a lifetime in the War Department and who are going to take the rap. They even falsely claimed that many people in important places believed Manlys story had prompted the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Manly stood his ground.

Other Tribune officials were no more helpful. Washington bureau chief Arthur S. Henning stayed mum, and publisher McCormick improbably claimed he had not known about the story until he read it in the paper. White House correspondent Walter Trohan avoided the telephone, accurately deducing that both the FBI and the army were tapping his line. Some Tribune newsmen relied on obfuscation: when asked if a senator or Senate staffer had leaked the plan, an unidentified Tribune writer scoffed, These ridiculous things may be dismissed from your mind. Another told agents, Dont overlook the cabinet.

The FBI turned to other newsmen for help, interviewing reporters from various papers. Not all of them liked what the Tribune had done, and some were willing to tell what they knew so long as their names were kept out of it. One staffer at the Washington Times-Herald, also a McCormick paper, was tickled to death to help because he didnt like the papers publication of military secrets; he had two sons in the navy.

A few newsmen pointed to an isolationist senator as Manlys source. Joseph Patterson, McCormicks cousin and publisher of the New York Daily News, confirmed this. Certain isolationist senators, several reporters said, had shopped around to find a news outlet that would give the war plan widespread distribution. A reporter for an unidentified New York paper had also been offered the plan, he said, but his editors told him not to have anything to do with this situation. Only the Tribune bit.

Several newsmen identified Senator David I. Walsh, a Democrat from Massachusetts, as Manlys source. An America First supporter, the 69-year-old Walsh had claimed in 1940 that Roosevelts foreign policy was moving the country toward a precipice of stupendous and horrifying depths.

No copy of the Victory Program had officially been given to Congress, so the ultimate question was who had leaked it to the senator. The culprit, several newsmen told the FBI, was one of the highest ranking officers of the War Department and a man of general officer rank who had been loudspoken in advocating the retaining in the United States of the output of American armament factories. While the newsmen might well have suggested a likely candidate, the FBI reports did not name this generalbut the description most closely fit Hap Arnold. Recently promoted to lieutenant general, Arnold was chief of the Army Air Forces and an opponent of Lend-Leases diversion of warplanes overseas.



1941s Lend-Lease Acta program many isolationists feared was a gateway to U.S. involvement in the warsent American planes, weapons, and other assets to the Allies. (Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum) 1941s Lend-Lease Acta program many isolationists feared was a gateway to U.S. involvement in the warsent American planes, weapons, and other assets to the Allies. (Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum)

The FBI had promised the cooperating newsmen anonymity and that their information would not be used in court. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover knew there was only one way to build a criminal case, but it required hardball tactics. From late January 1942 onward, he pressed Attorney General Biddle to subpoena Manly before a grand jury and force the reporter to reveal his source. Manly could be jailed for contempt if he refused. Hoover knew this would ignite a firestorm of negative publicity. (U)ndoubtedly the whole issue of freedom of the press will be invoked on behalf of the offending newspapers, he predicted.

Hoover wanted Biddle to go even further and subpoena Manlys congressional source to strong-arm him into naming the War Department official who had leaked the plan. If the FBIs information was accurate, this meant grand jury testimony would implicate both a sitting senator and a high-ranking general. This would hardly foster the national unity the Roosevelt administration wanted now that the United States was at war. Besides, the investigation had uncovered no tangible harm to national security, and Biddle deemed provable harm essential for a criminal prosecution. No grand jury was convened and, on May 4, 1942, Biddle ordered Hoover to close the case.

No heads rolled. Arnold remained air force chief, ending the war as a five-star general. Wedemeyer jumped in rank to lieutenant general and was given wartime command of all U.S. troops in China. Manly joined the service in December 1942. The branch he chose? Hap Arnolds air forceironically, as an intelligence officer. After the war, he resumed his newspaper career, working for the Tribune until his death in 1970, only months before his planned retirement. Walsh served in the Senate until 1947.

IN 1962, PART OF THE LEAK mystery was solved unexpectedly when former isolationist senator Burton Wheeler published his memoirs and admitted that he, not his colleague Walsh, had given Manly the plan.

On December 2, 1941, Wheeler had been slipped one of the 35 copies of the plan, wrapped in brown paper like a stag film. He and Manly scrutinized it that day at Wheelers Washington home, with Wheelers secretary taking shorthand notes for Manly. Wheeler returned the document to his source on December 3 so it would be in its original place when Manlys story hit newsstands the following day. Wheeler said he leaked the plan to embarrass Roosevelt and chose Manly because he knew the Tribune would give the plan the kind of attention it deserved.

The person who gave Wheeler the plan, he claimed, was an Army Air Forces captain whom he refused to identify. This captain had leaked secret information to Wheeler previously, which the senator had used in speeches attacking Roosevelt and Lend-Lease. Wheeler said he suspected, however, that some top-ranking officer or official had ordered the captain to give him the plan.

Wheelers autobiography didnt tell all he knew. I would like to have made it a little stronger with reference to some matters, he wrote to Wedemeyer in 1962, but felt it better to leave a few things unsaid.

Privately, he was more candid. He told his son Edward he was certain the captain was a messenger for Hap Arnold. He later told Wedemeyer the same thing, that Arnold had used the captainone of his boys low downas a conduit. After the war, assistant FBI director Louis B. Nichols confirmed to former Times-Herald correspondent Frank C. Waldrop that Arnold was indeed the high-ranking officer whom the FBI suspected of being the leaker.

What is missing, however, is a motive for Arnold to disclose the Victory Program. Lend-Lease frustrated him, but the Victory Program should have pleased him. In December 1941, the air force consisted of 12,297 planes and 354,161 men. The Victory Program called for 61,800 additional planes and a total strength of 2.1 million men. Also, pending in Congress at the time of the leak was an $8.2 billion defense appropriations bill that would provide funding for the air force. Disclosure of the plan might have riled isolationists and derailed the spending bill.

More recently, in 1987, historian Thomas Fleming advanced the intriguing theory that President Roosevelt himself orchestrated the leak as a way to goad Hitler into declaring war on the United States.

The president knew that only American military intervention could defeat Hitler. He suspected Japan would soon attack American territory, probably the Philippines, and that would get the country into war in the Pacificbut not in Europe. Only a German declaration of war against the United States would suffice. Hitlers treaty with Japan required Germany to declare war if the U.S. attacked Japan but not if Japan attacked America, so the president needed to convince Hitler that the United States was his true enemy, Fleming believed. As fascinating as this theory is, however, there is no hard evidence to support it.

The identity of the person who leaked the Victory Program will likely never be known with certainty. All the players are gone, and no deathbed confession has surfaced. The story will endure as one of World War IIs last unsolved mysteries, a fertile ground for educated conjecture by scholars and history buffs alike, and a reminder of the bitter political divisions that wracked the country before America joined the world at war. 

The German Reaction The Victory Program got it wrong when it said July 1, 1943, was the earliest date that the United States could launch offensive operations. American troops beat this prediction by nearly a year, invading Guadalcanal in August 1942 and North Africa in November 1942. Germany, however, took the projected date seriously. As soon as Chesly Manlys story hit the newsstands on December 4, 1941, the German embassy in Washington cabled it to Berlin. Publicly, German spokesmen mocked the plan as the delusions of some crazy general, but behind the scenes, no one was laughing. The German general staff saw the story as an intelligence coup and seized on the 1943 date. German war planners believed total victory in the West might be within Germanys reach if they could neutralize Britain before then. German forces seemed to be on the verge of capturing Moscow after having invaded Russia six months earlier, but Hitlers generals proposed a drastic revision in strategy designed to knock Britain out of the war before American help could arrive. On December 14, 1941, they recommended that Hitler: (1) cease offensive operations in Russia and leave only a minimum of forces to hold defensive positions there; (2) seal the Mediterranean by driving the British out, seizing the Suez Canal, and establishing bases in North Africa and on the Iberian Peninsula; (3) intensify air and submarine attacks on shipping bound for England; and (4) fully man and fortify the Atlantic coastline to prevent any Allied invasion. Initially, Hitler backed this new strategy, but soon reneged. His ego and hatred of Russiaalong with Germanys critical need for Russian oil, crops, and other resources to keep its war machine goingwould not let him halt the eastern offensive when his troops were almost within sight of the Kremlin. No part of the new plan was ever enacted. The revised German war strategy may have been as impractical as Nazi spokesmen said the Victory Program was. Its difficult to see how Hitler could have halted his Soviet attacks and held onto conquered territory there while shifting enough troops to accomplish the rest of the plan. The mere existence of the German generals proposal, though, shows how close the leak of the Victory Program came to affecting the course of the war in Europe. Joseph Connor

This story was originally published in the December 2018 issue of World War II magazine. Subscribe here.
The British Council, an organization specializing in international cultural and educational opportunities in the UK, jointly issued an announcement with eight British universities on Monday, dispelling rumors that these universities would not accept students from non-elite Chinese universities.

The UK welcomes students from any country, including China, to study here. International students have injected vitality in British academic research, as well as making great contribution to the diversity of British society. No limitation will be applied to international students who meet the universities entrance requirement, read the announcement.

The rumors, which have circulated on Chinese social media for the past few weeks, noted that eight UK universities, including Durham University and the Queen Mary University of London, have established new entrance requirements, rejecting students from less prominent Chinese universities.

It is common for UK universities to have a preference for students graduating from elite Chinese universities, but students from non-elite Chinese universities can also enter UK universities as long as they meet the requirements, Stacy Luo, a Beijing-based educational consultant, told Peoples Daily Online.

Chinese authorities launched their Double Top University Plan in 2015, including over 40 universities and 100 individual university departments, to develop them into world-class universities and disciplines by the end of 2050. Such categorization has thus become an evaluation criterion for foreign universities to assess the academic performance of Chinese students.

The eight universities have also expressed their willingness to accept Chinese students, as long as they meet the entrance requirement.

The United Kingdom remains the top choice for Chinese students seeking overseas education, despite growing uncertainties stemming from Brexit and the UKs tightening policies. According to China Daily, in the 2016-17 academic year, UK universities welcomed 95,090 Chinese students, by far the most significant international student cohort. In comparison, the UK welcomed 17,580 students from the United States, the countrys second biggest overseas student group.
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The police station building dates back to the 1880s. The new flooring in the southern portion is not yet complete because it will flow into the next phase. A drop ceiling still needs to be installed in the newly renovated section. A number of items have been in storage for a year and a half. The station is limited in space. The rest of the building building has a number of maintenance issues to address. There is only one bathroom for all officers and citizens. Over the years insulation was added in a number of places. The main entrance door is rotting out. The siding is not in good condition. There are holes in the siding in a number of places. Ericson has replaced the garage door with a new entryway. PreviousNext

Insurance Company 'Upset' With Condition of Lanesborough Police Station



Much of the work in the first phase has been completed, but not all of it. LANESBOROUGH, Mass.  The town's insurance company has threatened to close down the police station, according to Town Manager Kelli Robbins.

Robbins told the Selectmen last week that an insurance representative toured multiple town buildings and was "very upset" with the conditions at the station. The representative apparently told Robbins that the building is now being placed into a "high risk" category, which will increase the cost to insure it.

The state's Division of Labor Standards has also been notified of the conditions, she said.

"It may result in the police station being closed," Robbins said last Monday. "They want things to be different up there."

The station is currently being renovated by Selectman Robert Ericson who has been volunteering his time. The funds have been coming from a Green Communities grant. At a special town meeting, voters approved allocating additional funds to move the project along.

Robbins said she hasn't received anything in writing regarding the inspection but conversations with the insurance company cited issues with a lack of safety measures, licenses, compliance with U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, and certified plans for the renovation project.

The renovations have been four years in the making and Police Chief Timothy Sorrell said the department has yet to gain additional workspace. On multiple occasions, the union has filed letters with town officials decrying the "unsafe and unprofessional" conditions there.

Sorrell and the officers have both voiced a desire for a new station, saying the current building has outlived its life as a police station. State Sen. Adam Hinds toured the building and agreed to back such an effort.

Hinds' involvement almost led to the stoppage of work as some officials, including Sorrell and Board of Selectmen John Goerlach questioned whether the town should put more money toward the building if the state would end up coming up with money for a new station.

A new station was once eyed to be built on the town-owned parcel across the street on Prospect Street. The 19 acres there was purchased by the town to build a senior center, youth center, and police station. White Engineering provided an estimate of $717,000 for the police station in 2008 -- though that price has likely increased a significant amount since then.

That concept called for office space for the chief and five full-time officers, 10 part-time and reserve officers, locker rooms for both men and women with shower facilities, a witness interview room, bathroom facilities for both men and women, a reception area, booking area, evidence room, and a garage with space for two cruisers. Funding for that large project dried up and the plans have been sitting on the shelf.

In 2014, Ericson set his mind to improving the 1880s building, feeling that even if the town eventually does something different for a station, the town will still own the building. The station was originally constructed by volunteers and the retired engineer wanted to keep the tradition alive. He believed by doing the work himself, he could significantly reduce the cost to renovate the station.

Ericson got an engineer on board to craft the blueprints to renovate the entire station. In June 2017, the work began and storage items were moved out of the department and into a storage unit in the parking lot -- costing the town $175 per month. Ericson has had some starts and stops but has made process in the southern end of the building, installing a new boiler and building and insulating walls. The former garage has since taken the shape of a new locker room, interview room, office space, and booking area.

In March, the process was still too slow for the officers who felt they have been working long enough in a construction zone. The union filed another complaint with the town and the Board of Selectmen pushed Ericson to move quicker.

The more recent inspection could trigger the town to act even more quickly in deciding what to do with the station.
A graphic generated by the Massachusetts Rural Policy Advisory Commission shows how cost of living pressure is particularly acute for residents in rural communities.

Rural Policy Advisory Commission Plans Dec. 6 Meeting in Pittsfield

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The commonwealth's rural towns have older populations, smaller tax bases and poorer infrastructure than the rest of Massachusetts.

They also have greater numbers than a lot of people realize.

According to one definition of "rural," i.e. communities with population density of less than 500 people per square mile, nearly half of all Massachusetts municipalities are rural  including all but two, North Adams and Pittsfield, in Berkshire County.

In 2015, an act of the Legislature created the commonwealth's Rural Policy Advisory Commission, which began formal study of the problems facing low-density towns in June of this year.

On Thursday, Dec. 6, the RPAC will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. at the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission office on Fenn Street in Pittsfield.

Williamstown Select Board member Andrew Hogeland works with the RPAC through his involvement with the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association, which has supported the commission, along with the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

At a recent Select Board meeting, Hogeland apprised his colleagues of the commission's work and encouraged them to attend the public meeting.

"The idea of having a rural policy for all of Massachusetts, which goes to Cape Cod and the North Shore, is motivated by the idea that a lot of towns are worse off than Williamstown in terms of tax base, the ability to hire staff, being able to finance [government]," Hogeland said. "As you go around the state, the challenges to rural towns are pretty significant, and this is a good way of getting focused attention on the issues.

"What the plan would be is to make sure government and the Legislature understand the problems and recommend particular changes."

The commission plans to use the Dec. 6 session in Pittsfield  one of many regional meetings around the state  to "confirm the correct focus areas and solicit ideas."

The commission itself has identified six major focus areas: infrastructure, economic development, municipal government capacity, housing, public health and education and workforce development.

Within those categories, it has identified several areas for action. For example, the infrastructure piece is broken down to include broadband, water, sewer and transportation; public health includes a shortage of access to doctors and rural impacts of the opioid crisis.

Hogeland pointed out that not all the problems endemic to rural communities are not necessarily unique to rural communities and that the solutions developed could benefit more densely-populated municipalities.

"If we make it easier to staff ambulances for small towns, the same regulation helps cities, for example," Hogeland said. "For me, the small towns are the motivating factors, but the consequences can help all municipalities."

But those rural towns alone represent 830,000 Massachusetts residents  13 percent of the commonwealth's population. Eighty-four of the 170 rural towns are in the four Western Massachusetts counties, and the 170 towns represent 59 percent of Massachusetts' land area.

Hogeland said the commission hopes to have action steps to recommend to the governor's office and legislature, where state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, co-chairs the Legislative Rural Caucus.

"On the administration's side, the Rural Policy Advisory Commission has someone from the Department of Housing and Community Development, and she briefs the governor's office," Hogeland said. "There's a rural health office in the Department of Public Health, which is engaged.

"I expect the reception [to the commission's report] will be welcoming, but I'm not sure what the result will be because some of this takes money."

In other action, the Select Board approved a renewal of Berkshire Housing Development Corporation's option to develop affordable housing at 330 Cole Ave., the former Photech mill site.

The board also approved the application of a resident at 701 Hopper Road to store up to 3,250 gallons of propane. Kyle George of H.A. George and Sons Fuel explained that three 1,000-gallon tanks will be stored below ground with one 250-gallon tank sited above ground for use during special events at the property.

Town Manager Jason Hoch also reported to the board that the town continues to develop an inter-municipal agreement to share assessing services with the Town of New Ashford.

"The Department of Revenue has a list of additions to our standard inter-municipal agreement boilerplate," Hoch said. "We have a Board of Assessors that oversees the work [Town Assessor] Bill Barkin does.  Most likely, we will be providing both the assessor and the Board of Assessors.

"They don't have a board right now. The challenge is that in order to be on a Board of Assessors, you have to be certified by the state. I think it's a multi-day, on-site course. It's not a casual afternoon online course."

In answer to a question from the board, Hoch said that Barkin and the Board of Assessors have the capacity to take on assessing work for the town of fewer than 250 residents.

"The overall number of parcels is small," Hoch said. "The number of abatement requests will be smaller. This year for Williamstown, we had 16 [abatement requests]. At a similar ratio, we could see two or three [from New Ashford]."
The founders of D&G posted an official apology video on China's Twitter-like Weibo (Photo/screenshot of the video)

Recently, the Italian luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana left a negative impression in the minds of ordinary Chinese people. Not only was D&G accused of racism for its "Eating with Chopsticks" online advertising campaign, but designer Stefan Gabbana made derogatory remarks directed toward China and Chinese people in direct messages on social media. When word about the incident got out, it triggered huge online backlash, and many Chinese celebrities also pulled out of the high-profile fashion show in Shanghai before it was due to start.

What upset the public even more is how it went from really bad to even worse. From a controversial advertising campaign to publicly insulting China, from claiming its accounts had been hacked to saying that the cancellation of its show in Shanghai was "unfortunate," D&G made itself a target for criticism. Just last week, the founders of D&G posted an official apology on China's Twitter-like Weibo. In the video, they issued their "deepest apologies" to all Chinese people, said they will never forget the lessons of this experience, and promised that this sort of thing will never happen again. They ended the video by saying "sorry" in Mandarin.

It is ironic that an online advertising campaign which claimed to "love China" turned into shouting abuse at Chinese people, calling China an "ignorant dirty smelling mafia." Estelle Chen, a model who withdrew from the fashion show, responded as follows: "You don't love China, you love money." If you try to make money from Chinese people with one hand while insulting them with the other, you will find yourself in a heap of trouble.

According to a 2017 McKinsey report on the global luxury market, Chinese luxury consumers account for over half a trillion yuan ($72 billion) in annual spending, representing almost a third of the global luxury consumption. It is expected that Chinese consumers will account for 44 percent of the total global market by 2025. From a business point of view, Chinese people like high-quality products at the lowest price point and pursue a better quality of life. This makes the Chinese market a "darling" in the eyes of many foreign companies. However, transnational trade is far more complex than a simple business transaction, as there are important economic, political, diplomatic, and cultural aspects to consider. Being sincere and respectful, having a mutually beneficial and win-win attitude, understanding China and the people of China, and abiding by Chinese laws and respecting the national feelings of Chinese people are the keys to success in the Chinese market.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded at a regular press conference last week, ordinary Chinese people are the best source of information on this issue. From Mercedes-Benz's online ad that quoted the Dalai Lama to the racist skit by the Swedish television program Svenska Nyheter (Swedish News) and now the D&G incident, it is always ordinary Chinese people who are injured in these storms. Whether it stems from ignorance or arrogance or whether it is due to negligence or smear, these offensive acts forget the fact that Chinese civilization stretches back thousands of years. They have earned the dislike of a country that makes up roughly 20% of the total world population, and what we are seeing is that as China moves closer center stage in the world, more and more Chinese are standing up to defend their national narrative and let the real voice of China resound across the world.

This is not the first time that D&G has come under fire in China on social media for an advertising campaign gone wrongnor is D&G the first foreign company that has offended the people of China. However, this latest incident for D&G shows no sign of abating, putting a large question mark over the future of D&G in the Chinese luxury market. It remains to be seen whether the Italian luxury brand will recover after the mess it made in China, but there is a lesson to be learned here for companies that want to do business in China and win over Chinese consumers. That is, companies that want to take part in the lucrative Chinese market, like D&G, should understand that Chinese people welcome companies that understand and respect China with open arms, but reject those that insult and disrespect the people of China for the simple reason that China is the most lavish and cherished luxury the Chinese people have.

D&G only has itself to blame for this disaster.
Chris Haley, the Berkshire-area director of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, speaks at the NBCC meeting on Nov. 16.

Coalition Introduces Idea of 'Trauma-Informed' Community

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  There's usually a lot of talking at Northern Berkshire Community Coalition monthly forums.

At the most recent forum, however, there was more listening.

The group of about 60 guests -- meeting for the first time in The Green's new space at 85 Main St. -- gathered on Friday, Nov. 16, to watch "Resilience," James Redford's film that chronicles the birth of a new movement among pediatricians, therapists and educators who are using cutting-edge brain science to develop trauma-informed communities.

The film lays out the science behind a biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood that can trigger stress hormones that in turn wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time and early death as they grow up. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune.

The film chronicles a group of trailblazers in pediatrics, education and social welfare who are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the effects of this kind of toxic stress using something called the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The ACE asks people to respond to questions about childhood, like whether they witnessed substance abuse, whether their parents were divorced or whether a family member was imprisoned.

Those completing the questionnaire count the number of "yes" answers; according to the film, three mean you are twice as likely to develop heart disease as those who score zero. If you score four, you are three times as likely to have depression, and a score of six reduces your life expectancy by 20 years.

The film contains many eye-opening, disturbing and touching scenes, and the guests at the coalition forum had a short, quiet discussion after watching it about how its lessons about childhood trauma can help a community like Northern Berkshire County develop a healthier way to move forward.

Chris Haley, the Berkshire-area director of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, attended the forum to discuss how "trauma-informed communities" are being formed throughout the country.

"Everyone's life is affected by what has happened to them," she said. So the question to ask of each other, she said, is not "what's wrong with you?" but instead "what's happened to you?"

Haley said her focus has been on early childhood centers and schools, trying to create a new generation of trauma-informed residents.

"Resilience is something we can build over time," she said.

Coalition Director Amber Beesaw said there are steps already being taken in North County, naming the Family Place's Parenting Journey Workshop, which she said "takes a parent back" to their own childhood in the process.

"We do lots of things that fall in line with all this," she said. "And it's eye-opening when you do it for yourself."

Anyone interested in completing the ACE for themselves can find it online here.

Using the ACE to work toward a healthier North Berkshire is something Haley said she is really passionate about.

"I think it's something really achievable for us," she said.

As education and health care professionals are working toward this, though, the question was raised: What can all of us do in the meantime to help? It's really simple, Haley said.

"Be nice. Don't be judgmental," she said, adding that sometimes all it takes to help one person is for another person to show they care. "You could be that person."
North Adams' Commercial Tax Rate Likely to Break $40

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Mayor Thomas Bernard is recommending the City Council reverse last year's shift in the commercial rate in an effort keep the residential rate from rising higher.

The council will vote on the tax classification for fiscal 2019 on Tuesday. Should the council approve, the commercial, industrial and personal property shift will go from 1.71 back to 1.73, where it had been for several years.

The rate was shifted more toward the residential side last year to prevent CIP taxes from exceeding $40 per $1,000 valuation. If approved, the CIP rate would rise from $39.85 to $42.10 per $1,000 valuation.

Four communities, all in Western Massachusetts, were close to the $40 mark in fiscal 2018: Springfield ($39.28), Holyoke ($39.69), North Adams ($39.85) and Pittsfield ($39.98).

"While I am reluctant to reach this milestone, I believe the 1.73 shift represents the most equitable approach to apportioning tax obligations between residential and commercial taxpayers for this fiscal year," the mayor wrote in his communication to the council.

The tax levy for this year is $17,651,077, an increase in levy of $744,487 order or 4.4 percent from fiscal 2018. There are 2,641 residential parcels and their property taxes account for 40 percent of the revenue to support the city budget.

With a CIP shift of 1.73, the residential rate would rise 58 cents to $18.96 per $1,000 valuation, or just over 3 percent. This translates to about a $90 a year increase for an average single-family home assessed at $138,780, or a total bill of around $2,630.

Since 2015, the average home has risen about $2,500 in value and the bill by about $270.

If the shift is kept at 1.71, the residential rate would be $19.11, increasing the average bill be $111, and the CIP rate would be $41.61.

"While we continue to manage our budget carefully this proposal represents use of the city's full levy capacity," Bernard wrote. "We remain $482,031 under the city's levy ceiling of $18,133,108. I request that Council adopt the accompanying order as presented."

The City Council will also hold a public hearing on the installation of underground gas tanks for the new Cumberland Farms planned for construction at the old City Yard.
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BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese flower e-commerce business flourished thanks to consumers' rising demand for life-enriching experiences and the upgrade of logistics, China Daily reported.

November, usually a dull period for florists in China, now tends to be a peak season because of the Singles' Day online shopping spree on Nov. 11.

Shuyang County, one of the country's biggest flower bases, in Jiangsu Province, saw over 7,000 online flower shops launching sales promotions on Nov. 11 in one of its towns, said the newspaper.

Xingfu Huahai, a florist in Shuyang, reaped more than 10 million yuan (about 1.44 million U.S. dollars) in sales, after introducing over 150 fresh flower varieties from Japan, Singapore and the Republic of Korea, according to the local government's online statement.

Chinese consumers used to buy fresh flowers as gifts during festivals, but more people tend to see flower purchase as part of daily consumption, according to a report from the consulting company iResearch.

The 11-11 sales of online flower business exploded as Chinese consumers are willing to spend more on life-enriching and happiness-producing experiences, China Daily quoted the telecom industry expert Wang Guanxiong as saying.

The new industry trend, however, posted a challenge to the entire supply chain, Wang said.

The flower e-commerce business requires high-quality and speedy logistics, so any compromise in the supply chain wound influence the business, said Sun Honglei, a franchisee of Chinese leading logistics company ZTO express.

ZTO express has forged alliance with flower bases like Shuyang so that people could keep an eye on every part of the supply chain, said Sun.
The Nigerian army troops of 143 Battalion deployed at a check point in Gulak Adamawa State, neutralised a girl with Person-Borne Improvised Explosive Device, according to the defense headquarters.

According to the report, the female suicide bomber tried to Infiltrate DAR Village to detonate her explosive vest in the early hours of 26 November 2018, before she was killed by the troops.

In a statement by the defense Headquarters on Monday, the gallant troops in conjunction with hunters and vigilantes immediately cordoned off the incident area and subsequently conducted perimeter patrol around the community to ensure the area is cleared and to also exploit the area for Boko Haram Terrorists activities.

Another photo
Abraham Olajuwon Obasanjo caused tongues to wag, after he openly declared his support for the reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari, asking to even join his campaign organization and subsequently, emerged the new national president of the Buhari Youth Organization (BYO).

This caused a stir because his father, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, has withdraw his support from Buhari, whom he had supported against former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Obasanjo had warned Nigerians not to reinforce failure by reelecting Buhari. In a series of letter, a while back, he accused Buhari of being a failure, and urged him not to seek reelection, an advise that the president, ignored.

Seeing Juwon Obasanojo throwing his weight behind the man, who is father had turned against naturally whipped up sentiments among Nigerians. However, father and son showed Nigerians that no matter their political affiliation, the bond between them is strong and unbreakable.

Here is how Nigerians react to the photo, which has now gone viral on social media

Thats how it supposed to be, Doyin Okupe should learn from this. Obj son got home&embraced his father &father received him despite their political differences but Okupe said his son is in vendatta mission instead of accepting liabilities for been a wrong spanner in his family  Moses Tom (@Tommytwittingno) November 25, 2018

Many are just on their valedictory outings; the intelligent ones have already positioned their children for their political retirement  #Vote4Integrity2019 (@drjollyseg) November 25, 2018
Vanguard

President Muhammadu Buharis visit to Edo on Tuesday may have been cancelled as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference, initially billed to hold in Benin City has been shifted to Maiduguri, Borno State.

This Day

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr, Ibrahim Idris, has directed the urgent recovery of two AK47 rifles and a Berretta piston allegedly snatched from a slain police officer and others by alleged members of the Indigenous People of Biafra *(IPOB) in Nnewi during a protest last week.

Daily Times

Ahead of the 2019 presidential election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari not to delegate his responsibility of honouring the coming presidential debate.

The Sun

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has reacted to the former President Goodluck Jonathans revelation during the launch of his book, in Abuja, on the circumstances that led him (Tambuwal) and others to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to then opposition, the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Daily Trust

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to a live one-on-one debate on critical sectors of national life with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Leadership
Spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo has said that the president isnt camera shy, as regards the calls for debate for presidential candidates in the country.

According to the lawyer, the president had in the past, participated in debates and as such, Nigerians should know that Buhari is more than able to engage in any Television debate.

Keyamo, while speaking on Arise TV on Monday, also noted that Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya did not debate, yet he won the presidential elections.

In the past, Buhari has taken active part in televised debate, so nobody can argue that he is somebody who is camera shy. So the decision, whether he would take part this time must be a collective decision of the entire war room. Giving, for example, those who are organising it and all the circumstances taken into consideration. I do take as a basic rule that the Nigerian people must hear from their candidates, but the decision as to yes or no cannot be my sole decision. The advice will be a collective decision, it is not my advise alone. Dont forget that you cannot take these things in isolation of the circumstances. For instance, it happened in Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta refused to take part in debate December last year. Why? He felt the process was skewed. At times, some things are designed and you know that they are core people there, who are hostile to government or who are hostile to your candidate as the case may be. Either way, Uhuru Kenyatta did not take part in the debate, but he won. He won resoundingly. So, as important as that is, at times the people may also understand.

Keyamo also spoke about the governorship election in Osun state Guber, which held a few months ago. The DG of Buharis campaign organisation, in his explanation, threw serious jabs at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke, whom he said got 250,000 votes, just by dancing  and almost became governor just by dancing.
It was indeed a celebration and creative display of the finest of Nigerias hair industry as Kanekalon, makers of quality hair fibre for Darling and X-pression, held a thank-you event for its various stakeholders; Kanekalon presents Arigato Stylist event

In attendance were the creme de la creme of the Nigerian hair industry. Some of the guests included members of the Kanekalon group, partners  Darling and X-pression, Mama Elegant Twins, founder of the first hair styling school in Nigeria, Dr. Mrs. Adebisi Elizabeth Osinsanya (OON, JP); hair distributors, hair associations, and salon owners.

The event, which took place on the November 3, 2018 started with experiential displays comparing the Kanekalon fibre with other hair fibres available in the market. The various features were highlighted especially Kanekalon fibre being flame retardant (a critical feature for the brand) while others are not.

Yemisi Omojafor, Deputy Managing Director, STB-MCCANN LAGOS, thereafter gave a speech welcoming guests to the very special event. He urged attendees to sit back and enjoy as this was an appreciation event, congratulating them with their tremendous support.

And enjoy they did as the show proceeded with glamorous hair show, experiential activities, dances and quizzes with lots of prizes. The event proceeded with MC Bella Rose and MC/Comedian Mario navigating beautifully. The guests were also audience to the presentation made by Stephanie Iloabachie, Miss Kanekalon 2018, and Treasure Obasi, the this years 1st Runner Up. They gave kudos to the Kanekalon team for the companys good work thus far and for impacting the queens lives with life-changing experiences as brand ambassadors. Iloabachie and Obasi presented a brief history of Kanekalons world class research in synthetic hair fibre production, the benefits of Kanekalon for Nigerian women, and the brands promise to keep helping women around the world discover new ways to wear their hair.

The duo used the opportunity to call for entries into the Miss Kanekalon 2019 competition, with application starting in January 2019. They called on stylists and guests at the event to follow Kanekalon Africa on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kanekalonafricapage so as to get up to date news on the brand and the pageant where they could become eventual winners.

What sets Miss Kanekalon apart from other beauty contests, they said, is that applicants are asked to team up with stylists and when a stylists applicant ends up in the Top 3 in the pageant, not only does the contestant receive the prize, her teaming stylist also receives prizes as well.

The evening was complete with proper thank you messages from the Manager, Kanekalon Group, Kaneka Corporation, Sohei Nishida; and Head, Kanekalon Group, Kaneka Corporation, Tetsuya Kato. They acknowledged the various hair associations for their great support of the Kanekalon brand and recognized efforts of partners, distributors and stylists in making Kanekalon a household name in Nigeria.

The hair associations also had a creative display where there was a showcase of different hairstyles and guests were given the opportunity to name the styles. Gifts were presented in recognition of the partners Distributors and Hair associations afterwards.

Other highlights of the evening include presentations from Darling and X-pression. The two partners introduced the guests to various new products and creative hairstyles that had guests naming the styles; leading to an evening of camaraderie. The evening ended on a fun note as guests enjoyed comedy, games, and live music.

Kanekalon is a Japanese quality hair fibre used in partner products such as Darling and X-pression. Kanekalon can be found not only in Nigeria but across the world for its features; flame retardant, hot water set, soft and silky. They also come in a broad range of colour.

More photos from the event:
ThisDay Newspaper has come under several criticisms after it used the photo of President Muhammadu Buharis Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, in the place of the late former military governor of North Central State, also named Abba Kyari.

The former military governor of North Central State, Abba Kyari, was said to have has passed on at the age of 80, after a brief illness.

The news platform has been called out by many Nigerians on social media over what they termed lazy journalism, whereas some critics have accused the newspaper firm, of deliberating killing Buharis Chief of staff.

See the headline here
Flagpoles and bridge in Luxembourg

This decision is welcome, clarifying news to non-resident investors that have adopted similar holding structures for their investments in Canada. Note, however, that the Crown has appealed this decision to the Federal Court of Appeal.

As a general rule but subject to any treaty exemptions, Canadas domestic laws subject non-residents to tax on capital gains where the gains result from the disposition of 'taxable Canadian property', a term that generally includes corporate shares that derive their value principally from real property situated in Canada. Although most of Canadas bilateral tax treaties do not exempt capital gains from the disposition of such shares, Article XIII(4) of the Lux Treaty provides that:

the term "immovable property" does not include property (other than rental property) in which the business of the company, partnership, trust or estate was carried on; and a substantial interest exists when the resident and persons related thereto own 10% or more of the shares of any class or the capital stock of a company.

This carve-out has historically been interpreted, including by Canadian tax authorities, to apply to oil and gas properties that form part of a companys oil and gas business. The issue in Alta Energy Luxembourg was whether a minimum activity level for the otherwise immovable property was required in order to establish it as property in which the business of the companywas carried on. Given the limited drilling activities, the Crown argued that the exemption should be applied on a lease-by-lease basis, which would have resulted in the majority of the oil and gas leases being considered inactive and, consequently, the shares held by the appellant failing to apply for the exemption. The Tax Court concluded that the purpose of the exemption was to encourage foreign direct investment. Concluding that the exemption should be applied in accordance with industry practices, the Tax Court reaffirmed the liberal interpretation given to tax treaties and found in favour of the taxpayer, taking a common sense, purposive approach to the analysis:

The law is well settled: a tax treaty or convention must be given a liberal interpretation with a view to implementing the true intention of the parties.With this principle in mind, I am of the view that the Treaty negotiators intended for a resource property to qualify as Excluded Property when such property is developed in accordance with the industrys best practices.

The Crown then argued that the use of the Lux Treaty constituted abusive treaty-shopping under Canadas general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR). The Tax Court was decisive in its rejection of the Crowns alternative argument. In particular, the court noted that the law presumes that the government knew Luxembourgs laws when it was negotiating the Lux Treaty, so the Tax Court could find no other rationale for Article XIII(4) than the apparent one to exempt residents of Luxembourg from Canadian taxation where there is an investment in immovable property used in a business. The Court was not at all moved by the fact that the Lux Treaty had as one of its general purposes the 'prevention of fiscal evasion'. Although raised briefly in its Notice of Reply, the Crown appears not to have seriously challenged the taxpayers residence in Luxembourg for purposes of the Lux Treaty.

It will be interesting to see how the Federal Court of Appeal addresses both the technical issue under Article XIII(4) and the treaty-shopping arguments.

Nancy Diep





Nancy Diep

Partner, Calgary

Tel: 403-260-9779

Email: nancy.diep@blakes.com





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Iowa State Student Government elections take place every spring. One of 15 constituencies, the College of Design is represented by o
A cargo train departs from a train station in Spain and travels along the Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe cargo line. Photo by Xie Haining from Xinhua News Agency

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Spain and Portugal, respectively scheduled for Nov. 27 to 29, and for Dec. 4 to 5. His state visit to Spain will be the first visit in 13 years for a Chinese head of state, and that to Portugal the first in 8 years.

It is expected that Xis trip will strongly promote the alignment of Chinas development strategy and that of the two countries, deepen cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road, and inject new impetus into China-Europe relations in the new era.

The two countries on the Iberian Peninsula are endowed with rich natural, historical and cultural resources. China enjoys long-standing friendly exchanges with the two countries and has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with both of them.

The year 2018 marks the 5th anniversary of the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative. Spain and Portugal, both at the intersection of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, are important stops on Xis trip which mainly focuses on co-construction of the Belt and Road.

According to Spanish media reports, President Xis visit to Spain is highly anticipated by the Spanish entrepreneurs, who hope to gain more opportunities to take part in the joint building of the Belt and Road.

The Yiwu-Madrid freight route (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe) has greatly boosted trade between China and Spain since its opening at the end of 2014.

Over the past 4 years, Spanish exports to Yiwu have increased by more than 300 percent, thanks to the cargo train service. In 2017 alone, Zhejiang imported $ 578 million worth of goods from Spain, an increase of 49.9 percent year on year.

Spanish products, including ham, wine, olive oil, auto parts and medical facilities are available in the Chinese market because of the freight trains.

Portugal is an important participant of the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and it is also one of the founders of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB).

I love China very much, said Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo, adding that his country had always been a firm supporter of joint construction of the Belt and Road right after it was proposed by President Xi.

Portugal, having the best natural port resources in Europe, is willing to strengthen its cooperation with China and jointly push ahead with Belt and Road construction.

The implementation of the Belt and Road is expected to put new forces into boosting regional and global economic growth against the backdrop of anti-globalization and the sluggish recovery of the world economy.

Chinese capital helped Portugal out of the European debt crisis and the Chinese tourists contributed more to the Portuguese economy, said the Portuguese president, adding that his country was open to Chinese investment and cooperation with China, and welcomed Chinese enterprises to increase their investment in various areas, especially in strategic industries such as finance, energy, transportation, port construction, and electric vehicles.

In recent years, plenty of Chinese companies have eyed successful investment in Portugal, such as State Grid Corporation of China, ZTE, Huawei, Fosun Group, China Development Bank, Bank of China, Haitong Securities. Chinese companies have invested a total of 10 billion euros in Portugal.

The European Union (EU) remains Chinas largest trade partner, largest source of technologies and important source of foreign investment, while China is the second largest trade partner of the EU. It conforms to the interests of both to safeguard free trade and multilateral trading mechanism in a world haunted by mounting unilateralism, trade protectionism, and uncertainties.

China and the EU are both builders of multilateralism, and advocators of the rule-based system of trade. They are both willing to handle international relations on the basis of mutual respect, and prefect multilateral trading system through consultations, as agreed by European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
After multiple complaints, illnesses, and a death, Samsung has finally agreed to compensate victims of work-related diseases.

Samsung made the announcement at a press conference, with Samsungs Chief Executive, Kim Ki-nam, standing in front of a podium to apologize to the affected families, and confirm the forthcoming compensation, as was reported on Monday by NPR and the Yonhap News Agency. The company has formally agreed to compensation package that will see it dole out 150 million Korean won (about $130,000) per illness.

Beloved colleagues and families have suffered for a long time, but Samsung Electronics failed to take care of the matter earlier, Kim said, according to Yonhap News Agency. Samsung Electronics also did not fully and completely manage potential health risks at our chip and liquid-crystal display production lines.

The compensation packages are the result of a decades-long campaign led by the organization known as SHARPS. That organization was founded by Hwang Sang-ki, whose son died after a lengthy bout with leukemia that was developed while he was working at a Samsung factory back in 2007. While that death led to the formation of SHARPS, it has since been discovered that an estimated 70 people have died after contracting diseases related to Samsungs production lines. Upwards of 200 people, meanwhile, have contracted diseases.

Samsung has tried to apologize for the illnesses back in 2014, following the disintegration of conversations between the company and SHARPS, which initially started in mediation in the same year. Samsung agreed back in July of this year that it would accept the results of the mediation in totality.

The compensation packages must be released to those affected by October 28, 2028.

[via NPR
BISE Abbottabad Jobs 2018 for Pesh Imam & Drivers

Latest Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education BISE Education Posts Abbottabad 2021 Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education BISE Abbottabad, Government of the KPK required applications for the posts of Pesh Imam, LTV/ HTV Drivers, Mali and Sanitary Workers.

How to Apply on Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education BISE 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 is possible. Error & omissions excepted.
Petra Schulz of Edmonton lost her son, Danny, to a fentanyl overdose in 2014. She is featured in the documentary Painkiller: Inside the Opioid Crisis, which will be shown Sunday at 6 p.m. in the theatre of the Okanagan Innovation Centre in downtown Kelowna.
Lit candles and photographs are seen on display at a vigil for Calgary homicide victims Sara Baillie and her five-year-old daughter Taliyah Marsman, in Calgary, on July 17, 2016. A trial is to begin today for a man accused of killing a Calgary woman and her five-year-old daughter in July 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
The Chinese government is drafting a detailed policy for cross-border e-commerce retail imports with an initial 63 tax items covering consumer technology, food and health care products.

After the expansion, the cross-border retail import list will include over 1,300 tax items, which covers the Chinese consumer demand for more products, according to the State Council executive meeting on November 21.

The meeting clarified that starting from January 2019, regulatory policy for cross-border e-commerce retail imports will continue, and the scope of the policy will be expanded from 15 cities to 22 cities.

The product range will also be expanded to include 63 new tax items, with a single transaction limit. The single transaction limit will be increased from 2,000 yuan ($288) to 5,000 yuan, with an annual transaction limit 20,000 yuan per person per year to 26,000 yuan.

China's cross-border e-commerce retail import regulatory transition policy has been extended twice in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

The updated list will not only continue the supervision of personal use of imported goods, but also continue to be conducive to cross-border e-commerce enterprises to become bigger and stronger, Cao Lei, head of China's E-Commerce Research Center, told the Peoples Daily.

With lifted limits on tax items, import cross-border e-commerce will see much space to develop, Cao noted.

By streamlining intermediate processes, import cross-border e-commerce companies will improve transaction efficiency, reduce costs, and meet greater demand for cost-effective foreign products in the context of domestic consumption upgrades.

Cross-border import e-commerce might develop in the middle and high-end markets in the future, to deal with changes in various forms of logistics, Cao predicted.

The entire industry is expected to operate on a more standardized approach, he added. Import cross-border e-commerce is ushering in the era of competition in the whole industry chain, and the challenge will be how to create a better user experience in every process.

The policy development is likely trending to be permanent in accordance with the supervision of personal items, Li Pengbo, an analyst at consulting firm 100ec.cn, told the Peoples Daily.

Li believes the updated policy is an extension of the recently adjourned China International Import Expo, saying that the move is important for industry practitioners.

In 2017, China's cross-border e-commerce retail imports were valued 56.6 billion yuan, an increase of 75.5 percent year-on-year; from January to October, imports reached 67.2 billion yuan, an increase of 53.7 percent year-on-year.

The policy continues to be supportive of cross-border e-commerce imports of personal items, Wang Jian, professor of the University of International Business and Economics, told the Peoples Daily.

Against this backdrop, domestic consumers' demand for foreign consumer goods continues to rise. The upgraded policies will help improve China's trade balance, Wang noted.

This is also Chinas way of opening its market to the world, providing more business opportunities to countries in the Belt and Road route and other countries around the world. This will also help Chinese industries integrate in the global market in the long run, he said.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low 23F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low 23F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
By Lee Kyung-min



The Korea Exchange (KRX) will soon determine whether to refer a review on delisting of Samsung BioLogics to its subcommittee.



This is the latest development of Samsung Group's scandal-ridden biopharmaceutical arm whose stocks remain suspended from transaction since Nov. 14 upon the ruling from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) under the Financial Services Commission that concluded the firm intentionally cooked accounting books in 2015.



The KRX will determine no later than Dec. 5 whether the case requires an in-depth review by the Listing Maintenance Review (LMR) over three standards  transparency, continuity and protection of interest of both the public and investors.



If put forth, the commission will carry out a 20-day review to determine whether the firm should be delisted, have its stock trading resumed or be given a grace period until further review.



If KRX decides against the referral, Samsung BioLogics shares will resume trading the following business day.



The KRX has been looking into the issue since Nov. 14, and the decision will be made as scheduled unless disputed by Samsung.



Precedents showed that issues of this sort take no more than 15 business days since the suspension of stock transaction.



Of 16 companies that had been subject to KRX delisting review over accounting irregularities thus far, the decision on referral was made all within 15 days except in cases where the firms requested submission of relevant documents.



The procedure is expected to pick up speed following remarks from Financial Services Commission Vice Chairman Kim Yong-beom, who doubles as SFC chief.



Kim told the National Assembly committee on political affairs Nov. 22 that he had made it clear with KRX that the market uncertainties "should not be prolonged," adding the stock operator's review is ongoing at a "speedy pace."



Upon referral, the commission comprised of seven outside experts including lawyers and professors will deliberate on whether the three standards are met.



Transparency will be the top criterion in the review given the firm sees no major setbacks meeting the remaining two standards.



As for corporate continuity, Kim said the firm has enough capital as of 2017 for stable operation, dismissing concerns that the readjustment of 4.5 trillion won ($3.9 billion) in the suspected cooked accounting numbers will put the firm's financial status into impaired capital.



Impaired capital is a balance sheet condition where a company's total capital becomes less than the par value of its capital stock, an indication of poor financial management.



The firm will also avoid scrutiny concerning protection of investors' and public interests given its 22 trillion won in stocks with substantial portion held by individual investors.



"The LMR, if it does go over the issue, will need a comprehensive review before reaching a decision. We cannot comment further on the ongoing matter," a KRX official said.



While the focus is expected to concern corporate transparency, officials will have to navigate through the process carefully given the disputable nature of the term under the law.




Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Choi Jong-ku, right, announces measures to cut credit card transaction fees with lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea at the National Assembly, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of FSC



New measures unveiled to lower processing fees for self-employed



By Park Hyong-ki



The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) unveiled measures Monday that will enable a larger group of the self-employed and small businesses to pay lower fees to credit card companies on customer transactions.



After the two reach a consensus, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said it will expand the scope of reductions in card processing fees.



However, the move triggered an immediate backlash from card firms, which claimed it was a "political decision" that will pass the responsibility of the failed minimum wage hike policy onto them and customers.



Under the new plan scheduled to take effect in January 2019, small business owners with annual earnings of 500 million won ($450,000) to 1 billion won will have the fee reduced to 1.4 percent, down from 2.05 percent. Those that earn between 1 billion won and 3 billion won will be charged 1.6 percent on customers' credit card purchases, down from 2.21 percent.



Businesses with earnings of 3 billion won to 50 billion won will have to pay 1.9 percent, down from over 2 percent.



The ruling party and the regulator said the fee reduction was specifically designed to "benefit" businesses that earn less than 3 billion won annually.



These account for 93 percent of all businesses that use credit card networks.



"We tried to resolve this issue which seemed unfair to small businesses," said DPK Rep. Nam In-soon at a meeting with the FSC at the National Assembly.



The lawmaker noted a baker who earns 5 million won a year has to pay credit card fees that account for 30 percent of what they make. He urged the regulator to make sure the reduction will not affect and push the card industry to restructure.



Credit card companies are "furious and outraged," according to industry sources.



They say it was a "political decision," without regard to the industry that ended up paying costs for minimum wage hikes, which drove many of the self-employed out of business.



The measure simply tells the card companies not to make any money from the 93 percent, but only concentrate their business on large corporate customers, they added.



Big card companies could survive this, but small ones may have to consider restructuring, sources say.



"This was an ultimatum given by the regulator to the credit card companies," an industry source said.



The regulator and the ruling party claim they came up with the plan after talking with credit card issuers.



But sources say it was "not a discussion," and the reduction level announced did not reflect any concerns or suggestions from the card companies.



"There is only one solution to this fee issue. The government should just set up a state-owned credit card company and have all people and businesses use its zero-fee network," another industry source said.



The FSC suggested that all credit card companies should reduce their marketing costs as the lowered fee rates take effect.



One industry source said such a suggestion was like telling Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics to reduce their costs in promoting and advertising their washing machines and exhibiting them at events.



"The costs include marketing and promoting cards' brand partners such as theaters and gas stations to attract customers," an industry source said.



Making the industry reduce these costs would not only affect the card companies but their partners as well, the source added, questioning how the latest measure would make the market fair or competitive.




By Jung Min-ho







A high-profile Korean lawmaker has come under criticism after belittling the Philippines in defending the economic policies of former military dictator Park Chung-hee.





In a recent

, a local daily, Rep. Lee Un-ju of the minor conservative Bareunmirae Party said "Koreans would have lived in a country worse than the Philippines" if Park had not ruled the country in such a way.





"There have been many dictators across East Asia and Africa. Most of them failed to develop the economy, unlike former President Park. We should recognize his achievement," she added in a comment apparently aimed at Ferdinand Marcos, the late Philippine strongman who ruled the country from 1965-86.





While some Koreans take her remarks only as a political attack against liberals, who generally share negative views about Park, others find them offensive to the people of the Philippines and diplomatically problematic.





"If I were a Filipino, I wouldn't forgive Lee Un-ju. I wonder what Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte would say to her if he heard her words," a netizen said. "The Philippines is a country that sent us troops during the Korean War, which we should be grateful for  It is regrettable that a lawmaker made such a comment just because Korea is wealthier than the Philippines  I'm deeply ashamed."





Some people urged the lawmaker to apologize.





The Philippines is a key economic and diplomatic partner of Korea in the region. More than 1.5 million Korean tourists visit the country every year and 100,000 Koreans live there.





During his summit with Korean President Moon Jae-in in early June, Duterte called Korea "a true friend" and said the two countries should continue to work together for peace, progress and prosperity in Asia.